Chapter VII: We're on Sale!
Dear Mr. Cid Kramer
With this letter, I would like to resign from my position as an instructor and active SeeD in Balamb Garden. I need a change of environment, and I decided to return to Galbadia Garden, to start over as new active SeeD in my former Garden. Thank you so much for all your benevolence all this time. I wish I could do something to repay…
Quistis looked up from her letter as the knock on the door took her attention away. She folded the paper before went up to answer the call.
The last thing she ever expected to see was the stern-looking man in front of her dorm.
"So," the man said, walking into her room. "This is what you leave me for? How amusing… if I knew you'll be happy just by four times four meters dorm room, I wouldn't waste that much for your room…"
She was silent, not believing her own eyes. If she let her voice out, she afraid she would squeak.
He sighed, looking around. "Pack your bags, Trey. I got a mission for you. And tell Nida too, we're leaving right now." He turned to look at the dazed instructor. "Anacondaur bites your tongue? Where's your manner?"
She blinked and straightened her back, placing her right fist against her left chest and looking straight ahead, saluting him. "Sir, yes Sir!"
"A year in here and you turned mellow…" He walked out of her dorm. "It's a shame, really…"
Quistis stared at the man's back until he disappeared from the hallway. She shut the door and rested her forehead on it, closing her eyes.
Hyne… why now…? Am I that lucky, or I'm just out of it…?
-x—
-x-
"Moooooorning!"
Squall glared at Selphie and Zell. Selphie bounced, creating several high bounces that should not be allowed according to gravitation rules. Zell was holding a big box and grinning at him, ready to say something before Squall shut his dorm door. However, the martial artist was fast to stop him by sliding his foot against the crack.
"Leave me alone," he said, glaring at the sugar duo. "It's six. In the morning."
"I know!" Selphie smiled, her smile shone as bright as the sun peeking through his old blinds. "Isn't this the best hour to start a day? Why are you still here? Let's up! Up and shine, Squall!"
Zell shrugged, although he still grinned. "Yeah, Squall. You always woke up late. It's not good for your body."
"Whatever." Squall stomped on Zell's foot, causing the man to shout in pain. "Eight hours sleep is necessary for any SeeD and absolute necessity for keeping your alertness for the next mission."
"Oooooh!" Selphie pointed at him, turning to Zell. "Here comes the SeeD manual talk! You're right, Zell! He's memorizing it!"
"Well, I've been his roommate for five years, you would've thought I knew him already…" muttered Zell, glaring at Squall. "So, Squall! Got money?"
He frowned, the door stopped halfway. "What?"
"Squall!" Selphie sneered, reaching for the box that Zell held and rummaging through it. "Zell said you made a lot by part-timing in Balamb! So… would you like to buy some things I got for sale?"
"Is this a joke?"
"Nope!" She held up a rare card. "I know you're a good Card player! Here is the first item: Ifrit Card! Actually I don't want to lose it…" She sighed, caressing the Card in a loving manner. "But Ifrit said okay, he's always with me so I don't need his Card… Care to make a deal?" She grinned, waving the Card in front of him.
"That's mine!" Squall shouted, trying to snatch the Card but the girl pulled her Card back and hid it on her back. She shook her head at him.
"Nooo Squall… Not yours, mine. If you want to buy it, it's yours."
"But it's mine!" he yelled. "I got it when I defeated Ifrit in my GF test! Then I put it on my table before I went to—" He turned to Zell who had guilt written all over his face. "You! You took my Card and gave it to her?"
"No…" Zell took a step back, grinning sheepishly. "Not exactly—um, I uh, played with Fujin inside the DC room when I was there for detention, so I thought I'll use that one since its good on number, being strong and all—uh, I lost, so she took it."
"And then Seifer gave it to me!" Selphie waved the card in front of him. "We don't play Cards that much, Squall… do you want it?" She bounced on her brown boots heels. "The starting price is two thousand Gil!"
"Two—" He stared at her in disbelief. "The hell? I'm not paying two thousand Gil for my own GF Card!"
"Too bad…" Selphie pretended to consider her situation. "And Xu just offered me five thousand Gil on it..." She sighed, flicking her fingers in the air. "Okay, then… Zell, let's go! There's a lot more buyer inside this wide, wide Garden!"
"Yes Ma'am!" Zell walked away following Selphie, but Squall fisted his clothes, pulling his ex-roommates back.
"Stop!" he was talking through gritted teeth. "Wait here. Just a minute."
Selphie and Zell looked at each other with sly satisfaction on their faces as their first client went to get his wallet.
"See?" Zell said. "Told you he'll do anything for Cards and gunblade."
Squall reappeared. "I don't have two thousand Gil…" He waved a black-and-white striped sling backpack in front of her. "I bought this for one thousand Gil. You will need this more than Gil on your mission, since you don't have a bag. Or did that conceited crook already gives you a bag?"
Selphie frowned as Squall snatched the card and shoved his sling bag to her. "Boo… barter? That is so not cool…"
Squall shrugged. "Both Card and bag are mine anyway. Now get out." He ambled inside, leaving Selphie pouted holding and inspecting his old sling bag.
As he went to close his door, Zell said to Selphie, "That's his favourite bag, Selph. At least he did trade something worthwhile. Now, let's sell this stupid book! It's the heaviest in this box… who in their right mind would read something like, 'Sorcery's Legend and the Folklore Son of Magic' anyway?"
Squall's eyes widened as he yanked the door wide, running to catch up with Zell and Selphie. "Wait! That man took that from me! And no, I'm not paying for it! Give me all my confiscated things back!"
Selphie shrieked. "Zell! Run! Or we'll lose all our merchandise!" They fled as fast as they could; leaving an enraged brown-haired boy whose first goal of the day was to seize the swindlers.
-x-
-x—
Seifer waved to Quistis when she arrived with Nida at the front gate. The instructor sighed, setting her orange backpack closer to her body. Her resignation letter inside, she's planning to send it to Cid after the mission. She didn't plan to come back to B-Garden.
"Amazing, they did make an instructor work in a mission…" Seifer smirked to her when they reached his standing spot. He turned to Nida. "And you are?"
Nida shrugged. "Name's not important. Where's our boss?"
"He said he's going to do something." Seifer crossed his arms, leaning on the gate railing. "He's the unique one, I'd say…"
The two snorted.
"You've got no idea…" Quistis said.
They turned to the stern-looking man when he strode to them. Nodding to all of them, he said, "Let's go to Rinauld Plains. I've set up a vessel near the beach so we won't have to board the train." That was all, as he left them right after his last words.
"Not even an introduction…?" Seifer said, grabbing his silver backpack that he put on the ground before Quistis arrived. He studied Quistis and Nida who walked side-by-side and stared straight to their client's back.
They certainly know who the man is… "Hey, Trepe!" he called her and waved his hand, asking her to come closer to him. She stopped and waited for him. Seifer pointed to Nida as they left B-Garden. "Your friend…?"
She nodded. "You can say so."
"You know who this client is?"
She peeked at him. "He didn't tell you who he is?"
"Nope. Should he?"
"Yes, if he didn't it means you don't need to know."
"But you and your friend know him."
"We've worked with him before."
"Trepe…" Seifer looked at her, studying her. "You look like shit."
"Wow—" she said, "—that's charming, coming from you."
"I mean it. You're pale. Got no sleep after the party?"
"Nothing you should care about…"
She was tired. She needed sleep. However, every time she thought about seeing Squall again, her heart ached. Not the kind of needing and loving ache. This was sad and breaking ache, the kind you would need to lose as soon as possible before you drowned in angst.
Whoever said one-sided crush wouldn't kill apparently had never been in love.
"Hurry up, Almasy! Quistis!" their client shouted. Nida had entered the sea vessel, half-sized the one they used in Dollet exam.
Seifer shrugged. "Can't wait even for a bit, boss?" he said, rolling his eyes as the man glared at him.
"I don't need your useless chit-chat, Almasy. Get your ass on the seat and shut your mouth." The client waited until all of them were piling up inside the vessel. Then he closed the door and flicked his hand. "Sit anywhere. Quick!"
Quistis scrambled to sit. Seifer frowned before sitting next to her. She didn't even look at him, her body stiff and eyes focused straight to their client. Seifer turned his eyes to Nida, who sat with the same pose.
What in the—
"I'll say this just once." The man sat across from him. "This is a secret mission. Nida, Quistis, you already know what I expect from you. You two never failed and I know you will not disappoint me on this. You, Almasy, are another issue." He looked straight into Seifer's eyes. "Can you work with me?"
The trench coated gunblader looked at his client in confusion.
What should I say? He just shrugged, but apparently, their client needed no answer.
"Let's divide the jobs here. Nida, Quistis, take your usual job. Almasy—"
"It's Seifer."
"Seifer Almasy, you are the bait." The stern-looking man raised his eyebrow as Seifer scowled. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Whoopee…" Seifer said in sarcasm. "Where's the hook? Do I have to hook myself on it?"
"If you have to," the client said, ignoring his sarcasm. "Your job is to bait our target out. This is important, and you are the only one who can do this. She's only attracted to you."
"She? A woman?" Seifer leaned his head to the vessel wall. "Figures… all women are so into me…"
The client shot the gunblader an odd look, while the other SeeDs rolled their eyes.
The man finally said, "Report to me after you studied the target, Nida. And Quistis… you're the vital ones here. Don't do anything before I order you to. Nida, you don't need GF since you won't fight her. Quistis and Almasy…" He studied Seifer. "You two do not need any GF. I will leave you at the coast; walk one night to Deling City. Next order will be given tomorrow, after you settled in." He stood up and walked to the driver's cabin.
Seifer chuckled. "Heh… I just noticed that one…"
She frowned. "What?"
He smirked. "That we both don't need GF. Kind of makes us the strong ones here."
Nida stuck out his tongue.
Quistis shook her head. "I never thought about it that way. It's practical, though. I never used that much GF as well…"
"Yeah, what use is a GF if you can do it yourself, huh?"
"Yes…" Quistis peeked through a window between them. "This could take a while. We might just get dropped on the Dollet coastal and walk all night before we reach Deling."
"I'll protect ya, Trepe. No fear if you're with me," said Seifer.
"By the way, I guess you don't consider this, Seifer…" whispered Nida. "You do know that she's our team leader in this, don't you?"
Seifer's eyes widened as he stared at the girl.
Quistis smirked at him. "Indeed I am, Seifer. If you have problems with that, you know where the boss is."
"Indeed I am!" Seifer stood up, stomping towards the driver's cabin. That stupid client! Now I'm her inferior? Hell will freeze before I'm okay with that!
-x-
-x—
Squall cursed whoever gave Selphie her daily dose of sugar. It was eight in the morning and the girl was pounding his door hard while singing...
"Squaaaaaaaaally! Squally Wally Wally! Up! Up! Up! Up!"
"Where's my stuff!" he yelled, muffled. His head and ears secured under the pillow.
Selphie bounced on her heels before building up a response. "What stuff? If you mean Zell and my merchandise, we're sold off! I'm sorry if you didn't get any items you want! After all, you didn't have enough money so—"
"Whatever. What do you want now?"
"New mission!"
There was silence. Squall was surprised that she came for another reason than mugging him apart.
"Squall!" Selphie pounded the door again. "It's our first SeeD mission! It looks like we're going to Timber. Meet by the front gate! Hurry!"
To be continued…
