Author's Notes: About time for this one too, but chapter 12 is now done. Kind of a "resting" chapter after what happened in chapter 11. Hope this one was worth the wait too. I know some people have been waiting for an update for quite awhile! Enjoy!

Isaaru still lay flat on his back when he uttered, "His right hand man. I can't believe that he would allow me to be his right hand..." He ran his hands through his dark red hair. His eyes were still closed but he sensed his younger brother close to him.

"Why act so surprised?" Maroda asked. "What did you expect him to do?"

"Honestly? I didn't know what to expect." Isaaru sighed for what must have been the nine hundredth time. He felt drained, completely drained and wondered if Baralai felt the same. No, of course not. He's probably playing with Gippal while I suffer. "All I know is that one doesn't speak to a Praetor that way and expect to be a right hand man. Unless, Baralai is playing a game of keep your friends close and your enemies closer, like I always think he's doing.." I swear, it's slow going redundancy.

"It makes sense when you think about it."

"Ugh, that's what makes it so much worse!"

"Come on, Isaaru, what would you have done?" Maroda propped himself up by his elbow, his eyes never leaving Isaaru. "Do you really think you'd do anything different."

If Isaaru sighed anymore, he'd run out of breath, but he did it anyway. "Why not twist that knife further, Maroda?" He couldn't deny that he would have done the same thing.

"You know I'm right."

"Yes, I do." Isaaru finally opened his eyes. Bevelle looked and sounded beautiful today. The compact city even smelt beautiful as a wide variety of sandalwood, cinnamon, and fruit incense fought for dominance in the air. "It's just a question of setting aside personal feelings when faced with a competent, but helpful rival. If I were the Praetor, I think I would have taken Baralai as my right hand man; it'd be stupid not to. Sure, I'd have eyes on the back of my head, but there's no questioning his ability."

Maroda shrugged. "There's no questioning yours. What happened, Isaaru? Just tell me what he said. What did you say?"

"I...I just attacked--"

"Oh no."

"Yes." Isaaru never took his eyes off the cloudless sky. "I couldn't help it. Just seeing him brought back every negative thing I've ever felt about him. I don't know if he ever saw it coming. I really don't think he did."

"And I bet he didn't just sit there and take it, either, did he?"

Isaaru shook his head. "No."

"He didn't cry or act all hurt and wounded."

"No. He fought back, and so did I. If we were anywhere but in here, we might have come to blows."

"No way!" Maroda gasped. "You couldn't have been that bad."

"I think I was." Biting his lip, Isaaru tried to get the images out of his head. Him furious in pent up rage, Baralai eventually yelling when such a thing is usually unseemly for the soft-spoken Praetor. Then again, it was unseemly for Isaaru too. He turned to his younger brother. "For awhile, we screamed at each other. I'm surprised you didn't hear it."

"I was busy with Pacce. I stayed around the top floor, but I don't think I heard anything."

Good. "Where is Pacce, anyway?"

"In the next building with his friends." Maroda poked Isaaru's ribs. "Come on, I know how you can get, but I would think you would have behaved better. The two of you shouting? Even Youth Leaguers would have been more mature."

Mentioning the Youth League made Isaaru feel even sicker than he already was. He narrowed his eyes. "Maybe, but they don't have to weave and dance around each other like insects caught in a web."

"We're more open in the Youth League. No secrets."

"That's wonderful." Isaaru needed a handkerchief to wipe off the sarcasm dripping from his mouth. "That doesn't work in Bevelle."

"That's part of New Yevon's problem. Even with a new generation, the behavior is still the same."

The former Summoner buried his face in his hands while he buried himself in the plushy pillow. "You can't expect an organization with the name of Yevon on it to suddenly behave much differently as it's used to behaving. Change is slower here, you know that."

Maroda frowned. "Even with Baralai? I mean, it's obvious that he's close to Gippal. Has anyone in Bevelle mentioned any problem with him being here?"

"How would I know? I was too busy doing psychic surgery on myself to prepare for Baralai." A wave of nausea didn't stop Isaaru from suddenly sitting up. "I will say one thing though. If I were Baralai, I'd be very careful with Gippal. He's not like Rikku. She's not part of any group that can cause real damage to Bevelle, so I don't think anyone had a problem with her, and certainly not with Yuna. But, Gippal? He's only the leader of the Machine Faction."

"Everybody knows he's friends with both Nooj and Baralai. Besides, politics isn't his thing."

"No, it's not." Isaaru agreed. "If I were Gippal, I'd play both sides for supremacy." He shook his head. "He never did that, but I guess he doesn't have to."

"Gippal's not like that!" Maroda exclaimed, sounding defensive to Isaaru's ears. "I don't know him anymore than you do, but the Al Bhed don't work that way."

"That doesn't change the fact that he leads the Machine Faction." His voice was full of insistence, like someone believing that they were right, but trying to convince someone who just doesn't agree. "I can't believe how open Baralai was, both during the speech and in Bevelle. I can understand the former since what happened was generally in the heat of the moment, but the latter? I can't even begin to think of an excuse for that."

"Come on, things are still festive now." Edging closer to Isaaru, Maroda put his arm around him. "I don't think anything will happen."

Isaaru felt a little comfort now that his brother held him close. "You forget, this is Bevelle. They're going to wonder just how close the two of them are. If they're too close, it could cause a schism between those who don't care and those who care all too much."

"Isn't that what you want though?"

"Not like this. Such a schism could never be fixed. Besides, Baralai isn't stupid, far from it. I'm sure everything will be smoothed over and his relationship with Gippal will be considered a mere friendship that has nothing to do with Baralai's political life." Isaaru fell against the pillows, dragging Maroda with him. "The official New Yevon response will be mere neutrality to the Machine Faction, but the reality will something completely different." He looked back outside and saw a couple clouds meander in the sky. "Whatever the case, I'm sure that Baralai will charm his way into whatever he wants when the Council meets tomorrow."

"Don't let it affect you too much, Isaaru. Besides, you're supposed to be going to Zanarkand soon, right?"

"Ah yes," Isaaru nodded. "But, I probably won't be able to go for quite some time." He frowned. "I can't just leave now."

"Why are you going back there, anyway?"

"There's just something I need to do there, that's all." Yes, a very big something.Something I've wanted to do since I first went to Zanarkand. "Don't worry too much about it. I just left something there, and I want to get it back." A lie. Isaaru knew that, but he couldn't reveal his true reasons for wanting to go back. Not now. Not for a long time.

Thankfully, Maroda didn't press the issue. "If you're going to go back, take me with you. If you can't do that, then take someone. That place is still dangerous." He got up and stretched. "Anyway, I better go get Pacce, and get something to eat. You want anything?"

Isaaru shook his head. "Maybe later."

"Okay. Get some rest, okay?"

"I will."

Once Maroda left, Isaaru tried his best to take a small nap. He still couldn't get Baralai out of his mind, but everything seemed better now. At least for awhile.

---------

Gippal looked ten thousand kinds of hot as he sat on the bed in different clothing. Judging from the disheveled blond hair, it was obvious that he had just gotten out of the shower. Gone was the purple nonsense and in was black and white. Similar to Isaaru, except Gippal's shirt was a T-shirt, his pants were black and his boots were laced. Baralai slumped forward, shutting the door behind him. Just thinking of Isaaru ruined the moment for him.

"Hey, Baralai."

"Gippal..." Baralai whispered, walking towards his best friend, and almost fell beside him, but certainly did lean in him. He didn't bother trying to hide how he felt. After all, it's Gippal. Right now, the younger man smelt like vanilla, a scent used on Baralai's soap. Just the thought of that would have usually excited Baralai, but not now. "I just want to rest on you."

"Take as long as you need." Gippal replied, holding Baralai close. "So, I gather things didn't go to well with Isaaru."

"No." Was the only answer the Praetor could utter. His throat hurt. Tea sounded like a wonderful idea, but he didn't want to get up. He just wanted to lean against Gippal.

"That's too bad." His one good eye looked at the oak doors with a predatory glint. "You want me to deal with him?"

"Please don't." Baralai pulled away. "You'll only cause more harm than good."

"If he hurt you, then I want to cause him more harm than good!"

"You can't. You..." Grabbing Gippal by the shoulders, Baralai explained gently. "I think it's important that we be careful about our relationship while we're in Bevelle. I've been careless, so I need to make sure that there isn't a panic among those who may not approve."

Of course, the young Al Bhed shook his head. "What does it matter what they think? It's common knowledge that we're friends. Our speeches in Luca kind of showed that. Everyone knows, so why hide it now?"

"I'm not saying that we should hide our friendship. I'm only saying that we should be careful about other things, like the Machine Faction itself."

Gippal gave Baralai a questioning look. "What's the point? Everyone knows we'll be working together. We can't hide that. It's too late now. We hid before, we can't do it now. You can't turn the clock back."

"I understand that, Gippal, but there are still people here who aren't so welcome to change. I have to straddle the line between them and the more progressive among us. I won't have any division in New Yevon. So, we need to pretend to be neutral, like we've always done."

"Whatever...I just hate having to be one thing on the outside and another on the inside."

Baralai understood that, but he knew Bevelle like the back of his hand, and it still had some snakes. Old snakes, but still snakes. "If we were anything like the Youth League, then this wouldn't be a problem, but we're not. I'm sorry, Gippal."

"Nah, don't be. You do what you have to, and I'll do the same, okay?"

"Of course."

Just having his best friend here made things a bit easier for the young Praetor, but it didn't change the anxiousness he felt about Isaaru and what to do with him. Then, of course, there's the fact that he did desire Isaaru and still does now. It's almost like nothing changed since their heated encounter. Both want to strangle each other, and both wish they could get past those feelings. It was like being in stasis, only the occupants are not only mobile, but throwing shit at each other and wishing they didn't. Gippal broke Baralai's chain of thoughts.

"So, what did Isaaru say to you?"

Baralai couldn't even begin to answer that question without revealing all too much, but he tried to navigate the potential maze of traps anyway. "He was harsh, but so was I. I had to be because he started it before I could do anything."

Gippal raised an eyebrow. " 'He started it' "?

"I know. I know." Baralai shook his head. "It sounds childish, but it's true."

"So, what are your plans for Isaaru?"

"He's my right hand man."

"What? How could you do that?"

"Easy. No matter our feelings, he's the best choice, and I hope that I can have some good relations with him."

"Good relations?" Gippal repeated in the manner of someone who had just heard of cocoa mixed with hot sauce. "He obviously doesn't want any with you."

"Didn't you just tell me to do what I have to do?" Baralai asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Don't tell me you have to do this."

Baralai nodded. "I do. How can I have unity on Spira if I can't make sure that New Yevon is united?"

"Good point, but from what little I've heard of Isaaru, it won't be easy."

"I know." The young Praetor grinned. "That's why I'll be needing your help."

"My help? Didn't you tell me--"

Raising a hand, Baralai silenced Gippal. "I don't mean by confronting Isaaru and making things worse, I mean that when you go back to Djose, I want you to look through the sealed records hidden there. I have faith that you'll find them."

"Ah, I get it now." Gippal smiled, his handsome face full of mischief. "You want some dirt on Isaaru! "

"You can say that. When I can, I'll look through Bevellian records, but some really nice stuff on people is sealed in Djose."

"Oh, man." Gippal's laughter was music to Baralai's ears. "Blackmail, right?"

"Mmm...not exactly." Baralai folded his hands.

"Then, what is all this for. What are you going to do?"

Baralai looked out the transparent sliding door that lead to the balcony, watching the waterfalls from the Temple roof tops. "Something I should have done a long time ago. Learn about him."