Yay! Chapter Six!!!!

Disclaimer: None of what I'm writing is mine. Except maybe the names of some of the made-up characters... Then again that doesn't really matter. Hehehe! I DON'T OWN FFX2.

Lenne woke to the gentle stroking of someone's hand on her head. She opened her eyes and blinked slowly as she saw Shuyin's chiseled face looking down at her with his usual dull expression.

"I would normally let people take their time sleeping, but we really have to go," he said, standing up when he saw she was awake. Lenne got up groggily and wiped a bit of dirt from the side of her face. She watched as Shuyin knelt by the remains of Lady Yunalesca's statue and felt her heart skip a beat as she remembered what Lady Mayali had told her. There would be more of him in her life than she thought...

"Shuyin, what time is it? Have I been sleeping long?"

Shuyin didn't turn around as he answered her. He continued to examine the rubble, probably looking for a place to start digging. "I don't know, really. An hour. Maybe two. I didn't want to wake you, but we need to start moving or nightfall will make it even harder for us to get back. I've already started moving some of the rock here, but it'll be easier and faster if we work together. Are you up to it?" He looked over her shoulder. "We don't want anyone worrying about you, you know. I'm sure many are looking for you now."

Shuyin let his stare linger for a second too long, making Lenne uneasy. Does he know? "I suppose." She got up, stretched a bit and made her way to the mess, rubbing her hands together before grabbing hold of a fairly huge rock and rolling it away with a grunt. "My, that was heavy." She was about to get hold of another rock when something dropped by her feet. "Huh?" She looked down and saw it was a glove. Shuyin's glove. The other one dropped next to it, causing a small cloud of dust to rise.

Shuyin continued working with incredibly big boulders. He didn't look at her at all. He was going to work with his bare hands. "Use those. They're too big for you, but at least you won't bruise your hands."

Lenne looked at him for a moment and than picked up the gloves, slipping them over her tender hands. They were huge. She wriggled her fingers inside it and wordlessly went back to work.

They worked without talking. Lenne hated every minute of that thirty minute episode. She would have loved to talk to this mysterious guy, maybe ask him a bit about himself. But she decided against it, not because she was afraid that Shuyin would just ignore her, but because Shuyin didn't look like he wanted to talk. He was so serious.

What journey would we possibly have and survive when we hardly even talk to each other? Lenne wondered as she straightened when Shuyin shoved the boulder aside that finally gave way to an opening big enough for them to squeeze through. Taking off the gloves, she handed it back to him and smiled. "Thank you." She gasped as Shuyin reached for the gloves with one hand. "Shuyin! You're bleeding!"

"What? Oh, that," he mumbled, not really interested at the bleeding scratches on his palms. Lenne grabbed his wrists and turned his palms toward her.

"You've scraped your hands raw. Those will sting." She dug into her pocket and produced one potion, handing it over to him. "Here, take this."

Shuyin looked at it slowly, took it then rubbed it between his hands. He took the gloves from her and then slipped it on. "Let's go." He clambered over the rubble then turned around and offered her his hand. "Come on. Take my hand."

Lenne did so, and he pulled her up effortlessly. Again she was impressed by his strength. She wondered what he did for a living.

There was still a bit of light out, but they didn't waste their time in getting out of there. Lenne pulled her hood on and was surprised when she saw Shuyin did the same. She wondered for probably the fifth time that day what he was hiding from.

"So," Lenne muttered as they silently made their way up the back road that led to the freeway.

"Hm?" Shuyin asked, glancing at her quickly, then looking away again.

Lenne listened to the crunching of dead branches beneath her boots, then said, "Please come to the concert tomorrow. I promise you, you won't be sorry."

Shuyin's head jerked up, as if surprised, then lowered it again. "I'll see if I can."

Lenne exhaled sharply. "Oh, come on. It's not like you'd be doing anything important tomorrow night."

Shuyin coughed uncomfortably. "Not really."

"Then you'll come?" Lenne asked excitedly. She didn't even know why she was so persistent.

Shuyin once again let a few moments of silence pass before he finally nodded faintly. "Sure."

By the time they reached the freeway, the sun was already hiding behind the tallest building to the west. Shuyin watched as Lenne squatted tiredly next to him.

She let out a really exhausted breath, gathering her hair over her left shoulder. Once again, Shuyin could not believe a human person could actually maintain such long hair and not get it in tangles after a brush with death. "Whew! We made it."

Shuyin looked around the freeway. There weren't many people out. And again, he wondered why. "I'll hail you a hover. It'll take you to the City Square."

"Huh? What about you?"

Shuyin felt his lips compress. It was too embarrassing to say. "I don't have any money for a hover."

"That's okay. I'll pay."

He shook his head. "I'd rather walk. It'll do me good." The truth was, he was dead tired and he wanted to go home. But he just didn't want to ride a hover.

He didn't trust machina.

"Shuyin, you've been running around all day. It'll be quicker for you if you ride with me."

"I'll be okay. Here's one now." He stuck out his hand on the freeway and the hover halted swiftly in front of them. It looked hideous, like a metal cart with a huge propeller behind it. "Get on."

Lenne stubbornly shook her head. "I think I'd rather have you ride with me." She turned to the driver of the hover. The old man gave them a bored look. "We're not riding."

"She's riding." Shuyin faced Lenne. "Now get on."

"Where d'ya wanna go?" the driver asked, looking at them both with droopy eyes. He looked like he was going to fall asleep right where he sat.

Lenne turned to Shuyin. "If you're not going, I'm not going."

"Get on." Shuyin then turned back to the driver. "Take her to the City Square."

The driver peered at Lenne's face. Lenne pulled her hood closer to cover her face. "Get on, miss."

Shuyin frowned. "Well? We don't have all day. Get on." He hesitated, then said, "I'll see you tomorrow night."

This seemed to cheer her up. "Okay." She climbed onboard and settled herself behind the driver, who didn't look like he cared whether or not she took the ride. "Take care of yourself, Shuyin."

Shuyin blinked slowly and made himself look her in the eye. He wanted to see those eyes before she left. Such beautiful eyes. "Take care, Lenne." With that, the hover sped away.

Machina... he really didn't trust them.

-= =-

Lenne had a bored expression on her face as she listened to Choras deliver her litany. Last night, she thought she had gotten away with it, sneaking into her room without getting noticed, but woke up the next day with Choras' face inches from hers, her stern expression set, then she strong-armed her into telling the truth of where she had been and what happened. When she found out, she got even madder.

She talked for hours, about responsibility to other people, about not forgetting to tell her when she's going out and when she'll be back. It went on, and on, and on, and on, and on and on...

"Choras, haven't I apologized enough?" She asked, frustration seeping into her voice.

"You most certainly have not, young lady. You should have told me. I should have been there for you when you became a Summoner." The very thought momentarily distracted her. "My Lenne! A Summoner!" She quickly reverted to her stern look when the thought passed and rounded on her again. "I was worried about you. You have to introduce me to that young man - what's his name? – Shin – "

"– Shuyin."

"Yes, Shuyin. If it weren't for him, you would have been sent to the Farplane by now." She giggled. Giggled! Choras never giggled! "Is he good-looking? I bet he's fallen for you that's why he protected you."

Lenne grimaced. "Hardly. He didn't have any choice. I gave him a ticket for my concert tonight. I don't know if he'll come. He said he will, but I'm not counting on it, really. He didn't seem the type to like music."

"Oh, he'll come. I mean, the Sngstress herself invitaed him."

Lenne laughed timidly. "That's the point. He didn't know who I was."

"Don't be silly, girl. Everyone knows you."

"Apparently not." Lenne stood up and stretched a bit. "I'll be rehearsing now. If he comes, I'll introduce him to you. If he comes." She turned to her nanny and smiled sheepishly. "I really am sorry, Choras. Tonight will be the finale of Lenne, the Songstress. And after that, Summoner Lenne will be introduced."

"You really are leaving, aren't you?" Choras asked sadly.

Lenne nodded. "But as promised, after I finish my pilgrimage, I'll be back." She turned to leave.

-= =-

That night, Shuyin got ready to go for the 1000 Word Concert of the Songstress. For Lenne's concert. The whole day, he had been making up his mind whether or no to go. He decided to see her sing.

But that was the hard part to understand. Why did he want to go? He didn't like crowds, and he didn't like music.

Could it be that I like Lenne?

The very thought made him blush. What would a beautiful, famous personality see in him anyway?

He left his apartment and started off to the theatre, his ticket, already rumpled and ripped in one part clutched in his hand. He walked aimlessly, his thoughts in the clouds when suddenly, a body crashed head on with him. He felt his feet leave the ground and he saw himself sprawled on the floor. He looked around and saw people passing by stare at him for a moment then continue on their way.

"I'm sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going." Said a voice from in front of him. He looked at the man who had knocked him down. He, too, was on the ground, gathering what looked like a sphere recorder from the floor. He was such an odd fellow. He was wearing black robes that looked too big for him and a tiara that kept on falling on his eyes.

"Don't worry. It's nothing." Shuyin stood up and tried to help the guy up. He was tall and gangly, with thick glasses on the tip of his long nose. He appeared to be in his early twenties. "Are you all right?"

The man nodded, clutching the sphere recorder in his arms. "Yes thank you." He looked at Shuyin and smiled a toothy grin, then his eyes fell into his hand with the ticket. He groaned in agony. "You've got a ticket! How come you have one? I was sold out."

Shuyin looked at the ticket in his hands. "Oh, this? I got it two days ago."

The man whined. "I came all the way from Luca just to watch Lady Lenne perform. I got here just this afternoon and lined up for seven hours straight just to get a ticket. All that way for nothing!" He looked like he was going to cry. But then again, he couldn't blame him. He looked at he guy from head to foot. He was dirty. He probably traveled on foot, left Luca the moment he knew of the concert.

Shuyin held out his ticket. "Here. Have mine."

The guy looked like he was going to have a heart attack. "Are you serious?"

Shuyin, paused for a moment, suddenly hearing Lenne's voice echo in his mind. Please come to the concert tomorrow. I promise you, you won't be sorry. He sighed, then smiled. "Take it. I really wasn't going to watch it."

The guy was hyperventilating as he gingerly took the ticket from him as if it were a piece of very thin glass. "Oh, thank you! Thank you! You don't know how much this means to me!" He looked at Shuyin. "My name is Maechen. I owe you a lot." He bowed down deeply.

Shuyin scratched his head, embarrassed. "Don't mention it, Maechen. Just go and have fun." He suddenly remembered what Lenne said. "That's front row center. A lot of people will kill for that ticket. So enjoy it."

Maechen laughed hysterically and nodded, then scuttled away. "I can't believe I actually got a ticket!" Shuyin heard him say.

Somehow, Shuyin felt happy, knowing he had helped someone. But what he couldn't understand was his deep disappointment when he realized he was not going to see Lenne tonight.

And probably, when she finds out I didn't keep my promise, not ever.

-= =-

The theatre was packed. Lenne took a bow as the crowd erupted into crazy applause as she finished her third song that night. As she straightened, her sight once again lingered on the front row of the lined seats near the stage, and again, her face fell.

He didn't even show.

The degree of disappointment surprised her. It was not like it should matter, but it did. She was momentarily distracted when she saw a tall man in a dark robe stand on his chair. He almost fell off when he raised his sphere recorder over his head. Lenne couldn't help but laugh. What an oddball. Giggling softly, she jumped off the stage. The crowd went wild! Everyone reached out for their hand to be touched by the famous Songstress. She went down the line of eager fans until he made it to the silly man.

This is where Shuyin is supposed to sit.

"Lady Lenne! Lady Lenne! Oh, what an honor!" he completely abandoned his sphere recorder to the ground and lunged at Lenne as if to tackle her. Lenne screamed bloody murder and was immediately taken aback when the man sprawled to the ground like a gecko a few feet from her.

Lenne peered down at him cautiously as she would an animal trampled by a chocobo. "A-are you all right?"

The man looked like he had died, but bolted to a standing position after a few seconds. His thick glasses almost fell from his nose. Lenne staggered a few steps back, honestly frightened by his enthusiasm.

Lenne smiled uncertainly. "Uh – hello..." She reached out and shook his hand.
The man almost fainted. "Oh, Lenne! Hello. My name is Maechen! I came all the way from Luca just to watch you sing for the last time. I'm you're biggest fan! I almost wasn't able to get in but this nice young man, he gave me his ticket instead, he looked kind of depressed, but then again, who wouldn't? He missed your concert because he felt sorry for me... May Yevon bless his soul."

At that moment, Lenne felt the noise of the crowd mute down at what she heard. Shuyin...you feather-headed chocobo... She found herself smiling to herself, feeling rather idiotic. Shuyin did not come not because he didn't want to!

Lenne laughed for the whole theatre to hear. "Hi, everybody! I hope you're having a great time!"

The crowd roared.

"Well, as you all know, this will be my last performance. I will surely miss you. You al have been so god to me. I really appreciate your support."

Suddenly, the loud ruckus quieted down. Everyone was listening to her. Everyone wanted to hear.

Lenne made her way up the stage and sighed loudly. "I really do love singing for you. I've grown up on the stage, and this is the only time I will stop what I was only to become what I want to be. Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday, I had officially become a SUmmoner."

Everyone gasped. After a moment of silence, however, they started to clap. A smatter of applause broke through the crowd.

Lenne felt tears well up in her eyes. "Thank you. You're all too kind. After this concert, I will start my pilgrimage."

This time, no one clapped.

"I will be leaving alone. But I am not unhappy. I am doing this for the benefit of my people, and so I have no regrets. My cause remains the same, whether I be on the Summoner's ranks or under the spotlight. I only have just one request; please let me be in your memories forever. Never forget me, because I will surely never forget you. Tonight, my friends, I will see my very first star... This song is for all of you."

She raised her mike to her mouth, let her eyes wander among the crowd, and when her sight fell on the edge of the queue at the very back of the theatre, the words just froze in her throat.

There, in the shadows, at the farthest corner of the room, was...

"Shuyin..." she heard herself whisper.

The crowd began to murmur in confusion, wondering what was going on. Each, one by one, turned their heads to the area where the Songstress was looking.

Lenne smiled. "You came..." she said hoarsely.

(Author's note: You know that weird guy, right? He had the big secret in FFX-2? Hint! Hint! Hint! He was in the sphere Zanarkand's Prime... Yup, that's him!)