FIVE
It was close to dawn before I finally had roused from sleep and realized that Gatta and I had fallen asleep there, naked in the hidden cove at the beach.
I was thankful, however, to find that the cargo ship en route to Kilika had yet to return from its destination, giving me ample time to wake Gatta and for the both of us to swim off into a thicket of seaweed where we hurriedly dressed in the water, kissing in between phases of dress, our bodies pressed against one another, floating amidst an ever-increasing light flitered by the distant foliage of the island.
It was just another one of those moments which I had come to cherish in the coming years when my sins against the ones that I had befriended began to emerge, devouring my soul bit…by bit…by bit.
"Chappu?"
The young man of now twenty-one years turned around from the Crusader lodge doorway to face his friend and respected captain, Luzzu. It had been two years since his arrival and it was more than apparent that his influence was helping the village immensely.
Chappu had truly begun to admire Luzzu and the Crusader's cause.
"What's up, Luz?"
Luzzu walked up to the young man, his arms crossed about his chest.
"Have you…ever considered joining the Crusaders?"
Chappu was taken aback by the twenty-eight year old man's sudden question. But for some reason it made Chappu think deeply.
"Well?" Luzzu continued, a warm smile on his face, "We could really use more recruits and I truly believe you have wonderful potential. I saw you battling off that pack of fiends that day when they invaded the village last month. Not very smart…but you got the job done."
"Well, I…it was nothing, really, ya!" Chappu said, his face turning slight red. He was not one to receive compliments very well.
"Nothing? I witnessed a natural born warrior that day and I've been hoping that that battle would've sparked your interest in the Crusaders but…since you haven't made any attempt to come and talk about it, I decided to ask you directly instead."
"Hey, look, I just came to find Gatta and see how you were doing. I didn't want to talk about becoming a Crusader, ya? I'm a blitzer! Nothing more, ya?"
Luzzu frowned and uncrossed his arms, then placed his right hand slowly but firmly on Chappu's shoulder. His eyes became serious and his smile had faded.
"Have you ever thought of life outside of blitzball, Chappu? Just once, have you ever thought of doing something other than playing the game? Haven't you ever wanted to do something that's actually worthwhile?"
"Hey, wait a minute, there! Blitzball's…"
"When it comes to maintaining the hope of Spira, blitzball is a blessing, yes! But when it comes to protecting the people of Spira and saving our homes from certain destruction, blitzball is, sadly, nothing."
Chappu winced at Luzzu's comment but continued to look directly into the older man's icy blue eyes, unable to move as his piercing gaze fixed him into submission.
"Listen…in this world there are two things that protect our people from Sin: summoners and Crusaders. Summoners use the Final Summoning to call forth that which will destroy Sin and bring about a Calm. Crusaders fight Sin with all their might and draw it and its spawn away from people, thus saving those that would have never survived otherwise.
"But blitzers…in the end, Chappu, blitzers are only prolonging a dream. A fantasy that will ultimately end the moment people step out of that stadium and back out into the reality that is Sin. Why not come away from the dream? Join the reality for good and help with the cause: to defeat Sin once and for all?"
Chappu looked into Luzzu's eyes for a moment longer before he finally pushed the man away and began to walk toward the exit, only to stop short of it. With his back turned to the captain, he lifted his head and sighed, a heavy sigh, filled with anguish over the undeniable truth.
"…You know…I've been telling myself something recently when I look at Lulu. She's my life, ya? I want to go all the way and propose to her after winning the cup, ya? But…I got to thinkin' these days, 'cause of her…maybe even 'cause of me."
Luzzu's face had turned to slight puzzlement as to what the young man was speaking of.
"Well, I've been known to always stick by the sayin' that 'it's good to be with your girl'. Gatta can testify to that…heh! And I think that's true too, ya? But…while being with your girl's good…"
Chappu turned around to reveal a serious expression on his features as he faced Luzzu once again.
"…keeping Sin far away from her is better."
Luzzu smiled slightly and nodded in agreement.
Chappu smiled as well and held out his hand for the older man's.
"Welcome to the Crusaders, Chappu."
The two men shook hands. An unspoken contract of dedication and allegiance…
…to the death…
Little did I know that I was sentencing him to death.
Little did I know that my personal list of sins had already begun…
…and that I would only pay and pay and pay…
