Yuna and Baralai were perfect for each other. It was well known to every citizen of Spira, except the two themselves. Baralai was too reserved and polite to make any advancement and Yuna was still saddened by the loss of one dear to her. So the citizens waited for the day their Praetor and High Summoner would realise how perfect they were together.

---

The sun was slowly rising, causing the ocean to sparkle as though a coat of diamonds had been laid across it, warming it from the coldness that lay deep within. Yuna sighed and ran her hand across the sand, another day, she thought, another day away from you. The young girl slowly stood, brushed the sand from her bare legs then walked towards the ocean.

The ocean in Besaid always had been the clearest, most beautiful in all of Spira. They had watched the sun rise together before, but that could still not compare to this one. She felt a wave of sorrow wash over her at the things they could have done. Things they should have done.

"Yunie!" a voice cried, breaking Yuna's thoughts. "Someone's here!" Rikku would occasionally stop by Besaid when the Al Bhed were not still searching for ruins under the ocean floor, Yuna was sure she was just checking that she would not find Yuna's still body floating atop the ocean one morning. The thought of genuine concern rarely crossed Yuna's mind these days, to bitter, she thought.

"Someone is always here," Yuna sighed, brushing her wind swept hair from her face. Yevon Monks sent suitor after suitor these days to Yuna; deal after deal. Do this Lady Yuna. Marry him Lady Yuna. The people of Spira would be so happy to hear that Lady Yuna. Yuna could never find it in her heart to care anymore. There would occasionally be a worthy cause that would appear to Yuna, a young child would be sick or an old worker had broken a limb, Yuna would heal their wounds with love and care, taking time to make sure they well, that was the only break from her numbness.

"It's different this time Yunie!" her cousin explained, jumping to-and-fro. Yuna doubted that, every time was the same, every person was the same. None could compare to him. And she wouldn't let any of them either. "You know this one already!" Rikku smiled happily, while Yuna just stared blankly. Who could it possibly be? Yuna didn't know that many people. Not closely, only those who had been her guardians. Others were more acquaintances that did not merit this excitement from her young cousin.

"And who may this be?" Yuna prompted, as Rikku seemed unwilling to reveal this particular piece of information.

"You have to come see!" Rikku hastily grasped Yuna's hand and pulled her from the beach.

"Rikku!" Yuna yelled, "I'm in no condition to see anyone. I've just been swimming, my hair is knotted and I'm barely dressed!" Yuna had decided to spend that morning on the deserted part of Besaid beach, hidden from site by those who did not know of this space (this was everyone except Rikku and… him), sun bathing and swimming. This meant Yuna was wearing a small bikini and her hair was wrapped around everything within its reach (there was also varies "treasures" tangled in her hair from Yuna's long swim).

"He's really not the type to mind!" Rikku giggled. Yuna felt her pale cheeks flush, No. No one would see her like this. She tugged on Rikku's hand, causing the sixteen-year-old to tumble backwards. "Yunie," Rikku scolded while laughing happily.

"You are such a klutz Rikku!"

"Well maybe I wouldn't be if you hadn't pulled me over," the young Al Bhed poked her tongue out. Yuna copied the action before smiling slightly. "Oooh, what do I spy? A smiling Yuna? I should take a photo, this could get me some big gill." Rikku smiled mischievously and Yuna just rolled her eyes.

"I really don't think people would be that interested."

"You'd be surprised," a new voice responded. "People are very interested in their Lady Summoner." Yuna turned her head to stare at the owner of this voice. He was dressed in full Yevon robes, that on anyone else would look ridiculous but they strangely seemed to suit him; he had dark skin that looked so soft and desirable Yuna had to bite her lip to stop it trembling with desire; and silver hair that rivalled in beauty to the moon that shared it's colour.

"Good Afternoon Baralai," Yuna replied coldly before turning her head away to stare blankly at the sky.

---

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, ya? I mean that… maybe Yuna really just does need some time. And our meddling won't do any good to her, you know?"

"Wakka, you really are dense to the heart of a women, and especially to Yuna's. If we give her more time her thoughts will only consume her until there is no Yuna left. She bottles things in so tightly there is no way she'd talk to us about it, so instead we must use tools to take her mind away from those thoughts."

"So I'm a tool?" Baralai laughed.

"Simply, yes."

"Lu maybe you should be a little more… you know…?"

"Considerate? I have no time for such luxuries Wakka. My main and only concern is Yuna, as it always has been."

"I mean no disrespect," Baralai explained, bowing his head. "My motives are the same as yours. I shall do everything in my power to assure that."

"Good," Lulu answered. "Now tell Rikku Wakka and I must see her, make sure Yuna is alone and then walk with her."

"But what if…?"

"No buts" Lulu snapped. "No go." Baralai nodded quickly before retreating from the room.

"Haha, you are scary sometimes Lu, you know that?" Lulu smiled before turning to Wakka.

"And there are times when it serves me all to well."

Baralai slowly wandered over to join the circle of people that sat around the campfire, he had stood in front of huge crowds before, but being here… in this environment made him very uncomfortable. Baralai tapped Rikku on the back before leaning over her shoulder.
"Lulu and Wakka would like to talk to you. They are in their hut." Rikku clapped her hands and jumped up, causing Baralai to stumble backwards in surprise.

"I'll go right there, you take my seat." Rikku smiled and pushed Baralai into the gap she had just been sitting before skipping off to find Wakka and Lulu.

It seemed like an age that Baralai and Yuna just sat there, both staring intently at the dancing flames of the campfire and letting their ears numb from the inaudible conversations around them.

"It's… uh… lovely weather here isn't it?" Baralai mumbled, twisting the cloth of his clothes around in his hands in some sort of ritual. Yuna just shrugged. "Well uh… for night… its… well-"

"I just can't believe it!" Yuna interrupted, slapping her own knees in annoyance.

"I was only-"

"Not you! Well, yes you!" Yuna sighed before shaking her head. "So it's not just Yevon trying to marry me off now? It's my own friends? It has only been a year! Why does that mean I have to rush to forget him? They – they-" Yuna's words broke off as she erupted in a sea of tears. Baralai sat dumbstruck for a moment, guilt and confusion swirled in his brain making it hard to decide what to do. When he finally put a hand on Yuna's back she pushed him away before standing up and running from him. When Baralai looked around, the eyes of every person around the campfire was fixed on him, some looked ready to commit unspeakable crimes against him. He cleared his throat but his voice still sounded strangled when he spoke.

"I'll go find her!"

---

I was going to have this as just one story, but I'm a little too lazy to write this right now (LOL) this is also my first Yunalai story and my first for a while. I was pretty confident with this style of writing at first, but now I'm a little unsure, so please honestly tell me what you think. Hopefully the next chapter will be out soon, but I'll probably only write when I feel like it, so that may mean a late update. But please stay patient but gently remind me the update.