I'm really, really sorry it's so short! I had originally typed this chapter up, but then like the idiot I am, I forgot to save it! So then I got mad, and after conking myself in the head like fifty times, I began to completely rewrite this chapter. So...I'm afraid it's not nearly as good as the first one I wrote was, and I'm really sorry, but I'm so mad at it and myself that if I was to get this up on time, it had to be short! I promise I'll try to have some longer updates coming your way! Also, I just wanted to wish everybody happy holidays and all, and apologize one more time about this chapter. My first one seriously was the sweetest thing I've ever written, and while I'm still not completely satisfied with this one, I'm not nearly as satisfied as I was! Anyway, please enjoy just the same! (By the way, I this chapter wouldn't be possible without Gackt's 'December Love Song'! It was my inspiration! Sorry...I'm just kind of obsessed with him currently!) Anyway, please enjoy and stop reading my rants! Enjoy!

Chapter 8: The Eve of Yevonistmas

Yuna had to get out. She just couldn't take it anymore. Everybody was everywhere, talking about this about Lord Ohalland, or that about Lord Ohalland, planning this and that, writing speeches for this and that. It seemed as if the fact that it was Yevonistmas Eve had been totally erased.

She was so torn between thoughts, not knowing a single thing what to think. She didn't know if she should be angry at Tidus, although honestly she was, or to be almost giddy with the knowing that Tidus had never loved Dona.

Throwing her coat on, Yuna marched out into the cold afternoon, into the glistening snow, walking aimlessly to nothing.

She walked quite a ways until she got to downtown Bevelle, which was actually closer to her house than she ever had previously realized. She took a seat on a park bench, watching as children played in the snow, and families enjoyed their Yevonistmas Eve. People were walking down the street, doing some last-minute shopping, and a group of people caroling dotted the street corner.

Yuna looked down at her gloved hands which were clasped in her lap, and then looked back up, just in time to see something that made her mouth open slightly agape.

Walking slowly, with his hands shoved absent-mindedly in his pockets, was Tidus, who's eyes were on the ground. Yuna's eyes tore themselves away from him, only to be slowly brought back.

Standing up, although she didn't really know why, Yuna watched him some more, before finally sighing and running up to him.

"Tidus!" she said, running up behind him.

Tidus' eyes grew wide as he turned around to see Yuna, and, he simply turned around.

"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Yuna cried, running up so she was alongside him.

"What do you want?" Tidus asked, giving her an annoyed look, "If it's about Dona–."

"No...I...Uh...How are you?" Yuna said instead, forcing a smile at Tidus.

Tidus didn't answer, and Yuna realized he probably didn't want to talk to her.

"Tidus...Why did you do it?" Yuna asked then, "I didn't want to bring it up, but you know, you ruined my Yevonistmas."

Tidus just scoffed at her, and just continued walking.

"I guess I thought that perhaps—." Yuna continued, only to be interrupted by Tidus.

"I didn't have a choice!" Tidus said, the sorrowfulness gone, and bitterness replacing it, "If I didn't do my services to Nooj's group, do you want to know who I'd end up like?"

"I don't care," Yuna said quickly, "You don't have to do what Nooj or your father tells you to!"

"You don't even know!" Tidus screamed at her, "Do you know how my mother died?"

"What does she have to do with this?" Yuna snapped.

"Everything!" Tidus said in a whiny, little voice, and then he just said softly, "Nooj killed her."

Yuna just stared at Tidus with a blank expression on her face before finally just saying, "I've had it with your lies!"

"What makes you think I'm lying?" Tidus demanded.

"Well you didn't expect me to believe you, did you?" Yuna just said, holding her head firm, and her emotions angry.

Tidus gave an exasperated sigh before finally saying, "Why do I even bother? I just thought that maybe if I apologized, you'd forgive me, and then...I don't know! I thought we could make things better!"

"You're just a liar, and...and a betrayer! And a killer, and..." Yuna looked around, as if trying to figure out something else to say, before finally yelling, "And I hate you!"

Tidus looked at her, and then gave a weird little laugh, before saying, "You know, I could say I hate you, too. You're the one lying, Yuna. No matter what happens, I couldn't hate you."

Tidus started walking again, leaving Yuna standing there, contemplating on his words.

Tidus turned and faced Yuna again, and said with a shrug, "Look, I really am sorry for ruining your Yevonistmas. But if it makes you feel any better, mine's basically ruined, too."

Tidus stared up again, walking away from Yuna.

"Tidus, wait," Yuna said, running up to him, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. It's just that...Why did you have to make things so complicated?"

Tidus gave a little snort, and said, "You know, I think it's you who made things complicated."

"But..." Yuna paused, trying to figure out how to put her thoughts into words, "Everything was fine, until..."

Tidus looked at Yuna, practically hanging on her every word, "Until we went to Luca," he answered.

"Exactly," Yuna said quickly, "What if...What if we just forgot about everything? What if we were friends again?"

"Friends?" Tidus said, raising his eyebrow.

"Okay, more than just friends," Yuna said, almost imploringly, "And forgot about Nooj, and my father. What if Nooj, nor my father, knew about us? We could live normal little lives. Because...I miss you."

Tidus gave a small, little smile, and said, "Sounds good to me." Then, almost shyly, he took her hand in his and said, "'Cause I miss you too."

Yuna just gave a small little smile, and realized how happy she was for the first time to become overwhelmed by an awkward silence between the two.

Unable to control herself, Yuna threw her arms around Tidus, pulling herself close to him, whispering, "Tidus, I love you."

Tidus was silent for a while, before he finally gently wrapped his arms around her, and said, "I love you too."

They stood there like that for some time, before separating, and Tidus said, "Say Yuna, how about we celebrate Yevonistmas Eve at my place."

Yuna looked thoughtful, before finally saying, "I'd love to."

"Great," Tidus said, "I was really starting to think that I'd have to spend the night all by myself!"

"Who says I'm staying the night?" Yuna said, linking her arm in Tidus'.

"I never said that—." Tidus said, but Yuna interrupted him with a giggle.

"But I can, if you'd like!"

"Lemme guess...You don't want to go home?" Tidus said, smiling, remembering all the times two months ago when Yuna hadn't wanted to go home.

"Exactly!" Yuna said, "Besides, it's been a long time since we were together!"

Tidus gave a smile, and nodded his head, before saying, "So...Are you still upset with me about the Lord Ohalland deal?"

"Tidus, you did assist in his killing," Yuna said slowly, "I don't know if I can ever forgive you, but we can just act like it didn't happen!"

"Easy for you to say," Tidus said, "I don't care if you believe me or not, but I feel terrible. Honestly I do."

"For that, Mister," Yuna said, "I forgive you. Just...Try not to do it again?"

Tidus looked skeptical, and he said, "I promise I'll stay away from your family friends, 'kay?"

"'Kay," Yuna said, as they wrapped their arms around each other's waists, walking briskly toward Tidus' side of town.