Under a sky of dust Chapter 3: In the sand, a final fantasy x-2 fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. Square Enix..you don't know how lucky you are.

Udonluvr7: Aww thank you very much for the compliment!

Koko Kung: Nah, Baralai didn't bleed to death, and I except the pokes. If your still around, I hope you enjoy this (very very late) chapter.

Note: I know I've been neglecting this fic, shame on me. If you feel the need to hit me, please do so!

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Chapter 3: In the sand

They had been walking for what seemed like days. A few t never helped much either. At one point he called out to Nooj "Are we there yet?" and Nooj had turned and given him such a look Gippal had thought he would come down and crack his cheekbone with the end of his rifle. He wouldn't have put it passed him either, he made Gippal nervous as hell, though he would never admit it in a million years. He'd been so notorious in the Crusaders that even Gippal had heard of him. And that was an achievement, considering Gippal had spent his whole life in the desert.

Baralai had just cracked a cute smile at the look on Nooj's face. Nooj and Paine were quite a way ahead, Gippal could have been up there with them, but he was pretty sure that Baralai would pass out at any time. Weather he would pass out because of the fever which seemed to be getting worse by the minute, or by blood loss was anyone's guess.

"I hate Nooj sometimes. Actually, screw the 'sometimes' part, I hate Nooj, period." Gippal stated. Baralai smiled despite himself.

"He must be doing something right, otherwise he wouldn't be here. He was in the Crusaders you know." Baralai added.

"Yeah well, I think he hates me. Probably doesn't like the Al Bhed. It wouldn't surprise me. Most people don't."

"I don't hate you. I like you." This did surprise Gippal.

If he was going to be completely honest he hadn't expected to make many friends in the Crimson squad. Most of the people he had met so far had disliked him purely for the fact that he was an Al Bhed. He had seen the looks he got, and how they all seemed to be giggling and whispering to one another when he was around.

What surprised him even more was the fact that a Yevonite had befriended him. It was the last thing he had expected. When Gippal had first met his team members he had expected Baralai, who was quite obviously a follower of Yevon, to hate him, and yet he had been one of the few people who hadn't been judgmental towards him. Paine, although she didn't talk to anyone, didn't seem to have a problem with him. He could even stretch to say the same for Nooj; he tolerated him at least. He'd liked to have called Baralai his friend, even though they couldn't be more different. He wasn't sure what Baralai would say to that though. Gippal was just thankful he hadn't been put on a team with a bunch of Al Bhed haters.

How long had he been stuck in his own thoughts? He looked at Baralai who was watching him expectantly.

"Are you ok?" he asked breathlessly. He didn't sound too good at all.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry...I was just thinking."Argh, how embarrassing. He felt his cheeks heating up. "I was just thinking, out of all the people who could have been nice to me, I didn't expect it would be you. You're from Bevelle right?

"Right" Baralai replied, eyes imporing."So?"

Gippal raised an eyebrow. "Well don't you follow Yevon? Surely, you should have something against the Al Bhed." He watched for an answer, while Baralai kept his eyes forward.

"Yes, I follow Yevon. But that doesn't mean I have to hate you, or that I have something against you-"

Nooj turned round then,"You two should keep it down. Your being far too loud, and we don't want to attract unwanted attention." Nooj shook he head, as thought he was dealing with unruly children, and resumed walking.

"Yes Sir." Gippal replied sarcastically, but quietly enough that Nooj didn't hear him. Baralai stifled a giggle. Paine, who had stopped when Nooj did, turned then as well and continued filming. She either hadn't heard the little remark or was letting it drop. Baralai looked at Gippal and Gippal scowled.

"He hates me. He has it in for me, I can tell." Baralai smiled through the fever, his arm bumped Gippal's. "By the way, thanks for sticking up for me when I was hit. I think Nooj would have dragged me across the desert if it wasn't for you." Baralai met Gippal's eye, and he smiled back. "No problem. That's what friends do."

They hadn't spoken for a while, mostly for fear of Nooj turning around again and telling them to shut the hell up. He stalked ahead, as if in a silent rage. Paine followed obediently, seemingly unaware of the little black rain cloud which followed Nooj everywhere. She occasionally looked over her shoulder at the other too, concern painted her pale features. Probably because of Baralai's condition. But she didn't slow down and wait for them, for the same reason that Baralai and Gippal didn't talk to each other.

Baralai had been staring at Gippal for a while now as they walked, he didn't really know why. He was just...unusual to look at. He hadn't seen an Al Bhed before. It confused him, how all these soldiers on the Crimson Squad could hold so much against him, even though they had never seen him before and had probably never seen an Al Bhed in their lives. Baralai saw it the other way. The Al Bhed fascinated him. He had heard through his whole life about how the Al Bhed had refused Yevon's teachings, how it was their fault that Sin existed in the first place. Because they continued to use Machina. They were outcasts, and here were the very people who considered Machina to be evil, using it as though it was their nature.

Nobody had ever told Baralai how similar the Al Bhed were to everyone else in Spira, they were made to sound barbaric sometimes. But they cared about others and they cared about what happened to Spira. Why else would Gippal be here? He smiled at the thought, being on the same team as Gippal didn't disgust him, he wasn't disgusted at the thought of having him as a friend. He felt lucky to have such a friend.

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I have no idea where this is going, so don't ask. Its just...happening.

So, tell me what you think!