A/N: Sorry for the long wait, everyone, but I hope I can make it up to you with this long chapter… I hope you all like it. ;)
Chapter 10
Brothers
I didn't get much sleep that night, but this time it wasn't because I was dreaming, it was because I was remembering. I couldn't keep my mind from thinking about everything that had happened ― all the good things, all the bad things, every little special moment Tidus and I had spent together from the first time I saw him until that very night, when he had returned to my life in the blink of an eye. I still couldn't believe he was here in Besaid; I still couldn't believe he had talked to me like we had seen each other less than a week ago; I still couldn't believe I had answered him with such manners, fleeing to the bathroom and eavesdropping on his conversation with Lulu… I was really ashamed of this last part.
Finally, tired of turning on my bed without finding any sleep, I got up and went downstairs, putting a robe over my pajamas. Looking at my wrist watch in the hallway's dim light, I saw it was almost six in the morning. Perfect! This way I would be able to watch the sunrise from our front porch. I unlocked the front door and opened it silently, stepping outside and sitting on one of the armchairs. Then I leaned back and looked at the sky ― it was turning pink and orange and the clouds were shining like they had a light of their own. It was so beautiful! Suddenly I heard Tidus' words "The city lights go out one by one. The stars fade… It's kinda rose-colored, right? First in the sea, then it spreads to the sky, then to the whole city. It gets brighter and brighter, till everything glows. It's really… pretty." He had told me that the first time we had been alone and he had promised to show it to me sometime. Funny, he never got to do it ― there was no need to; I saw the sunshine every time I looked at him! But since that day, the sunrise had become one of my favorite times of the day…
Thinking of Tidus, I recalled last night once again. What was I thinking when I had exploded on him like that! Was that my way of showing him that he didn't affect me anymore? How sad… And then, as if that hadn't been enough, I had been hearing his private talk with Lulu ― I almost wanted to beat myself for doing that; that was low and it was completely against my values, but still I had done it… I was so angry at myself because of everything!
I sighed deeply, as the sun began to rise in the sky. It was the beginning of a new day ― full of opportunities and new beginnings, even for me. And so, with the sun as my only witness, I silently made the decision to go through this situation of Tidus coming back with as much patience and calmness and coolness as possible; next time I would meet Tidus I would be collected and civilized and I would prove everyone that I was completely over him and what had happened between us. I didn't need to be friendly, I just needed to be polite, that was all. It shouldn't be that difficult…
I stayed on the porch for a little longer, just looking at the sky and thinking. When it was near eight o'clock, I stood up and reentered the house. Because it was a Saturday, the house was still silent, but as I climbed the stairs I heard a faint noise coming from Uncle Cid's room ― probably he was already awake, being the morning person he was. Still, I did not go check it up and went straight to my bedroom. I wanted to get ready to go and meet Shuyin at the hospital ― he had to be informed that his brother had returned and it would be best if he heard it from me than from any other person; I didn't want him to lose his trust in me…
I showered and then dressed in white jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. After doing my hair, I went back downstairs and stepped into the kitchen, where I drank a glass of milk and ate a piece of the chocolate cake I had made two days before. Then I wrapped a napkin around another piece and put it in my bag; I knew Shuyin loved chocolate cake!
I wrote a note telling them where I was and that I had taken Cid's car ― mine was still being repaired and I knew Uncle Cid didn't work on Saturdays, so… I left the paper on the kitchen counter before I left for the hospital.
-----XX-----
The hospital was nearly empty when I arrived, but I wasn't surprised to hear that Jecht had already a visitor. I knew that Shuyin hated his father with all his might and wasn't even that worried about his health, but I also knew that he was responsible enough not to abandon his father in a time like this, and that deep inside he was sad about his father's situation. After all, and not including Tidus, Jecht was the only family Shuyin had left … So, he went there every morning to check on his father before going back to his daily routine.
"It's that little blonde boy that's usually here. I think it's the son." One of the nurses informed me, when I asked who was visiting Jecht.
I thanked her and made my way to the ex-blitzer's room. I slowly opened the door, saying in a low voice "'Morning, Shu. I brought you some chocolate cake, your fav―"
I stopped what I was saying when 'Shuyin' turned. Only it wasn't Shuyin who was sitting next to his father's bed ― it was Tidus! I blinked twice as he looked up at me and our gazes locked. It seemed forever until the silence was broken and I was the first one to look away.
"I'm sorry, I'll come back later." I apologized, turning on my heels and grabbing the doorknob to leave him alone again.
"Please, stay." He asked me, before I could get out.
I looked over my shoulder and saw him sitting there, looking so sad and so lonely beside his sleeping father. At that moment I understood why the nurses had thought he was Shuyin ― he was wearing the same somber expression his brother had every time he came to the hospital… Right now he didn't look like the cheerful and smiling Tidus everybody knew and loved; at that moment he was showing a side of him only a few people had known ― the side that could get depressed from time to time.
He gazed at his father again. "It's so strange seeing him lying here… He used to be so big, in my eyes! And now he is so small and so…" he trailed off, as if searching the right word in his mind. Apparently he gave up, for he looked at me again "Was he like this before the accident?"
By this time I was already by the feet of the bed, looking at Jecht's bruised figure. "He had been broken down by the alcohol. It was all he lived for and it's the reason why he's here." I spoke quietly "I think you wouldn't like to have seen his state before the accident, Tidus."
It was the first time I had called his name in almost two years but somehow it didn't feel strange at all. None of this seemed strange, though it should have, especially after our encounter from last night. Okay, I know I said I was going to be civilized and polite and all that and it's also true that this wasn't the time or place for an argument, but the truth was that I was feeling almost comfortable, talking to him like this…
"I would like to know, Yuna." He responded, looking at me straight in the eye.
I sighed. "He looked like a beggar; like he had been sleeping in the streets for almost a year, which I really don't doubt, seeing that he spent all the money he had on drinking. His hair was long and his clothes were worn out…"
"How do you know all that?"
I didn't know if I wanted to answer that, but the look he was giving me told me he really wanted to know. "I saw him about a month ago, at Shuyin's house. He had gone over to ask your brother for money and when he saw me…" I trailed off, recalling that day.
"I know Tidus would appreciate if you…"
I closed my eyes, not wanting to remember.
"What did he do to you, Yuna?"
I opened my eyes again and stared at a pair of cerulean ones. Tidus had got up and was close to me now, looking down at me with worry in his beautiful eyes. I gasped when I noticed our closeness and took a small step backwards. "He did nothing to me; Shuyin would never let him…"
Tidus also took two steps back, as if realizing his impulsive act, and he sat back on the chair. "I hate hospitals!"
I was still too numbed by what had happened in those swift seconds to say anything. What was happening with me? One night I argued with him, the next day I chatted with him and the following moment we were almost touching and… No, I wouldn't go any further on that chain of thoughts. Now we were at a perfectly acceptable distance and maybe I could just pretend that my heart wasn't pounding on my chest. I knew I shouldn't have stayed in the first place; why had I stayed anyways? I was trying to be polite, not friendly…
"These places are horrible!" he continued, running his fingers through his hair "Nobody likes to be hospitalized because no one likes to be ill; and nobody likes to come and visit the ones who are ill, because it reminds them that they can also be ill, sooner or later…"
"And coming to see the ones you love," I said, without even realizing I was speaking "without knowing if it will be the last time you see them in this life is definitely the worst part of it all."
I felt Tidus gaze on me and I blushed slightly. I didn't know why I had said that; I just felt I needed to say it, as if it was necessary to complete the idea. It was something I would never say to just any person; it was too personal for that. But Tidus wasn't any person, he was him and saying that to him was almost as if saying it to myself because of the relation we shared… Wait a second, Yuna! I told myself. You don't share a relationship anymore. Now he's not him, he's just another person…
"You're talking about your father, aren't you?" he asked me, his voice soft and kind.
I nodded. "He was five months in a hospital before he passed away."
"I'm sorry to hear that. You never told me much about it." That was his first allusion to our past together.
"Guess there wasn't much to tell. Besides, at the time all I wanted was to forget." I answered, lowering my head. Then I lifted it up again, only to find him staring at me Oh, boy! Why does he have to look at me like that? "Listen, Tidus, about last night…"
He looked away. "I don't wanna talk about it, Yuna."
"But I do." I said firmly "I want to apologize to you. I crossed the line and was extremely rude to you. I had no right to be like that. Anyways, what I wanted to say was that I'm sorry and that it won't happen again…"
"You were unprepared, that was all." He said, averting my eyes. Then he added, in an almost inaudible voice "I was the one stupid enough to believe things would be great…"
I didn't know what to say to that. Maybe the truth would be the best option. But the moment I opened my mouth to answer and to tell him that things would never be great again, the door of the room opened again and Shuyin and Lenne walked in, hand in hand.
Shuyin stopped abruptly when he saw us ― when he saw Tidus ― and the smile fell from his face to be replaced by a shocked expression. There goes my chance to talk to him before the two of them meet… I thought bitterly when I saw anger flaring in Shuyin's eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Before Tidus could even speak, Shuyin turned his eyes in my direction. "Did you bring him here?"
"No, she didn't." Tidus answered, stepping forward and facing his brother. "I came alone."
Shuyin was still looking at me and I nodded. "Yeah, I met him here. He arrived yesterday."
"Is that true?" Lenne let go of Shuyin's hand and headed towards Tidus with a big smile "And did you have a nice flight?" Tidus smiled a little at her and nodded. "Well, then welcome back, Tidus."
"Thanks, Lenne." He said as she hugged him and kissed his cheek.
I looked at Shuyin. His face was unreadable, his eyes stone cold and his lips tightened in a thin line. He then closed his eyes and took a deep breath like he was trying to calm himself before speaking again. "So, Tidus…"
Tidus and Lenne broke apart and he looked at his older brother. There was hope in his gaze. "Yeah?"
"We both know you're not here to stay, so let's cut the formalities and get straight to the point. When are you gonna go back to Zanarkand?"
We all looked at Shuyin, but Tidus was the most surprised of us all. By the shock in his eyes, I knew he just couldn't believe his brother had asked him that. He had just arrived, how could Shuyin be already asking when he was going to leave? But then again, Shuyin was right ― Tidus wasn't there to stay. He was just there to visit his father… his family… and to take off again. His life's not in here anymore, I thought to myself. Now it's in Zanarkand.
"Shuyin!" Lenne scolded him.
"What? Don't we have the right to know how long he'll be here this time?" Shuyin retorted.
Lenne was about to reply and, before they started arguing and yelling I stepped in the middle of them. "Hey, remember where you are. This is a hospital room. If you want to fight, go outside."
"We don't want to fight, right, Shuyin?" Lenne said quietly after a while.
He bent down his head. "Yeah, whatever."
Suddenly I took Shuyin's hand on my own. "Hey, Shu, why don't you and I go get some breakfast, huh?"
His eyes lowered until they met mine and I smiled at him. "Breakfast?"
"Yeah, breakfast, like in… chocolate cake. Please, Shu."
"Yeah, go with Yuna, Shuyin." Lenne said, looking straight at him "It's better if you just go for now."
Shuyin just stared at her and Tidus and then turned, dragging me out of the room with him. We didn't talk until we got to the main doors of the hospital, but then I suddenly stopped, making him look at me.
"That was very rude of you, Shuyin." I reprimanded him.
"Which part?" he asked back, his tone angry and insolent.
I yanked my hand free and glared at him, pointing one finger at his face. "Don't you even dare speaking to me like that again! What happened in there was not my fault! I won't allow you to blame me for it!"
Shuyin blinked twice and then his eyes softened and he grabbed my hand again. "Sorry, Yuna. You're right, I'm sorry…"
"You need to control your temper, Shu." I told him "Things aren't the best right now, I know, but you just can't turn against the world because of it. Some people don't deserve it…"
"I know, I know, I'm sorry… It's just that… I wasn't expecting it."
"Okay, I know you were caught off guard…" I said, in a forgiving tone. "The same happened to me last night."
"Last night?"
I sighed "Yes, last night. The difference between us is that the only person I yelled at was your brother…" he frowned a little and I tugged at his hand "C'mon, let's sit down and I'll tell you everything."
We got out of the building and sat in one of the wooden banks in the small garden in front of the hospital. I picked the piece of cake I had brought and gave it to him.
"Here's your breakfast…"
He smiled broadly and took it. "I'm surprised you still remember my passion for chocolate cake."
"Well, don't be. It's not hard to recall. Every time we went out you always asked for chocolate cake and your brother for pancakes with chocolate topping. I think you are both crazy for chocolate…"
He smiled again, but this time it was a sad smile and I wished I hadn't talked about the past. We remained silent for a few moments, while Shuyin ate the cake. Then he turned to me "So… what happened last night?"
"I… I found out that Tidus had returned… the worst way possible." And I started telling him about everything that had happened the night before. Well, everything except for the snooping part. I realized I was still too embarrassed to talk about it in the open, even if it was with Shuyin. So I didn't say a word about it. When I finished, I looked at him "So, this is what happened."
"Yeah, well…" Shuyin started, looking at his hands "At least you just ran off into the bathroom ― and you were in Lulu's house and she's like a big sister to you, so… As for me, I yell at my brother, at my girlfriend and at my best friend inside a hospital."
"Well, Shuyin, it could be worse. At least we love you and you know we'll forgive you… eventually." I joked, smiling at him. "But wait a second! Did I hear it right?"
"What?" he asked, smiling back at me.
"Did you just say 'girlfriend'?"
"Maybe…" he teased, his eyes filled with amusement.
I slapped him in the arm, giggling. "You… you… Argh! When were you planning on telling me this?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. It happened right after the accident and then I never saw you again. We haven't seen each other in… what? A week? Two?"
"Hello! That's the reason why we have cell phones." Then I suddenly hugged him "I'm really happy for you, Shu!"
"Thank you." He said, hugging me back.
"For what?" I asked, backing away.
"For being my best friend… and for being that little voice of reason inside my head."
"I am?" I was truly surprised…
"Yeah, you are. When I'm near you, I get more sensible and collected. Believe it, lil' sis."
That nickname… I sighed. "Why did you start calling me that again?"
"Well, don't you like it? I though you did…"
"I do, but… I don't know. That nickname was appropriated when I was…" I trailed off.
Shuyin frowned, reading my thoughts. "Yuna, I didn't give you that nickname because you were Tidus' girlfriend." He said quietly. "I gave it to you because if I had a sister, I would want her to be just like you."
I smiled again. "Thanks, Shuyin."
"For what?"
"For being my best friend…"
He smiled and kissed my forehead. "No problem." Then he got up and stretched "Now I think it's time to go back inside. I still need to talk to the doctor 'bout Jecht's condition. Last time she told me they would probably have to make a surgery or somethin'… I don't know."
I stood up and put a hand on his shoulder. "Your father's gonna make it, Shuyin. Don't worry…"
He looked at me "You know, sometimes I wish he didn't wake up. That way, it would be one less problem in my life, not to mention in his… He's so weak now. Just a shadow of who he was…"
I didn't know what to say to him. Tidus had told me a long time ago that Shuyin still remembered the days when their father was a great Blitzball player, and a hero to many kids like Shuyin himself. Shuyin's dream had been to be exactly like his father, but then his dream had been broken the first time his father's fist collided with his face and Shuyin had lost his course. He became more lonely and reserved and the only people who were able to bring him out of his shell were his few friends…
"But then," he continued, "another part of me wants him to wake up so I can say all the things I've kept bottled up inside. And even though he's not the best father ever, he's the only one I've got…"
Instead of saying anything that could come out wrong, I just put my arms around his waist and held him close to me, as if silently saying that I was there for him anytime. Slowly his arms encircled me too and he rested his head on my shoulder.
We were still like that when a familiar voice called us. Shuyin and I let go of each other and looked at the person to whom the voice belonged ― Lenne. She and Tidus were approaching us, coming from the hospital.
"Well, well, if you start getting this close each time you see each other, I'm gonna start getting jealous." Lenne said in a joking tone, a big smile plastered on her face. Apparently she was no longer upset with Shuyin.
"Well, Lenne, you know Shuyin's irresistible." I said in the same tone.
She laughed and grabbed Shuyin's arm, saying in a very sweet voice "That's the reason why I'm so happy to know that he's mine."
He melted right away in the smile she gave him and leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips. She returned the kiss and he whispered in her ear "Sorry 'bout what happened back there."
She smiled at him "It's alright. You wanna go somewhere?"
"Yeah, back into the hospital…" he grunted "I need to speak with the doctor about the operation."
"There's no need." Lenne said quickly "Tidus and I have already talked to the doctor and she said that they won't do anything for now. Jecht's been stable for some time and she thinks it's best if he recovers for himself. Besides, this operation is not secure and they don't want to risk it just yet."
"Yeah, I bet they just figured out I had no cash to pay for it." Shuyin groaned, looking down.
"That's not the problem, Shuyin." Tidus suddenly said "I told the doctor I would pay for it and she still said the same. It's risky."
Shuyin and Tidus just glared at each other for a few moments and I felt like I had entered a different dimension or something. The silence was so thick it could be cut down with a knife. I realized I couldn't stay there any longer ― the tension was unbearable and I needed to hear something, even if it was my own voice.
"I should be going now…" I suddenly said. Three pairs of eyes shifted their gaze to me and I felt really uncomfortable "I still have things to do at home…"
Lenne was the first to break into a smile "We understand, Yuna. Shuyin and I have things to do too, don't we, sweetheart?"
He just nodded in response.
"I must go too." Tidus said "I still have to meet with Rikku. She's taking me out for lunch."
"She's what?" I asked, astounded with his words.
Tidus looked at me "Rikku invited me to lunch on the downtown. Why, Yuna?"
I blinked. "For nothing. Nothing at all."
Both Tidus and Shuyin narrowed their eyes (Damn, why did I let them know me so well?) but Lenne just clapped her hands as if she had just had the idea of the century. "Well, in that case, since you're both going to the same place," she pointed towards me and Tidus, "you could give him a ride, Yuna."
"What?" Shuyin asked in disbelief. As for me, I was wordless.
"Yeah, Tidus was complaining about not having a ride and having to get a cab… Now he has a ride, doesn't he, Yuna?" she smiled innocently at me.
I was silent for a few instants, debating with myself. Giving Tidus a ride and being alone with him in the car's small space was the last thing I wanted to do, but not giving him a ride was awfully rude of me, not to mention that I had vowed to be civilized towards him. But in this case that wouldn't apply, right? It would be friendly, not civilized. I could tell him 'no' politely…
"Okay." Argh, why couldn't I just say 'no'! Was it that hard?
Tidus intense blue eyes were locked on mine. "Are you sure?"
Of course I wasn't sure, but I was cornered… "Yeah, you can come." Then I turned to Shuyin "I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Will you be alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Dah, Shuyin!" Lenne exclaimed.
"I won't rape her if that's what you're so worried about." Tidus said bitterly. I looked at him again and saw in his eyes that he was hurt with Shuyin. And I knew Shuyin was hurt with Tidus. And they were both hurt with their father… Oh Yevon, was that family ever going to solve their problems out and act like a true family?
I touched Shuyin's shoulder. "Yes, Shuyin, I'll be alright. I'll call you later, okay? After all, that's what phones are for." I smiled, trying to make him laugh but he just grimaced. I sighed. "C'mon, Tidus, let's go."
I grabbed the keys to Cid's car and waved at Shuyin and Lenne, turning around and walking towards the parking lot. I didn't look behind to see if Tidus was following me, but then I heard his footsteps and I realized that I would really have to give him a ride.
I unlocked the car and opened the door, but Tidus got it first and held it for me, touching my arm to get my attention. "Yuna, you really don't have to do this, if you don't want to. Lenne thought it was the best, but―"
"Tidus, this is fine by me." I interrupted him with a wave of my hand "In that hospital room I realized you were… staying for a while and that's something that we must live with. Besides, you're my cousin's best friend… and she's my best friend, so… Apparently we're gonna have to see each other more often than we would've liked, but…" I trailed off, fearing that I might have said more than I initially wanted to.
He just stared at me for what seemed like an eternity and I just stood there, feeling naked under his scrutiny. He was not looking at my body, he was looking at my soul with such intensity that I would bet he could read all of my hidden thoughts…
"Tidus! Oh my gosh!" someone shouted somewhere.
Tidus broke our eye contact and looked around, trying to identify the voice's owner. Then, coming out of nowhere, three high school girls rushed in his direction, screaming hysterically and waving their hands with pieces of paper for him to sign. As soon as I realized they were fans I rolled my eyes but he just smirked and answered their requests and questions.
I eyed him as he gave out autographs and kisses and hugs. There was something so wrong with that picture… And no, it wasn't the fact that he was popular and famous and that the girls were flirting with him. The problem was precisely the opposite ― he was flirting back! The Tidus I knew was also popular and had lots of friends and admirers, but he had never, ever, adopted that 'I'm-so-damn-good-and-sexy-you-must-love-me' attitude. He was acting like a conceited jerk, he was acting like… Gippal. Not like my Tidus.
Silly Yuna, I scolded myself, he's not yours! Stop thinking like that!
"Do you wanna go out with me, Tidus?" one of the girls boldly asked. I gazed at her and furrowed my brow, thinking I knew her from somewhere. Suddenly she flicked her black hair and I recognized her. I didn't recall her name, but she had been in high school with Tidus and me ― we were the seniors and she was the freshman. I remembered her because she had made a project that involved interviews and she had interviewed me… and Tidus, if I recall correctly.
"Ya know, baby, there's always a possibility…" Tidus winked at her and brushed the hair out of her face "Gimme your number and I'll call you sometime, okay?"
The girl, to whom in my head I had given the nickname 'I-love-you-so-much-Mr.-Superstar-that-all-I-can-do-is-act-stupidly', nodded… stupidly. Tidus gave her his 50 million gil smile and the girl blushed madly, giggling hysterically. Oh boy, how I wished I had a mirror to show her how foolish she was being…
"Well, girls, I would love to stay and chat all day," Tidus took a step closer to me and, to my eternal surprise, threw his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him "but this beautiful lady here is gonna give me a ride and she doesn't take a 'no' for an answer. Isn't that right, Yunie?"
I looked at him, astonished, and opened my mouth to answer him, but closed it again, not knowing what to say. What the hell was he doing? Didn't he have any respect for me whatsoever?
I was about to tell him that, when he leaned in closer and whispered in my ear "Please, Yuna, play the game… or we'll never get outta here."
I don't know if it was his pleading tone or if it was his hot breath on my neck and ear, but the fact is that I found myself nodding at him. He looked me in the eye and gave me a little smile ― not his trademark smile, but a true one, only meant for me… I tried to smile back and slowly lifted my arm to put it around his waist, maintaining the proximity of our bodies. Oh Yevon, it had been so long since I had last been this way with him. It seemed like a lifetime had passed, and yet my hand found its perfect place on his waistline, his arm was still perfectly placed over my shoulders and my body molded itself to fit next to his like two halves that were meant to become just one piece…
I was so lost into these thoughts ― thoughts that frightened me and confused me ― that I didn't even noticed that the girls were leaving with lots of resigned sighs. Only when they were out of our sight ― not that I was exactly seeing anything at the time ― did Tidus dropped his arm. I quickly did the same, instantly missing the closeness and the warmth of his body.
"Thank you." He said, looking down at me.
"It's okay." I answered, maintaining my coolness "Just don't do it again."
He nodded and we got into the car. I started driving home and for the first five minutes we just stayed in complete silence. Then Tidus spoke again, his voice low and calm, not like the tone he had used towards the girls. I wondered where his big ego and his cocky personality had gone to…
"You saved my ass back there. Those girls would stay there all day long just asking questions and making stupid remarks… It'd be hell, and Auron would kill me. Thank you again."
For one who thinks the girls are so stupid and boring, you seemed pretty enthusiastic, I thought bitterly. But suddenly another question popped inside my head and before I even realized it, I was letting my curiosity take control again "Who's Auron?"
He smiled. "I'll answer you that if you tell me what's wrong 'bout me havin' lunch with your cousin…"
"What?"
"You heard me, Yuna." He said, still smiling.
Why in Spira does this guy have to know me so well!, I asked myself, wanting to hit my head on the wheel. I took a deep breath and then ended up saying "Okay, I'll tell you. But first… Who's Auron?"
He chuckled. "Auron's my father's best friend. He lives in Zanarkand and is the one responsible for me in that city. Well, not anymore… But when I first went there he was, because I was underage and all that stuff, ya know…"
Yeah, I did know. Being underage had been the only reason why I hadn't gone with Tidus to Zanarkand two years before. But Uncle Cid would never allow me, especially being my tutor for only a year or so… No, I would stay right there in Besaid where he could keep an eye on me. And so I had stayed and Tidus had gone away…
"Well, anyways, he's sorta my manager now. He checks out all my contracts and agreements and things like that. Basically, I couldn't picture my professional life without Auron… He can be grumpy and old and boring, but he's also a friend and a…" he trailed off.
"A father." I completed, reading his thoughts.
He just nodded. There was a short pause and then he said. "Well, now's your turn. Spill the beans, Yuna."
It was my turn to smile. "There's nothing wrong about you having lunch with my cousin, Tidus." I innocently said.
"Like I believe that. I saw your reaction, Yuna. I know you're lying and you know you can't lie to me." His comment surprised me and I would like to contradict him, but deep down inside I knew he was speaking the truth.
"Okay…" I said slowly "There's nothing wrong with Rikku and you going out for lunch. The problem is that it won't be just the two of you…"
"Whaddya mean?"
"Every month my group of friends gets together and goes out for lunch on downtown. Today's that day and Rikku's gonna used it to introduce you to everyone."
"What?"
"Yup, that's it; that's Rikku. You should've been expecting something like this from her…" I told him, taking my eyes of the road to glance at him.
"Yeah, I should. But everything seems so different right now; everyone's so different… I guess I thought she would've changed too." He was looking out the window when he said those words and I knew they were directed to me.
I chose to ignore them. "Well, you should already know that Rikku's never gonna change…"
He just nodded and kept staring out of the window.
The rest of the way back to my house was calm and quiet. Tidus and I were silent for most of the way, only exchanging a few words once in a while. When I parked in front of my house, though, he asked if I was going to lunch with them, since it was my group of friends. I remained silent for a few seconds, not really knowing what to answer; I wasn't sure if I was ready to share my group of friends with Tidus ― or was it to share Tidus with my group of friends? ―, but I also didn't want him to understand that I was having these doubts about him, that I wasn't complying with the agreement I, myself, had proposed just a little earlier. No, I had told him that this situation was fine by me and now I would have to oblige. So I just said yes, I was probably going with them. I felt tempted to ask why he was interested in knowing, but I dreaded his answer, so I kept quiet.
We made our way to the front porch and I opened the door, stealing a glance at the chair in which I had been seated earlier that morning. Then, without a second thought I entered the house, yelling "I'm home!"
Tidus followed me inside and closed the door behind him. "I don't think they heard you…" he said, noticing that no one had answered me.
"Oh no, don't worry. They're probably just in the kitchen, eating breakfast." I said, trailing to the living room and dropping my bag on the couch. "They know it's me, so they won't bother coming and checking. You can put your jacket in the closet in the hall." I added, seeing that he was holding his denim jacket in his hands.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
He gave me a small smile and turned, heading for the hall to do as I had told him. As for me, I found myself smiling back and standing there in the living room, waiting for him to come back. When he did, our eyes met briefly, before I lowered mine just to be struck by the vision of his muscled chest, visible through his fitted white shirt. Oh Yevon, his body was so…
"Yuna?"
I looked up abruptly, hoping I wasn't blushing; that was the last thing I wanted and needed right now. "Yeah?"
He was looking at me deeply. "I… I want you to know that…"
But he didn't get the chance to say whatever it was he wanted to say, because, at that moment, the sound of someone clearing their throat made us look away from each other and into the corridor that led to the kitchen, only to find three pairs of swirled green eyes staring back at us.
A/N: So… I really hope you liked it.
Seelenspiel: Thanks.Updating now…
Da KeR MysTerR: This is what happened… Hope you liked it.
Duderman: I know it wasn't a quick update, but it's a long chapter :)… And I hope it was also worth waiting for.
WhiteWolf125: Well, Tidus and Yuna… I don't know… Maybe they'll end up together, maybe not. You'll have to wait and see…
kyritawuv: Thank you, but you don't have to cry… ;) And I'll keep updating, you can bet on that, so… you don't have to feed me to Suzie, lol…
Rachel XXX: Thanks. Here's the update…
tidusXyuna637: Sorry, this was the fastest that I could. Hope you enjoyed.
LennesLostSoul: Thanks. As you can see, Tidus and Yuna won't be together 'NOW', like you want them to be, but don't worry ― they don't have any big, bad, dark secrets in their past… At least I think not. But you never know what can happen next… ;).
Okay everyone, see you next time. Until then, don't forget to review and say what you liked and didn't like (so I can improve myself as a writer…). Thank you.