Chapter Two
In the afternoon of the next day, as usual there was the long line for the hot dogs and chili cheese fries. Students stood from one end of the garden to the next, and waited for this popular delicacy to finally be one with themin their stomachs at least. So close yet so far from the counter, Zell stood once again awaiting his chance to getwhat else? A hot dog
"Oh man, I am starved. Can't wait to get my hands on that hot dog!" Zell said as he approached the second place in line. Suddenly, Duo waltzed in walking past all the Garden students heading for the front of the line. As he past Zell, he whistled and then saying, "Look at this long line, I am not standing here for my food." As the student before Zell went to order, Duo took his position in front of Zell getting ready to order any day now.
"Hey man what's your problem?! Get in the back of the line like everyone else! I just happen to be dying of hunger here!" Duo just ignored Zell, and pressed on to be the first in line and Zell still second, "Hey are you listening to me?! Hey you! Can you hear me in there?!"
"Umyes give me a chili cheese fries and one of your famous hotdogs" Duo requested of the cafeteria lady.
"Here you go sonny boy" said the lunch lady.
"Thanks."
Zell calmly walked up to the counter, and asked for the usual, "You know what I came here for, my hot dogs."
"Oh I am so sorry Zell, but that young man over there just took the last one, but you can try one of our"
"HE WHAT?!!?!?!?!? HE SHALL PAY FOR THAT!" he exclaimed his pupils dilating ready to initiate an intense battle with a hell of a lot of Dolphin Blows. As he walked over to the seat in which Duo had been eating peacefully, Zell interrupted Duo's serene peace of mind, "That's my hot dog you're eating!"
"I didn't see 'loser' anywhere on it" Duo said observing the hot dog bun, and taunting Zell by taking another bite. Zell, in a rage, knocked the hot dog out of Duo's hand preparing himself for defense in his battle position.
"Oh no you didn't!" Duo said pulling out his scythe taking his fighting stance. Everyone watched the intense scene, and cheered on for the fightat least the men did. Just as the fight began, Quistis walked into the cafeteria and was astounded by the actions the two young men took, going against Garden rules.
"Stop this fight at once you two. You guys are acting like children! I order you to come to my office immediately." Quistis said pulling their ears as they exited the Cafeteria. Upon arrival in Quistis' office, she asked the first question, "Who started it?"
"He did" Zell said pointed to the braided young man next to him.
"Nope, it was all him. Over a stupid little hot dog."
"IT'S NOT just A LITTLE HOT DOG!" Zell said as the two exchanged villainous threats between each other.
"Silence!" Quistis exclaimed, "As your punishment you two will have to clean up Balamb Garden for a week and work together as a team"
"No way I'm working with him." Duo said pointing to the young man with the Mohawk-like hairstyle.
"To guarantee that it'll be doneand together, Mikail will monitor you both."
"Oh greatjust when I thought the week was going to get good, these two have to show up and ruin everything" Zell said nodding his head.
"You are dismissed to class now." Quistis told the three students in front of her, "By the way if you see Seifer, Mikail, could you tell him I'd like to speak with him?"
"Yes Instructor Trepe" she said showing her respects to the young woman.
In class
"All of you guys will be tested on how well you work together and how well your combat abilities are. These are your partners: Rinoa and Relena, Squall and Heero, Zell and Duo, Irvine and Wufei, Seifer and Trowa, Selphie and Quatre." The professor explained, "By the way, I'd like to introduce two new students to our class."
"Mikail Lazutinarapier specialist."
"Kirielle Lavitznaerod expert" she said eyeing the young Chinese man sitting in the front of the room.
"You two can work together on this assignment"
"Pleased to meet you. Kirielle, was it?" Mikail said extending her greeting to the young lady standing next to her.
"" Kirielle said raising her eyebrow, and keeping silent.
"Alrighty thenthis should prove to be interesting" Mikail said walking to the training center for class placing her hands behind her head.
In the Training Center
Everyone in the class arrived at the training center for practice, where monsters were roaming about the place as free as the birds in the June sky. Upon entering the area, everyone split into his or her different groups. Some heading right, some heading left, and some walking themselves straight into a battle upon taking one step into the open area between the two doors. The area had that Jurassic Park kind of look. There were rocks here, a pool of water ahead of them, and behind the doors on their left and rights? Well, only the fighters would know that. Wufei walked away from the group heading to the right door, and Irvine followed.
"I don't like to work with weaklings so stay out of my way." Wufei set the record straight with Irvine as he turned to face the young man.
"Look who's talkin'" Irvine backfired at the young Chinese student.
"Who does this guy think he is?" Wufei raised an eyebrow as he ceased the conversation and moved on ready to engage in battle his sword (katana) to slash any enemy. Across the training center his gloves ready to beat the monsters down with his fists, Zell got ready to engage in battle.
"I'm ready to kick some whoopass!" Zell said punching the air and practicing his kicks.
"Hey man! Save some of the action for me!" Duo said taking out his scythe and slicing through the air as well, just as enthusiastically as Zell.
"Whoa! Watch where you're swinging that scythe of yours Duo." Kirielle said jumping back away from the weapon, which could have sliced her to shreds.
"Hey Kirielle! Didn't see ya there"
"No kidding" she said blandly, and then added more vivacity to her voice as she spoke onwards, "Next time just watch where you're swinging that thing alright?"
"I'll try"
"Come onlet's go practice" Kirielle's partner, Mikail, said meaning business as she walked over unsheathing her rapier. While, across the training center not too far away from the 'secret area'
"I work alone. Stay out of my way." Heero said monotonously as he watched the young man standing not too far away.
"I will," said Squall, "just make sure you do the same" Squall said taking out his gunblade.
"Hn" Heero glared his gun, the Shotgun, in hand.
Later in the afternoon
As the students roamed about the Garden, the speakers beeped through the halls indicating that an announcement was to be made. Most students stopped what they were doing to listen to the announcer, while others continued doing their silent activities.
"All SeeD candidates report to the conference room for test results. I repeatAll SeeD candidates report to the conference room for test results."
Immediately, the students, who were called upon, headed up the elevator to the conference room on the second floor. When everyone assembled in the conference room, the Instructor proceeded to congratulate them.
"I would like to thank everyone for taking this examination. This test proves that you students are worthy of becoming a SeeD. And I am glad to announce that everyone has passed. Congratulations." Instructor Trepe, also known as Quistis, announced, "Because of your hard work, we have a special party just for you tonight. Board members will be there so stay on your best behavior. Party starts at 8."
"Alright! Let's go PAH-TAY!" Selphie exclaimed with excessive enthusiasm.
"Oh and Seifer can I speak with you in my office please?" Quistis said approaching the young man, while everyone else engaged in conversation after Selphie's outburst of energy. Near the door, Mikail snickered as Quistis called Seifer. When he walked by, Mikail raised an eyebrow, while she whispered in a chanting voice, "Someone's in trouble"
"Shut up." Seifer said narrowing his eyes, as she turned away.
"Oh and I'd like to speak with you as well Mikail." Quistis stepped back to speak with the young SeeD at the door.
"Huh?!" she opened her eyes, and snapped her head around with a look of surprise on her face.
"Busted" Seifer retorted.
"I'm not as bad as you Mister" she walked to Quistis' office ahead of the young man.
"So you sayI saw you in the Cafeteria"
"Would you like my autograph? Keep talkin' and you'll see the tip of my rapier" she said turning into the Instructor's office.
Back in the conference room
"Congratulations everyone guess we will be seeing each other for a long time" Relena said to the group of people with whom she associated.
"Hi I'm Rinoa. Nice to meet you all." Rinoa raised her hand as a greeting.
"Don't get too excited, we go in our separate paths. I hope I won't face any of you." Heero said getting up from leaning against the wall, and walking away a glare in his eye.
"Geez, what a lonely guy" Rinoa said watching the young man exit the room.
"I agree with him" Squall said walking off in the same direction.
"and anti-social" Relena added in as Squall walked off leaving the two of them to talk.
The waltz the next night
As the lovely music played through the ballroom, the young students, or SeeDs, danced across the dance floor in their pretty dresses and handsome suits. At the entrance, Zell spotted Squall and dashed over to greet the young man.
"Hey man what are you doing just standing here by yourself?" Zell asked as he leaned on the wall on his right shoulder speaking with Squall, who just turned and looked at Zell and rolled his eyes. "Tsk. Get on the dance floor and dance with some LADIEZZZ. I see one looking at you right nowand I see one lookin' at me too. Buh-Bye." Zell ran over to Kirielle, the new student, and took her hand dragging her to the dance floor, as she attempted not to trip over her own feet as he dragged her. Not too far from Kirielle, Heero was drinking a glass of champagne.
"Hi Heero, I understand you were mad earlier today and I came over to say that I am" Relena said with a slight smile on her face.
"I don't need your pity, I am a soldier and what I said is for you and the rest of the SeeDs' own good." He said opening his eyes and looking at her out of the corner of his eyes as he arose from his position, leaning against the wall.
"I understand that, knowing that your real name isn't Heero." Relena said raising an eyebrow, as his expression changed to one of utter surprise, "You probably want your privacy."
"Who did you hear that from!?" he asked with an icy voice.
"" Relena just simply shrugged her shoulders.
"as a soldier I must destroy anyone who gains that information" he said walking past her, and just when his shoulder was aligned with hers, he glared out of the corner of his eyes, "Starting with you" he walked off through the crowd.
"What?!?!" she gasped as her eyes got wider and wider as the time of that moment grew on.
Not too far away, Selphie was recruiting people for the Garden Festival Committee, and ran into Irvine.
"Hi Selphie, how's it goin'? I saw your beautiful face gleaming in my eye and I just had to come over to ask you if I can dance with the prettiest girl hereoh hi Emily, cute as ever" Irvine turned to the blonde girl passing by, easily distracted by a female, "so back to us, will you dance with me?"
"ButI'm recruiting members for the Garden Festival Committee"
"If I say 'yes', will you dance with me for the rest of the night?"
"The rest of the night? UmmmI guessokay!" Selphie said leading Irvine onto the dance floor.
On the northeastern side of the room
"I mean seriouslyhow much worse can it get? I have to work with hima.k.a. Mr. Oh-I'm-the-best-fighter-out-there" Mikail said whispering to herself sitting down and taking a sip of her champagne, "I mean, I wouldn't mind being stuck with Heero as my partner as anti-social as he is. It's way better than some egotistical personor even Wufei with his chauvinistic attitude, Mr. Women-shouldn't-be-fightingAh! It drives me crazy!" she slammed her fist on the table, stopping immediately as people watched her attitude, "Whoopsheh heh" she glared at the students that were watching her, and sighed as they returned to their activities, "maybe I should go to the training center. Some party" Mikail shot up from her seat, and began to walk away when she saw Seifer, and stopped in her tracks.
"Hey" Mikail said forcing the word out of her mouth.
"So, you think I'm the best fighter out there?" Seifer asked pretty sure of himself.
"Hah! Yeah right, you think so highly of yourself. Bet I could prove you wrong, and make you realize that someone out there is better than you."
"Dance with me once and you'll get your challenge" Seifer said, "You don't seem to be enjoying yourself very much. You seem too stressed, uptight, you need to relax a bit."
"I could do without the rude commentsbut I am bored" she said contemplating this request in her mindfor far too long(Night gone byday gone by).
"Well?" he asked getting irritated with waiting.
"Hmmwhat the hell, I guess it wouldn't kill mebut just the thought of youit just doesn't seem right" Mikail said shivering.
"I knew you would eventually come to your senseseven though I am the most beautifulthe smartestthe most talented guy in Balamb Garden."
"Seiferchoke on a wishbone" Mikail said silently to herself.
"What?" he asked desiring to know what words just came out of her mouth under her breath.
"Let's just go" she told him walking to the dance floor.
Across the room, near the buffet table, Duo rubbed his hands together all prepared to dig into the grub.
"I hope they have those chili cheese fries I have been craving" Duo said literally starting to drool as the image came to mind. Meanwhile, people were inching away from the table.
"Is that all you can think about?" Wufei asked as he looked outside the window.
"No, I can think about my mission too" Duo said in total denial of Wufei's question.
"If you were me, you would think more about the enemy, and make sure they get destroyed. But obviously you are not me or my brain." He responded turning to face Duo.
"I would never want to be you anyways! You're so mean, man!" Duo exclaimed in disgust of the thought of him being Wufei. It definitely wasn't a pretty picture.
"Well at least I take a bath twice a dayunlike you" Wufei said watching Duo's reaction in amusement.
" u te" he stumbled on his words in utter frustration and anger.
"What's wrong cat's got your tongue Duo?" Wufei smirked as he walked away from the ridiculous scene Duo was making.
"I am going to kill ZELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Duo's voice rang through the ballroom, while Zell was inching away from Kirielle on the dance floor, and heading out the door, "Zell!!! Get your sad behind back here!" he exclaimed as he ran through the area of dancing to reach him.
On the balcony
Quatre was speaking with his good friend Trowa, while having a glass of champagne, and looking at the starry sky. Then, a question he had been thinking of came to mind.
"Trowa, do you think there are other soldiers with our capabilities?" he asked in deep thought about it all.
"There are probably 100 soldiers like us, but we won't find out just yet. But look on the bright side where we are we get free food and cool rooms!" Trowa said smiling.
"Oh yeah I forgot" Quatre said in return.
Where Squall was alwaysby the wall
Squall looked around him seeing everyone dance, and 'enjoy' him or herself in what seemed to be 'uneventful' to him. Pretty soon, he found himself looking at the stars in the sky, and his eyes caught sight of a falling star, which led his eyes to Rinoa. She looked directly at him as well, and put her hand up in a simple gesture of 'one'.
"One what?" he thought confused, and it showed in his eyes. She sighed and walked over to the helpless young man, and began to talk to him.
"Hey there strangerdo you want to dance? You're the best looking guy around here, so I just had to come ask you."
"" he simply shook his head.
"You don't want to dance? Let me guess you'll only dance with someone you like?" Rinoa asked, and then chanted, "Okay thenyou're going to like me. You're going to like me." She said rotating her hands in a circular motion as if hypnotizing him, "Did it work?"
"" he still shook his head, "I can't dance"
"No problem I'll teach you." She dragged him to the dance floor, much to his verbal disapproval.
"BUT"
"It's not that hardstop flipping out over it all."
After heartaches and embarrassing times of falling, tripping over, and bumping into people, the young gunblade specialist known as Squall finally got it. At the end of the piece a beautiful scene of fireworks shot up in the air dressing the midnight blue sky with vibrant colors as they held onto each other looking up. For a minute, one could see the affectionate gleam in his eye.
"I'll be back. Hold still okay?" Rinoa said spotting someone she wanted to speak with. For the rest of the night (no he didn't remain in the middle of the dance floor with no partner), he didn't see her again.