II. Noon Ray

Fang swung her bag over the shoulder and looked at the first row of tables in the classroom, where Vanille was still packing her bag while chitchatting and laughing happily with her tablemate.

Very tall for her age and towering over most of her peers, Fang was assigned to the very last row in the classroom. Her strength also ensured her the ability to outmuscle any boys, even older ones. Oerba's village elders often said they were lucky she wasn't a bad kid, or they would have trouble reining her in. She was sure they were kidding; she often beats up Reeve, the son of the highly respected community chief who was in charge in arranging and setting up community events.

To her, Reeve was simply asking for it. She had never beaten the other boys, and there was a reason why Reeve was singled out.

"Fang, you've signed up for tomorrow's hunting party?" the girl sitting beside her asked. Fang remembered her name was Latila.

"Yeah."

Latila smiled. "That's only to be expected of you, but I think studies are more important. You are already behind."

/ Not again. / Fang thought. She didn't need another lecture of how she should prioritise her studies so she can get a better job career. She knew she was behind by two years, but so what? A bunch of kids in the class were around her age too, and two were even sixteen years old. Why weren't anyone nagging them? A better job career also usually meant leaving Oerba to go to the cities. She didn't want to leave Oerba; it was her home and it always will be.

She saw Vanille standing up and saying her goodbyes to their classmates. Then Vanille looked at Fang and started jumping up and down to catch her attention.

"I'm going," she said.

Latila nodded.

"You and Vanille, huh? Always together… since childhood. Don't you get sick of each other?"

Fang blinked. "What do you mean?"

Latila giggled. "Well, we will all grow up one day… and…"

"And?" Fang was beginning to frown. She knew where this was going. She turned to look at Vanille and signalled her to go ahead without her. Vanille nodded, picked up her bag and left the classroom.

"And marriage!" Latila exclaimed.

/ I knew it. /

"Yeah! And that's when you two won't be as close anymore."

"Why not?" Fang questioned, her head burning.

"Vanille will be busy with her husband. And then she will be busy with her kids," she replied matter-of-factly. "The two of you just won't be together as much anymore."

"And who is she going to marry?" Fang scoffed. She thought it was too early for this sort of topic to come up. Vanille was only twelve, and hadn't shown any interest in having a boyfriend, much less a husband; she showed much more interest in playing around with Bhakti and being obsessed with her accessories. Fang decided that if Vanille ever does show interest in a man someday, she would ensure the girl marries the best guy out there; one who would love and treasure her, and protect her as much or more than she does.

For goodness sake, Latila was only twelve like Vanille but she acts like an adult, she thought. Adults are annoying people who nag at the young ones nonstop, thinking they know everything and what's the best for the young even if they got it all wrong.

"Reeve!" Latila suddenly announced.

Fang could barf. "REEVE?"

"Yep. Reeve!" Latila chirped, not noticing how dark Fang's face had become. "He's handsome and strong. And he likes Vanille!"

"Hah… that strong guy always loses to me in a fight. His punches suck, his kicks are weak, and he bullies Vanille!" Fang said icily.

Latila laughed. "That's not really bullying is it? The way he interacted with her is just so sweet!

Fang suddenly felt sick in her stomach. How could bullying ever be sweet?

As if sensing what was going on in Fang's mind, Latila begun to explain, "Guys tend to antagonise the girls they like, you know, to get their attention. That's what happened to my momma and poppa, and Clariss' parents!"

"Hmm… the statistic is not very reliable…." Fang muttered. She hated to admit it, but she thought the same too. Reeve simply spent too much time hovering around Vanille. If that wasn't irritating enough, he had to make fun of Vanille all the time, teasing about her skinny body frame and high-pitched voice and anything he could come up with. Besides, he's said some really horrible things before… She cannot contemplate how someone like that would be suitable as Vanille's boyfriend or husband.

Now thinking of these made her fists feel itchy for a punch or two.

"And you too, will get married."

Fang stared at Latila in disbelief; somehow she had the impression that among the three of them Latila would be the only one who would get married, probably at a very young age too.

But now that the topic had started rolling, Latila refused to stop. "Yeah, you know you are actually very good-looking. Just need to tame that wild head of yours and put on some make up and start wearing decent dresses and skirts…"

"That is a blasphemy!" Fang blurted in agitation. Tame her hair? Put on makeup? Wearing dresses and skirts? Why would she have to do these? That would not be her anymore! Fang tried to imagine that other her, and it was rather revolting. She liked her earrings though.

"Excuse me?" Latila blinked innocently, confused by Fang's reaction.

The conversation was getting nowhere but ridiculous, best to get out as soon as possible, Fang thought.

"See ya." Fang said with a casual wave as she walked away.

"Wait, Fang!"

She ignored Latila and hurried out. She had only just stepped out of the classroom when a hand tapped on her shoulder. She turned and was surprised to see Vanille.

"Hey~" Vanille greeted cheerfully. The afternoon sunray shone on Vanille's well-groomed shoulder length red hair, making it looks brighter and more beautiful than before. Fang ran her fingers through her long wild black hair. Maybe she should comb it more often like Vanille.

"I thought you were already gone," Fang said.

"Nope. Been waiting here." Vanille replied smilingly. She hooked Fang's arm and walked with her, leaning slightly over. Fang smiled.

"What's wrong?" she asked. Despite the cheerfulness, Fang could sense something troubling Vanille. There was a short pause before the question popped.

"Am I really hard to sleep with?"

Fang's eyes widened. She remembered what happened this morning. Was Vanille hurt? She looked at Vanille whose green eyes shimmered in uncertainty. After their parents' deaths, they were raised by the community. Nothing unusual; many other kids in Gran Pulse had lost their parents to Cocoon's l'Cie and they weren't the only orphans in Oerba. While conflicts between the l'Cies of Gran Pulse and Cocoon weren't often, once it happen one can always be sure it would be one hell of an event, or mess.

Oerba was based on a communal lifestyle, and anyone could share a bunk with anyone (of the same gender). Vanille slept uncomfortably when alone, and she had practically been rotated around with several kids who couldn't put up with her sleeping habits. Soon, Fang was the only available choice left.

That was really how they got to know each other – the community chief had asked Fang if she was willing to share her bunk with Vanille. Fang didn't mind, so long Vanille didn't practice martial arts in the sleep like her previous bunkmate did. She didn't, and the two soon became friends, and then good friends, and then inseparable best friends.

Someone had said they were like conjoined twins. Who was it? Fang couldn't remember right then.

Fang had teased Vanille out of fun, but didn't think she would get hurt. I should have known better, she thought in regret. She wanted to kick herself right away.

"No, Vanille… I was just teasing you. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings," she apologised earnestly. She had not meant it, but if she did hurt Vanille's feelings… Vanille was someone she would never want to hurt, or see hurt. She was sweet and kind with a contagious smile and cheerfulness, the type of person people would want to love and protect. Hurting her seemed such a terrible sin, that's why Fang always protected her, so she would always be happy and continue spreading that joy around.

"Oh no, no," Vanille shook her head. How could she explain it? If being with her hurts Fang, she'd rather them be separated, even if that pained her. But if she says this, Fang would surely be upset.

"I just don't want to make things difficult for you…"

The walk stopped and Fang turned to face Vanille. She was still smiling, but it was so sad Fang felt pained.

She ruffled Vanille's hair. "Now don't be silly. If it was really so hard I'd said so. Sleeping with you isn't that much pain."

Fang leaned closer and cupped Vanille's face in her hands. "Besides," she said seriously, "I've gotten so used to being strangled by your leg I can't sleep without that routine now."

Vanille's face went red in shyness at the tease, but she was elated that she had not been rejected after all. She had feared that Fang would reject her like the others did before. Now she knew that wasn't the case, and was both relieved and happy about it.

Still, that tease! Vanille balled her fists and waved her arms up and down. "ARGH! You are wicked!"

Fang laughed, as she turned and sped away.

"Get back here!" Vanille yelled, chasing after her.