Heyo, my dear literate friends! Well school has started; I'm totally exhausted! But the fic must go on! And speaking of school, I got the greatest idea when I talked to my bff Lulu for the first time in ages! (Actually it was just a week or two, but that's just too long!) And so, I'd like to dedicate this fluff packed staff kombat chapter to my bff Lu and her boyfriend, my good friend Ray. Lu, you've been so supportive and made me feel so luved and needed, so thanx chiyuu! Oh, and on that note, read Vampiress Lulu's Saphire Rose story in the FFX section. Plugging your story, Lu, is the least I could do. You deserve readers too!

Disclaimer (#$&) so someone told me that I should add a disclaimer because...well I wasn't paying attention. Alrighty, you better pay good attention to this! For the ENTIRE length of this fiction: I do not own any installment of Final Fantasy, any characters, any creatures (chocobos etc), or environments/towns/cities. All I have is my unique and interesting story line. Happy everyone? Moving on...

Time for another exciting, action-packed, romantic episode!

Chapter 6: Wordless Confessions and Staff-fu

As the sun hung low in the sky, Tidus and Yuna set up camp on the broad bank of the Moonflow. Tidus gathered some wood, refusing Yuna's offer to help, and started a fire with the Red Ring he'd picked up in their short passage through Guadosalam. With nothing to do, Yuna settled at the bank of the water watching her reflection rippled by water bugs. Tidus watched her through the flames as they danced, sometimes covering her entirely and sometimes framing her serene image. She leaned forward and gently touched the water with her fingers, testing it or some reason. With a smile, she bounded up from her kneeling position and into the woods. His eyes followed her with some amusement before turning back to the heat of the fire. Moments later she emerged, catching his eyes with a flash of lavender cloth and mousy brown hair. She was clothed in a soft purple swimsuit that Rikku must have given her. It was a halter top, a pair of way too low cut shorts and a matching sarong that was loosely tied around her waist. She giggled at his open-mouthed stare.

"Coming for a swim?" she asked, making a motion with her hand to remind him that her face was not just below her neck.

"I, uh...heh heh, sure?" he answered stuttering while still recovering from the shock.

"Come on!" she called impatiently, walking to the water's edge and turning back to him.

"You're not wearing that, are you?" she questioned, hands on her nearly bare hips. Blushing, he pulled off his scalemail armor and, hesitantly, his shirt. She gave him a 'that's better' look before galloping off into deeper water. She tore away the little lavender sarong, tossed it to shore, and dove right under. Tidus treaded water on the surface. He looked wildly at water around him, worrying that she'd been down in the water too long, maybe even drowning. He heard a splash behind him, but it was too late. He was shoved underwater forcefully, fighting against a surprisingly small attacker. He pushed his way back up, sputtering for air. He scowled at a giggling Yuna and splashed her.

"That wasn't very nice Yunie!" he mocked, running straight toward her. She tried to escape, but he was too fast. He grabbed around her waist, lifted her up, and tossed away into the water. She got back up quickly, spitting out a mouthful of water and shaking it out of her hair. Without warning, she tackled him, plunging them both into the water. When they shot back up he had his arms around her waist again, holding her down in case she decided to start some more trouble. She stopped flailing, and he thought she had given up, until he saw the stars. Except they weren't stars, they were moving and dancing about like flies buzzing through the air.

"Pyreflies." He whispered to her.

"I know..." she whispered back, a little embarrassed by the fact that he still had his arms around her waist and didn't even seem to notice. She decided she didn't mind, and went back to observing the odd glowing lights rising from the lilies. They each looked like a white glowing light surrounded by an aura of pink and greenish tints that left a like-colored trail in their wake.

"Oh, sorry, Yuna." He said sheepishly, removing his hands. Instantly she wished he hadn't.

"You, ah, don't have to." She said quietly, turning to face him and placing her arms around his neck gently. A little startled, he replaced his grip on her. Suddenly, this was too much for her. She lowered her head to avoid his gaze.

"Yuna." He said softly. She looked back up at him, up into his pale blue eyes that pleaded her permission. He leaned forward a little to reach her and pressed his lips to hers. At first she opened her eyes wide, but then she closed them as the warm feeling of his kiss and embrace took over her. He gripped her tighter so that she felt every muscle in his chest and every beat of his racing heart. He broke away and laughed.

"Are you okay? You're kinda pale." He said with a bit of concern.

"Yeah...I'm just...kinda...surprised." she managed to say; though her heart was still pounding.

"Wow, I'm that good." He mumbled. She laughed and smacked his shoulder. Yuna led the way to shore.

THE NEXT DAY

They both had woken with the sun's arrival and were on the High Road to Djose by full daylight. Tidus seemed uneasy today, jumping at every little noise he heard. He caught Yuna looking at him strangely.

"Sorry, this road is infamous or it's crime and bandits. I'm a little worried about an ambush." He explained. She nodded and fought back the urge to burst into laughter. He had no idea. Yevon, he was so naive!

Sure enough, Tidus' suspicious were not unfounded. Very soon, disguised bandits, each with a small dagger, surrounded them and overflowing packs full of stolen goods and gil.

"Come on, kids, just hand over your stuff and nobody gets hurt." Said one of the generic thieves.

"Hey boss! How bout we grab the girl too?" cried another from the back. Yuna glanced at Tidus. There was a deep rage in his pale blue eyes and he growled back at them. Jeez, Yuna thought, one kiss and he goes all possessive. Tidus quickly drew his gigantic blue sword, daring any of them to step forward.

"Please Tidus, there's no need for blades." She said forcing him to lower his weapon, "I can deal with this." Yuna rushed back to her chocobo and pulled from it's hiding place of yellow plumage, a small metal rod. All eyes watched her as she stepped back to face her opponents. She tossed the small metal piece into the air, watching as it's spinning slowed. With a soft click, it sprang open and nearly quadrupled in size. It became a magic staff.

"How...when...Yuna?" Tidus asked, confused.

"I picked it up in Guadosalam when you weren't looking." She explained simply.

"Do you know how to use that thing?" he asked her. He watched her twirl it expertly and stab at the air.

"Does that answer you question?" she asked gloatingly. He nodded.

"Hello? You're being robbed here!" cried the bandit who first spoke.

"Fine, come and get it!" she jeered at them. They all rushed forward at once surrounding the two of them. Yuna swung the staff, and in one smooth sweep, knocked down three of the attackers. Tidus picked up his sword again and cut down a few more. One took a swing at Yuna with his dagger, giving her a small cut along her side. She retaliated, calling out Firaga and sending the bandit running and scream from the fight, set a few more aflame as he went. Then there was one, an obvious leader. He was cut up and battered, but not willing to back down. Tidus raised his sword and Yuna her staff, the round design at the end still flaming with her firaga spell.

"Get out of here, buddy! Face it, you lost to a girl!" Yuna mocked, twirling the firaga staff again so it created a wheel of fire rolling at her side. With defeat, he growled and bolted after his thieving comrades.

"No more surprises, Yuna." Tidus sighed.

"Good luck with your wishful thinking, blondie."

I am sooo incredibly lazy; it's not even funny. You realize I started typing this on the first day of school? It's been like three weeks since then! So I devised a plan to keep me on task. Anytime you think I've been slacking off, don't hesitate to tell me so. Send me an email at firagamagegirl at yahoo. (don't use the one posted in my profile, I know for a fact it won't work and sorry I had to write it so weird, the thing is messing up) or you can IM me at BlackMagess8bitAIM. Please do contact me if you think I need prodding. Thanx a lot friends reviewers!

See ya later, Space Cowboy

Chapter 7: The Trouble with Gippal