A/N: this wasn't proofread, just a caution to readers. I had no time.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

:.Chapter Twelve.: Twilight

He slipped his hand through the cooling sand, moist from the offshore wind that had now settled into a distant breeze. Absently, he wondered what it would be like to sift through her silken strands of hair, assuring himself, it would feel even better than the moist sand at his fingertips but frowned at the reminder of past trysts on this very shore. He had made a lot of mistakes in the past, but it turned out, that the one thing he was sure of was lost to him. It didn't matter anymore. 'It doesn't matter anymore' he corrected himself. He looked beside him, and noticed the slightly perturbed, distant look on Rinoa's face. Of course, she was sensitive and just ignoring her the whole time to have an inner battle with himself –which he seemed to be losing at the moment- wasn't very polite. It was just that, with the things he had done in the past, and their relationship together in the past, he figured it couldn't be good to rekindle anything that involved flings from their highschool days.

"I thought, you would be happy…"

He looked back at her now, confused and intrigued by an assumption he wasn't aware of yet.

"I mean," she clarified, "I thought, that maybe with everything changing, it was good to look back at something that didn't. Just for a little while, until…we were both sure that it was okay. I missed you, but I didn't know what to expect, so I just tried to forget. But obviously…"

"It didn't work" Tidus finished, his voice a monotone waver. He was all too familiar with the feeling.

"I-I just thought that maybe there could still be an 'us' afterall. The thing is I'm not completely sure. A part of me, still wants that, but Squall…I've already betrayed myself, it's not fair that I should think about what he wants anymore. This isn't even about him. I think…I'm sure now. I know what I want."

Tidus paused testing what he had heard, so he could twist it to something that could actually make sense. No, this was a mistake. Not only would he be hurting his best friend- even though she had hinted about breaking up with Squall- but, it just couldn't happen.

'You can't let this happen again to you. You don't love her anymore, how does this even make sense?' his thoughts argued.

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"I don't know why I'm even doing this" Cloud complained to himself, breathing the sentence through a sigh. He left a note on the fridge:

Had to leave. Something came up. Don't do anything stupid, like finish all the hot water.

Okay, he wasn't the most sensitive guy, but the look on Squall's face when she didn't pick up made him feel guilty. Guilty because he couldn't do anything to help. He watched over the years as Squall and Rinoa fell hopelessly in love with each other, and then, just like that it was over. Maybe it was nothing, just a lapse in the relationship, but the type of brotherly bond he had with Squall wanted to inquire and make it better. Besides, this thing with him living at his house, and all the same lying to Yuna about it wouldn't work out. He was caught between two best friends both of which had been with him from the start. Now everything was confusing. The constant lies he had to feed Yuna about Squall's whereabouts, and the fabricated promise he had made to Squall, promising he wouldn't talk to his sister, made him sick. At least he could fix one problem at a time. It was his melting resolve for a best friend that led him to take matters into his own hands, at four o'clock in the morning. Apparently, he wasn't meant to have any sleep today.

He was also definitely worried about Yuna. He didn't even like her to be alone at this age, he hated the looks guys gave her, and he was surely not going to live up to the promise of not speaking to her. He didn't like leaving her like this, unguarded, vulnerable. She was a strong girl, no doubt about that, but he still couldn't bend his mind over the fact that she was his little sister, that she had actually grown up from the little toddler he would play with.

Either way, he was sure this little visit to Rinoa's would fix everything. Squall practically lived there during the day, electing best buddy Cloud as the official chauffeur. A watery smile tugged at the corners of his lips at the thought of working a miracle.

He almost didn't see her lithe figure of darkness, against the dunes of sand. He was positive that she and Squall were meant to be together. His confidence swelled to rolling waves of absolute certainty, as he got out of the car, strolling in the sand with a little kick to his step.

He had a feeling that somehow, everything was connected.

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'Everything is connected, I'm sure of it. I'll keep walking these roads, until I find out where they cross. Hopefully, my answers will be there', Yuna assured herself. It was her deteriorating courage that kept her from lifting herself off the comfortable bed, into the darkness of a mansion she was not yet used to, so that she could find Shuyin's reclusive and somewhat mysterious best friend. The one that had just unknowingly violated the little voice in her head that said, "Eventually, everything will be all right".

"Okay, this is stupid. He wouldn't even harm me, and if the case arises, I know how to defend myself ", Yuna reassured herself. She needed to nurture the timid curiosity into a bold urge to snoop.

Checking for a final time that her locket and chain was tucked between the folds of material in her robe pocket, she turned the knob. She couldn't wear it, knowing someone looked inside it, peeking at her secrets and taunting her weakness. Tidus was right, this was a weakness: not being able to forget, not letting go.

Her breath caught at a swift movement behind her, and a hand reached forward to clasp her outstretched arm, gently repositioning her so that she wouldn't open the door, then turned the lock. A scream wouldn't find its way through her lips. But her body responded automatically, kicking the intruder's knee back, pushing them backwards in the process, but the muscular arm that came around her waist steadied her as she swayed from the loose attack, the large hand clasped on her mouth froze any sound that was attempting to escape. She felt the mystery attacker's heart was pounding just as fast as hers was against the hardness of his back. It occurred to her, this person was very efficient and fluent with his movements, like it was done many times before, but also had a gentle quality so as not to physically harm her.

"Just warning you, so that you are not tempted to make a noise. He'll be back soon, and I need you safe."

The voice wasn't as nearly as steady as she had imagined it would be, but the smooth alto tone was familiar, and gentle. She vaguely felt the ticklish sensation at the side of her cheek disappear as he readjusted himself, removing the arm and hand from her body. Something in his voice told her to obey, but she still questioned it.

Turning around slowly she scowled at the fuzzy gray form in the darkness, finally realizing who it was, not giving a moment's breath to pass between them before she gave her knuckles sweet contact with his jaw.

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He wished he could've stopped her, said something, anything when she rested her head on his shoulder, leaning her body into his side. Her small, lithe fingers felt lost in his hands. He saw how they didn't fit together, how they were awkward in each other's grasp, that the feeling of her own warmth did nothing to keep the cold from invading him. They didn't fit together, like the wrong pieces to a puzzle. Yet, his heart still stirred, it was a different feeling like something uncovered from years ago. He was scared. He was horrified years ago, when the thought of loving her, adoring her was beyond what was possible. He remembered praying he wouldn't fall in love with her. That wasn't what he wanted. He longed for another face without a name, someone he would forget then leave behind…you never got hurt that way. It was safer to pretend, act like everything was fine than to say that it wasn't.

Tidus felt her fingers enclose on his thumb, her index finger writing imaginary messages on his palm, probably wishing for love, hoping that what she felt was right and true. And just like that, she pushed him over on the sand, holding him down with a firm palm on his chest, damp sand in the other.

"H-Hey?"

Her giggles were like smoothing waves. She looked at him apologetically, responding in reasoning tone, some seriousness wadded with it, "You never answered me."

"If I recall correctly, you never asked me a question" he laughed carelessly, suddenly enjoying her act of spontaneity, nervously eyeing the sand.

Rinoa's face suddenly grew serious, but a soft smile was still there to disguise the hurt. He was deliberately tiptoeing around the very subject of them being together. If he was trying not to hurt her, he was doing a terrible job of it.

She threw down the sand, turning towards the dark swells of the water and made herself smaller, tucking her knees against her chest, embracing herself with pale arms.

"Tidus spare me the poor excuses. Tell it to me straight, you love her don't you?"

He swallowed tightly, "What?"

She smiled wistfully, finally facing him. "Yuna" she stated as if it were the stupidest thing he could ask.

He frowned, making it seem so perfectly clear that she was wrong, but she interrupted him, making him lose his poise on the situation.

"Don't kid yourself. I think I can tell, I mean, this is just a repeat of what happened in twelfth grade. This time, I think you're less naïve."

She stood up, "I can't believe I made the same mistake twice. Shame on me. I don't know what made me come back though, maybe just misguided feelings…on your part. You never did know what you wanted, did you?"

Her tone was soft, but he knew these words were meant to wound him. He let them breeze past him. Wasn't this just the plain and simple truth hitting him with force? He had no reason to convince her against what she was saying, but he wanted to.

Getting up, he attempted to make her look him in the eye Maybe she shouldn't, lest his façade break away before he could keep control.

"I know you never cared for me—"

"You're speaking out of hurt Rinoa. I still feel the same as I did before."

He saw the welled up tears, giving her dark eyes a watery beauty.

"Don't lie to me again, Tidus. You never did care for me, and you don't now either."

That wasn't completely true. He did love her before, and as much as it pained him to admit it again, he was falling for her again. Maybe it wasn't quite love, it was adoration or mutual fondness. He knew it wasn't the same, but it would have to do for both of them. He covered the distance between them, searching for the courage to—

"Must I prove that I do?"

There was no time for further answer, because her breath was stolen in tender assault. He felt her lips ease into a smile against him.

'This is what she wanted. Give her what she longs for, a love that's true, a love you know isn't.'

His arms entwined around her back, keeping her warm, but not pulling her closer.

'Please her with sweet words, hug her, kiss her. She has to know this isn't real. She wants to see Squall's dark eyes and feel his husky warmth. Let her have this.'

Just for a moment…

She wanted to be closer still, gently pleading with her actions, her body whispering, beseeching: Hold me close. Never let me go. Tidus knew this message wasn't for him. They were both lying to each other, no one had to know. His mind argued, "Let her go, let Yuna go", yet when he finally pulled away it was Rinoa's pleasant smile he had been graced with.

Just, let go…

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"I cannot believe you would stoop to something so…so childish and stu—"

The warm hand was clasped on her mouth again, but not as tightly. Clearly the small injury she had inflicted upon him hurt quite a bit. She smiled evilly, 'good he deserved that'.

"I told you to keep quiet. Don't make me contemplate on why I came here to save you" his tone was brusque, but less intimidating than she had expected. She pried his fingers off her lips, and seethed. Keeping her voice level, but in a whisper this time, she continued her rant, "Save me! What kind of joke is this? I always knew you were selfish and—"

The figure stepped into the moonlight, giving her a nice view of his handsome features, which she would never admit to anyone. The eyes she was staring into were deep and darkened because of the shadows around them. She decided for sure now, Tidus's eyes was a colour between the darkest blue sky at twilight, and the turquoise hue hidden beneath the depth of the ocean, between folds of sunlight. This man's eyes were midnight blue. Tidus's angled face curved in the right places to make him look like a sculpture of marble. His was much the same, yet the slight differences revealed themselves to her. And the very waves of golden hair that could never be harnessed into a more striking, yet alluring style, she just noticed, made this stranger look like a convincing Tidus look-alike. Yet, it was still the wretched throbbing in her heart that told her to turn away.

"Yeah, nice meeting you too…" the figure muttered, raising a tentative finger to touch his sore jaw.

'Smooth, Yuna. Amazing how you couldn't even see the difference the first time' she taunted herself.

She then quickly chastised herself for remembering every single feature of Tidus's physique. She couldn't possibly have known it was not him just by first glance. Yet…inside she knew, she did. This bothered her even more that she could know just by the set of his eyes that this wasn't Tidus.

'You're being stupid Yuna. Blue eyes are just blue eyes. Easy mistake to have made, they both look alike, anyway', she managed to convince herself.

He silently watched as her knitted eyebrows drew elegantly from their infuriating position, to one of confusion and eventual realization.

"Cute, but…not the same as Lenne", Shuyin smiled wryly, "Although…the resemblance is uncanny, rather so is the situation…"

Yuna frowned at his assessment, and felt a little less guilty for sucker-punching him. It seemed, Shuyin had the same flirtatious behavior as Tidus.

"Before you try to knock me out again, let me explain. You don't know it yet, but you're in serious danger."

Without any words exchanged, Shuyin pulled her quietly away from the door, so that they were now submerged in the darkness, away from the radiance of moonlight. He shifted his grasp on her arm suddenly, and she flinched. Without her consent, he delicately rolled back the thin material of the robe's sleeve to take in the sight of the purplish-blue bruise floating on her creamy skin. Frowning in empathy, he questioned how a tiny thing like her could obtain such a vicious injury.

"I don't suppose you've been caught in a tussle, seeing as you gave me this little welcoming gesture. Who did this?"

Yuna was taken aback by his concern. Something in the way he disguised his questions with an airy humor but certain compassion made her wonder. This had happened before…something he had seen already.

"As if you wouldn't already know!" she snapped back, making him suddenly tense.

"What? You're not accusing me of…? I wouldn't even dream of harming you—" Shuyin countered with a soft tone.

"—I can't say my intentions are the same as yours", she crossed her arms.

Shuyin reasoned with her, "Even if I did –which I didn't– why would I come back to you of all people?"

Yuna shifted uncomfortably and fidgeted with the material of the robe. What he said did make sense, but she wouldn't give him the luxury of having her trust just as yet.

"How am I supposed to know the objective of a murderer? Maybe you came here to finish me off, to get the pleasure of seeing your victim's fear before you brutally—"

"Gees, you have some trust issues", he muttered incoherently.

"Tell me, why should I trust you? Give me one good reason."

He sighed sorrowfully, and looked at the diminishing spark in her eye one last time before he whispered the words he knew she would long to hear.

"…I knew your father."

He watched intently as she ravaged her tulip pink lips with her teeth. Something changed in her eyes, but her specialty to hide her inner torment was the ability she exercised this very moment.

She smiled faintly then took his jaw in both hands, tenderly running a thumb over the bruise forming. With a slight laugh to her tone she spoke, "you know, I can get you some ice for that…"

Shuyin smiled wryly, 'Truce it is then...'

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A/N: leave me a review and tell me what you think. I noticed some people are losing interest, hopefully this chapter will finally gain your appeal again.

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> words in italics within the summary/recap are proofs from the actual story

Chapter Twelve: summary/recap

What's up with Tidus: we start exactly where we left off. Tidus is with Rinoa at the beach, musing about his thoughts on both Rinoa and Yuna. It leaves him wondering if he wants to go back being the person he was when he met Rinoa, and if being with her would result badly. Is he kidding? Of course it would. He knows this, but still, his heart is broken and he wants a quick repair. Tidus is the type of person who doesn't necessarily think of the repercussions of his actions, but surprisingly, he has the time to mull over the idea for once. For the first time, he is hesitant to give into temptation. On top of that, he doesn't want to break Rinoa's heart again, but, he also doesn't want his broken either…

What's up with Rinoa: a little heart-broken herself, Rinoa is willing to be with Tidus for this one night. Her own grief, although it is kept well hidden, is making her want things she is not even sure she wants for sure. Although she is a rather delicate in temperament, she is persistent, because she does know that Tidus feels exactly the same as she does. When he doesn't catch her hint, she is saddened, realizing that perhaps, everyone else has changed except for her. It hurts to think that even Tidus doesn't want her, even when she is willing to be his rock. She needs to feel needed. Do you guys understand that? No? Okay, good.

What's up with Cloud: It is really simple. He just wants to help out his best friend by trying to get Rinoa back. So, he leaves a note with Squall and decides to drive over to Rinoa's house all the while contemplating about his predicament with Yuna and Squall as well as his feelings about Tidus and Yuna as a couple.

What's up with Yuna: Deciding to emerge from her safety zone, Yuna wants to confront Gippal in the hopes of retrieving some information. Someone ends up stopping her, someone very familiar.What's up with Tidus and Rinoa: although people they cared for have hurt both of them, Tidus is quite hesitant about actually being with Rinoa. Yes, he does care for her and she cares for him, but something is stopping him from progressing the relationship. Rinoa however, is persistent and unwilling to be left alone again. So, throws him a curve ball, hitting him right in the face. He loves Yuna. Because he is so shocked that someone else can see through his feelings before he can even decipher them, he chokes out a bunch of lies about how he still loves her, not Yuna.

Does Tidus love Rinoa? Maybe on some level, but not something strong enough to make his heart skip a beat. He remembers that he did love her once, but when he experiences these new feelings caused by Yuna, he realizes it wasn't something real that he had with Rinoa. But he is willing to submit to her at this moment because she wants to try to convince herself that she doesn't want Squall. It is ironic, because by doing this, she later learns that she does in fact need him. Am I still confusing you?

What's up with Yuna and Shuyin: Yuna thinks that the one whispering gibberish in her ear is Tidus, which is why she verbally attacks the man standing in front of her, only to realize that it is none other than…(drumroll)…Shuyin! So, he is truly alive like Tifa says, and quite the shameless flirt as well. Yuna curses herself for not noticing the difference between Tidus and Shuyin. Anyway, Shuyin comes bearing bad news and a few inquiries of his own.

How it all wraps up: Tidus and Rinoa share an intimate moment, which we all know, could lead to misfortune. This doesn't mean that Tidus hasn't stopped thinking of Yuna, it has just confused him more. But for the moment, he enjoys the possibility.

Cloud was there, in his car to get Rinoa back for his best friend. When he comes upon her house, he sees her figure of darkness on the beach. He almost didn't see her lithe figure of darkness, against the dunes of sand…

When Cloud is the most self-assured of his plans, he sees her on the beach…but wait! Who else is on the beach with Rinoa…?

clears throat You guys were supposed to get that little clue right there. To assume that Cloud has seen both Rinoa and Tidus together, since he did see her figure. I probably put so many clues you don't know where to look anymore /blushes/ okay, I promise it will be easier from now on.

Anyway, this is bad, considering that his best friend is practically mourning over their relationship loss, and since Cloud has a feeling that Yuna might like Tidus. Once again, he is treading on that thin line…

Now, Shuyin is surprised to see the marks on Yuna's arms, but not quite surprised when he thinks in his head about who really could've done the damage. Yuna however, is more than willing to blame him for his misdeeds. She obviously doesn't trust him. That is, until he mentions that he knew her father… Now she has reason to trust him, as he gets ready to tell her his story.

This is where I leave you to think about it all for now…

On to Chapter Thirteen -->