Hey guys! I'm glad everyone's enjoying the story so far! I think we're beginning to near the end of it... I've not yet thought about how much longer it'll be 'til the end, but I think we'll soon be wrapping it up. I have a possible ending in mind.

First off, I want to say that I've been toying around with the idea of a possible sister story for this one, only instead of focusing on just Lightning and Fang, it would focus on Serah and the rest of the gang - kind of just to see what they were doing meanwhile. I would like to try and attempt at writing characters who are not Fang and Lightning. I'm still toying with the idea, but I would like to make a mini-announcement about it just in case I do decide on making it happen :)

Second, this one might not be too important, but I feel like mentioning it anyways. It's about Rygdea's character - since we hardly saw much of his personality during FFXIII's run, I decided to give myself liberty, and write his character according to what was needed for the story. So if there are any would-be comments about Rygdea's apparent OoCness, it's purposeful. However, any others is totally unintentional, so I still hope that I'm keeping true to everyone's character, despite there being a two-year gap from where XIII ended.

Whew, that was a mouthful to say. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

~Chapter Eleven~

Despite what she assumed the night before, Lightning did manage to eventually fall asleep, thoughts of Fang masturbating leaving her mind entirely. She was finally getting the sleep she so desperately needed...

... hence why she was more than pissed off when she woke up to see Fang sitting by her side of the bed, flicking at her nose. Not only that, but one glimpse at the window told Lightning that it was barely dawn yet.

"What?" she snapped.

"Well jeez Sunshine, good mornin' to ya too," laughed Fang.

Lightning replied with a grunt and wiped her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Early," Fang deadpanned.

"I got that, but what time is it?"

"Does it even matter?"

"Yes it does because if you're bugging me for no apparent reason, then I'm obligated to shoot you with my gun."

Fang rolled her eyes. "Ooh I'm shakin'."

"Don't toy with me Fang." For extra effect, Lightning pulled her covers over her head. "I'm going to sleep for a bit longer."

Fang gave her an amused smirk and leapt back onto the bed. "Ya must be gettin' old Sunshine because ya used to run on only two hours of sleep, remember?"

"Times have changed since then," she sighed. Why are we having this conversation this early?

"Not the impulsive soldier ya used to be? I'm shocked Light."

"You know, Fang, I love to wake up, and have you annoy me this early."

"Well I can't say that I don't have fun doin' it. Which reminds me." Lightning felt the bed shift a bit and then something hard fell on her thigh. She pulled her head out and saw her formerly declared lost phone lying there.

"Found it right by the bastard when we looked," said Fang. "Still in good shape. Ya might want to get in touch with Serah though. Forgot to give it to ya yesterday."

So you woke me up early for this? Nevertheless, Lightning inspected her phone and yup, ten missed calls from her sister.

"Bolted out so fast I didn't have time to explain what happened."

She dialed Serah's number, and as she waited for her sister to pick up, Lightning cast a grim look at Fang. "Are ya gonna tell her what happened?" the Pulsian woman whispered.

"She doesn't know right?"

Fang shook her head.

"Light!" Serah's voice boomed on the other end of the line. "I was getting worried! I thought -"

"I'm fine Serah," Lightning reassured her. "I was just away from my phone is all."

"Uh... so, how are things?"

"Everything is calm here. Serah, is there something you need to ask me?"

"Uh, yes! Is Fang there with you?"

Lightning shot another glance at her companion. "Yes she is. Actually I'm wondering what she's doing here. You didn't send her out here to keep an eye on me did you?"

"N-No! She just bolted out of here with no explanation. I just thought that -"

"That something might've happened on my end? Serah, I'm in just as much of the dark as you are. But I think I'll keep her around for a bit - we could use the help." Fang gave her a toothy grin.

"Claire, are you sure everything is alright? You're not lying to me again, are you?"

Lightning sighed. "Serah, I promise you that everything is okay. How is everything by you?"

"It's been quiet without you and Fang here."

"You weren't up waiting for me to call were you?"

"No, you just happened to wake me up." Somehow Lightning didn't believe Serah.

"I'm sorry Serah, I'll let you go back to sleep. I'll talk to you soon okay?"

"Okay Claire. I love you."

"I love you too." Lightning ended the call, and fully faced Fang, eyebrows furrowing at the sight of the expression on her face. Oh boy, she was in for it now...

"That was cute Sunshine, tellin' yer sister that ya love her."

"Don't make it a habit of bringing it up," she scowled as she tossed her phone to the floor. "Now I'm going to go back to sleep, and if you bug me again I will make sure to put a bullet in between your eyes."

"Tsk, tsk, such harsh words Light." Fang settled on her side and grumbled, "Ain't ya soldiers supposed to be early birds?"

Lightning reached over and smacked her shoulder.

By the time Lightning rose at 8:30 a.m., Fang was sleeping like a rock. She was nearly tempted to annoy the Pulsian woman the same way she annoyed her earlier, but Lightning decided that she was better than that, and left Fang to sleep while she showered. She was right to assume Fang was not a morning person either because the woman was still asleep as she exited the bathroom. But feeling rather shy, especially about the implications that last night brought, Lightning dressed herself quickly in the bathroom.

Now fully refreshed, Lightning was ready for work, and so she left her and Fang's room to determine what job was left in her care. She checked with the woman at the front desk of the building but was denied any indication that Rygdea changed his mind.

"Sorry Sergeant, but Lieutenant Rygdea was very adamant about not letting you on this mission," the woman at the front desk said.

Lightning narrowed her eyes. "He says that I'm a very capable fighter, yet he does not allow me to do my job?"

"I'm sorry Sergeant, but I'm only doing what Rygdea ordered me to do. He has said, though, that you are free to use any of the training facilities here."

Okay, that was very unhelpful, thought Lightning as she broodingly traveled towards the infirmary. Now she was becoming agitated with Rygdea's reasoning of keeping her here when she was in perfect condition to be elsewhere - perhaps if Thomas was awake, he would understand her plight.

"Ah Farron, I was wondering when you'd show," he greeted as she entered his room. The bed was slightly raised, giving him a good view of whoever entered, and, unlike herself when she had been in the hospital, he was not at all hooked up to any kind of machinery. He gestured her to the vacant chair beside his bed, smiling warmly at her. "Rygdea doesn't have you on an assignment today?"

Lightning shook her head as she sat down. "Deemed unfit to go back out there so soon after what happened."

Thomas frowned. "Let me divulge you on a little secret I learned about Rygdea over the years okay?" Lightning leaned in closer and he continued, "He's too careful. I understand that the events on Cocoon might've freaked him out a bit, but sometimes I think he forgets that we're trained to deal with the impossible. He's done this before, with me. Said I was deemed too traumatized and I shouldn't go back into battle that quickly. Got into a big fight with him until he finally relented.

"Farron, I know you'll feel the same way as I do when I say it feels rather insulting when your commanding officer looks over your capabilities. Now you're a capable soldier, Farron, and if it were up to me, I'd have you right back out there as soon as possible. Wanna know why?"

Definitely. Lightning was intrigued by Thomas - his philosophy, and way of thinking was a reminder of her own thoughts.

"It's 'cause you saved my life Farron," he whispered. "And the way you exterminated that Behemoth... if there was anyone I'd like on my side, it'd be you."

An amused smile came to Light's face. "Charmer."

Thomas laughed. "Tell that to my wife. She'll be here to pick me up in a few hours." He gently touched his side where a bandage was tightly wrapped around the place of his wound. "I'm gonna need to be fixed at the hospital in my town."

"Did Rygdea deem you unable to stay here?"

Thomas shook his head. "I did it on my own accord. When I woke up earlier, they told me my condition was stabilized, but I'd need to stay longer so they could stitch me right back up. Told them they could do that to me at my own hospital. Farron, soldiers are gonna get hurt out there, and if there is space for one more soldier, then I'm gonna give it to him."

"A father to your own men."

"No. Think of it as me making up for not saving the soldiers we lost on the battlefield."

Lightning swallowed the lump in her throat that mysteriously formed at Thomas's words. "Thomas?" she inquired.

"Hm?"

"Should I... trust Rygdea?"

Thomas took a deep sigh and looked her dead in the eye. "He's a good man Farron, but probably scarred by what he's seen. Don't let him pick your battles - you gotta fight for them."

"Ah hello, I didn't know Mister Vrigas was expecting some company," greeted a nurse as she walked into the room. "Mister Vrigas, your wife is here to pick you up."

"Well I'll be, she's here earlier than I expected. Wonder why that is." Thomas slowly rose to sit up more. "Why don't you stick around to meet her, Farron? She would be thrilled to meet you."

Lightning - no, not Lightning. It was Claire in this moment - shifted a bit. "I'm not a hero," she said firmly.

"Don't be so modest. You deserve all the credit handed to you and more..."

"Thanks, but I better go anyways. Hope to Etro that I'll see you here again soldier."

Thomas patted her shoulder. "Don't count me out just yet Sergeant."

Lightning quickly made her way out of the infirmary, taking the trip all the way back to her room, and realizing that Fang was no longer there once she entered. She shrugged to herself - probably went to go stuff that big mouth of hers. But now that she thought about it, getting food didn't sound like a bad idea.

Fortunately Fang beat her to it when she kicked open the door, hands holding two wrapped sandwiches. "Where'd ya go?" the Oerban woman inquired as she tossed Lightning her sandwich. "Was kinda wonderin' if ya snuck out to find Rygdea or somethin'."

Lightning shook her head as she inspected her breakfast. Looked okay, of course it was not up to par to what Serah could make. "No, just went to visit Thomas."

"Yeah? How's the big boy?"

"He's on temporary leave. His wife came to pick him up."

"And ya didn't stick around to be gushed over by her? I'm sure she would've given ya her left arm for what ya did."

"I did what I had to do Fang. I'm not a hero just because I preserved one fellow soldier's life. So, no, I didn't want to be gushed over."

Fang raised a brow, her lips slowly curling upward. "Ya know Light, ya sound just like me." Lightning gave her a questioning look. "Nah, I ain't fibbin'. Look, when Vanille and I completed our Focus, I didn't want to be revered as a hero. I only did what I had to do. Dunno what Vanille thought about it - probably just the same as me I guess - but I was no hero."

"Fang..."

Fang began to unwrap her own sandwich. "So yeah Light, you and me are alike. But I think ya should at least give yerself some credit here. When's the last time ya ever got praised for anythin' ya did?"

Lightning froze a bit as she tried to remember. "The last time was probably before my parents died..."

Not wanting the conversation to turn to this, Fang quickly switched topics. "Hey, ya feelin' up for a little sparrin' session? I've been kinda feelin' a bit antsy because there ain't much 'round here to do, and I know ya feel the same way."

"Oh really? You're that confident that you know me well?"

"Haven't heard ya say no yet, so I'm gonna assume I'm on the right track."

How does she keep on doing that? Lightning crossed her arms and looked out the window in their room, as if there was something outside that would change her opinion.

"Well?" pressed Fang.

Lightning sighed. "Fine. Seems like I can't change your mind otherwise."

"Oh, but it wasn't 'bout ya changin' my opinion," countered Fang with a smirk. She leapt to her feet and grabbed her lance by her pack. "Now don't ya be tellin' me yer too old for this."

Lightning reached for her Blazefire, unsheathing it from its holster, and shifting it to its blade mode. She pointed it at Fang's face, her eyes now twinkling with the fire that made Fang's heart swell up. "Who said that I was too old to win a fight against you?"

Fang roared with laughter, memories of their past spars coming back. "Well if yer too old to want to get up early..."

Lightning merely rolled her eyes. "Let's just get on with it."

The grassy field at the back of the HQ provided a good place for both women to spar without the added risk of hurting someone. They stretched for a few minutes, warming up their bodies before the impending fight. Just as Fang was able to ready herself, Lightning lunged. If the tan-skinned woman was not blessed with cat-like reflexes, the blow would've hurt. But as blade hit spear, Fang threw her weight in and forced Lightning back.

It had been awhile when it was just the two of them sparring, but Fang remembered how Light's style went. Be fast and hit hard, then flee. Speed was good in Lightning's case (after all she wouldn't be called Lightning without a reason), but she never really changed up her battle style, something Fang mentally berated her for. The best way for her to win was to stay on the defense while Light tired herself out.

Lightning lunged again, but once more Fang blocked her with her lance. Lightning felt the shocks of the blow tremble through her body, and took a step back to analyze Fang's style.

"What's the matter Light? Tired out already?" taunted Fang.

"Really Fang? You're going to use the same tactic again?" sneered Lightning. "Isn't it time to change your strategy to something new?"

"I wouldn't be one to talk Light, y'know runnin' in to attach and then leapin' away. A little bit predictable, yeah?"

"Predictable?" Lightning rushed at Fang, blade clashing once more with lance as she dove behind the Pulsian. Fang tried to swing her body around to meet the agile woman, but Lightning kicked off the ground, slamming her body into Fang's backside before she had a chance to.

The fall seemed to go very slowly for Fang, but in those few seconds so many things went through her head. Lightning. Backside. Fighting. A wave of arousal shot through her body, and it was wrong to assume she wouldn't have pinned Lightning to the ground and kiss her passionately. Even as she was pinned facedown into the ground, she had to admit it was kind of hot.

Ya idiot Fang! When did ya become as big of a lug as Snow? Ya heard her, she wasn't interested. Take her out, ya call yerself a Yun?

"Looks like I win," taunted Lightning. "Are you sure it isn't you who's getting a bit old Fang?"

"Hell nah Light, I haven't lost my touch!" Fang bucked backwards, causing Light to lose her footing on top of the other woman. As soon as she had the younger woman off balance, Fang rolled her body over. Arms and legs flailed about, and now it was not so much a sparring session as it was a wrestling match. If it came down to weapons, Lightning might've had a chance, but as she was pinned underneath Fang once more, she knew she had lost.

"Heh I told ya I'd win," whispered Fang huskily. Lightning could not think of some sarcastic remark for her friend, even as Fang rolled off of her. Her heart was racing, and she felt her face burn. God Light, get a hold of yourself.

"I'm speechless Sunshine, no clever retort for me?" chuckled Fang. "Ya seem a little bit pink in the face. Embarrassed?"

Lightning faced her, pushing back her pink locks. "Shut up," she huffed, face still flushed pink. "And besides that was a wrestling match, not a spar. That means you haven't won anything."

"Except a wrestling match."

Lightning rose up, brushing the dirt off of her. "A childish game," she coldly remarked.

"Oh lighten up, ya need to have some fun, especially if Rygdea ain't gonna let you go-"

"No, he's going to let me go."

Fang cocked her head. "Mind explainin' because I musta heard somethin' different when he told ya he didn't want ya back out there?"

"Fang, you knew Rygdea better than any of us. Has he ever been... careful?"

Fang sat up, interest now perked. "Careful? I wouldn't say that that was a word in his dictionary... Why? Who told ya that?"

"Thomas, when I went to visit. He warned me to fight my own battles." Lightning turned around. "He's never been careful?"

"Etro Light, it's been two years, and the guy did survive that mess on Cocoon." Now she stood toe-to-toe with Lightning, looking a bit thoughtful about what the pink-haired woman was saying. "Probably got a bit screwed up by what he's seen. Hey, I don't blame him."

"Probably, but that doesn't mean that he has the right to toss me aside like -"

"Light, yer takin' this a bit too personally."

Lightning pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated that Fang couldn't see it. "I didn't take this opportunity and travel all the way out here just to have my commanding officer tell me that I'm unfit to continue my work after one little incident."

"I liked this conversation better when we're were talkin' about fightin'," Fang grumbled.

"Look Fang, you told me that we're not that much different. I can agree with that, so let me ask you: if you had your superior put you on the sidelines because of one screw-up that was out of your league to take care of, how would you feel?"

"Well I'd be pretty pissed off, yeah. Not that I ain't sayin' that ya shouldn't go back to work. Actually I tried to vouch for ya when he pulled me off to the side last night."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Said you'd probably do somethin' stupid like run off 'cause ya like to get yer way. He wouldn't hear none of it, and said he knew what he was doin'." Fang narrowed her eyes in thought. "Ya ain't gonna beat him to a bloody pulp when we talk to him are ya?"

Lightning took the Blazefire in her grip and waited as Fang recovered her lance. "No, I've outgrown that phase."