Final Hikari: Finally got time to type this! Praise be to Yevon!

Tidus: And the rest of the chapters are done in my point of view! -cackle-

Final Hikari: Yesh!

Tidus: The fan girls love me!

Final Hikari: Uh…I wouldn't go that far… XD Now disclaim thyself.

Yuna: The author doesn't own anything from Final Fantasy X.

Final Hikari: And if I did, there would be no "thank you" in place of "I love you" in the Japanese version of the game. :O I suppose it could be seen as more beautiful, but still. *brick'd* It was the high point of creative licenses taken in English dubbing. XD

Kilika Nights

Chapter III

Reaching Out To You

Mother of all pros! Time alone with Yuna without Kimahri and Lulu glaring daggers at my back!

Tidus stood up slowly, careful not to make to bed squeak or the floorboards creek. Knowing his now notoriously bad luck, the slightest sound would alert Kimahri to activity in the small room. She must've waited until he fell asleep to leave…he spent most of the evening and night guarding the girls' room.

He crept over to the door and turned he worn, tarnished knob carefully. He pushed the door - which was no more than a glorified slab of drift wood - with agonizing slowness so it didn't make any sound. Though considering the majority of the 'doors' were simply large towels, it was doing better than most in comparison.

And I remember thinking any door that didn't automatically open was archaic in Zanarkand… Then again, most people did. Almost everything was electronic or controlled by a machine.

He froze momentarily when he heard Wakka stop storing for a moment and roll over, silently cursing the older Blitz ball player.

Fortunately, the noise didn't wake Kimahri.

He disappeared out the door and hurried down the hallway and staircase. Some of the floorboards let out soft groans as he walked down them, but it was quiet enough not to echo upstairs. So he hoped, at least; he didn't want to waste too much time. His idea would be ruined if she had simply stepped out for some fresh air and they bumped into each other at the door.

Sin only knows how much trouble I'd be in if that happened…

He grimaced at the thought. Worst of all, Kimahri probably would have heard her voice in the inn and come springing down the stairs like he did the ruins on Besaid. Had that ever been an unpleasant surprise.

He's already sure I'm some sort of perverted heathen trying to corrupt Yuna…he must've seen us talking back in Besaid, or maybe overheard my conversation with Wakka…

As he continue to theorize in a more than slightly paranoid manner about what had the hornless Ronso so against him, he reached the lobby. The only sound that reached his ears was the ticking of an old clock.

Save a lazy cat perched on the large desk, the lobby was empty. The cat's tail swayed back and forth and its ears pricked up when he appeared. It only gave him a dry, uninterested stare which he returned a bit indignantly. Anything furry with pointy ears had him more than a bit jumpy.

He hastened his step, assuming he was far enough away to escape the Ronso's wrath.

He stepped out onto the peer, taking a deep breath of fresh might air. The hint of salt in the gentle breeze reminded him faintly of his home; though Zanarkand was a technological near-utopia, the air wasn't as pure as what he'd inhaled in Spira. It was free of traces of pollution and the unpleasant odors of so many people living close to each other in the city that never slept.

Despite the town's unfavorable condition, he felt oddly at ease close to the ocean. He didn't want to think of the underwater grave at that moment. Not only because of his ominous memories of the Sending, but also because it was similar to a tradition in Zanarkand.

It was common for there to be underwater graves. Though Spira's version was crude and simple, there was still a painfully strong resemblance in the burial sights. The facilities in Zanarkand were full cemeteries with glass partitions between the caskets and the walkways. No matter where you looked, there was clear blue water - a semispherical dome underwater divided the grave area below from the water above.

It was beautiful, in a tragic way. He shook his head slightly to dismiss the somber thoughts; he'd had to visit one of those underwater graveyards far too many times with his mother in the short time they were together.

Not mentioning when it was me visiting her grave…

He took another step forward, causing the board beneath his foot to creek rather loudly. He cringed and cursed inwardly.

The sound alerted Yuna to his presence and she glanced up quickly. Though her eyes remained somewhat distant, she smiled when she saw him. He returned the smile, still keeping his ears out for Yuna's most overzealous Guardian. He walked down the main road and down the side peer to sit down beside her.


Final Hikari: Woo, exactly one thousand words with the disclaimers again! …Well, it will be in a few lines. XD Also, there are at least two more chapter to come. Poke me if you want three. Feedback is always much appreciate!

Yuna: Thanks go to everyone who reviewed the first two chapters.

Tidus: -frowns as he reads off a note card he was given at the start of the disclaimer- "And we hope to hear from you again?" Come on, couldn't you think of a better line than that? -.- It's so cheesy and desperate.

Final Hikari: X.X I'm working 30 hours a week and going to high school, lay off! Besides, desperation might make them review. XD

Yuna: …Please ignore the somewhat crazy author…-nervous smile-

Final Hikari: And review if you want four chapters!