Chapter 6: The Warning
"So," Lea said, standing beside Yuna, "That's a dreamy look on your face. Are you
thinking of a certain Blitzball player?"
She was sounding so sweet. Yuna couldn't figure out why Tidus thought so poorly of
her. Even if something had happened between the two, that didn't automatically make Lea a
jerk, did it?
"Maybe," Yuna admitted, smiling to answer Lea's question.
"Thought so," Lea said, sounding as if her and Yuna had been friends for a lifetime,
"How did just a fan like you end up with him? Did you sleep with him or something?"
Yuna gave Lea a questioning look, which Lea just replied with her sweet smile. Was
Tidus really like that? What better way than to ask Lea...
"Does Tidus do that?" Yuna asked, hoping she didn't sound as clueless as Lea made her
seem.
"Do what?" Lea asked innocently, smiling sweetly yet at Yuna.
"Uh, you know, sleep with just anybody, fans..." Yuna said, looking at the ground as she
said so. Surely that wasn't true...
"Hm, it does depend," Lea said, which caused Yuna to smile, but only for a short time as
Lea continued, "They have to be good-looking enough for his liking. So, basically not just
anybody..." Lea's sweet smile had now turned into a smirk.
"Are you and he friends?" Yuna finally asked, wondering how Lea knew all of this.
Certainly they weren't friends though, Tidus hated Lea.
"You could say we're old friends..." Lea said, smiling her sweet smile again. Then, as if
deciding to cut to the chase, Lea said, "You know, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but
Tidus is probably only dating you for his own good, not yours. He's probably just trying to make
other girls jealous, or something like that. You see, Tidus would never just fall for some fan."
Yuna was quite taken aback at what Lea had just said.
"Uh, are you sure you're old friends?" Yuna asked Lea suspiciously, "Because believe
me, Tidus isn't just playing me. We...Uh...Love each other." Yuna didn't know if her last
statement was one-hundred percent true, but it was definitely more true than what Lea was telling
her.
Lea gave a snort. "He has you fooled," she said, shaking her head sadly.
"That's not true," Yuna said, growing angry. She could finally see what Tidus had been
talking about. Lea wasn't some kind of sweet "I want to be your friend!" type, but just a
nuisance who must enjoy being in other people's business. "I'm not just some fan, anyway.
Tidus and me have known each other for some time."
Lea shook her head, and looked soothingly at Yuna.
"Yuna," she said, still shaking her head, "He has you fooled. Big time. Well, when he
breaks your heart, just don't come running to me, because I'm going to just give you a, "I told
you so", okay?"
"Don't worry, he's not going to be breaking my heart," Yuna said, looking at Lea angrily
as Lea left the area, heading back into the house.
"Don't worry about the game, you know I'll take care of it!" Tidus laughed, causing the
entire group around him to break off into fits of laughter.
Tidus had no idea how long he'd been standing there, talking with his teammates and
other people about the next day's big game, but he didn't seem to care, either. He wasn't
thinking of Yuna at all, figuring that she'd be coming back in at any moment anyway.
That was until he saw Lea come back into the house, chuckling as she did so.
"Great, what did she say to Yuna?" Tidus thought, watching Lea grab a few of her
belongings and leave the party.
"Know what I mean, Tidus?" one of Tidus' linemen was saying, nudging him on the
shoulder.
"Yeah, sure man," Tidus said, although he was still to focused on wondering what it was
that Lea had said.
"Well, you'll have to excuse me guys," Tidus said, too anxious to know what Lea had
done to Yuna to listen to his teammates rants, "I'll see you guys tomorrow at the game."
He slipped out the door, trying to stay unnoticed, deciding that he didn't want all of
Zanarkand to know what it was that Lea had said or done to Yuna, and found Yuna staring off
into the distance, making him wonder if Lea had said something mean or hurtful to her.
Yuna was standing there, staring into the distance again, although she wasn't really
thinking about anything in particular.
She was so zoned-out that she didn't hear Tidus approach her.
"Hey!" he greeted her, trying to sound cheerful as he come up to her side, "How's it
goin'?"
Yuna seemed somewhat surprised to see him standing there, but smiled her greeting and
turned back to the sea.
"So," Tidus said, drumming his fingers on the deck's railing, "Did you and Lea have a
nice discussion?"
Yuna looked at Tidus suspiciously, wondering if he'd spied on Lea and her.
"Don't get any wrong ideas," Tidus said quickly, noticing the look Yuna had shot at him,
"I just saw Lea come from here, that's all. I was just wondering what she said..."
There was some silence besides the waves crashing to the sand as Yuna wondered how to
even ask Tidus about what Lea had told her.
"Are you just going out with me to sleep with me?" Yuna asked, not looking at Tidus,
and keeping her focus on the horizon.
"So that's what she told you..." Tidus said, trailing and looking deep in thought. He
smiled then, and said, "And she thinks she has me figured out! No, I'm not going out with you
just to sleep with you, but if you'd like, I can arrange that!" Tidus had meant it as a joke, but
seeing that Yuna didn't seem in the mood for his jokes, immediately bit his tongue for saying it,
"But, you're always welcome on the couch, or...I am...Or..." he said quickly, even though he
suddenly felt tongue tied by it all.
"I told her you weren't," Yuna said, which shocked Tidus. Here he figured she had
believed every word Lea had spoken.
"You mean, you didn't believe Lea when she told you that?" Tidus asked, amazed at his
good luck. Usually Lea had a way of charming people into believing everything she said,
whether it was true or not.
Yuna shook her head. "I know you better than that, I hope," Yuna said, smiling meekly at
Tidus.
He smiled back, not knowing that it melted her heart every time he threw a smile her way.
The two stood in more silence then, before Tidus finally smiled and said, "It's pretty
peaceful out here, don't ya think?"
Yuna nodded. "And here I thought Zanarkand was all city bustle!" she teased, smiling as
she did so.
Tidus looked at her, his smile fading away, and then looked back at the sea.
"You really aren't from around here, are you," he said finally, "What's it like, at your
home?"
Yuna wanted to say, "You should know. You've been there!", but knew better. She
swallowed, finally able to believe that Tidus didn't know anything about Spira, or anything about
what had happened three years ago, or even two. At least he was finally able to believe that she
wasn't from Zanarkand.
"It's a lot smaller seeming," Yuna said, "I live on an island called Besaid Island. There
are no tall buildings or houses by the sea. Only small little huts and the temple. It's a lot greener
there too, there's lots of trees and...I don't know, more tropical stuff. It's really beautiful, but it's
still nothing compared to Zanarkand."
Tidus nodded, as if he understood. Yuna looked up at him and gave a small wry smile.
"Bring back any memories?" she asked him hopefully.
He shook his head slowly, not looking back at her.
"But if it matters," he said after a few seconds of silence, "I think I kind of believe your
story."
"Just kind of?" Yuna asked.
Tidus nodded. "Just kind of," he said, smiling and giving a head cock, "So, wanna head
back in? The party should be dying down around now, being that every one goes to the games."
Yuna nodded, and Tidus led the way back in, saying goodbye to the few people who were
left.
"Now what?" Yuna asked, as soon as the two found themselves alone.
Tidus just shrugged, and helped himself to some of the leftover food. He looked
somewhat tired, or perhaps he was just in thought, Yuna wasn't quite sure.
"Let's go for a walk!" he said finally, and not waiting for a reply as he grabbed her hand
and pulled her up.
He led her out the door, walking quickly.
Yuna smiled and said, "Do you ever just walk? Do you always have to run?"
"I was walking," Tidus said, throwing Yuna another one of his heart-melting smiles, "Just
really quick, that's all."
"Well slow down! Let's take in the view!" Yuna said, as Tidus reluctantly slowed down.
Tidus smiled and slowed down, and then looked down at their enclosed hands, as if
surprised to see they were still together.
"What's wrong?" Yuna asked him, as he stared blankly at their clasped hands, as if trying
to decide something.
"Oh, nothing!" he said, smiling, even though Yuna noticed he got that thoughtful look in
his eyes again.
The two continued on in silence then, with Tidus continuing to look in thought, and Yuna
busy taking in her surroundings.
"How come the streets are nearly empty?" she asked Tidus then, as it dawned on her that
there were very few people out and about.
"They're at a game, or a party," Tidus said, "You know that up to six teams can play at
the same time? The stadium has three pools, the main one, and then the two side ones. Right
now there's only a game going on in the main one, being that it's a one-year tournament game.
Tomorrow we'll probably play the winners from tonight's game. Yeah, tomorrow's going to be a
busy day."
"How so?" Yuna asked, "If the game's not until later at night..."
Tidus interrupted her. "That doesn't matter," he said, "We have a two hour practice in
the morning, and then we have to do photo shoots and fan signings. Then we get a two hour rest,
and another practice, and then it's party time for an hour at the big "before-game party" and then
it's the game, and then the big "after-game party". It all depends on if we win or not though. If
we win, we totally rock the after-game party, but if we lose, we just show up and shake hands
with the refs and stuff...And..." Tidus stopped suddenly and looked at Yuna, an alarmed look on
his face.
"What?" Yuna asked, wondering what the alarm look was for.
"What are we going to do with you?" he just asked, and was now looking disgusted.
"What do you mean?" Yuna asked, but Tidus tugged her around the other direction,
smiling as he did so.
"Don't worry, I'll have my old pal suit you up. Tomorrow you and he will be like best
friends, 'kay?"
"Huh?" Yuna just asked as Tidus pulled her around through a narrow passage and then
swiftly across a bridge.
Finally Tidus and a confused Yuna reached a house, and Tidus ran up to the door,
knocking.
"Hey Zed!" he yelled as he knocked, "Open up!"
The door opened to a smiling young man about Tidus' age who had auburn hair and blue
eyes.
"Hey, long time no see! You been busy?" the man who Yuna supposed was Zed said.
"Yeah, you know, same ol', same ol'," Tidus said, laughing, as Zed invited him in. Tidus
was about to go in, and then looked at Yuna and smiling, pulled her in with him.
"Anyway Zed, this is Yuna, she's a..." Tidus looked as if he was trying to find the right
word, "a friend of mine. Anyway, she's...Er...Not from around here. Tomorrow she's gonna
need some one to look after her, show her the ropes, know what I mean?"
Zed smiled at Yuna, and just from his smile, Yuna could tell that Zed was quite a
charmer, maybe even more so than Tidus was.
"Nice to meet you," he said, shaking Yuna's hand.
"So, will you help her out?" Tidus asked, and Zed smiled.
"Of course, I'd be happy to," he said, eyeing Yuna.
"Hey, but don't get any ideas, she's mine," Tidus said and Zed and he laughed. Yuna
didn't know if she like the sound of their laughter, but she decided it didn't matter. She had no
idea what was going on, anyway.
"So, where're you from, Yuna?" Zed asked.
"She's from District D-North. You know, the one that lost its team last month," Tidus
answered for her, shooting her a look, as if to tell her not to object.
"Man, sorry about what happened to your blitz team," Zed said, "You must be bummed."
"Actually, she's always been an Abe fan. Her...Brother just happened to play for the
Yurdles. That's all." Tidus said, and then, as if deciding to change the subject said, "So,
tomorrow you can come over to my place before practice, and Yuna's gonna need a nice dress,
you know, for the after-party-."
"Definitely!" Zed interrupted, "You are so gonna kick the Duggles' tache!"
Yuna wondered what a "tache" was, but then figured it was just some Zanarkand slang
term or something.
Tidus noticed her confused look, and said, "Uh, "tache" is a rather...nasty word for butt.",
which then made him and Zed laugh again.
"Anyway, Yuna's gonna need something nice, dressy, pricy...Yeah, get her the most
expensive one, on me, and then you know, get her some "Abe Wear" for the game, and then meet
me at the before-party. Then, I'll get two tickets for you both in the best seating, of course, and
then go ahead and change for the after-party, and I'll meet you both back there. Sound good?"
Zed rolled his eyes, although he was smiling, "So basically a shopping trip and then to the
game, right?"
"Yeah," Tidus said, and looked at Yuna, "Sound okay?"
Yuna just nodded, although she still had no idea what was going on.
"See ya tomorrow Zed!" Tidus said, and dragged Yuna outdoors, and toward his place.
"What's going on?" Yuna finally managed.
"Oh? Oh, yeah, sorry. I didn't want to leave you all alone tomorrow, so Zed and you'll
hang out, okay? Like, you need some game clothes and a dress, 'cause the after-party is formal,
okay?" Tidus said, smiling, "Zed and you will watch the game. He'll show you around and
stuff."
"Okay," Yuna finally said, and then asked, "How do you know Zed?"
"Zed and me have known each other since we were six. We used to be neighbors and go
to the same blitz camps and stuff. Then, we both played on the Abes together. Last year though,
Zed had a pretty bad injury. It put him out for the rest of the season. And...Well, once you are
out for an entire season, let's just say you're usually out for the rest of your life."
"That's too bad," Yuna said, as Tidus led her into his place.
"It is," Tidus said, "And I know Zed has a hard time with it, but hey, he's a good sport.
Not only that, but you should see the chicks he gets out of sympathy!"
"Oh," Yuna said, nodding, as Tidus dropped her hand and ran back over to the food.
Tidus yawned, and Yuna suddenly felt wide awake. She wanted to see what else
Zanarkand had to offer. She wanted to go to a game, or a party, or something, but Tidus was
looking quite beat.
"G'night," he said, yawning as he did so, "Oh, and if the couch gets old, there's always
room with me!" He raised his eyebrows and Yuna, and then went toward his room.
"Hey, wait," Yuna said, "I thought Zanarkand never sleeps!"
"It doesn't," Tidus said, looking at Yuna with a bored expression on his face, "But I do."
Then, he continued on toward his bedroom, and Yuna could just picture him lying there,
waiting for her. He probably had never been turned down before.
Yuna sat down on the couch deciding that she could at least try to sleep, even if she
wasn't the least bit tired. She was so excited for the next day, even if it would be spent mainly
away from Tidus. She couldn't wait to watch him play, in the stadium all lit up at night...
She hadn't even meant to, but as she lay back, thinking about the next day's plans, she
fell into a deep and rather peaceful slumber.
"So," Lea said, standing beside Yuna, "That's a dreamy look on your face. Are you
thinking of a certain Blitzball player?"
She was sounding so sweet. Yuna couldn't figure out why Tidus thought so poorly of
her. Even if something had happened between the two, that didn't automatically make Lea a
jerk, did it?
"Maybe," Yuna admitted, smiling to answer Lea's question.
"Thought so," Lea said, sounding as if her and Yuna had been friends for a lifetime,
"How did just a fan like you end up with him? Did you sleep with him or something?"
Yuna gave Lea a questioning look, which Lea just replied with her sweet smile. Was
Tidus really like that? What better way than to ask Lea...
"Does Tidus do that?" Yuna asked, hoping she didn't sound as clueless as Lea made her
seem.
"Do what?" Lea asked innocently, smiling sweetly yet at Yuna.
"Uh, you know, sleep with just anybody, fans..." Yuna said, looking at the ground as she
said so. Surely that wasn't true...
"Hm, it does depend," Lea said, which caused Yuna to smile, but only for a short time as
Lea continued, "They have to be good-looking enough for his liking. So, basically not just
anybody..." Lea's sweet smile had now turned into a smirk.
"Are you and he friends?" Yuna finally asked, wondering how Lea knew all of this.
Certainly they weren't friends though, Tidus hated Lea.
"You could say we're old friends..." Lea said, smiling her sweet smile again. Then, as if
deciding to cut to the chase, Lea said, "You know, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but
Tidus is probably only dating you for his own good, not yours. He's probably just trying to make
other girls jealous, or something like that. You see, Tidus would never just fall for some fan."
Yuna was quite taken aback at what Lea had just said.
"Uh, are you sure you're old friends?" Yuna asked Lea suspiciously, "Because believe
me, Tidus isn't just playing me. We...Uh...Love each other." Yuna didn't know if her last
statement was one-hundred percent true, but it was definitely more true than what Lea was telling
her.
Lea gave a snort. "He has you fooled," she said, shaking her head sadly.
"That's not true," Yuna said, growing angry. She could finally see what Tidus had been
talking about. Lea wasn't some kind of sweet "I want to be your friend!" type, but just a
nuisance who must enjoy being in other people's business. "I'm not just some fan, anyway.
Tidus and me have known each other for some time."
Lea shook her head, and looked soothingly at Yuna.
"Yuna," she said, still shaking her head, "He has you fooled. Big time. Well, when he
breaks your heart, just don't come running to me, because I'm going to just give you a, "I told
you so", okay?"
"Don't worry, he's not going to be breaking my heart," Yuna said, looking at Lea angrily
as Lea left the area, heading back into the house.
"Don't worry about the game, you know I'll take care of it!" Tidus laughed, causing the
entire group around him to break off into fits of laughter.
Tidus had no idea how long he'd been standing there, talking with his teammates and
other people about the next day's big game, but he didn't seem to care, either. He wasn't
thinking of Yuna at all, figuring that she'd be coming back in at any moment anyway.
That was until he saw Lea come back into the house, chuckling as she did so.
"Great, what did she say to Yuna?" Tidus thought, watching Lea grab a few of her
belongings and leave the party.
"Know what I mean, Tidus?" one of Tidus' linemen was saying, nudging him on the
shoulder.
"Yeah, sure man," Tidus said, although he was still to focused on wondering what it was
that Lea had said.
"Well, you'll have to excuse me guys," Tidus said, too anxious to know what Lea had
done to Yuna to listen to his teammates rants, "I'll see you guys tomorrow at the game."
He slipped out the door, trying to stay unnoticed, deciding that he didn't want all of
Zanarkand to know what it was that Lea had said or done to Yuna, and found Yuna staring off
into the distance, making him wonder if Lea had said something mean or hurtful to her.
Yuna was standing there, staring into the distance again, although she wasn't really
thinking about anything in particular.
She was so zoned-out that she didn't hear Tidus approach her.
"Hey!" he greeted her, trying to sound cheerful as he come up to her side, "How's it
goin'?"
Yuna seemed somewhat surprised to see him standing there, but smiled her greeting and
turned back to the sea.
"So," Tidus said, drumming his fingers on the deck's railing, "Did you and Lea have a
nice discussion?"
Yuna looked at Tidus suspiciously, wondering if he'd spied on Lea and her.
"Don't get any wrong ideas," Tidus said quickly, noticing the look Yuna had shot at him,
"I just saw Lea come from here, that's all. I was just wondering what she said..."
There was some silence besides the waves crashing to the sand as Yuna wondered how to
even ask Tidus about what Lea had told her.
"Are you just going out with me to sleep with me?" Yuna asked, not looking at Tidus,
and keeping her focus on the horizon.
"So that's what she told you..." Tidus said, trailing and looking deep in thought. He
smiled then, and said, "And she thinks she has me figured out! No, I'm not going out with you
just to sleep with you, but if you'd like, I can arrange that!" Tidus had meant it as a joke, but
seeing that Yuna didn't seem in the mood for his jokes, immediately bit his tongue for saying it,
"But, you're always welcome on the couch, or...I am...Or..." he said quickly, even though he
suddenly felt tongue tied by it all.
"I told her you weren't," Yuna said, which shocked Tidus. Here he figured she had
believed every word Lea had spoken.
"You mean, you didn't believe Lea when she told you that?" Tidus asked, amazed at his
good luck. Usually Lea had a way of charming people into believing everything she said,
whether it was true or not.
Yuna shook her head. "I know you better than that, I hope," Yuna said, smiling meekly at
Tidus.
He smiled back, not knowing that it melted her heart every time he threw a smile her way.
The two stood in more silence then, before Tidus finally smiled and said, "It's pretty
peaceful out here, don't ya think?"
Yuna nodded. "And here I thought Zanarkand was all city bustle!" she teased, smiling as
she did so.
Tidus looked at her, his smile fading away, and then looked back at the sea.
"You really aren't from around here, are you," he said finally, "What's it like, at your
home?"
Yuna wanted to say, "You should know. You've been there!", but knew better. She
swallowed, finally able to believe that Tidus didn't know anything about Spira, or anything about
what had happened three years ago, or even two. At least he was finally able to believe that she
wasn't from Zanarkand.
"It's a lot smaller seeming," Yuna said, "I live on an island called Besaid Island. There
are no tall buildings or houses by the sea. Only small little huts and the temple. It's a lot greener
there too, there's lots of trees and...I don't know, more tropical stuff. It's really beautiful, but it's
still nothing compared to Zanarkand."
Tidus nodded, as if he understood. Yuna looked up at him and gave a small wry smile.
"Bring back any memories?" she asked him hopefully.
He shook his head slowly, not looking back at her.
"But if it matters," he said after a few seconds of silence, "I think I kind of believe your
story."
"Just kind of?" Yuna asked.
Tidus nodded. "Just kind of," he said, smiling and giving a head cock, "So, wanna head
back in? The party should be dying down around now, being that every one goes to the games."
Yuna nodded, and Tidus led the way back in, saying goodbye to the few people who were
left.
"Now what?" Yuna asked, as soon as the two found themselves alone.
Tidus just shrugged, and helped himself to some of the leftover food. He looked
somewhat tired, or perhaps he was just in thought, Yuna wasn't quite sure.
"Let's go for a walk!" he said finally, and not waiting for a reply as he grabbed her hand
and pulled her up.
He led her out the door, walking quickly.
Yuna smiled and said, "Do you ever just walk? Do you always have to run?"
"I was walking," Tidus said, throwing Yuna another one of his heart-melting smiles, "Just
really quick, that's all."
"Well slow down! Let's take in the view!" Yuna said, as Tidus reluctantly slowed down.
Tidus smiled and slowed down, and then looked down at their enclosed hands, as if
surprised to see they were still together.
"What's wrong?" Yuna asked him, as he stared blankly at their clasped hands, as if trying
to decide something.
"Oh, nothing!" he said, smiling, even though Yuna noticed he got that thoughtful look in
his eyes again.
The two continued on in silence then, with Tidus continuing to look in thought, and Yuna
busy taking in her surroundings.
"How come the streets are nearly empty?" she asked Tidus then, as it dawned on her that
there were very few people out and about.
"They're at a game, or a party," Tidus said, "You know that up to six teams can play at
the same time? The stadium has three pools, the main one, and then the two side ones. Right
now there's only a game going on in the main one, being that it's a one-year tournament game.
Tomorrow we'll probably play the winners from tonight's game. Yeah, tomorrow's going to be a
busy day."
"How so?" Yuna asked, "If the game's not until later at night..."
Tidus interrupted her. "That doesn't matter," he said, "We have a two hour practice in
the morning, and then we have to do photo shoots and fan signings. Then we get a two hour rest,
and another practice, and then it's party time for an hour at the big "before-game party" and then
it's the game, and then the big "after-game party". It all depends on if we win or not though. If
we win, we totally rock the after-game party, but if we lose, we just show up and shake hands
with the refs and stuff...And..." Tidus stopped suddenly and looked at Yuna, an alarmed look on
his face.
"What?" Yuna asked, wondering what the alarm look was for.
"What are we going to do with you?" he just asked, and was now looking disgusted.
"What do you mean?" Yuna asked, but Tidus tugged her around the other direction,
smiling as he did so.
"Don't worry, I'll have my old pal suit you up. Tomorrow you and he will be like best
friends, 'kay?"
"Huh?" Yuna just asked as Tidus pulled her around through a narrow passage and then
swiftly across a bridge.
Finally Tidus and a confused Yuna reached a house, and Tidus ran up to the door,
knocking.
"Hey Zed!" he yelled as he knocked, "Open up!"
The door opened to a smiling young man about Tidus' age who had auburn hair and blue
eyes.
"Hey, long time no see! You been busy?" the man who Yuna supposed was Zed said.
"Yeah, you know, same ol', same ol'," Tidus said, laughing, as Zed invited him in. Tidus
was about to go in, and then looked at Yuna and smiling, pulled her in with him.
"Anyway Zed, this is Yuna, she's a..." Tidus looked as if he was trying to find the right
word, "a friend of mine. Anyway, she's...Er...Not from around here. Tomorrow she's gonna
need some one to look after her, show her the ropes, know what I mean?"
Zed smiled at Yuna, and just from his smile, Yuna could tell that Zed was quite a
charmer, maybe even more so than Tidus was.
"Nice to meet you," he said, shaking Yuna's hand.
"So, will you help her out?" Tidus asked, and Zed smiled.
"Of course, I'd be happy to," he said, eyeing Yuna.
"Hey, but don't get any ideas, she's mine," Tidus said and Zed and he laughed. Yuna
didn't know if she like the sound of their laughter, but she decided it didn't matter. She had no
idea what was going on, anyway.
"So, where're you from, Yuna?" Zed asked.
"She's from District D-North. You know, the one that lost its team last month," Tidus
answered for her, shooting her a look, as if to tell her not to object.
"Man, sorry about what happened to your blitz team," Zed said, "You must be bummed."
"Actually, she's always been an Abe fan. Her...Brother just happened to play for the
Yurdles. That's all." Tidus said, and then, as if deciding to change the subject said, "So,
tomorrow you can come over to my place before practice, and Yuna's gonna need a nice dress,
you know, for the after-party-."
"Definitely!" Zed interrupted, "You are so gonna kick the Duggles' tache!"
Yuna wondered what a "tache" was, but then figured it was just some Zanarkand slang
term or something.
Tidus noticed her confused look, and said, "Uh, "tache" is a rather...nasty word for butt.",
which then made him and Zed laugh again.
"Anyway, Yuna's gonna need something nice, dressy, pricy...Yeah, get her the most
expensive one, on me, and then you know, get her some "Abe Wear" for the game, and then meet
me at the before-party. Then, I'll get two tickets for you both in the best seating, of course, and
then go ahead and change for the after-party, and I'll meet you both back there. Sound good?"
Zed rolled his eyes, although he was smiling, "So basically a shopping trip and then to the
game, right?"
"Yeah," Tidus said, and looked at Yuna, "Sound okay?"
Yuna just nodded, although she still had no idea what was going on.
"See ya tomorrow Zed!" Tidus said, and dragged Yuna outdoors, and toward his place.
"What's going on?" Yuna finally managed.
"Oh? Oh, yeah, sorry. I didn't want to leave you all alone tomorrow, so Zed and you'll
hang out, okay? Like, you need some game clothes and a dress, 'cause the after-party is formal,
okay?" Tidus said, smiling, "Zed and you will watch the game. He'll show you around and
stuff."
"Okay," Yuna finally said, and then asked, "How do you know Zed?"
"Zed and me have known each other since we were six. We used to be neighbors and go
to the same blitz camps and stuff. Then, we both played on the Abes together. Last year though,
Zed had a pretty bad injury. It put him out for the rest of the season. And...Well, once you are
out for an entire season, let's just say you're usually out for the rest of your life."
"That's too bad," Yuna said, as Tidus led her into his place.
"It is," Tidus said, "And I know Zed has a hard time with it, but hey, he's a good sport.
Not only that, but you should see the chicks he gets out of sympathy!"
"Oh," Yuna said, nodding, as Tidus dropped her hand and ran back over to the food.
Tidus yawned, and Yuna suddenly felt wide awake. She wanted to see what else
Zanarkand had to offer. She wanted to go to a game, or a party, or something, but Tidus was
looking quite beat.
"G'night," he said, yawning as he did so, "Oh, and if the couch gets old, there's always
room with me!" He raised his eyebrows and Yuna, and then went toward his room.
"Hey, wait," Yuna said, "I thought Zanarkand never sleeps!"
"It doesn't," Tidus said, looking at Yuna with a bored expression on his face, "But I do."
Then, he continued on toward his bedroom, and Yuna could just picture him lying there,
waiting for her. He probably had never been turned down before.
Yuna sat down on the couch deciding that she could at least try to sleep, even if she
wasn't the least bit tired. She was so excited for the next day, even if it would be spent mainly
away from Tidus. She couldn't wait to watch him play, in the stadium all lit up at night...
She hadn't even meant to, but as she lay back, thinking about the next day's plans, she
fell into a deep and rather peaceful slumber.