Isn't it amazing how the grape vine works with information.

The Gossip

News spreads fast around the Den around Soma's and Nami's adventures out in the Wailing Plains. Or at least the stories everyone thought happened based on what the Rescue team reported they saw. While Nami ignored all the gawking stares and meditated away all the giggles. Soma didn't fair the same. Here he was, cornered on his Floor's snack lounge.

The guys from the First-Third unit teased him and picked at him with questions about what happened.

"Attaboy, Soma, I knew you had it in you!" Shun praised him while patting his back.

"Who would've thought you had it in you." Karel teased him with a grin. Kota came at him, giving him a bro punch to the chest out of pride.

"Ha! No wonder you were so picky about girls. None of them from this world could peek your interest."

"So tell us, how far did you get? Second or Third base?" Brendan questioned.

"Idiots, I told you nothing happened." Soma growled at them, but they ignored his antics. Already use to his defenses.

"You don't have to be shy, Soma. We're all guys here." Kota said, picking at him while poking his cheek with a finger. "Come on, just give us the juicy stuff."

Soma grunted and smacked Kota's finger away. "My God, you guys are like chicks. Like I said, nothing happened. How many times do I have to say it to get it through your heads?!"

But just like that, his arguments were put on shaky ground as Nami came out of her room.

"Oh, Soma! Glad you're awake." She said, approaching him pass his barricade of guys who moved out of her way. "Here's your shirt, fresh out of the wash! Thanks for letting me borrow it."

She happily said that while bringing questionable holes in Soma's last statement. Soma covered his face with one hand while the other reached out to take his shirt from her. The other guys grinned at him like gators.

"Thanks..." He said reluctantly as he knew her actions would bring him more trouble than he needed.

"No problem. Well, I'm off to help Tatsumi with his mission... or his revenge? I don't know, he didn't really go into much detail."

"Well have fun with that." Nami smiled at Soma with a nod then looked at the others surrounding him.

"The friendship between boys, I'm slightly jealous." She waved at the guys as she left for the elevator. "Later guys!"

"Bye Nami!" They said before turning to Soma like snakes to a mouse. Soma was starting to wish he had left with Nami when he had the chance. He may have been teased about it later by the guys, but at least it would've gotten him out of the interrogation he was about to go through.

*** Nami's Universe: Forgotten Carrier ***

"Thanks for helping out, Yuri." Carol said to him as they jumped down onto the bridge. Her hair was short like Karel's but she still worked that hot punk look with her ripped pants with a dress shirt and tie. "Did you know the mats you can get off these guys can sell for real high?"

"No I didn't. I'm just here to lend a hand, the money's all yours."

"Heh, great."

"Should we go?" Carol nodded at Yuri with a grin.

"Let's get started. Did you bring your bolt based equipment."

"Not a chance. Blaze is the only one for me."

"What?! Then this mission is going to be a nightmare."

"Heh, allow me to prove you wrong."

Yuri first took out the nearby Bolt Cocoon Maidens before the Fierce Kongou jumped down from the last one. Carol distracted the Fierce Kongou while Yuri extracted the cores.

Once he was done he went after the Fierce Kongou. Knocking it down with crushing blows and blocking the lightning attacks at the last second. By the time five minutes on the clock pasted, the Fierce Kongou was down for the count. After extracting the core, he turned to Carol with one uplifted eyebrow.

"Told you so."

"Don't go boasting just yet. You still got a Fallen Borg Camlann to deal with."

And just like that the Bolt Borg Camlann jumped out of the Carrier.

"Heh, bring Bolt weapons you say. I think I came rightfully equipped for this mission."

"Oh, shut up. The information I collected for this mission was wrong, sue me."

"Nah, I'm just disappointed that I won't be given a challenged. At least the mission will be over soon."

But just as Yuri said that three more Bolt Cocoon Maidens popped up from the ground. Deciding to take care of them first, Yuri focused his attacks on the Maidens. Luckily his blade was big enough to go around, regardless of the occasional tail smack. The Cocoon Maidens were out before he knew it.

After a few whacks on the tail and destroying its shield, the Bolt Borg Camlann was dead on his back. Yuri turned to look at Carol with a knowing look.

"Please don't make me have to repeat myself, it's much too troublesome."

"Quit your gloating you cocky bastard."

"I can't help it. Did you even need me for this mission?"

"Your presence helps make the whole thing go faster!" Carol stomped her foot in a pout. Feeling bad for teasing, Yuri patted her back.

"Ha, alright, alright. Go skin your Aragami, I'd like to head back soon."

*** Den: Entrance ***

Soma looked up from the benches by the Mission desk as Yuri and Carol returned to the Den.

"Thanks for the help, I made a lot of money." Carol said to Yuri. "I can't wait to brag to Gin about all the shots I made."

"Ha, you go ahead then. While you're at it, take him out on a date with the extra money you earned." Yuri said, handing her the Aragami materials he got from the Fierce Kongou and the Bolt Borg Camlann. "My treat."

"Really?! Are you sure?" Carol said to him with her cool-attitude happiness. He responded with a nod. "Thanks. You're not bad, Yuri."

She ran off to cash in her prizes before he changed his mind, which he wouldn't have done. Soma knew that he was a good guy. And she got more proof of that after that mission in the Wailing Plains after their morning fight.

Coming over to her, Kota joined her on the bench. Watching along with Soma as Yuri and Carol parted ways.

"Well... at least you don't have to worry about that girl stealing your man."

"Shut up, Kota."

*** Author's Notes ***

Just for those who are confused, Nami and Yuri are slowly making similar choices in each universe and are experiencing similar if not the same events and interactions with the people around them. So in Yuri's case with Carol, Nami came back with Tatsumi and helped pay for his date with Hibari. The Soma and Kota interaction were the same in each universe. The same goes for the past chapters as well.