Alexia made her way back to the dorm where she'd left Seifer. She
was so angry, but at the same time, she was also so confused. Why would
Seifer suggest something like that? She was almost positive that he didn't
have anything against neither the Headmaster nor the President. Or did
he...? She couldn't be sure anymore, but the one thing she did know was
that she needed to find out what he was up to.
"Seifer?" she called as she opened the door. The dorm was silent and dark. The tv was off, and the curtains were drawn as well. Alexia scanned the room twice before coming to the conclusion that Seifer was no longer there. "Now where did he go...?" She scoffed at his actions and turned to leave the dorm and emerged back out in the hall. She looked up and down it, but it too was empty.
She walked down into the main hall and searched the groups of people for someone who might know where Seifer had gotten to. She was almost about to give up when she saw Bryce, a guy who she'd seen talking with Seifer quite a few times in the past. Maybe he would have an inkling of where he'd be. She went over and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and greeted her with a smile.
"Hey Lexi. I haven't seen you in a while. What's up?" he asked kindly.
"Well actually, I was wondering if you knew where Seifer was. I... need to talk to him about something."
Bryce thought a moment. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since yesterday morning when he went to talk with the Sorceress. Sorry, but I have no idea where he is now."
"Wait, he went to talk with her just yesterday?" Alexia echoed. "Do you know what he wanted to see her about?"
Bryce shook his head. "Nope. All I know is that he went into her chambers and came out about a half hour later. Then he just... disappeared almost."
Alexia nodded. "Okay, thanks anyway. I'm sure I'll find him somewhere. See ya."
"Bye Lexi."
She turned around and began walking, not watching where she was going until she bumped into something hard. She bounced back, but whoever she'd just walked into didn't budge. "I really have to stop walking into people like this... I'm sorry." She looked up to see Raijin hovering over her, Fujin standing beside him. "Oh! Raijin! Fujin! Hey!"
Raijin began laughing heartily. "It's okay. Didn't feel a thing, ya know?"
"Well still, I should've been watching where I was going," Alexia replied.
Fujin's eye was full of concern. "PROBLEM?"
"Um, actually, yeah, sort of anyway. I was looking for Seifer. I really need to talk to him, but I can't find him anywhere. Do either of you know where he is? Or even where he might be?"
Fujin immediatly shook her head. "SORRY."
Raijin looked over at her. "Whaddaya mean 'sorry'? We just saw Seifer goin' into the -- OWWW!!!! Geez, Fujin, you don't have to be so violent, ya know?"
Alexia looked at both of them. "What? What were you saying?"
Raijin bent down and rubbed his shin where Fujin had just placed her foot. "Ow..."
"Fujin?" Alexia asked hopefully.
She shook her head, her silver hair flickering under the florescent lights overhead.
"Come on Fujin, this is really important. I won't tell him you told me. Please?"
Fujin seemed to be contemplating a response, but she simply shook her head again and remained quiet. She gave a nod to Raijin and they both turned and walked away.
"Since when are they so secretive?" Alexia asked herself. "They always tell me everything..." She thought a moment, then it came to her. Seifer had to be with Edea; there was no other explanation. But why was that such a big ordeal? Why wasn't she supposed to know he was there? Something definitely wasn't right.
She spun on her heels and began walking in the direction of the Sorceress's Chambers, which was hidden deep in the back of Galbadia Garden. She reached the doors in record time probably, and stared at them for a while. Two elaborately decorated golden doors which were dramatically set apart from the other doors stuck out like a sore thumb. Hardly anyone ever passed them, aside from Seifer, and maybe a few other people she didn't quite know of. As she stood there, lost in thought once again, the sound of voices flowed from the opposite side of the door. She put her ear up against it and held her breath, listening to the two people speak.
"You're sure this is going to work?" a silky female voice asked.
There was silence for an instant. "Yes."
Alexia recognized the voices immediatly. Seifer and Edea. "There is no room for error. If something were to go wrong, this entire mission will be over. I'm going to ask you once more: You're sure this is going to work my Knight? Nothing will go wrong?"
"I'm sure."
More silence.
"All right then. You may go. See to it that she does not defy my orders. Let it be known that if she does not comply, she will be prosecuted."
She? Are they talking about me? Alexia thought. Her fists clenched, but she remained still and silent.
"Yes Edea." There was a sadness to his voice that was somewhat strange. After their conversation, there was the sound of footsteps. Alexia quickly backed away from the door and rounded the hall. She heard the doors open and close and saw Seifer as he walked in the opposite direction.
"Seifer!"
He turned around and smiled. "Hey Lexi. What are you doing here?"
"That's what I was about to ask you. I've been looking everywhere for you!"
His brow furrowed. "Really? How come?"
Alexia blushed a fresh shade of crimson. What could she possibly tell him? That she was eavesdropping outside and heard their conversation? That she suspected she was being talked about? There was no reasonable explaination. So she went with the first thing that came to mind.
"I was um...waiting for you back here. Bryce said you might be here, so I just was waiting. Yeah, I was waiting."
Brilliant, Alexia, she scolded herself. She noted Seifer's eyebrow raising at her odd behavior, but attempted to act natural. "Why were you looking for me?"
She averted her eyes, and tried to think of where to start. Now what could she say? "Well, it actually has to do with what I heard from other people when it should've come from you," she said with a hint of displeasure in her voice. "Why did Blaze and Sydney bring up the subject of me assassinating Prseident Deling and the headmaster of Balamb Garden? And why did they tell me you suggested it to Edea?"
Seifer didn't respond right away, which only made Alexia more suspicious of his behavior. "I was going to talk to you about it Lexi, I swear," he told her, an almost pleading look in his emerald eyes.
She placed a hand on her hip. "Well, you can tell me right now."
His wandering eyes were quite obviously searching for a believable answer. She tapped her foot in impatience, and waited for him to speak. He met her eyes, emotions raging within them.
"You know I have no choice when it comes to things like this, Lex. I was going to tell you about it this morning, but you got all pissy and wouldn't let me talk to you."
Alexia narrowed her eyes. "You know who's fault that was, Seifer?"
In return, he kicked at the floor. "You don't understand!" The burst came unexpectantly, and it caused Alexia to jump.
She rose her voice to challenge his, not seeming as threatening as he did despite her determination. "What wouldn't I understand?! I'm asking you to tell me and you keep stalling! Apparently whatever it is, you don't want me to know about."
Seifer shook his head. "It isn't that. It's just... I wasn't sure if you'd get the wrong impression if I told you about it."
She looked at him quizzically. "What are you talking about?"
"It just seems like... I'm using you or something, just to help Edea, when I'm really not. And then what you were saying about her last night... It made me want to keep everything a big secret even more."
Her eyes dropped to the floor. She couldn't think of anything to say right away. "Seifer... this is just really complicated, that's all. It's not that I wouldn't understand, but... it would just be really difficult, you know?"
Seifer's eyes searched around the room, making it obvious that he was deep in thought. "We-well, I told Edea it would be a good plan for the carryout of the sniping. The whole Garden knows what a great sniper you are, Lexi, and I knew it would help Edea. I meant to ask you, but it just made me nervous with the way you were talking about her..."
Alexia's eyes softened, listening to the words come from her fiance. Knowing how she felt about Edea, she still wasn't sure she wanted to do what they'd asked of her, but for Seifer, she was willing. "I... I guess if you need me that badly, I can do it. I'll need time to prepare, and instructions..."
Seifer lit up like a Christmas tree the second he heard the words escape her mouth. Scooping her in his arms, he planted a warm kiss on her lips. "Thank you so much!"
Surprised by the reaction but pleased with the reward, Alexia smiled up at him. "You'll help me prepare, won't you?"
He returned a smirk. "Why wouldn't I help my best girl?"
Alexia smiled as he slipped his hand in hers and led her in the direction of the dormitory. Try as she might, she just couldn't get rid of her doubt. Sure, she had the best marksmanship in Galbadia Garden, but that didn't make it any easier for her to put those skills to work. Taking out monsters was no problem, but to take another human's life... especially people who were so important... Even with Seifer backing her up, she was still unsure.
She felt him give her hand a gentle squeeze. "Hey... you all right?" he asked sincerely.
She brushed the hair out of her eyes. "Um, yeah. I'm fine."
He gave her a look, but remained silent, giving the impression he believed her words. He didn't though. He knew something was on her mind. He just didn't know how to get her to tell him what was bothering her. Alexia was complex, and if you pushed the wrong buttons with her, she could turn on you like a snake. But at other times, she could be the sweetest and most loving girl in the world.
They stopped in front of the dorm that they shared and stepped inside, shutting the door behind them.
Alexia set the keycard softly down on the bar. Their room was small, but it was clean and comfortable. She walked slowly toward the bathroom, making sure Seifer didn't follow her too closely, and shut the door with a faint click behind her.
Inside the bathroom, Alexia turned down the toilet seat, and sat on top of it, rubbing her temples with her forefingers. How could she prepare herself to murder two people in one night? There was no way to, she decided. Preperation for something like this was almost impossible. All she could do was wait for the day to come...and hope she fulfilled Seifer's hopes.
Seifer moved toward the bathroom door. Leaning against it, he knocked quietly, saying into the crack of the door, "You okay, Lex?"
She lifted her face out of her hands and stared at the door, which was inched open the slightest bit. She knew she was acting ridiculous, hiding in the bathroom just so she didn't have to face her feelings. And Seifer should've been the easiest person to express them to, but he wasn't. She swallowed hard. "Yeah, I'm okay..." She stood up and flushed the toliet so he thought she'd actually gone in there for a reason.
She took the doorknob in her hand and pulled open the door, being greeted by Seifer's concerned face. She slipped past him and went over to the small loveseat that was placed at the back end of the room, seating herself in it and turning on the televsion.
Seifer proceeded in the same direction and sat beside her. "Lexi... Just please talk to me. I know there's something still bothering you."
She kept her oceanic eyes locked on the screen, although she wasn't paying any attention to what was on. She heard everything Seifer said loud and clear, but didn't have any idea of how to respond.
Seifer reached over, desperate now, grabbed the remote, and watched the TV flick off. That caused Alexia to turn to him with an angry glare. "What'd you do that for? I told you, I'm fine!"
Despite the fact that she wasn't watching a thing, it still angered her that he'd butt in to what she was doing. "Because you're closing yourself off from me! You should be able to talk to me. If this whole thing with Edea is bothering you, just tell me, goddammit."
She shifted her gaze to a picture of Seifer, Raijin, Fujin and her on the wall, noting the time it was taken. "Yes, that is what's bothering me, okay? How would you feel if you were told you had to murder two people all in the same night? Not too great, I'm guessing. I just need some time, okay Seifer?"
His face softened and he followed her gaze to the photo on the wall. "I never really thought too much about that... I'm sorry."
She looked over at him. "It's... it's alright. Just as long as you don't push me, I'll be okay. I just need time that's all."
He smiled over at her, taking his eyes off the picture as well. "I promise, you take all the time you need. Edea didn't say anything about a deadline, and I'm sure she understands that you can't be expected to be ready in just a day or two."
A smile crept to her lips as well. "Okay then. But just remember, I'm doing this for you, so you'll owe me."
Seifer smirked knowingly, raising a curious eyebrow. "Oh really? Owe you how? Will it benefit me too?"
Alexia gave him a playful swat, and he feigned hurt. "You're sick! Just know you owe me in some form, no matter what your mind may fantasize."
He laughed, and pushed her down into the couches soft folds. With a whisper of, "I love you," he kissed her lips softly, letting it last for however long they would permit.
"Seifer?" she called as she opened the door. The dorm was silent and dark. The tv was off, and the curtains were drawn as well. Alexia scanned the room twice before coming to the conclusion that Seifer was no longer there. "Now where did he go...?" She scoffed at his actions and turned to leave the dorm and emerged back out in the hall. She looked up and down it, but it too was empty.
She walked down into the main hall and searched the groups of people for someone who might know where Seifer had gotten to. She was almost about to give up when she saw Bryce, a guy who she'd seen talking with Seifer quite a few times in the past. Maybe he would have an inkling of where he'd be. She went over and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and greeted her with a smile.
"Hey Lexi. I haven't seen you in a while. What's up?" he asked kindly.
"Well actually, I was wondering if you knew where Seifer was. I... need to talk to him about something."
Bryce thought a moment. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since yesterday morning when he went to talk with the Sorceress. Sorry, but I have no idea where he is now."
"Wait, he went to talk with her just yesterday?" Alexia echoed. "Do you know what he wanted to see her about?"
Bryce shook his head. "Nope. All I know is that he went into her chambers and came out about a half hour later. Then he just... disappeared almost."
Alexia nodded. "Okay, thanks anyway. I'm sure I'll find him somewhere. See ya."
"Bye Lexi."
She turned around and began walking, not watching where she was going until she bumped into something hard. She bounced back, but whoever she'd just walked into didn't budge. "I really have to stop walking into people like this... I'm sorry." She looked up to see Raijin hovering over her, Fujin standing beside him. "Oh! Raijin! Fujin! Hey!"
Raijin began laughing heartily. "It's okay. Didn't feel a thing, ya know?"
"Well still, I should've been watching where I was going," Alexia replied.
Fujin's eye was full of concern. "PROBLEM?"
"Um, actually, yeah, sort of anyway. I was looking for Seifer. I really need to talk to him, but I can't find him anywhere. Do either of you know where he is? Or even where he might be?"
Fujin immediatly shook her head. "SORRY."
Raijin looked over at her. "Whaddaya mean 'sorry'? We just saw Seifer goin' into the -- OWWW!!!! Geez, Fujin, you don't have to be so violent, ya know?"
Alexia looked at both of them. "What? What were you saying?"
Raijin bent down and rubbed his shin where Fujin had just placed her foot. "Ow..."
"Fujin?" Alexia asked hopefully.
She shook her head, her silver hair flickering under the florescent lights overhead.
"Come on Fujin, this is really important. I won't tell him you told me. Please?"
Fujin seemed to be contemplating a response, but she simply shook her head again and remained quiet. She gave a nod to Raijin and they both turned and walked away.
"Since when are they so secretive?" Alexia asked herself. "They always tell me everything..." She thought a moment, then it came to her. Seifer had to be with Edea; there was no other explanation. But why was that such a big ordeal? Why wasn't she supposed to know he was there? Something definitely wasn't right.
She spun on her heels and began walking in the direction of the Sorceress's Chambers, which was hidden deep in the back of Galbadia Garden. She reached the doors in record time probably, and stared at them for a while. Two elaborately decorated golden doors which were dramatically set apart from the other doors stuck out like a sore thumb. Hardly anyone ever passed them, aside from Seifer, and maybe a few other people she didn't quite know of. As she stood there, lost in thought once again, the sound of voices flowed from the opposite side of the door. She put her ear up against it and held her breath, listening to the two people speak.
"You're sure this is going to work?" a silky female voice asked.
There was silence for an instant. "Yes."
Alexia recognized the voices immediatly. Seifer and Edea. "There is no room for error. If something were to go wrong, this entire mission will be over. I'm going to ask you once more: You're sure this is going to work my Knight? Nothing will go wrong?"
"I'm sure."
More silence.
"All right then. You may go. See to it that she does not defy my orders. Let it be known that if she does not comply, she will be prosecuted."
She? Are they talking about me? Alexia thought. Her fists clenched, but she remained still and silent.
"Yes Edea." There was a sadness to his voice that was somewhat strange. After their conversation, there was the sound of footsteps. Alexia quickly backed away from the door and rounded the hall. She heard the doors open and close and saw Seifer as he walked in the opposite direction.
"Seifer!"
He turned around and smiled. "Hey Lexi. What are you doing here?"
"That's what I was about to ask you. I've been looking everywhere for you!"
His brow furrowed. "Really? How come?"
Alexia blushed a fresh shade of crimson. What could she possibly tell him? That she was eavesdropping outside and heard their conversation? That she suspected she was being talked about? There was no reasonable explaination. So she went with the first thing that came to mind.
"I was um...waiting for you back here. Bryce said you might be here, so I just was waiting. Yeah, I was waiting."
Brilliant, Alexia, she scolded herself. She noted Seifer's eyebrow raising at her odd behavior, but attempted to act natural. "Why were you looking for me?"
She averted her eyes, and tried to think of where to start. Now what could she say? "Well, it actually has to do with what I heard from other people when it should've come from you," she said with a hint of displeasure in her voice. "Why did Blaze and Sydney bring up the subject of me assassinating Prseident Deling and the headmaster of Balamb Garden? And why did they tell me you suggested it to Edea?"
Seifer didn't respond right away, which only made Alexia more suspicious of his behavior. "I was going to talk to you about it Lexi, I swear," he told her, an almost pleading look in his emerald eyes.
She placed a hand on her hip. "Well, you can tell me right now."
His wandering eyes were quite obviously searching for a believable answer. She tapped her foot in impatience, and waited for him to speak. He met her eyes, emotions raging within them.
"You know I have no choice when it comes to things like this, Lex. I was going to tell you about it this morning, but you got all pissy and wouldn't let me talk to you."
Alexia narrowed her eyes. "You know who's fault that was, Seifer?"
In return, he kicked at the floor. "You don't understand!" The burst came unexpectantly, and it caused Alexia to jump.
She rose her voice to challenge his, not seeming as threatening as he did despite her determination. "What wouldn't I understand?! I'm asking you to tell me and you keep stalling! Apparently whatever it is, you don't want me to know about."
Seifer shook his head. "It isn't that. It's just... I wasn't sure if you'd get the wrong impression if I told you about it."
She looked at him quizzically. "What are you talking about?"
"It just seems like... I'm using you or something, just to help Edea, when I'm really not. And then what you were saying about her last night... It made me want to keep everything a big secret even more."
Her eyes dropped to the floor. She couldn't think of anything to say right away. "Seifer... this is just really complicated, that's all. It's not that I wouldn't understand, but... it would just be really difficult, you know?"
Seifer's eyes searched around the room, making it obvious that he was deep in thought. "We-well, I told Edea it would be a good plan for the carryout of the sniping. The whole Garden knows what a great sniper you are, Lexi, and I knew it would help Edea. I meant to ask you, but it just made me nervous with the way you were talking about her..."
Alexia's eyes softened, listening to the words come from her fiance. Knowing how she felt about Edea, she still wasn't sure she wanted to do what they'd asked of her, but for Seifer, she was willing. "I... I guess if you need me that badly, I can do it. I'll need time to prepare, and instructions..."
Seifer lit up like a Christmas tree the second he heard the words escape her mouth. Scooping her in his arms, he planted a warm kiss on her lips. "Thank you so much!"
Surprised by the reaction but pleased with the reward, Alexia smiled up at him. "You'll help me prepare, won't you?"
He returned a smirk. "Why wouldn't I help my best girl?"
Alexia smiled as he slipped his hand in hers and led her in the direction of the dormitory. Try as she might, she just couldn't get rid of her doubt. Sure, she had the best marksmanship in Galbadia Garden, but that didn't make it any easier for her to put those skills to work. Taking out monsters was no problem, but to take another human's life... especially people who were so important... Even with Seifer backing her up, she was still unsure.
She felt him give her hand a gentle squeeze. "Hey... you all right?" he asked sincerely.
She brushed the hair out of her eyes. "Um, yeah. I'm fine."
He gave her a look, but remained silent, giving the impression he believed her words. He didn't though. He knew something was on her mind. He just didn't know how to get her to tell him what was bothering her. Alexia was complex, and if you pushed the wrong buttons with her, she could turn on you like a snake. But at other times, she could be the sweetest and most loving girl in the world.
They stopped in front of the dorm that they shared and stepped inside, shutting the door behind them.
Alexia set the keycard softly down on the bar. Their room was small, but it was clean and comfortable. She walked slowly toward the bathroom, making sure Seifer didn't follow her too closely, and shut the door with a faint click behind her.
Inside the bathroom, Alexia turned down the toilet seat, and sat on top of it, rubbing her temples with her forefingers. How could she prepare herself to murder two people in one night? There was no way to, she decided. Preperation for something like this was almost impossible. All she could do was wait for the day to come...and hope she fulfilled Seifer's hopes.
Seifer moved toward the bathroom door. Leaning against it, he knocked quietly, saying into the crack of the door, "You okay, Lex?"
She lifted her face out of her hands and stared at the door, which was inched open the slightest bit. She knew she was acting ridiculous, hiding in the bathroom just so she didn't have to face her feelings. And Seifer should've been the easiest person to express them to, but he wasn't. She swallowed hard. "Yeah, I'm okay..." She stood up and flushed the toliet so he thought she'd actually gone in there for a reason.
She took the doorknob in her hand and pulled open the door, being greeted by Seifer's concerned face. She slipped past him and went over to the small loveseat that was placed at the back end of the room, seating herself in it and turning on the televsion.
Seifer proceeded in the same direction and sat beside her. "Lexi... Just please talk to me. I know there's something still bothering you."
She kept her oceanic eyes locked on the screen, although she wasn't paying any attention to what was on. She heard everything Seifer said loud and clear, but didn't have any idea of how to respond.
Seifer reached over, desperate now, grabbed the remote, and watched the TV flick off. That caused Alexia to turn to him with an angry glare. "What'd you do that for? I told you, I'm fine!"
Despite the fact that she wasn't watching a thing, it still angered her that he'd butt in to what she was doing. "Because you're closing yourself off from me! You should be able to talk to me. If this whole thing with Edea is bothering you, just tell me, goddammit."
She shifted her gaze to a picture of Seifer, Raijin, Fujin and her on the wall, noting the time it was taken. "Yes, that is what's bothering me, okay? How would you feel if you were told you had to murder two people all in the same night? Not too great, I'm guessing. I just need some time, okay Seifer?"
His face softened and he followed her gaze to the photo on the wall. "I never really thought too much about that... I'm sorry."
She looked over at him. "It's... it's alright. Just as long as you don't push me, I'll be okay. I just need time that's all."
He smiled over at her, taking his eyes off the picture as well. "I promise, you take all the time you need. Edea didn't say anything about a deadline, and I'm sure she understands that you can't be expected to be ready in just a day or two."
A smile crept to her lips as well. "Okay then. But just remember, I'm doing this for you, so you'll owe me."
Seifer smirked knowingly, raising a curious eyebrow. "Oh really? Owe you how? Will it benefit me too?"
Alexia gave him a playful swat, and he feigned hurt. "You're sick! Just know you owe me in some form, no matter what your mind may fantasize."
He laughed, and pushed her down into the couches soft folds. With a whisper of, "I love you," he kissed her lips softly, letting it last for however long they would permit.