Red XII looked over at Barret, trying to remain inconspicuous. They had snuck onboard the ship at Junon, knowing that Rufus was going to onboard. Barret adjusted his sailor tie and threw Red a cursory glance as he looked around the ship.
"Hmm," Barret pondered, "What now?"
"Um, aren't you in charge?"
"Yeah, well, some input might be nice." He looked around again.
"I wish we had waited for Tifa and Aeris."
"Why, wut's wrong?" Barret shifted his eyes while speaking.
"Nothing, I just wish..."
Barret looked back. "Wut?" He straightened up as a crewmember walked by. "Eh, now you got me wanting to have da girls here, what ta do, what ta do."
It was then Red saw Aeris walk out onto deck and look over the edge. He blinked.
"Um, Barret." He said, "Isn't that Aeris?"
"Eh?" Barret did a double take. "Yeah! I think it is!" He looked back at Red. "Should we go to her or..."
"What is she doing here?"
Barret shrugged helplessly. "Where are da others then?"
"I don't know." Red walked over to Aeris. Barret followed, looking over his shoulder.
Aeris seemed so startled by them that she nearly fell over the edge. "Red!" She exclaimed, "Barret!" She then giggled. "Barret, what are you doing in a sailor suit?"
Barret smiled. "Wut, u don't like it?"
"I didn't say that. You stowed on board, didn't you?"
"But of course." Red told her.
"Yea." Agreed Barret.
"What is going on?"
Aeris giggled. "Poor you."
Barret looked behind him.
"What are you doing?" Aeris asked.
"Who, wah, me?"
"Yes."
Barret looked back quickly. "Making sure no one spots us."
Aeris giggled. "Why are you afraid?"
"Er, hell naw. Just dat, aw hell, forget it." He scratched the back of his head.
"You two should have stuck around. You missed out on a lot."
"Wut we miss?"
"Poor Cloud got beat up by an angry Turk though... Oh, you missed getting to sleep in a nice room, and eat great food."
Barret's jaw dropped.
"What is wrong?" Aeris asked.
"I'm hungry." He frowned.
"Poor you."
"I'm hungry too." Red said.
"Er," asked Barret, "Any way, where are da others?"
"Cloud and Tifa... Cloud, he's with Rufus. Tifa's asleep."
Red sniffed around.
"Smell anything suspicious?" Barret asked him.
"No," Red replied, "Looking for food."
"Oh, heh." His stomach rumbled loud enough for all to hear.
Aeris giggled.
"Er," Barret continued, "So, what's you's guys plan?" He looked over his shoulder again and Acked. "Crew guy!"
"What?" Aeris asked him. "So?"
Barret straitened up. Red looked around.
"Barret," Aeris told him, "Relax. What are you doing?"
"Wah?" He looked back at Aeris. "You's not worried about blowing the cover?"
Aeris giggled. "Cover? Why do you need that?"
Barret looked confused. "Wut exactly did I miss?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, Rufus had Tifa and I brought to Junon cause of Cloud."
Barret nodded as Red scratched his ear. "Dat's it? Hmm... I must have got lost on da way." He sighed.
"Yes. Then Tifa and I were given this great room with a water bed."
"Okay." Barret seemed to smile.
"The next day, today, we got taken to lunch."
"Lunch..." Barret's stomach rumbled even louder then before. "Ok, lemme ask you then, what's the plan?"
"Oh, we are heading for Costa Del Sol."
"Resort town, huh?"
"Yes."
Barret sat down.
"You'd have to ask Rufus what's up next," She continued, "I'm not sure."
Barret sneered. "Rufus..."
Aeris looked at him. "Will you stop that."
Barret rubbed the back of his head. "Old habits die hard." He frowned. "I still dun trust him." He crossed his arms.
Aeris shook her head. "Why not?"
"He's still a ShinRa."
"Well, if you act like that around Cloud, he'll get upset."
"Wut's wrong with him?" Barret asked, his eyebrows raising.
"With who?"
"Cloud, why'd he get upset?"
Aeris giggled.
Barret tilted his head at her. "Wut?"
"Um..." She scratched the back of her head.
Barret blinked. "Well?"
"He... um..."
Barret motioned with his hand. "He's...? A fool...?"
"No!" Aeris glared at him.
Sweat dropped from Barret's brow. "Ok, ok."
"Cloud... he..."
Barret motioned with both hands. "Spit it out sis."
"Loves Rufus..."
Barret's face looked blank. It didn't seem to register. "Go again?"
"Cloud's in love with Rufus."
Barret's face showed sudden realization. "Oh." He blinked his eyes wide. He had an odd look on his face.
"Barret?" Aeris asked.
"Uh?" he snapped out of it.
"You ok?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah." He stood up. "So..."
"Yes?"
"I'm in this for no reason den, huh?" indicates the sailor suit.
"Well, we need to find Sephiroth."
"Agh, Sephiroth, Sephiroth. It's always Sephiroth."
"Yes."
"So what do we do till we start this Sephiroth hunt?"
"We get Rufus's hospitality."
"Well, may as well make da best of it."
"Yes." She smiled. "Oh, maybe you should meet Rufus!"
"Ehh..." He sighed.
"Well, he might be busy."
"Do I have too?"
"Yes."
Barret sighed. "Ok, fine, fine. If I gotta."
Aeris smiled. "Yes. He's nice if you get to know him."
Barret crossed his arms and looked into the sky. "Hmm. " he walked over to Red and yawned. He sat down again. "So, what until then?" He blinked.
"Let me go find him." Aeris smiled.
Barret nodded. "Uh, okay."
Aeris walked off. Barret sat and looked around. Rufus walked on deck.
"Hmm," Rufus muttered, crossing his arms and looking at Barret and Red.
Barret straightened up and turned his head. "Oh." He stood up. "President Rufus." He bowed mockingly.
Rufus sighed, rolling his eyes. "I do not care for such flattery."
Barret crossed his arms. "Heh, flattery."
Aeris strolled back on deck.
"So," asked Barret, "Wut's on da agenda?"
"Finding Sephiroth."
"Hi Barret." Aeris greeted."
"Hello. Sephiroth..." Barret remarked.
"Did you hear my speech in Junon?" Rufus asked.
"No." Red said.
"Naw." Replied Barret.
"Pity," Rufus told them, "You would have liked it."
Barret chuckled. "I bet."
"I didn't hear it," Aeris told him, "Cause Tifa and I were too busy rescuing Cloud from the two Turks."
Rufus sighed. "Reno and Rude must be dealt with. You would have liked the speech."
Barret's stomach roared even louder. He put a hand on it. Red scratched his ear.
"Hungry?" Rufus asked.
"Yea, sea air."
Rufus nodded. "Follow me then, dinner is being served."
"Hmm, aight..." Barret followed.
