Stories That Should Have Ended
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, just the story. But I bet we all wish we did, huh? ^.~
A/N: All I can really say about this chapter, is that you need to pay close attention. If you don't, I fear you will be lost. Then again, maybe that's what I'm trying to do. Who knows? Enjoy :D
There is a bit of Al Bhed in this chapter, so keep your translators handy. Also, thanks for all the positive feedback! Reviews are nice, but PM's are just as equally as awesome :)
"You can't keep doing this, you know that, right?"
"Well I sure as hell am not going to let her do this to herself. And what right do you have anyway to tell me I can't?"
There was silence between the two men as the heated words started to seep in. Both of them turned to look at Yuna laying at their feet, who stirred as her eyebrows knitted together in a worrisome state.
"Who says I don't have the right?" one man said to the other.
The other glared, "I do."
"Your words mean nothing to me. I couldn't care less about what you think – you're a fool if you believe what you're gonna do is going to help her."
"You don't know her, and you sure as hell don't know what she'll do."
"Oh, is that right? Aren't you forgetting one minor little detail?"
"Shh, you'll wake her. Let her rest peacefully – for now, at least."
The corridors were lined with dimly lit spheres, giving off eerie glows and casting shadows on every inch of the stone walls. Walking confidently down them, her feet fell, one in front of the other, knowing all too well how reach her destination. The lift instantly started descending once both feet were situated, and dared not spare a second once it touched down. Briskly making her way into the anti-chamber, Lulu stood there, unamused.
The only pause she made, was right before the last door. Only three people out of their band of seven had seen what was on the other side of that door. Though following the teachings of Yevon had died in their tight knit group, something tugged at her inwardly. As confident as she was coming down, now, she wasn't so sure she could actually enter the chamber.
"I may not be a summoner," Lulu whispered as she finally brought her hand up to the door, touching it lightly, "But I have to remember who it is I'm doing this for."
Closing her ruby eyes, she felt the door shift and vibrate as it slowly opened. She thought back on what the temple priest had said to her – that there were noises flooding every corner of the temple. Yet from what she saw, there was nothing out of place – and while that should have calmed her spirits, it did nothing but worry her even more.
She may not have known what the inside of this room looked like before the hoards of fiends that spilled out of it, but she was sure that there had been a hole there. Yuna described the scene in such fluent detail, but from what her eyes were seeing, it just wasn't so. There was no hole, no pyreflies, and no fiends. All she was left staring at, was the glassed over statue that once held the aeon, Valefor.
"Something's wrong," she spoke barely above a whisper, "I can feel it."
Rikku sat on the edge of the stairs, leading up to Kilika temple, swinging her legs angrily thinking about her spat with Paine. The painful truth of it all? Paine had been right. Although their friends were out of line, so had she been. Everyone held Yuna's well-being at heart, and even if they expressed them differently, that was no excuse for being stand-offish. Each person feels differently – even still, she shouldn't be so quick to think she's the only one making the right decisions.
"Thought I'd find you here," Paine emerged from the jungle trail just up ahead.
"You came back?"
"Of course I did. What are friends for if you can't vent every once in a while?"
Giggling at her heated words earlier, Rikku lowered her head, "I just worry about her, Dr. P. Only a handful of people know what she's going through – more than once, might I add."
All Paine could do, was nod in agreement. There was no denying Rikku that one. Outside their circle of friends, everyone in Spira was oblivious as to what Yuna had lost in the past two years. Her faith, religion, hope, and more importantly, she'd lost him.
"Think Lulu and Wakka will ever forgive me?" Rikku sniffled, wiping stray tears from her cheeks with her sleeve, "I said some pretty mean things back there."
"I'm pretty sure they think nothing of it," Paine rested against the wall beside Rikku, "Especially with Yuna running off again."
"What do you think she's doing right now?" Rikku asked, nudging Paine in the arm as she dangled her feet with a little more enthusiasm.
"Knowing Yuna?" Paine smirked, "Probably getting into a lot of trouble and diving in head first."
"Sounds like our Yunie, doesn't it?"
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
"You know what?" Rikku giggled as she jumped from the stone wall, "We should go spy on her!"
"Absolutely not," Paine shook her head, "She wanted to be left alone. What you're proposing is the exact opposite."
"Exactly! When have you ever known me to be any different?"
"True, but I strongly suggest we sit this one out. If she wants us to tag along, she'll find us – not the other way around."
"Aw, come on. We don't have to do anything! We could just...snoop a little – write it off as making sure she's ok and stuff."
Kicking off the wall, Paine turned her back trying to avoid Rikku's puppy dog eyes. An impossibility, as it turned out as Rikku bounced around unrelenting.
"Stop that," Paine warned, shooting the bouncing blonde a glare.
"Please? Pretty please?"
Paine grunted and sighed, "Rikku, it's only been three days."
"That's too long," the Al Bhed whined, "I promise, we won't interfere. She won't even know we're there!"
"I'm going to regret this."
"Yes! You're the bestest friend ever!" Rikku beamed, grabbing Paine by the hand and dragging her back toward Kilika Port.
"On one condition."
"Anything!"
"If she finds out, I have full permission to hurt you."
"No deductions from my respect points?"
Paine grinned, "Deal."
"Alright! Let's go!"
To say that my head was killing me, would be the understatement of the year. It felt like something or someone was beating my skull in time with mallets on either side, forcing me to open my eyes – only closing them the second the sun intensified the pounding. Turning on my side and curling my knees inward, I pulled the covers to my chin and groaned.
"So, you're finally awake, huh?" someone called from across the way.
I tightened my grip on the blanket and tensed as my eyes shot open again. I know who's voice that is – how could I forget it? Still, I shouldn't have heard it in the first place.
"You know, I may not have known much when I first came to Spira," he chuckled, coming closer to the side of the bed I was on, "But I'm an expert when it comes to getting rid of a hang-over. It's one of the things Jecht unknowingly taught me."
I felt his weight jar the bed as he sat down next to me, causing my eyes to shut in disbelief. No way it could be him. Of course...I had no where to turn. So as he bent down, I had no choice but to turn my head, bracing myself for what I knew had to have been my imagination.
"Next time, though, I suggest you pace yourself. You never did strike me as the drinking type."
"Tidus?" I whispered, still in denile.
He just grinned, "Yuna?"
"What are you doing here?" I questioned as I pulled the covers further up my shaking frame.
Tilting his head, he gave a puzzled expression, "Why would I not be here?"
"Actually," I looked around, "Where is...here?"
"Yuna...are you feeling ok?" he asked, touching the back of a gloved hand to my forehead.
"I'm fine. Just confused." I nodded slowly, backing away from his touch.
"You don't recognize your own home?"
At this revelation, I jumped from the bed and looked around slowly. For once, he was right. I was home. I was back in my hut in Besaid.
"That can't be right," I whispered as I wrung my hands together, "I was just in Djose with Gippal..."
"Uh huh," he rose from the bed and just stared at me, "Man, what were in those drinks last night?"
My breath hitched and I spun to face him, "Last night?"
"Yeah, last night. You know, the celebration?"
When I didn't respond, his expression changed slowly from amusement to uncertainty.
"This isn't funny, Yuna."
Shaking my head lightly, he walked up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Vegnagun? Shuyin? Anything ringing a bell?"
"That I remember. What I don't understand, is why you're standing here talking to me."
"You really don't remember, do you?"
"No," I exhaled, bringing him closer to me.
"I'm back. I'm home because of you."
He stood there, just staring into my eyes, seeming to search for some kind of acknowledgment. When I stood there with a blank expression, he looked pained. Even still, he brought me closer to him, embracing me tightly. A pang of emotions rushed through me, pulling me in different directions. This is what I wanted, yet my arms just couldn't find their way from my sides. All I could do, was feel the heat radiating from him, and hear the rhythm of his heart beat resonating in my ears.
"Man, oh, man. She is going to be insanely pissed when she finds out." he snickered, "I'd like to see how you sweet talk your way out of this one!"
"What? You think I'm doing this?" the other man narrowed his eyes.
"Well I'm not doing it, so it has to be you." he chuckled some more.
Groaning, the blond turned around to face the other, "Why are you even here?"
"For once," the blond grinned as he folded his arms across his chest, "It's not me in the hot seat."
"How is it, out of all the people that ever lived in Zanarkand, I get stuck with the sadist as my look alike?"
"Actually, you were my look alike."
"I swear, Shuyin, if you don't shut up, I'm gonna call Lenne."
"Go ahead, Tidus. I'll just tell her what you're doing to Yuna."
"But I'm not doing anything!" Tidus protested as his jaw tensed, "Why would I put her through something like that?"
"Who knows?" Shuyin shrugged, "All I know, is that you're playing with fire, and you're gonna get burned – by her."
Clenching his fists at his side, Tidus sighed, "I swear, I'm not doing anything. I wouldn't put her through this – not after all the suffering she's been through."
Shuyin's facial expressions softened once he thought back to what he had done for Lenne, "Then, for her sake, I suggest you find out who is. Because if she does think it's you-"
"It'll kill her." Tidus finished his sentence for him.
"How long has she been like this?"
"I dunno...a couple of hours?"
"Yht oui teth'd drehg du ica dra lusscbrana du kad y rumt uv ic? Oui'na cilr y - cilr y -"
"Rikku," Paine gave a warning look.
"Ugh!" Rikku balled her fists up and shook with frustration.
"Calm down, Cid's girl. She said she was traveling alone." Gippal waved his arms in his defense, "There was no prominent danger to speak of, so I thought it'd be ok."
"Was that before, or after you found her unconscious?" Rikku spat venemously as she crossed her arms and tapped her toe.
"Rikku," Paine growled.
"That was the last one, I swear."
The three of them stared at Yuna, who was tossing and turning in the tangled sheets of the cot. Sweat cascaded down her face, but she shivered uncontrollably.
Before any of them could formulate a plan, Yuna's hand clapsed to her chest and she mumbled something as a tear drop hung in the corner of her eye.
"Tidus..."
"Oh yeah, she's been saying that name over and over again. Who is Tidus?" Gippal shifted in his chair.
Rikku and Paine could do nothing but stare in utter disbelief.
"Still think we should give her space?" Rikku quietly asked as she knelt down, placing a hand to Yuna's forehead.
"For once, Rikku, I don't know what we should do."
- Day Three -
Entry One: Besaid Island
At first, I thought I may have been dreaming. I even considered the possibility of being dead. But this just seems too real to be either of those. Somehow, though, I knew if I searched hard enough, I'd find you.
I sat and listened to you, you know. It may not have seemed like it, but I was like a sponge, soaking up every bit of information – how I defeated Vegnagun, all the way up to us reuniting in Besaid. Whatever this is, be it a dream or the afterlife, this is how it should have been. This is how my story should have ended – with you in my arms. If it is a dream, I pray that I never wake up. And if it is the afterlife, I'll embrace it like I do you – lovingly and grateful.
All I can hope for now, is that this will be my last entry.
~ Yuna ~
As I closed the journal, a shadow blocked the warm rays of sun that kissed my skin. Looking up, my green and blue eyes met with a solid cerulean pair that seemed to sparkle even in the shade.
"Am I ever gonna get to read it?" Tidus asked as he gave his best boyish grin.
Tucking it safely into the pouch that hung from my half-skirt wrap, I grinned, "Maybe, someday."
"Tch," Tidus scoffed playfully, "Someday?"
Rising up with the help of his hand, I pressed my lips against his and savored his taste. Tidus wasted no time in strategically placing his hands underneath my shorts, bringing me up to his waist as my legs straddled him in mid-air.
Giggling at him catching me off guard, I smiled into the kiss, "Yes, someday. We've got all the time in the world now, right?"
"Yeah," Bringing me up further, he nodded and smiled as he took my lips again, "Yeah, we do."
Yes. This is how it should have ended a long time ago...
A/N: I really enjoyed writing this chapter. A mix of fear, antics and seriousness all combined in one. Twists and turns are my specialty, after all. Again, if you have any questions about the story so far, email me or PM me on the site. I check both frequently, and it will not go unnoticed :)