Chapter 2: Welcome to Zanarkand

When I woke the next day, I had a headache and felt a bit queasy. I doubted it was from the drink I had. It was probably attributed to the stress of being ripped away from my home and everyone I loved, not to mention the uncertainty of ever returning. The more I thought about it; the more ill I began to feel.

A sudden knock on the door startled me out of my troubled thoughts.

"Yuna…you awake?"

"Y-yes…" I sat up, absently clutching the teddy-bear against my chest as the door creaked open.

"I made a pot of coffee if you wanna—" Dressed in a pair of black shorts and a white t-shirt, Tidus froze, gaze trained on the stuffed bear in my arms as his lips stretched into an amused grin. "I see you found Roxus."

"Oh… I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have—"

"Nah, it's okay," he assured with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I'm sure he enjoyed being snuggled by you last night."

A familiar flush warmed the tops of my cheeks, and I looked away, slightly embarrassed at him catching me with the stuffed toy.

"Coffee's ready if you want some. I'll be in the kitchen."

As soon as he'd left, I hurried out of bed and returned the teddy-bear back to its rightful place on the dresser before heading out to join him on the main level.

I hadn't bothered to get dressed—my sense of modesty long forgotten. Not just because I knew this man, but because I really didn't care at that moment and had still felt a little discombobulated.

"Cream and sugar?" he offered as I took a seat at the small, wooden dining-table.

"Please."

"So, you feel any better this morning?"

"Not really."

Standing at the counter, he stirred the contents in each mug and tossed me a look of moderate concern. "Still can't remember much, huh?"

"I'm afraid not," I lied, but he wouldn't have known otherwise, since he didn't know me at that time.

"Maybe some good-old caffeine will help." Tidus made his way over with the mugs and set them down onto the table then took a seat across from me. "I dunno about you but I can't function without it in the morning."

He'd functioned just fine during the pilgrimage. Then again, he'd always been grumpy for a few hours after we'd all started the day. I suppose the lack of caffeine had contributed to his mood, now that he'd mentioned it. And come to think of it, my fiancé never went a day without coffee since returning to Spira.

"I've managed to go without for a time. But…I've become quite fond of it in recent years."

"How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Oh, uh… Twenty."

Tidus took a sip of his coffee and continued to look at me with a keen interest. "And your fiancé?"

"He's the same age. And you're…seventeen, correct?"

"Yeah…the youngest recruit on the Abes."

"You seem quite mature for your age."

"That's debatable," he returned with a slight chuckle. "I had to grow up fast after the loss of my parents. I had a guardian of sorts after though. He kinda up and left about a year ago or so. But I've gotten along pretty well since. He still comes to my games—just doesn't stick around after, unless he feels I need a lecture or something."

Auron, I thought. "Do you find it lonely being all by yourself?"

"Sometimes… I keep busy though. So, I don't really feel that way too much anymore." He paused to take another sip, and I did the same, unsure what to say at that moment. "Do you think he's looking for you—your fiancé?"

If he hadn't strangled Shinra by now, I'm sure Tidus was doing everything imaginable to aid him in fixing that disastrous machina. "That's the one thing I'm certain of."

"Well, if he loves you like you say, I'm sure he'll find you soon enough."

A tiny smile tugged on my lips at the thought. "You're right. We do manage to always find a way back to one another."

"Sounds like there's a story there."

"Mm…" I hummed, staring down at the mug in my hands. "A complicated one."

"Yeah…you said as much last night. Is everything always so complicated where you're concerned?"

"More often than not."

Tidus issued an amused chuckle. "A woman of mystery."

"I'm not that mysterious."

"Sure seems like it… So, whaddaya do for fun in that Luca of yours?"

"Normal stuff, I suppose." Shrugging, I took another sip of coffee, which had started to churn my stomach for some reason, and prepared to elaborate. "Going to carnivals, sphere hunting, concerts, but mostly just spending time with friends."

"Concerts, huh? Got any favorite bands?"

"Not really. I'm usually the one doing the concerts."

His eyes lit up. "Seriously!? You sing?"

"Oh, uh…a little."

"If you're the one putting on most of the concerts, you gotta be the hottest ticket in town. You must be pretty famous then?"

"I… I suppose."

"Modest…" His grin widened. "So, what do I gotta do to getcha to sing me a song?"

Mulling over his offer, I decided on the one thing I never thought I'd have the opportunity to experience before that would also serve as the perfect distraction. "Show me around Zanarkand. I want to visit all of your favorite spots."

Tidus released a light-hearted chuckle. "Sure thing. But why all of my favorite spots?"

"Because they hold meaning to you. It'll make you a better tour-guide if you're passionate about the places we visit. And I'm sure the story behind each of them will be fascinating."

Intrigued by my answer, the younger version of the man I loved leaned back in his seat with a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Tell ya what—I'm game if you promise to tell me something about yourself as well at each of them."

"Mm…" I agreed with a nod then sweetly tilted my head to the side, preparing to add a much needed insurance policy to the deal. "As long as I'm able to stay here until I find a way home…if that's okay? I… I feel safe with you."

There was a brief element of surprise on his face before it eased into something more endearing. "Yeah… You got a deal."

Relieved, I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding and attempted another swig of coffee. This time wasn't any better than the last, mind you. It was still making me rather queasy.

And Tidus must've noticed as much from the growing concern in his eyes. "Too strong?"

"Oh, uh… No, it's fine. I suppose I'm still feeling a little out of sorts."

"Ever ride on a motorbike?" he inquired with a cheerful smile.

It was during our recent trip across Spira when my fiancé had fondly mentioned owning such a vehicle and how he'd enjoyed the rush of riding it around Zanarkand. I suppose the closest thing we'd had to them in Spira was the Al-Bhed's mopeds from what Tidus had described. But they were only drivable on the ice or snow. And because of that, I'd only gotten to experience the thrill once when we visited Mount Gagazet not long after Tidus had returned.

"No, I've never had the opportunity."

"Then you're in for a treat." Standing from the table, Tidus collected the mugs and set them into the sink over in the kitchen. "Whaddaya say we get showered and changed then we can start this grand tour? The bathroom is beside my old room. There's fresh towels and everything you need inside. I got my own in the master bedroom, so we won't have to wait to take turns." Tidus then returned to the table and flashed me that playful grin I adored. "Last one out has to tell an embarrassing story."

A challenge I definitely didn't want to lose.

I scrambled out of my seat and raced down the stairs below deck with Tidus close behind, both of us alight with laughter. For the moment, I become lighter of spirit. There was a familiarity of being with this younger version of my fiancé. And I suppose that was because it was still him, just who he was before we'd met in Spira, which wasn't all that different to be honest.

Perhaps I needed to stop overthinking things. Tidus and all our friends had never let me down. They'd get that machina working again. And I'd be home in no time. But, for now, I planned to indulge in this trip to Zanarkand I never thought I'd have.

After a nice hot shower, I'd changed back into my gunner outfit and made sure the disk-shaped module was still safely tucked away into the front pocket of my shorts, before hurrying up the stairs to the main level.

Unfortunately, Tidus was already standing in the living room, arms folded over his chest, wearing a smug expression.

"Someone has an embarrassing story to tell," he gloated. "But it can wait until we get to where we're going. C'mon…"

Following the man I loved over to the door, he opened the closet and retrieved two, black helmets from inside, handing me one.

"Where do you keep this bike of yours?"

"Over in the private lot near the marina entrance. It's where all the houseboat residents park."

"I see."

"C'mon, let's go."

It was strange to see the city of Zanarkand against the glow of the morning sun. Every sphere I'd ever seen had been of the metropolis lit up at night. But this version possessed a unique sense of beauty—still bustling with life, yet seeming softer against the clear, blue skies.

The parking lot wasn't a far walk from the houseboat. It was filled with all kinds of vehicles that Tidus had referred to as cars. And I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to ride in one of them.

"Do you…own a car, too?"

"Nah… I rent one from time-to-time. I mostly prefer my bike, so I haven't bothered forking out the gil to get one yet. But I've been thinking about it." Tidus stopped in front of a big, black motorbike with silver trim and ran a thoughtful hand over the seat. "She's a beauty, huh?"

"She?" I blinked, confused.

"The bike. She's top of the line."

"Oh… Y-yes, she's…something else."

"Okay…so, if you've never rode on one of these before there's a few things you gotta know. Keep your feet on the foot rests, make sure to get a firm grip on my waist, and when I turn let your body remain neutral, okay? Try not to turn with me or pull in the other direction—that way I'll have better control."

"Um…okay."

Tidus strapped on his helmet then helped me with mine before straddling the bike. "Ready?"

Climbing onto the seat behind him, I firmly gripped his waist and planted my feet on the foot rests.

"Ready!" I confirmed, nervous and a bit excited for the ride ahead.

"Let's ride!"

The bike roared to life, and Tidus began to slowly steer it out of the parking lot, before picking up speed on the bridge going over the harbor, leading us into the city core.

It was certainly a new and exciting experience for me, making riding on the deck of the Celsius almost pale in comparison. There was a certain thrill and freedom of zipping down the streets of a foreign land at that kind of speed.

My blood was pumping with adrenaline. And it didn't even occur to me how dangerous it could be because of how much I was enjoying myself—that and I trusted Tidus with my life, even if it was a younger, carefree version of him operating that bike.

Once we arrived on the mainland, Tidus turned down a few streets then came to a stop at a smaller building near the harbor-front. He then turned off the ignition and removed his helmet, tossing me a rueful grin over his shoulder.

"So, whaddaya think?"

After removing my helmet, I returned his grin and giggled in delight. "That was amazing!"

"I had a feeling you'd like it."

"Where are we?"

Tidus climbed off the bike then helped me to do the same. "The Golden Crepe—best breakfast bistro in all of Zanarkand. You gotta be hungry, right?"

To be honest, I had managed to gain an appetite after that ride. Being with Tidus, even if he didn't know me like I knew him, was comforting and familiar, which made me more at ease.

"I am, actually."

"Good. Let's go, I'm starving."

Because of Tidus' social status, we were ushered over to a secluded section outside reserved for only V.I.P's and seated at a fancy, round bistro-table with silverware and wine glasses atop. There was a gazebo-like awning over the area as well, shielding us from the sun's bright rays.

The ambiance was quite charming. But the view of the sea was spectacular! I couldn't help thinking, however, how snooty it felt being seated away from everyone else. And it must've reflected in my expression from the concerned look Tidus threw my way.

"Something wrong?"

"Is this customary in Zanarkand?"

Tidus furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled by what I'd meant. "Whaddaya mean?"

"Dining away from the general public?"

"It is when you're famous and don't wanna be mauled by adoring fans. Well, you should know, Yuna."

"I guess things are different where I'm from."

"You don't get swarmed by fans when you're out in public?"

"Well…sometimes. But people are usually polite enough to respect my privacy and… boundaries."

"That's a luxury I don't have here," he indicated with a curt laugh. "Sounds like Luca is the ideal place for celebrities to live. No wonder you're homesick."

The waiter arrived just then with our menus and greeted us with a cheerful smile.

"Can I get you guys something to drink?"

"Coffee for me," Tidus answered, gaze landing on me expectantly, awaiting my order.

After how queasy I'd felt drinking coffee earlier, I thought I'd try something different. "Oh, um…orange juice for me, please."

He then punched the order onto some type of tablet then hurried off inside.

"So…" That devilish smile returned to Tidus' lips as he leaned in at the table. "Let's hear that embarrassing story of yours."

And here I'd thought he'd forgotten.

"Um…okay." Whatever story I decided on had to be something that wouldn't raise too much suspicion about where I was actually from, which hadn't left me too many options. "I was holding a private concert for a few of my friends at my cousin's request, and near the end of the song, I tripped over the amp cord and fell. But that wasn't the worst part." I then cringed, preparing to reveal the rest. "My skirt kind of flipped up when I toppled over and well…"

Tidus howled with laughter. "Please tell me you were wearing underwear."

"It was definitely the wrong day to wear a thong."

Hiding his face in his hand, Tidus continued to vibrate with laughter. "They… They got quite a show, huh?"

"I suppose…" And with that I'd finally chuckled at my own expense. "Brother was perhaps a little too amused by it."

"Your brother!?"

"Oh no, that's just his name. He's my other cousin."

"Wait… That's his name!? Damn!" He barked with laughter. "Someone's parents sure hated him."

The waiter returned with our drinks at that moment and inquired if we were ready to order, to which Tidus politely asked for a few more minutes, sending him away once again.

"Okay, that was pretty good," Tidus admitted, picking up the menu to scan its contents, prompting me to do the same.

"I believe you owe me a story about this place, now."

"Yeah, I guess I do, huh?" Setting the menu down onto the table, Tidus' lips curved into a thoughtful smile. "My parents used to take me here when I was little. It was one of the few times we'd actually functioned like a normal family. They have the best smoothies in town. And when I was a kid, the original owner, Mindle, who retired a few years back, would always make a special one for me each time we came. I got to try all the new flavors before anyone else.

"And since they were only open for breakfast and brunch back then, they never served any alcohol. So, it was one of the few places my old man was sober at and never made a scene."

"You…had a rough childhood, didn't you?"

"It wasn't all bad, but…" His expression fell. "It wasn't a very happy one."

I wanted so badly to wrap my arms around him and comfort him at that moment. But I knew I couldn't. "I'm sorry."

"Nah, it's fine. I think I turned out okay considering. So, what about you? Did you have a better experience growing up?"

"My parents died when I was young as well."

His brow shot up in surprise. "You're kidding?"

"My mother died when I was really young and I… I don't really remember her much. My father, however, well…he went on a journey when I was seven and…never returned."

"Wow…" he breathed. "I guess we have that in common then."

I gave a solemn nod then took a sip of my juice.

"Who raised you, if you don't mind me asking? Or were you one of the unlucky ones who got tossed into an orphanage?"

Mentioning how I was entrusted to the temple wouldn't have boded well. So, I decided to give him a half-truth.

"I wouldn't exactly call it an orphanage, but I suppose it was similar. I lived on an island close to Luca. And the older kids there helped care for us younger ones. Lulu and Wakka—they were my guardians…in more ways than one. And we became a close-knit family. I consider them my siblings, since I never had any."

"Another thing we have in common." Taking a swig of coffee, he elaborated, "The only child thing, I mean."

"True, I may not have any blood siblings, but I can honestly say Wakka and Lulu are family to me in every way that matters as I am to them."

Tidus issued a weak smile. "I guess your childhood wasn't that bad then. I would've loved to have an older brother or sister to lean on growing up."

Something else I knew quite well about him. Tidus secretly longed for a family of his own because of his empty childhood—a void I intended to fill someday once we were married.

The waiter returned, once again, and we'd finally placed our orders. Tidus then quickly changed the subject to how he'd started his blitzball career and I'd quietly listened, already familiar with most of what he'd shared.

When we'd finished our breakfast, we'd hopped back onto the motorbike and headed to our next destination, which happened to be a place called Paintball Mania.

I wasn't familiar with the game at all. According to Tidus, paintball was a popular game in Zanarkand. It wasn't for sport or anything like blitzball—just an activity people liked to play in order to let off steam or to have fun.

After we'd suited up in a pair of white coveralls, overtop our regular clothes, and a pair of goggles to match, Tidus went over the basics of the game for me.

"Okay, so… The object is to obviously hit your opponent, which'll be me," he paused to flash me one of his cocky grins, "with as many paintballs as possible. Whoever is covered with the most paint at the end wins. There're several objects and pillars scattered around the indoor field that you can hide behind for a tactical advantage. Now…" He picked up a paintball gun and brandished it proudly in his hands. "Time to teach you how to load and shoot one of these babies."

I had to bite back a smirk as the man I loved instructed me on how to use the paintball gun. If he only knew how many types of firearms I'd had to load and shoot over the years. He was about to find out though. And I kind of felt bad at the advantage I had over him. But, nevertheless, I pretended to be fascinated at his careful instructions.

"So, think you're ready?"

"Yessir!"

"I'll go easy on ya the first few times."

"Oh no, you don't have to do that. I like a challenge."

Tidus chuckled with amusement. "My kinda gal! Just so you know… I happen to be pretty good at this game."

"I have a hunch I will be, too."

"Don't get too cocky, now," he advised, shooting me a wink as he took the paintball gun and ran off to the other side of the indoor field.

Getting into position behind a narrow wall, I loaded the toy rifle and contemplated letting him get a few shots on me. I didn't want to make my talents too obvious at first. On the other hand, I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he finally realized I was no amateur.

Our game began with him rushing out from behind another wall to duck behind a cylinder. Normally I would've done the same, but I wanted to play easy prey at first. So, I hurried off in his direction as if I were going to hide behind another prop on the field.

Tidus took the bait, blasting me with a couple shots and leaving me with globs of paint on the upper part of my coveralls.

Pretending to be surprised by the attack, I giggled and fired off a couple shots of my own, purposely missing him as he laughed and ducked behind another wall.

The game carried on for a bit with me gradually dodging most of his shots, until one struck me in the shoulder and splattered paint all over my face.

That's when I finally unloaded on him.

No matter how much he tried to dodge my attacks, I managed to blast him with globs of paint each time. And when he gave up trying to hide behind the props on the playing field, I pummelled him with a series of shots until he dropped to the ground and surrendered.

"Okay, okay—I give!" Tidus chuckled and sat up with a stunned expression, tearing the goggles off his face. "Man… You were holding out on me! You've played this game before, haven't ya?"

"Actually, this was my first time." Setting down the paintball gun, I made my way over to him, removed my goggles and offered him my hand. "Beginner's luck, I suppose."

"Yeah, I'm not buying it." Tidus accepted my gesture, but instead of climbing to his feet, he yanked me down with him.

We erupted into a fit of giggles as we fell back and laid sprawled out on the playing field, covered in paint.

When I turned to peer into his smiling eyes, I couldn't help the rush of heat flooding to my cheeks. This was the man I'd fallen in love with and who he'd been before he came to Spira. Those feelings stirring inside… They were meant for my Tidus back home. But the young man in front of me was still him. So, it wasn't wrong to feel this way, was it?

"Seriously, where'd you learn to shoot like that?"

"Back home—I trained with my cousin and a friend."

"What—were you assassins or something?" he teased.

"I wouldn't call us assassins. We needed those skills to protect ourselves and fight against fiends."

Tidus rolled onto his side and propped himself up on an elbow, looking rather intrigued. "Really? You got a lot of those in Luca?"

"You could say that."

"We don't see many in Zanarkand. When we do it's a big deal and usually all over the sphere. Never had to fight one before. Must be scary living somewhere infested by them."

"It can be if you're not prepared. But… It's something I'm used to. It's all I know, actually."

A sympathetic smile touched his lips. "Maybe you should consider moving to Zanarkand."

An impossibility. But it's not like I could mention it and why. "So, you've yet to tell me what's so special about this place."

"Nothing really," he admitted. "It's just a lot of fun. I had a feeling you'd enjoy yourself so…" His famous grin returned. "And I've taken a few of my dates here. I guess it's also a good way to find out how much they can tolerate of my competitive side."

I giggled and shook my head. Typical Tidus. "And how'd they all turn out?"

"Nowhere near as fun as this! But I guess that's because they all wanted to be wined and dined—all that romantic stuff. And I just wanna goof-off and have fun. I guess that's one of the reasons I'm not interested in getting tied down. Don't get me wrong—romance is great and all, it's just…well, there's gotta be more to a relationship than that."

Tidus was revealing more than I'd expected. Back in Spira, my fiancé had briefly mentioned his past flings and how he hadn't been interested in anything serious during his Zanarkand days. Now, it seemed like there was more depth to the story.

"You're right. A relationship needs to be built on a solid foundation. Romance alone won't make it last."

"And being a celebrity doesn't help matters," he added in a sad, resigned tone. "No one's really interested in getting to know you. They just like all the attention, the lifestyle, and… I dunno…being able to say they banged a blitzball star."

The somber look on his face nearly broke my heart. He must've been so lonely there. No wonder he'd latched onto me when he returned to Spira and proposed so quickly. He'd not only been afraid of losing the only woman he'd ever loved, but the only one who really loved him for who he was. It was all so very…sad.

Now, it was my turn to give him a sympathetic smile. "You want someone who'll be your best-friend first, am I right?"

"Yeah…" Tidus snorted. "Dare to dream. That stuff only happens in books and movies."

"That's not true. You'll have that one day, I promise."

"There you go, predicting the future again." That playful grin slowly receded and gave way to a thoughtful expression. "Y'know…you're really sweet and a lot of fun to be around. Your fiancé is a lucky guy."

My stomach fluttered. If he only knew. He was my fiancé. It was all so strange and oddly familiar. That spark was there. And I sensed Tidus was already beginning to feel it, too. I couldn't let it happen though. He wasn't supposed to meet me yet. There could be serious consequences in the future.

And with that in mind, I gave him a tight smile then shot up, bounding to my feet. "We should head back. We have all this paint we need to scrub off our faces."

Tidus got up and cocked a brow. "Don't wanna travel around Zanarkand and show everyone how colorful we are?"

"Not this time."

"Aww…" His bottom lip pushed forward in an exaggerated pout. "I was looking forward to having everyone gawk at us like we're crazy. But I'll settle for that song you're gonna sing for me."

"So this place and the restaurant was the grand tour of Zanarkand?"

"Well, no…" There was a tinge of disappointment in eyes, and I knew that look—it was the same one I'd fallen for when he'd insisted on going to the chocobo corrals when it was about to storm. "I didn't think I had to show you around Zanarkand all in one day."

Then it'd occurred to me—how many more days would I be stuck there? Each day that passed would be one day closer to when Sin arrived. And if I didn't get back before then…well, our lives would be over.

"Yuna…?"

"You're right. You can show me more tomorrow. And I'll keep my word and…sing you that song like I promised."

"Alright!" he cheered, all but tearing the coveralls off his body. "Then let's hit the road!"

When we arrived back at the houseboat, both of us headed to our respective bathrooms to clean up and change. Luckily, I had my garment grid on me when I'd gotten sucked into the portal, which happened to have my songstress dressphere attached.

Since I was behind closed doors, I figured it wouldn't hurt to change into it. But I'd have to explain how I'd managed to find another set of clothes. I suppose there was no harm in telling him about dresspheres, considering how he already knew about me slinging guns and fighting fiend's back home.

Once I'd changed, I clipped the disk-shaped module onto my belt. I needed to have it on me at all times if I ever had a prayer on getting back home. Then, I headed up to the main level and into the living room where Tidus was seated on the sofa, eagerly awaiting my performance.

His eyes slightly widened when he caught sight of me. "Wow…" he breathed, gaze sliding over me in careful assessment. "Where'd ya get that?"

"Um… It's an outfit conjured by something called a dressphere. They're sphere's infused with memories of the dead, mostly fallen heros, and when one's activated we're able to channel those powers. Where I'm from—we use them in battle."

An amused grin stretched across his face. "Do you normally battle in a lace skirt?"

Breathing a nervous laugh, I lowered my gaze and shook my head. "Not all of them are useful. This one is infused with the memory of a songstress who...had a tragic end. The song I'm going to sing is one she wrote for her lover before…"

"Lemme guess—he died, too?"

"Mm…" I confirmed with a solemn nod.

"Geez… Not sure I'd be so eager to return to this place you're from. Sounds like it's full of tragedy and death."

I suppose now I understood why coming to Spira had been so hard on him in the beginning. Zanarkand—his Zanarkand seemed like a much happier place.

"It used to be that way. Things are different now."

"What changed?"

Everything. If he only knew the pivotal role he'd played in Spira's future. And again, it wasn't something I could reveal to him.

"My friends and I…we broke an age-old cycle. Together, we were able to finally bring peace to our…homeland."

"Man, we gotta be pretty sheltered here. I never heard of Luca before I met you last night. I guess there's more out there—like a whole new world to discover." His eyes met mine and they were full of hope and wonder. "Do you think that maybe… Maybe when someone finds you—and they will—would you consider having me tag along, and then you could show me around this Luca of yours? I'd like to see it."

This conversation seemed oddly familiar. We'd had one similar when we were at the spring in Macalania. Only it was me who'd expressed wanting to see his Zanarkand back then. It was certainly strange being in this position with the roles reversed. He would definitely get to see it one day, especially since it's where we lived in the future.

"I promise you'll see it someday."

That boyish face of his brightened. "Great! I can't wait! But, right now, I'm ready to be blown away by the voice of yours."

I gave him a saccharine smile, fondly recalling the first time I sang for him. It was when we'd stayed a couple days in Bevelle during our leisurely trip across Spira. He'd been curious about the concerts I'd done, like he was now, and all but begged me to sing for him. And I'll never forget the look of pure adoration on his face when I had.

That man had made me feel like I was some kind of enchantress. I had to wonder, though, if this younger version of him would have a similar reaction. Either way, it was time to fulfill my promise.

Inhaling deeply, I thought about Tidus and how worried and frantic he must've been as he and our friends desperately tried to find a way to bring me home. Those emotions bubbling inside finally manifested into song.

As the lyrics fell from lips in a haunting melody, my thoughts remained focused on my fiancé while his younger counterpart gazed up at me, almost reverently. He had no idea the emotions pouring out of that song were meant for him at that moment. It wasn't just some random performance for me anymore. I was really hoping those words would somehow reach him in the future and provide him with the comfort I knew he desperately needed.

But who was I fooling? I needed that comfort as well. I missed having his warm body against mine last night, his loving reassurances, his arms around me in a gentle embrace, and his sweet lips locked with my own. All things I'd taken for granted since he'd returned—not once entertaining the thought we'd be separated again so soon, especially after the fayth had confirmed his existence to us.

My husband-to-be had become more than a dream, they said. A dream that'd somehow managed to gain a separate consciousness and a soul of their very own. And just when I thought nothing could stand in our way of a happy life, I was sucked out of that world by Shinra's disastrous invention with no way of knowing for certain if I'd return.

Upon singing the final note of the song, a tear escaped my eye like the first time I'd performed it in the Thunder Plains. Only this time it wasn't Lenne's emotions coming through—it was my own.

"Wow…" Tidus breathed in astonishment. "That was…beautiful. You have such a lovely voice. It's no wonder you're the hottest ticket in Luca."

"Thank you." I wiped the stray tear off my cheek and drew in a quick breath in an effort to rein in my emotions. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so…emotional."

"Don't apologize. It's an emotional song. You almost had me in tears to be honest."

Releasing a sharp puff of air, I moved to sit on the sofa across from him and began to nervously fidget with the ruffles on the hem of my top. "I suppose I'm still a bit homesick as well."

"Yeah…I bet." Then suddenly, he perked up. "Hey, whaddaya say I make you my famous lasagne for dinner?"

"You have a famous lasagne?" I knew Tidus could cook, but he'd never made me lasagne before.

"Sure do! And since you're all dressed up, maybe you'd be up for a night on the town? I assume you like to dance, being a famous songstress and all. There's a club I go to from time-to-time. I think you'd like it."

"That…sounds like fun." And very much like a date. But I'm sure he wasn't thinking along those lines. After all, I was taken in his eyes.

Bounding off the couch, Tidus hurried over into the kitchen and began rummaging through the fridge and pantry. "Say Yuna, I've been kinda wondering—actually, never mind. I shouldn't…"

"I'm not made of glass, you know." I stood and joined him over by the kitchen. "I don't want you to be afraid to ask me questions. I'm only a guest staying here after all. I'd be curious, too."

"Okay… How exactly will your fiancé find you?" he inquired in a measured tone. "Does he or your friends know how to get here? Or where exactly you are for that matter?"

Thinking about how to respond, I glanced down at the module strapped to my belt, drawing attention to it as I ran my fingers thoughtfully along the buttons.

"Through this," I indicated with a tiny smile. "It's sort of like a tracking device. They'll be able to bring—I mean, locate me as long as it's in my possession."

Tidus stopped preparing the meal and came over to inspect the module. "Hmm… Never seen anything like it. We got something like that here in Zanarkand. But it's usually worn on the ankle for people on house arrest." With a terse laugh, he returned over to the counter to continue prepping dinner. "I guess something like that comes in handy in a situation like yours though."

"I suppose… I just hope it's working on their end."

"I'm sure things will work out. But in the meantime, I intend to keep you calm and show you a good time while you're here."

"Well, I've been enjoying myself so far."

"Good. Then I'm doing my job. Speaking of which, I got practice in the morning, so I can't stay out too late tonight. I've done that in the past and got reamed out by my coach for being nothing short of a zombie the next day."

"I understand."

As he continued preparing his famous lasagne I'd yet to experience, he glanced over at me with mild concern. "You gonna be okay for a few hours while I'm at practice, tomorrow?"

That earned him a pointed look. "I think I'll manage."

"Never had a girl stay longer than the night here." Tidus rolled out the pasta and grinned. "I like having you around though. I feel like I can be myself around you. That I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not. It's refreshing, y'know?"

My pulse raced. All that in one day? Had he felt that way the day we'd met in Besaid? I know I had. It's funny that we'd never really talked about it before. And I had to wonder if the chemistry between us had always been so poignant.

"I didn't freak you out, just now, did I?"

"Oh, uh…no, no, it's not that. I feel…the same way."

His grin widened then faltered a bit. "So, how long have you been with this man of yours?"

"Um…well, we'd met when we were both seventeen."

"Three years, then?"

"We were…apart for a time. It's…"

"Complicated, right?"

"Mm…"

"So, what's he like? I know you mentioned some things last night, but… I was kinda taken off guard with having you show up at my door so late and in the state you were in."

"He's…a lot like you." I shouldn't have said that. But it was already too late. The words had tumbled off my tongue before I realized what they'd implied.

"You don't say?" Tidus' eyes sparkled with mirth. "How so?"

Groaning inwardly at the predicament I'd put myself in, I released a troubled sigh and tried to deflect. "Why're you so interested in my fiancé?"

"I'm curious, that's all. Especially when you say he's like me."

"Well…maybe just a little."

"And you haven't really mentioned him since last night either."

He had me there. "That may be true, but it's not like I haven't been thinking about him. I've been… " My throat tightened as the sting of tears threatened my eyes. "I've been trying not to…to…"

"Whoa—hey, I'm sorry." Tidus abandoned his lasagne and rushed over to give my shoulders a comforting squeeze. "I shouldn't have pressed you like that. I'm a real jerk. Can you forgive me?"

How could I not? Younger version or not, he was still the man I loved, which made this even more difficult. No one could ever understand just how confusing all of this was for me. I had no one to talk to about it. And it was already starting to gnaw away at the fine tethers that'd been holding me together since I'd been transported there.

"Yes, I forgive you."

"We won't talk about him anymore if you don't want to. We'll focus on eating good food, having fun, and…playing video games!"

"Video games?"

His eyes widened in surprise. "You're kidding, right? You've never been to an arcade!?"

Well, he'd certainly shifted my focus fast. "No, we don't have anything like that where I'm from."

"Oh man…" Releasing my shoulders, Tidus raked a hand through his flaxen wisps and chuckled. "Forget dancing, we'll do that another night. I'm taking you to the Playzone tonight!"

"What is it, exactly?"

"A super massive arcade! It's where you can play all sorts of video games, like old street fighting ones that you play on these big box machines with joysticks, shooting games where you aim a toy gun at the screen and blast away zombies," he explained, using hand gestures to illustrate his point. "There's even a set of Dance, Dance Nation games—you'd be damn good at those and the shooting ones—oh, and the virtual reality stuff is just awesome!"

I giggled at his enthusiasm. Obviously this was something Tidus had a passion for. And I was curious as to why he'd never mentioned it to me back in Spira. Maybe he'd wanted to forget his past. Though I'm not sure why. It was still a part of who he was.

"Well, if you're this excited I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun."

"We're gonna have a blast! But first…" Scampering over to the stove, Tidus turned on the oven then shot me a mischievous grin. "We're gonna feast on some killer lasagne!"

"I can't wait to try it."

"Oh, and one more thing." Tidus returned to where I was standing, expression serious, which made me a tad nervous. "I know you said earlier this morning that you feel safe here with me. Well, I wantcha to know that you are. There's a state of the art security system installed and…well, I guess you can kinda take care of yourself from what you'd told me but… I just wantcha to know that I'll protect you for however long you're here, until…y'know."

"Thank you. That's…very kind of you."

Just then, Tidus reached out to give my shoulder a tender squeeze and my heart stilled. Those gentle fingers slowly trailed down the bare skin of my arm, leaving pleasurable goosebumps in their wake.

"No problem."

I hitched a breath as he turned and made his way back over to the counter and tended to our meal. His touch… And the adoring way he looked at me... It was almost like we were back in Spira. Whether he realized it or not, Tidus was already growing quite fond of me. And that had me worried.

The longer I stayed with him on that houseboat; the closer we'd become. Just being there and meeting him the other night could have serious consequences on our future. And if he fell in love…

Oh Shinra… What have you done? What have I done?