Touched

A Final Fantasy X-2 fanfiction, By Serenanna

Warnings and Disclaimers: I don't own the Final Fantasy series or any of the characters in there of. I'm just borrowing the cast of X-2 to play with. I'll return them later after, promise. There is adult content and sexual situations in this story. So, if you're under 18, leave now before your virgin eyes are scarred forever, if you're over 18, enjoy!

Story Notes: This takes place after the happy ending version of the game after the four hankies ending of the first game. So, yes, Tidus is back, thank god! I'm certain I'm not the first to continue from the ending of the game, nor will I be the last. But hopefully, above all, I will do it well. Being this is fanfiction, liberties were taken with the actions of the characters and their real life consequences. I think we'll all be happier pretending that no one is getting knocked up as a result for the length of this fanfic. I've also taken the liberty of moving the location of the perfect ending scene in the ruins of Zanarkand to somewhere on Besaid, no big deal there. With that said, enjoy.


Sitting at Lulu and Wakka's patio table surrounded by friends, Yuna didn't think it was possible for life to get any better. But one glance at the blond young man sitting across the table, and she knew it could get better, maybe, just a little. He looked at her when not laughing from one of Wakka's jokes, and she smiled back. The radiating beam on her face got bigger and bigger the whole night till her cousin, Rikku, nudged her to say that she was glowing more than her Holy spells. She'd blushed, but kept smiling, unable to help it. It had all seemed like a dream, one too good to be true. Well, she did pinch herself on the beach when he was greeting everyone just to make sure she wasn't dreaming. It felt like a real pinch, so, she supposed it all was truly happening. Two years ago, she didn't think her life could be any worse when Tidus had disappeared after she finally confessed how she felt. Even defeating Sin seemed like an insignificant reward of peace for what she gave up. Who ever said to have loved and lost was better probably never loved in such a short amount of time as they had. To give up love after discovering she had a life back then seemed like a lot. She had drifted those months on Besaid till Rikku showed up with that sphere, then look what happened? And now? Well, it was pointless to say she was happy since it showed in her smile.

After the welcome home on the beach, she had taken Tidus to see the sunset on the small cliffs by the lagoon, and they'd finally talked, after so long. He hypothesized that the fayth had brought him back, just like they said they would when they offered to try. Neither of them knew for sure though, especially when it came to how long it would last, if he was completely real and not just a dream anymore. But when blessed . . . why question it? Somewhere, someone in Spira had taken pity on Yuna's life, and she was not about to argue with them. Breaking up the seriousness and the fear of those lingering questions, she pushed Tidus into the water before following him, deliriously happy as they fought, played, and swam till he caught her and held her close. Yuna had missed his warmth so much that she shivered still in the memories, wondering how she could have withstood being so cold without him. He leaned in to kiss her, and it reminded her of the lake in the woods so long ago as they swam in the lagoon . . . only this time they were interrupted before their lips touched by Lulu's call to dinner.

Thinking back on the memories, she probably should have kissed Tidus. Yuna had lived with two years of regrets since he went away, and it was hard to think of anything else now that he was back in her life. There was so much she wanted to do with him, together, so much she wanted to do before too. But as Tidus smiled back at her before being whacked across the back by Wakka after a particularly funny joke, all her thoughts melted away again as she giggled.

She was grateful that the celebration of their return was small, just Lulu, Wakka, little Vidina, Paine, Rikku, Tidus, and herself. Kilmari was still in Mt. Gagazet, and Auron . . . he was gone for good. It was probably for the best as a second miracle would be asking for too much, not to mention it would be awfully suspicious. The Gullwings had left not long after they were on the beach, instructing them to call when their vacation was over. It was probably for the best as well. She didn't want Brother to be upset, but this was her happiness she'd been hunting for, not his. Besides, while his affections were cute, he was still her cousin too, which made her skin crawl even if she never didn't put her foot down over it. Speaking of feet, she felt a shoe brush against her boots under the table and looked up to see Tidus's smile had turned into an almost predatory grin. Yuna had been touching him somehow in some way ever since they had left the lagoon, if only just for the assurance that he was still corporal. This had, of course, involved playing footsie under the table during dinner to his infinite amusement. Perhaps paranoia could be a good thing.

She blushed slightly at Tidus's grin, looking to Lulu as she handed the baby off to her husband and stood. The older woman started clearing away the plates of the small banquet she had prepared for them, smiling slightly as her eyes met Yuna's, "You three better be up to helping me clean all this up, you may be guests for a little while, but you make enough mess for ten people."

"It's all her fault!" Rikku declared, pointing an accusing finger at Paine who scowled back at her from the next seat over. There seemed to be an air of impending violence till the little thief yelped, jumping out of her seat and to her feet. Her grey haired woman smirked, and Yuna instantly know she wasn't the only one playing footsie with someone else under the table. Lulu turned, chuckling, to carry a load of plates and bowls into the kitchen, soon followed by the other two young women with more items from the table. Silent, the ex-summoner remained sitting, seemingly oblivious to Wakka's jokes as she stared into Tidus's cerulean eyes. His foot had risen up her leg till he was almost touching her inside knee, causing her to blush more in the dim lighting. She kicked Tidus's leg away after a long moment, hiding her giggles behind her water glass as he yelped. "I missed something, ya?" Wakka asked, confused while staring at the two of them, "You ok, brotha?"

Tidus, for his part, grimaced, rubbing the back of his calf, "Yeah, old injury acting up, what was that part about when you chucked a ball and hit a spectator again?"

Yuna nearly choked on her water from the annoyed look on Wakka's face, unable to hold back the giggles anymore. She opened her mouth to comment when they all heard Rikku from the kitchen, "Yunie, help me! They're making me scrub!"

Sighing, she fought the urge to go to her cousin's rescue, her backbone showing as she remained sitting when she normally would have gone running. Tidus grinned at her as she frowned, his foot back next to hers, "You've changed . . . a lot."

Yuna smiled, her heart nearly skipping a beat at his words, "You said that earlier, I'm still waiting to hear if the changes are good or bad."

"I should go, ya?" Wakka interrupted them, cradling the baby in his arms. They both laughed, Tidus talking first as they calmed down, "No, no, it's ok, just a private joke, it's your table anyway, maybe we should . . . get going?"

For a moment, Yuna's blushed before her grin widened, reflecting the predatory one Tidus wore earlier even if it still retained her sweetness. She didn't know exactly what the blitzballer was hinting at, but something in the sound of his voice made her stomach quiver even if that could have been Lulu's cooking. Admittedly, it had been a romantic night sitting under the stars surrounded by the torches and candles, even if they were with friends as well. She did wish they where alone again just for a little while before the night ended. It sounded like a great idea to the summoner. About to open her mouth to agreed, there was a loud crash from the kitchen, "Yunie! Help!"

Lulu stuck her head out of the doorway, frowning upon seeing that she was still sitting at the table, "Yuna! Help your cousin before she breaks all of my plates!"

Groaning in frustration, she stood up from the table, grabbing the few things that remained on the table before trotting off towards the patio door with a dark look on her face. She stopped just short, and turned around again, getting stares from the two men as she put the things down to grabbed the weapon holster from the back of her chair, "Forgot my guns."

"I don't think that's gonna work on the plates, Yuna," Tidus joked, amused as she strapped on the yellow belt, "Besides, I remember you being a lot better with a staff than with guns."

Smirking, she took his comment as a challenge as she drew one of the guns, twirling it around her center finger. Yuna then stopped it as the grip fell into the palm of her hand, pulling the hammer back and firing a shot across the patio. The bullet hit the high wall of the next building over, ricocheted off the masonry into Lulu's garden to hit another plastered wall and scare a cat before rebounding off and up to hit a tile just on the edge of the roof. She blew the smoke from the barrel, and twirled the gun again before holstering it. Tidus's mouth had dropped open at the display, staring as her as she picked up the stack of things again. "Things change, remember," she said softly with a smile as she looked into his eyes.

There was an unquestionable look of desire in the deep blue depths of Tidus's eyes, and it made a shiver run down her spine. About to say something else to him, she was cut short as they heard Paine, "Yuna! Stop showing off!"

"Yunie!"

Growling, Yuna stomped off, muttering to the two men in her wake, "The guns aren't for the plates, they're for my soon to be sent cousin."

Once she was gone through the door way, Wakka struck his friend across the chest with the back of his hand, breaking him out of the trance. Tidus jumped, yelping in pain while rubbing the abused portion of his body. As if getting slapped on the back after every other joke that night by his much stronger buddy wasn't back enough. The blitzballer glared back, meeting Wakka's own dark look, "Geez, you'd think a baby in your arms would make you just a bit gentler."

"I know that look in your eyes, jes don't be getting any ideas? Brotha?" Wakka muttered, rocking Vidina gently. As happy as he was for the both of them, the older man still couldn't get over his protectiveness when it came to Yuna. Tidus blinked, playing innocent, "What?"

"The way you look at Yuna, I'm not that blind, ya?" he said as he looked down at Vidina, waving a finger at his little girl as she cooed, "Don't be corrupting her now."

Tidus snorting in laughter, stretching in the chair, "Have you even seen what she's wearing now, Wakka? Or the way she handled that gun? I'm more afraid of her corrupting me."

Giving a dark chuckle, he had to admit his friend was right in that part. His little Yuna had sunk pretty low from the heights of saintly virtue to save them all, and to bring back the man she loved. She may have lost some of her innocence along the way, but she would always be the girl he was friends with since they were little. For her happiness, maybe he could cut her man a little slack now, or maybe he couldn't, "Just don't do any stupid to her is what I'm saying, I don't wanna chuck a few balls at your head during practice to grind a lesson into you."

The blonde blitzballer chuckled, and nodded, deciding it was better to just agree with him rather than face the consequences. "So, I wonder how long it'll take for them to wash up?" he asked, looking curiously at the kitchen door.

"With 'em four? . . ."


Sighing again, Yuna dried what felt like the hundredth piece of pottery from Lulu's small collection, one of her many, many wedding presents. Everyone on Besaid must have given them something for their table which, while practical for the amount of guests they usually had, made cleaning them all a chore. The four women worked in silence with the occasion mishap from her hapless cousin or snide remark from Paine. It would have been a pleasant enough if it wasn't for a certain someone waiting for her to finish. Determined, she wiped down another plate quickly, tossing it at Lulu who was putting them away. "Easy, dear, I lost three of these already," the older woman said as she had to bend to catch it.

"Sorry . . ." Yuna apologized, blushing. Rikku glanced over at them and giggled before going back to rinsing the dishes as Paine cleaned them. She picked up another piece to drying, thinking the moment had passed, till the little blond girl's gradually louder giggles became too much. "What? What could possibly be so funny?" she said, an annoyed edge on her voice.

"You, poor Yunie, he really is hot, isn't he?" the thief said as she whistled a cat call. The color in the gunslinger's face rose to a red resembling one of Lulu's terra cotta bowls, and even Paine had to snicker. Yuna glared daggers at them both, only seeming to make Rikku's laughter worse. "Oh stop it already! This is Tidus after all you're talking about," she said as she furiously wiped down another piece of pottery, her jealousy flaring, "I'm sure he knows he's . . . hot."

Her blush had calmed down to a reasonable pink dusting across her cheeks, but it was still a blush. Who was she kidding? It seemed they all knew already, so there was no point in hiding it. "I do love him, ok? And I'd rather be out there right now than doing the dishes with you all," Yuna declared, trying not to wring the rag in her hands, "Happy? Now can you please not pick on me for at least a week till I get used to him being around . . . again?"

She went back to work, ignoring all of them, including her cousin's snickering. Lulu moved up next to her, taking the dish from her hands before she dried the painted pattern right off the surface. Yuna exhaled slowly, grateful now that the out burst was out of her system. "Have you thought about where Tidus will stay yet?" the dark-haired woman asked as she placed the plate on a high shelf.

"I don't know . . ." Yuna confessed before picking up another dish, "I was going to put him up in my little house, I don't want to trouble you and Wakka with the baby and all."

"It would probably trouble him more than us, but you're right."

"Oh, Yunie, having a guy over at your house, how scandalous!" Rikku teased, trying to hide the grin behind her hand, "Not that you don't deserve him, but I do hope he knows how to be gentle."

About twenty shades of red passed over Yuna's face as she froze till Paine shook her free, taking in a great breath as the shock caught up to her mouth, "Rikku! My own cousin! Stop thinking like that!"

Lulu chuckled, removing the dried plate from the ex-summoner's hand while it was still in one piece. "She is right thought in a sense, you should consider it before something else happens," the magess said as she put it away on the shelf, "I'd probably never have married Wakka if I hadn't taken a chance when he proposed, and given your recent changes, you should probably be the one to take the first chance."

Yuna calmed down at the older woman's words, absentmindedly drying off a glass. Before she could think on it any longer, Paine took the rare occasion to ask a question, "Have you actually kissed him before?"

Blushing, she nodded, staring at the glass. Rikku gasped, bouncing up and nearly fumbling the soap-covered pot in her hands, "I knew it! When was it, that night before we entered the Calm Land? Was he good? And you didn't tell me!"

Her blush got worse again, along with her stare at the glass till Lulu blessedly pried the piece from her fingers, "I'm assuming it did happen then since your were both gone from camp, but I'm also assuming it was probably just a kiss or two, correct?"

Biting the inside of her lip, she confessed, the memory coming back to her in full force as her boots kicked helplessly at the tile floor of the kitchen, "Yes, it was by the lake in the woods, we swam, and yes, our clothes stayed on, before the three of you question me on that aspect too . . . I haven't kissed him since . . .," slumping over, Yuna buried her face in her arms while hitting her head on the counter, "I should have kissed him on the beach, or by the lagoon before dinner, I shouldn't stop kissing him to make up for millions of other kisses we've missed, I shouldn't have been without him for so long, but I was, and I don't even know if we can pick up right where we left off . . ."

The three women looked down on her with equal looks of sympathy before exchanging silent glances with one another. Lulu took the last plate Yuna had been clutching from her hands as the other two grabbed the ex-summoner by the shoulders to push her towards the door. "Go," Paine practically commanded, "We'll be fine."

She started to protest with a yelp till Rikku, in her excitement, practically shoved her into the door way, "For goodness sake, you have a gorgeous man out there being bored to death by the big lug, rescue him, and don't look back! You're wasting time! Something always seems to happen around you, so take this small blessing of peace and run with it!"

Yuna was speechless at her own cousin's insight. As much as she didn't want to acknowledge it, something always did seem to happen around her. Even so, that should have been over by now, right? Could she chance that it wouldn't be over? Rikku suddenly had a very valid point that hit her over the head like a thunder bolt. She glanced over her shoulder at Lulu for approval till the older woman nodded while forcing back a smile. That was all it took as Yuna turned briefly to beam at the three of them before running out the door. Watching her go, Rikku sighed wistfully, wringing her hands, "Poor Yunie, I do hope he is gentle, or else I'll never get the story out of her . . . it does make me wish I had a guy of my own . . ."

"Somehow, I don't think just any man could keep up with you long enough to stay interested, short stuff," Paine teased, smirking as she turned back to work. Hopping around, the thief stuck her tongue out at her friend. She stuck her hands in the tub of water to grab another piece to rinse, splashing some of the soap about, "Yes, well, I don't think any man could make you smile long enough to stay interested, sour puss."

"Girls . . ." Lulu threatened when she saw a loot of annoyance flash across Paine's face.

"Yes, yes," they said in unison before getting back to work in silence. The magess smiled to herself before taking another glance at the door. She hoped everything went right that night for two of her dearest friends, knowing they both deserved it. Muttering a soft prayer in the silence, she took another item from Rikku, taking up the drying now, "You know, I always did wonder if Tidus was as good as his boasts . . . guess Yuna will just have to find out for us."

"Lulu, you're married! Sheesh!"

She smirked at Rikku's sour face, saying cryptically, "But I'm not that dead yet."


Yuna bolted out the door before skidding to a halt, obviously startling Wakka and Tidus as they looked up at her. "Something wrong?" the blonde asked, tilting his head to the side.

Just as she opened her mouth, she noticed the purple and gold wrapped bundle in his arms, the blankets of little Vidina. Her heart flooded with warmth at the situation, a little surprised that the baby had taken to him after she always seemed to start crying when Yuna was near. "It's nothing," she said softly, walking around the table to join him, "Just ready to go when you are."

"I just want to hold her a little longer . . . who ever thought a baby could like me," Tidus said as he wiggled his finger at her, making Vidina giggle and coo while squirming in her blankets, "Apparently she doesn't like anyone else, I hear."

He glanced up at Wakka, who nodded as Yuna sighed while leaning over to place her arms around his neck from behind, "It must be all the yellow you wear, I doubt she has developed such refined tastes already."

"I find it hard to believe that she doesn't even like you, Yuna, you're even gentler than Lulu," stopping a moment, the blitzballer then corrected himself, "Or at least I remember you being awfully gentle . . ."

Yuna tried not to frown, but couldn't help it as the corners of her smile kept falling. She knew Tidus would say that eventually, and it cracked that warmth in her heart. Deep down, she knew she was still the girl he remembered, even if he could see it yet. "I still am gentle, just . . ." she said while wiggling her own fingers at the baby in his arms, "I'm stronger than I used to be, and more mature, or at least that's what Lulu says."

As if on a cue, as soon as Yuna's fingers came close, Vidina's big eye welled up with tears as she started crying. Cringing, the young woman backed away while holding down her sigh. Well, at least it did prove that the little one truly didn't like her. Wakka swooped in to take his child back from Tidus, cradling her gently, "Ya, ya, little Yuna's all grown up now, and one day so will little Vidina, till then, I'm gonna spend every second I can holding my baby girl," he said as he rocked her till the crying stopped, "You two better go, night's falling quick, pyreflies will be out though, and watch the path, never know what's out at this time."

Nodding, Tidus stood up and retrieved the Caladbolg where it was leaned on the steps leading up to the patio, sheathing it in the harness slung across back. "I can't believe you guys even kept it," he said with a grin as Yuna followed close behind him, "Where's the Brotherhood then if this is still around? Or the others? Don't tell me you saved them too?"

"Ask Yuna," Wakka said cryptically with a grin before waving at them, and turning to go back into the house. Tidus peered at her curiously as she blushed, wondering what happened to his first sword. "Um . . ." she started as she led him down the steps, "I kind of borrowed them?"

"Borrowed? What could you possibly use a sword for?" He asked as he blinked, adjusting the fit of the harness till he was comfortable with the new weight, "Don't tell me it has something to do with the blitzball lessons Wakka said he gave you?"

Yuna grinned, twirling around in front of him as they walked, almost bouncing across the road, "I can do lots of stuff now, anything, absolutely anything! Yes, I learned to fight with your swords, I still use my staffs too, and the guns, plus I learned blitzball! I even competed with the rest of the Gullwings and did some scouting of my own, we won a few games, but the Psyches are hard, but maybe . . . I can scout you out now! You could play for us!"

"Too late, Wakka wants me for the Aurouchs," Tidus said as the grin on his face only got brighter, "But . . . he hasn't signed me yet."

"I'll just have to offer you more then," Yuna said while walking backward, her arms folding behind her head, "Besides, I beat him once already with my Jecht shot."

"You what!" He yelled, his jaw dropping open as the girl in front of him laughed softly. She rushed forward to stop Tidus before he yelled more and woke up the whole village, only to be held captive by his strong arms as he pinned her to him. Laughing, she fought back against him, but the blonde wasn't letting go. His hands found the ticklish spots on the side of her waist, and didn't let up. Yuna yelped, trying to push him away as his laugh turned into a dark chuckle. "You little thief! I blame your cousin's influence on you!" he yelled, but playfully, his fingers brushing her exposed back as well as she burst out laughing, "Stealing my swords, and my shot, and putting my symbol on your new clothes! And really! Did it need to hang between your breasts! Well . . . that can stay but I want my weapons back!"

She gasped for breath between the laughter, finally pulling away from him. Her knees buckled out from under her as her feet slipped, almost collapsing till Tidus grabbed her hand and yanked her back into his arms. Yuna gasped as she was suddenly pressed against his chest, staring up into the cerulean eyes she thought she'd never see again. And then his grin softened into a smile, the emotions changing in the blue from playful happiness to something deeper. Slowly his eyes closed and his head lowered, moving closer as she remained frozen in his arms, part of her heart wanting him so much. And yet, Tidus's words snapped back in her head as she pulled away before he could kiss her. Suddenly, Yuna backed away from him, shivering in the night air as she rubbed her arms.

His eyes dropped in concern, starting after the young woman till she started wandering away as her thoughts turned. Why did she have to be so worried? He kept trying to kiss her after all, he still wanted her, but . . . could he love her, still, even with the new person she'd become? She didn't know that at all. I love you had been her last words to him, but he hadn't exactly said the same thing to her even if she always remembered feeling it in that last airy hug before he dove off the airship. It didn't stop her from hoping though that he felt the same still. That hope was still in Yuna's eyes, one blue, one green, as she looked back at Tidus, giving him a confident smile, "Not yet."

The worry melted away in the blonde man's eyes as he moved forward, holding out his hand. Her smile turned back into a playful grin as she took an even bigger step back. Yuna's retreat continued for every step Tidus took, keeping the same distance between them, and he couldn't help but grinning too as he threatened with her own name, "Yuna . . ."

"You want your weapons back, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Then you gotta catch me first!" the ex-summoner exclaimed as she turned to run. The moment she took off, Tidus's heart leaped in his throat, the feelings coming back and stronger than ever. This was the happiest and most carefree he'd ever seen Yuna. Not even in the year of their journey was she ever this free, and while it was shocking, it struck some cord deep in him. As if he needed any more reason to love her any more than he did already. Tidus took off after her, the weight of the sword on his back feeling like nothing. He finally was beginning to understand how much had changed without him.


To Be Continued . . .