Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Jecht trained his son, and some days were easier, while others were hard. The boy had had another birthday, and at the ripe age of seven, he felt older and wiser. He enjoyed the time spent outside, but seemed to notice his father growing distant, and most of the time in a bad mood. He would push the boy harder, and when Tidus did not exceed his father's expectations, he was confined to his room. A very upsetting compromise to be in since he had grown to love blitz ball now.

One particularly long hot afternoon, Tidus was woken up by his mother calling up the stairs for him to him to come down for some breakfast. He rolled over in his bed. It was the weekend, and that meant that he would not see his father much, but still…it would be rare for the man to even be around for an hour. He rolled out of bed and ran down the steps. Laurina was standing at the stove, piling pancakes onto a plate. She turned around with a slight smile, and set the plate down on the table.

"Hi Momma…um…is everything okay?" He pulled out a chair and sat down. Grabbing a fork, he dug into his breakfast, while his mother sat down next to him watching the boy consume the food. She sighed. Tidus looked up again. "Mom?"

"I am fine sweetie…just a little bit tired."

After taking another bite of his food, he looked outside. It was cloudy outside, and looked like it was going to rain, but Jecht was nowhere to be found.

"Mom…where is Dad?"

"Oh…he had practice, left very early this morning, he has a game in a week…a very important game, and will be busy."

"But it looks like it is going to rain, he can't practice in the rain. I am never going to get to see him." He swallowed and watched his mother stand up and look out the window. She turned to him with a gentle expression.

"He went out early…he shouldn't be back late, besides he'll be extremely tired. I am sure you can find something to do. Now finish up, so I can get the dishes cleaned, and then you go and get dressed."

"Okay…" Tidus was not sure what was going on with his mother, but he knew that she was not acting the same way she had always been. Perhaps something had happened when she and his father were awake in the morning.

He put down his fork, and took the plate to the sink. Setting it down, he quickly ran out of the room, and back upstairs to get dressed. Arriving back in his room, he looked over at the window that was not yet repaired. Smirking slightly, he wondered when that was going to happen. Shrugging his shoulders, he got dressed. He had an idea and decided that if his father was so busy, he would just visit himself. He had a pretty good idea that since there was a game in the main stadium in Zanarkand, the players were there already. He loved going there, usually when he was finished with school, some of his friends would sneak in and take a look around, before the security would force them to leave.

Leaving his room, he soon arrived back down into the kitchen. His mother was nowhere to be found. Calling her name, he went into the living room, into his father's trophy room, in their bedroom, and then back into the dining room. When he could not find her, he just figured she would know that he went out to play. After all, she did say that he should find something to do.

Going out the back door, he opened it, and was soon on his way. He hadn't figured how he would get to see his father, but being that since he was older from the previous time he tried to get somewhere, he figured it was better. He ran to his friend's house, Malachy's. The boy also had a father on the team, and missed him as well. It would be perfect, they would surprise the father's and then everything would be fine.

Knocking on the door, Malachy's mother answered. She smiled, and leaned down to him.

"Why hello Tidus…here to see Malachy? I will get him." She left and walked into the house, while Tidus crept in. "Malachy…Tidus is here, come on love…its good for the two of you to go out and play."

Malachy ran out into the hall where his friend was standing, and smiled. Turning back to his mother, he grinned.

"Be back later Mom!"

"Okay, you two be careful, and Chy…you be home by dinner okay?"

"Yup…come on Tidus." The boy grabbed his friend and the two ran off. As they ran, they were now a ways away from the house. Malachy stopped, and eyed his friend. "My dad and your dad have a big game soon, why don't we surprise them and go to the practice?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking…but uh…how do you suppose we get there? My dad was really mad when we first took a shoopuf…I couldn't sit down for a whole day!"

"Well, we are older…but uh…hmmm…well, why don't we go, watch them play, and maybe have them not find out?"

"Yeah!" Tidus and his friend ran, and as they approached the next village, because it was not that far from where they were, they found an area where they could board one of the large creatures. The clerk standing by did not object because there were all sorts of people came and went. The boys got on, and next stop was the stadium.

"Ugh, come on…we have been there for nearly three hours, I am so freaking tired…I need to go home, soak in the tub, and spend some time with my kid, before he hates me forever!" Yelled Jecht as he kicked one of the balls over to a teammate.

"Yeah…but what are you going to do Jecht…I mean I want to see my kid too, Malachy has been bugging me to take him to Besaid."

"Yeah, Judda…I know my boy would want to go out that way as well. Hopefully once we are done with this game, I'll be able to see him for a little while…before I have to…you know…go away."

Judda stopping bouncing a ball on his knee, and it dropped to the ground. Looking slightly bewildered, he looked at the man.

"Well, you know…the training we have, after the game. Its going to happen out in sea. I am slightly annoyed, but oh well. I just know that it will be a long journey for the team, but what won't kill us, only makes us stronger."

"Yeah…yeah you are right. Come on, lets get to it then, perhaps if we get done, I can finally get a hot dinner, I have been in dutch with the wife for the last couple of days, and Malachy is pretty upset with me as well."

Meanwhile on the shoopuf, Tidus and Malachy were arriving at the stadium. They got through the gates, and heard the noises from the men playing. Tidus's eyes lit up, he was going to get to see his father, in action. Malachy was also excited, he got to see his father more often than Tidus, because Jecht was the highest player on the team, so he was practicing more often than anyone else there. The boys made themselves hidden so they would not get into trouble. They figured they would stay for a little while, watch the practice, and then leave. They would be back before dinner, and everything would be fine.

The shoopuf arrived at its destination, and the two boys got off. Because there was practice going on, the stadium did not have security, at least much security. They walked calmly as to not make any notice that they were there. Tidus's eyed widened as they walked throughout the corridors that lead to the field. Getting to the stairs that led upward, they looked over the railing. The field looked like it was far away from where they were standing. This made it easier, so they wouldn't be seen.

"Wow…look at them all. But…why aren't they practicing with the water? That's not fair." Tidus said and Malachy nodded.

"My dad says sometimes they do, and sometimes they don't. I think it just wastes a lot of water…I don't know. But look, wow…look at your dad, is there anything he can't do?"

Tidus smiled at his friend, but then leaned against the railing. Yeah, there were a couple of things he actually couldn't do. He wasn't there much lately, and that upset the child. Even Tidus's mother wasn't paying him any mind, most of the time, she was spending more time with her husband, and sometimes forgot about dinner, and quality time. Usually Tidus would do something drastic to get their attention. Results would be punishment, but he wanted to make sure they knew he was around.

"Yeah…my dad is the greatest." Tidus swallowed the lump in his throat. He squinted his eyes, and saw his dad laughing while talking to the other teammates.

"Yeah so Judda, anyway why don't you get on the other side of the field, and then I will shoot from here." Looking over to his other friend, he whistled. "Hey, Shalo get on the side with Judda. And Marlo…get to my right, I think we'll be alright here."

The two teams played. The other three members on the team watched, and talked amongst themselves. All in all, the Zanarkand Abes were an impressive team. Malachy smiled, as he watched his own father. The boy's were so intertwined into watching their father, they hadn't noticed someone approaching them.

"Hey you two! Just what do you think you are doing here? This is a restricted area, only game players are allowed!"

Tidus turned around and looked at a gruff looking security guard glaring at the two. Malachy who was still watching his father, turned suddenly and yelped slightly loudly. The stadium being as empty as it was, echoed. The members of the team looked up to the right corner where the voices were coming from. Jecht peered and could not make out exactly what was going on, and Judda looked on as well.

"Oh shit! Malachy, come on…run away…we gotta get out of here!" Tidus grabbed his friend's hand and the two boy's scurried away from the guard, before the man could realize what they were doing.

"Hey! Get back here you two!"

Running the children had no idea where to go. Meanwhile down on the game floor, Judda who was holding a ball gave a grim stare to Jecht.

"Hey Jecht…what do you suppose is going on there?"

"I don't know…looks like a couple of kids got into the arena…pftt…little runts…always wanting to see me in action." He smiled, but as he watched the two run, his gaze narrowed and one of the children looked vaguely familiar. "Oh you have got to be kidding me!"

"What? What's the matter?"

"Judda…you want to take a closer look at who is running away from Gareth?"

Judda looked with a hand over his eye, and suddenly they grew wide. Curling his lip, he looked back over at his teammate.

"Why of all the nerve…seriously…those two ought to be tied up and thrown in a time out."

"Hey guys…are we going to finish or what?" Shouted one of the other team members sitting on the sidelines. Jecht threw his an aggravated stare, and the member quickly silenced himself.

"Watch this guys." Jecht took one of the blitz balls and with a superior kick, performed his Jecht shot, right into the stands, directed at the two boys. The ball flew into the air, and right as the children were running bounced right in front of them, scaring them, and knocking them onto the ground.

"Ahhhhh…" Shouted Tidus as he landed, and with a firm grip, Gareth the guard apprehended the two children by the backs of their shirts, and went to haul them out of the stadium. Jecht seeing this, as he was laughing yelled up to him.

"Hey, Gareth…bring the little menaces down here will ya?" He stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Gareth hearing this followed through with his orders, and with the two boys whimpering, knowing they had been found out, were escorted to their fathers.

Judda was just as surprised as Jecht. He could not believe the gall of these two. Arriving with the boys, Gareth set them down in front of the whole team.

"As delivered Jecht…I was going to throw them out, but eh…I assume you know who they are?"

Jecht kept an eye on Tidus, and then looking to the guard, he smiled.

"Oh yeah…I suppose he looks familiar…I suppose his father won't be too happy about him being so far from home…right Tidus?"

The boy gulped, and fiddled with his fingers, and then looked up at Jecht.

"Dad…please…I am sorry…I didn't mean to…"

"Oh you haven't begun to be sorry Tidus." Jecht's words made the boy tight lipped. Judda looked over at his father who only had daggers for the boy.

"Hi dad…"

"Malachy…I suppose this wasn't all of Tidus's bright idea?"

"Um…well…we had hoped you wouldn't find out." The child had started to get upset, and wiped a tear out of his eyes. Judda was not to be trifled with.

"Come…we are going home. I have a very good notion that Tidus will not be seeing you for a little while…and you had best believe that!"

"But dad! We were just going to sit here and watch, and…" The boy's hand was quickly grabbed by his father.

"Oh you will find that sitting will be a very difficult experience for you once I am through with you. We're going home…right now." He held the boy, and glanced over to Jecht and Shalo. "I will see you guys at the next practice. Till then. Come on Malachy…you're mother is going to be furious."

Judda walked up the stairs towards the main entrance, while the boy tried to reason with his father. It was no use. Now all attention was on Tidus. He looked to the other team members who were all slightly annoyed that their practice was cut short. Jecht and Judda would get the brunt irked attitudes of the members. Letting out a slight moan, Tidus held his head down.

"Okay guys…I guess we have no choice but to end…sorry. I'll see you guys at the next practice…don't be late…it'll be a full day."

The other members murmured and walked off. Leaving father and son alone. Jecht just stared at the boy. He knew his son was full of adventure, but just shook his head. Tidus was not very good at listening, and this was something Jecht did not tolerate.

"Come on…we are going home." Tidus followed and started to stammer slightly. Stopping and looked back, Jecht pulled him close. "Do not say a word…I am deeply upset with you." Releasing the child, Tidus knew he was in more trouble than he could possibly imagine.

They arrived at the shoopuf that would take them home. Jecht paid the fare and though the ride was long, unfortunately it was after dark when they arrived home. Laurina was waiting by the door, she looked very saddened. They got to the door, and Jecht had Tidus walk in first.

"Hello love…looks like practice got cut a little short." Jecht breathed in deep, and then shook his head.

"Yes…I received a phone call from Judda…seems like Malachy and Tidus need to be separated for a while." She did not look her son in the eye, but kept a close gaze at her husband.

"Yeah, well…I know what needs to happen, and there is no other way to handle it." Jecht walked over to the sink faucet and turned it on. Leaning his head in, he drank from it, exhausted. Turning it off, he looked back at the boy. "Tidus…go get my belt." He wiped his mouth, and Tidus suddenly looked up. He did not dare disobey his father, and quickly nodded. Running into his parents room, he grabbed the belt which was laid over the bed frame.

Laurina who never wanted to witness her son's punishment excused herself to the spare room of the house. Its where she kept busy with her books. She kissed Jecht, and told him to go easy on the boy, as he was still slightly young. Jecht promised her, it was for the boy's own good.

Returning back with the black leather implement, Tidus handed it to his father.

"Right then…into the living room with you." The boy walked first, and Jecht followed behind him. They arrived at Jecht's chair that he always sat on. Sitting down, Tidus stood before him, giving his father a morose stare. Jecht was not having this. "Tidus…have you not learned anything? You were warned not to wander…and the shoopuf? I don't know what to say. But if a spanking is the only way you'll learn, then so be it."

Jecht pulled the boy close, and put him over his lap. Tidus getting very upset, held his father's muscular thigh, and readied himself. The man took down the boy's shorts, and bared his backside. He started by giving the boy a couple hard slaps open palm. Jolting from the shock, and pain, Tidus started to cry. He gripped his father's leg, and sobbed.

"Is this the last time (smack), this is going to happen (smack) Tidus? I am not going to tell you (smack) again. (Smack!) Jecht finished by hand, and then grabbed the belt. Folding it, he had to remember to not be as hard. The boy was to learn his lesson, but not be beaten.

"Owwwww….Daddy! I'm sorry….(sniff) I am soooo sorry! (sniff) (sniff….choke)." The boy was crying so hard, Jecht almost felt bad…almost.

Raising the belt in the air, it came down with a crisp smack. Tidus could not react quick enough as the leather came down several more times across the boy's already sorry backside. A sobbing mess was Tidus, and after two more licks, Jecht finally stopped. He fixed the boy's undergarments and shorts and stood the child up. He pulled him close, and put a finer to the boy's chin raising it so he was facing his father.

"Look at me Tidus." Tidus rubbed his eyes with one hand, and kept his other hand firmly on his behind, rubbing most appropriately. "You have been warned…you will not EVER ride a shoopuf or go off on your own, or with one of your silly little friends again. Do…You…Understand…Me?" jecht raised an eyebrow. He expected an answer right away.

"Yes…yes! Daddy, yes…I am sorry!"

"Good…now…come here." Jecht pulled the boy into a gruff hug. He truly loved the kid, and was amazed how much one boy's sense of adventure could take him. Once he was finished sobbing, Tidus also embraced the man. "Okay…well, now that we have established a rule, set in stone, I have to get ready and prepared for a journey. Go and tell your mother to see about preparing something, and then…straight upstairs."

Tidus nodded, and ran to where his mother was. She gave him a hug, scolded him for being so naughty, and kissed his tear stained face. She patted him on the backside and he ran up the stairs. She prepared dinner, and the two adults ate.

The following day, Jecht needed to prepare for his training out at sea. It was the real thing. Tidus had said goodbye to his father, but it wasn't very heart felt. He would miss the man, but it would be only a matter of time till he did something else to displease his father, and wind up over the man's knees again. Laurina kissed her husband and wiped her tears.

Jecht disappeared one day while training out at sea, where he came in contact with Sin, the savage beast resting in the waters. He was never heard from again. Years past, and Tidus lost his mother to what most people called a broken heart. The boy grew up to hate and resent his father, and these feelings never changed until the day he met up with the man called Jecht, and finally overpowering his might dad, he vanquished. Tidus's last moments with the man however did bring out some emotions. He felt things should have been different. It had been a long ten years that Jecht disappeared. Only when the young man was arriving to the Farplane, did he truly understand his father. Jecht, the man…the legend.