The Council chambers stank of cleanliness. The odor – or, more precisely, the lack thereof – often clung to clothes for days after a meeting, requiring obscene amounts of detergent to return fabric to a state of normalcy. The pleated pants and mirror-finished armor of the guards flanking the arched doorway paid mute testimony to the power residing in the long hall. A man's dress boots clattered against the flawless white marble floor; a staccato noise echoing off high, vaulted arches.

He paused before a large, ornamental mirror and adjusted the collar of his long robe, folding his broad lapels to equal widths. It took him a long moment before he nodded and turned away from the mirror.

He continued down the length of the hallway, the folds of his white robes dragging behind him. Perfumed oils clung to his nut-brown hair. He passed under the gigantic, elaborate archway and into a large chamber. A sigh escaped his lips as he sat down and joined the in-progress discussion.

The gray chairman rapped the table twice with an ornate gavel. "As many of you know," he began, "an attack made on Luca Stadium yesterday resulted in fifty-three deaths. Although no details have been released to the media at this time, our sources inside the Crusaders place the blame with the Al-Bhed."

"Outrageous!" The jowls of a graying man clad in blue and yellow robes wobbled as he shook his head. "The Al-Bhed have ever been our friends and allies."

"Indeed? Would you care to explain the attempts on Lady Yuna's life?"

"Madmen will do anything to achieve their goal," a man in green and purple robes interjected. "We can hardly blame the Al-Bhed for everything, but we may certainly blame them for this."

"Exactly," another man said. "It is no great secret they resent mainland Spira for decades of racism. Is it that great of a jump from resentment to rage?"

"Maester Aenna is correct," yet another of the seven remarked. "We cannot deny the evidence in front of us. Fortune was kind enough to leave footprints in the sand for us to follow."

"Fortune," the overweight man scoffed. "What know we of Fortune? She is a gaily-dressed harlot who will lead us all to ruin again. Rather we stumble about like a blind man than follow her path."

"Your talk of Fortune and evidence, Maester Getta," a fourth man interjected, "serves no purpose but to waste time and make idiots of sensible men." He tapped his pen on the table. "We are neglecting one fact: if the Al-Bhed are indeed responsible, what is to stop them from another such attack?"

Silence.

"Furthermore," Maester Aenna said, picking up the other man's argument, "were the people of Spira to find out the entirety of the Al-Bhed's involvement, we can be certain a violent backlash would result. The tensions between Spirans and the Al-Bhed are no great secret."

"We can be certain of nothing," the man with white robes and brown hair said, "other than what can be proven in this chamber."

The chairman frowned. "You see fit to join us at last, Maester Nayla?"

"Indeed, Maester Nade." Nayla bowed his head. "Forgive me my tardiness."

"Forgiven."

"Contrary to Maester Aenna's assumption," Nayla continued, "I am not convinced that Spira would react to the news with overwhelming violence. Xenophobia and hostile segregation, yes, but not anarchical violence. Sin's scars are all too raw for Spira to plunge herself into another cycle of death over something as trivial as a bomb. It took considerable effort to convince her people to turn against Yevon, and yet you believe she would turn against her neighbors – regardless of how she feels about them – for the cost of a few lives? No, something greater would have to occur in order for Spira to react with spontaneous violence on the scale you stated."

"Trivial?"

"In the grand scheme of things, yes." He toyed with the pendant chained about his neck. "In another thousand years, what will fifty-three lives matter? In another thousand years, who will care who tried to kill whom? Memories fade; time twists them into bizarre images that may or may not be true. Time is the cruelest mistress of all, Maester Getta. Never forget that."

"Regardless, you cannot justify what the Al-Bhed have done."

"I do not recall trying," Nayla shot back.

"It sounded remarkably like you did, Maester Nayla."

"You sound remarkably ignorant."

"Gentlemen, such pointless bickering only hinders our purpose."

"Apologies, Maester Nade."

"Apologies."

"There is another issue," one of the Council said. "Lady Yuna herself."

"She is young and naïve, Maester Getta. It is not inconceivable that she is quite shaken by these recent events. Perhaps her decision-making skills – however lacking they were to begin with – have been compromised."

"Young, yes. Naïve, Maester Nayla, I think not. One does not rise to and maintain political power by sticking one's head in the sand. The people adore her – she is one of their own, in their eyes, and has done nothing but strive to improve life for them – but she is certainly not naïve."

Nayla drummed his fingers on the table. "It is entirely possible that Lady Yuna would not have risen to power if it were not for her ancestry."

"You refer, of course, to Lord Braska?"

"I refer to both Lord Braska and his Al-Bhed wife. Lady Yuna's split heritage gives her both an advantage and a weakness."

"A weakness, Maester Nayla?"

"Surely," Getta interrupted, "you are not insinuating she sympathizes with the Al-Bhed as a result of her mixed blood?"

"My statements were plain, Maester Getta. Infer what you will."

"I certainly do not appreciate allegations that Lady Yuna is a traitor."

"Is that what I said?" Maseter Nayla mused. "I could swear I made a simple observation, and not an allegation of treason. Perhaps it is your own mind, Maester Aenna, and not mine, that has indemnified Lady Yuna."

"No one has indemnified anyone during this meeting, Maester Nayla."

"And no one will, so long as this Council has a purpose to fulfill. We are gentlemen, not Blitzers. Conduct yourselves as such." Nade sighed and reached for an inkwell. He dipped the metal-encased end of a chocobo feather into the ink, and began to scrawl a few words onto a sheet of parchment before him. "Gentlemen of the Council, we have before us a long day."

Maester Aenna closed his eyes and reclined in his seat. "Indeed."

He closed the distance quickly. Yuna raised her staff and leaned forward to intercept the blow, but Felix knocked it away with the back of his hand. He lifted her up and pinned her against the wall of the temple. He tapped the tip of her nose with the flat of his knife. "You lost again."

"So I'm a little rusty," she said, smiling. "And tired – we've been doing this for well over an hour, now."

"Gonna quit on me?"

Yuna gritted her teeth. "Of course not. I just with you'd stop surprising me like that."

"If I was an attacker, I'm not going to stop and notify you before I kill you. If you can't defend yourself when you are surprised, then you can't defend yourself."

She straightened herself out, picking her staff off the ground. "So how would I stop someone like that?"

He stepped forward and took the staff from her hands. "See this staff?"

"Yes."

Felix let it clatter to the ground. "Forget you have this. If you can't beat me with your hands," he said, grinning, "you can't beat me period."

A sigh of impatience escaped Yuna's lips. "We both know I can't beat you!"

"Yeah." Felix shifted his weight onto his back foot, sheathed his knife, and motioned to Yuna. "Now punch me."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah." He tapped his chin. "Hit me as hard as you can."

Yuna reared back and swung her fist in a wide arc. Felix trapped her hand in his and pulled Yuna wildly off-balance. She let out a squeak of surprise, and Felix let go of her fist. "Try again."

"No fair!"

"Life's not fair," Felix laughed. An idea hit him. He pulled his pistol from its holster, ejected the magazine, and made sure the chamber was clear. Yuna looked at him quizically, and he pointed the pistol at the ground. "Think you can get this away from me?"

"I'll try."

Felix snapped the pistol up. Yuna latched onto his forearm and stepped forward, trying to push his line of fire away from her body. Nuh-uh-uh. Too slow. He swept her legs out from under her with a smooth kick, and laughed as Yuna flailed her arms in an attempt to regain her balance. He couldn't catch her before she hit the ground, and Felix laughed harder. "You okay?"

"Yes," she scowled up at him from the ground. "That wasn't funny."

"Not from your point of view, no." Felix's smile dropped. "Check it."

She did, and her eyes widened as she saw the muzzle of Felix's pistol hovering over her abdomen. Yuna's scowl switched places with a sheepish grin. "I guess I lost again, right?"

He paused for a moment to stop his disused sex drive from coming up with a plethora of fantasies having to do with Yuna sprawled on the ground. I think I have enough of those already, thank you very much. "Yeah, I think you did."

"Felix?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I get up now?"

"Yeah." He helped her to her feet. "Ready to try again?"

She nodded, and Felix trained his gun on her. Yuna grabbed onto his arm again, as expected, but her left leg did something very unexpected – it shot upward into Felix's groin. He groaned and pitched to the ground, stars dancing in front of his eyes. The earth in his face muffled a long string of obscenities, all of which had something to do with the girl responsible for the blow.

He rolled over, clutching himself, and saw a grinning Yuna holding his pistol. "That's what you'd call payback," she said, a touch of pride in her voice. "I win!"

"Like hell," he growled. Felix's hand flashed up and yanked Yuna down by a pair of decorative cords hanging from her obi. She fell next to him, and her elbow collided with his stomach. His wind rushed out. He flipped Yuna onto her back and swung one leg over her. Felix pinned her wrists over her head, but she managed to wiggle one free and slap him across the face. He released her other hand and laughed as Yuna pounded on his chest, her entire body squirming out from underneath him.

"Hey," Yuna giggled, "no fair!"

It took Felix a moment to realize the compromising nature of their position. Yuna's legs were locked around his waist, holding him in place as she beat on his chest. His own arms were braced astride her shoulders, his wrists pressing against her warm skin.The pounding on his chest slowed, and a blush crept onto Yuna's face as she, presumably, realized the same thing.

He took a moment to appreciate the situation. Yuna's hair formed a sort of light brown halo about her head; the flush on her face highlighted her mismatched eyes. The breaths slipping from between parted lips lifted and lowered Yuna's breasts in a rhythmic motion, and Felix prayed a certain hardening part of his body wasn't resting on her.

Someone cleared their throat behind Felix. "I assume," Lulu began, the chill in her voice making him thankful for the pistol at his side, "that this is your way of teaching Yuna self-defense?"

He rolled off a bright-red Summoner and wiped a smear of dirt from his face. "She's gotta learn some groundfighting, too."

Lulu narrowed her eyes.

"What, don't believe me?" Felix pointed at his groin. "Ask these two; Yuna put 'em through hell and back today."

Felix heard Yuna stifle a laugh.

"I hope Yuna has enough energy le-"

Someone burst through the trees, and Felix whirled to face a very out-of-breath Wakka. "Hey," the blitzer panted, "Yuna, you gotta come back."

Yuna sat up. "Is something wrong?"

"Lu, did you tell 'er?"

"Not yet." Lulu paused for a moment, as though gathering her thoughts. "Yuna, there's been an emergency."

She jumped to her feet. "Is someone hurt?" Yuna looked from Lulu to Wakka in a frantic rush. Felix stood and reloaded his pistol.

No use getting all worked up just yet, Yuna.

Lulu's voice dropped its iciness. "Yuna, you need to go to Bevelle."

"WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME SOMETHING?" The Summoner demanded, her face red.

"The Council is convening tomorrow, Yuna."

Felix sighed. He unfastened and refastened his belt in an idle rhythm, watching the polymer clasp engage with all the interest he would give to the World Series of Poker. He stood up from the soft bench and sighed again. Lulu and Wakka sat on another bench across a small table from him, inside what the guards outside referred to as the 'guest lobby'. High columns carved with intricate patterns dominated the mostly open space; the arched windows high overhead allowed ample light into the room. He studied the broad, studded door to his left. "Why aren't we allowed in there?"

"Because," Lulu explained, her impatience audible, "only Council members are permitted to enter the Chamber of Unity." She adjusted her position on the couch.

"Yeah." Wakka stretched his arms and scratched at his neck. "It's kinda like a private club, you know?"

"Didn't Yuna say the Church fell two years ago?"

"Yes."

"Before I start busting locks, remind me what's stopping us from opening that door and being somewhere other than outside like a bunch of pets."

"Even though the Church fell, the Chamber of Unity is still off-limits to civilians. Only Summoners and the Council can go inside."

"Not even guardians, eh?"

"No. Not even guardians."

"Plus," Wakka chimed in, "we don't have the key."

Felix tapped his concealed pistol. "I'll make a fuckin' key."

"It's a sphere lock," Lulu said, playing with the white lace decorating her black dress. "Brute force will get you nowhere." The garment's low neckline – hell, everything the woman owned had a low neckline – came dangerously close to exposing a pair of breasts Felix wouldn't have minded seeing unholstered.

Especially after eight hours of looking at marble, velvet, wood, some more marble, a little more velvet, dealing with the occasional bureaucrat nagging him about his attire, humoring the guards asking about his tattoos, and studying the inside of his eyelids.

"Ain't that a bitch." Felix withdrew a cigarette from his dwindling pack. Gotta get a new one soon. He never enjoyed rationing smokes, but hard-learned habits were easily utilized. "So we just wait here for another eight hours, or what?"

"We wait until the meeting is over, and we leave when Yuna leaves."

"Fair enough," Felix said. He chuckled and slumped back into his seat. "I should charge her by the hour. I'd make a killing off these meetings."

"Not funny."

"Ya, Brudda."

He shrugged. "I'm a contractor, not a comedian."

"That's quite evident."

"Smartass." Felix waggled his cigarette and looked about for a source of ignition.

"The guards already told you, you can't smoke in here."

"Oh, goddamn it," he groaned. "How about breathing? Is that okay with the lifestyle nazis?"

"The what?"

He put his face in his hands. "Christ, I think I'm gonna lose my mind in this place."

"'Going to'?"

"Go to hell," he groaned.

"I'm already sitting here; what more do you want?"

Felix diverted his mind from ways to kill Lulu and get away with it by eyeing a passing pair of armored guards. Looks like they've got ceremonial rifles of some kind. No visible magazine or sights. Large diameter barrel, but no muzzle brake. Damn thing must kick like a mule. The men wore a set of reflective silver armor over white cotton, and their ornate helmets carried a bobbing plume of matching white feathers. They marched in perfect lockstep; their armored boots clanked on the marble floors until they reached the arched doorway to the main hall.

He stood again and walked over to the two men. "How much longer they gonna be?"

No response.

"Hey, I asked you a question."

"They will speak only when ordered to," a voice pronounced from the opening door. "Or to a superior."

The guards clicked their heels together. "Hail, Maester Nayla!"

A man in elegant white robes stood in the gaping doorway, his hands hidden inside wide sleeves. A thin, silver hairpiece held his jaw-length brown hair away from a set of almond-shaped, dark eyes. Around the man's neck hung a silver chain, from which dangled an elaborate, jeweled pendant in the shape of an odd glyph.

Lulu rose from her seated position. "Maester Nayla," she said, something resembling actual respect in her voice. "Has the meeting ended already?"

'Already'?!

"We are having a minor adjournment," Nayla said. "I'm sure Lady Yuna will make her way out in a few minutes." He flicked his gaze to Felix. "Who," he asked, "might you be? I don't recall seeing you around Lady Yuna before, and I pride myself on being good with important faces."

"One of Yuna's guardians," Lulu answered. "He-"

Felix stepped forward. "Felix," he said, with a purposeful look at Lulu. "Yuna asked me to be her guardian after Luca."

"A pleasure to meet you, Sir Felix. You may call me Maester Nayla."

The two men exchanged a firm handshake before Maester Nayla glanced over his shoulder, turned, and bowed. "Lady Yuna."

"Hail, Lady Yuna!"

Yuna brushed her light brown hair out of her face. "Maester Nayla," she said, bowing. The hem of her graceful blue-and-white dress swept the floor. Her back straightened, and she smiled. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long."

"It appears you lack nothing in protection, Lady Yuna. No small wonder you've escaped our recent tragedies unscathed."

She bowed. "I trust my Guardians with my life, Maester."

"Good," Nayla said. He began walking down the long hallway away from the foursome, flanked by his ceremonial guards. "May they keep you safe in these," he paused, "troubled times."

Felix watched as the pale-robed figure of the Maester shrank in the stony distance. The man's authoritative and impassive aura seemed to linger in the room.

Yuna sat down on the bench next to Lulu, and the pointed toes of burnished leather boots peeked out from under her dress. "Are any of you thirsty?"

"I'm fine," Lulu said.

"I'm good, Yuna."

"I'd kill someone for a bottle of sake." Especially someone wearing a black dress with white lace.

Yuna cocked an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Liquor in the temple?" Wakka shook his head. "Not in Spira, Brudda. Just 'cause we got rid of Yevon don't mean we can disrespect all the traditions, you know?"

"No smoking, no drinking… let me guess: no swearing either, right?"

Lulu coughed.

Felix dropped his head into his hands again. "Yuna, do they have water in this enjoyment-forsaken hellhole?"

"Yes," Yuna laughed. "I'll ask someone to get you a glass." She rang a bell on the table, and a young man in simple robes emerged from within the Chamber.

"Do you require something, Lady Yuna?"

"Some water, please."

The boy bowed. "As you command." He retreated into the chamber, and returned a moment later with a pitcher of water and four glasses, which he set on the table before leaving again.

"Damn, that's all I had to do to get something?" Felix shook his head and laughed. "I figured I'd have to sign some kind of blood oath, or chop one of my own fingers off, or sell my soul to Lulu to get a drink around here."

Lulu scowled.

Yuna blanched. "Why on Spira would you say that?"

He gestured at the hallway. "There's so many cases of 'stick up ass' in this place, I could start a lumber mill with some laxatives."

Wakka choked on his drink, and Lulu punched him in the shoulder.

Felix stood up. "I'm gonna take a look around."

"I'll go with you," Yuna said. "Think of me as a tour guide."

"Be my guest, boss."

Lulu frowned as she watched Yuna and Felix walk off down the corridor. She could hear her chiding him for his irreverence, and she shook her head.

"Something the matter, Lu?" Wakka scooted closer to his wife and slid his arm around her.

"I'm worried that they're getting too close for their own good."

Wakka raised his eyebrow. "Really?"

"That 'grappling' session today looked more like a dry run at intercourse to me, and I don't appreciate him acting like that towards Yuna. She's vulnerable, and a Guardian who she pays shouldn't be taking advantage of that."

"Think maybe you're overreacting, Lu?"

"Not in the slightest."

"Well, Felix is doin' his job good, and him and Yuna get along just fine, you know? I don't see any reason to get upset."

"You aren't the one she'll come to when she gets hurt," Lulu whispered.

"Say something?"

"No." Lulu gave Wakka a peck on the cheek. "Do you mind if I take a little nap?"

"Just make sure to stay on your side of the couch, ya?" Wakka winked. "Don't want none of the 'lifestyle Nazis' givin' me trouble."

"You idiot," She mumbled, her eyes closed.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "But I'm your idiot, Lu."

Lulu intertwined her fingers with her husband's.

They walked in silence for a while as Felix scanned the walls around him. Carvings of odd-looking men, women, and children decorated the walls between the same columns found in the guest lobby. They stared back at Felix; their stony eyes seemed to analyze his every aspect; to study him just as intently as he studied them.

"Felix, I thought I warned you already. If someone heard you talk about the Council like that-"

He broke away from the statues. "They can take a number."

"Take a number?" Yuna asked.

"Back home, when lines were real long, they had a little machine with numbered tickets inside. You took a ticket, then waited until another machine called your number." Felix paused. "God, the DMV used to be hell. I still think they messed with the numbering in those things, just for shits and giggles."

"DMV?"

"Department of Motor Vehicles."

She raised an eyebrow, and Felix groaned. "Think machina on wheels, that you use to go places."

"That's weird," Yuna said, "and doesn't sound very safe."

"No weirder or less safe than riding a giant yellow chicken," Felix shot back.

"Giant yellow chicken? You mean a chocobo, right?"

"Yeah, those things."

"Chocobos are the most common form of transportation in Spira. Besides, they got us here quickly, didn't they?"

"At the expense of comfort and my sense of smell, yes." Felix shuddered as the scent of oily feathers and ultra-sized bird shit came back to him. "We should've just taken one of those Al-Bhed machina."

"The Al-Bhed don't let outsiders use their technology," Yuna said. "Even now, there's still a rift between them and Spirans."

"So I noticed."

"As half Spiran and half Al-Bhed, part of my duty is to help close that gap. Unfortunately," she sighed, "doing so is far from easy. Many Spirans are still unwilling to let go of their prejudice, and the Al-Bhed cope by remaining withdrawn from mainland Spira."

"Wasn't Rikku here, though?"

"Yes. For her role in defeating Sin, most of Spira reluctantly sees her as a hero. Her family – Rikku's older brother and her father, Cid, who owns the airship – receive the same recognition by extension." Yuna shook her head. "And still, they are unable to stay for more than a few days at a time. Maybe someday, I can make the people see the Al-Bhed as people, too. I refuse to allow my heritages to continue this separate existance. It's only a matter of striving for a common dream; of sharing the same dreams of unity. As long as more people love than hate, we can work together to become one nation. A united Spira is my ultimate goal."

"Noble." Felix sighed again, inwardly. She's mature for her age, but every now and then that kid in her shows herself. You can't make things like that go away overnight.

She smiled at him, and adjusted the position of her dress's halter. "Tell me a little more about Chicago."

"It was crowded," he said, "and usually windy. Sometimes the wind would get so bad, the skyscrapers' windows got sucked out."

"'Skyscrapers'?"

Felix pointed up. "Buildings that looked like they were scraping the sky. Businessmen used 'em as offices and shit. Weren't many where I grew up, though. I only saw 'em when I went into the city."

Yuna shook her head. "It's weird," she said, a measure of sadness in her voice. "Your world is so different from Spira in many ways, but it's the same in others."

"Yeah," Felix said, leaning back, "it was."

"Do you ever miss it?"

"Home, you mean?" Felix rubbed his chin. "Yeah," he said. "Sometimes, I'll have a dream like I'm back home. Then I wake up, and I realize that I'm a long way from my bed." He bit his lip. "Not like I ever slept in my bed much."

"Lots of fights with your wife?"

Felix snapped his head around to look at Yuna. "What?"

"I'm sorry," Yuna said. "When Lulu gets mad at Wakka, she makes him sleep on the-"

"No shit." Felix stared down the hall, surprised at his own reaction. "Yeah, that's one reason. I've been away from what I called 'home' most all my life, except–" He caught himself.

"Except?"

"Except growing up." Felix clenched his fist, and could almost feel the chipped paint on a cold steel bar rub against his skin.

A hand gripped his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Felix."

"It's okay." Felix didn't look up. "Just some ghosts of mine, is all."

"I know what you mean," she said, her voice soft.

I don't think you do. "Oh?"

"Yes." She forced a smile. "But someone once told me that memories are just that – memories. They're nice, sometimes, but that's all they are."

"Who told you that?"

"Rikku."

"The obnoxious one?"

"She's not that bad!"

"Yuna, anyone who jumps on people is obnoxious, plain and simple."

"Says who?"

"Says the guy who got jumped on!" Felix laughed.

"She's just friendly!"

"No, a handshake is friendly."

"Oh, and a hug isn't?"

"It is," Felix admitted. "But it isn't always welcome."

"What if I hug you?"

"That's different."

"Oh? How so?"

He sighed. "You're my boss." And I wouldn't screw Rikku.

"And?"

"And that means I can just write it off as one of your manyeccentricities."

"Wait, 'many'?" Yuna crossed her arms. "Name three, and that one doesn't count."

For starters, I wouldn't mind pulling you into one of these alcoves. Or into that Chamber thing. Or down on the guest bench. Hell, how about the floor? "I lied. Sue me."

"You keep saying that, and none of us know what it means."

"'Suing' is when you hire a lawyer to bitch about something until the judge makes someone pay up."

"And why would you want me to do that to you?"

"It's just an expression. It's another way of saying 'I did something, but I don't really care'."

Yuna tapped a finger against her lips in mock seriousness. "Perhaps I shall, then. Felix, I am suing you for lying to me."

"I'll need a lawyer."

"How about Lulu?" She suggested.

He laughed. "Hell no! She'd have the judge convinced to hang me!"

"Hang?"

"Kill. Execute. Deprive me of my living privileges."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic!"

He laughed again. "Whatever you say, boss. I'll just go pay a visit to Master Dragqueen and ask him to give me divine protection."

She punched him in the arm. "Someone could hear you!"

"Let 'em," Felix said.

"That reminds me. Can I ask you to promise me something?"

"Shoot."

"Don't do anything on your own initiative, okay?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

Yuna sighed. "It's important that I show the Council I'm in charge. If they see you acting on your own and ignoring what I tell you, everything I've worked for in here will come crashing down. Can you promise me that?"

He rested his hand on her bare shoulder, enjoying the feel of Yuna's skin. "No problem."

She slipped her hand over his. "Thanks."

Felix heard footsteps coming from the visitor's lobby.

Yuna pushed away from Felix and clasped her hands, just as Wakka turned the corner into the hallway. "Yes?"

"Yuna," he called, "they're startin' back up!"

"Coming!"

"Be there in a minute." Felix watched his employer rush down the hall, and wondered just when his sense of objectivity went straight to a bench with Lulu.

Maester Nayla reclined in his seat. "And so, gentlemen, the choice is clear."

"Far from it," Maester Getta said. "You leave much to be desired in the clarity department."

"Indeed, Maester Nayla."

"Agreed."

"Well then," Maester Nayla said, sitting forward, "let me make everything perfectly clear. The Al-Bhed are responsible for the assassination attempts against Lady Yuna; that fact is thus far indisputable. Bikanel has failed to make any statements to alter our findings. A total of seventy-three Spirans are dead as a result of Lady Yuna's political heel-dragging. It is clear, to me at least, that Spira must react with force appropriate to that used against her."

Maester Nade furrowed his eyebrows. "What force do you recommend, Maester Nayla?"

"Swift and immediate retaliation. The Al-Bhed Rin has a number of business ventures set up throughout Spira; it would not be difficult for detachments of Crusaders to shut them all down. With such an economic hamstringing, Bikanel will be forced to heed our overtures."

"Such an action, Maeseter Nayla, would in all likelihood provoke a hostile reaction from Bikanel, rather than your intended seizure of criminals."

"So be it," he sighed. "They can hardly be considered our allies if they refuse closure for the deceased. There is a word that one uses to describe those who act only to obstruct your actions; I believe it is enemy."

"War?" Maester Getta jumped to his feet, his waves of fat jostling up and down. "On such shaky pretenses as these? You are mad, Maester Nayla. Completely mad."

A smile creased the Maester's face as the door to the chamber creaked open. "Perhaps Lady Yuna will be kind enough to share her thoughts on the matter."

Yuna's eyes wandered down the long table as she reached her seat opposing Maester Nade. "Maesters of the Council," she began, "I overheard that you wish to retaliate against the Al-Bhed for their involvement in the attacks on my life. As High Summoner of Spira, I move to forbid any and all actions, military or otherwise, explicitly targeting the Al-Bhed, Bikanel, or their governmental and economic infrastructure."

A hushed silence fell around the table.

Maester Nayla rubbed his pendant.

"You have done nothing but prove the race of the men who took innocent lives, and yet have failed to produce any evidence to suggest that Home itself is responsible for the attacks. Just as you cannot burn a forest as revenge for a tree falling on your home, I refuse to blame an entire race for the decisions of misguided men, however shocking and deplorable the results of those decisions may be may be.

"You, Maester Nayla, suggest that we cut the Al-Bhed's collective economic hamstrings. It is my heartfelt belief that reacting in such a fashion will only sever the already strained ties between Bikanel and Bevelle. Spira is no longer a place for violence to dwell – diplomacy must reign if we are to maintain our Calm."

Maester Getta stood to his feet. "Well spoken, Lady Yuna, well spoken." He set a glowing blue sphere into a recession in the table. "I stand behind your decision. Let us prevent any further bloodshed."

Ten other spheres, colored to represent the Maesters' individual districts, clicked into their divots. Maester Nayla, however, rolled his white sphere back and forth between his hands on the table.

Maester Nade rose. "Very well, Lady Yuna. The Council has voted to enforce and support your decision." He bowed. "You may leave."

After the double doors swung shut, Nade turned to face the other six members of the Council. "Gentlemen," he said, "I believe we have reached a clear-cut decision. There will be no actions against the Al-Bhed made by this Council; however, we will continue our investigation. This meeting is now adjourned; you may return to your respective quarters."

The men filtered out through the large door, Maesters Nade and Nayla bringing up the rear. Maester Nade turned and faced his subordinate. "She argued her point well enough to convince the entire Council, and yet you do not support her?"

Maester Nayla looked over his shoulder as he passed out of the chamber. "My duty lies with Spira, Maester. Not with a half-blooded village girl."

"So what is there to do in Bevelle?" Felix asked. He and Wakka walked along a wide, carpeted path following a glassy river through the heart of the city. "Doesn't seem like much of a capitol to me."

"Bevelle is one of Spira's oldest cities, Brudda." Wakka pointed over his shoulder at the temple, the motion pulling his unbuttoned dress shirt open. "All sorts of old stuff to look at, you know?"

"Never was one for museums."

"Me neither. Lu always liked 'em, though." Wakka paused for a moment and slid his shirtsleeves back up his forearms. "Yuna's pretty cute, ya?"

"Hell of a subject change."

"Just askin'."

Hmm. Felix blew a cloud of smoke over the railing of the walkway. "Gettin' tired of sleepin' on the couch all the time, huh?"

Wakka turned bright red as he realized what the contractor implied. "No way, Brudda! I di- I don- I'm just askin' if you, you know…"

He blew another cloud of smoke and pretended to ponder his answer."Yeah," Felix said. "She is."

"Don't you be gettin' any ideas, Brudda."

If only you knew. "Ideas?"

"I heard 'bout you two yesterday," Wakka said, his arms crossed. "I'm just warnin' you 'cause I like you, and Lu's startin' to get pretty upset about it. Yuna's had some real problems after Sir Tidus left, and it's not like her to be so comfortable around a guy. I mean, she's had a bunch of guys try and pick her up, but Lulu scared off most of them. Never seen her have a guy around her so much."

Felix flashed a smile. "Worried I might corrupt her?"

"I'm worried she might get hurt again," Wakka muttered. His voice regained its earlier confidence. "You just make sure you keep everything professional, ya?"

"S'my job. Keep your shirt on. 'Sides, didn't you say Guardians are supposed to have a 'connection' with their Summoner?"

"Yuna said that, Brudda."

"Point stands."

Wakka sighed. "You sure you're cool?"

"Already answered that," Felix chuckled. "I get along with Yuna, she hasn't bitched about me, and she pays on time. I don't get why you're worried."

"Me and Lu always been like parents to her." Wakka smiled. "Guess you could say we're bein' professional, too."

"Mom and dad watchin' out for their other kid, huh?"

"Yeah, somethin' like that."

Felix didn't mention the icy knot he got when Yuna went missing, or that he held her the entire night of the bombing, even after she fell asleep, or the fact that he wished Lulu chose to show up on the hill an hour or so later. "Yeah. I gotcha."

Wakka slapped him on the shoulder. "Knew you'd understand, Brudda."

"The meeting went well, I take it?"

Yuna smiled. "I think so. I managed to convince the Council not to provoke the Al-Bhed – there's been enough bloodshed already." She sipped the wine from her glass. "Were you bored outside?"

"It wasn't bad," Lulu chuckled. "Wakka slept for most of the time, and Felix found ways to entertain himself." The black mage's smile lessened. "Yuna, do you get along well with him?"

"Felix? Yes," Yuna said. "Although he does tend to get himself in trouble a lot, and isn't exactly unobtrusive, I feel safer with him around. A couple thousand Gil is a small price to pay for that, you know?"

"You two don't have any issues, then?"

Yuna frowned. "Not that I know of. Why?"

"For starters, I know you spent the night in his room in Luca."

"He let me cry on him," Yuna explained, staring into her wine. "I needed someone to be with, and you and Wakka were already asleep."

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Yuna insisted. "He was just doing his job."

"What about today?"

She turned red and studied the table. "Self defense training."

Lulu paused. "Do you find Felix attractive?"

She almost choked. "Why are- what do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said: do you find Felix attractive?"

"Well," she sputtered, "I-"

"You thought he might have been from Zanarkand," Lulu interrupted, "didn't you."

Yuna stared into her drink. "Yes," she whispered.

"Is that why you feel close to him?"

"I- I don't exactly know."

Lulu raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'you don't know'?"

"Exactly what it sounds like!" Yuna shot back.

The black mage frowned. "You're awfully worked up about this."

"Why shouldn't I be?" Yuna folded her arms across her breasts. "I really appreciate you looking out for me, Lulu, but I'm a big girl now. You can trust me to take care of my own personal life."

"You're spending the night in a room with a man who kills people for a living!"

"What is your problem with him?" Yuna demanded. "He's saved all of our lives – for all we know, Riko could've died if Felix didn't hear those gunshots at the stadium!"

"My problem is that you don't seem to realize who you're getting involved with! We asked him to be your Guardian because you agreed with me that it could be dangerous if someone else hired him, and now you're rolling around in the grass together! Are you even thinking straight anymore?" Lulu's voice softened. "I just want you to be careful, Yuna." She reached across the table and put a hand on Yuna's shoulder. "Please, just do that for me."

"Hey," Felix said. He stood next to Yuna, against the wrought iron railing lining the hotel's open top floor. He waggled his bottle of sake. "Drink?"

She smiled. "No, thanks." Yuna opened her mouth again, then closed it.

Her weak smile tipped him off."What's bothering you?"

"Nothing."

Liar. He leaned against the sliding glass doors to the observation deck. "Nothing? Or something?"

"Nothing."

Felix sighed and popped the bottle open. "Nice night, huh?"

"Yes."

He took a drink. "Are you going to answer me in words with more than two syllables, or are we going to have 'Cavesummoner Night'?"

"It's a possibility."

He stepped next to her and grinned. "Smartass."

Yuna smiled at the horizon. "That's no way to talk to your boss."

"My deepest apologies, Lady Yuna." He took a deep bow, straightened, then took another swig of sake. A soft breeze rippled the fabric of Yuna's pajamas, pressing the dark red cloth against the curves of her body. Felix knew she wouldn't be able to see his eyes roving over her frame, nor could she know how tempting it was to just grab her right now and-

"Why did you say yes?"

Felix raised an eyebrow. "To?"

"Being my Guardian."

He sighed and leaned against the railing. "Tell you the truth?"

She nodded.

"When I showed up here, I figured I was either dead or crazy. The more I walked around, the more I started to realize both of 'em were wrong. Fighting those guys in the stadium, though, gave me something familiar." Felix paused and took a drink.

"Money?"

"You've spent too much time around Lulu," he laughed. "Cash makes the world go 'round, yeah, but there're better reasons to fight."

Yuna drummed her fingers on the railing. "Such as?"

He waved the bottle at her.

"Me?"

"And Lulu," Felix added, "and Wakka, their kid, and however many people were at the stadium, or the sending, or anywhere else. Everyone needs money – shit, that's mostly why I became a contractor in the first place – but if that's all you live for, you've a sad-ass life. I have a job to do again. I can't really explain it," he admitted, "but it's comforting to know I've still got a purpose."

"I see," Yuna said. She clasped her hands. "Felix?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad… you're my Guardian."

Felix smiled. "I-"

"You should be asleep."

He turned to see Lulu standing in front of the sliding doors. In place of her black and white dress, she wore a pair of black pants and a gray blouse. "Lulu."

"Yuna, please get some rest. I'm sure you must be tired from your long day."

Yuna nodded. "Goodnight, Lulu. Felix."

"Night."

"Goodnight." The doors slid shut, and Lulu crossed her arms. "What in Spira is your problem?"

"What, I can't talk to my boss alone?"

"Don't give me that," Lulu snapped. She walked closer. "You had better be careful with her."

"What the fuck are you-"

"If you ever hurt her… I'll kill you."

He narrowed his eyes. "Just what are you accusing me of?"

"Two years ago, a boy washed up on Besaid."

"No shit, Sir Tidus. What's he got to-"

"Yuna fell in love with him within a matter of days."

Felix took a drink. "The kid's dead."

"Not quite. He never existed. Sir Tidus was a dream of the Fayth; a physical manifestation of pyreflies and memories. He might never have really lived, for all we know now, but he was real to Yuna."

"So she fell in love with a dead guy?"

"She fell in love with a dream," Lulu corrected him. "A dream that walked, and talked, and breathed, and bled. After he disappeared – not 'died', as you put it, but faded away – Yuna dropped into a deep depression. Every night for the months that followed, she walked to the edge of the beach and whistled. We found her out there in the pouring rain, once, hypothermic, with her fingers still in her mouth."

He stared at the flickering lamps below. "She really loved that kid, huh?"

"Quite." She drummed her fingers on the railing. "It took some time for her to be even remotely comfortable around men, even Wakka. All of a sudden, you two are inseparable. I don't know what happened, and I don't want your excuses anymore. It doesn't matter to me who started what – if you have anything other than a healthy working relationship with Yuna, I want it gone."

"That right?" Felix didn't look at the black mage; his thoughts fixated instead on a certain young woman with mismatched eyes.

"Yes. Do you understand now?"

"Yeah."

A/N: Uh-oh! Who is this Maester Nayla? What's the deal with Felix and Yuna? How will Lulu deal with this development? Where do Sig and Higa fit into all of this? How many more questions am I going to ask? Why am I talking like this? Find out in the next exciting installment of Just Causes, releasing on Friday!

PS: Document editor, I HATE YOU THIS MUCH. "Recognizes official linebreaks" my ass.