Who are you?

Disclaimer: I do not own all the characters. Just the story. :)

A/N: Ok, it took me forever to get here. I really enjoyed writing this chapter despite a few bumps in the road. I know it seems like it's taking forever to kick off, and everywhere you turn I'm adding twists and turns, but I really want to enjoy this one. I don't want it to feel rushed, and I want to take my time. Just enjoy the story and the experience with me :)

Tidus' POV

Watching her lay there - this girl I know nothing about - really made me think. All I know is her name. Yuna - that's what Lulu had called her. It was a very pretty name and it suited her well, I thought. So, Yuna lays here in a recovery bed unconscious. I sit here beside her with my elbows on my knees and my hands folded over my mouth trying to piece together what I had just seen. For the life of me...I just couldn't seem to grasp it.

"You're still here?" Lulu whispered from the doorway.

Clearing my throat and adjusting my clothes, I stood to greet her, "Uh, yeah. I just wanted to make sure she was ok."

"Don't let me intrude. You seemed to be in deep thought about something."

"It's...nothing. So, you're-"

"I'm Yuna's lady-in-waiting. Well, that's my official title, but she and I are like sisters as Yuna put it." Lulu laughed softly as she walked to the other side of the bed.

"Ah, so you're pretty close to her then. Sorry if I scared you the way I handled her."

"Actually I should thank you, Tidus. I'm sure she will too when she wakes up."

Sitting there, I watched Lulu. The way she was with Yuna, I didn't doubt she cared for her like a sister. I couldn't imagine what went through her head when she caught sight of us coming through the woods like that. And when I thought of that, I was reminded of how Yuna felt in my arms.

It was something I had never felt before, and quite frankly, it scared me. I didn't know her before, and only now I know her name. But when I talked to her for that brief moment, when I carried her back, she felt familiar to me. Everything about her made me feel different - it felt good, but it really did scare the hell out of me.

"Yuna," I whispered absentmindedly.

I was so far gone, I didn't even realize what my body was doing. That is...until I felt something squeeze my hand. A thousand miles from everyone around me, and that one single squeeze brought me right back down. It wasn't until I looked up that I noticed I had been holding her hand. I had been holding her hand, whispered her name, and she squeezed my hand back.

My eyes moved up her body and landed on her face. She looked peaceful finally, but something didn't feel right. Now that it's not covered with ash, I could see it clearer than I had before. I wasn't sure how sure I was, but I felt I had seen her before somewhere - like she and I were...connected? But that was just stupid, right? I've never met her before in my life.

"Tidus?" Lulu called out to me.

"Huh?"

"Are you ok?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." I answered as I let go of Yuna, "I need some air. I'll be back."

Opening the room door, I turned back around and looked at her one more time. Her chest rose and fell calmly and rhythmically, and the color had started returning. The longer I looked, the more I felt compelled to go back and sit by her - and the harder I fought, the more I felt a sharp pain in my head. Closing the door and leaning against it, I had just noticed my labored breathing. Bending down and placing my hands on my knees, I tried to slow it.

Who are you?

"Tidus," Auron called from across the hall.

"Whatever it is, Auron, it's going to have to wait." I said to him as I started making my way out of the infirmary.

"This can't wait. We need to talk." Auron insisted as he grabbed my arm.

"Not now. Just...leave me alone, ok?" I raised my voice, jerking away from him and made my way to the exit.

The shouting could be heard half way across the castle walls, and it had been going on for at least an hour. The three of them stood silently and watched Cid pace back and forth rubbing his temples. Rikku stepped forward reluctantly, but all she could do was open and close her mouth several times in a feeble attempt to explain away the situation.

"I made myself very...very clear. The two of them were to be brought back here unharmed," Cid spoke as calmly as he could, "You had one mission. Just one. Yet here we are - Yuna laid up in a recovery bed and who knows where the other boy ran off to!"

"Vidran-"

"Can it, Rikku." Cid spat out as he glared at his daughter.

"Cid, there was just no way we could get to her. Rikku did everything she could." Wakka defended her yet again.

Sighing, Cid slumped down in a nearby chair and let his head fall into his hands, "I'm sorry for being so harsh, kids. It's just...there's a lot ridin' on these two people and I can't afford to be havin' them dead - not now."

Rikku walked up and knelt down in front of Cid, "She's going to make it, Pops. We got them here and that's all that matters."

"No," Paine stepped forward, "Cid, I've served under you for quite some time. You and I have come to an understand, but if you ever want me to go out on a mission with them again, I demand a raise."

Wakka chuckled, Rikku gasped, and Cid pried his fingers apart and looked Paine dead in the eye.

"You're standin' here in this mess, asking me for a raise?"

"If you want to continue having a daughter and a muscly red headed man staffed, I suggest you give it to me." Paine smirked.

"What on earth did you two do to her!"

"Nothing!" Wakka and Rikku said as they eyed each other innocently.

"You sure they aren't related, Cid? Because they sure act like it with the constant bickering."

"You got some nerve, kid." Cid chuckled.

"And if you want to keep me staffed, you won't ever call me that again." Paine grinned and made a swift exit.

"Wait! Dr. P, hold up!" Rikku giggled and followed her, "You can't leave me alone with them!"

Wakka turned to follow, but stopped just short of the door, "Cid?"

"Hmm?"

"We...really did try, ya know? But Yuna, she's gonna pull through and we'll be able to carry on. They'll stop the war, and everything will be fine, ya?"

When no response came from Cid, Wakka turned around. Cid's head was hung low once again, only this time, his eyes seemed glazed over. When he realized Wakka was watching him, he blinked the tears back and cleared his throat.

"Sure, kid. Everything will be just fine."

Yuna's POV

I was scared - scared that if I opened my eyes, I'd find myself in the same darkness as before. But when I heard someone move in the room, I knew I wouldn't be. When my eyes fluttered open slowly, I had trouble making things out.

"So, you're awake."

Looking around the room as best as I could, I spotted a familiar figure standing by the window. With a smile on my face, I nodded.

"How long have I been out?"

Coming over to the bed, she grabbed my hand and smiled back, "Just a few hours. You were really exhausted."

Up until now, I had forgotten all about what happened. That spell...

"Yuna?"

"Hmm?"

"What happened?"

"Lord Braska and I," I whispered, "He...challenged me."

Lulu stood and gave me this weird look. Almost as if she didn't believe a word – even more so when I continued to explain everything I could remember.

"That must have been when they found you."

"They?"

"Wakka and the others – they're the ones that brought you back to Ismat."

"We're...in Ismat?"

"Mm."

"The others?" I asked.

"Oh. Wakka, Rikku and-"

"Tidus."

Lulu stood there for a second just looking at me. I would have looked that way at me too.

"How did you...I mean, how could you have?"

"He was the one who carried me, wasn't he?"

Tidus' POV

"You can't keep running from me."

"Auron," I acknowledged him with a hint of irritation, "What part of 'leave me alone' do you not understand?"

He walked up to the steps I happened to be sitting on and leaned against the near by column, "I understand it, I just choose to ignore you."

"So then let's get this over with. You're not going to actually leave me alone until you do."

"I'm not explaining it now."

Turning him and glaring, I couldn't help but to get really annoyed at him. He followed me out here knowing I wanted to be alone, and for what? To tell me he wasn't going to tell me?

"Why not? Why follow me out here just to tell me you're not going to tell me?"

Auron pushed himself off the column and made his way down the stairs. With his back toward me, he shifted his shoulder, "Because I can't seem to reason with you or explain anything to you when you're upset like this. There would be no point."

"Think what you want. In the meantime, since you're obviously not going to tell me, why don't you do what you do best? Go away and leave me alone."

"Hmph."

As I watched him walk further into the city, I felt relieved. My mind had been so clouded and I couldn't tell the difference between night or day. I needed clarity – for what I'm not sure. I just know I needed it if I were to keep my sanity. It's funny how things can get so messed up in such a short time.

The wind suddenly shifted, and my mind seemed to do what I wanted it to – it became unsettlingly clear. The presence I had felt earlier, it seemed to envelope me. A warmth settled over me and it was like it was telling me it would be ok – and for the first time, I decided to enjoy it. But I guess that wasn't all it was trying to tell me. Standing up and looking back at the infirmary, my feet seemed to act on their on - something was pulling me forward.

"She's awake..."

Yuna's POV

Laying here listening to Lulu catch me up on things, I couldn't help to let my mind wander a little. The more she talked, the more images flashed in my mind – images of our escape all the way up to the fight between Lord Braska and I. But anything after that...I couldn't remember for some reason. It frightened me to not be able to remember anything except being in darkness.

"Yuna?"

I blinked several times and focused on Lulu, "Hmm?"

"You mentioned Tidus earlier. Do you...know him?"

Tidus...

That name – it was familiar, yet foreign to me. Of course I didn't know who he was, and yet, I felt like I did. When his name escaped my lips earlier, it sounded like I had said it a million times over, yet I had never spoken it before.

"Tidus," I whispered as my fingers absentmindedly drifted to my lips.

The minute I spoke his name again, I felt...lighter. This warmth rushed over me, and I felt completely at peace within myself. All the fear and doubt I had just moments ago melted away and I was left at ease, which made absolutely no sense at all. How could whispering a name of a complete stranger make all that go away?

"Anyone I know?" a cheerful voice beamed from the doorway.

Jumping slightly, I turned my head and looked at the person standing there. His smile was the first thing I noted, as it just lit up the entire room. His shaggy blonde hair contrasted his bold blue eyes, the tanned nature of his skin told me he loved the sun, and his muscular build had 'fighter' written all over it. When I realized he was staring right at me, I felt an unfamiliar heat rise to my cheeks and I quickly turned away.

"I'll just...leave you two alone. I have a score to settle with Auron." Lulu laughed softly, "I'll be back to check on you soon, Yuna."

"Thank you, Lulu." I nodded as I watched her leave the room, patting Tidus on the shoulder as she left.

"So, you're Yuna?"

"Mm. Tidus?"

"Yep, that's me." Tidus flashed another smile as he wandered closer to the bed, "Feeling any better?"

"I am," I smiled letting my hair fall into my face a little to hide my blush, "Um, thank you."

"Thank me? For what?" he laughed.

"You know...for carrying me here. You didn't have to, but you did. So...I just wanted to say, 'thank you'."

"Ah. Lulu told you, eh?" he chuckled as he ran his fingers through his wild hair.

Of course Lulu told me, but somehow, I knew before she had. Even though I had fainted, I knew it was him that carried me – I even knew his name before meeting him. I should tell him that, but...

"She did. Lulu tells me everything." I replied finally, "Even so, thank you for doing that. I'm grateful."

"It's nothing," he chuckled some more, "So..."

"So..."

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Tidus extended his hand toward me.

"Nice to meet you, Yuna."

As I laid there in that bed, staring into his eyes, I returned the gesture.

"Nice to meet you, Tidus."

The minute our hands touched, something happened. I don't know how to explain it, but it felt like a shock wave surged through my body and I'm sure it did the same to him. I knew he felt it too the way we just stared into each others eyes, hands still intact.

Who are you?

A/N: Finally after what...five or six chapters...they meet. Yay! This is probably one of my favorite things about writing Tidus/Yuna stories - I love writing the meetings. Also, I know there might be words in my story that seem...weird. I think when I write, I tend to create words that don't exist. But that's ok to me - it makes it fun, I think. Anywho, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and are enjoying the story in general. Until next time, Ciao :)

Edit: I just checked. This is the seventh chapter! It took me seven chapters to lead up to the meeting - by far the longest yet I do believe. Ok, I'm done. See ya :)