Chapter 10

"Astronomy Class Cancelled"

Shuyin POV:

I threw my coat to the side of the couch, slamming the apartment door behind me.

"Someone's got a lot on their mind." Wakka chimed in from across the kitchen pouring us a few drinks. He always knew when something was bothering me, but the way I acted it would be hard for anybody not to notice. I was kind of relieved to see that Lulu and Rikku weren't home yet. I needed my space, and I knew as soon as they hit the door they'd be buzzing with questions. I didn't feel like talking about Tidus. I didn't feel like talking about much of anything really.

"Wanna talk about it?" Wakka plopped down into his arm chair, sliding my glass across the coffee table.

"Is Gippal home yet?" I know that Wakka and I drove home together, and if he hadn't seen him then I shouldn't have either. Of course he wasn't, but like I said I really didn't wanna talk about it.

"Of course he's not home. All the lights were out when we walked in."

"Oh." I replied reaching for the remote. I was kind of angry that Gippal hadn't listened. I told him to drop Tidus off, and to come straight home. Of course he'd have to take the bus back since he drove off in Tidus' fancy new car, but still he should have been back by now.

"You sure you're alright?" Wakka asked kicking his shoes off.

"Yea, why?"

"Cause you've been holding the remote for like 5 minutes. We going to watch T.V. or not?" I tossed the remote to the side, and collapsed against the couch.

"I don't feel like watching anything anymore." Wakka sighed setting his drink onto a small coaster Rikku had made him. She had made us all one, but of course over time we all seemed to lose track of them.

"She's bothering you isn't she?"

"She?"

"That girl from tonight. The one Tidus was with."

"Oh, yea…what about her."

"She sure did look a lot like somebody. Can't quite put my finger on it, but she seemed so familiar." I rolled my eyes. Why did he have to beat around the bush like this? Why not just come right out and say it? Even though it put me at ease knowing that he saw it too. I really thought I was losing my mind there for a moment.

"You saw it too then eh?" I caved. I couldn't help it. Yea, I did want to talk about it. Maybe not with the others, but if it was Wakka then I could keep my mouth shut.

"I think everybody noticed. They just didn't want to say anything." Wakka took a sip from his glass shrugging his shoulders.

"Yea, I'd stomp all your asses in if you guys even dared to compare Lenne to some hoe."

"Hoe?" Wakka sat up in his chair, a look of bewilderment spread across his face.

"Yea, you don't have to be deaf to hear that's all Tidus hangs around with these days, and did you see the way she was dressed. I swear those girls have no respect for themselves."

"That maybe, but she didn't quite seem…I don't know, but if she wasn't dressed like that you would never know." Wakka replied a bit unsatisfied with my reply, and not able to completely agree with me.

"I just hope Rikku and Lulu don't kill her on the way home. They hate those types of girls." I could only imagine how they were dealing with things. I hope that girl didn't cope an attitude with either of them. It wouldn't be pretty.

"Maybe Rikku will get some fashion tips." Wakka burst out into laughter. He always had a knack for that. Laughing at his own jokes harder then the rest of us. I glanced up at the clock. Gippal had been gone for two hours.

"Where the hell is he! He should've been back by now—I swear if he doesn't walk through that door in the next 10 minutes I'm kicking him out!" I was still angry, and Wakka's smile slowly faded into a serious expression. He looked to me.

"What if…maybe…Tidus wasn't okay. You think he's alright?"

"I really could care less." I spat quickly with no hesitation. It came naturally I guess. To not care. Made it easier.

"You weren't acting that way earlier. You were ready to run those guys down and kill them yourself. Shuyin. He's still your brother—"What about Chappu!"

"What about Chappu! You're avoiding the—"Don't tell me that you've forgiven him! Forgiven him for what he did to Chappu! What he did to Lenne!"

"Lenne wouldn't want you to—"Pretend like her death didn't happen? Because it did! I will never forgive him…never. You shouldn't either."

"No Shuyin… I may never forgive him for what he's done to Chappu! Or what he did to Lenne! But he isn't my brother! He's yours…" I found myself standing, staggering away. I'll admit…I've thought a lot about Tidus over the years. How he wouldn't have gotten mixed up in the wrong crowd had I been around. How our family wouldn't seem so broken. I've thought about it a lot, but time changes everything. Nothing was the same. Nothing was ever going to be the same. I turned back to face Wakka. Who was sitting on the edge of his seat waiting for my response. I lowered my hand to my glass, lifted it, and brushed passed him into the kitchen. This discussion was over.

"Wakka, my brother died along time ago. He's gone. The only family I have left are the people in this house. That's how it's been for so long now, and that's how it's going to stay. Please don't talk about Tidus anymore." I threw my glass into the sink, and stormed off to my room with a heavier heart then before.

Yuna POV:

I rubbed my elbows miserably. They had practically thrown me out of the car. I couldn't help but think about Tidus, and if he was okay. This had been only my first night in Zanarkand, and to be truthful I really didn't look forward to the rest if they all ended like this.

"Good for nothing heels…" I sat on the curb pulling at the straps, tugging the heels away from my tender feet. They were sore. My whole body was sore, and it just couldn't get any worse.

"You know…you look a lot like her…"

I recalled from earlier on that night. The man with Tidus' eyes had said that I looked a lot like someone. Whom, I had no idea, but it was almost as if it pained him to look at me. I felt kind of hurt for some reason, the feeling you get when your unwanted. I felt like crying. I was alone…again. Maybe I should just go back to Bevelle. My dad wouldn't complain much, and my friends would be happy to see me again. Maybe I should just go pack my bags and leave straight away, but for some reason something was holding me back. I was so reserved, so put together, decisions came easily to me, and yet here I was not being able to decide on whether to sit or stand.

"Ugh! Who do I look like!" I discarded my heel with such force it landed across the street and into the wet lawn. I was angry. There were so many questions and nobody was here to explain them to me. It made me rather annoyed. I raised my other heel, ready to catapult it when I realized that they weren't mine. Nothing on me was mine. They belonged to my roommate, Shelinda. I stood, and staggered across the empty moonlit street to retrieve the missing heel to my pair, and made my way back to the dormitories. I could only imagine the look on her face when she saw me. I had more then ruined her clothes, and now her heels were more then damaged beyond repair. Would she be mad? Maybe she'd kick me out of the dorm. I had no idea how Shelinda would act. She seemed so nice, and gentle, but I hadn't exactly torn the room to shreds when I entered the room either.

"She is really going to kill me…" I thought walking up the steps barefooted, holding the heels by their straps in my hand. I stepped onto the landing.

"Two more flights to go," I thought "Two more flights of lovely stairs." All I knew is if I had it my way I wasn't going to walk anywhere for weeks! Before I knew it I had arrived to dormitory 4A, twisted the doorknob and stepped inside. I waited for her to explode. I knew it was coming as she jerked her head toward me in surprise.

"Yuna!" I couldn't tell whether she was mad, or not but she lunged toward me.

"Shelinda, about the clothes…I am so sorry, but I promise to pay you back—

Her arms were wrapped tightly around me.

"I was so worried about you! Don't worry about anything! I was searching for you at the party! I was so afraid that I couldn't find you!" She released her firm grip, stepping a few feet back.

"Oh, yea…about that. Listen, I'm really sorry about leaving and not telling you. Actually what happened—"You're Tidus Landes' cousin! I couldn't believe it!" Great I thought, this lie was going to follow me everywhere.

"Actually Shelinda, the truth is—"I couldn't believe Dona came up to me! I didn't even know she knew who I was! She heard I was looking for you and told me not to worry, that Tidus your cousin had taken you home! Imagine how surprised I was! The new transfer! My roommate was Tidus' cousin!" I couldn't help but blush, when someone was talking so highly of me, but she had it all wrong. I wanted to tell her the truth. I really did, but I felt obligated to uphold this mask until I could talk to Tidus. Until I could figure everything out between us. He had said I was his cousin for a reason, and I had to trust him. It was hard, but I had to.

"Listen Yuna, don't worry about these clothes. Honestly, they don't matter." She smiled warmly, "Here, let me run you a bath. I'm sure your tired." She turned before I could stop her, and burst into the bathroom overjoyed. She hadn't asked what happened, or why I looked the way I did. All she could think about was that I was the popular boy's cousin, and people who hadn't noticed her before were going to see her quite clearly now. This is definitely what I hadn't wanted. Before I knew it I collapsed onto my bed, reaching for the phone. It was high time that I gave my dad a call. No telling how worried he must be.

The alarm rang through my ears earlier then I had expected that morning. I sat up, and outstretched my arms yawning. I had the worst headache, and my body ached all over.

"Hot baths sure do relax you," I thought rubbing my arms, "But it hits you ten times harder in the morning." I felt so weak, but somehow managed to scramble out of bed, and to my closet when I remembered I hadn't unpacked the night before. Digging through my suitcase I found a presentable white top and blue jeans. I slipped into them and couldn't have felt more like myself. I threw my tennis shoes on, brushed my teeth and hair, and grabbed my bag.

"Shelinda must have already left for class." I thought stepping outside into the hall. Digging in my bag I found my schedule, unfolded it, and tried to read it through my still weary eyes.

"Astronomy 101" I read and couldn't help but smile. Astronomy had always been my favorite subject, and most enjoyable. My dad and I used to star gaze when I was younger. It used to be his and my mothers favorite past time.

"It isn't until 11:00" I frowned, "It's only 10:00, so I have an hour. What am I going to do until then?" I figured I'd have a look around the campus, and become a bit more familiar with it than only knowing my way to the dorm and back to the street. My stomach growled.

"Maybe I better find the cafeteria first." I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday, and all the events last night. Food was definitely last on my list. I finally stumbled into the cafeteria after asking about twenty people who all looked at me strangely.

"As if they've never been lost before." I huffed, and groaned for a while in the line, and finally grabbed a tray. There were hardly any seats, but I managed to find an empty table near the back that overlooked the campus.

"Who was stupid enough not to grab these?" I sat down, and not a moment later I discovered the reason nobody was sitting here. They probably didn't plan on dieing. The cafeteria became eerily quite, and I looked up to about a hundred faces staring at me quietly. Their eyes asking, almost as if wondering on whether or not I had written my will yet?

"Your in my seat." I looked up to my left. A girl was standing there , her tray in her hands, eyeing my chair. I looked back to the crowd of eyes who were no longer trying to pay attention.

"I'm sorry, but there are four other seats. I'm sure you can take one of those. I'm not bothering anybody—"You're bothering me." She wasn't going to give up. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a pink metallic headband, here manicured nails were gripping her tray as though she were ready to throw it.

"Look, there are four other seats. I don't see why you can't take one of those." I knew how to deal with these types of bullies, and I wasn't going to move. No matter how much I was actually trembling inside. I couldn't give in. If I did…I'd never be able to stand up for myself.

"Those seats are taken." I looked over to the empty chairs, and back into the vixens murderous eyes.

"Yuna! There you are!" I looked up to find Shelinda running toward me frantically, "Yuna I have a seat for you over there." She pointed across the cafeteria to an empty chair and smiled toward me hopefully.

"I'm sorry Shelinda, but I am quite content with where I am sitting. I'm not moving." I readjusted in my seat, and opened my milk. Too bad I didn't get the chance to drink it. The blonde vixen with an attitude and imaginary friends had smacked it from my hand. It hit the ground with a thud. I sighed at the thought of how this was going to end.

"Leblanc…she's new here. She doesn't know—"Who are you, and why are you talking to me?" The girl I knew to be Leblanc spat dumbly to Shelinda. Shelinda smiled nervously, opening her mouth to speak.

"Oh, well my name's—"No, you don't understand. I don't care who you are. What I want to know is are you going to remove this girl from my seat or not." I was very angry at this point. What gave her the right to talk to Shelinda like that? Who did she think she was? Shelinda stumbled nervously to my side, grabbing my bag, and whispering into my ear.

"Can't you just move over there with me? Please?" It was pretty difficult to turn that voice down. I didn't want this vixen here to think I was afraid, but I didn't want Shelinda to have any extra problems because of me either. I grabbed my bag away from her grasp instead.

"Shelinda, why don't you have a seat? Ask one of Leblanc's invisible friends to move." Shelinda's face was spread with fear at this point, and she stared awkwardly between Leblanc and I, not sure of what to do. Leblanc impatiently pushed her aside and stepped before me.

"If you don't move I'll make sure you regret it." She seem to say the word 'regret' through gritted teeth for effect, but I was hardly effected.

"Leblanc! Hey, what are you doing over here?" I heard a familiar voice over her shoulder. Leblanc turned to speak when I saw her.

"If she doesn't move I'm going to really hurt her. I was going to let her go when…when…" She looked toward Shelinda trying to remember her name, "When that girl told me she was new, but you wouldn't believe the mouth she has on her." She was speaking to Dona, Tidus' girlfriend. A smiling Dona stepped forward.

"Your damn right she does." Dona said proudly, eyeing me down, "Must run in the family." She winked warmly toward me before turning back to Leblanc. Dona lifted her tray and took her seat across from me without a care in Spira. Leblanc however was unsatisfied with Dona's reaction entirely.

"Dona! What's wrong with you? She disrespected me! Disrespected us! You're just going to let her sit there?" Dona smiled, biting into her apple.

"Of course. She deserves that seat more then you." Leblanc threw her tray down onto the table.

"When Seymour hears about this he'll put you out for sure!" Leblanc eyed Dona angrily. Dona gripped her apple tightly, pushing her seat out to stand.

"You watch your mouth Leblanc—"Ladies, Ladies. What's the problem here?" I looked up to his frosty, cold tone, that had chilled my bones and looked away. Seymour Guado. He must have eyed me instantaneously cause my name leapt from his mouth next.

"Yuna, you okay?" He asked tenderly looking from me to my splattered milk carton and back, "Has someone been messing with you?" He asked gingerly. I shook my head not wanting to cause anymore problems.

"Did I miss something here?" Leblanc looked around clueless as ever, and back to Seymour awaiting his reply. He took Leblanc's milk carton from her tray and placed it on mine. Taking his tray he sat next to Dona just as careless as she had. Dona placed her spoon to the side of her tray not being able to bear Leblanc's ignorance a second longer.

"She's Tidus' cousin. She just transferred from Bevelle yesterday. Isn't it great? It's like we have a new little sister to protect." She beamed toward me, and returned to her breakfast. Leblanc eyed me cautiously debating on whether it was all just some huge joke they were setting on her, and was unsure how to act.

"Are you going to sit or not?" Seymour spoke rather irritated with her actions. She slumped into her chair rather embarrassed, and didn't speak another word. Seymour's cell rang, and he left to answer it when Tidus and another guy had approached the table. His eyes fell to me, and I held my breath. I hadn't seen him since last night. Since we were attacked.

"Hey guys?" The new character I hadn't been introduced to had spoken, glaring at me awkwardly, "You all realize there is an extra person here…right?" He looked confused and waited for someone to explain. Leblanc piped in annoyed with his ignorance. Which was kind of ironic to me for how she acted earlier.

"She's Tidus' cousin. So watch what you say, Seymour is likely to take your head off." She concluded a bit sarcastically biting into her toast, "I mean, how was I to know? Nobody had even told me." Tidus eventually took his seat allowing his stunned facial expression to fade.

"Oh, well I'm Nooj. Didn't know Tidus had a cousin though." He replied warmly shaking my hand. I smiled and went for my books.

"Where are you going?" Dona asked curiously, looping her arm with Tidus'.

"Oh, well my friend is waiting." I looked up to Shelinda who was still standing a few feet away, "I think I'll go sit with her." I pushed my chair back and stood.

"Don't worry about it Yuna," Nooj said as he stood gripping two chairs from underneath two unsuspecting students, "She can sit with us. Any friend of yours is a friend of ours." I was ready to decline, but Shelinda seized the moment, and took a seat next to me. Dona laughed and whispered something into Tidus' ear. He had refused to look at me all morning. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. I mean it was his lie that had pulled me into all of this. I was just about to stand up and tell everybody the truth when Seymour rejoined us.

"Hey, Tidus. That was one of Barthello's boys. You and Nooj still down for tonight?" My eyes shot toward Tidus, and his to mine when he nodded a yes. Things were starting to make sense. I figured Tidus hadn't told Seymour about the events of last night, and second Tidus was planning on following through with something much more dangerous. Seymour smiled placing his cell back into his pocket.

"Yuna." It was Tidus' first words to me, and they felt uneasy.

"Yes?" I asked quietly not taking my eyes from his.

"Let's go, I'll walk you to class." He stood, Dona's arms falling from his, but her smile was unfading.

"That's right Tidus. You'd better take care of her, make sure she stays out of trouble—"I'll take her." Seymour cut in, standing up from his chair. The groups eyes turned to him.

"You and Nooj have to get ready for tonight. I'll make sure she gets to class alright." Tidus slowly fell back into his seat in silent agreement. Seymour smiled most pleasantly and took my hand in his. Tidus mouthed a 'go' to me and we exited the cafeteria. Silent whispers spread among the campus and I was positive that this wasn't what I wanted. How long would this lie keep me trapped in its web. What was Tidus planning on doing later tonight? What happened last night? Who were those people? All these questions were running through my head with no one to answer them.

"Hold it right there Guado!" I turned around to the sudden voice, and Seymour let his palm fall from mine. I held my breath. The ones from last night were standing before me. I looked up to Seymour confused, but he was already walking forward.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Tidus' high school buddies. I'm pretty sure you guys are at the wrong campus. Lose your way?" They didn't seem hostile, but didn't look like they were in the mood for small talk either. I noticed a few of the ones I saw last night were missing. The one with Tidus' eyes, and the older girl named Lulu weren't to be seen.

"You have something we want." Seymour looked intrigued.

"Oh, and what would that be?"

"Her." Rikku pointed to me. Seymour turned back to me, but I shrugged my shoulders just as confused as he was.

"Sorry, but she is with me, and she isn't going anywhere with the likes of you." I staggered back into the same familiar, unrelenting arms as before. Now I knew where Lulu had been hiding.

"Hey!" I struggled against her grip turning the attention to myself.

"You have questions, we have answers…" She whispered into my ear killing my resistance entirely. We must have been causing a lot of commotion because I could hear yells from inside the cafeteria. Moments later Dona, Nooj, Leblanc, and Tidus were all running for the outside.

"Now Rikku!" Gippal yelled running past us covering his eyes. Lulu swept a free palm over my eyes, and pulled me backward. I heard a small explosion and Lulu's palm was outlined in a bright white light. Before I knew it I was sitting in the backseat of a car doing about 80 miles per hour down the street. I didn't know what was going on, but I did know one thing.

"There goes Astronomy."

(A/N) Another update! Like I promised! Anyways, thanks for all the great reviews last chapter! You have no idea how much they meant to me!" But wow, talk about a surprise visit from the gang! LOL! Oh, before anybody asks yes Rikku threw and Albhed flash bomb. Cause she's awesome! LOL! Okay, don't know when I'll be able to update again, but I really hoped you enjoyed this! Okay, so review please!