Chapter Seven: Seifer's Triumph

Kyonae was in a dim lit room, silk curtains draping from the ceiling like spider webs. The only sound she heard was the sound of her boots stepping across the marble floor. What was going on? It was too quiet. Suspicious, she drew her gunblade.

There seemed to be no danger at all, everything was normal except for the fact that she had no idea where she was. In the middle of the room there was a full-length mirror, a beautiful full-length mirror, with Sa-Shenu perched upon it. She looked into it and saw her reflection. She laughed, scolding herself mentally for being such a worrywart. Kyonae put her gunblade away and twirled around in front of the mirror, her reflection dancing with her…suddenly Sa-Shenu flew away, shrieking her piercing cry.

"Sa-Shenu, what's the matter, my friend?" she called, watching her fly away from the reflection in the mirror.

"Kyonae…"

She swung around, and saw her. "What…?!"

"My dear…you're looking through the wrong mirror," she smiled warmly. She held a large hand mirror to her chest.

"I…I am?"

"Yes. Here…why don't you try this one?" she held up the hand mirror to Kyonae's face.

And Kyonae had to hold back a terrified scream

It was her all right, but in the mirror she was made up and dressed like a sorceress. "Oh, nooo!" she tried to make a run for it, but collided into Squall. "Oh, Squall, thank Hyne you're here-"

He said not a word, but pulled yet another hand mirror from his pocket to her, like a cross to a vampire. She gasped in horror. Kyonae now had a large slash across her face, bleeding profusely, and she could feel it dripping down her cheek. "Oh no, oh no…" Her heart was rattling in her chest like a bird in its cage. She backed away-into Seifer.

"Seifer?"

He held no mirror, and said nothing at first, just looked at her with a strange look of sincerity and confusion. "…Who are you?"

"Wha-"

"He does have a point, Kyonae," she agreed in a tone of amusement. "I think we'd all like to know the answer to that."

"Yeah, Kyonae, who are you?" Squall joined in.

"I-I don't know-"

"You have to decide who you are, Kyonae," she murmured. They were coming closer, circling in on her like a pack of wolves. The background was dissolving into blackness. Seifer, though, stayed where he was, still confused. He was pushed away by a man holding a rifle.

"Irvine! Help me!" Kyonae pleaded.

But the once romantic cowboy had a dark look on his face, holding up the rifle at her. "I think not, beautiful, until we find out who you really are."

"Kyonae?!"

Kyonae turned her head to see Seifer, the darkness itself wrapping around him and dragging him into it. "Kyonae, help!"

"Seifer!"

"Who are you…who are you…who are you…" they were chanting, closing in on her till she was backed up against the full length mirror.

"Oh, Kyonae?" a voice said behind her.

She turned to see her reflection again, but to her terror, the reflection was smirking darkly rather than showing fear. Then, laughing softly under her breath, the mirror-Kyonae stepped through the glass. A black hawk was perched on her shoulder. Both their pairs of eyes were a shocking catlike yellow. "Hiya there, Kyonae. What's the matter? Snake got your tail feathers? Or are you just not lionhearted enough?"

The real Kyonae dropped to her knees, watching Seifer being dragged away into the darkness as the space between the four people lessened. She looked up just in time to see Irvine aiming his rifle at her.

"Sweet dreams, Beautiful," he mocked, and the gun fired with a deafening bang…

***

Kyonae woke up screaming bloody murder, her eyes wide, and kept screaming until a black gloved hand clapped over her mouth, a strong arm wrapping around her so she couldn't move. "Quiet. Wanna wake up the entire hotel?"

She knew by the voice that it was Seifer. "Now," he said, calmly and patiently in her ear. "If I let you go, do you promise not to scream?"

"Mm hmm," she said, muffled, nodding her head tensely. He released his grip. "Good." And he went over to his bed and sat down, shaking his head.

Her heart was still pounding in her ears, and she tried to catch her breath. She looked around. She was in a beautifully decorated room, on a comfortable bed, the faint roar of waves in the distance. "Where are we?"

"Welcome to the Balamb Hotel," he said, gesturing to the room. "And let me say I'm finally glad you woke up."

"Not worried, I hope?" she muttered.

"No! I mean-uh-yeah, as if," he said quickly. "I was ordered to stay here with you until you woke up. It was an interesting wait, too-you kept twitching and moaning and muttering stuff in your sleep. What were you dreaming about, anyway?"

"None of your business!" the distressed young woman snapped. "Why would you care, anyway…"

"Okay, okay," Seifer said, raising his hands in innocence. "Just asking. You just-looked really disturbed when you were sleeping, that's all." He turned to go check his hair in the mirror.

Kyonae sat on the bed, her legs tucked up into her chest. She regretted her words. He had only been asking, after all…and she couldn't help but feel she should be a little bit kinder towards him…

"I'm sorry," she said, barely audible. But Seifer heard.

" That must've taken effort," Seifer said sarcastically, turning back to her. "Did you hurt yourself?"

Kyonae forced herself into what she hoped looked like a grin, but it faded. "And-thank you for staying here with me."

He waved the comment away. "Forget about it. Let's get the hell out of here, we've gotta be back at Garden in less than an hour."

***

Out in the 2nd floor lobby, all the SeeD candidates waited anxiously for the test results. Irvine was waiting there as Kyonae and Seifer made their way up. He instantly rushed over to Kyonae. "Are you all right, Kyonae? I heard you nearly got killed by that buckin' bronco cobra! You look whiter than a ghost."

Kyonae smiled nervously. "I'm-okay…really." She was still a little uneasy about that dream, but his eyes seemed to show he was oblivious to any dark thoughts of driving a bullet into her chest.

For at least half an hour they waited, tension high, and Seifer giving Kyonae taunting looks. "Nervous…Falcona?" he smirked.

She quickly snatched his hand, ungloved it, and studied his chewed fingernails. "Obviously not as nervous as you are…Almasy." She answered smugly.

He gazed at her for a minute, looking like he was on the fine line between laughing it off and slicing her in half with his Hyperion. Finally, he snatched his hand back, looking sullen. "Yeah, whatever…" he slumped back against the wall beside her, Irvine watching suspiciously.

"So, you've failed this exam before, Seifer?" she asked.

"Yeah, loads of times. How did you know?"

She shrugged. "Had a feeling."

Suddenly a Garden Faculty Member came into the lobby, and Seifer muttered behind his hand, "Look, here comes the Twinkie head guy." Kyonae, to her own surprise, had to stifle a laugh.

"I heard that," the member snapped. "Now, I suppose you're all wondering who passed the exam-"

"YES, DAMMIT!" everyone yelled, tempers snapping.

The Garden Faculty Member leapt back in shock. "All right, all right, jeez-" he fumbled for the clipboard in his hand. "No appreciation around here- okay. Falcona. Kyonae Falcona."

Irvine beamed at her proudly as she stepped forward.

The GFM continued. "Now, there's only one other who passed, and that would be- Oh, good lord-" the GFM gulped. "Almasy. Seifer…Almasy."

The Trepies gasped in terror, Fujiin said "CRAP!" and Raijiin "Whoa, ya know!", Gordon and Harold went completely white and Irvine's hat fell off. Kyonae gave a demure smile, as if she'd known it all along.

Seifer's heart swelled with exaltation, his palms sweating in their leather coverings, his breath rapid. His brain seemed to be cut off from the rest of his body.

"Did you hear me?" the GFM said, voice shaking. "Go."

"Yes, okay, " he said breathlessly, his heart beating so fast he feared it would rip itself from his chest. He followed Kyonae with as much dignity as he could muster.

***

For once, Seifer was in the Headmaster's office not because he'd screwed up, but because he had finally done something right. And all those people that had told him he'd never be-he passed them now, laughing as their jaws dropped open like fish gasping for air.

"Hello, Xu," he said sweetly as he passed her. She looked ready to vomit. Quistis had a look of shock plastered to her face as well.

Now, standing in front of Headmaster Cid, he felt this great sense of pride and exhilaration he had never felt before in his life. Was this how Squall felt when he became a SeeD? And Selphie? And Zell? And Irvine?

Was Kyonae feeling this right now like he was?

"Well, then," Headmaster Cid said, his arms outstretched. "Congratulations and welcome to SeeD. You will be dispatched all over the world in order to complete the many missions the future has in store for you. The pride of Balamb Garden, do you realize that? Are you up for the challenge? Well, then…your SeeD ranking report." He went up to Kyonae first. "I knew you'd become a SeeD. You were right. You are strong enough."

"Thank you, sir," she bowed her head, her pale face reddening.

"Seifer…" he turned his attention to the handsome blond. Cid looked up at him, very serious but a small smile on his face. "I daresay you took us all by surprise, Almasy. I never really thought…" he drifted off, not wanting to say it. "But all that's over, you're a SeeD now. Congratulations."

"T-thank you," Seifer stuttered.

"Well, that is all for the inauguration. Dismissed."

The two gunbladers saluted the headmaster, then headed for the door.

***

Kyonae watched the confined giddy look in Seifer's eyes, a warm feeling in her heart. She herself felt as if she could scream with delight and joy, jumping up and down like a child. But she kept her dignified stance, and he his.

Stepping out of the elevator, they were both bombarded by cheers and whistles and clapping. Harold and Gordon nearly knocked Kyonae out with their friendly punches. Seifer was hugged-actually hugged- by the Trepies, Selphie, Rinoa, and even Quistis. Zell overreacted as usual, dancing around. Irvine was no where to be seen. Then Squall came face to face with Seifer, and everything went quiet.

"Squall?" Seifer held out his hand.

The quiet Leonhart stared at the gloved hand for a long, uncertain moment before, finally, grasping it firmly in his own hand. "Seifer." The young blond smiled, a weight being pulled off his chest.

"Hey, you guys gonna get a room or not?" Zell shouted, breaking up the moment of the two enemies befriending each other. "Let's get to the party!"

***

Kyonae entered her dorm room Selphie and Rinoa waiting outside. "Hurry up and change, so we can pah-tay!" exclaimed the spunky brunette.

"Selphie, no one says 'pah-tay' anymore," Rinoa said.

"I don't care! WHOO!"

Kyonae chuckled as she closed the door. She looked at the SeeD uniform laying on her bed in pride. It had taken a year longer than expected, but she had finally done it.

She changed into the uniform, which felt smooth and comfortable compared to her own sunbleached, weather-beaten clothing. But she suddenly sensed that there was another presence in the room, and tensed up. "Who's there?"

"Why, only little old me, beautiful," Irvine's voice said behind her, very close.

She spun around to see him, surprised. "Irvine-shit-how long have you been here?"

"Long enough," he said simply, moving forward. "Long enough to see how beautiful you look."

"Irvine…?"

Without another word, he backed her up against the wall and kissed her deeply on the mouth, running his hands through her hair…

Kyonae was so shocked she stood there frozen, slowly melting as Irvine caressed her and kissed her… oh Hyne, was this happening? It had happened so suddenly; a grin, a violet sparkle in his eye and then sudden warmth…she was returning the passionate kiss, wrapping her arms around him…this is all she'd ever dreamed of…a kiss from her hero…this is all she wanted…and if it wasn't, she didn't know what she wanted…

Then Sa-Shenu's gentle voice penetrated through her cloudy mind, as Irvine was pulling her closer for a deeper kiss…

Come to your senses, Kyonae.

Kyonae did indeed come to her senses, and pushed the handsome cowboy away from her, gasping for air. "What are you…Hyne, what am I doing?" she whispered. She made for the door, but Irvine grabbed her arm and pulled her back easily. "Wait," he merely said, going for her lips again.

She broke away and ran for the door, out into the hall and into Seifer, who already changed into his uniform. "Where's the damn fire?" he joked, but stopped laughing when he saw her disheveled figure. "What the hell- wait. Let me guess. It was the little cowboy, right?"

Kyonae nodded shakily.

"Allow me," Seifer smiled darkly, cracking his knuckles. "This is gonna be sweet…I've been waiting for a reason to do this for so long…" he went into the room and closed the door behind him.

Several moments went by, Selphie and Rinoa staying silent. As Kyonae had given up waiting and was about to go inside when Seifer came out, followed by a very sorry looking cowboy with a black eye, fat lip and bloody nose. Irvine took one look at Kyonae and staggered off at a limp.

"Well, there you go," Seifer said smugly, crossing his arms. "See you at the party, girls." He took off down the corridor.

Kyonae had gone paler than usual, looking after the young blond as he went. "B-bye, Seifer…" she drifted off, still a little shell-shocked. She turned to Rinoa and Selphie. "I'll be back in a minute, I have to go and tidy myself up…"

As they were left alone in the corridor, both came up with the same idea. They looked down the corridor at Seifer, than at Kyonae's door. "Hey, Selphie…are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Isn't it obvious? They're such a cute couple!"

"Too bad they don't like each other," Rinoa said, a smirk on her face. "Yet…"

A/N: Please don't hate me if you love Irvine! I love him too, but I like Seifer more! I got inspired by a major fight I had with this guy who thinks he's my boyfriend. He kept hitting on me and telling me I had a nice ass, so I gave him a fat lip! If you haven't guessed it yet, Rinoa and Selphie are going to play matchmakers. Will they succeed? Please R/R!