January 1, 2015
Chapter 7: Where are you running?
Tidus stopped first, kicking up some dust. The debris scattered into a glittery cloud, tiny flecks of snow, a pillow-like shimmering expanse. The upbeat blitz ball player was hunched over, huffing and puffing, exasperated from his escape. Yuna was also desperate for air. Even though they hadn't encountered one guard, the two hightailed it as quickly as possible through the rest of Bevelle and into the deep woods of Macalania. With the need for summoning gone and Sin dead, it was imagined the forest would have died, but in spite of all the logic, the luminescent woods still glimmered as the rays from the sun spotted through the tall, frigid trees.
"Do . . . you think . . . we're clear?" she asked. Her hand rested over her heart, as if to stop it from exploding.
His blonde locks were saturated with sweat and laid flat to his head. "Yeah, I think we're deep enough to relax."
Yuna, former ambassador-in-training (as she was sure she was no longer a candidate for that position) found a gratifying chair in a frosted boulder; her cheeks prickled with redness. Yuna, after some deep contemplation, ripped some of the designer dress she had worn and covered her sore and tender feet. She had given up the remnants of her heels at the bridge and thrown them over the side as to leave no trail. She looked for her companion and was shocked to see he had disappeared. Momentarily frightened by the prospect of having been abandoned she quickly stood and searched for him. She was seconds shy of screaming, possibly blowing any secrecy they had created when she finally spotted him near a spring of some sort.
She slowly sauntered over to the spot. He was gazing at all the crystallized orbs gathered and bunched together in the old tree. "Wow," he breathed. "Come on, let's take a dip and wash off some of the dirt." He was already wading in the water, knee deep when he was jolted by her grabbing him.
"We should go." She spoke so softly that it took him a minute to understand what she had said.
"Why?" he asked, his pleading tone saying it all.
"We are deep in Guado lands." He continued to stare, evidently not clear about what she had been alluding to. "I'm sure word has gotten around of our escape. If we're spotted . . ."
Tidus didn't need to hear more, he started to clamber back onto dry land, but as he did he stumbled. Yuna put her arms out to catch him, while at the same time, he reached out to her, or did he? Yuna pushed the thought aside, her attention back on steadying his weak body. His sunken and hollow eyes found hers. He won't last for much longer, she thought. Knowing they were pressed for time she supported him as they started for the only place they knew they could hide. The Calm Lands.
-FFX2-
Since the defeat of Sin, the Calm Lands had flourished with merchants, gambling, and sphere hunters. Most of the different sphere hunting groups had some type of post settled on the expansive grassland. The largest sphere hunting group, whose headquarters was located there, was the Syndicate. Very resourceful in their operations, they were also known for their scrupulous ways of doing anything necessary to achieve their goals. And while the ideals of sphere hunting were altruistic when it started, most nowadays, it was only for two things: money and power.
Trying to look inconspicuous, Yuna was appreciative of the high activity of evening gambling and shows. Most everyone was too preoccupied to even glance their way. Traveling to the center of the Calm Lands, Yuna eased Tidus down against some crates that were behind the historic market that had been a point of rest for Summoners on their pilgrimages.
Yuna slid down beside him, suddenly very aware they had no money to buy anything. As if rubbing it in, her stomach growled loudly. Fingering her necklace, she had an epiphany.
-FFX-2-
"Are you sure you want to sell this?" the old woman asked. Yuna watched the frail fingers of the merchant run over the large stones of the necklace that once belonged to her mother's mother.
"Yes," she answered quickly, fearing that she would lose her resolve.
Returning to the beaten up blitzer she applied the recently purchased salves and helped him drink the elixirs necessary to help him heal. Her stomach growled again, resulting in Yuna rolling her eyes. Sifting through the coin pouch, she counted with sorrowful eyes the gil she had received for her trade.
"You didn't have to do that," he croaked. The half Al Bhed half Yevonite gasped, unaware he had still been conscious enough to hear the exchange happen. "I would have borrowed what we needed," he laughed, coughing a little.
"That would have drawn more attention to us." In spite her fugitive status, she didn't want to break any more laws.
Slowly, Tidus came around, the intensity of the sun subsiding. "Not as long as I didn't get caught." He coughed painfully, before moving on."How much do we have?"
"About 500 gil." Yuna answered, feeling proud for her gain.
"That's not a lot." He cut down. "We first need to get some clothes." Her stomach growling, Tidus laughed. "Sorry, but eating will have to wait. Like you said, word is working around and will soon catch u with us here. We need disguises."
-FFX-2-
Tidus was searching for Yuna when a light tap on his shoulder startled him. He whipped around, staggering slightly as he wasn't fully recovered from his weakness, and quickly started to articulate in Al Bhed that he wasn't a shop keep. "Ti, it's me!" she squealed, completely enthralled that her disguise had worked.
"Wow, Yuna, I'm impressed. Just remember that if you're going to pose as an Al Bhed, you'll have to speak in their tongue only. Can you do that?" He was truly astonished by her transformation, but worried her mannerism wouldn't reflect the dress she had chosen as a disguise.
"No problem – I mean, hu bnupmas (no problem)." She laughed and then escorted Tidus to the cashier. They paid for their clothing, a little more than desired, but it was necessary to help aid in their keeping safe.
-FFX-2-
They soon arrived at the inn that Tidus had located within their price range. Sitting on the soft bed, she watched Tidus dash about in search for a place to hide the bowl of fruit courtesy of the inn's hospitality. While she wasn't in complete agreement about his spending so much on the room, Tidus assured her it was necessary. After finding a place to hide the food, he left the room and returned moments later with the manager that was stationed that night. "See, no fruit. I mean, I don't care, but you know, the girlfriend likes her citrus, and I ain't going to argue if I want what I want." Tidus had his back turned to Yuna, but the manager's face suddenly lit up and a form of understanding came from him. He left and then shortly returned with another bowl with fruits and chocolates. Shaking hands, he passed Tidus some thin, small box, winking at him before leaving.
Yuna narrowed her eyes at Tidus, clearly not happy with his conning the inn manager. "Relax, I did that so we could eat. I mean, it was the best deal, soft bed and food in our budget. You're hungry right?" he asked, spreading his arms out for emphasis. He flopped on the bed, still carrying the box in his hand, which Yuna quickly identified as protection if they were looking to have sex. Turning pale at the thought, her faced matched the color of the egg shell lampshade coverings. Tidus furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What are you . . . Oh, no worries," he appeased, tossing the box in the trash. "I'm not going to ask favors from someone who saved my life. If anyone is doing favors for anyone, it would be me."
Yuna's mouth hung open, surprised by the vulgar implications, but given his position in life, she surmised it wasn't outlandish to believe the way he sometimes talked. Though, something about his concern for others made her believe he was above that all. She moved to the bowl of fruit on the small table provided for dinning in. "Hey, careful eating. Don't gorge as we need something for breakfast and I'm not sharing."
He said the last part with a laugh and Yuna was sure he was joking, but still . . . She deliberated waiting until morning to keep eating, but overcome momentarily from dizziness, she reconsidered. Tidus came up behind and placed a delicate hand on her shoulder. "Eat."
He made his way back to the bed as Yuna picked gingerly at the fruit. After deciding she had eaten enough to sleep well, she was jolted to full attentiveness when it occurred to her that there was only one bed. One bed and two of them. Tidus was asleep, or so it appeared, but in the back of her mind, roamed the feeling that he was really feigning rest and just waiting for her to join him for who knew what. So, pacing up and down a few times, she stopped. It would be silly to render herself to the floor when there was room enough for two. Yet, she had never shared a bed with anyone other than her parents when she was little girl during stormy nights. However, she knew that sleeping on the floor only would supply the blonde with ammunition to make fun of her. Part of her knew he wouldn't do that, but the ugly voice inside her said otherwise, and her sleeping on the floor would only prove that she was not able to take care of herself.
I can do this, I can sleep in the bed and it will be fine.
-FFX-2-
The half Al Bhed half Yevonite's eyes flickered, the sun illuminating the room they had paid for, the different earth tones flourishing under the new light. Scanning the room, Yuna was semi-surprised to see Tidus sitting on the bench by the window looking out. What if someone sees us? Tidus caught her stare and snickered. She wasn't sure when he had decided to half undress, his undershirt, long sleeved shirt, bands, and vest discard on a chair. His tan skinned rendered red tones, almost setting his skin ablaze under the sun's rays. He sighed before speaking. "I'm surprised you wore that all?"
Yuna perked up, having woken up suddenly to a flurry of different forms of embarrassment. Had he known that she was too modest to sleep next to him in just her under layer of clothing or that she was very thirsty and felt she had eaten cotton? Did he know she was secretly panicking because she felt stupid?
"We should probably get going." He was no longer watching her, instead he was staring out the window, the streets full of noisy insects playing their music as loudly as ever.
"Wh-why?" It was silly to move, she thought.
Tidus pulled at his suspenders and secured them tightly. "The banks won't open until later this morning and by now, all the dealers have gone to bed, exhausted from being stationed at the gambling arenas all night. It will be a perfect time to grab some coins." The room was silent, even the bugs humming and chirping outside in the first glimmers of sun seemed suddenly aware of their commotion and were quiet. "What?"
"You want us to steal?"
"It isn't like they will truly be hurting if they're missing some money."
"I don't like the idea. We're not common criminals." Yuna stomped her foot softly on the carpet trying to make a point.
"You're kidding right?" Tidus moved, but as he did, Yuna crossed her arms over her chest. His charm was hampered with his inability to see her eye to eye, soften her with his trained puppy-dog face. "Then how do you expect us to survive?"
-FFX-2-
It was mid-afternoon when Tidus and Yuna arrived outside the little hole in the wall, literally. An awning had been jimmy-rigged to the outside of cave entrance that supposedly housed "extraordinary fiends."
It had taken some finagling, but Tidus and Yuna were soon being given the grand tour. Halfway through, Tidus felt fatigue setting in, the smell of gasses they used to sedate the fiends suffocated his nostrils. Weary that most of the host's main profits were pick pocketing, his fingers continuously twitched, checking nothing had been stolen. The blitz ball player moved to the front toward the brisk canyon air. Almost at the entrance, a firmly planted hand stopped him whisking him back to the small table that served as a counter. Claiming to be owed a fee for the tour, Tidus was about to tell the gentleman off when Yuna pointed to a sign.
'Help wanted'
He never asked if it was dumb luck or some impetuous need to do dangerous things, but Tidus soon found the man questioning her about her desire to hunt fiends. Rare. Dangerous. Fiends.
"You don't look like hunters. You don't even have weapons." He spat, pointing at Yuna. His yellow teeth refracting the dim candle glow. Tidus was disgusted by the man's appearance. Before Tidus could create an excuse for their ill equipped attire, despite Tidus still carrying the sword from the Bevelle guard, he was beat by Yuna.
"If you lend us some gear, we will bring you the most rare and dangerous beast." He wanted very much to believe her earnest plea was the guise of some con to procure some weapons to later pawn, but no. She was being completely sincere and he believed her. They both did.
-FFX-2-
"The man said this cave houses some of the most dangerous fiends in the world." Tidus eyed the cave mouth, a black hole of nothingness – no – a den of lost spirits . . . angry spirits.
"Perhaps we should start off with something . . ." Shooting her a weary glance, "more profitable."
"More my speed," she commented, arching her eyebrow. She knew very well her skills in combat were not the best, but she had grown so much having been with the Al Bhed. "I just may surprise you."
They carefully navigated themselves through the cave until they came to a fork. "Where should we go?"
"Me?" Tidus squeaked. "If you recall, this was your idea."
Yuna pouted for moment before caving in. "Fine, let's go right."
The two moved on with their quest to capture some fiends. "This is stupid. Who voluntarily brings a bunch of fiends together." Tidus gesticulated wildly, noting that they still hadn't found one fiend.
"It's more depressing and cruel than silly." Yuna looked down, not paying any regard to the damp and dark environment she was strolling through.
Tidus stopped walking. "How is fiend hunting depressing?" he remarked. Clearly she hadn't explained herself very well.
"Fiends are nothing but unsent in pain and blindly angry at the living. Spirits aimlessly wondering, unable to join their family members in peace. Then to be locked up for some form of entertainment . . . I don't know. It seems unfair." Yuna huffed and stopped pointing to a the wall of rock ahead. "Dead end."
Wow, I never thought about the fiends – I mean, unsent. It kind of is cruel to use them like cheap toys to not care much about. They were people too, at one time, anyway. Tidus thought, scratching the back of his head."What?"
"I said, 'what now?' We hit a dead-end and no fiends." Yuna waited for Tidus to reply, looking a little peeved for having been ignored.
"Um, well, let's check out the other part of the fork." Yuna nodded and they started back.
They had been making small talk, each praying they wouldn't return empty handed. As if heard by Yevon, itself, the familiar tingle of fiend energy tickled the hairs on back of their necks.
A Haunt appeared behind them. His bony fingers reached out for them, missing them by mere inches.
"Whoa!" Tidus and Yuna jumped back, ready to battle. "Okay, this isn't too bad." Apparently, Yevon has a poor sense of humor. Tidus slowly turned, two more Haunts arrived on the scene.
"What do we do?" Yuna panicked.
"We fight. We have no choice." These were no village fiends. Their overly large hands swiped at them again. Two missed Yuna, but one dug his sharp talons into her arm. The long sleeve jacket absorbed some of the attack, but the Yevonite-Al Bhed mix wilted. Kneeling on the ground, she moaned.
"Yuna?!" Tidus tried to inch toward her, jumping up high he slashed down at the creature in front of him. He missed, quickly dodging the counter attack. "Yuna, are you okay?"
"I feel weak." Finding some strength, she started to volley shots at the other two death eaters. Soon the rattling of bullets from her two pistols stopped. Yuna was kneeling again and the creatures were moving in for the final feeding of her life force.
"Yuna!" Tidus sprinted to her, spring boarding off of one creature he plunged his sword between the vertebra in its spine, succinctly killing it. Pyreflies dispersed and scattered. "One down, two to go."
Tidus could hear shuffling behind him, Yuna was trying to maneuver herself away, but reduced to crawling she wasn't creating enough distance between herself and the fiends.
Distracted, Tidus was lifted by his ankle. Hanging upside down, the he was "face to face" with the Haunt. The energy centered between its eyes, it was going to use its final strike and kill him. "Shit!"
Tidus tipped his head back and noticed the perfect alignment of the other. Wriggling, and with a quick slice, it released him. Luckily, the attack was too far along to stop, the shot was fired and the fiend pursuing Yuna was destroyed.
The landing was hard, and momentarily stunned the blitzer, leaving him defenseless. His sick sense kicking in, he could feel the fiend hovering over him. However, it never attacked. His vision coming back, he saw Yuna volley off some shots from the ground before finally absorbing the entity into the sphere.
Tidus suppressed the feeling of throwing up and helped Yuna to stand. The cavern continued for a little ways. Curiosity getting the better of them, they limped to the very end. A large circular emblem was embossed in the ground beneath them. A figure of a samurai and armored dog was chiseled into the stone. It had a gross crack running to center before spidering out.
Bending down to touch the stone plate, Yuna breathed, "This was the home of an aeon."
"This?!" Tidus retorted. "I guess he wasn't liked very much."
"Perhaps . . ." The sadness shown in the young woman's face ultimately decided it for Tidus. He needed to be a little more considerate of her unlimited compassion for everything.
"Come on, we need to get out of here, before we join the fiend family here." He helped her back up and they traveled back to the entrance. Some small squabbles with lower fiends were encountered, but in comparison they were a piece of cake.
-FFX-2-
"You have a Haunt in there! No way!"
"Hey, you didn't specify what type of rare dangerous fiends!" Tidus grabbed him by the collar and drew the sniveling man to him. "Either pay us or we release it in here." The little man gulped.
"Okay, okay." He started to piece coins out of his purse.
"More," Tidus demanded. Grumbling, the man did as such, and then told them to get out and to take their fiend with them.
"That's your property, now." Tidus walked away, tugging a surprised Yuna back. "He'll be fine." He told her once they were outside, the sun starting its sleep routine, preparing for the moon to take over. "Let's go."
"Where?" Yuna inquired, trailing behind him.
"First aid supplies to help you heal a little faster and then to visit a friend." Yuna nodded, her muscles twitching in pain. They started to walk back to the large center shop when he spoke up, "You were right," he began, "you did surprise me."
Even though, he didn't elaborate. Good or bad. She would take it and be proud of it.
~ End Chapter 7
Thank you for reading. Please leave a review.