All characters From Final Fantasy VIII
Belong to Square Ennix
Final Fantasy VIII
-Frozen-
Remastered Edition
By Chendzeea' Li
Chapter 14
Esthar
Dumbstruck, Quistis simply stared. Nearly falling, Fujin staggered back and regained her balance. With a dull gaze she regarded the woman before her and frowned.
"you..." She murmured quietly.
Shaking her head, Quistis shouldered past her in a daze. Inside her mind, Leviathan was in an uproar, it's agitation finally motivating Shiva to action as well.
"QUISTIS!" Fujin choked, a faint scowl on her lips.
Slumping, Quistis stopped in her tracks but did not turn to face her. She didn't have the strength anymore.
"LEAVING?"
"I can't stay..."
Fujin drifted to her side and entwined her arm in hers. "TOGETHER THEN..."
Stealing a glance at her, Quistis sniffed sadly. "You look horrible..."
"YOUR FAULT..." Fujin chuckled mirthlessly.
"I'm sorry..."
"I KNOW..."
Without another word the two walked quietly into the darkness.
Archibald lay on his back atop a table and snoring heavily while Scylla paced the laboratory in agitation.
"We've been here all night..." She groaned.
Engrossed by displays and monitors, Luccian was only mildly aware of her. Flustered, she hopped up on the table by his side. With an annoyed scowl he shoved her off the pile of papers she was scrunching.
"Stop it!" He barked.
Hurt, Scylla huffed and strode the other side of the room to peer through a smoke colored wall of glass. Her reflection stared back at her, pale and sweating faintly. Turning her head, she glance sourly at her companion.
"You know..." She began cautiously. "You know what this place reminds me of..."
"It should..." Luccian snapped irritably. "That's the whole point, now shut up."
"I think they're in here..." Scylla mumbled, tapping on the glass. The room beyond was dimly lit and shrouded in frost and fog. Large containers, eight in total, stood within. Made of steel and glass, each was capped by a tangle of large tubes that rose into the ceiling.
Pressing her cheek against the glass she closed her eyes and sighed. "I can feel them, some are pretty strong, do you think you could use these?"
"No... why would I? They're no stronger than the ones at Balamb."
"Isn't that enough? I think they'll do just fine..."
"I don't give a fuck what you think."
"Hey..."
Luccian tapped the monitor and frowned. "These things are pathetic. Judging by the readouts they're about dead already... I guess they're still having the same problems as before."
Turning in his seat, he noted Scylla gyrating against the glass as she rained gentle kisses against her reflection.
"What the fuck are you doing?" He blurted, genuinely amused at the absurdity of her actions.
"Why do you care?" She pouted, stealing a glance over her shoulder at him.
"Stop being weird, what do you feel?"
"I feel horny and hungry."
"Grow up, I'm serious."
"I know, that's the problem. At least your dad knew how to have fun..."
Luccian cleared the distance between them in an instant and slapped her hard to the floor.
Rebounding, she was back on her feet and in his face quicker than he could have imagined. Their eyes locked, his were like steel, cold and unflinching. While hers darted wildly, her features quivering with barely contained excitement.
"Do it again..." She whispered hoarsely, her lips parting uncontrollably into a twitching smile.
Growing pale, Luccian shoved her away. "Later..." He mumbled then returned to his pile of readouts and monitors.
Scylla stared blankly at him for a long while then looked startled as if struck by inspiration. Spinning away, she returned to peering into the room beyond.
Ignoring her, Luccian focused on the task at hand. The Guardians kept here were of average strength but seemed to be fluctuating wildly right before his eyes. Perplexed, he studied several files pertaining to a variety of experiments.
"They're using dummies still, that's part of the problem." He grumbled.
"Gross... don't talk about it, I hate those things." Scylla gagged as her whole body shivered in disgust. Backing away from the glass she shook her head. "They're hungry."
"Is that all you're getting?"
"I dunno, maybe it's me... I'm starved, lets go eat."
"Focus damn it."
"You focus! This is bullshit, I hate this place, can we please go..."
"Keep it down!" Archibald growled from makeshift cot.
"Go back to sleep." Scylla groaned.
"I'm trying, you guys find what your looking for? It's cold as fuck in here."
"Both of you be quiet." Luccian snapped
Giving up on his nap, Archibald lurched to Luccian's side. "Man, what are you looking for, I'll help I just want to go, this place sucks."
Growing angry, Luccian shoved a pile of paper to the floor and leaned back in his chair.
"Something, anything, of use. These guys are no farther along than my father was. I dare say they're behind, they're doing nothing really but storing them here and standard research."
"Afraid of an incident I suppose." Scylla mumbled absently as she sat down on the far side of the room.
"What?" Archibald blinked, feeling left out.
Ignoring him, Luccian spun back around and began poking about on the computer once more. This time at a fevered pace. "I wonder...?"
"What?" Archibald blurted again.
"Yeah, really?" Scylla groaned.
"It just occurred to me!" He said excitedly. "This place is in the middle of the city. I bet they've another facility off-site somewhere!"
"Oh great..." Scylla and Archibald complained in unison.
"Yeah, here we go." Luccian sneered with glee. "There was a passing reference to Diyu, I just assumed it was another Guardian at first but it seemed familiar to me."
"Is that suppose to mean something?" Archibald sighed.
"It's from old mythology... the underworld. A maze where the dead are forced to wander until reborn into something new." Scylla recited blandly.
Taken aback, Archibald whirled towards her in disbelief. "Why the hell do you even know that? I didn't even know you could read?"
"I'm smarter than I look." Scylla purred.
"She's full of it, My dad was big on the occult." Luccian chuckled mockingly. "He'd go on and on about that shit. Anyway, information about the place is encrypted but I'd bet that's what I'm looking for."
"Well shit, I'm going back to sleep." Archibald grunted, clamoring back atop the table.
"You know... eventually someone is going to come stop us from poking around." Scylla pointed out with a pained expression.
"Let them try, I pretty much own this place."
"You're father does, not you. Eventually someone who realizes that will come in and then we're in trouble."
"Then leave. I don't need you here."
"I thought you wanted wanted me to sniff out your prospects?"
"You did, they suck, two of em winked out while we were here."
"They do that?" Scylla frowned.
"Apparently so, they probably starved to death inside the dummy."
"I don't think it works like that."
"Oh, so suddenly you're an expert?"
"Asshole, I don't even care. Just hurry, I want to go, this place is giving me a headache."
"Like I said, you can go whenever you want. I'm staying until I get what I want."
Defeated, she collapsed into a chair and rubbed her temples. "Fine..."
"I'm sorry..." Quistis whispered as she shuffled quietly along.
"QUITTING?" Fujin asked, though she knew the answer. Walking a bit of ahead, she didn't even bother to look back.
"Yes... I can't keep doing this."
"FOR THE BEST."
"I knew you'd understand..."
"ALWAYS HAVE..."
"You were magnificent, I wish I had told you that."
Fujin had no response for that other than a bitter chuckle.
Quistis sniffed the air, she could smell the sea, seaweed and salt mixed with the distinct odor of lingering rot. Fujin glanced back at her, her pale features visible yet mysterious in the darkness.
A chill washed through Quistis' bones causing her to pause.
"You're not real..."
Fujin lay on her side, she could hear the train idling in the distance, she was so close. Feverish, she struggled to catch her breath. It was so hot it was hard to breathe. Furious she slammed her fist into the dirt, it was a pitiful effort that simply left her exhausted. Her blood pounded in her ears, and her senses felt sluggish. It was as if the world was being experienced through a thick layer of mud.
"You're out of time..." A delirium spawned voice whispered from the darkness.
"mom...?" She coughed, rolling over onto her back.
"If that is what it takes..."
"WHO?"
"You must go..."
With a gasp, Fujin thrashed about in a weak attempt to orient herself. "HELP ME..."
"I can not... this part of your journey you must make alone..."
Fujin struggled to her feet then promptly collapsed once more. She could feel Pandamona perched with the others at the fringe of her mind. They were preparing to leave in the event of her death.
"I can't..." She whispered weakly.
"Then you will die here... She... will die here." The voice whispered gravely.
"Please... I just want it to stop..." Quistis whimpered.
Silent as the grave, Fujin gestured into the darkness. Quistis stared blearily into the shadows everything seemed distorted. Walking forward she could feel a breeze, and make out the yawning edge of a deep ravine. Fujin fell in step behind her, as they approached.
"It's fitting I suppose..." Quistis noted, turning her tired eyes to her silent companion.
Though her expression was devoid of joy, Fujin smiled thin and wide. She looked horrible now, her limbs were gaunt almost skeletal in appearance, making them seem unnaturally long and alien. Her features twitched and a glimmer of malice shone in her crimson gaze.
"You hate me so much for what I did to you..." Quistis sighed sadly. Reaching out she pulled a errant strand of seaweed from her hair.
Stepping away, Fujin turned her back to her. Grief-stricken by the reaction, Quistis looked out over the ravine. Under the moonlit sky she could just barely see the bottom. Broken rocks and dead shrubs.
"This is the only way isn't it..." She whispered sadly. She expected no answer. With a final look she turned to regard Fujin one last time only to find her positioned directly beside her.
Recoiled by her sudden proximity, she jumped in fright. A look of insanity was on the apparition's face now as it screamed wildly in her face. It was a dreadful, banshee like noise that threatened to stop her heart.
Scrambling away, Quistis screamed then collapsed as Leviathan materialized in the air behind her. Though a shadow of it's true size, the massive guardian was a force to be feared. Lunging forward it's, intent was perfectly clear, it meant to swallow Fujin whole.
Her facade melting away, Fujin met it's attack by tripling in size. Her limbs extended grotesquely as the chill of frostbite blackened her flesh and towering antlers erupted from her skull. Completing the transformation, her remaining eye melted away leaving the hollow socket afire with a burning mote of crimson. Her mouth distending into in a maddening howl... she met Leviathan's charge with a vicious tangle of teeth and claws.
Quistis held her head as reality warped and twisted around her. Nausea washed through her and she was horrified as she vomited forth a obscene gout of blood and gore. Recoiling from the sight, she spun away only to come face to face with Shiva. The guardian maiden of frost and winter seemed as wild-eyed and frantic as her host. Grabbing Quistis' head in her hands it shrieked at her.
Confusion, self-loathing and fear reigned in Quistis' mind. Nothing made sense, breaking free and in a panicked she instinctively called upon her blue-magic. Etheric power exploded outward glowing waves of pure force that pulsed in rhythm to her frantic heartbeat. The release of power that washed through her as a darkly ecstatic leaving her with little will to resist. Beaten and lost, she relinquished control and let herself burn unchecked. Uncontrolled, the Etheric shock-waves intensified, scouring the rocky landscape in a every widening radius.
She was burning herself out. Her heart hammered painfully in her chest even as the nimbus of light brightened painfully around her. Then, as suddenly as it started, everything stopped, and reality spiraled inward as everything was drained of color then grew dark.
Alone and wrapped in shadows she collapsed to her knees and covered her eyes, dreading what she'd find when she opened them anew. Shakily she stood, she could feel the cool breeze washing up from the cliff face welcoming her. With slow steps she made her way to the edge and looked out. Her mind was clear, seemingly for the first time in a long while.
It was frighteningly easy. Spreading her arms, she took a step and vanished into the abyss.
Fujin's attempt to walk was more akin to a failed attempt at falling. Spurned into action by her fevered imagination, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread washing through her. Something was at work, something sinister. A scream echoed through the darkened landscape, peering into the shadows she looked about wildly. The motion made her nauseous and she nearly collapsed, and she knew with certainty that if she did, it would be for the last time.
Silhouetted by moonlight, movement atop a near clifftop caught her eye. The sight of a another living soul gave her renewed burst of vigor and she hobbled along at a quickened pace. An attempt to call out was met with failure as the only sound produced a dry choking cough. Her skull felt as though it was about to explode as the fever burned her from the inside. She wasn't going to make it, she knew that now, but she had to try non the less.
As she drew closer she could see the figure begin flail wildly as if fighting an unseen assailant. Pausing, she stared in confusion then staggered back as glowing waves force erupted from the lone figure. A feeling of familiarity tingled within her, Pandemona sensed it as well and flickered at her consciousness. Powerless, the Guardian had nothing left to draw upon other than Fujin herself. Still, sensing trouble it made itself available.
The outpouring of energy was ephemeral and soon the figure stood alone. Unconsciously, spurned into a run Fujin was moving even before the figure stepped into the open air. With a cry of pain that signaled a potentially fatal exertion she leaped into the sky. Propelled upward on the last of Pandemona's winds the two collided in midair as Fujin locked her arms around Quistis' falling form.
"GOT YOU..." She gasped, even as she felt herself fading. Pandemona's winds quickly depleted what little she had left and by the time they landed, Fujin was a ashen shell of her former self. Tottering weakly she regarded Quistis with a thin smile even as her crimson eye dulled to a gray.
Quistis' response wasn't what she expected at all. Lashing out, she shoved her backwards, an act that sent the two of them falling hard into the dirt. Scrambling on her knees, she tried to make sense of the world around her. Only after she put some distance between herself and Fujin did she dare to turn around.
Sprawled in a heap, Fujin seemed little more than a pile of tattered, dusty clothes wrapped around a desiccated corpse. Shaking her head, Quistis struggled to unravel what she was seeing. She felt lucid, and though Shiva and Leviathan were still roused she could feel the wave of turmoil ending. Rising to her feet, she stared intently at the impossibility before her.
"Fujin?" She called warily. Part of her fully expected the woman to rise screaming before her. Instead only a chill breeze blew past, quiet and haunted.
"Fujin?" She called again, this time creeping forward cautiously. It was then, that she threw caution to the wind and hurried to her side. Kneeling, she cradled the woman's face in her hands, her skin felt like sun-baked earth, dry and hot to the touch. Quistis' brow knotted into a intense furrow of concentration as she poured everything she had into a powerful healing spell. Etheric energy flared brightly, bathing them in a white light that burned away Quistis' remaining reserves and deep into her own life-force.
The outpouring of energy cleared the majority of Fujin's wounds though some remained angry and bruised. Disturbingly the healing aura restored only a small amount of Fujin's former mass leaving her thin and sickly in appearance. Pressing onward, Quistis focused everything she had into restoring her friend and breaking the persistent fever that had taken her.
The process took far longer than she'd thought possible, a testament to the woman's condition. Part of her worried that she was hallucinating still, or worse. Perhaps she was laying at the bottom of the ravine and all of this was in her mind as she slowly died. It wasn't important, none of it was. What mattered now was saving the life that teetered delicately in her arms.
Finally, after a long while, Fujin's eye fluttered open. Lazily she looked about as if waking from a long dream. Looking up, she found Quistis smiling down at her with tired, reddened eyes.
"Hey you...' Quistis whispered.
Confused, Fujin regarded in a near childlike manner. "pushed me..?" She whispered, pouting slightly.
Choking back tears, Quistis could barely speak. "I'm sorry..." She managed between weary sobs.
Satisfied, Fujin closed her eye as exhaustion claimed her once more.
Taking a moment to kiss her brow, Quistis whispered—"I've got you..."—before lifting her into her arms.
Archibald, stood in the hallway staring dully at a vending machine. Fishing about for change he found himself short. Cursing quietly he shook the machine vigorously in hopes of dislodging some of it's goods.
Sliding up to him, Scylla put a calming hand on his shoulder. "Stop it."
"You got any change?"
"Yes, now stop it." She said with an annoyed scowl. Fishing some coins from her pockets on her coat she passed them to him before turning her head sharply. Her gaze was intense, focused, nearly serpentine.
Startled, Archibald followed her gaze. "What?"
A dark look washed over the young woman's face but quickly vanished into a grin. "I think I just heard something..." She giggled creepily.
"Crazy..." Archibald said slowly. Still he couldn't help but wonder. "What?" He asked cautiously.
"Never you mind..." She chirped cheerfully then skipped quickly up the corridor.
Chalking it up to her bi-polar manner he quickly pushed the encounter aside. He'd learned long ago to ignore his bizarre companion's quirky nature. Finding a choice snack he returned to the lab to check on his fearless leader's progress.
"Anything?"
"You could say that." Luccian smiled while holding up a USB stick.
"What's that?"
"Answers..." Luccian smiled cryptically. "Where's Scylla?"
"Run off."
"Go find her, I'll finish up and meet you in the lobby."
With a mouthful of stale pastry, Archibald made his way back into the hall and looked about. No sign of the girl was to be found, sticking his head back into the room he snorted at Luccian. "She's gone dude."
"What part of—go find her—did you miss." The dark youth hissed in response.
"Fucking fine..." Archibald growled.
"You know what, never mind." Luccian snapped. "Your fat ass will take all night. Put all this crap back on the shelves and I'll find her."
Archibald threw his hands into the air in frustration. "Whatever dude... Don't get all shitty with me. You're lucky we even followed your ass out here. We could have been having fun somewhere instead dicking around some lab. "
Ignoring him, Luccian strode out of the lab and up the hall. It didn't take him long before he found Scylla at the back of a dimly lit hall. Peering through a cracked door, she seemed oblivious to his presence.
"What are you doing?" He whispered harshly.
"Nothing..." She teased slowly, still intent on the room beyond.
Moving forward, he grabbed her roughly by the shoulder and spun her around. "We're leaving."
"Oh finally..." She groaned, feigning faintness.
"What's going on in there?" He asked, looking past her.
"Security room." She smirked, toying at the buttons on his shirt.
"Anything interesting?"
"Just a guard, I'm pretty sure he's playing with himself..." She giggled quietly.
Luccian's features twisted slightly. "Yeah, that's great..." He scowled, before yanking her along. "Let's go."
"Ouch, hey." She yelped in protest.
Ignoring her, he held up the USB stick. "I've the location of the lab, I was able to snag some information on what they're doing as well."
"Surely you're not going?"
"Of course I am. Thing's are happening and we're not ready. We're still too weak from the war, we'll need an edge if we're going to survive."
"How noble. Do you mean to tell me you're playing the hero now?"
"Nobility has nothing to do with it."
"Like father like son..."
"Watch it..." He sneered, gripping her wrist painfully.
Crying out, she pulled weakly against him before he finally let her loose. Snarling she stopped in the hall to glare at him.
"If the shoe fits... Do you really think that this the way to go?"
Stiffening with resolve, he smiled dangerously at her.
"We learn to control them completely or find a reliable way to destroy them. The aberrations prove that Guardians can't be trusted in the long term. They're dangerous and unreliable... Not only that, but they're growing in number. Something is changing and the Garden's are too slow to realize it."
Scylla met his gaze, her playful demeanor vanishing. "What you're planning... I won't be part of it... I can't go through that again..."
"Really, I think you'd jump at the chance after what happened. A little payback perhaps?" He huffed snidely.
His remark hit true, narrowing her gaze, she slowly melted into a Machiavellian smile. "I could convinced I suppose..." She whispered.
The train ride back to Esthar was an awakening of sorts. Quistis sat in her seat strangely serene despite everything that happened. Her mind was clearer than it had been in months. She couldn't shake then sensation that something had happened deep in the recesses of her mind. Flitting images of horror played at fringes of her memory. She could recall clearly those who'd fallen, but gone was the all encompassing self-loathing and guilt that had accompanied them. She frowned sadly at the thought of them. She could accept that at least. It was something she could deal with, something natural.
Fujin slept against her, her head laying comfortably on her lap. With a quiet smile, Quistis regarded her. She had no answers as to how they'd came to be reunited, nor did she care. Resting back in her seat, she gave a wistful sigh. She wondered what she'd find upon her return to Esthar. She'd gone awol, with nary a word to anyone. By now she imagined that Rinoa and the others were roaming the streets looking for her and come morning Nei would be given her letter. It couldn't be helped, but she was okay with that. Perhaps it was for the best.
Deep in sleep, Fujin stirred snugly against her. Quistis grinned down at her. Exhausted yet at peace, the young woman's mouth hung slightly askew as she breathed quietly into the fabric of her skirt. Quistis let her fingers loose themselves in the tangle of Fujin's hair and gave a sigh of contentment. She had no idea what was in store for either of them once they returned. Perhaps they'd be forced out, what then? Would they travel together, or go their separate ways. The notion made her sadder than she would have expected. Resting her head back, she soon found herself lulled to sleep by the rhythmic shuddering of the train's passage.
It was early morning by the time the train returned to Esthar. Quistis awoke first as the arrival announcement echoed over the intercom. Fujin also stirred then jolted awake. Sitting up, she regarded Quistis with a confused and startled expression.
"REAL?" She blurted.
"I've been wondering the same thing." Quistis smirked. "You drool in your sleep by the way."
Blushing, Fujin wiped the corner of her mouth and looked away.
"FEEL AWFUL..." She mumbled as she rose to her feet. Weak, she stumbled and nearly fell. Quistis was there in an instant to steady her.
"Careful, you've had a rough night."
Fujin met her gaze and stared, she had questions, but had no easy way to ask them. So she simply asked the only way should could.
"WHY?"
Quistis knew her meaning and hung her head in shame. "Some other time..."
Fujin's expression grew cold. "NOW, OR STAYING."
"It's complicated."
Fujin separated herself from her and stepped back. "MAKE SIMPLE."
Pained, Quistis met her gaze, she owed her that much at least.
"I think..." She started slowly, still trying to sort it out herself.
"SPEAK." Fujin pressed firmly, though she already knew the answer, it was written all over the other woman's face.
"I was weak..." Quistis whispered.
Fujin's narrowed, it was her only visible reaction.
Quistis watched her closely, trying to read her, searching for any sign for what she could be thinking. It was a wasted effort, the woman was a master of building walls. With a sniff, crimson eyed young woman rubbed her nose then fished in her pocket a moment. Confused, Quistis watched quietly as she retrieved her camera and held it arms length before her. Battered but functional, the camera flashed as Fujin snapped her picture then shouldered past her without further comment.
Startled, Quistis followed her with her gaze. "Wait, what was that?" She frowned in dismay.
"WHERE STAYING?"
"What?"
"NEED SHOWER..."
"Okay... but?"
"NO BUTS... SHOWER."
"You're coming back then?"
"OF COURSE."
"Why?"
"SHOWER, FOOD." Fujin yelled, having already exited the train.
A burst of relieved laughter escaped from Quistis' lips as she ran after her. " Hey wait up, you don't even know where you're going!"
The arrival back the hotel was a nervous affair. As they entered the lobby, Quistis noted Nei sitting in a comfortable chair in the nearby lounge. Half-eaten, her breakfast sat cooling on the table beside her as she read a well worn novel. Glancing up, the young student's eyes locked upon them. Quistis froze, unsure how best to handle the situation. Slowly tucking her book under her arm, Nei stood and walked over to them. Bracing herself, Quistis regarded her with a neutral look.
"That was some walk..." Nei offered, her eyes sharp.
"Yeah..." Quistis replied dumbly.
Nei held up an unopened envelope and regarded it a moment. "This is yours..." She explained simply before handing it back to her.
Quistis took it without a word or explanation. Growing tense, Fujin looked between the two women and felt suddenly out of place. Nei glanced at her and gave a faint grin before looking back to Quistis.
"Found a stray while you were out?"
"Yeah..." Quistis mumbled.
"Hmm." Nei nodded thoughtfully. "She looks hungry."
"Probably...yeah..." Quistis twitched, feeling like a child caught in a lie.
Gesturing to Fujin, Nei smiled. "You can have the rest of my breakfast if you'd like."
With a muttered thanks, Fujin quietly left the two alone. Quistis waited till she was out of earshot before speaking again.
"I..." She began only to be interrupted.
"Rinoa and the others are already out and about..." Nei began dully. "I think they were going to Fire Peaks Over Esthar... Rinoa's mad at you by the way. To think, you would actually ditch us to go out clubbing... That was really lame."
Quistis' features softened as she listened. Unfazed, Nei continued on.
"Anyway... It was all I could do to keep her from storming into your room to wake you up. You really shouldn't drink so much, the hangovers can be murder..."
"Nei..." Quistis started, only to be cut off once more.
"I'll leave explaining that... to you..." Nei said quietly while nodding to Fujin who was presently gorging herself on anything within reach.
"It's an... Interesting story..."
"No doubt... I'm going into town now. I'll see you later."
"Nei, Thank you."
"Anything for you Ma'am..." Nei responded with a respectful bow. With that finished, she turned sharply and walked away.
With a heavy feeling of Shame, Quistis watched her go. She would make it up to her somehow, to all of them.
Returning to Fujin, she chuckled at the sight of her. Voracious, she'd already consumed what remained of Nei's meal and had moved on to a complimentary basket of rolls.
"Come on, you're scaring the locals. Let's go up to our room and get you cleaned up. I'll even order you something to eat."
Eagerly rising, Fujin followed her but not before nabbing a pitcher of water and downing it on the go.
Upon entering the suite, Fujin marveled just long enough to take in the luxury of it before searching out the bathroom. Quistis watched her with an amused smile.
"I'll try and find you something to wear."
Pausing at the door, Fujin turned to look at her.
Quistis regarded her thoughtfully. "You okay?"
Toying with what to say, Fujin shifted awkwardly before finally speaking. "QUISTIS..." She said nervously.
"Yes?"
"THANK YOU..."
"You've nothing to thank me for Fujin. It's my fault you ended up like this..."
"NONSENSE."
"It's true, and I'm sorry... for everything... I'm just glad your back safe..."
Bowing politely, Fujin studied her a moment before vanishing into the bathroom to shower.
Gathering her thoughts, Quistis settled into a nearby chair. With a yawn she reached for the hotel phone and ordered a healthy selection of food for her ailing friend. Once that was taken care of she rose to find something for her to wear.
While not tiny, Fujin was on the short side, which, when coupled with her starved appearance made her look frail. Quistis frowned, everything she owned would look silly on her even in her normal state. Settling on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt she made her way to the bathroom and rapped gingerly on the door.
"ENTER." Fujin barked.
Entering, Quistis settled the clothes on the sink and called out to her. "You okay?" She asked, still feeling overly protective.
"AFFIRMATIVE."
"Good to see you haven't changed." She chuckled
"SNARK."
"I got you clothes, it's the best I could do for now."
"THANK YOU."
Still amused, Quistis glanced at faint silhouette behind the shower curtain. Watching her a moment she grew somber.
"I missed you... you know."
"MUTUAL."
"Really?" Quistis blinked, surprised at the rather candid admission.
Poking her head out from behind the curtain, Fujin regarded her from under the clingy, wet fall of her hair. Though she said nothing, it was obvious that she was more than a little offended at Quistis disbelief.
"Sorry..." Quistis stammered, holding up her hands defensively. "You just caught me off guard, you're usually not so... forthcoming."
"ROUGH TIME..."
"Obviously..." Mumbled absently. "You want to talk about it?"
Resuming her shower, Fujin was silent a moment before responding. "ROUGH TIME..." She repeated evenly.
"I understand..."
"NEARLY DIED..."
"That's been going around." Quistis huffed dryly, it was gallows humor.
"SERIOUS..." Fujin retorted, not terribly amused.
"I know... It's just a lot to take in... I feel responsible... for a lot of things..."
"HAD DREAM." Fujin blurted as if suddenly remembering.
"Oh? What about?"
"YOU..."
Quistis grew quiet. Unsure what to say she simply waited for her to continue.
"STRANGE..."
"How so?"
Pausing, Fujin stared quietly at the drain as she let the hot water run down her neck and back. With a slight frown she wiped her face then shrugged.
"UNSURE... NEEDED THOUGH..." She answered thoughtfully.
"I'm glad I could help... I guess?" Quistis smirked, then grew dark. Leaning against the sink she wrung her hands nervously. "I have to admit, I've had dreams too..."
"IMAGINE SO..."
"Bad ones... about you..."
"INSULTING..."
"Nothing like that... Stop poking fun."
"WASN'T..."
"You were haunting me... you and the others..."
Meaning to stop her from descending further down that line of though Fujin interjected firmly.
"TREPE..."
"Yes?"
"NOT ALONE..."
"What do you mean?"
"BALAMB, FRIENDS, FAMILY."
"I know, it's just that I never want to burden them."
Fujin turned off the shower and grew silent. Glancing at the opaque curtain Quistis wondered what the other woman was thinking. Until a impatient cough broke the silence.
"Oh, sorry..." Quistis stammered before carefully sliding a towel through the curtain.
Wrapping up, Fujin said nothing as she stepped out of the shower to regard her. Taken aback, Quistis was unused to seeing the normally reserved woman in such a natural and relaxed manner. Fujin faced her front and center, with a surprisingly serene expression. Then, with a casual gesture she swept her hair back behind her ears and stared.
Almost timidly, Quistis returned her gaze. It was the first time she'd seen her face clearly, scars and all.
"NOT ALONE." Fujin repeated bluntly, her expression strong and confident.
Something fluttered in the back of Quistis mind in that moment. Something welcome but frightening at the same time, unsure what to think. Absurdly, she found herself blushing faintly. Then with a gently nod she smiled.
"Understood..."
End Chapter 14