When I finally opened my eyes, I just stared at the blue tarp that made the ceiling. I could hear people talking in the front, and what they were saying was starting to make me think. They were talking about Tidus. I listened a bit more and realized it was Yuna talking to Lulu.

 

 “Yuna, I know you’re still feeling bad about Tidus dumping you for Shawna but you two were only 19 when he came back. Things change.” I heard the clink of beads as Lulu Stood up and moved across the floor to where Yuna was, because I heard a muffled reply from Yuna.

 

 “I was so sure he was the one. Tidus was the first guy I had ever kissed. He always made me laugh.” She said, and then that’s when I heard it. The tears. The soft sobs that didn’t suit Yuna at all. I sat up and then walked quietly into the room. Both women were standing by the open tent flap of the lodge and Yuna had her face buried into the chest of the raven haired woman.  

 “I understand Yuna, but you have to realize that Tidus developed stronger feelings for Shawna simply because she was in a similar situation as he was. Granted, it wasn’t just her, it was her entire Family finding themselves here in Spira not knowing where they were or how to really comprehend how it really happened. They were kindred souls.” With that Lulu wrapped her arms around the crying Yuna and led her out of the Lodge saying, “come now, lets go home and have a rest.”

 

 I stood there watching them leave. I was left wondering, about whether or not Tidus would see me in the same light as he saw Shawna, but then I shook my head and sighed. “In your dreams Tina, in your dreams.”   

 “And what are you implying by that?” Said the voice of the one who had probably kept me from drowning when I had fallen the last time I found myself looking at the Sun setting on the shore of Besaid Island. I lifted my head and turned to my right and saw a guy sitting on a wooden box by the table. He looked like the girl Shawna I had met before, his hair was brown and half as long as his sister's, he had piercing blue eyes,  and he wore a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, like his sisters, but that was where the similarities ended. His Jacket was leather and it was black.

 

 Of course his jacket was draped on the table as he drank a drink from a brown cup. “You certainly gave Tidus and the others a big scare three days ago. He said as he placed the cup on the table. "People are starting to wonder about you, and why you keep spacing out and going to the beach. It’s a little odd when I think about it.”

 

 I didn’t know what to think, let alone what to say. Things were getting stranger and stranger by the moment, and as each moments oddity surfaced, I found myself with more questions and feeling even more alone.

 “I was sleeping for three days?” I asked as what he implied hit me like a ton of bricks. The guy nodded and then stood up and turned to pick up his jacket and put it on.
 “Yeah, three days, and you must have been dreaming a whole lot about something. You kept tossing and turning, complaining about the rain. Lady Yuna was worried you might have been sick or something, but you seem fine.” He said as he walked towards me. “You look okay, that’s for sure.”

 

I nodded my head and looked at my feet.  “Yeah well, on the outside I look okay, but on the inside..” I started to say as the guy suddenly raised his hand to his lips motioning for me to be quiet. He then walked past me and pulled me into the resting area and hid out of view of the Lodge entrance way, he motioned for me to do the same.

 

 People were coming into the Lodge, and they were talking about something, and that something put a chill in my heart.

 

 “I don’t know. It can’t be possible, but the Rumors state that Lady Yunalesca isn’t dead.” Said the voice of a female lady with long red hair and wearing a purple armor.

 “Well, if she is alive, we’ll just have to beat her again.” Said the voice of Tidus as he looked at Yuna who nodded her head, adding, “This time I’ll send her.”

 

 The woman with the long red hair nodded her head and then sat down. “We have talked to Tromell and he says that the Guado have stabilized the Farplane as well. It seems that a lot of the greater powers of the Unsent, including Maester Mica haven’t been seen in the Farplane. Yet there haven’t been any reports of Mica being seen. Just Yunalesca.”

“Don’t worry Captain Lucile,” Yuna was heard to say. “We’ll find both of them for you and send them to the Farplane.”
 “I thank you Lady Yuna.” The woman Lucil said as she stood up. “The Chocobo Knights will also inform you of anymore developments. Right now, might I suggest that you visit Tromell in Guadosalam?” Both Yuna and Tidus nodded their heads. Then Lucil saluted saying. “Best of luck.” Turned and walked out of the lodge.

 

 “So, do you really think it was Lady Yunalesca?” Asked Tidus. Yuna only turned her face away to look at the retreating figure of The Captain and then nodded her head.
 “We never did send her, so it’s very possible.”
 “Well, okay, but just one question. Where has she been for the past four years since we defeated her?”
 “I don’t know. Yet as Captain Lucil has said, the reports and description match perfectly. How she’s managing it I don’t know.”
 
 Tidus nodded his head and then gripped his left hand into a fist and made his trademark move of his positive thinking. “Don’t worry Yuna, we’ll figure it out. In the mean time lets gather everyone together and decide what to do here.” Yuna nodded her head and smiled at Tidus.

 “Yeah, you’re right.” Then the two walked out making plans to arrange for a meeting in the lodge. 

 “Well, not only do we get a new pretty face here, trouble starts to brew.” The guy said as he stepped back into the dining area of the Lodge. “Sounds like Lady Yuna’s in for another adventure.”

 “Now just hold on a second! I’ve been here for a month and strange things are happening to me too! Aren’t I important too?” I said as I stomped my foot. “You said they were worried about me, and yet here they are planning on going somewhere and...” I trailed off. I really didn’t know what else to say. So I sat down on the nearest bed and sighed. “Yeah okay, that was selfish of me. I’m sorry.”

 

 “No problem.” He said as he lifted his hand in a wave and turned to leave, but stopped at the entrance. “By the way, the name’s Zack,” He said over his shoulder, “remember that.” 

 

 I nodded my head and sighed. “Yeah, okay.” I said as I stood and breezed past him. “By the way, Zack. You’re not my type.” I called over my shoulder as I ran down to the beach of Besaid Island.

 

 So many questions were left unanswered, and I felt myself getting angry and upset. So, I decided to kick around a Blitz Ball to get out those aggressions.

 The beach was empty and in some small huts I found what I was looking for. Blitz ball supplies. Digging into my pockets I pulled out a hair tie and tied back my hair and then picked out a pair of Goggles and placed them over my eyes. I then picked up a Blitz Ball and Kicked it towards the water. Then taking off my shoes and socks, I ran for the water, and dived holding my breath. I swam underwater and then swam upwards where I saw the ball. With a brute strength I bumped the ball out of the water with my head and kicked my legs using my strength to reverse dive into the air, spinning my body as I did so. As the ball fell back towards me I kicked my leg out and kicked the ball back towards the shore of Besaid Island. I then Dove back into the water and decided to practice my swimming underwater for 5 minuets while holding my breath, which was the standard breath limit for the underwater sport.

 

 When I resurfaced, I saw that Lulu was standing on the shore line holding the Blitzball. I swam towards her and took off the goggles and walked towards her, idly noting that wet feet, plus dry sand, wasn’t very comfortable. At least to me.

 “Hey Lulu.” I said as I was handed the ball and we headed back towards the small equipment huts. “What’s up?”

 

 “Something rather important. I’m not sure if you even know, but we’re all meeting at the lodge soon. We’re trying to decide who should go with Yuna and Tidus to the Farplane. Yuna asked me, to ask you if you’d like to go.  She thinks that perhaps, a trip to the Farplane will help you with something that may be bothering you.”
 
 I turned and looked at Lulu and nodded my head. I didn’t say anything, I just put the stuff away and followed her back to the Lodge.

 There we decided that Yuna, Tidus, Lulu, and myself would go to Guadosalam the next day. Yuna would call Rikku via the communication Sphere outside Lulu and Wakka’s hut and make arrangements for pick up and Rikku, and Paine would then in turn join us to see the inside of the Farplane with Tromell.

 

 After the initial plans were made and set, we all turned in for the night. We would have an early start in the morning. Yet, I couldn’t sleep. For some reason I was highly agitated, and I felt that the lodge was stuffy and humid. I opted for a walk outside.

 

 The sky outside was pretty nice, filled with bright stars. I was awestruck at the beauty of the night sky. All I can really say in comparison here, is that in Zanarkand because of the lights you wouldn’t have been able to see the stars at night.

 

 So there I was, sitting on the temple steps, looking at the sky and looking at the stars. I felt comforted by those stars for some reason, it was as if the stars were telling me a story with each blink and flash.

 It was, peaceful.

 “Sure is quiet.” Said a voice behind me.

 “Yeah, it sure is quiet.” I answered without thinking. I turned my head a little to the left and there in the shadows sat Tidus.
 “Couldn’t sleep huh?” He asked me as I turned back and looked up at the sky.
 “Nope, you?” I asked in turn as my eyes wandered and looked out at the blinking stars, and lazy clouds in the sky.
 “Never was much of one for sleep at night.” He said as he shifted closer to me.
 “That’s true, dork.” I said as I shrugged and looked down at my hands which had absently started to rub at my wrists.
 “Would you quit calling me that?” Tidus said as he tossed a stick for a dog to go chase after.
 “Either that or crybaby.” I said as I stood up, and took a few steps towards the Lodge.

 “Tina, wait!.” Tidus said as he too stood up. I turned and looked at him waiting for whatever he was going to say.

 He stood there in all his glory, blonde hair spiked, and messed in what I always said was uncontrollably cute, his gloved hand behind his head, and that small childish grin on his face. “How have you been these past four years?” He asked me, scuffing his foot, and looking at the ground.

 

 I looked at him then turned away. “These past four years have been the most horrible I have ever been apart of. A great war with Machina, and people dying. Some people said it was because of how we lived in Zanarkand, some people said it was because the Church of Bevelle didn’t like how we didn’t have any religion, and others said, it was because Bevelle wanted control over Zanarkand. Then there’s me. I think that it all started with that fish thing you and everyone else called Sin.” I said shrugging, and then turning away from him. “I really, don’t want to talk about it...” I said after a moment as I hugged myself and looked at the stars trying to find some type of comfort.

 

 I found none.

****
End:
Chapter Four.
****