Heyy it's me again yes another quick update. If Yuna or Tidus seem out of character at any point, it's part of the story. Here are some replies to reviews! XD
Rollercoaster217: Glad you liked the part in Luca in chapter 4 XD I loved writing that and whenever I read it it makes me laugh because I remember the scene in the game! Hehe, here's you're fast update again, enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 5
Rumours, confusion, and a shoopuf
Yuna didn't sleep at all that night. She tossed and turned, but she couldn't shake off the horrible dreams she kept having. They were all filled with dark images of Daisuke, Zak, Tidus, her father, Rikku, Paine, her pilgrimage, Vegnagun...she shuddered as she sat up in bed and rubbed her arms for warmth. It was chilly in the Inn, and aqfully quiet. The eeyrie silence made Yuna unconfortable, and she flicked on the lamp and waited for her eyes to adjust to the brightness.
Yuna didn't know why, but all of a sudden she felt horribly miserable. A lump rose in her throat and she tried hard to choke back tears. She couldn't control herself, it was just like the time she had been singing Lenne's feelings. Before she knew what was happennig memories of her pilgrimage, the event with Tidus yesterday, and memories that weren't even her own, were flooding into her mind.
Yuna put her head in her hands and sobbed violently, starting to feel sick. She became dizzy and the room blurred before her eyes as she watched the memories swirl around her mind. What was happening? She tried calling out for help but couldn't hear the sound of her own voice, she could see Daisuke laughing and felt a horrible prescence in the room. Yuna tried to scream but nothing came out of her mouth and she dropped of the bed and to her knees on the floor, her head cradled in her hands.
-
Across the hall, Tidus wasn't having as much luck either. He was having a vivid dream in which he was standing before Daisuke in a dark room. Daisuke was standing beside Zak, who was injured and cowering on the floor at Daisuke's feet.
"Hello, Tidus." Daisuke grunted. "I have a proposition for you, lad."
Tidus scowled. "I'm dreaming, this is a dream, just a dream."
Daisuke laughed loudly. "You mean like you"
Tidus felt the hurt inside of him but covered it up. "Shut your face."
Daisuke chortled again. ""Now, now, lad. I just want to ask you something. One question. You never got to show Yuna you're Zanarkand..did you"
Tidus's mouth dropped open a little but he quickly shut it and pretended he hand't been shocked.
Daisuke smirked at him and folded his arms. "Yes, boy. I'm right, aren't I? Well...using the Force I have aquired in my mind...the power I have obtained, I could send you and Yuna to Zanarkand together...you'd be together forever, you can forget all about Spira, show her where you grew up. Come on, Tidus, Spira is a dump compared to what Zanarkand was. I can send you there...all your friends would be there if you wanted, and if you needed anything, you could ask me and you can have it. All I ask in return is that you do not stop me from using my power. All I want is to rule Spira, how bad can it be, boy? What do you say"
Tidus gritted his teeth but somewhere in his mind Daisuke seemed to be making sense. If he agreed to do what Daisuke asked, he and Yuna could live in Zanarkand together and he could show her that sunset he had talked about a long time ago. He knew she'd like that. She might be worried about Spira but...what could Daisuke possibly do? He did say all he wanted was to rule Spira...not harm it.
"Think about it, lad." Daisuke smirked, his dark eyes flashing. "Think about it...and when you're ready, I shall know. My power shall tell me."
Daisuke's manical laughter filled the room as the dream dissolved around Tidus. When it had gone, Tidus was standing in the middle of the room, fully dressed. He scowled and wondered how he had managed to get here and get dressed. Was it Daisuke's power? Maybe this was only a sample of what it could do..
Tidus sat on the bed and cupped his chin in his hands. It all made sense. Daisuke wanted to rule Spira, and all he wanted in exchange was for Yuna and Tidus to go to Zanarkand. That way...everyone would be happy. Spira would have a ruler, Yuna and Tidus could be together without being hassled, and Daisuke could have what he wanted. Sure, Rikku, Paine and the others would miss them but maybe Daisuke would let them visit?
But somewhere far in the back of his mind Auron's words about life being a story were swimming around his head. Did he really want to be remembered that way? Abandoning everyone else so he could be with Yuna in peace?
Tidus got up off the bed and went out into the corridor. The bathroom was across the hall, and when he got there he splashed cold water on his face and looked in the mirror. The same blue-eyed face as always looked back at him, but it looked troubled.
Suddenly Tidus thought he could hear muffled sounds coming from the room next door to the bathroom. He left the bathroom and listened closely at the door. Someone was crying inside, and it sounded, to his horror, like Yuna.
Tidus rapped on the door, and when the muffled sobs continued he pushed the door open slowly.
The room was dimly lit by the lamp, and the machina clock showed it was 12pm. Yuna was kneeling on the floor with her head in her hands and was sobbing her heart out. It seemed she hand't notice him come in. Tidus quietly closed the door and knelt down beside his distraught girlfriend.
"Yuna" He said quietley, not sure what to do.
Yuna looked up at him and winced, her eyes still streaming with tears and her face screwed up. Tidus had never seen her cry like this, not even that time in Macalania. She had never cried as much as this before, and Tidus knew something serious was going on. She seemed to have no control over herself.
Tidus rubbed her back gently and tried to calm her down. Even though she was crying, she wasn't making a lot of noise, she was simply sobbing and spluttering every now and then. After a moment she struggled to her feet, still crying. Tidus jumped up after her as she almost lost her balance. Yuna grabbed his arm and tried to speak.
"T...T-...Tidus" Yuna spluttered. The memories were still swooshing around her mind but she could just make out what was happening around her.
"Yeah, that's right." Tidus said. "I'm here now."
At the sound of his voice Yuna found the memories and images decreasing. She was still crying but not as heavily and things were becoming clearer.
Tidus noticed immediately that his prescence was helping. He drew her close and put his arms around her, stroking her light brown hair.
"I'm here." Tidus whispered.
Yuna's whole body seemed to give a sigh of relief. The memories vanished, as did the violent crying, but it was replaced by her own tears this time. She looked up at Tidus's crystal clear blue eyes, the tears streaming down her face, her eyes puffy.
"What...w-what was that" Yuna stammered.
"I don't know. Are you alright"
Yuna nodded and rested her face on his chest and shivered. "I couldn't control myself."
"Well...uh...I had a dream." Tidus began, and he explained fully abouy his dream with Daisuke, not missing a single detail.
Yuna listened with intent and then looked back up at him in horror. "We can't go! It might be a trap"
Tidus nodded. "I think the power he has tries to manipulate people, tries to make them do things they don't wanna do."
Yuna suddenly felt very frightened. "I'm...I'm afraid. What's gonna happen to us"
Tidus moved a strand of hair from her face. "Nothing is going to happen to us, Yuna. I'll protect you, alright? Thats why I'm here."
Yuna smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. He grinned.
"Well, I'm gonna get to bed, ok" He said. Before he could reach the door Yuna grabbed his arm in fright.
"Wait...please, stay with me until I fall asleep. I don't want to be alone."
Tidus was quiet for a minute and then he nodded. Yuna didnt even bother to climb under the sheets, she lay on top of the bed in her pajamas while Tidus sat on the chair beside her bed. Before she knew it, she was sleeping, and had no horrible dreams to disturb her.
-
When Yuna awoke she was shocked to find that Tidus fast asleep in the chair. She sat up and stretched, and then glanced at the machina clock. It was 7am, and Rikku had said they would set off at 10am. Yuna gave a playful smile and positioned herself on Tidus's lap, making him jump almost a mile in the air. Yuna just managed to keep herself from falling off the chair as she burst into fits of giggles.
"Hey" Tidus said, pretending to be hurt but failing to keep the smile off his face.
Yuna giggled even harder. "Why are you still here"
"I fell asleep. I didn't really wanna leave you on your own...I was a bit worried."
Yuna smiled and hugged him. "I'm fine, really."
Tidus laughed and then stretched widely. "Well, I need the bathroom. I'll meet you downstairs."
He gave her hand a playful squeeze and left the room. Yuna brushed her hair, arranged her dresspheres, loaded her guns and set off downstairs. She found Rikku and Paine at the tables and Rin offered to cook them breakfast. They agreed, and Tidus eventually came downstairs to eat with them. At 9am, after they had had breakfast, shopped around, and readied equipment, Yuna turned on the Sphere Screen to see if anything odd was happening in Spira.
She almost spat out the drink she was drinking as she saw the Sphere Screen.
"Turn it up" Yuna gasped at Rikku.
Rikku did, obviously bewildered, but Tidus and Yuna stared in horror.
A news reporter was reading. She was standing outside the Inn where they were, and the subtitle said"Mi'hen Highroad Travel Agency, 8am. Reporter Arikua reporting."
The bobbed haired woman was speaking now. "Late last night at around 12pm, our undercover reporter witnessed a young, blonde man enter Lady High Summoner Yuna's bedroom. He was wearing leather dungaree's with a yellow wasitcoat and yellow trainers. The young man did not leave Lady Yuna's bedroom all night, but early the next morning at around 7am, the young man left Lady Yuna's room for the bathroom, and Lady Yuna herself headed downstairs."
The screen then switched to Tidus emerging from the bathroom at 12pm, and knocking on Yuna'd door. Then, it showed him open the door and go inside. The screen switched again to the morning, when Tidus left the room and shortly after, Yuna headed downstairs.
When the report was over, Yuna clicked off the Sphere Screen, aware that everyone in the Inn was watching her. Tidus was gawping open mouthed at the screen, Rikku was biting her lip, and Paine was looking unsure.
"Yuna" Paine said demandingly.
"I...Its..." Yuna began. But she found herself struggling to explain when the Inn was silent and all eyes were fixed on her. If they weren't all watching, she could easily have said it was because she had been uncontrollobly sobbing due to the fact that Daisuke was using his power. But she couldn't let Spira know that there was a new threat, she didn't want them to panic, they had only just been rid of danger.
"Yunie.." Rikku asked quietly.
Yuna didn't say anything, and Tidus had taken to staring at the floor. Yuna felt angry, why should they be ashamed? Nothing had happened! Suddenly she jumped to her feet, causing Rikku and Tidus to jump. Yuna stormed out of the Inn and outside into the fresh air, where she took a deep breath. She felt overwhelmed by what had happened. It seemed every time Yuna found happiness Spira turned it all upside down for her. She squatted down on the floor on the edge of the cliff where she had once been recording her will, and gazed at the sparkling sea before her. She had risked so much for the people of Spira..her own life and then the love of her life, and..this was how they repayed her? By making up horrible stories as though she were some common little girl who had one night stands?
She heard the Inn doors open behind her and knew that Rikku, Paine and Tidus were watching her. She knew that Rikku and Paine would demand an explanation, and Yuna knew she could explain now that the prying eyes were off her. She heard them walk up behind her but she didn't stand up or look round.
"Yuna" Paine said.
Yuna didn't say anything, instead she focussed her blue and green eyes on Paine questioningly. She was too angry to speak.
"Tell us what happened, Yunie."
Yuna frowned. "You should know I wouldn't do something like that, Rikku. Especially there of all places"
Rikku shook her head furiously. "No, Yunie, I just asked what happened."
Yuna sighed and stood up, her bi-coloured eyes this time staring out across the horizon. She couldn't even look at Tidus now without feeling guilty. Was it her fault? Why did she have to cry so loudly?
"All right." Yuna said. "I couldn't sleep, I had too many bad dreams. Then...then I started having visions of things...my pilgrimage, Tidus, memories that weren't even my own. I couldn't control what I was doing...I was crying so loudly, I couldn't stop. Tidus came in to see if I was alright...and somehow, he helped me calm down and the visions vanished. I didn't want to be alone, so I asked him to stay until I fell asleep. He said yes...but he fell asleep in the chair and when I woke up the next morning, he was still there in the chair. Then he left to use the bathroom...and I came downstairs. Then...this is how Spira repays me for everything I've done? I've risked...so much. My Fathers life...my own life...Tidus's life...my own happiness...why...why do they still turn me into some celebrity who they can gossip about? I saved them...I saved them all...and...this is how they thank me"
No one spoke for a while, and Yuna felt herself breaking inside. How could anything be harder than what she had suffered in the two years Tidus vanished? No one understood...all they could do was gossip and make fun of her.
Yuna couldnt help but wonder if she had made things more difficult for Tidus and herself. If they were too close...Spira would just tear them apart with their rumours and gossip. Maybe if she kept her distance from him for a while...just until the journey was over, they'd leave it alone? Then they could return to the Airship and live normally? Yuna made a silent agreement to herself. Although it pained her, she couldn't see any other way out, she was tired of being famous.
"You should ignore them, Yunie. They're jelous" Rikku said reasurringly.
"You're right." Yuna replied.
"Shall we go then" Paine asked, her arms folded. "We want to reach the Moonflow before nightfall don't we"
The group set off down the paths that led to the Moonflow. A man asked them if they would like a ride up the road to the junction, and they agreed. Yuna quickly got on a car with Paine, leaving Tidus to go with Rikku. Tidus looked a little hurt and Yuna quickly looked at the scenery around her as they sped of to take her mind off him.
When they reached the junction, they thanked the man and set off down the right hand side pathway to the Moonflow. Rikku wailed that she wanted to visit Gippal in the Temple, but Paine reminded her he was still in Luca. Rikku blushed and hid her dissapointment.
When the group reached the Moonflow, they took to the long walk down the paths. Tidus attempted to hold Yuna's hand but Yuna sped up on purpose and took to walking next to Paine.
"Hey...uh...what's with Yuna" Tidus muttered to Rikku.
"Whaddaya mean" Rikku asked as they walked.
"She's acting funny...she won't come near me." Tidus said, feeling more and more hurt by the minute.
Rikku frowned. "Maybe it's cause of what happened earlier"
Tidus shrugged. "It wasn't my fault..."
Rikku's face suddenly broke into a grin. "But Yunie'll change her attitude when she see's the Moonflow at night! I've seen it before...it's so pretty"
Tidus grinned. "You really think so"
"Trust me, Tidus. Yunie'll be back to normal in no time"
Tidus nodded and they followed Yuna and Paine up the Moonflow. It took longer than they expected, partly because Tobli stopped them when they were half way there and chattered about how he was going to visit Kilika again, and then a gang of bandits were harrasing the locals and Yuna and friends had to deal with them. When they finally reached the top of the Moonflow, night was falling, and the Moonflow was already starting to glow in the moonlight.
The group of friends stopped and looked out across the Moonflow. The moonlillies floated along the water as usual, and the pyreflies danced and sang, but in the moonlight they looked like a sea of dancing stars in the sky. The moon reflected into the water and lit up the water so that it sparkled and shone before their eyes.
Yuna couldn't help but let her guard down at the sight of the Moonflow at night, and allowed Tidus to slip his hand into hers. Rikku grinned at Tidus and winked.
"It's so beautiful..." Yuna gasped in awe.
"Just like you."
Yuna blushed and tried to keep her guard so that she wouldn't fail at her plan, but she found his baby blue eyes and sweet smile too much. She hugged him tightly and felt very guilty.
"I'm sorry...I'm really sorry." She whispered.
"It's alright, it's ok."
When Yuna broke apart from him, she looked around to see that all the locals were watching her. Then a small crowd gathered round her, and she found herself bombarded with questions about the News report, Tidus, and a few offensive questions were added by some rougher looking people.
Yuna had had enough. She had to make her plan work, she couldn't keep giving in. She forced her way through the crowd and stormed away towards the Shoopuf.
Tidus was then trapped in a circle of locals and Paine dragged him out, shouting "Get away"
Rikku, Paine and Tidus followed Yuna quickly to the Shoopuf...but it was too late. The Shoopuf was already walking across the Moonflow and the hypello insisted they wait for its return.
