Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 8...
Note: Gunblades don't exist here.... only swords...
~*Celtic Moon*~
~*Chapter 2: No Stopping Duels*~
********************************************
"Squall." Selphie began as she leaned towards him. "Are you crazy?" she asked him sensitively.
"NO!" He exclaimed loudly, standing from the chair.
"She was just kidding." Zell reminded him. Squall rolled his eyes and hesitantly took his seat again.
"Excuse me, Miss?" Came a soft voice from behind. Selphie turned around immediately. A brunette haired girl stood there.
"Yes?" Selphie asked politely. "What can I do for you?" Selphie asked as she leaned over her food stand.
"Can I have an apple?" She asked looking to one in particular.
"Why of course." Selphie said as she picked up the apple that she eyed carefully.
"HEY!" Came a low voice behind her. "What about me?" the man said as he came running to the girls side. Selphie eyed him curiously. He had blonde hair and a sword hung to his side.
"I'll actually have one more apple, if you don't mind." The girl said.
"Can do." Selphie said with a smile as she picked one more up and handed it to her. "That will be eight Gil." Selphie told them, her hand extended waiting for the Gil to arrive. The girl dove into her pocket and fished about. She finally emerged with eight coins of Gil. She handed the money to Selphie.
"Thank you." The brunette one said as she lifted the apple to her mouth.
"No problem, but one more thing." Selphie began. The blonde male immediately turned around with a concerned look on his face. He walked close to Selphie and asked in low ruff voice:
"What?" The blonde's face was right up to her face.
"Seifer, leave her alone!" Instructed the brunette haired one.
"Stay out of this, Rinoa." Seifer said as he pushed back Rinoa. Squall stood up, an irritated look in his eyes.
"What did she do to you?" Squall asked walking up to the right of Selphie. "Leave her alone." Squall told him as his eyebrows crossed in anger.
"This isn't like you at all." Rinoa said as she tried to pull Seifer away from the food stand.
"I'm trying to protect you." Seifer told Rinoa as he shooed her away with a flick of his arm.
"Yeah, well, if you wanna start with my friend of Selphie then I'll be forced to start something with you." Squall threatened as he drew his sword. Seifer's attention quickly threw from Selphie's to Squall's in a hurry. Seifer glared at the man but took his challenge and drew his own sword. Squall walked around the small food stand and stood in front of Seifer about a yard away and stood in a ready position for the fight. Seifer took the same position. His sword directly in front of his eye line.
"Seifer don't." Rinoa said as she ran up next to him. "This is ridiculous." Rinoa exclaimed. "She was only going to ask a question!" She exclaimed. Seifer paid no attention to her, just kept his eyes locked on his target.
"He will be easy pickings." Seifer said with a laugh. Seifer quickly pushed her back with a hand. Squall was the first to charge forward. Seifer made no move to flame the fight any further, he stood in his position. Rinoa jumped in front of Squall, stopping his charge. She swiftly turned around to glare at Seifer.
"Seifer, just apologize!" Rinoa yelled to him. Seifer placed his sword's tip to the ground. The next few seconds passed in silence. No apology was made. "Just apologize!" She screamed. He did no such thing as his eyes still laid rest on Squall.
Squall's anger flared. Never shall a friend be treated like this. He brought his sword to his face and charged forward.
"Rinoa!!" Seifer yelled to her. Rinoa quickly got the hint and swiftly twirled around only to be pushed to the ground by Squall's elbow which connected with her forearm. She rubbed it in pain. Selphie quickly came up to the fallen Rinoa. She kneeled down beside her.
"I apologize for him." Selphie said as she offered a hand to Rinoa. Rinoa gratefully took her hand and rose with her.
"I'm Rinoa Heartly." Rinoa said with a bow. Selphie giggled lightly. "What is so funny?" Rinoa asked with a small smile.
"We are being so polite while it seems the two 'men' over there seem to be duking it out." Selphie acknowledged as she turned to the two. Rinoa was the first to run over to them. Selphie quickly followed in her foot steps.
Seifer's blade met Squall's with a loud clap of thunder. Seeing no further path to the fight. Squall pushed away and drew his sword once more. This time Seifer was the first to charge. Squall stood his ground in ready stance. Seifer thrusted his blade and himself for Squall. In quick response Squall dove to the side. Squall quickly sprung up and readied himself once more.
"Stop, both of you!" Rinoa screamed running between the two. Seifer did as he was told and placed the tip of his blade to the dirt village road. Squall did not obey.
"Squall, you to!" Selphie yelled as she stood in front of him, imposingly. This time Squall obeyed and placed the tip of his sword to the tightly packed dirt.
"Seifer, from now on you well let me answer questions." Rinoa told him harshly, anger in her eyes.
"Squall, from now on you will let your arguments drop, instead of inflaming them more." Selphie told him. Squall gave a quick glare to Seifer, Seifer just returned the glare.
**
Squall awoke with a sweat drenched face. Again the words and commands echoed through his mind. He shook his head hard. An image of the girl at the counter flashed through his mind. Again it flashed through. Once more it flashed through. Could it be? He thought with a completely puzzled look on his face.
"That girl." He whispered. "Her?" He asked to no one in particular. Almost on reflex his darted to his sword that leaned against his wall in the corner. His eyes remained locked on the sharp object. It sparkled in the low moon light. He shook his eyes away from the sword and slammed his head back into the pillow. Never would he do such a thing. Never....
***********
A/N: Well???????? What did you think??? I hope it was good... Okay, in the next chapter Quistis will come in for all ya Quistis fans, but she won't have a whip... nope, sorry....
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
