Author's Note - Sorry for the extremely long delay on posting. I'm working as hard as I can. Hope you are enjoying the story as much I am enjoying writing it. My readers are what keeps me going so keep posting. I love feedback!

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Chapter Five

In Jeuno, Plureague and Giraenis arrived just around dinnertime in the Lower Jeuno district. Not much of their travel could be told from Giraenis's armor but Plureague's clothing was a different story. His clothes were damp, covered with bits of sand and mud splatters as well as dirt from the chocobo he had been riding. Jeuno was a large city. It was built similarly to San'd Oria by it being primarily a stone city but it was much larger. The city's size was that of Bastok and San'd Oria together in a sense but nothing like Windurst. Windurst took on an entirely different meaning of big. Those born and raised in Windurst could still get lost.

Plureague and Giraenis made their way down the bustling streets of Jeuno, passing Muckvix's Junk Shop as well as the tavern, The Merry Minstrel. As they made their way down a flight of steps then up another, the two passed the most heavily crowded area in all of Vana'diel, the auction house. Shouts were ringing out all over the place. People setting up deals for items, proclaiming they were better than the Auction House. Others told people around them that they would sell without the high tax that Jeuno required which was against the law.

Many of the people around this area were sitting along the wall and across the street near the map shop, waiting for people to ask about the items they were selling or for someone to offer a traveling party. Giraenis pushed in front of Plureague and helped clear the path as they headed toward the steps.

Just as they neared the steps, a large group of people rushed down them, bumping into Giraenis as they pounded down the steps and then across from the Guide Stone, toward a flight of steps leading down toward Port Jeuno.

"In a bit of a rush, wouldn't you agree?" Plureague said with a laugh.

"A bit?" Giraenis added. "I'd say they were running from an enraged chocobo."

The two laughed and continued up the stairs only to be met by the fiery red armor and stern gaze of Ayame. Giraenis cleared his throat and nudged his elbow into Plureague. Plureague looked up. His eyes shot wide open when he realized Ayame was standing before them.

"Ayame? What in the goddess's name brings you here?" Plureague asked.

"I'm here to join your group. As seasoned adventurers, I'm sure you know that every job has a role to play." Ayame stated.

"True," Giraenis said, "but what do you have to gain by joining us?"

She looked them over. "Why do you ask that?"

"Just a small question." Giraenis said.

"Do you know something that I don't?" She said quickly.

The two men looked at each other then looked back at her.

"We know enough to place you as a fellow adventurer, but I seem to recall seeing you up around the president's building. Not to mention my watching you when you were younger." Plureague said with a smile.

Ayame was not impressed. She knew the two of them were hiding something from her. She placed her hand onto the hilt of her sword and looked to them with a stern gaze.

"If you are lying to me, you will regret it." Ayame stated, trying her best to act as she would if she were a young adventurer.

"Whoa, whoa. Look here, Ayame, we don't want any trouble. If you want to join us, fine by me. Keep that sword in its scabbard, OK?" Plureague said, moving in front of Giraenis. "I told you what I know and that I think I've seen you around the president's office but my memory is not the best at my age."

Giraenis held back his laughter the best he could. Ayame nodded and slowly removed her hand from the hilt of her sword. Plureague sighed in relief but his relief lasted only a second. Standing at the guide stone, staring at the three of them stood Wolfgang. He was the captain of Jeuno's defense force, following in his father's footsteps.

Ayame turned around and hid the smile that was forcing its way across her lips. Ayame knew Wolfgang was there since she had managed to beat Giraenis and Plureague to Jeuno. Giraenis bowed and looked over to Plureague in confusion.

"So you two finally decide to show up." Wolfgang said, crossing his arms.

"Sorry, the weather slowed us a little as we passed through Pashhow and Rolanberry." Plureague said as he bowed.

"I see. Well, since you arrived late, I'm afraid your briefing was cancelled but I was able to have it written down for you." Wolfgang said sternly as he pulled a folded piece of parchment from his bag. "Be grateful. I'm the one that had to pay for the parchment and the ink."

"So, he was not going to wait just a little longer for us to meet?" Giraenis asked in surprise.

"He is a very busy man." Wolfgang said as he handed Plureague the paper.

"Thank you. I guess we'll just have to prepare for the mission." Plureague said and he bowed.

"Good luck." Wolfgang said, nodding his head to them before turning and walking up the flight of steps behind him that led to Ru'Lude Gardens.

Plureague sighed with relief when Wolfgang was out of sight. Giraenis chuckled and crossed his arms and looked down to the paper in Plureague's hands. Ayame stood to the left of Plureague and glanced over as well.

"Let's see what the good Wolfgang wrote down for us." Giraenis chuckled.

Plureague opened the folded parchment to see, written in big letters, the words "Your quest ends in the frozen land". Plureague looked at the sentence and then glanced to his two traveling companions hoping someone could make sense of it.

"Is this a joke?" Giraenis asked as he read the paper over Plureague's shoulder.

"You have got to be kidding." Ayame said.

"Hmm. This paper seems strange." Plureague stated as he held the paper up to the light.

"So, think it's magical or something?" Giraenis asked.

"It is possible."

"If it is," Ayame said quickly, "we'll have to head to Windurst to get it checked out."

"True. Windurst is the best place for such things." Plureague agreed.

The group stood silent for a moment while they tried to decide how they were going to get to Windurst. Giraenis and Plureague were plotting the route via chocobo. They always took chocobos. Ayame, on the other hand, was thinking of the airships. They were much faster than a chocobo at times.

"All right, if we grab a chocobo now, we should make it in about," Plureague began

"Come on! No chocobos. We grab the ship. Come." Ayame said as she dashed down the steps.

Plureague and Giraenis exchanged glances then rushed after her. Ayame was a little bossy but the airships were a little faster so they could understand. Plureague could not put his finger on it but Ayame was acting strange for some strange reason. Unfortunately, he did not have time to stand and ponder why. The two men chased after Ayame, following her down two sets of stairs and down the long street of Port Jeuno until turning right into the Jeuno-Windurst Airship dock.

"Hurry! It's here!" Ayame shouted to them.

"How does she know?" Giraenis asked.

Plureague shrugged while they ran. "Not really sure."

"I can hear it, Galka." Ayame said as she burst through the port door, practically throwing the two hundred Gil at the Tarutaru.

Plureague quickly handed the Tarutaru his Gil, as did Giraenis, then rushed through the door and out into the port where they were met with the huge, ornate bow of the airship. The two dashed around to the loading and unloading area and quickly jumped on board to see Ayame already getting comfortable in the passenger's room.

"I think we'll have to stay on our toes, old friend." Giraenis whispered.

"Yes. I believe you are right."

The two sat down just as the ship rocked to life. Ayame stood with her hand on the wall until the ship had stabilized, signaling that the ship was now airborne. Plureague and Giraenis remained sitting to rest up some from their race to the ship. Plureague hid the pain he was experiencing in his leg the best he could. Ayame gave an annoyed sigh and quickly dashed up to the upper deck. Giraenis glanced to Plureague.

"Go on." Plureague said as he leaned back against the wall. "I'll stay down here and sleep some."

"All right, old friend." Giraenis stood up and walked out to the upper deck.

"Ung!" Plureague winced, gritting his teeth. "Perhaps…Aonir was right. Perhaps I should have retired."

On the top deck, rushing the view was amazing. Just below, the lands of Sauromugue Champaign, Meriphitaud Mountains, and Tahrongi Canyon spread out and met the ocean. The sky was beginning to pop full with stars. Soft clouds flowed by as the ship pushed its way east. Giraenis looked off at the horizon then spotted Ayame out of the corner of his eye. The wind was strong but the ship's design kept it at a safe level. He walked over to the side where Ayame was and smiled.

"You seem lost in thought. Is something on your mind?" Giraenis asked.

Ayame jumped a little. "Why?"

"You are a young girl. I figure that a girl of your age must have something on her mind."

"If I do, what does that mean to you?" Ayame asked, focusing her eyes to the sky.

"I may be an old man but I know a thing or two."

"Save your tales for your friend, Galka." Ayame said.

"Well, you are traveling with me so I consider you a friend no matter what you call me." Giraenis said kindly. "Call me Iron Hawk if it helps. Giraenis isn't exactly a name that just slides off the tongue."

"Iron Hawk, eh?"

"Listen," Giraenis put his hand on her shoulder, quickly grabbing her attention in the process, "if there is anything you want to talk about, anything at all, I am always here."

He smiled at her and then proceeded to head toward the steps that led into the hull.

"Wait." Ayame said quickly.

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry for calling you Galka."

Giraenis turned to her and smiled then walked down the steps. Ayame turned and leaned on the side of the ship and continued thinking. Giraenis sat down beside a sleeping Plureague and smiled to himself. He saw Ayame without her tough act and the thought that she was a loving Hume made him happy. He made himself comfortable and closed his eyes. Slowly dozing off without noticing Ayame had made her way down to where they were. She sat down beside Giraenis and leaned against the wall, her eyes staring out of the room and to the stairs.

"I must not fail." She whispered.