Lets get the chapter rollin' hmm? Sounds good to me too.

Illusions of Life and Death

Chapter 6
Behind The Smile

Yuna never left her room for the next two days. A lot of villagers lost loved ones that night. Yuna's heart ached, but not as much as she thought it would. Somehow she couldn't feel distress for Baralai. Of course she missed him, they were to be wed. But no more.

She hadn't seen Tidus ever since that night either, which made her wonder even more if he was alive.

He saved my life again…he protected me against those vampires…why did he do that for me?

Yuna sat up on her bed with her legs crossed as she stared down at her bed.

I now understand. I understand him. Tidus is a half-breed. He's a vampire but at the same time human. That's why he saved me that night. Both times actually. He really does have feelings for humans after all.

Yuna then heard a light knock at her door.

"Yunie? You in there?" Came Rikku's voice from out in the hall.

Yuna wiped her tears away and walked over to the door and opened it, staring down at her younger cousin. "Yeah?"

"How you holdin' up cuz?" Rikku asked her softly.

"I'll be okay." Yuna replied.

"It's a big loss for us all. But…if it makes you feel any better, there are some people downstairs who want to see you."

"Really? Who?" Asked Yuna curiously.

"Come down and see." Rikku told her smiling.

Yuna then walked out of her room and made her way downstairs with Rikku. Upon arriving into the dining room, she smiled at whom she saw. It was the first smile anyone had seen on her face in a while.

"Lulu. Wakka." Yuna mumbled to herself.

Lulu walked up to Yuna and the two embraced. "Yuna I'm so sorry about what happened."

Wakka stood there holding Vidina, his and Lulu's 2 year old son. "We came back from Bevelle as soon as we heard the news, ya?"

Yuna and Lulu pulled apart. "Thank you for coming back." She replied.

"Of course." Lulu told her.

Shuyin smiled to see the friends reunited. "Well how about we eat? I'm sure everyone is hungry."

Yuna nodded her head.

Meanwhile upstairs in Yuna's room, Tidus had climbed up to her bedroom window and entered.

"Yuna?" He called out but with no reply. Tidus then began to walk around about through her room. Maybe she was coming back soon?

As he wondered around, Tidus stumbled across something interesting on her desk. A fairly old journal. He picked the book and opened it up to the first page and began to read.

Vampires begun at the dawn of times as humans who were born under the name of the malevolence and mysterious spirit Yu Yevon, while humans on the other hand are born under the name of Yevon. Each and everyone one of them have the potential to live forever, as long as they can supply upon their basic need to feed. They are not entirely dead, nor are they alive. Their personalities without doubt warped in response to the lifestyle that is the true curse of vampirism - closed, dangerous and mad. Although known to be dangerous monsters of the night – my studies have shown that there is a way to covert their cursed warped lives into becoming once again a

"I'll be back down in a sec!" Came a voice from the hallway outside Yuna's room. Tidus dropped the journal on the floor and flinched back as Yuna's door opened slowly.

A young girl then walked in and saw the pale boy standing inside staring at her.

Rikku gasped. "W-Who are you?"

Tidus took a few steps back up against the wall revealing his bloodshot eyes.

Rikku tensed. "You're…Tidus…right?"

Tidus' angry expression calmed. "How do you know that name?"

"Heeeeey it is you." Rikku replied. "You're the one whos been seeing my cousin."

"Yuna is your cousin?" Tidus asked.

Rikku nodded. "Yeah. But unlike her I'm not a Vampire Hunter."

"So it would seem."

"Hey." Rikku pouted. "Don't mock me blondie! I can still take you down."

"Not likely." Tidus began. "Firstly, as you came in your reaction was fear in which isn't like a hunter. Secondly, your unarmed and I doubt you can kill me with your bare hands. And thirdly, if you were to shout for back up just about now, I could kill you even before you have the chance."

Rikku crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay, okay, fine. You win." She then paused for a moment. "So what are you doing here? To see Yunie?"

"Can I?" Tidus asked calmly.

"She's downstairs right now with some old friends."

Just then Rikku and Tidus heard footsteps coming up the stairs. "Rikku?" Came Shuyin's voice.

"Shit!" Rikku cursed whispering. She looked over at Tidus. "You better get outta here before he catches you."

Tidus nodded then jumped out the window, returning to the forest just in time.

Shuyin and Yuna entered the room to find Rikku standing there all alone.

"Rikku what were you doing in my room?" Yuna asked suspiciously.

"Oh, um, nothing much. I was just looking for my umm—you know what? I totally forgot what I came to look for so I might as well go." Rikku replied nervously.

"Weren't you looking for the photo album for Wakka and Lulu to look at?" Yuna said.

Ah yes that's it." Rikku then picked it up from Yuna's desk and rushed out.

"That Rikku sure is a weird one." Shuyin told Yuna.

"Yeah she is sometimes." Yuna then looked on her floor to see her father's journal there. She walked over and picked it up. Yuna then looked over at her open window.

Why was this on the floor? I don't remember opening my window…Tidus…were you here?

Yuna placed it back on her desk then returned downstairs with Shuyin.

Tidus returned to his home. He traveled through the dark tunnels, reaching the main chamber.

"Tidus!" Came Bickson's voice.

Tidus turned his head to see Bickson run up to him. "Hey bud."

"Dude, what are you doing here? If Seymour finds out, he'll—" But Bickson was cut off. Too late.

"TIDUS!"

Both Tidus and Bickson turned their heads in the direction of the voice to see Seymour, staring at them angered. He walked over to the two young vampires.

"You dare you come back here half breed! I thought I made myself clear not to come back here after I kicked your pathetic ass for taking the humans side!"

Tidus glared at his elder before him. "It is not your decision to decide where my fate lies."

"Why I outta—" Seymour began.

"Enough!"

Bickson, Tidus and Seymour looked over to see Jecht, enter the main chamber from his room. All the other vampires gathered around bowing at their supreme elder.

"Stand down Seymour." Jecht spoke.

"…Yes father." Seymour replied taking a few steps back.

"Tidus is still young, he shall remain here with the others. Do I make myself clear Seymour?" Jecht continued.

"…Yes father." Seymour replied yet again in defeat.

Tidus crossed his arms over his chest in disgust, watching the two.

Jecht looked over at Tidus. "Is there a problem?" He asked tensely.

"…No. Nothing at all." Tidus told him then walked off to his room.

Jecht sighed. "Soon my son, soon. You will learn you're true vampirism."

"So Yunie, why didn't you tell me about Tidus?" Rikku asked as she lay on her bed.

"What's there to tell? I barely know him." Yuna replied, cleaning up her room.

Rikku sat up. "You know, I know this might sound selfish but you could use him to get to the leader of the vampires. Then that way you can kill him and all of Spira could have peace."

"Rikku, I couldn't do that to him."

"Well why not?" She asked.

I didn't really have a good answer. Sure, if I had listened to what she was telling me, we could be rid of the vampires forever. But I just couldn't do that to him. No, it wasn't like I had feelings for him, which I don't, its just that…I barely know him and he has saved my life twice. Tidus doesn't want to hurt me the way that other vampire does with Baral—never mind. I don't want to end up crying if I think of him. Yuna looked over to Rikku after her thinking. "I just couldn't. You wouldn't understand."

"Hmm, could it be because you like him?" Rikku suggested.

"No, nothing like that. Come on, he's a vampire. Him and I could never be." Yuna replied.

"I don't know Yunie. I've heard of people and vampires falling in love with one another. Its truly bizarre but it could happen you know."

That just reminded me. Tidus' mother was a human while his father was a vampire. How could they manage that? Tidus' mother died for falling in love with a vampire. But this is different. Tidus is not only a vampire but human as well. That's why he saved me, because he is part human. Yuna was caught up in her thoughts again like usual.

"You think its still possible?" She asked her cousin.

Rikku shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows, right? Anything can be possible if you ask me."

Yuna looked out her window. Is it possible? Am I…could it be that I…

"Why? You're not, I mean, you don't think of him in that way…do you?" Rikku asked suspiciously.

Yuna chuckled. "No, of course not."

"Oh, okay then." Rikku said, standing up from Yuna's bed. "Well I'm gonna head downstairs for some food, you coming?"

Yuna turned her head to look at Rikku. "I'll be down in a few minutes, okay?"

"Okay." Rikku finished, leaving her room.

Yuna continued to stare out her window.

"Shuyin please…let me go…" Yuna told him.

"He will kill you Yuna."

"I need to save Baralai…" Yuna said.

"Even at the cost of your own life?" Shuyin asked.

"Shuyin……" She closed her eyes and continued crying.

It was hard not to think about that night, it was always on her mind. She kept thinking to herself, if Tidus hadn't come to save her, would Baralai have lived? Would she have been killed? I guess she would never know. You can't change the past.

Yuna then turned her head to see her father's journal. Ever since Lenne gave it to her she didn't have time to read it. Yuna then walked over to her desk and picked it up, sat down on her bed and opened it, beginning to read.

Half breeds vampires are the results of when a human and vampire mate together. Thus into doing this, the child is born half of each type. The child shows both the characteristics of a vampire and human. Half breeds are considered neither entirely dangerous nor nice. They're mind can slip from good to evil or vice versa in an instant. Half breeds live a cursed life of being born under the names of both Yevon and Yu Yevon, which complicates the situation of they're closed minds—

Yuna closed her book. She didn't want to read anymore, fearing she might hear something that she never wanted to. Yuna placed the book on her bed and joined her cousin downstairs for lunch.

"So will you be returning to Zanarkand once you're wounds heal?" Shuyin asked Lenne as he sat down beside her on her bed.

"More then likely. Unless something big happens here again like the other night which will prevent me from leaving the village. What about you? You'll be going back to Luca once you're work is done, right?" Lenne replied sweetly.

"Yes I will." He simply replied.

Lenne smiled. "You know what you did the other night, holding Yuna back, took real courage."

"That vampire only had one thing on its mind and that was to kill her. I couldn't of just stood around and do nothing—" But he was cut off when he was surprised with a kiss on his cheek. He looked over at her. "What was that for?"

"For keeping us safe that night. I'm truly grateful for what you did."

Shuyin smiled back. "I'm glad that I was of some assistance to you, Lenne."

Lenne chuckled looking up at him shyly. He glanced over at her.

Tidus remained in his room, lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. He wanted to see Yuna. To see how she was doing but she had been busy all day.

Tidus stood up and began to throw things around in frustration.

Why do I keep thinking of her? Nothing makes sense anymore…She's a hunter and I'm a vampire. She should have killed me the first chance she got…but she didn't. Yuna trusts me. But why? Why?

Night had approached and Tidus ran out of his room, making his way out of the cave, through the forest and made his way to the village to see Yuna.

Yuna lay on her bed, staring up at her ceiling. Maybe I should take a vacation to take my mind off of everything…I'm sure a week or two away from home won't be so bad. I mean after all, Shuyin is here to take care of things. She thought.

Just then there was a noise at her window. Yuna looked over to see Tidus crawl in from her window.

Yuna smiled to see him. "Tidus!"

Yuna stood up and walked over to him.

"Yuna. Are you oka—" But he was cut off when Yuna hugged him. Tidus was stunned. He didn't know how to react or respond to Yuna's swift move.

Soon enough she pulled away from him. "I'm glad that you're alright. I was afraid that you might have been killed."

Tidus chuckled sarcastically. "Please, none of the vampires stand a chance against me."

"Oh really?" Yuna crossed her arms over he chest. "Are you always so cocky too?"

"Me? Cocky?" Tidus asked. "You still have a lot to learn about me before you can start calling me cocky."

"So it would seem." Replied Yuna softly.

"Yeah." Said Tidus. He then paused for a moment. "So how are you?"

Yuna then began to walk around the room. "I don't know, okay I guess. It's kind of hard not to be down. Well if you were me you would know, but you're not, so, you wouldn't understand."

Tidus walked up closer to Yuna. "Then explain it to me so that I will understand."

They both shared a gaze at one another. "It's complicated." She simply told Tidus.

"Is it?" He asked making Yuna feel unsure of her last response.

Yuna turned around and looked down. "Its hard to let go of someone you love. But I guess that's just how it is. I don't suppose you have ever loved someone in that way, have you."

Tidus looked away. "No."

Yuna chuckled, a lone tear escaping her eye. "I'm supposed to be happy. I'm alive. My cousin, my friends, there all so grateful that I survived that attack. It's hard to put on a smile for everyone. They all know what I'm going through, but they don't want to see me sad. I guess that's the truth behind my smile. All there is, is depression and sorrow…"

Tidus turned around. His eyes looked sad as if he was feeling distress for her. "Yuna…"

Yuna laughed. "Look at me crying this…I'm so pathetic. I can't even stay strong inside…"

Tidus walked up behind Yuna and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "You're not pathetic Yuna. It wasn't your fault. None of it was. You have every reason to feel the way you do. Its only natural for you humans to have different emotions and feelings."

"But it hurts so much to feel like this…" She told him.

"Yuna…as a vampire I have never felt heartbreak before. I can't imagine how it must feel. But the only way you can get through this is to move on. There… will be others…" He told her as he removed his arms. Instead he slid his hands down her arms slowly, his face leaning in towards her neck.

Yuna could feel his breath on her neck, sending shivers down her spine. But she did not pull away from him. For some reason Yuna enjoyed his company, him being so close to her like he was now.

Yuna tensed, closed her eyes. "Tidus…what are you…"

Tidus slowly, began to open his mouth, closing his eyes.

GASP! Cliffy! Sorry, my hands were getting tired from all this typing. So what is going to happen? What is Tidus planning and is Yuna going to pull away from him? Keep reading to find out and write in your review. See you all in chapter 7, Unable To Stay.