Lenne turned around, when Shuyin appeared next to her. "Shuyin," she shouted and hugged him. "Where have you been? You disappeared, all of a sudden."
"I'm sorry," Shuyin responded and gave her a small kiss. "But I had to discuss something important with Tidus and Ranma." And he told her the whole story of the dream of the fayth.
When he was finished, they were sitting next to each other, leaning against the wall of Kasumi's mind.
"When... the fayth told you that Tidus would become more real under your influence... weren't you afraid you would be lost in his soul?"
Shuyin smiled. "Not really. All that matters is that we're together. After this journey is over, we'll ask Yuna if she can send us to the farplane. There, we can rest in peace."
Lenne sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I guess you're right..."
----
The rocky path down the northern side of the mountain was long and narrow. The friends had to be careful not to go too close to the edge.
"Hey," Ranma asked Aura. "You were there when Braska got his Final Aeon, weren't you? Just how are we going to get it? Is there someone that gives it to us, or something like that?"
Aura sighed. "Lady Yunalesca..."
"She's alive?" Yuna said in amazement. Aura looked at her. "As alive as Seymour and Mika."
"I see..."
"Hey, can't we take a little break?" Rikku shouted from behind.
"We're almost there, anyway," Wakka said. "Best to hurry, ya?"
Rikku whined. "But... if we take another break... it means we have more time to think of a solution, you know?"
Yuna looked at her cousin. "Rikku..."
Rikku hugged Yuna. "I don't wanna lose you, Yunie. I just don't wanna..."
Yuna smiled. "Rikku, you're a good friend, but... all my life, I knew this moment would come. I just have to go down to Zanarkand. I have to..."
"Hey," Ranma said. "I thought we were clear: No one is going to die there, got it?"
Wakka shook his head. "Look, buddy, how are you going to prevent it? You want Sin to be gone and Yuna to be alive? Don't you think someone would have thought of another way of beating Sin before? There just is none, ya?"
Ranma glared at him. "That's just because everyone was sure of Yevon's teachings, right? And because Yevon said it would be the only way, right?"
Wakka got nervous. "Well, that could be, but..."
Ranma shook his head. "Let's just go. When we reach Zanarkand, we can take a break."
The others followed him. Only Akane hesitated when she saw something laying on the ground. It was a record sphere... did Yuna drop it while she was hugging Rikku?
Akane decided to have a look at it later.
----
The dead city of Zanarkand... Tidus felt a jolt of sorrow when he saw the ruined city laying in front of his eyes. No living soul was down there, just masses of pyreflies... and, therefore, also many fiends. It was their goal, the goal of the long, long journey. They finally made it, here Yuna would receive the Final Aeon.
And then? Would she die? Ranma seemed certain they would find another way. Tidus himself told Rikku that many times. Akane and her sisters just trusted in Ranma's words. Kimahri and Wakka seemed to have accepted Yuna's decision... but it looked like it wasn't easy for them either.
And Aura... well, she surely had changed from when she was here the first time. There were times she turned back into her cynical, mysterious self, then again, she fell into the role of a cheerful little girl.
And himself? He was just a dream, some sort of copy of Shuyin, that had turned into a whole new person itself.
Tidus sighed and sat down on a pile of rubble, while looking over the crumbled skyline of the dead city.
The others were just sitting around the campfire, who knows what they were thinking about...
Until Akane and Ranma came climbing up to Tidus and sat down next to him.
"Hey, Tidus," Akane said in a quiet voice. "Have a look at this." She showed him the record sphere she found on Gagazet.
"What's this?" Tidus asked in a curious voice.
"Yuna dropped it," Ranma said. "Akane found it, and she believes Yuna dropped it on purpose, so we could find it and watch it. I just played it back. We thought you might want to see it as well."
Tidus nodded. "All right. Let me have a look..."
And they switched the record on.
----
Yuna was sitting on a small grassy hill on Mi'ihen Highroad, just in front of the agency. She wore a small smile on her face while the sphere was recording.
"Everyone... I know that when I reach Zanarkand, and receive the Final Summoning, I most certainly will die. That's why I made this record for everyone of you. I want to say thank you, to everyone.
Sir Auron... Kimahri told me... when my father wanted me taken from Bevelle to Besaid... It was you who told Kimahri, right? I had always wanted to meet you someday. I am truly glad that I had that chance. Having you as a guardian was so great an honor that I don't know how to thank you. Perhaps if I defeat Sin, that will be my thanks to you. That's what I'll do. Yes. I will challenge Sin. I will defeat Sin. If you are all there watching this, then I guess Sin is already gone. And so am I, I suppose. Anyway, I just wanted to say: Sir Auron, I thank you.
Kimahri... Do you remember the first day we met? I was only seven. My father had defeated Sin, and all Bevelle was celebrating. Everyone was saying what a hero my father was. I was so happy. But when night came, it occurred to me. My father had defeated Sin and now he was dead. Now, I was all alone. I couldn't sleep, so I wandered into the town, away from the celebrating crowds. I stood on the bridge to Bevelle where my father and I had parted. Standing there, alone, I could see the fields where he had fought Sin. Then, you appeared, Kimahri. You said you were looking for the daughter of Braska, remember? At first, I was so scared. Until I realized what a gentle person you are. You weren't used to talking to children. When I told you that I was Braska's daughter... you said you would take me as far from Bevelle as you could. That it was the wish of a man facing death. I think... I cried then. Because that... that was when I knew my father was dead... and I would never see him again. You just held me, without saying a word. I cried after we got to Besaid, too. When you tried to go after leaving me in the care of the temple... I held onto you, crying, 'Don't go, don't go!' And you listened, Kimahri. You stayed. Kimahri, thank you. Thank you so much. And I've always liked your broken horn.
Wakka... I'll never forget my days spent with you, growing up in Besaid. We always played together, us, Lulu and Chappu. That's why I was always so happy, I think. And when you refused to let me become a summoner and I did it anyway... I'm sorry. I've always wanted to apologize. You know, when you tried to stop me then - really, I was happy. I could tell you really cared about me. You were like my big brother. No... I think you really were my big brother. What else... And I love watching you play blitzball.
Akane, Kasumi... you two are really special people. When the two of you appeared in our village, I somehow knew you weren't quite from this world. But when you heard about my pilgrimage, you instantly agreed to help me as a guardian, Akane, even if you knew that your friends were out there somewhere... That showed me your good heart. And Kasumi's cheerful nature always brought happiness to Besaid, and later, to our pilgrimage group. Thank you, both of you...
Ranma... my fellow summoner. I really was amazed when I learned about your abilities. You are a brave warrior as well as a summoner of Espers. Your fiancee told me of your previous adventures... it really was a surprise for me too see how you managed to get though all of this emotionally. I mean, having multiple fiancees, dozens of rivals that are out to defeat you, and such a weird father... I was really impressed you didn't went crazy." At that point, Yuna let out a small giggle. "As with Akane and Kasumi, I really hope that someday, you'll find a way of returning home.
I guess that leaves... the newest guardian: Tidus, star player of the Zanarkand Abes! You are... I am... Well, um... I'm glad... I'm glad that we met. We haven't even known each other that long, but... It's funny. So this is what it feels like. It's a much more wonderful feeling than anything I had ever imagined. Wonderful... but it hurts, sometimes. I wonder. I... I just want to say, thank you for everything. Maybe... maybe that's why it hurts. When I... When I think about us never being together again at all... I'm afraid. No, I shouldn't say that. I'll do that part over. Um..."
At that point of the record, Tidus' voice could be heard: "Watcha up to?" and the screen went blank.
----
Tidus sighed. "Well, I guess she really was serious about sacrificing herself by defeating Sin, huh?"
"Well, at least she was it back then," Akane said. "Maybe, in the meantime, she had changed her opinion. Perhaps Ranma convinced her.."
"Well, whatever she chooses to do... we all should support her and NOT let her die, right?" Ranma asked. The other two nodded.
Together, they climbed down the rubble and returned to the others.
While Ranma and Akane sat down, Tidus said: "Listen up, everyone... Listen to my story! This... may be our last chance."
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Sat, 05 Aug 2006 16:05)
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