Disclaimer: not mine
I have defeated Yunalesca without dying and having to start again! So proud of myself. Now to go collect the other aeons and level up more before facing Sin. Any tips?
Chapter 8
Harry stayed relaxed, letting Tidus sleep in his arms, feeling sick at what he had told the younger male. Contact with Sin had changed Tidus, given him a form of flesh and blood…but no one thought that would be enough to save him. It was the one thing Harry had never been able to do…share his immortality. He wasn't a vampire who could turn people into beings like him. He had tried everything when he'd realised he wasn't aging. He'd been hit by an AK when he was twenty-five and it had no effect on him at all. He'd worked with Hermione for years, but they had never been able to confirm what made him immortal, let alone how to share it with another. Though, they had recreated Flamel's great work, creating a Philosopher's stone. It had allowed him to keep his first wife, Daphne, with him for several centuries until she had been killed. None of their children had survived WWIII and they had never had more, thanks to the stones effect on her body. It gave basic immortality at the cost of the ability to have children, that was why there hadn't been hundreds of Flamel's. even after so long he still missed the Slytherin Ice Queen. They'd barely exchanged five words at school but then she had fought in the Final Battle…he had found her after, out on the grounds with her best friend, Tracey, dead in her arms. The Ice Queen mask had been well and truly destroyed as she sobbed over the other girl and he had been unable to juts watch without helping. From there had grown a tentative friendship which had eventually blossomed into love…she'd been amused that their marriage had done more for the House rivalries than the help of her Housemates during the battle.
Harry looked up as he sensed someone, smiling softly at Yuna as she quietly approached. She knelt down, looking at Tidus in concern. "Is he okay?" she whispered.
"He will be," Harry answered just as softly. He lifted an arm in offering and Yuna tucked herself into his side, her head resting against Tidus. Harry kissed the top of her head. "Get some sleep, I'll keep watch," he promised, wrapping magic around them to keep them safe. He glanced Kimahri watching over them and nodded to the Ronso before closing his eyes, letting his mind quiet, relying on his magic to alert him to danger.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Tidus didn't want to wake up, for the first time in forever he felt warm and totally safe. He felt fingers gently run through his hair and shifted, burying closer to the source of warmth but then he heard a feminine chuckle and he forced his eyes open, blinking sleepily at Yuna. She looked really pretty with the light behind her like that and he couldn't help the soft smile.
That smile…it made her hope they really could find another way, that maybe she could have something more than death. When he looked at her like that she felt her heart race, her cheeks go pink. She'd never felt anything like this for anyone on Besaid. It didn't help that Tidus wasn't the only one of her Guardians who made her feel like that. "Good morning," she greeted and Tidus yawned.
"Morning?" he just wanted to go back to sleep but then his pillow moved, and he heard someone laughing.
"You really aren't a morning person," Harry commented and Tidus pushed himself up, blushing as he realised he'd slept in Harry's arms all night.
And then their talk from last night rushed back and he fought to not react, Yuna didn't need to know…maybe that was hypocritical after he'd gotten upset over no one telling him she would die using the Final Aeon…but he wasn't ready to think about what he was. "Sorry," he mumbled, and Harry laughed again.
"No problem at all, you needed the sleep and I was comfortable enough. Harry stood and stretched before offering each of them a hand to help them up. Soon they had brushed their clothing off and headed back into camp for breakfast before continuing on.
Back on the road the three stayed together, Yuna in the middle and holding their hands again. No one said anything, if she was content then they were happy. She deserved some happiness before they reached Zanarkand. No one felt the need to rush so they walked at an easy pace until finally they reached the entrance to Guadosalam.
Harry looked at it curiously, he had yet to actually meet a Guado, although he'd seen Maester Seymour at the Stadium when the fiends were attacking. If he didn't know better he'd say the man had the Final Aeon, yet no one had mentioned he had undergone the Pilgrimage. That was the only way could see for the existence of that Aeon. The whole place seemed to have been hollowed out from a massive tree and it gave him the creeps.
As they entered an elderly but well-dressed Guado eagerly approached them. "We have been expecting you, Lady Yuna. Welcome to Guadosalam. This way, my lady. This way," Tromell reached for her hand.
"Uh, me?" she asked in bewilderment even as Harry and Tidus blocked the reach for her hand.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Wakka looked from them to the Guado, not wanting a fight to break out here of all places.
"Oh, I beg your pardon. I'm called Tromell Guado. I am in the direct service of our leader, the great Seymour Guado. Lord Seymour has very important business with Lady Yuna."
"Business with me? Whatever could it be, I wonder?" she looked to her guardians. "We've never even met."
"Please, come inside the manor. All will be explained. Of course, your friends are also welcome," Tromell offered, looking at the two men who had blocked him. Perhaps his master's plan would not work, how close was she to these two Guardian's?
"Twist our arms why don't ya!" Rikku grinned but anyone who knew her would realise it wasn't just a happy grin, this guy had tried to grab her cousin and she was waiting for him to make another move.
They followed Tromell down a few levels until they came out in an open space blocked with large doors. The old Guado pushed the door open and ushered them inside into the front room of the Mansion. "Please wait here," he wandered off and they looked around.
"I wonder what smells so nice!" Rikku asked after a few moments and Tidus shrugged, it smelt like food, but he wouldn't eat anything here., something felt very off about the whole place.
"Why does he want to see me?" Yuna looked between her guardians.
"It may be he wishes to meet a Summoner on their Pilgrimage or perhaps due to your Father," Auron admitted and she nodded, yes, that seemed likely. Many people wanted to meet her because of Lord Braska.
"Kimahri not like Maester Seymour," The Ronso rumbled and Yuna quickly hushed him.
"I don't like the smell of this one, eh?" Wakka admitted quietly to Lulu who nodded before moving off to wander up the stairs, looking at the portraits. Curious, Tidus followed her. "These are the past leaders of the Guado," she explained, and he frowned.
"They all look the same!"
"Maester Seymour doesn't look like them, though," Wakka pointed to the portrait on his side of the room and Tidus walked over, Harry joining him.
"Don't you know? The last leader…" she pointed out his portrait. "Maester Jyscal wed a human woman. She was Seymour's mother."
Discussion ended as Tromell reappeared, beckoning them into the door. "This way, please." They walked into a large room that held tables on either side, filled with food and drink, the source of the smell Rikku had commented on earlier. "I will go inform Lord Seymour. Please wait here." He left them through another door and Rikku sighed in annoyance at all the waiting.
"What could it be? Oooh…I haven't done anything to make him mad," Yuna whispered, automatically reaching for Harry and Tidus.
"Mmmm! This is good!" Rikku mumbled as she began eating, the only one to feel comfortable enough to do so. "Guado sure know how to eat!"
"I get the feeling he called us up here for more than just dinner," Wakka kicked at the floor, looking around. "Nothing 'gainst the Maester, but I hope we get this over with quick."
"Stay on your guard," Auron warned, he didn't like this at all. What could the Maester want with Yuna? He didn't trust the Guado or the Maester's, not after everything he'd see over the years. For Yuna to be singled out, he hoped it was just someone wanting to meet Lord Braska's daughter, but he had the feeling there was more to it than that.
"Why? This guy's just a priest, right?" Tidus asked, wanting clarification.
"Those with power use that power. Maesters have power," Auron answered, arms crossed across his chest.
"Wait… You sure you don't have something against Yevon?" Tidus asked, curious. He remembered what Harry had said, that Yevon had been the leader of Zanarkand, he wasn't a god or something.
Auron: chuckled darkly. "I lived a long time in Zanarkand."
"Aaaah," yeah, Zanarkand, or at least the dream, had no gods.
Lulu moved closer to the three of them and even as Tidus looked toward her, she began to speak. "There's no temple here in Guadosalam, see? Summoners usually just pass through on their way elsewhere," she said and Tidus laughed. "What?" she snapped.
"I didn't even ask a question and you're explaining things," his answer made Yuna giggle.
"You'd rather I say nothing, then?" She arched an eyebrow and that had Harry chuckling alongside Yuna.
"No, no! Maybe you finally believe I don't know anything about Spira. And maybe that means you believe me about Zanarkand, too?"
"Well… There are many things I do not know. Your Zanarkand is one of those things. I suppose I can't say what I think either way. Still, be careful. You shouldn't tell other people," Lulu admitted before warning him.
"Yeah, I know."
Tromell re-entered the hall and smiled. "Truly, it is good to have guests again. Since Lord Jyscal passed away, these halls have been too quiet."
"The death of Lord Jyscal was a great loss for all of Spira," Yuna offered, stepping forward, letting go of their hands.
"Was this Maester Jyscal really such a great guy?" Tidus asked quietly.
"He brought the teachings of Yevon to the Guado. He was truly a great man," Wakka answered just as quietly.
"Truly, a loss for us all. But now a new leader, Lord Seymour, has come before us. Lord Seymour is the child of a Guado and a human. He will be the tie that binds our two races together. But that is not all, I think. Lord Seymour…" he spread his arms widely. "He will surely become the shining star that lights the way for all the peoples of Spira."
"That is enough, Tromell," Seymour chastised gently as he entered the room. "Must I always endure such praise?" he bowed, looking them over. "Welcome!"
"You…wanted to see me?" Yuna asked, trying to hide her nerves, feeling Harry and Tidus move up with her again.
"Please, make yourselves at home. There's no rush," Seymour smiled.
"Please, keep this short. Yuna must rush," Auron almost snapped, annoyed at the wasted time.
"Pardon me. It has been a long time since I had guests. Lady Yuna, this way," he bowed and moved them out from under the middle of the room.
As they did, Harry glanced up and then nudged Tidus, both of them recognising the device set into the ceiling, a sphere projector. "Thought this stuff isn't allowed," Tidus whispered.
"Remember, some machina is allowed, but only what Yevon says," Harry answered just as softly. What could Seymour possible have to show Yuna? Suddenly the room around them vanished into a field of stars and then they were rushing forward, buildings beginning to form around them into a place three people recognised, Zanarkand.
"This sphere is a reconstruction created from the thoughts of the dead that wander the Farplane," Seymour explained as they moved through the city.
"The Blitzball stadium is experiencing technical difficulties. Tonight's game will be delayed. We are experiencing heavy congestion in the stadium area. The area will be off-limits until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience," they could make out the PA announcement in the background and it made Tidus homesick, Harry too. For them it seemed like just yesterday that they had been in the wonderful city. Harry shivered as he saw a group of people walking down the street, he knew them all, they had been dear friends and then Tory called his name, he recognised the movement of her lips and a figure ran through him…it was him! He saw Tidus' eyes widen in shock at the sight of Harry dressed formally, his hair long and partially braided. Obviously this was on a day when Yu had dragged him to some sort of formal event.
"Zanarkand," Tidus whispered, looking again at Harry. He looked a bit different now, his hair shorter though not as short as his own. He did look a little silly in the robes though.
"Correct. Zanarkand…as it looked one thousand years ago. The great and wondrous machina city, Zanarkand," Seymour announced grandly, and Harry had to stifle a retort to that misinformation. "She once lived in this metropolis."
"She, who?" Yuna asked in confusion and then the scene changed to an ornate chamber where a young woman sat on the bed. "Lady Yunalesca!"
"She was the first person to defeat Sin and save the world from its ravages. And you have inherited her name."
"It was my father who named me," Yuna admitted as she watched her namesake.
Harry too couldn't take his eyes off his Goddaughter. What in Merlin's name was she wearing? Had she lost all sense when her Father died, and he slept?
"Lord Braska was entrusting you with a great task. He wanted you to face Sin, as Lady Yunalesca did. However, Lady Yunalesca did not save the world alone. To defeat the undefeatable Sin…it took an unbreakable bond of love– of the kind that binds two hearts for eternity." At his words a man in ornate armour entered, passing right through Yuna to embrace Yunalesca.
Yuna looked down shyly and then glanced at Harry and Tidus before Seymour whispered in her ear. Yuna covered her mouth. When the vision faded, she made a dash for a glass of water on a table. She gulped down the water and then looked at her friends as they gathered around her in concern.
"Wow! Your face is beet red!"
"You okay?" Tidus asked gently.
"Mm…ahh… I… He…he asked me to marry him!" she stammered out, shocked by the offer.
"You serious?" Tidus was shocked and then he turned to Seymour. "Hey!"
"You know what Yuna must do," Auron growled, pleased when the others moved between her and Seymour and…yes that was lightning crackling along Harry's fingertips as the Mage glared at the Maester.
"Of course," he smiled and gestured grandly. "Lady Yuna–no, all summoners–are charged with bringing peace to Spira. But this means more than just defeating Sin. She must ease the suffering of all Spira. She must be a leader for the people. I proposed to Lady Yuna as a Maester of Yevon."
"Spira is no playhouse. A moment's diversion may amuse an audience, but it changes nothing."
"Even so, the actors must play their parts." He walked towards Yuna and Wakka backed off a little. "There's no need to answer right away. Please, think it over." He then lent in and whispered something that had her eyes widening in shock and a little anger. She stammered, unable to form words.
"We will do so, then," Auron answered for her as Harry reached out to gently pull her away from Seymour. "We leave."
"Lady Yuna, I await your favourable reply." He called as Yuna was hurried out of the room. "Why are you still here, sir?" he called, only Auron and Tidus hearing as the others were ahead. Auron paused. "I beg your pardon," Seymour offered a courtly, though mocking, bow. "We Guado are keen to the scent of the Farplane."
Tidus frowned but then lent in to sniff Auron, he couldn't smell anything. Auron shoved him aside and stormed out, Tidus quickly following. They caught up to the others outside where Yuna had sunk down on a bench, Harry kneeling in front of her, holding her hand. Tidus quickly moved to join them while Auron stayed in the background.
"Yuna, what did he say?" Harry asked gently and she went red, in embarrassment or anger?"
"He said it was unseemly, that Spira would be disgusted," she choked out.
"What?" Wakka asked, confused.
"For a Summoner of my standing…to be with a no name Guardian," she whispered and the whole group were angered by his callus words.
"Oh Yuna…this is your Pilgrimage, your life, your happiness," Harry soothed, and Lulu nodded.
"Yuna, the high summoner's daughter. Seymour, the leader of the Guado. Married in the name of Yevon, overcoming the barriers of race. It would give Spira something cheery to talk about, for a change," she mused. "His other words make it seem he has some other motivation though.
"Sounds just like a passin' daydream, like Auron says," Wakka offered.
"Come on! I mean, marriage?" Tidus shook his head. No way would Yuna say yes to that creep...right?
"Hmmm. Jealous?" Rikku nudged Tidus playful and he shook his head.
"What? No way! We gotta defeat Sin. Romance can wait!" she was right…he was jealous. He was more confused than he'd ever ben. He wasn't a kid, he knew all about love and physical pleasure but despite all the fans he'd gained, he'd never down more than kiss and some light groping over clothes. He was torn though….he really liked Yuna but…he also really liked Harry. And what did it matter anyway? He wasn't real, he was just a dream.
"He sure picked a fine time to lay this one on us," Wakka grumbled, actually glaring back at the mansion.
"Maybe it is a fine time," Yuna whispered and Tidus stared at her, eyes wide.
"You serious?" He demanded.
"If my getting married would help Spira…if it would make people happy…If I could do that for people…maybe I should do what I can. I never imagined doing anything like this. But, I won't answer till I know what's right," she explained.
"Seriously? " he really couldn't believe what he was hearing, and he looked at Harry who sighed.
"Maybe, but you also need to consider this. If we fail to find another way, then you will die at the end of this. You deserve to do whatever makes you happy, no matter what anyone else thinks. On the other hand, we find another way, but you've married Seymour than you could be stuck for the rest of your life in a loveless marriage," Harry explained rather bluntly.
"You could always just quit your pilgrimage and get married," Rikku offered without naming a potential groom.
"I will…go on. I'm sure that Lord Seymour will understand," Yuna answered absently, mind spinning with everything she needed to consider.
"Umm, I guess so…"
"I am a summoner! I must fight and defeat Sin," Yuna stated more firmly, she would defeat Sin, hopefully permanently and without anyone else dying.
"Like Braska before you," Auron nodded in approval.
Tidus clenched his hands, he had to stop himself from shouting, 'what's there to think about?' Why wasn't anyone asking is she loved or even liked him? Harry sort of had when he mentioned getting stuck with Seymour for life but none of the others seemed to care about that. He looked over as a hand rested on his shoulder, seeing the understanding in Harry's eyes.
"I'm going to the Farplane. I'm going to see my father and think on this," Yuna stood up, smoothing down her skirt. She looked at Harry and Tidus and Harry nodded, nudging Tidus into walking with her between them. they walked up in silence until they came to an elderly Guado, guarding the tunnel.
"Remember, the Farplane is sacrosanct. Proper decorum, please," he warned, and Yuna nodded before they entered the tunnel.
The party gathered outside the glowing membrane of Farplane at top of steps, Tidus staring in awe at the sight while Harry frowned. None of this had existed last he had walked the world and something about it, felt wrong to him.
"Question!" Tidus announced and they looked at him. "About this Farplane…When somebody dies, a summoner sends them to the Farplane, right? So their souls, or whatever they are, they go to the Farplane, right? But that's the Farplane we're going to, right? And Yuna's old man's there, too? Do dead people live there or something?"
"You'll see once we get there," Wakka answered, pushing him up the stairs but then noticed Auron was sitting at the bottom.
"Aren't you coming?" Harry asked, he had his suspicions about Auron.
"I do not belong there."
"Ohohoho! You're scared!" Tidus called back.
"Searching the past to find the future…This is all that is there. I need it not," Auron told him juts before Wakka entered, following the others although Rikku was hesitating on the stairs, not sure whether to go in or not.
"You're not really going to see the dead, more like your memories of them. People think of their relatives, and the Pyreflies react to them. They take on the form of the dead person–an illusion, nothing else," Rikku offered.
"Hmm…" Tidus looked up at the entrance again.
"Well, have fun!" she waved as Harry walked up to join Tidus.
"What, you're not going either, Rikku?" Tidus asked her and she smiled softly.
"I keep my memories inside."
"Huh?"
"Memories are nice, but that's all they are," she sat on the railing opposite Auron.
"Come on," Harry guided him through the swirling membrane and into the Farplane.
"What the…?" Tidus stared around in awe as Pyreflies swirled over incandescent gardens and psychedelic falls, all set beneath a whirlpool of clouds.
Harry looked around, this wasn't the real Farplane, just a representation of it. It seemed Rikku's explanation was accurate, thankfully, since he didn't want to be dealing with a bunch of dead souls.
Yuna stood opposite Tidus facing image of parents, Wakka faced Chappu while Lulu looked at Chappu from afar. The Farplane was cool, but Tidus couldn't stop thinking about Yuna. Her parents–they looked so happy together. But it got him worried that maybe seeing them would make Yuna really consider Seymour's proposal.
"Yo, Chappu! Meant to come see you earlier, ya? Sorry!" Wakka bowed to his brothers' image. "I know you won't hold it against me. I gave up the game. I'm a guardian from here on, you know? This guy–looks a lot like you–showed up. Travelling with him, I thought, maybe…you were still alive somewhere, ya? But, then again, here you are on the Farplane. Guess your place is here," Wakka looked away before mustering a smile. "So, how you been? Oh, that guy I just told you 'bout, I gave him your sword. He likes it."
They moved farther away from Wakka to give him his privacy, heading for Yuna but they passed close to Lulu and heard her sad whisper. "He is dead, and I am still alive. Coming here really makes that clear. I should focus more on what I have to do now."
"So…Yuna?" Tidus called softly as they approached, and she glanced at him before smiling at them both.
"I've decided."
"What is your decision?" Harry asked softly. He did not want her to marry Seymour, and not just because he knew the Maester was up to no good somehow.
"I remember, when I was only seven years old, in Bevelle that day. My father had defeated Sin, and the whole town was out in the streets. Everyone was laughing. They all seemed so happy. If I defeated Sin, that would make everyone happy…wouldn't it?" she asked and Tidus nodded.
"Then that will be the happiness I give the people; my own happiness is also important."
"Let's go back! You gotta tell Seymour," Tidus grinned, happy she was going to say no to the pompous creep.
"Before that… Call Sir Jecht. Give it a try," She gently tugged Tidus closer to the edge and Harry moved up behind them.
"Huh?"
"Don't worry. He won't come," she smiled, sure the man was still alive somewhere. If he had died they would have heard, he had been important as her Father's Guardian.
Trying not to think about his old man made him think about him, of course. He waited but nothing happened.
"See, told you!"
Yuna looked so happy for him that he didn't have the heart to admit why his Father hadn't appeared. He wasn't there because he wasn't dead. He was Sin.
"That means he's alive, you know?" She squeezed his hand and he squeezed back, wandering how he would ever tell her the truth.
"I'd rather never see him again," he admitted softly.
"What makes you hate him so?" she didn't understand it, the Jecht she had known had been a good man.
"Everything he does just makes me mad. It was his fault that me and my mother…" he trailed off as the image of a woman with light brown hair appeared, floating before them, smiling softly. "Ah… Mom?" It wasn't possible. He heard Yuna gasp even as Harry took his free hand, offering comfort. "I-It's her!"
"She's very pretty," Yuna offered.
"But… Wait. No one ever performed the sending for her," he was very confused about the whole Sending and fiend thing still. Then of course was the fact she had never existed in the first place, she was just the dream of some Fayth. Which meant Rikku was right, these things were just reacting to his memories.
"She must've accepted death while she was still alive."
"Whoa there, that's my mother you're talking about."
"Oh, I'm sorry!" she turned to him, horrified that she'd hurt or offended him, but he just shrugged it off.
"It's okay," he sighed. "Ah. I think I just figured something out."
"What?" Harry finally spoke up.
"Why I hate my old man," he answered, staring at the image of his Mom. "Whenever my old man was around, my mother wouldn't even look at me. Maybe that's when I started to resent him, even hate him. When he left us…Mom just lost her energy," he swallowed hard. "The old lady next door told me…when a lovebird dies, the one left behind…It just gives up living so it can join its mate. It was just like that. I hated my old man even more. But really, my old man…Oh, man…"
"Hm?" She squeezed his hand again,
"I must sound so stupid," he muttered, and Yuna gathered her courage, quickly kissing his cheek, making him start, eyes wide.
"I don't think so." She turned to look at Harry. "What about you Harry?"
Harry hesitated but then stepped up, focusing on the parents he barely remembered after so long but slowly the image of them formed.
"Wow, your Mother is so pretty," Yuna told him, and Harry nodded.
"She was really smart too, so I've been told."
"You don't know yourself?" Tidus asked and Harry shrugged.
"They were killed when I was just over a year old," he answered, watching the image of his parents, James' arms wrapped around Lily's waist. But then, to the shock of all of the, the figures looked right at Harry, smiling at him. 'We're proud of you,' James said with no sound and Harry swallowed. How was this possible? 'We love you', Lily added, lifting a hand to him and Harry reached back, their fingers grazing before the two vanished.
Yuna had a hand over her mouth as she watched something that should be impossible. Harry was a mystery, even after travelling together for the last several weeks. He never gave much personal information and he had just appeared on Besaid one day. And yet…she trusted him, she just knew he would do whatever he had to in order to protect her, to protect all of them. He was very attractive, kind, but there was something sad about him and she just wanted him to be happy. She watched as more people formed, two men and a woman with shocking pink hair.
"My Godfather, Sirius his best friend and my honorary Uncle, Remus and his wife, Nymphadora," Harry whispered as Wakka and Lulu came up behind them, seeing how both teens were holding Harry's hands. They'd obviously missed something.
"Well? Need some more time?" Wakka asked and Yun glanced at Harry before shaking her head.
"No. I'm ready."
"Did I miss something?" Lulu looked between the three and Tidus laughed nervously but didn't say anything. They headed for the exit, reappearing on the top of the stairs.
"Thanks for waiting! I'll go give my answer to Maester Seymour," she told them as they made their way down the stairs.
The Guado in vicinity gasped and they spun to see the image of a robed Guado elder reaching out of swirling mist, pulling himself free of the Farplane and as he did, Harry suddenly understood and glanced at Auron.
"Lord Jyscal!?" A young Guado woman gasped in horror, hands clasped to her breast.
"Lord Jyscal!" a man, possibly her husband pulled her away.
"Oooooohhh…" the unsent pulled himself fully free.
"He does not belong here," Harry called, moving closer to Yuna to protect her and Jyscal focused on him, starting towards them.
"Why?" Yuna moved back and Tidus was there, one hand on her arm, the other on his sword.
"Yuna, send him," Auron called up to her. As Yuna climbed the steps, Auron grabbed his chest and collapsed, swatting Pyreflies. Everyone was watching Jyscal and failed to notice, except Harry who glanced back and nodded at the confirmation of his theory concerning Auron.
"Lord Jyscal…"
"He is Lord Jyscal no more. Send him now!" Lulu yelled and Yuna nodded, raising her hands. She began the sending in earnest and Jyscal vanished, dropping a sphere which she quickly hid.
Auron got up, sounding ragged. "Talk later. We leave now," he growled. They quickly left, heading back into Guadosalam
"Wha…what was that just now? That really Lord Jyscal?" Wakka looked between Yuna and Auron, expecting one of them to know but then he looked at Harry as well since he knew things others didn't, like lost Fayth.
"He wasn't sent, so he became a fiend, right?" Tidus asked.
"I don't understand how a man like Lord Jyscal could die and not be sent," Yuna shook her head.
"I would think that he was sent once…but he stayed on Spira. Something, a powerful emotion could have bound him to this world. Such things happen," Harry answered, eyes roaming, looking carefully at the reactions of the Guado around them as word quickly spread of what had happened.
"That's against the rules, isn't it?" Rikku asked nervously, sticking close to the three, they had been the most accepting of her, especially Yunnie since they were family.
"It means he died an unclean death," Auron answered firmly. They reached Seymour's mansion and Yuna hesitated before squaring her shoulders.
"I will go…meet with Maester Seymour."
"Yuna! Jyscal is the Guado's problem, not yours," Auron warned as she headed towards the doors.
"Yuna!" Tidus called and she looked back, "Just whistle," he told her, and she nodded. If there was trouble all she had to do was whistle and they would come running. He wandered off, up to the balcony and Rikku ran after him.
"Yunie's not getting married, is she?" She asked nervously.
"Don't think so," Tidus leant on the railing.
"It's your big chance, huh?" she elbowed him, and he stared at her.
"Huh?"
"That's no thing to say! I think she should get married and stop being a summoner, as long as it's to the right person."
"You serious?" he glanced at her again, was she saying what he thought she was? She thought he should marry Yuna?
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because she deserves to be happy, you do too. If...if she has to fight Sin then better to have you at her side than that creep." She smiled and Tidus blinked but then smiled slightly, it was a nice dream…and that thought nearly made him laugh, a dream having a dream. "Then, you could take her away and live a quiet life somewhere. Yeah, sounds good to me!" She grinned and leapt off the balcony to join the others below and Tidus shook his head.
"You could marry Yuna," a familiar voice said, and then Harry was standing beside him, looking down at the rest of the party.
"Yeah right, and leave her a widow? I've seen how that ends," Tidus shook his head, even if he did kinda want that, it wasn't possible for him. And then Harry was pulling him around to face him, green eyes serious.
"I told you, I'm not letting either of you die."
"I want to believe that…but you're not all-powerful Harry. Some things…can't be stopped. Get the feeling my fading is one of them," he shrugged. Harry snarled and then did something that shocked Tidus, he yanked him close and kissed him, hard. He was shocked, it was different to the kisses he'd had before but it also felt good and he kissed back, hands moving to cling to Harry's coat.
Harry held on just as tightly as they kissed, he'd half expected Tidus to push him away, instead the younger male was holding on tight and kissing him back. It felt really good to have someone in his arms again after so long and the kiss ended far too soon for his tastes, but it had lasted a lot longer than normal thanks to his ability to forgo oxygen and Tidus being a Blitzball player.
"Wow," Tidus whispered and Harry grinned. He leant against Harry, breathing deeply to calm himself down after that kiss. "Harry I…this is…what about Yuna? I thought you liked her?"
"I do, and I know you do too," Harry answered softly, hand against Tidus' cheek and he grinned at seeing him blush.
"Oh," Tidus swallowed, he'd heard of that, even seen three people together in Zanarkand but things here seemed different and he hadn't wanted to assume or anything.
"Come on, we better get back down there," Harry tugged him back down to where the others were waiting.
Lulu walked over to join them, arching an eyebrow as she saw the fading blush on Tidus' cheeks but then she became serious. "I'm a little worried about Lord Jyscal. I wonder if Maester Seymour has heard. Leave the Guado's problems to the Guado…they say," she sighed and Harry nodded.
"That's another reason to leave, if trouble starts we want to be well away from here," Harry answered, he didn't like this at all. They waited for a while before Tidus began fidgeting too much so Harry sent him on to get an idea of how bad the Thunder Plains were, there'd been a massive storm earlier which had made crossing impossible and they couldn't leave until it had passed.
Tidus headed down the tunnel only to bump into Shelinda. "Hey," he greeted, waving at her.
"My… Was the lady summoner not with you?"
"No. She's at Seymour's place," eh shrugged, leaning against the rock wall and she gasped, scandalised.
"That's 'Maester Seymour.' Or 'Lord Seymour.'"
"Oh, I'll be careful. Sorry," he winced at his goof.
Shelinda smiled, seeing he was genuinely sorry for his mistake. "That's all right. Oh! Maester Seymour left Guadosalam a short while ago."
"You serious?" he straightened up, wasn't the guy going to wait for Yuna's answer?
"I believe he went to the temple in Macalania. Maester Seymour is also the high priest of that temple."
"Whoa, I gotta tell the others! Thanks!" he called back as he ran for the mansion. "Hey! News!" he called as he ran up and Rikku stuck her head in the door to call Yuna out. Tidus stopped and waited for Yuna to join them. "They say Seymour went to Macarena Temple," eh quickly explained and Wakka chuckled.
"Macalania Temple," he corrected and Tidus nodded, that was it!
"Aye."
"What I don't get is…Why would the lord Maester head off without a peep to anyone?" Wakka looked at the others for answers.
Rikku shrugged, "Maybe he wasn't expecting Yuna's answer so soon."
"Ah, that's probably it," Wakka agreed and Yuna sighed.
"Yuna, what is it?" Harry asked in concern and she mustered a smile.
"Oh, nothing."
"Hmm… You're a poor liar," Harry stared her down and she looked away.
"It's true! It's nothing! Come on, let's go," she moved quickly to leave, giving them no choice but to follow, even if Rikku did so reluctantly.
Yuna's mind was churning with indecision. She did not wish to marry Seymour, but if it was the only way? No, Harry kept saying there was another way to defeat Sin, so there must be something else she could do. She had time to think, crossing the Thunder Plains would take time and then they had to get through the woods and across the ice.
Tidus was also distracted but by far more pleasant thoughts. He had really liked that kiss and was hoping for another sooner rather than later…what would it be like to kiss Yuna?
TBC…
So pairing has been revealed.
I just got Anima! Tips welcome