A Generation of Aeons
Chapter Fifty-Six

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or X-2

Last Time:

"Takoire," Garren continued, somewhat uneasily, "if I can call you that. I haven't known you for all that long, but I've come to think of you as a friend. I know I won't let you go alone. I'm going with you."

"I'll go too!" Gaia chirped, raising her hand. Takoire stared at her with a blank look. "I'll have you know I can more than handle myself! I grew up with Garren!"

"Uh…" the black-haired guardian struggled.

"Don't argue!" Gaia cut off, pointing a finger at him. "I'm helping."

Darka raised a hand from the side. "I'll go."

Takoire shook his head and scoffed, looking at all of them. "I don't suppose I could talk any of you out of it, can I?"

Gaia shook her head brightly. "Nope."

The guardian returned to the remaining council members. "Does this meet the Council's approval?"

Nooj nodded. "With two council leaders volunteering to go with you, I don't think the motion will have any problem passing."

Takoire bowed his head. "I don't deserve this."

Lenne smiled softly at him. "You don't give yourself enough credit."

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Takoire froze at his summoner's words. They echoed in his ears. You don't give yourself enough credit, and his mind suddenly became clearer than it had been in years.

With a significant amount of effort, the once Bevelle royal straightened to his full height, slowly weaning himself off the help of his summoner and the new Besaid Deputy Crimson Knight. He looked up at the council. "If you don't mind, I want to take a walk."

"Are you going to be okay?" Lenne started, the expression on her face made up of nothing but concern.

He put on a small smirk. Turning to her, Takoire found himself looking into his summoner's mismatched eyes. Standing up on his own, he brushed back a stray lock of Lenne's hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. He smiled softly. "I'll be fine. I just need a breather."

The guardian didn't give her a chance to answer but simply walked away and from the building. The main entrance doors opened, and Takoire found himself blinded by the sun before he shielded his eyes. As he walked, the buildings offered shade on and off while he continued to walk down the streets.

There wasn't a huge amount of space in the streets, mostly because of the large amount of refugees the city of Besaid was harboring and because the refugees that had been present during the open session of the council flooded the streets. Takoire knew that the guardians were providing a place to stay and a hot meal for every man, woman, and child in sight and then some. But anyone could see that the designated refugee buildings were cramped with cots, leaving no room for anything else, and the food was seriously lacking in any sort of taste.

Still… these refugees' conditions were prime compared to those he once suffered through.

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It was all such a blur what had happened. There was only one thing he knew for sure, it had been two weeks since his initial encounter with the Farplane and his ring, but he knew virtually nothing of the latter. Since that day, he had stumbled through every morning and night.

Somehow, three years had gone by without him knowing. After he had reemerged from the Farplane, three years had passed, and Zanarkand and Bevelle were at war with each other. He also soon learned that he was wanted by both sides.

It was obvious why the new leader of Bevelle was after him. He knew much more than anyone should ever know about the inner workings of the Bevelle government. Particularly the fact that Bevelle's leader only got where he was by killing off all the other legitimate heirs. But Sareth had somehow gotten the Bevelle public to look for him as well, claiming that it was he who had killed the Bevelle royal family.

The leader of Zanarkand, on the other hand, wanted him for entirely different reasons. The maester of Zanarkand believed that he was partly responsible for the death of an heir to Zanarkand; and nothing Yunalesca or Zaon could make him think otherwise.

Ultimately, he was living in the last neutral city in all of Spira.

"I don't want anything to do with the war. I just need some food and a bed," Takoire found himself saying.

The once guardian stood in the shadow of a doorway, seemingly nothing but another refugee of the war without a home. His once bright blue shirt was now a tattered rag of brown, and his black pants had become a faded gray with uncountable rips in them. Even his hair, a once jet black, had gained wisps of silver in it, and a carefree attitude had been replaced with only a distant longing.

The man opposite him stood angrily in the light. "What the hell do you think this is? A charity?"

"I can work," Takoire insisted. "I'll word for board and something to eat. I won't be in anyone's way."

The man scoffed. "I don't think you get it. We're serious around here, and we're all fighting for a cause. We can't afford to have no name bums like you around to slow us down. Now get your ass out of here," as he finished, the man attempted to make his point by shoving Takoire back… but he was gravely mistaken.

Takoire quickly took hold of the man's arm, pushing it against the door's frame as the man cried out in pain. "If there's nothing I hate more, it's a hypocrite! I may be just some bum, but that doesn't mean I'm an idiot. Your group may be secretive, but I know what you're supposed to be about." The man yelled out again. "Your main goal is to supposedly protect civilians from the conflict between Zanarkand and Bevelle and to overthrow the illegitimate government of Bevelle." The man glared, trying to hold back another cry of pain. "I can live with being turned down, but I won't stand for a hypocrite. If you want to protect the public from a war, you're really not helping by pushing around a bunch of bums."

"What's going on out there?" a familiar voice called out from inside.

Feeling a strange sense of familiarity at the voice, Takoire loosened his grip.

A new figure appeared in the doorway. His face was rather plain and worn with dark brown hair held by a ponytail, but his bright blue eyes made him appear much more than just plain.

"Takoire?" the new figure stuttered.

The guardian stepped back, letting the man go completely as the new figure came into the light. "Ryak…?"

A wide grin spread on the new figure's face as he approached. "It is you!"

Takoire suddenly found himself in a tight hug with what was once a distant memory of an old friend. "Ryak? Is it really you?"

The once head summoner of Byakko pulled back with a wide smile, looking over his old friend. "Of course it's me! But I can't believe it's you! I-I thought you died! Cheribum…" Ryak breathed out. "Look at you! What the hell happened to you? Are you okay?"

Takoire opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came.

Ryak just continued to smile and patted the guardian on the shoulder. "We can catch up later, old friend. For now, let's get you some clean clothes and something to eat."

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From that point, Takoire had learned that his old friend Ryak was the leader of a growing movement, which he soon became second-in-command for. During that time was when Takoire first began to re-learn the legends surrounding his only family heirloom. At the same time, Takoire also watched Ryak get married, became a best man at Ryak's wedding, and the godfather of Ryak's only daughter. But eventually… it all had to end.

The headaches were sporadic at best, the first occurring maybe two years after his arrival, steadily increasing afterwards. But just after his third year was when Ryak died in one of the battles. He could remember telling Ryak's wife and daughter what had happened. He stayed only to ensure their safety and well-being before returning to the Farplane. From then on, he never stayed in a place longer than two months. It wasn't good to get himself attached to anything.

"Glad to see you're up and about. Especially since I saw you last night… unconscious."

Takoire looked up at the voice, finding the legendary guardian Sir Tidus. "Uh… Sir Tidus-"

The older man held up a hand. "Tidus. Just Tidus." He smirked. "It seems every time I run into you, you're running off."

"Sir-"

"Tidus," the former guardian repeated. "It's Tidus."

Takoire frowned, bowing his head. "Sorry."

Tidus just smiled peculiarly. "Don't worry about it. You know, we're a lot alike. I used to be the star player of the Zanarkand Abes and so were you. And even though mine wasn't real it still counts."

"I wasn't planning on saying anything," the guardian admitted, "but I was the one did train Shuyin."

Tidus smiled, nodding his head. "So I've heard. Funny how everything's connected, isn't it? If you hadn't trained Shuyin, he wouldn't have become captain of the Abes, he wouldn't have met my daughter's namesake, no one would have created me based off him, I wouldn't exist, and I if I hadn't been around for Yuna, she would have died as just another high summoner. But basically, what I figure is that if it weren't for you, none of us would be here."

Takoire was speechless for the second time that day. "I-I honestly never thought about it that way-" he caught himself, "Tidus."

He shrugged. "I heard that you, Lenne, Garren, Gaia, and Darka are all leaving for the Farplane tomorrow. To fight Sareth."

"I thought that was a closed session of the council…"

Tidus just continued to smile. "Just because Spira's politics no longer involve me doesn't mean I don't know what's going on. My daughter's the leader of her own branch, and my nephew is the leader of another. I happen to know Council leader Lucil and Councilman Nooj pretty well since I'm friends with both, and I've known Malthus and Bairan since the day they were born."

"You're a resourceful guy, Tidus."

"I try." He glanced over his shoulder. "I should get back in." He pointed up at the sun. "It'll be dark soon. But let me give you one piece of advice, Takoire. Yuna and Lenne are some pretty special women. They were meant to do great things, even if they never wanted to. But if there's a way for them to have their cake and eat it too, they'll grab onto it with everything they've got. Trust me on this one."

The young man nodded. "Thank you."

"No worries," Tidus answered easily, disappearing into the house.

Resuming his walk, Tidus' words made another memory surface. A memory that was only created a few months ago.

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"Did you hear? There's a summoner here on his way to the Macalania Temple."

"I heard he only became a summoner after his wife was killed by Sin."

"But I heard his wife was an Al Bhed! A heathen! How can anyone marry an Al Bhed?"

"So? I hear his guardians are just as strange. One's supposedly an ex-warrior monk for Bevelle while the other claims he's from Zanarkand!"

"Zanarkand? Is he trying the have the Yevon clergy come after him?"

"Excuse me," he interrupted as politely as possible, having to cut through the small group made up of gossipers.

He had been wondering ever since his arrival in the new time if he was in this time as well. As a result of his unchecked curiosity, Takoire spent his time in the lobby of Guadosalam's inn, collecting information on the current events taking place in Spira and approximating a timeframe.

He walked out from the inn and headed to the Guado shop just above. Opening the doors, Takoire saw both of his summoner's grandfathers and a legendary guardian.

"Summoner Braska?" he asked hesitantly.

One turned. "Yes? Can I help you?" The manner in which he spoke immediately told anyone he had been born and raised in Bevelle. His dress indicated himself relating somehow to the Yevon clergy as well as being a summoner.

"I was wondering if I could ask you and your guardians a question."

"Come on!" one grumbled. It was obvious who this was, with no shirt and a giant Abes symbol tattooed onto his chest. "Why the hell does everyone we run into keep asking whether or not I'm crazy! Or whether or not Zanarkand actually exits!"

"I warned you, Jecht. I said don't say anything," the last said, in a somewhat know-it-all voice. His demeanor presented himself as a well-trained fighter, and his accent also showed him of Bevelle descent.

"Actually, I wasn't going to ask anything about Zanarkand," Takoire cut in. "I'm just having trouble understanding why you're all doing this."

"Doing what?" Jecht started.

Takoire ran his hands through his hair, searching for the right words. "Why are you doing this? Why become a summoner or a guardian?"

Auron answered first. "Duty I suppose."

Braska laughed at that. "Of course, I would expect nothing less from you, Auron."

"Well what about Jecht?" Auron quickly defended. "I haven't heard him say anything."

The one called Jecht simply scoffed. "That's easy. 'Cause of my boy. I wanna see him again. Simple as that." He motioned to the summoner. "Okay, Braska, your turn."

The summoner smiled and nodded. "My daughter, Yuna, I want to protect her."

"Even though you might not be able to be there for them and protect them?" Takoire questioned, his voice still unclear.

"As long as I know she's safe," Braska answered, "that's worth more to me than anything."

Takoire paused, pondering the words of what would become three of the most famous names in Spira. He bowed deeply. "Thank you. That helps. That helps a lot."

The summoner Braska nodded. "We're just glad we could help you. That and Jecht is just relieved you haven't asked whether or not Zanarkand is real."

"Hey!"

Takoire smiled in return, walking away. "I don't need to. Anyone could tell you that the Abes are ten times better than the South District's Duggles."

He continued to walk as he heard Jecht say in wonderment, "How the hell does he know about the Abes and the Duggles?"

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Takoire climbed up the sides of what was once a great city at a leisurely pace, not wanting to overt exert himself. He could see the sun was already on its way to hiding behind the ocean, only giving him a small opening in time to do what he had set out to do.

Pulling himself up over the edge, the sight of a familiar chokin brought a small smile to his face as he touched it with his fingertips. He settled himself beneath it, trying to regain his strength.

This was it. Everything had to come to an end, and all his thoughts were centered around one person.

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All Takoire could do was stare at the young woman and chuckle. "You know what, I never caught your name."

"Well, maybe because I didn't give it." Lenne offered a sly smile of which Takoire could only surmise to with a smile of his own. "But… I'm Lenne."

Takoire grinned. "Well, I'm guessing you probably already know who I am. The announcers have a knack of dramatizing everything, but just for the heck of it, Takoire at your service."

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Suzaku turned its view towards Takoire. "And you, you shall be this summoner's guardian?"

The blitzball player nodded confidently. "I will."

"And you will guard this summoner at all costs, no matter the circumstances?"

"With my life."

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"I am surprised, though," Kiron commented. "What is the captain of the Zanarkand Abes doing as a newly christened guardian?"

Lenne looked at Kiron with a light smile. "You're from Zanarkand, too, Kiron?"

Takoire gave a small, forced chuckle. "Maybe Kiron neglected to tell you. He's the sole prince of Zanarkand; son of our leader, Maester Yu Yevon; and younger brother to High Summoner Yunalesca."

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"Takoire," Lenne said, stopping to look into her guardian's eyes, her guardian's gray, stormy eyes, "no more secrets. Talk to me. I want to know everything about you."

Looking at his summoner, Takoire swallowed hard, at a loss of words. There was that feeling again. Looking back into her eyes, it felt like the night of the feast when he had almost kissed her. Cheribum, what was he thinking? He could have hit himself for it now. But Lenne had acted exactly like he did afterwards, like it had never happened. Was it a good thing or a bad thing?

What was it about her that Takoire had been so attracted to when they first met? Was it the fact that she had jumped from the stands into the blitzball sphere to help? What made him feel so protective of her when he knew full well that she hated being protected? What made him give up his blitzball career and his life in Zanarkand for her?

Takoire had no idea.

But in a bold move on his part, Takoire reached down and laced his hand with Lenne's. He managed a weak smile. "Ask me anything. I'll tell you anything you want."

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Lenne smiled and tried to put on a brave face, but failed. "I still can't believe they're gone. Kiron… Seru…"

Takoire moved closer to her and tried to look at Lenne square in the eye. Bending his neck slightly to look at her, the guardian brushed away the locks of hair that hid her face and tucked them behind her ear. He tried to be strong for her and smiled, but he succeeded no more than his summoner.

"Why are you doing this to yourself?"

She looked up. "Doing what?"

He shook his head. "Torturing yourself. If you bottle up your feelings inside, it'll hurt you more than you realize. Trust me, I know." Takoire held a hand to Lenne's face and gazed at her with soft and reassuring eyes. "I see the way you try to keep things to yourself. You don't like to share how you feel, and you don't want to show anyone the slightest bit of weakness. The way you try to do everything you can by yourself… Just let it out, Lenne."

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Takoire grimaced. "Go!" Lenne looked as if her duty and her heart were tearing her to pieces. "Lenne!"

"I don't want to leave you!" she yelled, a harsh wind coming from the rip.

He looked just as torn as her. He caught her in a tight embrace and whispered so she almost couldn't hear him. "I don't want you to…" He kissed her gently and whispered into her ear, "I love you," and pushed her into the crack.

She stayed visible for a moment, and he watched her whisper back, "I love you, too…"

"I'll find you!" he yelled. "I'll find you!"

And then she was gone.

The rip closed, and the Cheribum disappeared. Time resumed where it had left off, and a dozen soldiers came running towards him.

Takoire fell to his knees, his eyes welling with tears.

"I'll find you…"

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"Hey!" a voice yelled out. "Get your own sanctuary!"

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Author's Notes:

Final Revision