The Torn Heart

Disclaimer: I don't own anything (yes, I am a hobo ).

Chapter 8: A Dream

A gentle brush of wind caressed her cheek; bring with it the moist breath of the morning dew.

Still sleepy, Yuna turned her back to the open window, and drew her warm soft covers about her. The supple velvet mattress gently pressed about her tired body and the soft fluffy pillow soothed her aching head. Her eyes were still closed; dreaming of happy squirrels and blooming flowers on her home of Besaid. The soft ocean breeze and the gentle warm sun seemed to bath her dreams in warm and fuzzy clouds. She snuggled deeper into her pillow.

Then

Rap, rap, rap

The knock was followed by Sir Auron's voice, "Lady Yuna, it is time we set out again; we must reach Mi'hen before the day is through."

"Argh." Yuna groaned inwardly as she tossed in her bed, annoyed at the sudden disappearance of her clouds and squirrels. Covering her head with the fluffy pillow, Yuna lazily though, Maybe he'll just go away.

There was a quiet pause, and for a brief moment, Yuna drifted back into dreamy sleep.

Rap, rap, rap

"Oh…" Yuna batted away before her where she imagined Auron would be if he was inside her room, obviously to no avail, "Ten more minutes please. It's soooooo early."

"Yuna." Auron's voice sounded through the door, carrying with it a hint of amusement, "It is high noon, everyone is already awake."

Then, another voice came from the opposite direction, more than likely where the window would be. The voice was lighter, female, but just as somber and serious, "Yuna, perhaps you should not drink alcohol yet."

Yuna's eyes snapped open at that, turning on her sides, she looked outside her window, "Lulu?!" She feebly tried to make who it was, rubbing her eyes, she saw to her amazement, "Paine!!"

"Good guess, care to go for the one million now?" Paine smirked, "C'mon Yuna, we wouldn't want to keep the others waiting."

Yuna nodded blankly. Paine? She thought to herself in confusion. Then obviousness came to her, Paine was her guardian, they'd been together since she was very young…But who is this Lulu?

Shaking her head free of sleep, Yuna decided it must've been just a strange dream. After all, alcohol does not bode well in a seventeen year old body. She couldn't even remember why she had take a sip from Auron's flask.

Quickly, in the most wanton skip of events, Yuna was dressed in her Summoner skirt and blouse; she even managed to tie that knot behind her back by herself, which incidentally placed a smile upon her lips.

Stepping outside the Highroads Traveling Agency, Yuna immediately felt the glare of the high sun beat upon her. Yet, it remained cold as on the Highroads, as their name implied, were quite high in elevation, thus always cold. Strolling over to the cliff edge, Yuna could feel the rushing income of ocean gust brush her hair back. She took a deep breath of the salty air, letting it fill her lungs. That sphere of the recordings that she would give to everyone once she was gone suddenly felt heavy against her thighs where she kept it.

She swallowed a gulp that was rising to her throat; she can't be sad now, she needed to be happy, she was, after all, a Summoner on her pilgrimage to vanquish Sin. But still…there's so much she has yet to experience, and-

"Yuna!" Yuna whirled around to see Tidus, the supposed star of the Zanarkand Abes run to her from the Agency.

Suddenly, she felt a part of her heart leap inside her chest; tears almost rose to her eyes. But just as quickly as those strange feelings came, they vanished, leaving Yuna befuddled. She did, after all, hardly know him, yet there was just something about him that made Yuna want to know him.

Sensing her confusion, Tidus smiled comfortingly, placing his hand upon her shoulder, he asked, "What's wrong Yuna?"

"It's nothing." She lied.

He looked at her, then smiled again, "Let's go catch up then, old man Auron's getting impatient."

"Yes." Yuna nodded.

She followed Tidus down the Highroad, catching up with Sir Auron, who seemed to be much more patient then Tidus had described him. And so they headed toward the Mushroom Rock Road, where the Maester Seymour had arranged accommodations for them; all four of them.

The trek was peaceful and rather devoid of fiends. Sir Auron spoke of the old days with Jecht, Paine, like usual, spoke very little. But Yuna didn't mind, she talked with Tidus, something that she, through reason unknown to her, had an enormous desire to do. At times, Yuna simply wanted to throw her arms around him, and kiss him, and tell him that she loved him. Then immediately following these impulses, she would berate and question herself, she hardly knew him, not only that, even if she knew and loved him, how long can that last? With her final battle with Sin, she would be…

Well, she didn't want to think of that.

She sighed.

"Say, Yuna." Tidus obviously noticed she wasn't listening.

"Huh?" Her thoughts broken, she looked at him with obliviousness, which quickly turned to embarrassment, "Oh, I'm sorry, I, was…Uh."

"Well, what's wrong?" He nudged her gently, then, whispering loudly enough for Auron to hear, he said, "Did my stories get as boring as the Old Guy's"

"Oh no," Yuna smiled.

"You know, Boy," Auron said without turning his back, "didn't Jecht ever teach you some manners?"

"That would've been your job since Pops was in this world," Tidus said.

"Would you preferred it if I beat it into you now?" Auron's voice wafted back the challenge.

"Pfft, like you could old man."

"Don't doubt me, I would, but I rather not embarrass you in front of Lady Yuna."

Yuna blushed and giggled at that, but stopped quickly enough before Tidus could catch it.

"Oh why I ought…"

Then something in the corner of Yuna's vision caught her eye; Tidus's voice seemed to fade away. Coming rapidly toward them was a racing chocobo, both yellow and fluffy. It sped toward then, the chocobo's brilliant red eyes glaring menacingly deep at Yuna. As it came near her, time seemed to freeze.

Yuna stared deep into the bird's fiery red eyes, then she saw it. It was nothing more than a swift few blinks, but it was enough. A series of dazzling blue light seemed to explode in the bird's eyes. Fire, roiling demonic fire. Calm lands. The Calm lands were-

No…

"Ahhh!" She heard herself gasp, time snapped back into reality. Suddenly, her head felt light and dizzy, she toppled forward, unable to catch herself.

"Yuna!" Swiftly, Tidus shot forward and grabbed her in his arms, "What's wrong?"

I'll stop here, because well, I don't really have a reason other than it's fun. Oh yes, I will update as soon as I can. XD XD