Alright. And here we go with the thank you's! You all deserve a good one! First of all, major thanks to go my sweetest friends Echo and Ari. You two have been amazing. Simply amazing. I don't know what I would have done without either of you. You're full of ideas and your willingness to supply me with ammo to get my imagination going is just wonderful. I love you both!

Muse, you're hilarious. Thank you for being one of the people to stick with this fic all the way through. You're reviews have been more then simply appreciated. I've gotten a good laugh out of each of them! Thank you!!

Fyrefly, so I guess you're my new best bud huh? Lol. Thanks for coming to check out my fic dear. I'm glad you liked it. I tend to try and keep my lemons tasteful. That's the only way to go in my opinion! I hope you continue to enjoy and let me know if you've got anything out there for me to feast my eyes on!!

WaifunDesired, hope this didn't take too long. It was actually the first time in a long time that I've been able to sit down and just type like a mad woman. Thanks for your reviews and I hope you're enjoying the other fics as well.

Brian, lol.even though it took me a while to translate it the review was much appreciated. Thank you so much.

And last but certainly not least, Kaisui. I owe you a large thank you. I know how hard it is to read something that isn't loyal to the character pairings you like. I have an incredibly hard time doing it myself. I truly hope you keep enjoying this. And do heed the warning at the top of the page. * points up * I don't want to go offending anyone with this chapter.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of FFX 10. All that I own in this thing I'd like to call a bit of fiction is my original character Kenzi. And a quick warning. I know you guys are fans of her but some of you have a point when you say this is my fic. I just want warn you right now that if you are a big Lulu fan you may want to turn back now. My feelings wont be hurt. I understand loyalty to characters. That's why I feel the need to warn you that this is not a friendly chapter to her. If you read on, please understand that I did what I did because I had a vision for this story.

*~* Nightmares *~*

Kenzi sat cross-legged on Wakka's bed, drying her strawberry blond locks with a thick green towel. Her nerves were on the edge of snapping, waiting in anticipation for Yuna or Rikku to come busting through the doorway and tell her that the guys had returned. She had been doing this since the moment she had woke up and now it was two in the afternoon. It was a wonder she hadn't gone insane with all the tension building inside of her.

Sighing, she flopped back onto the bed, burring her head in Wakka's pillow. She inhaled deeply and smiled. His scent still clung stubbornly to the fabric. It wasn't as strong as it used to be. Maybe it was because she had been sleeping curled around it ever since the night he left.

Running out of things to keep herself occupied, Kenzi's mind wandered over the events of the previous evening. Her heart caught painfully as she once again saw Rikku being taken down by the Valaha. Damn beast. It still bothered her when she thought about its sudden appearance on the secluded island. What in Spira had it been doing there anyway? A vision of Lulu flashed in her head and Kenzi immediately shook it away. No way would the black mage even think about endangering so many people...would she?

"Knock it off Kenzi. You're placing blame where it probably doesn't even belong," she muttered to herself, staring up at the beige canvas ceiling. Her thoughts went to Rikku and she began worrying her full bottom lip. The young Al Bhed had defiantly pulled through. Yuna had been able to easily cure her. However she had not been able to rid Rikku of the hideous gash running the length of most of the girls arm. Jassu was not going to be happy. None of the guys were.

"Kenzi? You in there?"

The strawberry blond Al Bhed sat up, hearing the strain in Rikku's voice. "Yeah." She jumped off the bed and ran for the door, throwing it open to see Rikku on the other side. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Rikku laughed and shook her head. "I'm fine Kenzi. I just thought you might want to...I don't know, race me to the docks."

At first the words didn't even penetrate her senses. She had to process them over once more just to be sure she had heard them right. "The docks," she murmured absently. A goofy grin spread over her face and she took off at a dead run for the path that lead down to the shores of Besaid. Rikku was right behind her, laughing like a carefree child. They passed Yuna who was walking calmly down the worn path between the trees, carrying Sierra who was singing something indecipherable in baby talk. "Come on Yuna! They're back!!" Kenzi yelped.

Yuna shook her head, smiling softly. "You two go ahead. I'll be right behind you."

They didn't need to be told twice. Both Al Bhed women whooping joyously pushed themselves into overdrive and tore down to the beach.

Jassu stretched his tattooed arms high above his head and breathed in the smell of sea and sand. "Damn, it's good to be home."

"Sure does," Botta agreed, running fingers through his bright red hair. "After all that movin' I'm thinkin' much needed rest is number one on my list of things to do."

Next to him, Wakka laughed. "Yeah, you did so much work while you were sittin' at that bar hittin' on the waitress man."

"Hey now, I did my share!" Botta protested loudly. "Got us free drinks, didn't I?"

Jassu pulled the blue-eyed guard into a headlock. "Hate to admit it Capn' but the guys got a point."

Wakka was about to agree when a flash of strawberry blonde caught his attention. A vision of Kenzi on the first day he had met her, strolling towards him with those long legs and that sexy smirk flashed in his head. What he saw now was the complete opposite of that calm, self-assured woman. Running full speed down the slight incline to the dock, dressed in a pair of navy blue shorts and a matching top that exposed her flat stomach was Kenzi. A bright smile curved her beautiful lips as she laughed at Rikku who was running besides her, trying to stay in the lead.

"Now this has gotta be one of the best home comings I've ever had," Jassu laughed, watching the two women running at break neck speed towards them.

Botta chuckled. "Or the scariest."

Wakka paid no attention to either one of them. He had eyes only for Kenzi. The past week without her had been pure hell. He'd went to sleep every night wishing with all he was worth that she could be there next to him, holding him tight as her exotic sent surrounded him and pulled him into a wonderfully deep sleep. He'd missed her so much. During all the packing all he had been able to think about was her, how she made him feel, how much he..loved her. It had taken him long enough to figure it out but sometime around midweek he had realized that he did, if fact, love her. And quite deeply.

Dropping the bag he had been carrying, he trotted down the ramp and onto the dock, more then ready to feel Kenzi's arms around him once more.

"Wakka!" She yelped. She threw herself into his arms, wrapping her own arms and legs tightly around him. Laughing, the tall Auroch captain hugged her to him.

"Oh Wakka, I missed you so much!" she cried, burying her head in his neck. "I'm so glad you're back."

Never had he heard sweeter words. "I missed you to Kenz." She loosed her legs from around him and lowered her feet to the dock. When she pulled back he was startled to see tears streaking her beautiful flushed cheeks. "What's wrong?"

"Oh!" Kenzi laughed as she brushed at the tears with the back of her hand. "They're nothing. Happy tears! Really. I'm just so happy that you're home," she finished in a whisper.

Wakka smiled warmly at the tall woman in his arms. "It's good to be home Kenzi." He lowered his lips to hers, catching her mouth in a deliciously hungry kiss. His teeth grazed her bottom lip, a silent promise of what was to come later that night, and she shivered, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. When they broke apart both of them were shaken more then they cared to admit. Wakka stared at Kenzi, the woman he loved. The words were on the tip of his tongue. Now all he had to do was take a deep breath and say them. "Kenzi-."

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?!"

Kenzi and Wakka jerked around at the sound of Jassu's angry voice. The dark skinned man was holding Rikku's arm up, staring in horror at the long laceration on her arm. "Oh no," Kenzi whispered.

"Jassu, really it's nothing," Rikku tired to console him. She smiled, running her hand gently over the line of his strong jawbone. "Just a scratch."

"Just a scratch? What the hell from?"

Kenzi winced at the tone of Jassu's voice. Her hand tightened around Wakka's arm.

"Kenz."

She looked up into her boyfriend's concerned amber eyes. So much for happy homecomings.

"What happened?"

Kenzi took a deep breath, casting an anxious glance at Rikku. The younger Al Bhed moved to stand beside her and took her hand. They were about to tell the entire story when Yuna walked up behind them and Sierra squealed with joy. She reached her arms out, flailing them in the direction of the ship.

On the ships deck a beautiful woman with short brown hair, cut forward at a slant so the hair in front, framing her flawless features was longer then the hair in back smiled and rushed forward. She wore a khaki skirt and a baby blue shirt with the Besaid Auroch's emblem stitched over the right side of her chest. "Sierra!" she cried, running up to Yuna and taking the small child from the Summoner's arms. "Oh my sweet angel, Mommy's missed you so much!"

Sierra cooed softly and wrapped her chubby baby arms around the woman's neck. The woman looked up, bright violet eyes connecting with Yuna's. "Thank you so much for watching her. It wasn't easy being away from her but I felt better knowing she was being left in your care Lady Yuna."

"Oh." Yuna blushed at the unabashed appraisal. "I wasn't the only one watching her. Kenzi and Rikku were as well. We all stayed with little Sierra." She gestured to the two nervous looking Al Bhed women.

Unaware of the tension radiating around the small group, the woman smiled at Kenzi and Rikku. "Thank you both. Wow, three women watching my little girl. Oh! I'm Bree by the way."

Kenzi started to reach out a hand to the striking woman in greeting, forcing a smile to her lips. Wakka's controlled voice stopped her. "Bree, I don't think now is a good time for introductions."

Bree looked around the group, finally noticing the set faces and the edginess emanating from the three women. "Oh..um, I think I'll go help Letty. We'll do this later."

When she was gone Wakka and Jassu turned to the women expectantly. Kenzi felt Rikku's hand tighten around hers in a reassuring squeeze. Nodding once in silent agreement, Kenzi raised her gaze to Wakka's. "The others are probably going to want to hear this too."

They all met back at Wakka's several minute later. The crowded around, some on beds, some on the floor, some leaning against the room's sparse furnishings. "Alright," the tall captain started after scanning the room to ensure that everyone was there, "someone tell me what happened."

"A Valaha," Kenzi explained in a quiet voice, barley audible to those listening. An uninvited vision of the creature, razor sharp teeth bared to the eerie glow of the moon, staring at her with blood thirsty eyes, came to her mind and she shuddered, once again hearing the agonized scream of Rikku as knocked her small frame to the earth. "There was one on the island last night. It...it attacked Rikku."

"Are you serious?!" Botta yelped, his blue eyes wide with disbelief, much like the eyes of the others surrounding him.

Jassu could only turn Rikku, his tan complexion unusually pale. "You...were attacked.by a Valaha?" His voice didn't sound at all like it usually did. The confident tone was gone, replaced by the terror stricken voice of a young man who had just been served a lethal amount of reality. The though of Rikku's life being endangered while he was away terrified him. What if she would have been killed? What would he have done then? She'd become such a big part of his life.

"Jassu." Rikku reached up, placing her small hand on the side of his face. "I'm right here. I'm okay," she whispered, seeing the haunted look in his eyes.

Not caring how much grief he would get from his fellow teammates, the blond Auroch pulled his tiny Al Bhed girlfriend into his arms and hugged her tightly.

Across the room, Tidus' grip on Yuna's shoulders tightened as he watched Jassu cling to Rikku. Even Wakka unconsciously reached for Kenzi, unnerved by Jassu's reaction to the news. 'Any of them could have died. Even...Kenzi,' he thought, feeling an all consuming dread rise up within him. 'But she's not dead. She's here, with you,' he told himself firmly, forcing the disturbing thoughts aside.

Rikku was doing everything in her power to calm Jassu, stroking his hair, whispering to him, all things of which no one had ever even seen her do before. Finally she pulled away from him and gripped the sides of his face in her hands, staring unwaveringly into his dark eyes. "Jassu. I'm okay, really. Look at me honey; I'm right here, safe and sound. Kenzi got to me before anything serious happened."

"Whoa..what do you mean Kenzi got to you?" Wakka asked.

Hearing the startled note in his hesitant voice, Kenzi cringed. He wasn't going to like hearing about how she had hid Rikku in the temple and purposely put herself in the Valaha's path. After she took a deep, steadying breath, she entwined her fingers through Wakka's, holding his gaze. Then...she told the entire story.

When she finished the entire room fell into an unsettling silence. Wakka was the one to break it. He stared at Kenzi, his heart pounding unsteadily in his chest. "You faced off with the thing?"

Kenzi watched him with pleading blue eyes. "I had no choice. Rikku was hurt. I..I had to save her."

Now he was the one who was scared. It was like Jassu's fear had been transferred to him. Unwanted images of Kenzi's mangled body crept into his mind. "Kenz-," he whispered hoarsely.

"Don't Wakka," she said, pulling him into her arms. "We're all okay. No one's dead and it's over. It's over okay?" She leaned back, placing her fingers under his chin and lifting his head. "What we need to figure out is why it was here."

Everyone quickly collected their emotions. Kenzi had a point. They knew Valaha's were foreign to Besaid. There was no way one could have gotten there unless someone brought it in.

"Well, I'm drawin' a blank. Don't know a single person that would purposely bring one of those in," Botta said. He scratched hi head. "Anybody else?"

Kenzi frowned when her earlier suspicious resurfaced. No. No it wasn't Lulu. It may have made sense at the moment, especially when Kenzi thought back to that horrible glare Lulu had given her, but there was just no way.

"You know what?" Wakka said, interrupting her thoughts. "It's been a pretty long day. We're all here tonight so if anything happens we'll be ready for it, ya? But right now I think we should all get some rest."

Everyone agreed and within minutes the hut was cleared, leaving Kenzi and Wakka alone. Kenzi didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to say. So she looked around the hut, avoiding Wakka's eyes for fear he might lash out at her for being stupid enough to place herself in such obvious danger. Her gaze fell upon Sierra's blanket, wadded up in the corner, a little mass of pastel pink and green. She walked to the corner, crouching down and picking up the blanket. She clutched it to her chest, inhaling the soft baby scent. She hated to think of what might have happened to Sierra if Yuna hadn't been there to protect the small infant.

"Kenzi?" Wakka spoke up behind her, his thick Besaid accent washing over her.

"She could have gotten hurt. If Yuna hadn't been there to protect her that thing could have come back for Sierra. I'm so glad there were three of us and not just during that whole mess...but for the entire week. She was a handful but-," she murmured, her back still facing him, "but I'm really going to miss that little girl."

"I'll be right back," Wakka said, suddenly leaving the hut.

Kenzi wiped around, staring at the place he had just stood in shock. What on earth was that all about? Had she said something wrong? She didn't have much time to contemplate either question. In a matter of seconds Wakka was back, a tired grin pulling at his handsome lips. In his arms he held a simple crate with holes on either side. "What is that?" she asked.

Wakka sat down on the bed and motioned for her to join him. "You were talkin' about Sierra and I just remembered," he said as she sat down next to him on his bed. "I got you something in Luca. Hope ya like it."

Kenzi gaped up at him for a moment before turning her attention to the box he had set in her lap. He had gotten her a present? A spark of excitement lit inside her, slowly warming over the apprehensive emotions that had taken their toll on her body. She cast another glance at Wakka who was grinning like a child who had just been give twenty bags of candy and then pulled the lid off the box. "Oh Wakka!"

Inside the box, staring up at her with deep chocolate eyes, his pink tongue lolling out the side of his mouth was a puppy. He was mostly black with perky ears, two white socks on his front paws and a patch of white covering one side of his face. He yapped once, going up on his hind legs and resting his front paws on the edge of the box.

"I was gettin' some boxes from a merchant in Luca who was sellin' puppies. I saw this little guy and kind of thought he could be..well, ours."

Tears collected in her eyes and she lifted the puppy out of the crate, hardly noticing when Wakka pulled it off and set it on the floor. The puppy's little tail wagged and he squirmed, trying to get closer to her so that he could place a sloppy puppy kiss on her face. She laughed, hugging his furry body close. "Wakka," she said, turning bright gray/blue eyes up to the man beside her. "Thank you so much."

Wakka smiled as he wrapped a strong arm around her waist. "You're welcome Kenz. I'm glad you like him."

"I love him," she cooed, nuzzling the animals cold, wet nose. "I think I'll name him Zack. He looks like a Zack, doesn't he?"

"Yeah, he does," Wakka agreed.

Zack decided that he had had enough excitement for one day, what with long hours on a ship and finding out he now belonged to two very kind looking people who appeared to be quite taken with him. He yawned once and buried his nose in Kenzi's, waggling his hind end once before settling in for a long night of sleep.

"Wow, that was quick," Kenzi laughed. She pulled a quilt from the end of her and Wakka's bed, arranging it on the floor next to the bed. As carefully as she could without waking Zack up, she placed him in the warm folds of the blanket. He sniffled once, his leg twitching, but never once woke up. "You really are a sweetie Wakka," she murmured, smiling up at him.

"I know. You make it real easy though." The tall Auroch pulled Kenzi into his arms, releasing a weary sigh. "I can't believe you faced off with a Valaha," he muttered. "Did you have anything to protect yourself with?"

Allowing the mounted strain from the past hours to slide from her shoulders, Kenzi smiled impishly and reached down under the bed, extracting her katana from the safety of her bag. It slid free, the metal making a swishing noise as it passed over the fabric. Holding it up, she turned it, catching the light and displaying the Al Bhed words etched along the blade with artist's precision. "It was a gift to me, from my brother. He said that no one should be without a weapon in times like these."

Wakka stared at the thin blade appreciatively, admiring the craftsmanship that had gone into it's making. "So you weren't exactly helpless, were ya?"

"Nope. I learned how to use this when I was sixteen. I know how to protect myself Wakka." She slipped the katana back into her bag, pausing to place a loving pat on Zack's head and then leaned back against Wakka, listening to his steady breathing.

Wakka's arms came around her, his muscles flexing as he held her tight. "I'm just glad you're safe. I..don't know what I woulda done if you weren't here when I got back. If you were.."

Kenzi turned over. Now lying on top of him, her legs nestled in between his; she wrapped her arms loosely around his neck and stared up into his smoldering amber eyes. "But I am here." She pulled herself up; placing butterfly kisses over the strong column of his neck. "And I'll always be here Wakka. How about we concentrate more on how much I missed you?"

A shiver coursed through Wakka's body as her lips neared the sensitive skin just below his ear and he grinned. "So ahh.how much did ya miss me?"

Her sparkling blue gaze met his, her lips turning up in an impish smile. "I figured I'd just show you."

"Well, you'll hear no complainin' from me."

*~*~*~*~*

*~* Kenzi's Dream *~*

She was wandering the white sandy beaches of Besaid. Hair blowing in the salty sea air she had not a care as she picked her way along the sea debris. The waves rushed up around her bare feet. White foam clung to wet sand. In the distance she heard voices, talking in hushed whispers. She turned her head, seeking out the source of the sound and saw a stock of bright red hair. Wakka. Smiling, she rose up on her tiptoes and started to wave to him. But something was wrong. She stilled in her waving, a frown slowly replacing the beautiful smile. Yes it was Wakka...but he was with someone. A flash of black crossed her vision and cruel laughter filled her ears. Lulu.

The black mage ran a hand up Wakka's strong arm, smiling flirtatiously at him. Kenzi's blood simmered. What was going on? She was so confused...and so angry! This wasn't happening. She called out Wakka's name, desperate to gain his attention. This had to be a mistake.

The wild haired Auroch turned at the sound of his name being called and his cold gaze settled on Kenzi. Cold gaze? No, it couldn't be. He would never look at her like that. Even before when she had first met him and he had clearly despised her, he had still never regarded her with such frosty hatred.

Kenzi yelled to him asking him what was going on, her voice hardly carrying above the sound of the waves that now seemed to violently pound against the shore. Her response came in the form of a grin. It wasn't a happy grin though. This grin was just as cruel as his eyes. He slowly raises a hand. In it dangled a rope. Her gaze followed the rope, down to the beach, across the patches of vegetation...and finally rested upon what the rope was holding. A Valaha. It looked wild. Foam dripped from it's mouth in heavy droplets, staining the pristine sand covered ground. A low, deathly growl rose from its throat.

"The last one we sent failed us. You picked a weak one. Were you scared that she may die too fast?" Lulu was saying as she clung to Wakka's arm, a sick smile playing at her dark lips.

"Nah, I just can't pick 'em the way you do Lu. This one looks like it'll do the trick though. Can't have a damn heathen livin' on the Island, now can we?"

"No Wakka, of course not."

The two smiled at each other, ignoring Kenzi's desperate cries of denial. What was going on? Why was she seeing this? What did it mean? Kenzi watched with a sinking feeling of dread as Wakka reached up and untied the rope from around the Valaha's neck. It lunged, coming for her with death clearly written in its glazed eyes. Kenzi screamed and screamed...but there was no one there to help her.

Kenzi jerked up in bed. Her breath came out in short labored gasps and cold sweat soaked her forehead. Her wild gaze rested on Wakka, still sleeping peacefully beside her. He was beside her. Not with Lulu, not holding the leash that was attached to the creature that had been haunting her dreams. Placing a hand over her racing heart, Kenzi tried to still her breathing. Just a dream. It was just a dream. "More like a nightmare," she muttered in the dim light of the hut.

A whimpering noise filled the room and she remembered Zack, Wakka's gift to her. Making a valiant effort to forget the horrible nightmare, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Outside she could hear children laughing as they ran through the paved walkways of Besaid. It was morning. That was defiantly a good thing. She didn't think she could get back to sleep even if she tried. "Come on Zack," she murmured, standing up and pulling on a pair of jean shorts and a simple blue and yellow top.

The puppy followed at her heals as she walked towards the temple. She was going to Yuna's place, the place Yuna had said she could use whenever something was troubling her. Well, now would defiantly be one of those times. She pushed branches out of her way, following the small path to the secluded beach. Zack rushed ahead of her, barking excitedly at non-existant bugs and prancing over the white sand.

Kenzi watched him for a moment, amused by his antics. He was such a carefree little thing and she had Wakka to thank for such a present. He was so wonderful and he was not the type to turn on people. Not like in her nightmare. A small frown marred her brow. What had brought that on anyway? It was just as mysterious as the sudden appearance of that damn Valaha. She was never prone to nightmares, at least not nightmares this intense, so there was no way she could explain this to herself.

"Maybe all that anxiety from last night traveled over into my dreams," she thought out loud. Her gaze went to the calm waters, searching for serenity in their cool, blue depths. It didn't take long. Common sense started taking over, washing away the effects of her wild imagination. She could think clearly once again. "Ugh, I can't believe I let a nightmare get to me like that." She laughed softly.

Hearing the happy noise, Zack yipped and ran clumsily over to her, circling her ankles. "Oh you sweet little boy!" Kenzi crooned, reaching down and picking him up. "Can you believe I would actually let a nightmare bug me Zack?" The puppy sniffed in response. "Especially a nightmare that made Wakka look evil. Like that could ever happen. Even when he's angry he still has that sparkle in his eyes. Don't think the guys got an evil bone in his body!"

She looked down at Zack. Lifting a finger to his nose she flicked it playfully, laughing when he pawed at the offensive appendage. "You know that's why I love him so much. He's so wonderful Zack. When I didn't know him personally, I could tell..I just knew that he was a kind person."

Zack whimpered, nudging her hand with his wet nose. "What the matter sweetie?" she asked. He whimpered again, this time placing a white paw over the center of her chest. Kenzi smiled warmly. "You think I should tell Wakka how I feel?"

The puppy barked and panted happily. Kenzi giggled. What a smart dog! "You really think I should Zack? We've been together for a while now. You really think now is the time to tell him?" Again the little puppy barked. "You're right honey. I've waited long enough. I think now is defiantly the time."

A determined glint entered her gray eyes. Setting Zack down, she turned and made her way back up the incline. She was aware of the consequences of her actions. If there was one thing she had been over the past few years it had been aware. Always constantly aware of what rested on her shoulders, of what the thing inside her was capable of doing. It wanted to tear her apart; it wanted to tear the world apart. But this time Kenzi was convinced she could beat it. The love in her heart for Wakka swelled, almost unbearable in its extent. She would tell him and the evil within her would finally be gone. Then she would be truly free. Nothing had ever sounded so good before.

*~*~*~*~*

*~* Wakka's Dream *~*

He was at the Farplane. Man, how long had it been since he had last visited there? He knew the answer. It was back when they had been on Yuna's pilgrimage. That had been along time ago. Usually he never went more then a year without paying his little brother a visit.

Pyerflies danced around him, swarming over the vast emptiness that surrounded the rocky platform. He remembered what Kenzi had said, about how happy they had looked and how they had calmed her when she had needed the most. Kenzi. God how he loved her. He'd never felt like this about anyone before. He thought he had known love when he was with Lulu, but he had been sadly mistaken. If only he would have realized how easily love and lust were mistaken before she had put him though hell. He sighed, shaking his head. Well, live and learn.

"Wakka!"

He jerked his head up at the sound of a rough male voice. There was no one. He looked around but saw nothing except the lonely space of the Farplane. That was strange. Voices were never heard on the Farplane unless they were your own. Suddenly the pyerflies shifted. They moved in swarms, forming a large circle in the sky before him. "What the..."

They started shimmering and the scenery in front of him changed. The city of Bevelle stretched out before him. It was quiet. The silence was ghostly. Darkness had fallen, casting the large buildings and long paved streets into darkness. But there was light. There was light and in the center of it a crowd. The scene moved in and the faces slowly came into focus. Wakka gasped. "Chappu!" he yelled, his voice falling on deaf ears. What the hell was happening? What had been done to his brother?

Chappu was on his knees before a crowd of masked Al Bhed. Blood matted his hair and clung to his grimy face. His clothes, which had at one point fit him, well now hung off him, torn and stained with blood and dirt. He raised lifeless eyes to the men in front of him. His lips curled up in a snarl. "I should have known," he growled. An Al Bhed moved up from behind him and slammed the butt of his gun down between Chappu's shoulder blades.

"Chappu! NO!" Wakka shouted. He didn't want to see anymore. This couldn't have been the way his brother died.

"You Al Bhed were never to be trusted. I should have listened to my brother!" he spat, clearly defying their attempts to bring him down. "Wakka had it right all along...I should have listened. Heathens."

"And what would he have done for you boy," a feminine voice spoke up.

Wakka's heart sank. "No..." he whispered, knowing that voice as well as he knew his own. "Oh no."

A woman stepped forward, garbed in tight black shorts and a black and red bikini top. She pulled her goggles down around her neck, revealing stormy eyes. Strawberry blond hair fell to her shoulders in waves as she stared coldly at Chappu. Slowly, ever so slowly, she lifted the long gun gripped in her right hand, aiming it at Chappu's heart. "Even if you would have listened we still would have come for you. You still would have died."

Wakka tried to run forward but he couldn't move his legs and although he knew it was futile, he yelled, desperate to make someone hear him. "KENZI! DON'T! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

But obviously she could. "I'll find this brother of yours and as I watch his blood spill from his body, I'll tell him you said hi." Her finger tightened around the trigger and a deafening explosion rang through the air.

Wakka awoke with a painful gasp, his wide, pain filled eyes staring in horror at the canvas ceiling. "Oh my god.." He whispered. The nightmare was still fresh in his mind. He couldn't rid himself of the images of Kenzi murdering Chappu. "It's not true," he muttered to himself. "It's not true." He wiped away the sweat clinging to his forehead. "It can't be."

"But what if it is Wakka?"

Wakka jumped, quickly pushing himself up and glaring at the woman sitting on the foot of his bed. "What the hell are you doing here Lu," he growled.

The black mage sighed and shook her head. "I didn't come here to fight Wakka. I came here because..I think I had the same dream as you. Or rather, nightmare. I saw Chappu...and I saw Kenzi kill him."

"Nightmares don't amount to shit Lulu and you know that, ya?" He was angry now. Angry with her intrusion, angry at the fact that her words were making him doubt the woman he had come to love.

Lulu stood, brushing at her black skirts. "Fine. But I think we have been warned Wakka. And I'm not saying that because I don't like her. I'm saying it because I don't want to see you hurt. It may have been a nightmare..but I think it quite a coincidence that you and I both had the same one. It could have been a vision Wakka. Just be careful." She turned on her heel and left, a sinister grin firmly in place.

Kenzi came around Wakka's hut, barley able to contain her excitement. This was it! She was actually going to tell him everything. And she did mean everything. From the moment she had first laid eyes on him to the time when she had met him in person on these very beaches. He was going to know it all! She couldn't be happier.

As she rounded the corner to the door, she stopped dead in her tracks, apprehension skittering up her spine. Lulu walked calmly out of the hut. The black mage saw her, her red eyes narrowing. Beside Kenzi Zack started to growl. The sound was hardly intimidating and caused Lulu to release a cruel laugh. "I do hope that isn't your idea of a guard dog."

Kenzi's blood boiled. How dare she insult her dog! "He sure as hell is," she said in a low voice.

"Well little girl." Lulu turned her head in a haughty movement, tossing her long braids over her shoulder. "Dogs wont protect you from everything." She glanced once more at Zack, rolling her dark eyes. Then she was gone, walking back to her own hut across the way.

Kenzi suppressed and outraged shriek. "The absolute nerve of that woman, insulting my baby like that!" Taking a deep breath, Kenzi tried to calm her shaken nerves. This was supposed to be a happy time. Things were finally going to go right for her and she wasn't going to let mean remark form a woman like Lulu ruin it. "That's right Zack. We're not going to let it get to us at all, are we?" She asked, picking the puppy up. He licked her face. "I'll take that as a yes," she said, laughing as she tried to wipe away the puppy slobber.

Placing Zack down, she pulled back the cloth door and walked in, surprised to see Wakka up. "Hey you! I didn't expect you to be up. I was sure that you were going to sleep the entire day away," she said, smiling down at him.

"Couldn't sleep," he muttered, keeping his gaze trained on the floor.

Kenzi sat next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Neither could I. I had the strangest dream. It was actually a nightmare. I can't remember much from it now," she lied, not wanting to rehash the disturbing details to him, "but that's not important. I..want to tell you something. Please, just hear me out." She reached over and took his hand, noting briefly how cold it was. "We've been together for three weeks now...but I feel like I've known you longer then that. When I was younger I used to watch you play in Luca and wonder, 'who is that handsome man?' Granted I never knew you back then, but I really wanted to. And now that I do, I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. I..I wanted you to know that..that I love you Wakka," she ended on a whisper.

Silence hung in the air. Something about it made Kenzi uneasy. Very uneasy. The feeling only grew when Wakka didn't answer right away. He remained silent, his eyes still fixed on the floor. Kenzi moved to sit in front of him, feeling so small compared to his large frame. "Wakka..are you okay? Did you hear me?"

Gradually he lifted his head. Haunted amber eyes, edged with exhaustion stared at her as if she were a stranger. Wakka opened his mouth, speaking in a cold voice devoid of emotion. "You're an Al Bhed."