Vision II- A Misinformed Summoner

"....Mental note...wear boots next time I decide to trek back down to the beach..." Yuna huffed to herself as she ran down the spiraling dirt path that led from town to the harbor. Her wooden thong sandles were not being kind to her feet, especially whenever she would accidently run over a stone that was sticking out in the road, for the vibration would shoot through the wood and into the ball of her foot, making her wince in pain. However, Yuna ignored that as much as she could manage as she reached down in her pocket and pulled out her Tetra Ring, a small silver band that she slipped around her finger, causing it to activate her special No Encounters field. She didn't have time to deal with the fiends that sometimes still straggled about the Besaidian Islands, and besides that, she had forgotten Nirvana at home in her rush.

<Why is my heart pounding so...?> Yuna questioned herself. <It's like...I actually expect Tidus to be waiting for me there...at the docks...> She gulped and pressed her lips together.

<Did he hear my whistle...? Did he hear me calling him....?>

Yuna finally reached the beachside she had only just departed less than an hour ago, and crossed it to the docks, where sure enough, a ship from Luca was docked. However, most of it's passengers had gotten off and were walking away with the loved ones they were meeting up with-- The only people that remained on the ship were the sailors tying down the masts and tossing stale bread and other food out to the seagulls. Yuna sighed a little and began to slow her steps as she approached the ship, hoping that maybe a straggling traveler would emerge over the ship's ramp and wave to her...call out her name to get her attention...

"Yuna!! Yuna!!!!"

"Huh!?" Yuna blinked and snapped out of her daze, raising her hand to her forehead to see who was calling to her. A tall figure was waving at her from the end of the dock as they stood up from a kneeling position. They had just gotten done with a prayer to Yevon. Yuna narrowed her eyes, but she still could not see who it was clearly. She waved back to them anyway, jumping up a little and causing the beads woven in her ponytail to clatter together. As the figure came closer, however, Yuna's excitement and fell lower and lower, until it became a sickening mass of disappointment settled in her stomach. She could tell that this was not Tidus... His clothes were too bulky, his hair not fluffy, and his stance much more elegant as he walked over the sands. Yuna let out a soft sigh and rested her hands at her sides, trying her hardest to fight back tears.

<You <knew> that it wasn't going to be him...so why are you so upset? Why does your heart ache so?>

<Tidus...isn't....alive to be here...>

<He's gone. Faded away. You remember...you saw it. He faded right through you.>

<And took your soul with him...>

"Ah...ahhh!" Yuna gasped, and clenched her eyes shut, shaking her head. "Stop it! Stop it!!!!!!!"

"Yuuuuuna!"

"Ah---ack!"

Yuna gasped out as someone wrapped their arms around her in a tight hug that nearly made her eyes bug out of her head. She finally opened her eyes and blinked when she saw who it was, the disappointment in her heart being temporarily replaced by pure surprise.

"I-Isaaru!!"

"Yuna!" Isaaru exclaimed, and pulled away some, laughing and sweeping his chin-length brown hair behind his ears, which was down from it's usual ponytail. His soft blue-violet eyes glittered with the reflection of the sea as Yuna gazed upon her old friend, taking in what was old and new with his appearance. He was still dressed in the robes that were considered appropriate for a summoner such as himself--long, blue and violet in color, with a teal silk band and ribbon that crossed over his torso. He also still carried his staff, and had the same soft smile he always wore on his lips. However, he had grown perhaps a bit taller since Yuna last saw him, which was over a year ago at Bevelle's infamous prison Via Purifico, and he had cut his hair so that it was all one length, which framed his handsome face beautifully. He also did look a little more built up, not that one could tell very easily under all his clothes.

"This is quite a surprise!" Yuna blinked. "You've changed since I've seen you last! But all for the better, may I add..."

"Why thank you Yuna, I must say you have only gotten more beautiful." Isaaru smiled and Yuna blushed a little as she smiled back. Isaaru had always been a gentleman at heart, despite the fact that the last time Yuna had seen him, he had been her opponent in battle.

"What are you doing here?" Yuna questioned. "It's been so long..."

"I know, I'm sorry for that." Isaaru apoligized. "I'm also sorry for not seeing you while you were in Bevelle for that Yevon council meeting after Sin's defeat...I'm afraid that I was still really too embarassed to face you again after what happened in Via Purifico..."

"Please, it's all in the past now." Yuna said gently, and rested a hand on Isaaru's shoulder. "You had your beliefs to defend, as I had mine. That is all there was to it."

"I see you are still as kind as ever." Isaaru smiled more and ran his fingers through his rich, shining hair. Yuna couldn't help but stare a little, and felt rather bad for it. She was really enjoying Isaaru's company too much for her own comfort. It reminded her almost of what she felt when she was with Tidus.

"Uhh..." Yuna cleared her throat and looked down to the sand. "So really now, what are you doing here? You never answered me before."

"Oh, right!" Isaaru laughed. "Well, actually, I came to pray!"

"At...our temple?" Yuna asked curiously, looking up at Isaaru with confused eyes. She was almost positive that Isaaru knew all about Yu Yevon's fake legacy, so why would he be praying at one of his temples...? The Besaid Temple still had many visitors, although now and days it was becoming more of a symbolic memorial to the old days of Yevonism than anything else, and hardly anyone actually prayed to Yu.

"Well, yes, at the temple." Isaaru blinked. "I took a short leave from Bevelle to take a small journey to pray at the temples in the southern end of Spira, for I so rarely am able to come to this region while on missions for Shelinda and the rest of the Yevonian Council."

"....Oh...I see..." Yuna trailed off, and Isaaru peered into her eyes.

"Is something wrong Yuna? You act as if I have said something odd!"

"Oh...no Isaaru! Not at all!"

<I don't even want to attempt to question what Shelinda and the Yevonian Council have been sending summoners on missions for right now.> Yuna thought. <I'm sure it would just make it look as if I didn't appreciate seeing Isaaru. However...I am still very curious. The church of Yevon has been slowly disbanding now that the people of Spira know the truth, and I am even beginning to wonder why some still pray to him...even though...>

Yuna decided that she might bring this up to Isaaru later on, that was, if he was planning to stay on Besaid overnight.

"Well, alright!" Isaaru chuckled and lifted his staff a little. "Say, would you walk with me to the temple? I have a lot to tell you, you know!"

"Oh really?" Yuna smiled some. "Well sure I would love to go with you, but I am actually holding up Lulu, Wakka, and Kimahri from a really great lunch that Lulu has spent all morning preparing...but I would like it if you joined us!"

"Really?" Isaaru exclaimed. "Are you sure it would be alright with them?"

"Of course it will." Yuna insisted. "So you want to?"

"Sure!" Isaaru smiled. "Lead the way!"

~*~*~*~

"Lulu, Wakka, you two have outdone yourselves!"

"Hmm...thank you Isaaru..."

"Thanks man!"

"Hee-hee!" Yuna laughed and brought her glass to her lips, sipping down the sweet pink lemonaid Wakka had specially made for Kimahri's welcome home luncheon. Although everyone had been surprised to see Isaaru come home with Yuna, he was still made welcome by the group just as Yuna had expected he would be. Kimahri told the group about his trip at Mt. Gagazet, where he had been helping the survivors of his Ronso tribe recover their lost 'village' of sorts in the mountains, which had been destroyed by the Guado last year.

"Boat ride home best part." Kimahri explained as he gnawed on his food. "In Luca, everyone excited over upcoming Blitzball tournament. You going, right Wakka?"

"Ya man, I'm definately going!" Wakka exclaimed. "The Aurochs are going to take home da cup this year! I'm gonna dedicate dis year's game to Chappu!!! Well...in my heart, anyway."

"We'll all be thinking of Chappu." Yuna smiled, and Lulu stared down at her food.

"Yeah, Luca looked pretty amazing." Isaaru added in, mostly to change to somber subject. "But I wonder who will do the actual dedicating and blessing of the games this year? I mean, with Maester Seymour and Maester Mika gone..."

"I do not know." Lulu said thoughtfully. "An excellent question though."

"I guess we'll find out when we go to the tournament this year." Yuna said.

"Isn't the tournament being held on your birthday this year?" Lulu asked, and Yuna nodded, suddenly remembering from Lulu's reminder.

"Oh yeah! I can't believe I forgot. What a great party that is going to be!!"

"I'll dedicate the game to you too, ya?" Wakka grinned.

"How sweet of you Wakka." Yuna smiled, and looked down at her now empty plate, standing up and taking it in her hands. "Thank you again Lulu, the cooking was exquisite! And your lemonade is always the best Wakka."

"I'm done also." Isaaru said, and was about to stand up, but Yuna stopped him and held out her hand for his plate.

"Let me get it for you." Yuna offered. "You are the guest."

"Thank you kindly." Isaaru flashed her a bright smile as he handed her his plate, making Yuna blush yet again and quickly turn her back to the group as she walked over to the sink.

<Yuna, pull yourself together! This must all be because you've been thinking about Tidus...but Isaaru ISN'T Tidus, so cut out the embarassment business! If you blush when everyone smiles at you, people will think you have a rash.>

"Irk." Yuna managed to choke out, shuddering from that weird thought.

"Something wrong?" Kimahri asked, and Yuna shook her head hurriedly as she scrubbed at her and Isaaru's dishes.

"Uhhh...Nope!" Yuna laughed nervously, and dried her hands on a rag, turning back to Isaaru. "So Isaaru, did you want to get to the temple?"

"Oh, right!" Isaaru said, and stood up, giving a little bow towards Lulu and Wakka. "Thank you for everything." He then turned to Kimahri and bowed also. "Welcome back to Besaid." Yuna gave a little wave and pushed her chair in on the way out of the kitchen.

"Be back in a while!" She called, and with that, left with Isaaru behind her.

"The temple is just a short walk away from here." Yuna explained as they walked up the main cobblestone road. "But I'm afraid it is rather empty..."

"That's alright, isolation is good for meditation!" Isaaru said, and Yuna nodded a little, looking down at the road. She suddenly realized that she didn't have much to say, even though she still yearned to ask about Shelinda's plans for the Yevonian Council. Yuna looked up at Isaaru, and widened her eyes when she realized he had already been staring at her.

"Uhhh...." Yuna blinked and Isaaru did too, turning slightly red. Yuna quickly looked away and tried to think of something to say. "....So, you met up with Kimahri on the ride here, huh?" Isaaru blinked again and tilted his head to the side.

"Kimahri? Well...actually, no, I didn't even realize we were on the same ship until he told me at lunch." Yuna widened her eyes and suddenly stopped walking, causing Isaaru to nearly smash into her.

"You ok Yuna???" Isaaru asked, and slipped infront of her. "You've been acting kind of weird today..." Yuna crossed her arms over her chest in confusion and looked up at Isaaru.

"You really didn't see Kimahri today? You didn't say a word to him on the ship?"

"No...why would I lie about something like that? I mean, you can even ask him, but..."

"No, no, I believe you." Yuna said softly, and raised a hand to her chin in thought. "But...if you wern't the young man Kimahri was talking about...then....who was?"