Disclaimer: I do not and never will own any of the Squaresoft Characters, they are copyright to their respective owners.  However, Amelia and any other character to appear in this story are of my own creation and therefore should not be used (like the ever will be…) without my expressed permission.

Chapter Three – Tolerance and Intolerance

"Don't you eat?" Amelia enquired at last as she observed the remaining sandwich, "Cause you know...I don't want to eat it all on you," she pointed out.  His eyebrow quirked in reply and slowly he shook his head, "Are you sure?" he nodded and she smiled thankfully as she took the last piece.  The silence of the lounge was broken however by the debate on the other side of the room, once a whisper, it had now broken into a loud argument of sorts...about...chauvinism?

"Excuse me! But maybe you could help us!" with long, well balanced strides a girl approached her.  Confused, Amelia could only wait for her to continue and paused politely to swallow the food in her mouth before the girl did continue, "My companion and I have noticed that you speak differently from us and I'm afraid we assumed you were from below the plate, now we aren't saying you have terrible grammar but you use such words as 'thanks' and 'cause' and we just figured --"

"You'd actually be correct," Amelia cut in, causing the girl to smile slightly, "And if I can help then I will," she added as the boy joined the girl.

"Excellent! Alright, we're having a debate on the state of this generation, I am positive that chauvinism is present within this generation and is ten times worse than it has been in previous years but my companion claims that it has become much less, we assumed that due to the fact that you lived down there and are now within our school that you would be able to offer us some insight regarding it," she explained and Amelia frowned thoughtfully.

"That's quite an interesting debate," she observed softly and took a few moments to consider her answer, "However, if I were to answer truthfully I would say that at present you are both right," a set of blank faces met her and numerous others glanced up with sudden interest, "I say that because when I entered this school today I became aware of the numerous looks of distaste that I received, I say numerous because not everyone looked at me in the same way...some were curious while others were indeed disgusted," she sighed and became rather subconscious though she saw no reason in preventing them from the explanation they deserved, "As my day progressed some became hostile because, mayhaps they disliked people who are different in some way, who have different opinions," she smiled meekly and considered her next sentence carefully, "However, the hostilities weren't so bad when they were alone, in fact...they seemed rather nice when they weren't in groups, or at least not round a 'ring leader'," she sighed and glanced up as the bell outside rang to summon the end of lunch.

"Ignore it..." Sephiroth ordered as he rummaged around in her bag, she gaped in surprise and quirked a brow as he observed her timetable, "You have a study period anyway... most likely they'll retreat to the games room," he pointed out and she blushed.

"I don't think, it's a case of the entire generation increasing or decreasing their tolerance towards upper and lower classes..." she shrugged slightly and smiled, "I think, to be precise it is the upbringing in which one receives, those with families that detest the 'lower' classes will detest them as much as their parents, if not more.  The theories I suppose seem simplistic, but if you research them deeper you find that up bringing is the cause for most causes of chauvinism, if you are brought up by parents that realize that in truth there is no difference apart from where we live, then you yourself will also realize and accept those in the slums for who we are..."

"Could you...write that down?" the girl enquired slowly, a tone of awe in her voice, "I don't think I've ever really thought about it like that,"

"Have you ever been given the chance?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well have you ever had a chance to observe another way of living?" she questioned again as she walked to the window and glanced across at the slight gap in grassland...the end of a plate, down below was her home, "To see how we survive...our opinions, the life in which we live at the expense of your own?"

"Down below...do they tolerate us, or do they dislike us as apparently some people up here dislike you?" the girl continued, jotting down something on a notepad that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

"Like here...it varies," Amelia replied with a shrug, tensing as the lounge door slammed open and someone she didn't want to see barged inwards.

"There you are!" the girl howled from the doorway.  Her pudgy nose and watery eyes glaring towards the petite girl as if she was a red blanket...all Amelia needed was the bull, or did she already have that? "We've simply been looking all over for you!" she cried and tilted her head to one side, taking a few moments to glance at each of the now disturbed people within the lounge, Sephiroth in particular, in fact, her eyes became hazy...dreamy, she wanted him, or that was what Amelia assumed.

"Have you now?" Amelia replied at last and tilted her head to one side, causing her hair to just about cover the purple mark upon her cheek before the girl could see it and brag about it at a later date.

"Yes! Indeed we have! We wanted to give you back your --"

"Bag?" Amelia cut in again, quirking a brow and folding her hands across her chest, the girl looked almost startled and an overwhelming change occurred within the petite girl's mind, if this girl liked Sephiroth she could use it against her, "Sephiroth helped me," she pointed out softly and shook her head, "Apparently he doesn't like chauvinism," she pointed out and the poor girl blinked.

"Chauvin-what?" she replied and Amelia quirked a brow.

"Chauvinism...intolerance..." Amelia explained slowly, "Beating up someone because they don't belong upon the plate because they are born below it?"

"I never said that!" the girl suddenly retaliated.

"Didn't you?" Amelia shook her head and turned to stare out the window again, seemingly ending the conversation.

"Do you...want to join us in the games room?" the girl enquired carefully.

"I prefer silence," Amelia retaliated without turning around, her lips pursed in a thin line as she realized the consequences of her actions, when she had no one who disliked intolerance to protect her she would pay for what she had said, and somehow a bruised cheek wouldn't be the only injury she would receive.

"Fine," the door was slammed shut and silence reigned for a very long time.  It was at last broken, when the girl with the notepad cleared her throat and walked towards the now silent Amelia.

"What's it like?" she asked at last, placing a hand upon the smaller girl's shoulder, "To live down there...but to have to watch the inequality up here?"

"Hard," Amelia replied in a simple voice and sighed, "Very, very hard," she finished at last and offered a hand to the girl, "Amelia,"

"Shiori," they both shook the other's hand firmly and Shiori narrowed her eyes, "How long does it take to get up here anyway?" she asked and glanced at the petite girl.  At last, Amelia turned to Shiori and observed her.  Blue eyes returned her own gaze and she noticed the deep sense of curiosity within them, a constant search for knowledge was what Shiori seemed to desire, those eyes, so full of inquisition rimmed only by thin rimmed, black spectacles.  Her complexion was pale, yet she looked almost perfect in attire, glossy, smooth, black hair tied back in a neat French braid while her pale complexion seemed to only highlight the delicate features in which she had.

"Two hours..." Amelia replied with a small shrug, "excluding the time it takes me to walk to the station," she added and made her way to her armchair again, Sephiroth was still frowning over her timetable and...She paused, was that his own timetable...?

"That's a long time..." Shiori mused softly as she took a seat beside her, her companion snatching the notepad away from her and beginning to copy it up rather quickly, "Sephiroth what in heaven's name are you doing?"  Well at least someone had the guts to ask him, even if Amelia didn't.

"Did you not see how Kate was staring at her earlier?" he replied softly and pursed his lips, "The replies in which Amelia gave were a direct 'dig' at her new found hospitalities, no doubt that Amelia will evidently 'pay' for her replies when we are not around..."

"So...you're observing her timetable because?" Shiori continued and glanced briefly at Amelia who was rummaging through her bag.

"To check that I am as close as possible to her so as to keep an eye on her as she moves from class to class," he replied.

"What did you do with the real Sephiroth?!" Shiori enquired as she leaned in towards Sephiroth, he seemed not to move or react in regards to her movement though her companion seemed to grit his teeth in jealousy.

"As Head of the senior years I have a responsibility to protect the students, she is a student and therefore needs my protection," he explained in a simple voice, however both companion and Shiori exchanged glances.

"So what do your rooms look like?" she enquired and whistled at both timetables, "Now that...is the most useful timetable I have ever seen, you're in the opposite room from her the whole time!" she chirped causing Amelia to glance up.  Once again the lounge was disturbed however as 'Kate' slammed through the door again.

"Yes?" Sephiroth glanced up and pursed his lips, making no reference to her name as she glanced round the room quickly, she seemed to pause however and take note of the small group that he now sat in.

"Mr. Lucian wants to speak to Amelia now," she pointed out and in unison, Shiori, companion and Sephiroth raised a brow.

"Does he now?" Shiori glanced round and offered a wistful smile.

"Yes!" Kate snapped.

"Oh well then I suppose you best be going Amelia!" Shiori chimed in a sing song voice, patting the invisible dust from her lap and rising to her feet, "However I also need to speak with him so it seems like we shall have to go together, you do not mind do you?"

"Oh! Not at all!" Amelia replied merrily and glanced at her bag.

"Oh leave it! You'll be back!" she pointed out and marched towards the door, pushing passed Kate and the small group gathering behind her, Amelia was close behind and Kate was left within the doorway, cheeks developing a reddened glow at the scene that had just taken place.

"Tisk, tisk," the companion at last spoke up, glancing from the page he was writing on and round towards the girl, "Being publicly humiliated is worse than being privately humiliated isn't it?" he enquired and with a yelp the girl slammed the door.

"That...was not like you Sugizo," Sephiroth observed with a bemused glance.

"Yes but protecting a pretty girl isn't like you either Sephiroth," Sugizo replied with a small smirk, flicking away a piece of rubber remnant from his page and continuing to write, "What's so different about her anyway?"

Sephiroth tensed at the question and considered it carefully, only an hour at most had he known her and already he was beginning to form an opinion of her.  Each time he thought of what to say to her he stopped, often feeling suddenly self conscious about how she may react, what she might say.  It was as though, everything he had fought so hard not to care about was all rushing back to him when he was around just one young girl, one only a year or so younger than him and yet...

"I...I am not sure," he confessed, for once admitting his complete confusion to someone.  He was amazed to feel suddenly very relaxed regarding the situation and paused briefly to assess the sudden change that had taken place within his mind, these people, who he had kept at arms length suddenly seemed much more than just acquaintances...for they didn't even flinch when he confessed his uncertainty whereas the professor...Professor Hojo had always scolded him, called him a disappointment...

"Uh huh," Sugizo quirked a brow and sat back in his chair, pursing his lips thoughtfully before beginning to speak, however before his words could be voiced the lounge door opened again and Shiori whistled merrily as Amelia trailed after her, each with arms crammed full of what looked like boxes of food.

"I'm in love with Mr. Lucian!" Shiori roared as she dumped the boxes on the free chairs, "Ahahaha!" she cried and swayed from side to side as she waited for Amelia to set her own boxes down, "Mr. Lucian didn't want Amelia...just an excuse to try and get her outside but when we came round he said he was just coming to find us and wellll..." she smirked and motioned to the boxes, "Guess who just gave us all permission to parteh in the lounge!" there was a long pause, "You guys are so dense...call it a celebration of the introduction of our new found friend...ain't that right Amelia?" she asked, attempting to mimic some informal 'slum' speech which failed rather badly.

"Um...yes...?" Amelia offered slowly, so there really were people who could tolerate differences and others...like Kate who couldn't.