Chapter 6: Wakka, Wakka, Wakka

I'm getting really tired of Sin tossing us around like rag dolls or something. I woke suddenly and found myself floating in crystal blue water. "Wake up Tidy." I said shaking his arm. He jumped from his current position and looked around, "Rikku?" he shouted.

"She's not here." I said turning toward the beach. Suddenly, a big blue ball soared through the air and conked Tidus in the back of the head, "Blitzball!" he said happily holding the ball up.

"Hey, you okay?" said a voice from the beach.

Tidus smiled and began waving his arm, "Heeeeyyyyy!" he shouted.

Nerd. I looked at the group of men huddled on the beach and noticed the leader. He had big orange stabby hair. "Wakka…" I whispered.

"Watch this Siry!" Tidus said. He threw the ball into the air and performed his signature move, the Sphere Shot.

The ball sailed through the air, nearly missing Wakka's head, and then disappeared from sight. "Whoa-oh!" Wakka said before letting out a laugh. Tidus shot me a thumbs up sign and began swimming toward the men on the beach. I followed him and wrung the water from my clothes. "You wanna try that move again…" Wakka said, impressed by Tidus's skills. And of course he just had to be a showoff. But I gotta admit, Tidy-kins is good…really good.

"Who you play for?" he asked Tidus.

"The Zanarkand Abes!" Tidus replied proudly, earning gasps from the men on the beach.

"He got to close to Sin. The toxins are playing tricks on his brain." I quickly explained.

Wakka looked at me a bit surprised. I guess he didn't notice me before.

"Well you are both still alive after getting close to Sin? Praise be to Yevon." Wakka performing the prayer

"You're Wakka aren't you?" I asked, stepping up to him.

"Yeah…Uhh how did you know?"

"I'm a huge Besaid Aurochs Fan." I said before hugging Wakka tightly. He was surprisingly muscular, despite the way he looked in the game and he smelled really good. I didn't want to let go. Watch out Lulu. You may have some competition. "You a Blitzer?" he asked, breaking the embrace.

"Yeah right. The last time I tried to play blitzball, my friends and I ended up fist fighting instead." Playing blitzball is a lot harder than it looks, especially in a swimming pool. Try it at home kids!

Tidus's stomach growled once again. "Pig…we just ate." I scolded.

"It's all right. We'll head back to my house and we'll get you something to eat there. Who are you two anyway?"

"I'm Tidus and this is Siry." He said introducing us.

Wakka smiled and nodded. Then he began walking back toward the village.

"Hey Wakka…" Tidus called after him.

"Hmm?" he said stopping and turning around.

"Is it true that Zanarkand was destroyed one thousand years ago?" he asked curiously.

Wakka rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "There were a whole lot of big cities in Spira once, with machina-machines- running them. Sin came and destroyed the cities and Zanarkand along with them. Yeah that was about one thousand years ago. And Sin is now our punishment for letting things get out of hand. But what I don't get is why we have to suffer for what some goofballs did way back when."

Tidus stopped walking, "It's just as Rikku said." He whispered to me, "I mean both of them couldn't be lying…why would they?"

I looked at him and couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He wanted to go home…and to be honest, even though being in Spira was totally awesome; I kind of wanted to go home too. Wakka suddenly laughed, "And you said you played for the Zanarkand Abes. Yeah right." He said playfully putting Tidus in a headlock, "Ya know the team could've existed but living in luxury like that would definitely make them soft, ya? Come on." He said leading the way to the village.

Tidus drooped his shoulders. "Hey, there's no use worrying about it." I said nudging him.

"Yeah…" he said sullenly.

"I mean it won't get you home."

"You're right. This whole thing started with Sin. Maybe if I found it again, I could go home. Till then I'll just have to pretend like I know where I am."

I shrugged. Telling him that if he found Sin again, it would probably pound him into a bloody pulp might not be the best thing to tell him, "Yep. When in Rome, right?"

He looked at me puzzled, "Rome?"

"Never mind. Let's catch up with Wakka."

"Hey guys this way!" Wakka said from the road right. We followed him and reached a cliff overlooking some water. I dove right in, "Come on in boys! The water is fine!"

Tidus looked over the cliff at me, "Have you lost your mind?" he shouted.

Wakka winked at me then shoved Tidus off the cliff into the water. Then he dove in himself. As we swam along, Wakka swam up beside Tidus, "I gotta favor to ask ya." He said.

"You want me on your team right?" he said.

"There's a big tournament coming up and all the teams in Spira'll be there. You can play with us just until you find your old team, ya?"

"Sure thing." Tidus said before swimming to shore.

"Our team is gonna rock, ya know!" Wakka said excitedly as he turned to me.

We got out of the water and we followed Wakka to a plateau overlooking the village. "That's home." He said pointing to the little cluster of huts, "I started blitz here when I was three and joined the Aurochs when I was 13-ten years ago. Ten years and we've never won game. After last year's tournament, I quit and got this new job, see? But every time my mind wandered I thought about the game."

"Well ten years without a win will do that." Tidus replied.

"I couldn't concentrate at last year's tournament."

"Lame excuse!" Tidus scolded.

"Hey!" Wakka said, stopping and scratching his head, "Anyway, I rejoined the Aurochs and win or lose this is my very last tournament. I'm quitting for good."

"So you want to go out with a bang right?" I asked smiling.

"Yeah."

Tidus stood in front of us with his arms folded across his chest, "So what's our goal?" he asked.

"I don't care how we do as long we play our best. I can walk away happy."

"What kind of crack have you been smoking?" I asked looking at him.

"Huh?" he said obviously puzzled.

"Ignore my spaztastic friend over there." Tidus said, giving me a dirty look, "Now when I say what's our goal you say victory."

"Really?" Wakka asked surprised.

"Don't worry Wakka Wak. The Aurochs are bringing the cup home this year!" I said patting him on the back.

He smiled at us and we continued on to the village. As we moved along, two men ran by. The younger one had dark hair and the older one had red hair. They were obviously Luzzu and Gatta.

"Who are those two?" Tidus asked expecting Wakka to answer. Boy was he surprised.

"That's Luzzu and Gatta. They're Crusaders." I said, cutting off Wakka.

Wakka and Tidus looked at me, strangely. "Crews of what?" Tidus asked.

"Ya dimwit I didn't say anything about crews. I said Crusaders. Get it right."

"Are you two brother and sister or something?" Wakka asked.

"NO!" we shouted at the same time.

"Well you fight like you are. Come on. Besaid is just over that hill, ya." He said leading the way.