Hi guys! I'm back from vacation! I actually wrote like three pages of this chapter when I was on vacation, but stupid me forgot to save it! So this is actually a lot different than what I first intended it to be like…But oh well. And it might be really jumbled, too. I wrote it pretty quickly…Heh…

Chapter 8: A Confession

Tidus splashed water on his face and stared at his reflection in the mirror. He remained that way, staring at his reflection as the water slipped down his face for quite some time before grabbing a towel and hastily wiping his face.

Was he afraid of Dona as well? Was that his problem?

He hadn't seen Yuna in over a week. It had been a week since he had kissed Dona. He sighed and sat at the edge of the bathtub, trying to make up his mind for once about everything that happened that summer.

Did he love Yuna? It was a possibility. If he loved her, why wouldn't he go see her?

He sighed, reminding himself of that night that Dona had attacked him.

The two had laid there, on her couch, making out for the longest time, before Tidus was able to come to his senses and push her off. It was then that she grabbed his shoulder, digging her nails into him. Hoarsely, she had whispered, "Leave Yuna. Or else."

Why her threat had bothered him, he had no idea. But he had done just as she ordered. He had left Yuna alone. Quite alone. Heck, for all he knew, she could be dead.

He swallowed hard at this thought, knowing that it could indeed be very true. He wouldn't know.

But why was he afraid of Dona? Is that what it was, fear? He had feared her when they were going out to, for reasons unknown to him. There was a presence about her…But did he really have reason to fear her?

The doorbell rang then, causing him to jump and lose his thought. He jumped up and went to the door, only to find Gippal standing there.

"Hey," Gippal greeted him, "What's up?"

"Nothing," Tidus just said, drowsily.

"It's been about a week since I saw you," Gippal said, an amused smile on his lips, "Lemme guess…Yuna dumped you?"

"Not exactly," Tidus said softly.

"Then what is it? You look pretty horrid. When was the last time you shaved?"

"None of your business," Tidus said, glaring at his friend.

"Hey, you gonna let me in?" Gippal said then, and Tidus realized his friend was indeed standing outside.

"You never asked for permission before," Tidus said, as he allowed his friend in.

"Yeah, but we're not really 'friends', anymore, are we?" Gippal asked, crossing his arms, "We haven't hung out like all summer."

"Look, I've been busy," Tidus said.

"Yeah, with Yuna," Gippal said.

"Gippal, just shut-up," Tidus snapped, "You have no idea what's going on, and you don't care, either."

"Fine, what's up then?" Gippal asked.

"I can't see Yuna anymore," Tidus said, "Because I won't just sleep with her."

"Also known as, you love her," Gippal said, and babied his voice saying, "Aww, little Tidy-widy fell in love!"

"Shut-up!" Tidus said, "See, that's just it! You won't support me at all. So what if I fell in love?" Tidus suddenly raised his voice, yelling, "I love Yuna! Is that a crime?"

"No reason to explode on me," Gippal said, and then became serious saying, "Fine, what's your problem?"

"I'm afraid of Dona," Tidus said softly.

"Who isn't," Gippal said, "That's why we vowed to stay away from that clique after Dona and you broke up, 'member?"

"You messed around with Rikku," Tidus reminded him.

"Yeah, but Rikku and I are like family," Gippal said, only to sputter and say, "But it's not like I mean it like that…Uh…"

Tidus had to laugh. "I know what you mean," Tidus said.

"Okay. See. So Rikku and I have known each other before she was in that ridiculous clique. So it's okay. Plus, Rikku isn't going to the same college as the other three are."

Tidus suddenly looked at his friend, and said, "What all do you know about the clique?"

Gippal smiled and said, "That's what I'm here about. Guess what I found out?"

"What?" Tidus asked.

"Yuna's part Al Bhed," Gippal said, "I went on a family trip to see my grandma, and she has books and books of all the Al Bhed in Spira. My old man was looking through it, and I happened to see Yuna's name. So, out of curiosity, I did some more research."

"And…?"

"And Yuna's not the only one. Both Dona and Leblanc are also part Al Bhed."

"No way," Tidus said.

"And I don't think it's a coincidence," Gippal said, folding his arms again, "I asked Rikku about it, but she didn't tell me anything. She's all hush-hush about that clique."

"Yeah, same with Yuna…" Tidus said.

"Look man," Gippal said, "The reason I came here today was to tell you I'm sorry. I've been a jerk. I guess I thought we would party this summer like usual, but you're never around. I got mad, I guess."

"It's alright," Tidus said, "But why the sudden interest in the clique?"

"Well, I thought I'd help you out," Gippal said, "Besides, I noticed Rikku's really cautious about what she says too. I want to know why."

Tidus shrugged and said, "So what should we do?"

"You need to go shave," Gippal said, "And then, I think you should go see Yuna."

"Yeah but--."

"No buts," Gippal said, "And I'll go see Rikku and see what I can pry out of her."

"Yeah but--."

"Go get shave. We'll figure this thing out if it's the last thing we do."

-

His palms were sweating, and he had no idea why. With a quick wipe on his pants, he reminded himself to be his usual calm, cool, and cocky self. With that in mind, he rang the doorbell that had grown quite familiar to him over the summer, and waited.

It wasn't long before she opened the door, and appeared quite shocked to see him.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

"I'm kind of busy," she said, and attempted to shut the door on him.

He caught it though, and said, "Look, Yuna. We need to talk."

She sighed, and opened the door, inviting him in.

"What are you doing?" Tidus asked as he entered, noticing that the furniture was in the process of being shifted around.

"I'm throwing a party," Yuna said in an emotionless tone, "And I'm afraid this time, you're not invited."

"Ah, so it's the party you lose your virginity at, is that it?" Tidus asked.

"It's none of your business, Tidus."

"Of course not," Tidus said, "I just don't understand why they want you to lose it so bad."

"I said, it's none of your business!" Yuna said again.

"I know," Tidus said, trying to remain calm, "Dona said she wants you to be hurt. How come?"

"That's not it!" Yuna said, and now she was angry, "Dona and Leblanc and Rikku just think that I need to—Ugh, this isn't even about that!"

"That was all I was to you, right? I was supposed to give you the night of your life and then just leave you. And you would mope around and feel like a dirty piece of scum, and--."

"That's enough Tidus!"

"But it's true, isn't it?"

Yuna shook her head slowly, and her eyes were threatening tears.

"Yuna, you don't have to do what they tell you to do."

"But I do, Tidus," she said, "Or they'll hurt me."

He was surprised to receive an answer, so on impulse, he asked, "Who? Who will hurt you?"
"Everybody," she said, and she plopped straight down on the couch, and buried her face in her arms.

"Yuna," Tidus said, sitting next to her, "I won't."

"But you can't be apart of my life!" Yuna said, "Because they'll hurt me then!"

"Who Yuna? Who's 'everybody'?"

She just shook her head, and said, "I can't tell you. Or they'll hurt me."

"Okay then, how will they hurt you? Bruises, burns…?"

She nodded.

"Okay…Um…How do they know if you do it or not?"

"They say they'll be able to tell," Yuna said, barely above a whisper.

"Yuna, tell your father. Look, I'll call him right now and tell him--."

"Tidus," Yuna said, looking at him fearfully, as tears ran down her face, "My father will hurt me too!"

"So he does beat you!" Tidus said, but Yuna only shook her head.

"No," she said, as more tears spilt, "He hurts Dona and Leblanc. And then they turn abound and hurt me!"

"What?" Tidus said, shocked at her reply.

"And after they hurt me, my father hurts me too, because he doesn't want me to tell anybody what he does!"

"Why…why didn't you tell me this sooner?" Tidus asked.

"Because he'll know!" she said, sniffling as she did so.

"Yeah, but how?" Tidus asked.

"He always knows," Yuna said.

"Why don't Dona or Leblanc tell anybody?"

"Because they're afraid too," Yuna said, "And Rikku. Tidus, how do you think this clique was formed? And their fathers turn around and beat them…"

"If you guys just told someone--."

"We can't," Yuna said, "Because our fathers would kill us then. So we band together, Dona, Leblanc, Rikku, and I. We support each other!"

"But yet they want you to get hurt…"

"But I deserve it," Yuna said, "Because my father is so horrible…"

"It still doesn't make sense," Tidus said.

"Oh, it makes perfect sense."

Both Yuna and Tidus turned around, only to see Dona standing there, with her arms crossed across her chest, glaring at them.