Slowly, Yuna became aware of a heavy, drifting feeling in her limbs. As consciousness returned to her, she had the sensation of falling. But it wasn't the real kind of falling, the kind where you know you're going to hit the ground in a matter of seconds and it's going to hurt. No, this was the dream kind of falling, the one where you think you might hit the ground, and it might hurt, but you're not really sure, and you won't be sure until you actually get there. Which seems to take forever, unless you actually do fall and you find yourself awake, in a pile beside your bed, all tangled up in the sheets with your cat looking at you like you're absolutely insane.
This continued for so long, she began to think she might fall asleep. But she soon realised she wasn't awake, so sleeping wasn't an option. Then, of course, she considered waking up. But she wasn't properly asleep, so waking up wasn't an option, either. She was starting to get very frustrated when she suddenly became aware of several people shouting her name.
"I'm up, I'm up," she mumbled, and she was surprised to find her lips actually move.
"Yunie! Are you okay?" Her shoulder was moving. Rikku. Those were Rikku's nails digging into her skin. Only her cousin had fingernails that deadly.
"I'm fine. Where's Tidus?" She opened her eyes as she asked the one question she was most afraid of.
"I'm right here."
She twisted around, nearly giving herself whiplash in the process. "You came back!" she shrieked, scrambling to her feet. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tighter than she ever had.
He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. He held her close, his warm arms wrapped around her slender body. "Of course I did. You think I'd leave you to face those crowds alone?"
She looked up into his face, her eyes shining with love. She didn't reply; she just beamed.
"I'll never leave you alone," he said quietly, kissing her.
She smiled and rested her head on his chest, relaxing against the only strength she'd ever need. No matter what came next, no matter how cold the world became, they would face it together. Like twin pillars in a hurricane, they would stand strong. Nothing would keep them apart…not wind, not rain, not death.