[Disclaimers still apply, d'oh.]
)(x CHAPTER EIGHT x)(
The blur of yellow feathers started slowing down, from the gallop to a slow trot, until it lazily planted it's feet by the side of the road and bent the long neck to pull a beakfull of greenry from the ground, then stared at the graying sky as it chewed annoyingly.
Tidus sighed and dismounted the Chocobo, staring angrily at it. He thought it was a blessing that he'd found the wild chocobo and had been able to train it quickly. Obviously it was a smart Chocobo, energetic as well, but it refused to go on. Every five minutes the overgrown bird stopped for this or that. He planned to try and meet Rikku at the Moonflow, hoping that she hadn't left too long ahead of him. The bird seemed to have it's own plans, and helping in restoring his broken life wasn't one of them.
"Bah, c'mon, will you please get a move on! I don't have all day!" Tidus looked up at the sky, the dark rainclouds that had hovered over Luca following him through the usually sunny Mi'hien Highroad. He tugged on the the loose reigns around the Chocobo's neck, trying to get it to move.
Black eyes of the chocobo trained on Tidus, silently asking him what he was doing. The long neck twisted sideways, until the head was horizontal, but the eyes continued staring at him. The bird's head straightened and his beak opened, letting out a loud 'kwah!' before it's mouth closed around a spiked piece of Tidus's hair.
Tidus didn't think it was possible for animals to know humanly emotions, but he could sware that the bird was smirking at him, and the eyes were telling him to back off. He sighed, putting his hands up in defeat. "Alright. Fine. You win. Happy?" He pryed the piece of spit-dampened hair from the chocobo's mouth and took a step back, crossing his arms and waiting.
The chocobo took a step back, as well, and faced Tidus. A moment later, he turned back in the direction they'd orginally been heading and started walking, then went into a slow run. "Wha--? Hey! Heeey!" Tidus yelled, running after the wandering Chocobo.
Considertly, it slowed down long enough for Tidus to hop on and get a good hold on the reigns, before taking off again, faster then before. He wasn't sure what he'd done, but Tidus smiled knowing the bird was trying to help him, now. "Maybe you're not such a dumb bird after all," he mummbled.
The chocobo let out an ear-piercing 'kwaaaaaaaah!' and one of it's wings 'accidently' hit Tidus in the head.
The greenry of the Mi'Hien slowly faded as the pair reached the bride that lead to the Mushroom Rock Road, and Tidus smiled knowing that they'd soon reach the Moonflow. Scenery running by quickly, and wind blowing like a monsoon, no clear thought could find it's way to his head, but two: Rikku. Moonflow.
His feelings, thoughts, and whatever else was jumbled inside him, was still confused, and unsure. Parts of him felt like he was betraying Yuna. Parts of him wondered if he was making the right choice. A black hole had built itself inside his body, drawing logic and clear thoughts into it.
The chocobo stopped abruptly at the Moonflow, nearly sending Tidus flying over the bird's head. He looked around, suprised that they were there already. Patting the Chocobo's head quickly, he jumped off and ran over to the man who owned the Shopuf bussiness. Unfortunately, it seemed he'd missed the transport by minutes, and going on Auron's word, and the fact that Rikku wasn't there, he supposed she was still on her way to the Farplane.
Tidus sighed and walked under the overhang as the persuing rain finally started it's seige on the Moonflow. He still wished he could see this place at night, the stars that were suppose to be under the water. It must be an amazing sight. One day, he hoped if the powers above decided to cut him a break and let everything go okay, he'd be able to come here with Rikku.
He hoped, anyway.
13 people recognizing him, half an hour of browsing the weapons shop of too-highly-priced-weapons he already had, and 30 laps on the chocobo later, Tidus was finally on his way across the Moonflow, on a rather deserted shopuf. The distant thunder echoed off the clouds, and he felt bad for the poor chocobo, wandering the shore in the distance as a yellow dot, but he figured the bird would find someone else to annoy soon enough.
Shopuf's being very, very slow creatures, Tidus had a lot of time to think. The first memory he thought of was the last time he'd come to the Moonflow, his first ride on a shopuf and his second meeting with Rikku. Sure, she'd kidnapped Yuna, and he and Wakka had nearly killed Rikku, but the Al Bhed was just trying to prevent Yuna from being killed. She really was a good spirited person, and if he hadn't fought beside her, he never would have guessed the green-eyed theif wouldn't be as innocent as she appeared to be.
Tidus pulled the orange feather out of a pocket and stared at the delicate item in his hand. It looked even smaller against his gloved hand. The image of Rikku popped into his mind, blonde hair loosely held back, and the green eyes he loved. The swirly-ness reflected the weirdness he found in all of Spira. But he didn't resent Rikku for her eyes, or her heritage; her eyes were one of the things he'd fallen in love with.
So he could finally admit it to himself. Huh. Somehow he thought it would have been harder. But it wasn't. The truth was, he finally let himself admit, he'd felt something for Rikku since they'd met. It was just the way she acted... and even if it sounded corny, everything she did.
She was something he needed. She was the person who understood him, the person he had bonded with. And, he asked Yuna's forgiveness a thousand times, she was the person he had to be with.
The sky was darkening even more by the time the shopuf had waded it's way to the other side of the Moonflow, and Tidus realized that it was settling on Twilight. The woods lay ahead of him, the woods that would bring him to Guadosalam, and then to the Farplane. Rikku hadn't wanted to go into the Farplane before, and he wondered why she'd changed her mind so quickly. Then again, in so few days, she seemed to have changed her mind alot.
Shadows lay across the path that Tidus tread, wringing his hands nervously, wishing he had his ring for stregnth. This whole thing was spur of the moment. He didn't know what he was going to say, or do, or if Rikku was going to laugh in his face. He had to try or he'd have nothing to live for.
Hello... I've waited here for you...
Everlong.
Guadosalam was now a more desolate place then ever. The Guados seemed to have moved since the death of their Master Seymour, and the distant sounds of the storm mixing with the storm of the Thunder Plains was the only sound in the tree covered city, other then the murmurs from within several buildings.
Tidus slowly climbed the stairs to the hallway of the Farplane. He remembered walking that path the first time, when they'd all been a group, and he was more worried about Yuna's marriage proposol. Now, he tried desperatly to keep from swallowing his tounge when he would first meet Rikku.
The stairs to the actual Farplane lay before him and he found a new energy within himself, bounding up the stairs two at a time and running through the portal. The out of body sensation hit him again as he took in the Farplane. Beautiful waterfalls rushed in the distance, meadows of flowers lay below him, the strange mix of sun and moon smiled on him from the make-shift sky. The pyre orbs danced around the edges of the platform, and he saw the beginnings of the images of those he loved reflecting on them, but he quickly shielded his thoughts, before turning his eyes to the girl standing in front of him.
Rikku stood at the other side of the platform, her back to him, and her hair slightly damp, tangled and cascading down her back. She had on a dark green coat that stopped below her knees, and her arms were folded, her head slightly bent foward. Tidus could see the other feather still attached to her hair, fluttering just a bit from a draft. He wasn't sure if he should disturb her or not; he wasn't even sure what she was doing here. But he hadn't come here for nothing.
He crossed the platform, making little noise on the ground, and stopped a pace behind Rikku. They stood in silence, unknowing, for a moment, before Rikku turned her head slowly and noticed that Tidus was standing behind her. She wasn't as suprised to find that he had snuck up on her, more suprised that he was there.
"Tidus...?" She asked in a whisper, her voice no longer sounding like the cheerful teenager she usually was. Her eyes scanned his soft face and then returned to the ground. "You told Yunie, didn't ya?"
Tidus nodded, and Rikku turned back to the landscape of the Farplane. "Why did you come here?"
His mouth opened but no words came out. He suddenly lost all courage in telling her. "I don't know. I'm just here."
"Oh. I just thought, cause of what happened, you wouldn't wanna be near the Farplane, ya know?"
"I thought you were afraid of the Farplane, yourself," Tidus replied, taking the extra step to stand side by side to Rikku.
"Not anymore," she smiled. "I got over my fears. I know how the Farplane works and all, but I can't see Auron. I really wanted to see him again, cause he's gone, forever. Unlike..."
"Why did you run away, Rikku? Why did you really come here?" He pressed, wondering why he had even said the words. It wasn't like him to say that. Almost like he'd gotten a push. Thanks Auron, he thought.
"Waiting... for you."
Tonight... I throw myself into...
And out of the red...
Out of her head, she sang...
Rikku shook her head. No, she didn't want to get into her feelings now. Probably never. She could live keeping her emotions inside her, and hiding behind her overly-happy mask. It had been what she'd done most of her teenage years, hide behind her mask and call it her personality. It wasn't like her at all, deep down.
Tidus smiled softly at her, though she couldn't look directly at him. "You knew I'd come?"
"Nah," she said laughing, putting on the facade. "Just a lucky guess."
There was silence between them, an awkward silence. Rikku kept sending little side glances at Tidus, wondering why he had come. Even more, how he'd known. It could have been just a coincidence, but it was to unusual. Was there a reason he'd followed her to the Farplane?
She didn't push him about it, it was obvious that was a question he wasn't going to answer right then, but it just made her want to know even more. She wanted to know how Yuna was holding up, but she was worried about hurting Tidus. The last thing she wanted to do.
Just looking at him, feeling him next to her, made her heart flutter. She'd never been in love before, either because she was too young, or she'd just never found the right person, or a person even close enough to being 'the one'. It was different with Tidus. But she didn't want to get mushy, or Tidus would suspect something.
"Listen, Rikku," his voice cut through the silence and she jumped slightly. He smiled, seeing he'd frightened her. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
She shook her head quickly. "No, no, you didn't scare me. Honest. What were you going to say?"
He hesitated a second, then looked out at the sun-moon of the Farplane. "Just that... it's really beautiful here." Tidus turned back and faced her, still smiling, and she saw something hidden in the depths of his crystal eyes, but she couldn't identify it. The eyes poured into her soul, took control of her heart... she just wished she could tell him without it hurting her, or him.
Rikku shivered slightly, she didn't even know why. Before leaving Luca, she'd bought the green trench coat she wore now, and it had kept her warm all day. But a chill ran through her body, and she shivered, hugging herself. Then, she realized that Tidus had wrapped an arm around her shoulder, noticing her shiver, trying to keep her warm.
I must be dreaming. Or insane, she thought. But, no. She was real. This was real. It was all real too real.
Come down...
And waste away with me...
Down with me...
Slow how, you wanted it to be...
Tidus wrapped his arms around Rikku, his intention being to try and warm her, but he wanted to be close to her. He wanted to stay like this and never move, trapped in a bubble of time, holding Rikku forever.
She rested her head, almost reluctantly, on his arm and smiled, though Rikku couldn't see him. It felt so right, and it felt like what he wanted for the rest of his life. He could definetly live like this, forever.
"Rikku," he started for the second time, intent on following through this time. She unwrapped from his hold turning to face him and stared curiously at him. His breath was coming out quickly, and he had to take a long, deep breath to calm himself. The last thing he needed was for Rikku to notice that he was afraid of telling her. "Rikku, I want to tell you something." And then he gave her his soul.
"The day that I met you, in that temple, I liked you immediatly. We were friends, right? We had a bond, a connection, I guess, cause we both wanted to protect Yuna. After I came back... and, Yuna had disappeared from my heart, I realized something. And--well, I don't want you thinking its your fault about Yuna, because it's not. I only realized it myself after I told Yuna. The point is... I'm in love with you. It's not a new found revelation, it's something I've felt since we met, just not this much. I can see us together, always, and I want to know if you can see that, too. I love you, Rikku. I love you."
He was rambling, but it was too slow to be a ramble, because time had slowed. His father had always said he was too sensative, had too many emotions. Tidus believed that if he had never needed the sensativity before, he had needed it then. He had told Rikku the story of his heart, and while it sounded jumbled, ihe had ment it. The air was heavy, and everything became frozen, as he just stared into her eyes.
And then time hit him like an explosion, knocking him back into the reality of the moment, of life, as Rikku jumped into his arms, embracing him tightly. He could hear quiet sobs coming from her body as he held her, and felt the tiny drops of tears on his shoulder. "I love you, too" she whispered to him. "I never thought you'd think that..."
The world was suddenly on his side again.
Tidus put Rikku down and they were both smiling wildly, though Rikku smiled through tears. He lifted a hand to wipe them away from her eyes and she grasped his other hand with her own. It was like the sun had suddenly broken through a life time of clouds covering their paths. And as much as Tidus hated, hated, to admit it, the love he and Rikku now shared felt better then the love he had felt for Yuna. The thought normally would have made him feel like a horrible person, but he was in love again, and this time he knew it would be forever.
"We can't tell Yunie," Rikku murmered. "She'll be crushed. We have to tell her, slowly."
He nodded, running his hand through her blonde hair. Yuna would be happy for her cousin, but inside she would have been more then crushed. Lost the will to live, came to his mind.
"We won't tell Yuna for awhile. I don't want her hurt." And then, he leaned down and kissed her.
And I wonder...
If everything could ever feel this real forever...
If anything could ever be this good again...
Rikku had never experienced a kiss before, because she'd never been in love. Her first kiss with Tidus, her first kiss ever, was amazing. She could have fallen dead right there and died happy... although, she would have rather had a life time to spend with Tidus.
They were both reluctant to part at first, but she wanted to look in his eyes. Crystal blue eyes that read her soul, her heart, and that gave her a gateway into his soul. She loved him so much, she wondered if it was even possible. Nothing had ever felt this great, and she doubted that anything would ever come close to that moment.
Words failed to catpure the moment, and neither tried. They were speechless, and some power kept them from using their voices and breaking the moment that had the air tense around them. Both were so young, still in their teens, and yet it was like they'd lived for the longest time without love and had just experienced it for the first time. And even better then that, it was real. It wasn't a dream, a fantasy, it was the reality of life, the actions that occured in that moment in space and time, that point of fate and destiny where wishes came true and bliss was trapped on earth for mere moments and lingered behind for a lifetime.
Tidus ran his hand through her tangeled hair, and then held her head in his hands, touching the pale skin of her cheeks softly, and sending electrictity of his touch through her body. She shuddered with the emotion his touch gave her and wished that the feeling would always stay with her and never leave her.
He leaned down to kiss her again, capturing her lips. She had to lift herself on her toes slightly, even though they were both on the short side, she was even shorter. Tidus's hands wrapped around her waist, helping her to close the distance between them. Eyes closed, sweet and passionate kiss they shared for the second time was the meaning of pure bliss in itself. And in the Farplane, the heaven of Spira, it almost felt like they, too, had died and shared in the peace of the afterlife. Because nothing could ever compare to that moment they shared together.
Breathe out so I can breathe you in...
Hold you in.
And now I know you've always been...
Out of your head...
Out of my head, I sang.
It was with even more reluctance that they parted a second time, and Rikku laid her head on Tidus's shoulder. He'd never had a feeling like that. Like they were one. One person. Emotions, souls, auras, essenses, whatever it was called, they were bonded together as one being, one spirit. In their love, they weren't Rikku and Tidus. They were RikkuandTidus, together as one. He took a breath, and she let it out. One.
"You're never going to leave me, right?" her voice was a whisper, almost terrified that he'd say he would leave her one day.
Tidus now knew how Yuna had felt earlier that day, when he had told her it was over. She had thought they'd always be together and he'd broken that promise. But he couldn't deny his heart. And he wouldn't deny it now. Their love was forever, they would be one forever.
"I'm never going to leave, Rikku. I love you, and that's forever. And if I ever do want to leave, you can kick me."
Rikku laughed, and looked up at him. "Oh!" she said suddenly, and pulled back, looking at her hand. She pulled somethingo ff her finger and held it to Tidus. It was his ring, the one he thought he'd lost. The piece of silver dropped into his hand and he stared at it, tracing the design in his mind. It was good to have it back.
He took Rikku's hand, the one she'd taken the ring off of, and slipped it back on. "That's my promise, Rikku. As long as you keep the ring on, I'm always gonna be here. How ever long you want me to love you."
Rikku stared at the ring, blinking back tears. The promise meant so much to her, because it was something no one had ever done before. She stared up at Tidus with her green eyes more vibrant then ever. "You big softy," she laughed.
Tidus rolled his eyes and scooped Rikku into his arms, their faces inches apart. "I love you, I love you, I love you. Face it, Rikku, you're stuck with a softy."
"Just as long as you don't plan on disappearing on me. Unless you do that to all your girlfriends."
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THE END¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
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Credits:
Fan Fic title is from 'Everlong', by Foo Fighters
Chapter 3 + 4 titles are from 'Singing in the Rain'.
Chapter 5 title is from 'If You Still Believe', the Legend of Dragoon theme
Chapter 6 title is from 'With You' by Linkin Park
Chapter 7 title is from 'The Kids aren't Alright' by Offspring
Chapter 8 title is from 'Everlong' by Foo Fighters
Lyrics in Chapter 8 are from 'Everlong'
Lyrics in Chapter 7 are from 'Captain Bligh' by Filter
All characters are copyrighted by Square, and such, and I think 'em for creating such great characters.
Thanks to Hope who gave me little pointers through out the story.
--AND NOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE CREDITS!--
:: drum roll ::
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED AND/OR READ MY FAN FIC!!!
You guys are the REAL stuff behind the story, 'cause without ya'll, I would have stopped writing this. So thank you so, so, so, so, so, so, sooooo much! (This is the most reviews I've ever gotten for one story!) Keep on spreading Tikku-ness!
I'd like to especially thank anyone who reviewed my story more then once (you guys rules!) and to anyone who personally sent me letter or IM's about Everlong and anyone who gave me suggestions! You guys rule, too!
And last, but kinda least, thanks to the flamers, cause you guys encouraged me to make this story even better (despite a sappy ending, which a apologize for) just to spite ya'll. So thanks to you guys too.
Please look for my other fan fic that I'll be writing, and once again:
Thank you sooo much for reading this! GO FINAL FANTASY!!!
--Cleo