It took me forever, but I finally got motivated enough to update; I guess in part because I was listening to some music and I just started to think, 'hey, it's been awhile since I updated my FFX fanfic. Now what did I have planned for Tidus and Yuna?' Open the proverbial floodgates, and here I am.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to leave me nice comments. Your dedication to this story is mindblowing. I know that reviews are not everything, but I really do want to thank all of you who took the time to comment! Warui-Usagi; Kitsu Kurasei; Lirael Black; SavannahX; JJ Chow; Crazycutie2; Letselina(X9); Litwolf689; Mittiesgal; Destiny Flame; Isumo 1489; Akira Stridder and Damson.

Disclaimer: If I owned any rights to Final Fantasy X, than X-2 would be based upon this fanfic…

Angel Wings

Chapter Ten: Dabbling In Confusion

Yuna watched as if through a daze as pyreflies floated into the orange tinged sky. Satisfaction filled her as she turned and faced her Guardians. She couldn't have been happier; she had defeated Sin for good. Spira's inhabitants no longer needed to fear; the monstrosity was gone.

Dread filled her body as realization hit set in; everything she had done was moot. Tidus, her Tidus, was going to disappear, because now that Sin was gone the Fayth no longer needed to keep dreaming.

"Tidus!" Yuna cried as she turned towards where the Swordsman stood, his head bowed. "No, don't go!" Yuna found herself running towards Tidus, not even knowing when she had started to move. Her boots slapping against the unyielding metal of her Uncle's ship sounded in time with her beating heart. Tidus looked up but his eyes were sad.

"Yuna…I need to go." Tidus' voice was steady and Yuna found herself gasping in disbelief. Tidus wasn't sad? Did he want to leave her? Yuna almost stopped, her steps faltering until she looked into Tidus' eyes. Her breath hitched at the sadness emanating from the beautiful cerulean depths. Just seeing his grief, though well hidden, had her running again, her arms outstretched, her pink sleeves brushing against her legs.

And just like before Yuna ran right through Tidus, his body, which she had been pressed against only a couple of days earlier, composed of nothing. She hit the deck of the ship, her teeth snapping together from the impact, the stinging in her knees telling her that she hadn't imagined Tidus' translucency.

"Yuna…" Tidus whispered, and this time his voice cracked. Yuna looked into Tidus' handsome face before his features became obscured and blurry. It took her beleaguered mind a moment to register that her eyes were filled with tears.

"I know, you have to go," Yuna said just as quietly as Tidus, but with just as much feeling.

She got to her feet and turned away from the man she loved, afraid that if she kept looking at Tidus her heart would break in two. She gasped when Tidus' arms wrapped around her body, though she couldn't feel them, and as her eyes drifted closed, she imagined that she could feel his hair, as soft as a feather, against her face.

And once again she watched Tidus walk away from her and out of her life. And just like before, a part of her died with him.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Yuna, are you okay?" Yuna gasped when she heard Tidus' voice. Her body tensed and Yuna inhaled sharply. She didn't want to open her eyes. She was scared that if she did, Tidus wouldn't be there, and she had indeed witnessed Tidus fading away from her, and that her personal Pilgrimage had failed.

Tidus repeating his question had Yuna sitting up, and the joy she felt at seeing Tidus kneeling beside her was indescribable. "You're still here…" She said, her voice quiet and clogged with tears.

"Of course," Tidus said, blinking and giving her an odd look. Seeing the distraught look on Yuna's face, Tidus laughed and hugged her quickly before he stood up. "It was only a dream, Yuna. I'll always be here. Remember, if you whistle, I'll come running."

Yuna watched Tidus walk over to the fire where the rest of her Guardians slept, and Yuna smiled. Tidus was right; it had only been a dream(or rather, a reenactment of a terrible memory), and it could be changed before it happened…or was repeated.

She had the power to change certain events. She only needed to harden her heart and believe in herself. She was strong; casting aside her religion and the Final Summoning had proven her iron will, and her commitment to her cause. Ultimately she had completed what she had set out to do.

Now this time she would not only defeat Sin again, but she would make sure Tidus remained to enjoy the Calm with her…for the rest of their lives.

(())&

Yuna woke earlier than any of Guardians, or at least, that was she thought at first. Lulu slept beside Wakka, one of her legs resting against the Blitzer. Wakka, for his part, faced Lulu, one hand touching one of Lulu's many braids. Tidus slept directly across from Yuna, his head cradled in his hands, his mouth slightly open.

"Early riser?" Yuna started, one of her hands reaching for her Rod of Wisdom before she realized who had spoken. Yuna nodded, still too sleepy to say more, and accepted Auron's hand. Auron helped her to her feet and Yuna brushed any lingering dirt off her clothes.

"Not usually. I guess I'm too anxious to sleep any later." Auron nodded before he walked over to Tidus and looked down at the young man. Yuna followed and stopped a little ways behind the older man.

Auron scratched his chin thoughtfully before he turned his piercing eye on the Summoner. "The Fayth told me of your intentions. Are you sure that this is what you want to do? Tidus' future is clouded…and he carries a burden that no one, human or otherwise, should have to shoulder."

Yuna blinked, shocked. She couldn't remember Auron ever saying so much. And Auron knew about her plan? That she wanted to keep Tidus from fading? What he had just said…It sounded as if Auron doubted both her intentions and her heart…

"I love Tidus, Sir Auron," Yuna said, lifting her chin defiantly. "The Fayth said that I have a chance to keep Tidus with me, and however slim it may be, I will do everything in my power to make sure I succeed."

Auron looked at her for a long moment. "I promised Jecht I would watch over his boy…" Auron trailed off and looked back down at Tidus.

Yuna's back stiffened and she bit her lip. She needed to calm down before she talked to Sir Auron. The older man had a reason for everything he did; and he obviously knew that she was redoing her Pilgrimage, and that she knew he was unsent. Auron was probably trying to find something out from her, and that was why he was being so harsh.

"Sir Auron, can I ask you something? Do you trust me?" Yuna inquired, fixing her eyes on Auron.

"You are much like your father, Yuna, and you managed to do what no one else ever did: defeat Sin so that there was no way for it to return. Your father always said you were special."

Yuna smiled; Auron had answered in his own way. "All that I can do is try my best. I do know that Tidus and I have something special between us: something unique. I believe, deep in my heart, where it matters, that Tidus and I were meant to be together."

"He managed to see inside me, and he knows me better than anyone. He fought for me; found a way for me to fight Sin and live; he loved me regardless of what I had to do; he even loved me after I married Seymour."

"I want to do the same for Tidus. This time around, I am going to be strong for both of us. After my Pilgrimage is over, Tidus will be with me, and we can finally be together, just as we were meant to be."

"So be it." Auron said simply, and Yuna could have sworn she saw a smile flit across his normally stoic face before Auron turned around and walked away. Yuna exhaled and sank to her knees beside Tidus, and gazed at the Swordsman, content for the moment to simply watch him sleep.

$#&(

"Are you okay, Yuna?" Tidus asked, sticking his sword into the ground and leaning against the hilt, his cerulean eyes peering at her curiously. Yuna blushed at looked down, not meeting Tidus' eyes.

She was so embarrassed. Last night, after her argument with Sir Auron, she had been determined to prove her worth to Tidus, and not only that, but be a pillar of strength for both Tidus and Spira. She had been certain that she could do what she had been thinking---in fact, it had seemed like it would be a breeze. She was the one, after all, that had managed to defeat Sin entirely, after over a thousand years of its tyranny.

Lulu, Tidus and her had been fighting a Floating Eye. Lulu had cast Focus on all of them, and Tidus had tried unsuccessfully to strike the enemy down. Yuna had wanted be helpful, so instead of switching out with Wakka, who would have better success hitting the bat like fiend; she had stayed in the battle, much to Lulu's chagrin.

Disaster struck shortly after. Tidus got confused by one of the Floating Eye's attacks. He made short work of Lulu since the Black Mage had bad defense. Yuna tried to cast Esuna and Life to revitalize her Guardians, but between Tidus' random swipes, and the fiend's attacks, Yuna was on her knees, ready to be picked off.

Wakka had literally picked her up and tossed her out of the battle, and finally defeated the Floating Eye. Once she recovered, Yuna had quickly healed herself and cured Tidus' confusion. And now here she was, mortified and wishing she could bury herself in the ground. Anything but see Tidus trying to comfort her after her horrible err in judgment.

Why had she tried to make herself stand out in front of Tidus? Her stupidity could have caused her Pilgrimage to fail! And if that happened, not only would she be letting the Fayth down, but she also wouldn't be able to spend the rest of her life with Tidus…

Stupid, stupid! Oh, I cannot believe that I could be so stupid! Yuna bit her lip in her anxiety.

Tidus called her name softly, and Yuna blushed under his scrutiny. What was it about Tidus that made her act so rashly? There must be some truth to love making people act like fools. Her and Wakka were great examples…

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Isn't it beautiful?" Yuna said softly, looking around Mi'ihen Highroad. The grass was green, and the sky was a startling shade of blue. Even the ruins along the side of the dirt road, a testament to a civilization long past, added to the splendor and mystery the road held. The trek down the highroad took longer than Auron would have liked, and he became impatient from all the stops Yuna's party had to make, as both the Chocobo Riders and travelers wished to pay their regards to 'Summoner Yuna'.

"Ya, it is, Yuna," Wakka agreed as he walked beside Lulu, the Black Mage ignoring all of Wakka's attempts at conversation. Yuna was worried about Tidus, though. The Swordsman had been unusually subdued since Auron had appeared. She had tried to walk with Tidus, but the Swordsman had been all too quiet, and she had finally given up, frustrated.

Lulu groaned and wiped her forehead. Lulu's pale skin was tinged a slight pink, and she was panting. "I need a rest," She said simply, walking off the side of the dusty road, and plopping down in the shade, beside a gray slab of stone, stained from the elements. Wakka nodded and followed Lulu, kneeling beside her, whispering to her quietly. Yuna grinned, happy when she saw a slight smile tug at Lulu's lips. Lulu was finally in better spirits.

"Sir Auron, do you mind?" Yuna asked the stoic man, who grunted and shook his head.

"We rest here," Auron stated unnecessarily, glaring at Tidus with his one good eye when Tidus snickered at his words.

Yuna walked over to Tidus, who was staring up at the cloudless sky, his face unreadable. She stood beside Tidus, her eyes fixed on his face. Even though she knew she should try and be a little less obvious, she couldn't seem to stop staring at him. His happiness meant so much to her. And if he was troubled…she could do no other than try and ease his fears.

"Are you…okay?" She asked hesitantly. She didn't want to startle him. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Yuna….Everything is just so strange," Tidus said, his voice quiet, as if he was afraid if he spoke too loud, she would go running.

"What do you mean?" She asked puzzled. "Is it my Pilgrimage? Or my Aeons?" Yuna couldn't see why Valefor or Ifrit would confuse Tidus, as they hadn't during her first Pilgrimage, but maybe Tidus wasn't as willing to accept her powers this time around.

Tidus shook his head dismissively. "No…I mean, that is unusual, for me at least," He waved towards her Guardians. Yuna understood; to Lulu and Wakka, and of course, Sir Auron, both her Aeons and her Pilgrimage to defeat Sin was ordinary; "It's the, I don't really know what to call them."

Yuna frowned. Tidus wasn't making any sense. Now he was confusing her. "What do you mean?"

Tidus bit his lip and looked into her eyes, as if he were trying to read her very thoughts. When he spoke, he spoke slowly, as if he was considering each word before he said them. "I get these feelings, as if I lost someone close to me."

Yuna's breath left her body and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Tidus watched her, and Yuna had to turn away so Tidus would not see the tears running unchecked down her cheeks. It hurt so much to hear Tidus say those words.

"And," Tidus continued, and Yuna's back stiffened. She could feel Tidus' eyes boring into the back of her head. "I get these impressions. I'm in some dark place, there's no colors, no light, just darkness. I can hear someone calling my name, crying out to me, asking where I am, and begging me to come to him or her. And I want to, but I cannot move. I can only hear."

Yuna inhaled sharply and remained quiet. She couldn't speak, her throat was closed off. What Tidus was describing tore at her heart. She had caused Tidus' predicament; she had been too weak, too pathetic to keep Tidus from fading. If only she had known sooner, she might have been able to keep Tidus from disappearing, and he wouldn't have suffered so horribly.

I wonder if Tidus is describing the Farplane. But I don't see how that can be, because didn't the Fayth's dream disappear? Tidus didn't really exist, did he? How can Tidus even know all of this? Oh, I'm just so confused!

"And what's strangest of all," Tidus continued, resting his hand on her shoulder. Yuna leaned back so her back rested against Tidus' strong body, "Is that the voice calling to me…is yours, Yuna."

Yuna gasped, turning around and away from Tidus' body so fast that her head spun. "What?" She cried, shocked. Her head was beginning to ache; what Tidus was describing was too much for her frazzled nerves to handle.

"How can that be Yuna? I never met you before, so how…"

"Yuna! Tidus!" Both turned towards Auron, who walked towards them swiftly, Katana in hand. "We have trouble."

Tidus looked at Auron, all thoughts of his conversation with Yuna forgotten. Yuna walked after her Guardians, not sure whether or not she was grateful for the distraction.

It's time to get down to business Yuna thought, brushing the tears off her cheek, her eyes as hard as stone. There'll be plenty of time to figure out how Tidus can be seeing…whatever it is, and how I can deal with both Seymours, and, of course, the gems…

I wonder, though, could Tidus and my dreams be connected? How can one person have so many problems? She thought wryly as she joined her Guardians.

End of Chapter

This chapter was nice and long, but I'm sad to say, it didn't really have all that much action. But than again, this fanfic is about both Yuna's personal journey to save Tidus, and also her Pilgrimage to defeat Sin.

I got a really stupid question, and if someone could tell me the answer to this I'll love you forever. In FFX when one of your characters gets cursed, is there a way to cure it? For some reason I have never been able to figure that out. I guess that makes me stupid, but hey, I would love to know.

Next chapter there will be a boss battle, and I'll be introducing one of my favorite NPC….

And as always, any comments/feedback is appreciated!

Kristen