Chapter 24
'The stars that mystified
He left them all behind
And how his children cried
He left us all behind.'
-Miss Murder (AFI)
Alice stepped back, trembling despite herself. He was going to use a sword against a Songstress; just because she couldn't prove that she knew Lenne . . . She could feel her own doom approaching quickly. Getting ready to wave her hands in front of her and beg him not to take her lifelike death, she decided that that wouldn't be the best idea. Rifling through the array of songs and dances that she had in her head, there were only a few that she supposed would help her, and she probably had time to start none of them.
The man lunged, and she surprised herself with her own agility – she was able to leap out of the way just before his blade struck where she would have been. Her side hit the ground painfully as she rolled, making her grit her teeth in pain. Songstresses weren't supposed to go through this. As soon as she was on her feet again, she was waving her hands in front of her, ready to beg him not to take her life. "Please, stop! I can't prove that I know Lenne . . ." Oh Yevon, this was not going well.
"Then you obviously don't know her!" The man chanced another blow at her, a horizontal strike this time, and she stepped back quickly, avoiding death by mere centimeters.
"Please, I need to talk to Shuyin! I need to learn his story!" She was getting desperate now; she hadn't truly danced in ages, and her muscles were out of shape. From just two motions, she was already aching. If she were dancing at this moment, she wouldn't be able to keep it up for long.
The man paused. "How do you know my name?" He seemed wary, as if he were afraid that she was trying to trick him again.
Alice sighed in relief. "Lenne told me. She told me to come to you to find out your story. And she told me to ask about this." She pulled the Key of Zanarkand from the small purse that she'd slung over her shoulder. Shuyin became instantly interested. "Can you tell me anything about it?"
He held his hand out for it. "I need it. Give me it. Now." He was instantly demanding again, his other hand clutching his sword. "Give me it!" he roared when she slunk back, slightly frightened. Again, he had the weapon. He had the strength to hurt her. She only had the bargaining chip.
"I need to keep it for now . . ." Her voice faded as his temper flared, rage showing on his face. Something in her was warning her not to give it to him. She needed to keep it, needed to do something in order to keep him away from it.
"This is the last time. Give it here!" He was volatile again, just after she'd quieted him about Lenne. She stepped back farther, debating on demanding on his story or running and jumping off of the bridge section. Safety was down there, and fear was up here, but she couldn't let Lenne down. If she was anything, she was loyal.
"Please, I just need your story," she pleaded, but he was beyond words, and ready to take it by force. As he ran towards her again, she turned toward the bridge and toward the Farplane and threw it as far as she could. With satisfaction, she didn't hear it clang against the stones of the bridge. She must have secretly been a Blitzball player in her past life. As she turned back, she knew it was too late to dodge Shuyin's blow. He stabbed through her, giving her a sudden feeling of déjà vu and distinct pain as he ripped the sword back. She was unconscious before she hit the ground.
Leana leaned against the counter, hands folded in front of her mouth. Concern rolled off of her in waves, giving the whole room an urgency that hadn't been there before. Braska reached over to squeeze his wife's shoulder comfortingly. He was worried as well, although he wouldn't have told her that. It just would have increased her own anxiety.
Jecht walked over to the sink, filling a cup with water and downing most of it. "Cheer up, Le. They'll be fine. I would have been worried with her alone, but Auron'll keep her safe. It's an insult to all the years he's spent as a Guardian for you to be worrying so much."
Kara smiled slightly at Jecht's reassurance. Secretly, she was as worried about the young girl and the man as much as Leana was. "They'll come back, and then we'll all laugh about how foolish we were for worrying. That's how it'll happen." In the other room, she could hear Lenne and Dahlia talking, Dahlia's laughter beginning to grate on Kara's nerves. "Although they might come back to a dead guest," she muttered.
Jecht chuckled. "That's the spirit, honey." He heard his own son input something into the girls' conversation. Hopefully the kid could entertain until the little one and Auron came back – Leana and Kara were in no mood to amuse people.
Kara looked up hopefully. "Auron shouldn't mind much. I know Alice won't." She rubbed her forehead. "Maybe that'll make things better for them."
Leana snorted. "I'm about ready to stop being such a gracious host as well, Kara. But it sounds like we need the other woman, and I'm sure she won't take too well if we kill off her friend." She absentmindedly played with a piece of her hair until Braska quieted it with his own hand, wrapping his fingers between hers.
"Yeah, that Lenne? I don't know, we might be doing her a favor. I wouldn't want to be with Dahlia for however long they've been together," Kara responded, drumming her digits on the countertop. The cadence was fast, just as fast as her thoughts were racing through her head.
Jecht finished off his water, going back to the sink for a second cup before disdainfully looking at the liquid. "I'm used to swimming in this, not drinking it," he said, changing the subject.
Kara laughed. "I'm sure you can probably find a Blitzball Stadium somewhere around here."
"You haven't looked for one?" Jecht asked.
She shook her head. "You're looking at three other people who wouldn't be able to play Blitzball if their lives depended on it." She glanced over at Leana. "Except for maybe Le. She's still in beautiful shape."
"She definitely is," Braska murmured, pressing his lips to his wife's cheek. She softened, taking a deep breath.
"I just want them to be okay," she moaned. She put her folded hands so that they lay on the table in front of her neatly.
Jecht put his elbows on the countertop. "I think we all do, Leana. I think we all do."
A/N: Sorry about the last Author's Note - it was a little lacking. Previously, I intended for all of this to be in one chapter, but I ran out of time, and wanted to post what I had anyways. So, the quotes are from the same song, trying to link the two situations. Sorry about being so depressing - the last couple have been REALLY depressing, but I always enjoy them for some reason. I'm much better at writing action rather than romance.
How's everyone's Spring Break going? Mine's already over, sadly. I went to Mexico. How about you guys?
Read and Review! And Snacky Happiness will be yours until the next chapter!
