DISCLAIMER:  I do not own FFX, FFX-2 or any of the characters and locations affiliated with it.  I do, however, own the story "Silver Wings" and all references to dialogue not originated by Square-Enix.

DO NOT COPY MY STORIES!!

If anyone wants to post this story or "Silver Wings" anywhere else, please just ASK and then give me credit for writing it.  Email akksgurl@yahoo.com with any requests.

Author's Notes:  No, I don't own the song although I wish I did since I just love it.  This chapter basically just dives more into character relationships. 

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SILVER WINGS 2: 1000 CONFESSIONS

by akksgurl

Chapter Five:  In The Still of the Night

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After the initial shock of finding a human skull, Yuna was sickened to realize that there were two more within close proximity.  One of the skulls had a bullet hole through the forehead.  It was obvious at least one of them had been murdered.  Had the rest of them suffered the same fate?  It had been too dark to search for the remainder of the body parts and none of the crew particularly wanted to continue that feat.  Rikku insisted that they all leave before Tidus realized they were gone and everyone agreed.  It would be for the best.  Besides, they could find a way to get a DNA match on the skulls.  The rest of the skeletons were not needed.

Tidus was safely tucked under the covers sound asleep when the group returned to the former Youth League headquarters tired and dirty, while carrying three human skulls.  It was almost as if he had never left, had it not been for the dirt that trimmed the lower cuff of his shorts.  The blitzer was lost in his dreams as Yuna padded around the guest room to his shorts which were flung haphazardly over the bed frame.  She thumbed her finger over the dirt and frowned.  Just what was going on with him?

"Did you want to stay for the night, love?" LeBlanc whispered from the doorway.  Yuna walked toward her and the two closed the guestroom door quietly behind them as they made their way into the foyer, "All of you can if you want.  It's been a rough day, love."

Yuna laughed a little, "You can say that again." LeBlanc smiled at Yuna and for the first time the former summoner felt like she had found a friend in LeBlanc rather then a competitor.  Although the two women were as different as night and day, it was during this time of worry that Yuna saw a compassionate side of LeBlanc that she never knew existed.  It was really comforting.  Smiling at the tall blonde before her, Yuna said, "Staying would be great.  I'm actually really tired."

"I thought you would be," LeBlanc admitted with a grin, "Everybody else was so they are all getting settled in their rooms." She cast a glance toward the door to Tidus's guestroom and asked, "Did you want to stay in there with him or did you want another room?"

Yuna shrugged, "I probably should stay with him.  I don't want him to get suspicious just in case he is up to something." She frowned and cast her glance downward, "I just hope that my fears aren't realized."

"What fears would that be, love?"

Yuna shook her head, "It's nothing." She replied, "I'll be going to sleep now."  Turning and reentering the room, Yuna shut the door behind her before she had to explain herself to LeBlanc.  She had been having an uneasy feeling about Tidus since he had said he was hearing voices, but now…

She didn't want to put words to her fears.  She would rather just pretend that nothing was wrong until there was concrete proof that there was.

Stripping to her underwear, Yuna crawled under the sheets next to Tidus and lay on her left side watching his chest rise and fall with every breath.  He was in such a deep slumber that she had a hard time believing that less than an hour ago he'd been in the Cave of Woe looking for, of all things, a skull.  The dirt on his pants, however, didn't lie.  He had been there.  The question now, was why.  A blue eye opened, followed by the other and Tidus slowly came into consciousness.  He squirmed beneath the sheets until he rolled over to face her, "Hello, beautiful." He said.

"Sleep well?" Yuna asked.  Part of her silently prayed that he'd tell her the truth, but the rest of her knew that was a crazy wish and one that would never come true.

Tidus nodded, "Actually I did.  I feel pretty good." His eyes trailed down to the floor where he noted her clothes in their piles.  With a grin, he said, "Am I to assume that you might be half-naked under those sheets?"

Yuna giggled and pulled the sheets closer to her.  This was the Tidus she fell in love with.  He was playful and fun.  He was romantic and passionate.  The man that was cursing at the door to the Cave of Woe was so drastically different.  He seemed angry.  He seemed like…

Shuyin. 

Yuna pushed that horrid thought away quickly and focused back on Tidus who had managed to slip a hand behind her while she was thinking and was making fast work unclasping her bra, "And just what do you think you're doing?" Yuna teased as she felt his hands on the elastic of her panties.

"I am seducing you.  Got a problem with that?" he asked just as he moved his lips softly against her neck and down further and further.

Yuna sighed heavily and let her eyes close, "No, not at all." She whispered.

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A knock at Rikku's door startled the blonde Al Bhed as she struggled into the t-shirt she was going to sleep in.  Straightening her braids, Rikku skipped to the door and opened it.  Her heart jumped into her throat for a moment and Rikku couldn't form words. 

It was Gippal.

Clad in just his low-slung slacks, the handsome Al Bhed's muscular chest was clearly visible.  Rikku stood staring at him for much longer then she wanted to and was only shaken back to reality at the realization that he was grinning his cocky grin.  She frowned, "What do you want?"

"You." Gippal replied, "But we'll discuss that later." Rikku stammered a flustered reply as Gippal forced his way past her and into the room.  He turned back to her and his eyes wandered the full length of her as he noted the t-shirt she was sleeping in which exposed quite a bit of leg.  Although she was more covered then she normally was in her daily clothes, there was something about her in an oversized men's shirt that aroused him.  Then he frowned.  He knew that shirt, "Isn't that Baralai's shirt?"

Rikku nodded, "Yeah, he said I could sleep in it since he was wearing another one underneath it."

"What?  You two are sharing clothes now?!" Gippal bit off.  Groaning and throwing his hands in the air, he spat, "Are you interested in him or something?"

"What's it to you if I am?" Rikku demanded, "You're the one that never tried to get in touch with me when you went off to save the world!"

Gippal groaned.  He knew Rikku was right.  He hadn't tried to speak with her or to keep in touch.  He had screwed up and he knew that, but he wasn't about to admit that to her.  He shook his head, "Never mind about that for now." He said, "I just wanted to see if you knew where Shinra was.  He's a smartie and I thought he might be able to do the DNA analysis we need."

"He's probably with Pop at the new location of Home.  They started the rebuilding about a week ago."

Gippal nodded, "I had forgotten about that," he crossed the room toward Rikku.  With the dim light in the room, she looked even more beautiful and the two stared into each others eyes for several moments before Gippal whispered, "You're really beautiful."

"Thanks." Rikku said with a blush.  Gippal never complimented her and now he had done so twice in the last 24 hours.  It had to be a new record or something.  Rikku vaguely wondered if this was a trend that would continue but all thought left her head when his lips came upon hers in a kiss that set her whole being on fire. 

It seemed like forever before his lips left her own.  Rikku could form coherent words before he lifted her in his strong arms and crossed over to the bed.  His green eyes seemed to bore holes right through her, and she barely realized he had set her down upon the bed, before he turned to leave.  Her feelings ranged from relief to disappointment in those moments.  She didn't want him to go, but she didn't want him to stay either.  In a moment he was to the door, and, just as quickly as he'd shown up, he was gone with just Rikku's pounding heart to signify that he'd been there at all.

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The dim light from the refrigerator gave the entire kitchen a light glow as Paine stared into the chilly abyss trying to figure out if she did indeed want something to eat.  The stoic female couldn't sleep so she had wandered out of the guest room she was to stay in and out into the kitchen hoping to find sustenance. 

It was strange for her to be in the same building with the three men she'd tried so desperately to avoid after the Crimson Squad massacre.  It was infinitely stranger to be in the home of the leader of the aforementioned squad.  Things between herself and Nooj have been uncomfortable since her 16th birthday that the crew had celebrated on a ship bound for Luca.  It was after that night that Paine swore never to drink again.  Beer and a 'friendly' atmosphere caused people to do things they wouldn't be proud of in the morning.  Nooj and Paine had done those things…`twice.

"Can't sleep?"

Paine spun around, dropping the water bottle she had gripped in her hand.  Water splashed all over the floor and Nooj was beside her in a moment to help her clean the soaking mess.  Their hands touched briefly as they wiped up the mess and their eyes connected.  Paine felt her heart skip a beat.  Although he was practically engaged to LeBlanc and had been even back during their tryst, she still loved him.  She would always love him. 

His eyes seemed to expect some sort of response from her and she nodded, "I'm not tired."

"Neither am I." he replied with a weak smile.  Tense was the mildest of terms that could be used to describe the feelings between them now.  It was odd to have her under his roof, so close and yet so far away.  He loved LeBlanc and had since he had met her almost 10 years before, but part of him longed for Paine in a way that he'd never longed for anyone.  He didn't understand it.  He didn't think he ever would. 

"Noojie!!" came LeBlanc's voice down the hall, "Noojie!!"

Nooj and Paine climbed to their feet and separated on the linoleum floor.  Paine nodded curtly to him, "I should be going."

"Yeah." Nooj agreed, "I think that'd be best."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Nooj watched with a heavy heart as Paine walked out of the back kitchen entrance just as LeBlanc came in from the front.  He felt her hands snake around his waist as she whispered, "And what are you doing out here, love?"

"Just getting a drink." He replied.

LeBlanc rose on her toes and placed a soft kiss on the nape of his neck, "Well, why don't you come to bed.  I'm lonely, love."

"Okay, LeBlanc." Nooj said as he began to follow her out of the kitchen.  Casting one last glance over his shoulder to the door Paine had used, Nooj let out a silent sigh and continued behind LeBlanc.

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Baralai barely slept a wink at all the entire night.  He couldn't stop his racing mind from thinking about Rikku.  It wasn't like him to become so focused on one thing that everything else took a backseat.  Rising from his bed a little after seven, Baralai pulled his pants and shirt on and padded silently to Rikku's bedroom.  He hoped that the Al Bhed was awake and when he saw dim light coming from under her door he knew she was.  Knocking softly, he waited for some response from the female in the room.  It came moments later, "Who is it?"

"It's Baralai," he replied, "Can I come in for a minute?"

"Sure."

At her okay, Baralai silently slid the door open and stepped into her bedroom.  Rikku was sitting cross legged on her bed with her back to him.  The shirt he'd lent her was covering her long legs like a blanket as she watched the sunrise from her window.  Sitting down next to her, Baralai asked, "So how are you this morning?"

Rikku shrugged.  She had been unable to sleep thanks to the shocking kiss Gippal had given her.  All she could think about was his lips and how much she wanted to taste more of his mouth.  Her heart started to pound just thinking about where last night could have led had he not left.  Falling backward onto the bed, she looked up at Baralai, "Have you ever been with a girl?"

Baralai's surprise at the question was obvious when his brown eyes widened and he choked on the air he'd breathed in, "Wh…what?!"

"Have you ever had sex?" Rikku repeated, sitting up again to face him, "I know you were a priest and that was, you know, forbidden.  But, did you do it before?"

Baralai, after getting over his immediate shock, fell backward on the bed with Rikku following suit, "First of all," he said, "it wasn't exactly forbidden.  You could as long as you were married, but that's beside the point."

"Yes it is." Rikku said with a giggle, "Now are you going to answer my question or not?"

"Yes."

Rikku's smirk vanished after a few seconds of holding it.  Cocking an eyebrow, the blonde female rolled over onto her side, "Yes what?"

"Yes, I have." Baralai replied.

Rikku frowned and allowed herself to fall back again, "I was afraid you were going to say that." She admitted with a sigh, "I really hoped you were going to say no, though."

"Why?"

"So that I wouldn't be the only virgin on the entire airship," she replied.  Rikku forced herself to rise from the bed as she walked over to the window and gazed out.  Without thinking, Rikku lifted the nightshirt she had borrowed from Baralai over her head.  Baralai took in his breath quickly as he realized with shock that Rikku was only wearing panties under that oversized t-shirt.  With her back to him, he could make out ever curve in her body as she let the shirt drop to the floor.  He found himself wondering what it would be like to trace his lips over that soft skin before Rikku's leaning to reach her bikini from the floor caught his attention.  She put it on with ease before turning back to face Baralai, "Thanks for letting me borrow your shirt." She said with a smile as she handed it back to him. 

Baralai fought the blush that was forming on his features due to his tightening pants and he quickly bunched the shirt up and placed it on his lap, "Sure thing." He replied.

Rikku sat down next to him to put on her skirt and arm bands before saying to him, "Is there something wrong with me?  I mean, I've saved the world twice but I've never had sex.  What does that mean?!"

"It means you've saved the world twice but you've never had sex." Baralai replied simply, "There's nothing wrong with you, Rikku."

She grinned at him and kissed his cheek, "Thanks." She said as she stood and slipped her shoes on, "We should go and see if everybody else is up yet."

Baralai nodded and followed the – once again – perky female out of her room, trying with all his might to keep his eyes ahead of him instead of on her backside.

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Tidus slowly crawled out of the bed but as soon as his feet hit the floor he felt Yuna's hand on his back, "Where are you going?" she asked sleepily.

"I was going to take a shower." Tidus said, "It's early.  Go back to sleep."

Yuna rose from the bed after him, letting the blankets fall from her naked form.  He smiled at her, pulling her body close to him in a warm and passionate embrace.  Separating reluctantly, Tidus reached for his shorts which were still hanging on the bedframe.  He frowned a little because he couldn't remember having put them there, but he didn't worry about it too much when he saw Yuna laying back down on the bed and replacing the blankets over herself, "Going back to sleep?" he asked.

"Yep." She replied, rolling onto her side with a sigh. 

Tidus grinned like an idiot and gripped his shorts in his left hand and his shirt in his right.  Sleeping over hadn't been the original plan so Tidus hadn't brought any extra clothes with him when the group had set out, not that that had ever bothered him before.  Tidus was the kind of guy who only changed clothes when there were holes in them. 

Pulling the bathroom door closed behind him, he threw the clothes on the floor and turned the shower on hot before stepping under the spray.  Being given a second chance at life was something Tidus was never going to take for granted.  Even the littlest pleasures – like showering – had a whole new feeling to them.  He let the soap lather over his muscular body before rinsing and stepping gingerly out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. 

"Hi."

Tidus laughed and ran his hands through his soaking hair, "I thought you were going back to sleep." He said to Yuna who had joined him in the bathroom.

"I changed my mind." The ex-summoner replied as she handed him his clothes. 

Tidus let the towel drop from his waist and stood in all his glory while Yuna silently appraised him.  With her grin of approval, Tidus slipped his shirt over his head then his boxers over his feet.  As he went to slip his shorts on, he noticed some dirt staining the cuff and he frowned.  Where had that come from?  He thumbed the stain for a moment before looking at Yuna, "Where did this dirt come from?"

She felt herself go pale.  He hadn't really asked her that, right?  It was just like before when he led them to that house and then didn't know where he was.  What was going on?! 

"Yuna?" Tidus asked again, "Do you know where I got this dirt on my pants from?"