A/N: Yesh, I said that I would update Double Trouble before this *wince*. Sorry. The next update will be Double Trouble. Anywho, read and review please, tell me what you think. :3

OOO

"Fang."

I looked away from where I had been watching a group of soldiers training, going through their military drills. Raines was standing a few feet away, Rygdea at his side as always – but looking quite uncomfortable. "Raines."

He rested one of his hands on his hip, the other going to his temple. "The Palamecia is changing its course. The ship will be nearer to Eden's territory, right in the heart of the Sanctum."

"So?" I arched an eyebrow, arms crossed.

"… It…" He cleared his throat. "We will not be boarding the ship for another week."

There was an involuntary muscle movement in my jaw and right hand.

I scoffed, moving closer. "I couldn't quite hear you all the way over there," I gestured to where I had been standing. "It sounded like you said it'd be a week until we storm the ship."

"Er…" He takes a few more steps back. Rygdea's hand twitches – it's his trigger finger.

No way, viper.

A swift kick to Rygdea's stomach sends him sprawling on the deck; I duck underneath Cid's punch, coming up with my own to his chin in an uppercut. He too, falls to the deck. I placed my foot on his throat, yanking my lance from its sheath, ignoring the countless soldiers that were surrounding us. The tip of my weapon grazed his chin, leaving a miniscule cut. "I'm gonna say this one time only; you vipers are cunning little bastards. You say that you can't catch up with the Palamecia and yet this very ship is the pride of one of your military's branches?" My lance dug deeper into Cid's skin. "You think I'm stupid?" I leaned closer as I hissed this out. "Something isn't right, and I'll be damned if I'll let any of you Cocoon vipers go behind my back."

I pulled away from Raines, walking past the soldiers that were quick to get out of my way. Whispers followed me as I stalked down the halls; eyes were wide with fear and hate, people went out of their way to give me space.

Goddamn vipers.

OOO

I was soon in the training area. Anyone that came in here that saw me left. Fine by me.

I slipped my sandal boots off, unbuckling my belt, and letting my sari fall to the ground. When I picked it up and folded it, a memory flashed to the forefront of my mind.

OOO

Vanille giggled upon hearing me grumble as she combed through my hair. "Stay still." She rapped me on the skull with the brush.

"Ow." I threw her a dirty look.

She finished, dragging me up from the seat and turning me to face her. "I got you something."

My eyes narrowed.

"Fang." She whined, "It's just clothes."

"'Just clothes'…" Yeah, right. 'Just clothes' for Vanille was a closet-full for me.

Vanille pouted, her bottom lip trembling, eyes big.

Grrr.

"Get the damn clothes!" I said, exasperated.

She jumped up, excited as could be. Humming as she got a bag out, she took out an ornate belt with a round sheath to accommodate my lance and finally a bright blue silken material. My eyes widened as they landed on the traditional sari of my clan. "Where did you get this?"

Vanille toed the ground. "Erm… Well… You know how Matron… told us about the clans?" She looked up at me, looking more than a little embarrassed. I tilted my head to the side, wondering where she was getting at. "I asked... I mean – it's your birthday, so…"

"Jeez, Vanille, just spit it out already."

"I asked Matron if I could give your mother's sari to you."

"…" I couldn't respond right then.

"Fang?" She came closer, watching me stare down at the sari in my hands.

I wordlessly pulled her in a tight hug.

The thing about Vanille…

"It's okay, Fang." I couldn't help the small tears that escaped – she noticed. She always notices.

… She understands me.

OOO

My jaw tightened.

Vanille wasn't here with me right now – no one here has a clue.

I heard the door to the training area slide open. My head turned to the side to view the intruder through one eye. A distinct pair of boots clicked across the floor, loose fabric swishing, and the lovely smell of strawberry and vanilla perfume filled the air.

I smelled that scent before.

"Lightning." Turning around to face her, I crossed my arms and leaned back on the table. I didn't miss her eyes as they took in my new attire – my black halter top and my short shorts.

Her eyes flickered back up to my face. No, 'you okay?' no 'you want to talk about it?' – just stands there for a minute, watching me. She finally walks toward me, getting to the table beside me and begins to take her jacket off. "What are you doing?"

Oh, that gave me a look. Must remember to be less snappy… Guess I didn't react well to the good news.

She was just in her half-turtleneck and denim skirt… is that a bellybutton ring? I arched an eyebrow. "Hey." Lightning snapped her fingers in front of my eyes. "Eyes up." She smiled.

My mouth twitched upwards in response, when normally I would have grinned. She noticed it, her eyes lingering on my lips before falling to focus on the holster she was taking off. Her pink strands fell down, just itching to be touched – wait, what?

I blinked a few good times. Where did that come from?

Her boots came off next. I tried again. "No seriously, what are you doing?"

Lightning got her gun-blade out and switched it to its sword form. My hand twitched toward my lance – it's a habit.

"Light." I pushed off from the table, discretely pulling my lance along with me and put some distance between us.

"I figured you wanted something to do to take your mind off things." She said. "Do you want to spar? I mean – I know you go through the motions alone – it's just…"

I had to smile then. "Sunshine," I walked to her, gently flicking her forehead. "I would love to spar with you."

OOO

It had been hours.

Lance against sword, our faces inches apart. I growled, twisting around and coming at her other side – which she blocked. She went to sweep my feet out from under me, and I barely evaded it. Lightning swept the blade upward, almost slashing my face.

Nuh-uh. Don't ruin the face, dear.

In return, I brought my lance closer to her own, cutting a few of those pink strands off. A muscle above Lightning's eye twitched.

Uh-oh, sensitive much?

Her knee came up to my stomach, knocking the breath right out of me.

Yep, she's sensitive.

I stumbled back to collect my bearings and the next thing I knew she was right behind me, flicking her gun-blade in front of my throat, her body pressed up against mine to keep it there. My heart was pounding so hard and so fast – I actually had to exert myself. I… liked it.

I dropped, sweeping her feet out from under her and straddling her waist, knocking the gun-blade from her grasp and pointing the sharp end of my lance at her throat.

We both were breathing hard, our chests heaving as we stared at each other.

"Do you yield?"

Lightning turned to the side, avoiding eye contact.

"Say it."

She muttered, "I yield."

"Phew," I slumped, letting my lance drop away. That was tough. I grinned down at her. "You fight pretty good, Sunshine."

Lightning smirked, pushing me off of her and sitting up. "You're not too bad yourself." Cheeky.

"Was that a compliment? My hearing must be really bad today."

She shoved me lightly as I chuckled.

We were quiet for a moment.

"Light…" Blue eyes focused on me and I… just lost my train of thought. There was a light green ring in the center of that beautiful blue.

Lightning tilted her head. "What?"

"Oh! Erm…" I scratched my head. "Thanks, for… ya know..."

This was embarrassing. Was that a smirk? Oh, she—

"You're welcome, Snaggletooth."

I pushed myself off of the ground, ignoring the blush that was apparent on my tan skin. I held out a hand to her. She took it, pulling herself up... really, really close. She was shorter than me, the top of her head level with my brow. Her eyes were so pretty – I cringed mentally. Viper, viper, viper, viper, viper…

"We'll get her back, Fang."

My throat itched, feeling closed. What is wrong with me?

"Hey, hey…" A gentle hand cupped my cheek. Wait, what is she doing? I pulled back, only to feel a hand grip my hip. "It's okay, Fang…"

What is she—? She reached up to brush something from my cheek.

Please tell me I'm not crying.

Etro, this—

Suddenly, I felt her head rest on my shoulder, her arms around my waist. She's hugging me?

I swallowed tightly before returning the hug, burying my face in those strawberry locks. Sobs wracked my body, and I'm sure that my nails were digging into her flesh – but she didn't do anything – Lightning kept hugging me. Why was she doing this? She doesn't know me. Wait – why the hell am I doing this?

When I tried to pull back and get away, she stopped me. "Look… I know you don't trust me – and yet you do. I'm a 'viper' from Cocoon, but… I understand, Fang. Just want to let you know that."

She feels the same?

"I don't get it…" My voice was husky. "Why…" I trailed off; it's getting harder and harder to talk.

"Why do we feel this way? We're enemies. That's what you want to say."

"… Yeah."

I could feel her hesitate.

"I don't know."

I held her as she held me for… I don't know how long. Her skin was unbelievably soft and smooth against my own. Lightning's body was solid, and yet it was not; feminine with a touch of masculinity. I've always wondered what her hair felt like, now that I'm absently running my hands through it… It felt like the lightest silk – even better than my sari. And she was warm; those arms around my waist were holding me together.

Lightning and I, we don't know each other. But I feel the need to… protect her and just be there for her.

Like she was doing for me.

Nobody every protected me. If they did, I was too young to remember it. It's kinda ironic how things turned out.

All that I've ever protected was Vanille. She was my sister, my closest friend. And Lightning…?

I looked down at her, spotting the trails of tears on her cheeks. "Light…" I brushed them away. "Don't cry for me… Please…"

"I'm crying with you Fang." She grabbed my hand and pulled it over her heart.

… She understands.

OOO

So, one whole week.

Lightning kept me busy. Every day we would meet in the mornings, grab breakfast from the cafeteria. Then we would go to the training grounds; she was teaching me how to shoot correctly. After a couple hours of that, we'd go back and grab lunch, and she would find something to entertain us, whether it be the massive databanks on her people or flying one of the smaller airships or going to the observation deck to look out at the sky, she'd find something. Finally, there was dinner and nighttime sparring. We never stopped until midnight.

It was quite a workout, fighting with Lightning. I have never met anyone who tested my skills or strength before, but she did. And not only that – she loved witty, mental challenges. She loved challenges period. Lightning would throw off questions at me that made me give her a bewildered look.

The velocity of a Gran Pulsian airship compared to a Cocoon airship, as it was banking around enemy fire, rolling, and shooting at Eden wasn't something that I knew on the top of my head.

I told her she needed to get out more.

She punched me, albeit lightly and on the shoulder.

I've noticed that she can make me blush just as easily as I can make her. She prods in the right direction and I feel the all too familiar burning on my face and chest. I snap a retort back and watch with delight as her much paler skin gains the color to match her hair.

Another thing… It… Kinda bugs me. The men would…ogle her while we were talking. I would see their eyes, checking her out whenever they thought she wasn't looking. One time, this lieutenant was doing that very thing, and the metal bar in my hands – the one that was a safety to the ground below – it just snapped. The man jumped at the sudden noise, gulping audibly as he stared at me and backed away.

Lightning was amused.

I was not.

OOO

It was the last night before we stormed the Palamecia. Lightning had left to go grab something; she said that she'd be right back.

We weren't going to spar tonight, one we weren't feeling it, and two, I was too nervous. Every time I drew my lance, I imagined it piercing that old crock's heart. His little pet, the dirty blonde, she was after him, glasses askew, blood covering the gro—

Lightning sat beside me, our sides brushing, and bringing me back from violent thoughts. "You're going to break the bar again." She unclenched my hand that had been tightening its grip. Placing the hand back in my lap, she turned toward the large window in front of us, looking out at the sky.

She gets points for the romanticism.

We were on the observation deck, with four fifths of the room covered in huge glass windows. We were flying above the milky, white clouds, with the brilliant light of Eden illuminating the entire sky. But there were no stars. No moon, no fields. No mountains or plains. A pseudo world. A cocoon.

"I wish you could see Gran Pulse."

Lightning smiled as she looked at Eden. "I think I'm getting used to the idea."

I always talk to her about how Gran Pulse is better. I speak the truth after all.

"You'd fit in well there." I traced the outline of my necklace, as I looked out at the dim, broken shell of Cocoon. Oerba was out there.

"How so?"

How wouldn't you fit in there?

"You're a soldier; you have combat experience to the point where all would acknowledge you. Along with that you have morals and standards… You'd protect your family no matter what, and that's gold to us." My hand slipped from my necklace. "You'd be a sight to see as a hunter."

She was quiet for a moment. She liked to think about things, turning them over in her mind until she comes up with a response.

"You're already a sight to see here." Lightning pinched my sari, pulling slightly. Her hand rested on my bare thigh for a moment. Her eyes caught my brown wolf pelts, reaching to hold one of them up. "Is this real?"

Is this real? I scoff. "Yeah, Sunshine." I grabbed it and waved it in front of her face, tickling her a bit. "Real life animal skins hanging off of my belt."

She laughed, pushing my hands away.

I catch them, laughing with her and pin them together. I reached my other hand out to ruffle her hair – like I would with Vanille. She ducked as I messed up her pink locks, tackling me to the ground and trying to get back at my hair.

This playful side of her never comes out – except when she's with me. I can always drag her out of her little shell; find the kind person lying within. The thing that bothers me is why she's hiding.

You rarely see the woman laugh. Ever since she helped me that day, I've made it on the top of my mental to do list to get a chuckle out of the soldier. And now, when she's with me, she smiles easier, laughs casually, and her eyes soften. The hard wall that blocks everybody out fades away with happiness. It makes me glad, but I don't think she realizes it.

By the time we were done messing around, she was laying on top of me. Both of us were panting slightly, grinning. But when she went to push herself off of me, Lightning halted as she met my eyes. Hovering above me, she looked surprised, vulnerable, and scared.

Why was she scared?

I tilted my head to the side. "Light…?"

Her fists clenched on either side of my head, and my eyes narrowed slightly. There was some sort of emotion in her gaze – I wasn't sure what it was. I leaned forward, watching as the unspoken words grew and grew in the aqua orbs, as the blush spread across her cheeks, and as her body began to tremble.

She was nervous and embarrassed… But why—?

Bam!

The hatch slamming open was all that was needed for her to scramble off of me. Lightning was obviously flustered as she brushed herself off. "See you later, Fang."

Then she stomped off.

I groaned and dropped back down on the deck.

What is with this woman?

OOO