Disclaimer: This story is fully fictional. I do not own any of the characters, and I am not part of Squaresoft. I own the storyline and that's about it.
Authors Note: Not much to say. It's Chapter Nine. I never knew I'd get up to Chapter Nine! Aiii!
Anyway, enjoy! Leave a comment after reading it! Thanks!
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Orphant at Heart
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Written by: Lixia
CHAPTER 9 – Leaving Everything Behind
Raijin and Fujin were situated in their grimy hotel room. Raijin sat on the floor, his back leaning against the wall, while Fujin stood pacing around the room.
"Where could he be? He's been gone all night…y'don't think…"
"NO."
"Then…"
"SEIFER…STRONG."
"Yea, I guess you're right." They sat in momentary silence, unsure of what to do with their worried thoughts. It was 11:00 AM.
The truth of the matter was Seifer had gone out for the night, and remained absent even until now. Both Fujin and Raijin hadn't come to any conclusions about how Seifer had spent his night, but they had suspicions.
Suddenly the handle to their hotel room door twisted and turned before a rather out-of-breath Seifer entered the room. Raijin's eyes widened as if he'd never seen Seifer before, while Fujin's stare remained cool.
"I hate to sound like a mother, but where have you been Seif? You've been gone the whole night, ya know?"
Seifer shrugged, "Sorry. I just…uhh...had to take care of some things." He shed his trench coat and headed to the bathroom.
Fujin's gaze followed him as he went to the bathroom.
"QUISTIS?"
Both men turned to her. "What?" Raijin asked, in an expression of seemingly utmost horror.
Seifer didn't reply. Instead he turned on the tap and splashed water on his face.
"WELL?"
Seifer walked into the bedroom, and wiped his face off with a towel. "Yeah…"
Raijin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "So we're really goin' to Balamb Garden then? To re-enroll? Would Cid let us?"
"I don't know. We can try though, can't we? It beats staying here."
"Like you've said a hundred times," Raijin muttered. "I just don't know why you've suddenly taken such a liking to the Instructor that's all. It kinda scares me, ya know?"
"Scares you?"
Raijin nodded. "Forget it, eh? So when do we leave?"
Seifer eyed his friend closely for a moment then shrugged, "Tomorrow."
Fujin blinked. "TOMORROW?" She sat on the bed, suddenly afraid of her legs becoming too weak to hold her up.
"How are we gonna get tickets and whatever else?" Raijin asked.
"That's what these are for." Seifer held up three tickets for the Deling Train.
"How'd you get these?" Raijin asked.
"This morning when…" I left Quistis' room… "I was on my way back here, I picked up these. I have to visit Quistis tonight just to get the rest of the information, but be ready to leave tomorrow morning." Seifer handed a ticket to each of his friends.
"We'll have to avoid any Fletcher-like business for today. Just so he won't realize we're missing. He'll figure we killed ourselves or something."
"Wouldn't he try to look for us?"
"I hope not. But I can't stay here anymore. I just can't."
* * *
That evening, Seifer's visit to Quistis involved thorough discussion of their plans for the next day. They sat on her bed talking, until Quistis got up to pack her bags. She had previously gotten two of her bags packed, and had one left to go.
"Here, let me help you," Seifer offered, as he picked up a couple bags filled with souvenirs for Quistis' friends.
"Thanks," Quistis smiled. "So are you excited?"
"Excited?" Seifer laid one of the gifts into Quistis' suitcase. He shrugged.
"Yeah. You know…to be happy about going somewhere…"
"I know what it means. I just don't know if I'm excited or not. I'm relieved, if that counts for anything. But excited?"
Quistis sighed, as she let one of the gifts fall back onto her blanket. She approached Seifer and laid a hand gently on his shoulder. "Well, whatever it is you're feeling, I'm here for you, okay?"
Seifer broke out into a smile, melting his serious expression. "I know. Thanks Quistis."
"Of course." She resumed to packing the gifts.
It took half an hour until everything was all set. "Have you got everything packed up?" Quistis asked, realizing he'd spent most of his time with her that evening.
Seifer shrugged. "I don't exactly have much to begin with, but yeah, Raijin and Fujin have got that covered."
"Oh, good. I want to thank you for helping me pack tonight."
Smiling, Seifer nodded. "Any time."
Quistis rose from the spot she'd taken on her bed, and stretched. "Hyne, I'm tired. What time is it?"
"Nearly ten."
"Shouldn't you be going back?"
"Maybe."
"Then what…"
"I just wanted to stay a little longer…so I could just look at you."
A red blush fell across Quistis' face. "Oh, Seifer…"
Seifer got up from his seat and walked towards Quistis. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met…even when we weren't exactly on good terms, I knew that."
Quistis smiled, feeling a little embarrassed at being complimented by him. "You're such a flatterer."
"I mean it." He chuckled, and kissed her.
* * *
Seifer returned to the motel-room by eleven o'clock. Fujin and Raijin had small bundles packed that held their belongings. It wasn't much. Most of their belongings consisted of potions.
"Had dinner, guys?"
Raijin shook his head. "Nah. We decided to skip that off. So, y'went to the Instructor then?"
Seifer nodded. "Got all the information. We leave bright and early tomorrow morning."
"OKAY."
"This is a good idea, right?" Raijin asked, in an almost unsure tone of voice.
"Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Well…y'sure you're not just going because you love the Instructor? You're going because—"
"Whoa, Raijin. What are you talking about?" Seifer demanded, more or less appalled.
"Nothing…it's just…"
Fujin shook her head. "SMART." She pointed to Seifer, then sighed at Raijin.
"I know he's smart…but it could be an infatuation. Y'never know, Seif. People do strange things when they're in love, ya know? How do you know we'll get outta here? Do you know that for a fact?"
Seifer crossed his arms. "Since when did you become such a pessimist, Raijin?"
Raijin shrugged. "Since you fell for Quistis."
"Do you not like her?"
"She's with Garden. She used to be your enemy, Seif. How do you know you're not goin' back to Balamb Garden just to be caught by authorities and be sent to prison? She could be setting you up, ya know?"
Shocked, Seifer didn't know how to answer his best friend. His best friend. How could Raijin doubt what he knew? He knew Quistis was to be trusted. Hyne, he trusted her with his entire being. Why else would he give his heart to her, just as she'd given her heart to him? Angry now, Seifer shook his head.
"You don't know what you're talking about, Raijin. Quistis is a good person; she wouldn't do that. And you'd better get used to the fact that I love her," he snapped.
He walked into the washroom, closed the door behind him, and turned on the shower, leaving Raijin feeling regretful for what he'd said.
Fujin shook her head at Raijin with a now-look-what-you've-done expression on her face. She crossed to the window and looked out of it.
Raijin sighed. "I didn't mean to upset him, ya know? I just wanna be cautious."
"FORGET IT."
"But--"
Fujin turned to him with a sharp look. It silenced Raijin. That evening was going to be tense, Raijin knew. And it was all because of him.
Early the next morning, the three ex-Disciplinary Committee members left their motel room, paying the man at the lobby before departing. Each had a small package of belongings, slung over their shoulders. The morning air was crisp and cool, filled with anxiety and excitement.
So it was excitement, Seifer thought, noticing how loud his boots were on the pavement now. The morning seemed unborn; there was hardly a stir. For a busy city, everyone seemed to have a set curfew. A faint fog surrounded the many buildings about them, and it was calm.
In half an hour, they had arrived at the train station. People were walking everywhere, obviously ready for an early start to their destinations just like them. Seifer searched the diminutive station for any sign of the blonde woman they were to meet. A hint of doubt filled his mind then. What if Raijin was right, and Quistis set us up? What if she's not even here because she's calling the authorities?
Shaking his head, and silently cursing Raijin for filling his mind with doubt, Seifer continued searching for Quistis.
"The Train to Balamb City will be leaving in half an hour!" the train-master called out. Raijin shifted uneasily. "Y'don't think—"
"Seifer!"
Breathing a sigh of relief, Seifer waved at the blonde woman a distance off before them. He gripped his belongings tighter and made his way through the crowd of people towards his loved one.
"Quistis, thank Hyne you're here."
"Of course I'd be here. Why wouldn't I be? I'm leaving too you know." She laughed gently.
"Yeah, I know…it's just…nevermind." Seifer scratched the back of his head nervously, trying to laugh it off.
"We'd better board the train," Quistis suggested, her blue eyes watched the large terminal clocks.
"You're right. Let's go," Seifer said to his two friends.
"QUISTIS." Fujin greeted Quistis. Raijin nodded to her. Quistis felt a little hostility coming from Seifer's friends, but she ignored it.
The group boarded the trains, and found their seats. Quistis took a moment to pack her smaller bags into the compartment, while the train-stewards took her larger luggage to the carriage area. Once everyone had been seated and settled in, an announcement came from the PA system telling them they would be heading off.
It seemed like an eternity before the train actually began to move. Seifer felt a little nervous, and the feeling of anxiety remained a deep dark pit in his stomache. He didn't notice anything else around him, but kept his stare on the interior of the train station before they became distanced with it. Once they reached the outside of the station, Seifer watched the buildings pass them by. Slowly Deling City was becoming nothing but a tiny toy-town…and soon they would be away from it all.
Deling City would be just another nightmare.
