FFX1b.1

Summary:
Ten years after Lady Yunalesca brought the First Calm by defeating Sin the monster is reborn. Bevelle is in panic, fearing another Sin attack like that tragic one right after the war, and feeling the pressure from Yunalesca and Spira's people to do something about it. They decide to tip their hand and find a Summoner at any price.Seika and Yara are caught in their web of lies and agree to travel to Zanarkand as fayth and Summoner respectively

--- 10 years after the machina war (990 years ago) - Bevelle sends the first Summoner and Final Aeon for training

Seika looked at the vast city fascinated. He had been here for a month already but he never got tired of seeing it's beautiful towers and walls. Last month was the first time he had set foot in Bevelle, after that huge fiend called Sin had attacked Kilika. He had been tossed several feet into the air but managed to grab hold of something so his fall didn't kill him. But he had been unable to move his arms and legs. After the healers in Kilika puzzled over his case for a month they brought him to the healers at Bevelle. He had been here for a month without any improvement and the Bevelle healers had been looking at him with an odd face this last 2 days.

His attendant, Yara entered his room, interrupting his thoughts. She looked stunning, even in a nurse's gown. She must have had some Zanarkand blood in her family since she looked like a member of the ruling families there. Yara was a beautiful young woman, with a long, luminous white hair and large brown eyes which twinkled when she told her funny jokes. But she wasn't telling jokes today. Yara too was acting strange, Seika thought. Something was going to happen, of that he was sure. He asked her about his suspicions:

- "Hey Yara ? Is there something special going on today ? Everyone has been looking at me strangely.. " he said

- "Yes, but it is a surprise so don't ask me yet. Eat instead." she said and came to fuss over him, fluffing his pillows, checking the temperature on his head, bringing him yet more soup..

- "Bleargh! Soup again ? I need a nice rabbit stew or a hard-shell steak, preferably rare, dripping with juice!" answered Seika

- "No can do. The healers said you must stay on liquid foods for a while longer. Perhaps next week…" she said

- "Awww. Just one tiny piece ? Please Yara ?" he said, tugging at her heartstrings.

- "Nope. It wouldn't do to have you sick in today. Eat your soup." she answered

- "Why can't I be sick ? I'm in a hospital!" he protested, but started drinking his soup through a straw made with the hollow stems of a reed.

- "That would be telling, wouldn't it ? Hurry up, I still have to give you a bath." she said knowing he would eat fast after that revelation

- "A sponge bath ? Today ? Not that I'm complaining but I took one yesterday with that surly guy that comes after you leave…" answered Seika and slurped his soup noisily.

- "Does that mean you don't want the bath ?" Yara teased

- "Just the opposite! He didn't use that nice smelling soap you use. I smell like some a medicine cabinet. C'mon, let's get started" he answered and spit the straw away, eager to start his bath.

- "Hey ! Watch it! You are worse than the babies in the 3rd floor.." complained Yara

After the bath Yara and the "surly guy" changed Seika hospital gown for some clean clothes, clothes that should be at his home. Yara was looking at him very oddly. Curious, Seika asked

- "Where did you get those ? Did you sent someone to my dad's shop to pick them up ?" he asked

- "Nope, your dad brought them. He is right outside waiting to talk to you." said Yara with a cheerfulness that didn't look real

- "OK. What's up ?" Seika asked.

- "Your dad traveled all the way from the Kilika to tell you. Can I send him in ?" she said looking down

- "Sure… Are you staying ?" he asked wanting her near for support. Whatever it was it must be serious

- "Can't. Gotta give Mrs. Winno her bath and super now. Stay strong" said Yara caressing his face and leaving

Seika felt her touch on his face like an energy shock. A lover's caress ? What was going on ? She had seemed on the verge of tears… Well, might as well get it over with, he thought signaling for the surly guy to let his dad in.

- "What's up dad ?" he said

- "What, no hello, no "I miss you ?" said his dad trying to be humorous and failing

- "Something is up. Spill it" said Seika

- "Well, your healers sent for me. You won't be able to play blitz next month at the tournament" said his dad looking down

- "What ? But I trained so hard! When can I leave this dump and get back to training ?" asked Seika

- "Son, you will not be able to walk again. The fall must have damaged your spine a lot more than they thought. It simply isn't healing" said his dad gravely

He felt like he was falling from the treetop all over again. So that was the reason for the strange looks from the last couple of days! What now ? His mind was reeling with the revelation and he wasn't sure if he wanted to cry, scream or run away from there.. Except that he now was unable to run. Or walk… His dad interrupted his thoughts

- "Not all is lost son. The healers have found a way for you to walk and swim again. But you need to want it with all your heart." his dad said

- "What are you talking about ? Didn't you just tell me no one can heal me ?" said Seika, almost shouting

- "No one can heal your broken body. Your soul is unharmed, as strong as ever." his dad answered

- "Huh ? Are you turning into one of the crazy guys of this new anti-machina church now ? What is this talk about soul ?" said Seika

- "I don't know if you heard, but today the High Council will start interviewing candidates for the fayth at Kilika's temple" started his dad

- "Yeah, I heard, everyone here seems to be pretty excited. The fayth is a weapon we could use to stop Sin… Oh no! You are NOT proposing I volunteer to be a fayth, are you ?" asked Seika

- "The healers say you are the perfect candidate and you have some real chances at winning it" said his dad.

- "Are you insane ? They are going to kill the person who accepts it!" said Seika

- "Son, the healers told me you don't have that many years ahead of you. Not with a broken spine, broken as badly as yours. Bevelle has lost a lot of it's best healers and machina and the Zanarkand mages and their miraculous temple healers are no more… "

- "Oh, so I will not walk AND I will not live long ? Wonderful! Any other insignificant detail about my health you aren't telling me ?" shouted Seika angrily

After shouting Seika started coughing non-stop. Yara came quickly to his aid with some pungent herbs for him to smell and the coughing subsided. She started to leave but he pleaded her to stay with his eyes, so intensely that she stayed. She hated that part of her job! Delivering bad news never got easier, no matter how many times she had to do it. And she had been doing it a lot since Sin came back last year. Thankfully Seika had had a family member to tell him the news and comfort him and she didn't have to be the one who told him. Still, seeing Seika's face was bad enough. She was very fond of him. He had been badly injured but he never complained, not even during the many painful examinations he had to endure. He seemed to be always cheerful and optimistic, always smiling no matter how long he was kept in that bed. But now Seika seemed very distressed at his father.

- "It is not my fault son. Sometimes life gives you some challenges and you have no choice but to face them and make the best of it." said Seika's father

- "I.. I'm sorry dad. It's just that.." he started

- "It's all right Seika, we will take care of this together. You are not alone. I am here with you. Mrs. Yara, when did the board say the interview was ?" his dad asked

- "This afternoon Sir." answered Yara

- "Today ! But dad! I need some time to think. I am not sure I'm going to go to this interview." said Seika

- "Son.." started his dad

- "Dad, please… I need some time alone. It's not every day that you find out your life is so over that even your dad wants to give it away to some weird mages!" he said

- "Son please... OK, I will be outside" his dad said and left, recognizing that Seika was right: after all the shocking news his son must be needing some time alone.

- "Stay with me Yara, please ?" Seika pleaded with the girl as she was leaving

- "Ok. What do you want to talk about ?" she asked

- "Nothing. Just stay close to me, ok ?" he answered as she propped up his pillows

They stayed in silence for a long time, Yara running her hands through his black hair and fussing around him as always. Seika facing one of the worst moments of his young life. The second worst. The first had been that Sin attack 10 years ago. The one that claimed his mother's life. Seika told Yara the story, the memories of that day would help put his current troubles in perspective.

- "She was going to join me at the cave, but the mother Coeurl showed up so she had to stay outside and fight it, in the middle of all that mayhem… Sin killed them both" he told her.

- "Wow, that must have been awful for an 8 year old boy to witness!" she said

- "I was so angry at the Coeurl that I didn't think straight. I went out to find her mate and kill him…My dad eventually found me when the storm passed, trying to kill father Coeurl with my bare hands and some pebbles I had found" said Seika

- "What a brave boy! No wonder you attacked Sin armed with just your sword ten years later!" said Yara smiling

They stood in silence for a while longer. Seika didn't know what to do and he felt a terrible sadness creeping into his heart, yet he didn't cry. His last tears had been shed many years ago, on that cave, hiding from Sin, still reeling from the loss of his mother. Later they said that big boys don't cry, that his crying had attracted the mother Coeurl to the cave. He never cried again

- "Yara ?"

- "Yes "

- "Do you think I should do this fayth thing ?" Seika asked

- "The people from Zanarkand all did it at the end of the war. They say summoners can still see them and talk to them to this day…" she said

- "Do you think I have no chance at healing ?" he asked

- "That is what Toro, the top healer here says. I don't know enough but everyone here says he is the best we have after Zanarkand…" she left the sentence hanging

- "Your family was from there, wasn't it ?" Seika asked

- "My dad was. He died in the war. My mom was from Luca. She died in last year's attack, the one that destroyed the blitz stadium. I wish they had had the chance of being fayth" she answered

- "You do ? Why ?" he asked

- "Don't tell anyone but I have some of my dad's talent. I can see the fayth here in Bevelle. If they were fayth I could still see them" Yara answered

- "You can see the fayth ? How does he look like ?" he asked

- "Like a boy. A 10 year old boy with Bevelle style clothes and a purple hood" she answered

- "Did you ever talk to him ?" Seika asked

- "No. I don't know how. But I could learn and talk to you!" Yara answered

- "You would do that ? Why ?"

- "I want to help battle Sin. I can't stand delivering bad news like yours, day after day, to kids, adults, men and women, young and old.. I want this mayhem to end" said Yara

- "Me too… Ok, I'll do it! With you by my said I don't mind dying and turning into a ghost!" he said suddenly deciding.

Yara caressed his face again and his heart started beating faster. Seika realized how much he had grown to like her. "Don't stop." he pleaded and she complied, running her hands through his chest, his face, his neck… "I'm dying to kiss you" he whispered to her when she leaned close to him. She kissed him and he returned the kiss hungrily. When they stopped kissing they were panting, looking at each other with a bemused surprise. She ran to lock the bedroom door and came back flustered

- "Damn it! Being paralyzed makes things so difficult !" Seika said frustrated

- "What things ?" asked Yara with a playful glint in her eyes

- "Well.. You know.. If I was able to move… I would show you how much you being by my side means to me" he said

- "I can move. If you want me to, that is." Yara answered looking at him.

- "If I want it ? Of course I want it! Can't you see how much ? It still works, you know ? And it wants you as much a I do, but.. I'm a prisoner in this bed!" he said frustrated

- "Yes, you are my prisoner. I can do with you whatever I want" she said

- "What are your plans for me, oh gorgeous jailer ?" Seika asked with a rasping voice

- "You will see soon enough.." Yara said and started caressing him in a way that made him wild with lust

- "Stop torturing me and come closer" he whispered

- "Shh.. You are in my hands now" she said playfully,

- "Ahh.. But you want me, I can tell. Those sponge baths were too good to be just hospital business…" Seika said equally playful

- "Wow! You are right, it is still working!" she said after pulling his covers down

- "Want to test it ? It wants to meet you" he answered in a low voice

- "All in good time, I will make you beg for mercy" she said while caressing him, making him moan with pleasure

- "Oh Yara.. Mercy Yara. I need you now" was the last thing he managed to say before being consumed by passion as she yielded and granted his fondest wish

Theirs was a passion that burned so hot it left him and Yara speechless, covered in sweat, looking at each other tenderly. He felt awkward about what had just happened.

- "Yara… I.. I'm sorry if I made you pity me… " he started and stopped, uncertain about what to say next

- "Don't be sorry Seika… It wasn't pity. Couldn't you tell I wanted it as much as you did ?" she said

- "Yes but.. I seem to have gotten the better end of the deal" he said embarrassed

- "Don't be silly! I'm still groggy with the ride you gave me. I enjoyed it thoroughly. No wonder you are named after fire. You are hot!" she said

- "And no wonder you are named after the river goddess.. You were like a wild river and tamed my fire!" he replied

- "Such romantic words! You must have been popular with the ladies in Kilika" she said

- "With you I meant every bit of it." answered Seika

- "Oh so there were girls you said words you didn't mean it ? I knew you were a ladies man!" she teased

- "If I was I am not anymore.. Nor will I ever be again." Said Seika and sighed

- "Oh my goodness, look at the time! You have to get dressed for the interview and I am late for my shift at the ICU!" she said looking at the sun

- "My dad and the surly guy can dress me… Why don't you call them in ?" he said

- "Oh no… Not the surly guy! That pest will report me to the healers.. He hates me!" Yara started saying but Seika interrupted

- "I'm sure my dad can handle dressing me by himself. Just send him in" he said

His dad came in and looked at his son disheveled hair amusedly. That boy had inherited his grandfather charm. Even in a hospital bed, immobile, he could get the girls ?

- "So I take it you have reached a decision son ?" he said

- "Yes. I will do it! I will become a fayth and help summoners destroy Sin, this time for good." Seika answered firmly.

- "I'm glad you accepted it Seika. I thought about for the last two days and couldn't see another way to keep you alive, at least in spirit. The healers from Bevelle told me you wouldn't last another two years" his dad said sadly

- "It's OK dad. I don't mind dying if it is to spare others in Spira from this ghastly fate our family has endured. Now, if you would, could you help me get dressed ?" Seika said

- "Dressed ? But you were already.. Why you sly charmer! You and that gorgeous young lady ? How did you ..?" said his dad even more amused at his son

- "Shh… She is not supposed to.." Seika started

- "Yes, I imagine she isn't. One of this days you are going to have to tell me how you do that with the ladies!" his dad said laughing.

- "What, grandpa didn't let you in on the family secret ?" said Seika laughing

- "Here, let me help you" said his dad and proceeded to get Seika dressed

The interview went by fast. Seika was asked about what made him face Sin with only his sword in hand. When he answered it was because Sin killed his mother he was asked about his childhood and about Sin's first attack to Kilika. Everything was going smoothly until the end of the interview when someone dressed as a monk of the new anti-machina church asked:

- "I understand you wish to have a special summoner call on you. Is that correct ?" the monk asked

- "Huh ? What are you talking about ?" asked Seika

- "Well, seeing that you are a fayth candidate we took the liberty of eavesdropping on your conversations with nurse Yara today." said Toro, the chief healer

- "You did what ?" Seika shouted and started coughing. He had to stop trying to yell like that.

- "Isn't it true you and her talked about battling Sin together as fayth and Summoner ?" asked the monk as Toro gave him some pungent herbs to smell to calm his coughing

- "Yes but you had no right to… " Seika started

- "Now listen here young man. We take this fayth business very seriously and there are a lot of candidates", lied the monk. There were no candidates.

- "Yes, the only reason you are getting this chance to be one is because nurse Yara befriended you" added Toro

- "Say what ?" asked Seika surprised

- "Yes, why do you think we keep this daughter of a Zanarkand traitor in our midst ? She has the gift. She is probably one of the very few left in Spira that has it. A fayth that has strong ties to her will allow us to defeat Sin." said the monk

- "Oh so this is why you need me! Am I really that sick ?" asked Seika suspicious. People who spy on hospital patients are not above lying, he thought

- "Oh your paralysis is quite real, I can assure you" said Toro

- "What about my certain death in 2 years ?" Seika pressed on

- "Well.." started Toro looking down

- "Bedridden patients are very complicated to take care of, particularly now that our machina is failing and so many healers were lost to the war and Sin. In 10, 15 years you would be dead anyway.." answered the monk, this time telling the truth

- "Yes son, we just advanced the schedule a bit so you could help us battle Sin" added Toro

- "Don't! Don't call me "son". I have a father and he is not a lying weasel like you!" said Seika hotly

The sheer nerve of this people! No wonder people from Bevelle had the reputation of being cold and calculating. If Toro and the monk were anything to go by those people from Bevelle had ice in their hearts. Seika weighed his options. It was either being a fayth and saving Spira side by side with Yara or spending 10 to 15 years watching Sin destroy families and cities while immobile atop of a bed, a burden to his father and others. Not a hard choice at all.

- "If I agree to being your fayth, how long will I have before it happens" he asked the monk

- "Yara will have to agree to taking the Summoner's training at Zanarkand. When she is deemed ready to face Sin then you will be called upon. I'm told it will take at least a year." said the monk

- "In Zanarkand ? But no one lives there anymore!" said Seika puzzled

- "No one lives there. But a teacher is there waiting to teach the next Summoner who is willing to pay the price to defeat Sin." said the monk

- "What price ? My head as a fayth ? " asked Seika

- "No. You are not the only one giving your life for Spira. Yara will die as son as she casts your Aeon." said Toro calmly

- "I see." said Seika

- "So do you agree to being a fayth ?" asked Toro

- "Yes, but only if Yara agrees to be my Summoner"

- "She is right outside. She has just had a similar interview and has agreed to train as Summoner, if she is allowed to pick her fayth. I think she had you in mind. She still believes you are dying.." said the monk without showing any remorse about Bevelle's lies

Toro, the monk and the other 2 healers who never said a word during the interview left the room, leaving him alone with Yara. They looked at each other with a pained face. He who never had the patience to read about doomed lovers would get his very own doomed love story.. Oh, well, might as well play his part right.

- "Come here Yunalesca. It seems I'm to be your Lord Zaeon" he said half joking

- "Don't joke like that! We are about to meet them both.." said Yara shuddering

- "Huh ?" he asked surprised

- "She is to be my teacher on the Summoning Arts. He is to be yours I suppose" Yara answered

- "Of course! A teacher in Zanarkand, one who is not alive! It had to be her… But no one mentioned classes for me, just willingness to be a fayth for you."

- "If you do it, do not do it for me, do it for Spira. I would never ask you to give up your life, even a short life.." she started

- "Why not ? Aren't you willing to give up yours ? They told me Yara." he answered

- "My life is not so hot anyway. Everyone treats me differently because of my Zanarkand hair and looks. You were the only one who treated me normally." Yara answered

- "Why would they treat you differently ? It's not like Zanarkand started the war or created Sin…" he said

- "Rumor says it did. That a powerful mage from Zanarkand created it." she answered

- "That is crazy! Zanarkand was the first city the beast destroyed!" Seika said hotly

- "Nevertheless, there are rumors. They say the beast was meant to destroy Bevelle but it backfired and turned against it's creators… I don't know what truth there is to it, after my father died we lost all contact with his family. But people are either afraid of me or angry at me, for things I had nothing to do with!" said Yara in tears.

- "Shh.. Don't cry! I'm here for you. I can't give you much in the state I'm in but I will give you all the love in my heart, all the love you missed.." said Seika softly

- "I wish I could hug you or at least dry your tears, but…" he continued, sighing deeply

- "Oh Seika, you are so nice to me!" said Yara caressing his face. But all Seika could do to return the gesture was move his neck around her hand like a kitten. He purred

- "What is that purr ?" she asked surprised

- "Considering that all I can do is act like a kitten getting his ears scratched I thought it would be appropriate. Purring means "I love you" in cat language, didn't you know ?" he answered with an odd face, a mix of frustration and desire.

- "Oh Seika! You are not just a kitten! You are hugging me, I can feel your strong arms holding me tenderly.. I can smell your sweet scent close to me. All I have to do is close my eyes and just let my heart do the seeing" she answered running her hands trough his thick black hair

- "Let me try then.. You are right.. I am standing right by your side, holding you in my arms, feeling your lithe body against mine. My heart is pumping faster" he answered

- "Mine too. Do you know what that means ?" Yara asked

- "Why don't you tell me, or better yet, show me" Seika answered

Hours later someone knocked at the door. It was Raoni, Seika's father, worried about them and calling them for super. They told Raoni the news. His father was relieved that his son had accepted his harsh fate. Seika had decided to keep them thinking that he was going to die soon of his illness. It was part true, in a way since he was indeed going to die soon, and it would make it easier for Yara and his dad to accept his fate. Toro came back to tell them preparations were being made to take Yara and Seika to Zanarkand the next morning

- "I want to join you, son" Raoni said when Toro left

- "No dad, please don't. It will be too dangerous. You have to take care of your new wife and my baby sister!" pleaded Seika

- "But… Who will protect you two ?" asked his dad worried

- "The hospital will send guards to escort us until we reach the Ronso. From there we will travel guarded by the Ronso" answered Yara who knew more details since she had been worried about Seika's health during the voyage

- "Who will take care of you son ? You ?" he asked Yara

- "Yes sir. I will guard Seika with my life if needed, and I will make sure he stays healthy." said Yara

- "Yes dad, we are a team. Don't worry! I'm sure those healers are eager to have their fayth arrive safely. And if you saw how much Yara pampers me you would not worry about my care!" said Seika

- "Are you sure son ?" asked his dad

- "Yes dad. I'm sure. Our family has suffered enough loss as it is. I will be fine with Yara by my side"

They bade each other an emotional farewell, as it was unlikely they would ever see each other again. His dad asked the same questions several times but Seika was unmovable. He was giving his life to spare Spira's families the pain of losing their loved ones. Might as well start with sparing his family from yet another heart ache. Unlike him. his baby sister would not be an orphan. She would have a father and a mother. For that his sacrifice was worthwhile.