Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Just Smile ❯ Past Regrets ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter Two

The beautiful dawn brought with it a certain dread for Wakka and Lulu. Tidus just smiled and told them the beautiful sunrise was a good sign. He had changed, become strong. Like Yuna.
"I'd like to ask Cid if we may use his airship. Is that alright with you guys?" They nodded in unison. It would be easier then traveling on foot.
"Shall we head to Kilika then?" Again, the silent nod. Tidus sighed.
"Then, we're off."
~

Cid greeted them warmly, taking the time to grasp each of their hands heartily. The airship was cool inside, and the crew was talking animatedly. The group earned smiles from them all.
"Can I speak to Tidus-privately?" Cid seemed to demand rather then ask when they were settled in. Lulu nodded, and Tidus looked warily to her. Tidus followed Cid off the bridge, heavy robes swishing behind him. The doors closed with finality. Wakka wondered what was going on.

~

The gray room was empty, save a few blue and white blitzballs. The Al Bhed Phyches who usually trained here were gone. The room seemed to lay dormant. Tidus look to Cid, who had sat down on a crate in the center. Tidus looked at him, confused expressions flickering across his face. There was also a little fear in his eyes. He and Cid had a bad fight years ago, a fight that came with the Calm everyone wanted.

~

Tidus limped onto the airship, head down and shoulders slumped. He walked behind the rest of the group, tears sparkling in his crystal blue eyes. They made him look so old, and yet so young.
"TIDUS!!!" He lifted his head quickly enough to see a fist flying at his face. It hit him square on the side of the nose. He felt the dull throb and the blood dripping down, but he didn't care. He fell backwards onto the floor.
"You! You killed her! You let her die! You.you BASTARD!" Cid sent a few more hard kicks to Tidus' ribs. Tidus lay on the floor, curled into the smallest ball he could make. He felt the kicks, his ribs cracking and bruising. The crew watched, frozen in their places.
"Vydran! Cdub!" Rikku rushed back on the bridge, followed by Wakka. Wakka grabbed Cid's arms, knocking him to the floor. The Al Bhed pilots and crew snapped out of their reverie. They rushed over, keeping Cid pinned to the ground. They looked at Tidus, mouths agape. Rikku moved to Tidus' side, rummaging in her pockets.
"Hang on Tidus! I've got a potion somewhere!"
"No." His voice broke the hysteria. Tidus looked up at the group of people. Blood and tears turned his face into something unrecognizable. Rikku gasped and wiped at his face with a white cloth.
"I deserve this. I let her die. . .I let her die. . .Yuna. . ." His voice cracked and tears flooded out of his eyes, running rivers down his face with the blood. Cid moved forward, shaking away from Wakka and his crew. He bent near Tidus, sorrow in his spiraled eyes.
"I. . .I'm sorry son. I-I know you love her more then any of us. You. . .you didn't let her die. No one of you did." Cid tried to smile, but small tears came instead. He embraced Tidus gently. They stayed like that for moments, until Tidus passed out on Cid's shoulder. The crew moved him carefully to a small cot where he lay for weeks, refusing healing until he naturally did so.
~

"Tidus? Hey, Tidus!" Tidus re-entered the present, look up at Cid with his sad blue eyes. Cid looked at him with worry.
"Sorry." He murmured softly, trying to bring a smile to his lips. Cid looked uncomfortable and shifted him weight on the crate.
"I. . .I told Rikku about your pilgrimage. She says she's going with you, and you can't stop her." Tidus smiled, chuckling a little.
"I knew she'd say that." Cid smiled back. He rose off the crate and stretched.
"Tidus. . .have a safe journey." Tidus nodded and turned to leave and find Rikku on the airship. As the door closed, a tear slipped down Cid's stubbly cheek. He brushed it away angrily.

End.