Author's Note... This is a bit of a deviation from the rest of the chapters. I didn't feel right about writing this as a humorous scene. I think it does more justice to Fujin and Rajin's characters this way, because they don't get enough cred.



[EXTERIOR. Balamb Garden Quad.]

[FUJIN and RAJIN are walking down the steps and into the yard. Fu looks troubled as the two of them come to a stop under a tree.]

FUJIN [quietly]
THEY KNOW.

RAJIN [nursing his shin]
They know what, Fuj?

[FUJIN looks at him for a moment, her expression unreadable, then looks down at her boots.]

FUJIN
NOTHING.

[RAJIN limps over to her and gently nudges her arm.]

RAJIN
Come on... I'm your little bro, ya know? You can tell me anything, ya know?

[CLOSE UP on FUJIN's face. She looks terribly pained.]

[CUT TO FULL-BODY VIEW of FUJIN as she takes small, slow steps away from Rajin toward the tree trunk. Sighing, she leans her back against it and looks up at the building. She stares for a few moments, her arms crossed over her chest.]

[CLOSE UP on RAJIN's face. He looks dumbfounded.]

RAJIN
Fuj?

[CUT TO FUJIN. She closes her eyes for a moment, slowly opens them, and turns her head to look at Rajin. There are tears in her eyes.]

FUJIN
CAN'T SLEEP. NO PEACE.

[CUT TO RAJIN.]

RAJIN
Maybe you should cut down on the spicy foods before bedtime, ya know? I heard it makes it hard to sleep, Fuj.

[CUT TO FUJIN. She lets out a short, quiet laugh and shakes her head. She sniffs and looks down at her boots again.]

FUJIN
NOT FOOD.

[CUT TO RAJIN, who tentatively takes a couple of steps toward her.]

RAJIN
Then what?... Is it Seifer?

[CUT TO FUJIN and RAJIN. FUJIN shakes her head.]

RAJIN
Tell me, ya know? Maybe I can help.

FUJIN
NEGATIVE.

[RAJIN watches curiously as FUJIN slides down the tree and sits. She leans her head back. After a moment, RAJIN plops down beside her. They sit in silence for a little while, watching errant people go by.]

[CLOSE UP on FUJIN. She closes her eyes.]

FUJIN [sweetly, without music]
I hear the ticking of the clock...
I'm lying here, the room's pitch dark...

[CUT TO RAJIN, his brows furrowed.]

[CUT TO FUJIN.]

FUJIN cont.
I wonder where you are tonight...
No answer on the telephone...
And the night goes by so very slooow...
But I hope that it won't end, though...
Alone...

[CUT TO RAJIN. He continues to watch and listen in silence. Still dumbfounded.]

[CUT TO FUJIN. She opens her eyes and again looks up at the building.]

FUJIN [a bit louder]
Til now, I always got by on my own...
I never really cared until I met you...
And now it chills me to the bone...
How do I get you aloooone?
How do I get you aloooooooone?

[FUJIN looks down and wipes away a tear.]

FUJIN
You don't know how long I have wanted
to touch your lips and hold you tiiiight...
You don't know how long I have waited
and I was gonna tell you toniiiight...
But the secret is still my own...
And my love for you is still unknoooown...
Alone...

[CUT TO FUJIN and RAJIN. FUJIN again looks upward, and RAJIN's gaze follows.]

[CUT TO WINDOW. XU is sitting in the windowsill, her back against the glass.]

[CUT TO RAJIN. He looks over at his sister, realization setting in.]

RAJIN [loudly]
You're in love with Xu?

[CUT TO FUJIN. She roughly jabs him in his side and looks around them, embarrassed.]

FUJIN [through clenched teeth]
BE LOUDER?

[CUT TO FUJIN and RAJIN. She bows her head.]

RAJIN [hushed]
Sorry, ya know... It's just...

[RAJIN scratches his head, searching for words.]

RAJIN cont.
She's... uh... female, Fuj...

[FUJIN draws her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around her legs, leaning her head down and resting her cheek on one knee. Her eyes meet RAJIN's.]

FUJIN
BEAUTIFUL... SEXY.

[RAJIN goes into a coughing fit, and FUJIN buries her face between her knees.]

FUJIN
STUPID ME.

[After a moment, RAJIN recovers and spastically shakes his head.]

RAJIN
Aw, no, Fuj... I had a crush on her, too, when we first came to Garden, ya know?

[FUJIN shakes her head.]

FUJIN
ACCEPTABLE!

[RAJIN eyes her for a moment, sympathetic.]

RAJIN
She doesn't know?

[FUJIN shakes her head.]

RAJIN cont.
Maybe you should... uh... you know... talk to Xu.

[FUJIN turns her head and looks at him, face blotchy with tears.]

FUJIN [pathetically]
KISSED ME... SWEET...

RAJIN [grinning]
She kissed you? When?

FUJIN [hint of a smile]
SEED BALL... SECRET AREA...

RAJIN
So she likes you, too, ya know!

[FUJIN shakes her head sadly.]

FUJIN
DRUNK... JUST MESSING AROUND...

RAJIN
You don't know that, Fuj... What if she really does like you, but she was too afraid to show it before, ya know?

[FUJIN's smile fades, and she again buries her face between her knees.]

FUJIN
NOT ACCEPTABLE.

[RAJIN gently bumps into her, and she looks at him.]

RAJIN
Who cares what people think, ya know? It's none of their business, ya know?

FUJIN [blinking slowly]
CAUSE PROBLEMS... LOSE OUR JOBS...

[RAJIN lowers his head and sighs. FUJIN closes her eyes and again faces her knees.]

[PAN AWAY SLOWLY to FADE OUT.]