Yuna and Lulu collect Yojimbo and a confrontation leads to huge discoveries - for both people.

Other than a massive amount of editing for grammar/sentence clarity and a few new sentences added here and there this chapter remains mostly untouched.

- One thing I didn't say at the start of this fic that I should have - is that this fic is NOT A FIX-IT. It's a WHAT IF which I think can imply very different tones. While things change and different people come out alive at the end of the final battle, the ending of the story is still very in line with the themes of Final Fantasy X. Please expect MAJOR CHARACTER DEATHS. I'll warn for this next chapter as well. -

Thank you for the follows/reviews (seriously cannot thank you enough).

italics = denotes thought or memory

Not Mine

Letting Go

Yuna sat on her bed, holding her head in her hands. She was tired, emotionally and physically. She had nothing left. Nothing to fight for and nothing to believe in. She had betrayed her own beliefs and everything that she had ever come to stand for. She had let Sin kill people in an attempt to save her own life. The people who died may of had families and friends - who still had lives to live. There was empty void in her mind, a blank space where all of her hope had collectively died. She shook and gripped herself, trying to force out the feelings of loneliness and despair that now seemed to follow her everywhere she went. Clinging to her like a second skin. Death, chaos, destruction, and all these terrible things - she couldn't escape them. She stared at the plain metal wall in front of her and took in a few deep breaths. She had to steady herself - it was necessary if she wished to push on. A knock on the door woke her from her thoughts and she looked up, "Yes?"

The door opened and Lulu looked in, "Bad time?" the black haired woman asked.

Yuna attempted a smile, "No, it's okay come in."

No matter how she tried Yuna's voice showed the strain it took to say these things and Lulu knew that Yuna was forcing herself to try to be happy. Lulu entered the room and sat down next to Yuna. The younger girl buried her head into Lulu's dress and clung onto her, "Paine told me everything." Lulu said.

"I killed them Lulu. I didn't even think twice" Yuna said head resting on Lulu's chest.

Lulu sighed and looked down at the girl, "You did what you had to do, there was no other choice. It's best not to look back." it was advice she had repeated to herself many times since Wakka had betrayed them.

"Plus, feeling bad means that you're still you. That you still care." Tidus pipped in.

Yuna's head shot up and Lulu looked at her oddly. And then proceeded to watch in amazement as a grin, a true gin came over Yuna's features, "Tidus?"

"The one and only." he answered.

Yuna grasped Lulu arm and then hugged her tightly. It made it a little hard for Lulu to breath but seeing the real joy on Yuna's face was gift enough for her endure it, "He's okay! I can hear him!" she said.

Lulu didn't know what to think about this outburst, and sat watching as Yuna's attitude brightened considerably, the downtrodden girl turning ecstatic in mere seconds. And Lulu could do little to contain her, "I'm glad."

Yuna nodded to herself, "Okay, let's go!" she decided.

"Go where?" Lulu asked.

"The Calm Lands, to where Yojimbo lives. We got him once before we can do it again."

"Are you sure you're up to it?" Tidus inquired wanting to be sure.

"Yes!"

Lulu watched as Yuna went to her closet and pulled out her staff. It's top reflecting the light and casting a rainbow shadow on the ground. She stored in on her back and pulled out a garment grid and pocketed it. She turned and looked at Lulu, "You coming?"

The black mage got up and nodded - smoothing her dress of wrinkles. Deep down she didn't want to go back to that cave which held so many secrets yet untold and so many painful memories, but she would go back for Yuna. Gather her sadness - the memory of a woman's face who was more than just a person to guard - and tramp it down. She moved out of the room with Yuna. They moved to Lulu's room and Lulu collected her moggle. Then she made sure to pack a few ethers, just in case her magic ran out. When she was done she looked at Yuna, "Shall we go and get the others?"

Yuna shook her head, "No, it's just going to be us. I don't want anyone else coming. They deserve the rest."

Lulu nodded, and they were off.

The arrival at the Calm Lands shocked and surprised Lulu. The land wasn't desolate any longer, it was crawling with Bevelle soldiers. Like ants they darkened the ground covering it like a shadow, shifting as they walked around. The area where they had rested and waited while crossing to the mountains was gone. In its place was a giant war barrack. A huge table had been set out and map lay on it, she could hardly make it out but it seemed to mark where their airship had been last seen. Around it weapon racks held swords and approved machina guns. Nothing was the same. Next to her Yuna sighed steeled her nerves. This was just another byproduct of her connection to Sin, her choices pior. And she just wanted that connection gone, wanted there to be peace again. Taking a deep breath she glanced over the edge where she and Lulu were hiding. She pulled out her garment grid and handed a spare to Lulu, "Put on a thief dressphere," Lulu looked at Yuna an expression of disbelief crossing her features, "and don't look at me like that. It's only for a little while."

Lulu sighed and changed as Yuna had asked her and looked down at her outfit in disdain. It seemed to cover almost nothing and left so much of her flapping in the wind. The lack of any sort of warmth didn't help either. How Rikku could stand it she didn't know. Yuna looked at Lulu and smiled and changed into her own thief garment. When she had finished changing she dropped down the cliff and landed making sure to cling to the dark side of the wall where the shadows hid her from view. Behind her she heard a thump and Lulu landed next to her, "What are we doing?"

Yuna pointed to where the creature fighting arena was, "Creating a distraction."

They moved over to the monster arena and slipped in. Thankfully no one was there and Yuna looked at the mess that implied that there had been a monster keeper here, but the arena had been long abandoned. She walked over to the door he had once guarded and felt a chill run through her body. A strange aura resonated from this place. Next to the door a glyph was etched in stone and she placed her hand upon it and then ducked to the side hiding next to Lulu. All around them the ground around them started to shake. A stampede of creatures poured out of the door and back to the wild. Yuna then looked back at Lulu, "Let's go."

Then they slipped back out and ran forward. Lulu watched as the guards started to fight the creatures that had appeared as if by magic. They reached the exit of the Calm Lands and left as quickly as they could, not looking back. Behind them sounds of destruction followed. Eventually they came across a huge tunnel that lead to the fayth that resided there. The area around the chamber entrance was dead and not a sound was heard as they followed the path inside downward, "I don't like this." Tidus said.

"You too?" Yuna asked him.

"Something is off. I don't know what, but I don't like it."

Yuna nodded and then eyes widened understanding what felt so off, "There's no monsters!" she said aloud.

And it was true, the place was devoid of monsters. They had made it to the back of the chamber and so far they had not faced a single monster attack. And yet, that wasn't all of it either, something else was off too. As Yuna stepped on the pad that should lead them to the fayth chamber she couldn't help but think that something had been following them down the cavern the whole time, something watching in the dark. But they were here now and there was only one thing to do and that was go on. Once inside the fayth in the chamber looked up, "So you have come." the fayth said.

"Yes." Tidus told the man standing in front of them.

Like all the people who had come to the chamber and heard Tidus's voice Lulu was no different, "Is that…" she asked.

"It's Tidus and yes, Sin. But there's no reason to be scared. He can not harm you here." Yuna said.

The fayth looked back and forth between the two girls, "Then you have come for my powers?"

"Yes," Yuna said and took out a pouch that was heavy with coin, "I have the money you seek."

The fayth smiled slightly and looked down upon Yuna as if considering her for a second, "You will not need the money. This I will do because it has to be done." he answered.

Lulu watched in utter fascination as the fayth turned into a small ball of light and threw itself at Yuna. The light surrounded her and for a second her body glowed and her staff pulsed. Lights swirled around her body as she took the fayth unto herself and its power became part of her own. Her body shimmered once more and area around them quieted down, "Thank you." she said touching her chest.

"No thanks is necessary." the fayth answered it's voice reverberating around the chamber.

Outside they moved a few steps when they heard a voice, Yuna's perception about the lack of monsters and prying eyes finally stepping out into the light, "It's best you turn yourselves in." it said.

Lulu swiveled around and for a second her heart stopped. Yuna too felt her blood run cold and she felt Tidus's mood turn from calm into a cold rage. The room turned somber and for a second and nobody spoke, nobody moved. What they were seeing was far too maddening for them to do anything about it. Yuna didn't even notice when her eye shifted colors to a cold blue and neither did Lulu. But when she felt her thoughts slipping away from her and her body's will becoming not of her own only then did she notice. And then she saw the world from a different set of eyes and knew that she was no longer in control of her own body. And the person that was in control was furious that the man blocking their path was here, and he wasn't there to help them. Her body sneered and her hands turned into fists, "So the traitor returns." she said her voice hard.

The figure sighed, "I didn't want to do it. But if you gave in peacefully you would be forgiven. It could go back the way it was, we could be happy." he told them.

"The least you could of done was stay with her, after all you went through. After all you did." Yuna said.

Behind Yuna Lulu blushed and the man in front of Yuna arched his eyebrows, "Her?" he asked confused.

"Yuna! who do you think I'm talking about?" Yuna's body answered.

The man stopped, now even more befuddled than before. Lulu watched as the body that she had thought was Yuna's moved towards the man and slugged him across the jaw - hard. Lulu's eyes widened and she rushed forward, catching the body falling in front of her, "Yuna! Stop! Please!"

The figure stopped as if confused and then looked down at her body, then Yuna's eyes widened, "What's going on?" it asked.

Lulu looked down at the man who she was now cradling on her lap and looked up, "You tried to hurt Wakka." she said.

The figure's head shook, "No, why do I look like a girl?" it asked.

Wakka looked up, "You are a girl Yuna."

Once again there was a moment of silence. Then the figure spoke, "Oh chocobos."

"What's wrong?" Lulu asked.

There was no sound and then the patrons of the room heard a voice speak to them throughout the cavern, "Well actually it's not that bad…"

"Yuna?" Lulu spoke into the silence.

"Wow you guys can hear me too? Sorry getting off topic, think of it. If you can take over my body then maybe you can use it to get free! Maybe I won't have to kill you after all! Any way I want my body back now." Yuna spoke excitedly and quickly.

Lulu and Wakka watched as Yuna's eyes shifted back to green and blue. For a second Yuna stood there and blinked for a while and then flexed her fingers and shook her head as if clearing it of bad thoughts. Then she looked up and smiled, "Wow, that was powerful!"

Lulu looked down at Wakka, and then dropped him as if holding hot coals, as she realized what she was doing. Protective instinct had kicked in but now that her adrenalin had disappeared her feelings had changed. Wakka looked up at her and brushed himself off, glancing up at the two girls as he did so. Lulu's face showed no emotion but her eyes - they looked hurt as if something had transpired and she had finally realized something, "Good-bye Wakka." she said.

She turned and Yuna followed after her, both of them leaving a stunned Wakka standing by himself among the dead. Yuna caught up to Lulu and looked at her, "You okay?" she asked.

"No, but I think I will be. He has to follow his own dreams, no one can chose his path for him." she told Yuna.

Yuna smiled and curled her hand inside of Lulu's. Attempting to give the older woman strength. Lulu went rigid for a second and then her body relaxed, "You really cared for him didn't you?" Yuna inquired.

"I did, but it's time I moved on from him. From his brother. From the shadow they have cast on me."

Yuna squeezed Lulu's hand, "You'll find someone, and when you do, you'll know."

Lulu didn't say anything but looked down at Yuna, "When did you become so wise?"

"I had a good teacher."

They were silent all the way back to the outside of the cave. When the light of day hit their faces and they could see the brilliant sun, they stared at awe at the world around them. After a moment of reflection Lulu contacted the airship and both had to laugh when Cid's voice cracked over the com, "Where the high dusting hell have you been?"

A/N: A great number of building blocks are set up this chapter, a lot of things that will come back in painful and important ways.