I do not own Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy X

And do please read the note from Chapter 1. Ignorance is so NOT bliss

Chapter 2

Kilika Island

Three days later

Yuna sat softly in her room at the Kilika inn, as she took the time to go through the many thank you gifts she received from family members of those who died. When Sin had attacked them on the boat, all had prayed that it would turn from this beautiful island. All had hoped and prayed that no one else would be hurt.

But it did not turn. It did not leave the people alone.

Kilika drowned in the waves of sheer water with Sin's approach. The destruction it left behind in its wake had taken many lives. As the first summoner on the scene, Yuna had volunteered to do the sending. No matter how much her heart ached as their own summoner was apparently already on her way to the temple when the attack happened.

"Hey! Yuna!"

A smile crossing her features despite her pain, Yuna looked at her newest friend. While Wakka and the others worked to help rebuild as much as they could while the boat was repaired, she had found herself drifting a little bit more towards the blonde youth.

"Hello."

Plopping down on the ground beside her, Tidus grinned happily. "So... Lulu tells me we are going to go to the temple shortly right?"

"Mmm yes. I must continue on my journey. We have done all that we could here."

"All right. Can't wait! Brings us even closer to Zanarkand!"

Her heart hurting for a moment from his words, the brunette shakes her head as she remembers that more then likely he does not know. She does not want him to know either, at least not until the time comes. When she had asked Lulu and Wakka to not tell him, the two of them were in shock.

Flashback

"Lulu....Wakka, please do not tell him of what will happen when my journey is over." Yuna asked so softly, that both of them had been hard pressed to hear. Both wearing surprised looks on their features, Wakka is about to protest when Lulu shakes her head.

"Yuna, it is wrong to keep it from him. If he and you get too attached..."

"I won't." She whispers softly. "Or at least I don't think I will Lulu. It's just well...."

Trying to find the words but failing to do so, Yuna just looks at her adoptive big sister with a quiet plea. The dark haired woman was looking at her with a curious and motherly eye as she can see her baby sister's pain and sorrow. It takes a moment before the black mage realizes and understands as she wraps an arm around Yuna's shoulders, holding her tight.

Flashback ends

Yuna was glad that Lulu had understood without her having to say it. Tidus, without knowing it, helped prevent Yuna from turning back and forgetting what must be done. There are times, even now, she wishes she could. But then looking at him and what is left at the moment of Kilika.

Her heart could not bear it. So much was gone, so many lives taken, that it hurt. Needing to distract herself from the mourning thoughts that even now still linger, she looks to her newfound friend curiously.

"Can you tell me another story about Zanarkand?"

"Sure, let me think....okay got it. Let me tell you about that time, that one of my friends and I crashed a party."

"Didn't you tell me about that one already?" Yuna asked with an impish giggle. Tidus looking affronted for a moment, he then chuckled as he looked at her sheepishly.

"I probably did. I can think of another one."

"No, tell me the story anyway, I like your stories."

Grinning, Tidus starts chatting as Yuna listened with the occasional little giggle as the blonde stands up to demonstrate various things. Both though were unaware of the eyes upon them. Eyes filled with concern and worry. Eyes that belong to a black mage and a blitzball player turned guardians.

"Lulu, shouldn't we stop them ya?"

The black haired woman looked to the man beside her and shook her head. "I warned her Wakka and she said she knew. That she would try and not get too attached to him."

"And what if he got too attached to her?" The red headed man replied sadly as he could see the friendly looks between the two of them. Although it was simply looks between friends at the moment, it could change. He should know, the man sighed thoughtfully as he spared a glance at his companion for the moment.

Although she was his brother's girlfriend for a long time, he, Chappu and Lulu had been friends for years. Friends for so long that it was bound that for two of them it could be something more. And Wakka....had hoped it was him.

He grew envious of Chappu in that last year before his brother's death. He tried not to show it. In fact he became who he was because of it. He threw himself into blitzball and even tried to be a guardian before a couple of times, only to get as far as the Calm Lands before the summoner themselves would call it quits.

But he could never forget her and Chappu together.

It was one of the reasons why that last time before he saw his brother, he had been almost ready to fight his blood when he had refused to take the sword. Despite his own jealousies, Wakka loved his brother and to see him refuse had hurt. And all the bottled up emotions he had concerning Lulu were coming to the surface mixed far too well with the anger he felt.

Chappu had left and without doing the things his brother had told him to do. And he felt guilty. Because he sincerely believes if they had not fought over the sword Tidus was using. That perhaps maybe, he would still be alive.

And Lulu would be happy.

"Hey Wakka!" Startled out of his morose thoughts, Wakka looked up to find Tidus staring up at him. Lulu sighing as Tidus was still clueless about many things, she could not help but smile as Yuna approaches as well. Both were trying not to laugh as Wakka was looking quite sheepish as he had not been doing his duty.

Kimahri whom had simply been standing there observing all four of them looked at them with something akin to pity.

Despite not being human, the Ronso was by no means unobservant, as he had proven by watching both sets of couples to a degree. He could see among those four the hidden looks passing between them when they started chatting amicably. He said nothing though, as it was not his place to partake of their lives unless he was asked.

Instead he would simply be there, when they needed him. For at times like that, Kimahri Ronso knew one thing. That is when the biggest mistakes are made is when they are trying to sort out what they know and what they feel.

Nodding his head, as Wakka and Lulu come forward to speak with him, he listens to their words. His eye watching the other two as once again it seems the newcomer tells Yuna a story. He can not help but appreciate the human's ability to make the once little girl he helped to raise smile.

It is what she wanted for this last trip she would make. A journey filled with smiles and laughter and he would do all that he could to make it so.

Now as both Wakka and Lulu make a statement towards him about hitting the temple tomorrow, he nods his head simply in acceptance. Then leaning back to continue keeping an eye on his charge, he mentally begins to prepare for the oncoming battles and test in the temple. Somehow he has an instinctual feeling that his newest charge, albeit one he doesn't quite like at the moment, will be coming along for the ride.

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Just outside of Luca

When Cloud had arrived in Luca the day before, he listened and was somewhat confused as he heard the news of Sin attacking Kilika. As far back as he could remember, when Sin usually attacked, he left nothing alive. That is what it had done years ago, and every time it has arisen.

Nothing was safe from the beings attacks, save him.

Not that he wished to be like he was.

Going to the local bar/inn to hear the news, the fact that a blitzball tournament was coming up had merited his staying a little longer then what he had originally planned. It is not often that something like that is happening when he comes. So he will stay if only to have a happy memory once more to remember.

"Cloud, my dear friend, is that you?"

A confused look crossing his features for a moment, the blonde turns to find another blonde man beside him, one of the few whom he had allowed to get close. Because simply put, the man would not let him be alone. Cloud, on one of his trips out for some humanity to remind him that he was human, had come across Rin who was in trouble as too many fiends had cornered him.

Doing what he does best, without using materia, Cloud had fought them off with ease. Never having lost his abilities or his strength, he had saved the man's life and Rin had insisted on someday being able to return the favor.

In the beginning though, as he got to know the blonde swordsman who had been on his way to Macalania at the time, he realized that Cloud did not need to be saved physically.

But emotionally, the man was almost too quiet and, by the look in his eyes, very much alone....

Rin therefore had become his friend that day. One that even though Cloud did not want to get attached to, he could not help but do so. Rin would seek him out sometimes in his journeys and bring him things and news of what was happening in Spira.

And despite his own desires, Cloud needed it. Needed that companionship more and more, that feeling of belonging again...

So for the first time in almost 850 years, the former SOLDIER accepted that hand in friendship. In fact because of the years he has lived, Cloud had eventually stockpiled enough money, that the blonde had been happy to fund Rin's chain of inns and shops all across Spira. And he has not regretted it since.

The man had used it well and was helping fund his people to come together and make a home all their own.

The ex-SOLDIER knew of the Al-Bhed and what they had been trying to do over the years to save the summoners from sacrificing their lives needlessly. In fact he agreed with their sentiments, but rather then help them, he didn't.

He knew it would come to naught. Rin was one of the few who had a rough idea on his abilities and in the beginning had wondered why Cloud did not fight Sin as many did. Cloud sat and told him his story.

One that was a part of myth and legend to the man, and yet Rin could tell he was telling the truth. It was in his eyes, everything that he spoke, he spoke with an air having actually been there.

Since then, Rin had never left him alone for longer then a year. In fact he had stated simply this...

To be alive for that long and with no friends is indeed a very lonely life.

Cloud did not argue with those words. Nor did he try to, for indeed they were true. He dared not make close friends, despite his desires. His heart couldn't take the loss of them as he lost all else.

Even now when he comes out he searches for his one missing friend.

Vincent as far as he knew and as far as his instinct could tell he was still alive. He was still asleep somewhere and after the incident with the Deepground and his loss of his Lucrecia, the man had simply disappeared.

He went back to sleep in what could be one of many an underground lab belonging to the long dead scientists of Shinra.

And knowing Shinra that was not counting the ones even they didn't know about. Hojo was one of theirs and half the shit that man had done he had done for others in separate laboratories all together.

So all he could do is wait and hope that his friend wakes up on his own.

In the meantime, turning to Rin, he looks to his friend and asks about the tournament and the teams. Considering the last time he had watched a game was years ago, he figured he should brush up on any new rules or changes....

And life went on, but unaware to both blondes one man entered the inn and checked in. Quiet and unassuming unless spoken to, there were some who might have recognized him from a long time ago.

But then drinking and far into the celebrations for the upcoming tournament, they did not care. So he was allowed to relax and to wait.

"Jecht, Braska...I promise your deaths will not be for nothing." He whispered softly.

Wearing his red coat and holding a sword almost as big as the one strapped to the back of one of the two men, Auron, had arrived.