Please RnR!

Chapter Seven

Tasks of a Guardian

Sin's attack on Kilika destroyed a lot of things. It did not, however, destroy the Kilika Inn, which came in handy. All those who's homes had been destroyed sought refuge there. Tidus, Yuna, and her guardians also spent the night there. They planned to spend the next day going through the woods and paying a visit to Kilika Temple, and then they would board another boat and head for Luca for the blitz tournament.

"Besaid Aurochs, huddle!" Wakka's voice boomed throughout the busy town. People were all over, hammering boards into the broken walkways, comforting the wounded and mourning, and praying that Sin would leave their island alone from now on. The Aurochs and Tidus were helping to repair a destroyed fishing boat when they heard Wakka's call. Wakka smiled when they met him near the entrance clearing to the Kilika Woods. "On to the temple, where we pray for victory!" He exclaimed. "High Summoner Ohalland used to live in Kilika Temple here." Tidus found himself still unsure of what that term meant. "Yep." Wakka continued. "Lord Ohalland was once a great blitzer, you know?"

Tidus suddenly felt like the game was worthless. Staring at the broken town, he thought of Zanarkand, and he missed it terribly. "Wakka..." He started. "Praying for victory's all good, but is this right?"

Wakka made a stern face. "Something wrong with enjoying blitzball?"

"Is this really the time?" Tidus asked. This town needed more prayers than the Aurochs did.

"This is the only time!" Wakka cheered. "The players fight with all their strength: the fans cheer for their favorite team. They forget pain, suffering,only the game matters! That's why blitz has been around for so long." Wakka smiled. "Least that's what I think."

"Whatever you say." Tidus said reluctantly.

"Let's play." Wakka said encouragingly. "And win!" Tidus forced a small smile and Wakka and the team. "The temple's beyond this jungle here, Yuna, Lulu, and Kimahri are up ahead. Let's go!"

Yuna and Lulu were conversing at the beginning of an overgrown brick path cutting through a wild, humid jungle. "What's up?" Wakka asked, as he, Tidus, and the team approached.

Lulu heaved a sigh. "Yuna's saying," She said, unsuredly. "She wants you with us."

"I want to ask you to be my guardian." Yuna said shyly. She couldn't look neither Tidus nor Wakka in the eye.

"Yuna! What? This is no time for jokes, ya?" Wakka spoke. "He may be a blitzball whiz kid, but up against fiends, he's a newbie."

"Not a guardian then. I just want him nearby." Yuna whispered. Wakka made a surprised look.

"What? What do you mean?" Tidus was surprised. He'd only known Yuna for but a couple of days. Why did she want him to be a guardian all of a sudden?

"It's just that, well..." Yuna started.

"We're all going to the temple anyway." Lulu finished for her. "Can't this wait till later?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have." Yuna whispered.

Tidus brushed this off. "There's nothing to be sorry about, I'm just not sure what's going on."

"My apologies." Yuna spoke softly, yet she looked Tidus in the eye. He nearly jumped back. Her sudden burst from shyness had surprised him. Kimahri stepped up behind her.

They began to walk through the woods. It was hot and quiet. You wouldn't know you were on an island surrounded by a large ocean standing in that jungle. The path cut through, and it was made of rambling, uneven white bricks that were so overgrown that they seemed to just be part of the forest. A large stream wound through the jungle. As they approached a bridge leading over that such stream, they encountered Luzzu and Gatta, the Crusaders from Besaid. They explained to Yuna that they were preparing for a "secret mission against Sin" at a place called Mushroom Rock that might "make the summoner's lives a little easier." Yuna gave a nervous-sounding laugh at them.

Yuna attempted to excuse herself and her party from their presence and move onto the temple, but the Crusaders would not let her past. Gatta motioned to a large fiend not moving beyond the bridge. "It's sleeping right now."

The fiend was large and purple. It had several large leaves seeming to be growing from it, and four long, green tentacles. "The fiend before us is Ochu, Lord of the Wood." Luzzu explained. "We've had trouble with this one before."

"Are you kidding me?" Wakka exclaimed. "You claim to be able to drive away Sin, but can't even defeat a little...plant-forest-fiend?"

Gatta and Luzzu looked stunned for words. Lulu sighed. "Allow me." She said. Raising her arm slightly, she closed her eyes in concentraction. A wind seemed to pick up from nowhere, yet it only seemed to be hitting Lulu. She opened her eyes, smiled at the fiend, and something rocketed from the pointy tips of her fingernails. The fiend jumped up, howling in pain as a burst of flames hit is square in the stomach. Tidus was speechless.

"What did you just do?" He asked Lulu, who gave him a wry smile.

"Black magic." She explained. "A rare skill. That was a fire spell." She raised her arm slightly again. Another fire spell hit the fiend, which fell backwards, exploding in the same strange light-creatures that Tidus had seen during the sending.

"A summoner and her guardians." Luzzu said. "Very impressive."

"Sir! We should fight, too!" Gatta chirped.

Luzzu shook his head. "We'll get our chance soon enough." Both gave the prayer gesture, and continued on their way through the woods.

"So..." Tidus said, feeling awkward. "You can just do that?"

"Black magic, you mean?" Lulu's voice seemed full of a cocky sort of pride. "Like I said, it's a rare skill. Not everyone can 'just do that.' You must be born with the ability, and then it takes years of training." She turned and followed the path that Luzzu and Gatta had followed.

"There are certain types of magic that a person can cast." Yuna was explaining to him as they headed through the woods. "Black magic and white magic are the most common types. Black magic is a damaging magic that uses the four elements, Water, Fire, Blizzard, and Lightning whereas white magic is healing magic." Tidus nodded, beginning to understand a little. "You have to be born with the ability to cast black magic, like Lulu was. Since it requires special training to learn to cast it right. White magic can be learned, as I have done."

"So, you can cast white magic, Yuna?" Tidus asked.

Yuna nodded. "It was part of my training...to become a summoner. It wasn't that hard. Maybe I can teach you sometime."

"That'd be great!" He smiled.

Yuna grinned. "I don't think the temple's much further." They continued along the path.

Eventually, the woods began to thin out, and they reached a tall set of wide, moss-covered, stone steps. "These stone steps have a history, you know? Yep, Lord Ohalland trained here at his peak."

The steps were very high, and led up to the temple, which was built on a plateued ledge on a cliffside, and out of the jungle. "Bet I could beat ya to the top." Wakka said, teasingly.

"A race, huh? Think you can beat me?" Tidus took a place at the foot of the stairs.

"Yuna, if you would?" Yuna stood at the first step.

"Ready...?" Yuna put her arm up, preparing to signify the beginning of the race. Then, with a giggle, she ran up the stairs, leaving them standing, waiting for her signal.

"Hey!" Wakka and Tidus shouted after Yuna, and ran her path. Tidus was disapointed. Wakka was much faster than he, and took a large lead. But, near the top of the stairs, he stopped, and he and Yuna ran back in a panic.

"Everyone! Quick! Sinspawn!" The word sounded vaugely familiar to Tidus. He raced up the stairs, yanking the sword Wakka gave him from it's scabbard, he heard Lulu and Kimahri racing up behind him.

At the top of the stairs was what looked like a big, gray rock. Suddenly, up from the ground burst two, humongous appendages. They were like long, thin, green hands, with whip-like fingers.

"Lulu!" Wakka cried. "Those tentacles might be able to protect the body, take them out with some spells! Me, Kimahri, and Tidus will attack the body head-on, and Yuna, you stand back in case we need you to heal, and once we get it weakened, call your aeon!" He ordered, directing the party to their standing points.

Lulu raised her arm slightly and hit one of the arms with a fire spell, and then another. This arm flopped to the ground, and was pulled back under to whence it came. She repeated the process with the other arm.

Wakka hit the Sinspawn body hard, Tidus and Kimahri followed suit. Once Lulu caused the other arm to fall, the big, gray, rock burst open, and there stood a fiend. The rock was only it's shell. "Keep hitting it!" Wakka ordered. Tidus struck it again with his sword, as Lulu pummeled it with a fire spell. "Yuna, now!" Wakka called.

Yuna raised her staff, holding it out towards her side, as she had done in Besaid. Out from the clouds burst the beast, Valefor. It thunderously hit the ground, and Yuna stroked it's beak, pointing with her staff at the Sinspawn. Valefor flew forward and slashed it with it's sharp talons. The Sinspawn exploded in the same strange light-creatures, and Valefor flew back to the heavens.

"Whew!" Tidus was out of breath.

"Sorry about that! Hoped to break you in a little slower." Wakka said apologetically.

"Being a guardian's tiring!"

"You handled yourself pretty well. You got talent."

Tidus was regaining his strength. "So, what are these sinspawn anyway?"

"Fiends." Lulu explained. "They fall from Sin's body, and are left behind in its wake."

"Leave 'em alone, and Sin comes back for 'em." Wakka added. "You gotta be quick!" They continued up towards the temple. "So, uh...they got fiends in Zanarkand, too?"

"Just a few." Tidus told him. "It's a big deal when one shows up, though." Then, the realization of what Wakka just said hit him hard. "Hey! Since when have you believed me about Zanarkand, anyway?"

"I been thinking." Wakka said. "Maybe people Sin gets to don't die. Maybe Sin carries 'em through time. Like a thousand years through time. And then, one day, maybe they just pop back, see?"

Lulu stopped and chuckled a little. "Amazing. Simply amazing. You make up one theory after another, refusing to face the simple truth." Lulu looked at Wakka threateningly. "Sin didn't take Chappu anywhere. Sin crushed him and left him on the Djose shore. Your brother won't just pop back." She started walking again, but then stopped. "Oh, and one more thing, no matter how much you want it, no one can take Chappu's place. No one can replace Sir Jecht, for that matter. And there's no replacement for Lord Braska, either. It's pointless to think about it, and sad." She headed up to the temple, and Kimahri and Yuna followed.

Wakka sighed. "I...I could never be what Chappu was." He made a forced smile. "Well, stuff happens. Best not to worry." He followed the path up to the temple. He knew it. Wakka, Lulu, and Wakka's brother Chappu. Something had happened between them a long time ago. He was sure of it. Well, whatever it was, it was none of his business, that was for sure. Best not to go there.

Kilika Temple was a tall, incricate building. Right at the foot of the structure was a large, glass-covered pit in the ground. In the pit burned a huge bonfire. At the entrance to the temple were stairs leading down. As they approached them, up from the stairs walked three men. They were all wearing the same identical purple uniform. They were tall, too, and muscular. 'Blitzball players?' Tidus wondered.

"You here to pray for victory, too?" Wakka asked as they passed.

"Us? Pray?" One of the men asked. "Who needs to pray? The Luca Goers always win!"

"Oh, yeah?" Wakka asked. "Then why are you here?"

"We've been praying for some competition this year." One of the other men said, sarcastically.

"So what's your goal this time? You gonna "do your best" again?" The first man laughed. "Ha! It's too bad your best isn't good enough! Why even bother showing up?"

Tidus knew that these were probably a very tough team for the Aurochs. "This time, we play to win!" He cheered.

"Oooh! Play away! Just remember even kids can play, boys." The men laughed amonst themselves and walked into the jungle.

"See you in the finals!" Wakka called after them, and, with a smug look on his face, he walked into the temple, Lulu and Kimahri on his heels.

Tidus hated cocky players like that. He'd known tons of them in Zanarkand. He was better than most of them anyway, but it still bothered him. "We'll beat them. We have to!"

Yuna frowned. "You know that team?"

"Putting people down," Tidus blurted out. "They're as bad as my old man!"

"But, Sir Jecht was a kind and gentle man!" Yuna said, shocked at what he'd said.

"Well, not my Jecht." Tidus gave Yuna a frown. She sighed and followed into the temple.

The temple was bright, all full of glowing torches. The same statues lined the room. He recognized the one of Lord Braska, as it was the newest looking one, by the staircase leading to the Chamber of the Fayth. Wakka was kneeling, praying by another statue of a strong-looking man.

"Lord Ohalland, guide our feet!" Wakka was praying, bowing and making the prayer gesture towards the statue. Tidus watched with interest as the rest of the group prayed as well.

The stone door to the Chamber of the Fayth opened, and out walked a tall, dark-skinned woman in a white dress, followed by a large, muscular man with a stupified espression on his face. She looked at Yuna from the top of the stairs and approached her.

"A summoner are you?" She asked rudely.

"Yes." Yuna responded. "My name is Yuna, from the Isle of Besaid."

"Dona." The woman introduced herself. "So, you're High Summoner Braska's daughter. That's quite a name to live up to. And my, my, my." She eyed the group. "All these people are your guardians? My, what a rabble! As I recall, Lord Braska had only two guardians. Quality over quantity, my dear. Whatever were you thinking?" Yuna's face blushed slightly, but she seemed to brush it off. "I have need of only one guardian. Right, Barthello?" The stupid-looking man stepped forward.

"I only have as many guardians as there are people I can trust. I trust them all with my life!" Yuna said firmly. "To have so many guardians is a joy, and an honor! Even more so than being my father's daughter." Dona looked perturbed. "Of course, I would never think of questioning your ways, either. So, Lady Dona, I ask of you: please leave us in peace."

Dona rolled her eyes. "You do what you want." She turned to her guardian. "Barthello, we're leaving." She turned on her heel and sauntered from the temple.

A guardian was someone a summoner could rely on. Someone she could trust with her life. He wondered, did Yuna feel that way about him? She abruptly smiled. "Let's go!" She called to her guardians, and they approached the Chamber of the Fayth.

Inside of the door was a lift, similar tot eh one leading to the chamber in Besaid. "The fayth is below. Let's do it!" Wakka cheered.

"Kimahri, Wakka, ready?" Lulu asked. The entire group, including Tidus boarded the lift.

"Strength everyone!" Yuna smiled, as Kimahri pushed Tidus from the lift. He stumbled foward, nearly hitting the door.

"Hey, what gives?" He asked, slightly annoyed.

"You're not a guardian yet." Lulu explained. Tidus suddenly remembered Wakka's words. Only summoners, apprentice summoners and their guardians were allowed in.

"Um, we'll be back as soon as we can, okay?" Yuna said, unsuredly, as the lift went down.

"Oh, sure, soon." Tidus frowned and sighed. "Like 'tomorrow' soon, I bet."

The door behind him opened, and back in walked Dona and Barthello. "What are you doing here?" He started to ask, but Dona didn't answer him.

"Where's Yuna?" She asked, and Tidus pointed to the lift, which had just returned to it's place in front of Tidus. "Then, why are you here?"

"Hey, I'm not a guardian, so I'm not supposed to go in, right?" Dona looked intrugued by this.

"Not a guardian, you say?" She looked at Barthello and smiled. Bathello walked up and scooped up Tidus, dropping him back down atop the lift.

"Hey! What's the big idea?" He demanded.

Dona's mouth turned up into a sly smile. "Just a little game." She said cheerfully. The lift went down, with Tidus on it.

"No!" Tidus squealed, knowing he was in trouble. "This is bad, really bad." The lift reached the bottom, and he decided he would simply wait until it went back up, but it never did. 'Maybe I'll just wait by the door.' He thought to himself, looking at the door leading into the chamber. He approached it, and the lift went up behind him. "No!" He shouted, but it was too late, the lift was well on it's way back up. He was stuck.

He sighed as he looked at the door. "Only guardians allowed, and I'm sure no guardian. Well, I guess it's too late now." With a heavy heart, he opened the door.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Wakka and Lulu ran over to Tidus, annoyed looks on their faces.

"It was Dona and that big musclehead man!" Tidus tried to explain.

"Yuna will be the one to face the concequences." Lulu said sternly.

"She could be excommunicated!" Wakka added. Tidus felt a worried feeling in the pit of his stomach. "But don't worry, I'm sure with you being near Sin and all, it'll be okay, right?" Lulu nodded in agreement.

At the far end of the chamber was a big, stone door, just like the one in Besaid. "What's in there, anyway?"

"The fayth," Wakka told him. "Remember?"

"Oh yeah." Tidus said, feigning rememberance. "That thing, right."

"The fayth are people who gave their lives to battle Sin. Yevon took their souls, willingly given from their still-living bodies." Lulu explained. "Now they live forever, trapped in statues. But when a summoner beckons, the souls of the fayth emerge once again. That's what we call an aeon."

"Oh!" Tidus said suddenly. "The people in Besaid, they said that that beast thing that Yuna summoned was the 'aeon from the fayth of Valefor.'"

"Right." Wakka told him. "The fayth in Besaid was once the high priestess of Besaid Temple, Valefor, but Yevon decided her fit for an aeon."

Tidus was in awe. "All in that room? So, what's Yuna doing in there?"

"She prays with all her heart for a way to defeat Sin." Wakka explained.

"The chamber beyond is a sacred place. Only summoners may enter." Lulu added.

"What, even guardians can't go?" Tidus was surprised, but then, why would they all be waiting outside?

"It's taboo!" Wakka informed him.

In that room, Tidus heard something. It was a strange song, he didn't know who was singing it. But it was beautiful, and it sounded far away. It seemed familiar, as if he'd heard it many times before, but he couldn't place it.

As Yuna staggered out of the chamber, he remembered. That song he heard there, in the temple, he knew it from his childhood. It was proof that Spira and Zanarkand were connected somehow. At least to him it was. Maybe that's why, suddenly, he felt like he just wanted to go home. He tried to say something, to tell them. But the words wouldn't come.

When they exited the temple, a group of people giving prayers and onlookers surrounded Yuna. "Did you recieve the aeon?" One asked

"I heard it is of the Warrior Ifrit!" Another added.

Yuna smiled, taking in all of their compliments. This was all familiar to Tidus. He remembered the days back in Zanarkand, which seemed so far away from him now, even though it he'd spent less than a week in Spira, when fans would mob him on his way to blitzball games. And now, here he was. Nobody knew him. Nobody recognized him here. He thought he'd put his feelings for Zanarkand behind him. At least he tried to. But yet, there they were, and they grew inside of him, bigger and bigger, till he was just about ready to burst. He pushed through the crowd and waited for Yuna and the rest of the group at the top of the stairs.

"Are...are you okay?" Yuna's voice was concerned beside him.

He didn't even acknowledge her. "I...I don't know." It was true. He didn't think he could last here in Spira. Not much longer.

"What do you want to do?" Yuna asked, still concern in her kind voice.

Tidus thought for a moment. "To scream real loud." He felt it coming up inside of him, as though the words cast a spell upon him. "AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" He screamed as loud as he could, causing a giggle from Yuna and some strange looks from Kimahri, Wakka, and Lulu.

They made their way back through the jungle, into the town, which was already starting to come together nicely with lots of progress made, and towards the dock where a boat, similar to the one that brough them from Besaid to Kilika was waiting.

"Off to Luca at last!" Wakka cheered. The sun was setting softly on the sea. "The matches start soon as we get there, so rest up on the way, ya?" They boarded the boat, and it set sail just as it was getting dark.

It was nearly midnight, yet all of the boat seemed full of action. Wakka had explained to him that there would be six teams competing for the Crystal Cup: The Besaid Aurochs, The Kilika Beasts (Who had been getting most of their last bit of strength training from helping to fix their city), The Luca Goers (The defending champions), The Al Bhed Psyches, The Ronso Fangs, and The Guado Glories. Tidus didn't seem worried. 'Only six teams?' Tidus wondered. 'How strange.'

Wakka and Lulu had taken a place on the lookout platform above the deck, they seemed to be just chatting. Yuna was standing at the front of the boat, surrounded by admiring crewmen, as usual. Tidus decided he would go down into the cabin and get some rest. By morning they'd be in Luca. But as he walked by the steps leading up to the lookout platform, he caught an earful of Lulu and Wakka's conversation.

"Well, say something." Lulu's voice was full of a slight bitterness. "You'll take responsibility?"

"Relax! He's bound to know someone in Luca." Wakka was saying assuredly. Tidus realized they were talking about him. He gently climbed the steps halfway to continue listening to their conversation.

"And if not?" Lulu demanded.

"He could always join a blitz team. Anyhow, it's better than just leaving him in Besaid!"

"What?" Lulu asked, the annoyance growing in her voice. "Just leaving him in Luca?"

"What do you want me to do?"

Lulu frowned and gazed out to the sea. "Yuna wants to make him a guardian."

"Oh yeah, geez... There's that too, eh?" Was Wakka's only response.

"And who's fault is that?"

"Not mine!" Wakka blurted, but then he sighed. "It is mine, huh?" He admitted. "Why do you think she wants to make him a guardian, anyway?"

"Because he's Sir Jecht's son." Lulu said, seeming as though she hardly believed it.

"You sure 'bout that? He's really Sir Jecht's son?" Wakka didn't seem like he believed it either.

"It's hard to say." Lulu said, looking down at the summoner she was guarding. "But Yuna seems to believe so."

"Okay." Wakka said firmly.

"'Okay?' 'Okay?' Is that all you have to say?" The annoyance in her voice reached an all-time high.

"He's gotta decide for himself, ya? Well, him and Yuna, I guess."

"You're right, for once." Lulu said bitterly. "I wonder which is best." She stared off into the horizon for a few moments. "Why don't you tell him he should?" She suggested.

"Should what?"

Lulu sighed. "Become Yuna's guardian."

"Why me?"

"Because Yuna can't."

"Why not?"

"He hates his father, or so Yuna tells me. What he was, and what he did. How can she possibly say to him, 'I want you to be my guardian, like your father was to mine?'" Lulu informed him.

"I'll try talking to him after the tournament." Wakka said.

"Be discreet." Lulu warned.

"I know. It's his decision." Wakka looked at the ground. "He doesn't like his father?"

"Apparently. He told Yuna as much."

"Hating your own father, huh? Sounds like a luxury to me." Wakka's voice grew sad. "I don't even remember my parents. Can't say how I feel about 'em."

Lulu looked down at the ground as well. "I..." Her voice was filled with tinges of pain. "I was five then, so I remember mine a little."

"Dammit!" Wakka punched at the ground. "Sin, just takes everything away from us!"

Tidus walked down the steps and found Yuna at the front of the boat, Kimahri by her side, surrounded by crewmen, and, much to his dismay, some members of the Luca Goers, headed to the tournament.

"Whatcha all talking about?' He asked.

They all turned. Yuna smiled and waved. "Who are you supposed to be?" One of the Goers asked.

"Ah, I remember him. Guy from Kilika." Another told him. "You know, one of the Besaid Aurochs. Said something about winning the cup."

"Oh, right. You're that idiot." The first said with a chuckle.

"Don't call him that!" Yuna's voice was tense, but firm. Her face held an expression of anger.

"But he is an idiot. They don't got what it takes to win the cup." He laughed, along with the other Goers.

"Well, they do now that I'm here!" Tidus chirped.

"Yes, they will win!" Yuna said excitedly. "He used to be the star player of the Zanarkand

Abes!"

The Goers looked at Yuna strangely. "Yeah, as if anyone lived in those ruins." One said.

"It's not ruins," Yuna protested. "There's a big city there! There is!"

"I got to close to Sin and-" Tidus started the whole routine over again.

"There is a city, really!" Yuna interuppted.

"Right." Said a Goer sarcastically. "Whatever Your Ladyship says." They giggled and muttered to themselves as they walked to the otherside of the boat and down into the cabin. Yuna sighed, and turned to watch the ocean.

He began to follow them, realizing that he had to sleep. Yet, on the far end of the deck, on the back end of the boat, he noticed something lying there. A blitzball. Same blue and white color as the ones in Zanarkand. It comforted him somehow. A memory clogged his vision.

When he was younger, and Jecht was still around, he'd once tried to do his father's signature shot. He was running forward, trying to kick it when Jecht started laughing.

"Well, well. Trying to follow in my footsteps, are you? I usually charge for lessons, you know. And that is done like this!" He kicked the ball straight at the wall, where it bounced back at him. He punched it back with his head, and then with his fist when it came back again, which shot it up into the air. He jumped up after the ball, did a spin into a kick, and kicked the ball forcefully, sending it soaring off into the distance. "You can't do it, kid." He'd said, once he hit the ground. "But don't worry, my boy. You're not the only one. No one else can do it. I'm the best!"

"I'm the best!" Jecht's words echoed in Tidus's mind. He kicked the ball at the outside wall of the cabin and performed the shot exactly, just as he knew he could.

"The best? Yeah, right." He laughed, the ball was still soaring off into the horizon.

"Woah!" A voice startled Tidus, he turned and saw Wakka, followed by the entire Aurochs team, standing nearby, mouths agape, eyes in amazement. "What's that called?"

Tidus shrugged and lied. "Doesn't have a name."

"Show us one more time, ya?" Wakka begged. Yuna was now standing with the Aurochs, eager to see too. Tidus did as he was told, and once he finished, he saw Yuna standing next to him.

"That was the Jecht Shot, wasn't it?" She giggled.

"How do you know that?" He asked.

"Sir Jecht showed it to me when I was a child." She stood in front of the railing, looking down at the water. Tidus took a place next to her. "He called it the 'Sublimely Magnificent Jecht Shot Mark III.'"

Tidus laughed. "Stupid name, huh?" Yuna smiled. "You know what? There is no Mark I or Mark II, you know?" He added. "My old man said the name Mark III was just something to hook the crowd. He said they'd come back every night expecting to see Mark I

and Mark II. And, they really did come back. I used to get so mad." He sighed. "Is he alive, you think?"

"I don't know. But, Sir Jecht was my father's guardian."

"So he's famous here, too." Tidus said sadly.

"Yes. So if anything happened to him, I should think word would get around fast." She looked at him eagerly. "What would you do, if you found him?"

"Who knows? I thought he died ten years ago." Tidus thought for a moment. "I'd probably

just smack him one. After everything he put Mom and me through. And because he was famous, I was always...well, you should know, Yuna. Your father's famous, too. Everyone in Spira knows him, right? Ain't it tough?"

"It is hard to follow in his footsteps, as a summoner." Yuna said. "But the honor of having a father like him surpasses all that, I think."

"Well, there wasn't much to honor about my old man, that's for sure."

"You shouldn't say that about your father!" Yuna scolded, with a smile.

"I got the right!"

"I guess you do." Yuna said softly.

Tidus was suddenly hit in the back fo the head with a blitzball. "Time for bed kiddos!" Wakka called, standing at the door of the cabin. They both walked over, exhausted from the long day.

He didn't think Jecht would come to Luca. He never did like watching other people play. But he couldn't help feeling something bad was gonna happen. And those feelings were usually

right. He had told Wakka he'd help him win the tournament. But hewasn't sure he had it in him anymore.