(A/N) Hello again. This will be my last update for a while. I have to go back to my classes on Tuesday, so I wont have time. Anyways, it really has been a pleasure to read your reviews! I would like to thank the following:
PrincessAinoMinako, Kiru2010, Someone, and Bicheon.
I really appreciate all of your words, and will continue to look forward to all the great advice you give!
Synopsis (Chapter 2):
Chapter two opens as Gippal, and Tidus are emerging from the school. As the Yevonites usher them away from the building and into Rikku, and Shuyin's welcoming arms. Impatient and scared, Shuyin attempts to re-enter the building to find Lenne himself, but ends up in a losing battle with almost half of the Yevonite officials. Thrown back into the crowd, he beseeches Gippal, and Tidus for help. It is then that Gippal tries to tell Shuyin the truth, but he wont hear it, and looks to Tidus who tells him blatantly that he shot and killed her. Gippal separates the brothers, and it is then that they turn their backs on him…heading to the hospital with the early news of Chappu's "condition."
Chapter 3
"Some Things You Just Have to Sit For"
Shuyin POV:
Honestly…I didn't understand a damn thing. What the hell was exactly going on? I had no idea. All I knew was that I had to keep walking. I had to keep moving forward, or I was certainly going to turn back and kill him. I was going to finish what I started. The only thing that saved him…was Lenne. Him, and his pathetic existence. How ironic huh? He kills her, yet she saves him! I was pissed. Lenne was gone…and I was here. It wasn't right! It wasn't fair!
"Fuck you Yevon! You're so great? Why didn't you stop it! It wasn't her time! You hear me! It wasn't her time! I'm not ready!" I screamed tilting my head to the sky angrily. I was angry…with everyone…with myself. I just wanted to hold her in my arms again. Hold her forever, never letting go. Her last moments…and I couldn't even be with her. I closed my eyes briefly trying to catch my breath. I wanted to feel her fingertips gracefully dance across my skin, look into her soft brown eyes, pull her close to me, and tell her that I loved her. I wanted so many things that I knew I would never have. I would never be able to feel her touch again, never be able to look into her soft eyes, and she would never be able to hear me say I love you. A tear pelted against the paved sidewalk as I raised my leg angrily, kicking the aluminum trash can into the street.
"Hey! Watch what your doing young man! Don't go around disrupting the peace you hear! I'll call the Yevonites on you! You hear?" I turned back recklessly to see an old shopkeeper leaning out her doorframe, drying her hands in her apron. Gippal, and Rikku had swooped around the corner, hastily jogging toward me.
"Mind your own business lady!" I yelled back disrespectfully, turning back to continue on my way. What the hell did she know anyways? I just wanted to be left alone.
"How rude! I'll tell you what the youth is becoming today! Ill mannered and a bunch of ignorant children!" I didn't really care enough to hear what she was spouting off about. I had to keep moving. I'm not even exactly sure why I left like that? I wanted to stay…to wait for Lenne to come out. I'd wait forever. Somewhere deep inside me though…I knew she wouldn't, and I couldn't look upon Tidus' face for one more second. I pulled tightly at my chest. I wanted to rip this heart out, so I couldn't feel this pain. It was unbearable, but I knew it was there to stay.
"Shu…Shuyin…" I heard Rikku stutter a few feet behind me. I didn't want to take anything out on her, but really…what could be that important to disturb my thoughts.
"Were…were at the hospital." I looked up, and indeed we stood outside the gates of the large medical building. I would have surely walked right past it, and then…I remembered Chappu. Right now he needed us by his side, where we had always been…but I couldn't help but wonder if we were too late? I saw them carry him away from the school grounds, his eyes smiling toward Lulu, making promises that everything would be all right. She smiled weakly, nodding her head not wanting to show fear. The thing about Lulu is…I've never seen her cry…never. So when she broke down into Wakka's arms…it worried us all.
"Chappu Alvares please." I ran up to the customer service desk, placing my palm atop the counter impatiently. She looked up from her paperwork slowly, her framed glasses hanging loosely on her nose.
"Relation Sir?" She questioned now, placing her thin hand on the computer mouse.
"What? What the hell does that mean?" I asked with frustration evident in my voice. Gippal strode near my side, placing his palm atop my shoulder persuasively, motioning me to calm down. I shrugged it away, still looking intensely into the secretary's cold gray eyes.
"By policy Sir, you must be of immediate family, or have one of the immediate family's permission to see—"Oh, that's bullshit!" I cut her off pushing away from the countertop. I'll fucking find him myself. Chappu was more than a brother to me, and if she wouldn't tell me where he was then I'd just find him myself.
"Hey Shuyin, you should calm down man, they could throw us out." Gippal tried to reason with me, but I was past reasoning. What did reasoning ever do for anybody? I blindly turned away starting down patient-filled hallway.
"Sir! You can't go down there!" The secretary chirped rather annoyingly. I threw my hand up to her, and continued along my way.
"Shuyin! Run!" I looked behind me to find Rikku coming up at my side, tugging at my jacket to run faster.
"She's calling the Yevonites! We have to hurry!" Rikku yelled glancing over her shoulder. I looked to my left, and Gippal sprinted steadily along. I nodded my head as we pushed forward. I know it wasn't right. I know I should have waited obediently in the lobby, waited for Wakka or Lulu to call, waited for hours on end…to find Chappu dead in the end. I was through with waiting.
"Shuyin let's turn left at the next hall break!" Gippal yelled as he pointed to a sign that hung on the wall reading, Emergency Room. I nodded. We had to hurry. The Yevonites were still far behind, but their yells rang thoroughly, clear through our ears. We turned onto the next hall, slamming our bodies against the swinging doors. It led to yet another longer hallway with many turns, and swinging doors. We were going to be caught. We had no idea where we going. No clue as to where to turn next. I could hear the Yevonites stampeding down the hallway faster then ever. Closer then ever.
"Shuyin! What are we going to do!" Rikku yelled. She was out of breath, and finding it hard to keep up. Her blonde hair had sweated into a light brown, her eyes petitioning to rest. I looked to my left. I had no idea of what Gippal had been through today, but it looked as though he had had enough as well. I could see him stumbling a few times from the corner of my eye, but he tried his best to hide it, and to keep pushing on. I didn't know whether we'd make it or not, but I had Chappu to think of now. I pressed on, hoping maybe with just a few more steps we'd make it.
"I said stop right there!" They were much closer than I thought…much closer. I turned my head about. A tall, built man pinned Gippal to the wall, grabbing his elbow and twisting it behind his back. Another man jogged quickly around the corner making his way to Rikku. I grunted in exhaustion as I placed my palm on her back, pushing her further away, ensnaring myself into the Yevonites greedy hands.
"Shuyin!" She screamed maintaining her new set pace, glancing over her shoulder. Her troubled eyes blurred with tears as she scanned Gippal and myself.
"Find Wakka! Keep running!" I yelled to her through the right side of my mouth. The left side of my face lay imprinted against the wall; the Yevonite continually pressuring it with his body weight until I thought it would crack in half. I kicked my legs back violently, wanting to loosen his grip around my throat. Rikku had turned the corner, and most likely oblivious to where she was going herself. I knocked my head against the wall aggravated with myself. I tried to see Gippal and how he was holding up, but I could see nothing. All I could hear was the Yevonite telling him to calm down, and his disgruntled profanity. I wanted to break away. I wanted this bastard off of me! The worst thing you can ever feel…is restraint. Wanting to move forward, but not having the ability to do so, as though you're caged…locked away, and controlled. I hated it.
"Let them go! What the hell are you trying to do? This is a hospital ya?" That voice was all too familiar, and I raised my glance quickly to its speaker. His chestnut eyes scanned me over closely before striding to my side. His heavy build, fiery hair, bronzed skin. Wakka. Man, I had never been so relieved to see him in my entire life!
"These guys are more than family to me, and have all of my permission to be here. Release them at once." I felt the Yevonite slowly loosen his grip around my neck, and my arms. I pushed myself away, standing aside Wakka more proudly. Gippal struggled to his feet before joining our flank, and dusted his jacket away angrily. Wakka pulled out his wallet, for identification purposes, and the Yevonites were on their way. I couldn't stand them. Always getting in the damn way. I turned to Wakka to speak, but he was now gone. I jolted about on my heel, catching his blue jacket with my eye turn the corner. Exchanging glances with Gippal we sped up quickly to turn the corner.
"Where's Rikku?" Gippal asked steadily jogging by Wakka, trying to keep up with him.
"She's with Lu." His short, yet simple answer worried us both, and we were rather hesitant to ask about Chappu. We didn't have to ask. The anxiety ridden in his eyes was more than enough to answer our question. He wasn't okay, and he wasn't going to be okay.
"What took you guys so long? I waited in the damn lobby for an hour!" Wakka continued angrily, gripping the handle to another door, turning his head to look at us. What should I say? What should I have told him? This day must have been the worst day in my entire life. I took a moment before replying, causing Wakka to worry.
"What is it?" Wakka looked at me more concerned than before. I felt Gippal eyeing me rather uncomfortably. I know he was wondering whether or not I was going to tell him about Tidus…about Lenne.
"Nothing…we just had some trouble getting here. That's all." I lied. Wakka wasn't his usual self. They didn't know whether or not his brother was going to make it or not, and I didn't want to throw another burden on top of his shoulders so carelessly. He seemed to look me over doubtfully before nodding his head.
"Oh, okay then. Well follow me." He replied turning the handle, leading us into a rather dim hallway. A small makeshift bench rested against the wall, where Rikku was found sitting. Gippal sprinted to her side, and my eyes fell to Lulu. She stood solemnly before a thin plated glass. I couldn't help but wonder what she was looking at. Wakka pulled me aside, bringing his voice to a mere whisper.
"Chappu…Chappu's in surgery right now…Lu hasn't left that spot once. Try not to disturb her okay." I nodded my head in agreement, and slowly edged my way to the window. Chappu resumed his seat alongside Rikku and Gippal. I took a breath, and my knees went weak. The doctors rushed around frantically, passing tools to one another. Pale blue masks covered their faces, and it scared me. Was Chappu going to die? He couldn't die. He just couldn't. He was the oldest out of us all. Our rock. Our rational thinker that kept us in line when we acted up. I took a step back, looking into the windows reflection. Lulu. How many years had they been together? Since they were kids up until now. A tear slipped away from her eyelash, and I could tell it hadn't been her first…and it wasn't going to be her last. A deep pain lashed through me, and I couldn't help myself, but throw my arms forward. She didn't move, but she took in a deep breath, partly surprised. What she needed was comforting arms. Lulu didn't need to be alone. Not right now. To let her go through this alone…was more then she deserved. Chappu was dieing before her, and we were just sitting around doing nothing. She made no response, but I could feel her trembling in my embrace. She was more afraid then any of us.
"Were all here for you Lulu. We'll make it through…together." I whispered just loud enough for to hear. She raised her palm from the window, placing it on my hand that securely clung to her. Nearly moments later I felt another pair of hands raise themselves around her. Rikku. With tears in her eyes, sobbed quietly into her side. Wakka followed Rikku, and then Gippal. We held there for a moment, none of us wanting to let go. It may have been for a moment…it may have been for hours. We didn't care, nothing else was important. I think we all held onto one another, releasing our own pain for the other to take on, so that we knew we weren't alone. If anything happened to Chappu…I knew that I'd have to step it up; to take care of all of them in his place. I was scared. Just the thought of anything happening to Chappu frightened me, and made my heart ache. How much loss could one take? I held on tightly, not realizing the surgeon who had just exited the emergency room.
"Wakka Alvares?" He asked causing us to break apart briefly, and look into his direction.
"May I speak with you alone for a moment?" He continued studying his clipboard before regaining eye contact with the rest of us. Wakka cleared his throat, stepping forward shakily. I didn't want to hear what he had to say. I didn't want to hear him apologize for not saving Chappu…I was afraid for him to even speak.
"I'm sorry Doctor…but whatever you can say to me…you can say it in front of them." Wakka replied taking a step forward. I couldn't see his face. It's expression. His eyes. I couldn't see his potential reaction, but I could hear it in his voice. It was his brother. His life. If Chappu died…a part of Wakka would be missing forever.
"Very well then," The doctor began, swinging his hand to the small bench against the wall, persuading us to have a seat, "You may all want to sit down for this."
(A/N) Okay, thanks as always for reading! I really do appreciate it! Again, this will be my last chapter until probably next weekend, when I get out of school again. I doubt there is any possibility of having another chapter up during the week…it's like impossible! LOL! Again thanks to everybody who has reviewed, and don't be afraid to give me any advice on what you think I should improve on! I take criticism pretty darn well! LOL! Thanks for reading! Review please!
