=========================================================================
ANNOUNCEMENT: ... ... ... got nothing... ... ...
Kjata - hah! Yes, I was listening to that song when I did the chapter. It's one of my all time favourite songs. This chapter is anything but mushy, so hope you enjoy. Rajin's all this chapter, so we get to see what happens to him.
Perfect Soldier 01 - yes, they are getting married... YAAAYY!! GO them! Yeah, I couldn't save everything, how would it be a tragedy, then? Well, a closet tragedy... okay just a drama.
=========================================================================
The cell was dark; Rajin thought they kept it dark just to annoy him, break him down. The past four days...has it been that long? By now the days drained on one sand at a time, like a giant slow spell was cast on everything but him, and the guards. Really, there was no way for Rajin to tell time, no light, no food, no regular cycle of guards, no patterns at all; it was all chaos and he was right in the middle of it. Each of the guard groups had different ways of getting information from Rajin, general consensus was that starving the giant man would have an affect, and so far all it had done was knaw away at his stomach and make him see colours floating in reds and greens and blacks bouncing through his eyes like strobe lights at a rave. First off, they had tried beating the information out of him, but seeing as how he hulked over all of them combined, and how the first time they had tried several of the guards went out with bleeding noses and cracked ribs, they had tried to be more creative after that. Correction, the lack of food was also fuzzing out Rajin's mind so his ability to complete sentences... Ward came... he guessed it was Ward... the only one of Laguna's trio big enough to handle someone like Rajin, to stop the beating... heh Rajin laughed, mostly because they were running out of guards. Ward was a regular, now, any time the guards were "interogating" him, Ward would be there. Sometimes Ward would slip him a ration bar, sometimes even a sandwich and it was too dark to tell for the guards, so Rajin would thank him, most often panting... for... breath after another bought in the water tank, or electro-shock chamber, or worse enough, the thing they'd tie him up in and take away all his senses, he was blind, deaf, couldn't smell, or feel or taste anything, and every so often something would touch him, briefly, slithering like an eel in the ... whatever it was... that was torture. At least in his cell he could smell things, he could hear the rat twins scampering along. He had named them, the rat twins, 'cause there was only two, Shiva and Ifrit, they were always bickerin' ya know, so
"Shiva would come scramblin' for me, and I'd put her in my hand, protecting her, ya know... it can be dangerous out there with only Ifrit to protect you ya know. I'd say, he's a big doorknob, Ifrit, from what I can tell he's got a red glint to his fur. I've looked at him for hours trying to guess his fur colour, but seeing as how it's dark down here, no such luck, ya know. So anyways, their squeeks are the only things I hear... other than the guards and my own screams."
Rajin looked at the direction he saw Ward's bulking shape making an outline around,
"Yeah, ya heard right, ya know, Screams. I'm ashamed to say the torture gets to me, ya know... After so long being in a dark room with two rats and nothing to eat is heaven compared to the light. I try not to let it hit me too hard, the torture, they just want to know things, ya know... things I don't know! I never knew them! I was never told, I don't know who Ultimecia is, well, I know what they've told me, that she's who I was working for, a slave to... except they don't use slave... they use lackey."
Rajin started huffing, he could tell Ward was there, he could see him, he could smell him, he could... the door creaked open didn't it? Rajin swallowed, but there was no saliva in his mouth so it was more of a painful lashing of his tongue, making it hard to speak, but he continued, because even if he was crazy, at least he's thinking of something different, ya know? His breathing drew itself in and out raggedly, and he clutched his stomach in pain, a cramp from lack of food and water cringing the muscles together.
"I ain't nothing! Why won't anyone tell me about Fujin? How is she? What's happening with Seifer?! Why won't they come!? Why won't they rescue me!!? ... ... Sorry... I didn't mean it like that, ya know... it just... I'm SO HUNGRY!!! My muscles spasm and lock every day, I can't even unclench this Hyned**n fist anymore!" he tried to rise up, but found the shackles binding him near the metal slab that served as a bed snapping him back down, a light electric shock zooming through to make him docile enough. Rajin began shaking from food, drink, and heat deprivation as he rolled whatever of his body he could under the metal slab jutting out from the wall. At that moment, the door to his cell unlocked and light flowed in, striking Rajin with enough fear to make him cry out and struggle as someone began lifting him off the floor.
"No, I won't ... NO! Leave me alone! LET ME GO! I WON'T GO IN THERE, YA KNOW! I WON'T!!! NOO!!" Rajin felt himself slam against someone, sending the man careening across the floor, as the light burned into his eyes, he couldn't see a thing, and began flailing screaming negatives and obsenities with the last of his voice as it began to croak away. Again, he slammed into something... or someone, but this thing had a sharp edge... da... Bloodcurdling screams broke through the open door, causeing every cell in the block to hear it, moroe guards started shuffling in as the two guards left standing in Rajin's cell electrocuted the huge man, sending his hair on end and smoking. But he wouldn't go down. Rajin had enough, and was struggling at the shackles, trying to break the chains at the weakest points, succeeding at one hand, leaving him flailing the chain at the guards, sometimes getting more of a jolt, but two more of the guards went down. As his vision returned to him, beyond the haze of electrified sparks and masses of red floating into Rajin's blinking vision, he could see ... Ward? But wasn't he ... oof Shaking his head he punched at the thing that had hit him, hearing a sickening crack as someone else crumpled down on the floor. Ward and... the other guy... Kiros? Ran into his cell, and did the unexplainable, Ward lunged through the existing guards and threw Rajin down on his metal slab, protecting him with his even more massive body. The Kiros dude was yelling, barking something...
"How can you do this!? Where is your superior? NOW! Get these guards out of here! You know he was not to be touched! GO!!" Rajin thought it was all a dream, that he would wake up with Shiva knawing at his fingers or toes, but it became very real as Kiros turned on the lights.
Kiros saw the young man flinch and cry out at the onslaught of lights, making the man even more furious at the guards direct disobedience when he saw how tortured Rajin actually was: the young man's skin had gone from a bright bronze to a sallow brass, yellowish and blueish blotches matching the purple of bruises and scars trashing his body. Anyone smaller would be dead. His hair which was once well kept and ordered was straight on end, frizzed like a Moomba, while his clothing was so torn he thought it would fall off. More than his appearance, Ward could see the sunkenness of food deprivation, and how he covered his eyes at the light.
"Hyne, what have they done?" Kiros whispered, leaning close to the boy as Ward stepped back. Unlocking his shackles and sending them clambering down to the floor, Kiros took Rajin's shoulders and lifted him up to a sitting position. Rajin was mumbling,
"No more... no...more... are you here to take me away? Are you going to save me? Can I die now? Get it over with! Just NO MORE!! TORTURE!!... Hyne what have I done? How did I... nngh! SAVE ME!!!!"
Kiros sickened as the mighty Rajin, strongest of the Posse broke under an ocean of pain, horror, disgust, bitter surreality, and the total destruction of a dream... evil had found its way past Rajin's soul and knawed. He couldn't look at him, gurgling and shaking, seizuring over the strain as his mind gave way, audible noises shaking into Kiros and Ward's ears as the two older men watched another life be destroyed by a damnable witch. Why did there always have to be someone who gets destroyed? Rajin's fit ebbing, Kiros could hear a whisper trudging its way past Rajin's chapped, broken, blood crusted lips.
"Can you turn the lights down, please?" Kiros could tell Rajin was trying to collect himself again, so he dared ask,
"What do you want, Rajin? Anything"
"How's Fujin? Are they happy? Please tell me they're happy... can I have some food, please? My Shiva and Ifrit are hungry... I'll give some to them... they're my rrratts... ccold" Rajin began to shiver and quake, mumbling and stuttering, grabbing his skin with his hands, trying to warm himself as the adrenaline pulsed through and ebbed out of his system. Unbeknowance to him, he had started crying, tears of fear and frustration as he felt something go over him, then remembered Kiros... if he was really there... call for a blanket. Blinking a few more times, Rajin could see the khaki green of the blanket and sighed as he felt the woolen security slip through his fingers as he tugged it onto him further.
"I like green, ya know... always a nice colourr... can you tell me what day this is?"
"Thursday the 12th... it's been two weeks since you were put in."
"Oh... Is Fuu... okay?"
"Yes, she's fine. The doctors helped her, healed her eye and throat..."
"That's nice... I awlays wantd ..." Rajin broke out of his dream-like state to quiver and jerk his body, slurring his words and bringing his tree-trunk knees to his chest. Kiros could feel Ward's hand on his shoulder as the enormous man turned Kiros to look at him:
"You say... they've done all that? ... We need to get him out of here... the trial is... next week. But we can't leave him in here Ward... I know, but he's going insane... he really does have rats? That's beside the point, I'm having him relocated to the upper level. ... Yes, Seifer and Fujin are scheduled to visit today. Okay, let's get him up" Kiros and Ward went on either side of Rajin, lifted him up, but he began struggling,
"Www..herre? Where are we goin'? Not more light... no more... I've had enough..."
"Shh, Rajin, shh, we're taking you to see Fujin and Seifer"
"Really...?"
"Yes, but first we're going to give you something to eat, and clean you up a bit, okay?"
"Okay... what about Shiva and Ifrit?"
"They'll be fine. Ward is going to feed them"
"Rreally? That's nnice Ward... is he really here? Doesn't say anything... can't be sure"
"Ward is mute"
"Oooh..." that was the last Rajin said before he passed out, and Ward picked him up to give him a shower and a new pair of clothes.
===========================================================
Fujin sat on the edge of the bed her and Seifer had been given, actually, two beds lashed together so they wouldn't come apart... they had learnt that the hard way. One of the nurses had given her a new dress, she wasn't fond of dresses, but this one was sleeveless, and silver like her hair which held a silk flower firmly on a thin black band, and fit her perfectly, a-lining at the waist to her knees, where it ended, she had matched it with a pair of boots and black gloves crawling up past her elbow and stopped halfway between her shoulder and elbow. It felt freeing that she didn't have to worry about the scars on her body, they weren't there. Of course her hair was a bit shorter, they had to cut layers into it after the blood stained some, but Seifer seemed to like it. There was still pain, and losing the child hadn't been easy, but Seifer had cried right along with her, and they had spent so much time just talking, being together, and thinking of their future plans. She didn't have to be afraid anymore. She felt herself smile, they would see Rajin today, Laguna said everything would be alright, that Rajin would be okay they just needed to let the press and bloodthirsty people simmer down before the trial. There was enough evidence to conclude that their actions didn't come with a choice, so it would go easy on the sentencing. For the first time since she was little, she sang to herself softly, a lullaby her mother had sung and oddly enough, that Seifer knew well.
Last night they had sat together, entwined in an intimate cuddle, she grazing her fingertips over his bare chest, he running his fingers through her now choppy hair, he began to sing softly, humming the tune and she quietly, barely audible began to open her mouth, first letting the notes tune out then as she grew in confidence, she felt her eyes close as she snuggled closer to the man that meant so much and sang. It had been soft, sweet, and bar none, the most wonderfully intimate moment the two had shared. None of them wanted the song to stop, but Fujin could remember Seifer leaning further, pulling the sheets more comfortably over their pajama'd forms and sighed,
"Fujin, your voice is beautiful. I can't wait to hear you singing for our children"
"POSSIBLE?" there was no edge to her voice now, but old habits die hard.
"Hopefully"
"That would be... PERFECTION" she snuggled deeper into his chest, kissing his collarbone lovingly as she fell asleep listening to him hum the tune. Oh what bliss could now be theirs. If only Rajin could experience love like this. He would, in time, Fujin had no doubt, but he would have to be absolutely certain she was taken care of, Fujin could remember them always promising to stick together forever and he never broke a promise.
Peacefully musing, she didn't notice Seifer lean against the doorframe, smiling to himself at the sight of her gazing at the open window. The last week had been a paradise compared to the past months, even with worries of medical conditions and trial dates, they had been together and didn't have to fight for anything. He remembered to thank Rajin for what little time they had, he could never repay Rajin for what... sacrifice. Clearing his throat, Seifer walked the few steps to where Fujin sat, climbing over the bed and leaning his head onto her shoulder before falling down to lie his head in her lap. Dressed in a pair of black pants and a silver button up shirt, Seifer's green eyes sparkled, set off perfectly by the cross necklace he wore around his neck, everything but the cross a gift from Laguna when Fujin got her dress. He didn't deserve any of this, he deserved whatever Rajin was getting and more, but why fate would allow him to live with such pleasure, he would forever ponder. Fujin ran her gloved fingers through his hair, playing with a few golden strands as they waited for their liason to the prison. He could tell Fujin was excited, she had gotten up early and taken an extra long shower, okay so whether the shower was because of Rajin or the fact that he had joined her... did it really matter? Beyond that, she had dressed in her best, okay only clothing, and had been smiling to herself the whole day. If it had been any other man, Seifer would have slaughtered him in jealousy, but not Rajin, truth be told, Seifer was excited, too.
The door opened with a bang as two figures stepped into the window-lighted room, two figures Seifer wanted to forget: Squall and Rinoa. It's not possible...
"Yes, Almasy. We're your liasons, don't get too excited, we didn't come alone." Squall said, stepping aside to reveal the rest of the Sorceress Six waiting outside their door. Seifer immediately tensed, rolling off the bed and Fujin's lap with ease, landing and fixating his feet on the floor while draping a protective arm around Fujin. Selphie came forward with two coats, one a dark blue suede that went down to the knee with silver buttons and a biker collar for Fujin, the other a grey leather trench with a wide collar and crosses embossed in silver black on the arms for Seifer. Holding the coat open for Fujin to slide on, Seifer eyed the group uneasy, wondering where the heck Laguna was at a time like this. Jostling out of his momentary day-dream with Fujin clearing her throat, he turned to see she had taken his new coat and held it out in the same manner for him. Shrugging it on, he got a chaste, reassuring kiss from Fujin on the cheek as he looked at her lovingly, whispered I love you in her ear as he put his arm around her tiny waist. Rinoa smiled at them, glad that Seifer found someone,
"Seifer, I'm glad that you..."
"Save it, Princess. I'm sure Commander Leonheart would singe in his boots if you finished that sentence. One question: Why you?"
"CONFUSED" Fujin amended, Seifer noticing her revertion into her old turn of phrase.
"Ah can answer that, thank ya." Irvine piped up,
"Ya see, President Loire thought it would do the media good to see you two adimantly protected on your journey to see Rajin... plus...err"
"Galbadia wants you back. The army wants their General, and the government wants your head, the people... they come somewhere in the middle. So you see, it's not a courtesy, it's a necessity" Squall finished, leading the way to the armoured vehicle underneath the medical center. Over the journey, Fujin noticed how the six friends had paired up: Squall drove with Rinoa beside him, Selphie sat practically on top of Irvine, and Quistis looked warily out the window as Zell humfed beside her. Taking Seifer's hand, she squeezed it gently, this was it: to Rajin and maybe the ending of all this.
ANNOUNCEMENT: ... ... ... got nothing... ... ...
Kjata - hah! Yes, I was listening to that song when I did the chapter. It's one of my all time favourite songs. This chapter is anything but mushy, so hope you enjoy. Rajin's all this chapter, so we get to see what happens to him.
Perfect Soldier 01 - yes, they are getting married... YAAAYY!! GO them! Yeah, I couldn't save everything, how would it be a tragedy, then? Well, a closet tragedy... okay just a drama.
=========================================================================
The cell was dark; Rajin thought they kept it dark just to annoy him, break him down. The past four days...has it been that long? By now the days drained on one sand at a time, like a giant slow spell was cast on everything but him, and the guards. Really, there was no way for Rajin to tell time, no light, no food, no regular cycle of guards, no patterns at all; it was all chaos and he was right in the middle of it. Each of the guard groups had different ways of getting information from Rajin, general consensus was that starving the giant man would have an affect, and so far all it had done was knaw away at his stomach and make him see colours floating in reds and greens and blacks bouncing through his eyes like strobe lights at a rave. First off, they had tried beating the information out of him, but seeing as how he hulked over all of them combined, and how the first time they had tried several of the guards went out with bleeding noses and cracked ribs, they had tried to be more creative after that. Correction, the lack of food was also fuzzing out Rajin's mind so his ability to complete sentences... Ward came... he guessed it was Ward... the only one of Laguna's trio big enough to handle someone like Rajin, to stop the beating... heh Rajin laughed, mostly because they were running out of guards. Ward was a regular, now, any time the guards were "interogating" him, Ward would be there. Sometimes Ward would slip him a ration bar, sometimes even a sandwich and it was too dark to tell for the guards, so Rajin would thank him, most often panting... for... breath after another bought in the water tank, or electro-shock chamber, or worse enough, the thing they'd tie him up in and take away all his senses, he was blind, deaf, couldn't smell, or feel or taste anything, and every so often something would touch him, briefly, slithering like an eel in the ... whatever it was... that was torture. At least in his cell he could smell things, he could hear the rat twins scampering along. He had named them, the rat twins, 'cause there was only two, Shiva and Ifrit, they were always bickerin' ya know, so
"Shiva would come scramblin' for me, and I'd put her in my hand, protecting her, ya know... it can be dangerous out there with only Ifrit to protect you ya know. I'd say, he's a big doorknob, Ifrit, from what I can tell he's got a red glint to his fur. I've looked at him for hours trying to guess his fur colour, but seeing as how it's dark down here, no such luck, ya know. So anyways, their squeeks are the only things I hear... other than the guards and my own screams."
Rajin looked at the direction he saw Ward's bulking shape making an outline around,
"Yeah, ya heard right, ya know, Screams. I'm ashamed to say the torture gets to me, ya know... After so long being in a dark room with two rats and nothing to eat is heaven compared to the light. I try not to let it hit me too hard, the torture, they just want to know things, ya know... things I don't know! I never knew them! I was never told, I don't know who Ultimecia is, well, I know what they've told me, that she's who I was working for, a slave to... except they don't use slave... they use lackey."
Rajin started huffing, he could tell Ward was there, he could see him, he could smell him, he could... the door creaked open didn't it? Rajin swallowed, but there was no saliva in his mouth so it was more of a painful lashing of his tongue, making it hard to speak, but he continued, because even if he was crazy, at least he's thinking of something different, ya know? His breathing drew itself in and out raggedly, and he clutched his stomach in pain, a cramp from lack of food and water cringing the muscles together.
"I ain't nothing! Why won't anyone tell me about Fujin? How is she? What's happening with Seifer?! Why won't they come!? Why won't they rescue me!!? ... ... Sorry... I didn't mean it like that, ya know... it just... I'm SO HUNGRY!!! My muscles spasm and lock every day, I can't even unclench this Hyned**n fist anymore!" he tried to rise up, but found the shackles binding him near the metal slab that served as a bed snapping him back down, a light electric shock zooming through to make him docile enough. Rajin began shaking from food, drink, and heat deprivation as he rolled whatever of his body he could under the metal slab jutting out from the wall. At that moment, the door to his cell unlocked and light flowed in, striking Rajin with enough fear to make him cry out and struggle as someone began lifting him off the floor.
"No, I won't ... NO! Leave me alone! LET ME GO! I WON'T GO IN THERE, YA KNOW! I WON'T!!! NOO!!" Rajin felt himself slam against someone, sending the man careening across the floor, as the light burned into his eyes, he couldn't see a thing, and began flailing screaming negatives and obsenities with the last of his voice as it began to croak away. Again, he slammed into something... or someone, but this thing had a sharp edge... da... Bloodcurdling screams broke through the open door, causeing every cell in the block to hear it, moroe guards started shuffling in as the two guards left standing in Rajin's cell electrocuted the huge man, sending his hair on end and smoking. But he wouldn't go down. Rajin had enough, and was struggling at the shackles, trying to break the chains at the weakest points, succeeding at one hand, leaving him flailing the chain at the guards, sometimes getting more of a jolt, but two more of the guards went down. As his vision returned to him, beyond the haze of electrified sparks and masses of red floating into Rajin's blinking vision, he could see ... Ward? But wasn't he ... oof Shaking his head he punched at the thing that had hit him, hearing a sickening crack as someone else crumpled down on the floor. Ward and... the other guy... Kiros? Ran into his cell, and did the unexplainable, Ward lunged through the existing guards and threw Rajin down on his metal slab, protecting him with his even more massive body. The Kiros dude was yelling, barking something...
"How can you do this!? Where is your superior? NOW! Get these guards out of here! You know he was not to be touched! GO!!" Rajin thought it was all a dream, that he would wake up with Shiva knawing at his fingers or toes, but it became very real as Kiros turned on the lights.
Kiros saw the young man flinch and cry out at the onslaught of lights, making the man even more furious at the guards direct disobedience when he saw how tortured Rajin actually was: the young man's skin had gone from a bright bronze to a sallow brass, yellowish and blueish blotches matching the purple of bruises and scars trashing his body. Anyone smaller would be dead. His hair which was once well kept and ordered was straight on end, frizzed like a Moomba, while his clothing was so torn he thought it would fall off. More than his appearance, Ward could see the sunkenness of food deprivation, and how he covered his eyes at the light.
"Hyne, what have they done?" Kiros whispered, leaning close to the boy as Ward stepped back. Unlocking his shackles and sending them clambering down to the floor, Kiros took Rajin's shoulders and lifted him up to a sitting position. Rajin was mumbling,
"No more... no...more... are you here to take me away? Are you going to save me? Can I die now? Get it over with! Just NO MORE!! TORTURE!!... Hyne what have I done? How did I... nngh! SAVE ME!!!!"
Kiros sickened as the mighty Rajin, strongest of the Posse broke under an ocean of pain, horror, disgust, bitter surreality, and the total destruction of a dream... evil had found its way past Rajin's soul and knawed. He couldn't look at him, gurgling and shaking, seizuring over the strain as his mind gave way, audible noises shaking into Kiros and Ward's ears as the two older men watched another life be destroyed by a damnable witch. Why did there always have to be someone who gets destroyed? Rajin's fit ebbing, Kiros could hear a whisper trudging its way past Rajin's chapped, broken, blood crusted lips.
"Can you turn the lights down, please?" Kiros could tell Rajin was trying to collect himself again, so he dared ask,
"What do you want, Rajin? Anything"
"How's Fujin? Are they happy? Please tell me they're happy... can I have some food, please? My Shiva and Ifrit are hungry... I'll give some to them... they're my rrratts... ccold" Rajin began to shiver and quake, mumbling and stuttering, grabbing his skin with his hands, trying to warm himself as the adrenaline pulsed through and ebbed out of his system. Unbeknowance to him, he had started crying, tears of fear and frustration as he felt something go over him, then remembered Kiros... if he was really there... call for a blanket. Blinking a few more times, Rajin could see the khaki green of the blanket and sighed as he felt the woolen security slip through his fingers as he tugged it onto him further.
"I like green, ya know... always a nice colourr... can you tell me what day this is?"
"Thursday the 12th... it's been two weeks since you were put in."
"Oh... Is Fuu... okay?"
"Yes, she's fine. The doctors helped her, healed her eye and throat..."
"That's nice... I awlays wantd ..." Rajin broke out of his dream-like state to quiver and jerk his body, slurring his words and bringing his tree-trunk knees to his chest. Kiros could feel Ward's hand on his shoulder as the enormous man turned Kiros to look at him:
"You say... they've done all that? ... We need to get him out of here... the trial is... next week. But we can't leave him in here Ward... I know, but he's going insane... he really does have rats? That's beside the point, I'm having him relocated to the upper level. ... Yes, Seifer and Fujin are scheduled to visit today. Okay, let's get him up" Kiros and Ward went on either side of Rajin, lifted him up, but he began struggling,
"Www..herre? Where are we goin'? Not more light... no more... I've had enough..."
"Shh, Rajin, shh, we're taking you to see Fujin and Seifer"
"Really...?"
"Yes, but first we're going to give you something to eat, and clean you up a bit, okay?"
"Okay... what about Shiva and Ifrit?"
"They'll be fine. Ward is going to feed them"
"Rreally? That's nnice Ward... is he really here? Doesn't say anything... can't be sure"
"Ward is mute"
"Oooh..." that was the last Rajin said before he passed out, and Ward picked him up to give him a shower and a new pair of clothes.
===========================================================
Fujin sat on the edge of the bed her and Seifer had been given, actually, two beds lashed together so they wouldn't come apart... they had learnt that the hard way. One of the nurses had given her a new dress, she wasn't fond of dresses, but this one was sleeveless, and silver like her hair which held a silk flower firmly on a thin black band, and fit her perfectly, a-lining at the waist to her knees, where it ended, she had matched it with a pair of boots and black gloves crawling up past her elbow and stopped halfway between her shoulder and elbow. It felt freeing that she didn't have to worry about the scars on her body, they weren't there. Of course her hair was a bit shorter, they had to cut layers into it after the blood stained some, but Seifer seemed to like it. There was still pain, and losing the child hadn't been easy, but Seifer had cried right along with her, and they had spent so much time just talking, being together, and thinking of their future plans. She didn't have to be afraid anymore. She felt herself smile, they would see Rajin today, Laguna said everything would be alright, that Rajin would be okay they just needed to let the press and bloodthirsty people simmer down before the trial. There was enough evidence to conclude that their actions didn't come with a choice, so it would go easy on the sentencing. For the first time since she was little, she sang to herself softly, a lullaby her mother had sung and oddly enough, that Seifer knew well.
Last night they had sat together, entwined in an intimate cuddle, she grazing her fingertips over his bare chest, he running his fingers through her now choppy hair, he began to sing softly, humming the tune and she quietly, barely audible began to open her mouth, first letting the notes tune out then as she grew in confidence, she felt her eyes close as she snuggled closer to the man that meant so much and sang. It had been soft, sweet, and bar none, the most wonderfully intimate moment the two had shared. None of them wanted the song to stop, but Fujin could remember Seifer leaning further, pulling the sheets more comfortably over their pajama'd forms and sighed,
"Fujin, your voice is beautiful. I can't wait to hear you singing for our children"
"POSSIBLE?" there was no edge to her voice now, but old habits die hard.
"Hopefully"
"That would be... PERFECTION" she snuggled deeper into his chest, kissing his collarbone lovingly as she fell asleep listening to him hum the tune. Oh what bliss could now be theirs. If only Rajin could experience love like this. He would, in time, Fujin had no doubt, but he would have to be absolutely certain she was taken care of, Fujin could remember them always promising to stick together forever and he never broke a promise.
Peacefully musing, she didn't notice Seifer lean against the doorframe, smiling to himself at the sight of her gazing at the open window. The last week had been a paradise compared to the past months, even with worries of medical conditions and trial dates, they had been together and didn't have to fight for anything. He remembered to thank Rajin for what little time they had, he could never repay Rajin for what... sacrifice. Clearing his throat, Seifer walked the few steps to where Fujin sat, climbing over the bed and leaning his head onto her shoulder before falling down to lie his head in her lap. Dressed in a pair of black pants and a silver button up shirt, Seifer's green eyes sparkled, set off perfectly by the cross necklace he wore around his neck, everything but the cross a gift from Laguna when Fujin got her dress. He didn't deserve any of this, he deserved whatever Rajin was getting and more, but why fate would allow him to live with such pleasure, he would forever ponder. Fujin ran her gloved fingers through his hair, playing with a few golden strands as they waited for their liason to the prison. He could tell Fujin was excited, she had gotten up early and taken an extra long shower, okay so whether the shower was because of Rajin or the fact that he had joined her... did it really matter? Beyond that, she had dressed in her best, okay only clothing, and had been smiling to herself the whole day. If it had been any other man, Seifer would have slaughtered him in jealousy, but not Rajin, truth be told, Seifer was excited, too.
The door opened with a bang as two figures stepped into the window-lighted room, two figures Seifer wanted to forget: Squall and Rinoa. It's not possible...
"Yes, Almasy. We're your liasons, don't get too excited, we didn't come alone." Squall said, stepping aside to reveal the rest of the Sorceress Six waiting outside their door. Seifer immediately tensed, rolling off the bed and Fujin's lap with ease, landing and fixating his feet on the floor while draping a protective arm around Fujin. Selphie came forward with two coats, one a dark blue suede that went down to the knee with silver buttons and a biker collar for Fujin, the other a grey leather trench with a wide collar and crosses embossed in silver black on the arms for Seifer. Holding the coat open for Fujin to slide on, Seifer eyed the group uneasy, wondering where the heck Laguna was at a time like this. Jostling out of his momentary day-dream with Fujin clearing her throat, he turned to see she had taken his new coat and held it out in the same manner for him. Shrugging it on, he got a chaste, reassuring kiss from Fujin on the cheek as he looked at her lovingly, whispered I love you in her ear as he put his arm around her tiny waist. Rinoa smiled at them, glad that Seifer found someone,
"Seifer, I'm glad that you..."
"Save it, Princess. I'm sure Commander Leonheart would singe in his boots if you finished that sentence. One question: Why you?"
"CONFUSED" Fujin amended, Seifer noticing her revertion into her old turn of phrase.
"Ah can answer that, thank ya." Irvine piped up,
"Ya see, President Loire thought it would do the media good to see you two adimantly protected on your journey to see Rajin... plus...err"
"Galbadia wants you back. The army wants their General, and the government wants your head, the people... they come somewhere in the middle. So you see, it's not a courtesy, it's a necessity" Squall finished, leading the way to the armoured vehicle underneath the medical center. Over the journey, Fujin noticed how the six friends had paired up: Squall drove with Rinoa beside him, Selphie sat practically on top of Irvine, and Quistis looked warily out the window as Zell humfed beside her. Taking Seifer's hand, she squeezed it gently, this was it: to Rajin and maybe the ending of all this.