(Well, I'm not sure it's better than FFX or X-2, but thank you very much, Vistron. Don't think Square Enix would even consider reading my story…I'm glad you didn't get confused! And nah, you're the best ever!)

Daybreak—Serenity's Dream

Morning lights made Silver squeeze his eyes shut. Slowly he opened them and jumped off the branch. His hands stained with dry blood made him remember what happened last night.

Serenity...

Silver took off running back to his house, thinking about what he would tell her, how he would talk to her or if he would just kiss her right away.

Love at first sight, just what happened with Tallulah, isn't it?

And what if it is, go to Hell and let me be!

He arrived to where the fire had been last night and looked around. Serenity wasn't there. He sniffed the air and twitched his ears, he couldn't smell nor hear activity. He let out a sigh sat there, waiting.

…

She felt cold…wet. Her eyes squinted at the sudden dimness of where she was, but soon her eyes adjusted to the soft lighting that spilled from the torches in the next room. Still able to feel water dripping off her hair and clothes, Serenity slowly turned around, her feet splashing the water she stood in. She was standing on a flight of stairs, and behind her the steps led underwater. Scanning around, the walls were damp and moist, and she could faintly make out the sound of the Hymn of the Fayth. 'An underwater temple…?' Serenity thought, and made her way up the rest of the stairs and into the other room.

Lining the sides of the room were 6 statues, 3 on each side. Serenity made her way towards the front of the room, glancing at the statues as she past. 'Zanarkand…Kilika…Djose…Macalania…Bevelle…Besaid…' Serenity stood in front of the Besaid statue and started to examine it. Dusting off a sphere she found, she picked it up. 'A destruction sphere…? These haven't been around in ages…' Without warning, the sphere glowed and flashed a bright light, causing her to cover her eyes. When she looked back, the sphere was projecting an image of a ring, the ring Lhinx had found in the Besaid temple. Another flash of light beamed from the other side of the room, and Serenity turned to see Kilika's destruction sphere glowing as well, it projecting a golden chain with a pedant hanging from it, the same one Silver had found. Serenity had no clue what either item meant, for she didn't know that Lhinx or Silver found anything.

It was the sudden growling and hissing sounds that Serenity had decided to focus her attention on. They seemed to have been coming from all sides and angles of the room, and she didn't know where to face. Soon, Serenity could see her breath in front of her, as the temperature dropped steadily as if it was hatred itself doing it. Feeling and hearing her heart beat, Serenity cast her eyes around as the torches slowly diminished, leaving shadows dancing everywhere. That's when she saw them; half fiends, all surrounding around her. Serenity reached for the golden bullet Silver had given her, but nothing happened. He never came…busy saving her…Tallulah, most likely. The light then went out completely and Serenity let out a blood-wrenching scream as they all attacked at once, the sphere she was holding dropping from her grasp and shattering on the floor.

Serenity turned restlessly in her sleep, looking like she was still trapped within her nightmare. She let out a cry and sat right up as if someone had lit a fire beneath her. Holding her hands out behind her to keep her balanced, Serenity breathed heavily, trying to regain her composure. She slowly closed her eyes, feeling a drop of sweat roll down the side of her face. "It was…just a dream…" Serenity whispered to herself, and plopped back down on the sand, putting an arm over her eyes to shield from the morning rays.

…

A sudden, faint scream came to Silver's ears. Fear. He stood up and looked around. It didn't came from the house, nor from the woods or the road to the village... it came from the beach. Silver wasn't sure, it was really weak, and too many sounds mixed at the time.

But what if...?

Go!

He began running towards the beach, hoping it wasn't anything to worry about. He ran in silence, not wanting to be noticed and when he got there he saw Serenity and hid behind a huge, twisted, palm tree which he climbed. There she was, with all her beauty just like her mother. He kept himself in silence and just held himself to the tree.

…

Morning light from the window beside the couch streamed down onto Lucine. "Huh?...what time...is...it...?" She asked sleepily, before she fell back asleep. But a few minutes later, she heard screaming...Serenity's screaming! She jumped off the couch, shoved her feet into her boots, and ran out of the house towards the beach.

Soon she arrived at the beach and saw Serenity sitting in the sand. "Hey, are you alright?" She asked, sitting down in the sand. She noticed there were little beads of sweat around Serenity's brow. "Your aren't sick are you?" Lucine put her hand on Serenity's forehead, checking for a fever.

Silver heard and saw Lucine long before she arrived to the beach. He was quite impressed that a human could have such a good hearing. Silver smiled, looking at the two girls, still hiding and wondering how he would talk to Serenity. He didn't think she would see him like she used to now that she knew something that had happened between him and Tallulah.

Lying there in the sand, Serenity soon felt like she was being watched. But everyone's still asleep, right? That's not possible… Serenity thought, turning her head to glance at Zephyr, who was still sleeping as far as she could tell.

"Hey, are you alright?" Lucine's voice asked, and Serenity sat back up as she sat down. "You aren't sick are you?" Lucine questioned her again, putting a hand to her forehead. Serenity smiled weakly and shook her head. "I…don't think I'm sick. It was just a bad dream. It's past now." She looked around the beach. It still felt like they were being watched. "How was your sleep? I hope I didn't wake you. Are the others still sleeping?"

Time to make his move. Silver jumped off the tree and walked slowly towards them. "Yes, they are, I cannot hear them up yet." He was blushing, but he tried to keep calm as he walked, hiding his bloodstained hands behind his back. "Good morning," he said, smiling like wanting to pretend nothing happened last night.

"Yes, they are, I cannot hear them up yet," Silver's voice came, and Serenity froze. She wasn't entirely sure she was ready to face him yet. She didn't even know what to say to him…what could she say? Serenity closed her eyes and bent her head down, feeling a breeze pick up and blow her hair lightly, destroying any plan Serenity had to hide her face with her hair. "Good morning," he spoke again. I guess…I have no choice.

Serenity raised her head back up to Silver, and she opened her eyes and looked at him. She studied his face, and his smiling seemed to jab her in the heart. Serenity looked into his eyes, hoping that would somehow give her something to talk about. Her mouth opened and closed though, for she still did not know what to say, and she smiled sadly at him and nodded. "Morning," Serenity said simply, trying to mask what she felt inside.

Silver smiled kindly, still feeling great confusion inside, and he took a deep breath. "These marks under your eyes tell me you didn't sleep very good, unlike our friend here," he said motioning Lucine with his head, then raised a hand to show Serenity the black spots under her eyes, completely forgetting about his hand stained in blood. When he saw it his eyes widened and he blushed, hiding it again.

He wasn't very good at reading people's feelings, but he could smell them. And Serenity smelled of sadness and confusion. He knew that scent, her mother had it ever since his father passed away and till she died of sorrow as well. It ached to know she was sad.

But why?

Because of you, idiot, why else?

Hey don't look at me... was it because of what Tallulah said?

Of course it was!

But why? I mean I have a past, everyone does...

That kind of stuff is very special for girls, isn't it for you as well?

Well... yes but no... I may be half human... but I'm still half animal... a Demon...

Demon is only your scientific name, you are you...

I know...

Then talk to her...

I'll... try...

"Err... we should get going, we leave at noon along with the ship. Back to Luca, eh?" He was nervous and smiled shyly.

Serenity stared at his hand as he brought it towards her to show her the black spots under her eyes. Why…is it stained in blood…? But Silver hid his hand again before she could analyze the cause of it. She reached her hand out to grab his hand but then stopped and hesitated. I…shouldn't…I can't.

"Um…" Serenity trailed off, and she stood up, brushing her hair back with her hands. "Yeah…Luca…" Serenity looked to Lucine. "Lucine! Could you, um, look after Silver's hands? He seemed to have…gotten hurt…overnight. I think I'll go and…make breakfast for everyone so we'll be all set when it's time to ship off. Yes! That's it!" Serenity clapped her hands together and nodded. "So I can't tend to him…" Serenity bowed her leave to both of them and quickly went off back to Silver's house.

"Hey, wait!" This time Silver jumped and landed right in front of her, smiling. "Breakfast is already done, but... I need to talk to you," he blushed and looked down, having a sudden urge to lick the blood off his hands but he didn't. "It's nothing, I just nailed myself while making some exercise." He showed Serenity his hands, which were no longer bleeding though they hurt. He put them down and blushed even more. "So... can we take a walk before we go back?"

Serenity stopped abruptly as Silver landed right in front of her, and she stared at his hands when she showed them to her. Exercise? Some exercise it must have been… "…They've stopped bleeding. At least that's good. But you still need to have them cleaned and disinfected, you know…they're probably still stinging…"

She was going to say that Lucine should take care of that, but he asked her to go on a walk with him so she wasn't able to. Serenity clasped her hands together and brought them up towards her chest, and she looked back at Lucine as if asking for some kind of permission. "I…guess we can," Serenity answered, and looked up at him.

…

Kai awakened with an odd feeling. "Something isn't right…" he says to himself, looking around. From his viewpoint up on the roof, he could see Serenity, along with Silver and Lucine. Before he could even think he lets himself slide to the edge of the roof and jumps off. As he reached the ground he tumbles as to not break any bones and stopped just before reaching the dying fire. With that, he ran towards the beach. "Hey, sis, are you okay?" He asked as he finally approached the trio.

Lucine stood back to watch what was happening. It seemed to her, that something happened last night after she went to sleep. And she had a feeling it had something to do with Tallulah...Then Serenity looked back at her, and Lucine nodded her head. They really needed to be alone right now. So she turned to Kai, who had come running down the beach. "C'mon, Kai. Lets go to the house and get something to eat...if you know what I mean." She grabbed his arm and started pulling him towards the house.

"What?! Hey, wait…!" Kai turned his head around to glance at Silver and his sister as they disappeared.

"Thank you," Silver said and smiled again, starting to walk next to her into the woods. Once away from anyone who might hear he began talking. "I know you are upset... can I see it in your eyes and smell it in the air around you. Under that sweet, strawberry perfume you wear if I'm not mistaken I can smell confusion." He turned to her and stop, then sat on a fallen tree, one of the several he had taken down last night. "Serenity, I got something I've been wanting to tell you since Besaid... in fact since we first met, but I never got the chance. And then Tallulah came..." He was shaking, his voice faltering and his face blushing bright red.

Serenity blushed when Silver mentioned her strawberry perfume, and held onto her left elbow with her right hand as they approached a fallen tree. She sat down beside him carefully and looked at him as he started to shake. She noticed his voice faltering and his face began to blush a bright red she knew all too well. She wasn't sure what he was going to say, and she looked away from him and out at the trees that surrounded them, readying herself for the worst.

"Silver, I…" Serenity looked down at her hands as if just realizing her had them. "I understand now the amplifications of your relationship with Tallulah…I mean, you two…you guys did…I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to get in between anything, even though you two aren't together right now…" Serenity trailed off, getting confused in her own words, unable to say in words what she meant. They must have really loved each other if they…and that's something I shouldn't trouble…Even if it hurts.

…

Lhinx blinked her eyes once or twice before sitting up and letting out a powerful yawn, her teeth all showing.

(Man, what a night...) The Ronso stood up and popped her back and neck before looking around. (Where is everyone...)

She then remembered last night. Serenity had left and Silver looked hurt.

(Does this have to do with Tallulah?) The Ronso wondered. (Wait a minute...oooooohhhh....)

The Ronso's eyes widened. (Whoa, well.....umm...ooh.)

The Ronso looked around and went inside, noting the couch and its messed up state. Lucine had slept there, from what the Ronso remembered.

(Guess she's outside somewhere.)

The Ronso climbed up the stairs and looked around in the bathroom.

(No one here.)

The Ronso's ears picked up slow, rhythmic breathing. She walked toward the bedroom and opened the door.

Tallulah lay there sleeping, a devious smirk playing on her lips.

(Well she's certainly pleased with herself. I can't believe that this is the same girl who healed my wound that helped hurt Serenity's feelings. But I suppose that plays with Seymour helping Lady Yuna fight a monster.)

The Ronso closed the door and walked down the stairs.

(Gosh, I wish I could help.)

The slight rush of water near the home took the Ronso's attention. She walked outside and noted a crab similar to the one she had found last night along with others. They were smaller then the one from last night, but they would make a fine meal for her human companions.

(Might not be enough to fill 'em up. But it'll sure be a good appetizer.)

The Ronso grabbed her vest from where she had laid it and her shoulder guard. She immediately scooped up three of the crabs, placing them on her vest. She did the same thing twice more, taking in 9 crabs all together.

(We'll have extra.) The Ronso thought, pleased with herself.

As the Ronso youth made a new fire where the old had burned last night, she reminisced of days long ago.

(Elder Kimahri would always bring fish with him whenever he came back from a trip off Mt. Gagazet. Crabs were also a treat. But he could only bring so many of those. It would be first come first serve with them, and I was always so slow. But he would always give me his when he saw me crying...) Lhinx looked over at her shoulder guard that lay face down on the wooden deck.

The Ronso stoked the fire and placed the struggling crabs onto the grill that had cooked fish the previous night. Lhinx closed her eyes, seeing herself as a Ronso pup running to the fire where fish were cooking and crabs were being handed out to the others.

She had just missed the last one and went off to sulk. Her head hung low as she sat downs and looked up at the mountain trail entrance.

"Here." A mostly gray/blue furred hand held out a crab to Lhinx's nose. The pup looked up at a semi-grinning Ronso pup male. His ivory white horn was growing somewhat and his messy blonde mane stood out like a beacon against the white snow.

"Thank you, Biran." Lhinx said, looking down in shame. "But Lhinx slow, so can not take this."

"Lhinx not slow, others too greedy. Biran just luck out. Lhinx deserve this."

Lhinx shook her head and Biran looked a bit hurt.

"I know." Biran said with a smile. "We race for it. Whoever win get prize."

Lhinx couldn't help but smile as she looked up at the semi-older cub. She stood up and nodded eagerly.

"Ready...." Biran said, both he and Lhinx in position to run.

The two were on the mountain path near a Summoner's memorial where the crab lay in wait.

"Set...." Biran looked to Lhinx and smiled. "GO!!"

The two sped off, Lhinx keeping up pretty well...

…

As Lucine approached the house with Kai in tow, she could see that someone had started the fire. Soon she could see Lhinx sitting near the fire with about ten, plump looking crabs caught in her vest. She let go of Kai's hand and ran the rest of the way, greeting Lhinx with a cheerful, "Good morning!", and then placing herself next to the fire. "So, Lhinxie, thinking of having a crab breakfast?"

…

"Serenity... I... There is nothing between Tallulah and me. Yes we have a past together, but that's all. Everything's past now. I don't know why she keeps being mean, but I... I... Oh what the Hell, I'm not good with words!" Without thinking Silver stood up and grabbed Serenity by the shoulders, not caring about his dirty hands, then placed a kiss on her lips, closing his eyes and hoping it would be returned and not dismissed.

Serenity glanced at her right shoulder and then her left as Silver held her by the shoulders suddenly, not so much because of his bloody hands but of what he was going to do. She looked at him and her silent question was answered as he leaned in and kissed her on her lips. Serenity's eyes widened in shock, for she was definitely not expecting it. Her eyes then closed halfway as it sunk into her brain what was happening and that it was real, and Serenity closed her eyes completely and in peace, kissing him back.

Silver smiled to himself as he felt her return the kiss and hugged Serenity tightly, but still careful not to hurt her. He kissed her passionately, for an instant forgetting about everything and just feeling her body next to his. After a while he took a step back when the kiss was over and looked deep into her eyes. "I... I'm sorry... I shouldn't... Serenity... I love you." Silver blushed bright red and looked down, embarrassed by what he had done, but not regretting it one bit.

Serenity smiled brightly at him as he took a step back when the kiss ended, and she looked deep into his eyes as well. "I…I'm sorry…I shouldn't…Serenity…I love you," Silver managed to say, and Serenity gasped, an even more shocked look on her face. This morning just brought more and more surprises. Love? Serenity knew she felt something for him, but…love…? Serenity took a step towards Silver, filling the small gap he made when he stepped back, and put a finger under his chin and lifted his head so he was staring back at her. Without answering, she wrapped her arms around his neck as she went in and kissed him on the lips again.

Silver returned the kiss and hugged her tightly once again, not wanting to let go. Time froze for him and all there was Serenity and himself. He just wanted to be like that forever. But everything had to end and this kiss ended, although very sweetly. He smiled at her, not saying a word but telling her everything he felt with his eyes diving into hers.

Serenity smiled at Silver again, and though he didn't say anything else, she didn't need him to. Actions speak louder than words, and everything that just happened screamed at her like a thousand blow horns. Serenity took his bloody hand and held onto it lightly as to not hurt him. "I think we better head back or they might send a search party," Serenity joked and laughed lightly, for the very idea seemed quite unlikely. With that, Serenity led the way back to Silver's house, still holding onto his hand. She felt like she was on Cloud 9 and that now she had the strength to carry on and solve the mystery they were neck-deep into. She didn't think, or perhaps didn't care, what the others thought, and kept Tallulah far in the corner of her mind.

He laughed softly and followed her, but let go of her hand to replace it by wrapping his arm around her shoulder as not wanting to get her hand dirty with his own blood. Silver kissed Serenity's cheek and laughed again, not thinking about anything but her.

…

Tallulah opened her eyes and sat up, stretching and yawning at the same time. She looked around and remembered what had happened last night and where she was. Tallulah jumped out of the bed and grinned to herself, walking downstairs to go comfort the broken-hearted Silver.