AN: Waaa thank you all soooo much for the reviews! *prances about happily* I read each and every one of them, maybe more than once to keep me writing and inspired =) Hope you enjoy this chapter and be ready for some...odd/intense moments...

Disclaimer: I don't own FFX or any of its characters =(



But a Dream
Chapter Five :: Touched
by Kaeli Enfys


Mr. Beclen was demanding and rarely let his students slack. He wasn't one of my favourite teachers as he favoured the athletes of the class. Though I tried, he would rarely give me a second glance and I had to wonder if he even knew my name or not.

I suddenly felt a hand grab onto my arm and I was jolted out of my thoughts. It was Rikku, who was starting to drag me towards the cart of basketballs placed on the polished gym floor. "C'mon Yunie! You're my partner!"

I glanced around and saw that Dona was hanging off of Tidus' arm. The only ones part of that gang who wasn't in my P.E. class was Seymour and Wakka. Dona was currently leaning over and whispering something into Tidus' ear. He seemed perplexed and glanced at me quickly before whispering something back to the girl. She seemed satisfied and smiled brightly up at the blonde.

Before I could drown myself in my thoughts again, Rikku had passed the basketball to me which hit my arm and bounced off. Wincing, I sighed and bent down to pick the ball up.

"Oh my gosh! Sorry Yunie! I didn't notice you weren't paying attention," Rikku apologized sincerely and caught the ball as I tossed it to her.

"It's alright," I barely got the ball as she passed it back.

Mr. Beclen was pacing the gym, inspecting us with narrowed eyes. "God! Shelinda! How many times have you dropped the ball?! What are you made of?!"

I winced. He could be so harsh at times.

"Ya, he's such a meanie," Rikku mumbled.

I agreed, still surprised that she was being so...friendly. Rikku seemed to sense my uneasiness and surprise as she hit me lightly on the shoulder. "Oh lighten up Yunie! It's not like I'm going to jump on you or something!"

You might've yesterday, I thought to myself.

"Excellent technique Tidus," Mr. Beclen praised as he passed Dona and Tidus.

Tidus just grinned and raised his hand slightly. "Um, sir, may I go to the bathroom?"

Mr. Beclen nodded. If it had been me, or Shelinda, or somebody, he would have had a fit at us for not going before class. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, Tidus is such an athlete isn't he?" Rikku commented as we switched to dribble exercises. "I mean, he's awesome at blitzball but at everything else too! And you know, he's not that bad of a student, if he tries that is..." she trailed off thoughtfully.

I nodded awkwardly. It was hard to really agree, as he was a horrid person to me...Rikku tilted her head and peered at me. "Hey! Why do you have mismatched eyes?"

"Oh," I was caught off guard by the simple question but gladly replied. "Well, I have my parents' eyes. Both of them. My mother was Al Bhed," I explained. "That's where I got my green eye from."

"Oooh!" Understanding dawned on Rikku's childish face. "Wow! So you're like half Al Bhed!! Maybe we're related in some distant way!"

I giggled, "Maybe."

It was actually nice hanging out with Rikku. She was such an upbeat, happy-go-lucky person, it was hard to be bitter or sad around her. I found myself letting my uneasiness and doubts go as I giggled along with her about various things. She talked about so many things, normal things, things I thought people like her wouldn't talk about.

In fact, talking with Rikku made the usually long and boring class end as quickly as it had started. I was surprised when Mr. Beclen blew his whistle and told us to return the basketballs into the cart and reminded us that we would be playing an actual game next class. I groaned and Rikku just shrugged, "Ah well, it's better than math!"

I didn't exactly agree but nodded nonetheless.

The boys and the girls separated into their appropriate change rooms. Rikku left my side as she went to her locker and Dona was giggling shrilly about something. Rikku's laughter soon mixed with hers but their laughter died as they finished changing and left. I hurried to my own locker only to find it open.

I bit my lip. Had I left it open through all the excitement of someone actually speaking to me? I sighed, how careless of me.

I opened it wider and changed out of my P.E. strip, carefully folding Rikku's t-shirt and placing it gently into the cubicle. I made sure I locked my locker before exiting the change room only to see a fairly large crowd of people surrounding what seemed to be Dona and Tidus, with Rikku bouncing excitedly near them. Dona was smiling happily at Tidus and he was just grinning.

"Oh Tidus honey, you really are such a sweetie!"

Some of the girls in the crowd sighed enviously. I was so curious that I had started pushing my way through the crowd to see just what they were crowding around and murmuring about. When I had finally reached the front, I felt like time had stopped and my breath instantly caught in my throat.

How could I have been so careless? How could I have been so...so stupid?!

I suddenly felt the emptiness on my left ear. I suddenly remembered placing my prized possession in my locker. The locker which I had forgot to lock. I suddenly understood that I was not about to have friends just in a blink of an eye. I suddenly understood that reality wasn't going to be nice to me.

I screamed.

The crowd fell silent and Dona turned to me with startled dark eyes. Noticing that it was me, she smiled a low smile as she fiddled with the jewelry dangling on her left ear. "Oh, Yuna dear! Nice of you to join us."

"Give it back," I demanded.

"What?" Dona faked a surprised look and glanced hurriedly at Tidus for help. "Tidus, honey! What on Spira is the girl talking about?"

"Ya, Yunie, what's up with you?" Rikku echoed.

I turned to look at her with disbelief. So...so everything had been an act. Everything had been...nothing. Nothing at all but a mere chimera of my hopeless dreams. Of course they'd never really be my friends. Why had I been so naive? I had been too...too desperate. Grasping at the chance that they actually spoke to me...and now...I was crashing back into reality.

No mercy.

"That's my earring," I continued, pointing a shaky finger at mother's earring dangling so prettily on Dona's ear. Oh, it was beautiful even worn by her, but I couldn't stand it. Couldn't stand someone like that touching mother's earring.

Dona fingered the earring in her hand. I wanted to scream. To tell her to get her hands away from it, but I stood, stunned and feeling numb. "Make some sense Yuna dear. You? Owning such a beautiful thing?"

I bit my lip, so hard that I knew I had drew blood. I turned to Tidus then, who was looking so innocent...too innocent. I opened my mouth, my voice cracking, "You know that earring's mine. You saw it yesterday...during Al Bhed class...you tried touching it. You know it's mine! Tell her!" What was I saying? Wanting Tidus to stand on my side? Yevon...I was loosing my mind, but I couldn't stop the words from spilling out of my lips.

Tidus blinked his big azure eyes and pointed at the earring. "This? I found it in the change rooms. More precisely, the girl's change rooms but don't ask," he said casually and the crowd broke into laughter.

I stared at him. Hard. He...he found it. No. He took it. From my locker. He stole it. He stole it...he stole it...the thought swam in my head. He stole it...for her. Stole it...from me.

It was like stealing my very soul. Stealing mother's earring, the little thing I had left of mother.

"I think it looks good on you, Dona!" Rikku remarked. "And if what Yunie...er, Yuna, says is true, than I'm sure it would look much worse on her ear."

My vision blurred. Were there tears in my eyes? I couldn't tell. I could only feel burning hatred from within me. Hatred...hatred? I never hated...I couldn't hate...but suddenly, I could. I hated so much that I couldn't control the rage in my eyes. I lashed out, ready to scratch those perfect coffee brown eyes from their sockets. Ready to ruin that perfect hair that sat on top of that perfect face.

Dona shrieked and I felt strong muscular arms grabbing hold of me, holding me back from my victim. I fought blindly. "Give it back!" I managed to scream.

Dona stepped back, away from my reach. She looked at me in disdain. "Ch, get your filthy paws away from me. My sweet Tidus got this earring for me, and you're claiming it's yours?"

I had finally got free of those arms and immediately flashed her a death glare. "Yes. It's mine. Give it back."

Dona smirked and fingered the earring once more. My heart burned. "Oh, but it's such a pretty thing...and it's yours..."

"Yes," I practically hissed as I waved my hand at her. "Now give it back already."

Tidus waved his hands in the air, stepping back as he did so. "Whoa, just chill okay? It's not a big deal."

Oh yes it was. It was a big deal alright. A very big deal.

Dona turned her twinkling eyes to me. I didn't like the light dancing in the midst of her dark eyes. I didn't like anything at the moment. "Well, I guess it is yours," Dona suddenly looked surprised. "Ewww! That means I have something that has been on you, on me?! Oh dear Yevon! Gross!"

The next few seconds felt like eternity to me. Her right hand went so fast to her left ear that it was all a blur. I only saw her snatch the precious thing off her ear and throw it to the floor. I only heard the beads scatter and roll around the floor. I only heard laughter. My vision was swimming.

"Well that's that. Ew, and to think I actually thought it was pretty," Dona's voice was so far away...so far away...I could only see a blue bead land and bounce at my feet. I could only here the distant sounds of my dreams shattering...dreams...so useless, so pointless...

I bent down then, slowly, and picked up the single bead at my feet. I felt its smooth texture on my fingertips and how the light danced on it. I didn't know that they were all watching me with strange looks on their faces. I didn't care...

"Uh...is something wrong with her?" Came Rikku's voice.

I couldn't breathe. I choked on my own attempt to breathe. I choked again and again and I finally realized I was sobbing. I couldn't control it. I couldn't stop it.

"...Geez, it was just an earring," I could hear the fright in Dona's voice, but she was trying to hide it.

Just an earring? ...No...it was anything but that. It was so much more...it was my everything. It was mother. It was everything about mother. Her touch, her strength...had all been part of that simple earring.

"...I hate you. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" I was shocked at the own venom in my voice, but I was out of control. I couldn't even feel my own heart pounding at my chest, I couldn't even see clearly. I was jumping to my feet and running...running outside, to the schoolyard, pass curious students. I was running...from all those feeble dreams I had. All those desires, all those stupid things...

I was so stupid.

Stupid, stupid, stupid...

I stopped running at the base of a large oak tree. And I sat. And I sobbed. And I let all my dreams fade and whole heartedly embraced reality. I couldn't run from it anymore. I couldn't hide in my dreams and hoped that everything would be okay.

Embracing reality...that was what I had to do. Cruel, retched reality...

*


I didn't go to any of my classes that day. I didn't go anywhere that day. In fact, I just sat there, under the big oak tree at the very far end of the schoolyard. I sat, and I sat, and I sobbed, and I stared. I watched the sun cover the clouds and eventually leave. I watched the birds fly and the wind rustle the autumn leaves all dry and crisp. I felt the wind on my swollen face and the single bead clutched tightly in my left hand.

It was so surreal. I couldn't quite grasp onto what had happened. But I knew what had happened.

And to think I had thought he was nice. That he was understanding. He was the devil himself, that blonde haired young man. That young man that I had saved. That young man that showed me a side of him that I never knew existed.

Was all that an act?

He was the one who took it from me. He was the one who gave it to her. He was the one that ruined everything...

I stopped my thoughts. No...no, I couldn't blame anyone but myself. If I had not let my guard down, if I had been...smart, I would have known, would have been able to prevent it. But I was stupid, silly, naive...thought they would actually be my friends. Dreams don't come true...that stupid quote was a lie.

I let my head roll to one side as I leaned against the thick, mossy trunk. I closed my eyes once more and listened to the wind and the leaves around me flutter. A distant bell rung. Was that the school bell? I wasn't sure. I heard people walking, laughing, talking to one another. What do you want to do after school? The movies? Let's go shopping! Sleepover?

Their conversations filled my ears, but it was all gibberish.

"...Hey?"

And yet that voice rang clearly in my head. I felt something nearby jostle about, I heard leaves crunching and someone nearby. I didn't want to open my eyes though. I didn't want to do anything.

"...Hey, it wasn't that big of a deal was it? Just an earring..."

Just an earring.

How can you say it so simply? My mind screamed. How can you treat it as just an earring?

I laughed.

"You know...sometimes dreams...and memories...aren't enough. Sometimes...you need something solid, something physically there...to support those dreams and memories..." I sighed. "...those little things in life...mean so much to me." I opened my eyes to see wide, azure eyes staring back at me. I knew it was him, but to see his eyes suddenly made the anger stir in me again.

I stood up and walked on ahead, knowing he was following me. "...So why are you here? To say sorry? To laugh in my face?" I turned around and shakily smiled. My voice wobbled. "I don't need it."

He scratched his head and sighed deeply, daring to look me in the eye. "Ok, look, I'm sorry."

"Sorry..." I echoed and turned away.

He caught up to me and continued, "I don't know why that earring is of such importance to you. Have you never owned jewelry?"

I stopped walking and placed a hand to the locket dangling on my neck. I reached behind my neck and took the necklace off tenderly. He watched me questioningly. I stepped closer to him and opened the locket, and smiled. "...That's me...at age five. That's my father...and my mother...it was my birthday," I murmured. He didn't say a word. "...Life was so beautiful then. Nothing was wrong, everything was right. Nothing was black, everything was white...I was so...oblivious."

"And then everything was gone...just gone...nothing left," I closed the locket. It snapped shut. "Poof," I made a hand movement. "When father died, the first pillar in my life disappeared. My life was breaking, mother was breaking...she tried to stay strong and take care of me while providing us with food and shelter...but eventually, health was taken away from mother...beautiful mother. She was so beautiful, even lying there on her death bed. Her eyes were like emeralds. Her hair like...like yours," I added as an afterthought. "...And gone she went. Away into the Farplane...and I was left with memories."

I didn't know he was staring at me intently. I didn't know he was staring at me with eyes filled with mixed emotions of his own. I only knew I had to get something out of me. To spill my thoughts before I would burst into a billion uncountable pieces.

"That earring...was my mother's," I tilted my head to the cerulean sky. "Mother made it. With her own hands. Her touch, her everything...had gone into it." I looked back at him. His eyes were dim.

"...To me, it was mother."

His shoulders sagged. His eyes suddenly fell downcast. The sun danced on his hair, but he didn't notice how nice it looked. He clutched his hands into fists and finally looked up and met my gaze. We stared at each other for a good minute or so, nothing really mattered, no words said. "...Yuna?"

He took a few steps towards me and stuck a hand into his pocket. He took my hand, the one clutching the single bead, and took something out of his pocket to place into my hand. He let out a breath, and muttered sheepishly, "It kinda looks a bit...wonky, but...I'm not exactly good at this kind of stuff. You know...rough hands from blitz and all..."

I took in a breath and looked down at my hand, daring myself to unravel my fingers. I slowly did, and the sun danced upon not only the single blue bead, but on pinks and yellows...

"Oh! So that's where the last bead was! I couldn't find it and I guess you can add that last bead to the end of it..." Tidus rambled on.

I felt my eyes water.

Mother's earring...there again, in my grasp. It looked the same, just without that one last blue bead, but that could be fixed. Mother's earring...all whole and well. My lips were trembling...my vision swam. I looked up abruptly, into his beautiful, brilliant azure eyes.

I had never seen anything more beautiful.

AN: Whoa, was I in a dramatic mood or what? Ahahahaha well, if you didn't get what happened to Yuna's earring, it broke when Dona threw it. And Tidus fixed it (strung all the beads together again) and gave it back to Yuna! Awwwww *glows* Anywho, some other stuff will be explained in Chapter 6, so no worries if you can detect some loose ends =P Hope you enjoyed this chapter and review away ^-^;;