A/N: Holy CriZznaPp I update muy muy fast.. It was very exciting- I have the beginning of the next chapter written too, so aren't you just excited? I know this is jumping like all over the place and some of you are like wtf is going on? But I wanna get thru the story because I have so many plot point things I wanna put in here- and I'm having so much fun writing it! Hehe ok well here ya are Chapter 7!

Disclaimer: Hehe I own the entire world so of course I own this…
Lawyer:coughs: excuse me?
Me: AHHH I DIDN'T DO IT! I SWEAR I DIDN'T ASSASINATE JFK:FLEES:
Muse: She didn't take her meds again… I sincerely apologize..

888

Cold in More than One Way

I thanked Yevon for the peaceful rest I finally got. I was lying on my stomach with my arms over my head, gripping the pillow. I opened my eyes slightly before I pulled the covers closer to me and closed my eyes again.

I was about to doze off once more, but someone's voice broke through the silence. "Brooke?"

I groaned, pulled my legs up underneath me and buried my face in the pillow.

"Come on, Brooke, get up," they pleaded.

"No, I don't wanna get up," I said into the pillow, which probably sounds something more like, "no I duff waffaa gef ufff," from being muffled through the pillow.

I heard this person laugh, so I opened my eyes to see Vincent standing over me. I narrowed my eyes. "What's so funny?"

"You," he replied as he moved away from the bed. "Now get up. We're going to eat and then leave. I want to cross the Moonflow before nightfall and it's already late in the morning."

I rolled over to see Gippal to my side. Apparently through the course of the night we had switched places. "Why is he sleeping?"

Vincent gave him a swift hit to the back of his head. Gippal grabbed his head. "Ow, What the hell? I'm up."

Vincent smirked at me. "He's not…"

Gippal sat up and looked at me confused. "How did you get there?"

I shrugged and hopped out of the bed. I walked into the bathroom and looked at my reflection. When don't I look positively lovely? I grabbed the small brush off the counter and ran it through my mane of hair. Once I was finished taming it, I placed it back on the counter and walked out of the room

Everyone was waiting for me. I smiled weakly and said, "Morning everyone."

They all smiled before turning around and walking towards the diner. We quietly ate and soon enough we were on the road again. Shuyin and Lenne were in their own world, trying to fill the quota of making it known that I'm not welcomed. I rolled my eyes. I mean seriously, if it were Gippal ignoring me I might understand seeing as how I put a gun to his head, but what did I do to Lenne, hit her with a spell she was going to use on me?

I glanced upward at the sky. "Oh crap…"

Everyone looked at me, then the sky, just in time to see a Garuda, the giant flying fiend coming straight for us.

Vincent ran over to my side, his pistols in his hands. "Ready to test those fighting skills with your new sword?"

I unsheathed my sword and got in my stance. "Test? Ha! I'm ready to show off," I replied with a smirk.

"Another Gippal comment," Shuyin said as he stood on my other side.

"Shut up, Shuyin. At least I have personality," Gippal remarked as he cocked his gun in the direction of the fiend.

"Too bad that personality of yours can't get you a girlfriend," Lenne remarked as she stood near Shuyin.

As they were bickering the fiend used it giant wings to force everyone back with a gust of wind. "Enough!" I shouted. "Let's just kick its ass!"

Everyone nodded. For some reason, Lenne started dancing. I didn't understand till I saw she had cast 'darkness' on the fiend.

"Gippal and I will be your back up and Lenne will keep this bird blind. Shuyin and Brooke, you will lead the frontal attacks. Now move," Vincent instructed.

Shuyin and I ran foreword. Although the fiend was blind it must have had superb hearing because when I took a swing, I cut air. Shuyin scoffed at me. "Amateur."

I glared at him. I'll show him amateur. He took a swing at the fiend, slicing his leg. The fiend screeched in pain and brought its head down to hit Shuyin. However, he managed to scrape by with it just grazing over his arm. I took this as an opportunity to go for the fiend. I quickly rose the sword and sliced the fiend across its mid section. The fiend swung its head back, writhing in pain.

The entire group stopped fighting assuming it would burst into pyroflies, but I knew better. This fiend happened to be very common in Besaid. It was going to do 'Energy Ray.'

"Everyone run!" I screamed as I ran from the fiend.

Everyone ran as fast as they could. Lenne, Vincent, and Gippal jumped into a ditch and Shuyin ran in the opposite direction I had run. I ran and jumped up grabbing a tree branch pulling myself up among the branches. I watched the fiend as he preformed this powerful attack that would have killed all of us, especially since the main force of the attack hit a few yard from where we were standing. I watched the fiend carefully. He seemed to be charging for another attack and was aiming for…Lenne?

What was she doing? I saw Vincent yelling for her to get back in the ditch, but she wouldn't listen. She was going to get killed. Vincent and Gippal were trying to distract the fiend by shooting at it, but to no avail.

If I was one of those spiteful type of people and I ever second guess an instance, I might of let her die, but I'm not, so I didn't. I got my balance and ran down the branch. I jumped off the branch onto the fiend below me. I brought my sword down into the back of its neck. It quickly collapsed to the ground, feet away from Lenne before bursting into millions of pyroflies.

Lenne stood their dumbfounded as Shuyin ran to her and pulled her into an embrace. I sheathed my sword and glanced at Shuyin. "Amateur, huh?"

Before he could say anything, I turned my back to them and walked towards Vincent. My mind was insisting that regardless of what I tell myself I really do care about these people, other wise, why would I save her life? I chastised it saying I couldn't let the people of my party just die before I reach Zanarkand, that's tacky. I turned my attention away from myself and looked at Vincent. He crossed his arms and looked angrily at me. "That was a very dangerous thing to do."

I rolled my eyes. "It worked, no?" He looked at me sternly and I said, "Listen, I took a chance. Nothing happened and she's alive. You should be happy."

"So, since she was careless, it gives you an excuse to be careless and risk everything?"

I stepped closer to him and looked into his eyes. "You can't risk everything, if you have nothing to loose," I replied menacingly as I turned from him and continued walking.

Everyone silently followed me. Luckily, this was a straight path that would lead me directly to the Moonflow so I didn't have to worry about getting lost. Then a voice I found even more annoying than my own entered my head.

'Getting slightly attached to these people, are we, Lady Brooke?'

I rolled my eyes. Great again with the so-called 'Guardian Angel.' I don't know what you are talking about. Now get out of my head!

He laughed at me. 'If that is what you wish.'

That was the last thing he said before someone called out to me. "Brooke, wait."

I looked in the direction from which the voice came from. It was Gippal. He smiled as I waited for him. "Don't mind, Vincent, he can be a tightass, but like he's alright once you get to know him."

I just nodded and continued walking.

"I know Vincent was kind of harsh before, but he was just worried about you. But hey if it make you feel any better I though what you did was pretty cool," he continued in an attempt to make me feel better.

I smiled. "Thanks, but apparently no one else thinks so."

He shrugged. "So What?"

I looked down at the floor as I continued speaking. "I don't think half of your group likes the thought of me being here?"

"Who?" He said as he looked at me. "Lenne and Shuyin?"

I nodded, not looking at him. He continued talking. 'Well, Lenne is probably jealous. She probably thinks that you're going to steal her boyfriend."

"I'm engaged," I replied bluntly before he could elaborate off of that thought.

"Oh, well, see. Then she has nothing to worry about. And Shuyin, he does whatever Lenne wants."

That's great. But I didn't do anything for them to dislike me to begin with… I sighed and continued walking. Gippal and I were ahead of the group and were nearing the Moonflow.

"Halt!"

I looked up at Gippal and we both looked to the two guards standing in front of us.

"No one can pass," one of them said.

I continued walking as I replied with malevolence, "But I'm not just anyone."

"It does not matter your status," one of the guard said standing up straight. "We have strict orders not to let anyone pass."

I gripped the hilt of my sword and looked to Gippal. "Get the others," I whispered to him.

He looked at me like I was crazy. "I'm not leaving you alone," he whispered back.

"GO!" I shouted and he took off running. I turned to the guards. "You will let us throw whether it be the hard way or easy way, it matters not to me."

They readied their rifles and pointed them at me. I smirked, "Alright. If that is how you want it." I released my grip on my sword and ran at them. I guess this sudden action caught them off guard because they stumbled with their guns. By the time one of them actually steadied their gun, I already had the other disarmed.

After knocking the gun out of one of the guard's hands, I unsheathed my sword and swung it around and slashed the other guard across the left part of his chest. He too dropped his gun. I kicked it away as far as I could and took a few steps back, resting the blunt end of my sword on my shoulder. I smirked, "had enough?"

The one I had slashed held his hand over his wound and stumbled back. The other one pulled out a dagger and charged me. "In the name of Zanarkand, I will kill you."

I raised an eyebrow and dropped my sword. When he got close to me, I did what I did to Rikku. I grabbed his arm, rolled back placing my foot on his abdomen and flung him over me. Unfortunately for him, he landed on his dagger, piercing his lung.

I got up and walked to my sword. The other guard stared at me horrified. "Just what the hell are you?"

I wiped the blood off of it and put it away. "Your worst nightmare." I saw that the rest of the group was finally coming. I turned to the guard. "I'm going to spare your life, but listen and listen good." I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "I want you to go to Zanarkand. Tell you leader, the brunette girl with bi colored eyes. Tell her that I'm coming for her and that pay back's a bitch." I pulled him up by the collar, "Understood?"

He nodded. "Now Go! Run!" I gave him a shove and he took off running down the path and Vincent ran up beside me.

"Brooke, are you ok?"

"I took care of it," I replied as I continued walking.

He walked along side me. "Listen, I'm sorry. I was nasty before, but that is no reason to go on a suicide mission."

Who does this guy think he is? I am no little child and even if I were, he doesn't have the authority to yell at me. "I went on no suicide mission." I clenched my fists. "Don't talk to me that way."

He glared at me. "I will talk to you however I want, until you grow up and stop acting irrational."

That's it…I stopped walking and spun around. I stepped right up into his face. "Don't patronize me. I got enough of that before I met you. I will not tolerate any more of your verbal abuse." I lowered my voice and in a menacing way I whispered, "And if you don't stop, I'll cut your tongue out so you can't."

His facial expression was one of pure shock. I turned away from him and continued down to the Moonflow. I know that was more than harsh, but seriously, I am in no mood. I do nothing and I'm shunned. I save a life and I'm belittled. I take care of two Zanarkand guards and I'm lectured? That's it No more!

I stayed ahead of the group, thinking. When we finally reached the Moonflow my mood began to lighten. I was a tad bit excited; I had never ridden on a shoopuff. Of course I had no one to share my excitement with because I was probably the only person in Spira who never rode a shoopuff. I stood at the Warf and waited for the rest of the group. When they finally caught up, Gippal asked the Hypello if we could ride the shoopuff.

The Hypello agrees and we all stepped on the small platform to board the shoopuff. We all took our seats and the shoopuff made its journey across the Moonflow. We all sat there in silence. The tension was thick enough to choke a shoopuff. I couldn't help but feel as if I was the main reason for the cause of the tension. Main reason? Ha I am the tension!

I was beginning to feel remorse about the severity of my words before, however I would never admit it. 'Ha told you, you care for them.' I closed my eyes tightly in aggravation. GET OUT OF MY HEAD DAMN IT. Friggin 'Ty' was beginning to piss me off. Coming in and out of my head. Jeez, who does he think he is?

It was a day's journey to reach the Moonflow and the sun was beginning to set. Gippal who was sitting next to me, tapped my shoulder. "Look," he said as he pointed towards the water.

The pyroflies were beginning to come out and were practically dancing; the whole river was glowing.

"Pretty…" I said as I watched it. Soon enough, though I was brought back to the harsh reality that is Spira. As if Spira knew I was in a moment of tranquility, she sent a dozen or so fiends at us.

"What the hell?" Shuyin said as the shoopuff stopped dead in its tracks. I pointed to the sky where an assortment of flying fiends was heading for us.

Everyone remained still as if hoping the fiend would just pass by… Yea right, like that's happen. When the fiends reached us, they attacked the shoopuff and us.

"Lenne, Darkness dance!" Vincent shouted as he pulled his guns from their holsters. Shuyin and I tried to help, but since the fiends were fighting from a distance, we couldn't do much, but cover Lenne.

For one split second my eyes left Shuyin and Lenne and found Vincent and Gippal who were shouting at every fiend they could. Of course during this split second a fiend came from the area I was patrolling and attacked Shuyin. Not only did this attack put him to sleep, it knocked him off the shoopuff and into the water.

The second he hit the water, Lenne stopped dancing and shouted, "Shuyin!" She went to say more, but I didn't hear, I had already climbed over the edge and jumped off into the waters below. When I got there I immediately regretted doing do. There were plenty of fiends in the water, just waiting to feast.

I made a grab from Shuyin, but a piranha bit my out stretched arm. "Son Ofva…" I screamed as I clutched my arm to my chest. I grabbed my sword. I was going to have to kill these fish before I could help Shuyin.

Surprisingly and thankfully, the fish were easy to kill. I swam to the bottom of the river and grabbed Shuyin under his arms. I kicked with all my strength till we broke the surface. He broke out into a fit of coughs, spitting up any unwanted water into my face. All right, that is just gross…

The shoopuff unrolled its long nose and reached down into the water, scooping up Shuyin and I. It placed us down and Lenne literally shoved me out of the way and ran to Shuyin. The force of her shove took me by surprise and I whacked my head on the wall.

I pulled my bloodied arm up to my head. "Ow…" When I glanced at my arm, I realized how bad the fish got me. Shit.

Vincent walked over to me and looked at my arm. "It's not too deep, but it did some damage to your arm."

He ripped the sleeve off of Shuyin's shirt and wrapped it tightly around my arm to stop the bleeding. I smiled weakly and said, "Thanks." As I stood up, I got the sudden feeling of light-headedness and stumbled forward.

Vincent caught me around the waist. "Whoa, are you ok?"

I put my hand to my head. "Yea… just a little light headed."

"Alright," he kept his arm around my waist. "Come on, I'll help you."

I situated myself so I was leaning on him and my arm was slung over his shoulder. He helped me off the shoopuff and we walked slower than the rest of the group, but he didn't seem to mind. This is when I seriously regretted saying what I said. But I couldn't take it back now, I would only look weak and if I already did look weak now then I don't know what weak is…

"Thank You," I whispered as we continued walking down the path. "You don't have to do this…"

" Well, I'm not going to just leave you on the side of the road."

I smiled and looked at my arm. It was all bloodied and the skin was torn in multiple places. This is sickening. I looked ahead at the rest of the group; they seemed to be in deep discussion.

Lenne had the death grip on Shuyin. I guess she was afraid that she would loose him again. He managed to pry himself away from her and started walking back toward Vincent and myself. He scratched the back of his head and laughed. He smiled as he said, "I'm glad my sleeve has been of some use to you."

I returned the smile as I asked, "How are you? Are you ok?"

He nodded. "Thank you for saving my life. I mean that was really great of you…"

"Well, I'm just on a roll today with saving lives," I replied.

"Yea, and although she hasn't said anything, I appreciate you saving Lenne's life. She means the world to me and I owe you like everything. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"It's easy actually." I smiled. "Marry her."

I got a strange look from both Shuyin and Vincent. And I merely replied, "If you love her, marry her." I looked down at my engagement ring before I continued. "Believe me. Marriage is the biggest confession of love. And do it before something happens."

I took his hand and squeezed it. "Don't loose her. That's how you can repay me."

He smiled and squeezed my head back. "I can do that."

After that he ran back up back up to Lenne. Vincent looked at me with a small smile. "That isn't something I'd expect to hear you say."

"Well, I know what it's like to loose the one you love and I don't want it to happen to them. Although, I don't think Lenne is all that found of me."

"Then why would you want them to be happy?"

I looked at my ring again. "It's Shuyin. He reminds me of Tidus."

Vincent looked at me curiously. "Who's Tidus?"

I lowered my voice to a whisper. "My fiancé."

"Oh…" He paused before saying, "If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"

I sighed. I knew this question was coming. "I lost everything. I was out with my boyfriend and he told me he was drafted to fight for Bevelle. After that he proposed to me. I was on top of the world, but it didn't last long." I paused and took a deep breath. "Zanarkand came. They killed everyone and destroyed everything. I managed to survive, but when I woke up… Tidus' body was gone. Since then I've been journeying to Zanarkand."

I conveniently left out the part about my trying to kill my only friend, didn't think it was necessary to tell him that information. He nodded and didn't question me any further. As we continued walking, I stumbled again. Thankfully, Vincent caught me again. After regaining my balance he said, "We should rest."

I nodded. "Rest is a good thing… a very good thing."

"Guys, wait," he called to the others. They stopped and waited for us. When we reached them he said, "We should rest."

They all agreed and we found a small cavern to stay in. When we entered the cavern we all sat around the remnants of an old fire. The night had fallen and the temperature had dropped drastically. I, who was wearing next to nothing and was soaked to the bone, shivered. I tried to make it seem as if I was fine, but my shivering did not go unnoticed.

"You're cold." Vincent stated.

Thank you Captain Obvious…I nodes lightly and rubbed my hands up and down my arms to feel some warmth. He then took off his coat and held it out to me. I, however, refused to take it. "No, cause then you'll be cold."

But no matter how much I tried to reason with him, he refused to take no as an answer. I finally made a compromise. "We'll share!"

He was hesitant at first, but after seeing I wasn't going to take it any other way, he took me up on the offer.

"Lay down," he instructed me. Reluctantly I laid down on my facing him. He then laid down beside me, placing the coat around the both of us and pulling me into an all too uncomfortable position. We were both on our sides- face-to-face… well, no. More like my face to his chest and his chin resting on my head. I was going to protest, but since I was freezing, I welcomed the immediate warmth I got from him. I placed my head on his chest and closed my eyes, falling into a troubled sleep.

888

A/N: HEHE I hope you liked the chapter because I did… Don't worry I have taken my meds and am in complete and total sane mode. I do believe this was a very well written chapter… :twitches: well written? THAT'S PROPER ENGLISH… AHHH VER NOUN AGREEMENT:FLEES:

Muse:… friggin nouns…..

888

Thanks:

Anasazi Darkmoon: He's not really a fayth… I don't really know what to say he is.. hmm.. and Yea I will be adding in the real fayth, just not now… In a few chapters… And who knows, I wasn't going to add them in, but when I read it I came up with another idea so Maybe they will.. Or at Least Baralai, I'm not particularly fond of Nooj…

ChakaTehMoogle: Yepp Vincent from Final Fantasy VII – heh, she's not a very warm person is she? Well maybe it a pyscological thing.. ya kno she loses everything she has.. get close with someone and she tries to kill him, maybe she figures she'd rather be alone hten hurt someone she cares about… right:looks at what just typed: AHHH PLOT! Im giving away the plot… Muse! Quickly destroy this evidence! Muse?… Muse? DAMMIT MUSE WHERE ARE YOU!

LoserKid05: Lol it's ok to be busy, but you didn't finish your review lol you were like sorry I've been busy i…. And that was it lol.. but that is a-ok! Because I know what it's like to be busy.. I've been crazy and I'm still crazy gotta take the stupid Chem Regents tomorrow…

paSs 3: lol thanks PaSs love yaaa tootsieee

NeRrr: Lol lot's of people seemed to be doing that with my stories lol.. Ok well I hope you passed.. and I passed andpass passed lol ok well toodles!