AN: I own the student guy, Jayko, and I'm finally going to sociable and reply to my reviewers. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your contribution and your thoughts. They really help me to write better and with more confidence.

aratcorien: You'll find that out soon, and everything else you asked in this chapter. Hehe…Stay tuned for some angry and violent Posse…

Ameli Stoncius: Thank you! And yes I'm quite sure I'm fifteen . I'll be sixteen in summer though. Whoo!

Platinum Angel: Welcome back! I feel so privileged that you're reading my third Seifuu. Thank you! Oh and just a reminder, I wrote that epilogue I promised for Childhood Dreams And you're right about the complex thing. Poor Fujin…

deity of death: Don't worry, he'll live in pain for the rest of his life. I'll make sure of it, even if it isn't in this chapter :D

Act 3 – Strength; Meaning; Heart

"ALMASY!" an angry shout invaded the quiet silence of the dormitories where I was currently lying of my bed. The impatient, all too familiar voice bellowed less than inches away from the white door of my room. I could even hear Leonhart breathe through the walls. Sighing I swung my legs over my bed and walked leisurely toward the door, wanting to make the man standing outside to wait as long as possible. I could just see his face now, eyes glaring and teeth clenched tightly on his usual apathetic face.

A quick screech from the door revealed Leonhart just as I pictured him and I almost let myself laugh. Smirking I leant casually against the doorframe, crossing my arms over my chest, and I looked straight in his eyes, seeing the white anger boil.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Less than ten minutes being here and you already manage to cause havoc!" His eyes threw daggers as he tried to stare threateningly at me. But then again, I was taller than he was, so his attempt at being intimidating failed quite miserably. Standing up I towered over him, this time me glaring down at him.

"I don't let bratty kids pick on my Posse." I said seriously.

"You still have no right to throw defenceless 'bratty kids' over the rails! As we speak his head is being stitched back together after you maimed him." As he paused I raised an eyebrow.

"He slipped out of my hands. Sorry puberty-boy, but I can't help what happens to stupid kids who happen to fall from my grasp." I said smiling indifferently. He growled in return.

"Slipped my ass," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Cid wants to see you and your precious posse later this evening straight after the evening meal." And with that he walked off, grumbling to himself. "I knew I should never have agreed to this…"

Chuckling I turned to go back to my room when I saw Fujin standing in the hallway. I stopped and looked at her stationary form, gazing anxiously toward me. Her hands were shaking slightly by her side as she began to walk silently down the corridor.

"What's wrong?" I said backing away from the doorway, allowing her to enter my room. She walked in and stood in the centre, her eye cast to the floor.

"BEFORE." She said quietly. I walked over to her and lifted up her chin with my finger as I looked into her beautiful face. Her eyes were dry and no tears had been shed recently, but I could still see the silver trails of the snail like paths that had washed over her face only hours before.

"It's ok. We'll explain everything to Cid later. We'll show Leonhart who's in the wrong," I said, trying to soothe her uneasy apprehension. She sighed as I pulled away the silver hair that had blown into her face, tucking it behind her pale ears. I leant down to kiss her forehead and I felt her shiver at my touch.

"They don't understand…" she whispered, pulling away from me as she went to sit on my bed, holding her head in her scarred hands. "They won't understand…"

"Of course they will. I'll make them understand." I said kneeling down before her.

"NEGATIVE." She barely whispered.

At that moment Rajin came rushing through the door, forcefully sliding the metal panel back into place as we all heard a series of objects being thrown against it. Breathing hard, he frantically put the lock and scrambled into the room, dropping his books and staff in a heap on the already untidy floor.

He looked as if he was about to speak but he was too out of breath to even muster a word. Getting up from the floor I gently clapped my friend on the shoulder and picked up the books and placed them on the desk on the far side of our room.

"Looks like we've already got fans." I said sarcastically. Turning to Rajin who had finally recovered from what must have been a very long sprint, I said, "Cid wants to see us later."

---------

It seemed all too soon before all three of us were once again in the lift that would take us up to Cid's office. Leonhart had already gone ahead after he was sent to collect us and I presumed the kid responsible for this mess was with him.

I felt a sudden squeeze on my hand and looked down to see Fujin staring fixated at something I couldn't quite fathom. Smiling I held her hand tightly in mine, glad to feel some warmth return to her. I rubbed the back of her hand with my thumb as she coughed every now and again, relieved to finally hear some improvement in her voice.

Looking outside the glass windows, the dark night sky filled the large sky windows of Garden, the stars dotted in the night atmosphere. I could remember looking at those stars in the cold winter wind, and somehow, they seemed much brighter and more beautiful out in the wild. That was where life dwelled…in the grasslands of the world, lurking in every corner and plain, waiting to grasp you in its addictive cycle of adventure and new experiences. And that was where I belonged…I didn't belong with this family. I wasn't born to be a mindless student, to be caged in this barracks. My family lay by the sea, in the flower field of Centra…and with my posse…

The doors swung open and we walked out and knocked softly on the even larger doors of Cid's office. A gentle 'Come in' was heard from inside and letting go of Fujin's hand we all entered together.

"Ah, please come and sit down." Cid said warmly, gesturing to the extra three chairs laid out in front of his desk in addition to the other two Leonhart and his client were occupying. I glared at the kid, smiling inwardly at the large red gash in his forehead where ugly black stitches criss-crossed over the sore skin. He promptly turned away, not wanting to incur my wrath further. "Now, Seifer…I hear that you and Jayko here had a little…argument shall we say," I could tell he was having a hard time finding the right words.

"An argument!? He threw me over the rails into the water!" the tall, but hardly mature boy said defensively, rising out of his seat in protest.

"Now, now Jaco, I'm well aware of what happened," Cid said tolerantly. The kid sat back down in his chair, his eyebrows furrowed as he scowled at me. "Seifer, would you like to tell me what happened?" he said turning to me.

Glancing at Fujin, I wanted to silently reassure her that I'd help her, but she was looking at the floor as if she wanted no one to notice her. "That brat was hurting Fujin, so I stopped him from harming her further." Cid looked at me as if he wanted me to continue. "That's it." I said bluntly.

"Oh Hyne," I heard Leonhart mumble across from me.

"Fujin," Cid said collecting himself. Her head snapped up at once as the questions were now being directed at her, and immediately I saw the imminent fear sparkle in her eye. "Could you tell me exactly what happened please?"

There was silence for a few moments as Fujin sat there motionless. Her lips quivered up and down as her words froze in her mouth. She suddenly desperately turned to me, her face pleading to speak for her.

"That kid," I said hesitantly looking at Fujin. She put her hands to her blue collar and grasped the material in a bundle. "…He grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up off the floor…" her actions stopped, but I knew what I had to say, for I'd seen it with my own eyes. "…He shouted at her and…slapped her across the face." I said quickly as Fujin looked fearfully at me. I knew she didn't want me to mention about her eye patch…but she blinked in surprise at the last bit I made up.

"I did NOT slap her!" Jayko said leaning forward to look past Leonhart.

"You still beat her up!" I said overpowering his voice.

"She asked for it!" I stopped, not wanting to believe his words. I grimaced inwardly as I saw him smirk out of the corner of my eye as I turned to look at Fujin. She couldn't have…I knew she hadn't…

"Is this true Fujin?" Cid said, clearing his throat. I thought she wouldn't speak again, but as I placed my hand softly on her shoulder, the words came.

"SLIPPED, and then…" but her words faded as quickly as they had come.

"You practically pushed me over you albino freak!" he shouted back. I stood up, wanting to beat the hell out his nerve, but Leonhart stood in my way.

"Sit down Seifer." He said. Hearing the faint cries of the woman behind me, I tried to move past but he blocked my every move. "Sit down Seifer!" he said louder. I almost felt the tears that ran down her face and the hurt that was building in her throat. I felt her heart tear in two, and the walls around them crumble. She'd worked so hard to not let comments like that hurt her…

I shoved Leonhart away from me, and pushed past him to target my prey. But suddenly I was pulled from behind as the smaller man pulled the back collar of my trench coat toward him. Kicking backward I freed myself from his grasp, earning a grunt but his arm found a place around my neck as he caught my hands behind my back. Struggling I tried to free myself from Leonhart's restraint as Cid tried in vain to stop our scuffle.

"He…" I heard Fujin whisper softly to anyone who was listening.

"SEIFER!" Leonhart roared in my ear as he pulled my backward. "SIT DOWN NOW!"

"Shut the hell up!" I said wincing as his knee slammed into my arched back, but I saw out of the corner of my eye Rajin get up from his seat. He strode over to us, looming above both of us, and attempted to pull Leonhart away from me, causing his grip to slacken.

"He…" I heard the faint murmur of her voice again…I would beat this guy to a pulp…as soon as I pushed Leonhart away…

"HE TOOK OFF MY EYE PATCH!" Fujin screamed through the chaos and I heard the flutter of something fall to the ground. Rajin suddenly let go, Leonhart loosened his grip, and I stumbled forward to stand up right once more.

I stood startled at what I saw. Fujin stood from her place; her bloodied, glazed and scarred second eye visible to the world. Even from where I was I could see each individual streak of light, leathery skin that wove the left side of her face together.

She had shown her eye…purposefully…and with such strength in her actions…I admired her courage, finding myself loving her all the more. Her face was set, the cold red eyes staring fiercely around the room and its inhabitants. All the fear and nerves had fled her system, shrinking away to the deepest depths of her heart. This was the Fujin of the wartime.

Leonhart stood mortified by the sudden unmasking of her full face, his eyes wide in shock but looking at him closer, I was sure I could see fear flare up inside his icy blue pools. I looked around if time had intermittently stopped. Cid, Leonhart and the brat beside me all wore the same looks, their faces all identical in terror and their startled eyes couldn't be told apart.

As if understanding what Fujin was saying, Cid cleared his throat once again, bringing everyone back to reality, the hands of time beginning to tick once again. "I see," he said as he turned to Jayko, a menacing tone set firmly in his face. From standing behind the boy I saw him stiffen, and begin to shiver in guilt. His hands, clenched around the chair seat, were clammy and he sat motionless in his place. "Jayko, I'd like to arrange another meeting with you to discuss your punishment. You had no right to terrorise students, especially those who are your senior. As a member of Garden you need to learn respect and be more tolerant toward other people. I understand that Fujin has not been at all well recently, so it was not her fault she bumped into you. And you certainly have no place to remove something so private from Fujin's face." Cid said looking over the top of his glasses and as if on cue, Fujin coughed loudly. "Commander, please escort Jayko back to his dormitory, and then I'll arrange his necessary punishments." He said now turning to Leonhart, the malice gone from his smiling face.

"Yes sir." He replied, and grabbing the boy in the seat beside him by the collar, Leonhart dragged him out of the room, leaving us alone with Cid.

"Fujin, I apologise on behalf of Jayko. I understand how much your eye path means to you, and I'm terribly sorry that you had to experience such horrific events." Cid said sincerely.

"GRATITUDE." Fujin said sitting back down as Rajin and I walked back to our own seats. She leaned downward and scooped up the fallen black leather in her small hands.

"Now, I apologise once again, as I must unfortunately also give you punishments." That was something we'd never have expected. I stared in stupidity at the old man, but Rajin objected.

"But we did nothing wrong ya know? We were only stopping him from hurting Fujin ya know!" he said.

"I know Rajin, but Seifer still used unnecessary and excess force with Jayko, so I must enforce punishments even if your efforts were for the good of Fujin here. I don't want you to appear as if you will have special treatment, but I must insist that all of you do…shall we say three weeks detention?" he said hopefully.

"Three weeks?!" I argued. "Surely we only deserve two." I said trying to haggle with Cid. He smiled warmly.

"Two weeks it is then. Now go before I change my mind." he said motioning us toward the door, his grin still plastered over his face as he laughed.

"Thank you…sir." I said, deciding against calling him by his name. After all…we would be here for some time now…

---------

"It wasn't the worst that could happen I suppose ya know?" Rajin mused as we were walking to our classes the next day.

"I'm blaming you Fujin." I said light-heartedly, ruffling her hair. She smiled before removing my hand and slipping her fingers into mine. Grinning together we walked hand in hand up the corridor of busy, rushing SeeDs, running frantically back and forth carrying weapons of all shapes and sizes.

Just then my shoulder collided with something hard and I spun around to see the last person I'd want to see.

"Hey! Watch where you're - " his voice began so loudly and powerful, but dwindled into nothing within a matter seconds. His cheek was still adorned to the black tattoo and his quiff of blonde hair still rose up into the air like a yellow flame.

Chicken-wuss…

Behind him stepped out the tall cowboy and the hyper active shrimp of a girl, Irvine and Selphie. Irvine's hair had grown longer since I'd last seen him in the Lunatic Pandora, and Selphie seemed to have grown ever so slightly, her head now touching Irvine's shoulder…

"What the hell are you doing here?" Zell yelled at me, attracting many a stare from the passers-by.

"Well, it looks like the rumours are true." Irvine stated, one hand resting on the hilt of his long shotgun, while the other clutched Selphie's.

"Such a nice welcome from all of you." I said sarcastically as Selphie shrank behind Irvine, staring somewhat apologetically at us.

"Get outta here." Zell said, attempting to sound ominous, juts like Leonhart had done yesterday. Were we really that unwanted around here? "You've no place here, sorceress knight."

That struck a chord. Ever since the days of the war, I vowed I would never call myself a knight again…

I blinked, feeling lost for words. He continued, "We don't need you or your posse to come back and cause trouble. Right Irvine?" he said, wanting some reassurance from his friend.

But strangely Irvine stayed quiet, not responding. I looked at him strangely in the tense silence, and found him staring straight back at me, with not a hint of hatred or repulsion present in his eyes. I glanced down to Selphie again, and she gazed with the same stare, smiling amiably at all of us.

"Irvine?" Zell said louder. As if knocked out of a trance, Irvine blinked and shook his head, rubbing his temple and brushing his long brown hair out of his face.

"Oh, yeah…Whatever you say Zell." He said absent-mindedly.

"Sorry chicken-wuss, it looks like only you still have a problem with us being here. So get used to it, we'll be here for a while." I said spitefully, thanking the couple for their forgiveness and friendship.

If they could understand, two of our past enemies, then we perhaps had a chance in trying to live as normal people…I looked at Fujin and I saw the hope in her eye glitter with happiness and self-confidence. There really were people who had forgiven our tyrannies, and our mistakes. Maybe there was a God after all…

Zell fumed with rage, his cheeks and ears glowing red. I smirked triumphantly. "Well, if you'll excuse us, we have lessons to be going to." And with that my posse and I resumed our walk along the corridor, but not before I whispered a thank you past Irvine's ear as I walked past.

A little bit of faith in life had been restored within me…

We walked swiftly into the classroom, taking the empty seats nearest the back. Sitting down next to Fujin, I switched on the network, ready for a familiar instructor to walk through the doors. Through my many years here, I'd been through many an instructor, nearly every one giving me some sort of detention or suspension. All except one.

And I almost laughed when I saw that exact woman stroll through those doors; her golden orange hair clipped back into its usual style. With her glasses propped up on the bridge of her nose, she smiled and greeted the class.

For some reason Trepe always looked so much older than the rest of us when she stood up there. I could never see her as the woman who battled together with Leonhart and the others during the war. I could never see her as the girl who we had all grown up with…

Leaning back in the bench, I looked across at Rajin who was grinning stupidly. He must be glad to be back here…Who could blame him? A comfortable life, a bed to sleep on…But then again, one could never really tell what he was thinking…

My eyes shifted to Fujin who sat rigidly beside me, her eye staring directly at our instructor. I could tell that she was still uncomfortable here. Reaching for her hand under the desk panel, I clasped her warm fingers in mine and smiled at her softly. I would never be able to be anywhere without her…

Her face became more relaxed as she looked at me briefly, showing me a small smile of thanks, before turning her attention back to the words of Trepe.

"Seifer," a voice called abruptly. I snapped my eyes round to the source and saw Trepe looking at me quizzically. I was about to open my mouth when I heard a faint grumble to my right. And the complaint belonged to none other than Chicken-wuss himself.

"Would you care to repeat that Zell?" Trepe ordered. "If you have something wrong with Seifer's presence then please tell me." She said less tolerantly.

"He doesn't deserve to be called anything but a sorceress knight!" Zell shouted furiously as a murmur of agreement arose in the silent classroom.

"Zell! You're never to call Seifer that!" Trepe remarked. "And that goes for the rest of you!" she said, meaning to speak to everyone is the room, but the growing murmur grew into a commotion of voices shouting, "Knight! Knight!" in a sick chant.

I growled under my breath, trying to block out the taunts and words of the student-body, but their chorus penetrated the walls of my temper, unleashing the most furious emotions I'd ever felt. But before I could let the seething aggravation loose and flow through my fists, I felt a cool touch on the back of my taut hand.

I looked up, catching Fujin's eyes and her sympathetic gaze, and nearly everything melted away.

"Don't…Please don't…" she pleaded. "There are people who believe in us…Don't let them down too…" she said with such sorrow in her words. I felt like taking her in my arms at that moment, whispering in her ear that I understood…Sometimes I wondered where she found such hope in the darkest moments, where everything was shrouded in gloom and everyone was against us. She always managed to find the light, leading me back to the world…

"I love you." I mouthed and entwined her fingers in mine.

Something shifted beside Fujin and I suddenly realised that Rajin had risen from our bench, commanding total silence as he strode angrily over toward Zell on the other side of the room. Chicken wuss stood up ignoring the pleas of the two students in his row; ready to meet whatever Rajin threw at him. But nothing could have prepared him, or any of us, for what my large, tanned friend did next.

Standing mutely before him, Rajin glared down at Zell, the small man only reaching the tip of Rajin's broad shoulders. Then out of nowhere, his ham sized fist flashes across our eyes. Suddenly Zell is on the floor, clutching his stomach in agony. He turned toward Fujin and myself from across the room, staring blankly at us, yet filled with an emotion I'd never seen him possess.

"I don't know how you can take their insults ya know? But I certainly can't let them degrade you like that ya know?" he said so seriously I thought my heart would stop. He had struck true fear inside me, and looking down at Fujin, terror had rooted her to the ground as well.

Turning back round to face a writhing Zell on the floor, Rajin picked him up and began punching his face again and again, every time making me feel more and more sick and disgusted at his behaviour.

"Rajin!" a feminine voice yelled enraged. Gathering her wits, Trepe stormed down to the two men, completely overshadowed by Rajin. "Put him down now and return to your seat!" Rajin only glared at her, and I saw her quake in fright. "R…Rajin, I'm being serious! G…Go back to your seat this instant, otherwise I'll report you to the headmaster!" she yelled fearfully.

Everyone was silent, holding their breaths in anticipation and anxiety, waiting for what would happen next. All eyes were now focused on Trepe and Rajin, Zell being too unconscious to worth looking at. Rajin dropped Zell in a heap, earning gasps of shock and horror as he stepped over the crumpled man toward Trepe. Swallowing in fear she craned her neck upward, she looked up at the giant, her eyes regaining their authority.

But that confidence vanished as Rajin's large hand extended to grab her own collar, as he hoisted her up off the ground. Glaring dangerously at the woman, Rajin said nothing.

I almost felt ashamed to be associated with him…

"RAJIN!" a new shout entered the fray. "PUT QUISTIS DOWN!" Fujin roared from beside me, standing up amongst the frightened students.

Looking out of the corner of his eye, Rajin glanced back at us, and slowly lowered Trepe to the floor.

"How can we live like this!? You're so stupid letting such simple things get to you! What's done is done! We can't change the past. It's happened and we regret it! But you've got to move on from that Rajin, otherwise we'll never live as ourselves…" Fujin said, speaking with such strength, meaning and heart to her words.

Although directed at Rajin, I felt them too, absorbing their purpose into my heart. Never again would I let someone like Zell get under my skin…I would not only disappoint Fujin, but also myself…Despite how hard it would be to ignore him…

Her hands were shaking as she stood defiantly out of her seat while Rajin walked leisurely back to us. Fujin walked to meet him in his path, and promptly kicked him hard in the shins. "IDIOT!" she cried. I laughed quietly to myself as Rajin hopped around one foot, grasping his leg in his hands.

"Settle down now people!" Trepe yelled having regained control of the class. Zell moaned as he picked himself up off the floor and slumped into his seat next to Irvine and Selphie. Rubbing his sore face in his hands, Trepe excused him to go to the infirmary. "I don't want any more fighting you three!" she said sternly, particularly at Rajin. We all nodded.

Dusting herself over and straightening her shirt she walked, still slightly shaken, back to the front of the class. But just at that moment, a loud, ear-piercing ring sang through the halls.

"Ok now, I want all of you to e-mail me all the work you should have done this lesson, AND your homework by tomorrow." Trepe said hurriedly as everyone hustled to get out of the room and away to lunch.

We waited till everyone had left, packing up rather slowly. Trepe was still collecting papers together and setting up her desk for afternoon lessons, and so we walked over to her humbly, and she snapped her head up as we came over.

"Yes?" she said, as if nothing had happened.

"Well…er…I just wanted to say that we're sorry," I said trying to apologise. "Rajin, apologise." I said more naturally.

"Um…I'm sorry ya know? I shouldn't have done that to you ya know?" he mumbled, his big gullible eyes regaining their place on his goofy face.

"Thank you Rajin. You may go now." She said going back to her tidying. We all stared in shock.

"You…you aren't going to punish him?" I said.

"I know he's sorry. That's enough for me." She said smiling kindly.

"Thank you ya know!" Rajin said relieved.

Taking her glasses off her face, she set them down on the table, turning her full attention to us. Smiling as if she were so much older, Trepe said something I would never forget. "I know how hard it is to settle in. You try teaching a class of annoying children when you're only sixteen! It'll be hard but you'll get there eventually. We've all got to start somewhere don't we?"