Hello all you super Final Fantasy fans out there! I'm back!

T: Really? Where did you go?

V: To the dark recesses of mind.

T: Oh. Was it a pleasant trip?

V: Not really, but at least I got the mileage.

T: Um, alright…Let's change the subject… So, another chapter is out.

V: Yes! Chapter 14 is up and ready. It's filled with game quotes and little jokes!

T: That rhymed.

V: I know. Well, there isn't much more I want to say about it right now. I'd rather have you read it yourself. Oh, and I really want to apologize for the lateness of this chapter but I do have an excuse.

T: Which one are you going to use this time?

V: Oh, I don't know yet –pulls out list and scans over it- Have I used computer troubles?

T: Yes.

V: Oh, um… How about writer's block yet?

T: Yes but not for a while.

V: Then writer's block it is!

T: You can't just pick a random excuse like that!

V: Hey! Yesterday was my birthday. That means I can do anything I want!

T: Fine. Get on with the chapter already.

V: Enjoy!

Chapter 14: Waiting for the Adventure

Rikku was bounding around. Chatting to everyone else in the group as though they had all known each other for years.

"Boy, she sure adapts to change quickly." Tidus said as he watched the little thief running around.

"That's just the way she is." Yuna said while placing her head on his shoulder. "You should already know that."

"See ya already found Rikku." Wakka said as he approached the two. "Guess that means that the Aurochs won't have to search the city for her."

"Guess not." Tidus answered.

"Shouldn't we start getting prepared?" Auron asked from across the room as soon as Rikku jumped away from him to someone else.

"Aw, can't you let me finish introducing myself to everyone." Rikku whined.

"Fine. This is Rikku." Auron announced to everyone in the room. "There, now you've been introduced. Let's start preparing."

"Your mean! You're cruel!" Rikku yelled out at him. "Your mom would be ashamed of you!"

"Let's just get started already, ya?" Wakka moved in between the two, fearing that the insulted Al Bhed would attack the only person who had the answers to their questions.

"Okay." Tidus started while leaning over the unorganized pile of papers scattered about on the table. "We'll need some people to help gather supplies."

"Oh! I can get them!" Rikku cried out excitedly while thrusting her hand straight up into the air.

"Without stealing."

Rikku's hand slowly made its way back down to her side.

"We shouldn't need that many supplies." Yuna put in.

"Yes, Miss. bringer of the fifty pound traveling case." Tidus joked.

"Hey, I didn't take it with me, did I?"

"What are you two talking about?" Rikku had not been with the rest of the party when Yuna had started her pilgrimage and, therefore, didn't know about Yuna's attempt to bring 'gifts' on the journey for the temples.

"It's nothin'." Wakka said with a wave of his hand. "Let's just get started already."

"Whatcha doing? Kissing?"

Tidus and Yuna opened their eyes to see Rikku watching them from less then a foot away. The couple nearly jumped a foot in the air and turned away from each other. Embarrassed that they had been caught.

"Oh, you don't have to stop because of me." Rikku said while she sat down in between the two, but immediately jumped up onto her feet. She turned around to face them again. "Go on. Continue with what you were doing."

"Rikku!" Tidus and Yuna said together. Both sounding annoyed with Rikku's interference.

"Alright, alright. I know when I'm not wanted." The young girl said with a wave of her hand before running off.

"Why does she have to stay with us?" Tidus complained in a whisper as he watched the young thief scamper back over to the couch she was supposed to be sleeping on.

"Because she had no where else to go." Yuna answered.

"Yeah, I know but we haven't been able to have any time alone with each other for over a week know."

"You're the one who suggested that she stay here." Yuna replied while pressing against his side.

"I didn't think preparing would take so long."

She kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Don't worry, everything should be ready soon. We can find some time to be alone on the journey."

"I hope so." Tidus whispered while gently lifting her head up and bringing his lips closer to hers.

"Are you two kissing again?!" Rikku called from across the room.

"Rikku!" The couple called back together. "Just go to sleep already!"

Rikku was the first up when there was a loud knocking on the door. "Hiya Wakka!" She cheered when she saw the familiar face on the other side of the doorway. "Come on in."

"Uh, thanks." Wakka said as he slowly made his way in. He looked around and saw a lack of people in the room. "Hey, where are the others?"

"You mean Yuna and Tidus?" Rikku asked as she closed the door.

"Of course. Who else would I've talken' about?"

"Well, you've got me there... Anyway, they're both still asleep."

"You kiddin', right?" Wakka looked across the room to a clock on the wall. "It's almost eleven, why would they still be asleep?"

Rikku shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I've been up since six and I haven't been able to get them up."

"You tried to get them up at six?" Rikku grinned and nodded her head. "That's why they're still asleep." He mumbled to himself. He paused for a moment when a though came to him. "How long did you keep them up last night."

"Hey, I didn't keep them up." Rikku said, trying to denounce the accusation. "They stayed up all on their own," she paused for a moment as a naive smile spread over her lips, "kissing."

"What are we gonna do with them?" Wakka mumbled to himself as he lightly slapped a hand against his forehead. "Well, can ya wake 'em up for me?"

Rikku nodded and headed over to where the two were sleeping. "Hey! Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up!" She yelled as she jumped up and down in the middle of the bed.

"Rikku! Get off!" Tidus cried as he tired to defend against Rikku's unexpected attack.

The little thief ignored him and continued her assault. "Wake up! Up and adem! Come on! Wakka wants you both to get up!"

"Wakka's here?" Yuna asked lazily as she pushed herself up into a sitting position.

"That's right! That's right!" Rikku cried out as she jumped off the bed and turned around to face the two of them. "Wakka's waiting for you so you'd better hurry up!"

Yuna shook the sleep from her head as she forced herself to leave the warmth of the bed. "Just give me a minute." She whispered. "I'll be right out."

Tidus, on the other hand, just groaned slightly and pulled the blankets more tightly around himself, not wanting to leave the comforts of his bed. He was not going to get up, even if Wakka was waiting. All he wanted to do now was go back to sleep.

"Wakka! Tidus won't get up!" Rikku called as she ran from the room.

"Tattletale." Tidus mumbled as he as he tried to fall back to sleep.

"You know, you should be getting up now." Yuna said as she looked over to the clock on the bedside table. The only response she got from him was a slight sigh as he curled up under the covers. She smiled and sat next to him on the bed. "You look so cute when you're trying to sleep." She whispered in his ear. "Did you know that?"

Tidus looked up to her and smiled slightly before thanking her for the compliment with a kiss. "It's so cold out there." Tidus whispered to her. "Come back under the warm covers."

Well...As much as I'd love to, I think that this is the wrong time." She replied. "Wakka is still waiting for you to get up anyway."

Tidus gave an exaggerated look of sadness at Yuna's refusal to join him, but found it impossible to keep up the act and ended up hiding his face against a pillow to keep her from seeing his smile.

"Wakka..." He mumbled after a few minutes. "What to you suppose he's doing here anyway?"

"He's here to tell ya that everythin' fo' the journey is set... except fo' the things you two goofballs have been slacking on."

Both Tidus and Yuna looked up to see Wakka standing just a short distance away from the foot of the bed. It was a bit of a surprise to them both that he would be able to get so close without either of them knowing that he was there. What was an even greater surprise was the fact that he hadn't even tried to sneak up on them.

"Well, I'm just about ready to go." Yuna answered with a yawn. "I just need some more time to fully wake up, that's all."

Everyone looked over to Tidus only to see that he was already out of bed and stretching his arms high above his head.

"What happened to you being tired?" Rikku teased.

"No time for that now." Tidus said with another stretch and yawn. "There are too many things to do."

"Does that mean you ain't ready?" Wakka asked, finally glad that the blitzball player had finally gotten up out of bed. "You still got stuff to do?"

"Just one." Tidus answered as he ran to the front door. "I forgot to tell Zen that I'll be gone for a while."

"Why do ya have to be telling him about this?" Wakka didn't want more people then necessary to know about this journey.

"Hey, if I don't tell him then he'll probably tell everybody that I'm missing in less then a week and send the police on a citywide search. It'd be better to be safe then sorry."

"Well that should only take a few minutes, ya?" Wakka started, hoping that they would be able to begin their journey before the next day. "I mean, blitzball season is over now so there's no need fo' you to stick around, ya?"

"True." Tidus said while opening the front door. "But try telling that to Zen." Without another word he was running off to tell Zen the news.

V: Well everybody, this concludes another chapter. Sorry it was so late but it really was writer's block.

T: -crosses arms over chest- Don't lie to your fans!

V: I'm not lying! It's the truth! Well, writer's block and school work.

T: Don't lie.

V: I'm NOT!

Bonk!

T: Ow! -Rubs bump on head- Alright, alright, you're not lying.

V: That's better. To all you fans out there, a word of hope. The next chapter will be out MUCH sooner. (Most likely in less then a week) I'm almost finished writing it already.

So long until next time.

T: Yeah, good-bye.

End Transmission