AN: *mutters something about self loathing*

12: Accursed Growth

Wardani lethargically twisted his upper body, casting a cursory glance over his shoulder to see if the troupe had begun to move. He did not bother concealing his apathy, allowing a veil of disinterest to hang over his face. Having been on the move for a better part of the morning, he welcomed a bit more respite. Something whined through the air next to his ear, swiftly interrupting any momentary peace. Spear resting in the crook of his arm, he took to swatting irritably at the pesky insect just as the others were coming even with him. Yuna and Kimahri were at the head, and the Ronso's bulk passing by jarred him into movement. Quickly gathering himself up, he set forth into the jungle all over again.

Unfortunately, smooth sailing would not be greeting them that day.

The ground ahead of them bulged, seams running through clods of earth as flags were pushed aside by the emerging shape from below. Green leaves unfurled, revealing a bloated spiny bulb capped with orange, many smaller immature sprouts ringing its base. The leaves shivered and curled as the main body leaned its girth in the direction of the summoner party. It began to shrink into itself, the orange petals at its crown closing up.

Wardani knew they did not have enough time to react offensively. Already in front of Yuna, he lifted his shield and shouted, "Lulu, fire!" The ragora launched something at the battlemage. It collided with his shield, the sound of the impact reverberating loudly. Braced as he was, Wardani had nearly lost his footing from the force of the blow. The projectile, a large earthy colored seed, ricocheted off and rolled away.

Lulu was already reacting before the seed had even hit the ground, waving her arm in the direction of the floral fiend. Roaring flames swirled out from thin air, catching onto the ragora's green leaves and promptly turning them black. They shriveled and fell to ash, the strange creature unleashing a shrill screech of pain in response, but it did not die.

A heartbeat later, Tidus expected Wardani or Kimahri, being the closest, to finish it with one of their pole weapons. Much to his surprise, something.. else.. occurred. Kimahri snorted, and reached out with his off hand. Making a fist, as if seizing at some unseen rope, he jerked his arm back toward his chest. A bundle of lights sprung from the ragora, soaring to collide with the Ronso. They disappeared, apparently absorbed by the mighty hunter. The ragora's body went still, and deflated before melting into pyreflies.

Yuna rushed the last few steps to Wardani, laying a hand on his back. "Are-"

"Perfectly fit," he grunted, shaking his head. "Shield took the blow. Awfully potent, those buggers." He nodded to the girl in silent thanks for her concern. Without another word, he carried on, and the others followed.

Tidus, however, was not quite ready to keep going just yet.

"Hey, uh.. wait a sec!" The blitzer called out, a look of stupefaction on his face.

Wakka turned first. "Something the matter?"

While Tidus was thoroughly confounded, the nonchalance with which everyone else was treating what transpired cooled his curiosity slightly. Only slightly. He chuckled nervously, feeling heat rise into his face. "Uh.. what, uh.. what exactly was that?" He asked, gesturing at Kimahri. Suddenly afraid his question might be misconstrued, he hurriedly stammered, "Uh, I mean.. what he just did a second ago."

Wardani sighed, a firm weight pressing down on his chest. "Oh, boy..."

Lulu cast a short glance at the Ronso, a smile- nearly invisible- curving her lips. "Lancet," she answered, directing her eye back to the boy. "Tearing the essence directly out of a living being, and adding it to your own."

"Utterly terrifying when you consider the breadth of that," Wardani commented dryly, twisting his mouth into a half-formed frown.

Lulu continued. "Typically, it is used to heal oneself. Meager when compared to a true restorative spell," she motioned shortly to Yuna with her free hand. "However, when a Ronso employs it, the art gains an intriguing side effect: One may actually learn abilities used by fiends."

"Don't get her started on magic, kid," Warani snickered. "Only time she actually enjoys talking." He ignored the sidelong look Lulu sent his way. "Well, enjoys only so far as she's capable. One must appreciate nature's diversity, and all."

"Given its nature, the Ronso are the majority of those who use it," the sorceress elaborated, unfazed. "Some believe they may even be its progenitor."

Tidus blinked. While he understood the gist of what she said- a spell that allowed Ronso to learn a fiend's power- the.. deeper dimensions eluded him somewhat. "Oh, uh.. cool."

Wardani bit his tongue.

"If the matter is cleared," Lulu gracefully spun around, the hem of her dress sweeping the mossy stones of the overgrown road, "We should continue."

"All for that," Wardani agreed, thumping the flags with the base of his spear. They were nearly at the bridge when he suddenly recalled what lay ahead. "Oh," he mentally kicked himself, "By-the-by, do you perhaps recall my earlier promise of fun?" His query had a sinister edge to it, like the words had been serrated by the sheer twisting of his smile.

Yuna nodded, and curiously tilted her head, not without a hint of apprehension.

"Aye. Well, have a gander." The battlemage lifted his spear and pointed down the way as they came around the path. The jungle opened up ahead, presenting the first real view of Kilika's heartland. The ochu was in full view beyond the bridge, Luzzu and Gatta still vigilantly guarding the road. "We've come to an impasse, and now's the time for contemplation," Wardani grumbled, half to himself and half to his charge. He glanced down at her. "I pray you give our fortune thought, aye?" With that he drifted aside, not wanting to come off as overbearing in his not-so-subtle hint.

Wakka's fingers drummed on his blitzball. "Looks like trouble."

"Only because," Wardani raised his voice as they neared the two soldiers, "The Crusaders are making a fuss about a trifle." He caught the sound of Yuna clearing her throat from behind him. "Only so far as an ochu can be considered," he inclined his brow toward her, silently surrendering. "Spouted something about it having a reputation around here. I guess that's only to do with their being.. uncommon in Kilika. Usually see more of them haunting the mainland woods."

They were now within earshot of the Crusaders. Luzzu greeted the summoner with a friendly smile, which was followed immediately by guarded words of warning. "Milady summoner. As you can see, the road leading to the temple is.. currently unfit for travel."

Yuna's two-tone gaze drifted studiously to the fiend. "Is it.. really so dangerous?" Her inquiry was soft, but carried the weight of consideration. Thoughtfulness.

Wardani centered himself, already prepared for what was going to come. "Depends on what you mean by 'dangerous'," he muttered, not quite soft enough to be masked beneath his breath.

Luzzu concealed a smirk. He considered his answer for a moment, resting his chin upon a fist. "Perhaps. Functionally speaking it is highly deadly. The arms bear the strength of several men, and the toxin within could level armies. It is highly resilient, and they have been known to take quite a lot of punishment. The ochu is a beast that certainly knows how to throw its weight around."

"Oh, you think you're so damned clever, don't you?" Wardani murmured jeeringly, gazing off into the undergrowth.

Luzzu weighed how to continue. "I would caution against entering into a confrontation, lest you are unperturbed by the prospect. I am confident your guardians would be more than capable of slaying it, but there is still a risk involved."

Yuna nodded, and turned to her guardians. As she opened her mouth to speak, Lulu's voice punctuated the silence. "We will face it, if that is your wish," she said, barely concealing amusement beneath her downy tones.

Yuna looked somewhat peeved, picking up on the underlying humor. "The people of Kilika have suffered enough already. If we.. can do something to help lessen their-"

"Yuna, we get it, ya?" Wakka chuckled. He stared confidently toward the fiend. "We can take it, no problem."

"I reckon it's worth the exercise," Wardani sighed, chiming in with reluctance proudly on display.

Kimahri phlegmatically eyed the ochu.

Yuna glanced at Tidus, briefly contemplating whether or not she should advise him to stand aside. She had a presentiment that he would fight alongside her guardians if given the chance. As he was not one of their troupe he had no obligation, but she knew that would not matter. If she had judged him correctly, he would want to help. Or perhaps to prove himself, maybe both. A dangerous proposition either way. Her mouth dried as the words crawled onto her tongue, and in the end she swallowed them. Offering the blitzer a supportive smile, she turned back to her guardians. "Very well."

Wardani rolled his shoulders and popped his neck, marching ahead of the others and onto the bridge. "I've got a terrible feeling I left a kettle on," he spoke softly while passing Luzzu.

"Probably burned down all of Besaid by now," the crusader rejoined.

"I was being metaphorical." The battlemage shot him a glare.

Luzzu chuckled. "Implying I was not?"

Wardani's brow creased, but before he could respond he noticed the rest of the guardians following behind. "Right, any propositions on how to tackle this pome?" He looked over his shoulder, scanning Lulu and Wakka's faces.

"Head-on is your usual approach," Lulu reminded.

Wardani sniffed at her comment. "Hardly applicable. It's got no head. Any better suggestions?"

"Take out the arms so it can't hit us with 'em, then finish it off?" Tidus offered, having squeezed his way up to the front.

Wardani sputtered incredulously. "Belt up, since when have you been given the go to start presenting battle plans?" He demanded sharply.

Tidus scowled. "No one ever said I couldn't."

Lulu interrupted before things became heated. "His tactic is sound, Wardani. Remove its ranged armaments, and assault when it is weakened."

"A child could have come up with that," the battlemage growled. He eyed Tidus with unconcealed scorn. "Oh, and look who did." Swallowing his vexation, which did not go down easily and left a bitter taste, Wardani nodded. "By sheer dumb luck, the boy's sussed it. We'll go in hard and mean, do a bit of pruning."

Tidus bit his tongue.

"Shall I open with a fira?" Lulu proffered, eyeing the fiend with dark intent. This creature was but a pittance against her skills.

Wardani shook his head. "Tempting, but that'd be a no. If you stir him early he'll like to flail about, then we'll have a harder target. We slip in, maim the basket, then feel free to give him a roasting." He winked back at the mage. "You do know how to scathe."

"Quite," was all Lulu gave him in return. Her expression was one of indefatigable aplomb, and her tone was just as placid.

"Where should I be?" Wakka asked.

Wardani answered immediately. "Stay out of its reach, smack an arm if you've a shot and we're indisposed. Leave the dangerous part in our care. Anymore questions?" He looked around, but no more queries came. "In that merry case," Wardani hefted shield and poised spear, "It's time to get some real work done." A wide grin twisted his lips, and his eyes were taken by a grim light.

"Heh, here's where everything goes pear shaped, ya?" Wakka guffawed.

Wardani's expression fell. "Don't ruin the moment, red. I'm just getting myself in the mind for some proper violence," the battlemage grumbled sourly. "Now then, if we're all good and ready: Oi, muppet!" When no response came, he groaned and glanced rearward at Tidus. "That'd be you, dandy boy."

"You know I have a name, right?" Tidus asked, irritation smoldering into a fire in his chest.

"Not yet you don't," Wardani returned, equally as vehement. "A bit of haste would do us well. Myself, Kimahri, and you, since you've volunteered for front line deployment."

Tidus fought for command of his respiration. Already he could feel his heart thundering furiously, pumping liquid hatred through his veins. Tearing his vision from Wardani, he worked to center himself. This was something he had learned during his tenure as a blitzer. You didn't win games by jumping into the pool riding on your emotions. That meant you did stupid things, and that kind of nonsense cost games. He needed to be cool. Like ice, smooth and solid. His fingers flexed around his blade's hilt, slowly relaxing.

Then came the trickle of magic. It seeped through his being, like a thousand little invisible strings of light threading through matter. Pluck the right ones. Bend reality to your will. This was what a mage was taught. All Tidus understood was the basic melody behind the song, but grasped neither the theory nor the meaning. Still, it was enough to find the notes that he required. He reached up, fist balled against his chest, and threw his hand out into the air. In an instant he was charged like a bomb about to explode, energy coursing through every fibre of his being, and time began to crawl. The same rush took Wardani and Kimahri.

"That's the ticket!" Wardani resounded. "Let the games begin!"

The trio of warriors charged across the bridge. Their increased speed gave them an edge, though it would prove to be just shy of an advantage. The fiend started awake as its attackers approached, and with inhuman swiftness summoned up a geyser of frothing white water at the end of the bridge. Tidus and Kimahri were quick enough to leap over, but Wardani was not quite as fleet. The battlemage ground to a halt just as the water surged into the air with crippling force. He raised his shield as the upward tide began its descent, slicing apart gallons that would have otherwise drenched him.

Tidus and Kimahri wasted no time in continuing their assault, as there was not a moment to spare. They each took a mighty swing at the vines, but the ochu withdrew them in a flash. As they were already in the air, the fiend sent its arms right back at the offending pair. The arms came whooshing down, cracking like a score of whips as they lashed the ground and recoiled in a blink. The old moss blanketed flags splintered from the impact in testament to the fiend's thew. The arms wavered for an instant in the air, the barbed claws twisting as they tracked the attackers. No one knew precisely how ochu perceived the world around them given their lack of eyes, especially since it never appeared to hinder them.

The four arms divided the task of slaughter into portions. Two of them went low, sweeping the ground and aiming for the attackers' legs. Kimahri easily avoided the maneuver, leaping nimbly over the gambit. Tidus was not so fortunate, though his increased perception nearly saved him. He was just a touch slow, and felt the creature's arm smack his foot hard, sending him off kilter and crashing straight back to the ground. The other arm followed immediately after, spearing straight for the teen with enough force to skewer. With haste coursing through his being, Tidus was able to see the blow coming. He rolled away in the nick of time. The ochu's arm sank through the stone only inches away, sending shards of rock whistling through the air. A few of them passed by Tidus' face, slicing his his cheek as they carried on about their trajectory.

Wardani gladly employed the ochu's preoccupation, charging in and burying his spear deep inside the ochu's rotund body. The fiend shrieked, instantaneously moving to respond to this new threat. The battlemage twisted his spear, a gout of flames erupting from the blade, and wrenched it out by throwing his weight backwards. It did not come free easily, and he barely managed to raise his shield in time to meet the ochu's riposte. A pair of arms crashed into the steel bulwark in rapid succession, pushing him back several inches, the soles of his boots scraping the flags.

Lulu, at last deigning to offer her own contributions to the effort, raised an arm into the air. After lingering for a trice, it plummeted with the somber lethality of a guillotine's blade, rousing a fearsome conflagration from thin air. The flames churned and roared in the midst of the ochu's "mouth", spreading hungrily outward to grasp everything within their conceivable reach. The fiend was completely taken by the magical barrage, screeching horribly and floundering madly in anger.

Kimahri ducked under one of the arms as it swung about in an enraged stupor. As soon as it was clear, the Ronso raised his halberd in a keen stroke. The axe blade bit into the ochu's fibrous flesh, but did not halt. It cut clean through, severing the arm neatly at the base. The vine convulsed as it fell away, melting into pyreflies before it could reach the ground.

The ochu was stunned by this development. Uncharacteristically, compared to its earlier eager tenacity, it hesitated. Almost as if it was shocked at the loss of one of its limbs, a wound likely not dealt to it in the past. This momentary reprieve from its fervor allowed Tidus the opening he needed to kick off from the ground, bringing his blade down upon the nearest arm. Unlike Kimahri, he lacked the strength to rend it free with a single blow, but he cut deep enough that the length beyond the bite now hung uselessly as the lower half flailed about in pain.

Violently knocked from its trance, the ochu laboriously swayed its body, swinging its remaining arms in wide defensive arcs. It had the desired effect of driving back its attackers, but the abatement was short lived. Wardani took a risk, rushing back in during the heartbeat-long lull dividing the ochu's desperate deterrence. The nearest arm came sailing toward the battlemage, who raised his shield to absorb the blow. The impact was powerful, and Wardani had to dig his feet into the flags with all his might to resist being sent flat on his back. The ochu raised its arm into the air, preparing a mighty downward blow.

Before the attack could fall, Wakka's blitzball slammed hard into the claw at the end of the vine with fortuitous accuracy. The arm was knocked aside, granting Wardani an opening. He exploited the opportunity to dreadful effect, sinking his spear into the base of the arm and summoning another gout of flames. The fire ate greedily though what little flesh remained beyond the scope of the laceration, freeing yet another limb from the trunk.

The ochu took to slamming its one remaining arm repeatedly into the ground, aiming over and over for Kimahri and Tidus. The potency of every impact was enough to leave deep impressions in the ground, successfully keeping the Ronso and blitzer at bay. Its rampant harrying was finally interrupted by another fira from Lulu, jarring the ochu yet again. Kimahri moved in like a seasoned hunter, swinging his halberd and lopping the last arm apart one quarter at a time until just the stalk remained. That task complete, he took to mercilessly plunging the spear crowning his weapon into the fiend again and again.

In effect, the ochu had now been backed into a corner. Its indignation had reached a boiling point, what little intelligence the creature possessed had been subsumed by a blind, scorching storm. Fear had infected it, and instinct seized total control. Quivering in its exasperation, the fiend lowered its bulk into the ground. Every last shred of its strength was focused into its legs.

"Now's when we clear out!" Wardani barked, voice strained in urgency, already turning to flee.

Tidus screwed his face into a mask of perplexity. "Uh.. what's going on?"

Kimahri grunted, grabbing the teen by his hood and hauling him back in a single mighty leap. Tidus yelped, about to demand what the big idea was, but he had an answer before the words could spring from his lips.

The ochu rocketed – given its bulk, of course – into the air. It came down with unnatural force, sending titanic tremors through the ground. The shock wave born from its impact obliterated the ancient flags, throwing rock and soil into the air in a magnificent explosion several meters in circumference. A cloud of dirt choked the air, concealing the fiend in a veritable cloak of debris. It hung in the air, its progenitor a hulking shadow at the heart of a miniature crater now marring the road beyond the bridge.

Wardani slowly lowered his shield, having taken refuge behind it, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Is that all you've got, you thrashing bastard?" He cried in challenge, laughing raucously at the beast.

Lulu rolled her eyes and summoned another eruption of flame. The already laboring ochu screamed, but its cry was fleeting. The sound died away miserably, and the so-called Lord of the Wood withered into nebulous memory. With the threat gone, Yuna immediately rushed to her guardians' aid. The sorceress, unsurprised, strode evenly past Luzzu and Gatta on her way across the bridge.

"Is.. is everyone all right?" The summoner asked, looking over the three fighters that had braved the ochu's wrath.

Kimahri said nothing as he and Tidus rejoined the others. The teen chuckled dismissively, confidently brushing off the battle with natural ease. "I think we're good."

Yuna walked over to him, reaching out and brushing her fingertips near the long, shallow cuts that streaked across his cheek. They healed promptly, and the summoner withdrew her arm. She smiled warmly, "There. All better."

Tidus' eyes widened. He had not been aware of the cuts, and they remained far beyond the scope of his care. Faced with Yuna, he was suddenly driven to silence. A tiny voice at the back of his mind screamed for him to thank her, but he made not a sound. Yuna, now heedful of their proximity, backed away with a murmured apology.

Wardani grinned, basking in the post-battle rush of adrenaline. "That'll wake you up more than a dozen pots of your finest Lucan roast!" He cast an eye over his shoulder, chuckling at the approaching mage. "Handled without a hitch, I'd reckon to say."

"Quite," Lulu brushed off the remark.

Wakka was close behind the sorceress, tailed by the Crusaders. Gatta stopped short of the ochu's desolation, all that remained of the previously redoubtable fiend. "Whoa..." His eyes widened upon surveying the damage first hand, his gaze slowly traveling to the victorious guardians.

Luzzu smiled, laughing softly to himself. "A summoner and her guardians. It would appear the people will have quite the force in which to place their faith."

Yuna returned to Lulu's side, balking silently at the Crusader's praise. She did not enjoy the thought of being spoken of so highly. It was not a summoner's purpose to seek adulation. Even so… She could not find it in herself to disagree on a fundamental basis. People found hope in those who sought to eliminate Sin. Yet, there was one point that she could contest. "You would do well to recall.. I had no part in this battle," she humbly reminded. Looking about at her guardians, she allowed a proud – albeit subdued – smile to grace her features. "My guardians..." She looked about and, upon catching sight of Tidus, she found herself taken by a hush.

Wardani frowned, quietly noting where his charge was looking. He tossed a very much exercised look to Lulu, who met his eye with unyielding sobriety. She inclined her head in wordless acknowledgment of his concern. Their moment over, the both of them turned once more to the brunette at the center of attention.

Yuna's thoughts had spilled across the metaphorical table like the contents of an overturned cup of tea. Remembering Tidus' contribution to the effort, and his ambiguous status among the party, had her reevaluating her statement. She reconsidered in mere moments, though her silence had seemed to drag on for an age in the seconds that ticked by. "My.. friends," she reluctantly tore her gaze from the younger blitzer, directing it back at Luzzu, "They were the ones who seized victory, not I."

"Of course," Luzzu bowed his head in concession. "My apologies, Lady Summoner. It was not my intention to belittle their efforts."

Gatta stepped forward, a determined confidence in his bearing. "Sir!" He announced, seizing his superior's scrutiny. "We should fight, too!" He declared with earnest.

Luzzu chuckled, wearing a well meaning smile. "Our chance will come soon enough. Keep that fire burning in the meantime. You'll have need of it." He turned to face Yuna, but took the time to survey each of the guardians in turn. "Now that you've cleared the area of its most outstanding threat, we'll be moving on."

"Of course," Yuna brusquely bowed. "You mustn't linger on our account."

Luzzu raised a quizzical brow. "Is there any better reason to tarry?" He inquired with a playful lilt to his voice.

"No," Wardani blurted, giving a laborious sough. "Get marching, soldier boy." He thumped the ground impatiently, glowering at the elder Crusader.

"As I recall, you are neither a Crusader-" Luzzu began.

"That'd be my fondness for good decisions," Wardani interjected without missing a beat, earning a glare from both Gatta and Wakka for his trouble.

Luzzu hesitated, considering whether or not to continue with his point. In the end, he offered a halfhearted shrug. "So you say." He turned, nodding once to Gatta, and the pair struck off down the road. The younger of the two began to proudly chant a cadence call that would have been right at home at a Crusader training camp.

"Blast 'em all to ruin," Wardani groaned exasperatedly, mournfully shaking his head. He made to continue down the road, but found his path blocked by a rather piqued Wakka. He furrowed his brow, staring the blitzer down with no small amount of irritation. "Blackguards and bollocks, what's snagged you wrong?"

"What you got against the Crusaders, ya?" Wakka demanded, arms folded and staring back unflaggingly.

Wardani rolled his eyes, muttering curses under his breath. "Don't take my grievances as personal, man! It's nary a battle of yours, don't pretend to own it." He tried to walk around the redheaded guardian, but Wakka headed him off again. "We're genuinely hashing this out now?" He grumbled incredulously.

"Chappu was a Crusader. Does that mean he made a bad decision, too?" Wakka was not ordinarily one to let things turn personal, lest they concerned Yevon or family. His eyes hardened indignantly, daring the battlemage to step out of line.

"I-" Wardani bit his tongue. He sucked in a lungful, casting his eyes about as he struggled to contain his own rising vexation. His temper was like a rabid dog bound to a tree by a fraying rope that also happened to be on fire. Grasping for possession of himself, the battlemage growled, "I've no quarrel with you or yours, keep that very much in mind. Don't give cause for that to change."

"Stop it, the both of you!" Yuna stepped between them, dousing the building heat before any of the flames could catch.

Wakka hung his head, chest heaving as he slowly nodded. "Yeah.. all right. Just wanted to make sure you weren't throwing dirt on Chappu's memory, ya? If you say you didn't mean anything.. I'll take your word." He met the battlemage's eye again, his ire slowly burning away to ash. "We good?"

Wardani looked the blitzer up and down. He nodded tersely, keeping silent. Whether it was in the interest of keeping things civil, or if he simply decided it wasn't worth the effort, was left up in the air. With the matter effectively resolved, he brushed by Wakka, setting out ahead of the others.