Arriving at the apartment complex in the D-West district of Zanarkand, Lulu and Rikku made their way through the modern reception to the stairway. Both young girls had been curious about their friend's swift departure from the restaurant. Climbing the stairway, the girls chatted quietly, in an effort not to disturb the neighbours. Arriving at the third floor, the young Al-Bhed stopped at a door while rummaging through her bag. Lulu proceeded to shake her head, watching her friend struggle to find the keys that always seemed to evade the blonde's grasp.
"Do not tell me you have lost another set of keys." The young mage demanded, knowing of Rikku's habit of losing such things. Rifling through her last bag, Rikku heard a 'jangle' that she had been searching for.
"Got them!" Rikku shouted out, waving the bundle of keys in Lulu's unimpressed face. Continuing to open the door, the two girls wandered in, settling their shopping bags down on the floor of the spacious living room. The raven haired girl collapsed into the cushioned sofa, glancing around the open-planned apartment, noticing the living room and kitchen was oddly empty. Turning to face Rikku, the young mage asked,
"Where is your father Rikku? He and Brother are usually here at this time."
"Oh, I forgot to say. Brother and Pops had to go to Bikanel early this year. With the weather we have been having lately the digs have started earlier than usual." Rikku explained putting the few food items she had bought away in the kitchen. "I think Pops said he would be back for a weekend in about two weeks, but then he is away for two months, with that being the best time to dig in the desert. Do you want something to drink?" She continued to ask, while grabbing herself a can. Lulu shook her head, before standing up and heading to the adjacent corridor.
"I'm just going to see if Yuna is about."
Hearing the light patting of familiar footsteps, Yuna pulled herself up from the floor knowing someone was coming to check on her. Taking a hold of a mauve, patterned blanket from the end of her unmade bed, she wrapped it around her shoulders, clutching it at the nape of her pale neck. She heard a light rapping on her bedroom door. Debating on whether to answer or remain silent with the hope that whoever wanted to disturb her would continue on their way. The sound of her friend's voice call her name swayed her decision. Reaching for the door handle she weakly smiled at her raven haired friend, awaiting the obvious questions. Lulu could not help but look slightly surprised by Yuna's appearance. She had looked so content and relaxed around them earlier, however now looking at her friend she could see melancholy and anxiety. Knowing the reason for this change being down to a certain someone; however Lulu also knew from the past that her friend would never talk about it easily.
"Hey, I just wanted to see if you were okay. You just seemed to rush off earlier." Lulu explained with obvious concern in her voice. Yuna couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed by her friend's questions, but she could understand her concern, she knew Lulu was not a stupid girl.
"I'm fine, just feel a little dodgy, think it might just be a bit of indigestion," she lied, feeling awful for lying, but she did not want to burden her friends with her problems. "If you don't mind I think I'm just going to watch a film in bed. I need to feel better for tomorrow with school and work." Lulu sighed; she wasn't going to push Yuna any further.
"If you are sure; I'll see you tomorrow, I'll tell Rikku not to bother you," Lulu finished, walking away still worried. Yuna slowly closed the door feeling awful that she was lying to her friend, but how could they help really? She thought. Walking to the full length mirror in her room, Yuna dropped the blanket and stripped down to her underwear. Gazing into the mirror she could see the full extent of the beating her so called boyfriend had recently given her. Trailing her gaze from her legs, seeing bruises of black and blue mark her pale skin; she continued to look up her body seeing more cuts and bruises scarring her once perfect skin. Giving up healing her wounds, she looked away from the mirror with only anger in her eyes. 'Why am I letting this happen to me?' She thought as she broke down. As a few moments passed the young girl looked up with a new look of determination in her eyes; she felt a surge of confidence that she had not felt in a long, long time. Things were going to change.
The district of B-North of Zanarkand was a sophisticated area to say the least. The wide roads lined with perfect gardens, with their neat picket fences that belong to lavish houses. Lulu drove slowly up to a gate, opening her window and lazily showing a key fob to a sensor. As she watched the gates slowly open, she placed her hands back onto the steering wheel and slowly made her way to her usual parking spot. As Lulu walked to her front door, she noticed Wakka's car parked in his usual space. Smiling to herself, she thought of how she needed to spend some time with her boyfriend. Unlocking the door, she placed a delicate hand onto the detailed cast iron door handle, giving the heavy wooden door a push before it easily opened. Placing her things down in the huge foyer, Lulu stretched and let out a loud yawn.
"Oh come on, shopping can't be that tiring ya?" She heard a familiar voice approach her from behind. Turning to face the source of the voice she smiled as her eyes came across the wild orange wave of hair of her boyfriend. Smiling softly she walked towards the towering mass of muscles and looped her arms around him pressing her entire body into his. Placing his broad naked arms around the petite girl around him Wakka lightly squeezed his girlfriend. "What's this for? What's wrong?" he asked slightly concerned. Lulu wasn't one to initiate much intimacy between them. Sighing as she released him from the hug Lulu explained her day.
"It's just been a long day, and I'm getting more and more worried about Yuna. She is acting very different lately and I can't put my figure on the exact reason for it." Wakka frowned at her explanation, thinking how she was probably getting herself worried over nothing.
"Hey, come on. Your mum has just made dinner, but we'll talk about all this after if you want ya?" Wakka comforted her.
"Dinner is ready! Come on through to the dining room!" Both teenagers turned to walk towards the dining room, hand in hand.
The street light were lighting up one by one in D-West Zanarkand; slowly illuminating the darkening skies above. Yuna noticed this, deciding it was time to return to the apartment. Debating everything she had thought about on her walk in her head, she was still undecided on what to do about her current situation. There was one thing she knew for certain, she could not do this alone.
Arriving at her apartment, she heard the light patting of rain starting outside.
"Looks like a got lucky," Yuna mindlessly said to herself, rummaging in her pockets for her keys. Gaining access to her apartment, the young brunette threw her keys lazily into the bowl close to the door. Hearing the keys come in contact with the bowl she heard a lot of rustling and movement coming from the living room. With slight hesitation Yuna slowly moved around the corner to inspect the source of the noise. Her bi-coloured eyes widened to what she saw. The mingling limbs of two bodies, two tufts of messy blonde hair and two surprised faces met Yuna's eyes. After the initial shock Yuna averted her eyes, not expecting to see the half naked bodies of her cousin and the waiter that had been serving them a few hours before. "Seriously Rikku, at least go in your own room and don't soil our furniture!" Yuna called walking past them towards the kitchen, leaving them to get themselves in decent condition before she returned. Clambering around the room putting their clothing back where it belonged, Rikku and her new 'friend' stumbled to their feet. Rikku scolded herself for not going to her room when her visitor called, knowing that she would not live this one down for a while. Yuna returned to the living room with her hand covering her eyes. "It is safe now? Or are you still fornicating on our sofa? I hope there are no stains Rikku!" Yuna said, barely able to keep in a chuckle. However lewd the situation, it did manage to distract her from the previous thoughts.
"Ha, ha, Yunie. We were doing anything like that!" Rikku explained fixing her hair, knowing this was only the beginning of the abuse to come. "So, this is Gippal, you met briefly at the restaurant earlier," she continued introducing her 'friend'. Yuna smiled devilishly, tormenting her cousin about her indiscretions being a hobby of hers.
"Ah, yes I remember. If I remember right, you only met briefly at the restaurant as well. You both seem to be getting on swimmingly in this short amount of time," Yuna continued her tormenting. "Well it was lovely to meet you Gippal, hopefully we'll see move of you that my cousin's many other suitors," she finished leaving for her bedroom, knowing she was going to get an earful of Rikku when Gippal left; well if Gippal left.
The two blonde simply stood dumbfounded by what Yuna had said. Scratching the back of his head, Gippal turned to the girl he barely knew.
"So, you invite a lot of guys back here?" he asked. Rikku turned to face him, quick to defend herself from the onslaught of abuse her cousin had just hurled at her.
"No, don't listen to her! She is just winding both of us up! I swear! If she comes out again she will explain that she does this all the time!" Rikku exclaimed loud and fast. Gippal laughed out loud at the rush of defence that came spewing out of her mouth.
"Okay, I'll believe you for now. I guess I'll just have to see next time, that is if there is a next time beautiful," Gippal said with a cocky grin glue to his face. Rikku pursed her lips thinking about the future of this guy before saying,
"Well we'll have to see Romeo, but I think I've had enough excitement for one evening. Give me a ring some time, as I'm going to have to kick you out now, I've got a few things I need to do." The perky blonde finished, ushering her guest to the door. Gippal took the hint and walked through the door.
"I'll make sure I do. I'll be seeing you soon beautiful!" he called before Rikku closed the door. Turning around Rikku stormed to her cousin's bedroom; she was fuming.
"That was fantastic Shelinda, I can never get enough of your cooking," Wakka exclaimed patting his stomach. Lulu's mother laughed at Wakka's enthusiasm.
"Wakka I only wish everyone loved my cooking as much as you. I can't seem to convince my husband and daughter of my amazing cooking skills." Lulu shook her head at their antics, loving how well her parents got along with her boyfriend. She could remember Wakka's nervousness when the first meeting took place; she had never seen him ramble on about nonsense before. She could not believe her eyes, seeing her usually very confident blitz ball boyfriend regress into a panicky mess. Yet now, she could not get over how well they got along now; it made her believe even more that Wakka was the one for her. Noticing her daughter's far off expression Shelinda clicked her long fingers in her daughter's face in an attempt to sway Lulu's attention to the present. "Are you away with the fairies again young one? Have you been on the wacky stuff darling? Your expression reminds me of your dad and I at the Moonflow festivals back in the day," she continued reminiscing. Wakka could not hold in a laugh; Lulu's mother's stories never ceased to amuse him. The differences between Lulu and her parents stunned Wakka when he first met them; he could not understand where Lulu got her sensible nature from, hearing all the stories Shelinda told about their hippy-esque lifestyle in the past.
"Mother please stop embarrassing yourself," Lulu pleaded shaking her at her mother's stories.
"Sorry love, you know how I love to reminisce. Anyway how was your first day back at school?" Shelinda asked changing the conversation for her daughter. Lulu thought about the events she had experienced on the first day back at school, deciding there was nothing worth mentioning to her mother she went on to say in a bleak tone,
"The same as usual mother, nothing interesting to report." Shelinda shook her head, letting her hair shake around her pale face.
"Always the talkative one, just like her father," she stated towards Wakka. Rolling her crimson eyes at her mother's remark the raven haired girl stood announcing,
"Well I am sorry I have nothing entertaining to say. Anyway I have some work to get started on." Turning towards her boyfriend she continued, "And so do you. I am not letting your grades slip just because Blitzball practice has started again." Hinting towards Wakka. "Barkeep, if you wouldn't mind helping clear the table," She motioned towards the lingering Hypello.
"Shertenly madam." Came the reply as the teenagers left the dining room.
Upon entering Lulu's bedroom, Wakka decided to confront his girlfriend's behaviour at the dinner table. Closing the door quietly for privacy he approached the silent girl, lovingly wrapping his tanned arms around her shoulders.
"What is wrong Lu? You were really short at the table with your mam, and have been acting pretty weird since you got home." He calmly asked her, his Besaidian accent very strong as the words drifted from his mouth. Leaning into his warm embrace, she pondered whether to bother him with the worries she had about her close friend. Knowing he would care to some extent, but also she wondered how he would react if she mentioned her unproven theory of Seymour being the reason for the recent change in Yuna the past few months; especially today. Not knowing whether he would believe it or whether he would overreact without actual proof of anything. She continued to ponder, enjoying the embrace he continued to hold her in.
Watching the sun's glorious light vanish over the horizon; engulfing the city in a fiery glow before dipping below the far reaching land Tidus awaited a phone call. It had been some time since he appreciated the sight of the city he had lived in his entire life. it was an attempt to distract himself from the thoughts of losing his dreams because of an injury. Deciding to occupy his mind with something other than worry, the young blonde made his way to the bathroom. A hot shower would help relax him, he thought. Stripping off, he stepped into the shower, letting the water cascade down his body. He felt his muscles loosen up as the tension left his body. The moment was soon disturbed by a loud rapping at the door. He rolled his deep blue eyes at the disturbance as he wrapped a soft towel around his waist to investigate the interruption.
"What is it?" He called before opening the door. Hearing his father's booming voice answer,
"You've got a phone call; they need to speak to you now." Tidus' reaction to the disturbance changed radically, rushing to open the door. Phone in hand he immediately confirmed his identity to the caller. Jecht lingered in the room out of curiosity, smiling when he saw his recently unhappy son's face light up with joy he had not seen for some time. Enthusiastically ending the call Tidus could not wipe the smile off his face.
"Good news I'm guessing my boy," Jecht said placing an arm around Tidus' shoulders.
"That was the therapy centre. Everything has been sorted, just a few forms to sign when the therapist comes here to start the day after tomorrow," Tidus explained still smiling.
"Good to hear son, I'll let you get dressed and we will sort out the finances for it later tonight," Jecht said leaving his son alone. Tidus closed his phone, deciding not to reveal to his father that he had requested someone he knows from school, knowing that he would have to endure his father's childish banter otherwise.
Wakka could not believe what he was hearing. The accusations Lulu was making were not ones to be taken lightly. He stood and paced around the room in an attempt to process this theory of Lulu's. Thinking that they cannot be right, but thoughts of what could be going on if she was right. Lulu instantly regretted opening he mouth after seeing Wakka's reaction. She was unable to tell whether his current behaviour was from him believing her or being disgusted with her for making the accusations in the first place.
"Lu, you can't just say stuff like this with no proof, this could really damage your friendship and their relationship if you just bring this up," he managed to get out still trying to think straight.
"I know that, that is why I am telling you first. I want to know what you think about the whole situation, as you know Yuna pretty well now too. Just please calm down, it is not like I am going to confront anyone tomorrow with this theory," she explained trying to get her worrying boyfriend to sit back down. "Please do not mention any of this too anyone," Lulu begged hoping Wakka would know this already.
Stopping in his track he approached his worrying girlfriend, kneeling in front of her saying,
"Of course I won't, I'm gonna help ya find out what is going on. Sorry for panicking there, it is just not something I expected to hear to be honest." Wakka returned to the bed next to his worrying girlfriend. "What makes you think that Seymour is the problem with Yuna, and what makes you think he might be beating on her?" Wakka tried to ask calmly. Lulu thought back on the last few months, thinking of all the changes she had seen in her close friend.
"You must have noticed a change in her lately. You and her used to be quite playful friends, you two would actually have a laugh together, but now she seems to avoid prolonged contact with you, and any other male friend for that matter." Lulu firstly explained. Wakka thought back to the times Lulu was talking about and did notice a slight connection to Yuna becoming involved with Seymour; however he had just dismissed it as Yuna feeling that having close male friends may make Seymour feel uncomfortable. The situation was too complicated for him to process alone. "See? You have noticed a change." Lulu replied to Wakka's silence.
"Okay, ya I have, but you still have no proof he is beating on her, until we can get some proof I don't want either of us to get involved in anything, ya?" Wakka proposed. Lulu had to agree.
"I suppose, we cannot accuse someone of Seymour's status without horrible backlash. We will have to build up a case or something. I will try and get information out of Yuna; however that is like getting blood from a stone these days. You try and rebuild your friendship with her, as it will then be easier to see changes in her."
The two continued to plan, wanting their friend back.
The following morning Yuna was sharply woken by her phone vibrating loudly. Her mind frazzled from her shattered sleep, she struggled to locate her phone. Finally grasping it, she lazily put it to her ear while still led in bed.
"Hello?" She answered not hiding that she had just woken up. Hearing a familiar voice from her workplace she soon sorted herself.
"Hello Yuna, I'm sorry I'm ringing you so early," apologised the caller.
"That's fine Calli, I was just about to get up anyway," Yuna lied slightly annoyed by the unexpected wake up call. "What can I do for you?" She asked curious about the call.
"Well it is to arrange your new client actually, as they would like you to start tomorrow." Calli explained. "As it is such an early start I need to give you the file on the client's background and I need you to sign a confidentiality form as the client's father is a high profile man and they would like to keep the treatment under wraps." Calli continued. Yuna agreed knowing the procedure. "If you could pop in to sign the form and pick up the file before you go to school I can finalise everything today for you to start."
Holding back a yawn Yuna said,
"That is fine; I will be there at eight. See you soon." Putting her phone to one side, the young girl stretched in an attempt to wake herself. Forcing herself out of her cushioned bed, the light of morning pierced through the window, partially lighting the room. She gazed around the room hazily, knowing she had to do something to wake herself up, as her bed looked so inviting. Flinching as she grabbed her towel she felt the anger fill her up once again as she remembered her run in with her 'loving' Seymour. Not allowing herself to become upset over it she rushed to the shower knowing she had a very busy day and night ahead of her.
The running water of the shower beating down on the wall was enough to wake a slumbering Al-Bhed in the adjacent room. Confused about hearing this noise so early she turned her clock around to see the time.
'06:02'. Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, Rikku thought of how she had never known her cousin to be up this early. Deciding to investigate she made her way to the kitchen to prepare some coffee, knowing Yuna did not take long to get ready.
Dressing herself, Yuna tried ever so hard to push the memories of Seymour's behaviour towards her. She could not let this take over her life, especially today. She focussed her mind on the plans for the party tonight. She realised that she had no clue about what was going on in regards to meeting everyone. Collecting the last of her belongings she made her way through to the kitchen, deciding she should have something to eat before setting off.
Rikku heard a bedroom door close, pouring a cup of coffee ready for Yuna to emerge. Surprised to be met by her perky cousin, she was actually grateful to see her. Her mind could use something to help distract her from her thoughts.
"Hey Yunie, why are you up so early? It's not like you grumps," Rikku asked giggling at her little nickname for her cousin. Yuna smiled at the comment, she had missed Rikku over the summer. Since she has got back she had barely anytime free to spend with her.
"Very funny Rik, I know I'm not a morning person. I have to sort some things out in work before school about this new client. Sorry but I won't be able to give you a life to school today." Yuna explained, grabbing a loose piece of fruit when she realised the time. "I have to go now, but are you free second period? As we need to sort out tonight," she asked while locating her car keys.
"Oh yeah, I forgot you missed the discussion about that. I'm free then so I'll meet you in the common room and fill you in." Rikku agreed, "I'll see you later," she continued to call after her departing cousin.
Arriving at the small, independent therapy centre, Yuna could see the doors were just opening up. Locking her car she rushed inside to escape the winds that rolled off the near coast of land. The reception was unusually busy for the time of morning. Yuna approached the reception desk, hoping she could get all the information as soon as possible. She knew this was a privilege. She still could not figure out who could have requested her for treatment. If she could prove herself with this client she would seriously consider furthering a career in therapy.
"Hello, Calli has left a file and form for me to sign Belgemine; do you have it for me?" Yuna asked. Rifling through various paperwork on her untidy desk Belgemine finally came across what she was looking for.
"Here it is Yuna. This is the background file and I just need you to sign here and here," she explained pointing to the spots needing Yuna's signature. Quickly reading through the form, Yuna saw nothing out of the ordinary and proceeded to sign the form. Taking the file, she said her goodbyes and headed back to her car. Needing to get a jump start on this mysterious client Yuna headed to school where she could work for the hour before school.
Grateful the senior common room was empty; Yuna took a seat at one of the many tables. Placing the file down in front of her she decided to first discover what she had got herself into by looking at the treatment needed for the client. A sigh of relief escaped her mouth when reading the file. Pleased that the treatment needed was muscle based, she felt excited to start work, knowing that muscle based treatments were her specialty. Now knowing vaguely what she was in for; the curiosity of who the client was once again took over. Turning to the right page, she saw no name, only an address she loosely knew and a phone number. Deciding to ring the client to confirm times to start she proceeded to dial the number into her phone.
She was not ready for the surprise that hit her like a ton of bricks. She already had this person's number in her phone.
END 4431
