Of wandering guardians and summoning arts.

Chapter 3.

By: Kin-Ryu Chikara

This is a fan fiction based on the ps2 game Final Fantasy X and X-2. I have no rights to this game, names or characters from the game. That right belongs to Squaresoft. This story is based on the game and may differ slightly from the game play.

"Regular speech"

"YELLING OR LOUD SPEECH."

'thought'

"Song"

(A/N: my notes during the story. Stands for author's notes)

-- paragraph


"Hello everyone." Seymour said smiling.

I could feel Yuna's fear as she squeezed my hand.

"What have we here? Lady Yuna has went and found a new suitor? And it is the famous demon of all people." Seymour said. Then he laughed and started changing.

"I won't allow you to pass this point." Seymour said as he entered some sort of battle…thing.

I could feel the hate my friends had towards Seymour, and my own manifested in the strongest fire I had ever felt until then. I reluctantly let go of Yuna's hand. When she reached after it again, I shook my head.

"No Yuna. In this fight, I will use my fire constantly, and if we hold hands then, I will burn you. Sorry." I said and turned towards Seymour. Yuna grabbed my shoulder, whirled me around and gave me a deep kiss. I smiled when she let me go and the battle began.

Seymour decided to attack Tidus first. Lulu stopped him by using a powerful water spell. Seymour turned to Lulu and paled. He caught sight of me. Fire was cowering every inch of my body, fire so red with anger and hate that it almost looked black.

"Seymour, you killed your own father, almost made Yuna marry you and tried to kill my friends. I won't forgive you." I growled and charged him. Yuna and Lulu backed me up with water and thunder spells while Tidus and Auron charged along with me. Wakka and Kimahri stayed behind to counter if Seymour did anything.

Before I reached Seymour, he launched a Blizzaga at me. It connected, but the ice melted before doing any damage.

"Nice try." I said, jumped and hit him in the head with a fire punch.

Seymour staggered backwards before Tidus and Auron slashed him. He started to trip when Yuna and Lulu hit him with their strongest black magic spells. Right before Seymour hit the ground, I appeared behind him, encased my staff in fire, and drove it trough his chest. Seymour screamed in pain as the fire expanded and burned him.

I retreated to where my friends stood.

"This isn't over." Seymour said as he slowly rose from the ground. When he looked up, he saw nothing but fire. I stood in front of him, and made my fire flow around us both.

"As long as I am inside this fire, it won't hurt you. However…" I said and jumped backwards. The fire remained and when I emerged from it, I placed my hands on the edge of the fire. The flickered, and Seymour screamed. Slowly he was burned, his battle armour or what ever, was burned off.

Then I started to feel funny. My fire felt different, more potent. 'What the?' I thought and raised a hand. I thought I brought out just enough fire to cover my hand. Instead twice the amount of fire came out.

"Huh?" I said, but remembered the situation I was in. I turned to Seymour, who had managed to escape my raging inferno. "It looks like my fire has developed stronger now. Burn." I said and another inferno erupted under Seymour.

"Come on, attack him with as much magic you can, just don't use fire or ice." I yelled to my friends. They nodded and launched water and thunder spells. Slowly, Seymour was defeated. Before we could deliver the finishing blow, Seymour managed to toss a very high magic spell towards Yuna. It would have killed her if I hadn't jumped in and used nearly all my fire to put up a shield. The shield held, but Seymour managed to get away.

"Damn that bastard. We'll get him next time." Tidus said and Rikku nodded.

"Yeah, he'll pay." She said. I was busy making sure Yuna was alright to take much notice.

"That was amazing. How did you do all those things with the fire?" Yuna asked while I bandaged her leg. I looked up into her face and smiled.

"Depends on what you mean?" I said a teasing tune to my voice. Yuna pouted while Lulu smiled at our little play.

"You made the fire cower you, then burn Seymour, then burn him again. And you said something about your fire developed. Please tell me." Yuna said and blinked sweetly at me. I literally felt my self melting under that look. Those eyes, the ocean blue and emerald green. I can't imagine a more beautiful sight.

"Okay, I'll tell you. I made the fire envelop my body to increase my power, then I moved the fire underneath Seymour and let it lose, only powering it with more of my own. Then I repeated the process when he got out. And as for my fire developing, I am sure that is thanks to you." I said and smiled.

"Me?" Yuna sounded puzzled. "What did I do?"

"Love me. And I love you. That made my fire stronger and more potent, probably to protect us and our love. But how it develops like that I have no idea, but I have it under control, I just have to learn that I can cut the fire in half now. The amount of fire needed to cover me now is half of what it used to be. And how I control it? I don't know how, I just do it. Always has." I said and smiled at my fiancée again. She smiled back and when I was done with her leg, she hugged me and rested on my lap.

After a short break, we tried to go into Bevelle, but when I opened the gate I what looked like an army marching towards us. Quickly I closed the gate, grabbed Yuna and lifted her up and ran, carrying her bridal style. As I went past, our friends gave me wondering glances before running after me.

"WHY ARE WE RUNNING?" Tidus yelled after me.

"It seems that Bevelle has sent its army after us. And we are too tired to do anything about it." I half yelled and mentally chuckled when I saw Wakka run past me with Lulu over his shoulder.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get out of her ya?" he yelled and speed of.

--

After a while of running, we got to Macalania forest again, and found a cave in a nearby hill to rest at.

"Phew, that was close." Rikku said as she wiped sweat from her forehead.

"Yeah, but what are we supposed to do now then?" Tidus asked.

"We go to Zanarkand. The pilgrimage must go on." Auron said and both I and Yuna felt both joy and sadness. It was ironic; the place we would get married is the same place one of us is going to die.

--

Walking towards the Calm lands I could only laugh at the situation. Here we were, the company that would defeat Sin, traitors and made enemies of Yevon. Ironic really.

After running from Bevelle, we had stayed in Macalania for about two weeks, me training my friends so much they probably felt beat up every night. The result was a much stronger company. Yuna had learned how to use her magic to protect herself from my natural fire, which I had kept suppressed at all times. But Yuna seemed to sense the discomfort I felt because of it, a side effect of a more potent fire, and she asked me to release it. When I did, even I was surprised. My natural fire, that seemed to want to flow around me and protect me, was nothing like the fire around me when I was fighting. The fighting fire changed colours, but would be more orange or reddish. My natural fire was more yellowish, comforting and warm to me, but to any others it was burning, as if the fire was afraid to let anyone get close. But after some time with my natural fire exposed, it sort of softened up to Yuna, and she was able to make an anti fire field that allowed her to have bodily contact with me when I let my fire out. It pulled on her magic however, and she only used it when we were close and I had my fire out.

--

"What are you thinking about Flames?" Yuna asked me, taking my flaming hand.

'Flames' is my nickname. Rikku thought it up first when she saw my natural flames, and after that Yuna, Tidus, Lulu and Wakka adopted the nickname. I didn't mind much; worse nicknames had been made for me.

"Oh, nothing in particular. I just want to find a way to make my fire stop burning you. It would be a shame if you would have to use your magic to make yourself immune to it all the time." I replied. I felt a little bad at no having a nickname for Yuna, but wowed to find one fitting just for her.

"Well, if I have to use magic to stop myself from getting burned, then I will. I get to touch you though, and that is good enough for me." Yuna said and gave me a quick hug. I smiled and hid my fire. Yuna looked at me and turned of her magic shield. She laid her head on my shoulder and sighed happily.

"You know, when your fire is inside you, your skin feels kind of cold. But comfortable." Yuna said and I grinned.

"Of course it is colder. But let's not think of that, okay? Now, I think we should stop at that travel agency or booth or whatever, so you can get your dress." I said and pointed to the middle of the Calm Lands, where some (small) Al Bhed travel agency stood. Yuna nodded and we headed there. When we arrived, Yuna, Rikku and Lulu went into the shop with the Al Bhed woman running the place. I didn't ask, but I guess they went to make Yuna's wedding dress.

--

"So, when we arrive at Zanarkand, you and Yuna will get married?" Tidus asked, sitting down next to me by the cliffs.

"Yeah. That is probably what they are preparing for just now. It really is sad." I said and looked down.

"What? It is sad that you two are getting married?" Tidus asked, looking very confused.

"No, it is sad that we are getting married, but one of us has to die soon after." I said, not looking up so I didn't see his expression.

"One of you has to die?" Tidus asked.

"It is the fate of the summoner. They give their lives to summon the Final Aeon and defeat Sin. When we get to Zanarkand, Salmar and Yuna will marry and one of them will get the Final Aeon. The other will live." Auron said and sat down next to me and Tidus. Tidus looked like Auron had punched him.

"But…but…why?" Tidus asked, not believing what Auron said.

"It is the truth. I wish there was any other way, but there isn't. When we get to the chamber of the fayth for the Final Aeon, I will knock Yuna out. That way she won't get the Final Aeon, and will live. I know it's selfish, but I can't stand the thought of seeing Yuna die. Even if I have to knock her out, I will not let her get the Final Aeon." I said and a lone tear ran down my cheek.

Tidus looked like he was about to say something, but closed his mouth. Then he opened it, but closed it again. This went on for several minutes, before I stood up.

"I would rather be alone right now. I am sorry, but…just give me a little while. Okay?" I said, mostly towards Auron and Wakka, since Tidus looked like he was at a loss for words. Wakka and Auron nodded and I walked away. Standing on the edge of the cliffs, I let my eyes wander.

--

"Where is my giggle fiancé?" Yuna asked when she, Rikku and Lulu were done. They giggled when she referred to me as her fiancé. But when she saw Tidus's expression. He looked heartbroken.

"Why didn't anyone tell me? Why didn't anyone tell me summoners sacrifice their lives when summoning the Final Aeon?" Tidus practically yelled out, not at Yuna, but at all of us.

Yuna instantly dropped the happy look she had and looked sad and ashamed.

"We knew from the moment Yuna decided she would be a summoner, that she would die to defeat Sin, but it was her choice to make. And when Salmar became a summoner, he knew as well. They make this decision by their free will, and our job as guardians is to keep the summoner safe until we reach Zanarkand and can defeat Sin." Lulu said sadly. Tidus looked angry.

"But there has to be an other way. There has to be." He said, but Yuna shook her head.

"There isn't. If there was, it would have been found long ago." She explained, but Tidus didn't look convinced. He didn't press the issue, but instead he and Rikku promised each other that they would think of something, anything.

--

I stood on the edge of the cliff, staring into the gorge Sin had made all those years ago. Down there, I felt something. A pull. 'A fayth, down there?' I thought. I was about to turn when I felt hands sneak themselves around my waist.

"Hello love. You are done already?" I asked. Yuna nodded against my back and I turned to look into her eyes.

"I can never get used to how gorgeous your eyes are. I could look into them forever." I said and gently kissed her. She smiled.

"And I could never get tired of seeing the fire in your eyes. I can actually see the flames." She said amused. I smiled and made more fire visible in my eyes. Yuna blinked before she giggled.

"Well, you certainly live up to your name, Flames." She said smiling.

"Heh, if you say so. Nirvana." I said and kissed her again.

"Nirvana?" Yuna asked confused.

"Yeah, I just figured out your nickname. Nirvana." I said and smiled.

"But why call me that?" Yuna asked.

"You don't like it?" I replied, a little sad. Hurriedly Yuna shook her head.

"Nono, that's not it. I just wondered why you want to call me that." She said, smiling gently.

"Well, in Buddhism, Nirvana is when the spirit obtains a condition of peace and harmony. Also the spirit losses all sense of suffering, ego, selfishness and evil thoughts. Someone who has reached Nirvana is whole and no longer needs anything, staying content and happy for all eternity. (A/N: This is my definition on Nirvana. It is not the right one, nor should anyone think I know anything about being in Nirvana. What I know is that Buddhists believe in Nirvana, and I tried to write down how Nirvana is. I got the idea to call Yuna that from her ultimate weapon, called Nirvana.)

I feel all that when I am with you. Yuna, you are my Nirvana, and that is why I will call you that. If you don't mind though." I said and anxiously smiled. When I saw Yuna and her star filled eyes, I chuckled. When she hugged me tightly, I laughed and stoked her hair.

"I guess that you don't mind then." I said and Yuna nodded her head against my chest.

"That is the sweetest thing anyone has said to me." Yuna said and looked up at me. "Thank you." She said and I saw a tear slip down her cheek.

"No problem my love. But please don't cry. It tears my heart apart." I said and wiped away the tear. Yuna giggled and hugged me again.

--

"Well, aren't we happy?" Rikku asked Yuna when we met up with the rest.

Yuna blushed slightly.

"Salmar has figured out a nickname for me." Yuna said shyly.

"Really? Well, let's hear it then." Rikku said and bounced up and down, making me chuckle.

"Nirvana." I simply said. Rikku stopped bouncing and frowned at me.

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"Nirvana is a state the soul can obtain. The soul is at peace and feels no suffering or bad things. The soul is happy and content." Lulu explained.

"Yuna makes me feel all that, so I can think of no better name." I said and Yuna blushed even more.

"Oh, how cute." Rikku said. Wakka, Auron, Tidus and Kimahri apparently smiled while Lulu and Rikku went into a deep conversation about the wedding.

"Hey, everyone listen. I think we should go down into the gorge." I said. Everyone looked at me curiously.

"Why? We don't have time to get sidetracked." Auron said.

"I think I sensed a fayth down there. In a cave." I said. Yuna looked at me.

"Really? Then why don't we go and see?" she said and Auron gave up.

"Alright, as you wish." He sighed and we started walking down into the gorge, Yuna with her hands around my waist and her head on my shoulder while I had one arm around her shoulders. I could hear Rikku giggling behind us, but didn't bother do anything about it. It would just make the young Al Bhed girl giggle worse.

--

When we reached the bottom of the gorge, we saw the cave where the fayth was. Walking in we all felt a chill.

"There are a lot of fiends inside this place. We have to be careful in here." I said and Yuna nodded. If she meant to or not, she grabbed my arm and held it tight. I smiled at her, and she relaxed a bit.

"Salmar is right. We have to be careful in here. I think it would be best if we proceed in two lines, side by side. Salmar and Yuna in the middle with me and Lulu in front and Tidus and Wakka in the back. Rikku should be behind Yuna and Salmar but in front of Tidus and Wakka. I think this should be our formation when we walk in areas like this." Auron said. Everyone nodded in agreement and we went into the cave. After a while and some battles with strong fiends, we came to a place where the cave entrance were filled with stones.

"The fayth is on the other side of those stones." I said and Yuna nodded.

"We can use this teleport to get inside." Rikku said while she fiddled with a platform lying on the ground in front of the stones.

"I'll go first." Auron said and stepped on the platform and vanished. After him, one after another we stepped on the platform, vanished and reappeared inside the chamber of the fayth.

"Who dares stand before me, Yojimbo?" the fayth asked. Yuna and I stepped forward.

"We are summoners who want your help." Yuna replied.

"And what will you give me back for the privilege of receiving my power?" Yojimbo asked.

"Give you? I thought a fayth was supposed to help a summoner without asking anything in return." Tidus said. I smiled and stepped forward.

"Listen, you are a samurai. I herby challenge you to a contest of skill. If you lose, then I and Yuna can use your power." I said. I could practically feel Yuna's thoughts, not wanting me to get hurt.

"Very well, but if you lose, you have to pay the price I state. LET US BEGIN!" Yojimbo said/yelled, summoned his aeon and drew his sword, intending to slash me in two. Since I stood directly in front of Yuna, I could do nothing but block the sword with my staff. I pushed Yojimbo's sword back and struck him with a punch cowered with fire. The Aeon flew back and I followed. Yojimbo however, used his momentum to jump upwards the walls of the cave, making me almost run straight into the wall. Skidding to a halt, I looked up and saw Yojimbo coming downwards with raised sword.

"SALMAR, LOOK OUT!" Yuna yelled at me and I barely managed to jump out of a fatal slash. My reward was a cut going down my forehead and very nearly puncturing my eyeball.

"Shit, that was close. GET A GRIP FLAMES!" Tidus yelled to me. I smiled slightly before I was forced to roll to dodge Yojimbo's attacks.

When he raised his sword again, I struck in his abdomen with my staff before hitting him in the chest with a fire punch and delivering a downward strike to his head with my staff. Yojimbo crouched down, holding his head. I jumped backwards to avoid any surprise attacks.

"You are indeed skilled. If you were alone, I would have stopped this fight. You are skilled enough to be my master. What is your name master?" Yojimbo asked. (A/N: in case you are wondering: Yojimbo is a samurai and they usually call their employer master. Their loyalty to their master is unbelievably strong.)

"Salmar, or Flames among friends." I replied.

"Very well master Salmar. I shall give you my power. But…YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOURSELF TO ME AS WELL!" the last bit, Yojimbo yelled to Yuna, rushed at her with a raised sword. Yuna gasped and tried to raise her staff to block the sword.

'She isn't fast enough' I thought as I rushed to stop my newly acquired aeon.

Right before Yojimbo's sword slashed Yuna, I managed to push her out of the way, and say hello to a sword across my chest.

"SALMAR!" Yuna yelled when she saw the blood spray from me.

"FLAMES!" the rest yelled. I could hear panic in their voices. Yojimbo didn't look very good either.

"Master Salmar!" he half yelled. "Why did you do that?"

I coughed out a bit blood before I replied.

"Yuna is my fiancée. She is the one person in this world I love more than life. I can't allow anything to happen to her. And I saw that if I didn't do anything, you would have killed her." I said and glared at the aeon as best I could.

"No, I wouldn't. I would have stopped my sword from hitting, but you surprised me, so I didn't manage to stop the strike." Yojimbo said, and I blinked a couple of times.

"Just how was I supposed to know that? I thought you were going to kill her. I couldn't let that happen." I said and tried to sit up. Yuna snapped out of some sort of daze and crouched beside me, checking my wounds.

"Hold still. You're lucky the strike didn't sink deeper in. I can heal this without much trouble." Yuna said as she started applying white magic to heal up my wounds. When the wounds on my chest was healed, Yuna checked my eye.

"Don't worry. My eye is whole. I was lucky twice in this fight." I said and Yuna nodded before healing my face. A large scar was left on my face while on my chest a scar running across the entire chest.

"Master Salmar, you have proven that you deserve my power, and when you call me I shall be prepared to serve you, or if your life is in danger, I may come even without you calling me. But for me to serve your fiancée, Lady Yuna was it?" Yojimbo asked and Yuna nodded. "Lady Yuna. For me to allow her to summon me, I have to know she is worthy, so please master Salmar. Let me test Lady Yuna." Yojimbo said. I looked at Yuna. She nodded and I sighed.

"Fine, as long as you won't aim to kill her." I said and walked over to my friends, leaving Yuna behind to face the aeon. I staggered a bit, but didn't fall.

'Damn, I hope Yuna will be alright.' I thought when I turned to see the fight.

Yuna used magic to keep Yojimbo at bay, which worked pretty well, and soon the aeon admitted defeat.

"You have also proven your strength. Very well, I shall serve you both, master Salmar and mistress Yuna. Call me when you need my sword, and if I sense you are in mortal danger, I will summon myself to help. That is the yojimbo's duty." Yojimbo said, and Yuna and I bowed to him.

"Thank you." We said in unison and left.

--

Outside the cave, Yuna summoned Yojimbo for the first time. Then I summoned him, and after I dismissed him, we decided to make camp in the gorge.

"Yuna, shall we go train?" I asked and offered my hand to her. She nodded, took the hand and we began to walk away for our training.

"Have fun!" we heard Rikku say behind us, and Yuna blushed for some reason.

"Huh? Why are you blushing Yuna?" I asked softly, and she squeaked.

"No, it's nothing. Nothing really. Rikku just talked about some…things. Let's just go train okay?" Yuna said, blushing madly. I looked at her and shrugged.

"If you say so my dear." I said and smiled. She smiled back and we started training. I thought I had to train Yuna harder to make her reach me again, but she was almost as strong as I was.

"Wow Yuna. You really trained hard after I left, right?" I asked sitting down in front of Yuna. I was slightly out of breath and so was she.

"Yeah, I thought you left because you thought we were weak or something, so I wanted to show you. We all trained very hard. But you did too, right?" she replied and I grinned.

"Of course. Hum, I have an idea. Why don't we have a aeon battle, just to test our strength?" I said. Yuna nodded. We stood up and readied ourselves.

"So, how many summons each?" I asked. Yuna thought a bit before she decided.

"Three each. Does that sound good?" Yuna asked, slightly bold sounding. I chuckled a bit.

"Nirvana, you really come out of your shell when we are alone, don't you? Very well. Three each. Ladies first." I said and Yuna frowned a bit at me, but shrugged and summoned Bahamut.

"Fine, if you start with the big guns, then I will also. YOJIMBO!" I yelled and summoned the samurai.

"What is it master?" Yojimbo asked me. Bahamut talked with Yuna.

"We are going to have an aeon battle. To test mine and Yuna's strength. But no killing, okay?" I asked and Yojimbo nodded.

"Well then master. If we are fighting, then let us start this." Yojimbo said and rushed towards Bahamut. Bahamut and Yojimbo clashed and exchanged a few blows. Then they both used their best attacks, and both aeons beat themselves.

"Wow Flames. You are really good." Yuna praised.

"Thanks Nirvana, but you aren't so bad yourself. Now let's continue." I said and summoned Shiva. Yuna summoned Ifrit. Ifrit rushed at Shiva, but I smirked. "Sorry, but this one is mine." I said and Shiva used her diamond dust and literally froze Ifrit solid.

"Wow, that was fast." Yuna said as I dismissed Shiva. Before I could think of a summon to call out again, Yuna summoned Yojimbo.

"Well, let's make this interesting." I said and summoned Bahamut. But before either Bahamut or I could think of anything to do, Yojimbo used his Zanmato and defeated Bahamut.

"Whoa. That was great Nirvana. I had no chance against that. You won that one. I guess that makes it a draw then?" I said smiling broadly.

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter, now does it Flames?" Yuna replied, walking up to me and wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Why should it? We are about even in strength. That means you can protect me and I protect you. As it should be in a happy marriage." I said smiling and kissed her gently. She smiled also but squeaked loudly when I ran a hand down her lower back and over her butt. I pulled slightly away.

"What? I can't touch my Nirvana?" I asked sweetly. Yuna shook her head.

"No, that's not it. You just surprised me. But if you can touch me there, I can on you too." Yuna said seductively and returned the gesture. It would be a really interesting night.

--

When we came back, all sweaty and beat up, I started to make some food while Yuna went to take a shower using a water spell. When she returned, I had also taken a shower and we both were…relatively clean. The others already sat around the fire when we came. After eating our food, I lay down on my back and relaxed, looking at the stars. Soon after I fell asleep.

--

I awoke feeling something snuggled up against me. Turning my head I saw Yuna lying next to me with her right hand over my chest. She was smiling so sweetly, I couldn't help but smile as well. I stroked her cheek and she sighed happily. How long we continued to lay there, her asleep and me admiring her, I don't know, but it was a while. But then Lulu came and told me breakfast was ready. I nodded and gently shook Yuna awake. She opened her eyes and smiled at me.

"Hello Flames. Good morning." she said and I smiled.

"Good morning to you too Nirvana. Lulu told me breakfast is ready. Shall we get up?" I asked. Yuna groaned and sat up. I laughed a bit and we went to eat.

--

After breakfast, we left the gorge and began climbing mount Gagazet. But our way was blocked by the Ronso.

"Leave traitors." The elder Ronso said. Then Yuna demonstrated her unbending will by standing up to the Ronso and tell him we would not run away, but fight and continue.

"Even if we are branded traitors, and have cast Yevon aside, we will fight. We will defeat Sin. That is our destiny." I said.

"Even branded traitors, you would still fight? Hated by the people and you would still sacrifice yourself for them. Why?" The Elder Ronso asked.

"Spira hungers for the Calm. I can give it to them." Yuna said.

"My Lord Ronso, even if we are hated, we will do our duty." I said and the Elder nodded. He then lifted his arms.

"Sacred Mount Gagazet. These two summoners have wills harder than steel. Allow them and their guardians to pass." The Elder said. I smiled and bowed to him.

"Thank you my Lord." I said and we began to climb, but two Ronso stopped Kimahri. He fought them and beat them. They admitted Kimahri was strong and allowed him to pass.

After we walked a bit, some Ronso, including the two Kimahri beat, came and sang the Hymn of the Fayth to us. We enjoyed the song, and I bowed in thanks when they were done.

"Ronso sing well. Bring honour to their mountain." I said and the Ronso laughed.

"Summoner Salmar too kind." One of the Ronso said as we continued the climb.

--

The climb up Mount Gagazet was a long, steep one. And very cold. I constantly shivered, but I didn't want to allow my fire to warm me, since Yuna and I was holding hands. It wasn't until she noticed I was cold and told me to bring the fire out, and activated her shield, I felt warm again.

"Damn, I hate the cold." I said and my fire flared, almost as to agree with me.

"Yeah, I figured." Tidus said and mentioned behind us after I had taken a couple of steps. I looked back and saw a scorched path behind me.

"oops." I said and grinned while scratching my head.

"Don't worry. Sacred Mount Gagazet strong. Won't be hurt by little fire." Kimahri said. Yuna giggled and we continued to climb.

After a long while, we came to a place where pillars stood and a flat space was. In that flat space, Seymour stood waiting.

"We meet again." Seymour said cockily. He had a sadistic grin on his face. "You know, for some reason, the Ronso didn't like the idea of me coming here. They tried to stop me, so I killed them." Seymour said. I was surprised at how calm he was, but then Kimahri roared and jumped towards the unsent Guado. I just managed to stop him.

"Calm down Kimahri. You can't get revenge if you are dead." I growled while I tried to keep him back. Kimahri relaxed a bit, but still growled. Tidus was also pissed and the rest was very angry.

"Seymour. You bastard. You will pay for what you have done." Tidus growled.

"Lady Yuna, it is a pleasure." Seymour said to Yuna. She responded by grabbing my arm with both hers.

"Ah, and the fire demon. I see you are still alive. Wouldn't you want to die yet? In death, answers come to your questions." Seymour said.

"What questions?" Tidus yelled. I smiled a bit.

"He is referring to the fact that I want to know what I am. I am not human, not Guado, not Ronso. What am I then? That is the question he is referring to." I answered.

"But it does not matter. I have found something more precious than answers. I won't die yet." I said and hugged Yuna a bit.

Then Yuna tried to send Seymour, and he bragged about him killing all the Ronso again. Then the battle began with me launching a fire spell at him.

"Pitiful mortal" he said and rose to merge with some sort of armour. This time his huge armour looked like it was part machina. It had two huge swords on its back, and Seymour himself wielded a long lance like weapon.

--

The battle was pretty one-sided. I attacked with fire, Yuna attacked with holy magic, Lulu attacking with various black magic spells, Auron, Tidus, Wakka and Rikku attacking with their weapons, and Seymour trying to block all the attacks. After a while, we could see his strength waining. In a act of desperation, he made his machina armour draw the two huge swords on its back, and slice towards me. I managed to throw up a barrier strong enough to stop the swords, but it exhausted me. So I feel down to one knee and tried to calm my breath. When I looked up, I saw Yuna stand in front of me, using her own barrier to hold back another attack from Seymour, obviously directed at me.

"I WON'T LET YOU HURT HIM!" Yuna yelled at Seymour, but I could see she was getting tired as well. Then a idea struck me. Slowly I stood up, shaking. Walking up to Yuna, I wrapped my arms around her arms.

"What…?" she asked me, but stopped when she felt the strange feeling.

I commanded my fire to go over into her body, and give her additional power. I also made it so that the fire wouldn't hurt Yuna. When I was sure the transfer was done without any problems, I passed out.

--

"He's waking up!" Yuna said happily when I groaned and opened my eyes. I saw her sit beside me and the rest of our friends stand around us, all of them looking at me worriedly.

"So, I take it we won?" I asked, and rubbed my head.

"Yeah, Yuna was able to beat Seymour after you passed out." Tidus said

"What did you do to me?" Yuna asked. I groaned.

"I temporarily gave you the same flames I have. You could say I temporary made you the same I am." I said and tried to get up. Yuna helped me sit up and looked at me again.

"Temporarily? But why do I still have flames inside me?" she asked. My eyes widened in surprise.

"You still have flames inside you? That shouldn't be possible." I said.

"But it is. I have flames inside me, and they aren't burning me. They feel like they belong there." Yuna said. I then looked deep into her eyes, and saw flames in them. Not as much as I had, but still.

"Can it be that the flames changed Yuna and gave her the same abilities you have?" Auron asked.

"I can't understand why that would happen. I only intended to give Yuna a temporary power boost. Not change her. oh, what have I done?" I said and put my face in my hands. Then Yuna laid a comforting hand on my head.

"Don't worry. I like it. I feel warm inside, and now we have a much deeper connection than before. This was a good thing, although the flames are very small." Yuna said. I looked at her and sighed.

"I may as well give you more flames then. That way you will truly be like me." I said and laid my hands on her stomach. She gasped and everyone saw the fire slip from me into her. Her eyes were filled with fire, and suddenly it erupted from her, just as I would sometimes from me before I learned to control it.

Pulling back, I sighed tiredly.

"There. Now you and I are basically the same in terms of fire, although you need to learn how to control it." I said.

"What side effects will this have?" Auron asked, standing stiffly and watching Yuna look at her flames in wonder.

"Not very big. She will become more fiery in personality, and will of course be immune to fire element. Also ice element will be a little bit more effective against her, but not much. Basically the same as me." I explained. Yuna flexed her fists, who were cowered in red flames.

"This is permanent? We are the same now?" she asked. I nodded and she squealed happily, launching herself around my neck, hugging me for all she was worth.

"I wanted to share this power with you, ever since I found a fire patterned skirt in the travel agency in the Calm Lands. Now we are connected not only by love, but by the same abilities. I feel so happy." Yuna explained. To say I was surprised was a bit of an understatement. I rubbed her back, and said in a gentle voice: "I am happy you like this gift. But I am not done yet. Now I have to teach you how to control the fire. We should make camp close to here, since I am exhausted again." I could feel almost no fire inside me, and shivered. Never had I felt so cold before.

My friends nodded in agreement, and we set up camp in some nearby caves.

--

The next couple of days was spent me and Yuna sitting cross legged in front of each other, me teaching her how to control her fire, and our guardians training. I was relieved my fire returned from one nights sleep, and Yuna's fire stayed in her body and didn't try to return to me. Also now it didn't matter how much fire one of us had out, we could still touch each other. Both Yuna and I found it very pleasurable to touch without holding something in or having a layer of magic between us.

She learned to control her fire fast, mostly probably due to the fact that her fire came from me, and was already tamed. I could see all my fire traits in her, from the fire in her eyes, to the more fiery personality. Everything that was fire related about me, I saw in Yuna. In just three short days, she managed to become almost as good as I am in controlling and using her fire. and it was hers. On the third day I marvelled when I felt that her fire no longer was like mine, but Yuna's. While mine is more red or orange, hers was more yellowish. I realised that the yellow fire I used to have, had been her fire, placed in me until I could give it to her. Probably to make us even more perfect for each other.

When I realised that, I no longer felt bad at making her like me, since apparently it was her destiny to become like me.

--

On the fourth day, I decided Yuna was skilled enough so that we could continue travelling. It must have been a weird sight, two summoners walking hand in hand, one of them cowered in a orange/red fire while the other cowered in yellow fire, the fire around our hands swirling and mixing. Both Yuna and I was happy about the recent turn of events, and we even forgot about what would happen when we reached Zanarkand.

--

When we started walking again, Auron wanted to know if Yuna felt stronger with the fire inside her.

"Yes, I do. I can't really explain why, but I feel like I have grown very much." Yuna said, slightly hesitantly.

"You look happy at least." Lulu said and Wakka joined in.

"Yeah, being a fire person isn't as bad, eyh?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm so jealous. Yunie gets to share Salmar's secret power, but I can't." Rikku said, huffing and crossing her arms. Tidus laughed a bit and gently nudged Rikku.

"Oh, come on Rikku. Let them have something special together. I think it is awesome, now Yuna will be immune to fire." Tidus said and Rikku glared at him.

We laughed a bit at the young Al Bhed while continuing walking towards Zanarkand, and our destination.

--

We rounded a corner and came face to face with a rock wall filled with fayths.

"Wow!" Yuna said.

"What…what is this place? So many fayth!" I said, awed at the sheer number of fayth in this wall.

"This many? They are all fayth?" Rikku asked.

Yuna walked a little closer to the fayth while Tidus stood and admired a water column rising towards the sky.

"A summoning." Yuna said. I walked up to her and placed my hand on her shoulder. I too saw that someone was drawing on their powers.

"Someone is drawing power from all of them." I said grimly. I didn't know what it meant, but something was summoning something large, very large.

"This many?" Wakka asked

"Who can wield power of that scale?" Lulu asked. Rikku noticed something in Auron's eyes.

"You know something, don't you? Spill the beans." She said, placing her hands on her hips.

"This is your journey as well. Don't expect others to tell you all the time." He said and walked away. Rikku stopped him however when she said:

"Yunie might die, you know!"

But instead of Auron turning to make a reply, Tidus turned.

"No…Auron is right." He said and walked up to one of the fayth.

"This is our…my story." With that he touched the fayth and collapsed.

"TIDUS!" Yuna and Rikku yelled, rushed over to him and tried to wake him up. He didn't respond in any way, and Yuna tried to use a white magic spell to heal him. Nothing worked.

"Wake up! Wake up!" Rikku begged Tidus.

"What's going on? Why isn't Tidus responding?" Rikku turned and asked me.

"I don't know." I said and walked up to the fayth Tidus had touched. I touched the same fayth but didn't feel anything.

"Strange." I said to myself.

"Wake up! Wake up, please" Yuna begged Tidus, but no reaction.

Then suddenly Tidus started to move, and sat up while rubbing his head.

"Ouch." Tidus just said. He looked around at the worried people around him.

"At last." Yuna said.

"We were so worried about you. Don't scare us like that!" Rikku said and sat down, breathing relieved.

"You okay?" Lulu asked and walked up to Tidus, who had sat down on the ground in his usual thinking pose, with the legs crossed and everything.

"I'm okay. Does anyone know what happened?" Tidus said. He had a weird tone to his voice.

"We were hoping you would tell us." Auron said stiffly.

"All I know is that when I touched that fayth I feel asleep. How long was I out?" Tidus asked, continuing to rub his head. The weird tone was still there.

"Not long. Are you sure you're okay?" I asked. He nodded and stood up, although shaking a little. Rikku and Yuna supported him but after a few steps he could support himself.

"I'm fine. Let's continue. Okay?" Tidus said and started walking. We followed and soon came to a cave that lead right trough the mountain to the side facing Zanarkand.

"Wow, that's beautiful!" Rikku said. She had ran up ahead of us and was looking at a lake filled with rainbow coloured crystals. We admired the lake a little bit, before we started to look for a way around the lake. We didn't find any.

"Looks like we have to swim." I said.

"Um, Flames? Can we swim?" Yuna hesitantly asked me.

"Yeah, I was wondering too. I mean, you two are fire people now, ya?" Wakka joined in. I laughed at that and jumped into the lake.

"No problem. The fire that keeps me, and now Yuna, alive and keeps our fire burning is in our souls. No matter how much we try, we can never quench that fire. So yes, we can swim as much as we want." I said.

"The fire that keeps you two alive? What do you mean?" Lulu asked. Yuna smiled and started to explain.

"Salmar and I realised something yesterday. We don't just have fire inside us. We are literally made of fire. That is why Salmar passed out after giving me his fire. Our bodies are made of flesh and blood like any else, but our soul makes the fire inside us. That flame keeps our bodies functioning, and if it stopped sometime we would die. We don't know this for sure, but I think that our souls are actually flames." Yuna said.

"I think that our souls are a mixture of a normal human soul and flames. A human soul is what we summoners send in the sending. The soul takes the shape of pyre flies when the body is dead. I think that when I and Yuna die, our pyre flies will be cowered in fire, mine in my orange/red fire and Yuna's in her yellow. But that is just speculations. One thing is sure though." I joined in, but didn't say the last bit. I dreaded the reaction.

"Well? What is certain?" Tidus asked.

"That Salmar never was a human and I am no longer human either. We are both fire demons." Yuna said a bit sadly as she waded out into the water to me. We hugged and floated there together.

"You don't look like demons to me!" Rikku said.

"Yeah. Isn't demons supposed to be evil, ugly and stuff?" Tidus asked, looking slightly anxious.

"Not necessarily. I support Salmar's theory and we now know that our two summoners are demons. But that does not mean they are evil. I think both Yuna and Salmar has proven to us that they aren't evil, even though some believe it." Auron said.

"Yuna, do you regret getting that flame?" Lulu asked anxiously. Yuna shook her head and hugged me tighter.

"No, having these flames mean that I and Salmar have something in common that no one else has, and even if am no longer completely human, I haven't changed. Much." She said and added the "Much" softly so only I and Kimahri heard it.

"It doesn't mean anything. We will protect you even if you two are demons. Right, ya?" Wakka said and Kimahri nodded.

"Yuna happy, Kimahri happy." Kimahri said and Yuna smiled at him.

"Thank you Kimahri." She said.

Then everyone got into the lake, Kimahri growled slightly at getting his fur wet, and we swam onwards. After what seemed like a long while, something grabbed my leg and dragged me under. Yuna gasped when I vanished from her grasp, and Wakka, Rikku and Tidus went underwater to help me. I struggled against the fish fiend that grabbed me, and I felt something strange inside my throat. Then I saw Tidus kill the fiend, and Wakka and Rikku grabbed me and brought me to the surface. When we broke the surface, I gasped for air and steam wheeled up from inside my throat.

"What the?" I said looking at the steam. "Yuna, I don't think we should get water in our lungs." I said and steam continued to rise from my mouth.

"Oh, okay. But that's not exactly something we should try to anyway. Let's just get to the other side, okay?" Yuna said and we continued to swim, although I had slight difficulties breathing.

A while later and we came to the other side. I climbed the rock and laid down to get a breather. Closing my eyes I got my breath under control and felt that no steam was in my lungs. When I opened my eyes, Yuna stood in front of me, looking at me worriedly.

"Are you okay?" she asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, just a bit tired. I think we should rest here, and dry up. If we go outside now, I think everyone except you and me will get sick." I said and Yuna nodded.

"I have an idea. Why don't the two of us act like a fire for the others?" she said and I blinked a few times. Then I understood what she meant and I grinned at her.

"Excellent idea Yuna. Hey everyone. Gather around and Yuna and I will dry you." I said.

Soon after Yuna and I sat cross legged beside each other, holding hands again, both of us cowered in flames that nearly reached the roof above us. Tidus, Rikku, Lulu, Auron, Wakka and Kimahri formed a circle around us and basked in the warmth Yuna and I gave off.

I wasn't affected by having so much fire out, but Yuna's face was twisted in concentration. She was, after all, pretty new to using her fire, but she managed very well.

"Hey, this is nice. I feel all sleepy and warm." Rikku said with her eyes almost closed. Soon after she toppled sideways and landed in Tidus's lap, snoring gently. He seemed a bit surprised, but stroked her hair gently. Yuna smiled and squeezed my hand a bit. I looked at her and was awarded a kiss the cheek.

"Oh? What did I do to deserve that?" I asked and Yuna smiled mysteriously.

"I'll tell you later." I faked annoyance and turned back to watch Tidus and Rikku with a slight humph. Yuna giggled at that, and I had a hard time concealing my grin.

Lulu, Wakka and Auron eyed us curiously while Kimahri seemed to follow Rikku's example, only without falling into someone's lap.

--

After a while everyone was asleep except me and Yuna. Lulu half laid on Wakka, while Auron sat in what looked like a really awkward position. After a while, I felt Yuna's flames diminish and saw that she was about to fall asleep. I laid her down so that her head rested on my lap. Smiling down to the sleepy beauty, I stroked her cheek gently. She smiled and dropped into a peaceful slumber. Her flames retreated in her skin and I gently shook my head.

'She still has a long way to go before controlling the fire perfectly.' I said before I decided to increase my own flames to make up for the loss of Yuna's. You should think that the raging fires on my body would wake up Yuna or disturb her sleep, but she hummed happily and seemed even more at peace now, like a warm blanket was laid over her.

I continued my silent watch throughout the night, and by the time Auron woke up, I was tired and sleepy. When he said he would take watch, I nodded, gently lifted Yuna's head of my lap, and lay down next to her. I used my arm as a pillow for her, and let sleep claim me, the last think I saw before blackness was Yuna's sleeping face.

--

I woke up feeling terribly cold, and realised my fire had retreated into my skin, and that Yuna was up. I opened my eyes and saw my friends sit not far away, chatting about something. Groaning I rose and stretched. My friends turned when they heard me groan and the cracking of my bones.

"Hey, had a nice sleep?" Rikku asked, and for some reason Yuna blushed. I suddenly wondered what they were talking about before I woke up.

"Yeah. By the way, how long was my fire out?" I asked.

"About two and a half hours." Auron answered. I nodded, and stretched a bit more before sitting down next to Yuna.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I asked.

"If we keep up the pace we've had up until now, we will reach Zanarkand tomorrow a little before sundown." Auron said. I nodded and from the corned of my eye saw Yuna smile widely. Turning to her I raised a eyebrow.

"What are you smiling at? Care to share?" I asked and her smile widened even more.

"I always wanted to get married in the sunset." She said. My eyes widened a little bit before I grinned.

"Well, you'll be able to tomorrow. There is just one problem." I said.

"What problem?" Yuna looked anxious when she asked.

"Who is going to marry us?" I said. From Yuna's expression and the faces of our friends I saw that they hadn't thought of that one either.

"Well, that is a problem. None of us can, we don't know how to." Lulu said.

"Yeah, it's not like it is something to be done lightly, ya?" Wakka joined in.

"I have an idea." Tidus said. We all looked at him and he appeared deep in thought.

"Well, what is it? Spit it out already!" Rikku said irritably.

"No, on second thought, that won't do. He's probably far away." Tidus said sadly. We didn't ask who he had in mind.

"Oh well. I'm sure we can figure something out when we get there. Let's get going, shall we?" I said, and rose, pulling Yuna to her feet.

"But…" Yuna began.

"Hey, don't worry. If we don't figure out anything else, we can get Lulu to marry us." I said.

"Hey! Don't I get a say in that?" Lulu asked, a bit aggravated.

"Of course. But let's just get there, and cross that bridge when we get there." I said. Getting nods of agreement, we started to walk the rest of the way trough the cave. When we emerged out on the other side, we were meet with a huge fiend.

"Oh no. not another one." I groaned.

"Another one?" Yuna asked, looking at me with raised eyebrows.

"I have meet a fiend like this one before. They are tough but we should have little problem beating it." I said and pulled out my staff. Yuna drew hers as well and our friends readied their weapons as well.

"So, how do we beat this thing?" Tidus asked while he gripped Brotherhood tighter.

"Simple. First you, Auron, me and Wakka attack. Then the moment after all four of us have connected with our attacks, Lulu and Yuna will shot some spells at it. Then after the spells hit, Kimahri and Rikku attack. Then we repeat if it survives. Ready?" I said.

"Yes!" Everyone said and I ran towards the fiend. I charged up a big fire attack with my staff and hit it square on the head. The fire seeped into the fiends body, and started to burn it from the inside out. I jumped away and ran back to the others in time to see Tidus and Auron run at the same time while Wakka threw his ball at the fiend.

The ball hit and ricocheted back just before Tidus and Auron reached the fiend and dug their swords into its neck. It roared in pain and lunged after them, but two Firaga spells hit it back, and then one lance and a pair of claws imbedded themselves into its head. I could see it was dying so I launched a Firaga spell of my own when Rikku and Kimahri had pulled away. That did it and the fiend fell, light came from its body and pyre flies flew around.

I breather a sigh in relief and strapped my staff on my back again. Rikku walked forward and asked if we could take a break.

"No need. We should reach the summit soon." Auron said.

"I know, but that is why I wanna stop for a bit." Rikku replied, turned around and went to the edge of the cliff to sit down. I shook my head and walked up to her.

"Rikku, is there a particular reason you want to postpone our arrival in Zanarkand?" I asked when I sat down next to her.

"When we arrive, you and Yunie will get married." Rikku said.

"And you don't want that?" Yuna said and sat down on Rikku's other side.

"No, that's not it. But after that, you'll get the final aeon. And you'll die." Rikku said and tears came in her eyes and down her cheeks.

"Rikku, we have made our choices. Now come on, we should go." I said, wiped Rikku's tears away and stood up. Yuna and Rikku stood up as well and I could hear Auron tell Tidus and Wakka about his story. Then he walked away, but I feel in step beside him.

"You can still make a difference. Its not to late for you." I said and stopped to wait for Yuna and Rikku.

--

We came around a bend, and saw Zanarkand for the first time. I stood next to Yuna and looked at the sunset. The sight was both beautiful and disturbing.

'So this is the end of my journey. The last bit of our journey. The place were I will be my happiest but also be the saddest. The place I will die but also where I and Yuna will become more than just boyfriend and girlfriend.' I thought sadly and glanced at Yuna. The sunlight reflected in her eyes, and despite the beauty she looked sad.

'Of course she is sad. She knows the end result of this as much as I do. Probably even better than I do, since she has been a summoner longer than me.' I thought and returned my gaze to the sun.

--

We started walking again, but I noticed Tidus not following. I turned and saw him listen to a sphere. Walking up to him, I heard Yuna's voice.

The sphere:

"The newest guardian. Star player of the Zanarkand Abes. I…um…I'm glad I got to meet you. I feel like we have gotten to be good friends, even if we have known each other for a short time. I hope that you'll be okay when this is all over.

And that leaves my fellow summoner. Salmar, whenever I look at you, I feel something shift in my hearth. I never thought I would feel like this. Guess you can never know, can you? I find myself wondering. Who will be the first? Which one of us will remain after the other has defeated Sin? Somehow I hope you will remain, to watch another sunrise and sunset. I hope that the one who lives after this, that either you or me, that we will be happy." Yuna said

"Whatcha up to?" Tidus asked and the sphere ended.

Tidus looked at me and noted a tear running down my cheek.

"She wants the same thing I do. I want her to live, and she wants me to live. But only one of us will." I said sadly. I felt more tears run down my cheek.

"This is her will?" Tidus asked and I nodded.

"She spoke of all of us. She sounded sad, but happy as well." He continued. I nodded again.

"All of you are great comfort for both me and Yuna. We couldn't have gotten as far without your support. I am grateful for that, and I know Yuna is as well." I said and wiped my tears. Tidus looked at me and stuffed the sphere in his pocket.

"Let's go." He said, and together we caught up to the others and begun our long decent down from Mount Gagazet.

--

When we came to Zanarkand, we stopped by the lake and watched the sunset. Again the view was beautiful but slightly disturbing. I stood beside Yuna and held her around her shoulders. She had her hands around my waist and her head on my shoulder.

After a while, we made a fire and sat down around it. Tidus stood on the hill beside the fire and looked out over Zanarkand.

"Well then. We're here. What now?" We heard him say.

"Now we have to decide who is going to hold the wedding." Yuna said. The flames perked up a little, from me or Yuna I don't know.

"Well, I'm not going to." Lulu said. When Yuna and I looked at her questionably she looked awkward and said: "I'll be to busy crying to hold a wedding."

I laughed at that before becoming serious again.

"Then we don't have anyone to hold our wedding." I said.

"How about me? I would be happy to marry Lady Yuna and Lord Salmar." A voice said. As on queue, we all turned to see Maechen, the old scholar standing behind us.

Lulu positively beamed.

"Can you?" she asked. The old man nodded.

"Oh, yes. I am most qualified to hold a wedding. I have held many, although most I don't remember. I think that I will be able to remember this one though. It is not every day one get to marry two of the most powerful people is Spira." He said. I looked at Yuna and saw her glowing with glee.

"Shall we?" I asked and she nodded, got up, waited for Rikku and Lulu to get up as well and they walked away to change.

In the meanwhile before Yuna, Rikku and Lulu returned, Tidus, Auron, Wakka and Kimahri were busy with cleaning up the surrounding area. Not that it was littered or anything, they just made it more suitable for a wedding. I had changed into some clothes I bought in the same travel agency in the Calm Lands that Yuna bought her dress.

I wore a white shirt with my insignia on the back, only in blue. I felt it a bit strange that the shop had a shirt with my sign on it, but didn't ask why. I also wore a pair of black simple but elegant pants. I still had my belt and my staff on my back. Then I used the rest of the time before Yuna came back, to speak with Maechen, who was getting ready for the wedding, and melting my necklace. I had decided when I proposed to make a ring out of my necklace and give it to Yuna as her wedding ring. When I was done, I was rather pleased. The ring had my sphere of lightning in the middle and tendrils of silver fire running outwards from it and around the ring, fading the longer around the ring the fire got. I was rather pleased with it and hoped Yuna would like it as well.

"So, you really love Lady Yuna?" Maechen asked. I looked at the scholar while I let the ring cool down.

"Yes, I love her with all my hearth." I said and he nodded.

"Good, since I don't hold weddings I don't think will last for life." He said. I looked at him for a moment before I laughed.

"I don't think that is something Yuna and I need to worry about. But yes, we would be happy for the rest of our lives, even if we didn't have to sacrifice ourselves to beat Sin." I said and he nodded again.

I then saw Rikku come running towards us.

"Is everything ready?" she asked while huffing for air.

"Yes, we're ready. Aren't we?" Tidus asked and Maechen nodded. The ring was cool and had hardened now, so I nodded and Rikku ran away again. I stood in the spot we had chosen, on top of the hill Tidus had looked out over Zanarkand. I had never been so nervous in my life. The fire was flickering and dying down in such a fast pace it felt like I was fighting and resting at the same time. I knew that this was going to be the best moment in my life and I couldn't wait until I could lay my eyes on Yuna again. Then I heard Tidus gasp and I turned around. And gasped as well.

Yuna came walking towards us and she looked so beautiful I didn't believe my eyes, but at the same time I couldn't think of anything but to see as much of her as possible.

She had her hair in almost the same style as when she was about to marry Seymour, but has shaped it to look like fire. Also she kept some of it down, framing her face. She still had her beaded earpiece. She had little makeup, but just enough to enhance her beauty. Not that it needed enhancing.

Her dress was a white sleeveless dress with blue and golden flames flickering it. The dress reached a little above her knees and the lower part of it was completely blue and golden, giving the illusion that she was on fire. I almost dropped the ring when I saw her, and I defiantly was staring. She saw it from the amused look in her eye as she approached.

When she came up beside me, I had managed to compose myself enough to actually reduce my staring to a bit less…mindless matter. In my defence, she was staring as well. She apparently like the shirt, probably because it was a bit small, and showed a lot of my muscles.

We stood facing each other in the sunset, Maechen stood beside us and our friends stood on our other side, although at a little distance. Not far enough to compromise their view though.

"We are gathered here today, on this sacred ground to witness the union of these two summoners, Lady Yuna and Lord Salmar. Are there anyone who has any objection to these two getting joined together forever? Maechen started but no one said anything.

"Well then. If we can have the wows then." Maechen said.

'Oh no. I didn't think of any wows. Oh, well, just be honest.' I thought and drew a deep breath.

"I have never experienced anything like what we have, and I have never felt so strongly for anyone. I know that these feelings are as genuine they can be, and that they will last the rest of my life. That is why I wow to always be there for you Yuna, always love you and to do my best to protect you. My love for you will never falter or diminish, and I hope that you will be happy by my side for the rest of our lives." I said while I smiled at her. She looked really happy and I could hear sobs from Lulu and Kimahri.

"I have also never experienced anything like what we have before, and I too know that my feelings for you will last just as strong the rest of my existence. I wow to never leave you, always love and cherish you and to support you whenever you'll need it. I love you with all my hearth Salmar, and I hope that our lives together will be happy and filled with much love." Yuna said. We smiled at each other and the sobs increased. Now Rikku had joined in as well and Tidus wasn't far behind.

"Good, both have given their wows. Now I ask you Lord Salmar, praised as the most powerful wandering guardian ever and admired by many, do you wish to take Lady Yuna, who stands in front of you, to your be lovely wife, love and cherish her for the rest of your lives, in suffering and doubt and trough good times and bad times?" Maechen asked.

"I do!" I said happily.

"Likewise I ask you Lady Yuna, summoner from the island of Besaid, do you wish to take Lord Salmar, who stands in front of you, to be your lovely husband, love and cherish him for the rest of your lives, in suffering and doubt and trough good times and bad times?" Maechen asked.

"I do!" Yuna said equally happy.

"By the power invested upon me, I announce you husband and wife. Um, do you have rings?" Maechen asked. Both I and Yuna nodded and I took out the ring I had made, gently took Yuna's right hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger. It fitted perfectly and for a moment she looked at it before she took out a ring of her own, and placed in on my right ring finger. It fitted perfectly as well. I too notice that it seemed to be made out of two metals of different colour.

"You may now kiss the bride." Maechen said with a huge grin on his face, and I didn't need to be told twice. Yuna and I got our first kiss as a married couple and it felt very good.

--

Now, since we were on the edge of a city dead for a thousand years we couldn't hold a big party to celebrate, so we just sat around the fire and enjoyed ourselves. Or rather, Tidus, Rikku, Lulu, Wakka, Auron, Kimahri and Maechen did. Yuna and I sat for ourselves a little away on the hill, she between my legs, leaning in on my chest. I had my arms wrapped around her, and enjoyed the feeling of her leaning on me. We still had our wedding clothes on. I looked at my ring and I could feel Yuna looking at it also.

It was indeed made up of two metals, one darker than the other. The metals were intertwined in a complex pattern and at first glance the two metals resembled two snakes intertwined with each other, but then I realised the two metals symbolised something. The darker metal was my fire, and the lighter was Yuna's. And when I thought about it, I could see that the two metals looked like mine and Yuna's flames mixing. The ring was perfect was the conclusion I arrived at.

Then I saw Yuna admiring her ring.

"I like the ring. You melted it with your own fire, right?" I asked and she nodded.

"What did you use for metal?" I asked, curious to how she managed the two different colours.

"I bought a bit of silver in the travel agency in the Calm Lands, and used some of your old swords. The darker colour is your right sword, and the lighter is the left." Yuna explained. I was surprised.

"You took care of my swords, even after I melted them?" I asked and she nodded.

"I thought it was a bit rash to throw away something that had been with you all your life, so I decided to take the melted swords with me. But I didn't use all, and I don't know what to do with the rest." Yuna said and I looked at my ring again.

"I don't know either. I am happy with this." I said and rubbed my ring.

"Speaking of metals, what did you use in mine? I assume you melted the ring yourself." Yuna asked, looking at her ring and apparently admiring the sphere.

"I used my silver necklace." I simply stated and she whirled around to look at me.

"No, you didn't. Why?" she asked and I chuckled.

"That ring is a symbol of my love for you, and I loved that necklace. So I remade it into that ring. I think you look much better with it than I would." I said and laughed gently.

"But…" she began

"No buts. I want you to keep it and don't think about it. I'll see it every time I see you anyway." I cut her of and she looked into my eyes for a bit before settling back in to lean against me again.

We continued to sit like that for a couple of hours, just enjoying being close to each other, and the knowledge that we were now married.

--

When we came back, Maechen was getting ready to leave.

"Ah, there you are. I must say, I can not remember ever seeing two people fitting so good together as you two do. I hope you will be truly happy." Maechen said

"Thank you. We are eternally grateful that you would marry us." Yuna said but Maechen shook his head.

"Oh no, it was my pleasure. But I must be off. I wish you all good luck." He said before he left. We stayed up a bit more before going to sleep. I and Yuna feel asleep hugging each other and I thought: 'Wow, I am actually married to this beauty. Someone must really like me out there.'

--