Chapter 18

Tidus stood close to Yuna; you could tell there was a connection between them when they were together. It was so obvious; you would literally have to be blind not to see it. "These are moon lilies." She explained to Tidus, he was so uncaptured by the moon lilies he almost missed the detail about them.

"At night, the moon lilies produce pyre flies covering the sky making it look like a sea of stars." Lulu's calm tranquil voice seemed to put the calming effect of the whole area into play. I could feel my limbs starting to get heavy and to be honest with you, I think I could have just slept here for the rest of my time here.

"I have an idea!" Tidus had ruined that tranquility in an instant his shout making me jump. I looked towards the group and then to him. His face holding an excited grin for his idea, almost like a child. He opened his mouth and was ready to say what he was thinking only for Auron to cut in, sharp and curt.

"We are not staying till nightfall." With that he moved away from the group most likely scouting a head. I followed him, wanting to talk about his current mood swings. "What?" It was also a little snippety when he said it, almost like he knew what I was going to ask.

"What is going on with you. Its like no matter what I try to make you happy you just seem angrier." Auron sighed not really telling me anything, just kept walking almost like he was trying to ignore the problem. "Hey, am I your problem?" He did his signature hnn and kept moving not really giving a direct answer. I sighed thinking of how our activities were going to affect everyone. Taking the hint I dropped it, why bother beating a dead chocobo?

The group caught up to me and slowed their pace to match mine, taking it slow to admire the beauty around them. I didn't mind, not like it was the last battle right now. Why not take things slow, is it such a painful thing? "Whoa!" Tidus yelled bringing me out of my thoughts and looking at the gigantic elephant in front of us. "What is that?" He said admiring it along with the scene around us.

"A shoopuff." Yuna said I decided this was the part I leave, let them bond some more, not like I was the main character in this situation, those two needed more alone time than one thought in order to get their feelings together. I wandered around the area long enough to find captain Lucile, Emily, and Clasko, arguing with what looked to be a smirf.

"Imposhible, Imposhible." Sighing they turned towards me, their eyes brightening.

"What's going on?" I crossed my arms looking at the group and they closed in around me, patting my shoulder and greeting me with their grievances.

"He said we couldn't put a chocobo on the shoopuff?" I looked at them and then towards the overgrown chicken clucking happily oblivious about the whole situation.

"Logically speaking I cannot say I blame him, more for the chocobo's and your safety." I said looking back at the palanquin and how big the bird was, what if it decided that it was too much for itself and drowned.

"We can't just leave it."

"I didn't say that, maybe find another way. There must be something right?" They seemed to consider my contemplation and Lucile hopped up on the chocobo.

"Your right, where there is a will there is a way." With that Clasko and Emily were following behind Lucile, looking for a possible way to continue.

"That is going to stick with me." I turned to see Tidus, his eyes looking distant, almost like he was in thought of what was to come. Yes, he knew sin was their final battle, he knew that sin was also his dad, but did he ever consider the outcome of the whole situation, what Yuna and I would have to do for us to defeat sin.

"Tidus there is something-."

"Tidus, Yuki come over here its time to head out." I looked over to see Wakka waving his hand grabbing more than our attention. I smiled and waved back hoping the man would stop making a goof of himself only for Lu to cut in smacking him on the back of the head.

"You were saying Yuki?" I looked back at him, his eyes wondering over my face, I smiled and faltered, they will tell him when the time is right, it really wasn't my place to say not right now maybe at Bikenel? My thoughts mulled over, the story had to continue right, it wasn't like I could stop it. I walked past Tidus headed towards the group.

Yuki yawned exhaustion hitting like a ton of bricks on the ride. It was still so calming here, and the lull of Lu's voice really wasn't helping the situation. Her eyes seemed to drift closed each word Lu and Wakka said about the sunken city. There was a moment of silence, and she opened her eyes to look at everyone. The group was sullen and down on their emotions.

"I try to sleep for a few minutes, and it gets quiet, what if would have snored or something?" I stood stretching, I could feel the pop in my back and then the whole shoopuff shook. I was knocked over the railing watching as Yuna was snatched from the shoopuff. Tidus and Wakka following her. The water was so clear that I didn't have trouble finding the three. Thinking on it now, what was I supposed to do? I would need air every ten minutes on top of that I wasn't the strongest to carry Yuna back up to the shoopuff. Either way I couldn't turn back now, not after being knocked off.

Yuna had been captured and was in a tube above a machina that seemed to track and annualize every one of our moves, not giving us time to think of a plan. Not only that but I had left my weapon on the shoopuff.

"Yuna, we'll save you!" Wakka shouted slamming his ball into the machina. Tidus didn't hesitate and continued his barrages of slashes, the machine whirring with each hit. I looked around the machina looking for anything to give us leverage. The tube Yuna was in was compromised of glass air and what looked to be a thunder spell holding her in. Before I could get closer to the tube, Tidus had landed the final blow causing the machina to spasm and sputter. I looked to him and Wakka only to see their backs, with Yuna. Panic had flooded my system; they had left me with the machina not even thinking I was down there with them. I cursed at the situation and could here banging, looking down I saw something pop open, and before I could do anything was grabbed around the waist and felt a warm spread across my face. The machina had exploded. Not cause to much damage to my kind of savior, but I could feel the pain spread.

! #$% #$%^&*(O)

Wet tired and in pain, I was able to help my unconscious savior to the shore bringing her away from the water. My body collapsed next to her, my eyes stinging from even moving. The cool water from the moon flow had staved off the now obvious burns and cuts I had suffered from the machine. Not thinking, I moved from the woman staggering and falling.

Looks terrible. I looked up at Ixion who was squatting over me with a large smile on his face.

"Fix it if you don't like it." He shook his head smiling more and brushing some stray hair away from the burns. It stung, well any type of movement felt terrible now, but what could I do.

Maybe you should start learning some white magic. Ixion looked around and then towards the area with the most population. You could summon me, and I could get them people to help. Sighing it wasn't a bad idea. Considering the situation, I was in. With a grunt I lifted my hand and tried to pull myself up, only to fall face first into the dirt below me.

"I don't have the strength now. Sighing I looked up at Ixion, his face grimacing. He squatted again and placed his cool hand on my cheek.

You are a terrible summoner. He didn't disappear though he looked at me sympathetically, almost as if regretting not being able to do more than comfort me now.

"I know." I felt tears of frustration start to come on and I looked at the woman beside me, her breath even as if she was asleep. "Check on her. Please." He looked reluctantly and moved towards her. From what she could see the woman didn't have too much damage and was fine. He rolled her over, and then back into her first position.

She's fine. Ixion moved back to me, he sat next to me his hand on my cheek again. His cool hands were what she needed right now. So wanna talk about Mr. red? I felt my cheeks heat, but at the same time a wondering on what was going on with him. He was distant and cold, not anything like his first night with her.

"What's there to discuss. He's on a pilgrimage, no distractions, duty first." I said feeling my body sag with disappointment at the thought of him not touching me again. There was a crunch, looking over I could see a blonde bob standing in the distance.

Seems my time is up. Ixion stood about disappear when Yuki grabbed his pant leg.

"Stay, just in case." The crunching got faster and louder, Ixion didn't move, until the crunch was right on top of them, he gently moved his leg away fading.

"Yuki!" Pain had swallowed her as Tidus lifted her. Her loud scream startled him, but had brought him out of his thoughts as he pulled out a high potion. The contents were spilling around them rather than in her mouth. "Come on its more effective if you drink." Yuki felt like she was drowning. Before more of the contents could spill out, she was grabbed and yanked up. The pain worse the first time Tidus had grabbed her. Her screams filling the calm area with pain.

"Stop, please." Her pleas went on deaf ears. She felt more movement jostle her wounds and before she could let out another sound lips slammed to hers. She opened her eyes long enough to see a grey streak and sunglasses. Her head tilted to make the potion go down faster. Quick as it happened it ended. Auron set her down her body slowly healing, almost like it wasn't wanting to take.

"Is that supposed to happen?" Tidus breathed as he looked at the slowly closing wounds.

"No." It was sharp and immediate. Auron grunted leaving the unconscious woman laying there. He stayed close though. Tidus looked over towards the other woman laying in the dirt. Her body jerking up.

"Your still alive?" Tidus said cautiously watching the woman.

"Tidus, Sir Auron did you find Yuki?"