Between the Lines
Chapter II - Shady Engagement
By GravijaSunrise

Tidus felt akward, sitting against a large stone, watching Rikku swim in the oasis. Tidus, what were you thinking? She's right there, swimming naked, and you could be there too. But no, you had to pretend like you're still the Blitzball Ace you once were in Zanarkand, turning down everything just to act important. Well, it's over now, bud. Time to change. Spira is your life.
 He sighed and looked towards the oasis. Rikku was floating on her back, only her face and breasts above the surface. He could tell that she wasn't enjoying herself, at all. Something was wrong, but Tidus just couldn't figure it out, no matter how hard he tried. He finally gave up and grunted in frustration.
Rikku stood up and walked from the water, her naked golden body glittering, glowing in the hot sun, a goddess. Come one, Tidus, she's just one girl. Remember all those hot ones back at Zanarkand? What makes her so special? I mean... She started to put her shorts back on. They lifted as smoothly as when they fell. She bent over and picked up her shirt, tossed it onto her shoulder, and walked towards a large dune, eventually disappearing behind it, without a word. That's not like Rikku at all.
 For some reason, Tidus stood up and walked to the oasis. It's water sparkled, distorting the reflection of the clouds flowing above. Well, it is kinda hot, and- Something hit the back of his head, he let off a squeal, and fell face-first into the oasis, unconsious.

He woke up, face underwater, and quickly splashed to the surface. The desert around him was empty, with no sign of anyone, anywhere. He stood up and began walking, not knowing or caring where to, trying to at least find one other person.
"Man, where is everybody? Whoa!" From out of nowhere, a giant black bird appeared above his head. Tidus reached behind his back for the Brotherhood, his sword, but it wasn't there. "Wha...Where'd it go?" He quickly jumped to the side, avoiding two huge claws that smashed into the ground. Knowing that this was his only chance for escape, he ran between the Zu's legs and scurried onto the dune behind it, tripping and rolling down to the other side. He was stopped when he hit a wooden pole sticking out of the ground.
"Ouch..." He massaged his ribs.
"Quick, come inside!" Someone said beside him.
Tidus looked up, noticing that the pole was part of a makeshift tent out of rugs and ruins. Huddled in the shady corner was Rikku. Tidus struggled to crawl inside, and sat up beside her. He dusted off his shorts, then stopped. "Ba...ba...BIRD! GIANT BIRD! OVER THERE!"
"Shhh, the Zu, it can't see very well, so maybe if we stay quiet, it'll go away?"
Tidus nodded. Behind the dune, dust and sand started to swirl, and the large black Zu appeared, flapping powerfully with its gigantic wings. It hovered for a while, then disappeared out of view. They both sighed.
"Whoa, you saved me, Rikku. I mean, thanks." He offered his hand. Instead, she just leaned against him, glad to be so near again.
"Ya know, what I did over there, I...I'm sorry, Tidus. It was kinda fast, er, yeah. Didn't know what I was thinking." She gave out a nervous, quiet laugh. Tidus embraced Rikku, holding her closer to his chest. Her face was bright red. He laughed, supportively.
"Hey, it's okay. Ya know, I was about to join you, but I didn't think..."
"No, no, I would've loved it, I mean enjoyed it, I mean..." She sighed. "Tidus, do you...like me? I mean, am I attractive?"
Tidus eased his grip, suprised at the question. "What? Rikku, you're...beautiful. Even more so than the sunrises in Zanarkand every morning, more so than the Moonflow, even. Rikku, you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, in both my world and yours."
They stared for quite a while, engulfed in eachother's gaze, faces slowly attracting, moving closer. Finally, the tips of their noses touched, and they closed their eyes. Their lips met, in a peaceful manner, but it soon became almost aggressive as each of tongues battled to enter the other's mouth, the couple lost in a trance. Tidus held her on her shoulders, but his hands slowly wandered down her chest, between her packed breasts, and to the bottom of her shirt. They slipped under, and began moving back up her body, reaching her breasts, and he grabbed one entirely with each hand, starting to caress and squeeze them, her hard nipples rubbing against his palms. All the while, Rikku was expressing moans of pleasure, one hand in her shorts, massaging the area between her legs.

At least fifteen minutes had passed. Their lips parted from each other's, and Tidus opened his eyes. He removed his hands from under her shirt and placed them on her shoulders. He saw Rikku there, enjoying it so much, still caught in the trance, but he had to say it.
"Uh, Rikku, I'm kinda starting to agree with what you said. Maybe this is getting a little fast." He waited for a response, hoping that she wouldn't be upset. She opened her eyes, took her hand out of her shorts, licked her fingers, and looked up. Suprisingly, she was smiling.
"I guess you're right, maybe it was a little fast. But we can make it work, right?"
"Definately. It's just that, I don't know you that well yet, and I think that we should be really good friends before we start that stuff, ya know?" He smiled. Rikku moved to the edge of the tent, then laid back, her legs outside in the sun. Tidus did the same.
He rested his hands behind his head. "So, I guess I'll start..."

"Whoa, you did so much in Zanarkand. I bet you miss it a lot, huh?"
"Yeah, I do." He let out a heavy breath, relieved that someone else believed him.
"Tidus," Rikku hesitated, nervous. "In Zanarkand, have you ever...ya know..."
Tidus knew what she was asking, and smiled. "Well I was a worldwide Blitz star, after all. How about you?"
"Never." Rikku looked down, depressed. "This is the closest I've ever been." Tidus tried to think of a way to cheer her up, but he couldn't. For a while, there was an eerie silence. Rikku sat up. "I...never thought I was that attractive. I mean, my shirt isn't nearly as full as Lulu's, and everyone shows it off these days, ya know?"
Tidus sat up and put his arm around her shoulder. "Ya know, Rikku, everyone likes you just the way you are. And I mean, they don't really matter. I don't think they'd be that great anyway, ya know, I mean, they're kinda...big.." He started to laugh. She reached behind her and grabbed some sort of machina. She placed it on his lap.
"Could you do me a favor, Tidus?" She smiled, her dimples showing.
"Uh, sure." He picked up the machina and examined it. He pressed a button, and a white light flashed throughout the tent, causing him to flinch.
"Could you...take a picture of Lulu's...you know. I mean, I'm just curious...what they look like...I mean, what I might look like, when I get older, ya know?"
"Uh," He wasn't sure what to think. What an akward question.
"I knew I could count on you!" She leaned over and kissed him on the side of his face, stood up, and trotted out of the tent. "Come on, let's go find the others!"
Oh man, Tidus, what have you gotten yourself into? She wants you to catch that witch naked? Man, if Lulu cathes you, she'll knock you out with those things. Geez, this is really wierd, but I wonder if Wakka knows of any secret bathing spots...
 Tidus stood up and walked into the sunlight of the desert, on a mission.

End of Chapter II