Lust for Sin
A Story by Rikku-Hoshi
Hi, sorry again for the rather short update, and I'm even more sorry for the wait! Tennis is starting up soon, so I'm afraid I probably won't update as much. I'll try my best to update frequently though, so no worries. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 10: The Ring Upon Her Finger
"Barthello, Yevon damn it, did you have to knock her unconscious? Oh wait, she's coming to..."
Yuna's eyes slowly opened, after fluttering a couple of times, and she noticed that she was lying on the floor, and Barthello was looking down at her.
"Oh, Yuna! Thank Yevon you're alright!" Dona said, and she then came into Yuna's vision, right alongside Barthello, "Barthello accidentally ran into you coming up the hill; you know what a brute he can be. He knocked you over and unconscious. But I'm glad you've come to now!"
"Huh?" Yuna just said, and managed to sit up, "Oh, I'm...Um..."
"Here, drink this," Dona said, handing Yuna a cup that was filled with tea, "This will make you feel better."
"I really should get home," Yuna just said, noticing that it was beginning to get dark.
"No worries," Dona said, "There's no rush! You live right next door, after all!"
"I know," Yuna said, trying to stand up, "But Seymour's coming for dinner."
"About that," Dona just said, "Seymour actually requested that your father and you dine with him at his place. So Barthello will take you over there later."
"Dona," Yuna said, trying to stand up, "I really just need to go home."
"Fine then," Dona said, "I'll cut straight to the chase."
Barthello came over and lifted Yuna up by the armpits so that she was standing, and then pushed her down on the chair that was directly across from Dona's. Dona sat down in her chair, and leaned forward, looking at Yuna intensely. Barthello just stood loyally by her side.
"Um, what's this about?" Yuna asked.
"You," Dona said, in a nasty tone, "I know you've been sneaking out to see that good-for-nothing Tidus."
Yuna's eyes must have opened wide, and her mouth fell somewhat agape, but she said nothing in her defense. She couldn't lie, after all.
"Well then, you aren't going to deny it?" Dona said, after a little moment of silence passed.
"What's to deny?" Yuna just said, "I have been going to see them, not him."
"Sure," Dona just said, "What, his sickly friend and the witch?"
"Yes," Yuna said, "I feel sorry for them."
"Are you sure it's not more than that?" Dona just asked, but then sighed and said, "Look here, Yuna. I'll be frank with you–I encouraged your friendship. I am the one that's been convincing Seymour to let you go, am I not? I figured Tidus would have had his way with you, like he did me, but apparently he hasn't laid a finger upon you. That makes me very jealous, you understand?"
"Jealous?" Yuna just said, and wanted to laugh, "Whatever do you mean?"
Dona made a scoffing noise, and then lifted Yuna's arm up, and said, "See this ring, Yuna? That means you're getting married to Seymour. Up until you came, I assumed I would be wearing that ring. But now you came, and stole it from me. And you're trying to steal Tidus, too. I figured Tidus and you would have some sort of non-marital intercourse and Seymour would dump you. Not because you are that way, of course my dear, but because Tidus is. But no, you haven't. It's not how my plan was supposed to go."
"Wait a minute," Yuna said, as everything slowly began to click, "You mean to tell me that you've been trying to get Seymour away from me?"
"Why of course!" Dona just said.
Yuna sat back, and then slowly said, "You used me?"
"I didn't use you," Dona just said, "I tried to help you. You don't want to get married, and you obviously have a thing for Tidus–who doesn't? I mean, come on, Seymour's a blue beast, while Tidus is a gorgeous and rebellious young man. Who wouldn't want Tidus over Seymour?"
"Then why don't you take him?" Yuna just said.
Dona glared at Yuna, and said, "For one thing, Tidus shows no interest in me. And for another thing, it's not the looks I'm after."
"It's the power, isn't it?" Yuna just said, and it was her turn to glare at Dona.
"Bingo," Dona just said, "But you make that sound like a bad thing."
"I always though people married for love," Yuna just scoffed.
"Not in this world, honey," Dona just said, "But apparently you don't realize that. Well, it's obvious that you don't love Seymour."
"What makes you think that?" Yuna shot.
"If you loved him, you would hang all over him like I do," Dona said, "You wouldn't try to hide that ring, and you would want to be with him, and not Tidus."
"I don't love Tidus, if that's what you're implying," Yuna just said quickly.
"Lie all you want," Dona just said, and smiled, almost nastily, "Just remember, you can't have him, unless you give Seymour up. Enjoy your dinner, Yuna, you may leave."
Yuna just hurriedly stood up, and then walked out the door, not looking back. She had no idea what Dona's problem was. Jealousy was probably it. Still, there was something in Yuna that did indeed simply want to hand Seymour over to Dona.
Yuna bit her lip then, wondering what she would do then. The only thing that popped in her mind then was Tidus. Shaking her head, she tried to get him out of her head, as she convinced herself again and again that Tidus and her were just friends and always would be. Forever and always.
For some reason, she definitely was not looking forward to dinner.
-
Dona was right, for once, dinner was at Seymour's place. For the most part, Braska and Seymour discussed whether the wedding should be held at Bevelle or in Besaid, and when. Yuna just picked at her food, choosing not to listen.
In fact, before she even knew it, she was heading back to her house, while her father and Seymour still continued to talk.
When they reached her house, Seymour and her father went into the parlor, and Yuna decided it was time for her to go to bed. It was late, and she was feeling tired from the day's events, even though there hadn't been anything too terribly eventful.
As she laid down to bed, she realized that the day had actually passed as if she was living in a dream. Her head had been so full of thoughts of Tidus, Paine, and Lulu that she hadn't even paid attention to the details of her own wedding. Now though, the only one on her mind was Tidus–and it was really starting to annoy her.
-
"Are you going to see Tidus?" Dona whispered to Yuna, as soon as Seymour left his spot to say something to the people in the temple from the center.
"Maybe," Yuna just said, "Unless you won't allow it."
"You're in love with him," Dona just said, "Go for it. Seriously, who cares if it's a sin?"
"Dona, it's not a sin to love!" Yuna said, but suddenly felt her heart began to quicken. Suddenly, words from a certain Al Bhed crept into her mind: "It's a sin to love."
"It can be," Dona just said, "I'll let you see Tidus. I'm not giving up on Seymour."
Yuna didn't say anything in reply, for her heart was too quick for her to manage anything.
Soon enough, the service was done, as it finished with Seymour's speech, and again, Yuna said that she'd like to stay behind. Again, Seymour gave her a very disappointed gaze, and again, Dona gave a smirk, and they left her to herself.
Fumbling with her fingers, Yuna sat back down, wondering what she was going to do. She was starting to feel confused as to her feelings about everything. It had started with her feeling a connection to Lulu. All she wanted to know was how Lulu felt being a sin. But now...She didn't even care about that. All she wanted to was to know more about Tidus. Sure, both Lulu and Paine had secrets, but their's didn't interest Yuna. Tidus' did.
Standing up, Yuna started off toward Lulu's place, hoping Tidus was there. Still, wasn't he always? She began to wonder what he did all day. It seemed to her that he did nothing but stand around, or sit, or...Well, she didn't even know.
The sky was rather cloudy, and really rather dark. Still, it was almost a nice day, in a weird sort of way.
Yuna walked up to the little house, and actually found herself stopping. It seemed to her that it had probably been Lulu's place before Tidus and Paine were there. It was a nice little place, really. It was very cozy and nice, but always so dark. The windows were closed and the blinds were pulled over them, not letting any light into the house. It was queer, but Yuna decided that in reality, the whole family, if you could even call them a family, were a little strange.
Forcing herself to forget her thoughts, Yuna started up the walk, only to stop upon hearing voices. The door had been left open a crack, and she tensed, knowing that she had heard her name. Although she knew it was rude to eavesdrop, she couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about.
"Tidus, you have to tell her she can't come anymore!" Yuna heard Paine's voice.
"Why?" Tidus was then heard, "It's nice to have some company for once."
"You think of her as more than just company, and you know it," Paine said, "You can't fall in love with her, Tidus."
Yuna bit her lip and leaned closer to the door. What in the world were they talking about?
Tidus was silent though, and Yuna finally heard him say, "I know."
"Then tell her she has to get lost, before you fall any further," Paine just roared.
"What good will that do?" Tidus asked, "Haven't you seen her hand? She's engaged, Paine. She's getting married to who-knows-who. It's not like she could fall in love with me or anything."
"Then why put yourself through the heartbreak?"
"I've already accepted who I am," Tidus just said, "And who she is. Believe me, Paine, there's no sparks. I can't love her, and I know that. She can't love me, and she knows that. End of story."
Yuna turned around. She felt like crying, although she had no idea why. Tears softly slid down her face, and she hurriedly tried to wipe them off. Then, she gazed down at the ring on her finger.
Sighing, she reached her fist out then, and knocked on the already open door.
It wasn't long before Tidus answered it, and he looked shocked to see her. He just stood there, staring at her, before Paine came up from behind.
Neither of them said anything, but they allowed Yuna in. Yuna walked straight in and sat down where Tidus usually sat, and said, "Do you guys really want me to leave?"
"You heard us?" Paine said, her eyes wide.
"I didn't mean to," Yuna just said softly, looking away from them.
Tidus glared at Paine, and then said, "Well, we don't want you to leave..."
"But we think it may be for the best," Paine finished for him.
Yuna looked up at Paine, who was looking as if she felt better, and said, as she stood up, "I suppose you're right. I don't belong here..."
Yuna started off then, and she could feel Tidus and Paine's eyes on her. Yuna walked out the door and closed it behind her, knowing that they were right. She couldn't fall in love with Tidus. If only Dona hadn't brought it up, then maybe things would still be fine. But when Dona brought up the option of love, it suddenly seemed to be the only option, and it was an option that Yuna just couldn't choose.
"Yuna!" Yuna turned around, only to see Tidus running out to her. He looked up at the sky a few times, and had his arm over his eyes, obviously not used to the light, even the little bit, of the outside.
Yuna stared at him, and then said, "What is it?"
"I don't want you to go," Tidus just said, "So we'll meet somewhere else."
"What?" Yuna just said, "Tidus, Paine is right." She lifted her arm to show her ring, and said, "And so is Dona."
Tidus just smiled, which surprised her, and said, "Exactly. We have nothing between us; we're just friends. Right? I mean, we couldn't be anything but. Right?"
His words slowly soaked into her, and Yuna said, "Right."
"So then," Tidus said, "You have a balcony, right? At midnight, I'll come see you there."
"But why?" Yuna asked, "Why don't you just let me go?"
"Because, I need someone to talk to," Tidus just said, "And something tells me that you do, too. Have you even ever had a friend before?"
Yuna's mouth came somewhat agape as she realized that she hadn't ever had a friend before. Tidus was her first.
"No..." Yuna just said.
"So why let me slip by?" Tidus just said, smiling, "I'll see you later, okay?"
"Alright..." Yuna just said, and he just smiled and ran away, back inside.
Yuna just turned around and kept walking. Still, what was she thinking? Better yet, what was he thinking? They couldn't be together, he'd said so himself. So why did he still want to meet her? Was he really that worried about losing her as a friend? Or was there more to it?
Shaking her head in confusion, all Yuna could do was make her way back to her house, thinking silently to herself.