Shared Feelings
By Terra Trepe

Chapter 26: Chasing the Shadows

It was freezing What the hell? And so incredibly silent. I'm sure you could have heard a simple feather drop down to the floor. So silent there was right now

Where am I anyway?

Seifer opened his tired eyes carefully. He felt a dizzy wave wash through his head with a quick brush, when he started to lift his weight up from the floor with his arms. He brushed his other hand up through his messy hair, closing his eyes as he tried to get his mind cleared from this pain that ached his every tensed muscle.

When he lowered his hand back down to the floor, he finally realised that there was someone next to him, leaning close to him. He landed his hand carefully to her arm, when he kept looking deeply down to her with his emeralds

This woman was laying there on the floor and her back was against him. She had almost been squeezed under his weight and he hadn't even realised it until now.

Her face was expressionless and her whole body was motionless except for the soft breathing, which made her chest move up and down slowly. Seifer brushed his hand against her cheek, moving the locks of her long honey like golden hair away from covering her peaceful expressions. Quistis could feel the smooth leather of his glove move slowly against her skin, but she didn't react at all to him.

He sighed deeply. He had no idea what was happening. Where was he? Once again Seifer slid his detecting eyes around his surroundings, but he couldn't see anything noticeable.

Hell, there was no way he could see anything There was nothing only darkness How spookily familiar

He once more glanced down to Quistis. There was something wrong with her He didn't know what it was and he didn't even understand why he thought so. But he was sure as hell that there was something wrong This whole situation was so odd Once more he asked to himself, where was he?

The end of her long crimson coloured dress slid down on the floor after her silent steps. Her shoes started to clink against the black path she was walking on, when she kept dragging a blade behind her, her long claws tided around its hilt. Her breathing was ragged and the every breath she was able to take, ripped her lungs with the effort.

Seifer lifted his gaze from Quistis' unmoving body to stare before him with the silent stare. He started to hear footsteps coming towards him from behind. The steps were slow and he recognised the way they approached him. They were tired steps and he could almost picture the way she was dragging her weight with those slender feet, forcing herself to walk forward with the end of her strength.

He stood up quickly, trying not to flinch when he felt a pain stabbing through his side from his fast movements. Seifer faced the direction where the footsteps had come from and then he faced the cold stare of the sorceress who was still as mighty as ever before, even when she had lost some of her powers.

Her cold eyes looked towards him, locking his strong gaze with her own. Her silver hair was down, few wisp of her front hair framing her evil face, which had some tattoos painted on it, lifting her sharp features of her face more clearer out to be seen.

You're looking for this She lifted the heavy looking gunblade easily up before her, turning the blade so that it shone with its own gleam. Her face was expressionless, but the anger and sin was clear to him. Now when he thought about it, he had never before seen Ultimecia, but she looked pretty much the same than he had pictured her from her throaty and very threatening, but still alluring voice.

She suddenly threw the gunblade from her grip down towards him. The gunblade slid on the floor and then stopped to his feet. He didn't even make a move. He just stared towards her, almost like trying to make clear of her purposes, which were still somehow hazy to him.

What are you waiting for? She hissed softly, her voice as ragged as her breathing. Come on Attack me She started to walk a circular around him, keeping her stare on him and waiting for his move.

Seifer turned around, following her walking with his eyes carefully, still paying no heed to pick the sword up. She walked like a gracious cat that knew what she was doing. And he was like a mouse in trap. But he wasn't just a simple mouse, and she knew it

Slowly, Seifer reached to pick his Hyperion up from the ground, but he wasn't attacking her Not yet.

What is your purpose, Ultimecia The question came quite suddenly, surprising even a woman like her A sorceress. Is your only purpose to kill SeeDs and destroy everything on the way of your path? What are you

The death gaze on her eyes wavered for a second. But Seifer wasn't fast enough to detect it, as she maintained the coldness, refusing to let him see her confusion. She let an evil smile dance back up to her dark lips, trying to cover her face from the loss of power she had for a second.

My impudent Knight The way that she always said that, held something that never got tired to amaze him with the sternness. You if anyone should know the answers to those questions You, the one that shared the same goals as me You wanted to kill them as much as I did It was his turn to get confused. How could she compare them? Yes, he knew that what he had done in his past was incorrect and there was no way he could defend himself from doing them But it was different He had been under her control it was a power he couldn't resist back then

No Could those be lies? Was he lying to himself? Were those just his excuses for doing the things he had done? What if What if he really wanted to kill them? His friends His family We are different, Ultimecia You controlled my mind and made me do those things

She smirked again Of course She wasn't going to let him feel himself at peace around her. You can say whatever you like, but we both know the words you talk are all lies She continued coldly, her voice having that dangerous edge it always had.

Seifer kept looking towards her form and he had no words to speak anymore Perhaps he was lying to himself Perhaps she spoke the truth He didn't know.

He took a step towards her, passing Quistis' body that rested on the floor. You are wrong, Ultimecia Perhaps you didn't control me, but I was blind back then He once more glanced over his shoulder to Quistis, feeling a wave of confident wash him over when he landed his eyes to her resting form on the floor, her face still filled with calmness.

He changed his gaze back to meet Ultimecia's stern eyes, but this time his eyes held power Power and control, which she hadn't seen before. And then, he finally said it, his words echoing with confident.

Now I'm able to see again

Seifer could see her back up slightly from the hearing of his words. And the first time ever, he saw that her eyes were muffled There was no hatred, no violence There was only confusion on the depths of her cold eyes, and it made him still.

What is this power I see? She finally whispered so softly. What can this power be? This power that only mortals have She backed up a step and stopped for a second. Her eyes watched him carefully, almost studying him with those cold eyes.

Her face looked pondering, but there was hate on it Yes, he could see the hate radiating from her expressions. She hated the whole humanity and that was something she could never stop doing. It was sad, but truth He was most certain that she had used her whole life to think a way to kill everything Even herself, when the time would come

She turned her back to him and started to walk away, her steps this time more steady than before. It was almost like her injuries had left her body alone, as there was no pain or exhaustion on her movements.

Seifer kept looking after her and he saw Ultimecia's form fading to the darkness. He looked the darkness and then also heard her footsteps fading away She was gone

Seifer turned around and lowered himself down on his one knee next to Quistis' body. His hand shivered when he swept it through the few wisps of her loose hair, wondering if she was just sleeping. Please wake up, Quistis He called for her, but there was no respond

She wasn't sleeping This was far deeper than a simple sequence of dream It was like she was gone Like a breeze of wind had guided her away from him And now here he was Alone, her unconscious body next to him

But one thing made him calmed She was breathing and alive That was all that mattered to him for the time being

The air was death-silent and it was like music to her ears She walked few steps with a slow pace and she could almost touch the power she felt around herself

Ultimecia stopped with her slow steps when she closed her eyes. Her face was emotionless, but then her lips stretched up. A wicked smile lifted up to her face and she felt her powers moving inside her veins, filling her senses with the desire to kill them. She opened her eyes when she turned, and her gaze stabbed through his kneeled form on the ground. Ultimecia was ready to kill him

Seifer looked down to Quistis' peaceful face when he kept caressing her face softly with his hand. He had no idea that the eyes of that true devil, was pointed at him, sneering down to him with evil contempt clear on her face.

He felt shivers suddenly arising on his spine and he lifted his eyes from the unconscious blond laying next him. He looked the black air before him and he could almost feel it Ultimecia's present was the only thing that made him feel like this. So suffocated

Just then he felt a slow brush behind his back, touching him with the fleeing touch. He jumped immediately up to his feet and turned around, his long coat ruffling against his features. He flipped his eyes around him when he couldn't see anyone. There was no one there, but Ultimecia was still here and he could feel her presence She hadn't left after all.

His defend up, Seifer lifted his gunblade from the floor and kept looking before him, making sure that she wasn't really there. Seifer took few careful and slow steps, detecting carefully around him. His whole appearance filled with cautiousness to his surroundings, when he kept on walking, readying himself to anything that would come up.

I know you are there, Ultimecia His hoarse whisper slashed through the thick silence around him. He stopped up on his steps, not wanting to walk too far away from Quistis.

Come on already Let's settle this here and now

Be careful what you wish for, Seifer

He looked slightly above him, listening the words that hissed through the peaceful air, making it tremble with the sharpness of her evil tone. I'm ready to dance with the devil His words were confident They were ready But not for long

As you wish!!! She yelled her battle cry and attacked him.

Seifer's eyes widened with incredible pain when suddenly something slashed on his side, droplets of his crimson blood flying through the air. He crouched down slightly and covered the spot, just few inches up from his waist, with his hand when he felt the dull pain stabbing through it. He stumbled up with his feet and tried to look down to his side. There was blood trickling away from the new gush and the pain he felt was indescribable.

Seifer groaned in annoy and pain, trying his best not to give her the satisfaction of seeing him suffering. You really think I will give up!? He was still crouched down slightly, fighting with his life on the edge of anguish and proud. He took a deep breath and then yelled up to the air, his eyes blazing with fury.

I will never give up

You want some more then?! First the sharp edge slashed through his other side and then the dull part ripped his flesh as some blood spilled off from his gush again. Seifer stumbled up with his feet when he couldn't handle this pain anymore. He dropped down to the floor on to his knees and he winched with pain when he tried to have a look down to his new wounds.

His eyes were hazy from pain and it took some time for him to regain his sight. His both sides were bleeding up badly and he felt dizzy, not knowing how long he would stay conscious.

You had enough already? The whisper came from behind him and he lifted his gaze toward the voice, but Seifer still couldn't see Ultimecia Where was she? Show yourself and stop hiding!!! His voice was strong, but you couldn't say the same from him anymore He had lost some of his powers while being under her attacks and it was only the matter of seconds before he would elapse away.

The air before his eyes blinded by pain, started to move. Wavering waves, just like the ones that appears to the still water when you toss a coin into it, started to dance on the air and he turned his gaze to it, wondering what was happening.

A hand appeared from the void, her long claws leading her slender hand out for his gaze. Her leg appeared from the cavity and the rest of her slender, almost cat-like body, was revealed off from her invisibility when she stepped from her cover, smiling violently down to his crouched form. And it was obvious to her that he was suffering

Are you satisfied now? Or do you wish for more

He looked up to her viciously and he answered to her taunt with his eyes that burned up from the hate he had felt towards her for so long. Somewhere deep inside him, Seifer found a new strength and he attacked towards her, not knowing that it was impossible to win her

Ultimecia's smile wavered slightly when he started to leap towards her, but she was far too clever to give him the change to stab her with his gunblade that glimmered with its own elegant glow. Her face filled with anger, even with some frustration as she didn't understand how mortals could be this stubborn

Seifer struck his gunblade, which was on his firm grip, towards her, trying to cut her through from her middle body. But his blade did never meet its target. Ultimecia's body disappeared. Just when his Hyperion was only an inch away from cutting through her. Seifer understood quickly that she wasn't there anymore and he started to turn around, guessing that she had appeared there.

But it was already too late

You never learn, do you!!? Ultimecia appeared just behind his back and she struck her very long and dull claws up through his chest. The blood started spilling from the deep wound and he grimaced loudly, so loudly that even the other world could hear his suffering and despair from his shriek.

Are you enjoying the ride?! Still want some more?! She dug her claws deeper through his chest and she smiled when he saw his face twisted up into the face of true anguish His eyes were wide open as was his mouth too, but no other sound came from him after that.

Ultimecia lifted her hand up and at the same time she raised his stiff body up to the air, his legs hovering above the floor, when he was hanging on her claws. Her smile wavered away, but she was truly enjoying this moment.

Ultimecia savoured this moment into her mind. The way she could feel his ripped up muscles bound against her cold claws, made her shiver from delight. The way his warm blood slid down on his chest and from the both sides of his waist, made her feel triumphed. He was her monument Monument of anguish and heart-warming pain.

But now she had to get rid of it How disappointing

Ultimecia threw her hand away from herself and his body slid away from her claws and flew a metre away from her. His body landed down to the ground, his every muscle lifeless when he didn't even try to get up from the cold floor.

Ultimecia turned to look at his pitiful form. His stained back was up towards her as he was facing the floor, his limp body ragged up from her treating. Why did he even try to win her if he knew that no one could do that? Why to go through all that trouble when you knew that you were just going to end up facing a horrible death? Why?

Ultimecia just didn't understand them Mortals Who had been so stupid to create these creatures? But then again She was enjoying them, just like she was enjoying from Seifer's pain. They were fun to play with

Once again, she smiled evilly and took a step toward him.

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Quistis opened her eyes slowly, fearing that this place where she had woken up on, wasn't going to be a place she would like.

How disappointing

Quistis raised her gaze up towards the voice she had heard far too many times. She took a quick inhale of air when she saw her form, her long silver hair dancing down to her back and following her curves softly. Ultimecia

Quistis lowered her azure eyes down to the floor when she realized that Ultimecia wasn't talking to her.

Quistis wasn't surprised to see him, but the way his body looked, his trench coat ripped from some places and blood oozing away from his almost lifeless looking body, made her feel horrified. Seifer NoShe felt the tears burn on her eyes, but this time they weren't just the tears of sadness, but they were filled with anguish.

She clenched her fist tightly, almost crushing her own fragile hands with the unseen force. Her eyes gleamed, not just from tears, but also from the desire for revenge

Her eyes caught up with the blade laying just next to her, the Hyperion totally forgotten and totally on her reach

She was going to make an end to this all.

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Ultimecia's determined steps lead her towards the poor man who was still laying on the ground, his breathing ragged and broken.

She said it like it was a curse word, taking one step more and then stopping up on her walk, smiling when she thought about her following question.

You know what mortals do the best She silenced up to wait for his answer. He didn't say anything, as it was hard enough to just breathe. He felt like his lungs were going to explode at anytime and his torn out breathing echoed in his ears, when he tried to get up, only falling back down when the last strength on his arms gave up on him.

Ultimecia smiled down to him. So evil that smile was, which danced on her cold and dark lips.

No answer, huh? She said it playfully, taking one more step towards him before stopping again, her legs already touching his blood that slid slowly from him down to the floor. She lifted her other leg up and landed the heel of her shoe against his back. Softly, being very careful not to give him more pain.

It didn't take a genius for Seifer to understand what she was doing This was one of the plays of hers He was helpless to do anything, completely under her power, and she was really rubbing it to his face.

Well, I will tell you the answer--

Quistis stood up, being careful not to make any noise that could wake Ultimecia's guard. She raised the gunblade with her hand, and took a slow step towards the unsuspecting sorceress, and her eyes hardened as did her expressions when she held the gunblade ready to struck through Ultimecia.

Ultimecia's lips stretched into another smile and her eyes were celebrating her next move by beforehand.

They die, Seifer... After telling the answer, her smile faded away, when she lifted her leg up, ready to stomp it down to his spine.

Quistis looked Ultimecia carefully and she understood that this was the perfect time to strike back at her.

Ultimecia was just starting to get some speed to her stomp onto his back, when Quistis had already taken the speed she needed for her own attack. I order you to die! Quistis raged from the tops of her tired lungs, when she stabbed the blade through Ultimecia's back and out of her stomach.

Ultimecia's mouth opened up for a shriek of sudden pain, but not even a noise came out of it. Quistis kept her hands tightly grasped around the gunblade's hilt when she looked up to the shaking back of Ultimecia's, her own mouth trembling when she saw Ultimecia's flowing aura appearing around to her figure. The white, even some purple light, of her powerful aura started to transform into the blade of Seifer's Hyperion.

Quistis was awed from the sudden results; she had no idea that this would happen. She let the hilt of this gunblade slip away from her loosening grasp and she took a step away from the shaking up sorceress. The gunblade was still sticking through her body and it glowed completely. Ultimecia's trembling suddenly stopped when all of the light around her had transformed into that gunblade.

Ultimecia gasped loudly when she felt the pain disappearing now. She turned to face towards Quistis, but didn't say even a word to her. She just gave her a silent gaze, which Quistis' returned with her own look of amaze and trust that everything was all right now.

Ultimecia took slow steps away from Seifer, who started to get over from his slumber of pain. Quistis immediately took her own space next to Seifer and kneeled down to him so she could check his injuries. She heard the cold medal of the gunblade clink down against the floor, when Ultimecia had taken it away from her stomach and threw it away from her hand.

Quistis stood up, when she realized that Ultimecia was staring at her, smiling with a very weak smile. She felt weak, but her smile still kept its malice and coldness in it. But Quistis knew better Ultimecia was finally dying.

The silver-haired witch started to laugh. First weak and then more powerful, despising the younger sorceress before her eyes. You really thought you could defeat me YOU! Ultimecia was losing it She didn't have such good control from herself anymore, but she just still didn't understand it. I'm immortal! And you are just simple mortals! There is no way you can ever defeat me Ever-- Ultimecia almost lost her balance when her legs didn't co-operate so well with her anymore. But somehow she avoided from falling down to the ground.

Her stomach had an awful looking stabbing on it and yes There was blood coming from her, and much indeed

Slowly, her face trembling when she just couldn't believe it, Ultimecia lowered her gaze down to her stomach. She gasped with muffled breath and landed her deeply shaking hand onto her stomach, her body shivering completely when realizing what the crimson colored liquid was. ? But It can't be possible I'm immortal I have no blood Her voice trembled This shouldn't have happened How did this happen?

Think again, Ultimecia

She raised her gaze up to watch Quistis' eyes, which this time knew perfectly what had happened, and what would happen next. Quistis looked down to the gunblade on the floor and Ultimecia followed her gaze and it didn't take much time for her to understand what Quistis' gaze actually meant. That damned blade

It has even mightiest strength than you have now, Ultimecia Don't insult it Quistis' voice rang with soft irony when she said this, her face still empty from any kind of expression She was just simply looking at the dying woman, her face blank.

Ultimecia dropped down to her knees, before she finally fell completely down to the ground, her face twisting silently with the pains she had never felt before. Quistis walked closer to her, keeping her blue eyes transfixed to her face, reading the every feeling she could see expressed from it. You're a mortal now And you know what mortals do the best? They die

Ultimecia opened her eyes for one last time, when she tried to have the last glance from the mortal, who had won her on her own game.

Quistis' face was solemn. She wasn't enjoying from seeing Ultimecia suffer And she wasn't enjoying from seeing her dying But the fact remained This was what Ultimecia deserved And somehow, Quistis knew that Ultimecia understood it too.

Goodbye, Forgotten One No one will miss you From now on, you're just past

And those words ringing on her ears, Ultimecia closed her eyes and fell into deep sleep, which from she would never again get rid off.

A minute went by, but to her it felt like eternity. Quistis kept looking the poor woman cradled on the floor and she understood that it was finally over Things were finally at peace

The call of her name, woke Quistis from her absentminded state back to the present where she lived. She turned around and walked quickly towards the blond man, who was having some troubles with getting up.

Don't move, Seifer She kneeled down to him and brushed her hand over his forehead with her steady hand, caressing some of his golden locks of hair out of his face. Seifer lifted his gaze to meet hers, when she kept presenting his face with tender strokes with her hand. He felt lost when looking those eyes so lost but so hopeful as well

I will use the last of my powers to take us away from here And with that, she clasped her other hand with his and started to cast them away from this place There was no need for them to stay here for any longer

The light surrounded them and they both closed their eyes softly, feeling comforted when the lights started to transport them away from this darkness.

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Seifer felt the difference He hadn't even opened his eyes, when he already knew that Quistis had succeeded with getting them away from that spooky place.

He finally opened his eyes and started immediately to search her when he couldn't see her next to him. Shouting with despair when he still couldn't see her, Seifer tried to get up to his feet so he could search for her more properly.

He felt this pain everywhere On his every muscle and on his every sense. He had been stabbed quite severely by Ultimecia, so it didn't surprise him at all to find out that he felt like he wouldn't be able to walk. But still, he walked

He searched for her with his eyes and finally saw her form. He tried to take few running steps, but stopped up shortly when he felt his body refusing to do so harsh movements. He kneeled down to her and it didn't take soon for him to see that there was something wrong at her

Seifer sighed worriedly when he saw the trickle of blood sliding down from the corner of her mouth. She wasn't moving at all she was just like a corpse pale and unmoving.

He forgot his own pain, when he started to wrap his strong arms around her body as to lift her up to his arms. For his ease, he could see she was still breathing, when he stood up slowly, being careful not to drop her. He winched painfully as the pain hadn't gone away just like that, and he felt like his ribs were getting torn apart when his still bleeding gushes on his sides started to remind him that they were still there.

But somehow he was able to pull that strength to keep on going The only thing that mattered to him right now, was that she needed medical help more than he himself

And with that thought going on his mind, he took steps after steps, groaning in pain whenever he took them He looked down to her expressionless face and muttered above a whisper, hoping that she would hear him.

You won't die on me, Quistis I promise that

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STILL TO BE CONTINUED. R&R already or I will get mad!!!!