Chapter 4: Learning Experience
Seifer wakes up in Xu's room on an impromptu bed. Something woke him and he's having a hard time pinning down what but that isn't even important since he's having a hard time pinning down where he is.
"Huh?" He thinks pressing down on the pillow. "Where the hell is this?" He looks around. "What?" Then it comes back to him slowly. The training center and the reality-bending events after. Going insane is more than just a one day process and it's still in the works for him as far as he can see. "Oh yeah I remember. Yesterday was off the wall."
The other side of the atrium apartment shows some activity. Behind a door a shower starts and then there is singing from the other side of it. Seifer stares at the room in disbelief.
"She can sing too? Not only is she an A-rank SeeD and master swordswoman but a siren to boot? How about that?"
After a while the shower stops. There is some motion inside then the door opens and a cloud of steam billows out closely followed by a singing person clad in only bath linen.
"Hmm, I guess there is a God." Seifer thinks as the towel begins to slip. He leans forward to get a better look and is rewarded with a refreshing view of the floor coming at him. "Ow…" He moans. "My back…"
Xu continues singing. "Whoops, oh well. Not like anyone else is here." She goes back to singing.
The fall victim lies there on the floor in complete agony. "It's worth it…" He rasps looking up. Then he takes it back. "I can't see!" All he can see is stars and spinning blackness. Even as the floor sinks indicating she is standing right over him he can see nothing. No matter how many times he blinked or how hard he tried, nothing. He can't even see his own fingers. "Why?" He wonders.
Xu can't hear him over her musical talent. She continues about her morning oblivious to his plight without even a glance in his direction. She lays out her clothes and makes up her bed while he writhes in pain. "What to wear, what to wear?"
"God you sadistic bastard!" Seifer whimpers in pain and saddened at the same time.
X
Later that morning Seifer and Xu are having breakfast. He's on the table picking a piece off her plate with his all purpose, ill-aquired SeeD tool while she's just sitting there watching. It's amusing enough and it's polite to wait one's turn so she does.
"There's something that's been bothering me." Seifer says cutting himself a piece of toast. "That I've been meaning to ask you about."
"What is that?"
"Were you serious when you said you had never been called 'hot' before?"
"Yes, I have never been referred to in any way similar to it at all."
"You're joking!"
"Untrue. When you first called me 'cute' that too was foreign."
"What, hasn't your boyfriend called you that or is he blind?"
"I don't have a boyfriend…"
"How did you manage that?" Seifer is genuinely perplexed. He begins to pace. "You are smart, can fight and sing too." He says listing off her good qualities. "You're hotter than five-alarm chili of course…"
"You heard me sing?" Xu is suspicious. "Were you-?"
"You've got a lot going for you." Seifer says ignoring the last comment. He stops and looks up at her. "Why aren't people knocking down the door?"
"I'm not popular." She says simply.
"I know that Pixie, but why? Who do you hang with?"
"…"
"Who do you talk to?"
"…"
"Think I see the problem." Seifer sighs. "It's no wonder you haven't been complimented, no one says anything to you. People might like you more if you spoke…at all…"
"I have nothing to say."
"I guess the rumors are true then. You're an icy little woman."
"What?"
"That's what people say. You're cold and think you're better than everybody else."
"Untrue."
"I thought they were lying. I mean you always spoke to me when I talked to you but I guess I'm the exception."
"I do not feel such a way."
"You haven't said anything to disprove it. You haven't said anything at all and that only makes it worse. What are people supposed to think?"
"…" Xu doesn't have a comeback for that.
"You've never been on a date either have you?"
"Not one."
"All that studying didn't leave much time for a life."
"It may not have."
"You should try it, living can be a blast."
"Hmmm…" Xu considers what he has said. "You know what I'm curious about?"
"Shoot."
"Why did you call me hot? Do you find me attractive like this?"
"Apparently." Seifer replies with a wry smile. "That's why I said it."
"Don't you think it's a little strange?"
"No. You can be very…distracting to say the least." He chuckles. "Should it be strange?"
"Yes. It doesn't make any sense to me."
"Let's pretend I'm me, that's the easy part. If a pretty girl is in front of me I'll probably be sidetracked regardless of her being over one hundred feet tall by perspective. What do you expect? You take up most of my line of vision."
"And you like it?"
"Makes it a lot more bearable." Seifer shrugs. "Why shouldn't I like it?"
"I'm many times your size. You should be frightened."
"Are you scared of people taller than you?"
"No, but I can't fit in one hand."
"That's supposed to make a difference?"
"Be sensible!"
"You want me to stop enjoying myself and be sensible? What fun is that?" He shrugs again. "Tell me what the point is."
"You would-"
"Aside from worrying myself stupid."
"…"
"There isn't one is there?"
"Um well…" She's trying to regain some lost ground but she's got nothing. "It's called being prudent."
"Why waste my time? I'm getting a kick out of it. Calling you a little pixie is very funny if you think about it. That's all that matters right now."
"What about your safety?"
"What about it? Take it as it comes." He says easily. "I'm more interested in where my next laugh is coming from. I'd have gone crazy if this weren't so funny."
"You aren't being logical."
"That's your problem, too logical. How often do you laugh about something?"
"…" She's speechless again.
"See? When is laughter 'logical'? It never is. That's why you don't do it." He sighs. "I thought every fairy had a sense of humor."
"We do!" Xu enthuses.
"Ah Ha! So you admit to being a pixie. I knew it!"
"Ahh…"
"You're a pixie!" Seifer concludes pointing at her. "Pixie!" He repeats.
"I guess you're right."
"Of course." Seifer steps closer. "I know what I'm talking about." Pixie giggles. "Is there something funny?"
"You've been arguing with me most of the morning while walking around on my toast." She continues to laugh lightly.
"Umm…" Seifer looks down. He's left footprints of butter on the burned bread. "You didn't expect me to eat crust did you?" He asks weakly.
"Thank you for preaching the greatness of laughter to me while marching around on my breakfast!"
"It's the only way to do it!" Seifer declares standing triumphantly in the middle of her plate. "So there!"
Xu's laughter increases. Not too loud but the bubbly sound is vibrating throughout the room. Seifer thinks this is good but now he's looking at his boots strangely.
"Oh &! My kicks!" He darts off the plate and onto a napkin. "Man!" He rubs and scrapes them on the table setting. But margarine just wasn't something they were made to track in. They're anything but stylish now stained like they are. "They're done…" He moans. He looks up at Xu so sadly that she laughs even harder. "You can fix them right?"
X
In the training center Xu is instructing Seifer. It's late in the morning, which is when a lot of students are in the training center, but they manage to find a corner to themselves. Something about the nature of their training seems to merit a little privacy.
"Let's begin where we left off yesterday shall we?" Xu draws her sword. "Follow my lead." She demonstrates excellent form. "Now you go." She squats down to view her pupil.
"Cakewalk." Seifer does as instructed and finishes with a flourish. "See?"
"Very good, you've shown a lot of progress. However mastery comes with time. Even so I'm impressed. Do it again." He does as instructed a second time. Xu watches closely. "He does have a lot of potential." She admits remembering what Cid said about Squall and Seifer. "This may be easier than I thought."
"What does this prove? I know these moves." The blonde warrior says impatiently.
"Exactly. Watch me." Xu stands. "When you fight it is important to remember two things." She begins the elementary movement. "Attack and defense." She stops in the middle of the movement, sword in a new position.
"Is that the new move?"
"No, it is a technique with many moves. It is called 'parrying'."
"I've heard of that. It's when you guard."
"Untrue. A guard position is not offensive. It only serves to protect oneself from injury. A parry is a conscious attempt to second-guess your opponent and react accordingly."
"Nobody told me about this."
"It isn't mentioned by instructors. It is thought too dangerous to teach."
"Why?"
"A parry is not stationary like a guard posture. It is a preemptive counter-attack that is designed to intercept the opponent's weapon while it is moving. Contact training could be catastrophic if done incorrectly."
"I don't see it."
"It would be easier to elucidate with the aid of an opponent. It is hard to practice parrying by oneself."
"I'll do it." Seifer says.
Xu giggles. "I don't think you're up to it."
"Sure I am. You aren't that much taller than me!"
"Perhaps I can be of assistance?" Quistis walks over to them. "I am quite able."
"It is fortunate that you have a sword with you. That makes this much simpler."
"You have a sword?" Seifer says confused. "I know you don't use those…"
"I have to be versed in all ways of fighting. I know the basics of all combat as an instructor should." She explains. "Though not my weapon of choice I am still a competent swordsperson."
"You just so happen to have a sword with you."
"I practice with them on Wednesdays yes."
"Whatever." Seifer puts away the Hyperion and sits down. "You have something to show me?"
"What do you need me to do?" Quistis asks.
"A katana, perfect for demonstrating. Just stand over there and do as I say." Xu turns to Seifer. "A katana is most similar to Squall's weapon and his moves are gleaned from those fighting systems."
"Just get on with it."
"Let's begin." Xu draws her stiletto.
They advance slowly toward one another with weapons drawn. Seifer watches from the ground, attentively if you can believe it. He shuffles a bit to the side to keep from being underfoot.
"She's a lot taller than Pixie." Seifer notes. "Maybe she bit off more than she could chew…"
"Come at me." Xu commands.
Quistis obliges and begins to attack the smaller woman. Xu raises her sword and guards then begins her assault.
"I recognize that one. It's the first one." Seifer thinks watching the large ladies battle.
Indeed it is. Xu appears to be seeing the basic attack pattern to its end. Suddenly Quistis sees an opening and tries to attack. The stiletto intercepts the katana and with a hand motion both combatants are stopped.
"Do you see this?" Xu asks swords still crossed in a position that isn't in the first kata. "This is a parry." She signals Quistis to continue. "As I attack I can parry and continue without losing rhythm."
"Wow…" Seifer thinks watching Xu take the fight to Quistis. He's enjoying the show. With the form fitting uniforms, fast movements and not to mention short skirts he is riveted to the battle unfolding.
"I emphasized rhythm over exact copying of moves because at any time you may have to parry. You must always be ready to defend that is why the style is flexible. This is the art of the dancing blade."
"Swing a sword at a sword." Seifer says to himself. "I can see how that could get messy with a bunch of newbies." He looks back at the confrontation. "So simple it sounds stupid though."
They practice well into midday as Xu has a lot of personal training to catch up on and this counts towards what would be an endless trial of self-perfection. It is hard to tell when they would stop but fate intervened as an alarm on Quistis's wrist goes off.
"Sorry, I've got to go." The instuctor says looking at her watch. "I've got a class to teach. I'll barely have time to get cleaned up and be prompt."
"That's okay." Xu replies. "Do you want to take care of Seifer tonight? You seemed interested."
"Shouldn't we ask him?"
"Why? He's only this tall." Xu holds her fingers three inches apart.
"I wish I hadn't said that." Seifer mumbles to himself. "I didn't think that little remark through…"
"Take him for the rest of the day; I'm sure he won't mind."
"I won't mind…" He mutters.
"Alright. I'll see you later." Quistis slips Seifer into a uniform pocket and walks off.
X
Later on in Instructor Trepe's class Seifer is trying to get some sleep. He didn't do much earlier to call himself tired but he's not a classroom type and is bored to death.
"Why would you drag me to class?" Seifer wonders on Quistis's desk. "It bores the hell out of me." He walks to the shadows of the textbooks and lies down. "Why do they think I flunked out of Garden?" He closes his eyes but they immediately open again because he's been poked. He looks to the teacher for an explanation.
"I would just like to remind everyone that there is no sleeping in class." The facilitator says to her students.
"No sleeping in class…" Seifer mumbles. "What does she expect me to do, dance?" He stands. "Not a bad idea actually." He draws the Hyperion. "Practice makes perfect."
"Alright class, can anyone name the three basic GFs for me?" Quistis asks. "You there." She points to a student.
"Shiva, Ifrit…"
"Everybody and their mother knows that one." Seifer says. "Seriously."
Quistis continues to teach class while Seifer hones his skills. Though she glances at him from time to time he pays her no mind. Such is the attention he is paying to his task. For once he's giving studying something some thought.
"I'm gonna take a break." Seifer decides sheathing the Hyperion. "Haven't had nothing to eat since breakfast." He spots an apple on the desk. "Good thing everybody likes the teacher. I'm sure she won't mind if I take a piece." He whips out his trusty SeeD pocketknife and gets a piece of fruit.
Or attempts to. Try as he might he can't get the blade to pierce the peel. Quistis is watching the development with an increasing amount of amusement from the corner of her eye. So when Seifer gets angry and kicks the boulder-sized apple in disgust, falling to the desktop in the process she has to suppress a chortle. However when he springs back up and assails the produce with his gunblade a giggle escapes her. This does not go unnoticed by the class. In fact it alienates a student who has just explained that Shiva uses Hellfire and is thunder elemental. Everyone begins to laugh on her mistaken cue while that serves to muffle Seifer's blue streak.
"Quiet down class." Quistis says trying to restore a semblance of order to the room. "I'm sorry but your response is incorrect." She coughs out.
It does nothing to reinstate the calm formal environment required for teaching. The uproar continues and she sneaks a look at Seifer again. Now she can see him eating a piece of apple flipping the fruit off with his free hand. She surrenders to the atmosphere and joins in the merriment. Class is dismissed.
X
After class is over Quistis and Siefer are back in her room. She's putting her teaching supplies away and sorting some papers while her guest is looking bored on her desk as he's been taking to doing.
"Did you enjoy your apple?" Quistis asks innocently.
"Yeah, it was the greatest!" Seifer replies crankily. "Remind me to thank Cid for issuing top-notch equipment. Cheap piece of crap..."
"You did seem to have a little trouble." She says opening her bag.
"You seemed to find it a 'little' funny." Seifer replies resentfully. "I did not."
"It was."
"I don't see why you dragged me to class anyway. Or why you insisted I stay awake through the whole thing."
"You should, you might learn something." She pulls a sheaf of papers out of the carrying case. "You need to."
"Only thing I learned is the SeeD Swiss army knife is a piece of &!"
She giggles. "Your language is most colorful, inappropriate for the classroom environment." She begins to read the papers from her bag.
"What are you doing?"
"Grading papers. Care to help?"
"Not like I care."
"Good, then you won't mind." She pulls out an inkpad and removes the stamp. "This will do nicely. All I need you to do is step on the pad and mark the correct answers with your feet on the answer key."
"Why not? My shoes are ruined anyway." Given his breakfast escapade they couldn't get much worse.
"The answers are in a pattern. Its-"
"Let me guess…ACBED."
"How did you know?"
"I took the test before. I stole the master copy."
"It was the only one you got a hundred percent on." Quistis admits. "Get started please."
Seifer begins to grade papers. He walks at first the goes faster. Then finding a dance step that fits his purpose he leaves red marks in all the right places. Quistis laughs and lays another pad down so there is one at both ends and he is done twice as fast. In less than an hour he's graded all the exams.
"Thanks, it would've taken me forever to mark all those."
"Yeah whatever…aah my back!" Seifer falls over curled up in pain.
"What is the matter?"
"My back's killing me!"
"Let me have a look." Quistis picks up the squirming Seifer and takes a look at him. "Get the coat and shirt off."
"So soon?" He gives the teacher a knowing grin. "I didn't think we were ready-"
The instructor gives him a displeased look. "Do you want help or not?"
Seifer complies and takes off the garments. "Well?"
"It appears you've been abraded in several places and have a large contusion in the lumbar region causing you distress."
"In English please, instructor."
"Your back's been scraped a bit. Plus you have a big bruise that probably hurts. How did this happen?"
"I fell out of bed."
"I've got just the thing." Quistis fetches a small potion similar to the ones she's been taking all day. "Hold still."
"What are you, ow!" The next few seconds are a solid chain of swear words as the antiseptic takes effect.
"Very colorful indeed." She reiterates. "Hold still." She begins to rub the all purpose medicine into the large purple mark.
"OW! That-" The painkiller in the solution begins to work. "Good, this is alright." Seifer trails off.
"I suppose even a very weak draught is still quite potent at his size. Quistis thinks looking at the incapacitated Seifer. "Might as well call it a night." She places him on the nightstand and goes to bed.
X
In the infirmary Dr. Kadowaki is getting her office ready for the day. She's usually up really early since she's on call at all hours and people get hurt any time since injury doesn't have a bed time or an alarm clock.
"Let's see…" The doctor checks her e-mail messages. "Hmm…one from the away team." She opens it.
Doctor Kadowaki
We are around halfway finished with the magic collection. Further research in field suggests gathered energy is key. Continuing task accordingly.
Squad leader
"Good news." The doctor says to herself. "There's nothing I can do for them here." She looks at Irvine immobile with dust gathering on him. "I hope they hurry."
X
Seifer wakes up to an alarm clock. The first words out of his mouth are not fit for a public narrative. Let it suffice to say he's very ticked off.
"She left me on the nightstand?" Seifer gripes. "Not even laying on my jacket, come on! She knows my back hurts so she lays me on hard wood with nothing between it and my skin? I'm half stuck to this damn thing! Owww!" He peels himself from the furniture with more vulgar vocals in short order as though he'd like to shout over the buzzer.
Quistis comes out of the bathroom fully dressed. She glances at her guest. "Good morning. I though I'd leave the clock ring and see if you woke up."
"Well it worked…" Seifer mumbles. "Wish I was still sleeping. My back is so messed up…"
She doesn't seem to hear him. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah." Seifer says glaring at her.
Quistis picks him up and they walk out. "I'm taking you back to Xu. I have things to take care of as a Garden official and can't watch you all day."
"I'd hate to be a drag…" He thinks sarcastically.
X
At the top of the afternoon in the training ground Seifer and Xu are getting ready to begin. The student is on the eager side while the mentor is more laid back. It's a strange change up considering it's usually the other way around.
"So what are we practicing today, teach?" Seifer asks drawing the Hyperion. "I'm ready for it."
"Are you?" Xu asks dryly.
"Yep, bring it. I'm ready for anything."
"Then put away your weapon. You will not need it for this exercise."
"Why, what are we doing?"
"Follow instructions first then I will tell you."
Seifer does as instructed. "Now what?"
"You are still very impatient. You should show more focus and willingness to wait. That is what today is all about."
"Eh?" Seifer stares up at his titanic tutor in perplexity. "What are you talking about?"
"A fighter's greatest asset is neither sword nor skill. It is the mind."
"Okay…where are you going with this?"
"The mind is the driving force behind action. With it all things become possible. Only with its aid can true power be realized. I say this because you fight mind from body."
"Mind from body?"
"You use your moves and skills but something is missing. You've got the reflexes but there is more to fighting than that. Squall is able to perform the difficult Renzokuken technique with his mind and body united. You have a move unique to yourself as well. Your innate Fire Cross ability is very good in its own right but it could be so much more. Soul and sword together can unleash unimaginable force; you just have to unlock it."
"How do I do that?"
"By clearing your mind and focusing on realizing the true power of Fire Cross. The sword is an extension of the self. Once you know that there is nothing you cannot do."
"Sounds simple enough. I can handle it." Seifer closes his eyes. "I can do this." He sits Indian style on the ground.
Xu watches her student carefully. From her point of view it appears as though he is meditating. She smiles approvingly and goes back to practicing.
In reality Seifer is having a lot of trouble concentrating. He can't take his mind off his surroundings. "Got to focus…" The sound of Xu's thin blade whistling in the air serves as a distraction. "Got to tune it out…" He puts more effort into the altered state of consciousness.
It works and sound fades from the background. He is alone inside a white area. Gradually the colors change and it becomes Deling City. "This is when I first fought Squall one on one for real…" Seifer remembers. He watches from the outside. "I can see what I did wrong…" The fight unfolds as it did before and his past self falls.
The scene fades and changes. Now it's Galbadia Garden during the famous Garden confrontation. He can see himself waiting in the room with Edea. Then he goes to confront Squall and the others. "I can see what he's saying. I've made those same mistakes before…" Though this time he tries twice he still fails as it occurred prior.
The backdrop is different once again. This time it's the Lunatic Pandora. "I don't remember this much…" His past self confronts the SeeDs. "This battle…" He watches as he fights with inhuman vigor. "I'm trying so hard…" Suddenly halfway through the memory the vision stops and then there is whiteness. "I can't remember, what's the point?" He sighs. "Might as well give up."
"No, all wrong!" Seifer hears from behind him. Turning to the source of the voice he finds a more recent memory. This one is only two days old. "That will get you defeated for certain!" Xu says sitting on her haunches admonishing him. The piece of history disappears as suddenly as it came.
"I can't just give up." Seifer realizes. "How would I face her again?" He can see her face before him filling his sight, almond eyes locked with his green ones. "I can't leave here without my answer." With her voice echoing in his ears he voyages back into the fragmented memory.
"It's no use, I can't remember." Seifer says. "They told me that when we fought there that right after that time compression thing started. It's all fuzzy…"
Xu's voice is in his ears again and her face is right in front of him. "No, all wrong! That will get you defeated for certain!"
"I'm sorry, I don't know the answer." Seifer say sadly but her voice comes again and he's having a hard time saying it. "I'll try one more time."
A final attempt into the warped past happening leaves him with nothing. "All these fights I lost. I tried as hard as I could and gave my all every time but it wasn't-wait! It isn't the memory I'm after it's the mindset! I threw my heart and soul into aiding the Sorceresses all those times. I was all for them. In the last battle I used an attack that I never used before. I was so fixated on my goal that one time I unleashed the true fury of Fire Cross." The memory shows him doing the attack and a crucifix wave of flame hitting the Balamb SeeDs. "It's my answer!"
X
Xu is watching Seifer apprehensively. She's done practicing and he's still immobile. Now she's bordering on worry since he's been motionless for quite some time and she knows he's got an attention span problem.
"He hasn't moved in hours." Xu says sheathing her sword. "I would hate to disturb him but I wonder if he's alright." She gets down on all fours and peers at her pupil close up. "He's breathing and should be okay." Seifer's eyes open at her observation, seeing as she's breathed on him and disturbed him.
"You're certainly something to wake up to." He says appreciatively. "Beats an alarm clock by a long shot."
"I was worried about you."
"Worried? About me? I'm touched. Not too many people worry about a troublemaker."
"Someone should worry since you don't." Xu says petulantly.
"Eh, I'm alright. Appreciate the thought, though." Seifer stands nearly brushing her face. "But I'm hungry."
"As am I." She picks Seifer up. "Shall we go?"
He nods. "I'm starved." They head to the cafeteria.
X
In the mess hall Xu is looking for somewhere to sit. It's the supper call so it's kind of packed but not as much as lunchtime tends to be. A lot of people go ashore for food and to spend the night these days.
"Certainly crowded right now." Xu remarks to herself searching for a seat. "Must be that last meal of the day rush. Missed it the last time we were here." She spots some empty tables towards the back. She makes her way to them past the card players and sits down.
"Hey, can you get me out of here?" Seifer calls from her pocket. "Kind of cramped…"
"Oh, sorry." Xu withdraws Seifer.
"Not that I don't enjoy it but I have to eat too." He says from the table.
"So how was Quistis at taking care of you?" Xu says ignoring his last comment.
"Bad. Made me sit through class and grade papers. She left me sleep on the nightstand on nothing and woke me up early in the morning via alarm clock. Top it off she doesn't even have the decency to walk around half naked."
"Seifer!" Xu scolds. Several Triple Triad players look at her oddly speaking to a table.
"I'm serious, it sucked." Seifer says flatly. "Not fun at all."
"You're shameless." Xu whispers barely moving her mouth.
"I know what I like. What I don't like is sleeping on wood and waking up to an alarm clock at 6:47am in the morning! At least you let me have a pillow! Plus you're hot."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Everything! It adds a lot to the experience! You walking around in your underwear kicked ass on being explained GF facts while marking tests!"
"…" Xu doesn't have a response for that. She just stares at him not in shock but more like a strange puzzlement.
"Besides you don't have an alarm clock. I woke to the sound of your voice. That is so much better than a damn buzzer!"
"You woke to me singing? Did you…?"
"No. I tried and tried but I fell off the dresser and cracked my skull on the floor. I didn't see a thing." Seifer shakes his head sadly. "A cruel prank by the Almighty."
"Are you sure?"
"Why would I lie about that? What else did you think I'd do?! I wanted to but no! The unseen force that governs all thought it would be funny to mess with my head...and bounce it off the floor first."
"I don't understand why anyway. The proportion disparity-"
"Screw that!" Seifer interrupts. "If you don't know by now, let me tell you! 'Hot' isn't relative, it's constant! It has nothing to do with size! So do that math!"
Xu pauses and cogitates what Seifer has said. Her conclusion leaves a slight redness on her cheeks that she can't hide. He notices it and laughs, always fast on the uptake.
"Surprised?" He asks drawing the Hyperion and portioning himself some food. "You might be."
"So now you're using your gunblade to eat with?" Xu asks changing the subject. "I wouldn't do that if I had one."
"I wouldn't but I got to now. That SeeD piece of crap knife gave out on me. You still want a gunblade though?"
Xu nods. "Something light enough for me to use with both edges and a trigger."
"How many shots you want? Fifteen? That's what this thing holds."
"I wouldn't need anywhere near that many bullets. I would need just a few so I can have the option to fire. My blade can do most of the work."
"So you're more a revolver person?" Seifer snorts. "Whatever."
"I don't have to have a whole lot. Just enough to have that last ace."
"Something like that would be a custom job. To be as light as all that, scaled down for a teeny little pixie; I hope you're willing to pay an arm and a leg."
"Well even with an A rank salary-"
"Found you!" Comes a voice from behind. "Been looking for you all day!"
"You found me; how can I help you?" Xu replies turning to the speaker.
"Can I take care of him tonight?" Selphie asks. "Quisty had a turn, I want one too!"
"That's fine." The Garden second-in-command replies. "You can take him now if you want."
"Wait, don't I have a say in this?" Seifer asks of the two girls above him. "I thought everyone got to vote."
"No, you're only this tall remember?" Xu reminds him with a little smile. "Why ask you?"
"How many times is that going to come back and bite me in the ass?" Seifer wonders as Selphie carries him off.
X
In Selphie's dorm room she tosses Seifer on the bed. Someone's hyper and it's not contagious. Seifer doesn't look so hot. He's still disoriented from his trip here but his companion is all but bursting with energy.
"Whatcha wanna do?" Selphie asks eagerly.
Seifer is trying to regain his balance. Her skipping the hall with him in one hand swinging him around has him dizzy. "I just ate…" He mumbles. "Geez…"
"So whatcha wanna do?" Selphie asks again plopping down next to Seifer. He bounces up from the bed violently, falling and losing his footing once again..
"I dunno…" He thinks holding his stomach. "I got to say something…"
"Well?" Selphie gets into his personal space for how close she's looking at him. He can feel her candy-scented breath on him and he can tell it's partially a sugar rush that's got him in this situation.
"A game of cards." Seifer says finally. "You can't toss me around doing that." He thinks.
"Yay!" She goes to fetch her cards. "You can use some of mine!"
"Good. Not that I have any."
"I'll deal." Selphie deals the cards.
Now Seifer isn't a very good card player but Selphie is notoriously bad. Playing with the open hand rule was only working to his advantage since she can't think more than one move ahead. Though he can barely lift the cards he wins four times in a row.
"Wow you're good!" Selphie says.
"No, you suck." Seifer says disdainfully.
"Can we play again?"
"No."
"Please? Just one more game?"
"…Fine."
Selphie deals and the game begins. She starts by placing a card in a corner. "Would you like to place a bet on this game?"
"Huh?" Seifer isn't paying attention. He's been dealt a crap hand and she just made a good move. He decides what to do and picks up the appropriate card. "Like lifting a lunch table…" He falls back awkwardly.
"I'll do it." Selphie takes the card from Seifer. "Where should I put it?" He points and she places it there. "You didn't answer my question." She reminds him.
"Sure, you'll lose anyway. What are we betting?"
"If I win you do what I say and you win I do what you say."
"Great. When I win, the first thing you're going to do is stop making me play cards!"
"I don't know…" Selphie says mysteriously making a move.
"Well I do." Seifer points to one of his cards. "Put this one above that one."
Selphie picks up his hand. "Which one?"
"That one third from your right."
"Why? It won't flip my card."
"With the Same rule it will."
"Oh. Then I won't." She puts another card in its place. "My move." She plays a card and flips the one she just set for Seifer. Now it's 4-1.
"Hey that isn't the card I said!"
"I thought it was." She says mischievously. "Now which card do you want to play?"
"That one right there. Put it in the middle."
"That'll flip all my cards!"
"Yeah, so?"
"Not happening!" Selphie puts it in the wrong spot. "My turn." She places a card and flips one of his. 6-1.
"What's the point of playing if you're going to cheat?"
"To win, dummy! Now which card do you want to play?"
"The left. Put it-"
"The right it is!" She puts the incorrect card in a space doing nothing. "I win!"
"Yeah, good. I'm going to bed."
"No you aren't! You do what I say now!"
"Not more cards…" Seifer says dejectedly.
"No, I've got something more fun in mind! Hide and seek!"
"You have got to be kidding me!"
"Nope. I'm counting to fifteen then if I catch you we'll play more cards!"
"No more cards!"
"I'm counting…" Selphie says shutting her eyes. "One…two…"
"If I can dodge her long enough I can get her to leave me alone." Seifer thinks sliding off the bed. "Where is a good spot?" He looks around.
"Six…seven…"
"Closet's too far away, under the bed is too obvious, behind the bookshelf is too cramped…here we go." He decides on a place. "This is perfect."
"…Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen!" Selphie finishes quickly. "Ready or not here I come!" She leaps off the bed. "Where could he be?" She checks the closet. "Not here." She dives under the bed. "Or here." She checks behind the bookshelf. "Or there." She checks under the bed again. "Hmm…could he have slipped in my dresser?" She starts going through the sliding compartments. "Can't see how…"
From his hiding place Seifer is chuckling to himself. "What an airhead." He watches her slide under the bed again after she is done searching the furniture. "If I wasn't there before, why am I there now?"
"Well looks like I can't find him." Selphie says sitting on the bed. "I give up."
"Like I thought." Seifer thinks triumphantly sliding down the inside of the bedspread. "Easy." He walks from under the bed into the open.
"Gotcha!" Comes from above. Selphie is leaning over him smiling a winner's smile with cute kiddish enthusiasm.
"You gave up! I win…" Seifer says weakly.
"I had my fingers crossed." She says gleefully.
"I couldn't see that."
"Too bad. More Triple Triad!" She reaches for him to get more card games out of him.
"Hell no!" Seifer makes a break for it.
"Hey!" Selphie jumps off the bed after him. "Wait!"
"No!" He dodges around a coat rack.
"Come on!" She tries to grab him but he bolts.
"It's stupid!" He takes cover behind a dresser.
"What I say goes!" She reaches behind the dresser to get him but he scoots away. "Fine then, have it your way!" She withdraws her hand. Next the entire wardrobe is being moved and the intention of the redecorating is painfully clear.
"Uh oh." He flees the fast disappearing shelter.
"Ah ha!" Selphie says elatedly. "Now-where'd he go?" She catches a glimpse of him headed under the bed. "I've got you!" She goes under the bed in pursuit doing a good slide for home plate on her stomach.
"Once again the airhead." Seifer says dropping from the hanging edges of the bedcovers. He tsks at her still searching and climbs up the sheets to the surface. "I'll wait and see how long it takes." He decides listening to her rummage about below him.
Five minutes later Selphie appears. "I ransacked everything under there, I didn't see him anywhere." She says. "He's gone, I can't find him. I give up."
"Is that so?" Seifer says from the head of her bed. "Your fingers weren't crossed this time."
"How? I saw-" The brunette has a perplexed face.
"Not telling you. I win so I say you leave me alone."
"Spoiled sport."
"Spoiled sport needs a pillow." One is tossed on the floor. "Thank you kindly." He smiles and lies down on the makeshift bed.
"Comfy?" She asks innocently, kneeling down and fluffing the cushion with him on it.
"Yep."
"Good. Time for more cards!"
"No!"
X
In the doctor's office Dr. Kadowaki is turning on the lights. Another day has started. She could really do with an assistant or two but it isn't simple to hire a nurse aid to travel the world when there isn't even much here to treat most times that regular first aid can't fix. It's a hard sale and why the good doctor is here alone given she can't find any takers.
"Let's see, any over night patients?" The doctor wonders aloud. "None aside from our resident here." She glances at Irvine. "Let's see if the away team has any good news for me." She turns on the computer.
Dr. Kadowaki
We have finished magic collection. Field studies are not conclusive. We are still proceeding as planned however and are returning home. Expected time of arrival is tomorrow morning if all goes well.
Squad Leader
"Inconclusive?" Dr. Kadowaki thinks. "At this point it doesn't matter. It's the only chance we have."