"...So you're really sure you're ok, right?" a 16 year old girl with spiky black hair--another rather good friend of mine named Mackenzie--asked worriedly, placing down her coffee cup to cast me a shaky glance. It was the next morning, at breakfast mess, and I had left the hospital wing earlier that day in time to meet up with my friends in the mess hall. All immediately questioned my health, and although I repeatedly assured them that I was all right, they never seemed satisfied.

I smiled wearily, finishing off the last piece of my burnt toast and wiping the crumbs off my hands. "...Yea, I'm 100% fine." I gingerly touched the bandage on my left cheek, wincing against the aggravated burn that erupted on contact. "Dr. Carter said I'd just have a bruise for a while but that everything else looked A-OK. But she was surprised that my nose wasn't broken, especially since it was bleeding so much."

"Hm." Devil (the humorous nickname for the short, cute redhead named Angel) acknowledged my reply with a mumble, running her fork absentmindedly through the mush called "hashbrowns", then met my eyes. "...What about Landon?"

"...Landon?" I paused for a moment, thinking. I hadn't even thought about him since I had been rushed to the hospital wing. "...I...I don't know. I haven't seen him since the whole thing happened."

"Oh my God, it was awful!!" Aimee burst out suddenly, struggling to swallow her mouthful of bagel before speaking. "I...I was so worried about you, Kay, and then out of nowhere--bang!!--there's Sephiroth, who suddenly grabs Landon's neck from behind and holds him up in the air until Garcia ran over! And the whole time Landon looked like he was gonna choke! I almost passed out!!"

The other girls nodded in breathless agreement. "...But...It's kinda random, don't you think?" Devil said suddenly, glancing up from the tabletop. "I mean, Sephiroth never talks to anyone....He's the last person I'd ever think to step in and help someone."

"Yea," Mackenzie went on, casting a glance over at me. "Y'think he likes you, Kay?"

I blushed. "Sh...Shut up!!" I replied with a nervous laugh. "He doesn't even know my name! He's never cast a second glance in my direction! I don't think so!"

"Well..." Aimee gazed over her shoulder, where I could see, across the crowded, bustling mess hall, the form of Sephirtoh sitting alone at a rather large table. In one hand he held a mug of coffee (which tasted like turpentine, by the way), and his eyes were directed downwards. It looked like he was reading something. "...I can't think of any other explanation. I mean, he really doesn't talk to anyone, does he...?"

Mackenzie shook her head. "Never. I don't think I've ever seen him speak to anyone, with the exception of maybe a coach or two. But even then it as just 'yes, sir' or somethin."

Devil exhaled a sigh through her nose. "...But still..." she began distantly, staring over at his isolated position across the hall, "it was an awful charitable thing to do, wasn't it...?"

I didn't reply, gazing vacantly over at his motionless form across the cafeteria. He seemed so indifferent to his isolation, ignoring any bewildered stares passersby tossed in his direction, taking occasional sips from his mug and nonchalantly flipping over pages in whatever it was that he was reading. I wiped my mouth with the napkin laying in my lap, but I couldn't seem to draw my eyes away from him.

A shrill whistle came from across the mess hall, near the main doorway, and as I involuntarily started in place I could see the form of Garcia's second-in-command (and fiancé, I found out later), a rather pudgy middle aged woman with buzzed brown hair named Evelia. She wore a red visor over her eyes coupled with her hideous white stained tank top and camo pants. She dropped the whistle from her lips so it fell back onto her noticeably fake bosom (I swear to God it ricocheted off several times too). "Alright, you maggots!!" she bellowed, lifting her visor brim momentarily to get a good look around the room. "Let's get a moveon, chop chop! Anyone showing up late to their first session will take a nice long jog around the city, comprende? Let's move out."

A muffled murmur ran through the hall, as all students scornfully got to their feet and began heading towards the doors to their first session. I exhaled a weary sigh, scooted back my chair, and stood, then stopped again when my eyes fell back onto Sephiroth. He was the only one that hadn't moved, still sitting casually at his empty table, drinking his coffee and reading. He hadn't even glanced up when Evelia had entered, and now he seemed oblivious to the bustling crowds moving about on all his sides. I continued watching him for a moment, then slowly lifted a hand to my cheek, which emitted an irritated sting,

"Hey, Kay!!" My friends were already standing at the doorway located to my right, and they waved enthusiastically over at me. We all had Garcia first session for hand to hand combat, and they knew it was better never to show up again than to show up late. "Are you comin or what??"

I gazed back over at them for several seconds, then back over at Sephiroth. All at once my brain made some sort of random decision. "...You guys go on ahead!" I called back, flashing them a reassuring smile. "I'll catch up in just a minute! I won't be late, I promise!"

They all exchanged puzzled glances, then shrugged to each other, tossed me a farewell wave, and exited the hall. By then the majority of the students had cleared out with the exception of a few loiterers heading towards the doors and Sephiroth, who still hadn't moved from his original position. With one final click the double doors swung closed, leaving me alone in the mess hall with Sephiroth. I don't think he noticed my presence.

I hesitated for a moment, and I think my brain was finally realizing what it had made up its mind to do. Unfortunately, at that point it was too late, because my feet were involuntarily leading me over towards the table.

I halted several feet away from him, clasping my hands nervously behind my back and clearing my throat loudly.

He didn't react for a moment, continuing to read whatever book it was that he held in his hand, but then slowly his eyes slid over in the direction of where I was standing. It took several seconds more for him to actually raise his head in order to look me in the face.

I forced a weary smile, the hands behind my back squeezing each other much tighter than usual. "...H...hi...." Eew, was that my voice? I certainly hope it wasn't usually that hoarse.

I waited for a moment to see if he would react, but he didn't move. As a matter of fact, he simply continued to stare woodenly up at me as if I hadn't said anything. I swallowed and decided to continue. "...I...I'm not sure if you remember me or not, but...I was the girl...who...um, was in the gym yesterday, when you--"

"I remember you," he interrupted monotonously, and I think I started in place. That was the first time I had actually heard his voice, and I wasn't really expecting him to reply.

However, that was all. I forced another smile and licked at my dry lips. "...O...oh! Ok, then! Um...my...my name's Kyra Avalon." Once again I paused for him to react, but he didn't, so I went on. "I...I just...About yesterday...I just wanted to say...I hope you didn't get in too much trouble."

"I didn't get in any," he told me matter-of-factly, as if I was stupid by just suggesting the idea. "Unless you count a talk from Heidegger. Everyone knows I've had it out for that bastard Landon since he came here, so it was only a matter of time till he got what was coming to him." He exhaled an amused chuckle, taking another sip from his mug. "The little bitch withdrew from the academy too. Smarter than he looks, that ass. Knew I'd finish the job as soon as he left the hospital wing. Heheh."

Something about this conversation was making me slightly uncomfortable, and one glance up at the analog clock above the door told me I had to end it soon. "...Well, um..." I began shakily, brushing aside a loose strand of my hair and accidentally revealing the large bandage on my cheek. Although he still had his coffee mug raised to his lips, it looked like Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. "...I...I know some people might not have thought what you did was the most orthodox thing in the world, but..." I slowly looked up from the floor, revealing a soft smile. "....thank you."

He didn't reply, but his eyes never left my face. His gaze was starting to make my cheeks turn hot, and another glance up at the time told me I couldn't wait any longer, so I slowly began to shuffle my way backwards, towards the door. "...Well, I gotta go," I said as casually as possible, although the tone of my voice still made me wince. "If I'm late for Garcia's class, he'll have my ass on a platter. See ya around, ok?" This time I didn't wait for him to answer me, and with that I spun about and dashed for the doors. Even after I had left the mess hall, I could still feel his unusual blue green eyes boring into my back.

~End of Chapter Two~