A/N: I meant for this one to be longer, but because I didn't want this story to seem abandoned (and for the sake of my sanity) I wanted to go ahead and put this part up here.

Enjoy!

The sunlight beamed through the cracked walls as they easily found their way to my eyes. It took a moment for me to adjust to them, not really wanting it to be morning just yet. I had a hard time sleeping last night, the whole 'sending' thing really put me on edge. However, I felt more calm now, so I must have slept some. Getting up, I glanced to my right to see Tidus still sleeping. He rolled over, making me think he was getting up too, but the loud snore that accompanied it told me otherwise. 'Best to let him sleep,' I thought. If either of us had energy to spare, it would be better for him to have it.

Walking down, I found the atmosphere to be a tad lighter. Devastation was still obvious as you look out the window, but some people seemed more focused to move on now... Not to say others still weren't grieving, but... Well, it was hard to explain, but it did bring up a question: Just how long have people been tortured by Sin?

I tried not to think about it, even as I walked outside. A lot of people were working on the boardwalk and buildings all around. I surveyed the area, but I didn't notice any familiar faces at first glance. Although my head told me it was a bad idea, I started to talk a walk. Standing still wasn't exactly helping my nerves.

Thankfully, I did notice a familiar face after a while. One of the Aurochs. His name didn't come up at first, but his slightly pale complexion and bald head was hard to forget. When I got a little closer, he noticed me and jogged over. To my relief, the boardwalk wasn't shaking that much from it. "Hey, uh... Jeen, right?"

"Jeena, fully," I responded. "Something up?"

He nodded. "Wakka's waitin' for you and Tidus."

I hummed a bit in thought. It seemed Wakka is trying to look out for us. "Alright. I'll wake him up if he's still asleep when I head back." That seemed to be all the Blitzball player needed to hear before he nodded again and jogged off. I told him I would, but I still wanted to look around a bit more.

As I was reaching a certain point of the boardwalk, I noticed one area was being worked on more drastically than the others. Made since, as it seemed to reach the island up ahead. However, within the noise of construction, I heard someone crying. I took a careful look around, pinpointing the crying to a rather damaged hut. It honestly looked ready to fall any second, so I had half a mind to stay away from it, but the crying drew me in. Sure enough, there was a little girl curled up in the back. The whole scene made me nervous...

"Hey," I called to the child, making her look up with tear-stained eyes. "Come here. It's safe now, so you don't need to hide."

It took a moment, but she finally started to move from inside. However, the whole structure started to shake, making me gasp and act quickly. I jumped in, grabbing her, and then lunged back to the stable walkway just before the thing collapsed into the water. My heart raced from that, but as the girl got out from my arms and bowed to me before running off, I felt a little better. If I wasn't there... No, I couldn't think that. I was just glad I could save her.

"Jeen!" Hearing my name called out, I quickly got back up and dusted myself off. I didn't want to talk about what just happened if no one saw it. "Between you two, it looks like you're the early bird." Now the voice registered this time. Looking up, I saw Wakka with a grin on his face. Behind him, Tidus, with his hair messier than usual.

"Not to mention the cleaner one," I responded, more to Tidus than to Wakka, which my brother caught on.

"Come on, Jeena," he said with an exasperated sigh.

I came back the same way. "Listen, just because you're the athletic brother doesn't mean you can just walk around with a bed-head." Walking around behind him, I assessed the damage. Nothing big, but definitely noticeable. I immediately went to work smoothing it down for him, which I'm sure others would look at me strangely for it.

Tidus must've felt the same way as he jumped forward and turned around, smoothing down his hair himself. "And just because you're the older sister doesn't mean you have to act all motherly, ya know?"

Now was my turn to make an irritated face. Was it motherly to just try and help my brother be a bit more prepped for the day ahead? Wakka, however, stole our attention as he laughed. It wasn't exactly jolly, like I heard from him before, but he was rather amused. Thinking back to yesterday, I did remember that he had a brother. Did we... remind him of something?

"'Ey, we still need to head to the temple, ya?"

"The temple?" I asked. I mean, I knew the Summoners needed to go there, but where were we in this?

"Yeah. We need to pray for victory in the tournament!" Wakka raised his fist to make a point. One that made me have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Right, that blitzball thing. "Also, need to keep an eye on Yuna. I'm a Guardian, remember?" Okay, now that made more sense... given what all I know. "Yuna and everyone went ahead, so we'll be meeting up. Let's go!"

As if a signal to march, Wakka and Tidus started moving on. I was too, before I stopped for a moment. I couldn't help but look down at the remains of that shack the kid was in. Just one part of the rest of the town showing the devastation. But when I look around, everyone else seemed determined to rebuild, as if to fix not only their town, but their way of life. I guess it was a good lesson... but I couldn't say I was able to relate to it. At least, not at that moment. Turning back, I jogged over to the boys, wondering what would come next.

The forestry was just as dense as it looked from afar, but it was more like scenery so long as one stayed on the path. The birds made this place seem peaceful, hearing all the different sounds they were making. Unfortunately, there were also some menacing growls in the distance. 'More fiends, huh?' was my initial thought. But once Lulu, Yuna, and Kimahri came into view, I felt a bit more secure. But... why were they just standing there like that? The looks on their faces were rather fixated on us, meaning my brother and I.

"What's up?" Wakka's question voiced my own.

Lulu stepped up to Tidus and I, the next words spoken not something I really expected. "Yuna's saying she wants you with us."

"Huh?!" was the reaction that came from both of our mouths.

"I want... to ask you, both of you, to be my guardians," Yuna clarified, but I still couldn't respond properly. My jaw kept moving up and down, but nothing came out. She wanted us to be guardians? I mean, I know Wakka passed me off as one before, but I thought that was just for me to help take care of Tidus.

"Yuna! What? This is no time for jokes, ya?" Wakka said. Well, just that alone solidified my original impression. "Listen. Tidus may be a blitzball whizz-kid, and Jeen may be quick on her feet, but they're still a couple of newbies against fiends." Okay, he didn't have to put it like that...

However, I felt like I should add my few words in. After all, I still remember what happened before. "Besides, back on the ship, wasn't it you who saved me, Yuna? How could I be a guardian after that?"

Yuna lowered her head, apparently taking what was said into thought. Then she looked to Wakka, her eyes still the same as before. "Not guardians then. I just want them nearby."

The blitzball captain took a step back, more than surprised it seemed. It was as if he wasn't expecting Yuna to be this earnest. Though I couldn't really blame him. What was making the summoner want us to be with her?

"Wait, what do you mean?" Tidus voiced my question in his own way, but I'm sure we both had the same expression as Yuna looked down in uncertain thought.

"It's just that, well..."

I waited for an explanation, because I really wanted one at this point. I felt completely lost here, probably because since I knew nothing of the world we were in, and not understanding where Yuna was coming from made me feel like I was missing something that my intuition alone should be able to pick up. It felt like I was losing my mind!

"We're all going to the temple anyway. Can't this wait till later?" My shoulders dropped as my head fell back slightly. Lulu just made things more difficult for me.

Yuna, however, nodded in response to her, making me having to hold back a growl. It was getting to the point where I was getting more than just annoyed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..." The summoner's voice got my attention. I know I was getting angry at the situation, but what was she sorry for?

"There's nothing to be sorry about," my brother said, sounding like a gentleman for once. "I'm..." he looked back to me, my face likely showing my frustration in that moment. "We're just not sure what's going on."

Yuna's eyes went somber after that, following a bow with familiar words carrying a tone that actually... scared me. "My apologies."

My anger vanished in that instant, replaced by a strange sense of worry. What was on her mind that caused her to bring it out like that? That was nothing like her usual apologies that she says to everyone else... But before I could ask, Kimahri stepped up, making a gesture that clearly read 'We should get going.'

Everyone started walking, though I took a moment to just stand there and wallow in self-pity. 'I'm never going to get answers, am I?'