VIII: Smart Chicks Get All the Guys!

A tumultuous week passed for Amy Mizuno. Although, in "her" world, she knew nothing about the curriculum taught at Balamb, she proved to be a fast learner and an amazing student. She was likened to a dry sponge, soaking up information greedily until she was saturated with the stuff. Instructor Grate was not impressed--not because Amy's advancements weren't astounding (which they were), but because…

General Vera Grate had personally taught the Ice Warrior while she was still at Balamb. The child, like Amy, was gifted beyond most normal people, and it often took the best instructors to teach her the most advanced skills. Grate saw a stark similarity between the two girls, and though "this" Amy denied it, Vera believed that it truly was the Ice Warrior sitting in her class that day. How else could a new student advance so much in such a little amount of time?

Yes, it was perplexing, but Amy was perplexed most. She did not expect to take in the teachings so well, especially since she had "amnesia" and knew little about the world. The week had been kind to her, though, as well as the people in the Garden. For the past seven days, she had been acquiring friends left and right, and although she denied any ties with the "other" Amy Mizuno, she was still liked and admired.

Especially by the men!!!

"Irvine! What are you doing here?" The cowboy-like character smiled and tipped his hat.

"Just, ah, payin' you a visit, pretty lady." Amy smiled and tried not to blush. Irvine was "a tall drink of water", as they'd probably say in Texas, and he was as handsome as he was courteous. Amy had learned from her roommate that Irvine was once the object of affections for Selphie, but the two had recently broken off their relationship, again. She had doubts that they would connect again, what with the looks he was giving her now.

"Oh. Well, ah, that's very flattering…" He smiled and winked, and kissed her hand like a gentleman would. A very noticeable ahem came from the side, and Irvine jerked back as he saw Quistis Trepe standing there, looking more annoyed than a lion being taunted by a mosquito.

"Ah… hi," muttered the cowboy. Quistis did not smile, not even icily.

"And just what are you doing?" she demanded. Irvine swallowed, but found his cool again and sang out an apology.

"Uh, just copying off of Miss Mizuno's test scores, that's all." Quistis crossed her arms, and gave Irvine a cold glare that would have made the Doom Phantom soil himself.

"I'm sure you are," she spat. Amy giggled as the blonde took Irvine by the ear, and wherever they went, she was sure that Irvine didn't want to go.

Dragging the lanky sharpshooter to a more private area, Quistis literally breathed steam out of her nostrils like an angry bull, but not even the world's most dangerous toro would've been within eyeshot of the incensed instructor. Irvine would've preferred sleeping on railroad tracks to the inevitable berating he would get.

Suddenly, Quistis pulled Irvine's face towards her own and forced a powerful kiss on him. Needless to say, the gunner's face exploded in shock, and his arms almost folded over the woman's gentle frame. She broke the kiss just as suddenly, and gazed at the young man with a mixture of love and animosity.

"Just remember, Kinneas," she warned, "if you ever pull a stunt like that again, you can… 'kiss' me goodbye."

"I getcha," he sighed. "Sorry. Old habits die hard. I'm… real sorry." Quistis sighed, and tilted her head to the side as her anger faded.

"I can forgive you. Anyway, I guess it's a good sign that I'm jealous. I guess it means I still love you."

"Right." He smiled weakly, and extended his elbow in an offer for dinner.

Amy squealed with delight as the army of men chased after her. Every single one of them were screaming for the new student, some wielding flowers, candies, cards, and even jewelry. She giggled with delight, even though she was out of breath, and quickly regretted any wishes she had made to be the center of romantic attention. How ironic, she noted. Back home, only a handful of nice guys pursued me. But here…!!! It's a whole new ballgame here!!

As Amy ran from the hoard of gentlemen callers, the group suddenly skidded to a halt as they saw who was standing in the hall. Amy childishly ducked behind him in an effort to hide, and it seemed to work. The man's tall, muscular frame prevented any boy, man, male, or gentleman from coming any closer to poor Amy, so with heavy hearts, they left her with the dark-skinned man.

"Boy," he sighed, "you've become really popular around here, ya know?"

"Yes, I know…" Amy sighed, and got out of her hiding place. She gave Raijin, her supposed-best friend, a bright smile in return. "Thank you for protecting me from those guys. I would have been smothered to death if you hadn't shown up!"

"Huh. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you like being chased around, ya know?" Amy chuckled weakly, and scratched her neck awkwardly.

"Why, whatever gave you that idea?" She and Raijin had a good laugh, and the big guy slapped her shoulder gently.

"Don't worry, though. Raijin will be here to protect you whenever you need him, ya know? I won't let anybody but the best mess with my 'little sister', ya know?"

"Right." Amy smiled, and was greatly relieved that she had such a competent "bodyguard". Suddenly, as she saw Raijin smiling down at her, a dark thought entered her mind. "Raijin, you're not… attracted to me, are you?" The big guy choked on something, and scratched his neck awkwardly.

"Uh, well, I kinda am, ya know? But, uh, no worries, cuz' I already got a lady-friend, ya know?"

"Oh? Who?"

"This lady named Xu. She's really sweet and smart, just like you, ya know? She, uh… well, uh…" Grumbling, Raijin's voice grew so low and inaudible that only an elephant could have heard him. "(mumble mumble She saw my poetry I wrote for her)."

"Awww, how sweet!" sang the blue-haired girl. "I didn't know you wrote--"

"Ssssshhhh!!!!" Raijin hastily covered Amy's mouth, and his face grew red. "(Don't tell anybody, ya know? Xu's sworn to secrecy, and I trust you a lot, but if word got out…)" Amy smiled, and solemnly swore to keep her "best friend's" trust.

"Don't worry," she said, winking playfully. "Your secret's safe with me."

"Ah, good," he sighed. "Anyway, thanks for bein' my friend, ya know? Oh, uh, Fujin's been askin' for you. She's off in the cafeteria, ya know? Don't know what it's about, but my guess is that it's a girl thing. None of my business, ya know?"

"Right." Amy smiled, and gave Raijin a quick peck on the chin. She was slowly starting to truly see him as a good friend of hers, and although he was scatterbrained and just slightly stupid, she couldn't help but love him. He blushed lightly when she pecked him, and ran away to do… whatever he did. Amy guessed it was spending quality time with "Xu" or perhaps Seifer.

"AMY!!" Amy smiled as she saw her other "best friend" wave at her, and walked a little faster so she could sit down. Fujin smiled warmly at Amy's arrival, and offered a choice hot dog--which she knew Amy enjoyed. It was devoured in less than ten seconds.

"WILL CHOKE," warned Fujin playfully. Amy winked at her friend.

"Sorry. These things are too delicious, though." Fujin shrugged and pointed to a nearby table, where Zell was currently trying to break some kind of record that involved eating hot dogs.

"DISGUSTING," blurted Fujin. "MYSTERY. WHY LIKE?"

"They're good!" sang Amy (who had gotten good at interpreting Fujin's brief and blunt words). "You should try one."

"INGREDIENTS UNCERTAIN."

"It's just processed pork!" chuckled Amy. Fujin mumbled something and picked at her salad.

"UNHEALTHY," she argued, patting her belly. "FAT."

"It does not!!" Amy couldn't help but chuckle, and nearly did choke on her lunch as she laughed. Fujin mirrored her smile, then scooted in a little closer for the "girl talk".

"AMY, HAVE BOYFRIEND?" The hot dog-devouring girl paused, and blinked in embarrassment.

"Eh, no."

"SHOULD. PRETTY AND SMART."

"…Not really. I just study." Fujin sighed and shook her head in annoyance.

"DENIAL." A difficult pause.

"…I'm… not interested right now." Fujin gave her closest friend a wry smirk, and raised an eyebrow in intrigue.

"FIX UP?"

"No, that won't be necessary," replied Amy. She smiled at Fujin, and tapped the pale woman's arm. "That is sweet of you, though." Fujin grinned, and gobbled more of her salad.

"USED TO HAVE MANY BOYFRIENDS," she said. "RAIJIN CHASE SOME OFF. SEIFER, I HELP. STILL TOO MANY. LUCKY." Amy merely shrugged, and wiped her mouth clean of any crumbs.

"What about you?" asked the blue-haired girl. "Do you have anyone special?" Fujin smiled mischievously, and a crimson hue erupted on her pale features. Amy knew enough about romance to know that that was an affirmative. "Ah, I see."

"WONDERFUL," sighed Fujin dreamily. "NICE, KIND, CUTE. WILL LIKE."

"I'm sure I will," replied Amy. "So who is he?" Fujin smiled, and waved her hand again. Amy turned around to see who was coming, but only saw one very ordinary-looking man. He had regular brown hair and average brown eyes, and was a usual height and weight. He would have made a great spy, for with an image like his, he could hide anywhere and never be noticed.

"Oh, hello Fujin," waved the man. "Is this your friend you told me about?"

"AFFIRMATIVE." The ordinary-looking man smiled, and took Amy's hand to his lips.

"It's a pleasure to meet you finally, Miss Mizuno. Let me just set the record straight when I say that you are a very attractive young lady." Amy smiled an obviously fake smile, and tried hard to chuckle politely. What is with men in this world and me? Are they attracted to the Ice Warrior, or the fact that I'm mysterious, or what? This is getting silly!

"SIT!" barked Fujin. The man squealed out nervously and obeyed the woman. Smiling in apology, he gave the girl a quick peck on the cheek; she turned her head and forced a powerful lip-lock on him. Amy tried hard to not look amazed as her "best friend" and this ordinary man smooched.

"Wow," shivered the man once the kiss was broken. "Gee, Fujin, what'd I do to deserve that?" She smiled warmly, and tapped his nose.

"JEALOUS," she replied. "KISS ME, NOT AMY."

"Oh." The man smiled, and laughed weakly as he rubbed his neck. Fujin smiled, and pushed the young man gently.

"NIDA," she introduced. "PILOTS GARDEN. GOOD HEART. LOVE." Amy smiled, and formally shook the young man's hand.

"See that?!" hissed Selphie. "Amy's getting, like, a bajillion guys swarming after her! I heard even Irvy flirted with her, and you know how Quistis would take that!"

"So, what?" shrugged Zell. "So she's popular with the fellas. It's none of my business."

"You like her!" squealed Selphie. "Admit it!"

"I… I'm not gonna say anything!!" She smiled brightly, and sipped at her drink until an annoying slurping sound came from the straw.

"I'm sure she likes you too," said Selphie. "All you have to do is ask. OOH, I know!! The SeeD exam! Amy's sure to attend! When she graduates, you can ask her to the dance!"

"Aw, bull!" grumbled Zell. "That's like, half a year away! And remember that she has to pass the written test first! And she also has to pass the SeeD exam as well! Do you really think she'd be able to pull that off?"

"Duh!" spat the petite lady. "I think I know my own friend! Trust me, Zell, she'll blow everyone else outta the water! Huh, she's a lot smarter than you."

"HEY!!!!!!!!"

"Eek, just kidding, just kidding!!" Zell grumbled out something crude, and crossed his arms as he continued to watch Selphie eat. Secretly, whenever he knew that she was not watching, he would steal glances over at Amy's table.

Doggone it, Selphie! Why do you have to stick your nose in my business? So what if I do like Amy? She's definitely not my type; all smart, and sophisticated, and polite… But look at me! I'm a big muscle-head with an even bigger mouth, and yeah I'm smart, but… well, shoot, I guess you're right when you say that I can't compare in the brains department. And she's so pretty, too! What would she ever want with a lug like me?

Still…