Author's note: OK, this chapter is quite short, but still remember to leave a review after you've read it Thank you!

Shared Feelings
Written by Terra Trepe

Chapter 11: Detonation

The sun lighted the big office with its warming shines emitted through the wide window of this room. The desk in front of the window, belong to the commander of this Garden, who right now wasn't there in his office.

Seifer was sitting on one of the chairs of this commander's office, looking the people in this room with distinguished gaze, trying to make an impression of this group of four SeeDs that was ordered to be in this mission under his lead.

One of them, the one who spotted Seifer's eyes as being the intellectual of this group, named himself as the Brain. Seifer himself though the name Geek be much more specific, as this tall thin man with weary glasses looked more or less like one with all of those strange collection of pens tugged to the chest pocket of his SeeD jacket.

Seifer wondered what the Brain here would do with all of those pens; he hoped that it wouldn't turn out to be his weapon or something like that. Not that Seifer even believed that this man with messy and somehow greasy hair would even know how to fight. He seemed more of a strategist than a compact fighter.

Sliding his eyes to one of the corners of this room, Seifer found the figure of one of his grew members leaning against the corner, the shadows playing around his form. His name was Rien, and that was pretty much all that Seifer had squeezed out of him. He seemed somehow like Squall, the barrier of solemn silence covering him, and he seemed to be a really good fighter. The fact that he knew how to use the weapon named Gunblade, that had become very legendary weapon, told Seifer that Rien was a man with strength and focus, as the full usage of the Gunblade was very hard and long lasting job to complete. Seifer realised that this was a man who wouldn't just trust him here and now, and Seifer decided to keep his eyes on him.

Then there was this one man, who seemed to be a some kind of mix of the two people that annoyed Seifer greatly: Zell and Irvine. This man's name was Dame and right now he was sitting on top of the commander's wooden desk, flipping a some kind of coin around his fingers nervously. He was gritting his teeth and it really started to piss Seifer off.

It had become very clear to Seifer that Dame thought to be a real playboy, a real Heaven's gift to women, like he had himself said for many times already. But what Seifer had also realised was, that Dame wasn't acting like one to the fifth member of their group. To the person named Liz.

Actually it seemed to Seifer that Dame, instead of using this so called gift to pleasure women, he used the gift of annoying people toward her. Seifer had his sympathy on Liz, because he himself hated Dame already, even when he really didn't know the guy. He wondered how much he would hate Dame then when he would knew him better. Seifer had no intentions to find this out, as he already knew that he and Dame were two people who would never get along.

Looking to the seat close next to him, he saw Liz sitting on it, her hands tugged between her knees. She was the only woman in this group, and if anything, she was really beautiful. She had quite a long hair, dark brown flow of hair twisted in a knot against the back of her head with hairclips, the end of her hair pointing every way, like a beautiful waterfall of hairs. Her facial appearance was sweet and soft, and her eyes were curious blue of azure, filled with something so familiar.

Liz was pretty smart too and Seifer was sure that she wasn't going to be a liability on this mission, as long as Dame would leave her alone. And Seifer was going to keep these two apart, even if he would have to throw another one away from this mission. It was very likely that Dame would be the one thrown out; there were no questions there.

So does anyone of you have any questions about this mission

Seifer dragged his gaze away from Liz toward the smarty Xu, who were standing before the big window, explaining the details of this mission they were about to start.

Xu looked them all through, waiting for someone to ask something.

Liz stood up slowly and slightly uneasily as she tugged her loose front hair behind her ear anxiously with her hand. All of the eyes of the people in this room right now targeted toward her, including Seifer's, who was curious to hear what this girl was going to ask.

I know that this is a stupid question and it has nothing to do with the mission in task, but

No Liz Go ahead Xu was smiling warmly toward her, signing her to go on.

Liz seemed to be little nervous, but then when she opened her ruby mouth, every sign of anxiousness was gone and the words came from her more clearly now.

I'm the only woman ordered into this mission and it makes me think why, because I know many girls who are one of the bests in this Garden and who are much better than me too So why weren't they picked up? Why did you pick up me, Rien, Brain or Da---?

Are you saying that I'm not qualified enough to take part on this mission Dame cut Liz off in the middle of her sentence, asking this with somehow fiery expressions, as he stood up from the desk, coming closer to her.

Seifer didn't like the way Dame approached her, and was actually ready to jump up to his feet and shove him off her.

I wasn't saying that, Dame She seemed to be perfectly ready to defend herself, as she now looked Dame angrily, saying this in a calm and strong voice that told him she wasn't afraid of anything.

Dame took a step away from her now, seeming to Seifer like he was retreating. Not that Dame really would have done something to hurt her.

I can answer to your question, Liz You were picked only because they needed to fill the section of women in this mission Not that you would be qualified as one Sneering this, Dame sat back on top of the table behind him, folding his arms with a victorious smile on his lips.

And what did you mean with that?! Liz was ready to wipe that smile away from his face, and even how much Seifer would have enjoyed seeing that, he decided to break the two apart.

Come on, children The kiddie garden is over Seifer said this with his mighty voice as he stood up from his seat, and every one's head turned toward him now too, as they noticed this being the first time their precious leader had actually said something.

I have one question, Xu The room was filled with approving silence, as all of them waited to Seifer finish his thoughts.

What is it, Seifer Xu asked with a slight smile, being slightly amused by the sudden peace fallen over the room when people were actually listening what Seifer had to say.

I know Galbadian better than anyone else in this room, as I've been working there in the militia as an head commander I know that these rumours about Galbadian having illegal nuclear weapons could be actually true, cause they've been doing it before So what I want to know is Is the Balamb Garden ready to make a full assault against the whole Galbadian Garden, and even if needed be, against the Deling City?

The room suddenly filled with surprised gasps coming from the Seifer's team members. Seifer just stood there calmly, not giving attention to the confused group, who were all now looking him with awed stares.

What the Hell is this guy speaking here?! What the hell is this whole assault thing? Do you really thing we need to do such a drastic moves Dame was now on his feet, almost throwing his hands to the air as he tried to make a sense from the facts that Seifer had just said.

The rest of the group were also confused from everything. No one had told them about this mission perhaps leading into war between the two great nations. If Galbadian really had nuclear weapons, it would mean that Balamb were going to have difficulties to handle this without the whole world being destructed by them.

The Balamb Garden is ready to do everything to prevent a havoc, but even before that, comes the preventing a worldwide war Yes, Seifer We're readying the militia equipment for an assault, but we've been directly ordered not to create any havoc, so we haven't told the people yet

So you really think that the rumours are true? That the Galbadian Garden has started its own militia plans? Liz asked softly, looking toward Seifer with a gaze that told him she already knew the answer.

Then it means that Liz sighed under her breath, not needing to hear his answer.

It means only that we are being cautious You look a little around and try to make the picture what's going on there, and then after you come back here, you give us your report and then we decide what to do after that We are only preparing for an assault just in case, so if you're going to have problems with Galbadian, we can back you up But we don't think that's necessary, so you shouldn't stress about this mission so much. Trying to ease the nervous people of Seifer's group around her, Xu looked them all through with assuring face. Even when his group seemed to ease a little down, Seifer himself sensed that this mission wasn't going to be that easy. He knew Galbadian and believed that whatever their actions were, they weren't peaceful.

After a silent moment, which went to all of them to understand their goal, Seifer broke the silence: So, if we're all ready Let's go Signing with his hand toward the elevator on the other end of this room, he waited his group to move into the elevator.

Still little frustrated Dame went first, and right after him walked Liz and Brain and lastly Rien. Seifer started to go after them, but stopped along the rest when seeing the elevator moving up to the floor they were on right now.

Elevator's doors clinking open, their commander and the leader of this whole Garden came behind them into his own office room. Not taking long to the four SeeDs to recognize their legendary leader, they immediately straightened their backs and raised their hands to their foreheads, saluting him with their SeeD salute.

Commander Sir!

Squall sighed lowly as these SeeDs had just reminded him, how much he hated his title. Taking a slow step toward them, he gave his own response with a bored wave of his hand:

The group of these four SeeDs went into the elevator and waited for their fair-haired leader come into it too. Seifer, who hadn't gave his salute to Squall, started to walk after his own group. But just when he passed Squall, he stopped Seifer by grasping from the sleeve of his trench coat.

Seifer didn't want to give Squall the pleasure to see that he was having grudge against him about Quistis, and was somehow sure that she was the reason why Squall had just stopped him.

Have you talked with Quistis Just when Squall asked this, Seifer turned his head immediately toward him, his eyes reflecting nothing else but frustration.

I don't have time to discuss from your love problems right now So if you don't mind, Commander Leonhart, I've got things to do Sir Hissing the last words, Seifer walked into the elevator, not caring the harshness of his actions.

The four SeeDs, who knew nothing about the history these two brave men shared, looked Seifer with strange gazes, not understanding why he had acted like that toward the leader of this whole Garden.

The shining elevator doors closing down, Squall stared Seifer, who was looking toward him with angry gaze, and when the doors had finally closed, Xu took a step toward him, asking curiously: What's wrong with him

Still staring to the doors, Squall sighed under his breath, his eyes hazy: I'm not sure

Somehow Squall knew that Seifer was acting like this because of Quistis, but he had no idea that Seifer had seen him and Quistis when they had shared one of the most meaningful kiss of their lives at the last night, when they had finally resolved their feelings that they held for each other.

But Squall really hoped that Quistis would soon talk with Seifer, before it would be too late

* * * * *

Author's note: There, I finally broke the limit of ten chapters here, hooray! But still there's more chapters for me to write, and I actually counted that this story is going to have at least 17 chapters or so

Again I was thinking about writing more to this chapter, but I'm not so fast writer so again I decided to stop the chapter here Hope you the chapter (I myself think that this chapter is quite meaningless) and I hope you are glad to hear for me when I update this story again Bye.