this chapter might be long, but why does that matter?! Oh, there is something i thought you should take notice. but whenever things are in rikku's prospective, she refers tidus as 'the beast'. and of course, when things are in tidus 'pov' i use his name. but rikku doesn't call tidus by his name, yet!!

also, i have nothing aganist ronsos, but i just felt like it fits to make them the 'wolves' of this story.

anyways, just go ahead a listen to the song somewhere. I mean, this chapter isn't song fic, but it's still nice and catchy to listen.

i feel a little down these days

Chapter 12: Something There

It wasn't such a smart idea to go out at night. Rikku was bleeding, and she was running with no idea where she was. It was impossible to see in the mountains at night with so much icy fog. Rikku was panicking, triping on the snow and getting up to run again.

Then, she heard a howl. A loud roar from the Ronsos. She turned around just in time to see a herd of Ronsos glaring down at her from a hilltop. She started sprinting, but the Ronsos were soon surrounding her.

Rikku was scared. She didn't had any weapons on her. She was already weak from the blood lost, and the Ronsos had easily smelled her blood. The sneered at her, and there eyes glaring at her.

Finally, one of them lunged at her. She covered her head, waiting for the impact, but nothing came. She heard a different roar...

There was the beast, slashing away the Ronsos, and shoving them away from Rikku. She watched in awe as the beast tried to protect her. Suddenly, she saw another Ronso attacked him from behind. The Ronso grabbed on to his arm as the beast roared and threw the Ronso off.

Defeated, the pack ran away. The beast watched them leave, and Rikku noticed his arm was bleeding terribly. Then, he collapsed on the snow. Shocked, she ran up to him and saw that he was unconcious...

Tidus woke up and notice how warm it was instead of the bitter cold of the mountains. Then, he realized he was back at his mansion, sitting in his chair in front of the fireplace. His nose stung as he smelled a foul odor of medicine. He quickly glance down at his right and saw Rikku, with her wound cleaned, kneeling with a bowl of water and a wet cloth.

"You're...you're alright." Tidus said, calmly. She just nodded and dip the cloth into the bowl. She squeezed excess water and hovered the cloth over his wound.

"Now...this may sting a little." She warned, and pressed the cloth onto his wound.

He howled.

"That hurts!" He yelled at her. She just pouted.

"Well, maybe if hadn't been attacked, this wouldn't happen."

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have ran away!"

"Maybe you shouldn't have scared me!"

"Well, you shouldn't have been in the west hall!"

"And you should control your temper!!" Rikku yelled back.

Tidus was about to yell another come-back, but he couldn't think anything. So he shrugged and agreed with Rikku. If he did kept his temper, this whole situation would've been avoid.

"Now, stay still." Rikku said, and pressed the cloth back into the wound. He winced, but allowed her to work. "By the way...thank you for saving me." She said, quietly.

Tidus felt his heart leap.

"You're welcome." He said, calmly.

Neither of them noticed that Auron, Yuna, and Wakka were peeking behind the door, watching them. Yuna and Wakka were smiling, but Auron managed a smirk.

"You see," Yuna whispered. "Things turned out ok."

"But it seems rather slow." Auron grunted.

"Well, then. It's time we give them a little...push." Wakka said.

"And I know just the thing." Yuna bursted and walked right into the room. "How would you two like a nice bowl of...soup."

"Soup?" Auron and Wakka asked each other. Yuna glared at them, and Wakka and Auron agreed. "Soup!"

"This is-" Tidus mumbled.

"Calm down, Tidus. And stop fidgetting." Yuna said.

It was like the first night all over again. Tidus was anxious and worried, pacing back and forth. The table was ready with silver plates, and the fire blazing. His hair was neatly combed, or at least it was until Tidus messed it up.

"Be sure to compliment her." Wakka advised.

"Here she comes!" Yuna gasped, as they heard footsteps behind the door.

Tidus held his breath as Rikku step into the dinner room. She was in a very pink dress, obviously from Leblanc, but it was simple. She nodded and managed a smile. Wakka was behind Tidus and whispered into his ear.

"Say something!"

"Ummm-" Tidus cleared his throat, but whispered back to Wakka. "Like what?!"

"Anything! Say something about her dress."

"Oh," Tidus looked back at Rikku, who waited politely. "Umm...it's...pink."

'That's it?' Rikku thought. But she giggled inspite of herself. Tidus looked pleased, so he quickly pulled up a chair and held out his paw.

"My Lady," Tidus said, politely. Rikku smiled and allowed Tidus to take her hand as she sat down.

'There's something sweet,' Rikku thought, 'and almost kind.'

Tidus sat down on the other side of the table, and attempt to pick up his spoon with his oversized paws. His claws couldn't manage a firm grip. Out of frustration, he growled at his spoon and hurled it to the floor. However, he didn't noticed Wakka was down there, and the spoon hit him instead.

'But he's forceful and unrefined.' Rikku raised her eyebrow.

Tidus noticed he was being harsh, so he took a deep breath and tried again. He gave a quick smirk and lift the bowl to his mouth. Rikku laughed, and thought it was nice to do the same with him.

'But he's very dear, and a bit unsure.'

Tidus looked back with a confused look, wondering why Rikku was copying him.

'I wonder why I didn't see it there before.'

Rikku continued to eat her porridge, and didn't notice that Tidus was watching. He looked back and forth from Rikku to his own bowl.

'She glance at me!' He thought with joy. 'She didn't even seemed scared when she touch my paw.'

Tidus tried to say something, but it didn't looked like Rikku wanted to talk. His broad shoulders droop.

'Nah, maybe it's just me. I'll act like I don't care for now...' Rikku gazed up and for a second their eyes met. Tidus, bashfully, looked back down. 'But then she's never looked at me like that!'

"It's a lovely day outside." Wakka butted in.

"It snowed last night. Why don't you two go play outside." Yuna added.

"Yuna, we're not kids." Tidus frowned.

"Eighteen is still a child, to me." Yuna nodded and had the mittens out for Rikku.

"Whoa," Rikku gasped. Tidus looked back.

"What?"

"You're...you're eighteen?" She asked, shocked. Tidus shrugged.

"Yeah, why?"

"Oh...nothing." Rikku answered, and pulled on the coat the enchanted servants gave.

It was nice outside. Besides the snow being three inches deep, the sky was pale and bright, and there was barely wind. Rikku was bundle up while Tidus walked around with his cape and pants. His fur could withstand the cold.

Rikku was explore the grounds of the mansion while Tidus gazed at the mountain tops. She took this moment to hide behind a tree and think about what she just learned.

'Wow, he's eighteen?! That's only two years older than me!' Rikku couldn't help but bit her lip and smile.

'Why is this so...alarming to me? Who would've thought...'

Rikku peeked behind the tree and saw Tidus frozen still. A chocobo was on his property, but he was have a staring contest, hoping that he wouldn't scary the bird. Rikku giggled as the chocobo squeaked, kicked Tidus, and started running around.

'He's no prince charming...' Rikku walked over to Tidus. 'But there's definitely someting about him.'

Rikku noticed Tidus was hold Gysahl Greens, which was why the chocobo appeared. Rikku grabbed the greens and laid them on the ground for the chocobo to come. The bird approached and happily ate the greens. Tidus looked delighted.

They went back inside, walking next to each other. Rikku was walking back up the stairs to her room, but she turned to look back and smile at Tidus. When she was gone, Tidus was leaping.

"I...I never felt like this before!" Tidus said, excited with Yuna and Wakka. "Like my stomach is fluttering."

"Good!" Yuna said, happy for him.

"Is it?"

"You'll feel slightly...nauseas." Auron said.

"Sir Auron!" Yuna glared.

"I want to do something special." Tidus said.

"Give her a gift." Wakka suggested.

"Ask her to a dance." Yuna replied.

"Make promises you don't intent to keep." Auron spoke. Yuna and Wakka glared at him, but Tidus was too excited to care.

"I want to give her something special...Oh! I know!" He said, and ran off into the halls.

"I wonder what he's got planned?" Yuna asked.

"Who'd have thought-" Wakka started.

"Well, bless them-" Yuna said.

"Who'd have known?" Auron spoke.

"That they've come together by themselves." Wakka said.

"We'll wait and see a few days more." Yuna said.

"I suppose there was something there before." Auron said, nodded his head.

"Close your eyes." Tidus said, just as excited as Rikku was. "And no peeking."

It was a cheerful day, and Tidus was about to make Rikku even more happy. He quietly opened the doors to the machina library. Rikku's eyes were still closed as he lead her into the dark library.

He left her in the very center of the room and ran to open the windows, so light will fill the room. Tidus barely used the library anymore, but he still remembered the days he would collect machina parts.

"Okay...now." He said and Rikku gasped.

The shelves were high, and there were stairs leading to the second floor. Every shelf was filled with machina parts, and they were neatly organized. Rikku could make anything she wanted.

"Whoa," she whispered, smiling.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it!"

"Then it's yours." Tidus said, feeling pleased with himself. Rikku ran up to the nearest shelf.

"I don't know what to make!" Rikku said. "This is all so wonderful! I couldn't thank you enough."

"Well, there is..." Tidus started, but fet shy again.

"What? Anything." Rikku said. Tidus took a steady breath.

"I was wondering...if you'd give me a second chance. Would you like to have dinner with me?"

Rikku should've expected this, but she was all for it.

"Dinner would be great." She said.

Quietly behind the doors, Wakka and Yuna were giggled while Auron just smirked.

Tonight, will be the night!

i'm stopping here cuz i think i made this chapter longer then i intend for it to be. and i want to keep chapters short.

next chapter is gonna be REALLY short, i'll tell ya that much.

tell me what you think