Chapter Four: Into the Clear Waters
Cherry Blossoms....
They were too common....a far too common sight in the outside school grounds of Zanarkand High, especially when they are being blown by the wind....
Speaking of the wind, it was a pretty windy afternoon for Rikku, Wakka, Lulu, Auron, Yuna, and Tidus as they were walking down the path between the Cherry Blossom Trees. Blossoms were falling everywhere....probably on the road they were walking on. The whole outside area is surrounded by Zanarkand High's buildings.
As they walked on, they came nearer and nearer to a great beautiful round fountain located at the very heart of Zanarkand High. In the water, Tidus could see scattered coins everywhere. At the top of the fountain stands a statue of Leviathan, a long serpent that has control over Water. Great amounts of water were sprouting from its mouth. Streaks of water were also sprouting from its fins and from all over its body.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Rikku said as she ran to the edge of Leviathan's fountain. At least, that's what everyone in Zanarkand High called it, including the teachers.
"Come sit here!" She gestured her friends to sit on the edges. "We're gonna take our break!"
Yuna simply nodded her head and sat beside her cousin. Lulu agreed as well and sat on Rikku's other side. Tidus, Wakka, and Auron just refused and stood by the fountain's edges. Somehow, boys want it that way....
"So, where's the rest of the team?" Tidus asked Wakka.
"They're probably waiting for us at the stadium by now...." He answered. "They don't mind if we're a few minutes late anyway, ya?"
Auron plainly remained silent....he could see Rikku pestering Lulu and even Yuna to let her copy their answers for tomorrow's assignments. Lulu irritably rejected and pulled her bag away from Rikku. Yuna kindly refused by telling her younger cousin that it's wrong....
"Too bad for them, Rikku's hard to get away with." Tidus gladly said to himself as he watched Rikku secretly open Lulu's bag---
"You wouldn't dare!!!"
----Lulu managed to catch Rikku right before she was about to sneak her Math assignment out of her bag.
Rikku groaned. "Tsk! I was so close too!" She gave up arguing with Lulu and tried to figure out her own assignment instead.
Wakka grinned at her. "I guess the poor girl's lost her touch!"
Rikku glared at Wakka and strode towards him and---
"OW!"
---forcefully stomped his foot with hers.
"MEANIE!!!"
Wakka growled in pain and hopped around with his other foot while holding his foot that Rikku flattened.
"What was that for!!!?"
"THAT was for being a meanie!" Rikku shouted back at him, sounding annoyed.
Lulu sighed deeply, put her assignment back in her bag, and strode between her two friends.
"That's enough! Both of you! You're acting childish!" She told off Wakka and Rikku who were both being held back by Tidus and Auron.
Auron lowered his head and slowly shook it...these kids will never change....
That afternoon was windy......maybe too windy....
All of them stayed by Leviathan's Fountain for a few more moments. All Tidus could do was breathe the air blowing the cherry blossoms...that seemed to relax him, even for just a bit. He lightly smiled as he watched Rikku begging Yuna to tell her all the answers to their Math assignment. Yuna simply smiled at her cousin and taught her the basics instead. He noticed that Lulu was sitting alone on the other side of the fountain studying for her test in Chemistry tomorrow.
Lulu seemed alone...all alone...
"Hey Lu!"
Lulu almost jumped the moment Wakka called her name.
"What's up? You seem so lonely, ya?" Wakka checked up on her.
"I-It's nothing..." Lulu answered quietly. "I was just studying for tomorrow's test."
Rikku immediately glanced at their direction and smirked. Sure, she still wanted to play her game but she's sure either Auron or Tidus would stop her.
Wakka sat beside Lulu and eventually, they started a good conversation. Surprisingly enough, Lulu seemed to be enjoying herself with Wakka's company, despite her usually serious appearance.
Tidus wondered...when will be the perfect time to talk to Yuna?
"Well..." He thought. "With Rikku and Auron around, it's not gonna be easy."
He let out a breath as he watched Yuna teaching Rikku how to answer some of Auron's complicated formulas. She was wearing a cheerful smile as Rikku pouted and scratched her head. She couldn't quite get past Auron's assignment.
He continued staring at her just when---
"Talk to her."
---Auron spoke...it was the last thing Tidus expected him to do.
"Wh-What!?"
"Didn't you hear me?"
"O-Of course I heard you! It's just..."
"...Rikku?"
"Yeah!" Tidus was kinda surprised. Even Auron was able to figure it out. "She'll probably start making up ideas once I approach Yuna."
"Then I'll distract her." Auron told him.
"A-Auron!? What are you, crazy!? I mean, why do you want me to talk to her anyway?"
"You wanted to, right?" Auron said in his gruff voice.
Tidus blushed and looked at the ground. How can Auron possibly know?
Although he still couldn't quite believe it, he thought Auron's plan was a good one and finally agreed with it.
Auron walked towards Yuna and Rikku and told them that he'll handle the rest. Yuna asked Auron if it was alright but he just agreed. Yuna stood up and sat far away from Auron and Rikku but not near Wakka and Lulu who were surprisingly talking about Blitz.
"I guess she's all alone now..." Tidus' mind said to himself. Auron shot him a glance which said "Now's your chance."
Tidus took a deep breath and started to walk closer...
...closer...
...still closer towards her...
"Hey Tidus! What are you up to---"
"Keep your eyes on the assignment!!!" Auron managed to distract Rikku back before she could finish with her secret plan.
Tidus walked on towards her...still taking sideward glances at Rikku and Auron. Miraculously, Rikku was too focused with the assignment. Yuna was just sitting on the edge watching the cherry blossoms fall...all alone...
She could hear the water flowing out of Leviathan's mouth behind her. It somehow reminded her of the time when Tidus saved her from the accident yesterday...how he grabbed her around her waist...how she collapsed and fell to his arms...how she woke up hugging a stuffed yellow Chocobo doll...
"Hey Yuna!"
Yuna almost jumped in her seat in surprise the moment Tidus called her name. He settled himself beside her and sat down.
"Were you surprised?" Tidus asked her just like he usually does. What Yuna liked about him is the brightness in his voice. Always bright, always warm, just like the sun.
"I was just..." She began.
"...Thinking?" Tidus finished for her.
"Yeah..."
"About what?" He asked, sounding curious but still kept that warmth.
Yuna looked slightly away. "Many things..." She didn't want Tidus to know that she was once again swimming in her vast sea of...thoughts...it might be too complicated for him...
"Well," Tidus replied. "Just like what you said earlier, remember? You shouldn't think too much!"
Tidus looked at her and gave her a smile, a smile just as warm as the sun, only warmer. He's right. She is thinking too much. Thinking too much about him.
"How about if you watch us practice today?" Tidus suggested, still wearing that sunny smile. "You know, just to take your mind off things?"
Yuna hesitated for a moment then eventually she said "Okay, maybe I will."
"Got it." Tidus then stood up and stretched himself.
Everyone seemed to be finished at that time. Wakka and Lulu already ended their conversation, Rikku already got the hang of Math despite the fact that she secretly sneaked out her calculator when Auron wasn't looking and Tidus and Yuna finally got up from their places from Leviathan's fountain and headed towards the very back of Zanarkand High past the school buildings towards the Sphere pool.
"Hey Tidus! Yunie! Wait up!"
Rikku went sprinting towards them like an excited kid.
"You guys planning on Blitzing without us?" Wakka asked them as he approached them with Lulu walking behind him.
Lulu stepped forward. "Unless of course you two want to spend some time alone together." She said this with a little slyness in her voice.
Tidus went red in the face and couldn't look everyone in the eye, especially Yuna. Yuna also blushed and pretended to tighten her pink sweater around her. They both wished Lulu hadn't said that because Rikku was now parading around singing "Get Happy!". A song which usually listens to in her player back at home.
Auron kept his solemn outer shell and never said anything. Tidus was thankful for that...
All six of them set off away from the school grounds and went behind the enormous school buildings where the Sphere pool is located. Rikku went forward and did a number of forward flips, trying to imitate a tackle. Auron and Lulu tried to stop her warning her that she might hit someone but as usual, Rikku didn't listen to them and attempted to mimic an underwater shot this time.
"Next thing I know, she'll be Sphere shooting Wakka's head off his neck." Tidus chuckled a little as he watched Rikku executing a backflip.
The sky was already a light color of red when they arrived at the stadium. The Zanarkand Abes were practicing some distance away from the Sphere pool. Jassu, Linna, Durren and Brother were all mastering a few Blitzball techniques.
Wakka moved towards his teammates and grabbed Tidus by his neck, putting him in headlock.
"Alright boys!" Wakka announced as he rallied the Abes in front of him. "We're gonna have to practice loads more from now on if we want to beat the Luca Goers this year!" He said this like a determined leader. "Hopefully, with Tidus now in our team, we'll lower the odds winning and take the Cup this year for good!"
"Yeah..." Linna said with a hint of gloom. "We haven't won a single match against the Luca Goers."
"Linna's right." Jassu said. "Those Goers are way too unbeatable!"
"If it wasn't for them, then we'd be bringin' home the Cup a long time ago." Brother stated.
Tidus was a bit pissed after hearing his teammates think too negatively of the situation. The Zanarkand Abes weren't like this yesterday when he was introduced at the cafeteria.
"Not when I'm around!" Tidus declared, gleaming with pride. "Those Goers are probably smiling now but not for long!!! Coz this year, us Abes are taking the Cup! We'll send those Goers home crying! We'll change the course of history now, boys! Now our goal is not to do our best! From now on, I want you all to shout VICTORY!!!"
"VICTORY!!!" The Abes' shouts echoed through the stadium. All of them including Rikku shot their fists into the air and placed their hands on top of each other. They seemed to be pushed by Tidus' words.
"Let's go out there and kick Goer ass!!!" Durren grabbed the nearest ball and jumped into the Sphere pool.
Rikku, Brother, Jassu and Linna also took some balls and soared into the Sphere pool. Their strength of mind seemed to be fueled up since hearing Tidus's pep-talk.
"Hey brother!" Wakka gave Tidus a hard pat on the back. "Nice pump-up session! Even Rikku's dying to sneak off the Cup."
"That's what you always need to tell them when they need a little motivation. You're the team captain, remember?" Tidus told him. "Now let's get in there and lemme show you the Sphere Shot I was talking about!"
Tidus and Wakka shortly followed their teammates to the pool.
Yuna, Lulu and Auron just sat on a nearby bench and watched...
Tidus removed his dark-blue jacket and handed it to Auron. Rikku then speedily untied her white sweater around her waist and tossed it to Yuna, who was a bit taken aback before she caught it with both hands.
All seven of them, including Rikku swam around the Sphere pool tossing the ball to each other. They were carrying out a new formation which Wakka called the all-out offense formation, where Jassu and Linna, the players who played the defensives were posted at the center of the pool with the three offensives, Tidus, Wakka and Brother whirled with the midfielder holding the ball into the goal post.
After all was finished, Wakka signaled them to scatter and passed the ball to Tidus. Their goal this time is to prevent Tidus from getting the ball past the goal post. The Abes were at their ready position, especially Durren who was playing the role of a goalkeeper.
Wakka indicated his teammates to get ready...
3...
2...
1...
"BLITZ OFF!!!" Rikku screamed through a mouthful of bubbles.
Tidus launched himself from his starting position and swam as fast as the wind. Wakka and Brother swam across him and cracked on snatching the ball from Tidus but when turned around, Tidus was just too quick for them.
Wakka went for a tackle but Tidus evaded it with a sideways flip. Brother went for a second tackle but ended up kicking Wakka's ribs for Tidus shot himself upwards.
Tidus grinned at them and hurried on to the goal post. Jassu and Linna were now paddling to stop him. It's gonna be harder for him now because he's dealing with the defensives. Wakka and Brother were more on the offensive side.
Jassu rocketed forward and was just fast enough to give Tidus a kick. Tidus was caught off guard and released the ball.
"Tidus! Don't let go!" Yuna stood up and screamed.
Linna easily seized the ball and darted farther from the goal post. Rikku was about to call for a time-out but Tidus gave her look telling her to keep the game going. Rikku guessed that Tidus was just showing off half of his skills.
Though Linna was fast, Tidus was faster. He just couldn't bring himself to hit her for she's a girl. He never experienced to have a girl in the team back in Okinawa.
Tidus decided against resorting to violence and tried to snatch the ball with his own hands...
Linna dropped her guard as she saw Tidus flipping out of nowhere. Once they were face-to-face, Tidus smirked at her and poked her sides. Linna was disoriented and let go of the ball. Tidus's smirk widened, took the ball and rushed towards the goal post.
"Go Tidus!" Yuna was now standing up and skipping on the spot. She never usually got this excited in Blitz, even if it was already the real game.
"Don't let him get away!" Wakka tried to scream but ended up blowing out bubbles instead. Now everyone in the Sphere pool, not counting Rikku, were chasing after him. Tidus swam faster and faster until the goal post with Durren guarding it was just some twenty feet away.
Tidus wheeled around and saw that he was completely surrounded. He wasted no time in panicking, tossed the ball high and did an underwater backflip.
"That's..." Yuna trailed off, trying to figure out the name of the move.
"Sphere Shot!" Lulu shouted. "Wakka told me earlier at Leviathan's fountain!"
Tidus swiftly and powerfully kicked the ball and sent it flying through the waters. Linna and Jassu rushed forward and tried to get a hand on the ball but it was far too fast that it was their hands that were slapped off instead. The speed of the ball didn't even slow down and rocketed to the goal post.
Durren was surprised as the ball flew past him. He wasn't able to catch it which only meant...
"GOAL!!!" Rikku yelled as she did her underwater victory pose. Tidus did a loop and shot his fist through the waters.
The Abes left the Sphere pool and went back to the benches to dry themselves with some towels Rikku brought along with her.
"Whoa, man! That was amazing!" Wakka locked his arm around Tidus' neck. "Where'd ya learn that?"
"Just---made it up---myself." Tidus gasped in-between breaths.
"Tidus! That was one heck of a shot!" Rikku danced around trying to imitate his Sphere Shot but ended up doing a normal one instead.
Auron stood up from his seat and walked towards Tidus. "Good work. You've done well."
Lulu followed Auron from where she was watching and said "Nice move. Even Wakka couldn't have pulled it off."
"Aw, c'mon Lu!" Wakka grumbled as he faced her. "You know I can also do some pretty good stunts!" He said as he grabbed a ball and ran back to the Sphere pool.
"Watch me!"
"I'm coming with you!" Rikku shouted as she ran after him.
Wakka jumped into the Sphere, closely trailed by Rikku. He snatched the nearest ball and swam at the very top of the Sphere pool. Rikku whirled after Wakka and went to face him.
Rikku talked to him in sign language, telling him to Blitz with her one-on-one. Wakka nodded his head with coolness and held his fist in front of him. Rikku did a loop and positioned herself ready.
Tidus, Yuna, Auron, Lulu and the Abes watched eagerly as Wakka and Rikku looked like they were ready to strike.
In just 3...
2...
1...
...BLITZ OFF!
Wakka hurled himself forward like an arrow with the ball tightly in his hand. Rikku grinned and swam after him. The two chased each other like cat and dog around the Sphere pool.
Minutes passed...and Wakka wouldn't still give the ball up. He looked back to see Rikku swimming after him. He mouthed out words saying "Can't catch me!" and swam faster. Rikku pouted and propelled herself swiftly.
Wakka was fast but not fast enough to escape Rikku. Comparing Rikku's speed to Wakka's was like comparing a Chocobo's speed to Auron's. Rikku got fed up with all this swimming around and fired herself and locked her arms around Wakka's neck from behind. She flipped herself to his front and gave him a heel on the stomach.
Wakka gave off a mouthful of bubbles but still did not let go of the ball. He shook his head and tried to focus back on what was happening. He was so faint from the kick that he just became aware that the goal post was just less than twenty feet from where he was floating.
He became unaware of the pain and swam with all his strength towards the goal. Rikku chased after him like a Moogle running after a Kupo nut. Wakka tossed the ball upwards and gave it a very powerful blow.
Rikku's eyes widened and chased after the shooting ball instead. She tried to slap the ball to the other direction but it just missed her hand by inches. All she could do was watch the ball ram to the goal post...
Tidus and the Abes cheered as Wakka did his underwater victory pose.
"Beat that!" Wakka shouted while shaking water off his hair.
Rikku glared at him and just went on drying herself with a towel. She still won't accept the fact that Wakka beat her in Blitzball.
"You beat me this time but next time, I won't be so easy!" Rikku looked daggers at him.
Jassu and Durren both gave Wakka a hard and friendly pat on the back. Linna just smiled and gave him a high-five while Brother talked to Rikku about her loss.
"Just forget about it, Rikku. He's the team captain!" Brother explained to his little sister
Rikku seemed to forget that she was displeased about her loss. She made a running jump and dived into Wakka's back.
"As the loser, my consolation prize is a piggy-back ride!" She bounced on Wakka's back and pestered him to run around.
"Don't ask me, Rikku...I'm all worn-out, ya?" Wakka weakly and tiredly answered. "Ask Sir Auron. Maybe he can give you a piggy-back ride..."
Rikku jumped off Wakka's back and hopped into Auron's now. "Give me a piggy-back ride!"
Auron let out a breath and slowly shook his head. All this piggy-back business was too childish...
...but to everyone's surprise, he locked his arms around Rikku's legs and ran around the stadium. Rikku went "Woo-hoo!" and "Yippee!" as Auron scurried all over the sports ground with her hands up in the air.
Wakka chuckled and a brilliant idea popped in his head.
"You want a ride too, Lu?" Wakka offered, a wily smile drawing on his face.
"What do you mean?" Lulu asked distrustfully. She gazed at Wakka like a dog ready to bite.
"This is what I mean!" Wakka turned his back to Lulu and offered her a ride. Lulu's eyes widened but eventually accepted and hopped on Wakka's back. She put her arms around his neck and dared to do something she never thought she would in the first place.
"Hold on tight, Lu!"
Wakka took off and sprinted around the vicinity of the Sphere pool. Auron, Rikku, and even the Abes stopped to watch them. Tidus and Yuna laughed as they watched Lulu tighten her grip around Wakka's neck as if she was holding on for her dear life.
"WAKKA!!!" Lulu screamed. "NOT TOO FAST!!!"
As if Wakka didn't hear her, he dashed faster around the stadium and ran around like a Chocobo set loose.
"Race them, Sir Auron!" Rikku nudged him seeing that piggy-back riding was a fun pastime. Although it really isn't him, Auron tightened his hold around Rikku's legs scurried as fast as his muscles could carry him.
"Whoever gets to the exit first wins!" Wakka shouted over Auron and Rikku who were now piggy-back riding parallel to them.
"You asked for it!" Auron and Rikku simultaneously yelled back.
Tidus, Yuna, and the rest of the Zanarkand Abes watched blissfully. They never knew Blitzball practices can turn out to be this exciting. They forgot their worry about losing the Blitzball Trophy to the Luca Goers and just watched. Even Brother didn't know who to side with. It's either with Wakka, the Zanarkand Abes' team captain or Rikku, his persistent little sister.
"Faster! FASTER!!!" Rikku squealed. They were leading the race by one step.
"Wakka! STOP!!!" Lulu screamed until she was almost squeezing Wakka's neck.
"Not 'til we win this race!" Wakka happily replied. Just a few more paces and they'll be stepping on the finish line...
Wakka, who was carrying a very terrified Lulu, and Auron, who was holding a thrilled Rikku raced to the exit. They ran on with Rikku screaming "Faster!!!" and Lulu demanding to be put down.
Predicting the outcome of the race was no easy task. Sometimes it was Auron leading and then Wakka would get ahead of him. The sequence went Auron, Wakka, Auron, Wakka...
Almost there...just a few more steps...and...
"FINISHED!!!" Rikku roared as Auron braked near the exit. Wakka and Lulu followed a second later. Rikku jumped off Auron's back and did her victory dance. Auron was taking in huge amounts of air while leaning against the wall for support. Wakka finally put Lulu down and took the water battle that Jassu was holding and drank more than half of it with just one gulp. Lulu too was breathing fast, not because of exhaustion but because of shock.
"Wakka...." Lulu faintly breathed out. "You'll pay for that...." She swore to herself not to accept any piggy-back rides from anyone, especially Wakka.
Wakka just wiped the sweat off his forehead and grinned at her. "You're just not used to it, Lu!" He said, still sounding self-assured. "Next time, how about a trip to the Sphere Pool? It's gonna be loads of fun, ya?"
Lulu sighed and shook her head as a sign of rejection. She didn't want to make an embarrassment out of herself again.
"Yeah! We won!" Rikku high-fived her teammates and gave Yuna a tight and sisterly hug. They thought that they've already seen Rikku in her happiest state yet. She just wouldn't stop skipping around.
Lulu was still traumatized after the ride but was finally able to stand on her own two feet. Auron was still exhausted after the race but he must admit, he also enjoyed running around the stadium with Wakka, Rikku and Lulu.
The first star has already come out of the night sky. It was already dark except for the lights around the stadium. Everyone has already packed and are ready to leave.
"Same time next week. Like you said before, we're taking the cup this year! Those Goers are goners, ya?" Wakka told his teammates who were all packed.
"YEAH!!!" The Abes shouted and shot their fists up in the air.
After some last minute pep-talks from Wakka, the whole Blitzball team turned and left.
As Auron and the others are preparing themselves...
"Um, Tidus?"
...Yuna went to Tidus and asked him something.
"Yeah?" He replied.
"Do you mind if you take me to the Sphere pool?"
"H-Huh? What do you mean?" Tidus reacted uneasily. What has she got in her mind?
"I-I've always wanted to jump into the Sphere pool and swim like I'm just having fun." Yuna said calmly. "It's just that I...I can't---"
"---swim?"
Yuna blushed slightly and nodded. "Y-Yes...that's right. So is it alright if you just...you know, take me to the Sphere pool?" She asked timidly. Hearing Rikku's stories about her Blitzball games already got past her curiosity.
Tidus was surprised but agreed as well. "Sure, why not?"
Yuna smiled sweetly at him, her blue and green eyes showing that gentle thanks. Tidus smiled back at her and grabbed the nearest ball.
"You two!" Auron called after them. "We're leaving. Aren't you ready yet?"
"It's already dark. Are you sure you still want to stay?" Lulu asked.
"You guys can go on ahead!" Tidus replied. "I'm just gonna show Yuna around the Sphere pool!"
Rikku ran back to them and said something. "Just be sure you walk Yunie home!"
"And make sure you come back safely." Auron added.
Yuna gave her head a little nod and bid them farewell. "We will."
Auron, Wakka, Lulu and Rikku already left the huge buildings of Zanarkand High and made their way home. There was no one else in the stadium except for the two of them.
"Let's go!" Tidus ran ahead but before he jumped into the Sphere pool, he drained out some of the water and left the top part of the pool waterless so that they can swim back to the surface for some air in case Yuna couldn't hold her breath any longer.
"You'll need to take your sweater off." Tidus told her as he removed his dark-blue jacket.
Yuna just did what Tidus told her to do took off her pink sweater. Tidus the led her to the very edge of the Sphere pool and started giving her some tips.
I'll jump first into the pool." He told her as she was listening to his every word. "When I give the signal, I want you to make a running jump and leap into the pool! Got all that?"
"Yes." Yuna nodded happily.
Tidus continued. "Once you're in the pool, just hold on to me and I'll do the rest."
"Okay."
"Alright!" Tidus then positioned himself some distance away from the Sphere pool. After a few seconds, he took off and darted towards the Sphere followed by a leap. Next thing he knew, he splashed himself through the waters and drifted into the blue world...
He signaled Yuna to jump into the Sphere pool. Yuna agreed and got herself ready-----she ran as fast as she could to the Sphere pool and splashed herself to the clear waters.
The moment she found herself floating in the waters, she panicked and tried to paddle her way to Tidus. She couldn't hold her breath for long. Even worse, she can't swim. Tidus was immediately troubled and flung his arms around her waist. Yuna clung onto him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Tidus wrapped one arm around her waist and used his other arm to swim upwards to the surface. Yuna held on not wanting to drown---
SPLASH!
Tidus emerged above the surface of the water. He and Yuna were now floating at the top, waterless part of the Sphere pool. It didn't take Tidus long to catch his breath but Yuna was inhaling and exhaling on his chest, not aware that her arms were still around his neck.
"Are you alright?" Tidus asked her, still unmindful that he was holding her around her waist.
"I'm fine." Yuna replied, still breathing hard and fast.
Tidus looked at her as she was still catching her breath. What interested him that she was so inexperienced and so......delicate. It feels as though he was holding an angel in his arms......it felt so....heavenly.....
Yuna, still unconscious of who's holding her, finally regained her breath and without thinking, she held on to him around his neck, keeping a tight grip and not wanting to be let go. She didn't want to be released under the water anymore....she just wanted to be somewhere safe. Somehow, she felt kind of protected....
They were both unaware....unaware that there was just the two of them....unaware that they were holding each other......and unaware that they
were slowly....slowly....slowly descending into the blue water into the core of the Sphere pool......
She calmed down now and looked at Tidus' gentle blue eyes. They somehow reminded her of the clear waters they were gliding over now. Tidus also stared at her mismatched eyes.....not knowing that his arms were slowly tightening around her, bringing her closer to him. He could feel her breathing now....feel it on his chest....feel it around him...feel it---
---Large bubbles burst out of Yuna's mouth. Tidus forgot. They were underwater. How could he let it slip off his mind? He tightened one arm around her waist and swam as fast as he could out of the Sphere pool. After whirling through the blue waters, Tidus and Yuna shot out of the Sphere and landed on all fours some distance from the Sphere pool....
"Are you alright!?" Tidus checked her without delay.
"Dammit!" Tidus' mind screamed at himself. "How could I just let her stay underwater for so long!!!? She could've drowned! If something horrible happens to her then it's gonna be all my fault!!! All my damn fault!!! I shouldn't have......I shouldn't have stared at her for so long......"
Tidus finally realized why all this happened in the first place. He was....carried away....carried away by...
"Well, whatever it is, I'm glad she's safe now." He gladly said to himself.
Tidus took a towel and dried himself up. "Here." He took another one and handed it to Yuna. She took it and also dried herself up.
"Look." Tidus started. "I-I'm sorry about....back there...at the Sphere pool. I---" He stopped. He couldn't think of anything else to say. He looked away, too ashamed look at her in the eye.
But Yuna responded differently. Instead, she smiled and looked at him straight in his eyes. "No, you don't need to apologize. I even want to thank you instead..."
"Huh? For what?"
"For taking me to the Sphere pool. What I meant was....thanks...."
Yuna then tidied herself up and put her sweater back on. Tidus was all set as well and wore his jacket back on. He then led himself and Yuna out of the stadium and back to their homes. After all, it was already past eight that time....
That night...it was almost like the same as last night's. The air was chilly and the whole area was windy. Spiralis has always been a cold place to live in. Its afternoons were breezy but the nights are even breezier now that Tidus is walking Yuna home again.
Neither said anything to each other since they left Zanarkand High's buildings. They were probably too busy being clouded up by their own thoughts....
"Man, I wonder what made me hold her like that? Or maybe I was just unable to control myself that time.....well either way, it was pretty nice holding her but I can't get carried away next time."
Tidus thought. It was the only thing he could right now...
"The funny thing, what made me so relaxed when I looked at her eyes? Her eyes made me forget everything! I even forgot that we were underwater and all....there's something about those eyes....not just her eyes, there was something about her...."
Not surprisingly, Yuna was also lost in her own thoughts.
"It was so sweet of him to take me to the Sphere pool. But what I liked about that moment is that I felt like all my troubles were gone. I just don't understand it myself...whenever I'm around him, I feel....safe. I feel like there's no one around to harm me or anything..."
Right now, Yuna has just some questions that need to be answered in her head.
"But the really strange thing is......when we were underwater, I forgot about breathing. I felt like I could live on in the Sphere pool when I looked at his eyes. His eyes made me forget everything..."
All this thinking went on until they just realized that they absent-mindedly walked past Yuna's home.
"We're here." Tidus told her.
Yuna looked briefly at her home and smiled. She took a deep breath and turned to look at Tidus.
"Um, thank you." She said thoughtfully. "Thanks for walking me home again. I really appreciate it."
Tidus just smiled back at her and put a hand on her shoulder. Yuna touched his hand and closed her eyes, trying to feel his tender touch.
After a fleeting moment, Yuna snapped back to reality and let go of his hand. She blushed and tried to hide the awkwardness as much as she could by knocking on their front door.
But before she did, she looked back one more time...
"Good night....and....sweet dreams...."
"Yeah....you too...."
After one last look, Tidus turned and made his way back home....
Yuna knocked on the door. It opened later and she was greeted by her vibrant cousin.
"YUNIE!!!"
Rikku leapt and threw her arms around Yuna's neck. "I'm so glad you're home now, Yunie! Come inside! Your dinner's getting cold."
She led her older cousin to their table and took their places. Rikku went to the kitchen first to make herself a nice warm cup of hot chocolate. Then she sat down across Yuna on their small table.
"So Yunie!" She began. "How was your trip to the Sphere pool?"
Yuna sighed deeply after sipping her soup. "They went well, Rikku."
After their eating their supper, Yuna and Rikku got themselves ready for bed and went to their rooms.
"I'm tired!" Rikku said as she stretched herself. "Good night, Yunie! We've got a big day ahead of us!" She let out a yawn and started to crawl to her bed but before she even lifted her bed covers, Yuna stepped closer and pulled her into a sisterly hug.
"Thank you, Rikku." Yuna whispered as she stroke her hair. "Thanks for everything. I'm so grateful to have you as my cousin."
"Y-Yunie!" Rikku was slightly surprised at first but her heart softened and hugged her dear cousin back. After all, they were one family....she was the only family Yuna had left after her parents went.
Tidus went to his room and changed to his usual night-wear. It was a pretty tiring day for him and he at least wanted a good night's rest.
"Be up early tomorrow, Tidus." Auron reminded him as he lay on his bed. "I don't want you to arrive late in my class again."
"No worries, Auron!" He answered back. "I can handle myself tomorrow! G'night!" He stretched himself to free from the stiffness and closed the door behind him.
Auron was astonished. Did Tidus just say "G'night"? He doesn't usually bid him good night because if he does, it's normally followed with "old man". Auron wondered...why is Tidus being cheerful?
"I guess I was wrong this morning..." Auron said to himself. "The boy has changed..."
Tidus lied on his bed and closed his eyes. He relaxed himself to his sleepiness and tried to reach out for his Chocobo doll. He got it and gave it a tight hug as he drifted to sleep. He wondered when will be the next time he'll be gliding through the clear waters again...
To the Reviewers: Man, I really don't know what to say. Your reviews mean a lot to me! The Keyblade Master reads them over and over and over again! They're all so fun to read! It's just frustrating that I can't read the bios of the anonymous reviewers!
Again, your reviews ROCK!!! But they'll rock even more when you make them longer! Well, you don't have to if you don't want to but give it a shot! Sora loves long reviews!
To Miyu: Yo! So you fell in love with my fic just from reading the summary! Well, I'm glad you liked it coz I was planning to change it. So anyway, thanks for reviewing this story! Hope you loved this chapter although it's gonna be a long while before I post the fifth one.
P.S. I hope I didn't take long enough.