A/N: Hey guys, it's been awhile, eh? Sorry for the long wait, but I had reached the end of where the story was planned out and had absolutely no idea where to go with it. Now that has changed, I have a few chapters almost totally planned out and it shouldn't be too hard to go from there.

For you new readers, I wrote the previous chapters before X-2 was even released, so any similarities (such as the Besaid cave.. go figure) are purely coincidental. It was my idea first! Even though it's out now and I've played it and everything, there won't be any X-2 characters or anything included.

My apologies if something is out of place, I haven't played FFX or read this fic in awhile, lol.

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Lulu came over to where Yuna was sitting and sat beside her. "You taught Rikku well," she complimented. Yuna shook her thoughts away and nodded to Lulu. "Now you're the only one that hasn't learned the thunder spell." No response from Yuna. "Yuna? Are you okay?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm fine," she replied, unconvincingly.

"You've seemed a bit off lately. You have everything you wanted, I thought you'd be happy."

"I am," Yuna assured her.

"There's something you're not telling me.." Yuna had always been that way, she forced herself to deal with her problems alone. It never seemed to occur to her that others could help.

"I'm fine, really Lulu." She smiled, praying that Lulu would let up.

"Okay... Ready to learn to throw thunder?"

"I think it'd be better if I focused on keeping all of you healed," she frantically excused. She didn't want to worry them, but she didn't really know what she was going to do... she just needed some time to think, maybe she could remember something vital. Yuna glanced at the darkening sky. "We should get back before it gets too dark."

Lulu sighed. It was nearly impossible to break Yuna's will and was a waste of energy to try. All she could do was hope that she'd share what was weighing on her mind later... and that nothing bad would happen in the meantime. "I'll get the others then." Yuna nodded in acknowledgment as Lulu walked off.

Deciding to make herself useful while she waited, she gathered up the glasses and looked around to make sure she hadn't missed anything. The last of the sunlight was glittering off of something that appeared to be metallic a few strides away, so she set down her armful of items on the nearby rock and walked over to it. Mostly hidden in the lush grass it was a wonder she saw it at all. She picked it up and looked at it on her fingers... it was a delicate, silver bracelet. The band was two "ropes" entwined together, and the clasp was a heart that split in two and had a set of initials on each side. She saw her friends heading back towards her and, not wanting to give up the item before inspecting it further, pocketed it before anybody spotted it.

"Ready?" Lulu asked Yuna. Yuna scooped up the load she had set down and nodded in response.

Tidus looked at how many things Yuna was holding and wondered how she was going to get down the ladder with them. "Here, let me take some of those." Before she could protest he took the majority of her stack and headed down. The others followed and they all headed back to where they were staying in the small town of Besaid.

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They made their way quickly through the cave, too preoccupied with the day's adventures to be captured by its atmosphere. Even Lulu, who was in a more somber mood than usual, couldn't help but crack a smile in spite of herself as she watched Rikku prance around with lightning dancing between her fingertips. As they reached the end, Lulu moved to part the vines blocking the entrance, but Rikku whizzed by her with Tidus on her heels before she had the chance.

"Something's sure got them worked up, ya?" Wakka commented with a chuckle.

Lulu put her hand to her head, shaking it slightly. "Kids will be kids."

"There something wrong with being a kid?" he asked indignantly.

"No, but there's nothing wrong with being an adult on occasion either," she responded, glancing at him before striding towards the exit. Somebody that hadn't known her all those years would have easily missed the teasing undertone, but Wakka caught it perfectly. Still, he wondered if there wasn't a bit of seriousness to the comment as well. In any case, he put his arm in front of her, parted the vines and bowed to let her through as a true gentleman type would. She sent him a sly smile, which spread a grin over his face. He waved Yuna through as well, who he noted had suddenly become quiet.

After she walked through, he jogged up to the ex-summoner and touched her on the shoulder. She glanced up at him questioningly. "Everything's gonna be fine Yuna, don't worry."

"What? I'm not worrying!" she insisted.

He elbowed her playfully. "Then just don't start, ya?" he winked at her. She nodded her consent and he took off to catch up to Lulu, who was shaking her head at Tidus and Rikku again. The pair was running in circles, shouting at each other.

"Come back here!"

"It was an accident!"

"You did that on purpose!"

"I didn't, I swea-- Eek!" Rikku cried, dodging a thunderbolt Tidus had sent her way. She ducked behind a small boulder and formed a ball of electricity between her palms. She stayed there for a moment, waiting for her attacker to come to her.

As Tidus followed to catch her, she let it off in his direction and bolted. He tried to evade it but ended up with a charred mark on his shirt. "Ah shi-- Eh, sorry." He glanced over at Yuna, whom he felt somehow funny about swearing in front of it. She didn't seem to care though. "Rikku!" he swore. Yuna's eyes lit up, but before she could point or mouth her thoughts, Tidus turned around and grabbed Rikku who had been trying to creep up on him. She tried to squirm away but he held on until they both fell into the sand.

"Ow! You big meanie."

"You started it."

"I didn't mean to!"

Lulu sighed and walked over to them. "Come on you two, get up."

"I can't, he's on top of me," Rikku whined.

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, she reached down and pulled Tidus up. "There." After they both brushed themselves off she added, "I'm not even going to bother asking what happened."

"She zapped me wi--"

"He started chasin--"

"I said that I wasn't going to ask. Now both of you quit acting like children and get to the house."

Rikku stuck her tongue out at Tidus. "Race ya."

"And be bested again?"

"We'll see. On your mark.."

"Wait." He turned and gestured over to Yuna to join them. "It'll be more fun if we both beat you," he grinned.

"Go!" Wakka called out and the three took off, with Rikku and Tidus trying to trip each other.

Lulu laughed softly to herself. "Kids will be kids."

"At least they get Yuna to lighten up, ya?" he said, watching Yuna turn back occasionally to taunt her opponents and giggle.

"I just hope they're not too bad of an influence on her. The last thing we need is another Rikku or Tidus running around."

Wakka couldn't help but chuckle. "She'll always be Yuna. She seems happier when she loosens up though."

Lulu nodded. No doubt it was a great burden lifted when you could run around and giggle like a child. 'It's been forever since I let loose like that. I wonder what it'd be like to do that now? I'd just end up embarrassing myself.' She shook her head to clear the thoughts.

Wakka looked over at her. "Jealous, aren't you?"

As thickheadeded as Wakka could be, there were some times when he could see right through her. "Don't be ridiculous."

"You are. Lu, it's nothing to be ashamed of."

She turned to look at him and saw he was trying not to smile or laugh. What was so funny? She wasn't going to be laughed at by him. Infuriated, she briskly turned her back on him and stomped off.

"Lu!" It was no use. "Aw man. Why does this always have to happen? Lu, come on!" He chased after her until they reached the house, where she completely ignored him. The three competitors had reached it long before they did, but Tidus still looked slightly out of breath. Figuring Lulu was a lost cause at the moment, he asked, "Who won?" Rikku and Tidus glanced towards Yuna, who beamed with pride. "Wow, beat the 'star player of the Zanarkand Abes' and that ball of energy. Nice going. So.. who lost then?" This time they looked towards Tidus, who glanced at the ground. Wakka snickered. "They both beat you? That's rough, brudda." Still laughing, he gave Tidus a hard pat on the back and entered the house. Tidus just glared back, apparently a sore loser.

"It was nice of you to let us win," Yuna offered, even though she doubted he did.

Tidus slung his arm over her shoulders as they both headed for the door. "Yeah, and don't you forget it." Rikku stuck her tongue out at him and he glanced backwards and stuck out his back at her.

Lulu watched the three of them go in and paced back and forth for a few moments, trying to decide whether to join them or spend some time on her own. She then realized she wasn't alone and looked over to Kimahri. "Aren't you going in too?"

"Kimahri enter last." So it was decided. Though she wasn't sure she wanted to be around Wakka at the moment, she wasn't about to wuss out in front of Kimahri, so she lead them inside.

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The gang was seated around a table eating dinner, most of them laughing and talking.

"I'd kill for some pizza right now," Tidus mentioned offhandedly. After receiving some odd looks he added, "Not that this isn't good or anything!"

Yuna cocked her head to the side. "What's pizza?"

They'd never heard of pizza? That explained the strange looks, but it was still hard to believe. "You guys don't have that here?" Yuna shook her head. "Wow. Well... you start out with dough, right? Then you put on tomato sauce, then cheese, then pepperoni. Some people like other stuff added, mostly meat and vegetables, but that was always my favourite."

Lulu leaned forward, interested. She had ended up cooking a lot of meals, so cooking had become an interest of hers. New dishes always intrigued her. "What was in the dough?"

Tidus scratched his head. "Uh, I really don't know. But the whole thing is in a circle shape," he used his hands to demonstrate, "and you'd fold up the edges to make a crust."

"Like a pie?"

"Um... maybe. It is called a pizza pie but uh, I don't think it's really the same..."

"I take it that it's safe to assume you have no idea how to make the sauce either?"

"Erm.. yeah, pretty much."

Lulu leaned back again, wondering if she could make something similar from his vague description.

"So, any plans? For after we beat the fiend thing of course." Tidus said, directing the comment mostly at Yuna.

"I haven't really thought about it." She pondered the thought for a moment. "I suppose I would want to do something that I never had time to when I was training at the temple."

Tidus nodded, thoughtful for a moment. "Hey! How about some blitz lessons?"

Her eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Do you think I could do it?"

"Definitely! No problem."

"I think that's a good idea. Maybe could all go, ya? Lu, Rikku?" Wakka cast a hopeful glance at Lulu but she returned it with an icy stare. Tidus was also glaring at him but he didn't notice.

"Nah, I already know how to swim. I was never that into sports anyway," Rikku replied.

"Lu?"

"No."

"Come on, it'd be fun ya?"

"No."

"Lu--"

"No, Wakka!"

"I guess it's just you two then," Wakka sighed with disappointment. Tidus grinned, he had been looking forward to spending some time with Yuna alone.

Lulu, quickly tiring of Wakka's puppy eye look, decided to broach a new subject. "Yuna, do you remember anything in the cave that might help us?"

Yuna froze. How much should she tell them? Maybe she should just try to talk them into not returning, and maybe the fiend wouldn't come back. Maybe.. probably not..

"Yuna?"

Might as well give them what she knew. "I don't remember much. I was on a table, and I think..." she thought hard, focusing on the blurry memory," I think I heard a voice."

"This goes deeper than we thought," Lulu mused. "Anything else?"

"Well... Ever since then, whenever I try to cast a spell, it makes me tired and dizzy."

"Maybe just 'cause you overdid it on that spell to bring Tidus back?" Wakka offered.

"No. That's like trying to bring forth energy and not having it. This is more like.. something is stealing the energy whenever I try to use it." Stealing energy? She hadn't thought of it quite like that before, but having said it, it felt right.

"I'll check my books on magic and history and see if I can find anything," Lulu said and stood up from the table.

"I'm gonna go to bed. I'm pooped!" Rikku exclaimed while stuffing a fourth biscuit in her mouth.

"I think I'm gonna head to bed too," Tidus said and yawned.

"Didn't think casting a few spells wouldn't take that much out of you, did you?" Lulu teased.

Tidus looked a little sheepish but got up as well instead of replying. "Yuna, you coming too?"

"I don't think so." The young couple turned their heads to the objecting Lulu. "Perhaps Rikku should bunk with Yuna tonight," she added, looking Tidus in the eye to make sure he realized that it was not a suggestion.

"Yeah.. okay." Tidus trudged off to Rikku's usual sleeping spot, knowing there was no point in arguing with Lulu over it. Maybe he could just sneak up there during the night...

"It'll be like a sleepover, Yunie. This'll be great!" Despite her claims of being tired, she still seemed perky as ever to Yuna as she bounced up the stairs. She would have complained, but she wasn't really sleepy herself and she figured it might be fun to spend some bonding time with a cousin she hadn't known most of her life. She followed Rikku up the stairs, wondering what kind of things she usually did on a sleepover.

As Yuna was getting ready to change, she felt the bracelet in her pocket and pulled it out. "What's that?" Rikku asked.

"I'm not sure. I found it in the cave that Lulu lead us to but I haven't had a chance to look at it." She held it up to the light briefly before tossing it to her cousin. "Don't you need to get some nightclothes?"

"Oh right. I'll be back in a jiffy!"

After Yuna had changed into white cotton pajamas with pink flower patterns and placed her dress in the hamper, Rikku barged back in. She too was dressed in pajamas, but hers were bright pink and yellow and revealed more skin. There was one thing missing though. "Where's the bracelet?"

Rikku looked down at her hands, thinking for a moment. "I must've left it in the bathroom. I'll go get it." Yuna nodded and followed, but when they got there, there was nothing on the counter. "I know I left it right here!"

"I wonder where it could have gone..."

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Lulu sat in her study with all the lights turned down except for a lamp on a desk. She had several dusty, old books placed in front of her, a few of them open, but none had her attention. Instead she was examining a silver bracelet engraved with her and a lost lover's initials. She still remembered the day he gave it to her, the same day he told her he was enlisting with the Crusaders. After he had walked away from her, she threw it to the ground in her fury and remorse. When she heard of his death, she returned to the spot but never found it. Now she wasn't sure she wanted it at all, but she felt compelled to put it on. She pushed it up her arm, making sure it was hidden by her long sleeves, so nobody else would notice it. After trying to focus on the books in front of her, she sighed and got up. There was no way she was going to be able to concentrate like this. Perhaps she just needed to return to their secret alcove and indulge in her memories for once. Not paying attention to her surroundings, she walked right past Wakka on her way to the door.

"Lu?"

She turned to face him, forgetting that she was angry with him. She must have also forgotten to mask her face, as Wakka gave her a look of sympathy. Somehow he had come to recognize that expression of hers when she thought of Chappu, though she didn't like to think she wore it enough for anybody to make the connection.

"Where you goin'?"

"I was just.. headed for a walk."

"You uh.. want some company?" Wakka asked timidly, ready for her to go off on him again.

"Okay," she replied without thinking. Wait, what?! She didn't want him to go with her. He'd see how vulnerable she could be. He'd end up trying to comfort her, and that was the last thing she wanted... Wasn't it? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.. Dear Yevon, what was she getting herself into?

"Really?"

She headed for the door and didn't even bother to turn around to tell him, "Don't push it or I'll change my mind." He didn't need to be told twice and jogged to catch up with her.

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Rikku and Yuna were in Yuna's bedroom, swapping theories on where the bracelet had vanished to when they heard the front door open and close. "Who would be leaving at this time of night?" Yuna wondered aloud. Rikku leaned to the window to check and saw Wakka and Lulu.

"Hmm, something's up with them."

"Who?" Yuna followed her gaze out the window.

As Rikku was concentrating, trying to read their lips, she noticed the moonlight glint off of something on Lulu's wrist. "I think that solves the bracelet mystery."

"Are you sure? Why would she take it?"

"Why would she go for a late night walk for Wakka? Yunie, stop, they'll see you!" Rikku reprimanded as Yuna opened the window and was leaning out to get a better look.

"We really shouldn't be spying on them like this anyway."

"Hmm.." Rikku put her finger to her chin as she always did when formulating a plan. "We should follow them."

"What?! We can't do that!"

"Don't you want to know what's going on with them."

"Well, maybe, but that doesn't mean we can just--"

"All right then, let's go!" Rikku grabbed her stubborn cousin by the wrist and dragged her towards the door. "Just remember, stay quiet and follow my lead. Despite several more objections on the way to the front door, Rikku was not talked out of her plan. Yuna eventually sighed and gave in. Rikku held a finger to her lips to indicate they should be quiet from now on and slipped through the door soundlessly. Yuna followed suit, closing the door as quietly as she could. Rikku took the lead, making hand gestures to indicate when to hide behind a building or tree and when to move forward. They kept as close as she felt they could without being seen, but they were still too far away to pick up on Lulu and Wakka's whispered conversation. After the pair went in the vine covered entrance to the cave, Rikku stopped Yuna and made no sign of moving.

Yuna looked around for a moment and, figuring they were out of earshot, risked Rikku's wrath by speaking. "Why have we stopped?"

"If we follow them before they've gone up the ladder they'll see us for sure. What do you think?"

"I think they want some time alone."

"Don't you think it's kinda strange? Them out in the middle of the night, just the two of them, heading to a secluded cave?"

"I think it's kinda asking for trouble... Are you sure we shouldn't turn back now?" Yuna glanced warily at the cave entrance, waiting for them to reappear any moment and catch them.

"Don't wimp out on me now! You need to learn how to enjoy yourself more, Yunie."

She looked unsure but didn't object further. "How long until we can follow them?"

"We should be okay now. Just be quiet." She crept up to the entrance, peeked in, and nodded to Yuna to follow. They trod carefully, trying not to make any noise, until they reached the ladder. Rikku glanced up the ladder. "It looks like the exit is in a shadow, so we can watch and probably not get caught."

"Probably?!" Yuna hissed

Rikku shrugged. "Nothing in life is guaranteed." She headed up the ladder without a second thought, and Yuna shook her head before following her.

Something tells me I'm going to regret this... Yuna thought to herself. Rikku reached the top of the ladder and moved over to let Yuna see too. Even though there was only usually room for one person, they were both fairly thin and were able to fit after some nudging and pushing. They made sure to keep their heads low, peeking up only far enough to be able to see.

Lulu was sitting on a large rock, staring up at the sky. Wakka leaned against a tree a couple of feet from her and said nothing, only watching her. That's when he spotted the bracelet, one he was sure he had never seen before. "Where'd you get that?" he asked, pointing at her wrist.

She looked down surprised. "I thought..." She pushed it back up, but when she moved her arm it fell down again. "Figures."

He stepped forward, reaching for her wrist then looking to her for permission. She held out her arm and he took the wrist in his hand to examine the bracelet closer. "Chappu?"

"You are correct."

They both stayed silent for a moment after that. Wakka wasn't known for choosing his words carefully, but this particular moment warranted it. He also noted that he hadn't dropped her hand, but felt no inclination to do so. Instead he sat down next to her. "When did he give it to you?"

"The day he.. left." She was more soft spoken and somber than usual, which Wakka noted was generally the case when Chappu was brought up. He couldn't say he wasn't the same way.

He wasn't sure he should pry, but his curiosity was quickly getting the better of him. "Why haven't I seen you wear it before?"

"I left it here." Lulu stopped for a moment, but then continued without prodding. "I was mad at him. I came back to get it later, but couldn't find it. One of the others must have picked it up when we were here earlier. I found it in the bathroom."

Wakka suppressed an urge to chuckle, thinking of how confused the finder must have been to see it disappear. "You gonna keep it?"

"I.. don't know. Sometimes his memory just feels like a cage. I don't want to forget him, but I don't want to... miss him so much."

Wakka nodded. "I know whatcha mean. I still think about him every day, ya? I just keep wishing he was here. Sometimes it's too much to take."

"I wish I knew the way to let go." She looked at the bracelet almost as if it pained her. "There are some things I wonder if he'd approve of."

Her statement confused him. What would she do that he wouldn't approve of? He unclasped the bracelet and tossed it across enclosure. "He'd want you to be happy, Lu. He wouldn't want you to hold back anything because of him."

Normally she'd agree, but for this she had to wonder. His gesture spoke more volumes to her than he could possibly know.. Should she listen? Should she toss her fears about Chappu -- and everything else -- aside and take the plunge? She didn't often believe in looking to others for guidance or approval, but at that moment she would have loved for someone to tell her she would be doing no wrong. She lightly squeezed Wakka's hand and looked up at him. "Not anything?"

Lulu's question went deeper than it seemed, even Wakka could tell that. He still wasn't sure exactly what she was getting at, but that didn't change the answer. "All he wanted was for you to be happy. He told me that, when he left. 'If somethin' happens to me, don't let anything stand in the way of keeping Lulu happy.' He had a funny smile when he said it, but I knew he meant it."

"Maybe he knew all along..." she mumbled to herself. Before Wakka could ask what she meant, she placed her free hand on his cheek and ran her fingers along his rugged features. She leaned her face closer to his but stopped when she heard a short squeal. "What was that?"

"Who cares?" And with that, he closed the gap between their lips and kissed her.

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I thought about making it longer but that seemed like a good place to stop. I'd also like to thank LadyYami (whoever you are these days) for sending me a review after like a YEAR and getting me writing again. I dunno what she did but I got like two or three more reviews from other people after that... So if you had something to do with that too, thanks!

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. If not... blame the people that got me to update.:P