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~*~ Chapter 2 ~*~

~*~ A Long Day ~*~

            "Damn it Trepe!" Seifer grumbled to himself while preparing to attack the 20th Grat in the last hour.  His date with the T-Rexaur turned into a rendezvous with Grats.  Quistis's sudden action had caught him off guard.  He could still feel her grip on his arm.  No one had touched him since the Sorceress War.  Hell, no one bother to get close to him after that incident.  Now all of a sudden Quistis grabs his arm and causes his whole disposition to become disarrayed.  Seifer had always been a physical person.  As a child he long to be held and loved.  Instead he was constantly scolded and disciplined for being mean to the other children.  Now as an adult he was content with being alone.  Though Quistis's touch had evoked feelings that he had long forgotten and still was unable to recall.   

            Seifer decided it was best that he ended his training for the day.  It was nearly 7:00 in the morning.  When he left the training center.  Balamb Garden was slowly stirring back to life. 

            Quistis stumbled out of bed and headed into the shower from her short 'nap.'  Apparently the shower had not succeeded in wiping the sleep out of her eyes as she looked over herself in the steamy bathroom mirror.  Quistis decided on wearing her SeeD uniform.  After looking at her reflection in the mirror, Quistis half-heartedly twisted her hair up in her usual hairstyle and brushed on some make-up to conceal her sleepiness.  She then quickly slipped on her wire-framed glasses and with one last glance in the mirror, she gracefully staggered toward the cafeteria for much needed coffee.

            When she reached the cafeteria the familiar scent of coffee was no were to be found.  Quistis look towards the coffee maker.  It was empty!  Apparently someone forgot to make the coffee this morning, she convinced herself.  Quistis stood in front of the coffee maker with a perplexed look for some time, until the cafeteria lady informed her that the coffee maker decided to expire today.  Quistis looked at the women blankly, thanked her, and decided she might as well go to report to the headmaster.  Since it was almost 8:00 already.

            Her mind was started to drift off while waiting for the elevator.  She became engrossed with the beautifully crafted dome ceiling of the garden, and didn't hear the soft foot steps behind her.

            "Are you thanking Hyne for being care to be in my presence again, since we last parted?"

            Quistis's mind shot back to reality, and looked at the intruding voice.

            "You again?"

            "What not happy to see me?" Gesturing to himself.

            Quistis gave him a blank look and walked into the empty elevator, Seifer followed her in.

            Inside the elevator Quistis leaned her head against the cool metal surface of the elevator wall.  If it wasn't for Seifer's snide remark, she surely might have fallen asleep standing.

            "You look like shit.  Ins…Ms. Trepe.  What did you do sleep on the floor?"  He lied even though she looked tired; she was still beautiful and poised as she walked through the parting elevator doors into the headmaster's office.

            Xu greeted Quistis warmly with a smile.

            "I'm so glad your back.  You've been so busy lately no one ever sees you anymore."

            "Thank you, Xu.  I'm here to report my last mission.  Is the headmaster in?"

            "Yes, he's expecting you," she led her companion through the double doors and looked at Seifer, who was about to follow, "you can wait here." Gesturing to the couch.  She looked at the clock. "Your actually early today, Seifer."

            "Hey, when you're a Seed gotta be punctual right?"

            Xu shook her head at his remark, closed the doors behind her, and walked back to her desk.  "I think that the only thing Quistis thought you and stuck."

            "What's that suppose to mean?" pretending to be hurt.  "I did finally make SeeD, didn't I?"

            "Sure, after the 3rd try, and you nearly drove poor Quistis mad, when she was assigned as your tutor for that week."  Xu stifled a laugh.  "Maybe that's why she keeps going on missions.  To get away from you."  Xu's laughter could not be contained anymore. 

            Ignoring her comment he continued, "Well…I am also one of the highest ranking SeeDs too, and I did that in a couple of months. Damn I'm good!"  He leaned back on the sofa and spread his arms out along the back of the sofa as he complimented himself.  "Besides I didn't drive her mad.  She was just madly in love with me." 

            "Sure she was madly in love with plotting to kill you.  If you didn't pass, I think she would have killed you if she got stuck with you for another six months." Xu retorted.

            "Whatever, you know she has the hots for me." He replied.

            "Whatever floats your boat, Seifer.  Whatever floats your little boat."  Xu laughed and continued with her paper work.

~~~

"Good morning Headmaster Cid.  I'm here for my report."

"Good morning Quistis, please proceed with your report." Cid gestured for her to

continue.

            "The mission was a success.  And here's is the detailed report, Sir," she placed the stack of papers on his desk.  Cid scanned each page, as Quistis continued, "Samuel was injured, which caused our earlier return.  Dr. Kadowaki, says his injuries are minor and he will be able to leave the infirmary late this afternoon."

            Cid nodded in acknowledgement.

            "I'm glad everyone made it back safely.  Now, I have another mission for you.  The details are all in here."  He pointed to the manila folder in his hand and handed it to Quistis.  "Any questions?"

            "Headmaster, I think you gave me the wrong file, this is my personal file. Isn't it?" she asked.

            "No, that's right this mission is for you."

            "Why?"

            "Haven't you ever wondered who your parents were? Or wondered about your past?"

            "Yes, I have thought about it, but never thought about pursuing it."

            "How about… where your powers for blue magic came from?"

            "Not really.  Then again I've always been too busy to think about these things as of late."

            "So you don't want this mission?" the older man asked.

            "No, I think its better to leave the past buried in the past, Sir."  As she uttered those words a slight pain of regret over came her, but she quickly brush the feeling aside.

            "Alright if you wish. Quistis I respect your decision." He took back the manila folder and slipped it into another folder.

            "Thank you, Headmaster."

            "You are dismissed."

            Quistis saluted the Headmaster and walked towards the large double doors. "Could you please tell Seifer, I'll see him now." Cid called out to her.

            Quistis looked over to the sofa where Seifer sat in the waiting room.  His arms still stretched along the sofa.

            "You heard the Headmaster, he's ready for you."

            After delivering her message she decided to return to her dorm go back to sleep.

            Just when she closed the door and was about to take her boots off, the intercom rang, "Will Quistis Trepe please come back to the Headmasters office please."  She glanced at her alarm clock.  It was only 8:45 AM.  She took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.  This was going to be a very long day.  Even longer since there was no coffee, and she doubt she'd be able to get a nap either.  She smiled bitterly to herself and walked out of her dorm and back towards the Headmasters Office.

A/N:  I've proofread this over and over again…but I'm not perfect so there still might be some errors just let me know and I'll fix'em for your better enjoyment.  Thanks for still reading my fic. Please R&R.  Thanks and don't forget to check out   Seiftis Forever.

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