Another one is here! Yay~

I don't own Kingdom Hearts.


Rai and I talked while sitting with our backs against the wall, laughing like old friends again. It was nice to have someone who understood my situation now. He and I easily patched things up, as if nothing had happened these last couple of…how long had it been since I had joined Hayner? I couldn't even remember, seeing as the days had gone by so quickly. One…two weeks? I couldn't count all the days by memory.

"So what made you realize you loved…ya know…him?" Rai asked after a while.

I stopped grinning, looking down into my mug of rum. "Actually…it took me a long time to figure it out. I think Hayner noticed before I did…" Even saying his name made me feel less joyous. "I don't know when…guess it just happened…" I trailed off.

"Really?" Rai leaned forward to get a clear look at my face. "What about when you first went with him? How did that go?" he asked curiously.

I chuckled, leaning my head back to stare at the ceiling. "We practically hated each other. I just wanted to take him to the king for his punishment, and he wanted to run free." I drank from my mug. "When I found him in the woods, he was taking a rest near a river." I coughed as I recalled the gypsy boy bathing and quickly continued. "We fought and I won and knocked him unconscious. Then I took him and his carriage and rode out until I came across…well, your intoxicating gypsy."

"You…you know her?" He sat straighter. "What's she like?"

I snickered at how intrigued he instantly became. Taking a swig of rum again, I relaxed as I tried to figure out where to begin.

"Well…?"

"Well…her name is Fuujin – Fuu for short – and she's…a…" I rolled my eyes. "Let's just say that she's quite a sorceress. And has good advice." I added.

"…Fuu…" Rai smiled. "She sounds amazing…"

I sighed, and we let the silence grow as we went into our own thoughts. I could only think of what would have happened had I told Hayner at the beginning of all this. Would we have still ended up on this ship, or would we have been able to fight side by side against the Imperials?

So many questions that would never be answered for me.


I woke, feeling sore. My arm was asleep, and Roxas was leaning on my leg, snoring slightly. I sat up and scooted away from my brother, looking around me. Ven and Aqua were fast asleep, and I spotted Namine and Aerith lying on the floor, resting as well.

"You're awake…how do you feel?"

I turned my head to see a shadow in the darkness of the hold. Black pants and boots…dark cape…silver hair…

"Riku."

"Yeah, it's me." He stepped closer, revealing half his face in the lantern light. "Is your brother…?"

"He's asleep." I assured him, then eyed him carefully. "You're…an Imperial soldier."

He looked uncomfortable and sighed deeply, his silver hair shining brightly. His black cape shifted as he moved.

"I…here." He held out his hand, revealing a bread roll and some sort of meat. "I snuck this out for you and your brother."

I frowned at him, then turned my head away from the delicious food, refusing to even look at it. Riku sighed.

"Fine…" he said, and went away.

Once he had left, I put my head on my knees, ignoring the ache in my shoulders. I let memories of the wonderful party, where I had first caught sight of Riku…and he had lied to me all this time. Every smile or laugh he threw my way…it couldn't have been lies, though…could it?

"I'm so confused…"


Leon and I sat in silence, having not said anything for the most part of this horrid trip. I knew I should have just relaxed and took in life while I could, but that ache in my chest was still as strong as ever. I shut my eyes and pressed my cheek against the cold bars of my cage, letting the sound of the ocean drown out my worries.

"Hayner?" It was a new voice, one had never heard before. "You are Hayner, right?"

I glanced over my good shoulder to see the large man with the orange shirt from the ambush, a look of pure guilt on his face when our eyes met. I was glad it hadn't been anyone else.

"What do you want? Here to gloat, too?" Many others had done so before, if only to quench their boredom on this long trip. "Go ahead, bastard." I snarled, preparing myself for whatever was thrown at me.

"No, man. I just came to talk." He coughed awkwardly. "Um…I guess I want to apologize…for everything. Seifer-" I twitched, that pain returning. "-did all he could to stop Riku and me from doing this. But…I guess we just were so stuck on believing you gypsies were horrible thieves and criminals." He paused. "That party was the best I've ever been to. Man, it was incredible. Wish the kingdoms would do that sort of thing, too." he laughed.

While he continued to blab on about that, I slowly tuned him out, recalling all of that perfect party in my mind. It had been the best one, and Seifer had made it all the more amazing. And then there had been that long, pleasurable experience in my carriage…I blushed, despite myself, and kicked those moments out of my head. I didn't want to remember any of it…or so I told myself.


Rai returned much later, clearly defeated. He slumped down beside me and sighed. I gazed at him and waited.

"He really thinks it was all fake, Seifer. He barely even said anything, and he didn't seem to be listening to me when I was talking to him. And Fuu…" he said nothing else after the name.

I drank the rest of my sixth or seventh mug of rum, my mind beginning to go fuzzy from all this alcohol. In all honesty, it was nice to not think about my problems with a certain gypsy boy and just drink them away, even if it was only temporary. Tossing my empty mug to the floor, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

"Looks like Hayner and I aren't lovers anymore, Rai." I snickered. "I mean, when I first saw him, I thought he was the most beautiful thief I've ever met…and then the whole "I'm your lover" thing came up, and he actually went along with it!" Rai's eyes were focused on me as I had continued to speak, my tongue loosened by the rum. "And then we started to get along and got to know each other…he was the most fearless, lovely gypsy I've ever met. Rai…he was the one. The One. All those ridiculous people I tried to converse with at those boring balls and crowded bars were nothing compared to him.

"And then, when we really began to be lovers…" I turned to Rai, who was giving me the most peculiar stare. "Rai, he was…he didn't hesitate to fight back or initiate something between us. He's…unlike anything else."

"I think you've had enough to drink, Almasy." Rai stated, standing to his feet. "Let's get you outside. I have a feeling you'll be having a major headache in a couple hours."

I laughed and let him pull me to my feet, the world tilting from one side to the other in seconds. I stumbled, and Rai caught me by my arm, shaking his head. Leading me out of the cabin, we were met with a strong and cold ocean breeze, whipping about my face as if to slap me to my senses. I laughed and stumbled into my friend's shoulder, blindly grabbing for something to keep me upright and on my feet.

"Hey, maybe we should go see Hayner, Rai. Yeah, we should do that. We'll let all the gypsies go free and make a run for it. Your gypsy lover is really good with magic, and Aerith can do anything." I tripped on something, and Rai caught my arm and heaved me to my unstable feet. "Yeah, and we can all go. Riku can come, too. But not Setzer…he's an ass."

"You and alcohol don't mix well, Seifer." Rai grunted, and led me to the railing of the ship. "No doubt, you'll be barfing that all back out. But it's interesting to see you like this. I've never seen you drunk before." he snorted.

"That's because I don't need to be, Rai." I held onto the railing as the world tilted again. "But this gypsy has got me wrapped around his little finger. I tell you, he's something to behold, Rai. Got these magnificent brown eyes, and those lips are…Have you ever seen a gypsy dance? It's unlike anything on this earth. He's like a flame that moves with the music and is hot to the touch. Just like that time in his carriage. He was absolutely delicious, every part of him, Rai. Especial-" Rai slapped his hand over my mouth, shutting me up.

"I don't need to hear about any of that, Seif'. Right now, you need to calm down before you hurt yourself. You look a bit green right about now." he said, and backed away to give me some room.

"I'm fine, damnit. Let's go see Hayner, come on." I moved to start heading that direction, but Rai pulled me back. "What the hell, Raijin?!"

"You're drunk, Seifer. Do you really want Hayner to see you like this?" He shoved me back to the railing. "I'm trying to help you, moron." he tsked in irritation.

"Whatever." I grumbled.

And then I leaned over the railing and felt bile rise in my throat. I groaned, and Rai laughed at my expression.

"Serves you right, Almasy." he said.


Sora was awake when I opened my eyes, surprised I had fallen asleep without meaning to. I hadn't even closed my eyes…I think.

"Morning, I think." my twin welcomed me as I sat upright.

"Morning." I yawned back. "How are things going?"

For a moment, Sora didn't respond. I gave him a look, and he sighed, his shoulders lowered in defeat. What had happened to have him look so upset? I could only guess, and my guess was probably correct.

"Things are…well, about as fine as getting taken prisoner to the king is." Sora laughed.

I stared at him in silence, and he turned his back on me. Brow furrowed, I watched as my brother sat there, turned away from me. This entire trip had changed us all.

"Ah, there you are, Blondie." a familiar voice said.

This trip was ruining me.


Guess who that was~

It's interesting having Seifer drunk. And now Sora depressed and Roxas has a special...guest.

We aren't even at the castle yet!