Illusions of Life and Death

Chapter 14
A Pierced Heart Through Love

It was a very early, surprisingly cold summer morning. The small village of Besaid remained in its peaceful sleep, while the flames of battle and death raged between the hunters and vampires.

On the outskirts of Besaid village—in the forests–where most of the residents dare not go–there was an old abandoned cave—an old temple never once used in many years. But it was only found out recently that a clan of vampires had made it their own. This had distressed and frightened the villagers to the point where they were even too scared to even leave their huts, yet alone the village.

Without any thoughts or concerns in her mind, Yuna ran. She could feel her body slowly becoming numb as she could feel the transformation slowly taking over. She was running low on time—feeling the vampire within her.

"Yuna!!! Stop!!" She could hear Shuyin right behind her but didn't halt her run. If she didn't get to Tidus now, then it'd be too late.

The battle between the hunters and vampires continued on more so. It'd only be another hour before the sun would rise. The vampires had to act fast, kill fast and be victorious. The hunters had no time limit for when the sun would come, the vampires would have to retreat into the cave where they would be surrounded and blocked in.

As Tidus took another step forward, Jecht then stood up from his chair.

"What is the matter, my son? Why aren't you out there fighting with your brothers and sisters?" He asked, feeling rather annoyed that Tidus wasn't doing his duties.

"This battle…father…why must we prolong it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious? Once the sun rises we will have no where to go but back here into our home. We will be tired…needy…the hunters will follow…" Tidus chuckled. "This is the end."

"How dare you utter such words to me!" Jecht yelled.

"It is nothing but the truth, father…"

"I am the heir of the vampires. Do you know what'll happen to all the vampires in Spira if I am killed?"

"Yes…we'll all be exterminated."

"Exactly. My ancestors before me have all kept the blood line safe. We've managed to survive for thousands of years!"

"But aren't you tired?"

Jecht took another step closer to him, looking over into his direction as Tidus hung his head down.

"Living for thousands of years…must have been tiring…watching your wife killed…never being able to see her again because we are cursed with immortality…"

He looked away, ashamed almost. His wife…Tidus' mother…

"It's been a long time now…that I've ever heard you talk about mother. Isn't that right? Don't you even care about her anymore!? Well!?"

"It is who we are…" Jecht simply replied, looking away from Tidus and the topic. "Now. That's enough talk about this silly nonsense. Go now and rid the humans."

"Oh father…I am disappointed…but at least this time…all can be forgiven…"

Yuna fell to her knees, placing her hand over her chest. With every step she had ran, her heart pounded in pain. Closing her eyes, she could feel her eyes beginning to water from the pain within her.

"Yuna!" Shuyin shouted as he finally was able to catch up to her. "Yuna, we must turn back now. You're not well!"

"Get away from me!" Yuna spoke, pushing him away. "There's…I…I need to do this!"

"There is nothing more you can gain going back into this battle, Yuna." Shuyin continued. "Please…turn back now."

Yuna knew in her heart what she had to do. Although in much pain, she knew she had to reach the battle—the cave—Tidus. Standing back up, she began to feel light-headed with a tumble, but Shuyin was there to catch her before falling again.

"There is no strength left in your body for this, Yuna."

"Yes, there is." Yuna forced herself out of his grip and continued, but walking. "I…I will not be defeated…I will not let the vampirism get to me…"

Seconds later, she fell again.

"Yuna!" But this time, Shuyin did not help for something didn't seem right. He blinked once but appeared what he saw was real. A black air substance was beginning to lift out of Yuna's body and up into the air. Words could not explain what was happening to Yuna for he did not know what was happening to her himself. "Uhh…Yuna…"

But she was silent. Her eyes closed as she was wrapping her arms around herself. It was as if she could feel a heavy weight lifting off herself. Her mind was clearing and her sickness was dissipating. Once it was over, she reopened her eyes. Looking around, Yuna stood up and looked down at her hands. "W-What…?"

"Yuna?" Shuyin asked looking at her.

She looked up at him as well. "Shuyin?"

"What happened?"

"I…I'm not sure really but…I feel like myself again."

"The vampirism in you dissolved?"

"Yes…maybe. I'm not sure but…" Yuna then turned her head to see in the distance hundreds—maybe even thousands of pyreflies beginning to lift up and float into the sky above.

"What's going on?" Shuyin asked, also watching. "Have…the vampires been defeated?"

Vampires defeated? Then that would mean…no…it couldn't mean…Tidus really… "Tidus!" Yuna shouted, beginning to run once more towards the cave.

"Uh…wait, Yuna!" Shuyin replied, following after her.

"Argh…this…can't…be happening…" Seymour spoke, falling to his knees.

Auron stood there watching as the pyreflies slowly began to leave his body.

"Serves you right, vampire. You've caused a lot of pain and death, especially to Lady Yuna."

Seymour chuckled, looking up at Auron. "Such an easy target—" He coughed, feeling his lungs beginning to close up. "But…I guess…it's been so long now…"

As Auron looked up and away from Seymour, he saw Yuna and Shuyin approach and halt their run when they saw the pyreflies floating out of Seymour's body.

"What happened?" Shuyin asked.

"We're not certain on that yet. Just a few minutes ago, all the vampires began to die. They stopped…stood there and let themselves just fade away into pyreflies." Auron replied.

"This is…because…" Seymour continued. "Father…I'm sorry…but now I can…finally rest…" Seymour finished, the rest of his body fading, turning into a cluster of pyreflies that lifted up towards the sky.

"I guess this means…we've finally won." Shuyin continued. Looking up into the sky, he noticed the sun beginning to rise. "Dawn has arrived."

Feeling her eyes beginning to water, Yuna was once more at it, running.

"Yuna—"

"Let her go." Auron interrupted, keeping Shuyin from following her.

"But Auron…"

"There is something that she needs to do and on her own."

With a nod, Shuyin remained where he was then begun to run around helping the wounded hunters with Auron.

Inside the cave, Yuna searched around entering the main chamber. She looked over at her left to see the doors to Jecht's room open. Taking in a deep breath she hurried to the room.

Once inside…she felt her heart in pain once again.

There was Tidus…holding his fading father in his arms—a knife piercing his heart.

Tidus felt his eyes beginning to water as his father looked up at him.

"Tidus…why…why did you…"

"I had to father…I know you're tired…living all this time…it's not right. Now you can rest now—with mom."

Jecht smiled. "But…the price…"

"It doesn't matter. I realize the consequences of my actions. It doesn't matter anymore, dad. It's over. Rest now…"

Jecht lifted his arm and placed it on Tidus' cheek. "Heh…you…you really are my son. I'm proud of what you did…"

"Dad…no matter what…I'll always love you dad…that's why…that's why I did this."

"Yes…and thank you. You're mother would have been proud too…"

Yuna stood there watching, seeing the pyreflies beginning to left from out of his body. It was time…

"Dad…" Tidus spoke, seeing his father almost completely faded. He was scared, watching. But his father just smiled at him.

"I love you son…I just wished I told you that…long ago…" And with that, his eyes closed, hand fell to the ground and the remains of his body faded into pyreflies.

It was no over. The vampire threat was finally finished.

"Tidus…" Yuna spoke, taking a step forward.

Tidus turned his head, still on his knees and looked over at her. "Yuna…why are you—ugh!" he spoke, gripping onto his chest from the pain.

"Tidus, no!" Yuna shouted running to his side. "Tidus, don't go…I'm begging you!"

"Ugh…this pain…really does hurt."

Yuna remained there on her knees in front of him, crying. He looked to be in such pain that she didn't know if she had it in her to witness another painful death that was to come.

"Yuna…I have a request…"

"Yes?"

"Please…help me up and…take me outside."

"But the sun has already risen! If you go into the light you'll…"

"I know. For once in my life I wanted to watch the sun rise…and now I can and with you."

"Even though it will kill you!?"

"Please Yuna…"

She continued to cry. Always surrounded by so much sadness and now this. Even though it was his final request, Yuna knew in her heart that she had to do this. It was what he wanted.

"Okay Tidus. I'll take you outside then."

"Thank you."

Helping him up, she wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders and slowly helped him walk, making their way out of the cave.

Cliffy. Next is the final chapter!!!! What will happen, you ask? Well…stick around of course. Leave your review and I'll see you all in the final chapter of Illusions of Life and Death. The final chapter…chapter 15, More Than An Illusion. Reality.