C un CaDEAu POur VOus
Chapter 11
Tidus tried to smile, he tried to hide his pain, but the more he tried, the more he failed. He was a guardian now but that did not help the matter. His father was the source of all of Spira's suffering. Now Tidus did not have much for his father that much was obvious, but then why did he feel so upset? So angry?
Was it the fact that it was his father? The fact that a part of his family was reason Spira was so oppressed and so desperate for peace? These thoughts ran though his head as Yuna suddenly whistled the whistle he'd taught her. She had improved she'd obviously devoted a bit of time to perfecting it. Tidus hung his head slightly and his voice as he spoke was not his usual confident voice.
“Hey...you got pretty good” Yuna looked at him and frowned seeing his demeanour.
“You sound sad...” Tidus looked at her.
“Yeah maybe...” Yuna grinned.
“Wanna scream?” Tidus shook his head.
“I really don't that's gonna help this time...” Yuna gazed at him. As much as he wanted to, Tidus could not scream his frustrations out to the sky.
“You know what?” Tidus turned to look at Yuna who was smiling softly. “ It's embarrassing to say myself...but guardians and Summoners a like Spira's ray of light.” Tidus frowned and listened carefully “so many people depend on us so I learned to practice smiling when I'm feeling sad you know? I know it's hard.” Tidus nodded carefully with a sad smile.
“I understand I think.” Tidus answered.
“Right, now let's see what you can do...” she replied.
“Huh?” Yuna giggled
“Come on!”
Tidus thought for a moment and pulled face. Yuna laughed covering her mouth with her hand to try and smother it. Kai was watching from the far side with an amused smile seeing the chemistry between the two as they both starting laughing.
The next minutes Tidus and Yuna were laughing, firstly fake laughter and then both were in full-blown genuine hysterics. Auron and Kai looked at each other smirking, while the other three looked the two mouths open. They had obviously found whatever they were doing absolutely hilariously funny as Tidus and Yuna were still in complete hysterics bent over laughing. After a few moments they were catching their breath. Both gazed at each other for a few moments while catching their breath.
“Too funny!” Yuna commented breathlessly wiping a tear from her eye.
“It was your idea” Tidus answered, Yuna grinned sheepishly.
“Um...thank you” Yuna smiled and unseen to the others, her hand slipped into Tidus's “I want my journey to be filled with laughter.”
“Ok”
“If we get separated just whistle...” Yuna smiled mischievously “And I'll come running” Tidus nodded with a smile and a “hm” before turning to look at the others who were all staring at them apart from Kai.
“What're you staring at?” he demanded mockingly.
“Just wandering if you're crazy,” Wakka replied. Tidus laughed, as did Yuna. Auron and Kai stood a little ways off watching the two.
“I wander” Auron muttered. “Do you think it was right? To bring him along?” Kai nodded.
“Yeah I figure he can bear the burden” Auron nodded as Yuna finished speaking.
“Ok let's go.” Auron called out. Auron and Kai took lead as the others fell a step behind as the party walked up the steps. As they reached the top they found themselves staring out across vast grassland.
The Mi'ihen highroad: a famous pathway across the land of Spira. This was one of the key parts of a Summoners pilgrimage, to walk the long and tiring stretch of this pathway in order to reach the Djose Temple. Many Summoners had travelled this road and now Yuna was to follow in their footsteps as her father had before her.
“The Mi'ihen highroad” Kai muttered. “Looks like we've got quite a walk ahead of us” Tidus smirked.
“Yeah I guess we do...” Kai groaned slightly and Tidus smirked. “Smile Kai.” Kai looked at him as they set off.
“I think Yuna's having a bad influence on you kid” Yuna behind him blushed as she spoke.
“Hey” Tidus laughed.
“Yeah what about you?” he asked. “Don't tell me she doesn't influence you...” Tidus laughed as they continued walking. “You said she has a heart of gold.” Kai chuckled.
“She does” Kai answered stopping. “Yuna's a sweet, spirited girl but sometimes you need to try and not have her influence you” Yuna continued to blush.
“Hey I'm still here you know”
“You've guarded her for all her life and you're saying she hasn't had an affect on you?” Tidus inquired still laughing.
“I'll admit...we are alike,” Kai answered still smirking. “But I'm not as much of a pushover as she is” Yuna swatted his arm still her cheeks crimson.
“I am not a pushover,” she protested. Kai's eyes squinted slightly at something and Yuna frowned.
“What's that Yuna?” he asked pointing at something on her top. Yuna looked down to try and find what he was pointing at. Kai suddenly flicked her nose when she did so. She yelped slightly as Kai began snickering as Tidus grinned in amusement
“Gullible too” Kai added. Yuna made a face
“Ok you've done it now” Yuna suddenly lunged at Kai, who bolted down away laughing, Yuna hot on his heels. Tidus stood chortling as Kai avoided his sister who chased him into the fields. Yuna was able to catch him and they rolled around, wrestling in the long grass, both laughing with joy and amusement as they played something they never did often. Lulu came and stood next to Tidus with a smile on her face, as the others walked past, Auron smiling slightly as well watching the two play.
“I haven't seen Kai and Yuna laugh like this in a long time” Tidus stopped laughing to look at Lulu “Kai especially has difficulty laughing. Ever since his father went on his pilgrimage, Kai was very much the man of the family. He often had to steal food for both him and his sister until they came to Besaid. He is very much his fathers son, strong, brave and determined if not a little overconfident” Tidus turned back to look at Yuna who as kneeling over her brother a grin planted on her beautiful face, showing her pearly white teeth. “Like his father before him, Yuna is very much his reason for living.” Tidus looked back at Lulu.
“Yuna despite all of the times she smiles, all the times she laughs, has got a great burden to bear.” Yuna looked up from her place, as she brushed her brother off, and met Tidus's gaze. “She uses her smiles to hide her pain and the weight on her shoulders. It's been that way ever since her father died. She has only ever had her brother to rely on for the past ten years and she loves him as much as he loves her. Kai and Yuna have a great deal in common, and the pain of losing their parents is one of those things.” Yuna stopped smiling brushing her hair out of her eyes, as she looked at Tidus their eyes locked together. “I hope you being here can change that Tidus...she seems only to smile genuinely when you're with her” with that Lulu left.
Tidus returned his gaze to Yuna who looked at him. Tidus felt a butterfly in his stomach as their eyes met. Yuna's soft brunette hair seemed to flutter in the wind as they stared at each other. Such a thing as Yuna's beauty was a rare sight to see. Tidus, despite his popularity with the ladies in Zanarkand, had never met a girl quite like Yuna. So pure and innocent, yet so brave and determined, she should be enjoying life not risking it to fight a monster like Sin. In his eyes, there was nothing more beautiful then Yuna.
Yuna also felt her stomach flutter as she met Tidus's deep ocean eyes with her own. His blonde hair blowing in the breeze, as the sun showed off his marvellous tan. Her experience with boys her age or older apart from Kai was next to none. Tidus was the only who intrigued her as much as he did. She freely admitted he was pleasing to look at. He was handsome and athletic which only increased his attractiveness at least in her mind. Not only that, he was kind and gentle if not a little cocky which made him ever more appealing.
Yuna got to her feet along with her brother who brushed himself down and they looked at each and smiled. Kai put his hand on her shoulder as Tidus began walking again. The two hurried to catch up to him and the three began jogging to catch up with the others.
Later that night Tidus fidgeted in his bed trying to fall asleep. As with most nights sleep seemed to allude him determined to keep him from having a single nights peace. Instead his thoughts swam with the things Yuna had told that evening, about how to defeat Sin and the fact they were going to Zanarkand.
Zanarkand. Was it the same as before? Yuna had called it the city of the dead, ruins. A once glorious city of Machina now nothing more than a barren collection of rumble. With a frustrated grunt, Tidus heaved himself out of bed and made his way out of the travel agency he and the party were staying in. Wakka and Lulu were both fast asleep in their separate rooms and Kimahri was leaning against the wall outside Yuna's room. The Ronso's ears twitched as Tidus walked past, by Yuna's caretaker remained in his slumber against the wall. Auron was sitting in one of the chairs and was also in a light slumber. Tidus quietly opened the door to the highroad and walked out into the night.
Tidus came out of the agency and looked up to the sky. The stars were bright in the dark sky, each individual one twinkling uniquely as the young zanarkadian watched them from his place beneath them. Tidus walked to the cliff and the nighttime breeze caressed his frame, mixed with the scent of the ocean. It was peaceful and soothing.
“Shouldn't you be in bed?” Tidus turned startled and looked around to find the owner of the voice. Kai was sitting, arms folded in the tree to his left, his sheathed katana on the branch next to him as he was gazing out to sea. Tidus smirked.
“I was about to say the same thing to you?” he answered. Kai chuckled.
“I'm usually the one who keeps watch so I'm used to the late nights” Kai turned his gaze to Tidus for a second. “What's your story?”
“Just can't sleep” Tidus replied. There was some truth in that but there was another reason. Kai turned his eyes away from Tidus and closed them with a smile.
“Ahhh...I see” Tidus looked at him, with a frown. “It's not a dream or a nightmare that keeps you awake, it's a memory...” Tidus took in a slight gasp. How could Kai have figured it out? “Let me guess: it's your father” Tidus sighed and shook his head.
“No”
“Your mother?” Tidus looked up at Kai with a pained gaze and the red-clad guardian sensed he was right. “I thought so...” Kai still had his eyes closed as he sat in the tree.
“I...I dunno how to put it...” Tidus muttered. “I know she's been gone nearly eleven years but...it still hurts. Her face haunts me when I sleep, so I try not to some nights so I don't have to miss her any more than I already do...when she died...”
“It left a hole that couldn't be refilled” Kai finally opened his eyes and looked at Tidus with a knowing look. “Right?” Tidus looked down.
“Yeah” Kai sighed.
“I know how you feel...” Tidus looked up at Kai who had turned his gaze back to the ocean.
“Your father?” Kai nodded.
“Yeah...” Kai took a deep breath. “I was only eight years when he left...Yuna was seven. About seven years before that when Yuna was born our mother was killed in an accident. That's what drove my father to become a Summoner. He didn't survive the final battle but he was able to defeat Sin.” Kai sighed and looked down at Tidus.
“Yet even now I feel the hurt...it's always there no matter what I do to try and forget it, it still remains” Kai's eyes showed something Tidus hadn't seen before: yearning, yearning for the father he had been denied. “Broken shards stabbing me every time I breathe, cutting me up inside...and there's no way to make the pain stop...know what I mean?” Tidus nodded painfully.
“I know exactly how you feel...” Kai returned the nod.
“Since then I devoted myself to Yuna...keeping her safe, watching over her at night. And so I don't sleep very often, just so I can keep watch over her.” Kai turned his gaze to the window of the agency and saw the sleeping form of his sister; Tidus followed his line of sight and set his eyes on the sleeping angel.
Even as she slept, Yuna's beauty remained. Yet it was far more innocent and pure, the way her hair seemed to flowed over the pillow she laid her head upon, how the covers seemed to envelop her body. It was like she was a divine being sent by heaven.
“I could never forgive myself if anything happened to her...” Kai finished. He turned his head back to Tidus. He saw the fixed gaze the young blitz boy held on Yuna: the affection in the gaze he could pick out rather easily. The bond Tidus had formed with Yuna was very strongly felt by both of them Kai could tell and yet it was still growing, still deepening.
“Tidus...” the zanarkadian looked back at him. “If anything...should happen to me...take care of Yuna for me...” Tidus felt his eyes widen at Kai's words.
“What?”
“Yuna cares about you Tidus...a lot more than she lets on...” Kai smiled softly “Promise me...if anything should happen to me...that you'll watch over her...and keep her safe” Tidus felt Kai's trust in him in his gaze. Tidus nodded.
“I promise...” Kai smiled and leaned back into the tree.
“You should try and get some sleep...we've got a lot of ground to cover and you'll need your strength...” Tidus yawned as Kai spoke, his weariness finally starting to catch up to him and he nodded turning back to enter the agency. “Sleep well...kid” Tidus simply waved his hand once as he walked back through the door.
Kai took a breath in and inclined his sight to Yuna's room, seeing his sister was still blissfully asleep. A protective brotherly smile played on his features for a few moments as he gazed at his younger sisters sleeping form. He turned his head back out to the barley visibly ocean as the moon and stars shone in the night sky as the early morning hours drifted slowly on