Tease Me, Tease Me Not- Chapter 21: Missing in Action

Alrighty, here we are at Chapter 21 and it's fricken huge. It took me forever to finish but I think it's the biggest chapter yet. I was going to split it up into two different chapters but decided against it.

This chapter will make you feel like your on an emotional rollercoaster. First happy, then sad, then super sad, then all warm and fuzzy then shock (or something along those lines). Plus this also shows how I look at the song "A Thousand Words". Enjoy the fluff!

Yuna awoke underneath Tidus arms as the sun was rising above the horizon. She had only been awake for a few minutes but she found herself staring at a blissfully sleeping Tidus. She covered her mouth and giggled silently as she noticed he was drooling out of the corner of his mouth, which was accompanied by a small fit of snoring. He murmured something about blitzballs before subconsciously pulling Yuna in closer to him.

Yuna rested her head back against Tidus for a few moments before a maid knocked on the door. Yuna quickly shut her eyes and pretended to be sleeping. "Young Master, it is time for you to get up for school. Breakfast is waiting for you downstairs," the maid yelled through the door. Tidus had apparently heard the maid as he made a slight groan and hugged Yuna a little tighter. She was trying her hardest to appear sleeping as Tidus stretched out his arms.

Tidus cupped the side of Yuna's face with one of his hands, "Yuna… Time to get up, we have a long day ahead of us." Yuna opened up one of her eyes and looked into the magnificent, blue eyes staring back at her.

As Yuna sat up, Tidus wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his head on her shoulder, "So how did you sleep?"

Yuna wiped the dried tears off of her eyes with one hand, "Great. You have the most comfortable bed I've ever felt."

Tidus smiled, "Good! Now there's a bathroom next to your temporary room where you can get ready and I'll take the one in my room. I'll meet you down in the dinning room for breakfast when you finished, okay?"

Yuna nodded and returned to her room where she showered and got dressed for the new day ahead of her, which she knew would undoubtedly be a long one. She made her way down the stairs and into the dinning room where she saw Tidus waiting for her at the table.

"There you are Mistress. I was worried when I didn't find you in your room this morning. I'll run and go prepare you some breakfast." The maid walked away leaving a confused Yuna.

Mistress? At that moment it had finally sunk into Yuna's brain that this was indeed her new home. Further more, the thought that she was so close to Tidus now that she was considered the highest and most powerful woman figure in the house had also just occurred to her. How did this all happen without me noticing it?

"Is something wrong Yuna?" Tidus asked.

"No I'm fine," Yuna said with a fake smile, "I guess I'm just a little worried about school though…"

Tidus laid his hand on top of Yuna's on the table, "You have nothing to worry about. We're all gonna be here to protect you."

"I know. I almost forgot! I was so caught up in everything going on yesterday that I completely forgot to thank you for the flowers and card!"

Tidus grinned, "So you liked them?"

Yuna nodded, "And that pin was amazing! Where did you find it?"

Tidus gave her a confused look, "Pin? What pin?"

"The butterfly one with gems in it that you sent with the flowers."

Tidus raised an eyebrow at her, "I never got you any pin like that. I only sent the flowers. You must have just bought the pin and forgot you had it."

Yuna sat puzzled at the table trying to think of a time when she might have purchased the pin but nothing came to mind. Before long she gave up on the thought and returned to eating her breakfast.

Tidus and Yuna finished up their breakfasts and headed to the driveway and into Tidus' car. The car ride was the first time in a while that Tidus' could actually sort out his thoughts about the past few days.

I should have seen it before. He killed her father, how could I have been so stupid not to see it! With everything he's done to her how can I allow that monster to go on living? He hurt Yuna, not only physically, but deep within her soul too. It's taken me long enough to have Yuna open up to me and I will not under any circumstances let her shut herself off from the rest of the world again.

There's nothing I can do to change the past or erase all the pain she went through. All I can do now is stand by her and keep my promise to protect her no matter what the cost.

I just wish I knew some way to keep her from harms way…

Tidus cut off his train of thought as he approached the parking spot to the school. He took a quick glimpse around to make sure that Seymour was not lurking anywhere around them before he opened the door and took Yuna by the hand.

Yuna looked up at Tidus as they entered the massive front doors of the school, she knew he had developed a new sense of awareness to the objects and people surrounding them. She hung her head a little bit as she walked down the hall. That was when she spotted Dona and Leblanc. They immediately noticed her hand locked within Tidus' firm grasp and decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to question further on the subject of her relationship with Tidus.

Tidus looked down at the hand with in his grip when he felt it shift with discomfort. He looked towards Yuna's gaze and saw the two girls approaching quickly. With a quick burst of energy and a tug on Yuna's arm, he swept past three groups of people clustered together and fell out of the site of Dona and Leblanc. Yuna didn't have to say anything to express her thanks, as Tidus understood perfectly that she was grateful.

Tidus and Yuna soon arrived at the meeting place where Wakka and Rikku were waiting patiently for them, "Hey brudda, how'd you sleep?"

It took all of Tidus' strength not to reveal the huge grin that wanted so desperately to spread across his face, "Better than ever." Especially since Yuna slept with me, but how would that sound? "You?"

"I've had better nights." Wakka shifted his weight to his other foot and looked over at Yuna.

"Tidus?" Yuna asked.

"Yeah?"

"Would you mind going to your locker or something with Wakka for a few minutes? I need to talk to Rikku alone."

Before Tidus could object, Wakka placed his hand on Tidus' shoulder, "Alright, you'll keep watch over her, right Rikku?"

Rikku nodded enthusiastically, "You bet!" Wakka led Tidus down the stairs and towards his locker. When they were both out of site Rikku turned to Yuna, "Alrighty, spill! What's so important that Wakka and Tidus couldn't hear?"

"Rikku, you know I trust you and I can tell you things that I can't tell other people. What I'm about to say must never be repeated to another soul. Especially not Lulu, got it?"

"Uh-huh. Now tell me!"

Yuna let out a deep sigh, "I slept with Tidus last night."

Rikku froze and her eyes grew almost three times their normal size, "WHAT?"

Yuna quickly placed her hand over Rikku's mouth, "Shhhh… keep it down Rikku!" All Rikku could get out was a series of mumblings. Yuna sighed again, "Let me explain. I was in the middle of an emotional breakdown last night and I felt lonelier than I have ever felt in my life. I knew where Tidus' room was so I snuck inside and crawled in his bed.

I cried against him for a while and then we both fell asleep. Before I knew it, morning came. But I swear that nothing besides that happened. Now when I take my hand off of your mouth will you stay calm?"

Rikku nodded and as Yuna removed her hand Rikku shouted, "YOU SLEPT WITH TIDUS!" Yuna hit Rikku over the head and she quieted down.

"I told you, nothing happened! But that's not where the problem is; I've slept with plenty of guys before. The thing about this is that I actually care for Tidus and…" Yuna paused for a moment before she continued, "I think I love him."

Rikku squealed at the top of her lungs but quickly quieted down at the thought of being hit in the head again. All of a sudden Rikku felt a fierce pressure on her back propel her forward and she went tumbling down the stairs. At one point her leg caught around a pole and twisted in an odd position. Before Yuna could react Rikku was at the bottom of the stairs laying on her back, "RIKKU!"

Yuna rushed down the stairs two at a time and pushed her way through the people that had started to crowd around her, "Rikku! Are you alright?" Yuna looked down at Rikku's right leg, it was twisted in an awkward position with what seemed like a piece of her bone sticking out of place, "Oh Rikku…"

Tears were flooding from Rikku's eyes as she found that she couldn't move her leg without being overcome by an intense wave of pain. People were murmuring around her in a circle and before long the nurse came pushing through the crowd and bent down to examine Rikku's leg, "I'm afraid it's broken. We need to get you to the hospital right away."

Several men rushed in and placed Rikku on a stretcher while Yuna stood by her side trying her hardest to keep her fear for Rikku off of her face, "Everything will be alright." Yuna watched as Rikku left her vision and the people who had been crowded around Rikku had now returned to what ever they had been doing the moments before Rikku had fallen.

Yuna felt a tear fall down her cheek as she stood frozen in place. Tidus and Wakka came running up to Yuna from down the other hallway panting from their lose of breath, "What happened?"

"I'm not sure, it all happen so fast. She just fell down the stairs and something happened to her leg. The nurse said it was broken," Yuna said as she looked at the floor.

Tidus hugged her, "There's nothing you could have done. Don't beat yourself up for it, alright?"

"The hard part is how are we going to tell Gippal, ya? He's gonna flip when he finds out what happened to Rikku." Tidus nodded in agreement and led Yuna and Wakka back to their usual meeting place in hopes that Gippal and Lulu would be there.

As they approached Gippal asked, "Hey, what's with all the commotion?" Tidus and Wakka looked at each other, neither one of them wanting to tell him about what happened to Rikku.

"You see Gippal, something happened it Rikku," Tidus finally said.

Gippal's eyes widened, "What happened to her! Is she alright?"

Tidus' face had a pained expression, "She fell down the stairs and, we think, she broke her leg." All the color in Gippal's faced drained before without saying another word her rushed towards the school exit and out the doors heading to the hospital.

Lulu had been watching from the side and said nothing more than, "Let's get to class." The did just that and sat down at their desk as the bell rang. Yuna scanned the entire room looking for any signs of Seymour and to her total surprise, she saw no sign of him. Despite their chaotic morning with Rikku things weren't going too badly.

"Yuna, before we start I was told to send you to the guidance councilor this morning. She just wanted to talk with you about your absence yesterday, nothing serious." Yuna nodded and she and Tidus stood up and started to exit the room, "And where do you think your going Tidus?"

"With Yuna."

He continued to leave the class before the teacher stopped him, "I'm afraid you'll have to stay here. If you leave I'll be forced to give you detention after school today." Tidus looked at Yuna and she smiled at him and mouthed, I'll be fine. He reluctantly sat back down in his seat as Yuna left the classroom.

The halls were empty and lacked its usually business, "If it isn't my dearest Yuna." Yuna immediately recognized the icy-cold voice and froze in place. Seymour appeared from around the corner and faced Yuna, "How are you today, my sweet?" Yuna remained silent as an evil grin spread across Seymour's face.

He snickered before stepping a few feet closer towards Yuna, "Did you get my present?"

Yuna's head snapped towards Seymour, "What present?"

"Why, the pin of course. I thought the butterfly was magnificent."

Yuna felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her, "You were the one who left me that pin?" All this time she had thought Tidus was just joking about not getting her the pin. Instead it was Seymour's present to her and she felt an overwhelming sensation to chuck the pin against the wall when she next saw it.

Yuna could sense that Seymour was have a great time teasing her, "As much as I enjoy our time together I must bid you fair well Lady Yuna. But before I go I must say this: 'Tell your friends to watch where they step, a sudden push may just be their down fall.'"

Yuna's limbs went numb, "It was you… You were the one who shoved Rikku down the stairs!" Seymour smiled again showing his affirmative answer and slinked back around the corner. Yuna fell to her knees on the ground as she felt a stinging in her eyes. It's all my fault! All of this is because of me. First my father and now I even got Rikku hurt.

Yuna rubbed her swollen eyes. If I stay here all I'll do is cause others to suffer, especially Tidus. I wont let it happen to anyone else. I have no choice, I have to run away.

------

Tidus shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he looked up at the clock on the wall. Where is she? He had felt a tight knot form in his stomach a few minutes after Yuna left and it hadn't ceased to go away. The bell rang for lunch and Tidus ran for the guidance councilor's office. He knocked on the door before entering, "Do you know where Yuna went after she finished talking with you? I haven't seen her since she left to come here."

"She never showed up." Tidus' heart skipped a beat and without saying another word he shot off to look for Yuna around the school.

Lulu and Wakka where walking to the cafeteria as they spotted Tidus running past the people crowed in the hallways, "Tidus, what's going on brudda?"

"Yuna's missing. She never made it to her guidance councilor this morning and I can't find her anywhere."

"Did you check the bathrooms?"

"Yeah, I already had someone go in and look for me."

Lulu sighed, "We might just be overreacting. For all we know she could have skipped school and gone to visit Rikku at the hospital like Gippal. We should check there before we make any conclusions."

Tidus nodded, "Good thinking but there's no sense for all of us to go. You guys stay here and keep looking for her anywhere you can think of and I'll go check the hospital. Call me if you find her." Tidus ran off and out the door of the school towards his car. I hope she's alright.

------

Yuna stepped out of Lulu's car as she parked in the hospital parking lot. She had taken it until she could get home long enough to switch into her own car. I have to say good-bye to Rikku before I leave and make sure she's alright.

Yuna asked the receptionist where Rikku's room was and quickly headed up the elevator to reach her room. She cracked open the door and peaked inside before stepping inside. Gippal was a Rikku's side in a chair holding her hand. Rikku was lying on her back with her leg incased inside a new cast. Gippal looked over at Yuna as she entered the room, "Yuna, what are you doing here?"

"Yunie is here?" Rikku shouted as she squirmed to try to see past Gippal.

"How are you feeling Rikku?" Yuna questioned.

"I'm ok. I've been better though."

Gippal stood up, "I'll leave you two ladies to talk." He walked out of the room and Yuna took his seat by Rikku's side.

"I'm so sorry Rikku…" Yuna said fighting back her tears.

"It's not your fault."

"Yes it is! It's all my fault your leg's like this." Tears started to fall from Yuna's eyes as she explained her encounter with Seymour earlier that morning. Rikku stayed silent throughout the whole story, which was followed by a long silence until Yuna said, "I'm running away…"

"What? Yunie it wasn't your fault! It's Seymour's!"

"I know but he wont stop until he has me. And he can't get to me with you guys protecting me. I couldn't stand to see another one of you guys getting hurt, I just can't. The only way I can protect you all is to keep you from protecting me." Rikku opened her mouth and was quickly cut off by Yuna, "And don't say he can't get all of you because he already demonstrated that he can get rid of you one by one. Please understand Rikku, I have to do this…"

Rikku thought for a moment before responding, "Have you told Tidus yet?"

"No and I'm not going to either. I can't…"

Rikku looked out the window and said, "I guess I understand that too. But I will say this Yunie: Don't follow what your mind thinks you should do. Listen to what your heart has to say, can you really leave him without seeing him one last time? Can you go the rest of your life without ever hearing his voice again or without the warm feeling that you get inside when he holds you?"

"If it means he'll never be harmed by Seymour, then yes."

Rikku hugged Yuna, "Then this is good-bye, Yunie. I'll never forget you and I hope you can find happiness wherever you go. May Yevon watch over you."

"I'll never forget you either, Rikku. Thank you…for everything." Yuna broke the embrace and walked out the door after one last look at Rikku.

Gippal was waiting in the hall and looked up when Yuna passed by, "Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving."

"I'll see you later then." Gippal stood up and walked back into Rikku's room down the hall.

Rikku turned her head and looked out the window, "Good luck Yunie. I promise to never forget." A single tear rolled down her cheek as Gippal entered the room.

"She's leaving forever, isn't she?" Gippal asked.

Rikku didn't take her eyes off of the window, "Yeah…forever."

------

Tidus ran into Rikku's room and found it the same way Yuna had, "Have you guys seen Yuna?"

"She was here and then she left." Rikku said.

"Well where did she go?"

"I don't know."

Tidus looked at them suspiciously, "What are you two hiding? Seriously, I need to find Yuna. Where did she go?"

Rikku looked at Tidus with a heartbreaking expression, something Tidus had never seen before, "Away…"

"Away? What does that…" It struck Tidus what it meant like he had been hit in the stomach with a boulder, "Did Yuna say she was going 'away' and never coming back?"

Rikku stayed silent and looked down at the floor. Gippal, who had yet to say a word the entire time of Tidus' presence, stood up to talk, "Yuna ran away and she's not coming back. She doesn't want you to follow her so just leave her alone. Let her go find a new life with new happiness."

Tidus was in shock from what Gippal had just said, "How can you say that! I'll find Yuna and I'll bring her back!" Tidus ran out of the room and headed for his car. He sat in the driver's seat and laid his head on the steering wheel.

Where would she go? There has to be some place she'd have to see one last time. Tidus realized that there was one place Yuna couldn't leave without seeing it one last time. Tidus started up his car and drove off as fast as his car would take him.

She has to be there. I can feel it. There are so many things I have yet to tell her. It's not too late! Tidus stopped his car and shut off the engine. He had arrived at the one place he knew within his heart Yuna had to be: The Cove.

Tidus ran as fast as he could throw the arctic cold waters towards where he hoped to find Yuna. As he rounded the corner he stopped. Yuna was standing with her back to Tidus watching the sunset over the horizon. He snuck as slowly as he could down the beach until he said, "I finally found you, Yuna."

Yuna became paralyzed at the sound of Tidus' voice, "Why do you have to make this harder than it already is?"

"Yuna I understand why you think you have to go…"

"Then let me leave, this is hard enough as it is." Yuna still refused to turn and face Tidus.

"I know…but I couldn't let you leave without saying what I feel, the words I've longed to tell you, held throughout the ages of time. But I'm not afraid anymore to say what's in my heart. I love you, Yuna."

Yuna remained motionless, "A thousand years could pass," Yuna finally turned her head to look Tidus in the eye, "And I would still love you too."

Yuna ran down the beach as fast as she could and into Tidus' arms. Tears of joy were streaming down her face, "How did you know?"

"Gippal said you were leaving and I knew you couldn't leave Besaid forever without seeing this place one last time. I know you think you have to leave to protect me but nothing Seymour could do to me is worse than the pain I felt when I thought I had lost you."

Yuna tightened her hug around Tidus, "Yuna, promise me you'll never try to run away again, no matter what Seymour does to me. I can't lose you again."

"I promise."

"Promise me on this." Tidus held Yuna's necklace that he had bought her from Luca for her birthday in between his fingers. It sparkled a wonderful rainbow of purples and blues.

"Alright." Yuna put her hand on top of Tidus' hand on the necklace, "I promise."

"Let's go home." Tidus and Yuna headed back to the car.

"Tidus, can you drop me off at my house. Just for the night. I need some time to myself."

Tidus didn't like what she was saying but agreed, "Alright. But remember your promise."

"I will." Tidus drove up to Yuna's driveway and dropped her off, "I'll see you tomorrow." Yuna watched as Tidus' car drove off around the corner. She turned around to head back to her apartment and she felt something go over her eyes and mouth and soon let darkness take over.

Awwww... I love that sweetness at the end "A thousand years could pass and I would still love you too." So sweet. That's atleast the impression that I get of a thousand words. And what was with the ending? What happened to Yuna? Why do I keep repeating all the questions in your head? This and more answered in the next chapter.

And once again there is only a few more chapters left. The next one could be the finale but there might be one after that, not sure yet. REVIEW and it could be two.

I'm going to combine the reviewers of this chapter and the last one in the next chapter as I don't have enough time to do it now. See ya then.