Song of the Heart
Track 2- Song of Silence
By Kuroi Tenshi Yuna
March 2003
Disclaimer: Yuna, Braska, and all Final Fantasy X characters belong to Squaresoft, not me!
Note: This is an Alternate Universe fanfic. I have altered all of the plot, relationships, worlds, and characters of Final Fantasy X to fit my story! Also, I have written an extra note at the end of this story explaining how I got the idea for this fic in the first place and how it connects to Final Fantasy X-2! ^^
Everything was still in the house. A young girl was curled up on her bed, sleeping soundly and peacefully. Rays of sunlight streamed into the cozy room, warming the girl with its comforting touch. The only sound that could be heard was the girl's soft breathing… until the loud buzz of her alarm clock went off.
A hand groggily reached out to turn it off. Just a few more minutes… It'll be soo cold when I get out of bed. And besides, I was having such a wonderful dream…
I dreamt of a nice boy with beautiful blue eyes…
She smiled as she tried to remember her dream. It was fuzzy though… she couldn't really recall what happened in it, but she could feel the same emotions that surged through her during it.
He was such a sweet boy.
I want to see him again. Maybe if I just shut my eyes and dream…
Wait a sec… Isn't today...?
With a sudden excited leap up from her pearl white sheets and blanket, Yuna hopped out of bed. Her lips turned into a huge grin as she remembered… "Today is my birthday!" She hurriedly made her bed and proceeded to the bathroom to wash up.
She combed her short brown hair as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I want to look nice today. Rikku and her daddy are going to meet Daddy, Mommy, and me for dinner today, I think." It's been a week since she last saw them at the family gathering at the beach. Rikku and her father were staying in Bevelle for a few weeks on vacation, which was really nice since Yuna didn't really get to see Rikku all that much since she lives so far away, in Home.
She smiled at her reflection. "I'm going to be 10 today!" She twisted her finger around a lock of her dark brown hair pensively.
"I wonder if my life has changed?"
She suddenly noticed how empty it was in the house. There was no crackling and sizzling of the eggs frying in the hot pan, no sweet aroma from the buttermilk pancakes dripping with boysenberry syrup. There was no soft chuckling from her mother as she read the funny pages of the morning newspaper, no giggling from her mother when she watched her husband try to flip the pancakes, unsuccessfully, by tossing them in the air.
Everything seemed so… still.
The young girl decided to go downstairs and see what was going on. She crept down the soft cerulean carpeted steps towards the living room, not sure of what she'd find…
Yuna stopped in her tracks. There was no one there. Her mother wasn't in her usual spot, curled up lazily on the soft couch, reading interesting parts of the newspaper to her father. The girl turned her gaze towards the kitchen to find nothing as well. Her father wasn't clad in his yellow apron, whistling as he cooked breakfast for his family.
She didn't know what to do. Her parents were always there every morning, whether it be on the weekdays before school or on the weekends. But not today…
She sighed. Where is everyone? Did they leave me?
The young girl walked over to the large window in the living room and stared outside blankly.
Yuna's one emerald and one sapphire eye began to shake with tears. Doesn't anyone care about me?
Is this what it feels like to be… alone?
She shivered and closed her eyes. Maybe I should just go back to sleep…
"SURPRISE!!!"
Yuna blinked, surprised. She turned to find her parents, each holding a sparkly balloon, one lavender and one deep orchid purple, and grinning widely from ear to ear. "Happy Birthday, Yuna!!"
Tears falling down her cheeks, Yuna smiled. "Mother! Father!"
"Sorry if we scared you when you saw that no one was home, honey." After tying the balloons on Yuna's wrists, Braska brought his daughter close and hugged her. "We just wanted to surprise you, and I guess we took too long buying the necessary Birthday goodies."
"It's okay, I understand." She smiled sweetly at them. "I'm just glad that you two are here with me!"
"Yuna…" Her mother kissed her on the cheek. "Come with me, we're going to spend some time together before Rikku and Uncle Cid come over, okay?"
The young girl nodded.
Braska grinned. "I'll leave the two of you alone for some girl bonding time." He winked and left the room. "I'll just prepare breakfast," he called out as he walked away.
"Yay!" Yuna beamed.
The young man left the room, leaving Yuna with her mother. "So, sweetheart, what would like to do today? It's a special day for you, so just request anything and I'll try my best to make it happen!"
"Um… I was thinking that maybe… we could sing a song together?"
Surprised, her mother gave Yuna a questioning look. "Really?" Seeing the genuine plead from her daughter's eyes, she nodded her head. "Sure honey, why not?"
"Yay! Can we sing one of the songs that you wrote?"
"All right. Let me sing it first while you follow me in the music I wrote, and then we'll sing it together, okay?"
"Okay!"
The young woman went into her bedroom closet. She found her trusted wooden jewelry box and opened up one of the drawers, taking out a folded manila envelope. She flipped through some of the pages of sheet music. "Hmm, what song would fit the cheer of a special day like today… Aha!" Grinning, she took out a piece and brought it out to the living room for Yuna.
"Here it is." She smiled sweetly and then wrapped an arm around her daughter and sang her cheerfully sweet and hopeful song.
"That was beautiful Mother!"
She kissed Yuna on her forehead gently. "Thank you, sweetie. Now, your turn."
"My turn? But aren't we supposed to sing together?"
"Yes, but I'd like to hear you sing by yourself." She grinned. "After all, it's
only fair since you got to hear me sing, right?" She winked playfully.
Yuna giggled. "Okay…" She said tentatively, blushing shyly. "Um… but can you sing the first half of the first verse? Then I'll do the next one, and we can finish it up together."
She laughed. "You drive a good bargain there missy! Aw, all right…" With that, she began her song again…
Awestruck with the polished beauty of her mother's voice, Yuna clasped her hands together breathlessly. She watched as her mom's eyes became seas of emotion as she sang with all of her heart, wrapped up in the music, in the song.
"The only thing that will surely never change
Is my ongoing dream
What will I be shown
By the small eyes of time?
(tatta hitosu kawaranai mono
zutto egaiteta yume
ima no jibun ha dou utsuru no
ano koro no chiisana hitomi ni)"
Then Yuna sang softly, her cute voice filling the room… She tried her best to imitate her mother, while at the same time adding her own personality and sound into the lovely song. This is fun! I like singing! Her face lit up with a huge smile.
Watching her daughter sing the song she wrote brought a tear to the woman's eyes. Her heart filled with all of the warmth and love that she had for little Yuna, and she could barely stop herself from becoming overwhelmed with her feelings.
"Hey, look up at the vast night sky
So that soon you will understand
With all I've got, I'm going to hurry up and shine
I'm searching for a full moon
(nee miagete konna ni hiroi yozora dakara
sou sugu ni wakaru you ni
seiippai kagayaku kara hayaku
FULL MOON wo sagashite)"
They both looked at each other and smiled as they sang the rest of the song together, their voices melding perfectly into a sweet, melodic symphony… Their hearts were one at that moment as they basked in the brightness of their love for one another.
Let's sing a song!
So that we can be together forever, I'm doing everything that I can do
Day by day
I will embrace yesterday's fate and tomorrow's hopes inside of me
Let's sing a song!
If I'm always together with you, I'll make it through any pain
(let's sing a song
itsudemo issho kimi no tame ima no watashi ni dekiru subete
day by day
kyou made on unmei ashita kara no kibou kono mune ni dakae
let's sing a song
itsudemo issho kimi to nara tsurai koto nori koerareru yo)
More and more
More and more and more, I want to be even closer to you, I stand right here and give
Many thanks for you!
(more and more
motto motto motto chikazukitai ima koko ni ite kurete
many thanks for you)"
Yuna couldn't remember a time that she'd been happier than at that moment as she sang with her mother. To be able to share with her mom the one thing other than her family that she loved most was truly, utterly special.
"You sang beautifully Yuna! It's truly amazing, especially considering how young you are."
"It's not that amazing. If I sing well… it's all because of you."
"You're sweet, dear, but your great singing isn't because of me. Your voice may be somewhat due to me because we're family, but you just have such great singing talent… You're just a natural at it!"
Yuna blushed even redder. "Mom!"
The young woman laughed.
"Mom… can I ask you a question?"
"Sure sweetie."
"How long have you wanted to be a singer?"
Startled, she brushed her soft hair behind her ear a bit nervously. "Well… Every since I was a young girl, I think… Maybe around your age, actually."
"Really?" Yuna peered at her mother with wide eyes.
"Yes, that's right. I remember watching this pretty girl on TV… no, make that a young woman who was about 24 years old, I would guess. She was singing Spira's anthem before a pivotal blitzball game, the final match of the national tournament or something. Her voice was so amazing, so colorful…"
"Colorful?" The young girl looked confused.
The beautiful woman's face brightened with a smile, her eyes sparkling as she recalled that memory. "Well, in a sense, it was colorful. On one hand, her voice was as strong and powerful as a brilliant fire, sending this shiver of excitement through me. But at the same time, it was calm and soothing, touching my heart gently, like a breeze. Ever since that moment, I admired her so much and I wanted to be just like her. I vowed then that when I grew up, I would become a singer too…"
"Wow. She must have been something…" Yuna was so surprised to think that the person she idolized the most in the whole entire world… could also be idolizing someone as well.
She smiled. "Yeah, she was." She ruffled Yuna's soft brown locks. "What about you, my darling? What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"Um… I don't know…" The young girl scrunched up her face adorably as she tried to think. "Oh, I know! A sorceress!"
Yuna's mother grinned. "A sorceress, huh?"
The girl nodded cutely. "Yea! I wanna cast magic spells, like in those fantasy books and movies! I wanna cast black magic or… even better, white magic! Then I can cure people and help people and cast holy, one of the ultimate spells! I want to have pretty fairy dust and sparkles around me when I cast a spell, and maybe some angel wings when I heal people!" She grinned widely, apparently very pleased with her idea.
The woman holding her in her arms giggled. "Well, whatever you want to be…" She kissed her daughter on her forehead. "I'm sure you'll make it."
"Really? But… how do you know?"
"Because… You're Yuna." She smiled lovingly.
Yuna nodded, although a bit unsure of what exactly she meant. "Thanks, Mom." She snuggled closer to her mother. "Singing with you was really fun! Can we do it again sometime?"
"Sure, sweetheart." Her mother smiled warmly at her. "That would make me so happy."
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YUNIE!!!!!!!!"
"Huh?" Yuna looked up.
Rikku charged at her cousin and hugged her tightly— her signature move. Yuna grimaced and playfully tried to push the other girl away.
"Yunie!! Why do you always push me away?" Rikku pouted adorably.
"Um… well…" She thought for a moment. "… Because I can?" She grinned.
"Yunie!!!!" The little girl put her hands on her hips.
"Happy Birthday, cutie!!" Cid's booming voice rang cheerfully.
"Aw, thanks you guys!" Yuna smiled.
"Now that everyone's here, it's time for a late breakfast!" Braska walked into the room, motioning to the breakfast nook.
"Let's eat!!!" Cid grinned and ran towards the hot pancakes and eggs.
~*~*~
Yuna couldn't be happier. She had spent her day with the family that she loved more than anything else as they played classic card and board games, watched movies, and just enjoyed each other's company. It was approaching the evening when Braska slipped quietly into the kitchen and emerged into the living room, holding a delicious strawberry cake lit with ten brightly lit candles.
Everyone took their places on the cozy couch and chairs, gathering around Yuna and her Birthday cake.
"One, two, three…" Braska began.
Yuna's closest family sang her their Birthday wishes, embarrassing her to the point that her cheeks reddened.
"Make a wish, dearie." Yuna's mom gently prodded after their song had finished.
"Okay… I wish…"
"Wait." She motioned for Yuna to stop. "You can't tell us what you wish for, because then it won't come true."
"Oh! All right then." She shut her eyes and concentrated, searching her heart for the one thing that she wished for the most… All right, I've got it. Please, let it come true… She blew out the candles and everyone clapped.
"Yay! Now it's time for cake and presents!!" Rikku made a cute little hop in the air.
Yuna smiled. "Oh, you guys didn't have to…"
"We wanted to, honey. It's a special day for you, and we know that you deserve it." Braska bent down to kiss his daughter on the forehead softly.
Suddenly, the phone rang loudly. "I'll get it," Cid said as he reached for the phone. "Hello? Oh, she's here, let me get her for ya." He handed the phone to Yuna's mother, saying, "It's your boss."
"Hello? I see..." She bit her bottom lip nervously. "Right now? But I have the day off." Her eyes narrowed. "Yes, remember, I requested to have this day off ever since four weeks ago? I even worked that extra Sunday."
Yuna watched her mom pace around the living room frantically. She looked so worried… What's happening?
"Please reconsider. Can't I come in earlier tomorrow morning? I really need tonight off. It's my only daughter's 10th Birthday."
Braska put a supportive hand on his wife's shaking shoulders. She gave him a smile before continuing to listen to her boss' orders from the other end of the phone.
"What do you mean it's urgent?" Her eyes flashed with anger. "That is what you're calling me out on my precious daughter's Birthday to do?! To help clean your office?! Can't I do that for you tomorrow?!" She clenched her hand into a fist, her knuckles turning a ghastly white.
Her husband held her other hand soothingly. She clasped it, grateful for the support.
"What? Did you just threaten me?" She glared ahead at nothing. "You can't fire me for not going to work when I have the day off?!" She was about to protest some more when suddenly she stopped pacing and talking.
Her eyes grew blank for a moment as a thought hit her like a fierce tidal wave. He is going to fire me if I keep on resisting like this. I would just resign myself and leave the company, but… She glanced at her beloved husband whose eyes were full of warm concern for her. She turned to look at her daughter… her lovely little Yuna.
She felt tears threatening to fill her eyes, but she blinked them away desperately. I can't afford to lose my job. With Braska in between jobs right now, our financial situation isn't the best with only one of us working. If I get fired… we'll have almost nothing to go on…
And I need to support my family. I need to protect them, even if it means working a job I hate, for a man I hate.
I have to be strong… for them.
"Dear…" Braska started to say.
She forced herself to smile and covered the phone, saying, "It's all right, honey." She sighed and continued her conversation with her boss, lightening the tone of her voice dramatically. "I'm sorry, you're right, I was not being considerate of your situation. You were kind enough to give me the whole day off, so the least I can do is come work for you during the night. I'll be there in 20 minutes. Thanks for understanding." With that, she hung up the phone.
Yuna frowned. Why did she say "I'm sorry" to him when he was being so mean to her and making her so mad?
"Honey…" Braska embraced his wife lovingly and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure you want to do this? I know it's your job on the line, but…"
She nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. I don't want to go, but I must." She kissed him on the cheek. "Don't worry about me, darling, I'll be all right."
Rikku tugged on her aunt's sleeve. "Do you reallie have to leave, auntie?"
She smiled down at her. "Yes, Rikku, but it's all right. You go ahead and make sure cousin Yuna has fun while I'm gone, okay?"
The young blond smiled. "Okay! I'll do my best!"
Cid laughed heartily. "So, should we give Yuna the present now before you leave?" He asked his sister.
The young woman shook her head. "I need to leave soon if I'm to make it on time. I'll give my gift to her first, and you guys can do the rest without me."
"But…" Braska frowned, knowing just how much his wife wanted to be a part of everything in their daughter's life.
"Don't worry, just record everything for me on a sphere and I'll watch it later, okay?" She smiled reassuringly.
"All right… But you're not going to watch it later."
"Eh? Honey?" She looked at her husband, confused.
He put an arm around her and gave her a soft, sweet smile. "We'll watch it together."
She blushed and gave him a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too." Braska held her close to him.
Cid feigned a face of disgust. "Oh man, do I have to separate you two? All this mushiness is gonna make be sick!" He grinned.
Everyone laughed.
"Okay, Yuna, come here."
"Sure, Mother." Yuna sat by her mom on the couch.
The young woman brought out a small cream box tied with a pretty lavender ribbon. "Happy Birthday, my Yuna."
She smiled and accepted the gift. "Thanks, Mom!" She took off the wrapping carefully and put it on the coffee table. "Wow, that's so cute!" The box was shaped like an oyster from the ocean.
Her mother smiled. "Come on, open it."
"Okay!" Yuna opened the box excitedly. Inside was a beautiful silver necklace that had a v-shape at the bottom of it. Two silver charms of closed hibiscus flowers rested on the upper tips of the v. On the bottom of the v dangled a silver pendant in the shape of a hibiscus in full bloom, and inside the tropical flower lay a sparkling gem. "Wow, it's so beautiful, Mother. Thank you so much!!" Tears filled her eyes as little Yuna leapt up and hugged her mom.
"You're welcome, sweetheart." A tear rolled down her own eyes as she kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Just remember Yuna… You're the pearl that's in this oyster… You'll always shine, no matter how deep and dark the ocean may be."
The young brunette nodded and sat up, letting her mother put on the gorgeous necklace. "Thanks so much, Mom. I'll wear it every day and treasure it always!"
The lovely woman smiled warmly. "You deserve it, honey. It looks beautiful on you, as I knew it would. I'm sorry, but I have to go now…"
"What? Now?" Yuna looked up at her mother with wide, pleading eyes. "Do you have to?"
"I'm sorry, honey, but I do. I'll be back soon though, okay?"
The young girl tried her best to smile. "Okay. You promise you'll come back to me?"
"I promise I'll come back to you." She smiled.
"Yay! Don't forget… You also promised that we'd sing together again, right?"
"Yes. That's definitely a promise, Yuna." With that, she hugged her daughter once again and left the room.
~*~*~
About five hours had passed, but Yuna's mother hadn't returned yet. Even though no one had mentioned it, all four people in the house were feeling a bit anxious, wondering why she was still at work. Her office should have closed at least a couple of hours ago, and Braska was just about to call someone… anyone… when the phone rang.
He took a deep breath and picked up the phone, hoping to hear his wife's voice.
What he heard next tore his world apart.
Braska's face paled a hundred shades as he continued to listen to what the person on the phone had to say. "I see… We'll be right there." He hung up the phone shakily, almost tipping it over.
"What's wrong?" Cid's eyes widened with worry.
"She… she's in the hospital."
"WHAT?!" Cid yelled. "What happened??"
Yuna and Rikku stood nearby, unsure of what to feel.
Braska couldn't stop shaking. "She got into a car accident on the way home from work with a drunk driver…"
"NOO! This can't be!!!" Cid slammed his fist into the couch. "She's… she's gonna be okay, right?"
The young man just stared back at Cid with blank eyes. "I… I don't know. We have to go to the hospital. She's there…"
"Daddy… What's going on…?" Yuna asked in a frightened voice.
That snapped Braska back to reality. He looked down at his daughter, the action almost making him break down. "Mommy's been in an accident. We're going to go see her now."
"Is she hurt?" Yuna's eyes widened.
"I'm afraid so, Yuna." Braska knelt down and took her hand. "But… I'm sure that when she sees us, she'll feel a lot better."
The young girl nodded tentatively.
Everyone got their jackets and left the room, leaving it empty and still.
~*~*~
When they arrived at the hospital, they found out the details about what had happened. The nurse informed them that Yuna's mother was driving and had stopped at a red light. The light turned green, but she saw that a drunk driver from her right side was running his red light, so she waited patiently at her intersection for him to pass.
The nurse continued by saying that the woman told her that even though she waited, the driver was so incredibly drunk that he was not only speeding nearly double the speed limit, but he was swerving like a madman. Just as the driver reached the road where Yuna's mother was, he suddenly swerved towards her.
All she could do was watch in horror while in that split second, he crashed right into her. The impact threw her into the dashboard, and crushed the car. The police found both cars intertwined in such a fashion.
The drunkard had received major injuries to his head and chest, but he was recovering slowly but surely in the hospital. He was going to be arrested after he recovered for being D.U.I. and the police were there now, waiting for him.
However, Yuna's mother… was in a much worse shape. Somehow the other man had moved in such a way that his head didn't strike glass and damage was minimized somewhat. But she hit the dashboard straight on, and not only did she lose a lot of blood, but her skull had been damaged by the horrible impact. She had deep cuts on other parts of her body where the glass from the window had fallen and cut her. She had numerous broken bones and torn ligaments in her body, and by the time the ambulance had gotten to her, she had lost all consciousness.
And the worst thing was… the nurse said that she didn't know if Yuna's mother could last through the night.
Braska and his family ran to the room where his wife was being held. They stopped, stunned at what they saw.
The woman that they all cared deeply about was lying in a hospital bed, her face pale and worn, covered in bandages. She was hooked up to an IV and she could barely manage to smile at them as they walked into the room.
"I'm so glad to see you all," She said softly, her voice hoarse.
"Sweetheart!" Braska rushed to her side. "I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there to protect you! I…"
"Shh…" She motioned for him to be quiet. "It's all right, my dear. You have nothing to be sorry about. These things just… happen." She grimaced with pain from having to speak.
"I'm so sorry too…" Cid's eyes narrowed. "If only that damn boss of yours didn't call you out…"
"No." The woman shook her head slowly. "Please don't blame anyone."
"But what about the guy who did this to you?!" Cid grew even angrier. "That bastard got away with hitting you with his car!! If only I could get my hands on him…"
"Cid…" Braska put a hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder. "I know you're concerned, but I think that seeing you upset is making her feel even worse."
Cid stopped. "I'm sorry…" He turned to his daughter. "Let's leave uncle Braska and cousin Yuna with their mother, okay? We'll be right back."
"Okay… Please, get better!" Rikku bowed her head and smiled at the fragile woman.
"Wait!" She said.
"Yes?" Cid looked at her, surprised.
"Can I have a moment with just the two of you?"
"Sure." Cid and Rikku waited while Braska and Yuna left the room.
"We'll be right outside, honey," Braska said.
"Cid… Rikku…" The woman sighed. "I'm sorry, but… the doctor said that this is it for me…"
"No! It… can't be…" The young girl began to shake. "You can't go! You have to be here with Yunie and her Daddy!"
"I know, but… I just can't. I guess I was too weak…" Tears filled the woman's eyes.
"Don't say that." Cid stated forcefully. "You are not weak. You have always been a caring sister to me, watching over me and whatever stupid messes I've gotten into. You are always there for your husband and your daughter. You are the strong one… the one who holds the family together."
"Thanks, Cid… But, I know that tonight is my last night… I can feel it, somehow." The smile never left her face. "Please watch over my husband for me. Make sure he doesn't get into trouble, all right?"
"I will." He placed a hand over his heart. "I swear I'll watch over him. I love you so much."
"Thank you. And even though you've messed up sometimes... You're a great man, brother... Don't ever doubt that. And… Rikku?"
The young girl couldn't stop crying. She had never seen a person hurt as badly as Yuna's mother. She didn't want to believe that she could be gone at any moment. "Yes?"
"Come here, my sweetie pie."
She came close to Yuna's mother. The woman patted her on the head, and said softly, "Please… take care of Yuna for me. Right now, I think you're the only friend she has."
Rikku nodded. "I always will. But please… don't go!! There's got to be something we can do!! Can't we call someone, or bring someone here who can cure you!!!"
She just shook her head. "I'm sorry, Rikku, but it's just my time to go."
"But…" She brought her hands to her face, sobbing.
Cid came up to his young daughter and took her in his arms. "I'll tell the others to come in now," he said, trying to find the strength to smile. He and Rikku left, and it was Braska and Yuna's turn to see her.
"Hi there." The woman said softly. "I'm so happy you guys came."
Braska took his wife's hand in his own. He didn't know what to say, what to do. All he could do was murmur "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" to her over and over again, tears streaming down his face.
"Don't be…" She reached out her hand and stroked his cheek gently. "I've been blessed to have such a wonderful and amazing husband as you. You've always watched over me, you've always been there for me… Remember when we first met?"
The man nodded and smiled slightly. "I do… I'll never forget that day."
"I was standing all alone, waiting for my parents to pick me up from school. I had started to sing one of my songs, since I thought that no one was watching… that no one cared."
"But I did. I was several feet away, but I could hear this beautiful voice… And then, I knew that this was the voice of the lovely woman that I was going to marry."
She laughed. "You knew it even back then?"
He smiled, even as tears continued to pour down his cheeks. "I think I've always known, dear. You have and always will be the only woman for me."
"You are always so sweet to me…" She held his hand. "You noticed me, when no one else did."
"I love you so much… Please, don't leave me…" He kissed her hand affectionately, hoping that he could just kiss all her pain away.
"I love you too, honey." She did her best to smile. "You and Yuna are the best things that have ever happened to me. For that, I am eternally grateful…"
During this whole time, Yuna had been silent. She was horrified, and could only watch her mother slip away… But something in what her mom had just said awakened her… "Don't talk like that, Mother." Yuna's eyes widened with worry. "You'll be all right. Please, don't talk like that anymore…"
"Sweetie… it's okay. I just want you two to know that no matter what happens to me…" She shut her eyes and concentrated on finding the strength to finish what she wanted to say.
"No! Mother, please, stop it! Stop talking like that!!" Tears of desperation filled the young girl's eyes.
"Yuna… I'm sorry, but… The doctor informed me that I probably won't be able to last much longer. So, please, let me tell you both something…"
"NO!!" Yuna shook her head. "You promised that we'd sing together again! Don't you remember that? Don't you?!" Braska put an arm around his daughter, trying to calm her down.
"I'm so sorry, Yuna… I never, ever wanted to leave you…" Tears finally welled up in the woman's beautiful eyes, filling them like raindrops flooding a lake. "I love you so much. I…"
"Then don't go! Fight it, Mother!! Please!!!" She shook her head, tears endlessly streaming down her face.
"I must say goodbye, to both of you. I was so happy, having you two as my family. Never forget that…" Her voice was growing fainter by the minute
"No! Please stay here with me!!"
"Yuna… I'll always be here, with you…" She pressed a hand softly over Yuna's chest. "I'll be right here… Singing with you… in your heart…"
The young girl pressed her cheek against that hand. "Mother… you're getting so cold… so cold…"
"Shine for me, Yuna…" The young woman smiled sweetly, beautifully, just like the lovely, affectionate woman she always was.
Suddenly, the little girl heard nothing. She didn't hear the faint breathing of her mother. She didn't hear the beeping of the contraption hooked up to her mother. She couldn't hear her mother's sweet voice.
All she heard was silence.
Mother… Do you know what I wished for? My Birthday wish was for your wish to come true… For you to become a singer, the one thing that you've always dreamed for…
But now…
Yuna closed her eyes and softly sang the words of a song she would never forget…
"Dreams are more fragile and fleeting than a glass rose,
so then why are we destined to dream?
(GARASU no bara yori mo hakanakute moroi no ni
yume miru koto wa naze sadame na no deshou)
Sometimes two dreams can turn into love,
but there are also times when they can't…
(futatsu no yume ga ai ni natte
ai ni narenai koto mo ate)
I used to believe without a doubt that I could reach my dreams, no matter how far off they were.
But that me from long ago now sleeps inside my heart.
(tatoe tookute mo kitto tadoritsukeru tsuyoku shinjite'ta
ano hi no watashi ga ima mo kokoro de nemutte-iru)"
Now that you're gone, I will carry your wish in my heart forever…
I promise.
"I love you, Mother… I know you're sleeping right now. I hope that you have a happy dream…"
Yuna couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face. Braska took his daughter in his arms and stroked her hair in a comforting gesture.
His own tears blurred his sight of the woman he loved lying still in a hospital bed, and he felt so helpless… All he could do was watch her, praying that he could just hear her beautiful voice one last time…
Yuna buried her face in her father's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. Father and daughter just held onto each other, both afraid that if they let the other go, they'd disappear…
Just like the one they had lost that night.
~*~*~
Yuna had left her mother's room for a bit of fresh air and for some time alone. She observed the bare walls of the hospital apathetically, noticing how empty everything seemed now that her mom passed away. She shivered from a sudden cold, empty feeling in her heart.
I guess that question I asked myself earlier has been answered…
"Today, everything changed… My life will never be the same again."
With that, Yuna clasped a hand around the shining pendant around her neck as she let her tears silently fall.
~*~*~To be continued…~*~*~
Author's Note: The first song used in this chapter is "New Future" by Changin' My Life, the first ending theme of the anime Full Moon wo Sagashite. Isn't it cute? ^.^ The second set of lyrics came from the beautiful "Scarlet" by Iwao Junko, the opening of Ayashi no Ceres.
I hope you liked this chapter! Okay, now for a reallie long note from me…
I got the idea from this story at the way beginning of the year, which was a couple of months ago. I remember the one event that reallie sparked the feelings that led to this story… On the night of January 5th, I was feeling really, really down and lonely… I felt like everyone I cared about had abandoned me… And all I could do that night was cry and sing…
Yeah, I sang softly to myself. I was listening to the first anime music cd I ever burned, and I just sang with it, feeling the power of the words and the melodies of those songs… I remembered thinking that my music was the only thing I had at that moment to comfort me, and then I thought of this idea of this girl…
This girl who was shy, quiet, and always lonely… This girl who wanted to be something, but who was afraid to try… This girl whose only comfort and hope came from the songs she sang…
So, I found myself really wanting to write this story. I had to find the protagonist, and being the Final Fantasy obsessed person that I am, I thought instantly of Yuna. She was just perfect for it... She's reserved, shy, quiet, and very private. She doesn't voice her feelings or opinions much, and so it would seem natural for her to find other means to express them, like through a song. She's emotionally strong, and she strives for that one goal of hers in life. Whereas in the game it's to beat Sin, couldn't it be something else in an alternate universe... like to become a singer?
So that's how I thought of this story. Right from the beginning I could see Yuna as being an idol singer… I don't know why, maybe it was wishful thinking since I like her so much, but I just could. And then I started envisioning all these other characters and plotlines and songs that could be a part of my story… And I started writing it much later, after I had finished most of my planning.
I wrote and posted the first chapter, and sometime during that time I found out that in Final Fantasy X-2… Yuna actually sings! She sings a JPOP song! I was so shocked, and almost spooked! What a coincidence was that? Seriously, I had no idea that she was going to sing in the sequel before I got my idea for the fic! Once I found this out I knew… that this story was just right somehow.
Well, so that's how I came up with this kinda out there idea. I guess I didn't really need to explain that whole thing but… I wanted to. After all…
"This is my story."
=P Whoops, sorrie for the corniness! Haha! Well, so I hope you like the fic everyone! I'm going to try my best to finish this story!! ^.^
Sincerely,
Kuroi Tenshi Yuna
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