(¯`'·.¸(¯`'·. Chapter Ten .·'´¯)¸.·'´¯)
(¯`'·. Verdict .·'´¯)
The anticipation was as thick as a swarm of bees. Almost palpable like a metal wall. Even the judge looked a little nervous constantly shuffling the papers in front of him. Ducti glared at Quistis and Seifer, his eyes burning. Seifer could feel his hands sweating, his heart thumping in his chest. Quistis sat next to him looking calm, cool, and collected. The clock rang in his ears, the crowd murmuring behind him. Both Raijun and Fuijun had all ready come up to wish him luck before sitting back down. Seifer sighed reaching over and lacing his fingers through hers. She smiled a bit before turning her attention to the small jury room door as it was opening.
At last the jury filled back in the room, their faces blank. A hush fell over the courtroom; Seifer took a deep breath.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked.
"We have" a short bald man said standing up.
"What is your verdict?" the judge said. Butterflies rolled in Seifer's stomach.
"We find Seifer Almasy guilty, on the charge of murder in the first degree" the short man said.
Chaos.
People in the crowd shouting, Ducti cheering. Quistis bursting into tears. Xavier standing up and yelling at the juror. All Seifer could do was sit there and stare at his black gloved hands. It was all so unbelievable. Suddenly the loud banging of the judge's gavel rang through out the courtroom.
"Everyone out! Out of my courtroom. Everyone but Almasy, and Ms. Trepe" the judge shouted rising to his feet.
"But- " Ducti started to say before he was cut off by a look from the judge. The courtroom cleared out quickly, leaving a dumbstruck Seifer and Quistis sitting in front of the judge.
"The jury's ruling will stand. But I am the one that deals the punishment. Most people die in Deling for murder. I believe that all thought you did do it, there was more then enough reason too," the judge said.
"You're letting me go?" Seifer asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Unfortunately I can't let you go with out some kind of punishment," the judge said. Quistis reached over and grabbed Seifer's hand their gloves meeting.
"What's going to happen to him?" Quistis asked her voice fearful.
"Seifer Almasy, you are hereby banished from Deling City. That is the best I can do. If you set your foot here again, what they will do to you is out of my control. You have till tomorrow evening" the judge proclaimed giving them a small smile.
"Thank you judge" Seifer said returning the smile while he stood up.
"Now, Ms. Trepe. I have been assigned to Castle Billings' will. It seems he left it all to you" The judge said pushing a ream of papers at her. Her hands shook her she picked them up half in a daze.
"Thank you" she said her voice shaking a bit. The judge nodded and left the room leaving the two of them standing alone in the courtroom.
"Quistis" Seifer said softly taking the papers from her hands.
"Yeah?" she said watching as he set them down on the table behind him.
"Thank you for coming here today, and saving me" he said reaching out to grasp her hand.
"I realized that Castle made me weak, that I needed to be strong again. That I needed to prove it to myself, and to you that I was still the same Quistis" she said placing her hand within his.
"Yes, you are still the same Quistis that used to yell at me from the front of the classroom" he said flashing her his cocky smirk.
"Oh and you're the same Seifer Almasy that somehow managed to slip spitting toads into my bed, in my dorm" she said with a sly smile.
"Me? Would I do something like that?" he said feigning innocence.
"Of course you would" she said stepping closer to him his heat washing over her. She could smell him, taste his breath.
"You said I was your angel, does that mean you my Knight" he asked smirk playing on his face.
"Knight Quistis, I kind of like that. But I think I need a few more belts, and a gunblade of course" she said smiling at him. He threw his head back and laughed feeling free at last. She laughed with him, smile spread across her face. They fit so well together laughing.
"I love you, Quistis" he said softly before covering her heart shaped lips with his own. She pulled away remaining in his arms, to run her hand through his soft blond hair.
"I love you too, Seifer" she said reining him in for another kiss. He pulled away this time his heart giddy, stomach doing jumps. At last, she loved him! Finally he had what he had always dreamed of. Quistis Trepe was his at last. After all they had been through he had saved her at last.
"Do me one last favor, Mr. Almasy" she said.
"Anything" he said.
"Take me away from this city full of bad memories" she whispered. He nodded lifting her up for another kiss, fingers intertwined around hers.
(¯`'·.¸(¯`'·. ~Fin~ .·'´¯)¸.·'´¯)