"I can't believe you're--"

"..Alive?" Seifer snickered and shook his head. "You know I'm tougher than that. Fujin and Raijin are here as well. We'd like to become SeeDs."

Quistis held back a chuckle, and forced her facial features to remain blank. "SeeDs? After your betrayal of this Garden AND SeeDs, you dare to show your face here again? The nerve of you, Seifer. You know you're going to have to see Headmaster Cid immediately, so let's go see--"

"I already talked to him. And Matron. They said that it wasn't my fault, that the sorceress took advantage of me."

"Psch. I still think you did everything on your own, and without any aid from Edea's or Ultimecia's sorcery." Quistis stood, and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket, pulling him to eye level. "Tell me what really happened out there. TELL ME what made you betray Garden, betray ALL of us!!"

Seifer leaned in closer to her and glared. "I told you the truth. It wasn't my choice."

Quistis returned the glare, and pushed him out of her grip. She crossed her arms and looked out her window through the corners of her eyes. The storm was getting closer. "Why are you here anyways, Seifer?"

Seifer looked at her questioningly. "What do you mean...why am I in your dorm?"

"No. I want to know why you're on this fucking Earth, why your parents decided to bring you into this world. Hyne, of COURSE I want to know why you're in my dorm!!" Quistis kept her tone barely below yelling, for sanity's sake.

Seifer shivered with her sudden severity, surprised that such a gentle creature could deliver such harsh words. Sure, she had gotten angry with him before, but she was never like this. "Well..." he cleared his throat. "I was hoping that...um...since you did such a great job with Squall and the others, you could instruct Fujin and Raijin."

"Oh?" Quistis narrowed her eyes and cocked an eyebrow.

"I WAS going to ask that you instruct me as well, but that's obviously out of the question now. I can tell you hate me, so I'll just ask about Fujin and Raijin. I want to help fix things that happened in the past, you know, so I want them to get a good start on life again."

"Well, Seifer," Quistis lowered her arms back down to her sides, her hands resting on her hips, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I lost my instructor's license. I could probably get it back again because of Ultimecia's defeat, but I have no desire to teach anymore."

"Bullshit." Seifer spat angerly. "You and I both know that you love to instruct. Quit lying to yourself."

"DON'T even BEGIN to think you understand me, Seifer! Because you DON'T!! No one does! I gave up being an instructor so that I wouldn't have to deal with people like you anymore! I'd rather be stuck for the rest of my life as a SeeD than waste my time on another student like you!"

Harsh words, Seifer thought to himself. "Look, Instruct--"

"Quistis. I have a name, Seifer."

"Quistis then. Look. I know what I did in the past was horrible. I realize that now. I just wish I would have realized it earlier. If I had, then everyone would not be so mad at me. Hell, I'd probably be downstairs, being hailed as a hero! If I would have passed that test in Dollet to become a SeeD, I may very well have been fighting alongside yourself!"

"But instead, you became the Sorceress' Lap Dog. We're all so proud of you."

"Quistis, I.." Seifer let out a heavy sigh, and his features softened. "I'm sorry. About everything. I know you won't forgive me, but I can't let this go on forever. I'm sorry, okay?"

Quistis maintained her cold stare. "Well...it's a start, I guess."

The sides of Seifer's mouth perked up slightly, obviously trying to mask a smile. "So...so you accept my apology?"

Quistis shrugged. "I guess. I can't stay mad at you forever. Or maybe this is my fatigue talking, who knows? But, may I offer some advice to you?"

Seifer nodded curiously. "Sure."

"You may not want to come close to Squall and Rinoa. They're kinda pissed at you for throwing her to Adel. Rinoa's said more than once since then that the next time she sees you, she'll claw your eyes out. And Squall...he doesn't say too much, but whenever someone mentions your name, his eyes get dark and you can sense his anger grow."

"Hm. Thanks for the warning." Seifer turned to leave. "Maybe I'll see you around?"

Quistis shifted her weight and nodded, "Yeah, maybe you will. Now where are you going? To get something to eat?"

Seifer chuckled. "Naw. I'm going to apologize to Rinoa."

Quistis' eyes widened. "Wha...I just TOLD you that--"

"Jaa matane, Quisty," he waved as he left the room, and closed the door behind him.

Quistis stared at the door with her eyes still wide-open in disbelief. "That guy really doesn't fear anything."

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AuthorNotes:

Sorry that this chapter is so short. I'm having mercy on some people that are printing chapters...I know a few certain fics that are 7 pages long per chapter (at least), so this'll help save your printing time. I know from experience just how badly it sucks when you have to stop printing mid-paragraph. Heh.