Hey ladies and gents. We're almost at the end here. Two more chapters after this one. Doesn't it make you want to cry? Of course it does. Thanks to all my reviewers, you guys are the best! Okalie, dokalie, here ya are.
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"This is it. The last temple." Yuna said, staring out over the miles of surrounding water. They had yet to leave Luca.
"Yeah…the last one, then we can send that Fayth." Tidus said.
"Right." Yuna nodded.
"Aww! What am I going to do after this?" Rikku whined.
"We're not there yet." Paine said,
"You'll find something. I'm sure we all have something to do." Yuna said.
"We can go home." Wakka said, indicating Lulu and himself.
"We're starting our life together." Yuna said, stepping closer to Tidus.
"How about you, Paine? What are you doing?" Lulu asked.
"I'm not sure, but I think I'm going to find myself." Paine said, staring over the water, not meeting anyone's eyes. Auron stayed silent. Everyone knew what he was going to do.
"I…don't know." Rikku said, casting Auron a helpless glance. He shook his head at her, firmly.
"But I…"
"No." he snapped.
"Fro? Fro lyh'd E? Fryd ys E cibbucat du tu?" she asked him. (Why? Why can't I? What am I supposed to do?)
They could tell she was upset by the way she was yelling at him in Al Bhed. Auron didn't understand Al Bhed. Still, he didn't need to know Al Bhed to know what she was saying.
"It's not right, Rikku. It's just not." He sighed.
"Bmayca Rikku, zicd cdub." Tidus said quietly. (Please Rikku, just stop)
"Pid…" (But…)
"Bmayca. Drec ech'd ayco uh res aedran." (Please. This isn't easy on him either.)
"E ghuf…cunno." she said. (I know…sorry.)
"Tuh'd damm sa…damm res." (Don't tell me…tell him.)
"I'm…I'm sorry." she said, turning to him.
Her voice was choked up. She started shaking, half between crying and trying to stop herself from crying. Auron did a surprising thing then. He stepped forward and hugged her. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed. He held onto her, not saying a word, but her sobs slowly subsided. She didn't let go of him for a few moments after she'd stopped crying. She pulled away, wiping the tears from her face, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Hey…you okay?" Yuna said after a few moments.
"I'll be fine." she said.
"Are you ready for this?" Yuna asked.
The silence was thick.
"I'll take that as a no?" she said.
"We're never really completely ready for anything." Tidus said.
"I suppose you're right." Yuna sighed.
Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and rain began pouring heavily from the sky.
"It's raining!" Yuna said, excitedly.
"Hud uh so creb!" Brother groaned. (Not on my ship!)
"It had to have gotten wet in the thunder plains." Rikku said.
"Yeah, we had serious water damage to the paint job." Buddy said.
"Oh sob." Rikku growled.
"We aren't going out." Brother declared.
"What? Brother!" Yuna exclaimed, but she didn't seem to be arguing too hard.
"No." Brother said.
"Fine…I'm going outside!" Yuna said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Did you not just hear it was raining?" Paine asked.
"I love the rain." Yuna said.
"Why?" Rikku asked.
"I don't know." she said.
She grabbed Tidus's arm.
"Come on…come out with me!" she said.
"Have fun!" Paine called after the pair.
"Right." was Tidus's grumbled reply.
He liked water, but this was insane.
"You're crazy." he laughed as she ran out from under the shelter of the Celsius and into the pouring rain.
"Oh, come on!" she said, running forward and grabbing his arm, pulling him out with her.
"Yuna!"
"Oh, don't tell me you don't like rain." she laughed.
"I don't mind rain…"
"Good." she said.
"Yuna, this is crazy. You'll get sick." he insisted.
She pulled him into a kiss.
"Please?" she pouted.
"Oh, all right." he grumbled. She threw her arms out and spun in a circle, her face raised toward the sky. There was no one there, not even up on the highroad. Just the two of them in the pouring rain.
"Dance with me." she said.
"What? Here…now?" he asked.
"Yes! I've always loved dancing in the rain." she said.
"Yuna I don't know.."
It's not that he couldn't dance…he was a pretty good dancer…he just didn't like to dance.
"Please? Just this once…I'll never ask you to do it again." she begged.
"Okay." he folded easily. It was hard to resist her when she was begging. She stepped up to him, placing her hand in his and they began to dance. He never felt more in love with her then that moment. When they danced on the balcony over the water in the pouring rain. Where it all started.
Celsius"Aww, look at them!" Rikku sighed, watching the couple dance in the rain.
"They look so in love." she said.
They were dancing, only looking at each other, dancing to music only they could hear.
"Yeah. They're 'gag me with a spoon' cute, aren't they?" Paine said.
"Don't you love it?" Rikku sighed.
They continued to watch the couple dance. Paine stared at them. Maybe she'd feel like that one day too. Have someone to dance in the rain with. She had almost had that two years ago…with the Crimson Squad. Her heart ached as she thought about that. Maybe she could still get to him. Maybe he would still…
She was brought back from her thoughts by another one of Rikku's sighs.
No…it's over…there is no going back. You've lost your chance.
She felt her eyes sting. No! She wasn't going to cry. Not here. She felt her face go blank. Her cage locked around her again. Her nice, safe cage.
LucaYuna felt her lips meet his as the dance ended. It was nothing intense. Just a small brush of the lips, but she could feel that electrifying, intoxicating feeling she felt when ever he was close to her like this.
"Thank you." she whispered.
She didn't know why she whispered…it just seemed right.
"I love you." was all he said.
"Come on." she said, grabbing his hand and walking down the stairs quickly. He followed her, not really having a choice. The streets of Luca were deserted. She stopped at a tree and pulled out a small dagger. He could see where this was going. She smiled at him, handing him the small knife. He took it from her and began his work on the tree. After about ten minutes he pulled away.
"Perfect." she said, wrapping her arms around his waist.
TidusYuna
The rain slowly began subsiding.
"That was fast." Yuna said, watching the rain disappear from the sky, with slight disappointment.
"Yeah…we better run. The Lucans will come out soon. They'll want to know when your next concert is." he teased.
"They can't get enough of me, I can't decide if it's a gift or a curse." she said, shaking her head.
He laughed.
"We better get going." she sighed.
He began walking, then he felt a sudden extra weight on his back. He stumbled slightly.
"What are you doing?" he laughed.
"I don't feel like walking." she said.
"So I have to carry you?"
"Yes." she giggled, wrapping her arms tighter around his shoulders. He caught her legs up in his arms and carried her on his back. She rested her head on his shoulder, watching him as he walked. She saw him glance at her from the corner of his eye.
She kissed his cheek and smiled at him. As they came up the last set of stairs the sun burst over the sky. The bright rays evaporated the darkness. Yuna let herself drop off his back and she grabbed his arm, pulling him toward her. He grinned at her and she felt her heart skip a beat. The brilliant sun in his hair and his smile at her combined a giant swell of pure love toward him. She pulled him toward her and caught his lips against hers. There wasn't gentleness this time. There was just as much love in it, but also a lot of passion. He slipped his arms around her waist, closing any distance between him. She slid her hands up and ran her fingers through his wet hair. Her heart was beating fast, her head pounding. She finally pulled away, breathing hard.
"I love you." she said, leaning her forehead against his.
"I love you." he returned, smiling that brilliant smile.
"So, so much."
The hatch to the Celsius opened and the two walked up it slowly.
"We'll come back here…" she said, as he turned to look at the bright sun against the paled gray sky.
"Right." he said.
"I'm going to change." Yuna said, noticing her soaked clothing for the first time.
He nodded and continued up to the bridge.
"You're soaked." Lulu said as he entered.
"Well…I was just out in the rain." he said. He felt a warming sensation, then he realized he was completely dry.
"Hey…thanks Lulu." he said.
She just smiled at him.
"You looked like you were having fun." Rikku grinned.
"You should stop being so nosy, Rikku. You'll lose friends." Tidus said.
"What? I will not!" she exclaimed.
"Will not what?" Yuna asked, entering the room.
She had changed into black shorts, identical to her blue ones, her yellow Zanarkand Abes shirt with a black hood attached, and a black and yellow waist tie. She still wore the knee high boots and her braid was now black. Her arm cuffs and the black ribbon she always wore completed the outfit. He realized for a moment that they matched before Rikku pointed it out.
"Look! They match!" she exclaimed. Paine raised an eyebrow at him.
"Hey! Don't look at me, they were my colors first." he laughed.
"But I make it look good!" Yuna said.
"Hey! That's mean." he pouted.
"What have you done to her?" he asked Rikku.
"I helped improve." she laughed.
"Hey!" Yuna protested.
"I didn't need your help! I just let you do things!" Yuna insisted.
"Please! You'd still be quiet summoner!" Rikku teased.
"No…I…" Yuna trailed off.
"See?"
"Fine…you're right." she said, softly, turning form her cousin. She seemed upset, but something didn't seem right.
"Oh! Yunie…I didn't." Yuna began shaking lightly.
Rikku looked horrified. Tidus could practically read her thoughts.
Oh no! I made her cry.
But she wasn't crying. She always whimpered when she cried. He then realized…she was laughing. She was messing with Rikku. He decided to join the fun.
"Very nice, Rikku," he said, pulling Yuna into his arms.
Yuna grinned at him.
"Yunie…I didn't mean…I…" she trailed off.
Lulu had an amused smile on her face. She knew Yuna was faking as well.
Yuna buried her face into Tidus's chest and laughed harder, but it appeared to Rikku that she was crying.
"I'm sorry, Yunie! I was just kidding with you!"
Paine raised an eyebrow. She knew Yuna wouldn't cry over something like that.
"I didn't think it would upset you, I was just teasing you!"
"Obviously you don't know me that well…"
"But I do…"
"I can't believe you fell for that!" she exclaimed, pulling away from Tidus and breaking out into laughter.
Rikku looked shocked for a second before comprehension dawned on her face.
"Yunie! That's not funny!" she wailed.
"I thought it was funny." Paine said.
"Me too." Tidus agreed.
"Sayheac!" she whined. (Meanies!)
Wakka was laughing in the corner, unable to stop.
"She had me." he admitted.
"Really?" Tidus asked surprised.
"Yeah! How could you tell she wasn't serious?" he asked.
"When Yuna cries she whimpers…and she doesn't usually cry in front of other people." Tidus said.
"Yes…I noticed too." Lulu said.
"And me." Paine said.
"Aw…Yunie that was mean!" Rikku insisted.
"Not any worse then what you did to her….she changed herself. It was her decision." Paine said.
"Okay…I'm sorry Yunie." Rikku said.
"It's okay." Yuna said.
"Great!" Rikku said, regaining her usual buoyancy.
Tidus shook his head, laughing.
"Okay…I'm bored." Rikku said after a minute.
"That was fast." Paine said.
"I can't help it! I'm really hyper right now." she said, bouncing from one foot to the other.
"Right now?" Tidus asked.
"What? You wanna go?" she said, pulling out her twin blades and slashing them at him.
"Sure…I could take you." he said.
"You think so?" she asked, jumping at him a bit.
"Yeah, I think so." he said, pulling Brotherhood from the sheath on his back.
"Well, let's go then!" she exclaimed.
"Hey! You are not killing each other in here!" Buddy said.
"Oh! We can do something like the Youth League!" Yuna said.
"What?" Paine asked.
"Yeah, we could do something like that. It would give us something to do and help us blow off some steam." she said.
"Sounds good to me!" Rikku said, slashing her blades.
"I'm listening." Paine said.
"We could randomly pull names and whoever's comes out is going against each other." she said.
"Count me in." Wakka grinned.
"I'll do it." Lulu said.
"I'm for it!" Tidus grinned.
"You already know my answer." Rikku grinned.
"I guess." Paine sighed.
They all looked toward Auron.
"I don't know…" he said.
"Oh, come on!" It's not like we'll kill each other!" Rikku begged.
"We'll have boundaries, of course." Yuna said.
"Ok." he grudgingly agreed.
"So…up on the deck?" Buddy asked.
"Yeah." Yuna said.
When the whole group had gotten to the deck Yuna stepped in the middle, turning to face them.
"Okay….ground rules. If your name is drawn you have to fight, no backing out. The first time, we'll draw two names. Who ever wins that fight will go against the next person drawn." she said.
"All right! We done?" Rikku asked.
"No." Yuna said.
"No using overdrives…we don't want to kill each other. No killing your opponent. The match is over when one person is unable to stand without use of a healer. Which leads to the next rule, no use of curing spells, or healing potions of any kind. Which also means White Mage dress spheres are banned. Choose your weapon and armor at the beginning of the battle. You won't be allowed to change. This also includes dress spheres. Special dress spheres aren't allowed, because they are equivalent to overdrives. You are out when you lose a battle. Buddy will be keeping track. What Buddy says goes." she said.
"Is that it?" Rikku asked.
"Yes." Yuna said.
"Okay…Buddy, if you would?" Yuna asked.
The Al Bhed hit a button on a small remote.
"The first challenger is…Auron," he said. Auron stepped forward, shifting his sword on his shoulder.
"The second challenger is…" the remote beeped.
"Paine."
The pair looked at each other for a moment. Then Paine pulled out her garment grid and began looking at her collection of spheres. She finally settled one into a single node garment grid and she pushed the sphere in. Spiky armor replaced her usual leather and her sword glowed, lengthened, and gave a few points out the side. Dark Knight.
"You ready for this?" Paine asked with a grin.
"See if you can keep up." Auron replied.
"Ready! Go!" Buddy yelled.
The pair spent a second, looking at the other, waiting for the other to make the first move…but neither moved. They had the same strategy. After another moment, Paine dashed forward and slammed her sword into Auron's arm. He grunted lightly, but he didn't move or even blink. Paine looked slightly surprised.
"That all you've got?" he asked. His sword gave a small spark and he moved forward, swiping her back. She groaned, leaning for a second. It was a dirty move. He'd used Armor break on her. She charged for a moment before swinging her sword and unleashing a ring of black bubbles. Auron groaned as it hit him.
"Had enough?" Paine grinned.
"Not quite." he said, swiping her again.
Tidus flinched. He couldn't imagine being hit with that giant sword and laughing, but that was exactly what Paine did. She laughed. She shot forward, slamming him on both sides before jumping up and slashing him. He grunted and came down on one knee. She hit him again before he had a chance to move and he placed a hand in the air.
"I'm done." he groaned.
Paine smiled, looking rather pleased with herself. Tidus frowned slightly. Auron never gave up that easily. He was either really not interested in the contest or unwilling to do any real harm to the girl for such a trivial reason. Yuna changed into her White Mage dress sphere and healed Auron quickly. She then healed Paine.
"Okay…who's next?" Yuna said, looking to Buddy.
He stared at the device in his hand for a moment then said,
"Lulu."
Lulu stepped forward next to Paine. She pulled out her small Cactuar and placed a shield on her arm. Paine pulled out her garment grid again and studied her choices. After a moment she settled on thief. Her armor was replaced with shorts and a small top and her sword changed into identical twin blades. She'd chosen agility against magic. He didn't see the workings behind it, but he figured she had a reason and didn't question her. Lulu looked surprised as well.
"Ready? Go!" Buddy yelled.
This was when Paine revealed her reasoning for the thief. She quickly used borrow MP. Lulu looked startled, then smiled.
"I must admit, I was curious at your reason for that dress sphere, but you knew all along." she said. She slashed her hand through the air and a thunder bolt struck down on Paine. Paine jumped forward and slashed her. Lulu barely flinched.
"The problem is…" Lulu said, hitting her with another bolt, "that dress sphere does little damage and it's weaker."
Paine used borrow MP again as Lulu used Demi on her. Paine groaned, hitting one knee and breathing heavily. Lulu used Bio and Paine groaned, her hand going toward her pouch for an antidote.
"Paine! No antidotes! It's against the rules!" Yuna called to her.
Paine nodded, and ran at Lulu again, smashing her with all her strength.
Lulu groaned, but Paine let out a small grunt and dropped to the deck, heavily as the poison settled in.
"Done!" Buddy yelled with finality.
Yuna used Esuna on Paine, then Curaga. Paine walked off the floor, staggering a bit.
"Who's next?"
Buddy looked at the little object then,
"Rikku."
Rikku stepped up next to Lulu. She grinned at her.
"You ready?" Lulu asked.
"You know it." she grinned, looking through her dress spheres. She finally chose one and inserted it in the node. Her clothes changed to something that was apparently Al Bhed popular because Buddy and Brother cheered. A pair of goggled rested on her head and she wielded a huge gun.
"Are you ready?" Yuna asked.
"I am!" Rikku exclaimed.
Lulu nodded.
"Okay! GO!" She yelled.
Rikku instantly pulled out a budget grenade and a holy water. She mixed them quickly. She was an alchemist. She tossed her creation at Lulu. There was a bright explosion and Tidus shielded his eyes.
"Nice try, Rikku." Lulu said calmly, striking her with thunder again. Rikku mixed and L-bomb and an electro marble and threw it. Once again, there was a bright explosion. Lulu stumbled. She leaned to one side, gasping.
"You liked that one, didn't you?" Rikku grinned.
"It's not over yet." Lulu said.
Her Cactuar jumped to the ground and spun in a circle as Lulu leaned forward, bending her arms. The giant black bubble appeared in the sky and Rikku yelped as her health was sapped.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, throwing a frag grenade. Lulu groaned, clearing away the smoke with her hand.
She struck down another lightning attack.
Rikku grinned, mixing an L-bomb and a fire gem. She tossed the mixture at Lulu. When the smoke cleared, Lulu was on the ground breathing heavily.
"I'm done." she gasped.
"Oh yeah!" Rikku yelled, dancing around.
Yuna used another curing spell on Lulu, then on Rikku.
"Who's next?" Yuna asked, drinking down an ether. She made a face at the taste.
"Wakka." Buddy said.
"All right." Wakka said, stepping up.
"You ready?" he asked Rikku, pulling out his dark touch ball.
"I'll take you down, Tubby!" Rikku exclaimed.
"Don't speak too soon, ya?" Wakka said. Rikku began looking through her dress spheres.
"Ah!" she said, pulling out a small gray sphere.
"Berserker!" she yelled, changing into a dress sphere that made it so she was nearly naked.
Tidus couldn't help but cough. Yuna elbowed him. He cast her an innocent glance, but his gaze was really searching for Auron's reaction. Auron was watching silently, his expression no different then usual.
"You ready?" Rikku asked.
"Lets go!" he said.
"Go!" Yuna called.
Wakka threw his ball at Rikku, who dodged quickly. She released a rush of power and berserked herself. She dodged Wakka's attacks and hit him again. He finally closed his eyes and concentrated. After a moment he hit the ball against the side of the ship. Rikku looked confused, but Tidus was pretty sure he knew what was going to happen. He did it again, bouncing it up in the air. Wakka jumped up and spun then he pulled out and kicked the ball with power and it came down and slammed into Rikku. She grunted and slammed back against the airship and groaned, not standing up.
"This match goes to Wakka." Buddy said.
"Did he just…?" Yuna trailed off.
"That was amazing Wakka! Think of using the Jecht Shot as an attack!" Tidus exclaimed, wishing he'd thought of it first.
"I did it!" Wakka said, incredulously.
"You've been practicing?" Tidus said.
"Yeah…" Wakka grinned.
Yuna cast Curaga on the whining Rikku and then on Wakka, who still seemed amazed that he had been able to do it.
"Next up is Tidus." Buddy called.
Wakka grinned.
"I'm going to regret teaching you that, aren't I? Tidus groaned.
"Yeah." Wakka grinned.
"You ready?" Yuna asked.
"I am. Are you old man?" Tidus grinned.
"Lets do this." Wakka said.
They slapped hands and went to their starting positions.
"Go!" Yuna called.
Wakka tried hitting off a shot first, but Tidus ducked out of the way. He was used to dodging things. He'd been blitzing way too long. He jumped forward and slammed Wakka. He grunted a bit but stood his ground. Tidus was hoping that he'd use the Jecht Shot. He knew what to do. Just as he thought it, Wakka started to do it. He didn't even try to stop him. He needed him to do it. He used Haste on himself just for safe measure and waited for Wakka to finish the attack. Wakka slammed the ball toward him and Tidus brought his sword up. He deflected the ball off of his sword and smashed it back in Wakka's direction. It hit Wakka in the chest with the combined force of Wakka's kick and Tidus's swing. Wakka landed on the deck and groaned.
"That was cheap." he said.
"You done?" Tidus grinned.
"Yeah, okay." Wakka grumbled.
"This match goes to Tidus." Buddy said.
Tidus tossed his sword in the air and flipped it. He caught it one handed and swung it. Too easy.
"Who's next?" he asked.
Yuna grinned at him.
"Me." she said. He felt her calming magic over him, healing anything that may have happened.
"What?" he groaned.
"Don't think you can do it?" she grinned.
"You have an unfair advantage." he said.
"Well, let's find out." she grinned. She changed her dress sphere. She was the warrior. She grasped another one of the swords that he had used, the Avenger, in her hand.
She grinned.
"Lets go." she grinned.
"One minute." Tidus said, pulling his black shirt off and then pulling off his yellow t-shirt and tossing them to the side.
"What was that?" she asked. "You think you're going to distract me?"
"You are not going to cut through my clothes." he said.
She smiled innocently.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Been waiting for you." she said.
"Go!" Buddy shouted.
They jumped at each other at the same time, their swords clashing together. He was stronger then she was, so he was able to push her blade back and slash her. She grinned and hit him back almost instantly. He barely jumped out of the way as she swung again. He swiped her back. She dropped slightly. Then charged at him again. They locked blades again and he easily pushed her back. It was easy to see the fight was his. He was just stronger then she was. She should have chosen something like the Black Mage. She seemed to have seen that. Her eyes were concentrating, trying to come up with something. He deflected her blade again and hit her with another slash. She gasped slightly, then struck him again. He met her strike with his own blade. She pushed against him with all the strength she could muster, and he leaned back against her. Then suddenly she pressed her lips to him, pulling him into a forceful kiss. He felt her push against his sword and shoved it out of the way, knocking him onto his back. She straddled his stomach and locked his arms down by holding his wrists, the entire time not breaking contact with him.
"You done?" she whispered in his ear.
"Yeah." he groaned.
"Thought so." she said, standing up.
"That was cheating!" he exclaimed not standing.
"I don't know Tidus, the rules didn't say you weren't allowed to make out with your opponent." Rikku giggled.
Tidus stretched out.
"It was still cheap." he said.
Yuna offer her hand down to him. He grabbed it and pulled her down on top of him again.
"Tidus!" she giggled.
"Nope…you owe me." he said, kissing her lightly.
She grinned, kissing him back deeply, resting her hands on his chest.
"I could live without this, you know." Paine said.
Yuna pulled away and stood up. She offered him her hand again and this time he just stood up.
"You are the champion, huh?" he asked her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"You know it." she grinned.
"You don't need me anymore…you can take care of yourself." he said.
"I do need you." she corrected him.
"Always."
"I don't know…you managed pretty well yourself." he said.
"Yes…but…I'll always need you." she said, turning in his arms.
"Gag me with a spoon." Paine muttered as she walked by, killing the mood.
"You're just jealous!" he called after her retreating back.
She flipped him off over her shoulder.
"That's very lady like!" he called.
She then yelled a few unmentionable things at him.
"Paine!" Yuna said, shocked.
Paine disappeared down the lift. Tidus picked his shirts up off the ground and pulled the yellow one over his head.
Yuna pulled out her blue gunner dress sphere and put it into her garment grid. Her regular clothes reappeared and her sword disappeared.
Tidus pulled on his black shirt and fixed on his sheath, inserting his sword into it.
"There, you look like a genuine Abes fan." he laughed.
"You think?" she asked, spinning.
"I know. I saw about a billion of them everyday." he laughed.
"Except this. Only the players got these." he said, holding up the Zanarkand Abes necklace.
"Well, nice to know I'm unique." she laughed.
"You don't need a necklace to be unique." he assured her.
The sun had begun to set over the sky.
Tidus yawned.
"I'm exhausted." he yawned.
"Are you?" she asked.
"Yeah…don't ask me why, just Am." he said, shrugging.
"It's because I totally whipped you." she grinned.
"But you cheated." he said.
"I did not! The rules said nothing about kissing your opponent." she insisted.
"Well, you made the rules, didn't you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That, my dear, isn't the point." she said.
He laughed at her.
"You've gone crazy." he said.
"Crazy? Now I wouldn't go that far." she defended.
"Oh, I think you should."
"I could recommend a good therapist." he said.
"I'm sure you could." she grinned.
"You say you're in love?" Rikku asked, incredulously.
They turned to look at her, neither having realized she was still there.
"Well…that's part of the reason we know we love each other. We can tease each other like that and the other knows it's a joke." Tidus shrugged.
"Isn't that the same philosophy as your friend will lend you five gil when ever you ask?" Rikku asked.
"No...you know you are in love when you tease them mercilessly and then ask for five gil. If they give it to you…its love." Tidus grinned.
"You are so messed up." Rikku shook her head.
"In my position you'd be too." Tidus said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yuna asked, faking being offended.
"You try being told you don't exist." he said, suddenly feeling strange.
"Oh…right." Yuna said.
"Mood killer!" Rikku exclaimed.
Tidus shrugged.
"Sometimes the truth hurts." he shrugged, walking toward the lift.
"Where are you going?" Yuna called after him.
"I'm going to bed." he said, entering the lift and riding down to the cabin. He admitted to feeling guilty for what he'd said, but he was a bit too tired to care much. He laid down in one of the beds and fell asleep almost instantly.
YunaShe watched him walk down the stairs and she sighed.
"I wish he hadn't done that." she moaned, sitting with her back against the airship.
"Well…I'm sure it is just because he's tired…he'll be back to his normal self tomorrow." Rikku said.
"He'll never be back to normal…he's seen too much. He's not the same Tidus that I remember. I mean, I still love him, but its strange…" she trailed off
"You're not the same either, Yunie…you've both changed so much and you're still trying to get used to being together again. You've both seen a lot." Rikku said.
"Maybe you're right." Yuna said, yawning slightly.
"It looks like he's not the only one who is tired. Tidus…he is different. But it's not a bad thing. I expect it's very hard for him. I know it's hard for you too." Rikku said quickly as Yuna opened her mouth to speak.
"But it is worse for him. He doesn't know if he really exists. He lives with the terror of just disappearing from the face of the earth at any moment. He'd never admit it, but I think he's terrified. I heard him a couple days ago. He was sitting up here…he was crying. Begging, the Fayth I think, them to not take him away again. He doesn't want to go away anymore then you want him to. Then any of us want him to…but he has no choice in the matter. In the end…he loses most. We lose him…but he loses everything. He loses you…he loses his life. He is so scared…but he doesn't show it…he just keeps smiling. He is your ray of hope, Yunie. He smiles for you." Rikku said, standing up.
Yuna wanted to hit herself for not noticing. How could she have been so naïve? So selfish, She was constantly getting upset, and leaning on him. But he had no one to lean onto. He wouldn't lean on her. He was trying to keep her happy.
"I've been horrible, haven't I?" she asked, lightly.
"No…you couldn't have known…he's a good actor."
"You noticed." Yuna said.
"I know what it's like…to pretend everything is all right." Rikku sighed.
"I've done it for a long time."
"With Sir Auron?" Yuna asked.
She hadn't noticed that either. She was so selfish…only worrying about herself, when everyone else was in pain.
"Yes…I missed him so much. But I played happy. I did it for…"
"For me?" Yuna asked.
"Yes." Rikku admitted.
"Why is it…that people must be sad to keep me happy?" she asked.
"It's because we care about you, Yunie. What he is going through is horrible. He doesn't need you to start trying to get him to lean on you…he just needs you to be happy for him. If you're happy, he'll be happy." she said, leaving Yuna by herself on the deck.
Yuna sighed, leaning her head into his hands. How could she not have noticed? How could she be so uncaring?
If you're happy, he'll be happy.
He made her happy. He made her very happy. She stood up and walked to the lift, riding down to the cabin. She walked quietly up the stairs and to his bedside. He was asleep. He frowned lightly. She slipped into his arms, trying not to wake him up. She succeeded and leaned against into his warmth. It didn't seem right. He was here, holding her. His warmth and smell surrounded her and could hear his heart beat. She could feel his warm breath on her. He seemed so real…but it was possible for him to just disappear. She watched his face as the frown disappeared. He slept lighter now, his arms tightening around her as if it were just natural reaction. She smiled. Maybe it was. She kissed him lightly and closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to overtake her.
Tidus followed behind Braska as they walked through the Farplane Glen.
"Tidus." said a voice. He turned to see Bahamut standing behind him.
"Bahamut! Hi." Tidus said.
"Would you like to see her again?"
"What? You mean…"
"You know. Would you like to see her?"
"Yes…of course." he said quickly Was he crazy? Of course he did.
"We will do our best. I need you to do something though."
"Sure…anything." he said.
"I need you to…"
"Tidus! Are you coming?" Braska froze, staring at the young Fayth.
"Hello, Braska." Bahamut said.
"Bahamut…" Braska said, approaching the pair.
Bahamut turned back to Tidus.
"I need you to think as hard as you can of where you want to go." Bahamut said.
"Done." Tidus said.
"Good. We will do what we can." Bahamut disappeared on the spot.
"What…was that about?" Braska asked.
"I…I think I might be going back to Spira." Tidus said, slowly.
He sat down in the flowered field and pulled his knees to his chest. He put his face in his knees and thought as hard as he could of Besaid Beach. He heard small bark of laughter and he looked up. Jecht grinned at him.
"You're going back into the real world, huh? Lucky." he said.
Tidus shrugged.
"If the Fayth can do it." he said.
"Right. Come let us know if you actually make it out." Jecht shook his head.
"I will." Tidus said. He put his head back down and thought of Besaid again. He thought hard, trying to remember every detail. Yuna's face appeared in his head. Could it be possible? Was he really going to see her again? He suddenly felt very light. He looked up and he was surrounded by water. The water was crystal clear and there was bright white sand on the ground.
'Did it work?' he thought, pushing his way up through the water. His head broke the surface and he looked out at the water surrounding him. He turned and…there it was. Besaid. He put his fingers to his lips, letting out an ear splitting whistle. But…what if she wasn't there? What if it was years in the future? He'd lost track of time on the Farplane. He leaned back, floating on the water. What if she was dead? What if all his friends had died long ago?
'I'll never find out by staying here.' he told himself, beginning to swim to the shore. As soon as he got close enough to walk he stood and trudged through the water. There was a giant roar and he turned to see an airship with an obviously insane driver fly right over him. The hatch opened and a girl half ran, half slid down. Was that…? It couldn't be…but it was. There was no mistaking those eyes. She ran into his arms and he felt the weight of her slam against him.
"Are you real?" she whispered.
He froze. Was he? Was he real?
"I think so." he said, uncertainly
She pulled back and her eyes swept over him.
"Do I pass?" he asked.
She nodded, hugging him again.
"You're home."
"I am home."
The dream faded. Tidus remained on the Beach, but there was no one else there. Bahamut appeared in front of him.
"Do you want to stay?" he asked.
"What? Here in Spira?" Tidus asked.
"Do you?"
"More then anything. Don't take me away from her again." he begged.
"We don't wish to do that…but we are running out of time. You must hurry. Your days are numbered." he said.
"What? We working as fast as we can!" he said.
"I realize this, but we grow weaker. She grows desperate. You may have noticed…the Machina are now being effected. We can only hold on for a few more days." he said.
"Wait! How many more days?"
"A week…maybe a little longer."
"A week?" he groaned.
"It is all we can do. Please…stop this." Bahamut said.
"We will…we'll stop this." Tidus promised.
"Thank you. I know how much is at stake." Bahamut said, bowing and disappearing.
Tidus jerked awake with a gasp.
"What is it?" Yuna asked, looking concerned.
"We have a week." he said.
"What?" she asked.
"Bahamut says he they can only hold on for a little while longer. I've got a week." Tidus said.
"No…" Yuna said.
"We have to stop this…and fast." he said.
"We are in Bevelle…we were just waiting for you to wake up." she said.
"Lets go. We need to get that sphere and get to Gagazet." he said.
Tidus stood and they ran to the lift, practically able to feel the time slipping by.
------------------------------------------
So, there ya go. Happy Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hannukah, and New Year!
