Disclaimer: Chapter 1 as always..
Okay, chapter 14 arrives late. I know, and I'm sorry. I've just been so out of it to really get into writing lately. Just started taking my school seriously again, and I don't want to get out of it as earlier. So my total attention and focus has been turned into work.. But here sure enough, Chapter 14 arrives. I'm sorry for the delay. I don't know what to say of this chapter really.. But hopefully it won't be all to boring. Enjoy, and do review!
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Chapter
14 - Future Dreams
The sun shined brightly over Besaid and the villagers walked around freely. By the Temple stairs sat a lonesome boy of the of 9 by himself. He niether said nor did he do anything as he only stared out at nothing in specific. His fierce yellow eyes reflected nothing short of sadness. He was alone, and not many people seemed to notice as very few knew the boy for who he really was.
It wasn't all too long ago when there were small discussions about him being able to sense things before they happened and him being able to sense things that had already happened from a very long distance. Good-hearted as the people of Besaid were, it didn't change the fact that they kept a distance from the kid as they feared on wether the kid had lost his sanity or if they feared the gift he said to have.
So there the kid sat for himself as people walked by not taking much notice in his evident sorrow. His eyes stayed fierce with nothing within them as he only looked forward.
It wasn't long before Rikku's blonde hair came into his view from where she stood outside of Lulu's hut together with Paine. Both engaged in an intense conversation over the situation at hand.
"Do you really think he's dying?" Rikku asked her friend frigthened.
"I don't know, I hope not for Yuna's sake."
"Yeah, I can't even imagine how she would feel if she lost him again. You saw how lost she was the first time." Rikku sighed in sadness. "A second time would crush her."
"Yeah, but we must keep our hopes up. I don't know Tidus all that much, but something tells me that he wouldn't give Yuna up a second time without fighting. He's a bit like Shuyin in that way.
Refuses to give up when his love is at stake. He would do just about everything for the woman he loves."
Rikku only stared in awe at her friend who had just poured out sensitive and warming words. "Who are you and what have you done to Paine, missy?"
"Very funny, Rikku." Paine scoffed. From the corner of her eye she saw the boy by the staircase of the Temple watching their way with an empty gaze. "A friend of yours, Rikku?"
"What? Who?" Rikku asked confused as to who Paine meant. She soon followd Paine's gesture towards the Temple and she soon caught onto who Paine meant. "No. But I've seen him around in Besaid a bit while visiting this place during our trip."
"He seems sad."
"And lonely." Rikku whispered before slowly making her way towards the boy, Paine right after her.
"Hi there!" Rikku smiling greeted the boy as she bent down on her knees to reach eye level with him. "What's your name?"
The both looked at her carefully at first before answering. "Daan"
"Daan, huh? That's a really cute name for a cute boy." Rikku smiled whilst Paine rolled her eyes at Rikku's attempt of cheering the boy up.
Daan's expression remained the same quiet and empty one. Rikku turned up to face Paine and was met by the same concerned and disturbed expression that she herself wore.
"Why're you here by yourself Daan?" but Daan only shrugged at her question and continued to stare at her with an empty gaze. "Did something happen to make you this sad?"
But no answer. Daan only remained still, as if he hadn't heard a word coming out of her mouth. Rikku tried not go get irritated at this, but she found it slightly difficult not to as she tried talkin to the boy and cheer him up and recieved nothing but coldness in return.
"Fine, if you don't want to talk then don't." She mumled with a sigh and stood herself up to her full length. She turned to meet Paine's shocked expression at her actions and went to go out of there when Daan's voice stopped her.
"It's my mother." he had shortly said. Rikku turned back to face him and she noticed the clear sad expression on him again. Forgetting her irritation with the boy just seconds earlier she returned to bending herself down on her knees in front of him.
"What about your mother? Where is she?"
The answer she recieved was not what she had expected. She had thought that maybe he had lost her and couldn't find her here in Besaid. But when he said "She's dead" she couldn't help but gasp.
"What? What happened? Where is she?" Paine questioned, confused and shocked as well.
"Guadosalam." Daan answered with a sniff as he for the first time spoke openly about what he had seen. "She's dead, just like the rest of the people over there."
"Guadosalam, dead like the rest of the people? What do you mean?" asked an even more confused Rikku.
"Everyone in Guadosalam is dead, slaugthered, murdered."
"How do you know of this? Did you see it happen?" Paine demanded. Everyone in Guadosalam being dead was nothing to joke about and she wanted the truth and nothing but the truth.
"I saw it," Daan hesitantly started. "in my dreams."
"In your dreams? Listen kid, going around saying that people are dead because you saw it in a dream is nothing to joke around with." Paine scolded, thinking the boy had only imagined it in his dreams.
"You don't understand. I, I sometimes see things in my dreams that actually happens."
Paine narrowed her eyes in confusion at what the boy was saying. "What?"
Daan looked at both of them as he quietly opened himself up for the first time in a long time. This was the first time in a long time that he had actually had someone to listen to him.
"It's something I've had for as long as I remember. My mom used to call it a gift. I rather see it as a curse." Daan explained sadly. "Being able to see things before they happen, when they happen. How can a thing that feels so painful be a gift? I've suffered through endless nights with these dreams of the future, the past and the present. Yet she calls it a gift..." he said those last words in tears.
Wanting to do anything to hear his lost mother say that it was a gift once again. Just to hear the voice of hers that he had been robbed of for eternity he felt like he wanted to give up the whole world just for a few seconds of being with her again. The only person who had really understood him and accepted his so-called-gift had been her.
"I was it in my dreams 2 nights ago. I saw her being slaugthered. It was so cruel, so evil." he cried "I-I miss her!"
Rikku looked back on Paine with a confused and sad face before craddling the boy in her arms, letting him cry out his sadness into her neck.
"Are you sure that this isn't just some imagination you're having? I doubt all of Guadosalam is dead." Paine questioned the boy further.
Rikku cast her an annoyed expression from where she still sat, holding the boy. "Not now, Paine." she said in a tight voice.
They soon heard the soft giggle of Yuna and the three turned their attentions to the young ex-summoner who exited her hut with Tidus smilingly after. Daan's expression remained sad even though the fact that he saw the woman he looked up to with fondness. Rikku's expression was unreadable and Paine stood where she stood with her usual expression on her face.
Yuna
noticed her friends at the Temple stairs and a frown covered her face
when she saw Rikku protectingly hold onto the little boy who carried
the saddest expression she had ever seen.
"Hey, come on!"
Yuna urged Tidus in a whisper and went to where Rikku and Paine was.
"What's going on?"
Rikku gave off a nervous expression, not really knowing what to say. "Uh, I, it's kind of hard to explain..."
"This boy states that all the people of Guadosalam is dead." Paine explained right after Rikku's attempt of telling Yuna and Tidus.
Both the girls laid notice to Tidus awake and seemingly healthy state this time around, but did not comment on it as Yuna went to ask them further with shock written all over her.
"What?" she had questioned, certainly not believing her ears. "Why do you say such things?" she then asked the boy.
"I, I see things." Daan started out, never meeting the ex-summoners face. "In my dreams, I watched them all die."
"In your dreams?" Tidus dumb-foundedly asked. "Are you sure that it wasn't just some ordinary dream?" for all he knew at this point was that only the Fayth's had different dreams then normal people.
"No. I swear to you that what I saw has happened. Everyone in Guadosalam has been slaugthered, including my..." Daan never ended his sentence as his sadness took-over again and he found himself gently leaning on Rikku again, softly sobbing.
"Including who?" Yuna sadly asked. Somehow already knowing the answer.
"His mother." Rikku revealed, still holding the sobbing kid.
Yuna looked at the boy with concern, pounding on the question if she believed his story or not. She barely knew the kid, but she really hoped for him to be wrong. To have lost a mother is an experience she had got to endure. She never wanted this boy to suffer through what she did.
"I'm not sure of what to think at this point." she said quietly. She noticed the people pausing in their works around them to get a glimpse at the commontion by the stairs. "But I really think we should get somewhere more private."
"I agree." Paine muttered and waved a hand in front of Rikku to indicate for her and the boy to follow. They all followed Yuna's lead over to Lulu and Wakka's home.
With a gentle nock on the door the gang was soon met by Wakka as he opened the door. "Hey, Yuna. Everything alright?"
"I don't know, we really need to talk."
"Oh, okay. Sure thing, just come on in." Wakka stepped aside and watched Yuna followed by Rikku and Paine together with a small boy pass him by.
Just as he went to close the door he felt the soft pressure of someone holding against his actions and he pushed the door aside to look who it was bothering him from closing the door to his home.
"Tidus? You're awake now, ya!" Wakka grinned as he laid eyes upon the messy blonde hair and blue eyes of the Star Blitzball Player.
"You could say that." Tidus grinned before entering the hut, hearing Wakka closing the door behind him.
Tidus followed Wakka through the hall into the living room and noticed how much this place was just like Yuna's. In the living room he was meet by the whole gang that was spread out throughout the whole room. Yuna and Lulu together on the double-seated couch. Little Vidina craddled in his mother's warm arms. Rikku and the small boy by a chair and Paine leaning on the wall right next to Rikku.
Both he and Wakka found theirselves a place to sit theirselves down. Everyone casting Yuna a glance, awaiting her to be the one to speak first.
"I really don't know what to think of this myself. But Spira's in danger again according to the Fayth's information. I rather not enjoy this fact, but I do believe them. I see no point in them lying after all these years of loyal co-operation that we've had with them during my Summoner days." Yuna started firmly, speaking in her most professional tone.
"I understand that I can not force or even ask any of you to sacrifice your lives for Spira more than what you've already done. I only want you to know that I will set out to protect Spira once again. I know that you all might think that saving Spira 2 times already is more than enough. I must agree with you on that as well, but this is who I am. How much I regret to tell this myself, but a part of me will always in some way set out to protect the world of which I was born into from any treathening danger. Yet I understand if I will be forced to go alone this time, without your support behind me. I see no reason for you to head out on another dangerous trip with me. I only say of my decision, and I will keep to it. This is who I am after all."
"What are you talking about, Yunie? Of course I'll follow, we'll all follow! Right!" Rikku exclaimed loudly, eyeing them all.
"I'm with you on this, Yuna." Paine sincerely said. Though the expression on Yuna's face was unreadable, she knew very well of the appreciation and warmth Yuna felt going through her veins at that moment.
"Thank you." Yuna whispered, holding her hand close to her heart as she eyed her best friends.
"We're with you no matter what, Yuna." Lulu gently laid her hand upon Yuna's shoulder while speaking. "You can always count on us."
"What Lulu said, ya." Wakka smiled, making his way over to his wife and child as well as Yuna on the couch.
All eyes now focused on the only one who hadn't said a word throughout the whole conversation. Tidus stood still where he was and was meet by all their gazes. They were awaiting his answer.
"I'm not gonna stay with you to the end, Yuna." he soon said. He saw all their gazes fall in disappointment except for Yuna's. He knew of what she was waiting to hear. "but always.." he added with a boyish smile, repeating his words of 2 years previous. Just merely changing the way he had said them to fit into this conversation better. Tidus watched them all look upon him in awe at how he had managed to bring them down so fast, and then slightly after bring them back up with two simple words. But Tidus cared for none of that as all he saw was Yuna's precious smile while remembering that time in Macalania.
They all were a bit shocked at Yuna's sudden movement of speed when she jumped up out of the couch and sprinted into Tidus's arms. Her lips forcefully on his as they soon engaged in a passionate kiss of which only the could understand the meaning of, leaving the other ones around shocked and bewildered, if not grossed out by their heavy moment of happiness and love.
Tidus held Yuna's body close to his by wrapping his arms tightly around her, while she held onto him by his neck. Their lips never leaving each others warmth as they feverently kissed each other.
"I love you," Yuna whimpered quietly against his lips after breaking apart for air. "so much."
"Well, what can I say?" Tidus smiled, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I love you as well."
Yuna smiled, though tears of happiness stung her eyes. "What did I ever do to deserve you?" she asked "I asked myself that everyday of our journey, I still do."
"By being who you are. Wasn't that what you said just earlier? That this is who you are? Saving Spira and all. If it hadn't been for you being that person in which you are, I don't think we ever would've meet. But then again, I really don't care of what each of us did to deserve each other. We love each other, that's all we ever need to know and hold onto from now on, ok?"
Yuna nodded with a smile. "Okay."
"Yuna?" Lulu asked from where she was seated. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have to ask. Who is this boy?" he motioned to Daan who sat with Rikku on a small chair.
"I don't know of his name." Yuna answered confused.
"His name is Daan, and he carries some disturbing news." said Paine from where she stood.
"Paine, please." Rikku sighed, gently holding Daan close to her. "He's sad enough as it is. Please don't sound this negative and cold in front of him."
This time it was Paine's turn to sigh. "Fine, I'm sorry."
"Why's he sad?" Tidus wondered.
"His mother died, in Guadosalam, together with everyone else there."
"What!" Wakka yelled, almost waking Vidina after shortly falling asleep in Lulu's arms. "When did this happen, why haven't we heard anything yet?" he asked in a lower voice.
"2 days ago." Rikku replied, tigthening her grip around Daan in support. "Daan recently told us outside."
"How do he know of this?" Lulu questioned further, deeply disturbed and worried over the news.
"I saw it," Daan silently spoke, interruping Rikku from answering for him. "in my dreams."
Yuna looked outmost worried and confused at the same time. She walked closer to the boy next to Rikku and gently crouched down to stay at the same eye-level as him.
"In your dreams you say?" she asked. When she got a nod in return she continued. "Then you don't have to worry, Daan. It was all a dream." she smiled, not knowing at all of what she spoke of in front of Daan.
"You don't understand..." he quietly objected.
Yuna looked perplexed at the boy. "What is it that I don't undersand?"
When Daan remained quiet, not wanting to answer out of embaressment or another reason, Paine decided to speak up for him before Rikku.
"He says that he can forsee the future in his dreams at times, even the past and the present."
"What?" Tidus chuckled in disbelief at what he had just heard.
"You heard her," Rikku said simpply. "she said that he can sometimes see the past, the present and the future in his dreams."
Tidus said nothing to this, he only scoffed. Still not believing it.
"How can this be?" asked Yuna, ignoring Tidus negative influence, and trying to keep a clear mind herself as to what she heard. She knew that even the impossible could turn out to be possible after what she had been through during her lifetime.
Both Paine and Rikku shrugged at Yuna's question. "We don't know."
"Daan?" Wakka carefully asked the boy.
"I don't know, my mom just called it a gift..."
"Well, are you sure this wasn't just an ordinary nightmare that we all have from time to time?"
"No, it was real." Daan regretfully stated. "My mother is dead, everyone in Guadosalam is."
Rikku held Daan even tighter in support, knowing that losing a mother at that age couldn't be easy. She didn't know what to think of this story, but she knew of Daan's heartbreak. So on knowing that what he told them couldn't be a total lie. Something wierd did occur in Guadosalam, and whatever it was. It couldn't be very good if everyone was dead.
"Daan, there's milk and some cookies in the kitchen if you would like some. Why don't you go in there and make yourself comfortable while we adults talk some things over, okay?" Lulu said sincerely to the boy and watched him nod barely before heading off to the kitchen.
"What do you think of this, Yuna?" Lulu asked when Daan was out of sight. Her voice clearly full of worry and confusion.
"I don't know." Yuna replied in a distraught and tired voice.
"Do you think it has an connection with what the Fayth's told you?" questioned Wakka from where he stood beside Lulu. He desperetely tried to use every part of his brain to connect everything together.
"I don't know, maybe. Probably..."
"Wait a minute," Tidus inturrupted, stepping closer to the group. "do you seriously mean to say me that you actually believe this boy and his future dreams? What is he? Like, 7 or 9 years old?"
Tidus never saw the raise of Rikku's hand before he felt her hard slap across his shoulder as she furiously stared at him. "You should know better than to judge anyone by their age! Shame on you, did you not see the look on Daan's face? How could you in any possible way not consider it all being true? I doubt anyone can look and feel so hurt if they were lying, Tidus."
"Yeah, but still..." Tidus began, before Yuna interrupted them both.
"Drop it will you, even if it's true or not we still have to go to Guadosalam. The Fayth's said that something disturbed their sleeping as it escaped."
"And your point is?" Paine asked.
Yuna sighed loudly for them not thinking at all. "Where are the Fayth's?"
"The Farplane." Tidus shrugged. "Everyone knows that."
"Exactly! Which means that whatever escaped and is now threathinging Spire escaped from the Farplane." Yuna said, connecting the dots for the others to see.
"Oh, yeah!" Rikku jumped excitedly at her cousins ability to use her brain.
"So you're heading to Guadosalam then?"
"Yes." Yuna responded to both Wakka and Lulu "And you two are going to stay here and take care of Vidina."
"No, Yuna, please." Lulu spoke "We stayed here while you fought off Vegnagun. You can't ask us to stay here and do nothing to help you."
"You were pregnant, Lulu." Yuna smiled in apology. "And now both of you and Wakka are parents. You need to take care of Vidina, not me."
Wakka and Lulu sighed, knowing that Yuna very much had a point in the matter. All they could do now to help Yuna was to take care of themselved and Vidina, so Yuna could focus on saving Spira again without having them as an distraction.
"Okay, but please. Be careful, all of you. And don't forget to report in every now and then with news and updates."
"Don't worry." Yuna smiled.
"Off to the Celsius then!" Rikku cheered.
"The Celsius?" Tidus asked confused. "What's a Celsius?"
"You'll see soon enough." Yuna giggled, embracing his hand with her own as she ran out the hut and started towards the beach where she would soon await to see Tidus reaction to the big airplane that she used to glide through the skies onboard with the Gullwings.
"Rikku, wait!" Paine called, right before Rikku ran out the hut as well. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"Oh, yeah. Daan!" Rikku remembered. Now very nervous as to how she would handle the situation with Daan.
"Don't worry, Lu and I'll take care of it." Wakka offered "Just go, ya!"
"Thanks, Wakka!" Rikku thanked before running out together with Paine. Both trying to catch up to Yuna and Tidus who were now a long ways ahead.
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Okay ppl, that's it for this chapter. As I said earlier, don't know what to say really.. But I think it explains a bit of what's to happen next. And a new original character was presented.. Daan. I'm thinking of him maybe having a bigger role in this later, but it awaits to see. Review and tell me of your thoughts, no flamers though With a few reviews on it might get me motivated to write a little faster, even with schoolwork on my shoulders. Who knows.. I sure don't know anyways.
Cheers everyone, hope you enjoyed. Review!
