When I had finally caught up to Rikku and Tidus, the two were arguing in a friendly fasion about Rikku’s
new nick name for him.
“Ah, come on Tidus. You’ve gotten to be just as serious as Auron was.
Seriously, we should all call you Auron Jr.” She said with a grin as she sat down on the ground legs out in front of
her, and hands at her sides slightly to the back.
Tidus moved and sat down next to her crossing his legs,
while I sat down on the other side of Rikku, my feet to the left of me, while my knees were bent pointing to the right.
“Rikku,
you can’t be serious.” He said, as he playfully poked her in the arm. “I mean seriously. Sure he was serious,
but I can’t be that serious!” I couldn’t help but giggle at the conversation.
“Yu-huh!”
Rikku said nodding her head. “You spent ten years of your life raised by Auron in the dream Zanarkand. Of course you’re
serious like him.” She said with a grin as she looked at me. “Right? You were there with him, he’s just
as serious as Auron!”
“Well,” I said trying hard not to laugh. “I don’t
know about serious, but back then he did cry a whole lot. Even when the team the Zanarkand Abes lost a match.”
“Oh,
oh! Story time! I want to hear it!” Rikku said as she looked at Tidus. “I want to hear all the details!”
“Oh
no. No Tina!” He said as he jumped up and lunged across the short distance across Rikku’s legs and clamped a hand
on my mouth. “You’ll not say a single word!”
“Ah, why not?” Rikku asked with an impish
giggle as she reached in between Tidus and I and wrestled with him to remove his hand from my mouth. “There can’t
be any harm in Tina telling us a story can there?”
Tidus looked at Rikku and to me, and all I could
do was grin. “Out numbered by girls.” He said as he went back to his sitting spot.
“Great! I was
about to call Paine over to kick your ass if you wouldn’t let Tina talk.” Rikku said as she too sat back in her
favored position. Tidus grunted and crossed his arms over his chest, and scowled. Yet, even though he was looking directly
at me, I could still see the hint of a smile in his eyes. “Come on Tina, what’s the story? How did the ‘Star
player of the Zanarkand Abes.’ lose a game?” She asked looking intently at me. “I really want to know.”
“Well...” I said as my memory jogged backward to that fateful day, when Tidus had made a bad judgment
call. “I guess I should start from the beginning.”
“Oh no..” Tidus groaned. “You’re going to tell her the entire story.” He said as
he buried his head into his hands.
“Shush, you.” Rikku said. “Or I’ll get Yunnie and Paine
in on it to.” She said with an impish grin.
“Fine, okay. Go ahead Tina, you may embarrass and mortify
me.” Tidus said as he pulled his knees up and under his chin. “Who knows maybe I’ll be able to see things
from you’re point of view. Or something.”
“Quiet!” Rikku hissed. “Okay, Tina. The
show’s all yours.”
The day had been hot and muggy, and I had been sitting down on the steps to the small boat house I lived in with
an old woman. Not far from me, Tidus had been trying to practice his fathers prized ‘Jecht Shot Mach 3,’ and he
as usual wasn’t very successful.
It was a pre game ritual of sorts. Something Tidus had always done since his father had disapeared. I never
quite understood his reasoning, but then again I never questioned why he acted like he did.
Tidus had just failed a fourth attempt and landed on his butt, for the fourth time, when I had finally decided
to actually talk to him.
“You know, it’s the timing of your kick.” I said as I stood up and walked over, to pick up
the ball.”
“Ah, what would a silly girl know about the game of Blitzball?” He said getting up and snatching
the ball away from my hands.
“Damn it Tidus, you’re such a jerk at times, you know?” I said flinging
my hands up in the air. “Why don’t you ask the perky brunette on your team huh?! Besides, I know about as much
of the sport as you do!” I said as I stabbed a finger into his chest. “Yet, unlike you, I paid attention to your
dad when he tried to teach us the shot.”
“Come off it Tina. I’ve never seen you make a success
at it either.” He retorted as he smacked the ball and sent it flying into the air, and watched as it landed and bounced
on the back deck of his own boat house where he lived alone.
“It’s because, you ninny, that I haven’t
got the timing down either.” I said as we turned off the dock and onto his boat house. “Look,” I said as
an after thought. “I know you’re tense about the big game and all, but really. You should try to relax. Just focus
on having a good time. Have some fun.”
“ Yeah, yeah.” Tidus said as he shrugged and jammed his
hands into his pants pockets. “Auron told me the same thing. He’s such a grouch.”
“Well,”
I said, “he’s right. You’re way to tense. It’s not even that big of a game. The finals won’t
be around for a while anyways. Even if you lose one game, you’ll still get in second place. The Zanarkand Abes are the
best team there is.”
“I don’t want the team to get into second place. That would blow our chances
at the Jecht Memorial Cup.” Tidus said as he looked at me from the corner of his eyes. “I want to bring the team
to Victory!”
“Victory this, victory that.” I retorted. “It’s always about winning with
you, isn’t it?”
“Come on, Tina. This is a really important game here.” Tidus whined as he
opened the door to his home. “It’s the deciding match to see who gets to play in one of two matches for the Jecht
Memorial Cup. So far, the Duggles have gotten a spot into the big match. You know, the undefeated champions.”
“Yeah,
a bunch of players who play dirty.” I said as I breezed past him into the kitchen. “I mean it Tidus, you need
to relax, eat some good food, and get some good rest. The game’s tomorrow, no point wasting your time staying up and
worrying about it. Just go out there, play your hardest, and your best. There’s not much else to do.”
“Sure
there is.” He called over his shoulder as he closed the door behind him. “I could lead the team to victory.”
“Don’t start.” I warned as I hunted in the fridge and cupboards for food. “Darn it, Tidus.
When was the last time you did any shopping for food? All you have here is bread and water.”
“Last month?
I don’t know.” Tidus said while sitting down on the only couch and picking up a magazine titled. ‘Blitzball:
Hints and Tips.’ “I think there’s some pasta on the top shelf in the dry food pantry.” He added.
“No
there isn’t.” I said as I searched. “Come on blondie. We’re going to Nans.”
“Do
we have to?” He said flipping through the pages. “I hate that stuff they sell there.”
“You
want to eat or not?” I asked walking into the sitting room and lightly slapping the back of his head. “If you
don’t, you won’t be able to play at your best. No Blitzball star I know, can play the game that well on an empty
stomach!”
Tidus’ stomach growled to punctuate the point I made. “Ouch, alright. Sheesh, you’re
almost as bad as Auron.” He said as he rubbed the back of his head.
“I’m like this, because somebody
needs to look after you, when he isn’t around.” I retorted as the two of us left and locked the door to the small
floating boat house, and headed into the city.
“That’s all fine and good Tina, but sometimes it can
get annoying.”
“I’m annoying because I care, Tidus. You should get used to it.” I said as
I walked next to him.
“Any news on finding your mother?” He asked changing the subject. “I know it’s been
a long time since that day, but really. Why would any kids mother abandon their child in a park?”
I
shrugged my shoulders and zipped up my coat and looked out at the sea, letting the wind blow my hair around in a lazy manner.
“I hardly even remember what she looks like, to tell the truth.” I said, and added as an after thought, “Sometimes,
I think what little I do remember of her is scary. She wasn’t exactly caring. She was always, thinking, and so serious
about something. I just can’t remember what about though. Hell, I don’t even remember my father at all.”
“Hey now, I’m sorry I asked. I was just curious if you had heard anything about her.” Tidus
said as he placed an arm around my shoulders. “I can sympathize. My dad’s been missing for a long time now.”
“Yeah.” I said as I shrugged as we turned away from the sight of the sea and continued walking
into the city of Zanarkand. “Come on lets go to Nans. I’m feeling hungry myself.”
Nans is this small cozy little cafe, that Tidus and I had been going to since we were kids. The atmosphere
is nice, and not as noisy as the rest of the city of Zanarkand. In fact it feels more like a country house then an actual
cafe, but I like it. Even though Tidus has always complained about the food, he still enjoys the place as much I do. For as
long as I could remember, we had always gone here before a game, and it’s more of a tradition then anything.
After we had paid for our food and selected a table, our usual, we sat down and really started to talk about
the game.
“It’s like this,” Tidus said as he gulped his food down quickly. “the game is our last
shot to get into the big time. You know the big Finals for the Jecht Memorial Cup. Where everyone who made it will play their
hearts out and see who wins the Cup. The whole team is counting on me, to get them that final shot.”
“So
it’s more of a peer pressure thing?” I asked as I handed him a napkin so he could wipe his mouth.
“Yeah.
I guess. It’s like, everyone is expecting me to be as great as my Dad yah know. When he comes back, I’ll prove
to him I’m better then him.”
“Tidus.” I said, knowing that we were on the verge of a very
touchy subject. “Your dad has been missing for ten years. Most people have given him up for dead.”
“Well
I haven’t! I just want to tell my ol’man how much I hate him for what he put my mom through. They didn’t
find a body, he has to be alive somewhere.”
“Do you really hate him that much?” I asked as I finished
my drink of choice. “I mean, he at least to me wasn’t as bad as you make him out to be.”
“Look,
you weren’t around for most of what he did. Whenever he was around, my mom would ignore me. Plus he was always making
fun of me for being such a crybaby. It’s his fault I was such a crybaby anyway. If he were more encouraging...”
Tidus trailed off. “ah, never mind. You’ve heard my complaints before. You know how I feel about my old man.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry I asked.” This was the usual and typical conversation, we would have when
it came to his dad. He was right though, most of what he held a grudge about I hadn’t been around to see. So with mutual
feelings we dropped the subject, and threw out the garbage on our trays, and left them on top of the dirty tray shelf and
left Nans.
We parted our ways that night, each of us going into our respective homes. My mind on the thoughts of
what my mother was up to, and Tidus probably thinking about the game ahead.
Tidus and I had left early the morning of the game, so he could get in a little practice in the sphere pool,
before the game started, and so I could get a nice seat in a reserved area for friends and family. While I watched his team
practice, the arena started to fill with the other fans of the sport. There was an electricity in the air, and excitement
could be felt. Then the first announcements were made.
Keeping my eyes on the teams as they entered the sphere pool, I could hear the shouts and yells from the various
fans. These sounds were all but normal to me, as was the announcer Zannar, a long time commentator of the beloved sport of
the people of Zanarkand. The first half of the game went well, and I really thought that the Zanarkand Abes were going to
win. Then things went bad.
At first, it was just a minor mistake on behalf of the left defense. Instead of anticipating a pass, he tackled
the other teams center, and was unable to steal the ball. This caused the first goal in a series of goals. Things were starting
to get close, and I could just feel the rising excitement of the people around me.
Keeping my eyes on the Tidus, I saw that he was getting frustrated. Something must have snapped, when the opposing
team scored another goal and made it an all out tie. I saw Tidus motion for an all out attack, a desperate attempt to gain
the last goal.
Things seemed to be going okay at first, but when the girl on his team threw him a pass, it got blocked and
stolen by the other team. In a quick succession of throws, the ball went across the sphere pool and was kicked into the Zanarkand
goal. They had lost the game, because nobody was within the zones to defend the goal.
I remember the hushed silence as this sank in, for the fans of the Zanarkand Abes. I also remember Zannar expressing
sheer disappointment, but I didn’t stay around very long. For across the sphere pool, standing at the entrance to the
seats was a very familiar man.
Auron.
He was in his red robe as usual, and his arm was resting within his robes next to his chest. Looking at him
I could only see him shake his head and turn to leave. Getting up, I too left. I figured it would be best if I were at Tidus’
place for when he arrived home. Little did I know that Auron had the same idea.
It was several hours when Tidus came back home. I was already at his place waiting outside. In mute silence
he opened his door and let me inside.
“I’m sorry..” I said trying to say something to get him
talking, but he just waved me off. Turning I went back to the door, and opened it to leave, and there stood Auron, his
arm poised to knock on the door.
Without a word he stepped past me as I walked past him, about to close the door when I heard a short conversation
between the two of them. I stayed at the door and watched, peeking through a crack in the door.
“What do you want?” Tidus asked as he turned and put his hands behind his head.
“It
was a bad call.” Auron said as he looked at Tidus. “Your team lost because of you.”
“You
came here to say that?” Tidus growled as he moved towards the couch and gripped his fists, and glared at a wall, avoiding
Auron’s eyes.
“It’s been... ten years. I thought you’d be crying.” Auron continued
as he walked down the stairs and sat on the couch and continued to stare at Tidus.
“Auron..” Tidus said
as he finally gave up and looked at him. “Yeah, so what. It’s all my fault, but I’m not crying, so you can
forget about making any cracks about my being a crybaby.”
Auron just shrugged, and sat back looking at the
ceiling. “I was going to come straight back here, but I decided to stick around at the arena. It seems, that your team
will still be able to play in the Jecht Memorial Finals. You came in second, but it seems the judges think that your team
should be given a shot anyway.”
“You pulled some strings didn’t you?” Tidus asked as he
turned away from Auron.
“You can think that if you want to.” Auron said. “All I did was talk to
Zannar. He was hoping you’d do the ‘Jecht Shot' He wants to see if you’re capable of it.”
“Yeah
well, I’m not about to use that shot any time soon.” Tidus retorted. “Why should I?”
“Perhaps
because in the last two years you’ve been following in your fathers foot steps?” Auron suggested.
“That’s
hardly a reason why I should do it.” Tidus said as he looked at Auron, his hands still gripped into fists. “I
hate my dad, okay. Just because I’m playing Blitzball doesn’t mean I have to do things the way he did.”
“Like I said.” Auron said as he stood up. “I thought you’d be crying.”
“Get
out.” Tidus said, the knuckles on his fists going white. “Just, leave.”
“After that,” I said quietly as I looked from Tidus and Rikku. “I had decided to leave. I didn’t
want to get caught eavesdropping.”
“Wow.” Rikku said as she looked at Tidus her head resting on her chin. “That’s some story,
I never knew you could be so serious about hating your Dad.”
“Yeah, well, I had my reasons.” Tidus
said standing. “Had your fill?” He asked Rikku.
Rikku nodded her head. “Yeah, it should do for
now.” She said standing and stretching. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot! We found something on the ship wreak we investigated!
Lets have a look at what we found okay?” She said walking off towards some Al-Bhed who were talking excitedly amongst
themselves.
“Sure, whatever it is, might prove to be useful.” Tidus said as he reached his hand out to me, and
offered to help me up.
“Point.” I said as he pulled me up to a standing position. I looked at him briefly
but then turned away from his gaze, and stepped towards the group Rikku had gone to.
“Tina, wait.” He
said. “Why didn’t you tell me you were standing at the door, listening to the conversation I had with Auron that
day?”
“I never got the chance, to be honest.” I replied as I turned to look at him. “After
that day you just got very busy, and fans started to show up outside of your home to show their support for you.”
“Ah, Tina that’s not a real good reason to keep something like that from me.” Tidus said rubbing
the back of his head messing up his yellow hair. “Had I known...”
“Look, Tidus.” I said
turning and looking at him over my shoulder. “It wasn’t something I’d have told you anyway, back then a
subject like your father was a serious thing not to bring up or even talk about. You hated him so much.”
“Look
who’s talking.” He retorted as he stepped towards me and placed a hand on my left elbow. “I’m sure
you hated your mother for abandoning you in that park.” He said in a low and careful voice.
Hearing
that come from Tidus, made an icy feeling shoot through my whole body. “What would you know.” I muttered. “I
mean, you never knew her, heck I hardly even remember her. Except...” I trailed off as I shook my head. “No, never
mind.” I said.
“Except what? That she was scary? Never paid attention to you? Did she...hit you?”
He asked quietly.
“What, no!” I said turning to glare at him. “She never hit me!” I said
shaking my head more.
“How do you know for sure? You yourself said you didn’t remember much except a
few things. You even said she was scary!” He said taking hold of my upper forearms as I squeezed my eyes shut, and tried
to force away sudden flashes of a female face.
“Stop it Tidus!” I whispered. “Just... stop. No
more questions.” Tidus slowly let go of my arms and removed his hands and looked away.
“You’re
very pale.” He whispered. “Are you okay?”
“No..yes, I don’t know. Just stop asking
so many questions. It’s annoying.” I said as I rubbed my temples.
“It’s annoying because
I care. Get used to it.” He said placing an arm over my shoulders. “Look, if you ever need to talk to someone,
you know I’m here for you. Okay?”
I sighed and shrugged and moved away from him. “I’ll keep
it in mind. Rikku’s waiting.” I said as I changed the subject. “Lets go see what they found yesterday.”
“Well,
sure. If you’re really up to it.” Tidus said speaking softly. “Just don’t forget that I’m here
for you okay?”
“Sure.” I mumbled as we walked towards the group of Al Bhed.
“Slow pokes!” Rikku said as she turned holding a yellow sphere. “This is one of the things we
found on the ship wreck. It’s pretty old, but maybe you should take a look at it.” she said handing it over to
me. “I’ll translate it.” She added.
“Oh, so it’s all in Al Bhed?” I asked as
I held the round object in my hands.
“Yeah.” Rikku said nodding her head. “It seems really important
too.”
“Well are you going to look at it?” Tidus asked as he turned slightly and looked at the sphere
in my hands. “It might have some answers to some questions you might have.” He added as n after thought.
“Yeah.”
I whispered as I lifted the sphere up and focused my eyes on the small round object. With a click the sphere was activated
and an image of an old man wearing a yellow outfit, similar to that of the Al Bhed in our group shimmered and flickered as
he spoke. With Rikku translating, we learned the following.
“It has been two months since we found the remains of what looks to be a statue of a young woman. It seems
to be similar to that of the Yevon Statues, only it doesn’t seem to hold any power. If it is a statue of a forgotten
fayth, I only hope the Aeon within has found rest of some sort." The voice paused and then continued.
"We found it not far from Zanarkand, in a small cave on the mountain of the Ronso. We were granted passage,
after crossing the Calm lands, and stumbled across it. The statue depicted was young, mid twenties, wearing odd clothing.
Though this wasn’t the thing that caused us alarm. It was what we found next to it. Next to it was the sleeping form
of a child, no older then five. We tried to wake the child up but she did not awake. It was almost like she were dead. Her
breathing was very shallow and I myself did not notice it until I had examined what I had thought to be the dead body. Taking
liberty in the hopes of reviving the child we took the child and the statue, to the meeting place where we were to meet with
other al bhed. We traveled for many weeks, and made land fall at Baaj temple, thinking we would be able to return both statue
and child to those of the Yevon fayth, but we were not admitted onto the lands. We were told that our kind were heathens for
not following the Yevon religion. Though they did permit us to land at a smaller bit of land not far from the main temple.
If, we left in the morning. I am going to take a few shots of the statue with this movie sphere, and a shot of the girl, in
the hopes that if something happens to us on these Yevon lands, and waters... No I do not want to finish the thought.”
The voice of the man faded and the image swung and changed views before our eyes. There before us was the statue this
al bhed man had talked about, and there lying on the ground was the pale and motionless image of the child he had mentioned.
I dropped the sphere and took several steps back.
“Tina?” Tidus asked as Rikku bent to pick up the sphere. “That statue, it looks like...”
He trailed off as he looked at me and then at Rikku, who was nodding her head silently.
Turning away from the two of them I lifted my hands to my face and rubbed my temples as my head started to throb
painfully.
“It sort of looks like you.” Rikku whispered.
I shook my head, and didn’t
look at either of them. I focused my eyes on the ground as my hands started to shake, and my body shivered. They were right,
the statue did look like me, but what they didn’t know, was that the young girl was the self imposed image of the girl
from my dreams. The girl I knew to be myself.
“Rikku,” I whispered as I lowered my hands. “We’re
going back to Besaid Island. I have some, questions I want to ask Lulu.”
“Yeah, sure. That’s okay.
I’ll tell the crew to pack up the statue and the other things we found on the boat.” She said.
“What
else did you find?” I asked.
“Well we found a captains log, and the statue but we didn’t find any
remains of the little girl.”
“I see.” I said quietly. “Can you date the sphere?”
“Well,”
Rikku said quietly, “I’m guessing it’s shortly after Sin was destroyed by Lady Yunalesca. Back in the times
of the Machina War. I’m not certain yet, but the logbook might be more helpful.”
“Bring the sphere
and the book with us. Yuna, Paine, Tidus, yourself and myself will be taking the air ship back to Besaid tomorrow.”
I said as I tried to fight the shaking in my hands. Walking away quickly I hunted out a place where I could be alone.
I found refuge on a pile of rubble. Sitting on a large rock I looked at my hands as they shook.
All
I had left were more questions, and every lead, and every step I took led me down a more confusing path that spiraled forever
downwards.
“Why, does the statue look like me?” I whispered. “Why?” Holding my head in my
hands I closed my eyes. “I don’t know what is real anymore.”
I didn’t get much sleep that night.
