We won! I had as much fun writing this chapter as I did the last one. Actually, I've had a blast writing pretty much every chapter since. Hopefully that means my writing is getting better, too! I hope I did a good enough job writing the Anima scene. I still remember the first time I saw that scene; I was only a little girl, and my brother was going to the Luca sphere theater to watch all the FMVs. I remember how terrified I was seeing Anima for the first time, and I wanted to recapture that experience in this chapter.
Feel free to tell me if I did a good job or not! You know, this week the FFX Novelization passed 400 views, and it still doesn't have a single review.
Well, anyway, read, and enjoy.


Chapter Twelve

Tidus swam through upward through the blitzball sphere, headed straight for Wakka. He had barely believed it when he'd heard the commentator on the broadcast. We won! Yes! I knew these guys had it in them!
Just above Tidus' head, Wakka floated in the water. All the other blitzball players had already exited the sphere pool, but Wakka was just floating these, like after the previous blitzball game. Tidus was worried his injuries had acted up again.
If he could have spoken underwater, Tidus would have called out to his friend and asked him if he was alright. Instead, he just swam up to Wakka as fast as he could. Tidus was relieved to see Wakka give him a quick thumbs up, a wide grin on his face. Tidus grinned back; Wakka was fine.
A loud noise quickly caught Tidus' attention. At first, he thought the crowds still in the stadium were cheering, but then he realized the shrieks were anything but. An explosion from somewhere within the stands shook the whole stadium, and it was all Tidus could do not to panic. The sounds were muffled by water, but Tidus could still hear the frantic screaming of thousands of fans.
A hard shove from Wakka startled Tidus. He quickly spun around to see three fish-like fiends circling the two blitzers in the sphere. Tidus' eyes widened, and he dodged out of the way of one of them just before it sunk its teeth into his leg.
Wakka made a sharp motion with one hand, calling for Tidus to follow him. Without hesitation, Tidus swam after him towards the airlock, the fiends in close pursuit. Had the two of them not been professional blitzball players, they might not have been able to outrun them.

Tidus gasped in a breath of fresh air as he and Wakka shot out of the airlock. Below the blitzball stadium was the airlock where blitzers entered the sphere. This airlock emptied into a room that branched off the same hallway as the teams' lockers.
"What's happening?" Tidus asked as he leaned on his knees, panting for breath.
"Not sure," Wakka replied between gasps of breath. Tidus let him breathe for a moment, remembering that Wakka hadn't taken a fresh breath since he joined the game. After a few moments, Wakka pushed back up to his feet.
"Come on! Back upstairs!" he called, rushing towards the door with surprising energy. "Yuna was in the stands! We have to find her!"
Tidus felt his heart jolt at that. Yuna! Don't worry, we're coming for you!

Screaming, all around. On every side, panicked civilians raced out of the stands, fleeing the hordes of fiends that had mysteriously appeared in the stadium. The seats that had once held great crowds of cheering blitzball fans where now hastily abandoned as people ran for their lives.
But against the rushing current of the frantic crowd, one man walked calmly onward. He wore a long red cloak with a high collar and had a scar over his right eye. He wore a pair of dark sunglasses, adding to his air of mystery, and a great shining katana was slung over his shoulder. While everyone fled, he continued forward, striding with purpose.
Emerging from the stands with a ferocious growl was one of the many sources of the peoples' terror. The large, heavyset, dragon-like fiend narrowed its many eyes at the one man who did not flee. The red-cloaked man walked towards the beast as calmly as ever, swinging his sword down from his shoulder with a small chuckle. He'd faced worse than this in his lifetime.
The fiend hefted its bulk around to face the man head-on, breaking stones with the swing of its tail. Perceiving this man to be an easy quarry, the beast charged, its jaws open. That was its last mistake. With one wide swing of his blade, the man cleanly removed the fiend's head from its body. Within moments the creature erupted into pyreflies, filling the air with radiance for a moment before vanishing altogether.
The man in the red cloak carried on, not stopping to watch the spectacle. He still had a purpose to fulfil.

How are we ever going to find Yuna in all of this?
Tidus watched the stands in dismay; thousands of peoples were all running as fast as they could, panicked beyond reason. Anyone who fell over in the rush could easily be trampled or pushed over the railings. The mayhem of the crowds was just about as dangerous as the fiends themselves.
Tidus scolded himself for worrying so much. Yuna already had two guardians with her, and Lulu and Kimahri were more than capable of keeping the summoner safe. Still, I'll feel better when I can know for sure.
Out of the corner of his eye, Tidus thought he saw something familiar. No, it can't be!
But still, he jerked his head around to look for that splash of subtle color he'd thought he'd seen.
"Auron!" Tidus could help but shout. Sure enough, just a little ways down the walkway, Auron was marching away though a cloud of pyreflies.
"Sir Auron!" Wakka gasped. Tidus glanced over at his friend in surprise. So what Yuna said about Auron being in town, and him being her father's guardian, it's true?
"So, you do know him," Tidus wasn't really asking. He already knew.
"Yeah," Wakka answered. "Best guardian there ever was."
Tidus didn't wait for any other confirmation. There was one person who could tell him all he needed to know. Tidus rushed over to Auron, Wakka following close behind.
Sure enough, this man was Auron. He had the same dark red cloak, the same dark sunglasses, and the same mysterious air. Tidus wasn't sure what question to ask first. How did you get here from Zanarkand? You were really Yuna's father's guardian? Did you know my father? What are you doing watching a blitzball game?
But Tidus didn't get a chance to ask any of his questions. A hound-like fiend leaped out of the crowd and tried to sink its fangs into his leg, but he kicked it off. I'm not sure why I would have brought my sword to a blitzball game, but I'm starting to wish I had!
"Watch out! Above you!" Tidus glanced up sharply at Wakka's cry. Hovering over them was a massive bird-like creature that didn't look friendly. It looked so heavy and bulky, Tidus wondered how its fleshy wings kept it aloft.
But he was more concerned with its long talons when it dived at them. Letting out a gasp, Tidus dove to the side, pressing himself against the walkway's railings. Wakka had sprung in the opposite direction, crouching in the stands. Auron only side-stepped the beast, catching it with his long blade as it flew by. The creature let out a piercing shriek that made Tidus' head rattle. Though baring a long gash from Auron's strike, the fiend looped around for a second go. This is crazy! We'll never make it out of this alive!

A deep rumbling noise rent through the pandemonium, shaking Tidus to the core. He couldn't see from his position crouched against the railing, but he could feel the ground shaking. What it is it now?
Gritting his teeth, Tidus wrapped his arms around the railing and pulled himself up, and what he saw made him gasp.
Maester Seymour, up in the box seat with Maester Mika, stood holding his staff aloft, a bright circle of light painting the floor beneath his feet. It reminded Tidus of when Yuna summoned an aeon, and he soon knew why.
The walkway below the box seat grew strangely dark, as though it was melting into mire. The sky above grew dark for a moment, also, and Tidus watched the clouds, fully expecting some kind of aeon to fall from the sky, like Valfor did. But what dropped from the heavens wasn't an otherworldly beast but an anchor. The chain plunged into the dark well on the ground, sinking out of sight for a moment before reemerging, dragging with it something terrifying.
The massive creature's face was the first thing Tidus saw, and he would never forget it. Its shape bore a faint but chilling resemblance to that of a human, but twist and contorted, with great fangs rising out of its mouth and a ridge of spines along its chin and over its head. Above, the top of its head was domed with a hard shell that covered it eyes. On its left side, the shell seemed to have been cut away to reveal one eye, and Tidus could see a kind of cold, distant light there. The chain continued to drag the horrifying aeon into view, then detached, leaving the creature sticking out of the ground. Two great wing-shaped shells covered each side of it, like the halves of a seed pod. The aeon's body was wrapped about with chains, pinning its arms to its chest. Just below its neck hung a long stone carved with the image of a woman, but at that distance, Tidus could not make out her features.
Though the aeon was terrible to behold, Tidus couldn't see what good it would do. The fiends were still running wild over the stadium, and, stuck in the ground with it arms chained up, the great beast Seymour had summoned couldn't do much good. But Tidus' speculations were soon proven wrong.
The creature's one eye began to glow, a harsh, fiery color. The light gathered together and burst, the explosion powerful enough to make the aeon rock with its force. Corresponding in time with that explosion, a massive ball of light erupted in the midst of a crowd of fiends, blowing them all to pyreflies. Again and again the explosions repeated, and Tidus felt the heat on his face when the massive bird that had been swooping at him was struck. The rapid succession of explosions grew quicker, and soon the fiends were fleeing from the stadium as the people had been only moments before. But as far as Tidus could see, not a single one of the beasts escaped. For a span of minutes that felt like hours, the only sounds that could be heard were the erupting of light, the yelping of fiends, and the faint, heavy breathing of Seymour's great, terrifying aeon.

Tidus stood, watching in blank shook as the great aeon at last sank away into the earth, leaving the stadium still and silent. Tidus looked up, seeing Auron and Wakka in the same positions he had last seen them; Auron standing erect, grasping his katana, while Wakka crouched among the wrecked seats. Tidus panted, pulling himself unsteadily back to his feet and looking around. What just happened?
Slowly, nervous chattered broke through the quiet atmosphere as the crowd of people came back to their senses.
"Yuna!" Wakka let out a loud cry and rushed across the walkway to meet the young summoner, who stood a little ways off with Lulu and Kimahri. Tidus let out a long breath, feeling relief pool inside him. Yuna's alright, thank goodness.
The familiar sound of heavy boots approaching distracted Tidus from the sight of Yuna reuniting with her guardian. He spun around to face Auron, who stood only a few feet away.
"Hey! You!" Tidus shouted angrily. "I've got somethings I need to say to you!"
"Not here," Auron said in his usual low tones. He turned and started to walk towards the exit, where crowds were trying to squeeze through. Tidus clenched his jaw in anger. Is he just going to leave?
But Auron stopped and looked back after a few paces.
"Well? Are you coming?" he asked. "I thought there were things you wanted to know."
Tidus didn't wait a moment before taking off after Auron. He may have known the man for ten years, but at that moment, Auron seemed like a stranger. Tidus had always thought him odd, but now it seemed there were a lot of things Auron knew that he had kept secret. Ten years, and he never said he'd known my old man. He certainly never said anything about High Summoner Braska or Spira. Just who is Auron?

"Yuna! Thank goodness you're alright," Wakka let out a sigh of relief as he rushed up to the young summoner, flanked by her two other guardians. Both Lulu and Kimahri seemed unharmed, to which he was almost as glad.
"Yes, I'm fine," Yuna looked a little forlorn, staring down at the stone floor of the walkway around the blitzball sphere. "I just hope no one else was hurt too badly." Yuna's gaze drifted up to the crowd slowly draining out of the exit.
"I'm sure everything's fine," Wakka said with a shrug. "Maester Seymour's aeon sure took care of everything quick."
Yuna was quiet, but a smile returned to her face. She seemed just about to speak when Lulu pointed over her towards the departing crowd.
"There's Sir Auron!" she exclaimed. Wakka wheeled around to see where she was pointing. He and Tidus had briefly seen the legendary guardian during the mayhem with the fiends, but Wakka had almost forgotten this discovery in his elation at seeing Yuna again. Now, he could just make out Auron's red cloak vanishing into the departing crowd. Chasing after him, close as a shadow, was Tidus.
"Tidus is following him!" Yuna pointed out. "Where are they going?"
"I'm not sure," Wakka frowned and folded his arms over his chest. "But, from what he said, it seemed like the kid knew him."
"If that's the case, we should leave them be," Lulu said gruffly. "Maybe Sir Auron can jog Tidus' memory."
"Yeah, then he can finally get home," Wakka said, almost with a sigh. "Ya know, I was kinda getting used to the idea of havin' him around."
"If he doesn't want to, then I cannot ask him to come with us," Yuna's tone was decisive, but Wakka could hear a hint of disappointment there. He could tell they all felt the same. Well, except perhaps Kimahri. Wakka would be glad if Tidus could remember who he was and where he came from, but still, he'd miss him.
"Well, we can't stay here and wait for him," Lulu spoke up. "We need to leave for the next temple."
"Oh! But… If Tidus wants to leave, then we must at least say goodbye," Yuna was almost pleading with her guardian. "We don't even know if he does what to stay. And, I would like to talk with Sir Auron, too."
"That's a lot of pretty good reasons," Wakka aided the young summoner's argument. "And besides, I need to have a chat with the Aurochs before we take off down the Highroad."
"Fine, fine," Lulu consented shaking her head. "We'll wait for you two at the exit to the Highroad, alight?"
A bright smile spread over Yuna's face. "Oh, thank you, Lulu!"
Lulu said nothing, only letting out a heavy sigh.
"Alright then!" Wakka said with a grin. "I'll go find the Aurochs, then I'll meet up above the city, right?"
"Right!" Yuna replied. "See you then!"

Wakka stood in the Luca main square, facing the Aurochs team with a grin on his face. After leaving the others in the stadium, he had begun looking for his team. The ensuing search hadn't taken long, but in the end, it was the Aurochs who found Wakka. After that, the Aurochs had been presented with their trophy, the coveted Crystal Cup, on live broadcast. Now, backed by the afternoon sun, the trophy firmly in hand, Wakka was saying his final goodbyes to the team that was like his adoptive family.
"You really leavin', Cap'n?" Datto asked, standing at the head of the team.
"Shouldn't you heal up first?" Letty suggested hopefully.
"Yuna needs me now," Wakka said, heedless of the disappointment on the Aurochs' faces. "I can't be lying around in some bed."
"Yeah, but…" Datto stammered, scrounging for some other excuse.
"Come on, look sharp!" Wakka said, grinning brightly. "The blitz season has just started."
The Aurochs looked less than encouraged by their leader's pep talk.
"Don't make those faces, ya?" Wakka said, still smiling. He stepped forward and handed the shimmering blue trophy to Datto. "Well… See you, boys! You be good."
"Cap'n…" the Aurochs' disheartened mumbles nearly put a frown on Wakka's face.
"I can't hear you!" Wakka called, letting his coaching voice ring.
"Cap'n!" the Aurochs let out a boisterous cheer of acknowledgement with instinctual vigor. Wakka's grin grew wider. That's my team. You boys'll do good this year, I know it.

"Alrighty then! I'm ready to go!" Wakka announced cheerfully, jogging at a brisk pace down the raised pathway to where Yuna, Lulu, and Kimahri stood overlooking the city of Luca. He felt a twinge of disappointment that Tidus wasn't there with them yet. He'll be along.
"Are you sure?" Yuna asked, walking up to meet Wakka.
"Never liked long goodbyes anyway," Wakka replied with a smile and a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Then welcome back, Sir Wakka," Yuna said with a smile, preforming a deep bow. "Good to have you with us."
"Hey," Wakka held up a hand to stop her, then bowed in return. "It's good to be back, ya?"
Wakka straightened and turned to face Lulu. "So, any news on what happened?"
"Not really," Lulu answered, holding up her arms in a clueless gesture. "We don't know where the fiends came from. Maester Mika is safe and sound, thanks to Maester Seymour. That's about it."
"Maester Seymour's aeon," Yuna seemed distant and looked at the ground as she spoke. "It was so powerful…"

Tidus elbowed his way through the crowds, ignoring the many cries of complaint. He had his eyes locked on Auron, who, though only a few paces ahead, seemed to be a thousand miles away. It was all Tidus could do not to lose him in the massive swarm of people around the stadium.
Tidus broke out of the crowd, following Auron as he walked down towards the dock. Tidus had been here just earlier that day; it was dock five, the place where the Al Bhed ship had been anchored. That was really only a few hours ago?
With no one else in sight, Auron came to a halt. He turned to face Tidus, but no promised explanations came. Even though it had been only a few moments, Tidus' patience gave way. He had been waiting for these answers for so long, he just couldn't wait any longer, now that they were so close. But at the thought of everything that had happened, Tidus' emotions, which had sizzled for a while now, began to boil over. Memories raced through his mind in a flash; Auron dragging him through Zanarkand, saying that they were "expected," waking in the ruins, Sin attacking again, Besaid, Kilika, now Luca…
"Don't just stand there!" Tidus exploded, lunging forward and grabbing Auron by the collar. "All of this is your fault!" Tidus was dimly aware that he was shouting but didn't really care. "Gettin' swallowed by Sin! Ending up in Spira! Not being able to go back to Zanarkand! Everything! Everything!" Tidus' shouting faltered, and his voice fell to almost a whimper. "I'm telling you, it's all your fault…"
His breath coming in shaky gasps, Tidus pulled his hands away from Auron's collar and stepped back. He felt like a deflated blitzball floating in the water, empty and shattered. He stared at the ground, not meeting Auron's gaze, though he knew it would be unaffected by his rant. Tidus squeezed his eyes shut, worried that, even now, tears might try to force themselves out.
Auron startled chuckling, softly at first, then growing to nearly a full-blown laugh. Tidus knew he was being silly, so he didn't blame Auron for laughing at him. It was probably the first time he'd ever heard Auron laugh.
Then there was silence, and Tidus struggled to bring his thoughts back in order. There was one thing he had to know, one thing he'd wondered not just since he'd come to Spira, but for ten whole years.
"Who are you?"
Auron didn't reply. Of course he didn't. He never did, not to that question. Tidus was beyond being frustrated by it. Maybe he'd have to ask something less direct.
"You knew my old man, didn't you?" Tidus asked, breathing out slowly.
"Yeah," was all Auron said. But it was something.
"And you also knew Yuna's father?" Tidus continued.
"That is correct," Auron answered plainly.
So it's true? My father came to Spira, just like I have? He was Yuna's father's guardian?
"Hey, man, there's no way. That's just impossible," Tidus' replied to Auron.
"Nothing impossible about it," Auron said with a scoff. "Jecht Braska, and I… Together we defeated Sin ten years ago. Then I went to Zanarkand… where I watched over you, so one day, I could bring you to Spira."
Tidus clenched his teeth. "Why did it have to be me?" He asked the question more in general than directly to Auron.
"Jecht asked me to," Auron replied, a hint of emotion creeping into his voice.
There was another question Tidus had to know the answer to, even though it troubled him.
"Is he alive?"
"That depends on what you mean by 'alive,'" Auron answered, turning his gaze out toward the sea. "He is no longer human. But then… I felt something of Jecht, there in that shell… couldn't you? You must have felt him when you came in contact with Sin."
A memory flashed in Tidus' mind; his father's voice, piercing through the dreamscape. That cry that woke him after Sin swallowed him and Auron.
"I-It can't be…" Tidus tried to argue, but he was so stunned that words wouldn't come.
"It is," Auron said firmly. "Sin is Jecht."
"No!" Tidus shouted. "That's ridiculous! No way! I don't believe you!"
"But it is the truth," Auron replied, unfazed. "You'll see for yourself. Come with me."
"And if I say no?" Tidus fumed.
"Every story must have an ending," Auron replied, as cryptic as ever.
"I don't care about your stories!" Tidus snapped back.
"I see. Sorry you feel that way," Auron said, sounding wholly unsympathetic. "Fine then, come or don't come. It's your decision."
Tidus gritted his teeth. "Arrrrggggg! What am I supposed to say!?" Tidus shook his head in frustration. "You tell me it's my decision, but I don't have a choice, do I? You're the only one who can tell me what's going on, anyways! I have to go with you! I have to!"
"Irritating, I know," Auron said, as undisturbed as before. "Or are you afraid?"
Tidus looked down at the ground, the last of his anger spent. He really did think of Auron as a friend, and even though he didn't seem to care, Tidus felt bad for shouting at him so much. Most of all, he just couldn't comprehend what Auron had said about his father. Sin is Jecht? What exactly does that mean? Can it really be that…?
Tidus lifted his eyes as he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.
"It's alright," Auron said gently, looking Tidus in the eyes. Despite everything, Tidus was glad to have his old mentor here with him.
"Auron?" he asked. "Will I ever get home? Back to Zanarkand?"
"That's up to Jecht," Auron said simply. He removed his hand from Tidus' shoulder and started off up the pathway to the main city. "I'm going to offer my services to Yuna. Come."
Tidus felt a blossom of relief. We'll all be going together. I'm glad for that. But my father… what is Auron talking about?

"Do you think Tidus is gonna stay here?" Wakka asked, watching the path to Luca. Tidus still hadn't shown up, and it seemed more likely that he wouldn't be coming with them on the rest of their pilgrimage. A shame. I liked the kid.
"Sir Auron knows him, apparently," Lulu sighed. "You were right, Wakka. He did meet someone he knew."
"Do you think he'll find a way back to Zanarkand?" Yuna asked. Wakka sucked in a breath. I can't believe she still believes him about Zanarkand.
"In any case, I'll miss having him around," Wakka replied, folding his arms.
Yuna looked down cast. She stared at the pavement for a moment before speaking. "He's still in town, isn't he? I think I'll go see him… Oh!"
Yuna looked up sharply, and Wakka pulled up his gaze to see what the young summoner had spotted.
"Whoa."
"Sir Auron?" Yuna exclaimed.
Auron, the legendary guardian, walked down the pathway, dragging a forlorn-looking Tidus behind him.
"Yuna," Auron said gravely.
"Sir Auron?" Yuna gasped, quickly dropping her arms in a prayer gesture. Wakka and Lulu followed.
"I wish to become your guardian," Auron said sternly, making no greeting. "Do you accept?"
Yuna let out a gasp of pure astonishment.
"You're serious?" Wakka asked, eyes wide.
"You refuse?" Auron said, looking Yuna in the eyes.
"No, no!" Yuna stammered. "We accept! Right, everyone?" She glanced back at her three guardians standing behind her.
"O-of course," Wakka replied. "No problem at all!"
"But… why?" Lulu asked.
"I promised Braska," Auron answered simply.
"You promised my father?" Yuna looked shocked as she spoke. "Thank you, Sir Auron! You're welcome to join us!" She concluded with a deep bow.
"And he comes, too," Auron reached behind him and grabbed Tidus by the collar, dragging out to face the others.
"Uh, hi guys!" Tidus said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Eh… Howdy!" He dropped in a clumsy bow.
"This one I promised Jecht," Auron said, staring down at Tidus.
"Is Sir Jecht alive?" Yuna asked.
"Can't say," Auron turned his gaze to looked out across the expanse of Luca. "Haven't seen him in ten years."
"I… see," Yuna said, not sounding like she did.
"You'll meet eventually," Auron said.
"Yes, I'm looking forward to it!" Yuna replied as Auron stepped past her.
"What's our itinerary? Where are we headed?" Auron zeroed in on Lulu, and Wakka prepared for a long talk on travel plans. But at least Tidus is coming with us! That kid will be a great guardian!

Tidus stood where Auron had placed him, staring at the ground. He still couldn't even think without his thoughts drifting back to his father. What Auron said… it can't really be true, can it? He must know more that he's saying. Bu my old man…
"Hey! Come with me!" It took Tidus a few moments to realize that Yuna's bright call was directed at him. He looked up to see her leaning against the railing of the balcony hanging over Luca. Auron, Wakka, and Lulu were discussing traveling plans with Kimahri sitting back and listening. Tidus decided that he'd better go see what Yuna wanted. It's better than sitting here moping.
Tidus crossed the long stone balcony and stood beside Yuna, taking in the view. A line of thick green trees divided them from Luca, and great city stretching all the way to the sea. The sight was almost familiar, close enough to almost remind him of Zanarkand. That just made Tidus hurt all over again.
"Hey, watch!"
Not waiting for an answer, Yuna raised her fingers to her lips and blew a long, sharp whistle. Her face was alight with excitement. Tidus thought it was a bit over the top for a simple whistle.
"Hey, you got pretty good," he said, not looking up at Yuna.
"You sound sad," she said, cocking her head slightly.
"Yeah, maybe," Tidus said, no longer caring how dull he sounded.
"Wanna scream?" Yuna asked, a hint of humor in her voice.
"Eh, I really don't think that's going to help this time," Tidus answered with a weak chuckle.
Yuna puled her gaze away and stared over the landscape before them.
"You know what?" she asked, still looking outward. "It's embarrassing to say this myself, but… summoners and their guardians are kind of like Spira's ray of light. A lot of people in Spira depend on us, you know?"
Yuna turned back to Tidus, her eyes bright, but just a little sad. "I learned to practice smiling, when I'm feeling sad, you know? I know… it's hard."
Tidus let out a long breath. "Yeah… I understand. I think."
"Right!" the bright smile returned to Yuna's face. "Now, let's see what you can do!"
"Huh?" Tidus didn't get what she meant at first.
"Come on!" Yuna urged.
Oh, she wants me to… Tidus tried to pull his face into a smile, but his cheeks resisted, and he ended up feeling ridiculous.
"This is weird!" he said with a bit of a laugh.
"Next, try laughing out loud," Yuna instructed, sounding like a schoolteacher.
"What?" Tidus felt his eyes grow wide. Come on, Yuna!
"Come one, show me!" Yuna persisted.
Tidus drew in a deep breath, then let out a long burst of loud, phony, robotic-sounding laughter. "Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha. Aaaaah… ah ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."
"Um, you probably shouldn't laugh anymore," Yuna said, casting a nervous glance back towards the others.
You asked for this, Yuna. Tidus kept "laughing," louder than ever.
"Ah ha hahahaha!"
Yuna turned her gaze from the others and looked like she was going to say something but stopped. A smile was overtaking her face, and she looked about to laugh.
"Ahahahahahahaha!" Tidus kept bellowing out choppy laughing noises. He turned and leaned against the railing, ready to send out another burst of "laughter," when he noticed Yuna leaning beside him. She sucked in a deep breath, too. Their eyes met for a brief moment before their laughter rolled.
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha HA!"
There was silence for a moment, nothing but the distant sounds of birds twittering. Then Tidus and Yuna broke down laughing. Real laughter. Tidus laughed and laughed and it felt good. For a few ridiculous moments he'd completely forgotten about Zanarkand, about Sin and his father. If I have to be stuck in this world, I'm glad that I get to travel with Yuna and her group.
"Too funny!" Yuna said, still giggling and wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
"It was your idea!" Tidus chuckled, straightening up from where he had leaned on his knees.
"Um… Thank you," Yuna said, suddenly seeming serious.
"Hm?" Tidus cocked his head.
Yuna looked out over Luca again, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "I want my journey to be full of laughter."
"Okay," Tidus answered with a smile.
Yuna turned back to Tidus, a smile painted over her lips as well. "If we should get separated," she said, "just whistle. I'll come running. I promise."
Tidus nodded with a smile. "Well, we should get going."
Tidus turned around to find Auron, Wakka Lulu, and even Kimahri staring at them.
"Uh, what are you looking at?" he asked uncomfortably.
"We were just worried you might've gone crazy!" Wakka answered with a chuckle.
"Sorry!" Yuna said, looking genuinely contrite. "Well, then, alright. Now, we go to the temple at Djose. And guardians?" Yuna's eyes meet Tidus' for a moment, amusement sparkling in her gaze. "Don't forget to smile!"