Lust for Sin

A Story by Rikku-Hoshi

Sorry for the long wait everybody. Here it is though, chapter three! Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Integrity

"Doesn't it look like it's going to be a lovely day?" Rikku said as she skipped along next to Yuna, "It's too bad we have to go spend the next few hours at the temple."

Yuna didn't answer for the longest time, being that her mind was on other things.

"Hey Rikku?" Yuna said after quite some time had passed, "Does Lulu go to the temple?"

"Yup," came Rikku's reply, "But she sits in the way back, all by herself. There was talk of excommunicating her, since she was pronounced a witch and all, but after Lord Jyscal's death...Well, people just kind of forgot about her. But she's still back there by herself. She's basically been cast away as an outcast. I don't know why she doesn't just give up and leave. Who knows...Someday they may even try to condemn her to death again."

"Why does she stay around?" Yuna mused, more to herself than to Rikku.

"Where else to go?" Rikku just said, shrugging.

"Where does she live?"

"My Yuna, you sure seem interested," Rikku said, raising her eyebrows, "You're not interested in witchcraft, are you?"

"No...I don't even believe in it," Yuna just said, rolling her eyes, "I feel bad for Lulu..."

"Don't believe in it!" Rikku cried, "And what, you don't believe in Yu-Yevon worshipers either?"

"Well, they exist–."

"That's the definition of a witch right there," Rikku said simply. They had reached the entrance of the temple by then, and Rikku bid her farewell to Yuna, as she went to the separate Al Bhed entrance.

Yuna walked cautiously into the temple, hoping that Dona and Seymour wouldn't see her. She stood in the back, and allowed her eyes to scan the back seats, all in hope of seeing Lulu. She caught site of the woman then, who was sitting there solemnly, this time dressed in gray.

Yuna walked softly over to her, and said, "Hey there Lulu!"

Lulu jumped and looked up at her. Again, Lulu's crimson eyes laid upon Yuna's, and Yuna was sure she saw some color restore in Lulu's face.

"Yuna..." Lulu just said, and then bit her lip, "You needn't be seen with me, Yuna. Obviously you haven't heard–."

"I don't believe it," Yuna just said, "I mean, I guess at first I thought so, but the word 'witch' is too far."

"Yuna!" a voice suddenly said behind Yuna then, and Yuna felt a grasp on her arm. Yuna turned around only to see that it was Dona that had grabbed her arm.

Dona dragged her away, and Yuna complied, although Lulu's eyes never left hers. A twinge of guilt erupted inside of Yuna, as she realized that she wasn't fighting Dona's grasp and attempt to pull her away from Lulu.

Slowly, Yuna's eyes left Lulu's, and Yuna turned her head to Dona, as they walked down the aisle, toward their front-row seats where they had sat the morning before.

Seymour was already seated, as was Barthello, and both watched as Dona and Yuna came closer.

"Yuna," Dona said, as the two took their seats, Yuna between Dona and Barthello and Seymour on the other side of Dona, "You can't talk to her."

"Why not?" Yuna just asked dumbly.

"Because she's a witch," Dona said, "She's an outcast. And unless you want to be just like her, you can't be seen with her. It's just that way."

Yuna felt her eyes slowly look away from Dona's, and noticed that Seymour was eying her, as was Barthello. However, Seymour had an almost amused smile across his lips.

Yuna found herself staring at Seymour for some time, before Dona noticed and said, "Yuna, are you listening to me?"

"I'm sorry Dona," Yuna finally said, feeling defeated, "I won't talk to her anymore."

"Good," Dona just said, "Now hush up, the sermon's beginning."

And so it did, just as it had the morning before.

"I swear, my father is definitely the most amazing person here," Dona said, as they exited, "Did you hear his punishments for that Lucil? Wearing a man's armor! How dare she."

Yuna was silent. The poor girl had confessed to dressing like a man, and was then forced to stand completely naked before the entire concession. It didn't seem like a very nice thing to do. Yuna bit her lip.

Seymour watched Yuna, and finally said, "Yuna? What do you think of Besaid's punishments?"

Yuna jumped, realizing that Seymour rarely talked, and now he was addressing her.

"Well, I...Um...Aren't they a little harsh?"

"Harsh!" Dona said, "They're the fairest in the land! Believe me, Yuna. They aren't harsh at all."

Seymour just continued to look at Yuna thoughtfully, and said, "What do you suppose he should have done instead? To Lucil, that is?"

Never before had anyone asked her for her opinion. It was almost as if she were an equal to Seymour.

"Well, I don't think her punishment was entirely just," Yuna said, "I think admitting it is punishment enough. The entire town knows what she did now. Believe me, that's punishment enough."

Dona just gave Yuna a disgusted look, and finally said, with a little smile, "Do you sin often, Yuna?"

"I do my best not to," Yuna just said.

"Well, people in this town sin whenever they feel. That's why my father makes such examples out of them. By striking fear into the town, they will not sin. It's an amazing theory."

"It is an interesting theory," Seymour said, "But some sinners in there don't admit to their sins. They're the ones that should be feeling the most punishment."

Dona laughed and said, "They don't, though. Really, the ones who remain quiet are the wisest."

Yuna was shocked, and said, "But that's basically a sin all in itself!"

This time, both Dona and Seymour laughed.

"Yuna," Dona said through her laughter, "Take it from someone who knows. When you have performed a sin, the whole town doesn't need to know about it. In fact, nobody needs to know about it but yourself. People like us, people who have integrity and money, and looks, and whatever else we have, don't need to express our sins. Only those of lesser status need do that."

"But how do we have integrity if we don't express our sins along with everybody else?" Yuna asked.

"That's a very good question," Seymour said, "But it's like this: people know we have integrity whether we tell them about it or not. We needn't be boastful, need we? Besides, people need examples. Us–those who never sin–or at least, those who don't talk about their sins–are the ultimate example."

Yuna wrinkled her nose, showing her disgust.

"Yuna," Dona said, shaking her head, "There's so much you have yet to learn."

"Why don't you come have tea with us and we'll fill you in?" Seymour then said, giving her a smile.

Yuna was about to say 'no thank you', being that she really wanted to see if Lulu was at the forest again, but didn't. For some reason, her interest in Lulu to her was a sin in itself. Why was she so interested in Lulu's story? Lulu was the definition of a sin. Yet, wasn't she as well? Perhaps Yuna felt that they belonged together–they belonged to live the lives of sins together, and not so alone. However, the guilt of being with a sin like herself was too much to bear.

"I'd love to have some tea," Yuna answered.

She then followed Dona and Seymour up the hill toward their house, with Barthello following from behind. Yuna walked a ways back from Dona and Seymour, being that they were gossiping about people she hadn't even heard of before, and it didn't interest her. She realized though, that Dona literally hung all over Seymour. She obviously had a thing for him. Yet, she could also tell that Barthello had a thing for Dona. The poor guy was always cast aside though, especially when Seymour was around.

The reached the entrance to Seymour's grand mansion, which was in between Dona's house and Yuna's. They mansions were all spread across the hilltop, though, so it didn't even seem as if they were that close. Yuna also noticed for the first time that behind the houses, and off of the main path, was the same exact forest where she had met Lulu–and the same exact forest that led straight to the town.

"Are you coming or not?" Dona said, and Yuna snapped out of her entrancement with the forest and noticed the three standing in Seymour's entryway.

"Of course, sorry," Yuna just said, and followed the three in.

Right away she noticed that Seymour's mansion was even more elegant than hers. It was very lovely and tasteful, but there was almost a guado aura of it.

There were many strange artifacts, all of which Yuna supposed were from Guadosalam, a place she'd only heard of and read about.

She realized then, as she stared at Seymour from her standing spot that really, he was much like her. He was half something other than normal, as was she. Still, there was something about him that she didn't like. Perhaps it was just his voice...Or his hands...Or...

"Dona," Seymour said, as he handed each guest a teacup, "Didn't you say you were traveling to Kilika today?"

"Oh my goodness!" Dona exclaimed, "I had completely forgotten about that! For those of you who don't know," meaning Yuna, of course, as Dona looked straight at her, "My father also preaches in Kilika. That's where I'm from."

"What time are we leaving?" Barthello asked, one of the rare things Yuna had ever heard him say.

"We?" Dona just said, and laughed, "Oh Barthello...I don't know, soon I guess." Dona then gave an awkward giggle, as if she didn't want Seymour to realize that Barthello was obviously going as well.

"Well then, you'd better get going," Seymour just said, and practically shoved them out the door. Yuna just stood there and watched as they left, as Dona pushed Barthello and was obviously lecturing him about when to keep his mouth shut.

"Well then, Miss Yuna," Seymour said, "What do you think of this town?"

It was then that it registered in her mind that she was alone with him, and Yuna just said, softly, "It's...nice."

"I'm glad you find it that way," Seymour said, continuing to eye her. Then, he said something that completely shocked her.

"You know," he continued, "I've been looking for a wife..."

Yuna's heart pounded. What? She could feel the blood rushing to her face, but she remained calm.

"I'm sure Dona and you would make a lovely couple," Yuna managed.

Seymour seemed taken aback by her reply, but he just smiled and said, "I have someone else in mind."

Everything was started to feel clammy and cluttered up. Yuna's head was spinning and she just wanted out of there. She couldn't marry him! She couldn't marry anybody! She was only seventeen.

She reminded herself though that her mother had been sixteen when she'd married her father. Still...

"W-Who do you have in mind?" Yuna sputtered out.

"You."

Yuna thought she was going to faint. Honestly, she was sure she was going to.

Seymour just continued to watch her, and she didn't know what to do or say. She just stood there, trying to regain herself.

"Your father and I have been talking," Seymour said, as if to try and get Yuna to speak also, "He says he'd be honored if you were wed to me."

"My father said that?" Yuna said, feeling shocked. How could her own father expect her to marry such a...a thing?

"Of course," Seymour said, "But...I'm sure he'd like to discuss it with you first."

Yuna just slowly nodded, and then said quickly, "I'll go talk to him now. Um...Bye Seymour."

Seymour just nodded, and watched as she practically ran out the door.

She didn't run to her father, either. Instead, she ran down the hill into the forest at top speed. Right then, she was going to see Lulu.

Branches crashed as she seemed to run right through them, and she knew her skin was becoming torn, but she really didn't care.

What was she thinking though? She was going to see Lulu–the witch. Yuna cursed herself, remembering there were no such things as witches. Lulu was probably just misunderstood. And if she was a witch–well, then she was a witch. She'd be even more like Yuna then.

Yuna stopped her running, realizing that she really had no idea where she was going. She looked up, seeing the sky just barely through the thick trees. She sighed, realizing that it was already going into late afternoon. The sermons at the temple took all morning, and she had spent most of the afternoon with Seymour and Dona.

Thinking of Seymour just made her upset. She didn't even know the man! She figured Dona wouldn't be too happy knowing that he had chosen Yuna over her, either. Sighing, Yuna sat down on a large rock, realizing that she had no idea where she was or which direction was which direction. For as much as she could tell, she was lost. Completely and utterly lost.