Author's Note: Hey guys here's the new chapter. Sorry for taking so long with it. Final projects at school kind of got the better of me. Also the next chapter will probably take even longer to come out since this coming week is finals and graduation not to mention moving back home so I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to sit down and work on chapter 6.

Words: 2,059

The Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown

Reaching a cliff side that was a bit higher up, Hope finally let go of Vanille's arm as he plopped down on the ground and caught his breath. I shouldn't have done all that extra running, he told himself as he felt the throbbing pain from his burning wound. Taking off his jacket Hope looked at the damage it had received in disbelief. Damn he really got me good, huh. Then again, he would've been blind if he hadn't hit me, he mused as he recalled the event.

"Your back… does it hurt?" He heard her ask as he looked up to where she stood leaning over him. Giving her a painful grin he lied as he waved a hand dismissively, "Not at all…"

"It doesn't look like it…" she mumbled her eyes scanning his face critically. Giving a small 'hmm' she walked around him; her eyes scanning all his bumps and bruises. She couldn't help but feel a lump in her stomach as the guilt began to get to her. It's all my fault… If I had just run away instead, Hope wouldn't have gotten hurt.

Stopping in front of him again she opened up her knapsack and began to dig inside of it. I know I've got somewhere in here. Now, where is it?

''''''

What is she looking for in there? Hope wondered to himself as he watched the Pulsian girl dig through her bag. However he didn't have to wait long to find his answer. Within seconds, she finally stopped her rummaging and looked back up at him. Her emerald eyes sparkling apologetically as she got down on her knees in front of him.

"Here," she finally said as she pulled out a bottle from her knapsack on her hips and pressed it into his hands, "It's not much but… it should take away some of the pain."

"Uh…Thank you," Hope managed to get out as he took looked down at the bottle; his own eyes looking at it curiously before the glazed over a bit and his mind began to wonder. Again… it's just like back then. Well minus the potion and adding a gun… he mused more to himself as he recalled the first time he met her during the purge. Shaking his head, he came back to the present and twisted the lid off the green bottle.

Taking a small sip of it, he cringed; "This is awful, what is it?" he practically coughed out in disgust.

"It's just a small potion; don't you have them on Cocoon?"

"No we do… it's just they taste really different is all," he replied as he looked back down at the bottle and took another tortuous sip. Chuckling a bit at his pain, Vanille poked his shoulder.

"Well like it or not, it'll do wonders. Trust me." she told him with a playful smile.

''''''

The Archylte Steppe - ? AF

"Everyone all right?" Noel called out as he crawled up from where he fell on the floor of the airship; his eyes scanning the wreckage of what remained of their ship.

It's just like at the Vile Peaks and the Blitz Squad, he thought to himself as he looked at all the damages. If he hadn't just been riding in it, there was a good chance he wouldn't have even known what it was. Looks like we'll no choice but to find a gate now.

"Hey! We're good, chief," Sazh called out from where he and Dajh we're now sitting. Turning his attention to them Noel instantly ran over to them; his ocean blue eyes showing scanning over the little boy. Doesn't even look like he got a scratch.

"What about Fang and Vanille, you see them anywhere?" Sazh continued as he got to his feet and brushed off his green jacket and cupped his mouth as he shouted, "Hey! Fang! Vanille! Where are'ya?"

"Over here, old man" said a muffled voice. Darting in the direction he heard it, Noel found himself uncovering some of the debris. Finding Fang, Noel helped her up by the arm.

"Damn, when you said it was going to rough I wasn't expecting that," she said sarcastically as she slowly got to her feet. "Where's Vanille?"

"I'm here," Vanille said as she appeared from what used to be her seat. Running over to her, Fang instantly began to look her over, "Are you hurt?"

"Don't worry, Fang. I'm fine" she told her sister with a smile as she looked back over at Noel, Sazh, and Dahj. "Well now where too?"

"Looks like we somehow landed in the Steppe," Noel mumbled under his breath as he looked around. "Not sure what year we're in, but I know a way we can find out."

"Really? And what's that?" Fang asked as she cocked her head to the side obviously a bit skeptical of their new leader. As if stepping up to her challenge thought, Noel pointed out across the Steppe as he gave a positive grin, "If we managed to make our way over to the Plains of Eternity we should see the camp of hunters. At least, if we're anywhere near when Serah and I came here."

Before Fang could roll her eyes at his plan, Vanille walked over to Sazh and Dahj and took hold of Dajh's hand.

"All right then," Vanille said as she raised a fist to her chin, "Lead the way, Noel. We'll follow you." Darting her eyes over at Fang, she gave her sister positive grin as if to reassure her. With that they began their journey to the Plains of Eternity.

''''''

The Archylte Steppe - Year Unknown

"What are you going to do about Fang," Hope finally asked her as he was finishing off the bottle of healing potion. "Because of Gogmagog, you lost your hunt."

"I'm not sure…" she began before his words hit her, "Wait! You mean you know that thing?" she shouted out to him her eyes wide in disbelief.

"Ehh…." he replied as he mentally smacked himself. Great job Hope, why not just give it all away…I need to focus…If I don't I could end up changing everything!

"What I meant was…It…uh it looked like one?" he told her, his own voice faltering a bit. Feeling her eyes on him he instantly found himself darting her gaze. Geez, she's never going to believe me.

"Does that mean they're on Cocoon?" she asked as she leaned down a bit to try and grab his attention.

"Y-yeah…something like that" he lied as his eyes locked onto hers. I need to stop this. If we keep talking like this there's no telling what's going to slip out.

"Hey Vanille, it's getting pretty late why don't we get some sleep?" he suggested nonchalantly as he reclined back, wincing a bit as he did, on the grass where he had been sitting; his eyes looking up at the stars.

Moving a little ways from him he heard her give a small huff, "Fine. But don't go getting any ideas. You hear me! If you try anything I'll use my binding rod again." she called over to him warningly. Chuckling at her words Hope shot a glance her way, "Wouldn't think of it," he told her. "Plus with my wound, you'd probably be able to take me down easier then that Leyak."

''''''

Feeling her heart sink a bit at his reply she looked away slowly. "You do have a point," she managed to get out as she found herself lying on the cool ground; the strands of grass tickling at her back. Closing her eyes, she laid there in utter silence as the breeze pricked at her bare skin.

"Here!" she heard Hope call out as his jacket came flying over at her. "H-hey!" she called out, as it smacked her in the face. Lowering it with her hands, her eyes fell on Hope.

"It's probably going to get cold tonight."

"Won't you need it?" she asked her eyes questioning him curiously.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." With that he rolled over onto his side so that he had his back to her. "Just get some sleep."

Not moving an inch Vanille kept her eyes on him, her grip tightening around the jacket. Despite its battle wounds it still did a good job of keeping the chill from her bones, but she didn't feel right. Guess it can't be helped… Rising to her feet she quietly made her way over to Hope and plopped down on the opposite side of him; her own back facing his. Taking the jacket she placed it over both of them as best as she could.

''''''

Feeling the sudden warmth on his skin, Hope slowly opened his eyes just as he felt Vanille's hand brush past his shoulder, "Vanille! What are you doing?" he asked as he turned his head her direction.

Freezing at his voice, Vanille let out a small chuckle much like the one she had given Snow when he had found them after fighting off C'eith.

"Well… if it's really going to get cold. Shouldn't we share?" she replied, "It's what we do in Oerba all the time."

"That's because your family," he told her bluntly. "We're not. You should go back over to where you were." Hope managed to get out a bit harshly. Glaring over at him a bit annoyed at his tone she sat up and leaned over him.

"Look here you, as long as we just stay like this its fine. I won't touch you and you won't touch me. Got it!"

"Uh…" Hope replied uneasily. It was clear that if he chose to fight her about it he'd never win. Her mind was made up. There's no changing that. Before he could even agree, Vanille was already readjusting the jacket and laying back down, her back turned to him. Hearing her quiet down, he finally replied.

"Al-alright…."

''''''

Hours seemed to have passed while the stars continued to shine brightly over the Steppe.

"Hey Hope…" Vanille whispered in the night as she shifted a little next to him, "Are you awake?"

Hearing her whisper, he let out a small mumble as an affirmative. Smiling at his response she brought a hand to her chest, "Good…because I really have something that I want to ask you …Why did you save me earlier? I mean…if you really wanted to make a clean getaway, then you should've just let that thing do me in."

Not moving an inch, Hope laid where he was. Opening his eyes he thought about. She does have a point; If Gogmagog had gotten to her first. I'd probably be a lot safer wandering around without anyone on Pulse knowing that I was here. But If I hadn't done something there's no telling what the consequences would have been. Plus leaving her to Gogmagog, wasn't something he'd have been able to do even if he wanted to. And he knew that.

"Because…" he began as he turned his head a bit so that he could see a glimpse of her pigtail behind him, "I trust you, Vanille."

"But… you just met me a few hours ago. How can you possibly trust me so easily," she practically whispered, "We're enemies. Pulse and Cocoon. We're at war…"

"Well call me crazy if you want," he sighed, "but I really don't think you'd turn me in. It's just a feeling I have." It was true. Even if she knew nothing about their future endeavors together, she was still Vanille and nothing was going to change that.

"It doesn't matter. I mean if you're from Pulse and I'm from Cocoon," he began as he felt her freeze at his words. "To me you're just Vanille. The girl I know from Gran Pulse."And the girl that I've been trying to save since I was 14. But I think I'll leave that part out.

Hearing her breath catch, his mind instantly flew back into his memories of the last time they'd been on the Steppe together. Feeling his heart begin to ache again, his mouth formed a frown as he remembered their now broken promise he let out a frustrated sigh, "Go to sleep Vanille. We can talk in the morning."

"Okay," she finally managed to get out as she slowly inched a little closer. Feeling her back touch his, Hope froze.

"Thanks, Hope."