Dissimulation

Chapter 7: Breathe No More

Tidus opened his eyes to find himself leaning against the wall of the airship in a vacant hall, with a large bottle of whiskey resting in his right hand. The bottle was empty. Tidus stared at it with bewilderment. The last thing he remembered was Yuna shutting off the commsphere suddenly before she had the chance to tell him why they were so mad at him. Now he was sitting in an abandoned hallway, with a bottle of whiskey completely ran dry. "Am I going mad?" Tidus asked himself. He tried to stand up, but the familiar dizziness and headache of a hangover took over. Tidus groaned, but continued to stand up, using the wall for support. He threw the bottle of whiskey across the wall and began to slowly drag himself towards the door.

"Tidus, there you are," Rikku breathed. Her high pitched voice rang through Tidus's hurting head, causing him to flinch.

"What happened last night," Tidus grumbled.

"I don't know, you lost your temper and disappeared," Rikku told him. Once again her voice caused him to flinch. "Are you alright?"

"Hungover," Tidus growled. He slid down the wall, his legs unable to hold his weight.

"You were awfully upset," Rikku whispered. She knelt down to him and handed him a couple of pills. "Here, take these for the headache and if you sit tight for a minute, I'll go get you a beer," Rikku continued.

"Thanks," Tidus grunted. Rikku nodded and disappeared down the hall Tidus leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to remember everything that happened the night before. He remembered calling Yuna on the sphere device Rikku had and talking with her, but just as she was about to say something very important the picture shut off and everything after that was blank. He heard the familiar padding of feet again and Rikku appeared before him.

"Here," she said, shoving the beer into his hands. "That should help."

"Thanks," Tidus sighed. He opened the bottle and drank it slowly.

"Feel any better?" Rikku asked.

"A little thanks." Tidus said. He took another sip and stood up slowly. His head still felt fuzzy, but he could at least stand without falling over. His thoughts were a hell of a lot clearer though. "So, tell me. Will I be able to contact Yuna again?"

"I don't know. She cut off awfully quit, I fear that maybe Lulu found the device," Rikku said mournfully.

"Fuck!" Tidus growled and punched the wall. The pain that hummed in his head and entirely vanished, but instead, was replaced with a throbbing in his wrist. Tidus held his wrist, ignoring the pain. "She was just about to tell me something to," he recalled.

"Yeah..." Rikku sighed. She looked away and played with her hands. Should she tell him? She would much rather have her cousin tell him the news and shed light to the mystery that surrounded Wakka's attack, but there was no telling they would be able to contact her again.

"You know something, don't you!" Tidus hissed. He grabbed Rikku's shoulders and pinned her to the wall.

"Tidus, I don't know if I am the one that should tell you!" Rikku shrieked. His grip on her wasn't entirely tight, but it was enough to get his point across. His breath was strong against her face and his eyes began to water as tears began to fall. He fell against her shoulders, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"What is going on with me?" Tidus sobbed. Rikku pulled him closer to her and softly petted his soft hair, trying to console him in any way that she could, although she knew he really wanted Yuna's warmth right now. A slight pain of jealousy stabbed through her at the thought. She had to admit, she always had a slight crush on him.