Okay everyone! This is my first fanfic ever! I would like any & all reviews thrown at me to let me know if I show promise.. or if I should just end it right here... lol, hope its not that bad tho! (rubbing the back of my head & grinning sheepishly), but if it is, let me know anyway! So, without further ado, I shall begin! Oh, & I do not own Final Fantasy or any of the characters, so please don't sue me!

Chapter 1: Memories

I am having the same dream again..... In it, I am surrounded by darkness. I can't see, move, or speak.

During this dream I always feel trapped, claustrophobic even.... & I can't tell what the hell is going on. I hated this feeling when the dreams first started, & I hate it now.

But this wasn't the worst part... No, the worst part was the voice I heard.. just before I woke up.

It was deep.. dark.. & in a strange way.. hungry. & it only uttered these words... let me out.... let me free... let me.... feeeedddd....."GGGAAHHH!!!"

I bolted upright in bed, dripping in cold sweat, breathing heavily as I sat still for a moment, gathering my thoughts.

The dream I had was disturbing, but I quickly put it aside to deal with later.

There's something I'm supposed to do... but what? That's when a blitzball zoomed at my head with lightning speed.

Without even looking, I put up my left arm & caught it with my hand. Oh yeah, the game tonight. That's why I slept early today. "Darn," said a voice through the window. "coulda sworn I had you that time!"

"Well, looks like you lost again pretty boy," I said, as I casually tapped the ball lightly in the air with my left hand, then served it back through the window with my right. "I believe that's.... 50 gil you owe me now?"

"Aw c'mon Rio, you're not really gonna count that one are ya," said the young blitzer outside my house, catching the ball with his right hand, then tucking it under his arm. "I mean, I was just testin' your reflexes for tonight's game, that's all. Gotta make sure my #1 goalie is in tip-top shape at all times!"

I laughed, despite myself. "that's a buncha crap & you know it! I could play a forward just as easy you can, if not better. I just don't like the spotlight is all." The blondie I'm ribbing is none other than Tidus, fellow blitzball player who just happens to be the captain of our team, the Zanarkand Abes.

Though with all the times he comes to me for advice on plays, one would assume the job was divided. And my name is Rioshin, though people call me Rio for short. Tidus & I have been best friends for 10 years, ever since our fathers went out to sea on exactly the same day.

His father, Jecht, & my father, Shinar, were rivals back in the day, Even though they were on the same team! One was always trying to outdo the other, but Jecht appeared more famous because he loved the publicity while my dad shunned it, always preferring to be left alone.

Tidus & I met when he & his mother showed up at the pier, watching the boats leave the dock. Tidus just happened to stand next to me while we watched in silence.

Then, after a while.. "I hate him," said little Tidus, his eyes narrowed to slits as he saw Jecht's boat disappear into the fog. "I hope my dad never comes back." I stared at him for a moment, then turned back to watching my own dad's boat fade away.

"Me... too. I hate my dad & I hope he stays out there,".... "Forever." We both said that word at the same time, & quickly looked at each other wide-eyed. Then, slowly, we both began to grin, then giggle, then just burst out laughing.

When we calmed down, The blond kid looked at me & said, "Hey, what's your name? I'm Tidus!" Shyly, I replied, "Rioshin. Nice to meet you!" I held out a hand, he took it. When we shook hands that day, our friendship had begun.

& it turns out that our fathers never did come back! We were secretly overjoyed at the news! From then on, we conspired to become greater blitzball players than they ever were. It took a lot of blood sweat & tears, but today would be our most important game ever.

If we managed to beat the Duggles for the championship, we would be recognized as the best national team that ever existed!

The holo-posters of our fathers would be taken down, & ours would be up there instead, though the thought of my big mug on the side of a building didn't quite sit right with me. "Helloooo! Earth to Rio! Did you hear what I said? The game's starting in 20 minutes! Get dressed man, we gotta go!"

Snapping out of my reverie, I replied, "Alright, just give me 3, 5 minutes tops! I gotta put oil in my locks!"

"Aw c'mon! It looks fine the way it is! Besides, we'll be in the water anyways, so your hair will get moisturized no matter what!" I grinned, tousling my locks until my bangs went in my eyes. "Heh, don't worry, you'll be busy yourself in just a moment." Tidus raised an eyebrow. "whaddaya mean by that?" Smiling, I nodded behind him. He turned around, just to get nearly knocked down by screaming fans. "That, my friend, is exactly why I don't prefer the spotlight."

well, sorry its a bit short, but this is my first time. What do you think? Please be brutally honest! thanks!