Disclaimer: As the same with all the other chapters, we don't own anything we didn't come
up with. That belongs to Square. We do this for no profit. Blah, blah, blah.

Chapter 17: From Conflict Comes Resolution

Quistis opened her eyes slowly as the early morning light trickled in through the trees
and into the cave. She yawned and then felt a warmth next to her. She turned to see Seifer
laying next to her, his face turned away so that she only saw the back of his blonde head. She
remembered him giving her his coat the night before as a blanket and she smiled as she sat up
and put the coat over him. He stirred slightly and mumbled something before he went back to
sleep, his body rising smoothly with each breath he took.

He was capable of kindness, she knew that was true. He was also very self-conscious and
unsure of his abilities. Quistis wondered why he hadn't been like this before. He had probably
been covering it all with his recklessness and bravado. Maybe that was why he was so damned
arrogant before, and still was to a certain extent.

She stood and stretched as she thought about it, then bent down and fastened her whip to
her side before she went outside. She took a deep breath of the cool air and let it out, looking
around for any soldiers. She wondered if there was a possibility that they would encounter any
of the Black SeeD that Irvine had fought. There was the chance, but it seemed that it was the
Galbadian military that was searching for them at the moment.

Quistis walked down to the edge of the river and removed her gloves before she took a
sip of the cool water. She splashed some of it on her face, squealing slightly as the cold water
touched her skin. She scrubbed her face for a moment before she splashed more water on her arms,
the cold making goose bumps raise up and down her arms. Invigorated, she used a handkerchief to
wipe her face and arms before she put her gloves back on. She turned and walked back up the
embankment to the cave, where Seifer was putting on his coat.

"Morning," he said as he put one arm through a sleeve. "Sleep well?"

"It wasn't a night at the Dollet inn, but it was okay," Quistis replied. "Are we ready?"

Seifer nodded. "Let's go." They walked out of the cave and into the forest, still
following the river to the ocean.

Quistis walked along, enjoying the scenery. The sun was beginning to warm the air, and
overhead, song birds chirped happily away. The soothing sounds of the river echoed through the
forest and did much to soothe the frayed nerves from the day before. She even saw a Mesmorize
beyond the small trail, but it merely regarded them with interest and moved on. Even the
monsters seemed to be unwilling to destroy the morning's tranquility.

"Hey Quisty, remember that river that ran in the woods next to Edea's house?" Seifer
said after a few hours of hiking.

-Quisty? Since when did he start calling me that?-

"Vaguely," she replied, shrugging mentally. "Just flashes of it, really. I've forgotten
a lot over the years."

"Yeah. But there was a river that we always used to go play beside and swim in when the
sea was too rough. Selphie and Irvine used to try and catch frogs in it, while Chickenwu-I mean
Zell, always tried to build a little boat out of sticks and leaves."

Quistis began to remember, a flash of a little Zell in overalls, making a small craft
out of a piece of bark and a large leaf. And Selphie and Irvine in shorts chasing a bullfrog
down the bank, splashing and getting muddy and laughing happily. "Yeah, I remember now. And you
and Squall would always throw rocks in it and see who could make a bigger splash."

Seifer chuckled, his face turning a shade red. Quistis was delighted to see him blush,
but wasn't really sure why.

"Yeah. I remember. And you always used to love to wade in it, picking up stones and
stuff that was floating in the river."

It was Quistis' turn to blush. "Yeah. I always liked the water..." Quistis trailed off,
her brow furrowed in concentration. "Wasn't there another kid there too?"

Seifer scowled, thinking. "I think so. He always never joined in, though. He was always
kinda quiet."

"Oh Hyne, what was his name? I can picture him now. Brown hair, green eyes, not very
tall..."

"K-Kevin? Something like that," Seifer said as he picked up a stone as he walked and
tossed it into the river.

"Kravis. His name was Kravis. I can't remember his last name, though." Quistis sighed.
"There were quite a few kids in that orphanage. I'm surprised we even remembered him."

Seifer nodded as he tossed another stone into the river. "Yeah, outside of you guys, I
can't remem-" Seifer stopped short as a rapid staccato sound broke the air, I line of small
splashes appearing in the river.

"Shit, they sure know when to show up." Quistis hissed as she and Seifer ducked for
cover. She cursed their luck as three soldiers and a commander appeared out of the woods, the
commander firing while the troopers ran forth with blades drawn.

Quistis grabbed her whip while Seifer drew his gunblade and parried the first blow from
a soldier and dodged the second as he swung around and caught the man in the chest and pulled
the trigger, the shot flinging the man into the brush like a rag doll. Another soldier attacked
Quistis and she nearly dodged his blow, but he was too quick for her. She yelped as she felt the
cold steel slide across the skin of her left shoulder, opening a small but painful flesh wound.

She whirled her whip around and hit the soldier, the whip snapping wickedly. The
diamond-hard tip slashed the man's throat and he gurgled as he tried to staunch the red fountain
from his neck, bleeding out in seconds.

She turned and caught a glance of Seifer battling with the third soldier, their blades
flashing brilliantly in the sun light before she saw the commander take up a stance and fire his
gauntlets. She lept to the side, but one round hit her in the leg, sending her to the ground.
Quistis looked up and saw the commander standing over her, a triumphant grin on his face. She
also heard Seifer screaming her name, but she paid no attention. She felt her limit break charge
up and she let loose a laser bolt from her eyes, burning a hole through the commander's forehead
instantly. He stood there for a second, a surprised look on his slack features before he fell
backwards, dead.

"Quistis! Are you alright?" Seifer was kneeling next to her, a worried look on his face
as he took in her wounds.

Quistis nodded and winced, just now noticing the electric pain that engulfed her leg and
shoulder. "Yeah. Just hurts like a bitch."

Seifer picked her up in his arms and Quistis was slightly surprised and pleased that he
had, feeling the well defined muscles beneath his coat. "I get picked up so much I oughta have
a handle," she commented as Seifer began to carry her into the forest.

Seifer chuckled. "It'd make things easier for me, that's for sure." After a few minutes,
he set her down next to the river and took off her boot that was by now soaked in blood. Quistis
leaned back and let Seifer do his work, trying to ignore the pain that was throbbing through her
leg and the light headedness she was having. Loss of blood, probably. She had to admit to
herself, he was getting good at this, saving her life and all. Quistis smiled slightly at the
thought before she closed her eyes and began to doze off, dreaming of happy kids playing near a
river in what seemed like a lifetime ago.

-I'm getting pretty good at this "saving Quistis" thing-

Seifer thought as he dipped a handkerchief in the cool river water and squeezed out the
excess. The bullet had gone straight through, he had to be thankful for that. Seifer cleaned the
blood off around the wound and on her shoulder and cast Cura, her wounds closing in a second. He
looked back up at Quistis, who had fallen asleep.

-Hyne, was she always that pretty?-

"Yeah and she was also your instructor and now your superior. Let's not forget that,
mmkay?" Seifer mumbled to himself. He took her boot and washed what blood he could off of it.
She'd have to get a new pair when they got back, but for now she'd have to wear this. He dried
it off and started to put it back on, taking her long, soft leg in one hand when he stopped and
let it go, thinking better of it.

-Bloody hell, what are you now, a servant? She might get mad at you if she decides to
wake up and sees you feeling her up.-

Seifer sighed, setting the boot to one side and shook Quistis lightly. "Quisty? Come on,
we gotta go now." He hated to wake her, but the Galbadians could pop up at any moment. As it
was, they were lucky they hadn't been attacked yet.

Quistis muttered something and smiled in her sleep. Hyne, he hated waking her up,
especially when she looked so peaceful and beautiful. Seifer sighed and shook her again, a
little harder this time. "Quistis. We have to go now. The Galbadians are following us."

Quistis groaned and opened her eyes. "Dammit. And I was having a good dream too." She
looked at her boot laying next to her and at Seifer. "Guess I'll have to pick another pair at
Timber one of these days," she sighed as she pulled it on, putting a finger through the holes on
either side.

"Can you walk?" Seifer asked as he helped her up. Quistis took a few steps, wincing.

"Muscles are still tender. I can walk, but it'd be kinda slow..."

"I'll have to carry you then." Seifer crouched slightly, motioning for Quistis to get
onto his back. "It'll be easier this way."

Quistis shook her head and got on piggy back. Seifer stood up and started walking,
feeling the warmth of Quistis' body through his coat, the weight of her arms around his neck and
again wondered why he hadn't realized why he hadn't been better accquainted with her before.

-Maybe because you were a cold, arrogant bastard before, hmm Sir Seifer?-

Seifer sighed, knowing that was the truth. "What's the matter?" Quistis asked behind him.
"Nothing, just thinking," Seifer replied.

"About what?"

"Nothing."

He could almost hear the grin in Quistis' voice. "You can't be thinking about nothing.
It's not possible, y'know."

Seifer glanced back at her, a little irritated. "Are you always this inquisitive?"

Quistis shrugged a little. "Only when I want to be. Now what are you thinking about?"

Seifer sighed. Well, he didn't have much to lose except maybe a little bit of ego, and
he could live without that. "I was just thinking about how we weren't better friends before
now."

Quistis stayed silent for a moment. "That was because you were a cocky, arrogant SOB
before and I was an instructor."

Seifer smirked. "I was thinking the same thing myself."

Quistis chuckled, her silvery laughter bringing a smile to Seifer's face. Soon, he felt
Quistis lean her head against his shoulder and she was soon breathing rhythmically in sleep.

-Does she sleep all the time?-

Seifer shook his head slightly, so as not to disturb her.

-No, she was just in a crash yesterday and wounded by Galbadians today. Plus her
concussion's probably taking a lot out of her, despite casting a few Cure spells.-

Seifer noted the position of the sun and glanced at his chronometer. It was nearly one
in the afternoon. He was a little surprised, the morning had gone by so quickly. And from the
gurgling in his stomach, it was lunch time. He had been able to swipe a few MRE's from the dead
Galbadians before he helped Quistis, so they were okay on food for a day or two.

Seifer walked on for a few minutes before he found a good spot to stop, a shady little
spot near the river. He sat Quistis down, who woke up as he leaned her against a tree.

"Hello again," she said sleepily. He smiled at her as he sat down and took out the
MRE's.

"Got something to eat. A little better than brazed Geezard." He gave her one and opened
his own.

Quistis took it and looked at it for a second. "Are you sure? These are Galbadian issue,
y'know."

From the taste of his, Seifer had to agree. "You're right, the Geezard was better." He
managed to swallow the tasteless lump that was supposed to be dehydrated pork and made a face.
"Somehow I don't remember eating these things."

"That's because you were a little higher up in the chain of command." Quistis said as
she began to nibble at a block of maple nut cake.

Seifer grimaced. "Don't remind me." As he sat there, he looked at the small river and
let his mind wander. Squall and the rest had to be looking for them. But he also knew that since
the Silver Siren was somewhere in the area, and that the Galbadians were also looking for them,
probably under Xana's control. He wondered if they were far from Winhill, if...

What if the Galbadians had torched Winhill like they did Drayden?

Nah, impossible. If they had, he would've seen smoke rising above the trees. Still, they
might've occupied it. The thought was enough to send chills down his spine and he turned to
Quistis. "You think they occupied Winhill?"

Quistis thought for a second. "Most likely. It's the only town in these parts." She
sighed as she finished her meal. "It would figure as much. But I don't think they would burn it.
They know we're still in the forest, so they wouldn't be torching it yet."

Seifer nodded. "Ready to get going?"

Quistis nodded and stood, trying her weight on her leg. "Feels a little better. I think
I'll try walking on it." She smiled at Seifer. "Besides, you've earned the rest."

Seifer scratched the back of his head and grinned back at her. "Yeah well, I can't
exactly leave you behind."

Quistis chuckled and looked him in the eye, her grin fading. "Seriously, Seifer. Thanks
for saving my life. For the second time."

Seifer felt kind of uncomfortable, her thanking him and all. "I wouldn't exactly call it
a save, but you're welcome anyway. Let's get going, eh?" he said, desperate to change the
subject.

Quistis nodded. "Okay. Let's go. By the way," she added, a grin spreading across her
face, "Did you know that you blush in the most adorable way?"

Seifer arched an eyebrow. "Are you quite through?"

Quistis grinned devilishly and nodded. "Let's go." Seifer shook his head as they began
to walk, but he also felt that there was a little bit of flirtation in that remark.

-Yeah, keep it up, Seify, and you'll begin to think that she really has it on for ya.-

Now THAT would be the day. Seifer smirked to himself and walked on, knowing that they
were just friends, and nothing more.



Quistis' leg still hurt, but she was still able to walk on it. She felt guilty about
Seifer having to carry her all the time. She normally didn't like being treated like a child,
but...with Seifer, it just seemed different. How or why, she didn't know. Maybe her concussion
was giving her hell, but she had some mixed feelings concerning Seifer. Not exactly bad, but...

Quistis sighed to herself, tired of the self-psychology. She had just concentrate on
getting to civilization first and not her own feelings. Quistis looked over at Seifer and saw
him pause for a second, looking up at the sky.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"Looks like rain. You can smell it too," he replied. Quistis looked up and sure enough,
the sky was beginning to darken with storm clouds, the wind beginnning to turn humid.

"Great. We gotta find some shelter here pretty soon." Quistis cursed their luck thus
far. It wasn't enough that they were stranded in the middle of nowhere followed by the entire
Galbadian army, but they had be rained on as well. Someone upstairs had it out for them, that's
all there was to it.

Seifer nodded, looking glum. "Yeah, let's just go and find a place before the rain sets
in..."

Seifer stopped and stared at the treeline. He pulled Quistis down and put a finger up to
his lips. She looked at him quizzically, then heard a deep growl and looked in the direction of
the sound. She saw the now familiar massive body, the reddish hide and realized it was the
Rexaur. Seifer motioned to the river and began to quietly move away so he made no noise. Quistis
followed his lead and began to sneak away quietly.

snap!

Quitis froze, Seifer looking back at her in puzzlement. She looked down at her feet
where she saw a broken twig, then back at the Rexaur. It looked up and sniffed the air. It
growled again as it started to move and followed the scent-

-right towards them.

"Shit, run!" Seifer said as he grabbed Quistis' arm and took off. Quistis felt the
ground begin to shake beneath her feet and looked back to see the massive beast following them,
bellowing it's rage. She fought the urge to scream as she could nearly feel it's weight as it
bore down on them as they ran.

-shitshitshit-

She looked ahead and saw the river widen into a small lake. If they could make it...

"Seifer! The lake!" she shouted abouth the crashing of trees and brush.

"I see it, go!" he shouted back at her. As soon as they reached the shore, Seifer nearly
shoved her in as he took another glance back and jumped in himself. Quistis' clothes felt like
lead weights in the cold water, her jaw shivering uncontrollably. Seifer took her arm and pulled
her along as he was the stronger swimmer. As they reached the middle, Seifer turned and pulled
her close, holding onto her waist as they treaded water.

On shore, the Rexaur stomped and roared it's frustration at the sky, pacing back and
forth. Quistis unconsciously held onto Seifer as they floated in the lake, half convinced that
it was going to jump in and swim after them.

"Rexaurs can't swim, right?" she asked nervously.

Seifer shook his head. "No, not unless they have to."

His answer did little to calm her fears. "You're not helping my nerves any."

"I can almost guarentee you mine are worse," he replied, still watching the Rexaur.
Quistis smirked, which did much to ease her fear.

After a few minutes of snorting and pacing, the Rexaur turned and strode back into the
forest, crashing through the underbrush before the forest became quiet again, save for the
rising wind of the storm.

Quistis let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding and looked up at Seifer,
the relief evident on his face. "That was close."

"Yeah. Too close. That thing's got the run of the place," he said as he looked back at
her. "We really need to be more careful when we move."

Quistis nodded as she held onto him. She didn't want him holding both of them up, but
she felt herself not wanting to let go. "How long are we gonna stay like this?"

Seifer looked at her, an amused expression on his face. "You don't like this?"

"Well, I'd like it better if the water wasn't so cold." Quistis knew that she was
flirting again and that she shouldn't do it, but she couldn't help herself.

Seifer chuckled and pulled her closer, surprising her somewhat. "Well, the Rexaur will
probably be out there to wait for us to come out, so I think-"

Seifer stopped, looking down at the water in confusion. "What the hell-" he started
before he was suddenly yanked from Quistis' grasp and disappeared underwater, bubbles rising in
the spot where he had just been.

"SEIFER!" Quistis screamed before she dove under after him.

One minute, he had been talking to Quistis before something wrapped around his leg. Then
the next, he was being dragged down beneath the surface by something wrapped around his leg, his
breath escaping from his mouth in a burst of bubbles. He closed his mouth and tried to determine
what was dragging him. At first he couldn't see anything, but as he was pulled closer to the
bottom, he saw something that if was on land, he would've screamed.

It was almost like a snake save for the tooth-filled maw that grinned at him, the eyes
yellow and orange slits against the black body. It had several gills, lined with frills of flesh
that waved in the brackish water, and realized he was looking at an extremely rare Eelinoc.

The Eelinoc wrapped it's serpentine body around him tightly, pinning his arms to his
sides as he struggled against it's grip. He looked and saw arcs of electricity run up and down
it's body before a sharp electric sensation ripped through his body, causing him to almost
scream in agony. He was being electrocuted.

The creature stopped it's attack and Seifer tried to take a breath, but he was
disorientated and forgot he was underwater and instead got a lungful of water.

-Great, either I'll drown or be electrocuted.-

Seifer bowed his head, realizing that this was it. He was going to be lunch for a fish
monster. His lungs were burning, he needed air, but he was held tight by the Eelinoc's coils.
He felt the Eelinoc tighten it's grip and felt a snap in his side, a sharp pain in his side
adding to his misery.

-Hyne, Quisty, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, forgive me Quisty...-

Seifer saw darkness creeping into the edges of his vision and thought about Quistis.
She'd be alright without him. She would make and get out alive...

Suddenly, the Eelinoc loosened it's grip and Seifer floated free. He struggled to focus
his vision and heared the Eelinoc hiss angrily. He focused long enough to glimpse a blonde woman
casting a Fire spell at the Eelinoc, and he realized that Quistis was saving him before he lost
consciousness.

Quistis saw the enormous monster with Seifer in it's clutches and didn't think twice.
She cast a Fire spell at it, and for a brief second, fire engulfed it's head before it fizzled
out in the water. Still, it was enought to hurt and enrage it, letting Seifer go as it turned
it's attention to her.

-Gods, that thing is HUGE!-

Quistis swam deeper towards Seifer, who floating limply next to the Eelinoc. She grabbed
his arm and then unsheathed his gunblade. It was heavy in her hand and she almost dropped it
before she got a good grip on it.

-No wonder there's only a few of these left, it'll break your arm if you swing it.-

She gripped it in one hand and Seifer in the other as the Eelinoc faced her, half of
it's face burnt from the Fire spell. It hissed again as it opened it's mouth, giving her a good
view of it's teeth that were the size of a Tonberry's chef knife. Her lungs beginning to burn,
she swam towards it. She'd have to judge the blow just right in order for her plan to work. As
it struck forward, she dodged it and stabbed at it's eye. The blade pierced the soft tissue,
causing the monster to hiss in pain and rage as it rolled and twisted in the water. Quistis kept
a tight grip on the blade and pulled it out before she swam quickly to the surface, unable to
hold her breath any longer.

She broke the surface, the clouds overhead now nearly as dark as night as took in a
well-needed breath. She pulled Seifer above the water's surface, noticing that he wasn't
breathing.

"Please Hyne, don't let him be dead, please Hyne, let someone be listening..." She swam
to shore and pulled him up onto the bank before she knelt beside him and started CPR. She pumped
his chest several times before she did mouth to mouth, working frantically. "Please Seifer,
don't be dead, come on Seify..."

Seifer coughed suddenly and spat up some water.Quistis rolled him over onto his side
and he coughed up the rest of the water in his lungs, taking in haggard breaths as he coughed
and retched up more water.

-Thank you Hyne, thank you...-

Quistis thought as she made sure he was okay. His breathing became more natural and he
opened his eyes. "H-hey," he managed in a ragged voice.

Quistis couldn't contain herself and hugged him, overjoyed. "Hey. I thought I lost you
there for a second."

"Nearly did,"Seifer croaked. He closed his eyes and patted her shoulder. "I'm okay now.
Really. Thanks for saving me."

Quistis smiled, relieved and happy beyond belief and let go of him. Hey, I still owe
you one. But can you walk? We need to get out of here."

Seifer shrugged. "Dunno.Think I broke a rib down there, but I'll try."

Quistis quickly cast one of her few remaining Cure spells and Seifer sighed, the pain
lessened considerably. He stood up, leaning on Quistis for support. He stood up, but stumbled,
Quistis catching him before he fell. Quistis supported him as he tried again with more success
this time, looking at him worringly before they started forward.

Seifer had almost gotten his balance back when she spotted it. "Look, over there,." she
said, pointing. It was an abandoned one-room cabin, the windows broken, but otherwise looking
firm and stable, a small mud and stick chimney sticking out of the roof.

She guided Seifer into the cabin, and not a moment too soon. Overhead, the rain came,
pelting the old shingles mercilessly. Quistis sat Seifer against a wall before she broke up a
rotten wooden chair that sat in a corner and started a fire in the fireplace.

"We have to get out of these wet clothes, or we'll catch pneumonia," Quistis said.
Seifer arched an eyebrow at her, but nodded. He was in no condition to argue.

Quistis helped him out of his coat and shirt and pull his boots off. She laid them
across a table that sat in the middle of the room before she removed her gloves and boots. She
unbuttoned the sleeves to her jacket and laid them across the table as well, unbuckling her
whip and laying it on another chair.

Seifer looked at her amused. "I didn't know you could do that with your sleeves."

Quistis smiled. "Yeah well, keeps me from getting too hot in summer." She opened a cedar
trunk in the corner of a room and found several blankets that had kept rather well. She laid one
down on the floor in front of the fire place and set one aside and used a third for a towel to
dry off with. When she was finished, she toweled of Seifer, who was still rather dazed from the
encounter with the Eelinoc. He smiled at her and he laid down on the blanket when she finished.

She sat down on the blanket next to him and gazed into the fire, running one hand along
her bare leg as she listened to the rain fall.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Seifer asked as he rolled over to look at her. He was looking
straight into her eye, and Quistis found that she couldn't look away.

-Hyne, he's so handsome in this light...-

"Just thinking about how close I came to losing you. I...I didn't what I'd do." Quistis
looked down nervously, unsure of how she felt or what she was saying. She felt fond of him,
there was no doubt about that, but she just wasn't sure about anything else.

Seifer put a finger under her chin and gently raised her face level to his. "You
would've been alright. Besides, you didn't." Seifer gazed steadily at her in a way that made her
feel pleasantly uncomfortable. They inched closer and she closed her eyes and felt Seifer's warm
lips on her own, pressing gently together. A warm rush came over Quistis and she was kissing him
back, their lips meeting and parting over and over.

Presently, she pulled away, looking at Seifer. He looked back at her puzzled, the fire
light dancing across his face. "What's the matter?" he asked.

Quistis shrugged, unable to decribe what she felt. "I don't know...I think...I think I
love you, Seifer Almasy."

Seifer looked back at her, his gaze intense. "I love you, Quistis Trepe."

Their mouths met again as they laid back on the blanket, oblivious to anything else in
the world outside of each other. And outside the cabin, the storm raged on.

Author's comments: That was part two. How'd you guys like it? Part three will conclude
the misadventures of Seifer and Quistis and get back on track to the main plot. Let us know what
you thought of this chapter by R&R, okay? :) Okay. Until next time.