Part II
Chapter 15
The airship landed abruptly in the area in front of the Djose Temple, and soon the group (Rikku, Yuna, Brother and Buddy) came out
The airship landed abruptly in the area in front of the Djose Temple, and soon the group (Rikku, Yuna, Brother and Buddy) came out. None of them had gone there since Sin was defeated (Buddy and Brother had never been there at al), nothing interesting had ever happened there. It was still the same isolated rocky temple as it was before, with the small travel agency (it seems that Rin didn't invest much on Djose's travel agency since Sin was dead, which made sense since almost anyone went there) and the old rock floor. The only difference was that there was no electric energy surrounding the temple now, so, there was no energy at all to keep the gigantic rocks that surround the temple floating; this caused the rocks to fall to the ground, and now there was a small chaos of rocks around the temple.
- This was always so rocky? - Buddy inquired, since that was the first time he had been there.
- Yeah, rocks and rocks everywhere - Rikku answered, waving her arms to emphasize the big amount rocks - Hmmm... Some of them used to be floating, though.
- You Rikku don't talk stupid things! Rocks don't fly! - Brother just loved to turn Rikku down.
- How do you know that? You have never been here, pea-head! - and Rikku just loved to argue with Brother.
- But I know that rocks don't fly. And don't call me pea-head!
- Yuna, tell him!
- Well... - she tried to start, but...
- Nah, wait, this is between me and you! Don't bring Yuna to this!
- But...
Meanwhile, Yuna and Brother watched the scene, having a little fun with it.
- So, what's that "flying-rocks" deal?
- The rocks did used to float around the temple... - Yuna turned to the building, her back turned to Brother - The Fayth used to give energy to the rocks, electricity, to keep them floating.
- I see,... now that the Fayth have no power the rocks just fell, right?
- Yes... - when she said this last word she was already lost in her own thoughts; thinking about the first time she came here, when her guardians made fun of her because of her hair (including Auron!)... "This was the firts time he entered in the Cloister being an official guardian..."
- Oh, just forget it, let's go inside! - Yuna was taken out of her thoughts when Rikku grabbed her arm and walked towards the temple.
- Ah?
- Brother is just the most stubborn person I know! Let's go to the temple...
As soon as they entered in the rocky building, a group of priests approached them.
- Lady Yuna, thank you for coming! We need your help.
- Yes, you're welcome. So, what had really happened?
- Two men entered in the Cloister of Trials! - the priest seemed terrified as he said that.
- You've got to go there and end this sacrilege!
- Wait... I...
- Well, that's why we are here! - Rikku tried to gain the priests' attention.
- No, wait. - Yuna raised her voice and sounded almost angry. - I think you're over-reacting the situation.
The priests stared at her, completely surprised with her words.
- But, Lady Summoner, those men can't go into there, it's sacred floor!
- It was sacred floor. The Fayth don't have any power there now. I see no problem in other people other than former summoners going there.
That was the drop of water, the priests were more than surprised with her words, the words of the living High Summoner.
- But, those men,... they...
- Please, even if it's not sacred floor, it's an historical place, we must keep it safe from those "truth seeker" vandals - the priest pronounced "truth seekers" with a voice that denounced disgust, and a little bit of fear.
- I couldn't disagree more. - now Yuna was really angry - that kind of thought was what lead Spira to the "spiral of death" that it was in. Let them be there, they are searching for the truth, right? Let them! What's so wrong about it?!
- Yunnie, calm down...
Yuna let out a frustrated sigh.
- That's what I think. - she tried to sound more pacific.
The group of priests was speechless. A tense silence invaded the once-holy building, until Brother decided to break it.
- So... no hunt here? - he directed his unsure look to Yuna.
- Please, Lady Summoner...
- Well, since we're already here... - (and since she couldn't say "no" to some one asking help) - let's do this... - she walked in the direction of the Cloister's stairs without saying anything else.
--
They searched the entire Cloiser for somebody, finding only dust and a dead mouse, and were now at the entrance of the room that would lead to the chamber of the Fayth.
- Ohh... such a waste of time! - Rikku was getting annoyed with the uneventful walk in the Cloister.
- It isn't much to see here, anyway. - Yuna was still angry at the priests. - Let's go to the Chamber and finish this.
- I'm afraid I won't let you go any further.
The group stared at the young man who appeared abruptly at the Chamber Room's entrance. He was tall, light brown hair, dark brown eyes and had a nervous-looking face and posture.
- And who are you? - Rikku inquired slightly frightened.
- Doesn't matter. Now get out of here. - the man sounded threatening, his deep voice echoing in the almost-empty walls of the Cloister.
- What gives you the right to asking us to leave? - Yuna directed her anger to the man.
- OUT! - The man took a gun out of a holster and shot the ceiling of the room; this made Yuna and Rikku instantly react and take of their weapons: two daggers for Rikku and Yuna took her gun from her own holster (she wasn't very confident with using the gun yet, since that was a new kind of weapon to her).
- Hey, e-easy on there. - Buddy tried to calm down the nervous man.
- Just get the hell out of here!
- Wait. - Yuna spoke, holding her gun with both hands - You threat us and then expect us to leave, just like that?
- There is nothing to see here. Get out.
Suddenly, Brother jumped to the man's back and covered the man's eyes with one hand and punched his head with the other; this gave time for Rikku to attack the man too. But he was too fast, and managed to get rid of Brother (who fell heavily to the floor) and block Rikku's attack. Not defeated, Brother got up and, with a scream, attacked the man again, punching him on the stomach like there was no tomorrow, but again the man was faster and punched him back on the jaw, leaving Brother laying on the floor almost unconscious.
- Stop right there! - while fighting Brother and blocking Rikku, the man forgot about Yuna, and her gun was now pointed to his head. - Drop it.
- W-what?
- Your gun, drop it!
- Alright, alright... - the man opened his hand, but before the gun could hit the floor, he crouched and rammed his head against Yuna's stomach.
- No, you don't!... - Rikku attacked again the man, this time taking advantage of the fact that he was crouched, giving a kick on his head. Buddy grabbed the man's gun and run to Yuna.
- You alright?
- Yeah, I'm fine... - she said, with her voice revealing weakness, as she got up. She saw the man laying on the floor and breathing heavily.
- I've got his gun. - Buddy said.
- Who the hell does he thinks he is? - Rikku asked while checking on Brother.
- And what was he hiding?... - Yuna said in a whisper.
- Let's check it out! - Rikku stood up, already ready to enter in the Chamber's room.
- Wait, what about Brother? I don't think he's able to even get up right now!
- You stay here with him - Rikku said - Me and Yuna go to the Chamber and...
- Hey, wait! What if that guy tries to attack again? - he said, pointing to the unknown man lying on the floor.
- Oh... - Rikku's hopes for more action dissolved - What do we do then?
- I say we try to get some information from him. - Yuna said, pointing to the man with her gun.
- What I'm doing here doesn't matter to you... - the man said with a weak voice; as he talked there could be seen blood coming out from his mouth.
- You pointed a gun to us! - Rikku said angrily, and enjoying the sensation of power she had over the weak man - So it matters to us!
- You shouldn't have come here... Why did you come?
- I guess we can ask you the same. - this time Yuna talked - What are you doing here that made you point a gun to us?
- Hmm... he was right, you are not like what we hear from people, uh? What are you doing here if you don't believe in Yevon anymore, lady Summoner? - it seemed that the man recognized Yuna as the High Summoner
- What are you talking about? - Yuna seemed gazed at the man's comment.
- She's probably searching for the same thing as we are. - Another man came out from the Chamber's room with a gun on his hand (he wasn't pointing the gun to anyone, though) - Am I right, Lady Yuna?
Yuna stared at this man, recognizing him immediately.
- W-what? What are you doing here?
- You know him? - Rikku and Buddy asked simultaneously.
- Yeah, he's... hmm...
- Oh, how rude from my part! - the man interrupted - I think I haven't told my name the first time we met, did I?
Yuna's confused look answered better that words ever could.
- Marckus, at your service. - he took a bow as he said this. - That boy over there is Josh,... - he added, looking at the other young man laying on the ground. - I see you took good care of him...
- He attacked us! - Rikku was already ready to attack Marckus.
- You started... - Josh said as he tried weakly and slowly to get up.
- Hey, you had the gun!
- So did you...
- Calm down, children - Marckus talked playfully - I'm sure we can solve this like adults, right? - he helped Josh to get up and directed his look to Yuna, who was still trying to find any point of logic in all that was happening there.
- I... wait. Let's start to make some sense, okay? - the young Summoner started, trying to organize her mind - we arrived here and your friend...
- Josh.
- Your friend Josh blocked and threatened us... we had to defend ourselves.
- I understand.
- What were you doing there that is sooo important, eh? - Rikku was still suspicious about the two men.
- And what were you doing here that you wanted do badly to enter in the Chamber's room? - Marckus replied with a slightly evil grin and a playful expression on his face.
- The priests asked for our help, that's it! - Rikku answered.
- Is it true, Lady Yuna? - Marckus asked - I thought you didn't support New Yevon... But you're here, and I saw you at Besaid's temple, remember?
- You went to the temple, Yuna? - Rikku was getting more and more confused - and who the hell is he?
- And talking about that... Have you found anything about the "Dreams of the Fayth" already?
Rikku just gave up asking and gave Yuna the most confused look she had, but her cousin remained silent, as if she was keeping some secret.
- Oh, they don't know?
- I... no, I was doing this search by myself.
- Then I apologize. I thought you were with them...
- I am... but they are not part of this...
- I see... - Marckus confirmed that Yuna hadn't told anyone about the dreams of the Fayth; on one hand he felt relief, but on the other he thought it was going to be difficult to know how she found anything about it.
- You know what? - Rikku was now angry - I have no idea about what is happening here. But I know that I had a gun pointed at me, and that Yuna is somehow involved in this. I promise you I'm not gonna move from here until someone explains what is happening!
At that time Brother had already recovered his senses and was now trying to get up; he used Rikku's leg as a support, which caused them both to fall to the ground.
- What the hell?! BROTHER!
- Get of me!
- She isn't very good at keeping promises, eh? - Marckus asked Yuna, having fun with the situation.
- Let's just get out of here, I'm sick of temples.
--
After escaping from the massive wave of questions of the priests, the group reunited outside the building.
- Alright, now, who's gonna explain what't happening? - Rikku started.
- I'm not gonna say anything; it seems that Lady Yuna prefers to keep it for herself. I'm not going to interfere in that. - Marckus answered.
- I... - Yuna walked forward, facing Rikku, and then Marckus and Josh - It's not really a secret, I guess... I have to talk with them first.
- Alright, Lady Yuna. If you wish to talk to us, we'll be around. - Marckus directed his look to Josh - At least until he gets better...
With this the two men walked away to Rin's travel agency.
Yuna looked to the ground and let out a sigh, wondering how to start explaining everything to her friends.
- Ehm... Yuna? - Buddy putted a hand on Yuna's shoulder, waking her up from her thoughts. - I think I'll be going to the airship, Brother is not feeling very well.
- Right...
Buddy walked to the airship, leaving Rikku and Yuna on the rocky grounds in front of the temple.
- So... - Rikku thought if it was a good idea to ask what happened again, as she saw Yuna's embarrassment.
- I met Marckus in Besaid. - She started abruptly - He's a Truth Seeker.
- I see...
Yuna turned to Rikku.
- I was in Besaid's temple and he approached me. I thought he wanted me to join the Truth Seekers, but he didn't...
- That's weird.
- Yeah, I thought so.
- Hmm... what were you doing in the temple?
- I...That's... - Yuna thought if she should tell her cousin about the voice she heard and about the "Dream of the Fayth". On one hand she wanted to tell it to some one, exchange ideas. "Yeah, Rikku could help...". On the other hand, she was afraid that she thought she was crazy.
- Yunnie? - Rikku waved a hand in front of Yuna's eyes - Are you there?
This made Yuna wake up from her thoughts.
- Hm? Ah... Yes, I'm here. Yeah... Wait.
- What's wrong? - Rikku looked concerned - Look, I don't know what happened there - she directed his head to the rocky temple - but if you don't wanna tell, it's okay... okay?
- No, wait... - "Ahh... damn it!" - I wanna tell you... but... - she directed her eyes to the floor, and then to her cousin again.
- Hey, you can trust me. - she said, giving her a smile. Yeah, she could trust her; she was her cousin, right?
- It started when I heard this voice in my head...
End of Chapter 15
Here it is, new chapter. And I have a new reviewer! It's good to see that I have more than one person reading and enjoying this :) Thank you :)
And.. hhmmm... that thing about the dead mouse in the cloister, you can ignore it, it is a part of a private joke between me and a friend of mine (who is also reading this fic, but never left a review, bah! :P)