Quote of the chapter: The fear of one thing often leads us into another.
To Be With You Again
Chapter 4
A Mistaken Past
Nhadala sat at her desk placing worksheets that were in folders into her bag to take with her after she would leave work that afternoon. Things around the police station were hectic. With one thing or another to deal with, always more problems came up to be dealt with. Maybe it just this time of year. January, the start of a new year and criminals and troublemakers already had to begin with causing an uproar.
Well it couldn't be helped. That's what they had to go through and deal with for being an officer in Zanarkand, the largest city in Spira.
Anyways, just as Nhadala was finishing up, Nooj came walking by, coffee in hand to see what she was up to. Noticing that she was packing up most of her work and files, the question that was on his mind had no choice but to be asked.
"Nhadala, what are you up to?" Nooj began asking.
"I'm leaving town for a few days to work on a case." Nhadala told him. "I already filled out my papers for the leave so it's okay, right?"
"Yes I suppose." He replied. "But this wouldn't have something to do with that Guado rumor, would it?"
She now had to think about what to say next. If Nooj knew that she was actually leaving to go to Besaid to research on the Guado case, he could deny her request and have her suspended off the force. On the other hand, it would be okay to simply lie to him, right? Besides he had a lot of work to do and he would most likely never find out anyways. A little white lie never would never hurt him.
"I'm actually heading down to Besaid Isle." Nhadala began to tell him. "The Crusaders there are having trouble with some theft and I'm going to investigate on it. Besides, I haven't been down on Besaid in a while. I could use a vacation, right?"
Nooj shrugged his shoulders. "You're a hard working officer." He smiled and chuckled. "Go on. You have two weeks at the most. Any more time off after that and I'll start taking it out of your pay."
"Ha, ha, ha, you're a good guy boss." She lightly punched him on the shoulder then walked off, making her way out of the building and to the airport.
"Heh." Nooj hissed rubbing his shoulder then walked off to his office.
"Okay this is it." A hooded man began as he stood outside Braska's mansion with four tall, strong Ronso's. "You boys know what to do. Don't disappoint me."
Garik, the first Ronso began taking a step forward. "Garik won't disappoint. Garik strong."
"Heh." The man snickered. "You're all talk." He then walked away leaving the four Ronso's to raid the mansion.
As Yuna sat in Paine's room with her, they turned on the television just before six to watch their favorite show, Gone with the Chocobo's.
"I'm gonna go make some popcorn for the show. Be right back." Paine began as she jumped off her bed and walked out of the room.
As Yuna sat there doing her homework essay, suddenly the commercial that was playing on the TV cut off. Yuna looked up to see the news on. Odd, since the news is never on this channel.
"We interrupt your current show to bring you an urgent bulletin. Just reported here in downtown Zanarkand, reports of the escaped criminal from two years ago named Seymour Guado has been detected by a local coffee shop owner." The reporter began.
"What?" Yuna asked herself pushing her books aside and glued her eyes to the television.
"Only to be a rumor about Guado, residents are asked to proceed cautiously while they walk the streets. If anyone has any information, please contact the Zanarkand police immediately."
Yuna continued to stare at the screen to see Gone with the Chocobo's come on. She looked down at the floor. No…it couldn't be……Seymour is dead…he has been for two years now… She began to think to herself hoping that it was just a false rumor or some kids trying to scare the adults. Yeah it had to be that. But what choice did she have to believe? She prayed that it wasn't serious.
…Now was a good time where she could use Tidus' reassurance that everything was okay. But she was on her own now. She had to be strong.
Soon after, Paine returned with a bowl of popcorn and sat on her bed. "Yes, just in time for the show."
Yuna continued to stare at the floor then quickly snapped up and began to rush around the room gathering up her school books. "I have to go."
"Right now? But the show just started." Paine replied wondering why Yuna was so suddenly in a rush.
"I'll catch the rerun later. Sorry Paine I just gotta go." She placed her coat on and grabbed her bag and ran out.
"Uh—" Paine stammered unable to finish her sentence. "Wonder what's wrong with her?"
Yuna ran out of Paine's building and quickly began to walk down the cold snowy streets of Luca towards her place. If she walked it would take her about 20 minutes to reach her place. On the other hand, the bus would shorten that time to 7 minutes. At least it would be better then walking down the dark streets what were deserted.
She ran across the street and waited at the bus stop. She could see the bus in the far distance making its way to her. Come on…come on…hurry up, she thought. Yuna couldn't take it much longer to be standing there alone. Finally the bus came and she stepped on. Looking at all the people who were on, most of them looked up and stared at Yuna. Feeling rather uncomfortable and wildly watched, she quickly took a seat in the front of the bus and waited patiently for her stop.
Yuna stared at the floor letting her mind take over her thoughts. It couldn't be him, it just couldn't. That would be impossible. I saw him die right before my eyes. Both Tidus and I saw him die, there would be no way that he could have survived from that bullet to the head, Yuna thought. Yeah, I shouldn't be stressing out over this. After all it was just a rumor. But then why can't I stop shaking? Yuna looked up and around at the people on the bus. All had looked away from her and was now resuming their normal activities looking out the window, reading, listening too much or just spacing out. Nothing to worry about. But then as Yuna looked towards the end of the bus, there was someone there. Someone who was looking right at her. The person was wearing a hood so she couldn't see his face. The man smiled at her.
Yuna quickly looked away nervously. She didn't want to know who he was. Upon arriving at her stop, Yuna ran the buzzer and stood up, waiting at the front door of the bus. The mysterious hooded man also stood up and waiting at the back doors of the bus to get off.
As the bus came to a stop, Yuna walked off and down the street to her apartment. The man followed. Yuna quickened up her pace and noticed that he did so as well.
Who was this person? What did he want? Why was he following her? Yuna began increasingly tense. As she approached her apartment building, Yuna ran in and approached the elevator. As she looked back at the person, she watched as he walked past her apartment outside.
She sighed in relief. The elevator doors opened and she walked in seeing that two nice seniors were also riding. Yuna pressed her floor number and waited patiently. What a rough evening.
"So I was just watching the news and I saw that little report on that Guado from two years ago." The old lady began.
Yuna looked over at him.
"Yeah? Well that's nice." The man replied to her.
"Didn't your Maechen friend say something about Guado yesterday when he came back from his Zanarkand trip?"
"Ah yes, he did. Saying something that he was seen in downtown Zanarkand. But who knows, right? Maechen isn't exactly young anymore, his mind has already living out its warranty if you know what I mean."
Yuna's floor then came and she walked out. Dammit, she cursed. Okay, don't panic, don't panic. Just a coincidence. They're old, they HAVE to be talking nonsense.
As Yuna approached her apartment door, she grabbed out her keys from her pocket. With her hand shaking, it was hard to find her key. For Yevon sakes, relax, she told herself. Finally, getting the right key out, she unlocked her door and entered. Stepping in, closing and locking her door, Yuna finally felt safe. She sighed in relief, what a day.
As she took off her coat and shoes, there was a noise coming from the kitchen. Yuna's heart began to panic. Someone was in her apartment. But how'd they get in? Yuna had locked the door.
With only an umbrella around, she quickly grabbed it and prepared herself as she slowly walked over to the kitchen.
"…W-Who's there?" Yuna demanded. "Come out now!"
She saw a shadow move across the floor coming closer towards the hallway. Yuna tensed, umbrella in hand ready to take action.
Finally, the person slowly walked out into the hall revealing…herself.
Yuna gasped dropping the umbrella. "………Rikku?"
"Yunie? You okay?" She ran up to her cousin and gave her a friendly hug. "Yevon, I haven't seen you in months! How are you?"
Yuna forced a weak smile. "Okay I guess."
"That's good, but ya know…you look terrible."
"I've had a rough day." Yuna replied taking a seat.
"Well maybe you should go take a hot bath and get some rest, eh? I know! I'll make you some dinner. My Al Bhed specialty spicy chicken. You'll love it." Rikku told her then ran off to the kitchen.
Yuna relaxed. She was more then happy to have Rikku stay with her. At least she wasn't alone. She then stood up and walked off to her room where she gathered up some clothes for after her bath. But suddenly stopping, Yuna looked over at her TV. Curious, she turned it on hoping not to see anything about Seymour pop up on the news. She turned to the news channel and began to watch. As a few minutes passed by Yuna was relieved not to find anything.
She then stood up and walked over to her dresser to get her clothes.
"Coming live from Zanarkand…a horrifying tragedy." The reporter began to announce on the television. Yuna looked over and watched. "Just moments ago, President Braska Simmon's mansion was attack by four Ronso's, who, sorry to say, has murdered President Braska. A mournful moment, this is currently under heavy investigation to find the killers. The four Ronso's names are identified as Garik, Kimahri, Lian and Ayde. If anyone has information on them please report it immediately…"
"…Father…" Yuna slowly spoke staring at the television that showed the mansion live on the screen.
"Yunie, do you have any lemons?" Rikku called from the kitchen.
"…is dead………?
Rikku then came running in her room. "Yunie, did you hear me?"
Without any response, Yuna fainted to the floor, passing out.
End of chapter. What the hell is going on? Is Seymour behind this or someone else now? What will Nhadala find on Besaid? How will Yuna handle her father's death? Keep reading to find out!
