***** IV - The Car Thief *****

Fujin had gone to spend the day with Rinoa. Seifer had to resolve himself to leave the Mjolnir-JT without proper surveillance for a few minutes, while he showered and shaved. He was looking more and more like a crazy hillbilly, and Fujin had warned him to either groom himself or spend the rest of his days in the driveway.

And so, our friend entered his house and stepped into the shower.

That was the break Dr.Odine, turned car thief, had been waiting for.

The crazy so-called scientist had to leave Esthar in a hurry. President Loire had finally realized that kidnapping little kids - like Ellone - to experiment on them was NOT acceptable. [I'm still not over that btw]

And so, that poor excuse for a human being had embarked in a new career of crime, adding to the depravity of his despicable life [In case you are wondering, YES! I HATE the guy!]. Anyway, Odine quickly disarmed the alarm and antitheft systems, jump-started the car, and drove away with it.

At that moment, Rinoa and Squall were driving Fujin back home at great speed. They were all in an alarmed state of concern for Seifer, for they had heard some fearful news about his new vehicle.

They had almost reached her house... and then they saw the Mjolnir-JT back out of the driveway, speed away from them and...

*** KABOOOOOOM!!! ***

...The car exploded in a thunderous display of flying components, flames, body parts, and blood [YUCK! _ ].

Squall stopped the minivan, and Fujin ran to the wreck. She was crying and in a total state of despair.

"SEIFER! NO!" She yelled in shock, convinced that it was her beloved inside the burning vehicle.

Meanwhile, Seifer had heard the detonation. He stepped out of the shower, and dressed in a hurry to make sure that his precious car was all right.

Not seeing the Mjolnir-JT in the driveway, he ran and stopped in the middle of the street. There he witnessed the gruesome scene. The realization of what had just happened hit him hard, rooting him to the spot.

"Fujin!" He managed to call to his wife, his concern for her overriding all else.

"SEIFER!" She exclaimed and hurried to him. She wrapped her arms around his body, squeezing him tight.

He returned the gesture, soothingly reassuring her, "It's all right, Fuji. It's all right."

"You're alive…you're alive…" She repeated softly over and over, as tears of relief ran down her cheeks.

***** ***** *****

Once inside the house, a still shaking Seifer inquired, "Will somebody tell me what exactly happened out there?"

Rinoa explained, "Fuji and I were watching TV, when there was this special newscast. It would seem that a design error, in this year's Mjolnir-JT's, could cause them to explode. You were lucky not to have driven it too much, or we would not be having this conversation."

Squall continued, "We tried to phone, but there was no answer. We drove here as fast as we could to warn you."

Fujin was sitting on her man's lap, hugging him lovingly. She didn't want to let go of him, not even for a moment. The fear of having almost lost him was still very much present in her heart.

***** Epilogue *****

To Fujin's relief, things went back to normality - as it had been before Seifer had brought the accursed Mjolnir-JT into their lives.

One fine day, as she got back home from work, there was a brand new car (a regular utilitarian one) parked on the street in front of the house. A satisfied-looking Seifer was admiring it.

"WHAT IS THIS?" She asked.

"Because of what happened with the Mjolnir-JT, the company will give us a new car every three years for life. Provided that we don't sue of course."

Noticing Fujin's deepening frown he reassured her, "Don't worry, Baby. I had my lesson, and from now on I'll never go crazy again. That's why I chose us this little beauty here."

"NOT A MJOLNIR-JT?" She said surprised, as they walked towards the house.

He smiled, "No, never, ever again. I was so stupid to care so much for what was only a car. Will you ever forgive me for acting so foolishly?"

"I ALREADY DID." She answered, kissing him affectionately.

"How about a ride to try the car out?" He offered.

"GO WHERE?" asked Fujin.

"Wherever you want baby, wherever you w..." He didn't have time to finish his sentence.

* VERY LOUD BANG! *

They both jumped and then turned around. There was Selphie Tilmitt at the wheel of Irvine's Mustang, the front of which had gotten imbedded in the back of their new car. Miraculously, the spirited brunette wasn't hurt.

"HI-YAAAAAAAAAAA!" She saluted merrily, "I, hum, seem to have gotten lost. Sorr-ee! Tee-Hee!"

"JUST A CAR" Reminded Fujin.

Yes - it was just a car after all... ^_~

****** THE END *****