Ah Lo!! (smiles) Ohmigod, there is one, AND ONLY THAT ONE reviewer who has touched my heart so by this one review! Thank you! You made me feel so much better!!!(girly scream) Everyone else says I still have a lot to learn, but YOU make me feel proud of my story. Who cares if I have bad grammer, as long as you get the message in the story and know what's going on, that's all that matters. Anyways, I won't say your name, special reviewer, but I will make special thank yous and personal response at the end of the story and to all my other reviewers, but only to those who are login, sorry for those who reviewed but as anonymous... Anyway, here is chapter 14, and remember that when the font is like this, it's an event that happened in the past, but then again, you could tell because the line separates them...just to be sure you remembered. ENJOY!!!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X

Chapter 14

I was alone in my room, laying down on the bed, awake. The thunder was still going, and the rain was pouring down harder. Lightening would flash across the dark room ever few seconds. We're in a place called the Thunder Plains, and it's literally what it is. A plain where a thunderstrom never leaves. My heart would boom along with the thunder when we walked, as well as Rikku squealing or gasping at every lightening. Even with the rod towers to attract the lightening, it would still struck down in front of me by shock. As we traveled, the rain got stronger...

"It's really coming down, ya!" Wakka yelled through the rain. Wakka, Lulu, and Kimahri all surround Yuna to protect her, with Auron leading the way and Rikku and I at the end. I was left to take care of Rikku and push her forward in order to keep up with the rest of the group. Suddenly, a large spark came from a nearby tower that caused Rikku to crouch down and cover her head. I kneeled down with her.

"Come on, Rikku. It's okay. I'm right here." I said, but I wasn't sure she could hear me through the rain. I touched her shoulders, and she immediately jumped up and ran to catch up with everyone, but before she could, I saw a flash. I ran as fast as I could, "Rikku! LOOK OUT!!" I hurled at her and we both collapsed to the ground as a huge lightening bolt struck where Rikku once was.

Everything was all calm, but the rain kept pouring. I was on top of Rikku looking down at her. She was looking up at me, breathing in deeply. Realizing the embarrassing moment, I rolled over and she quickly sat up.

"Hurry up you two!" Wakka yelled, as we ran back with everyone. We finally found an inn, Yuna and Rikku both ran inside and the decision was made. We were to stay here for the night, or at least until the rain calms down.

I grabbed the pillow and buried my face in it. I can't believe I did that back there! I can't believe what I'm doing! What is wrong with me?! Making a deal with Seymour, one of the people who are trying to take my necklace from me! It's like I'm in a scheme to kidnap Yuna, but on a different side.

'But then again, it's just for getting Seymour married to Yuna. How bad is that?' Said a voice in my head.

'But you saw the way Seymour looks at her. Plus, that huge ugly ass aeon he summoned back in Luca, who knows what evil, twisted powers he might have,' said the other voice.

'Yuna said herself that she would do it if it made the people happy,'

'She would have done that along time ago if she is on a journey to defeat Sin,'

'Yeah, but...I'm gonna get something for this...right?' I sound childish.

'Whatever, man. You're trading in a woman to a man, just so you could win a woman,' The voice said, bitterly.

"That's not true!" I said out loud through the pillow. Throwing the pillow aside, I sat up. Inside the inn, it was hot even with the lights off, so I was shirtless again. But I wasn't sweating from the heat in the inn. Back at Guadosalam...

"Ah! I gotta question!" I said, enthuscially the next day. I climbed up the stairs, towards a large circular doorway. "When someone dies, a summoner sends them to the Farplane right? But that's the Farplane we're going to...so are we going to meet the died people or something?" I asked. I was kind of freaked out at what might be there.

"You'll see when we get there, ya." Wakka said, trying to hide a smile. I scratched the back of my head. I remember...he witnessed me and Rikku...dammit!

"I'll wait for you all here," Auron said, and sat down on the steps. I wanted to asked him why he wasn't coming, but my attention was drawn to Rikku. She was standing right in front of the mysterious barrier. I walked right next to her, but she kept looking throught the barrier.

"Come on," I said. I walked through, and I felt fine. I looked back and she still didn't budge. I held out my hand. "Come on. I'm right here," I said, softly. It must have been decades until she reached out and I pulled her through.

"Oh my gosh. I'm here!" She whispered. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and walked her towards where everyone else was.

"Hey, it's a first for me, too." And it sure was.

We were on a platform that was practically hovering in midair. And we were surrounded with pyreflies. Off in the distance, there was a waterfall and a large field filled with flowers, all under a fullmoon. Wakka, Lulu, and Yuna were by themselves staring at someone who was floating on the other side of the platform. Yuna was looking at two people, most likely her parents. Wakka was talking to somone who looked like me, but with red hair. Lulu was with Wakka. Rikku and I walked towards the other edge for ourselves.

"Oh, what am I doing here anyways." Rikku mumbled to herself. She shrugged me off, I allowed it.

"What's wrong? Isn't there someone you want to see? Like them?" I said, pointing to Wakka and Yuna. Rikku shook her head.

"People aren't really seeing the dead, just a memory of them. They think about that person and the pyreflies respond to that image...a mere illusion." She said. No body appeared before us.

"Well, that means no body you know is dead, right? So...Keyakku is fine. You have nothing to worry." I said, trying to sound sympathetic. She shook her head even harder.

"It's not him...you know, only the souls that a summoner sends comes here. And those who aren't sent...don't come here." She said, sorrowful. I sighed, feeling her grief. That means someone did die, but wasn't sent...wasn't put to rest...

"Ummm...who?" I asked, stupidly. But it hit me

Her mother.

"Well, at least he's not here." She said, in a low voice. I looked at her, but she was lost, staring at something I couldn't. He? Whose this 'he'?

"What do you mean...'he'?" I asked. She squared her shoulders.

"The man that stole everything that was important to me and my people." She said with determination.

My heart skipped. She meant my old man. Of course he's not here because he's not died...he's Sin. All of a sudden, I remembered the crystal. It was still in my pocket, but I didn't do anything. My voice didn't spoke, nor did my hands reach into my pocket to get it. Somewhere at the back of my mind, it said to keep it a little longer. And then there is the matter of Rikku seeking revenge, when really... Jecht wants me, just like Auron said. I tried to change the subject.

"Umm, you know...I was, uh, reading this magazine I found at the place we stayed last night, and it was in Al Bhed. But there was this one part and it was...gecc sa...something."

"Gecc sa kuutpoa." She said.

"Yeah, I remember the lyrics a little." I said. Finally, she smiled and looked at me.

"It's a song. A famous lullaby in Al Bhed. There was a story behind it."

"What?" I asked, totally curious. She looked more relaxed.

"Well, the song was about a man and a woman. The man loved the woman, but she didn't loved him back. So he wrote a song for her, to tell her that he let's her free, even though he still loves her. He wrote the lyrics on a piece of paper, but he never sung it to her. They say he disappeared. When she found the paper, she cried. She just realized how much she really loved him. So she sang the song."

"Wow,"

"It's very sad, yes." She looked at the field of flowers, lost in thought. But then she looked at me, "But it's so stupid of her. She never realized such a smart, honest, handsome man." I raised my eyebrow at her.

"Well, maybe she was...undecided." I said, she tilted her head.

"How's that?" She asked, cutely. Wow, she needs to look in the mirror! I crossed my arms.

"Well, maybe she loves two men, but doesn't know which one she really loves," I started to walk away back towards the barrier,"...unitl it was too late."

Rikku never seems to open her eyes and sees what is right in front of her! So I'm doing this mission to get that lost memory and understand her more. I'll do whatever it takes to make Rikku understand how I feel. I can't just say my feelings in words. My feelings for her are too strong for words to even begin. I'm only good in actions. Like how I saved her from the thunderbolt. Even back there, my body moved on it's own, yet back in Guadosalam I make her feel guilty. I should be pushing her away for her sake, but I still try to protect her. Why do I always look so miserable?!

Suddenly, thunder roared again, that I bet people from Luca could hear. It was night time, or at least the clock said it was well past midnight. And I still wasn't sleepy. I got up and walked down towards the lobby. They sold drinks for people who couldn't sleep, so I ordered one. Sipping the warm beer, even though I was underage, I saw the same magazine from Guadosalam. I flip through the pages until I reached to the song, Gecc sa kuutpoa. The lyrics were written, but I couldn't read Al Bhed. There were three pictures. One was a picture of a man and a woman that was ignoring each other, the second one was the man fading away into darkness, and the third picture was the woman crying with her hands over her stomach.

"It's a sad story, but romantic in a way." A man with blond hair spoke softly. I looked up and the bartender smiled at me. "You can't read it? You're not Al Bhed?"

"No," I pointed at my hair, "It's dyed."

"Ah," the man said, understanding. "My name is Rin. I own all of the Al Bhed Inn's. If you want to know the lyrics, here is a translating book to help you." He handed me a book.

"Umm, thanks." I said, not sure if I might use it. He nodded. A lightening light the room for a brief moment, and he saw that I was bare-chested.

"I'm sorry about the heat. The air conditioner got struck by lightening. It will be fixed tomorrow." He explained. I drank down the last gulp of my beer.

"Oh, I'll be gone by tomorrow, but good luck with that." I left the gil and walked back to my room. I closed the door and I nearly jumped out of my skin, because someone was standing in my room wearing a big white T-shirt.

"Rikku?!" I whispered loudly. I didn't yell because people were sleeping. She was clutching to her pillow and her hair was down. She must have gotten her extra clothes from those small, metal balls she carrys. She was hopping from one foot to the other.

"Ummm. I was just...uh, I thought you were here, but...I just thought...it was so weird to have a room to myself...usually Lulu or Yuna sleeps in the same room as me...but, I...uh." She stumbled. I just crossed my arms and smirked. Another thunder boomed and she flinched.

"I only have one bed." I said. It looks like she just realized that, too.

"Umm." She was blushing.

"It's okay. Come here." I sat down on the bed and held out my hand again. Just like I did in the Farplane. Another thunder came. "I'm right here." Another one, even louder, boomed and light the room. She ran towards me and I wrapped my arms around her. We slowly laid down and I pulled the blanket over us. She was still shaking from fear.

"Don't try to do anything." She said. I chuckled softly.

"I won't."

"And don't try to manipulate me into doing anything." She said. But my eyes were already closed, falling into sleep.

"I won't." I said, tired. But before I fell asleep, I made a small, soft kiss on her forehead. "Good night." It must have been forever until I heard Rikku whispered.

"Oh, Tidus. Oui duilr so raynd cu, pid ed rindc." (Oh, Tidus. you touch my heart so, but it hurts.)

"Oh! Can't we wait a little longer?" Rikku pouted, holding herself...and keeping a distance from me.

"No," Auron said, stubbornly.

"Pretty pleeease? With a cherry on top and sprinkles?" She whined. But the thunder scared her, and she was quiet.

"Rikku, why are you so afraid of thunder?" Lulu asked. Lightening flashed.

"EEK! Ummm...Me and my brother went swimming...and we were attacked by this ugly water fiend...EEK!!...and my brother tried to attack it with a thunder spell...but it hit me instead!!" She yelled, and then covered her ears.

"Baby," Wakka mumbled. Lulu and I glared at him.

"What is taking Yuna so long?" Auron asked, starting to get frustrated. He looked at me, I was staring out the window looking at him through the reflection. "Tell her to hurry up," He ordered. I sighed and got up from my chair. As I walked past Wakka, who was being lectured by Lulu, I made eye contact with Rikku. The gaze was so long, I thought time stopped, but I walked away. As I quietly walked down the hall, I raised my hand to knock on Yuna's door when I heard voices.

"Huh?" I said, and pushed the door open. Yuna had her back toward me, but she quickly did something, and turned around to look back at me. Obviously, she was hiding something. "What's that?" I asked, trying to look at what was behind her.

"Uh, nothing! It's nothing." She said.

"No, you're hiding something. What is it?" I asked kindly.

"It's nothing!" She said, a little more louder, and it made me quiet. I raised my hands in defense.

"Sorry," I said and we were both quiet. Then, she finally walked out of the room, but I did saw something like a sphere clutched in her hands. I just shrugged and followed her out.

"Alright, we leave," Auron said, and we left the inn, Rikku whining. Wakka and I was the last to leave.

"Hey, I saw you two left the same room this morning." Wakka said, his arm suddenly around my head. "What were you two doing?" He said, rubbing his knuckles hard onto my head.

"Nothing!! Nothing happened, man!! Let me go!!" I yelled. And he did and laughed away.

The rest of the journey was as bad when we first came. However, the rain was less intense, and the thunder was more softer, but Rikku was still slow. Only Lulu was left to comfort her, and Wakka, Kimahri, and I surrounded Yuna. It wasn't long until Yuna stopped.

"Wait," She spoke.

"Here?" I asked.

"Yes," She simply said, looking at her feet. Rikku ran up to see what's going on.

"Let's just hurry up and get out of here first." Rikku said, anxiously.

"No. I have to say it now." Yuna said, being stubborn. I looked around and saw a tower.

"Over there," I pointed at the shelter. Once we were all covered and safe from the thunder, Yuna took a deep breath. I think I know what's coming...

"I've decided to marry."

"I thought so." Lulu said, shaking her head.

"What? What changed your mind?" Wakka asked, surprised. I just crossed my arms.

"For Spira, and the people uniting together." She said. At this, I looked over at Rikku, and she wasn't smiling. I quietly made a sigh through my nose. Uniting together? But the Al Bhed have little to do with this marriage. It would just reject them even more!

"Not good enough." Auron blurted out. Then, I remember this morning.

"Hey, was it because of that sphere?" I said, loudly. Yuna jerked a little and Auron stepped forward.

"What is it?" He demanded.

"I must speak to Maester Seymour first." She said. Auron and Yuna stared at each other and finally, he gave in.

"Fine, we'll meet him at Macalania Temple." He said, and walked back under the rain. Everyone else followed leaving me and Rikku behind. I looked at her.

"You know what this means?" I asked her. She stared back at me.

"I have a hunch." She said. We started to follow them. "I didn't tell you this, but...Yuna is my cousin."

"Really?!"

"Yeah. Her mother is my aunt. So she's half Al Bhed."

"And yet she didn't wanted you to be with her back at Luca?"

"I don't know. I never really touched that subject with her." She said.

"Wait a minute...if she's half Al Bhed...and if she really does marry Seymour...that means she kind of has rule of the Al Bhed!"

"Yeah...she would have more authority than my father." She said, depressed, but then she winced at the thunder.

"Rikku..."

"It's okay. I've gotten use to Yuna, now. It might not be so bad..." She said, but I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. And she didn't shrug away, and she was sobbing slighty. I whispered in her ear. This time I knew she heard me.

"It's okay...I'm right here..."

"OH! Finally!" Rikku squealed with glee and ran up ahead with everyone.

We made it to the Macalania Woods, and it was eerily yet beautiful. The trees were blue, unlike Guadosalam. The atmosphere felt more light and airy. Droplets of water cling to the trees and the leaves, making this twinkle effect. The woods were more thicker than Guadosalam and I couldn't help but feel safe and cool. After all, blue is my color!

"Come on!" Rikku yelled at me. I was the last to catch up. I smiled and ran after them. As we traveled through the woods, my mind wasn't on Yuna or her desicion or even the deal I made with Seymour. I was so calm about...everything. Maybe because I wouldn't have to convince Yuna to marry Seymour, or maybe Rikku is a little closer to me. But still...

"Hey!" Someone yelled. It was Barthello. "Have you seen Dona?"

"No," We all said at the same time. He looked defeated.

"We...we got separated. If anything were to happen to her-"

"Calm down," Auron said. "Keep looking. Don't let your emotions get hold of you. Because if you do, you might be in worse conditions."

"You're right. Thank you, Sir Auron." He said, and ran off. Rikku and I watched him go and looked at each other.

"Did-"

"Yeah," She answered before I finished. Her people were doing their job...

We continued our journey, but my mind was on what Auron said. Don't let your emotions drive you...he once said that to me when I was in Zanarkand. I didn't understood him then, but I think I do now. I know that I have to stay calm, but even so...how would I be able to express myself? How would I show Rikku my true feelings? Suddenly, Auron stopped in his tracks.

"Wait...it is here...somewhere." He mumbled.

"What?" I asked, standing next to him.

"It won't take long. Something you need to see." He said, and started hacking on a tree branch that blocked a hidden path. We walked down the path and found an opening. The place was more shiny than the original path. Larger droplets filled the trees. And a wide tree, with a puddle in front of it, stood there as if it was there for years.

"These are spheres." Wakka said, looking around. Rikku tapped my shoulder and whispered into my ear.

"Crystals were made here too. Yunalesca got the crystals here." She said. My eyes widen.

"The water that soaks this forest, is made for spheres. They can store memories." Auron said, and walked towards the big puddle and picked up a sphere. He walked back towards me and handed it over. I took it without question and played it back...

It wasn't what I expected, but it got my heart racing. Images and voices of Jecht, Auron, and Braska were here, ten years ago. Jecht was recording, and talking as if it was some fun vacation. It was sickening to see him take things so lightly. But then there was the last image of him, making a message for me. He said that I was stuck here just like him, and there was no going back. I pretty much figured that out when Sin didn't took me back the first time. But then he said goodbye...

"He actually sounded serious..." I said, a little angry. Everyone else was quiet.

"He was because he accepted."

"Accepted what?"

"Jecht...he always talked about going back home, to Zanarkand. And he took those pictures so he could show it to his son and wife...to you." Auron looked at me, "But the longer he traveled with us, the more he understood that he couldn't go back."

"So...he just...gave up?" I asked, and Auron nodded. Everyone was staring at us. "What?" I said, a little frustrated.

"Sir Jecht is your father?!" Wakka asked, bewildered.

"Umm...yeah." I said, scratching the back of my head. Wakka and Lulu gasped.

"No way! That's totally...whoa!" He said. I blushed.

"Come on, you guys. Let's go." I said, walking away. Wakka and Lulu quickly joined heads to gossip with Yuna. However, when I turned around, Rikku was looking at me with pure hatred.

Oh snap...

"Rik-"

"He...is your father?" She asked, acidly. I winced.

"Umm...well...you see-"

"He is your father?! And you never told me?!" She said louder.

"Rikku, I-"

"You're that bastard's son?"

"Rikku, I hate him too, but-" I held her hand, but she pulled away, furious.

"Don't touch me!" She shook her head, "Dammit! I can't even look at you now." And she stomped away, following Wakka, Lulu, Yuna, and Kimahri who all didn't heard.

"What was that all about?" Auron asked from behind me. I turned around.

"Oh geez, quit begging me about it."

"Now that I think about it...that crystal...is she the one you-"

"Forget it!" I yelled. I didn't wanted to be reminded of the embarrassing moment Auron saw in the crystal.

Hey, I posted this last night...but I was so SO tired, that I was too lazy to check for errors, but now I edited it better. Please Review!!!