AN: Hello everyone to my first Gurren Lagann fanfiction! I have to admit, I didn't think I would be able to write one since I didn't have any ideas at the time, but that's the thing about good ones - when they come to you, they stay in your mind until you find a way to put them on paper. Plus as epic as the anime was, I feel that two of our main heroes never got any real closure. I mean, Simon and Yoko living out their lives alone just doesn't sit well with me, and I know it doesn't with many folks out there.

Disclaimer: Gurren Lagann created by Gainax, Aniplex, etc.

Chapter 1 - "It's been a while."

The whistle of the wind rustled across the field as volcanoes rumbled away in the distance.

If one was to be a caretaker of any field near said volcanoes there would be reason to be concerned. But somehow this field never was affected by the eruptions. Some could say it was pure luck or simply just how the wind was blowing.

Or the plants were simply emulating a certain legend who once said, "Give logic the boot and go beyond the impossible."

As he would. Thought a 41-year-old man as he walked through the field to get to his destination.

In no time at all he finally got to where he had been heading, which was a spot made up of two parts. One made up of a batch of fresh grass and flowers that had been growing quite well, and the other half made up of fresh soil that was also sprouting its own patch of green over the bare dirt, with a nodachi sword driven into the ground as a marker for a makeshift grave, along with six other crosses.

Placing his drill on the ground, Simon walked over to the makeshift garden and knelt reverently by his long-departed love's grave before walking over to the other makeshift graves and looking down at them with equal amounts of reverence and friendship, especially the one with the sword.

"Hey everyone." Simon said as he knelt down again, with his trusty pig-mole Boota jumping off his makeshift cloak and kneeling beside his long-time companion in respect to their departed friends and Nia.

The sound of the volcanoes woke the former leader of Team Dai-Gurren as he tried to rub the tiredness out of his eyes. Once he got his focus he then looked up into the sky and noticed dawn was breaking.

How long he had spent talking to Nia, Kamina, Kittan and the others the Digger wan't sure, but either way it ended up with him in his sleeping bag. Once sleep overtook him dreams came once more, with a hand reaching out to guide him somewhere...

"Boo Boo!"

Simon looked down and saw Boota already up.

"What is it buddy?" Simon asked as he got up.

Rather than answer, the pig-mole dashed over to where he was gesturing with Simon following. Fortunately it didn't take long, for once Simon got to where Boota was he was surprised by what he saw, or rather, who.

For right there, lying in a sleeping bag by a hoverbike was none other than Yoko Littner.

While it may have been years, Simon still recognized that flame of red hair anywhere.

Boota then went over to try and nudge her awake but Simon stopped him.

"She's still asleep."

Boota then looked between both of his friends as if trying to decide, only to then gesture towards Yoko.

"I think we should let her sleep for a while more." Simon said. "Besides, I'm not about to get beaten just for waking her up." He then followed up with a smile. "But I'm pretty sure you'd be the exception."

Boota then chirped excitedly as he then landed right on his favorite spot of Yoko's to perch.

Simon couldn't help but chuckle as he then went back over to his knapsack to start making some breakfast.

"Hmm?"

Yoko murmured before she felt a weight on her chest and as she opened her amber eyes who should she see but a very familiar pig-mole.

"Boota?"

"Boo?"

Immediately the former sniper found herself more awake as she then petted Boota affectionately.

"It's good to see you." Yoko remarked. "But where's...?"

Looking just a short distance away Yoko then saw a small fire going with an even more familiar face of a man she could still recognize...

"Simon?"

The Digger turned and smiled.

"Morning." He said with a goofy grin that still had a touch of his youth despite his age.

"What are you doing here?"

"Visiting Bro, Nia and the others." Simon replied.

"Oh, of course."

"How about you though?"

"I guess you could say the same." Yoko replied.

"Well, come on. I was just making some breakfast."

"So early though?"

"Well, it's five after ten, so..."

"Oh crap!" Yoko said. "I must have overslept!"

"It's okay." Simon said. "I've been guilty of that more than once."

Yoko then got up and stretched, revealing an oversized t-shirt and shorts.

"What's that?" She asked as she walked over to where Simon was cooking.

"Breakfast."

Yoko's stomach growled.

"And I guess you feel just a little bit hungry, huh?"

Yoko simply nodded to which Simon smiled.

"There's fruit in my knapsack. I'll have the rest ready in a bit."

Yoko wasted no time in rummaging through Simon's knapsack and pulled out what looked like a bag with a few apples, and some containers holding what looked like other types of fruit.

"What are these?" Yoko asked.

"The yellow ones are pineapple, and the blue ones are blueberries." Simon replied.

"Oh."

"You teach at a school and you don't know what those are?" Simon asked in amazement.

"Sorry." Yoko said sheepishly as she took an apple. "It's been a while."

"No big deal." Simon remarked as he then reached into and pulled out two paper plates from his knapsack before going over to his fire and picking up what what was breakfast.

"Here we go." He then presented the former sniper with a plate filled with food before getting some for himself.

"Bacon and eggs!" Yoko said, salivating at her plate as she finished her fruit.

"Fresh off the grill." Simon said proudly.

"That was good." Yoko said after she and Simon finished their breakfast.

"Thank you." Simon said.

"So you came all this way to see Bro and the others?" Simon asked.

"I could almost say the same thing about you." Yoko pointed out.

"Touche."

"So where have you been?" Yoko asked.

Simon exhaled. "Where to begin?" Simon asked.

But before he could start Yoko's phone went off.

"What the hell...?" Yoko said as she looked at it and realized what it was. "Oh no."

"What is it?"

"The alarm at the school went off. It's not a common thing but every now and again it happens." She then picked up her stuff as she then got ready to head back to her hoverbike.

"Need some backup?"

"How fast can you run?" Yoko asked jokingly.

"Well...I'm fast but not that fast." Simon said sheepishly.

"Hop on." Yoko said good-naturedly as she placed her backpack on the compartment side of her bike.

"Serious?"

"I'm being totally serious. Come on."

Simon looked at Boota who then jumped off of his shoulder and onto Yoko's chest.

Surprise, surprise. Simon thought to himself in amusement.

Packing up his own supplies with help from Yoko, Simon then followed the former sniper to her bike and the two hopped on with Simon hanging on to Yoko from behind.

As he did this though, Simon couldn't help but notice the scent of leather and soap wafting from Yoko as she started the bike.

Wow... Simon thought.

"You really like the view, don't you?" Yoko said.

Damn! I thought I was quiet. "Uh-yeah! It never gets old." Simon stammered, inwardly sighing in relief at being able to recover quickly.

"All right, here goes." Yoko said as the bike switched on and they both took off, heading for Yoko's island home.