Had it not been for Tidus' firm hand shoving her forward, Yuna would have stood rooted to the ground with numb shock. As the realization of what was going on apparently began to sink in all around her, she raised her arms to shield her face and launched herself forward through the crowd before any of them could move. Most of them were still struck stupid at the sight of their summoner's daughter and supposed kidnapper.
The two of them dodged and fought their way through the mass of people, with the help of Tidus' blade held out threateningly. Yuna pulled out her dagger and swung viciously at a large man that grabbed her by the elbow, and he let go with a startled yelp. Tidus thrust the tip of his sword forward and nearly speared someone else who had tried to bar their path. He dove to the side to avoid being stabbed, and Tidus pushed through, gripping Yuna's arm with his free hand.
In the confusion that followed, Tidus and Yuna darted across the street through the busy machina traffic and disappeared into a dark alley. In the back of her mind, Yuna would have liked to inspect the machina more closely, or stare wide-eyed at the bright city lights. She had spent her entire life on the primitive island of Besaid, where little to no technology was ever used. Besaid was a holy place, whose inhabitants were firmly devoted to Yevon. Luca was a complete contradiction to everything she had grown up with.
The machina vehicles stopped and people emerged slowly with looks of disbelief on their faces. Yuna could see Tidus grit his teeth as he kept his hand on her back.
"Keep going, don't look back!" he shouted as the crowd followed hotly on their trail. Yuna clenched her fists and obeyed, for she did not need to turn around and see how many people were after them. She could tell by the sheer volume of the voices behind her that a large group was closing in on them.
As they rounded a corner, Yuna noticed a long narrow crack in the wall to her left. It was almost impossible to detect, and the only reason Yuna had seen it was because she had put her hand against it by accident, but before she could say anything Tidus must have found it too. He pushed her roughly towards it and then veered off in the opposite direction. Yuna sucked in her breath as much as she could and slid into the crack just as the first runner came in sight around the corner. She turned around and waited with taut nerves as Tidus concealed himself tightly between a dumpster and the brick wall.
"Search everywhere! I saw them down here!" a loud voice cried. More footsteps approached quickly, sounding like a stampede of wild horses.
Yuna bit her lip anxiously as someone began looking around the dumpster where Tidus was hiding. She could not see him, for he had hid himself from sight, but she knew that if someone tried to move the dumpster, Tidus' location would be discovered.
Gradually the crowd began to thin out as people moved further along the alley. Yuna did not even dare to reach up and brush the hair away from her eye lest someone somehow manage to catch sight of it.
"Aah, they must've moved on further ahead," an annoyed voice growled. "Let's catch up with everyone else."
"Aye, this place is empty."
Yuna exhaled slowly as the two men disappeared around the corner, but she still did not move. She could hear one more set of footsteps walking slowly nearby.
'Come on, come on, hurry,' she thought impatiently, lowering her eyes and wiping a thin sheen of sweat off of her forehead with the back of her hand.
A shadow fell over her suddenly. She frowned and looked up, only to find herself staring into a pair of startled, triumphant eyes. The last searcher had found her hiding place.
Yuna gasped as he opened his mouth to call out to the others, but no sound came. She heard a dull thud and stared at him as his mouth hung open, his eyes glazing over in a daze. He blinked slowly, and then collapsed against the wall. A rock lay next to his head.
She glanced up and saw Tidus standing before her.
"Hurry. It won't be long before they head back this way and find him," he said urgently, reaching through and taking her hand. He assisted her out of the niche and the two of them crept through the next alley. It would take them around the crowd of searchers and they would be kept safely in the shadows.
"Once we reach the market, we'll just take one horse. It'll be easier than finding two and saddling them both up," Tidus whispered, to which Yuna nodded in agreement.
Like two shadows, they moved through the network of alleys. They dodged from sight whenever they came across a search party. It was not long before most of Luca was aware that the Lady Yuna and her 'kidnapper' were somewhere in the city. Yuna's ears were sore from the loud metropolitan noises of Luca, and her lungs were on fire from running. She longed to cool her throat with some water, but she would not feel safe until she and Tidus had left the busy city.
At last, after many heart-stopping close calls with the searchers, they both left the city's residential area and made it to the market place. It was a huge region full of small open stalls full of merchandize, closed behind a metal sheet until the opening hours arrived at dawn. It was slightly old fashioned, for the shops were constructed only of wooden frames and colourful cloth. The air was cleaner out here, away from the city smog, and smelled of wilderness.
Yuna squinted her eyes as the two of them made their way to the livestock section, keeping low to the ground and slinking between shops. She could vaguely see mountains rising up in the distance, and just beyond the market area there were vast open terrains. It would be a long time before they would be able to reach the forests . . .
"There," she said suddenly, pointing to their right. She heard a few muffled neighs coming from a small stable close by. Tidus, keeping his head low, moved in the lead towards the squat building.
The barn was dark and smelled of hay and horses. In the darkness, Yuna could see Tidus searching out an acceptable horse that could carry both of them. Very distantly she could hear voices shouting in the city not too far back. They were drawing closer to the market place . . .
"Here we are," Tidus said at last, moving forward. Yuna followed him and found herself standing in a stall before a large specimen, coal black but with a silver mane and tail. She stomped one hoof nervously, disturbed by the two strangers, and arched her neck defensively.
"Maybe we should look for a less distinct-looking one," Tidus suggested uncertainly. "She would be recognizable anywhere."
He moved down the hall, but could find no other horses that looked to be in good condition for hard traveling. The black and silver mare must have been a new arrival, coming in after the market closed. He could think of no other reason for such a healthy, beautiful animal being left unsold.
Shushing her gently, Yuna moved forward and held her hand out for the mare to sniff. She then began stroking her face and neck, speaking in a soft tone. Tidus watched her animal-charming skills admiringly, and then grabbed a saddle that was hanging up nearby. Yuna helped him prepare the horse, skilfully manoeuvring the bit in the creature's mouth.
"Leave some gil in her stall where the owner can see it," Tidus whispered, leading the uncertain mare out of the stall after adjusting the girth strap. Yuna obeyed, counting the coins dutifully, and then followed Tidus out of the stable and into the night. The other horses snorted curiously, puzzled by their companion's sudden and discreet departure from their midst.
Before mounting, something must have caught Tidus' eye. He abruptly dropped the reigns into Yuna's grasp, and jogged away into the surrounding darkness without a word. Yuna sighed impatiently and looked around, anxious to leave the market place as soon as possible. What on Spira was Tidus doing?
It was not long before he came striding back to her with something in his hand.
"Here," he whispered, pushing it into Yuna's surprised hand. "I'll teach you how to use it later."
He had given her a belt and a small scabbard for her dagger, both simply but sturdily designed. She stared down at them wondrously, and then looked up at him with wide eyes. He merely nodded, and she smiled gratefully in return.
Without another moment of hesitation she wrapped the belt around her slender hips and positioned the scabbard over her left thigh, the way she had seen warriors do it back home.
Tidus swung up into the saddle with ease, and moved forward so that Yuna would have room behind him. She pulled herself up behind him, holding onto his arm for support, and had barely settled herself before Tidus kicked in his heels and the mare burst into an immediate canter.
Yuna gasped and gripped her arms around Tidus' waist tightly, frightened at the prospect of tumbling backwards off the horse's rear end. Beneath his jerkin, Yuna could feel the firmness of his muscles and the warmth of his flesh. She was glad to be in the company of such a man, and would not have felt safer with anyone else. Without thinking, she laid her head against his back between his shoulder blades, as if he was a friend she had known for ages. She did not see him glance quickly over his shoulder at her, nor did she see the half grin on his lips.
The wind whistled through her hair and made her clothes ripple as she, Tidus, and the horse dashed across the open terrain. The sky was clearer out in the country, and though Yuna could still see the city lights behind her, she could no longer hear the busy urban noises, nor smell the pollution. She could see the stars at last, and the moon appeared as a thin silver crescent above. For the first time since her ordeal began back at the temple yesterday, she felt free and unhindered by the law. All that really mattered at the moment was the taste of the wind, the drum of the horse's hoof beats on the grass, and the comforting heartbeat of the young man in front of her.
"We'll head through the Kueki forest, away from the main highways," Tidus said to her over his shoulder, slightly breathless from the fast-paced ride. "It'll be safer that way. We can stop in another hour to eat and sleep."
It was only then that Yuna realized her stomach was growling.
000000000000000000000
They rode until they could no longer see the city lights. It was only when they disappeared behind a line of dark trees that they stopped.
Yuna collapsed gratefully in the soft grass, her knees weak from clenching the horse's sides during the ride. Tidus swung down from the saddle and tied the mare loosely to an overhanging tree branch, allowing her room to graze nearby. He then sat down across from Yuna and leaned his head against the tree trunk behind him. He closed his eyes for a moment. The faint moonlight made his hair and skin glow.
"Tidus," Yuna said quietly. He opened one eye to look at her. "There's something I should tell you."
He sat up straighter to listen, both eyes open now. Yuna bit her lip.
"When we get to the temple in Bevelle, where all the sacrifices are made . . . I don't know what's going to happen. I have nothing planned. I have no idea what to expect, or how dangerous it will be," she said, lowering her gaze. "I just wanted to tell you that . . . well . . . I won't ask you to stay with me until the very end, if we make it that far. I understand that you've given up a lot for me, and I won't ask you to endanger your life further than you must."
He stared long and hard at her. "Yuna," he told her, "I will follow you to the end. I have to. We're in this together, you and I."
An owl hooted in the branch nearby, offering temporary release from the stillness of the night. Yuna sighed and lowered her head, feeling angry tears in her eyes.
"I hate them," she whispered. "I hate the temples for lying . . . I hate this whole conspiracy." The tears spilled over and fell onto her arms. She couldn't stop them, even if she tried.
Tidus watched her quietly, waiting for her to calm down. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but he couldn't summon the right words. There was probably little he could say to make her feel better anyway. This was a dark secret that she had to bear alone for several weeks, and now that she had someone she could trust, he thought it best to let her unload some of the burden.
"I hate the fact that so many people have lost someone who means something to them, all for that sick man and his demon pet," she continued shakily. "My father, your mother . . . all those people who were so happy to be chosen . . ."
"My father disappeared the night she left," Tidus said quietly, his eyes distant.
Yuna glanced up at him.
"He was gone a lot, I remember," Tidus continued, picking idly at a blade of grass. "He was a blitzball player, always away at tournaments and stuff. I remember when I was nine, he was gone for an entire year. He wrote my mother letters, and he wrote to me once or twice. He said he was enjoying himself at the tournament in Bevelle, but I knew there was no tournament in Bevelle . . . at least not a year long one. I knew he was somewhere else, but nobody would tell me the truth. When he came back, he was different. He was quiet, and always angry. He drank a lot more than he used to, but . . . in a way he treated me okay. I mean, he was no father of the year, but I always got the feeling he really was looking out for me."
A silence fell between them. Yuna's stomach growled again, but she was too exhausted to eat. She curled up on her side and fell asleep instantly, cushioned by the soft grass and moss.
The last thing she saw before falling into slumber was Tidus, staring down at her with those beautiful azure eyes.
000000000000000000000
It was the smell of roasting meat that woke Yuna up. She sat up abruptly and looked around, surprised to see that dawn had come so quickly. It was still rather dark out, but a thin crack of light was slowly appearing on the horizon. Tidus was crouching nearby over a small fire, turning a medium-sized chunk of meat over the flames on a spit. The smell made Yuna's mouth water instantly.
"It'll be ready in just a minute," Tidus said, without turning to look at her. "I figured it was safe enough to get a small fire going in the dark. Nobody will see the smoke."
"Where did you get the meat from?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"I went hunting a few hours ago and caught a rabbit," he explained. Yuna grinned slightly.
"Don't you ever sleep?" she asked. Tidus smirked lopsidedly at her over his shoulder and said nothing.
Yuna yawned and stood up, stretching her arms and arching her back luxuriously. She ran her fingers through her hair and realized with a frown that she needed to bathe, and quite badly.
"Do I have time for a quick bath?" she asked to Tidus' back. He nodded once, his attention still on the meat.
"There's a stream just past those trees," Tidus said, pointing off to his side into the forest. Yuna, bottle in hand, made her way into the gloom of the woods, humming softly under her breath. She was in a good mood now that she was out of the city and momentarily out of danger.
A minute's walk brought her to the edge of a stream, shallow enough for her to stand in but deep enough for her to wash herself. She stripped off the red dress Tidus had given her and waded into the cool water, sighing slightly as it embraced her.
Her feet touched the pebbly sand under the crystalline water, and she waded out into the middle of the stream where the surface came up to her collarbone.
She scrubbed her body with sand, ridding herself of dirt and grime before reaching up to clean her hair. When she was done cleaning, she allowed her body to float for a moment down the current. Her thoughts were interrupted, however, when she felt something land on her stomach. With a sudden loud shriek she sat up and kicked wildly, looking around with alarmed eyes. When she looked down, she realized with a mental slap that it had only been a vine that slid down from a branch and fell across her stomach.
"Nerves of steel, Yuna," she muttered to herself, trying to calm her racing heart. Perhaps she was not as relaxed as she thought she was, to be startled by mere plant life.
Rolling her eyes at her foolishness, Yuna emerged from the water to get dressed and head back to the fire. Her stomach was now rumbling ravenously, and the meat smelled awfully good from here . . .