Chapter 16: Reunited

Fujin's POV

I opened my eye to find myself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling and Rajin's brown eyes gazing down at me. My head thumped with a pounding headache, and my side was in a spasm from where Seifer had thrown me to the floor.

"Where am I?" I mumbled, while I realised my hand was being held tightly by Rajin.

"Ssshh," he whispered. "Rest now."

"But - " I was silenced with Rajin's finger on my lips. I understood, and decided I would ask questions later.

"I'll tell you everything later." Rajin promised. I shifted in my bed, trying to dislodge my hand from Rajin's, and the uncomfortable feeling I was getting from his attitude. I was hoping that it was pure anxiety for my safety because of all the times we had been through. But as I moved my hand stayed firmly in the grasp of my friend. I looked up to him finding his gaze boring into my eye. I still felt confused about why Seifer had betrayed me, but I couldn't think about these two frightening feelings all at once. I felt so confused, and I went to hold my thundering head in my hands, but instead I found tears dripping down my cheeks.

Suddenly, after I threw Rajin a small glance, I was wrapped in a tight embrace surrounded by my companion. I gasped, unsure of why he was so close, or what I should do. But I couldn't help but shed my tears. His hands placed themselves on my back, and he whispered to me not to cry. My hands however remained by my side, only allowing myself to lean into his warm body.

"Help me…Tell me why…" I choked over my tears. He conceded and began to tell me everything that Seifer had told him earlier.

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Seifer's POV

I stood before my master, my mistress from this moment forth. I had never seen a woman quite like her before, but under all the elaborate clothing, I thought I recognised her face. Previously this morning, we had talked about our plans in Deling City. She seemed willing to allow my friends and myself to be her bodyguards.

"I want to thank you for bringing me more…followers." She said looking for the right word.

"Thank you. But I still don't understand why you made me hurt her." I admitted. I had been feeling terrible about how I had treated Fujin. I couldn't believe I had knocked her out cold.

"It had to be done. I get what I want. If Fujin had been told the real reason behind her coming here, she would have not agreed."

"Could at least give me warning the next time you take over my mind?" I protested. "I don't want to hurt her again." I looked away from her face, inwardly hitting myself. I only hoped Fujin would forgive me...

"Why is this girl so important? A little beating does a person good every now and again." I looked back at her cruel words with disgust hidden in my face. Sometimes I wondered to myself why I had ever taken up this offer.

"Please excuse me sorceress Edea." She nodded and sat back in her throne as I left her chamber.

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Fujin's POV

Night came and I still hadn't seen Seifer all day. I had so many questions I wanted to ask him and so many mysteries to unfold. I said goodbye to Rajin and found that he would sleep in the room next to me, sharing with Seifer. I decided to take a little walk to clear my mind and to explore my new home. At least I thought it would be my home.

The long echoing hallways looked like something out of a history book. Intricate architecture lined the walls with patterns and words I did not understand. I finally walked myself onto a balcony, and I looked up to the dark midnight sky, hoping for answers. A cold wind blew past me, forcing me to shiver. I stepped up to the railings on the semi-circular balcony, much like the one back at Garden.

I sighed, longing to be back there, as if it were yesterday when everything was going the way I liked it. I hated feeling like this. My heart yearned for comfort, because every time I received it, it was snatched away from me as quickly as it had come.

I held out my hand, thinking I could use my magic to allow my wind to flow from my fingers, just like I had done all those years ago under the tree at the orphanage. But it didn't come. I'd forgotten that Pandemona was no longer a part of me. I had lost my dearest partner.

Footsteps sounded behind me, and suddenly I remembered my last encounter on a balcony. I hoped with all my life that it wasn't Seifer. I turned round and came face to face with my fear. Seifer looked at me, but this time I didn't sense any malice or hatred. He came over to my side and bowed his head.

"Nice night isn't it?" he said not looking at me.

"Yeah…It is." I glanced up at him. His eyes were fixed on some invisible picture before him.

"Look." He said. He held out his hand and produced a small fire tongue that floated on his hand. I stared at the warmth in curiosity. Why was he showing me this?

He held out his other hand, and suddenly the flame vanished and a strong gust of wind blew into my face. I marvelled at his ability to possess two types of magic. One of which I longed to own once again.

"I could never find a good time to tell you this, but…" he paused. Leaving my hoping thoughts drifting in mid air. Did he have what I thought he did? " - I have it. I have Pandemona." He finished. My mouth hung open in confusion. After a long silence of thought I spoke up.

"Why? Why do you have it? I thought…I thought…he…had it…"

"So did I," He said taking my trembling hand. "I guess it…she decided to transfer herself to me because of the wrong reasons Tema was taking her for. As he fell I felt the blue light rush into me instead." He laughed as he finished, but I flinched at the sound of hearing his name. "I want you to have her back." As he said this I snapped my head up to look at him. Was he serious? I looked in his eyes and found the answer.

"Re…Really?" I managed to say despite my state of excitement.

"Of course." He said as he gripped my hand tighter. He closed his eyes and soon I could feel my power flow through my veins once more, as Pandemona came flying back to me. At last I felt one again. I couldn't begin to thank Seifer for what he had done. I ran into his arms, tears at my eyes, thanking him over and over again for his kindness.

We stood there in each other's arms, in the silent night, and I was content with the swelling feelings of elation and happiness inside me. Out of the silence, Seifer finally spoke.

"I'm sorry about before." He said quietly while rested his chin on the top of my head. I drew my head back and looked at his apologising face. This truly was the Seifer I knew and loved.

"It's ok," I said while resting my head back on his chest. "It wasn't you."

"You knew?" I didn't reply. "It was Edea. She took over my mind and thoughts so you'd come. She's our new boss by the way."

"Sounds charming." I joked.

"She's a sorceress as well." He added.

"Really? What do we do then?"

"We…help her." I could feel his growing insecure about my questions, but I needed to know why I was here, and why I was here by force.

"Do what?" I persisted.

"Help her…take over the world?" he didn't sound convincing.

"Really." He sighed and took a deep breath for what he was about to say.

"I help her with her plans to over throw cities, and she plans to take over Garden and destroy it. All of them."

That last part shocked me to my very core. What kind of person was this? Immediately I pulled away from Seifer and turned away from him, though I longed for the warmth that suddenly left me. I felt very scared from those words. My feet rooted themselves to the stone floor, not allowing me to run away. A reassuring hand clamped down on my shoulder, but I was still frightened of what atrocities I would have to face.

"I don't know what to say," I said, almost laughing at the idea of destroying the first home I had ever made. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," he said. "Fujin…I thought that…maybe…be going away you'd…be happier…"

"But that doesn't mean I want to destroy Garden!" I said spitefully spinning around to look at him.

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Edea's POV

Unknown to them both, I watched them embrace, talk and exchange guardian forces under the night sky, from my chamber window. I felt disgusted at such affection between those two.

"I don't know why I allowed Seifer to let them come…Both of those idiots are going to be a nuisance. Well. I'll let them know their place here." I grinned as I drew my fingers in the direction of my puppet in white down on the balcony. But just as I was about to seize Seifer's mind, I held back.

I thought back to the moment they were talking about that boy who had taken poor little Fujin's GF. A thought struck me and I laughed at it. The perfect plan had concocted itself in my head.