Tease Me, Tease Me Not- Chapter 14: Birthday Surprises
I have returned from 5 straight double shifts! And I am finally here to give you all Chapter 14. But I'd first like to give a big thank you to you all, your kind words have helped my fingers to feel a lot better. Mind you I still can't use them for anything, but it still means a lot to me!
This Chapter I decided to include a part of my poetic side. I hope you guys don't mind...
"Is everything ready?" Lulu asked.
"I think so. Streamers are up, the cake's ready, we got the 'Happy Birthday' sign up, hula decorations are done and everyone's in place," Gippal said.
"But what if Yuna comes down early? Her nap can't last for ever." Tidus asked.
"I already got that covered. I sent Rikku up to make sure Yuna doesn't come down here ahead of schedule. Ihad a talkwith her a few minutes ago and Yuna's still sleeping. Once everything's ready Rikku's gonna wake her up and send her down." Gippal said.
"We still need to set up the band equipment first. I'm still a little worried about our new song, ya?" Wakka said.
"It'll be fine Wakka. All you have to remember is that small section after thefirst chorus bit," Tidus said trying to reassure Wakka.
"If you say so," Wakka said as he finished putting his drum set into place.
"Everything looks good!" Gippal said with a shout, "Think it's time to wake up the birthday girl?"
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"Hey Yunie! Rise and shine!" Rikku said as she poked Yuna in the side. Yuna pulled the covers over her head, "Come on Yunie. It's almost four in the afternoon." Rikku then ripped the covers away from Yuna.
"Ok! Ok! I'll get up." Yuna rolled out of bed and dragged herself into the shower.
Yuna walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her, "Why did you want me up so bad anyway?"
"I have a surprise for you!"
Yuna raised an eyebrow, "What is it?"
"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise. Now get dressed and hurry up!" Yuna sighed and returned to her task of getting ready. When she was finished Rikku was waiting for her by the bed, "Ready?"
"Yeah. Now what's my surprise?" Yuna asked.
Rikku walked up to Yuna and wrapped a blindfold over her eyes, "You'll see." Rikku guided Yuna out of their room and down to the elevator. She stopped abruptly when she reached the second floor deck, "Are you ready Yunie?"
"Yeah." Rikku untied Yuna's blindfold and Yuna found herself looking down at a deck full of people.
"Surprise Yuna!" The group below her shouted in unison, "Happy Birthday!"
Yuna stood in shock, "But my birthday's not for another…" Yuna paused, trying to calculate the days, "Wait a second! Today is my birthday! How did you guys find out?"
"No need to think about that Yunie," Rikku said as she pushed Yuna down the stairs, "Just enjoy the party!" Yuna walked down the stairs awkwardly and was greeted by Paine, Wakka, Tidus, Lulu, and Gippal.
"Happy birthday Yuna!" Lulu said, " Welcome to your Hula Party." Yuna smiled, still mixed up in shock. She gazed around at the decorated deck in front of her. The railings were entangled with hula grass and there were beautiful hula flowers everywhere.
"When we found out that it was you're birthday, we decided that we needed to do something special for you. And this is only the beginning! We've got presents for you too!" Rikku shouted and bounced over to a table covered with colorfully wrapped boxes of all shapes and sizes, "Open mine first!"
Yuna walked over to the table and Rikku handed her a small box wrapped in green paper with balloons on it. She tore back the wrapping and opened the small ring-like box revealing a small, pink, heart shaped clock key chain, "This is awesome! Thank you Rikku!"
"This one's from me," Lulu said as she handed Yuna a squishy object wrapped in shiny black wrapping paper.
"Awww…Lulu! It's so cute!" Yuna squealed as she hugged her new moogle stuff animal, "I love moogles!"
Wakka shifted his weight to his other foot, "And the three of us have a present for you too, Yuna, ya?"
"But this one can't be wrapped in a box," Gippal said. Yuna tilted her head as Gippal, Tidus and Wakka ran to the stage where she notice for the first time that there was band equipment.
Wakka sat down in his stool behind his drum set, Gippal turned on his keyboard and Tidus threw his guitar strap over his head, "How's everyone doing today?" Tidus yelled into the microphone in front of him. There was a huge scream from the audience surround them on the deck.
"I'd first like everyone to wish Yuna a huge birthday wish! I wanna hear you guys scream it!" The was an enormous uproar from the crowd, "I can't hear you!" There was an even loader burst of noise, "That's more like it! This song is our present to you Yuna! Our newest song: Beautiful Girl. One, two, three!"
Tidus started off playing the guitar flawlessly then Wakka started in with his drums.
Beautiful girl is in pain,
Even when she dances alone in the rain
Soon enough she'll come to find
That she's got me going out of my mind
----
There was a time when I wanted to kill her
Now all I want is to kiss her
----
Make her love me
Every day, Every night
I'll find a way to do it
But it's gonna take some time
Yuna stared up in amazement at Tidus. He was really good. Rikku bounced over to Yuna and shouted in her ear over the music, "Tidus writes all these songs himself. You know this one is about you, right?"
Yuna stopped and looked up at Tidus again, who was bobbing his head to Wakka's drum solo. It was then that she was actually started to listen to the lyrics. Tidus looked down at her and smiled.
I'll ask her the question that's always on my mind:
If I were to gather you a bouquet of stars
Would you prefer them over roses?
Take me away inside your eyes
I'd swim in them forever if I could.
Your always on my mind
No matter how hard I try to forget
I said it once and I'll say it again,
------
Make her love me
Every day, Every night
I'll find a way to do it
But it's gonna take some time...
It finally hit her, this song really was about her. She stared off into Tidus' eyes as he sung his heart out until he finished. The second the music stopped everyone on the deck went nuts with cheers. Yuna was still stunned, "Thank you! That was our newest song "Beautiful Girl". Next up we have one of older songs which isn't as happy but we still love singing it: 'Distorted Image.'"
Tidus' guitar started to play a really sad melody.
Everyday I take the time
To realize what's mine.
Every day I sit and wait
What's coming next?I look at my face
Mirrors showing me the distorted image
of a person I once knew
I once loved him, not long ago
Now I don't know what to do
I'm lonesome, I wish I could see
The distorted image smiling back
but I shatter the glass
sometimes I don't know how to act
I cry
my tears they fall
endlessly, please help me
I'm falling with them...watch me fall
someone please catch me
keep me safe
I break the reflection
please...keep me safe
Renew me,
I beg you
Don't let me down...don't let me fall down
Don't let me fall...down...
Yuna looked up at Tidus as he hit the last note of his guitar. (He looks so sad…).
"And for the final song of the night we have the first song that we ever created as a band: 'Away With You'"
Didn't want you to go
But now i'm happy you're gone
(gone away from me)
I sat alone
I cried your name
Nothing in this world will ever be the same
(be the same to me)
Losing touch with reality
Slipping away from gravity
Grasping all the memories
Then throwing them away
I saw the searchlight in your eyes
I try to desperately hear your cries
But everything is softly fading away
Because I'm
Losing touch with reality
Slipping away from gravity
Holding onto all of the memories
then throwing them away
I want to possess you
I want to see through you
I wanted to kill you
But now I distill you
I'm rising without you
I need to fulfill you
I can't live without you
But I'm alone
By myself
Losing touch with reality (with myself)
Slipping away from gravity (away from you)
Holding onto all of the memories
Then throwing them all away
AWAY WITH YOU
Tidus stopped as the crowd went insane. They all but tackled him on the stage. He, Gippal, and Wakka had to slip out the back way in order to avoid the massive rush of people coming at them. Yuna giggled and was dragged off by Rikku and Lulu. The three of them knew exactly where the guys were hiding.
They made their way up to the arcade on the elevator and, sure enough, the guys were in there, "Hey! You guys found us," Tidus said still out of breath.
"You guys were awesome!" Yuna said with a smile.
"Really!" Tidus said as he perked up with a smile, "You liked us?"
"Uh-huh." Yuna all of a sudden broke out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Gippal asked.
"I just noticed Tidus' shirt," Yuna said as she continued to laugh. Rikku looked over at his shirt and started to giggle hysterically. Tidus' shirt had an image of a pirate ship on it and written in blood-red letters was the phrase "Surrender the Bootie!" Obviously a shirt he had picked up in Luca only a few days before.
------
When the deck seemed to be under control the group returned to the party, "Come on Yunie! The Limbo game is about to begin!" Rikku shouted as she headed over to the line that had formed.
"I'll join in next round," Yuna said as she leaned over the railing that was over looking the deck below. She gazed off into the stars lighting up the black sky above her.
Who knew Tidus could write things like that? He's such a poet. How come I never noticed it before?
"What ya thinking about Yuna?" Yuna gazed over at the familiar face staring at her.
"Just looking at the stars."
"I almost forgot," Tidus said.
"Almost forgot what?"
Tidus reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box wrapped in simple purple wrapping paper with a single silver bow tied around it, "Your birthday present. The 'Zanarkand's Fayth' performance wasn't my only present for you. But after we had to escape to the arcade I forgot about it. I thought you deserved something special…" Tidus handed Yuna the box.
"You didn't have to get me anything," Yuna said as she unwrapped the paper. The case hidden beneath was soft, dark purple velvet. She slowly opened it to reveal a necklace beaded with tiny silver, light blue and light purple gems. Yuna gasped and had her breath taken away, "This looks like the bracelet Rikku and I found in Luca…"
"Yeah. Well when I saw your eyes when you looked at it I knew you liked it, so I had Hanzel find it for me. But when I saw the necklace I thought it would look better." Tidus said turning red as he scratched the back of his head. Yuna just started down at the necklace in her hands.
All of a sudden she rushed into Tidus' arms and gave him a huge hug, "I love it! Thank you! This is the best present anyone's ever given me." Yuna's eyes were starting to well up with tears.
"I'm glad," Tidus said with a smile as he reluctantly let Yuna out of his grasp. She turned her back towards Tidus as he placed the necklace over her head and clasped it in the back.
"Hurry up, Yunie!" Rikku shouted from down stairs.
"Come on, Tidus!" Yuna shouted as she grabbed Tidus' hand and pulled him down the stairs and into the conga line that had formed. After the line had gone around the decks several times Yuna, Tidus, Rikku, Gippal, Wakka and Lulu decided to take a break.
"What is that around your neck, Yuna?" Lulu asked.
Rikku's eyes expanded three times their normal size, "Wait a minute! That looks like the bracelet we saw in Luca! Where did you get it?"
Yuna giggled as she looked over to Tidus, who was blushing beat red. Everyone looked back and forth between the two, "Wait a second, are you suggesting that Tidus got you that?" Gippal asked. Yuna nodded with a smile. The rest of the group was taken aback by her response.
"Anyway," Tidus said trying to change the subject, "Where are we off to tomorrow?"
"Zanarkand." Wakka said.
"Really? I was born there," Tidus said.
"It's our last stop before the cruise is over," Lulu said, "And I couldn't think of a better way to end our vacation than a trip around town and, are you guys ready for this? A blitzball game in the hugest stadium in all of Spira!"
Rikku andYuna squealed, "A real Pro Blitzball team! I can't wait!"
"We better get off to bed then," Lulu said. They took the elevator back up to their rooms.
"Thank you all for everything!" Yuna said, "You guys gave me the best birthday I could ever imagine."
"We're just glad you liked it!" Rikku shouted.
Everyone started to head into their rooms but Yuna spoke before Tidus could enter through the door, "Umm… Tidus?"
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to say…thanks." Yuna said quietly as she fiddled with her new necklace.
"Anytime," Tidus said with a smile, "Yuna?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Do you want to go on a walk with me?"
"That sounds nice." Yuna said as she walked towards the elevator with Tidus by her side, "Where to?"
"I guess just around the track like yesterday." The entered the elevator and took it up to the second deck walking track.
"It's nice out here," Yuna said as she gazed up into the stars above her.
"Yeah," Tidus sat down in a sunbathing chair and just looked up at the glowing orbs above him. Yuna sat down in the chair next to him.
"Hey Tidus, do you remember when we first met?" Yuna asked all of a sudden.
"No, do you?"
"Yeah, way back in middle school. Back when I was quiet and shy. I remember you were really popular."
"Wait a second… Where you that girl who always sat in the back of the room and never said anything to anyone? The one with the braces that we always called 'Metal Mouth?'" Tidus asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"The very same."
"Are you serious? You two are polar opposites!"
"Well, I told you before that I changed after my boyfriend. Plus I got my braces off while I was dating him."
There was a long silence between them. Tidus got quiet and when he talked it was almost in a whisper, "I'm sorry…" Yuna looked down at him. Tidus head was hanging, "You know, for everything. The way I use to make fun of you, and just being a complete jerk all the time. Maybe if I hadn't been such an asshole to you all the time in middle school you wouldn't have gotten involved with a guy like your ex-boyfriend."
Yuna froze. She felt a tear roll down her cheek, "It wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself for things that didn't even have to do with you."
Yuna and Tidus stood up and started to walk around the deck again in quiet, "So how did you enjoy your birthday? Were you surprised?"
Yuna smiled, "Yeah! I had no idea it was even my birthday. But now that I look back at it you almost gave it away yesterday at dinner."
"Yeah. Lulu would have killed me. She planned the whole thing herself, ya know. You're lucky to have a friend like her." Tidus said.
"I know. She seems to know everything about me. But you have Wakka and Gippal. Did you know that Gippal told me something really funny the other day?"
"I'm afraid to ask…" Tidus said with a grimace. The two had found their way to the main deck and were surrounded by hundreds of different colored lights that illuminate the landscape around them.
"He told me that you liiiiiiike me." Yuna giggled and Tidus turned an immediate shade of dark red.
Tidus' started to stutter, "I…ahh… umm…I'm…" Yuna broke out laughing, "What so funny? Lulu told me that you liiiiike me too!" Tidus imitated.
Yuna's eyes widened and she shot Tidus a look of shock before she started to blush, "Did Lulu really say that?"
"Uh-huh." Tidus said with a nod.
There was a moment of silence before Yuna asked, "Tidus?" He looked at her, "Was Gippal telling the truth?"
"Gippal is hardly ever telling the truth," Yuna looked to the ground in disappointment, "But in this case: he wasn't lying." Yuna's eyes lit up, "So Yuna, was Lulu telling the truth?"
Yuna smiled and spoke softly, "Lulu wasn't lying either." Tidus smiled back followed by another long silence.
Yuna gazed down at her watch, "Oh my Yevon! It two in the morning! We have to get back to our rooms!" The made their way back to their room and stood in the hallway unsure of how to say good bye to each other.
"Umm…Yuna?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you want to sit by me tomorrow at the blitzball game?"
Yuna tilted her head and smiled, "I'd like that."
"Well, I'm off to go suffocate Gippal with his own pillow tonight to teach him to keep his mouth shut," Tidus laughed, "Sweet dreams, Yuna."
"Sweet dreams…"
They finally admitted their feelings for each other (Surprised ya, didn't I?). I hope you all enjoyed the massive amount of Tidus/Yuna fluff going on in this chapter. Plus I decided to add some song/poem stuff. Did you guys like it?
In the next Chapter we shall discover the horrible past of one of our characters. Will it be Tidus? Rikku? Lulu? Or will it dig even deeper into the past of Yuna? The only way to find out is to read Chapter 15: Love Lost!
Anyway, I'm off to go enjoy the last few minutes of my day off by starting to write Chapter16 (Yes, I already wrote Chapter15) and Chapter 2 of a Seaside Affair. See you all next time! But REVIEW before that!
I'm glad to see some new names added to the list of people who reek off total awesomeness!
Siegtaru, Thlayli the Furhead, Dragon'sSword, Shwarz Stein, SavannahX(congrats on finally getting an account by the way), Jenrya, yunnie yuae, digitalgirl89, Riny Beoulve, Maverick102pr, Blue Turquoise, bbychrangel, Tidus luver's twin, KyasLove, sita, mandyfanforevr, MyOpheliaImmortal, tidusXyuna637, Cluck the Chickin, Yuna But Blonder, whitewave, xNoellex, gothmaniac, Dj Tidus, professionaldooropener, Dragoni89, Mandy, Lesca, Rollercoaster217 andkyritawuv.