Lust for Sin

A Story by Rikku-Hoshi

Yay! First off, sorry it took me so long to update. School has been absolutely hectic as has tennis! So I have such little time! Anyway though, guess what this is, everybody! It's the end of "Lust for Sin". It's basically the end of this story, minus the ending, because this story will now go into a different mode, as in, Tidus' story! So, this is basically the end of part I, and part II will start next chapter! I'm sure you'll understand, and you should be able to tell something's up by the title change! Enjoy this last chapter of "Lust for Sin", and prepare yourself for Part II: Beast of Blood!

Chapter 17: Listen to My Story

Yuna refused to witness it, but she heard it from Seymour. They had hung her by her neck, in the sunlight, until she just disappeared, which were Seymour's exact words in fact. He seemed so pleased with himself to have discovered both the witch and the beast. People congratulated him and called him a hero. In Yuna's heart though, it only made her hate him more than she ever thought possible.

She spent her days reading, reading books about witches and demons, and vampires, until Seymour came home, when she changed her reading to the bible of Yevon. All of the accounts she came upon though, seemed endlessly wrong, and she guessed they weren't true accounts at all.

When she wasn't reading, she spent her time gazing out the window, in the direction toward Tidus' house.

She had heard that Lulu had been welcomed back to the temple, but Yuna herself never went to the temple. She faked sickness, and she knew that the entire village figured she was pregnant, and they all rejoiced over the fact. She wasn't though, and Seymour and her didn't even sleep in the same bed. Still, Seymour played out the fact that she was pregnant, but in a way, it was almost as if it were for him to spend more time away from her. Still, she figured he would force something upon her, someday.

Yuna had also heard that Wakka had seemingly begun to fancy Lulu. She had heard this from Dona, who visited every so often, mainly to see if Yuna's stomach had grown any larger. Strangely enough, Dona had explained, Lulu seemed to fancy Wakka back.

That always made Yuna curious. How was Tidus doing? Was he even still there? In Yuna's heart, she knew she would never forgive him if he had just up and left without telling her goodbye. Especially since what she really wanted to know what his story. She wanted to know it so badly, that at times, she would lie there at night and think of how his story would have gone. She thought of the large machina buildings thousands of years ago, and though of Tidus, wandering the streets, enjoying himself. She thought of adventures Paine and he must have had, drifting from one era of Spira to the next. Mostly though, she thought of why he wouldn't just tell her. She knew it must have been something horrible, or something he figured would shock her.

Mostly though, she figured it was something...an account too horrible for him to bear. She guessed he didn't want to tell her, because he feared reliving it.

-

"The people in the village are curious as to why you haven't been to the temple," Seymour said, swallowing the huge chunk of meat he had been tearing at for some time.

"Did you tell them I was feeling ill?" Yuna just asked, softly.

"You've been feeling very ill for quite some time now," Seymour just said softly, "They have been rumors that you're to bear a child..."

"We both know that's not true," Yuna just said, putting her fork down, as to excuse herself.

"Sit back down," Seymour just said, "I'm not done talking to you."

"You sound like my father," Yuna just said, as she sat back down. She realized then, that she hadn't seen her father in quite some time. She wondered how he was managing. The saddest thing was that he lived right next door...

"Dona seems to believe it as well," Seymour just said, "She continually asks me when it's due, and whether I want a boy or a girl. People want us to have a child."

Yuna found herself rolling her eyes, and then she stood up, not caring what Seymour said, and said, "Seymour, now's not the time. It's almost winter...I don't want a child in the winter."

"Then we can have it in the spring."

"No. Not ever."

"Sit back down!" Seymour said, but this time Yuna ignored him. She glared at him, and started toward the next room, hearing her husband say, "Where are you going?"

"To see my father," came Yuna's reply, although she knew that wasn't true.

"It's pouring rain outside, and the lightning is fierce," Seymour said, although he made no attempt to chase her down, "I will not have my wife outside."

"Too bad," Yuna replied, as she walked swiftly to the door, turning the handle quickly, and rushing outside.

Seymour hadn't been kidding. It really was pouring rain. The rain fell to the ground in quick, fast drops, and already there was a film of water on the ground. The lightning was so bright that it seemed almost as if it were day when it flashed, although it was quite late at night.

She marched into the rain, knowing she would be soaked in a matter of minutes. This didn't seem to bother her, though. She took a quick glance at the house next door, seeing that her father's bedroom window was on. Something pulled at her stomach, but there was something else that was pulling at her heart.

She turned away from what had been her home for a little while, at least, and from what was now her home. Her eyes went to the ground, as she felt the water hitting her harder and harder, it seemed. A tear slipped from her eyes, as she realized exactly where she wanted to go. She wanted to see Tidus. After all, something told her he would be leaving soon.

With her mind made up, she started running down the brick path toward the village, at full speed. She sloshed through puddles, not caring that she was soaked, and ignored the rain that flew into her eyes. She ran as if her life depended on it, and maybe it did. After all, the lightning was, as Seymour had said, fierce.

She turned the corner, running toward the familiar little house, hoping that Tidus hadn't already left.

Running up the steps, Yuna practically flew herself at the door, and knocked loudly, hoping that somebody, anybody, would answer.

The door opened, and she felt herself fall into the house, as the door, which had been supporting her, came open. She closed her eyes, expecting to fall into the house, only to fall straight into the arms of Tidus.

He seemed surprised, as he said, "Yuna?" but as she fell, he only caught her, and held her there, dripping in his arms as she sobbed.

-

"How many times have we discussed this?" Tidus said, as he wrapped a blanket around Yuna's trembling shoulders, "We can't be together. There's more reasons than one, and you know that."

Yuna didn't reply. She just sat there, staring at nothing. Finally, she looked into his eyes, and said, "Tidus, you're all alone. Where's Lulu?"

"With Wakka," Tidus just said, looking into his clasped hands, which were resting on the table, "Her and him have been very close lately. She has friends now, now that she's not the witch. People are on the streets at night again...Everything's the way it should be."

"So...You're leaving then?" Yuna asked, pulling her eyes away from his.

Tidus nodded, and said softly, "Yeah, tomorrow morning."

"Would you have left without at least saying goodbye?" Yuna questioned, looking back at him.

"Probably," Tidus said, and it was his turn to look away, "We shouldn't have gotten as close as we did."

"That was your fault," Yuna said softly.

"I know," Tidus replied, "So that's why you have to forget about me."

"Tidus, just turn me into..."

"Don't," Tidus said, quite fiercely, just as thunder broke out, "Don't go there, Yuna. I'm not doing that. I...I can't lose you the way I lost Paine!"

"I wouldn't leave you!" Yuna cried.

"Paine said the same things," Tidus said, "Enough becomes enough, Yuna! Besides...Death...Isn't that bad. In fact...It's the only time you can be at peace."

"How would you know?" Yuna just cried, 'You're okay with the fact that Paine is dead?"

"I would sell my damn soul to be dead right now!" Tidus just cried, and Yuna was surprised to see tears running down his face.

"Then give up like Paine did," Yuna said, trying to keep her face straight, although she too, was crying.

Tidus shook his head, and said, "I can't. I've cheated death one too many times. I'm not worth dying...Unless..."

"Unless what?" Yuna said, trying to keep from crying.

Tidus leaned back in his chair, taking deep breaths. Finally, he looked into her eyes, and said, "Yuna, there's so much you don't understand. So much you don't know...So much I can't tell you. Knowing is death itself, after all."

"Didn't you just say death was a good thing?" Yuna said stubbornly, crossing her arms.

"Well, yeah but..."

Yuna didn't say anything, and neither did Tidus, as he trailed on his 'but'. The just sat there, in silence, for quite some time.

"Do you really want to know?" Tidus finally said, after minutes had passed.

"Yes, I do," Yuna said calmly.

"It's not...good," Tidus said, "And I really–."

"Don't want to relive it," Yuna finished for him.

He stared at her, as if wondering how she knew that, but then swallowed and said, "Exactly. It's so painful..."

"That's alright," Yuna said, "Take your time. We have...all night, after all."

Tidus nodded, and said softly, "Alright, I'll tell you my story."

"It was a night like any other..."

END OF PART I: LUST FOR SIN