Chapter 4

Friend. That is what I had been considering since the first time I had met him, I never saw guys as potential dates. I would never allow myself that luxury because I knew I would die at the end and end up leaving them heartbroken.

"Yuna.." he whispered, his voice hoarse and weak, "..I love you.."

I sat there stunned, slowly I drew my hand back and stood staring down at his closed eyes.
He surly didn't mean it did he? I mean he couldn't be awake he must be dreaming or something…

But I knew even if he was saying that in his dreams that I would be coming from the heart, that what he said must be true…he loved me.

I just stood there staring down at him, I couldn't believe my ears nor could I say anything. I felt as if though my mouth had been glued shut and my thought had jumped out of my mind.

"I-uh-" stammered my words and thoughts tripping over themselves.

"Are you awake?" I finally asked, trying to stay on a safe road.

I didn't want to hurt him, but my feelings weren't the same, I didn't love him I didn't love anyone.

At least that's what I thought.

"Yes…" he said "I'm perfectly awake."

That's when he opened his eyes…I found myself staring back into the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. Sure I had talk to him millions of times before but this time it was different…something drew me to his eyes…

It was probably the pain that shone there.

And it was my fault.

I let my eyes fall to my feet so he wouldn't see my regret, I didn't know what to say in the matter I was still a bit too shocked.

"Thank you…" I whispered, "For saving me…I owe you my life."

And I felt I did, he had saved me from a bullet to take it himself, he could have died in my place. He also had been my friend. He had been the one there for me, warning me against Sin, warning me against the danger. I had appreciated it all, he was really the only one who had cared enough…

Other than Tidus…

But I didn't care about him anymore, Tidus was of the past he had left, hurt me, then put out of my mind…and that's all he really was…a part of my mind…

"Isn't that what friends are for?" Seig asked quietly, "Besides, that's my job…"

I smiled at him and nodded.

"So…how've you been?" he asked quietly.

I wasn't exactly sure how to answer that one, should I tell him everything? Everything that had happened? That when Tidus had finally died it was him that filled my dreams at night? I never knew what it meant but I always woke up wishing to see him again.

"Alright…" I said quietly "You shouldn't have left Besaid though." I said slowly trying to pick out the right words. "I really missed talking with you, and I'm sorry for not talking to you right when I got there…"

I stopped myself there before I could start babbling and confusing him. It hadn't come out how I wanted It to but there was no turning back. I wanted to beg for his forgiveness, tell him I'm sorry for how inconsiderate I had been, how selfish I was, wanted to tell him about how much I had really missed him…

But I couldn't form it into words, because in my mind it was still so confusing.

"I was being stupid.." he said, "It was stupid of me to leave just because you didn't talk to me..I understand that now.." He fell silent for a moment, before adding, "I should be the one who's saying sorry."

I shook my head smiling slightly "How about were both sorry and just go on with it then?" I asked.

I hesitantly pulled up a chair, thoughts of what he had said before still lingered but I wouldn't put them between out friendship…never.

"How is your arm?" I asked trying to keep my mind on other things.

To keep my mind from repeating itself…like about how nice his eyes were…

Suddenly it looked like Seig had hit a brick wall "Arcia…" he whispered.

I blinked a bit "Are you alright?" I asked leaning in closer to catch his gaze again, "You look like someone hit you with something."

I wondered who he was speaking about and how they could cause such emotion and such a look on his face.

"Sorry…I just didn't think she was so stupid…" he said, "Arcia's the girl who tried to shoot you.."

I sat back and thought about this for a bit "Is she a friend?' I asked.

So we know who it was, and by the looks of his face he seemed disgusted about it. I wondered who this girl was, and I was wondering also why she was trying to shoot me…

But then again I was a summoner; I'm use to people shooting at me daily. Well I guess my life was a bit harder, you didn't have New Yevon on your backs or Guado or anything else really…

He shook his head.

"Not really." He said, "I just work with her, but she has a major crush on me.."

A sudden rush of questions hit me, as did a few emotions. I felt my face screw up a bit, but I quickly blinked it away.

What had that been?

I sat there a bit wondering but I finally managed to answer him. "Why do you think she was shooting at me?" I had a guess…it was probably the same thing I had felt right then.

Jealousy.

"Well, either she was jealous, or she really doesn't like you.." He said, "Honestly, I think she's jealous…"

"Yeah that's what I was thinking." I said without meaning too. I paused and started down at my shoes again.

Why had I felt that when he had said the girl had crush on him? Why was I acting so funny around him? Was it because of what he said or was it…

I stopped myself fro possibly thinking I could be growing closer to him, like his words had somehow open a secret inside of me…

Couldn't be true…

Could it?

"You alright?" He asked, softly reaching out and using a finger to lift my chin so that I met his gaze again.

His touch made my stomach clench, but not in the sickening way, no, this was more of a nice feeling.

I felt my cheeks starting to warm a bit and I fought to keep them looking normal "Yeah." I said slightly breathless "Just thinking you know?"

I gave him a small wobbly smile.

Once again I was staring at his eyes.

God I loved his eyes…and this time I found I couldn't tear my gaze from his.

He pulled his hand away and suddenly cold air rushed to the spot.

It felt so cold, so desolate like someone had puffed out the last candle in a dark musty room. I continued to stare at him though, just admiring his eyes.

I decided to get bold, "I really like your eyes…" I said.

Heat rose into my cheeks quickly and for a second I felt it wrong to have said that, but it was quickly replaced by a smile and a warm feeling.

No that had felt good to say…

"I like yours too.." he replied, "They're the most beautiful things I've seen in a long time.."

This made me blush further, my hand went to my cheek and I felt they were flaming.

"Thank you." I said very self consciously, but I couldn't help the smile that tugged on my lips.

I tried reverting my eyes somewhere else, to try and break off some of the embarrassment.
But I found that I couldn't. So I sat there smiling back at him, practically staring at him, and suddenly chuckled.

I felt as if I were a little girl again, like I was 12 or something and I had a crush on another little boy, blushing a lot saying little things that meant a lot to us but would seem funny to others.

How odd this emotion was.

I watched as he leaned in towards me, watched as his eyes closed slowly. My whole body, soul, and mind knew what was happening.

And yet I did not pull away.

I started at him transfixed and confused, our lips were barley skimming each other and yet it sent such an electric current through me-

"Hey you guys!"

I jumped up and whirled around, my cheeks were on fire and my eyes wide. Rikku stood at the door with a eye brow raised and Paine a smirk on her face.

This only made me to smile nervously ,and if it were possible, blush more.

"So how are you two?" Rikku asked more slowly walking slowly into the room "Was there-"

"Where fine, everything's fine!" I said my voice a bit squeaky with embarrassment.

Rikku giggled "Alright well let me tell you then!" she exclaimed.

As she dived into her story I was slightly relived, the girl would forget about it and continue on, only to bring it up if something like this ever happened again…

If it ever happened again…I wondered if it was so, and part of me hoped.

"Yunie? YUNIE!" Rikku exclaimed "Have you been listening to me at all?" she asked.

"Huh?" I exclaimed snapping out of my thoughts.

"We need to leave, we've been called away from Luca." Rikku said. "Someone found a sphere!"

I looked back over at Seig then at Rikku and Paine "What about Seig?" she asked.

"He can stay with us." Paine said "If he wants to." She said leaning in the doorway.

I looked over at him "well?" she asked.

"Of course." He said, "I probably don't have a job anymore anyway."

I smiled at him and nodded "well welcome to the team I guess…" I said shrugging slightly.

I don't know why but it was refreshing to know he was staying, that's my friend would be with me for awhile.

"Yeah you can hunt spheres with us!" Rikku exclaimed jumping up then doing a little dance "Have you ever hunted spheres?" she asked.

I smiled at my cousins enthusiasm, she always seemed to beadle to spread it to everyone.

I've noticed Paine smiled every once in awhile because of Rikku.

"Nope, never in my life." I said, looking Rikku over a moment, "Hey, aren't you Cid's girl?"

I watched as Rikku's smile fell way and her enthusiasm died, she managed a small smile and placed her hands on her hips. "Yeah, took you awhile." She said.

I knew Rikku and her father were at ends for destroying Home, no one knew how it happened it had been kept a secrete…but we knew and Cid did also…

"Yeah well haven't seen him in awhile." Rikku said shrugging "Not sure where he is, can't say I care though."

I noticed an edge to her voice and sighed, she would probably never forgive her father for what he had done…

"What did he do that was so bad?" He asked.

I mentally flinched at that 'Oh what you don't know Seig…' I thought.

Rikku shook her head and I noticed her smile was fake "Oh no nothing drastic really, just family problems you know?" she said in her perky tone.

"You guys ready?" Paine asked changing the subject "Is there anything you need from Luca Seig?" she asked "Before we leave?"

"Yeah, I gotta pick up some things from my house." He said, "Like normal, unbloody clothes. And I gotta quit my job, if I'm not already fired."

Paine nodded "Well if your well enough we could help you to your house then to were you work."

Rikku nodded furiously "yeah Yunie could probably help you with that!"

I blushed at the look Rikku gave me, she wasn't usually like that but I just looked away and nodded "I'll help if I can." I said.

"I'll be alright, I think." He said, sitting up and slowly getting out of bed.

"I survived Home, I think I can survive a little bullet wound."

I mentally flinched again, did he always have to say something about Home?

"Yeah I bet." Rikku said chuckling nervously.

"Off with you." Paine said straightening and moving from the doorway "We wont leave you behind but we wont wait forever."

"It's my arm that's hurt, not my legs." He said, "I can move just fine." He headed for the doorway.

We all watched him go, and I dreaded being alone with my friends.

Once he was gone they turned to me "What was going on in here." Paine asked crossing her arms.

"Yeah Yunie what the heck was that all about?" Rikku asked a large smile on her face "I mean we walk in and you two look like a bunch of scared chocobos!"

I felt slightly relived 'So they don't know what happened…' I thought.

When I didn't answer Paine nodded towards the door "Come on we'll talk later." She said leaving.

Rikku eyed me before following after Paine, I gave a relived sigh.

'By then I'll be able to come up with an excuse.' I thought.

So out we went to follow Seig.

We were following behind him when someone suddenly bumped into him.

"Sorry kiddo, didn't mean to hit ya there." The boy said.

Seig's face was that of shock so I stepped forward "Seig are you alright?" I asked also towards his arm that the kid had hit.

What was it about this kid?

"Kael.." was all he whispered.