Chapter 2

When Maya woke up everyone was already at the Cafeteria, waiting for her.

Selphie: *to Maya* "Well look who's up"
Rinoa: "Leave her alone, Selphie, it was a hard day for her"
Selphie: "I was just kidding"
Zell: *to Maya* "So how'd you sleep?"
Maya: "Do you really care, or are you just being polite?"
*everyone starts laughing*
Quistis: "No, seriously, I wish I could come with you"
Zell: "Yeah, that's too bad... you two are gonna miss out on all the fun"
Irvine: *to Quistis* "I don't mind staying behind as long as it's with you"
Quistis: *turns red* "Don't push your luck, cowboy"
Irvine: "There you go- making fun of my hat again"
*everyone starts laughing- again*
Zell: "That's a good one"
Squall: *annoyed* "Can you guys knock it off!?"
Rinoa: "What's wrong, Squall?"
Squall: "It's just that we should be leaving on a very important mission and you all act like 12- year- olds"
Seifer: "For once I agree with you"

Regardless of Squall and Seifer's whining everyone continued their pointless mumbling throughout breakfast. After everyone finished eating, the teams wished each other good luck and went on their ways. (As you probably have guessed, we'll follow Maya, Seifer and Zell; just in case you're wondering: nothing interesting will happen with Squall's party.. just the usual boring trip).

--On The Boat To Dollet-

As soon as they got on the boat, Zell went on the deck leaving Maya and Seifer alone in the cabin.

Seifer: "Why didn't you say anything last night?"
Maya: "What?"
Seifer: "When you were looking out the window"
Maya: *turns red and tries to hide it, but is sure that Seifer saw that* "Oh... I didn't think you saw me"
Seifer: "I know... you pulled your head in as soon as you saw me"
Zell: *shouting from the deck* "Hey, you guys should see this! It's a great view"
Seifer: *annoyed* "CHICKENWHUSS!"
Maya: *laughing* "Why do you call him that?"
Seifer: *smiles* "I call him that cuz that's what he is... now don't try to change the subject"
Maya: "Don't worry- I can see it doesn't work with you"
Seifer: " Exactly"
Maya: *desperately looks for an answer* "Well... I didn't say anything cuz I... didn't know what I could say...heh"
Seifer: "How about 'I didn't know you were staying in the room next to mine' or at least 'Good Night' ?"
Maya: *thinking: yeah... that is what I would usually say...* *lying* "I thought you would mind my presence there...."
Seifer: *staring right into her brown eyes* "What made you think that?"
Zell: *comes in the cabin and sits down* "It's really nice outside"
Seifer: *with very low voice* "Damn! Chickenwhuss!"
Maya: *tries not to laugh* *thinking: Saved by the Zell !* *to Zell* "Yeah?"
Zell: *doesn't get the pointless question, but answers anyway* "Uh- huh... It's gonna be a warm and sunny day"
Maya: *tries to use her usual tone, but doesn't really succeed* "Well at least we won't have to worry about the rain"
*the air is obviously tense in the cabin, only Zell seems not to have a clue about it*

Not another word was said until they reached Dollet. There they paid the boatsman and started looking for the station.

-- In Dollet-

Zell: "Hey, now that we're here I can say hi to mom" ( Yup, his parents moved here after the SeeD exam)
Seifer: *the darkness suddenly lifts from his eyes* *friendly voice that is so damn fake, only Zell can't see through it* "Good idea! You do that and we'll wait for you at the station"
Zell: *excited like a two-year-old when he gets a new toy* "Yeah!!! See you there! Woo-hoo!!!" *runs off to his parent's place and suddenly disappears behind a building*
Seifer: "Now, where were we?"
Maya: *smiles* "We were going to the train station" *starts walking towards the station*
Seifer: *bursts into laughter and starts walking beside her* "You know what I mean"
Maya: *to herself* "Yeah, and I wish I didn't" *of course, Seifer hears this too*
Seifer: "How come?"
Maya: *entering the station* "Here we are... now we have to wait for Zell"
Seifer: *smiles* "I thought you said you won't try to change the subject anymore"
Maya: "Sorry... force of habit"
Zell: *comes out of nowhere* "Hey guys, did I miss anything?"
Seifer: *furious* "One more interruption like this and I'll break your neck, chickenwhuss!"
Zell: *clueless* "Why? What'd I do?"
Maya: *starts laughing* "Don't mind him, Zell. *to everyone* now let's get on the train"

They all bought tickets and went on the train.

--On The Train To Deling City-

This time Zell stays in the cabin with Seifer and Maya, so the trip is very quiet... until a loud noise...

Zell: "What happened!?"
Maya: "Dunno... The train's stopped!"
Unknown voice: "Arghhhh!! Help, monsters!! Gyaaaa!!!!"
Seifer: *pulls out his gunblade* "The train's been damaged by monsters... we'll have to fight our way to Deling"

They left the train and went on their way to the city. The monsters they had to fight are the kind that you kill with only one weapon blow. ( For those of you who are wondering, Maya's weapon is the staff). Maya, Seifer and Zell were starting to get bored with killing the same little monsters, when they suddenly heard a loud roar

Zell: "It can't be... T-Rexaur !?"
*the monster attacked them*
Maya: "There's no point in risking this fight, let's get outta here!"
Seifer: "No way! I'm not fleeing from this battle!"

Before anyone could say another thing T-Rexaur attacked Maya with his tail, and she fell to the ground. In the same second Seifer summoned Diablos, finishing the monster off. As soon as it died, Seifer and Zell rushed to Maya...

Zell: "You OK?"
Maya: "Yeah... *she tries to move her leg* ouch! I think it's broken"
Zell: *to Seifer* "It's all your fault!"
Seifer: "Go get help, I'll stay here with her"
Zell: "Shouldn't we try to carry her to the city?"
Seifer: "No way, the city is too far away and we'll definitely encounter some monsters on the way... Just do what I said"
Zell: "I dunno if I should leave her alone with you...."
Maya: "Just go, Zell"
Zell: "... OK" *starts running towards Deling*

Seifer helped Maya up and carried her to the nearest tree where he put her down.

Seifer: "I'm... sorry..." ( I never thought I'd hear him say that)
Maya: *can tell that he really regrets it* "You shouldn't apologize... It was an accident..."
Seifer: "No... the chickenwhuss is right... it's my fault"
Maya: "It's OK, Seifer..." *Seifer was startled by her voice calling out his name for the first time*

Suddenly he moves two paces away from her and starts staring into the horizon, thinking... "About what?" Maya wondered. She wanted to get up and ask him that, but she remembered that she couldn't walk. It was getting pretty dark, so Seifer gathered some firewood and cast a 'Fire' spell to light it.

Seifer: "Zell's nowhere in sight..."
Maya: "Yeah... the city must really be far away... Shouldn't you go after him... just in case?"
Seifer: "I'm not leaving you alone! *he smiles to himself, realizing that he spoke from the heart* ....and besides, the kid's a survivor... he'll be OK..."
Maya: "Yeah... you're right..."
*a few seconds passed in total silence*
Seifer: "So... are you gonna tell me now?"
Maya: "What?"
Seifer: "Why you thought I'd be bothered by you presence that night"
Maya: "Oh... that.."
Seifer: "You thought I've forgotten?"
Maya: "...No..."
Seifer: "Did you forget?"
Maya: "No..."
Seifer: "Then how come you didn't expect the question?"
Maya: *smiles* "Well... Zell is nowhere in sight, so it would be impossible for him to interrupt...."
Seifer: *laughing* "I have to agree with you here.... so?"
Maya: "So..."
*they can hear a loud horn blow, and suddenly a car appears out of nowhere... with Zell at the wheel*
Maya: *bursts into laughter* "No way!!!"
Seifer: *swears in low voice, but can't stop himself from laughing* "Chickenwhuss!"
Zell: *coming out of the car* *clueless like always* "Why are you laughing, guys?"

Zell's question remained unanswered. Seifer carried Maya to the car and they all left for Deling.

--In Deling City-

After a long car ride they got to Deling and the boys took Maya to a hospital. With the pills and special exercises that the doctors prescribed, she was on her feet in one day (of course, the 'Cure' spells helped too). As soon as she was better, they went on their way. The party rented a boat from The Deling City Docks (which were built after the assassination) and sailed towards their target. The boat ride was short and quiet (yes, Zell stayed in the cabin with Seifer and Maya).

--On The Island Closest To Hell-

As our heroes set their first steps on the island they could tell there wasn't a soul in sight. They moved on until they found a Tyberium 'Fountain'.

Maya: "It's been some time since I last saw one of these..."
Zell: "I've never seen one before"
Maya: "Hey, what are those?" *pointing at something that didn't really belong in the sand*
Seifer: *picks the two clues up and cleans them up* "A string of blonde hair and.... a piece of a SeeD uniform"
Maya: "O my god!"
Zell: "Are you sure!?"

OMYGOSH!! Who do you think it is!!!? Read on to find out......