A/N: I do not own any FF8 characters

I'm writing this really late at night, it's about 11:30 right now, so beware. It is also pure mush, so if you not into crappy romance then don't bother reading ( Please review!



A golden body tossed and turned under thin white sheets. The wan moonlight shown in through the curtains of the tiny hotel room, making droplets of sweat visible on the poor dreaming soul. He groaned in his sleep, speaking into the black of night.

"Fujin, no..." He whispered quietly, as his handsome face turned to a deep frown, drawing his eyebrows together.

'She will never be able to see out of her eye again'

'What about her voice Kadowaki? If she can't sing any more, she'll be heart broken. Just give it to me straight'

'Well, from what I can tell, there was minimal damage to her vocal chords, but it's just so hard to tell if they will ever be able to work properly. It's fifty-fifty at this point. I'm sorry Seifer..I just don't have the answers right now. We'll check her progress in a few weeks, I just hope she isn't permanently mute.'

Then he fell through a dark tunnel, with images of this haunting occurrence surrounding him. He could see, hear, and smell everything, as if it happened all over again. The blood all over her body, the sound of her heart monitor in the hospital room beeping faintly. The look on her face when she woke up in the white room, like a lost and scared child. He saw every broken mirror, every lost message on her answering machine from all of the scout's calls. He saw her lying in a pool of blood with slit wrists, chanting so hauntingly "ugly" over and over until it pierced his heart like a sword. Then, he saw her in Lunatic Pandora standing before him like a platinum angel, speaking words he thought were long gone. He remembered how his heart skipped a beat, and the world stopped spinning for one brief moment. He saw her slip back into state of despair when Rajin committed suicide, slitting her wrists one last time before he told her he would kill himself if she died.

He sat up swiftly in bed, and brushed a few tears and drops of sweat off of his cheeks. 'Crying?' He thought to himself, as his quickened breath began to regain its normal status. Seifer Almasy never cried, in fact, the last time he remembered crying was when Fujin lost her eye. He had cried for three nights straight about that, but he didn't shed a single tear when Rajin died. Funny how after seeing so much pain and despair, death has no effect on you, even if it's your best friend that dies. He brushed them away, almost as if they had never existed, he would never acknowledge the fact that they did.

His emerald eyes scanned the small hotel room. It wasn't very extravagant, but hell it was Winhill, what more could you expect? It was just a living room and a bathroom, two beds, a couch, and small electric stove sat out in the open. It didn't cost much, so he didn't complain. Fujin on the other hand, looked upon it dismissively, her dainty mouth twisting into a grimace "ALL COULD FIND?" That comment hurt, they were kicked out of Garden of course, and had been living in the homeless shelter in Deling. He had searched for a place for months with no help at all from her, and all she could say was "ALL COULD FIND"? Yeah, thanks Fuu. His gaze came to rest on the small figure in the bed adjacent him. "Fujin" he whispered softly, his voice low and husky from his not so peaceful sleep. He pushed his muscular body out of bed, and walked over to her. To this day, he still checks on her at night, no matter what has happened, or how hectic his life has gotten, he will never be able to leave her side. A knight to the end, loyal and true to his love. His love? Only in his mind, she never showed the same affection towards him after that night. He never really expected her to either.

Seifer neared her bed, and knelt down on his knees. He placed his calloused hand on her forehead, and brushed wisps of platinum off of her ivory skin, just like he used to. Except now, he would never dare to do it when she was awake. He moved his hand to hers, and maneuvered her arm so her wrist was visible. Ashen fingers traced lines of scars that brought so much sadness to his heart. This was what he was mainly concerned about when he came to her at night, to see if those wrists were excreting blood. He slowly let her right arm go, and then checked her left, out of reflex. Nothing was there as usual, but something still drove him to check again. Call it obsessive compulsive, or whatever you like, he just needed the assurance that she would be all right.

He sighed heavily, and let his gaze rest on her face. Her features had been so cold looking lately, even when she was asleep. He hadn't seen her crack a smile in months; then again, he hadn't smiled in months either. Demoralization had a great effect on them. He leaned in and kissed her forehead gently. 'This brings back memories..' She shivered slightly under his touch, like such a thing disgusted her body. Even in her sleep she hated him, at least that's what he thought.

'You're such an idiot Almasy. She'll never love you again. Who would? Pathetic scum, not even bubbly Rinoa Heartilly who loves everyone could love you' He studied Fujin's chiseled features more carefully, her soft cheeks, and slender body. Who couldn't love her? She was the model of human perfection, minus the horrible scar that he felt so responsible for. 'Hyne she's beautiful. Even with that scar she still takes my breath away.' He actually had never seen that scar before. She kept it covered with her black eye patch, a shield to hide from the world behind.

He didn't quite know what had come over him, but he suddenly felt the urge to remove that thing. That tiny piece of cloth that he loathed, because it got to see that mark whenever it wanted. 'Jealous of an eye patch, that's a new development.' He stared at it hesitantly, contemplating if he should take the time to trouble himself. She'd probably roll over subconsciously, or even worse, wake up. What would he say if that happened? Questions flooded his brain, until he didn't understand them any more. He raised his hand to her face, and gently worked his fingers under the black material, pulling it off quickly and easily. She didn't even flinch. He sighed, this time nervously, as his eyes stared in awe. Pink flesh surrounded the area where her eye should be, or actually was. There was definite scarring around the area, a line straight across her lid, but from the roundness and shape, he could tell her eye was still there. 'I wonder what it looks like? Is it actually there? Can she see out of it? Why would she lie all of these years about it if she could?' He shook his head and tried to get the thought out of his mind. He focused on the scar, and could actually tell where the sharp scales on the monsters tail had slashed her silky flesh.

He brought his lips to that flesh, and kissed the area gently, not even thinking about what would happen if she should wake. At that moment he didn't really care if she did, he imagined himself whispering comforts into her ear, and telling her everything his soul had been hiding for so long. His heart ached when he pulled away, because she hadn't wakened, and he wanted to tell her. He stayed a few moments longer, but soon sauntered back to his own lonely bed, which he would gladly share with her if only she wanted him.

He covered himself back up with his sheets, and lay down on his pillow, resting his arms behind his head. He thought about that night again, until the guilt, pain, and despair washed over him, and engulfed him in his haunted sleep.

Pain, blood, sweat, and tears. Failure, dishonor and shame. Sadness, cruelty, and lost ambitions and dreams. Seifer's night was filled with terror unimaginable to the human mind. He fell yet again into the chasm of horrors that were his life, and all of the horrors he thought were coming. The endless void seemed like it would never cease. But a voice called out to him, for the first time ever, some one was there.

"Seifer!" It came once, strong and bold, like a gallant savior, then, it sounded more urgent and scared "Seifer!", then, it became a harsh whisper "Seif.." It sounded so familiar, and it was pulling him out of his dream world. His emerald eyes snapped open in alertness, and his body jumped a little. He felt some thing warm brush his face, and then fly back meekly.

"SEIFER?" It was none other than Fujin, his pale comrade, who had saved him. "OK? THOUGHT WERE DEAD." He looked up at her hesitantly, noticing that her eye patch was back on. Her hand came back and feverishly wiped the sweat from his face "Seif?" She was speaking in normal tone now, she must be worried. "What happened? What's wrong?" She sounded so concerned, like nothing else in the world mattered at that moment but him. His body yearned to hold her, and over ran his mind, which was telling him not to. He sat up and gathered her fragile frame in his arms, pulling her so close that her head rested on his shoulder. She was a little taken aback by this gesture but was so confused she didn't protest, she just sat quietly and cuddled closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. 'If only I had been there when you needed me. If only I had been there. You wouldn't be put through so much pain. Would you love me if I had been there? Hyne Fuu I'm sorry!' His eyes began to water, and his mind couldn't stop them.

And then he began to cry. Silent sobs soon became audible, as salty tears poured from his green orbs. He began to shake furiously, and tightened his grip around her. She raised her lips to his ear and whispered softly "Shhh..it's ok. You're all right Seifer, I'm here now, don't cry..." He felt soft fingers run through the hair on the back of his neck, and velvety lips kiss his cheek. He raised a large hand to her head, and pulled her closer to his chest, so close she could hear his heart beat. They stayed like this for a few minutes, until his sobs were no longer present. He shifted awkwardly, feeling like such a moron for being so vulnerable in front of her. She sat up and scooted away a little, so she could look into his eyes. "What happened? More nightmares?" Fujin questioned, her eyes understanding his embarrassment.

"How'd you know about.?" Then he realized why she must have woke him up. Was he screaming like he did in his dreams?

"I can hear you. Every night I hear you, but not so bad as this..I...ummm..well, what are they about? Maybe I can help you." A small smile came to the corners of her lips, as she brought a hand up to his face and brushed a few bangs out of his view. He brought his hand to hers absentmindedly, and looked into her one visible eye. "You". She nodded, almost disappointedly, and looked down to the floor. "Me? I'm causing this?" Seifer brought his hand to her face, and turned her head towards him.

"No not really. It's mostly me being afraid for you more than anything..." His voice grew quiet with embarrassment. It wasn't that often that Seifer Almasy shared such personal thoughts with any one, especially Fujin. She nodded, telling him to continue. He coughed a little, clearing his throat.

"Well, it's about that night." He paused and brought his hand over so his thumb was resting on her eye patch. "About this." She flinched at the sudden touch, but she didn't brush him away like he thought she would. He continued telling about his dream.

"I just keep on seeing you there, lying in a pool of blood. And I get that horrible feeling deep inside, that one where everything around you feels like is falling. And then I do fall, and I see every thing bad that has happened to you that I've caused, including that night, over and over." His voice grows quiet again and he gasps for air again, trying to hold back more tears. "I'm so sorry Fuu, for everything that I've done to you, especially that night."

She watches him as his shoulders start to shake, and his eyes gloss over. She moves back in closer to him, and wraps her arms around him once more. He maneuvers his arms around her waist, and shudders as she breathes heavily on his neck.

"Seifer, listen to me. It wasn't your fault that I went to the training center. I was being a reckless child. You couldn't help it if you tried, I can't believe you don't know that by now."

"But Fuu, if I hadn't been so stupid and went to you big night, you wouldn't have been mad, and-"

"Shh! Seifer, stop it! It doesn't matter, you couldn't control what that T- Rexaur was going to do. It was fate Seifer; it was going to happen whether it was then or now. Everything happens because it is supposed to happen, the good and the bad. It makes people like you and me stronger. People who have had nothing but each other all of their lives."

"Even Rajin's death?" He questioned. He knew she could never say that was supposed to happen. That their comrade was supposed to die so young. She grew quiet, and Seifer could feel something wet growing on his chest.

"Oh jeez Fuu, I'm sorry..Hyne I'm such a fucking idiot!" He backed away from her so he could look into her eye. "I'm Sorry Fuu, really. I'm sorry for everything.". His rough hands; calloused from hundreds of battles and fistfights cupped her face. He stared into her beautiful crimson eye, and then looked to her eye patch, as if asking for clearance. She didn't move, or make a sound. She just watched him eye her nervously. She could feel his fingers trespassing on territory that no one had touched. They played under that black material covering her eye, and tugged at it, trying to remove it from it's resting place. Her hand shot up immediately, silently protesting the breech.

He just looked into her crimson orb, trying to reassure her that it would be okay. She closed her eye as his fingers worked the patch off of her pallid face. He removed it fully, and traced the scars that had been haunting him timidly. He swallowed hard and cupped her face again. "Open you eyes Fuu, please. Open your eyes." He pleaded to her, his voiced sounded so gentle. She opened her good eye a crack first, to see him waiting expectantly. She opened them slowly and looked away form him, like he was going to be disgusted with her appearance. Seifer looked down upon her, in utter shock. Underneath that dismal black patch, was a crystal blue orb, surrounded by a desert of scars. He turned her gaze back to him, and smiled when they made eye contact.

"Beautiful Fuu. You're beautiful. You shouldn't keep that covered up." She closed her eyes again, but only to feel a soft touch come to her forehead, he had kissed her. Not much of a kiss, just a tiny peck on the head, but it made her heart stop. Seifer cupped her face and kissed her again, tracing the scars along her eye with his lips, feeling her vulnerable flesh under him. He pulled away for a brief moment, and she opened her eyes again, in disbelief. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close so their noses were only centimeters apart. He pressed his forehead to hers and whispered softly.

"Fuu, I love you more than anything. I've been wanting to tell you for so long now, I just..I just got scared I guess." He paused when he felt ivory fingers touch his cheekbone

"I love you too Seifer, I always have." She smiled hesitantly, not quite sure what to do next. Seifer smiled too, and pressed his lips to hers gently. They broke apart after a second or so, and then he kissed her more passionately, like it would be the last kiss that they would ever share, except it was their first. They broke apart once more, breathing heavily. Seifer pulled her back onto the bad with him, and gathered her into his arms. After a while, the sounds of each others breathing was like that of a lullaby, and soon, both were fast asleep. A/N Ok, ok, I know it sucked, but I wrote it late at night and I don't feel like revising it before I post it. I'm pretty sure I'm writing another chapter, I hope it will be better (