Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy, Square does.

Chapter 3: Seifer

A few days later…

"Squall, are you sure they're coming through the back entrance? Is this the back entrance? I didn't even know there was a back entrance! I mean, how can there be a back entrance to a round building?"

"Shut up, Zell," the others all said in unison.

"This is soo cool! Garden has a secret exit from the Commander's office! Wow! Can…" Zell stopped talking amidst strange looks from the others.

"They're here," Squall announced as a dot in the sky grew larger and larger by the second.

"…what iz going on 'ere!? You were supposed to keep 'im from getting annoyed! Do I 'ave to do everything myself!?" Dr. Odine's voice carried out to their ears after their lift had landed. By now, they were all wondering who this person was that Odine was being so secretive about. They would find out soon enough. Through the door, out stepped Odine, followed by his assistant, followed by Seifer. Seifer!?

"What the heck? What is he doing here?" Zell cried out, looking as if he was about to leap over and beat the larger man up.

At the same time, Squall said coldly, "Why did you bring him here, Doctor?"

Rinoa had a strange look on her face when she saw who it was that stepped out.

"'im? Oh, he iz the person I said I vould bring. He 'as some information he would like you to know."

"What am I doing here? When you said I knew the people, I didn't think you meant them!" Seifer exclaimed.

"………" Squall said and shook his head. "Let's go to my office to discuss these things."

**********

"…and that's about all I have to say. And I want to apologize for working with the Sorceresses during the War."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but did I just hear Seifer apologize?" Quistis had a shocked look on her face.

"Yes, Instructor," Seifer said.

"Sorry to interrupt this, but we need to figure out what to do next. Since the whole Garden knows Seifer and won't let his life here be easy, we have to come up with something else. It's either we hide him or we give him a new name." Squall looked around at them.

"Or you could just let me be Seifer… I would prefer to handle this myself. I've been around people who hate me for three years now, I can take a bit more… By the way, are Rai and Fuu here still?"

"Yeah, I'll call them up here so you guys can talk," Irvine said, leaving the room with Selphie close behind.

Then they all left, leaving Seifer and Squall to talk.

**********

Over the next few days, word got around that Seifer Almasy was back at Garden. The students were less than stiffly courteous, though. They spoke to him only when required and avoided him in the halls. Raijin and Fujin were the only ones who dared to go near him. Their posse was complete again.

That afternoon, he sought out Quistis in her classroom after her class was over. "Instructor, I just want to say I'm sorry for what I've done. I just wanted to be in the spotlight, and that desire clouded my judgment. I want everyone's forgiveness, but I have to start with you guys because I hurt you the most. If you won't, or can't, I understand, because I don't deserve anyone's forgiveness."

"Seifer, what happened to you these past three years?" Quistis whispered. "You've got so many emotional wounds… How did you survive?" Despite what he had done to them, she couldn't help but feel sympathy for this man.

"I don't know, I really don't know," he said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry if this is too sudden. You don't have to tell me now." He laughed a haunted laugh, as if nothing in the world could surprise him now. "What did happen to me? To the old Seifer? I've probably apologized more these past three days than in my whole life." With that, he left the room.

Quistis sat at her desk, thinking about what Seifer had just said, her papers forgotten. What had happened to him? He seemed like a hollow shell, like a person who had no life worth living. What happened to the arrogant Seifer who though he owned the world?

A/N: Seifer is apologizing. I know. But he's changed, that's all I can say. Anyway, please r/r, thanks!