Disclaimer- Shuin and Lenne don't belong to me. Sadly. If I owned them, I'd make them be my friend! *sigh* Oh well.
Note- Sorry, guys if the next two chapters such. I meant to revise them and stuff, but I'm going on vacation tomorrow (cue Reader groans), so I had no time. And vacation means no updates for awhile. I'll see if I can track down a computer while I'm gone so I can continue. Anyhoo, that's why there's so many updates at once.
Thanx again for reviewing, all of you!
Runaway Angel- I think they ARE calling Gippel Gippal! But why?! And why are they changing Sano and Uno's name?! Ah well, maybe, JUST maybe, the FFX-2 translation is wrong!
Aer-Seph4eva- Heh, ah yes. The ever exciting love-hate relationship. That's okay! We all know they get together in the end! And I'm glad for this relationship, cause it's allowing me to bring out Lenne's hidden feisty side!
AngelPaw- I'm glad you like it. Sadly I won't update for awhile cause of the update thing *sigh* but I've given you all the chapters I have typed so far... even if they are mediocre at best
Heh, I love to criticize myself. But I'm happy, really! I've almost got my own little fanbase going on!
Alright, if you've finished my lengthy AN, then I guess you deserve this: Onto the next chapter!
Chapter Four- Tearing Down Invisible Walls
Nazu looked up from giving the kitten cream the next morning. "What are were talking about last night Lenne? Did something happen?"
Lenne shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She had failed to mention Marcell and Shuin, she just told them that 'something had happened that made her see clearly'.
"I'm going to do it." Lenne insisted. "I... have to."
"Why?" Opal pressed. Lenne looked down.
"I'm sorry Gramma. I can't say."
"You can't even tell us?" Laren asked, feeling hurt.
Lenne shrugged. "It's a bit... personal."
The kitten finished drinking. On closer examination the night before, it had turned out the kitten was female. Nazu picked up the full creature and nuzzled it. "What are you naming her, Lenne?"
"Oh, I dunno," replied Lenne offhandedly. "Sara." She answered a second later, using the first name she could think of, even if it was the name of one of those annoying girls.
"It's not the kitten that concerns me," Laren interrupted. "But Lenne, what happened last night? You were crying, you were bruised, and your dress was torn."
"Er..." all eyes were on Lenne. She sighed. "I TOLD you, I was running for the last train, but I tripped and fell and missed it. Some... er, do I dare say good... Samaritan decided to give me a ride."
"Don't do that Lenne," Opal scolded. "Riding with strangers. Just call Nazu next time!"
"What?" Nazu yelped, putting Sara down. "Why me?!" Laren threw her a look and Nazu was silent.
"Well then," Lenne said, getting up. "If you'll excuse me."
"W-Where are you going?" Opal asked.
"Upstairs." Lenne shrugged. "I figure it's about time I put that karaoke machine to use. I got plenty of practice!"
~*~*~
Lenne sat on her computer, actually attempting to use the thing. With much difficulty mind you.
"YARGH!! Why didn't I take the time to learn about this stupid machina before?!?" she yelled at her ceiling. She glared at her poster, where Shuin's grin seemed to mock her. "Don't YOU start," she muttered. "Stupid toad..."
Her computer gave a beep and Lenne's attention immediately went to the monitor. "I... I got into the site... and... the computer's still intact!" Lenne grinned. "This HAS to be a sign I'm doing the right thing!" she tapped some buttons, skimmed the page, and then hit print.
ERROR
"Error?!" Lenne yelped, staring in disbelief at the flashing message. "What'd I do wrong?!" A new message appeared.
YOU HAVE NO PRINTER
"Don't get smart with me you cocky box of bolts!" Lenne glared. "I'm not gonna take any crap no more!"
YES'M. PLEASE REVERT TO KEEPING INFORMATION HANDY THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY
"That's better. Stupid high tech machina... what's the old-fashioned way?"
WRITE IT DOWN
Lenne glared at her computer. "You know, I can sell you." She threatened. The computer was silent. Lenne pulled a paper and pen out of her desk and began to copy out the information.
"Knock knoooooock!" Nazu sang, gently knocking on Lenne's open door. Lenne looked up.
"Hnn..." she acknowledged Nazu, deep in writing. Nazu came up to her and leaned over her.
"Whatcha writing?" she asked, curiously. Lenne pointed at the screen, then kept writing. Nazu regarded the information displayed. "Wow! A singing competition! You think you can manage?"
"What's THAT supposed to mean?" Lenne asked, looking hurt. "You're not really showing faith in the new found me."
"A-ah ah! I'm sorry Lenne!" Nazu looked embarrassed. Lenne grinned.
"Relax!" she exclaimed. "it's a joke!"
Nazu looked confused. "...a joke?"
"Yeah. You know."
"But... you make jokes?"
Lenne blushed and turned back to her writing. "Nevermind." She muttered.
Nazu flopped down onto Lenne's bed. "Sorry, sorry. It's just... you've changed so much in one night. What's up with that Lenne? It's going to take some getting used to."
Lenne stuck the end of her pen in her mouth thoughtfully. "I think..." she began. Nazu sat up. She hadn't really expected an answer. "I think I've always had it in me." Lenne admitted. "It's just... I felt there was no need to speak, no need to get close to anyone. People are frail. They disappear so easily... I don't... when my parents died, I was all alone. I was devastated. They left me alone, and I'd never see them again... and..." she choked up for a moment. "I don't want that loneliness again..."
"Lenne..." Nazu said, finally understanding why Lenne had a shell around her, shielding her from the outside world. "I understand... something happened, didn't it?"
Lenne didn't look at her, but nodded. "I... I think he would've killed me..." she whispered, her voice cracking.
Nazu's eyes widened. "Who? What happened!?" she jumped and spun Lenne's chair around so she was facing her. Lenne's eyes were filled with tears. "Who made you suffer...? Who..."
Lenne looked down and closed her eyes. The tears dribbled down her face. She tried to wipe them away. "This is wrong," she muttered. "This isn't the new strong me."
"Lenne... tell me..." Nazu whispered.
Lenne looked up. "There was... this boy... a grade higher. He likes to... torment me. He beats me." Nazu's eyes widened. "Oh, don't worry, he never did any lasting damage, just bruises. But he was... caught... a few days ago, trying to... he tried to..." Lenne found she couldn't finish. She swallowed hard. "...rape me."
Nazu's mouth opened and closed like a fish, but no sound came out. She backed up and fell onto Lenne's bed, still noiseless. Lenne looked down. "...I guess... he got in trouble. Because he cornered me at the game last night and followed me. And I stupidly showed pity when he got hurt. He took advantage of me again and I... I...!"
Nazu jumped up and suddenly hugged Lenne. "But... but he didn't right? Tell me he didn't Lenne!"
"He didn't..." Lenne replied, her face buried in Nazu's chest. "Someone... someone helped me, but then... I was just so frustrated with myself. So angry. I blew up and realized... things had to change. I had to change." Lenne pushed Nazu away and looked at her straight in the eye. "If I had died then, with the barrier still around me... then... I hadn't really lived!" Lenne brought a hand to her chest. "And I want to live! I want to forget all that's happen! I want to start fresh and live my life the way I should've! It's taken ten years and I... I'm not going to give up!" Lenne finished, shaking her head. Her passionate outburst had surprised herself as much as it had Nazu. Nazu's eyes were misted.
"Oh Lenne..." she whispered, hugging Lenne again and rocking her back and forth. "Lenne Lenne Lenne..."
Lenne pushed her away again. "I'm fine." She smiled through the returning tears. "I know now that I'm going to be fine." She turned back to the computer. "Now... I have some lyrics to revise because this competition's in two weeks. So if you don't mind..."
Nazu bowed. "Of course." She headed to the open door.
"Nazu." Nazu turned around. Lenne was looking at her seriously. "Don't tell... Gramma and your mom."
Nazu smiled. "Alright." She agreed. "And Lenne."
"Mm?"
"You know... you're not alone."
Lenne couldn't explain why she suddenly felt like bursting into tears at that moment, but instead, she gave a weak smile and said, "I know."
Nazu nodded before leaving and closing the door behind her. Lenne opened her drawer and pulled out a grimy piece of paper. The lyrics that Shuin had ignored and ended up in a puddle. She studied the disgusting specimen of paper and grinned. "Nope," She said to herself, "I'm not alone."
