I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or Final Fantasy 10

Chapter 9

Calli

Already a day into their journey down the High Road, they knew they should be coming up soon on the way station that resided between Luca and Mushroom Rock Road. The small group laughing and amusing, they paused as they saw a mother at the moment indulging her child.

Wearing her hair in braids as she runs around in the grass, the little girl shrieks at the appearance of a fiend all of a sudden. Tripping as she attempts to flee back to her mother who is running towards her, it takes a well aimed throw from Wakka to take the fiend out before any damage was done.

Auron, Kimahri and Cloud vanishing for a moment, they return as Tidus was running up to the child alongside Yuna. Having made sure that no others were in the area, they and the others watch as the young summoner offers a tender smile as she begins to heal. The little girl clutching onto a doll her mother gave her, the child smiles as she sees the scratches heal up with warm healing magic.

"All done." Yuna stated warmly as she got up. Tidus beside her, his friendly grin infected the young girl with the first stages of shyness.

"Well what do you say young lady?" The woman stated a she held onto her daughter.

"Thank you."

Smiling warmly, the woman studied the dress Yuna wore and her companions. Her eyes widening, she bows in respect to the small group of men and women. Well men, women, and Ronso....

"Thank you Lady Summoner for helping us."

"It is all right." Yuna said warmly as she tried to get the woman to treat her normally. "It was the right thing to do." The young woman stated softly as Lulu bent down to show her, the doll she had strapped to her back. A relatively new one that she picked up when they were still in Luca, it was a Moogle that she animated with her magic for the little girl.

As they chatted with the woman and her daughter Cloud watched and is plagued with memories. His mind going back to long with two children whom had idolized him and Tifa as well as the rest of his close friends.

Marlene and Denzel...

Lost in the memories of the two bright children whom had long since grown and passed on close to 1400 years ago, he found himself bending down to the level of the little girl who was curious about him.

Having interrogated the others of the group apparently by the look of her mother who was vainly trying to apologize for her audacity, Cloud gave a small smile as she asked questions. His blue eyes that are normally aloof were warm as he gazed at her innocent face.

"Who are you Mister?"

"I'm Cloud."

"Hi Mr. Cloud, I'm Calli! Is it true are all of you and Lady Yuna, gonna bring us the calm?"

"Yes." Cloud replied simply. His words sounding almost hollow, it bothers the little girl as despite being happy about the fact it was going to be coming thanks to these nice people she and her mother had run into. Well...the way he said it just didn't seem right to her.

"You okay Mister Cloud? You seem sad?"

The girl being far too perceptive at the moment, Cloud gives a warm smile of reassurance. "I'm not. You remind me of a dear friend I used to help someone take care of a long time ago. She was a brave little girl who helped me once along with others to find myself again when I needed to face an enemy once."

Calli's eyes widen as she hears the man tell her this. "She did? Why were you lost? And did you get hurt?"

"I don't honestly know anymore." Cloud chuckled softly. "I once believed it was because I did something wrong that I needed forgiveness for. And as to whether or not I got hurt. Well, you tell me? Am I all right?"

Pulling at a braid as she looks at him, the little girl brightens as she sees his strong figure and the goodness in his eyes. Eyes that belay kindness and a gentle warmth that makes her feel all good and fuzzy as she looks at this man in black.

Still though hearing his question, the little girl walks around him and pokes him in that back and various other places within reach. The light hearted smile and laughter that is held back by those watching, they can tell as Cloud raises an eyebrow at the child's actions he was amused.

"Do I pass?"

"Yep! You are all right. So you will bring the Calm along with Lady Yuna and the others right?"

Nodding his head, the little girl ran around smiling with laughter about it. Her pure innocence and hope was invigorating the flagging spirit of those who knew what was coming.

Walking away now as they said their goodbyes to the little girl and their mother, Tidus and Yuna both found themselves lagging a little bit as they looked at the other blonde man with curiosity. Auron they knew from him being a guardian before, and that he raised Tidus somehow in Zanarkand long ago.

Both continued to remain with him as they walked in contemplation for a few hours towards their next stop which was to be the inn in this area owned by Rin. The silence soothing to say the least it takes Yuna to work up the courage to ask.

"What was it that you felt you needed to ask forgiveness for if I may ask Cloud?" The young summoner questioned as politely as she could. The puzzlement in her tone, Cloud could feel the others nodding their head in agreement. His memories coming forth, he shakes his head and walks forward a little faster in steady strides.

The younger blonde about to retort as it was rude, Auron as well as Kimahri held them back. The two puzzled to say the least, their answer came from the Ronso, whose senses felt the truth at the innocent question asked in his scent and in his stance. The other man had become tense and well full of pain and regret....

"He tell when ready. Story full of sorrow, Kimahri can tell much pain he carries on his shoulders."

"Huh? You think so Kimahri?" Tidus asked as he and Yuna stared at the Ronso with curious expressions.

"Kimahri don't think. Kimahri knows..." That said the Ronso, refused to talk anymore. Yuna smiling as Tidus took on a look of irritation, the young summoner successfully distracted the blonde youth as she asked him tell what they would do should she ever be able to go to his Zanarkand.

Happy to oblige, the blitzball player from the past starts talking about the views and the beauty of the city lights from his home. The summoner a rapt listener, the others watch and hope.

But deep down, they know that perhaps it is too late.

The attachment is there....

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

Having arrived late the previous day, it was decided that they would stay a day in the inn and leave the day after. So as Tidus woke up from taking a nap of sorts after an exhausting training session with both Auron and Cloud. The two had decided that although he was good with a sword.

He could be better. Of course that irritated him to no end. But still, it was something to do that killed the time. Being of the past, well he was more or less used to being busy. And despite the fact he liked the peacefulness of Spira. Tidus was used to always just doing something.

It was why he was such a good blitzball player. As one, you were always doing something. Never were you bored.

Sighing as he fully took notice now of his surroundings, the younger man found himself in an empty room. Puzzled to say the least as he wondered where everyone was, he couldn't help but reflect on something that Auron had told him.

Something that even now bothers him...

His father....Jecht....was Sin.

It....just couldn't be possible. Not his father. Despite hating Jecht, Tidus knew his father was not the type to do what was done to Kilika. Jecht was an ass, but he was no killer.

But yet Auron said Jecht was Sin.

Leaping out of bed, needing to get away from the dark thoughts clouding his mind, Tidus strode out of the Inn. Passing Kimahri, Lulu, and the others as he walked outside the blonde stopped in awe at what he saw.

The view was gorgeous!

"WHOA!"

His eyes seeing the sunset at it goes down, he loved the colors that highlighted the far off ruin in the water. His blue eyes taking in the contrast, his dark thoughts were forgotten for now as he recognizes the silhouette of the figure sitting down by the cliff side.

"HEY YUNA!"

Not knowing if she heard the young blonde started running towards her. Noticing how the colors make her brown hair shine with various tints of brown, red, and even blonde, he pauses a moment to shake his head. A smile on his lips as he slows down, and admires not just the beauty of the sun, but her as well, he can't help but be curious as she seems to be doing something.

"Hey? Whatcha got there?"