Sorry for the long delay, I've been coping with obscene amounts of stress lately, mostly school related. I had no mental energy to write anything, but now that summer holidays have begun, hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things. This chapter is based loosely off an actual experience my friends and I had at a local concert once, so it's rather personal to me.

Thanks for the reviews and for being so patient. Enjoy!

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YUNA

Walking down the sidewalk with the girls, I cannot help but feel like I truly belong for the first time. I look like them now, with my short black skirt, high boots and revealing scarlet halter-top, when before I had simply looked like a lost pony among fine stallions. And unlike I thought I would feel, I am strangely at ease. Odd, the impact clothing can have on one's perception of self. I feel . . . nice. Strong. Beautiful, even?

Yet in spite of this newly emerging confidence, the closer we get to the amphitheatre's parking lot, I revert to my old nervous habit of fidgeting. I am rather mortified by the fact that I am so concerned about what a certain gang leader will think of my dramatic change in style, even a temporary one.

"Yunie, relax, would you? You look hot," Rikku assures me, giving me a one-armed hug around the waist. I amazed at her ability to wear only bathing suit top so comfortably. I fear that any sudden movement on her part will result in 'a free show', so to speak.

"Tidus will love it," Lulu adds, smiling slightly at my blush. I know now that it is completely useless to hide my feelings for Tidus from these girls. They are much more observant than they would lead you to believe.

"Thank you," I reply politely. "I suppose it just takes some getting used to."

"You need to sway your hips more," Rikku informs me, halting our procession down the street. "When you're wearing killer boots and a nice skirt like that, you need to own it, girl!"

I am not totally certain what that last sentence means, but nevertheless I try to follow her instructions and rock my hips a bit more than I normally do. After a few attempts (trying not to roll my eyes at how ridiculous I must look, being taught how to walk provocatively), Rikku seems satisfied and an annoyed grunt from Paine urges us onward. Several cars passing by slow down and honk at us, which causes me to blush with embarrassment and slight pleasure. Rikku winks and waves flirtatiously at the men in each vehicle and even blows little kisses. Lulu ignores them and Paine responds by casually making a very rude gesture.

Up ahead I catch sight of familiar blond hair and feel my pulse quicken. Wiping my palms on the fabric of my skirt, I straighten my posture and remember to move the way Rikku showed me. By conscious decision or not, the other girls move simultaneously to walk in front of me, as if wanting to conceal me from the boys until the very last minute.

Lulu is the first of us to speak, before the male counterparts of the gang can say a word. "Gentleman, may I present, for your viewing pleasure, the new and improved Yuna Ressan."

Then, like the folds of a curtain, the girls step aside and reveal me to the others in all my uncertain glory.

Their reactions, I must admit, only made me smile and blush harder.

"Damn, girl," Gippal hoots, still choking on a drag of nicotine that seemed to have gone wrong. "Where has this little minx been hiding?"

Wakka throws his head back and laughs, "Now that is what I call style!"

I thank them politely, but my eyes are fixed anxiously on Tidus' face. He is staring at me with what looks like complete amazement. He blinks slowly, appraising me up and down as if in disbelief, and then a gradual half smile appears.

"Wow," he says softly. "You look . . . wow."

I release an unbidden giggle and then quickly try to compose myself. I refuse to become a tittering mass of female hormones clamouring over a compliment from an attractive young man. No matter how god-like he looks with that open vest showing off those rippling abdominal muscles and that firm chest, I will not be undone. I will not. I refuse.

"If you're all done drooling over Yuna," Paine interrupts dryly. "May we proceed?"

Slightly grateful for her impatience (although a bit embarrassed by her words), I smile at her. "Yes, I would like that. But I'm a little nervous . . ."

"Don't be," Wakka assures me, draping a big arm around my shoulders. "Concerts are totally cool, ya? Besides, they got the fuzz there to keep things in control."

"The fuzz?" I blink.

Rikku pulls me away from Wakka and rolls her eyes. "It's an incredibly out of date and uncool term for 'the police'. But he's right, Yunie, I wouldn't worry if I were you. Just have fun, you hear?"

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The front entrance is like a giant floodgate, and the mass of bodies flowing through it is the unstoppable current. Everywhere there is noise and body heat and voices and colour. People are laughing, shouting, and even screaming with excitement. In the confusion, I feel Tidus surge forward behind me and grab my hand as we pass through the threshold. The darkness of the amphitheatre is a welcome change from the visual chaos, and I squeeze Tidus' hand tightly in my own. Ahead of me, through the silhouettes milling to and fro, I see stage lights flicker on and the crowd fans out among the rows of chairs. The air is charged with energy.

"Word of advice," Tidus shouts, turning around to grin at me. His eyes are fierce with anticipation and my throat tightens at the sight of him. His naked torso is very close to me and I can see his chest heaving with eager breath. "If you go into the moshpit, stay close. Don't get caught alone. Metal concerts can be pretty brutal, but if you stick with me, you'll be fine."

"Will do," I reply, trying to keep my eyes from roving his muscles. Why did he have to wear only an open vest?

"Let's go claim our seats," Lulu calls, pushing through a group of young men who are eyeing her appreciatively. "I don't plan on dancing the whole night."

"There's room to dance here?" I ask, knowing instinctively that this is a stupid question.

"Plenty," Tidus replies with a chuckle. "If you don't mind rubbing up against dozens of strangers at a time, that is."

"What's to mind? Dancing with strangers is fun, not to mention kinky a lot of the time," Rikku cuts in, winking roguishly at me. Gippal, too overwhelmed with awe at the sight of the crowded theatre, is busy gaping at all the sights around him. Rikku has to lead him by the hand to keep him from spinning around in circles.

Paine and Wakka are already heading to the centre of the arena, where there are no chairs. I am assuming that is where all the moshpit action takes place. I feel a strangely primeval desire to go with them. My fingers twitch, and I am amazed to find myself imagining what it would be like to ball them into a fist and smash them into someone else's jaw. The thought shocks and excites me. Perhaps I should take Tidus' advice and stay close to him.

When the stage lights suddenly dim, a breathless hush falls over the masses, waiting for the first sign that the show is about to begin. I am biting my lip so hard I nearly draw blood, my eyes fixed firmly on the performing stage.

Out of nowhere, a deafening guitar chord is strummed and it reverberates around the amphitheatre. Collective screams explode from the audience and my heart skips a beat. The stage is still dark, but I can now see the band member's shapes emerge.

Tidus lets out a hoarse yell and I maniacally join him, losing my senses, losing my control. I can already feel myself throbbing with the urge to dance and throw myself around. I want to flip my hair and leap in the air like the rockstars do on television. I want to scream and act like an animal.

If this is what mob mentality feels like, then I have been missing out on something great my entire life.

The music starts, and gradually, the lights brighten at a dramatically slow pace. One by one the members of Lotus Venom become visible, instruments in hand, microphones positioned at the ready. I am about to burst with exhilaration. We are standing so close to the stage that I can see the sweat gleaming on the lead singer's chest and stomach and the glint of his teeth as he flashes his fans a wicked smile.

The first song escalates and the lead singer works the music like a puppeteer works his marionettes. Tidus turns to me and I turn to him. We are both overwhelmed, and we both share the same disbelieving grin. This is really happening.

I have seen a few concerts on TV before, and for a long time I felt a sort of detached scorn for the wildly hysteric fans shrieking in the crowd. To me, it was a sign of weakness to be so overcome by one artist performing on stage. I could not see what was so impressive about live music. What was it about music that drove people so insane?

Now I can identify with them. Witnessing Lotus Venom live, my first live concert, will always be treasured as a quasi-religious experience. I know without a shred of doubt that nothing will compare to the sensations clamouring inside of me.

I start dancing without noticing it. It is not until I see Tidus staring at me with a dazed expression that I realize what I am doing. My arms are over my head and my hips have been moving in a manner I never imagined they could. I slow down and start lowering my hands, mortification creeping up on me, but Tidus moves forward and grabs me around the waist.

"Keep going," he says, softly so that only I can hear above the pounding music and raucous cheers. "You can be whatever you want tonight, Yuna. Keep dancing. Nobody's going to stop you now."

I find myself embracing him for no reason other than that he is beautiful and precious to me, and because the music pulsating in my veins demands that I share myself with someone else. I throw my arms around his neck and press my face into his flesh, thrilled by the feeling of his touch. The smell of his masculinity is intoxicating, and I can feel him become warm with sweat yet to fall. My own body is becoming heated with contained perspiration, smoldering from the close proximity of other people and the boy holding me. I am burning with fire inside as well.

Moving instinctively, my hips position themselves against Tidus' and his bare torso warms mine. His lips move against my neck, but I cannot for the life of me hear what he is saying above the shrieking crowd and the pounding of my own heart.

We move like grass in the wind, like sea foam sighing against sand. He pulls back long enough to gaze down at me for the briefest of moments before gathering me closer once again. One second of separation is more than I can bear.

Rikku and Gippal are dancing in the most indecent manner, but the looks of unadulterated bliss on their faces seem to make up for the impure moves they are making on each other. Lulu is spinning and swaying fluidly, her eyes closed in reverence. She moves like water, never still but never erratic or uncoordinated. There are many eyes on her, entranced and intrigued. Wakka and Paine are hurling themselves through the moshpit nearby, hollering and screaming like barbarians.

Tidus sighs against me, tightening his arms around my body, and the intimacy of our contact comes back to me full force. Suddenly I feel awkward and uncertain, terrified of stepping on his feet or banging my forehead against his nose. I have never been this close to him for so long, never so unabashed in my embrace.

Sensing my fumbling thoughts, Tidus pulls back slightly and stares down at me. "Don't hold back," he commands, a smile tugging at his lips. "Don't you dare ruin this for yourself."

I smile back helplessly. "You don't mind?"

He surprises me by leaning his forehead against mine. "Not in the least. Now shut up and dance."

"But you're the one who started-"

He silences me by lifting me up and settling me on his shoulder, his arm wrapped firmly around my thighs. The sudden shift in gravity stuns me, and for a moment I am blinded by lights as they turn to focus on me. I am only dimly aware of a TV camera hovering nearby. The lead singer of Lotus Venom stops singing and beams at me through his tinted sunglasses.

"What an honour!" he shouts into the microphone. "Looks like we got another celebrity with us tonight!"

My eyes widen and I hear Tidus laugh beneath me.

"Whaddya say, Lady Yuna? Care to join us on stage?" the singer asks, lowering his shades to regard me with dark enigmatic eyes. If I remember correctly, Lulu told me his name is Drekken Sohl.

Before I can respond, Tidus pushes forward through the crowd until we reach the stage, and I feel myself being hauled up into the air by security guards and Drekken himself. I blink owlishly as his warm hand nestles in the small of my back.

"Know the words to this song?" he asks me, his lips just beyond the shell of my ear. I nod slowly, remembering the hours it took for Rikku and Gippal to teach my all the lyrics to each song. Luckily I am a fast learner and have an ear for music, though I am no real singer like Lulu.

"Can my friend Lulu join us?" I request, secretly thankful that I am not camera shy after being exposed to them so many times. "She has an excellent voice and knows all your lyrics by heart."

"Sure," Drekken agrees, his smile broadening. "Anyone else you'd like to call up? Here, take the mike."

He shoves the device in my hand, and I stare at it for a moment in shock before finding my voice. "Uh," I stammer, turning to the crowds, "Lulu, Tidus, Rikku, Paine, Wakka, and Gippal . . . you are invited up here as well."

There is some confusion and a burst of activity as the audience surges forward. I run to the front of the stage and pick out my friends for the security guards to call up. The band keeps playing behind me, and Drekken watches me with a lazy grin.

Tidus gapes at me with disbelieving eyes as I help pull him up from the writhing crowd. My breath catches in my throat, and I can only smile shakily at him before moving to assist the others.

I hand Lulu the microphone and she stares down at it as though she has never seen it before. Then, slowly, she raises it to her lips, and after a universally hushed moment her voice fills the stadium in chorus with Drekken's soulful cries as she enters her element. She has never looked more beautiful than she does now. The lights are hitting her perfectly, drowning all else in darkness but the flash of metal instruments. With her eyes closed as if in prayer, Lulu looks more at home on stage than any other performer I've ever seen.

For a while I am dumbstruck by the sheer impact of what is happening to me. The roar of the audience is deafening and I am blinded by thousands of digital camera flashes. I feel Tidus' arm slip around my waist and I turn to stare at him with the same bewildered expression on my face. He laughs, breaking my spell, and I sag against him as my own laughter escapes and weakens my knees. Lulu beckons Paine forward, and very hesitantly her friend moves to stand next to her at the mike and lends her voice in harmony. The effect is haunting, and I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Rikku throws herself at Drekken and clings to him, weeping openly, and he tries to hug her with one arm while singing into the microphone with the other. Gippal and Wakka come to stand next to Tidus and me, each too overwhelmed to do much other than stare in awe at Lulu and Paine.

"Get your asses over here, will you?" Paine shouts at us, trying not to smile as she gestures to the microphone. "We'd like some more backup."

The rest of us gather around them as if in a daze, and I am only vaguely conscious of my voice accompanying the twins and Drekken. I hear Tidus' energy gather momentum next to me, and Wakka and Gippal roar into the microphone as if their lives depend on it. Rikku, tears still framing her cheeks, sings high in the background, pausing now and then to giggle and smile with embarrassment. I am amazed at how calm I am. The crowd screams back at us, and the world is full of our joined music. I have never experienced the emotion wrought from hearing my voice rise with thousands of others chorusing the same words.

The song ends with a flourish and the audience cheers wildly at us. Drekken puts his hand over the mike as gives Lulu an appraising look and says, "Wait for me after the show. I want to talk business with you, and possibly your sister. You sound incredible, I'd love to have your voice on our next album."

Lulu can only nod speechlessly, and Paine's eyebrows lift with surprise. Wakka, Gippal, and Rikku are dancing around in a three-way hug, stopping occasionally to blow dramatic kisses to the mob.

I turn to look at Tidus, who is already watching me with an expression of the utmost gratitude and . . . and something I cannot name. Something that fills him from the inside and spills over on the outside to light up his face and smile. He is standing so close that I can see myself reflected in his eyes, and I am staring face to face at my own desires.

And quite suddenly, he reaches for me and pulls me towards him. He kisses me. He is kissing me still. My vision is fading, my blood is racing, my knees are shaking, and he is kissing me like there is no other purpose in life. I stand in his embrace, frozen with astonishment and unresponsive, but he is not stopping or showing any sign of releasing me. His arms tighten around my waist and he deepens the kiss, sending shockwaves through my body.

A collective gasp rises up from the crowd and the gang and band stare at us in stupefaction. A ripple of excitement passes through the amphitheatre and abruptly everybody begins to applaud, screaming just as loudly as when we sang with Lotus Venom. The band's percussionist slams on the drums a few times in appreciation and Drekken laughs into the microphone, shaking the gang out of its trance. They cheer for us, just as the audience does, swept up in the heat of the moment.

Tidus pauses for a breath, his lips and eyes hot against mine, but in an instant my arms snake around his neck and pull him back down. I will not let him go, not that the moment I have been longing for has finally arrived.

I have never kissed anyone, as he must clearly realize by now, but that does not mean I will not show him my feelings. I feel him smile against me, and he calms down my urgent advances by gently coaxing my tongue with his, teasing it into a slow steady rhythm. He ignites fires in me all over again and I melt against him. I am euphoric. I am alive. I am his.

We pull away by a mutual need for oxygen, and he leans his forehead against mine. His cheeks are flushed, as mine doubtlessly are as well, and he closes his eyes. The two of us stand there, ignoring the countless eyes staring at us, ignoring the screams and cheers and the stage lights illuminating us. We ignore the camera moving in closer to capture our moment for the world to see.

Slowly he opens his eyes to bore into mine, and as he speaks, his lips brush tantalizingly against mine.

"You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that."

I smile and kiss him slowly. Pulling back, I whisper into his ear, "Well, it's a good thing you did when you had the chance, because now my father is going to kill me."