Again, I apologize for the Out-of-characterness. That's not really my forte, I'm, afraid. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this.
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"Tidus! Yuna! Get up! Up, up, up!" Rikku exclaimed, running into the room and jumping on top of the pair.
Tidus groaned.
"Rikku, go away." he said, turning away.
"Come on! Get up!" Rikku said.
"What's the rush?" he asked, yawning.
Rikku paused for a moment, then shrugged.
"Nothing really, it's just really boring. Paine isn't much entertainment." she said.
"Find Auron. I'm sure he'll entertain you." Tidus grumbled, burying his face in Yuna's hair.
"I'm sure he would, but he's asleep too. He'd kill me if I went in there and woke him up." Rikku said.
"I'll kill you." Yuna yawned.
"Yunie!" Rikku exclaimed.
"It's no good now." Tidus moaned, getting up.
"I'm awake."
"Tidus! You just got up and took all the heat with you!" Yuna whined, grabbing his arm.
"Great! You can get up too!" Rikku said.
"Rikku! Did you wake them up?" Lulu's voice called from downstairs.
"Uh…no?" Rikku called.
"I thought you said that no one else was awake?" Tidus said.
"Well, I didn't necessarily say that…" Rikku trailed off.
"I'll kill you!" he groaned.
She shrieked and ran off. He chased after her. She jumped down the stairs two at a time and ran for protection behind Wakka.
"Nah, don't cause trouble then come to Me." he said, stepping away from her.
"Tubby!" she exclaimed.
"Especially not for that." he said.
Tidus grinned at her and advanced on her. She squealed again and ran out the door. He chased her down the length of the village and into another hut. Tidus realized too late that it was Auron's hut. He glanced back at Tidus who stopped in his tracks. Rikku cowered behind Auron.
"What did you do this time?" he asked her.
"I…didn't do anything!" she exclaimed, putting on an innocent face.
"Somehow, I don't believe you." he said.
"What? Why?" she whined.
"I know you." he said.
"Okay…I kinda jumped on him and Yuna while they were sleeping…" she said, smiling uncertainly
"That all?" he asked.
"I…um…told them no one else was awake so they'd get up." she said.
"How did this result to the 'chasing Rikku to Auron's hut' fiasco?" he asked.
"He told me to go wake you up if I wanted entertainment…I said that you were asleep and I didn't want to die from waking you up." she said.
"So you threatened to kill her?" Auron asked.
"Yup." Tidus said, unabashed.
Auron laughed, shaking his head.
"Hey!" Rikku whined.
"You're supposed to stick up for me!"
Tidus shook his head, leaving the hut while Rikku continued to whine at Auron.
"She dead?" Yuna asked as he stepped back into the hut.
She sat at the table, her head in her arms.
"Nah…she ran to Auron." Tidus said.
"Don't you love the way she picks fights then runs to people to help her?" Lulu sighed.
"Ah, but that's just typical Rikku, isn't it?" Wakka said.
"I guess." Tidus shrugged.
Yuna suddenly sat up, looking toward where Lulu stood, cooking.
"I smell pancakes." she said.
Lulu laughed.
"Indeed you do."
"Oh yay!" Yuna exclaimed, suddenly more awake.
"Youhave to try her pancakes Tidus. They are like…" Yuna trailed off, a dreamy look coming over her face.
"Wow, that good?" he asked.
"You can't even imagine." she said. She seemed to be channeling Rikku.
Tidus laughed at her sudden enthusiasm.
"Well, if they are that amazing…I guess I better." Tidus grinned.
"I'd be scared if you didn't." Wakka said.
"What?" Tidus asked.
"The only time you're not hungry is when you're upset." Wakka said.
"That's not true!" he exclaimed.
"It is." Yuna said.
"Lulu…" Tidus trailed off as she smiled at him.
"They have a point." she said.
"Okay…maybe." Tidus said.
"Food's done." Lulu said, setting a large plate of pancakes on the table, along with a plate of sliced fruit.
Yuna looked giddy with happiness.
They all helped themselves to some.
"Wow…thisis really good." Tidus said, swallowing a mouthful of pancake.
"I told you! The best you've ever had, right?" she said.
"No offense to Lulu, but I think my mom's are better. I might be a bit biased, though." he shrugged.
"None taken." Lulu said.
They ate in silence, not for lack of conversation, but more or less the food demanded everyone's entire attention.
"I smell Lulu pancakes!" Rikku exclaimed, running into the hut.
"I guess these are famous?" Tidus said as Rikku pulled up a chair next to Wakka and dug into some pancakes.
"No one in Spira makes pancakes that rival Lulu's!" Rikku declared.
"She made pancakes again?" Paine asked, entering the hut.
She sat down between Yuna and Lulu and accepted a plate from Lulu.
Auron slipped in the door and stood in the corner, watching them.
"You won't have some, Sir Auron?" Lulu asked.
"Thank you." Auron said taking a plate and sitting next to Rikku.
After another ten minutes of silence, Tidus stretched, standing up.
"Amazing Lulu." he said.
She smiled lightly.
"I will be down by the beach if anyone needs Me." he said, kissing Yuna on the cheek and leaving the hut.
He ran all the way to the beach, promising himself that he would get back into shape.
He slowed to a walk as he reached the beach. He walked along the waters edge for a while, then climbed up onto one of the cliffs that jutted over the water.
He stood there for a good while, watching the people on the beach and listening to the water slosh quietly. It felt amazing to be here again. He never thought he'd see it again. There was a small snapping sound behind him. Footsteps? He tensed for a second, listening intently. He didn't hear anything. He shrugged lightly and pushed it out of his mind. Then suddenly, he felt two pairs of hands on his back and heard Rikku and Yuna giggle before he fell off and into the water.
YunaRikku giggled.
"I've always wanted to do that." she said.
Yuna giggled.
"Did you see the look on his face? I thought he was going to catch us when you snapped that twig." Yuna laughed.
"Me too."
"He's going to be mad." Yuna said.
"Awww, don't ruin it Yunie! How often do you get to do something like that?" she asked.
"Well, we did do it to Paine that one time…" she trailed off.
Rikku giggled.
"She didn't like that, did she?" she asked.
"Hey…he hasn't come up yet." Yuna said, looking over the side.
"What?" Rikku asked.
They both ran over to the edge looking over. Yuna had a sudden feeling of dread.
"He's fine." Rikku said, nervously.
"He's just trying to scare us?" Yuna asked.
"Oh come on, it's Tidus…of course he is." she said, sure of herself.
After a few more minutes she wasn't so sure.
"Is the water really shallow there?" she asked.
"No…that's the deeper part of the water." Yuna paled.
"The part with the fiends." she said.
"Look….do you see him?" Rikku asked frantically, placing her hand on Yuna's back and leaning over.
"I don't." Yuna said.
"Yunie, don't put your hand on my back! I'll fall." Rikku exclaimed.
"My hands not…" Yuna trailed off.
"Tidus!" she screamed as she felt her feet leaving the ground.
Her and Rikku fell into the water with a splash.
Yuna swam upward and glared up at Tidus, who stood on the edge, laughing hysterically. Water dripped from his clothes.
"How did you not notice I had my hand on your back?" he yelled to Yuna.
"I thought it was Rikku!" she exclaimed.
Yuna felt a sudden tug at her leg.
"Oh, funny Rikku." Yuna snapped.
"What?" Rikku called.
She was already on the beach, wringing water out of her hair.
Yuna felt the grab at her leg again, and felt the water close over her head. She kicked furiously, managing to pull her head over the surface.
"Funny Yuna." Tidus laughed.
He thought she was kidding!
"Tidus!" she screamed, before she was pulled under again.
She looked around, but couldn't see what was pulling at her.
She pulled one of her guns out of its holster and shot off into the dark.
A tentacle shot out and slapped the gun from her hand.
She grabbed for it, but it had sunk away into the darkness too quickly. She swam up again, pulling desperately against whatever held her. She broke the surface once more and managed to gasp a breath of air before she was pulled down again.
She felt the water move beside her and pulled her gun desperately out of it's holster. She saw a bright blue glow and realized Tidus had jumped in after her. Brotherhood shone bright enough to show a giant sea fiend. Yuna had never seen anything like it before. It looked like a giant whale with tentacles. It shot out another tentacle, wrapping it around Tidus's wrist and tugged. It was trying to get his sword.
Rikku shot out of nowhere and used a twin blade to cut off the tentacle. The fiend shrieked and swung around frantically. Then, two tentacles regrew in its place.
We can't beat that!
Tidus obviously thought the same thing.
Yuna felt herself jerk down again. Tidus grabbed her wrist to keep her from going down farther while Rikku cut the tentacle holding her ankle.
Yuna felt her head getting dizzy. She had been under too long. She looked at Tidus frantically.
He began mouthing things at Rikku frantically.
"Take Yuna, get her to shore!"
Rikku's eyes widened but she nodded. Yuna shook her head firmly.
You are not fighting that thing alone!" she argued.
Even as she did this, her vision began to slide.
Rikku grabbed her arm and began pulling her away. The young Al Bhed was surprisingly strong. Their heads broke the surface and Yuna gulped down some air, then turned furiously to her cousin.
"Why did you let him stay down there alone?" she snapped.
"You drowning down there won't help him win!" she yelled back.
"Being left alone won't help him win either!" she snapped, preparing to dive again.
"If you go back down there he'll lose." she said.
"What?" Yuna snapped.
"If he is worried about keeping you safe he won't worry about himself. He'll give himself for you." Rikku said.
Yuna couldn't argue with that. He'd already proved that he'd do that two years ago. He'd choose her life over his.
"Your right." Yuna said, sadly.
"He'll be okay." Rikku said, pulling Yuna away.
Just as she did this Tidus broke through the water.
"Swim, fast." he gasped at them.
They didn't need telling twice. They swam across the water as fast as they could. Tidus lagged behind though. She knew he was making sure she didn't get behind. She kicked harder at the water, feeling bad that she had to make him lag.
Tidus cursed loudly and went under again.
"Tidus!" she yelled, turning back.
He came up from under the water again, gasping.
"Go, go!" he yelled.
She took off again, swimming as fast as she was able.
Rikku had reached the bank and was changing dress spheres.
The Black Mage.
"Thundaga!" she screamed.
A series of thunder bolts shot from the sky. The fiend shrieked and sunk into the water. Yuna pulled herself up and walked over to the beach. She fell to her knees, breathing heavily. Tidus walked up behind her, also falling to his knees, pulling her into his arms.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She leaned her head against his chest.
"I'm okay." she said, feeling a bit better from just being held.
"Rikku?" Tidus asked.
"I'm okay." she said.
"What about you? Are you all right?" Yuna asked.
"Minor cuts. I'll live." he said, looking at his arm. There was a giant scratch down his arm, blood trickling out of it.
"It's not bad. It won't even scar."
"I'm sorry." he said.
"It's okay." she said.
"I don't know about you guys, but I need to change." Rikku said.
"Yeah…that sounds good." Yuna said, standing up.
Tidus stood next to her, then he began laughing.
"What so funny?" Rikku asked.
"That was a really close call." he laughed.
"Yeah." Yuna giggled.
"You guys are crazy." Rikku laughed.
The three of them set of toward the village. Rikku slipped sideways into Auron's hut as they walked by and Tidus and Yuna continued on to Lulu and Wakka's hut.
"What happened to you?" Lulu asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Long story." Tidus said.
"I have time."
"Long story short, fiend." Yuna said.
Lulu nodded and they ran up the stairs.
TidusTidus sat in a chair by the table while Yuna rifled through the dresser. She came out a few minutes later with an emerald green tank top that had 'The Besaid Aurochs' written across the front in blue, a pair of blue denim shorts that matched the ones she was wearing and a green and blue waist tie that matched her eyes.
She walked into the bathroom, shooting him a teasing smile.
He shook his head, leaning back on the back legs of the chair. He stared around the room until the door opened.
Yuna came out, her hair brushed out of her face and dressed in dry clothes.
The shirt barely came past her chest. The chair tipped backward and he barely saved it from falling over. She set her wet clothes in a basket in the corner of the room and put her boots next to it. She went to her drawer again and pulled out a deep blue hood, attaching it to her shirt, and letting it hang down her back.
Tidus grinned.
"Stealing my style, huh?" he asked.
She laughed.
"Just a bit of it." she said, pulling his necklace over her head, and slipping on her yellow arm cuffs.
"Are all your clothes like that now?" he asked.
"Pretty much. Rikku attacked my closet one night…so I had nothing but what she put in there. I like it though. Don't you?" she asked.
"Yes. Very much." he smiled.
"I'll bet so." she grinned.
"But I did get to choose one of the shirts." she said, digging through her drawer again.
"Here." she said, pulling out a bright yellow tank top, identical to the green one she wore.
"What's the difference?" he asked.
"Read it." she said, tossing it to him.
He caught it and unfolded it, looking at the words written across the front in black.
The Zanarkand Abes.
He grinned at her.
"I like this one." he said.
"I thought you would." she grinned.
"I get a lot of questions when I wear It." she said.
"Really?"
"Yeah…'Who are the Zanarkand Abes?' from people I don't know and 'you miss him that much?' from people I do." she said.
"Did you?" he asked.
"What do you think?" she asked, taking the shirt from him and putting it back in the drawer. She opened the closet door and pulled out another pair of lace up boots.
"So you pretty much have at least one double of all your clothing?" he asked.
"Yeah…blame Rikku." she said, lacing up the boots quickly.
She tied them right under her knees and stood, her braid swinging wildly behind her.
She latched her leather side pouch around her waist and pulled out an extra gun, stuffing it in the holster.
She dug through the pouch for a moment, then pulled out a metal ring. She opened the clasp and the ring swung open. She slipped it over her braid and fiddled with it for a moment before pulling it down the length of her hair. The pink on the braid turned blue as she did so. Tidus watched in amazement as she did this.
"Where are you getting all this stuff from?" he laughed.
"Shinra invented it." she said.
"I was pretty amazed there for a second." he laughed.
"Yeah, didn't you know? I'm magical." she said.
"You could say that again." he laughed.
"Tidus! You are a such a guy." she said.
"It's a curse." he shrugged.
"Come on…lets go back down. We should let them know that we are going to be leaving soon. We only have so much time after all." she sighed.
Tidus stood and they walked out of the room, and down the stairs.
"Nice shirt!" Wakka yelled.
"Yeah, I thought you'd like It." she giggled.
"We are leaving for Kilika soon." she said, suddenly serious.
"Yeah, okay." Wakka said.
"Will you tell Lulu?" she asked.
"Yeah, okay." he said again.
YunaThey walked out of the hut and down towards Auron's hut.
"I'll just…wait here." Tidus said.
"Okay." Yuna said, casting him an odd glance.
She pushed aside the curtain and walked in. She stopped dead about halfway across the room.
Auron and Rikku were kissing forcefully. Like really going at it. Auron's arms were wrapped around her waist and she had her fingers tangled in his hair. They were completely oblivious to the fact that she was there. Her cousin looked so happy. Different then her usual self. Even though she knew about them it had never really registered into her brain until now. She just stared for a second then backed out quickly, her eyes not leaving the pair the entire time.
Tidus grinned at her and she blushed furiously.
"Youknew!" she accused.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to see the look on your face." he laughed.
"Tidus! What if they'd seen me?" she hissed.
"Auron would have jumped away and Rikku would have glared." Tidus shrugged.
"You mean you've watched them before?" she asked.
"Not on purpose…it was more of an accidental situation." he shrugged.
"Right…lets go find Paine." she said.
"Found her." Tidus said, pointing off to the other side of the village. Paine approached them quickly. She brushed past them and opened to the door to the hut.
"Paine…don't…" Yuna said, but Paine had already entered.
Tidus and Yuna looked at each other, then at Paine as she backed up out of the room. Her eyes were wide in shock and anger.
"Why didn't you stop me?" she hissed.
"Itried." Yuna said, exasperated.
"I really didn't need to see that." Paine said, rubbing her eyes with her fingers.
"Yeah, we saw it too." Yuna said.
"But it's different for me isn't it? That's my father and one of my friends in there. My father. A bit creepy." Paine said.
"I see where you are coming from." Yuna nodded.
"Are you really angry with Rikku for…well, that?" he asked.
"I don't know if I should be or not. I mean, how do you control something like that? Really…I guess I don't know." Paine admitted.
She shook her head and began to walk away.
"Paine…we are leaving for Kilika soon." Yuna said.
Paine nodded and continued to walk.
"Auron! Rikku! We're leaving for Kilika soon." Tidus yelled into the hut quickly.
"Okay!" came Rikku's quick reply, then nothing.
Tidus and Yuna exchanged glances before they ran off again.
They went back up the stairs and into Yuna's room once more.
"I need to bring different clothes to the Celsius. I am so tired of wearing the same things." she groaned, pulling a small black bag out of her closet.
She then went to her dresser and began pulling out a bunch of clothes that pretty much looked the same, in a variety of different colors. Yellow, Pink, Blue, White, Red, Purple, Black, every color you could think of, she had in there. She then opened a small box on her dresser and pulled out some jewelry. She put that into the bag too.
"You have so many clothes." Tidus laughed, shaking his head.
"I'm a girl…it's what we do." she said.
"Right. Some girls save the world and some shop. You, apparently, do both." Tidus said.
"What can I say? I'm multi-talented." she said.
"Really? What else can you do?" he asked.
"Oh, lot of things. I can shoot a target from a mile away!" she grinned.
"How do you see it?" he asked.
"I don't need to…I'm that bad." she grinned.
He snorted.
"You definitely have been spending too much time with Rikku. You're turning into her."
"You think?" she asked, suddenly looking at him.
"Is it…bad that I've changed so much?"
"Not so much as bad as surprising. I mean, when you jumped off that airship all I could think was, "Is that really myYuna?" I mean, you look so different, and your attitude has changed a lot…but It's not a bad change. I'm just trying to get used to It." he said.
"Oh." she said.
She walked over and sat on his lap, leaning against his chest.
"I've been thinking…I was about to give up, you know? After Shuyin…I was a bit worried, that I'd never see you again. I was contemplating moving on with my life. If you hadn't came back when you did…where would I be now?" she said.
Tidus was somewhat shocked.
"I half expected you to have moved on…until we were at the beach and you said you loved me again. I'm sorry I didn't say it back…the first time. It just…didn't seem right. I figured I never would come back…I wanted you to move on. I didn't want you to forget me…but I didn't want you to be unhappy for the rest of your life either. I didn't want you to regret me…"
"Never!" Yuna said, shocked.
"I just…wanted you to be happy. I didn't want you to dwell on the past. Apparently you did though…but now…we don't have to dwell on the past. We can look to the future." he said.
"Never forget the past." Yuna said quietly.
The people and the friends we have lost, or the dreams that have faded…Never forget them.
"Of course not. If you forget the past, it repeats. But you should never dwell on the past. Live in the moment. That's what I do." he said.
"So…you're not really worried about what will happen with the Fayth?" she asked.
"That is something I have been thinking on…but…I don't let it effect what I do. I don't spend every moment dwelling on it. I won't disappear again, but if I do…I don't want the time we have with each other to be full of worry or fear of what will happen next. I just want to be with you, nothing else matters." he said.
"Maybe you're right." she said, staring out the window.
"I may be, I may not…but I've always done things my own way…I don't see why I should stop after twenty years." he shrugged.
"You must have that effect on people. You pulled me out of my comfortable position of knowing what was going to happen with my life. I'm grateful, of course…but now I don't know what to do."
"That's the exciting part. Taking each day as it goes, not constantly planning your future. Where's the fun in that?" he grinned.
"Yuna! Buddy says if we're getting to Kilika before midnight, we better get going." Paine called up the stairs.
"Okay!" Yuna called back.
She put her arms around Tidus's neck and leaned her forehead against his.
"You're an amazing girl, you know that?" he asked.
"I know." Yuna said, pressing her lips to his softly, then standing, pulling him with her.
Yuna threw the bag over her shoulder and they went down the stairs. Lulu, Wakka, and Paine stood outside the hut.
"Took you long enough." Paine muttered.
"Sorry Paine, you could have waited with Auron and Rikku." Tidus grinned.
She narrowed her piercing red eyes at him and walked off. Yuna giggled, but Wakka and Lulu looked a bit confused.
"Trust me…you don't want to know." Yuna giggled.
They walked in silence the rest of the way to the Celsius.
"We're heeeere!" Yuna called, running into the bridge.
"It's about time! You guys took forever." Rikku said.
"We didn't take that long!" Yuna protested.
"Right." Rikku nodded, giggling.
"To Kilika?" Buddy asked.
"Right!" Yuna said.
Buddy entered their coordinates and the coordinates to Kilika and they ship lifted off into the air.
Yuna sighed, walking over to the lift.
"I'm going to put my stuff away." she said.
Paine went and sat by Shinra's giant chair, while Rikku jumped into her seat at the front of the ship. Wakka and Lulu stood near Buddy's seat.
As Yuna entered the room again, Lulu spoke up.
"I've been thinking…wouldn't this be faster if we split up? I mean, there are five temples and seven of us. If we split it right we can get the last few all at once." she said.
"But…what happens if we run into some of those infected fiends? We can barely beat them as it is!" Rikku whined.
"Then we could split up into one group of three and one group of four. It is a good idea Lulu." Yuna said.
"So…after we get Kilika we'll have Djose, Macalania, and Bevelle" Paine said.
"Which raises another point…how are we going to find the sphere in Macalania?" Yuna asked.
"What?" Auron questioned.
"The Macalania temple has sunk in the absence of Shiva." Yuna said.
"Right." Auron nodded.
"We could use a Machina." Rikku said.
"You are the only one who knows how to control those." Wakka said.
"Yeah, but we could ask Gippal for help!" Rikku said.
"Gippal?!" Brother shrieked.
"We need no help from Gippal!"
"Have you got a better plan?" Paine snapped.
"I am the captain and I say we do not need Gippal's help!" he proclaimed.
"Okay…we'll send you down by yourself. Have fun." Paine said.
Brother grew silent.
"I thought so." Paine said.
"Who wants to call Gippal up?" Shinra asked.
"You should do it, Yunie. He likes you." Rikku said.
"But you and Gippal had a thing, didn't you?" Paine asked.
"Which is why I don't want to do it! And you were in the crimson squad with him!" Rikku protested.
"Gippal's got a thing for Rikku…she should do it." Yuna said.
"He does not! He's just a pervert! I've been there, done that! Gippal doesn't care about other people! He does that to every girl who will stand still long enough for him to speak!" Rikku protested.
"He didn't do it to me." Paine said, raising her eyebrow.
"Oh fine!" Rikku exclaimed, balling up her fists and stomping.
Shinra moved aside for Rikku, who dropped into the chair.
After a few beeps they heard Gippal's voice.
"Cid's girl! How's it going?"
"I have a name!" Rikku yelled.
Yuna, Paine, and Tidus walked up behind Rikku to look at the sphere screen.
"What can I do for you?" he asked, his voice carrying a swagger.
"As much as I hate to admit it, we need your help." Rikku said.
"Oh really?" Gippal asked, his eye widening.
"Yeah…we need to search for something in Macalania temple and we need a Machina to do it…and we need someone who can help pilot.
"Really? What do I get for helping you?" he asked.
"We already beat Vegnagun for you!" Rikku said.
"There is that…but this is a pretty big load." he said.
"We could not kill you." Paine said.
"Harsh, Dr. P." Gippal laughed.
"Okay…I'll help you…when?"
"As soon as you can." Yuna said.
"What am I looking for?"
"There should be a sphere hidden in there. It will be bigger then regular spheres…with the symbol of Macalania temple on it." Yuna said,
"You're sending me on a sphere hunt?" he groaned.
"Not exactly. I wish we could explain it to you now but…that's not a very good idea over commspheres." Yuna said.
"Okay…it's done…but I expect an explanation." Gippal said.
"Tysh Gippal! Oui yna cu huco!" Rikku yelled. (You are so nosy!)
He just grinned back before the sphere shut down.
Rikku stood up, pulling her ponytail out of her hair and shaking it out. Her blonde braids fell down into her face and all the way down her back.
"Was there a point to that?' Tidus asked.
Rikku handed the rubber band to Auron.
"For your hair." she said.
He nodded his thanks and pulled his hair back, wrapping the band around it quickly and pulling it tight. The ponytail trailed down his back, almost as long as Rikku's.
Tidus
"How long will it take to reach Kilika?" Tidus asked, jumping around impatiently.
"We'll be there around eleven o' clock." Buddy said.
Rikku jumped around excitedly as well.
"Too long!" she exclaimed.
Yuna laughed while Lulu shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
"If I didn't know better I'd say you two were related." Wakka said.
"Whaddya, mean?" Rikku demanded.
"I mean that you both are always moving, you're impatient and always breaking the rules…and you do have a resemblance to one another. The pair looked at each other for a moment.
"We look nothing alike!" they exclaimed in the same breath.
"I rest my case." he said, shaking his head and walking over to the lift. Lulu followed him and they disappeared from sight.
Tidus sighed.
"What do you so in your spare time around here?" he asked.
The girls exchanged glances.
"I…don't know." Yuna said, slowly.
"We just…hang out I guess." Rikku said.
Tidus started laughing. He couldn't help it. It was too great. He laughed so hard his chest ached. Yuna and Rikku began to laugh too. Paine tried to hide her smile, but finally gave in and joined the laughing.
"That is the greatest thing I've ever heard. You don't know what you do?" Tidus asked, gasping for breath.
"I don't know…I never really thought about it." Yuna said, shrugging.
"That is pretty weird…" Rikku trailed off, her eyes widening.
"We should make Yuna sing again!" she giggled.
"What? No!" Yuna exclaimed.
"Awww, that would be cool, Yuna." Tidus grinned.
"Nope." Yuna said, shaking her head.
"Come on!" Tidus begged, poking her side.
"No!!" she whined.
"Fine. But I will hear you sing soon." he assured her.
She shook her head stubbornly.
"I will." he assured her.
"Just watch."
She shook her head, walking away and up to the lift.
"You can't hide! The ship is only so big!" he teased her.
She looked over her shoulder at him and stuck out her tongue at him.
"Oh, that is so mature, Yuna." Paine said, shaking her head.
"You love it!" Yuna giggled as the door opened. She stepped into the hallway and the doors closed quickly. Tidus walked around the room, trying to figure out a way to keep himself occupied until Kilika.
"Are you really that bored?" Paine asked, as he sighed for the millionth time.
"I don't know what to do." he whined.
"Wakka is right. Are you sure you and Rikku aren't related?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Pretty sure." Tidus nodded.
He ran up the stairs two at a time and stopped at the door as Paine called,
"Where are you going?"
"I dunno…I'll figure it out in the lift." he said.
He walked down the hallway quickly. He closed his eyes and randomly pushed a button, feeling the lift lurch as it sprang to life. Up. It was either going to the Deck or the Cabin. The doors opened and he was hit by the rush of cool air. Definitely the deck. He heard a soft melody coming from the front of the deck. He walked slowly up the steps to see Yuna laying down at the end, singing. He couldn't help but grin.
I know that your hiding things
Using gentle words to shelter me
your words were like a dream
but dreams could never fool me
not that easily…
He felt his heart jerk at the words. She still hadn't noticed him standing there. She really could sing quite well. He leaned against the side of the Celsius and continued to listen to her sing.
I acted so distant then
didn't say good bye before you left
but I was listening.
You'll fight your battles far from me
Far too easily.
The song seemed all too familiar to him He wanted to ask her badly, but he also didn't want to interrupt her.
Save you tears
cause I'll come back
I could you whisper
as you walked through that door
but still I swore
to hide my pain when I turned back the pages
He suddenly remembered where he'd heard the song. It made his stomach turn.
fighting might have been the answer
what if I cried my eyes out and begged you not to depart
But now I'm not afraid to say what's in my heart
It couldn't be possible…but then, it made all the sense in the world
With a thousand words
call out to the ages
they'll fly to you
even though I can't see
I know they're reaching you
Suspended on silver wings.
He had to stop it now.
"Yuna." he said, walking across the deck toward her. The singing died instantly and she spun around to look at him.
"Tidus…I uh…" she trailed off.
"You have a beautiful voice." he said.
She smiled, blushing lightly.
"Thank you." she smiled.
"That was a nice song…I…I've heard it before." he said.
"Really? It was…Lenne's song. I liked it a lot and I just sing it sometimes. When nobody is listening. I don't know where you would have heard it." she said.
"I don't know. I've been thinking about it and…what if I am Shuyin?" he said.
"You've been listening to Brother?" she asked.
"It's not that…but he might be right." he said.
"I don't understand." she said.
"If you think about it…I mean, what is the likeliness that we look so much alike?" he asked.
"It's always possible." Yuna said.
"Just…hear me out for a second." he said.
He dropped down onto the deck. He looked at her.
"My Zanarkand. The dream Zanarkand…it was based off the real Zanarkand. The Fayth are the people of Zanarkand who wanted to preserve its former glory. Everyone there…we were all dreams of the real people of Zanarkand. So what if…I'm the dream version of Shuyin? It would explain our likeliness. I think…it's more then a guess. I'm sure it's true. I know somewhere…I am Shuyin." he said.
"I can feel it. I remember that song."
"This is…weird." Yuna said.
"No kidding. I've confused myself. Am I Tidus…or am I Shuyin?" he asked.
She looked at him for a moment, her eyes thoughtful.
"You are Tidus." she said.
"How can you be sure?" he asked.
Tidus lowered his eyes from her gaze. He just wasn't sure anymore. Why couldn't he have just been real? The whole time? It would be so much less confusing.
"Tidus…I know. I know who you are. You are a brilliant blitzer. You are a good natured, fun loving man. You are an excitable boy who loves to cause trouble. You are my rock, the person that I can lean on. My tower of refuge and strength. You are my courage. You are a beautiful person, inside and out. You are the kid who everyone loves. You are Tidus…nothing will change that, ever." she said.
He suddenly felt much more relaxed. Much more reassured.
"I love you." he said, kissing her lightly.
"Good." she said,
"Because I love you."
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And the seed of doubt is planted. Aw. If you review, I'll dance a jig on top of your computer desk. You wouldn't want to miss that, would you?