Hurray! You like my work! So here we go with the second chapter.

Everyone was gathered at the funeral. Everyone wasn't actually all that many people, considering how few people Quina actually knew. Amarant was slouching in a chair as far back from the front as he could be without leaving the funeral, while Baku and crew sat in front, Cinna actually sniffling a bit. Zidane, Dagger, Eiko and her parents, and their various guards, (even though they didn't need them at all), were seated in the middle. Eiko fidgeted in her seat. She might not have time to implement her plan if those guards kept watching her!

Steiner and Beatrix were amongst the guards around Zidane and Dagger, Quina sniffled just behind Tantalus, and Vivi sat silently a few seats across from Quina. A few other black mages had showed up, but most of them were too uncomfortable with the subject of death, even though all of them had been given a boost to their life spans. There was actually a way to do it, despite what Kuja had said.

Doctor Tot was actually serving as the Priest for this funeral. On Gaia, it was hard to draw a distinction between religion and science; there wasn't much more to life then the cycle of souls, and with both Garland and Kuja defeated, and the Iifa tree destroyed, there was no longer any interruption in that cycle. As such, a priest was little more then a philosophical scientist; and Doctor Tot fell right into that category.

The funeral went on as long as possible, but that wasn't very long. After all, the only person who had really known Quale was Quina; and who could count on Quina to provide much information on someone? In fact, all he had really been able to say was that Quale had been a great teacher, and had mastered the art of cooking and frog catching. There probably wasn't much more to say, really, but it still wasn't much.

Vivi wasn't thinking about much. He had resolved his own personal difficulties a long time ago, and now he was just remembering his grandfather Quan. Quan was a great man, and he had told Vivi not to be sad when he passed away. So, he didn't really feel sad to hear that Quale had left the living. Death was just something that didn't bother him too much.

Eiko, on the other hand, was barely even thinking about Quale. She was just thinking about Vivi. She really wanted to spend some time with him... get to know him better. He had probably changed a lot since they had traveled together. And she was just plain tired of living in the castle. Well... soon the funeral would be over. But would Vivi stay to talk? She would have to hope so. And that the guards would leave her alone long enough for her to implement her plan.

Finally, to the sound of much sniffling and even a bit of wailing from Cinna, the body was lowered and the funeral ended. People started moving around, and Eiko started making her way towards Vivi. To her surprise, he was walking to her as well. One of her guards was on her like lightning.

"Lady Eiko, where are you going?"

Frustrated, she flashed an angry look at him. "Can't I be alone to talk with my friend? He's a black mage for Pete sake! Nothings going to happen to me!"

The guard stuttered a bit, then sighed. "I guess you're right. You really don't need us anyway, but your father insists. Go on, I won't tell him if you won't."

Eiko smiled at him. "Thanks."

With that, she broke loose from the guards and walked merrily over to Vivi.

"Hiya. Nice to see you again." Eiko beamed. If Vivi had had an eyebrow, he would have raised it.

"You're awfully cheery for someone at a funeral."

"Aw, come on, he was just some Qu."

Vivi sighed. "I guess so. Anyway, I was wondering if I could talk to you in private.

Eiko's eyes enlarged a bit. "R-really? In private? Why?"

Vivi's eyes indicated that he was smiling a bit. "Just come with me. I'll tell you when there aren't so many eyes everywhere."

Well, that was convenient, thought Eiko. She just bobbed her head up and down and followed him off into the woods nearby.

"So... what did you want to talk about?" Eiko asked, leaning against a tree. Vivi sat down on the soft, needle covered soil.

"Well... I just wanted to know how you were doing."

Eiko tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean? I'm fine."

Vivi shook his head a bit. "I mean... how are you really? I can't imagine how a girl like you could be happy in a big castle like Lindblum. I know that when we first met, you were energetic and full of life. Lindblum seems more like a place for calm, relaxed people, who don't want any upsets in their lives. As far as I could see, you would never have liked that life style. Am I right?"

Eiko's mouth had dropped a bit. Popping it back into place, she nodded weakly. "You hit the nail on the head, Vivi."

Vivi stood. "That's what I though, Eiko. So... I thought you might like to stay in the Black Mage Village with me for a while. There's really quite a lot of things to do there, and I think you'd have much more fun then-"

Vivi never got to finish his sentence, because at that point Eiko started jumping up and down and shouting. "I'd love to go! Take me, take me, pleeease let me come back with you!"

"Okay, okay! Calm down! If I remember Regent Cid, he's not just going to let you go like that, is he?"

"Nope."

"That's what I though. So, do you have any ideas on how we can we convince him to let you go?"

Eiko smirked childishly. "Well, I had an idea on how I could go with you, but it doesn't involve convincing my father of anything. I would just do a little vanishing act..."

Vivi's eyes, if you looked closely enough, showed some confusion. "What do you mean? You don't know how to cast vanish... only Quina does."

"I know." Her smirk grew a bit bigger.

More confusion showed in Vivi's eyes. "Then... what do you plan to do?"

"I'll cast Mini on myself. Then you can carry me out of vision range, and no one will ever know!"

Vivi jumped back. "Ah! I don't know... it sounds kind of... weird. I mean, don't you think we could come up with a better way? I mean, carry you? I don't have any pockets, and who knows, I might crush you or something! I don't wanna risk that."

Eiko pouted her lips. "Aw, come on. You're acting like the old Vivi. Be brave! I'll just hide under your hat!"

Vivi blinked a few times. "My hat? It's a good idea, but... I don't know. Something about you being 6 inches tall and sitting on my head is just irksome."

She stamped her foot in protest, getting a little frustrated. "Come on! Just do it... for me, okay?" She wore the sweetest smile she could muster. Vivi stared for a moment, then sighed, giving in.

"Okay. But as soon as we're out of vision range, you cast esuna and WALK. Got that?"

Eiko nodded. "Sure thing. All right, here I go. Put your hand down on the ground."

"Um... okay," Vivi said, complying with her request.

Eiko immediately stepped on his hand, then cast the mini spell on herself. Vivi moaned loudly. When the spell was done, she was standing there in the palm of his hand. Shaking his head, he lifted his hat up, put his hand over his head, and waited for her to jump off. The hat went back in place, and he sighed.

"I know I'm going to regret this. They'll think she was kidnapped, and pin it to me."

He received a swift but tiny poke to the top of his head, then heard a miniscule voice speak.

"Less talking and more walking, Vivi! It's sticky up here!"

Vivi blinked, then sighed, and pulled his hat down a bit tighter as he shook his head softly. He heard a very soft "Ahh! Stop!" from inside his hat, then picked up his staff and made his way back to Qu's marsh. Once they were far from vision range, Vivi removed the tiny summoner from his head and put her on the ground. The spell ended when esuna was cast, and she returned to normal size.

"Finally! I had no idea that the black stuff your head is made of was so sticky!"

Vivi shrugged. "Well sure. How do you think I keep the hat from falling off my head when I run really fast? It isn't exactly a tight fit."

Eiko sighed. "Never mind. Let's hurry or they'll catch us! A search party is probably out looking for me already."

Vivi nodded. "I agree. Cast float again."

"Right!"

With a word spoken, the two floated into the air.

"All right Eiko, take my hand. This can be kind of rough."

She did so.

"Hold on! AERO!"

The familiar green wind shot into their backs, and soon enough they were on their stomachs and flying through the sky at high speed.

"Wow, Vivi, this is amazing! I can see why you were so eager to have someone use float!"

Vivi nodded. "Yeah. We'll be to Qu's marsh in no time, and then it's just a Gargant ride back to the Outer Continent. They've made a shorter route in these past years, so now you only need to ride once. As an added plus, they put metal loops on each Gargant's back, and made a cart track on the side of the cave. The cart has an extension that ends in a hook, so any time the Gargant comes around, the cart gets hooked and it pulls us along. Not much added weight for the Gargant, and it still gets to be wild. They've really gotten a lot of work done there."

In reply to Vivi's description of the new Fossil Roo, Eiko had only one word. "Amazing."

"Yeah. Well, there's the marsh! Let's touch down."

"Okay."

This time, the dispel spell was uttered, and Vivi and Eiko landed outside the marsh. With that done, they both headed in, and down to Fossil Roo.

So, do you like? Tell me! I won't make any more unless you give me reviews. I happen to think I've done a good job, but it's up to you to decide that. So review! PLEEEASE! Thank you.