~*~ Questions ~*~

~*~ Chapter 14 ~*~

Quistis paced around the room and finally sat down in front of the small desk in her dorm room.  Lying open on her desk was the file Seifer found and returned to her on their trip back to Garden.  She read the letters by her mother over and over again, until tears came into her eyes.  The memories Soria returned to her and the letters and the necklace were not enough to fill the emptiness within her, instead it made the hole in her bigger.  Now her memories proved to her that she was truly alone.  Everything that she knew and loved was gone.  Maybe it would be better if she went with Soria, but what about Seifer?  What about the 'engagement' between them?  She wished she had someone to talk to, someone to ask for advice.  The she remembered Matron was her mother's friend.  Maybe she could tell her more.

            She immediately shoved everything back into the manila folder, straightened up her appearance, and headed towards the Headmaster's office.

            Quistis arrived at the front desk of the Headmaster's office.

            "Xu, I need to speak to Headmaster Cid immediately, please."

            "Sorry Quistis," Xu shook her head.  "He's meeting with someone right now.  As soon as he finishes you can go in."

            "How about Edea?"

            "She is also in there too," Xu answered.

             "I guess I'll just sit here and wait," she sighed and sat herself down on the couch, and waited patiently and fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.  After she got sick of her hem, she sat and watched Xu answering the phones and doing her paper work. 

            Quistis was starting to get restless, when finally the doors swung open revealing Seifer leaving the office.

            "Look's like it's your turn Trepe," Seifer winked as he walked into the elevator.

            Quistis quickly gather up her thoughts and proceeded into the familiar office.

            "Ah Quistis it is good to see you are well.  Ever since you returned from Deiling and last mission, it seemed as though you were 'Missing in Action."  Cid greeted her.

            "I guess I was more tired then I thought," she said.  "But the last few days have got me thinking.  Actually it has gotten me thinking a lot." She noticed Cid raised his eyebrows in question. "Headmaster, did you know this mission would turn out his way?"

            "No, I did not, but I did know that President Alma, Seth Almasy, is Seifer's biological father, but I didn't not expect the Azurials to come for you.  The Azurials have been very quiet for a long time, and many believed them to only to be part of an old myth.

            Quistis turned her attention to Edea, "Do either of you know anything about Seifer and my family?"

            "I'm sorry my dear, I honestly don't know much between the both of your families.  I knew your mother when we studied in school together, but after she married your father, I didn't hear much from her until she sent you to the orphanage," Edea answered in her soft ringing voice.

            "Oh," was all Quistis could utter with some disappointment.  "Then you probably don't know much about the necklace and my arranged engagement with Seifer.

            "I'm afraid that situation was only known between your two families."

            "Matron, I don't know what to do," Quistis confessed.  "Everything happed so long ago, but I feel that as a daughter I have my duties as one.  I don't know if these duties require me to have certain enemies."

            "My child who do you would you consider a certain enemy? Seifer?  Ask yourself is Seifer guilty for this particular crime towards you because he is his father's son?  Then you have to ask yourself how you feel about Seifer? Do you want to consider him your enemy, or a friend who has been with you since you were a child? This engagement was arranged before you were born, and now it is up to the both of you to decide."

            The questions Edea imposed on Quistis were true and must be thought through.  Would she blame Seifer for something he had no idea about until now?  He was as much of a victim in this situation as she, and the engagement between them, it didn't matter that was another lifetime ago, she thought to herself. 

            "Your right, Matron, I still need to sort out my thoughts further, but I have one more question.  Do you know where my parents are buried?  I would like to visit their graves, as I should."

 Quistis was again disappointed as she saw Edea solemnly shake her head.  She was now out of options.   She would have to face Seth Almasy in order to get the information she required.  At least she hoped he would have the information she needed. 

            "Headmaster," Quistis had made a decision. "May I request a couple weeks off?"  She held her breath hoping the Cid would approve of her sudden request.

            "Hm…I don't know Quistis.  This is very sudden and we are short on SeeDs right now." Cid replied with furrowed eyebrows.

            "I see…"

            "But," he interrupted her, "You've never requested or taken a vacation in the last 3 years.  I guess we could spare you for a couple weeks and grant you an overdue vacation for you." He said with a smile.

            "Thank you, sir!" Quistis thankful for Cid's permission civilly thanked the couple and returned to her dorm to prepare for her trip back to Deiling.

~~~

            By the time Quistis finish packing all the things that she needed, the sun was ready to set over the mountains, sending an orange hue over the land.  Quistis knew she should wait until tomorrow, but something in her felt that urgency was necessary, especially when she wasn't even sure if Seth had an answer for her. 

            Wearing her usual coral attire, with her luggage one on each hand, she headed to the parking lot. 

Her foot steps echoed loudly in the almost empty parking lot.  Leaning in front of one of the cars was Seifer.

            "Good evening Trepe. Going somewhere?"

Quistis walked past him and opened the trunk of one of the cars and threw her bags in unceremoniously into the trunk, then shutting it making a loud echo in the lot.  She then walked toward the side of the car, but was stopped by Seifer leaning on the door.

            "Seifer, would you please move, so I can be on my way," she said irritated.

            "No," he said flatly.  "You haven't answered the question yet."

            "It's none of your business of where I go or what I do," she replied flatly and crossed her arms over her chest.

            Seifer imitated her and crosses his arms over his chest, "Are you sure Trepe?  I have some doubt about this little trip having nothing to do with me.  Lately you can't get me out of your mind, I bet."

            "Well aren't you Mr. Know-It-All? If you know where I'm going already, can we cut the chit-chat so I can be on my way?"

            "No, I want to go with you."

            "What?" she cried, "No, I've had enough of you right now.  I'm so sick of…" she saw Seifer's expression change.

            "Do you hate me that much?  Do you hate me more then before?" His voice was serious.

            "I…I don't hate you," Quistis managed to stutter.

            "Then what do you think of me?" he leaned back on to the car waiting.

            "Your just you, Seifer, and I consider you the same is I did before," she said carefully almost mechanically.

            "Before what?  The mission? The kiss? After the kiss?"

            Quistis blushed at the reminder of the tender kiss they shared. 

            "I don't know," was the only answer that came to her.  With a shove she pushed Seifer out of her way opened the door, and slipped into the car.  Seifer knocked on the window for her to open it. 

            Irritated she rolled down the window, "Seifer your not going with me and that is final, and if I see you at Deiling—"

            "If you see me at Deiling then what?" he interrupted her with a smirked.

            "Hyne, Seifer, I just don't want to see you at Deiling," she could feel her body start to flush with anger and irritation.  Before she could roll up the window Seifer stuck his hand through the window and dangling between his fingers was the Hyperion necklace. 

            "What about this?"

            Quistis just looked at the necklace, then back at the man holding it.

            "It's just a necklace, Seifer.  A family heirloom, nothing more," she quickly rolled up the window and switched on the ignition and pulled out of the drive way, leaving a speechless Seifer standing in the empty space with the necklace dangling in his fingers.     

A/N: Sorry the chapter is so short this time. I'm behind schedule as usual XD…sorry.  Thanks for to reviews guys I really appreciate it!