Yuna continues to meet up with friends during her final day off.
Thank you for the follows/reviews.
italics = denotes thought or memory (for the most part)
I've had this ready for the longest. I'll try to get another chapter up sometime this week to make up for it.
Not Mine
Tokens - 1 Day Until the Coronation
- Memories -
The two of them, Yuna and Lulu remained outside staring at the city in front of them for some time. Neither of them talked, afraid to break the peaceful silence that had amassed between them. But time never stopped flowing and Yuna could not stop it, only work to protect it. So as all things ended so did their small moment of stillness. Lulu straightened and smiled at her, "I shouldn't keep you from the rest of your day." She said.
"I would be okay with this, looking out over the city with you forever. But, you are right. You have work too?" Yuna asked.
"Only a little bit. Odds and ends to finish up before tomorrow."
"I'm glad." Yuna told her.
"Glad for what?" Lulu asked.
"I think, that when we defeated Sin - leading Spira was not on your mind. If you had told yourself from back then that she would be one of the heads of the government, she would have laughed."
"And it was on yours?" Lulu countered.
"Not exactly. But, you cannot defeat Sin as I did and not expect people to want things of you. This path, my story - I find it hard to escape it in my mind. The day I signed my name on that paper Baralai presented to me to become High Master Summoner - this was where I would end up. I knew somewhere deep down." Yuna smiled softly, "I am not afraid of it, but I am glad you will be able to escape it. If for a little while."
Overall, Yuna knew that while Lulu had not hated being in government she was also not a woman to be caged. Years ago Yuna had heard Lulu and Nooj whispering to each other about deathseeking and honorable deaths. Sequestering herself in the small library inside of Valefor's temple Yuna had read up on the word, and stumbled into a world she had not been expecting. After that she had thought about wild animals, about fiends who prowled their world looking for a fight - looking for someone to kill them so that the restless spirit inside could finally find tranquility. Lulu was like one of those beasts, only more human and more wonderful. For someone like her to remain in government was almost cruel, yet for over eight years she had stayed, "Thank you." Lulu said and Yuna was glad she had not taken her words for rudeness.
The soft brush of fabric was all that Yuna heard before Lulu departed from her view moving back into the cooler room behind them. Instead of following her friend Yuna remained on the balcony for a few minutes more. Once she had finally gotten her fill she stood up and stretched out, reaching up into the sky. Then she wandered back into the building, signaling Elma to follow her. She had taken no more than a few steps down the inner balcony hallway when she heard her name called out to her, "Emissary Yuna!"
Turning Yuan saw Nooj's aide walking towards her at a clipped pace. For her part the woman looked a little out of breath, as if she had been running or told to find Yuna quickly, "May I help you?" Yuna asked the young woman.
"Nooj wishes to speak to you. He said to grab you if I saw you." She took a breath, "He's in the lounge on the second floor."
Yuna thanked the woman quickly and then with Elma in tow, made a hasty departure to the second floor lounge. The lounge itself was a floor down, facing outward so it looked out over the walkways. The front face of the lounge boasted a row of two large glass doors and then two long glass windows. Through the glass paneling the patrons could be seen going about their daily lives. The glass walls and doors were protected by magic and only those with key access could enter past the doors themselves. For those who could, the large lounge area awaited. Plush red chairs and wicker tables dotted the long open room, in one of the corners a bar was always kept refreshed and small buffets were pushed against the room walls. The buffets were also continuously stocked so that the people who worked in the building could have access to food at all times. The food itself was provided by the markets outside and helped bolster the relationship between the government and the locals.
Yuna punched in her access code and the glass door slid open for her. In front of her in one of the chairs Nooj sat spread out, his face oddly content for a man such as himself. A bottle of sake sat on the table next to him and two cups had already been poured. Sitting next to him Yuna eased into her seat. The two of them were not often alone like this. Usually Lulu would be nearby or really anybody else. To be with Nooj without company around them felt odd, even Gippal or Baralai being around would have helped ease the current tension between them. Reaching out she picked up the already poured cup of sake and took a sip. It was early still but maybe it would put her at ease, "You've never really liked me have you?" Nooj finally said.
"That's not true." Yuna told him.
"Let me rephrase. You and I have been allies, comrades in arms, and even adversaries. But I do not think in our long history we have ever been called friends."
This was true to an extent. Yuna had been proud of Nooj and even pleased to know him during the battle against Sin, his council while small had been welcomed. His battle prowess even more so. But soon after Sin's defeat their ideologies had begun to clash and in a short, short moment of weakness she had almost blamed him for losing Lulu. The moment had come, and gone in a blink some few weeks before Rikku's wedding and she had chastised herself for it. No one was to blame for her and Lulu's splintering relationship but the two of them. Outside influences could only do so much, if they had really wanted to they could have saved their relationship themselves. They had not.
In the end it hadn't mattered. That small moment of blame had created a rift in between her and Nooj and ruined what could have been a good and solid friendship. Instead the two of them had an accord based on respect and fondness, but nothing that stretched further than that. Nothing as close as friendship and certainly nothing as close to what she and Lulu shared, despite the similarities that existed between Lulu and Nooj, "No we have not." She agreed.
"I would say however, that that we have been through enough for me to feel comfortable presenting you with a gift of sorts."
He put the cup of sake he was drinking back on the table and reached into the bag at his feet. From out of the bag he extracted a small sphere. He laid it on the table and Yuna picked it up turning it around in her hands a few times, "What is it?"
"A key to the Den of Woe. Lulu and I cleared it out a long time ago when we first inhabited Mushroom Rock Road. We now use it for storage."
"Storage?" Yuna inquired.
"Every year we make a pilgrimage if you will and leave one thing that's important to us in that cave, a time capsule of who we are and who we will become. Eventually we will pass and I do not want what is in the cave to fall to memory. So I'm giving you one of the spheres that can be used as a key to open the locked door. I have one and Lulu has the other." Nooj told her.
"Does Lulu know you've given me this?"
"Yes. We both have an extra sphere to give to any one person. I told her I wished to give mine to you. I believe she will be giving her's to Lucil."
Holding up the sphere Yuna realized that Nooj had given her what amounted to his Will. For him, being a deathseeker - to trust her with his Will was insurmountable. She put the sphere in the small leather satchel she had brought with her, and tucked it safely into one of the pockets, "If you would like - I would be honored to call you my friend. For whatever little time you have left in your life." She said.
"I think, I would like that very much." He told her.
- Protection -
Not long after her meeting with Nooj the commsphere on her belt went off. Unclipping it she tapped it once and a small image of Baralai shimmered into view at the very top of it. He bowed ceremoniously, always the gentleman - even when he was plotting your downfall, "Good afternoon your Emissary."
"It's only mid-day Baralai. And I'm not your Emissary, not quite yet." She chided him.
"It always helps to get practice in. Gippal and I heard that you had made it into the city and we were curious if you were around for lunch."
It shocked her a bit to hear that Gippal and Baralai were spending time together. It wasn't that the two of them didn't get along, they did - at least better than Gippal and Nooj, but for the most part they didn't share too many common interests. At least not outside of governing, where they shared a good number of ideas when it came to laws and where money should go. More often than not Yuna actually agreed with Nooj and Lulu's more radical and accepting policies but it was good to have differing opinions, "I would love to have lunch."
"Fantastic. It's a new cafe that opened up in the garden district a few blocks from your old office. The Fleet Wind? Have you heard of it?" He asked.
"I have! I actually walk past it sometimes when I take breaks to go on walks."
"Good! I'll see you there then in thirty minutes."
The communication ended and Yuna looked over at Elma, "Well then, that looks like our next destination."
Elma nodded, "I'll call in and reserve the place."
"Thank you."
That was another thing Yuna had to get used to. She couldn't just stop in a cafe and sit down at any chair that she pleased in New Zanarkand. In other smaller towns perhaps, but in New Zanarkand whenever she wanted to eat out Elma had to call in and reserve the whole place if privacy was required. It could be a little taxing sometimes and she was sure it annoyed Elma to make plans on the fly, but sometimes it couldn't be helped, "Okay, they said they can close down for an hour or so. I promised we would reimburse for some of the lost revenue, but they said a picture to hang on the wall would be good enough. Ha, as if the think we're gonna be that cheap." It helped also, that Elma was fantastic at her job.
Thirty minutes and a carriage ride later and Yuna found herself sat inside the cafe, the doors and windows open to the sidewalk patio where a light breeze wafted inside. Elma was situated across from her table, drinking a cup of ice tea and flipping through the pad that she had making notes on what Yuna assumed were the people she had picked to be Yuna's guardians for the long parade to the Capitol Building tomorrow. For the most part she seemed deep in concentration and Yuna didn't feel like bothering her.
Of course Yuna could not control the tides of time and sound from outside alerted her to the fact that Gippal had arrived, "Sir we cannot let you in until you've been cleared by the security officer." One of the waiters seemed to be saying.
"All I'm askin is to be let in to see my luiceh is all."
Elma looked up from her pad and waved her assent, "You can let them in. Stop makin' a scene Gippal, you know reporters always blow the things you do out of proportion."
"She is correct in those regards." Baralai said, coming up behind Gippal as he entered the cafe, ducking around Yuna's grumbling cousin to do so.
It was well known among the five of them that Gippal's PR machine was a mythical thing. While those who truly knew him often knew that he meant no harm Gippal was prone to getting very mouthy at the worst possible times. Headlines like "Gippal gets into argument with market stand owner" or "Al Bhed leader cracks again" were legendary among them and often times passed around for a laugh. It still didn't stop him from having to make amends more often than not though. And his PR manager was very, very good at making the stories either go away or twisting them to show the other side of the story. For instance: the market stand owner was about to make his niece cry, didn't you know? He was just defending her. So far he was the only one in their small cohort who needed a public relations manager too.
As a they sat down a waiter walked over to the table and bowed, "Would you like something to drink?"
"Coffee would be spectacular." Baralai said.
"I'll take a… whatsit called again," Gippal snapped his fingers a few times trying to remember, "A mimosa."
"Just ice tea for me is fine. I had late morning sake with Nooj and I think I am done with alcohol for now." Yuna told the waiter.
"You should know better than to drink with Nooj." Baralai scolded her.
It was true. Nooj was very good at holding his alcohol. The only person better at it than him that Yuna knew was Auron - but he was dead and honestly she wasn't sure if he could get drunk.
From Baralai's remark, friendly conversation enfolded the room. At one point Baralai tried to get them to talk about current political events but Gippal shut him down. They had more than enough of that outside of this room, and they didn't want to debate policy in front of random waiters did they - Gippal reminded him. At this Yuna laughed into her napkin causing Baralai to side-eye her, but having been properly chastised by Gippal he dropped it.
As the three of them devolved in topics Yuna wondered why these two and not Nooj had become her friends first. It wasn't like Gippal and her had started off on the right foot, nor had she and Baralai. They didn't even agree politically most of the time. But these two were her friends, and as their food arrived and Gippal chuckled at something that Baralai had said she was glad of it, "You should invest in better business practices." Baralai told the man next to him.
"I didn't know he was going to stiff me. Sometimes you have to cut your losses."
"By throwing it over the edge of a moving vehicle into the sand?" Yuna asked.
"If he's not going to respect my money, I'm not going to respect the product he makes me."
Baralai sighed, "Seek help."
Gippal put his fork down and wiped his mouth clean with his napkin, "Anyway, I assume you know why you're here right?" He looked at Yuna as he said so, "We got something for you."
For a moment Baralai seemed like was going to contest the change of topic but let it pass. There would be ample time later for them to carry on the conversation, Yuna surmised. Plus they could do it in private, where Baralai could raise his voice, "We? You got me something together?" Yuna asked.
"Don't seem too surprised!" Gippal said.
Baralai disappeared outside while Yuna waited and after awhile he returned holding a small square box box. He put it on the table next to his plate and took a breath before speaking, "I don't talk about it often, about how I was and who I was before you met me. I was a shell of a man who was willing to listen to the words of a madman because what he said was the law. I didn't want to learn, I didn't want to get to know the other side, I just wanted to cover my ears and eyes and pretend that everything was okay. Bury my head in the sand and ignore everything else. That's not why I got into government. When I took the cowl of priesthood it was to help people - to do whatever was needed to protect them. Somewhere in between becoming a soldier for Seymour and the cage guard for Paine, a woman I would come to love - I lost sight of that." He paused to reflect for a moment, "Then I was surrounded by dead bodies, all my comrades murdered by that mad man and empty of the will to fight back. I was nothing. Then you were there. And Paine was there and she told me - We fight because there is nothing left to fight for, we fight because we love, because in the end everyone wants peace, even if it costs us everything."
"Baralai…" Yuna interrupted him, her voice soft but firm - he didn't have to go on if he didn't want to.
"No, it's okay." He smiled, "I was reborn in that fight against Seymour. After that I wanted to take the reigns of Spira's destiny. Of mine. A new start that was one of many. This changing of the guard is another, but not just for myself but for you as well. So that's what I wanted to give you, a new start with a clear message - don't forget where you came from. You didn't get into this fight just to fight, you got in this fight to protect people. You're the hammer, but perhaps more important - you are the shield too. And I'm glad there is someone who values life more than they value death in charge of Spira now."
As he finished Yuna laughed, "Thank you." She turned to her cousin, "Do you have any deep words?"
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I do not. I'm just glad that you don't completely hate me now." Gippal said.
"I'm glad too."
The plates were cleared and Baralai took the box and handed it to Yuna. Opening it she stared down at a small ring with a pear shaped sigil cut onto face of it. If she hadn't known any better she would have thought that Baralai was proposing to her. But she did. She had a few rings that looked like this one, purple with one small yellow and then two pink ripple lines as if someone had dropped a fleck of water on the rounded bottom of the ring. Touching it a look of confusion appeared on her face, "This has no magic in it. No protective spells. It wouldn't be very safe to wear in battle."
"I had it crafted by Rin in the style of his no slot protective gear. You should be able to customize it how you want." Baralai told her, "So that the one who protects us always, can be able protected herself."
"Which is where I come in of course." Gippal said, "When you figure out what you want it to do, I'll collect all the parts needed and get it done for you."
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
"You are very welcome. Now, desert!" Baralai clapped in his hands.
Over in the corner Elma laughed at them from behind her pad and Yuna smiled softly at her amusement.
- Permanence -
One of the things that Yuna was finding more and more true as she sat in her office and stared at budgeting papers was that often the best laid plans had a habit of getting away from her, or not exactly going to plan. Sometimes this was a good thing: she had been able to build the new jungle walkways on Besaid island from the small village she had grown up in to the beaches that lead to New Zanarkand under their original price point. Other times it was not as good: she had been forced to give up her plans to refurbish some parts of Valefor's temple when the Blitzball Stadium had ending up costing more than she had originally thought. The loss hadn't been too big although Vida had shown up in her dreams to complain a bit. In the end Tidus had been forced to show up to tell the small fayth that she'd get her upgrade but that she would have to wait. That had ended the discussion and the fayth of Valefor had slunk off to lick her wounds.
So was it that her plans once again found themselves getting away from her. As her carriage turned the street corner she saw Kelk wandering doing the street, his father a few paces away - letting his son explore the city in front of them. Paine had informed both herself and Tidus a few nights ago about their city adventures. How Kelk while seemingly uninterested had taken to the city well enough, and had told Paine when they were alone how he had enjoyed his time and would like to explore the city further some other time. Some other time appeared to be now, "Over there Elma." She pointed over to Kimahri and the carriage moved to side-along with where Kimarhi was walking.
Elma leaned out of the front side and smiled at the Ronso, "Hello stranger."
Kimahri startled a little, his fur standing up on edge but did a good job to conceal it, "Ronso son, stop." He bellowed out towards his son, scaring people further who were not expecting the loud Ronso yell.
Opening the glass window in front of her Yuna smiled down at her friend, "Climb on in."
Kelk who had finally reunited with the group crossed his arms aggressively. Yuna could tell that he was frustrated by being yelled at by his father in public as he had been. But something else bothered him as well, "Kelk no want to ride in carriage. Kelk want to explore."
"Ronso father wants to speak to friend Yuna. Then explore more later, sun not down yet." Kimahri told his pouting son.
"Not on carriage long?" Kelk asked hopefully.
"Not on carriage long." His father confirmed.
Fears assuaged Kelk climbed into their carriage and sat next to Yuna. His father followed soon after. For a moment silence blanketed the small moving vehicle and then Yuna spoke, "So what have you been doing today Kelk?"
Unlike his father of who Yuna now spent a great deal of time with, compared to the lengthy period of no contact the two had suffered after Sin's defeat - she had not had much time to get to know Kelk. For the most part Kimahri's visits brought him down the mountain and did not bring Yuna up to him. Therefore the last time she had seen Kelk had been a few years ago when he had been a younger pup still. Now he was a much taller youth, about one or two foot so - with muscles beginning to show and an almost fully grown horn. He was not a full youth in visage yet, most youth were about ten when they grew into their full youth features - but at eight years he was almost there. In two or three years his first horn would reach its peak growth before molting and falling off to be replaced by the adult horn. This horn would be the one he would have from then on until his death, "Looking at Yevon weapons. Not as good as Ronso weapons. But get idea for first Ronso blade for Kelk."
That surprised Yuna. To her knowledge most Ronso youth were not given their first blade until their first horn was fully grown. To be given a blade so young meant that something would have had to happen to force Kimahri's hand against normal tradition. It was true that Kelk would someday be the Chief of the Ronso, but Kelk was still far enough away from that age that it shouldn't have mattered. Studying Kimahri she noticed how his eyes had shifted over to Kelk the moment he had said it, "Kimahri?"
"Was saving announcement for party, Ronso son." He scolded his child, "Ronso wife with child. Kelk to be Ronso brother." He told Yuna.
Despite her attempts to hide it Yuna could not stop the small noise of excitement that left her mouth, "Congratulations!"
"She will be great warrior like Kelk." Kelk said, "Need good weapon to teach her." His fur puffed up in pride.
"She will be very small the first few years Kelk." Yuna warned him against getting too excited.
At that Kimahri let out a bark of a laugh, "Have tried telling Ronso son this. Spirit remains undampened."
At this Kelk let out a breath of air, "Ronso grow strong. Ronso grow fast. Will need weapon soon on mountainside."
Hearing the word mountainside sparked something in Kimahri and Yuna watched as he reached into his satchel and pulled out something made out of clay. It wasn't much bigger than his paw and looked like it would make a good desk ornament, or large paperweight, "In honor of courage of Yuna and how Yuna help Ronso when Ronso need it - no matter what, and in recognition for Yuna not turning Yuna's back on Ronso when Seymour attack - Ronso have chosen to give gift from tribe." He handed her the item.
Once she held what Kimahri had given her, Yuna stared down at the item. Once in her hands, it became apparent to her what the present was. The figure was of her, wearing the dress she had worn on her first pilgrimage, staff held in one hand parallel to her body. Her eyes were staring off into the distance - as if she was waiting for something or someone. The look on the face of the figure was wistful but powerful. As if she was saying to the world - come challenge me. Whoever had made it had put time and work into the small copy of her, "Thank you." She put it away as to not damage or lose it.
"Not real gift. Real gift much larger and on top of Gagazet Mountain. This is what looks like. Come to Ronso home and I show you actual statue."
"Kimahri, that's too much." Yuna told him.
"Already done. Someday will take Ronso daughter to statute. Tell her great tale."
At that Yuna blushed a bright shade of red, "Thank you my friend. Really."
"Is nothing. Ronso want to honor Yuna. This is how Ronso do it."
Reaching across the cart she wrapped her arms around Kimahri in a fierce hug. It would have been a sentimental moment if not for Kelk making hacking noises next to them. They parted and the noises slowly stopped, "Can I tell Tidus about this?" Yuna asked, "Your child I mean. Not the statue." She clarified.
"Secret out. No need to hide."
At that Yuna grinned and opened up the connection between herself and Tidus, "You'll never guess what I just learned."
Tidus seemed surprised to hear from her but overall pleased, "What."
And so Yuna began to tell him what Kimahri had told her, their discussion lasting longer than Yuna had originally anticipated and covering what she had been up to most of the day. Somewhere between telling him about her visit with Nooj and leaving to see Baralai and Gippal, Kimahri and Kelk left the carriage with a wave and fond goodbyes. Once she had seen them off she settled back in her seat and continued her conversation with Tidus, a smile upon her face.
A/N:
Bits and pieces for this chapter:
Luiceh: Is cousin in Al Bhed.
Fleet Wind: This is a reference to the spell of the same name from Final Fantasy XI, used by the summon Garuda.
I love writing a more laid back Gippal, mostly because he's so outrageous. He's the type of character who just wants to get up shenanigans. Also I think it's okay for Baralai to voice out-loud that he's in love with Paine, since everyone knows. It's just the actual relationship that's a secret. Finally, I really do want to see Nooj and Auron have a drinking competition!