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: For those of you worrying about Lenne, worry no more. I promise you that she will be just fine (at least for a while) and this chapter is the beginning of that. I don't have anymore notes about this chapter. It's pretty straightforward. Enjoy!
Below is chapter 14. Leave a review and let me know what you think J
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SILVER WINGS
by akksgurl
Chapter Fourteen: Boxes of Bleach
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Morning light shone through the blinds in Lenne's hospital room and rose Shuyin who'd gone straight back their after his sabbatical in Bevelle. His eyes quickly searched Lenne for some sign that the songstress had awakened, but there was none. Lenne's body hadn't moved and her eyes were still closed – keeping her in her silent world of dreams.
Sighing, Shuyin rose from the chair he'd slept in again and stretched the kinks out of his body. Sleeping in chairs wasn't exactly the best way to get a full nights rest but the blitzball star didn't care. He needed to stay close to Lenne and his comfort could be damned.
"Morning, Shu." Zaon whispered from the door. His blue-haired friend was in the hallway with Yunalesca, Bruttam, and Skirpa. Shuyin smiled and joined them.
Bruttam gave him a hug, "How you doing?"
"I'm okay." Shuyin replied.
Yunalesca put a hand on her hip, "I heard you went to Bevelle last night." She said, "It was the talk of the town this morning that you went running out of here like a wild fiend and boarded the first hover to Bevelle. What did you do that for?"
"I thought Allyn was behind this," replied Shuyin as he motioned toward Lenne's room, "She had threatened her and I guess it just made sense at the time, but she wasn't. She was horrified when I told her what happened."
Skirpa nodded, "She must have come back to Zanarkand right after you talked then." He motioned toward a large cardboard box that was sitting on one of the waiting room chairs, "She saw me this morning and told me to see that you got this. She said it's for Lenne."
Shuyin cocked an eyebrow and walked slowly over to the box. He was almost afraid to open something Allyn had bought for Lenne. Maybe it was poisoned? Shuyin almost laughed at the ludicrous idea. If it was poison, then Allyn wouldn't have wanted Shuyin to get it first. Slowly opening the top, Shuyin gasped at what he saw.
Two boxes were inside the larger one. One box was clearly marked to contain crystal vases while the other clearly contained crystal picture frames. Underneath the boxes was a large bottle of bleach and a note.
Shuyin,
I heard that Lenne had some vases and picture frames stolen. Since I have a trust fund and no one to spend it on, I decided to replace them for her. I know what you're thinking… "Her's weren't crystal." That's not an issue, Shu. I looked at the other kinds and they were…well…ugly. Have you ever known me to buy something ugly? I didn't think so.
Anyway, I also enclosed a bottle of bleach. According to the news, her house was...messed up. Suffice it to say, I assume that it hasn't been cleaned yet and bleach will be needed. There is plenty more where this bottle came from, plus I have three staff members from Bevelle at my disposal who will help clean. I'd also like to help if that's okay. Give me a call if you're interested.
Also, Shu, thanks so much for believing me. It really means a lot.
Love forever,
Allyn
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After discussing it with Yunalesca and Zaon, the trio agreed that Allyn's help would be useful so after contacting Reiber Ackmard's daughter, Allyn and her trio of helpers were on their way to Lenne's house. It was around 2 in the afternoon when they arrived outside the dwelling of the songstress.
"Hey, Shuyin." Allyn said as she approached the blitzer, "Yunalesca, Zaon." She acknowledged.
Shuyin smiled slightly, "Hi, Allyn. Thanks for this."
"It's the least I can do." She replied, "After all that I've done to you since I got back."
Sharing a small smile, the quartet helped Allyn's cleaners unload a truck they had brought. Laden with bleach, mops, buckets, and other cleaning equipment, the truck looked like it would tilt over.
Shuyin stepped in first armed with a bottle of bleach and a scrubber. His eyes focused on the large bloodstain in the middle of Lenne's beautiful white carpet and he chocked back his urge to cry out. His beautiful Lenne wasn't dead, just sleeping. She'd awaken soon and she'd want a clean home to go back to. He'd give her that.
The first day of cleaning wasn't as productive as the ones that would follow. The bloodstain in the middle of her carpet proved difficult as did the stains that had splashed onto her walls and furniture.
The group returned to Lenne's house every day for two weeks to get the job finished and when they were, the house looked spotless. The stains were gone and a fresh coat of paint was on her walls. The carpet looked brand new and the crystal vases and frames were put onto the shelves. Yunalesca went through Lenne's picture albums to chose appropriate pictures to place in them and when all was finished, the group was very satisfied with their work.
Shuyin looked around Lenne's home with a mixture of emotions. It had been two weeks. Two weeks of hard work and long hours in order to give Lenne her spotless and perfect home back. It had also been two weeks that Lenne hadn't moved. She hadn't woken even though Shuyin had spent every night with her, telling her how the house was coming.
Would she ever?
His reflections were broken with the touch of a hand to his shoulder, "Shuyin, are you okay?"
"Yeah, Allyn." He replied, "I'm fine."
"She hasn't woken up, has she?" asked Allyn, as if reading his mind. She had always been good at figuring out what he was thinking; sometimes before he did.
"No, she hasn't. She will, though. She has to."
Allyn sighed, "She's really lucky to have you." She whispered, "I remember what it was like when you loved me. You feel like you're the only girl in the world."
"Allyn…" Shuyin replied, turning to look at her, "Part of me is always going to love you. You'll always be special to me."
Allyn grinned, "Well that's good to know."
Shuyin laughed and patted her on the head, "Don't go getting any ideas." He warned before saying, "I'm going to get to the hospital and see her. Talk to you later."
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The hospital was just as disgusting as Shuyin remembered. It was the same pale white color and had the same stench of death. Yunalesca and Zaon had decided to come to the hospital later, opting instead to go home and change. Shuyin didn't care what he looked like. He just needed to see Lenne and tell her that her house was finished.
He slowly walked into her room and first noted that her color had improved. She seemed to be doing better and his heart skipped a beat as he approached her. She didn't move and he frowned. He had hoped that she was awake.
The clouds outside caught his attention and he approached the window for a closer look. He pushed the curtain away and stared out. Storm clouds were rolling in and the first drops of ran began. From a distance he heard what sounded like thunder coming from the base of Gagazet.
"Shuyin."
Startled, he released the curtain and turned quickly at the sound of Lenne's voice. She had slowly pushed herself upward and pulled the tubes from her nose while resting her head against the bar that acted as a headboard. She gingerly inspected her face and body before allowing her hands to fall listlessly at her sides. "I'm still alive…" she whispered.
Shuyin thought his mouth would break when the smile formed. It was wider than he thought possible and he was beside her in a flash, "I thought you were still unconscious!"
"I woke up this afternoon for a few minutes," she said, "but you weren't here so I went back to sleep."
Shuyin frowned a little, "I was fixing your house. Damnit, I wanted to be here when you woke up."
"I know." Lenne replied as she rested her hand on his, "I heard you when you'd come here. You're the reason I hung on."
Shuyin smiled and leaned over to press his lips to hers. Her kiss was weak and it was evident that she was still tired, but she was alive and that was all Shuyin cared about for the moment. He whispered, "I love you."
Lenne ran her fingers over his cheek and down his jawline as if memorizing his ever curve. She opened her mouth to speak when a loud noise that sounded like a thunderclap came from outside and the door to the room burst open. Zaon and Yunalesca were standing there, dripping wet from the rain. Shuyin smiled, "Look who's awake!" he said, motioning toward Lenne.
Yunalesca stepped forward, "I'm so happy, Lennie, but we have an emergency on our hands."
"That's right," Zaon replied, "That isn't thunder you're hearing outside."
"What is it?" Shuyin asked.
Yunalesca looked from Shuyin to Lenne and then said, "It's gunfire. The soldiers stationed at the base of Gagazet were attacked about 20 minutes ago by Bevelle soldiers." She paused, as if for effect, before saying, "We're at war."
