70: Soeng

Light flooded the cloister, emanating from the pit in the center of the room. Rikku hurried to rejoin the others just as it gradually began brightening. "Oh, rats," she muttered.

"What's happening?" Auron asked, shielding his eyes from the now-painful illumination flooding into the chamber.

Rikku pushed him onto one of the glowing hexagons Braska had activated. "Everyone, get on a tile!" She scrambled towards one for herself. "Yunalesca's sending another one of her pets to test us!"

The room began to shake even while she was speaking, and Braska and Jecht each hurried towards a glowing hexagon.

"By Yevon!" Braska swore as the rest of the floor dropped away just moments after he stepped onto his platform.

"Am I hallucinatin'?" Jecht yelped. He dipped an experimental toe over the edge of his tile. His foot passed through where ground should have been and into the empty, starry space that was quickly spreading all around them. He pulled back in surprise. "There was a floor there two seconds ago!"

Auron had dropped to a crouch to keep his balance, his eyes narrowed as he placed a hand on the glowing symbol beneath him. It flared slightly at his touch. "This… it's just like the moving Trial in Bevelle. Stay on the runes or you'll fall through!"

"Not exactly like Bevelle," Rikku corrected, releasing her Godhand and scanning the void for any sign of movement. "Yunalesca's undead dragon can control these runes."

"Dragon?!" three voices chimed in simultaneously.

Rikku winced. "Umm, yeah, so we're gonna have to keep moving while we fight it. Especially if your runes turn purple, because then boom! And summoning here is—"

She wasn't able to finish her sentence because a reverberating growl interrupted her. The massive head of the Spectral Keeper rose between them, its eyes glowing malevolently. It drew its elongated, scaled body upwards on tiny wings.

"Hell of an ugly dragon," Jecht muttered.

It whirled around with a snarl and lashed out at him with the massive stinger on its tail.

"Touchy!" Jecht taunted as he leapt out of the way of the fiend's swipe. His landing was off, though, and he circled his arms wildly to try to regain his balance on the edge of his tile. The fiend tossed its head as though laughing at him and the runes under his feet shifted to a deep purple. "Crap!" He took off at a run and leapt for the hexagon next to his, barely avoiding the explosion that erupted from the rune he'd been standing on. Pyreflies and flames coursed wildly through the atmosphere, and when the billowing smoke cleared the rune was dark.

"It's not safe to stand there until it lights up again!" Rikku yelled at Jecht, hopping towards her neighboring tile in an attempt to get closer to Braska. She wasn't worried about Jecht and Auron, but she wasn't sure Braska would be able to react in time if his rune exploded, not after all the dancing he'd been doing.

She was so focused on moving around the fiend that she didn't realize it was tracking her until it swiped a claw at her, mid-jump. Its talon hooked around her ankle painfully and she shrieked when it flipped her, changing her trajectory. The rune she'd been intending to land on spun away from sight.

Thinking quickly, she activated her Grid as she fell, tapping into Jecht's wellspring of luck. It did nothing to stop her plummet, though; her playing cards trailed after her in a flustered arc. "Help!" she screamed, reaching for a handhold, anything to hinder her uncontrolled pitch into the starry void.

Salvation came in the form of an arm that hooked around her waist; her descent was stopped violently. Auron grunted as he caught her, bearing the brunt of her full weight. They swung precariously from the edge of a rune that he'd managed to grab with his other hand; his sword was nowhere in sight.

"Climb up," he grit out, trembling from the strain of holding on to both of their weights with just one hand. She didn't need to be told twice, scrambling easily over him and onto the top of the rune. It was much more difficult pulling him up after her.

"Your sword!" she yelled as she hauled him up by the back of his robe. "Somebody has to hit that thing!"

"It's not going to be us," Auron said, grabbing her again and leaping for the next tile when he noticed theirs turning purple. They split, nearly falling off the hexagon again, when the Spectral Keeper's tail slammed between them.

Reprieve from the monster's onslaught came in the form of Valefor, who swooped down to pluck Braska off of his own similarly glowing hexagon just before it exploded. She deposited him safely on the tile next to Auron and then flew away. With a high-pitched screech, the Spectral Keeper gave chase, focusing solely on the aeon. That bought Rikku enough time to switch into her Berserker dressphere, but she cursed her way through the entire transformation.

"Lemmie go," she growled, tearing herself out of Auron's grasp. "I told him not to summon! That thing goes after aeons like the monkeys go for Jecht!" This time, powered by her unnatural strength, she barreled back across the platforms easily, sailing right over their blacked hexagon with a long leap. She hit the tile hosting Auron's dropped weapon in a roll and dug in one claw in to stop herself from sliding over the edge while her other grabbed his sword. "Catch!" she yelled, tossing Ashura across the void.

He caught it easily in one hand and spun into a low slash to keep his balance, crouching low with an arm out. "It comes!" he yelled at her.

Braska gasped out of his Rapture, looking up. The Spectral Keeper returned amongst a rain of pyreflies, shrouded in the remnants of Valefor's dissolving body. Its claws were outstretched, as if it were seeking to capture Auron and Braska together in a deadly embrace.

"Heads up!" Jecht yelled as he landed on top of fiend's head, throwing it off course. Its talons sailed harmlessly by Auron and Braska and it let out an indignant screech. Holding himself fast to the fiend by a horn, Jecht delivered a solid whack to the side of its head. "This explodin' floor game is for losers!" He brought down his sword down again in another rough swing, hacking away at the fiend's neck as it bucked and writhed in an attempt to dislodge him.

The Spectral Keeper tried to take to the void again. She and Auron had the same thoughts as they both leapt from their platforms, trying to beat the fiend back down between them before it could carry Jecht too far away. Auron's sword reached it first; he slammed the blade into its side, punting the Keeper towards her. "Now!" he yelled.

Rikku smashed one foot into the side of the Spectral Keeper's jaw, snapping its head back. Using the pushback, she twisted in midair, raising her other leg high and bringing her heel down on top of its head to drive it back down between the hexagons. "Get off it, you dummy!" she shouted to Jecht, flipping to land on the platform next to Auron.

"On it!" Jecht took one last swing at the thrashing fiend before throwing himself towards a platform. Just in time; Braska's chant finished, and a multitude of twinkling lights descended and circled around the fiend. The low whine of compressed magic filled the air, and then the Holy spell exploded, purifying the monster in a blaze of radiance.

The Spectral Keeper keened and whipped its body wildly in its death throes, leaking pyreflies. It sunk into the abyss, dissolving at the same rate as the starry field surrounding them. Slowly, the more mundane cloister reappeared beneath their feet, fully powered and undamaged. It was as if nothing had changed, but for the pulsing tiles around the pit.

Jecht fell over and hugged the floor, while Braska sagged to one knee. After wiping some sweat from his brow, Auron straightened shot her an exasperated look.

"A little warning next time?" he said dryly.

Deactivating her dressphere, Rikku winced. "Sorry? Not everything's the same, so I was kinda hoping that thing wasn't going to be here again."

Everyone fell silent when the tiles brightened and activated a rune in the center of the pit; the symbol of Yevon they created pulsed and dropped out of sight. Then, once again, the floor shook; this time, though, only an elevator rose to the surface. It rumbled loudly, having seen little use in many years. By the time it came to a stop, everyone was on their feet.

It waited there, flickering with power, but no one moved to board it.

"Below must be the Chamber of the Fayth… where I will obtain the Final Aeon," Braska finally said. He looked at each of them. "Thank you for coming with me this far. But for now, please wait for me –"

"Nuh-uh," Rikku cut in. "We all go in."

Auron shifted. "Are you sure?"

Jecht nodded, crossing his arms. "Whenever you enter the Chamber of the Fayth uninvited you freeze up on us, Blondie."

"No, I'm sure." Rikku dropped her head. "It's because of Yunalesca. We all have to be there." She squeezed her eyes shut, the adrenaline of the battle slowly seeping out of her and letting her dread creep back in. "I… I don't think I have to tell you anything anymore. You'll see soon enough. Let's just go," she said miserably, wanting to get it over with.

Braska nodded. "Very well, then. We go together."

The trip down was made in stilted silence; Jecht had adopted one of Auron's perpetual frowns on his face, while Auron had wrapped her in a hug, hiding her from Braska while she tried to control her shivers. She shuddered when the platform came to a halt, and only left Auron's embrace when she heard the summoner walk away.

Beyond, past the short path inside, Zaon's Fayth stone awaited. But there was no Hymn sounding around it; the impressive statue below them was silent and dark. Braska already knew before he kneeled to pray, his hands reaching out to trace the place where ancient symbols should have surrounded the smooth stone. "The light of this Fayth… is artificial power coming from spheres," he said sharply. "It's all a trick. This is a mere statue that has been made to look like a Fayth. But there's nothing really here." He looked up at Rikku. "What is this deception? Why is there no Final Aeon here?"

"Huh? Whaddaya mean no Final Aeon?" Jecht pounded the wall. "What was all o' this for, then?!"

The priest from the temple materialized beside them, and Jecht jerked in surprise and struck at him instead. His fist passed cleanly through the calm priest, catching a few pyreflies. "Damn," he swore. "I knew Braska shoulda Sent you."

"A meaningless endeavor, for there are many more who would take my place," the priest replied amicably. "But wouldn't you rather know about the Fayth?" Braska rose, and the priest chuckled at him. "You are incorrect, my Lord. That statue is Lord Zaon, the first Fayth of the Final Summoning. It merely lost its power a thousand years ago. What you see before you is all that remains of him. Lord Zaon… his soul is gone."

"What do you mean, 'gone?'" Auron said slowly, the answer already dawning on him.

"Fear not," the priest continued. "Lady Yunalesca will show you the path. The Final Aeon will be yours." He raised his arms to the ceiling, his expression morphing into one of ecstatic rapture. "The Summoner and the Final Aeon will join powers. Go to her! Go now, inside! Quickly, for the Lady awaits."

Bringing his hands down into the bow, he smiled at them and faded away.

"… Screw that guy," Jecht spat. "Blondie, what the hell? You kne-" He stopped speaking as another voice overrode his; another memory.

"You knew this was gonna happen, didn't you!" A faintly translucent Tidus swung his arm out in a wide arc, glaring at another Auron.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell us?" her fifteen-year-old self pleaded. For the first time, the older Auron met her younger image's gaze.

"If I had told you the truth, would that really have stopped you from coming?"

Silence reigned over the fading memory, broken only when Jecht swore softly and turned around, hands on his hips and shoulders hunched.

"… I did this," Auron said slowly. He looked at her, miserable. "I did this to you first." She could see him trying to understand; not just what was happening here inside the dome, but their entire journey together. He was rapidly deconstructing her initial prickliness, as well her unavoidable obsession with him. "Why? Why did you—no. How could you have possibly forgiven me?"

Rikku bit her lip, then hid her flaming face behind her hands and turned away from him, feeling like embarrassment personified. "Because… because I was already in love with you back then, you jerk! You just never noticed!" She swayed nervously, unable to hold herself still. "I never stopped, y'know. All those years later, Yunie figured it out the first time I wore your costume."

Braska let out a soft, self-depreciating laugh. "You ladykiller," he murmured to Auron with a faint look of amusement.

"Stop it," Auron shot back at Braska. When she peeked between her fingers to look at him, he was still staring at her – but now there were faint splotches of color dusting his cheeks. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "… Thank you," he mumbled. "I think."

After a moment, Braska sighed. "It's time to find out the truth." He turned and passed through the archway, which buzzed softly.

"I guess we're doin' this," Jecht said. He took a half-step after Braska, then looked back at Auron and Rikku. "You guys… y'know you don't have to come with us. Yeah, yeah, I know what we're seein' in your head," he said to her, waving a hand. "But maybe them memories will change if you don't go. I bet me an' B can make your future happen even without you two taggin' along." He looked at Auron. "You still got a chance at a life out there. Might be that you gotta leave the woman you love behind if you come with us, through." He gave the other man a pained smile. "Nothin' can prepare you for that kind of trouble. Nothin'. Think about it." Turning, he ducked through the door.

Rikku walked up to Auron, who was staring at the fading glow from the archway. She cupped her hands around his face and turned him to look at her. "I've always thought this was about what I had to do, and what I had to choose." She leaned up on her tiptoes and placed a gentle, lingering kiss against his lips. She savored the rough feel of the stubble on his chin, the warmth of his breath against hers, and the smooth feel of his hair under her fingertips. She drank in how alive he felt beneath her hands. She tried not to think of it as a goodbye.

When they parted, her smile was uncertain. "But this is about what you want to do, now. This is your choice, too. Your story." She smoothed her hands down the front of his chest, stopping and crossing both of them over his heart. "I'll follow you anywhere. I already have. And I always will."

He closed his eyes, cupping his own hands over hers. After a moment, he drew them to his lips and kissed her knuckles softly; a motion full of tenderness, but also courtly courtesy. "I love you, Rikku. I love you more than I have ever loved anything in this world."

He fell silent, and she smiled even though her heart quailed, because she knew his answer.

"But I never realized," he finally said, still gripping her fingers. "I did the one thing I swore I never would. I hurt him. I thought Raenn made him this way. I can't… I can't leave him now." He opened his eyes. "Will you forgive me again?"

She nodded. "You forgave me for loving him. Why would I hold it against you?" Pulling his hands towards her, she returned the motion, kissing his fingertips. "It's the only thing he ever wanted from either of us, after all. I won't leave you, either."

The chamber beyond the veil was nearly untouched by time; pyreflies danced through the air more thickly than ever before, but the inner sanctum was free of any visible decay. Rikku wondered how much of Yunalesca's sanctum was truth, and how much of it was a reality created by the surrounding pyreflies, much like the star field they'd just fought on. She hung back, waiting for Yunalesca to appear.

The ornate double doors at the top of the staircase rumbled open, and a faint gasp escaped from the image of her younger self that popped up, hunched over and scared. "Someone's coming!"

Yunalesca emerged from the darkness, walking towards them in slow, measured steps. Her bright eyes gleamed with the weight of a thousand years of knowledge. Though she was nearly naked, she wore her long, silver hair like a cloak; it streamed out all around with a life of its own, constantly moving as the pyreflies ringing her lifted and draped it in ever-changing patterns across her body. She descended the steps, carrying herself with even more self-assurance than Maester Mika despite her youthful appearance.

"Welcome to Zanarkand," she said with a smile that didn't touch her eyes. "I congratulate you, Summoner," she said as she looked at Braska. "You have completed your Pilgrimage. I will now bestow you with that which you seek. The Final Summoning will be yours." Her hair suddenly fanned out behind her in a silver stream, her arms stretched wide. "Now. Choose."

Braska's grip on his staff tightened. "First explain yourself, my Lady. What happened to Lord Zaon's Fayth?"

Yunalesca smiled as though she'd been expecting the question. And she answered it as she always must have. "You must choose the one whom I will change… to become the Fayth of the Final Summoning."

The room went deathly quiet, but for the cry of the pyreflies.

"The Final Summoning embodies the bond between the Chosen and Summoner," Yunalesca explained, breaking the silence. "Husband and wife. Mother and child. Even friends, if that bond is strong enough. Together, your light will conquer Sin. A thousand years ago I chose my husband Zaon. Our bond was true, and I obtained the Final Aeon."

She dipped her head towards Braska, and a long tendril of hair snaked out and stroked under his chin. He visibly recoiled, and Yunalesca's smile widened.

"I can see that you are filled with love for this world, Lord Braska. You've poured forth all of your feelings, haven't you? Your cup is empty, and your Guardians overflow with the depth of them."

Yunalesca looked triumphant as Braska's eyes slid closed. "You need no longer keep any secrets. You have nothing to fear, for you will not fail. You, too, will obtain the Final Aeon, and finally be freed of all of your sorrows and pain. For once you draw upon that bond of love, your life will end." A tendril of hair caressed his cheek. "And have you not always sought for death? It will become your ultimate liberation. Of course, I am not cruel. Take your time, my dear lord, and choose wisely. Which of your lovers shall accompany you into eternity?" When she released Braska, he swayed in place, his eyes squeezed tight in agony.

Auron scowled and reached for his sword, but Yunalesca didn't so much at blink at him, clearly unintimidated. Instead, she surveyed them coolly, one by one, starting with him. When her piercing gaze drifted Rikku spun around, not wanting to feel the scrutiny of the powerful Unsent she'd once helped kill. Part of her was afraid the other woman would somehow be able to sense what she'd done and burst into her final form to kill them all right there and then. Her back stiffened when she heard Yunalesca let out a soft, uncharacteristic gasp.

"Ugh!"

Jecht's exclamation of surprise spun her around, though; it wasn't her presence that Yunalesca was reacting badly to.

"Damn spooky ass dead people!" Jecht swore, backing away from a snaking tendril of Yunalesca's hair that was trying to grasp onto him. "Get away from me!"

"You," Yunalesca said, shock stealing across her face. "What are you doing here?"

"Hah! Wouldn't you like to know!" Jecht shot back, pulling out the Fang and sliding into a battle stance. "Final Aeon or not, if you don't get your skank-ass snake hair outta my face I'm gonna give you a buzz cut!" He brandished his sword at her.

Yunalesca pulled her hair back with a snap, her face closing down and her eyes narrowing. "Hmm," she murmured. "I was mistaken." Her eyes slid over to Braska, who was just as surprised, but she offered no explanation. Instead, her face hardened. "Choose, and bring your Guardian to me." Turning, she ascended the stairs. The doors slammed closed behind her.

Auron took a few paces forward. "What just happened? Did she recognize Jecht?"

Jecht snorted, sheathing his sword and stepping behind them. "As if. I ain't never seen someone like her in my Zanarkand." He shifted his weight onto one leg and looked at the floor. "So, uh. Braska? 'Bout what she said with the Final Aeon an' all…"

"No!" Auron took another step forward. "It's not too late! Let us turn back!"

Braska dropped his head. "If I turn back, who will defeat Sin? Would you have even more Summoners and their Guardians go through this, and risk changing our fate?" He looked at Rikku helplessly. "Isn't it enough that we end our journey here, and leave our hope to the future?"

"There must be another way!" Auron shouted, losing his composure. "I won't let you throw away your life!"

He tried to close in on Braska, but Jecht grabbed him and pulled him back roughly.

"This is the only way we got now." He spared a look between Rikku and Auron, his brow scrunching in disappointment. Then he shoved Auron towards her, making a decision. "Fine. Make me the Fayth. I been doin' some thinkin'. My dream is back in the other Zanarkand. I wanted to make that runt into a star blitz player. Show 'im the view from the top, y'know. But now I know there's no way home for me. I'm never gonna see him again. My dream's never gonna come true." He hung his head, hiding his eyes from them. But he didn't wallow in self-pity for that long; it wasn't his style.

Instead, he stepped up to Braska, putting both of his hands on the summoner's shoulders. "You know it can't be anybody else. They got their whole lives ahead of 'em. So make me the Fayth. I'll fight Sin with you, Braska." His smile was sardonic. "Then maybe my 'life' will have meaning, y'know."

Unable to contain himself, Auron grabbed onto Jecht, trying to pull him away. "Don't do this, Jecht!" He tugged, but Jecht grunted and set himself against the other man, refusing to budge.

"There may be another way! We'll think of something, I know!" Desperation laced Auron's voice.

"Believe me, I thought this through." He turned, finally, to look at Auron, a weary smile on his face. "Besides, I ain't getting' any younger. Might as well make myself useful."

Auron let him go. Guilt and anger warred across his face; it thinly hid his sorrow at the prospect of losing another one of his only friends. "You… were never a burden," he choked out, unable to look up.

Jecht clucked his tongue and laughed. "Don't start lyin' now." Then he made a fist and rapped his knuckles across Auron's chest. "Auron. You'll be alright."

"Jecht?" Braska stepped up behind him, bemused. After all of Yunalesca's talk of love and bonding, it wasn't surprising that he looked so confused at his volunteered choice. Jecht, of all people, had obviously been the last person he would've considered asking after Yunalesca's grooming.

Rikku knew, though. It wasn't out of a sense of generosity; Jecht wasn't just being stubborn and fatalistic, either.

"What! You're not gonna try to stop me too?" Jecht said irately, glaring at Braska for questioning him.

"Sorry. I mean… thank you," Braska quickly corrected, knowing full well he had no right to contest Jecht's decision.

"Yeah, I know," Jecht grumbled, crossing his arms and turning away. He caught her eye as he did so, and stopped. "Blondie," he began, walking towards her.

She raised her hands and shook her head. "Hey, I'm not crazy enough to try to stop you." Then she stepped towards him with a knowing look. Drawing closer, she whispered, "Because I know what you want. And I know what you're trying to do."

Jecht had his back to the other two. His eyes widened, and then he scowled, warning her to keep her mouth shut. Don't you tell them 'bout my plan, he told her with that look. He hadn't given up on his dream, not really; he knew it had already come true. And he wasn't afraid of using Auron and Braska's emotions, already strung high, to get what he wanted.

It was because Jecht had always loved someone more than anyone else in the world, too. And unlike Braska and Auron, he had no scruples about going for his goal. If Braska had paved the path for Yuna to walk to her death, Jecht was determined to do the opposite for his own son. He was just making sure he'd see Tidus become a real boy, even if it meant his own death.

Well, she'd always known Jecht was craftier than he let on. "Star player of the Zanarkand Abes, huh?" she mumbled instead. He softened when he realized she wasn't going to tattle on him, and pulled her in for a hug. "I can kinda picture you as that now," she said as she buried her head into his chest, sniffling. "You know, you're just as bad as Tidus. He totally got that stubborn streak from you."

"Don't you start cryin' too," Jecht said, his voice thick as his arms tightened around her. "You're gonna make them two sticks in the mud back there turn on the waterworks. An' then we'll never get anywhere."

Rikku hit his chest with her balled fist, laughing through her tears. "Stop trying to pass the buck, you big crybaby." Then she pushed him away. She swiped at her eyes a few times, managing a watery smile. "We'll see each other again, you know. Well… I won't. Know, I mean."

"Then I'll remember for the both o' us," Jecht said, holding out his hand. "To victory, Blondie."

She grinned through the pain and slapped her palm against his as hard as she could, savoring the sting that traveled up her arm. "That's right!"

Turning around, Jecht watched Auron standing by Braska's side, trembling and on the verge of breaking. Sighing, he walked over.

"Braska still has to fight Sin, Auron." He put a hand on Braska's shoulder, giving it a heavy pat. "Guard 'im well. Make sure he gets there."

It was too much for Auron, who couldn't answer them. Instead, he let out a loud, wordless cry; a sound of pure pain, of loss for the two men he'd come to see as his family over the course of their journey.

Jecht looked at him with pity, then shook his head. Grimacing, he slapped a fist into his other palm to pump himself up. "Well… let's go." He turned Braska towards the stairwell and marched them both forward, leaving Auron behind.

They only made it a few steps up before Auron spun around, furious. His voice came out in a hoarse shout. "Lord Braska! Jecht!"

Jecht whirled towards him, looking put out. Rikku knew it was just because he'd made up his mind; he wanted to get it over with, like ripping a bandage off quickly so that he wouldn't have to dwell on the hurt he was leaving behind. "Whaddaya want now?" he growled.

It wasn't enough to stop Auron, who chased after them, grabbing on to the edge of Braska's robes. "Sin always comes back. It comes back after the Calm every time! The cycle will continue, and your deaths will mean nothing!"

Braska turned at that. "Auron. You know that's not true." His hand came up, carefully working Auron's fingers free and pushing them away. "There's a real chance this time that we can end all of this, finally." He looked at Rikku, nodding at her. "That she can. You know it's worth trying."

Auron stood behind them, frozen. "You will both still die!"

Even Jecht winced, hearing Auron's anguish. Finally, he relented a little, unable to watch both of his friends fracturing right beside him. "I understand what you're saying, Auron. I'll break the cycle."

"You… you have a plan?"

Jecht sighed and rubbed the back of his head, looking away instead of denying it. "Damn it."

Braska looked up quickly, frowning. "Jecht?"

Growling, Jecht struggled under the weight of their hope. He seemed to know they'd never agree to the plan he'd actually cooked up. Finally, he threw back his head and laughed loudly. "Trust me, I'll think of something! Just you wait!" Turning, he continued up the steps confidently and pushed open the door.

Rikku covered her face, trying not to laugh. It wasn't funny, not really, but… he and Tidus were just like each other. Most of them hadn't realized Tidus was going to disappear, either, not until he did.

"That jackass," Auron choked out, his eyes rimmed red as he stared at the open door.

Braska chuckled, then looked at Auron for a moment longer. "I'm sorry, my friend," he said quietly. "But this must be. Stay here, with Rikku, and let us do what we must." He followed up the steps after Jecht, passing through the doors. They swung shut behind the two men slowly, leaving her alone in the room with Auron.

"Hey," she said softly. "This was their choice, too."

Auron shook his head mutely, his eyes screwed shut. He fell to his knees, gulping in air loud, wheezing gasps. When the strangled roar sounded behind him, he didn't even flinch. His eyes stayed shut, oblivious while the older Auron rushed forward with the Masamune in hand, swinging it wildly through his body. He did finally shudder, though, when he heard his own voice confirm his worst fears:

"And… the cycle went on."

A/N: I'm pretty sure "Soeng" is Cantonese for "think, dream, believe, feel, and wish." There are indeed some differences in the dialogue between the guys here than you get in the canon game.