Author's Note: Hello again! I've finally finished FFX-2, and I feel like writing a Shuyin x Lenne fic + the events that led to the Machina War and what happened during those times… Hope u enjoy!

Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own FFX-2 or any other FF games; Squaresoft owns it (Duh!). I'm jus an avid fan who loves writing. =)

Spira: A Tale of Two Lovers

Summary:

            Zanarkand and Bevelle, two lands of different cultures, different beliefs, two different worlds in Spira, would soon confront each other.  A story of two lovers intertwines as both worlds clash.  The consequences of war would dictate their fate… It all begins here…

Prologue:

            An aged Prime Minister in elegant robes had just entered the Bevelle council. He was the only one whom everyone was waiting for before they started the conference.  He had walked slowly and took his time before he finally sat on his grand chair. The others sat firmly and readied themselves for the conference they were about to have.

"Ahem… I have called all of you to bring alarming news…" He coughed.

            The other leaders listened intently to what he had to say.  Everyone was watching him closely as his mouth began to move.

"Zanarkand is starting to progress rapidly… They would soon reach our level if we do not do something… I have a speculation that they may even start a war with us.  They have summoners who can call out creatures and wipe us in a single strike. When people have the power, they will NEVER hesitate to use it against his fellow men if he knows that he will benefit greatly from it!  The day that I am fearing would soon come…" He looked at each of them carefully as he told them his speech.

"Ahem… Let them be. We have our machinas." One of the senators bluntly said.

"Absurd! Let them be!? Soon they could dominate us all if we 'let THEM be'." The Prime Minister shouted.

"What do you propose then, Prime Minister Mika?" Another asked.

"Hmmm… I propose a… War… Before everything is too late. Will the whole council approve of this?" He grinned.

            Mika knew what the outcome would be from the very start.  People love power and once they have it, they will not give it away so freely.  The senators nodded and majority raised their hands while a couple started down on the floor shrugging their heads as if a balderdash decision had been made.  However, it could not be helped a war would soon start…  

Chapter 1: A Blitzball Player

Zanarkand, the city of lights, a young man with a fine built entered a stadium.  He was an athlete.  He was an adept [1]Blitzball, a famous sport around Spira, player.  The crowd cheered as he entered the spherical Blitzball court.  He waved at his fans and with each wave, as if charmed, numerous fans would sigh and would fall to the ground. Signaling the start, a loud whistle was heard, and everyone began to scream.

"Go Zanarkand Abes!" A man shouted from a side.

"Don't let them defeat you, Zanarkand Strikes!" Another man cheered.

            It was also a battle between two sides in the benches.  A fan of the Abes would taunt a fan of the Strikes and vice versa.  Soon, fighting would even ensue.  Both sides would confront each other and would end up in an all out "war" in every corner of the court.  Guards would soon enter, but it seemed futile to prevent them, because of the large mass of audience rumbling each other.

            At least, this time around, everyone was too concentrated watching the game.  It was a close fight this time, and both sides have a tied score.  One could hear some players cursing at each other and a heated battle soon started.  No one was giving up now.  It was the championship after all.  Everyone was giving his best especially the young man, the star player of the Zanarkand Abes. 

Going after an opponent who had the ball, he swam swiftly towards him in the water-filled court and with a sliding move, he was able to intercept the ball.  The crowd ravaged and screamed as he got the ball.  Swimming hastily, he went towards the goal of the opponent.  With his eyes fixed at the goal, he positioned himself as if doing some sort of unique move.  

"Blitz Ace! Blitz Ace! Blitz Ace!" Abes fans cheered from the benches as the fans of the Strikes started to sweat because of nervousness.

The blonde man gave a wink at the goalkeeper, and did a summersault.  The move pushed the ball high up the court and went through the spherical barrier. Chasing the ball, he then swam swiftly above the court.  Catching up with the ball, he accurately positioned his body so that the ball would hit the goal perfectly.  With a smile on his face, he finally kicked the ball diagonally towards the goal.  The goalkeeper was no sweating as he was biting his fingernails.  In a matter of seconds, without him even realizing, the ball went through the goal, and it was all over.  It was another championship won by the Zanarkand Abes.  The whistle sounded again signaling the end of the championship.  The Strikes exited the court in low spirits as the Abes jumped for joy as they carried their star player high in the air. Cheering along the way, the fans soon followed them from behind.

Leaving the fans outside, they finally reached their locker room.  All of them cheered since they had won another gold for their team.

"Nice game Shuyin!" One of the blond man's teammate said.

"Yeah! Another game won!" He smiled at them.

"Hey maybe you should teach us how you do your Blitz Ace move!" Another teammate shouted from behind.      

"Hehe! Sorry guys! It's a secret! It wouldn't be special if everyone knows about, right?" Shuyin laughed.

            Everyone laughed with him, dressed up, and left the room.  Shuyin was the only one left inside the locker room.  His mind was on a different matter.  He sat there, alone, as he thought deeply.

"Who's the star now, huh… Dad?" He whispered to himself.

            His father was also a Blitzball player, an arrogant one though.  He never did care about his family; all he cared about was his career as a Blitzball star player.  He was a cold father towards Shuyin that is why Shuyin never had a father figure to look up to.  All his life he lived full of angst and hate towards his father and that some day, he would beat his father in the game both of them bested, Blitzball.  Now, Shuyin was able to attain that.

"I'm more famous than YOU were now… Heh… I told you I'll beat you someday…"

            He sneered, packed up his things, dressed in his usual saffron and dark colored judo-like garment and his long dark shorts, and went out of the room.  Waiting for him to go out, there were still many fans outside the room.  They swarmed on him as they showed different pictures of him. 

"Hey! Can I have your autograph?" A teenaged girl shouted.

"Me too! Me too!"

            Everyone was getting restless as Shuyin started to sign.  He was smiling as he handed it back at his fans.  At this point, he knew he truly had defeated his father in Blitzball and that thought just made him smile as he finally attained what he always wanted to achieve… It was sweet revenge for the maltreatment his father gave him.

He finally signed the last picture and the fans went away fading slowly towards the end of the mildly lit hall.  He continued to walk, and decided to go to his favorite place, [2]Luminous, an all-time favorite bar in Zanarkand.  He would usually go there to grab an alcoholic beverage as he listened to the singer on the center stage.  It was not a long walk from the stadium to the bar.  It just took him about five minutes to reach it.  He finally entered the only place he considered "sanctuary".

"Ei there! Heard ye won the championships as usual!" The bar tender exclaimed in a funny accent as he raised his arms high towards Shuyin.

"Yeah. Another win." Stoically, Shuyin said as he gave the bar tender a high five.

"Aren't you Blitzball players scared of the war? Been goin' for more than two years now."

            Shuyin thought for a moment.  He had just realized that a war was happening and was actually going on for more than a year.  He had never thought about it, the war. He did not care as long as the war would not hurt the Blitzball season.

"War? Nah! The War's just for politics. We, athletes, do not really care about it as long Blitzball won't stop. Let our leaders handle it. Look, it's already been a year, but the season doesn't get affected so why bother gettin' scared?" He explained.

"I see. Well, I wouldn't be too careless if I were ye. It doesn't hurt to take extra precautions."

"Don't worry bout it. I can handle myself." Shuyin winked.

"Haha! Always in high spirits ye are, that's what I like about ye. What will it be this time? The usual?"

Shuyin just nodded and the bar tender hurriedly prepared Shuyin's usual beverage.  As soon as it was finished, Shuyin grabbed it and sat on his favorite spot, the one where he could get a clear view of the songstress on stage.  Sipping on his alcoholic beverage, he waited eagerly for the songstress to arrive.

            Shuyin has always been inclined to music.  He loves them so much and has a great admiration to people who can compose good music.  He will never miss a chance not hearing someone sing in the Luminous.

            Finally, the songstress revealed herself from the audience.  There was something mysterious with this lady.  She was wearing a lilac colored "pop style" outfit, and her eyes were covered with an azure colored veil.  She stepped on the center stage, grabbed the microphone and started singing.

[1]I know that you're hiding things…

Using gentle words to shelter me…

Your words were like a dream…

But dreams could never fool me…

Not that easily…   

            Shuyin was soon engulfed by the music and was now listening intently in the lyrics of the song.  He was as if enchanted by the song as it rang in his head.  His mind soon began to turn only to the song… He could not think of anything else except the song. Not only that, he was curious about the songstress behind the azure cloth. 

Cause a thousand words…

Call through out the ages…

They'll fly to you…

Even though I can't see…

I know they are reaching you, suspended on silver wings…

            As the song finally came to an end, as the chorus was slowly fading away, Shuyin regained back his senses.  He realized that the singer was gone.  He quickly stood up and went out of the bar to look for her.  As he got outside, not even a silhouette could be seen from afar.  He sighed and reentered the bar.

"What's bothering ye?" The bar tender asked.

"No… It's nothing… Ummm… Who's the songstress?" He replied.

"Oh her… She's a newbie… I can't say I know a lot 'bout her… Sorry, can't help ye with it. Anyway, don' worry bout it she'd be back I'm sure."

"I see… Thanks."

            It was already midnight by the time he went outside the bar. Still mesmerized by the lady, he sighed as he looked into the sky as he thought deeply when he would meet her again.

*Footnotes*

[1] Blitzball – for the people who do not know Blitzball for some reason, it is a sport played inside a spherical dome filled with water as they play a game like soccer in it.

[2] Luminous – a place I made up; a hang out for people. It has nothing to do with the original game.