U.P. Yay! I finally updated, sorry it took a bit long. Please keep the reviews coming, they're really helping! Unfortunately, I found that each notebook page is about half of a page on the computer, so that's why the chapters might seem a bit short to you.

Chapter Three: The Beach

The concert was even more fantastic than Shuin had expected, especially "1,000 Words." Was Lenne really looking directly into his eyes or did he just imagine it? But he just kept staring then…. Ugh, she probably thought he was another over-obsessed fan.

Shuyin waved this thought away, though discouraged, and continued on. Since Lenne's concert had ended, the lights were starting to go out one by one. Finally. For some reason, this helped to bring peace to his mind; as if each stifled light smothered a few of his own troubled, frenzied thoughts. Another light off, out went another doubt about his life and even words.

"You can try, but you'll be as good as me 'cause I'm the best."

His old man's mocking words echoed through his mind.

I hate you, Old Man, he thought bitterly. Then he stopped himself.

No, this was supposed to be a nice, relaxing night at the beach. Of course, even when his old man wasn't there he tried to ruin Shuyin's night. He always ruined everything. It wasn't easy to dissuade his thoughts to focus on happier things.

As he saw the beach come into view, his short attention span kicked in.

"Finally! I'm starting to wonder why I didn't take the hover car…" he said when the beach sector neared.

Laughing as he ran down, he collapsed on the sand, the salty sea air overwhelming his senses. Pure bliss and relief always washed over him when he arrived. This felt like more of a home to him than his house back in A-East.

As he lied there, he could see the sunset beginning; an explosion of fire dying the sky, the sun a golden globe setting in the horizon.

"Beautiful…," he head someone say behind him say in awe.

"I know," he replied absent-mindedly then started when he realized that he was no longer alone. Quickly, he stood up.

The girl noticed him and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't know someone was here. Usually I come at dawn or later at night. I've never seen you here before though."

Shuyin shook his head at the girl, gazing at the sunset reflected in her sienna eyes. "Are you Lenne? It's pretty dark, I can't see well."

"Yes, and you're…Shuyin, correct? I saw you at the concert-" she paused right after the end of 'concert' as if she had said too much.

So she did remember and he wasn't the only one who was so transfixed then. Or maybe it was a simple observation; his mother had always commented on how noticeable his hair was. Shuyin was thinking too much and he wasn't usd to it. He scratched the back of his head.

"So…uh…whatchya doin' here, Lenne?"

"Sunrise, sunset. I love just sitting here and watching. And you, Mr. Blitzball? What are you doing here?"

"Uh…what you said."

He could tell that he didn't exactly impress her and mentally kicked himself, but she laughed politely, so that was a plus.

"I-well, I do enjoy coming hre. It's just a good place to chill out after a good game," said Shuyin.

He didn't tell her that he loved the sunset and the feeling that the beach gave him; he didn't know what she would think.

"Blitzball game…oh yeah. The Abes won, didn't they?" she asked. It was obvious she hadn't been there.

He nodded, disappointed for some reason that she hadn't come.

"I wish I could've come, but my teacher is strict. I'm a summoner-I mean, an apprentice summoner."

This was new to Shuyin.

"Summoner? As in sending dead people?"

"The very same."

"Oh, cool. I could never do that."

"You can have my teacher, she enjoys challenges."

She laughed and Shuyin smirked, saying, "Ha, ha, very funny."

Lenne giggled mmore and then there was a warm silence. Shuyin, thinking of nothing more to talk about, kicked the sand and clasped his hands behind his head.

"Hey, Shuyin…do you want to do down near the water?" she asked abruptly.

Shuying didn't even need to consider and said immediately, "Of course! I mean-er-sure!"

Together they walked to the shoreline. Lenne turned suddenly and said, "Can I show you something?"

Shuyin scratched his head. "Uh, sure."

"Thanks. I've just completed it so only my teacher, Zalina, has seen it. My summoning dance—but this one's special!" Her words were rushed as they flowed from her mouth.

"Go ahead, the audience awaits."

She nodded and then danced in a flurry of twirls and staff maneuvers that Shuyin had never seen a summoner do. Lenne was so graceful, her staff cutting the air to send spirits to the farplane. In front of the sunset, it was magnificent and beautiful. When she was done, Shuyin applauded and whistled through his fingers as she laughed and bowed, a mock performer.

"That was great! What do you use it for?"

"Thank you! This particular one is for a mass of war tragedies," she explained.

Shuyin nodded and lied down on the sand again, Lenne joining him.

Without knowing it, Shuyin thought aloud, "Wonder if you'll ever have to use it?"

Lenne, her voice deep and solemn as she hugged her knees, replied, "I sure hope not."

Great job, Shuyin, he thought. You always were good at saying the wrong things.

Sorry. Nevermind that. Let's talk about something else. Uh…the concert! I never told you how well you sang!"

"Really? Thank you. I just wrote that last song. '1,000 Words.'"

"That one was my favorite," said Shuyin earnestly.

"Mine as well, but of course, they all were," she joked, grinning.

"You know what? The Zanarkand Ball is coming up. You can sing your song there."

Her face fell slightly. "I may not be able to go-summoning classes."

"Aw, come on," said Shuyin, his jaunty manner lighting up the atmosphere. "You want to go, right? Just ask your teacher to cut you a break."

She nodded, her face bright and alit once more. "Yes, you're right. I'm sure Zalina will understand."

Another thoughtful silence, Shuyin was surprised by how well this was going. And happy. It was if they were fated to meet (if Shuyin believed in all that Bevelle kind of stuff); within the (how long had they been there again?) maybe half-hour they had been there, already a friendship was forming. Shuyin's thoughts were interrupted by Lenne.

"Shuyin…I was thinking. Maybe sometime, we-"

Suddenly an alarm rang through the city. An air raid. Were airships attacking Zanarkand?

"All citizens stay inside. The machina will be dealt with shortly," announced Znarkand's leader on the city's main sphere screens

"Shuyin. Call suite 900 in B-West! Let's meet again!"

She had to shout to be heard. Shuyin nodded once and sprinted from the beach. What was happening to Zanarkand?