The next day, everyone got up early, so that they would have enough time to visit Kilika Temple, which was situated deep inside the jungle.
As they stepped out of the inn, they saw Ukyo, who was still putting hard work in restoring Kilika to what it used to be. When she saw her friends, Ukyo excused herself from work and ran up to them.
"Hey, you guys! I decided to go with you to the temple. I already trained in the jungle, so I know about the fiends that live there. I also can help you find the right way."
Ranma looked at the others. "Sounds fine to me, but it's really Yuna's decision."
"Please?" Ukyo looked pleadingly at the young summoner. Yuna giggled. "All right! I would be honored to have you accompany us, Ukyo!"
"Hey, great!" That certainly cheered her up. "I won't let you down! And as a reward, all of you will get to try my new okonomiyaki receipt tonight: Okonomiyaki à la Kilika!"
"I'm looking forward to it, ya?" Wakka said.
Then someone ran up to them. "M-Miss Ukyo! W-wait a second, okay?"
Ukyo turned around. "Sure! Whats up, Clas-chan?"
The young man was wearing a green shirt, and over it, a crusader's armor. "I... I just wanted to say, I'm going now! We will take the land route which will lead us directly to Mushroom Rock. I'm sorry I won't be able to cheer you on, um... I just wanted to wish you good luck!"
"Thank you, Clas-chan," Ukyo smiled. "I hope to see you soon, after the tournament is over. Good luck to you too!"
"T-thank you! I-I have to go now... Have to take care of the Chocobos, you know? Good... goodbye!"
Ukyo waved as the young man was leaving. "Bye, Clas-chan!"
When she turned back around to her friends, they snickered. Ukyo raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Clas-chan, eh?" Akane teased. "Poor little guy couldn't even say a clear sentence while talking to you!"
"I'll wonder what Konatsu would say about that," Ranma said. Kasumi giggled.
Ukyo's face turned red. "S-stop it, you guys! It... it's not as you think! Clasko and I are just good friends, that's all! He's... he's the younger brother of our team's captain. And he... He just wanted to say goodbye before joining with the other crusaders!"
"Suuure he is," mocked Akane.
By now Wakka decided that is was enough and that they should leave into the jungle.
----
"Stop!" Ukyo shouted. "Don't go that way! A big plant-like fiend called Ochu is resting there. Just take a way around him! I guess he wouldn't be a problem for us, but I guessed you were in a hurry, so..."
"You're right," Yuna said. "We take the other route. As long as we reach the temple in a few minutes..."
"Don't worry," Ukyo reassured her. "It's not far away. Besides, look out for the strange, floating fiends that are surrounded with electricity. They are magical!"
"No problem," Ranma replied. "When we meet one of these, I'll just call for Carbuncle and his magic!"
"The little guy that brought us here, eh?" Ukyo asked. "Well, if he doesn't screw this up..."
"Hey, it wasn't Carbuncle's fault, you know? He was asking a friend who messed it up."
"What are you talking about?" Wakka wanted to know. "I thought you were traveling by boat. After all, you got close to Sin, didn't you?"
"Um, that's correct, but..."
"Don't push them, Wakka!" Yuna scolded. "I think they will tell us if they think it is important!" Kimahri grumbled and nodded. He seemed to agree with Yuna.
Kasumi was walking several steps behind the others.
'Are you and your friends planning to tell Wakka and Yuna about your true origin?' Lenne asked.
'Perhaps, when the time is right!' Kasumi replied. Then she smiled. 'Besides, when are YOU planning to reveal yourself to the others?'
'Uh, you know what? Forget about what I said,' Lenne said quickly.
----
When they reached Kilika Temple, they were impressed. A very long and broad stairway lead to the temple courtyard, and from there, the pilgrims could enter the main hall, in which the entrance to the Cloister of Trial was situated.
"These stone steps have history, ya know?" Wakka explained. "High Summoner Ohalland used to live in the temple. In his days, he was a major blitzer! He trained here at his peak."
When they climbed up the stairs, Wakka asked Tidus: "Um... they got fiends in Zanarkand, too?"
"Just a few," Tidus answered. It's a big deal when one shows up, though... Hey!" He suddenly realized something. "Since when did you start to believe me about Zanarkand, anyway?"
"Well," Wakka shifted around uneasily. "I've been thinking. Maybe people Sin and his spawn get to don't die! Maybe Sin carries 'em through time! Like a thousand years through time. And then, one day, maybe they just pop back up, see?"
Akane carefully approached Wakka. "Um, Wakka... can... can I talk to you for a moment?"
Wakka sighed. "Yeah, I guess. You guys go ahead without us, okay? We'll meet you in the main hall!"
The two of them sat down on the balustrade. "Wakka..." Akane began. "You know Lulu isn't just going to 'pop' back up, do you?"
"I know," Wakka sighed. "If she were here, she would probably scold me for thinking that way. See, she always used to say that Chappu was still better in what he did than me. That naturally lead to some competition between us..."
"Must have been hard," Akane guessed.
"Yeah! I... I could never be what Chappu was!" He stood up. "Well, stuff happens. Best not to worry. Come on, let's catch up with the others!"
----
When they reached the courtyard, the others were talking to another blitzball team that just came out of the temple.
"Are you here to pray for victory?" Yuna just asked one of them.
"US?" their leader, a tall, arrogant guy with red hair said. "Pray? We don't need to pray! The Luca Goers ALWAYS win!"
"Yeah," the player next to him said. "We were praying to get some competition this year."
Suddenly, their captain saw Wakka. "Hey, if it isn't the loser's captain! So what's your motto this year? You gonna 'do your best' again?"
"Heh," his friend said. "Too bad the best isn't good enough!"
Enraged, Tidus yelled: "This time, we play to win!"
"That's right," Ranma added. "And you better believe it!"
"Ooooh! Play away!" the captain of the Goers said. "But remember, even kids can play, boys!"
"See you in the finals," Wakka angrily shouted after them, when the rival team was leaving.
"Man, what a bunch of arrogant jerks," Ranma grumbled. Ukyo nodded. "That red-headed dumbass reminds me of Taro!"
"We'll beat them," Tidus sternly said. "We have to! The way they're putting people down... they're as bad as my old man!"
Yuna seemed shocked. "But, Sir Jecht was a kind and gentle man!"
"You knew his father?" Akane asked, curious.
"I... don't know," Yuna said. "I thought it might be the man who was my father's guardian. But now... I'm not too sure..."
"Can't be my old man," Tidus said. "Even ten years after he left me and my mom... just thinking about him is getting me angry."
Yuna didn't know what to say after that.
"Um, perhaps we should all go inside," Ukyo suggested. The others nodded.
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:14)
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