Disclaimer: To start, I do not own any of the characters in this story. They're still all property of Squaresoft. So don't sue as no profit is being made off this.

Note: For those of you out there who don't like Tidus+Yuna READ THIS. This is written from Yuna's point of view. Reviews are a must for readers.

Summary: Climbing Mt. Gagazet

Rating: I guess PG? It may get higher ratings if I decide to continue.

Only In Memories Chapter 10

By pk_angel

I never had any doubts that Kimahri would win. Not a single doubt. Although, I'll admit that I was somewhat concern about Kimahri's, um…well, his size. And that's something I thought I'd never be concerned about. But with him standing next to Biran, his face turned upward in bold confrontation, the magnitude of their height contrast was startling.

Still, we faced much, much larger enemies on the battlefields in the past and Kimahri never wavered. So when Yenke laid facedown in the snow and Biran conceded to defeat, I rejoice in something I felt was an eventuality.

"Kimahri!"

I ran up to him after the Ronso duo had left and threw my arms as much around him as I could, and nuzzled my face against the warm fur of his torso. I was happy for my friend. Too happy to contain myself.

I felt Kimahri's right arm come around me to hug me back as the others gathered round to offer their congratulations. Here, then, was a brief interlude of what I can only think of as just…rightness.

The moment, as right as it felt, was short lived.

Lulu tapped my shoulder. "We should go now. They'll be here soon."

They…

They being Bevelle. More than that. We were being chased.

Chased by Yevon. Chased by Sin. Chased by time. We were running short and running everywhere it seems.

Just like that, such somberness returned to the group.

Kimahri could sense my unease. He spoke. "Everything all right. Kimahri be with Yuna."

"Thank you, Kimahri."

And for the rest of the day, no one spoke a word more. Well, except for a little incident involving Rikku, who—as soon as we started upward—stopped and dumped articles out of her backpack. She shook out a jacket before slipping it on, and we watched in amazement as she did the same for a long pair of pants. Then a fur hat. Then gloves. Finally, she attached these flat, but broad, kind of twig weaves to her shoes.

Wakka, whose jaw was agape, couldn't help but exclaim, "What in Ye—what is that? I have seen a lot of weird things in my day, but that one is by far the weirdest, sista."

"These," Rikku began, shaking out her boots—now fixed with attachments, "are to help me from sinking in the snow. I called em' snowflats. Neat, huh?"

"Will they slow you down?" Auron asked. "Because if they do…"

"They won't. Living in the Sundabian desert my entire life had me ill prepared for last time," she said, referring to our dubious snow trek to Macalania Temple, "But Rikku doesn't get caught unawares twice. I've learnt my lesson. No shorts for me. HAHA! Take that mother nature."

Tidus glanced down at his neat—and suddenly really noticeably—hairless, tan legs. "Damn."

And I looked at the rest of the group. Besides Auron and Kimahri (by default of his fur), were dressed appropriately. The rest—short, dress, sandals, and a backless summoner outfit (curses!)—were ridiculously undressed. How dumb were we?

Tidus blushed. "Aha, Rikku," he said, trying to cover up his embarrassment. "That's really good thinking. Do you, uh, have an extra outfit in there for, uh…say me?"

"Hmm, I didn't really think about bringing more. I guess I should've, huh."

That didn't help.

"Sorry," she offered, somewhat meekly, realizing what an oversight it was. "I'll bring some for you guys next time."

"Augh."

The guys groaned and waved her off, leaving Rikku scratching head and laughing, "Hehe, sorry."

Then we started climbing; quiet for the rest of our trek up the mountain. Everyone must've been caught up in such, "what if's…" and "what happens afterwards…"

Why did it have to be so quiet? I start thinking of…

No. That was hard. Too sad.

The monotony was interrupted every now and then as we were forced into fiend-encounters. Surprise, they were ice-based elemental monsters. Lulu was casting fire magic for most of the day. I had to pick up a fire sphere on my learning to help out.

We were getting tired. As I looked towards the next bend around the corner, the end seemed very far away. And night was coming soon. Twilight--as the wind grew stronger by the minute.

"Snowstorm," Auron remarked. "We better find cover."

Tents were not an option. A Mt. Gagazet snowstorm—Auron related to us—would decimated our tent within seconds, and then would strip our flesh from our bones with sheer ferocity. Finding a cave within the side of the mountain would be our only choice.

"I saw something back there," I said, "It's not that far back." Better to go back then search for caves ahead of us.

When we started back, we had only taken a few steps when we head the soft tshhh of snow as it dispersed behind us. Something---two something's—had landed, cushioned by the pads of powder.

We whipped back, weapons drawn en guard only to find…

"Biran? Yenke?"

Kimahri wasn't the only one surprised. But sure enough, the Ronsos stood up, facing us.

"Aw, what now?" Tidus asked.

Biran, the more articulate of the pair, spoke first, "Elder Kelk wants Summoner Yuna to come to Ronso pyrde. Stay for night."

"Is honor. Honor." Yenke chimed in.

"What?!!"

That was the general consensus.

"You be guest of Ronso pryde." Biran insisted, stepping closer. He bowed to me, reverent. And I was amazed that within a day, hostilities and alliances could be so changed. Whereas Biran antagonized Kimahri before, now he was inviting both Kimahri and us to his home.

This was indeed a blessing.

I had to accept. "Please show us the way."

Biran nodded and motioned for us to follow. Everything about him spoke of deep respect for me, I couldn't help but think of deeply entrenched honor, respect, and traditions were to the Ronso race.

I heard Rikku ask Kimahri, "What's a pride?"

"A pryde is Ronso gathering."

"Oh, like Home."

"Is home, indeed. Pryde not shown to outsider. Is exception." There was a short pause before he reflected, "Kimahri long time away from pryde."

Anyone else would've missed the change of pitch in Kimahri's voice, but, knowing him all his life, I didn't. I turned slightly to look back at Kimahri, and could detect the slightest indication of wonder on his normally stoic features.

Home.

Besaid.

A lifetime ago.

For Kimahri, who had been away for over a decade, how much he must've felt.

Following Biran, he had led us to what appeared to be a solid stone wall on the side of the mountain. Biran and Yenke placed both hands on the wall and with a grunt, started to push. I could see the strain and effort they exerted—their muscles bulged, the tendons on their neck were taunt and tight.

We heard the massive stone tab give way, scrapping against the edges of the opening as the tab turned at an angle, allowing entry.

Biran motioned for me to enter, and we all did. When the last of us were in, they closed the door much the same way the opened it. What an effort to keep this place hidden.

As soon as darkness completely enveloped the cave, I could see several stones, the size of a person's head, glow greenish-blue, helping illuminate the cave.

Yenke grabbed a heavy timber torch before flicking two flints together, sparking a fire. With the two Ronso's ahead of us, we started making our way through the labyrinth of rocky corners and stone steps.

Of course, me being me, I couldn't get by without something happening--my foot caught on a random, innocuous rock and I fell forward. Had it not been for Tidus grabbing my arm and pulling me to him, I probably would've landed smack on my face. And that—

Probably would've hurt.

"Yuna, you all right?"

"Mmmmhmmm," I nodded, somewhat shaken.

"Whoa, nice catch, Tidus," Rikku said.

Wakka chuckled, "Of course. The brudda has blitz reflexes, dontcha know?"

"Yeah," Tidus agreed, "That's something to be impressed about." He rolled his up his sleeve and flexed.

He turned to me, a cocky smile on his face before asking, "Wanna feel, Yuna?"

"I—uh…"

"Come along," Lulu said, brushing by Tidus and grabbing my arm, pulling me along with her.

"Aw, Lulu," Tidus began to protest, when Rikku broke in and squeezed his bicep. Hard. Apparently harder than he intended because he gave a cry.

"Hmm? That was muscle? Tidus, you have girly arms."

"Hey!"

"And kind of girly legs, now that I think of it."

"Rikku!"

I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. It was my turn to rescue Tidus for a change. "Rikku, come here," I beckoned. "And leave Tidus alone."

She flashed on last grin at Tidus before joining me, while Tidus grumbled. I could hear, "I don't have girly limbs."

"Sure you don't. Chappu had the same as you, ya. And he got all the ladies." Wakka added a pat on the back—another comforting measure.

This is what I liked. Talking. Laughing. I guess now that we were inside---away from the fiend and the cold---we have the space to do all that.

"Oh wow," I let out a gasp as we made a turn. There, ahead of us, finally, was the inner sanctum of the rock carved complex. And it was remarkable. Looking up to sky high ceilings, with sheets of glass allowing for light in; ample roaming space—literally stretches of rolling fields and streams. Torches of fire and glow stones set besides huts of various materials.

All this, improbably encased within such an inconspicuous mountainside.

I could see Ronsos of all different sorts and sizes—male, female, adults, and cubs—coming out to greet us. And soon we were surrounded by them, all talking excitedly about these strange people—the Summoner and her Guardians.

And we were taken to the center of it all, where a platform was. Elder Kelk stood there and with a booming voice, he announced, "Here, then, is Summoner Yuna. We Ronso welcome you as guest. Tonight, we celebrate for heroes of Spira. The bringer of the future Calm."

A rousing cheer followed as drums were banged out and the Ronso's around us roaring so loudly that Rikku had to cup her ears (she was standing too closely to one).

I had just expected a bed to stay for the night, but a full-on celebration?

It was such a contradiction. A paradox, really. Yevonites celebrating fugitives. Life celebrating in the face of death. And the direness of our situation punctuated by a party?

I was too in shocked to respond in any way other then to have my mouth drop open in disbelief.

There was whooping and hollering as we were rushed to sit besides a picnic of food laid out especially for us. Steaming bowls of rice, glistening slabs of meat, and soups of different assortments. The amount and quality of the food went beyond just merely being substance—this ostentatious display encouraged a luxury that I had only witness once: in the aftermath of my father's victory over Sin.

"MY GOD!" Rikku fell to her knees and waved her hands over the food, as if to see if all of this was real. "I don't believe in God, but if ever there was a time to—now would be it!"

Lulu turned to Kimahri and asked, "Is this for us?!"

Kimahri nodded. "Ronso know Yuna courage. Ronso feel indebted to Yuna."

This was too much.

"Please tell them, they have no need to thank me."

"Shhh!!" Rikku tired to hush me. In a harsh whisper she said, "Ix-nay on the give-it-back-shtney."

Tidus sat down next to me. "For once I agree with her. Rikku's right. The food's already been made and these people came with a mind to party. We can't put a stop to that now. Mightest well enjoy it."

"But. But…"

"You talk too much, Yunie. Here, eat!" Rikku grabbed a chicken leg and stuffed it in my mouth—effectively shutting me up and…

And, oh my GOD!

If this had tasted any more delicious I would've swear I had gone to the Farplane. I managed to swallow and the next words out of my mouth were, "Is this smoked?"

We were compelled and---in every sense of the word---seduced to sit. For the next hour, there was laughing in between every bite of food as we marveled at our luck. The Ronso kept good company. Our glasses were never empty and our plates never without—spilling wine and juice all over the grass as they poured till our cups were overflowed.

And we conversed. Our hosts, as I discovered, when not on guard, had wicked senses of humor. Ronsos—inebriated enough—were lax and so talkative; I couldn't reconcile what I had believed they were and the side they were showing now.

"Kimahri, I didn't know…"

I had wanted to say, I didn't know Ronso's could be like this. But Kimahri had read my intent and replied, "Yuna is family now. Everyone here is family. Good thing."

"Yes," I told Kimahri. "That's a very good thing." And I felt so fortunate to be here. To be alive--in this moment. In this place. With them.

There was a hiccup. I looked over to see Lulu leaning in to listen to Elder Kelk. Since Ronsos had fur covering their bodies, they couldn't flush the way a normal person would when drunk; but you can tell by their eyes and the way their mouths dawdled a bit. Elder Kelk must've told a joke—I couldn't hear over the multitude of conversation around me. But I could tell by the way he burst out laughing, bearing his canine teeth. And it must've been a really, really dirty joke at that---to get Lulu to blush on the rare occasion that she does.

She shook her head, and--catching my look--could only shrug in return.

Those who didn't eat or finished eating, danced.

I sat by clapping as I watched Rikku being swung round and round by Kimahri. That was before I was dragged to my feet by a very energetic Tidus. And, although we didn't know the steps, the beat of the music evoked something so primal and instinctive that we moved with ease, linking arm and arm together as we formed a chain of dancers, undulating up and down across the center of the gathering.

Somehow, we ended up in a tavern-like hut.

Rikku was by the fireside, playing with cubs only as tall as my knees. Some were even shorter. Little round balls of fur. The way they had approached her, one paw carefully placed in front of the other and all curious like that, I knew that this must've been their first encounter with people. Lucky for them—and for us—that it Rikku who was the first. She couldn't have been a more perfect ambassador—letting the cubs climb all over her, falling into her lap and letting her tickle their stomachs.

Lulu had gone with Elder Kelk to explore the pryde. She had asked if they had a library here. Wakka had stayed behind, in the tavern with us, talking to some locals.

The party had already winded down and—although still rowdy—was a lot quieter in comparison. Still, no one wanted to sleep. No one wanted the night to be over just yet…

Tidus was sitting in a quiet corner by himself. The celebration had been a welcomed diversion, but I could see that by the set look on his face that he was already thinking about tomorrow…

I glanced at Rikku, and then at the others---they were all distracted.

Good.

Then I walked over and sat down wordlessly besides Tidus before placing my head on his shoulder, yawning.

Tidus laughed, "Tired?"

"Only a little bit. Is this okay?"

"Of course." He nodded and grabbed some fur coverings lying besides him and draped them over me, encouraging me to sleep.

I pulled the blanket up to my nose, before settling down again, luxuriating in this comfort.

I must've looked and sounded like I dozed off, because I felt Tidus relax.

A few moments passed like this—just like this--before I heard a commotion. Biran's voice rang out, "Tidus. You sit with us. Drink."

Tidus hesitated. "Uh…no thanks, guys. I'm not a big drinker."

The boys—and I heard Wakka chiming in—insisted otherwise almost immediately.

Tidus offered up an excuse: me. "I'd love to, but I can't move right now. Yuna's here. She's sleeping, so I don't want to wake her."

Well, I would've liked it if Tidus hadn't drawn attention to me, but…

Whatever happened, they weren't much bothered by this revelation as someone—so very wise—suggested, "Don't move. We'll come to you."

They laughed in agreement. Despite Tidus saying, "No, no. Really," and more like that, I could hear someone picking up one of the many heavy stone tables in the room and hustled over to place it in front of us.

I sighed inwardly—one sleeping girl, surrounded by a bevy of boys. There was no way to get out of this easily. If I wake, they'll probably make me drink. If I pretended to sleep then I would be eavesdropping—which I didn't want to do…

I heard Tidus saying quietly to Auron, "Auron, you know that I don't drink. I didn't like my father drinking and I don't want to do it myself."

"Hmmm," Auron mused. He must've known.

"Tried it before?" Biran asked.

"No, but I don't need to."

"Look," Auron began. I opened my eyes slightly to see Auron pouring into a small cup, and guessed immediately that it was intended for Tidus. "No one's going to force you, but if the reason for you not wanting to is because of your father then that'll be running away. The question is…"

Auron finished pouring and placed down the bottle, ceramic hitting the stone polish of the table. He then looked at Tidus and said, "How long do you intend to run?"

"I'm not afraid of my father."

Auron picked up the small cup and offered it to Tidus, saying, "So choose, then."

There was a beat as the eyes around the table watched Tidus, weighing him—his worth on what he would do. And I heard a sharp inhale from Tidus. Had anyone else said it, Tidus wouldn't have hesitated to refuse. Calling it for the psychological bluff that it was. But Auron…

Sir Auron…

He was Tidus's mentor.

Tidus must've hated himself for it, but he still reached out, grabbed the cup and down it.

"Whooohooo!!"

The guys gave their cry of approval and Yenke poured another cup before saying, "Is Ronso manner. Cup filled by other must be drunk. Insult otherwise."

"Is that so? Fine. Bottom up, then." Tidus grabbed the drink offered to him and, again, downed it.

"That'a boy," Auron remarked, pouring for himself. "You're old enough to feel sorrow; you're old enough to drink. Do you really think I carry water in this jug?" He indicated the one he always carries with him.

By the fifth cup, I was worried for Tidus. The way he drank it—I didn't know if it was because he didn't want to offend our Ronso host, or because he wanted to prove something to himself.

Either way, Auron was right: this was his choice. Even if I had woken up and said, "Stop, Tidus," that wouldn't be my place. Still, I couldn't help but clutched his sleeve tighter, although I knew he couldn't have felt it.

I decided that it was best to try to sleep, even if that was close to impossible.

About half an hour later, they were musing the way only liquored-up people could. Talking about the universe, concepts of greatness, the big, the small. The things that escape the mind when focused sharply on the present. In other words, philosophy. The man presiding over it all: Auron.

Kimahri, drunker than I've ever known him (he must've downed pints of this stuff), nudged Tidus and pointed—not too discretely—at the Ronso waitress serving drinks to the other table. "Is lovely, you agree?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, she's hot."

"Hot?"

"Oh, absolutely. But she's not really my type."

Biran huffed, "Biran knows Ronso women not puny blond human's type. No way human appreciate beauty of Ronso."

"Puny. Puny." Yenke guffawed.

"From what Biran can tell, size is no matter to human female. Lucky you," and I knew he indicated me.

This made them guffaw even harder.

Somehow the conversation turned to the ever popular topic of women. I tried to hide under my blanket. Somehow disappear from all this. Being privilege to all this "man talk"—as Lulu would say—is not something I ever wanted to be involved in. And yet, here I was…

As Wakka stated, "Say, with Lulu, man. I just don't understand women. Why is it so difficult? They say one thing when they mean another."

"Should come with subtitles."

Auron chuckled. "Women."

"You know, women, Auron?" Tidus asked.

"Hmph. No man knows women. If they tell you that they do, they're lying."

"But—"

"The answer to that question would just be another question. And the answer to that one, and the one after that. And the one after. Best to just stand back and appreciate what is."

"You ever been in love?" Tidus asked him.

My ears perked up-- I was interested. As far as I knew, Auron never was, but then he said….

"Only once. A long time ago. A girl in my village"

"What happened?"

"Sin happened."

At the mention of Sin, the mood of the table changed. Sin, always constant—however brief a time we could get away from it—even now, drinking among companions, Sin came back.

"You?" Auron asked and I realized he was referring to Tidus.

"Only once. Very recent. Also a girl from a village."

"Must be nice."

And they shared an understanding with each other, while I, too tired to make a fussed about it, simply accepted how nice an answer it really was.

I awoke feeling someone tug on me---hard. "Ah!" Yelped. Yes, I actually yelped--and I realized that I was being pulled in two different directions. Someone was playing tug-o-war and I was the rope. And before my eyes even opened, I was aware of someone touching softly against my cheek—again and again. Kisses?

Then my eyes opened.

"Tidus?!" At that moment, he lost his grip on my arms and was now holding onto my leg, kneeling in front of me.

"You leave my cousin alone, you perv!"

"Rikku?!" I turned to find her with her arms underneath my armpits—leverage to pull me away from Tidus, who was now kissing the fabric of my skirt.

He wailed incoherently. The only thing I could make out was a slurred, "Don't go. Don't go. Purdy lady."

By the Yevon, how drunk was he?

I flailed my legs in an effort to get him to loosen his grip—but he just tightened. I couldn't breathe, if only because of the panic of not knowing what was going on.

I had only to glance around to realize that we were center stage. There was such a rousing laughter—even Kimahri. Why wasn't he stopping this?

"LULU! COME HELP ME!" Rikku shouted.

I glanced to see Lulu, who had just come through the door, walk up to us, and without another word grabbed Tidus and pulled. After a few trying efforts, they managed to dislodge Tidus from me; and Lulu practically discus threw him over to Wakka, who kept him secure—preventing him from coming back to me.

I had fallen backwards ontop of Rikku, who let out a meek, "You're squashing me." Before I rolled over and gain enough sanity to help her up myself.

Lulu was by my side and hurried to usher us out of the tavern saying, "You're not sleeping in here with these boys."

We left the tavern behind us, followed by whistling and applause. And, even if I didn't know the entire situation—the how, what, why—I knew enough to know that that applause was not a good thing.

As soon as we were outside, Rikku huffed at me. "Yunie, that was so inappropriate!"

"What? What did I do?"

For Yevon's sake, I was innocent. I swear.

"I know you guys are a couple but P.D.A.? Seriously?"

"P. D—what?"

Lulu sighed, "Yuna, really."

Her too? But she wasn't even there!

"Would someone please tell me what Rikku is talking about?"

"Public displays of affection. P. D. A."

"I wasn't!"

"Keep your voice down," Lulu said, reminding us that it was the dead of the night and people were sleeping.

"Okay, I'm a prude like that." Rikku confessed, somewhat not proud of that.

But, I insisted, "I'm a prude too! I wasn't displaying or affecting anything."

"Then why'd you let him kiss you like that."

I gasped. Lulu gasped. "What?!"

Lulu added a-- "He did, what?" She started to turn around and I could see her intention was to head back to the tavern, but I held her back.

"Where are you going?"

"To get Tidus." The underlying purpose: to skin him, wasn't said but…I could've guessed.

I heard smooching sounds and turned to see Rikku, back to us, crossing her arms in front to hold her back—so that she looked like she was making out with someone.

"You're not helping," I pleaded, my eyes practically watering.

Rikku, sensing that this whole ordeal genuinely came as a surprise and—moreover—was upsetting to me, finally relented. "Geez, you really didn't know?"

"No."

"I'm sorry, Yunie."

I sniffled. "That's okay."

Now it was Rikku's turned to be embarrassed and really, really, really remorseful. She clung onto my sleeve as we walked towards another hut, "Aw, Yunie. You know, I love you. It's just…well, you know my dad and how he is. I guess, I'm a little like him. I don't mean to be."

"No. I shouldn't have let it get so out of control."

Lulu shook her head. "I guess we're all traditional in that way."

"Yeah," I agreed.

Rikku, by way of atonement, offered, "Here. You sleep by me tonight. And tomorrow. We'll straighten it out with Tidus in the morning."

The next morning—let me start again…

Late (very late) next morning or early afternoon, we woke, cleaned up and met at the entrance of their Home to say goodbye to our new friends.

Tidus, needless to say, was the last one out of bed. They had to splash water on him, haul him up and actually brush his teeth for him. I had heard from Wakka that after we had left the tavern, Tidus ended up hurling in the corner---then in the open toilet, when they had managed to drag him over (with bucket).

Then there were the potions. And when Tidus's stomach had calmed, Biran came with a bowl of medicine and forced it down his throat.

It was a mess.

And, looking at Tidus this morning, it was still a mess. He looked horrible, and, upon near proximity, he smelt just as bad.

Lulu chastised Wakka, "How could you let him drink so much?"

Wakka shrugged. "I didn't know that one couldn't hold his liquor, ya."

"And the lesson today is moderation."

Tidus shot Auron the stink eye, before cringing and holding onto his head. He moaned.

But Rikku wasn't sympathetic in the least. "Hangover, huh? Serves you right. Let's go."

"What did I do?" He asked when we were back on the snowy trail up Gagazet. "Yuna, did I do something wrong?"

"Don't you remember?"

He shook his head. "Things sort of went black, you know."

Yes, I was a mad at him. And yes, I wanted to kick him for being so daft. But Tidus was Tidus—and he wasn't anything if not loved by me. I sighed, feeling my resolved to stay angry at him melting like a popsicle in the sun. "Come here, you." I tugged his arm and pulled him to my side before touching the side of his temple, casting healing spells as we went along.

He smiled, so relieved to feel somewhat normal. "Thank you."

"It's no problem, really."

*****

NOTES:

I can't believe it took me this long to update this fanfic. The last entry was: update- 03/03. That was six years ago! What the hell happened there? To be completely honest with you, after chapter 9, I got caught up in so many things that by the time I came back with the intention of finishing this fic, I had actually forgotten a lot of details about the game. I had an idea of the scenes I wanted to write, but had completely forgotten the characters!

*shakes head*

This story, though, was always in the back of my mind. I hate leaving things half-finished and there are 3 more chapters left in my noggin'.

I had time this weekend and with action replay maxx for ps2, stormed through FFX trying to capture the spark that inspired me to write "Only in Memories" in the first place. So, here you are.

To new readers: Welcome! And the rule of thumb is: leave a review!

To my old, lingering and much appreciated readership (especially kitty2211): You guys have the patience of a saint, and I hope I haven't let you down.

Criticism definitely welcome! Be brutal and honest. Until the next time, peace easy!