sorry for not seperating this correctly! I fixed it tho, be happy ;)
So warm…
I felt shivers going up my back as he sat beside me, tucking in the blanket. My head was throbbing to high heavens, my nose a raw faucet, and my eyes almost entirely swollen shut, but through my misery, I felt those shivers. Maybe it was just my fever chills…
Maybe…
"Hey…want some more soup?" Tidus asked, his breath tickling my ear. I didn't want him to leave…I was feeling so warm…I shook my head.
"Okay…"
He rubbed my shoulders. I could feel him…right there…
A sneezing fit took me and I screwed my eyes shut…geez, I never knew sneezing could hurt so much…
"You really should have come in yesterday…I knew you were going to get sick…"
He hugged me to him. I felt his chin on the top of my head, his hands holding me…I could live forever like this. I closed my eyes and a wave of relief washed over me.
I was barely conscious, and I guess I could say not entirely responsible for my actions…
I kissed his neck.
I…Rikku…kissed Tidus's neck…I kept my face there, and I felt his Adam's apple bobbing up and down in laughter against my cheek.
So warm…
He pulled away and it just wrenched my heart out. But he stared at me. Long and hard. No longer laughing…no longer smiling.
"Rikku…" he said my name slow…pleadingly…like a parent quietly scolding a child…
"I'm so tired…" I whispered.
I was led to my room in a daze and in a quilt. I closed my eyes, the last thing I remember being Tidus's kind blue gaze.
She was so pathetic when she was sick. And helpless…and sweet…It reminded me of that night she'd been drunk.
I still didn't think I could face Yuna just yet, so I kept walking around the town, saying hi to old friends I hadn't yet gotten reacquainted with. I puzzled over where Lulu and Wakka were. I had used Rikku's key to the house under the doormat to bring her in.
I suddenly remembered that she'd kissed me. Rikku had kissed me! It seemed so laughable now, since she was sick and most likely not thinking straight. But it had felt so nice…I touched the spot on my neck idly, feeling a slight shiver go down my back.
This was getting very odd…I'd never felt this way about Yuna before…With her, it had been mostly awkwardness, luck, and an affection borne of circumstance…a pity it was just that…our love had so much promise…
I stopped in front of the house. A light was on upstairs. I found my arm lifting, and my hand reaching out to it, only to close into a fist and fall dejectedly to my side.
Anything to make her happy…
It took me a week to get over my flu, Lulu playing nurse while I recovered. I missed Tidus sorely during my days housebound, and I wondered how he was doing with post break-up Yuna.
I was finally strong enough to get up and walk around without getting dizzy or faint. I sat in the living room reading a book. The words no longer swam before my eyes. I guess I'd sort of forgotten what it was like to be healthy for a little while there.
The next day I got dressed and headed out, my hair loose. I'd always liked the crimped look it had after being taken out of it's braids. And my particular shade of honey-blonde was pretty rare, even among us Al-Bhed. I sort of hoped I'd bump into Tidus, but I didn't.
I found my feet leading me to the rental house where the party had been. I had to sneak past the workers who were cleaning up and possibly preparing for another shin-dig.
The pond was faithfully peaceful in the still morning air, some of the weeds still damp with dew. I climbed onto the island in the center and kissed a leaf, imagining it was Tidus's cheek. I wish he tasted like that too…wild and wet and fresh…I squished my toes into the soft pond mud, groaning with pleasure. I really shouldn't be out here either, I'd get sick again it was so damp now.
A heady mist hung over the scene, impairing my vision slightly.
I moved my hand for better hold in the muck and felt a round and hard object push against my palm. I looked down, surprised. A shiny blue orb lay within inches of my fingers. A sphere!
I took it in my hands and brushed away stray mud, peering into it's marbleized depths.
Such pretty things, spheres…
The miniature screen within buzzed to life. I subconsciously held my breath…
A clearing…a pond! Just like the one I sat on…
A girl…I couldn't see her face very clearly…but then she looked up, her hair long and brown. YUNIE! Her mismatched eyes shone in the static of the sphere.
"I like it here…"
She was speaking to somebody…who? I squinted at the sphere.
"It's so peaceful…and beautiful…maybe I'll bring Rikku when she visits this week!"
"I don't think so darling, this isn't our pond. We have to ask permission to come here."
"Not Rikku! She can get in anywhere, papa…"
The screen fizzled out, the last scene of Yuna's eager and determined face. A 12 year old face. An old face…
It stirred the young girl within me and I clutched the sphere to my heart.
She can get in anywhere…
Yunie had been here…Yunie had wanted to share all this with me…How could I have been so cruel to her…Even though I must admit it was half Tidus's fault for breaking up with her, I had been why.
I was the reason she couldn't be happy and live ever after like those princesses in Al-Bhed folktales.
I'm sorry…
I'm so sorry…
A/N: All my reviewers, you're the SHIZ, every single one of you! (passes out cookies) In the words of our beloved Rikku, you make this story Disasterrific! (in a VERY good way)