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Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy or any of the characters.
Rikku and Yuna had been back on Besaid for a little over a week now. They had just returned from a sphere hunting mission in Macalania Woods with their friend Paine and it felt so good to be home. Yuna decided to come back to Besaid to stay for a while. Although she liked her life as a Gullwing, she felt like she hadn't had a vacation in three years. Rikku agreed with her cousin. She had been helping rebuild Home along with her sphere hunting missions. She felt like she could sleep for weeks and not wake up. It was time for some good old fashioned rest and relaxation. Of course a lot of fun too.
"So Yunie," Rikku began over breakfast, " since we are going to be here for a little while, I think we should decorate our house a little more. Whatcha think?" Yuna looked across the table at her cousin and smiled. She was glad Rikku accepted her offer to share a house together. Yuna didn't really want to live by herself. Lulu and Wakka had offered the pair rooms at their home and while Yuna and Rikku appreciated the offer, they didn't want to impose on the newlyweds.
"Yeah Rikku I think that's a great idea! Lets get ready to go shopping! We can see if Lulu wants to join us too."
A little while later the three friends made their way to the shops in the heart of Besaid. They soon stopped at a café to talk about all they bought.
"I really like the artwork you bought Lulu," Yuna gushed. She ran her hands over the intricate detail on the vase her friend purchased.
"I thought you might like it Yuna. That's why I bought it as a house warming present for you and Rikku." Lulu told her.
"Oh! Lulu, thank you so much!" Yuna carefully wrapped the blue vase back up and placed it in her sack. Yuna turned to her roommate "Where are we going to put it Rikku?"
Rikku looked up from the ice cream she was eating and replied, "Somewhere I won't break it"
The three women laughed at the truthfulness of the statement. Lulu took the opportunity to get to some serious talking. "So Yuna, how is everything? I mean I know you were disappointed with the results of your sphere hunting mission. How are you now?"
The smile Yuna held faded slightly at the mage's question. She thought it best to answer honestly. After all Rikku and Lulu were her best friends and she wanted to share what was in her heart. "Well, I think I am going to be ok. But that is because I have not given up." Yuna refused to believe that she would never see Tidus again. Above all else she had her hope.
Lulu looked at her friend. She wanted nothing more than to be able to bring Yuna happiness, but she knew it was up to Yuna to find her peace. "Yuna I am glad to hear that. I would hate to think you lost all hope and was going to be miserable here."
\Yuna was glad for her guardians words."Lulu, I have my hope, but I'm afraid that's about all. After all the sphere hunting and everything we learned, I don't know if it is possible for anyone touched by Sin or Yu Yevon to return. Even Tidus." Yuna wished and wished things could be different but she wasn't sure if her dreams would ever become a reality.
Lulu was surprised at the young woman's words. Yuna had never openly discussed her feeling about Tidus since he disappeared. Sure she knew Yuna missed and loved him, but Yuna never wanted to talk about it too much. Lulu glanced over at the young Al Bhed who was trying to eat her ice cream before it melted in the hot sun. Rikku didn't look particularly fazed by Yuna's statement so Lulu assumed the two had spoke of such things before. She hoped she wasn't losing touch with her friends. She felt since her marriage they had grown apart. She loved Wakka to death, but every time someone she knew got married, the friendship was changed. She did not want to her friendships with Yuna and Rikku to change.
Before Lulu could answer, Rikku piped up. "Yunie, when you were on your pilgrimage what did everyone keep saying to you?"
Yuna blinked in thought. "Stop the pilgrimage and go home?"
Rikku rolled her eyes and said, "No Yuna. They said you had to go on and defeat Sin and then give you life and die. They said there was no other way. Now what did Rikku say from the beginning"
Yuna smiled. "You said that there had to be another way. You would find it and I would live no matter what."
Rikku stood and pumped her fist in the air. "Yeah I did! I was so right! I told you a bunch of times and I will tell you again now Yuna. I have a feeling this isn't the end for you and Tidus. True love conquers all Yuna. Gees don't you watch Disney movies?"
Yuna laughed at her cousin. "Rikku I think my situation is a little more complicated."
Rikku sat back down pushing her melted dessert aside. "My point is I just have a feeling Yuna"
Lulu decided now was a good time to ask if she was being left out. "So Yuna have you told Rikku about your worries before?"
"Well we talk about it at times. I am still trying to get my head together you know? But don't worry Lulu, now I am living right down the street! We will all have plenty of time to catch up! Rikku can even tell yo about her crush!"
Rikku choked on the last of her soda and spit it out across the table at the same moment Lulu asked, "What?"
Yuna's laughter had been cut short by the sudden spray of cola across her dress, "EWWWW...Rikku that was gross!" She then returned to her fit of laughter.
The three women laughed until they heard a gruff voice behind them. "Well I am glad to see you three are having a good time.I, on the other hand, just spent a long trip from the farplane listening to a lovely reading of 100 things I love about Yuna."
Yuna, Rikku, and Lulu held their breathes as they turned toward the sun to see Auron and Tidus walking out of what appeared to be a doorway cut in the scenery.
Lulu was the first to speak. Or rather she was the first one to choke out, " Sir-...Auron?...Tidus?
How? But what? Why?"
Tidus grinned from ear to ear. "We can play twenty questions later Lulu. Right now I have something to do."
Tidus walked over to his Yuna and kissed her as tears flowed from both of their eyes.
"I told you so" Rikku whispered to Lulu.
