Lightning's Thoughts

On Bathing

"No peeking now!" Snow laughed as he, Hope and Sazh undressed. Before Lightning had turned away from them, Hope had given her the most pitiful look. He was obviously not used to bathing with others and was wary of the idea.

Lightning folded her arms, watching the horizon for any possible attack. Fang and Vanille sat next to each other just a ways off, talking about their past life on Gran Pulse.

She felt for the boy, not particularly liking public bathing or showering either. There weren't very many women in the military so the women's showers were often empty. Even if there was one or two people in the showers when she came in, they kept to themselves or quickly left. Though with those two men as bathing partners, she had no doubt the boy wouldn't get his privacy.

After long she heard the boys splash out of the river. "Finally got that crap off of me!" She heard Snow exclaim. "I can't believe I rolled through that shi- uh stuff."

"I'm fourteen not eight," she heard Hope speak, "I don't care if you swear."

"You're not the one I'm worried about hearing."

"I doubt Lightning cares either."

"I mean Serah, kiddo!" Snow laughed. "I have to keep classy for my leading lady."

"If you're classy, I'm a chocobo!"

"Well watch where you take a dump next time!"

The three burst out in laughter. It seemed as if the bath had proved to be a bonding experience. She hoped the same would be true for her. Lightning felt on the outside when it came to Fang and Vanille, but then, so did everybody else. Still, it would be nice to feel more comfortable around them, like she felt with the guys.

"It's all yours, ladies!" Snow smiled as he passed Lightning, hanging his coat over his shoulder. She had wondered how that man didn't die of heat stroke wearing that thing all the time. It was the dead of Summer and Snow insisted on wearing as much clothes as possible.

Fang glanced over in their direction and Vanille stood up. "How's the water?" Vanille asked as Hope passed.

"Uh," Always bashful around that girl, Hope glanced back at Lightning for a second, "it's really nice!"

"Great!" Vanille exclaimed hurrying passed the others towards the river. Fang and Lightning followed, setting their weapons down. "Oh!" The girl exclaimed, "remember boys, no peeking either!"

As Lightning took off her boots, she heard them grumble.

"Why would an old guy like me want to?"

"I don't need to when I've got my girl waiting for me." Lightning's eye twitched hearing him call her sister his "girl." She wondered briefly how much he had seen of her, than cursed herself for thinking it. She really didn't want to know.

"Uh," she smiled, hearing Hope's timid response, "I swear! I promise I won't look!" Out of all of them, he was probably the most tortured about the knowledge that there was three women bathing just yards away.

Lightning turned away from the guys to see that Vanille was already in the water, Fang just behind. She quickly adverted her eyes, not expecting that they would be so open with their nakedness. "Hurry up Lightning!" The younger girl waved to her.

Before fully stripping down, she check how far her l'Cie brand was. It didn't seem to be farther than the last time she checked, but it was hard to tell.

Glancing around for a final time, she undressed and hurried into the water until it was about her shoulders. Fang, who had watched Lightning's prudish dash into the river, smirked. Lighting narrowed her eyes at her, arms crossed partially because it was cold and partially to cover herself. It was obvious that the other woman saw her embarrassment as a sign of weakness, despite the fact that if she had kept her eyes to herself in the first place than maybe she wouldn't have felt so insecure. Especially taking in account the way that woman looked at Vanille.

"Funny that the one who shows the most skin, is the one so quick to hide it." Fang spoke with her hands on her hips, her height and the slightly more shallow water hiding nothing. It was almost as if she were trying to show them off.

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"Humph," Fang stretched her arms behind her head, "so you'll be the sex-symbol and not the sex-slave? Pretty much the same thing, right?"

I don't want to see your boobs, Fang.

"What are you talking about?" Lightning spat, very annoyed that Fang felt she had something over her. She honestly didn't know whether or not she was being made fun of or hit on.

"You're not very far along, Lighting!" Lightning turned to find Vanille had somehow gotten around her other side. "We didn't know," Vanille explained, "since you keep your brand hidden all the time."

Lighting started straight down at the water next to the girl, rather than at her. "Yeah," she edged a little bit away from both of them.

"And don't worry," Vanille placed her hands on Lightning's upper arms, "you'll make someone very happy!"

Being that the last thing she was thinking about for the past week or so was pleasing some man she hadn't met yet, Vanille had caught her completely off guard. In fact, she was utterly speechless.

Vanille just smiled and splashed over to Fang, who began to help the younger girl wash her hair. Lighting relaxed, it seemed like they were going to leave her alone. She glanced back at them for a moment, the younger girl laughing and teasing the other, while Fang smiled fondly. I don't understand those two.

It made her think of Serah, how she took care of her and watched her grow.

Lighting missed her sister so much.

She moved so that she could sit down, letting herself relax due to the wave of despair she felt. She ran a hand through her hair, brushing out dried blood and a bug.

"Mom's going to be so mad!"

"Then keep quiet and help me!" Claire grabbed a hose, dragging it into the back yard. She had gotten into a fight with some of the boys on the playground and ended up covered from head to toe in mud.

"You should have just let it go," Serah sighed. She reached down to turn the knob on their water pump until a stream began to spill out from the other end. "They didn't have to let me play with them."

Claire bent over to let the water pour over her head, washing the mud out of her hair. "So? They weren't being fair!"

"Mom's still going to be mad, it looks like you fell into the sea!" Serah laughed only to have the hose thrown at her, getting just as wet as her sister. "Hey!"

"Hose me down." Claire outstretched her arms to either side, making herself a bigger target.

A devious look came on Serah's face. She aimed the hose so that it was pouring out on her sister's feet. With just enough water pressure . . . She kicked the dial on the pump, water bursting out of the hose and completely drenching Claire.

"Hey, stop it!"

"Can't catch me!"

"Wanna bet that?"

Lightning smiled fondly at the memory. If only she hadn't . . .

She rested her head in her hands. She was exhausted booth mentally and physically.

"Serah…"

Lighting felt water splash over her, she turned to see Vanille staring at her. "Got you Light!"

It was the girl's attempt to make her feel better and maybe, just maybe, it might have helped. Lighting splashed the girl back. Vanille stepped out of the way and the water hit Fang in the face.

"You're going to get it now!" Fang shouted. Vanille squealed of laughter.

Soon the three of them were chasing each other down, splashing one another, and laughing.

"Uh, girls?" They froze at the sound of Snow's call. "Shouldn't we get going soon?"

The girls glanced at one another, suddenly remembering where they were as if they had forgotten. Lighting and Fang made eye contact for a second, a look of acceptance reflecting back. Both quickly glanced away, staring towards the shore.

"I thought I said no peeking!" Vanille called back, hurrying after the other two.

"I'm not!"

"You better not," Lighting taunted, "Serah's watching!"

A/N: Decided to upload twice this weekend, just for fun^^

Notice how the reason they stopped to bathe was because Snow was covered in the poo from last chapter? :3

Thanks for reading and reviewing! :D