Notes: In the show Queer as Folk, some of my favorite scenes are when the group is in the gym. They're known as either gym rats or gym bunnies. Whatever they're called, I've always enjoyed those scenes and that's what influenced me to write what I did in the second part of this chapter. It's also because I honestly think that under Isaaru's robes, he has a body that shows he at least works out. As for the first part, I just really couldn't imagine Rin being too upset at all about his car being taken. At least not when Gippal and Baralai are the culprits. Anyway, enjoy. This is another long chapter.

A simple kiss on the cheek stirred Baralai from his sleep. His kept his eyes shut as he stretched his arms out, groaning happily as he felt his body awaken. When he finally opened his eyes, he sat up and gasped quietly at the light orange blue colored sky. The stars had faded and were replaced with clouds illuminated by the rising sun. Everything was still, peaceful and with no sound save for a bird chirping. Baralai breathed in the air, scented by morning mist. He turned to Gippal, who rested his blond head against his hand.

"Good morning, Baralai," Gippal said with a weak grin.

"Oh, it's dawn..." Baralai replied, looking around and seeing no one but a few distant Hypellos next to the huge elephant-like Shopuff. He frowned, "Dawn? Uhm, Gippal, you drove all the way here?"

"Yea, I did," Gippal answered, leaning back against the driver's seat. He shut his aqua eye and ran his gloved hands over his face.

"But, why? You could have stopped at Djose. Why didn't you?"

"I wanted to get you home, that's why," Gippal removed the key from the ignition. "But, the driving ends here."

Baralai looked around, at the various green trees to his right and the pyrefly filled lake in front of him, "I can see that. So, how did you get past Mushroom Rock Road?"

Gippal smirked, "I just drove right through it."

"You didn't run over anyone, did you?" Baralai's eyes widened, really wondering if Gippal did drive right over someone. He felt fortunate that he wasn't the one driving through the Youth League's turf.

"No, but I thought about it," Gippal shook his head, beaming mischeviously. "Lucky for us, Lucil dealt with any problems and she got the guards to move."

Baralai caressed Gippal's arms, feeling the soft texture of his purple shirt and the muscles beneath, "Gippal, I'm sorry."

"Why?" Gippal frowned.

"Because I caused you trouble."

"Heh, no you didn't. Believe me, Baralai, if you hadn't thought of it first, I might have been seriously tempted to take this car myself. It drives beautifully."

"Yes, it does," Baralai agreed. "You taught me in this car."

"Yea, I remember."

"It seemed like yesterday," Baralai's face fell as he recalled how he could never wait to go Mi'ihen road, so he could be in that car with his best friend. Even now, he felt pure joy as he remembered driving through there last night, and if it weren't for the jagged scar on his back, he might have forgotten what happened to him and his friends two years ago. Gippal's hand on his shoulder pulled him away from his thoughts.

"You okay?"

"Yes," Baralai nodded.

"Are you thinking of the past?" When Gippal asked that, Baralai blinked, surprised for about a second. "You were." The younger man sighed and looked out at the lake.

"It can't be helped. We have a lot of memories here," Baralai replied quietly.

"Hmph. Everywhere." Gippal nodded. "Just so you know--"

Baralai rolled his eyes, "I already know the Al Bhed saying about how memories are just memories. You've only told me about nine million times."

"I know," Gippal chuckled. "It's just that you tend to dwell on things a lot. I never understood it."

"You probably never will, my Gippal". Baralai lowered his head into his collar, glancing sidelong at Gippal and smiling. /But, does anyone ever truly understand each other? I thought Isaaru understood me/.

/Isaaru/.

Baralai suddenly gasped, sitting straight up as he looked around.Gippal reached out to touch Baralai's shoulder.

"What's the matter? Do you sense any fiends?" The Al Bhed asked.

"No, no..." /Isaaru...is he at Bevelle?/ Baralai shook his head. /He should still be in Zanarkand/.

"Are you sure?"

"Huh?" Baralai folded his slender hands. "It's nothing..."

"Don't bullshit me, Baralai, I know you. If there's anything wrong, you need to tell me."

/I can't...not now...oh, you cannot ever know who I feel...felt about Isaaru.../. "We just need to go, that's all."

"Oh, yea," Gippal agreed as he reached across Baralai to throw the keys in the glove compartment.

"I guess I should start writing my letter of apology," Baralai commented as he stretched once more. He could have sworn he heard some machina motors, but thought nothing of it.

Gippal looked into the review mirror, narrowing his blue eye, "Actually, that won't be necessary."

"Hmm?"

Not two seconds after Baralai sat up, very curious as to who the machina riders could be, they all appeared. All one of them, that is, and that one was a tall, muscular man with long blond hair and goggles on top of his head who stepped off the hover cycle. Judging from that and the yellow and black outfit the man wore, both Gippal and Baralai knew right away that it was none other than Rin himself. Gippal turned to Baralai.

"Uh oh..."

"Let's just stay calm, okay Gippal?" Baralai said, actually feeling calm as he knew there was little to fear from the handsome merchant since he didn't look angry. Of course with Rin, Baralai surmised, it could be difficult to say. He stepped out of the car along with Gippal. Both young men stood beside each other as Rin approached them, completely stoic, but had the faint hint of a smile on his face. Baralai tensed, bracing himself as if Rin were going to hit him. Gippal simply had a smirk on his face, but put his hand to his neck.

"So, I finally find you two," Rin said, sounding quite cordial for someone had his very rare car stolen. "Gippal, I am actually horrified at what you have done," he narrowed his eyes, "yet I am not surprised. Especially since you dragged Baralai with you."

Baralai, fearing what Rin might do, stood in front of Gippal.

"Please, if you're going to punish anyone, punish me!"

Rin raised his eyebrows, "Why would I punish anyone? I am not upset, not really. I knew that whoever took the car could not have gotten that far. I also knew that very few people can drive my car. It wasn't difficult to narrow it down to who did it. I was actually somewhat relieved to find that it was Gippal."

"He didn't do it. I did it," Baralai said, ignoring Gippal grabbing his shoulders. "I was the one who took it."

"Uh, what?" Rin put a hand over his mouth. "You?" He tried to hold back his laughter, but failed miserably as he doubled over, guffawing. "Bwhahahahaahhaahah! You? Hahahahaah!"

Now Baralai slumped forward as he shook himself away from Gippal's grasp, "Excuse me, I was the one. I accept full responsibility for it."

"Sorry, it's just too funny," Rin stood up, his laughter dying down, but still grinning. "I expect this from Gippal, but not from you, young Praetor. Did Gippal put you up to it?" When Baralai shook his head, Rin said calmly, "Now, I am disappointed."

Baralai bowed his head, "I'm sorry." He began to gently grab his collar with his mouth and chew on it as he waited to see how Rin would respond.

"I'm sure you are," Rin replied, still looking amused. "But, only because you were caught."

His collar fell out of his mouth when he gaped, "No, I am truly sorry."

"Would you have been sorry if I didn't catch either of you?" Rin inquired, his smile faded.

"Nope," Gippal muttered, then "oofed" as Baralai elbowed him in the stomach.

"I told Gippal that I would write a letter of apology to you," Baralai said, before muttering "shut up, please" when Gippal uttered, "Yea, like you really would have." The young Praetor shrugged, "Now, as you can see, I don't have to. I can apologize here."

"Mmmm...hmmm..." Rin nodded, his stance telling both young men that he didn't believe a word Baralai was saying. He sighed, "No matter. I have my car back and I assume that you are going home?"

"I'm going with him to Bevelle," Gippal replied, wrapping an arm around Baralai and leaning against him.

"You drove all night, Gippal. You can't go anywhere until you have rested."

"I'm not going all the way back to Djose, Rin," Gippal argued.

"I don't think we should have to," Baralai added, but looked over at the Shopuff. He pursed his lips together. "We can always rest on the Shopuff before getting to Guadosalem, right Gippal?"

Before the younger Al Bhed could respond Rin said, "No, you don't have to. I have my airship nearby. You can go to Bevelle that way."

"Oh," Baralai looked a little surprised, but knew he should be anything but surprised. "Okay. I suppose you'll be taking that machina behind you?"

"You can drive my car to the airship," Rin replied in a resigned, but amused tone.

"Hey! I'm dead tired." Gippal interjected, but shut up when Baralai firmly stepped on his foot.

"Who said you were driving?"

"What?" Isaaru demanded, holding the curling weight to his chest. "What? Just what?" He quietly grunted as he lowered the weight and then lifted it again. Maroda was beside him, lifting two large hand weights. Both were in a private gym used by the upper echelons of New Yevon, and that included the Praetor himself. Isaaru never worked out with Baralai, but he knew the young Praetor used this place too. He wondered if Baralai ever used this particular weight. However, right now, the only thing he was concerned about was what Maroda just told him.

"Rin's ground machina was stolen in the late afternoon," Maroda was saying between lifts. "Found out in the morning post and from other Youth Leaguers. Everyone knows it now."

"Let's not think for a single moment that it was anyone but Gippal," Isaaru replied, still reeling about the fact that such machina existed, "and where Gippal goes, Baralai is sure to follow."

"You'd be right too. But, here's the amusing part, Baralai was the one who first took the vehicle."

Isaaru nearly dropped the weight, "Oh, you can't be serious."

"Sure am. According to people on the Mi'ihen Highroad, Baralai was the one driving."

"How could they know?" Isaaru asked, trying to imagine the Praetor of New Yevon operating a machina and finding it both funny and ironic. /A hypocrite to the marrow of his bones.../.

"They saw platinum hair spiked in the front, a blue headband, a yellow collar lined with a thin red rope, and a green jacket. Obviously Baralai."

"Baralai...rarely acts without forethought." Isaaru lowered the weight to the floor and sat back on the bench. "He never ceases to surprise me."

"I wasn't surprised," Maroda answered.

"Oh, no of course not," The former Summoner rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Isaaru. You know how tight he is with Gippal. It stands to reason that Gippal would teach Baralai what he wants to know."

"I know...but, I wonder what the rest of Spira must be thinking. I mean, it can't look good for Baralai. What did the headlines say, "'Praetor of New Yevon stole prominent Al Bhed Merchant's machina. Everyone horrified?"

"Actually, it said, " 'Two of Spira's leaders drive off into the sunset...with merchant Rin's ground machina'. It was reported on the Spiran comms too. Shelinda was gleeful when she was talking about it."

"How did the Youth Leaguers feel?" Isaaru inquired as he picked up his weight and exchanged it with Maroda's. He began lifting the two weights with little effort.

"Amused," Maroda replied as he curled. "Nooj just said that he wasn't surprised, but he was a little envious since he isn't really able to use such vehicles and last very long."

"Can't say I blame him," Isaaru said, remembering how Nooj's left arm and leg were almost entirely machina, which made it difficult for him to do anything beyond walk. "Did Baralai run over any Youth Leaguers?" He smirked, knowing Baralai probably wouldn't have no matter how much he might have wanted to.

"You wish," Maroda chuckled. "Baralai wasn't driving in Mushroom Rock. He was asleep according to Lucil. Basically, your lover drove through Mi'ihen and Gippal took over from there."

"My lover? Please, Maroda, you know better than that," Isaaru said as he increased his pace slightly. "But, since the world knows about it, I'm sure he'll be interrogated by those who might not be so approving of his behavior."

"Gods forbid a Yevonite use a machina," Maroda rolled his eyes, "and in the meantime, other Yevonites will be playing with their guns and piddling with their machina that defends the temples."

Isaaru stopped lifting the weights and let them fall on his lap, "It's not so much that he was operating a machina, it's that he stole one."

"Gippal probably put him up to it," Maroda said dismissively, before grunting as he pumped his arms.

"Doesn't matter," Isaaru shrugged, "Baralai still did it and he will be the most criticized for it."

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" Isaaru's younger brother shook his head before lowering the weight.

"Sure, I would, but I know Baralai, and I'm pretty sure he'll smile his way back into the hearts of those who didn't appreciate what he did. Which leaves only the most virulent opposition in New Yevon."

"Which are your opponents, I might add," Maroda said as he wiped his short, black hair with a towel.

"I know," Isaaru said simply. /Does that mean I should be allies with Baralai/? "It's just that he is the Praetor of New Yevon and should therefore set a good example to others." /Except for me, as I have about as much use for his example as a fish has use for a chocobo/.

"He's also twenty years old. He's my age and Gippal is eighteen. They're going to be doing things they're not supposed to be doing."

Isaaru stood up, "Have you forgotten? I too was their age and I would have never conceived of doing what they did."

"Of course not," Maroda said as he put the weights back in their rightful places, "You don't even like the sphere comms, but you've done things--"

"Shut up, Moronda!" Isaaru snapped quietly as he grabbed a medicine ball.

"Aww, Isanass, you just don't want to remember what I've caught you doing with--"

"Maroda, please..." Isaaru moaned, "I don't need to be reminded. Besides, I didn't steal machina."

"Nah, you just sto--"

"Shut it!" Isaaru threw the medicine ball at his brother.

Maroda threw the ball back, "I'm just saying--"

"I know what you're saying, Maroda, but that doesn't justify what those two did, especially since they are leaders." Isaaru threw the ball.

"They know Rin, so I'm sure they won't be imprisoned." Maroda shrugged as he caught the ball, and readied himself to throw it back.

"I have news of the Praetor," Zetu called as he entered the room. Maroda put down the ball as Isaaru stood beside him.

"What news? That they stole a vehicle of Rin's?" Isaaru asked. "I know that."

"That's not it. I knew you'd know that," Zetu replied as he folded his arms, putting his hands in his blue robes. "I got a message from Rin."

Isaaru blinked, "Rin?"

"He caught Baralai and Gippal at the Moonflow."

"Figures," Isaaru nodded as he remembered the Moonflow and how the only ways to get past it was either by Shopuff, boat, or by going on foot in the forest surrounding it. "So, what happened?"

"He took them on his airship and they're on their way here."

Isaaru shut his eyes, suddenly feeling very sick, "How long?"

Zetu shrugged, "A few hours at the most."

"So Rin wasn't angry?" Maroda asked. Isaaru opened his eyes and gave Zetu a questioning glance.

"No, not from what I can gather." Zetu shook his head. "He can't have been happy about it, but Rin seemed very forgiving. I don't think the boys will be punished. "

"No, of course not," Isaaru muttered. "From what I can gather, Gippal and Rin are very close and Baralai..." Isaaru frowned, "well, I assume that Rin knows him well too. But, I'm pretty certain that Baralai will be facing a very unhappy New Yevon council.

"Oh yes," Zetu nodded, "However, while I certainly did not approve of his actions, if Rin is willing to let this go, then so am I and so should the other New Yevonites."

"The only thing I care about is that because of all this, Baralai is now going to get here much sooner than I thought."

"Could have been worse," Maroda interjected, "They could have gotten on Rin's airship right after their speech."

Zetu looked at Isaaru with raised eyebrows, "Which meant that Baralai could have easily arrived last night. If it's any consolation, Isaaru, Baralai will have to answer for his actions, especially since he is the Praetor."

"Yes, I understand," Isaaru said quietly. He didn't want to admit that he actually felt eager to see Baralai again. If only to see what would happen between them now. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as it seemed. It would depend on how long Baralai could and would hold a grudge and whether or not Maroda was right about the young Praetor harming him or his brothers in retaliation for what happened one year ago. Right now, though, Isaaru just felt faint. He felt Maroda's hand on his arm.

"You okay?" Maroda asked.

"To be honest, no," Isaaru admitted, wanting to die right there. He didn't find it fun showing weakness in front of a fellow former Summoner. Zetu looked sympathetic though, and that was a comfort to Isaaru.

"I don't begrudge how you feel, Lord Isaaru," Zetu said. "Just tread lightly and carefully. No matter how you feel, he is still the Praetor." After bowing his bald head, Zetu said his good-byes and left the room.

"Don't be stupid, okay?" Marada poked Isaaru's side.

"I don't intend to," Isaaru replied quietly before following his younger brother out of the private gym to eat breakfast.