A Million thanks to all my loyal reviewers-- I love you all! It's because of you that I continue to write!

I would like to thank all of my reviewers: bbychrangel; Warui-Usagi; SavannahX; TiDuS; zysacalphatango42(x2); TqIiDqUis; Litwolf869; Damson; Dragon-Charmer16; and JJ Chow.

Disclaimer: I've said it the first four chapters I'll say it again. I do not own Final Fantasy X and I am making no money from this. If you feel the urge to sue than I pity you because there's nothing worth taking from me.

Angel Wings

Chapter Five: The Temple of Fire

Yuna woke before any of her Guardians, her sleep so shallow and restless that Lulu shifting on the bed beside her caused the young Summoner to sit up, her eyes shifting around the room searching for an intruder. Finding she was alone and in no immanent danger, Yuna laid back down on the comfortable mattress, knowing she needed to enjoy the small comfort before sleeping on hard, cold ground became regular.

Yuna felt a smile tugging at her lips as she watched the sun begin to rise, the clouds painted a beautiful pink and purple, and the shades vibrant. It still seemed a dream that she was back at the beginning of her Pilgrimage and that she was lucky enough to have a second chance at…everything.

She was more stressed than she remembered being the first time she had began her journey. Yuna wasn't stupid; she knew so much could change if she wasn't careful. So many lives could be affected if she acted rashly or if any of her Guardians discovered she knew the future.

One thing was certain, though. Even if she was unsuccessful and there wasn't a way to keep Tidus from leaving her side, as the female Fayth had warned, she still had to permanently destroy Sin. She had defeated the evil entity with the help of her friends and Tidus, all whom sacrificed much to ensure Spira's curse would not return.

She had even freed the Fayth from their eternal dream.

Yuna felt humbled knowing the Fayth trusted her enough to send her back; even knowing everything could fall apart. She wasn't going to fail, though. She was going to obtain the powerful fire Aeon Ifrit and find whatever secret Kilika harbored and with that knowledge she would use every ounce of her strength and self will so that Tidus could be saved and rid Spira of Sin forever.

Tidus would not leave her this time. They deserved all the happiness in the world!

"Tidus," Yuna whispered softly, her eyes filling with tears, "I love you so much. I'll find a way for us to be together—I promise. If you whistle I'll come running."

$$$$$&&&&

"Yuna!" Lulu's voice startled Yuna and the young Summoner snapped to attention, fixing her unusual eyes on her friend. Lulu smiled gently before she motioned to the path leading into Kilika Woods. Yuna nodded, not needing to speak, simply walking past her Guardians and Tidus into the dense woods, taking her away from the death and devastation remaining in the small port town.

Five minutes into the forest and past the Save Sphere Yuna was relieved to finally obtain the White Magic Spell Esuna. Their potion supply, nearly exhausted from constant fighting, could take a break as she could now heal her Guardians of status ailments.

The small party moved through the woods slowly, taking their time. Though Yuna wanted nothing more than to run through the woods she knew that all of her friends needed experience and this was the perfect place to gain it. There would be a boss fight before reaching Kilika Temple unless something changed.

Yuna grinned when Tidus moved to her side and smiled at her. Yuna smiled back, though she was aware hers was tinged with sadness. Yuna wanted to pour her heart and soul out to the young man yet she knew she couldn't. To do so would alert Tidus to the future, which would be damaging and could alter the future irrevocably. Even though it hurt, Yuna kept her mouth shut and walked beside Tidus, simply basking in the knowledge that her swordsman was close.

"Yuna," Tidus said startling Yuna, his voice low, his startling blue eyes meeting hers. "What will you do when you finally defeat Sin? I mean, is there going to be a statue of you too?"

Yuna blanched and quickly steeled her features making her face as blank and expressionless as possible, not wanting Tidus to pick up on her distress. She knew ideally that she was going to survive her Pilgrimage, it wouldn't change, and it couldn't change.

Even though she knew she wasn't going to die it was painful to hear Tidus speak of what had befallen the other Summoners, to know that she would have met the same fate as they.

"Yes," Yuna said hesitantly, her faded pink sleeves blowing in the warm breeze, "I will be commemorated as those before me." Tidus shot her a confused look and Yuna blushed under the swordsman's scrutiny. She was saved from further comments by Lulu's voice. Yuna shot Tidus a quick smile before she rushed to her friend who was standing in the middle of the road cradling her Cait Sith in one arm.

"Yes?" Yuna asked, Tidus stopping behind her, his hand on Brotherhood's hilt ready incase Lulu mentioned danger. Lulu shot Tidus a look and the young man laughed sheepishly and took his hand off of his weapon.

Wakka and Kimahri walked over to Tidus and formed a protective circle around their Summoner. Yuna smiled at her Guardians showing she was grateful for their thoughtfulness.

"Kilika Temple lies ahead. We must be ready for anything." Lulu said, her red eyes glinting in the bright light.

Wakka shot the Black Mage a surprised look. "Do you actually believe something could happen at a Temple? Temples are sacred places protected by Yevon and a sanctuary for all the people of Spira!"

Lulu glared at the Blitzer. "We cannot rule anything out Wakka. Sin attacked Kilika, did he not? Do you truly believe it would pause before attacking the temple, sacred or not?"

Wakka bowed his head and nodded reluctantly. "Okay Lu, I see your point."

Lulu nodded and motioned for Yuna to begin moving which the young Summoner did, gripping her weapon in one hand, her other twirling her hair around her finger nervously. She followed Kimahri who had taken the lead, Lulu by her side, Wakka and Tidus a couple steps behind.

The trek through the forest was uneventful with no other fiends appearing. The reprieve was welcome; giving her Guardians much needed rest and allowed Yuna and Lulu to preserve their Magick, which would no doubt be needed soon.

"There it is!" Yuna exclaimed excitedly after many moments.

Yuna grabbed Tidus' hand and rushed forward her Guardians close behind. Yuna stopped at the border leading out of Kilika Woods feeling a sense of Déjà vu. She had never expected to be seeing Kilika Temple again.

"Oh," Tidus grumbled moving back to Wakka and sighing, "That's a lot of stairs. Do we really need to climb them all?"

Wakka laughed and slapped Tidus on the shoulder. "Of course we do, ya? Suck it up, it's not as many as you think!"

Seeing the dark look cross Tidus' face Yuna sought to cheer the young swordsman up. She turned towards her Guardians and smiled holding her right hand up.

"Race you? Okay?"

Tidus grinned and pumped his fist, the shadows spread out across his face disappearing. "Okay! On the count of three!"

Tidus leaned and placed his left foot on the first step and hunched over. Yuna moved beside Tidus and nodded expectantly. Tidus' mouth opened to begin counting but Yuna rushed ahead yelling:

"Three!"

"Hey!" Tidus cried indignantly rushing after the young Summoner.

Yuna laughed and looked over her shoulder, her left hand sneaking to her side and readied her Rod of Wisdom, mentally preparing herself for the fight she hoped wouldn't come.

Yuna felt her heart lighten as she heard Tidus and Wakka goading each other on, coupled with Lulu's sarcasm. Yuna laughed; she was close to the top of the stairs and still no Sinspawn Geneaux blocking her path.

Yuna finished first much to her delight and she turned and smiled triumphantly at Tidus who finished next, greatly winded, though he did smile back. Wakka and Lulu followed soon after, Lulu looking worse for wear with sweat beading on her forehead. Kimahri brought up the rear his face as impassive as ever.

Yuna found her eyes glued to Tidus, the swordsman's skin shining from the sheen of sweat covering his well-muscled body. With his glowing skin and toned body he looked like a living Greek God and Yuna found herself greatly conscious of Tidus' manliness and her femininity.

"Yuna!" Lulu's voice broke Yuna from her thoughts and Yuna faced her Guardian, her face flushed. "Are you rested enough to continue?" Yuna nodded and walked up the remaining steps.

'What?' Yuna thought anxiously. 'Why isn't the Sinspawn attacking us? Did something else change? If we are not to be attacked than what else could have been affected?'

"Is something wrong?" Tidus asked.

Yuna shook her head and brushed the hair from her eyes. "No…I'm just worried."

"About getting the next Aeon?" Tidus questioned. "I know you can do it!"

"Thanks." Yuna said simply, her thoughts too troubled for her to continue conversing with Tidus.

"There it is---Kilika Temple." Lulu stated for Tidus. Tidus gaped in wonder at the Temple's vast size.

"Wow, there's an Aeon there!" Tidus asked, his voice shocked.

Lulu sighed and shook her head. "Why else would we visit every temple if it wasn't true?"

Yuna headed through the ornate doors and into the cavernous room, the dim room surveyed by the stern visages of Summoners long gone. Yuna felt her stomach clench nervously as their feet echoed in the eerie silence broken only by the Hymn of the Fayth.

"Wait here." Kimahri said to Tidus, his arm preventing Tidus from following Yuna into the Cloister of Trails. "This area sacred. Only Guardians and Summoners enter."

"What am I supposed to do?" Tidus asked indignantly.

"You'll find something." Wakka said confidently, smiling at Tidus' glum stare.

Yuna bowed and bit her lip to keep from asking Tidus to follow. She needed to remember that Tidus wasn't her Guardian…yet. And besides, Donna would make sure Tidus ended up with her by the time she gained Ifrit.

'Unless that changes too. Maybe Donna doesn't exist now.' Yuna thought, her skin crawling from her unsettling thoughts.

"We'll be fast!" Yuna said, forcing cheerfulness she didn't feel into her voice. The last thing Yuna saw as she walked through the doors was Tidus looking at the ground, his hair shining in the lantern's light.

#&&&&$$$

'Well here I am in The Chamber of the Fayth. I was told that I would find out how I am to keep Tidus with me. And finally I'll get Ifrit too! My Pilgrimage is one step closer to ending!'

Yuna walked slowly over to the imposing Statue of the Fayth, which stood vigilant over Ifrit's tomb. Yuna kneeled before the translucent glass, forming her hands into the Yevon Symbol and cleared her mind of all thoughts of Tidus, instead focusing on her most important and non-personal mission:

Defeating Sin.

Yuna felt tears flow down her face as she saw images of the destruction Sin wrought, of the destroyed homes and broken families, all of the lives lost. Dry heaves wracked Yuna's body as she felt the pain of all the suffering people and those who would suffer before she finally defeated Sin forever.

Fiery light pierced Yuna's eyelids and her eyes fluttered opened. Yuna gasped as fiery tendrils raced up her arms and down her stomach and thighs. Warmth spread through her skin, and the ropes covered her whole body until she glowed with a brilliant red light.

A blinding flash caused Yuna's eyes to close and familiar warmth melded in her mind. A smile tugged at Yuna's lips and she sagged forward, exhausted from gaining her new Aeon.

"Ifrit." Yuna whispered, her throat dry and aching.

'Lady Yuna it is good to be back. I could feel your suffering even in the future and we all wept at your pain. All us Fayth realize your mission and we wish to help. I cannot sustain this communication for long so I must say much in a short while.

You seek to save the man of dreams, our dreams. To succeed you must find Gems containing our powers created by Lord Zion when he joined with Lady Yunalesca to become the first Ultimate Aeon. Only three of the originals survived and to even hope to keep your dream by your side you need all three.

A Summoner long dead holds the first. She lies unsent in a cavern where you must pay for services.

A man born of both Guado and Human holds the second.

The final Gem is held by the most Powerful Summoner, though to see her is to suffer.'

'While figuring who has the Gems may not prove to be a difficult task their owners covet the powers the Gems possess and are willing to go to any lengths to keep them. To find them yourself is what will prove most taxing.'

Yuna's eyes fluttered open and she walked from the Chamber of the Fayth on unsteady legs. She was relieved to find Tidus outside the door and being chided by Wakka. She smiled and nodded at her Guardians and walked out of the Temple and straight into the Sinspawn Geneaux's grasp.

End of Chapter

A/N: Well there you have. I finally got around to explaining how Yuna's going to find the power to keep Tidus. But like I said, nothing is ever as easy as it seems!

All comments welcome!

Until the next chapter!

Kristen