=========================================================================
ANNOUNCEMENT: Okay, on with the beginning is the beginning of the end in the end or something like that. This chapter concentrates on the after affects of Rajin's imprisonment, and some lovely Seifuu moments nearer the end. Wendel: big dragon thing. [for those who know not] I promise next chapter will be more fun. Sorry it took so long, I've started *gaspshock* another FF8 fic! A Laguna/Raine, to boot! so this took some time.
Kjata - Morrowind... oh the joys of discovering RPG's. I know it well. What SHALL happen? hmmmm...
Perfect Soldier 01 - I do like emotion. good luck on your swimming.
=========================================================================
A month after the trial, things had sort of died down. Sort of as in not at all, but the Posse had grown used to walking the streets of Esthar with one or three Estharian Elite Guardsmen and constant photographers snapping pictures. Even Fujin seemed to be getting more used to the constant stares, then again, she had been stared at as long as I can remember. Funny how it all goes on you, ya know. Yeah, Today the Posse was in the shops, Seifer and Fujin were trying on different pairs of sunglasses, okay, so Seifer was buying Fujin a pair of sunglasses, he was just trying them on to make her laugh. Funny how sometimes people forget we're just 18 years old, still kids. Okay, this is how it goes, I'm trying to write stuff down in this Hyne-forsaken tiny lined journal the Psych-dude gave me to work out my thoughts. I still don't talk much, and my words are kinda stumbly. I feel like I'm writing in crayon... then again, maybe I am? I say the Posse, 'cause looking at those two love birds... I wanted them to be this way, but I still can't get back into it all again, it just... I can't sleep anymore. I admit it, I have lost the ability to sleep. No, it's not insomnia, but every time I close my eyes, the dreams start again, the voices, the screams, the blood, the pulsing electricity and the rats... my mind is full of images that no one should ever have to see... that's what the torture did to me. Lately, I heard that there's this drug people take to make them sleep... sorta shuts down their brains, ya know... well I've been taking it. I'm not proud of it, but I have to sleep, if I don't sleep I go further insane, if that's possible. There's this guy I go to, in this underground club in the warehouse district, I pay, he dishes, I spend three, four hours sleeping in a small dark room, then walk back to the flat we were given in the Presidential Palace, and no one knows I'm gone. The drug takes away my appetite, I eat when the others are watching, then throw it up later, not that I want to, but if that's the price I'm gonna pay then it's worth it, ya know. Looks like Fujin found a pair she likes, steel frame with opaque irridescent lenses, she can see out, we can't see in. Time's up.
"Hey, Fujin they look great, ya know!"
"HONEST?"
"Heh. Yeah, what don't I have to be honest about, ya know?"
Seifer eyed the burly young man suspiciously, he had caught him sneaking in this morning but he didn't ask.
"Okay, what's to say we go back to that weapons shop, I saw a few boot knives I liked" Seifer said, paying the vendor and angling the sunglasses perfectly straight on Fujin's face. She stuck her tongue out at him, he licked it back with his own. Time: 1.7 seconds.
"Uhmm... Seif... you know what the Judge said..."
"I know, they're only small, within our limits. I just want to make sure we're protected if something happens."
"By we you mean Fuu, right?"
"Of course, Fujin being part of the we... Rajin, you okay?"
"Huh? sure thing, boss... just feel kinda... *gulp* clausterphobic... ya know..."
Seifer and Fujin both turned to Rajin, who was fidgeting with his hands, wringing his fingers together, as his shirt hung suspiciously loose against his 7'0" frame. The couple looked at each other, but Fujin stepped forward,
"KNIVES WAIT, HOME" taking Rajin's mammoth hand in hers, and towing the broken man lightly to the exit. Seifer stood for half a minute, grazing his eyes over a piece of paper that slipped out of Rajin's pocket, it was the piece of journal. Slowly lifting up his eyes, he whispered,
"Rajin, what are you doing?" to himself as he walked to catch up to his family. Hyne, what now?
-------------------------------------------------
Laguna heard a knock at his door... that made um, three today! Score, less work! Or more... depending on who was knocking,
"If you're a terrorist or a secretary with more paperwork, beggone! Come back tommorrow! If you're someone else, come right in!" Laguna called, as the door crept open to reveal a very distraught, guilty looking Seifer.
"Ah, Seifer what a surpr... you look like ... awful. What's wrong?"
Practically creeping into the room, Seifer grimaced, closing the door and jumping slightly as Laguna pushed a button and locked it.
"Got that button put in for Treaty negotiations. Works quite well. It also keeps people out in the case of a lock-down. Kiros'll be around in 20 minutes to check on me. Okay, spill. Why the gloom? How's Fujin?"
"Hm? Fujin? Fuu's good. Really good, she's taking everything well. It's Rajin... Sir... I found this in his pocket" Seifer stuttered, face locked in serious mode, as he put down the folded piece of paper,
"And... I caught Rajin sneaking back into our flat this morning at about ..."
"4:32 am."
"What?" Seifer looked up stunned, watching as Laguna pushed another button and a chair came up from the floor, to which Seifer fell into.
"I love buttons. Yes, well at least that's when he entered the Presidential Residence Compound. We've been tracking all of you since you got here. Rajin especially. You and Fujin weren't as much of a worry, you seemed to cling to each other and just want to mend things, one fundimental difference."
"What's the difference?"
"You, Seifer, weren't tortured. Rajin was. Well, so was Fujin, but that was different, she has you. Who does Rajin have? Actually, we were going to give him another week before we took action, but since you came... I'm not going to bullshit with you, Rajin is in serious trouble. Not just over curfew, and the Judge's order, but do you know what Rajin has been doing?"
"I read the page, what's he on?"
"Frankly, we don't know completely. So far, we've traced the compound to Crystal Meth, laced with extacy, and some things that are most similar to rat poison. His adrenaline levels are completely out of proportion, his nervous system is in the midst of frying out, and the chemical reaction levels in his brain are ... if Rajin wasn't as big as a wendel he would be dead six times over. Besides the drugs, he's been heavily drinking, he hasn't eaten a thing voluntarily for the past month, and he hasn't slept. We can't wait much longer before the damage he's doing is irevocable."
Seifer sat back, wiping his face with his hands. What a mess, Rajin's paying the price for my mistakes, all mine. Laguna turned his computer screen to Seifer's view, a video of Rajin's torture sessions playing with muffled sound.
"What'd they do to him?"
"Pardon?" Laguna asked, turning the volume up with the controller he held.
"Rajin never took a drug in his life! He didn't even take painkillers! He was too big for them, they'd pulse through his system without anything! He didn't even drink that much! Of course, we'd have a few drinks between friends, but two, three beers, that was it! He wasn't touching anymore! Hynedammit! He's the responcible ONE! HE KNOWS BETTER!! Me, yeah I can understand, Fujin, more likely but RAJIN?! Oh my Hyne, what the HELL did you DO TO HIM!?" Seifer had risen, and slammed his fists on Laguna's desk sending papers flying as he swiped the desk clean, throwing a flower vase against the wall. Laguna jumped off the desk and slid into Seifer, body slamming him into the wall. Seifer cursed more, pathetically trying to get a grip as he struggled with Laguna as the older man slammed him into the wall again, dislodging a picture of some scenery to send it catapaulting to the floor with a crackle. Raggedly breathing, Seifer took a blind swing at Laguna as the father caught his swing, and something in Seifer snapped, he just crumbled to the floor in a heap, embarassed as heck to be sobbing in front of the President, eyes fixated on the screen as he saw his best friend screaming at the top of his charred, electrifed lungs as another bought of electricity went coarsing through the chair he was bound to.
"No... no, turn it off... Hyne I'm sorry... RAJIN I'M SORRY!!!" he cried out, letting out a yelp of anguish as he saw the tape switch to the guards beating a blindfolded Rajin who was chained to the ceiling with staves and sharp objects. Laguna paused the image, bending down to the level where Seifer Almasy had tried to shield himself with his new trenchcoat.
"Those guards... they've been given reprimands, and delegated to latrine duty for the rest of their stay in the Estharian Military.. I'm sorry to say the better more brutal ones have been taken to special ops as interogators. Seifer? Seifer listen to me..."
The boy held his knees to his chest, he was shaking,
"You beat me..."
"You didn't try" Laguna whispered as a knock came at the door, followed by pounding and official voices calling for their President.
"Everything's fine in here... uuhh... a Cactuar got in?... yes..no! I mean, go back to your posts! Yeah, I'll clean up!" he winked at Seifer, whose eyes were locked on the screen,
"That shoulda been me" Seifer whispered, after the guards were out of earshot of the door,
"Yeah. Rajin knew you'd never come out alive, he did it to protect you. Pretty good job. Hey, there's nothing you can do for him." Laguna said, sitting down beside the distraught blonde,
"I've got to do something, he's my friend"
"The best you can do is marry Fujin, and go on a long honeymoon doing it like rabbits"
"How can.."
"I say that?"
Seifer nodded,
"Because that's the reason Rajin risked it all anyways, for the sole purpose of getting you and Fujin to a very happy place. I'll take care of Rajin, but it'll do him more good to see you and Fujin having the time of your lives then you here worrying about him. Trust me. Okay?"
Seifer nodded again, Laguna helped him stand as he let go of Laguna's offered hand and Laguna unlocked the door, he stopped, looking shakily back at the older man, a small smile tugging at the sides of his face,
"For all it's worth... you'd make a great dad." Laguna looked back at the blonde, a tinge of sadness in his face,
"Wish that were true."
"Call him" Seifer said, guilt edging out his nerve.
"What?"
"Call him, no matter how much he says he doesn't want to talk... he wants to talk. he just doesn't know where to start."
"Thanks" Laguna said, feeling a familiar cramp creep up in his leg, he ignored it,
"Oh, and Seifer? We'll have the ceremony when you two get back"
"Thanks." Seifer nodded and left, walking forcibly toward the hardest thing he would have to do in his life... besides the whole Sorceress thing.
-----------------------------------------------
Rajin was broken. That's all she could tell, he was hiding it all to save her and Seifer from worry. Perhaps... no, she thought, she wouldn't leave Rajin at a time like this, but then again he wasn't going to open up any time soon. She'd talk to Seifer about it... speaking of which, he just opened the door, a look of resolve and worry coating his face. Fujin walked up to her lover, looked into his eyes and knew exactly what to do: pack. Closing him in for a hug, she draped her arms around him and let him carry her into the next room, where Rajin sat with the lights off, "washing" his arm with his hand. Letting go, she held Seifer's hand, then released it, giving him one last look of assurance before setting off to their bedroom to pack what little they were going to need. One thing occurred to her as she put a few changes of her clothes and some of Seifer's in the suitcase, she didn't ask where they were going, it really didn't matter though, just somewhere quiet, peaceful, away from everyone. She could hear the conversation taking place in the other room,
"It's not going to be for a long time... just a month, less even! Fujin and I... we just need some... time. Think of it as Fujin and my honeymoon."
"You're leaving?"
"Not for good! We'll be back in a month as I said, then when we get back, we'll have the ceremony so everyone can be there. What do you say? Are you going to be alright without us?"
"Umm... yeah. Ya know, I'll be okay... I will actually be okay.. ya know. You and Fujin need time... just a month? Hey, why not take two, ya know? More time to plan things... the ceremony, ya know... can I plan it? For you guys?"
"Heh, yeah, Rajin, two months sounds great. I'm sure you'll do an awesome job planning things. Okay, we're leaving. Now, actually."
Fujin could hear the serious nature of their words, it wasn't a friendly conversation, it was asking how long Rajin needed to get better, both knew it; as Fujin walked out of the bedroom with their suitcase, she packed another bag with their personal hygiene products from the bathroom, and reached for their weapons, carefully placing them alongside their suitcase and other bag. Ready to go.
She could see Rajin standing, still towering over her lover even with the gauntness of his starvation, grabbing Seifer into a brotherly hug as he caught eye of Fujin through the doorway.
"Goodbye, Rajin. Take care of yourself okay? I expect a nice wedding" Seifer said, the door opening to reveal Kiros and Laguna standing there with two guards and Ward. Rajin shivered and hunched over at the sight of Ward,
"They're not taking me away are they, ya know? I gotta wedding to plan, ya know" he said, voice hardly a whimper. Fujin tip toed up and brought Rajin into a hug, no kicking his shins today... usually that was what she would have done, but he seemed so... fragile.
"LATER"
"You too, Fuu... hey look I rhymed... ya know" Rajin said, acting victorious, yet muted, Fujin nudged his shin with her foot,
"GET BETTER"
"Yeah, I'll try ya know"
"ORDER!"
"Well in that case, ya know... I've gotta, ya know"
Kiros came in and took the couple's bags, passing them to Ward while Laguna gave their itinerary,
"You'll be spending your vacation at Matron's House, Edea kindly offered it to you, since she's currently at Garden with Cid, everything you need is there, supplies will be sent weekly for as long as you're there, and to stave boredome: you two get the wonderful job of continuing the rennovations Edea started. Enjoy the quiet, you'll be on Centra alone, no one will bother you, the Ragnarok is prepped to take you there. Have fun"
----------------------------------------------------------
The last the two saw of Rajin was his waving as they went down the hall to the hanger, wow, Fujin had never seen the whole ship, and it was beautiful. Sitting in the passenger bay, Fujin had her journal open, but she found there was nothing to write. Seifer came in, sat beside her as the pilot... who sounded strangely like Selphie Tilmitt wished them a happy voyage, and an ETA of 80 minutes at top speed, so not much funny business... yep, gotta be Selphie Tilmitt. Fujin thought, jerking forward and sideways as the Ragnarok took off rather shakily. Seifer had to catch Fujin as she went sliding to the isle, she ended up on his lap, she didn't mind. Neither did he. One hour and twenty one minutes later, Seifer picked Fujin up, his arm under her knees and cradling her back and slung the three bags they brought over his shoulders,
"Last Stop, Honeymooning! All Clothing optional, Booyaka!"
"Selphie! Gimme the microphone! Gimme!"
"Aawww Irvy! Just one more th... aahahahahaaa Stttop! That Tickless!!! OOO!! Mate like bunnies!"
The voices of Selphie Tilmitt and Irvine Kinneas faded into a wash of laughter and tickles as Irvine forgot to turn off the intercom. Fujin and Seifer just looked at each other and laughed, walking off the ship to the door. Clothing optional, eh?
ANNOUNCEMENT: Okay, on with the beginning is the beginning of the end in the end or something like that. This chapter concentrates on the after affects of Rajin's imprisonment, and some lovely Seifuu moments nearer the end. Wendel: big dragon thing. [for those who know not] I promise next chapter will be more fun. Sorry it took so long, I've started *gaspshock* another FF8 fic! A Laguna/Raine, to boot! so this took some time.
Kjata - Morrowind... oh the joys of discovering RPG's. I know it well. What SHALL happen? hmmmm...
Perfect Soldier 01 - I do like emotion. good luck on your swimming.
=========================================================================
A month after the trial, things had sort of died down. Sort of as in not at all, but the Posse had grown used to walking the streets of Esthar with one or three Estharian Elite Guardsmen and constant photographers snapping pictures. Even Fujin seemed to be getting more used to the constant stares, then again, she had been stared at as long as I can remember. Funny how it all goes on you, ya know. Yeah, Today the Posse was in the shops, Seifer and Fujin were trying on different pairs of sunglasses, okay, so Seifer was buying Fujin a pair of sunglasses, he was just trying them on to make her laugh. Funny how sometimes people forget we're just 18 years old, still kids. Okay, this is how it goes, I'm trying to write stuff down in this Hyne-forsaken tiny lined journal the Psych-dude gave me to work out my thoughts. I still don't talk much, and my words are kinda stumbly. I feel like I'm writing in crayon... then again, maybe I am? I say the Posse, 'cause looking at those two love birds... I wanted them to be this way, but I still can't get back into it all again, it just... I can't sleep anymore. I admit it, I have lost the ability to sleep. No, it's not insomnia, but every time I close my eyes, the dreams start again, the voices, the screams, the blood, the pulsing electricity and the rats... my mind is full of images that no one should ever have to see... that's what the torture did to me. Lately, I heard that there's this drug people take to make them sleep... sorta shuts down their brains, ya know... well I've been taking it. I'm not proud of it, but I have to sleep, if I don't sleep I go further insane, if that's possible. There's this guy I go to, in this underground club in the warehouse district, I pay, he dishes, I spend three, four hours sleeping in a small dark room, then walk back to the flat we were given in the Presidential Palace, and no one knows I'm gone. The drug takes away my appetite, I eat when the others are watching, then throw it up later, not that I want to, but if that's the price I'm gonna pay then it's worth it, ya know. Looks like Fujin found a pair she likes, steel frame with opaque irridescent lenses, she can see out, we can't see in. Time's up.
"Hey, Fujin they look great, ya know!"
"HONEST?"
"Heh. Yeah, what don't I have to be honest about, ya know?"
Seifer eyed the burly young man suspiciously, he had caught him sneaking in this morning but he didn't ask.
"Okay, what's to say we go back to that weapons shop, I saw a few boot knives I liked" Seifer said, paying the vendor and angling the sunglasses perfectly straight on Fujin's face. She stuck her tongue out at him, he licked it back with his own. Time: 1.7 seconds.
"Uhmm... Seif... you know what the Judge said..."
"I know, they're only small, within our limits. I just want to make sure we're protected if something happens."
"By we you mean Fuu, right?"
"Of course, Fujin being part of the we... Rajin, you okay?"
"Huh? sure thing, boss... just feel kinda... *gulp* clausterphobic... ya know..."
Seifer and Fujin both turned to Rajin, who was fidgeting with his hands, wringing his fingers together, as his shirt hung suspiciously loose against his 7'0" frame. The couple looked at each other, but Fujin stepped forward,
"KNIVES WAIT, HOME" taking Rajin's mammoth hand in hers, and towing the broken man lightly to the exit. Seifer stood for half a minute, grazing his eyes over a piece of paper that slipped out of Rajin's pocket, it was the piece of journal. Slowly lifting up his eyes, he whispered,
"Rajin, what are you doing?" to himself as he walked to catch up to his family. Hyne, what now?
-------------------------------------------------
Laguna heard a knock at his door... that made um, three today! Score, less work! Or more... depending on who was knocking,
"If you're a terrorist or a secretary with more paperwork, beggone! Come back tommorrow! If you're someone else, come right in!" Laguna called, as the door crept open to reveal a very distraught, guilty looking Seifer.
"Ah, Seifer what a surpr... you look like ... awful. What's wrong?"
Practically creeping into the room, Seifer grimaced, closing the door and jumping slightly as Laguna pushed a button and locked it.
"Got that button put in for Treaty negotiations. Works quite well. It also keeps people out in the case of a lock-down. Kiros'll be around in 20 minutes to check on me. Okay, spill. Why the gloom? How's Fujin?"
"Hm? Fujin? Fuu's good. Really good, she's taking everything well. It's Rajin... Sir... I found this in his pocket" Seifer stuttered, face locked in serious mode, as he put down the folded piece of paper,
"And... I caught Rajin sneaking back into our flat this morning at about ..."
"4:32 am."
"What?" Seifer looked up stunned, watching as Laguna pushed another button and a chair came up from the floor, to which Seifer fell into.
"I love buttons. Yes, well at least that's when he entered the Presidential Residence Compound. We've been tracking all of you since you got here. Rajin especially. You and Fujin weren't as much of a worry, you seemed to cling to each other and just want to mend things, one fundimental difference."
"What's the difference?"
"You, Seifer, weren't tortured. Rajin was. Well, so was Fujin, but that was different, she has you. Who does Rajin have? Actually, we were going to give him another week before we took action, but since you came... I'm not going to bullshit with you, Rajin is in serious trouble. Not just over curfew, and the Judge's order, but do you know what Rajin has been doing?"
"I read the page, what's he on?"
"Frankly, we don't know completely. So far, we've traced the compound to Crystal Meth, laced with extacy, and some things that are most similar to rat poison. His adrenaline levels are completely out of proportion, his nervous system is in the midst of frying out, and the chemical reaction levels in his brain are ... if Rajin wasn't as big as a wendel he would be dead six times over. Besides the drugs, he's been heavily drinking, he hasn't eaten a thing voluntarily for the past month, and he hasn't slept. We can't wait much longer before the damage he's doing is irevocable."
Seifer sat back, wiping his face with his hands. What a mess, Rajin's paying the price for my mistakes, all mine. Laguna turned his computer screen to Seifer's view, a video of Rajin's torture sessions playing with muffled sound.
"What'd they do to him?"
"Pardon?" Laguna asked, turning the volume up with the controller he held.
"Rajin never took a drug in his life! He didn't even take painkillers! He was too big for them, they'd pulse through his system without anything! He didn't even drink that much! Of course, we'd have a few drinks between friends, but two, three beers, that was it! He wasn't touching anymore! Hynedammit! He's the responcible ONE! HE KNOWS BETTER!! Me, yeah I can understand, Fujin, more likely but RAJIN?! Oh my Hyne, what the HELL did you DO TO HIM!?" Seifer had risen, and slammed his fists on Laguna's desk sending papers flying as he swiped the desk clean, throwing a flower vase against the wall. Laguna jumped off the desk and slid into Seifer, body slamming him into the wall. Seifer cursed more, pathetically trying to get a grip as he struggled with Laguna as the older man slammed him into the wall again, dislodging a picture of some scenery to send it catapaulting to the floor with a crackle. Raggedly breathing, Seifer took a blind swing at Laguna as the father caught his swing, and something in Seifer snapped, he just crumbled to the floor in a heap, embarassed as heck to be sobbing in front of the President, eyes fixated on the screen as he saw his best friend screaming at the top of his charred, electrifed lungs as another bought of electricity went coarsing through the chair he was bound to.
"No... no, turn it off... Hyne I'm sorry... RAJIN I'M SORRY!!!" he cried out, letting out a yelp of anguish as he saw the tape switch to the guards beating a blindfolded Rajin who was chained to the ceiling with staves and sharp objects. Laguna paused the image, bending down to the level where Seifer Almasy had tried to shield himself with his new trenchcoat.
"Those guards... they've been given reprimands, and delegated to latrine duty for the rest of their stay in the Estharian Military.. I'm sorry to say the better more brutal ones have been taken to special ops as interogators. Seifer? Seifer listen to me..."
The boy held his knees to his chest, he was shaking,
"You beat me..."
"You didn't try" Laguna whispered as a knock came at the door, followed by pounding and official voices calling for their President.
"Everything's fine in here... uuhh... a Cactuar got in?... yes..no! I mean, go back to your posts! Yeah, I'll clean up!" he winked at Seifer, whose eyes were locked on the screen,
"That shoulda been me" Seifer whispered, after the guards were out of earshot of the door,
"Yeah. Rajin knew you'd never come out alive, he did it to protect you. Pretty good job. Hey, there's nothing you can do for him." Laguna said, sitting down beside the distraught blonde,
"I've got to do something, he's my friend"
"The best you can do is marry Fujin, and go on a long honeymoon doing it like rabbits"
"How can.."
"I say that?"
Seifer nodded,
"Because that's the reason Rajin risked it all anyways, for the sole purpose of getting you and Fujin to a very happy place. I'll take care of Rajin, but it'll do him more good to see you and Fujin having the time of your lives then you here worrying about him. Trust me. Okay?"
Seifer nodded again, Laguna helped him stand as he let go of Laguna's offered hand and Laguna unlocked the door, he stopped, looking shakily back at the older man, a small smile tugging at the sides of his face,
"For all it's worth... you'd make a great dad." Laguna looked back at the blonde, a tinge of sadness in his face,
"Wish that were true."
"Call him" Seifer said, guilt edging out his nerve.
"What?"
"Call him, no matter how much he says he doesn't want to talk... he wants to talk. he just doesn't know where to start."
"Thanks" Laguna said, feeling a familiar cramp creep up in his leg, he ignored it,
"Oh, and Seifer? We'll have the ceremony when you two get back"
"Thanks." Seifer nodded and left, walking forcibly toward the hardest thing he would have to do in his life... besides the whole Sorceress thing.
-----------------------------------------------
Rajin was broken. That's all she could tell, he was hiding it all to save her and Seifer from worry. Perhaps... no, she thought, she wouldn't leave Rajin at a time like this, but then again he wasn't going to open up any time soon. She'd talk to Seifer about it... speaking of which, he just opened the door, a look of resolve and worry coating his face. Fujin walked up to her lover, looked into his eyes and knew exactly what to do: pack. Closing him in for a hug, she draped her arms around him and let him carry her into the next room, where Rajin sat with the lights off, "washing" his arm with his hand. Letting go, she held Seifer's hand, then released it, giving him one last look of assurance before setting off to their bedroom to pack what little they were going to need. One thing occurred to her as she put a few changes of her clothes and some of Seifer's in the suitcase, she didn't ask where they were going, it really didn't matter though, just somewhere quiet, peaceful, away from everyone. She could hear the conversation taking place in the other room,
"It's not going to be for a long time... just a month, less even! Fujin and I... we just need some... time. Think of it as Fujin and my honeymoon."
"You're leaving?"
"Not for good! We'll be back in a month as I said, then when we get back, we'll have the ceremony so everyone can be there. What do you say? Are you going to be alright without us?"
"Umm... yeah. Ya know, I'll be okay... I will actually be okay.. ya know. You and Fujin need time... just a month? Hey, why not take two, ya know? More time to plan things... the ceremony, ya know... can I plan it? For you guys?"
"Heh, yeah, Rajin, two months sounds great. I'm sure you'll do an awesome job planning things. Okay, we're leaving. Now, actually."
Fujin could hear the serious nature of their words, it wasn't a friendly conversation, it was asking how long Rajin needed to get better, both knew it; as Fujin walked out of the bedroom with their suitcase, she packed another bag with their personal hygiene products from the bathroom, and reached for their weapons, carefully placing them alongside their suitcase and other bag. Ready to go.
She could see Rajin standing, still towering over her lover even with the gauntness of his starvation, grabbing Seifer into a brotherly hug as he caught eye of Fujin through the doorway.
"Goodbye, Rajin. Take care of yourself okay? I expect a nice wedding" Seifer said, the door opening to reveal Kiros and Laguna standing there with two guards and Ward. Rajin shivered and hunched over at the sight of Ward,
"They're not taking me away are they, ya know? I gotta wedding to plan, ya know" he said, voice hardly a whimper. Fujin tip toed up and brought Rajin into a hug, no kicking his shins today... usually that was what she would have done, but he seemed so... fragile.
"LATER"
"You too, Fuu... hey look I rhymed... ya know" Rajin said, acting victorious, yet muted, Fujin nudged his shin with her foot,
"GET BETTER"
"Yeah, I'll try ya know"
"ORDER!"
"Well in that case, ya know... I've gotta, ya know"
Kiros came in and took the couple's bags, passing them to Ward while Laguna gave their itinerary,
"You'll be spending your vacation at Matron's House, Edea kindly offered it to you, since she's currently at Garden with Cid, everything you need is there, supplies will be sent weekly for as long as you're there, and to stave boredome: you two get the wonderful job of continuing the rennovations Edea started. Enjoy the quiet, you'll be on Centra alone, no one will bother you, the Ragnarok is prepped to take you there. Have fun"
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The last the two saw of Rajin was his waving as they went down the hall to the hanger, wow, Fujin had never seen the whole ship, and it was beautiful. Sitting in the passenger bay, Fujin had her journal open, but she found there was nothing to write. Seifer came in, sat beside her as the pilot... who sounded strangely like Selphie Tilmitt wished them a happy voyage, and an ETA of 80 minutes at top speed, so not much funny business... yep, gotta be Selphie Tilmitt. Fujin thought, jerking forward and sideways as the Ragnarok took off rather shakily. Seifer had to catch Fujin as she went sliding to the isle, she ended up on his lap, she didn't mind. Neither did he. One hour and twenty one minutes later, Seifer picked Fujin up, his arm under her knees and cradling her back and slung the three bags they brought over his shoulders,
"Last Stop, Honeymooning! All Clothing optional, Booyaka!"
"Selphie! Gimme the microphone! Gimme!"
"Aawww Irvy! Just one more th... aahahahahaaa Stttop! That Tickless!!! OOO!! Mate like bunnies!"
The voices of Selphie Tilmitt and Irvine Kinneas faded into a wash of laughter and tickles as Irvine forgot to turn off the intercom. Fujin and Seifer just looked at each other and laughed, walking off the ship to the door. Clothing optional, eh?