~Chapter 23, told by Seifer.

Fuu... I turned, glancing down at her, she looked up, and smiled slightly. I wondered how she felt about me.... She was such a mystery... She stood up and walked into the kitchen. I walked into my bedroom, and plopped on my bed. I'd deal with my closet tommorow, since I didn't have to work. Only Raijin did, since it was Saturday. I sighed, and fell asleep with thoughts of my posse, and our future.

"RAIJIN! WAKE! LATE FOR. WORK!"

"Wha..? Oh!" Is what I wake up to... It doesn't surprise me either...

"LEAVE! GO ON!"

"...But I'm hungry, I want breakfast!"

"GO!" I heard the door shut, and that's when I came out of my room.

"MORNING. GOOD."

"...Hey..." I muttered, going straight into the kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee.

"COFFEE. NO MORE."

"...Oh. So, um, how's your shoulder?"

"PAIN. EXCRUCIATING."

"Oh... sorry, I guess."

"FAULT MINE."

"..." She sighed, and looked out the window for a breif moment, then walked out of the kitchen. Something's bothering her...

"Hey, Fuu, what's wrong?" I ask, following her.

"...Uhh... NOTHING."

"Nah, there's definetly something."

"..." Well...?

"Nothing..."

"Fuu... tell me." I actually wanted to know this time. It wasn't just to make her feel better... It was more. Naturally.

"...Why?"

"I dunno, I guess I don't want ya to be all depressed."

"...Is nothing. Am fine."

"...Sure. Just tell me, dammit."

"Realization. Is all." ...?

"Of what?"

"All I will tell. Apology."

"...Fine." I left the room, and went back into the kitchen. God, Fujin, why can't you just say what you feel...? I mean, its not that hard... I sat down, sighing, wondering what there was to do today... Maybe I'll go fishing with Raijin when he gets home...

~~~

Later when Raijin and I came back, Fujin was sleeping on the sofa. She must have fallen to sleep cause of whatever was on TV. So, I glanced at the TV, and shut off the news. Why was she wathcing that? Heh.

"I couldn't believe that there were no fish bitin', ya know?!"

"Yeah, yeah, well... So... why were you guys in my room, anyway?"

"...Well, we were- ! You know about that? Fujin told ya?!"

"...Yeah..." ...I shouldn't have even bothered... I just wanted to get his reasons on things and compare them to Fujin's... but I guess not.

" TOLD. ALREADY." Fujin said, standing up. She clutched her shoulder, and scowled at me.

"Hey, its not my fault you busted through my door... You could have said something while I was getting undressed instead of *watching.*"

"What...?" Raijin asked, looking at us oddly as I seen Fujin's cheeks flush.

"DID NOT WATCH. ...YOU WISH..." She smirked, and I glared at her, about to say something.

"Alright, alright, ya guys... Seifer go easy..."

"Shut up, Raijin, its not my fault she's being a bitch."

"...Ah-" Fujin started.

"You guys! Stop it, ya know?" Dammit, I'm really good at this caring thing, can't you tell?

"...Whatever." I muttered, turning toward my room.

"Yo, you sound like Leonheart, ya know?!" Well, that just about did it. I swerved around and glared at Raijin.

"Shut the fuck up, alright?!" I left the house, feeling awfully stupid for what I did... I just can't do anything right. I walked over to the docks and sat alone, staring into the blue waters. Getting upset at my reflection, I ran my hand against the water, rippliing my reflection away.

"Seifer!" I turned, not able to place the voice, I guess I just had too many things on my mind... Either way, it was Fujin, and she was jogging toward me.

"Hey..." I muttered, staring back at the water.

"...Um, I'm... sorry." She said, sitting beside me, sighing softly and looking at me, waiting for some sort of a reaction.

"It's fine..." You didn't do anything, Fuu, it was me... Dammit!

"That's... what I thought."

"What do you mean?" Did I screw up... again?

"Nothing..." ...Dammit.

"Oh, come on, Fuu!"

"I was hoping you had changed, that's all..." What?

"What do you mean?"

"...Nothing, Seifer... In any case, I... came here to tell you something, and I know you won't think anything of it... But I think I need to say it... before you say anything else that hurts me." Oh, shit, Fujin, what is it? ...I don't mean to hurt ya, I just have problems controlling my temper, dammit!

"Yeah, what's up?" I say, pretending not to be taking much notice of how nervous she *doesn't* seem. Aren't people usually nervous when they say things important...? Maybe its not that important..

"I've been thinking about this for awhile, trying to come to some sort of realization... And last night, I did." She chewed at her bottom lip, looking at me for a reaction... Dammit, she's always waiting for me to react...

"Yes...?"

"I just... wanted you to know... just in case anything might happen, that..." What might happen? "I love you." I almost lost my balance and fell into the ocean. I looked at her, and she looked into the water, waiting... for my reaction. Fuu... I thought... God dammit, I was surprised. She loved me? And she told me this after an arguement... Why? How can you be like that?! So... perfect. Oh, shit, I have to reply, don't I?! Dammit! I love you too. I do, but, I can't just say that... Er... If I don't she might be hurt though...!

"Fuu... I..." She stared into my eyes, waiting.

"Yes?" God dammit... What do I do...? Kiss her, Seifer... That might answer something... I leaned in toward her and brought my lips to hers, kissing her. Maybe you'll understand... oh, god, please understand... She kissed me back lightly, and looked at me, breaking away. She wanted a verbal reply... I could tell. Can I really say this? I sat back, and prepared my mind for the laws my voice was about to defy... But, just as a little bit of sound almost came out...

"Hey, you guys! I was worried, ya know?!" God dammit! Or wait, he might have just saved my ass.

"What do you want?" I ask, turning.

"Just making sure everything's okay!"

"Well, everything is fine. Raijin, its important you go cook dinner." I dunno why I was trying to get rid of him...

"...Oh yeah, ya know!? Well, you guys best be home by seven!"

"AFFIRMATIVE." Raijin left. Everything was silent.

"So... um..." I said, finally.

"Yeah?"

"I guess... I should reply or something..." Alright, I'm digging my own grave here now.

"I just... wanted you to know that.. Whether... you hate me completely- or not."

"N-no! I don't hate you Fuu..." Say it... come on..."Fujin...?"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember when I decided not to become Sorceress' Galteka's knight... at the Shumi Village?"

"Yes..."

"Well, I said I did that for the posse... But the main reason... was you... I know it seems out of my character but so doesn't what I'm about to say to you..." Hyne damn... "Its all true anyway..."

"Yes...? What is it?" ...

"Fujin... I love you too... I realized it... awhile ago... I was just too afraid to say anything... Dammit, I'm sorry..."

"Seifer... y-you don't have to say something like that just to make me feel better... I mean, its okay... I know you don't love me... I didn't say what I did to make everything alright... I just said it, because it was true- and thought you deserved to know..." What?! She doesn't believe me...? But its true! Dammit...

"Fujin, I'm telling you the truth! I wouldn't lie to you- ever!" Believe me, its the truth, please...

"Seifer, you are just making things worse..."

"But... Oh, come on, what do I have to do to prove it?! I've tired everything, kissing you... hugging you, trying to comfort you, I mean, I know I've fucked up big-time, but I tried, Fuu, I really did... Dammit..." I failed, again. I'm always failing! Why can't I just do something right for once...? Couldn't be knight, couldn't be a SeeD, couldn't be mature, couldn't trust anyone... And when I do, she doesn't even believe me! It was starting to get dark, and Fujin still hadn't said anything...

"Fujin, I'm sorry, that's just the truth... Now, I'll... see you around, I guess." I stood up and sighed. I guess I'll be staying at the hotel.... I mean, I don't think I can go home now... I just... dammit, I'll just screw their lives up... Actually I think I already have.