AN: Despite saying this might be coming to a close soon, I've been hit with wonderful inspiration, and so this won't be finished for a while now. If I appear slow in updating in the future, it may be because I'm playing Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles . So I apologise now if I get pulled away to my Gamecube instead of updating. I'll try to do both! :D (as well as juggling my homework with my swimming training XD)

Fuu-sama: Yeah, I know the feeling, despite not actually ever having a boyfriend, I've always found it very difficult to express myself other than in writing, and so I feel I can relate better to those characters like Fujin who find it hard to express their emotions. I wish you courage my friend.

aratcorien: Don't worry. Zell will become much more of a 'nice' guy in this chapter. Personally I don't like him that much, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to show him how I believe him to be. This may not be to your liking, but I can see this story becoming a lot more fairy tale-ish, but I'll try and keep it as real as possible. And I'm so glad you like my story. It's a real honour coming from your mastery of writing.

Ameli Stoncius: I'm so happy that you like my writing. It's taken a long time to receive any comments like yours. They mean so much to me and I can't begin to thank you enough. I try really hard to make the characters have some depth that isn't too common or so original it seems unreal although I do try to be original.

Act 5 - Haste; Essence; Expression

I awoke to the warm sensation of soft skin next to my face, a gentle rising and dropping of breath sounding peacefully against my ear. Screwing up my eye, I was brought back to the cruel world of reality, rubbing my face where I lay in the comfort of Seifer's shoulder. A flurry of white cloth was strewn on the floor around us as together we leant against the wall, at ease in each other's company. My boots were kicked aside; my jacket a blue heap in the corner, while Seifer's trench coat concealed half of my trouser clad legs.

Seifer was still a captive of the dream world as he slept on into the morning, his head resting lightly against mine. My hand was still entwined in his, following the soft movements of his chest, as were his arms still restraining me peacefully to him. Nestling closer I smiled to myself as I absorbed his heat. My bare arms clung gently to him, warmth radiating through my veins, for my thin under shirt offered no consolation, and I shivered happily.

I closed my eye, thinking back to yesterday, and blushing I remembered myself being more bold and confident than I had ever been before in my life. I wondered what had transformed me into this person who now lay in the arms of her beloved, a night of kisses behind them. But then, what had changed Seifer in this wonderful, gentle lover who had touched me so softly, with no trace of aggression dwelling in his heart? I couldn't find an answer in myself or in Seifer…But I didn't need one.

We had both changed, Rajin too. And we were still changing, growing as a family who depended on and supported each other. I assured myself that we would evolve as humans again, reaching new goals and achievements that before we would never have accomplished.

A moan escaped the lips of the man next to me, and I watched Seifer open his beautiful green eyes to greet the morning haze in the dimly lit room. Straightening his back, his hand that lay against his chest clasped mine tightly and he smiled down at me.

"Good morning." he said leaning down, brushing a strand of displaced silver hair out of my eye.

"MORNING." I whispered against his mouth. His forehead came to rest against mine and I felt his breath tickle my own. In that one night alone he had taught me how to love him with the full extent of my heart, not holding back my fears. Confidence brewing inside of me, I leaned up and kissed him softly, welcoming him into the morning.

A loud and sudden bang abruptly shook us completely awake, and I broke away in shock. "HEY! Get up ya know!" a familiar voice shouted from behind our door.

Standing up Seifer groggily walked over to the door and it slid open revealing a very distraught looking Rajin. "What's the matter?" he said.

"They're here ya know! Esthar soldiers have invaded the Garden and they're looking for us ya know!" Both of our mouths dropped in fear, but Seifer regained his composure first.

"What the hell are you talking about Rajin? Cid told us he'd take care of whatever business they had with us."

"But I saw them ya know? There's a transport parked in the entrance and just now I saw a whole bunch 'a them roaming the halls ya know."

"RUN?" I said standing up to join my friends, clutching Seifer's trench coat in my hands.

"You said it Fujin." Seifer agreed taking his great white-grey coat from me, crossing the room to pick up Hyperion. At once I slung my blue jacket over my shoulders, yanked the zip upward and stood ready by Rajin in the doorway. "Rajin, take Fujin back to her room and get anything she might need," he ordered, before pausing and looking away from us both. The air suddenly grew very cold, and a chill dived down my back. "I'll go on ahead." And with that he dashed out of the door, and vanished down the halls.

"NEGATIVE…" I whispered in no one but Rajin. "NEGATIVE," my eye stared blankly at the floor as I felt tears of betrayal spring to my eyelid. "NEGATIVE!" I shouted in bleary-eyed fury, turning to run after him, but two strong hands clamped firmly down on my shoulders.

"Let him go ya know. He'll be ok ya know, I know it." Rajin said trying to comfort me. But I heard none of his words.

How could he? He'd promised to never leave my side…He had promised…and I had believed him…

"MOVE." I barked eyes cast downward. Following Rajin to my dorm, my heels clicked and echoed through the empty halls, invading the peace and serenity that haunted the early morning air. I thought I could hear Seifer's footsteps coming from every direction as ghouls of the dawn teased me with confusing sights and sounds. I kept turning my head wildly to search the corridors for a glimpse of his white coat…or a flash of his blonde hair in the sunlight, even to hear to sound of his breath…the words of his promise…

But shaking my head, I knew I'd been a fool to believe such things…I'd been a fool to believe his words…and I knew we would never meet him to escape…

I ran blindly down the hallways, for if I looked back, I knew I would fall victim to the sweet trail that led back to the arms of my angel. I had heard Fujin scream, and I had almost turned back, wanting to take her in my arms and hush her cries. Her lingering touches still caressed my face even as I ran, and her ghostly kisses still plagued my lips.

I had never seen her like that before…Her usual barrier around her well-guarded heart had been destroyed, crumbling in my wake as I stood before the broken gates of her soul. She had let me see her for the true person she really was: not the silent, cold and threatening woman that everyone else saw, but the frightened, shy and affectionate girl that I wanted to protect and the innocent, pure-intentioned person I'd fallen in love with.

But knowing I loved her was as suffocating as it was pleasurable. Because of me, she had to suffer, and she had been dealt so much pain and agony over the years, that I felt terrible even touching her. I didn't deserve her, and I knew that in order to keep her from suffering anymore, I had to do this. I had to turn myself in, for the sake of both her and Rajin.

That night I had dreamt of a future. We were at each other's throats, cursing and swearing as if nobody could hear us in our run down shack of a house. Rajin no longer held his gullible smile and Fujin didn't even utter a word, her piercing glare cutting through us instead. Rajin and I were fighting, our voices deafening to any listeners, and much of the furniture lay broken and jagged around us. Fujin had sat in the corner; her head in her hands as the annoying and irritating cry of a young child joined the battle of words and sounds flying across the single roomed hut. Fujin held her hands over her ears, tears rolling from her eyes and I'd tried to console her, but all I received was a slap right across my face and the most hateful glare she'd ever shown on her pale, white sleep-deprived face.

I shuddered at the thought of our lives becoming so horrible, and also because I had seen myself. I had seen the way I used to act and live my life, and I felt sick, watching myself be so cold and unforgiving, my temper having complete sovereignty over my actions and thoughts.

I couldn't let Fujin and Rajin suffer like that. Not after everything I've put them through…

Turning the corner out of the dormitory maze, I entered the main, circular courtyard of Garden, and sure enough there stood a pack of Esthar soldiers. In front of the elevator, Cid was desperately trying to negotiate with the leader, Matron by his side, but it seemed that the captain would have none of their pleas and excuses. The commanding officer pushed past the old man and his wife and spying me through his visor, he ordered his men to take me captive. Dropping Hyperion to the ground, I walked forward with my hands in the air, resigning myself in the tense and betraying silence.

"Seifer, please, you don't have to do this," Cid called behind me as I walked obediently past him and Matron. "Garden will protect you. Trust me when I say that everything will be all right!" he said desperately. I rolled my eyes and sighed at his petty state. Garden never protected my posse or me and it never would… Matron looked sympathetically at me as I walked past them surrounded by a pack of soldiers, and I felt her apology. She was the only one that had ever taken care of me, the only person who had taught me how to live…and surrender with dignity.

"You have the right to remain silent Headmaster Kramner." The cold voice of the commanding lieutenant interrupted "Almasy has been committed with treason against the entire world being in partnership with Ultimecia and the sorceresses. He had caused much civil unrest, and the President has ordered his capture. Garden can do nothing to help this fugitive. It is completely out of your league of reasoning. Only Hyne can help this boy now." He said heartlessly.

"But Laguna wouldn't even think of arresting Seifer!" Cid argued.

"Excuse me sir, but the President has ordered his arrest. I can do nothing except follow his orders. This man is now in the hands of the Estharian government. He is no longer your concern." And with that he turned on his steel-plated heel and proceeded to take me out of Garden, and back into the cruel world where I belonged.

Head held high, I heard the gathering clamour of voices emerge from their rooms, awoken from the commotion. Turing to look at the horrified student body, I saw Leonhart burst from within the crowd, Rinoa, Selphie, Irvine, at his side. Trepe had joined Cid and every one of them held a look of shocked sorrow on their faces. But through the wall of faces I couldn't spot the two people I had hoped to see one last glimpse of before I left them behind…

Suddenly the whisper behind me grew to a loud shout as someone rushed through the guards who were keeping everyone at bay. I stopped to look at the bold individual and I laughed inwardly as I saw the chicken-wuss rushing toward me, a look of pure anger written all over his face. Two tall guards caught him before he could go any further, but Zell kept kicking and thrashing in their arms, despite the worried calls from his friends.

"Hey Seifer! You're just gonna let them take you like this?" he shouted at me as my escort of stubborn soldiers pushed me forward, wanting to get this ordeal over. "I thought you'd have more pride than that, getting pushed around by a load of wimps like them!" But I didn't move, standing fast against the prods and kicks to get me moving. I wanted to hear what he had to say, but the men around me were insistent of moving on. Shoving me forward a cool roll of metal was pushed against the side of my head. I sighed; disappointed I wouldn't hear the rest of Zell's 'dramatic' speech…

He was silent for a moment as I felt his eyes sink in defeat, but a roar of anger erupted from his mouth and I heard the sickening thud of two men fall to the floor…More people were getting restless in the crowd too… "Fine! I couldn't care less if they took you away and killed you! Just think about who you're leaving behind!" he yelled.

Not looking back I answered, "I have nothing here to lose."

"You don't mean that." A small, shaking voice said, and I froze, my eyes shooting wide open. I was suddenly afraid to turn around…I could see the look in her eye in my head, the hurt blazing in her heart, and the betrayal on her tear-stained face. I immediately regretted ever opening my mouth, and I gritted my teeth feeling ashamed of myself. Hanging my head in disgust I began to walk quicker, wanting to run away from ever facing Fujin again…for I knew the next time I saw her, she'd never forgive me…

"You don't mean that!" she called louder. "SEIFER!"

I kept walking, hoping that my self-control would hold out until I was far, far away on the Centra continent as with every word she cried, she stole a little piece of myself. Each syllable that shot through the tense air clawed and tore at my face and my clothes with ghostly hands, pulling me back to her, the same hands as before…her hands.

I sunk to my knees, pounding the floor with my fist. Rajin knelt beside me and rested his large but comforting hand on my shoulder. But my grief was shortly interrupted.

"You're just gonna sit there? Get up and go after him!" Zell shouted angrily down at me. I winced at his harsh words knowing that in reality it was a lot harder to follow him. Had it been any other scenario, Rajin and I would have pursued Seifer anywhere, even to the end of the world…but this time it was far more difficult… "So much for the posse…" Zell said spat.

"Hey, leave Fujin alone ya know!" Rajin said standing up, towering over Zell.

"Zell, step down." Squall said coming over with the four remaining friends. Kneeling on the floor I looked round at the faces that had witnessed my pitiful display of emotions, and I felt utterly humiliated. Selphie and Irvine stood a little further behind with Quistis while Squall strode over to Zell, separating the warriors from the imminent battle about to unleash itself. He nodded to the fallen guards, apologising for such rude actions, and they promptly scurried off to join their battalion before departure.

"Here," a gentle voice said beside me. I spun round in fright to see Rinoa kneeling down on the floor with me, her hand extended. But I didn't want her charity. Pushing myself off the ground Rinoa only smiled and rose with me, standing a few inches taller than me. I envied her happiness at that moment, but I had no power to glare at her… "Take this." She said, bringing her other hand out from behind her, and immediately I snatched Hyperion away from her holding it close to me. Staring at her briefly for a moment in clouded gratitude, my gaze was averted by an overheard sentence that filled the room.

"It's sickening to see such a heart-broken woman. If she's so damned in love with him, then why not go after him?" Zell said loudly. Seeing I'd heard him he turned to speak to me. "What are you waiting for?" he said throwing his hands out. "Go!"

I looked at Rajin beside me and he pushed me in the direction of the exit. "Off you go ya know. I'll be waiting here if you wanna come back ya know?" he said kindly, and I swore I saw a tear in his eye. Lips quivering in thanks, I hugged my dearest friend tightly, wishing he could come with me. Pulling away, I kicked him in the shin one last time for his loveable stupidity before running silently after the disappeared guards, laughing slightly to myself as I heard Rajin yelp behind me.

With Hyperion grasped securely in my hand, I hurdled over the entrance barriers and sprinted down the steps, bringing me into the heat of the morning. Dust clouds rose in the distance along the road and I could see the tank like vehicle trundle along through the fields, men readied with missile launchers for any curious monsters on the roof.

I had never been quite this alone before. As far back as I could remember there was always someone with me, making sure I was all right. Rajin was that person for the most part of my sad existence, and then Seifer joined us before the war. But even before then I thought back to when my parents used to take care of me…Sometimes I even wondered if they were my parents, for I looked nothing like either of them. But that peace had been shattered that fateful day the fires swept our home, when houses were ransacked and stacks set ablaze. So much fire…flickering and dancing in the dark blue sky, smoke veiling what horrors lay rotting and burnt in the empty, screaming streets. It had been so warm that night and I remembered the touch of the embers against my skin, the strong arms hiding me from being found, and the smell of the heaving dead that smothered my breath. I had wished for nothing more at that moment for the wind to blow everything away, swallowing all the evil in the world and taking with it the dead and charred history of time.

Yet that wish had brought more trouble than good. That night a beast fell from the skies, shaking the ground with such force I thought I would fall into the earth. The crackling of flames had died; the heavy weight lifted off my crushed body. I was raised into the air, a gentle breeze soothing my tired and frightened bones, and I had looked into the eyes of a god. But no sooner had I laid my eyes upon it did my face sting with excruciating pain as if it were on fire with the flames of hell. I had been certain my head would explode and I would have died right there and then, but fate had different plans for me.

I felt the winds around me, the slightest movements of the air and streams of zephyrs rush past me that I had never noticed before. I could tell where they were travelling to, to what town and to what climate they had come from, the heat and frost vapours warming and chilling my skin. Although I couldn't see them, I felt them all around me, a safe harness against the world. Then a booming voice of thunder said to me,

"To feel, is to be blind. To be air, is to be clear."

The pain stopped and I had dropped to the ground as in a flash of light the beast disappeared, fading away into the dark night. But before my feet touched the ground I floated safely to the earth, a cushion of air protecting the bare soles of my feet. Still semi-unconscious, I stumbled forward as I began to walk again, wanting to get away from this stagnant heap of black land. Dirt clung to my face, and as I opened my eyes finally I remembered the horrible wailing scream that had pierced the condemned silence as everything I looked upon was drowning in a sea of oozing crimson. I had scratched at my face earning myself the scars still present to this very day, wanting to desperately see with a normal vision. But no matter how many times I scraped at my eyes, there was nothing different from before.

I had run to the lake, the winds pushing me forward, and I dunked my head in and out of the cool water so many times I had lost count. It was morning the next time I remembered opening my bloodied eyes again, and in one last attempt to cleanse myself of this curse I looked exhaustedly over to the water's still blanket. I had wanted to scream again, but I was too tired and shaken to even utter a word. My eyes were red, not just from crying, but my eye colour had been transformed into the fiery red of the fire, and my left eye was permanently stained with the flames. My shaking hands held my head creating loose waves of tousled hair in my fingertips, a thousand shades lighter, shining a brilliant white in the morning dew. My skin too had lost its pigment, becoming a sickly pale chalk.

Then, I had cried and cursed the very wish I'd brought upon myself. But now, bringing my mind back to the present, I would banish those flames that had eliminated everything I had held dear. I would rescue the one person caught amidst this turmoil and dispel the evil that would dare harm them. Gathering my powers bestowed to me by my heavenly guardian, I closed my one remaining eye and gathered the winds at my back, feeling the blasting rivers of air waves rush past me. My feet were lifted off the ground, and as if I had the great wings of Quetzacoatl, I flew through the air, my mind straining under the intense pressure. I cracked open my eye to see where I was going but at once I lost altitude, pressure sinking above me.

"To feel, is to be blind." The powerful voice echoed in the depths of my memory, and I closed my eye, exploring the airs with my hands. It carried me in its ocean of currents, lifting me higher than ever before. Feeling along the airways I felt the winds part, curling round an obstacle growing colder as they slid along the smooth surface. The sound of rumbling wheels was growing ever louder.

Suddenly a bullet of air came pushing backward and I swooped out of the way as a sudden whistle careered through the sky, a sharp tip penetrated the invisible lines of latitude hidden in the atmosphere. I was nearing the moving vehicle, arms of air pushing the cool metallic frame along, a fountain of billowing pressure surrounding it. Another shot was made from the gunmen and I could feel their bodies in the air, their exact position and every movement they made. Diving and flying through the air I landed on the rooftop, opening my eye quickly as I swung Seifer's Hyperion forward and back in one swift motion, following the patterns of the wind to speed my attack. I could see the breaks in the resistance, the direction of the rivulets. Nothing could stop me, I thought. I was in total command of everything around me…

The two soldiers slumped down with a dull thud, dazed from my attack. I would not kill them. Too many people had already been killed… I walked fearlessly to the edge and kneeling down I held onto the small ledge that surrounded the square roof and sliced the lock with Hyperion causing the doors below me to suddenly fling open wildly in the hasty essence of nature.

Seifer was sitting there completely shocked, his eyes ablaze with a terrified worry as I jumped down into the carrier. I ran to him at once, taking him in my arms, burying my head against his warm chest, for I found myself shivering violently as I leaned against him. His white coat draped over us both, his black gloved hands weaving through my windswept hair pulling me closer into the protection of his strength.

He whispered my name over and over again, apologising for ever leaving me and Rajin, for ever saying what he said only moments before, and for ever letting himself surrender… As he pulled away my name became more frantic on his lips and his hands took my face so gently it was as if I would break if he let go.

"Fujin…Your face…" he whispered, his words shaking my very core.

"WHAT?" I said touching my cheeks, feeling a strange tingling sensation underneath my eye patch. Cautiously lifting away the material, it was an uncannily surprise when I found no blood red bleeding into my eyesight. Instead a creamy white and black clouded in front of my eyes. "SEIFER?" I said, my voice shaking as if tears were about to fall from my blind eyes. I couldn't see him…

He said nothing, silently placing the black patch back over my trembling face and pulled me close, a hazy vision returning to me. He held me for what seemed like mere seconds before the moving cage of metal screeched to a halt, sending us both toppling forward, darkness engulfing my tired and exhausted mind before I even hit the floor.