AN: Sorry this is more than a little late, i've been bogged down with life and school. But i'm going to try to churn out a few more chapters really soon to make up for it. As always hope you enjoy~

Back from whence I came?

We have been staying at Fang and Lightning's for almost two weeks now. We still have no idea what we're going to do with ourselves. Our memory recovery has been sluggish at best. After those initial dreams, they've only shown up in bits and pieces that whizz by too quickly to gain understanding from them. I need to return to Cocoon, see it with my own two eyes. Hopefully seeing it will bring back at least a portion of my memories. I'm debating whether or not I should ask Juokas to come along. I rolled over in bed groaning, glancing over at Juokas in the process. I started backwards when I realized her eyes were open.

"Originally I thought you were flippant and scatterbrained but you are a mix. You hide yourself well under that façade you've created. But I'm startin' to learn your tells, spill it." She stared at me with an intensity that made me feel like a child being scolded by a parent.

I flailed my body slightly groaning into my pillow. "I don't want to, especially to a Gran Pulse hellion like you." I froze and before I knew it I was whipped around by my arm. "What was that you vipa'?" She growled holding my arm in a death grip. I waved my free arm at her dismissively before chortling, "Nothing a Pulsian would understand, don't sweat your pretty head about it." Thinking her grip couldn't possibly get tighter I gasped when I felt the pressure increase what felt like tenfold. I hissed, wiggling slightly in an attempt to alleviate the blocked blood flow in my arm. Realizing my lack of progress, I slipped off the bed trying to wrench my arm free. Catching onto my plan Juokas followed closely with movements akin to water. We thrashed around, linked together as if we were dancing. This 'dance' of ours continued for several minutes neither of us gaining any real ground, until I lost my footing. Juokas snatched the opportunity and lifted my leg, destroying my equilibrium. I caterwauled as my chest collided with the dresser roughly knocking the wind out of me.

Juokas laughed triumphantly as she leaned over me, pinning me face down with her weight. Mind racing, I soon realized I was had. I groused to myself quietly, thumping my head on the top of the dresser in defeat. Juokas laughed again savoring her victory, "Are you going to tell me now that I've won?" I whisper something so quietly she bent her head over my shoulder to hear. "What was that? I took in a wheezy breath, and croaked, "Not on your life, Pulsian" Her grip on my leg switched quickly. "You're gonna to tell me one way or the other, why not make this easy on yourself?" She moved my leg slowly; I can already feel the sting in my joint. "Come on now jus' tell me…" Juokas murmured. She's pleading with me… I take a deep breath before muttering, "You'll try and stop me, that's why I don't want to tell you. There are two options you'll help me, or stop me. I doubt you'll let me leave your sight." Her grip softened, "You're right, but I'm not gonna to let you sneak off in the night eitha' so don't even think about it."

I guffawed, "I was actually contemplating that just now." Her grip tightened to the point it forced a pained growl out of me. "Alright...alright! I won't sneak off…" the tension subsided, "I'll just outrun you when the time comes." She jerked my captured limbs, sharp white hot jolts of pain shot through my body. I bit my lip to silence my cries. Juokas sighed, her grip faltered. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I bucked my hips pushing myself off of the dresser, sending us ungracefully to the floor in a heap. Juokas muttered angrily to herself as we wrestled on the floor for 5 minutes. This struggled ended up with me defeated and underneath her oppressive weight yet again. Her teal eyes burned into mine with a wild intensity. I gave up trying to push her off, I deflated letting my arms get pinned above my shoulders. I closed my eyes, thinking quietly to myself.

Juokas released her vice like holds, but still kept me pinned with her weight. She rested her head next to mine face down. I frowned; she doesn't want me to leave her behind. Why are we so intrinsically linked? A voice from the nether reaches of my head whispered, "What you're really asking is, why do you care so much?" We stayed on the floor for what seemed like an eternity. Within a few minutes we heard footsteps outside of our door. The door flew open with a loud bang before I could tilt my head backwards.

Serah yelped as she drank in our appearance. Faces red, cloths disheveled, not to mention the fact that Juokas was laying on me. Looking at her, I can see a strong bush burning her cheeks with a vengeance. Serah is still frozen, hand clutching the door knob when Fang sauntered by. She does a double-take stopping in her tracks. "I never took ya for a peepin' Tom Serah, you dirty girl. What would ya sista' think if she knew what you've been up to eh?" I beheld the battle between Serah's embarrassment and her anger in her eyes. She slowly turned around, snarling at Fang. She pushed past her and stomped down the stairs. Fang laughed loudly looking down at me, "What are you two doin' huh? I didn't picture you two to be the sort to like it rough n' tumble but from the looks of this room… It's tellin' a particular story." I sighed, "It's nothing like that Fang we were fighting...well grappling….no we were wrestling….ugh just having at it… forget it...none of those help my case…" I smirked shaking my head.

"They do not lil' lady, you both betta' get down stairs right quick and get some breakfast before that big lummox gets here yea? Don't take too long now!" Fang grinned impishly before closing the door. Juokas leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "You are gonna tell me what you were thinkin' about or you're not gettin' breakfast." Seizing this inopportune moment my stomach made its needs known. "Oh and it seems like you're hungry...how…fortunate for me." Juokas cackled quietly, mocking me. I put on a cross expression, turning my head sideways. I paused when our noses touched. She stared me down with the same wild determination she had earlier, like I was a challenge to be conquered.

I closed my eyes, "You already know how to win against me? Go through my stomach will you? Pulsian devil." I muttered playfully. "Fine you win, I was thinking about returning to Cocoon. You know, to see it for myself. I was hoping that going there would jump start my memories. I wasn't sure if I wanted you to come along or not, I have no idea what I'll find there. It may do nothing to help me remember but I have to try something…" She growled biting my shoulder. I yelped, eyes flipping open, "Oww wha…why are you biting me?" She clenched her jaw tighter before letting go. "Not sure about bringing me along?" She cuffed me in the ribs, "Like that is your choice to make? If you left without me I'd hunt you down, then there'd be hell ta pay once I got my hands on you." I laughed in disbelief, "Nice to know I'd be so sorely sought after. But I doubt you'd catch me unless I wanted to be caught." Juokas cocked an eyebrow in challenge, "Oh really? We'll have to wager on that one." I took in a deep breath once I was free from Juokas's death weight.

Juokas held her end of the deal, stooping to help me up. A few minutes later we were both presentable, and down at the table munching on breakfast. My plate was piled high with food. Fang glanced over as she sipped her hot coffee, "All that 'Fighting' did nothing but feed that appetite of yours I see." She waggled her eye brows suggestively. Serah choked on her eggs, she coughed for several minutes before taking a long swig of juice. Lightning glanced up curiously, eye brows perked in question. "You two were fighting? Is that what that ruckus was? Take it outside next time, you'll break the furniture." "Haha Sunshine if they took the kinda 'fight' they were havin', outside you'd have to arrest 'em." The blush from Serah's face didn't recede, as Lightning's came to life. I waved my hand as I chewed a mouth full of pancake, swallowing I clarified. "We were had a disagreement! It's not what Fang is painting it to be." A blush seized my cheeks under the Farrons' collective scrutiny.

Juokas seemed unperturbed by this situation, "Blue over there was bein' a bad girl, keepin' secrets. I had to beat it out of her." She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. I finished my breakfast with a fervor I had never conceived possible; all in the name of getting out of this uncomfortable situation. I fled outside, walking through the streets of New Oerba. Once I felt it was safe enough to stop I found a nice shady tree in the park. I climbed skyward wiggling my way onto a firm perch, finally laying my eyes on my prize. There was no activity coming from the house so far…

[Juokas]

I barged out of the house belly contented. Now to find that blue haired doxy. I made my way silently through town slithering through the shadows. Following the faintest signs she left behind, Blue is better than I thought she'd be at remaining unseen. Her faint trail led me to the park near Lightning's place. A sparse open area with a sandy playground and a few large shade trees. Within forty yards the beach can be seen. The unassuming trail of bent grass blades led to one of the smaller shade trees. Peering upwards into the gnarl of branches, I see her sitting high up on a branch looking out at sea.

"Some reason why you're way up there?" I shouted, shielding my eyes from the light. She leaned back onto another branch with reckless abandon, her limps dangling perilously. "No particular reason, it has a nice view and the breeze feels great. Some reason why you walked all the way through town just to follow me here? Afraid I'd run off?" I huffed at her tone, crossing my arms. "Are you going to come down?" Never missing a beat, "Eventually." I meandered through the playground, taking a seat on one of the swings and facing the restless waves.

[Blue]

Now that Juokas had wandered far enough for me to have a decent head start. I began my unnerving descent through the throng of swaying branches. I moved as slow as a flan to prevent from alerting Juokas of my plan. Jumping down landing with a barely audible thump, I pause for a moment looking around quickly before speeding off in the direction of town and far away from Juokas. Just as I meet the fringes of the boardwalk I hear Juokas bellow out a curse before pursing me.

I'll concede that you are stronger than me Juokas but you aren't fleet footed. I continued my mid-morning jaunt through town past the confused faces of many of the merchants milling about, setting up their stalls. It took several more minutes before I was out of the city, and hour before I made it onto the Steppe. Throughout this hour our game of cat and mouse ensued, one never gaining on the other. We flipped and sprinted over cliffs, through craggy canyons and cramped tunnels until we arrived at the lush ocean like plains covering the steppe. No many places for me to hide, and so far despite my speed Juokas has matched my stamina to a T. There seems to be no escape but I'm not one to give up.