Disclaimer: I don't own Xenosaga; this applies to the rest of the story.

Chapter XVI: Beautiful Things


Miltian Secondary

Gaignun had finally worked up the nerve to ask Momo on a date that afternoon. She gladly accepted as predicted. Jr. and Sakura were observing the amusing scene before them. They constantly had to hush each other from their excitement while they were hiding in the bush. Gaignun would kill them if he found out the little sneaks were spying.

"So…ah…Momo remember our date?" He managed to stumble out.

"I'm sorry Gaignun. I've almost forgot. Thank you for reminding me." She blushed slightly in embarrassment.

At first, resentment for Albedo swept his mind, but then left when he saw Momo's genuine honesty…and cuteness.

"It's alright. C'mon I know a cool café to hang out at."

Momo nodded then something jogged her memory. Hmm…this seems familiar. Didn't Albedo ask me the same thing?

xXx

Moby Dick's Café

It happened to be the same place that Albedo took Momo to before. However, she did not point this out since he pleaded her not to tell anybody not even Sakura. At least not for a while. Although Momo didn't understand why, she decided to respect his wishes. Albedo actually had a hunch that his brothers—or rather Gaignun—might get jealous.

"This place might look up-to-date on the outside but it's old-fashioned in the inside. Though it makes it cozier, don't you think?" Gaignun asked as they arrived.

"Yup, it sure does. Especially the wooden walls." Momo involuntary answered.

"How do you know about this place?" He inquired.

"Oh! Um…" Whoopsy, I forgot. "I read it in the Second Miltian tourist attraction guide."

"Really? This place is pretty well hidden. Normally people tend to swarm the burger place." Gaignun said referring to the restaurant in the first sector.

"With all the neon lights it's hard to miss." Momo stated.

"You're right on that."

"GOSH! Would they hurry up! Where's the romance?" A male voice whined followed by a grunt. It sounded as if the person was elbowed in the stomach.

"Who was that?" Gaignun questioned. The voice sounded quite familiar like—

"It sounded like it was coming from that bush." Momo said staring suspiciously at the bush.

"Hush Rubedo! Or we'll get caught!" A female voice hissed.

Just as Momo was about to scan the bush for life forms, the door of the café opened to reveal a young woman.

"Momo and Gaignun? What a pleasant surprise." The brunette greeted.

"Ms. Uzuki!" Gaignun exclaimed.

"Hello to you too, Gaignun. But please, call me Shion in public. Ms. Uzuki makes me feel old. Anyway, I work part-time at Moby Dick's."

"Hi Shion." Momo chirped.

"Hey Momo. You came a few days ago with Albedo, correct?"

Momo felt Gaignun's questioning gaze bore into her back.

"Yes, Shion. Erm, but just to see the sights." She half-lied.

Shion guessed Momo was lying from her avoided gaze but played along. "That's nice of him. You're new to Second Miltia, right?"

Momo nodded in agreement. "I used to live in Fifth Jerusalem."

"Well would you two like to come in?" Shion asked politely.

"Certainly." The two said in unison.

xXx

"Three bowls of my secret recipe please." Shion requested. She sat on the opposite side of the table across from Gaignun and Momo.

"Secret recipe?" Gaignun said.

"Oh the secret recipe is my famous curry." Shion clarified.

"It's very delicious believe me Gaignun." Momo enthused.

"I'll bet."

Unnoticed by them the door opened a creak, allowing two shadowed figures to creep in. However, as the door closed the bell hooked to it chimed, signaling new customers.

"It looks like we have new guests." Shion said and excused herself to greet them but when she got to the door, nobody was there.

"Hmm…nevermind. It must've been the wind or something. I probably have to get the old thing fixed." Shion said. Then she noticed a large package that was not there before.

"Oh the mailman." She said then attempted to lift the box. "My, it is heavy. Mind giving me a hand?" Gaignun and Momo helped hoist the 160-pound parcel to the dining area.

"It says," Momo began, reading the fine print on the label, "Product: Shion Uzuki's First-class Curry. From: Moby Dick's café, second sector. To: Miltia Market, third sector. Delivery Date: September 14th. Arrival Date: September 15th. Condition: Good. Problems: Negative."

"That's weird. Then why are they sending it back to us?" Shion wondered, looking at the package warily.

"Three bowls of steamin' hot curry comin' up." Boss called serving the food with water.

"Eh, no matter." Shion said. "I'll eat first worry later." However she took one last look at the box. She thought she heard a sigh of relief from it.

Gaignun ate politely but at a quickened pace. Shion laughed, "You like it?"

"Yes. It's quite tasty, Ms.—er—Shion."

"Yup. It's very yummy. How do you make it?" Momo asked.

"Uh-uh. Sorry, dear but I can't tell. That's why it's called a secret recipe." Shion said.

"I guess that makes sense."

The box suddenly began to shift, bickering noise could be heard from within.

'This is booooooorrrrrriiiiinnnnggg. I want to go home.'

'Nothing interesting has happened yet. So much for your idea."

"Hey at least I came up with something!'

'Or maybe it's Nigredo. He's a bit quiet…no offense.'

'You're right. He's so dense. I wonder if Albedo did any better than him.'

When Shion, Momo, and Gaignun were about to react, a second ring came from the door signaling a customer coming in.

Just as Shion was about to greet the guest, she noticed his familiar long black hair and robe…Oh no!

The brunette scrambled under the table and put a finger to her lips. The children looked down at her in question.

"Please," she pleaded. "Please don't let him see me. The food will be on the house."

They nodded but they weren't sure why she was so afraid of the Japanese man. He looked nice enough. In fact he reminded them strangely of Shion.

"Good afternoon, Jin. I haven't seen you in a while." Boss said wiping his hands on a towel. "The usual?"

"The same as they are having." The Japanese man said referring to the curry. "Except extra spicy."

"As always. Why did I bother asking?" Boss laughed disappearing into the kitchen.

"Mind if I sit here?" He asked.

Say no, say no, say NO! Shion begged.

"Uzuki-sensei, I didn't know you came here—"Momo paused. "Oh where are my manners? Take a seat."

DRAT!

"Is my sister here?"

"Who's your sister?"

"That would be Shion Uzuki. She teachers at Miltian Secondary."

"Really?"

"Of course. We have the same last name you know."

Sometimes, I wish I didn't…

"Oh I just thought..."

"That we were married?" Jin said finishing the sentence for you.

Not in a million years!

"Forgive me for my rudeness."

"It is alright. This isn't the first time people have gotten us confused. She is my baby sister."

"Oh, that must be nice."

"Well I wouldn't say that." Jin chuckled.

Jin you no-good—

"Why not?"

"She can be a handful sometimes."

"Shion, seems kind to me. She's my favorite teacher in fact. I mean not that you're bad or anything."

"I see. My sister has always wanted to be a teacher. At least someone isn't scared off by her…"

You just wait till my shift is over…

"Uzuki-sensei, since when do you come here?" Gaignun asked.

"I've came here since I was a child. Shion and I love it here." Jin replied.

I guess we have ONE thing in common nii-san. (older brother)

"I can see why you like the place. It's very comfortable."

"I don't mean to be nosy, but are you on a date with this young lady? Since I don't want to interfere—"

After Gaignun finished his drink he said, "It's alright. I think we should get going soon."

"Okay." Momo agreed.

"Alright see you two later." Jin waved goodbye.

Before leaving, Gaignun shot the package a suspicious glare. He could've sworn he heard Jr. in there along with someone else.

"C'mon Gaignun." Momo said taking his hand unknowingly out the door.

He blushed and his body temperature raised about 10 degrees, unbeknownst to Momo however.

Jr.'s chuckling in his mind brought him back to attention. Jr. where are you? Gaignun thought sternly while they waiting for the next shuttle.

Nowhere in particular, Gaignun. Why do you ask? Jr. said innocently.

Don't play games with me, Rubedo. You were following us?

Us? Who's us?

'Darn he didn't fall for it.' You know Momo and me.

You're going out with Momo? Haven't been doing anything bad, have you?

JR. when I get home I'm going to strangle you! I know you're hiding something, wherever you are. For now…STOP STALKING US!

What the hell are you talking about? But whatever. I'll stop 'stalking' you, whatever that means.

Don't think your companion is going to get away with it either, you little sneak.

What are you gonna do? Hypnotize me? For simply hanging out with my girl?

Gaignun closed his telepathic connection to observe Momo on the train. Apparently she fell asleep on his shoulder. This didn't make his tension around her any less. He found himself wanted to brush the bangs out of her face.

Before he could control himself, he began stroking her pink hair gently. This caused her to flutter her eyes and she slowly lifted her head from his shoulder. Gaignun quickly stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Gaignun?" She said sleepily.

"I was going to wake you. We need to get off the shuttle."

"Mmm…okay. One more minute mommy…"

A perplexed expression spread across his face. She's still half-asleep…

He took her hand bashfully and led her out of the train. It had begun to rain shortly after. Rumbling was heard from a distance. Dark clouds began to blanket the sky. Small drops of water fell from the sky, which eventually turned into a light shower. Gaignun wrinkled his nose slightly in annoyance.

I was planning on taking her to the park after we ate. Cursed rain…

"I love the rain." Momo said. Her random statement startled him.

"What do you mean, Momo?"

"It almost looks like the sky is crying, doesn't it?"

"I guess. But it's so dark and gloomy." Gaignun glanced towards the sky. Rain poured onto his face and rolled off his cheeks. He caught Momo looking at him amused. "What?"

"Hehe. It looks like you're crying too." Momo joked then took her hand and brushed his 'tears' away. "There, there Gaignun."

Right then, the rain didn't seem so murky and depressing. Heat came to his cheeks at her touch. She seemed so innocent gazing at him with her friendly honey eyes.

Momo removed her fingertips from his face and clasped her hands behind her back. She picked up a water lily from the fountain outside the train station. "Well if it weren't for the rain, there wouldn't be any flowers or green grass."

"That's true." Gaignun agreed.

"All these beautiful things need a little pain to become complete."

Her views and maturity surprised him. His next actions astonished him ever more.

Gaignun took the lily from her open hands and placed it in her hair. Momo smiled shyly at the simple gesture. "Like you…?" He found himself saying.

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise and timidity. "…Gaignun…" She didn't know what to say. Nobody ever asked her something like that. Momo tried not to take it personally.

"I meant all living things need a little sadness to become beautiful."

"Have you felt hurt?" Gaignun asked. You idiot, of course! Everybody feels hurt dumbass! He berated himself.

"Yes, lots of times." She replied a bit sorrowfully.

"Oh…is that why you're so beautiful?" I did NOT just say that.

She blushed deeply. "I don't know…Sakura's a lot prettier than me."

How could she say that? She so much cuter than—"I think you're very pretty, Momo."

"Really?" She asked meekly, flushing profusely.

"Yes." Gaignun then leaned over and kissed her cheek. His conscious was too horrified to scream at him.

"Gaig-Gaignun wh-why did you do that?" Momo stuttered.

"I, I—"Spit it out, Gaignun! "I love you Momo."


A/N: Cliffhanger! Haha I'm so evil. Next chappie will have part two of their date.

Review Replies:

Kos-mosMomo: I love Listen to Your Heart by D.H.T too. Heh, I like electronica.

Devilman666: Thanks for the review. I don't see it as repetitive either. It's the thought that counts right? Anyway, I might include chaos and ziggy more in the sequel. I feel like I've neglected them >.>and I want to try out new pairings.