A/N: Thanks for dropping some feedback, Rose! Yup, Yuna's eventually going to enjoy Zanarkand, and all the craziness of it. :) By the way, what happened to your story-- get to updating, girl:P

Oh, yes, and I changed my mind about the summary idea, because what if I give something away:O

P While I'm thinking of an official one, I'm just going to leave this one. Soon, it'll change. :)

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"I'm telling you, the best way to get to know Zanarkand is a party. I'm not saying you have to get all drunk and crazy, I'm just saying you should come. You're in the city that never sleeps--you can't avoid the nightlife!" Rikku demanded, pointing her spoon in Yuna's face aggressively. Yuna shrugged and looked down at her ice cream.

"I know, but I'm not here to party." She replied flatly. "Besides, if you're going to a party, I know you'll want to go have fun, and I want know anyone. You can just go alone tomorrow."

Rikku sighed and shoved her spoon into her bowl of "chocolate-y goodness", as she liked to call it. "Then what are you here for?"

Yuna grimaced at the massive amounts of whip cream Rikku had put in her ice cream and pushed the bowl away. "I'm not that hungry."

Rikku groaned, half irritably, half apologetically. "What's wrong now!" She cried, following her cousin to the sink.

"Rikku, I don't want to be a burden. I don't want to get in the way of your life. You and me are too different, me living here is just going to ruin everything you do. I'm going to call father and ask him to send me some money for an apartment. I mean--" Yuna started, as she washed her bowl of untouched dessert under warm water. "I don't even know what I mean…I just think…"

"Yunie…" Rikku giggled. "Us being different's gonna make it more fun! That's all! No need to move out! I want you to stay! And it's only your first day in Zanarkand. If I left you to roam the city alone now, you'd like…die!" Rikku warned, in her typical overdramatic, flamboyant nature. She threw an arm around Yuna's shoulder and grinned. "But…in order to stay, you have to go to this party tomorrow. It's at Gippal's house. Trust me, I've known him for years. His parties aren't that bad. The only scary thing is he knows people from all around Zanarkand. West, East, South, North, all districts. It will give you a chance to see all of the city, okay? Plus…we might find you a hot, little--"

"Rikku!" Yuna gasped indignantly. "Don't finish that sentence. I don't even want to know."

"But you'll come? Please?" The peppy blonde begged, even clasping her hands together innocently.

"…I guess, but--" Rikku cried out before she even got to finish her sentence and jumped into the air exultantly.

Yuna shook her head at her cousin, partially amused, but mostly confused by their relation. She glanced around the small but quaint apartment, not having been given the grand tour. Suddenly, a scratching noise was heard. Yuna turned sharply around, trying to find the producer. "What is that sound? Are those rats?" She asked nervously.

"No, silly! It's the front door! Dr.P is home!" Rikku laughed, running up the hallway. Yuna stood in shock for a second, and finally realized it was a pair of keys. She laughed a little at her own paranoia, and then followed Rikku to the front door.

"Wait, who's Dr.P?" No sooner had the sentence come out of her mouth, the door opened. A tall girl with violet eyes met her gaze. She was wearing dark jeans, and a form fitting, plain black tee. She raised an eyebrow at Yuna and then turned to Rikku.

"I guess this is your cousin?" She had a somewhat deep, deadpan voice, but you could hear her dry, sarcastic humor through it.

Rikku nodded and dragged Paine across the room. "Yunie, meet Paine. Paine, meet Yunie. Paine was the girl I was telling you about on the phone--the one I live with. She can be a meanie a lot of the time, but she said it was okay you stay, so I forgive her." Rikku babbled.

Yuna smiled and nodded at her new housemate. "It's nice to meet you. Thanks for letting me stay."

Paine gave a small smile back. "Not a problem." She walked past to the kitchen and opened the fridge. "I guess you already convinced her to go to the party, right?"

Rikku nodded. "Yes, ma'am! And you're coming to! You two have to keep each other company, while I go off and mingle."

Paine snorted. "Sure, Rikku. You mingle, I munch, remember?" Rikku giggled and pushed Yuna playfully.

Inside joke? Yuna wondered, and shrugged to herself. "Hey, um, I'm kind of tired…" She sheepishly announced. Rikku grabbed her hand and smiled.

"Okay, well, as you know, you have to sleep in the guestroom, but it's cosy anyways." Rikku assured her.

"Just, uh, don't look under the bed. Or in the closet!" Paine warned as they walked off. Yuna stopped abruptly, turning suddenly to Rikku. Rikku just rolled her eyes and pulled her along.

"I'm kidding, Yuna. Breathe."

"She says that to everyone. Even my boyfriends." Rikku groaned.

Yuna fake laughed tiredly, and ran a hand over he face. I don't know whether I'm anxious for tomorrow, or dreading it…But either way, she thought, I'm feeling pretty homesick about now…

If LuLu could see me now… Yuna thought, still feeling self-conscious about her outfit, although it was cute. She pulled nervously on her denim mini, and dabbed at Rikku's perfectly applied eyeliner with her pinky. Paine knocked on the bathroom door and reminded Yuna it was time to go. She replied with a meek 'okay', and slowly backed away from the full length mirror, minding the click of her heels as she did so. Oh Yevon, what have I let her do to me? She joked to herself.

Yuna thought, still feeling self-conscious about her outfit, although it was cute. She pulled nervously on her denim mini, and dabbed at Rikku's perfectly applied eyeliner with her pinky. Paine knocked on the bathroom door and reminded Yuna it was time to go. She replied with a meek 'okay', and slowly backed away from the full length mirror, minding the click of her heels as she did so. She joked to herself.

"Yuna, stop admiring yourself and get out here! I want to go now! We're already an hour late!"

"I thought you said parties are supposed to be spontaneous, not precisely planned." Paine reminded her as Yuna slowly opened the door, walking out wide-eyed.

"That was just 'cause we really needed to take Yunie shopping, that's all." She bluntly replied. "And now look at her! Yum-my!" Rikku grinned, and snatched her cousins hand, yanking her out the door. "Dr.P, you will be the designated driver, because I want Yunie to feel free to let loose!"

"…We're not driving anywhere."

"I know, but in a figurative sense, you know?" Rikku replied snappily. Paine gave Yuna a 'how-do-you-deal?' look, and Yuna countered with a 'you-live-with-her' shrug.

"So, where is his house?" Yuna asked curiously.

"On the third floor. The one with all the humongous apartments." Paine replied from behind the cousins. She lagged behind lazily, unenthusiastic about the whole ordeal.

"Isn't there an elevator? This is my…first time in heels…ever." Yuna admitted quietly. Rikku groaned.

"Fine! But everyone will be taking the elevator to his house…it's going to be crowded and--" She began before Paine told her to stop complaining, since she was the one who shoved Yuna in 4 inch stiletto's.

After 10 minutes of constant whining (from Rikku), physical abuse (from Paine), and whimpers (from Yuna), they had finally arrived. A few people had entered just as they got to the door, and the brunette in a blue dress held the door open for the trio. She immediately snatched Rikku's arm and dragged her out to talk to someone, leaving Yuna dumbfounded.

The first timer glanced around nervously, barely fought back a wince from the eardrum-bursting hip-hop, and spun in a full circle, looking for Paine, who happened to be right in front of her. "I'll show you how I party." Paine joked, and motioned for Yuna to follow. She did, and found herself in the kitchen, leaning on a counter, munching on appetizers. "She mingles, I munch. It's a routine." Paine shrugged.

"I like it. It works." Yuna grinned and picked at the junk food at her hands. "And we get such a nice view of the party from here."

"Exactly. Someone understands! …Want a drink?" Yuna shook her head, knowing better than to drink anything at a party like this, unless it was water. "Good choice. Gippal spikes everything, by popular demand."

Thoughts so. I'm not so naïve…Yuna thought, turning to scrounge for more food. A random tap on her shoulder made her jump and swing around.

"Hey, 'sup?" Yuna raised an eyebrow unconsciously at the man who had just touched her.

"…Nothing. Who are you?" Her voice was filled with such suspicion, Paine was tempted to laugh. She really was new at this…

"My name's Jace. 'Just wanted to know if I could get a dance out of you." Yuna looked him up and down. He wasn't bad looking--pretty cute, actually, but she wasn't here to hook up. She was here to?…to…munch.

"Uh, no, actually I'm munching right now. Later, maybe." Yuna protested brightly. She grimaced at her own words, but he retreated anyways, probably thinking various things of her mental health.

"Nice approach." Paine sarcastically complimented, patting her shoulder.

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Long chapter. Yay. Boring, but long. :P But the first few are usually the most lack-luster. Next chapter, I think you'll like. Yunie & Tidus actually meet, Paine (briefly) stops eating, and Rikku gets to scold Yuna. :) Oh, and the title might make sense. xD