I might be wrong by Mintaka

Where it began

Since the new part of the training centre opened a few weeks ago, Quistis saw it as a godsend. The monsters were more of a challenge and it provided good sources for her to let out any emotions she was keeping in and Hyne did she hell at the moment. Her mind had taken a cartwheel into the unknown and it bothered her. She wasn't used to so many emotions at one time especially when it involved Seifer.

With so much precision, she aimed the tip of her whip at the weak spot of her opponent. She had spotted the slight limp in the Ruby dragon's movements and used it to her advantage. The large jagged gash in its right leg oozed crimson blood, trickling down its leathery skin to the ground. The leg slumped leaving the beast vulnerable and before it could react to Quistis' attack, she cast triple blizzaga. From the back of its throat, it let out a bellowing roar and inched closer to her somewhat smaller form. She looked at it straight in the eye and smirked before casting meteor. The dragon finally went down with a mighty thud. Quistis looked at it with a sense of achievement though she thought it was a bit sloppy. To be honest it took quite a lot out of her, her breathing was hard and her hair was stuck wet to her face. She looked a state.

She never saw her spectator in the shadows. He was observing her battle with much interest, taking every move in. Having only being her student, he'd never seen her demonstrate her fighting abilities. He was impressed he had to admit. "Bravo Instructor bravo." He said, with a hint of sarcasm which she picked up on. "Back to normal I see." She replied. As he walked closer to her, she felt herself get self-conscience. She didn't particularly want him to see her so dishevelled or so downright disgusting. Hopelessly she tried to clean herself up which he noticed with amusement. "What the hell are you doing here anyway; shouldn't you be in the infirmary?" She said trying to avoid his expected scathing comments. "…Yeah, but I got bored and I felt kind of dirty considering I haven't had a shower in a week. How about you? Why are you here? It is 2am you know."

"Yeah I know that. I couldn't sleep that's all."

"I see…you looked pretty good out there."

She laughed a little too enthusiastically. "I doubt it. I felt as inexperienced as one of the junior classmen. I'm not as good as people think I am."

"You shouldn't put yourself down. I know it's not true." She looked at him sceptically. It wasn't everyday she got compliments from him.

"It's a bit dangerous out here, shall we go…" He didn't finish his sentence. She knew what it was, but he was waiting for some kind of consent. It wasn't something she wished to be reminded of what happened there though it was a surprise for them both.

"Yeah I suppose. Come on then." They walked to the secret area in silence, briskly, side by side. The entrance was a little overgrown now; it wasn't used as often anymore.

"I could've died here." She said finally.

"Lucky I was around then. But you know, I still don't know why you wanted to do it." She sighed and turned away from him. "I had my reasons. I felt like I didn't have a purpose anymore. Nothing and no one could help me. My loneliness made me so miserable and I hated it. I hated everyone who had someone. Selfish isn't it?"

"No, not really. You think the world's traitor doesn't know how that feels?" He took her by the shoulder and pulled her round to face him. "But trust me; you are stronger than you think. I know you can get over this. I will never doubt it." There was so much emotion in his eyes that it was hard to define any. Understanding, honesty, trust, compassion. It calmed her and she begun to feel the same though the under confident part of her still showed a little. "I don't doubt you either. Though you hide your feelings pretty well."

"I've had my moments believe me. Back when we were taken, I really lost it. I really thought I was going to die. I remember thinking; let justice be done. It's all you deserve for what you've done. Hyne, I guess you could say it's still true."

"No Seifer, you were manipulated, everything you did wasn't in your mind you know that."

"Yeah but I was too friggin weak to stop it." There was rising anger in his voice. It was obviously something he would carry with shame all his life.

"No you are not weak. You are one of the best fighters in Garden."

"If I'm so brilliant why did I never make it as SeeD? Why did I fail?" He shouted.

"Because of my failure to teach you, my failure to listen, to take notice. I was so convinced that I could win Squall that I didn't want to think that you were better."

"Now can you see why I always hated Squall? I wanted what he had though he was so bloody stupid to see it."

"Did I make you like that? So bitter?" Her voice was meek.

"I did it to myself." He answered.

Suddenly, she laughed softly. He looked at her in confusion.

"We're two of a kind."

"Why do you say that?" He asked.

"We share the same fears. We want the same things. We're so alike when you think about it."

"Yeah, I guess we are." She didn't answer, but looked ahead of her at the vast ocean and she could have almost laughed if the silence wasn't so awkward.

"I was thinking earlier on…about you. About why you are what you are. How you can have so much determination to do something. But when you've done what you set out to do, you're still not happy about it, there's still something wrong with it, like there was something you missed. Why is nothing you do good enough?"

She turned to him to find he was looking at her intently. She didn't even know if she could provide him an answer. "I don't really know. All I do know is that I can never be content, I'm always restless…I have no one else to judge what I do. I guess it makes me harder on myself…I doubt that even makes sense."

"I understand. You just hate being on your own. I didn't know you were a romantic, Quistis." He smiled and waited for her embarrassment to show. She just stuttered for a bit and frowned at him. "You're ridiculing my weaknesses?"

"No…but I couldn't resist, sorry. I guess I feel the same. It would be nice to have someone, not to depend on, but to fall back on. Someone there who wants you, someone to make you realise that you're still alive."

He was cut up inside, she could see that. He concentrated so much in hiding how he felt that he was slowly killing himself. But there was no self pity there, just shame and guilt. Not to mention hate. With the back of her hand she reached out and stroked his cheek lightly. She felt him shudder under her touch. "Stop punishing yourself Seifer," she turned his face to her own and stepped a little closer to him. "Don't you see? You're not on your own, there will always be someone close to you, but they can't help you unless you let them."

"Like anyone would want to." He said, his voice shaky.

"Just believe." She brought her face to closer to him, and gently pressed her lips against his. She seemed to give herself to him and him to her. Physically it was just a kiss, but to them it was something else though they didn't know what. It began as what seemed as a gesture of comfort, but the passion grew and all the sadness and anger, loneliness and frustration was exposed. They were letting themselves go and they knew that only they could help each other. It felt almost natural to them at the time until they broke apart for a gasp of air. Both their breathing was heavy and ragged, their hearts pounding in their chests. As they looked at each other, reality hit hard and they were suddenly shy.

"..Um…we should go, I mean it's really late and all and I'm sure you're busy…"

"…Yeah, loads of papers to mark, and I really need a shower…" He then had the mental picture of her in the shower. Immediately he aimed his eyes for the ground refusing to meet his eyes.

"…Okay, well, bye Seifer. I might see you tomorrow." She said, equally awkward.

"…Yeah sure…"

Quickly she left and jogged all the way back to her dorm. As she closed the

door, she looked at herself in the mirror, suddenly; she did something she hadn't done in a while. She laughed…

I'm done with chapter 10!! It took a while I know, but I lacked inspiration for a while and I'm still not happy about it. But I' m not discouraged, 40 reviews! Thanks everyone, especially Firess Ifrit Devil, Quistis Almasy and Aloura. Thank you!! Anyway, enjoy…