¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸Bittersweet¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸




"This man harassing you, little lady?" she heard Irvine's rich voice as she was pulled to her feet. Quistis smiled at him and shook her head a bit.

"No, we were just having fun" Quistis said softly looking over Irvine's shoulder at Seifer who was quickly re-erecting the tent with a scowl smeared across his face.

"I didn't think that fun was in Seifer's vocabulary" Irvine said his lips turning up into a smile.

"Oh hush Irvine. I promise I won't let the big bad sorcerer's night hurt me" Quistis said playfully. Irvine laughed shaking his head.

"Well good night then, sweetness" he said kissing her on the cheek, his hat brushing her neck. He sauntered off back to his tent where Zell was poking his head out the flap. Quistis took a deep breath trying to settle the butterflies in her stomach before turning back around to look at Seifer.

"Need any help with that?" she asked sweetly with a grin. He snorted and slammed the remaining poll back into place. She couldn't help but be a little mad as he slipped into the tent. It had taken her all day to construct the tent, him five minutes. She sighed throwing her hands into the air before going to go to bed.



The morning was cold dew soaking the out side of the tent weighing it down. The sun glistened across the gray fabric creating tiny prisms inside the tent. A particular rebellious rainbow had stretched itself across Seifer's face, giving him a child like look. Quistis smiled as she picked up her boots and head out barefoot to the beach.



Her swimsuit was very modest. Nothing like Rinoa's bikini, or Selphie's. Quistis' swimsuit was a simple purple one piece, with tiny sparkles at certain points. She left her boots by a rock before wadding into the crystalline blue waters. She could look down through the waves and still see her feet. She dove into a wave suddenly, surrounding her in the waters cerulean embrace. She burst through the surface hopping a wave easily, shaking her wet hair a bit. The serenity of the ocean always struck her deeply, creating some movement deep within her soul. She heard a splash behind her and turned to see Seifer's powerful body cutting through the water. The water erupted in front of her as her surfaced. He stood before her, water rippling down his face, his bare chest. He ran a hand through his hair giving her a smirk.

"Ya know?" she said with a slight grin.

"Yes Raijuin?" Seifer said rolling his eyes a bit.

"I still have to get you back for last night" she said rushed before throwing all her weight at his legs. He crashed into the water getting caught up in a wave. She chased after him splashing him just as he surfaced. He gave her that playful growl again from last night and jumped at her. He grabbed her around the waist and threw her into the water. She swam towards him intending a counter attack. When suddenly he grabbed her arms pulling her out of the water into his embrace. She floated there, his five inches more of height giving him the advantage of his feet still touching the ocean floor. He grinned at her, arms tightening around her waist.

"Seifer, let me go" she said breathless. She had her breath stolen even more when her pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was needing, passionate, crushing. He held her to his chest so tight she thought she might bust. One hand buried in her golden tresses the other crushing into the small of her back. She threw her arms around his neck giving into his passion. She was lost there in that moment with him. A wave crashed around them, water cascading. The small of salt water filling her, along with his probing tongue. There was a fire in Seifer Almasy that showed even when he kissed. He at last broke the kiss with a deep shuddering breath. Then to her surprised her buried his head in her shoulder nuzzling into her hair. Quistis smiled a bit as she floated to the ocean floor, his back curling so his head could remain on her shoulder.

So much emotion churned in Quistis that moment as a little voice spoke in her head. What about Irvine? She let her eyes flutter shut resting her cheek upon Seifer's hair.

"Quis" Seifer said his voice muffled.

"Yeah" she responded lips close to his ear.

"I love you" he whispered suddenly almost as if he was afraid to say the words. Afraid they might get lost some where in the ocean pooling at their feet. Afraid of rejection.

"Oh Seifer" she said tears gathering in her sapphire eyes.

"Don't answer" he said standing up straight to look down into her eyes.

"What?" she said.

"Don't say anything. I just want that moment to be perfect" he said turning and walking back towards the shore.

"I never thought you would be so romantic, Seifer" Quistis said churning after him.

"Well you thought wrong, Instructor" Seifer sneered a bit. She giggled and walked out onto the beach grabbing her towel. She wrapped it around herself and watched Seifer as he shook of a bit, still by the water. She giggled a bit at his light gray swim trunks red blazing fire crosses running down each side. Quistis looked up as the rest of the gang tromped onto the beach.. Zell demonstrating some battle move to Selphie, Rinoa and Squall so in love. Irvine staring right at her, drinking in the site of her in a bathing suit.

"Hey you two!" Selphie said giving Seifer a critical eye.

"Morning warden" Seifer said rolling his eyes.

"That's right, you're not supposed to be out of bed. Get back there right now!" Selphie demanded pointing at the group of tents. Seifer rolled his eyes grabbing his smile pile of clothing and stomped off towards their tents. Quistis giggled heading after him so she could change.

"I'll walk with ya" Irvine said walking along side her, Seifer feet in front of them. Quistis nodded trying to keep pace with his long legs. Why did everyone have to be so damn tall.

"Sleep well?" she asked looking up at him.

"As well as when can when sharing a tent with Zell" Irvine said. She laughed bumping into him a bit

"Hey, wanna go on a picnic later. Just you and me?" Irvine asked giving her a sly grin. She glanced up ahead at Seifer who was ducking into the tent.

"Sure!" Quistis exclaimed. Irvine pecked her cheek quickly before ducking off. Quistis sighed stepping into the tent to grab her cloths. Seifer lay in his bed thumbing through a mystery novel she had been reading. She had mistakenly left it out, obviously.

"How can you read this trash?" Seifer asked tossing the book aside. She sighed shaking her head, as she reached into her trunk grabbing her normal battle gear.

"Fine, leave me in here all alone all day" Seifer called after her as she ducked out to go change in Rinoa and Selphie's tent. She poked her head back into to stick her tongue at him, leaving him laughing.



After changing, and brushing the salt water out of her hair she set out to find Irvine. The search wasn't very hard since she could see his six-foot form standing on top of a golden hill. The sun was setting behind him lighting up his dark silhouette. Everything was golden, sparkling around him. She smiled heading up the hill to see the picnic all set out. A blue checkerboard blanket was laid carefully on the ground, a bottle of wine propped up next to the picnic basket.

"My lady has at last arrived" Irvine said grinning at her. Quistis nodded plopping down on the blanket. He sat down next to her taking her hand into his.

"This is very beautiful, Irvine" she whispered the wind blowing stands of hair around her.

"Your beauty is the only thing I see" he whispered back, kissing her again. Heat rose in her cheeks, her mind reeling in emotion. He was so soft, so tender.

"What the hell is all this" Seifer's voice rammed into her thought, shattering them. Quistis stood up fumbling with the end of her vest, like she always did when she thought she had lost control of the situation.

"What do you want, Almasy?" Irvine said.

"She's mine" Seifer hissed putting a hand on his Hyperion.

"I'd waste you" Irvine said un-holstering his Exeter.

"Stop! I will not have you too fight!!" Quistis screamed . She ran, her feet carrying her through the wheat fields into the small collection of trees, bursting through into her cherry grove. She collapsed against the trunk of one of the trees fighting back tears. She didn't know what to do, everything was spiraling out of control. She looked up as the two men entered the clearing, side by side. She noticed Seifer had left the tent hastily throwing his trench on over his bare chest, as well as his bare feet.

"You ok, Quis?" Seifer asked softly.

"No, I'm not!" she exclaimed. She stood up facing both men, tears dripping down her porcelain cheeks. Seifer made a move to go to her but Irvine barred him with an arm in front of his chest.

"You gotta choose, you can't lead us both on" Irvine said placing his Exeter firmly back in his holster.

"Choose?" she said out loud.



Her thoughts drifted away, eyes following the path of one petal flying in the wind. She was much like that fluttering petal, lost and being carried by something she had no control over. Her wind, was love. Love carrying her on the tides of emotion. Love was bittersweet, she knew what that saying meant now. How in Hyne's name could the expect her to choose. They were both so different, cowboy and knight. One was tenderness, the other fiery passion.

How did she ever fall in love with them both?








Sorry for the time it took me to update. Now I'm back with a vengence! :) Hope you guys liked this chapter...