Kilika
Tidus ran along the short dock, the only one on Besaid Island. At the very end, he saw Yuna standing there, looking anxiously out to sea.
"Where's that boat?" he wanted to know.
"Everyone will find us if it doesn't come soon."
"What?"
"Would you take me to Zanarkand?" Yuna turned to look at him, her strange eyes pleading with him. Tidus wondered how the hell she’d known about Zanarkand.
Rikku ran up to them then. "Hey!" she protested. "You said you'd go with me!"
"Oh, hey...I, uh… where’s Harry?"
"I thought Lulu told you not to get any ideas?" Rikku went on regardless of the question.
"She did?" Yuna turned away, obviously hurt.
"Yeah," Rikku pressed on. "So you're coming with me!"
"Hey!" Jecht called from the beach. "Stop dreaming! You, with a woman? You can't even catch a ball!"
Tidus was a small boy of seven once more, crouching down, the tears beginning to flow his father was wrong, he didn’t even like girls.
"Oh, what's the matter?" Jecht taunted. "Gonna cry again? Cry, cry. That's the only thing you're good for!"
"I hate you," Tidus said in a small voice.
"Huh? What'd you say?" Jecht taunted loudly and suddenly there was a warm presence beside him. He looked up to see Harry crouched there his green eyes looking down at him clearer than they had been in real life and filled with a strange glow.
“I hear you Tidus, I always have, but what you have to say, is for them.” Rikku had run around the beach and joined them smiling brightly but Yuna still stood on the beach beside his father.
Tidus straightened up and said in a louder voice, "I hate you!"
"That's the spirit!" Rikku encouraged.
"You can do it.” Harry said putting a hand on his shoulder.
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“I HATE YOU!”
He shot up from the bed where he’d been sleeping in the Crusaders lodge and panted slightly as the dream quickly began to fade in to the background. It wasn’t like the other dreams he’d had since coming to Spira. The memories… they’d felt different… but this… Harry had felt real. He reached up and griped his right shoulder. The blonde could almost feel the lingering hand before the feeling faded once more, leaving a faint tingle in his limbs. Unable to sleep anymore for fear of dreaming again Tidus threw back the sheets and got out of bed. It was amazing that his shout hadn’t woken anyone, yet the Crusaders slept on, undisturbed. Shaking his head in faint wonder he left the room and took a seat at the large wooden table that dominated the front area of the tent before dropping his head into his hands. It took him a while to realize that he could hear voices outside.
Unable to help himself Tidus listened.
“He’s dead, okay? Dead!” It was Lulu. The guardian who had laughed at him when he realized Yuna had a crush. Through the gap in the tent flaps he could just see the two figures standing by the dying bonfire.
“He does look a lot like Chappu,” Lulu went on almost scathingly. “I was surprised, too, the first time I saw him, but no matter what he looks like, he isn’t Chappu and however much you wish he was he’s never going to take his place.”
“Yeah, but he needed our help… and you even laughed, ya?” Wakka offered weakly.
“Excuses again?” Tidus silently winced. He almost felt sorry for Wakka.
Almost.
“I laughed because Yuna has a crush on him and the guardian obviously doesn’t return anything.” The dark haired woman nearly spat out. “And your idea to get him to come along with us in the hopes he will take Chappu’s place is just stupid!”
“Yeah… but…” Lulu nearly growled.
“That’s it! No more, enough Wakka!” She turned a stalked away from the bonfire toward another hut on the other side of the village. In the firelight Wakka slumped and turned to leave, dragging his feet toward his tent. Tidus watched him go before laying his head on the table and closing his eyes, but not sleeping.
‘Well, at least I have an ally in Lulu… sort of…’ he thought to himself as he listened to his own breathing. He was still sitting there the next morning when the rest of the village finally woke.
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“I can’t believe you woke up before me!” Wakka was amazed the next morning to see Tidus lounging beside Sir Luzzu and Sir Gatta, talking. He’d finally gotten around to speaking with them and they’d been in the common area since what Tidus thought to be five, the Crusaders where certainly early risers.
“It’s not hard Wakka.” Tidus said dryly, making the two other males in the room laugh. Wakka just gave a halting laugh and beckoned him toward the door.
“Come on!” He said, the bright face returning. “You can follow us to the dock, we’re just waiting for Yuna.” Tidus followed him outside, sending a brief wave at Luzzu and Gatta. He noticed Lulu standing near the place the bonfire had been the night before and went to stand nearby. Wakka followed him and poked his tounge out at Lulu behind the blondes back before he called out.
“Hey! Tidus! Something I want to give you.” He pulled out a sword from behind his back. The blade was shaped like his own but instead of being made out of red metal it looked as if it was made of water. It glittered slightly in the morning sun and for a moment Tidus thought it would evaporate or fall apart. He took it from the red head who was smiling smugly.
“Can’t have you using that old rusty thing, ne?” He nodded to the hilt that poked over the blonde blitzer’s shoulder. Tidus didn’t know what to think at that moment. The blade in his hands certainly looked alright and when he swung it casually it felt alright but something still nagged at him. The blade he already wore had been with him since Zanarkand and he’d already become used to its weight. In the end it was Lulu who made up his mind for him.
“That’s the sword you gave Chappu.” She said calmly and Tidus looked at her sharply.
“Chappu?” he knew the man was dead so why was Wakka giving the sword to him?
“My little brother, Chappu. He looked like you.” Lulu gave a snort and Tidus stabbed the tip of the blade into the ground and stepped away so it stood there on it’s own. “He never used that sword either so it’s good as new.” Wakka said hurriedly when he saw what Tidus had done.
“No.” The blonde said, taking another step. “I don’t need it. My sword is just fine.” Wakka gave him a look while Lulu smirked, the tables having turned.
“Where’s Yuna?” Wakka asked, quickly changing the subject.
“We’re taking the same boat right?” Tidus asked, folding his arms over his chest. “Why do we gotta wait here?” He mentally winced at the slightly petulant tone before looking at Lulu for answers.
“Yuna came to this village ten years ago, when the last Calm started.” She explained, Tidus nodded. The Crusaders had mentioned the Calm before. “Since then she’s been like our little sister to Wakka and myself.” Tidus nodded. “But she had the talent to become a Summoner. She became an apprentice and now she leaves as a full-fledged Summoner. This is our journey and we will start it together.” It was about then that Yuna emerged from the temple, dragging along a suitcase that was half her size. Lulu gave a faint sigh of resignation.
“You really don’t need all that luggage!” She called out to the younger brunette. Yuna hurriedly let go of the handle and flushed bright red.
“Ah… they’re not really my things. They’re gifts for the temples we’re to visit.”
“This isn’t a vacation Yuna.” Wakka said in a much softer tone then he normally used.
“I guess… I guess you’re right.” There was a faint tone of relief in her sad voice as she approached them. The large suitcase was forgotten on the path behind her as they set out along the road toward the beach. Wakka whooped in the background but Tidus could feel something was up. He slowed to a walk and looked around just in time to see a wolf leap out of the jungle.
“Whoa!” He gasped out; hand going for his sword and by the time anyone had registered what had happened he’d slashed the fiend cleanly in half. The three who stood with him all blinked at the fast response.
“Oh man, that was fast ya?” Wakka breathed out in disbelief as he eyed the red metal sword in his hand. The motes of light swirled around them briefly before they vanished up into the atmosphere. Tidus sheathed it again and scratched the back of his neck.
“Heh…” Was all he managed to say as Lulu shook her head in exasperation.
“Lets go.” She said. “We must be quick or the boat will leave without us.” They resumed their walk. The occasional fiend attacked them from ahead before they reached the hilltop. Birds they called Condors and large blue things made of jelly that Lulu referred to as a water flan. As they reached the top of the hill and made their prayers to the statue that stood there Tidus approached Lulu.
“How was it you could do so much magic?” He asked. “Harry told me that spell casters have trouble using magic without a focus.” Lulu gave him a wry look.
“I do have a focus.” She said holding up the large stuffed toy she’d been carrying with her since they’d left the village. “It is shaped as a Moogle. This is my focus for my spell casting, without it I couldn’t even begin to cast any of my spells.” Tidus gave a little ‘Oh’ of understanding and continued walking. She’d already mentioned the types of spells and the elemental weaknesses while they where going up the hill. A comfortable silence had fallen over the group as they took a path Tidus hadn’t seen on his way to the village. Passing under an impressive set of ruins he lagged behind and stared. Unfortunately there was still someone he had yet to meet.
A steak of blue leapt from the cliff to the ruins and along the stones to the ground. The lion creature he’d been told was a Ronso, crouched before him on all fours, his tail right up in the air and his teeth bared in a menacing growl that gave Tidus the chills. His had strayed to the hilt of his sword but he didn’t draw it. Kimahri was supposed to be Yuna’s guardian, and if so, why was he growling at him? Even as the Ronso brought his spear out before him Wakka yelled along the path.
“Hey!? What’s taking so long?” Tidus relaxed slightly and called ahead.
“Nothing Wakka, just gimme a minute!” The glare Kimahri was giving him could have burned his head off. The blonde didn’t want to start any trouble so he slipped past him and jogged down the path, the growling warrior grudgingly following. The rest of the trip across the cliffs was relatively uneventful. At one point Yuna had to display her summoning ability, summoning a large bird she’d named Valefore to take care of one of the monstrous birds that had almost knocked them off the path. Then they reached the beach, only to find that nearly the entire village was already there. They cried and wept as Yuna made her way to the boat, Her guardians in tow. Tidus joined the blitz ballers as they made their way up the ramp and split off from them as the ship started to move and settled in for a long and boring trip.
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Tidus tapped his fingers against his knees in irritation as he watched the other occupants of the cabin. He’d been right when he thought that it would be a monotonous trip. The boat rocked beneath him and if he closed his eyes he could almost imagine being back in Zanarkand on his boat and floating on the sea.
Almost.
His eyes flung open and he climbed to his feet. Pent up energy making him irritable as he walked toward the door. There really wasn’t anything to see down there. One of the Aurochs was sick and the others where trying to dodge puke. He didn’t feel like joining in so he walked out into the hall. There where few people about. Luzzu and Gatta, for all their friendliness back on Besaid took their work seriously, and where refusing to let anyone into the room at the end of the hall. Not particularly interested in what was there anyway he caught sight of a shorter man looking through the doors that stood to one side of the stairs to the deck. Curious he padded up behind him and peeked through the gap.
“What’s so interesting?” He asked and the little man nearly jumped out of his skin in shock.
“Wah…? Who are you?” He asked, in an accent slightly differing from Wakka’s. Tidus couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so interesting?” He repeated looking into the room beyond the now open door. The man recovered quickly when he realized that the blonde wasn’t going to pick on him and nodded to the large wheels that stood in the room. Each had a large bird that kinda looked like an oversize canary with extra long legs.
“Those Chocobos are what I was looking at.” He said amiably. “Beautiful creatures those, dead useful. They can run for miles and not get tired…” He trailed off and went back to staring only to shake himself out of his stupor when he remembered that he was talking to someone.
“Oh, sorry for that, let me introduce myself, I am O'aka the XXIII, merchant extraordinaire.” He waved his arms with a flourish as he let the door of the power room shut and stepped past Tidus into the hall. The blonde had a faint smirk on his face as he listened to the introduction. O'aka’s face however, fell. “Well, I was going to be, there’s never been a merchant in the family before and I can’t get started really without the gil. Couldn’t lend me some could you?” Something in the back of his mind whispered to him as O'aka stared at him hopefully.
‘He would make a great ally if you helped him.’ The voice that sounded so much like Harry said. ‘He has the determination and potential to become something great.’ Ignoring his doubts he dug a hand into one of his pockets and pulled out a handful of what passed as currency here. He’d picked it up from all over the place and more often than not Fiends dropped gil like rain when they died. He grabbed O'aka’s hand and dropped it into his grasp.
“There you go.” He said cheerfully as the merchant’s eyes went wide in shock. Everyone else usually just overlooked him, and those who didn’t usually horded their gil.
“Ooohhhhh…” His voice shook and it was all he could do not to cry as his hands closed over the gil. “There’s got to be nearly ten thousand gil here.” He looked sharply up at Tidus. “Are you sure about this?” Tidus just smiled in amusement and gestured flippantly with one hand.
“It’s not that much.” He said turning toward the stairs. “I don’t mind, and something tells me that Harry would have given it to you as well if he where here.” Ignoring the looks he was getting from the other occupants of the hall and the frantic ‘Thank you’s’ that sounded in his wake he walked up the stairs and out of sight. Outside on the deck he breathed a sigh of relief at the feel of the wind. It had been too stuffy down there and the rocking wasn’t so bad outside. Pity the other blitzers hadn’t realized that sooner. Taking one last deep breath of the salty air he set off around the deck. Sailors where running around working, while a large crowd had amassed around Yuna. He leaned against the railing nearby and overheard what was being said.
"Word is that summoner's got noble blood!" one of the people that had gathered around her nodded toward the girl.
"I heard she's Lord Braska's daughter!" another joined in.
"Ya don't say?" one of the sailors there said in faint awe.
“So she’s Braska’s daughter.” He mused more to himself than anything as he stared pensively out at the ocean remembering the statue of the robed man back in the temple. His uneasy and restless feeling had returned, it was like a lead weight in his stomach. He was becoming so paranoid that it didn’t surprise him when Wakka appeared on the rail beside him.
“Yup!” He’d overheard the blonde’s absentminded statement. “She’s the daughter of High Summoner Braska! We only just got the statue back home, I bet being a guardian you’ve seen them in the other temples too.” Tidus just nodded along, not really confirming the fact. Luckily, Wakka didn’t notice. “Anyway,” He continued. “Lord Braska defeated Sin ten years ago and Yuna is the heir to a great legacy.” Tidus looked down at his hands and closed his eyes as the red head’s words brought back more memories.
“It’s tough when your father’s famous.” He’d only murmured it but once again, Wakka heard him.
“Huh? What do you mean?” Tidus just squeezed his eyes shut tighter and tried to turn away only to find Lulu on his other side.
“Was your father famous as well?” Tidus shook his head to clear it and backed away.
“I’ve been in his shadow only for my whole life.” He burst out, the collective stress of remembering and being ganged up on by Lulu and Wakka finally getting to him. “I hated it! I hated him! Yet I ended up doing everything he did!” The last part had been more to himself. “Auron wouldn’t let me forget about him either. Jecht said this, Jecht did that!” He let out a growl of frustration and slumped back on to the rail dejectedly as the two guardians stared at him in shock.
“Jecht? Like as in Sir Jecht and Sir Auron?” Wakka gasped out, dumbfounded. “Lord Braska’s guardians?” Tidus gave him a sharp look that was slightly tainted with confusion. He almost asked what he meant but didn’t as he stood up and turned away, stomping to a different part of the ship. He was surprised to encounter O'aka again on the upper deck, sitting in the shade of a large sail, reorganizing his pack. The look he gave the blonde as he flopped down nearby told him clearly that he’d heard every word he’d said down below. To his credit though he said nothing, something Tidus was glad for, he didn’t even want to hear the names Jecht or Auron again today if he could help it. Instead he just sat back and listened to O'aka babble on about everyday things, his brother and his home. He didn’t know how long they’d been there when a familiar call he never wanted to hear again went up.
“SIN! IT’S SIN!” The boat tipped violently and they went sliding. Tidus crashed against the railing with a thud. For a moment he thought it would break as he struggled to regain his breath but much to his relief it held. He caught O'aka and his backpack as they slid past and held the merchant in a tight grip as the boat leveled again.
“Get down to the Cabin.” He gasped out as he shoved O'aka down the stairs. He got to the bow in time to see two sailors heading for the harpoon guns that stood right at the front of the boat.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Wakka nearly roared out in order to be heard above the shouting and the crashing of the waves. “Stick a harpoon in him and we’ll all get dragged under!” One of the men who now manned the harpoon’s looked at him.
“Sin is going for Kilika! We gotta distract it!” Even as the word Kilika left his lips a chill of dread ran through Tidus. Hardly thinking he ran forward to join them.
“Do it! Quick!” Tidus paid no heed to Wakka’s protests. “We at least need to slow it down to give him time.”
“Give who time?” Wakka demanded, rounding on him. Tidus met his eyes and nearly glared.
“Harry, Harry’s there and he knows when Sin’s coming, he need’s time to warn them!” He ignored the questions of how and why and nodded to the Sailor.
“Forgive us lady Summoner!” He cried out as they took aim and let loose. The harpoons sailed through the air but only one embedded itself amid the scales that protected the fin raised above the water. The speed they’d been traveling at though was nothing compared to that of sin and the ropes went taught as the ship was dragged along behind it. Those who had remained on the deck went scrambling for hand holds but none went overboard. Unfortunately that was the least of their problems, the harpoon had caught Sin’s attention and it was now raining scales onto the deck. Tidus got a feeling of deja’vu as he pulled his sword and began to slash at the ones closest to him. He’d managed to kill a few before he heard someone shout from the melee on the deck.
“Attack the fin!” A moment later Wakka’s ball burst into flames and sailed out over the water to smack into the fin. It shuddered at the sudden attack and with a crack the harpoons embedded in its flesh, splintered and broke. Without a moment to loose Sin dove under the waves and the ocean began to calm down. They finished off the few remaining scale insects and stood looking at each other before there was a roar of water and the boat nearly rolled. Tidus found a handhold and managed to catch a sailor as well before the boat righted itself. Looking out over the bow he caught sight of something big slipping though the large waves created in its wake and hoped, that if Harry really was in Kilika like he thought, that he’d be okay. After all, he was his last link back to Zanarkand.
Right?
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Where there should have been laughter there where shouts as people rushed for the island as fast as they could. Women rushed through the homes people had built over and over again gathering up any irreplaceable items they could find before following everyone into the forest. Baby’s squalled and men lead the way toward the temple, even the fiends stayed out of their way as they escaped the oncoming danger. Behind them a shadow loomed over the town that was suspended over the water and a wave, almost as high as the tallest part of the island, crashed down upon the fragile buildings and homes. The unlucky few who hadn’t made it to the safety of the forest where hurtled into the water or hit by debris as Sin laid waste to everything that was left, as well as the trees and plants on the edges of the forest where the sand wasn’t sturdy enough to hold them in the winds.
Then as quickly as it had come Sin left. An uneasy calm settled over the destroyed remains and the bodies of those who had died where swept back to the shore. Long after Sin had retreated into the distance the people of Kilika finally reemerged from the forest to see the destruction. A few burst into tears as people gathered the nerve to go looking for those who hadn’t made it. Off to one side, away from the grieving people, a dark haired boy watched them, a black staff griped tightly in one hand.
“They’ll be okay.” The blonde girl beside him murmured. “More would have died without your warning.” Harry nodded grimly even if he didn’t quite believe it himself. An old man hobbled toward them, he was the elder of the village.
“You’ll do the sending?” He asked. Harry nodded and turned his gaze out to the ocean.
“Tidus is coming.”
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It was a frantic and mostly distraught crew that sailed their ship up to the only dock left intact after Sin’s latest assault. They rushed around and lowered the gangplank as Yuna rushed to see the people that where waiting for them. Yuna darted foward to one of the people and hurriedly did the prayer.
“Greetings.” She said, slowing down when she realized that she was moving to fast. “I am the Summoner Yuna. I have come from the temple in Besaid. If there is no other summoner here, please allow me to perform the sending.” Some of the people in their midst gave her a sad smile.
“The sending is soon to be underway.” One older woman said as she stood by one of the sailors. “We are here to see if any of our loved ones where caught at sea, before we will join the others.” Yuna looked slightly put off and the other guardian’s all turned to look at Tidus as he shouldered his way hurriedly through the crowd and ran off down the boardwalk.
The old woman laughed.
“I take it that was the young guardian.” She looked at the way he had gone with a faint smile that Yuna and the others where surprised to see. “Summoner Harry said that he would arrive soon, just as he knew Sin would come. We lost only a few this time, our people count ourselves truly blessed that Yevon would send such a Summoner to save us.” She made the prayer and many of the others copied her before the crowd began to walk further down the dock. Bemused, Yuna and the others all followed, O'aka the merchant getting ahead of them to see where his new friend had gone.
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Rikku didn’t notice as Tidus slipped out of the crowd of solemn people to stand beside her in order to watch Harry as he practically danced on the water. She’d seen a sending before, both simple and complicated but they never failed to hold her in awe. The torch flames had gone blue and under the summoner’s feet motes of light where rising from the bodies that floated there, wrapped in funeral shrouds. The water that had risen was beginning to lower him back down and the dance was finally coming to an end. People wept for friends and loved ones, they where lead away as Harry finally made his way back to the shore. Rikku rushed forward to meet him when she noticed the tears he had running down his face but stopped when Harry’s feet found dry land and he froze.
It was then that the Al Bhed girl turned around and stared in surprise to see just how close Tidus had been. Then out of the blue she squealed and bounced on the spot before launching herself at him, the blue ribbons that had been attached to her orange top streaming out behind her as she leapt.
“YOU MADE IT!” She shrieked, grabbing his hands and knocking him around with her over enthusiastic bouncing.
“Nice to see you to.” Tidus said as he wrestled his arms out of her grip and put her in a playful headlock messing up her hair in retaliation.
“HEY!” She gave an indignant shout as he let her go. He grinned as the other blonde backed off pouting, trying to put her hair back to the way she liked it. By then most of the villagers had left and the three had registered O'aka, Yuna, her guardians and the headman all standing off to one side but none really acknowledged them as Tidus turned back to Harry.
“Hi…” He waved a hand, nervous now that he was facing him, and for no reason what so ever. Harry was still crying but his face split into a smile as he lightly punched him in the arm.
“It’s about time you got here.” The blonde tensed slightly as the Summoner hugged him. When he stepped back Tidus got a good look at him. He looked slightly better than the last time he’d seen him. Someone had given him new clothes. The white baggy pants worn by most of the islanders, plain sandals and a shirt that actually fitted him. Seeing this Tidus gave a tug at the lump against his back and pulled free the robe he’d carried with him since he’d washed up on Besaid.
“You forgot this.” He teased slightly as he handed it over. Harry’s face brightened again as he grabbed it and shrugged it on. A quick wave of his staff later and it was clean of the salt and dirt that had gathered on it.
“Thank-you.” He hugged it around himself and moved closer to Tidus as those who had stayed away finally joined them.
“Our thanks Summoner Harry.” The old man stiffly gave the prayer and stood straight as Harry waved him up again.
“Oh don’t.” Harry begged him not to bow. “You don’t need to do that, your bones won’t thank you for it later.” The headman chuckled.
“Ever caring.” He said with a shake of his head. “I will take my leave now. My people will be staying in the temple. I’m afraid you will have to remain at the Inn tonight. I would invite you to stay in my hut once more but as you know…” He gave a sad smile. “We will forever be in your debt you know.” Harry just shook his head.
“You owe me nothing, I did what I was taught to do. Preserve life before all else.” To anyone from Spira it was obvious that Harry was different. There was something about him that drew the eye even as he shirked the spotlight.
“That may be so.” The old man said pensively. “But we owe you our lives none the less. You and your guardians will always find friends among the people of Kilika.” Without letting Harry say anything else he turned and walked toward the forests, humming the hymn to himself as he went.
“So what are we going to do now?” Tidus broke the silence looking at Harry absentmindedly drying off his face for him, neither really noticing what he was doing. Rikku bounced on the spot.
“We’re going to Luca.” The Al Bhed girl chirruped. “We can meet up with my people there. With the big tournament there’s sure to be someone who can take us to home. We have a team playing as well.” Tidus nodded in agreement before all of a sudden one of the people they’d forgotten broke in.
“Hey! You’re not gonna go and play on some other team are you?” Wakka stepped up to Tidus. Harry looked at him.
“Huh?” Tidus scratched the back of his head and shrugged.
“Well when I washed up near Besaid they threw a ball at me to wake me up and I was kinda mad so I kicked it back and Wakka decided to recruit me.” Harry looked at the red head and frowned.
“I still remember what happened last time you played Blitz Ball.” The green-eyed Summoner said, a mocking light in his eyes. Tidus decided to play along.
“Hey! It wasn’t my fault Sin turned up and crashed the party.” Harry feigned a deadpan look.
“I was coughing up water for ten minutes! If Auron hadn’t fished me out I would have almost drowned.” Tidus got a triumphant look.
“You said almost!” He crowed. “You wouldn’t have drowned.” Harry poked his tongue out.
“Then you try swimming with rubble going everywhere Mr Guardian.”
“I did. Twice.” Tidus drawled, clearly remembering the experience himself. "The second time I was the one draging you along."
"Oh, Burn..." O'aka hissed out quietly to one side, mostly unnoticed.
“Does that mean he can’t play?” Wakka asked stupidly. Everyone froze and looked at him like he was mad. “What?” He asked indignantly as Lulu put her head in her hands and Rikku burst out laughing.