Okay! I actually managed to get this out before noon! Impressive, considering how busy I am these days. I got a bit liberal with my added Tidus flashbacks in this chapter, so I hope that's okay and most importantly that you enjoy it. As for my next Fanfic, I'm embracing my perfectionist side and trying to get everything absolutely completely perfect before I start releasing it. That means writing the first several chapters and going over all of them a gazillion times to catch ever mistake and make every necessary tweak. Hopefully it won't be too long before I put my precious pet project out there for the world to read.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please leave a review!
Chapter Twenty-Three
The party carried on. With the sky clouded over, Tidus couldn't tell the time it was, but it felt like it must be sometime in the late afternoon. After all, the last place we slept was at the Moonflow. Are days longer in Spira or something?
As they traveled through the thunder-pelted plains, Tidus watched Yuna's face. She smiled, as always, but there was something in her eyes. Tidus had been around Yuna long enough that he could see something hidden behind her odd eyes, a glint of concern illuminated by the flash of lightning. Something was troubling the young summoner, something she hadn't told anyone. Whatever it was, Tidus had a bad feeling about it.
She'll tell us when she's ready. That was what Wakka had said. Still, Tidus didn't like it that Yuna was bearing her burden alone. We're her guardians! We should be helping her, right?
The group continued for a while, then Yuna stopped them.
"Everyone, wait," she said quietly, coming to a halt.
"What's up?" Wakka asked. He looked worried.
Yuna let out a sigh and looked at the ground. "I have something to tell you."
"Here?" Lulu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We're almost out of here!" Rikku said, glancing down the path with anticipation. "Let's go!"
"I have to say it now!" Yuna's voice took on a tone of urgency. Tidus' apprehensions grew.
Auron let out a sigh. "Over there." He nodded towards a small shelter at the base of a lightning rod. The group moved there, out of the rain, and Tidus was glad for a few moments before hearing what Yuna had to say.
Yuna took a deep breath before spilling the news. "I've decided to marry."
Somehow, my bad feelings always come true.
Lulu let out a sigh and shook her head. "I thought so."
"B-But why?" Wakka spluttered. "Why'd you change your mind?"
Yuna looked down at the ground, hiding the sadness in her eyes. "For Spira's future, and Yevon's unity," she answered quietly. "I thought it would be the best thing to do."
"That's not good enough," Auron scoffed. Another lightning bolt struck, the white light flashing off his dark glasses.
"Wait, is it…" Lulu started, realization sparking in her amber eyes. "Is it because of Jyscal?"
"Hey!" Tidus piped up. "That sphere!"
Auron rounded on Yuna, his face hard. "Show me," he said in an urgent tone.
"I can't," Yuna said quickly, taking a step back. She looked Auron in the eye, her gaze determined. "I must speak with Maester Seymour first. I truly am sorry, but this is… It is a personal matter."
"You're kidding, ya?" Wakka asked, his eyebrows raised. Tidus couldn't make heads or tails of what Yuna meant. If she could only just tell us… Doesn't she trust her guardians? Doesn't she trust me?
Auron turned away from the young summoner, his face still stony. "As you wish," he said gruffly.
"I'm sorry," Yuna repeated, so quiet Tidus almost couldn't hear her.
"Just one thing." Auron turned back to Yuna.
Yuna already knew what he was going to say. "I won't quit my pilgrimage," she promised.
"Then it is…" Auron let out a sigh. "Fine."
"Wait a minute, Auron!" Tidus called out, unable to keep silent any longer. The older guardian turned to face him.
"You don't care?" Tidus continued, not concerned about the hot emotions streaking over his face. "I mean, you're not going to stop her?"
"No, I'm not," Auron said coolly. "As long as she is willing to face Sin… all else is her concern. That is a summoner's privilege. As long as she journeys."
Tidus swung around to face Wakka and Lulu, searching for some kind of explanation. "But that's…" he spluttered out, trying to put to words his objections. But nothing came.
"Yuna, just one question," Wakka said, stepping past the dumbfounded Tidus. "Can't you just talk to Seymour? You've got to marry him?"
Yuna looked down at the ground. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I think it's the right thing to do."
Wakka rubbed the back of his head. "Okay, I guess."
"Yunie…" Rikku walked up to Yuna, her face worried. She reached up and put her hands on her cousin's shoulders. Rikku was about to speak with lightning struck a nearby tower. She glared up at the sky and shouted, "Quiet!" Satisfied, the Al Bhed girl turned back to Yuna.
"I wish we could help somehow, some way!" Rikku said, her eyes bright almost to the point of tears.
Yuna covered one of Rikku's hands with her own. "It's okay," Yuna said quietly, just to Rikku. "I'll be fine."
Auron took a few steps towards the outskirts of their shelter, surveying the stormy skies. In the distance, their destination was just visible: a lush woodland, full of dense trees. The leaves looked as though they were all shades of blue, but Tidus wasn't sure if this was a truck of the light or not.
"Next, we're going to the Macalania Temple," Auron said flatly. "Yuna can talk with Seymour there. We guardians will wait until they're done, and plan our next move. Understood?"
Everyone nodded, except for Tidus. He was still floundering for some sense in what was happening.
She says, "I'm sorry." He says, "It's fine." She's "willing" to face Sin. She's "privileged." I don't understand.
Somehow, Tidus suddenly felt like he didn't belong. But if I don't belong with them, I'll be stuck in Spira, alone. And being alone in this place, well, I don't want to think about it.
…
As the group approached the forest, the sky began to clear. The sun, a welcome sight after so many stormy hours, was already starting to set. Another night of camping, Tidus thought.
As soon as they were under the cover of trees, Rikku jumped up and down and let out a whoop.
"Ha-ha!" she cheered. "We made it! I'm never going through that place again!" With that, she sprinted forward, leaving most of the party behind. They picked up the pace, trying to catch up with the ecstatic Al Bhed girl. Tidus hung back, watching them, and glad that he wasn't alone. But Yuna…
Even though she jogged and laughed as she tried to keep up with Rikku, Tidus could tell something was wrong with her. Something had been wrong with her ever since she had watched Jyscal's sphere. If only there was some way I could help…
"You're worried about Yuna." Auron's voice broke through Tidus' thoughts. Tidus hadn't realized that he'd stayed behind, too.
"'Course I'm worried about her," Tidus said with a bit of a scoff. "What is she thinking?"
"Th simplest answer would be…" Auron said, "In exchange for agreeing to marry him, she hopes to negotiate with Seymour."
Tidus frowned. "Negotiate what?"
Auron sighed. "I wonder."
"What? All by herself?" Tidus asked in astonishment. He let out a sigh and turned to watch Yuna. She'd stopped running and was laughing at something Rikku had said. She acted so normal, when she was bearing so much.
Auron let out a chuckle. "She's strong, but Seymour is a better negotiator."
Tidus turned back to Auron, looking as serious as he could. "Well then, why don't we do something about it?"
Auron looked away from Tidus over at Yuna and the others. "Yuna wants it this way," he said plainly.
"Argh!" Tidus clenched his fists. "I just don't get it! Doesn't she trust us?"
"On the contrary," Auron said, keeping his voice perfectly level. "She doesn't want us caught up in whatever it is that she's planning."
Tidus let out a tired sigh. "Yeah, that's what I thought. But that makes me worry even more. She could just tell us."
"That's the way she is," Auron said, still watching Yuna. "She's naïve, serious to a fault, and doesn't ask for help."
Tidus sighed again. "You're probably right."
"Yuna's easy to read," Auron said, turning back to Tidus.
"Heh." Tidus felt a smile growing over his face. "Yeah, she is."
"But hard to guard," Auron added.
Auron rested a hand on Tidus' shoulder, and Tidus turned back to face him. The older man had a very serious look in her eyes.
"Stand by her," Auron said, firmly. "Always."
Tidus nodded, hoping his discomfort didn't show. He wasn't exactly sure what Auron meant, but he had no desire to endure one of his long lectures.
Auron pulled his hand away and started off towards the others. Tidus followed.
"Slowpokes!" Rikku called out to them as they arrived. She was grinning from ear to ear, clearly glad to be past the Thunder Plains.
"Sorry!" Tidus called back. It's funny how calm I am, Tidus thought with a chuckle. I guess it's because Yuna isn't marrying Seymour for love. Not really. It's just her duty- something she's got to finish up before returning to her pilgrimage.
At least, that was what Tidus kept telling himself. Maybe it was really because he'd come to except the fact that he and Yuna would never… you know…
The forests the group found themselves traveling through were called the Macalania Woods, according to Lulu. She had said the forests surrounded the lake of Macalania, where the temple resided. The color of the leaves had been no trick of the light. All the massive, towering trees of the Macalania bore leaves of brilliant blue hues, from sapphire to aquamarine. Their enormous trunks were covered with silvery bark, glittering in the blue light of massive glowing mushrooms. The whole place was like something out of a dream, but Tidus wasn't surprised. It would take a lot to surprise him now.
The group carried on for a short while before making camp. The air carried a nipping chill, so a fire was a necessity. The party quickly gathered up broken branches and soon had a heathy blaze going. They shared a sparse dinner of travel rations, then settled in for the night.
Tidus sat by the fire, warming his hands and trying not to think about everything that was happening. Rikku, exhausted from her constant terror the day before, had fallen asleep halfway through the meal. Yuna had Kimahri move her over to her bedroll, where she now lay, snoring softly. Lulu and Wakka sat together, chatting about old times back in Besaid, and Yuna sat a short distance from the fire with Kimahri, far enough that the warm glow didn't reach her features. Tidus could still see the worry in her face by the ethereal glow of the small blue mushrooms that dotted the tree stump behind her. Auron, who'd been standing at the outskirts of the camp for a while, came over and sat down by Tidus.
"Get some sleep," Auron said flatly. "We should leave early tomorrow morning."
Tidus turned to face Auron but didn't reply. The firelight lit Auron's familiar face, flashing off his dark glasses. Tidus had been so worried about Yuna lately that he's almost forgotten about Auron's mysteries. He knew a lot more about Auron than he used to; Tidus now knew that Auron had been born in Spira, and that he was High Summoner Braska's guardian, along with Jecht, Tidus' father. There was one thing Tidus still didn't know, and he had the feeling that the answer to that question would only give rise to a thousand more. Even so, he decided to try asking.
"Auron?" Tidus started hesitantly.
"Yes?" Auron replied, his voice still flat.
"Uh…" Tidus drew in a breath, steeling himself to be disappointed. "How did you get to Zanarkand?"
Auron chuckled. It was a very familiar sound, that dark, mysterious, chilling chuckle that Auron used to say, "Sorry. No answers today." Tidus let out a sigh as Auron stood up and resume his position as guard. He, too, stood up and moved over to his bedroll, laying down. He'd think about it, and maybe he'd come up with the answer to his questions on his own.
Tidus fell asleep thinking about Auron and Zanarkand, wondering so many things. He'd known Auron for ten years, but in some ways, the man was just as much a stranger as he had been that day so long ago…
Tidus dropped the blitzball to his feet and gave it a solid kick. It felt good to poor all the confusion, pain, and frustration that crowded up his seven-year-old heart into one single, hard kick. The blitzball slammed hard into the wall of his houseboat and bounced back towards him. Tidus jumped to the side and hit it again, bouncing it back towards the wall. He wasn't trying to do the Jecht Shot or anything fancy; he just wanted to kick something.
Nine months had passed since Tidus' father had gone missing. People had long since given up looking for him, and it was the general consensus that he was dead. Shortly after that, Tidus' mother had grown ill. She ate little and slept a lot, never going outside. But she'll be okay, Tidus thought. Mom will be okay.
The blitzball flew back towards Tidus and he missed it this time. The ball flew with remarkable speed towards the street, and Tidus felt a bit of annoyance. He turned to go retrieve it but stopped short at what he saw.
A tall man dressed in a long red cloak stood still and silent on the curb. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes, and a high collar obscured most of his face. Tidus stood frozen to the spot, unsure of what to say.
"What's wrong?" the strange man asked, not moving. Tidus didn't reply. The man stooped down and picked up the blitzball which had stopped at his feet. He took a few steps towards Tidus and held out the ball.
"Here," the man said. "This is yours, right?"
Tidus nodded dumbly and took the ball. He didn't know what to make of this stranger. Sure, he didn't know everyone in Zanarkand, but he'd never seen anyone remotely like this guy. And what was he doing at Tidus' house? How long had he been standing there?
The stranger turned to leave, but Tidus found his voice and called out.
"H-Hey!" he stammered. "W-who are you?"
The strange man stopped and turned back.
"My name is Auron," he said darkly. Perhaps he really didn't sound so dark, but Tidus always remembered being scared at that moment.
"What are you doing here?" Tidus asked, trying to swallow his anxiety. Still, the seven-year-old boy was having trouble not fearing this mysterious stranger.
"You looked upset," Auron answered after a moment. If Tidus had been a bit older, he would have seen that this Auron had taken that moment to think up an excuse. Ten years later he'd know the real reason Auron came that day. He'd made a promise to Tidus' father.
But the seven-year-old boy on the pier knew none of that.
"Why do you care?" Tidus spat back at Auron. His fear had faded and now he was just frustrated. He'd been frustrated with everything since his father… died.
"There must be some reason you're so upset," Auron said calmly, ignoring Tidus question. "What happened?"
"Dad's gone and Mom's sick," Tidus replied, "and Mom won't see the doctor." He had no idea why he was blurting all this out to a stranger, but he didn't really care.
"Do you need help?" Auron asked, as calmly and coolly as before. Tidus started to shake his head but stopped.
After that a lot happened, and Tidus didn't remember the half of it. Several weeks passed, but Auron always seemed to be around. Eventually he came to stay at their house and helped take care of Tidus' mother. But even with both of them there and occasional visits from the doctor, it hadn't been enough. Tidus would never forget the day his mother died…
Tidus stood in then hallway, leaning back against the wall, waiting. Mom hadn't eaten in several days, and Tidus had been getting worried. She hadn't answered when he knocked on the door that morning. He'd ran quickly to get Auron, who was in his mother's room now, while Tidus waited outside.
Mom's not dead, Mom's not dead… Tidus thought this over and over, trying to quell the rising fear in his heart. She'll be fine. Mom's not dead…
The door swung open. Auron walked out, silent.
"How's Mom?" Tidus asked quietly. He hadn't realized he was on the brink of tears.
Auron didn't answer and kept walking past. Tidus ran after him and grabbed the long folds of his cloak, puling to get him to stop.
"Mom's okay, right?" Tidus almost pleaded as Auron came to a stop. Tidus felt tears spill over his eyes and run down his cheeks. "She's gonna wake up, right?"
Auron knelt down to eye-level with the small seven-year-old boy. Tidus couldn't see his eyes past his dark glasses but could tell that the news would be bad. He already knew that his mother was dead.
Auron rested a hand on Tidus' shoulder, and said something to tell him the bad news, but what his exact words were, Tidus didn't remember. He just knew that was the moment he had to accept that it was true…
Years passed. Ten years. Auron had never really been like Tidus' father, more like an uncle or big brother. For the first few years, Auron was always around, never taking official guardianship but making sure Tidus was doing well and didn't get shipped off to some orphanage. After Tidus turned fourteen, Auron started disappearing for weeks at a time. Tidus grew up and joined the Abes, and then he only saw Auron briefly at rare occasions. But now he traveled with him, guarding a summoner. So much had changed, so much…
…
Tidus woke up the next morning, shaking off the clinging memories like morning dew. He had to focus on the present. The party ate a quick breakfast, then set off. Auron told them that the ground would be to densely overgrown from there on, so they would have to take the trees. At first, Tidus had been horrified, but then he saw that the trees' arching branches made paths like the roots in Guadosalam.
Well, at least we won't be swinging like monkeys.
The party set off. Tidus tried not to gawk at the forest's crystalline appearance, but sometimes it was difficult. Sparkling butterflies flitted through the glittering blue leaves suspended on slivery shining branches. Sunlight filtered down, refracted into shades of blue by the shining leaves. All was silent save the gentle twitter of musical birdsong, until something broke the silence.
Footsteps. Running footsteps, pounding down the tree limb ahead.
Tidus looked up to see Dona's guardian, Barthello, racing down the tree-path towards the group. He was panting, frantic, and most importantly, alone.
"Hey!" Barthello called out as he reached the group. He bent over and panted for a moment before continuing. "You, have you seen Dona?"
"Dona?" Tidus replied. "Can't say that I have."
"What's up?" Wakka asked. He looked worried.
"We got separated on the way here," Barthello answered, straightening back up. He raised a hand to his head, gritting his teeth. "Oh, I've got to find her!"
"Calm down," Auron said in his lecture voice that Tidus knew all too well.
"But," Barthello answered, "if anything happens to her…"
"Running around in a panic is not going to help," Auron continued, still stern. "Right now, you have to keep cool, and search."
"But-" Barthello began.
Auron cut him off. "Guard your emotions, then guard your summoners."
Barthello let out a sigh, his muscular shoulders going slack. "You're right."
Auron seemed satisfied with this. "Shall we search?" he asked.
No," Barthello answered, shaking his head. "I've taken up enough of your time. Thank you, Sir Auron." Barthello gave Auron a quick prayer bow, then set off down the path behind the party. Rikku took a few steps after him but stopped.
"What's up?" Wakka asked her.
"Oh, I just wanted to wish him good luck," Rikku replied. She turned back to watching Barthello disappear from sight. There was a look on her face that Tidus couldn't quite distinguish. Whatever was up with her, it could wait. They had a meeting with Maester Seymour.
The party continued to travel, and Tidus guessed it was late afternoon when they got off the trees and back to the ground. Lulu had said that they would probably have to camp in the wood one more night, and they'd reach the Macalania Temple by tomorrow. They were making good progress, but Auron stopped them. He'd been leading the group and stopped suddenly.
"Wait," Auron said calmly. "It is here… somewhere."
"What's here?" Tidus asked skeptically. We need to keep moving. Doesn't Auron know that? You'd think he'd think before stopping us.
"something you should see," Auron answered, turning towards a fallen tree.
"But, Sir Auron…" Yuna started. She, too, didn't think it worthwhile to stop for whatever his was.
"It won't take long," Auron said, pulling out his long katana. He proceeded to hack away at the old rotten tree, making a path. Everyone followed him reluctantly.
Past the tree was glade with a placid pond in the middle. The water was lit with the same crystally-blue color as the rest of the forest. The spring glittered magically, pyreflies, floating out of the water at random intervals.
"This place, it's just water, isn't it?" Tidus asked, fixing Auron with a skeptical glare.
"This is what spheres are made from," Auron explained, his gaze fixed on the mystical pool. "It absorbs and preserves people's memories."
Auron left his sword and walked over to the water's edge. He bent over and picked up something resting just at the shore, then returned to the others. What he held was a recording sphere; the blue surface was faded and the gold-colored ring around the bottom rusted, but it was intact.
"Whoa, this is old!" Wakka said, peering at the small recording device. "Don't know if you can play it back."
"Jecht left it here ten years ago," Auron said quietly. He held the sphere out to Tidus. "Play it back."
Tidus stared at the thing with his eyes wide. Play it back? What if I don't want to see my father again? But everyone was watching expectantly, so Tidus took the sphere from Auron, sucked in a deep breath, and switched it on.
…
An image bubbled to life on the surface of the sphere, blurry with age. In a few moments, it solidified, zeroing in on a familiar face. Auron.
He looked much younger, without his sunglasses or the scar over his right eye. His black hair was long and tied in a ponytail. Behind him was a city landscape. The younger Auron glared at whoever was holding the sphere, looking very annoyed with whoever was taking the video.
"What are you taking?" Auron asked, his voice coming out fuzzily through the ancient sphere.
Then a voice answered, one Tidus hadn't heard in ten years.
"Well, you said it was gonna be a long trip," Jecht replied from behind the sphere. "We'll be seeing a lot of neat things, right? So I thought I'd record it all in this. To show my wife and kid, you know."
Auron's scowl deepened. "This is no pleasure cruise!" he shouted.
The sphere's view shifted from the perturbed Auron to a man in long robes. Tidus recognized him as High Summoner Braska.
"Hey, Braska," Jecht called out. "Ain't this supposed to be a grand occasion? Where're the cheering fans? The crying woman?"
Braska looked over at Jecht, his face neutral. "This is it," he said. "Too many goodbyes- people think twice about leaving."
"Hmm… If you say so." Tidus could imagine Jecht shrugging as he spoke. "Well, it better be a lot more colorful when we come back. A parade for Braska, vanquisher of Sin!"
Braska let out a sad sort of chuckle, then looked ahead down the path. "We should go," he said. "Day will break soon."
The sphere began to fuzz, and the scene shifted to a wintery background. Jecht stood underneath the sign of one of the travel agencies, somewhere cold and snowy. Auron could just barely be seen out of the corner of the recording, looking very exasperated.
"Auron," Braska called out to his guardian from behind the sphere. "Could you stand closer to him?"
Auron let out a sigh, looking defeated. After a few moments, he came over to stand by the sign as well, but with his back turned.
"Good," Braska said. "That should do it." He tipped the sphere back to get a better view of the sign; it said, "Lake Macalania." Braska lower the sphere again, and the view came back to Auron and Jecht, who had turned to face each other.
"What's the matter?" Jecht asked, smiling smugly. "Afraid I might bite?"
"Jecht…" Auron growled, clenching his fists.
Jecht ignored Auron and turned to Braska. "Braska!" he called. "You should take one, too. It'd make a great gift for little Yuna!"
"I suppose," Braska answered.
"Lord Braska," Auron said, coming closer to his summoner. "We shouldn't be wasting out time like this!"
"What's the hurry, man?" Jecht asked, smiling as though he enjoyed getting Auron riled up. If the was the intention, it worked quite well.
"Let me tell you what the hurry is!" Auron growled, walking quickly over to Jecht.
"Auron!" Braska called out, letting the sphere fall to his side. He quickly switched the device off, ending the recording.
"What's the point?" Tidus asked, folding his arms and staring at the recording device. "He wasn't on some pleasure cruise."
"Um, I think there's more," Rikku said, pointing at the sphere. Its surface fuzzed for a moment, then another scene bubbled into existence. It was the same place where they were standing, the spring in the Macalania woods. Jecht sat alone at the water's edge.
"Hey," he said, sounding forlorn. "If you're sitting here, watching this… it means you're stuck in Spira, like me."
Tidus drew in a breath in shock. He's talking to me. Tidus hadn't heard a word from with father since he was a little kid.
Jecht continued. "You might not know when you'll get back home, but you better not be crying! Although, I guess I'd understand. But you know what? There's a time when you have to stop crying and move on."
Tidus clenched his teeth and shut his eyes against the image of his father. His words sounded so… sincere.
"You'll be fine," Jecht continued. "Remember, you're my son. And… well, uh… never mind, I'm no good at these things." Jecht stood and walked towards the sphere, picking it up. The recording switched off then on again, showing a view of the spring with no one on camera.
"Anyways…" Jecht's voice continued. "I believe in you. Be good. Goodbye."
Tidus swallowed hard as the image on the sphere faded away. He tried to take a few calm breaths before speaking.
"He sounded almost serious, but it was too late."
"He was serious," Auron said, standing beside Tidus. "Jecht had already accepted his fate."
"His fate?" Tidus asked, looking up at Auron.
"Jecht, he…" Auron took a breath before continuing. "He was always talking about going home, to Zanarkand. That's why he took all those pictures- to show them to you when he returned. But as he journeyed with us and came to understand Spira, and Braska's resolve…" Auron trailed off. He turned his gaze from Tidus and looked up at the sky, his eyes really fixed on something in his own memory.
"It happened gradually, but Jecht changed. He decided he would join Braska in his fight against Sin."
Tidus tried desperately to manage his conflicting thoughts.
"So then, he gave up on going home?" he asked.
"That was his decision," Auron answered.
Tidus sucked in a raggedy breath, trying to collect his shattered thoughts. My old man… He knew there was no way home, back to Zanarkand. He wanted to go home, but he knew he couldn't. He couldn't go on until he accepted it. Besides, even if he had found a way back… I don't think he would have left his friends behind before their journey was complete.
Tidus shook himself out of his thoughts and turned back to the group.
Maybe I have to start accepting my own fate.
"Alright! Let's go, guys!" he called out, trying to disperse the heaviness that filled the air. Everyone turned to leave, but Auron hung back.
"Wait," he said, quietly enough that only Tidus could hear.
"Yeah?" Tidus stopped and waited with Auron.
Auron looked Tidus right in the eye as he spoke.
"Jecht loved you."
Tidus had expected Auron to say something distressing, but that? He wasn't even sure what to think, much less say.
"Oh, come on, please!" Tidus stammered.
"He just didn't know how to express it, he said," Auron continued, ignoring Tidus' objection.
Tidus clenched his fists, looking away from Auron. "Enough about my old man, alright?"
"I just thought you should know," Auron said plainly.
"Okay," Tidus replied, wishing that the debate was over. Auron left Tidus there and rejoined the others.
Tidus sucked in a deep breath. He could feel hot tears springing up in his eyes. He wanted to dispute Auron's claim, but suddenly couldn't find any grounds to do so. Maybe that was because…?
Tidus looked up at Auron's back as he joined the group again.
Tidus sucked in another deep breath before moving to catch up with them.
Thanks.
