A/N: Hi everyone, I'm back and this is my first multi-chapter story. Feel free to leave a comment, suggestion or PM with any thoughts or requests for other stories/OneShots. Thanks and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy (I wish). Rated T for semi-mature themes and language.
Chapter 1: A Rude Awakening
I remember it like it was yesterday. The day that she found me.
I woke up and found myself floating in the darkest ocean. As I regained consciousness, I started to move my limbs one by one, making sure they were all functional. Making sure it was real. I drifted around for a bit, not realizing what this all meant, not thinking about what had happened. "I am real, I am back," resonated through my mind. My heart was racing, overflowing with raw emotion. Slowly, I spun upwards where the light came crashing through the utter darkness. I gulped in fresh air when I reached the surface. "I'm back, I'm real this time!" As the oxygen filled my lungs, new life coursed through my veins. I splashed around on my back, taking in the beauty of the bright blue sky. I turned and recognized the beach of Besaid, where I met her for the first time. Everyone was there: Wakka, Lulu, their baby, the Besaid Aurochs, Kimahri… Everyone!
But I couldn't find her among the crowd. Among the waves and smiles. Where was she? Where was Yuna?
My breath got ragged and I tried to swim to the shore. Somehow the tide seemed to be turning and I felt myself getting dragged further and further away from my destination. "Hey," I tried to shout but my voice had turned into a hoarse whisper. "Please… Help me!" People's smiles had turned into stern expressions, and instead of waving they were now chanting: "You're not supposed to be here… You're not supposed to be here… You're not supposed to be here…"
I tried to fight the force that was pulling me down into the darkness again, screaming and kicking against the invisible hands of the current. And then I was once again consumed by nothingness…
"Wake up! Tidus, wake up!" Cold hands were clasped around my shoulders, trying to shake me into awareness. I sat up, rubbed the sweat from my face, and threw the soaked blankets off me.
"You were having a bad dream again, ya? You nearly screamed the whole village awake." It was Wakka, my close friend and the first person I met when I was sent here.
"I – I'm sorry, Wakka. It's… It was… It's nothing. Where is Yuna?" I looked around the tent Yuna and I shared ever since the end of her journey. Wakka and Lulu had helped us set it up and given us lots of pots, pans, a little table, rugs, and a big lounge chair. The bed we had built by ourselves, though now it was empty with no sign of Yuna's imprint on the pillow next to mine.
"Whaddaya mean, where is Yuna? She should be here with you! Though maybe she just went over to sleep with her friends, since you are kicking around too much, ya?"
Wakka seemed jolly, but to me something felt off. For months I'd been having the same nightmares; plagued by the memories of my past and feeling weary, haunted by the thought – though I had suppressed it as often as I could – that I wasn't supposed to be here. Yuna told me many times not to think thoughts like that, because she wanted me to be there, and she believed wholeheartedly that I was real. She told me that it was going to take time for me to start believing that too, simply because of where I had been and what I had been through. I always loved it when she told me those things with her calm and serene voice.
Wakka padded me on the back and left the tent. It was the break of dawn: the sun was red but rising, birds were tweeting, and in the distance I could hear the soft splashing of the waves. I loved it here; it wasn't hard to decide where we would settle, Yuna and I. Besaid had been her home for many years before her pilgrimage and, more importantly, it felt safe – something we both seemed to be craving after all the adventure. I stepped outside and walked to the tent opposite ours, enjoying the warm sun shining on my face.
I had taken up the Blitzball training of the Besaid Aurochs, who were – believe it or not – actually rather talented. The rest of my time was spent lazing around on the beach, taunting Wakka, and practicing my sword skills. Yuna on the other hand was doing many things: teaching the little children about Spira's history and faith, taking care of Besaid Temple together with the monks, and being a great step-sister to little Vidina, Lulu's and Wakka's son.
Oh, and having loads of fun with Rikku and Paine of course!
"Hey you!" said a bright, girly voice when I stepped into the neighboring tent. "Had a bad dream again? You made Paine grumpy so she left for the beach without me!"
Rikku jumped up and punched me in the side. After I'd come back, she and Paine had decided to stay in Besaid as well, much to Cid's dismay. Rikku had become quite the alchemist here, making potions for the sick and playing around with native herbs to perfect her recipe for smoke bombs. I used to think of her as an annoying little sister, but her passion and dedication for saving people in need made me realize that she'd really grown up during my absence.
Paine on the other hand was difficult to get to know better. Sure, she had opened up a little bit, but she still seemed reserved. Her past was a bit of a mystery to me, but Yuna assured me she was trustworthy and had saved her life countless times, so after that I let it go.
"Rikku, have you seen Yuna?"
She put both hands on her hips and cocked her head. "Did you lose Yunie?" she teased. Her expression changed when she saw the worry on my face. "No, I haven't seen her. We just woke up and Paine left and I was just here, you know? Why is she not with you like always?"
"I don't know," I said, shaking my head and clenching my fists, "but I need to find her. Something feels… wrong. Will you check the village and the beach with me to see if she is with Paine?"
Rikku, didn't hesitate for a second. After checking the entire village and confirming that nobody had seen Yuna, we ran the narrow mountain path all the way to the beach. The sun was up by now, reflecting brightly in the blue ocean water. Paine was walking along the shore lines, patrolling the road as she liked to do each day. She was alone.
"Paine!" Rikku shouted. "Where is Yunie? We can't find her!"
In one swift movement Paine turned around, and just as I reached her, she drew her sword and pointed it at my chest.
"What do you mean, 'can't find Yuna?'" she threatened. "YOU are supposed to take care of her! What have you done?"
I growled at her tall, dark figure, but Rikku stepped in between us and smacked Paine's sword to the side. "Paine, this is serious!" she urged. "Tidus would never just lose Yuna and Yuna would never just leave. Something happened and we need to find out what!"
The sudden anger in Paine's face was replaced by the worry we were all feeling.
"You are sure she is not in the village?"
"No. Nobody has seen her since dinner yesterday night, and we went to bed at the same time."
"You've checked the temple?"
"Of course –"
"Is she taking a stroll with Vidina?"
"No, Paine, she would never do that without telling Lulu or Wakka. She… She isn't in Besaid, I just know it."
There. I said it out loud; the fear I'd been feeling all morning. Something happened to my Yuna. And I need to find out what. I need to save her.
