Disclaimer: *waves fist angrily* Stop taunting my lack of ownership over FF8. Grr.

****

"Quistis? Quists? Can you hear me?" Shaking her head, Quistis found herself looking into the face of a very concerned Selphie. She smiled apologetically, although she wasn't quite sure what she was apologizing for.

She wasn't quite sure where she was for that matter. Or what she was doing.

"Quistis, are you sure you're okay?" Selphie asked, as she continued to search Quistis' face for answers.

"I'm fine, I… I just faded out, that's all," came the reply. Frowning, but making no further comment, Selphie dropped the matter.

"So, do you think yellow is a good color? I mean, it's not exactly something that you'd see much at weddings, I know, but who…" Her voiced trailed off as Quistis tried to grasp a hold on what she was saying. Confused, she watched as Selphie continued talking, but her words seemed to carry no sound as they escaped her.

What… What's happening? Panic started to well within her. She couldn't be here, sitting with Selphie. She had a mission with… with… that blasted man. What was his name? Oh, she knew it, she knew she did! What was she missing? Dizzy, she stood, grasping the edge of the table that hadn't been there a moment before. I don't understand. What's going on? Everything around her started to spin, mingling and merging until she could pick out nothing.

Help me… Someone….

Her request went unheard, and silently, Quistis wept, her panic fading to be replaced by a sadness that she was so familiar with, and one that she accepted. After all, no one had heard her before. No one ever heard.

****

Seifer frowned at Quistis' pale face as she lay on the flowerily pillow, her form, tall as it was, almost enveloped completely by the large quilt blanket. Almost cautiously, he prodded her shoulder gently with one finger, as if to see she would jump up and scream at him for distracting her from her sleep. Not that it seemed like a very restful sleep. Holding on to the edge of the blanket tightly, Seifer could've sworn she thought she was hanging on for dear life.

Lifting a brow in thought, he continued to study her. She was definitely paler, he had concluded a few moments before, and thinner as well. And when- his eyes narrowed as he lifted her arm and pulled up the sleeve- did she get this scar? Hissing softly, he examined the scar across her wrist, his eyes becoming more and more like slits as he lifted her other arm to find an almost identical mark. He would never have spotted it them if the healer hadn't changed Quistis into what she called "comfies". Seeing as how Quistis was taller than almost all the women in this blasted village, it was natural for the outfit to be more than a few inches shorter. At the moment, he was glad that Quistis was a tall woman.

Releasing her arms back to their positions, Seifer decided that Quistis owed much more than an explanation for the lost reports. And he was determined to get it out of her.

Sparing one last glance her still figure, he turned and had intended to make his way for the door when Quistis voice stopped him in his steps.

"… Let me… let me… " Her voice began to trail off, her words beginning to become incoherent. Seifer struggled to catchthe next word before it became murmurs.

"…. die… "

****

She surfaced slowly, her mind hazy and her sight fogged. It took a few moments for her to register that she was indeed still alive, a bitter disappointment to her, and that she was in a warm bed, with a warm blanket. Blinking, she moved her head slowly, feeling as if she was moving seven tons inside of whatever lesser amount her skull actually weighed.

Okay, she was in a room. A very, very, happy room, she added, as she lifted an eyebrow at the perky flowers upon the nightstand and the light blue curtains shadowing a small window. Forcing herself to sit up, she waited for the room to stop swirling a bit before she turned her head at a slight shifting at her right.

And found herself looking up into a very calm looking Seifer. Frowning, she returned his stare, unwavering, although his eyes seemed so intense that she seemed to fall within the green of it. Were they always so green?

"Glad to see you're awake," Seifer said dryly, leaning against the wall in an almost haughty stance. "You chose a bad place to faint. Apparently, the whole village knows now about a tall, blonde woman who fell in a dead faint in their only inn." Quistis flinched at the image of chattering women and big, bold headlines. They really had to get out of here now. Their first week outside of Balamb and she had probably single-handedly foiled the entire mission. Wincing inwardly at the thought, Quistis lifted the blanket and placed unsteady feet upon the wooden ground.

Seifer lifted a brow. "You can walk, in your state?" Annoyance picked at her as she glared at the gray figure. If she wanted to walk, she'd damn well walk and whatever state she chose to walk in, was her choice. Determined, she lifted herself from the soft mattress and found satisfaction in her ability to stand. Confident, she took a step forward.

And found herself in a dizzy vortex of colors as her head began to spin, once again, and she started to fall backwards. Taking that step was a mistake. Landing in a soft mess of blankets, she waited for her vision to come back.

Shooting Quistis an 'i-told-you-so-look' as she looked back up, Seifer quenched the slight satisfaction he felt, and looked at her with the same intensity she had awoken to.

But before he could say what he intended to, a muffled scream followed by sounds of crashing and footsteps found their way to the room and Quistis could only blink as Seifer heaved her from the bed and practically drag her across the room to a door she hadn't noticed before. Pulling open the door, he shoved her inside.

Without a word, he closed the door and Quistis heard a soft click before Seifer's footsteps retreated and became mingled with the others.

****

A/N: Ahaha. That wasn't a cliffhanger. Of course not. I wouldn't do that to my faithful reviewers. *smiles innocently*

Anyways, this is where my story finally picks up pace and yes, we will go to Rinoa and Irvine, and yes we will get to them soon. If they haven't annoyed each other to death yet.

Next chapter: Seifer, being the smart SeeD he is (not to mention hot), has already expected something like this. What will he do now? Will Quistis ever get out of that damn room? And will we finally see some sparks fly? And maybe a little fluff?

*Listens to approaching footsteps of previous angry and aggravated reviewer* Mm…k… I'm pretty darn sure this means have to get back to writing. *Walks slowly towards open window*

Remember people, a healthy writer is better than one who smells like tomato and has a broken leg or… something. -.-;

R/R, guys.  You know I love those. ^.~