Maybe she had completely spent herself the night before, but as Rinoa looked out at the ruined city, at the people trying to piece their lives back together out of the rubble, she found that she could not feel a thing. After all she had done — tried to do — for the town, now it did not even seem to matter. And she hated herself for not caring.

As she walked back off the bridge, she saw Seifer crouched over a small cluster of wood, hand outstretched. A puff of flame erupted from the wood, but did little more than char the edges. Cursing softly, he tried again, with no better results.

Rinoa remembered that he had been doing exactly the same thing when they had first met. Even though this time, he was in the middle of a ruined street and Fujin and Raijin were nowhere to be seen, she could not help but think back to that fateful summer.

It's already been a year, she thought. And now everything's changed. Instead of that self-confident smile he had used to have, Seifer's face was now a grim, emotionless mask. His grey trenchcoat looked to have been hastily repaired, and was slightly frayed at the edges. And there was the scar, still an angry red, across the bridge of his nose.

He was nothing like the boy she had fallen in love with the year before. Now, he almost reminded her of Squall.

Silently, she sat down next to him. He ignored her, casting another spell on the pile of wood. After a moment, she stretched out her own hands, attempting to start a controlled fire within the mass of wood. While she wasn't exactly trained in the use of magic, she knew enough to cast spells; why not this? Just visualize the flame...focus....

A terrific fireball erupted from the wood, sending a giant puff of black smoke towards the sky. Both she and Seifer jumped backward in surprise, and Rinoa's heart skipped a beat.

Small flames now poked their way from between the completely blackened wood.

Quickly, Seifer threw some pieces of untouched wood onto the small fire, while Rinoa stood sheepishly off to the side. I wonder what he thinks of my Sorceress powers, she thought. I'm sure he knows about them, but he hasn't said a word.

But then, he hasn't said a word to me since the prison. Why did he break me out, anyway? Was he trying to make up for everything he did under Ultimecia? Involuntarily, she remembered being in the Lunatic Pandora, held firmly in his grip as Adel forced her way through the seal that was meant to be her tomb.

His hands had been shaking.

she began, looking over at him. She didn't know what she wanted to say, but she felt like she had to say something. She wanted to know what was going on inside his head.

He did not react to her at all, simply sitting back down next to the fire.

Rinoa wanted to try again, but this time, her mouth would not even open. There were too many thoughts running through her mind; she wanted to understand what Seifer was going through, but another part of her was screaming to run away before he did anything else. She couldn't bring herself to accept his actions at face value.

Why did you do it, Seifer? she asked finally. Why did you join with Ultimecia?


Seifer stared into the fire, not trusting himself to look at Rinoa, and not really wanting to.

I didn't know about Ultimecia when I joined her, he thought. I didn't know anything. I thought I had a chance to fulfill my dream. I wanted to do something important. I wanted to be someone.

I didn't want to be second fiddle to Mr. Leader for the rest of my life.

What difference does it make? he growled.

I want to know.

He got to his feet, glaring down at her. What's it going to change? If I tell you my story, will I get a place to live? Will I have somewhere to go where I'm not recognized as the Sorceress' lap dog? Will I be ever be able to go back to Garden? Will I ever be able to have a normal life again? He shook his head, turning away from her. What happened, happened. What difference does why' make?

Rinoa stood as well. Seifer, I'm sure they'll understand if you'd just explain —

Since when has anyone tried to understand me? Seifer demanded. Since when has anyone cared?

Now, it was Rinoa who shook her head. No, Seifer; that's not fair. I know you. You don't want anyone to understand you. That's why you make yourself so hard to get along with. You're afraid of what will happen if someone gets close, so you make sure no one wants to. In his periphery, he could see her put her hands on her hips. Well, you got your wish, and there are probably only three people in the whole world who can see through it. But like it or not, I'm one of them. So if you want me to feel sorry for you, it's going to take more than self-pity.

Self-pity, huh? Who says I want you to feel sorry for me?

I want to help, Seifer. But I have to understand. Why did you do all those things? It's not like you to let yourself be manipulated like that.

Yeah, well that's what happens when you bother to have dreams. That's none of your business.

Rinoa sighed. I knew it. You're just like Squall.

Seifer rounded on her, but a voice behind them cut off any response he could have made. They both turned, and saw a trio of Galbadian soldiers and an officer making their way towards them.

the officer called. You two! Out of the street! No — He stopped dead in his tracks. W...what the HECK?!

It's the renegade, sir! one of the soldiers exclaimed. And he's got the Sorceress with him!

Shouldn't have shown your faces round here, declared the officer. Looks like we need to teach you a lesson! He motioned to the two soldiers who had not spoken. You and you. Get them!

Obligingly, the soldiers drew their weapons and charged across the distance separating them. Seifer's gunblade leapt into his hand nearly of its own accord, and he parried the man's first swing without even thinking.

Twin spears of lightning emerged out of thin air and struck the second guard, but he continued on towards Rinoa, who was shying away from the attack.

That was the last he had time to see; an instant later, the first soldier was on him again. He swung low, but Seifer easily parried the assault, then drove his foot into the man's exposed back. He stumbled, and Seifer took advantage of the moment of breath to call on the powers of his GF. A maelstrom of fire exploded around the Galbadian, and proved far more effective than it had on the fire; the soldier collapsed even before the spell had ran itself out.

Rinoa let out a cry that instantly reminded him of the second solder. Rinoa was lying on one knee, clutching her arm. Her Pinwheel appeared to be damaged, and the arm was bleeding. The soldier was standing over her, hand outstretched in the casting pose.

Seifer's eyes clouded with rage, and for the next few seconds, his body seemed to move of its own accord. In the space of a heartbeat, Seifer had close the distance, and swung his gunblade at the man with all the force he could find, squeezing the trigger as hard as he could. The blade sliced through the man's shoulder guard, the bullet was dead on target, and Seifer's following kick sent him to the ground, without his weapon. Seifer automatically shifted the grip on his gunblade, and, teeth clenched, he raised it above his head to —

Seifer! No!

Rinoa's words broke him out of the trance, and he looked down at the Galbadian soldier. His helmet had been knocked loose, and Seifer could see the look of terror in his eyes. The man couldn't be more than a year older than Seifer was. A little stunned at himself, he took a step back, still holding the gunblade menacingly at the man as he scrambled back to his feet and the other two soldiers.

Maybe we should get reinforcements, sir, the third soldier suggested.

the officer said, then bellowed, We're not retreating! And when we get back, we're really going to teach you twerps a lesson! With that, he turned and ran in the opposite direction.

They were silent for a few moments, as Seifer struggled to control his breathing. After a short while, Rinoa took a step towards him. she began, but trailed off.

Hey, what was that all about?

Seifer looked behind him to see Fujin and Raijin running up over one of the bridges. Raijin was carrying the bloody carcass of a Geezard in one hand.

Fujin demanded.

We're fine, Seifer declared, but he could not bring himself to release the grip on his gunblade.

The Galbadians know we're here, Rinoa said. I think it would be best if we left.

But we just got here, ya —

Fujin kicked her companion in the shin, and he let out a responding yelp, dropping the Geezard as he clutched his foot. TRAIN, DOLLET, she elaborated, pointing back across the bridge.

Rinoa nodded, then turned to him with a look of — concern? — in her eyes. Let's go, Seifer. There's no point in staying here.

Seifer quickly broke the stare. he said, stalking toward the bridge. Let's get out of here.