8

"Baralai… Baralai…" A familiar voice said to the Praetor, causing him to look up. There was no one. His eyes narrowed, turning in a circle. He seemed to be in… the Far Plane! Baralai shook his head, turning in a circle in the brightly colored flowers. He had been there before, but not in the correct state of mind. The voice called his name again.

"Where are you?" Baralai asked, his voice shaking slightly. That voice sounded so familiar, he just couldn't place it.

There was the sound of steps behind him, causing him to turn. Is eyes widened in shock and horror. Baralai took a few steps backwards, shaking his head. He tripped, falling backwards. Before him stood Shuyin.

"No…" Baralai whispered hoarsely.

A grin split across Shuyin's face, his features brightening with enjoyment, "And I was afraid you'd forgotten about me!"

Baralai stared at the man in horror, too shocked to say anything. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. That couldn't be right; this man was dead and with Lenne. He was dreaming… he was dreaming… he was… dreaming.

"Hey, Baralai," Shuyin said, walking towards the man on the ground. He snapped his fingers, catching Baralai's attention, "Look, I need to talk to you."

Baralai shook his head, opening his mouth to speak, but couldn't find his voice. He shook his head again, crawling backwards. His legs were weak.

"Come now," Shuyin said, sighing, "I won't do anything to you, but I need to talk with you," He sat down next to Baralai, looking over at him, "But, seriously, I need to talk with you."

Baralai gulped and nodded, "Fi… fine," He whispered his voice was incredibly dry and quiet, "If we must…"

The other man laughed, looking up at the "sky" of the Far Plane. He looked at Baralai for a moment and then fell back, letting his head rest it the flowers. He sighed happily before sitting back up, letting his weight rest on his hands. Shuyin looked back at the Praetor. He nodded, taking in a breath.

"You seem to be…" His eyes narrowed, "Spineless," Baralai opened his mouth to protest, but Shuyin held up his hand, silencing him, "It seems to me that without my help you can't defend yourself. Didn't you notice that your little girlfriend was helping Nooj and what's his name?" Baralai nodded, "Did you do anything? No. You didn't even kinda sorta punish her," He sighed, "But I can understand if your in love or something," He grinned to himself, looking back up at the sky. He looked back at Baralai, "Look, do you plan on doing anything to get back at these guys?"

Baralai nodded, "Yes."

"What? Kick their puppies or something?" He laughed, "I don't think that will really phase them for much longer then a few seconds, sorry," Baralai's glared at the ground, biting the inside of his lip to keep from talking, "I think you should 'kick' something much more dear to them," Shuyin smiled, "Though it's just an idea."

"I have my plans, but thank you," Baralai said bitterly, picking at a flower on the ground.

Shuyin stood, dusting off his pants. He looked down at Baralai, giving him a hand up. He stared at his once host for a moment before nodding. He grinned and started to walk away.

"Remember, if you need help just call for me," He looked over his shoulder as he started to fade, "Okay?"

………………………………

"Fuck!" Baralai said loudly, sitting up in bed.

He brought his knees up, resting his head in his hands. He was sweating and terribly warm, but he didn't seem to realize or care. Baralai actually felt rather cool. He brought his hand to his face, rubbing his temples with his thumb and index finger. He felt Paine's hand on his bare back.

"Are you alright?" She asked, now sitting up next to him, rubbing his back lightly.

Baralai took a deep breath through his nose, nodding. He looked over at Paine, giving a small, slightly comforting smile. He leaned over to her, wrapping his arms around her bare body. He pressed his lips against her naked shoulder, closing his eyes. He nodded again, becoming quite comfortable with Paine in his arms. She smiled, leaning her head on top of his. Baralai pushed against her, causing them to fall back against the mass of pillows behind them. He threw an arm across her bare chest, moving up to her face. He kissed her gently.

"Thank you for caring," He said with a slight chuckle in his tone.

"Yes, whatever," Paine said groggily rolling over, "Go back to sleep."

Baralai grinned, rolling over as well. He stared at the wall on the other side of the room for a moment, his eyes starting to close against his will. He gave in, falling asleep within moments.

………………………………

"Baralai!" Paine said, awaking him from his sleep a few hours later. He didn't respond, "Jeeze, Baralai, get up!"

Normally Paine wasn't so persistent about something so Baralai opened his eyes slowly. Sunlight flooded into them, causing him to throw his hand over his face. He stayed like that for a few moments before removing his hand to look at Paine. He stared at Paine, who was straddling his stomach. She leaned forward, placing her elbows down right below his neck, holding a rectangular paper inches from his eyes. Baralai blinked, focusing in on the words.

"Halloween party," Paine informed him before he was given the chance to read the words, "It's an invitation."

"Thank you, Paine," He replied with a slight tinge of sarcasm. He was tired; that dream took a surprising bit out of him.

Paine frowned, placing the invitation to the side. She stared down at him, putting her chin in her hands. She sighed, rolling over to get of him. She picked up the invitation, staring down at it. On it was a beautifully drawn picture of a vampire and a human. Both were dressed in grand clothes that would have been seen years ago. He held her in a lustfully tight embrace, yet she did nothing to return it. Paine looked over it, a slight smirk on her mouth as she realized that that girl he was embracing was dead. In her neck were two bleed puncture wounds. Bite marks. She smiled, placing the invitation to the side once more and staring down at Baralai again. He had closed his eyes, and his back was turned to her.

"Baralai," Paine said quietly, "It's two in the afternoon; do you plan on getting up?"

The praetor's eyes opened, but he didn't roll over. He took in a deep breath, looking over his shoulder. He gave Paine a reassuring smile, rolling over so he could face her. He sat up, grabbing the invitation from the bed. He stared at it, a small smile lingered on his lips. Ajina did quite the job on the invitations. She could really draw. He looked back up at Paine and nodded.

"What is the date today?" Baralai asked, handing the invitation to Paine.

"The 20th," She replied, moving to get off the bed.

Baralai grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to him. He held Paine close to him, closing his eyes again. She complied for a few moments, letting him hold her before she became bored. She pushed at his arm, yet didn't move it. She rolled over to face him. He grinned at her/.

"I guess we should figure out our costumes then, yes?" He said, kissing her on the forehead.

Paine smiled at him, nodding. She kissed, and then pushed his arm from off her. She jumped from the bed and walked quickly to the bedroom door. She stood inside the doorway, holding onto the doorframe.

"See you in a little while then?" She asked, a smile still playing on her lips.

Baralai nodded, smiling and waving her off. Paine left the praetor's presence with a nod, closing the door behind her. He closed his eyes again, letting his head fall back against the pillows behind him. He rolled over onto his side, grumbling under his breath. He really did not want to go to this party, even though he had planned it. He didn't want to see Gippal and Nooj again, for they had last seen each other in a not so bright note. He had his plans though and he had to play them out.

"Damn…" Baralai said with a sigh as he sat up.

He knew what would happen next. He would have to get dressed. Then he would face Paine. She would drag him out of his house and then out of the New Yevon headquarters. And then after that they would go to some costume shop and pick out whatever the hell they were to wear.

The praetor swung his legs over the edge of the bed, staring down at the floor. He cursed under his breath again and stood up, the light green sheets sliding off his bare body. Baralai stumbled sleepily to the closest, opening the door. He stared inside for a moment before grabbing some tight dark green t-shirt off a shelf. He threw it across the room to the bed and then grabbed so black jeans from a different shelf.

Baralai then walked to the bathroom. He opened the door and walked to the pedestal sink. He leaned against it, supporting his weight with his hands as he stared groggily into his reflection. He chuckled angrily, turning on the tap with out looking down at it. He cupped his hands filling them with the cold water. He looked down, but something in the reflection of the mirror caught his eye. The praetor looked up quickly. There was nothing… He could have sworn he saw Shuyin though! He shook his head, splashing the water on his face as if that would clear his eyes. Baralai looked back up into the mirror, staring hard at it. There was still nothing. He chuckled and started to walk out of the bathroom, only stopping to dry his face with a hand towel.

He walked to the bed. He reached down, picking up the green shirt. He pulled it over his head. Baralai stretched for a moment before reaching down to pick up the black, somewhat baggy jeans. He pulled them over his bare behind. They sat low on his hips, being that they seemed to be a size or two too large. He ran his hands through his white hair, pushing it out of his eyes in the process. He started towards the door, picking up some sandals as he passed them.

"Here we go…" Baralai whispered.

He knew he'd have to face people now, and he was starting to deeply dislike people. They blamed him for the could-have-been death of Spira. They gave him dirty looks everywhere he went. He wondered though. He wondered how the hell they knew it was him. Baralai figured it must have been that was the first of the leaders to disappear. Maybe they glared at all of the faction's leaders; they had disappeared in the time that they were most needed. He shook his head, these people didn't understand. His own faction barely understood. He looked up, seeing Paine. He smiled; at least he had her and she understood almost completely.

………………………………

Paine walked hesitantly from behind the purple curtain. Baralai had his back to the door, staring absentmindedly at the wall before him. He had already picked out and tried on the costume he wanted. He was to be a Victorian gentleman, with a tailed coat and everything. Paine made a small nervous noise to catch his attention. Baralai turned his mouth dropping as he laid eyes upon her.

Before him, Paine stood in a beautiful Victorian dress. He saw when it shopkeeper picked it out, but he had no idea it was so gorgeous. It was a corset on the top, the lining red as the dress itself was black; there was black ribbon lace tying the top. The dress was a large, flowing hoop shirt, keeping its shape by metal wires beneath the cloth like the old dresses had. She had a black lace choker and gloves. She looked at the floor, blushing slightly with a nervous smile on her face.

Baralai stood, dropping his costume on the chair as he walked past it and towards Paine. He stood inches in front of her, holding his hands next to, but not touching, her waist. She looked up at him, the smile disappearing from her lips.

"How does it look?" She asked; a sarcastic tone was in her voice.

Baralai was silent for a moment before replied, "Beautiful," He said quietly in return in all seriousness. He moved to kiss her, yet there was a noise behind them. Baralai turned, a look of anger etched across his features.

The store own stood in the door way with the curtain drawn back. His hands were placed on his hips, on leg supporting his weight slightly more then the other. He sighed over dramatically as he walked over to them.

"Look," He said, "I don't need you two making out in my dressing room," He sighed again, picking up Baralai's costume and shoving it at the praetor's chest. He took the clothes from the shop keeper, staring at him in shock. The man pursed his lips, "Not to mention there are customers waiting to use the dressing room as well!"

He waved his hands towards the door, pushing the two of them out. Paine stopped, putting the hand on the man's chest. She pushed him back slightly.

"I need to change back into my clothes," She pushed him again, "So back the fuck off."

The shop keeper stared Paine as she pushed past him. He looked back at Baralai and waved his hands towards the door again, pushing him towards it. He smiled at the white haired man, placing his hand on Baralai's behind. His smile widened.

"I don't think you need to be in here," He said, his voice smooth, "She's just getting changed, I'm sure she can manage."

Baralai stared at the shop keeper in disgust, "Would you like me to buy this?" He asked, holding up the neatly folded costume. The other man nodded, "The remove your hand… please."

The man moved his hand, holding them in the air. He lips tightened, walking from Baralai to the other costumers. They others stared at the praetor, their expressions darkening. He frowned, looking away from the couple. And he thought he could get through a trip without the glares. Baralai chuckled darkened; like hell he'd be able to.