A/N: Hello everyone! Before we get on to the chapter there are a couple of things I would like to say. Okay, here goes:
First of all if you haven't noticed, chapters 1-5 of this fanfiction has been edited. I have hopefully taken care of nearly all the mistakes plaguing this story, and have added some much needed details that were missing. If you've been following this story, and you are still confused about what the Fayth were telling Yuna, I have added some more details to their conversation. Go back to chapter one for clarification!
Second I really would appreciate it if you guys could help me with something. Can I have your honest opinion? Do you guys like this story? What I mean is: do you think there's not enough action? Do you think my chapters are too boring? I would love it if you would tell me; I don't want to keep writing if I'm boring everyone to tears!
I would like to thank all my wonderful reviewers by name! Thanks for your support!: CrimsonOkami; SavannahX; Tglidguis; Turntable Aurora; Crazycutie2; Warui-Usagi; Damson; Bbychrangel; JJ Chow; Tidus-Forever; Cyanti; Claire; Lirael Black; and Dragon-Charmer 16.
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X. If I did there would be another female Aeon and Tidus and Yuna would have another romantic kiss. Yeah…the possibilities are endless!
Angel WingsChapter Seven: S.S. Winno
Yuna gasped as she felt the fiends green and red tentacles wind around her body, lifting her off the ground and into the air as if she weighed no more than a feather. Yuna cried out in fright as the ground receded from view; all sound stifled as the monster wrapped its tentacles around her throat, and breathing became impossible.
"Hey! You let Yuna go this instant!" Tidus cried furiously.
Yuna's eyes, which had drifted shut as soon as she had been attacked, flew open. She would have cried out with relief had she been able at the sound of Tidus' voice. Tidus was here; he would save her.
The Sinspawn Geneaux roared defiantly and released Yuna so suddenly and unexpectantly, that Yuna didn't have a chance to react. Yuna reached for her staff knowing that she didn't have enough time to Summon; the ground was just too close.
Tidus was there, though. Yuna fell into the swordsman's waiting arms, her momentum so great that Tidus stumbled backwards, his arms closing around her fragile body. Yuna closed her eyes and pressed her face into Tidus' shirt, inhaling sharply.
Tidus smelled like sweat and cinnamon, the scent so sweet and intoxicating that Yuna felt almost high off it. She was safe now; she never wanted Tidus to let go of her. She wanted to stay here forever, just her and Tidus.
"Yuna!" Wakka's voice made Yuna react, albeit reluctantly. "Are you okay?"
Tidus kneeled in the dirt and released her. Yuna blinked and found herself staring into Tidus' cerulean eyes, his iris' glittering like diamonds in the sunlight. Yuna stared back at Tidus, transfixed. Her body felt like it was made of lead; she couldn't even turn and answer Wakka.
Tidus smiled at her and leaned back slightly. Yuna blushed when she realized that her arms were still wound around Tidus' neck, her faded pink sleeves touching the dirt. She let go of Tidus and stumbled away from his enticing form, flustered.
Tidus stood and absently rubbed his elbow. "I'm glad you're all right Yuna. You scared us all."
Yuna nodded, too embarrassed to say anything. She knew that she loved Tidus, but sometimes it frightened her how much she reacted to Tidus. It seemed that whenever fate dragged them together, which was often, she lost her head and focused solely on him.
As soon as Sin is defeated Tidus, and you're still with me, I promise we can spend forever in each other's arms.
$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&
"This is useless!" Lulu cursed as the Sinspawn Geneaux's tentacles absorbed yet another one of her Fire spells directed at its body. It seemed like no matter what spell she used the fiend rendered it useless. She was wasting valuable Magick; if they didn't think of something soon, she would be out of the fight, and Yuna would be even more vulnerable.
"What do we do?" Wakka asked, looking at the Black Mage beside him, hoping she had a solution.
Lulu glared at Wakka before she quickly turned back to the fiend and dodged a tentacle that would have knocked her off her feet. "Did you not hear me Wakka? I said 'this is useless'!"
"I think," Tidus said as Wakka caught his rebounding Blitzball, easily slapped away by the Sinspawn, "maybe Kimahri would have more luck than us. This stupid vegetable appears to be armored."
"Well," Lulu said thoughtfully, "It's worth a shot." Lulu stepped back and made room for Kimahri, and the giant Ronso immediately delivered a devastating blow that had the monster on defense for the first time since the battle had started.
"The tentacles!" Tidus called, immediately casting Haste on Kimahri, himself and Lulu, who had switched with Wakka.
Yuna smiled to herself. She was proud of her Tidus; he had used his head and discovered the fiend's weakness. She had been getting worried that she would have to speak up. She wanted Tidus to think for himself. She had relied on Tidus tremendously by the time her small entourage arrived at Zanarkand.
Within a matter of minutes both Lulu's Magick and Kimahri's Trident had destroyed the Sinspawn's tentacles, and the monster unwrapped to its true form. Tidus immediately targeted the body, and slowly but surely Kimahri and Tidus ate away its life.
Unfortunately Lulu's Magick, badly depleted by casting numerous spells on the Sinspawn Geneaux's body before its tentacles were gone, ran out and she had to switch with Wakka. Yuna had to come into the party and use Esuna on Wakka and heal the poison from his body.
Tidus looked at Yuna desperately and Yuna nodded, understanding Tidus' unspoken words: They were all tired; they needed to rest or the fiend would overtake them.
"Stand back!" Yuna cried, spreading her arms out and brandishing her Rod of Wisdom. Her Guardians understood and ran back to the sideline where Lulu stood gasping for breath.
Yuna's eyes fluttered closed and she connected with her Aeon. Yuna twirled her staff around in a circle, flames wrapping around the staff in intricate patterns, until a small patch fell to the earth before her palm.
From the small bit of fire on the earth, a flaming circle appeared around Yuna, and a small flaming 'x' appeared, before the earth was torn asunder and Ifrit immerged, lifting Yuna into the air on a small island of earth.
Within seconds the powerful Aeon separated the rock encasing him, and Yuna was thrown into the air before Ifrit caught the Summoner on his outstretched arm, and landed neatly onto the scorched earth, dropping Yuna onto the ground beside him.
Yuna fought off the euphoria seeing Ifrit caused. It wouldn't do to throw her arms around the Aeon and cry out that she had missed it. Her Guardians would be confused and questions she was trying to avoid would be asked. Besides, she could feel Ifrit's joy at being here in her mind.
"Will you help us?" Yuna asked.
The Sinspawn Geneaux didn't stand a chance against the powerful fire Aeon. Ifrit immediately attacked, his speed so great that the fiend was caught by surprise and unable to defend himself against Meteor Strike, the flaming ball sending the fiend back a few feet, its body smoking.
Ifrit didn't stop there; the Aeon cast Fira and the Sinspawn Geneaux let out a horrible howl of rage before it fell to the dusty ground; pyreflies floating from its corpse before it disappeared.
Ifirt roared its glee at its victory before it turned to Yuna and rubbed its head against her cheek, Yuna's Summoner skills keeping her immune to Ifrit's fire. The fire Aeon let out one more roar before it jumped into the air and disappeared.
"Is everyone okay?" Yuna asked, turning around to face her Guardians. Tidus immediately said he was okay, and everyone else nodded their affirmation. "That's good. I guess…we can go now?" Yuna asked hesitantly.
"Yeah. Let's leave. We've tarried here long enough." Lulu said, crossing her arms and looking at Yuna.
Yuna didn't speak, she simply started walking, Kimahri immediately falling into step beside her. She was tired. She had had a long day. Not only had she gained Ifrit, but she had discovered from the Fayth the means to which she could keep Tidus from fading.
She still had a long way to go before she succeeded…
$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&
"We are on our way to Luca, ya? That's where the Tournament's being held!" Wakka said, motioning excitedly over the vast waters. "Just a little way to go and than we're going to bring the Cup to Besaid! With your help of course!"
Yuna shook her head and exchangedan exasperated look with Lulu. Wakka had done nothing but talk incessantly of the Tournament with Tidus their whole trek back to Kilika. The death and devastation littering Kilika had silenced Wakka for a little while, but now that they were on the S.S. Winno Wakka was starting again.
"I'm going to go over here and think, okay?" She said to Kimahri. The giant Ronso nodded before he turned his attention back to Wakka and Tidus, leaving Yuna by herself. Yuna was grateful, though. She was still exhausted, and she wanted to be by herself for a little while.
Yuna wandered over to a railing overlooking the clear, bottomless water, and leaned against the wood, her eyes staring unseeingly over the water. There was just too much to be done and not enough time.
According to the Fayth she needed to find three gems of immense power and have them in her possession by the time she fought Sin. But where was she going to find the gems? She was unsure where the first gem was, but the second…Seymour Guado definitely had it. How in Yevon's name was she supposed to get the gem from Seymour? Did she have to marry the revolting man again?
She hoped she didn't. The thought of Seymour kissing her was enough to make Yuna retch. She couldn't stand the deranged Maester even if he wasn't totally responsible for all his actions.
He had gone crazy after he had killed his father. Though maybe this time around she had a chance to redeem Seymour and keep him along the path of light but she had a sinking feeling in her heart that said she would fail.
$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&
Yuna resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Bickson and Graav spoke to her. The Luca Goers were arrogant beyond all belief; they weren't even talking to her about her Pilgrimage, but rather about how they were going to beat the Besaid Auroch's and win the Cup.
"Hey! Watcha' talking about?" Tidus' voice, so light and cheerful, and the complete opposite of Bickson and Graav's flighty tones made Yuna smile.
"Oh it's you! You're that fool on the loser's team!" Graav taunted, eyeing Tidus disdainfully.
"Hey! We're going to win this time!" Tidus shot back.
"Sure…." Bickson said doubtfully. "How good could you possibly be?"
"Better than anything you've got!"
"What team did you play on?" Graav asked.
Before Tidus could answer Yuna stepped forward and spoke for Tidus. "He played for the Zanarkand Abes!"
Graav and Bickson laughed and Tidus rubbed the back of his head in an attempt to hide his embarrassment. "Uh, I got too close to Sin and…"
"No!" Yuna cried. She knew that Graav and Bickson wouldn't believe her, but she still had to try. She didn't want Tidus to have to keep lying. She had believed him before she had known Tidus' full story; and she still did now. "It's true!"
"Sure my lady," Graav said, his voice dripping sarcasm. "We believe you."
Yuna and Tidus watched as Graav and Bickson walked away, laughing together. Yuna sighed as she faced Tidus, her arms behind her back. Tidus looked tired and defeated, and her heart clenched at his pain. She hadn't meant to hurt him; she had simply wanted Tidus to know she believed in him.
"Tidus…" Yuna whispered, and the young man looked at her, his eyes downcast. "Don't listen to them, they're jerks."
"You really think I'm from Zanarkand? Why do you believe me when no one else does?" Tidus asked, his voice thin and wobbly.
"Because," Yuna said, placing her hand on Tidus' shoulder. Tidus shuddered and looked back out at the water, and Yuna followed his gaze. She wouldn't lie to Tidus; rather she would say what she truly felt. "Because you're Sir Jecht's son, and he spoke of your city that never sleeps."
"You knew my old man?" Tidus asked angrily.
Yuna flinched. Why on earth had she spoken of Sir Jecht? She knew how much Tidus hated his father. She wouldn't back down, though; Tidus needed to know about her faith in him.
After Tidus had disappeared Yuna had often thought back to this night, when they had spoken of Zanarkand. She believed deep down in the depths of her soul that her actions, defending Tidus in front of Graav and Bickson, and later on not laughing at Tidus about Zanarkand had laid down the foundation that would later harbor their love for each other.
"I met him once, ten years ago when my father was leaving for his Pilgrimage. He showed me his Blitzball skills, and spoke of Zanarkand. It sounds like an amazing place. I would like to see it one day."
"Tidus…can I ask you something?" Yuna asked hesitantly. Tidus nodded, and his left hand moved from his side to her hand, and he touched her hand on his shoulder, enveloping it with its warmth. Yuna shivered, but not from the cold.
"Why do you hate Sir Jecht so much?"
Tidus stiffened and Yuna heard Tidus inhale sharply. Yuna remained silent knowing instinctively that if she spoke too soon Tidus would clam up. Finally after many tense moments, Tidus spoke, each word bitter so that it covered up the hurt Tidus locked deep within him, unwilling to acknowledge it.
"He always mocked and ridiculed me, made me feel inferior. It seemed like no matter what I did it was never good enough. He never had any time for me either, unless it was to put me down and call me a crybaby!"
Tidus was quiet for another couple of minutes before he finally spoke again, his hand beginning to stroke hers. "What about you? Are you happy with your dad?"
Yuna smiled as an image of Braska immediately floated into her mind. "I love my father and it is a honor to be his daughter and follow in his footsteps. I regret that I don't remember more of him."
Yuna yawned hugely and Tidus laughed as he stepped back from the railing. Yuna blushed though she was happy to see Tidus' dark mood had passed and he was back to his usual cheerful self.
"I think I'm going to go to bed." Yuna said. "What about you?"
"I'm going to stay here. I need to brood a little." Yuna nodded at Tidus' humor. She moved away from Tidus reluctantly. As she walked up the stairs she turned around so she could get one last look of Tidus for her dreams, and her eyes widened when she caught sight of Tidus staring after her, an unreadable look in his eyes.
I love you Yuna thought, and seeing Tidus watching her made her heart beat madly. Maybe, just maybe Tidus felt the same.
Tomorrow when she woke up they would be close to Luca and her Pilgrimage would begin again immediately after the Tournament. Luca meant Maester Seymour and Sir Auron. And of course, being kidnapped.
But all that could wait until tomorrow, not to mention she needed to figure out where the first Gem was…
End of Chapter
A/N: I hope you all liked that! Next chapter is the Tournament and all of the above-mentioned events. So be prepared people---the next chapter is going to be eventful!
PLEASE review, I really want to know what you thought!
---When I summoned Ifrit for the first time that's what Yuna said so that's why it's there. I don't know, maybe it varies from game to game?
Until the next chapter!
Kristen