Disclaimer: not mine

Yes there are two names you may recognise from elsewhere, it's a one off mention. please vote in the pairing poll

Chapter 2

Harry had been up and about for a while when the boy woke, and he smiled at the other male. "Your friend came by earlier, he's been called to the Temple."

Tidus blinked at the man, there was something…he shook it off. "Thanks. Ah, I'm Tidus."

"Harry," he offered a smile as food was placed on the table. "Eat up, you're the talk of the town as a chance for Besaid to finally win the championship, you'll need your strength."

"So…what brings you here?" Tidus asked as they ate, remembering what the Crusaders had said on the road the day before.

"Travelling, seeing the world," Harry shrugged. "I like meeting new people and travelling is a good way to do that." He found it interesting that no one had commented on either of their clothes, they were machina made, unlike the hand-woven cloth and stitching used today. He wore his sword openly but kept his guns hidden, not wanting to come into conflict over them, plus he was out of ammo for them. Really, he should get rid of them, but they held sentimental value. He'd had them since he was eighteen and had spent some time with a group of demon hunters, it had been them who had really taught him to fight. He had loved the time with them, the freedom from his fame and being watched. Plus, Sam and Dean had been hot and a lot of fun and the reason he'd stayed with the group as long as he had before returning to Britain. "You any good with that?" he nodded at the sword Tidus had left beside his cot and Tidus shrugged. "Well if you want a sparring partner later come find me, I'm going to lower the fiend population." He stood and grabbed his sword before leaving.

Tidus watched him leave, reminded a little of Auron by his manner. He finished his food and left the lodge to head for the Temple. He went in and spotted Wakka talking to someone who had to be a priest. "Is something wrong?"

"The summoner hasn't returned from the trial," Wakka answered, concern obvious despite how he tried to act nonchalant.

"Eh?" Tidus had no clue what he was talking about.

"Well, apprentice summoner, really…"

"Ah?" not helping his confusion at all.

"There's a room in there called the Cloister of Trials. Beyond is where the apprentice summoner prays. If the prayer is heard, the apprentice becomes a fully-fledged summoner, remember?"

"So, someone is in there somewhere and they haven't come back out. Right, I got it." Tidus nodded, relieved to finally have some idea.

"A day's already gone by."

"Is it particularly dangerous in there?"

"Sometimes, yes." Wakka admitted, looking up at the doors.

"Why don't you go in and help?"

"There's already guardians in there. Besides, it's forbidden."

Tidus didn't listen, running halfway up stairs. "Hey, but what if somethin' happens? What if the summoner dies!?"

"The precepts must be obeyed!" The priest yelled after him.

"Like I care!" Tidus snapped back, ignoring the gasps as he ran through the doors.

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Harry cut through the last fiend and gathered the dropped items as it faded away. Hearing footsteps he turned to see a confused, almost sheepish looking Tidus. "Hey, what happened?"

"I think I messed up?"

"Oh?"

"I uh, went into the Temple after the Summoner cause Wakka seemed worried."

Harry blinked at the rushed sentence and then chuckled. "They'll get over it, you're the new star player. Besides you'll be leaving in the morning in order to reach Luca in time to play. Now, let's see what you can do." Harry nodded at the approaching fiends and Tidus drew his sword. Harry winced and moved in to show him how to grip it properly, guiding him through the first few moves before letting him fight. He wasn't bad, he had natural talent and good instincts. They stayed out for a few more hours before Harry led him back to the village where the whole population was gathered for a party to celebrate the new Summoner and the upcoming Blitzball tournament.

"Hey, over here!" Wakka head locked Tidus and dragged him into edge of crowd, an amused Harry following them.

"What? Ow!"

"Wait till you see this!"

"I can't see anything!" Tidus snapped and Wakka let him up.

Wakka waved at Yuna. "Ready!"

"Okay," she nodded and took her staff in a firm grip before going through the motions. Harry closed his eyes in pain but then watched as Valefor plummeted from the clouds to sit before her.

Tidus had never seen anything like it in his life. Sure, it was a little scary, but still…he could feel a strange kind of gentleness coming from it. With no danger the Summons soon vanished, and Harry was relieved he hadn't been seen.

As the party got going Wakka dragged Tidus away to meet his new teammates so Harry settled in to enjoy the party. After a while he found himself near the Summoner. "Congratulations," he smiled at her and she blushes slightly.

"Thank you. I am Yuna, I haven't seen you before?"

"Harry and no, I am just a traveller passing through. I've met a few Summoners over the years and for a first summon that was very good." He assured her even as he noticed a woman in black watching him warily, she was…ah, a Black Mage and most likely one of Yuna's Guardians. "Have a good even M'lady." He bowed over her hand, earning another blush, before slipping away.

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Harry woke to see Tidus tossing in his bed and got up, sitting on the edge of the cot to place a hand on his forehead, soothing his sleep with magic and the boy settled. "No more dreams," he whispered sadly, aware of how strange saying that to this boy was. Tidus settled, curling on his side and Harry went back to his own cot, not that he was tired after sleeping so long. He'd need sleep in another day or so but not yet. He heard Wakka and a woman arguing outside the lodge and eavesdropped unashamedly.

"He's dead, okay? Dead! He does look a lot like Chappu. I was surprised, too, the first time I saw him. But no matter what he looks like, he isn't Chappu. You shouldn't have brought him here in the first place!"

"Yeah, but…he needed our help!"

"Excuses again?"

"Yeah, but…"

"That's it. No more. Enough, Wakka!"

Well that was an interesting discussion. What were the odds a dream would look like a real person? Even a dead one?

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When Tidus got up he noticed Harry was already gone and he felt better than he had in ages, he'd had the best sleep ever. He grabbed a quick breakfast and then left the lodge to find Wakka waiting for him with a sword in hand.

"Hey! Sleepyhead! Something I want to give you." Wakka handed over the blade and it was easy for even Tidus to tell that it was better than the one Auron had given him.

"Whoa! You're giving this…to me?"

"Yeah, use it well!" Wakka smiled and Tidus nodded, slipping it onto his back. Lulu stood nearby, staring and Wakka went to join her, their discussion too soft for Tidus to hear but he got the feeling she didn't like him at all. "Where's Yuna?" Wakka asked, re-joining him.

"We're taking the same boat as Yuna, right? Why do we gotta wait here?"

"Yuna came to this village ten years ago, when the last Calm started."

"The Calm?" What was that?

"Since then, she's been like a little sister to me and Lulu. But she had the talent…She became an apprentice. Now, today, she leaves as a summoner."

"This is our journey…We should leave together," Lulu finished as she joined them, and they spotted Yuna coming out of the temple dragging a large suitcase. "You really don't need all that luggage."

"Ah… They're not really my things. They're gifts for the temples we're to visit."

Wakka shook his head. "This isn't a vacation, Yuna."

"I guess…I guess you're right." She dropped the suitcase and walked towards them.

"Okay! Off we go!" Wakka called as they began walking. Yuna hung back to give the Yevon bow to temple before the group left the village.

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Tidus was relieved to get on the Ferry, wary of the Ronso who had joined them and promptly attacked him. He looked around the deck and then grinned. "Harry!"

"Tidus." Harry smiled from his place at the rail as the ferry pulled away from the dock.

"Why didn't you say you were coming?" he stood beside the other man. He was curious about Harry, he just…stood out among the other people. It was hard trying to work out just how old Harry was, sometimes he acted like he was ancient, but he looked only a few years older than Tidus, maybe.

"Wasn't sure I was but then I decided I'd like to see the tournament. I haven't been to Luca in a while."

"Well I'm glad you're coming."

"I look forward to seeing you play. Your Captain seems to be running practice." He looked down on the main deck.

"I already know it all," Tidus answered.

"So? These kind of things build teamwork. You're the newbie Tidus, they don't know you. So, let them get to know you and how you play." He chided gently and Tidus blinked in surprise but then headed down to join in. Harry remained where he was as the mage approached him.

"I don't know who you are, or where you came from. If you interfere with Yuna's pilgrimage, we won't take it lightly," she warned darkly, and Harry chuckled.

"Warning received Mage, but I have no interest in interfering. I am a simple traveller heading to watch Blitzball."

"I doubt there is anything simple about you." She turned and left and Harry smiled, it had been a while since he'd been warned off like that.

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Tidus listened as people talked about Yuna and then approached Wakka, curious. "So, is Yuna's father famous or something?"

"She's the daughter of High Summoner Braska! You saw his statue at the temple. Lord Braska defeated Sin ten years ago. Yuna's the heir to a great legacy!'

"It's tough when your father's famous," Tidus whispered sadly and Wakka frowned.

"Eh?"

"Wakka's…a bit lacking in the imagination department," Lulu offered as she approached.

"Huh?" Wakka stared at her as Tidus laughed.

"Thanks, Lulu. I'll keep that in mind," he grinned as Wakka went red. He glanced to the front where Yuna was standing alone.

"She wanted to talk to you," Wakka gave him a shove so Tidus walked up to where she was.

They stood together at the rail in awkward silence, neither knowing how to start. "The wind…it's nice," she finally offered.

"Mm." he glanced at her and they both started laughing.

Harry smiled from where he was watching on the upper deck. If the Fayth wanted the boy involved, then his getting close to the young Summoner was good. The question was, should he try and integrate himself in the group or just keep running into the 'randomly'?

"You're a blitzball player, aren't you? From Zanarkand, right?" Yuna asked with a soft smile.

"Uh… You hear that from Wakka?" Tidus stared out at the sea.

"Mm-hm."

"Ah…Wakka. Wakka doesn't believe me at all," he admitted softly.

"But I believe you!" Yuna promised, and he blinked.

"Huh?"

"I've heard, in Zanarkand… there is a great stadium, all lit up even at night!" She offered with a wistful smile and Tidus made a surprised noise. "Great blitzball tournaments are held there, and the stands are always full!"

"How do you know that?" he demanded in shock.

"A man named Jecht told me. He was my father's guardian."

"J… Jecht," he muttered turning away, it wasn't possible, was it? "My father…his name is Jecht!"

"Amazing!" she made the prayer movements. "You know, our meeting like this must be the blessing of Yevon!"

"Sounds like him, but it can't be him," Tidus denied.

"Why not?" She watched him closely.

"My old man, he died. Ten years ago, off the coast of Zanarkand."

"I'm sorry."

"He went out to sea for training one day…and never came back. And no one's seen him since then." He was always practising, he'd never understood why his Mom had missed him when he vanished, not like he'd been around much anyway.

"Why, that's the day that Jecht came to Spira."

"But–"

"It's true! I first met Jecht ten years and three months ago! I remember, that was the day my father left. The date fits, doesn't it?" She grinned, excited.

"Ehh…ha, ha… Yeah, but how would he get here?" he was less willing to believe, and she smiled.

"You're here, are you not?"

Tidus slowly smiled back and then yelped as there was a sudden rumble, the deck tilting. He grabbed the rail with one hand and Yuna with the other, but her hand slipped through his and she slid across the deck. "Yuna!" he was about to let go, he could find a grip once he had her, but Kimahri caught her, holding her tight.

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Harry grabbed the nearby crewmember as the ship went sideway, keeping the man on the ship, using magic to anchor them both. He saw Tidus and Yuna fall, the girl slipping towards the water but her Ronso Guardian grabbed her in time. The ship steadied, and Harry vaulted the railing, landing on the main deck easily before moving forward, hand on his sword.

"Sin!" a man cried, staggering towards a harpoon to grab it and take aim.

"What do you think you're doing? Stick a harpoon in it and we'll all get dragged under!" Wakka yelled as he ran over.

"Sin is going for Kilika! We gotta distract it!" the answer came from a second man who moved to man the second on deck harpoon.

"Our families are on Kilika! Forgive us, Lady Summoner!" they looked to Yuna who nodded so they launched the harpoons.

"Wait! Oh, boy…" Wakka stared as the harpoons sank in and the ship rocked as they were pulled along with Sin.

Sin didn't just let them hitch a ride though, soon they were fighting the Sinscales as they landed on the deck, Harry and Tidus easily working with Wakka and Kimahri as Lulu joined them from below deck.

"How many of these things are there!?" Tidus yelped, dodging and Lulu took his attacker out with a blast of lightning.

"This place is crawling!" Wakka threw his ball again.

"When's this going to end?" Yuna whispered as she struggled to keep the fighters healthy as they fought the endless wave of Sinscales.

"The fin! That's where they're coming from," Harry yelled, putting his sword aside to begin throwing spells at the fin, spells of a higher level than Lulu. She was good but to survive the Pilgrimage she needed far stronger spells.

"The fin! Attack the fin!" Wakka yelled to the others further away.

"What? We hit the fin first?" Tidus shook his head, he didn't have an attack that could reach so he kept working on the scales while secretly awed by the magic Harry was throwing around.

"Look out!" Yuna screamed but it was too late and Tidus went flying overboard, sword falling from a limp hand, even as one of the harpoon ropes snapped.

Harry swore but holstered his sword and dove off the ferry into the sea. He looked around, trying to spot the teen and then he saw a fiend going after something and dove deeper, finally spotting its prey, Tidus. A spell later and it was dead even as Harry wrapped an arm around Tidus and swam for the surface. He surfaced, and a rope was thrown to him, the two of them being pulled up quickly until they fell onto the deck and Harry rolled Tidus onto his side, hitting his back to get him to cough as Yuna rushed over.

She cast quickly and Tidus began coughing up the water he'd swallowed. The spells Blitzball players used to remain under water so long didn't work so well when the player was unconscious. Yuna helped him sit up and they all stared as in the distance, Sin attacked Kilika.

When Sin attacked Zanarkand that day, Tidus woke up in Spira. He kept hoping it would work in reverse, too. He knew now that he was just fooling himself. Maybe it was that day… on the sea, under the burning sun, he started to give up hope. Tidus was in a foreign world and he wasn't going home. This was his new reality, and he was stuck in it for good.

"I will defeat Sin… I must defeat Sin." Yuna swore and Tidus gently covered her hand with his own, offering what comfort he could as they watched the destruction, unable to do anything.

Harry knelt behind the two teenagers, his body blocking them from the view of most of the crew, even as Yuna's Guardians surrounded them protectively. He'd never actually seen a Sin attack before, just the results. He wished he could stop it but immortal or not he was just one man. He knew Yu would hate what he had become, this was never the plan.

TBC…