Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII, which is unfortunate. =P But anyway, this fic is purely for entertainment purposes only.

Authors Note: Hope you're all enjoying this fic so far. If you haven't read Chapter 1 yet, I suggest you do, although…it probably wouldn't kill you and get you all confused if you didn't.

Oh and sorry it took so long…^^;; I've been rather busy lately.

-------------------

Orphan at Heart

-------------------

Written by: Lixia

CHAPTER 2

          When morning came, Quistis was already awake and awaiting the taxi. Shortly after the sun touched the paved grounds of Balamb Garden, the yellow car arrived. Quistis loaded her two suitcases into the trunk and hopped in.

"Where to?" the taxi driver asked.

"The Balamb Garden train-station, please." Quistis replied as she closed the door.

The driver nodded and slowly they pulled out from the little pick-up spot. She watched from inside the cab as the familiar sight of Balamb Garden slid away from her. Then she turned to the front. The trip was silent, except for the low sound of the radio in the car. Quistis sat quietly listening to her heart beat.

She didn't know why heart was pounding all of a sudden. She assumed it was because she hadn't been on a vacation by herself before.

The taxi trip was shorter than Quistis expected when she paid the man 30 gil, grabbed her bags and walked up the steps of the Train Station. She decided a trip to Deling City wouldn't be so bad. Then maybe a short trip to Winhill, where Laguna used to live after. She would travel for a bit, and enjoy her week of complete freedom.

"Good morning Miss. Where would you like to go today?" the train ticket man asked her from behind a little counter in a booth.

"Deling City," Quistis replied, and readied her money. She was surprised that she actually going to go about doing this.

"350 Gil, please."

Quistis paid the man, and took her ticket.

"The train will arrive in one hour's time," the man said. Quistis quickly thanked the man and decided she needed breakfast. And since she had an hour to kill, it would be the perfect thing to do. She walked away from the booth to one of Balamb's famous restaurants and went in, baggage and all. She took a table for herself and quickly ordered a coffee and some pancakes. When the waitress walked away from the table after taking Quistis' order, Quistis noticed a man sitting at the bar. Blonde hair, cut short, trench coat, strong and built, and…a scar…Seifer?!

She rubbed her eyes and looked again. No one was there.

Her heart beat again. Was Seifer just there? Or not?

"Here's your coffee and pancakes," the waitress said all of a sudden, breaking into Quistis' train of thought.

"Oh. Right, of course. Thank you," Quistis said hastily.

"Are you all right, miss?" the waitress asked worriedly.

Quistis nodded, "Of course I'm fine!" she said, "Why wouldn't I be?" she smiled a reassuring smile.

The waitress looked at her oddly, but shook her head and walked towards the kitchen, leaving Quistis to her breakfast.


Once again Quistis looked to the bar, hoping (for some odd reason) that Seifer would be there. He wasn't. Disappointed, but unsure why, Quistis ate her breakfast slowly.

                                                          *  *  *

When Quistis was done and paid for her meal, the train was to arrive in 10 minutes. She grabbed her bags and made her way back to the train station to board her train.

Her little cabin and seat were nicely furnished, even for so cheap a price. She guessed it was because no one traveled during school-time, so tickets were cheaper. It didn't matter to her anymore. She was now officially to begin her long-awaited vacation. She sat back in her seat and let her mind drift away…

                                                          *   *   *

"Come back here!!" a shrill voice screamed.

"Quickly Raijin! Grab it and run!" the man in the trench coat shouted, his gunblade raised above him.

"I'm trying to, ya know?" Raijin cried out. He took the white package and tucked it under his arm, as he ran from the woman.

Once they were out of distance for the screaming woman to chase them, Raijin dumped the package on the ground.

"Why do we have to take this from that innocent woman anyway? Man, I hate this, ya know?"

"ROTTEN." A silver-haired woman added. Her black eye-patch covered her left eye, and her good red-ruby eye glared at the blonde man.

"She isn't innocent at all…her husband owns the one of the greatest drug-dealing company, besides. I told you guys. This is a no-choice deal. We either get killed, or we do this. And frankly, I'd rather keep my life for another week or so."

Raijin shook his head, "How we even got into this, I really can't remember, ya know?"

"SEIFER."

"Yea, Fujin?"

"BASTARD."

Seifer grumbled. "Well then, die! I told you! We have no damn choice! Just deal with it!" he snapped. Fujin said nothing, but turned her ruby-eye to stare at the environment around them.

"So…what do we do now? We have to give it to him as soon as we can, ya know?" Raijin said. Seifer nodded briskly. He bent down to pick up the package.

"We're in debt to this guy. I can't fucking believe it," he sighed.

"BELIEVE." Fujin said then.

Raijin nodded, suddenly feeling not so angry at Seifer anymore.

"Wasn't your fault, ya know? We needed money, and stealing wasn't the way we wanted it. He gave it to us. Never expected to end up stealing for him anyway, ya know?"

Seifer held his head in his hands miserably. "I'm so damn frustrated. Why did we even bother to start this kind of life?" he asked to no one in particular.

                                                          *   *   *

"Now arriving at Deling City. Please remain seated until train comes to a complete stop. Thank you."

Quistis woke up to the sound of the train-stewardess' announcement. Once it had come to a stop, she grabbed her bags and stepped out of the train. She took in her surroundings and followed the crowd to the gates entering Deling City. She couldn't believe she had actually made it. She nearly went to a phone to call for Squall and the rest of them. Just to tell them she had arrived. But the purpose of not telling them she was going in the first place was to avoid them. She would stick to her plan.

"Welcome to Deling City! May your stay be joyous!" a man greeted each tourist with a plastered grin. Once Quistis was into the city over the gate, his voice, repeating the same line continued though his voice faded as she moved further away from him.

"I wonder how much he's getting paid for saying that…" Quistis muttered.

First thing she needed was a place to stay and leave her bags. She looked around her and found a grand building that she assumed was the hotel, since big letters spelled out HOTEL.

When she entered it, she was amazed at how well furnished it seemed to be, just like her cabin. A classy grand piano sat in the center. Along the wall was a receptionist booth, and in the center of the lobby, above the piano was a crystal chandelier. Couches were scattered around the lobby, and she saw to her right a staircase leading downwards where she could hear a song being played on the piano.

All in all, the hotel impressed Quistis. She felt she was going to enjoy her stay in Deling city, as the man at the gate had wished her.

                                                          *  *  * 

"Seifer, we can't just wallow in self pity, ya know?" Raijin said, laying his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Don't give up just yet. There may be hope for us, ya know?"

"CORRECT." Fujin agreed, "HOPEFUL."

Seifer lifted his head so he could see his two best friends. "You're right."


Once Seifer was on his feet, the three of them left the alleyway they had used as their safe-escape place with the package concealed within Seifer's trench coat.

"Let's have some dinner! I'm starved ya know?" Raijin suggested, his mood brightening. Seifer didn't seem so happy, however.

They had to get out of Deling as soon as possible. But the problem was they didn't have the money. His hopes died like a flame killed by a bucket of cold water.

Fujin noticed his scowl. "PROBLEM?"

Seifer turned and faced her. Honestly, yes. But he couldn't tell her. "No, of course not," he said, a bit more bitterly than he meant. Raijin stopped in front of Deling City's grand hotel. "Here's a good place for dinner," he said, and the two followed him in.


It was fifteen minutes later when they were settled into their table on the lower floor of Deling City's hotel. The piano was played by one of the pianists that had Julia's playing style. Seifer ordered a drink, and leaned back in his seat. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he listened to the music being played.

                                                                   *   *   *

Quistis felt that now, having spent an hour or so in her hotel room, she was fully unpacked and began to get hungry. A small dinner in Deling Hotel's restaurant wouldn't be bad, she decided. She left her room and walked down the hall, already feeling so much more relaxed.

She headed down the stairs, and a waitress led her to a table. It wasn't a single person's table either. It was a table merely for a group of at least two or three.  Again, she felt the feeling of loneliness. She didn't have anyone to talk to during dinner: no one to listen to, or complain to. She almost felt like returning to her room, and order room service. But she didn't.  She couldn't.  It would almost be like giving up. On what, she couldn't quite put her finger on, but it felt like she was quitting.

When her drink had arrived, she took a sip, and tried to drown herself in the music playing on stage.

The song was romantic and sad, almost matching the golden-haired girl's mood.

When the song ended, Quistis saw the girl rise. She appeared to be very beautiful, just like her playing. Quistis applauded her, adding to the already grand applause and the young pianist bowed.

A microphone was placed before her, at that moment, and she took it and began to speak.

"Good evening everyone. For years I've studied the art of music, and I've taken a large interest in studying a brilliant pianist/singer. Her name was Julia. She used to play in this very room, so tonight I will sing one of her most famous songs, as a tribute for her gift she brought to the world."

She stopped talking, holding the microphone in her hand, taking a breath. The audience remained silent. The young girl then began to sing a beautiful song Quistis remembered all too well. Even she had fallen in love with the song, and the girl's voice was so beautiful:

Whenever sang my songs,

On the stage, on my own,

Whenever said my words,

Wishing they would be heard

I saw you smiling at me,

Was it real? Or just my fantasy?

You'd always be there in the corner

Of this tiny little bar…

My last night here for you,

Same old songs, just once more,

My last night here with you?

Maybe yes, maybe no

I kind of liked it your way,

How you shyly placed your eyes on me,

Did you ever know,

That I had mine on you?

Darling, so there you are,

With that look on your face,

As if you're never hurt,

As if you're never down

Shall I be the one for you,

Who pinches you softly but sure,

If frown is shown then,

I will know that you are no dreamer

So let me come to you,

Close as I want to be,

Close enough for me,

To feel your heart beating fast,

And stay there as I whisper,

How I love your peaceful eyes on me

Did you ever know,

That I had mine on you?

Darling, so share with me,

Your love if you have enough,

Your tears if you're holding back,

Or pain, if that's what it is,

How can I let you know,

I'm more than the dress and the voice

Just reach me out then

You will know that you're not dreaming

Darling, so there you are

With that look on your face,

As if you're never hurt,

As if you're never down,

Shall I be the one for you

Who pinches you softly but sure,

If frown is shown then, I will know

That you are no dreamer.

Immediately, the crowd burst into applause. Quistis clapped, now feeling as if she could cry. Somehow that girl had the power to filter such emotion into her song, as if she had been through all those words herself.

Seifer clapped to the girls performance. "Not bad, ya know?" Raijin grinned, as he too applauded.

Fujin remained untouched. Her expression seemed like stone, but she too clapped.

"Seif, we better deliver the package now…" Raijin said suddenly, his expression grim. Seifer checked his watch, and nearly swore.

He should have expected it, "Yea, let's go," he said. As the pianist sat down to play again, Seifer rose and his friends followed.

Leaving the payment of 50 Gil, he headed up towards the stairs when he nearly stumbled.

"Whoa! What's the hold up, Seifer? We have a deadline, ya know?" Raijin exclaimed.

Seifer ignored him. Instead, he turned to his left and recognized a face he'd not seen for over a year and a half.

"Quistis Trepe?" he said, stepping up to her table.