Strange Spirits

Chapter 5

When Yuna and Squall finally made it to the stage they saw Rikku was already half way into a song and singing with a girl the former-summoner had never seen before. The other girl had short white hair and dressed in leather. She and Rikku were leaning back to back on stage with a bunch of flashing lights and singing very loudly in the empty stadium.

Yuna saw Big Brother cheering and dancing around while working the sound system. It looked exciting and lots of fun, but then she noticed that Squall seemed comfortable at all. He seemed distracted and lost in a memory.

However, her thoughts were interrupted when Rikku spotted her and jumped off the stage. She instantly wrapped her arms around her neck and squealed happily.

"Oh my god! Yuna! What are you doing here? Did you come to visit me?"

Yuna laughed and said, "Oh, Rikku. It's good to see you again, but actually no. Me and the others can to investigate a Sin sighting. Have you noticed anything strange lately?"

"What! Sin is back! No way! I thought we kicked Sin's ass."

The punk-spiked hair girl suddenly jumped off the stage too and said, "Hey, Rikku who's this?"

"No, this is my cousin, Yuna. This is Pain, she's my backup singer."

"Yeah, whatever. But, did I hear one of you talk about Sin?'

"Yup," replied the former-summoner. "I thought maybe Rikku could come and help me."

"Oh, yes!" she cheered.

However, Paine shook her head and said, "Yeah, but what about rehearsals? The contest is tomorrow night."

"Oh, man!" whined Rikku sadly. "That's right. We've been practicing like crazy for this. We can't just go. Oh, please Yunie! Give me one day and then I'm all yours. Please!"

Rikku then grabbed her cousin by the arms and began to shake her wildly to beg for permission. Though, unexpectedly Squall approached and said, "I don't know if we should waste our time getting distracted. Isn't this Sin monster serious business? Do you really have time to go off singing?"

The blond thief suddenly released Yuna and strode up to Squall closely and eyed him carefully. She didn't recognize him and he had a nasty scar across his forehead and he was wearing some funny outfit. He was wearing some kind of robe and he looked like a meanie.

"Hey! Singing is serious! And Yuna is going to help us, right?"

"What?" she cried. "Please, Rikku don't drag me into this, but I think we could spare you a day. I'm sure Wakka and Lulu would love to hear you sing."

Squall shook his head. "Whatever…do what you want."

The swordsman then turned around to exit the stadium. He figured if they were staying then he might as well make the most of it and gather some information. It was a long shot, but maybe someone would recognize him and fill in his missing memories. Yet, Yuna mistook his departure for anger and felt badly. She didn't want Squall to be upset. She knew he was very serious, but figured a day wouldn't hurt since they weren't sure about where Sin was hiding.

"Wow, Yunie! Wakka and Lulu are here too? It's like a reunion! I can't wait to see them."

However, the former-summoner wasn't listening. She decided to check on Squall and ran after him.

"Hey, Yunie!"

Rikku was about to run after them too, but Paine grabbed her arm and yanked her back unexpectedly. "Chill, Rikku. You still need to practice your lyrics."

"Ohhhh, but Yunie."

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An hour later, Yuna looked all over the city and finally found Squall looking out over the water where she and Tidus once stood and whistled. She felt sad as she looked at the familiar place because it made her remember the man she once loved. She quietly approached the Squall as he stood by the trailing and gaze out to sea. He had a peaceful look on his otherwise serious face and he had his eyes closed as the wind gently swayed his cloak and hair.

She heard him drew in a deep breath and began to hum. Surprised, she tired to hear the melody and smiled at how tranquil he was being. Tentatively, she listened and tried to hum along with him, but like a frightened chocobo, he stopped and turned to face her awkwardly.

"Yuna…what are you doing here?"

She grinned and said, "I was looking for you. That was a nice song. Did you make it up?"

Squall flushed with embarrassment and replied, "No, it's—it's something I've heard before a long time ago. I think its called Eyes on Me."

Yuna paused and gaze out towards the sea. "Eyes on Me… I've never heard of a song like that before. It sounds kind of romantic."

"It's a song about a woman singing to the man she loves, but they might not see each other again or she fears its all been a dream."

Yuna was startled at the meaning behind the sweet melody. The former-summoner knew all too well what it was like to fall in love with a man who was like a dream. And without realizing, she lowered her head and felt her heart begin to sink. Tibus had been like her dream. He promised her that he would be back if she whistled. Then, with a sigh she looked out towards the horizon and whistled out to sea.

Squall frowned at the odd behavior and asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm calling for somebody."

"I don't see anyone."

"We made a promise. If I whistle loud he'll come back."

"He? Who's he?"

Yuna stopped whistling and faced Squall with unshed tears shining in her eyes. She frowned bitterly and tried not to cry, but the swordsman reached out and touched her shoulder lightly to comfort her and said, "Yuna…I'm sorry."

She sniffled and met his gaze and muttered, "For what?"

"You've lost someone, right?"

Mutely, she nodded her head and brushed back the tears from her face, but Squall raised his hand and helped her by wiping them away with his gloved thumb over her cheek. Quietly, he let her catch her breath and said, "Yuna, I know that whoever he was he must have been important to you or you wouldn't be crying, but as long as you remember him he'll never be gone forever. He won't want you to be sad."

Yuna shook her head and lunged forward to give him a hug. She pressed her face into his cloak and finally wept into his embrace. Meanwhile, Squall wrapped his arms around her shoulders and back and began stroking the back of her head gently.

"Hey, it's ok. Everything is going to be ok, Yuna."

Yuna felt safe in scarred-warrior's embrace. Squall was kind, strong and comforting. He made her feel safe and she believed him when he said that everything would be ok. He was so mature and knew the right words to make her sorrows go away.

However, out of the blue appeared a man at the end of the stairs. Startled, Yuna gasped and couldn't believe what she was seeing. Dumbfounded, she saw that it was Tibus.

"No, it can't be."

Squall eased her away from his arms and faced the stranger critically. It appeared that Yuna knew him, but sword in his hand said that he wasn't friendly. The blade in his hand was made of a material he had never seen before. The design near the hilt looked like water and shimmered in the sunlight like the sea.

"Get away from her!"

Tibus then launched himself forward and leapt into the air and tried to slice his sword straight down to cut him, but in a flash Squall drew his gun-blade and blocked the blow skillfully. A burst of air and debris flew up from the ground at the impact at Squall's feet, but the scarred-soldier was unfazed. He swiftly ran his blade across Tibus' weapon and caused sparks to fly from the friction. He tried to cut him at his waist, but Tibus backed away at the last minute. However, Squall quickly attempted another attack with an upper cut blow, but realizing that it would miss he extended his left hand and cast aura.

Tibus moved to block the unknown spell with his sword, but was stunned to find that it wasn't directed at him. Instead, the scarred-soldier began to glow a yellow light and swiftly moved in to parry Tibus back with a furious combination of swings. Then, with a leap back he twirled his gun-blade and raised it high above his head and unleashed a pillar of light.

"Blasting zone!"

An enormous beam of power came crashing down at the blitz-player that he thought he was in for a world of hurt, but to his amazement Yuna tackled him to the ground and prevented him from being hit. Stupefied, he gazed at her in astonishment, as she nearly became toast along with him.

"Yuna! What are you doing!"

She looked up at him and smiled sweetly. "I was saving you, silly."

Tibus shook his head and scrabbled to right himself and helped Yuna off the ground and began to brush the dust off his clothing. He gave her a shy smile back and rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Hey…"

"Hey."

The two were then about to embrace, but Squall instantly placed his gun-blade between them and nudged the former-guardian away.

"Hold it right there. Who are you? And why did you attack me?"

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TBC

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