Standard Disclaimer

"Yunie, c'mon!"

It was the familiar high-tone of Rikku. Yuna stirred, slowly opening her eyes. Besides Rikku's pestering, Yuna had awoken to the low hum of the ship's engine. It was so calming. "What's going on?" Yuna asked her.

"It's nine! Paine's already up at the 'Windjammer Café'. It's a breakfast buffet, Yuna, and we're missing out!" Rikku continued to inform her.

"I'm sorry, I was just in the middle of a dream," Yuna responded politely. Rikku grabbed her arm and pulled Yuna to her feet.

"Let's get up there before Paine eats it all," Rikku joked, pulling Yuna out of the room.

"My hair?" Yuna wanted to check a mirror.

"Don't worry, ya look great!" Rikku assured her, letting her arm go as they entered the elevator. Rikku repeatedly pressed the "deck eleven" button, and the doors slid together.

"I'm starving!" Rikku whined, grabbing her stomach.

"I'm surprised, Rikku. You ate two and a half of those meals. Poor Frank and Marcy were in shock," Yuna told her with a humorous grin. Rikku giggled.

"What can I say? I pack it in!" Rikku exclaimed, continuing her infectious laugh. Yuna caught the contagious laughter, enjoying the moment. Suddenly, the automated female elevator voice spoke.

"Deck eleven," The speaker emitted into the small space. The doors spread, and the first thing Yuna and Rikku saw was a blonde woman in her bathing suit. In timing with the door, a somewhat pale fist came in to view and struck the girl in the face.

"How dare you!" The blonde woman said in shock, lifting herself up. Yuna and Rikku stared in shock, watching as Paine came into view and hit the girl again.

"Paine, what're you doing?" Yuna asked with surprise.

"Stay out of this," Paine said, noticing Yuna and Rikku.

"You won't get away with striking Leblanc!" The blonde woman shouted, stumbling as she ran away.

"Paine, what the heck happened?" Rikku asked her as she and Yuna stepped out of the elevator.

"That lady was asking for it," Paine told them, "Listen, I finished my breakfast. I need to take a walk."

"Alright, Paine, just meet us up on the pool deck around eleven, okay?" Yuna replied. Paine nodded to her, stepping past them and entering the elevator. The doors closed, and the elevator rose.

"I wonder what she's thinking, sometimes," Yuna commented. Rikku nodded, and the two entered the Windjammer.

After Yuna finished her scrambled eggs, toasted bacon, and French toast, she leaned back in her seat and sighed. "I don't think I've eaten that much in my entire life," She commented across the table.

"Oh really?" Rikku replied carelessly, her mouth nearly full. Yuna raised an eyebrow at the petite blonde girl.

"How do you manage to stay so thin?" Yuna asked with an extreme amount of curiosity. Rikku looked up, grinning and shrugging. In another ten minutes, the two had left the Windjammer Café.

"Hey Yunie, I heard they were having a belly-flopping contest around this time," Rikku conveniently informed her, as she pressed the "call elevator" button.

"Oh? Let's go see it, then," Yuna replied with a grin. It ought to be good for a few laughs. "Wait, the pool deck is one floor up," Yuna then realized, "Why are we waiting for an elevator?"

"Um, because I like it when the lady says the deck number…" Rikku said childishly.

"Oh, come on, Rikku," Yuna said with a humored smile. She turned and stormed towards the stairs.

"Okay, Yunie, I'll met ya up there!" Rikku called out to the ascending Yuna with a waving hand. Yuna laughed beneath her breath, rolling her eyes.

They finally got out onto the deck, and the sight emotionalized Yuna. The cool wind flew through her hair, and it felt so great. She walked over to the railing, grasping it and doing somewhat of an excited bounce. Rikku stood next to her hopping and giggling. There was nothing but the warmish waters of the Caribbean around the ship. Yuna looked around, and gasped. The wind was too strong for Rikku to have heard it, and she wasn't even looking in Yuna's direction. This was where I was standing in my dream! Yuna forced a smile, grabbing Rikku's forearm and pulling her towards the large crowd around the pool. They found a place with a perfect view of the competition, and they exchanged excited glances.

The first man was up, a rather heavy one. He neared the deep end of the pool, looking a bit tentative. He took a few steps back and ran, hitting the pool headfirst. The crowd had boos and a few cheers, while Yuna smiled humorously. Suddenly, a rather well built man with blonde spiky hair came up to the end. Yuna looked over at Rikku, recognizing the man as an Al-Bhed.

"Do you know him, Rikku?" Yuna asked her bedazzled companion.

"I wish!" Rikku responded quite loudly. A hush fell over the crowd, and quite a few heads turned. Rikku giggled in embarrassment, waving. Yuna's eyes widened and she buried her face in her hands. The crowd turned its attention back to the man as he dived in perfect alignment and made a sickening smack coming into contact with the water. The loudest "oo's" and "yeah's" Yuna had ever heard exploded from the crowd. She cheered as well, thought not as loudly. Rikku was ecstatic. "We need to meet him," She whispered over to Yuna, her eyes locked on the blonde.

"We?" Yuna replied.

"Yeah, Yunie, you're my posse!" Rikku told her, laughing. Yuna scoffed, but she eventually began to laugh. Yuna watched the Al-Bhed guy get out of the pool, raising his hands in victory. A woman with a microphone obnoxiously shoved people out of the way to stand next to the man.

"Now, Gippal, how did it feel to hit that water?" Cruise Director Becky asked him, shoving the microphone in his face.

"It was exactly what I needed," Gippal joked with a grin. A majority of the crowd laughed, or at least smiled.

"Well, it'll feel a lot better knowing you've won!" Becky told him, placing a heavy medallion around his neck, "Well done, chap!"

"Thanks, thank's a-" Gippal began to say before Becky pulled the microphone away.

"Until next time, everyone, this is your cruise director Becky!" She said, popping her left leg and winking. The crowd quickly dispersed, and Yuna saw Gippal meet up with his friends…Tidus! Yuna's eyes widened.

"C'mon, let's go talk to him!" Rikku exclaimed with excitement. Yuna's mouth somewhat dropped, and she shook her head, but no words came out. Rikku managed to drag her along.

"Yuna!" Tidus called out when he saw her walking towards him.

"Hey, Tidus, how are you?" She replied with rosy cheeks. She had noticed Rikku raising an eyebrow at her.

"I'm doing great!" He replied, then motioning towards his friends, "These are my pals, Gippal and Baralai."

"Nice to meet you guys. Congratulations to you, Gippal," Yuna said, noting that Gippal nodded a thank you. Rikku cleared her throat loudly, trying to remind Yuna she was there. "Oh! Oh, and this is my cousin, Rikku," Yuna told the guys, forcing a smile. Rikku pushed past Yuna innocently, shaking Gippal's hand.

"Heeey, Gippal. Heehee, that was a nice jump!" She told him, smiling warmly. He smirked back at her.

"We were about to go rock-climbing. You guys want to come?" Tidus invited them, a polite smile on his face. Yuna admired it with one of her own, and she nodded.

"Of course," She said, grinning. Suddenly, she remembered Paine was missing. Her eyes shot around, and she spotted her friend near the railing, watching them. "Oh, um, you guys go ahead. I'll meet you there," Yuna told them. Tidus nodded to her, and they all walked off. Yuna ran up to Paine. "Let's go, we're going rock-climbing!" Yuna told her, smiling. Paine shook her head.

"I'd rather not," Paine said, obviously hiding something.

"Why not? Is something wrong?"

"It's just that…nevermind. Let's go," Paine told Yuna, quickly walking back towards the entrance. Yuna smiled. She's getting there. Yuna then ran after her speedy friend.