Chapter 11: Found

Seifer's POV

I ran as fast as I could from the training centre, thinking only of the distressed girl in my arms. She was surprisingly light in weight, and she didn't slow me down as much as I thought she would. But as I glanced down at her face, her blood shoot eye and blank, lifeless expression forced me to look straight ahead once more. I couldn't bear to see her like this…and I would personally re-pay Tema in my own time and way, but now wasn't the time for those thoughts.

My feet carried me automatically to the infirmary, but the doors didn't slide open as I rushed through the corridor. I suddenly remembered that it was too early in the morning for Dr. Kadowaki to be up and it was also a weekend, meaning that the infirmary would only be opened later in the morning…

"Seifer…" a weak voice said from below me.

"You'll be ok Fujin…" I said looking down onto Fujin's pale face.

"I…I re…" she started to say, but her words trailed off into silence. Her hands held her buzzing head as she screwed up her eye tightly, trying her best to block out the pain.

I turned my mind back to our current situation, and headed back to my room as staying here would do her no good. Along the way, the girl in my arms mumbled odd words to herself, but I didn't pick up what she was saying…Her breathing had returned to normal, except for the occasional breath when her mumbling grew louder.

Finally I reached my dorm, and once inside, I laid her to rest on my bed. Her head turned to look at me and she began to speak.

"Seifer…The…orphanage…" her eyes cast themselves down for a second, but she then smiled back up at me. "Remember?"

I sat there, shocked at her few words, but they hit home straight away. I didn't quite know what to say, and all I could do was watch her breath silently as she turned over on her side to face me.

"Fujin…" I couldn't believe what I was hearing…She remembered! Everything I thought was lost inside her…everything we shared and went through…"You…" I couldn't find the right words to say. I was far too overwhelmed that my friend was back to her old self. She was here, back with me once again…

She nodded, but she bright smile slowly faded from her face, and her skin shivered as she began to whisper soft words again. Anxiety washed over my heart as I saw her change. I suddenly felt that that previous moment was being taken away from my grasp, and that one moment in time when we were completely happy, each sharing the same experiences, was fading away in the darkness of her memory.

"Fujin! Wait! Don't forget!" I rushed. Words were again failing to come to mind, and I was scrambling together any words that would come out of my mouth. "Please! Don't go!" I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as Fujin lay silent in her own world. The bond between us was being broken like paper, slowing tearing itself in half and separating us both from each other.

"Fujin!"

---Fujin's POV

So many images were appearing in my mind, slowly running into each other, making up a confusing sequence. I saw myself looking out of a stone building next to the sea, then it changed to fields, and cities…There were other people too, Rajin was there, a lot younger than he was now, and there was someone else as well…

I ran away from him once, but I could feel the strong connection we had. I felt again the pain in my heart as I turned from him that night. I could feel my heart breaking in two once more just like before. The tears that fell from my eye began to fall again, and the chill of the wind that ran across my bleeding skin, blew against me now.

I wanted to rid these feelings from my body, and I wanted to look up at my saviour beside me, but my eye wouldn't focus. His face became a blur of colour from my tears, and I could hear him cry out to me, but I only heard a faint, quiet voice. It was like he was behind a glass wall, only he couldn't see him properly…

My body began to shake, and my concentration wavered, forcing my surroundings to become swirls of colour, engulfing the presence that knelt beside me. As I looked at him, I could see him slowly distance himself from me, moving behind the blur of colours, fading from my muffled sight. I didn't want to be alone, not again. I didn't want him to leave me, and I couldn't stand to face this by myself…

Ignoring the pulsating beat in my head, the lack of orientation, the numbness of my body, and the obscured vision. I lunged myself forward and threw myself after his fading form. But I suddenly met an obstacle and I felt myself fall to the ground. My held back tears then fell, and slowly my sight refocused and I looked up to see Seifer's face. I had found him…

I wrapped my arms tightly around him as I let my sorrow melt in my heart. I gripped his shirt and buried my head into his chest.

"Don't leave me…" I said looking up for a brief moment. His face was startled, but I could tell he understood. But his hands came to rest on my arms, signalling to push me away.

"Sit up Fujin." He said firmly. I looked at his face in disbelief. He couldn't push me away now…could he?

Reality then choose that moment to kick in, and I suddenly realised what was happening. There I was lying on top of Seifer in a very awkward position. I backed off, feeling my cheeks glow a hint of red, but tears still threatened to fall. I sat back against the bed, mourning the loss of his warmth

"Fujin." I snapped my head up and saw his extended hand, offering his embrace. I stood up and walked into his arms. His warmth returned to my body, enveloping me in a wave of condolence as his hands settled on my back. As I cried, he comforted me with soft words of reassurance.

"Don't go…" I whispered over and over again.

"Fujin." He said quietly. I looked up to him in response and looked into his blue eyes. Through them he was asking a question, and I nodded telling him it was ok. He then lowered his head down to meet my lips, and he held my shoulders lightly with his hands. His lips held a gentle message, telling me that he'd wipe my tears and would always be there for me. I kissed him back, banishing all my fears and misery out of my mind. I could feel his hands creep round my shoulders, bringing me forever closer to him and surrounding me in his embrace. In response I moulded my body against his, being as close to him as I could. Our bond was being sewed back together, with each movement bringing us closer. Through that one kiss we both became ourselves again. Our souls were now complete and whole once more like they were all those years ago…

Suddenly an unfamiliar noise broke the silence in the room. Seifer's door had slid open to reveal a shocked and angry Rinoa. Both of us immediately pulled back, but it was too late. I saw Rinoa tremble and I could see the tears of betrayal in her eyes.

"Rinoa!" Seifer began, unsure of what to do. "It's not what you think!" But before he had even finished his sentence, Rinoa had fled from the doorway. "What have I done?" he said quietly to himself.

"I'm sorry." I apologised.

"It's not your fault Fujin. I shouldn't have done that…" A long pause overcame us, making it awkward for the both of us. "Are you ok?" Seifer said finally.

"Yeah. I'm fine now. Thank you." Seifer's hand found its way to mine and I looked into his eyes once more. I could see his anger at himself, and that he was being torn apart inside. I tightened my hand around his and I knew what I had to say.

"Go to Rinoa, and tell her I'm sorry." His eyebrows shifted as he heard me. But he turned his head away from me and he rubbed his forehead with his free hand.

"Why? Why now?" his voice was distraught and flustered, and I didn't know how to comfort him. I couldn't make him feel any better…

--- Seifer's POV

Why did this have to happen? Whenever I try to get close to someone, it always ends in heartbreak. Now I was going to loose Rinoa because of one wrong move. But then again I wanted to…Do I still love Fujin? All this is so confusing…Rinoa will never forgive me now, not when she saw…

From nowhere, a hand came to rest on my shoulder. I looked round and saw Fujin gazing up at me. She wanted to help me and I knew it. I've wanted to tell her so many things and ask her so many questions, but now those words failed to even reside in my memory.

"Fujin…"

"Yes?"

"Please…" I couldn't bring myself to say it. "Please…just." Her eye was pleaded to me to let her help, but I had to be strong. I had to do this on my own… "Please go…" I turned my head away from her to avoid her face of disappointment.

"Ok." She said very quietly. I felt her get up and heard the door slid open and shut. I was once again alone…