Disclaimer: All the FFVIII characters and thingies belong to Squaresoft. I, the humble kamaitachi, am merely borrowing. So, don't sue me please...

Notes/Warnings/What are you to find in this fic:

· This fic is going to be a Quistis/Seifer fic. So, if you cannot tolerate Queifers... well, don't read it. Just leave...

· There are LIME and LEMON in some of the fic's chapters, not all (just watch the rating when I post it to know). If you think you can handle that, go ahead. (I'll try to make a separate chapter for the LEMON)

· Some little POVs (perhaps).

· You might find slight unsuitable language. But very rare, I think.

· This fic is NOT A MUSHY fanfic. It's NOT WAFFy. (At least I don't think so, don't hope so.)

· I'm still new at writing. So, please forgive me if this fic does not give you any satisfaction.

· And one other thing... in this fic, I make Cid as the Commander. Squall gave his position back to Cid. I mean, he's 17 for God's sake! Yeah, I'm sure he would be a great commander and all but... He should have a better life than being a Commander, and not to mention being a SeeD itself is already tough; he should have more fun as a youth! nb: the taste of freedom is GREAT!

Things Happen

Chapter 1

On how life was, Seifer didn't really give a damn about it. He would never be satisfied with his life. At least, at the time being, that was how he thought about it. He would always want new adventures and stuff, and he would always get into trouble in achieving all his dreams or desire or whatsoever it may be called. Things just seemed to always go wrong when they got him dwelling inside them. Right... Things just seem to always go wrong when they got me dwelling inside them... the thought lingered inside his mind. Just like this morning, he had made quite a scene with Quistis in front of Cid's office. It wasn't a huge thing at the beginning. But then, just like the jerk he always was, at least that was what she had said, he just made things worse.

No, not really, it was also the bitch's fault as well... The big mouth! he thought, trying to put some blame on Quistis, as well as he already did to himself. But somehow he knew that it was--- Aw, forget it!

..............................

This morning, he had walked into Cid's office in order to hand in some report about the new accomplished mission. Yes, his second mission ever since he finally became a SeeD. After all those things happening back then, he should be extra thankful they had let him take another SeeD test. That was... of course after some sanctions were given to him. He did pretty well. Everybody knew he got potential. And now he was one of the best SeeDs around, although he hadn't found much excitement in his days as a SeeD. He had found it rather boring. He wasn't actually quite happy with that second mission. It was a major fake—a total joke. It had had something to do with some politician who was only, according to his opinion, trying to save some private assets. Man! He could never understand what politicians had in mind. He was supposed to be this politician's wife's temporary bodyguard or something, since there was a threat over the woman's life. She was a politician too. But then he accidentally discovered that the man behind the scene was the husband all along. Geez! Some stupid plot, I'd say! And some mission! Aw, what the heck! So, he handed the reports to Cid without much of unnecessary chit chats. He was about to leave the office after Cid dismissed him when there was suddenly a knock.

"Come in, please!" Cid said without leaving his sight on Seifer's report on his hands. He was reading a few lines at the top when a couple of well-known SeeDs entered his office. The world's savior Squall Leonheart, Seifer sarcastically thought, and ex-Commander he added, catching a glimpse of Squall while walking to the door. And last but not least, Quistis Trepe, the former instructor who always got the Trepies flock around her everyday.

As Seifer was about to reach the door, Cid called him back. "Seifer, wait! There are things that I'd like to say to you too, since Squall and Quistis are here as well," he demanded. Seifer just sighed. I wonder what this is all about... He paced back to the front of Cid's desk and got himself standing on Quistis's left. Squall was standing on her right. The three of them stood still, waiting for Cid to say his matter. And so, he finally did. "Thank you all for coming here." He stopped for a moment and let out a deep breath. Yeah... things are tiring for him lately. Nonetheless, he wouldn't complain much anyway. Work was always important.

"So... what is it that you called us for?" Quistis finally said.

"Oh, it's not really a big thing for the three of you at the moment. It depends on the progress," Cid resumed. "You know that I've sent another team to the Esthar continent, right?" The three nodded. "Xu is one of them. They are to help taking care of some mess in the Esthar Witch Memorial Hall and some other caused by the scientists in Lunatic Pandora Research Facility. They are also to keep guard, since there was a report, recently, that another sorceress might be appearing. Dr. Odine and his team are still trying to confirm its possibility."

He stopped again. He rose from his seat and walked around to his window. He looked outside. The weather was pretty nice today. The sun was bright, but not too bright. And the way the grass and trees swayed, Cid could tell that the breeze was just right... and it must have been soothing. It seemed warm outside. Everything around Balamb Garden, and inside the Balamb Garden itself seemed to be in a very... nice condition. Cid looked back to the three SeeDs in front of his desk. He concentrated back to what he was saying to the three. "Xu have just contacted me. She said that so far things had been going fine. But there might possibly be a slight problem coming along. She isn't sure though, but if anything goes wrong three months from now, she have requested that I send some SeeDs experienced with sorceresses."

"And... who are you going to send?" this time Seifer put some curiosity. Well, he had always put some interest when it came to sorceresses. Wasn't it his dream to be a sorceress's knight?

Cid looked at him, knowing that Seifer must have wanted some part in this mission. "Since Irvine and Selphie already got something to do—let's just hope they'll be done quickly, and Zell is already assigned for another mission 2 months from now, that leaves only the three of you right now."

"But, I thought you were only going to send these two heroes here. What help can I provide in this mission? Weren't I only the sorceress's knight back then?" Seifer was going to ruin his chance with that sentence.

"Ehm," Quistis cleared her throat, "I think that's the point, Seifer..."

"Quistis is right, Seifer. It is because you were a sorceress's knight, I thought that you must have known some important stuff about sorceresses that might have not been known too well if you were just to fight the sorceress. After all, a sorceress's knight stays close to the sorceress and gets to know a lot about the sorceress." (A/N: Whoa, boy... I don't know what the hell am I writing here... My head is spinning in circles... Sheesh!) Cid took his seat back. "Well, I guess, I've made my point clear. Any more questions in particular?" He waited. Nobody seemed to have any questions at the moment. "Then, you can leave now. Any more news about this, I'll call you all to my office. And, Squall, please don't leave yet, I still got something to talk about, and a letter have just arrived through my hand this early morning for you."

Seifer and Quistis left the office. Silent for a while...

"So, how do you like your 'possibly' new mission?" Quistis asked, trying to make some conversation.

"I don't know..." he replied without showing any emotion to Quistis at all.

She let out a little laugh. "Oh, c'mon, Seifer, we all know that you'd do anything to get your hands on missions dealing with sorceresses. You have a special interest for them."

"Oh, really? I suppose you guys know me so well, huh? At least the great Quistis Trepe thinks so. She even thinks that she knows just about everybody and everything." still showing no interest in the conversation.

"Seifer," she stopped her pace and put a hand on her hip. "What is wrong with you? I was just trying to make a conversation. You're actually being quite sarcastic for a small conversation like this." Quistis had a very calm voice. It was so calm it sounded like she was mocking Seifer.

"Wait a minute, aren't YOU the Queen of Sarcasm?"

"Oh, what an honor. At least being a Queen of Sarcasm have never got me into trouble."

Her line pinched some point on Seifer's emotion. "Just what the hell are you implying here, Quistis?"

"Nothing, really..." she looked away, crossing her arms.

"Oh, sure... Unlike me, you've never got into trouble, huh, Quistis? And the good Quistis will never cause any danger to the community. Well, Quistis, people like you should stay away from me. I'm contagious. Just stick to someone like... Squall for instance, and you'll be safe forever. You wouldn't want me to prove that being a Queen of Sarcasm can get you into trouble. I'd love to cause some trouble for you, if you want."

"Puh-lease, Seifer. Is this all what it's all about? You're actually just upset because you cannot be some good guy like Squall?"

"What?! No! Why should I be like that introvert-Puberty-Boy?!"

"At least he got more quality than you, Seifer. He's responsible and has a very good heart."

"Hmph, you just always have to brag about Squall, do you, Quistis? Oh, right, you have a very special place for him in your heart. You adore him, you love him. That's why you're always nice to him. Too bad for you he doesn't love you in return. You'll get nothing from him."

"Hey, it's not like that! I like him alright, but that's all. There's nothing wrong with having someone to like. Unlike you, Seifer, I have feelings. And even though I didn't get to capture his heart, it didn't mean that I would be forlorn and stuff. Actually I'm doing just fine," Quistis stated clearly. "It's nice to have someone you like, although he/she doesn't give you anything in return, instead of living full of hatred towards many people. In this case, you hate us so much, don't you, Seifer? And I know you hate Squall the most. Because, obviously, he's better than you in everything and all," Quistis really felt like she wanted to make Seifer's head steamy. "Oh, by the way, I don't expect much from Squall. I don't want to bother him like that. He already got Rinoa. And as you can see, Squall and Rinoa love each other so much. Again, love is a feeling you'll never have," she realized that Seifer's expression changed again as she mentioned the name Rinoa. "Oh yeah... you and Rinoa used to date... right? But now she's with Squall. Which is another reason why you hate Squall so much—he took something away from you. Oh, wait, that's not exactly right. Actually, Rinoa left you for Squall. Because she found more personality in him rather than you. Because Squall is better than you. And she---"

Suddenly, Quistis's words were cut by the feel of sharp cold metal just below her jaw, on the right of her neck. Seifer had drawn his gunblade upon her neck. At the same time, Squall had just came out of Cid's office, and the elevator's door had just opened, there were two students inside it, they were going to go to Cid's office. Quistis's eyes became wide in surprise. And just a moment later, blood trickled on her neck. Seifer didn't actually draw enough of his gunblade to decapitate her, but even to his surprise, it was enough to create a minor cut. Seifer himself was shocked. He hadn't meant it. He had just wanted to threaten her a little.

"Put it down, Seifer!!" It was Squall's turn to draw his gunblade. The scene Seifer had displayed didn't look good in his eyes. It took quite a while before Seifer finally realized that Squall had drawn his gunblade at him. Even so, he still hesitated. "Put it down!!!" Squall said again, louder this time. And slowly, he lowered his gunblade. Quistis put a finger to her cut. She felt it there. It wasn't much of a cut, but still, she can see the blood on her finger.

"For Hyne's sake, Seifer! Why do you have to be such a jerk?! Just over a small matter---!" she couldn't believe it. But even though her voice was full of anger, Seifer could still see, beside anger, that there was also fear inside her flaring eyes.

"I- I'm sorry..." He had a frown on his face. It was hard for him to say words like sorry. "I didn't mean---"

Quistis slapped him before he had the chance to finish his sentence.

He changed his mind in making an apology. His tone back to harsh, "Huh, I told you, didn't I? I can prove that I can give you some trouble because of your sarcasm."

"Just shut up, Seifer!" With that she paced to the elevator. The two students had just been standing near the elevator door since they came out of it, and watched. Quistis entered the elevator, and then it descended.

"What are you looking at?!" Seifer yelled at the two students. They were startled by his voice, but didn't dare to move at all.

"Seifer!" Squall got his attention back. Squall was looking at him with the usual stone mask on his face. "You better start to think first before you act or say anything."

"And so does she!" he replied, referring to Quistis.

Squall glared at him. He lowered his gunblade and looked at the students, "You guys better hurry up. The Headmaster's waiting."

After they went inside the office, Seifer, without showing any care of what had happened, just stormed to the elevator.

..............................

So?! Nobody had been killed! Why should he worry now? Shit! Now what?! He had even put a scratch on her neck over nothing. He shouldn't have drawn his gunblade at all. It was just a small simple stupid matter! That was something clumsy.

"Hey, uh, Seifer! Are we leaving or not? We've been here too long, ya know..." Raijin interrupted his train of thought. By his side, Fuujin was standing still, crossing her arms. They were in a little pub in Balamb. They had always been there at Friday nights. And it had usually been fun. But this time, Seifer had been quiet. After the morning incident, people in Balamb Garden had been looking at him whenever he passed. Great! Things just seemed to spread fast when it came to Seifer in Balamb Garden. Cid had also called him again early in the afternoon.

"Seifer, you have to be careful with your actions and your attitude!" he flashed back, recalling what Cid had said to him. "This is not the first time, even since you've become a SeeD, that I call you to my office just to warn you about your attitude."

Ugh! How he hated it whenever people tried to remind him about his mistakes. He could still remember how the people in Balamb Garden had been looking at him. It's like they were saying, "Tch! Must he always make trouble?" or, "Humph, trouble-maker!" or, "Man! Here's someone that we should stay away from..," Well, stuff like that.

Shut up, people! he barked inside his mind. He hated them so.

"It's nice to have someone you like, although he/she doesn't give you anything in return, instead of living full of hatred towards many people..." Quistis's words. Yeah right! ... Or maybe she WAS...?

"Yo, Seifer!" Raijin called again.

"Huh? O yeah..." he stood from his seat, put some money on the bar table and turned, ready to leave.

A few steps toward the exit, and suddenly, the sight of Quistis stopped him. She had just entered the pub. They noticed each other's presence. She too had stopped when she realized that he was there. But, giving no care, she walked again, straight to the bar. When she passed him, she looked at him in the eye. Swiftly, her mood went down when she saw him. Seifer noticed this.

"You guys go ahead without me," he said to Raijin and Fuujin. "I still got something to do."

Raijin and Fuujin looked at each other. "Okay... See ya then alright..." Raijin just waved and left.

"BYE!" Fuujin followed Raijin afterwards.

After his two comrades left, he went to the bar again. He felt like settling something down with Quistis.

T.B.C.

Okaaaay.... I sucked! Big time! Didn't I?! Even I am not satisfied with this fic myself. Well, tell me what you think... Flames are welcome. But pleeeeaase be EEEXXXXTTTTRRRRRAAAA kind to me (and be constructive, plz). This is my first fic. I'm still new, still learning to write-with-more-quality, inexperienced, etc, etc. And tell me if there were any grammatical mistakes, spellings, etc... English is my second language, not first. And BTW, I always get confused between using U.K.'s spelling or U.S.'s spelling. I'll try to do better next time.

Thanks for reading.......!!! ^_^ Even though I know... some of you might find it boring. *sigh* (But, please keep reading this fic... Thanx again...)