DISCLAIMER: Any final fantasy X or X-2 character, places, creatures, or themes that are in this fanfic belong to Squaresoft, which is now currently Squarenix, I give my props to them for making such great games. A/n: I actually had a fun time writing this one, as after this the training gets started and that's when everything really good happens. Don't worry don't worry, Rikku will come soon with some surprising revelations. Woo, I cant wait until I get to that part. Which should be like.. the next chapter I guess. Sike I'm not telling you, your just going to have to keep reading. Oh yea, and if anyone has some tips on beating Shinra(yea, that's right its like my 5th time playing and I still haven't beaten him) can you post some tips.

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I was in the shower for quite awhile as I remember it, as I haven't taken one for a while and I had to wipe off the sweat build up from my face and body. As I walked out I put the towel around my waist and held it there tightly with my right hand, automatically seeing Baralai sitting down in a fake leather chair, his legs slightly crossed and his hands in his lap, his head tilted down and little strands of white hair falling to his face. Sometimes he really made me wonder about him. And not in a good way. But I shouldn't talk.

"Hey." I said bleakly, picking up another towel from off of the hospital bed with my free hand and drying my head with it, though still looking up at him. He lifted his head up and looked around for the owner of the voice, his eyes resting apon me as if I had awoken him out of a deep sleep. He nods slightly, turning his head back to the front and leaning back, putting his hands behind his head and uncrossing his legs.

I lowered the towel from my head and threw it back onto the bed, shaking my head glad that my long blond spikes were back on. it felt like I has going bald there for awhile without them. Like something was missing. I smirked a little and walked over to him, my other towel still the only thing that I had covering myself at the time and walked behind his chair, resting my hands on it and leaning forward. He eyed me closely as if he were paranoid about something, but I didn't mind.

"So. Where were you last night?" I asked suspiciously, my voice having a little hint of playfulness that it hasn't had for awhile.

Baralai narrowed his eyes, turning his head to look at me, leaning forward a bit and resting his elbows on his knees. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh. Nothing." I said shrugging, a little smile coming across my face, as I knew I was starting to annoy him. I know he doesn't like it when people get into his business, personal or not. I, on the other hand, don't really care. "Just that I knew the 'ever responsible' Baralai would wake me up, Al Bhed or not. You, unlike Nooj, don't care about other peoples differences or believes." I only added that part on to get on his good side. "So. Where were you?"

I grinned as he stood up from his chair and turned around to face me, rolling his eyes as he did so, and putting his hands behind his back.

"You, for one, shouldn't be talking about Nooj like that, or taking him lightly. I thought you would have learned that by now, but obviously you'd like to get hit again."

My mouth dropped open, as that was not the response that I wanted. I shook my head, my grip getting tighter and tighter on the back of the chair, and my eye narrowing.

"Was that a threat?"

Baralai nodded, taking a step to the side so that his body was positioned at an angle. I could see his hands balling into fists and his own eyes narrowing a little, though unlike me he remained calm.

"It could very well be." He said candidly looking me dead in the eye, though his voice was as calm as it always is.

"Then you tell him to bring it!" I shouted, pointing at Baralai then bringing my hand back to my chest. I knew I shouldn't have said that, but I was pissed off again. I swore that day. That one-day they would need me. Especially Nooj.

I tilted my head down though right after I said it, I didn't like the way that he was looking me in the eye. And my secret about only having one is already out. I hated not having both of. That's why I always wore my Al Bhed water Proof Goggles, even if they made me stand out as an Al Bhed.

Baralai shook his head and turned his back towards me, crossing his arms over his chest.

"No. I wont. Since I'm the caring sensible person that you described me as, I'll think twice. But same goes for you, Gipple. Next time you let your tongue slip, I will tell, and since you are what you are Kinoc will be harsher to you."

My mouth dropped open again and I looked up at him, glaring at him, half wondering how he even knew my name. How I wanted to run at him and punch him, then ransack the whole damn place, but I held my tongue from making anymore rude remarks, feeling lucky that the stupid tattletale didn't tell anyone.

"Frydajan." I mumbled rolling my eye and loosening up a bit, taking my hands off of the back of the chair.

"I suggest that you get dressed." Baralai said over his shoulder. "I don't know when Leblanc's going to get back."

I shook my head and laughed a little, dropping the towel that was wrapped around myself and taking a step closer to the end table that had my clothing on it. I picked up a pair of white tight underwear and instantly knew he didn't get these from my backpack.

Come on Baralai. Tighty whitetiess.

I had to force myself not to burst out laughing or else he would turn around and get flashed once again. I shook my head

"You mean Whitey's gone?"

I slid them on figuring that once I get back in my bunk I'd put on my boxer briefs instead of these things and picked up a pair of red pants with green/blue leg covers(what are those stupid things called??? Ahhh I cant remember!) from the pile. I nodded my head holding them up to myself to see if they would fit.

Perfect. Now we are talking.

"If you are talking about Leblanc, that's her real name and I don't think that she had any power over that."

I couldn't have sworn that I heard just I little hint of laughter in his voice as he said that. I shrugged, pulling on the pants and fastening them. To my surprise there were boots connected to the bottom on them. I smiled, keeling down to fasten the boots along with my pants, then stood back up again and jumped once to see how they felt.

Again. Perfect.

I turned back to face the end table and picked out a grey shirt with a slight purplish tint. I frowned a little at that.

"Cu, I don't care. I still don't like her."

I mumbled as I pulled the shirt over my head to try it on. The material was awesome. The color didn't even matter anymore.

"You can turn around now."

I said while putting on my fingerless gloves and fastening my belt. Baralai turned around and observed me as I turned around, nodding his head.

"I guess I got the right fit. Come on, lets get out of here. I have to tell you a few things."

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We walked along the now silent hallways; Baralai's hands behind his back and mine at my side. We were in deep conversation.

"So, what really did happen to me? You know, at the Shooting Range?" I asked

""Well, it was almost right after you had fallen to the ground unconscious."

"Wait. I fell to the ground. And I was unconscious." I interrupted in disbelief, shaking my head. "Did I get knocked out before or after I hit the ground?"

"I believe it was after."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Oh. Good."

I couldn't have lived with the fact of one of Nooj's hits knocking me out. Never

"You were on the ground unconscious." Baralai continued. "And I ran over to you to see if you were ok. I looked up at Nooj and he was just firing away at one of the targets, as if he didn't see you there. I knew he had done it, but I didn't put in any accusations. I stepped over you and walked to Nooj, and he turned his head to look at me. I asked him what had happened and he answered truthfully. I guess. I wasn't there myself, so I wouldn't know. "

He paused and turned to walk down a set of steps.

'There's one thing you have to know about Leblanc and Nooj though." He started suddenly, out of the blue. "He has always been faithful to Leblanc. No matter how many females that he is seen with." He shakes his head, pushing open a door and walking down the hallway on the other side of it, me falling close behind. "His heart may not be entirely true to her, like hers is to him, but they have always been there for each other."

He smiles turning his head to look at me, my face having a confused look on it. Wondering where the hell that came from. But deciding for the best not to ask. I put my right hand behind my head and start to play with the spiky strands. I don't know why, but I have always had that bad habit of playing with my hair when I'm embarrassed or confused about something.

"Its ok. I know you don't understand. But trust me, you will."

I nodded anyway, still not understanding what he meant and thinking that I may never.

Followed him as he walked through the door then suddenly stops and looked around, realizing that this is the same hallway that leads into the Shooting Range. I looked back to Baralai who was already halfway down the hallway.

"Where are we going?"

He turned around and gestured for me to follow him, a soft and trustable smile on his face. "Don't worry, I'm not taking you to Nooj. Plus, he's not down here."

I nodded and reluctantly followed him. He turned to the right into the opposite door of the Shooting Range, and I found myself in a dojo like area. The flooring was of tatami mats and the walls her light bamboo, with numerous weapons and deadly looking swords on shelves that were hung on the walls. I stopped at the entrance, my eye roaming around the area as if not believing what I was seeing. We couldn't still be inside of the Center.

Baralai must have noticed my shock because he stopped and turned around to face me, nodding again.

"Welcome to the Dojo." He said humbly, the bright smile still on his face.

And now kids, is a moment which I will NEVER forget, because this is the moment that I finally realized that old Baralai was human.

When he turned back around to look the place over for himself he suddenly stopped as if he had seen a ghost, his mouth slightly open.

I turned my head to see what he was looking at and was instantly hit with a lust for which I had never had before.

There, not even standing 30 feet from the two of us was a woman matching in around 5'8 with her black knee high double boots on, that hooked up to her tight black leather shorts. Arrays of silver, black, and an orange belt were over her shorts and two silver clasps that hold it together, her whole outfit revealing her lean build. A black shawl that was lined with silver mail was wrapped around her arms chest and back, tying together at her right breast with a silver cross. Her hair was short but only added to her stunning appearance. It was slightly wild gold tinted grey that was slicked back at the sides and tasseled on top, with semi-bangs flipped over her forehead at difference placesand her pale skin only complemented her whole gothic warrior look.

The gothic beauty turned around to reveal a cool expression on her face as she walked towards us, scanning our every move with her red/violate eyes as if waiting for one of us to mess up or stutter, taking pleasure out of having us stare at her apparel.

She stopped walking and stood about 3 feet away from us. even her stand was of a person who was domineering and confident in their abilities. She crossed her arms around her chest and looked at up for a minute, from Baralai, to me, then back to Baralai.

Then finally she extended a gloved hand to up both us both, her hand neither going to me nor Baralai, as if she was waiting for one of up to step up to her and shake it. daring us, her other hand on her placed apon her hip.

"The names Paine. Nice to meet you."

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I hope you liked! I give my thanks out to everyone who is reading this and reviewing, YOUR REVIEWS COUNT! Actually, reviews do make me want to go on because I know that someone likes my Fanfic. Ahh, I feel so loved! Thank you once again! kisses kisses! Well Please don't forget to Review, please! Thanks and well. See ya soon!

PS: Oh yea, and in case you were wondering, the chapter title together internally is the relationship between Nooj and Leblanc. ^_-