A/N: Oh yippee! 13 reviews by a mere Prologue?! I'm touched… ;_; *sniff* Thank you all! Alrighty then, better leave the introductory stuff behind and get on with some actual events, shall we?
And boy, do I have a surprise for you! Guess who the title of the chapter refers to? No really, guess! Heh, heh… ^_^ Just keep in mind that it's only a cameo…
BTW, something I forgot to say: The dialogue is in plain italics, the thoughts are in bold italics and the plain text is… well, plain text! Bold words indicate intensity in speech, while capitals stand for words being shouted (or intensity in thoughts, 'cause I can't get them any bolder!). Hope you didn't get confused before…
I've got the habit of responding to my reviewers, but only if I actually have something to say. So if I don't respond to some of you, I'm not ignoring you, I just got nothing to say…
Last chapter summary: It's almost New Year's and Seifer has to attend a mission in Deling, promising Quis to be back for the celebration party.
~*The Beginning, is the End, is the Beginning*~
A sequel to 'Love Conquers All'
By: Sickness in Salvation
Chapter 1: Long time no see…
Seifer woke up by the sound of the phone ringing next to the nightstand. He squirmed around, covering his head with the pillow. The ringing sound was piercing through his eardrums even after his self-constructed insulation though. Grumpily, he pulled the pillow off his head and searched blindly on the nightstand, until he felt the receiver of the phone under his palm. He picked it up and brought it next to his ear.
- "What?" he said sleepily.
Instead of a voice, a light 'Innerving…' he thought, sound came through the receiver. Seifer slammed the phone shut, rubbing his eyes open with his balled fists 'Fucking hotel wake-up calls…' he thought, yawning deeply. With difficulty, he sat up on the bed using his arms to stand. He had hardly gotten any sleep last night. The hotel room he stayed in, was definitely not worth of the money he -or the Garden, better- had paid. The bed was too squeaky, the blanket made him itch and the window saw right outside an apparently very busy street. And to top it all, the walls obviously weren't thick enough to prevent 'unwanted' sounds… 'Damn bitch…' thought Seifer rubbing the back of his hair 'I could hear her moaning and screaming all night…' The bed squeaks and wall bangings didn't make the sound any more sufferable; they just added up to the 'horrific porn concert' as Seifer had distinctly described it in his mind. Yawning deeply once more, he decided to get up.
Lazily, he flung the covers off his body. A shiver ran under his skin, as the room was too cold for one to be roaming around in only a pair of sweatpants. He looked around for the remote control to the air condition in the room. He switched it on, hoping that the -from the looks of it- obsolete contraption wouldn't explode and turned the temperature up. He stretched a bit and walked over to the bathroom. He turned the tap on and cupped water in his hands, throwing it on his face. He reached for a towel hanging right next him and wiped his face, taking a look in the mirror. He held his chin with his thumb and index finger and examined his face 'No need to shave…' he thought and reached for a small bag on the counter. He took out his toothbrush and toothpaste and began brushing his teeth 'Hmmm… I need to be over at the ministry in…' he thought, checking his watch '…two hours.' He spat out the toothpaste and rested his hands upon the sides of the sink, staying still for a second 'Oh shit…' he thought, slapping his forehead with his hand 'How could I miss that? The ministry of DEFENSE. And the minister is…' He shuddered '…Wallace…' He mentally swore at himself for forgetting exactly who he'd be working for… again.
Suddenly, a rivulet of liquid water and toothpaste came trickling down his forehead. Realizing he hadn't washed up before, he grunted and, adopting a disgusted expression, washed his hand and forehead. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed 'Fuck… I thought I wouldn't have to see that moron again in my life…' he thought 'Oh well… Can't get away from it now…' He tilted his neck in both directions, feeling a small cracking sensation and began undressing. He flung his sweatpants and boxers onto the toilet seat right next to the shower stall and stepped in. He turned the knobs and felt a spray of ice cold water sting his skin at first. He swore for the already dreadful day he'd been having and turned the knob to 'Hot'. He tried to calm a bit, letting the warm water relax his tensed up muscles.
After the revitalizing shower, Seifer walked back into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist and another one with which he rubbed his hair dry. Surprisingly, the room was much warmer now 'At least ONE thing's going well in my day so far…' he thought. He walked over on the messy bed, not bothering to make it and picked up the black cell-phone on the nightstand. He checked the clock on the screen and saw it read 8:47 'Quisty should be up by now…' He mechanically pressed the buttons for Quistis' number and placed the small phone on his ear.
- "The subscriber you have called will be informed of his or her calls…" began a voice through the phone.
Seifer terminated the call at the sound of that message 'Still sleeping…' he thought, feeling a bit jealous 'And I get to work through holiday… damn fucking great…' he swore, feeling annoyed that she was sleeping, annoyed that he had to spend the rest of the mission with Wallace, annoyed that she couldn't be with him right now… He sighed deeply and walked over to his suitcase on the sofa, to pick out the clothes he would wear. He scoffed 'As if I have a grand choice…' He pulled out his black pants, his white sleeveless T-shirt with the red Fire Cross in front and of course, his -now black- long trench coat. He flung his towel off and began wearing his clothes. When fully dressed in his battle gear, he walked over into the bathroom and squeezed some gel off the tube and on his palm. He tactfully ran it through his blond locks, spiking them up. He washed his hands and took a last look on the mirror, turning his head around in different angles. He let out a smirk, pleased with the sight 'Damn… It almost hurts to be so hot…' he thought, laughing, as a flash, of what Quistis' expression would be like if she heard that, came in mind. He walked back inside the room, grabbing his impressive Hyperion gunblade form the case which lay half open next to the suitcase. He dug his hand in his coat pocket retrieving a pair of black shades, put them on and went on his way.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Seifer was pacing back and forth the pavement in front of the hotel entrance. He had called the ministry and a car was supposed to come pick him up. Twenty minutes had passed, but still no sign of the car. He leaned back on the wall, crossing his arms, tapping his foot on the ground impatiently. After about three minutes, a black sleek car appeared. It stopped right in front of Seifer and the window mechanically slid down. A man dressed in a black suit, white shirt, a tie and black shades leaned over and spoke to Seifer.
- "Are you Seifer Almasy?" he asked.
- "No, you're speaking to his evil clone right now…" said Seifer sarcastically, never leaving his position.
- "I don't have time for this kid…" said the driver sighing "Are you that Almasy fellow or not?" he asked impatiently.
- "I am, if you're the lazy-ass driver who was supposed to pick me up more than a quarter ago…" said Seifer walking over to the back seat doors.
The man shook his head in disbelief as Seifer stepped inside the fancy car. When he was seated, the man turned back to face him. He lowered his shades and spoke.
- "I need to see some credentials first kid…" he said. Seifer raised an eyebrow and dug his hand in his pocket.
- "Here…" he said handing him his SeeD ID "…and if you call me a kid one more time, I'll break your neck…" he added smirking.
- "Bad day 'tough guy'?" asked the driver sarcastically, handing Seifer back his ID.
- "Just drive the damn car…" replied the blond man, turning his head to the window outside.
Letting out a scoff, the man turned back in front 'Damn smart-ass SeeD punk…' he thought. He turned the key in the ignition and drove off towards the ministry of Defense.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The black car stopped in front of the stone steps of an impressive building. Seifer opened the door and stepped out of the car. He lowered his shades and looked at the Ministry of Defense, standing right in front of him. Large white marble columns decorated the entrance of the building, while the pediment presented carved designs of the old city of Deling, the way it was many decades ago 'Very 'antique'…' thought Seifer raising an eyebrow, resting his shades on his forehead, while entering the Ministry, closely followed by the man who had driven him there.
Inside, the Ministry was decorated in a quite tasteful and elegant manner. Seifer noticed the driver approaching the reception desk where a young woman was seated and followed suit. The man rested his arms on the desk and lowered his shades, eyeing the girl behind the desk. The pretty blue-eyed brunette raised an eyebrow and held her chin, shooting the man an impatient look.
- "How can I help you Zidane?" asked the girl.
- "And a good morning to you too beautiful…" said Zidane, the driver, sarcastically.
- "Whatever…" said the girl sighing "What can I do for you?"
- "You mean besides accept an invitation over to my place?" Zidane asked arching his eyebrow playfully. The girl glared at him "Just kiddin' sunshine…" said Zidane chuckling "I've brought this guy over here…" he said, motioning towards Seifer next to him "…for his meeting with Wallace."
The girl turned over and noticed Seifer for the first time. He was standing right next to Zidane, with arms crossed. The desk clerk smiled broadly at Seifer, who forced back a grin. The girl was very cute alright, but he didn't have the time or the mood for pointless flirting.
- "Hello, I'm Terra…" said the girl, offering Seifer her most charming smile. Zidane raised an eyebrow at that.
- "Seifer Almasy." replied Seifer, shaking Terra's now extended arm.
- "You have an appointment with Mr. Wallace?" asked Terra.
- "Yes. Tell him it's the SeeD he has requested for a certain mission." said Seifer.
- "Hold on a sec please…" said Terra dialing a number on the phone right next to her "Jeri? Connect me to Mr. Wallace's office. *Pause* Hello, Mr. Wallace? There's a Seifer Almasy here to see you. He says he's the SeeD you've requested for a mission… Uh-huh… Yes, I'll tell him… Alright…" Terra hung up and turned back to Seifer "He says he'll send someone to show you up right away. Wait here for a couple of minutes please."
- "OK…" said Seifer putting his hands in his pockets.
- "So…" began Terra, trying to make small talk "You're a SeeD?"
- "Yep." replied Seifer.
- "Which Garden are you from?" she asked.
- "Balamb Garden." the blond answered.
- "Is it nice in Balamb?"
- "Yeah, I guess…" said Seifer shrugging, checking his watch.
- "Not much of a talker, are you?" asked Terra grinning.
- "Nah, just bored…" replied Seifer taking out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
- "I'm sorry, but smoking is not allowed in here." Terra informed him.
- "Why not?" asked Seifer raising an eyebrow.
- "Because." said Zidane, butting in. He'd been annoyed by all the attention Terra was paying Seifer so far.
- "Easy there driver-boy…" said Seifer mockingly, putting his cigarettes back inside.
Zidane shot him a poisonous look. Seifer turned over to the elevator where a man in a suit came out.
- "Your escort's here…" said Terra.
- "Right. See ya…" said Seifer nodding at her walking over to the man by the elevator.
- "Brainless git…" mumbled Zidane once Seifer was gone.
- "I thought he seemed nice." said Terra shrugging.
- "Smitten by pretty-boy, are we?" asked Zidane scoffing.
Terra sighed and went back to her work, shaking her head in disbelief.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Seifer stood with his back leaning on the elevator wall. The booth reached the third floor and the man walked outside, followed by Seifer. The pair walked down the corridor until the man stopped outside a door. A label on it read 'Minister of Defense'. The guy in the suit knocked gently and after hearing a muffled 'Come in' from inside, he opened the door.
Lucius Wallace stood behind his desk in his luxurious office, signing some paper work. At the sound of the door opening he raised his head and saw the man who'd brought Seifer over, waiting next to the door which stood ajar.
- "Mr. Almasy is here for you sir." said the man.
- "Let him in Davis." replied Wallace.
Davis made way for Seifer to come in, then left, closing the door behind him. Seifer walked inside Wallace's office, with a smug expression on his face. He looked around the office, walking casually over to the desk. Lucius Wallace was just like he remembered him; tall 'Gangling…' Seifer thought, in his mid-thirties '…old fucking lecher…', with gelled '…slimy…' black hair a bit grayish in the temples. Wallace took off his reading glasses and rubbed his right temple with two fingers.
- "So…" said Wallace breaking the silence "…Cid decided to send you." he added, crossing his fingers on the desk.
- "Not pleased to see me again?" asked Seifer sarcastically, slouching himself on one of the armchairs in front of Wallace's desk.
- "Yes, you may sit…" he said sarcastically.
- "I know." said Seifer grinning. He took out his cigarettes and lit one, throwing his lighter onto the desk. Wallace glared at him. Seifer noticed that and spoke, exhaling a big cloud of smoke "Do you mind?"
- "Would it matter?" asked Wallace. Seifer shook his head in response "Thought so…"
- "So… how's life been treating ya?" asked Seifer casually.
- "Pleasantly enough…" replied Wallace "But I've been hearing it's been more than kind to you…" he added raising an eyebrow.
- "Care to elaborate on that?" asked Seifer, not seeing where Wallace was taking it.
- "I've been reading the… papers…" said Wallace meaningfully.
- "Ah." said Seifer getting the point 'More like shitty tabloids…'
- "So Miss Trepe and you are an item now, eh?" he asked kind of spitefully.
- "Obviously…" said Seifer smirking.
- "No offence…" began Wallace "But I really can't tell what the hell she saw in you…"
- "If you could, you'd probably be wearing a thong underneath that nice suit of yours…" said Seifer blowing some smoke towards Wallace's face. Wallace gritted his teeth threateningly.
- "Better get to the object of the mission, shall we?" he asked trying to retain his composure.
- "Couldn't agree more…" replied Seifer.
Wallace bent down to the drawers next to his office. He opened the first one and took out an envelope. He handed it over to Seifer, who opened it, checking the contents inside it.
- "That's Deling Gallery." said Wallace, pointing at the small picture Seifer was now looking at "There's an exhibition being held there tonight. And I'm the guest of honor." Seifer raised an eyebrow at that. Wallace shot him a glare.
- "So what's my job?" asked the blond gunblade specialist.
- "Being my bodyguard. As simple as that." replied Wallace.
- "Why not use your own?" asked Seifer puzzled.
- "After the fiasco in my mansion a few months ago…" began Wallace, referring to the mission him, Quistis, Zell and other SeeDs had participated "… I don't trust my bodyguards for occasions like these. I only use them for daily protection. In special occasions I always have others to protect me."
- "I see…" said Seifer nodding "And what's all this?" he asked, motioning towards the file.
- "A list of any potential threats." replied Wallace "Study it to keep your eyes peeled for any of them."
- "Alright… Anything else?" asked Seifer.
- "No that'll be all." said Wallace "I'll send someone to come pick you up at 8. Dress formally."
- "Fine…" said Seifer getting up from his chair, putting out his cigarette over by the ashtray on the desk.
He nodded Wallace goodbye and walked out of the office.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Seifer walked out of the elevator and towards the entrance. On his way out, Terra spoke to him.
- "Leaving so soon?" she asked.
- "My business here is done." replied Seifer.
- "Alright… Well… See you around…" said Terra reluctantly.
- "Bye." said Seifer, walking out through the doorway.
Outside the ministry, the same black car which had brought Seifer there was parked. Seifer approached it and stuck his head through the window. He found Zidane buried inside the driver's seat, with his feet resting on the other window, reading the paper. He soon noticed Seifer and lowered his piece of reading down.
- "What?" he asked.
- "I suppose you have to drive me back to the hotel, right?" said Seifer smirking.
- "*Sigh* Get in…" said Zidane sitting properly, putting his paper away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night…
Seifer was just getting back to the hotel from his mission. He had officially declared it his worst mission ever. Nothing exciting had happened. All he did was walk around the ballroom next to Wallace, listening to his incessant babbling with other guests and especially women, hearing compliments of flirtatious and drooling old hags and putting up with Wallace's never-ending comments on what Quistis had seen in him. He was more than glad to get back to the hotel. The following morning he'd be on the first train back in Balamb to see his friends and Quisty again… But right now he needed some sleep.
He approached his wreck of a hotel and walked over to the reception inside. He found the clerk sleeping right on the desk, with his head buried inside his, crossed on the desk, arms. Seifer raised an eyebrow at that and looked at his watch. It was hardly two past midnight. Seifer shook his head in disbelief and walked behind the reception desk, grabbing his key from the wall behind. He walked past the clerk who was sill asleep and walked up the stairs to his room.
Not one minute had passed since he disappeared up the stairs, than the clerk raised his head back up. He glanced at the stairway, then rested his head on his balled fist, continuing his shift…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day…
Back in the Garden, the final preparations for that night's New Year's party were taking place. Inside the ballroom, Selphie had climbed up a chair and was giving orders to everyone through a megaphone. 'Volunteers' were spread all over the big room; some were putting up the decorations, others were adjusting the position of the banner, others were moving the tables and chairs to make room for the dance floor. Behind a big console, the DJ was picking out records to play at the party, while the bartender assorted the drinks on the selves behind the bar. A very tired-looking Irvine approached Selphie. He had taken off his long coat and was drenched in sweat. He walked over to his petite hyper girlfriend and fell heavy on a chair right next to her.
- "All done with the tables…" said Irvine wearily, rubbing his sore neck.
Selphie plainly nodded and went on yelling through the megaphone to some people who had dared take two minutes off. The miniscule mercenary could get bossier than Quistis when it came to her job on the Garden Festival. Although giving the impression of a sweet, innocent girl at first, Selphie Tilmitt could catch others off guard with her sudden change of character in such occasions. Irvine grinned at the frightened looks on the faces of the group of students Selphie had just scolded. Then he turned his attention back at her. She was wearing a tiny denim skirt, a sleeveless yellow turtleneck sweater on top, and a pair of brown boots underneath. The brown-haired cowboy tilted his head, resting it on Selphie's chair. He looked up and grinned mischievously. Selphie felt his piercing glare upon her and stopped shouting momentarily, looking down at her boyfriend.
- "Are you looking up my skirt?" asked Selphie raising an eyebrow.
- "Just checking…" replied Irvine casually, the grin never leaving his face "I see you went with the black one today…" he said chuckling lightly.
Selphie gave him a kick on the ribs with her leg, pretending to be annoyed. However, Irvine would have sworn he saw her lips twitch upwards a bit. Selphie went on giving orders for a while longer, until everything was ready for the party.
- "Alright! Good job everyone!" she said cheerfully "I'll see you all tonight at the party!" she added, switching the megaphone off.
She hopped off the chair and landed on Irvine's lap, knocking the air out of him. A swarm of exhausted students passed by, leaving the ballroom to go get some rest or food. They all waved goodbye at Selphie, between grunts and groans of pain and tiredness. Selphie cheerfully waved back and waited for everyone to clear the Ballroom. She wrapped her arms around Irvine's neck and swung her legs back and forth.
- "Hungry?" she asked.
- "Starving… What time is it?" asked Irvine.
- "It's…" said Selphie, checking her watch "…12:30. The others will probably be already at the Cafeteria. Let's go grab some lunch."
- "I need a shower first… I reek…" said Irvine, adopting a disgusted expression.
- "Nonsense. You'll be fine. Come on…" said Selphie getting up, dragging Irvine from the hand.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inside the cafeteria, hordes of students were gathered. A loud hum of murmurs, laughter and chit-chat engulfed the big room. Selphie and Irvine walked hand-in-hand to their usual table, where Zell and Shizuka were sitting. Zell was eating a hamburger, not really chewing it, just gulping down huge bites. Shizuka seemed to have finished eating and was running a hand through Zell's bangs, adjusting them in place. Irvine and Selphie took their seats across them.
- "Hey guys…" said Shizuka sitting back, resting her head on Zell's shoulder.
- "Hey yourself…" said Irvine "How long have you been here?"
- "About half an hour long." replied Zuka.
- "Translation: About six burgers long." said Selphie grinning, looking at all the wrinkled burger papers scattered on the table.
- "Oh, Pha, pha…" said Zell through a mouth stuffed with bread, meat and ketchup.
- "Are the preparations over?" asked Zuka.
- "Pointless question." said Irvine "Can't you see the rivers of sweat all over me?" he asked sarcastically.
- "Oh shut up!" said Selphie, mock-angrily "You didn't work that hard!"
- "'Didn't work that hard'?!" said Irvine exasperated "You were this close to start whipping me while shouting 'Work slave, work'!" he said, receiving a fit of laughter from Zuka and Zell "Then again…" added Irvine, adopting a dreamy expression, earning a hard elbowing from Selphie this time.
- "Where are Squall and Rin?" asked Selphie, changing the subject.
- "Squall was very busy…" began Zell.
- "Typical…" said Selphie.
- "…so Rinoa took up some lunch in his office for them to eat there." he added.
- "What about Quistis?" asked Irvine.
- "I dunno…" said Shizuka shrugging "She'll probably be here any minute now…"
No sooner had she finished her sentence, than Quistis walked inside the cafeteria talking on her cell-phone. Talking? No she was speaking in a volume that got close enough to shouting…
- "Well of course I'm mad!" the others heard her say as she approached them "'Cause you said you'd make it dammit! Oh gee, thanks! I'll get to see you for what, one whole hour?! I feel so honored!" she said sarcastically "I told you, I have to be there tomorrow! Well excuse me for wanting to spend the day with you before I leave… Fine with me! Don't come at all! Stay in Hyne damn Deling!" she yelled, terminating the call.
Frustrated out of her mind, the red-haired Instructor banged her phone down on the table. She sat down next to her friends, burying her face in her palms, letting out a grunt of indignation.
- "What's wrong?" asked Selphie, putting her hand on her friend's shoulder.
- "I'll tell you what's wrong!" snapped Quistis jolting up, making Selphie jump back to her seat "That jerk called Seifer Almasy, who obviously enjoys making my life more difficult for me, lost his train here because he overslept! And now, he'll get the next one which will be in five hours! FIVE!" she yelled, spreading her palm, indicating the number 'five' "That is if he even bothers to come!"
- "Geez Quisty, cut the man some slack…" said Irvine "He was tired from the mission and overslept, what's the big fucking deal? It could have happened to anyone…"
- "'Overslept' my ass! He probably hooked up with some slut from Deling and got too shagged out to even walk!" yelled Quistis, earning weird glares from people around them and wide-eyed looks from her froends.
- "Damn Quis, you know I don't actually have the guy in my 'favorites' list, but don't exaggerate that much… I'm sure he didn't do this on purpose…" said Zell.
- "And you know Seifer wouldn't cheat on you…" added Selphie.
- "Don't bet on it…" said Quistis, picking up her cell-phone, getting up.
- "Where are you going? Aren't you going to eat anything?" Shizuka asked.
- "I'm not hungry…" said Quistis marching out of the cafeteria in a rush.
The two couples were left looking at each other puzzled. They'd never seen Quistis act like that before… Sure, she tended to get somewhat upset by trivial matters, but nothing like what they'd just witnessed…
- "She's been kind of… edgy lately, huh?" said Zell.
- "That, my friend, is an understatement." said Irvine "I accidentally broke one of her hair clips the other day and she almost had my head!"
- "That damn job is driving her insane…" said Zuka "She's working way too hard…"
- "I kinda pity Seifer… He's the one who pays for it most of the time…" said Selphie grinning.
- "Well, he's not exactly doing anything to calm her either…" commented Zell "He's always away lately…"
- "What can he do? It's his job…" said Zuka.
- "Yeah, he wants that Vice-Commander position so bad, he's been working his ass off lately…" said Irvine.
- "Either way, Quis needs some time away from everything before she stresses herself to death…"said Zell.
- "Why does she have to go to this damn seminar anyway?" asked Irvine.
- "She says it's 'her obligation' since she's an instructor…" said Selphie sarcastically.
- "What seminar?" asked Zell.
- "It's in Esthar. It's for battling instructors." replied Irvine.
- "Then how come we're not going?" asked Zell pointing at himself and Irvine.
- "'Cause we're not 'Quistis' material…" said Irvine grinning "It's not actually mandatory…"
- "Sometimes I wonder why on earth they made you two instructors…" said Shizuka shaking her head in disbelief.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- "DAMMIT!" roared Seifer, hanging up his cell-phone after the quarrel with Quistis.
He was sitting in the back seat of a taxi, stuck in traffic for more than half an hour. As if it wasn't enough that he had had the most boring mission of his life last night, overslept in the morning and had gotten stuck in a huge traffic jam in hope of getting to the train station in time, he'd now just had a fight with Quistis 'Great… Just-fucking-great…' he thought 'And why the hell did she have to snap like that?! It's not like I did it on purpose… Fuck… I wanted to see her more before she leaves too, but it ain't my damn fault that there's so much fucking traffic…' He sighed deeply and looked outside the window. The sound of horns and yells from angry drivers made him even more upset. And the fact that the damn taxi driver was listening to country, didn't make things any easier… 'Hyne, WHY did it have to be COUNTRY?! I HATE country…' he thought. Just then, as if the driver could actually hear his thoughts, he began singing along to the tune, raising the volume. His dissonant voice filled Seifer's ears, adding up to the already nerve-breaking 'horn concerto' outside.
- "Aaaargh!" growled Seifer, kicking the front seat forcefully.
- "HEY!" yelled the cab driver, turning back to Seifer "What the heck do ye think ye're doin'?"
Seifer took a moment to look at the driver. He was a fat middle-aged man, wearing a red cap on his greasy black hair and had a face that needed desperately some shaving 'Not to mention SOAP…' thought Seifer. He was wearing a washed out blue T-shirt which read 'I *heart* Deling City', which had sweat stains under the armpits and some others in front that Seifer didn't even want to imagine what they were from…
- "Just lemme off here… I'll walk faster to the station in this traffic…" said Seifer taking out his wallet.
- "Ten Gil." said the taxi driver.
Seifer took out a ten Gil bill, handing it to the driver. He picked up the small suitcase lying next to him in the back seat and opened the door. He stepped outside, walking through the tiny 'paths' between the cars until he reached the pavement. He began walking towards the station, internally swearing at his bad luck the past couple of days. He glanced at his watch and saw it was already one in the afternoon. He'd missed his train back home for ten damn minutes. And now he had to wait until six for the next one. He shook his head in disbelief and continued striding down the sidewalk.
At some point, he felt this weird sensation all over his skin. An ominous feeling was starting to take over him, becoming intensified with each and every step he took further. It almost felt like he was being followed. Almost? He stopped walking momentarily and checked around him. Nothing. He shrugged and went on his way, not being able to help but feel somewhat alarmed. He hadn't taken more than ten steps, when he felt being pulled into an alley by the side on the pavement. Swiftly, his hand rushed down to his Hyperion which he always carried with him. To his misfortune though, that was the last move he was able to make, as a strange-smelling handkerchief got pressed onto his mouth and nose, making him feel dizzy 'Fucking… chloroform…' he thought, before his mind slipped into unconsciousness...
A/N: OK, so that wasn't exactly about his mission, but bear with me! And what's this? A cliff-hanger from the first chapter? Nasty me…
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'THE BEGINNING, IS THE END, IS THE BEGINNING':
What happened to Seifer in that alley?
Will Quistis and his friends back in Garden hear of this?
Will the New Year kick in with such a bad omen?