- chapter 3
-------


Once Seifer had felt that he had no more pent up anger then he usually had, he decided to call it a night, for it was now far after dinner -and most likely curfew- by now. He was on his way out of the Training Center, hoping that Fujin or Raijin hadn't actually stopped by his dorm and actually tried to wake him up while he was out, when he noticed someone walking in the opposite direction that he was down the hallway.

Hey Chickenwuss, gonna go jump off the balcony in the Secret Area to see if you can fly? Seifer called out with a smirk, maybe he could get out a little bit more anger, and prove Fujin wrong. Chickenwuss gave a loud sigh as he approached the tattooed blonde.

My name's Zell. Ya'd think that you'd know it by now, we've known each other... how long? Our whole lives? My name is Zell.

But Chickenwuss just fits you so much better!, he said walking over to the shorter man. I mean, look! You look just like a chocobo! Your funny lookin' feet... and your hair! Seifer smirked again at the look on Chickenwuss' face as he fingered a spike of what could have very well been feathers. Your mommy musta been some ugly lookin' chocobo- but he was interuppted by a harsh voice that he hadn't heard the Chickenwuss use before.

And what would you do for a mom, huh? Go running back to your sorceress? Good boy, Seifer, good doggie...' That's some dream, Seifer. Oh yeah! I wanna be a sorceress' lapdog when I grow up too!'

Was it fun? Dammit Seifer, even -she- called you a disgra- Zell's angry attack stopped abruptly as he felt his feet being lifted from the ground.

Seifer lifted the tattooed blonde by the collar of his jacket so that their faces were a few inches apart, his usual composure surely lost. He spoke in a low, steely, and strained voice. Don't you dare talk about things you don't know -anything- about.

Before another moment had passed, Seifer harshly dropped the Chickenwuss and stormed off like a thundercloud.


More time passed without any encounters with that damned Chickenwuss, and Seifer thanked Hyne. Most likely on a mission or something. All talk about blonde spikey haired tattooed martial artists had stopped between all members of the posse.

Overall, things seemed to be on the up and up for the Disciplinary Committee. They had just busted a whole group of students who were writing graffiti all over the walls of the Parking Lot and bathrooms(much of which read: Death to the Sorceress' Knight, Burn in Hell Lapdog, etc.).

Much of the well earned respect(more like fear) they received was coming back to the Disciplinary Committee as they walked through the halls these days. Now, instead of glaring daggers at them, more and more students reverted to fleeing the area immediately.

This was all despite the times where Seifer would end up snapping at one of his fellow posse members a minor mistake, then going off to do some other tasks halfheartedly. They bore it, although their concern for their friend had started to grow once again.

As soon as things started to seriously calm down again(much to Fujin and Raijin's relief), the inventible happened. The Chickenwuss came back from where ever it was that he had been, and was now back to walk the halls of the Garden, including the ones that Seifer was patrolling.

Luckily, the scared blonde had not seen Chickenwuss since that night in the Training Center hallway, and said Chickenwuss had been back for almost a week now.

One night, after a rather ugly disagreement between Seifer and Fujin, the former stormed out of the Cafeteria, where the posse had congregated for the night, in a huff, leaving the rest of his posse behind.

She was only trying to get him to tell them what was bothering him lately.

He knew he had overreacted, and he felt guilty, but damned if he was going to go back and admit that. Instead, he found himself in the Training Center again, as he did now from time to time, in which he then began to let off steam and think.

After he had found pushing Grats around get boring yet again, he decided to go out and get some air. Upon entering the Secret Area though, those Grats suddenly looked pretty good again. There was the Chickenwuss, looking out by the railing.

Before Seifer's mind could decide what his next course of action would be, the tattooed blonde turned. When he saw who had just entered the area, a look of exasperation passed over his face. He then turned back towards the railing, acting as if he had never turned around in the first place.

Seifer, who's mind finally decided to stay around a while, took a few steps forward when a firm voice interrupted his thoughts. You know, you still haven't given me an answer. It was the Chickenwuss, who then shifted his weight from one foot to the other, face not turning back to look at Seifer.

He was still stuck on that? Seifer scoffed as he continued to walk forward until he was a few feet away from Chickenwuss, hoping that he sounded more confident then he actually was. Your still still stuck on that? Hyne, I thought you had more of a life, Chickenwuss.

So what is it then? ....You don't know the answer, do you?, the tattooed blonde asked, a quizzical look passing over his features as he turned to face Seifer.

'Course I do. Seifer really scoffed this time, not feeling as apprehensive as he felt the power over the conversation fall into his hands. He could tell that Chickenwuss was waiting for an answer. A few moments slipped by. He smirked. The tattooed blonde took notice of this.

Why won't you tell me!? He shouted, grabbing a fist full of Seifer's shirt, bringing their faces closer together.

Why should I? Seifer said in a low voice, moving a hand down Chickenwuss' side as if to push him off, which ended up resting on a hip.

A moment passed by, which might as well have been forever to Seifer, who was now becoming more aware of his own breathing and heartbeat.

he said so softly it was more of a breath.

... What? The tattooed blonde asked in his own whisper.

Your name. I said your name. The taller man answered as he moved away and walked out of the Secret Area.