A/N: Hello there!
A nice little treat for ya today… Seifer and Quistis begin to bond more… This one's got a song in it. 'Staind- It's been a while' If you've never heard of it, I feel sorry for you! It's a beautiful rock ballad. If you don't have it, get in NOW. And as always, I don't own the song or the band… Any of you who have heard of the song, might notice a few alterations I've inflicted on it. Well, it was necessary since Seifer is singing it to Quistis… I've changed fucked with messed and all that shit with all those things. I believe you'll agree it had to be changed… ^_^
Chapter 23: And so the hunt begins…
A dark starlit veil covered the sky of Balamb as night fell. Seifer walked around the empty corridors of the Balamb Garden dormitories. The time was 11:30 and it was officially way past curfew. Seifer walked over to a certain dorm room door and knocked gently. After a few seconds the door opened.
- "Hey…" he whispered at Quistis "I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd go for a walk. Wanna come?"
- "Have you checked the corridors?" asked Quistis.
- "We're not leaving through there…" he said mischievously "Can I come in?"
- "Sure…?" said Quistis puzzled.
Seifer walked inside her room. He grabbed her from the waist and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
- "Get dressed… And get your whip just in case…" he said.
- "I already am dressed." said Quistis, who was wearing a pair of tracksuit pants and a strapped top "I'll just grab a jacket and my shoes and we'll go…" she said opening her closet. She took out a deep blue jacket and wore it. She grabbed her trainers from the floor and put them on as well. She took her whip out of its case and curled it up "How are we leaving?" she asked.
Without answering, Seifer grinned and walked towards her window. He opened it widely and motioned a hand towards outside.
- "After you Miss Trepe…" he said with a mischievous grin on his face.
Quistis grinned and walked to the window. Seifer grabbed her from the waist and landed her onto the ledge.
- "Just jump. It's hardly six feet high." he said.
Quistis sat on the ledge and turned around, grabbing it. She lowered herself down, hung from the ledge and then released her hands. Seifer followed her lead. They found themselves among thick green bushes.
- "Just one thing… How am I gonna get back up?" she asked.
- "I'll help you up when we get back. I've also left my window open and I can easily jump back up on mine. Done it a million times before…" he said grinning "Shall we?"
- "Where are we going?" she asked.
- "I liked the beach we were at yesterday. It's nice and secluded. Let's go there…" he said smiling.
Quistis and Seifer cautiously made their way out of the bushes and towards the beach at Rinaul Coast close to Garden. As soon as they left, a rumor of leaves was heard. A middle-aged woman with golden glasses, dressed in black walked out. Right behind her, came a short bald man.
- "Get your lens ready Jack… Tonight we're gonna get the scoop of our lives!" she said following the couple that had just left.
- "I'm right behind you Dixie…" said the bald man.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Seifer and Quistis walked hand-in-hand across the shore. They'd taken off their shoes and had pulled their pants up, so as not to wet them. The night was clear and beautiful. There were no clouds on the sky, but the stars and moon were shining brightly.
- "Is that a full moon?" asked Quistis pointing at the gleaming orange circle on the night sky.
- "Yep… I knew that there's a full moon around mid-July. I checked it and found out it was tonight, so I thought it'd be a good opportunity for a walk…" he replied.
- "It's beautiful…" she said resting her head on his shoulder.
- "Wanna go sit down?" he asked her.
- "Sure…" she said dragging him gently towards the sand.
She sat down and Seifer sat right behind her. He spread his legs open, making room for her to curl up inside. She sat resting her back against his chest. Seifer put his arms around her, hugging her and nuzzled his chin in her neck, giving it a light kiss first. Quistis closed her eyes and sighed deeply.
- "I really like it like this…" she said softly.
- "Me too…" he said caressing her loose hair with one hand.
- "Sing for me…" she said "I loved your voice last night… It's really soothing…"
- "What do you want to hear?" he asked her.
- "Anything. I just want to hear you sing…"
Seifer paused for a moment to think. He then cleared his throat gently and began to sing.
It's been a while…
Since I could hold my head up high…
And it's been a while,
since I first saw you…
And it's been a while,
since I could stand on my own two feet again…
And it's been a while,
since I could call you…
Seifer's soft voice filled the atmosphere. Quistis' lips twitched into a small smile at the sound of it…
And everything I can't remember,
is messed up as it all may seem…
The consequences that I've rendered…
I've stretched myself beyond my means…
Seifer moved his lips closer to her ear. His sweet, now whisper-like voice echoed inside Quistis' head like a lullaby from a childhood dream.
And it's been a while…
Since I could say that I wasn't addicted…
And it's been a while,
since I could say I love myself as well…
And it's been a while,
since I've gone and messed thing up just like I always do…
And it's been a while,
but all those things seem to disappear when I'm with you…
At the sound of the last lyric Quistis slowly opened her eyes and turned to look at him. Her lagoon-blue eyes looked deep inside his glistening green ones with longing.
And everything I can't remember,
is messed up as it all may seem…
The consequences that I've rendered…
I've gone and messed things up again…
Seifer tightened his arms around Quistis' shoulders.
Why must I feel this way?
Just make this go away…
Just one more peaceful day…
Seifer held her face in both hands and closed his eyes. Quistis ran a finger down one of his cheeks gently.
And it's been a while…
Since I could look at myself straight…
And it's been a while,
since I said 'I'm sorry'…
And it's been a while,
since I've seen the way that candles light your face
And it's been a while,
but I can still remember just the way you taste…
When Seifer spoke the lyric 'I'm sorry', his voice wavered just a bit, never losing its perfect tuning though. He then opened his until now shut eyes and looked at Quistis' face, running a finger down her nose, holding it to her lips while voicing that last lyric.
And everything I can't remember,
is messed up as it all may seem to be,
I know it's me…
I cannot blame this on my father;
he did the best he could for me…
He leaned in closer to her and touched his forehead on hers, closing his eyes again and so did she.
And it's been a while…
Since I could hold my head up high…
And it's been a while,
since I said 'I'm sorry'…
Seifer finished his singing, swallowing hard. He and Quistis still had their eyes closed.
- "Hyne… How can this feel so right?" she whispered.
- "I don't know… It just does…" replied Seifer.
He cupped her face in both hands and kissed her softly. She slowly turned around and held the base of his neck gently. She ran her slender fingers through his hair, pulling his face closer to her, deepening the kiss.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- "Jack, shoot now! Get that kiss!" whispered Dixie, standing hidden behind a bush.
- "Aiming…" he said adjusting the lens of his camera, sticking out his tongue.
Right then, out of nowhere, a swarm of Hyne-sent Fastitocallon-Fish came rushing towards them.
- "Dammit! Ahh!" hissed Dixie as one of them bit her hair, dragging her onto the sand.
- "OW! OUCH!" hissed Jack as the fish chased him away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Hee, hee… Serves those nasty reporters right, don't you think? But this won't be the last time we see them, that's for sure… Anywayz, please take some time to read the notes I've posted in the next 'chapter'. It's something I really need your opinion on; it's about a new story(-ies) I'm preparing…