'What's wrong, Irvine?' Ariena asked, setting his juice in front of him. He glanced at the drink for a second, then went back to gazing at the water.

'Seifer. He's been gone for two days. He would've come back by now. Plus, there's still that monster to deal with.' Irvine scratched his forehead, shifting his ten-gallon up. He pulled it back down and slipped his hands around behind his head to tighten the auburn ponytail. Where are you, Seifer? You've been gone too long.

'I'm sure he's fine. Besides, there haven't been any monster attacks since we got here. So maybe he's dispatched the Blue Dragon already.' Ariena stirred her tea and set the spoon on the table. She sipped it slowly, savoring the minty flavor. 'Have something to drink. You'll feel better.'

Irvine reached for his drink blindly, knocking a little juice over the edge. He took a gulp and placed the glass back on its napkin. Ariena slipped her hand over Irvine's before he removed it from reach. Irvine tucked his hand into the crook of his elbow. Nagru moved closer, pulling her chair behind her and sat beside the cowboy.

'Ariena, leave me alone.' Irvine whipped his head away from her persuing hand. Again, the brunette tried to put her hand on Irvine's cheek. When he pulled back she grabbed him roughly by the chin and kissed him dispassionately. Irvine jumped to his feet, knocking her over.

'Hyne, what are you doing?' He wiped away her lipstick. Ariena got to her feet and started to undo the front of her SeeD jacket. She let it slide to the ground, revealing a tight white blouse underneath.

'Remember, on the train, Irvine? You said you loved me. So here, take me now.' She grasped her collar in her hands and gave a sharp tug, tearing the buttons away and exposing her bare chest. Ariena moved closer, pressing her breasts into Irvine. Her hand started to trail down his stomach and pulled at the belt holding his pants up. Irvine gasped deeply as his chaps fell to the ground.

'We don't need Seifer around. Just you and me ...' she whispered into his ear. Irvine's eyelids snapped open and he shoved her off his chest, leaving her sprawled on the ground. Pulling his clothes back together, he grabbed Exeter and slammed the door behind him.

Ariena calmly replaced her shirt and jumper, removing a small voice recorder from her pocket. She flicked a button and waited for the tape to start winding. 'Third day, fifth month. Kisera Lann reporting. Both Almasy and Kinneas have been effectively put off from the "mission." Proceeding to stage two of the plan.' She placed the device into her pocket and went into the room, smirking to herself.

~*~*~*~

Dizzying bright light invaded Seifer's nulled senses. He blinked fiercely and waved a hand over his eyes, trying to shade them. The light glowed from the side, reflected off the crystalline wall. Resigning the futile task, Seifer dropped his arm and shut his eyes. A small squeak beside him made the blonde snap up. He carefully looked to the side, trying not to make any fast movements.

Laying on its side, claws outstretched and wings folded back, was the Blue Dragon that had attacked Seifer. Trying to contain his fear and urge to run, Seifer carefully slid backwards towards the edge of the cave. The Dragon gave a snuffle and clutched its talons together then relaxed them. Drowsily, with one eye partially open, it reached out with its hand as if searching for something. Finding nothing, its gaze widened. It rolled on to its four legs and looked over at the patch of grass beside it.

The Dragon swung its massive head around and stared at Seifer. Its one eye, the other being blinded from an attack, softened and it blinked before laying back down. Deep breaths signalled its return to sleep. Seifer listed through his junctions, rearranging magic to favor his defense and protection from poison. He checked his GFs for health. Cerberus cried its pain and Seifer responded that he had lost his GF medicines. The hound whimpered and went to sleep, slowly healing himself.

Seifer lifted himself carefully from the ground, finding that one of his ankles was twisted. He slid along the edges of the cave, limping towards what looked to be the entrance. Seifer looked over his shoulder, seeing the Dragon still asleep, he turned and continued through the tunnel. Scratched crystals framed his accent and light reflected from every direction. He squinted to keep the light out and reached blindly for the rocks, pulling himself towards the scent of fresh air.

A breeze played with his bangs as Seifer's head appeared over the edge of the hole. He opened his eyes slowly and gazed around at the area in front of him.

Trees, nothing but a forest. Straight flat out forest for as far as he could see. The only place he could think of that was this crowded was the Grandidi Forest. But that was on a completely different continent. Grandidi was on the Esthar Continent while Winhill was on the Galbadian Continent. Quite a far way from each other. How could he have gotten so far?

A deep guttural growl rumbled through the rocks behind him. Seifer turned around and was face to face with the old Blue Dragon that had attacked him. He went to reach for Hyperion at his waist before remembering that it was probably still in the forest by Winhill. Swearing to himself, Seifer used a Fira on the beast. The Dragon whined and pulled itself completely out off the cave, clawing at its face. When the burning had stopped, it rose its great head and saw Seifer limping away from the entrance.

The Dragon flapped its massive wings, a few more scales falling away, and flew over the blonde, picking him up in its claws. It circled and carefully sat Seifer down on the edge of the hole. He sat there and watched the lizard as it landed itself. It sniffed at his favored ankle. Seifer gasped as the Blue Dragon licked his foot and leg gently, making sure it didn't hurt it any worse.

~*~*~*~

'Seifer? He's not back yet? Did you check the other hotels?' Zell asked worriedly.

'What other hotels?' Irvine responded. 'Nagru's gone, too. She hasn't been back to the hotel in days either. I haven't got any idea where either of them went-'

'Screw Nagru! I want to know where Seifer is! Come on, Irvine! Where is he?!' Zell tapped his foot and walked back and forth in his room at Garden. He turned towards the worn and tattered punching bag in the corner. Out of frustration and impatience, he kicked the bag roughly. It bounced back and forth on its anchor, almost falling off.

'I don't know where he is. Zell, I can't tell you anymore than I know. And how can I know anything if no one's around to find stuff out from?' Irvine tried to reason. He could hear the clinking of the metal in the background as Zell hit his equipment again.

'Damnit, Irvine. That's it. I'm going to see Squall.' He hung up the phone quickly, knocking the stand off the table. Grabbing his gloves off an armchair, Zell pulled on Ergheiz and rushed out the door, leaving it unlocked as it closed itself. Pounding through the hallways, he pushed two or three cadets over and rushed into the elevator. Ignoring another cadet trying to catch the same one, Zell mashed the Close Doors button and jammed the 3 floor. He shuffled back and forth, swinging at the air as the elevator slowly moved upwards.

The blonde was out before the doors had fully opened. He slammed the wooden doors to Squall's office open and walked in, talking quickly.

'Squall? Did you know that Nagru girl you sent with them is a total bitch? She tried to seduce Seifer and now Seifer's gone and she tried the same thing on Irvine and for once he didn't do anything and now he's moved into a completely different hotel just to get away from her and no one knows where she's gone 'cause she hasn't been back to the hotel in days and Seifer hasn't been seen anywhere and why the hell aren't you doing anything, Squall?!' Squall stood, staring amazedly. He'd never heard Zell talk like that before. He seemed upset, maybe. It was hard to tell what emotion he was going through right now. Somewhere between anger, being upset and wanting to kill someone.

'SQUALL?! ARE YOU EVEN PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT I'M SAYING?!' Squall shook himself out of the stupor and tried to calm Zell down.

'Zell, sit down and say that again, but slowly and one word at a time.' Zell sat down, rubbing his hands anxiously together.

'Squall? Did you know that Nagru girl you sent with them has ruined the whole mission? Seifer's gone, Irvine's moved to a different hotel to get away from her and no one's seen that damn bitch in the last few days.' Squall sat down himself and waited, expecting more from Zell. When nothing came, he blinked, surprised.

'Okay. I will take this into direct consideration and will call around to see what I can do.' Squall picked up his phone and punched in a few numbers, signalling the end of the conversation. Zell stood and left, walking slowly so that he could hear part of Squall's conversation.

'Yes. Yes ... We'll need to send another party to find him ... No ... Just disappeared ... Different hotel ... Not sure ... Hang on. Yes?' Squall looked up at Zell. Zell was standing in front of his desk, hands on the table.

'I'm going on that mission, Squall,' Zell stated matter-of-factly.

'You can't, you're emotionally attached to this. Quistis, Selphie and Rinoa are going to go.'

'So you're telling me that there's no chance that Rinoa's going to be attached to this? Newsflash, Squall! She dated Seifer before the whole incident started!' Squall dropped the receiver and stood up. He looked down at Zell who was staring up at him, unintimidated.

'Leave, Zell. You're not going on that mission. Rinoa can control her feelings. You wear your heart on your sleeve and would probably react at a moment's notice if something happened to Seifer.'

'Which is more than you're doing right now!' Zell turned on his heel and stamped out of the room. He slammed the wood door behind him.

'If you leave Balamb Garden before Seifer gets back, Zell, then you're in big trouble.' Squall went back to his phone call. 'I don't know how much longer I can keep him under control. He's too emotional ... I am not emotional .... Whatever.'