Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 8 or any of the characters.

Fujin stood in Seifer's bedroom barely breathing. Raijin and herself had just told him the story
of how Selphie supposedly left. The knight seemed a little skeptical as he raised a golden brow.
"So she just left?"

Fujin and Raijin both nodded in unison. "Er . . . I guess she didn't want to stay here anymore
ya know?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

Seifer shook his head. Something just wasn't right. Why would she just leave? Where would
she go? They were in the middle of the desert for Hyne's sake. Not to mention Fujin's speech
only became impaired when she was nervous. Yes something definitely wasn't right. He let his
body relax so he'd appear to be unsuspicious. "All right then. Fuj would you go get me some
water?"

As soon as Fujin left the room Seifer turned to Raijin. "What's going on?"

Raijin stood there dumbly, afraid to blow his cover. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Seifer turned to a window and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm not stupid. You guys are up
to something." He turned back to stare at Raijin, his eyes hard. "I'll ask you one more time.
What's going on?"

Raijin covered his face with his hands. "She's in the basement with the cowboy. There was an
accident and she got hurt ya know? Fujin was afraid you'd be mad–"

Seifer rushed down the stairs and ran to the kitchen fearing the worse. He opened the cellar
door and felt his heart skip a beat. At the bottom of the stairs a frightened Irvine was cradling
Selphie in his arms. From the way she was laying it was apparent she was unconscious. He
took the stairs two at a time, hoping it wouldn't be too late.

Irvine looked up to see Seifer barreling toward him. He wasted no time making threats or
asking questions. "We need to get her out of here."

Seifer swallowed the lump in his throat as he looked at her. 'It's all my fault she's like this' He
shook the thought. "Can you move her?"

Irvine nodded as he picked her up. "The Ragnarok's sitting outside. If we can get her there,
we should be able to make it to the Infirmary."

They made their way up the stairs and out of the house. Seifer, so absorbed in his thoughts,
didn't notice that in the corner of the living room stood a cowering Fujin. He also didn't notice
as Raijin babbled apologies. All he could think about was Selphie. Memories played back in
his head like a movie; the kidnaping, the fights, the kiss . . .

They boarded the Ragnarok and made their way to the cockpit. A chair was quickly reclined
to hold Selphie as Irvine drove. Seifer sat in the chair beside her. He brushed a bang out of her
face. "I'm so sorry Selphie. I never meant for any of this to happen."

Irvine overhearing Seifer's sudden rush of emotion felt a mix of confusion and jealousy. Was
this the Seifer that injured and killed thousands? There was no time to contemplate it however,
for they had arrived at Garden.

Gently, Seifer took Selphie in his arms, cradling her injured head. Irvine frowned as Seifer
headed to leave. "You can't go into Garden. You'll be killed on the spot!"

"I don't care." he said simply. Irvine just shook his head and followed Seifer as they made
there way to the entrance.

***

When Selphie awoke, the first thing she realized was how hard her head was pounding. The
second thing she noticed is she wasn't in her normal bed at Seifer's. As her eyes focused, she
saw she was back at her home in the infirmary. She sat up, too quickly, and a sharp pain ran
through her head. Grimacing, she laid back down.

"How are you feeling?" She turned to her left to see Dr. Kadowaki.

"My head hurts but other then that I'm fine." She was silent for a second as she tried to piece
together what happened. "Where's Seifer?" She blurted all of a sudden.

Dr. Kadowaki shook her head. "He's locked up in a vacant dorm. The boy was just dumb
coming here."

"He...he came here for me." the tiny girl whispered.

"Hm?"

Selphie stood up, wobbling a bit. "I have to go see him."

"Are you crazy? After what he did to you? Not to mention you're in no condition to even
leave the infirmary. Now just lay down and relax. I'll be back in a second with some food."

As soon as Dr. Kadowaki left the room, Selphie arose from the bed and made her way out to
the hall. She had to get to Seifer and get him out of there before it was too late.

She made her way to the dorms and leaned against the wall, trying to regain some stability.
"The last thing I need right now is to pass out here."

She passed by a dozen rooms and turned the corner to find a dozen more in her path. She
gave a sigh of frustration. How was she ever going to find him?

It was when she went down the very last hall that she saw a SeeD guarding one of the rooms.
She quickened her pace and stood in front of him, putting on the sweetest smile she could
muster.

"Is this the room they're keeping Seifer in?" she questioned, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"Yeah it is. But you don't need to worry about him any more. I hear he's going to fry for his
mistakes."

Selphie tried to swallow the rising lump in her throat. "Can I talk to him?"

The SeeD raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to do that?"

"There's...there's something I have to find out."

The guy shook his head and moved out of the way. "Ok."

Selphie quickly made her way into the room, adjusting her eyes to the darkness of it. She found
Seifer staring out a window across the room. Selphie quietly made her way to him. "Seifer"?

Seifer whipped around with a mix of shock and relieve enveloping his features. "What the hell
are you doing here?"

"I came to rescue you. We have to get you out of here!"

"Are you crazy? There's students everywhere you turn. Not to mention your seriously injured!
How the hell did you get this far from the infirmary?"

Selphie put her hands over her ears. "Stop yelling!" Tears sprang to her eyes. "Don't you
understand? If we don't get you out of here you'll die!" In a split second she found herself in
his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

His arms went around her, his hand absently stroking her hair. After a few moments Selphie's
trying stopped, living her with nothing but hiccups and a slight dizziness that wouldn't go away.
Seifer noticing her disorientation picked her up in his arms, carrying her out the door and into
the hall. "I love you Selph" He whispered.

Selphie's reply wasn't heard however, for the shot that rang out masked any other sound. In a
matter of seconds the former knight crumpled to the ground, taking Selphie with him

***

Hm . . . I'm not sure how this is going to end now. I'm up for any suggestions or opinions~so
please review and tell me what you think!