Iridescent Shelter

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, but I do own the story.

A/N: It's...been a long time, my friends. I apologize for the long absence, and for the short update. However, I will tell you that I seem to be back on track. It seems the inspiration has come back full force, but my writing is constantly evolving. Hopefully I haven't deterred you guys from the stories. But, the wait is over!

Oh...Brandon? This chapter? Yeah. It's just for you and Wisdom. Hopefully, you'll find it satisfactory. Anywho, I'll stop rambling so you guys can enjoy. 3

One moment can change your life. Whether it changes for good or bad is left to chance, but it changes all the same. How you choose to deal with this change is entirely up to us as individuals, but one thing remains the same: from that day forward, we're never the same.

"So?"

She felt him there, carefully untying the blindfold. Silence had fallen between them, but it was different. It was comfortable and yet, as she stood motionless, something about the particular area heightened the anxiety that settled in her chest.

"I haven't seen anything yet," Yuna whispered, laughing softly as she did so.

Tidus kept his hands placed on either side of her head gently, trying as hard as he could to suppress the eruption of chuckles bubbling to the surface. He knew the moment he completely removed the blindfold, Yuna was sure to die of shock.

"Take a guess," he snickered, walking her forward as she placed her hands on top of his softly, "You're a mage, right? Aren't you supposed to have...an extra sense, or something?"

Yuna stumbled a bit, grabbing his hands harder and smiled, "Yeah. Something like that."

They continued carefully, inching their way forward. Tidus stood firmly behind Yuna, still grinning from ear to ear as he stole glimpses of her. The time for talking was over; he wanted to watch her – study her – the way Yuna would slip into an other world as she became one with her surroundings. She retreated, out of touch with reality and a million miles away from Spira.

A steady warm breeze. Soft sand, and yet, I only faintly hear the ocean waves. The smell of rain water and...leaves?

Yuna thought, painted images forming behind closed eyes. Her right hand hesitated, but ever in tune, Tidus grabbed her hand and guided it outward. She smiled, biting at her lip as her fingertips grazed something.

Rough. So the leaves that were retaining the rain water must be the trees in the forest. Each step we take, I can hear the waves crashing harder...so we must be heading to the cliff. But then, if we're heading toward the cliff...then why do I hear -

Yuna halted before she could finish. In one swift motion, both her hands landed on top of his and she removed the blindfold.

"Pyreflies," she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Mm," Tidus nodded, staring directly at her and waiting.

"But how did you," Yuna stared on in disbelief, "I mean, it's not possible!"

He said nothing, but continued to stare as Yuna turned slowly. The translucent forms wound themselves around her, dancing somberly, yet gracefully against her body. Hands stretched open, she raised them upward, watching and smiling brightly as one skimmed and danced along her palms. Faint whispers and eerie cries echoed through the clearing as Tidus came to stand beside her. Iridescent lights illuminated their features, and the more they smiled and laughed, the brighter the pyreflies became – almost as if they were reacting to them.

"I knew you'd like it," he whispered as he looked down at Yuna as she started to turn circles again.

"They're so beautiful," she whispered breathlessly.

Yes, they are. But even the pyreflies can't compare to your beauty...

Tidus thought to himself as he continued to witness her amazement. Every other girl would have wrinkled her nose in disgust, or, squealed in fear. But Yuna was no other girl, nor was she ordinary. A woman wise beyond her years, trapped in the innocent body of a child; everything held in wonderment and grandeur, as if she were seeing it for the first time – even if she'd seen it a million times over.

"Hey, Ti," Yuna giggled playfully, dragging him to the center of the clearing, "How'd you manage to pull this off?"

Tidus shrugged and smiled as Yuna guided one of the pyreflies to the top of his head. There it hovered and cried, and in doing so, a few of the others drifted toward it. In just a couple of seconds, he had three or four dancing around in circles. Yuna grabbed at her sides, doubled over in laughter from the sight.

"I forgot," Tidus chuckled, carefully swishing them away, "You can control them."

"Not exactly," she corrected, sitting on one of the nearby logs, "You can't control pyreflies. You call out to them, and if they sense the magic within you, they respond."

"I thought the Summoners could 'send' them, though?" Tidus scratched his head as he sat beside her, still looking at the pyreflies.

"Well, summoning magic is a bit different," Yuna folded her hands neatly in her lap, "It's called a 'sending', but it's just the pyreflies responding to the magic the Summoner harbors. It's more of a...calling, rather than a command."

"Ohhhh, ok."

"Are you going to tell me?" Yuna asked, nudging Tidus playfully.

"Maybe," Tidus smirked, nudging her back, "Someday."

They sat silently, watching and listening to the pyreflies floating before them, not noticing just how close in proximity they were to each other; thigh against thigh, pinky against pinky, lightly brushing against one another. It wasn't until they both turned to speak, that both of their foreheads lightly bumped together, that they were aware.

"Ow..."

"I-I'm sorry..."

Both of them spoke up at once, lightly rubbing the point of impact. Yuna looked away nervously, sliding herself just a tiny bit in the opposite direction, willing away the blush that had crept up in her cheeks. Tidus, on the other hand, grinned as he slid closer to her.

"And where do you think you're goin'?" he asked, sliding even closer, now sitting hip to hip.

"Hmm?" Yuna asked, crossing her legs, choosing to ignore what he'd done, "Oh, nowhere."

"I think you're trying to get away from me." Tidus smirked, looking behind them to see she hand nowhere else to go, "You should know better, Yun."

"Oh stop it," she giggled softly, folding her arms loosely at her chest, "I wouldn't do such a thing."

"Oh, really?"

He looked back to the pyreflies, seemingly lost in his own thoughts for a few minutes. The setting was just right, and he was in the company of someone he cared for more than anyone knew. Still, he hesitated, not wanting to scare her off. Then again, the more he entertained this little idea of his, the more he wanted to act upon it, if nothing more than to see just how she'd react. Tidus turned his head in her direction as she got up slowly, walking back out into the pyreflies. This was it; if he didn't do it now, the moment would be lost. And Yevon only knows when he could get it back.

Yuna lifted her head upward, continuing to stare on as she stood, encased in their pillar of brightness. It amazed her how much beauty could be found in something such as this. They flew in circles, illuminating every inch of the clearing despite the late hour of the night. She could only wonder what it must have looked like from afar. Her thoughts were broken as one broke formation and flitted over to her, grazing her cheek as if kissing her.

"Hey, did you see that?" she smiled brightly as a delicate finger rose to point it out, "I've never seen one do that before!"

"Yeah."

Yuna turned suddenly, surprised by the voice that came from directly behind her.

"Don't scare me like that..."

She went to shove his shoulder lightly, but instead of connecting, Tidus caught her by the wrist gently. Her head tilted slightly as her eyes caught his in confusion. The more she studied him, the more Yuna knew something wasn't right. He'd shifted, taking on a more serious look rather than the playful and cheery one he'd worn all night.

"I'm sorry," Tidus took a step closer, still holding her wrist within his softly, "That wasn't my intention."

"I-It's ok, Ti," Yuna whispered, her eyes shifting on either side of him nervously, "I wasn't being serious."

He kept advancing, but she couldn't find it in herself to move. Before long, both of them were standing dead center of the clearing, pyreflies still dancing among them in circles. It wasn't until he slipped his free hand around her waist gently, bringing them together, that her bi-colored eyes managed to find his. For the first time all night, Yuna had become speechless. Not even the ethereal cries could be heard anymore as she continued to stare, alternating between both of his oceanic eyes.

Tidus watched her, trying to gauge her reaction to his touch. She seemed confused, but she didn't pull away or dismiss his advances. His right hand slid from her wrist, clasping their hands together, slowly intertwining both sets of fingers together gently. It scared him, his next thought. But it wasn't going away; not until he put their relationship to the test. Like crunch time in a game, he knew it was do or die, and either way, he was going to regret it if he didn't and...possibly if he did.

"Yuna..." he whispered in a low tone, unlike any other time he called her name.

Before anything else was said, his left hand tightened around her waist, bending down and letting their lips meet for the first time. Yuna tensed under his touch, but only for a second as he lingered. Taking that as a silent approval, he let go of her hand, letting it come to rest on the small of her back with the other, bringing her closer to his athletic frame. In turn, she hesitantly rested her arms limply on his shoulders, responding to the surprise kiss.

All that was left for them to wonder, was what the other was going to say after the fact. But for now, neither one made an effort to pry themselves apart as they stood within the protection of bright iridescent lights.

As I said, this one is short, but I think I kinda have it that way for a reason. Anything else would have distracted from the setting. But don't fret. I'll have another chapter posted up soon. Promise. :)