4

"You called?" Paine said as she walked towards Gippal and Nooj, who were sitting towards the furthest edge of the main hall, "Well, I came," She held her arms out to the sides as she walked.

"Looking good as always, Paine," Gippal said, grinning.

Paine scowled, "Go tell it to Rikku," She said angrily, "Not me."

Gippal held his hands up sarcastically, turning his head away from her. Had Rikku told Paine of what happened? He frowned for a moment, and then looked back at the woman in black before him. He let his hands drop to his hips.

"Look, we need you to talk to Baralai for us," Gippal said, sighing.

"What?" Paine asked, "Why? Why can't you?"

Gippal opened his mouth to reply, but Nooj cut him off, slapping him in the back of the head. Paine smirked for a moment and looked at the Youth League leader.

"Gippal decided to beat upon Baralai," He said dryly. He shot a look at Gippal, "Which is low, even for your standards, Gippal," The corners of his lips twitched upwards to form a small smile, though it disappeared quickly as he looked back at Paine, "We can't talk to him because he's being really weird," He shrugged, "We figured you might due to… past experiences."

Paine raised an eyebrow, "Past experiences?" She asked, a chuckle in her voice, "What do you mean by that?"

Gippal opened his mouth once more, only to be slapped in the back of the head once more. His lip twitched, looking over his shoulder at Nooj. He scowled for a moment before continuing anyway.

"You and Baralai had-" Gippal started to say before being slapped in the back of the head again, only with a lot more strength, "Dammit, would you STOP!"

"So, would you just go talk to him?" Nooj asked, looking away from Gippal.

Paine shrugged, and then nodded, "Why not," She said, "I've nothing better to do."

"Good," Nooj replied, "There's an airship to take you the Bevelle."

She nodded, and turned, leaving their presence without a word. She walked to the front of the Youth League headquarters, finding a nice sized airship before her. A small smile appeared at the corners of her lips, walking towards the black painted ship. She walked inside it and it took off right away.

Baralai stood under the showerhead, freezing cold water pounding against his closed eyes. He was shivering, yet it didn't seem to faze him; he didn't even seem to notice how cold the water was. He was mumbling under his breath so quickly that he barely even caught what he was saying. He blew water from his mouth, opening his eyes to have them pounded with water. He blinked the cold water from his eyes, turning around. He blinked. There was someone in the bathroom with him. Was that… Paine? His hands dropped to his groin, covering himself from the woman's wandering gaze. He reached over, turning off the spray of cold water.

"Paine?" Baralai asked, staring at her through the glass shower door.

"The one and only," She replied and walked to the shower door. She opened it, chucking a white towel at him, "The least you could do is cover yourself."

Baralai nodded, catching the towel with one hand. He turned away from Paine, wrapping the towel around his waist, and then turned back around to face her. He could feel the heat in his cheeks from blushing. Paine saw this, causing her to smirk at him. The praetor walked from the shower to Paine. He stood right in front of her, feeling the heat of his cheeks start to cool down. He smiled at her for a moment, and then turned his back to her.

"You could have knocked, you know," Baralai said, chuckling. He was joking, and Paine knew that.

"Oh, but I did," She replied, smirking, "You didn't answer."

He frowned, turning to face her again. He looked her up and down for a moment before walking towards her. He wrapped his arms around her, embracing her tightly. Paine gasped, surprised by his sudden act of affection. She held her arms down at her sides, doing nothing to return the embrace. Baralai held her like that for a few moments, feeling like years for Paine. He let his hands drop, running his hands across her lower back as her did. He stared at Paine for a while longer, then walked past her without a word and to his room. Paine turned, watching him walk away. She could hear her pulse in her ears. She smiled, walking out of the room after him.

Baralai wasn't in the room when she entered after him. Paine looked around the room before catching sight of a slightly ajar closet door. She nodded, figuring that was where he ran off. She walked to the bed, sitting down on the edge of it. She ran her hands over the green silky covers, a small smile on her face. She lay back, closing her eyes. Paine felt someone sit next to her, yet didn't open her eyes. A hand was rested on her stomach. She opened her crimson eyes, finding Baralai sitting next to her. He was wearing loose dark green pants and no shirt. He had taken off his blue headband so his hair fell in his face. He smiled at her like he always did. Paine saw nothing odd in him, he seemed like Baralai to her.

"Why are you here?" Baralai asked, a small smile still playing on his lips.

Paine shrugged, not answering his question. She looked away from him, staring out across the room. She felt his soft hand against he cheek, pushing against it gently so she would look at him. His face was inches from hers. He stared into her eyes, looking back and forth between them. He asked again. Paine's eyebrows furrowed, her eyes darting away from him. She couldn't help but look back at him though. She blinked slowly.

"Nooj and Gippal are worried about you," Paine said quietly, "They wanted me to talk to you and see what's wrong," Baralai started to pull back, "But I see nothing weird about you."

He smiled and lay back so he was lying next to Paine, his feet touching the floor at the end of the bed. He looked over at her for a moment, and then moved his eyes to look at the ceiling. He frowned for a moment and then looked back at Paine.

"Are you sure?" Baralai asked, causing Paine's eyebrows to furrow.

"Sure of what?" She replied, though she already figured what he was going to say next.

"Are you sure there's nothing wrong with me?" He said, making his question clearer, "Because I'm not so sure myself."

Paine stared at him in wonderment, "Why do you say that?" She asked, now looking at the ceiling along with Baralai.

He shrugged, and moved to look back at Paine, "I just," He bit the inside of his lip, pushing his hair from his eyes, "I just feel different then I used to," His eyes narrowed, looking away from her again, "And I see visions of what Shuyin forced me to do and of what he made me do," Baralai's hand balled into a fist, "I don't know why I couldn't force myself to fight against him," He clenched his teeth together, "That bastard controlled me like a puppet and now I have to live with what he forced me to do." He sighed, "I just see flashbacks over and over of what I did and what he did…"

Paine nodded, though didn't say anything for the moment. She looked over at him for a moment, then back at the ceiling, then back at Baralai. She reached over, touching his chest with one of her hands. He looked over at her, a small smile on his face.

"It's only natural," She said quietly, "That happened only a few months ago; you don't really expect to have gotten over it by now, do you?"

Baralai nodded, "I see your point," He said, and then said nothing else.

He looked at Paine for a while longer, reaching up to touch her hair. He smiled at her and rolled over onto his stomach. Baralai put his head in arms, staring at his pillows and headboard. A very small smile still played on his lips. He looked over at Paine for a moment, she didn't notice he had though; she had her eyes closed. He moved closer to her, supporting his weight on his elbows. He put his nose mere inches from hers.

"I missed you, Paine," Baralai whispered.

Paine opened her mouth to reply, only to be cut off by Baralai's mouth on hers. Her eyes snapped open and tried to push him away, yet couldn't. She tried in vain, and eventually gave in. She relaxed, closing her eyes. They stayed like that for a few moments before Baralai pulled back. He looked away from her and out the windows over his headboard.

"Sorry…" He whispered and stood. He ran a hand down his tanned chest, his eyes narrowed, "I'm very sorry…"

Paine shook her head, sitting up. She stood as well, walking over to Baralai. She stood before him for a moment before wrapping her arms around his neck. She had no idea why she was doing this; it wasn't something normal for her. Paine smiled at him, pressing her lips against his. She missed him as well, only just realizing it.

Paine awoke the next morning, her pants on, yet missing her top. Her eyebrows furrowed, taking her a moment to remember where she was. She looked to her left, seeing the still topless Baralai next to her. He was sleeping peacefully, looking very untroubled. She smiled, kissing him gently on the lips to awaken him. His eyebrows furrowed, then his eyes opened. Baralai smiled at her, running the back of his fingers down her cheek.

"What time is it?" Baralai asked, his voice slight hoarse.

Paine shrugged, "I don't know where a clock is," She replied.

He nodded, looking over his shoulder. 11:45. He looked back at Paine, kissing her again. She smiled at him, running her hand over his hair. Baralai closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. He looked at Paine.

"When do you think you should be getting back to Nooj and…" He scowled, not saying Gippal's name.

Paine thought for a moment, "Probably sooner then later," She said and started to rise. Baralai grabbed her wrist, shaking his head, "I'll be back," She said and kissed him on the forehead, "Don't worry."

Baralai frowned, not wanting her to leave yet. He pulled her close to him, kissing her again. He ran his hand down the back of her hair and then down her back, not wanting breaking the kiss. Paine smiled, pulling back from him. He pulled her closer though, running a hand down her bare back. He kissed her once more, moving his hand up her back. He held his hand against the back of her head, running his fingers through her hair. He smiled, moving to kiss her again.

"Baralai," Paine whispered after breaking away from the kiss. She hand her arms wrapped around him, embracing him tightly, "I have to go."

She pushed him away, bending over to pick up her top. She pulled her red suspenders over her shoulders, and then pulled the top over her head. She walked over to Baralai, kissing him softly on the lips. She smiled at him for a moment before walking to the door, picking up her boots as she passed them. Paine opened the door to his room, looking over her shoulder at him. She nodded at him, walking out the door.

"We asked you to talk to him, not sleep with him," Gippal said with obvious laughter in his voice. He became serious suddenly, "What'd you find out?"

Paine stared at Gippal for a moment, "After a comment like that, I don't think I should tell you," She crossed her arms in front of her chest, "Plus I didn't sleep with him."

"Ignore the sand monkey," Nooj said, "Just tell me what's up with Baralai, please."

She nodded, "He said that he has visions of what he did when Shuyin was controlling him," She started, "And what could have happened. Nightmares in general," She shrugged, "He's not in a very good place right now."

Nooj nodded, "If you want to go back to him and make sure he'll be fine, then you can," He said, knowing that she would return to Baralai anyway.

Paine nodded, "I do believe that I will."

Gippal and Nooj watched her leave through the doors. Gippal looked over at Nooj, clicking his tongue as he shook his head.

"You're just begging to have her do something stupid," Gippal said, stretching.

"She's smarter then you are," Nooj replied, "So give her a little credit…"

Paine made her way back to Baralai's bedroom. She stood before the door, leaning against the wall. She lifted her hand up, knocking upon the door. There was no answer. She knocked again, waited, and again no answer. She turned the handle pushing the door open. Paine's eyes darted about the room, and saw no one. She frowned, walking to the end of the bed. She put her hands on her hips, eyes narrowing. She had no idea where he was. She frowned and started towards the door once more. She was gone for maybe two hours, why would he have disappeared?

Paine exited the room, in a slightly worsened mood from when she entered it. She pushed her bangs from her red eyes, looking up from the floor she stared at as she walked. There was a woman walking towards her, a slightly frightened expression etched in her beautiful features.

"Are you lady Paine?" She asked, hands clasped in front of her chest. She bowed slightly, as a respecting greeting.

Paine nodded, "Yes."

"Mister Baralai told me that if I were to run into Lady Paine I was to tell her to stay here until he returned," She said, looking at Paine through her blonde bangs pitifully, "So… could you stay to his bedroom until he comes back?"

Paine's eyebrows furrowed, "No," She said firmly, "But if there's a different room I could stay in, that would be fine."

The blonde woman blinked, slightly surprised by the request, "I suppose you could sit in the main hall," She said quietly, "But I don't see-"

"Good," Paine interrupted, "Lead me there."

Paine wasn't Baralai's whore, and didn't seem or appear to be so. Staying in his room until he returned was far beyond her. She had more self-respect and dignity then to stoop that low. She stared at back of the woman's head, pondering if she saw her as Baralai's bitch. Paine tilted her head to the side and then sighed. It didn't matter anyway.

Some touched her shoulder, pulling her back around. She was embraced tightly, and then Baralai's lips met hers. She smiled amidst the kiss, causing Baralai to pull away. His eyebrow rose, a small smile on his face. Paine looked him up and down, noticing that he had put on a tight white tank top like shirt. His hands were now behind his back, causing a slight smile to form at the corners of her lips. Baralai noticed her looking, and moved towards her. He pulled a small bouquet red and dark purple flowers from behind his back, handing them to Paine. She laughed almost nervously, taking them from him. She looked from the flowers to him, a small smile on her face.

"You know I'm not one for flowers, right?" Paine asked, holding them closed to her chest.

Baralai nodded, "Yes, but it's the thought that counts, I suppose."

Paine nodded, holding them closer to her face so she could smell them without making it look obvious. She let her hand drop and held the flowers at her hip. She looked from the floor to Baralai. He smiled, walking over to her. He hugged her, and then started to lead her back to his room. Once there, Paine set the flowers the flowers on a small shelf next to a good-sized group of books. She looked back at Baralai, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"Baralai…" Paine said quietly, almost evilly in fact.

She advanced on him, her hips swaying in a seductive manner as she did. She wrapped her arms loosely around Baralai's neck, lifting her leg up ever so slightly. He moved to kiss her, but she pulled back. She started to walk away, but stopped, turning. She pushed him backwards, his eyes widening as he fell back onto his bed. She was on him in seconds…