Chapter 4

Family reunion

Shuyin and I looked at each other at the sound of that voice. We both knew who it was, but none of us was too pleased with that. Shuyin let go of me and stood up, his fists clenched and his jaw set.

"Shuyin…" I called, trying to make him look at me "Aren't you letting your own father in your house?"

His softness and playfulness from before were gone when he looked at me again. "He's not welcome here and he should know that already."

"But he seems―"

"Drunk, as always." He completed sternly. Then he sat back and turned to me, a desperate look in his eyes "I can't let him in while you're in here, Yuna. I'm sorry, but it's for your own good."

"What do you mean?" I was clueless about what he was saying.

"Last time he found me with a girl… well, he hit her. And I completely lost control and I beat him up, my own father, as you call him. He ended up in the hospital 'cause of me…"

"It's not your fault, Shuyin. He deserved it. If it was any other guy you would have done the same, wouldn't you? And I bet Lenne was so proud of you for sticking up for her."

He snapped his head back at me. "How did you know it was Lenne?"

"Because she's the only one you would ever, ever, let come this close." I responded peacefully.

"I let you too…"

"It's different. I've always been your―" I stopped abruptly and swallowed hard but Shuyin had understood what my next words would be: I've always been your brother's girl. He just smiled a little and caressed my arm.

"Yeah, you've always been my little sister."

We both smiled at each other, while Jecht kept knocking on the door, threatening to throw it down if no one opened it up. Shuyin shrugged, told me to hide in his room and readied himself to face his father. I did as he told me and got into his messed and dark room, but didn't close the door for I wanted to see what was going on in the other room.

Shuyin opened up the door and Jecht stumbled into the house, looking drunker than ever.

"Whaddya want?" Shuyin asked, without even closing the door and leaning against a wall.

"I wanna talk to you! You're my son and I―"

"Cut the craps, Jecht, and go straight to the point!"

Jecht gazed at Shuyin with a surprised look on his eyes. He was so different from what I remembered. He had gotten shorter in the last couple of years, his hair was long and his beard covered his face, his skin was filthy and if I had felt sorry for Shuyin's outfit, what could I say about his father's? It looked like the man was sleeping on the streets.

"Okay, boy, I thought we could talk, but if ya don't wanna, it's just fine with me. But then don't come buggin' me tellin' me I ain't a good father and all that shit that little girl of yours puts in your head. Yeah, 'cause we both know she's a―"

"Watch it, Jecht!" Shuyin alerted, folding his arms tightly on his chest "You're not talking 'bout your little street friends."

"And what is she? Always singin' in clubs and that kinda shit. Ya know what men say 'bout her?"

I knew Shuyin was losing control of himself and before he could do anything stupid I stepped out of the room and showed myself, walking straight to him and grabbing his arm tightly. Maybe two years ago I would have never done something like that, because I was too afraid of Jecht (I still remember the day Tidus got to my house with a broken arm and a bleeding nose because his father had been too drunk to notice where or who he was hitting); but now he seemed a very weak man, broken by the alcohol, and I wasn't afraid of him anymore. After all, I had Warrior Training at school and that class was pretty close to self-defence, so I thought I could handle it if Jecht tried anything against me.

Shuyin seemed shocked by my attitude, but I could tell that he was less nervous now, less abandoned. He stepped forward so I would be on his back, away from his father's range. Jecht was looking at me like he had seen a ghost.

"I… I… I know you…" he mumbled, pointing at me "You're Tidus'…"

"Not anymore, no." I answered dryly. All the pity I might have had on that guy was gone the minute he started talking about Lenne.

"What she doin' here, Shuyin?"

"None of you damn business. Just say what you want and get the hell outta my house." Shuyin responded, pointing at the door.

"Well… I… You know, I'm not rich and I need…"

"I'm not giving you money so you can spend it on drinking, dad!" yelled Shuyin, really angry this time "I don't know why you even bothered asking! Now get out!"

Jecht looked one last time at his older son. Then his gaze turned to me and he tried one more time "What 'bout you, beauty? I know Tidus would appreciate if you…"

What happened next was so fast that even now it's hard for me to remember all the details. All I know is that Shuyin jumped on his father and punched him on the face, then grabbed him and threw him out of his house, slamming the door. Finally he turned to me, his breathing erratic, his eyes narrowed in anger.

"Didn't I tell you to stay in the damn room!" he shouted, making me tremble. For the first time in my life I was afraid of him.

I felt my knees go numb and I fell on the ground, not looking at him at any cost. All the strength I had had before was now gone and all I could see in my mind was Shuyin's angry face shouting at me. It was then that I felt two strong arms wrapped around me.

"I'm sorry, I never meant to yell at you. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, Shuyin, I just wanted to help." I apologized, regaining my composure.

"That's what Lenne said too. But let's just forget 'bout it, 'kay?" he replied, kissing me on the forehead. "And I'm really sorry I yelled at you, but that guy… He really affects me, ya know?"

I nodded and hugged him too, sensing he needed my support as much as I needed his. Then, after a while, I got up, pulling him after me. "Like you said, let's forget about it. Let's get out of this place, okay?"

"Sure." he complied, shrugging "Where do you wanna go?"

I grinned, almost forgetting the previous episode. "There's this new café downtown and it's said that they have the best hot chocolate in all Spira. Wanna go check it out?"

He grinned too, licking his lips with anticipation, and we took off to the downtown, where we spent lots of time talking. It was kind of weird at first, being with a friend I hadn't seen in quite a while and talking to him like we had seen each other just yesterday, like there was no past and no hurt feelings between us. But it also felt so good. I guess I just cared about him too much and was not worried about what had happened before that moment: all the pain was forgotten in that brief afternoon. And it was settled: from that moment on we would start over and eventually become even closer than we were before.

It was nearly five o'clock when I looked down at my watch. "Sorry, Shuyin, I gotta go. I promised Lulu I would stop by her house to pay a visit."

"So, how's she and Wakka?" he asked, trying to sound carefree, but I could see that he really wanted to know the answer.

I smirked, remembering Paine's words about her sister. "Well… she's pregnant and he's the happiest guy in the world! I think I never saw Wakka this excited before, not even about blitz."

"Yeah, well… You know that before he and Lu hooked up he was…"

"Still mourning over his brother. I know." I said "She was too. I think they helped each other to get over that and to be happy again."

"Yeah." The melancholia in Shuyin's voice and the sadness in his eyes made my heart ache for him. I knew he wished to somehow get along with everyone just like he had done a long time ago; he wanted everything to be like it had been; he wanted to be happy and to have friends again. But I also knew he had no idea how to achieve that; he was lost…

Suddenly I asked, out of the blue, without even thinking about what I was going to say. "Would you like to come along?"

Shuyin looked at me with uneasiness. His eyes told me that that was his biggest wish and yet his biggest fear. He then said, hesitantly "Perhaps it's best if I don't go… yet. A lot has happened and I don't know if this is the best time to show up again. Let's take a step at a time: first you, and then we'll see…"

I nodded, understanding what he was saying. I knew it must've been hard for him to be with me again like we had never been apart. With the others would be even harder, so… Well, time would show us all.

-----XX-----

Before I got to Lulu's house I stopped by at my place to take a quick shower and to change clothes. The time I had spent with Shuyin had been wonderful, but I still felt the need to wash away the memories of Jecht stretching his hand to me, pleading for money, mentioning how grateful his younger son would be… I shook my head to try and rid myself of those thoughts that were clinging to me like glue and threw the towel aside, putting on my black hip-huggers and matching them with a baby-pink halter. Then I started spreading some mousse on my hair to make it spiky on its ends; lately I liked that hairstyle a lot. When I got ready I exited the house and crossed the backyard, through the path that led to Lulu's own backyard.

"Yuna!" Lulu welcomed me as soon as she saw me. She was sitting on a large chair on the porch, her baggy black clothes unable to conceal her huge stomach. The baby was growing fast, no doubts on that. "Come here, darling. Sit next to me."

I approached her and sat on a chair next to her, smiling peacefully. I've always loved to come and sit with Lulu, talking with her for hours, sharing every little bit of thought and always asking her advice for any major important decision I would have to make. She had been the first person I had met in Besaid, beside my family, and we had developed a very strong friendship over time; she was like an older sister to me. It had also been through her that I had later met Wakka, Shuyin and Tidus. I still remember that day so well. I had gone to Lulu's house to borrow her some clothes, because she, Rikku and I were going out that night, but the person who opened up the door had nothing to do with Lulu. His messed blonde hair, his beautiful tanned features and his enticing blue eyes caught me at that precise minute and I completely forgot about everything else. It seemed like hours had passed before Lulu came and introduced us. Then they had come with us that night and after that Tidus and I never let go of each other again. That is, until…

"Is something wrong, Yuna?" Lulu asked, her tone worried, making me snap back into reality.

I thought about telling her what had happened with Shuyin and Jecht, but then I glanced at her stomach and thought twice about doing it. She certainly had other concerns, she didn't need to share my own. So I smiled reassuringly and said "Nothing's wrong, Lu. I was just thinkin'…" Then I looked around and tried to change the subject, asking her "So, Paine and Wakka are not here yet, huh?"

She eyed me suspiciously but finally answered. "No, they're probably lost in the mall or something like that. You know how distracted Wakka can be and Paine… well, she's not very patient, I can almost imagine her leaving Wakka alone and going to wait in the car…"

I laughed at that thought. "Yeah, you're probably right. How 'bout you, my friend? How've you been?"

"Well, a little tired, I must confess. Being pregnant isn't exactly easy. I always feel so heavy and so not pretty… I mean, Wakka keeps telling me I'm still beautiful and all that, but I know he just says that 'cause he loves me. I feel so not sexy…" she sighed.

"Hey, soon enoughthat baby will be out here and you'll feel gorgeous once again." I smiled, trying to bring her some comfort.

"Yeah, after that will be the diapers and the sleepless nights and the end of the romance. Well, never mind. Lately I'm just moody…"

"Lu! We're back, ya?" I heard Wakka's voice across the empty house. Soon he and Paine were stepping into the backyard, joining us. "Yuna, nice to see ya." Wakka greeted, sitting next to his wife and putting an arm around her shoulders, which made her smile and made me believe that their romance was never going to end, in spite of what she said.

"Glad to see ya too, Wakka. I just stop by to see how Lu was doin'." I glanced at Paine, but she averted my eyes and went to the end of the porch, where Lulu's Moogle was resting. She kneeled down beside it and stroked its head lightly, a tender smile spreading over her lips as she did so. The Moogle woke up and stretched its little arms to her, allowing her to pick it up.

"She's the one who takes care of him now." Lulu said, following my gaze "I don't have much time or patience, as a matter of fact."

Wakka smiled and planted a kiss on her cheek "You have other things to worry 'bout, dear. More important things, ya?" His hand rested on her stomach and she smiled back to him.

I felt kind of left out of that picture of love so I stood up and walked over to Paine, who was playing around with the Moogle. I knew Lulu and Wakka would not notice my absence.

"Feeling better?" I asked, as I sat next to her.

"I wasn't feeling bad, for a start." She retorted, nudging the Moogle's red pom-pom as he tried to climb to her lap.

"Well, you certainly didn't look well at lunch time, but never mind. I shouldn't have asked; it's your business." I snapped back. Her attitude was starting to get on my nerves, but I really didn't want to begin an argument with Paine. For Yevon's sake, she was one of my best friends!

"Look, Yuna, if you're here to talk about what happened at lunch, this really isn't a good time." She said, a little smoother this time. "I'm just having a bad day, ya know…"

"Okay." I complied. We sat there for a few moments and then I said "I'm not having the best day either."

She eyed me, but stood still. If I wanted to talk she would listen, but she would never ask. The main difference between us was that I wanted to talk.

"I passed over Shuyin's house earlier today." I started "And we made up, which makes me so happy, because I really love him―"

"I thought you loved his brother…" Paine interrupted me, attempting to understand the story.

I let out a smile, trying not to think too much about Tidus. "And I did. But I love Shuyin too, as a brother. He was one of my closest friends and only today did I realize how much I've missed his friendship in the last years…"

"Well, if you guys made up, then what's botherin' you?" she inquired.

"His father. He showed up while I was there, begging his son to give him some money so he could spend it on drinks." I hesitated. "It was such a horrible scene, Paine! To see Shuyin throwing his father out of his house, to see that repulsive man insulting Lenne, to hear him talking about… Tidus. I just felt so…"

"Misplaced?" she said, trying to help me out.

I nodded. It had felt like I was in some other reality, in which I didn't belong. But then again, Shuyin didn't belong in that reality either and he was stuck in it everyday. And so was Lenne, who had once been a happy, bright girl; now, the few times I saw her she was always saddened and near tears. Then, on the other hand, there was this other reality in which I liked to live.

I looked around to see Paine sitting next to me, cradling the Moogle on her arms, Lulu and Wakka were behind us, whispering to each other, and Rikku was running through our backyard towards us. This too was a family reunion, yet so different from the one I had seen a few hours before. In this one there was love and caring and I felt warm inside. I sighed. I just loved my life, so why did I feel like something was missing?

A/N: I know I said I would try to upd8 sooner, but I couldn't. Sorry. Anyways, here's another chappie. Tell me what you think, plz.

Da Ker MysTeRr: Thank you so much. You've been my best reviewer so far and it makes me so happy that you actually like the story… Thanks!

Hearts On Hold: I know you want to see what happens when Tidus returns, but 1st I wanted to give you an idea of Yuna's life right now. I know it probably isn't the most interesting thing for you, but it's part of the story and I was actually hoping you'd enjoy…

Anyways, (and this is for all you Tidus' fans) he'll be back around chapter 7 according to my plans. So, stick around and see what happens.

All the others who also reviewed, thank you very much. Cia soon.