Rating: R

Disclaimer: To claim and not to disclaim is hardly an option.  FFVIII and its respective characters, locations and other stuff belong to the one and only Squaresoft, makers of all things fun. 

A/N: Thanks to those who read Chapter 1, and a BIG thank you to all those wonderful people who reviewed.  I was worried that no one would read this fic since it came out of such a dreary mind.       

Lest We Forget

Chapter 2: Memory Lane

"A pleasant trip down Memory Lane is often anything but so."

Encased in mud and exuding an interesting smell that caused her nose to wrinkle in disgust, Quistis cautiously approached the beacon of light that illuminated half the night's sky.  Her trek through the plains had remained remarkably undisturbed, and it hadn't been long before the silence unnerved her.  She had realised a few moments after leaving the cave that Seifer's directions to the garden weren't entirely necessary.  Balamb Garden could hardly have been more conspicuous if it had a large neon sign saying 'X Marks the Spot' with a big arrow pointing downwards.  She questioned the wisdom of Garden announcing its presence so openly, but decided that anyone stupid enough to attack it probably deserved what they had coming to them. 

She crouched on the ground at the edge of the darkness.  Frowning, she observed the drastic changes to her home, unnoticed as the shadows concealed her from prying eyes.  The floodlights illuminating the perimeter and the alert sentry guards that replaced old sleepy Mr Wilson at the gate booths lent a hostile atmosphere to the place. 

What's going on?  Did Galbadia Garden attack again?  Quistis lurked dangerously closer to the gates, intent on identifying the frantic activities inside.  

Groups of SeeDs were running around, their officers striding purposefully, shouting out orders.  Every few minutes patrol squads would leave or check in.  Narrowing her eyes, she recognised the tactical formations they employed.

Diamond, search and capture.  She wondered who the targets were, and more importantly, what they had done.  Hardly any threats to Garden remained after the Ultimecia ordeal.  Perhaps Seifer was right about Garden being after her.  She shook her head violently to rid herself of the thought.  It was all probably just a misunderstanding.  But what if it's not, the possibility hung in the air, too terrible to contemplate. 

Quistis timed the patrol squads and estimated that they checked in and out every 5 minutes.  She had an entry window between those intervals.  It was risky, but her SeeD uniform, although torn in places and no longer in pristine condition, would provide adequate camouflage.  Luckily it hadn't been shredded enough to reveal anything.  Lucky for Seifer too.  She grinned, the adrenaline rushing through her veins. 

She timed her run to coincide with the return of a patrol group. 

3.  2.  1.  Let's go…at least the darkness would be good for something besides hiding those blasted holes in the ground.  Jogging slightly behind them, head down, to any observers she appeared to be a straggler, intent on receiving a reprimand.       

***

Slipping, no waltzing in through the front gates had required a bit of skill and a lot more luck.  Hyne forbid, I'm becoming as cocky as Seifer.  Garden's lapse in security had been opportune, but after this mess was cleared up, an urgent word with Cid about perimeter defence was necessary.

Illuminated by a cold white light, most of the surrounding corridors were deserted.  She headed towards the elevator and pressed the button for the Headmaster's floor.  Nothing happened.  She glared at the button and viciously jabbed at it again.  Same result.  Damn it!  Not good. 

She couldn't get Cid, so she would just have to find Squall or another friend instead.  First, a change of clothes was required.  The light had uncovered new, more embarrassing tears in her clothes, and her face had warmed at the thought of Seifer examining her.  Ducking into the corridor leading towards her room, she reassured herself that the stealth was only necessary for caution's sake.  It was always better to be on the safe side in case she actually was the target, although, and here Quistis smirked, Garden would probably never look for her here.       

Keeping near the corridor walls, she was ignored by the few SeeDs that dashed past her, fatalistically expecting the next one to be a Trepie.  Her footsteps echoed dangerously loud in the heavy silence.  Self-conscious and fearful of discovery, she unsuccessfully attempted to muffle them.              

Finally!  Quistis stopped in front of her room door, furtively checked that no one had followed her, and then quickly, almost frantically opened it and stepped through.  Quietly, she closed the door behind her, momentarily leaning her forehead against its cool surface.  Breathing a sigh of relief at having come this far without getting caught, she turned around, walking towards…

"Hello Quistis."

Her hand already grasped the chain whip as she spun to face the source of the unexpected greeting.  Forcing herself not to strike instinctively, she lowered her weapon and evenly acknowledged the intruder. 

"Rinoa," Quistis kept her voice flat, emotionless, betraying nothing.  What is she doing here?

The brunette sat on the edge of her bed, arms neatly folded on her lap, calmly watching Quistis.

"I've been waiting for you to come," Rinoa replied, answering the unspoken question.    

Quistis kept silent, unsure of how to respond.  She still didn't know Rinoa's position in the scheme of things and antagonising her, especially if everyone else was indeed an enemy, was probably not a smart move.  Clearing her throat softly, she forced herself to speak.  "Things have been pretty rough lately." 

"For all of us."

The whispered reply hung suspended in the air, tension holding it upright.  Rinoa looked away from Quistis' questioning gaze.  She noticed that Rinoa had changed, gone was the carefree attitude, the ever-present smile.  Something had happened.      

"What's going on?" she ventured quietly, respectful of the loaded silence.

"You really don't remember?" Rinoa stared suspiciously at her for a moment, then nervously returned her gaze to the faded blue carpet.

It somehow reminded Quistis of her previous conversation with Seifer.  Looks like both of us were left in the dark.  Things weren't turning out as expected and it made her feel vulnerable, inadequate.  She bitterly resented it.  

"No, I don't know anything!  Tell me Rinoa!  What have I supposedly done?"  Her voice was rising with the escape of her pent-up frustration.  She paced around the room.  Rinoa was wearily studying her.  Quistis started at the flicker of something in those dark eyes.

"You're lying.  You know what you've done."  Rinoa's statement left no room for argument.  "Why Quistis?"

Tap.  Tap.  Footsteps echoed from out in the corridor, gradually getting louder.  Quistis tensed, her glance darting rapidly from Rinoa to the door, but the footsteps faded abruptly away again.  She turned her attention back to the room's other occupant.

"Why should I lie?"  She tried to appear reasonable, but even to her it sounded desperate.

"To appear innocent."  It was stated as a fact. 

"What would I gain?"  Suddenly, she dreaded Rinoa's answer, as the brunette's face grew more sombre.

"Your life."  A death-sentence. 

"You know me Rinoa.  We're meant to be friends.  I wouldn't do anything irrational."  Emotionally pleading.  They would kill me?  My friends would watch me die?  Why doesn't she believe me? 

"I don't feel like I know you anymore."  There, the confirmation Quistis had dreaded.  Her friends had turned against her.

"What did Seifer do?"  He had been involved.  Maybe, she would then be informed of her own crime. 

"He saved you."  Finally, a thing she already knew.

"Something the rest of you wouldn't do."  Bitter, accusatory.

"In this case, no."  The reply was chillingly emotionless.

"Why is this scenario so different from any other?"  Quistis still deserved to know what had happened.

"Because you tried to kill-"  Rinoa was interrupted by the sound of the door slamming open.  Strange, there had been no footsteps.  Framed in the doorway, was the man who always left Quistis short of breath and in possession of an accelerated heartbeat.  And for once, his piercing grey eyes were focused entirely on her…but for all the wrong reasons.           

"Squall?" she breathed out hesitantly, unsure of what he would say.

"What is she doing here?"  His question had been directed at Rinoa, but his stormy gaze remained fixed on Quistis.  She forced herself to remain impassive at his harsh tone.

"She says she doesn't remember anything."  Rinoa's tone was carefully neutral.

"Lies!  There were witnesses."  He waved his hands dismissively and stepped threateningly into the room, looming towards her.

"To what?" Quistis tightened her grip on the whip, still doubting whether she could bring herself to strike her friends…to strike him.  The situation was rapidly spinning out of her control.

"To your crime, your betrayal, traitor!" 

Quistis hesitated, the condemnation acting like a physical blow to her gut, causing her breath to rush out all at once.  Her gaze flashed from Squall to Rinoa, catching the latter with her guard down.  The brunette's face betrayed a deep sadness and resignation.  She was cautiously watching Squall.  

"What did I do?"  Quistis asked once again, inching closer to the room's only glass window that was her last escape point.  Squall and Rinoa were standing between her and the door and he was relentlessly advancing in on her.  The time of decision was rapidly approaching - whether to hurt her friends or to run.  It might appear to be admitting her guilt, but-

"Something you will die for." –they already seemed convinced of that.  She could surrender or jump.  Either choice could lead to her death, but at least in one she still had a chance.  She readied herself to dive through the glass. 

"Stop!  What the hell do you think you're doing Quistis?"  Seifer's voice came from behind Squall.  The door had been left open and no one had noticed his silent entry.  Everyone had been too intent on Quistis and her almost-escape through the glass window. 

Seifer followed me?

Squall spun around to deal with the new threat, staring at Seifer with what Quistis could only assume was sheer hatred, but Hyperion was already drawn, and the blade held next to Squall's neck.  Quistis noticed that the gunblade was held awkwardly, almost as if he didn't know how to wield one. 

"Seifer," Squall hissed, apparently disgusted to see his long-time rival.  Rinoa moved towards them slowly, unwilling to elevate the already tense situation.  This confrontation scene had been coming for a long time – Squall, Seifer, Rinoa and herself, all running on intersecting paths.  And she thought humourlessly, it just had to happen in her room.  I hope the blood doesn't stain the carpet.  It was bound to happen, this, that, everything.  Hyne is so cruel.  She wondered why things weren't affecting her more.  By rights, she should be screaming at Seifer to drop the gunblade, crying as Squall was in danger, and glaring at Rinoa for just being there and well, for stealing Squall away from her.  Yet, she felt nothing.   

"Quistis, get over here," he gestured towards her with his free hand.  Everyone watched as Hyperion shook precariously.  Squall nervously swallowed.

She stepped closer towards Seifer, keeping a large distance between Rinoa and herself.

"Please Seifer, let him go.  Don't do anything you'll regret," Rinoa pleaded as she followed the trio, backing out slowly from the room. 

They quickly approached the gates.                  

"You'll never get out of here alive," Squall yelled defiantly, gaining the attention of nearby SeeDs.  The party was soon encircled.

"That's why we need you."  Seifer moved the gunblade closer to Squall's neck, drawing a hiss from his hostage.  "No one step any closer!  Quistis, let's go."

She nodded in reply.  They inched towards the gates.  By then, the general alarm had been raised.  Zell and Selphie were standing next to the gate booths.  She recalled that they had gone on a mission to Esthar.  It had either been accomplished or whatever she had done must have warranted a callback for them.  Both appeared to have lost their bubbly enthusiasm and innocence.  Another thing she had never had, but she mourned its loss nonetheless.  A silvery glint of a gun barrel on a nearby overhang, announced the presence of Irvine.  The sniper probably had the cross-hair fixed unwaveringly on Seifer's head.  Or maybe her own.   

Trapped. 

"Give it up!  You have nowhere to run."

With friends as our captors, we hold our enemies dear.  What I wouldn't give to face Ultimecia again with all of them supporting me.

"Why Quisty, why?"  Why what, when she herself didn't know what she had done. 

How can I defend myself when I don't know the charges?

"How could you Quisty?" 

What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

"We thought you were our friend."

But I was.  I still am.

"You betrayed us."

You all turned your backs on me.  I would never have betrayed you.   

"Traitor!"

Just like Seifer. 

Tormented, she covered her ears with her hands, intent on blocking out the hurtful accusations.

Seifer glanced at her, worried.  "Come on Quistis, pull yourself together."  He grabbed her hand and dragged her towards the gate booths, keeping Squall all the while between him and Irvine.  He just hoped that they wouldn't shoot at Quistis.  His back was suddenly against the gate booth. 

"Quistis run!  Get away from here.  I'll meet up with you later."  He pushed her outside and she stumbled.

"I can't leave you."  He was asking her to sentence him to death.

"Just go!  They'll execute both of us if you stay." 

"But they'll kill you."  Sacrificing himself?  He was taking her place.  And it wasn't his to take.

"Damn right we will!"  Squall muttered.

"Fuck you Squall."  Quistis felt torn.

"Yesterday afternoon.  I'll meet you back in time.  I promise.  Now leave!"  Seifer hoped she would get his reference to the cave.

Desperately gazing at him, she nodded, and disappeared into the darkness.     

"We'll hunt you down!"  Squall's threat cut through the night's silence as she ran desperately away from Balamb Garden for the second time in two days.    

Her mental anguish was unfathomable.  Blinking back the tears, she realised that dawn would soon be approaching.  What was the use, when her situation would remain the same in the morning.  Seifer had saved her and now she had condemned him to die. 

Why Quisty, why?

How could you Quisty?

Seifer thought I was his friend.

And now I turn my back on him.

I am a traitor, just not in the way they think.

A/N:  Do footsteps go tap or thud?  Had some trouble with that - must be because I'm tone deaf.  And just to let you know, this isn't the end.  The next chapter might take some time though, since the holidays are finishing and I need to write a couple of essays.