Illusions of Life and Death

Chapter 11
Rikku's Struggle, Shuyin's Return

"Rikku…she…she was attack by………a vampire!" Lenne cried.

"WHAT?" Yuna panicked, pushing her way through everyone to get inside. Tidus was right behind as the two ran up the stairs and into Rikku's room.

Once inside, Yuna's heart sank. There she was, lying in bed, her eyes closed, sweat dripping down her face and of course the bite on her neck that was still bleeding, mildly.

"Rikku." Yuna spoke, rushing over to her side. "Rikku, its me Yuna, can you hear me?"

But Rikku didn't reply. She looked to be in such pain that was unbearable for Yuna to witness.

"Isn't there anything we can do for her?" Yuna asked shaking her head, crying.

"She hasn't lost too much blood but her wound to the neck won't seem to stop. Her temperature has dropped quite a bit." The doctor began to explain. "The only thing we can really do for her at this point is get her temperature up and stop the bleeding to her neck."

"There has to be something more we can do!" Yuna protested. "What if she turns into a vampire? Or even die? Well?"

"Yuna…" Tidus spoke softly.

"I…I can't lose her…she's all the family I have left…" Yuna cried, holding Rikku's hand. "Please…please help her…"

The doctor turned his head away, unable to look at the two girls. "I…I'm sorry. Without a cure for vampirism, there is nothing I can do for her."

Yuna continued to cry, both hands holding Rikku's. "I need you Rikku…don't leave me…please…" She spoke to her cousin who was struggling at best to fight the disease that was slowly moving through her body.

Tidus looked down at Yuna and Rikku. He could smell the scent of Seymour all over Rikku and the room but decided best to keep it to himself and not let Yuna know. The state she was already in, he didn't want to upset her even more.

"We're doing all we can, Miss. Yuna. It'd be best to let Rikku get some sleep now." The doctor spoke, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You should get some rest yourself."

"But…Rikku…"

The doctor then gently helped Yuna back to her feet, pulling her away from Rikku. "We'll keep a close eye on her. If her condition changes, we'll let you know, okay? Everything will be fine."

"The doctor is right." Tidus joined in. "You should really get some rest. Its late."

Looking back at Rikku, Yuna took a deep breath and nodded her head. "…Okay……"

Tidus walked up to Yuna and wrapped his arm around her and led her out of the room and into her bedroom.

"Is there a way to save her Tidus…?" Yuna asked. "Isn't there something you can do to help her?"

"I wish I could, Yuna. It's not that simple. Vampires bite humans for either a meal, to kill them or to turn them into a vampire. Rikku survived the bite and death so there is a chance that she may…" He replied but decided it'd be best not to complete his sentence. "There's no way for vampires to reverse the bite if that's what you're asking."

Yuna sat on her bed, staring at the ground. "I became a hunter to protect my family…and I can't even do that…Rikku—she'll…" She looked up and over at Tidus. "Isn't there a cure?"

Tidus shook his head sadly. "Not that I know of." Pausing for a moment, he continued. "The only way you could save her is……kill the head vampire before she turns into a vampire herself."

"The head vampire…but that's…"

"My father." Tidus finished for her.

"But that means…all vampires in Spira will perish…even you."

"That's right." He simply replied.

Yuna began to cry once more. "But……I have to chose between you and Rikku…dammit, why does it have to be like this?"

Tidus knew what Yuna was thinking exactly and frankly, he knew that she would have to do. "Yuna…"

"No. I'm not going to choose. I won't. I refuse to!" Yuna retorted.

Tidus looked away from her. Just then, bight lights began to emerge into the village as Tidus was the first to spit them through Yuna's window. He quickly walked over and looked out. He gasped, eyes widened. Oh, no…

Yuna stood up from her bed and walked over beside Tidus to see what he was looking out at. And the shock hit her just as much as it did Tidus.

Making their way into the village was a good 30 or 40 so of highly trained vampire hunters, most carrying torches to light their way into the village. Leading them in was of course no other than Shuyin.

"Hunters…" Yuna spoke softly.

"So it has begun." Tidus spoke, a hint of anger in his voice. Yuna looked up at Tidus glare down at the humans. "The fight between vampires and hunters."

"No, don't say that." Yuna disagreed. "Shuyin is only—"

"Its too late Yuna." Tidus interrupted looking down at her. "He'll take us all out, I know it. Nothing can stop him now."

"We have to do something to stop him—anything! Its just…I…I don't want anymore people to die, taken away from me…" She cried.

"Yuna…" He spoke, placing his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "Its too late. But I promise you that I'll save Rikku, okay?"

"Tidus…no."

"It's the only way."

"NO!" She shouted, taking a step back away from him. "I won't let you do it, you're staying here with me!"

"You can't choose me over your family, Yuna."

"I don't want to lose either one of you…"

"If I don't end this soon, Rikku will be turned into a vampire. And once that is done there won't be anything you can do to save her. But if I help lead Shuyin to my father, we can end this fight between humans and vampires for good. Once my father is killed, the vampire DNA in Rikku will dissolve and she'll be okay then. Yuna…it's the only way."

"But then you'll die too!" Yuna said, crying. "I don't want that…"

"This is just how it is Yuna. There is nothing else either one of us can do."

The sound of footsteps then was heard coming up the stairs. It was probably without a doubt Shuyin coming after hearing the news about Rikku.

"I'll leave for now to get prepared." Tidus continued, walking over to the window. "I'll see you soon." And with that, he jumped out of the window and proceeded into the forest.

Yuna fell to her knees, crying as she stared at the floor. This is not how I wanted things to turn out…why…why is this the only choice?

Shuyin then came walking into her room and gasped to see her on the floor crying. "Yuna!" He spoke, running over and kneeling down in front of her. "Yuna…?"

Yuna looked up at him with her teary eyes.

"Its okay. Everything will be okay." He smiled.

Making his way through the forest that night heading back to the cave, Tidus couldn't help but allow his tears to be shown. He softly cried, knowing what he had to do for Yuna.

You and I…we're too different. You're a human and I'm a vampire. Think about it. Is this really what you want? To be with someone who can't go out into the sunlight…who's a complete monster...who's…not like you and your friends. You know what that's like?

You'll continue to grow and live, becoming older…but I'll be left behind…

"You can't choose me over your family, Yuna.

Although as painful as it was, there was no turning back now. It was time to end the cursed race and allow Spira continue on without fear, sorrow, or death that a vampire caused. This is not how he wanted Yuna to live her life. She belonged to be surrounded by love, warmth, family, friends—away from all the sadness. And Tidus knew that he could give her that. He felt that he had to. That's how much he loved her.

Yuna……one day...you'll die. But I'll keep on living.

Sorry if this chapter was a lot shorter, gomen! Keep on reading as the final battle between Shuyin's army of bunters go against Jecht and the vampires. And of course to see what will become of Tidus and Yuna. See you in the next chapter!