The Return, the Responsible and the new War

AN: Alright, that's my first story ever that I publish in anyway. Hope you enjoy! Even if it's only written from a dump german.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X or X-2. A pity...

Chapter 1

Darkness surrounded him. He was used to it by now. That awaits a dream after it is lost after all. Darkness. Only Darkness. But for him the Fayth made an exception. They made him a great ocean to swim in. An empty ocean but it was better than the pure darkness. Now it was darkness combined with water. But it shouldn't be long now. He could hear whispers. Whispers of mortals and dead. He would be called soon. Temptation, the greatest weakness of all beings. "You were always a fool, Shuyin." He said into the darkness with a chuckle. Still, a foolish friend. "…nightmare…!....fallen dream…!...." Ahh, his cue! It was time. Straightening his robe he swam from his floating position. He pulled his white hood deeper into his face and stepped through the small tear in the darkness.

The distant smell of the Farplane flowers met his nose. He guessed he was very deep in the next world for the living where no vegetation grew. Tidus frowned a bit. Really, he had hoped to come out somewhere else. "See! Now you will loose and I will avenge my Lenne!" Tidus for the first time acknowledged the presence of the other persons. Weren't that the two that entered his memory? His one shining blue eye and the duller blue eye under his hood softened when he looked at the others. Yuna…, his mouth formed noiseless. Warm feelings spread in his chest. Next to her where Rikku, a black-clad girl, an older rather arrogant-looking woman, a fatter man and a big, thin guy with two pistols in his hands. Strange formation. That was so much like his Yuna. She befriended the strangest people.

He turned to Shuyin who was talking way to much, like always. "Shuyin." He interrupted him calmly. The shadow of the former Blitzball player looked dumbfounded at him. Tidus rolled his eyes. "You know what nightmares always do?" Shuyin shook his head, still shocked that the nightmare spoke. He hadn't expected that. "Bad things." Tidus said with a grin and pulled in an immense display of speed his hunting rifle out. Wide eyed Shuyin stared at it. "Oops!" Tidus said mockingly and shot him in the stomach. The wound wouldn't kill him but it was painful. Shuyin grunted and sank to his knees. Angrily he looked up at the nightmare. "I've called you! You should obey me, damn!" Tidus chuckled. "Ever had a nightmare? A nightmare never does what you want, idiot. Man, you haven't changed at all, my friend." Shuyin narrowed his eyes. "Do I…" The shadow coughed. "…know you?" The Lord of Zanarkand grinned widely. "You can bet on that, man!" Shuyin didn't look convinced. Tidus rolled his eyes and took his sword from its sheath.

"Maybe that will remind you. I made it myself you know. I showed you the plans for it, remember?" Caladblog shone in the light around them, emitting an eerie aura. Shuyin shook his head and looked utterly confused. Tidus sighed annoyed. "Oh, really, man! You and your slow mind! Lenne would you pleeease tell him! I get impatient!" He turned to Yuna who looked irritated at him. Her eyes widened when Lenne stepped out of her. The mouths of the others hung open. "Of course, my Lord." She said in her calm voice and looked sternly at Shuyin. The shadow twitched under her gaze. "Lenne?" He said weakly. "Is that really you?" She nodded with a soft smile and kneeled down next to him. Lenne placed her hand on his cheek and he leaned into her touch. Suddenly his eyes snapped wide open and he looked wide eyed at his lover. Realization dawned on him. "Did you call him my Lord?" Lenne nodded still smiling. Shuyin turned his gaze to Tidus.

"Cousin." He said with a voice between hate and brotherly affection. Bitterly he glanced to the ground. "So, I'm still second best." Lenne gasped in shock and placed her hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look at her. "That's not true! I love you! Do you hear me, Shuyin?! Only you! Come now. It's time for us to rest. I write a new song for you. How sounds that?" Shuyin nodded, his eyes brimming with love. Together they stood up and looked at the robed young man. "You coming?" Lenne asked with a smile. Tidus shook his head and felt some sorrow. A part of him wanted to go with them. The songstress patted the shoulder of her lover reassuringly before stepping up to the young man. "My Lord…" She began but Tidus interrupted her laughing. "Oh, really, Lenne! Didn't we agree a longtime ago to quit the formalities? You are like a sister to me! Stop calling me my Lord!" The songstress smiled softly. "I'm amazed." She said with quiet affection. "That after all the terrible things you needed to endure, are still the same. I mean, you stopped to exist…three times! I think no one can imagine how that feels." Tidus chuckled quieter this time and obviously a bit fake.

"Not to bad, you know? At least there is no one who bothers you…in the darkness. And I wasn't long there after all. These three times. Thanks to my brother I must add." Tidus cocked his head to the side with a cheeky grin. Lenne touched his chest where his heart lay calmly. "I'm amazed," She continues as if he hadn't interrupted her. "that your heart still beats so much in your chest after the war. People normally change after such an experience." Tidus' shining eye and duller eye darkened under his hood. "I did change, Lenne." He said seriously. She glanced mildly shocked at him. A wide grin spread over his lips. "I'm much more mature now, don't you see it?" The Lord of Zanarkand said proudly and puffed out his chest. She giggled. "Oh, really? I can see it." She hugged him shortly. "I'll miss you." Lenne sighed, she slapped his shoulder. "Big Bro, you better don't vanish into non-existence again…Why is one of your eyes duller than the other?" She couldn't remember that it was like that before she left to search Shuyin and…died. Tidus rubbed the back of his head and shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. "Got to close to a sword, I guess." Lenne sighed exasperated and threw back his hood to examine it further.

"Hey!" He said in protest. "Quiet!" Lenne said in concentration and traced the scar thoughtfully. "Must have hurt." She stated crossing her arms and furrowing her brows. "Only a bit." He said with a grin. Lenne poked him in the chest, hard. Tidus took a step back with a fake hurt expression on his face. "What was that for?!" He asked in confusion. "Why do you always get hurt, no matter what you do?" Lenne countered. Before Tidus could give his retort, Shuyin chuckled and drew his attention. "What?" The Lord of Zanarkand asked. "She never pokes me! It's funny!" Shuyin replied chuckling. Tidus growled and crossed his arms, pouting. "That won't work this time!" Lenne said and patted his muscular chest. "Time to go for us." She said sadly. Tidus nodded, not saying anything. Lenne stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. She stepped next to Shuyin and took his hand with a loving smile. "Bye Big Bro!" The songstress said with a wave of her hand. Shuyin gave him a small acknowledging smile. Tidus knew more he wouldn't get from his cousin. The Lord of Zanarkand waved at his two close friends before they vanished in a whirl of Pyreflies. Tidus sighed before turning around with as much courage as he could muster. Shocked faces stared at him. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and shuffled nervously with his feet. Agonizing seconds of silence past before…

"Tidus!" His Yuna tackled him into a hug and threw him to the ground with the force. He grunted a bit but circled his arms never less around her. "You are back! You are back! You are back!" She repeated over and over again in a teary voice. "Yes." He mumbled softly into her ear, so only she could hear. She quieted down. "I'm home. You are my home." "Yes, home…" She said and sniffed happily. A light rosy color covered her porcelain cheeks. Beautiful. His Yuna sat up on him with a happy smile. "I knew you would come. The others wouldn't believe me. But I knew it!" She said in her sweet voice clutching the fabric of his robe tightly in her hands. Tidus cupped her cheek with his hand. A smile that he only smiled at her played around his lips, making her blush slightly. In such a simple action he showed her all the love he held for her in his heart. "I promised, didn't I? Always, Yuna. I meant it, you know?" She tilted her head slightly in agreement, like she often did. Her gaze was soft, overflowing with love and affection. "I know, always." She said softly and with a serene smile. Tidus wanted so much to kiss her but he was pretty sure she didn't want to do it in front of all her friends. She seemed to be in deep thought, absentmindly playing with his Zanarkand Abes chain around his neck.

"I hate to break your thoughts." Tidus said gently. She 'Mmmh'ed happily. "But at some point you need to stand up from me…" He chuckled nervously. "…Not that I mind too much." He added with a cheeky grin, so that only she could hear it. She blushed prettily and jumped up from his stomach. Chuckling at her embarrassment he stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothing. A useless action. The next second he heard another female squeal, not Yuna and was tackled to the ground another time. "Rikku!" Tidus said grunting, her knees stabbed painfully into his gut. She ignored his pain, if she noticed at all and grinned at him widely. "I've told you, you would come back!" Rikku hugged him tightly around his neck and pressed her cheek against his. He blushed furiously seeing her half naked. Every time he saw her she wore less. That was a bit scary. He didn't now where he should place his hands. Finally Tidus awkwardly patted her shoulders and looked questioningly up at Yuna. On her face raged a war between furious jealously and hilarious bemusement. Tidus watched the emotions fight until one won. Jealously.

"Rikku!" Yuna said angrily. "Enough is enough! You squeeze him to death!" She grabbed the young Al Bhed and forced her off Tidus. "Ohhh! Why? He just came back! I want to hug him!" Rikku whined and looked wide eyed at her cousin, not seeing anything wrong with that. Yuna stubbornly crossed her arms and shook her head. "Yuniiie!" Rikku pleaded. Tidus frowned at them amused. He was standing now without getting tackled. "They argue more than two years ago that's for sure." Tidus said cocking his head sideways. "If you would know…" The black-clad girl with the crimson eyes said with an annoyed sigh. "You're a friend of Yuna?" Tidus asked her, scanning her entire form. She looked like someone who experienced some bad things but found new happiness. Nodding she said. "Name's Paine. Yuna searched for you." Tidus' smile faltered a bit.

Yuna must have been sad. He knew he had been sad. Dreaming and craving someone his mind remembered and yet didn't remember because he was the dream and the memory at the same time. It had been more than confusing and then there was this whistling. He heard her whistles. He heard every of her whistles. Tidus had whistled back all the time. He guessed it never reached her. A few times he even was able to escape the memory world and be close to her. He knew she couldn't see him but he didn't care. When she was stuck in the Farplane he could even help her. He was still proud about that. In these times he clearly remembered every little detail about her. Blissful times. "Lord Tidus." Gippal said loudly in surprise. The blond Blitzer turned around calmly glancing at the two men. Their memories got back. He knew it would happen if they met again. Yuna and Rikku stopped arguing. They glanced over with curious and confused gazes. "I'm starting to remember, too." Nooj said with furrowed brows. "You know this pretty boy, Noojie-Boojie?" Tidus heard Yuna snort behind him and approach him. He smirked knowingly down at her. She glared back. Tidus chuckled. He laid his arm around her shoulders and brought her closer to his side. She blushed but smiled happily. He lightly rubbed circles along her upper arm with his thumb. She relaxed completely leaning into his side.

Yuna had changed in the time they were apart but in no bad way. She was more outgoing and bold now. Tidus had seen this Yuna already on a few occasions when they where alone on her pilgrimage. But when it came to signs of affection and kissing and all these things she still was unsure and extremely shy. Tidus didn't mind. He was more than happy to show her everything he knew. And he meant everything. His eyes narrowed while they wandered down her lithe form. He licked his lips. Tidus could imagine many things he could do with her. Many, many things. His gaze darkened. "Lord Tidus, you should be non-existent. Yu Yevon tricked you, stabbed you and then sucked out all your life-force." Tidus winced. "Thank you, that you remind me of that." He said dryly. Gippal stepped forward and inspected him closely. "There is no doubt you are the Lord of Zanarkand. But you look younger than the last time we saw you." Tidus rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. Gippal raised an eyebrow at him. "There is an explanation for everything, don't worry. But you know…" The Lord of Zanarkand yawned loudly. "…I'm sleepy. The journey was very exhausting. I like to rest for awhile somewhere. Then you can ask me whatever you want, man." Gippal nodded slowly, knowing that arguing wouldn't do any good. "Soo, did we win…against Vegnagun, I mean?" The fat one said a bit confused. Surprise crossed the faces of the people around.

Tidus straightened up and he snapped his fingers. "Oh right! I almost forgot!" He smiled apocalyptically at his Yuna and gently separated them. "Wait a second! I end this quick. Only a minute!" Eyes followed him while he jogged up the stairs to the organ of Vegnagun. He flapped his robe back and sat down on the bench. Cracking his knuckles he took a deep breath and began to play. "That's…That's Lenne's song!" His Yuna said astonished. "The song she wrote for Shuyin!" Tidus ginned over his shoulder at her. Vegnagun was calming down and ending its fight stance. "I helped her write it." Tidus said proudly and began to hum the melody. She looked in disbelief at him. He chuckled. His Yuna would be surprised that's for sure. He had many more talents she didn't know of. Tidus ended the song and Vegnagun was quiet. If you didn't know the right melody you couldn't wake it. The only way to stop it is destroy it or play a tune out of love and care. Tidus yawned again and rubbed his eyes tiredly. His steps were slower than usual and his graceful form was slumped a bit. His Yuna saw this signs of exhaustion and ushered to his side hurriedly.

"Let's go to bed, Tidus. You look exhausted." Worried eyes glanced over his tired body. He smiled reassuringly at her. "Ahh, don't worry, Yuna! Nothing a good sleep couldn't cure!" She nodded and wrapped her arm around his waist to support him. He locked his over her shoulders leaning heavily on her. She sank a bit down under his weight and grunted. Tidus chuckled and said "Sorry!" before taking most of his weight from her. A relieved say escaped her lips. Rikku giggled suddenly and they both looked confused at her. She noticed their stares and opened her mouth to speak. "You know, Yunie," She said slyly. That didn't mean anything good. "Tidus is back for…aehm…half an hour and you already want to get to bed with him. Never thought you had it in you." Mischievousness gleamed in her eyes. The Lord of Zanarkand looked down at his love, awaiting her reaction. At first she was clueless at what Rikku meant but then it clicked in her mind. Tidus was surprised that so many shades of red existed. Rikku burst into laugher and rolled on the ground. Even the others chuckled a bit. Tidus kept quiet. He didn't want to come in the path of her wrath…after all was she holding him up in the moment. That would end ugly and he liked to live for a while longer. His Yuna calmed down faster than he anticipated. Too fast. She turned to Paine. "Could you please…?" She asked the black-clad girl. Paine smirked and nodded. Rikku shrieked in fright and began to run. She was followed by a smirking Paine. "Are they always like that?" Tidus asked bemused with a shake of his head. "Yes, Sir!" Yuna said with a giggle. Tidus smiled. It was good to be back.