Disclaimer- This game ain't mine, the characters aren't mine... oh wait. Marcell's mine! Go me! Anyway, anything that doesn't sound like something outta Final Fantasy proooobably isn't mine.

Oh yeah. *bold lettering time* THIS CHAPTER IS RATED PG-13 FOR, LIKE, TWO WHOLE WORDS THAT PROLLY WOULDN'T BE ACCEPTABLE FOR A PG RATING... I THINK. AH WELL, WHATEVER, JUST EXPECT ONE OR TWO 'NAUGHTY' WORDS. THANKS!

Wow that was fun. Okay! Onto the chapter, then I hafta to e-mail that girl with the incredibly long name that asked me to e-mail her. Sorry I forgot your name but I promise you'll get that e-mail!

Let's go!

Chapter 2- Meeting of a Lifetime

     Lenne stared in awe at the ticket in her hand.

     "BLITZBALL GAME- DUGGLES VS. ABES. 1 ADMITTANCE. NO REFUNDS." She read aloud. It was amazing how those little words, even 'no refunds', could make her heart beat faster.

     "LENNE!" Lenne nearly dropped her ticket as Nazu's shrill voice rang up the stairs. "YOUR CAB'S HEEEEERE!!"

     Lenne stood up at her desk, looking around her room. It was white, with a bed, a desk, a computer she barely used and a karaoke machine. The karaoke machine had been another birthday gift, and Lenne hadn't worked up the courage to try it, not with everyone in the hose able to hear her. The only decoration she had was a poster of the Duggles near her door. Lenne glanced a lone piece of paper on her desk, and averted her eyes, as if she couldn't bear to look at it. She walked up to her Duggles poster and stared at Shuin's eyes. He had a cocky expression on his face, so powerful that even Lenne felt a slight burst of confidence. She looked at her desk again, and, with a determined expression, she picked up the paper and put it in her bag, beside her blitzball.

     "LENNE!" Nazu screamed again. Lenne cringed and hurried out of her room, making sure to lock the door. She still didn't want others defiling her sanctuary. Her room was the only place she could really go to get away from the drudgeries of her life.

     "Lenne dear, you look lovely." Opal commented as Lenne rushed down the stairs. Indeed, Lenne had actually put some effort into her appearance that night. Her hair had been brushed and shined glossy under the harsh lights of the den. She wore a sky blue dress with silver trim. A silver stripe ran down the front and the two side pockets were also trimmed with it. A simple navy blue shawl was draped over her shoulders, and she held a brown suede handbag.

     "That's an interesting barrette." Nazu remarked.

     "Where? I can't see a barrette!" Laren complained.

     "Put on your glasses Mom," Nazu replied, rolling her eyes.

     "I don't need glasses," Laren insisted in an annoyed tone, but pulled them out of her pocket and put them on. She peered at Lenne's head. "Aaah. An extinct animal. What is that called again?"

     "Bumblebee..." Lenne muttered in response. The pink barrette had a tiny, plastic, cartoony looking bee on it.

     Outside, the cab driver honked his horn.

     "Oh my! Lenne, you'll be late for your game!" Opal exclaimed, shooing her granddaughter out the door. "Go go, hurry!" Lenne stumbled down the steps, uncomfortable in the heeled shoes she wore. The cabby gave a chuckle as Len slipped into the backseat, slightly embarrassed.

     "Where to ma'am?" he asked.

     "Zanarkand Stadium." Lenne replied loudly, mustering all the dignity she had. "On my way to destiny," she added under her breath as the cabby sped away from her house.

~*~*~

     Lenne gaped at the enormous stadium in front of her. It was so tall! The television had lied to her. She thought it was the size of a small apartment complex. More like one of Zanarkand's many mega malls. Her gaze lowered to the mob crowded at the entrance, scrambling to get it.

     'And they scurry like roaches...' Lenne thought as she began to approach the group.

     "Well hey there! Look who it is!" a nasal voice. Lenne froze at the sound. She felt a chill run up her spine as she slowly turned around. "It's little silent Marin!"

     To her utter horror, a pudgy blonde boy with buck teeth was standing a foot or so away, arms crossed, trying to look like some badass. Lenne turned away. This was not her favorite person, and she had no urge to face him on the potentially happiest day of her life.

     "I SAID—"

     Lenne spun around, rolling her eyes. "I heard you." She said in a soft tone. The boy raised an eyebrow.

     "Ahh. She speaks. Well then, what are you doing here Marin?"

     "..." Lenne was silent

     "Cat got your tongue Marin?"

     "..." Lenne turned away, ignoring the boy. He grabbed her shoulder.

     "Hold on Marin, you ignorant bitch! We're just getting started."

     Lenne spun around and pushed him away, true fear reflected in her eyes. This boy... this boy had caused her so much pain. The boy's eye's narrowed.

     Lenne swallowed hard. "G-Go away Marcell..." she stammered in her soft voice, before diving into the crowd, squeezing through as many people as possible.

     "Get back here! We're not finished!" Lenne heard him call. She pressed on and found herself at the entrance.

     "Ticket please." The ticket master drawled lazily. Lenne dimly realized she was next in line. "Ticket." The woman repeated. Lenne stumbled over, glancing over her shoulder now and then. She fumbled with her bag before producing her ticket. She slipped it under the glass panel and received a wristband.

     "Don't lose it kid," the ticket gal said half heartedly. As she walked through the gate, Lenne had an idea that the ticket master had gone throw the same scenario too many times and was bored with life.

     'Welcome to my world...' Lenne thought bitterly as she made her way through a new mob waiting to be seated. 'Maybe... that'll change tonight.'

~*~*~

     Lenne was miserable in her seat. Sure, it gave her a good view, but when you sat next to a horde of screaming girls, no seat was a good seat.

     "Excuse me..." Lenne asked timidly. "Can you—"

     "GO SHUIN!!" one screamed, ignoring her completely.

     "YOU CAN DO IT!" another yelled, flinging her arms in the air and nearly knocking Lenne out of her seat.

     "Please, could you just—?"

     "SHUIN! THERE'S ONLY 10 SECONDS LEFT!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!?" a third screamed.

     "..." Lenne slumped down, irritated. 'Blitzball live isn't as exciting as I thought it would be,' she thought, interrupted by the girl's screaming again.

     "5! 4! 3! 2! 1!"

     A buzzer rang as the entire audience leapt to it's feet. Lenne looked around at the cheering audience with no intention of joining them. She turned back to the bubble. The players were emerging from it as it gradually drained.

     "What an AWESOME game Sara!" one of the girl's next to Lenne shrieked.

     Lenne noticed Shuin up on the big screen, just exiting the bubble, his face wet and his hair slick. He looked up and the crowd was treated with a shot of his intense blue eyes. The girls beside Lenne swooned and fell back into her seats, and even Lenne felt her heart quicken. This is what she had come for! To see Shuin. However, Lenne noticed, his face looked bitter.

     "What a great win for the Duggles!" an announcer blared.

     "Oh yes! Star Player Shuin Yarhan has really proved himself this game!"

     At that point, ushers began to escort people to the exit. As Lenne stood up, she glanced back at the screen, hoping for another image of Shuin's vivid eyes. She was treated to a view of the back of his blonde head instead. With a slight frown, she let herself be led to the exit.

~*~*~

     Standing outside the blitzball stadium, Lenne gave a slight shiver. The crowds were dispersing; people were getting in their cars and heading home. Lenne drew the shawl around her tighter. Her cab had come and gone; Lenne told the cabby that she was waiting for someone, which was half true. She was hoping Shuin would come out after the game.

     'I guess...' Lenne thought with a sigh, 'He's not coming out...' Sadly, she put the blitzball she had ready back into her bag. She looked up at the giant clock outside the stadium with a slight frown. Already 12:53... so late...  she would have to take the train back home. Her grandmother was probably already angry. Lenne was doing up her bag when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun around eagerly.

     "So, Marin, here I find you!" Lenne was face to face with Marcell's sneering profile. She stepped back, not saying a word. She turned and began to head down the street to the subway station. "Get back here Marin!"

     Lenne cringed when she heard his tone, but ignored him, picking up the pace. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard his loud footsteps behind her. "Marin!" Lenne looked around desperately. She had not made it far from the blitzball stadium, but almost everyone was gone, so there was no helping her there. Her only chance of getting away from him was to make it to the train station.

     "Oh Maaaarin~" she heard Marcell sing behind her. Lenne's eyes narrowed.

     'He's enjoying this,' she thought bitterly. 'He's taunting me!' Lenne broke out into a run.

     "Where do you think you're going, Marin?!" he cried out in an enraged tone, picking up speed. Lenne felt his hand graze her arm, and she breathlessly sped up, feeling her lungs burning with the effort.

Without thinking, Lenne dove into an alley, pausing long enough to jump over an overturned garbage can. A scruffy white kitten peered out from inside the garbage can, watching Lenne's retreating figure. Suddenly, the can shook and rolled about, and the kitten was flung out of it's miserable home as Marcell carelessly tripped over the can. Lenne heard him cry out, then heard the pathetic cry of the kitten. She slowed to a stop, panting and leaning against a wall to catch her breath. She dropped her bag and it clattered to the ground. Then, she heard the kitten mew pitifully again, sounding like it was in great pain.

Lenne heard nothing from Marcell. "M-Marcell...?" she called out in a shaky voice. No response but the kitten. Lenne slowly approached his still figure. "Marcell?" she repeated, a little louder. She heard a noise behind her and she spun around. The frail kitten was limping towards her, weak from the blow it had just suffered, and weak from starvation. Lenne crouched down.

"Mew..." the kitten whined. Lenne stroked it's head.

"Hello there," she whispered. "Are you all alone too?" The kitten's cocked it's head and mewed again. Lenne gave it a rueful look. "I'm sorry." She apologized. "But I don't think I can take you home." The kitten suddenly hissed at something behind her, and Lenne turned to suddenly see Marcell lunging at her.

Lenne let out a muffled cry as Marcell clamped a hand over her mouth and slammed her into the wall.

"Fuck you!" he cried. Pain ran up her spine, and Lenne felt his hot breath on her face. She didn't dare look at into his eyes.

"So, Marin," he panted, foul breath overcoming Lenne, blood trickling down his face. "Ah yes. Interestingly enough, my parents got a call from our principal. Sound familiar?" he pulled his hand off her mouth, as if expecting her to respond. Lenne shook her head, and she chanced a look at his face. Her eyes widened as she saw his eyes, wild and crazed. She realized Marcell was past all sanity now, he was pushing the boundaries. He was past knowing, past understanding. He was an animal, enraged, and pure instinct told him that this filthy woman would not be forgiven. Lenne knew she was in danger.

"So," he continued, as if it were a casual conversation between two friends. "Apparently, somebody saw one of our other little chats, and decided to tell an authority figure." he was almost foaming at the mouth now. Blood continued to flow down his face, making Lenne sick to her stomach. "But I... heh, now I think that you may have had a little more involvement in that situation than you'd like to admit."

Lenne shook her head. "N-no..." she said hoarsely, her voice barely audible.

Marcell's hand drifted down her stomach, and stopped at the bottom of her skirt. "Hmm..." he said under his breath. He pushed the skirt up, revealing a darkened bruise on Lenne's upper thigh. "I see I left a memento of my last chat," he gave a little chuckle. "Well then, I don't see why I can't finish what I started." To Lenne's utmost horror, his hand slipped higher up her leg, up to her panties.

Lenne shook her head. "No, no..." she whispered, tears streaming down her face. He reached down into her panties, and Lenne began to struggle. "Nooo..." she moaned. Marcell simply pusher her harder into the wall. "Stop..." Lenne's voice barely came out. Marcell was maneuvering his hand lower. Lenne tried to resist, but found herself paralyzed.

"So," Marcell lowered his face near hers, a cruel pleasure reflected in his eyes. "I hear it's your birthday, Marin." He found the slit of her vagina and began to press. "Happy birthday..." he whispered as Lenne trembled, too scared to move, scared of what he'd do next.

'Get out of me!' her mind cried. 'Get...out!'

"What are you doing?" a masculine voice asked.

Both Marcell and Lenne looked up. At the end of the alley was a figure, shadowed by the light behind him. Marcell quickly pulled his hand out from under Lenne's shirt, wiping it on his pant leg quickly. He squinted at the man.

"Nothing. Right Lenne?" Marcell threw her a meaningful look. Lenne was still too scared to move.

"Doesn't look like nothing." Said the figure, coming forward. Lenne's breath caught in her throat. Her mysterious savior was none other than Shuin! "Why don't you save that for someplace else?"

"Piss off man, it's none of your business what I do with my woman." Marcell glared. The kitten peered out from it's garbage can.

"Doesn't look like 'your woman'." Shuin scoffed, his usual handsome face twisted by anger. "I'd say that this might be, oh, I dunno, a RAPE."

There was silence for a moment, then...

"FUCK YOU!" Marcell yelled, lunging at the older youth. Shuin dodged his punch easily, then, with a knee to the stomach, Marcell was on the ground, struggling to stay  conscious. Shuin spat at him.

"Pitiful." He hissed, then looked up at Lenne, still leaning against the wall, crying. He held out his hand. "Come here." He said softly. Lenne could hardly control herself as she ran at him, throwing herself into his chest and sobbing uncontrollably. Shuin didn't do anything; he just let her cry. After a good minute or so, she looked up at him, then took a step back. She was throwing herself on Shuin, she thought. A mere fan was acting like she was on close terms with a star blitzball player.

'Still...' she thought with a blush. 'It's sorta nice to actually see him.' Lenne studied him. He was well built, not grossly over built, but not scrawny either. He had shaggy blond hair tied in a loose ponytail at the base of his neck. Lenne also realized that he was a good foot or two taller than she was, which was interesting, because she was tall for a 15 year old. And his eyes. Those vivid blue orbs that seemed to draw you in and see right into the deepest reaches of your inner self. 'These aren't exactly the circumstances I wanted to meet him in though...' Lenne thought, as a wave of sickness past through her. She replayed the last ten minute's events in her head and shuddered. How could she let him... she looked at Shuin. If he hadn't of been there...

"What an ugly barrette." Shuin commented bluntly.

Lenne blinked and snapped back to reality. "Eh?" she said, a bit hurt. She was very fond of her barrette.

"Well." Shuin continued. "I'm glad you're alright." He turned to walk away. Lenne blinked.

"That's..." she began, and Shuin stopped for moment, waiting. "That's it...?" Lenne asked in a soft voice, talking more to herself than him. He turned around.

"Look." He began. "I don't make it a habit of rescuing people, so..." he let that hang and started to walk again.

'C'mon Lenne, this is your chance!' Lenne's mind told herself. 'Don't think, speak!'

"I-I'm a fan!"

Shuin stopped. Lenne picked up her bag and walked up to him. She took out the piece of paper she had slipped into it before she had left. She held it up to his back. "I... I write songs. I wanted to know if you'd... well, if you might..."

"Read it?" Shuin's voice was cold. He turned around. "Take it? Possibly got you a deal?"

Lenne shook her head, confused. "Yes... no... I want you to read it, but that's not... I..."

"Listen! All of you—you'll all the same! You're the same... the same as her!" he yelled, slapping away Lenne's hand. Lenne watched the paper drift to the ground, landing in a puddle.

"That's..." Lenne began, at a loss. The white paper began to soak up heavy brown water, all of Lenne's hard work fading away. "That's..."

Suddenly, a foreign emotion took over. "That's not fair!" she yelled, uncharacteristically loud. It didn't matter about her parents, didn't matter about Marcell, didn't matter about the hell the last ten years had been. She was angry, angry that the man she had idolized hadn't turned out to be what she expected. What had she fallen for?

"Fair?" Shuin barked. "You're in no position to speak to me Missy, after I just—"

"Just shut up! I don't need you! I never intended to have you get me a deal! I've never even performed! I just wanted you to read my lyrics!" Lenne screamed, tears of rage pouring down her face.

"Then why are you crying?!" Shuin exploded.

"Because I'm angry and sad and hurt!!" Lenne sputtered. From the ground, Marcell groaned. Lenne tore the blitzball out of her bag and threw her bag onto the damp ground, beyond caring about the puddle. She had pulled a marker out along with it. She quickly scrawled something on it then shoved it at Shuin, who caught it with a scowl. He glanced over it.

"'If I, Lenne Marin, manage to make a name for myself without the assistance of Shuin 'The Toad' Yarhan, then 'The Toad' shall agree to be Miss Marin's slave for one evening.'" He read out loud. He looked at her, disbelieving. However, anger soon replaced that. "Fine then, if that's the way you want to be?" he raged, snatching the outstretched marker as he scrawled his signature on the ball.

Lenne glared at him. "You have a habit of wrongly accusing people, MR. Yarhan." She said icily. He tossed the ball at her. She caught it and picked up her bag, stuffing all it's contents back inside. A bell suddenly tolled, signaling it was quarter after one. All the anger left Lenne's face as horror replaced it. "Oh no! Oh no oh no oh no!"

"What is it?" Shuin asked dryly, pulling his car's keycard out of a pocket.

"I missed the last train." Lenne moaned. "I'm dead."

Shuin glanced at his keycard, then back at the girl who had caused him so much grief in the two minutes he'd known her. He sighed. 'I'm FAR too noble for my own good.' He thought.

"Listen, kid."

"Lenne." Lenne stated bluntly.

"Whatever. Look, I'll give you a ride home." He offered grudgingly, turning around.

Lenne blinked, then looked at Marcell. "What about... him?" she asked.

"You really care what happens to him?" Shuin asked dryly. Lenne shook her head violently. No, Marcell was the type who deserved to be trampled by wild chocobos. "Then let's ditch him and run."

"Wait." Lenne said. She turned back and walked back to the garbage can. She got on her knees and looked inside. The white kitten was huddled up in a corner, shivering. Lenne reached for it, picking it up by the scruff of it's neck. She kitten acquitted to her immediately, sensing there was nothing to fear. Lenne brought the frail animal to her chest and turned back to Shuin, who was watching her with his trademark cocky smile.

"You coming?" he asked, his voice quiet. For a moment, Lenne felt her heart pound, but then remembered what an ass Shuin really was. The OLD Lenne was the one whose heart belonged with Shuin.

"Well, you know what they say," she muttered as she approached him.

"And what's that?" his eyes following her and she walked past.

She turned her head and looked at him. "Out with the old and in with the new!"

~*~*~

     Shuin's convertible slowed to a stop in front on Lenne's home. Shuin cut the motor and the hovering car gently fell to the ground.

     "So." Shuin said.

     "Yes?" Lenne asked a bit coldly, opening the door and checking the kitten sleeping under her shirt.

     "You're still mad." Shuin observed.

     "Well put, Mr. Yarhan."

     Shuin's eyes darkened. "Fine then. You know what?" he reached under his seat, pulled out a can of pop, opened it and raised it in the air. "Here's to hoping I never lay eyes on you again!" and he took a gulp.

     But Lenne, feeling bold, grabbed the can and took a swig of the carbonated beverage. She gave a small grin. "Oh, I completely agree with you, MR. Yarhan. But I believe I will be seeing you when I come to collect my end of the deal."

     Shuin swiped the keycard angrily in the slot by his steering wheel. The car roared to life and Lenne jumped back as it rose off the ground. He gave her the finger before speeding off.

     Lenne clicked her tongue. "Such profanity, MR. Yarhan." She shook her head and headed to her door. Her hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment. What had happened to her? In such a short time, Shuin had awoken a sort of determination in Lenne. She was going to make sure that an incident like the one in the alley never happened again. She was going to make sure she'd beat Shuin. However, in order to do all that, she had to be stronger.

"I can't..." she said softly, "dwell in the past..." she looked to the sky. "You guys are gonna help me right?" she called. "Mom... Dad... I expect support for your only daughter!!" she pointed a finger at the sky, as if scolding the stars. The kitten made a soft snuffling sound, and the front door opened.

"Lenne? Oh Lenne! I've been so worried! Where have you been?!" Opal rushed out the door to her granddaughter. Lenne lowered her head and looked at her grandmother.

"Gramma," she began. "I've realized that I've been stupid these last ten years."

Opal didn't understand. "What are you talking about Lenne?"

"Is that Lenne?" Lenne heard Laren from inside. Laren rushed out, Nazu right after her. "Goodness child, what kept you."

"I can't be weak anymore." Lenne continued, ignoring Laren. She took a deep breath. "Everyone, I'm going to be a famous singer!" she was expecting happy reactions, instead...

...the entire household blinked.