I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or Final Fantasy 10

I hate to say it folks, but I am fairly sure that the one who said he would beta decided to not do it and just didn't tell me. Real life or something probably got in the way, but quite frankly after two weeks of sending him the first two chapters. Something tells me he is not going to do anything.

So if anyone knows someone who has free time to beta I would appreciate the help. And I have tried the beta offers here....*sighs you see the results.

Chapter 5

Luca

The following day

Before the tournament was to begin, because of the attack of Sin in Killika, the sailors were also bringing a list of those who had passed on. Hence the tournament had been postponed for a couple of days out of respect. It was to help give those who had relatives in Luca a chance to mourn family that may have been there.

The Maesters themselves would also be holding a service, in the stadium to honor those who had gone.

Although not many, some people had already approached Yuna to give her their thanks. Their faces grief stricken, they were given gentle smiles of warmth from the young woman, which eased their tired hearts.

Even the Luca Goers who wanted to continue harassing the Aurochs, were held back by Graav, who although he was not the Captain. He knew that this time was not the place to try and well psych the other teams out.

So now they found themselves quiet and in the inn. The people all around them were chattering softly and talking about the service that was to be done tomorrow before the opening ceremony of the tournament.

Still though, as Tidus left with Wakka and the rest of their Aurochs for their scheduled practice at the stadium. Yuna who was listening as Lulu discussed possible strategies for going on the journey was startled as she overheard several statements all at once.

"Did you hear?!"

"Sir Auron! He's back!"

"Really? The Sir Auron?!"

"Yes apparently he and some blonde man in black had this fight that was dead even!"

It was at this moment, though that Yuna stopped listening as her eyes widened. About to say something to Lulu, the black haired mage was just smiling softly.

"I heard them as well Yuna." The woman replied as Kimahri stood silently beside them. The Ronso relaxed and alert, the two women did not have to worry about anyone harassing them.

"Do you think that Sir Auron might know him? I mean he and Sir Jecht were my father's guardians. Perhaps Sir Auron knows where Sir Jecht is!"

"Perhaps Yuna," Lulu stated gently. "But the question is this. Would he even wish to know?"

Confused at first, Yuna realizes what the dark haired woman is saying. Her face soft with pained memories, as images of Tidus's features cross into her mind. When they had talked about their fathers on the boat towards Kilika in the beginning, she could see him stiffening up with every mention of Sir Jecht.

"I do not know Lulu...why would he hate his own father though? I don't understand?"

"And neither do I Yuna. But he does, before you mention it, perhaps it is wise that you think about it all right?"

Nodding her head, Yuna watched as Lulu, left to go and order them some food. Lost in her thoughts she reflected on her childhood, which was filled with many happy memories. Among them were ones of a dark haired man in odd shorts that was Tidus's father.

Jecht....

He was a good man towards her in that brief time she had met him with her father. Before he as well as Sir Auron had left with Braska, he had played with her when most others would not. Apparently, her father was the one everyone had been pinning their hopes on back then to defeat Sin.

Back then, she did not know. She was just a little girl, being raised by her father and she thought he would be coming home from his journey victorious over Sin. It was only when Kimahri had come and then simply hugged her.

That she realized her father was never coming back.

Looking up at that moment towards the Ronso, she found herself taking his hand once more as she did that fateful day when they arrived in Besaid. Despite his own face of puzzlement as he to was listening to the conversations. Questions arising within him, just as the one being spoken of knew they would. He remained where he was with the two women.

Yes he had questions and wanted answers for them. But Yuna needed him more. Over the years and despite not being each other's species. He did indeed come to love the little girl who looked to him as a substitute father after she had lost her own. One of the first Ronso to ever make something of a life for himself on Besaid, he was looked at with mistrust at first.

But when Yuna looked up, she had asked a simple question that had made those in the village look at her with a mixture of pride. And later regret....

"Kimahri...is this where my Daddy wanted me to be?"

Gruffly but with a warm almost paternal quality he had nodded his head that day as he replied. It was then that noticing how close the child looked to the one whom had defeated Sin, that the head Priest put it together.

That this little girl was the new High Summoner's daughter, and that the Ronso was her new guardian.

Nothing else really needed to be said then. The Priest had taken charge and had made sure the villagers understood who Yuna was. Being peaceful and knowing the nature of that which was defeated. The people of Besaid had welcomed her into their hearts. Lulu, who was living by herself already, was willing to let them stay with her and two other boys.

Wakka and Chappu, a pair of brothers and well...

That was it. A makeshift family had been born. Kimahri smiled reassuringly at the young woman who looked so uncertain at times. But at others was infinitely stubborn to a fault. Good hearted Yuna was....

Sometimes though it is that same heart of hearts that worries him so much... It was a strong one to have. But every heart sooner or later has a weakness. And Yuna's was obvious to all to see.

She wanted people to be happy at any cost sometimes. Even if it came at the cost of her own.

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

Yevon Church

Cloud left the church wary and alert of those around him. Apparently, having heard of the spar he had with Auron, they were looking to not only find his new found friend. But they were also trying to recruit him to their beliefs...

It was most definitely not going to happen. Just being with those from Yevon as long as he had had given him a feeling he did not like. Although in the end Shinra had managed to redeem itself, its greed in the beginning is very much how Yevon was acting now.

And he remembers full well what they had created back then had essentially almost destroyed all life on this planet if not for him and his friends.

Sephiroth...

The one winged nightmare....

Many people according to Auron knew of the battles he and Sephiroth had, but to them it was mere legends. Myths really to be honest, stories like the battle between him and his nemesis was essentially treated as children's tales.

Cloud admittedly almost wanted to crack up as he had heard Auron tell him that. Confusing the other man at first, Cloud had explained that last battle he had with the man so long ago.

Auron could not help but crack a smile, at the memory Cloud shared with him. That is indeed irony at its finest. For someone of Sephiroth's caliber to be that which he never intended.

A mere memory....

Shaking his head free of those times back then as an overwhelming loneliness comes to his soul, Cloud begins to think and to wonder. Long ago he had thought of nothing but his own death....

But now, the feeling he had received in his gut when he was meeting with Maesters, it was making him think now. He thought of the similarities between them and the Shinra Corporation from so long ago.

And Cloud was finding that history in its own way may be repeating itself....

Keeping his theory to himself, Cloud decided that when next he saw Auron he would speak with the other man. Being a former monk and a guardian, the man may have the answers that were kept hidden in their spar.