Hey again! Here's another chapter for you all. I know my friend is enjoying it so far so hope he enjoys this one as well as my readers do. This chapter was a bit hard to write to get the right emotions and itchiness, you'll have to read on to understand Haha. Anyways I hope I did it justice. Enjoy!

Chapter 3:

Sitting down and panting heavily. Finral breathed through the pain he was feeling.

"Your pushing yourself to far. Your going to end up doing yourself more harm them good at this rate" Owen warned as he wrote down Finral's progress on a chart he was holding.

"I can take it. Not going to lie, as much as I enjoy being fussed over by the women here, I have something better waiting for me once I get out of here" Finral confessed with a laugh.

"Well your not going to be able to do anything if you don't slow down a little" Owen raised his eyebrow with concern.

"Ok fine, but from now on can I at least walk from here to my room and back? I hate using a wheelchair. It's embarrassing if I'm honest"

"Embarrassing or not, they are there to help you. So if you need to use one, you are going to use one. But looking at your progress, I suppose if we I change around your sessions a little, it might be possible. I'll see what I can do for you"

"Thanks doc" Finral grinned, "Also, when can I start using my magic again?"

Owen looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Why don't you try making a small portal now?" he eventually answered.

"Really?"

"Yes. It will help me see more clearly where you are in your recovery. That is, if your not to tired to do so?"

"No it's ok!" Finral answered excitedly, "I'll give it a go!"

Focusing himself he began to make a portal. Trying the best that he could, he managed to make a small portal appear.

"Good now keep it stabilised" Owen encouraged whilst writing notes on his chart.

Finral's arms became tired quickly and the little portal he had made, became unstable and disoriented. He broke into a sweat and his breathing had become heavier as he tried his hardest to keep it stable.

"Ok that's enough Finral. Don't worry about it to much. Your body is under a lot of strain right now. The stronger you get, the more your magic will get back to how it used to be" Owen stopped him.

Letting the portal die, Finral slumped down in the chair he was sat on. Just using that little bit of power, had used up most of the energy he had left for what remained of his physio session.

"I hope your right Doc. I hate being like this" Finral replied defeated.

"Trust me, this predicament your in. It's not permanent. It just takes time" Owen consoled.

"Here's hoping" Finral smiled as he shakenly stood up and straightened himself up, "Now let's get back to it!"

"Hey Finral!" Vanessa gleefully greeted loudly as she showed up for her usual visit, "Guess who came with me today?"

Finral, who was more then startled by her sudden and loud entrance, looked up to see what she was so excited about. Sure enough Vanessa was there dangling of Captain Yami's arm. He looked to be completely disinterested in her, but she had that look of admiration and flirtation on her face that she would normally get around him. Finral's heart began to hurt, he didn't know why, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to. Never the less he pasted on his usual smile and greeted them both.

"Hey guys, it's good to see you both"

"How it's going?" Yami asked, "Thought I'd come check on your progress. It's a real pain in the arse to have to walk all the way to the bathroom ya know"

"Charming" Finral thought to himself. Then out loud responded "It's been going good, though think I pushed it a bit far today. My whole body hurts even the massage hasn't worked as well"

"Is that so?" Yami mumbled as he automatically went to remove his cigarette from his mouth, only to remember it wasn't lit for him to flick, "You better be listening to Doctor's orders. We don't want you to be in here for longer then you need, do we?" he asked in a strangely compassionate, yet threatening voice.

"Uh... Er... no Captain, I swear I'm still listening to Owen's advice. There's no need to worry about that. I'll be out of here as soon as Owen says I'm ready, not after..." Finral trailed off as Yami stared at him.

"You bet your arse you will. Don't think this is a way to get out of your duty's so easily"

"Now now Yami, your supposed to say get well soon, or push past your limits. You know? All the usual Yami stuff when a team mate needs motivation. And being your personal bathroom chauffeur is not going to motivate him" Vanessa reasoned.

"Fine, get well soon" Yami said as he wore a unrealistic smile of support on his face.

"Wow that's creepy" Finral commented under his breath.

"What was that?!" Yami snapped.

"Nothing!" Finral laughed nervously.

Vanessa laughed out loud as she watched from where she stood stroking Rouge, who was sat on her shoulder.

"I'm gunna go find Owen, see what he has to say about your recovery" Yami huffed as he left the room.

"Hurry back Captain!" Vanessa shouted after him with a sing song voice. Her face full of happiness and longing.

There was that strange pain in Finral's heart again as he watched from his bed.

"So it's just you and me again cutie" Vanessa smiled as she walked over and sat on the edge of his bed.

"Yeah" Finral half heartedly smiled back at her.

"What's wrong?" Vanessa asked, her face immediately changing to concern.

"Oh nothing, don't worry about it" Finral brushed her off, trying to force his smile to be more natural.

"Is the pain to much for you? Did you push it to far today? Well further then you admitted?" she asked as she leaned in closer to his face to get a good reading of his emotions. Rouge jumped onto his lap and also peered up at him as if she to, could sense something was wrong.

He blushed brightly and turned his head sharply to the side.

"Vanessa yo...your to close!" he stuttered.

"Your all flushed, are you getting sick?" she asked before placing the back of her hand against his forehead. Finrals eyes widened and he became even more flustered, "You do feel slightly warm" she commented.

"How oblivious do you have to be?" he uttered under his breath whilst trying to pull away, which proved difficult with his strained muscles.

"What?" Vanessa asked, not hearing what he had said.

"Nothing" Finral faked a smile as he shrugged her off, "I'm fine honestly, rooms a little warm that's all"

"Seems ok to me" Vanessa commented as she pulled away much to Finrals relief.

"Must just be me then" he laughed awkwardly, "I guess I did push myself a bit to much today after all"

"I know we joked about you going past your limits, but you shouldn't do it to the extent that you end up hurting yourself further" Vanessa warned.

"Yeah I know" he agreed half heartedly.

If he was being completely honest. He had just lost any motivation to get back on his feet sooner anyways. He and Vanessa were just friends, so why did it bother him so much that she flirted with Yami? It's not like he ever showed interest anyways, but either way thinking about how close he and Vanessa had become over the past few weeks. He wanted her full attention, but why? Was he jealous because he wanted her friendship to himself? He didn't know the answer.

"Argh! Your just being stupid Finral! You can't be Vanessa's only friend, she can be friends and date who ever she wants and you can't stop that. You don't have the right! Wait...why would I care about who she dates?" he inwardly scolded and questioned himself.

"Finral? You still with me?" Vanessa interrupted his trail of thought by snapping her fingers in front of his face, "You zoned out for a moment there"

"Sorry" was all he could say.

Luckily for him, before any awkwardness or silence fell between them. One of the nurses walked into the room.

"Hello you!" she greeted him cheerfully completely ignoring the other presence in the room, "I've come to check your stats. After today's session, they may be a little high"

"Oh hey Rach, yeah sorry. I shouldn't have pushed to much" Finral replied politely, all the while smiling at her.

"Nonsense you did great, you'll be out of here in no time"

She began to wrap an aneroid around his upper arm to read his blood pressure. Finral could feel a glare on him as she did so. Looking over he noticed Vanessa watching quietly from where she stood near a window. Rouge sat diligently on her shoulder, also staring wide eyed and unblinking in his direction.

"Erm... Rachel this is Vanessa, Vanessa this is Rachel" he awkwardly introduced them.

"Hello it's nice to meet you!" Rachel smiled over at Vanessa as she pumped up the aneroid around Finrals arm.

Vanessa took an instant dislike to her. There was an angry glint in Rachel's eyes as she had greeted her. Plus the whole cheery greeting just sounded fake to her. Vanessa could tell Finral hadn't noticed. Never the less she greeted her back, although somewhat less cheery.

"Hey, and yeah you to"

"So are you two a thing or something?" Rachel asked bluntly.

"Er... No, we're just squad mates, that's all" Finral choked out in his surprise.

"Ouch" Vanessa thought to herself, she at least thought they were closer than squad mates, good friends at least.

"Ah I see" Rachel continued, "Just, she's always here. I assumed you were a couple"

"I have a name" Vanessa gritted her teeth as she tried not to raise her voice.

Finral had noticed the tension in the room now.

"Erm...so what's my stats then Rach?" He asked, trying to change the subject and diffuse the situation.

"Your blood pressure is a little high, so I'll have to come back and check it later. Your temperature seems ok" she said as she pulled the thermometer out of his ear she had placed it in. Placing everything back where it belonged, she walked back over to the side of Finrals bed.

"If that's everything you can go now" Vanessa smiled menacingly. Rouge hissed in Rachel's direction from her place on the bed.

"Actually I was wondering if once your out of here Finral. Maybe you'd like to go on a date?" Rachel threw a smirk in Vanessa's direction earning her a glare.

"Oh er... I erm..." Finral stammered over his words as he awkwardly tried to answer. No wonder his blood pressure was high. He hadn't been this flustered in a long time.

"Well 'actually' me and Finral already have plans for a date" Vanessa answered before Finral could get his out. She wrapped her arms around his neck from behind and pressed her cheek to his. She wore a triumphant grin on her face as she could see Rachel was taken aback and angry.

"Va... Vanessa? What are you doing?" Finral half squeaked in his shock.

Rachel quickly recovered, "Aww a mate date that's so cute! Well I mean a date date with me, so, what about it Finral?" She narrowed her eyes and smirked back at Vanessa.

"Ah Rachel there you are! There's a patient needing fluids on the next floor up. Please could you take care of that for me?" Owen asked. He had just walked in with Yami in tow.

"Captain! Owen! I never thought I'd be this happy to see you both" Finral gratefully welcomed them.

"Weird" Yami commented in his uninterested voice, Then a bit more angrily continued with, "You should always be happy to see me!"

"Hey Captain" Vanessa greeted him, deliberately pulling herself slowly from around Finral's neck, smirking at Rachel the whole time.

"I'll be back later to take your stats again" Rachel winked at Finral, "I'll get your answer then ok? It will be much quieter then anyways"

With that she strutted from the room but not before she had smiled at Vanessa to rub it in first.

"What was that all about?" Yami asked placing another cigarette into his mouth.

"Oh just some narcissist asking Finral on a date. I mean she can see he's not well" Vanessa explained.

"Wait really? Way to go Finral! Even off ya feet you can charm a lady" Yami excitedly praised him, "The black bull's still have it even in injury!"

"Uh... yeah..." Finral agreed uneasily. Vanessa quietly fumed from where she was stood.

"I've just updated Yami on your progress" Owen addressed Finral. He pulled the cigarette out of Yami's mouth as he passed him, "You know your not allowed these in here"

"Damn it Doc, those are expensive!" Yami complained.

"So give up"

"Anyways" Yami continued, ignoring the Doctor's advice, "Owen's told me your progressing faster than expected. That's good here. But as I said earlier don't push it to much, you can still reinjure yourself"

"Thanks Captain" Finral answered, "And I promise I'll stick to what I can do"

"Good to hear. Now I'm off, I've got a meeting with Vangence to get to. Dunno why he can't come to me. Plus I can have an uninterrupted cigarette"

"I'll meet you later Captain!" Vanessa shouted after him as he left the room with Owen, "I could do with a couple of drinks after today"

"Yeah yeah" Yami waved as he vanished round the door.

Again Finral felt that all to familiar pain in his chest.

"I thought you were laying off the drink?" he asked sheepishly.

"I was but that woman really got under my skin" she answered, steam practically pouring from her ears.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"Well because...well...I don't know. There was just something about her. It was like she was treating you like a prize or something"

"Aren't you just over thinking it?"

"No, I'm a woman trust me. Your not going to go out with her are you?" Vanessa asked expectantly.

"Well I don't know. I mean she's attractive and all, plus she always comes to talk to me on a night so I'm rarely lonely"

"Oh? Since when?" Vanessa cut him off hastily.

"Uh, si...since I first woke up"

"And you never told me?"

"I didn't know I had to..." Finral trailed off.

"So are you going on the date?" Vanessa almost snapped.

Finral didn't answer he just stared at her dumb founded at her raised voice. What was she so bothered about? Just because she didn't like Rachel, didn't mean he couldn't. Plus it would be nice to actually go on a date with someone that was attracted to him.

"Well?" she asked again.

"Why do you even care?" he finally asked.

"I... I..." she stammered, then recovering, "If you have to ask me that after me telling you that I don't like her, then are you even a friend?"

"Why can't I like her? Just because you don't, doesn't mean I can't. Besides your always so busy dangling off the Captain's arm. Why can't I have someone on my arm? You can't tell me who I can and can't be with, it's not your right! Just like I have no right to tell you the same!" he argued back.

Raising his voice caused him to strain a muscle in his back as he had sat upright to get his point across. He reacted to the pain and Vanessa rushed to his side.

"Are you ok?"

She went to touch him but he shrugged her off.

"Don't touch me" he snapped, then more quietly, "Just leave. Go have your drinks with the Captain"

"Finral I'm..."

"Go!" he snapped again.

Vanessa was taken aback, she picked up rouge and made for the door. She turned around to argue but once she saw Finral sadly staring into his lap refusing to look at her, she turned and walked away.

Once she was gone, Finral slumped back wards into bed. The pain had worn off a little now, but even that didn't feel as bad as his heart did in this moment. He regretted sending Vanessa away the way he did. But she had no right to tell him who he could and couldn't see. Especially since she was constantly flirting with the Captain. It was then, lost in his own thought's, that he figured out he was jealous in a romantic way and not the friends way he had previously thought. He had feeling's for Vanessa. And knowing that she wanted the Captain and not him, hurt him more then any attack from Langris had. Maybe putting this space between then would do him some good. Maybe he only had feelings for her because they had spent so much time together. He could only hope that was the case. And later as Rachel walked into the room to take his stats again, he had his answer for her.

I'm a bit stuck on how to do the next chapters. I don't know if I should follow the manga and anime or, carry on writing it away from them. Maybe you could vote on it. Anyways, please forgive any mistakes and feel free to review! :D