Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Some Aea/Kurogane fluff in here, but lots of humor as well! (I hope...) Thanks to all who've reviewed - it means a lot to me! I hope this is a good chapter!

Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.

"What's that smell?" Aea asked, wrinkling her nose. A warm breeze swirled around the group, and Mokona played happily in her loose hair. "It smells a little like that swamp, but…different, too."

"You've never seen an ocean?"

"A what?"

"An ocean," Fai repeated, looking surprised.

"What's that?"

"A large body of water," Kurogane said unexpectedly, and she blinked.

"How big? Like that swamp?"

"A lot bigger. Well, that's what you smell, anyway," Fai added, and grabbed her hand cheerfully. "We're probably near it, if the breeze is any clue. It's easier to show you. Come on, Kuro-muy!"

"What did you call me?" Kurogane demanded, stalking after them as Fai dragged a confused Aea after him down the grassy slope. Coming out from the trees, she gasped and froze at the sight before her. The slope ended in sand, which was familiar, but the sand stretched out for what seemed to be miles each way, and had water lapping at the edge.

"I thought you had been stranded on an island," Fai thought, as they took off their shoes to make walking easier. "Wasn't that an ocean?"

"Well…it was, I guess, but we had a different name for it," she stammered, still stunned at the amount of water. People milled about, and didn't take too much notice of their clothes. "What are they wearing?" she asked, seeing several girls walk by in bathing suits.

"Bathing suits!" Fai said, a bit too happily as Kurogane merely grunted. "That's what women wear to the beach, which is what this is. I wonder where we are…"

"Mokona found it!" it cried, jumping from Aea's shoulder. To their surprise it was promptly buried in the sand, only the tip of its ears sticking out.

"Damn pork bun," Kurogane muttered, pulling it up by the ears. Mokona smiled at them, holding what looked to be like a pamphlet.

"It's a map of the beach," Fai realized, squinting. "I can read it a little…apparently, the town is called Erie. It looks to be a popular waterfront town, but this is the off-season. This is probably lucky, since that means we won't have to deal with many people."

"I…see," Aea said finally, obviously not getting anything he was spewing.

"We'll show you," Fai suggested, and glanced slyly toward Kurogane, who was staring out at nothing in particular. "I bet you'd like to see Aea in a bathing suit, wouldn't you, Kuro-kun?" Kurogane whirled around with a death glare, but Fai rushed on before he could say anything. "And you can teach her how to swim!"

"What?" Aea and Kurogane demanded at the same time, and then blinked at each other before he turned away in embarrassment. Fai and Mokona exchanged a conspiratorial grin.

"Why me?" the ninja protested, having stubbornly refused his assignment the entire time it had taken the group to find a store on the waterfront where they could buy clothes.

"Because, you're suited to it!" Fai replied cheerfully, changing into white swimming trunks with blue stripes running down the side. Mokona had somehow found himself a tiny red bathing suit, and was preening in the mirror on top of Fai's head.

"I am not!" Kurogane retorted, having already been forced into black swim trunks with red edges. "This is an idiotic idea – I'm going to let her drown."

"All right," Fai shrugged casually, earning a suspicious look from his companion.

"What are you planning?" he demanded, and grabbed Mokona as he tried to escape to go to Aea, who was changing in another room. "Not so fast, you damn thing," he growled. "You're not going in there."

"At least not without Kuro-poo!" Fai added with a laugh, and Kurogane almost dropped Mokona from shock. Regaining his composure he squeezed Mokona angrily.

"Whee! Kurogane's mad again!" Mokona cheered, apparently enjoying the punishment. "Mokona's being squeezed like an orange!"

"What are you both up to?" Kurogane asked, his quiet tone more scary than when he yelled.

"Kurogane's scary!" Mokona laughed, escaping his grasp and running to Fai. Not being able to hide in his swim trunks, Mokona settled for his head, giving Fai the appearance of having Mokona's ears. Rubbing his face with a sigh, Kurogane stomped out of the changing room and leaned against the wall, tapping his foot impatiently.

"What is she doing in there?" he demanded, seeing the woman who worked the counter exit Aea's room.

"Oh, she was having a bit of trouble," she replied cheerfully, her eyes skimming the ninja's body briefly. "It's like she's never even seen a bathing suit before in her life!"

"There's a shock," Kurogane grumbled under his breath. Fai and Mokona were still in the changing room, seemingly hiding from the ninja.

"I can't wear this in public!" Aea wailed after a few seconds, scaring the life out of the waiting ninja. "It isn't…decent!"

"Oh, just get the hell out already," he ordered. "This is ridiculous. I don't even know why we're in this damn world to begin with!"

"Oh, it's easy for you to say," she retorted, and peeped over the door. "Oh, maybe not…" she giggled, seeing what he was wearing.

"What now?" he demanded, suddenly nervous. "What the hell are you laughing at?"

"Nothing….I've never seen you without a shirt before, that's all," she added, before her head disappeared back behind the door. "Do I have to wear this?"

"Yes!" he yelled, earning a wide-eyed stare from the woman, who was doing her best to ignore the strange customers she was stuck with. "Get the hell out before I come in there and drag you out myself!"

"Fine, fine," she muttered, and he sighed as he heard the door click open. Due to closing his eyes in suffering patience and her habit of walking quietly, he was unaware she had actually come out until he felt someone poking his shoulder.

"What?" he snapped, opening his eyes. His jaw actually dropped, however, when he saw her glaring at him. Well, it wasn't so much her glare that made his jaw drop, but what she was glaring about. The bathing suit was a modest bikini-cut two-piece in dark green, with her hair in a small braid, but showed more skin then they had ever seen from her. "That's the only thing you could find?" he managed, after gulping and snapping his jaw shut. She was turning red from his gaze on her, but folded her arms stubbornly – on second thought, she crossed them behind her back instead, and finally settled for letting them hang at her side.

"Yes," she hissed, and looked around frantically. She snatched a beach towel and draped it around herself, ignoring Fai's whistle-noise of approval – he still hadn't learned how to whistle properly, much to Kurogane's aggravation.

"Aea is a hot babe!" Mokona cried, leaping on her shoulder. She gasped at the phrase, but it continued happily. "That's what Kurogane's thinking, right? Right, Kurogane?"

"Shut up!" he yelled, snatching it from her shoulder and stalking out of the building.

"Um….maybe I can just stay here?" she suggested weakly, but Fai shook his head firmly.

"You need to learn how to swim."

"But I'm not going to be wearing this other worlds, so why can't learn in my normal clothes?" she demanded, but Fai merely shook his head again and took her arm. Leading her out of the building, he ignored the stares of the woman as he grinned.

"Because that's not how it's done," he replied, and grabbed the towel from her suddenly. She resisted the urge to punch him – or use her magic on him – or to cover herself again, and forced herself to walk normally, thanking her luck that there were mostly only children and their grandparents around. "Now, where's Kuro-tan?"

"Over there," she pointed, and they made their way through the sand to him, where he was crouched down and digging in the sand. "What are you doing?"

"Burying him," he grunted. Sure enough, only the tips of Mokona's feet were sticking from the sand, and Kurogane leaned back, looking pleased with himself. "That'll teach the damn pork-bun wanna-be."

"Kurogane!" Aea poked him sharply in the head before digging Mokona out. "You can't do that to him!"

"And why the hell can't I?" he retorted, glaring at the smiling Mokona.

"Because…because I said so," she finished lamely with a sigh, unable to think of a good threat. Kurogane smirked, but his face turned blank when Mokona began to do a happy-dance on his head.

"Well, we have our towels and umbrella, so let's go down to the sand!" Fai said cheerfully, carrying the striped umbrella. The sun was still high in the sky, much to Kurogane and Aea's shared dismay. Mokona was grabbed by Kurogane as they began to walk, and swung around by his ears, laughing happily. Kurogane began to wonder if they were all insane, or if it was just him.

"The sun is nice," Aea admitted, as she and Fai lay on towels, shaded by the umbrella. "The sun in my world is too hot to stay out for very long, or else you'll get burned."

"Oh, we don't burn in this place," a neighboring sunbather informed them, walking by. "Our atmosphere keeps us protected from burns."

"Mokona, why are you eating a shell?" Fai asked curiously, as the creature opened his jaw wide and swallowed a conch. After taking a breath it turned to them with an innocent smile.

"Mokona isn't eating a shell! Mokona is sending it to Yuko!"

"Oh," Aea blinked, before closing her eyes again and relaxed into a half-dozing state. Fai had fallen sound asleep, and Kurogane was sulking further down, having refused a towel and most likely had sand in his shorts. Mokona was alternating between bothering the ninja and assassin, finding Fai no fun when he was asleep.

"Hey, you look like you could use some lotion."

"Huh? Kurogane?" she opened her eyes in surprise, and straightened abruptly when she saw a young man about their age smirking down at her. "Who're you?"

"Aiden," he said, and she ignored his proffered hand.

"No thanks," she shook her head, but he crouched down next to her and draped his arm around her shoulder. Fai, having woken up, opened one eye a slit, trying to suppress a smirk at seeing Kurogane's expression. The ninja was still sitting a ways off, but his head was turned slightly and his eyes were narrowed suspiciously at the stranger.

"Aw, c'mon," he grinned, earning a dirty look from Aea and a head-butt in the behind from Mokona. "Ow!"

"Get lost," she ordered, removing his arm from her body. He only moved closer and pushed his face close to hers, attempting a charming smile which probably worked on most women he hit on.

"That's not a very nice way to treat a stranger."

"She said beat it, asshole."

"Huh? Who're –" the guy looked up in surprise, as did Aea, to see Kurogane standing over him, his back to the sun and arms folded over chest. Noticing the look that promised death in the ninja's eyes, the guy quickly rushed off, with Kurogane's sullen gaze following him.

"I didn't need your help," she muttered, as he looked down at her.

"Whatever. I may as well teach you how to swim, 'cause I'm not going to keep rescuing you," he informed her, and was met by a stubborn gaze. In the next few seconds, Fai was unable to contain his laughter when Kurogane suddenly scooped Aea up and carried her underneath his arm toward the beach. After an initial shriek she realized it was useless to struggle, and decided to hang limply. "Ready?" he grunted, arriving at the water's edge.

"What are you –!" she was cut off by the ninja abruptly.

"Good," he shrugged, and tossed her headfirst into the water. She shrieked again as the cold rushed through her body, and instantly began to sink.

"Uh…Kuro-sama?"

"I told you I was going to let her drown," Kurogane informed him calmly, and sat down cross-legged on the sand to watch her struggle.

"I don't think that's a wise idea," Fai pointed out.

"Why not?"

"Uhm…"

"Oh, fine," he grumbled, and stalked into the water. Fishing around in the water, he pulled her up and she gasped for air as she broke the surface.

'You bastard!" she yelled, punching him dead in the chest. He merely shrugged it off and she groaned in frustration. "Fine, I'll learn – but stop that!"

"I don't want to teach you!" he shouted back, and they continued to glare at each other until a grinning Fai stepped in – albeit a bit nervously, since Mokona had decided to stay far away, and was sunbathing on the towel.

"Come on, Kuro-poo!" he wheedled, and quickly turned to Aea. "You need to learn – didn't that last place prove that? Who knows what else we could run into. At least give it a try."

"Fine…" she agreed sulkily, after remaining quiet for a few moments.

"Whatever," Kurogane shrugged helplessly, crossing his arms.

"Good! Now, I think I'll head over here…" Fai trailed off, crab-scuttling back towards his towel as the two stubborn companions faced off.

"That was pitiful," Kurogane informed her as they strode back to the umbrella several hours later, as the sun was setting. "I've never seen someone so scared of water before."

"I'm not scared of water!" she retorted, her hair clinging to her back. "I'm just…unused to it, that's all!"

"Yeah, sure," he snorted, and she humphed loudly.

"Can you at least float?" Fai asked, and she nodded reluctantly. "Good! Then, we'll go get our clothes and find a place to spend the night. Hopefully it'll be someplace cheap…"

"What was that?" Kurogane demanded, but the magician ignored him blithely. "Get back here!" he shouted, giving chase as Fai rushed to the shop. Aea sighed, and Mokona leapt to her shoulder.

"I almost died!" she grumbled, stalking back. "That idiot ninja…"

"Kurogane wasn't going to let Aea drown," Mokona told her quietly, and she looked at sideways in surprise.

"Huh?"

"Kurogane has been keeping a close eye on Aea lately – he wasn't going to let her drown," it repeated. "Kurogane was making sure Aea was all right."

"You think so, huh?" she mumbled softly, heading into the shop. The two young men were already getting changed, and Mokona rushed to join them as she entered her own room to shower and dry off.

"This is it?" she asked blankly, looking around the room.

"Yep!" Fai nodded cheerfully, and Kurogane groaned.

"There's only one bed!"

"Well, all the other rooms are taken," Fai shrugged apologetically, and glanced around quickly. "There isn't anywhere else to sleep, though."

"Unbelievable," Aea muttered, sinking slowly onto the mattress. "You've got to be kidding me…"

"I won't try anything," Fai informed her with a happy grin, and she only eyed him. "I can't say the same for Kuro-tan, but I'll protect you!"

"Mokona will too!" it volunteered, jumping up and down on the bed. "Mokona will keep an eye on Kurogane!"

"Why is it always me?" the ninja demanded crankily, and Fai smiled teasingly.

"Aw…is Kuro-san jealous? Why don't you call Aea Aea-chan?"

"Shut your mouth!"

"What's that?" she asked blankly, the honorifics having no meaning for her. Before Fai could reply Kurogane grabbed him in a tackle and sat on his chest.

"Kurogane's going to crush Fai!" Mokona cheered, and Aea shrugged it off. Glancing at a clock, she managed to read the time and groaned aloud.

"It took longer to find a room than I thought it would," she sighed, rubbing her head. "I'm bushed – no thanks to Kurogane, the drowning master."

"Hey!"

"All right then!" Fai grinned, and immediately took one of the sides of the bed.

"I'm not sleeping next to him!"

"Well, I'm not!" Aea protested, and then gasped when Kurogane picked her up and bodily put her on the mattress – in the middle, as Mokona managed to turn the lights off, now only the moon providing their light.

"You're staying in the damn bed, and you better not keep me awake," he growled, turning his back to her. She sniffed and rolled over to face Fai's back – the other man was already asleep, and Mokona jumped into the crook of her arm. Sighing, Aea closed her eyes and forced herself to go to sleep, ignoring the two companions on either side of her.

"Kurogane!"

"Wha…huh?" Fai asked sleepily, turning over slightly to see what the commotion was about. Aea had just woken up, only to find the ninja's arm wrapped around her torso and pulling her against his body – apparently, he was fast asleep and not planning on moving any time soon. "Oh."

"Get him off!" she hissed, uselessly trying to untangle herself from her other bedmate.

"Mokona can get him up!" it volunteered happily. Before they could stop it, Mokona leaped onto Kurogane's face and glomped him noisily.

"What the hell?" Kurogane demanded, shooting awake instantly. Fai watched in amusement from the side of the bed, while Aea had a blank look on her face as she sat up in the bed next to him. "What the hell are you doing in my bed?" he asked in panic, his mind taking a moment to remember their travels.

"What are you insinuating?" she huffed, slapping him across the bed. "If you ever even think that, I'm going to…to…argh! Men!" Aea ended in a grumble as she stalked past Fai into the bathroom. Mokona sat on the bedpost looking pleased with himself, and Fai merely shook his head.

"Wow, Kuro-san, you really got her that time," the magician grinned, and eyed him sideways. "So…you want her in your bed?"

"I do not!"

"Then why did you assume she was?"

"Because she was sleeping next to me!"

"But you didn't stop to think why Mokona would be in the bed as well?" Fai pressed, having entirely too much fun antagonizing the already-flustered ninja.

"Argh!" Kurogane growled, and stomped towards the bathroom in annoyance.

"Uh…Kurogane…"

"Shut up!" he snapped, opening the door.

"Wow," Mokona commented, his eyes wide as Kurogane went flying over the bed, following a shriek from Aea. "Aea's really scary when she's mad? Is Kurogane all right?"

"I think his pride is hurt more," Fai said calmly, watching as the ninja picked himself off the pile on the floor and pulled on his clothes before slamming the door behind him.

For anyone who doesn't know, "chan" is not only an endearment phrase for girls, but can be used among lovers as well. Hence, the reason Kurogane got so pissed at Fai! I thought it would be funny to have Fai set Kurogane and Aea up, with Mokona as well. For those who wanted Fai/Aea, just let me know, since no one's told me!