I've read your reviews and one of you (Hi there! You know who you are!) gave a comment on Sin not being there and Yevon not existing yet. =) Sorry for the inconsistency as compared to the game. It's really embarrassing for me, and I really don't want to look bad in front of my readers so I'll try to find a loophole for that mistake. Wehehehe! Yevon is a principle of belief that gave the people hope during the 1000 years of Sin's time. By ffx2, people ceased to believe Yevon since Sin has disappeared though there are still some who can't let go of the religion. Temples of Yevon were erected all around Spira and the main was in Bevelle, so I assumed that the belief started from Bevelle, who won the Machina war, thus destroying Zanarkand. Once again, I assumed that since they won over Zanarkand, who probably had a different belief that's why they dropped the bomb on them, their belief spread over Spira's farthest regions, giving people false hopes and misled objectives. Perhaps, Yevon was already there existing in Bevelle 1000 years ago during Lenne and Shuyin's time, but not everyone in Spira had the same insight, thus resulting to misunderstandings... Right?
Oh, and the reason why I keep on using "Oh, Yevon!" as a cuss thing, is because I think it would sound better than "Oh, God!" Hehehehe! Boy, that was long! I really have to cover up my mistakes bigtime, DarkRonan! Thanks for pointing it out!
NOW it's chapter 8 time!!! Yay!!!
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I really don't own FFX-2...
Shuyin's breath caught in his throat and he felt his muscles tighten at the abomination he saw in the gaping hole, although he somehow assumed that this was what he will be seeing all along. There, sitting quite comfortably in the blown away portion of the wall, was a disfigured body of a man, patches of skin and hair were already burned away obviously from the explosion. It was a suicidal attack. They probably knew that once they get in the theatre, they won't be able to get out without being caught. And so they killed themselves.
Shuyin's eyes traveled from one part of the theatre to another, fearing the worst. There could be more of them...
The people had nearly evacuated, however slow and noisy. The stench of burning human flesh made his stomach churn violently. He was about to leave the area and look around some more when Lenne suddenly materialized beside him.
"What are you doing here?" Shuyin demanded, grabbing her aside, but it was too late. She saw the corpse. He watched as Lenne's eyes – such beautiful eyes – widen, then she bent forward and began to throw up her dinner. Shuyin rubbed her back worriedly. "I told you not to follow, Lenne. Where is Maechen?"
At that instant, Maechen came staggering from the crowd. "I'm sorry! The people, they trampled me... and when I looked back, she was gone and - " It was his time to see the corpse, and, like Lenne, he started to vomit.
Shuyin pulled Lenne upright and brushed away from her face matted locks of hair. "Breathe. Long and deep breathes. That's right. You'll be fine. Now get out of here. It isn't safe."
She shook her head stubbornly. "No. I'll stay here with you."
Maechen belched.
Shuyin groaned. "Not now, Lenne. You can be assertive when you're not in danger."
"What? My life isn't in danger."
Shuyin felt his anger boil down to the surface. Why did she have to be this difficult? He pointed to the dead body. "Lenne, that man is wearing a red uniform. He's holding a bladed gun. Do you know what that means? That means he is a Bevelle soldier. Bigger things are happening now. Things neither you nor I understand. And as far as I know or as far as I'd let myself care, this has something to do with war. You know it's been a while now. And Bevelle isn't exactly the friendly type."
Lenne listened to him in disbelief. "But... why my concert?"
Shuyin shook his head. "The psychology of war is hard to understand." He touched her shoulder and squeezed it timidly. "Are you okay?"
Lenne swallowed. "I suppose."
"That's a good girl. Are you ready to find a place to stay?"
Her answer almost made him rip his hair out. "No."
"Lenne!"
"No, Shuyin. I am a Summoner now. The more reason why I should stay. "
Unfortunately, he was completely stumped with that reply. The truth was, he was really worried about more than just Lenne. People could have gotten hurt.
People could have died.
Shuyin sighed, then took Lenne's hand in his. "Let's go, Lenne. Let's get out of here."
She looked suspicious, probably expecting a fight that he would stay and she should go. After a moment, she nodded. "All right."
Shuyin nodded back grimly, motioning for Maechen to follow them. The theatre was deserted, and their footsteps echoed in the sudden silence that replaced the sounds of cheering and music of earlier. This was not what Shuyin was expecting from Lenne's concert. He was expecting maybe him congratulating her for the great performance and he even expected that he will learn to appreciate such form of entertainment. But not this. This was too much even for him.
Again, he wondered why people ever have to start a war in order to have peace. It was a complete paradox to him. That in order for a side to win, the other side had to be totally obliterated. It was just a cycle, a never-ending cycle of hatred and grief. And to him, it was utterly pointless. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt pressure on his right hand. It was only then did he remember he was holding her hand. He looked down at her and felt his heart ache. She looked tired. And frightened. And confused. She didn't deserve any of this.
"Hey. Are you all right?" he asked, nudging her a bit as they made their way to the backstage, a sickly Maechen following behind.
She met his gaze with those eyes and frowned. It didn't suit her. She should smile all the time. "Shuyin, is it because you don't trust me?"
That was a weird question. He stopped walking and tried to let go of her hand, but Lenne held on. "What do you mean?"
Lenne bit her lip, then said, "You wanted me to get out of the line of danger, even though you knew I am already a Summoner. Is it because you don't think I can handle it?"
Shuyin's eyebrows raised incredulously. "That never even brushed my afterthought."
"Then why?"
He opened his mouth to say something, but found out that he didn't really have any explanation why he didn't want her there. "I don't know."
Lenne didn't stop there. Maechen was watching them a few feet away, his face a pale green color. "Then at the Temple, you could have easily run off from the Tonberry the other way, away from the Temple, but you chose to stay and help me get to the Chamber of the Fayth. You risked your life for me then, coz you knew I needed to get there. Is it because you didn't think I could do it alone?"
"I don't know."
She tugged at his arm roughly. "Tell me. You think I'm weak, don't you?"
Shuyin was flabbergasted. "What? Lenne, I never thought of you as weak. It never even occurred to me that was how you thought I felt about it. I just..." he looked away. "I just didn't want you to get hurt."
That made her shut up. She looked at him silently for a moment, then she broke into a smile. "I see." Then she started off to the backstage, dragging him along. Maechen lumbered along, groaning and complaining about his stomach.
Shuyin shook his hand free, embarrassed. Lenne glanced back at him questioningly. "Let's go," he said, brushing past her to the curtains. He had to make sure there weren't any soldiers holding more bombs or rifles that would put anyone in danger.
Lenne followed him, skipping and when she reached his side, she grabbed his arm and grinned up at him. It freaked Shuyin out, that grin. "What?" he mumbled uncomfortably.
Lenne shook her head, her long hair swishing down her back. "Nothing."
Shuyin felt the hair stand at the back of his neck. She was such a happy girl. "Why... why are you smiling at me like that?"
"Because I feel like it."
"You're freaking me out. Stop it."
"But I can't help it."
"Help it. You're really freaking me out."
She giggled, but didn't say anything. She didn't let go of his arm, either. They went all the way to the back exit, where the wind was starting to pick up from the south, from Mt. Gagazet. Lenne stopped laughing when she saw Zanarkand soldiers gathering at the entrance of the place. When they were spotted, three of the soldiers hurried to them, ignoring both Lenne and Shuyin, but immediately intercepting Maechen, who didn't know what was happening.
"Hey, what's going on?" Lenne asked as she watched them take the silly fellow away.
Shuyin didn't bother to listen. He looked around and saw hovers parked at the far side of the square, filled with people. The rest of the crowd was huddled in the other side. He squinted at the hover and saw a little old lady in clothes unmistakably from Kilika. Beside her was a middle-aged man who looked like he was from Luca, like Maechen. They're taking away people who came from other towns. Shuyin turned to Lenne who was still trying to weasel information from the soldiers. He watched as they dragged a panicking Maechen to the hover.
"Take it easy, big guy. You're not alone there," Shuyin said as the fellow in black robes passed him. Partly he felt sorry. The guy did help Lenne out. But he knew that this was what should be done. Anyone could be a potential suspect, since it was obvious someone had smuggled explosives in the city, be it Bevelle soldiers in disguise. It was great timing, too. It was so busy the whole week for Lenne's concert that no one could have kept track of the visitors entering the premises.
Lenne pouted at the guards as they ignored her. She must not be used to being ignored. Shuyin patted her arm and said, "It's been a weird night. You should go have your rest. I'll take you home."
Lenne looked at him, long and hard. "No."
"Not again, Lenne. Don't be – "
"Shuyin, my pilgrimage begins tonight. I can't go home."
Shuyin could feel his heart skipping a beat. She's leaving... "But you're all alone. You can't possibly think of leaving all by yourself?"
Lenne looked at him sadly. "However tonight might have ended, I still have to go. And yes, I will be going alone."
"Why?"
"Because, Shuyin... I have to."
Shuyin felt the world stop turning for him. Lenne was leaving, Bevelle was ready to charge. Zanarkand was starting to lose whatever charm it had. And the thoughts of the night when he and Lenne met started to haunt him. He was never contented with what life gave him, doing the things that he was good at and never trying to do the things he didn't know he could do because he was a coward.
And then Lenne came...Lenne was about to walk away when Shuyin's hand suddenly shot out and grabbed her wrist. "Wait."
She stared at him, confused. "What?"
Shuyin took a deep breath and sighed. "I'll come with you."