Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Heart's Desires ❯ Chapter 5

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Automatic Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the following anime series, video games, or any other referenced copy righted material. This is a work is with delusions of grandeur. This will never, ever happen in our lives (damn it) and this basically is a dream we want to share with you.

Toby’s Note: Behold, my awesome chapter 5! Mwha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Belle’s Note: Note to self, fit Toby for a straightjacket. Find out if they sell a discount for multiple purchases *glances at J'dee*

J’dee’s Note: and I'd paint mine blue like Zack's eyes and draw chibi FF characters over it and write yaoi pairings on it with little love hearts next to the best ones and wear it proudly. ~<3



~*~*~*~

"So why do you get Friday off?" Yuna asked and Belle sighed.
"It's the school's founder's birthday. He died fifty years ago, but he had the school built for the community," Belle explained.
"He must have been well off," Rufus stated and Belle nodded.
"Yeah he was big in industry, the army base is named after him, his factories helped supply a lot of machinery for the first World War," she explained. "It was a massive war that involved most of the developed countries."
"You said first," Yuna commented stoically. Belle nodded as she looked at her cereal.
"Yeah, we have had two massive wars, my grandfather was a prisoner of war in the second World War, it's kind of been a big deal trying to prevent any more," she sighed and looked at Kaidan. He smiled.
"In my dimension we've managed to keep it to two," he said and Belle smiled.
"Let's hope we align in that," she grinned.

~*~*~*~


J'dee was up earlier than she needed to be but her body seemed to move of its own accord. She was changed into shorts tank top and her runners. Unlike Belle she didn't swim or hit a gym. Her bank account she liked it the way it was. In saving mode at least until she made up the money lost thanks to Rufus' investmentsshe couldn't touch. Maybe after but she hated gyms. The happy perky people tended to freak her out. Well their energies did. Hyper sensitive was a pain in the ass.

J'dee stuck her ipod touch into it's slot hooking it to the small belt round her waist and she added her water bottle. Sticking the earphones in she hit her Timbaland mix then left for an early morning jog.

She wanted to learn the area properly and get some air. This whatever it was, seemed to fester inside her. She hated it. She hoped some air would clear her head and she could figure out how to gather the right energy to evict the annoying spirit. At least it wasn't annoying her too much... just yet. But she really didn't want to go Vincent Valentine and find it was some demon that now inhabited her mind and body.

The scenery of the run relaxed her and she wasn't to focused on the run, just the area, it normally took her a few weeks to memorize new areas, but at least her Ryoga complex wasn't as bad now as it had been in her teens and early 20's. Luckily last two years she had gained a sort of decent perception of location except for never before been places.

J'dee stopped as she saw a navy blue Rav 4 license plate  2DYE parked to the side four blocks from the house. The door open. She moved up to the door and peered in. But the four wheel drive was empty.
J'dee looked behind to see a walkway through some of the natural forestry.
"Why am I even thinking this?” She sighed and headed down the path.
That damn horror quiz was haunting her. She would never forget her result of 'Stupid bitch who dies first'.
She could feel the spirit turn inside as if reacting to something. Leading her somewhere.
"Is this why you're annoying me. To bring me here?” She asked.
There was nothing but an uneasy silence. Then came the sound of the twigs snapping under her feet as she walked.

J'dee could hear the running water and she pushed through the last lot of bushes. She saw the stream, there was a glint of something silver from the edge of the water.
Walking up to the edge saw saw the materia bracelet interlinked with a five slot accessory bracelet. She looked to the side and pulled it out of the water.
"Hello?” She called out pocketing the two bracelets. She looked up stream then down stream. She froze seeing the man sitting several feet away under a tree holding the glowing yellow materia.
J'dee had missed him at first glance in his military fatigues. At least wasn't a guily suit, all those fake shrubs on the man and she might have thought the tree he was under was hitting puberty.

Pulling out her earphones she walked up to the man and crouched down.
"Excuse me sir... are you alright?”
He blinked for a moment then looked at her dazed. "They were calling...” He mumbled.
J'dee looked to the water, it seemed to take on a green tint then she saw why. Under the water was a massive pile of materia and she frowned. Not one or two but it looked like close to a hundred and fifty or sixty glowing orbs. J'dee knew then what she had to do. She had to remove it from the area before wrong hands got a hold of it. She didn't have anything to take the materia back in.
She helped the man up and led him back to his Rav4.

He was still dazed as she let him drive off and she pocketed the yellow orb the best she could.
J'dee looked to her watch she started work in about an hour and a half thanks to some shift switches so she could get the weekend off. But there was no time, she couldn't come back today. She would have to hope like hell she could get back out tomorrow morning.

~*~*~*~

"Rise and shine, Toby!” A cheerful voice cried, throwing open his curtains. Tobias groaned at the bright light and buried his head under his pillow.

"What time is it?” Tobias called out from the bed. He let out a cry of protest as his pillow was yanked away. He blearily looked up at Yuna's smiling face.

"Four in the afternoon!” She chirped. She was wearing a pair of sweats and tank top, what she usually wore when she was training with the others. "Time for hand to hand training!”

"I forgot about that.” Tobias said, yawning. He sat up and Yuna backed away, blushing.

"T-ten minutes in the back yard.” She called out, hurrying out. Tobias sighed and shook his head.

~*~*~*~

"You done grading?" Kaidan asked and Belle nodded as she put the last of the papers away.
"Are you sure you want me around, I'll only make J'dee and Tobias feel better about themselves," she stated and Kaidan smirked. "I don't fight, the only fight I have ever been in is when a set of twins bullied my sister and I chased them around the neighborhood when I was eight."
"Surely you've had a real fight," he said and she shook her head.
"No, I'm not one to get angry unless someone else is caught in an unfair fight and even then, I use words. I'm good at picking out a person's weak point and using that to my advantage," Belle said.
"Well time to learn how to fight," Kaidan chuckled.

~*~*~*~

Work seemed to drag on, take forever and she let out a breath. The store was super dead. J'dee hated it. But regardless she still loved her job. She just wasn't focused enough. There was a stream filled with Materia and no explanation. She knew that night she would have to do some divination to get answers.

An open to closing shift by herself with only a three hour cover. It meant she would be bored off her mind and there was a box of defective consoles sitting out back that needed to be sent off to the head office to be repaired to.
"C'mon focus don't die only a couple more hours...” J'dee sighed self motivation wasn't working today... typical.

When work was done. J'dee was ready to just go home and crash. She stopped seeing Rufus leaning against her car.
"Wait a minute... how did you?” She frowned.
"I caught a taxi.” He stated as if she had asked something stupid.
"Well look at you Mr independent.” J'dee rolled her eyes.
"Just get in the car we're training.”
J'dee's mouth moved. "I just got off work damnit.”
"As you would say... deal.” Rufus smirked at her.

J'dee got out of her car and saw that everyone had already started.
"Well guess we missed most of it... lets go sit-”
She felt her collar snagged. "Not so fast. I'm used to dealing with lazy red heads, or have you forgotten.”
"Once again compared to Reno I swear when and if I meet him I'm smacking him in the face for giving us a bad name.” J'dee complained as she was dragged into the yard.
"Can't I at least get out of my work... WHOA!” She ducked the attack.
She was surprised. "If you can get me on the ground... then I'll leave you be after work tomorrow.”
J'dee smirked. "Alright then. I'm doing this for me time.”

~*~*~*~

"Belle, you're not trying!" Yuna sighed.
"I punched the air like you told me to," Belle chuckled and Yuna gave her a look.
"You're dodging me," she huffed and Belle grinned.
"Very well if I say so myself," she replied and Yuna gave her a look. "Hey, I don't like hitting people I enjoy the company of. What if I hurt you?"
"Kaidan knows first aid," Yuna stated and Belle smiled more.
"I don't want to," she replied and Yuna huffed as she began another attack.

~*~*~*~

"Not bad Toby, you've got a bit of a knack for this.” Kaidan said, taking a swing at Tobias. Tobias side stepped the punch but winced as Kaidan's kick caught him in the side. He rubbed his side as they moved apart. He saw from the corner of his vision. Belle causally moving away from Yuna, doing her best not to get involved.

"Belle doesn't seem to want to do this.” Tobias noted. Kaidan sighed and signaled for them to stop. Yuna did and Belle smiled.

"I think that's enough for today.” Kaidan said, heading for the ladies. Tobias sighed in relief and placed his right hand on his left side where Kaidan's kick had landed.

"I'm too old for this shit.” Tobias muttered, heading inside to shower.

~*~*~*~

"So do I get my me time?” J'dee asked.
Rufus was dusting off his sleeve and nodded. "You do. When motivated your reflexes are pretty extraordinary.”
J'dee let out a breath. "You had to be, specially being me or my bro growing up.”
Rufus nodded. "Your father I assume.”
"Ding ding.” J'dee laughed. "Go father complexes aren't they awesome-like?”
"Like what?” Rufus held the door open for her.
J'dee blinked walking inside. "You know awesome-like. Like it's cool but.”
Rufus raised a brow. "I don't follow your inability to not finish sentences.”
"I spent about two years four months in Australia tops... I learn it there.”
Rufus shook his head.
"Yeah trust me when I first got there I had your reaction. Now I can't seem to untrain my brain.” J'dee shrugged it off.
"Well learn it's annoying.” Rufus remarked.
"Soooooorry.” J'dee rolled her eyes.

~*~*~*~

"I'm noticing that you didn't go on the offensive," Kaidan commented as Belle and Yuna were heading back to the building.
"She only blocked," Yuna scolded and Belle did her best to pout.
"I don't like causing others pain," she stated and Kaidan shook his head.
"Don't look at it as causing pain, but preventing pain. You should know self defense," he said. "Women are often in danger from men because of the natural advantage men have in musculature." "I know Kaidan, I just...I know," Belle sighed as she stopped. Yuna kept going as Kaidan stopped to look at Belle. "I don't like hurting people. I'm very empathic, I see people in pain and it pains me. To cause another human being pain, I don't like it. I know, mentally, that you and Toby and J'dee are right. I should know how to fight, but in my heart." Belle sighed as she crossed her hands over her left breast.
"It is fine not to want to cause pain, but I rather you hurt an attacker than you end up dead," Kaidan said and Belle sighed.
"It's an old argument, Kaidan, I have thought about learning self-defense, I just...I guess until I need it, I don't know if I want it," she sighed as she headed to the house feeling depressed. Then she got the idea for something that would make her feel better, but it would require talking to Tobias when he was vulnerable...in the morning.

~*~*~*~

"Toby?”

"Hmmmmm?” Tobias replied to Belle calling him. He was busy eating his dinner before the others left for work Tuesday morning.

"I know you have odd hours but....would you mind cooking some hamburgers on Wednesday?” Belle asked, using that tone she called Puppy-dog-whimperTobias called it Belle's manipulate-you-by-making-you-feel-guiltyvoice. He finished his breakfast and sighed.

"I take it you want me to cook Fiften style not store bought?” Tobias inquired. Belle nodded eagerly while the others looked puzzled. Tobias sighed.

"I suppose, but I'll have to start today to get the meat ready for grilling tomorrow.” Tobias allowed. Belle grinned smugly, while Tobias explained to the others.

"My family has a recipe for home made hamburgers.” Tobias revealed. "I'll have to make up the meat and marinate them over tonight some I can cook them up tomorrow before work.”

"Can we help? I'd like to, I haven't done much in sharing the cooking so far.” Yuna asked. Kaidan nodded in agreement while Rufus just snorted.

"Sure, we'll start this afternoon. I'll get the meat and put it in the sink to thaw.” Tobias said, getting up. He stopped by the dishwasher to put in his dishes and headed for the big freezer in the garage. He made his way around the large tarp and smaller tarp, purposely ignoring them. He opened the freezer and thought for a moment.

'Let's see, there are six of us, so two burgers a piece equals a pound of meat a person. So that's four pounds of venison,' mentally calculated, 'and two pounds of beef.'Nodding to himself and grabbed the packages he needed and headed back inside. Dropping them into the sink's empty compartment he ignored the others eating a talking as he opened the spice rack. He nodded finding the diced and dry onion, soy sauce, horseradish, and paprika. He grouped them on the counter and fished out a large mixing bowl from the cabinet.

"Just leave these here, okay?” he asked the others who nodded. He yawned and stretched. "I'm off to bed, see you folks later.”

~*~*~*~

J'dee was out by the stream trying to get the materia into her bag.
"I feel like Yuffie, right now.” She complained. "Collecting materia and hiding it from the others. I'm gunna get hell for this I know it.”
Lifting the half full bag up she knew this would be a week long trip. But she had work otherwise she would have got her car or bike out less suspicion. But she wasn't willing to leave materia sitting in her boot of her parked car in a car park that could get broken into.

J'dee was drenched by the time she got back and saw Rufus sitting at the kitchen table. He raised a brow at her. J'dee thought she had timed it perfect. She would leave early morning wait till Belle left for work and walk in, making it look like her normal morning jog.
Rufus was normally distracted going over the stockmarket rates checking on her investment.
"And where did you go?” He asked with a somewhat amused expression at her half soaked appearance.
"For a walk.” J'dee stated.
"Before sunrise?” He asked.
"Morning run... couldn't get back to sleep. FYI never go for a morning job before the sun... there are streams and accidents happen.” She stated walking past him. She hoped that explained the drenched appearance.
Once she was out of Rufus' sight she let out a breath.
Lying to him like that she hoped like hell it worked. But somehow she knew Rufus knew something wasn't right. Specially when she looked to her dripping wet bag the materia hidden inside.
'he's sooooo gunna kill me.She mouthed out walking into her room to hide the materia. Only two more days and she could possibly have it all.

Once the materia was hidden away in the bottom drawer of her dresser, J'dee stopped as she looked to the two bracelets and picked them up.
'I wonder if he knew how to use these.' J'dee stepped out of her room the bracelets in hand.
She stopped seeing Rufus walking down the hall.
"Um...” She held them out to him.
Rufus stopped and looked at her then to them. He had a quizzical look on his face.
"I don't remember dropping any if that's what you're going to ask.”
"I found them when I fell this morning.” It was a small lie it was the day before but she had in all honesty forgotten about them.
Rufus took them from her. "What did you want me to do?”
"I'd like to learn how to use them... When I get time.”
"If we find anything to use with them I'll teach you.” He stated.
Rufus stuck them in his pocket.

~*~*~*~

"Get that blender, would you?” Tobias asked Kaidan. Kaidan nodded and brought the blender over.

"Okay, Yuna I want you to lay out twelve pieces of wax paper. Kaidan, dump all of that,” Tobias said, gesturing to the ingredients, "into the blender with two-no make that three cups of water. Then blend on high till it's all smooth.”

As they set about their tasks, Tobias unwrapped the meat packages and dumped them into the mixing bowl. After washing his hands thoroughly, he grabbed a chunk of ground meat and broke it apart, mixing it with the others. Yuna was watching him with wide eyes.

"Can I help?” Yuna asked, tentatively. Tobias shrugged.

"Sure, just wash up and dig in.” Tobias offered. Yuna washed her hands quickly, and hesitated with her hands over the big mixing bowl.

"It won't bite ya.” Tobias  said, grinning in amusement at her. Yuna rolled her eyes but dove in, grabbing a chunk.

"Oh gross!” she exclaimed but then laughed as she squeezed it. Tobias grinned at her.

"Just mash and mix, Yuna.” he informed her, mixing. Yuna helped and soon Kaidan shut off the blender.

"Kaidan, grab that small scale on the fridge, wrap some saran wrap on the top and bring it over here.” Tobias said. Kaidan brought it over shortly and set it by them. Tobias grabbed a chunk of meat in his hands and squashed it into a patty.

"Do that and then weigh it.” He told Yuna. "No more than half a pound. After it cooks it'll be a quarter pound and just right for the buns. Then put one on each wax paper you set out.”

"Okay.” Yuna said. They finished in short order and Tobias wrapped the wax paper around the patties after they washed their hands. He then pulled a large pan out and put the patties inside.

"Now after I pour the mix on the hamburgers, they'll marinate overnight and only the flavor will sink in.” Tobias said, doing just that.

"All this just to cook ”Rufus scoffed. They turned to find the Shinra executive watching them.

"Trust me, after you eat one, you'll find it's well worth it.” Belle said, coming into the kitchen. She obviously had  just arrived home.

"No pork?” J'dee asked, following behind Belle.

"No pork.” Tobias promised. She smiled.

"That's okay then.”

~*~*~*~

"I won't be training today," Belle stated as she pulled out a pile of papers. "We had an assembly right during my free period and three of my students came to see me during their study halls, I had no time to grade at all today."
"That sounds like an excuse," Kaidan teased and Belle made a face at him.
"Teachers are always under appreciated," she sighed. "I may need to bake soon, baking always makes me feel better. Who likes cookies?"
"As long as they're sweet," Kaidan chuckled as he headed out.

~*~*~*~

"Listen while their outside sparring, I wanted to talk to you about something." Tobias said, his eyes darting to the window where they could see the three visitors going at it.Belle blinked up from the pile of papers she was grading. She wondered if he was finally going to let some of the guilt go to them. "I'm listening." J'dee set down the controller from where she was playing lollipop chainsaw after she got gnawed to death. "Something up?""Well, I think we should be careful with what we tell them. I mean they're going home, right? I know Yuna came right after Final Fantasy ten-two ended. From what you told me Belle, she turned down the spirits offer. She didn't know it would resurrect Tidus." Tobias said, eyes down."She didn't go into it, but she is clearly depressed. I would think the lost coming back would be something she would be happy about," Belle said. "Kaidan is thirty, which means he is two years from the events in Mass Effect one." J'dee knew the FFX game pretty well. Tidus was her favorite character in that game, he had grown on her just like Zack had. She twirled the ring round on her finger so Tidus' symbol turned inwards. Tidus and Jecht both had grown on her even though Jecht was an ass and essentially he became Sin."It's gotta suck I totally picked the other ending." J'dee cleared her throat before she got a glare directed at her."Tidus was the love of her life." Tobias explained to Belle, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "He was essentially a dream made life by creature called Sin. As a Summoner, besides defeating Sin Yuna's other job was to send the spirits of the dead to the afterlife. When Yuna and the others defeated Sin for good, Tidus's pyre flies dispersed. If you do certain things in the sequel the spirits offer to bring Tidus back. From what you told me, Yuna, at least the Yuna brought here is from the ending where she said her goodbyes to Tidus.""I'm sort of glad I got Kaidan from before the series, I would have been screwed if it was Shepard between ME2 and ME3 and he didn't do any of the loyalty mission," Belle stated as she grasped her own chin in thought.J'dee thought about it, did that mean there were several different game versions, from different choices made throughout their respective games.'Oh that's gunna hurt my head later.' She thought. Rufus from what she gathered was post Advent Children Complete, post Dirge of Cerebus and Deep Ground. "Well it sucks. But you should still tell her she deserves to know." J'dee stated. She wasn't keeping anything knowledge wise of his future from Rufus. But he just seemed to be able to read her that well."How would you feel if you found out that if you had done a bunch of side trips you would have back the man you loved?" Tobias snapped."I don't do love." J'dee stated. "I think that's it probably why I got the cold heartless bastard I did. I wouldn't know love if it bit me on the ass. But I can appreciate some good blonde eye candy in the meantime." She shrugged and lent back in the couch. Looking at the title screen for her game. She guessed she was lucky it was Rufus and not Zack otherwise she would have spilled all in an instant just to get a peak at the abs Zack had."Bullshit." Tobias snapped. He hated it when she thought that about herself. "You love J'dee. We may not be the exact definition of it, but we're family. I love you, and so does Belle I bet. I know you love us too.""Toby, she is talking about romantic love, the love you are talking about she does do and we both know that. Otherwise, I agree with you on Yuna, the amount of guilt and regret a person would have in her situation. It would be cruel," Belle said. "To know you could have brought back the one you love with just a few actions different. It would hurt her too much." Belle pointed a finger at J'dee. "Don't say anything. You don't do love but I do and I know Yuna pretty well now, if we told her something like that she would never forgive herself. What's done is done as unfair as it is. It would be cruel and heartless to point out to her what she could have had but doesn't." "So besides Yuna, Kaidan has the biggest issues. I mean how do you prepare someone for what is essentially the apocalypse?" "You don't, Toby," Belle said. "Kaidan isn't in any position where he could affect the outcome of the Mass Effect series." She looked at her papers before noticing the look on Toby's face. "Hey! I'm not avoiding it. I've been leaving ideas in his head, but I don't know how well they'll stick. If the goddess sends them back, is she sending them back at the same point in time? If so, he'll have two years before the events in Mass Effect and even then, will he remember what I tell him? The only way to save Kaidan for sure is to ensure that there is an additional vessel at Virmire. After all, Mass Effect cannon is that Ashley is saved, not Kaidan. How do I make sure that he gets off Virmire too? Do we tell him his future, the future of the galaxy? He could be locked away for his suggestions, even with Sovereign, the Council did jack shit, what do you think they'll do with a human biotic spouting about Reapers?"
"Maybe we can tell him about where to go for things, maybe where the Mu Relay is. It might help if we told him where some of the stuff might be. He could get a jump on things. His situation isn't like Yuna's. Knowledge could actually help him." Tobias argued."Toby, what if when they are returned to their worlds they forget our time here?" Belle asked as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "What if, when he goes back...he doesn't remember a thing? Then he's going to die anyway! The cannon will see him dead, Tobias...I cannot bring myself to tell him his future to have him either forget, which is the most likely decision or drive himself insane trying to stop something he cannot, in his position in the Alliance military, possibly stop. You made the wish, the wish will come back to our world, not theirs, if anyone forgets this arrangement it will be them, J'dee, and me. You brought this wish on us! I will not spend the next year prepping Kaidan on the numerous outcomes of Mass Effect. It occurs over nearly four years, and even then it won't even begin until two years from present Kaidan!" Belle was shouting as she stood up, tears began to pour down her cheeks. "I will do my best to prepare him, but I will not tell him and neither will you! I won't let you make the year he has here a year of horror, terror, and nightmares of a future that he couldn't possibly stop!" She covered her face her shoulders shaking.J'dee let out a breath looking at them. She only knew about the online aspect of ME3 co-op, being her old housemate was addicted to it. She knew some of the weapons and base characters, she sold the game didn't play it and she had only heard complaint after complaint about the ending, but didn't know what it was. Just that it wasn't good. Given Belle's reaction she knew it really wasn't going to be fun to let Kaidan know of it."Okay so how about we don't tell them at all what we know. Just let them live their life here for a year. Treat them like they're family." She stood up stretching walking to the window to look outside at the three training. "I know Rufus needs to see a kinder side of people. Perhaps having people not try to kill him he might be able to chill out for a change. Like it's a year sabbatical or something." She was glad that Rufus was in a timeline she didn't know. To have that knowledge and keep it she wouldn't be able to do it herself. But for Yuna and Kaidan she wouldn't say a thing."Damn it!" Tobias snapped, slamming his fist onto the coffee table. "I just want to try and make this up to them! I didn't want this to happen, okay? I had no idea that my wish would do this! I thought it would do something nice for you two and I would-" Tobias stopped himself. Belle placed a hand on his shoulder, wiping her cheeks with her other hand."Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, which means, don't go looking for trouble that is already looking for you," Belle said as she looked out the window. "Tobias, J'dee, we are not deities, we are not gods. With Kaidan...we cannot predict the effect telling him could have. Since we cannot predict his actions, we shouldn't act. With Yuna, we know she loves Tidus and telling her the alternative to her current life would only hurt her. Thus we shouldn't tell her anything. Rufus seems fine and J'dee is like a glass pane, unable to hide anything from him. I don't know anything about his future so...let's let him be." She moved back to her papers. J'dee looked at Belle. "Oh gee thanks." She drawled. "True... but thanks anyway." She shrugged. "I'm all for not acting." She turned round leaning against the window frame. "Toby we know you meant well with the wish and I'm not blaming you. But everything happens for a reason. There's a purpose in this. We just haven't got the memo on it yet.""Everything okay?" Kaidan asked, coming inside with Yuna and Rufus following. Tobias turned away from the looks Belle and J'dee were giving him."Yeah, every things fine." Tobias said, walking away. Kaidan frowned but Yuna shrugged. "I'll talk to him about the trip." Yuna said, following Tobias.

~*~*~*~

"Toby?” Yuna called as he headed for his room. He turned around to face her.

"While we were training outside, Kaidan brought something up. We don't really have any equipment for making this trip during the weekend. Not to mention, none of the vehicles we have can really make the trip up the mountains well.” Yuna said. Tobias sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I knew I forgot something.” He muttered to himself. The equipment issues was something easy to fix but the vehicle would be harder.

'Or would it?'He thought, the image of a big truck flashing in his mind.

"Tomorrow before dinner we'll go shopping.” Tobias said. He turned back to his room. "We'll stop by some place I know where we can get a car for the trip down.”

~*~*~*~

J'dee got home in the morning at her usual time before anyone was up and rolled her shoulder. Lugging materia was not an easy task. But she knew one more trip and that would be it.
She was putting the materia away when she got the text on her cell and looked at it.

A shift on Thursday morning for three hours while they were conducting a group interview for new possible employees into the company.
"Joy.”
She sent the reply of 'yeah sure see you at 8.45Then put the bag away before hitting the shower to enjoy the single day off she would have before being lugged around that afternoon to grab what Toby needed for this road trip.

~*~*~*~

Belle arrived home and sighed as she dropped her bag by the door.
"Good day?" Yuna asked and Belle smiled.
"Excellent, got all my grading done at work. The kids didn't whine about having a quiz tomorrow, so overall, excellent," she said happily.
"If you're in a good mood then you can drive," Toby said as he grabbed Belle's arm and dragged her back out. "Everyone in Belle's car."
"I can't fit everyone legally, Toby!" Belle whined as she was led back to her car.

~*~*~*~

"Why are we at a storage depot?” Belle asked, pulling her car into a parking spot. She also glared at Tobias. "Does this have to do why we're all piled into my car, again”

"Yes.” Was all Tobias said, opening the passenger's door so Yuna could get out, blushing madly from being forced to sit on Tobias's lap the entire car trip by a smirking Rufus. He got out after her and headed into the office, Yuna and Kaidan following. There was a woman working behind the main counter.

"Can I help you?” she asked in a bored tone.

"My name is Tobias Fiften and I'm here to remove my property and close the lease on spot 32b. The account number is twenty-three, thirty-one, seven. The password is ram.” he said to her quickly. The lady blinked at him before turning to her computer imputing all the information. Then she reached into a drawer and set a form and pen on the deck.

"Sign this release and then you're all set. Anything left behind at the end of the today becomes our property.” she reminded him. Tobias nodded, signed the release form, heading out the side door after giving a quick thanks. Yuna and Kaidan followed him down the row to a large garage door marked 32b. Tobias opened the padlock and raised the door.

"Whoa.” Kaidan said. Inside was a large black truck. It had a small ram symbol on the front and was black in color.

"Its was my Dad's.” Tobias explained, heading for the driver door. He unlocked it and got up into the cab. Kaidan got into the passenger seat and Yuna got into the backseat. As Tobias put the key in he explained. "It's a 2008 Dodge Ram, 2500 Hemi V8. It has a long bed and the extended cab. The center console between us Kaidan raises up and acts as a seat. The six of us can fit inside comfortably and we can store our gear in the bed.”

Tobias started the engine and heard the motor roar to life with barely a sputter.

"This'll work out nicely. Why do you drive that old beater and not this?”

"It uses a lot of gas.” He said, pulling out of the storage locker. He couldn't help but grin at J'dee and Rufus's expressions of surprise from by Belle's car. Belle just rolled her eyes. "Come on, let's go and hit the plaza. We need supplies.”

~*~*~*~

Belle pulled into the space beside Toby's monster. She waited for the others to get out before looking at Toby. He was rubbing his beard as he looked at the truck. He looked like a wild man. She shook her head and grabbed his arm.
"Hey," she said and he blinked.
"What?" he asked as he turned to look at her.
"You need to visit the barber while we are here," she said and Toby gave her a look. "Have you looked at yourself lately?" She pulled a compact mirror from her purse and opened it to him.
"I look rugged," he said. "I look a ton better than before."
"I give you credit for no longer looking like the homeless man under the bridge," Belle conceded. "However, you look older than you are with it."
"That's not a bad thing," Toby said and she sighed.
"Okay, I didn't want to say it, but you look like a pedophile," she said and he gave her a look.
"Do not," he pouted.
"Okay, how about this, let's go walk over there where there are children playing and let's see how many of the mother's start pulling their kids away?" Belle stated, crossing her arms. Toby looked over at the play ground before sporting a hurt look.
"Fine, I'll go get cleaned up," he muttered.
"Thank you," Belle stated.

~*~*~*~

"Nice.” J'dee commented to Belle's pedo comment.
Belle smiled. "It worked.”
"Think we can recycle it for future reference?” J'dee asked.
"For me only. It won't work for you.” Belle teased heading towards the army store.

J'dee shrugged as she walked into the store and looked round at all the military getup.
"Zomg I'm in pervy dream girl heaven.”
Rufus gave her a look. "Do I even want to know?” He commented.
"Hellllloooo military men H-O-T.”
Rufus nodded his head slowly. "I assume this is the real reason behind my company's tattoo?”
"Well duh, stand, Angeal, Zack, Genesis and Sephiroth together and it's like fuck yeah Shinra makes hot military guys.” J'dee commented.
Not that she was real a fan of men lately. But she could appreciate a nice face, some pretty mean biceps and abs. Except when they were drunken idiots running into her store deciding she neededto see the muscles on their arms and flex their pecs at her, then she just felt sick.
"And you look like you just traumatized yourself there?” Rufus remarked.

J'dee nodded. "Yeah.” She shook the memory away. "At least your military guys I liked didn't think they were God's gift to the wor-” She stopped seeing Rufus's look. "What.”
"Genesis.” He stated.
J'dee blinked. "I said God not Goddess...”
"Still a deity.” Rufus remarked walking down an isle to look at shot guns.
J'dee turned round. To see what military uniforms they had. She was looking for something to use in a Hetalia cos-play anyway.
"I don't think that's getting supplies that we need.” Kaidan reminded her walking past towards where Belle was.
J'dee let out a breath. "Can't a girl just be a pervert in her favorite kink shop... seriously?”

~*~*~*~

Tobias shook his head at Belle as she headed off to meet the others by the Army surplus store. He glanced at the barber shop again and shrugged. He headed inside and saw Adele working on someone. She looked up as the door bell rang and smiled widely.

"Well as I live and breathe, Tobias Fiften! Sit down and I'll be with you in a minute.” she said, turning back to the man in her chair. "I hope you're here to let me shave that tumbleweed off your face!”

"Got it in one, Adele” Tobias said, looking at himself in the big wall mirror. Long, hair and beard to match. He guessed it was time to see if the man he was before was still under it all...

~*~*~*~

Belle looked over the camping supplies and sighed. She had seen the stuff in Toby's garage and there was no way in hell that it was going to work for them all.
"I have a single person pup tent and a hiking pack back home," she stated as she looked over the items.
"I didn't see them," Kaidan stated and Belle smirked.
"They were in a box labeled 'assorted,'" she chuckled. "We'll need to grab a canteen for each of us and some water purification treatments. Enough food for all of us."
"Belle, I don't believe that marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers are considered camping food," Kaidan chuckled.
"Blasphemy," Belle cried and he blinked. "S'mores, my dear Alliance soldier. Tell me they still have s'mores or I don't want to live to see the future." Kaidan laughed.
"They still have s'mores, don't worry," he chuckled. "I just find it amusing that they are your first thought for camping food."
"I confess, I never go camping, I mean that, the pup-tent was bought for a trip that was cancelled," Belle grinned. "Let's go get those freeze dried monstrosities that people dare call food."

~*~*~*~

So here they were grabbing food, water those kind of essentials as if they were going camping.
J'dee cringed. She hated camping. Mostly because of the supernatural element she got when she went camping. Voices no one else heard. Figures no one else saw. As a child her father had told her it was her imagination. As she got older she knew from experience it wasn't that at all.
Especially with the accidental lighting fires on a Maori burial ground. Everyone suffered and those who were hypersensitive got sick, extremely sick not one or two kids on the school camping trip, over twenty of them had been laid out in the main hall together to keep from 'infecting' the other kids as they slept.

J'dee had never looked back or enjoyed camping since then. She hoped they wouldn't be camping during this weekend. Hopefully a hotel would be in order.
"You look bothered.” Rufus stated.
"We're not actually camping out are we?” She asked softly.
Rufus gave her an amused look. "For every bit that you remind me of Reno there are other parts where I'm glad you don't.”
"I don't know if I feel flattered or insulted right now.” J'dee frowned.
"He's a hard worker when he wants to be, he trains when he wants to. If Rude wasn't watching his back and Tseng watching over them both I dare say they would be dead by now.”
J'dee raised a brow. "Wow aren't you a barrel of sunshine rainbow and ponies.” She drawled.
Rufus looked at her with a strange look.
"Reno again?” J'dee asked.
"Reno.” He stated.
J'dee nodded. "I'll work on that.”
It was then she was looking at the marshmallows and the crackers Belle had. "So does that work with normal crackers or do they have to be graham's crackers?”
"Graham.” There was Belle's teacher correction. "No s.”
J'dee sighed. "I'm sorry if I wasn't brought up on the smore culture.”
Rufus seemed amused. "And what did you have while camping?”
J'dee thought for a moment. "Um... water, canned baked beans, rice.” She shrugged.
Rufus looked at her. "You don't remember do you?”
It was then J'dee conveniently spotted Toby finally coming out of the barber.
"T-H-X! About damn time... and zomg his Basil Brush where has gone?”
"What's a basil brush?” Yuna asked.
J'dee looked at Yuna. "It was a fox puppet in a British children's show, fuzzy beards always remind me of him cause they look the same texture.” J'dee remarked.
"And some children never grow up.” Belle commented heading to the counter.

~*~*~*~

"What?” Tobias asked frowning at the looks Rufus, Kaidan, and Yuna were giving him. Yuna's eyes were wide and her mouth was slightly parted. Tobias ran a hand through his short hair.

'I don't look that different, do I?'

"Good to see you again, Toby.” J'dee said, smirking at him. He turned back to the display of swords in the shop, his eyes drawn to the wakizashi with a two foot long blade, dark green handle and matching sheathe.

of getting that?” Yuna asked. Tobias nodded.

"Then get it.” Rufus said. Tobias turned to look at him. "I know the arts of the blade, it was me who suggested to father that the Soldiers in Shinra use them. I can teach you.”

"Oh what the hell.” Tobias said. He took it down, and headed for the counter where Belle was piling all of their purchases. Tobias sighed as the cashier rang up the total. He handed over his bank card before Belle could protest.

'I'll have only a grand left in my savings account after this.' mused. 'I'm glad I'm working again.'

~*~*~*~

"Oh Toby, these burgers are fantastic!" Belle sighed. "Mmmm bloody."
"You do realize you can get parasites eating undercooked meat?" Rufus stated, eying the bright pink meat in the center of Belle's burger.
"They agree with me that these burgers are fantastic," Belle shot back. "Besides, I rather be killed by delicious food than by cancer."
"What choices," Kaidan teased and Toby shook his head.
"There's nothing wrong with liking your meat rare," J'dee spoke up. "It's raw that's bad for you."
"I don't know, steak tar-tar looks delicious and it's rare," Belle stated and noticed the looks from the table. "Don't blame me, I accept I'm a predator, what did you think our ancestors ate?"
"I don't want to think about it?" Toby suggested and Belle laughed.
"Still, my original point sticks, delicious burgers," she said.

~*~*~*~

J'dee had to agree Toby had cooked hers just the way she like her red meat. Just her stomach seemed to still feel full.
She wrapped the second burger up and set it in the fridge. She hated that she could not eat much of anything anymore. Living broke for so long and only being able to eat here and there... it was annoying. It cut down what she could manage now. Plus the portion size of this country could kill her in a heartbeat. So she was just super careful not to get to comfortable eating big.
"I'll take that one to work tomorrow. Cheers Toby.”

In all honesty she hadn't been able to eat two burgers in a row for at least three years. She struggled with just the Macca's Lamburger back home but to her that was like trying to eat a BK Whooper which she also had never managed... ever.
She was super glad he remembered she had her meat similar to Belle. He even remembered her body's dis-like to pork. Even in burger patty form. Her stomach seemed to gurgle it's approval of the pink in the middle burger. Even minced up J'dee preferred it that way. Totally tasted better.
It tended to gross out Jubei who was a germaphobe when it came to meat, mince or not.

"Going for a smoke then I might take a late night run in a bit.” She called out to them.
She stopped as a hand moved in front of her over the front door just before she was about to go through it.
"While you do that I think we should have a little... chat”
J'dee looked to Rufus. "Um... okay?”
"He got his shot gun I checked!” Belle called from the lounge.
J'dee's eyes went flat and looked at Rufus. "It never leaves my coat.” He stated.
"If you threaten to shoot me I'm dying your hair hot pink while you sleep.” She remarked.
Rufus removed his hand from the door and J'dee stepped outside.
The door shut after them and she lit her cigarette.
"Alright what did you want to have a chatabout?” J'dee asked not really looking in the blonde's direction. She hoped it would be something his world related she could answer.
"I opened your bottom drawer.” He stated.
J'dee nodded. "You raided my room... why?”
"I don't like things being kept from me.” He stated. "You're going to take me to where you found all that materia.”
"Okay then guess I can take my car.” J'dee opened the door calling inside. "Correction I'm taking Rufus out to get porn!” She heard the cock of the shot gun behind her. "At gun point. Don't wait up.” She added and shut the door. Rufus gave her a look.
"Reno enough for you?” She grinned and walked down the steps.
Rufus sighed. "Too much sometimes.”

~*~*~*~

Belle entered the house at the end of the day, collapsing on the couch beside Yuna.
"Long day?" she asked. Belle commented from her facedown position on the sofa.
"Couldn't understand that," Kaidan teased.
"Any day there is a vacation...the students get insane," Belle said. They are only worse when there is a full moon...the little werewolves."
"It's your job, you should be ready for it," Rufus stated.
"I am, but now I'm exhausted so I don't have to put up with you," Belle snapped. "Besides we're stuck on a car trip and then a death march this weekend. I am not looking forward to having to do all the hiking and then going back to work on Monday."
"Hopefully it will be worth it," Yuna said.

~*~*~*~

J'dee had spent most of her Thursday shift exhausted as Rufus had kept her up all night performing random checks on her health. In case the materia had been created from pure mako energy that could have leaked into the stream she had been trudging through.
J'dee had not thought about exposure to mako. But that was where materia came from the lifestream, mako. But that was his world not hers. Question was where did it come from here?
When she got home Rufus was sitting in her room, waiting.
"I'm dead tired I just wanna sleep okay?”
"Understood. This won't take long.”
"To lecture me on self inflicting myself with possible mako poisoning again?” J'dee asked.
Rufus gave her a look. "Only if you want to.”
"It's okay. No thanks.” J'dee sat down on her bed. "So what's up?”
"After this year is over for you... Will you forget this entire thing?” Rufus asked.
J'dee raised a brow. "I don't know, we could all forget except Toby it's his wish I do not know that outcome. Why?”
"That materia should not get into the wrong hands.” Rufus stated.
J'dee nodded. "Well I can't lug a hundred of so materia around not enough slots in that bracelet.”
"Fuse them down to perhaps twenty or less than.” Rufus commented.
J'dee pulled open the drawer and nodded. "Sure. Okay. Um... how?”
"That we will work on when we get back from this trip.”
J'dee lent back in her seat. "Don't remind me... the camping trip. Do-not-want.”

~*~*~*~

"We're all packed, Toby.” Belle said, gesturing to the truck as he got home Friday morning. The bed was already packed with equipment and coolers. "Go shower and we'll leave. Kaidan will drive so you can get some sleep.”

"Thanks.” Tobias said wearily "Today was rough day.” As he headed inside Tobias decided to leave his cellphone at home on the charge. Not like he would needed it.

~*~*~*~

"This is a damn boat," Belle sighed.
"You don't like it?" Kaidan asked. "It gives a good elevated view."
"From a man who rides in a tank usually," Belle chuckled as she looked at him.
"Are you offended that Toby wouldn't let us drive?" J'dee asked and Belle shook her head.
"Nope, this thing is a monster, I'd rather not drive it," she said.
"Still, it feels like an insult," J'dee stated as she gave Toby a glare.
"Don't, he's worried we would make it purr and then it wouldn't be his baby anymore," Belle chuckled and J'dee grinned.
"He would be a whiny baby about something like that, wouldn't he?" J'dee laughed.
"All our womanly germs corrupting his truck, he'd come home to find it mysteriously painted hot pink," Belle giggled.
"Oooo covered in Hello Kitty truck stuff," J'dee laughed. "You know there are stores that sell that."
"What else could we do to girl-ify his truck?" Belle asked and the women began to plot.

~*~*~*~

"OMG I saw the cutest purple and pink playboy bunny car seat covers I wanted them sooo bad.”
J'dee saw Rufus raise a brow at her. "What I like the bunny head symbol, Toby's a perv he'll appreciate it.”
Yuna looked at them. "You keep saying that he is but I haven't seen anything of that behavior.”
"He's a guy they're all pervs.” She grinned. "But aren't we all...”
"I'll say.” Rufus gave her a look.
J'dee motioned at him. "I told you not to go through that doujin.”
Rufus pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll never look at Sephiroth in the same light again.”
"Oh c'mon alternative Nibelhiem... I'd rather that ending than the one it actually got. Seph Zack double team in knocking Jenova into the pit, awesome ending.”
Rufus shook his head. "Not that I wouldn't prefer that ending. It would have prevented a lot of things, it's the other part.”
J'dee shrugged. "Well be glad I didn't have the one with Reno and yo-”
Rufus clamped his hand over her mouth. "Don't. Just don't.”
"Don't worry she's the only one in the car that seems to be into that. I don't see the appeal myself.” Belle commented.
Rufus removed his hand from J'dee's mouth. "I'm glad.”
"Yeah well even I have a limit...” J'dee commented. Kefka Jecht I thought my eyes were going to explode from the inside.”
"What's a Kefka and what does it have to do with sir Jecht?” Yuna asked.
"Dissidia it's a game taking two sometimes three characters from the final fantasy game series and put good vs bad in against each other.” J'dee explained.
Rufus gave her a look. "I suppose you selected Cloud?”
"Well I actually used Tid-er... Lightening. And I'll stop talking now.”
"I'd pay to see that.” Rufus commented.

~*~*~*~

Tobias awoke with a jolt as the truck hit a bump. He blinked, staring out the back passenger door window at a motel.

"Sorry.” Belle said from the middle of the front seat as Kaidan drove into the parking lot. "Speed bumps but we're here so we would have woken you up anyways.”

"Good deal.” he said, yawning.

~*~*~*~

The trip passed quickly, hiking, searching, and finding little. The group was pleasant the first day, but eventually spirits began to darken.

~*~*~*~

J'dee was hanging back at the end of the group, the wrong place to be if they got predator attacked. Not that there were any predators in the area. Well not the ones she was thinking of. That skinned you alive and strung you up in the trees... they didn't exist. Well she hoped they didn't but given she was beside Rufus... maybe they did... somewhere
She looked to Rufus next to her. "Did you get all that materia from the lake?” He asked.
J'dee nodded. "Not a single summon. Isn't that weird?”
"Very. But I'm assuming you will have to capture them. If they exist here.” Rufus stated.
J'dee raised a brow. "Yeah how about I like life and don't want to die pleasekthanks.”
Rufus shook his head. "The materia fusions will take a while. I hope your patient.”
"Do you know the results of materia mix ups?”
"Some not all... but you'll have some interesting combinations when we're done.” Rufus smirked seemingly amused by it.
J'dee let out a breath. They had been walking for hours at this stage whatever was going on, it felt like a bust right about now. That or she wanted to distance herself from Rufus superiority complex.

~*~*~*~

"I'm thinking this whole trip was a wild goose chase.” J'dee muttered. Tobias bit his tongue to keep from snapping at her as Yuna winced. They hadn't found anything Friday and so far, today was turning out to be the same. It was few hours before sunset and they were going to head back down soon.

"Hey, over here!” Belle called out. Tobias turned to see her and Kaidan looking at a slight dip in the hill. "I think we found something!”

"What is it?” Tobias asked, as they jogged over. He couldn't help but rest his left hand on the hilt of the wakizashi he brought with him. He didn't know why but it comforted him having it.

"This boulder here.” Belle said, brushing some moss off the large rock nestled into the hillside. Tobias blinked. The stone was solid black.

"So, it's a black rock.” J'dee said, huffing. "So what?”

"It's black and from the feel of it I think it's volcanic glass.” Belle said, knocking on it.

"So what?” Rufus said, echoing J'dee. "Lots of mountains are formed by dormant or extinct volcanoes.”

"But the Appalachian Mountain range is a folded mountain range not a volcanic one!” Belle informed them. "This shouldn't behere!”

"There's something here.” Yuna murmured, stepping closer to the rock. Everyone turned to watch her. The expression on her face was of someone lost in thought. "It feels familiar, like a warm blanket or being close to camp fire.”

"We need to figure out a way to move this boulder.” Kaidan said. "Maybe with a my biotics we could cut down some smaller trees to make some leavers and-” he was cut off as Yuna reached out, pressing her palm to the rock. There was a small grinding sound as the boulder sank into the earth, revealing a small cave. There was a red glow at the end.

"There is some one here!” Yuna exclaimed. "He's calling to us!”

"Well shit.” Rufus muttered.

"Leave what we don't need outside.” Tobias said. "Backpacks and anything that might slow us down. We're going down.”

~*~*~*~

Belle shook her head as she left her pack, but took her canteen and a small medical kit.
"Belle, that could slow us down," Toby stated and she gave him a look.
"We're going into a cave, Toby, there could be any number of dangers, we need a med kit, I don't care if it's heavy, we can switch it around. I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it," Belle stated and he nodded. She also pulled out a large orange object.
"Oooh, where'd you get that?" Toby asked as Belle began to twist a lever.
"My dad got it for me the year I went to college," she said as she flicked a switch and the LED flashlight shone into the darkness.
"Nice," J'dee grinned.
"Next you'll tell me you have a Swiss Army knife," Kaidan grinned.
"Of course I do," Belle stated as she patted a small pouch on her belt. "I'm always prepared. Not mentally, but physically."
"That sounds about right," Rufus stated and J'dee gave him a glare.

~*~*~*~

J'dee watched the group of them ditch the bags but she just took out what she felt they didn't need. She wasn't sure how far down this thing went so in case they needed to eat or drink she kept the food and water. They were essentials, to her survival required, food, water, smokes and a military issue black mag light. If she got attacked she could just smack someone in the head with it. Then run.

It was when the started walking J'dee felt the heat. "What is that?” She asked.
"What's what?” Rufus looked at her.
"It's like a volcano in here.” J'dee added wearily.
"You've never been into a summon's lair before have you?” Rufus looked at her.
J'dee stopped and looked at him. "Uh... no duh.” She replied. "Like that's normal.”
"Stick close you'll survive better.” He grinned.
J'dee mentally started cursing out that stupid 'who are you in a horror movie?' quiz again.

~*~*~*~

"That shouldn't be here.” Belle hissed at Rufus again who was grinning smugly. Tobias frowned at the pool of molten rock next to the path that lead up into sunlight.

"Look just ignore it.” Tobias said, walking toward the incline that led up. "This doesn't make much sense but then-”

Tobias stopped as a low growl seemed to echo in the chamber. J'dee squeaked as a large figure with horns, fur and bestial face emerged from the molten rock.

"Oh fuck, that's Irifit!”

~*~*~*~

There came a burst of flames and J'dee let out another squeak as Rufus grabbed her and they were pulled behind a large boulder.
"That thing is fucken huge!” J'dee let out a shuddering breath.
Rufus looked at her. "Much different than in game don't you think?”
"Well duh.” She looked at him. "I don't have any materia on me for this. Toby made us leave the packs behind.”
"Then what did you stick in that pack?” Rufus looked at her.
"Water and food. I've done essential camping before. I know that shit is required. I come from a country where people die in the bloody bush. I'm not stupid.”
"Yet you left the materia behind.” Rufus repeated.
J'dee gave him a flat eyed look. "Just give me a break.”
"Without materia how do you beat him in game?”
"Spells and shit. But my spells are not like your world spells okay.”

There was another burst of flames above them and J'dee saw Belle in line of a fire attack.
"BELLE!”
She saw Kaidan get to her in time and she let out a breath.
"So what now?” She looked at Rufus.
"I would help, if you didn't leave the materia behind.” Rufus stated.
"I'm sorry okay! I'm goddamn bloody muthafucken sorry okay.”
"Sorry doesn't keep us alive.” Rufus stated and he peered round their cover seeing another burst of flames shooting out. "Stay here I'm going to draw his attention away from you amateurs.”
"Fuck you too!” She shouted as Rufus ran out.
At least he was drawing the summon's attention to the other side of the cave giving Toby time to run in. To do what? J'dee didn't bother looking she didn't want to see her friend become 'well done' on the cooked meter.

~*~*~*~

"Damn it!" Belle cried as she slapped at her upper arm where her sleeve was on fire.
"Here!" Kaidan cried as he helped her put the flames out. She ripped the cloth away to reveal only a minor burn. They were crouched behind a large boulder as the jinn roared.
"That's going to hurt like a bitch later," Belle muttered as she looked around the bounder from a kneeling position.
"How do we stop something like that?" Kaidan muttered.
"Good question and you lucked out by coming with the one person with absolutely no freaking clue," Belle sighed. "I would suggest water, but from the look of the cave, we can't be close to any liquid water. The air is too dry to suggest any water vapor, not that it would be any good."
"Then we have to buy the others time," Kaidan sighed.
"We distract it until the people who know how to deal with it, deal with it?" Belle asked and Kaidan nodded.
"Great and if we don't dodge fast enough, we're roasted," Belle sighed. "Crap, what is that idiot doing?" Toby was running at the monster.
"Do you think he has a plan?" Kaidan asked as Toby used his blade to slash at the creature. The monster roared again, this time a mixture of pain and 'I'm going to fucking kill you' rage.
"I'm going to go with no," Belle sighed.
"I've got an idea," Kaidan said and Belle looked at him staring at the boulder.
"I don't like this idea," she moaned.  

~*~*~*~

"I think you made him angry!” Yuna yelled, diving behind a rock as the Summon of Fire threw another Fira spell at them.

"Gee, how did you come to that conclusion?!” Rufus shouted back. Tobias skittered back as the summon creature tried to take a swipe at him. Tobias dove over the rock J'dee was hiding behind, crashing into her.

"Hey, I was hiding here!” J'dee protested as Tobias rubbed his forehead. He'd smacked it into the backpack J'dee was carrying.

"You brought the food container!” Tobias said in surprise as Belle screamed when Kaidan lifted the rock they were hiding behind to throw it at the summons.

"You said take the essentials.” J'dee protested. Tobias stared at her wide eyed before an idea hit him. He hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you!” He chirped, snatching the bag from her.

"What are you doing?” Belle cried, scrambling over to hide with them and Kaidan dove under a return spell.

"Improvising!” Tobias cried, pulling out the ice packs and water bottles. He grinned, they were still cold.

"What are you doing?!” Yuna screamed as he ran out from cover at the giant summons.

"Fire in the hole!” He screamed, chucking the ice packs and water right into the summons's face.  Irifit bellowed in rage as water bottle and ice packs exploded.

"Kaidan, now!” Tobias called. Kaidan yanked two more rocks from the ground and hurtled them at the summons. This time they hit, and the giant creature went tumbling back, coming to a stop a few feet from the molten rock where it had emerged.

Everyone watched Irifit for a bit but he didn't get back up.

"We won?” J'dee asked, shocked. The summons of Fire groaned and began to stand.

"Nope.” Rufus said. However, Irifit did not resume his attack. This time it growled and extended a hand to Tobias, like in a hand shake.

"Uh.....I'm sorry too?” Tobias asked, moving forward to take the giant creature's hand. When their hands touched there was a flash of red light and then Irifit was no longer there. Tobias however rocked back on his heels.

"Holy shit.” Tobias said. Then he turned to the others and slowly began to grin. "This is better than a materia.”

"Toby, are you okay?” Yuna asked. Tobias's grin got wider and he flicked his hand at the wall, where a Fire spell impacted.

"I'm better than okay!” Tobias said, grinning as the others stared at him. "Irifit junctionedhimself to me.”

"That's no fair!” J'dee protested. "You get him inside your head boosting your abilities and you can use magic too! I want one!”

~*~*~*~

Belle stared at Toby and then at J'dee.
"You can have all the freaky deaky monsters you want," she stated as she sat down and pulled off the med kit. She opened it up and Kaidan knelt beside her and helped her.
"Hey you got hit!" J'dee cried and quickly dropped to Belle's side.
"Grazed, but when you're grazed with fire, you keep burning," Belle stated as she handed Kaidan the burn cream. He put it on as Belle held the gauze. He took that and carefully wrapped her arm before taping the end down and they closed up the med kit.
"I don't think we're done," Rufus stated as he pointed to an opening on the other side of the chamber.
"I feel something, Yuna stated.

~*~*~*~

J'dee let out a breath and gave Rufus a flat eyed look. "Don't say that we're not done.”
"Then next time bring the materia and I won't be so blunt.” Rufus stated.
"I'll show you blunt.” J'dee went to reach for her mag light.
Rufus gave her a look. "You want to live don't try to concuss the ones who can keep you alive.”
J'dee pulled her hand back from the mag light and grumbled under her breath.

~*~*~*~

"So Irifit was the guardian then?” Tobias asked. He could hear Irifit growl in his head, something that seemed to mean yes.

"Whoever was calling me is still doing it. I think Irifit was just a test.” she said as they got closer to the exit.

"So who is it?” Belle asked as they existed. Everyone gasped. They were standing on a small over hang in the side of a sheer cliff and on either side of them was a large nest.

"They are.” Yuna said, smiling happily as she pointed into the sky. Two large birds came swooping down to land in the nests. One was a vibrant green and the other was a beautiful mix of colors.

"Valefor and Quetzalcoatl!” Tobias breathed. Both giant birds preened at the attention they were getting. Yuna got as close to Valefor as she could.

"It's good to see you again.” She said, happily. Valefor sang happily and Yuna wiped some tears from her eyes.

"Do you need to test us as well or-” Yuna was cut off as Valefor leaned down to nuzzled her. There was a gust of wind and then the bird was just gone. Yuna laughed happily hugging herself.

"It's good to have you back too, my friend.” she murmured. Quetzalcoatl cried out in joy and then disappeared in a bolt of lighting. Yuna stumbled and Tobias caught her.

"Did Quetzalcoatl junction to you too?” he asked and Yuna nodded, tired.

"Two almost at once is pretty draining.” she murmured. Tobias picked her up and smiled at the others.

"Let's go home.”

~*~*~*~

"I am so glad to be going home," Belle muttered as they emerged from the woods.
"I don't get you, girl, you teach the sciences that deal with dirt, rocks, and life forms, doesn't that mean your job is dirty?" J'dee asked as they climbed into the back seat.
"Yes, but I teach in a nice clean classroom that I maintain," Belle stated as she let Kaidan take the middle. "I am also the only one that caught on fire."
"My jacket got singed," Rufus stated.
"Did you need first aid for a burn?" Belle asked and the Shinra president huffed. "Exactly."
"You're going to fall asleep," Kaidan chuckled.
"And you're my pillow," she muttered before yawning.

~*~*~*~

J'dee watched as Belle crashed out and was out like a light. She let out a breath leaning back in the seat. "Next time you say to leave the packs. I don't care how heavy it is I'm taking everything Toby. I'd like to have a higher game ratio of survival, there are no re-spawn points in this world.”
She pulled out her pink 3DS and hooked it up to her music before sticking her earphones in and deciding to get some sleeping recovery time in.

~*~*~*~

"Kaidan, you okay?” Tobias asked as he pulled the truck into the drive way. Kaidan winced from where he was sitting with Belle sleeping next to him and J'dee sleeping on his other side. Yuna was conked out on the passenger side door in the front.

"I think I over did it today with my biotics” Kaidan said as they pulled up to the house. "I've been fighting a bad migraine for over an hour. ”

"We could have stayed at the motel.” Rufus said. Kaidan winced.

"It's going to be a real bad one.” he said, trembling a bit. "Without my docs it's going to be hard to do anything."

"Then we'll get you inside.” Belle said, startling the men.

~*~*~*~

"Change and shower, I'll get some extra strength pain meds as well as a few other things to help a migraine," Belle said as she let Kaidan go into the shower. She ran up to her bathroom and grabbed some pain reliever before heading to the kitchen. Since the last headache she had placed a couple ice compresses in there. She wrapped one in a towel before getting a large glass of orange juice. She brought them down to the basement and placed them on the table next to Kaidan's bed. She returned upstairs to get a bowl of ice water and another towel.
"I thought you had everything ready for me," Kaidan said and Belle smiled.
"I looked up some remedies for migraines. Sit on the floor, hold the ice compress in your hands and rest your forehead on it," Belle stated as she moved behind him placing the bowl on the table and dunking the towel. She wrung it out and placed it over the back of Kaidan's neck.
"I'm going to try rubbing your shoulders, hopefully this will help remove tension powering the migraine," Belle stated.
"I've tried a few of these individually, I've never done all of these at once," he chuckled and winced.
"Hush, if the back rub doesn't help, I'll leave you," Belle stated as she began to rub his back. Torn between sympathy for the pain of the migraine and a little bit of fangirl joy in rubbing a broad, strong back.

~*~*~*~

J'dee moved to the kitchen and grabbed some 2 minute spicy chicken oriental ramen from the cupboard. She boiled the jug and added the flavoring in the container then added the boiled water, she grabbed the chopsticks and walked down the hall into her room. She set the noodles on the bedside table. J'dee flicked the stereo on letting Timbaland's latest song blare from the ipod touch. J'dee set her bag down and she pulled her jacket off, then her top dumping it into her wash basket.
She stopped when the clearing of a throat came from behind her.

J'dee could feel the flush on her cheeks as she had stopped in the middle of taking her belt off. She looked over her shoulder to see Rufus sitting at her desk, in her computer chair.
He was sitting in the dark of her room.
"What are you-?” She began.
"I've come to talk to you.” He stated, his elbows resting on the arm rest of the chair fingers steepled together in front of his face.
"Um okay.” J'dee blushed looking round for her jersey.
Rufus motioned to where it was on her bed.
She walked up to the bed and went to pick it up.

J'dee was caught off guard as Rufus was on his feet his hand catching her wrist and she felt herself slammed against the wall. what gives?” She hissed.
"Forgetting materia, that was a rookie mistake.” Rufus gave her a look.
J'dee looked at him completely stunned. "I said I was sorry... let it go already.”
"No, the you I first met.” Rufus began. "She carried it round on her at all times now that you've got so much and you forget to take a single cure... there's something else going on.”
J'dee thumped her head back against the wall. He was on to her... again.
"What do you want me to say?”
"You haven't asked for the accessory and materia bracelet back. A normal person who know about this would have asked for training by now.” Rufus looked at her.

J'dee sighed. "That ghost the one that killed my car last week.”
Rufus looked at her. "It's attached itself.” He stated.
"It got me at work, broke my seal.” She rolled up her sleeve to show the cut in her upper arm. Her symbol was indeed broken the skin didn't look like it was healing either.
"Then I think we need to evict it. We need to prevent this type of mistake happening again.”
"Um okay...” J'dee looked at Rufus. "How?”
Rufus let out a breath. "Can you get rid of it?”
"Y-yes with enough energy, but I'm completely spent.”
J'dee saw the corner of Rufus' mouth tilt up in a smirk. "Then I'll give you some of mine.”
She raised a brow. "Um have you done that before?”
"No.”
J'dee nodded. "I could do the full blown ritual but given our recent adventures I'm pretty low on MP right now... so you need to sit there.” She motioned to the bed.
"Clap you hands together and rub them together and focus you energy till you can feel it in your hands and then slowly pull your hands apart picturing that ball of whatever energy between them and I'll just take that.”

~*~*~*~

"Poor Kaidan.” Tobias muttered to himself as he finished unloading the last of the gear. As he put his stuff away in his room he noticed his cellphone was lit up, indicating he had a voice mail. Tobias picked it up and turned it on.

"Tobias this is Rick at work. I'm afraid you're not just working out here. You do your best but you're just not keeping pace with the others. Stop by Monday at noon to turn in your jump suits and pick up your check. I'm sorry.”

Tobias started at the phone, frowning.

"Well shit.”

~*~*~*~

OMAKE

~*~*~*~

W hat if Toby decided to steal his happiness from some one else....

"Hello I’m the goddess Belldandy! How may I grant your wish?” she chirped. Tobias started at her in shock. He recognized her now but she was an anime character. Made up, not real, fiction, imaginary, as in she should be standing right fucking there!

"Y-you’re real?” Tobias squeaked in a very un-manly way.

"Of course! I am here to grant you one wish, anything you want at all.” She reassured him. Tobias stared at her in shock before smirking.

"Any wish?” he asked. Belldandy nodded.

"Any wish.” She re-assured. Tobias couldn’t help the evil grin on his face.

"Then I wish for a goddess, like you, to stay by my side forever!' Tobias declared.

Belldandy gasped before the markings on her face and forehead began to blink with blue light and a warning tone began to sound.

"DANGER! Continuity error!” loud voice cried, seemingly from everywhere."Preparing to wipe this reality from existence to preserve other dimensions!”

"OH WHAT THE FU-” Tobias screamed as the world seemed to explode in a blinding white light.

From their apartment miles away, Belle and J'dee watched the approaching explosion of white energy rushing towards them.

"I never got to see Miyavi naked!” J'dee cried as Belle sighed.

"I know this is some how Toby's fault.” she snarled just before it reached them.

~*~*~*~