Whoo hoo! Three reviews! You guys are my heros!

Shadowed_identity88- I'm glad you like it! I got many ideas for this story, I just have to bring them together

Runaway angel- lol, yeah, I find that FFX-2 fics are kinda overlooked. But we are the pioneers in topic, and we'll mock those potential writers who decide to write a FFX-2 AFTER the game comes out. Bah. Fools. By the way, you realize you're now my rival ~_^. Curse you and your awesome writing skills! *shakes fist* cuuuurse you!

Sailor Flower- Booya! The net needs more Shuin/Lenne fics! Hope you keep reading!

Aaaaaaaaaaanyhoo, here comes my favorite part; The DISCLAIMER

Disclaimer- Yadda ya, I don't own FFX-2 yadda yadda, I could think of something witty to say but I'm too tired for that sorta thing.

With out further ado, Chpt. 1 of what I hope is a decent fic

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Chapter One- Save Me from the Silence

     Opal sighed and looked at the calendar. She pointed at the date. December 31. "Ten years..." she whispered. "Ten agonizing years."

     "Opal, come sit down. Let's play cards." Opal's friend, Laren called from the kitchen table. Laren and her daughter, Nazu, had moved in shortly after the accident ten years ago. Opal now had to struggle to raise her orphaned granddaughter, so Laren had taken it upon herself to move in. Together, with the two elderly women's pensions, and Nazu's job, they managed to live a happy content life in Laren and Nazu's house.

     Opal headed into the kitchen and sat down on a chair. Laren opened a box of cards and took the deck out.

     "You can't keep brooding on it Opal. Ten years is a long time. Put them to rest." Laren said, not looking up from shuffling the deck of cards.

     "I have." Opal insisted. "They've gone to the Farplane now, and I am glad they are at peace. I'm just worried about Lenne..."

     Laren frowned. "I'm sure it's not that serious Opal."

     "Laren, in the last ten years, the girl has barely said two sentences."

     "Come now, you exaggerate so!"

     "Well, something has to pull her out of this shell. I heard from a teacher that she's bullied a lot, and was shocked I didn't know. How am I to know if she doesn't speak to me?" Opal flung her hands in the air. "Something has to be done!"

     "Opal, I'm sure she's fine, she's just an introverted young woman. She's wiser than she seems and doesn't feel the need to speak." Laren dealt out the cards and placed the remaining cards on the table between the two women.

     "When I was 14," Opal grumbled. "I was out with friends partying until dawn." She glanced at her cards and placed down a pair.

     "Is that what you want for her? To become a raging party animal?" Laren asked, looking surprised. She placed down two pairs.

     "Well, no." Opal admitted. "But if she'd do anything with her friends... I don't even know if she has friends. Two?"

     Laren handed her a two of hearts and looked at her hand. "If I were you, I'd be happy. Nazu was such a hassle to take care of when she was 14... nine?" Opal shook her head and Laren picked up a card from the deck."

     "It's not healthy to stay cooped up in your room all day either."

     "Mm, yes... even that bothers me. What does she do up there all day?"

     "I have no idea. She bought a lock for her door."

     Laren nearly dropped the cards she had neatly arranged. "She w-what?!" she sputtered.

     Opal nodded. "A lock. She doesn't trust me." She remarked glumly, putting down her hand. "I think I may send her to a cousin's in Besaid, you know, to get away from the hassle of the city."

     Laren nodded, "Yes, that may be for the best... Lenne!"

     Lenne was standing at a cupboard, holding a glass. She had crept into the kitchen in her usual silent way. The way she did it made it seem like she had appeared of nowhere, almost phantomlike.

     The last 14 years had been good to Lenne appearance-wise. She had a slim figure and clear skin, lovely shoulder length brown hair, and a nice height, not short, but not tall either. However, her once sparking brown eyes were now dull and lifeless, and the frumpy clothes she wore did nothing flattering for her. Lenne just didn't care.

     "Lenne dear," Opal turned in her chair and looked at her granddaughter and Lenne opened the fridge and took out the milk. "We were just talking about you." Lenne poured the milk into her cup and slipped the pitcher back into the fridge. She took a sip and looked at her grandmother. "Laren and I were talking, and we were wondering if you'd like to go visit cousin Kia in Besaid. What do you think sweetheart?" Lenne continued to stare at her grandmother. She stopped drinking and her eyes widened. "Oh, you don't have to go if you don't want!" Opal rushed on.

     "Lenne?" Laren asked. But Lenne was no longer looking at Opal. She was looking past her at the clock.

     "11:13?!" she shrieked suddenly "Oh no!" Laren and Opal blinked. Lenne slammed her glass on the counter, sloshing milk over the edges. She quickly ran into the living room and snatched on the television.

     "Lenne...?" Opal and Laren followed her into the living room. Opal was mystified; what could make her silent granddaughter so uncharacteristically loud?

     "Shh! Grandma! It's on!" Lenne called over, not taking her eyes off the screen. Opal and Laren glanced at the T.V.

     "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for viewing this year's annual Zanarkand New Year Cup! We're at the halfway point of the final match! Who will take it this year? Will it be the West Block Duggles or North Block's Warks? Time will only tell, for now, let's go to a commercial break!"

     Lenne leaned back. "I missed the first half..." she pouted in a soft tone, flopping back on the floor.

     "Lenne...? What are you watching?" Laren asked.

     "Blitzball Mom." Everyone looked up to see Nazu come down the stairs. Nazu was home for Christmas vacation from her law firm. However, most people would assume she was was a model. At 28, Nazu was slim, sleek and had an elegant charm that was matched by few.

     "Blitz... what?" Laren asked, sitting next to Opal on the couch.

     "Blitzball." Nazu repeated, and yawned. "Thanks for waking me up Mom. For an old lady, you shriek pretty loud. This is my vacation after all."

     "That was Lenne." Opal said, still looking a bit confused.

     Nazu looked at the girl lying on the floor and raised an eyebrow. "Wow. I guess there's some life in you yet." She sat down on a chair. Lenne shrugged as if to say 'sorry'. She had reverted back to her silent self as the commercials rolled.

     "So," Nazu continued. "Lenne's a blitzball addict. Figures. Almost everyone is. The girls usually like it for different reasons than the boys do though." She had a sly grin. "So Lenne. Who is it?"

     Lenne didn't respond, but Opal thought she noticed a slight pink tinge on her cheeks.

     "Excuse me?" Opal asked. "What is this blitzball? What are you talking about Nazu?"

     "It's an underwater sport." Nazu explained. "It's the latest rage, and it's been popular for the last couple years. I don't really understand the rules for sure, but—"

     "Two teams, seven per side. You throw a ball around and try to score on the opposing team." Lenne said softly, still not sitting up and opening her eyes.

Nazu looked at her. "Yeah, what she said."

     "My. You've been watching this for awhile then, Lenne?" Laren asked. Lenne sat up and nodded.

     "Oh!" she exclaimed as the T.V flashed back to the game. She brought a finger to her lips and looked at everyone somberly.

     "We're back folks, at the annual Zanarkand New Year Cup! In a few minutes the game will continue and we'll have our new winner!"

     "I'm excited, aren't you Ted?"

     "You know it Bill. But first, let's go to our lady Terese down talking to the star player of the Duggles!"

     The screen flashed and the four women were treated with the view of a lovely young woman standing next to a handsome young blonde man.

     "Thank you Bill." The young woman, obviously Terese, said. "I'm here talking to the Duggle's latest addition, Shuin Yarhan. Now Shuin, you may only be 18, but you're taking the blitzball world by storm!"

     "I'm doing my best." Shuin replied in a cold tone. Lenne drew her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them, lost in the intense blue of Shuin's eyes.

     "Yes, but I heard recent news of you and your fiancée."

     At the word of 'fiancée', Lenne's eyes clouded.

     "I have heard that you've split up." Terese continued.

     Lenne's eyes lit up.

     "I don't want to talk about it." Shuin muttered. He grabbed the mike from her hands and looked into the camera. "Thank you to my fans that are my biggest support. I wouldn't be here without you." He finished monotonely. He tossed the mike back at a shocked Terese and stormed off.

     "Well... er, back to you Bill!"

     "Ladies and gentlemen! It's the moment you've been waiting for!" Bill's round face appeared back on the screen. "Let the second half of the Zanarkand New Year's Cup... BEGIN!"

***

     "Well, that certainly was something interesting." Laren remarked as she stood up and yawned. The game had ended, and the Duggles had taken the cup. The entire team had seemed ecstatic with the exception of Shuin, even though he had scored the winning goal. Lenne had silently cheered when the ball had sailed past the Warks' goalie.

     "Well, it's quarter to. What do you say we stay up and watch the fireworks Lenne? Like old times?" Opal asked. Lenne nodded, her mind still on the game. The four women went to the window to watch the oncoming fireworks. Lenne let out a sigh as the first firework lit up the sky.

     Laren looked at the young woman and leaned down. Lenne looked at her. "Now, you didn't hear it from me..." Laren whispered, "But... Nazu bought you a ticket for that 'blitzthing' of yours for your birthday next week." She brought a finger to their lips to signal that it was their little secret. Lenne'e eyes widened. Her head snapped around to look at Nazu on her other side. Nazu was watching the fireworks with a peaceful expression, the colors shining on her face. Lenne's eyes softened. Maybe... this could be her chance.

Her chance to meet Shuin. Her chance to escape from the silence that bound her.

     'Yes...' Lenne thought. 'Surely... surely he will understand me...' she thought in a more confident tone as she finished watching the fireworks with a content expression on her face.