For the rest of his life, Tidus would remember the smile she gave him over her shoulder, so coy and playful. It was the first glimpse he caught of a part of Yuna's hidden nature, suddenly revealed by the savage beauty of the night's festival.

Her arms rested over his around her slim waist.

"Think you can keep up?" she asked with a light smirk. Tidus grinned back down at her, his eyes gleaming readily.

"Try and stop me."

He swung her around then, determined that they should face each other eye-to-eye. She gasped slightly at the abrupt movement, but she was still smiling. They began dancing then.

Tidus knew he was a good dancer. He had been well known for it back in Besaid at the parties and gatherings. But he was more than a little nervous when he decided to approach Yuna. What if he stepped on her foot? What if he accidentally tripped her? What if he slipped and lost his balance?

But the moment her arms snaked around his neck seductively, the moment she pressed her hips against his, all fears vanished. All that mattered was the beating of her heart with his, the rhythm to which they both moved so skilfully.

He had danced with several other girls before creeping up behind Yuna to ask her. All of them had been fun and talented dancers, not at all shy about their bodies. He had enjoyed their company. But seeing Yuna dancing with other men was suddenly a problem for him. He didn't like the smiles she gave them, the way their eyes slid over her hungrily. Even the bashful redheaded boy she had been with had placed his arms around her in a manner that was less than innocent.

Not once did they take their eyes away from each other. Their faces were so close that Tidus would only have to lean down ever so slightly before his lips would be upon hers. The idea was very, very tempting.

Yuna smiled up at him, her forehead nearly touching his. There were moving bodies all around them. The smell of sweat and warmth and dirt was almost overwhelming, but it was exciting. It gave Tidus a rush of adrenaline. Suddenly he felt as if he could dance with her all night. It was intoxicating, the heated smell of her flesh touching his own, her eyes passionately lit with fire.

"You dance well," Yuna said, slightly out of breath. The primitive music was fast-paced and vigorous, a challenge to keep up with.

"I've had practice. You're not bad yourself," he replied, panting a little as well. She laughed, moving her hips provocatively alongside his. He copied the motion, letting his hand linger low on the small of her back. The other hand rested between her shoulder blades.

"I've had no practice. If the priests had caught me dancing this way I would have been beaten senseless."

He could only laugh as well, but it was not heartfelt. At the mention of priests, Tidus once again remembered why he and Yuna were even together in the first place. The smile died on his lips, and he stopped moving. Yuna's face became concerned, but she still kept her arms around his neck.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing, it's just that . . ." he sighed and stared down at her helplessly. "How long can we stay here? The temple warriors will track us back here, and there's no telling what they'll do. They might burn this village and kill the people for hiding us, Yuna."

His words sobered her instantly. Her arms dropped back to her sides and she took a step back from him. Tidus immediately regretted saying it. He wanted more than anything to have that smile back, her arms around him again. Mentally he slapped himself for being such an idiot. He had no right to make her unhappy, this night of all nights. For the first time she had looked truly carefree, as a girl her age should be.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. Somehow, even over the music and mass of voices, he knew she could hear him. "I shouldn't have said that. You were having fun."

"No," she said, closing her eyes. "No, you're right. We can't stay here long. I don't want to risk these people's lives after what they've done for us."

How sad she looked. Tidus reached up and touched the side of her face, offering her a soft smile.

"Still want to dance with me? I'm not ready to quit just yet," he said challengingly. She smiled weakly back, shaking her head.

"No, I think I need to sit down for a while anyway. I've been up on my feet all night," she said, pushing past him. Impulsively, Tidus reached out and caught her hand in his.

"I want you to enjoy yourself, Yuna," he said sincerely. She stared up at him. "You deserve it more than anyone."

To his surprise, Yuna went up on her toes and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. He stood still, dazed at the warmth of her satin lips. It was an unexpected gesture, but one he did not mind in the least.

"Keep dancing," she said in a low voice. And then she moved away, disappearing through the crowd. Tidus watched her go regretfully, alone in the middle of a writhing mass of dancers.

A warm arm slipped around his neck. He turned around to find himself caught in the gaze of two swimming hazel eyes. The girl they belonged to was no less captivating, with flowing tresses of white-blonde hair and cream-coloured skin. She smiled beguilingly, and Tidus suddenly realized that she was naked from the waist up.

"Good evening, my lord," she said in a charmingly accented voice. "Care to dance?"

Tidus swallowed and nodded, trying desperately to keep his eyes from flickering downward. The enchantingly formal girl embraced him provocatively and began to dance, smiling into the side of Tidus' neck. Fighting the urges that were now flooding through him, Tidus wrapped his arms around her and allowed her to press herself unnecessarily hard against him. He could feel her unhindered breasts heaving against his chest. Had it been a week ago, Tidus would have been pleased with the situation.

"You seem troubled," the girl told him, her low voice almost hypnotic. Tidus closed his eyes and shook his head.

"How could I be troubled when I'm dancing with a girl like you?" he asked her in a strangely monotone voice, attempting weakly to regain some of his flirting nature. She chuckled throatily and tilted her head to the side, letting her silver-blonde hair tumble ethereally over her slender shoulder.

"Perhaps the handsome lord would tell me why he uses false words to mask what his heart feels?" she asked knowingly. Tidus nearly flinched.

"Forgive me," he said. "You really are beautiful, I didn't mean . . . It's just that . . ."

"Aida is listening, my lord," the young woman said patiently, her face nearly touching Tidus'. He watched her leaning closer to him through half-closed dreamy eyes. Great aeons, she was gorgeous.

"It's just that I . . . the Lady Yuna . . . I . . ." he stammered, suddenly losing control of his words.

"Hush," Aida said soothingly, placing a delicate finger over his mouth with a daring tenderness. Somehow she understood his uncertainty. "Tonight, let me fill her place for you."

He felt powerless, helpless as she pulled him down to meet her lips. There were a million thoughts and sensations running through him, and he could not even begin to sort them. All he knew for certain was that she was warm, and beautiful, and perfectly within his reach.

Aida pulled back slightly, smiling up at him with a satisfaction. She began walking backwards, her hands gently pulling him by the hips after her, carelessly cutting through the twisting crowd. As if in a trance, Tidus began to follow her, feeling the masculine stirrings that were often summoned in situations such as this, anticipating what was surely to follow. He was aware that they were drawing closer to the tree line, just beyond the festival gathering ring.

And then he felt it. A strange concentrated intensity on the back of his head, too powerful to ignore. He froze and whirled around, ignoring Aida's persistent hands on him. In an instant his eyes connected to a pair of shocked and hurt bicoloured eyes, blue and green jewels.

They were locked in each other's gaze for one eternal moment. And then Yuna lowered her gaze. Tidus was wracked with an overwhelming sense of regret and shame as he watched her turn away, striding quickly away from the festival ring. She disappeared, masked by the swirling dancing crowd, and Tidus was dumbfounded. Too many emotions were coursing through him. Too many thoughts and fears.

"My lord," Aida said in a coaxing voice. As if unable to move of his own free will, Tidus mutely followed her, still staring worriedly over his shoulder after Yuna's retreating form. He could barely even think straight. What on Spira had just happened?

Aida guided him into the trees. "Don't think of her," she said in a sultry voice. "Do you not desire me?"

"I don't know what I want," he said numbly. Blue and green eyes, glistening with hurt . . . He was dimly aware of her hands unlacing his dark green tunic. She was kissing the side of his neck, her lips warm and seductive. Part of him did not want to refuse the impulses he felt for this girl, but there were shadows in his mind, clouding his judgement, confusing him.

Aida pulled off his tunic and cast it to the mossy ground carelessly, running her hands up his stomach and over his smooth chest.

When her fingers began to trail down to his trouser ties, he snapped back into reality and shoved himself away from her, suddenly feeling violently ill. He could not lie with Aida, not when his head was full of blue and green eyes, questioning him ceaselessly.

The young woman watched him irritably as he gathered his tunic and put it back on, absently forgetting to tie it back up again. He had to find Yuna. He didn't know why, but he had to.

The rest of the village was chillingly empty. Tidus, now jogging, speedily made his way through the spacious dirt streets, his guilty heart pounding.

When at last he reached the guesthouse, he was worried to see that no lights shone within. Was Yuna in there, alone in the dark?

"Yuna?" he called in a hushed voice, stepping into the stone structure with cautious strides. It was as if he was tracking a wounded animal. The analogy made him smile bitterly. In a way, it almost seemed true.

"Yuna . . ." he said at last, entering the bedchamber. She lay curled up on the bed, her chin tucked against her chest, her knees bent up. Her arms were resting on the pillow by her pale face. In the darkness, a shaft of moonlight filtered in from the window and bathed her body in a glorious milky light.

He ached for her, for being the cause of this pain. Inexplicably, he knew it was his fault.

After hastily washing the paint from his face in a nearby water basin, he slowly and carefully crawled onto the bed behind her. He saw her muscles stiffen, but it was almost undetectable.

"Yuna," he whispered. She continued feigning sleep. Obviously she did not wish to speak to him.

He leaned over her, gazing in awe at her flawlessness, made more dream-like in the moon's pale light. Even after bathing her face, he could faintly detect her musky sweat smell, and it warmed his heart. Then he lowered his face so that his lips scarcely brushed her ear.

"For whatever I've done to hurt you tonight," he murmured, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

With a faint smile he saw her shiver at the feel of his hot breath caressing her ear. Then, he rolled over and turned his back to her, waiting for sleep to take him. He did not have to wait long in the silence between them, broken only by the distant sounds of music and singing.

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When Tidus awoke, he was surprised to see that it was still dark out. He could not have been asleep for more than two hours . . .

It then hit him, the memory of what transpired between Yuna and himself. He knew for a fact that something had indeed occurred involving the two of them, but what he was not exactly sure. Was Yuna upset at seeing him kiss that girl Aida? If so, why? Was it jealousy, or was it just plain shock? Tidus felt a cruel desire for it to be the former.

It was then realized that Yuna was not in the bed next to him as she had been when he fell asleep. The space she had formerly occupied was still warm, however. He lay his hand over it, letting his fingers catch the lingering essence of the girl who had lain there.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and then left the guesthouse, determined to find Yuna. All his instincts told him to do it, without answering his own inner questions as to why. It didn't matter why. He just wanted to do something, anything to erase the memory of those injured eyes piercing his mind.

Strangely enough, he was not surprised to see Lulu walking towards him, still decked in her High Priestess festival outfit.

"I was just coming to wake you," she said in her velvety smooth voice. "She's at the hot springs, just through those trees." He did not have to ask who she was talking about as she pointed towards the woods.

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked her, frowning in puzzlement. She just gave him a mysterious look, and bowed as she walked away, back towards the festival grounds. The party would last all night, and well into the morning. Tidus watched her go for a moment, still confused, but his sense of urgency pushed him forward again.

He made his way through the trees easily, and less than a minute later he could hear the sounds of running water. Quickening his pace, it was not long before he came to the edge of a steaming spring.

Yuna was sitting there, her back to him. Her slender legs were dipped in the water, but the rest of her appeared dry. Slowly Tidus walked towards her, and then sat down next to her. She did not look at him, but he was startled to see that her cheeks were red from embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I was acting foolish."

"I have no idea what happened tonight," he admitted. "But I think it may have been a simple misunderstanding."

She hesitated, finally turning to look at him with beautiful, questioning eyes.

"I wish I knew. I wish I knew why I was so hurt to see you kissing that other woman . . . I had no right to be," she said at last. "It is none of my concern who you bed with."

Tidus frowned, confused, and then realized how messy his already unmanageable blonde hair was, and that his tunic was still unlaced, revealing his bare chest. He felt like ramming his head into a tree trunk. How must he have looked to her?

"Yuna," he said quickly. "Nothing happened after that, I swear to you. It almost did, but . . . I left before things got out of hand."

"Really?" she asked, a spark of relief in her eyes. She quickly extinguished it and replaced it with a calm expression. "I see. You were right then; it was a misunderstanding."

"Right. But . . ."

"But what?"

He paused, wondering how to say it. "When that girl Aida tried to convince me to. . . you know . . . I just couldn't stop picturing your face when you saw me kiss her. I couldn't see anything else."

She stared at him, and he could see the warmth radiating in her. He could tell she was trying not to smile. They stared at each other for a moment, and then Tidus looked away.

"We never should have come here," he said quietly. Yuna lowered her face.

"I know. These people don't deserve to be put in danger. We should leave as soon as we can," she said sadly.

Silence.

"Tidus?"

"Yes?"

"That night, in your house back in Besaid . . . when I offered myself to you in payment for your services . . ."

He glanced at her quickly, urging her to continue with his curious blue eyes.

"Why didn't you take me?"

He sighed heavily and dipped his feet in the water next to hers. The heat felt nice.

"I don't know. Call it my gentlemanly ways, call it idiocy. I wouldn't have felt right being with a girl who didn't really want me."

She slowly turned and looked up at him.

"You're wrong," she whispered. "I wanted you."

Tidus felt his heart fly into his throat. He reached up to touch her face and then awkwardly dropped it.

"If I had known . . ."

An explosion behind them made the earth rumble, shattering the frailty of their moment.