Disclaimer: Yet again…really…do I have to repeat myself every time? O.o I don't own FFVIII, I'm not part of Squaresoft, and the only thing I own regarding this story is the storyline and the events that take place.
Authors Note: I'm at Chapter 7. Eeeeee! I'm so glad I made it this far. Now my goal is to finish chapter 8. =P Well, a big thanks to everyone who left comments. For all those who read it, please leave a review after reading! It would be greatly appreciated. ^_^ Well, enjoy.
--------------------
Orphan at Heart
--------------------
Written by: Lixia
CHAPTER 7 – What Now?
Seifer swallowed hard, forcing himself to say what he had come here to say. He laid his hands on her shoulders, feeling a tingle down his spine.
"I…never knew that I could be capable of anything like this…especially not in four days. I've…oh hell, Quistis, I think I love you."
He watched her reaction, hoping he wouldn't receive what he expected: a slap in the face.
Instead, Quistis gasped. He didn't know what she was thinking, but she remained speechless.
Quistis gasped, her heartbeat quickened, and she could hear the blood pump in her ears. Had he just said what she thought he did? She didn't even think it was possible.
Seifer remained his stern serious self. "I tried to deny it. Four days, Quistis…and I've gotten to know you. I had no idea this could happen, but I had to tell you."
A misty look came over Quistis' eyes, and suddenly she threw her arms around Seifer's neck. The action threw Seifer off for a moment, but then he too wrapped his arms around her waist. Then Quistis did something no Instructor appeared capable of doing. She met his lips with hers, and kissed him.
Seifer felt her soft lips press against his, and returned the kiss wholeheartedly. He didn't think this was real for a moment; not until he felt her body against his, did he know it was reality.
When she broke off the kiss, he was almost disappointed, but then she whispered, "I love you too."
Not another word needed to be said, as the two hugged each other tightly.
Quistis felt unable to control the tears coming to her eyes. If she never knew
happiness before, she did now. Any thoughts of Squall, and any past feelings
for him completely disappeared. Seifer loved her. Nothing could make her happier,
and nothing else needed to.
Finally Seifer murmured, "You do?"
Quistis blinked, then laughed. "Of course I do. Don't get me wrong…I tried to deny it, after all…who would have thought that four days could bond two people into love? Well...I certainly didn't. But you were always there when I needed you this week. And you've shown me a lot about myself no friend could ever do."
Seifer nodded, holding her closer against him. He laid his chin on Quistis' soft blonde hair. "But what happens now?" he whispered. Thoughts about Fletcher, Fujin, Raijin, and of course…worst of all…the lie he'd told Quistis about the money crossed his mind. There was no way he would be able to make enough money to pay her back. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of that before he decided to spill his guts and tell her he loved her.
Whatever happened, he could not betray her trust.
"Hmm?"
"Nothing." It was disheartening to remember what he'd been up to before he fell in love with her. But somehow he'd have to pay her back…some how…
"When do you leave?" Seifer asked, changing the subject.
"A couple days from now…" Quistis replied, "why?" she then asked.
"I…was considering that offer you made a while ago."
Quistis looked at Seifer blankly for a moment. "Oh," she said, "about returning with me to Balamb Garden?"
Seifer nodded.
Quistis broke away from Seifer, then gave a thoughtful expression. "The offer's still there if you want to go."
"Good." Seifer smiled a genuine smile. "I really do think that a new life is in order…after all, I want to be spending the rest of my --" Seifer stopped short. He couldn't even believe he had just said that.
Quistis looked at him, as if she wanted to hear the rest of what he was about to say, but she didn't prod on.
Instead, she stepped to a side, and stared out the window. "It's going to be great, starting over…" Quistis said quietly. She wasn't sure if she was saying that to Seifer, or to herself. After all…she was starting over herself, wasn't she? She was starting afresh with this newfound love of Seifer's. And Seifer too was starting over.
She turned to look at Seifer who was sitting at the edge of the bed, obviously thinking deeply about something. She noticed the serious, almost guilty expression on his face. "Seifer, are you okay?"
Seifer snapped out of his reverie then blinked as he saw Quistis' face. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Love's a strange thing…" Quistis murmured. Seifer nodded. "It is." He agreed.
* * *
When Seifer left Quistis' room that night, he felt a whole bundle of emotions wrapped into one. He felt anger at himself and his lies, guilt for having to lie in the first place, love for Quistis, hunger from not having eaten anything all day, and exhaustion. He had been thinking way too much for it to be good health.
When he opened the door to the room that he and his friends stayed in, he noticed Fujin and Raijin were playing a game of cards. "Hey Seif," Raijin said, grinning at him.
Seifer waved a hand lazily, and then proceeded into the bathroom. He turned the tap of the shower, and stripped off his trench-coat, pants, shirt, and the rest of his clothing. When the water began to steam, Seifer stepped into the shower, hoping that the hot water would rinse not only the sweat off him, but the haunting thoughts and lies he had fed to Quistis.
When he stepped out of the shower, he heard Fujin and Raijin's shouting. Obviously Fujin was winning the game, and Raijin was having a fit of poor sportsmanship. He chuckled, wishing situations like this were the only things he had to worry about.
When he was fully dressed, he joined his friends. Raijin didn't seem to be taking losing very well. "Seif, tell Fujin that I am the winner. I had one point over her, and then all of a sudden, she cheats, ya know?"
"LIAR." Fujin growled, slamming the cards on the floor. She pointed to herself and declared, "WINNER!"
Seifer merely laughed. "Sorry Raij, you're on your own." Raijin frowned and sulked for a moment. "So where were you?" Raijin asked.
The question took him off guard for a moment. Hadn't he…no. Seifer realized he hadn't told Raijin about Quistis yet. Fujin gave Seifer a warning glance, as if now wasn't the time to tell him.
Raijin never liked Quistis either.
"Well…" Seifer knew he had to tell him eventually, so why not now? "I was at—"
"HUNGRY." Fujin suddenly said.
"Fujin, stop. I have to tell him," Seifer said. Fujin fell silent.
"What's this about? I'm kinda lost, ya know?" Raijin said, turning his gaze from Seifer to Fujin, and back again.
"I was at Quistis'. I…well…we, er…we're going to go back to Balamb Garden with her."
Raijin stared at him, and even Fujin gave a startled gasp. "BALAMB?" Fujin asked in surprise.
"Yes." Seifer answered. "For Hyne's sake. Don't act so bloody surprised. It was going to happen eventually," he snapped irritated. He hated having to explain himself like this.
"No it wasn't, Seif. We were never going to go back, remember? We vowed never to. Now you're breaking your promise, ya know?" Raijin said.
"I'm doing no such thing. Would you rather stay here in this damned hell-hole working for Fletcher until your back breaks, or would you rather start over in Balamb Garden where we may actually have a chance to be SeeDs again?" Seifer snapped, trying to get his ideas across.
"It's not possible. Balamb hates us. We sided with the Sorceress Ultimecia, remember?" Raijin said, leaning back.
"EXACTLY."
"But I'm sure if we talked to Cid, and Quistis…she'll help us out," Seifer pointed out. Fujin eyed her friend suspiciously. This was what love did to someone…turn them vulnerable. But she had to admit…he looked much happier than he used to.
"What about Squall, and them? You can't forget what they think of us, ya know?" Raijin interjected.
Seifer looked thoughtful for a moment, as if he hadn't even thought about Puberty Boy and the rest of the Scooby gang. But the fact was, he had. It was the only thing on his mind when Quistis had first suggested he come back to Balamb Garden. They would ridicule them until they gave in and lashed out. But that wasn't going to happen this time. Not when he had Quistis.
"You're right…but I'm willing to take the chance. Aren't you?"
Raijin and Fujin were silent for a moment. They exchanged glances with each other, then looked at Seifer's expression: one that was, for the first time, full of hope. He really wanted to do this. He really wanted to start over. And the fact of the matter was, they did too.
They all wanted to be rid of the life they had here in Deling City. They wanted to return to the only place they knew as home. Balamb Garden.
"FINE."
"Yea…we'll give it a chance. Can't be that bad being on the Disciplinary Committee again, ya know?" Raijin said with a grin.
Seifer smirked, grateful.
"Now what's all this about Quistis? I'm kinda confused about that, ya know?" Raijin asked.
Seifer stood up and paced for a bit. He didn't know how to tell him all of a sudden. He took a deep breath and began to re-tell his story to his two best friends.
"A few days ago, when we met up with her at the Bar…that was the first time I'd seen her since the Sorceress Wars. We were low on money. So I went to her, intent on getting money off her. To me she was nothing but a gullible client that I'd rob. I guess I wasn't prepared for the reality of it."
"And what's the reality?" Raijin asked.
Fujin crossed her arms, but her expression said "Go on…"
"The reality of it was…I was attracted to her. And now that attraction is—"
"Oh no. No, no, no…" Raijin stared at Seifer, obviously appalled, "and now you love her."
Seifer nodded.
"Well, this complicates things, ya know? Is that why you wanted to go back to Balamb Garden?"
"Partly. Another reason is because I hate it here. I always did. We were never invited back to Balamb Garden, so I figured we were unwanted there. But Quistis…she suggested it. Isn't that a sort of invitation? And now that we're…well, I want to go back now."
Fujin sighed. "ONE PROBLEM."
Raijin looked at her, and then agreed with a nod. "Yeah, how are we gonna get rid of Fletcher?"
