Another chapter. Yeah! For all those who still read this I give you invisible cookies and copyright ownership of your favourite character on Wednesdays, I wish. Anyway, I battled endlessly with myself about who to give the sphere too. I know Nooj equals complete score but I hate his reaction so- I think you know where this is headed. BTW, Watch the sphere handed to New Yevon on youtube. When Baralai says 'Do not be afraid' onwards, who do you think he's looking at and is that Paine smiling?

Disclaimer: I don't own final fantasy X-2 or any characters, except Baralai- he's here with me now.

Baralai: Um, Hello faithful readers.

Me: Baralai, sorry but you got to disappear into my story again. I'll miss you.

Baralai: Aw, but you're more fun then visiting Paine (The writer has cookies)

Me: I know but this is a Paralai fic not a fan girl obsessed fic.

Baralai:(Tuts) Fine but if Paine hurts me I'm not going back to Spira. (jumps into story)

Me: hehe, better not tell him about the Bevelle fight scene then....


Okay, so Yuna totally flipped her lid last night. We had spent the night listening and watching Yuna and Rikku sing and dance and basically, and it pains me to admit it, having a good time. Yuna says she needs a time out and sits on the edge of the deck peacefully. Out of nowhere the crazy girl cried "Who the heck is Lenne!" and then announced her departure to bed. Kinda understandable considering everything we saw in that sphere but then, this morning, me and Rikku went to wake her so we can 'decide who to donate the sphere to' and she was tossing and turning in her bed, still in her songstress dress sphere. I have concerns for that girl. I really don't feel right about giving this sphere to the youth league though. After much persuasion, our course was set to- Bevelle. When the Celsius arrived in Bevelle it looked like all of New Yevon had arrived to greet us. Everyone except Baralai. The streets looked like a christmas parade. Nun after nun bowed in appreciation to Yuna. Monks grinned in respect and ushered her forward.

"Wow, they're pulling out all the stops!" Rikku exclaimed whilst doing a little dance that was completely embarrassing.

"I wonder why?" Yuna replied stupidly. Honestly, modest she may be but any normal person would understand that being famous has its perks and also its downfalls.

"You're the high summoner, remember?" I told her, stepping towards dumb and dumber. I wonder how he will react when we return the sphere. I mean last time we met I was pretty rude to him, but he didn't even check to see if I was alive. Why should I care about him? Yuna walked over to some nuns who were worshipping her. From the left I overheard a conversation between buddy and Brother.

"Ymm draca Yevon pymteac yna sygehk sa hanjuic. Buddy said to Brother who turned angrily back. (All these Yevon Baldies are making me nervous.)

"Dyga ed ayco. Cruf cusa lmycc syh." Brother snapped back before waking away. (Take it easy. Show some class man)

Uh, why was Brother defending Yevon's sorry butt. The Al Bhed were persecuted because of Yevonites. And show some class? That's the last thing Brother possesses. Anyway, before long I found myself walking into the temple, greeted by a solemn Baralai who secretly smiled at me when Yuna was looking down at her boot laces and Rikku was distracted by something that resembled a gil. Baralai, what a player. Well to me anyway.

"Gullwings, I welcome you." He said whilst doing the prayer. Okay, someone is definitely trying to get on our good sides. Presents, smiles and calling us Gullwings instead of 'High summoner and other random people I have yet to meet'. When he finished the prayer he stood looking very important. Now Paine, resist urges to laugh.

"This is the sphere from Kilika temple." Yuna said, holding out the sphere to Baralai. He took it graciously but I could sense he was uneasy. This sphere was never meant to be seen by the likes of us. Or was it? Was it fate that brought us to that sphere or our continual good luck charm, Yuna?

"Thank you. Its not every day that you meet hunter who are willing to bring back a sphere they stole." He said with a hint of laughter in his voice at the end. Knowing him he was thinking that stealing a sphere was a typical day to day routine for me now. How can he even look me in the face?

"Well its a long story." Yuna began and I had the feeling she was ready to recount our adventure to poor Baralai. No Paine. Not poor Baralai. What has he done to deserve your trust? Wow. I just realised how screwed up my head is.

"You helped us keep the sphere out of the hands of the Youth League. I'm willing to leave it at that. You've been of great help high summoner." Wise man. We would have been here for weeks otherwise. Not that I wouldn't mind spending a few weeks with a certain Preat-

"Excuse me, her names Yuna and she's a Gullwing." Rikku lent in front of Yuna to say. I personally think that she was just eyeing up Baralai. Minus... a lot of respect points.

"Ah forgive me." He gently said. I did so long ago Baralai. If only you knew that. "By the way have you seen the contents of the sphere?" He asked in a soft but commanding voice, one that would make your mouth betray your deepest secrets before your mind even knew you had spilt them.

"Yes!" Yuna replied instantly. I wasn't to worried about Baralai's reaction, I knew he would understand.

"Then, I suppose I have a little explaining to do. What you saw is vegnagun. A weapon built roughly one thousand years ago." He said with his back to us. I think Yuna and Rikku thought it was for dramatics, I knew differently.

"Why did you follow us?"

"I wanted to know, what it was you all saw back there."

"Problem is we don't know."

"We'll work it our one of these days. We'll tell you then."

I don't know how long he had known, but I know he felt like he had left his promise a little too late. Maybe he wanted to tell me but I was nowhere to be found. Maybe, maybe now was his way of telling me. Not Yuna or Rikku or anyone else, but me. That's why he was looking away. Because he couldn't face me in person without seeing a little bit of hurt in my eyes. He felt, like he broke his promise.

"Its currently being held under tight security. The location is, of course, highly classified." he said not turning around.

"I see Yevon still likes its secrets." I spoke aloud. Ah, that wasn't meant to come out! Great, my first words to him in two years are those that insult his political party- that he is the leader of! Good work Paine! Wait, did he just, chuckle? At me?

"True, The youth league would like nothing more than to use Vegnagun to control Spira." He replied, obviously shaking himself out of a fond memory. One probably similar to mine. I wonder if my voice plagued him until our meeting? "But do not be afraid. We will stop them at all costs." He assured, emphasising every word with power beyond his years. He spoke every word to me and I slowly began to feel myself smile.

"Tell me, who was the man I saw in the sphere?" Yuna asked, like Baralai would know than. Honestly, Yuna and her dream guy.

"I- couldn't say." Baralai answered, turning to face Yuna.

"I see." She sadly replied and the temple doors swung open, making me and Baralai automatically look up. Desert nights do make you more observant you know.

"Hey, we got a distress signal from the Celsius. Gullwings, we're leaving." Buddy said and I ran out of the temple.

And I didn't look back.

People who want happy endings have to write their own.