A Final Fantasy VIII Fan Fic
All rights to the characters and names of locations are owned by SquareSoft
The Highwayman Copyright Jim Webb
Rated R for language and sexual content
By Toysaurus
Chapter Five
A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado
I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below
They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound
But I am still around.
It all goes round and round and round and round and round and round
The Highwayman
All right reserved Jimmy Webb
Irvine knocked on the door of the house he had let Selphie off in front of on the previous evening. Slam! Crash! Clatter came from within the house.
"Ow!" a female voice complained.
Irvine couldn't help himself and inched the door open to see what had happened. Selphie lay at the bottom of a steep staircase with her short dress all skewed around her waist.
Hmmm, he thought. Again - this chick's a trip.
"Are you okay?" he asked on more than one level.
Selphie sprang to her feet as she was used to being a klutz.
"I'm fine, let's go," she directed cheerfully as she linked her arm inside of his and led him from the house.
Much to Irvine's disappointment, Selphie was much more polished in her approach of climbing into his hot rod.
"What are we going to do?" she naturally asked.
"Well, you're probably gonna think this is weird," Irvine began.
No doubt, Selphie thought.
"But I wondered if you wanted to go help me clean my guns?"
"Sure," Selphie replied. I was right, this guy is weird. Clean his guns? What kind of euphemism is that for having sex? Well, guns are said to be phallic. That must be it.
Irvine started his vehicle and a short while later they were pulling around the back of Balamb High. Irvine realized it was too early in the evening for the police to be worried about inspecting the area, they usually only came around late at night.
What are we doing here? Selphie wondered. Oh, I get it - in the woods. I hope he brought a blanket.
After parking Irvine jumped out and went around to the back and opened his trunk. Selphie was relieved to see he was retrieving a blanket along with a carry bag. She wondered what was in the bag, but supposed she would soon find out.
"Come on," Irvine said, while taking the now standing Selphie by the hand and leading her into the woods.
Selphie thought she was correct in her assumption when Irvine lay the blanket out smooth on the forest floor and then began removing his clothes. Irvine never thought that stripping naked when cleaning his guns was kinky in any manner. He looked at it as just being practical. After all, he didn't want to leave any tell tale signs on his clothing from the cleaning because he was that careful that no one should discover his weapon cache. Also he knew that his freshly showered body was much cleaner than his clothing and he loathed the idea that any particles of dirt or dust could mar the precision of his fire arms.
Kinda cock sure of himself, isn't he? Oh well, they say the age of true romance is dead. Selphie did the same and they were soon standing nude in front of each other. This guy is so strange, why doesn't he say anything?
As a matter of fact for the first time in his life, Irvine was distracted from the immediate job of cleaning his guns. He realized he was feeling extremely flushed and excited. Pulling Selphie to him, he just silently held her in an embrace.
She feels as good as a 357 in my hands. Irvine pulled Selphie down with him to the blanket. I can clean my guns later, he thought.
"You're so beautiful," Irvine finally spoke.
Rinoa was sitting in the back seat of her father's long Cadillac limousine at 6:45 in the evening. The chauffeur had just pulled the biggest vehicle that had ever been seen on that particular block in Balamb up to the curb in front of the address that had been provided him by Miss Rinoa.
Rinoa realized she had left early but she had just been so nervous and impatient for seven o'clock to arrive, she had instructed their driver to leave ahead of time; plus she really didn't know from the address where Fujin actually lived. She didn't want to take the chance of arriving late and maybe having Fujin leave.
This was a part of town Rinoa had never strayed to. It wasn't disadvantaged, it was just a typical middle class block. Financially Rinoa's father provided a much richer environment, for which she had no appreciation of at all.
Rinoa was luckier than most people, she had learned early on that riches did not guarantee happiness; in fact, in some cases it seemed to be just the opposite.
Observing Fujin waiting by herself in front of the house, Rinoa felt a great sense of relief. Until she had seen Fujin with her own eyes she wasn't going to believe that the young woman was going to follow through on her promise and come to her home for dinner.
Rinoa scooted across the seat and partially rolled down the back window. She waved her hand in such a fashion to indicate to Fujin to step down the walk to the car. Rinoa knew it was probably rude of her not to get out and go to the door, but after all this wasn't a date.
Fujin walked down the front walk to the long limo, neither fast nor slow, just solid. Rinoa threw the door open for her and then scooted back across the seat to make room for Fujin. Fujin entered the vehicle and the chauffeur, who by now was standing by the back door in performance of his job, shut it behind Fujin.
After the driver had smoothly glided the limo away from the curb and back into traffic, Rinoa said, "Sorry, I came a little early."
"Alright," Fujin replied.
"Good," Rinoa smiled at her.
Fujin returned a wink, which slightly disconcerted Rinoa. What exactly did that mean?
"It'll take about thirty minutes to reach my home," Rinoa explained.
"Okay."
"What would you like for dinner, we can have anything you want," Rinoa spoke.
"Seafood," Fujin answered.
"Any particular kind?"
"Shrimp."
"Okay, I'll inform the chef when we arrive," Rinoa stated.
During the rest of the short journey Rinoa attempted her best to make small talk leading to the subject of Seifer, but was thwarted at every turn by Fujin's one word answers. She realized she should just ask point blank, but Rinoa had grown frightened of what answer she might receive.
Fujin's eyes widened slightly when she first beheld the size of the three story mansion that Rinoa resided in. "It's not much, but I call it home," Rinoa attempted to joke.
As she observed the serious look on Fujin's features, Rinoa realized her attempt at a witticism had fallen flat. The chauffeur pulled the long limo around the traffic circle in front of the mansion and stopped by the front door.
He sprang out and first released Fujin's door and hurried around to Rinoa's. Rinoa smiled again at Fujin and offered, "Come on in."
When dinner was served in the huge ornate dining room at the extremely long impersonal table, Fujin looked on in disbelief; first at the size of the dining room and then at the dinner. She observed shrimp cocktail, fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, and shrimp salad sitting on the table.
"Wow!" Fujin exclaimed.
"Well, you said you liked shrimp," Rinoa explained and smiled at her.
Fujin smiled back. That's a first, Rinoa thought.
"I hate this room, it's too unfriendly. Load up your plate and get a drink and we'll go up to my room," Rinoa suggested.
Fujin obviously thought for a moment, but only replied, "Okay."
After they had entered Rinoa's huge bedroom, Rinoa went and sat on her bed.
"Sit anywhere you want," Rinoa invited.
Fujin immediately sat down beside Rinoa, causing her to feel more than a little disconcerted. What is she doing? Rinoa wondered, but didn't say anything out of politeness.
Rinoa attempted to make conversation during the meal, which mostly fell flat because of Fujin's lack of interaction so Rinoa soon fell to finishing her dinner.
After they had eaten, Fujin complimented, "Good!"
"Yes, it was," Rinoa agreed. "Thanks, but it was our chef we should thank. What would you like to do tonight? We have a pool table, ping-pong, foosball, or we could use the indoor pool."
"Swim!" was Fujin's boisterous answer.
Rinoa was slightly taken aback as she hadn't been expecting that response. She assumed her friend wouldn't have known to bring a bathing suit, but that was okay because her father often entertained business contacts for the military and there were many different styles and sizes of swimming suits available.
But how would she know that? Rinoa wondered. Rinoa smiled nonetheless and replied, "Then the pool it is."
She crossed to one of the three large dressers in her room and, after a moment of looking through one of the drawers, she pulled out one of her bikinis. "Come on," Rinoa invited and the two young women left her bedroom.
Naturally enough the indoor pool was located on a lower level and in this case it was a sub-basement. They rode down the elevator in silence and then Rinoa crossed to the locker room door and held it open for Fujin to enter first.
Rinoa then went to a small cardboard and opened it while explaining, "We have clean suits in here of all styles and sizes. You're welcome to choose any one you like."
"Okay."
Rinoa moved to one of the two benches available to sit on in front of four small lockers and laid her bikini on it. She turned her back to Fujin to allow her dinner guest some privacy.
As she removed her clothing, Rinoa thought, How am I going to bring up the subject of Seifer to her and get her to put in a good word for me?
Rinoa removed her last item of apparel and was preparing to don her bikini when she suddenly felt Fuijin's strong hands rubbing her shoulders.
"Oh!" she gasped in surprise. God, that feels good.
"Massage," Fujin explained.
Rinoa felt all her muscles loosening as she had been so tense lately and it felt heavenly. It was a bit too much though when Fujin lowered her hands down to Rinoa's buttocks and she was going to complain because it just seemed so strange and wrong to her, but it still felt so good she couldn't say anything.
Suddenly Fujin's hands dipped into an area they had no business in, as far as Rinoa was concerned, and she complained, "Hey!"
As Fujin continued her ministrations, Rinoa thought, Oh my God! Oh my God!
Later as Rinoa and Fujin were laying nakedly on a heavy bed of towels on the locker room floor, Rinoa sighed, "That was heavenly."
"Yes!"
Seifer and Brianna were seated in the front seat of his car at the Balamb Drive-In Theatre. He was avidly watching his favorite movie of all time - 'The Unrelenting.' Strangely enough it was an historical drama, one involving a beautiful and evil queen, who had usurped the throne and her brave loyal knight.
The character of the knight was an anti-hero who was finally defeated in the end, but he always fought heroically despite it all. Seifer often pictured himself as the knight, but always thought, If that were me, I wouldn't have lost.
He didn't know why he was so drawn to the film and couldn't have explained what it meant to him if he were asked. Seifer just knew it touched something deep inside of him.
"Seifer, why do we have to watch this again? I've seen it a dozen times." Brianna's voice cut through his concentration like an angry buzz saw.
"Shhh!" Seifer replied.
"Shush yourself, I wanna make out," Brianna responded, while unsubtly falling sideways almost into his lap.
"We'll make out during the second feature," he answered her.
"I wanna now," she whined and flung herself at his mouth. Seifer kissed her once while never taking his eyes from the huge screen and then he slightly pushed her from him.
"Seifer, at least look at me when you kiss me."
Seifer finally moved his gaze from the screen to Brianna. One look told her he was furious. "Right after this movie, I'll screw your little brains out, but for now - shut up!"
"How rude!" she exclaimed, while moving to the window on her side of the car.
There's no doubt about it. I have to get a smarter girlfriend, Seifer thought.
Rinoa sat depressed out in the senior courtyard early Monday morning. Not only had she been seduced - by a young woman, but she also discovered later through finally talking with Fujin that, not only Seifer didn't know her, it had been reported to her by Raijin that Seifer didn't even like Fujin.
I did all that for nothing and if Fujin tells anyone about our 'date,' I'll be even more of a laughingstock then I already am.
Rinoa was surprised when she observed Squall exit from the school. What's he doing out here? It's only first period and no one comes out here this early, plus I hardly ever see him out here anyway.
Almost as if he could feel Rinoa thinking about him, Squall turned his head and stared right at her. Oh what's he want? See something green? Rinoa thought sarcastically. Oh no! He's coming over here!
Approaching her, Squall asked, "You gotta a minute?"
"Whatever," Rinoa answered. Now where did that come from?
"Mind if I sit down?" the young man inquired.
"It's a free country."
Squall seated himself beside her on the stone bench. "You know, you're not fooling anybody," Squall began.
"I beg your pardon," Rinoa replied archly. "How am I supposed to be attempting to fool people?"
"By hiding out here all day, everyone knows about it and they're all laughing behind your back…even your close friends."
Rinoa turned bright red and sat stunned for a matter of seconds. Finally she spoke, "Whether or not that is true remains to be seen, but I don't see where it is any concern of yours."
"Okay, you're right," Squall acquiesced. "I just thought you should know," he added, while standing up from the bench.
Rinoa began to have tears run down her face.
"Everybody really knows?" she asked sorrowfully.
"Yeah."
"Even my close friends?"
"Yeah, they laugh about it all the time," Squall answered softly.
Rinoa began to quietly sob. "Hey, hey, you're okay," Squall said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You're strong enough to get through this."
Strong? she thought. Don't make me laugh. Rinoa was finally able to slow her crying enough to speak, "Strong? How am I strong?"
"You finished four years of high school in three years, and that was on the college bound track. You should already be in your first year of college right now, away from all these morons," Squall replied.
He's right, Rinoa admitted only to herself.
And you know why you're still here," Squall continued. "Because of that jerk Seifer."
"Seifer is not a jerk!" Rinoa retorted angrily.
"Of course he is," Squall answered calmly. "What else do you call a person who does not see how great a person you really are?"
Rinoa flushed again, only this time from his compliment. No one every paid her compliments. She looked at him for the first time through different eyes. Rinoa had always dismissed him before as a uncommunicative goth. He really is quite handsome, she thought, even with that horrible scar on his face.
"Who are you really?" Rinoa finally asked.
"Huh?"
"That's a joke, Squall."
"Oh, sorry, I don't do jokes," he answered solemnly.
"If I don't hide out here all day, what would I do?" Rinoa asked plaintively.
"You go to the office and get a copy of your transcripts and take it to Balamb Junior College. Even though the semester has already started, they'll accept you and let you make up the extra work. I know because I checked. Next year you can transfer to Garden University."
A glorious smile crossed Rinoa's beautiful features. No one had ever done anything for her unless they were being paid to. "Thank you so much," she gushed, while standing up.
Taking his hand in hers, Rinoa asked, "Walk me to the office?"
"Sure."
From that moment on Rinoa and Squall were the number one item among the Balamb High gossips.
Selphie sat in her first class, which was New Jersey state history. Her teacher droned on and on concerning the importance of the state occasionally interrupting Selphie's reverie of her date with Irvine.
After she had experienced the most sensational love making of her life, Irvine had proceeded to dig up his buried stash of weapons. They were carefully contained in a duffel bag.
She watched in glee as he broke down each weapon and cleaned it explaining to her all the while what it was and how it worked. After he had finished, he carefully packed them all away back in the duffel bag and reburied it, making sure to place leaves over the freshly packed earth.
They both donned their apparel and Selphie asked, "What should we do now?"
Irvine answered tentatively, "Well, I do have a lot more guns that need to be cleaned back in my room."
"What are we waiting for?" Selphie laughed and offered a big wink.
Cid and Edea sat eating lunch crammed together at their tiny table in the employee's lunchroom. They were sitting side by side rather than across the table from each other.
"You know people are talking about us?" Edea broached.
"Does that bother you?"
"Why no, of course not, but I just thought you might be because you're principal," the counselor answered.
"People will always talk about somebody who is happier then them. I'm just glad this time that it's me."
Edea smiled at him and quietly kissed his cheek.
Zell and Nick, Zell's second-in-command, stood talking in the hallway in the early afternoon, as the after lunch crowd of students pressed by.
"You know we've got Shumi Village this weekend, right?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Zell answered distractedly.
"What's wrong?" Nick questioned.
"Well, um…I might have to miss the rumble," Zell stammered.
"What?!" Nick exclaimed, obviously highly upset.
"Don't get your tail feathers all tied up in a knot," his leader cautioned, "besides the gang can handle it easy with you in charge. I've always said you would be a great leader if anything ever happened to me."
His friend and cohort appeared to rise up in height from receiving such a compliment from his hero.
"But still, why can't you make it?"
"Oh, it's my mother. She's roped me into some kind of a stupid blind date with one of her friend's daughter. I can't get out of it."
Zell flushed uncomfortably. He hated lying to one of his friends.
"Well, it can't be helped, we'll just have to do our best without you."
"Sure, you will," Zell affirmed, while patting his friend on the shoulder. Hot damn! Now I can spend the entire weekend with Kristine.
