A/N: I'm baaaack! it was 2:46 at night when I wrote this, I was helluva bored, as you can tell. Rikku has guilt! awww! from her point of view. i thought it'd be fun. If you think this product of sleep deprivation is fluffy, then that must mean my writing skills are getting better, ha! Hope you like!

Sweetheart

I saw the last of the sun disappear behind a cloud, and held my arms. When had it gotten so cold?

I looked down at my short shorts, tank top and ankle socks. Well…duh, Rikku, you dummy!

I felt a raindrop as it hit my head, soft but firm, like the first troop sent out by the army to scope the land, and no doubt the rain would love my face. Who wouldn't? heehee

The rest of the brigade fell heavily and immediately, lightning flashing from several miles away, and thunder rolling in right after, the tiger's roar of surprise after his lights went out.

I could do without the rain.

Or thunder. I'd gotten over my acute astraphobia a year ago, but I guess my mind was already so used to reacting in fear, my body just went along with it. I huddled under a tree, leaning my back against it. This wasn't the most comfortable of options, but at least I was dry.

As I watched the lightning and heard the thunder roll I couldn't help but feel an involuntary shiver go up my back. Stupid learned behavior…

I shrugged it off, remembering when I was back at the pond with Tidus. What had possessed me to stroke his cheek? I guess I needed to get better control of my brain before I ended up jumping off a cliff next. Joy.

The rain petered out a little and I rose carefully from my leaning position, scratching my back to rid it of the inevitable imprints of the bark.

I headed for the village, but just then, a huge lightning bolt shot down in front of me. I froze in place, too scared to properly tell myself I wasn't afraid of lightning anymore. A small flame came to life on the spot, sputtering pitifully in the rain.

I actually felt kind of bad for it. Like it was some kid a bad mom had left behind. Yeah RIGHT. We were talking about fire here? See what a sap I am? I stepped over it, guessing the rain would put it out and headed onward. The rain started good again, soaking my mostly exposed back and legs, getting into the pockets of my shorts and soaking through the denim.

I wonder what it'd taste like…the rain…I lifted up my head and opened my mouth, exposing my tongue to the elements. A few drops fell down, tasting like plain water in my mouth, and only a few got in, so once my neck started bothering me I gave up.

Jogging up to Yuna's place I heard yelling.

Yelling?

I bent low and hid under a window to listen.

"You WHAT?"

"I didn't do anything wrong! I was just worried about her, that's all!"

"You go gallivanting after Rikku and have no consideration for how I'd feel after our big argument?"

"You told me to leave!"

"I didn't mean it and you know it!"

Silence. A heavy, ugly silence. I felt tears gathering in the corners of my eyes, and the burn made me blink incessantly. Why was I crying?

"I don't think I can do this anymore…"

"…What? Don't be ridiculous, of course you can!"

"Stop it! Okay? Just stop it! I hate you always taking digs at me all the time! I'm doing my best!"

"You could do so much better sweetheart.."

"Don't call me sweetheart! Go call HER sweetheart!"

"You know I'd never-"

The sound of heavy footfalls heading upstairs. Whoah…I was sobbing now, thinking about how ridiculous this was. The dark side in me was screaming with glee. This is what you wanted! Tidus is yours once and for all! Mwahahahaha! But my other side was causing these tears…causing the pain and the hurt. I'd caused this…me!

Me….

"Me…"

"Yeah you."

I looked up in surprise to see Tidus looking down from over the open window.

"Oh I'm sorry it started to rain and I thought-but then I heard-and thought-wow…" I just did the next best thing. Shut my trap and tried hard not to break out bawling again in front of him. I was still soaked, so a few more tears could be hidden, but not bawling.

Thank god for rain…

"Nah nah nah, I know what you were doing…" he sighed, crossed his arms and looked right at me.

"Don't blame yourself. It was bound to happen someday, and you know it."

"But I didn't-I never-I wouldn't've!" he put a finger to my lips I was tempted so much to kiss it, but I held back breathing deeply.

"Shhshhshhshhshh…you know it. C'mon in and get dry, you're soaked!"

What the-? I couldn't go in there, noo way! I'd hurt Yunie enough, no more! I shook my head vigorously, raindrops pelting the exposed curtains of the living room.

"C'mon, don't be silly, you're soaked!"

"I can stay soaked y'know it actually feels kinda good!" I tried to hide a wince as I realized my tank top was now very transparently wet.

He followed my eyes and smiled at me. Ugh, why'd he pick now to be such a cutie?

"Alright. Hurry home, or else you'll catch the worst cold Besaid's ever seen!"

I tried to smile, I did, but all that came out was a smirk. A smirk! I had to follow that with something so I winked, and ran off the porch, rubbing furiously at a raindrop that had recently invaded my eye.

I reached the gate and looked back for one second. Just a second. Tidus was looking away, into the distance, but I could make out his profile clearly. I'd never been known for reading lips but I read his now.

Sweetheart…