A/N: Wow… I'm so surprised with the reaction to this fic. I wasn't even sure I was going to post it until I was told I should. Hm, wonders never cease! Well anyway, thanks a lot for the great reviews! They make me happy, hehe. Don't forget to review this time around!
A/N 2: I know my summary says Tidus will be a "Hannibal-like murderer," but he isn't going to be a cannibal. lmfao, that's just too out there. Even for an AU I can't see Tidus eating people… eww! When I said Hannibal-like, I meant like the way he kills people, it's really weird, and how intelligent he is. Yeah, I know Vamp Queen, Tidus is no Hannibal, lmfao, but it's an AU, so let's just pretend, okay? - I can't stress it enough though, THIS IS AN AU. Expect some OOCness, it kinda comes with the territory.
Tuesday, June 10th, 2003
6:33 pm
Tidus and Yuna's residence; Besaid
Yuna stood in front of the stove, watching what she was cooking carefully. There was a roast in the oven, mashed potatoes on top, and a cheesecake chilling in the refrigerator. It was a rather special night. She and her boyfriend Tidus had been together for two years now, and she had volunteered to cook an exceptional dinner for the two of them, instead of them going out to eat. It seemed too cliché.
She heard footsteps from behind her and quickly turned, seeing Tidus standing in the doorway, a devious smile on his face.
"Tidus!" she scolded, "I told you not to come in here until I said so! You'll ruin the surprise."
He approached her slowly, wrapping his muscular arms around her waist and breathing in the scent of her perfume. "If I had it my way, I'd skip dinner and go straight for the dessert," he said lowly.
She giggled and pointed to the refrigerator. "Dessert's in there, Tiger. Sorry if I… disappointed you."
He pouted. "Well you did. I just hope you know that."
She turned around as she laughed, but a puzzled expression came to her features.
"What? What is it?"
Her brow continued to furrow. "Your necklace… Where is it?"
He reached up and felt around for it, but sure enough, it wasn't there. "Oh, I must've left it up in the bathroom after I took a shower."
She gave him a look. "You never took it off to shower before."
"I… Well, I did this time. If I wear it all the time, it'll get ruined won't it? From the water and stuff?"
She shook her head. "It's stainless steel, Tidus, you know that. It's pretty indestructible."
He kept quiet for a while. "Yeah well, I forgot okay?"
She shook her head and began to concentrate on the food again. "Whatever you say Tidus."
Tidus suddenly glanced at the clock on the wall. "Oh, man, Yuna, I have to go do something quick. I'll be right back."
"Wait a minute, you're not going anywhere," she told him firmly. "First of all, this is our anniversary and second, you're not going out by yourself with that Ghost running around Besaid."
Tidus rolled his eyes. "Yuna, I'm not a child. I'll be fine. But I promised this guy at work I'd run over his house and help him try to figure out what's wrong with his car."
"What?! Tidus!"
"I'm only seeing what's wrong with it. I'm not gonna fix it. I won't be gone more than an hour. Besides, I promised him I'd be there at six. I'm already a half hour late."
Yuna threw down the towel that had been resting on her shoulder. "Fine, go. This is only our anniversary, who cares?"
He took her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I care. It's just, I don't wanna break a promise. I never break promises, you know that. I'll be back in no time, and then we can sit down and have a nice, romantic dinner, alright?"
She hesitated, then smiled. "Alright."
He smiled too and kissed her lips gently. "I'll be back, promise."
Tuesday, June 10th, 2003
7:28 pm
Tidus and Yuna's residence; Besaid
Yuna stopped setting the table and went over to the door, which had just been knocked on. She couldn't figure out who it could be that late, and with the Ghost God knew where, she couldn't be too careful.
"Who is it?"
"Besaid Police, ma'am."
Her brow furrowed. The police? What were they doing there? She opened the door halfway and peered out. "What do you want?"
"Ma'am, I'm Officer Mitch Langry. I just wanted to know if you could tell me if you know anything about this piece of jewelry we found at the last murder scene. It's the only evidence we have, and if you could help…"
Yuna had a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she ignored it. "I'll tell you what I can," she said.
Mitch turned to an officer that was standing behind him, taking a plastic bag from him and holding it out to Yuna. Inside the bag was a necklace. Tidus's necklace.
She took a step back, the oxygen being held in her throat like a vice. "That's… that's Tidus's…"
Mitch cocked his ear toward her. "Pardon me?"
"That necklace. It's my boyfriend's."
Mitch was quick to respond. "Can I ask your name, please?"
"Yuna…" she told him in a quivering voice.
"Yuna, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Since this is your boyfriend's, we think he may be the Ghost."
Yuna shook her head. "No… No! He isn't! He wouldn't do something like that!"
"Yuna, I know this may come as a shock to you, but this is some strong evidence. The victim's fingerprints are on it. And so is her blood."
"Well… he must've been trying to help her!" Yuna exclaimed frantically.
Mitch shook his head. "The fingerprints were left in the midst of a struggle. The CSIs can tell. Now please, tell us where he is so we can question him."
Yuna turned and grabbed the phone. "I'll prove to you he didn't do anything!" she shouted. She dialed his cell phone number and tapped her fingers on the table anxiously.
It rang for what seemed like forever until he finally answered. "Yeah?" His voice sounded gruff, as if he were having trouble breathing.
"Tidus… where are you?"
"My, uh… my car stalled out and I've been trying to push it to the gas station."
As the two were talking, Mitch motioned to the two officers that were with him to set up a tap on the phone line. They'd trace the call and find out where it was coming from, then move in.
"Tidus… I know this sounds stupid, but…"
Mitch made a motion for her to stop talking. He didn't want her telling him police were at their house. That would blow the entire plan.
'Just keep him talking,' Mitch mouthed.
Yuna was hesitant, but she nodded. She knew Tidus was innocent, and even if the police got him, they could prove that. He had alibis. "Do you… do you need me to come get you?"
"No! No, it's fine. I need the exercise."
"Okay… well, you'd better hurry home. Dinner's not gonna stay warm forever." She forced a laugh as she watched the police's actions.
Mitch leaned down to the male officer with him. "You got it?" he murmured.
The other officer nodded. "He's on the other side of Besaid, 863 North Albaroque Street."
"Alright, go outside and tell them to move in. We got him trapped like a rat in a cage."
Tidus laughed on the other end, but it didn't sound as strained. "I will be. And even if it is, there's always dessert right?"
"R-Right…"
"Hey, Yuna, is something wrong?"
"No, everything's fine."
Tidus sounded skeptical. "You sure? You don't sound yourself."
"No, really. I'm alright."
All of a sudden, the sound of two surfaces hitting together came through the receiver. Yuna was almost afraid to ask, but she had to know. "What was that?"
"Just me kicking the tire." He laughed again. "This damn car sure is giving me grief today."
Yuna still tried to act as collected as possible. "I told you to trade it in."
"Well I should've taken your advice. When I get home, I'm calling around to see what I can get for it."
If you ever get home, Yuna thought fearfully.
Then, she heard a new sound coming through. The sound of police sirens.
