Chapter Seven: How We Found Each Other
From what I heard, the battle against "the" Sorceress went pretty well. Everyone that went in there came out alive and well, though I think Commander Squall has seen better days. Well, I guess that a battle won is a good thing, and I hope and pray that the final outcome is a peaceful one. In celebration of the defeat of "the" Sorceress, Headmaster Cid and everyone else threw a gigantic ball, and since I had been a part of everything, I was invited.
The ball itself was quite extravagant, what with people dancing and socializing everywhere. The mood was happy and festive, and I daresay romantic, but my mind was off in another world. I tried to look happy as friends and acquaintances milled around, but I don't think the greatest actor in the world could've fooled them for long--not if they had my problems.
Yes, Irvine and Selphie were cutting up with the camera, Zell was making a fool out of himself as always, Quistis… well, erm, ah, it seemed as if she was enjoying herself… hehe… Uh, and Matron and the Headmaster seemed to be doing very well--very well, especially given the circumstances. I didn't see much of Squall or Rinoa, but from what I heard while I walked around that ballroom, they were spending "quality time" together.
And yet, even in the midst of all this celebration, I couldn't help but allow my mind to wander back on Fujin. I had not seen her since the NORG revolts of so long ago, and to say that I missed her desperately would be pretty accurate. I was actually starting to hurt a little bit on the inside as I made my way around the ballroom, and although I tried my hardest to have a good time, there was nothing in that Garden that would elevate my spirits. As I moped, I ran into Selphie, who gave me a look and asked what was wrong.
"Oh! Hey, uh, Nida! Boy, you don't look so well! C'mon, lighten up! This is a PAH-TAY!!!!" She did an adorable little dance, but not even she could make me any happier.
"…I'm just lonely, I guess," I muttered, taking a sip of champagne. "My girlfriend's been away for such a long time now, and I'm really starting to grow concerned." I was pretty down in the dumps, but Selphie was anything but sympathetic. The sprightly little girl actually grinned and sang out as she stared at me.
"Oooooooooooooh, I didn't know that Nida had a sweetheart! So who is it? Huh, huh? Who is it? Huh, huh?"
"Forget about it," I mumbled, smartly avoiding her pokes and prods. "You don't care."
"Hey! Yes I do! Nida!" Selphie screamed out and ran off after me, but by that time, I had already decided that I preferred isolation over her company. If she couldn't treat my morose condition with the respect it deserved, then I was wasting my time with her.
"Nidaaaaaaaaaa!" she sang, pulling on my arm. "I'm really, really, really sorry! I really am! I'm really sorry! Please! I'm really sorry!"
"Forget about it," I sighed, shaking my head. "It's not really your concern. Congratulations on defeating the Sorceress." And with that, I brushed the young lady off again, and ambled away until I was by myself. After disposing of my glass, I went outside to a balcony and leaned on the railing. My head slumped down in misery, and even though there was a party going on behind me, I couldn't find the spirits to be happy.
After a minute or two, I received another visitor. At first I thought it was Selphie coming back to apologize again, but instead it was Quistis, looking somber and sophisticated as ever. I paid her little heed as I stared back out at the dark landscape before me, and in this silence, she joined me.
"Aren't you having a good time?" she asked. I shook my head no. "Why not?"
"Because I'm a pathetic mess of a man who'll never get anywhere in life, and my only girlfriend has been missing for a long time now. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I'm sort of in a bad mood right now." Quistis, who probably didn't expect such an honest reply, merely pursed her lips and nodded her head. I sighed again, and decided to retire from the party early. I was definitely too sulky to have a good time, so it behooved me to leave the facility and find a nice quiet bed to sleep in.
I woke up early in the morning--so early that I believe even the Headmaster was asleep. I showered and dressed and made sure I was presentable, then I strolled down to the main lobby and checked myself out of the Garden. I wanted to leave, I wanted to get out--I wanted to do anything, anything I could, anything at all, except stay there and mope. I still wasn't in that good of a mood, so I guess a little early morning drive was just what I needed.
I thought a lot as I drove: I thought about my family back in the town, and I thought about how I had progressed ever since I left home. I had done so much growing up in these past few months, and yet I was still only about eighteen or so--still a young man. I didn't feel young at all, and I certainly didn't act that way either. I was in a terribly bad mood, definitely not willing to smile much, and the only thing I could do was drive on.
I also thought about my old dreams, the ones I had concerning SeeD. I was a SeeD now, so did that mean that my dreams were over? What would I do now, now that there was no longer a Sorceress to fight? Would I find a career and work for the rest of my life? Would I actually find another woman to be with? Well, as indeterminate as my future was, I could guarantee at least one thing: it was either Fujin, or bachelorhood. I don't think any other lady would've done the job for me.
Fujin…… Thoughts of my mysterious girlfriend dominated my mind as I drove down the road. We had started out so roughly, and yet, we were both willing to make the effort to get to know each other better, and to bury all hatchets, and to test our emotions. We had put our faith in each other on the line, and came out stronger because of it, but now even my faith was in question as I continued to worry about her. I knew I was deeply in love with her--after all, you don't worry about somebody you don't care for--and I also knew that I had to do whatever it took to get her back.
Fujin… I hope you know how much I miss you…
My early morning drive took me to Balamb Town, where most of the people there were just now getting out of bed. It was painfully early in the morning, probably 6:30, and there was so little activity in there that I could freely wander the streets in my car (which is a luxury you don't have too often in the crowded streets of Balamb). I parked myself near the dock, made sure the doors were locked, and without any cause at all, I began to wander around. I still had a lot of thinking to do.
The town I was in was a little small, but absolutely beautiful in the early hours. The sun was just barely peeking above the foggy horizon, and the sounds of crickets and gulls could just barely be heard over the lapping waters. The air was filled with a misty fog that gently filled the air with a shroud of mystical white. The breeze felt slightly chilly, and with the exception of a few stragglers, I was all by myself. I personally love taking early morning walks, if not for the beauty and silence alone.
As I made my way around town, I discovered that there was a little café that had opened its doors up recently. Feeling a slight stab of hunger hit my belly, I walked inside in hopes of finding something to eat. Darn it, I forgot to eat before I left Garden! Well, I prefer restaurant food a little over the cafeteria food (which isn't that bad), so I numbly walked inside the sleepy café and found a chair. When asked what I wanted to order, I chose my favorite, biscuits and gravy.
Suddenly, the man sitting next to me stared right at me, swallowed, and started up a conversation.
"Hey… don't I know you from somewhere?" I shrugged and turned around to see if I myself recognized him--and suddenly, my sleepiness vanished as my heart leaped up into my throat. There sitting next to me was none other than Seifer Almasy himself!
"Yeah…" he mused, "hey, yeah! I know you! Uh…… you're that kid that we found wandering around on his first day at Garden! …Uh… Nida, right?" I slowly nodded my head, feeling more surprise at seeing Seifer there than anything else I had seen in… well, probably my life. What kind of coincidences were at work here, that we should be meeting like this? As I pondered, Seifer craned over to his opposite side and shouted towards another customer.
"Hey, it's your boyfriend!" he yelled. "I found him!" My pulse went into overdrive as I heard him bellow, and as I turned to look in the direction he was shouting, my eyes immediately met the single crimson eye of the woman I had fallen in love with, and I swallowed as I saw Fujin for the first time in ages.
Believe me when I tell you that I didn't know what to do.
My own face was frozen in amazement as I looked at the pale woman, and I couldn't tell whether she was overjoyed or dumbstruck. I managed a small smile as I gazed at her beautiful face, and she smiled back in that same gentle way, and I think we would've been content to smile at each other if Raijin didn't intervene.
"Hey, Fu!" he said, slapping her on the back. "Are you gonna go say hi to him or what?" Fujin turned around briefly to smile and nod at her brother, then both our dams were shattered as we bolted out of our chairs and ran towards each other. With a beautiful crash, our arms locked around each other and our mouths met, and in that single second, all my negative feelings were washed away. As we embraced passionately, nearly everyone in the small café stood up and cheered at our reunion, and a song began to play on the radio.
Whenever sang my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever said my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real, or just my fantasy?
You'd always be there in the corner
Of this tiny little bar.
My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here with you?
Maybe yes, maybe no
I kind of liked it your way
How you shyly placed your eyes on me
Oh, did you ever know
That I had mine on you?
Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure?
If frown is shown, then
I will know that you are no dreamer.
So let me come to you
Close as I wanted to be
Close enough for me
To feel your heart beating fast
And stay there as I whisper
How I loved your peaceful eyes on me
Did you ever know
That I had mine on you?
Darling, so share with me
Your love if you have enough
Your tears if you're holding back
Or pain if that's what it is
How can I let you know
I'm more than the dress and the voice
Just reach me out, then
You will know that you are not dreaming.
All throughout the beautiful melody, I held Fujin's face in my hands, smiling with unbound joy as I was reunited with my lost love. Neither one of us spoke much, but I believe that in that moment, we had no need for words. We were both content to simply stare at each other, and to smile, and on occasion we would kiss, and shed tears, and whisper to the other how much they were missed, and how much they were loved, and in the first time in a long while, I can genuinely say that I was happy.