A/N: Well it's a new story attempted by me since it just suddenly came to me, so I decided to give it a shot. And don't misunderstand that I'm throwing Show Me Your Love away, it's just currently in a hiatus in the moment! There might be some mistakes in my grammar maybe so do point out if there are so I can improve. So anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything of FFXIII.


Put Your Trust In Me

Chapter 1 - Trouble

"Yes, Serah, I'll take care of myself. Yes, yes." A young woman with pink haired sighed into her phone, "Serah, I get it, stop repeating." She paused for a bit listening to her sister's complaints, "I don't repeat as much as you do." She stopped again when the other side countered her, "Alright, I get it. Stop nagging, I'm your older sister not you. I've got to go now." she tried to hang up but the girl on the other line stopped her, with another exasperated sigh, she said, "I'm fine alone. Now, bye." She hung up her phone without another word.

Glancing out at the sceneries of auburn red forests and mountains with her turquoise eyes, she sighed. She was about to arrive in a place she hates – Gran Pulse. She really did not have a choice not to go, since the course she was in needed the students to transfer to University of Paddra in order to gain exposure for said students. Lightning was feeling disastrous when she heard about needing to study at Gran Pulse for one and a half years after completing one and a half years in Bodhum University and it is a must at that, she could not understand the need for it since after graduating she will be enlisting into the Security Regiment of Bodhum back in Cocoon, namely Guardian Corps anyway.

The course Lightning took was Combat Training, and taking this course will allow one to get a one way ticket straight into the military force. For students who enrolled into Bodhum University for this course, they will need to transfer themselves to University of Paddra in Gran Pulse's capital, Paddra, to finish their course of studies there before being able to graduate and enter the army. Upon graduating, students can choose two alternate forces to join, for most Cocoonians they would definitely join the Guardian corps mentioned, and Pulsians will join Gran Pulse Military Force – Warriors Guild. For Lightning? Without a doubt she would be going to the GC.

The reason for her constant headache was the reason of needing to transfer oneself to Paddra, she really didn't see a need for that if one were to join GC after all. Although, Bodhum University and University of Paddra formed a collaboration had a reason, for Cocoon's side, they would be able to learn Gran Pulse's battle techniques and skills to be used against them if a war broke out again, as for Gran Pulse, it was almost the same reason except they wanted to observe Cocoon's future possible hostilities so they would be able to form a countermeasure.

Almost 16 years ago, a war broke out between Cocoon and Gran Pulse due to a conflict revolving around a precious resource called Eidolons, it was said that if one obtained an Eidolon, he would be granted unlimited power. Hungry for power, both forces fought against each other in order to retrieve all Eidolons available, but as war raged on, most of the Eidolons were fragile orbs which were destroyed along the conflict. And since war broke out, it caused both nations endless pain and a lot of casualties, thus they began to hate each other down from the bottom of their hearts. The war went on for 13 years until only for the recent 2 years that it had died down along with the former fallen leaders from respective nations and the new chosen leaders formed a truce, although the truce was fragile at first, over the two years it seemed to have strengthened.

Lightning was a victim from the war, when she was younger, her parents died in the war and left with only her and her younger sister. Since there were only the two of them left, Lightning took up the responsibility to live through hell to protect her sister amidst the disaster war brought. That explained why she hates Gran Pulse so much to the extent that she almost pulled out from her course. But fortunately for her, a GC Lieutenant had managed to talk some sense into the woman enough to make her stay in the course.

Sitting next to the window, she gazed out at the sceneries which were really, really beautiful in its autumn glory, but she would not admit it anyway, not to a country which she hates. Recalling back to her conversation with her sister earlier, she scowled at it. Befriend someone? She thought to herself in disbelief when she listened to her sister on the phone earlier. Be friendly? With Pulsians in Gran Pulse? Why would her sister even mention that she wondered, she should know just how much she hated the place, needless to say its people too. Well, more like especially the people there. How Serah could be so forgiving to Gran Pulse and what their people had done against them during the war was beyond her understanding. Leaning back against her seat, Lightning closed her eyes and hoped that trouble will be the last thing she encounters there.

XXX

In University of Paddra, students from another nation or states usually chose to stay in the dormitory, after all it was convenient, so most of the occupants were from Cocoon whereas only a small number of Pulse natives stay in there. In one of the girl's dorm rooms, clothes were sprawled almost every corner of the room, books and possibly animal skins lay across the floor and a red bladed lance which blades were folded inwards lay on top of a study table. On one of the two beds in the room, a tanned young woman with raven hair was sprawled on her bed, sleeping away soundly.

Then, a knock came to the door and a chirpy voice sounded, "Fang! Open the door!"

Silence - A loud knock came again on the door along with a yell, "Fang! Open up!"

Grunting, Fang pushed herself up from the bed then yawned as she stretched. Another impatient knock came and Fang had a scowl on her face then, walking to the door she swung it open to reveal a shorter, younger girl with red curly hair tied in two side ponytails and with bright green eyes, and wearing a thick jacket due to the slightly chilly weather. And with tired, blood-vein covered jade green eyes, she stared at the smaller form in front of her with a sulk.

"What do you want, Vanille? It's like what… 8 in the morning?" she managed groggily.

"I'm here to see if you'd finished tidying up your room and-' the younger girl stopped when she took a peek at the room and gasped, "Fang! Why is your room still in such a mess?" Vanille huffed, showing an unhappy face at the taller woman.

Fang yawned before answering, "Why wouldn't it be?" she said.

"Fang, you're not sending another girl away with your untidiness, frights and most importantly threats anymore." Vanille said with three fingers jutting out as she counted the woman's habits in chasing away other girls.

"I didn't chase 'em away, they wanted to get away, it wasn't like I pointed my lance at them and say 'get out' y'know." Fang said as she waved a hand at Vanille annoyingly before crossing her arms, she was getting annoyed at the lack of sleep for such a silly topic.

Vanille frowned, "Fang, as if saying 'I like skinning things' while having your lance in hand and an animal's skin in another with a seemingly crazy, dangerous grin wasn't enough to consider as a threat to ask them to get out? You're forgetting that I'm your sister here, I know your tactics. I can't believe you kept saying those words to those poor girls who came from Cocoon." She complained as she mimicked her older sister's move, glaring at her with a knowing look.

Fang sighed exasperatedly and uncrossed her arms, "So what?" she said tiredly as she put her hands on her hips.

Vanille gawked at her, "'so what?' Are you forgetting that you'd received a warning letter from the principal about not to chase anymore girls out of the room due to the mountain of complaints from the girls you chased out? If you chase one more girl out this time you're about to get sacked."

The tanned woman cocked her head to one side tiredly before waving a hand at the red head, "Yea, yea, don't worry geez, I'll be kinder this time." She said.

Vanille's frown returned, "Fang, I'm serious. You don't want to just leave me here alone too, do you?" she put on her best pout and teary eyes.

Fang swallowed hard at the irresistible expression, with a defeated sigh, she dropped her head and she muttered, "Geez… Stop being so dramatic, alright, alright, I'll tidy up soon and I'll try my best to be 'friendly', that enough?"

Vanille nodded, a smile appeared, "That will do it. I just hope the girl that will be sharing rooms with you this time is tougher than any before…"

Fang patted Vanille's head gently, "Don't worry, I won't get kicked out, promise."

The red head's smile broadened, "I trust you, Fang! Now get to cleaning, I'll be heading back to my room and prepare for the new semester's assembly later."

After a brief hug, the red head skidded off humming happily. Fang merely sighed tiredly and retreated back into her room then closed the door. Turning around at the messy room, she gritted her teeth and frowned. This will be one long tidying up, hopefully the girl that she'd be sharing this room with later was worthy enough for her 'kindness'. And hopefully that it would not be another Cocoon girl or else she might risk getting expel this time around.

XXX

The train finally reached the train station in Paddra around 8.30. As the train halted, Lightning stood and grabbed her stuffs from the luggage holder above her seat. After making sure that nothing was left behind, she made for the exit to the train station. Upon departing from the train, Lightning was greeted with chilly winds, it was a good thing she wore a thicker jacket than usual today. Lightning looked at the signs and headed for the counter to purchase a ticket for a transporter which will take her directly to the Central City of Paddra, where the university located.

After getting onto the transporter, she put on her headphone and clicked start on the music device that she carried with her, listening to her favorite songs playing as the world around her drowned out. About 30 minutes later, she finally arrived at her destination and she headed straight for the university, sparing no glances at her surroundings, uninterested in Pulse structures and items.

Approaching the university's tall and huge gate, she could not help but stopped and stared for a bit in awe at the huge gate and the huge structures behind the gate. After awhile, she continued walking towards the guardhouse. Is this like a royal castle or fortress…? Lightning thought to herself, a bit surprised at the size, though she shouldn't be surprise, after all Gran Pulse's land was twice the size of Cocoon, such a size for a university shouldn't be anything at all.

As she strode to the guardhouse, the guard in there registered her approaching figure and stood from his seat. Scanning her up and down, he immediately recognized her as an abroad student from Cocoon with her extraordinary hair color and pale complexion, most Pulsians were pretty tanned. The guard was easily fifty in his age with wrinkles swarming around his eyes, and a scar on his cheek must have a story behind.

That would probably explain the not-so-friendly greeting tone that Lightning was receiving from the man when she stepped to the open window.

He narrowed his eyes, "Aye, another Cocoonian eh. What's your business here?" his tone with mild irks.

Sensing his racism in his tone, Lightning merely looked at him with her icy glare, her own hatred taking over in conversing with a Pulsian. Must be one of the Cocoon haters from the war, she thought to herself as she held up her transfer letter and showed it to the man. "Dormitory." She merely stated with a monotone.

The man understood her question, but chose to mess with her, unwilling to give into a Cocoonian's cocky attitude. "Can't a Cocoonian speak more than one word? I thought Vipers were smart like Gran Pulsians? Guess history wrote that wrong eh."

Lightning's left eye twitched and her jaw clenched slightly, emitting a dangerous aura when her glare intensified tenfold at the racist man. "Guess a Pulsian is still the same, never knowing where they stand and being the rude species on earth. The war continued for so long must've due to people like you." She shot back at him.

The guard held a hand out the window, threatening to grab Lightning closer to him but she swiftly dodged. The man snarled at her, "What'd you say you lil'!?" he yelled at her angrily.

Lightning simply gave him another glare, other than the glare every inch of her appeared composed and calm, going through war period back in the days made her a tad wiser and cooler. "You're merely a guard, and I would hate to have trouble the first thing I arrive. So why don't you just tell me where the dorm is and I'll be on my way. Save the trouble for your back and your job, old man." She said with a composed tone.

The man gritted his teeth and pulled his hand back, then he managed through clenched teeth, "Straight in through this gate, take the second right, you'll find a white building with a sign at the entrance saying girl's dorm." With that, he sat back down in his chair and pressed a switch which opened the huge gate.

As much as Lightning hated the man, she still had her manners, "Thanks." She muttered before leaving for the entrance into the university. Trouble first thing I arrived, how wonderful. She mentally frowned at the thought.

The pink haired woman followed the guard's instructions and made her way down the straight path ahead with various students about her age, or some younger and some older passing by. Down the road, she could sense stares from some students but which she ignored, she was not about to jump into another trouble for punching students who stared at her on her first day here. A clean record would be needed to get a good recommendation in GC when she graduated.

When she reached the second right exit, she turned into the windy path which leaded far into the inner bit of the campus. As she walked along the path, she came to a white building not far where she stood, with a sign at the end of the path reading 'Girls' Dormitory'. Lightning was quite glad to see the building, she was half doubtful at the guard's instructions when she turned into what seemed like a woods, worried that the guard might have given her wrong instructions to make her go around like a ludicrous person.

Once she stepped into the dormitory's lobby, her eyes scanned the surroundings before landing on a door which had the sign 'Office' hanging in front. Lightning walked to the door and knocked on it a couple of times before getting permission to enter. Once she was permitted to enter, she opened the door and was greeted with a lady seated behind a desk with various small-cubicles rack lining on the right side of the office, most of the cubicles were empty however, there was only one left with a key in it.

The lady looked up at Lightning and smiled warmly, unlike the guard from before, she greeted her with a gentle tone. "Hello miss, how can I help you?"

Lightning was slightly taken aback at this person's manners, she half expected to be treated the same way as the guard on her way in earlier. Or maybe the lady didn't know she was from Cocoon yet, that would explain the manners. "I'm a transfer student from Cocoon, and I was given a room to stay here during my course of study."

Surprisingly, when Lightning mentioned she was from 'Cocoon', the lady's smile didn't falter, instead her smile only widened. "Oh so you're the girl from Cocoon, I've been waiting for your arrival. Let me get your key to your room." She got up from her office chair and headed for the rack on her left to fetch the remaining key before going around the table and handed the key over to Lightning, "Here you go, lovely."

Lightning took it and managed an awkward thank you at the lady's friendliness. Guess not all are haters of Cocoon huh… Lightning thought to herself in her heart. She looked at the key and a sticker was on the key, reading '313', that should probably be the room's number. Without another word, Lightning turned to leave but the lady stopped her.

"Wait, Miss…" the lady trailed off, not knowing what to address.

"Lightning." The pink haired woman voiced.

"Miss Lightning, there are a few things I'd like to tell you about staying here, please give me a few minutes will do."

Lightning nodded and the lady started, "First, you cannot stay overnight at someone else's room be it your friend's or sister's, so even if you had a fight with your roommate, you're not allowed to camp in other's room, this would be rule number 1. Next, rule number 2 would be no destroying of room's furniture, even if it was accidental from a fight with your roommate, you'll need to pay for the broken furniture. Thirdly, try to get along with your roommate." She ended with a smile.

Lightning arched an eyebrow at the last rule, "I think number 3 is hardly a rule."

"Well, it applies only to you. You see, your soon-to-be roommate is quite a problem, so do your best. And that is all, I hope you have an enjoyable stay in Paddra's dormitory." The lady smiled as she finished explaining.

Lightning could only offer a slight frown from what she just learned about her future roommate before leaving the office for her room. What luck, hopefully it won't be a Pulsian… Lightning silently prayed. After all, only most Cocoonians opt to stay here during their studies, and ending up with a Pulsian was harder than striking a lottery in Nautilus.

The pink haired woman went up the flight of stairs to third floor, along the hallway the walls were painted with shiny white paint with wooden doors lining on each side of the hallway. Although the designs of the hallway and the building were simple, but the carpeted floor Lightning walked on made her felt almost like she was here to stay in a hotel rather than a dormitory in a university.

She walked along the long hallway, scanning through the numbers hammered onto the wooden doors. Slowly, she made her way to her room, a miserable feeling suddenly welling up inside her.

XXX

Fang already spent an hour tidying up her room, but there was still quite a lot to clean up. Sighing, she picked up the remaining animal skins on the floor and piled it up on the study table, where her lance now no longer there but nestled between her bed's head frame and her wardrobe. Fang had spent the past hour collecting snack packages that were opened, either empty or spoilt to throw away into the garbage and rummaging through the various piles of clothing on the floor and on the other bed for important things to put away, 'important things' such as undergarments, for clean ones she would keep away while the dirty ones left piling on the floor, and also Pulsian artifacts she brought along to keep her entertained during her stay.

Turning around with a sigh, she was glad to see that only her clothing was left piling up across the floor. Slowly and tiredly, she kneeled and picked up some pile of the clothing which she considered as clean and threw it onto the unoccupied bed so she could fold it later or sort out some which were dirty and mixed in it. Then she picked up the remaining piles of clothing – easily a mountain high in her arms – which had been laying there with dirt for about two to three days now.

Just when she was heading for the door with the pile of clothes in hand, the door suddenly swung open, knocking Fang back and she fell onto the floor while the pile of clothes went flying to the intruder.

Fang groaned and cursed as she rubbed her painful bum, "Who in Gran Pulse's name…" she looked up at the intruder with a ready scowl but to her surprise, her dirty clothing were covering the intruder's face and she didn't know now she should continue her curse or she should laugh at the sight.

But the latter thought was wiped off when the intruder grabbed her clothing off her head and greeted her with a dangerous glare with the clothing partially revealing her piercing turquoise eyes, Fang could almost feel the air went chill but she could still manage that glare, after all she was one of the few experienced and skilled fighter/hunter in Gran Pulse if the intruder wanted a fight.

Lightning grabbed the weird smelling cloth off her face and glared daggers at the tanned woman sitting on the floor in front of her, this was not a greeting that she would be happy with and it definitely would not help in making her get along with the other party. Then, when she looked closer at the woman, she realized one horrible fact.

The woman was from Gran Pulse.

Fang almost wanted to avoid having a bad impression with the new roommate by apologizing, but then she stopped as she saw the intruder's revealed appearance which bore pink hair and pale complexion.

The woman was from Cocoon.

Both of the women's glares intensified and a scowl spread across their faces, jaw clenching from Lightning and teeth gritting from Fang, both had the same thought in mind.

Just my luck, trouble came.


Kindly R&R if you don't mind, I appreciate constructive criticisms.