Author's Notes: Just a small update for tonight since I was out all day with a friend and I have a bit of a headache. Like always remember to let me know what you thought about the chapter what liked or hated any typos, etc. I'll update again soon!

Word Count: 1,636

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Finally turning back to the riders on their way to her Vanille bit her lip a bit. As long as he stays there and doesn't make a sound they won't notice him. She tried to tell herself as the familiar faces came riding up to her. It was her family.

"Vanille!" she heard Fang call out from her seat on the chocobo as she reached the young ginger. Her eyes gleaming as a smirk played on her face.

"Fang!" Vanille yelled out joyously as she run up to her friend her hands gently cupping the chocobo's beak, "What are you still doing out here missy? The suns going down. You know if you don't get back to Oerba soon, you might just be sleeping out here," the dark haired Pulsian teased; Though Vanille knew better. There was no way her sister would ever leave her out here by herself… but then again I guess I'm not really alone now. Am I? she found herself thinking as her eyes slowly slide to where Hope had run off too last. Wait… what am I thinking! I couldn't actually sleep with him around. She told herself as the blood rose to her cheeks at the very thought.

Watching her friends Gaze Fang leaned to the side a bit as if to see what Vanille was looking at, "What is it? Did your prey run off that way?" she asked. Hearing the words Vanille instantly froze as her head darted straight ahead as her hands instantly flew up dismissively, "Oh no. I just… Think I might find something if I go that way is all. It is getting late so if I don't catch something soon, I'm going to be in big trouble." She pouted as she emphasized the word big a bit as she lowered head her emerald almost pleading before a small hopeful smile formed on her lips. "Say Fang… Do you think you could do me a favor?"

"A favor?" Fang questioned her expression getting series as she crossed her arms over her chest, "Let me guess you want me to stall for you."

"Come on Fang, it won't be that bad! I just need more time. I'm sure I can catch something if I get more time! Please please please!" Vanille begged as she tugged on Fangs arms like a child asking for a shiny new toy.

"Heh, you know if I keep helping you like this you're never gonna learn," Fang scolded as she placed a hand on her hip and flicked Vanille's forehead, "Alright I guess I'll give you another hour. But after that we're going, with or without your hunt. Got it, Missy?"

Nodding Vanille gave the woman a toothy grin, "Gotcha!" she chimed as Fang got settled on her chocobo once more and gave a quick wave before she departed back to Oerba.

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Finally hearing the sound of the chocobo riding off into the distance Hope began to inch closer from his cliff cover. It was now sundown and the Steppe was engulfed in the orange and pink sky lights. Stepping out of the cliff's shadow he saw Vanille standing there, her pigtails blowing in the wind as she moved her hands about energetically as she bid farewell to Fang.

With Fang now vanishing on the horizon, she finally turned around her eyes falling right on his face as her back hand rested on the handle of her binding rod. He was still a stranger to her clearly, not to mention a foreigner from Cacoon on Pulse, in other words…the enemy.

Raising a hand to the back of his head Hope lowered his gaze a bit, "Uh… T-thank you. For not telling her about me." he managed to get out as his eyes slowly looked back up at her face, his heart beat starting to hasten. After all he had no way of telling what she'd do next. This wasn't the same Vanille he'd met during the purge. She was a hunter heck probably even a warrior if there was a war going on.

"Well despite the fact that you're from Cacoon…you did save me, didn't you? Soooo I guess you can say we're even now" she replied with a smile her hand lowing a bit from the rod for once as she raised a hand to her chin in thought as she leaned forward her eyes inquiring, "Hope, right?"

"Uh… yeah, Hope Estheim." he confirmed as he took a step closer to her as he held out his hand, "And yours?" he asked in the same manner she had done once before; despite the fact that he already knew hers. However she didn't need to know that. At least not right now… After all who knew what could happen, heck he might have already messed things up.

Her emerald eyes darted to his at the question as they locked onto one another's; it was almost like a challenge in a ways. As if Vanille was trying to see just what he was up too and why he wanted to know her name, after all it wasn't everyday a Cacoonian showed up in the Steppe. At least alive. Finally breaking their gaze Vanille placed her free hand on her hip in defeat as the name spun off her lips like it had all those years ago during the purge, "Vanille."

"Vanille," he repeated with a heartwarming smile. To him it had been years since he had last seen her though her name was one thing in the world that seemed to always spring out of his mouth whether he was with friends or by himself in his room in Acedemia in his sleep.

"Yup that's it" she chimed out with a nod as she took a few steps closer to him her hand slowly reaching out to the sleeve of his uniform as she bent down so her eyes were right on it, "So this is how the people of Cacoon dress?" she asked her eyes checking everything from the material to the stitching.

"I guess you can say that," he replied as his eyes continued to follow her, his heart practically leaping out of chest when she jumped back up; her eyes level with his chin as she glared up at him her smile faltering a bit, "You guess?" she asked her eyes clearly observing his reaction, "Are you not from Cacoon then?"

"Uh… no that's not it. I mean I'm from there but…" he paused his head lowering a bit as his eyes fell from hers. What should I tell her? That I am from Cacoon just not the one she knows right now? That I'm actually from the future where we actually fought on the same side, and that I used time travel to get here? Surely she'd never believe that even if it was Vanille. She wasn't stupid at least not in his eyes.

Seeing the worry on his face Vanille instantly let out a small sigh, "Well I guess it doesn't matta" she said with her accent as she walked up closer to him, "But I do have a favor to ask before I completely let you off the hook if that's alright."

Surprised by her words Hope tilted his head to the side a look of sheer confusion taking hold, "Uh…." He breathed out as Vanille let out a small giggle.

"Don't worry it's nothing too hard. We just need to find something small like a rabbit or a bear or something that I can take back to my village," she told him as she raised a hand to her face and let out a worrisome sigh as her brow furrowed, "Today was my turn to hunt you see, but because of that thing I didn't really get a chance to but if I go back empty handed I'm sure I'll be in big trouble," she finished as she dropped her head in defeat a little before she clapped her hands together in a pleading manner, "So what do you say. Can you help me?"

"Well if you put it like that, I guess I don't really have a choice in the matter," he replied with a small shrug. It's not like it was going to kill him helping her and he couldn't help but admit that he was actually enjoying her company there on the Steppe. After all he could've run into some else and that really would've been trouble. Maybe while I'm out I can try and find something that I can use here to try and get back. I'm sure noel's probably looking for a way to get the Historia Crux going again and if I got here through it then maybe when I got here a paradox opened up somewhere on pulse. If I can find one there might be an Oopart in it.

"That's right!" Vanille chimed out as she pulled out her binding rod again as she began to take a few steps forward only to come to a halt before whipping around causing hope to Jerk back a bit in complete surprise as she pointed her rod at Hope once again, "If you try to run I won't be afraid to use this again," she warned with a stern glance before returning to her cheery self as she turned back to the route and began to hum a small tune. Rubbing the back of his head Hope let out a small groan; it wasn't like he was going anywhere anytime soon and even if he did he'd just be putting himself in more danger if anyone other than Vanille found him.

"Don't worry I'm not going to run," he breathed out as he quickened his pace. Walking next to her they both began their search for the hunt.