All right! Here it is!! The long awaited Chapter 23! Sorry to keep you waiting for so long. I am quite sure you all shall be most pleased!! Well enough waiting! Enjoy!
The dance between Tidus and Lenne had been progressing for several minutes. His arms were stiff and tight, locked, trying his best to hold her…for her…for the baby. Why of course the thought of pushing away from her, and running as fast as he could to Besaid, as fast as his legs could take him had surely entered his mind. To hold Yuna in his arms once more…was a dream that drifted little by little beyond his grasp. For what were tears of pain Lenne mistook for tears of joy, and smiled gently pulling in closer. The world was hers…he was her world. As the music faded to silence they parted, Lenne still grasping her hand to his pulled him closer, as the crowd cheered in celebration. His desperation drowned out by the applause, and toasts that were all being shouted out at one time. Bowing his head in thought, finding it difficult to exhale he contemplated to himself.
"I…wont be my father…I am not my father…I will not…I can not abandon my family." Lenne gently nudged him out of thought.
"Tidus, come to the kitchen with me, I need help bringing out the cake." Nodding she took his hand leading him through the crowd toward the kitchen.
"Yuna—"What was that?" He stopped in place jolting back toward the crowd, taking Lenne back a few steps as well.
"What was what Tidus?" Confusion lined his brow and he shook his head, and continued to follow Lenne.
"Yuna—"There it is again." This time Tidus jerked in time to a side conversation. Rikku was shaking her head fiercely, while Gippal desperately tried to prove himself right on the subject.
"Rikku I just saw her! You told me she went to Besaid, all I was saying was that I saw her!" Taking her thin index finger she poked Gippal back.
"Listen here Gippal, I watched Yunie get on that plane, so if this is some sort of sick Joke I suggest you cut it the hell out!"
"Rikku! Will you calm down! It isn't that big of a deal."
"So you were joking!"
"No Rikku! I wasn't, but I don't want to argue with you!"
"Stop yelling!"
"You stop yelling first—"Am I interrupting something?" Gippal and Rikku froze their hands, both index fingers pointed toward one another, slowly turned their faces to Tidus' with Lenne not far behind. Taking a step forward Gippal pushed Rikku behind him.
"Sorry Tidus, I was just seeing things, sorry to cause a scene."
"What did you see?"
"Well I thought I saw Yu—"Ugh!" Gippal fell to his knees, from the sharp punch from Rikku. Stepping on his back she yelled.
"I told you, you must have been seeing things! Why were you trying to play that mean joke on them too—"But…I really…did…see" His voice muffled through the floor. Glancing back up Rikku attempted to apologize.
"Sorry, Tidus. Gippal here decided to play a mean joke on me. He told me that Yuna was here, and that he saw her but then she ran out that back door." Taking her finger, she glided toward the exit, "It was such a cruel joke, wasn't it Gippal!" Pressing her dress heel into his back she smiled, but that soon faded.
"Tidus…are you okay?" His once tan, bronze complexion now seemed drained of its color.
"Ri…kku…which way…did she go—"He was only joking Tidus, didn't you hear what I just said?" Taking a step closer to the door Lenne reached out gripping his arm firmly.
"Tidus, baby…come help me in the kitchen, come on." Turning his head slightly over his shoulder he jerked his arm away.
"I am not a child Lenne!" The crowd's laughter seemed to fade to whispers in a matter of seconds. Looking to her sides she realized the scene he was causing and edged closer, whispering to his side.
"Tidus…I am sorry okay…just come with me in the kitchen…" Taking another step he nodded, "After I take a look outside—"No, now!" Her voice assertive, pressing into his arm tighter. Rikku, stepping forward slapped her hand away. Relieving the pressure on Gippal's back.
"Hey! Back off! He doesn't have any commitment to you—"Rikku you can get the hell out of my house!" Ignoring her warning she stepped closer, Tidus attempted to pull Rikku back.
"Rikku what are you doing?" However she pressed on.
"Now, I have had just about enough from you! If Tidus wants to go outside then he can go outside! If he wanted to go to Besaid, then he could go. What do you have that he wants?" Shaking her head she forcefully pushed forward, knocking Rikku back.
"I have his child! He won't walk out on his family! Not like your…not like your father did!" Rikku embraced her face, slapping her back into the wall. Lenne clenched her face, tears swelled into her eyes. Rikku's hand tingled, as though a thousand needles had been shoved into it.
"You…know nothing about my father…don't ever…don't you ever…say that again!"
"Rikku! She is pregnant…with my child…she is right; you have no reason to hit her. Punish me for not walking out on my family if you will, but I will not stand by and let you hit her…leave." Shaking her head diligently she whispered.
"You…you…believe her?"
"I won't walk out on her—"I said do you believe her!" Her voice sharp, fighting through the tears, her face red, full of anger she continued.
"The past few months I have watched Yuna struggle! She loved you Tidus!" Turning back to Lenne she yelled specifically about her, "She never…she never lied to you! How can—"Rikku! Stop it! Lenne never lied to me—"Really…is that what helps you sleep every night—"Don't listen to her Tidus!" Lenne yelled from behind her, attempting to pass her, she stopped dead in her tacks.
"I want to hear what she has to say Lenne!" Turning from her to Rikku he nodded urging her to continue.
"The baby…it isn't yours…it's Seymour's…he planned it to get to Yuna…that's why I thought it was safer for her to leave…away from him…not you." Shock spread through his body. Lenne attempted to run forward, but Rikku blocked her access to him. Everything he had believed…was now wrong. With not a moment to lose he turned to the back door, as the crowd parted he ran faster, pushing people away. The room was full of noise, but he was deaf as to what they were saying. He was free…free from his obligation to Lenne. His knees felt tight, aching with each step into the floor. Finally throwing the screen door open he heard her.
"Yuna?" Turning the corner he witnessed the scene. Her shirt had been nearly ripped off, blood dripped off onto her shoulder. Her lip began to swell and with it Tidus' anger. Running up behind him, he grabbed Seymour by the neck throwing it into the brick wall. Yuna slipped from his grasp collapsing onto the floor. Seymour picked up a small pipe that had been lying under some rubble, and ran full force toward Tidus. They evolved into manslaughter, each taking blows with antagonizing groans.
Lulu exited the house with the numerous amounts of houseguests, instantly sparking a firaga ball into her hand.
"No!" Rikku whispered, "He has to do this on his own." Letting the ball evaporate from her hand she fidgeted inside, not knowing if she could stand to watch she yelled.
"Kick his ass Tidus!" Rikku turned abruptly. Lulu stood innocently answering to Rikku's gesture.
"What…?" Turning back to the fight they watched in agony. Tidus had tripped backward as Seymour stumbled closer.
"Your going to pay Seymour…I promise you that!" Jumping up he jolted forward throwing Seymour onto his back. Jumping onto him he began to wail on his face, with each blow blood spurred from his face. Running forward Lenne screamed.
"That's enough! You're going to kill him!" Pausing to her voice, his fist still raised he lowered it. Stepping away out of breath he crawled to where Yuna had been laying. Gently he swayed her hair behind her ear. Lifting her into his arms he stood. Running toward him Lenne pleaded.
"Please! Tidus please let me explain!" He paused for a moment taking a second to look at her, his true love safely in his care. Raising his eyes to Lenne he continued to step forward.
"Tidus…please—"Get the hell out of my way. I have no longer any commitment to you."
So…. how'd you like it? Nervous!! Me…no! Haha! All right well, I hope you enjoyed it! Review Please!!!!!!!!