Fang backed away, into an actual building, she took comfort in the solid wall behind her. "Who are you?"

"I'm Noel, can't you tell?"

"You're not Noel." Fang spat, "You never were. How'd you manage to trick Hope?"

'Noel' ignored her, and began to pace in front of her, "You really think I don't know who you are? What you can do?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

'Noel' disappeared, and then appeared again, right by her ear, "I think you know." he whispered.

"What's it like? Being a scientist?"

"What do you mean?"

While Noel and Fang had gone off by themselves (probably not the best idea), Vanille had stuck with Hope. It was depressing to wake up in a place with no life at all, so she tried to focus on the life that he got to live without her.

"I mean," she said, "What is, well, was your life like?"

"Well..." He shrugged, "Not as interesting as you'd think."

"Really?" She challenged.

"Yes, really." Hope swiped his hand through a cloud of Chaos, causing it to dissolve.

Vanille got up from the bench she'd been sitting on, and placed herself right in front of Hope, looking up into his face. She had to look up at him now, it was funny. "Tell me about it."

Not only did she have to look up, he had to look down, "I never realized how short you were." He teased.

Vanille made herself a few inches taller by standing on her tiptoes, and said, "Don't change the subject."

Hope made himself a little shorter, "Do you really want to know?" He whispered. Vanille could feel his warm breath on her face. He was really close...

Her cheeks burned, and she backed away, "Y-yes." She stammered.

Hope chuckled, and returned to his full height, "Well, it was tedious, actually." He laughed as Vanille turned away, trying to hide the flush on her cheeks. In all seriousness, he said, "Did I step over a line?"

"N-no." She shook her head, "You just... surprised me."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright." She turned back around, bouncing back to her usual sunny demeanor, "Let's keep looking!"

Hope agreed and they resumed searching, though they still had no clue what exactly they were looking for.

Fang rejoined them about... actually, it was impossible to tell how much later. She ran up looking very disturbed.

"Hey, Fang!" Hope called.

She stopped when she reached him, "I need to talk to you."

"Did you find something?"

"No. It's about Noel."

"What about me?"

Noel walked up from the opposite direction Fang came from. "I didn't find anything. Most of these buildings aren't even real."

Fang backed away, a mask of disgust covering her face.

"Fang? Are you alright?" Vanille asked.

"Why are you here?" She flung the words at Noel. "You already made your point." She flipped out her weapon and held it out so that the point was against Noel's neck. "Now leave before I end you."

"Fang!" Vanille gasped.

Hope took hold of Fang's weapon, pulling it toward him and away from Noel's neck. Noel took a step back, a hand going around his throat. "What's going on, Fang?" Hope asked calmly.

"He's not Noel!" Fang said, frustrated that they didn't understand. Why else would she attack him unless he wasn't him?

"What do you mean, I'm not me?" Said Noel, "Who do you think I am?"

"No idea, but you're not Noel."

Hope gave Noel a wary look. Finally, someone got it. "Explain what you mean, Fang."

"He's one of them." She told him. "He's just like that one girl."

Hope scowled. "You mean, Alyssa?"

"Yeah, her."

There was a long moment of silence as Hope considered what she said. He hated to admit it, but it was possible. Nothing was impossible here. He'd spoken to his mother for crying out loud. Sort of. But she was dead, Alyssa was dead. Noel? He didn't think... but something could've...

Vanille stared at him, wide-eyed. "Hope, you're not actually considering-?"

He sighed. "Yes, I am." He let go of Fang's weapon, the point of which almost immediately returned to Noel's throat. His eyes widened in fear. He'd heard about Fang. She wouldn't hesitate to kill him if she thought he was actually a threat. "Guys, this is crazy!" He shouted.

"Then prove you are Noel." Hope said. "I'm sorry, but your word isn't enough. Not here."

Noel wilted. Hope was saying that he didn't trust him. After everything... After Serah... He didn't trust him. Something resembling anger burned in his throat, right where Fang's spear was pressed into his flesh. "I can't believe this!" He spat. "After all we went through, my word isn't enough."

"I want to believe you." Hope said, his voice raised more than it had been in years. "If it was just us, I would take you by your word and we'd be on out way. But if you're not Noel, I'm not losing Fang and Vanille again just because we're friends."

Vanille touched his arm lightly. "Hope..."

"Fine." Noel said shortly. "What do you want me to do? How can I prove myself to you, so we can stop this stupid interrogation and get on with saving everyone?"

This was going to be so cliché, but... "What did I say to Serah, right before you went through Alyssa's trap?"

Noel gave him a questioning look, his eyes asking, "Really? They're right here."

Hope nodded.

Noel shrugged. "You said that you missed Fang's strength, and Vanille's smile."

"...Let him go."

Fang grunted, but did as he said. Noel rubbed at his throat. "Thanks."

"Don't thank me until I'm sure I didn't just make a mistake.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry it took so long. And now that I've updated, it isn't even that good... :/

Anyway, do you think Noel's telling the truth? If you do, leave a review. If you don't, leave a review. If you're mad at me for taking so long, leave a review. If you're not mad at me, leave a review. If you've just come across this story, leave a review.

And you can't tell me that you don't fit into at least one of those, because I know you do.

See ya next time! :)