A/N: *gasp* The very last chapter? Of the entire series? *faints* So here it is people. Our FINAL addition to the Time Series and what a finale it is. Thank you very much for the wonderful support and reviews that we've received. It's been a lot of fun. Anyways, please PLEASE let us know if you have any questions about it and we will gladly answer your questions:D Hugs to all of you and here you go...


Seifer-A year later (A/N: We kid you not. This is for real. We have a purpose though. Always trying to come up with new and original situations.)

"I found an old photograph of Madame Minx in a book from the school library, can you believe it?" Rai said excitedly.

Fuu snorted, "You, in a library? There's definitely something unbelievable going on there."

"Witch." Rai announced, pulling Fuu into his side for a hug coupled with an eye roll. "She was wearing a pink necklace while it is sworn she never wore pink, hated the color." He explained. Madame Minx had been a very peculiar witch, strange tastes and weird obsession and focuses. She was as brilliant as Merlin had been, only she dabbled in black magic. I found the subject of her really very interesting, but...

Slowing in my tracks while Rai and Fuu kept on walking, lost in their conversation to instantly realize I wasn't walking beside them anymore, my eyes fixed on the figure of a sandy blond boy, with chocolate colored eyes, whom I hadn't spoken to for 11 months and 21 days. If he saw me, he masked his thoughts masterfully and his eyes never landed on me at any given moment. There were many people in the hallway though, so he might not have seen me.

Another boy was walking beside Hayner and from the rumors traveling around magic school, I knew he and Hayner had a thing going on together. Was I jealous? I couldn't even tell. I was sort of numb when I looked, thought or spoke of Hayner. Things had completely derailed and I'm not quite sure how it had happened. It's like we just drifted apart...

"Seifer?" Blinking out of my intent staring, I smiled weakly down at Fuu. "Are you okay?" She patted my arm in sympathy as she realized where what it was I had been staring at. "What happened between you two? Did he hurt you?"

I shook my head, placing my hand gently on the small of her back to have her start walking again so we could make our way to the cafeteria and away from Hayner. "No, he didn't hurt me. I'm not sure what happened. One moment we're friends, the next we're lovers and then following that we suddenly aren't anything at all."

"Why not talk to him?" Rai suggested, butting in as he fell in step beside myself and Fuu.

I shrugged. "What about? The moment we entered the magic realm we both seemed to agree that it was best we go on our separate ways." It was for the best. "Let's go eat something quick before we arrive late for our second before last exam."


Hayner

I turned the corner in the hallway and immediately felt myself mentally relax. His eyes were no longer on me and I glanced around to make sure he wasn't somehow lurking about still. It was weird to be avoiding him, but it felt like the only way to continue my studies normally. I felt a tap on my arm, and I glanced at Lance and at his questioning look, I just shrugged and smiled.

It wasn't the same, that's for sure. It felt completely weird and foreign to be in a relationship with anybody other than Seifer, which was strange in and of itself because we had never even been in a relationship in the first place. The one night that we'd spent together, or actually, the one time we had sex together, we'd finished and basically gone our separate ways.

Of course I'd been pissed beyond all reason when I discovered that he'd basically ruined me for other people after that. Sure, I'd experimented here and there with other guys and no one had even come close to how good Seifer was in bed, the bastard. Hell, I hadn't even been able to be truly intimate with anyone, surviving on mutual handjobs and that was about it.

"Are you finished with that translation that the professor asked for Hayner?" Lance asked as he laced his fingers with mine. I winced, not really wanting to hold hands, but I let him anyways.

Nodding, I said, "Yeah. He has me working on the next level assignment."

"Oh, yeah. Lucky you have that ability." I could tell that I made Lance uncomfortable, big surprise, what with the fact that I was learning everything four times faster than the normal sorcerer could, but what was I supposed to do about it? Not learn faster because my boyfriend felt intimidated?

Giving a mental sigh, I figured that we probably wouldn't last another week with that attitude. Which was fine. I was comparing every little thing he did with the way Seifer did things. And that wasn't fair. It's why I couldn't ever look at Seifer or even let my thoughts free when he was around. It was so bloody obvious that I still had feelings for the guy that even the first years could tell.

I'd only made that mistake the first week I was here, and they'd just chuckled at me when I'd wanted to have him hang out with us. 'With Seifer? Pfff, don't lie. Nobody ties down Seifer Almasy. Plus, he's in his last year of magic school, he doesn't become friends with us noobs.' Well, that was true, at any rate. I hardly ever saw him during the last year and when I did, he was surrounded by his friends and I felt that I couldn't just walk up to him.

"Hayner, are you listening?" Snapping my head to the side, I gave Lance a weak smile.

"Sorry. I have a lot on my mind, I guess." He shook his head and I caught a few stray thoughts about how I was never listening to him and blah, blah, blah. That time with Seifer had really honed my mind to mind communication and sometimes it was a pain in the arse.

I spent the next class bored out of my mind and when my teacher pulled me aside to inform me that the school was going to finally start speeding up my education to match my abilities, I sighed in relief. Finally, something to focus my mind on. If I had to lose myself in my studies to keep my mind off of my, well, slightly creepy school yard crush, then so be it.


Hayner-A year later (A/N: The boys are very slow in the romance department in this story! We actually struggled to get them to be together. But the jumps are helping!)

"So, who is going to be giving me my practical exam?" I was sitting in my professor's office, eagerly awaiting the name of the sorcerer that was going to be standing between me and my graduation. These past two years had been unreal and I couldn't believe that I was already going to be graduating. I'd be out and on my own, doing whatever it was the council asked of me, mixed in with a little freelance on the side.

Things had gone a lot smoother once I'd just focused on my studies and I'd been slightly relieved, yet pained, when Seifer had graduated and I couldn't even pass him in the hallway. But as much as I was aware of when he was around, it was almost harder now that he wasn't.

I guess I'd never really gotten over what we had together and in my most inner thoughts, I'd always pictured me with him. Mental shrug. What can ya do. Everybody has to grow up sometimes and I suppose he was always going to be my first everything and I should just be happy with that.

But this. This part of the graduation process was the hardest in my opinion. Your performance was rated and I was hoping that I wouldn't get someone who was going to be jealous or intimidated by my ability. There had been a few of those over the years and it got tiresome very quickly. One of the reason's I'd been single this past year, was the affect I had on people. It was mildly irritating, to say the least.

"Well, Mr. Allen, your situation has been most unique." My professor was what I referred to as the Merlin type. Not that he has the same gift, but the guy looked like how I would picture Merlin to look. Long white beard, glasses, and the pointy hat. I tried not to stare because it always made me snicker. I simply nodded and waited for him to tell me the name.

"We've assigned you with a recent graduate and from what I understand he was the one who discovered you as well." Paper shuffled as I tried to connect the dots. "Ah, a Mr. Seifer Almasy. Yes, he was a fine student, shapeshifter, if I remember correctly. You will meet him in one hour in the courtyard." He stood up and I automatically followed accepting his hand when he offered it. "Good luck, young man." He said pleasantly and shooed me out the door.

And so, an hour later, I bit my lip and stepped into the courtyard, glancing around to see if Seifer was there yet and trying to make sure my thoughts were controlled. He was my instructor in this test and it wouldn't do me any good to be oogling him while he was around. It was annoying, but he had been my first real crush and I suppose those were always the hardest to get over. It was only a minute later that he poofed into the courtyard, his back facing me before he probably sensed my presence and turned around to look at me. He gave me a small, tentative and somewhat hesitant smile.

"I did tell them I'd be coming back here to instruct you sooner than they'd expect. Two years and you've gone through all the lessons they have to offer?" Reaching up he straightened the black beanie he always seemed to wear unless he was in a time period that wouldn't allow him. "Impressive." He murmured, the random feelings I could tap into telling me he was still one of those few who didn't envy me for my ability.

I blushed. Dammit, I couldn't help it. He was still the best looking bastard around and I was suddenly aware of my camo print cargo pants and tank top. Yeah, I probably should have dressed a little nicer for this. Too late now.

Squaring my shoulders, I wasn't some lost teenage kid anymore dammit, I just nodded and smiled. "Well, you taught me a lot when we first met." I paused and scratched the back of my head. "How have you been?"

"Chasing trolls and going on pixie hunts on a daily basis," He said with a shrug, grinning, "It's actually not as fun as it sounds, becomes rather routine relatively fast. But I won't shatter your dream of an almost graduated sorcerer yet." 'How has he changed so much over the last two years...?' A fleeting thought of his penetrated my mind, and I knew I wasn't supposed to hear that as Seifer cleared his throat.

"You have limited poofing, or materializing being the more official word. But I'm sure you already know this. Basically I'm going to observe how you use them and if you use them wisely. Make sure you know when not to use them and use transportation spells or regular human travel instead. How you communicate with magical beings when they don't necessarily speak our language and just...I'll be making sure you're ready for this."

I was nodding along to his words, having heard this speech from numerous teachers trying to prepare us our final test. His thought had caught me off guard and I guess it made sense. I'd changed into more modern and comfortable clothes, I'd even gotten taller, only a few centimeters shorter than him now.

"So, what's the first thing that you want to see?" And apparently I'd also mastered the ability to use sexual innuendo. I tried to hide my smirk, but I don't think I was successful. It was just so weird, and I couldn't take the awkwardness very much longer. I never dealt well with stress.

"Err," He'd caught the innuendo, but clearly decided to not react to it. "Didn't the professor give you a list of tasks for us to work with?"

I snapped my fingers, calling the list from where I'd accidentally left it on my desk. I'd been hoping that he would know, but I suppose it was different for each student. Clearing my throat, I glanced at the list and grinned. Plant knowledge and Practical Application.

"It looks like we are heading to the gardens first and you're supposed to check my plant." Glancing down at the list again, I saw that I'd actually need some of its leaves for the 'Familiar' test. That would take place in the forest, surrounded by things that connected me and all sorcerers to the earth and nature. It wasn't really a new concept and I'd read a bit about Familiars in my studies. I'd never met one before and I didn't know anyone who had one of their own.

Seifer nodded, "Alright, so before poofing off to the garden, check the rest of the list and see which ones you are obliged to poof too, and which ones you can arrive at without help of magical transportation."

I scanned the list. "Okay. I have to poof to four different places and the rest I have to do it the conventional way." My face broke into a scowl as I saw that I had to make it to the Grand Canyon in the middle of the 1800's. No airplanes. Whatever. I'd figure that out when I got to it. There were eight tests in all and the first two were meant to be the easiest. "I suppose I shouldn't waste a poof down to the gardens." Sighing, I stuffed the list into my pocket and found it very easy to smile at Seifer.

'God, I missed seeing him around.' Bollocks. I blushed, pretty sure he'd heard that one and I spun around and started walking quickly. I knew he was right on my heels as we walked at a fast pace in direction of the gardens.

"I sense you're stressed. You'll do fine on your exams Hayner, and although you won't have the mental support of your teachers once you're graduated, you won't be alone." Seifer assured, picking up the pace so he could walk beside me instead of behind me.

I rolled my eyes and nodded. "I know, I'll have my familiar and all that. Which, by the way, what is your familiar? Do you even get one as a shapeshifter?" 'And I'm not stressed about the exams.' I thought at him, the very first deliberate mental communication that we'd had in almost two years.

Seifer chuckled. 'Fine, you're not stressed.'

"And no, I don't have a familiar. It's actually very rare any witch or sorcerer is granted one. Usually familiars are given to the wizards that have no idea what they are doing and need the extra support. Or to those, like yourself, that have an ability so grand, they need that extra little bit of aid to guide them through the motions securely."

He paused, eying me and when I nodded at him, he continued to explain. "That's not the only reason a familiar is given to a wizard though. The other reason would also be family situation wise. Me for example? I have my parents who are sorcerers themselves, so I automatically get aid from them. Sorcerers without family to help them familiarize are obviously more likely to receive a familiar too, since they don't have the back support of parents, siblings or other family relations."

"Huh. So I get one cause I need extra support and help?" I grinned. "Cool." Rounding the corner of the gardens, I felt my nerves sooth as I approached the plant that Seifer had given me when we'd first met.

Seifer smiled down at the plant. 'Beautiful... You took splendid care of it.' He thought it without hint of surprise, clearly certain I would have taken good care of it. "Merlin had an owl for a familiar. It's said the animal talked and was quite obnoxious, but Merlin shared a bond with the owl like he did with no other."

I laughed loudly. "An owl? Really? I hope I get something big...like a...wolf!" Snapping my fingers, my sorcerer's bag appeared before me and I leaned forward to wrap my fingers around the plant's stem, stroking it gently and asking it silently for a few leaves to use. It grumbled to itself, but it loosened a few for me to pick up and I thanked it as Seifer stood and watched, no doubt making sure I didn't just rip them off of it. This thing had seen me through a lot.

Tucking the leaves inside my bag, I turned and nodded. "Okay, I'm good to go. I guess I can just go to any old forest right?"

"Yeah, any will work."

Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I walked over to stand next to him, shakily offering him my hand. If he wanted to end up at the same place I did, we'd need to be touching while I poofed us there. "Um, you ready? I know just the place." I'd actually gone there a few times to practice and it felt really natural.

Giving me a nod, he placed his hand in mine, and I wondered how he seemed to have no issue touching me or anything. Was he not at all affected by our past? That line of that screeched to a violent halt as I felt his thumb stroke the back of my hand.

"Go on then." He urged, his fingers stilling in mine.

I took a deep breath and cleared my mind, which took longer than necessary because I was actually touching Seifer and I hadn't touched him since…Closing the door on that line of thinking, I pictured the place I wanted us to be and I felt the familiar tugging that accompanied the poofs and suddenly we were there.

The cool air felt good against my skin and I smiled as the sounds of the birds and trees replaced the sounds of the school. Nature was almost an entirely new experience when you became connected to it through sorcery. Almost as though you were gaining more senses. The world was opened up to you in amazing new ways. Opening my eyes, I looked at Seifer expectantly, waiting to see if he had anything he wanted to say about the ride. He'd been doing this longer and could possibly offer insight or whatever to my technique.

"That was good, a bit wobbly on the edges, but I figure you haven't poofed yourself along with someone else before and you're much better at it than most." He grinned, letting go off my hand. "Shouldn't surprise me since you learn everything faster."

Blushing from his praise, I stepped back and glanced around, hoping to find something to sit on while I did the spell that would call me a familiar. It was going to be pretty simple, I just needed to be in a circle of the leaves that I gotten from my plant and basically speak to the magic, asking for a guide and then waiting while it...I guess, answered. It was a little vague on the details, but each sorcerer was different, supposedly.

"Thanks. So, since you don't have a familiar and have never needed to call one, then I guess you can't really help me or give me an idea of what is going to happen, right?"

He shook his head, but, "I haven't experienced it myself, but I've read books and from what I understand you'll basically summon a spirit that will know what type of familiar to assign to you. She's sort of like...Well, you know how we praise Mother Nature and the humans God? Familiars answer to her spirit."

I gulped. Yeah, talk about nerve racking. "Okay. I'm just gonna sit over here and basically poke an all-powerful being..." I noticed a log to my right and plopped down onto it, ripping the leaves I'd gotten from my bag into tiny pieces and sprinkling them into a circle around me.

"Technically she's in a position below that of Mother Nature and God as she actually communicates with us whilst Mother Nature and God leave us guessing." He grimaced and then quickly drew the witch's star in the air for an apology. "You get what I mean. They just never show themselves."

"Well, here I go." Closing my eyes, and resting my palms on my legs, I fell into the pattern breathing that they taught us and focused on connecting to my power and calling for a familiar. According to the reading I'd done, I was to call and just wait for an answer. Seemed rather simple, but I knew it wasn't. Sending a tendril of magic out with my request, I opened my eyes and waited for the spirit to respond.

"Technically..." A woman's voice shrilled through the air moments later, flowing out between the trees. "I don't show myself either, Seifer Almasy." She sounded amused and even let out a giggle as Seifer had the decency to let his eye twitch.

"Whoops," Seifer muttered.

The voice giggled again, before breathing softly. "I'm here to answer your call, Hayner Allen. My name is Aerith Gainsborough. I believe you've met my brother-in-law..."

I gulped. "Huh?" Wish there was oil for my voicebox whenever it squeaked like that.

"Cloud Strife, brother to Zack. I was first promised to Zack but then became engaged to Cloud. Zack returned though, we fell in love and so the engagement to Cloud was annulled. Unfortunately Zack and I were shot because of Zack's relations to a gang before we could actually be wed." Her voice was like crystal in the air, but not cold, very warm actually.

"Larxene is not aware, but she was only granted by the powers to keep Cloud alive on the boat ride to the America if someone would offer their spirit to Nother Nature," a giggle, "That's where I jumped in. Cloud is a good man, he deserved happiness after all the unfortunate series of events he'd gone through and so I vouched for his soul, effectively allowing Larxene access to the powers to help keep him alive."

I nodded, understanding the balance thing that she was speaking of. Larxene had actually been called in to explain to one of my classes the importance of balance. She was an expert on it now, apparently. She'd been questioned by the council about her experiences and because she'd managed to make everything balance and work out correctly, she hadn't been punished for sort of bending the rules while she was doing it. That she'd been lucky she hadn't gotten stripped of her powers went without saying.

Clearing my throat, I asked quietly, "So, can you call my familiar for me?"

She sighed. "Isn't witchcraft mysterious and tricky?" I looked in Seifer's direction, who shrugged, having no idea what she was getting at. Another light chuckle came from her before she explained herself. "You already have a familiar, Hayner Allen, he's standing right next to you."

I glanced down at the ground, figuring that it must be some sort of small rodent then and that's why I hadn't noticed when it appeared. "I don't see anything, where is he?" Looking behind me, I finally stood up, hoping to get a better look from a higher angle. Or maybe he was in the trees? I searched the branches above me, slowly getting frustrated as I couldn't see anything. Seifer cleared his throat and when I glanced his way, he gave me a sheepish smile, his hand lifted.

"I think she's talking about me."

"Exactly right!" Aerith agreed. "Seifer Almasy is familiar to Hayner Allen."

My eyes went wide and I looked at him in astonishment. "You're kidding, right? But he's a human!" Seifer raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms and somewhat scolding me for the disbelief in my voice.

"Some familiars are human, witches, to begin with." Aerith explained. "Seifer is lucky to be a shape shifter as normally a familiar is turned into the shape of an animal and can only return to its human form once his or her duty as a familiar is accomplished."

"How was I not aware of being his familiar?" Seifer asked.

"You were, just subconsciously. You found your way to Hayner and stuck by his side, helping him through the first steps of magics and guiding him to the safety of magic school. When Hayner entered the school, everything he had to learn was offered by the teachings of the professors. This is why you and Hayner drifted apart as your familiar duties were put on momentary pause."

"Wait. Just wait a second." I walked over to stand next to Seifer staring at him as he was the only real person here and I couldn't glare at the voice. "So, he's my familiar. He has to basically follow me around until I'm ready to be on my own? How do I know when I'm ready?"

She laughed loud enough for the leaves on the trees to shake. "You make him sound like a dog!" Sobering up, she continued in an amused voice. "He doesn't have to follow you around, he's just there for you if you need aid. When you feel uncertain, Seifer is the one who will help you remove that uncertainty. He's just someone you can rely on and as he is your familiar, you'll never have to doubt the fact that he only has your best interest at heart. He'll never do anything to put you in harm's way."

I sat back down on the log, not really sure what to say to that. He'd been my familiar all this time and yet the relief I should have been feeling when introduced to him as my familiar was not there. Chuckling humorlessly, I wondered how many other sorcerers had sex with their familiars.

"Thank you for telling me, Aerith." Might as well show some gratitude for the spirit that was just doing her job.

"You are most welcome." She murmured. "And Seifer, you are still the sorcerer you always were." She assured before a flow of cold air passed through the trees, informing us she was gone.

'I honestly had no idea...' Seifer thought.

'Yeah, I figured.' Sighing and folding my hands behind my head, I figured I'd better just finish this stupid exam and then worry about this entire episode after. 'I don't really know what to do, Seifer.'

Seifer shrugged, starting to walk off towards the trees. 'Just continue doing things the way you know how, only now know that you can put my number on speed dial in case you need help with anything.'

'Yeah.' It wasn't going to be that easy. At least not for me.


Seifer - couple of days later

Well, clearly nothing had gone as I thought it would. I was someone's familiar now. Hayner's. Aside from that, I was also his 'used-to-be friend', 'ex-lover' and now his current instructor for the task tests as well. It was a lot on my mind, but while Hayner seemed to be a having a hard time figuring things out, I was dealing with it all relatively easily and smoothly.

Instead of freaking out, I'd busted out all the books I owned on 'familiars' and read up on it whenever I had a moment to spare so I could find out exactly what I was. Apparently my being a shape shifter should have given me a hint to becoming a familiar as shape shifting was born from the spell a familiar had cursed themselves with, able to turn back into human form during the full moon before shifting back to their familiar form the rest of the month.

She'd had a child with a sorcerer, the first shape shifter, and it sort of took off from there. So yes, I should have known my becoming a familiar was the most logical thing considering my shape shifting ability. But familiars were rare as they weren't often granted. There weren't many wizards such as Hayner and nowadays those were the only types of sorcerers who were granted a familiar. Basically, the word 'rare' was shouted out every single time I read a page on familiars and the situation Hayner and I found ourselves in.

I also found out that I didn't actually have to do anything specific. I didn't need to learn how to be the right familiar for Hayner as that magic had clicked itself automatically into place the first time I'd seen him. It was part of my instincts now and not something I needed to think about. That didn't surprise me as helping him had seemed very normal when we'd had our road trip to Tennessee.

Almost like a reflex. And that thing Aerith had pointed out, the reason we'd drifted apart having been connected to the fact that Hayner hadn't needed my help while the professors were teaching him... It had helped ease my mind very much upon meeting him again two years later.

I knew the fact I hadn't been interested in a serious relationship had played a big role on the loss of contact, but it wasn't just that. There had been moments I hadn't really been able to wrap my head around the idea of 'If I miss him so much, why am I not just talking to him?' that had been a painful thought to try and understand. But now, what with the familiar instincts, it sort of helped make sense to me.

Hayner though...I think this whole revelation had confused him more than anything else. While at first when he'd realized I'd be his instructor he'd seemed okay with it, now he wasn't all that okay since he now carried the extra knowledge of having me as his familiar. The last couple of days had been a lot like how things had gone on after the love spell.

He spoke to me only when really necessary, but otherwise avoided small talk and chit chat whatsoever, closing himself up and away from me. I'd poke, but I knew better than to poke Hayner. I remembered that frown between his eyebrows and I quite honestly didn't feel like messing with it.

That had been my line of thought yesterday. Today though, I was starting to get really fed up with his behavior. I was his familiar and that was that. He was going to be stuck with me and he better deal with it soon because I didn't like the idea of having to be the familiar to someone who didn't want me as their familiar for a long, long, long, long time. If we were going to do this, we were going to 'bloody' communicate.

Poofing my way into the magic school's courtyard, I looked around, frowning as Hayner wasn't here and the place was empty as well. Looking down at my watch, I realized I was a long couple of minutes early, twenty minutes or so... Now, I could do two things. One; stand here and wait for the school bell to ring, letting Hayner out of class so we could continue with the tasks on his list. Or two; Use my familiar status, which effectively allowed me to attend Hayner's classes. Hayner had pointed out they would probably not pull up another desk just so I could sit there and listen to the stuff I'd already learned a year prior, and although that wasn't incorrect... I doubt my familiar status on the 'attending my sorcerers classes' rule, applied to my human form.

So, without further ado... Eyes glazing over, I let myself relax, breathing steadily as I turned into my comfort form, the cat. Not only was it my first go to shift, but it also seemed to be the shape of myself Hayner seemed the most comfortable around and lately that seemed like a good thing to go with. Swishing my tail, I stood from my sitting position and then trotted over to the school's entrance, walking inside.

Thankfully the hallway was empty, because with the amount of people usually in this hallway in between classes, I'd surely get trampled. Or worse, they'd step on the freaking tail. Scanning my thoughts, I remembered what class I had last on Fridays and quickly galloped my way to the classroom where Miss Lorena taught the student sorcerers how to read crystal balls.

The door was closed, but that wasn't exactly a problem because I'd made sure to learn a trick or two over the long years of shifting. Jumping up, I grasped the handle between my front paws, clinging to it and letting my weight pull the handle down. Miss Lorena stopped mid-sentence, staring as I hung from the door while it swung open. Letting go, I landed onto my four feet, nodded respectfully Lorena's way and then scanned the classroom, locating Hayner.

'Seifer?' Hayner thought my way, and I spotted him near the back window and I chuckled as I figured he spent a lot of his time staring out of it instead of paying attention to stuff he probably already figured out.

'Hello, Hayner.' I returned, making my way through the tables to get to him. I hissed when one of the girls let her fingers stroke over my back, twirling around my tail. 'Fucking humans!' I growled through thought, sticking my nose up indignantly before quickly trotting my way over to Hayner.

'A little harsh, considering you're human.' He snickered and bent down to open his arms so he could pick me up as I got closer. 'Is there a reason you're coming to my class today? Not that I mind, but I'm just curious.' Gently picking me up, he settled me in his lap and immediately starting scratching my ears.

Circling around, I settled comfortable, purring as he continued to pet me softly. 'I was early and didn't want to wait outside.' I told him honestly.

'I've missed seeing you as a cute little kitten.' He thought at me, and I glanced up to see him smile down at me. 'Anywhere in particular you want scratched today? If I remember right, under your chin is a good spot.' Reaching his fingers, he started scratching my chin confidently. 'Just try not to rattle the rafters with your purring.'

'Don't think cute too loud, they might hear.' I chuckled through thought, ignoring his warning on purring too loud as I did so anyways when his fingers continued to scratch me under my chin.

"Ah! A familiar. It's been a while since I've had the chance to be around one," Miss Lorena spoke up, "Hayner, would you kindly introduce him to the class? Will he attend many, or is he only delivering a message to you?"

"Er, um. I guess he's just delivering a message. He changes his mind a lot." He said, not really sure and glancing down at me for some clarification.

'Message my ass, I just didn't want to sit beneath a sky that clearly will break out into a rain any second. This classroom is warm is what my message is.' And I did enjoy Hayner's scratching... But that would be uncool to say too loudly.

Holding in his chuckles, Hayner looked at the teacher. "This is Seifer Almasy. He's my familiar and today he's a cat." Smirking evilly, he suddenly picked me up and held me over his desk. "Isn't he the cutest?" His voice when higher with the last word and he aimed that at all the girls in the classroom, who immediately did their little cute noises and made googly eyes at me.

'Hayner!' I squirmed in his hold. 'You're ruining my fucking reputation that took years to build, you 'bloody' moron!' Swishing my tail in his face, I dropped back down in his lap when he sneezed.

"Seifer-" Miss Lorena started. "Oh well isn't that a pleasant surprise. You all remember Seifer Almasy from a year back. He was the shape shifter student." Of course she needed to clarify that.

The students all nodded and Hayner went back to petting me, snickering to himself. 'Sorry, I couldn't resist. You really do make a cute cat.'

Settling back into his lap, I started purring even though I really kind of didn't want too. 'Yes well, I don't mind being your cute cat, but I don't want to be anyone else's cute cat.'

Scratching my ears, he sighed. 'You're my familiar. I'm not giving you up.'

'Oh well good, cause I wasn't gonna let you.' I pushed my head into his belly, rubbing up against him and making sure my eyes were big and round so he couldn't scold me for the snarky retort.

He chuckled and surprised me by leaning down and using his face to cuddle me close. His lips brushed across my forehead, and I was pressed against his cheekbone for a moment. Pulling away after only a second, he blushed and quickly looked out the window as his fingers continued scratching. 'Sorry.' Was all he thought, offering no explanation for his sudden display of affection.

This was an interesting turn of events...Now I could either play along with him and ignore the entire thing to keep things comfortable for him, or I could not and poke. Or at the very least acknowledge what just happened and tell him...

'Don't be...' And then before I could stop my body from moving, I managed to climb up without using my claws to settle up onto his shoulder, wrapping myself behind his neck, back paws settled on his right shoulder, forepaws settled on his left, my face pressed right below his jaw all the while purring loudly and closely to his ear.

Hayner used his cheek to rub against my face again, lifting his hand to continue scratching under my chin. It was probably completely cute and adorable looking because the girl in front of Hayner glanced back once, then a second time while whipping out her cell phone and snapping a picture. Hayner growled at her and she gave a surprised 'eek!' and spun back around. But with the way her shoulders were trembling, I had a sneaking suspicion that the picture was now circulating the rest of the student body.

Mentally sighing at me, he thought, 'That's what you get when you act cute, I guess.' Sending me a puzzled feeling, he asked, 'Just out of curiosity, why are you acting all cute and cuddly? Not that I'm complaining at all...'

'Believe it or not, cute and cuddly urges are a lot harder to suppress in cat form. Instinct took over. Not that I'm not enjoying this, I just might have been more cautious as a human.' I snickered through thought. 'Imagine me climbing up on you like this as a real live boy!'

'Now that would be interesting...' He thought, probably forgetting that he was projecting, and before he could stop himself, I glimpsed a rather quick image of us naked...The teacher dismissed the class and Hayner snapped to attention. 'Okay. Do you want a ride to the courtyard, or would you prefer to walk?' He asked snarkily as he gathered up his books.

I'd store that little bit of naked info away for later use. 'I'll get trampled.' I whined. 'Or they'll step on my tail...' Not like I could change now anyways, I could snap my fingers fast, but I didn't want his entire class to see me naked, even if it were for just one tiny split second. And of course, in human form? Hayner would definitely not hold onto me like he was doing right now. I wanted to make the most out of it before returning to 'slightly awkward'.

"Oh, poor kitty!" He pouted out sarcastically, and we heard the nearby girls twitter while he held onto me as he stood up. 'I'll protect you, O fearsome familiar.' Still holding onto me as he quickly navigated the crowded hallways, he ducked down an abandoned corridor to take a short cut to the courtyard that we usually met in. 'Today is my last test, isn't it? I have to summon an elemental.'

He was mocking me, the prat. Human feet were suddenly a lot bigger when you were cat sized.

'Yes, that's the last test.' And then to make sure he understood my clingy presence today, 'After that we're talking of what's going on between us. Don't say nothing 'cause that would be lying.' There, I was taking a stand and being somewhat pushy. Not that I liked being pushy, preferring the 'I don't give a damn' air better, but clearly that demeanor had not worked in my favor at all considering previous events and so being pushy is what I would be to set things straight. I was not going to drift apart from Hayner again.

Turning a corner down another empty corridor, I saw the door that would take us outside. 'I did it again, didn't I? Just like before...' Slowing his steps, he finally released his hold on me, going back to scratching my face and using his cheek to cuddle against me once more, causing my purr to heighten. 'Sorry. And yeah, we can talk.' Pushing the door open, he breathed in the fresh air and took a few steps off to the side. He crouched so I would have an easier time getting down.

Jumping down, I stretched out, pushing my ass up in the air, tail twirling as I let my claws grind over the stone ground before straightening back up onto my four feet, shaking my head. 'Cat or human?' I asked, willing to stay in this form if it helped make him more comfortable around me. I suppose that could be viewed as strange, but if I had the ability, I don't see why I wouldn't use it. I was still myself, cat or human, and he wasn't cheating or chickening out by talking to me in cat form in my mind.

'Hmm...Well, I was gonna call a water elemental, or try to. You like the water, right?' He winked and laughed. 'As long as you don't mind, you can stay a cat for now.'

'If you splash me I'll turn into a bigger kitty.' Oh god! Why hadn't I turned into a tiger during the Leon vs Seifer chase? I would have loved to see the reaction on that cowboy's face there. 'Alright. Summon and talk.'

'Okay.' He glanced around and spotted a bench that was next to one of the school's fountains. 'Come on, I figure being close to some real water will limit the splashing that they'll have to do.' Walking over, he sat down and waited for me to jump up and sit next to him; not too close. I didn't want to get splashed. 'Just a heads up, I'm going to summon an undine. A small one. That still counts, right? Or do I need to summon Leviathan?'

'Yes,' I moved away some more, the idea of water toying with the cat instincts. 'that counts.'

'Sweet. Cause I'm feeling a little lazy today.' Turning towards the water and extending his right hand, he closed his eyes and started murmuring the summoning spell. Most sorcerers used diagrams and needed to read from a book, but Hayner was able to trace the diagrams in the air, and quote from memory. Another aspect of his ability. There was a small flash of bluish light, followed by a splash and Hayner opened his eyes and grinned.

"Hello, little one. I thank you for answering my call. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude." The small human shaped sprite blinked up at him, giving a noise of happiness as he handed it a dried piece of fruit that he took from his pocket. Otherworldly beings usually enjoyed food or small treats for answering the call of a sorcerer.

Starting to dance with the small piece of fruit in its hands, every step it took, a splash of water bounced off it, flying up into the air and leaving a wet trail behind the little creature jumping around. Much like with how I'd turned into a porcupine in reflex to Leon's lunging hand, the moment a drop of water landed on top of my cat nose, I barely had time to register I was turning.

Only when I found myself standing four legged behind the bench, roaring at the tiny creature with a huge tiger jaw, basically informing it to 'leave me alone!' did I realize I had in fact turned. I shut my big tiger trap, sitting down instantly and sending Hayner an apologetic look, who'd practically scooted off the bench in surprise at my sudden reflexive turn.

The small undine squealed in high pitched surprise and with an angry chattering at me, it disappeared in a puff of smoke. Hayner snapped his eyes back to where the small creature had vanished and then turned towards me, shaking his head. "Seifer. Really? I hope that counts as passing, because I don't think it's going to come back."

'I warned you of the consequences were I to be splashed with water.' I reasoned. 'And yes, you summoned it, so you passed.' Purring, because yes, tigers purred as well, I shuffled my big kitty butt closer to the bench, resting my head close to his leg, sending him big pleading eyes in apology. Rolling his eyes, he hesitantly put his hand out and stroked the top of my head.

"You are forgiven, you big kitten." He said out loud. "So, I'm a sorcerer now? After my final exams, I mean."

'Yes.' I told him confidently. 'Now talk to-' People entered the secluded place we found ourselves in and I stood up partly on the bench with my forepaws, looking up and over Hayner's head to glare at them. They froze as their eyes landed on big tiger me and of course that was a very satisfactory reaction, but not enough.

Baring my teeth, I roared at them, leading the young wizards in training to squawk in fright, scurrying back off where they came from. Snickering, I lowered back down to the ground. 'I love the power...' Nudging my head into Hayner's side roughly, I then plopped back down into a sitting position, tilting my head so I could look at him. 'Will you now tell me what's going on with you concerning our situation?'

'I like you. Still. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've been obsessed with you since the first time I laid my eyes on you. I don't understand why we drifted apart. It was just so strange.' Looking down at me, his eyes were a little bit sad. 'Maybe I pushed too hard that first night together. Or we just went too fast. But either way, I've always been pretty hung up on you.'

Shuffling closer, I rested my head onto his lap, letting out a heavy sigh. 'I think it was a mixture of everything. Although you certainly didn't push me, things did go very fast... I had that fear of getting into a serious relationship and from what I caught from your thoughts that night, you weren't looking for a serious relationship either. Yet... could we have been casual lovers?'

Licking my canines first, I then pushed my head closer against his stomach. 'I couldn't have. I liked you, still do, very much and while I knew being your casual lover wasn't a possibility for me, neither did I manage to wrap my head around the idea of being with you in a serious relationship.'

'So, what should we do now? When I found out you were my familiar, it just brought back so many memories of us together. It's not like I try and suppress them, but it's hard to carry on a normal conversation with you when I keep thinking about kissing you.' His hand was still petting me, and now he was staring off at the space above my head.

'Personally,' Shaking my head, I pulled back and when he turned around to look at me, I just nudged him to look back out in front of him before turning back to my regular human self. Snapping my fingers, I was now dressed and decent and came to sit next to him on the bench. "I did not like being apart from you all this time, and I don't just mean the drifting apart friendship wise. I never felt the way I did with you that night with anyone else. That sounds so incredibly mushy, but it's the 'bloody' truth."

Smirking as he glanced sideways at me, he said, "I was so mad at you." He shook his head to silence any protest. "You basically ruined me for every other guy out there. And that's my 'bloody' truth." Reaching his hand out, he rested it on my leg for a moment, before pulling back.

I grinned, my heart swelling at hearing him say I was his best ever. "I'm that good, huh?" When he raised an eyebrow at my arrogance, I raised one back. "Better that than have me track down every dude you've been with in the last two years to rip their throat outs, because believe me, the urge is not lacking." Jealousy ahoy.

"Easy killer. I'm not with anyone but you, so relax." He closed his eyes, and tilted his head back, smiling up at the cloud covered sky. 'I wonder if he'd let me kiss him...' Came the quiet thought, so faint I wondered if I'd really heard it.

Not thinking about it, I grasped his chin between my fingers, guiding his head down and sideways, not allowing him a second of thought as I simply leaned in and pressed my lips against his. 'That's the stuff...' Was the first thought that rushed through me as his soft lips connected to mine. Cupping his face, I hummed appreciatively against his mouth. 'I've missed you...'

Reaching his hand up, he grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me roughly against him as he tilted his head to the side and deepened the kiss. 'Every time I saw you in the hallways at school, or in the cafeteria, I wanted to jump you. I finally had to stop looking.' His voice echoed through my brain, and I felt him smirk against my lips before his tongue was pushing against my mouth, asking to enter.

Granting him access, I parted them, pushing my tongue against his while my arm snaked around his waist, pulling him flush up against me, which then led me to moan. 'See, that's why you're the smart one. I kept on looking, torturing myself every single time... Afraid I might forget what you looked like if I didn't catch a glimpse of you every day.'

Grasping his cheek gently, I stopped the feverish kiss for a moment, allowing myself to catch my breath, panting harshly against his mouth as I stared into his chocolate colored eyes for a moment. Pecking his lips softly once, twice, three times, I tried slowing the speed of my racing heart, but I guess that was futile, so I decided to keep on going, continuing with fierce lip lock.

'I was going to have to hurt you if you stopped, but I'm thinking you should poof us to your bed before we get an audience that we can't scare off by roaring at them.' His hand was in my hair running his fingers through it while he sucked my bottom lip to nibble on between his teeth. As my other hand dropped to squeeze his leg, he let out a low moan that was music to my ears.

'Okay...' I agreed easily, concentrating on visualizing my apartment located in the magic realm itself. I had another apartment in New York, but- Oh hell, like it mattered how many apartments I had. Certainly not something to focus on right now. There was a moment where I felt like air, Hayner in my arms, and then we landed on my bed, the same one I'd summoned into the train that had brought us to Nashville. Taking the liberty, I snapped my fingers twice in a row, both of us now completely naked.

"God, I love that trick..." I moaned, letting my eyes scan over his naked figure, gently pushing him back onto my bed so I could hover over him, my lips attaching to his neck.

'Wow. You'll have to show me how to do that.' He chuckled and spread his legs so that I was instantly pressing our groins together as his fingers clutched my back. He hooked his ankles around me, moaning as he used them to increase the friction on both of our dicks.

"You simply," Sucking onto his skin to mark him with a beautiful hickey, I continued my sentence through thought. 'Reverse the clothing summon.' Leaning onto my right elbow, I stuck my left hand out, using telekinesis to get the lube bottle flying out of the night stand drawer, landing into my palm. 'You want foreplay, babe?' Moaning against his skin, I rocked my hips into his rhythmically, not going all that fast as I was simply drowning in bliss at the sensation of Hayner lying underneath me, his warm skin pressed against mine, arms and legs surrounding me.

'Kissing counts, right? Cause I'm thinking that you should just fuck me and we'll snuggle later.' Pulling my face back to his lips, he kissed me, tonguing me expertly and moaning as I felt him get even harder against me. 'Can't really think. Hurry...'

'Yes, hurry.' I agreed with him, opening the lube bottle and sitting up so I could squirt some onto my fingers. Stroking his stomach lovingly, I leaned forward to place numerous kisses on his chest, all the while inserting one finger slowl-

I blink in surprise as Hayner was suddenly moaning loudly beneath me, my dick straining really fucking painfully and because... well, something clearly didn't make sense. Shaking my head and detaching my lips from around his nipple, which, they hadn't been there just a second ago, I sat up and tilted my head curiously down at the fact that instead of one finger, three were now buried inside of him.

"Hayner..." I wiggled my fingers, leading him to groan in pleasure. Yep, he was stretched alright. "You wanna tell me how you manipulate time?"

"Oh god, Seifer!" He panted and clenched around my fingers. "It's just about wanting it really fucking bad. And you can sort of tweak the time travel spell that takes us to the past...right there...and you can jump just a few minutes into the future." He was moving harder against my fingers, clearly enjoying himself, then he winked at me. "I'm all ready for you. Come on, put it in."

I chuckled, letting my fingers slip out of him. "My very own genius." I declared all the while slicking up my cock with a generous amount of lube. "And 'it'? You make it sound like an alien." Leaning over him, I guided the tip of my dick to his entrance, letting my lips rest against his mouth as I started pushing steadily inside of him, his fingers grasping my butt cheeks. 'Oh god, babe, you're so fucking tight...' I moaned loudly after that thought, my body trembling as I restrained myself from just ramming into him all the way.

'Don't hold back, Seifer. Been waiting two years to feel you inside me again. And I better be tight. It's been awhile.' A moan ripped out of him as I finally settled all the way inside, and he turned his mouth away to kiss along my jaw and cheek before moving down my neck. Sinking his teeth lightly into my shoulder, he nodded his head. 'Okay. Move please.'

If he allowed me to move... I wasn't going to go slow. This was fucking him into oblivion time, not making sweet love. Not that I had anything against the latter, but two fucking years... Sitting up, I slipped my hands under his ass, lifting his hips up and off the bed, settling him onto my lap as I knelt.

"Grasp the headboard." Okay, that might have sounded a tad authoritative. I was about to ask him more nicely, but his arms moved back and over his head, fingers clutching the edge of the headboard. 'Shit, you look gorgeous...' I was practically drooling over him for the way he was spread out before me.

Kneading the skin on his butt firmly, I pulled out of him and then instantly pushed back in, not taking another moment to pause as I repeated that same motion over, and over, and over... "Fuck yeah!" I groaned out, grabbing one of his legs for support, lifting it so I could place a random kiss against the side of his knee.

'Harder, come on, I can take it harder!' No longer even trying to use his real voice, Hayner was moaning loudly, every once in a while shouting my name as I rammed into his prostate. Knuckles white as they gripped the wood of the headboard tightly, his eyes were closed in bliss and his body was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Letting his ankle rest on my shoulder, I kept my mouth pressed against his leg, panting against it while letting my now free hand slip up and down over his stomach before wrapping my fingers around his straining and leaking cock. Squeezing it, I smirked against his skin at the loud moan I got in response for that action, continuing to slam my way into him repeatedly, harder now as he'd asked me too.

'Amazing, you feel fucking amazing...' I managed to send his way, my vocal chords much too busy moaning, groaning and cussing at the moment. Working my hand on his length, I felt his ass clench around my dick teasingly once and then twice. 'Do that one more time and this isn't going to last.' I warned.

'Can't help it...' And he clenched once more and he released, his whole body tensing for a moment before turning to liquid, his arms falling from the headboard even as I continued pounding. Leaning back over him so I could kiss him, needing to kiss him while I-

'Fuckedy fuck, fuck, fuuuck!' Holding him close, the orgasm pulled out of me harshly, wonderfully, body stiff and then trembling, my lips still pressed against his as I panted into his mouth.

'Oh god...please don't pull out yet...just a few more minutes...please.' His breath was slowly starting to return to normal, but his hands still held me against him and his legs were still wrapped around me and holding me inside of him. 'Bloody hell. That was the best...' Giving my lips short pecks as I was still trying to catch my breath, Hayner slowly trailed his fingernails on my back, sending shivers up my spine. I was grateful for the mind to mind communication as actual speaking seemed to be beyond our ability at this point.

Gulping and somewhat gasping, I nodded my head, reaching up with one hand to push the sweaty hair out of his face. 'Definitely the best...' I agreed, returning his pecks somewhat sloppily, leading me to chuckle as our teeth actually managed to knock together at some point. 'I'm neither leaving nor letting you go this time, I'll have you know.' I kissed him softly now.

'Psh…It's not like you're allowed to leave. You're my familiar. You stay until I don't need you anymore…and that will never happen now.' Returning my soft kisses with his own, he sighed and finally let his legs drop, groaning as that caused my dick to slip out of him.

'Hold on.' He frowned, but did so anyway, and once I was sure to have a tight grip on him, I poofed us into my bathroom and straight into the warm with water filled tub. Sighing contently at the warm water, I smiled at Hayner.

"Used telekinesis to make the water start running around the same time I slipped my fingers out of you," Yes, I was very proud.

"I love being a sorcerer," he said with a laugh and splashed me in the face with the warm water, chuckling when I snorted and splashed him back.


A/N: Aaaaaaaaand that's the end folks. *salutes* Hope you enjoyed it, and we'll see you all later. Not sure when we'll be posting another story, but hang tight kiddo's:D