Chapter 22: What to Think and What to Say

"I understand what you are saying…but I need more time."

"We are tired. We long to rest."

"I know…I know…but it is only two years…do this for me and I will set you free."

A sigh from the child eerily swept through the atmosphere.

"All right…two years…when the full moon sets on this very night. That is all I give you."

"I will not let you down."

These memories swirled through the mind of a 'certain' man who had just left a 'certain' celebration in the city.

"I will not fail." He whispered, as if he was saying it to some invisible person by his side.

He had by now walked away from the celebration and onto the grassy plane, which led into the forest up ahead. He knew that everything was going according to plan. He knew that he would not fail. But he was still slightly concerned with the fact that the master was slowly beginning to see things from his past. Things that could ruin everything. And as much as this girl was helping him complete his evil masquerade, she was also a threat.

He had brought her here a few nights ago. He had known since leaving Spira two years ago that she would come of some use to him. Her part in this whole situation was the most important part by far, so that was why he had Seraph plant the device on her body. This would enable sir Auron to keep a track of her every move…to make sure that if she ever dared do something foolish, then he would be able to control her. It would also keep her body working on overdrive every second of every day, enabling her to run forever without having to catch her breath…being able to see anything she wished through the darkest night…her strength had increased to a new level of ability…anything that was out of the ordinary, she had it.

Seraph had been the first person to be subjected to this experiment and it proved to work very well indeed.

Auron had come a very long way in the last two years. He had had his fair share of threats and fears. One of those threats being a man named Docile. He was a very close friend of Tidus's when he had come to Zanarkand. However things that the rest of Zanarkand didn't see, started to unveil themselves right in front of his eyes. Things that scared him.

After talking to Tidus about these strange occurrences, Tidus had told him to speak with his mentor Auron. Thinking that this was a good idea since Auron was a professional in this area, he decided to go see him. However when Auron was nowhere to be found, he thought of the one place that had been the main topic of conversation for a few months.

He had approached Mt. Demise a short while later…only to find the most bizarre sight that he had ever landed his eyes upon. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened. He watched on for a while, not being able to believe what he was both seeing and hearing.

However after hearing the most crucial part of the whole conversation, he let out a shriek of shock, which had been loud enough for Auron to hear and that was what had initiated Docile to run like hell.

He had run all the way back to Tidus at the temple, spluttering out half sentences and shaking all over. He tried to explain what he had seen and tried to make as much sense of it all as possible.

However not to long after Docile had arrived at the temple, Auron had appeared behind him cool and calm.

After that everything just got chaotic and Auron suggested that they sentence Docile to Mt. Demise. Tidus however could not go through with this and suggested that they give him a chance at a new life…so Auron suggested a memory wipe…afraid that his dark secret would slip out through Docile's lips.

Soon after that Auron had gotten Seraph into this mess as well. Subjecting him to do his dirty work for him.

That was almost a year and a half ago…and everything had gone smoothly…until now.

Auron glanced up at the sight in front of him and stopped in his tracks. He could not believe what he was seeing…it couldn't be…could it?

The girl who was facing his way suddenly opened her eyes as if expecting Auron's sudden arrival. She pulled away from the man she was kissing and grabbed onto his hand and began to run towards the forest.

Auron however was in total shock. Was this really happening? Did he just see the master with that girl? No it couldn't be the master…he didn't remember her…and he wouldn't willingly go against everything that Auron had taught him in the last two years.

He was watching them run off into the forest and thought to himself after a time…maybe this could work.

Yuna's POV:

I had pulled away and seen him standing there a few metres away. I had grabbed the love of my life's hand and without thinking began to run in the opposite direction, not knowing if he was following us or not.

I could hear Tidus breathing heavily behind me as we ran as fast as I had ever run in my life. However strangely enough I did not feel the exhaustion whatsoever.

I guess I didn't realise just how fast I had been running…because the next I knew I was standing in a part of the forest that I don't remember ever seeing before. I looked around and saw a spring only a few feet away.

I turned around slowly to face him and saw that he was leaning up against a tree gasping for air, causing me to feel like I had inflicted this on him.

Which I had.

I walked over to him and raised my right hand to lift up his chin…just so I could gaze into those eyes. Slowly he left the tree he held onto for support. His breathing seemed to return to normal, as he moved in closer and sent welcome shivers up my spine. For a moment we just stared into each other's eyes, seeing feelings that had been hidden away for so long.

Right then I seemed to forget the situation we were in…and I think he did to. Even if it was only for a moment.

He began to lean in and just as his lips were millimetres away from my own, the feelings that had occupied our bodies for only a short amount of time disappeared and left us both standing there, as our minds and attire returned to their normal status.

I was so confused…I felt like someone else's thoughts had been thinking for me…and yet I still knew what was happening.

Something inside told me that somehow…everything was going to be okay. It was then that I stared over at him and wondered what he was feeling…and thinking.

Tidus's POV:

Everything started to come back to me. I had no idea what had occurred since…since leaving the city. I couldn't remember anything. Hang on…I think I remember seeing…no it's gone…I can't remember anything…I don't know what's going on. What's happening to me?

Then I saw the girl in front of me. She gave me a questioning look, crossed with what looked like a mixture of fear and worry.

I frowned…was it she who had done this to me?

"What's going on?" I whispered, as I watched her shuffle in her position uncomfortably.

She glanced at me with innocent eyes and whispered back, "I don't know…I really don't know."

The purity of her voice seemed to calm me down a bit and I came to the realisation that she wasn't a threat…or at least I didn't think she was.

"Do you remember?" was her next question.

I furrowed my eyebrows and folded my arms.

"Remember what?" I asked, as I watched her look away sadly.

"Oh it's just that…" she began and then suddenly her whole attitude changed, as she turned to face me angrily and arms resting at her sides…her hands curled up into tight fists. "Who is Lenne?" she yelled, causing me to drop my arms at my sides and step back a bit.

"Huh? Lenne…who's Lenne?" I asked completely confused.

Suddenly she turned away to face the other end of the forest, "Was she someone you loved?"

Damn this was confusing…what was she on about?

I raised my left hand and scratched the back of my head in frustration and began to make my way towards her, stopping just inches away from her back.

"I don't know who you are talking about…I don't know anyone called Lenne…let alone love them." I explained, as I impulsively rested my hands upon her bare shoulders, causing her to move slightly, as if my touch was something she longed for.

"Do you want to take me back now?" she asked, sounding like she was choking on tears.

I stared at her back and said quietly, "Take you where?"

It was then that she spun around to face me and whispered, "It's me…the girl you're searching for…it's me."

She bowed her head as if she had somehow given up…as if she had been defeated.

Hang on…it was her…it was the girl from the Zanatorium…

I then glanced down at her hip, seeing something glimmer in the moonlight.

That mask…it was the girl in the sphere's mask…she was the girl…she was Yuna. What no…the blonde girl called her Yunie…was it a pet name for Yuna? Oh man…my head is spinning…none of it makes any sense.

I felt myself move away from her.

"Who are you?" I screamed, as I scrunched my eyes shut and held my head in my hands intensely.

When no reply came for her I opened my eyes and saw that she was fiddling with the guns in her holsters shakily.

"What are you doing?" I asked becoming concerned.

"I can't bare the pain any longer." She said sounding like a nervous wreck, as she threw me one of the guns that she had managed to pull free from her hip holster.

I caught it expertly and stared down at it, then back up at her with shock. Did she want me to…

She stared back at me with sorrowful eyes and stated loudly, "Try to make it quick."

She then stood in a tall stance and waited for me to pull the trigger on her.

She couldn't be serious…well I guess we'll have to find out…I mean if she was who she said she was…then she had to die anyway…right?
I was quiet for a moment and then said casually, "Well if you insist."

I bet that was the last thing she expected me to say.

Yuna's POV:

That was the last thing that I had expected him to say. But hey…he was no longer the Tidus I knew…so what else should I have expected?

I shut my eyes and said confidently, 'Well get on with it."

There was pure silence apart from the wind flowing through the trees and the faint sound of music from the city. Then I heard a few noises from him fiddling with the gun and then I heard a shot fired.

I kept my eyes shut and then decided to see why I wasn't feeling any pain. So once I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was him standing there with the gun pointing towards the night sky above.

I felt my chest rise and fall quickly, with each panicky breath and then finally I blurted out shakily, "What, can't you aim now?"

"I thought you would have been happy…now everyone thinks you're dead." He replied arrogantly.

"What good will that do? They'll still come here anyway just in case I shot you." I said beginning to feel dizzy.

He seemed to think over my words and then laughed, "You're right. Stupid me. I better fire at you this time then." He said seriously, as he aimed the gun at me.

Suddenly I blacked out before he could do a thing.

I fluttered my eyes open and found that I was staring into the night sky above. I was peaceful for a while but then I was disturbed by water pouring down the sides of my face and through my hair.

Where am I? What happened?

I then looked over to the source of the running water. It was…

"You!" I screamed, as I tried to sit up unsuccessfully.

"Hey calm down." He hushed.

I sat up finally to meet eye level with him.

"Calm down? You tried to kill me." I screamed.

I stood up unsteadily and backed away.

He too stood up and yelled, "Well you insisted." raising his arms up in the air.

I could see his face much easier now. The moon was shining brightly above us and I was sure he could see me too.

"That doesn't mean anything." I argued back lamely, not being able to come up with anything better.

I turned around and folded my arms fuming.

A rather awkward silence followed.

"I wasn't really going to shoot at you." He said reassuringly.

"Uh hah." I sarcastically agreed, as if to say 'as if I believe you.'

"Well if I wanted you dead now, would I have brought you here to get you hydrated again after you fainted?" he questioned smartly.

I could just picture him folding his arms with a raised eyebrow.

I was about to make a rude remark but paused when I realised that he had a point.

"Well…I guess not." I sighed, as I kicked a few pebbles into the spring's edge, pretending that the conversation was over.

Weird…one minute we're kissing, the next he's about to kill me, then we're fighting. Why didn't he kill me anyway? He didn't remember me…I was supposed to die. Now we were standing here like none of the feelings we had shared a while ago in the grassy plain and for a moment in the forest had ever happened.

I then began to slip into the cool spring and wade out into the centre of it.

"What are you doing now?" he asked, as the water swirled around my waist.

I spun around slowly and smiled playfully, "I'm just cooling off. You can watch if you like. But I'm going to be in here for quite a while."

"Now why would I watch?" he asked, as he folded his arms, trying to hide the smile that I knew he was desperate to show.

"Because…I doubt a man of your stature would ever be able to have any fun. So you obviously won't be coming in here." I replied cheekily.

"How do you know what I will and will not do?" he questioned in an annoyed tone.

"I don't…but why don't you prove me wrong?" I dared silently, hoping that he would accept.

I don't know what came over me. One minute we're enemies…the next we're almost playing.

"I might just take you up on that." He said removing his cloak and dumping it on the bank with his blade next to my boots and guns that he had obviously removed while I was unconscious.

He then pulled off his tall black boots and plonked them next to everything else.

He then did something quite unexpected…he lifted his shirt up over his head and shook his hair to its usual windswept look and threw the shirt to one side.

Then stepping into the waters edge, he began to wade towards me and as he got closer I asked, "May I ask why it was necessary for you to remove your shirt?"

He smiled with a hint of embarrassment.

"Well I figured it would be smart to wet as little as possible," he answered; sinking lower into the water, so that he was eye level with me.

I smiled and looked away.

He then proceeded to swim closer to me and I for some reason dived and swam away to the centre of the lake.

Oh why did you do that Yuna? He was coming for you.

I suddenly broke the water's surface and my hair dripped with the refreshing water.

I glanced around and noticed that Tidus was absolutely nowhere to be seen.

Oh great…now he's pretending to drown on me.

However after several minutes of waiting, I became anxious and dived back under the water. I was so scared for him, and I kept swimming and searching the water with my hands.

Suddenly I felt something grab onto my waist. I was being pulled up towards the surface.

When I rose up I spluttered, "Back off you…" but then I realised that it was him and he started to finish my sentence off for me with words such as, "Gorgeous beast, you irresistible being, you positively adorable…" but I cut him off, annoyed that he had fooled me into believing that he was in trouble and spat back at him, "How about you bigheaded jerk?"

It brought back painful memories.

I turned away and closed my eyes deep in thought.

It was then that I felt the water hit up against my body as he swam out in front of me, just as I let the tears escape my eyes.

Tidus's POV:

My emotions for the second time that night reacted somewhat naturally and I instinctively let my hands rest upon her trembling shoulders. I gazed down at her as I listened to her soft sobs and then out of the blue I whispered comfortingly, "Yuna."

Her bowed head lifted up slowly to stare at me with an expression of want through the tears of sadness.

She kept crying and every time she shook, trying to hold back the tears, it made me feel even worse. But as I gazed into her eyes I knew that there was some connection…even though I didn't know exactly where it came from. So without a second thought I leaned in and pressed my lips up against hers. Almost immediately her shoulders stopped shaking and she let herself indulge in the moment. I held onto her arms protectively, as I felt her hands rest on my chest. I felt myself not wanting to ever leave this place with this girl in my arms.

It was just so right.

There we stayed for a few moments of serene silence and as the kiss got more intense, I wrapped my arms around her neck and began to fumble my way under her hair, when suddenly…

"Don't you ever touch me there again." she screamed, as she pulled away and picked me up by the neck with one hand, throwing me backwards into the water.

I sunk below the surface and rose again spluttering, "Wha-What did I do?"

"If you ever touch me there again…" she trailed off threateningly, glaring at me severely.

"You'll what?" I dared, with a look of questioning on my face.

"Don't make me do something I'll regret." She hissed under her breath.

"You are forgetting who I am." I stated wading closer, suddenly coming back to the reality of the situation.

She shook her head as if what I had just said was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.

"Don't think I won't have you dealt with because you're a young woman." I threatened.

"Well aren't you a gentleman?" she stated questioningly.

"You know, you are really getting on my nerves." I said getting closer.

"If you take one step closer you'll be sorry." She assured me.

I stopped where I was and folded my arms and stated, "Oh really?"

"Please just go now." She said turning around and it was then that I noticed something glimmer underneath her hair.

I frowned and quietly waded closer so that I was right behind her.

"You're too close." She whispered.

"I won't hurt you…I just want to check something…trust me." I reassured, hoping that I sounded convincing enough.

A slight nod from her head signalled that I was given permission to go ahead.

So ever so carefully I parted her honey-brown hair at her neck and after a few seconds I saw something that I knew shouldn't be there.

The question of, Was she using this device for whatever she was planning? Was she in fact a threat? Swam through my mind…but somehow I didn't think that was it.

I was about to say something when I heard a voice from the left of me up near the bank.

"Master…get away from her…it's too dangerous."

A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry that I haven't updated in ages. I have been so busy and tired lately. But I promise you that I will update as soon as I can…as always. Damn I hope this chapter is good enough. I don't want to disappoint any of you.

I love you all for reviewing me and supporting my story. This story has a little more to go yet. So hang in there.

P.S. For those of you who are more then slightly confused, well I will try to briefly fill you in on what's happening so far.

Basically Tidus and Yuna are being possessed by Shuyin and Lenne and their feelings for each other are flowing through Tidus and Yuna. This makes things confusing because Tidus is having multiple personalities taking over his mind. The man that he has been for the past two years is slowly coming to an end as his old self struggles to break through, after coming into contact with Yuna once again. Then we have Shuyin not really making the process any easier.

Then we have Yuna. She is having the same problem. Her mind and body is being controlled by the evil Auron, while she struggles to come to terms with this girl by the name of Lenne, whom Yuna thinks Tidus was once in love with. But Yuna is stronger and is able to see what is going on around her through all of this and therefore seeing Tidus being possessed by Shuyin…however she doesn't know that it is Shuyin, but instead thinks that Tidus is just being the person he was before coming to Spira. Hopefully I cleared a few things up. But don't worry it will make much more sense in the end.

Yunie Tidus