**Well well well, onto chapter 16, and I'm not even near halfway done...kinda pathetic, if you think about it. Anyway, I've noticed the chapters have been getting longer, closer to 2000 words rather than my previous average of 1500. You guys get 500 more words per chapter! Aren't I wonderful? ^_~;; Thanks go out to UA, Saito, all y'all who are reading (and reviewing too), the guy on AIM who makes me write more by bugging me (::takes the Sake jug and smacks him::), and everyone else, just because I feel like it. ^_^ Also, I have some pics of the characters up on my little art site (some of which spoil the plot a tad), which is at http://www.side7.com/art/ariwood/gallery.html . Lesse, what else...oh! FFX, etc, is © 2001 Squaresoft, and don't sue me--I have no money. ^_^;;; And on with the story! Ikimashou!**

Only a day later, Niet was up and about, Ben was hobbling along quite well on crutches, Yueh had progressed on her flute-fighting skills by at least ten-fold, and Arashi kept busy by tending to the others who needed her help.

"And the last is taken care of," Arashi announced with a weak smile. Patting the young girl she had just healed on the head, she stood slowly and exited what had been designated within the past day as the "healing hut." In other words, it was one of the few huts that had remained upright after the Chocobo Eater attack.

Yueh helped Arashi through the village. All the healing within the past 24 hours had made her rather weak, weaker than Arashi really wanted to admit. This was the first time she hadn't refused Yueh's help to get around.

At least no one died here, Yueh thought with a sigh. Too bad we hadn't been on the coast to help. Her mind occupied, she didn't notice Niet jog over, grinning so much it probably hurt. Yueh steadied Arashi before she even asked anything. "Why are you so happy?"

Niet giggled, but all Yueh saw was the bright red scar on her shoulder. It really was my fault...

"The villagers--they're giving us a gift!"

Arashi blinked, her glasses sliding down her nose. Taking her hand off from around Yueh's shoulders, she tried to stand herself up straight. "A gift?"

Niet continued laughing and began to tug Arashi towards the temple. "Come on, they want to show you two, too!" She gently pulled Arashi along, and Yueh followed close behind.

A gift? After this disaster?

Niet led them behind the temple, where at least half the village, including Kiri, Kihou, and Ben, were waiting. Beside them stood a small covered wagon, like the kind the old pioneers had used, with the exception that the cloth had been dyed a more pleasant light blue rather than the plain cream color the pioneers had most likely used. The other difference was what was hitched to the wagon.

"Chocobos?" Arashi stepped up to one of them and reached out a hand hesitantly. To her surprise, it leaned its beak into her hand and squealed happily. Smiling, she patted its beak lightly before turning to the villagers. "For us?"

"The wagon and supplies as well, Lady Arashi," Kihou explained, giving a bow. "The least we could do for your helping us out with the fiend's attack." Some of the villagers whooped and shouted excitedly. "And for all the healing you have done for us."

"Ben wouldn't have survived, if you hadn't been here," Kiri said, patting Ben on his bandaged head. He winced slightly, but tried to act tough.

"Ah, I woulda been fine," he said, leaning heavily on his crutches. Kiri gave him a look and he laughed nervously. "Uh, but still, you helped tremendously. Thanks." He gave a sharp nod, which it seemed to Yueh that he immediately regretted doing. Kiri gave a short giggle.

He wouldn't have fought if we hadn't been here. Yueh smiled along with Arashi and Niet. "Thank you very much. It will make travel much quicker." All three gave a bow. Arashi did so shakily, but managed to remain standing without anyone's help.

"I don't suppose you can stay for another day?" Kiri asked hopefully. Yueh shook her head.

"We must get going, I'm afraid." I don't want another disaster to happen. "The Calm awaits us." Yueh nearly grimaced. That sounded horribly cheesy.

"Then we wish you well, Lady Arashi and guardians," Kihou said. He gave a Yevon bow, as did everyone present (except Ben, who couldn't with his crutches in the way). Yueh and Niet helped Arashi into the back of the wagon, and Yueh hopped in with her. Niet took the front seat, deciding to try her hand at driving the wagon.

"And hup! Away we go!" Niet tapped the Chocobos with the reins and they started off at a light pace. As they left, Arashi and Yueh waved from the back of the wagon, the small town disappearing behind them.

Arashi decided to take a nap in the back, so Yueh took the map and sat up by Niet to help navigate. The map still had a flashing dot that corresponded to their current location, which, needless to say, was a great help. Yueh was busy trying to plot a course when she heard a shout behind her. She tapped Niet on the shoulder. "Stop the wagon."

"Huh?"

"Hey! Lady Arashi! Lady--Arashi!" Niet slowed the wagon to a halt and peeked around the edge of the wagon. She paused and didn't say a word until Yueh tapped her again.

"Who is it?"

Niet turned to Yueh, shaking her head and laughing. "Its Ben."

"Lady Arashi!" It was Ben, crutches tied to his back and riding a chocobo. He pulled up beside Niet and gave a sharp nod. "Niet, Yueh...where is Lady Arashi?"

Yueh went to peek into the wagon, but a loud snore confirmed her suspicions. "Sleeping." She neatly rolled up the map. "What's up, Ben? We forget something?"

"Nah. I, ah, I--" His face went bright red, and his chocobo moved slightly underneath him. "I wanted to come with. You know--I mean, you guys have to go to New Luca, right?"

Yueh snorted, trying to stop herself from laughing. She vaguely remembered a certain menu choice back on the save sphere at her house. "Don't tell me they have Blitzball?"

Ben's face somehow managed to turn an even brighter red. "Apparently, they do. I kinda wanted to watch, and I figured, 'Hey, might as well have company when I travel, right?' So, ah..." He gave a shrug then winced, laughing. "Here I am!"

"Why would anyone want to even watch that?" Niet asked rhetorically. "Its like the most boring sport I've ever heard of." She started up the chocobos again, still at a rather light pace. Ben's chocobo kept up, and he and Yueh continued conversing.

"There's apparently a tournament happening within the next week or two, and I'd really like to see Blitzball played out in real life." At Yueh's silence, he went on nervously. "I mean, you guys knew it was a game, too, right? After that whole Chocobo Eater fight thing and the conversation with the non-turn based battle system, I just assumed…"

"Oh, we knew it was a game and all." Yueh frowned. "It just…came to life, unfortunately." She let out a sigh and closed her eyes, listening to the quiet squeaking of the wagon as it moved along. "And we have to take care of it."

"So you'd better not slow us down," Niet informed him. Ben laughed.

"I know, I know. The whole pilgrimage thing." He waved a hand. "I won't. But, you know, I really wonder how Sin came here..."

"I'm sure it was just an accident," Yueh spilled out quickly. She unfurled the map once more and pulled it tight to stare at it. "Whatever brought it here, I'm sure will take it away just as quickly."

Ben went into a shocked silence. When he finally spoke, it was quiet and broken. "I--did I say something wrong? Is Ara--Lady Arash--" He sighed. "Can I call her Arashi? The whole Lady thing was only so Kihou and Kiri didn't yell at me."

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind," Yueh said curtly, still under the guise of studying the map. She pointed out the blinking dot to Niet and said, "We should turn left sometime soon, we're heading in the wrong direction." Niet took a glance at it and nodded.

Ben, feeling rather dejected, tried once more to spark up conversation. "So, where to next? Eventually Luca, yeah, but I mean, right now where are we headed to?"

"New Kilika." Wonder how Sin came here...how many others wonder? She gazed at the map, sighing. How many others are going to find out? Yueh finally rolled the map back up and tossed it in the wagon next to Arashi.

Ben coughed. "I'll just...ah...scout out ahead, how about that?" Yueh nodded vaguely, her mind still lost in thought. Ben nodded in return and went out about twenty feet ahead of the wagon.

"Now we have a tag along," Niet said, groaning.

"Only until New Luca," Yueh pointed out, staring off into the distance. She turned to Niet. "Besides, maybe it'll help to have someone else to talk to. Someone...outside of our situation."

"You mean someone who doesn't have any connection to the whole release of Sin deal?" Niet asked quietly, keeping her eyes on the road in front of her. Yueh winced, and Niet put her head down for a moment. "Sorry. You know what I mean. And besides, it really wasn't your fault."

"If I hadn't tried to summon Valefore, none of this would have happened, Niet." Yueh sighed once more. "None of this."

"You didn't know that summoning Valefore would bring all that with it," Niet reasoned. "Heck, if I found some stone that let me do that kind of stuff, I never would have thought that--"

"It doesn't matter." Yueh crawled into the wagon and moved some of the parcels around to make more space for herself. Amidst shuffling, she went on. "I'm taking a nap. Wake me up when we stop for the night."

Niet blinked. "But--"

"I'll take first watch." She pulled out a blanket and laid a few feet away from Arashi. "Night, Niet."

Niet shook her head with a chuckle. "Good night, Yueh."

*-*-*-*-*

"Lady Mariana, I've been meaning to ask you..."

Genki's voice cut through the night in the small inn room. Mariana opened her eyes and pushed away her loose brown hair from her face to stare at Genki from across the room. She sat up slowly, clutching her sheets to her chest.

"What is it, Genki?" You insufferable idiot?

Genki was not in his bed, but rather, he was pacing back and forth next to the bathroom door. He paused as he addressed her once more. "Lady Mariana, you never did tell me, what you say when you sleep, what it means." He crossed the room and sat on the bed that was currently unoccupied. "I would like to know."

So he finally got up enough courage to ask. Mariana threw her legs over the side of the bed so her toes grazed the wooden floor lightly. Glancing at Genki, she took a deep breath. "You'd like to know?"

Genki's eyelids fluttered. "Uh, y-yeah, yes," he stuttered. Mariana took another deep breath.

"My story..." She let out a sharp chuckle, a laugh without happiness. "This is my story, then, is it?" She let the sheet drop from her chest and straightened out her silk nightgown. "My story…"

Genki coughed lightly, trying to keep his eyes on Mariana's face. "Y-yes, my Lady."

She smiled sadly, for the first time seeming to have some weakness, some sort of soul behind her coldness. "I'll tell you my story, Genki. But, not tonight." She turned away from Genki and pulled the covers back up over her as she lay down again. "I promise, Genki. Tomorrow, on the road, we'll talk." Closing her eyes and shutting back tears, she whispered, "Tomorrow."

Genki's eyes flashed in the night, but he finally released a breath and lay down himself on the other bed.

"Tomorrow…right."