DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A WORK OF FAN-FICTION, NOTHING MORE. FINAL FANTASY X BELONGS TO SQUARE ENIX.
NEGOTIATION & PERSUASION
A Final Fantasy X fan-fic
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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As the clerk at Seymour's office had said, Lord Seymour had to report to Bevelle for a session. It was about the increasing Sin attacks, and the disturbing disappearance of numerous Summoners all over Spira.
"The meeting has commenced. Maester Mika will now require your attention." Announced Kelk Ronso, taking his place at the sombre court of Yevon.
All heads turned to ancient Maester Mika wearing his usual dark grey high priest's cap with robes, and he crept onto the stage smiling solemnly. He began, his aged voice unsteady, wavering but wise and purposeful. "As all know, there have been increasing attacks near the shores. Most likely due to the trend of Summoners going missing, Sin has gotten bold of late. The public has been raving with gossip about the calm being out of reach, and that the Temple of Yevon is doing nothing about the situation. Allowing the people to be in peril."
Maester Mika cleared his throat, and continued again. "The case is presently being investigated by our Warrior Monks and the Crusaders. In time being, we need a diversion for Spira's masses. We will be doing a second operation Mi' 'ihen."
Before those assembled at the meeting could protest further, Maester Mika waved his pale hand for order and silence. "We have no choice. The Monks and Crusaders need more time to solve the case. Before Yevonite protesters start causing complications for Yevon. Maester Kinoc has already made arrangements with the Al Bhed regarding the machina needed. Operation Mi' 'ihen Session 2 will take place two months from now."
Seated in the luscious stands of the court were Seymour and Yuna. Yuna was frowning.
The High Priest then began his usual formal and serious speech on the spiral of death in Spira, which took no longer than one sleep-inducing hour or so. If it did not happen, Yuna would have held onto her belief that Seymour was joking.
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"False hope for the people of Spira." Said Seymour to Yuna, who was sitting with him in his private Bevelle Maester's Chambers. It was in the late afternoon.
"Does this happen often, as in, deceiving the people I mean?" Asked Yuna, in an unsettled manner looking out of through the open and airy balcony.
"It does." Confirmed Seymour, frowning. "I can tell the truth of it hurts you."
"More people are going to die!" Whispered Yuna. Shaking her pretty head sadly.
"I myself am speechless, forgive me Yuna. I am afraid that there is nothing more we can do." Gently he put his forearm over hers with amity and offered, "Would visiting the greenhouse of Highbridge raise your spirits?" He so wanted to fold his arms around her, but he knew otherwise.
She looked up at him and smiled, "You're so sweet Seymour."
"Of course I am."
"Seymour!" She laughed and smacked his shoulder at his jest.
At the Greenhouse he sat on a marble bench and watched her, frolicking about the beautiful flowers and exotic colourful fungi. The more he watched the more longing he felt for her, the more ascending pain and discontentment he felt in his disordered conscience. He could never have her, he closed his eyes in inflamed guilt for a moment and bit hard the satin cuff of his overcoat.
"Seymour, are you okay?" He heard her sweet voice next to him, and the weight of her hand on his arm.
He let go of the cloth between his teeth, and lied quietly with sound affliction. "I'm fine." He smelt her, feeling her hand on his arm, there was concern and platonic tenderness. Platonic tenderness.
"What's wrong?" She asked, stroking the thick blue hair at the back of his bowed head.
He sharply wanted to tell her that everything was wrong. That he was in distressed suffering because she did not return his relatively unconcealed feelings towards her. That he felt like dying, and such a fool. That he should have just carried out his plans to obliterate Spira. That all this was -
He steeled his appearance and looked up at her rather emotionlessly, and squeezed her hand. "Nothing is the matter. I am fine my lady... I assure you."
"Ah my son." Came an old voice some distance away. It was Maester Mika, holding an ornate, and finely crafted silver watering can. "How have you and your wife fared?" Standing next to him was a sweaty Maester Kinoc.
Yuna and Seymour stood up on their feet and bowed in respect to revered Mika. "We have been fine your grace." Replied Yuna, holding her tall husband's clawed hand.
"Wonderful to hear that from you Lady Yuna." Said Maester Mika, smiling and walking past her to water a short stumpy bush that was bearing blue berries and pink flowers. Because he was already that way with age, he did not need to bend to water the plants.
Seymour watched the old man in blissful content, watering his plants. He wondered about the old man's thoughts. As if Mika could read his mind, he asked breaking the silence. "Seymour my boy, is there something troubling you? It is unlike you to remain silent in my presence."
Kinoc rolled his eyes and said, "He is too proud to admit any of his numerous troubles my Lord."
Maester Mika took his time with his watering can. He turned for a moment to face Kinoc and said, "As are you." He emptied the can while Kinoc balked audibly. Mika hobbled over to Seymour.
"My Lord." Seymour knelt to make himself level with the feeble High Maester.
"Come and find me later before dinner at the halls. I will be here in the greenhouse of Highbridge.
"Yes Lord Mika."
"You may rise, and be as you were." The old man went to a faucet nearby and filled his watering can. As always he spoke in a leisurely pace. "Dear girl, what have you been doing since you have moved in with your husband?"
Yuna went to Mika's side to speak to him, while he tended to his plants. "I have since become a choir teacher." Seymour kept at her side, holding her soft hand.
"How lovely." Replied Mika, his white moustache and beard stretching into what Yuna thought looked like a smile.
"You have to teach me sometime lady Yuna." Laughed Kinoc.
"Of course." Bowed Yuna. She felt the grip of Seymour's hand suddenly tighten around hers, and she looked up at him reassuringly.
"Sometime tonight Yuna?" Asked Kinoc, mopping sweat from his brow.
Seymour clenched his jaw and corrected, "Lady Yuna, Kinoc."
Kinoc must have seen the look of venom in Seymour's eyes and quickly excused himself. Realising that he was pushing his luck, he said to Yuna "See you later in the evening after dinner Lady Yuna!"
As round-faced Kinoc disappeared, Seymour leaned to Yuna's ear and whispered, "Forgive me for being an over-protective husband."
Yuna blushed and smiled shyly, when the wizened voice of Maester Mika sounded. He was holding a blossom in his wrinkled hands, admiring its natural beauty. He asked, "My dear girl, have you danced with Lord Seymour yet?"
Yuna looked at up Seymour, puzzled and then again at Maester Mika. She saw a shadow of a smile grace Seymour's features before it returned to its usual arid impassive state.
"So you have not." Smiled Mika gently, the silver watering can dangling from his hand.
"Seymour, you never told me you dance!" She said to him.
Lord Seymour seemed tongue tied for a moment, before he blinked and answered, "I thought you knew since I was Summoner like you..."
"I thought you just knew how to perform sendings! Not all Summoners dance." Returned Yuna, bumping her head onto his shoulder.
Seymour said bitterly and yet, at the same time in an eloquently playful way, "And it must be so unexpected. Yes, I know Yuna I am so disgusting, cruel and uncultured a man. It is a wonder that you are not prostrate with laughter."
Mika walked forward and said at Seymour's sarcasm, "Back to normal again my boy." Then he turned and slowly left, leaving Yuna and Seymour alone.
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"So... will you show me? We've got plenty of time before dinner."
The two of them were completely alone. Before them was an oval pool of still water, the base of the structure was obsidian, making the surface of the still water appear like the flawless crystalline face of a mirror.
"I shall, if I could hold onto you to steady myself." Seymour amorously pulled her to the water with him.
It was a Summoner's sending pool. Not all the time did Summoners dance to send the dead, but occasionally they also danced to entertain and for recreation.
Yuna mused to him, "There's always a catch isn't there?"
He did not answer that, but dotingly led her onto the clear unmoving water. Both concentrated, as if they were going to really perform a sending. Thus it was magic and spirit that allowed Summoners the legendary ability to walk on water.
Seymour whispered, "Pity. No staff today. Have you done this before?" His hands straying from her smooth shoulders, to her soft slender hands.
Yuna nodded, and ran one hand on his shoulder, the other clasped in his. The familiar feeling of weightlessness came over her, while they slowly but steadily stepped toward the centre of the pool.
At the centre, they got used to each other's spirit and will power. Yuna trembled slightly for the first few seconds. He felt heavy with dormant hate and stubborn violence, and she was acutely reminded of his power along with his volatile temper. She could feel it in his hand, although he only gently held hers. It was just there, there in front of her. She felt that dark attraction that she had for him grow again. It crept back onto her... stealing into her heart and mind.
Dance on the water they did.
He looked into her eyes, allowing her to wield this invisible power she had over him. Ever since the first time he saw her that power was there, and now it was getting stronger. Seymour felt her calming compassion, her pure unconditional love for the people. Her serenity and balance of mind. It was wonderful, he felt as though all around he was wrapped in her emotion and tender soul. At the same instant he sadly felt her intimidation. With his eyes half-closed, he led her in starting the dance.
They turned once, then twice. Beneath their feet, the water quickly responded to their steps. Tremulously it carried them upwards, folding and cascading into itself. As they danced, the water was no longer silent, its voice could be heard as every droplet fell back into it, and as it foamed new ripples, continuing to be manipulated by their magic.
Although the water was splashing around them and washing over their ankles, they remained dry without getting wet at all. Although they could feel the remitting coolness of the water, lapping around them... with that distinct rushing sound of waves.
Tentatively they danced, yet almost losing themselves in the parading and cogent sensations of each other's spirit and life essence. Yuna felt as though she was dancing with a magnificent and untamed fiend. She had never danced with such a strong partner before.
The characteristic rushing sound of the sparkling water was their music and accompaniment. Seymour found his eyes adoring her pink lips, painfully he looked away.
As the waves slid under their feet, Yuna felt as though she could no longer hold up against his energy, and was relieved to find that he noticed. Thoughtfully he steered her towards the edge of the pool to stop with their exhausting waltz.
"Are you all right?" He asked, concerned looking at her closely. She was sweating. With a claw, he brushed a lock of her brunette hair out of her eyes.
"I'm fine. Just tired." She replied breathing deeply. She was still recovering, she could still feel his intensity pressing on her shoulders. "When we danced, I... why do you have guilt in your spirit?" Her heart was pounding, as she felt the last of his overwhelming magic evaporate from her. It was breath-taking, his anger marked in her mind, his passion proven and carved into her soul.
They made their way to a bench and sat. A thousand possible answers to that question raced through his mind. He had better just logically leave out the part about desperately wanting to die because she did not feel for him. He sighed and told her, feeling arrows of nervous guilt punching through him that he had to keep things from her, "I just feel it is better for everybody to die and end all of this."
She was looking at him intently, and he could tell she did not favour what he said.
"Forgive me Yuna, I cannot help but. I am too fixed in my opinions. I am so confused!"
"Seymour, it'll be okay in time. Really it will." She said to him gently, a steady and sincere quality in her voice calmed the unsteadiness of his emotions.
"I am an idiot Yuna."
"You know that's not true Seymour. Your guilt will go away in time." She said, her eyes meeting his. "What time is it now, we should be going to the hall for dinner."
"Yes, we should before we are late." As they got up he lied to her to calm her, "Yes. I'll be fine."
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After dinner as he had promised Maester Mika, Seymour went to seek him out in the famous greenhouse of Highbridge. Yuna said she would be having a private lesson with Kinoc, much to Seymour's resentment.
"There is so much conflict within you my son." Commented Mika, his hands together.
"Does it seem so obvious Sir?" Seymour returned, and bowed at the sight of him in the shimmering pale blue light from the water above.
"Painfully my child." Mika replied, looking up at the much younger Maester. "I know you are one, especially to keep secrets. What ails you?"
Seymour felt his heart jump and shameful tears pricked his eyes. Quickly he glanced away.
"You look as though you have the weight of the whole world on your shoulders my boy."
Seymour continued to look at the cultured greenery, and the lights of the vast city in the distance through the glass of the giant greenhouse. His trembling mouth sealed shut.
"Could you at least enlighten me as to what you are feeling young man? Sadness, anger, envy?"
"I am feeling guilt my Lord." Seymour said, fighting to keep his tears in check.
"One only feels guilt, when one feels that one has done something wrong." Mika said, with his fingers on his white beard. "Can you reverse whatever it is that you have done?"
Seymour said through an unsteady breath, wracked with mad emotion. "I-I doubt so my Lord." He could not look straight at Mika.
Maester Mika shook his head, and asked. "What is it? You have not committed murder again or some unspeakable sin."
In Seymour's mind, he did. He planned this from the day he returned from Baaj. To make use of his power, influence, and to finally bring an end to fear and pain. There would be no more fighting, Sin or wars between people. All strife and troubles on Spira forever. To save the people from Sin. And now he could not do it, he had promised Yuna. He opened his mouth and said, "I am just lost Lord Mika."
"There, there." Said Mika gently, patting Seymour's back. "Bear in mind that things don't always go according to plan. Adapt to your situation, whatever it is."
The half-Guado closed his eyes and nodded. Now he felt that his greater purpose was shrouded in mystery.
"Help me with my gardening?" Prompted Mika.
Seymour nodded in consent.
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"Maester Kinoc, I don't think we should be doing this." Yuna protested, stepping nervously away from him in the dark, the lights from the city shining in the night.
"Come now Yuna, Seymour isn't here. What he doesn't know won't kill him." Kinoc simpered, advancing closer to Yuna. His hands were fidgeting. It was obscene. "No one will see us here."
She backed up until her back was against the cold metal rail of Kinoc's balcony. She frantically yelled for help, instantly regretting coming here alone.
"Shut up!" Kinoc cast silence on the summoner.
Now without her magic she was was even more helpless. She closed her eyes and concentrated.
"Summoning I see? Not tonight."
Yuna felt her wrist forcibly held, and Kinoc's hand ripping the thin cloth of her dress, the cloth tearing dangerously close to her heaving bosom. She tried to push him away, but his strength prevented that.
"That homosexual Seymour can't give you what I can!"
She thrashed her head to the side, struggling because she felt his filthy mouth make contact with her fine neck. In pure disgust she fought a losing battle of resistance.
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For about an hour Seymour helped Mika do his therapeutic gardening and replied when Mika asked what he thought about the lush garden. Then, all of a sudden he felt that something was wrong. Very wrong.
He put his hand on his tight chest, and stood there like that for a moment. It was corroding poisonously right into him. For the past weeks, he had gotten closer to Yuna. He sensed... she was in discomfort somewhere.
For the second time that awful evening he heard Mika ask, his voice laden with fatherly concern, "Are you fine my son?"
He replied, his gaze wild and frantic. "My wife."
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"Lord Seymour, you are not allowed through." Stammered a guard nervously, "Maester Kinoc has ordered us to make sure he and lady Yuna are not to be disturbed."
Seymour was highly agitated. "Get out of the way!"
"Sir, I can't-"
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Barked Seymour flinging the guard aside onto the marble floor. The guard had the breath knocked out of him.
Seymour's head in a whirl, he looked left and right. She was here, somewhere around here. Frustratingly close. As the eternal seconds went by he felt worse. He spread his long arms and screamed, "YUNA! Where are you?!"
He heard a muffled scream, worried out of his mind he ran down the hallway, and rammed his shoulder against the gilded white door in his way.
With the door down, he stood there in the threshold. He saw through Kinoc's quarters his Yuna struggling in the lecherous Kinoc's grasp, at the open air of the balcony. Fear and at the same time relief, shining in her mismatched-coloured eyes at the timely appearance of her husband.
He did not need to tell Kinoc to let Yuna go. When Maester Kinoc saw him there, he automatically did. As she fell onto the carpeted floor trying to cover herself in humiliation, Kinoc stared slack-jawed at Seymour in horrified surprise.
As Seymour strode forward, he was the very picture of malice. Kinoc watched wordlessly, as Seymour breathed through his mouth, his hands clenched and his knuckles white. The only thing that kept him in control was Yuna. He could sense that she needed him.
He went over to her, and looked at her. His blazing eyes trailed to where her fine dress was torn. He shrugged off his long velvet overcoat and covered her to keep her modesty, then easily picked her up and carried her petrified form. Getting a better grip, he turned and walked away as if Kinoc was not there.
From where Seymour had broken in, shouts came in from the hallway. Guards were pouring into the room. One of the bolder guards stepped forward and told Seymour to stop.
Coldly and emotionlessly, Seymour said with his wife in his arms, his voice like ice. "If you know what is good for you back off fodder."
Ignoring the publicly shocked stares he was getting, he curtly ordered for the fastest chocobo carriage.
Inside he held her against his tattooed chest protectively. Whispering again and again that he was here ("I have you now Yuna."), growing more angry because he noticed that she could not speak because she had silence cast onto her.
Finally she whispered, her voice hoarse from the spell. "How did you know?"
"I felt your spirit. As your half-breed husband I was inclined to know." He pulled her closer even though she was already on his lap, with her face resting on his chest he rubbed the small of her bare back. "If I were pure Guado, I would have felt your distress earlier, and none of this would not have happened." He said through clenched teeth. When he felt her shiver, he pulled his coat over her.
Holding onto Yuna who was dry-eyed and in shock, they returned to Guadosalam. By the time they reached the manor, it was well past midnight.
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"Goodness, what happened here?!" Tromell asked, staring at Seymour who was carrying his half-naked sleeping wife.
Pescal immediately left the room for his medical equipment. His footsteps echoing in the lamp-lit gloom.
Seymour was glaring, staring fiercely ahead into space. Coldly he replied, "Need I state the obvious Tromell?"
Tromell shook his head, confused. The only thing clear to him was his master's rage and boiling animus.
"I LET HER GET MOLESTED!" Bellowed Seymour, walking through the silent hall, up the curved stairs and into the master bedroom. There was the sound of the large door closing, and then Tromell heard no more.
Pescal returned to the hall near the front door of the dark manor. With his medical things he asked softly, just above a whisper his purple eyes faintly visible in the poor light. "Tromell what happened?"
Tromell, already who had naturally sloping green brows that gave him a sorrowful expression looked painfully worried. He replied to Pescal, "I fear that an old demon has come to haunt our master. His insecurity of being what he refers to as being incomplete."
"Yevon forbid." Pescal muttered, his eyes downcast. "Did you-"
"Yes, I'm afraid I did. Even from that space I scented him." Tromell sighed, recalling former memories of a child Seymour screaming at the top of his lungs for all the world to hear that he was an utter freak.
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In the dim room, he carefully laid her onto the bed. Hating himself he watched her shift in her torn dress, and whisper, "... Seymour...?"
"I'm here." He said in a low tone, sat next to her and helped her remove her footwear, so that she may sleep in comfort. When he saw that she tried to get up off the soft bedding, he pushed her down trying cover her with the blanket.
"I want to take off and throw away this dress. I don't want to remember."
He could only tell so much from how she smelt, he got angrier when she saw her quivering. He could not fight the question he wanted to ask. "How far did that bastard get with you?"
She reached for him, and felt his thigh through his thick clothing. "Not far, you saved me before the point of no return."
"If I had come later, I shudder to think about what he could have done to you... I-"
"But you came... You came, it's all that matters... It's over now."
"Yuna..." Seymour persisted in anguish, wringing his fingers, violently clutching the blanket in his grasp.
"Seymour... I really need to get rid of this dress." Her soft soprano voice laced with discomfort. She shook his thigh, "We could bathe and then we could go to sleep. It's been a long day."
Silence.
She looked up weakly at him and whispered, "It's okay, it's over."
"I feel like I want to kill him."
••••••••••
End Of Chapter Fourteen
This chapter is dedicated to all you gentle peeps out there who
reviewed! (Anon. first then fellow site members!)
Thanks for showing love by answering my plea in
the last chapter!!
ANONYMOUS: :) (You know who you are with the smilies!), Random 2008, "- ..."
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MEMBERS:JCKV fan, Lone-Chan/Foreveralone16, DarkAngelEriko, Darkangel Guard, Bahamutchar!
And before chapter 13 (Yes, you peeps still matter): DestinyStarX12, Manga Girl number 6, frailynxdresden!
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