Chapter One:

The tall blonde haired man held his gunblade in front of him, watching the scaly green monster facing him growl and scratch the floor with its clawed feet. Blood trickled from somewhere on its spiky head, sliding around its solitary yellow eye (the other having been torn out by the tip of the deadly weapon) and dripped off its lumpy chin. He supported the blade of the ash black weapon over his shoulder. Charging forwards, he lowered the seemingly weightless blade as he neared the reeking monster. His white trench coat, torn at its hem, followed the man valiantly during his attack, flapping in the breeze. The blade ripped through the monster's thick scaly flesh causing it to howl in agony. Seifer fired simultaneously, a bullet tearing through the beast's shoulder.

The beast snorted as it fell to the dusty ground; clouds of dirt filled the air around the defeated monster, its heavy laboured breathing could still be heard above the additional noises in the 'Monster's Den'.

When the dust settled, the monstrosity lay in a pool of its own blood; its breathing ceased only moments ago, and now, more than any time in its short life, was it more pleasant too behold.

He sighed as he run a hand through his short hair, leaning on the Hyperion for support. Seifer knelt on one knee by the small crystal blue river which ran though the centre of the training centre.

The eighteen-year-old's blue eyes studied his fragmented reflection in the watery mirror at his feet, his black gloved hand tracing the scar on his face from under his left eye, to just over his right. His blood boiled, the damned thing reminded him of Squall - his rival - he who put a stop the sorceress Ultimeacia.

That was just under a year ago.

Seifer's quick- tempered mind raced back to when he had first strolled back through the front gates at the Garden, returning to the only place he felt he could. Headmaster Cid had tried his best to make Seifer feel he was welcome, but it hadn't worked really.

The first thing to greet him upon his arrival inside the military academy was a fist; and that fist belonged to Zell Dincht.

Almost murdered by the chicken wuss, Seifer lay on his back upon the cold marble floor of the main corridor. Oh, he would have gladly wasted the hyperactive little bugger right then; however, Seifer really needed somewhere to stay, and killing him would have served against his purpose. At least Rinoa welcomed him. Squall protested relentlessly about Seifer's being welcome; "You can't just let him back in here after what he did!" Squall had stressed.

Well, that had worked well hadn't it? Big headed little-

The frustrated young man's gloved hand lashed out at the water, causing his image to scatter; snapping him back into the cold, harsh reality that he was no longer welcome anymore.

"...Rest…" Ordered the seldom used voice of Fujin as she walked over to where Seifer sat, closely followed by the taller Raijin. She hadn't spoken much since her sudden out burst in the Lunatic Pandora.

"Fujin's right, ya know... You should rest..." Raijin stood a few steps behind Fujin, leaning upon his staff. "She can be kinda harsh sometimes, so you better rest now, ya kn-"

"RAGE!" Fujin turned to look at the taller man behind her, cutting his sentence short with her rush of anger.

Seifer looked towards the two, and despite himself, he smiled as Raijin hopped around clutching his left shin. Fujin maintained a straight face and turned her back on the limping man as she heard Seifer standing up, his long coat rustling.

Together they had once formed the disciplinary committee, and now Seifer had returned they were once again - their little posse was reunited.

Together the three made their way out of the 'Monster's Den' and towards the dormitories. Raijin and Fujin's dorm rooms were close to his own. They had insisted that the rooms were close, well; Raijin had. Thus the Headmaster agreed and let them stay.