*EDIT 23 JULY 2012*

This is my original piece of writing. I have since scrapped this, but am keeping it up in hopes the incredible followers of it see this or the new chapter note expressing the new story I am writing similar to this one. Same characters, same world, better writing.

Ruby Eyes Tell No Lies

Please, if you even SOMEWHAT liked this story, go there. If you clicked here as a new visitor, I recommend checking RETNL instead as this one will not be continued.

Okay, this is my first fan-fic. I've written much before this, but I have written much before this. I am currently working on an original novel but that isn't important now is it? Just a note, I do not own Rikku, Paine, or Yuna.. the rest.. are completely mine and no one else's, got it? Now that that's out of the way.. In this I have written a Yuna and Paine adventure with romance. Of course the ever-annoying Rikku is involved, but so are some newer people, which will be explained quite well. Not everything will coincide with past events in FFX and FFX-2. I love both the stories but some things just had to be changed. I also, unlike many here, will update rather frequently, but also with random amounts. One day may be chapter 8 as last one the next as 10, or 20 depends on everything around me. This is going to be a semi-long fic, I don't know really, as the only fan-fic I've grown to appreciate truly is a 192 chapter one. Very impressive it is. Anyhow, I will not be posting above each and every chapter unless I feel the need to do so for specific ones. (more than likely much later on) I hope you enjoy, and I would appreciate ratings.

"The critique of others is far better to advance oneself than the critique of oneself on others."

Chapter 1:

Yuna sat up suddenly, looking around in confusion. The sound of footsteps echoed off the dark cavern walls. The floor she lay upon was cold and damp, making her shiver. As the footsteps drew nearer Yuna clutched her pistol tightly in her right hand, ready to use it on who or whatever came near her. The hole in the ceiling just a few feet ahead of her allowed the pale moonlight to illuminate the otherwise dark cavern. Suddenly a figure was visible in the shining light. Long silver hair glistened in the moonlight and ruby read eyes looked her over.

"Yuna? Are you alright?"

Yuna lowered her pistol quickly quite embarrassed. "Paine?"

Paine stepped fully into the pale moonlight relief flooded across her face as she saw Yuna. "Yuna.." She rushed over and examined Yuna better. "Are you alright Yuna?"

She nodded. "I'm fine Paine, but I am so glad to see you. Are you okay? You're bleeding!"

Paine shrugged. "I am alright, it's just a scratch."

Yuna bent close to examine her companion's wound and noticed a deep gash just below Paine's ribs. Blood was dribbling down her side and stained her legs. "Paine! You have to get this checked out?"

Paine waved her hand dismissively. "I am alright Yuna."

Yuna frowned, very worried about her friend. "Paine, how did this happen?" she asked as she tore at the hem of her dress to make a tourniquet.

Paine sighed, seeing Yuna was not going to let it go. "I was attacked by a rather unfriendly wolf."

Yuna nodded and apologized when Paine flinched as she pulled the knot tight. "Are you sure you are okay?"

Paine rolled her eyes. "Yuna, I told you, I'm fine. Where's Rikku?"

Yuna looked up, obviously startled by the question. "Rikku, I thought she was with you?"

Paine frowned. "No, I thought she was with you."

Yuna groaned, it was so like Rikku to wander off on her own. "We have to find her!"

Paine yawned and answered in her usual strait forward manner. "Why?"

Yuna gawked at her. "Because, as you saw first hand this place isn't safe!"

Paine nodded. "So if we were to wander deeper and end up lost, then what?"

Yuna looked at Paine astounded that she would just abandon Rikku. "But, Rikku is our friend..."

Paine nodded. "But dying while trying to find her won't do us any good now will it? Please Yuna, I'm sorry if I sound cold, but we have to find a way out before we join the dead already here. We can't survive too long without food or water and I am running low on the water."

Yuna nodded. "I'm already out, have been for hours."

Paine immediately reached into her pack and handed her canteen to Yuna. "Take it."

Yuna frowned and shook her head. "I can't, you need it too."

Paine looked her in the eyes, her beautiful ruby eyes burning into Yuna. "Take it, you need it, I just had some a short while ago." In truth the canteen hadn't been touched in hours, as Paine had saved all of it incase she came upon Yuna and it was needed.

Yuna nodded and accepted it, drinking a little from it to wet her parched throat. "Alright, let's get out of here."

Paine nodded and took Yuna's hand, responding quickly to her questioning gaze as she did so. "So that I don't lose you again."

Yuna smiled and nodded. "Okay, let's go."

Paine led her down a series of corridors before Yuna decided it would be a good idea to rest for the remainder of the night. "Paine?"

"Yes Yuna?"

She looked around. "We're lost, could we maybe rest for a bit?"

Paine thought a moment, knowing it would be better to keep going. "Alright, we can rest."

Yuna smiled and sat down, motioning for Paine to come over. Paine walked over and looked down at her questioning. "Come on, It's cold, we can use each other's body heat to keep warm."

Paine blinked a moment and suppressed a blush and nodded, lying down beside her friend and holding her close, the heat from their bodies keeping them both rather warm in the cold dark place.