Yuna

With the sun setting in the distance I step onto the water's surface. It's kinda like the "silver pathway" that I so dearly like. It would be beautiful if it weren't for the dead beneath me. Performing a sending is a lot like summoning. The energy around me just needs to be caught up and directed. But today that energy is really the spirits of the dead. The energy urges me to step onto the water, and then I feel it boil. The water directly beneath my feet rises up in a fountain as the souls of the dead are being sent. Nearby fires turn blue with spiritual energy, signifying that the dead are departing. I finish the sending and look into the distance. The spirits will make their way safely to the farplane now.

Tidus

I watch Yuna finish the sending with amazement. How did the fires turn blue? What were those glowing, pulsating lights that floated freely? Why did the caskets of the dead congregate beneath Yuna as she sent them? It surprises me to think that summoners not only become pilgrims to fight Sin, but are also responsible for the dead. Keeping the alive and dead protected and looked after.

"It must be tough, being a summoner." I say to Lulu.

"Yuna chose her own path, she knew what it meant from the beginning. All we can do is protect her along the way. Until the end."

"Until the ... end? What's the end?"

Lulu doesn't respond, instead she just keeps looking forward. I'm clueless only for an instant, I look to where she is looking. Half the village is looking at me and Lulu. I'm really confused now, did I say something wrong?

Lulu shakes her head and says like I should already know,

"Until she defeats Sin." She says as she walks towards Yuna.

I'm baffled by how she just walks off after saying that. My head is on fire with confusement. Does everyone really think I just lost a few memories? I really have no idea what is going on. I need some answers. More than that, I need a lot of answers. For every answer I get I have another question.

Yuna

I feel sick inside at the thought of all the dead. I'd sent a few of the elders back in Besaid, but their time had come. They'd already lived good lives, but here in Kilika... these were all young, healthy people who had been killed by Sin. And not just one or two, nearly 50 people were dead. And all of their spirits' fates rested on my shoulders.

"I hope... I hope I did okay." I say to Lulu as she approaches me.

Lulu puts her arms around me to comfort me as she sees the tears in my eyes.

"You did very well. They've reached the Farplane by now. But... no tears next time, hm?"

Lulu strokes my head and holds me tight. It's comforting to be in her arms. The pain I felt at sending those spirits was intense. There were spirits who longed to stay among the living, they promised to behave and look after their young ones. And I was the one who forced them to the Farplane. Maybe some of the spirits were truthful. But I didn't let them linger. I've been told they belong in the Farplane, that it is my duty to get them there. I hope I did the right thing. Lulu thinks I'm talking about my confidence in sending. But I'm really talking about something that crossed my conscience. I continue to cry in her embrace. Soft silent sobs. It pains me inside at the thought that I might have taken them too soon.

"I hope I did the right thing." I whisper between my tears.

I really hope I did the right thing... I really hope they belong in the Farplane... I hope I didn't send them too soon.

I wish there wasn't so much death. But maybe it can serve a purpose. I don't want for their deaths to be in vain.

I will defeat Sin.

Tidus

As I see Yuna weeping in Lulu's arms my heart pangs in anguish. She's so young! Why is it that she has to be so big and grown up for everyone else. She has so much duty, and she strives to fulfill it exactly. I wish there will never be a next time. No more people being killed by Sin. No more sendings for Yuna.

Everyone stands there watching her. It's strange, and somehow... horrifying.

I never want to see that again.

Slowly people begin to walk away. Yuna's still there in Lulu's arms. I want to leave, just get away from what I saw. I wish I could forget it all. It's just... I have nowhere to go.

Wakka walks up to me and says,

"We'll stay at the Tiger Lodge for the night. It's that one down there." He says as he points to a larger hut in the distance.

I nod and start walking off.

I can't stand to be around here. I hope Yuna will be okay. I swing my head over my shoulder for a quick look. She looks better now, but she's still pale. I wonder what it must be like for her. After all, she performed the sending, not me, and based on how I feel, and how she looks, she must feel completely destitute of joy.

I arrive at the Tiger Lodge and walk in. I hear voices and see faces of people I don't recognize telling me things I don't understand. All I feel is a need to get away. For the next few minutes I can't recognize anything and feel sick. My senses are slowly and completely overcome. Blackness covers my vision and my thoughts slow. I can't think. My fatigued body finally succumbs on the floor of the lobby.

Yuna

Lulu is still holding me when a villager comes running towards us shouting at me,

"Your guardian, the blonde haired one, isn't breathing!"

I whip myself out of Lulu's embrace and start running after the villager. He leads me into the lodge and I see Tidus sprawled on the floor. I kneel down to him and rest my hands on his head. I feel life energy is still in his body. But I don't see any external injuries, so it must be something internal. I only know of one way to heal injuries I can't touch, and I've never performed the kiss of life before. I lift up his head and tilt his mouth open with my hands. Gathering the energy within me and lean down to breathe life into his body. Nothing noticeable happens and I repeat the action.

This time though I feel my body darken and slump. I feel like I am breathing ice. My eyes roll in my skull before refocusing. The pain stops almost as fast as it started. I look through fatigued eyes to Tidus. He looks the same as before, but at least now he is breathing again. I know he'll live. With that knowledge I'll sleep peacefully.

Kimarhi, my Ever-Vigilant is already there to pick me up and take me to a room.

"Tidus..." I whisper weakly.

Kimarhi stares into my eyes and nods knowingly.

That night I dream of a lot of things. But one sticks out more than the rest. A dream where Tidus and I stand on a hill at night and I tell him about the 'Silver Pathway' and he listens and we talk and enjoy each other's company. I feel so happy, and then he puts his arms around my waist from behind and whispers into my ear,

"Thank you so much Yuna."

I turn around in his arms and hug him back. I'm filled with a feeling of happiness and contentment I've never experienced. He leans his head down and rests it on my forehead. We look into each other's eyes and I can't help but smile back at him.

I start to say something when I realize I'm dreaming. I close my eyes harder not wanting for this dream to end. But the incessant rays of sun drown out what I'm trying to say. I'm forced to accept that it was a dream. Opening my eyes I realize that I'm in Kilika, nowhere near that hill I dreamed of. That hill probably doesn't even exist. But Tidus does.

Maybe Tidus really can understand and listen to me. That dream I had was so vivid, and I still feel joyful. I want it to be real. If I can fight Sin, I can talk with Tidus. We can become friends, and maybe I can feel like this again.

I wait in the lobby for Lulu and Wakka to wake up. Kimarhi is already beside me. When they arrive I talk shortly of my plan for the day.

"I want to get to the temple first thing."

"Well what are we waiting for?" Wakka says as he stands up.

"Well, actually I would like to wait for Tidus. I want him to be with us."

"Oh okay." Wakka replies as he sits back down.

"Why do you want to wait for him?" Lulu questions.

"Umm..." I struggle within my own mind. Can I trust them with this dream I've had? I decide to tell a part truth,

"I think we need to keep an eye on him. I don't want him wandering around."

Lulu looks at me with question but doesn't press the issue, Wakka is content with that and says,

"Ya, that's a good idea. Maybe Sin's toxin got to him yesterday."

I hadn't even thought of that. The moment Wakka said that Lulu's eyes softened and she changed her look. She probably thinks that Tidus really is affected by the toxin. After some silence Wakka speaks up,

"Okay, well me and the Aurochs will go out and do some work while waiting. I'll go tell them to get him when he let's meet in Kilika Main."

""Sounds good Wakka." I say. He nods, gets up and walks out.

"So..." Lulu pursed her lips.

"Let's go in to Kilika Main and see if there is anything we can do." I reply.

Tidus

I wake up in a room the next morning. I think that someone carried me to this room, I don't remember walking here last night. I don't remember much of anything about last night now. It's a smudge in my memory. Like the smudged corner of a painting that holds some important detail, but I'll never know what it is. All I remember is that I need to avoid sendings for some reason. Shaking my mind I get out of bed and stretch. I feel good today. I look outside and see the sun shining brightly. It looks beautiful. I try to think of the last time I ever saw the sun like this; it's been too long I decide after thinking for a while.

I step into the hallway leading to the lobby and walk outside. One of the Aurochs runs past me and says,

"Hey, Cap'n Wakka's waitin' for ya."

I figure he's heading to Wakka so I start jogging after him. After a short run I arrive.

"Ah, there ya are." Wakka says as he sees me come up. "Aurochs, huddle! Now we go on to the Temple to pray for victory."

A chorus of cheers goes up from the Aurochs and they immediately start off towards the Temple.

"High Summoner Ohalland used to live in the Temple here. He was a great blitzer ya know?"

"Wakka... praying for victory is good, but is this right? I mean, thinking about blitz so much?"

"Something wrong with enjoying blitzball?"

"Is now the right time?"

"Now is the only time. When the game is going on all the fans and the players forget the suffering and pain and just think of the game. That's why blitz has been around for so long. It's almost the only way to relax. At least that's what I think."

"Whatever you say." The thought of Sin still existing gives me hesitation to enjoying life.

"Come on, don't look so glum, let's win the tournament ya!"

"Right!" I snap out of my train of thought. We'll defeat Sin when we can, no use sprinting in an endurance race.

"That's the spirit! Let's catch up with the Aurochs, the temple is deep within the jungle."

We start running together. When we catch up to the others Lulu has this look in her eye. I can't place it, but Wakka notices it too;

"What's up?" He questions.

Lulu turns to face me.

"Yuna's saying she wants you with us."

"Huh?"

Then Yuna looks at me.

"I want to ask you to be my guardian." She says to me with a positive energy.

Whoa! Hold on there, I don't know if I'm ready for something like that! I don't know much about this guardian business, it seems pretty dangerous! Warning bells are going off in my head and I have no idea what to say. She seems so calm and I don't want to scream no, but I don't know how to reject that. Thankfully Wakka saves me from speaking.

"Yuna! This is no time for jokes ya! He may be a blitzball whiz, but against fiends he is a newbie."

Yuna turns to face Wakka, bows her head, and says with the same energy,

"Not a guardian then, I just want him nearby."

Wakka looks at Yuna with shock.

And I look at her with the same shocked look.

"What? What do you mean?" I'm confused, why does she want me around?

AN: Thanks for reading, and please comment! Even if it is a simple me gusta. I want to hear from you, because it really makes writing much more enjoyable. More to come, and Merry Christmas!