Disclaimer: This is a second part to 'The Rose'. I still don't own Final Fantasy 8.



The Rose
Part 2




The quiet, repetitive beeping of the infirmary equipment crowding the small room
wouldn't stop. The lone renegade was happy. He had noticed Quistis walking out of
Trabia. She had looked so sad, but determined. He had called her name but she had
either not heard, or had ignored him. He started after her, but once she had left Trabia,
he had lost her.


Seifer remembered the time Quistis had smiled at him. In Balamb. She had been so
happy until the headmaster of the Garden had transferred her. After that, she had
rarely laughed and always seemed vacant, as if her mind was a mile away.


He had fallen for her on that day. She had told him how peaceful the forest made her
feel. How she would have loved to stay there. Forever.


After Ultimecia was defeated there was no place for the renegade in Garden, not after
what he'd done. So, not wasting his years of training and taking Quistis' advice,
Seifer became the first Renegade SeeD. Quistis had told him that if he found no
reason to live for himself, he should live to help others.


Hypocrite... Seifer thought, watching the thin red line rise and fall with each
monotonous beep. Why couldn't you live for me?


Seeing her had reminded him of the forest, which was where he had found her.


Quistis moved. Only slightly. But Seifer stood, instinctively. He moved closer to the
bed and leant his face closer to hers. Hesitating, he placed his hand on Quistis'
forehead. She moved again, her head falling to the side, and Seifer withdrew his hand,
watching her eyes open weakly.


'I always knew you'd be my angel when I died.' Quistis whispered. Seifer didn't
notice as her hand slipped out of the other side of the bed and brushed the wires
attaching her to the heart monitor.


'I'll take care of you, Quistis.' Seifer whispered back. Quistis closed her hand around
a clump of wires. Admiring the affection in Seifers voice despite the hardened lines
on his face, Quistis sighed and closed her eyes. She felt a warm softness on her lips
and opened her eyes to watch the renegades blond head move away from her.


Quistis opened her mouth to speak, but she had so many things to say, all that came
out was another sigh. She closed her hand tighter around the wires.


'I'm sorry, Seifer.' she managed to say, 'My heart's died inside. My body can't help
but follow.'


Seifer frowned, confused. Without warning, Quistis gathered the remains of her
strength and pulled the wires in her hand, across her body. They snapped out of the
heart monitor and the force of them snapping caused Quistis to roll out of the bed.


Seifer was too slow, moving to catch her, and she hit the floor hard. A continuous,
harsh tone replaced the beeps, making them seem lively. The room was suddenly
filled with white coated doctors shuffling and scraping through the shrill siren.


Seifer felt himself fill with anger. Shoving someone out of the way, he pulled up
Quistis' limp body and placed her on the bed.


The siren cut out.


Silence filled the empty room.


And all that was left was the hunched form of a renegade, torn apart by his rose.










by Astramina