A storm with freezing rain that leaves everything glazed with ice.
"Fujin, let me in?" Raijin pleaded at the closed door.
"No."
"You can't stay in there forever. C'mon, we'll go get a drink and then we can go…"
"No."
"Fujin, come on! This isn't healthy. Please come out!"
"No."
"You can't just stay in there, Fujin! It's not good for yo—" Before Raijin's sentence could be completed, Fujin pulled opened the door and stomped out. "Fujin, where are you going?"
"Somewhere."
"But where!" Raijin asked, running along side Fujin, as she stormed out of the building.
"Somewhere."
Raijin grabbed Fujin's arm and held her, as he demanded again. "Where are you going?"
Fujin glanced up at the tall man and kicked him hard in the shins. Out of reflex, Raijin let go of her arm, as he gripped his shin in pain. Fujin turned around and resumed walking, as if nothing happened.
~
"Deling City," Fujin said, as she walked up to the train station. To Deling City she would go… then catch a boat to the Island Closest to Hell. Sitting around in that old crappy apartment was not getting Seifer off her mind. Might as well put this aggression to good use.
"Deling City? Not many people go there anymore, after what Sorceress Edea did to the city's reputation. The last ticket I sold was to a tall blond man," the ticket idly chattered, while printing out Fujin's ticket.
"Blond?" Fujin asked, an image of Seifer instantly appearing in her mind.
"Yeah. He was about 6 feet, with a scar on his face. I'll tell you, that scar looked pretty painful."
"Hm," Fujin murmured, "With girl?"
"What? That blond man? No, he wasn't. He was by himself… and looking pretty miserable, if you ask me. I tell you, some people just need significant other. Keeps them together and crap like that."
Fujin nodded, paid for the ticket and left.
~
Why is he going to Deling City? Last time he was there… it was the sorceress parade. He hates the sleaziness of Deling. The last time he actually had a good time there, aside from the sorceress business was when he and Rin— oh… I see.
~
Fujin sat on the train, looking out the window, when someone sat down next to her. She glanced over and sighed. "Go."
"No, Fujin, I'm not leaving," Raijin replied.
"Fine," Fujin muttered, turning away from Raijin.
"Stop this, Fujin."
No reply.
"Stop doing this, Fujin. Stop shutting me out. I know you're going off to do something dangerous."
"Point?"
"Fujin…"
"Leave me alone, Raijin."
The tall man sighed. "Fine… if that's what you really wa—"
"It is. Leave."
Standing up, Raijin sighed and nodded. "Okay. But, I'll be at home, waiting, if you change your mind, okay? If you want to talk or anything…"
"No."
"If you say so, Fujin…" Raijin dejectedly muttered, getting off the train.
Fujin watched her best friend (though she would never publicly admit it, though he did know it) walk off, feeling her pain. I'm sorry, Raijin. But, trusting someone… even if it is you, isn't something I can do right now. I have to deal with this myself.
The train departed from Balamb station and headed off towards Deling.
~
"Hey, Fujin, what are you doing tonight?" Seifer asked, as the Disciplinary Committee walked through the halls, intimidating anyone they could.
"Studying," Fujin replied, glaring at a cadet who was about to spit out his gum into the plants.
"Want to go to the Ifrit & Shiva[*] with me?"
"Sure. But, Raijin test tomorrow."
"No, I mean, just us."
"Us?"
"Yeah, us. Just us. Go out with me, Fuj?" Seifer asked, standing in front of the surprised girl.
"Joke?" Fujin asked, looking sceptical.
"No, completely serious. Be my girl?"
Fujin was beyond amazed and for once, lacked even a single word reply. She simply nodded.
"I'll pick you up from your dorm around 7," Seifer said, grinning, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have class." He turned around and started walking away. Fujin still stood in the same spot, stunned. "Oh, Fuj?"
Fujin momentarily snapped out of her daze, "Ye… yeah?"
Seifer walked back and bent down to kiss the girl on the cheek. "Don't stand here all day, eh?" Seifer said, laughing and walking off again.
"Fujin, you're blushing, ya know?" Raijin commented, snickering, but happy for her.
Fujin's expression instantly turned stern and she kicked him in the shin.
~
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The train will be pulling into Deling station in approximately 15 minutes," the intercom announced to the train.
The brunette girl who had been sitting across the aisle from Fujin the entire time turned around and smiled. "So, why are you going to Deling?" Fujin looked over and gave a disdainful look, as if saying 'there's no way in hell I'm talking'. The girl didn't get the hint and continued talking, as if Fujin had answered her. "I'm going to see my boyfriend. He left Balamb about 6 months ago, to get a job in Deling. And now that he's finally settled, he sent me money to come to Deling to live with him. I've missed him so much!"
He probably cheated on her while he was in Deling. And he's probably only sending for her because his fling dumped his sorry ass or something.
"I can't wait to see him. I wrote him letters every other day!"
How pathetic.
"I wonder how he'll greet me… will he pick me up, spin me around, while passionately kissing me? Maybe he'll lift me up in his arms and carry me to our new home. Or maybe he'll…" the girl trailed off, her eyes getting all dreamy.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Deling City. Please disembark in a calm and orderly fashion. And thank you for choosing Doomtrain Express…" the conductor announced to the passengers.
Fujin walked off the train and the cool breeze of Deling City's night greeted her. She looked over to her right, where that chatty brunette was in the arms of her boyfriend, kissing passionately.
"…missed you so much, Tabitha."
"I've missed you too, Robert."
"Tabby, I have something to ask you…"
"Yeah?"
"Marry me?"
"Oh… Robert… I… yes! Of course!"
Fujin raised an eyebrow in skepticism and backed away from the circle of onlookers who were all smiling for the happy couple. Hmm… not all romances are doomed? As soon as that thought crossed her mind, she spotted a tall blond in the crowd, standing beside a brunette. Yeah… not all romances are doomed…after all… look… he and Rinoa got back together… how… nice…
[*] Ifrit & Shiva is a play on the resturant Fire & Ice. ^_^
Author's Notes: The plot thickens! Dun dun dun! XD Read and review! I like reviews!