Oh, what good is it to live with nothing left to give,

forget but not forgive, not loving all you see?

All the streets you're walking on, a thousand houses long,

well, that's where I belong and you belong with me.

Yeah, you belong with me, not swallowed in the sea.

Coldplay - Swallowed In The Sea

Chapter 6

Together At Last

Vegnagun was defeated. The only thing left to do was explain the truth to all of Spira.

When everyone made their way back to the Celsius, Nooj, Baralai and Gippal joined in for the ride home. They gathered in the cabin as Barkeep prepared refreshments and first aid kits to the injured party members. He handed a kit to Yuna, who sat beside Baralai on one of the beds. Paine and Nooj stood on the railing beside each other. Gippal sat on the nearest bed next to Brother and Buddy and Rikku sat on another bed opposite Yuna.

"So what will we tell Spira?" Nooj asked once everyone's shuffling ceased and they all began thinking about the aftermath of Vegnagun.

"The truth," Gippal said. "They ought to know the truth, right?" He looked over at Paine as she nodded in silent agreement.

Yuna looked at Baralai, who was pale and still recovering. As everyone began to discuss what the truth would be, she tended to the praetor's injured hands. After scrutinizing them, she finally began to unravel the gauze.

"Does it hurt?" She asked.

"Only a bit," he said. "Yuna?" She looked up at him. "Thanks." He smiled and she returned it, all the while wrapping his hands in medicated gauze.

"I can't believe how it all turned out," she said as she finished wrapping. "They really loved each other." Her eyes trailed off to the window as she stared in thought. Baralai was thinking too.

They had become good friends within the past few months and he knew of her search for Tidus. After everything she had done for him and for Spira, he really hoped she would finally fulfill her own desires instead of helping everyone out like she always did.

"You still haven't found him, have you?" Baralai asked in a whisper, afraid the others might listen in.

"Before we left the glen in the Farplane, a fayth spoke to me," Yuna said. "He asked whether or not I wanted to see him and I said yes. I don't know if he lied to me or if it would really happen. The fayth said that he could make no promises but that he would do all in his power to let me see him again." She thought Baralai would burst into laughter at the thought of what she just explained, taking into consideration the disappearance of the fayth when Sin was defeated. Instead, he looked at her rather thoughtfully.

"If that's the case, then I guess you've finally found him," he said after a moment.

"How can you be so sure?"

"When Sin was defeated, the fayth stopped dreaming, correct?" She nodded and he continued. "But you can't really explain the heretic aeons that returned, so the fayth weren't entirely gone. With that in mind, they must still exist and they still have the power to dream." He looked at her as she took his words to thought. "Besides," he concluded after a moment, "it takes a truly spectacular person to make the fayth worthy of their wishes. I'd say they owe you one." He was grinning and she laughed at the sight.

"That was very scientific," she remarked.

"I try," he smiled.

Just then, Brother interrupted all conversation when he announced that Luca was an hour away.

"Thank you," Yuna said after the brief announcement.

"You're very welcome," he replied. "Though I have to say how sad I am that you won't be able to stand beside us when we finally confess what we've done. And if we end up reuniting Spira, you'd be missing out on the party." She laughed as Gippal ran over and sat himself on the other side of Baralai.

"Party? What party?" The machina faction leader asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Baralai was just telling me of the party I'd be missing after you guys reunite Spira," Yuna smiled. "I'm having second thoughts about going home now."

"OH YEAH!" Gippal exclaimed in sudden excitement. "But you know, you've gotta promise us that we'll see you again. We've gotta cruise Spira together sometime. Are you up for it, Baralai?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," the praetor smiled. "We make a pretty good team, don't we?"

Yuna nodded, a grin spreading across her face. Everything had suddenly felt so good. There was hope and above everything else, there were friends beside her who supported her every step of the way. This newfound circle of friends was something she truly cherished aside from her circle of guardians. It was different here; they all supported her no matter what she did. There were no questions asked and she could make all the mistakes she wanted. It was nice to know her mistakes weren't frowned upon but embraced and considered part of her natural self. And of course, this was probably because she was in the company of her peers and not her elders.

In a matter of moments, the Celsius pulled into one of Luca's docks. Everyone made their way out of the airship to say their goodbyes. As the three guys stood facing the Gullwings, Gippal spoke one last time.

"You sure you're not coming with us?" He asked. "You gonna let us have all the fun?" Everyone laughed, satisfied to see Gippal back in his spirited self as he grinned at Yuna. And then all eyes averted to the former summoner now, anxious for a response.

"I'm going home," Yuna smiled, more to herself than whoever was standing around her. She then ran up to Baralai and hugged him tightly, moving onto Gippal and Nooj afterward.

"Good luck with everything, Yuna," Nooj said as she pulled away and proceeded back to the Celsius. She turned around and smiled, waving one last goodbye at the guys. Then she speeded up the ramp of the airship and took off for Besaid.

There was no time to waste. She was going home.

Yuna's mind was swirling with anticipation. As she jumped off the ramp and splashed into Besaid's waters, she ran like there was no tomorrow. Her world was turned upside down the moment she fell into Tidus' arms. The sound of his voice, the touch of his skin - he was finally home! As they ran back to the shore to reunite with Wakka, Lulu, and the rest of the villagers, her fingers easily slipped into his grip and she held onto him with all her strength.

"You've changed," he said from behind as they moved toward the shore. He was fascinated and curious of his lost love as he clasped her hand and followed behind.

"You've missed out on a few things," she replied grinning, pulling him in a hurry to get to the shore. Before he even had a chance to talk to Yuna, however, Wakka reeled him in for what would be the tightest hug in human history, causing him to almost choke in a frenzy.

"I can't believe you're finally back! What took you so long, eh?" He hit him on the arm jokingly. Tidus could do nothing but smile and take in the pleasant reality of returning to Spira again. He looked past Wakka and over at Lulu, who held Vidina in her arms. His eyes widened with surprise as he guessed at the red hair and dark eyes. He walked over to her, mouth agape.

"Huh? I can't believe it!" He screamed in excitement. "He looks just like Wakka!" Everyone laughed in merriment, including Lulu.

"It's good to have you back," she smiled.

"Come on!" Bellowed Wakka excitedly. "What are we waiting for? This calls for a celebration, ya? Aurochs! Where you at? We need some preparations." He ran off toward the village to start preparing for the festivities just as everyone began to follow his lead and head back. Tidus turned around looking for Yuna and saw her standing by the edge of the shore. With her arms crossed neatly behind her, she smiled and fixed her gaze on every inch of him. She wanted to commit every part of him to memory as best she could. He smiled at her and made his way over to where she stood.

"I can't believe you're finally home," she said, beaming so brightly she could've burst. He looked into her glimmering eyes, committing them to memory just the same. It took him a long while before he could utter a response.

"... I'm home," he said slowly after a moment, making sure it was real. After looking into the face of the one person in the world who made everything right for him, he broke all the formalities of being away for so long and swept her into his arms. She laughed and hugged him back as tight as she could, feeling her nerves tingle under his warm, silky skin. As they let each other go she looked into his eyes, certain to let those unforgettable cerulean jewels sink into memory. She couldn't help herself and began adorning him with loving kisses, circling all of his face until she arrived at his lips. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back just as tenderly, feeling his entire body pulsate as the world around him blurred away.

After their brief moment of bliss together, his eyes were fixed on every inch of her, noting all the changes within the past two years. She seemed so much more confident and comfortable with her life. He could see the sparkle in her eyes when she smiled at him, a smile absent of worry and unease and filled with content and happiness. But just as he noted all the changes she went through, he suddenly thought of how much time had already gone by. He slowly drew himself apart from her completely, his eyes averted to the ground in sudden thought. He turned and looked at the shining waters that glistened under the afternoon sun and walked over to the edge of the shore. Yuna stood behind, her gaze following each and every step he took.

"I got a theory," he said after a moment, wondering what had happened to him. "I think the fayth gathered up my thoughts and put them together to bring me back." He stretched his arms above his head and sighed. "Maybe. Something like that."

The ocean breeze blew softly, encumbering them in its summer grasp. Yuna listened to every word, taking each to thought. After a moment she looked at him and could see him looking down at his hands now. "Or maybe," he said in a low and even voice, "I'm still a dream."

"So you'll disappear?" She said as she looked at him, her face sullen. She lowered her head and looked at the ground now, trying her best not to think of it again. Not this time. All they heard was the everlasting breeze blowing through Besaid, breathless and cool. Her eyes were still fixed on the figure at the edge of the shore. After a moment he turned around and looked at her.

"Cherish me, Yuna," he said, his eyes gleaming with resolution. "And I'll cherish you." A moment of silence followed before he turned around to face Yuna. "All right? We gotta stay together. That's what we have to do." He turned back around and looked at the blue water that gently washed up onto the white sand, wetting his boots in the process. She smiled and ran up to him, wrapping her arms around his figure from behind.

"Is that what the fayth told you?" She asked, her embrace bringing him closer.

"Nah. But I like it," he said, smiling out to the horizon, placing his hands on top of her own, squeezing them tight. They stood on the edge of the pearly shore and held each other close until she began to laugh abruptly. He looked over at her sudden spurt of humor and began laughing himself, all the while taking in the reality that he was back. Back home at last. After a moment she suddenly pushed him into the water, smiling uncontrollably. He fell over and looked back up at her, soaking wet.

"Hey! That's not cherishing!" He said, trying to contort his expression from grinning. She looked down at him and smiled, taking him in, more thankful in this moment than in any other that he was still here and right in front of her.

"You didn't disappear," she said. He looked all around and then back up at her. They both smiled at each other, realizing this second chance. A chance they thought they would never see again. A chance they were both grateful for.

Author's Note:

Aw, he's finally back! Good ol' Tidus. For those of you who have played a perfect game, you know where that last part came in. It's somewhat of a spoiler but not so much only because I changed the location. Well, maybe it's as good a spoiler as any. And as for Gippal, Nooj and Baralai, since I love them so much, I'm definitely bringing them back into the picture soon enough. A lot will take place between Yuna's gang and theirs in due time.