gosh, i should focus on my homework. But when you have things rolling, and with this chapter with the main theme song, even you can't resist to post this up!

right now, i'm not listening to beauty and the beast actually. i'm listening to this japanese song by DBSK (are they korean?...it sounds like they're singing in japanese...i found it cuz i've been watching too many J-dramas...) and it actually reminds me of tikku, but the angst way. you know, how rikku likes tidus, but FFX was meant for tidus and yuna (sad)

anywas, enough babbling!! here's the chapter i've been waiting for!! (...oh, and the readers too.)

Chapter 14: Rikku and the Beast

Tidus was in a room with Wakka, Auron, and more enchanted services helping him get ready for dinner. He was nervous again, but it was worst than before. He looked at himself in the mirrors reflection. The blue jacket seemed too tight, and the pants looked weird in his hind legs.

"I-I'm not so sure." Tidus said, feeling doubtful.

"Don't be like that." Wakka said, standing behind the mirror. "Tonight's the big night!"

"What if..." Tidus said, turning to look at his back, "...what if she doesn't like me?"

"She'd asked you for dinner, right?" Auron pointed out.

"Yeah, but-"

"You will confess your true feelings." Wakka said, getting carried away. "You fall in love with her, she falls in love with you, and poof! We'll be human by midnight!"

"Wakka, it's not gonna be that simple." Auron said, stern.

"And sense when you were an expert at this?" Wakka said, marching up towards Auron. If they had noses, they'd be an inch away.

"I happen to know a thing or two." Auron said, glaring back Wakka.

"You guys..." Tidus breaking them up.

"Well, it's all up to you Tidus. I know you can do it." Wakka said, in an upbeat.

Tidus suddenly felt a lot of pressure. If he can't break the spell, all his servants will suffer the spell with him. He took a steady breath and walked out of the room, waiting for Rikku in the ballroom...

The ballroom was the center of the mansion. The ceiling was high with a grand chandelier light in hundreds of crystal lights, which caused the floor and the walls to glow. On the other side of the ballroom, the wall was entire made of glass, and the night was clear with millions of stars and a crescent moon.

Tidus, however, wasn't as calm as the night.

"What if she was making fun? What if she doesn't come? What if she changes her mind?" Tidus said, pacing again.

"Calm down. She will come. Yuna said she's coming." Auron reassured. "Just be more confident in yourself."

"...I can't!" Tidus said, about to walk out of the ballroom.

"No, Tidus!" Wakka and Auron yelled, blocking his way.

"Just wait!"

Tidus stopped.

"I know what you must be going through." Auron said, suddenly fatherly. Tidus glanced down at him. "A long time ago, I was nervous around a certain lady. A daughter of a priest."

"What?! You Sir Auron?!" Wakka said, amazed.

"However, things weren't in such good times." Auron continued. "I promised Braska a journey before I could accept a proposal from her father. I had to refuse."

"Auron," Tidius gasped. He had no idea what Auron's life was before he served at the mansion.

"Tidus, if you stray away from the chances you're given, you might not get another opportunity like it." Auron advised.

Inspired, Tidus nodded and walked back to the base of the stairs, where Rikku was suppose to arrive. He stared at the doors at the top of the stairs waiting.

Then, the doors opened dramatically. Tidus held his breath as Rikku appeared in an amazing yellow dress. Her hair shined like her dress as she descended down the stairs. She looked bashful as she approached Tidus, and slightly bowed her head.

"I'm sorry for being late." She said, her head still bowed. Tidus just chuckled and gently lifted her chin up.

"Maestro, music." Wakka whispered to a small orchestra on the other side of the ballroom.

Tidus lead Rikku to the center of the floor, right under the chandelier. At first, Tidus was unsure of where to place his paws, so Rikku smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder and his paw. He gulped as he placed his other around her waist.

They slowly danced to the music. Someone was singing, and Tidus looked up and saw Yuna singing.

"Tale as old as time...

True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly.

Just a little change

Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast.

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise

Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise..."

Tidus couldn't believe that he was dancing with Rikku. Everything seemed to much brighter than before, even Rikku was smiling wider. Soon, she laid her head on his shoulder. Amazed, Tidus smiled back at Wakka and Auron who were watching. Wakka just winked and Yuna continued to sing that echo all around the ballroom.

Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong.

Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast.

As the song began to slow down, Tidus and Rikku stopped spinning. Her hands were still in his over-sized paws, but Rikku didn't care. She thought they were very warm.

Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast.

Politely, all the enchanted servants left the ballroom as Tidus lead Rikku to the balcony. It was a peaceful night, just like any night since Rikku came. Tidus gathered his courage and spoke.

"Thank you...for asking me to dinner." He said.

"Dinner was wonderful." Rikku said, but went back to gaze out into the mountains.

"What's wrong?"

"I...I just wish I know how my father was doing." She confessed. Tidus immediately felt guilty, but then he had an idea.

"There is a way." He called a servant, who was just a coat hanger, and order it to get his magic mirror. When the servant returned, he showed it to Rikku.

"This mirror can show you anything...anyone in Spira." He said. In awe, Rikku took the mirror, unsure of how it works.

"Ummm...I like to see my father, please." Rikku asked. In an instant, a bright light lit inside the mirror and shined in Rikku's face. She watched for a few seconds, and her expression was in horror.

"Oh no! He's sick!" Rikku said, standing up still holding the mirror. "He's in the mountains. He's dying. He needs my help."

Tidus was looking out at the mountains. He had a feeling this day would come, and he knew exactly what he must do. He took a deep breath and turned to face Rikku.

"Then you should go to him." Tidus said, almost gloomy.

"What?" Rikku said, shocked.

"You are no longer my prisoner. You're free to leave." He said, with a hard glare.

"Oh," she said. She held out the mirror, but he pushed it back to her.

"Keep it. So will remember me." Tidus said. Rikku bit her lip, turned around and ran as fast as her heels could.

Tidus turned his back again and faced the mountains, not even feeling any remorse. He heard Wakka and Auron walking towards him, but they obviously didn't know why Rikku ran out of the room.

"Good going, prince!" Wakka said.

"It won't be long until the spell dies out." Auron agreed. Tidus couldn't hold it in any longer.

"I let her go." He said, bluntly. There was silence until he heard Wakka yell at him.

"How could you do that?!" Then, Tidus heard Yuna's teapot steps walking in the balcony.

"After all this time," Yuna said, "he's finally learned to love."

'Oh,' Tidus thought. 'So this is what I'm feeling...no wonder it hurts...'

"That's it! That should break the spell." Wakka said, excited again.

"It's not enough, Wakka." Yuna said. "He has to be loved in return."

"Then...go after her, man!" Wakka said.

"There's no point!" Tidus yelled. They remained silent. "There's no point...now she left. I gave her a choice, and she would've easily choose to stay. But she's too good...she cares too much."

"Sir...?" Yuna spoke.

"I will remain as a beast." Tidus said, defeated.

ok. that last part, where tidus was saying 'no point' was suppose to be the second song. or the 'if i can't love her' reprise song, but it would just seem repetitive of that chapter, so it's short. i also like that part where you see auron's past a little. do you guys remember looking for those auron spheres? one of them said that auron turned down a proposal, and i always wanted to use that one day. i was even surprise in his advice! (but i'm the author!!)

also, the reason why i couldn't update sooner, was that the computer got a virus (damn) and i had wait until my brother fixed it (since he's a tech expert) but he was too busy, but now things should be ok.

also, school is coming soon. let's hope i can finish before school starts.

so, tell me what you think!