In Zanarkand

"You do that." Ingrid said, This is a dream anyway, what do I care?

"I'll take that one."

*She points at it.*

<200 Gil.>

"No problem."

*When the woman gives it to her, she gives it to Hitomi.*

"Here you go."

*Hitomi stares at her in disbelief.*

"That... That's okay. Really."

Ingrid whistles dixie while Hitomi and Luna get their lesbian on in a jewelry store.

"I already paid for it, you may as well wear it. Also, we gotta get going, the Lift will be here any minute. Hopefully, Ingrid & Ark will be smart enough to meet us there."

"Thank you."

*She hesitates before taking it. She holds out her other hand to give Luna two-hundred gil.*

[No one's ever bought me anything for no reason.]

Ingrid is already waiting at the lift.

"No, no, it's all yours, I'm not taking your money. Come on."

*She grabs Hitomi loosely by the hand & walks out the door.*

Ingrid continues to wait.

*Hitomi follows as she really doesn't have much choice in the matter.*

*A floating Machina with glass sides comes down the road, stopping in front of them. Inside are a few plastic chairs anchored to the floor, but no people. A pair of glass doors slides open, deploying a ramp to allow them admittance.*

"I guess we'll just have to leave Ark behind. We'll come pick him up later."

*Hitomi boards the lift assuming Luna's grip on her hand will allow it.*

"If you say so." Ingrid said, getting in the lift.

*After climbing onto the lift, Luna reluctantly lets go of Hitomi's hand & sits down. The door closes & they start moving along the road. After a few minutes, they feel a sharp incline.*

"It's a lot like the airship, isn't it?"

"I guess so, only I don't think this one runs on Sin." Ingrid said.

*Hitomi stares at the bracelet on her wrist.*

[She bought it out of nowhere when that money could have went towards something else. I really don't know how to react to this sort of thing. I thanked her, but that doesn't seem to be enough.]

*The lift stops at a point where one of the city's roads becomes the stone path up Mt. Gagazet. As they get out, there are still towering buildings on either side of them for several blocks. In fact, the city doesn't stop until a few hundred feet before the summit itself.*

"I do have to admit one thing. This city is...impressive."

"I'll second that, it is truly beautiful." Ingrid said, looking back at the city.

[It's all so confusing. I don't understand her actions towards me at all and on top of that I don't understand how I feel about her. It's different from the dislike I feel towards the others. It feels a lot like... A lot like when Senthose was around, but somehow different as well.]

*Ark wakes up and wanders into the clothing store. Upon entering, he yawns and stares at the shopkeeper blankly for a few seconds before stepping forward.*

Ark: <Hi there. My pants got into a fight. Got any male clothing?>

*As they're walking, Luna suddenly sticks her arms out to keep them from going any further, wobbling dangerously on one leg.*

"I...this doesn't make any sense! Do you see it?!"

*Hitomi looks up from her bracelet, not sure what she's supposed to be seeing. Or not seeing.*

"One step, it looks like a normal road, the next step, you're hanging over a sheer cliff over nothing but miles of ocean!"

*Hitomi peeks over the edge at the ocean.*

[We're stranded in "Zanarkand".]

Ingrid lets out a sigh, "So, I guess we're staying in Zanarkand."