The Days Without You

He dreamt…

The blue depth surrounding him clung to his being; he blinked, stretching towards the surface. Grinning; he pushed upward, he needed to break the surface… needed to breathe… needed to be.

The surface broke and he looked upon a familiar scene; one he had not seen for what felt like a millennia and yet at the same time felt like just the day before. Was it possible, was she…

A roar from the sky tore his eyes away from the scene. A floating red ship, different to the one he remembered, far brighter, fiercer and built for speed. It headed straight towards his being; making him turn as it almost collided with his body, elegantly twirling in the water, cool ocean spray falling onto his body. The deck lowered and he knew. She ran down the steps, hair bouncing with every step, letting herself slide down the ramp and at the last moment stretching and jumping from the ship. He ran and she flew, meeting each other in the middle, both wrapping their arms around the other. Was it possible, was this real?

They held each other tightly, her face beaming as she clung. If she let go would he fade?

A whisper flew by his ear and he turned to the island. Bare. Empty. He blinked... there should be something there? His eyes turned to the sky, to the ship, but it was not there. He swung back to her, her eyes no longer dancing in happiness but confusion and worry. He opened his mouth to speak, to cry, to scream. Yet there was no sound, no sound except for the gentle calm lapping of the ocean beneath him.

He looked down at his feet to see a shadow, black all around him; no longer the calm, beautiful azure. His eyes flew back to her, unconsciously tightening his grip, he could not let go. A tear escaped her eye, rolling down her face and following the curve of her chin before it fell. He shook his head in fear, in desperation. Her face started to blur and dissolve before his eyes. She was leaving, fading from him. In desperation he wrapped his arms around her, crushing her body to his, yet his hands fell through her, coming to rest against only himself.

He was alone. Alone in the dark and empty abyss.

A gasp escaped my lips as I leant forward. Hair slick with sweat and clamping to my forehead. Just to make sure I shakily felt my arms and chest. I was still here. It was dark all around but the moons glimmer still bade me to look upon her. Her head lay against the pillow, her hair sprayed around like a halo. I reached my hand out to grasp hers, my rough tanned skin against delicate ivory. She was sound asleep and yet I felt her hand react to mine, gently clasping my own.

I awoke in the morning to an empty bed. It was strange as I slid my arm out to snake around her body; pulling her close only to find nothing. Of course, it was beginning to become a regular occurrence in the morning.

I stretched languidly in the large bed, seeming all the bigger as I was on my own. Sliding the thin covers away from me, feeling the normal morning stickiness from the sweltering islands temperature. My feet landed on the wooden floor, the shock in temperature almost making me curl back into the cosiness of the warm covers. I was resolute though, I had to find her and I knew where she would be.

I opened the door to a warm morning breeze teasing my hair, the scent of salt drifting up to meet my nose and I could not help but breathe in the wonderful aroma. I turned my head to meet her. She stood there, where she always did these past few weeks, the gentle wind playing with her hair too and the sight reminded me of the way that Yuna used to dance. The first sending that I ever witnessed flashed through my mind. I remembered her graceful steps and the way that the water had allowed her light feet to walk upon its surface as if it was solid ground. I remembered the way that the wind and water had combined to make Yuna seem ever more ethereal as she danced the souls' last passage. I stepped towards her wanting the moment to last but as always, it was not to be. The minute my foot connected with the floor, a creak resounded bringing her attention away from wherever it resided, to focus sorely on myself.

She smiled. Her lips parting to speak. "You're up."

I nodded my heard. "You too." She smiled at the reply and turned back to the sea. She stood there for around a minute and I watched her for what seemed a day. At last she blinked, closed her eyes and turned back to face me.

"Perhaps we should make some breakfast; I have a busy day today." I nodded emphatically, Yuna always had a busy day and perhaps this was the cause for her frequently early rises. At least I hoped that was the case as the only other reason drifting through my head, demanding for attention was much too scary a thought to comprehend.

Yuna stood about the kitchen a finger poised to her lip in thought. She wrestled between the thought of sweet bread and fresh fruit. I almost laughed at the indecision in her face and the flickering eyes. She nodded her head and plucked the large fruit basket from its shelf. I watched her fingers glide over the various fruits, the sticky juices streaming down her fingers and her lips as she licked the offending liquid off her hands. She would never make the hygiene pass in a kitchen I realised. She would turn her head, flicking her hair and give me a wondrous smile. Surely, there was nothing wrong with our relationship, our marriage?

The wedding had been a small affair consisting of our close friends and Islanders, much to the disappointment of various Spirans. Spira's leaders, and friends of both Yuna and I had insisted upon a huge party to celebrate the union between the happy couple. I was happy to oblige knowing that all of Spira would want to witness the happy occasion for its high summoner, and it did not matter where or when I married Yuna so long as it happened. With one glance, I knew that it was not what Yuna wanted.

"I know that everyone would like to come." I could not help but smile as two rose spots appeared on her cheeks. Yuna was never one to think herself famous or any Spiran indebted to her. In her heart; Yuna was still an Islander who would grow old in front of the sea and enjoy her quiet life to the fullest, though it had not yet and probably never would turn quiet.

"Of course they would." Gippal strode up to us. He was so alike to Rikku in his straightforwardness. "Everyone would want to be there."

Yuna nodded and gave a small nod. "I'm sure some people would… but…" She grabbed my hand and I reflexively tightened my grip. "This is our day and I would like it to happen in my home, in our home." I understood what she meant it was our day, for the two of us.

However, the idea of sharing it with everyone sounded nice I could not help but think that it would most likely have turned into a huge stage show and not the happy day that it had been. In the end it was a rather small affair, exactly how we had imagined and hoped.

A white bowl eclipsed my thoughts and plonked down with a soft 'thunk' in front of me. Yuna followed, taking her seat across from me with her own bowl. I grabbed a spoon and dove in, the unbelievable tastes of spice and juice filling my mouth. The breakfast passed in quiet as I gobbled it down heartily and Yuna played with her bowl, mixing the spoon in and out of the various fruits. "Not hungry?" I questioned.

She looked up as if in shock, resembling a child that had been caught not eating his vegetables. She grabbed the spoon, dove into the bowl and stuffed a piece of mango into her mouth. A moment ago, she had seemed so happy. I sighed to myself, quietly so that she would not hear, picked up my bowl and quickly washed it leaving it to dry.

"I'm going to get ready." My only answer was silence. Familiar and threatening in its potency.

Dressed and ready for the day I made my way back out to the kitchen. Yuna still sat where I had left her, the bowl still full in front of her, screaming out to me everything was wrong. "I'm off to train." The Luca goers had recently approached me with an offer to play for them. I could not help but think that the time off had caused my blitzing skills to slip. "Will you be back late?"

"Probably so you needn't wait up." The coldness of her sentence hit me like ice through my heart. I was sure that she had not intended to hurt me and she did not see the pain that flashed through my eyes. It seemed too long ago since I would have waited up all night for her, her tiredness disappearing from sight as soon as I held her in my arms.

"Hm… bye then." I did not sweep her into my arms and kiss her mouth as we used to, nor did I kiss the top of her head sweetly, instead I turned and shut the door.

To be continued…

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Victorious Light