DISCLAIMER:  I do not own any locations, characters, or names associated with Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy X-2.  I do, however, own this story J

Author's Notes:  This chapter takes place one month after Chapter Seven.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this chapter and thought about it for a while which is why the update took longer than usual.  In the end, I decided that this chapter would really help set up the rest of the story in the direction that I want it to go so I decided to write it.  Hopefully it will be as well received as the rest of the story has been so far.  This is just the beginning of the angst that will be starting over the next few chapters.    

Below is chapter 8.  Leave a review and let me know what you think J

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SILVER WINGS

by akksgurl

Chapter Eight:  Cheating Hearts

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One Month Later

After taking a Tylenol, Lenne hoped to feel better.  Her head was aching and she knew she was getting sick, but she had to be tough.  She and Shuyin were double dating with Zaon and Yunalesca today and she wasn't going to miss this.  This date was her chance to show Yunalesca that Shuyin was a good boyfriend.  In the month they'd been together, Shuyin had been more of a gentleman than she'd ever imagined he could be.  Even though he'd turned her down sexually on their first date, she just figured that it was in order to guarantee a second date and sex then but Shuyin had maintained a gentlemanly distance.  Although it was wonderful to know that he was willing to wait for her, it also concerned her that maybe he was satisfied with her because he was getting it somewhere else…

She shook her head hard and rose from the bed.  She wasn't going to think about that.  These doubts that entered her head occasionally were ridiculous.  There was no proof.  There never would be proof.

Stripping out of her pajamas on the way to the bathroom, Lenne pulled back the curtain and let the hot spray of the water cascade down her back.  She distantly heard her front door open and smiled.  

Shuyin was there.

"Lennie?" he called from the living room, "You awake?"

"I'll be out in a minute!"  Quickly finishing her shower, Lenne wrapped a towel around herself and went into her bedroom where she dressed quickly in jeans and a blue shirt.  The songstress towel dried her hair and then ran out to the living room to embrace her boyfriend.  She kissed his lips and then whispered, "Here I am."

"There you are…" Shuyin replied.  Running a hand through her damp locks, he said, "This damp look is very sexy."

Lenne laughed, "Sure it is." She said sarcastically before turning and walking back toward her bedroom, "You're early and I didn't get a chance to dry my hair."

"Sorry I'm early, babe.  I just couldn't wait to see you."

Lenne flicked her hair dryer on and leaned her head out the door as she started to dry her hair, "Sweet talker!" she said over the sound of the dryer.  She giggled a little and backed off as Shuyin approached her and tilted her head up to his.  He pressed his lips softly against hers, pressing his body against her and bracing her back against the bedroom wall.  Her fingers loosened around the hair dryer and it tumbled to the ground as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

His lips traveled from her lips to her cheek and then down her neck before they heard a knock at the door.  Shuyin laughed a little into her neck and said, "I bet that's Zaon and Yunalesca."

Picking the dryer off of the floor and flicking it into the off position, Lenne smiled at Shuyin, "Well, we'd better let them in."

It had been Yunalesca's idea that the two couples go out together.  Shuyin wasn't sure why she would want to see her friend with him.  Although Yunalesca hadn't attempted to convince Lenne that he was some sort of serial killer, Shuyin knew that he was and never would be one of Yunalesca's favorites.  Then again, maybe his best friend's wife was beginning to realize that he wasn't going to break Lenne's heart.

Stranger things have happened…

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"Initial sweep is complete, Commander Cyton."  The soldier said.  He saluted his commanding officer as he stood next to his three comrades.  The cave under Mushroom Rock Road was finally being explored.  The knowledge of this location had been held for the past few months but exploration had been put on hold while war preparations were being made. 

Benedict Cyton smiled and nodded, "Okay soldiers.  You are dismissed."  As he watched his soldiers walk back toward the trucks, Benedict took one last look at the cave and grinned.  He was certain that this place would come in handy during the war.  For what, he still wasn't quite sure but he knew that this place would be quite useful.

Quite useful indeed….

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After seeing what Zaon and Shuyin called 'The World's Chickiest of Chick Flicks', the quartet was sitting in A-East's park enjoying the afternoon sun and the beautiful day.  Lenne's head was still pounding and she knew she'd been rather testy all day.  Every time she said something nasty to Shuyin he looked at her like he'd never seen her before.  Yunalesca had pulled her aside several times to ask her what was wrong and Lenne answered the same every time – "I'm just not feeling well."

Lenne's jealousy was also rising with every passing moment.  Although Shuyin had barely let go of her hand since the date began, the looks and obvious lust from girls passing by was driving Lenne crazy.  She couldn't help but wonder every time Shuyin smiled at one of them whether he was eyeing them up as a possible nighttime guest at his house. 

She frowned at the thought but forced a smile on her face when Shuyin crawled across the blanket that was laid out and kissed her on the cheek, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing important." was her response.  She hated being so skeptical about his motives with her and what he was doing when he wasn't with her.  She couldn't help herself though.  She was falling for him and with that came skepticism.  Too many times in her past had she ignored her inner feelings and too many times had they been proven true.  She didn't want to risk it again. 

A tug at Shuyin's arm by Zaon pulled him away from her side.  Shuyin followed his best friend over toward one of the park benches where the two sat.  Zaon had decided it was time for a man-to-man talk about the blitzer's relationship with the songstress and what better time was there but when his wife could keep Lenne busy?

Shuyin looked at his friend with a questioning gaze, "What's up?"

"So…" Zaon began, elbowing his friend playfully in the ribs, "any love pangs yet?"

"Love what?!"  Shuyin asked with a grin.  He scratched his head and pretended to be completely confused, "Are you asking if I love her yet?"

"You know what I'm asking!"  hissed Zaon in an attempt to keep the conversation low key.  He didn't want to intrigue the ladies into joining them. 

Shuyin laughed, "Yeah, I know what you're asking."

"Well?!"

The blonde blitzer sighed.  He definitely thought he might be, but he wasn't sure yet.  Lenne's behavior today was confusing him.  She had been biting his head off for the littlest things and seemed to mistrust him when he even looked in the direction of another girl.  He wasn't sure if Yunalesca's initial warnings were plaguing her mind or not, but whatever it was he was getting concerned.  Shuyin smiled at his friend and said, "Jury is still out on that one."

Appeased slightly, Zaon said, "But I'll hear the verdict first, right?"

Shuyin nodded, "Absolutely."  Footsteps approaching caught their attention and Shuyin turned his head to look at Lenne approaching him while rubbing her forehead.  He stood up and went over to her, "You okay?"

"I've just got a terrible headache.  I'd really like to go home."  She said.

Shuyin wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "Sure thing, babe.  Let's go." 

Saying their goodbyes to Yunalesca and Zaon, the duo started to walk down the park street and was no more than two yards from their friends when a voice echoed and Shuyin turned his head, "Shu!!" Lenne felt Shuyin release his grip on her and face the girl.  She appeared to be about 16 and was very pretty.  She had blond hair that hung to her shoulders and bright green eyes.  She held out a blitzball to Shuyin, "Could you sign this?"

"Sure thing." Shuyin said smiling, "Who am I making this out to, cutie?"

The girl laughed and smacked Shuyin playfully, "Sidney."

Shuyin laughed and looked at the girl as if making sure before shrugging, "Okay, Sidney it is."

Lenne felt her fury mounting as Shuyin signed the ball and gave it back to the girl who promptly kissed him on the cheek and ran back across the park to a girl who didn't look much older than 10.  Shuyin turned to her with a smile and said, "That was…"

"What the hell was that?!"  Lenne shrieked.  For a moment she didn't even sound like herself and Shuyin took a step away from her as if frightened of her sudden angry display. 

Yunalesca and Zaon were there in a second and Lenne felt Yunalesca's arm on her shoulder, "Lennie…that was…" she began.

Lenne cut her off and hissed at Shuyin, "Don't you have any decency at all?!"

"Decency?  I didn't do anything wrong!" shouted Shuyin. 

Zaon stepped between the fighting pair with his hands raised, "I think we just had a misunderstanding." He looked at Lenne, "Lenne that was…"

"I don't recall asking you to butt in Zaon!"  Lenne shouted before turning her attention back to Shuyin, "You shamelessly flirt with another girl in front of me and then say you didn't do anything wrong!  You really are a fiend!"

"I wasn't flirting!" Shuyin insisted loudly before taking a breath and lowering his voice, "Lenne, if you would just let me explain…"

"No!"  hissed Lenne, "I won't listen to your explanations.  Something told me not to trust you and no it wasn't Yunalesca.  It was my own gut instinct this time.  Are you sleeping with that girl?"

Shuyin's look was of shock and disgust at the thought and for a second Lenne thought she might have overreacted but just as quickly his look was replaced with one of anger.  He leaned closer to her and whispered, "Are you saying that you think I'm cheating on you?"

"Yes…" Lenne replied.

It was Yunalesca's turn again to attempt an interruption.  She spun Lenne around and said, "Honey, I'm not a Shuyin fan but I can tell you that you are overreacting this time.  That was…"

Shoving her friend's arms off of her, Lenne turned back to Shuyin, "Yes, I do!  You couldn't possibly be happy without sex in a relationship and yet you seem to be so you must be getting it from somewhere!"

Shuyin's look was as cold as ice as he murmured, "So that's what you really think of me?"  Lenne nodded and Shuyin glared at her, "Then maybe we shouldn't do this anymore."

"Maybe we shouldn't!"  Lenne agreed, although the tears beginning to form behind her eyes seemed to be screaming for her to apologize to him and make it better.

"Fine." Said Shuyin, monotonously.

"Fine." Lenne said.

"Fine!" shouted Shuyin.

"Fine!" Lenne screamed. 

The two of them continued screaming 'Fine' at each other for another minute before both spinning on their heels and storming off in opposite directions.  Zaon and Yunalesca stood staring at each other in sheer shock for several minutes after their friends had vanished from their sight before Zaon whispered, "Did they just break up?"

"I think so…" Yunalesca said.

"Lenne thinks that Shuyin is sleeping with…Sari?" Zaon shook his head, "I can't believe he didn't tell her who Sari and Sidney are!"

Yunalesca sighed, "I think he was about to before she exploded."

"Yuna!" Zaon cried, "She thinks he's sleeping with his cousin and the little girl he used to babysit!"

Yunalesca rubbed her temples, "You go after him.  I'll go after her."

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Irvine's Tavern was Shuyin's sanctuary when things in his life got to be too much for him to handle.  Sitting down at the bar and ordering a stiff drink, Shuyin ran a hand through his hair and groaned.  He didn't know what Lenne's problem was.  Maybe it was because she wasn't feeling well that she'd gone off on him, but that didn't explain why she thought he was cheating on her.  He'd done nothing to make her think that.  She wouldn't even let him explain who Sari and Sidney were.  He took a long swig of the beer in his hand. 

Life sucked…

"How did I know you'd be here?" Zaon asked as he pulled up a barstool next to his friend and ordered a beer.

"Lucky guess?" Shuyin asked as he took another drink. 

Zaon sighed, "Why don't you come with me to Lenne's and we'll get this matter cleared up?"

Shaking his head, Shuyin swallowed the rest of his drink and ordered another before saying, "It won't clear up the fact that she thinks I'm low enough to cheat on her.  That, Zaon, will never go away."

"I know that you don't want to break up with her."

"How do you know that?" asked Shuyin, incredulously, "Maybe I do.  Maybe I'm sick of being on my best behavior all the time."

Zaon gave Shuyin a level stare as he said, "I think you're in love with her.  Am I wrong?"

Shuyin downed the beer and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, "Even if I am, it doesn't matter.  I don't need to be with someone who doesn't trust me."  He waved his hand toward the door, "Leave me alone, Zaon."

Zaon sighed, "You sure?"

"Yes."

Once his friend was out the door, Shuyin paid the bartender and walked outside as well.  He was furious with the entire situation.  The fresh air was filling his lungs with every furious breath he took and before he knew it his feet had led him the apartment district of A-East.  He recognized the building he was standing outside of and struggled with himself before deciding to enter. 

If Lenne thought that he was untrustworthy, then maybe he should do something to be worthy of that mistrust. 

Pounding on the door he stopped at, he waited until he heard footsteps approach and then the door open.  He ignored the shocked look he received as he walked in without being invited and slammed the door behind him.  Wrapping his arms roughly around the waist and pulling the girl toward him, he whispered, "This does not mean we're back together, Allyn." Before pressing his lips to hers…