Notes: While writing this chapter, I spent most of the time
headdesking. Issaru is like an iron wall. Jesus...Needless to say, this
chapter was hard to write. Thank god FF.net has the ability to actually
re-load new content in chapters because I bet I'll catch the mistakes
AFTER I post this. Go figure. Anyway, enjoy.
"While I was in Zanarkand, I heard from the tourists about Baralai's first speech as Praetor." Isaaru said, looking over at the red rooftops of the city below. As soon as he saw Baralai, his Al Bhed friend, and Pacce friendly with the both of them, he decided to go back to his room, ignoring everyone. On the balcony of his room, he saw how the people ran to get a glimpse of Baralai, who had just returned from Luca. They were festive, happy and many of them screamed about how there would be peace now. The former Summoner didn't even know these people existed. For him, only Maroda existed now. "He basically said that despite the sweeping changes in Spira, it is important to act slowly, but surely. One thing at a time. All others ways end in tragedy. History has shown that."
"One thing at a time..." Maroda frowned, looking towards the inner temple, where Baralai was no doubt speaking with more of his supporters. "That's how New Yevon got the motto?"
Isaaru nodded, "Yes." He sighed, shut his eyes and tilted his head back. He pictured Baralai making that speech. Perfect poise, polite words, a voice gentle yet clear as a bell, and a beautifully determined demeanor. It made his skin crawl for it reminded Isaaru of just how Baralai rose so quickly in the New Yevon ranks, at the former Summoner's expense. Oh, sure, Baralai had help, much of it from Trema and a slew of young acolytes, but it didn't change the fact that he swiftly outranked Isaaru, and to this day, it angered the former Summoner.
"You okay?" Maroda asked, his hand on Isaaru's shoulder.
"No," He answered quietly. He shook his head, "I can't help what I feel. I never could. I wish you knew what it was like, but you left quickly."
"I wanted to get away from Trema. It made me angry when he demanded that you step down." Maroda shook his head. "I was angrier when you chose to stay."
"Where would I have gone, Maroda?" Isaaru lowered his head. "I worked in Zanarkand out of sheer luck more than anything. I found Cid and he told me his idea. It gave me the opportunity to take my mind out of all that had happened and I got to be close to the ruins I yearned for." He suddenly pressed his lips together as all sorts of memories with Baralai flooded back.
Maroda caught the sudden guard immedietly , "You're not telling me everything."
Isaaru sighed, feeling foolish for being too obvious in his secret keeping. Seeing no point in hiding anymore, he asked Maroda, "Do you want to know more of the history between myself and Baralai?"
"Yes. I think I should know." Maroda nodded. "When I heard that you left, the Youth League was happy to hear about it--"
"Of course," Isaaru interrupted, grinning.
"Heh, yea and that kind of went away when we found out that the Awesome Sphere went missing."
Upon hearing that, Isaaru raised his eyebrows and then smiled, "Which, by the way, I took."
The look on Maroda's face was priceless. Even though Isaaru generally felt uneasy about Machina, he would have given just about anything to record this conversation just to see the look of absolute surprise on his younger brother's face.
"You did what?" He finally asked, still incredulous and Isaaru realized with great amusement that it wasn't going to go away anytime soon.
"Right after Baralai, oh excuse me, Trema, demanded my departure, I bowed gracefully and instead of going to my room to pack up, I went to the hiding place where the Awesome Sphere was kept. I put it in my robes and acted as though nothing had happened. It's why I was never caught."
"That, and the fact that no one would suspect you," Maroda laughed. "You know with 'Yevon's word being law' and all that."
"Yes, that too. I left as quickly as I could with a handful of my most loyal followers. They carried my things as there was no way in the deepest reaches of the Farplane would I ever allow Baralai or Trema access to my property while I was gone. All that remained was furniture that was Bevelle's anyway. When I was finally in Macalania Forest, I asked one of my followers to go to Kilika Temple and hide the Sphere there. I knew that no one would ever suspect its whereabouts."
"Youth League found out! Thanks to me." Maroda beamed, puffing out his chest.
"Eventually," Isaaru nodded. "Anyway, I headed for the Calm Lands because I knew that anywhere else would have been dangerous for me. I knew too much."
"I can imagine."
"That's when I met Cid and ended up in Zanarkand. When Cid had asked for the ruins to be made into a tourist attraction, I actually wanted to kill him." Before Maroda could ask why, Isaaru held up his hand. "Not because he sought to make the place into a business venture, but because he can't keep secrets."
"Al Bhed never could," Maroda commented.
"Especially not Cid. I asked him not to tell anyone in New Yevon that I was there, but Cid looked at me like I was insane. I couldn't tell him why he should conceal me, so I knew he shrugged my request off. When Cid told me that it was allowed for Zanarkand to be open for tourism, I stopped worrying and was surprised that Baralai paid me a visit."
"Yea, I know, but, from what you said, he never the mentioned the Sphere to you."
Isaaru shook his head, "No, of course not. I knew he had to have suspected me, but he couldn't prove it and I would not have admitted it. Many people left Bevelle the same time I did." He shrugged, but wondered if Baralai would bring it up now. He heard that Yuna returned it to New Yevon, but Isaaru knew that Baralai's memory was as long as his was and it was doubtful that the young Praetor would let something as important as the Awesome Sphere slide.
"How was it first found?" Maroda asked, the tone of his voice filled with curiosity. Isaaru wasn't surprised Maroda would ask that. Nothing Maroda did surprised him. It had been like that since childhood.
Isaaru looked towards the main temple again, noticing that a crowd was still there, but it thinned, which meant that Baralai was somewhere inside. Swallowing, he finally answered.
"With Vegnagun." Isaaru remembered how Baralai managed to placate that gargantuan machina and still felt the same awe he did two years ago. That thing sensed hostility and it rose up when Isaaru had gone near it. He stayed back as Baralai told him to, but Isaaru was riveted, both at the younger man and at the weapon. He remembered Baralai's gentle words to the thing, about a nightmare and an unknown young man. The former Summoner suddenly stiffened against the temperate wind.
"What's wrong?" Maroda inquired.
"Nothing is wrong," Isaaru lied through his teeth. "Baralai masterfully manipulated Trema into allowing him to enter the depths. He then did something that threw me off entirely."
"He asked you to go with him," Maroda concluded. "He trusted you."
"I don't believe for a single moment it was about trust," Isaaru countered, knowing deep inside that Maroda may be right, but denying it all the same. "Baralai didn't ask me, he politely ordered me to go. Quite naturally, I questioned why and he said that it was because he needed my powers the way he did in Vio Infinito." Isaaru sighed. "I couldn't say no. It was the way he looked at me, the way he held onto my arms. The way he told me that he knew all that I was feeling and felt nothing but compassion for me and that we should work for each other, not against. He told me that he wanted what we had when we first met." Isaaru lowered his eyes. "I thought it was an attempt to manipulate me, but I somehow couldn't call him on his words. He just looked kind, but very firm."
"So you did as he said."
"Yes." Slowly, Isaaru leaned against the railing and looked up at the sparsely clouded sky. "While in the Temple's many secret depths, Baralai was fiercely protective of me. He had even gone so far as to block me with his staff, so I could not get near any fiends. Sometimes I was grateful, but sometimes it angered me, but while I was tempted to knock his staff away, I never did that. I couldn't. We worked well together as we fought powerful fiends and found new secret passages."
"Which took you to Vegnagun," Maroda looked away, shaking his head. Isaaru didn't have to say yes. "So, you must have been horrified."
Isaaru shut his eyes, the memories of the ram-like weapon vivid, "Horrified, disgusted, sickened, yet not surprised. I walked towards it, I couldn't help it. It was Machina and yet it was very much alive in its hideousness. Its visage was like a fiend's mask and its eyes burned red when I came near it. That was when Baralai told me to stay back and I did. I watched him walk towards that thing as though it were a toy. He spoke to it, I don't know what he said exactly, but I thought I heard something about someone else's nightmare and how it affected him and his friends in the Den of Woe."
"That's why Nooj wanted it sealed!" Maroda exclaimed, knocking Isaaru out of his trance.
"Yes," Isaaru nodded, knowing of the many pyrefly ghosts that inhabited that area, but he chose to say nothing of it. Even now, Isaaru couldn't bring himself to reveal everything to anyone, not even his beloved younger brother. "It should have been sealed years ago, but it was obviously used to test the Crimson Squad, and Baralai was among them."
"Whoa! Baralai was in the Crimson Squad? I mean, I knew that the Youth League and New Yevon worked together to seal the Den of Woe, but I didn't know anything about the Crimson Squad, except in rumors because I would hear about how the Yevon Priests wanted the members dead." Maroda shook his head in disbelief. "I guess that was them, right?"
"You guess right," Isaaru replied, inwardly shocked that he would reveal so much like this. Knowing that Maroda's next question would be 'so how did you know Baralai was in the Crimson Squad?', he continued on with Vegnagun. "Anyway," he said this in a sharp tone which silenced any questions from Maroda that would divert the conversation, "he told the machina that neither of us meant any harm because neither of us knew how to use it. I couldn't hear anything more, but eventually Vegnagun just darkened and didn't move. When I saw that it was harmless, I turned to leave and I saw something on a ledge to the right of me."
"The Awesome Sphere, right?" Maroda prodded, but indicated that he would wait for an answer.
Despite the air being only mildly warm, Isaaru removed the dark blue layer of his robes, "Yes." He walked inside his room and folded the outer robe over a chair. Left with his sea green and white inner robe, he walked back out to the balcony. Resting on elbow on the rail, he looked intently at his brother, who was also staring, but mainly with concern.
"I'm okay, Maroda," Isaaru smiled, noting that the crowds had finally either gone back home or went shopping. To Isaaru, this meant that the Praetor must be deep inside the Temple, probably on his way to his own room. "When I saw it, Baralai told me to stay where I was and he bounded up to the platform, took what was inside the old, broken sphere cam and came back with the Sphere. He stood right in front of me when he looked into it. I could see his eyes, widened with same curiosity both you and Pacce have." Isaaru looked away, remembering how the light of the sphere danced in Baralai's dark eyes. "He whispered that it was awesome."
"I bet it was," Maroda nodded, he grinned. "So, that's how the 'Awesome Sphere' got its name."
"Indeed," Isaaru replied. "And before you ask, yes, I did see what was in the sphere," he narrowed his yes, "and no, you don't need to know what's in it." Maroda frowned, and before he could ask 'why not' or say something like 'But, there's no harm in it now', Isaaru said, "Not now. It's not as important as everyone thought it was." Only, it actually was important. Since Baralai had returned with his friends, this would mean that Vegnagun is either gone or sealed away, but what of the apparition? Even though it was in the form of dark pyreflies, he saw that it matched with the youth in the Sphere. Isaaru first thought that it was only one of the pyrefly ghosts that wandered around because of unfinished business. They were usually harmless. But, when he actually saw it, he knew it wasn't. Isaaru had sensed much malevolence in that particular being. His thoughts were suddenly jarred when Maroda waved his hands in front of Isaaru's face.
"You okay?" Maroda asked. "Are you worried about Baralai?"
"No," Isaaru answered quickly, his eyes suddenly widening as everything suddenly grew dark. "What happened?"
"It's nothing. Just a cloud going over the sun, that's all," Maroda shrugged. He shook his head, his eyes clearly showing concern. "Isaaru--"
"I'm fine, Maroda," he snapped, tightly hugging himself. He suddenly felt cold, even though it was far from that. "Just that recalling Vegnagun was unnerving."
"I don't know what I would have done if I saw that thing..." Maroda let out a breath as he looked up at the clouds that moved away from the sun.
"I don't think Baralai did either, but he dealt with it rather nicely," Isaaru tilted his head, his red hair falling across his face. "I don't know what to say...there's so much to say. Forgive me, Maroda, I can't..." Isaaru felt heavy as he leaned forward against Maroda's strong body.
"It's okay," Maroda said, trying to comfort Isaaru, but it only made him feel worse. His younger brother would never have Baralai's soothing voice or touch. Isaaru pulled away, and began untying the second layer of his robes. He walked in his room, Maroda close behind.
As he threw the robe on top of the first layer, Isaaru turned to his brother, "Vegnagun was the turning point for me. I had doubts from the very beginning. At first, I only doubted Trema." Isaaru sat on the edge of the firm, yet comfortable bed. Before saying anything, he took quite a few deep breaths, knowing that his brother was waiting with uncharacteristic patience. He knew he didn't have much time left before Baralai either called for him or barged in the room himself, yet he just couldn't bring himself to lay out all the details of what happened and what he in the past two years. "Then, after awhile, I began to wonder about Baralai himself."
"When you found out that he was in the Crimson Squad?" Maroda asked.
"No," Isaaru kept his head down. "It was...was...the fact that everything seemed to go his way. He became Trema's favorite quite quickly, but I knew that Trema was someone Baralai needed out of the way. I certainly did." Isaaru paused, remembering how foolish he felt for thinking that Baralai would support him instead of vying for power. "Somehow I thought that either he would support me for my becoming Praetor or we would be equals and share power." Maroda chuckled and Isaaru found himself doing the same. "You're thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I don't know," Maroda shrugged. "I wish I could say something about Baralai, but I can't, other than if I were in your position, maybe I would have thought the same thing."
"It was unusually naive of me..." Isaaru swallowed, licking his lips as he willed himself to go on. Even though it was probably well after one o' clock by now, he just wanted to sleep, but he couldn't leave his brother hanging entirely. "But, I don't entirely blame myself. I mean," Isaaru grit his teeth as he felt a very painful memory surface, "do you know what Trema did as soon as you left?"
"Thankfully, not too many people looked at me like I had nine heads. Eh, they figured one handsome head was enough."
Isaaru straightened up, knowing without having met him, that it was the Al Bhed. Anyone could have punched the Summoner in the stomach. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't do anything. /It's come...the time has come...not one...but two...I know Baralai will tell him everything...I just know...if not now, soon.../.
"Are you okay?" Maroda asked, grabbing Isaaru's hands.
No, Isaaru wasn't okay. He was far from it, and he was even less than okay, when he heard Baralai's light, soft voice.
"Don't worry, that'll come when everything dies down. I'll protect you, my Gippal."
Despite Maroda's supportive grip, Isaaru doubled over, his chin resting on his brother's shoulder. "Not now...not now..."
"Oh! This is my big brother's room. You want to see Isaaru?" Hearing Pacce's high-pitched voice, Isaaru quickly pointed at the door.
"Maroda!" He whispered, his voice harsh. Knowing exactly what Isaaru wanted, Maroda ran swiftly to the door, locking it.
"Pacce, Isaaru is asleep. Come back later."
"Asleep? But, it's the afternoon!" Pacce protested.
"Pacce, it doesn't matter. Isaaru's tired and he needs his rest!" Maroda snapped.
Isaaru strained his ears to hear either Gippal or Baralai's voice, but all he heard was Zetu telling Pacce that it was rude to interrupt someone while they are resting and that he should go and play. Isaaru knew that Pacce was pouting, but the boy said his see you laters and ran off to re-join his Kinderguardian friends. He would have sighed in relief if Baralai's entourage just walked on, but it seemed that only Gippal and Zetu did. That fact made Isaaru's throat dry.
"Baralai?" Gippal called, "Come on, he's asleep, right?"
Quickly, but quietly walking to the double door, Isaaru put the palm of his hand on the sleek dark oak that was the only barrier between himself and Baralai. All one of them had to do was open the door or try to in Baralai's case. Who'd move first? Isaaru certainly wasn't going to, so that left the Praetor.
/He's knows it's a lie/. Isaaru replaced his hand with his forehead, feeling the cool wood against it. He felt a little better, but not much. /He is waiting. Forgive me, Baralai, but I cannot face you now/.
"Praetor," Maroda began, "with all due respect, you shouldn't bother Isaaru now. Like I said, he's tired."
Isaaru knew what Baralai was thinking, not saying, thinking. Baralai would not utter anything, instead he would study the door and take what felt like forever to think of what to do. All this while studying the many patterns the oak made on the door, the gold color of the knobs, picturing Maroda behind the door, and Isaaru avoiding everything.
"Baralai, you heard him," Gippal said, and Isaaru was glad that he was there.
"You will see him soon enough, Praetor," Zetu interjected gently, his voice like a stern but kind father. Isaaru hoped that soon would translate to much later. Apparently it was more than enough because he sensed Baralai moving away, and it made Isaaru want to slide down the door onto the soft carparet below.
Gippal spoke again, but neither brother could hear it, and Isaaru neither knew nor cared what they were talking about now. He knew he'd care later, so why bother now?
"Thank you, Maroda," Isaaru breathed. He plopped right back down on the bed, his blue eyes scanning the smooth white ceiling.
"We're brothers," Maroda replied, flopping right next to him, questions and conversation forgotten for the time being.
Smiling, Isaaru reached behind his head and removed the tie that held up his dark red hair. Isaaru pondered just how long it would be before he and Baralai finally confront face to face. Maybe it would be more pleasant than he thought. After all, Baralai did smile to him when they first saw each other outside. However, the smile, no matter how sweet it looked, could have easily been faked and part of a calculated maneuver. Isaaru was used to Baralai's calculated maneuvers. It's how he managed to gain the acolyte following needed to overtake Isaaru, overthrow Trema(and make it look as though the old man left because he was only asked to), and become the Praetor of New Yevon.
No way it would be pleasant, Isaaru decided, and it wouldn't quite be his fault either. The last time they spoke was in Zanarkand and Baralai's last words were,
"I should have let Auron kill you."
"While I was in Zanarkand, I heard from the tourists about Baralai's first speech as Praetor." Isaaru said, looking over at the red rooftops of the city below. As soon as he saw Baralai, his Al Bhed friend, and Pacce friendly with the both of them, he decided to go back to his room, ignoring everyone. On the balcony of his room, he saw how the people ran to get a glimpse of Baralai, who had just returned from Luca. They were festive, happy and many of them screamed about how there would be peace now. The former Summoner didn't even know these people existed. For him, only Maroda existed now. "He basically said that despite the sweeping changes in Spira, it is important to act slowly, but surely. One thing at a time. All others ways end in tragedy. History has shown that."
"One thing at a time..." Maroda frowned, looking towards the inner temple, where Baralai was no doubt speaking with more of his supporters. "That's how New Yevon got the motto?"
Isaaru nodded, "Yes." He sighed, shut his eyes and tilted his head back. He pictured Baralai making that speech. Perfect poise, polite words, a voice gentle yet clear as a bell, and a beautifully determined demeanor. It made his skin crawl for it reminded Isaaru of just how Baralai rose so quickly in the New Yevon ranks, at the former Summoner's expense. Oh, sure, Baralai had help, much of it from Trema and a slew of young acolytes, but it didn't change the fact that he swiftly outranked Isaaru, and to this day, it angered the former Summoner.
"You okay?" Maroda asked, his hand on Isaaru's shoulder.
"No," He answered quietly. He shook his head, "I can't help what I feel. I never could. I wish you knew what it was like, but you left quickly."
"I wanted to get away from Trema. It made me angry when he demanded that you step down." Maroda shook his head. "I was angrier when you chose to stay."
"Where would I have gone, Maroda?" Isaaru lowered his head. "I worked in Zanarkand out of sheer luck more than anything. I found Cid and he told me his idea. It gave me the opportunity to take my mind out of all that had happened and I got to be close to the ruins I yearned for." He suddenly pressed his lips together as all sorts of memories with Baralai flooded back.
Maroda caught the sudden guard immedietly , "You're not telling me everything."
Isaaru sighed, feeling foolish for being too obvious in his secret keeping. Seeing no point in hiding anymore, he asked Maroda, "Do you want to know more of the history between myself and Baralai?"
"Yes. I think I should know." Maroda nodded. "When I heard that you left, the Youth League was happy to hear about it--"
"Of course," Isaaru interrupted, grinning.
"Heh, yea and that kind of went away when we found out that the Awesome Sphere went missing."
Upon hearing that, Isaaru raised his eyebrows and then smiled, "Which, by the way, I took."
The look on Maroda's face was priceless. Even though Isaaru generally felt uneasy about Machina, he would have given just about anything to record this conversation just to see the look of absolute surprise on his younger brother's face.
"You did what?" He finally asked, still incredulous and Isaaru realized with great amusement that it wasn't going to go away anytime soon.
"Right after Baralai, oh excuse me, Trema, demanded my departure, I bowed gracefully and instead of going to my room to pack up, I went to the hiding place where the Awesome Sphere was kept. I put it in my robes and acted as though nothing had happened. It's why I was never caught."
"That, and the fact that no one would suspect you," Maroda laughed. "You know with 'Yevon's word being law' and all that."
"Yes, that too. I left as quickly as I could with a handful of my most loyal followers. They carried my things as there was no way in the deepest reaches of the Farplane would I ever allow Baralai or Trema access to my property while I was gone. All that remained was furniture that was Bevelle's anyway. When I was finally in Macalania Forest, I asked one of my followers to go to Kilika Temple and hide the Sphere there. I knew that no one would ever suspect its whereabouts."
"Youth League found out! Thanks to me." Maroda beamed, puffing out his chest.
"Eventually," Isaaru nodded. "Anyway, I headed for the Calm Lands because I knew that anywhere else would have been dangerous for me. I knew too much."
"I can imagine."
"That's when I met Cid and ended up in Zanarkand. When Cid had asked for the ruins to be made into a tourist attraction, I actually wanted to kill him." Before Maroda could ask why, Isaaru held up his hand. "Not because he sought to make the place into a business venture, but because he can't keep secrets."
"Al Bhed never could," Maroda commented.
"Especially not Cid. I asked him not to tell anyone in New Yevon that I was there, but Cid looked at me like I was insane. I couldn't tell him why he should conceal me, so I knew he shrugged my request off. When Cid told me that it was allowed for Zanarkand to be open for tourism, I stopped worrying and was surprised that Baralai paid me a visit."
"Yea, I know, but, from what you said, he never the mentioned the Sphere to you."
Isaaru shook his head, "No, of course not. I knew he had to have suspected me, but he couldn't prove it and I would not have admitted it. Many people left Bevelle the same time I did." He shrugged, but wondered if Baralai would bring it up now. He heard that Yuna returned it to New Yevon, but Isaaru knew that Baralai's memory was as long as his was and it was doubtful that the young Praetor would let something as important as the Awesome Sphere slide.
"How was it first found?" Maroda asked, the tone of his voice filled with curiosity. Isaaru wasn't surprised Maroda would ask that. Nothing Maroda did surprised him. It had been like that since childhood.
Isaaru looked towards the main temple again, noticing that a crowd was still there, but it thinned, which meant that Baralai was somewhere inside. Swallowing, he finally answered.
"With Vegnagun." Isaaru remembered how Baralai managed to placate that gargantuan machina and still felt the same awe he did two years ago. That thing sensed hostility and it rose up when Isaaru had gone near it. He stayed back as Baralai told him to, but Isaaru was riveted, both at the younger man and at the weapon. He remembered Baralai's gentle words to the thing, about a nightmare and an unknown young man. The former Summoner suddenly stiffened against the temperate wind.
"What's wrong?" Maroda inquired.
"Nothing is wrong," Isaaru lied through his teeth. "Baralai masterfully manipulated Trema into allowing him to enter the depths. He then did something that threw me off entirely."
"He asked you to go with him," Maroda concluded. "He trusted you."
"I don't believe for a single moment it was about trust," Isaaru countered, knowing deep inside that Maroda may be right, but denying it all the same. "Baralai didn't ask me, he politely ordered me to go. Quite naturally, I questioned why and he said that it was because he needed my powers the way he did in Vio Infinito." Isaaru sighed. "I couldn't say no. It was the way he looked at me, the way he held onto my arms. The way he told me that he knew all that I was feeling and felt nothing but compassion for me and that we should work for each other, not against. He told me that he wanted what we had when we first met." Isaaru lowered his eyes. "I thought it was an attempt to manipulate me, but I somehow couldn't call him on his words. He just looked kind, but very firm."
"So you did as he said."
"Yes." Slowly, Isaaru leaned against the railing and looked up at the sparsely clouded sky. "While in the Temple's many secret depths, Baralai was fiercely protective of me. He had even gone so far as to block me with his staff, so I could not get near any fiends. Sometimes I was grateful, but sometimes it angered me, but while I was tempted to knock his staff away, I never did that. I couldn't. We worked well together as we fought powerful fiends and found new secret passages."
"Which took you to Vegnagun," Maroda looked away, shaking his head. Isaaru didn't have to say yes. "So, you must have been horrified."
Isaaru shut his eyes, the memories of the ram-like weapon vivid, "Horrified, disgusted, sickened, yet not surprised. I walked towards it, I couldn't help it. It was Machina and yet it was very much alive in its hideousness. Its visage was like a fiend's mask and its eyes burned red when I came near it. That was when Baralai told me to stay back and I did. I watched him walk towards that thing as though it were a toy. He spoke to it, I don't know what he said exactly, but I thought I heard something about someone else's nightmare and how it affected him and his friends in the Den of Woe."
"That's why Nooj wanted it sealed!" Maroda exclaimed, knocking Isaaru out of his trance.
"Yes," Isaaru nodded, knowing of the many pyrefly ghosts that inhabited that area, but he chose to say nothing of it. Even now, Isaaru couldn't bring himself to reveal everything to anyone, not even his beloved younger brother. "It should have been sealed years ago, but it was obviously used to test the Crimson Squad, and Baralai was among them."
"Whoa! Baralai was in the Crimson Squad? I mean, I knew that the Youth League and New Yevon worked together to seal the Den of Woe, but I didn't know anything about the Crimson Squad, except in rumors because I would hear about how the Yevon Priests wanted the members dead." Maroda shook his head in disbelief. "I guess that was them, right?"
"You guess right," Isaaru replied, inwardly shocked that he would reveal so much like this. Knowing that Maroda's next question would be 'so how did you know Baralai was in the Crimson Squad?', he continued on with Vegnagun. "Anyway," he said this in a sharp tone which silenced any questions from Maroda that would divert the conversation, "he told the machina that neither of us meant any harm because neither of us knew how to use it. I couldn't hear anything more, but eventually Vegnagun just darkened and didn't move. When I saw that it was harmless, I turned to leave and I saw something on a ledge to the right of me."
"The Awesome Sphere, right?" Maroda prodded, but indicated that he would wait for an answer.
Despite the air being only mildly warm, Isaaru removed the dark blue layer of his robes, "Yes." He walked inside his room and folded the outer robe over a chair. Left with his sea green and white inner robe, he walked back out to the balcony. Resting on elbow on the rail, he looked intently at his brother, who was also staring, but mainly with concern.
"I'm okay, Maroda," Isaaru smiled, noting that the crowds had finally either gone back home or went shopping. To Isaaru, this meant that the Praetor must be deep inside the Temple, probably on his way to his own room. "When I saw it, Baralai told me to stay where I was and he bounded up to the platform, took what was inside the old, broken sphere cam and came back with the Sphere. He stood right in front of me when he looked into it. I could see his eyes, widened with same curiosity both you and Pacce have." Isaaru looked away, remembering how the light of the sphere danced in Baralai's dark eyes. "He whispered that it was awesome."
"I bet it was," Maroda nodded, he grinned. "So, that's how the 'Awesome Sphere' got its name."
"Indeed," Isaaru replied. "And before you ask, yes, I did see what was in the sphere," he narrowed his yes, "and no, you don't need to know what's in it." Maroda frowned, and before he could ask 'why not' or say something like 'But, there's no harm in it now', Isaaru said, "Not now. It's not as important as everyone thought it was." Only, it actually was important. Since Baralai had returned with his friends, this would mean that Vegnagun is either gone or sealed away, but what of the apparition? Even though it was in the form of dark pyreflies, he saw that it matched with the youth in the Sphere. Isaaru first thought that it was only one of the pyrefly ghosts that wandered around because of unfinished business. They were usually harmless. But, when he actually saw it, he knew it wasn't. Isaaru had sensed much malevolence in that particular being. His thoughts were suddenly jarred when Maroda waved his hands in front of Isaaru's face.
"You okay?" Maroda asked. "Are you worried about Baralai?"
"No," Isaaru answered quickly, his eyes suddenly widening as everything suddenly grew dark. "What happened?"
"It's nothing. Just a cloud going over the sun, that's all," Maroda shrugged. He shook his head, his eyes clearly showing concern. "Isaaru--"
"I'm fine, Maroda," he snapped, tightly hugging himself. He suddenly felt cold, even though it was far from that. "Just that recalling Vegnagun was unnerving."
"I don't know what I would have done if I saw that thing..." Maroda let out a breath as he looked up at the clouds that moved away from the sun.
"I don't think Baralai did either, but he dealt with it rather nicely," Isaaru tilted his head, his red hair falling across his face. "I don't know what to say...there's so much to say. Forgive me, Maroda, I can't..." Isaaru felt heavy as he leaned forward against Maroda's strong body.
"It's okay," Maroda said, trying to comfort Isaaru, but it only made him feel worse. His younger brother would never have Baralai's soothing voice or touch. Isaaru pulled away, and began untying the second layer of his robes. He walked in his room, Maroda close behind.
As he threw the robe on top of the first layer, Isaaru turned to his brother, "Vegnagun was the turning point for me. I had doubts from the very beginning. At first, I only doubted Trema." Isaaru sat on the edge of the firm, yet comfortable bed. Before saying anything, he took quite a few deep breaths, knowing that his brother was waiting with uncharacteristic patience. He knew he didn't have much time left before Baralai either called for him or barged in the room himself, yet he just couldn't bring himself to lay out all the details of what happened and what he in the past two years. "Then, after awhile, I began to wonder about Baralai himself."
"When you found out that he was in the Crimson Squad?" Maroda asked.
"No," Isaaru kept his head down. "It was...was...the fact that everything seemed to go his way. He became Trema's favorite quite quickly, but I knew that Trema was someone Baralai needed out of the way. I certainly did." Isaaru paused, remembering how foolish he felt for thinking that Baralai would support him instead of vying for power. "Somehow I thought that either he would support me for my becoming Praetor or we would be equals and share power." Maroda chuckled and Isaaru found himself doing the same. "You're thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I don't know," Maroda shrugged. "I wish I could say something about Baralai, but I can't, other than if I were in your position, maybe I would have thought the same thing."
"It was unusually naive of me..." Isaaru swallowed, licking his lips as he willed himself to go on. Even though it was probably well after one o' clock by now, he just wanted to sleep, but he couldn't leave his brother hanging entirely. "But, I don't entirely blame myself. I mean," Isaaru grit his teeth as he felt a very painful memory surface, "do you know what Trema did as soon as you left?"
"Thankfully, not too many people looked at me like I had nine heads. Eh, they figured one handsome head was enough."
Isaaru straightened up, knowing without having met him, that it was the Al Bhed. Anyone could have punched the Summoner in the stomach. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't do anything. /It's come...the time has come...not one...but two...I know Baralai will tell him everything...I just know...if not now, soon.../.
"Are you okay?" Maroda asked, grabbing Isaaru's hands.
No, Isaaru wasn't okay. He was far from it, and he was even less than okay, when he heard Baralai's light, soft voice.
"Don't worry, that'll come when everything dies down. I'll protect you, my Gippal."
Despite Maroda's supportive grip, Isaaru doubled over, his chin resting on his brother's shoulder. "Not now...not now..."
"Oh! This is my big brother's room. You want to see Isaaru?" Hearing Pacce's high-pitched voice, Isaaru quickly pointed at the door.
"Maroda!" He whispered, his voice harsh. Knowing exactly what Isaaru wanted, Maroda ran swiftly to the door, locking it.
"Pacce, Isaaru is asleep. Come back later."
"Asleep? But, it's the afternoon!" Pacce protested.
"Pacce, it doesn't matter. Isaaru's tired and he needs his rest!" Maroda snapped.
Isaaru strained his ears to hear either Gippal or Baralai's voice, but all he heard was Zetu telling Pacce that it was rude to interrupt someone while they are resting and that he should go and play. Isaaru knew that Pacce was pouting, but the boy said his see you laters and ran off to re-join his Kinderguardian friends. He would have sighed in relief if Baralai's entourage just walked on, but it seemed that only Gippal and Zetu did. That fact made Isaaru's throat dry.
"Baralai?" Gippal called, "Come on, he's asleep, right?"
Quickly, but quietly walking to the double door, Isaaru put the palm of his hand on the sleek dark oak that was the only barrier between himself and Baralai. All one of them had to do was open the door or try to in Baralai's case. Who'd move first? Isaaru certainly wasn't going to, so that left the Praetor.
/He's knows it's a lie/. Isaaru replaced his hand with his forehead, feeling the cool wood against it. He felt a little better, but not much. /He is waiting. Forgive me, Baralai, but I cannot face you now/.
"Praetor," Maroda began, "with all due respect, you shouldn't bother Isaaru now. Like I said, he's tired."
Isaaru knew what Baralai was thinking, not saying, thinking. Baralai would not utter anything, instead he would study the door and take what felt like forever to think of what to do. All this while studying the many patterns the oak made on the door, the gold color of the knobs, picturing Maroda behind the door, and Isaaru avoiding everything.
"Baralai, you heard him," Gippal said, and Isaaru was glad that he was there.
"You will see him soon enough, Praetor," Zetu interjected gently, his voice like a stern but kind father. Isaaru hoped that soon would translate to much later. Apparently it was more than enough because he sensed Baralai moving away, and it made Isaaru want to slide down the door onto the soft carparet below.
Gippal spoke again, but neither brother could hear it, and Isaaru neither knew nor cared what they were talking about now. He knew he'd care later, so why bother now?
"Thank you, Maroda," Isaaru breathed. He plopped right back down on the bed, his blue eyes scanning the smooth white ceiling.
"We're brothers," Maroda replied, flopping right next to him, questions and conversation forgotten for the time being.
Smiling, Isaaru reached behind his head and removed the tie that held up his dark red hair. Isaaru pondered just how long it would be before he and Baralai finally confront face to face. Maybe it would be more pleasant than he thought. After all, Baralai did smile to him when they first saw each other outside. However, the smile, no matter how sweet it looked, could have easily been faked and part of a calculated maneuver. Isaaru was used to Baralai's calculated maneuvers. It's how he managed to gain the acolyte following needed to overtake Isaaru, overthrow Trema(and make it look as though the old man left because he was only asked to), and become the Praetor of New Yevon.
No way it would be pleasant, Isaaru decided, and it wouldn't quite be his fault either. The last time they spoke was in Zanarkand and Baralai's last words were,
"I should have let Auron kill you."