Chapter 10: Dreams

Tidus was not used to this kind of stuff. Normally, when a school dance was coming up, he wouldn't even have to budge a finger and he could pick almost any girl in the school. One of his more famous dates was two years older than him, and didn't even go to his school! After he graduated from Yusai Secondary, he still thought more about girls and dating than most things. One night stands, quick flings, and then dump the poor girl on her ass. Come to think of it, he hadn't even had a relationship for longer than a month and a half. He'd never wanted a long lasting relationship, and until he came here, girls were only games for him to play.

So what was different this time? Well, it was Yuna. She was different than most girls somehow. She was shy, but Tidus knew she had a strong side to her. He hadn't seen it, but he could tell just by looking into her eyes. He could tell that while the outside was small and frightened, her soul was stronger than anyone he had ever seen. That was only the first thing he knew he enjoyed about her. When he thought even deeper about it, he realized that everything he had seen about her he enjoyed. Her laugh, the way she tried to stifle it but never could, the way she stared back at him, her purity and sincerity, her deep and caring personality. She was incredibly beautiful, and he'd thought that any girl that could look that good would be corrupted and arrogant, but Yuna was anything except that. But above all, her eyes were his favourite feature. In a way, she reminded him of the best friend he never had as a girl. But she wasn't just a friend, because to Tidus, there was more inside of him.

"What's on your mind?" Wakka asked, bouncing a small blitzball off of the television set.

"Don't do that, you'll break it." Tidus warned. "Oh, on my mind? Just some thoughts. Nothing important." *Yeah right* He thought. *Nothing important my ass.*

"Okay, well, ya!" Wakka exclaimed, snapping his fingers as if he'd just remembered something important. He looked at Tidus with excited, hopeful eyes. "Guess what!!"

Tidus stared at him, and before he could even respond, Wakka just continued.

"I'm going to ask Lu to the dance!" Wakka informed. Tidus stared at him blankly, taking a couple seconds to register what was being said to him. It clicked, and he couldn't hold it anymore. "What?"

Tidus burst out laughing, his blonde hair weaving and bobbing through the air. "o-oh come on man!" Tidus cried. "She's in another LEAGUE, you have no chance man!"

"Oh thanks for the vote of confidence, ya?" Wakka snorted, crossing his arms and scowling at his humoured friend. "It's worth trying."

"Yes, maybe in three million years you'll thaw her frozen heart." Tidus spoke sarcastically. "Man, I bet she isn't even going!"

"We'll see!" Wakka replied confidently.

"Yeah, we will. But we won't see her." Tidus replied.

"Well who are YOU going to ask?" Wakka retorted angrily. "Didn't see you hanging around with any girl except- wait a sec, her?!"

"Yuna, yeah." Tidus replied. "So?"

"Well, she's not even in your le-"

"Don't even think about it." Tidus laughed, aware that Wakka was desperately trying to get him back for his accusations that Lulu wasn't his type. "For your information, she likes me too."

"What makes you so sure?" Wakka snorted. "Maybe she jus' thinks you guys are friends, ya?"

"Yeah, well I can tell this stuff. I AM an experienced veteran with women, you see." Tidus replied jokingly.

"Whatever dude, I'm going to go find somethin' to eat..." Wakka stumbled over to the fridge, tripping over a rubber ball. "Move your shit!" He scowled angrily. He opened the door, grumbling in anger, but was not made happier by the sight of food. Or lack thereof.

"Whats wrong?" Tidus questioned as he saw Wakka's face contort into exasperation.

"Outta food." Wakka replied. "Dammit!" He sighed, and closed the bleach- coloured door shut, turning to Tidus. "Going to get more food. Wanna come?"

"Nah, it's alright." Tidus answered. "I know you've got good choice in food. That is, you get everything in colours and shiny packages. You can always tell the quality of the food by the shiny stuff and colours wrapping the box."

"Har har!" Wakka laughed sarcastically. "I'm out!" He closed the door behind him, and Tidus could hear the clumsy clanking of the keys locking the door. He continued to lay on the couch, the soft material a comfort to his bruised shoulders (after a couple training sessions, one tends to receive bruises). His hands rested behind his head for a couple minutes before he rolled over, curling into a more comfortable position. Soon enough, he decided, as most people do, he would "rest his eyes." The comfort of the warm sofa claimed him, as did sleep, and within moments he was dreaming softly.

He was walking in a field, a bright and sunny field, with the beautiful music of birds singing, the lush green grass comforting to his aching feet. He couldn't believe being in a beautiful place like this, it was like nothing on earth. But yet, it was familiar some how. Not a single flower, but that didn't matter. He knew he was dreaming, yet he could almost smell the fresh green grass and the clean air. Everything was perfect, not a cloud in the bright blue sky. Brighter than his eyes, even. The sun seemed to smile upon him, warming him perfectly. He took the time to inhale the fresh clean air, before sitting on the grass, hands over his bent knees. He could hear footsteps behind him, and soon, he felt even warmer and happier, if such a thing was possible, when Yuna sat down besides him.

"Yuna?" Tidus asked. He looked into her eyes, her beautiful green and blue eyes. She smiled back at him.

"Yes..." Yuna replied. "It's perfect..."

"Nothing can go wrong." Tidus replied, and feeling no fear, only courage and caring for Yuna, extended his arms over her and moved behind her, as she seemed to fall into him. He arms folded over her shoulders, and Tidus could feel her soft skin. Her hair tickled his chest as she lay back, closing her eyes and smiling softly.

"Will you... stay with me?" She asked, opening her eyes and looking back up at him. "Until the end?"

Tidus looked back at her, and smiling, replied. "Not until the end. Forever."

"...Thank you..." Yuna answered, and closed her eyes and lay back down on his upper chest.

"Until the... end?" Tidus asked. Those fateful words. "...Forever? Why am I feeling this? What... what's wrong?" He glanced down at Yuna, who was looking up at him with tears in her eyes.

"No..." She whimpered, as a single crystal tear slid down her cheek, and hitting his chest, causing a cold sensation, and shiver to run down his back.

All of a sudden, the sky was no longer clear and blue. Clouds, dark, ominous clouds rolled over the sun, blocking out the light and causing shadows to form. Tidus gasped, as the grass beneath him wilted and turned to dust. The ground dried, and cracked, forming small lines across the ground in strange patterns. The air was no longer clean and refreshing, it was dust-filled and dirty. Tidus coughed involuntarily at first, as did Yuna, but a weaker sound to his.

"Yuna?!" Tidus cried out, noticing Yuna was no longer by his side. He looked around frantically. He saw her suddenly, standing to his right. He turned to face her, and she simply looked back at him, tears readily rolling down her cheek, trying to smile, but too sad to even force it. She put her fingers under her eyes and wiped away the tears, and then waved goodbye.

"No!" Tidus cried. "I'm not going! I will never leave you! I promise!" He ran forwards, trying to catch her... but every step he took, she disappeared a little more. He cried out in surprise, doubling his speed... but she just moved further away. "I won't!" He cried out, leaping through the air, a last desperate attempt to regain her, to grab hold of her soft hands one last time, but he could not. He crashed into the hard ground, and lay there for a moment, before crying out Yuna's name. Then, he woke up, having felt soft hands shaking his back, and a pair of sandaled shoes nudging his side.