Hitori in Spira

[Belwin]

AN: This idea came from daydreaming about different fantasy settings to throw Bocchi into, while I had some thoughts around Final Fantasy 9, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and even Kingdom Hearts. Don't know how much of a crack idea this is, but we'll see how things go.

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Hitori let out a gasp for air as she dropped to the first piece of shade she was able to get under. The route from Besaid's town to where their small wooden dock was stationed was still much more of a walk than she was able to easily do. Especially when she considered how rugged the path was. She used the sleeve of the kimono-like robes she wore to wipe the sweat off her forehead before taking her water bottle and taking a long drink. It seemed to be so hot all the time on the island, with no good air conditioning either—another thing in a growing list of things she missed from her home in Japan.

Her robes reminded her of home. It was something like a patterned Kimono that was even tied up with an obi. While it may not have been her tracksuit, her robes were at least more or less pink in color. Even if it was a paler pink than she may have liked. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail to try and keep as cool as she could in such a tropical locale. She did still have her hair ornaments, the blue and yellow cubes which were just about all that she had left from her home. Finally, she had sandals worn over socks that weren't geta to match the rest of her outfit, but they did look like the kind of thing an islander wore. Maybe if she was smarter, she'd know what the type of sandal was called.

A few minutes passed and Hitori felt good enough to keep on walking, not that there was much left to go. The beach was very sparsely populated, only a few of the villagers were around. Namely, they were athletes practicing their game that she couldn't remember. She knew one of them, Wakka she believed his name was, had tried to explain it to her. But having an athlete like that meant they were popular making it hard for Hitori to focus on anything he said to her. Quietly ignoring them, she walked next to the cliff that separated the beach from the rest of the island as she made her way to a spot she found herself frequenting often.

It was a small inlet in the cliff, providing a nice cool, shaded, and kind of gloomy spot on the otherwise overly bright and sunny beach. Perhaps the closest thing she could get to her closet back home. Her room in the temple felt stifling and her closet wasn't nearly big enough to sit in. So as Hitori settled into her spot, she looked out over the beach that felt like it went on forever.

She wasn't quite sure how long she spent simply staring out at the beach, wondering if somehow Japan wasn't just out there, a simple boat ride away. But then, it had been a month, maybe even if that was the case she'd come home to everyone having forgotten about her, returning to her house only to see that some copy of herself that was more outgoing and less embarrassing to call their daughter had taken her spot.

It must have been more than a month by now, that she woke up on this very beach, nearly drowning in the water as she just drifted in one day as some of the villagers told her after rescuing her. Just remembering it made Hitori also remember how she embarrassed herself when she tried asking about her home. How everyone just looked at her with pity and mentioned toxins. She had never so much as drank an energy drink before and how they must have thought her to be on some kind of drugs. At least that's what she thought at the time.

Hitori clutched her head and shook it back and forth as she tried to dispel the memories from her head. For not the first time she wondered if maybe the priests were right, she got close to Sin and had her memories scrambled by its toxins. Remembering some other home and just giving them made-up names. Again, she shook her head until she felt a headache coming on, No! It was real, Japan is a real place, she isn't crazy! Letting her hands drop, Hitori rested her head on a raised rock within her alcove as she continued to stare out into the sea. At the very least, this one spot was relaxing and cool. Time passed by as she watched the waves roll gently onto the beach before pulling back, not even really thinking about anything.

Though she couldn't sit in her alcove forever as she was soon interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching her, it was enough to snap Hitori out as she looked over to see who it was. It was Wakka, who Hitori recognized more because of the single point his hair was sticking up in. Not that she was good at talking to people like him. "Hey! Hitori! You in there?" He called out asking.

"A-Ah, u-um yes?" Hitori struggled to reply. Even now she couldn't quite get used to them, they felt like they were just a part of a different world. Not just because they were literally from a different world, but because they were extroverted athletes who she saw always going around the village talking to everyone so easily.

Wakka chuckled at her efforts to communicate before saying, "Still shy as ever yeah?".

"A-ah…" Hitori started, to try and not so much to refute his words but, well she wasn't sure what she was even trying or wanting to say.

"Don't worry you don't got to talk if you don't feel up to it. The Aurochs and I just got done with our practice for the day. So, I'm sure they're missing you back in the village. Need an escort back?" He replied easily enough after seeing how Hitori was struggling.

"O-okay," Hitori more whispered than anything with a slight nod of her head. She wanted to say no, that she was fine to walk back on her own. But of course, if she could do that she probably would be back home somehow, so she just nodded like always. With that, she climbed out of the alcove and back into the annoying, overpowering heat of the sun. Patting some sand and dirt off her robes.

"Alright! Everyone, we're gonna be protecting lil' Hitori on our way back, so look alive ya?" Wakka called out to the other uniforms villagers. All of them gave something like a rallying cry back to their captain. It made Hitori only feel more out of place than usual, feeling as though she was intruding on their daily lives. They'd all start to approach her, which made her feel somewhat nauseous even after relaxing in her alcove.

Hitori waited a couple of seconds waiting for them to start walking, feeling that maybe she could just walk slowly and let them get far enough ahead that she'd be by herself. However, they didn't start walking most of them had their eyes on her, well her and Wakka who was standing right beside her. That made Hitori finally move her feet, starting the trek back through the rugged paths that lead back to Besaid village.

As she started moving, so did everyone else. Keeping in a vague circle around her with Wakka remaining by her side. The first minutes weren't that bad, Hitori felt, everyone was being quiet so she could at least try to pretend they weren't there, even as she could feel their occasional gaze on her. A breeze had picked up that hadn't been there when was coming from the other way, bringing the cooler sea air with it.

As the beach turned to tropical forest and the uneven, dirt and rock path became more pronounced, Hitori was once again reminded of how annoying the walk was. At least the other members of Wakka's team slowly began to disperse, moving on ahead no doubt unhappy with her slow pace. The further she went the more went away until it was just her and Wakka who hadn't left her side.

Sparing a glance up at the man, Hitori saw that rather than the confident and relaxed look he usually wore, Wakka instead looked to be having trouble speaking up about something. It was a look Hitori was very familiar with after all. It kind of made her want to ask if everything was alright, but a stranger and outsider like her asking about his problems? So, she just kept quiet and continued to walk.

"So, uh, How's Yuna been?" He asked. Hitori nearly let out a sigh of relief, she didn't have to try and intrude, and it wasn't even about her, she was safe for now. "I mean, I haven't been able to be around as much, got our big tournament soon and all that ya?" Wakka continued after a second or two of continued walking from the two of them.

Hitori didn't reply immediately. She continued walking for nearly a minute longer, not that she was trying to ignore him or be rude or anything! Just that she needed time to think about what she wanted to say. "Y-Yuna's f-fine- good I mean! S-she's been kind to me and I'm certain she'll become a great summoner, she's even getting ready f-for the trails," Hitori ended up spilling all at once.

"That so? Good to hear, ya?" Wakka replied after a few seconds. Hitori didn't reply and Wakka didn't continue. So Hitori was somewhat glad to just keep walking in silence. Though not being alone meant she felt compelled to try and put up a stronger front as she already could feel her feet starting to sting and the heat starting to bother her once again. She wasn't out of shape, at least for Japan.

Thirty minutes passed as the two were nearing the halfway point between the hour-long trek from the village to the beach. "You're starting to get used to this ain't ya Hitori?" Wakka suddenly asked with that confident tone back in his voice.

The sudden voice made Hitori jump slightly. "A-ah, w-what?" She asked more than she was zoning out and hadn't heard even what he said.

"Back when you first arrived, you barely could make the walk from the village to the dock. Now look at you, keeping up with me, guess you must be recovering somewhat ya?" Wakka Continued. At least from it Hitori could guess what he had said before.

It made Hitori look down at her feet, she was walking at a bit of a brisk pace. She glanced over at Wakka to see him still by her side, not looking like he was slowing down for her. "M-maybe i-i-it's the w-walks t-training m-me?" Hitori said, trying to make it sound like a joke.

Wakka laughed, "Not a bad idea Hitori! The hike's rough for a youngster ya? Well, it's certainly doing you some good. Maybe you'll feel good enough to start trying Blitzball, that'd surprise everyone,". He gave Hitori a pat on her back while continuing to laugh at her attempt at a joke. Though it had enough strength to cause her to stumble forward a few steps and nearly trip.

Actually, scratch that, it did make her trip. Hitori fell over bringing her hands up to block the fall. Though the impact never came as in the second or two she spent tripping, Wakka had reacted by taking a few steps forward and grabbing her by her shoulders. Bringing her up and balancing her back onto her feet. After taking a moment to reorientate herself, she turned and started to bow to Wakka to thank and apologize to him. It was only after the first one she remembered what she was taught, going from that to a proper prayer to Yevon. "T-T-Thank you s-sir Wakka," She stuttered out.

"Woah woah, it's okay Hitori, I was the one who hit you too hard, it's okay," He said. Hitori stopped after her third run through the prayer and looked up at Wakka. He had turned away, mumbling to himself "Besides, I'm not even a full-time Guardian yet…".

Ah, she had made another mistake. Rather than worry about saying something else and messing up and possibly insulting him, Hitori instead just kept quiet as she continued her walk. Allowing her to get a surprising distance from Wakka while he had been turned around. "Ah, hold on Hitori! Don't get too far ya?" He called out once he finally turned around, running to catch up to her.

The rest of the trek was uneventful aside from Hitori's feet really starting to sting by the time she reached the entrance to the village. "There we go, back home safe and sound. I'm sure the priests are worried sick about you, go ahead and tell them you're back ya?" Wakka said as he walked in.

Hitori only now looked up in the sky to realize the sun was starting to head down. Which meant she had spent what must have been hours by the beach just staring out into nothing! Hurrying through the village, she made her way to the temple, hopefully, she wouldn't be kicked out, called a disgrace or a heretic or something.

Besaid's temple was in Hitori's opinion, something of a mixed bag. It was dark and kind of gloomy due to being made of stone and only lit up with torches in the main hall, something she normally would have felt comforting. But it also had the song, the hymn that she could hear all too clearly no matter where she was in the temple. Something about it rubbed her the wrong way, but she couldn't tell what.

It was part of the reason she kept away from the temple when she could. Still, it was where she was staying, so as she walked through the main hall, the few priests and nuns who were performing their duties turned and approached her. "Hitori good to see you've returned, we were worried when you disappeared without any sort of guard. Besaid may be peaceful thanks to the temple, but the rest of the island still has fiends about," One of the priests spoke in relief even as he admonished the girl.

Hitori fidgeted under the attention of the small group and wanted to curl up to avoid their attention. But she didn't she managed to at the very least stay standing before them. The last time, she crawled behind a statue to hide, and it only made them stare at her with those pitying gazes. After a second or two, she slowly nodded her head.

"Lady Hitori, I see you're back," An older man's voice called out. One of the doors that led to one of the office rooms of the temple opened. Hitori took it as a chance to look away from the group of Yevon priests and towards the new voice. The High Priest of Besaid's temple stepped out of the office, dressed in a more formal-looking gown than the other priests, his gaze was firmly on Hitori though his expression was warm, somewhat like Hitori's grandfather.

"Hitori, are you okay?" The woman next to him asked, concern plain in her voice. Besaid's darling, daughter of High Summoner Braska, Yuna.

"A-ah, y-yes… J-just my f-feet are a bit s-sore f-from w-walking," Hitori managed to get out.

"Ah, that's good to hear, it would be sad if you were hurt," Yuna replied, a bit awkwardly.

"Y-yeah, b-but u-um, W-Wakka g-guided m-me back," Hitori answered. It should be easier to talk to someone that Hitori felt was like herself, introverted, and socially awkward. Though maybe she shouldn't be so presumptuous, she was the daughter of a celebrity, besides Yuna had no problem talking to anyone else in the village or the priests, or the scary blue- Ronso that followed her around.

What if Yuna was just awkward around herself? That it was something she was doing wrong that stopped someone that everyone got along with from speaking easily. Maybe once Yuna became a full-fledged summoner then she'll turn around and tell everyone that Hitori was little more than a fiend. She'll be put down and sent just like that, rest in peace in the Farplane Hitori your life hadn't amounted to much.

"Lady Hitori, did you hear me?" The high priest asked. Hitori blinked and no longer was she a small collection of pyreflies drifting off into the afterlife, but a lonely, socially anxious girl, far away from home once more.

"S-sorry, I- I um, zoned out again," Hitori admitted.

The high priest let out a patient hum and it was only then that Hitori realized that Yuna had left, and the other priests and nuns had resumed their duties and stopped paying any sort of attention to the conversation. "Think nothing of it," He said in an understanding tone.

"Yuna has entered the Cloister of Trials," the priest said as a matter of fact. Hitori blinked before letting out a yelp in surprise at the information, looking over towards the door to see it closed as always.

"R-really?" She asked not so much out of disbelief but just out of surprise. More than that, was she really zoned out for that long?

"She has. Though Lady Hitori, I believe you are not far behind her. In fact, I was hoping that when Yuna returns, that you'll enter the cloister and take the trial yourself," He explained.

"M-m-me!? B-but i-it's only been a few m-months, b-besides I'm a few years younger than Yuna aren't I? I don't even have any Guardians either!" Hitori stuttered out more out of panic.

"Indeed, However, you've surpassed expectations on your studies, your knowledge of Yevon's teachings is acceptable, You even were able to perform a sending," He continued.

"B-But c-can't I w-wait l-longer? U-until I'm more confident?" Hitori asked. Not that she felt she'd ever be confident enough to be a summoner herself. No one would want some awkward, anxious girl like her to save them after all.

"That is true, I supposed we have no reason to hurry," The priest said. "But, a girl washes up with such muddled memories, humming the Hymn of the Fayth, with the potential to become a summoner. Hitori, I believe Yevon sent you to us to bring the Calm," He continued.

Hitori had heard plenty of people tell her that, the song that constantly emanated throughout the temple she apparently hummed while knocked out. She had trouble believing it for a few reasons, most of all she was unconscious and had never heard it until she had been brought to the temple.

A few seconds had passed before the High Priest let out a thoughtful hum. "Not the trails then, at least not yet. Lady Hitori, could you perhaps choose someone to become your Guardian tomorrow? I know we don't have many fighters amongst our number in such a village, but a few have offered their willingness to follow you. If nothing else we can ask for one of the Warrior Monks to Guard you until you can find someone suitable," He asked.

That was certainly not much better than having to do some nebulous trial that aside, from the Fayth none of the priests were willing to explain to her. How could she even ask someone to lay their life down to protect her anyway? Still, she wouldn't be Hitori if she could so easily say no, so after a few more seconds she just said "O-okay,".

The High Priest let out a chuckle and gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Thank you, Lady Hitori. With a Guardian, maybe the other priests will stop worrying or nagging at me when you go off on your hikes," He said. "I believe I've held up your long-awaited rest long enough. There is only one lesson waiting for your study in your chambers, otherwise, I hope you take it easy," He added before finally walking off.

Hitori nodded, glad to be able to duck away from the presence of people. She quickly made her way into the nun's chamber which was much more lit up with what Hitori assumed was some proper lights, though maybe it was magic. From there she reached her room, which was rather barren despite how long she had stayed in it by now. Yes, there was a shelf lined with books and scrolls, but they were all things that were from the lessons that the priests had her undertake.

Now by herself, Hitori dropped herself onto her bed and let out a loud sigh. She just laid there for a few minutes as she rested, not only from the hike but from having to deal with so many people. So many people she didn't really know always looking at her was just too much for her to handle. It felt like she always found some new way to embarrass herself, and every time they wore those pitying expressions. It made her miss her home, even her school where the pitying looks were only imagined by herself.

Adjusting herself to sit up in her bed, Hitori reached for the one possession of hers in this new world that brought her any sort of comfort and familiarity. It was the guitar, or was it a sphere-tar? It was shaped like the electric guitars she was used to, even if it was somewhat sharper in design and reminded her of some of the hardcore axes back home. The body was made of a blue coral with pieces of it that were a bit like a wishbone. The negative space of those offshoots created the shape she was more used to. Even if the pieces were a bit sharper like she could probably kill somebody if she hit them over the head with it. The usual electronics that she was expecting were different, not having anywhere to plug in a jack, instead using a Sphere located under the strings just below the neck.

It was something of an adjustment to learn, but at least it didn't need to be tuned as much. It wasn't even the only instrument she had in her room. There was one that was a bit closer to an acoustic guitar, and what she believed was a lute? If nothing else, her time here had given her the chance to get used to the differences between electric and acoustic. For now, she'd express herself by playing her guitar.

What she played was something much more metal than she played back home. But it was a song that seemed to just come to mind ever since she woke up here. She imagined playing on a stage surrounded by a large sphere of water to a full stadium, a dream, an ambition she'd never get the chance to fulfill anymore. Not that she suspected she would have even made any steps to doing something like performing at a high school culture festival anyway.

She continued to play, imagining the stadium being part of some amazing, fantastical city, the details of which were unclear, but she didn't care. It was just something she was dreaming up anyway. At some point, the vague city in her head shifted to one in ruins, or in the process of being destroyed. But as she stopped playing to move on to another song, she chalked it up to just thinking a bit more hardcore when playing metal.

After all, she moved on to playing some more traditional rock that she was used to and her daydreams were a bit more normal from there. She didn't have as easy a way to keep track of time, but she knew from how many songs she played it must have been hours. The only reason she stopped was because her stomach was grumbling, begging for food.

Hitori did eventually get some food that the nuns had left out for her, and only briefly read through the lesson that was left ignored until now. Now fairly late at night, Hitori would be able to comfortably wash herself with no one else nearby and go to sleep. Maybe if she was lucky she'd be sick tomorrow and she could put off having to do something like picking someone to be her guardian. Ah, but she wouldn't be able to go back to the beach, to that comfortable alcove.

Maybe she'd just slip away first thing in the morning. Go to her alcove and when Yuna came out no one would pay her any mind and she could get out of it for a while. Perhaps she could just go without a Guardian, it wouldn't feel right for someone to sacrifice themselves for someone like her. At least she'd be useful by bringing the Calm. It'd be the best ending to her Story that she could hope for.