A/N: Well, nothing really to say, besides the 'ah, sorry about the lack of updates' thing. It was midterm time around here, and I've had some medical results come in that we not exactly to my taste. Stupid bloodwork nearly made me pass out.

Luin: For once, he isn't joking. He literally almost did pass out. Funny, to see him walking like he was drunk though.

Sandstone: Shaddup.


Traveling: Luca:

Brother asked, "So, where to?"

Yuna blinked. "Uhm…"

I looked over at her. "We need to punt around a few fiends, right? I say we re-trace the pilgrimage, but skip a certain island."

"Kilika? Why?"

I sighed, and asked, "What's it like there? Anyone besides me and Rikku been there recently?"

Buddy shook his head. "We don't have anything new, why?"

I said slowly, "Because it's a boiling point. Youth League v. New Yevon. I had to use Erastrani to get to the forest, and the temple's… not worth it." I sighed, and said, "Rikku, you tell them."

Rikku laughed, and said, "They tried to recruit the 'great Icewind' to fight the Youth League. You should have seen his face… he looked like he would kill the priest who offered!"

Yuna nodded wisely. "I've had some problems like that too. Both sides have tried to recruit me to their side… but Wakka usually chased them off… or you, Luin."

I nodded tiredly. "Anyway, we skip that island. Luca anyone? Buddy, I'll pick up your beer there."

Paine asked, "Can you?"

I arched an eyebrow. "What, there an age limit?"

She nodded, and I shrugged. "Well, I'm of age, I think…"

Yuna smiled, and asked, "How old are you, anyway? I remember I asked you once, and you never could say, said you needed to talk to Psymachine."

I shrugged slightly. "I did, he's the pokemon supercomputer, not me. Anyway, what age do you want, my world, or yours?"

Yuna looked at me, a confused look on her face. "Huh?"

I grinned. "Psymachine calculated a bunch of things, told me that our worlds have different years. So while I'm about 22 at home, here… I'm only three-quarters of a year older than Rikku. Since she's seventeen, I'm basically eighteen." I laughed quietly. It was a weird quirk, but I didn't mind. It made hanging out with Rikku a lot less awkward. But I doubt anyone would really doubt me if I said I was 22.

Yuna stared at me. "You acted older than all of us except Auron… but you were younger than most of us?" She was referring to her pilgrimage. I nodded quietly. "Yup. But I… well; I grew up awfully fast, all trainers do. You've got to deal with things like kidnappers, murderers, thieves, people who would rape you… even us guys…" I narrowed my eyes, and continued in a deadly tone, "and Rockets…" The last word was said with a lot of hate, I still hate them, especially since they've found me again. Rikku looked at me worriedly, and then wrapped her arm around my side. I smiled at her, lightening up, then turned back to face the others. "Believe me when I say that we grow up quick, or give up the lifestyle… or die, unpleasant as that sounds."

Yuna nodded quietly, then shrugged. "Sure. Luca, and then we'll go on from there."

Brother moaned, "But Yuna…"

I glared at him. "She needs to train for Zanarkand, you said it yourself. Best training is the training that takes awhile."

Brother smacked himself in the head, and then grumbled under his breath.

&&&&&

I looked out the bridge, and said slowly, "About the Rockets…"

Paine asked, "What are they?"

I sighed. "Crime lords. You name it, they've done it. Prostitution, murder, mayhem, stealing, political corruption, assassination…" I turned, and smiled tiredly. "Their main deal was world conquest, but trainers always foiled their efforts, sometimes at the cost of their lives."

Yuna looked disgusted, as did Paine. "Your world sounds harsh."

I nodded. "I'm a pessimist, but it is harsh. A lot of trainers give up the life quickly when things get tough, or end up dead in some alley."

The girls remained silent, as did Brother and Buddy. Finally, Rikku ventured, "And if the Rockets are back…"

I sighed. "They're big on vengeance. Even if it means loosing a lot of cash, they'll do it."

Yuna asked, "How'd they get here?"

I looked out the viewport, then to Yuna. "I guess they're using Unown, a pokemon that can alter reality if there are enough of them."

Rikku groaned, "Not good. So, besides Leblanc, we have to deal with these Rockets?"

I smiled slightly. "They're weakened. I took out a lot of their buildings, resources, and people. I imagine that for the most part, they're dead. Just a ghost out for vengeance against one blue-haired vigilante."

Another brief quiet, then Yuna asked, "Could you go… to your world, and check?"

Paine arched an eyebrow, but I shook my head. "That talent disappeared. I can't rip holes in reality to go places anymore. I tried before Yuna… nada. Not even a flicker of power."

We remained quiet, then Rikku leaned herself against me slightly. "They won't show up often, will they?"

I shook my head. "Not likely. The Unown need time to recharge after each gateway."

&&&&&

We arrived at the staircase at Luca. After talking about the Rockets, we'd talked about more light topics, so we all were in fairly good moods. Yuna walked down, and a mob of people began to form.

Someone shouted, "Lady Yuna, your concert was incredible!" Yuna looked over, and then looked away, her expression pained. But a small kid asked, "Would you sign this, please?" Yuna bent down, and put on a smile 'for the crowd'. Dunno who told her that celebrities have to smile all the time, but she tries. As the mob began to get a bit more comparable to a BAD mob, Rikku shouted, "Single file, no pushing!" She paused, then said in an amused tone, "The Gullwings, at your service!"

Yuna dealt with the crowd (it wasn't really all that big, once Rikku started handling crowd control), then looked out towards the ocean. She sighed heavily. I caught a fanboy staring at her, and crossed my arms, one hand dropping to my pokeballs.

He must have heard how I 'dealt' with annoying people, he backed away slowly. The last time, I had Mindstrike use Psychic to levitate the bugger away, suspended by his ankles. Alright, I'm cruel, and rude. Bite me, I'm a murderer too.

&&&&&

&&&&&

Yuna thought back. She never remembered seeing Luin while she had her 'adventure' in the… 'garment'. He'd just dropped off of Erastrani's back in the nick of time.

She blinked, and thought for a moment. Rikku had said she needed to talk to someone soon after they arrived, and left them alone, grabbing someone who was cloaked nearby. She blinked once more, and then smiled. That had to be him; he said Rikku had told him what was going on. But she'd never known…

She asked out loud, "Luin? Were you the one under that cloak?"

There was a brief silence, and then Luin chuckled softly. "Yeah, that was me. I have a few disguises in my pack; a cloak is one of my favorites."

Yuna continued to stare out at the waves, and then slowly looked away.

Rikku asked, "So what did you do after we left?"

Yuna laced her hands together, and extended them outward, saying lightly with a smile, "Top secret!"

Luin arched an eyebrow at her. "Meanie."

Rikku giggled.

&&&&&
&&&&&

We moved on (I bought Buddy a fairly good beer, it was stashed in my pack - only my 'pokemon trainer' dressphere has it), and Rikku exclaimed, "The place was packed with people dancing!"

Yuna asked, "You think Leblanc was enjoying herself?"

Paine crossed her arms. "Until she got hurt."

Yuna froze, then reached into her pockets. "Oh… I forgot all about this!" She pulled out a garment grid. Rikku and Paine looked at her incredulously.

&&&&&

We were at the docks, when Rikku complained, "I was just about to finish 'em off, but then you showed up and stole all the fun."

Yuna said abashedly, "I guess I was so glad to get out of that thing that I went a little nuts."

Paine said lightly, "That explains the dancing."

I nodded quietly, but shrugged. Brother's voice shouted, "Yuna's dancing? Where? I am there!"

I groaned, as Rikku said in an annoyed tone, "Listening close enough? I swear, why do we even let you boys listen in?"

I coughed, and Rikku paled. "Erhm… Sorry, Li."

Yuna laughed at the two of us, and then stared off into the distance. She did that sometimes. After a moment, she said in a subdued tone, "Let's go."

&&&&&

We walked along the Highroad, beating up fiends. I glanced around, then froze. Mini-machina, moving in synchrony? I walked away from the others, and over to the machines, studying the drones. The woman there was fiddling with one, utterly absorbed in her work.

I narrowed my eyes, and then pushed one of the drone's arms back. All of them moved their arms back, including the one the woman was working on. She rounded on me, and paled. "You're not supposed to be here!"

I ignored her, purposefully 'tripping' the machine. All the machines / machinas tripped. Synchrony? There had been an experiment with robots like that; it hadn't worked out well at all. I finally looked away from the machine, and met her angry gaze. I shrugged, and walked away.

Rikku asked curiously, "What was that about?"

I shrugged. "Something screamed 'do not enter'. You know me; I don't listen well to orders like that."

Rikku grinned, grabbed my hand, and raced off with me in tow, catching up with the other two.

&&&&&

Yuna finished, "So he raced in, and Luin shouted 'pervert!' at the top of his lungs, while he somehow managed to sound like me…" Paine actually smiled, albeit faintly. The girls had been taking turns telling jokes, funny stories, anything, just to get Paine to laugh / smile.

I chuckled, remembering that time. It was on Gagazet. "And then I blamed you, and left the two of you alone to kiss and make up…"

Yuna blushed. "Hey! You said..." she trailed off, turning even brighter red when she realized I'd actually spared her. I grinned at her, and finished, "And I also yelled at you two not to have sex, because your cow-eyed looks at each other were starting to irritate everyone… or maybe it was to just go have sex, because we were tired of you two, I forget…"

Yuna stammered, and Paine actually laughed. I grinned like a Persian that had been fed a great treat. Rikku laughed, and said, "Yunie, you set yourself up. You know Li, he's always looking for someone to embarrass."

Yuna managed to get out indignantly, "You didn't say all that!"

I shrugged. "So? It made Paine laugh!"

Paine cracked a faint smile at the three of us, and said, "I don't need you three to cheer me up. I'm fine; you don't need to worry about me."

A one-eye flew up, and Yuna shot it out of the air, Rikku finishing it off with her daggers. After she made sure it was dead, Rikku whined, "But I never see you smile! At least Li here smiles!"

I rubbed the back of my head, while Paine shook her head wordlessly. Rikku sighed, and said, "We need to get you a pet."

Paine rolled her eyes at us. "Rikku, that's enough." She walked further along.

&&&&&

The Highroad was a long trip… two days to cover it. At the end of it, we all had beat down a bunch of fiends, picked up some gil and potions from dropped items (and a corpse… I was the one that looted it, and Paine was the only one to notice. Disrespectful… but I doubt the corpse cares).

We kept on moving, eventually reaching… Mushroom Rock Road at midday, the day after we left Luca.