1. Blitzball on the Beach

The boys and I kicked around the blitzball for about an hour during their practice. For once, I feel like I own something of my life.

For the last week, I've been either asleep or drugged out. I figure I was injured in the big game, and I am dreaming through on some really heavy stuff. I keep thinking about my old man, the same dream everytime, walking into the house and telling me that I was the cause of losing a game. When it happened I am still not sure, as I don't recollect losing many games. Who knows? All this psychiatric stuff impressed on me as a kid is probably affected me now in weird ways.

It's so peaceful here. I remember times when the team would take vacations and go to the islands. Feels kind of like that, except for the scraps of light towers and old highways scattered over the rocks and hills of the island. Everything is so simple here - I'm sitting by a wooden rowboat, watching as the guys practice some moves they saw me do - or try to do. They need a lot of practice, and I mean a lot. Their angle, power, and even motivation is all wrong. What are they playing for anyways?

And who is Rikku? I remember her in a dream, of diving into the ocean and fending off killer fish that carried grenades in their bellies. We swam down under the waves, found an old research facility (or something with a lot of lights). I banged them up good, and then watched as the place came to life. It was a really scary dream. I wonder if you die in a dream, do you die in the real world? I wonder if I died in this dream, if they would wake me up?

-Tidus