Goodbye…

Now she could at last be free of "Seifer's evil clutches." God knows in a second, she'd rather remain within his arms for all eternity. She stood by the door, looking sadly back at Seifer who leaned against the wall next to her. It was about 5:58 AM, but what did time matter when you're losing the only one you loved? He thought he heard the sound of his heart crumbling ringing throughout the small, drafty apartment. He should consider himself lucky to have someplace to sleep under. Lucky…? He scoffed at the thought. It was inconceivable how pathetically unlucky he really was. He gazed at her achingly; longing to hold her forever and ever and never let go.

"If I hug you again Seifer, I'll never be able to let go," she tried to talk without having to comprehend the reality that it was the last time they'd look upon each other's faces. It didn't work. She sighed, all cried out, and leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes. She would be strong. She could never be with him. She couldn't stay with him or else she'd become an accomplice in his crimes and if he came with her, he'd be quickly executed without a second thought for a trial. They could never be together without people all around them becoming hurt. Of course, they were completely oblivious to the most recent deaths of the people they loved as cause for them being together. "Promise me Seifer," she began hesitantly. "Promise me you will forget about me, and live a long life."

"Hey, baby." Seifer put on a façade of a smile and stroked her hair. "Don't you worry about me, I'm a survivor, remember?"

Her only response was a soft pained moan as she snuggled closer into his chest and breathed him in, clutching to the collar of his blank white T-shirt.

He looked up at the dingy water-rusted ceiling and sighed as well. He lifted his hand to tenderly caress her hair. I won't say it… his mind denied. I WON'T! His mind screamed. Then everything became a blur. It was all happening so fast… or slow. He couldn't tell the difference anymore and his senses became dulled. His one light in his long, dark tunnel was fading away.

Somehow she was on the other side of the door. Somehow the door was now closed.

Seifer could only stare at it, denying he'd ever met her, but that only made it worse. GODAMMIT! NO! I WON'T SAY IT! His mind roared. His short shallow breaths were broken when his hoarse voice broke through his lips.

"Goodbye" he said to the front door.

His bottom lip quivered. He couldn't blink. Some kind of liquid stung his eyes. Silent screams wailed through his head. His lungs felt like he was drowning. He closed his eyes now; his brows furrowing together in some kind of anguish as he uncontrollably fell to his knees, his blank stare remaining on the door.

He shook his head now facing the floor, trying to deny everything. "No, no, no, no…" he softly chanted. "no, no, No, NO, NO! NO! NO!" He screamed clutching his throbbing head. He silently watched two drops of crystal liquid fall in slow motion from his eyes and soundlessly splash onto the cold wooden floor. He remained still as the flowing water fell from his eyes and finally he realized he was crying for the first time in his entire life.

""QUISTIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" a man screamed, the miserable sound echoing throughout the dank halls of the Timber apartment building.

But she didn't hear it. She was already gone.

Quistis walked. She only could concentrate on walking. She promised herself not to think about him, not to think of his broken heart, his ultimate loneliness, and his one sign of hope walking out the door. She swiped at the threatening tears now streaking her face with her sleeve as she finally couldn't walk any further. She collapsed against a random wall and cried into her hands. "Seifer…Seifer!!!" she softly chanted, as soft white snow flecked her feathery hair.

***

The loud train whistle blew and a swirl of steam could be seen arising from it, contrasting with the crisp, morning air. Her dark hair fell in her chocolate eyes, obstructing her view. She let out an exasperated sigh and brushed it back. Her eyes now were blood shot and tears of frustration and overwhelmed emotions were threatening to fall. No she had to be strong. You must lead, Rinoa, its up to you now! She told herself as she stepped off the train. She shivered in the intense cold air of Timber. She stopped and waited, pulling her light blue, fur-collared coat more securely around her shoulders, watching as the sky began to brighten across the horizon.

Selphie solemnly stepped off the train, followed by a stern Irvine. She looked around, clutching her bright yellow jacket and bringing the hood up, wanting so badly to yawn, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. The current state of things would make it unthinkable. Irvine slightly stretched and breathed in deep. His long tan duster was not doing that great a job of keeping him warm. They had traveled all night from Balamb to Timber, none of them getting any sleep at all.

"Lets get going," Rinoa sighed sadly as they began to blindly look for Squall, Quistis and Seifer.

***

Absolute silence rung loudly throughout the streets of Timber. He couldn't remember blinking the whole time. He shivered now uncontrollably, his teeth chattering. He didn't know how long he had stood there. Through clouded blue eyes, he watched the crimson substance stain the pure white snow. He saw the now empty shells of the once thriving and exuberant Rajin and the harsh but once breathing Fujin. Rajin's eyes remained opened, staring into the void for all eternity, straight in to the eyes of Squall Leonhart, his murderer. His blankly disturbing stare haunted Squall's very soul. Blood trickled from the bullet hole between his eyes and flowed down his forehead into the snow. Fujin lay on her side, so peacefully silent and still as if she were merely sound asleep. But what betrayed this wonderful thought in Squall's mind was the bullet wound spilling the dark liquid from beneath her hands once clutching her midsection.

For hours he could only stare at them. And now, now he couldn't bear to know the truth of what his bloodstained hands had done. His boots made large, deep prints into the snow, but he ran. That's all he knew. He only ran. RUN!

***

Finally, able to control herself, she stood up on shaky, unsteady legs. She was drained and exhausted, not to mention freezing. At least she had the one thing she could take from her love: his long but welcomingly warm gray and tattered trench coat. It was much too large for her petite form, but she was just thankful she could take this one and only thing from her beloved. Quistis began to walk again.

Walk.

Just walk.

One foot in front of the other.

That's it, keep going. Go on. Don't stop.

If you stop now, you'll never make it.

Walk! Walk faster! WALK! Don't look back! Run!!!!

NO.

When she saw the train station she couldn't, just couldn't take another step away from him.

I don't care… she thought.

I don't freaking care anymore!

Not about anything but him! Seifer! "I love you."

She breathed and could hear her own breath in the silence of the sleeping streets of Timber. She stopped abruptly and slowly turned about and ran. Ran so hard and so fast, her lungs felt like bursting into flames, but she didn't care. She could only think of him.

***

As he continued to lay there on the cold floor, his tears now cold, salty stains upon his face, he stared at the ceiling, slowly blinking every now and then. How was he going to make it without her? He closed his weary eyes and tried to push her out of his thoughts, but couldn't, nor did he want to. He reminisced on the days when he was in Garden and mentally kicked himself for being such an ass to her, when he could have had time to be with her, when it was all still possible. His thoughts drifted back to reality and he sat up, and questioned himself: where the hell where Fujin and Rajin? Hmmm, maybe they guessed what was going on and decided to give us some privacy? Well screw it. I'm not in the mood for them any way… he sighed and lay back on the floor, too broken to crawl all the way to his bed. He didn't deserve a nice warm bed that smelled of her sweet scent. His eyes fell closed and groggily reopened in a blink. He continued to blink this way until his eyes didn't open anymore.

He might have fallen asleep, he might have dreamed it, but he saw her face; he could see her small symmetrical nose in the middle, two almond shaped, cerulean eyes, with wisps of her gold hair falling over them. He saw her rosy cheeks and soft full carnation pink lips. His tranquility of sleep languidly lifted from him and he rubbed his eyes, still feeling thoroughly drained. He once again looked up and still he saw her. Wake up stupid! This is reality! She's here! She's back! How long had she been standing there? She didn't even know. He sat up and rubbed his eyes once more to make sure he wasn't just going insane from losing her.

He instantly was on his feet and stared at her in awe, barely breathing. Her eyes looked up at him hopefully. No words were spoken between them. No words were needed. Their utter joy rendered them speechless.

Suddenly they spoke all at once as they threw themselves into each other's arms, lavishing each other with kisses and caresses.

"I love you, Seifer! Oh God I couldn't bear it! I couldn't bear to leave you. I couldn't bare to never see you again!" Quistis cried into his chest, tears of joy streaking her face.

"Quistis! Oh Quistis, you're so stupid!" Seifer cried back, kissing her neck and her forehead and all over. "You can't be with me! I'm bad! I'll only hurt you! I-"

Quistis silenced his protests with a deep kiss on his lips. He kissed her back with full force. He pulled back, both of them finally calmed down a bit. "Quistis I love you." With that he wrapped his arms around her and he swore to God he'd never again let her go.

Somehow they ended up in his bed proceeding to continue what they had started the night before. This time they didn't hold back. Their love was so deep, one would think they could drown in it.

***

He leaned against a random building and shut his eyes tight, his gloved hands clenching in tight fists at his sides.

Fuck…

Fuck

Fuck!!!!

FUCK!!!!!!!

He cursed himself and angrily slammed his fist into the building he leaned on. A few pebbles of the concrete building crumbling off in the dent he made.
He hissed in pain as he clutched his gloved and now badly bruised hand. He angrily shut his eyes and softly banged his head against the unfortunate building. When his head began to throb in pain, he frustratedly slunk down against the cold unsympathetic building and sighed.
Suddenly soft footfalls broke the disturbing silence. Squall's eyes flew open in alarm. And then his eyes widened even more in the horror to see his angel here. Here where she can see him in all the horrible ugliness of his soul. No! He can't be seen by her! Nooooo! Rinoa go back! Go back before it's too late!

***

Rinoa could just barely make out a dark figure contrasting with the pure white of the snow. Could it be? She checked her watch. 6:39 AM. She turned around to see Selphie and Irvine still behind her. "Hey guys," she began. "I think that's Squall up there!"
They began to run as fast as they could through the deepening snow towards the slim, black figure down the empty street.
Squall shook his head in denial, but they were there running to him just the same.
DAMMIT, SQUALL!
He breathed in deep and tried to clear his mind enough to confront them…and confess. What would happen? Do the right thing Squall… he told himself. Do the right thing….

***

Somewhere in the distance there was a scream…
Screams…
Sirens…
Terror…
All Squall's doing…