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Once again Tidus stood at the edge of the grassy cliff that stood over a giant lake. The water glistened beautifully in the sunlight and beneath the clear blue surface, colourful beds of reef could be seen. Small fish darted out from their little homes as they searched for a source of food, and birds fluttered overhead from the walls that surrounded it where bright green trees and other plants grew out in odd angles.
"It's beautiful," Yuna said at his side. "I came here a lot while you were gone. It became my own personal place where I could think without anyone else there to distract me."
Tidus smiled and took a step forward to peer over the edge and receive a better view. "What did you think about?" he asked from over his shoulder.
There was silence for a moment as the gunner wondered whether or not she should say. She gripped her hands together behind her back and swayed from side to side as she often did until she finally decided to tell him. "I thought about the time we spent together… and I thought about what I would say if you ever came back."
Her words caused the young blitzer to turn back. "And have you said it?" he asked.
"Yes, exactly like I rehearsed in my head."
Tidus nodded and turned back to the water. "I thought about you too, in the Farplane."
"Oh?" Curiosity gripped Yuna this time and cocked her head to the side in interest, but he shied away.
"I wondered if I could ever come back, and I would rack my brain every day, tyring to think of a way," he finally answered.
"What's so embarrassing about that?" Yuna asked as she stepped closer.
Tidus went red and avoided her gaze again. "I cried… a lot, when I was on my own."
Yuna fell silent and stood beside him as she stared out across the water. "Sometimes it's okay to cry," she said simply without turning to look at him.
This made Tidus feel better, and he finally pulled himself together to enjoy the view with Yuna.
"You know, today is a great day for a swim," he pointed out a moment later. "It's getting pretty hot.
Slowly, Yuna turned to him to see a mischievous expression on his face. "Don't you dare," she warned calmly.
"Don't I dare what?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
"Do I now." Tidus reached out to Yuna and wrapped his arms around her middle leisurely. "Would it be this?" he asked, suddenly tightening his grip.
"Tidus, don't you-" Yuna was cut off as Tidus lifted her effortlessly into the air and carried her over to the edge of the cliff.
"You look a bit hot honey," Tidus said as he began to laugh.
Yuna started struggling in his arms. "Put me down!" she yelled, but laughter swallowed her next words as she found herself unable to get angry at her beloved.
"Take a deep breath," Tidus warned, and then released her over the water below.
"Tidus!" Yuna screamed up as she fell through the air and landed with a giant splash in the water.
Tidus laughed harder as he peered over the edge, then dove down into the water after his dear Yuna.
Beneath the surface, Yuna swam along the reef lining the floor of the lake. The exercise was easy for her, and she didn't even need to surface for another breath. The temperature of the water was warm and inviting and none of the usual fiends appeared.
'He was right, it is a good day for a swim,' Yuna thought.
A moment later the figure of Tidus speared through the surface of the water and twisted around just above the reef to slow to a stop. He opened his brilliant blue eyes and waved at Yuna.
Where the water slowed Yuna's movements, Tidus seemed as adapt as he was on the surface. He swam with ease and twice the speed of the gunner as he approached her, then circled her like a fiend.
Yuna reached out to him and he gripped hands with her. Once he was confident that she would not slip from him, Tidus pulled her up onto his back and started swimming along the reef.
Water brushed past Yuna as she tightened her arms around Tidus's middle so she could hold on. With confidence, she peered over his sides to watch the colourful blur of the reef pass by underneath the pair.
Sensing that she would need another breath soon, Tidus rose to the surface. They broke through and Yuna started to breathe in the air like it was the most precious thing to her in the world, but Tidus was breathing calmly as he watched her with amusement.
"What?" Yuna asked as she saw his expression. "What's so funny?"
Tidus shook his head. "Nothing. I just can't see you coping as a fish."
With a pout, Yuna splashed water at Tidus then turned her back on him as she pretended to be angry.
Though he knew she was not serious, Tidus shook his head to rid it of as much water as possible, then swam over to her. He grasped her in his arms and rested his chin on her shoulder. "You swim beautifully," he said.
This was the apology Yuna needed. She turned back to him and stared into his sea blue eyes. Memories were flooding back into her mind, and rested upon one certain special time they shared together during the pilgrimage.
Yuna's silence began to worry Tidus. "What?" he asked as he peered closely into her eyes. "You still in there Yuna?"
She laughed and shook her head as though ridding it of a haze. "I'm just remembering," she answered.
"What? Must be pretty important," Tidus said.
Yuna smiled back at him with a brightness in her eyes. "It is. Do you remember back on the pilgrimage, at the lake?"
The memory flooded back into Tidus's mind as well. Of course he remembered. It was where they had shared their first kiss. The moonlight lit up the water in the open area, and the surrounding trees sparkled majestically. The moment was beautiful, and the water was cool and gentle as they swam together in its depths.
He jerked back to reality as he realised she was staring at him with the same warm expression she had had on her face moment's before. He lowered his head as he started to go red. "Of course I remember."
Yuna nodded, pleased that his memory did not fail him. "This place reminds me," she said.
A warm breeze ruffled Tidus hair as he blew from behind him, as though pushing him forward. He obeyed and reached his hand out and brushed it against her face.
At his touch Yuna closed her eyes and let all other distractions fade away into her subconsciousness as Tidus pulled himself closer.
"Let me show you what I remember," he said tenderly as he slowly pulled Yuna into a light kiss. She immediately started to lean forward into him without breaking the kiss until they finally fell through the surface of the water.
Like back at the lake on their way to battle Sin, they relived the memory. The kiss deepened and became more passionate the further they fell through the water and it seemed to last a lifetime.
Nature seemed to understand the situation, for a nearby school of fish surrounded them and started to swim beside the pair as the reef suddenly seemed to light up.
Nothing bothered the couple. Not even when they landed in a soft bed of reef. An explosion of sea critters swam out of their home in a hurry as the intruders finally ended the kiss.
They stared into each other's eyes with a love that would never fade and felt a secret longing for each other that only they could feel.
"I love you," Tidus said, his voice coming out disoriented and shaky in the water, but Yuna got the message clearly.
'I love you too,' she mouthed silently in the water, and they held each other close as time resumed around them.
"We'll share this spot together," Tidus said to her quietly as he closed his eyes. "Just you and me."
THE END