Note: Sorry about the delay; I had graduation crap to deal with and the end of school. But thanks for all of your encouragement and still with me! It'll only get better. Promise

Chapter 6- I Swear It's The Beginning

We laid there for a while, in complete silence, lost in our own thoughts. She had tried to fix up my leg a little bit, wrapping it in some of my clothing, but it still hurt. Neither of us had potions on us so I just had to suffer through it. It wasn't that bad but it still came in and out, making my mind shift from one thought to the pain in my leg. My thoughts were jumbled then, thinking in and out of the pain. Although I didn't know what Paine was thinking I sure knew what I was thinking; my hand...in her hand?!

What was going on? Had all the good karma forces in life suddenly come together for me and created this wonderful moment where I laid still in pure ecstasy? Or had I just gone mad and this was another one of those pleasant dreams where everything goes just the way you want it? It had to be a dream, surely it must be, for when in my wildest imagination had I ever thought that this would happen? I mean, I know Paine cares for me, we all work together, but to keep me close at hand...

I'm getting ahead of myself, once again. She's just...oh...holding my hand because she needs to keep track of me. It's dark in here and who-knows what else is in here other than this light-drowning darkness? Anything could be in here and it was best to stick together and nearest the place where we last saw light, until someone came to rescue us. Simple as that. Nothing any more complicated than this...nothing....

But couldn't I enjoy it anyway? I mean...even if she doesn't feel the same way as I do doesn't mean that I can't enjoy these feelings that are pulsing through me with ever beat of my heart. I might as well lay back and relax, letting life and love take over, soothing me, giving me light in this gloomy cave. I closed my eyes, giving myself over to the emotions spiraling through me...in me...

Something cracked. "What was that?!" Paine whispered beside me, the sound of her sword scrapping on the floor was evident.

"I-I don't know," I whispered back, my eyes wide open as if I could see anything.

We waited there, weapons at the ready, trying to catch the foe before the foe caught us. How long we stayed poised, prepared to strike at the small sound, I never knew, but we waited until we were sure that whatever that noise was came from no fiend and that we were save.

After a while, Paine began to talk. "Um...Yuna?" she asked in a whisper, "may I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, okay."

She paused for a minute before continuing. "What ever happened...to that guy you liked?"

The question, as innocent and light as it may have been, hit me like a sack of stones. She asked me about Tidus...about him? Why would she want to know about him? I didn't really...um...like him that much anymore. I thought, at that time during my summoning career, that I loved him like nothing else but that was before I meet her, Paine. Now Paine is all I care about and Tidus is far away in my mind, this small little dot in a sea of sand. So why would it hurt me to tell her the truth? I sucked out my pride and sucked in my courage, and letting all the air out before I even thought of answering her.

"He disappeared once Sin was destroyed," I said, trying to keep my voice level but it went up and down in pitch and tone.

"Disappeared?" She asked, sounding interested.

"Well, yeah, he disappeared. You see," I started but then I thought better of it. Why would she want to know my whole life's story?! "Oh, never mind, it's a long story. You wouldn't want to he-"

"Oh, no, I want to hear it. I mean..." her head twitched in mine, sending a shiver up and down my back. "I would like to know and we've got a lot of time in hear since it seems like no one will get to us anytime soon." She paused for a moment and right before I was about to continue she spoke up again. "You don't have to if you don't want to," her voice was so innocent and so caring...it made me eyes water and my heart thud louder against my chest. "I don't want to force you into anything."

A smile creased my lips as I could feel the warmth and love radiating off of her. So bright and strong that it lightened up my world in this dark, dank cave I now lay in. So wonderful...oh get a hold of yourself!

"He...wasn't really real," I started to explain, "he was actually a dream that came to Spira from his dream-world of Zanarkand. Sin brought him here, making him tangible, real. Throughout his travels, he became my guardian and soon learned that...well...Sin was his father, who had been my father's guardian and traveled to Spira in much the same way as he had. So when Sin was destroyed, the fayth no longer had to keep up this dream of Zanarkand because Sin was finally, truly, really destroyed. So once Zanarkand disappeared so did everything within it...including him."

There, it was finished, I had told her. Now I can forget about him and focus all of my energy on her.

"Did you," she started but it seemed that her voice failed her halfway through. Was it something she didn't want to ask me yet wanted to know the truth anyway.

"What, Paine?" I asked softly, slightly squeezing her hand tighter. Why I did it, I'm not sure, but I faintly recognized a squeeze back.

"I was just wondering if you really loved him. I mean...aren't you still trying to get him back? Isn't that why you became a sphere hunter?"

What she said was true, I knew it deep down inside of me, but how could I tell her the real truth? How could I possibly tell her that I had forgotten all about him just because I had fallen in love with someone else? I have fallen so hard that my nose aches from the plunge yet how can I relieve my shoulders of this burden and tell her? No, telling her would be way to risky. What if, when she found out, she left the Gullwings all together, fearing me and what I might do on her? What if she never spoke to me again and never gave me that wonderful smile? What if I never saw her again? My whole world would just crumble down into pieces right before my eyes, leaving my heart broken like I have never felt before. I wouldn't be able to stand it; my whole soul shattered and my heart crushed beyond repair.

Yet...what if something good happened if I told her the truth? What if she sort of liked me back? What if she had been feeling the same way I had? What if she loved me too? Would I actually be able to kiss her then? Feel her smooth hands in my own more often? Feel her soft skin against my own and captured her tongue in my mouth? I might be able to do all of these things! All of them! Oh what a wonderful thing that would be to happen! But is this a risk I am willing to take? Kisses versus gone forever? So hard....

I knew what I had to say. If I don't do it now I may never have the chance to again. I had to.

I had been in my thoughts way too long for Paine moved my hand and asked me if I was still there.

"I'm fine...but...ah...." The anticipation, the nervousness, the beating of my heart...it's all killing me! It hurts so much, to actually be telling her, but I must, I have to! Once I get it over with, once I tell her, the pain will stop and I'll be free. It feels like my heart could stop at any moment.... "About him...well, I mean, I used to think that I loved him but now..." oh Spira, here it comes... "I'm beginning to like...ah..." just a few more seconds and it'll be over with... "someone else...." There...is that enough for her?

"Like who?"

I guess not. "Well...um..." Can I do it? Just a few more words and this horrible throbbing pain will stop in my chest. I can do it...just a few more.... "I sort-of like...um...well..."

Suddenly light filled the cave and in came a voice. "Yunie! Paine! Are you alive?!"

Rikku! Damn her!

"Rikku?" Paine shouted back, getting to her feet clumsily. "Is that you?"

"Paine?" Footsteps were heard running forward. "Are you alright? Is Yunie here with you?"

I sighed, stomping my fist hard on the ground. I was about to tell Paine how I felt about her! That damn girl, bursting in on the wrong time. She should have just given me a few more seconds and I would have been done with it. Just a few more...

"Yunie?"

"Ouch!" I yelled, anger rising steadily in me. I clutched my gun tight in my right hand, ready to pound her brain full of lead if she gave me just a chance.... "I'm right here Rikku!"

"Oh, Yunie, I thought you were a goner!"

"She's going to need a potion, do you have one."

"Not on me. What's wrong with her?"

Why were my eyes so bad? I could barely start to see shapes when Paine was already up and talking with Rikku. I could hear smaller voices outside, asking whether I was okay.

"I'm fine!" I shouted at them, trying to keep my voice devoid of anger. It was so hard though...I was that :: :: close to telling Paine how I felt about her! Argh!

"Here, go run and tell the others and I'll get Yuna," Paine said and all of a sudden I was picked up. "Do you think you can walk?" A whisper came drifting in, fighting off my anger and replacing it with cool warmth.

I nodded my head, seeing Rikku bound joyfully out of the door to the cavern. Damn girl...she's so happy that she interrupted my speech...fuck her... Oh my! Yuna!

Before I could chastise myself on such vulgar language Paine took my hand and placed it around her shoulders, giving me a steady weight to walk with. Slowly, we limped out of the cavern.

On our way to the village, Wakka leading the way and Rikku behind us, Paine asked me again. "Who is it that you like? You were about to tell me when Rikku came in."

This? Again?! Oh dear...what should I say? Do I still have the courage to tell her now? Rikku's behind us though! Wakka in front too! What to do...what to do...

Oh just tell her you wimp! Let's get it over with and maybe you'll feel better. Or maybe I won't, who knows, but lets just say it!

"Y-you." I squeaked out, my heart beating so fast that I thought it might burn out.

"What?" She asked, turning her ear closer to my mouth.

So fast...so hard...my heart won't stop....Oh my chest....

"You!"