Notes: Phew...finally got this chapter out. It's certainly long, and I hope I put down enough without revealing too much. I just hope it's a good chapter as I think this story has a long way to go before it ends. Anyway, enjoy!
Isaaru.
The name didn't pass Baralai's lips as he walked around his office, but it reverberated in his ears as though he screamed it.
Isaaru.
The name whispered through the room for each silent step Baralai took, for every beat of his heart, and for every breath he took.
Isaaru.
Baralai now stood behind his dark oak desk, his dark eyes scanning every inch carefully. Everytime he saw an item out of place, Isaaru, came to mind. A black ink pen was moved. Isaaru. A shimmering green crystal paperweight was not on the left where it was supposed to be. Isaaru. The stack of reports were non-existent. Isaaru. Notes were put in the drawers. Isaaru. Not even the chair was in its proper place after the former Summoner clearly left with his belongings. Baralai shut his eyes. Isaaru. He could almost see the pyreflies surrounding him in the Farplane as the last time he thought of Isaaru before now was when his own memories mocked him. When he was finally saved, Baralai didn't even think of the possession by Shuyin. He felt such relief and joy that he never thought he would feel anything else. Now that Isaaru was within twenty paces, everything just flooded right back.
"You okay, Baralai?"
Gippal.
When Baralai looked up, he couldn't help but smile. Almost immedietly, he felt a great weight lift from his shoulders. This was exactly how he felt when he saw his best friend right after the defeat of Vegnagun and Shuyin, and it lasted until Isaaru finally etched his way into Baralai's mind after days of not being thought of at all.
"I'm okay, Gippal," he finally answered.
"You sure?" Gippal took a few steps closer to the desk, his boots making no sound on the carpet. Not even the bag of clothes he carried with him made a sound as the younger man dropped it by his side. Just seeing that reminded Baralai that he needed to change his clothes. He didn't want to imagine how long he had been wearing the same clothes. Sure, they were clean, but that didn't change the fact that it had to have been days since he's changed into anything else.
"I just need a change of clothes," Baralai sighed, now impatient to raid his closet.
"No, that's not it," Gippal shook his head.
"It's obvious that Isaaru is bothering you, Praetor".
Zetu. Zetu Zuke.
Like Isaaru, the bald, well muscled, blue-robed man was a Summoner. Like Isaaru, he was a "failed" Summoner. But, Zetu had quit in the Calm Lands because he did not want his sixteen year old son to grow up without parents. Isaaru was defeated by the Lady Yuna and almost killed by Auron. His Pilgrimage was simply over. Baralai remembered that vividly because he was the one who saved Isaaru's life. One other notable difference was that Zetu had the famed black mage Lulu as a Guardian, same as Yuna. Isaaru had his two younger brothers. When Zetu returned to Bevelle, it was to assist Baralai in whatever way he could. He never left again. With Isaaru--Baralai shook his head. He knew why Isaaru left and had a good idea as to why he returned. What he did not know were the details of the return.
"Yes," Baralai sighed.
"Why is he bothering you?" Gippal asked, his blond head tilted to the side. He clearly looked like someone who was thrust into someone else's drama.
"I'll tell you when I finish making sure everything is in order," he answered a little too curtly. He sighed an apology, but Gippal seemed even more confused.
"Isaaru has taken everything of his and put them back into his own office," Zetu replied. "He made certain of doing that before your arrival."
"I see," was the only thing that came out of Baralai's pouty mouth as he led the two men out of his office and into his room.
"Was it really necessary to make sure to look over every speck of your office?" Gippal asked as he almost bounced off the large bed covered in green satin sheets. "I mean, I know you're anal, but come on!"
"You knew him well, yes?" Zetu inquired as he stood close to Gippal. When the Al Bhed nodded, Zetu also nodded. "I've known Baralai for many years." He smiled at Baralai, who also smiled before opening his closet door to paw through the sheer amount of clothing that hung there.
"Really, how?"
"I was a family friend."
"Zetu knew my parents for many years," Baralai added. "He knows many people."
"Do you know Isaaru?" Gippal asked. Baralai had to ball his tan skinned hand into a fist to keep it from shaking, but he didn't interrupt.
"Only for as long as Baralai has," was the oldest man's reply.
Two years. For two years, I dreamed of him in my bed, and for two years, I suffered because of him. Did I ever really know him? We closed to each other, and yet, I still...
"I can't say I knew him well..." Baralai stated, causing the other two to look at him. He shook his head, "I mean, I spent two years wanting to know the truth behind the Den of Woe. I couldn't trust anyone, except for Zetu, and, well, Isaaru didn't trust me either."
"Figures," Gippal's lips were nearly twisted in a sneer. Baralai understood that. The Al Bhed didn't like things to be close and they certainly didn't like secrets. At least Gippal didn't. "I do know that he didn't look happy to see you."
Baralai turned around just in time to see Zetu give him a questioning glance. The young Praetor shook his head. He doesn't need to know. Not now... When Zetu nodded, Baralai smiled once more.
"It's complicated, Gippal." Baralai reached back and began to undo the cord the tied his high yellow collar. "Isaaru is a political rival."
"And things are more complicated with recent events," Zetu added, giving Baralai a disapproving glance.
Noticing that look, Gippal asked, "Is it because I'm here?"
"That's not the only reason," Zetu answered before Baralai could.
"It's the speech the three of us gave, the fact that I took that ground machina, Isaaru's supporters," Baralai sighed. "People are still wondering what will happen with the Youth League and the Machine Faction." He removed his coat and folded it before putting it in the laundry basket.
"I didn't get killed here," Gippal shrugged, his smile cocky as always. "Rikku and Rin have been coming and going here fine."
"There is still prejudice against the Al Bhed," Zetu stated, his eyes downcast. "I don't think you have to worry about being harmed, but don't be surprised if some people might be cold."
The young Al Bhed scoffed, "Eh, screw 'em!"
That's my Gippal! Baralai chuckled as he began removing his silk yellow belt. When his white folded shirt came undone, he took that off too. Since Baralai was close to both men, he had no shame in undressing in front of them. He had always been that way. Zetu also laughed.
"It's no wonder you two get along so well," he said.
Which reminded Baralai as he began moving his brown leather cod piece, "Does Isaaru know about Gippal and me?"
"Yes," Zetu replied.
Good.
"So, what if he does?" Gippal frowned.
"I was just wondering." Which was only a half-truth, but Baralai decided that it would have to do for now. He sincerely hoped that Isaaru would feel jealous. Leaning against the closet door to remove his shin wraps, Baralai realized how incredibly childish such a sentiment was. Sure, he was only twenty, but that was hardly an excuse.
"Why would Isaaru care?"
Thankful for Zetu's silence, Baralai selected the clothes that he would wear before walking over to his bed and sitting in front of the dresser. There was a mirror on top, but Baralai barely glanced at it before removing his boots and socks, "I don't know that he would." That was pure honesty. He almost froze when he felt Gippal's hand on his bare shoulder.
"Then don't worry about it."
"I don't intend to," he lied to his best friend. Baralai couldn't help but worry, but not about how Isaaru might feel about Gippal.
"However you may feel," Zetu began as he sat beside Gippal, "Isaaru will have to be dealt with soon."
"Dealt with?" Gippal wondered.
"He just means I have to meet with him soon," Baralai replied. He honestly wished that soon meant later, but he knew it wouldn't be wise to procrastinate with Isaaru. As soon as he threw his beige pantaloons on the floor, he put on a tighter pair of black pants topped with a folded green tunic held together by a black and silver belt.
"He dreads it as much as you do, Baralai," Zetu added.
"I'm sure he does." The Praetor honestly wasn't sure what to believe as he put on his black knee high boots. If Isaaru did dread their eventual confrontation, he had every reason to given what had happened. If he didn't, Baralai wouldn't be surprised. Either way, he knew he had to find some way to gain the upper hand against the Summoner or he would never win him over. As for Gippal, he put his hands on his head.
"What is going on here?" He asked.
Fully dressed, Baralai looked in the mirror and smiled. He could see Gippal also smiling, but shaking his head.
"Okay, you look great," Gippal added. "I'd just like to know why it seems like Isaaru effects everyone's mood here. What happened?"
Reaching for a couple of dark green jade bracelets, Baralai pressed his lips together to find the right words. He wondered what would be the right thing to say and when. He told Gippal everything. It was like that from the Crimson Squad days, but now, things were more difficult. Baralai couldn't imagine Gippal being happy to hear everything about Isaaru. Fortunately, Zetu found the right words.
"Isaaru was an ally in the beginning. You see, Baralai saved his life."
With his jade bracelets on, Baralai sat down next to Gippal and decided to finish what Zetu started, "Isaaru had fought the Lady Yuna in a battle of Aeons. He fought out of loyalty, but he was also threatened by Maester Kinoc."
Gippal's one eye widened, "Why?"
"Maester Kinoc told Isaaru to deal with the traitors, but he never said who they were. When Isaaru questioned it, Seymour had ordered guards on his brothers, Maroda and Pacce. Kinoc told Isaaru that if he should fail, then his brothers would be killed."
"How disgusting," Gippal gasped. Zetu nodded.
"I took pity on him, so I decided that I would help him," Baralai continued, narrowing his eyes. "I was also very angry. Not at Seymour, his actions were not the actions of someone who was sane, but at Kinoc. That man knew exactly what he was doing and that in my eyes made him worse than Seymour could ever be."
Gippal said nothing. Instead, he lowered his head. Baralai sensed that he didn't quite agree, and honestly didn't blame him. The Al Bhed "Home" was destroyed on Seymour's order. Not wanting to chance an argument, Baralai continued.
"Anyway, I was hiding in the shadows when I saw Isaaru confront the Lady Yuna and her Guardians. He begged her forgiveness and claimed that Temple word was law. I was certain he believed that, but I knew the real reason why he fought. I also realized that he had become a Summoner not through being gifted, but through sheer force of will."
When Gippal frowned, Zetu explained, "Most Summoners become who they are because they have the gift for it. I had it and so did Lady Yuna, but not Isaaru. He clearly had to work harder than the others, so the Aeons drained him of more energy."
"At any rate," Baralai continued. "Yuna defeated him after his third Aeon had fallen. He was on his knees, but he refused any help, but he helped them by telling then of the exit. For some reason, the Legendary Guardian Auron tried to kill him--"
"What!?" Gippal drew back, a look of absolute shock painting his handsome face. "There's no way!"
Baralai only shrugged, "I saw it, Gippal. I had to threaten to send him..."
"Send him?"
"He was an unsent. He admitted it. When he saw that I could do it, he ran away." Baralai sighed. He removed his blue headband and walked over to the dresser and found a green headband.
"You know, I met him just before Home was attacked," Gippal commented once Baralai sat back down. "I remember him saying that you had to be a jackass to change the world."
Zetu chuckled, but Baralai didn't quite find that very funny. Instead he shook his head.
"That 'jackass' almost cost a Summoner his life." To this day, it still angered Baralai. "Auron had no reason to even think of killing him. Isaaru wouldn't have done anything."
"Auron had no way of knowing that," Zetu argued. "He was just playing it safe."
"I can understand that, but I just didn't want to stand aside and do nothing," Baralai said, deciding to go ahead and spill what remained in his first meeting with Isaaru. At first Gippal didn't really respond, except to smile at the mention of Kinoc's death.
"Yea, it figures," he said. "From what I've heard, he was afraid of his own shadow. It's no surprise his worst fear came true. But, I do think it would have been more fitting if Isaaru or one of the Crimson Squad candidates did it."
"I left for awhile because of him," Zetu recalled. "Thankfully, my vacation didn't have to last very long, and I was pleased to see Baralai in Bevelle."
"Yea, I guess you would be," Gippal sounded a little absent. Baralai closed his eyes as he remembered how foolish he was when he asked his best friend to join him in Bevelle. He didn't want to recall all that right now, so he rested his head against Gippal's shoulder.
"I'm sorry..." he whispered.
"You have nothing to be sorry about," Gippal answered as he wrapped an arm around Baralai's shoulder. "So, what about Isaaru? I know he ruled Bevelle. How did you two like that?"
Zetu was the one who answered, and when he did, he sounded like he was trying to find the right word, "He was...efficient."But, we had no way of knowing how good he could have been because Trema arrived soon after Sin's defeat."
"Ah..." Baralai sighed. The Al Bhed held him closer.
"What's wrong?"
"I just remember the first thing Trema did to Isaaru."
"What did he do?"
It was Zetu who answered again, "Trema threw Isaaru in Vio Purifico."
Gippal shot up as if someone electrocuted him, "What? Why?"
"Trema was afraid of him," Baralai answered. "I mean, you don't do something like that unless there's something about the person that you fear. I think it was because Isaaru wasn't the sort who yielded easily. Such a person could be seen as threatening, and I don't mean in a paranoid way either."
"You saved him again?" Gippal inquired, his lips curled in a knowing smile.
"Yes, I did," Baralai nodded.
"Then, he owes you his life."
That's my Gippal. This time, he didn't feel as though he could fly. Instead, he felt that Gippal was right, but it served only to remind him of what he had told Isaaru just one year ago.
I should have let Auron kill you.
Baralai began to wonder how long it should be before he says anything about his true feelings for Isaaru to his best friend. He did propose marriage to Isaaru twice and while politics was involved, so was love. He had known Gippal for two years and he knew about Gippal's relationship with Rikku. But, this was different. Gippal and Rikku did date, but they were mostly like brother and sister. Besides, it was all before Baralai met him at Bikanel, so it had to have been easy for Gippal to run his mouth about it. Then again, it was always easy for Gippal to run his mouth about just about anything. A poke on his side jarred his thoughts. My Gippal.
"Thinking of me?" Gippal grinned.
"Uhm, I was just thinking of how to describe what went on for two years."
Gippal shook his head, "Don't worry about it. I just wanted to get an idea of what had happened. I don't need to know everything."
Relieved, Baralai continued, "Anyway, Isaaru and I worked together for quite some time, but I wanted more than just to find out about Vegnagun and the Den of Woe. I wanted to rule Bevelle myself."
"Hah, figures!" Gippal laughed with Zetu joining him.
Baralai rolled his eyes before saying, "All I wanted was to make Yevon truly new, and I knew I could do it. I wanted Isaaru working with me because him working against me would have only created a division that I didn't need. But, it wasn't that simple. Despite what Trema had done to Isaaru, he knew that he couldn't just throw him away, so he kept him close, but only in the sense that one kept a powerful enemy close. Isaaru knew this, but he also knew that the only way to survive and remain in a high position was to constantly show his value to Trema while not being threatening."
Gippal nodded, "And it worked, didn't it?"
"Yes," Baralai took a deep breath. "But, I quickly outranked Isaaru and became Trema's right hand. At that point, Isaaru began to resist me. At first, he wasn't obvious about it and neither were his supporters, but as my power grew, so did Isaaru's resentment."
"Oh," was all Gippal could say.
"Still, he worked with me because he really didn't have any other choice. After finding Vegnagun, things became so tense that I eventually persuaded Trema to throw Isaaru out of Bevelle." Baralai fell silent. That was a very small part of what really happened. He knew that, but he couldn't bring himself to go into full detail. It was simply too painful.
"His followers were not pleased by this," Zetu added. "However, they knew that they had nothing to gain by working against Baralai, so they supported him. Once Trema went 'missing', Baralai became Praetor almost unanimously. Isaaru's followers were a large part of that."
"Just that they were very half-hearted about it," Baralai cautioned. "They took him for granted, and I don't think they're going to do that again."
"So they're loyal," Gippal stated. He didn't even have to ask.
"Yes," Baralai whispered. He thought he had turned as green as his shirt just thinking about it.
"How loyal?" Gippal leaned on his hands, his one eye narrowed.
Zetu answered, "They would do just about anything for him. They're hardly sheep, but they're like a cult."
"A cult"? The young Al Bhed sounded incredulous.
"My supporters are also loyal," Baralai said. "But, while I have more, they're not like Isaaru's. I want that loyalty."
Gippal shook his head, "No you don't." Both Baralai and Zetu stared at him intently, urging him to continue. "You said they'd do just about anything for Isaaru? I remember a couple of them mentioning that they would go into the Farplane for him. That kind of loyalty isn't admirable. It's just evil."
"If you think it's evil, then you must consider Isaaru himself to be evil," Zetu answered. "His loyalty is of that nature."
"Yea, look where it got him!" Was Gippal's curt reply.
"It got him to rule Bevelle twice!" Baralai snapped. They both suddenly fell silent and Gippal lowered his head. They both knew why Isaaru managed to gain such power in Bevelle.
Finally, Gippal spoke, "That wasn't the only reason and you know it."
"Whatever the reasons, Isaaru has ruled Bevelle when no one else could or would." The interjection from Zetu shut both young men up again. "The first time, I could accept that he may have been lucky to have been alive and at the right place at the right time. He proved his worth that time. It's why Trema never tried to outright get rid of him. The second time?" Zetu shook his bald head and looked like he was about to explode in laughter. "He truly showed that he had merit."
Baralai raised his eyebrows, "What do you mean?"
"Just before he arrived in Bevelle, everything was a mess as it was two years ago. Maroda was the first to arrive. Since he was a Youth League member, people were not pleased to see him, so while he was trying to help, they were trying to hurt him."
Gippal rolled his eyes, "Oh, geez..."
Baralai merely cocked his head as Zetu continued, "They could never get to him, and the ones who could found themselves unconscious."
"Of course," was all the young Praetor could come up with. It was common knowledge that Maroda was among the best fighters on Spira. Baralai remembered seeing him in action and was relieved that he never directly took him on. While Baralai himself knew that he could probably defeat most people in the world, he was quite confident that Maroda wouldn't be one of them. Still, he always did wonder who would win in a fight should he ever decide to challenge Isaaru's younger brother.
"Then, the Kinderguardians arrived."
"The group that Pacce is part of?" Gippal inquired. "They hunt spheres, right?"
"Yes," Zetu nodded.
"They're also fighters," Baralai added. "Gifted ones..." He could just see Pacce growing up to be very similar to Maroda. Zetu quietly agreed.
"Indeed. In fact, while the guards were chasing Maroda, the Kingerguardians defeated many of them."
"Wow..." Gippal chuckled. Baralai remained silent as he continued to listen.
"Eventually, the guards managed to capture both Maroda and Pacce. That's when Isaaru arrived. He demanded that the guards unhand them. When they didn't he said, 'unhand them right now or I will smite each and every one of you!' Both of the younger men gasped, but Zetu prattled on. "I knew he'd do it and so did the Yevon guards. His followers were ecstatic to see him and so the guards had no choice but to obey. Then, he took over. Any resistance was quashed by both Isaaru himself and those who support him. From then on, New Yevon was put back together again."
Baralai crossed one leg over the other, "For that, I am grateful, but he's heavy handed."
"It worked," Gippal replied. "I wouldn't have been quite as forceful, but if I had brothers, I'd want to protect them too."
"I think he went a little too far," Baralai countered. "He thought he could threaten first and ask questions later."
"The guards are on your side, Baralai, so I can imagine them being a little resistant to Isaaru," Zetu replied.
"Still...I never wanted him to be the Praetor. He's better off under me."
Zetu muttered an almost snide, "Oh", but Gippal was more direct in his sarcasm.
"Yea, I'm sure he'll be glad to hear that."
"I thought you two would have more faith in me than that!" Baralai grinned. "Goodness, it's not like I'm going to bludgeon him into submission." Zetu stood up, smiling.
"You probably should. That being said, do you intend to go to the Healers? I think it's necessary since you have been away for quite some time."
That question made Baralai frown. It actually never occurred to him to do so. He did have some dreams about his possession by Shuyin after leaving the Farplane, but his friends were with him and that made everything easier for him. He certainly understood Zetu's concern though. After all, he was in the Farplane and the Healers had every right to make certain that their Praetor was okay.
"I will soon," Baralai replied. "But, I think it can wait. First things first."
"Isaaru?" Gippal asked, giving Baralai a knowing look.
"Yes."
Isaaru.