Hi. =) Regardless of my plans of updating everyday, I don't think I'll be able to update as often now. I still am not convinced if a lot of people are interested to read Lenne's pilgrimage, so I guess I'll wait for more R and R. (Yuugiri: How egotistical can you get? Yuugiri: Hey! I also want to feel appreciated!) So this may be the last chapter for now, until I see if people want me to continue. (Yuugiri: So u'd better damn make reviews for my fic!!! Yuugiri: Sheesh! You're pathetic!!!) That was me arguing with me. =)

Oh, and I think I made a booboo! That was a spoiler, I guess I should have warned you. I read it in some walkthrough. Maechen's big secret is that he is really an unsent and... hehehe! Well, anyway, he was that in the sphere.

Disclaimer: I do not own FFX-2 and anything related to it. When I do, I'll inform you immediately.

Shuyin was looking up at the typical Zanarkand sky when he heard the crowd roar in delight at the end of the third song. He was sitting on the marble stone steps that led up to the Theatre where he could hear muffled music coming from inside. For some unexplainable reason, he could not bring himself to walk away and go home. So instead, he had settled on the place where he could be nearest to Lenne's concert. He was not alone, though. Those people who were not able to purchase tickets were scattered within the place, some moping while some had dozed off on patches of grass around tall trees rooted to the pavement.

He had tried to walk away, but it seemed like an unseen force was dragging him to wait there.

His ears prickled as he became aware of the silence coming from within the dome-like theatre, except for more muffled talking. Lenne was probably giving a speech. He stood up and started to walk to the far wall of the building, rummaging through the bushes like a slinking cat. What the heck am I doing? He could swear that he could hear the voice from somewhere near the bushes...

And sure enough, when he reached further into the bushes, he saw a small square vent that lay wide open. The screens were burnt open, as if explosives were used to open it and it looked like a job done not too long ago

This is probably where little kids sneak into just to get a free peak in performances.

The vent looked promising. He dropped to his hands and knees, looked around before finally plunging into the dark opening. It was a tight fit around the shoulders, but he was still able to craw his way through. As he got father and farther away from where he came from, he could hear the voice talking grow louder and clearer. It was definitely Lenne.

"... Leaving alone. But I am not unhappy. I am doing this for the benefit of my people, and so I have no regrets." She was saying, her voice magnified by a microphone. "My cause remains the same, whether I be on the Summoner's ranks or under the spotlight. I only have just one request..." Shuyin popped out of the other end of the vent and gratefully stretched his broad shoulders. It was really cramped in there! He discovered he had ended up at the very back portion of the theatre, but because it was elevated there, he could see Lenne, there in the middle of the stage. Yevon, she was beautiful! It appeared as if her presence jumped out from the stage, however tiny she was from his point of view. She was wearing a long thin silver dress that looked like it was made from mist. Shuyin inched forward a bit as she began to talk again. "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."

Shuyin watched as she raised her mike to her mouth, scanned her spectators and freeze. "Shuyin..." she whispered faintly.

She can see me. His thoughts spun. She knows I'm here. And she's glad.

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.

Shuyin watched as Lenne smiled. "You came..." she said hoarsely.

He felt himself nod as if encouraging her to continue with her song.

She nodded back at him and music filled the theatre, followed by her singing.

"Little star, I know you're there.

Somewhere looking down at me.

Shining bright though I know I can't see you.

Little star, oh please make my wish come true...

"Heaven cried a million tears

when she saw you leave me.

I cried a million eternities just to rid the pain

But now you're back, so please never leave again.

"The sun witnessed poems

I've written just for you.

A thousand words of endless prose

But all could be summed up in three little words.

"I love you...

could it be that

I need you...

"Could it be that like the stars

You're there but I don't notice?

But all I need are two little things;

Just you and your promise...

"That you love me too..."

The truth was, Shuyin never understood those words. He was too busy listening to Lenne herself as she continued her singing. Everyone in the Theatre was swaying to the melody as the lights on the stage dimmed, lighting Lenne with a single spotlight on top of her.

He felt himself swaying along. She's a sorceress. She can put everyone under her spell with a few notes...

He was too busy looking at Lenne that he didn't even realize she had finished the song. Everyone warmly gave her a standing ovation.

"Thank you, everyone. I will surely miss you... Please - "

Before Lenne could finish with her last speech for that night, an explosion came from directly above the theatre dome, sending debris and dirt to rain down on everyone.

"What the - !?" Shuyin hissed as his reflexes sprang into action. The crowd was now in a frenzy, everyone going fro one direction to another, screaming at the top of their lungs. Then came more explosions, this time from the right side of the stage.

Shuyin gasped, as he tried to elbow his way forward. "Lenne!"

He couldn't see her anymore. The last thing he saw of her was her startled face when the first explosion happened, then the people went wild. He didn't know what was going on until he made it to the stage, where Lenne was down on the ground, unconscious with Maechen kneeling in front of her, a determined look on his thin face.

"What's going on?" Maechen called to him as Shuyin slid to a stop next to Lenne's unmoving body.

Shuyin looked over his shoulder to the place where the second explosion came, and only one observation drew back at him. There was an open vent ... Someone tried to sneak in, not because they wanted to watch the concert. Someone wanted to sabotage it.

Shuyin cradled Lenne's head in his arms, slapping her gently on the cheeks. "Lenne. Lenne! Wake up! It's not time yet for you to go to sleep. Your pilgrimage, you have to go on with the pilgrimage."

After a couple more slaps, Lenne's eyes fluttered open. "Shuyin? What...?"

"Get up. Go with Maechen." Shuyin turned to the lanky fellow. He was starting to gain more respect for him. He, of all the people in this theatre, was the only one who had stayed behind.

The people were starting to block up the two passages on either sides of the theatre. Everyone was in a hurry to get out in fear that there would be a next explosion. Women were starting to cry and men were already fighting each other to get to the exit first.

Shuyin cursed under his breath as he handed a very weak Lenne to Maechen. "Take care of her. Get her out as fast as you can." He didn't wait for a reply. He pushed himself up and dashed to where the second explosion had happened, ignoring Lenne's calls to him

This was not his week. Everything seemed to be going wrong. He pushed himself against the panicking crowd and almost slid as he skidded to a stop by a gaping hole at the right side of the theatre.

There was only one word that was swimming in his brain at that very moment, anger and hatred welling up in his chest. Bevelle.

He covered his nose with his forearm and edged closer to the hole...

And gasped at what he saw.

"Oh, no..." He heard himself murmur hoarsely. "Oh, no..."