Back with a chpt that's like was passed due. lol Sorry for the delay. Been busy as of late. Anyway, we're nearing the end soon. About 7 chpts remain after this one. I really do hope everyone is enjoying reading this story as I have writing it. And I appreciate any and all reviews from my readers.
This chpt's a little short, but then again, that's nothing new when it comes to me. LOL. It's to get the excitement pumped and the heart racing to see the action that will be in the next chpt, which I promise will be a big bang.
A few days have come and gone since Yuna's return to the force. Tidus was more than happy I'm sure. And although Yuna was also glad to be back, she couldn't help but to feel awkward and kinda out of place. She walked out of Auron's office with her arms full of files when she happened to run into Rio. She gasped, dropping the files onto the floor before her. She immediately knelt down and began to pick them up. Giving a crooked grin, Rio stooped down and began to help her.
"So, sorry." Rio said, picking up a few files only to have them jerked away by Yuna. They both stood at the same time. "How have you been since- -"
"Don't you dare say it, Rio." a voice warned from behind.
Rio narrowed his eyes at the very sound of the voice and slowly turned. "I was only asking her how she was doing if you must know."
"Cut the bull, Rio." Tidus said. "We both know why you are speaking to her." Without a word spoken to either, Yuna quickly walked by them, laying the files on her desk only to head outside with Tidus and Rio watching. Tidus then looked back at Rio who looked at him. "I will only say this once, Rio. Stay away from her. She is my partner not yours. And she sure as hell ain't your girl."
"I don't see your name on her, Tidus." Rio said. "As far as I am concerned, Yuna's fair game."
"And as far as I am concerned, you have been forewarned." Tidus said through clinched teeth, turning and walking away.
Yuna stood outside, the breeze blowing her hair while she wiped a few free tears away. She couldn't bare to be there around all those men even for a mere second, but she refused to let her feelings overwhelmed her. She gathered herself, turned and ran right straight into Tidus. She gasped, looking up at him. "Sorry."
"You've been crying." Tidus said plainly.
Yuna shook her head. "No, I haven't."
"The only person you are fooling here, Yuna, is yourself." Tidus said and Yuna just looked at him speechlessly. "I know you. You can't lie to me." Yuna only looked away, a stray tear slowly tracing the outline of her cheek. Tidus placed his hand to her face, taking his thumb and wiping it away. His heart ached for Yuna right now because he knew of the pain she held inside. He just wanted to take her in his arms right now and hold her until that pain subsided, but he knew that touching her would only create more. If she felt so intimidated just being around a man, how would she feel and react to one even touching her right now? These were only a few things that he knew he had to consider for Yuna's sake.
Yuna looked at Tidus, taking his hand in her own and lowering it away from her face, but she did not let go. No matter how much she feared a man right now, she couldn't help but to feel so safe and secure when she was around Tidus. He was her best friend, her partner. And no matter what, he had always been there for her no matter the situation or consequences at hand. She wanted him to hold her close. The feeling of his arms around her would certainly make her feel so much better both inside and out, however, she could not find the courage within to even utter the words. She then cleared her throat. "I think I'm gonna go to lunch."
"I'll come with you." Tidus suggested.
Yuna shook her head. "No. I just need to be alone for a little while is all. Please try and understand." Tidus nodded his head and with that, Yuna walked away with a heavy heart.
Twenty minutes had nearly gone by. . .
Yuna sat at a nearby coffee shop, staring down at her mocha chino and thinking about what had happened to her and how she had been feeling. She couldn't let these feelings control her forever. This she knew, but was afraid to start trusting people again. She didn't know where to begin or even who to start with. She certainly could use a friend right now. Suddenly, she felt a hand upon her shoulder. She slowly turned her head only to see Rikku by her side.
"You seem to be in deep thought." Rikku said.
"What makes you think that?" Yuna asked so innocently.
"You're letting your mocha chino get cold for one thing and another obvious reason is that Tidus isn't here with you." Rikku said pulling herself up a chair. "Wanna talk about it?"
Yuna softly sighed. "I've been thinking about what happened." Rikku listened carefully. "And how it has affected my life. I don't leave the house much anymore, I can't trust anyone. Rikku, it's beginning to control my life."
"Then take it back." Rikku urged. "Yunie, it's your life. If you lose control of it, you could lose everything. Don't let what happen scare you from being yourself. It will be hard, but we're all here for you." Yuna just smiled, which slightly faded once she saw someone off in the distance. "What's wrong?" Rikku looked to her left only to see a stranger approaching them. "Who in the name of Yevon is that?"
"Devin." Yuna answered, watching Devin approach them.
"Hello, gorgeous." Devin complimented
"Rikku, I think he's hitting on you." Yuna teased.
Rikku looked to her cousin with a confused look on her face. "Who me?" She then shook her head. "No way, Yunie."
Devin stopped walking once he reached the front of the coffee shop where the girls sat. "Where's your friend?"
"Tidus?" Yuna pondered, tilting her head to the side. "He's working."
Devin grinned. "Good. Gives us a chance to talk without him interrupting us."
Rikku flipped open her cell phone. "Keeping talking like that to her and I will make sure Tidus is down here on the double beating the living hell outta you if I don't do it for him."
Devin looked a Rikku. "Who are you, her girlfriend?"
Rikku's cheeks turned a dark shade of crimson and Yuna placed her hand over her mouth and laughed, for she knew what was to follow those red cheeks. "Oui hycdo cuh uv y pedlr! she screeched while standing up. Devin put his hands up in defense. "E ys ran luiceh ev oui sicd ghuf hud dryd ed'c yho uv ouin picehacc yhofyo. E tuh'd ghuf fru oui yna un frana oui lysa vnus, pid E ys fydlrehk oui! Oui yna lnaabo yht cu camv luhlaedat. Dra mycd drehk Oihea haatc nekrd huf ec y banjandat vnayg mega oui chevvehk ynuiht ran mega y mibeha eh rayd! Cu, E femm uhmo cyo drec uhla PYLG UVV!"
Devin looked at Yuna. "What did she just say to me?"
"You don't want to know." Yuna giggled. "But she called you a nasty pervert to put it mildly."
"I didn't mean to intrude." Devin said.
"Then leave." Rikku said. With slightly narrowed eyes, Devin turned and walked away.
"I can't believe you just did that, Rikku." Yuna scolded.
"He had it coming." Rikku scoffed. "The guy's hard up. It's plain as daylight and written all over his face."
"He is kinda cute, but- -" Yuna trailed off.
"He's not Tidus." Rikku finished for her. Yuna just lowered her head. "Yunie, if you love him, tell him. What do you got to lose?"
"My best friend, my career."Yuna responded. "What if I tell him and he doesn't feel the same way about me?"
"Ask him how he feels about you." Rikku urged.
Yuna sighed. "I don't know, Rikku. I'll have to think it over."
"Don't think too long, Yunie." Rikku warned. "Tidus is a great guy. Not to mention one of the best looking in Zanarkand." Yuna giggled and nodded her head in agreement. "Don't let that once in a lifetime chance pass you by, Yunie." Yuna just looked at Rikku, givning her words of advice some very deep thought.
Meanwhile, back at the station, Tidus is shuffling through paper work, tossing files from left to right while trying to make himself look busy when he in fact had Yuna on his mind.
Tidus grabbing a file, opened it up, looked through the papers only to lay it aside. Auron watched from the distance, shaking his head while walking over to him.
"You got it bad, kid." Auron said.
Tidus looked up at him over his paper work. "Got what?"
"Don't play dumb with me." Auron scolded. "It's written all over your face." Tidus just scoffed. "Scoff if you must, but it's your own fault if you let her get away. Yuna's a great girl. Don't let her get away." Tidus just eyes Auron carefully as he turned and walked away.
Meanwhile, sitting alone in his lowly prison cell, Reggie was most certainly unaware of whom was about to visit him. And little did he know what awaited him from this visit.
Reggie laid resting on his bed when he suddenly heard footsteps. He shot straight up, for he knew exactly who that was, but little did he know what he wanted from him. hooded figure dressed in a trench coat approached the cell and Reggie felt his heart nearly jump from his chest.
"Boss!" Reggie stammered.
"No small talk today, Reggie." the hooded man said. He looked around, making sure no one was listening, looked back at Reggie and leaned in a little bit. "Tonight you shall deliver Tidus to me." Reggie's eyes went wide. "Tonight he shall meet his maker. You will tell him of where my next shall take place, which will be at The Al Bhed Prime. That fool Rin won't know what hit his precious club." Reggie just looked at his boss in disbelief, for he knew what was to come.
That evening. . .
Yuna sat at her desk doing her filing when suddenly she saw two hands upon her desk. She looked up only to see Devin staring at her with dreamy eyes, which she did not find flattering.
"Can I help you?" Yuna asked while laying her pen aside.
"Yes, you can." Devin said in a flirty manner. "Now that I am able to talk to you without your two bodyguards around, I was wondering if you'd like to go out for a drink or two after you get off work."
Yuna huffed. "Devin, I appreciate the offer, but I am behind in my work and I really need to get caught up."
"Come on." Devin encouraged. "This stuff will be here waiting on you tomorrow morning. Take a break, rest, have a little fun." He threw her a boyish smile. "Whaddya say?" Yuna only smiles, shrugging her shoulders."
Tidus stood before Reggie with his arms crossed over his chest. Reggie leaned against the bars of his cell with a devilish grin upon his face, which Tidus didn't find amusing.
"I got some juicy information for you, copper." Reggie teased.
"Spit it out, you low life buffoon." Tidus said through clinched teeth. "I grow weary of your mind games.
Reggie only laughed. "Better head to the Al Bhed Prime tonight. The boss will be waiting."
Tidus narrowed his eyes. "You may be slick, Reggie, but I am already a step ahead of you." A sneaky grin played upon his features as she turned and walked away.
"You only think so, Tidus." Reggie said. "But I've got news for you, when you're taking a step, the boss is taking two." He then turned away, walked over and laid down on his bed.