A/N: I'm baaack! and unfortunately still OOC. I think I'm getting better...what do you think? Anyway, I started this out thinking it wouldn't get that far and I'd make it into another song fic but that didn't exactly work out. It's quite long, so I hope you're comofortable, Tikku fans! hehe...I don't know if this type of thing's been done before, but as I wrote it, it just seemed right, somehow. and pardon, Yuna fans if she comes off a bit cold in this one. I'm afraid fame has finally gone to her head just a tad. I'd call this AU cuz I remember in my FFX-2 game, the houses were huts...soo...yeah, Yunie gets a nice house in this story, haha. Oh, and just a side note. it was sooo weird in that part you have to massage Leblanc! My wrong mind went places it's never been before! haha, anyway...on with the story!

Island Berry

Rikku waded in, about knee deep into the pond, snatching offhandedly at weeds and frogs drowsing on lily pads. The miniscule water plants clung to her tan calves and fingers, but she truly didn't seem to mind. The muck at the bottom of the pond condensated between her toes and shifted as she walked around. It was better then a Goon massage any day…

She reached the small hump of dry land in the center, settling down on the damp soil, solid enough to exist in the tepid waters. The soft cries of cicadas pierced the twilight air. Lightning bugs flew hither and thither, shining light on their domain. It was magical…and it was really too bad that Home didn't have any places like this. Calm and leafy green, teeming with such life and promise.

It was kind of the reason she was a bit reluctant to go home. She picked up her old goggles and dropped them ceremoniously into the pond water, watching the ripples cross the surface with calming grace. Interrupted reflections started settling back down, only to be stirred again by her hyper leg movements.

Rikku lay back on the small island, arms outstretched and touching the other side of the islet with her fingers. Stroking the back of a pond frog who quickly hopped away…the soft stirrings of water bugs against her nails.

To most other girls, this would make them either shiver or scream. She did neither. She sighed. The moon shone brightly over the small alcove, overpowering the light from the celebration campfire. She glanced over to her left, and saw the dancing firelight and shadows of the drunk and joyful. The night had started off nice enough.

When Tidus had to choose Maiden of the Night, a long standing tradition in Besaid homecomings, he'd chosen Rikku. Of course her mind went tactical and assumed it was because Yuna was already guest of honor, and getting most of the attention, but as he put the ceremonial necklace around her neck, she felt his hands brush her cheek and the way he looked at her…it was dripping with remorse…he wanted to be forgiven. But why?

She fingered the cheap imitation beads she wore and knew they meant so much more then attention and drunken partying. He'd chosen HER. And that fact alone made the necklace priceless.

A heavy shadow came up from the water and she moved away slightly anticipating maybe a turtle, or worse, a snake of some sort. But out popped a jolly looking otter. He smiled snaggle toothed at her and made his way to the other side of the islet, most likely where a burrow had been dug. She imagined just over what section she was sitting. Maybe the living room, or the kitchen. Or the bedroom, where he'd kiss his otter wife and go to bed, recharging after a hard day's work. The idea made her smile.

"Hey, wacko, what are you doing out here?" a sharp voice called from the shore.

"Thinking…" Rikku answered simply, turning away from Paine's form and swirling a finger in the weedy water.

"Everyone's looking for the friggen Maiden of the Night…gag me…it's some ceremony or another. Wakka just made it up, the genius. He's had a couple too many so don't totally freak if they tell you to like…I dunno…play spin the bottle with Tidus or something."

Rikku's heart caught in her throat. The thought of kissing Tidus made her brain cease functioning.

"C'mon moon queen get off the island and go to your people!" Paine gestured dramatically at the campsite.

"I think YOU've had a bit too many!" Rikku quipped once she reached the shore and redonned her shoes.

"haha…and if I have, it's all Lulu's fault."

They reentered the clearing, Rikku a bit hesitantly. Her friends faces were quite a bit ruddier then they had been when she'd left, and the smell of strong alcohol was in the air. She was happy to see Tidus approach her in a steady sober gait.

"Alrighty then! It'z shtime to play a leetle game, ya? Zish called…burp no not that shillies…itsh called "Guess the Lady!" hahahah!"

Wakka stumbled over to the main table, where Yuna, Lulu and Paine were already standing. Rikku joined them awkwardly. This didn't sound right…

Wakka held up a scrap of cloth. "The guy here, has tah guess which one is the Maiden of the Night by touch alone!" Tidus studied the line carefully, assuming that was the order in which they'd come to him, but as Wakka tied the cloth haphazardly around his eyes, Yuna switched places with Lulu, who then switched with Paine. Rikku was then shunted all the way to the back. She watched eagerly to see what kind of touching was required. Wakka slumped over hiccupping and Lulu sighed. She'd have to drag him home later.

Paine went first and awkwardly poked Tidus in the shoulder. He frowned, trying to remember the order…hadn't Rikku been first? Why was she poking him? "Nope, not her!" he said loudly. Everyone cheered drunkenly. Paine rolled her eyes and stood aside.

Yuna went next, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. Tidus smiled, catching a whiff of her tulip perfume. "No way!" he said. Yuna smiled and walked off. Lulu switched with Rikku at the last minute and pushed her forward.

She had no idea what to do! Trying not to look too nervous, she stifled a giggle and took his hand, squeezing it tightly. Tidus seemed a little confused, until he felt the slightly damp fingers stroking his knuckles. He knew exactly who it was. "That's her!" he cried and whipped off the blindfold. Rikku had on a smile a mile wide and she hugged Tidus so tightly, he lifted her off her feet. Everyone was cheering, and a few catcalls were thrown in from the heavily drunk.

"So, what do we win, Wakka?" Tidus asked his stoned friend.

"Drinks on the house! Island Berries! The best drink eva!" Wakka called, slapping Tidus on the back. A waiter emerged with the renowned drinks, topped with whipped cream and a blueberry. Rikku eyed it worriedly. She'd managed to avoid alcohol tonight, since she never held it very well…but this WAS a celebration….why not go all out?

She sipped daintily, the whipped cream giving her a cute mustache that set everyone laughing. The drink was like tropical fruit punch, but with a wonderful kick. She'd soon emptied the glass and licked off the mustache, calling for another. Tidus eyed her strangely. He knew about her aversion to alcohol as well.

"Bring out another big one, papa bear! Hit me!" she crooned. The waiter shook his head as he set down another Berry.

"Rikku, you shouldn't…" Tidus started. He glanced around for Yuna or Paine to help, but Yuna was deep in conversation with distant cousins she hadn't seen since childhood, and Paine was standing off in a corner talking heatedly with Baralei.

"I love you…" Rikku cooed after she polished off her third Berry, falling into Tidus, eyes closed.

"hehe, that's nice but…remember our talk at the beach?"

"Beach…never…we don't have them at Home…sand but never the water…"

"Yes yes but remember what I said to you ON a beach?"

"Hoo hoo…I plum forgot I guess…hehee…"

"RIKKU! Stop this!" Tidus started edging away from her. This was the last straw. He got up and roughly took Rikku in his arms, coming unabashedly up to Yuna.

"Honey, you're cousin is drunk, and I recommend we take her home…NOW!"

Yuna apologized to the shocked cousins, and took Tidus aside. "yes, take her home, but I can't just leave, Tidus, I'm the guest of honor!"

"And that matters more then your cousin?" Tidus asked, a burning anger in his eyes.

Yuna looked a bit taken aback, and hurt. She looked around quickly. "Tonight…yes. But that's only because I know you can handle it for me! I'm sorry, okay?" she kissed him quickly, but he didn't return the gesture.

"Fine. Have fun!" he growled and walked out to the street, a groggy Rikku in his arms.

Once they reached the road, he put her down and supported her while she stumbled. The quiet became too much for her, he guessed and she started rambling loudly.

"I love Island Berries they are sooo yummy…yummy…I wanted to kiss you too, but Yuna did it first darn it…you never woulda guessed it was me if I'd kissed you…would you? I don't think you would cuz you'd never expect it from lil' ole me…I don't feel so good…brother's gonna kill me tomorrow…He wanted me to make him some bombs cuz he's going over to Bevelle tomorrow heaven knows why but they'll probably be duds if I'm drunk…I can't hold drinks so well, as you can see…haha I made a funny…"

Tidus rolled his eyes, but continued smiling as they headed for Yuna's house near the temple. He couldn't fully get over how soft Rikku's skin was. How truly adorably drunk she was. But then his thoughts took a nosedive and he struggled to keep his eyes straight ahead.

They reached the house, but then he realized he'd left his keys at the party. He plopped defeated on the porch, after spreading Rikku out on the porch swing to rest. She promptly passed out. And as he watched her sleep, he noticed bits of green on her calves and came over to see what they were. He picked one off and examined it. A pond weed or something, he guessed. Where had she been that had pond weeds? Before he could properly realize what he was doing, he took off her shoes and socks, noticing how pruny her toes were. She'd been in water…how?

He decided to wake her and ask. He shook her gently, but all she did was moan. He studied her face. Soft cheekbones, and a gentle jaw…a perfect nose and eyelashes like nothing else before. He could just picture them on a rainy day, dripping with dew. Like tiny stars caught in a net of laughter.

And it was then he decided he didn't need to know why her toes were pruny or why her legs were covered in pond weeds. He sat back by the steps of the porch, reluctant now to leave her and go get the keys. Reluctant to even return to the party.

"Probably out someplace being Rikku…" he said to himself, answering his own questions.

"Being herself…like she always has been…"

He remembered her giddy mannerisms, her kind heart, and her eye for detail.

And as she slept peacefully on the wooden porch swing, he sighed, and it was like the floodgates of his heart being opened. He remembered Yuna's shocked face when he told her Rikku had a crush on him. She'd dismissed it, saying how silly kids get. Kids? Rikku was barely three years younger then him! That didn't make her a kid…did it?

But with her sleeping so close by, unable to hear him, and how his heart ached for her, he released the words he'd held in for so long, released them like a captive bird being set free from it's cage. Released them for the world to hear…for the moon and the stars…for whatever pond life Rikku had most likely encountered on her mini adventure at the party.

"I love you…"

EH I got mushy there at the end, and a tad melodramatic, haha...I've been reading this book for school and it's like that, very melodramatic with cliches abundant besides being a tad boring. Hope you liked! I dunno where this is headed, but hoorah for the first blatantly Tikku chapter! ; ) REVIEW PLEASE! I will luv you forever if you review! XD maybe not forever..but I'd really appreciate it!