Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story, nor am I a part of Squaresoft. This story is for entertainment purposes only.
Authors Note: Chapter 10 was probably the shortest chapter of this story. This chapter should probably have been blended into Chapter 10, but I decided that an update for the story was gravely needed. Next chapter should be a mixture of angst and happiness. =) A BIG thank you to those who have read this story and commented. Especially to those who have been following from chapter 1 to now.
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Orphan At Heart
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Written by: Lixia
CHAPTER 11 – Happiness Doesn't Last Forever
Night fell quickly on them and the train continued its long trip from Deling to Balamb. Quistis and Seifer lay in each others arms, not so much with a feeling of lust in their hearts, but more for the sake of comfort and love. Seifer wanted to hold her, and she let him, and the two of them slept soundly in the small cabin. Quistis slept more soundly than Seifer, however.
By late night, Seifer began having nightmares that involved his friends and Quistis in danger. He was unable to save them all from a large dark figure who saw them through their cabin window.
"You will never win." The voice whispered into his ear. "I've already won, Seifer Almasy. I have already won, and you will die. I will kill you, and your loved ones."
Suddenly a sword came out of nowhere and though he could not feel it, he saw the blood pool from his chest, a large flood of sticky thick liquid. He plunged his hand into the wound, hoping to stop it from bleeding, but it only made it worse. The wound grew bigger, and his hand, as he lifted it from the wound, was dripping with his own blood.
"What have you done?" a soft voice asked him. Golden blonde hair, shining like
the sun bent down towards his face. He looked up with sad eyes and met the
lovely eyes of Quistis Trepe. "What have you done, Seifer? You've killed me."
Raijin and Fujin stood behind her. "You've killed us, Seifer. You've killed us."
"I didn't!" Seifer protested. "I…I tried to save you…I…" he trailed off; there was too much blood loss. He began to fall into a never ending black pit. "I tried to save you…" he tried to yell, but his throat didn't work anymore.
He woke up with a jolt. The sudden movement brought Quistis out of her own dreams. She blinked then raised her head to meet Seifer's own panic-stricken expression. "What's wrong?" she asked him. She lifted a hand to touch his face.
"Nothing…" Seifer said automatically, trying to smile. "Just…a bad dream, that's all." Quistis returned the smile, gently stroking his chin. "Okay…go back to sleep then," she said. He nodded, then bent down to kiss her lips. "Good night, Trepe."
She shifted her position a bit to snuggle against him. "Good night, Almasy," she replied.
He lay back against the soft bed, and stared up at the ceiling instead, listening to the wheels of the train over the tracks. It wasn't so much that it was particularly noisy, but the sound was noticeable.
By the time he began to doze off, light was beginning to pour through the cracks of the blinds of their window. He was concerned about the strange nightmare he had, wondering what it held for him. Was it a premonition of some sort? He hoped not. He couldn't lose what was most precious to him, now that he had finally found it. And he could never lose his friends, because they were his life. He settled back against the pillow and shut his eyes. Nightmares were all it was. He fell asleep.
* * *
Quistis awoke to find that Seifer was asleep. She knew he hadn't had an easy sleep throughout the night. The proof of that was in his expression when he awoke her. She wished she could take away whatever fear he had, for that was what showed on his face. The nightmare must have been truly frightening, she thought. She watched his chest rise and fall to the rhythm of his breathing for a little while longer, mesmerized by him, before she decided it was time to get ready.
She shifted so she didn't have to disturb him, then got out of the bed. She wanted to look out the window, but the harsh sun's rays would wake Seifer up, and she didn't want to do that. Instead, she crossed the small room towards the small compartment that was to be their closet, got changed, fixed her hair, and left the room.
She walked along the corridor, lined with large windows and hugging herself, watched the scenery pass her by. Balamb, here we come, she thought.
* * *
Seifer turned over in the bed to meet one of the sun's rays that escaped through the blinds. Squinting, he tried to turn so he could continue sleeping, but it was too late. He was already awake. Instead he opened his eyes and yawned. Quistis was gone, he noticed, and that left him the entire room to himself for now. He contemplated lying where he was for another hour or so, but the grumble in his stomache forced him to consider other options, such as breakfast. He sat up just as Quistis re-entered the room.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said with a bright smile on her face.
"You look awfully cheery this morning."
Quistis nodded, proceeding to open the blinds of their cabin. "Why shouldn't I be? We'll be home in a couple more hours."
"Home. You make it sound like I've already been reaccepted." Seifer watched her as she carefully opened the blinds.
"You worry too much. Headmaster Cid is forgiving. When he sees that you really mean to do well in Balamb Garden, he'll let you back in for sure." Quistis, having finished with the blinds walked over to the bed and sat down next to Seifer.
He stared into her blue eyes and knew that she trusted in Headmaster Cid to readmit them. "You're right," he said finally. Quistis cocked her head, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course I'm right. Really, Seifer…you worry too much."
Neither of them said a word for a long moment; the sound of railroad tracks continued to roll beneath them. Suddenly, Seifer's stomache gave a cry of hunger.
"Breakfast?" Quistis asked, grinning. Seifer smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, don't think I can keep my stomache quiet any longer."
They both got up and headed out of the compartment only to meet up with Fujin and Raijin who seemed to be making their way towards their cabin room.
"Good morning," Quistis said.
"MORNING."
"Right back at ya both," Raijin said. "Great day, ya know?"
"Yes." Seifer didn't want to worry his friends and forced himself to keep a smile upon his face.
The four of them made their way into the dining cabin where others sharing train cabins were eating breakfast. Seifer felt uneasy around so many people. What if one of them was here to get him? He turned to see that Quistis seemed to be enjoying herself and shook his head of all negative thought. Or he tried.
Fujin and Raijin didn't spare any time to grab a plate and approach the buffet tables. Taking as much food as he could carry, Raijin headed straight to an empty table near one of the windows, Fujin following closely behind when she had taken her own share of food. Quistis left Seifer standing where he was, and he did not notice until she gently called him from his stupor. "Seifer, I thought you were hungry?"
Seifer snapped out of his trance and grinned. "Yeah." He took a plate and absent-mindedly picked up some waffles, butter, and pieces of toast. Then he walked to the table, leaving Quistis at the buffet.
"Guys, you haven't been feeling like someone's been watching us have you?" Seifer asked them, taking a seat across from Raijin.
Both of them shook their heads. "WHY?"
"Have you been feelin' awkward, Seif? Cuz we've been havin' a ball, ya know?"
"I don't want to worry any of you, but…I can't help but think that we're making a mistake here."
"MISTAKE?"
"How?"
"I…" Seifer could no longer discuss it when Quistis walked towards the table, her breakfast in her hands.
Fujin and Raijin remained unnaturally silent as they all ate their breakfast. People around them seemed to be the only source of sound to Seifer; everyone at his table was just that quiet.
"Well," Seifer cleared his throat. "Everyone seems a bit quiet, huh?"
"I've noticed that too," Quistis said in agreement. "Are you all right?" she asked Fujin and Raijin.
Both of them nodded vigorously. "YES. FINE."
"Of course, ya know?"
Quistis eyed them in suspicion but shrugged. "Okay."
Suddenly a voice came over the speakers in their dining cabin, making the soft music emitting from the speakers stop. The muffled static-filled voice announced that they would be in Balamb Train Station in another hour, give or take a few minutes.
Seifer was suddenly quite worried, although he couldn't figure out why.
Once breakfast was done, and their stomaches full, the group went back to their cabin rooms to pack up whatever belongings they had in preparation of leaving the train once it had arrived at their destination.
As Seifer was tying up the bag he owned, full of his belongings, Quistis watched him from the corner of her eye. He seemed highly edgy for some reason, although she hadn't noticed it until then. She tried to get him to talk to her about it, but he shrugged it off and assured her he was fine. She knew better.
"Seifer—"
"I'm fine, Quistis. Really," Seifer said for the hundredth time. It was starting to become slightly irritating to him that Quistis wanted to help him so much. He shouldn't need any help. Hyne, he was fine, wasn't he? He was going to find a better life style; it was like a second chance! Then why the hell was he so jittery?
Quistis didn't say anything else.
"Arriving at Balamb Station in fifteen minutes."
"Oh, good…we're almost there," Quistis said forty-five minutes later. They hadn't talked, but continued packing until the train's announcement caused them both to jump slightly, at the sound of something other than the rhythmic railroad tracks.
"Yeah," Seifer agreed. What was with the sudden awkward feelings between them? Seifer thought, almost miserably. "Listen, Quistis…" he started.
"I know you're fine, Seifer…You've said so yourself. I am just worried, because you don't seem fine. You've been pretty quiet and jittery all morning. That, to me is not a sign of fine-ness," Quistis explained.
Seifer sighed. "You're absolutely right. I guess I'm just…feeling anxious," he lied. Anxiety was not one of the feelings he was experiencing right then. He knew that if anything.
"Don't be anxious. You've been here before. This has been your home for years."
"Train has arrived at Balamb Station. Please gather at the cabin doors once the train has come to its complete stop."
Seifer grabbed his bag and a few of Quistis' luggage. Quistis had her own arms full of more bags and their ticket stubs. They met up with Fujin and Raijin shortly and the four of them made their way to the exits. Train attendants waited at the exit doors to wish them a good day and to thank them for using their trains. Seifer ignored them, hurrying off the train. His sense of edgyness never left him; he wanted to go to Balamb Garden before any danger could happen.
"What is your rush, Seifer?" Quistis asked him, impatiently. Fujin and Raijin were right behind her. It almost looked like the tables had turned, and he was the outcast again.
"Nothing," he said gruffly. Uncomfortable silence passed between them before Quistis sighed and called a cab. They loaded their luggage in and piled into the car.
"To Balamb Garden, please," Quistis said to the driver.
"Gotcha." Soon they were on their way to Balamb Garden.
Seifer watched scenery pass them by out of the window. He dropped his hands at his side, and felt one touch Quistis' hand. He took it and she held onto his. Silent apology flowed through the two of them for the second time. This was it. They were going back to Balamb Garden. Wasn't this supposed to make him happy?
"What have you done, Seifer? You've killed me."
Raijin and Fujin stood behind her. "You've killed us, Seifer. You've killed us."
No.
