Chapter Two
The setting the same as before Shuyin's eyes open lazily and he casts a glance around the still dark room. He rolls over to reach for Lenne to find nothing's there. He stands up and carefully looks around softly calling, "Lenne?" No reply comes and he gets a slightly concerned look. A few moments pass and suddenly the walls of the room fade out into darkness.
The still tired young man recoils in confusion and spins around, trying to figure out where he is. After a few minutes pass a large circular disk appears around his feet, then spreads out into a platform covered in symbols of Yevon. He strides over to edge and stares down at the vast blackness. He slowly gets down on his knees and looks around once more.
Out of curiosity he runs his hand slowly across the icy smooth surface. Shuyin's ears suddenly catch the sound of running and he stands to look around. A huge whirring sound startles him and he spins to face an enormous skull shaped machina with eyes reflecting the colors of fire. The walls slowly begin to glow with symbols of Yevon and Shuyin looks around wildly as he hears gunshots and screaming off in the distance.
Lenne's voice suddenly penetrates the sound of gunshots, "YOU NEED TO STOP!" He turns to face her as her fear stricken form comes into view. Her arms out wide she yells once again, "You need to stop!"
Shuyin holds out his arms and lets her run straight into his chest shaking in fear. Her glassy violet eyes look up at him and as if in some way begging for forgiveness. Not a moment later soldiers of Bevelle storm in and immediately ready their rifles and assume a battle formation. Shuyin glares at them evilly then turns to Lenne; a single tear rolls down her cheek and she smiles as best she can.
Shuyin's eyes widen as the sound of gunshots ring through the air. Lenne gives a strange sigh and falls against his chest, immediately limp. He stands there shaking, his blue eyes glossed over in fear. "L-Lenne?" he stammers, "Lenne, answer me." Shuyin's face contorts into anguish, "Lenne…"
"LENNE!" Shuyin bolts upright, almost knocking his wife over. She blinks oddly at her heavily breathing Shuyin and gently lays a gloved hand on his shoulder. He lets out a long deep breath casting a glance around at the once again normal bedroom. He quickly looks over at Lenne and wraps his arms around her tightly whispering over and over one word: Never.
Lenne softly strokes his hair, "Good morning to you too," is all she says.
Shuyin, slowly relaxing again looks at her soft features with a guilty stare, "Sorry," he whines quietly and lays his hands against her arm.
She blinks a few times before asking, "You okay?"
Shuyin fakes a smile, "As long as you are."
Lenne brushes her cinnamon silky hair from her face, "I could be better, but I'm more worried about you sleepyhead; you've woken up like this for three times now…and shouldn't you be getting ready?" Shuyin glances at the clock hanging on the wall and cringes.
Lenne smiles and takes a step back as Shuyin rushes past her and in a blur of events gathers everything he'll need for the trip to Mt. Gagazette. The songstress stares down at the wooden floor for a few seconds before looking up at Shuyin standing before her in his full uniform once again. Her happiness fades and she folds her arms over her stomach sighing.
Her love's eyes stare at her in a strange form of pity and he starts to walk towards her. Shuyin's now armored hands rest gently on her shoulders and he nuzzles her neck whispering, "I won't let you die, Lenne, I promise. I will protect you"
Lenne's violet eyes turn to the door and she stares while saying, "Shuyin I'm worried about you…"
He strokes the soft skin over her shoulders and whispers, "Don't be, I'll be fine," he knows in his mind he isn't but tries to keep her spirits up by saying nothing about it.
Lenne bites her lip and finally says, "I'll go as far as the temple, but any farther and I won't be able to take it; I hate you having to leave like this." Shuyin gives her a guilty face and gently picks up her hand and starts leading her towards the door. She asks, "Aren't you going to eat?" her words are desperate as if trying to keep him there a little longer.
Shuyin's blonde hair shakes back and forth as he strides towards the door, "I don't have enough time, Lenne; I'm sorry." Lenne makes a worried face as he opens the door and continues to lead her off down the street.
Lenne watches Shuyin's unreadable expression as they walk, a few times he turns to her and gives her a worried smile. Her eyes grow watery as they continue on and she bites down on her lip as the temple comes into view. Once standing in front of the grand stairs that lead to the entryway Shuyin slows to a halt and turns to his wife with a pure smile trying to comfort her.
Lenne looks around at the still waking city and then the sun that was still rising. She leans closer to Shuyin's armored chest and whispers, "Please, a few minutes…it won't be long, promise." Shuyin makes no objection as his wife lifts his hand and leads him around the temple stairs to a large cliff overlooking the sea.
The water glows a radiant pink in the early morning sun and the clouds the same hues. Lenne's smile has completely gone now and she softly asks, "What are these dreams that make you worry about me?"
Shuyin looks off at the water saying, "Do you have to ask this now? We should be saying our goodbyes."
She shakes her head, her earrings making soft muted clinking sounds as she whispers, "I just care about you, that's all."
Shuyin reaches out and grabs her hand and says with a gentle smile, "I know."
Lenne's eyes turn away and she pulls her hand back to her side continuing, "I'm worried what you might be seeing, Shuyin."
Shuyin wrinkles his nose and looks down at a flower at his feet. "I can't explain it to you, Lenne; I don't even know what it is."
Her eye narrow, "It? So it's something you see?"
He shakes his blonde hair, "All I know is that it's a machina…I swear I'll protect you from whatever it is. You have my solemn vow."
Lenne rubs at the back of her neck staring at the ground, "But why is it that you wake up screaming every night? Shuyin, I fear for you, just tell me what's wrong."
Azure eyes staring straight into hers, Shuyin whispers, "I won't say it now, this shouldn't be a sad parting. We should be happy, so I can't tell you now, I don't want you to worry."
"But Shuyin, I do."
He takes a few steps back and stares off at the rolling waves of the morning sea. He finally says softly, "Lenne, because I care I'm not gonna tell you now."
Lenne sighs and a long silence ensues. Finally she steps closer and whispers, "And because I care, I have to tell you something."
The clouds overhead roll in layers of purple and gold now as the sun gets higher, and the mist surrounding Zanarkand puts in an additional piece of the beauty. The flowers that surround young Shuyin and Lenne sway softly in the ocean breeze and Lenne's expression slowly turns to one of pride and slight happiness.
She whispers, "Shuyin," he takes a step closer concerned what she might say, "you're a father." His head tilts forward slightly to hide his face.
Lenne bites her lip and is about to say something when he asks, "You serious?" Lenne nods slightly confused if her husband is angered or pleased. A few moments pass before Shuyin finally turns to her and smiles, "Lenne," he gives a slight pause as he walks up and wraps his arms around her, "that's great." He reaches out and gently presses his lips against hers.
Lenne strokes his silky hair once again, admiring the sunlit gleam reflecting back into her eyes. She whispers softly, "You've made a lot of promises, can you actually keep them?"
Shuyin kisses the back of her hands lightly and answers, "I pray I can, I really do; and now not just your sake, but our baby too." The uniformed Shuyin stares down at his gloved hands with a halfhearted smile and says, "I'll fight all my battles in your name for the protection of my new family."
A saddened sound comes from Lenne as she stares into his glowing eyes. Shuyin's eyes narrow and on her face a small frown etches its way across her lips. He's about to ask her what's wrong when she retorts, "I don't want you to kill people in my name, Shuyin; I don't want you to go to war, I don't want you to die. This isn't just for me, like you said it's for our baby too; if you die what'll that leave for the child? A Songstress mother who's barely ever going to be home, I cannot consider that being a good parent, Shuyin."
Shuyin sighs and looks off at the almost completely visible sun, a hint of guilt in his wisdom-filled eyes. "No, our baby will have a Summoner mother who an always help and a Warrior father to keep them both safe and in a good home." His words ring through Lenne's head as he stands there in silence. Nothing stirs for a minute or so until finally Shuyin says with a loving smile, "I'm not going to abandon you…not you or the baby. I will come back, you know I will."
The wind rustles the Summoner's hair as she finally looks up and smiles as Shuyin starts to walk off, "If I whistle, will you still come running?"
Shuyin turns half around, making sure not to step on a flower as he smiles and calls back, "I'll do my best."
She crosses her blue-gloved arms and yells back, "What if that's not good enough?"
The weary azure eyes of Shuyin glance back and he flatly states, "Then I'll just have to try harder." Lenne folds her hands across her belly and she smiles.
Shuyin turns one last time and waves awkwardly before turning and walking back to the street. After he's gone, and it's already too late Lenne says softly, "Bye." She rocks back and forth slowly listening to the sounds of the waking city of Zanarkand as they drown out the footsteps of her love. She strokes her belly and whispers, "Its just you and me now." Her violet eyes turn to the sky and she lets a series of tears roll off her cheeks.
She quietly prays, "Please, God, let him come home."