Title: Thousand Cranes
Author: Kuri Tessy
Feedback: Yes, please!
Pairings: Quistis/Seifer
Rating: PG/PG-13
Warnings: Upcoming Angst and Death
Disclaimer: FF8, characters, and other nice things don't belong to me. It's
sad, but true.
Notes: In Japanese class I watched a video on Sadako Sasaki and the story of the one thousand paper cranes. I was touched by the video's message and got the idea of writing a fanfiction piece about it.
My Thanks: It hasn't been as long as the other times! Aren't you all proud of me? :D I have to be completely honest, all of your reviews help fuel my determination to continue this story. Basically, writing this story is like searching for something in the dark. A lot of trial and error. I hope that you are all enjoying it. I feel so honored when I read your comments! I'm serious! It makes me so happy to see that people are reading my work. Any comments, praise, or criticism are more than welcome. As long as the criticism is done tastefully, I don't believe that flames help a person improve their work. But, that's just me. Anyway, enough with my blabbing. Read! ^-^
Thousand Cranes, Chapter Six
Quistis pushed open the door to their hotel room with an empty heart. The ride to Dollet was exhausting, mentally and emotionally. Seifer's brashness hadn't changed one bit. Not even after his pride had been stomped on and his defeats thrown back in his face. The tall figure stood behind her, contrasting the mental image she had of his broken form after several of their brutal encounters not too long ago. He still had his pride, however. Pity, Quistis thought to herself.
She didn't really plan on staying with him long. After all, she did have that mission back in Timber. Although, what with her birthday still looming and the poorly hidden excitement of the gang to get rid of her, she knew that the mission was a cover up. It had already been, what, two or three days since she had left Balamb? That would mean that her birthday was tomorrow. Quistis glanced at Seifer who was currently brooding outside on the patio. Her birthday was sure going to be a fun one, she thought sarcastically. She was going to turn nineteen. But, why did she feel like she was forty years old? Perhaps that's what Seed did to a person. All the training had made her mature, hone herself into a weapon instead of a human being. When was the last time she had even relaxed? Quistis flopped onto the bed with a blissful sigh. Too long, way too long. The thought that she'd have to contact the group about her whereabouts and her inability to continue her "mission" crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. 'Relaxing, you're relaxing, remember that Quistis.'
Her momentary peace was broken by the entrance of Seifer into the room. Her eyes quickly roamed over her form. "Get up." It wasn't a request, but a command.
"No, I don't think I will, thank you," She sniffed, he sure could be rude.
Seifer scowled for a moment, mulling over her reply. Striding over to the bed and quickly grabbing her upper arms he hauled her to her feet. Quistis stumbled into his arms, but quickly retracted.
"What do you think you're doing?" Quistis demanded.
Seifer regarded her with aloofness, "We're going out." Without waiting for an answer he marched out of the door.
Quistis grumbled as she smoothed out her skirt and followed him. Would this torture never end? Picking up her pace to match his she distinctly let him know how she felt about this turn of events.
"Arrogant jackass."
A suppressed grin graced his face, "You came didn't you? It's not like a physically forced you to follow me or anything."
"You practically did!" Quistis rubbed her tender arms. He was a brute!
Seifer led her past several shops and through an alleyway. The alleyway filtered out to a lone path leading away from the town and to the beach. The waves calmly lapped the sand, taunting the couple with every approach. How different the beach looked when blood and battle weren't spoiling the surroundings! Seifer sat upon the sand, gazing out at the water.
Dollet was the place where it had become apparent she was failing as a teacher. She had failed Seifer in a way. With the healing bitterness that had accompanied her lost teacher's license, Quistis was able to finally objectively look at her teaching career. What she saw was a lot of mistakes, mostly on her part.
Quistis tentatively sat by her former student. Yes, she had failed him. Perhaps if she given him more, more discipline, more training, more of something. Thoroughly depressed with her revelations, Quistis quickly stood up.
She hid her morose state with a snap, "Are you going to tell me why you dragged me here?"
Seifer glanced at her, a mask of annoyance firmly planted on his face. "Do you always have to question everything, pick it apart until there's nothing there?"
Quistis groaned and kicked at the sand. She didn't care if she appeared childish. "I don't pick everything apart! I think I have a right to know why we're here. That's not that hard, or maybe it is for your feeble brain Seifer."
For the second time that night she was gripped by her arms by Seifer. "It doesn't matter! Why does everything have to have a purpose, a reason? Have you been so brainwashed by Seed that you can't just enjoy something without having an order to do so?!" Seifer's jade eyes flashed as he stared challengingly into her own.
Quistis just gaped at him in shock. He had touched upon the very thoughts that had been weighing upon her soul, and the very weakness of Seed. He was so angry at life, but Quistis realized, free of all constraints. In his very treason against Balamb Garden, Seifer had found his freedom.
Seifer saw her realization and that she knew what he said was true. A short bark of a cruel laugh erupted from his throat. "The truth is hard to accept isn't it?"
Quistis responded to his question by looking away from his searching eyes. She couldn't break free from his hold, and didn't necessarily have the strength to at this point. He was steady, his rage a rock in her confusion.
Her disarrayed emotions didn't settle well within Seifer, for some reason. He was so used to seeing her calm, collected, a prime example of achievement and hard work paying off. Sure, Seifer knew that she was just as insecure as the rest of the lot back at Balamb Garden. Save him, of course, when he had still been there. However, he had always admired the way she was able to put on her impenetrable front. Call Quistis what you will, but to Seifer, she was always the masterful queen of masks and facades.
His uneasiness continued to grow at seeing her supposedly impenetrable walls down, by one simple observation from him. Her mouth was set in a firm line, as if to make up for her momentary lapse of fragility. Just one time, Seifer said to himself, just one time let me see if I can draw her out of her shell. And he did.
Seifer dipped his head and his mouth hovered close to her ear. In a taunting, yet inviting tone Seifer said the words that crushed Quistis's resolve. "I have yet to see you smile, see you relax. Don't tell me that you can't. I know that you can."
Quistis snapped her head up to look at him. Was he joking, just trying to mock her when her defenses were down? Seifer's eyes reflected back in her own, but held no intended malice. Gently releasing her shoulders he regarded her. She glanced at him.
"So," He began, "are we going to just stand here all night?"
In an attempt to look carefree, Quistis responded by pulling off her boots and throwing them behind her shoulder carelessly. With a running start, she bounded towards the dark water. Her skirt and blouse quickly got soaked, but she didn't care! She didn't care at all! And with that thought, Quistis tore her clip from her hair and let her golden hair fall about her shoulders in glorious waves.
Seifer froze as he beheld the sight. Underneath the moonlight, with her hair free and framing her face, Quistis resembled a siren. Why didn't she do that more often? Joining her in the warm ocean, Seifer couldn't help but notice her radiating beauty.
Quistis greeted him with a small smile on her face. She couldn't believe she had just done that. With the warm water surrounding her and loosening her tense muscles Quistis wasn't about to complain.
"I did bring you here for a reason, by the way," Seifer tugged on her wet hair to gain her attention. Although, he really needn't had to. Apparently, Seifer had left his trenchcoat and shirt back at the shore. Quistis glanced down. Ah, he was wearing his pants though.
"I know that your birthday is tomorrow," Quistis witnessed Seifer duck his head down, as if embarrassed for knowing such a thing.
"How do you know that it is?" Quistis racked her brain, trying to think of a time when she might have told him.
Seifer snorted and ran his fingers through the water in slight agitation. "Damn Gfs. You don't remember a thing of our childhood, do you?"
A splash of water was her only reply. Seifer wiped the water from his face, and smirked. "That's what I thought. Too bad though. Matron used to give us the best birthday parties. Those were the days. I seem to recall a certain one of your birthdays where you ended up with the cake in your hair instead of in your mouth."
Quistis playfully glared, "Compliments of you, right?"
Seifer just shrugged and grinned, "Maybe."
"I'll just have to pay you back then!" With her shout, Quistis splashed a barrage of water onto her unlucky foe.
With a pout, Quistis soon found her hands stopped by his own. She desperately tried to escape his unrelenting grasp. This type of predicament was happening quite frequently to her today.
Seifer pulled her body close to his own, "I'd be careful if I was you. I'm more dangerous than you could imagine."
Quistis rolled her eyes at him, she didn't buy it. His threat was as good as empty. An idea formed in her head as how to evade his possessive arms. A sly smile touched her lips, "You forget that I'm just as dangerous." His eyes widened as Quistis lifted her hands, still covered by his own and raised them to her lips. Lightly she touched each of he fingers with butterfly kisses. Then, CRUNCH!
"OWW! You bit me!" Seifer snapped his wounded hand back from her teeth and helplessly clutched it. A wounded expression settled upon his features.
Quistis examined her nails. "Yeah, so I did. Are you going to do anything about it?"
With a growl, he lunged after her through the water. After an hour of their playful fighting, the two teenagers ambled out of the water and plopped on the ground. The sand mixing between their blonde hair.
Seifer glanced at Quistis and saw that she had a content smile upon her face. At seeing her smile, he smirked. He knew that he could do it, he had done the impossible! Quistis Trepe had actually had fun! Seifer quickly scowled as reality loomed over him. Why did he do that? He really shouldn't care at all that it was her birthday. He shouldn't want to see her smile light up her face. Damnit! He didn't! He was Seifer Almasy, and he didn't do things because the gave other people warm, fuzzy feelings. He was doing this to gain her trust, make it the whole process of getting the money easier. Yes, for the money.
Quistis laid her head upon his shoulder. Seifer studied her open face. Unwanted feelings surged through him. What they were, he didn't want to know, and wasn't going to think about lest he discover what they meant. His mind screamed to leave and turn away from her, but his heart said otherwise. 'Yes, Seifer, it's all about the money. You keep on telling yourself that.'
The troubled look on his features wasn't caught by Quistis, who had fallen asleep. Seifer sighed, he would have to carry her once again. He didn't mind, and that in itself was a disturbing discovery.
"Happy Birthday, Quistis."
Author: Kuri Tessy
Feedback: Yes, please!
Pairings: Quistis/Seifer
Rating: PG/PG-13
Warnings: Upcoming Angst and Death
Disclaimer: FF8, characters, and other nice things don't belong to me. It's
sad, but true.
Notes: In Japanese class I watched a video on Sadako Sasaki and the story of the one thousand paper cranes. I was touched by the video's message and got the idea of writing a fanfiction piece about it.
My Thanks: It hasn't been as long as the other times! Aren't you all proud of me? :D I have to be completely honest, all of your reviews help fuel my determination to continue this story. Basically, writing this story is like searching for something in the dark. A lot of trial and error. I hope that you are all enjoying it. I feel so honored when I read your comments! I'm serious! It makes me so happy to see that people are reading my work. Any comments, praise, or criticism are more than welcome. As long as the criticism is done tastefully, I don't believe that flames help a person improve their work. But, that's just me. Anyway, enough with my blabbing. Read! ^-^
Thousand Cranes, Chapter Six
Quistis pushed open the door to their hotel room with an empty heart. The ride to Dollet was exhausting, mentally and emotionally. Seifer's brashness hadn't changed one bit. Not even after his pride had been stomped on and his defeats thrown back in his face. The tall figure stood behind her, contrasting the mental image she had of his broken form after several of their brutal encounters not too long ago. He still had his pride, however. Pity, Quistis thought to herself.
She didn't really plan on staying with him long. After all, she did have that mission back in Timber. Although, what with her birthday still looming and the poorly hidden excitement of the gang to get rid of her, she knew that the mission was a cover up. It had already been, what, two or three days since she had left Balamb? That would mean that her birthday was tomorrow. Quistis glanced at Seifer who was currently brooding outside on the patio. Her birthday was sure going to be a fun one, she thought sarcastically. She was going to turn nineteen. But, why did she feel like she was forty years old? Perhaps that's what Seed did to a person. All the training had made her mature, hone herself into a weapon instead of a human being. When was the last time she had even relaxed? Quistis flopped onto the bed with a blissful sigh. Too long, way too long. The thought that she'd have to contact the group about her whereabouts and her inability to continue her "mission" crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. 'Relaxing, you're relaxing, remember that Quistis.'
Her momentary peace was broken by the entrance of Seifer into the room. Her eyes quickly roamed over her form. "Get up." It wasn't a request, but a command.
"No, I don't think I will, thank you," She sniffed, he sure could be rude.
Seifer scowled for a moment, mulling over her reply. Striding over to the bed and quickly grabbing her upper arms he hauled her to her feet. Quistis stumbled into his arms, but quickly retracted.
"What do you think you're doing?" Quistis demanded.
Seifer regarded her with aloofness, "We're going out." Without waiting for an answer he marched out of the door.
Quistis grumbled as she smoothed out her skirt and followed him. Would this torture never end? Picking up her pace to match his she distinctly let him know how she felt about this turn of events.
"Arrogant jackass."
A suppressed grin graced his face, "You came didn't you? It's not like a physically forced you to follow me or anything."
"You practically did!" Quistis rubbed her tender arms. He was a brute!
Seifer led her past several shops and through an alleyway. The alleyway filtered out to a lone path leading away from the town and to the beach. The waves calmly lapped the sand, taunting the couple with every approach. How different the beach looked when blood and battle weren't spoiling the surroundings! Seifer sat upon the sand, gazing out at the water.
Dollet was the place where it had become apparent she was failing as a teacher. She had failed Seifer in a way. With the healing bitterness that had accompanied her lost teacher's license, Quistis was able to finally objectively look at her teaching career. What she saw was a lot of mistakes, mostly on her part.
Quistis tentatively sat by her former student. Yes, she had failed him. Perhaps if she given him more, more discipline, more training, more of something. Thoroughly depressed with her revelations, Quistis quickly stood up.
She hid her morose state with a snap, "Are you going to tell me why you dragged me here?"
Seifer glanced at her, a mask of annoyance firmly planted on his face. "Do you always have to question everything, pick it apart until there's nothing there?"
Quistis groaned and kicked at the sand. She didn't care if she appeared childish. "I don't pick everything apart! I think I have a right to know why we're here. That's not that hard, or maybe it is for your feeble brain Seifer."
For the second time that night she was gripped by her arms by Seifer. "It doesn't matter! Why does everything have to have a purpose, a reason? Have you been so brainwashed by Seed that you can't just enjoy something without having an order to do so?!" Seifer's jade eyes flashed as he stared challengingly into her own.
Quistis just gaped at him in shock. He had touched upon the very thoughts that had been weighing upon her soul, and the very weakness of Seed. He was so angry at life, but Quistis realized, free of all constraints. In his very treason against Balamb Garden, Seifer had found his freedom.
Seifer saw her realization and that she knew what he said was true. A short bark of a cruel laugh erupted from his throat. "The truth is hard to accept isn't it?"
Quistis responded to his question by looking away from his searching eyes. She couldn't break free from his hold, and didn't necessarily have the strength to at this point. He was steady, his rage a rock in her confusion.
Her disarrayed emotions didn't settle well within Seifer, for some reason. He was so used to seeing her calm, collected, a prime example of achievement and hard work paying off. Sure, Seifer knew that she was just as insecure as the rest of the lot back at Balamb Garden. Save him, of course, when he had still been there. However, he had always admired the way she was able to put on her impenetrable front. Call Quistis what you will, but to Seifer, she was always the masterful queen of masks and facades.
His uneasiness continued to grow at seeing her supposedly impenetrable walls down, by one simple observation from him. Her mouth was set in a firm line, as if to make up for her momentary lapse of fragility. Just one time, Seifer said to himself, just one time let me see if I can draw her out of her shell. And he did.
Seifer dipped his head and his mouth hovered close to her ear. In a taunting, yet inviting tone Seifer said the words that crushed Quistis's resolve. "I have yet to see you smile, see you relax. Don't tell me that you can't. I know that you can."
Quistis snapped her head up to look at him. Was he joking, just trying to mock her when her defenses were down? Seifer's eyes reflected back in her own, but held no intended malice. Gently releasing her shoulders he regarded her. She glanced at him.
"So," He began, "are we going to just stand here all night?"
In an attempt to look carefree, Quistis responded by pulling off her boots and throwing them behind her shoulder carelessly. With a running start, she bounded towards the dark water. Her skirt and blouse quickly got soaked, but she didn't care! She didn't care at all! And with that thought, Quistis tore her clip from her hair and let her golden hair fall about her shoulders in glorious waves.
Seifer froze as he beheld the sight. Underneath the moonlight, with her hair free and framing her face, Quistis resembled a siren. Why didn't she do that more often? Joining her in the warm ocean, Seifer couldn't help but notice her radiating beauty.
Quistis greeted him with a small smile on her face. She couldn't believe she had just done that. With the warm water surrounding her and loosening her tense muscles Quistis wasn't about to complain.
"I did bring you here for a reason, by the way," Seifer tugged on her wet hair to gain her attention. Although, he really needn't had to. Apparently, Seifer had left his trenchcoat and shirt back at the shore. Quistis glanced down. Ah, he was wearing his pants though.
"I know that your birthday is tomorrow," Quistis witnessed Seifer duck his head down, as if embarrassed for knowing such a thing.
"How do you know that it is?" Quistis racked her brain, trying to think of a time when she might have told him.
Seifer snorted and ran his fingers through the water in slight agitation. "Damn Gfs. You don't remember a thing of our childhood, do you?"
A splash of water was her only reply. Seifer wiped the water from his face, and smirked. "That's what I thought. Too bad though. Matron used to give us the best birthday parties. Those were the days. I seem to recall a certain one of your birthdays where you ended up with the cake in your hair instead of in your mouth."
Quistis playfully glared, "Compliments of you, right?"
Seifer just shrugged and grinned, "Maybe."
"I'll just have to pay you back then!" With her shout, Quistis splashed a barrage of water onto her unlucky foe.
With a pout, Quistis soon found her hands stopped by his own. She desperately tried to escape his unrelenting grasp. This type of predicament was happening quite frequently to her today.
Seifer pulled her body close to his own, "I'd be careful if I was you. I'm more dangerous than you could imagine."
Quistis rolled her eyes at him, she didn't buy it. His threat was as good as empty. An idea formed in her head as how to evade his possessive arms. A sly smile touched her lips, "You forget that I'm just as dangerous." His eyes widened as Quistis lifted her hands, still covered by his own and raised them to her lips. Lightly she touched each of he fingers with butterfly kisses. Then, CRUNCH!
"OWW! You bit me!" Seifer snapped his wounded hand back from her teeth and helplessly clutched it. A wounded expression settled upon his features.
Quistis examined her nails. "Yeah, so I did. Are you going to do anything about it?"
With a growl, he lunged after her through the water. After an hour of their playful fighting, the two teenagers ambled out of the water and plopped on the ground. The sand mixing between their blonde hair.
Seifer glanced at Quistis and saw that she had a content smile upon her face. At seeing her smile, he smirked. He knew that he could do it, he had done the impossible! Quistis Trepe had actually had fun! Seifer quickly scowled as reality loomed over him. Why did he do that? He really shouldn't care at all that it was her birthday. He shouldn't want to see her smile light up her face. Damnit! He didn't! He was Seifer Almasy, and he didn't do things because the gave other people warm, fuzzy feelings. He was doing this to gain her trust, make it the whole process of getting the money easier. Yes, for the money.
Quistis laid her head upon his shoulder. Seifer studied her open face. Unwanted feelings surged through him. What they were, he didn't want to know, and wasn't going to think about lest he discover what they meant. His mind screamed to leave and turn away from her, but his heart said otherwise. 'Yes, Seifer, it's all about the money. You keep on telling yourself that.'
The troubled look on his features wasn't caught by Quistis, who had fallen asleep. Seifer sighed, he would have to carry her once again. He didn't mind, and that in itself was a disturbing discovery.
"Happy Birthday, Quistis."