Chapter Eighteen:

Bystander

Location: Spira - Besaid beach

All of the guests that have attended the birthday party have gathered at the beach, Brother had set the Celsius at the beach in order to send everyone home. Buddy and Shinra had clearly readied another cabin in the ship to support any other guests, they couldn't cram everyone in the engine room now could they? The new cabin was right besides the old cabin but you need to use an elevator between the two rooms to reach your destination.

Upon entering the bridge, Yuna noticed a few things. Rikku and Leblanc were actually being very buddy-buddy like, with Paine looking a bit dumbfounded near by. Nooj was with Gippal and Baralai, they were watching the Crimson spheres Yuna had gathered during the last year. Clearly the trio were happy to remember the old times, except for Nooj that seemed to dream away for he had left the seat where Shinra sat and stood next to where Buddy was piloting. Logos and Ormi were at the Cabin, minding their own business.

"Call me nosy, but it simply strikes me as odd to think that such a ship was nesting under Macalania temple. Tell me, how did you learn of it's location?" Nooj asked the tan, blue-clad navigator.

"Oh that's a pretty long story, sure you wanna know?" Buddy chuckled.

Yuna smiled and walked up to her friends, yet still listening to Buddy chatting with Nooj.

Paine for that matter was glad that the red-clad death seeker had become more- talkative with others, usually Nooj would just clam up over himself and rarely talk, but perhaps his never-ending encounters with Leblanc had triggered something inside of him, he would even smile more often, and even laugh, that brought joy to Paine because she respected the death seeker as an elder brother, a leader and a person she can rely on.

Perhaps that explained her feelings towards him as care, sisterly love not emotional love.

"Hey! Hey!" Leblanc waved her hands enthusiastically, "I don't know if this is lame or anything but: What kind of key do you need to open a banana?" she grinned, watching the people around her look at each other and shrug.

"Never heard that one before." Gippal shrugged.

"A Mon-Key!" she grinned and clapped her hands.

Gippal and Baralai sided nervous grins and looked at each other wearily.

"Yup, that's lame alright." Rikku shook her head.

"Ah, but it is funny!" Leblanc smiled.

"To an extent." Paine shrugged.

"Oh you peeps are no fun at all!" Leblanc pouted and ran to the door, "Fine! I'm going to the cabin, loves." She blew a kiss and winked before the door closed.

"Okay Rikku, what did you do to her? "Paine crossed her arms while frowning at her Al Bhed friend.

"Me?" the swirly-eyed girl squeaked, "Hey! I didn't do anything!"

"Really?" Paine quirked a doubtful brow.

"Yes!" Rikku pouted.

Right about then, the door opened and Logos walked in, frowning and arms crossed. "Alright. Which one of you did it?"

"Hn, did what?" Nooj asked, limping towards the tall man.

"Someone had given the boss a large dose of sugar, she's so hyperactive it's too hard to maintain." The tall man sighed in annoyance, "It'll be hours before the effects wear off!"

"Leblanc's hyperactive?" Paine asked ignoring how Rikku's lips made a perfect O.

"Gee, no wonder she's so perky!" Gippal chuckled, "Tough luck."

Rikku closed her mouth and glared at her eye-patch friend, "I assume that means you're the one who did that, than?"

"It was just one single little pixy-stick!" the Al Bhed defended himself.

Rikku glared, "Gippal!"

"Err- okay, so they were three… and a candy-apple." She chuckled and hid behind the praetor.

Baralai comically gained a sweat drop, "Um, I do remember seeing her having hot chocolate, too."

"Well I remember seeing her have cotton candy, too." Yuna tilted her head, "Just how much did she have?"

Logos sighed in despair, "That would be a whole week effect of hyperactive-ness."

Rikku grinned at Paine, "Paine?"

Paine looked at her friend before she spared a tiny smiled, she turned to her silver-haired friend, "Baralai, oui nayto?" (you ready?)

Baralai blinked and as if he remembered something, he turned to Gippal and nodded, "Nayto!" (Ready!)

Brother, Buddy and Shinra laughed, "Nayto!" they said in unity.

Logos blinked and nodded with a smile before leaving.

Yuna smiled and left as well.

Nooj for that matter just stood there, confused.

[A/N: Anything between (text) is Al Bhed translation.]

(Hey! Hey!) Rikku giggled to her ruby eyed friend, (can we start now?)

(Yes) Paine nodded.

Nooj almost jilted when Gippal touched his shoulder, "Huh?"

(Hey! You okay?) Gippal grinned.

Nooj frowned, "Why are you talking Al Bhed?" he asked and glared around, "If this is suppose to be a jock then I honestly don't find it funny."

(Too bad, cause we're having fun here!) Gippal grinned.

Nooj quirked a brow, "What?" he asked, annoyed, "Say that in English, please." He cupped his hip.

(No…) Gippal grinned.

Nooj quirked a brow, "I guess that was a no?"

(Yup yup) Rikku giggled, (I'm having fun already!) she danced.

Nooj rolled his eyes, "Okay, what's going on here? Why are you all talking in Al Bhed?"

(Because we like to see you confused.) Gippal chuckled.

"Uh- huh?" the red-clad death seeker blinked.

(Let us just say it was a mean prank.) Baralai smiled wearily.

Nooj stared at the silver-haired youth, "Baralai? You know Al Bhed, too?"

Baralai nodded, (It was worth the while, too.) he smiled.

The red-clad warrior rolled his eyes, "Argh… say it in English! I cant understand a thing you're saying!" he complained.

Right then the door opened again and Leblanc dashed in, still in the white mage dress, (Yo Yo Yo people! Guess what? I have an awesome idea for something fun!) she swung her staff and giggled, (Anyone interested?) she cutely winked.

Nooj's eyes widened, "Leblanc? You speak Al Bhed, too?"

(I have Al Bhed members, love, learning Al Bed was necessary.) she blew a kiss and giggled, (So anyone interested?)

(If it's fun then count me in!) Rikku danced around happily.

(You're forgetting the plan.) Paine crossed her arms, weight resting to one leg.

"Cunno." (Sorry) Rikku giggled.

The red-clad warrior groaned and limped towards the door, "Brats…" he muttered, but when he reached the stairs he felt a tug on his fluffy shoulder-piece, so he turned to see Leblanc attaching herself to his back.

"Oh you don't have to be so sore, Noojie-woojie." She released his shoulder-piece and wrapped her arms over his chest, her head nuzzling his shoulder blades.

Nooj's face went beat red as his heart skipped a beat, "Leblanc, not in public." He murmured embarrassedly.

"But I wov you!" she whined and hugged him tighter before she started murmuring to herself.

Nooj blinked at her and sighed, "I know you do, Leblanc. Would you please let go of me?"

"Why?" she said lazily, almost as if she were half-asleep.

"Because I want you to." He replied blankly.

"Okay- okay, this is all nice and dandy, so how about you let go of him already, Leblanc?" Gippal chuckled.

"Grr… No, mine! No touchie!" the blonde syndicate leader glowed at the Al Bhed youth and tightened her hug over the Mayvn.

Nooj groaned, "Is she hyperactive or drunk?" he frowned at the youth with the eye-patch.

"In her case, there doesn't seem to be a difference." Gippal shrugged, halfheartedly chuckling.

Leblanc released her embrace and toddled a few feet back before reattaching herself to the Mayvn's arm, "Hnn… I feel so sleepy." She giggled dreamily, now nuzzling the Mayvn's metallic arm, "Maybe I shouldn'ta had all them chocolate bars, ne?"

"Uh?" Nooj gasped and took hold of her when she suddenly released his arm, almost as if she fainted, "What- Leblanc?" though seemingly blacked out, the syndicate leader was just sleeping, so the Mayvn gathered her in his arms and touched her face worriedly, "Can you hear me? Leblanc?" he called.

"Hnn… extra chocolate with sprinkles on top…" she murmured and nuzzled the Mayvn's chest.

"That's it, no more sweets for you." Gippal murmured while pointing a finger to the sleeping blonde.

The death seeker sighed with a sided smile, he gathered her in his arms again and stood up, limping up the stairs.

"Nooj?" Paine called, but she said nothing more.

With a warm smile Nooj made way through the door and eventually he entered the elevator and headed towards the cabin.

upon entering the cabin he was met with Logos and Ormi.

"Boss?" Ormi called out to her in worry, "Hey! What happened? Is she okay?"

"She's fine." Nooj sighed and limped towards the stairs, "She just- kinda fell asleep."

"She's out like a light again, eh?" Logos murmured, going up the stairs behind the Mayvn.

"Gee, candy works faster than her massage, don't it?" Ormi muttered while being behind Logos.

"… marshmallows… hnn…" Leblanc giggled dreamily, still asleep.

Nooj looked down at her and shook his head, chuckling, "She sure likes sweet stuff, no?"

"She knows the consequences and that's why she tried to avoid sweets, sadly that damn Al Bhed insisted on treating her some hot chocolate and she's been like this all day!" Logos explained.

"But I like it when she's hyper, she's more fun to be with." Ormi grinned.

"Yeah, but she's acting a little too childish." Nooj murmured and stopped at the end of the stairs to catch his breath.

Not always does the Mayvn walk around without his cane, it was making his heart beat a little faster, but he didn't mind the workout. Nooj, the ex-death seeker and Mayvn of the youth league made his way with the sleeping bundle in his arms towards the nearest bed. Leblanc wasn't heavy, actually, she was pretty light for a woman her age and size, he expected her to be a little bit heavier, but perhaps his anticipations were wrong. when placing her on the mattress, Leblanc murmured before turning to her side, murmuring to herself about someplace in dream land that was probably covered in chocolate.

With a chuckle, Nooj sat next to her on the bed and watch her murmur to herself even more. Logos and Ormi stood near by, silently waiting for their leader to awake, but then Logos tilted his head and signed for his short friend to follow, a little hesitant, Ormi agreed and followed his tall friend, leaving their sleeping leader with the red-clad man in the cabin. Barkeep watched them and took a glance up before his Darling came into the picture.

Nooj smiled, stroking the sleeping woman's cheek. With a smile he stood up and walked towards the giant glass windows, staring out into the heart of the sky, the Mayvn thought of all that had happened during the last few days, the previous week had been very- entertaining, to an extent, anyway. Looking down at his hands, the Mayvn spared his fingers and began to wonder off, he wondered of his past, his previous state and then at his sleeping woman…

His woman? His future?

'Maybe things would work out?' he tilted his head in thought and looked out at the sky again. 'Only time can tell.'

'Yes… only time can tell.'

back at the Bridge

"What?" Yuna gasped, startled.

"Yes, it would be very helpful if you could do that, would it not?" Logos told, he looked at the Al Bhed boy, "So how about it?"

"To create the syndicate's very own air-ship, eh? That's tempting, but I'm not sure it it's possible without the right pieces." Gippal explained.

"Yeah, and besides!" Rikku waved her hand, "Where are you gonna get a ship that would fit everyone?"

"I can imagine Leblanc's mark all over it." Paine shrugged, "Even if you got a ship that would fit, where would you park it? The thunder planes, maybe?"

"Nope." Ormi grinned, "We's thinking of makin' a parking spot near the Moon flow."

"Some spot Tobli cant crash into whenever the dept collectors come after him." Logos shrugged.

"Well, I think we can get some scrap metal and engine parts from Bikanel, but I cant gather those unless we've asked Cid, right?" Gippal turned to the perky Al Bhed girl.

"Aw! Forget about pops! If we can get the chance to create our own air ship then who cares? Home is just a ruin now, we cant rebuild it, and even if we did I doubt anyone would come to live there!" Rikku jumped and danced, "So what are we waiting for? Let's call Rin and ask for a sand craft and dig-dig-dig!" she giggled, "It'll be fun, right Yunie?"

"As long as we don't bump into that sand monster again, then sure, it'll be real fun." Yuna smiled and clapped her hands.

"Alright!" Brother cried with excitement, "What first? Bikanel, Guadosalam or Djose temple?"

"I say Guadosalam, Leblanc needs to get home, you know." Gippal told and purposely ignored Brother's glare.

"That would be appreciated." Logos nodded.

"Um," Baralai paused, "You know, I'd love to stay and help, but I kind of need to get to Bevelle, sorry." He shrugged a shoulder.

"Aw That's alright, navigator, you'll get your chance." Gippal chuckled and wringed his arm around Baralai's neck, playfully ruffling silver hair.

"Uh- Hey! Cut it out!" Baralai laughed, struggling in Gippal's hold.

Paine smiled and watched as the blonde Al Bhed tackled and annoyed the silver haired praetor.

"Alright, Guadosalam is right ahead, get ready to land." Buddy smiled as he turned on/off buttons and switches.

Sometime later

Yuna stood at the bridge, staring out at the sky in the little navigation seat that's usually empty on the left side of the driver's seat, Brother was pleased with that, he kept glancing around from in front of him to the side where his loved one sat. Yuna propped her elbow on the side of the navigation panel and began to wonder. They have already sent Gippal and Baralai home, Nooj had gone to Guadosalam with the Leblanc syndicate, he said that he wants to get to Mushroom rock later, so they contacted Beclem to escort him back.

Although Nooj did not like getting help from others, he nonetheless accepted Beclem's help. Yuna closed odd-colored her eyes and began to dream away. So much had happened during the last few days, and they all were giving a sign to the best, Paine and Baralai seemed to be catching up on something, she didn't know what, so she tried not to make a big deal out of it. Rikku and Gippal seem to like each other, not to mention that Rikku showed her a pretty Chocobo-key chain earlier, it was cute. Nooj and Leblanc were clearly enjoying each other's company.

'If you were ever meant to come back… would our lives be better, too?' she thought silently, smiling weakly at her own dreams.

'Guess only time can tell, huh?' she stared ahead as Besaid island came to view.

'Yes, only time can tell… I'll be waiting for you. No matter what.' She smiled wider.

Right about then, Shinra called, "Hey, Yuna! I'm getting a message from Besaid through the CommSphere!" the little masked boy announced, "Wakka said that he had just heard a whistle from the beach!"

Yuna's eyes shot wide, jerking from her spot to look at Shinra, she quickly twisted her neck to look at the beach…

Where a small figure was swimming it's way towards the shore.

"Buddy! Open the hatch! NOW!" she cried as she jumped out of her seat and dashed towards the elevator.

THE END?

A/N: I'm thinking of connecting another story to this one, so if I decide to go ahead and do so then I'll change the summery… don't worry, I don't think it's the end just yet! : D