DISCLAIMER: I do not own FFX or FFX-2 or any of the characters or places associated with it. I do, however, own the twisted idea for this story.
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Author's Notes: A bit of a dramatic chapter (although I suppose the last chapter could be considered that too. I hope nobody liked Jecht…lol). Anyway, should be wrapping this story up in another chapter or two.
TWISTED DESTINY
by akksgurl
Chapter Twenty-Five: You Must Stop
In less than one day, and just as many hours, another shot rang through Besaid. And just like before, fear gripped Yuna's heart, but instead of vanishing as soon as she realized she wasn't hurt, this fear clamped onto Yuna's heart like a vice and refused to let go.
She extricated herself from her father's arms where he still sat on the ground and made a mad dash toward the tent where Jecht had gone to visit who he thought was Tidus. Yuna heard footsteps hounding at her heels, but couldn't focus on who might be following her. All she could think of was one word. No.
If Jecht hurt Tidus…she'd kill him herself.
She flung the curtain open and charged into the room only to be brought to a halt by the sight she saw. Shuyin, wearing Tidus' body, was standing over Jecht. In his hand was one of her pistols, still smoking from the shot she'd heard. Jecht was crumpled on the ground much like Yuna's father had been, only Jecht wasn't moving and there was a hole in his head right between the eyes.
The curtain flew open behind Yuna and Shuyin wretched his face from Jecht's body to theirs, a wicked smile on his features. Yuna felt her blood run cold. Auron moved tentatively toward Shuyin, one step at a time, but then the blonde let out a strange sort of laugh and Auron stopped. Shuyin sneered at him, "Don't bother tip-toeing Auron. Come over here and try to stop me." He dared, waving the gun around, "I'll be happy to show you the same hospitality I showed the old man."
"Why…?" Yuna managed, motioning with her hands for Auron to stand down. This was her mess. She needed to fix it, "I thought you loved your father."
Shuyin seemed to consider her words for a while before saying, "Its funny, really. I thought I did too." He shrugged, "Then I realized he's no better than those Bevelle soldiers who gunned Lenne and I down just because we made them mad."
"So you shot him? Because he reminded you of the soldiers?" Yuna took a small step forward, hoping her questions would render him incapable of noticing her infinitesimal movements.
Shuyin showed no indication that he noticed her move as he said, "No, I shot him because he deserved it." He lifted his eyes to hers and Yuna stopped in mid-step, "Do you know that he had the audacity to come in here and ask me for forgiveness?" he smirked ruefully, "Well, he asked Tidus for forgiveness. Then in the same breath admitted that he'd always loved me more than Tidus." He glared down at the body of his father, "He actually said that the reason he used to beat Tidus until he couldn't stand was because Tidus was too much of a goodie-goodie. Can you believe that?"
"But Tidus wouldn't have wanted you to do that to him."
Shuyin glared at her, "Trust me, he's not bawling."
Yuna's ears perked up at that and she took a tentative step forward, "He knows what you did? How?"
"He's watching. He can't stop me, but he knows what I'm doing." Shuyin smirked at her, "If he was in control he'd have vomited at the sight of Jecht's blood. Tidus never had a stomach for carnage…"
Yuna was tempted to tell Shuyin that it was a good thing, but opted to keep her mouth shut.
A movement of blue caught Yuna's attention as Seymour moved closer to her left side, "Will you allow me to help Jecht? I'm sure the two of you can come to some sort of understanding."
Shuyin looked at the maester as if noticing he was there for the first time. Yuna figured he probably was. The blonde shifted his gaze from Jecht to Seymour several times before finally settling back on Seymour, "What? You actually think I'm going to let you cure him?" Shuyin let out a chilling laugh and Yuna unconsciously shuddered, "You've got to be joking. Spira's better off now that the old man is dead. Besides, don't waste your time. All of Spira will be gone soon enough."
"And how do you plan on doing that, Shuyin?" Auron demanded, "You won't be able to get down to Vegnagun."
Wakka tapped Yuna on the shoulder, "What's a Vegnagun, ya? And I thought you said his name was Tidus…"
Shuyin laughed, "Oh Yuna…too bad you won't be able to explain to your confused friends all about your boyfriend's dead twin possessing him." He extended his hand and Yuna suddenly found herself staring down the barrel of her pistol. She shot a look at Seymour. She knew she shouldn't have taken them in the first place, "Come along now, dear. We have a long trip ahead of us."
"What do you plan on doing?" she asked, not moving a muscle.
He motioned with the gun, "Haven't you ever heard of captives, Yuna? Now come on. I'd hate to have to wound you."
"Somehow I doubt that." She snapped.
He smirked at her, "You're right. I'd rather enjoy it, actually. You're becoming quite a pain."
Yuna sighed. She wasn't going to be able to do anything standing there aside from endangering the lives of those around her. She needed to go with him. Maybe once they were alone she'd be able to convince him to stop this ridiculous crusade. She stiffened her spine in her last act of defiance and took a step forward, and another, and another until she was within grabbing distance of Shuyin. That's exactly what he did. He grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her roughly around until her back was pressed against his front and the pistol was wedged firmly against her hip.
He grinned at her friends, "Now then, I think I'll be going." He pushed Yuna forward, her friends obediently moving to the side to allow them to pass but to her surprise Shuyin stopped suddenly at the door. He turned his head toward Seymour, "Oh yes, before I forget." Yuna felt the pressure of the gun ease at her waist and before she knew what was happening, Shuyin aimed it at Seymour and fired.
She let out a strangled scream as Seymour fell to the ground and Shuyin nudged the weapon back at her hip with a sigh, "Much better. Now we don't have to worry about any pesky dead people coming back to life…" he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Or any pesky living people trying to send the dead."
"You won't get away with this." She hissed at him.
Shuyin laughed, "And whose going to stop me?" he asked, nudging her in the bottom, "You?"
Yuna turned her head to face him but Auron's movement toward Seymour caught her eye and she unwittingly gave him away to Shuyin. The blitzer moved the gun again, "Step away from the carcass, Auron. I don't want to have to kill you too…at least not right now."
Auron lifted his hands in the air in surrender and took a step away, "This is really unnecessary, Shuyin."
"And it was necessary for you to mess up my life?"
"I did nothing like that."
Shuyin scoffed, "If you hadn't gotten the plans for Vegnagun, I never would have gone down there."
"I didn't make you." Auron snapped back, "Take some responsibility for your own actions."
Shuyin rolled his eyes, "Yes, absolutely Saint Auron. Remind me to repent my ways after I finish this one little errand." He pushed Yuna forward through the curtained doorway, holding onto the collar of her shirt. He glanced over his shoulder and threw a parting smirk at those remaining inside, "Don't follow us. I'll kill her if you make me."
"You'll kill her anyway." Auron retorted.
Shuyin winked at him, "Ah, but if you follow, I'll make sure she suffers before she dies."
He pushed her again until they both broke into the sunlight outside of the hut. Her father was no longer sitting on the ground. He'd risen to his feet and was sitting on a bench to the side of the road. Yuna turned her head toward Shuyin, "Please don't scare him."
Shuyin's eyes flashed but he nodded and moved the weapon to her other hip, away from her father's line of sight, "I don't see why." He whispered in her ear, "He'll find out from the others anyway."
"I don't want him to know just yet."
"Whatever."
Braska rose slowly from his seat, "Yuna, where are you going?"
Shuyin pulled Yuna to an abrupt stop and slid his arm around her neck in a mock lover's embrace while wedging the gun more firmly against her hip. Yuna smiled softly at her father, "Shu…er…Tidus and I are going for a walk."
"What were those gunshots? Was someone hurt?" Braska turned his attentions to the hut, "Where is Jecht?"
Shuyin snorted angrily, "Stop with the questions, old man." He lifted the gun from Yuna's hip to put it on Yuna's temple, "She didn't want you to know but you're too damned nosy. I'm taking her with me. Then Spira is going to die."
Braska took a step toward Shuyin and Yuna, "I won't let you hurt my daughter."
"You don't have much of a choice in the matter." Shuyin replied, tightening his grip on Yuna and turning the gun toward Braska, "I'd back off if I were you, old man. The blue-haired sorcerer won't be able to help you anymore."
Yuna grabbed the hand Shuyin had wrapped around her waist and squeezed, "Please don't hurt him. Please, Shuyin."
Shuyin scoffed and put the gun back to her hip, "Fine. Have it your way." He glared at Braska and then traveled his eyes back toward the hut where the others were watching tentatively from the curtains, "I'll say this one more time. If anybody follows us, I'll make sure she suffers before the Farplane takes her."
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If he wasn't so damn weak he'd have been able to help her by now, but there was nothing Tidus could do. He felt languid. He wanted to move his arms and legs. He wanted to regain control of all his motor functions, but found himself unable to do anything but watch in mute horror at the carnage his brother was displaying. Tidus had only been mildly surprised that Jecht was alive and well. The same for Yuna's father. What had shocked him was when Shuyin had shot Jecht at point blank range. He hadn't expected it. That flash of fear in Jecht's eyes right before Shuyin pulled the trigger would forever be etched in Tidus' memory.
What would also be forever etched in his memory was the underground tunnels leading to Vegnagun. This was the third time he'd been down there and the second time he'd been there without willing himself to do so. Shuyin was pushing Yuna along and guards were moving out of the way just as quickly. Tidus was angry that nobody seemed to want to even try to help Yuna. There were so many of them and only one of Shuyin. Surely someone could have done something, but instead they were all ducking away like frightened children.
The double doors leading to Vegnagun came into view and Shuyin began to move faster, shoving Yuna along. She was stumbling in front of him, tripping over her own feet. Tidus wished he could do something – anything – to help her, but he couldn't. He could only pray that somebody could save her soon.
The colossus looked just as he remembered it. It still took up most of the room and it still looked like a giant monster resting comfortably on the floor. The only difference was that there was now a certain look of decay on it. It was 1000 years old, after all, possibly older depending on when Bevelle built it. Tidus hoped it wouldn't work. Now that would be poetic justice.
Shuyin shoved Yuna to the floor and sent the girl sprawling on her stomach, "Thanks for the free ride. You're welcome to try and get out now, but I'll have Spira destroyed before you even make it to the surface."
"You can't do this!" Yuna cried, scrambling to her feet as Shuyin made his way toward Vegnagun, "You'll just be killing innocent people who had nothing to do with you and Lenne!"
Shuyin turned to face her, "Innocent people? You've got to be kidding me. Nobody is innocent in Spira. They're all sinners. The whole lot of them. I'll be saving them from themselves."
Yuna groaned. He was sounding so much like Seymour when he had begun spouting the merits of death during her pilgrimage. She frowned, wondering if Seymour still believed it now that he was dead.
Shuyin was halfway up to Vegnagun's keyboard situated on the machine's head by the time Yuna escaped her reverie. She ran toward him, her arms outstretched.
"You must stop! That's enough!"
Tidus felt Shuyin gasp and suddenly saw his sight cast down upon Yuna who was standing in front of Vegnagun with her arms outstretched. Shuyin stared at her for several long moments. Tidus couldn't imagine what his brother was thinking, but whatever it was he was grateful for it. He felt himself getting stronger.
Several watchers circled through the doorway and stopped directly behind Yuna. Tidus grew ever stronger. Shuyin would be stopped soon.
"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!"
Shuyin suddenly jumped from the top of Vegnagun, "Lenne!" he screamed, grabbing Yuna by the arms and pulling her toward the side exit. Tidus felt Shuyin growing stronger in his panic as he pulled Yuna along beside him.
"Shuyin!" Yuna shouted, "What are you doing!"
"They're going to get us, Lenne! We've gotta keep going!" He tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her along the tunnels in what felt like circles, "I won't let them hurt you again!"
"Shuyin!" she shouted, "Stop!" but Shuyin didn't listen. He kept pulling until Yuna thought her arm was going to come out of its socket. Left through one tunnel, right through another. She didn't think Shuyin knew where he was going. He was in far too much of a panic to pay attention to his surroundings. She could certainly understand his need to run. He was going to be caught. She just wasn't sure why he was calling her Lenne.
Then she realized. He was living it again. Something about Vegnagun must have triggered his memory of that horrible day. If he was reliving everything, then that meant…
Shuyin pulled them through a side door and stopped suddenly causing Yuna to slam into his back. She peered to her right. They were back in Vegnagun's room. She could tell from the way Shuyin's back was tensing and his hand was tightening around hers that they were not alone with the colossus. Visions of ten armed guards danced in her head as she silently replayed the horrible moment she witnessed Shuyin and Lenne's murder and she forced herself to summon her courage and look death in the face.
"Let the girl go."
Yuna gasped and quickly ducked out of her hiding place behind Shuyin's shoulders and sighed with relief. Baralai was their only visitor. He was standing very calmly a few feet away from them with a small pistol aimed directly at Shuyin.
"I won't let you people hurt Lenne." Shuyin replied.
Yuna gripped Shuyin's shoulder gently, "Shuyin…"
The blonde turned his attention to her and then gasped, pulling away from her quickly, "You're not Lenne!" he shouted, "Where's Lenne! What did you do with her!"
Baralai followed Shuyin's movements with the gun and said softly, "Just calm down. There's no need to over react."
"No need to over react!" Shuyin screetched, "Where is my girlfriend!"
"Shuyin…Lenne's dead." Yuna said quietly.
Shuyin covered his ears with his hands like a petulant toddler, "No! No! I won't listen to you. She's fine. She's just angry with me because I messed up our plans so badly, but she'll be proud of me once I finish what we started."
"Shuyin!" Yuna said, making a move toward him.
Shuyin jumped back, "You stay away from me! I'm going to finish this. Then you'll pay for tricking me. Then all of Spira will pay!" he moved as quick as lightening to the top of Vegnagun, standing before the keyboard. He looked down on them hautily, "Try to stop me now!"
"Step away from the keyboard!" Baralai ordered, lifting the gun higher to compensate for Shuyin's sudden height advantage, "Get back down here."
"Shuyin, please!"
To Yuna it all seemed to happen in slow motion.
Shuyin sneered at them from his vantage point and turned back to Vegnagun's control keyboard. Baralai shouted another warning but Shuyin ignored him and began to play the first notes to awaken the colossus. Baralai lifted his gun and shouted again. Shuyin continued to play.
Baralai fired.
