AN: WEEEEEEEE!!! Another update! HOORAY! Just FYI, I had a really hard time deciding on the order of events from here on out, so if things get weirdly out of order or I completely revise the order…cut me some slack, yeah? KISSES!!!

And a very special thanks to my ONE reviewer, Rikku's Twin!!! I favorited you!!! YAY!!! Everyone else is a loser…soooooo…yeah!!!

sa

Chapter 7: For the Last Time

The roar of the crowd, the booming voice of the announcer, the cacophony of the venders' cries; all silenced as soon as Tidus leapt into the sphere. As the cool water swallowed him and shut out the noises of the world, all his anxieties and worries were swept away. All there was now was the game and that's all that mattered. Kicking into a fast swim, Tidus swam towards his position, slapping high-fives to all his team mates first. All he wanted to do was play blitz until he couldn't think about Yuna and Baralai, Rikku who was out there watching him, or what would happen the next day at the Unity Council. Nothing mattered but that blue and white ball and the Al Bhed team they were playing against. As the Psyches swam into the sphere and took their positions, Tidus noticed that their team had changed pretty drastically. The last time he had played them, they had maybe one female player who always warmed the bench. Now their center was a petite girl who looked barely old enough to be playing pro-blitz. He reached out his hand to her and she shook it energetically, smiling at him.

Tidus tried to ignore the fact that their opponents' center reminded him so much of Rikku from two years ago and focused on the game. As soon as that ball leapt up and he pushed off to reach for it, Tidus knew he was a little rusty. The tiny Al Bhed girl reached it first and rolled out of his reach, swimming quickly to the bottom of the sphere. Narrowing his eyes at her small form, Tidus motioned at Datto and Letty and all three of them took off after her. She looked back at them and waved before she threw a pass all the way back to one of the burlier guys on her team. Tidus stifled a growl and did a 360, kicking with all his might back to where the ball was. This wasn't going to happen to him. He wasn't going to let the first game of blitzball he played be controlled by a tiny Al Bhed girl. It was enough that his thoughts and dreams were haunted by one, he didn't need his only escape to be as well! With that thought in mind, Tidus played so fiercely for the rest of the first half that he felt like he was back in Zanarkand, playing with the Abes. Blitz there was always fierce and rough; played like there would be no tomorrow. As the bell rang signaling halftime, the score was 5-2 and it looked like the Aurochs would win at least one game in the tournament.

Rikku's heart was pounding in her ears; it was so loud that she thought maybe something was wrong. The crowd around her was roaring and screaming and standing on their benches. Faintly, over all the screaming and clapping, Rikku heard the announcer finish introducing all the players on the Aurochs. Except for one. "And now, back by popular demand, one of Lady Yuna's legendary guardians, reappearing for the first time in Luca Stadium, star player of the Yevon Cup two years ago, TIIIIIIIIIIIDUS!" As if it were even possible, the crowd went more crazy and Rikku leapt up, trying to get a look at him. Gippal shot her a funny look when she climbed on her seat too, craning her neck and standing on her tiptoes. If he said something snide, she didn't hear him over the screams of the people around them. Rikku wanted to shove all the people in front of her back into their seats and scream at them. She just wanted to see him one last time, even if it was from a distance. She couldn't bear the thought of marrying Gippal and never even getting to see Tidus one last time. Her throat tightening and she shook her head, shoving two of the big guys in front of her apart. " Excuse me! Tryin' to see the legendary guardian here!" The guys looked pissed at first, but must have recognized her as Lady Yuna's cousin and a member of the Gullwings. They didn't say a thing.

There he was. Stepping up to the sphere like he didn't hear all the people in the stands screaming his name; as if none of that bothered him. He was staring into the water with an intensity that sent chills down Rikku's spine. The sun glinted off his platinum gold hair as he leapt into the sphere and practically transformed into a different person. Sure, Rikku had seen him play blitzball hundreds, maybe even thousands of times. Two years ago, he had been very active during the blitz season. Plus, he and Wakka played while they journeyed to keep their strength up. And, according to Tidus, to keep their minds off what they were journeying towards. Regardless of the fact that Rikku had seen Tidus blitz countless times, watching how gracefully he moved through the water still took her breath away. He moved with such ease and purpose, looking so focused and sure of himself. She remembered something she had told him once, about how it felt to play blitzball. He had said that being in the sphere was like being in a whole different world. A world where nothing mattered but that ball and getting it to the goal. Rikku knew that was exactly what Tidus was thinking as he swam up to the center line and shook hands with Reha, the Pysches' petite center.

For the first half of the game, Rikku did nothing but jump and scream and slap hands with the guys in front of her. She momentarily forgot that Gippal was sitting behind her, sulking and pouting. But, that was the whole reason she had even agreed to come. Seeing a good blitzball game always took her mind of the crappy things happening in her life. And this was a particularly good game. Mainly because of the way Tidus was playing, rough and without inhibitions. Right away, it stunned the rest of the players, seeing how fast and furious Tidus was. Then they all seemed to take a page out of his book and began mimicking his intensity. When the bell rang, signaling halftime, Rikku almost couldn't believe. That had been the fastest, most intense half of a blitzball game she had ever seen. Her eyes caught the telltale wave of Tidus' hand as he left the sphere. He was going back to the locker room. Why? Was he hurt? Did something happen? Concern flooded her veins and Rikku forgot about all the things that had happened. She wanted to make sure he was okay. Jumping off her seat, Rikku disappeared into the crowd and ran down the stairs. If she could just hold him one last time…

Tidus burst into the locker room and threw himself on the bench, panting and soaking wet. He hadn't played that hard in a really long time and it was obviously taxing him. The other players were getting winded too, he could tell. Boy, the fans sure got what they paid for today. Tidus had to leave the sphere because he couldn't shake the weirdest feeling that Rikku was watching him. He knew she was and he didn't think it would bother him. But, for some reason, it set him on edge and made him a little uneasy. Was she out there with another guy? Did that guy know all about him and what he did to her? Tidus sunk his head into his hands and sighed. Living with the guilt the pain of hurting her brought on made it so hard to just pretend to be normal. Just as a cold sadness settled over him, the door burst open and he jumped up, shocked by the sudden noise. There she was, standing in the doorway, all breathless and wide-eyed. Her golden hair had never looked so shiny and perfect, her skin had never looked so smooth and glorious. "Tidus!" She cried, taking one step into the locker room. The door closed slowly behind her. Before Tidus could respond or even move, Rikku ran to him and threw her arms around his neck.

She planted her soft wet lips on his and kissed him in a way that made his knees weak. Kissing her back was like waking up and Tidus reveled in the way his body reacted to hers being so close. He grabbed her hips and pulled her closer, holding her like she might disappear or run away before he got a chance to memorize everything about her. She moaned into his mouth as he slid one hand over her perky butt. He squeezed it and she gasped, biting his lower lip and making his head spin. Suddenly, she pushed him back against the benches and forced him to sit. She eagerly undid the straps to his shorts pushing them down and out of her way. She stopped momentarily and glanced up at him just before she slid his blue boxers off too. Their eyes met and Tidus nodded, communicating all the need he felt. He saw it reflected in her green eyes, a desperate need to be one again. As if given permission, Rikku ripped his boxers off, freeing his hard manhood. Rikku looked at it and licked her lips, serving only to further arouse him. She brushed her fingers against the tip, dancing them along the shaft and smiling mischievously at the way it made Tidus squirm. He reached out, caressing her shoulders, sliding his hands around behind her neck to untie her top. She stroked his cock for another moment while he cupped her breasts, massaging them like they were precious.

Tidus then remembered that he had probably ten more minutes before halftime was over and he wanted that ten minutes to count. Without another languid moment of caressing, he mimicked Rikku, reaching up under her skirt and pulling her panties down and off. She stepped out of them, already breathless with excitement and he knew she was ready for him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and mounted him, sliding down onto his member and filling herself with him. They both moaned, responding to each other with earth shattering pleasure. Rikku rocked her hips slowly, licking his bottom lip and kissing him lazily. Tidus grabbed her and forced her to slow down even more. Sure, they only had ten minutes, but he wanted it to last. She broke the kiss and murmured to him. "I want to make this the best you've ever had." Tidus groaned and choked on his response as she licked his adam's apple and trailed kisses all over his neck. Quickening her pace, Rikku took control again and for a moment, the slap of their bodies, their gasps and moans were the only sounds in the locker room.

Rikku never thought that she would be riding him again, rocking against his body, moaning his name into his ear. She had just wanted to see him, maybe hug him, but her body had other ideas. Now she was topless and bouncing up and down on his cock. Her mind was filled with the awareness that pre-orgasmic state of mind brings. She opened her eyes and stared into his. This was the last time they would ever fuck. Ever see each other, more than likely. She slid her hands up and cupped his face, wanting to remember the way he looked forever. As if he sensed her sadness, Tidus lifted her up and laid her down on the floor. He pounded into her, banishing all her sad thoughts as her body arched into his. Rikku cried out, gripping his shoulders, nail biting into his skin, as her body seized with that sweet release. She bucked her hips against him, pleading with him not to stop. He growled, plunging into her with so much energy, kissing her with such intensity. And when he climaxed, he grabbed her butt and pulled her so close to him that she could feel his heartbeat.

He moaned into her ear, something about love and forever. Rikku's eyes flew open and she stared, wide-eyed, at the wall on the other side of the locker room. She was still wrapped around him and he was still panting with his body pressed against hers. "Wh-what?" She choked out, trying hard to push her hot tears from her eyes. He pushed himself back so he could look into her eyes. "I said I'll love you forever. I know it's too late to fix what I've done, but I just wanted to let you know that it kills me everyday, knowing that I hurt you and knowing that you hate me. All I wanted was for you to know that I love you. Forever." Rikku sobbed and buried her head in his neck, shaking slightly from the shock of it all. She had convinced herself that he didn't love her, that he loved Yunie and that there was nothing she could do to change that. They had a fling, a completely physical fling. But, she loved him so much and here he was telling her the one thing she had always wanted to hear. He was right, though. It was too late. Not too late to fix anything, but too late for them. The next day marked her eighteenth birthday and the start of her life as Gippal's betrothed. And Tidus couldn't save her unless he left Yuna and pledged his life to her. And it was all a matter of honor.

AN: HOT ACTION! Finally!!! I wrote some lemony goodness for my M rated story!!! LOL!!! I was beginning to think I would have to change the rating!!! Well folks, there you have it! Tidus and Rikku and their steamy reunion! What's up next? Gippal confronts Tidus, Rikku tells Paine all about the rape-night and arranged marriage action, Paine tells Tidus the truth and then tells Rikku the truth and then GIPPAL-

You'll just have to wait and see!!!! KISSES!!!

sa