As One (Shichiro/Ayako/Jamaila/Closed)

[Ashibo Zain]

x x

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The helicopter landed on the outskirts of Eden, the destination of the group that were currently boarding said mode of transport.

Although, they were quite a diverse group, who - under any other circumstances - would not have met and even be travelling together. But, it wasn't as if Ashibo was particularly allergic to their company. Indeed, he found himself relishing it a little.

Apart from Fema, there was no other person who was well-acquainted with the jade-eyed PSICOM soldier, due to his love for work, which seemed to push others into one side as he got on with his job. Which was fine, if not a little anti-social. Still, this particular situation had nothing to do with work and Ashibo found himself proud of the fact.

Raising himself up from his seat, he stretched his arms up in a tired manner before turning to look at the pilot of the helicopter. "Thanks a lot for all you've done. Send my wishes out to the PSICOM soldiers in Pulse."

The man raised a hand up. "Hey, don't worry about it. It's the least I can do for a fellow PSICOM member. And don't worry - I'll pass your message along."

With a nod and a tilt of the head directed to his 'companions', Ashibo made his way out of the helicopter.

The beautiful sight of his station greeted him with open arms and Ashibo found his mouth curving into a smile. Turning back to look at the trio behind him, he addressed them. "So, is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go? Or shall we just go wherever our feet lead us? Then again," he continued, eyes on Jamaila, "how about we check out where you live? That is, if you don't mind showing us." With another native in hand, Ashibo felt a little better with showing the two newcomers around, since he wouldn't have to be the only one talking. However, maybe Jamaila wouldn't feel so inclined as to let the three stay with her and - truthfully - he couldn't blame her. They'd only known each other a while.

He mentally shrugged to himself. 'But, maybe she could use the company...'

[/i] From what he'd heard, Jamaila had moved out of her father's residence. It must have been a way for her to simultaneously prove to him that she was no child as well as leave all their arguments and disagreements behind. Although her father had not specifically mentioned these things, it didn't change the fact that they could be the truth. After all, Ashibo was all too aware of how relationships between families could change in a small amount of time.

Ashibo, though, looked at it as just another hoop to jump through. Life had a funny way of testing people like that.[/blockquote]

[Shichiro Date]

x x

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The place didn't look half bad.

After the helicopter had landed, he'd been able to sneak a look into one of the windows, expecting some form of majestic state to be waiting for him and the rest of the passengers of the aircraft. So far, the view had impressed him and it was for partially this reason that he left the helicopter with a parting grin to the pilot, as well as with a "Thanks for flying us here. Take care."

The pilot had responded with a thumbs up.

In Shichiro's honest opinion, though, the place didn't hold as much splendor as Esthar did. But that was a personal matter entirely and, therefore, wasn't that relevant here.

Nevertheless, Shichiro put an appreciative grin on his face before observing as much as he could with his eyes. "Well, this place sure is something..."

It took him a while to turn his attention back to the rest of the members of the 'group' but he did so. He crossed his arms across his chest. "Wherever you guys want to take us is fine, I'm sure. Just be sure to make this tour as entertaining and enjoyable as possible, would you?" The last part was said with a teasing grin on his face. He didn't mind where they went now. But, he felt that he had a shrewd idea as to where they would go, first of all - personally, he was hungry following the whole 'adventure' that they had encountered in Pulse and was looking to enjoy a good meal after all the running, fighting and sleeping. But, he wasn't going to say that out loud - there was no point in pushing the trio. 'After all, they must be as parched as I am...'

His eyebrows raised a fraction when Ashibo reminded him that they were actually in Jamaila's hometown. Her place of accommodation did sound like a good place to rest in. "Oh, yeah... your place... sounds good. How about you show us around? And cook us something while you're at it." There was the grin again. Always trying to keep people relaxed. Not that his grins were particularly friendly all the time, so to speak... "If it's not far, do you mind walking us there?" He turned to Jamaila. Although he had - initially - been planning to stomp down on the metaphorical 'pushing', he couldn't help but be intrigued by this place. The place (or the remains of it) looked great, but what was it like living here. Just as grand?

'Well, hopefully, we'll be able to find out.

[/i] [/blockquote]

[Ayako Hikumi]

x x

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The helicopter ride had been relatively uneventful, save for some generous conversation. Ayako, though, couldn't help but wonder what the world she was about to explore might be like.

Thankfully, she didn't have to suffer much in the way of curiosity, since the aircraft was making its move to descend. After having done so, Ayako watched as the pilot exchanged some words with Ashibo (since they were both PSICOM members, there was bound to be some sort of friendly relationship between them). She stood up from her seat and, when the others made to leave the transportation vehicle, Ayako smiled in thanks at the pilot.

He grinned back.

Now that she - as well as the other three - had disembarked from the vehicle, Ayako had time to observe her surroundings.

After settling her eyes on the scene in front of her, Ayako couldn't help but feel a little homesick.

Eden reminded her of everything that she was accustomed to whenever she was at home in Esthar: eager citizens who were rushing around for one reason or another, the beautiful scenery and the lovely weather were all reminiscent of her home. That, alone, made her a little more accommodating to this place.

She allowed a small smile to grace her face and faintly nodded in admiration as her eyes took in the view. She couldn't help but agree with Shichiro's awed analysis: the place was definitely a wonderful city to live in.

"Well, I'm not too bothered as to where we should stop first." But... She turned to look at Jamaila. "But, your apartment does sound like a good place to start. Is it far from here?" Not that she minded walking... much. Although, if there was some other form of transport that they could take, then Ayako would be more than eager to take a ride to Jamaila's place of residence. Her eyes had spied a couple of cool-looking cars around and her wonder at the marvel of such a place had risen a little higher at the sight of them.

"Oh, yeah... your place... sounds good. How about you show us around? And cook us something while you're at it." [/i]

The right half of Ayako's mouth quirked upward. Well, of course Shichiro would be the one to make such a revelation. His stomach was, according to some of his co-workers, a force to be reckoned with. Leave the man without food and he'd just end up in some sort of berserk rage when he was in combat. Times like that made Ayako feel more inclined to socialize with others.

Of course, she was still not a player in the dating game, but that was to be expected. Given her past experience, especially.

Not that any of Shichiro's co-workers would ever say any of that to his face. No, given the whole brash attitude of the guy, it was best for them to keep their thoughts to themselves. Particularly if they favored their body parts intact.

Threats like that came one too often from the 'Psycho Dog'.

"Well, since you'll have to cook for Shichiro," she turned her attention from Jamaila to her fellow DTC member and managed to retain that half-smile on her face, "then you'll need some help filling him up. His stomach is quite the ungrateful one." This time, she moved her head to regard Jamaila with a small smile of geniality. "So, how about when we get to your home, I help you cook something up?" Not that that was a truly appealing thing for Ayako to do - her cooking expertise was below par. But this was for a friend - a newly made friend - so it was best to stay on her good side and impress her with as much assistance as possible.

And, besides, Jamaila seemed like the sort of girl that wouldn't mind a helping hand. And Ayako, whatever else her faults may be, was loyal and good at being helpful.

Let's do our best in keeping this simple.[/i][/font]

[Jamaila Collyns]

x x

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Back to Eden. And, boy, was it good to be home.

The pilot of the helicopter that the group were currently boarding could not have been much more of a saint. Well, in Jamaila's eyes, at least.

After landing on Eden, the brunette followed the rest of her comrades out of the helicopter, but not before thanking the man responsible for taking them there.

So, making her way toward him, Jamaila then stopped a couple of steps away and clapped her hands together. "Thank you so much for taking us here! I really don't know how to repay you... After all, if it wasn't for you, we'd still be stuck in Pulse." And she'd already experienced how difficult it was to stay there without becoming a target of one of the many thousands of monsters down there...

The pilot put a half-smile on his face and regarded the grateful brunette standing a couple of steps away from him. "Heh, there's no reason to thank me. I was glad to be of help. You guys should take care, though. I might not be around to help you next time."

Jamaila nodded and, after thanking him again, followed the others out of the helicopter, where the scenery of her hometown greeted her.

She inwardly rejoiced at the sight of her hometown after having been chased around the Pulsian plains and it was a very welcome sight. Not a single cloud was in the sky and the citizens of Eden were wandering about like they usually did. She was also planning to meet her dad sometime, to talk to him and mull things over. But, of course, there was no time for that now. She had people to show around.

So, with a smile on her face, she twirled round to face the rest of the group. She was just about to ask the others where they wanted to go to first, when it seemed that Ashibo had been thinking along the same lines and beat her to it.

He wanted to go to her home? Well...[/i]

As it stood, though, Jamaila was outnumbered; both Shichiro and Ayako were also planning to look around her apartment. However, since she felt no botheration in showing the trio around, she found herself giving in to their demand. "...Sure, okay. I'll show you guys around my place. Although, since it'll take a while for us to get there, I'm thinking of just giving you guys a tour anyway. And, yes, once I take you guys to my home, I'll cook you something too." She added, in reply to Shichiro's plea. The only reason she felt hesitant, truthfully, was because she felt that there was not enough to impress in her house: she couldn't even remember if she had enough food in her house to feed the rest of her guests.

Ayako's question, she hadn't expected, though.

Jamaila found a small smile making its way onto her face. Well, yeah, sure, she could definitely use the help - she wasn't to good with cooking either. "That's great, Ayako. Thanks. I sure could use an extra pair of hands, particularly with regards to cooking." Well, at least that made Jamaila feel a little better. But before she could think about whether or not she had many ingredients at home, she had to consider where to show the guys around.

Since Eden was on the verge of getting repaired to something of its former glory, she thought that a lesson in history would do the newcomers a little good. "Okay, so, um... since me and Ashibo hadn't got around to mentioning much of what had happened in Eden a while back... Well, I figured I'd let you guys know about the reason that Eden's in this state." Even though the city was not exactly what it used to be, there was still that serene beauty there that was typically associated with the city dubbed such names as 'the seat of the Sanctum' and the 'heart of Cocoon.'

She had also subtly noticed the faint glint in Ayako and Shichiro's eyes once they had arrived her; their grand expectations hadn't exactly been met. "This city... had actually been somewhat 'destroyed' a while ago. Well, when I mean 'destroyed', I basically mean that it turned into crystal and many buildings and such had been lost." Jamaila breathed in and closed her eyes. Thankfully, there hadn't been too many human casualties... She sighed softly before opening them again. "But, now, as you can see, there are quite a few people still living here and helping with the renovating... And, that's why this place doesn't look as 'prosperous' as it would have done before... all that..." However, the city was rapidly regaining most of its former radiance, so she couldn't complain.

Jamaila placed a small smile on her face and clapped her hands together, her feet momentarily leaving the ground in a sort of 'happy' jump. "But, enough about the sulking. I've got a tour to lead! Well, with your help too, Ashibo." She tilted her head to regard said PSICOM officer with a warm smile.

"Now... let's go!" She raised her right hand - fist clenched - into a strange kind of salute, before walking-slash-marching to a destination that was going to take a while to get to, making sure to point out all sorts of things on the way.

She didn't know where exactly this sudden exuberance had come from, but was betting that it had something to do with the fact that she was back in a place that she truly and honesty belonged.

Now that there was no artificial light being shone by Phoenix, the light was not as illuminating. Nevertheless, there was also no sign of a storm. And, incidentally, Jamaila could handle a day in this weather. She was sure that the others could, too.

Thanks to the many citizens and soldiers working hard, Cocoon - or, more specifically, Eden - was going to be fine. No need for the civilians and residents here to worry about whether or not they'd be able to go back home. After all, the few hours that she herself had spent in Pulse weren't too accommodating. Or welcoming. However, the company had been great. Strong people, with a love for combat. Which definitely beat the company of the people she usually had to meet.

Once her eyes caught on something, though, she decided to point it out to the group that were following her. "Okay, so, as you can see... most of the houses are coming back together again. And then there are the shops, which - admittedly - aren't usually as packed as they normally are." One: that was because of the whole 'destruction of the city' part. And, two: because of a little wonder called 'on-line shopping'. After all, that was a good selling point of Eden: the advanced technology. If anyone wanted commerce, they'd go to Palumpolum.

Which reminded her...

With a grin on her face, Jamaila turned to face Ashibo, her legs - though - still moving forward. "So, I gather that this is a lot different from home, huh?" She wondered how long ago he had gone to visit his hometown. Especially with all the work going on here, she gathered that it was not very often.

Turning back to regard the many (half-complete) wonders of Eden, she gestured with her arms moving here and there. "Okay, so, we've got the park over there... the Grand Prix circuit, which everyone is trying their hardest to repair..." Racing was, after all, an Eden citizen's favorite pastime. "The Leviathan Plaza's located in that area there... We've got the Expressway... and the Edenhall, located in the center." She stopped walking and her arms fell back to her sides. She turned around to regard the trio and pointed at a nice cafe that she was sure would be a good place to crash, just for the moment, at least. "And here's a good place to hang out with friends. I'm sure you're all feeling a little peckish right now, so why don't we grab a bite to eat and drink before we continue with the rest of the tour?" She recalled Shichiro saying that he wouldn't have minded some of her cooking, but that wasn't a good idea. In her opinion, anyway.

She then regarded Ashibo once again. "Oh, and feel free to intervene at any time, Ashibo. After all, as a member of PSICOM, I'm sure you know this place just as well as I know it myself." She grinned pleasantly. She almost envied his ability to go and travel around the planet. Although, now, what with the portals, there was another way to transport to different worlds.

Worlds that she had never even heard of. Or known of. Such as Ayako and Shichiro's world.

With them now as friends - or comrades or acquaintances - hopefully, Jamaila would be able to explore those worlds. So, she voiced her question out loud. "And, you two... be sure to give us a tour of when we all go to your homeworld... whenever that may be." She winked at them before holding up her fingers in a sort of cheesy pose, with her right foot lifted off the ground, causing most of her weight to be put on her left leg.

Who knows, maybe she'd be able to see the place pretty soon. [/font]

[Ashibo Zain]

x x

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Luckily, asking Jamaila whether or not the group should all stop by her apartment hadn't been for nothing.

Incidentally, he was not too objective as to not let them in his apartment, too. But, since Eden was more Jamaila's home than his, he figured it'd be better for them to stay round hers. "Sounds good. Here's hoping that we get a good meal from you." He smiled a little. Was Jamaila any good in the kitchen, though...?

'Well, thanks to Ayako's help, maybe Jamaila would be able to cook up some nice dishes.' It was mainly due to the fact that Ayako was older than Jamaila (and would have more experience in the kitchen, possibly) that Ashibo felt that there would be a great meal (or meals) made for them once they reached her apartment.

And, now that Ayako was helping out with the cooking, Ashibo had a feeling that the food would, hopefully, be a little more filling.

As Jamaila began to inform the other two as to how Eden had actually gotten partially destroyed, Ashibo averted his eyes and his gaze was then fixed to a pack of cars that were currently waiting for the traffic lights to turn green. That time had been tough on the citizens of Eden but, luckily, had not lasted for too long. Which was largely in thanks to PSICOM and the Guardian Corps, in his opinion. The crystallization of the city also had a big impact on Jamaila, as was evident from her body language. Ashibo regarded her with what he considered a comforting expression. "... Even though there had been a battle between the Fal'Cie and the Sanctum, PSICOM and the Guardian Corps had been in hand to evacuate all the citizens and keep them out of harm's way. And, now, we're even more prepared just in case a similar case arises later in life." Not that it'd be particularly easy defeating such a super powerful being (or beings, just in case the Fal'Cie became desperate). But the justice preservers of Cocoon were planning to do all they could.

He turned to face Shichiro and Ayako. "So, I gather that's why this place didn't look as appealing to you guys as it would have done if you had arrived here whilst Cocoon had been free of war with the Fal'Cie." Although, that time would have been categorized with a lot of fighting as well as protecting civilians and attempting to face the new threats plaguing the planet. Although that time was long gone, Ashibo was sure that many citizens would have those dark ages embedded in their thoughts.

And, he couldn't blame them: it wasn't exactly an easy thing to forget.

Ashibo was secretly glad when Jamaila lightened the mood. He was worried that he'd almost zoned out with nothing but depressing thoughts to accompany him. He smiled before nodding curtly at her. "Happy to be of service. Although, since this is more your hometown, I'll let you lead the tour, but assist you in any other way I can." As she began to walk, so Ashibo followed and examined the cloudless sky.

Now that Phoenix was gone, so the light created by the Fal'Cie was, too. However, the natural weather itself was nice enough, as well. This only helped enhance Eden's beauty.

The city of Eden, itself, was recovering fast. Because of the huge amount of help being offered by many a citizen (and since the soldiers were already working on rebuilding), the place was becoming just as beautiful as it was known to be. Which was great, because Ashibo didn't want to leave this place.

Of course, if there was a reason that he'd want to leave, it'd be because he missed his father, as well as his place of birth, which was Palumpolum.

As Jamaila pointed out where the houses and shops were, Ashibo found his eyes roaming to absorb the view. Although, it didn't mean much to him: he'd already seen the place countless times.

He just never got sick of it.

Ashibo's apartment was a couple of blocks away. Well, when he meant 'apartment', he regarded it as more of a 'temporary place to stay.' Since he was stationed in Eden, though, it was a place that he'd grown to love.

He had also planned to get himself a motorcycle. Seeing as he was one for exploring places, he wanted a cool form of transportation that was solely his. Unlike the PSICOM helicopters, which were actually owned by the higher-ups of the organization.

However, before he could dwell too much into where the man who had promised to sell the PSICOM soldier a motorcycle was, Jamaila's next words grabbed his attention. He smiled in response. "Yes, this place is a lot different from Palumpolum. But, I feel that I've adjusted relatively well here. And, I do think of this place as my second home, regardless." Despite the two places being so different, both Palumpolum and Eden had a place in Ashibo's heart.

As Jamaila began to animatedly point out where all the different sights of Eden were, Ashibo mentally pictured each place as it was said. They could go and examine those wonders more closely, but...

However, since their stomaches were the main masterminds behind the group's decisions, then it came as no surprise to Ashibo when Jamaila pointed out a cafe that they could spend some time in. He recognized the exterior of the place but, seeing as he wasn't one for 'mingling' with others inside cafes, he had never recalled actually being inside this place.

But, there was no need for him to consider that. So, he turned to address Jamaila with a nod, as well as with some words of agreement. "Yes, good idea. We'll all fill ourselves up here and then continue with the tour." A small smile then crept on his face. "Of course, if we're not completely satiated, then maybe you could make us some sort of dessert?" He was mainly teasing her, seeing as he really wanted to taste Jamaila's home-made cooking. After his mother's death, he'd never been able to try any more dishes made from home. Then again, he'd also never had the sense to learn how to cook.

And he doubted that he ever would.

Ashibo made to enter the cafe before Jamaila's next words stopped him. He turned back to face her. "... I don't think that's possible. But, of course, I'll help you out. The tour's not so bad, though, if I do say so myself." Which was true: the way this outing was going, Ashibo had a feeling that Jamaila might not even need his help. Not that he wasn't going to try, of course. After all, he was used to informing people about different things. One of the main reasons he even got into PSICOM, apparently.

He then faced the duo that were not from Cocoon. "I agree with Jamaila. I'll be expecting a tour of some sort whenever we are in Esthar." His expression was that of a half-smile. It was a good idea.

Of course, there was no telling just when that'll be. So, it was best for him to just focus on the here and now.

'Now, isn't this nice...?'

[/i][/blockquote]

[Shichiro Date]

x x

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Fortunately, the group had a place to stay in Eden.

If it hadn't been for Jamaila, they would probably have had to book a room at an inn or something. Then again, if it hadn't been for Ashibo, all four of them would not have even flown here. But Hyne, or whatever other entity was watching over them, had been kind enough to give the 'party' something to look forward to.

Not that Shichiro was a religious person, but, still... credit had to be given where credit was due.

He felt even better when Jamaila agreed to cook something for him and ended up grinning in gratitude. "Great, thanks. Ever since the whole 'adventure' yesterday, I feel really hungry." Hopefully, the meal would be one that will completely satisfy his stomach.

Shichiro, though, wasn't expecting such a remark from the likes of Ayako. At times, he almost forgot that she, too, had a sense of humor. With both his eyebrows raised and his facial expression in a feeble imitation of Ayako's customary half-smile, he crossed his arms before regarding her with his head held high. "Okay, I see what this is... mock the old guy, right?" His half-smile then became a full-blown grin. "And, besides, what makes you think you'd be able to cook a decent meal for my pal here?" He then uncrossed his arms before patting his stomach.

He also hadn't been expecting Jamaila to actually accept Ayako's offer. From what he knew of her (which was not much, admittedly, but still more than the majority of the Dragon Triad Corporation) was that she was not one for staying in the kitchen. She was almost like one of the guys. Despite her ability to turn many a guy's head, Ayako had never seen fit to act on her femininity. Because of this, Shichiro couldn't help but tease her again. As he focused on Jamaila, he jabbed a thumb in Ayako's direction. "Ooh, I'll tell you now, Jamaila - it's not wise of you to get cooking tips from this one here." He almost felt tempted to not try the food, if Ayako was going to be one of the two cooking.

Jamaila's demeanor, though, began to change. She was almost hesitant. For some reason, Shichiro dreaded what was going to happen next.

Thankfully, Jamaila didn't end up in tears. If there was one thing Shichiro was powerless to stop, it was tears. Not to mention, he hated them as well. After all, he felt that tears were a weakness.

And Shichiro hated weakness.

Not that he could talk, much. He was still the loser when it came to brawls between him and Mazzy boy.

Although, he was planning to rectify that. Any day now...

Also, when it came to history, Shichiro usually found that his attention was never actually focused to the facts. But, in this situation, he found that a bit of history was necessary. "...That sucks. But, at least you guys are working hard to fix this place. And, you sound much better prepared this time. So, I'm sure you'll be able to take... whatever was responsible for this down next time. If there is a next time." He quickly amended. There was no need to make Jamaila consider that, especially since she seemed sad enough.

He then nodded at Ashibo. That made sense, since the way the duo had talked about Eden had given Shichiro some very vivid pictures as to how alluring the city looked. But, there was still something he didn't understand... "So, these Fal'Cie... What, exactly, are they?" He'd feel a little better, at least, if he knew what they were.

Shichiro nodded and wore a grin on his face once Jamaila ended up pumping her fist in the air. At least her exuberance was a little contagious. No more somber thoughts here. As the two Cocoon natives began to walk, Shichiro followed them whilst making sure to observe as much as he could.

The weather, itself, was not too bad. Almost like Esthar, in a way. He mentally noted some citizens walking around and others working on renovating the place. It made Shichiro admire their willingness to contribute to the well being of their home.

As Jamaila brought Shichiro's attention to the houses and shops lined up together, he moved his gaze to regard them. They were of moderate size and the exterior alone looked pretty nice. Almost made him want to move here.

His head then moved along with Jamaila's exaggerated gestures. 'Wait, what...?'

[/i] He hadn't been expecting this. Were all cities in Cocoon this big...?

The cafe Jamaila pointed out, though, sounded like a good place to enter. Inwardly, Shichiro felt satisfied - he just knew they were going to get some food to eat and some beverages to drink first. "Yeah, this place looks perfect. Let's go in." He attempted to command them before moving to enter the cafe.

However, he stopped when he heard the request from both of the Cocoon inhabitants. Turning to face them, he then grinned. "Well, of course - we'd be more than happy ta show you around."

First, though, Shichiro was planning to look around Eden, a city that reminded him a lot of his own hometown.[/blockquote]

[Ayako Hikumi]

x x

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Ayako smiled as Jamaila allowed the group to see her apartment. Because of this, she felt that a "Thank you" was in order.

She then rolled her eyes at Shichiro's words. Well, at least he was one person who could help her lighten up. She had to restrain herself from laughing out loud. "...Shichiro, you're not that old." Despite what he told himself...

Ayako's right eyebrow then rose a fraction. "Well, maybe you're right... I doubt your 'pal' would be filled up with the food..." Ayako was sure that Shichiro and his "pal" were ever even filled up with Masaru's food.

She then smiled back at Jamaila. "It's okay. Admittedly, I'm not too good in the kitchens, but I'll do my best for you." Had it been something that she was actually skilled at, she wouldn't be inwardly fretting, like she was now.

Ayako was grateful enough to spare Shichiro one of her rare glares. "Shichiro, I was almost going to pretend that you hadn't said anything, but a comment like that is too hard to ignore. And, just like that, I won't be cooking for you - only Jamaila and Ashibo would have the pleasure of tasting my meals." He always seemed to know how to elicit a response from her...

The air in the atmosphere changed, though, once Jamaila began to explain the reason that Eden was in this state. Not that it looked too bad, just... a little incomplete. But, regardless, Ayako listened attentively to the duo that hailed from Cocoon.

It was bad luck that Ayako had stumbled upon this city when it wasn't completely restored to the metropolis that she imagined both Jamaila and Ashibo had had the privilege of residing in. Incidentally, Esthar had also been hit by a similar situation and was also on the verge of completely resurrecting itself. She could only ponder at the horrors that seemed to permeate big cities.

She shook her head lightly at Ashibo's comment. "No, the city still looks great. In fact, a similar thing occurred in Esthar - we're also trying to recover from that." It was hard, but they were coping. Amazing what a dedicated community and Gil could do for you...

Shichiro's comforting was also pretty impressive, especially considering the fact that he barely comforted anyone at all. It was rare for him to do things like this but Ayako was thankful, nonetheless. She followed his lead. "Shichiro's right. There's no sense in thinking about the past. Just take time to focus on the present and prepare yourself as much as you can for the future." Never mind advising other people - maybe Ayako should learn to take her own advice, first of all.

The Fal'Cie? Yes... Ayako found that she, also, wanted to know about them. Not that she showed her curiosity outwardly, mind you, but - still...

Ayako smiled encouragingly as Jamaila attempted to distract herself via enthusiasm. Which was a good way to do so. Pity that Ayako wasn't too much into that...

But, now, she'd try, just for the young brunette leading the trio.

The weather was nice. Not as sunny as it had been in Pulse (or, indeed, in the area that Masaru lived with his adopted kids). But, still... nice.

The sight of the citizens working to rebuild their home reminded her achingly of her home. She had no idea how two cities could be so alike. But, then again, cities were like people - they weren't completely alike yet they weren't completely different, either.

Ayako's gaze moved to the houses and shops once Jamaila pointed them out. "They look good. The people here are certainly experienced at designing buildings." All in all, the place seemed to be coming together nicely.

She hadn't been expecting this city to be packed with things, though.

Ayako quickly noted down the many attractions in her head. The similarities between Eden and Esthar were just increasing by the minute. With renovations underway, the residents of Esthar had decided to add much more to their city, in order to keep outsider interest up.

Thankfully, the group were not going to explore all those places at once, as Jamaila opted for sitting down at a cafe and catching up on filling their stomaches. It almost made Ayako ponder whether or not Jamaila wanted to dodge out of cooking anything. Well, not that Ayako minded, personally - with her help, the dishes made would be just about edible.

The others, though, were all for eating here and Ayako smiled at Ashibo's question about dessert. She decided to intervene on Jamaila's behalf. "Well, I can't talk for Jamaila, but... if you had ever tasted my cooking, I guarantee you that sitting and eating in a place like this would be a much better option." That was it - time for Shichiro to make another comment...

Ayako was just making her way into the cafe, when...

She turned back to regard her fellow DTC member before turning her gaze back to the two Cocoon inhabitants. They wanted to see Esthar? Well, that'd be a nice day out.

With Shichiro's mind already made up, there was only one thing Ayako could say... "Yes, we'll be sure to do that." It sounded like a nice idea and Ayako couldn't wait to see it implemented.

For now, though, she had some 'hanging out' to do.

[Jamaila Collyns]

x x

-----

She wasn't expecting such a positive reaction from the fact that she was going to let the trio enter her apartment. Incidentally, she couldn't help but wonder what they were expecting once they actually got there. Well, here's to unintentionally disappointing them...[/i]

Jamaila laughed as Ashibo mentioned hoping for a good meal. "Sorry to dishearten you, but my cooking isn't exactly what you'd term as 'good' - I'm not too great in the kitchen, to be honest with you." She smiled sheepishly at them. Hopefully that wouldn't deter them from at least trying the food...

She then frowned as soon as Shichiro brought the subject of yesterday's "adventure" up. She was glad that they were in Cocoon now - in Eden, specifically - and hadn't thought about the time that she'd been forced to spend in Pulse... much. But, the one thing that she could decipher as a good point to her traveling to a 'rival' world was that she had met some great people from there. "Yeah, I know what you mean... there wasn't much in the way of eating there." Well, unless one liked grass and fiend carcasses...

Jamaila couldn't help but laugh at Shichiro and Ayako's banter. She'd come to expect something like that from Shichiro, but from Ayako? Nah. Although, she'd only known the female for a while, so - of course - Jamaila's interpretation of her wouldn't be too accurate. "Okay, knock it off, you guys... Shichiro, you're not that old. And, Ayako - come on - don't be like that. I'm sure your good friend... and his 'pal' are dying to try some of your home-made food." Not that she didn't enjoy the fact that they were all joking with one another...

She grinned at Ayako. Apparently, both their weaknesses lied in the kitchen. "Aaw, don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll be way better than me in preparing nice home-made meals, anyway." That was something that she was willing to regard as a fact.

Jamaila smiled genuinely at the trio as they attempted to divert her thoughts from wandering down more emotionally painful alleys. "Hey, thanks guys. It means a lot to know that you're willing to comfort me." Her heart soared at the thought. "And, yes, you're right, Ashibo - both PSICOM and the Guardian Corps are definitely more alert now." It must have been a warning from the Gods, or something like that.

Her eyes, though, widened at Ayako's next statement. She quickly shifted her gaze back to the female DTC member. "Something like this also happened in Esthar?! No way!" Were the Fal'Cie planning to destroy all the big cities out there...?

Speaking of the Fal'Cie...

She cupped her chin in her right hand, with her right elbow being held up by her left hand. "Hmm, well... The Fal'Cie are, sort of, these supernatural beings which hold a lot of power over us humans. There are two types of Fal'Cie: the ones from Cocoon and the ones from Pulse. Cocoon Fal'Cie are generally useful in one way and another, and help protect us Cocoon citizens. For example, one Fal'Cie would be responsible for supplying the world with energy and another would be responsible for illuminating this city with sunlight. Phoenix was the name of the Fal'Cie..." She pointed up at the sky for emphasis. Thanks to the destruction of Cocoon, Phoenix was no more.

Jamaila then smiled back at Ashibo. "Hehe, thanks. I just felt that you might want to shine in the spotlight, spread all your wisdom... or something like that." She giggled. From the small time that she had known him, Ashibo did seem like that type of guy. "... And, I've actually never been to Palumpolum. I'd like to go there, though. From what I've heard, it sounds like a nice place to live." And, it did. Particularly when the brunette conversed with some of the Palumpolum-bred University students.

She then turned to address Ayako. "Yeah, I agree with you. This city is already making its way into full recovery." Which was a very good thing - something to look forward to.

Jamaila grinned at the others. "Okay, it's settled - we'll eat here, then." Although, she couldn't help pursing her lips at Ashibo's suggestion. Well, sure, if he was that eager to... "Well... okay, sure. I wouldn't hold your breath for that, though." She lifted a shoulder in an innocent shrug. He couldn't accuse her of teasing him...

She kept the grin on her face as Shichiro eagerly attempted to 'force' the three into entering the cafe. "Okay, okay..." She understood his longing to gratify his hunger - after all, her stomach was empty of edible contents as well.

Jamaila laughed at Ayako's next statement. "Naw, I'm positive your cooking is much, much better than mine. But, at least there's some ready-made food here, so there's no need for us to starve for much longer." The idea of dining there was very appealing...

She smiled at Ashibo. "Aaw, thanks... I do try my best." There was no point in figuring out where her sudden bout of humor had come from...

Jamaila clapped her hands together once she heard the good news. "Great! I can't wait to see the beautiful city of Esthar!" It sounded like a wonderful place to be in, at any rate.

And, with that settled, she entered the cafe.

The interior of the place was very welcoming: there were a number of round wooden tables assorted around the room, with matching wooden chairs; the white walls were plastered with frames of portraits and photographs, of various people and landscapes and the white ceiling was filled with tiny spotlights and fans.

All in all, a very nice place.

Jamaila made her way towards one of the closer tables, which was (currently) vacant. Once the brunette seated herself, she made to observe her surroundings. There weren't too many people here at this time of day and no-one that she really knew, either. She then turned to regard the others as they similarly seated themselves around the allocated table. "It's not too busy today. Although, this place has been known to be packed at times...." Why was that, she wondered? Eh, well... at least the newcomers would be able to be served relatively quickly, thankfully.

As soon as she thought this, a brown-haired waiter made his way to their table. "Hello there. How may I help you?" He smiled warmly at the group and Jamaila couldn't help notice how it lit up the rest of his face.

Jamaila then turned her attention to the menu she had in her hands. Well,[/i] she thought as she scanned the contents of the piece of card, I suppose I'll keep my stomach partially satisfied and cook the others something once we reach home.[/i] After all, since they'd mentioned it, Jamaila had been visualizing herself cooking something for them...

Being careful not to zone out, she looked back at the waiter once her mind (and gut) had been set. "Um, I'd like the medium cheese burger and fries to eat, please. And, for the drink, I'd like..." - she scanned through the menu again - "... a bottle of pure mineral water, please," she finished, after removing her gaze off the menu and focusing on the waiter.

He jotted away on his notepad and nodded at her. "Of course, ma'am." He then turned his attention to the others. "And, for you?"

The brunette followed his gaze, her blue-green eyes absorbing the sight of the trio seated with her. Hopefully, they were enjoying themselves here.[/font]

[Ashibo Zain]

x x

-----

Since all four of them felt the same - hungry - it made sense that the first place they were going to stay in would be a cafe.

It was a pity that Jamaila was so eager to duck out of cooking anything. He smiled consolingly at her. "Well... I believe that you'd be a much better chef than I ever would be. And, I trust you enough not to give me anything too life-threatening." The smile turned teasing in an instant. Since he'd been without food for a while, it made sense that he'd feel a little more empty than usual.

And he couldn't help agreeing with Shichiro's comment. Although, Ashibo didn't totally agree with referring to the encounter in Pulse as an adventure... Indeed, he doubted that he had felt too excited there - since the place had been swarming with wild fiends. And not of the friendly variety.

He raised his eyebrows at Shichiro. "Well, if you want to refer to it as an adventure..." Personally, he liked his adventures more fun and exhilarating...

As Shichiro and Ayako continued to jest with each other, Ashibo chuckled at Jamaila's next words. He composed himself soon after, though. "Well, that sounds nice... are we going to have to put up with this a lot? Well, if so, maybe it's good that there's someone like you in hand here." If he wasn't such a serious type of guy, he would have nudged her teasingly.

He then smiled at Jamaila. "Don't mention it. That was a pretty tough time for me, too. And, I mean it when I say that something like that will not happen again." Not that he could predict the future, but he'd try his best to stay positive.

Ashibo also turned to Ayako. Obviously, he'd had no idea that something like what Eden had experienced had also been experienced by other cities. But, had the Fal'Cie been behind that? He wondered. Hopefully, Ayako would be able to fill him in.

Seeing as he had been told to help with the tour and things, it was only natural that he would continue from where Jamaila left off. Not only that, but he was one to teach. "The Pulse Fal'Cie, on the other hand, are considered - like everything else in Pulse - enemies of Cocoon. It is for this reason that L'Cie - servants of the Fal'Cie exist and why this city-" he gestured with his arms, his eyes taking in the sight of the place, "-looks like this now." Had the soldiers been prepared, then none of that would have occurred in the first place.

Ashibo smiled back at Jamaila. "Oh, is that the impression I give off? Hah, no, it's okay. You lead on. And, you should come see Palumpolum sometime. Of course, it doesn't hold as much beauty as Eden does, but it's an attractive place, nonetheless." He pointed ahead, to where he knew the railway station was. "You could take a train there, which is convenient for people like me." Seeing as he was connected to both cities, Ashibo was thankful for such a transportation method.

He then nodded at her. "Sounds good." He then frowned at her next words. "Are you really so willing as to not cook us anything? Well, that's fine - I was just joking around, anyway." Not that eating in a cafe was anything new for him. If anything, he was a little tired of being deprived of eating home-made food. As a PSICOM soldier, there wasn't much of a choice, anyway.

So, it was then that Ashibo followed Jamaila and entered the cafe.

The place, itself, looked very homely. Of course, it wasn't exactly a real eye-catcher on the inside. But, all things considered, it was a nice place to relax, nonetheless.

'Hmm... this place seems like a good hang-out spot...'

[/i]

Since Jamaila had already picked out a table, it left the PSICOM soldier with no other option than to follow her. His eyes absorbed his surroundings somewhat out of habit. Thankfully, there weren't too many people around, which would help the waiters be able to serve their group as soon as possible. Jamaila was also thinking along the same lines and - after her comment was said - he nodded at her. "That's true... it must be partially due to the time or something..." Seeing as they had left Pulse around early morning, it must be around mid-morning now. Which would mean the other citizens were obviously at home or shopping.

After Ashibo seated himself, he noticed a brown-haired waiter (who, from his name-tag, Ashibo regarded was named 'Riz') make his way to the table. After he asked the group of what they wanted to eat and drink, Ashibo looked down at the menu he took from the table and now held in his hands. 'Hmm, now what to order...?'[/i] he pondered, as his eyes quickly moved from the name of one dish to another.

From looking at the menu, he could decipher the fact that the burgers and sandwiches were something of a specialty here. Which was understandable, given the location. So, he figured he'd order one of those.

Since Jamaila had already ordered, the waiter - Riz - turned to the trio that were seated around the same table as her. Ashibo caught the man's attention by raising his hand a little. "Well, I'd like the large chicken burger, with fries, and a bottle of pure mineral water to drink, please." He dropped his arm, his hand resting back on the table.

After the waiter wrote the soldier's order down on the notepad - and turned to the two that had not yet ordered - Ashibo placed his menu down on the table. 'Now, this is an ideal way to spend some free time...'[/i][/blockquote]

[Shichiro Date]

x x

-----

Shichiro was glad that the others had decided on grabbing a bite to eat.

He wasn't too picky as to where the group should eat, but he felt a little happier now that he would be able to fill up his stomach. Which was exactly why he had a big grin on his face. He felt even more happy once Jamaila expressed her agreement on one of his comments.

Shichiro nodded at Jamaila. "Exactly. Which is why we should concentrate on stuffing ourselves." That comment was then followed with a grin.

He then frowned a little as Ashibo's comment trailed off. "Well, okay, so it wasn't particularly a picnic in there, but... you gotta admit - we had something of a blast there." Well, he did, particularly - combat was not only something that he could live with, but something that he also lived for.

Shichiro's grin, though, came back once the comments regarding his age came up. And his grin only increased in size as he addressed Ayako first. "Well, I'm the oldest person in this group, aren't I? So, I do have a right to look at myself that way." Not that that was necessarily a good thing, but since he was tagging along with younger people, he couldn't help but think of himself in that way.

He turned to Jamaila. "Heh... well, I'm not too fussed with wanting to try Ayako's food. Yours, on the other hand, possibly. And that goes for my pal, too." He said before patting his stomach again. Well... so, teasing Ayako was more fun than he had expected. Maybe because she barely cracked a smile otherwise.

Then again, with their line of work, there wasn't much to smile about.

He then lifted a shoulder up in a half-shrug. "Hey, it's what friends are for, right?" Which was what they were - friends. Well, he certainly regarded them in that way. He couldn't talk for the rest of them.

Shichiro nodded grimly as the topic changed to one of a depressing one. "Yeah... But it had nothing to do with the Fal'Cie. This was a completely different event - the Lunar Cry." His eyes darkened as his thoughts wandered back. That had been one tough episode to live off...

Thankfully, though, there were other issues on his mind. He nodded as both Jamaila and Ashibo filled him in, before crossing his arms lightly over his head and ducking his head a little, eyes on the ground. "Hmm... so they're kinda like the bringers of war, right? Well, the Pulse Fal'Cie, not the Cocoon Fal'Cie." It made him understand, though - how in Esthar would humans have been able to stand up to extraordinary beings like that?

Shichiro grinned once again as they settled on eating in the cafe. "Great! My pal's been waiting for a while now, and he's not so patient." In Esthar, there was always a place to find to grab some lunch...

He then turned to Ayako. "I second that notion." Despite Jamaila's feeble attempt to stop the two teasing each other, he just had to put another comment through. Teasing Ayako was definitely different than teasing anyone else, in his opinion.

Shichiro nodded at Jamaila. "Yeah, it's a hell of a place. Of course, it's still on the road to recovery, though, but the place is picking up nicely." Obviously, it wasn't as incredible-looking as it had started out to be...

The cafe that he entered, though, was a nice-looking place as well.

Despite the fact that the place - itself - possessed nothing more than the bare essentials of almost any other cafe, it was still appealing to his eyes. And the smells... They just appealed more to the man.

'Man, this place is great...'

[/i]

With a table already picked, Shichiro followed both Jamaila and Ashibo and made his way to the group's next destination. He turned to regard the rest of the cafe. As Jamaila and Ashibo verbally noted the lack of business in the cafe right now, Shichiro shrugged. "Ah, well, faster service to us, I guess." Which was something he looked for in a cafe...

He seated himself next to Ashibo - opposite Jamaila - and took a free menu before scanning through the thing. The food seemed decent - both in quality and price - so he was glad for the choice in venue. From the corner of his eye patch-free eye, he noticed a waiter make his way to their table and - as the man asked for their orders - the Estharian took a while in deciding.

It all looked so good. But, of course, Shichiro was going to be careful about spending Gil here. With food, he was not always so, admittedly.

Since Shichiro now knew what he was going to eat, he spoke after both Jamaila and Ashibo had ordered. "Yeah, uh,"- he looked at the waiter's name tag - "Riz - I'd like four large chicken wings, a small pack of fries and a can of lemon-lime soda." Well, he was trying to keep some space in his stomach for Jamaila's cooking, but - given her reluctance - maybe it'd be better for him to fill himself up here.

As Riz turned to regard Ayako - the only one left to order, now - Shichiro did the same. Well, at least he'd gotten his 'wish' come true.[/blockquote]

[Ayako Hikumi]

x x

-----

Well, at least the group had decided on their next destination.

Thankfully, though, the trio accompanying the female DTC member would not have to try her food out, yet. They were going to concentrate on grabbing a bite to eat beforehand. Which worked well for her, since she'd be able to push that out of her mind for the time being.

Ayako then smiled at Jamaila. "To be fair, he started it. So, both Shichiro and his 'pal' deserve to be punished." Especially Shichiro's 'pal' - the good-for-nothing, greedy-

Unfortunately for her, however, Shichiro was still going on about his age. She rolled her eyes before putting that half-smile back on her face. "Listen, Shichiro - age is nothing but a number. And, besides, it's never slowed you down before. Now stop acting like a little boy and let's go grab that bite to eat." Not that he was completely immature all the time. But, he was good for a laugh - something that she never got to experience much, admittedly.

Ayako then smiled at Jamaila. "Well, if you're really willing to belittle yourself that much... In all seriousness, though, I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm honestly not as good a cook as I am a workaholic." Well, actually, she wasn't too much of a workaholic...

She then rolled her eyes at Shichiro's next comment. Sometimes, she found it was best to just ignore him. In fact, since dismissing his comments gave him no more ammo to shoot her with, she wondered why she didn't just do that all the time.

Ayako's lips rose upward in a smile, in response to Jamaila's kind one. "Don't mention it. It's the least I could do." And, it was. After all, what else was she supposed to say about something that had happened long ago and was, therefore, unchangeable?

The next topic that had been brought up - by her, no less - took the smile off her face. Not that she wasn't going to talk about it, seeing as that was the best way to move on from these type of things, but... it was a hard time to live through - for her, at least. She then added on to Shichiro's explanation. "The Lunar Cry is when the monsters of the moon end up falling on our planet. It seems to be something that we'd have to experience quite often." Her frown only became more pronounced at the thought. If only there was a way to stop it...

Ayako's facial expression was that of thoughtful once she was a little more informed about the Fal'Cie. Well, that does explain why Eden is in this state... After all, there was no way a normal person would have been the cause of all this...

She then frowned as she turned to face Shichiro and gave him one of her warning glares. Not that it affected him, but... he'd always been an expert on pushing her buttons. It was a shame that she couldn't respond in kind.

Ayako put a teasing half-smile on her face once she turned to Jamaila. "Yes, you're right about that. Thankfully, you guys hadn't enlisted the help of Shichiro - the buildings would look mediocre, at the most." There - let him make of that what he will...

She then regarded the place that they were planning to eat in. It was a much better choice than having her cook, in her opinion. She couldn't help but roll her eyes again at Shichiro's comment. "Well, of course he has..." she muttered in mock disapproval. Of course, the whole thing with his 'pal' being the impatient one was all a cover - Shichiro was the really impatient one when it came to things that he wanted. Which was, in this case, something to eat.

Ayako shrugged once Jamaila made her views known on cooking expertise, her expression that of a small smile. "Well, if that's what you think..." Of course, that wasn't what Ayako thought, but...

She kept the smile on her face and nodded at Jamaila once again, once the brunette had expressed her excitement at the prospect of exploring the city of Esthar. The place was not as glamorous as it had previously been, but it was still beautiful. Her love of her hometown only blossomed at the fact that it was still standing.

Of course, having a dedicated community and a large amount of Gil helped, too.

The cafe that had been chosen as the group's next destination didn't look bad at all. And, as soon as she entered the cafe, she felt that they had made the right decision. After all, the place wasn't too packed, which meant faster service.

With the decision of which table to dine in being finalized, Ayako then followed the others and maneuvered her way accordingly through the other tables, which had the odd group or couple already seated there. Shichiro's words made their way into her range of hearing and she turned to regard her companion with a half-smile. "Well, I gather that this cafe is already impressing you, right?" What with his ability to eat in a number of restaurants, cafes or diners a day, Shichiro was pretty good at picking out the best kinds of places to dine in. And, as an added bonus, there were not that many people around here, which was sure to please both himself and his 'pal' greatly.

After she took the last remaining seat around the table - beside Jamaila - the female DTC member then picked up the last remaining menu from the table and scanned its contents. The place, itself, appeared to serve some decent food - from the looks of the choices in the menu - and the price range was also not a problem for her. Which was a good thing, since she didn't have too much Gil on her at this very moment. As a male waiter made his way to the table, her eyes ended up hastily taking in the names.

With her mind now set on what she was planning to order, Ayako turned to the man once the others filled him in on what they wanted to eat and drink. "I would like... nachos, potato wedges and - to drink - a glass of the medium-sized iced tea, please." She watched as the waiter wrote all that down on his notepad and, once he walked away, placed her menu on the table and regarded her surroundings.

She was enjoying the change in routine so far.

[Jamaila Collyns]

x x

-----

Stopping to grab a bite to eat at the local cafe had definitely been a good idea.

The others were already planning on filling themselves up with the food here. Who knows... maybe the brunette would not have to cook, after all. The thought made her smile a little.

But, it wasn't as if Jamaila totally objected the idea to cook for the trio. Just that... she was saving the group from food poisoning or any other malady caused from eating not-so-tasty food. In the end, they would be thanking her, definitely.

She laughed at Ashibo's comment. "Good to know. But, I don't agree with you about the other part - you really think that I'm a better cook than you?" Vaguely, disbelief clouded her tone. She was sure that even if the male PSICOM soldier had never cooked before, he would still be a better chef than she was right now.

And, besides, Jamaila couldn't help but think of Ashibo as the type of guy who could do anything. Well... almost anything, anyway.

She then smiled at Shichiro. "Definitely - after all, since I will be one of two people cooking for you, it would make sense for you to get something else to eat beforehand. That way, at least you would have something tasty in your stomach." Or, rather, his 'pal' would... whatever. She then glared at him in mock anger. "And, what did I say about teasing Ayako?" This wasn't the way she had been expecting to spend the day. It was a nice change from Pulse, though.

And Jamaila found herself enjoying every minute of it.

She laughed once at Ayako's comment. "Well, even so, that's no reason for you to make things worse." She then raised her eyebrows in bemusement. "At this rate, I'd have to force you two to apologize to each other and shake hands, like the little kids that you're acting like." Actually... even she felt like sticking her tongue out - playfully - at the both of them. But, then again, that wouldn't help her cause, so she restrained herself from doing so. She then frowned a little at Ayako's next choice of words. "No, I'm not belittling myself - I honestly believe that. But I'd feel much better with someone like you helping me out." She smiled encouragingly at the female. Jamaila laughed at Ayako's next comment. The lengths to which some people would regard themselves...

Jamaila laughed - once again - at Ashibo's next words. Despite his relatively stern nature, the male PSICOM officer sure knew how to get a good response from her. Or maybe she was just easy to amuse... "I should say 'I hope not', but I'm actually kind of enjoying the whole carelessness of it." Her smile turned a little wistful in an instant. "You see, I don't have any siblings and I haven't spent any time with any kids lately, so it's quite a change for me to be the boss sometimes." After all, her father was the boss of her, leaving her as the unwilling underling. Jamaila smiled in slight reluctance as Ashibo went on to encourage her to think more positively. "Yeah, I guess you're right..." Or, rather, she hoped he was right.

She then smiled and nodded at Shichiro. "Yeah, you're right!" It made her feel a lot better to know that one of her companions thought of her in that way.

Jamaila nodded gratefully to Ayako, hoping to convey non-verbally how fortunate she felt she was having such kind friends. Well, they'd just met less than 24 hours ago and yet... she considered them her friends. People she'd stick by because she felt that they would do the same. In theory, that sounded a little over-dramatic.

In practice, however...

As both Shichiro and Ayako filled her in, Jamaila moved her gaze to the table, her eyes narrowed slightly. Well... it seemed that Cocoon was not the only world trying to fend off external threats. "And, there's... no way for you to stop it?" She felt that she already knew the answer to that question but couldn't help voicing it aloud, anyway.

She then nodded uncertainly at Shichiro's question, unsure of how to word her answer. "Well... yeah, I guess you could say that. But, to be honest, Pulse can't be the only one in the wrong, right?" Despite the fact that she lived in Cocoon, it didn't mean that she was totally oblivious as to strike of the world as the victim here.

Jamaila laughed in reply to Ashibo. "Okay, well, I admit that I'm not the best person to judge. But, honestly, I'd feel a little better with you there to help. And, yep, I will definitely come see Palumpolum sometime, with you as my tour guide." She kept a light smile on her face as she turned to look out the window. There had been times that she had wanted to go see Palumpolum, but she'd never seen fit to act upon that instinct. She pursed her lips before answering Ashibo's question. "Well... I'm honestly not entirely comfortable in the kitchen... if you know what I mean. It's just... I've never felt the need to learn how to cook. In fact, I've only ever cooked for my father and myself." And, judging from her father's looks every time he tried some of her food, he wasn't a big fan. "But... if you're honestly willing to taste some of my food, then... I guess I shouldn't stop you from doing so." She turned to face Ashibo with a mock glare. ""But, you have been warned. Remember that." A hint of a smile lingered on her lips.

She then smiled at Shichiro and nodded. "Yep, I agree." Despite being hit by the power of the Fal'Cie, the city of Eden was still a great place to live in. And, no other town, city or village would be as special as Eden. For her, at least.

Jamaila looked slightly bemused at Ayako's comment and it took her a while to get it. "Wait, what do you mean?" She turned to face Shichiro, eyes partially widened, eyebrows creased together. "Y-You're an architect?" She was a little surprised, to say the least. But, in a way, she shouldn't have been. After all, it wasn't as if the man was a pure battle tank - it was possible for him to have interests outside of the battlefield.

"Hmm... possibly..." she said, in reply to Ashibo. Time was a big factor in this. After all, it wasn't exactly the most ideal time for lunch yet - it was too early. And, far too late for breakfast. They'd kind of got themselves stuck in the middle. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Jamaila grinned at Shichiro. "Well, yeah, that's one thing to be grateful about..." She could imagine how hungry the man was, and she didn't hold it against him. After all, he was surrounded by so much food. So, it was best for him to enjoy the moment.

With the orders now written down, the waiter made his way to the kitchens, no doubt getting everything the group had asked for. This place, though, seemed like a great place to hang out in. And, she was thankful for the fact that they'd stopped here before going to her home.

After all, it meant a lot less complaining - from their stomachs, especially.

[Ashibo Zain]

x x

-----

It was good that the group had decided on eating here - his stomach certainly could do with some filling up and his feet certainly could do with some rest.

He kept a somewhat indifferent expression on his face but shrugged off Shichiro's comment dismissively. "Well, I suppose that's your opinion. Personally, I was more focused on getting out of the place alive." Most of the fiends that the group had encountered, in the night-time in Pulse, had been a real challenge to run from.

Ashibo nodded at Jamaila, his belief firm. "Well, of course I do. Personally, I don't cook much at home, anyway. Since I live alone, there's been no need for me to put too much effort into what I eat. So, that's why I'm more familiar with ready-made food and eating out at times." He missed his mother's home cooking, though; something that he wouldn't be able to try now, anyway. He then smiled at her, slightly bemused. "Is that so...? Well, I don't have any siblings, either, so I see what you mean." His eyebrows then rose in slight interest. "Oh... so you usually spend time with kids?" He'd never been much of a fatherly figure.

And, he doubted that he ever would be.

Jamaila still did not look completely appeased, so Ashibo figured that he would help her regain her confidence with the idea of PSICOM fighting against the Fal'Cie. "Well, on the bright side, there hasn't been too much trouble for us. PSICOM has been growing, you know, and there are a lot more people willing to defend Cocoon, especially after what had happened last time." Ashibo was inwardly glad that most of the citizens of Cocoon had opened their eyes and decided to play a more active part in the defending of their home world.

He then passively took in the new information that he had been handed by both Shichiro and Ayako. What were the odds that both Eden and Esthar had been hit by powerful external threats? It just didn't make sense that both those big cities had to be attacked whilst the other towns and villages were in somewhat perfect health.

Ashibo pondered Jamaila's question silently. Yes... if there was a way to stop it, then Esthar would not have to keep defending itself.

He then narrowed his eyes slightly and a hint of a shrug lifted his shoulder blades after hearing Shichiro's inquiry. "To an extent, yes, I suppose..." Would the war have begun, after all, if there had been no Pulse Fal'Cie?

Ashibo frowned a little at Jamaila. "Well, even so... don't you believe that by fighting Pulse, we're putting a stop to the destruction of Cocoon?" After all, he'd had the first-hand experience of dealing with Pulsian beasts and, he had to admit, it hadn't been pleasant. Ashibo then smiled at her, his humor lifted by the change in topic. "Well, I suppose it's not entirely your fault - I'm sorry for giving off the wrong impression. And, that means a lot, so thank you." He emitted a low chuckle before carrying on. "Yes, that sounds great. I'll be more than glad to show you around my home." Ashibo nodded slowly at her, but her eyes were focused on the view outside, so she missed his gesture. "Yes... I know what you mean. But, I'm no better. So, I won't be too harsh on judging you and when trying out the food." One side of his mouth twitched in mirth. "But, if you do end up serving us anything lethal, I might just hold it against you. For the rest of your life. And, don't worry - consider us warned."

After hearing Ayako's not-so-subtle claim about Shichiro's occupation, he found himself just as surprised as Jamaila - his eyes widened slightly. Although, for the moment, it wasn't as if that topic was of much concern for him right now.

Because, for now, it was time for the others to relax and indulge themselves in ready-made, professional-tasting food; something Ashibo, admittedly, had to do one too many times.

[Shichiro Date]

x x

-----

Shichiro felt... relatively content.

His gut, though, felt twice as much relaxed. For one thing, the group were now going to eat in a place which was sure to deliver plenty of good food. And, for another, he finally had the opportunity to rest his feet.

Shichiro grinned mockingly at Ayako, his humor rejuvenated. "Aaw, I'm sure Jamaila will agree with me when I say that you were the one that started it." Shichiro turned to regard Jamaila, a big grin on his face. "I'm right, aren't I?"

He then shrugged nonchalantly back at Ashibo. "Well, yeah, but... There'd been a lot of running and fighting involved... I mean, didn't that get your blood boiling? The adrenaline pumping?"

Shichiro almost rolled his eyes at Ayako but resisted. That was a very 'Ayako' thing to do - someone who he didn't want to turn into. "Aaw, who's acting like a little boy?" He asked rhetorically. "And, I'm waiting for that bite to eat, ma'am, so you'll just have to deal with my whining for another minute... or two."

He then grinned at Jamaila. "Well, yeah, see, I took your words pretty seriously. But, I'd wager that you're a better cook than Ayako." His grin increased in size. Sometimes, he just couldn't resist. His smile then slipped off his face and he decided to play dumb. "I dunno - what did you say about teasing Ayako?" After her next words, though, Shichiro attempted to glare in mock balefulness at her... with not much success. "Hey, I am not a kid. But, I'd love to see you 'force' me to shake hands with Ayako." His signature grin appeared on his face, like a light bulb that had suddenly been switched on.

Shichiro frowned once Jamaila voiced the question that he didn't really want to hear. After all, that would just make the truth that much harder to bear with. He shook his head in defeat. "... Nah, I don't think so. People have been trying ta figure out... well, whether or not there even is a way for us to stop it." They were coming up empty, though.

He then nodded slowly and considered both Jamaila and Ashibo's words. Well, obviously, there wouldn't be a war without two sides being forced or coerced into battle. In fact, the so-called 'war' between Cocoon and Pulse kind of reminded him of the feud that the Estharians (and the organization that he was a part of) had with the Galbadians (and the Vipers). He lifted his shoulders up in an uncertain shrug. "Well, maybe not, but... you guys are just trying to do what ya think is right." There weren't any innocent humans around Pulse anymore - from what he had observed whilst briefly 'spending' some time there - so that made the battle a little more justified... didn't it?

Shichiro then turned his attention to Ashibo. "And, it's like ya said - Pulse is a source of danger for you guys. So it makes sense that you're all trying ta put a stop to it."

He grinned, though, once Jamaila expressed her agreement on one of his comments, and nodded back at her before turning to look out the window. The place did look great - partially restored or not. There was no doubt about it.

Shichiro narrowed his eyes before turning to regard Ayako with his version of a glare. Admittedly, it was not very effective and it certainly didn't faze her, something that he wanted to achieve with said glare. "Hey... my buildings look great, actually. It's not my fault you're too stuck-up to appreciate their simply beauty." He continued in mock resentment.

He then turned to regard Jamaila. "Yep. Well, not anymore, anyway. It was..." He seemed determined to shrug it off. "Well, it was mainly 'cause of my dad, you know. He was something of an architect in his time, too, so I figured I'd go on and... follow in his footsteps, I guess..." Although, he hadn't entirely followed in his father's footsteps (his biological father's footsteps, anyway) - after all, Shichiro doubted that his father had been embroiled in battles in his free time.

Shichiro grinned at Ayako. No doubt that she was aware as to who the really impatient and starving one was now. But, in his defense, the group hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. He was a little surprised that the others weren't as ravenous as he was now.

Then again, maybe they were just better at hiding it.

Shichiro regarded Ayako with a grin and a playful wink. "Yes sir, it is." He felt fortunate that they'd stopped in here.

He then nodded knowingly at Jamaila, his lips forming a crooked smile. "Yeah, it is, right? Faster service is just one of the ideal things that places such as these should have." It was one of the factors that he looked for in a nice dining place, at any rate.

It would also be good for business if the service was fast enough to impress Shichiro.