'Of Booty and Honor'

-Phase One: Audition of Fate-

Chapter Six

After eating, the three made their way back on track up the mountain in search of the Mikado treasure...

"Hey, wait..."

Reno said, stopping in his tracks. Three steps later, Riku and Rude stopped as well, an turned to look at the red head.

"...What if this whole treasure-y Mikado-y thing isn't...really there and Tidus just wanted us off the ship...?"

Rude and Riku looked at each other.

"I mean, no offense, but I don't think Tidus is very fond of ya kid, and me and Rude seem kinda lower class...Mostly Rude."

Rude growled.

"And Squall's just a shrimp...ya think he'd really leave us out here? And maybe the map was a fake..."

"Reno..." Riku said, straightening and looking down at the ground. "You might actually be right..."

Rude straightened afterwards and crossed his arms.

"But we aren't leaving to find out until we find Squall. There's just no way."

Riku said, turning back up the trail, Rude following and Reno after a moment's hesitation.

Rude glanced at the redhead, "Geez, Reno, way to kill a good morning."

-AoF-

"So...what is it like, being a...Ninja?"

Squall asked, walking side by side with Cloud as the two continued through the forests. Cloud kept ahead, glancing back every once in a while to make sure the kid was still following him. "Eh. It's Ok."

"Really? 'Cause I've always thought that...Ninja's killed themselves if someone gave the order, and were way too loyal and kinda cocky."

"Now WHERE on Earth did you hear that bull?"

"My buddy Riku."

Cloud rolled his eyes. The trip was then silent for little over ten minutes before Squall sighed, "So...where are we even going?"

"The Ichijoji Stronghold."

"And there, we shall do...?"

"Well I'm still debating on whether to turn you in to Security or not."

Squall stopped moving. "So then why the hell am I following you if you're just going to get me killed?"

"Hey, it's either follow me or die in the sea-o-trees."

The brunet sighed and continued along his way after Cloud.

"There really is no way out of this, by any chance, is there?" Squall asked after another few moments of quiet.

Cloud stopped, and sighed, turning around to face the younger, "Yanno, kid, I really just don't know. Leader wanted you for questioning and possible brutal torturing, but...I think you'd crack after the first couple hours."

Squall glared and crossed his arms.

"But on the other hand...I dunno, I just don't think it'd be right to just let them do that to ya. Ya seem like a nice kid..."

"I'm not a kid. I'm seventeen."

"Well then, I should just let you escape and get lost in here, shouldn't I, ya big-bad teenager?" Cloud stuck out his tongue, turned back and continued on his way down the buried trail in front of him.

The younger boy sighed again, and followed again.

-AoF-

The plain, grassy mountainside turned into another lush, green forest in under an hour after another short break for the trio. Reno gave on last sigh, before falling completely on his face, "HOW MUCH LONGEEEEERRRRRR?"

"Just a little further, Reno, then we'll reach the shade, ok?" Riku answered, keeping a calm, low voice and continuing along the way.

"Hey, are...you alright, Riku?" The redhead asked, standing up and dusting off his clothes.

Riku didn't answer. Rude, again, stood near Reno, and crossed his enormous arms. "Sad. We should continue."

"Yeah...ok." Reno agreed, following the younger boy through the chilly wind and beating sun for another hour before the shade was finally reached, where the three took another break.

Riku sighed, taking out the compass he had gotten back from Sora and trying to point them west...or something. He blinked before suddenly being brought from his daze by the annoying voice of his redheaded companion.

"Hey, I thought that thing was stolen?"

Riku looked up, "I-it was..."

"Well then how the hell did..." Reno widened his bright blue eyes, "...did you get it back, Riku?"

"I-I uh..." The youngest began, glancing back down at the compass and avoiding the other's angered stare.

"You slept with one of 'em, didn't you ya two-faced little-" Reno started, being cut off by the tallest.

Both elder pirates looked at the silver-haired boy, one an angered glare, one an uncertain stare. Riku sighed again, and put the compass away.

"Ok, yeah, I did... But I got the compass back, didn't I?"

"Yeah but!"

"Hush, Reno!" Rude again shut the redhead up by clamping a big hand on his mouth.

"Riku..." Chrome Done started, using his free hand to rub the bridge of his nose.

"I-I dunno, it just sorta...happened, yanno? H-he was...something I've never seen before..."

"HE?"

Reno piped up again, getting away from the tallest one and grabbing Riku's collar, hoisting him slightly into the air, "So you slept with a dude just to get you're sweet release?"

Rude coughed, "He did get the compass back."

Reno paused, glancing from Riku to Rude before throwing the younger onto the ground with an angered groan. "Kid can't be trusted anymore! Who knows when something like this will happen again!"

"Reno..."

"No, Riku, don't even start! You're a liar!"

Neither Riku nor Rude could begin this time. Reno was right. The redhead continued his rant, Riku listening absently with his head hung low. Rude merely crossed his arms, and tuned him out. After a short sigh from the silver haired boy, Reno had stopped his tirade and groaned again.

A few more obscene words, and one last huff, and Reno finally shut his trap. Riku ran his hands through his hair, and glanced up at the redhead. Reno returned the glance, and quickly turned on the path in front of them, and continuing his walk. Rude stood and joined him, and was trailed by the youngest boy.

-Deadline-

A/N: I cut it short again...oh well. More on the ninja's is coming up soonlyness. Phase Two: Trysts.