Return of Light
Chappu jolted awake, scrambling upright into a sitting position, gasping for air. Sweat was broken out on his brow and he could feel his clothes sticking to his body from the perspiration that coated his skin. Chappu swallowed hard and realized he was seated in the sand of the beach of Zanarkand.
Chappu rubbed his eyes. He must've fallen asleep out here sometime last night. He vaguely remembered the enchanting sunset, but then… yes, he'd sat down, watching the rest of it. He had to have drifted off then. Chappu shrugged; it was too late to change anything about it now. He highly doubted anyone was up yet and had discovered that his bed was vacant and clearly had not been slept in; the sun was just beginning to rise.
A sigh escaped Chappu and he looked away for a moment, away from the light just beginning to peek over the horizon, reflecting off the water's glassy surface.
Rosy pink starred in its moment, followed closely by its savory partner scarlet, turning, turning with the most vibrant of oranges. Purple came on then, using its charismatic color to blend the others with the steadily lightening sapphire sky as a new day was born with the rebirthing of the sun. The colors all melded as one; there was no beginning and there was no end.
Chappu smiled slowly; it crept across his face, just reaching his eyes. He'd forgotten the magic of the Zanarkand sunrise, forgotten how no matter how badly you were hurting, you couldn't help but grin and overlook all your troubles. That was the power the birthing sun had.
Chappu turned away from the sunrise and looked down the beach. He sat up a little straighter sharply, eyes narrowing. There was something… sparkly… walking leisurely down near the soft waves on the wet sand, someone with long hair that blew out in the wind as they stepped delicately along. They were holding a long-stemmed white flower, he could see, and were wearing a slip of dress. Silver, he guessed; he couldn't really tell. But they were slightly hazy with that glitter.
Chappu stood to his feet as the person neared, splashing along lightly as the waves washed over their feet. The twinkling halted and they become whole, complete, as a rainbow shone from them and then died out, leaving them still coming ever closer though now unhindered.
Chappu's throat tightened and his mouth went dry. One hand came up shaking and he ran it through his back hair, licking dry lips. He was trembling, but he paid no attention.
"Holy hell," Chappu muttered. At once, he burst into a run, splashing through the water, stumbling but not going down. He ran like he'd never ran before, ran straight and strong and true.
"Tida!" he yelled at last, finding his voice. He caught her up in an embrace, lifting her over his head and spinning around in the surf. Tida laughed, throwing her arms out wide and tilting her head up to the sky.
Chappu slid her down his body so her bare feet landed in the soft wet sand while the raves rolled gently over both their feet. Chappu pushed back a step, taking her hands and holding them out to the sides. "Oh, Light, let me look at you," he whispered.
She was so beautiful. Her legs—and, Light, there was a lot to them—were tanned evenly and slimming and sleek. Narrow hips, an even narrower waste, just barely hinted muscled abdomen through the material, and that material, that dress covering them thin as a coat of paint, and silver paint at that. Strong shoulders, slender arms with slight but yet well-trimmed muscle. Her neck—move up, Chappu, no time to kiss it right now, maybe later—and then her face, so stunningly appealing. Luscious unpainted pink lips, small, perfect nose, and those eyes… those eyes made him feel as if anything and everything was possible. That vivid, vibrant Prussian blue left eye and the shining, shimmering sea green on the right. Light, they were gorgeous. Oh, and her hair!
It was so long, so silky to the touch. Last he'd seen, in the dreams, it had been tied back in a long braid down her back. Now, it was loose and flowing freely, waving brilliantly like a victory flag in the ocean breeze.
"Tida," Chappu said breathlessly, pulling her closer. "Light, I missed you." He drew her against him, touching their foreheads to each other.
Tida smiled, almost shyly. "I've missed you, too, Chappu. Oh, so much. You can't imagine what it's like. I was trapped, Chappu. I didn't really have anyone."
"I had no one but you, baby, no one but you," Chappu said, his eyes searching hers. Tears sprung into Tida's glistening orbs and Chappu didn't waste another moment—he crushed her lips with his. Tida wrapped her arms around his waist and he covered her, passing over her arms and embracing her easily. She fit perfectly against him.
"I love you," was whispered in unison.
* * *
Tidus was sitting on the railing on the back veranda, one hand on the support to help keep him balanced. Across from him, Yuna and Rikku were rocking back and forth in the porch swing and Lulu and Wakka were leaning back in two cushioned reclining chairs. Zeoron was poised on the other railing, next to the swing's side.
Zeoron looked out at the beach and sat up a little straighter. She peered carefully and finally broke the silence. "Who's that Chappu's walking with?" she asked.
Tidus slid off the railing and turned, staring and frowning. Yuna, Rikku, Wakka, and Lulu all raised and stepped up to the banister, following Tidus's and Zeoron's gaze.
Chappu and somebody with long blond hair were strolling along placidly, talking and laughing. Their hands were clasped together beside them and swinging back and forth with every step. It was a girl, all right, in quite a slip of a dress—if it could be called that. Tidus narrowed his eyes. His heart skipped a beat.
In a flash, he'd forgotten the stairs, swung himself over the rail and was racing away, toward the pair, blond hair waving back from his face from the wind. The girl released Chappu's hand and came flying forward. Yuna, Zeoron, and her guardians all watched in bewilderment as Tidus and the girl embraced with laughing cries of joy. Tidus lifted her completely off her feet, hugging her tight as he could.
Tidus kissed her all over her face and in her hair. "Oh, my girl, my baby girl!" he cried, holding her like he'd never let her go. "You're back, you're really back!"
"Yes, Daddy, I'm back," Tida said, hugging him again. They rocked together while Chappu grinned and waved up at the group gathered on the porch staring.
"Hey!" he called, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Come say hello to the High Summoner!"
At once, life sprang into the frozen group and they all came rushing off the veranda and across the white sand to the trio. Yuna burst into tears and held onto Tida, who was also clobbered by Lulu, Zeoron, and Rikku, all crying. Tida smiled around at them all, not even mindful of Wakka ruffling her hair like a proud uncle.
"Welcome back, Tida!"
"Oh, my baby, you're back, you're back!"
"Ti—Tida! I'm so hap—happy you're ba—back!"
"Sweet, Tida! It's really you!"
Tida laughed outright, hugging them all in turn. "Yes, I'm back, and back for good! There's nothing going to take me away from Spira ever again!" she vowed.
"Oh, there won't be." Chappu said, taking her back in his arms and pulling her up against him. He brought their foreheads touching. "Not ever. You and I are going to live and die together." Chappu stepped back, holding her hands in his and looking straight into those pure colored orbs.
Tidus knew what was coming and wrapped an arm around Yuna's shoulder while Wakka half-embraced Lulu. Zeoron and Rikku started to become giddy and clasped hands.
"Tida, will you marry me?"
Before Tida could gasp and burst into tears with her answer, Tidus had to catch Yuna and Rikku, who both whimpered, "Oh!" and fainted.
Tida and Chappu meet eyes and then released hands, Tida peering at her mother.
"Mama?"
* * *
Chappu would have loved to kill whoever had made up the society rule that unmarried men and women shouldn't sleep in the same room and in the same bed even if they were engaged. It just damn well wasn't fair.
Chappu growled and rolled over, frustrated. She was next door, for Light's sake! All right, he knew she wouldn't actually sleep with him ("I'm not going to bed until you and I are legally wed."), but still, couldn't somebody at least allow him a little bit of release and let him cuddle up next to her? Technically, it was sleeping with her, yes, but not in that way.
And besides, damn it, Tidus and Yuna weren't married when they… well… yeah… Chappu grumbled to himself and rolled back over in a fit, scowling. How the hell did anyone think Tida had gotten here? By magic? No, making some actually was magical so… Okay… Did they think somehow she'd just appeared there and just happened to be the daughter of Tidus? Yeah, right.
Life was so unusually cruel and unfair at the moment.
Chappu wanted to scream.
* * *
"Why that little bastard!" Jecht cried indignantly. He stood up straight, glowering down at the viewing globe and planting his hands on his hips. "How dare he have those X-rated thoughts about my little grandbaby!"
Braska rubbed his temples and stared at the picture within the sphere. "I don't know, Jecht, but you really gotta know that boys Chappu's age aren't exactly… the greatest… at controlling raging hormones. He's had to suppress them nearly three years now, and he'll have to wait even more. Now, tell me you never had those problems."
Jecht rolled his eyes. "I was a man about it, at least!"
Braska allowed himself a smirk. "Oh, yes, I remember. You told me how horrible it was after Tidus was born," he said, chuckling and continuing to smirk.
Jecht frowned. "Women talk about all the damn pain they have during childbirth but they've got no idea how bad it is when a man's gotta wait for release. So what if they've got a hundred stitches that gotta dissolve! The pain beneath the belt is too much for any decent man to handle."
Braska laughed outright. "And you're complaining about Chappu. How do you think it was with me for Yuna?"
Jecht sighed. "You didn't care a lick. She loved him and he loved her, and that was all that mattered to you."
Braska nodded. "Yes, it was. Now, you and I both know Chappu's not going to act on those—er, erotic—fantasies of his because he loves Tida too much. And Tida's waiting, so we have nothing to worry about. So, my dear friend—chill."
"Did you just say 'chill'?"
"Why, yes, I believe I did."
"Light, I am never allowing Tida into this realm again. She's already warped your mind!"
Disclaimer: All belongs to Square Enix. You people know what's mine, okay?