The Day I Died.
Chapter 3. To escape the suffering.
Yuna almost screamed with imagined pain when she woke up. She was panting and her heart seemed to pop out of her chest like it was a tiny, terrified bird in Yuna´s grip, trying desperately to flee.
It seemed that she wasn't the only one who was awake, though the sun hadn't even rise yet. Yuna heard running footsteps so close to her house, and it picked her curiosity. She quickly changed her clothes and she peeked outside; something serious had just happened, and the whole town was in bewilderment. Terrified, hysteric screams were heard in the village, and Yuna lunged out of the house, only to witness a very frightening scene: people ran back and forth, some people cried hysterically when few other people seemed amused.
An old woman, perhaps in her eighties, sobbed uncontrollably in the ground, making her look like a grey mass of fabric and aged hair. Yuna, who didn't have any clue of what was going on, tried to calm her down with the best that she could do. She looked at the old woman in the way she thought what would be the most assuring expression in this crazed moment, but the woman didn't seem to acknowledge her help. "Why…? What they had ever done to them? Why I had to survive to witness this shameful moment?" The woman held her hands in her face, and Yuna was more confused than ever before. "Please…. Tell me what happened." Yuna asked her voice full of compassion and the young woman looked in the eyes of the lady, who had undoubtedly seen something terrible. "The men in masks took Calik, Rina and their little girl away…they said that they had done something terrible. They were my dear neighbours…I- I just attended their little girl's 6th birthday party last night…" The old lady gazed at Yuna with her old, pleading eyes, and Yuna had to, wanted to know more. "What possibly had they done so wrong, that those men arrested the whole family? And by whom?" Yuna asked with her voice not so formal anymore.
"Isn't it obvious? Because for what they are. That is their crime. The inquisition squad decided that they were soon posing too great danger to the unity of Spira." A young man broke in to their conservation, but he did not seem to be too upset with the whole scene.
"We both know, that it's not true, Karis! Those things that they claim to be true, are nothing but a big, fat lie!" A third person interrupted their debate and a desperate woman, in the mid of her twenties, looked at Yuna with her sad eyes. "The woman was an Al-Bhed, and her child was half Al-Bhed. The squad arrested them and the woman's husband for co-operating with her. They took the family away just a while ago…" The woman said looking to the way where the soldiers went dragging the woman, her husband and their little daughter.
"What? That has to be some kind of a sick joke! No one would ever do such a terrible thing!" Yuna almost yelled in shock, and the young man gazed her hideously and opened his mouth.
"Just what hole did you just crawl from? The signs are everywhere! That half- Guado freak, a very poor excuse for a Maester, is a fine example! If we will let those friggin´ Al Bheds and Guados running around in our home, everything what we humans took effort to build, will be soon in ruins! They should go home, and leave us be!" His furious speech created a very disturbing feeling in Yuna.
He speaks as the Al-Bhed weren't humans at all…How can he say that?
"Please listen, Lady Yuna. A new faction has risen from the ashes of the Yevonites. It's true, that Sin was defeated only few days ago, but they have been planning a takeover for quite a while. I think that the collapse of Sin and Yevon only accelerated the party's chances to reign. Those people has sent men all around Spira to change people's opinion about the Al- Bhed and the Guados for the worse. I am not sure why, though…But I'm afraid it is working very swiftly." She speaks quietly and Yuna wanted to inquire her further. "Wait…. How do you know this?" Yuna asks in confusion, but the woman only sighs. Suddenly her face tightens.
Yuna follows her gaze, and sees four tall men approaching her and suddenly very terrified woman. The men are clothed in dark robes, and a cloth, which is working as a some kind of a belt has tied over their cloaks, just like Yuna´s, but their were red as blood, and a symbol of a golden bird, perhaps a phoenix, shone brightly from their dark uniforms. The terrifying part of them was their faces. They were hidden under silvery masks and the apertures for the eyes were mere slits, like snake's eyes.
They seemed to be looking for someone. And in that moment one of the soldiers turned his searching gaze to Yuna. He clearly recognises her, and demands others to follow him. And now, when Wakka, Lulu and the others had already gone to Besaid last night, there would be no one to guard her. Now, that her aeons vanished due to Sin's destruction, she was utterly and completely defenceless.
A thought pops into her mind. She obeys that small thought, and decides to run. And she does. She runs so fast as she had never run before! But after few moment of wandering in the woods near the temple, Yuna realized how stupid her plan actually was.
Just how am I supposed to run away? I'm on an island, for Yevon´s sake!
What am I supposed to do? Swim?
She was now not only shocked but also tired. There would be no escape for her anymore…for the first time in her life, she felt truly angry…and even slightly disappointed. And frustrated. It looked like that her deranged, and just slightly dead, friend hadn't kept his promise, either. Yuna´s options were now reduced in to one single, and very poor, choice. She had to give her little hide-and-seek game up and surrender.
But suddenly someone came from the village. Yuna didn't care anymore who it was, and she simply stood there waiting, her back turned to the path from Kilika. The footsteps ceased, and after a slight pause a familiar voice echoed in the woods. "I do not think that simply standing there would be quite efficient to hide yourself, my Lady. It has not proven to be quite…safe." Yuna opened her eyes, and turned slowly to look at Seymour, who had a genuine smile in his lips again. He was still cloaked and he lowered his hood to let her see him properly. "What about you, then? Weren't you supposed to be hiding as well?" Yuna asked tiredly, not really understanding his sarcasm. Seymour only raised an eyebrow. " I have…ways. Glad to see you, Lady Yuna." He said with his tone much warmer. "Is that really so?" Yuna asked coolly, and Seymour frowned. " I understand if you are upset for me coming this late, but I had a fine reason..." Seymour found her constant stare quite confusing, and he could have sworn, that he just heard her murmuring something like "Men…" as she walked by him.
"Why did you come back here?" She questioned him again, and still he couldn't give any convincing, honest reason. Not really waiting for reply, she walked right in front of him and eyed Seymour once again." If you came back, it is possible, that he may be back, too. Yes…that's had to be it." She had developed a nasty habit to speak with herself, and quite loudly as well, so that everyone else will most certainly hear.
"Who are you talking about? …Him? Don't say that you miss that hyperactive child blonde boy, who had barely transcended his teens…" With his superior ability to notice certain things, he always could read people's moods and emotions, and for Yuna´s surprise, she was just as easy to read than an open book in the kitchen table.
"Riiiight. Oh well, I suppose it doesn't matter, right? Because it just seems so tragic that he isn't really be able to return to you. For some odd reason, he has been dead for a thousand years. Hmm… wonder why?" Seymour folds his arms and stares into the beautiful moonlit sky with his face clearly sneering. "Cut it out, Seymour. You're no in position to judge me, Mr. "I-Have-Died-Four-Times-Already-but-Seems-That-I-Am-Still-Alive-And-Kicking", Oh? Please pardon me, "still dead and kicking". Yuna lashed, but frankly her mood had risen and she formed a joyous smile to Seymour.
I do not understand. Why is she smiling so warmly to me? Am I not the one who tried to use her and even in the end, tried to kill her? Why is she so…kind to me? I am the last person that deserves her grace…She doesn't realize that her guardian won't come back, does she?
Seymour hesitated, and for the first time in his life, he did not know what to do. He just frowned and tore his gaze from Yuna´s smiling lips and decided to stare longily to the astoundingly beautiful, full moon. "Seymour, I…" Yuna started to speak quietly, and Seymour eyed her curiously, but when she was continuing her sentence, something broke her off, as someone yelled her name. "Go!" She urged him, and Seymour nodded and disappeared into the woods.
Yuna didn't think that the inquisition squad would have hunted her by calling her with her name, so she decided bravely stay where she was. "Yuna…? Ah, There you are." It was the same man, who had been rude at her earlier. "Listen…I came to apologise my ridiculous behaviour earlier, and I decided to come and find you. Those creepy soldiers have already left, and I'd like to offer you company to home, yes?" Something about his voice alerted Yuna. It was sleek, cold and some certain way demanding. The man offered his hand to her, but she frowned and looked at him suspiciously.
No, maybe I'll pass this time, thank you very much.
"Come on, I won't bite." The man said, imitating a friendly tone, but his voice was oozing that certain coldness, that even scared Yuna a bit.
No, I really don't want to.
" Fine." He said flatly and took her hand in a tight grip. Still she didn't move, but one certain question popped into her head. "What happened to that family that were taken away? Why were they arrested?" Yuna questioned the man firmly, and the man looked back at her with his silvery eyes full of doubt and disbelieve. "Arrested? Hah, are you really that naïve, girl? I didn't think that you could have been so simple…like hell they were arrested. They never even got off from this island." he gave his answer with a cold smirk, and Yuna really started to fear him, although she did quite a good job hiding it. " W-What do you mean?" she managed to ask and once again, the man locked his eyes into hers. "They were executed." He answered flatly, like he was discussing about the weather, but Yuna wasn't so unconcerned. She felt like fainting, but she struggled to stay in her feet. " I have to admit, it served them right. I never did think that those Al-Bhed filth possessed such danger to us before the Lord showed us their true intentions. Truly, a remarkable man, he is… Now, come with me. The inquisitors knew that you were quite clever, so they didn't go to look for you themselves, instead, they sent me. Quite an honour, frankly. As I said, come. Now."
No!!
"No! I will not! Let me go." Yuna tried to free her hand, but his grip on her arm was so tight, it hurt. " Only in your dreams, maybe. If you don't come willingly, I will have to drag you. And we don't want that to happen, do we?" he spoke to her like she was a little, naughty girl, and Seymour, who had observed the situation from a distance suddenly had enough.
"Let her go." A simple demand, but his voice was dangerously low and serious. The rather short and very surprised man turned quickly around and met shockingly tall half- Guado, who also was shockingly irritated.
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A/N: Jay! Chapter three is finally up! I did found some serious misspelling and errors in the previous chappy, and I tried to chance the chapter for two hours until I finally gave up.
Argh, sometimes computers can be really frustrating. And as I have told, this isn´t going to be a Tidus& Yuna story, but she does find someone else…you may already know who he is. ; )
This story is going to be partly quite dark, at some point, and there is a strong theme of discrimination throughout the story, thanks to the new faction. But in the dark times, love for each other finds a way.; )
I thank you and bow to everyone, who has spent their precious time reviewing my story, and especially I thank you, Lucrecia LeVrai, who actually read my fic and thought it was good. Cheers! ; )
Now off I go to write the 4th chapter! And do not forget to review, constructive criticism is always appreciated. = )
Disclaimer: Nope, I still don't own FF X, but sometime I will….ahhhaaahaaa! Okay, maybe not…but I do own the character Serian Honoré entirely. Steal it, his name or the looks or this story, and you're in trouble. ahem. Byyyyeee!
Chapter 3. To escape the suffering.
Yuna almost screamed with imagined pain when she woke up. She was panting and her heart seemed to pop out of her chest like it was a tiny, terrified bird in Yuna´s grip, trying desperately to flee.
It seemed that she wasn't the only one who was awake, though the sun hadn't even rise yet. Yuna heard running footsteps so close to her house, and it picked her curiosity. She quickly changed her clothes and she peeked outside; something serious had just happened, and the whole town was in bewilderment. Terrified, hysteric screams were heard in the village, and Yuna lunged out of the house, only to witness a very frightening scene: people ran back and forth, some people cried hysterically when few other people seemed amused.
An old woman, perhaps in her eighties, sobbed uncontrollably in the ground, making her look like a grey mass of fabric and aged hair. Yuna, who didn't have any clue of what was going on, tried to calm her down with the best that she could do. She looked at the old woman in the way she thought what would be the most assuring expression in this crazed moment, but the woman didn't seem to acknowledge her help. "Why…? What they had ever done to them? Why I had to survive to witness this shameful moment?" The woman held her hands in her face, and Yuna was more confused than ever before. "Please…. Tell me what happened." Yuna asked her voice full of compassion and the young woman looked in the eyes of the lady, who had undoubtedly seen something terrible. "The men in masks took Calik, Rina and their little girl away…they said that they had done something terrible. They were my dear neighbours…I- I just attended their little girl's 6th birthday party last night…" The old lady gazed at Yuna with her old, pleading eyes, and Yuna had to, wanted to know more. "What possibly had they done so wrong, that those men arrested the whole family? And by whom?" Yuna asked with her voice not so formal anymore.
"Isn't it obvious? Because for what they are. That is their crime. The inquisition squad decided that they were soon posing too great danger to the unity of Spira." A young man broke in to their conservation, but he did not seem to be too upset with the whole scene.
"We both know, that it's not true, Karis! Those things that they claim to be true, are nothing but a big, fat lie!" A third person interrupted their debate and a desperate woman, in the mid of her twenties, looked at Yuna with her sad eyes. "The woman was an Al-Bhed, and her child was half Al-Bhed. The squad arrested them and the woman's husband for co-operating with her. They took the family away just a while ago…" The woman said looking to the way where the soldiers went dragging the woman, her husband and their little daughter.
"What? That has to be some kind of a sick joke! No one would ever do such a terrible thing!" Yuna almost yelled in shock, and the young man gazed her hideously and opened his mouth.
"Just what hole did you just crawl from? The signs are everywhere! That half- Guado freak, a very poor excuse for a Maester, is a fine example! If we will let those friggin´ Al Bheds and Guados running around in our home, everything what we humans took effort to build, will be soon in ruins! They should go home, and leave us be!" His furious speech created a very disturbing feeling in Yuna.
He speaks as the Al-Bhed weren't humans at all…How can he say that?
"Please listen, Lady Yuna. A new faction has risen from the ashes of the Yevonites. It's true, that Sin was defeated only few days ago, but they have been planning a takeover for quite a while. I think that the collapse of Sin and Yevon only accelerated the party's chances to reign. Those people has sent men all around Spira to change people's opinion about the Al- Bhed and the Guados for the worse. I am not sure why, though…But I'm afraid it is working very swiftly." She speaks quietly and Yuna wanted to inquire her further. "Wait…. How do you know this?" Yuna asks in confusion, but the woman only sighs. Suddenly her face tightens.
Yuna follows her gaze, and sees four tall men approaching her and suddenly very terrified woman. The men are clothed in dark robes, and a cloth, which is working as a some kind of a belt has tied over their cloaks, just like Yuna´s, but their were red as blood, and a symbol of a golden bird, perhaps a phoenix, shone brightly from their dark uniforms. The terrifying part of them was their faces. They were hidden under silvery masks and the apertures for the eyes were mere slits, like snake's eyes.
They seemed to be looking for someone. And in that moment one of the soldiers turned his searching gaze to Yuna. He clearly recognises her, and demands others to follow him. And now, when Wakka, Lulu and the others had already gone to Besaid last night, there would be no one to guard her. Now, that her aeons vanished due to Sin's destruction, she was utterly and completely defenceless.
A thought pops into her mind. She obeys that small thought, and decides to run. And she does. She runs so fast as she had never run before! But after few moment of wandering in the woods near the temple, Yuna realized how stupid her plan actually was.
Just how am I supposed to run away? I'm on an island, for Yevon´s sake!
What am I supposed to do? Swim?
She was now not only shocked but also tired. There would be no escape for her anymore…for the first time in her life, she felt truly angry…and even slightly disappointed. And frustrated. It looked like that her deranged, and just slightly dead, friend hadn't kept his promise, either. Yuna´s options were now reduced in to one single, and very poor, choice. She had to give her little hide-and-seek game up and surrender.
But suddenly someone came from the village. Yuna didn't care anymore who it was, and she simply stood there waiting, her back turned to the path from Kilika. The footsteps ceased, and after a slight pause a familiar voice echoed in the woods. "I do not think that simply standing there would be quite efficient to hide yourself, my Lady. It has not proven to be quite…safe." Yuna opened her eyes, and turned slowly to look at Seymour, who had a genuine smile in his lips again. He was still cloaked and he lowered his hood to let her see him properly. "What about you, then? Weren't you supposed to be hiding as well?" Yuna asked tiredly, not really understanding his sarcasm. Seymour only raised an eyebrow. " I have…ways. Glad to see you, Lady Yuna." He said with his tone much warmer. "Is that really so?" Yuna asked coolly, and Seymour frowned. " I understand if you are upset for me coming this late, but I had a fine reason..." Seymour found her constant stare quite confusing, and he could have sworn, that he just heard her murmuring something like "Men…" as she walked by him.
"Why did you come back here?" She questioned him again, and still he couldn't give any convincing, honest reason. Not really waiting for reply, she walked right in front of him and eyed Seymour once again." If you came back, it is possible, that he may be back, too. Yes…that's had to be it." She had developed a nasty habit to speak with herself, and quite loudly as well, so that everyone else will most certainly hear.
"Who are you talking about? …Him? Don't say that you miss that hyperactive child blonde boy, who had barely transcended his teens…" With his superior ability to notice certain things, he always could read people's moods and emotions, and for Yuna´s surprise, she was just as easy to read than an open book in the kitchen table.
"Riiiight. Oh well, I suppose it doesn't matter, right? Because it just seems so tragic that he isn't really be able to return to you. For some odd reason, he has been dead for a thousand years. Hmm… wonder why?" Seymour folds his arms and stares into the beautiful moonlit sky with his face clearly sneering. "Cut it out, Seymour. You're no in position to judge me, Mr. "I-Have-Died-Four-Times-Already-but-Seems-That-I-Am-Still-Alive-And-Kicking", Oh? Please pardon me, "still dead and kicking". Yuna lashed, but frankly her mood had risen and she formed a joyous smile to Seymour.
I do not understand. Why is she smiling so warmly to me? Am I not the one who tried to use her and even in the end, tried to kill her? Why is she so…kind to me? I am the last person that deserves her grace…She doesn't realize that her guardian won't come back, does she?
Seymour hesitated, and for the first time in his life, he did not know what to do. He just frowned and tore his gaze from Yuna´s smiling lips and decided to stare longily to the astoundingly beautiful, full moon. "Seymour, I…" Yuna started to speak quietly, and Seymour eyed her curiously, but when she was continuing her sentence, something broke her off, as someone yelled her name. "Go!" She urged him, and Seymour nodded and disappeared into the woods.
Yuna didn't think that the inquisition squad would have hunted her by calling her with her name, so she decided bravely stay where she was. "Yuna…? Ah, There you are." It was the same man, who had been rude at her earlier. "Listen…I came to apologise my ridiculous behaviour earlier, and I decided to come and find you. Those creepy soldiers have already left, and I'd like to offer you company to home, yes?" Something about his voice alerted Yuna. It was sleek, cold and some certain way demanding. The man offered his hand to her, but she frowned and looked at him suspiciously.
No, maybe I'll pass this time, thank you very much.
"Come on, I won't bite." The man said, imitating a friendly tone, but his voice was oozing that certain coldness, that even scared Yuna a bit.
No, I really don't want to.
" Fine." He said flatly and took her hand in a tight grip. Still she didn't move, but one certain question popped into her head. "What happened to that family that were taken away? Why were they arrested?" Yuna questioned the man firmly, and the man looked back at her with his silvery eyes full of doubt and disbelieve. "Arrested? Hah, are you really that naïve, girl? I didn't think that you could have been so simple…like hell they were arrested. They never even got off from this island." he gave his answer with a cold smirk, and Yuna really started to fear him, although she did quite a good job hiding it. " W-What do you mean?" she managed to ask and once again, the man locked his eyes into hers. "They were executed." He answered flatly, like he was discussing about the weather, but Yuna wasn't so unconcerned. She felt like fainting, but she struggled to stay in her feet. " I have to admit, it served them right. I never did think that those Al-Bhed filth possessed such danger to us before the Lord showed us their true intentions. Truly, a remarkable man, he is… Now, come with me. The inquisitors knew that you were quite clever, so they didn't go to look for you themselves, instead, they sent me. Quite an honour, frankly. As I said, come. Now."
No!!
"No! I will not! Let me go." Yuna tried to free her hand, but his grip on her arm was so tight, it hurt. " Only in your dreams, maybe. If you don't come willingly, I will have to drag you. And we don't want that to happen, do we?" he spoke to her like she was a little, naughty girl, and Seymour, who had observed the situation from a distance suddenly had enough.
"Let her go." A simple demand, but his voice was dangerously low and serious. The rather short and very surprised man turned quickly around and met shockingly tall half- Guado, who also was shockingly irritated.
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A/N: Jay! Chapter three is finally up! I did found some serious misspelling and errors in the previous chappy, and I tried to chance the chapter for two hours until I finally gave up.
Argh, sometimes computers can be really frustrating. And as I have told, this isn´t going to be a Tidus& Yuna story, but she does find someone else…you may already know who he is. ; )
This story is going to be partly quite dark, at some point, and there is a strong theme of discrimination throughout the story, thanks to the new faction. But in the dark times, love for each other finds a way.; )
I thank you and bow to everyone, who has spent their precious time reviewing my story, and especially I thank you, Lucrecia LeVrai, who actually read my fic and thought it was good. Cheers! ; )
Now off I go to write the 4th chapter! And do not forget to review, constructive criticism is always appreciated. = )
Disclaimer: Nope, I still don't own FF X, but sometime I will….ahhhaaahaaa! Okay, maybe not…but I do own the character Serian Honoré entirely. Steal it, his name or the looks or this story, and you're in trouble. ahem. Byyyyeee!