I'm enjoying this story. It's very different for me, especially since most of my writing consists of smuff in at least the first three chapters. I'm not sure where it's going, but we'll see, won't we?

I don't own FF X/X-2. I just use them for no (obviously) monetary gain.

He could not sleep. He was exhausted, yet sleep eluded him. The night was peaceful and just warm enough to leave the blankets at the foot of the bed. Waves lapping at the shoreline sang a gentle lullaby in tune with the breeze flowing through leaves. It should have lulled him to sleep, but he remained awake.

"Still awake?" Issaru jumped, nearly yelping, and sat up quickly to see who was in his room. He found Rikku looking at him curiously and holding a small bowl in her hand. "I guess so."

"You startled me..." Issaru let his head fall back to its former position on the pillow, closing his eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"No. I just thought you'd be awake and want some company. Want me to leave?"

"No. Please, stay."

"Alright." Issaru opened his eyes quickly when he felt the mattress shift as Rikku sat down on it beside him. "Don't look so scared! I promise I'm here with completely innocent intentions." He continued to stare at her in fear, which made her 'tsk' and set her bowl down on his nightstand. She gently grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him. It was not a long kiss, but it was not short either. Issaru was shocked, but that did not stop him from noticing how soft her lips were. He was disappointed when she pulled away, but unable to do more than stare at her. "Is that more along the lines of what you were expecting?"

"I...no. I never...know what to expect from you."

"That's one of the perks of being around me."

"I can see that."

"And I can see that you're still staring at me."

"I'm in shock, I think."

"How come?"

"I've never had a lady sneak into my room in the dead of night with 'innocent intentions'."

"So you have lots of them that aren't full of innocent intentions? You scoundrel!" Rikku smiled at him.

"I'm not a scoundrel. Why...do you taste like cherries?"

"Oh! I brought you some! They're black cherries, from Bevelle. I thought you'd like some. I nibbled on a few though." A small giggle escaped her as she took her bowl in hand once again. Issaru sat up completely, and found Rikku eating a cherry from the bowl. "Pacce said you liked cherries, so I ordered some from up north. They were on the same ship as you, can you believe that?" She paused to eat another one. "They're really good. Have some."

"I know." Rikku frowned at him slightly. "I just said you tasted like cherries."

"Oh. Heh, forgot about that! Well, taste some more then!" Issaru made no move to get at the fruit. He was blinking at her, trying to decide if she meant eating the fruit or to kiss her. "What? You don't want any?"

"I do, thank you. Is this a habit of yours? Sneaking into a man's bedroom?" He took a cherry, finding that the stems and seeds had already been removed. Rikku waited long enough to swallow before answering.

"Nope. You're special." She watched him eat another one, head cocked to the side. "You're not gay, are you?" He choked a little on the fruit he was eating. Rikku moved beside him and slapped his back a few times, trying to help.

"No. What in the world makes you think I am?"

"Most men would be trying to have sex with me, not eating cherries with me, so I thought I'd ask before kissing you again." Issaru shook his head, trying to ignore the blush that crept up his face.

"I enjoy a woman's body, not a man's. Rest assured of that." Thank Yevon for the darkness in here! I can pretend to be as open as this in the dark. "I thought you had innocent intentions tonight."

"I do. Or I did. But if you have non-innocent intentions, I'm all for it." He sighed heavily, rubbing his face with one hand. Rikku laughed softly at him, pulling his hand away and lifting his head with her own hand. This time, he was prepared. Or as prepared as he could be. Issaru relaxed after a moment, realizing that she had no intention of initiating anything beyond chaste kisses. "See, it's not so bad."

Rikku arranged herself next to him, almost in his lap, and alternated between kissing him and eating cherries. She made no attempt at hand feeding him, and laughed when he thanked her for it.

"That'd be WAY too close to the plot line of those porn spheres." This earned her another wide eyed stare. "What?"

"You...watch those?"

"Sure. Who doesn't? I've even made a few."

"Please tell me you're joking, L- Rikku."

"I am. Relax! Much as I enjoy sex, I don't want the whole world to see me do it, you know? But that doesn't mean I won't watch other people that WANT the whole world to see them having sex. Depending on who it is, it can get pretty hot. Which kind do you like, Issaru? The kind that attempts a plot, or just straight up sex scenes?"

"I can't believe I'm having this conversation." He mumbled into his hand before eating another cherry. "The ones without plot. The 'plots' tend to make me laugh more than anything else."

"Aren't you glad it's dark in here? I can't tell how much I'm embarrassing you. I'll change the subject."

"Yes, I'm very glad, and thank you."

"You can't sleep cause of Valfor?"

"No. I don't like having my soul laid bare before me."

"Know what you mean. There's nothing worse than having all the things you try to keep hidden from everyone thrown out in front of a stranger. It's never pleasant having all your faults and dirty little secrets aired out."

"You felt the same, then?"

"Yep. I was pretty young, though, so there wasn't anything too bad. It's got to be hard on adults."

"Very hard."

"You did good though! Most people takes days to get Valfor."

"I don't feel quite so bad about it, then."

"I think that the worst part, is that you have to see it too. No one likes to remember all the stupid and embarrassing things they've done. Even now, I'd like to kick myself for certain things I've done."

"I find that hard to believe."

"What's your biggest regret, Issaru?" Rikku was staring at the nearly empty bowl of cherries like it held whatever answer she was looking for. "If you died tonight, what would you regret the most?"

"I...I don't know."

"Sometimes..." She sat the bowl on Issaru's leg and flopped down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "I regret becoming a summoner. It's not because I'm scared of dying at the end of a pilgrimage. I'm okay with that. It keeps the world going, even if it won't work much longer."

"Then what is it?"

"I always wanted a family. At least two kids. But, I can't ever have that, and it makes me sad." She looked over at him, what he could see of her expression was unreadable. "Didn't you ever want a family?"

"I suppose." He sat the bowl of cherries down on his nightstand and laid down as well. "Sin killed my parents a short time after Pacce was born. It's been the three of us for as long as we can remember. I don't know what a family is supposed to be beyond siblings."

"What did you want to be when you grew up?"

"A fireman." Rikku giggled beside him. "They got to use giant hoses and get dirty and THANKED for getting dirty." She giggled again. I suppose it IS a silly way of thinking of things.

"I wanted to be a treasure hunter. Exploring forgotten cities, leaping across chasms and fighting fiends single-handed."

"I thought you wanted a family."

"I wanted both. Mom by day, Treasure Hunter Exraordinaire by night. Kinda like a superhero. Just without the cape. I'd keep the boots and untility belt, though." Issaru laughed, trying to keep quiet at the same time. The mattress shifted again, and he saw that Rikku was on her side, looking at him with a small smile. "Feel a little better, now?"

"Yes."

"Good. Get some sleep, Issaru" She kissed him again. He was used to it, mostly, by now, and relaxed enough to enjoy it. Rikku left the room after that, making no more noise than a ghost would. The only indication that she was there was the warm spot on the mattress and the taste of cherries on his tongue.