Hello there! I am SO sorry I haven't updated sooner! You know, with Thanksgiving past and Christmas right around the corner, you just don't have time to sit in front of a computer screen and type. I won't be doing review replies anymore, because of that awesome new feature. Okay, here we go!
Chapter 2: A New Beginning
Lulu, Wakka, and Chappu made it back to Besaid village. Usually there were children playing outside and the adults would mingle with each other. Today everyone was talking about the arrival of Yuna, Braska's daughter.
"Geez, she sure is popular around here, ya" said Wakka, eavesdropping on some conversations as they neared the temple.
" Well, she is LORD BRASKA'S DAUGHTER!" Chappu loudly reminded him.
" Yeah, I know! Still, what does being his daughter have to do with anything?"
" She is his rightful heir. Braska's wife passed away years ago and his other family has yet to be known. Chances are, the priests probably want to train her in the art of summoning" Lulu explained, stopping in front of the temple.
" Your point?" Wakka often got confused about Lulu's over-intelligent conversations and thoughts.
" Aahh" she sighed, rolling her crimson eyes. " Since she is the only one in Braska's family left, the priests will want her to summon someday!"
" Oh, all right…"
" What's with that Ronso, though? What's his name again?" Chappu butted in.
"I'm sure all our questions will be answered when Yuna comes out" Lulu glanced at the temple.
As if on cue, Yuna, Kimahri, and the priests emerged from the temple. The villagers all gathered around as the head priest cleared his throat.
" As some of you may know" he began, but glanced around at all the people. "Okay, all of you know. Ahem, Lord Braska's final wish was to have young Yuna come and live in our humble village of Besaid. Now, considering that we don't have any open residents and she refuses to live in the temple, Yuna needs a nice home to live in."
He rambled on and on about Braska's glorious victory over the terrible monstrosity Sin not long ago. Lulu's eyes wandered over to Yuna, who appeared to be crying. She shut her bi-colored eyes every time her father's name and the word death were mentioned in the same sentence. The young black mage's eyes filled up with tears just looking at the poor little girl. It pained her to see the perky child look like that. Lulu knew exactly how Yuna felt, she had lost her parents to Sin too. Wakka and Chappu were orphans too, but were paying attention to the priests boring, but emotional speech. He went back to the original subject about giving Yuna a good home and no one seemed to volunteer for the job until…
" We'll take her," said a voice from the crowd.
Everyone turned and faced the direction of where the voice came from. Sure enough, everyone stared at Lulu.
Lulu, are you insane? You can't take care of a child! It'll be too hard! Besides, what about your black magic training? Lulu thought to herself angrily.
Yuna looked at Lulu and wiped the tears from her eyes.
" You would take the responsibility of fulfilling Braska's final wish, Miss Lulu?" the head priest questioned.
" Lu, are ya crazy?" Chappu whispered to her. " Do you have any idea how much responsibility that'll be? We can let her stay with some adults. Y'know, people with child experience, ya?"
" I won't take care of her alone," Lulu told the priest, completely ignoring Chappu's comments.
" Geez. Did all of that go in one ear and come out the other?" Chappu asked Wakka.
" I think so" Wakka replied. " He's right, for once, Lulu. Besides, who's gonna help you?"
" Wakka and Chappu will help" Lulu said to the priest, causing the boys' mouths to drop.
" We'll be like the big brothers and sister she never had, until now."
"Uh…. Lu, I" Wakka began, but the lead priest spoke up.
" Then, it is settled" the priest patted Yuna on the back and bent down next to her. " Yuna, daughter of Lord Braska, welcome to Besaid, your new home."
Yuna squealed, overwhelmed with happiness and threw herself into Kimahri's arms. "Oh, this is great!" Kimahri smiled and hugged the little girl close.
" Kimahri will think about Yuna every day on icy Mt. Gagazet" he said, smiling. " This your new home."
" I'll miss you Kimahri" Yuna's eyes filled up with tears, but she grinned at the same time. She knew her life would be better here, with kids her age and a safe environment. Bevelle was just too hectic for her to handle. The city was loud and extremely over-populated. Here it was quiet and the population was nothing to fret about. A place she had always dreamed of living in.
As Kimahri and Yuna said their goodbyes, Wakka walked over to Lulu.
" Hey, Lu" he began, but Chappu walked over to them soon after.
" Yes Wakka?"
" Yeah, Wakka. Whatever you can tell Lu, you can tell me," Chappu told him, knowing that his older brother was about to tell Lulu something personal.
" W-why did ya volunteer us, Lu?" Wakka made up a fake question.
" There…was something about her. One, she was crying and I felt really bad. Two, for a moment there, it sort of felt like…we had to be with her, you know?"
" That's strange. So, ya felt some sort of connection between you two?" Chappu asked.
" Yes. It was strange."
When Kimahri left the village, Yuna ran over to Lulu and hugged her very tightly. " Thanks Lulu, Wakka, and Chappu too!"
" You're welcome, ya!" Wakka smiled and patted the high summoner's daughter on the head.
" I hope ya like living here, Yuna!" Chappu shook her hand gently.
" Now, Lulu, teach me some of that black magic I've heard so much about!" Yuna demanded.
" Maybe some other time" the black mage chuckled. "Right now, I think it's time for you to go to bed."
" Hey! I'm not…" Yuna's talking was interrupted by a big yawn. "…Okay. Maybe I'm a little tired. It's kind of late after all…"
" Right!" Chappu said and turned to face Lulu. "We'll tuck her in."
" Thanks guys. Goodnight Yuna!"
" Where are you going then, Lulu?" Yuna asked her new big sister.
" The temple. There's someone I'd like to talk to."
" But, it's so late at night! Shouldn't that person be asleep?"
" Come on Yuna!" Wakka said and picked up the little girl. " Lu's got her reasons to go to the temple. Time for bed!"
" Okay! Night Lulu!" Yuna called after Lulu. The mage waved from the temple entrance and walked in.
The temple was a somewhat creepy place at night. Candles were the only things lighting the large room. All the priests said goodnight to each other and went into their rooms. One person stayed behind and sat on the steps of the Cloister of Trials.
" You're late, Lulu" the voice was a woman's, calm and beautiful.
" Sorry, Lady Ginnem." Lulu apologized.
Lady Ginnem came out of the dark and approached Lulu. They then made their way into a room with a small table. Lady Ginnem made tea and both girls sat down and sipped their tea quietly.
" It's all right. What I came to say was congratulations on your big decision. That was very brave."
" Oh. I don't think so. I just told the priest I'd look after Yuna-"
" Lord Braska's daughter!" Lady Ginnem reminded her. " It is a big responsibility to take care of one so important in our world. You know, she could be the next high summoner someday. Which brings me to another topic."
" Yes, my lady?" Lulu asked anxiously.
" As you know, I've been training to be a summoner for quite some time now. Well, that training has nearly come to an end now. It's almost time for me to choose a guardian…and…I would like you to be my guardian Lulu…"
Lulu was so stunned, she tipped her teacup over, causing it to spill on her black dress and black leather top.
" L-lady Ginnem…I-I can't be your guardian now, I-I…" Lulu stuttered.
" I don't need an answer now" said the future summoner, getting a napkin from the table and wiping up the mess. " Besides, you haven't quite mastered black magic yet. So, tomorrow, I'd like to see your magic skills and see how good you are, okay?"
" I'm still stunned about that whole 'Be my guardian' thing. I don't think I could. What about Yuna?"
" I don't plan on leaving for another year, so that'll give you pleanty of time to think, okay? I want you to be my guardian, because you are my friend. You are younger than me, but still the greatest friend I have outside of the temple. Please consider my offer, Lulu."
" I will think about it" Lulu looked over at a small clock that said 12:10. " I think it's time I left, it's twelve ten, my lady." Lulu bowed and waved goodbye to her friend.
Having to take care of High Summoner Braska's daughter, study black magic, and worry about if she wanted to become a guardian or not. Everything was happening so fast for Lulu. She didn't quite understand it, but there was this weird feeling in the back of her mind. It told her that one of those things wouldn't turn out well. Lulu knew she would be able to handle whatever came in her way.
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What did you guys think? Please leave a review and tell me what you thought! Remember, I don't do review replies because of that new feature here, so check your e-mails and see what I told ya! Look forward to the next chapter, where the jealousy between Wakka and Chappu over Lulu really starts to unfold! See you guys then, and thanks for reviewing!