Lust for Sin
A Story by Rikku-Hoshi
Well, heres another somewhat boring chapter. Lots and lots of talking and little action. I think this story may be coming to an end...But you still have Tidus story to look forward to! Im going to simply add it in, after the ending of this story. So at that time, the title will officially be changed to Lust for Sin: Beast of Blood. So...Yay. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 16: Crimson Eyes
ADid you hear the news? Dona asked Yuna, eying her suspiciously as she walked into the parlor.
AWhat news? Yuna asked, stirring her tea. Seymour had been called away to a temple meeting, much to Yunas delight, and Dona had apparently invited herself over.
It had been a week since the wedding, and luckily for Yuna, Seymour had been too hung-over the day after to say much about the night before, and from then on, he had been too busy to pay her much mind.
AThey caught the beast.
Yunas hands shook so much that she knocked her tea over. The dark brown liquid leaked down the table and onto the floor. Yuna didnt care though.
AW-What? Yuna just stuttered, AW-W...How?
AThey caught the beast sucking the life out of a man last night, Dona just said, still eying Yuna as if she thought Yuna knew something. Which, Yuna figured she did.
ABu-But...Who...? I mean, what...
APaine, Tidus friend, Dona just said, leaning forward, AObviously you knew.
APaine! Yuna cried then. Here she had figured it was Tidus! Still, Paine was just as bad!
AShes on trial now, Dona just said, AThats where your husband is.
Yuna tried to laugh, and she managed to say in a weak voice, ABut I know Paine. Shes not a beast!
AActually, she is, Dona just said, ATomorrow, if shes condemned, which she will be, theyre going to kill her. They think shes the real witch of the town too. Imagine...
AThats not true, Yuna just said, starting toward the door.
AWhere do you think youre going? Dona asked, although Dona made no attempt to follow Yuna.
ATo prove its not right! Yuna just said, and with that, was out the door. As soon as she was though, she realized there was no way she could just barge into the temple and demand that Paine be set free. She had to talk to Tidus.
At that, she started off quickly toward Tidus, especially being that it was starting to rain.
-
ATidus! Lulu! Yuna cried, knocking on the door, AIts me!
It seemed as if shed been knocking for fifteen minutes if not more. It appeared as if the house was empty. Still, she felt like she couldnt give up. She had to talk to Tidus.
She finally began to back away, when the door was opened, by Tidus himself. He took one look at her, and shook his head.
AYuna, theres nothing we can do, he just said, sadly, and began to shut the door.
ATidus wait! Yuna cried, pushing herself against the door, to urge Tidus not to shut it, ACant I at least talk to you?
AI said there was nothing we could do, Tidus repeated himself, but he opened the door just the same, AShes a goner, Yuna.
ABut we cant just let them kill her! Yuna cried, holding onto the doorknob on her side of the door for support, as she suddenly felt weak.
AThats what she wants, Tidus just said, and he pulled the door open further, causing Yuna to almost fall, ACome on, come in.
Yuna managed to walk into the dark, musky house, and sit down on a stool, before crying, ATidus, we cant let her die!
AWhy not? Tidus asked, taking a seat next to her.
AB-Because! Its not...
AIts what she wants, Tidus said again, AShes confessed to everything. Shes even confessed to witchcraft. That way, Lulus off the hook now. Yuna, its better for us all!
Yuna could tell he was trembling, although he was trying very hard to conceal not only his shakiness, but the glimmers of tears in his eyes.
ABut... Yuna just said softly.
AYuna, shes my best friend, Tidus said, interrupting Yuna, AIve known her for so long. Shes my travel companion...My only companion. I...I turned her into what she is. Its all my fault!
At that, he buried his head in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
AY-You turned her into what she is? Yuna asked, AI didnt know you were...capable!
AI could turn you into a damn monster if I wanted to! Tidus just snapped at her, and then buried his face in his arms again.
Yuna tried to remain calm, but she was having the hardest time doing so. She felt like a monster. She really did. She had been in love with Tidus, who, as she had actually somewhat always thought, was the definition of sin. She always compared him with sinBshe always had. And now, she was finding out that he really was sin.
ATidus, Yuna just said, tears coming out of her own eyes, AI want you to turn me into a monster! Thats how I feel!
Tidus head burst out of his arms, and he glared at her. He grabbed her arm, causing her to flinch and gave it a very tight squeeze, causing her to yell, and then released her, leaving a huge read mark.
ADont you ever say those words again, was all he said, and quite calmly, at that, APaines going to die. Thats how she wants it. We both already discussed it. Yeah, she was my best friend, the only friend I had, because after her death, Im leaving.
AWhat? Yuna just managed to squeak.
AI cant stay here any longer, Tidus just said slowly, ASo I have to leave.
AYou cant leave me, Yuna just said, tears continuing to slide down her face, AI love you.
AWhat did I tell you? Tidus just said, although he sounded desperate, and was giving her the most...well, strange look, as he said, AWe cant be in love. He paused between every word, but his anger seemed to soften.
Yuna just continued to sob. She didnt even notice that Tidus stood up and walked down the stairs, leaving her to herself in her lonely misery.
-
AAnd we of Yevon, pronounce you, Paine, to be sentenced to death, Seymour said in a loud, clear voice. Paine just stood there, firm, but Yuna knew she saw relief in her eyes.
Sighing, Yuna pushed her way through the small crowd that had seated themselves in the temple, watching the trial as if it were some blitzball game.
ASeymour, Yuna said, walking on the stage, as the rest of the men who had helped come up with the verdict dispersed, ADo you mind if I have a talk with Paine?
AWhat about? Seymour just said, more in a sigh than anything else.
AI just thought maybe Id give her some last blessings, Yuna lied.
AShes a hopeless case, Yuna, and I dont trust her to be alone with you.
ASeymour, let me talk to her through bars, then.
AVery well, Seymour said, AWell lock her up in the prison, being that her execution isnt until tomorrow. You can talk to her there.
AThank you, Yuna just said, and then walked swiftly away before he could kiss her, or anything of the sort.
-
APaine? Yuna said softly, after making sure Seymour had completely left. He seemed too tired to mind, being that he had been up for long hours with the trial, AIts me, Yuna.
AWhat do you want? Yuna just heard a miserable voice say from the darkness.
AI just want to talk to you, Yuna said, walking up to the cell, ADo you mind?
ANo.
APaine, I can get you out of here! Yuna said quickly then, APlease, come with me!
There was no answer from Paine, but then Yuna heard her sigh.
AYuna, I want to die. I want to die so terribly. Ive been alive far past my time. I should be...Well, I should be well over one hundred years old. Its been nice, but Im so tired. I hate killing people, as does Tidus. This is my chance to just give up. You need to understand.
AI take it you found out that I knew? Yuna just asked then.
AOf course. He and I tell each other everything. Well, we havent lately. I dont think he likes the idea of me dying. I dont know why thoughBits the same thing he did.
AWhat do you mean? Yuna asked.
AHasnt he told you? Paine just said.
ANo.
AWell, then Im not going to say, Paine just said softly, AYoull have to hear it from him. His story. Really, its quite interesting. I think its his story that made me allow him to do what he did to me. But I suppose I may as well tell you my own story.
ACould you? Yuna just asked. She had forgotten that her main reason for coming to was to free Paine.
AI came from a very poor family, Paine began, AMy parents were the town drunks, and owned the town tavern. I served the drinks, and had for as long as I could remember. I was uneducated, dirty, and basically friendless. After all, who wanted to be friends with the daughter of drunks? Anyway, one day, a young man showed up. That was Tidus. That night, my folks were drunk, and had left with some friends, leaving me to mind the tavern. The only people there were Tidus and another man. The other man was a dirty man who was a regular. He frightened me though. That night, he was especially drunk, and he began to harass me. I was very scared, and didnt know what to do. The next thing I knew, he was lying dead in a pile of blood, and Tidus...Well, Tidus was slouched over him, and apparently sucking his blood. I was frightened, but at the same time extremely interested. I decided right then that if he were a bad guy, he would do the same to me. Yet, he didnt. He just gave me this sad look and started off.
AWhere are you going? I asked him.
A Arent you afraid? he just said.
A Not at all, I answered.
AFrom then on, he told me everything. He told me about him being a vampire from Zanarkand, and how hed wandered Spira for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years. His story was the most amazing thing Id ever heard. As soon as he finished, almost as if on cue, my family returned and saw us talking, and that customer lying dead. They freaked, and assumed it was Tidus. They grabbed their guns, and prepared to shoot him. But then I...I dont know, I felt attached to him somehow. I couldnt let them do that to Tidus. So I jumped in front of the bullets. I was hit three times, but as I lie there suffering, I suddenly felt pressure on my neck. And well...I went unconscious, and after that, nothing was the same. Tidus had turned me into what he was, and he killed my parents and the rest of the drunks. I know it sounds horrible, but I really couldnt thank him enough. After all, I wanted a life like his. If I had stayed, or even if I had died, my life would have been pointless.
ABut now its complete? Yuna just asked.
A...Basically, came Paines reply, AThe more I thought about it, the more I realized that I fulfilled my dream. I wanted to see Spira, and I was able to see it throughout the ages. But I also realized what a horribly setting we lived in. Spira is full of fake religion, evil people...evil minds. If I had really listened to Tidus story, I would have understood this. But...
ACant you please tell me? Yuna asked, giving Paine an imploring look, ATidus story, that is.
At that, the door opened, and Seymour came walking in.
AYuna, lets go, he said simply.
AGive me one more minute, Yuna just called to him, and again waited until the door was closed, before saying again, APaine, please, I can help you!
AThis is what I want, Paine simply said, AIf Tidus can understand that, then you should too. Goodbye Yuna.
Yuna wanted to be persistent, but she just couldnt. Finally, with a sigh, Yuna started toward the door.
AYuna! Paine called after her though, and hoping she had changed her mind, Yuna hurried back.
AYes?
APlease tell Tidus that Im very happy for everything he did, Paine said simply, ATell him hes the best friend I ever had. Tell him I loved him for it. I loved him for what he did. Even if it did mean I spent the rest of my life killing.
Yuna stood there for quite some time, before finally nodding, and finding herself crying, she said through her tears, AWill do.
And at that, she left the cell, taking one last look into Paines crimson eyes before leaving completely.
AGoodbye Paine, she simply said softly under her breath, AGoodbye forever.