A/N: I cannot describe how hard it is coming back to a fic after almost a year. I'd like to think last chapter was a way for me to get back into the flow of things, and so, a few days later, I'm writing this chapter in the hopes of restoring what I think made this fic so popular in the first place. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with this fic, I know I haven't made it very easy! As always, please read and review!

Oh, as of this chapter's writing I have revamped up to chapter 10. I've made a few significant changes, so give those chapters a good look-over in case you are interested.

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"Al Bhed Blue"

Chap 21

"Declaration"

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"I always thought this would be easier somehow. I thought that everyone would help me…with all my friends together beside me."

A silent tear fell from the Summoner's face, creating a ripple that spread throughout the entire lake.

"I've been trying so hard."

We had escaped Bevelle with our skins intact, but Yuna had lost something, I could already tell. Her faith was shaken; Yevon had betrayed her. As I stood nearby in the water, I thought carefully about what I could say.

My mind went back to when I first arrived in Spira, when I first learned of a Summoner's plight. The death of one would result in a brief period of Calm. I had opposed it adamantly at first; back then I would have gone with the Al Bhed on the summoner kidnapping missions myself. But now, staring at the shaken summoner, I think I finally began to understand Yuna.

I began to recall all the times when Rikku's smile would light up a room. Home, before it had been destroyed, was a place of laughter and happiness, despite harsh conditions. If there was one thing I learned from the Al Bhed was that a moment's happiness will get you through the bleakest moments in life. The fact that Rikku could still smile after seeing her home destroyed, the fact that the Al Bhed were still going to persevere…

And Yuna must have known this, in her own way. The fact that hope comes from those moments of Calm, of happiness, and that same hope sustains us through the death that Sin brings. And so, even though the opportunity presented itself, I could not make myself try to talk Yuna out of her journey, especially now when she was in her weakest moment.

"Maybe you're trying too hard," I put forward. She looked at me. "You don't need Yevon. You have all of us. And we're not going anywhere."

Yuna nodded, acknowledging what I said. Still, I felt as though I could have done more.

"This may sounds crazy…but…the closer we get to Zanarkand is the closer we get to my home…"

Yuna nodded, knowingly. "Jecht had said that he was from Zanarkand…no one believed him besides my father and Auron…but…I did."

I smiled. "Yeah, I can't see anyone believing anything my crazy old man said. But, he was telling the truth I guess." I moved closer to the summoner. "The thing is…even if there is no way for me to go home when we get to Zanarkand...I will go with you to the end."

Yuna smiled at this. "I'll continue. I must."

I couldn't think of anything more to say, so I did the only thing I thought might help. I gave her a hug. She was tense at first; I could tell it had taken her by surprise. But then she relaxed and returned the embrace.

After I hugged her I turned to leave.

"Wait!"

"Huh?"

"Thank you…Tidus."

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I ran into Rikku on my way back to the main camp. Before I could say anything she motioned for me to stay silent then led me by the hand into a small clearing.

"I saw you talking to Yuna!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah…" I scratched my head. "I know this probably isn't what you want to hear but…I didn't try-"

"To convince her to stop the pilgrimage?" she interrupted. "Yeah, I know you wouldn't do that." Oddly enough she didn't seem at all disappointed.

"So, you're not upset?"

Rikku draped her arms behind her head in classic Al Bhed fashion. "I want to stop Yunie from dying…but I don't want to see her lose all hope! That's not what we Al Bhed are all about!"

I laughed at this, despite the serious nature of the events of the past few days.

"Huh? Why are you laughing?"

"Because that's the same conclusion I came to five minutes ago…"

Rikku smiled and then practically dragged me towards a rock that she promptly sat down upon. "I don't want to talk about summoners or Yevon or anything like that for the rest of the night!" She proclaimed. "We can think about that stuff tomorrow, is what I say."

I nodded, agreeing heartily. "Well then, what should we talk about?"

"Hmm…how about…you!"

"Me?"

"Yeah you, you big lug! We've been back together since the Moonflow and I haven't heard you mention Zanarkand once! And that's all you'd talk about at Home!"

"That's not true, I didn't talk about Zanarkand that much!"

"Yes it is, you were always like 'Zanarkand this, Blitzball that.'"

I laughed, knowing that she was just teasing. "Well, maybe it's just that Zanarkand is a terrific place, huh? Frankly, I think you're just jealous that you've never been there."

Rikku smiled, but the look on her face was a serious one. "I'd like to go there one day…"

"Rikku…"

"Hmm?"

"What's up?" I didn't mind our teasing and joking around, but to be honest it seemed a little out of place after what we had just been through. I could tell Rikku was trying to cover for something…

She looked at me in response to my questioning. Her eyes were not as bright as they usually were, despite the cheerful teasing from earlier. She took a few moments of silence before she put forward, "I saw you and Yunie."

"Yeah, that's what you said earlier…"

"I saw you hug her…" Her words were deliberate, as if every syllable was being forced into the air.

The hug? It was just a…just a hug. But I could see how Rikku might have interpreted it to mean…something. After all, with all the events of the past week all of our attention had been placed on the summoner, mine included. And I couldn't deny that I felt something for Yuna; for her I had a deep respect and, I liked to think, we had an understanding.

With all the events of Bevelle, had I been focused on Yuna to the point where Rikku couldn't see how I really felt?

She was looking away from me, having found something entirely captivating in the rocks populating Macalania Woods. I had carried these feelings in me for so long it was like second nature; it never occurred to me that Rikku might still be in the dark. My heart swelled; was her reaction to seeing the hug I shared with Yuna a confirmation that she had similar feelings?

I took her hand in mine, stealing her attention from the ground. Her eyes were clouded, but she maintained eye contact with me.

I explained to Rikku how I had fallen in love with her.

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A/N: I had originally planned for this chapter to be much longer…but I couldn't figure out a way to continue directly after the last line.