Even In Death

Akara Usagi

Chapter 4

It was exciting yet horrifying for Yuna to meet Yunalesca, the first person to have ever defeated Sin and brought a calm to Spira. Yuna fervently brushed stray hairs into place and dusted out her long skirt. "Yo, Yuna, don't be so nervous, yah? She'll love you." Wakka encouraged. "Thanks, Wakka." Yuna replied. Though, that wasn't what was bothering her. Yuna planned to ask Yunalesca a question- whether it really was possible to defeat Sin once and for all, and the answer she feared to receive was bothering her. With a deep breath, Yuna gently swung open the large double doors into the next room.

Pyreflies swirled around eccentricaly until they finally settled down and formed into a body shape in the center of the room. Colors began to fade in, and Yuna immediately bowed along with the rest of her guardians. "L-Lady Yunalesca... it is an honor, mi'lady." Yuna managed to murmur quietly, but loud enough for the woman to hear. "You must be Yuna." the woman's voice echoed throughout the hollow room. "I am Yunalesca. I am here to bestow upon you the final power- the final aeon for your pilgrimage.The only tool to defeat Sin, and bring the calm. Yuna... You have a difficult decision to make... but before that, do you have anything you wish to say to me?" Yuna bowed her head in sorrow as she fumbled on her words; trying to word it properly. "Um... about Sin, and the final aeon... do you... do you think, maybe... do you know if Sin might ever go away... forever?" Yunalesca laughed lightly. "Yuna, my dear, do not be afraid. What you are giving the people is hope. Sin will only go away when we have atoned for our sins- do you think that mankind can ever attain such a purity? The only reason to kill Sin is to give the people hope- even though he comes back, the people will have a time that they can be free to live without fear or agony." Yuna's eyes widened in shock and anger. "Are you saying that there is no way that Sin can ever be fully destroyed?" Her hands curled up into tight fists, her teeth clenched. Yunalesca saw this, and smirked. "No. Sin can never be fully defeated." Yuna held back the growl in her throat. "Then why does Yevon lie to us? Why do they tell us that Sin can be defeated?" Yuna cried. "Yuna dear. If the people knew of this... would they have any hope? Would they be able to go on?" Yuna shook her head. "I guess not... hope is what holds us together..." a single tear slipped down her cheek. "Alright... i'll do it." Tidus looked painfully at Yuna, wishing he could take her pain away. "Now, Yuna. For the final aeon... you must choose which one of your loyal guardians will become the aeon." Yuna reverted to her shocked state. "W-what?" she yelped. "Yuna... I chose my husband, Lord Zaon. He became my final aeon because we had such a strong bond." Yunalesca smiled. "But- but how can I ask one of them to give up their lives, and in turn kill me?" Yuna cried, tears falling freely to the floor. Tidus walked over and held her. Yuna held onto him tightly, sobbing against his shoulder. Tidus stroked her hair, and tried to calm her. "Yuna, it's alright... all of us... all of us would give up our lives to help you complete your journey. None of us could ever dream of hurting you... but the final aeon is no longer the person they used to be..." Yuna's sobs shook her body, causing her to tremble. "I... I don't know if i'm strong enough." she cried. Tidus pulled her away and looked into her eyes- one green, one blue. "Yuna, you are strong. You're the strongest one here. No matter what happened to yourself, you always put the safety of us before your own life. Remember that time in Macalania Woods, Yuna?" Yuna smiled, remembering the fond memory:

"I didn't expect it to be so hard... I thought it would be easier, somehow- with all my friends by my side. I... I tried so hard..."

"Stop trying so hard, then. They... told me... everything."

"Everything?"

"Yeah."

"So then... you know."

"Yes. I'm sorry I said all those things like, 'Let's go get Sin!', and 'Let's go to Zanarkand!'... I didn't know what would happen to you, Yuna. I'm sorry if I made you sad... forgive me."

"I wasn't sad. I was happy."

"Hey... why don't you just stop?"

"What? Doing my best?"

"No. The journey. Forget things like Sin and being a summoner. You know, it's not bad to live normally."

"That may be good. But, I'll surprise everyone."

"Yep- but that's okay- Rikku would be all for it. Wakka and Lulu would accept."

"I think that Kimari too would understand. But Auron..."

"Leave him to me. It's the least I can do!"

"Okay. Say it's from me. It must be gentle...". Yuna drifted in the water of Macalania's spring. "I wonder what I'll do if I quit the journey..."

"Zanarkand! Let's go to Zanarkand!"

"Huh?"

"Aaah, not the one in Spira. My Zanarkand! The one i'm from! We'll borrow the airship and bring everyone along. Then you can see my place!"

"I want to see a blitzball game! It's your Zanarkand Abes! In the darkness of the night, we'll all cheer for your team in the stadium. I want cheer and cheer till I can't cheer anymore!"

"Yeah!"

"What about after the game?"

"Then we'll go out and have fun!"

"In the middle of the night?"

"It's fine! Zanarkand never sleeps. Let's go to see the ocean right before the sun comes up. The city lights disappear one by one, and the stars disappear too... then, the horizon gets really, really bright... like a rose color. It tints everything: the sea, the sky, and even the city. It's so pretty. I want to show it to you."

"I'd like to see it."

"I'll take you! Let's go together."

"Yuna..." Tidus said as he spotted her crying.

"I can't... I just can't... I can't go..."

"Yuna." Yuna looked up into his eyes, tears still falling. They looked into each other's eyes for what seemed like forever until Tidus placed his hands on her shoulders, and kissed her. Though surprised, Yuna felt calm. Her world began to drift away, along with her sorrows. All that mattered was him. After the moment had ended, they sat at the edge of the spring.

"I'll continue the journey."

"Yes..."

"If I quit... it will be painful for me no matter where I go or what I do. Even if you're with me, I could never... forget."

"I understand. I'll go too- i'm your guardian... unless... i'm fired?" Yuna laughed.

"Stay with me... until the end."

"Not until the end... always."

"Always, then."

Yuna's memory played over and over in her head as Tidus held her gently. "Yuna... I promised to stay by your side always. No matter what decisions you make, or paths you follow, I will be there with you. Do not ever forget that. Even in the afterlife we will be together. Whether you choose me and we are together now, or if I have to wait my whole life to return to you... I will never love another." Yuna nodded. "Thank you... Tidus. I know that this journey would not have been successful had you not been there with me. You granted me my final wish... to have a journey full of laughter and love." Yuna sighed, and regretfully pulled away from his embrace. She walked over to Yunalesca and kneeled before her. "Lady Yunalesca..." she murmured. "I have made my choice. I have decided who will become the final aeon." Lady Yunalesca laid a hand on Yuna's shoulder. "There is no need to bow, child. Stand before me, and tell me which guardian shall become your final aeon." Yunalesca drew a small blade from her sheath. "What... what is that for?" Yuna asked, afraid of the answer. "To complete the pilgrimage, you must obtain the final aeon. The guardian chosen must be sacrificed by my blade, and in turn their soul will be woven with the fayth, and they too will become a fayth- a fayth stronger than you can imagine. Though, for the ritual to be absolutely complete, Yuna, you yourself must sacrifice your guardian." Yunalesca stated apathetically as she handed Yuna the long, ornate blade. As soon as Yuna gripped the blade, she felt the sorrow and hope of all the people who were sacrificed before. She could feel Jecht's sorrow for never saying a proper goodbye to his wife and son... Yuna looked up at Yunalesca with hurt eyes. "I am supposed to kill my friend?" she cried. "Yuna, there is no other way. It is hard, but it is not killing- it is releasing their spirit; allowing them to become one with the fayth." Yuna simply nodded. "So... Yuna... who will it be?" Yuna pointed solemnly towards the guardian she had chosen, breaking down to tears. Yunalesca motioned for the guardian to step up and walk over towards her. "Lay down on the resting bed, guardian." The guardian nodded slowly, and laid down, their body shaking. "Yuna... say your last words to your guardians... especially the one giving you their soul as a sacrifice to the fayth." Yunalesca told her. Yuna, with the blad still by her side, turned to face her guardians. "I love you all... I will never forget you... all I ask is that you visit me sometimes... on the Farplane..." Yuna whimpered. She then turned and looked at her guardian on the resting bed. "I'm so sorry..." she cried. The guardian simply held Yuna's arm, and looked into her eyes. "Yuna... it's fine. I understand." Yunalesca nodded, and explained to Yuna how to complete the ritual. "First, pray to Yevon and the fayth. Then, you will lift the blade above your head and yell the name of the sacrifice. Then, you will sacrifice them. Then, you shall pray until you feel their soul enter your body." Yuna nodded, and prayed. Slowly, she lifted the blade, and opened her mouth to yell the name...

AHAHAHAHAHA I'm so evil I left you with a cliffhanger! Squeals with joy. ... now I feel bad... aw... I guess that means i'll update as soon as possible!