Chapter 8: Small Children are just plain icky

"What's gotten into you two?" Wakka asked as the pedestal sank into the floor and formed the elevator.

"Don't blame me." I said, defensively, "Tidus is the one who ran in like he had a flaming baby in here or something."

Tidus crossed his arms, "So why can't we come in here?"

"Because…" Wakka explained, "…Only summoners, apprentice summoners, and guardians, can come down here, its tradition, very important."

"What's your excuse?" Tidus asked him.

"He's a guardian." I said. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. Wakka looked at me strangely.

"Are you sure we haven't met before, ya?" he asked.

"Ya." I replied waving my hand.

He shook his head, "Summoners leave on pilgrimages to pray to every temple in Spira. Guardians go along to protect them. There are two other guardians in there. One has a short fuse and the other…who knows what he's thinking. Well since we came this far might as well go all the way. Just don't say anything weird." We walked into the chamber of the Fayth and met Lulu and Kimahri. "Didn't think we could handle it did you?" She asked looking at Wakka.

She must've noticed Tidus and me standing behind Wakka because she rushed over to us, "Who are they?" she demanded, motioning her arm toward the non-guardians, namely Tidus and me.

Before anyone could answer, the door to the chamber of the Fayth opened and a young girl came out. "Yuna…" I whispered. She stumbled down the steps and Kimahri caught her in his arms.

"I did it." Yuna said smiling at us, "I am a Summoner."

"Wow and here I was thinking summoners were all old geezers." Tidus whispered his eyes glued to Yuna. Oh yeah she's got her claws in him. He's hooked.

We walked out of the temple and were met by a crowd of people. They swarmed around Yuna like family after you win the lottery. "Hey you guys over here." Wakka called to us. Tidus and I walked out to the town square and watched Yuna summon Valefor. The villagers oohed and ahhed like nobody's business. And to be honest, they were right. I mean seeing a summoning in the game was quite different than in real life. I wanted to reach out and touch Valefor but unfortunately that was probably forbidden too. I could hear the monks now, "No touching Aeons! Only summoners can touch the Aeons."

Later that night, I was surprised when Yuna approached me, "I noticed you were in the chamber…." She hesitated, reaching for a name.

"Siry. Yeah sorry about that. I was trying to stop Tidus but well, he won't listen to me."

"Tidus…he's the blonde right?" She asked pointing to him. He was standing talking with the Aurochs.

I nodded and Yuna smiled to herself. Uh oh…she's hooked too. "You stay away from the summoner! You heathen." An old man said taking Yuna's hand and leading her away. I stood to retaliate when Wakka and Tidus joined me. "She's cute, ya?" Wakka asked Tidus.

"Yeah." Tidus mumbled.

"Well don't get no ideas. All right."

"No promises there Big Guy. But hey what if she hits on me?" Tidus said smiling deviously.

"Not gonna happen." Wakka said shaking his head, "We're leaving early tomorrow. You two should get some rest. Let me know when you're ready. I had beds made for you, ya."

"Thanks Wakka." I said smiling at him.

He walked back over to the Aurochs. "I'm gonna go talk to her." Tidus said walking up to the huddled group.

"Stay away from the summoner!" an old woman yelled. Tidus took another step forward but a little kid stood up.

"You're a bad man!" she shouted.

"Well you're an ugly kid." I said sticking my tongue out at the kid. If anybody was going to insult Tidus, it was going to be me.

"Siry." Tidus scolded.

"What? She is ugly. Just look at that hair cut. Her face isn't fit to put a paper bag over. I would use plastic just so I could suffocate myself, if I looked like that."

"Stop it." Yuna said walking up to me, "You're hurting her feelings."

"Well her face is hurting mine." I replied.

"Ugh go over there." She said pointing toward Wakka.

"Yuna looked pretty upset. What did you do, ya?" He asked as I walked over to him.

"She's mad cause I insulted some little kid." I explained, "It's not my fault that kid looked like she fell from an ugly tree."

Wakka shook his head, "Where are you from?" he asked.

I popped piece of Juicy Fruit in my mouth and thought about my answer. Well he didn't believe Tidus and his whole Zanarkand story…so maybe he would believe my 'I'm from another world' story. Well to be honest…who cared? It would be less of a hassle not to tell him, anyway.

"I'm not from Spira." I said.

"Then where you from?"

"I'm a wanderer. I don't really have a home."

"So I guess you didn't have parents to teach you manners then huh? Well now that you're here in Spira, you can't go around insulting people."

"Ohhh why not Wakka?"

"It's not right." He said looking at me sternly.

"All right, Wakka, you win. I'll go apologize to the ugly…I mean the beautiful-challenged child." I walked toward them when the little kid ran up to Yuna.

"Lady Yuna, come play with me some more." She said.

"Hey ug…I mean kid." I said running over to her.

"I thought I told you…" Yuna began.

"Hold on Yuna…Look kid…I'm sorry or whatever. I shouldn't have called you ugly. Even though it's the truth." This earned me a light smack in the shoulder from Tidus.

I rubbed my shoulder, "I'm sorry, kid." I mumbled.

Yuna nodded with approval and walked away with the kid. I smack Tidus on the shoulder as soon as they were gone, "What the crud did you hit me for?" I snapped.

"You can't apologize can you?" he asked.

"Of course. You heard me didn't you?"

"That's not apologizing you big stupid." He said before running up to Wakka.

"Of course that's apologizing." I thought, "He doesn't know what he's talking about."

"This way to the beds." Wakka called as he led us into the Crusaders Lodge, "I'll see you two in the morning, ya." Wakka said leaving us to settle in for the night.