Disclaimer: I do NOT own Shaman King, or Final fantasy, but I do own my computer! Lol. Hope you enjoy! Reviews are welcomed with open arms. Flamers can get lost! End of disclaimer. I do own the other main character that happens to be me! No one else owns me, but I do own Abbie, AKA: Dark and Light Samurai the FFX game I borrowed off her! .
Hao's new destiny. Part 8.
Tidus and Hao both watched sadly as Yuna was asked along with other summoners to perform sendings for those who had died. But what hurt even more was that Sarah had to do another blessing. Hao already knew that blessings tired Sarah very easily. She'd told him it took concentration and belief that there was a better place. In this case, that place was the Farplane.
They watched as Sarah floated across the heavy waves of the sea towards where most of the dead bodies lay, aimlessly floating, bumping into each other with no sense of direction. She repeated what she'd done in Kilika. But this time, it seemed more depressing.
Hao watched as Auron made his way over to Kinoc, who was walking along the body riddled beach with Seymour and his guards. Hao climbed down from the cold rock he'd been sitting on and joined Auron in confronting Kinoc.
As he got closer, he just about heard Auron say with bitterness, "A swift retreat. Satisfied?"
Kinoc looked slightly stunned. "What do you mean?" Auron looked like he was about to laugh coldly.
"Those who turned from Yevon died while the faithful live on." He stated with a cutting edge voice that made Hao shudder. Even Tidus looked slightly nervous in Auron's presence.
Kinoc however, didn't seem bothered by Auron attitude. "These past 10 years have changed, you see?" Then he walked off. Hao gave him a distrusting look as he walked off.
Yuna and the other summoners were now doing the sendings. Hao hadn't had chance to see the sending in Kilika, and watching all these summoners dance upon the water, the staffs swaying and spinning within their owners grips made Hao realised how thankful he was for not seeing the sending whilst in Kilika. Tidus had said it was the most depressing thing he'd seen. And he was right.
Sarah meanwhile, was sat on the cold, unwelcoming sand with her necklace still being clutched firmly within her fingers. Every now and then she would let the sword charm slip between her fingers. As Hao edged closer to her, he could hear her whispering a few unclear words under her breath. He realised she seemed to be re-powering herself, like Jeanne did with her Iron Maiden.
"You don't look so well." A voice said, making Hao jump, so that he fell flat on his bum, whilst Sarah jerked out of her trance and spun her head around to face Seymour, who was stood just between her and Hao.
Sarah struggled to stand up, but obviously still weak from the blessing, she nearly collapsed again. Hao quickly jumped up and grabbed her arm before she landed ungracefully back down.
Yuna stepped in. She looked fairly pale herself, also unhappy from doing another sending. Seymour preformed the prayer to her. Yuna slowly returned it. Then Seymour turned back to Sarah, who was holding onto Hao's shoulder to stop herself from stumbling.
Seymour continued. "Now more than ever, you must be the people's strength, their confidence." Sarah sighed, wishing deep down she wasn't. Being a Sorceress wasn't what it was cracked up to be.
"Anyone else would be expected to show their sorrow," Seymour continued, staring down at Sarah firmly. "But you...you are a Sorceress. You are Spira's hope. Until Sin is defeated, you must not relent. Do you understand?"
Sarah nodded weakly. Hao glared at Seymour. Seymour just ignored this. Hao was rather annoyed. Didn't he care how Sarah felt? How would he feel if he thought the whole of Spira was on his shoulders, and their future depended on him?
Seymour asked out of the blue, "Are you afraid?"
Sarah didn't reply. She squeezed Hao's shoulder even harder. Hao knew what this meant. She was afraid. Very afraid.
Seymour put his hand on Sarah's shoulder. Hao had to smack himself mentally as a sudden urge to push Seymour away washed over him. Seymour paid no attention to Hao, and said very clearly, "Sarah, take me as your pillar of strength. As Yunalesca had her Lord Zaon."
Hao frowned. Who was Yunalesca? And who was Lord Zaon? And what did he mean by taking him as her pillar of strength?
He gripped tightly onto Sarah as Seymour said his departing words. "Sorceress Sarah. Until next time we meet, farewell." Then he walked off. Hao sneered behind his back. He noticed Tidus was pulling a fairly familiar face. They both truly had no trust in Seymour. He and Kinoc had known that this whole operation was going to fail. But they let it continue. Hao hated them even more for it. He desperately wished that his mind reading abilities hadn't been lost along with his Shaman powers, so that he could simply eave drop on the Maesters minds and tell what they were really thinking. But then again, that was the thing that had made him so evil to start with. Maybe it was for the best that he couldn't do that anymore.
Hao started dragging Sarah ahead. Sarah was starting to get her strength back, but still needed some help.
Wakka grabbed her other arm. "Hopefully, she recovers fully when we get to Djose Temple. The next fayth is there."
Hao nodded. Right now, he needed some rest too. He felt rather drained of energy also. He turned around as Tidus and Auron caught up with them. Tidus looked back at the surviving crusaders.
"Where are we going? We should stay and help them!" He insisted. Wakka looked stunned at what Tidus said, then sighed. "We'll be of better use at the Temple of Djose, ya? All the survivors are being taken there," he said, "Besides, Yuna must pray to the fayth," Tidus nodded as though he understood, but Hao could tell he was just having a blonde moment.
Hao and Tidus walked a little slower then the others. Wakka was now helping Sarah walk on so she could talk to Yuna. When the guys noticed that the others were walking ahead, they picked up the pace. They caught up with Kimahri. Yuna turned around and called, sounding a little too bright, "Hey you three! Hurry up!"
Tidus was surprised at this, and murmured to Hao, "She's awfully cheerful."
Before Hao could reply, he got a shock as Kimahri spoke for the first time. "In dark times she must be. She must shine bright,"
Hao yelped and ran behind Tidus, almost scared to here the Ronso speak. He had a very deep voice. Tidus just froze and stared up at Kimahri, who looked back over his shoulder at Tidus and continued, "Now are dark times. Yuna tries hard,"
Tidus cocked his head to one side. "We should help her then!" He replied.
Kimahri shook his head, "If we worry, Yuna tries harder," he said as he continued walking, "Do not frown."
Hao smiled weakly at what Kimahri was trying to say. Tidus sighed softly. "Don't worry, be happy?" He checked. Kimahri turned to face him.
"Kimahri try too." He said simply. Hao and Tidus looked at each other before grinning. They turned back to Kimahri. "Smile then!" Hao said smirking.
Kimahri narrowed his eyes at Hao. Then he gave an odd sigh before baring his teeth with his arms crossed.
Tidus was able to keep a straight face. Hao wasn't. He quickly ran ahead towards Yuna and Sarah and Wakka so that Kimahri wouldn't pull his hair for laughing.
"I can hold her for now." Hao mumbled to Wakka, taking hold of Sarah's other arm. Wakka nodded and let go, and backed up to join Tidus.
They both turned around as Tidus tried to help a crusader, who was limping nearby them, but the crusader flinched away from him and snapped, "I can walk!" Before hobbling on, and nearly bumping into Hao in the process. Hao sighed sadly. Humans could be so stubborn.
Hao and Sarah slowed down a little so they could keep Tidus company. He was walking along side Lulu. They weren't really saying anything. They however, were walking slower then the others. Hao soon found out why she'd slowed her pace down.
"You don't like Maester Seymour." She stated as though it was obvious. Tidus pulled a face as if to say, 'Thank you captain obvious', whilst Hao snorted with a nod. Sarah didn't say anything. She just rolled her eyes at Hao and Tidus.
"As guardian's to one of the most well known summoners in Spira, and protector's of a well respected Sorceress, you must be careful how your feelings come across to people," Lulu continued. Tidus just snorted silently before responding.
"And I care, do I?"
Hao nodded in agreement. "I'm not too fond of him either. There's something… weird about the guy…"
Tidus hissed loud enough for Hao but not Lulu to hear, "Hey he's got blue hair, of course there's something weird about him." Hao stuffed his free fist in his mouth so he wouldn't laugh out loud.
Lulu turned to the two of them and said firmly, "If you care for Sarah and Yuna, you do."
Tidus and Hao both looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. "Point made and taken." They said equally. Lulu nodded silently before walking ahead.
Eventually they got to the Djose Temple. Tidus asked the multi millionaire question. "How far till Zanarkand?" Hao swore he could feel his ears perk up as Tidus asked this. He was dying for an answer.
Wakka smiled very weakly. "Still a ways…"
Lulu added on, "first down the Moonflow to the Guado city of Guadosalam, then we cross the Thunder plains to the Temple of Macalania…"
Hao felt his legs get heavier whilst Tidus groaned and wailed, "Oh boy…"
Yuna smiled and added for a joke, "But before all that, we get to pray at the temple of Djose." Tidus smiled forcefully and asked, "Can we just skip all that, can we?"
Yuna shook her head, and then Sarah piped up, speaking for the first time in ages, "Yuna has to pray at every fayth at all the Temples to obtain the Final Aeon. It's like a training skill to prepare Yuna for the Final Summoning." She looked to the ground sadly. Hao understood why. Even though Yuna was one of those Yevon lovers, she was one of those people who you grew to like. She was polite, encouraging, but Hao had to admit, she was the slightest bit naïve.
Tidus let out a low whistle when he heard all this. He still didn't know how the Final Summoning worked. Neither Hao nor Sarah wanted to break his heart by telling him so soon. "Must be tough Yuna." He mumbled.
Yuna smiled calmly. "I'll be okay. With you here."
Hao tried not to laugh as Tidus went a light shade of red, which didn't show up much because Tidus's skin was so tanned.
(Authors note: Something my friends and me noticed. Tidus comes from a place that seems like permanent nighttime and he's tanned. Yuna comes from the quiet version of Hawaii, yet she's as white as milk! Don't you find that a little odd?)
Hao and Sarah scrambled ahead so that Sarah could sit down on a nearby rock. Sarah's strength was returning, but travelling was draining it, so she needed her rest. Hao found it surprising that blessing could be so exhausting, but by the time they'd found a place for her to sit, she could barely walk.
One of the priests came running out of the Temple when they heard about Sarah's condition. He immediately insisted that Sarah needed some sleep. Hao nodded in agreement and helped take Sarah into the Temple.
"Ah!" He yelped as his hair went flying all over the place. He could see why. The entire place was being held up by charges of electricity. When Kimahri walked in, his fur puffed so that he looked like a giant fur ball. He laughed softly. The others walked in. Auron looked extremely amused when he saw the state of Hao's hair. Hao gave him a death glare.
Suddenly, a man stepped out of the fayth, with a little boy who looked no older then 10 and a man who looked like he was in his early 20's. Hao could sense a kind relaxed aurora coming from the three of them. They seemed pleasant enough.
The Summoner of the group looked fairly surprised to see Yuna. He walked towards them. "I beg your pardon, but may I ask your name?"
Yuna smiled politely. "I am Summoner Yuna. From the isle of Besaid."
Hao looked at the little kid of the group. He had a sudden image of the little boy who had been friends with Yoh. What was his name, Manta/Morty or something?
The priest that had helped Sarah just before came out of the chamber Sarah was resting in a hissed to Hao, "Sorceress Sarah wishes to speak to you."
Hao nodded and walked into the chamber. Sarah was lying on the top of the covers, sweating slightly. She smiled weakly when she saw him.
"I don't want to be left alone in this room…" She mumbled. "The pillars kind of scare me…"
Hao could see why. They were just lightning charges. He kept imagining that the whole Temple was going to collapse.
Hao nodded in agreement. "Yuna was just chatting to another Summoner." He told her. Sarah smiled sweetly.
"Do you know what?" She said. "I'm glad that I've got you and the others as friends. I know that once this whole ordeal is over, you'll still be here to protect me. Even Yuna… if she…" Sarah faltered sadly. Suddenly, Tidus came in, looking worried.
"That Summoner, Isaaru I think his name was, just told me that Summoners have been disappearing in the Moonflow. Weird, huh?"
Hao and Sarah looked at each other. Hao leaned over to Sarah slightly "Does this have anything to do with the Al Bhed?" He whispered so Tidus wouldn't here.
Sarah scratched her chin. "Possible…" She struggled to get up again. She stumbled. Hao quickly grabbed her shoulders.
"I'm fine…" She mumbled. "Just a bit stiff that's all. There were so many… I had to bless every single one of them." Suddenly, she tripped over the blanket of the bed and sent Hao flying. She landed on top of him with a thud.
Tidus screeched with laughter before saying, "You're keen aren't you?" Before running out laughing.
Sarah went furious red before mumbling, "Sorry…" Before trying to roll off Hao. Hao seemed to stunned to move. He was still gripping tightly onto Sarah's shoulder, so she was unable to move.
"Erm… Hao? Snap out of it!" Sarah hissed, kicking him lightly in the ankle. Hao jerked out of his trance and quickly let go of Sarah's shoulders. Sarah rolled off him. Hao nervously stood up and helped Sarah back up.
Figuring out the trial in Djose Temple turned out to be a challenge. Auron couldn't help them out because he explained the trial always changed even for the same person. Eventually they figured it out.
Yuna went into the cloister. Hao looked around the place in interest. That is until a familiar voice stepped in…
"Well, well, you again." Dona said coolly, entering the chamber. Hao narrowed his eyes at her whilst Sarah rolled hers.
Bartello's eyes were however, stuck on Auron. Dona frowned when she saw this.
"What is it Bartello? You know this riff raff?"
Hao actually saw Sarah's jaw drop when Dona said this. Lulu and Wakka looked stunned too. Bartello didn't reply. He walked up to Auron.
"You are Auron, no?" Bartello asked in curiously.
"No, he's Santa Claus." Hao said sarcastically. Sarah giggled. Bartello didn't listen. He was waiting for Auron's reply.
Auron raised an eyebrow. "What of it?"
Bartello looked amazed. Then uncomfortable. "Can I… shake your hand?"
Hao's eyes widened in shock then he laughed at the look on Auron's face. He looked well shocked. Then he smiled still looking stunned.
Bartello continued. "Auron, no wait, Sir Auron! You're the reason… I became a Guardian because of you!"
Auron chuckled and held his hand out, which Bartello was quite happy to shake.
Wakka suddenly turned on Dona. "Calling the personal guardian of Lord Braska a riff-raff?"
"And you call yourself… a Summoner?" Lulu added very coldly.
Dona ignored them. At first. Until Sarah stepped in. "You really have no respect. That's why you'll fail as a Summoner." She said coolly.
Dona froze and turned to face her. "Is that so?"
Sarah smirked. "Yeah it is so…" At that moment, Yuna came out. Her eyes froze for a second on Dona, before she nervously walked past and out of the chamber. The others followed. Sarah glared harshly at Dona as she left.
Hao smirked at Dona face. She looked gobsmacked. She really had been pulled down by a peg or two. But as they went to leave, Dona called out one last thing for Sarah and Yuna.
"You owe much to your father," Dona voice rang out though the chamber, "All these guardians... and Sir Auron, too?" The other Summoner snorted, "And I hear Maester Seymour's quite taken with you." She nodded in Sarah's direction. "The world must look different when you're the daughter of Lord Braska and the so called famous Sorceress."
Hao turned around with his staff un-sheaved, and pointed it threateningly close to Dona's neck. Yuna frowned at Dona. Sarah just narrowed her eyes.
"So jealous of Yuna aren't you?" She said simply, before walking off. Hao saw Dona's expression. Yes, she was very jealous indeed…
To be continued… hope to here more positive comments!