Eight : The third associate
 "What is he going to do with her?"

Lulu slowly walked towards Lenne, who was still kneeled in front of the helpdesk, shaking her head in disbelieve.

"Lenne! Snap out of it!" Lulu kneeled beside her and shook her. "You must tell me! What is he planning to do...?"

"Don't you get it?" The brunette suddenly whispered, looking up at the black haired woman, "It's too late... he probably has done with her what he had been planning... There's no way of saving her..." she shakily stood up as Lulu let go of her, searching for support on the helpdesk. "I just can't believe that he would do this to his own son... I can't believe it..." she whispered and angrily wiped a few rolling tears from her cheeks with a gloved hand.

Lulu raised an eyebrow. "There's something you didn't tell me here...am I right?" When she saw Lenne bow her head in defeat, she took a deep breath to prepare herself for what this girl was going to say next.

"I will tell you everything, but we need to get out of here first. There is nothing that we can do for the time being." Lenne said, turning around and walking out of the hospital. "And I need to get my motorcycle."

They both went to drink something in a coffee shop after they had gotten Lenne's motorcycle. Lulu felt like she was wasting a lot of time, speaking to this woman that she didn't even know. Her sister and her brother-in-law had both been kidnapped and she was sitting here in Bevelle having a cup of coffee with a stranger. Though, she knew deep inside that she needed to know what she had to say, maybe it would enlighten some of the mysteries that had been revolving around this whole situation. And another reason why she had accepted to speak with Lenne was that she just couldn't shake the feeling that... she had seen this brown-greenish eyed woman before... she just couldn't recall where or when...

"Where do I start... there's so much of it all..." Lenne whispered sadly, looking at her spoon in her cup of warm coffee. When she heard Lulu sigh, she looked up and gave her a nervous smile.

Lulu knew now for sure; she knew this girl! That smile... that sad smile... "I've met you before haven't I?" She asked, while she searched for further clues in her memory and suddenly she remembered... "You were at Chappu's funeral... that's where I've seen you for the first time...3 years ago..."

"I thought you had forgotten about that..." she sadly whispered, "Lulu is the name, right?" She softly chuckled as she saw her nod slowly. "Chappu and I were... very close friends... I still miss him..." sighing remorsefully, she quickly took a sip of her cup. Lulu nodded and took and also took a sip of her coffee.

The elder woman was relived to have finally found out where she had seen Lenne before, but... "Back at the hospital you said something about someone's son? Who were you talking about?" she brought her cup to her lips again.

Lenne frowned and bit her lower lip, avoiding Lulu's gaze. "All this time... Tidus and I have gotten the help of another associate..." she almost inaudibly whispered, closing her eyes. "He is the one who made sure that Seymour went to Zanarkand... he is the one who has made sure that Yuna was transferred so quickly..."

Lulu's eyebrows knitted for a split second, "Why didn't you mention this before?" she whispered and then gasped as she realised who the person Lenne had been talking about was. Astonishment took her so violently that she let the cup she was holding fall on the floor next to her. Warm, black liquid slowly started to spread across the flooring next to their table.

"This... this can't be...Jyscal...?" Lulu faintly whispered in disbelieve, her voice wavering as she covered her mouth with a trembling hand. "But why...? Why?"

Lenne shook her head and shrugged sadly, "I don't know... maybe Tidus does... but he... we... I've..." she hesitantly whispered, feeling tears come up again. "He doesn't trust me anymore..."

"Why doesn't he trust you anymore? What have you done?" suddenly something linked inside Lulu's head. "Wait... If Tidus didn't murder Rikku... who... did...?" she slowly asked, silently starting to realise who it could've been... She looked at Lenne's purple lips and put the fingertips of her both hands on her lips.

Lenne closed her eyes, the tears rolling down her cheeks. Bowing her head, she whispered the only thing that she could: "I did... I... can't deny it... I'm planning on taking full responsibility...I..."

"No... Stop." The red eyed woman interrupted, shaking her hand towards the crying young girl, "Just stop... You told me that he doesn't trust you anymore... why do you still seek to protect him?"

"I..." she sobbed but couldn't finish her sentence and just buried her face in her hands. Lulu sighed, she felt sorry for this girl. Tidus had claimed yet another victim of his love...

"He manipulated you, Lenne... You shouldn't be protecting him like that..." The elder woman softly whispered.

"He is the only one who stood there for me when I needed someone... I...hate to admit it..." the brunette whispered, looking up at Lulu, eyes all puffed from the tears. "But... I love him...Oh..."

Lulu just looked at her, feeling sorry for this girl once again. "From what I understand, seen the way you've been sneaking around in an attempt to talk to Yuna, he's most likely to harm you if he finds out what you've been doing."

Lenne nodded, "I know." She whimpered.

Lulu shifted closer, "But why did you want to warn Yuna?"

"Because I am sure that he still loves her, but he's so hardened in his resolve to hurt Seymour that he is willing to do anything to get to that... and I don't know why, but Jyscal wants her dead too..." she whispered, more tears rolling on her cheeks.

Lulu gasped, eyes growing wide. "What did she do to deserve this?!" she breathlessly whispered.

Lenne chuckled sorrowfully, "She loved him and left him..."

Feeling herself slowly resurfacing from the depths of unconsciousness, Yuna kept her eyes closed, wanting to enjoy to cosy warmth she was wrapped in. She smiled, thinking that soon Seymour would wake her up with a soft kiss in the crook of her shoulder. Lying on her back, she shifted to rest on her left side, wanting to feel his calm breathing on her forehead.

She frowned when she felt nothing but the normal air. Running a hand on the spot where he should be lying, she felt nothing but the warms sheets. Finally she decided to open her eyes and see where he had gone.

"Good evening, Lady Yuna." A soft voice said from beside the bed.

Yuna gasped and sat up quickly, grabbing the sheets to her chest. She looked around and suddenly realised that she wasn't in her room and that this wasn't her bed. The room she was in was of a cold blue-greyish colour and had no windows at all but that was compensated by the brightness of the lamps that were all over the room, the numerous furniture, accessories and other luxurious things that where present in it. But standing next to her was...

"S-Sir Jyscal...?!"

Jyscal just gave her a warm smile. "I hope you slept well?"

Yuna was baffled. Where the hell was she?! In a hospital? Wait a minute, a hospital room with such luxury and no windows? Why was President Jyscal standing next to her? And where was Lulu? And...and how come she wasn't wearing any clothes?!

Grabbing the sheets more tightly to her body, she looked around to maybe find a sign of where she was or maybe where her clothes were. She shrieked as Jyscal sat next to her on the bed.

"Do not be afraid, you are safe here." He slowly said, raising a hand to caress her head. Yuna shifted out of his grasp and gasped. Why did she feel so anxious? It was only the president, Seymour father who she had come to know him personal...

Yuna gulped and tried to relax. "Where is 'here'?" she slowly whispered, looking everywhere but at him. She heard him softly chuckle.

"My home in Zanarkand." He calmly said, "Seymour has asked me to take care of you while he's assisting on the search for Tidus. I thought it would be better to move over here, so you could be close to one and other." He smiled at her again.

Yuna felt her heart lit up, "He has? Is he coming to visit us soon?" she whispered, smiling at the thought of holding Seymour in her arms again.

Jyscal smiled and nodded, "Very soon my dear, very soon."

Yuna grinned and sank back in the covers, feeling reassured. But there was still one thing... she lifted her covers a little bit.

"Ah yes," he suddenly said, "we were searching for clothes while you were sleeping. My maid will be here soon with the appropriate clothing so you can join us for dinner."

Yuna nodded and sighed. "Will Seymour be there too?" She hopefully whispered but her face soon went a little sad as she saw him shake his head.

"I don't think he will for he has called me earlier on to tell me that he still has a lot of work to do." He sadly said, standing up. "My son works so hard to make you happy, my dear. I know how much he adores you and I don't think that he will keep you waiting for too long." He winked at her. Yuna laughed, feeling just a little bit uncomfortable from the wink he gave her.

"Thank you for all of this." She gratefully said, bowing her head towards him.

"It's all right. Dinner will be served soon; you can come when you feel ready." He said, walking towards the hidden door. She hadn't noticed it earlier, but the door was like a part of the wall, in the similar colour and almost impossible to find. She made herself remember the exact spot so she wouldn't be searching for hours.

"Thank you." She whispered as he exited her room.

Yuna felt happy. She was going to see Seymour again very soon. She didn't know how much time had passed though since the last time she had seen him, but it didn't matter. He was going to be here with her in no time. How sweet of him to ask his father to let her stay with him while he was gone. And how kind of Jyscal to have brought her closer to her baby's father.

The things they said about Jyscal were true; he was always ready to help the ones who needed to be and was always kind and welcoming.

And this man was going to be her father-in-law... Yuna knew that with Seymour next to her and the support of Jyscal, her life would be a perfect bliss...

Tossing her red motor helmet on the couch, she looked around and sighed when she noticed that he wasn't there. She went to the window and stared meaninglessly ahead of her. She felt so miserable...though she knew Yuna's sister had been right. She just felt so weak... she couldn't put up the strength to pack her bags and go...

But why? He had never shown any sign of loving her... and still she stayed by him. Though it hurt her deeply each day, she just couldn't leave... she couldn't... It was... too late...

Lenne blinked as she felt a tear slide the long her cheek. She had done the right thing, right? Her fate had maybe been sealed now she had done it... but...

Unwillingly she put a hand around her throat and swallowed. She closed her eyes and sighed... she would accept it... she had no other choice anymore...

When the front door opened behind her, she didn't even turn around to look. She just knew it was him. Letting out a soft sigh, she removed her hand that had been resting on her throat, calmly putting it on the window glass.

A cold hand wrapped itself around her waist, while the other slowly unzipped the black leather jacket. While he pushed her jacket off her shoulders, she felt a soft kiss land on her shoulder. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you..." he sweetly whispered, caressing her long hair out of the way to reveal her bare neck.

Lenne just kept gazing through the window, watching the world she knew she'd leave soon...

Hearing no reaction from her, Tidus tightened his grip on her. "Where have you been, babe?" he whispered, his voice taking on an insisting tone.

She closed her eyes as she felt his arms closing more firmly around her. He knew that he was hurting her, and she knew that it was intentional.

He was daring her to even lie to him...

Purple lips started to part to produce an answer, but she knew very well that whatever she would say wouldn't stop him from doing what he had the intention of doing...

"Went for a cup of coffee with a friend." She softly whispered; eyes still fixed on the outside world.

A low chuckle resonated through the little room.

One hand slipped around her throat and she felt a cold, sharp, metallic object slide across her bare skin.

"Then tell me... do you remember what I told you about betraying me...?" he softly whispered against her ear, brushing hair out of her face with his other hand.

"I love you." She whispered and closed her eyes, one tear slipping from her cheek.

Seymour found himself walking in a meadow, the high grass tickling his knees as he moved towards a place...

Where was he going?

It felt like he had been walking for hours... and he was getting tired...Where was this place?

As he wondered and looked around, he heard something rustle behind him. Turning his head towards the sound, he saw to his astonishment that a tall tree stood there, leaves softly swaying in the passing breeze.

Had it been there a moment ago?

Walking towards the trunk of the tall tree, he surprisingly felt himself calm and relaxed. Feeling the urge to take a quick nap, he sat himself down and stretched himself out.

Just when he was about to close his eyes, he heard a childish laughter resonating from behind the tree. Wondering what a child could be doing here all alone, he slowly crept around to see.

His breath caught at what he saw.

Yuna was sitting in the grass against the tree, watching a little child of three or so play not too far away from her.

Seymour couldn't help but stare at this scene. His Yuna was sitting there all alone with...

As the child turned its head to look at its mother, his heart skipped a beat. It had the same colour of hair as its mother and the clear eyes of his father...

"Mommy..." it called, while trying to stand on his two feet very carefully. Turning around, it quickly put its hands behind its back to hide whatever it was holding.

Seymour saw now that it was a little boy... she had given him a son... a wonderful little son...

"Yes my little angel?" Yuna sweetly whispered, holding her hands out to her child as it slowly made effort to come closer. She gasped playfully when she saw him making an unbalancing movement. "Be careful, Edan..." she shifted a little bit closer to him to lessen the distance between them.

"For you mommy..." the boy cutely tried to pronounce, taking the flowers that he had been hiding from behind his back and holding them out towards Yuna.

The young mother grinned and took her child in her arms, kissing him on his nose. She took the daisies out of his hands and held him tightly to her, brushing his short brown hair out of the way. "Thank you."

Edan suddenly got up and walked away from Yuna. The scenery started to fade away behind him. The little boy turned around and stopped.

Seymour frowned as he saw Edan look straight back at him, his head slightly tilted to the side.

"I hate you dad." He lisped.

Seymour frowned even more and didn't understand, why was he saying that?

"Why did you do it, dad?" Edan whispered, tears starting to fill his father- like grey eyes. "Mum loved you..." he then angrily lisped, his eyes shooting daggers towards him.

"No..." Seymour felt a sharp pain in his chest and gasped for breath, falling on his hands and knees. "What... I... I love your mother..." he fought to whisper as all air suddenly left him. The ground was approaching rather quickly...

"Then why did you do it, dad? Why did you let mom die, dad?"

Seymour felt his heart stop beating. All he could do was look up at a suddenly older version of Edan standing next to him. He was holding the Presidential staff in his hands. Tears were running the long of his cheek.

"Why dad...?" he softly whispered, throwing a blue lily on top of him.

He couldn't move a muscle. Everything started to move upwards and soon the bright blue sky was nothing but a mere dot of light in the ever growing darkness surrounding him...

He awoke with a start, escaping from the frightful dream he had been having. Sighing deeply, he put a hand on his forehead and mentally slapped himself. It was just a dream... thank god...

Throwing the blanket off from his body, he put his feet on the carpeted floor and took his face in his hands. It had been the second time in three days that he had had that dream and like the last time he had gotten shaken beyond relief about it.

"Sir?"

A soft voice shook him out of his thoughts and he looked up. Captain Lucile was standing in the door opening, switching the lights on. Seymour groaned as the brightness blinded his tired eyes.

"What is it?" he demanded, slowly standing up, putting his right thumb and forefinger against the bridge of his nose. He felt a headache come on...

"President Jyscal has called a few minutes ago, sir. He requested a visit from you for he is in Zanarkand too." The redheaded woman swiftly spoke.

Seymour groaned and turned around to face Lucile. "He is here?" he asked sceptically.

Lucile nodded, "Yes, he wants to see you."

"Thank you." He said, "I will call him later."

Lucile nodded again and exited, closing the door behind her.

Seymour let himself fall on the bed again and sighed. Now he had the time to talk to him? Where had he been the whole time?

He sat up and ran a hand over his face. Not that he needed his help, he was old enough to take care of himself and of Yuna. But it is just that... hadn't Jyscal heard that his son had been involved in this case too? Hadn't he known that his only son had almost lost his precious love?

"As if he even cares... He may be your father, but he still is the president of all Spira. He doesn't have time for this... right?" he slowly whispered to himself.

Seymour stood up and sighed, "If only she hadn't..." he slowly whispered, turning towards the large window of his hotel room.

He recalled the day his mother died... twenty years ago already... He was just a little innocent boy of seven and even though he had thought that this loss would have been harder on him than on his father, Seymour had been wrong. Apparently his father had loved his mother deeply and her death had somehow made him more alienated from his own son. More alienated, because Jyscal had barely spent time with his son when his wife had been alive. And to cover up his grief, he had thrown himself into his work. The result had been that both father and son didn't fully know each other as they normally should have. And that had again caused for conflicts between them. Jyscal wanting Seymour to enter politics so he could someday maybe follow him up as president of Spira... Seymour wanting to live his own life, far from all the political obligations... they had slowly grown in different ways, without knowing about one and other interests. In his adolescence, Seymour had always seen his father as the eternal pusher. Always telling him to be the best in everything and to never settle for the second price because one day he would become the leader of all Spira. How he had hated him for doing that to him. Didn't he know that being the son of the president didn't make you very popular? The few friendships he had build up with difficulty quickly crumbled beneath his feet for he never had gotten the chance to maintain them... And then, he met her... the only girl that had ever accepted him for what he was and not for what he was worth in gil. He knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. This entire thing, he was doing it for her. She was everything to him and he was so thankful that she felt the same way about him.

But that brought him to another thought.

The dream...

Why would he dream about something as sinister as that? What was the meaning of it? And why would he in heaven's sake dream about a dead Yuna...? The mere thought of it made chills run down his spine. And another thing... why did his son hate him so in his dream? He had felt his hatred pierce through his very core... he remembered having felt such hatred before... but then he had been the one hating... his own father...

It just had to mean something. It had to; why would it else be the second time in three days that he was having that dream?

"Something is wrong." He whispered to himself as he watched nightfall creep over the machina city. He had secretly known it since the first day he had arrived in this city. There was this... eerie thing about the atmosphere around here... and now that he really thought about it, the feeling was intensifying with each second that he was standing by the window now.

He hadn't felt this way since the time he had been running up the stairs of Yuna's apartment the night that she had been raped.

And he had been right then...

He immediately got dressed and started to pack up all his belongings together. He was starting to wonder... being away from Yuna to chase down Tidus wasn't what he should have been doing... he should have stayed by her side... what if...

"What if... I'm making the same mistake I made back then...? Leaving her on her own..." he suddenly whispered, eyes growing wide. He had to get the hell out of here, and back to Yuna right away!

"I understand, my son. Do not bother. Yes, it is alright. Have a safe journey back."

Putting the horn of the telephone on the holder, Jyscal turned his broad leathery chair around in his office, facing away from the splendid view of an all-lit up Zanarkand.

"Seymour?" a low female voice sounded from the other side of the room. "Is he coming?"

Jyscal shook his head, "He is going back to Bevelle." He responded. "Damn! He leaves me no choice."

"What did you have in mind?" the woman asked, slowly stepping out of the shadows.

The president didn't respond, took the horn of his phone and pressed in one button.

"I have a job for you. Yes. He is on his way to Bevelle city. Make sure he doesn't get there. Yes, alive." He hung up and looked at the woman, who was now sitting on his desk.

She smiled at him, her long white hair flowing behind her as if she was floating water and her pale yellow eyes fixed on him. Unwillingly he felt a shiver go up his spine. Though she was beautiful, he had to admit that her presence was kind of disquieting...

"I do hope that you are sure about all of this. There will be no turning back after this." She spoke, rearranging her white ensemble.

"I'm very well aware of that. And I have no intention of giving up now, lady Yunalesca." He said, looking her square in the eyes.

She smiled and nodded. "Very well, then it is decided." She stood up and closed her eyes, while bringing a finger to her forehead. She disappeared in haze of white light.

Jyscal sat back in his chair and turned it around again to look at the view of Zanarkand.

A small smile crept over his thin lips.

"It's magnificent." He softly whispered.

ToBeContinued...

-BDP-