A/N: Hello readers! Wow, two updates in a day. This update is for "Side Story 2," which focuses a bit more on Yugiri. Much more lighthearted than the previous, but gives a bit of insight to the characters. Hope you enjoy!

To yiggdrasill: I have big plans for the coming interactions between the two, and Raven's role won't quite end in the first arc. Look forward to it!

Anyways, this side story takes place somewhere in between 2.2-2.5, where the Domans are already integrated into Eorzea fairly comfortably.

Side Story 2 – The Case of Yugiri

Revenant's Toll - Yugiri

There had been much more time to relax recently, with the Domans finally finding refuge in Eorzea. Their various talents were put to use wherever they could, more than earning their keep. Even so, Yugiri found herself without much to do. She had spent so much time making sure they could achieve this after all. Now that they had found a temporary home, she had an abundance of free time. She noticed the Doman children playing around the city, near the gates. She saw Rokka and Koharu running about, and Yozan and Shun holding up mock weapons and laughing. She was about to warn them to be careful, until she saw who they were with.

The Warrior of Light, Ser Elway.

She chose to stay in the shadows, and watch over them awhile. Elway was still in his Fighter's Armor, probably having just finished a task, however he held a wooden sword and was pretending to spar with Yozan. The young boy held up a sword and took a mock battle stance, resembling a Gladiator. He took clumsy swipes at Elway, who parried them easily. Yozan continued his clumsy assault until Elway dropped his guard and allowed himself to be struck. He gave out a cry of mock pain, and slumped to his knees, stating simply "I have been slain."

Yozan tried to pick up Elway, giving slight encouragements like, "you have to get up," and "no giving up!"

Yugiri giggled a bit loudly beneath her mask, and some of their heads turned to her.

"Lady Yugiri! Come join us, we're fighting Mister Elway!" Yozan shouted enthusiastically.

"They're doing a good job of it." Elway said while collapsed in his "playing dead" pose.

Yugiri let herself be dragged by the hand to the children, who began to talk about becoming adventurers and being like Elway, which Elway laughed a bit at. Elway got up and looked to Yugiri.

"The children are lively. Very much so." He grinned tiredly.

"Ah, I apologize for them Ser Elway, they ju-" Yugiri began, before being cut off.

"Elway. Just call me Elway. 'Ser' is a mite too stiff, don't you think?" Elway frowned a bit at her formality. "And it's fine, I just got back from a job from Rowena anyways."

"Then… Elway. Thank you for looking after the children." Yugiri smiled behind her mask, feeling more comfortable.

"That's better. Did you hear, they want to establish an Adventurer's Guild for Doma!" Elway was cut off by Shun, who pulled on the fur lining of his armor.

"Hey, Mister Elway, I just thought of something. Are you strong?" Shun asked inquisitively.

"Somewhat, I suppose. Why do you ask?" Elway responded, confused.

"Are you stronger than our Lady Yugiri?!" Yozan cut in as Shun protested, his line being taken.

"Couldn't say. I bet she is stronger than me, though." Elway grinned at the kids, who cheered at Yugiri.

"You guys should fight, with these!" Shun pulled the wooden sword out of the ground, and pulled a pair of wooden daggers out, gesturing for Yugiri to take them.

"No, no, I couldn't fight him." Yugiri shook her hands and her head, refusing profusely. It would be incredibly impolite to spar with someone who found a new home for them, she simply couldn't.

"Well, why not? It sounds fun." Elway looked at her, making eye contact through her mask. He gave her a wink, which confused her further.

I suppose he does want to fight..?

Yugiri sighed and took the pair of wooden daggers, resigning herself to the children. Shun gave Elway the wooden sword, and he gave it a few swings before he took a proper Gladiator stance. The kids cheered, most of them cheering for Yugiri as she took her stance.

"Stay back, children!" Elway warned. The kids nodded and ran to a safe position, with Yozan standing a bit further up to signal the start of the spar.

"And… begin!" Yozan called out, moving his hand down as if cutting through an invisible barrier between the two.

Elway dashed forward enthusiastically, initiating the fight by taking a quick two-step swipe. A Fast Blade. Yugiri blocked the two swipes with her daggers before stepping back to assess the situation. Elway was doing the same, but looked ready to move again.

Those strikes were heavy, she noted, before charging in, spinning with her blades. The move forced Elway to block, holding the sword in an awkward position, before she finished off with a kick landing square on his chest, knocking him back. She continued her assault by flipping into the air and coming down foot first onto his head, but her leg was blocked. She slashed with her daggers downward, since his sword was caught blocking her foot, and she landed two clean hits on his shoulders.

Yugiri was forced back by the push of his blade, and this time he charged back in. He made a large, one-handed swipe at her side, but the blade was easily caught by her daggers. She didn't see him making a palm strike aimed at her other side however, and the wind was knocked out of her by the attack. Elway freed his sword and spun around, making an exaggerated slash at her neck. She brought up her daggers, but the strike never came. Instead, Elway feinted and changed the slash into a stab at her stomach, to which she avoided by vaulting over Elway.

Elway didn't let up, charging at her again using the sword with two hands, with a different stance, this time slashing at her hands with a hard slash, one strike that swiped sideways and one slash that slashed upwards from that position. She naturally parried both stages of the attack, but he transitioned into a spinning slash that she put up her guard to defend against, but her guard was broken through and she lost her balance, almost falling backwards.

Instead of continuing his assault, Elway gave her a smile. She vaguely understood his intention. The fight was over.

Elway made a slow and predictable overhead slash that Yugiri simply dodged to the side, and cut at his hands with one of her daggers. Elway stumbled back, losing his grip, and Yugiri sighed internally, slashing at his weapon to disarm him, thus ending the fight.

"Wow, that was amazing Lady Yugiri! You beat the Warrior of Light!" Koharu squealed, and the rest of the kids swarmed Yugiri. They began to chat endlessly about how strong she was, and how she should go on adventures with Elway. Yugiri sighed, externally this time, and tried to calm the kids down.

She noticed Elway wave at her, with another wink and smile. He walked away to the Rising Stones, already beginning to strip himself of his armor.

He threw the match. Quite obviously, at that. She'd demand an explanation later. She just had to get away from the children for now.

The Rising Stones, Elway's Room

Elway stepped out of the shower room with a satisfied exhale. It always felt good to be clean after a quest. He went to his personal room at the Stones to gather some clothes before he went out again.

He put on a pair of trousers as he pondered what he was to do for the rest of the day. He considered eating, since it was close to noon, and then he heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Elway asked.

"It is me, Yugiri," Elway saw the door open and panicked, noting that he was still not wearing a shirt. Or anything on the top half of his body, for that matter. "I've brought you someth-"

Yugiri stopped dead in her tracks with her package, seeing Elway attempt to cover himself. Her widened eyes ran over his toned (and still dripping) body, looking at the numerous scars he had gained as well as his well-defined musculature, drinking in every detail before she realized she was staring for a while. She look at Elway's face, which had a furious blush.

"My apologies." Yugiri said stoically."I brought something from the Domans. It's a gift." She laid down the parcel on his table, before turning away.

She slammed the door a bit too quickly, and found herself very, very glad that she was wearing a mask. She felt herself blush behind her mask, and hoped it wasn't too obvious.

Moments later, she heard the door open, with Elway dressed in his new gift.

It was a togi from the Far East, dyed in Elway's familiar and signature red color. It came with a pair of black trousers (that fit him very nicely, Yugiri noted). He wore a pair of simple black gloves and a pair of black sandals to complete the look.

"The outfit is very nice. Thank you, for bringing it." Elway looked down at the outfit, feeling comfortable in the material.

"I agree, it suits you very well." Yugiri smiled behind her mask.

"Well, would you like to join me for a meal?" Elway looked hopeful.

"Why not?" Yugiri replied, feeling hungry herself.

Rising Stones Main Area – Yugiri

F'lhammin had provided the both of them with a hot meal, smiling as she did so. She was like a mother to the Scions, and the gesture rarely went unappreciated. Yugiri had to remove the bottom portion of her mask to eat however, revealing her pale skin. Elway was a bit curious, but didn't ask.

The two conversed as they ate, interested in each other and not really having had the chance to sit down and talk.

"You threw that match very obviously, you know." Yugiri chastised Elway, who shrugged.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Elway grinned.

"You're not a very good liar." Yugiri laughed. "Why did you do that?"

"The children look up to you, you know. All the Domans do." Elway took on a bit more of a serious tone. "I wanted to show them how strong you were. That their faith in you is well-placed." Elway smiled at her warmly.

"Thank you…" Yugiri mumbled beneath her mask, at a loss for words. "I know they care for me, but you didn't need to go so far."

"Well, that wasn't all of it." Elway's smile turned to a devilish smirk. "The children needed someone else to bother. You were sort of a victim."

Yugiri let out an exaggerated gasp, which was followed by a laugh by both parties.

How long has it been since I have been able to relax like this? She thought to herself. She gazed at the person sitting across the table, laughing without a care in the world.

So this is the Warrior of Light. I envy him… but I admire him, as well. Yugiri concluded.

"You envy me? Why?" Elway wondered. Yugiri silently cursed herself for thinking that statement out loud.

"It is just that… if the Domans had strength such as yours, maybe things would have turned out differently. You have so many strong comrades here, and you, yourself are a force even primals fear."

"Hozan said the same. But you know," Elway sighed, "I am not all that strong. Physical strength like mine is only good for fighting."

Elway continued, this time looking her in the eyes through her mask.

"I want strength like yours, actually." Elway said somberly. Yugiri was surprised at that.

"What do I have that you do not?" Yugiri asked, confused.

"Trust from all of the refugees. And the strength to look after them." Elway smiled wistfully, "They say that you labored day and night for them. Without asking anything in return. Even I have personal gains from all my battles." Elway shook his head, "but you are so selfless in your actions that it makes me certain, I want strength like yours. It is truly amazing." He reaffirmed.

Yugiri went silent. She fought the oncoming of a blush, since part of her face was exposed.

"You really are a hero, to say such kind words." Yugiri whispered. Elway chuckled and responded,

"I have a lot to learn. But I do have you, as an example to follow." Elway said with confidence.

Yugiri replaced her mask silently, done with her meal.

Me, a hero? Hardly. But when he says it…

Yugiri looked back to Elway who gave her that same, warm smile. She felt her heart beat faster.

I am inclined to believe him. Oh, Yugiri…

The Au Ra woman blushed under her mask, and bowed to Elway, a quick thanks. She walked out of the room quickly, needing a bit of time to think.

To fall for the hero of Eorzea. How cliché.

Side Story 2 – The case of Yugiri falling

A/N: And there we have it! This is more of a prequel to Side Story 1, which shows the start of Yugiri's romantic interest in Elway. More fluff, consider it the calm before the storm I guess. Next chapter the main story progresses! Hope you enjoyed!

And please, leave some feedback, lemme know how I did.