The final aeon was a horrible beast. I couldn't take my eyes off him. My eyes fell to his long, broad blue sword. I watched as father collided with son in an epic battle to the death.

"Oh, Yevon," Wakka said. We watched in astonishment as Tidus ripped sin apart, the sky raining debris from its outer shell. The battle was over in minutes.

"Here he comes! Rikku shouted.

"Yuna, run!" Lulu demanded.

"No!" I began.

"This is no time for questioning, ya?" Wakka shouted, It's after you, now run!"

Grasping Rikku's hand, I was off. All my guardians, my friends, spread out to take their stand. With a howl, he was upon us.

"Wakka!" Rikku screamed. stopping, I turned around to see Wakka's dismembered body on the ground with Lulu standing firm, her cactuar trembling in her rage.

"Lulu!" I cried, running toward her.

"Stay back!" she shouted, her arm outstretched beside her, "get out of here."

I looked into her eyes. They were all full of tears, anger, and fear.

"Come with me!" I pleaded. Lulu looked at me with the expression of sadness, a wan smile on her face. I knew she was thinking of Yojimbo's cave. She would not run this time. "I love you." she mouthed. Lulu jerked violently with a surprised gasp. I looked in horror at the sword tip now jutting out of her chest, dripping blood.

"No!" I screamed as her scarlet eyes became vacant and her weapon fell from her arms. "Lu!" I sobbed, beginning to run toward her. Suddenly a grenade exploded in front of my face.

"Yunie, run!" Rikku. Grasping my hand she pulled me out of my daze.

"Wakka, Lulu…" I said, choking on my tears as I ran.

"There's nothing you can do for them," Auron stated, "Rikku, see to it that she's safe."

"Yes sir!" Rikku said, "come on Yunie."

With a final glance back, I ran. I could hear my love, my destroyer, closing in on us.

"Yuna," Rikku said, stopping, "You go on ahead."

"No, Rikku," I said, "I'm not losing you too. I promised your father.

"Yunie," Rikku said, tears running down her face, "you have to go. Tell pop…and Brother…I love them."

I opened my mouth to protest more, but I knew it would have been in vain. My cousin had grown so much, and now stood unafraid. With a final glance, I ran, knowing it would be the last time I laid eyes on my cousin. I heard a final boom of a grenade, then a scream, then nothing. I took comfort in the fact that at least she didn't suffer. They were all gone and I ran alone, my tears clouding my vision. I could hear him behind me howling in agony.

"I'm so sorry, Tidus." I whispered.

"Yuna!" Kimari cried. I felt myself being lifted up into his arms as he ran. I sensed the flying object just before the spiked blitzball smacked into his back. Kimari's growl shook the ground on which he ran. With his last ounce of strength, Kimari threw me into a crevasse in a wall. I fell, pain jolting my joints. Kimari's body lay about three feet away, yet another sacrifice on my account.

I stood to my feet, gasping for breath, to tired to run anymore. Pulling out my rod, I made my final stand. I thought about my friends: Wakka, Lulu, Rikku, Kimari, all dead protecting me. Tidus. Spira's redeemer, Spira's condemner now lived in an everlasting hell. Sin came at me now, his sword raised and his mouth twisted in confusion and anger; It was as if it was fighting for control over itself. I stood, waiting his collide, Anima now by my side, His anguished cries telling my story. My journey had changed nothing. The cycle would go on.