A/N: I currently have two plans for the outcome of this story- if it doesn't recieve much interest it should be about 10 chapters long, if it recieves a lot or I enjoy writing it enough I'll give it a major plot twist and turn it into something more epic.

I hope you don't mind an OC or two- they have the power to mess things up quite nicely.

And finally say hello to VaanxPenelo who have weaved their way into the plot rather slyly. POV will switch about between chapters because, well, it's me.

I have to admit I do not like this chapter and I'm so glad it's out of the way so I can get on with the real story. Please bare with me! Lots of BaschxAshe next chapter I promise!


2. Gaze and Glimpse

Ashe stretched under the bed covers like a kitten, the soft moan in the back of her throat waking her up more completely. She blinked, having rolled over towards the window through which the morning sun shone brightly on her face. Squinting, she lifted the covers so that they stood propped between the window and her, but they only fell back to the bed to reveal an enthusiastically bright sun.

She sighed, rolling over again- and froze.

Basch was in her bed. A sleeping, half-naked and barely-covered Basch fon Ronsenburg was in her bed.

Heat rose to her cheeks, her heart jumped in her chest and she suddenly felt quite hot...

Her mind kick-started into a whirl of thoughts and emotions. Why were they in bed together? Had they finally crossed the line? How had she even got into this bed? Had she been so drunk from a mere goblet of wine? Had he?

She took a deep breath to calm her thoughts and heart. Don't panic, Ashe, you've slept alongside this man many a night for months, sometimes under the same blankets. Why should being in a proper bed make it any different?

It was just the shock of it. Nothing more. Her heart would slow down in a moment... As long as he didn't wake up. She felt herself relax again. She wondered how he would react- probably jump straight out of bed and out of the hut, apologising on the way. He'd be damned if he reacted any other way.

She smiled, sitting back against her pillows. She couldn't help but gaze at his peaceful form. He was beautiful in a way that men rarely are without looking like boys. His form was godly and perfect despite the many marks that decorated his skin. She had seen his scars before, of course, during the countless times the groups had bathed during their journey... but she had never stopped and looked at them properly. It was improper but she stole herself to look just this once. Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca always did have a rebellious streak in her.

And so she lay there for a long time while Basch slept beside her. She hadn't the heart to disturb him by getting out of the bed when she had never seen him look so deeply asleep. He deserved it, after all he did for her.

After a while Ashe noticed a shadow under the creak of the door to their cabin. Somebody was standing outside, trying to eavesdrop, maybe even spying.

Curious and slightly outraged, Ashe decided it was time to show her face and get some answers. Careful not to wake Basch she slid out of her side of the bed and crept into the middle of their little hut. She had no idea where her bag, armour and boots were but she was still wearing her travelling clothes. She hoped Fran or Penelo had taken her things into their care for her- it was something Basch would normally have done in the circumstances.

She cursed herself for falling asleep beside the fire. How embarrassing. Anyone could have done anything to her. Holding her breath, she slowly opened the door. It creaked loudly and she shot a glance at Basch. He was still fast asleep exactly how she'd left him.

It was bright and cool outside, the sun reflecting off the twinkling sand and fluffy clouds. The moment she set her bare foot on the wooden balcony, Vaan jumped up from his seat beside the door and bounced in front of her.

"How did you sleep, Ashe?" he said, innocently. Penelo appeared at his side, a twinkle in her eye.

That explained everything. Ashe raised an eyebrow Balthier-style. "How dare you put me in a bed with Basch," she hissed a bit too calmly, not as angry as she should be. "What would people say if-"

"Oh come on, Ashe-" Vaan started in his loud and grating voice.

"Shh! Do not interrupt me! And do not mention this to Basch- how could you do this to him? He would be ashamed." Vaan bit his lip like a child in trouble. Annoying as he was, Ashe couldn't stand to be angry with him for long.

"Ashe, of course we weren't trying to shame you," Penelo whispered. "There weren't many spare cabins in the village and we thought you wouldn't mind..." she looked at her hopefully. Ashe rolled her eyes. Penelo was more romantic than she had realised. Vaan opened the door a crack and peaked into the cabin.

Ashe shook her head and descended the steps to the beach. "You two are rediculous." She headed off toward the spot they'd had their fire the night before, looking for her belongings. Penelo followed her tentatively.

"Vaan and I slept beside the fire," Penelo told her. "Basch tried to make us sleep in the cabin instead of him but we told him we weren't going to sleep, anyway... He was already in by the time Balthier and Fran took the cabin that was meant for you."

Ashe sighed. Penelo turned to her so she smiled to show she was thankful they'd looked after her and her belongings. "Come on, let's wash," she said taking her things Penelo handed to her.

The sand was scorching under thier feet as the two girls looked for a private spot around the rocks near the shore. Some of the locals were up and about so they had to make sure they really were in a well-hidden spot.

"Where are you going?" Vaan ran up behind them, clueless.

"For Gods sake, Vaan," Penelo raised her eyes to the sky looking like she'd quite like to throttle him. "Every morning! Where do you think we're going?!"

Vaan suddenly looked sheepish. "Oh, sorry!" He grinned as he turned around and started walking back towards the village.

"One day I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear him and just strip off right there," Penelo seethed, wading into the sea and unravelling her hair.

Ashe glanced at her, sure she wasn't serious but then Penelo often did take her by surprise. She'd never closely witnessed the mood-swings of young women their age. They may have been brought up in the same time and city, but they lived in completely different worlds. At least they did- until now.

Ashe set her things down by the side of a rock pool, catching her reflection on the water. She looked thin still but a healthier colour now that she spent most of her days outdoor. She also noticed a happier glint in her eye and was glad of it.

The two girls washed in silence, the sound of the waves too refreshing to speak over. Ashe quickly changed into a thin dress she'd bought from the locals so that she could wash her clothes, then joined Penelo again in the water.

Penelo heard her wading towards her and spoke over her shoulder as she rung out her hair. "Hey Ashe? Would you mind grabbing my boots and things from the beach?" She sounded like she was up to something. Or maybe Ashe was just paranoid after the events of the morning. Penelo was so naturally selfless that she almost never asked her for favours and she was turned carefully aware from her in pretence of being discrete without her proper clothing on.

Would Ashe ever stop acting like the princess she once was? She disgusted herself.

Turning back towards the beach, Ashe stifled a laugh. There was Basch- conveniently positioned and still wearing little- wading out into the sea right in front of Penelo's boots. Vaan and Penelo are on a mission today, she thought. Maybe she should warn Basch about it, play along maybe and see how far they took it.

Ashe stopped. What was she thinking?

Carefully clearing her mind of all thoughts, she kept her eyes away from Basch and his generous display of muscles and went to fetch the boots.

She passed him silently and avoided his eyes that she felt buring into her. To her horror she felt heat creeping up her neck and pool in her cheeks. Why? Why must my body react to him like this? Suddenly awkward and thoroughly bothered by it, she knelt carefully to gather Penelo's clothes, fully aware of the display of cleavage he probably recieved and plotting Penelo's murder all the while.

The boots were so big she had trouble picking up the dress and ended up dropping the lot and cursing silently. He was there in an instant, of course, gathering it all up. He would ask where she was taking them and would carry them there for her, she thought. She didn't know how long her eyes could resist him without him noticing her avoidance. Yet again, she wished he would look for more secluded places to wash in the mornings.

"Are you all right?" he asked her gruffly. Ashe wondered how many times he'd asked her this in it's various forms over the past few months. It was definitely getting old. Suddenly, Basch transferred all of Penelo's clothes to one arm and used his free hand to touch the hair behind her ear. Finally catching his gaze, Ashe was stunned, but a part of her registered that she let him do it and that the gesture made the world seem momentarily angelic.

"Butterfly," he said, withdrawing his hand with a smile. Something creamy-coloured fluttered before her eyes along with the realisation. Of course he wasn't being affectionate, just looking out for her as always, overdoing his job a little, but still just doing his job. For some reason she could not stop her mind from replaying his gesture with the word "beautiful" leaving his lips instead.

"Thank you," she said finding her voice at last. It was a little higher than usual. "I'll take those to Penelo."

"As you wish." Basch carefully loaded Penelo's things into her arms. Ashe felt something tug at the hem of her dress. She looked down to see Balthier's Moogle, Nono, jumping up and down beside her. "Kupo! Kupo, miss, Balthier would like to see you and-" he looked to Basch with a shy glance, "and your friends. He's over there." The little moogle pointed animatedly towards the beach at where Balthier and Fran sat lazing by the weapon shop. Ashe puffed out a breath. What was the point in worrying about her acting like a pampered Princess when Balthier was ordering Moogle's around like little slaves?

She felt Basch's eyes on her again. "Thank you, Nono," the little Moogle who beamed in response. "I'll be there in a moment."

"I will get Penelo, Kupo."

"No." The Moogle turned back to her, expectant and a little confused. "I'll get her. Have you had any sleep in the last few days, Nono?"

The little Moogle gaped at her. Ashe could see Basch watching her still from the corner of her eye. "You should speak to Balthier about going home for a break sometime, too."

There was a shocked silence. Ashe started back along the beach.

She heard footsteps catching up behind her. Basch of course. She kept walking but with a slower pace.

"That was... nice of you," he said. 'Unexpected' was probably the word he wanted to use. 'Unnecessary', maybe. When she didn't respond he said rather daringly, she thought, "Your efforts have not gone unnoticed... though it is my belief that they are wasted. Once you regain the thrown you will need the authority you naturally have." Still, she didn't respond and she felt him tense at her side, not wishing to continue for fear of offending her.

She decided to relieve him with a smile. "There is nothing that you miss, is there? One could believe you had served by my side for years rather than months." Basch stared at the ground in silence, not sure what to say. She frowned and shook her head.

"No... that doesn't feel right anymore."

His head snapped up and she couldn't understand the expression in his eyes. Was it panic? Confusion? He looked like a dog that had been abandoned by its owner. Oh. She blushed.

"I mean, it doesn't feel right that I speak of you as my... as someone in my service." She was glad to see that slightly forlorn look in his gaze now, but wished she had not spoken at all. This conversation could lead nowhere good.

She knew Basch wanted her to explain what she meant. "We're allies- equal now, are we not?" Basch's eyebrows rose slightly. "So therefore I should address you as my friend." Nodding at this more fitting word for him, she felt his arm tug hers gently. She stopped walking and turned to face his serious expression as he leant toward her now.

"Your words touch me more than you could know, Your Highness," he spoke in a low and urgent voice. "But do not lose sight of who you really are- who you will be once our journey has come to an end." Swiftly he let go of her arm as though it burned him.

Ashe stared at him a moment. "How can I forget who I am? Basch, I am only trying to be an easier burden to bare on the way. I am only trying not to be another pain or hindrance to you and the others." She looked away from him to Penelo who was thankfully unaware of them.

"You are neither of those things." Basch took in a breath and his mood lightened in an instance. "Well- if you are sure- I would be honoured to be your friend as well as a Knight in your service." He gave her a rare smile and a mocking bow as he carried on walking along the beach. The man had spent too much time around Vaan and Balthier, the hypocrite. What about forgetting his station?

"Wait-" It was her turn to catch his arm. She tried not to think about how rock hard it was, or how smooth. "Basch- while we are alone- I don't think we should tell the others about the true nature of the Hunt just yet. I... I fear they may not understand why I-" Why I should have the Coren spell, and no other, she thought. She changed track mid-sentence, "I fear that if we were captured by the enemy, they would pass on the knowledge to the wrong ears." It wasn't really a lie, but she felt guilty wanting them to keep secrets from the group.

Basch nodded as though he understood perfectly. "Then we will need to make sure the hunt can be carried out by two people alone... We cannot risk the beast being slain by other hands." He looked up at her. "What will we tell the others? The Cerobi Steppe could take days to reach even on Chocobo, then we must hunt the creature down across the plains."

Ashe pursed her lips. They would have to make the others believe she would be fine without the help of the full group, and that they wouldn't be missing out on anything important. Coming to a sudden conclusion she shrugged and said "We will say we have little time and many hunts to gain enough money to carry on to Archadia. Therefore we should split up and do several hunts at the same time."

Basch gnawed on his lip a moment before he replied. "As you wish." He caught Penelo's eye as she came into earshot of them and beckoned her over. Ashe leant in toward him urgently.

"Do not think of this as a disservice to them, Basch! I feel as uncomfortable about hiding this from them as you do." He cut her off with a warning glance and she silenced her guilty conscience.

"Put your mind at ease," he murmured quickly as Penelo bounced into earshot.

The girl beamed as she took her things from Ashe, eyes darting between the two of them. Ashe restrained a large sigh.

"Balthier wants us all on the beach," Basch told her. "Are you ready to do a few hunts?"

Penelo's eyes lit up. Ashe admired her optimism with relief. "Ready as always!" she practically sang, leading them back along the beach.

A delicious smell of freshly baked bread caught Ashe's attention as they approached Balthier, Vaan and Fran at the ashes of last nights fire. Her stomach growled.

"Nono has informed us that the Strahl is in a bad state," he bristled and Ashe noticed how riled up he seemed to be. A vein was pulsing at his temple- never a good sign. Nono crept behind Fran in an attempt to hide. "The Archadians attacked while Nono tried to fly the ship to Nalbina for safe keeping. The enemy noticed and chased her all the way to the Salika Wood where Nono managed to lose them in the trees." He threw an annoyed glance at Ashe. "Fran and I need to go back and repair the damage so Nono can fly her back home to his family in Dalmasca".

The group then launched into plans of hunts and routes and timing and Ashe left them to it, wondering idly back to the shore.

The tide was sweet in her ears and she allowed to calm her thoughts and wash away the anxious fluttering in her stomach. She half wished they had a day or two to simply relax here at the Phon Coast and give their aches and pains a chance to heal. She watched the locals go about their daily business for a while, envying their simple lives and lack of responsibility.

Basch was with Vaan and Penelo now. Vaan listened intently to whatever advice Basch was offering them. Suddenly, Basch sensed her watching and turned to return her gaze. Something fluttered in her stomach and she quickly averted her gaze, annoyed at her stomachs reaction. She knew she would regret her indulgence of the morning.

An awful cry erupted from the hut nearest to her and she jumped. Through the front door she caught a glimpse of a pale young man thrashing in his chair and screaming like a child before the door was slammed shut.

Disturbed, Ashe stared at the closed door a moment before she noticed two women making their way over to her. The shouting in the hut grew abruptly silent.

"Don't you worry about him," Jeyn said to her. She looked just as excited as she had by the fire the night before. "He has fallen ill of late. My Everose is going to find a way to make him better, though." She smiled, almost expectantly.

The young woman beside her nodded slowly. Her expression was unreadable but she stared rather rudely at Ashe through cold, grey eyes.

A warm hand came to rest on her shoulder. She recognised the leather gauntlet. Basch.

"Good morning, Jeyn," he said and Ashe turned her attention from Everose. She was pleased to see that Basch was fully clothed now. "We've decided to take on your Mark," he said. "We will be leaving shortly to do so and would welcome any last advice."

The old womans spirits visibly lifted. She clapped her hands together and exchanged a look with Everose before scurrying back to her hut and fetching two packages she'd obviously prepared for them. Thrusting them into their hands she launched into directions through the Tchita Uplands but Ashe was only pretending to listen.

Everose was staring at Basch with a deadly intense gaze that Ashe did not like one bit. What was with that girl? Animosity rose like bile in Ashe and she fought the urge to shove her face away and force her to look elsewhere.

Eventually Jeyn let Basch go to hire some chocobos, wishing them both luck and shaking their hands numerous times. Ashe made her way to the rest of the group, wished them good luck and gathered her pack and weapons.

And so they set out at midday, high attop their Chocobos with their spirits even higher. Brimful of confidence that was soon to be shattered.


A/N: Ung I'm so tired, sorry that chapter got progressively lamer from the start but I am really tired and just want to get them on the god darn road already! The next chapter will be shorter but hopefully more amusing ;D