Balmb Station

The time for the Balmb train to make it's way to Deling city was approaching, and Squall, Zell, Quistis, and Skyy were all waiting for Fujin, Raijin, and Seifer to get make their way to the station. Skyy glanced at his watch to check the time.

"It's just after 4:40," He said looking up at the others, "Assuming Fujin told the other two when the train is leaving, they should all be here soon."

"If Seifer isn't goofing off somewhere anyways," Squall replied in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Maybe he just enjoys the scenic route more than we think," Zell suggested with a chuckle.

"Who enjoys scenic routes chicken-wuss?" came a voice behind the group, as if waiting on it's cue.

"What did you just call me!?" Zell turned to face none other than Seifer, with Fujin and Raijin naturally following behind, and shook his fist at him angrily.

"What's the matter? Did I scare you so bad you went deaf chicken-wuss?" Seifer asked with a cocky smirk, "Not that anyone can blame you, I am pretty imposing."

"Yeah, I'm sure little children everywhere flee in terror from that gruesome face," Squall said, not even glancing at Seifer and missing the glare he was receiving.

"You wanna say that again you little-

"Children," Quistis finally chimed in, "would you start behaving yourselves? You are SeeD's now, and are representing Balmb Garden," She reminded them, speaking like a stern parent.

Raijin and Skyy couldn't help but chuckle to themselves at seeing the trio getting chewed out by their former instructor-turned-squad member, while Fujin sighed and looked away, possibly annoyed by the childish antics starting already.

Luckily for her, the trains' whistle and conductor let the group know the train was getting ready to depart, causing them to drop their squabble and get on board.

"Well I think that's our cue," Zell said hastily as he ducked around Quistis and ran into the train.

Seifer and Squall were not far behind, with Quistis following and chastising them till they were all inside the train.

Skyy and Raijin were still chuckling as they boarded the train, with Fujin behind them, dreading how the mission will go if this is how things are starting.


Once the group was inside, and the three 'children' had finally settled down, no doubt due to Quistis' involvement, she showed the group the luxury sweet on the train meant for them. One of the SeeD perks the head master seemed to have forgotten to tell the group when they passed their exam.

"Whoa! Check it out," Zell said with child-like enthusiasm.

"Being a SeeD really does have it's perks, ya know?" Raijin said with equal enthusiasm.

Squall walked in and sat on the sofa that was in the room, with Seifer sitting on the other end, and Quistis went to sit on the bed.

It's nice, but I've seen nicer, Skyy thought to himself as he looked around, but the company wasn't nearly as nice. He smiled at the thought.

While everyone was talking amongst themselves, Skyy stepped outside of the room, and back to the rear room of the train. He took out his phone he brought with him and proceeded to make a call.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Pick up already," he said, tapping his foot impatiently.

"Hello?" A tired voice came from the other end.

"Finally," he sighed, "I take it you feel asleep during one of your experiments again?"

"Yeah, sorry. I didn't know you were going to call."

"I just spoke to you this morning, how do you get tired so easily? Whatever, it's fine. Did you finish the research?"

"Yeah. Personally, based on statistical analysis, I would go with the big guy over the hyper active half-pint, but the choice is up to you as always."

"Naturally," he rolled his eyes, despite knowing the person on the other end couldn't see it.

"Also, have you put your contacts in yet?"

"No, not yet, I'll do it in a minute."

"Don't forget. It took me forever to make that new pair for you."

"I got it already, Jeez. I'm getting ready to put them in as we speak alright?"

After that, he hung up and pulled out the small box Ratchet had given him earlier that day with the contacts and head phones from his bag, but the door opening behind him caused him to quickly turn around and see Fujin stumbling out of the doorway and into the rear car, though she soon regained her balance.

"Er...Are you...Okay?" Skyy asked after noticing her stumble.

"AFFIRMATIVE." She quickly replied. She was okay physically speaking...though her pride after being seen like that is another story.

"Well...Okay then. But um...why were you-"

"CONCERNED." She cut him off before he could finish his question.

"Concerned?" he asked quizzically, "About what?"

"DISAPPEARED." She turned away nonchalantly, "CURIOUS."

"Oh. Right. Sorry," he said, as he laughed sheepishly, "I had to make a call about...well...you'll find out later."

Fujin arched her eyebrow, curious about what he was talking about.

"Um..but why you're here...I need a favor," he said, his voice still somewhat sheepish.

"WITH?"

"Well you see," he showed her the box with the contacts in it "I kinda..need help putting these in. I can't do it on my own without being able to see what I'm doing."

He blushed, embarrassed by not being able to simply put in a pair of contacts on his own. He half expected Fujin to start chuckling at him for needing help with it. But to his surprise she didn't. She walked over and grabbed the box and motioned for him to lean in. Skyy was about a head taller than her, so he had to bend down as well when he did, and she applied the contacts for him.

Skyy blinked for a moment, as his eyes got used to having the contacts in.

"Thanks Fujin," he said, showing her his usual smile.

"Why do you need them?" Fujin asked, curious that he didn't seem to need them for his vision.

"Um..Well...these aren't exactly your normal prescription contacts," he gestured towards his eyes as he spoke, "They're special ones I asked Ratchet to make me based off of some of her great-grandads designs we found when we were younger. With a few modifications to go with the times of course. You see they work with these headphones," he grabbed the headphones from the box to show her, "and it works as a kind of...computer I guess would be the easiest way to describe it."

Fujin didn't quite understand, but was showing that she was at least paying attention when he was speaking.

"And well...mainly I use them with my gloves when I'm using my flames. They can gauge my output for each one, so I don't put to much or to little energy into my moves. For example, do you remember the corkscrew thing I did against that robot during the SeeD exam?"

"AFFIRMATIVE." Fujin answered, nodding her head as she recalled when Skyy first used his flames in order to save her on the beach in Dollet.

"Well normally for that, I have to keep my flame output for each glove even the whole time, or else my momentum get's thrown off, and the move isn't as effective. Hence, why it was able to still move enough to blindside me after I hit it," he blushed, embarrassed again, after having to remember getting clobbered his first day at the garden, "The last pair of contacts I had got damaged during a...training exercise...I was in before coming to the Garden, and so I've been having to use guess work to gauge my output until Ratchet could fix me up a new pair."

Fujin took all this in, and simply nodded to show she understood.

"Though they can do a few other things too. I can access known information of an area and can view a sort of...mini-map I guess you could call it, and I can scan a person or creature without having to use a spell."

After he was done speaking, it dawned on him that they had been away for quite some time, and should probably return to the others before they come looking for them.

He was about tell Fujin this when the train came to a sudden halt, causing both of them to lose balance as Fujin jolted forward onto Skyy causing him to fall backwards onto the floor.

"APOLOGIES!" Fujin quickly said.

"Don't worry, it was the trains fault," he said before smiling wrapping his arms around Fujins' waist, "and it's not like I mind this position anyways."

Fujin blushed, but smiled soon after, apparently okay with the position as well.

The two were leaning in closer and closer and went to-

"Hey guys the oth-"

Fujin and Skyy quickly turned to see Zell, having stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the compromising position before him.

"Zell," Skyy looked at him sternly, "Tell the others we were back here talking and are on our way back. You didn't see this."

"Understand?/UNDERSTAND?" Fujin and Skyy glared at him and unison.

"S-See what? Two very good friends," Skyy couldn't help but think the emphasis on that was directed towards him, "having a conversation? What's wrong with that? I'll just go tell the others you guys weren't kidnapped or wandering around somewhere now," Zell said, a sweat drop forming on his head as he backed out of the room.

"Talk about rotten timing," Skyy said as he raised up on his elbows "But at least it seems he isn't going to say anything."

"AGREED" Fujin nodded, though was still red from getting caught by Zell of all people like that.

The two looked at each other and decided to try again when a spiky blonde head popped back in.

"Um but we've arrived just so you two- ,"

"ZELL!" They shouted at him once more.