Lust for Sin
A Story by Rikku-Hoshi
Sorry that it took me so long to update! Honestly, I don't know what's wrong with me, but I just haven't felt like writing. Anyway though, this chapter is kind of boring, but things are starting to fall into place. The chapters after this should be much more exciting! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 6: Arrangement and a Silver Ring
"Did you say your thanks?" Dona asked as she sipped her tea. She was sitting next to Seymour on a two-person couch, and Yuna had found herself in a chair, across from Barthello. She was still close enough to Seymour to feel uncomfortable, but at least Dona had managed to sit directly next to him.
"Hmm?" Yuna said then, looking up from her tea.
"How was your meeting with Tidus?" Dona just asked.
"Oh, I just said thanks, and that was basically it."
"Do you feel like you did a bad deed?" Barthello asked. He rarely talked, and when he did, it always confused Yuna.
"Um..."
"Of course not," Dona said, "You can't really have sinned just from talking to him. Believe me."
"How do you know him?" Yuna found herself asking, "I mean, you knew where his house was and stuff."
Seymour smiled, and looked ready to laugh, and he turned and faced Dona. In fact, everybody's eyes were on Dona, and she became flustered.
"Look," Dona just said, "Tidus and I used to be a thing, you know. Back in the days when he went to the temple. But that was almost a year ago now."
"Did you ever see that girl that supposedly came here with him?" Seymour asked.
"Maybe once," Dona said, "Her room is right across from Tidus'. But the door was always shut. You see, the more I went there, the more I realized that Tidus is an odd one. He definitely worships Yu-Yevon. And he won't deny it, either."
"I think it's best just to stay away from him," Seymour said, "Besides, doesn't that witch live there as well?"
"It's definitely the house of outcasts," Lulu said, "It's even located on in the little Al Bhed neighborhood."
"Right next to that crazy Al Bhed, Gippal, isn't it?" Seymour then asked, and then looked at Yuna, "Your little maid girl is smitten with him. She probably knows Tidus, too."
"You mean Rikku?" Yuna asked.
"Yeah, that blonde one," Seymour just said, "But then again, aren't most Al-Bheds blonde?"
"Yes," Yuna put in quickly, realizing that they had no idea of her Al Bhed lineage. For some reason, she decided that it wasn't the wisest to tell them, either.
Suddenly, she felt as if she had to leave. It was beginning to dawn on her once more that these weren't her types of people, as much as everybody seemed to believe it. They just...Weren't her type.
She had nothing against them, but something told her they were so much more above her. They were pure, while she was not. They deserved to live in their large houses on the hill, but she did not.
"I should go," Yuna said softly.
"What? Where to?" Dona asked.
"Home," Yuna just said, "I'm feeling rather tired."
"You're not coming down with an illness, are you now?" Dona asked.
"No," Yuna just said, "I...I just didn't sleep very well, that's all."
"I'll walk you home," Seymour said, standing up, even though the look on Dona's face obviously showed she did not want him to leave.
"I live right next door," Yuna said.
Seymour didn't say anything, but followed Yuna out the door, just the same, despite the looks of protest that Dona was giving him.
They walked out the door, with Yuna still walking in front of Seymour. That was, until he suddenly grabbed her arm, turning her around to face him.
"Yuna," he said, as she looked up at him, feeling shocked, "I love you."
"Um..." if Yuna had been in even millions of awkward moments before, this would be the most awkward.
"That's why I asked for your hand in marriage," Seymour just said, "I've talked it over with your father, and he's given me his permission. He invited me over to dinner tonight. Still, I can't help but feel as if you've been trying to get away from us recently."
"Um..." Yuna just managed to mutter again, "Well, it's not really that, it's just..."
"Do you love me?" Seymour asked then, and Yuna's heart clenched. She didn't even know the man! How was she supposed to love him? Really, she felt nothing toward him, not love, and not hatred. Really, nothing.
"Um...Seymour, I really don't feel well," Yuna just said, and honestly, this time it was the truth, being that her stomach was clenching so horribly.
"Are you sure you're not coming down with an illness?" Seymour asked her, as they started off toward her house.
"It's...It's just nerves," Yuna said, telling the honest truth. Seymour seemed shocked, but satisfied, at her reply, and the two continued to walk in silence until they reached Yuna's house, which, luckily for Yuna, wasn't very far a walk at all.
"I'll see you tonight then," Seymour said, as Yuna walked up to her house.
"Right," Yuna just said, although she didn't look back at him. She just quickly entered her house.
She supposed it hadn't really dawned on her that Seymour was going to ask for her hand in marriage. To her, it seemed as if it was just something that was said, but nothing that would happen. Right then though, it dawned on her that indeed, she was going to have to marry Seymour. She really wasn't going to have much choice.
Sighing, Yuna walked into the house to find her father sitting there, reading a book. He looked up at her, and smiled.
Yuna smiled meekly in return, and said, "Father, is it true that Seymour is coming over for dinner?"
"Yes, it is," her father replied, "I even had a new dress shipped in from Bevelle. It's lying on your bed."
Yuna closed her eyes. It really was going to be a huge occasion. She really was going to have to marry Seymour. And yet, nobody even seemed to care about her opinion.
"Father," Yuna said, softly, "I don't even know Seymour. I only met him a few days ago."
Braska was silent for a while, and then he said, "Yuna, Seymour is...Well, he's the reason we moved here."
Yuna's eyes went directly to her father, and she muttered, "What?"
"He asked for your hand a year ago," her father said again, when we met in Luca. That's why we moved here."
"You mean...The only reason we're here is so that I can marry him?" Yuna shrieked, "But you didn't even ask me! You didn't...You didn't even tell me!"
Braska was calm, and just said, "Surely you knew you'd be wed some day."
"Well, yeah, but not now!" Yuna just said, "To some...Thing!"
Braska glared at her, and said, "Currently, Seymour is one of the most powerful and rich men in all of Spira. And...I don't see how you can talk. If I recall, Yuna, you're also half 'thing'."
Yuna glared at her father and then started to feel like crying.
"By marrying such a man though, Yuna, as Seymour, any sin you've ever done, including your Al Bhed lineage, will be forgotten. That's how it was with your mother, you know."
Yuna's mouth fell slightly agape, as she realized that his words were probably true. In such a Yevon society, if she married Seymour, everything about her Al Bhed lineage would seemingly disappear. She would no longer live her life a sin. She could live it perfectly. Maybe she really did belong with him after all...
Still, it bothered her very much.
"Go get ready," Braska just said, "He'll be her shortly."
Sighing, Yuna walked slowly up the stairs, toward her bedroom to get ready.
-
"You look pretty," Rikku said, shocking Yuna as she finally came out of her room.
"Um, thanks," Yuna just said.
"What's the occasion?" Rikku then asked.
"Dinner with Seymour," Yuna just said.
"Oh," Rikku said, "Are you excited? Rumor has it that you two are going to wed!"
"Sure," Yuna just said, "Sure I'm excited."
"Really?"
Yuna stared at her maid for some time before finally saying, "Actually...I'm not."
"Why not?" came Rikku's shocked reply.
"Because, I barely know him, for one thing," Yuna said, "And another thing...I just don't feel like I belong with him. I yearn to be with...I don't know, someone more unlike me."
"What do you mean?" Rikku asked.
"Seymour reminds me of my father, and every other man I've ever known," Yuna said, "I want someone who's not like that."
"Oh," Rikku just said, "So are you going to turn him down?"
Yuna shook her head. She couldn't. And yet...
"I don't know," Yuna just said, "But I'd better get going. Goodbye Rikku."
"Bye!" Rikku called after Yuna.
Yuna walked down the hallway, feeling actually rather ridiculous in the gown she was wearing. It was lacy and pink, and fluffed out everywhere. She figured normal girls would probably die to have it, being that it was probably one of the most fashionable, but Yuna just didn't see anything neat about it. To her, it was just something her father used to show that they had money. Money was probably something that impressed Seymour.
There was one question that Yuna had though. Why her? There were plenty of other girls, like Dona. Why had Seymour chosen her? Probably because she was the daughter of who used to be the most powerful man in Spira. To Seymour, it probably seemed like his wisest choice.
Yuna walked into the dining room, noticing that Seymour had arrived and was sitting there talking with her father. Both of their eyes fell upon her, and Yuna realized then how much it seemed like she was nothing but an item. Just something that could be given away as a symbol of power. Still, she reminded herself that the only real way to cleanse herself from her own lineage was by marrying Seymour. Still...She felt as if it was the worst thing that could ever happen to her.
"Good evening," Seymour greeted her, as she took a seat across from him.
"Good evening," Yuna replied, although she couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes as she said it. Instead, she found her head turning toward the window.
"Well then," Braska said, smiling widely, "Shall we eat?"
At that, the cooks began to bring in the food. The amounts of food were grand, and Yuna couldn't help but think of the hungry Al Bhed children. Still, she supposed they deserved what they got–they were Al Bhed, after all. But they were like her–it wasn't their faults that they were Al Bhed.
"Yuna, are you not hungry?" Braska asked, and she noticed that her father, as well as Seymour, had their plates full of food, while hers remained empty.
"Not really," Yuna just said, and it was the honest truth. Food just did not seem inviting at all.
Neither of the men said anything, and they just ate, all of them in silence. As they finished, dessert was brought in, and then wine. Yuna didn't drink nor eat, but neither of the men even seemed to notice.
Finally, coffee was brought in, and the two began to converse. First, it was about the weather, and then about the temple's sermons, even though Braska had never attended one, and then about being a governor. Finally though, just as Yuna was beginning to drift out of their conversations and into her own little world, both her father and Seymour turned and faced her.
"Yuna," Braska said, "I have given Seymour my full support in his wanting to be your husband. We have scheduled the wedding to take place here in two months."
"Two months?" Yuna said, somewhat happy that she at least had some time, and at the same time very unhappy. Only two months...
"We feel it wise, being that there will be many preparations that will need to take place," Braska said, "For instance, you need to be shipped off to the finest dress shops in Luca to find the finest dress. Priests from all over Spira will want to be invited. Announcements will have to be made, parties thrown...It really will be a very grand event."
Seymour nodded with everything Braska said, but his eyes never once left Yuna. Yuna would look his way every now and then, but for the most part, tried very hard to avoid her husband-to-be's eyes. The eyes she had once found somewhat majestic only gave her the creeps, now. She really did not want to see them.
Suddenly, Seymour had risen her hand, causing her to want to pull it back, but she left it. He rose her hand above the table and placed a large, gaudy silver ring upon her ring finger, and then kissed her hand, causing her to want to pull it back even more.
Then, he shook hands with her father, and said goodnight to both of them, leaving only the father and daughter to sit there in silence.
Braska continued to stare at the ring on Yuna's finger, as Yuna had, before standing up.
"I'm so proud of you," he said, kissing her forehead, "This means more to me than...anything." He smiled at her, and said, "Goodnight, my dear."
"Goodnight father," Yuna said slowly, still examining the ugly ring. Then, she waited until all of the lighting was out except for that in the dining room, and buried her face into her arms, allowing her tears to spill everywhere. Especially onto the ring.