Shout outs:
michelle: Thanks, and most of your questions should be answered in this chapter.
starsun99: Thanks, hope this is a soon enough update.
Indigofaery: You'll find that out this chapter.
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jenny: Thanks, hope this is a quick enough update.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters from Final Fantasy X-2.
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"No matter! I will deal with the group of you before finding the Lady Summoner again. Prepare to be punished for trying to thwart my plans."
As Lenne spoke, Nooj quietly whispered to Leblanc while he still kept his gaze straightforward and hid in the back of the group.
"I want the three of you to search for Yuna. When Lenne starts to fight, scale along the left side quickly, and I will move along the opposite wall. Stay hidden and time it right. We might just be able to sneak past." Stated, motioning towards Leblanc, Ormi, and Logos.
I front of them, Baralai, Wakka, Kimahri, and Gippal were holding up the front of the group. Before them, Lenne was already cracking her whip provokingly and wore a stern glare. She was prepared for battle, despite the set back in her plan. By now though, the four men in front of her had already drawn their weapons for the fight. Lenne casually watched as the four people in the back snaked out to the sides, but she dismissed it. Her own focus was now on those who were about to try to confront her.
With a quick glance to the side, she found Tidus still on his knees on the ground, not even looking up at the menacing Shuyin, who was chuckling as he cracked his knuckles. Tidus made not one move as Shuyin eyed him threateningly.
"Come on and fight me, will you?! I expected more out of you." Shuyin spat angrily. Then he unbuckled his shirt, and slid it off, revealing a tanned and well-toned upper body that looked very similar to Tidus. Wrapping the shirt around his wrists, Shuyin placed his hands in front of himself. They shirt was tied loosely, but he was trying to prove a point.
Shuyin glared down at Tidus, and yelled, "What are you waiting for?! I've given you an advantage, yet you still don't even bother!"
Angered, Shuyin brought his leg up into a kick aimed straight for Tidus. In a split second though, he found it blocked as well as a fist came up and collide with his jaw. With a grunt, he dropped onto his back roughly. Tidus moved towards, pressing his foot down on Shuyin's bare chest while he tore the shirt of his hands.
"This isn't a game." He whispered quietly, but only received a shove back by Shuyin's foot. Tidus recovered into a fighting stance with his fist up and legs bent. However, Shuyin took his time and casually got to his feet, brushing some dirt off his chest from Tidus' foot. While keeping his gaze focused on Tidus, he slipped into a similar fighting stance and prepared to take him down quickly. With Yuna missing, the plan was on hold. Moreover, it was going to stay stalled until she would be found and back in place. Now though, it was Shuyin's choice to fight with Tidus instead of search. He needed to deal with his personal matters first.
Lenne was also in a fighting stance as well, about to take on her opponents with a quantity disadvantage. They may have had power in numbers now, but she planned on leveling the playing field considerably very soon.
Without any more remarks or threats, she lashed out with her whip so quickly that the men in front of her could barely evade her attack. The end of the whip caught Gippal's arm and wrapped around him instantly. With a smug grin, Lenne yanked back with great force, sending him into an uncontrollable spin in the air. He crashed down roughly on his side with his back to her.
Lenne was about to lash out as his back and leave some marks, but a yellow and black blitzball sailed just in front of her face and narrowly missed her. Jumping backwards to regain ground, Lenne then attacked with her whip again. She managed to leave a rip in Wakka's tank top as she jumped back, but he had moved back unharmed.
Deciding to toss in a little magic, she settled for doublecasting two consecutive flares aimed at Wakka and a now recovered Gippal. They managed to dodge the brunt of the searing flare, but still did not escape from harm. The magical explosion had slightly burned the upper part of Gippal's arm. It had also burned part of his shoulder, which was evident through the burnt parts of his shirt. The burns on Wakka showed through the side of his tank top, since they slightly scarred his side. Both people still in play were ready to continue fighting.
Kimahri leapt forward with his spear, intent on knocking Lenne right off her feet. However, a blast of controlled energy from the magic dome behind her plowed into him and tossed him a great deal backwards through the air. Baralai tried to attack then, but with a great deal of force, Lenne lashed out with her whip so hard that when it wrapped around his chest that it tore through his shirt and almost slashed his skin. With an angry cry, she flipped him into the air harder than she had with Gippal.
Nevertheless, as she got ready for Paine, she noticed the other woman was staring past her and at something behind her. Risking a glance back, Lenne found a familiar figure on the balcony above and to the side of the concentration of energy.
Yuna.
"Stop you're fighting now!!" Yuna demanded in a threatening voice, as she overlooked the people on the floor below her. Her arms spread out wide while she balanced on the edge of the balcony and inches from the energy field. Everyone watched her cautiously.
"What stunt are you trying to pull Lady Summoner?" Lenne asked her calmly, pushing back her anger to try to reason with the other girl in hopes of diffusing her plan of action. But Yuna's will was strong, and her feelings were stronger.
"I order you to leave them alone, and let them go. I want you to stop what you are planning because I know that deep inside of you is the truth. You know this is wrong, and no one will benefit from it. They only ones to suffer will be Spira itself!"
Yuna's face scrunched up in a concerned frown, her eyes filled with sheer determination. "This must end now."
Lenne replied with a mockingly laugh, and despite what Yuna was threatening to seemingly do, she risked an attack.
But not at Yuna.
The lengthy whip shot across the room and slapped against Tidus' back. He grunt and dropped to his knees as the whip wrapped around his chest quickly, leaving him trapped by it. A surge of stinging energy shot through the whip and connected with Tidus, causing him to cry out in pain as the whip started to burn his skin.
"No!!!" Yuna screamed loudly, but her sudden outburst caused her to lose her balance. As graceful as Yuna was, she could not catch herself. The energy field closed in on her, as she started to descend toward it. However, a hand gripping her arm suddenly halted her movement.
Yuna did not bother to look back, as all her focus was on Tidus and his pain. He was now on both knees and breathing heavily, but the energy surge from the whip had stopped. It still held against his bare upper body, but Lenne had stopped her assault to look back at Yuna.
Wakka, Paine, Gippal, and Baralai were also transfixed on the balcony as well. Even Shuyin had stopped to gaze up also, his features showing a smug look. With everyone's focus on the balcony, and more on the person behind Yuna, she slowly turned around to face whoever had stopped her.
Yuna's facial expression shifted to a horrified and confused look, and as she stepped back onto the balcony, her legs almost gave way.
"Isaaru?!"
After that, Yuna's voice left her. Standing before her was the man she had known for quite a time, and had even battled against him. Nevertheless, back then their goals had been the same, and their feelings mutual. They had been summoners, and Sin had been their enemy.
Now though, Issaru was dressed in black, white, and heavy green robes, his expression blank except for a small smirk. His hand was still holding Yuna's arm, whether he wanted to or had not notice. Yuna jerked her arm back roughly, not taking her disbelieving gaze off him. As she stepped back, his grin grew wider, and more mysterious.
"Nice to see you again, Lady Summoner Yuna."
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A/N: And so the plot thickens! Again! Well, expect this thing to wrap up soon. Only two chapters left! The big battle and an epilogue. Thanks to all those who've reviewed! And please keep on reviewing!