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Sleepless Chapter 27

"I love you."

The words weren't hers. She stared at him with widened eyes and her mouth hung slightly open in surprise. "W-what?" She questioned in disbelief. Kairi raised herself a little higher to get a greater look at him. Tidus turned his head, smashing his right cheek in the ground to not make eye contact with her. She felt him inhale sharply, waiting for the worse. Kairi's thin eyebrows furrowed together in light frustration, but then she smiled. "I…love you too, Tidus," She said with a sweet smile. Tidus turned to her immediately and gazed at her like she was crazy. "What?" Kairi giggled. She tilted her head to the side and nodded in assurance.

It's true. I'm being honest.

Tidus's eyes softened and smiled back at her. It felt good to tell someone you love them, but it felt even better knowing they returned the amazing feeling. He took her face into his hands, making her smile even more. She relaxed and allowed her body to lay on his tiredly.

They both seemed so tired, though the loud thunder and striking lightening tried to keep them awake. Kairi rolled to Tidus's side, making him let go of her face, and kept her head glued to his chest. She heard his heartbeat, over the screaming thunder, like a gentle lullaby. His arm wrapped around her once more to warm her the best he could. Their eyelids felt heavy but their hearts were light as they closed their eyes for sleep.

The crickets chirped and the moonlight glistened on the river. Tidus opened his eyes slowly and looked down to see Kairi safely kept in his arms. He smiled at her sleeping expression and carefully got his phone out of his pants pocket. He flipped it open, away from Kairi so the sudden light wouldn't wake her, and looked at the clock. It was ten at night. He also noticed twelve missed calls and thirty texts from friends and family asking where he was. He looked down at Kairi again and back to the phone. He quickly texted he and Kairi were fine and he'd fill them in later. Tidus put his phone on silent, in case it was to ring again and stuffed it back into his pocket.

His and Kairi's hair were frizzed and messy due to the dried rain that was on them. He combed through her hair gently with his fingers and smiled. He wanted to jump up and down with joy, and he would if Kairi weren't laying on him. He was happy. Kairi returned his feelings he had for her. After all the years of having the most obvious crush on her, they were finally together. His mind seemed to reach far away to the memories; of giving her candy and flowers on Valentine's Day, trying his best to impress her with blitzball, attending each other's birthday parties and everything that happened since she came into his life.

He remembered when she washed up on shore at the island that day. The day of her arrival still made him wonder, but he didn't care for a complex answer. All that mattered was that she was here… with him. A smile crawled upon his face again. It was an unintentional smile that left him slightly surprised. But he quickly dismissed his thoughts; he needed to get Kairi home.

Tidus carefully picked her up in his arms and headed for the trail. Once he got there, it was barely better than off the trail. It was so dark he could hardly see anything. He cursed under his breath and continued anyway. He didn't want to trip so he went slowly and carefully. At this rate, he'd be able to drop off Kairi in thirty minutes. He sighed quietly; he didn't want to walk that long in here. Unknown noises were heard from everywhere, he reasoned it was just the animals like bugs and birds but sometimes fear got to him. Tidus picked up his pace a bit more, with his heartbeat the loudest thing that was present.

Kairi was half asleep as Tidus carried her out of the park, she didn't grasp what was happening at the moment so she was blind to fear. She heard his nearby heartbeat as memories started to rewind themselves in front of her closed eyes. Memories of the last thing she remembered to the day she jumped after her paddle into the cold ocean. Then it stopped and started to play.

She was searching in the darkness of the ocean. Searching for what? She couldn't remember, but she kept swimming deeper and deeper into the unknown. I need to keep looking. It has to be here somewhere!A white spark passed right before her face and swam quickly to her right. "Wait!" she called as air bubbles flew out of her mouth. She instinctively covered her mouth with both hands and started to panic. But then she let her hands fall to her sides once more. She hesitantly inhaled and confirmed her unreal thought. She was breathing under water.

The spark floated in the dark water, a few yards ahead of her, waiting for her. Kairi swam to it slowly, making sure she didn't frighten it. The white glow stayed still even when Kairi cupped it into her hands. It was a white, glowing sphere the size of a small marble. It floated there, still waiting. "What do you want me to do?" she whispered softly. Small air bubbles flew out of her mouth until no more came.

Kairi looked around slowly, only seeing darkness around her. She turned back to the spark, it floated nearer to her. It got larger, to the size near a tennis ball, then it speed into her, leaving Kairi shocked. She turned around slowly, suddenly feeling weak and the spark was gone. Her eyelids grew heavy as she started to sink.

The teenaged girl bolted up and hit her head.

"Aaahh! Geez! Fffffu...!" The blonde groaned, not wanting to curse at the moment. He still held on to her as she rubbed her head with a physically pained expression. "Bad dream?" He asked, also looking pained.

"Yeah, I'm so sorry," she whispered as she started rubbing the side of his head (where she hit him) for him since his hands were occupied.

Tidus shook his head, "Nah, it's ok. Thanks." He smiled weakly, eyeing her massage.

Kairi continued to rub his forehead gently and looked around, "What time is it?" She asked, turning back to him.

"Last time I checked it was ten. I'm fine now, Kai," He replied as his eyes sparked, seeing the park's exit. The red-head slung her arm around Tidus's neck and looked at the exit with a smile. Finally she'd be home, to a shower and her comfy bed.

"Oh! Tidus, you can put me down now. I'm sure I can walk now, " she assured with a small giggle. Tidus blushed, lucky for him the darkness hid it well, and let her down carefully, incase she were to fall. Kairi stood on her own two feet and smiled up at him. "See? I'm perfectly fine," she said with a nod.

"Just tell me if you feel a like you're gonna fall, alright?" He said, wanting to make sure she'll be ok.

"You'll catch me?" She questioned as she slipped her hand into his. He nodded as they continued their way out of the park. Kairi's lips formed a light smile. Tidus gave her security and she liked it. She liked feeling safe in some way. Her other hand moved across her body to hold onto his hand.

Tidus looked at her with his heart racing and then ahead once more, they were out of the park. "Kairi…" He whispered softly. She squeezed his hand in response. He cleared his throat a little and exhaled. They would arrive at Kairi's house in a few minutes. "What you said…under the bridge…is it true? It's not that I don't believe you, it's just kind of surprising." He asked gently.

Under the bridge, where we told each other our feelings. Kairi looked at him, "Of course I meant it," She let go of his hand and walked in the way of their walk. He stopped and looked her straight in the eyes. "I really do love you, Tidus," She said eagerly. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest at the rate it was going. She has never told anyone she loved them in this way. It was special. It was amazing.

Tidus's eyes looked innocently at her, reminding Kairi of a child, and brought her close to him. They wrapped each other in their arms and looked at each other, smiling like nothing else mattered. Their lips met and they shared an innocent kiss, any other kind would have ruined their feeling. They chuckled at each other softly and let go of their embrace. They held hands as he walked her the rest of the way to her house.

They stopped on her porch, hesitant to leave one another. "Come by here at noon?" Kairi asked with a smile momentarily permanent on her face.

"Of course," he nodded with a smile on his face too. Kairi quietly played with her keys in her hand and stared at him, waiting. He reached his right hand to her face and caressed her cheek. The blonde leaned towards her and kissed her goodbye.

I am just terrible at describe kisses, aren't I? XD But review anyways, please? Thanks for reading!