Chapter 4 Temper, Temper...

Author's note: Muahahaha... I'm evil. I love making Squall scream!

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The whole house was in an uproar the following morning. Ellone flew into Squall's rooms in alarm after hearing a particularly loud crash. "Squall! What's going on?!" She demanded sharply and the man glared at her. "This maid," he jabbed a finger in the direction of a terrified looking housekeeper; "Couldn't find my briefcase! Dammit, the meeting's today and I-need-that-damn-briefcase!" he snarled and continued to turn his rooms upside down. Ellone frowned at the quaking maid. "Rikku, are you sure you didn't find the briefcase?"

"No, Madame," Rikku wailed. "I didn't see Master bring it back - "

"That's it!' Squall slammed his fist on his desk. "Have the car ready! I'm going out!"

"Yes Master!" Rikku squeaked and fled out of the room. Ellone sighed. Whenever Squall bared his fangs it was best to keep away. Far away.

"What are you looking at?!" He growled and Ellone jumped. And that includes her! "Nothing dear, best of luck." She quickly walked out. He stared at the spot she once occupied. "I'm gonna need it for sure..."

"You did WHAT?!"

"Raijin, stop yelling in my ear..."

"Why should I?" Raijin was scratching his head furiously. "You're telling me you lost the briefcase and I'm supposed to keep calm? My patience has it's limits, y'know!"

"Can't you get a new report printed?" Squall rubbed his temples, sighing. He was at his wits end. He was sure he took it back home, but it wasn't there, and neither was it at his office... he couldn't imagine where the hell could it be... the meeting would begin soon, and he was going to be in hot water.

"Printing is half the work, y'know." Raijin sighed. "I need them verified and sent here, and we only have an hour." He tapped the face of his watch. "Which I don't think we can, y'know."

"Just try anything!" He snapped, edgy. Raijin shrugged and turned to dial his office.

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Quistis quietly tiptoed through the back door of the restaurant. She wasn't supposed to be here, but she had forgotten her coat yesterday when she left, and the weather threatened to be very chilly soon. Only the cook, Mrs. Kadowaki was there, surveying the breakfast buffet table. After snatching the coat of the peg she proceeded to rush out of the front doors, mentally calculating the distance between there and college. "Stop!" Mrs. Kadowaki barked and Quistis froze in the act of opening the front doors. Oops... she should have used the back doors, she thought in panic. Mrs. Kadowaki was a stern woman, and that tone always made her feel like she stole the Crown Jewels. "Where are you going?" Mrs. Kadowaki stood in front of Quistis, who cowered. "Uh... class?" The ventured tentatively. Mrs. Kadowaki eyed her sternly. "And where is that?" She demanded. Sheeh, it's like I delivered the wrong dish to the wrong table. "Um... West Station?" answered Quistis, wondering where this interrogation was headed. But Mrs. Kadowaki seemed satisfied. She handed Quistis a black briefcase and Quistis looked at it stupidly.

"Stop by at number 7, East Esthar, will you?"

Quistis stared at the briefcase and quickly worked out how late she would be - a good ten minutes if she was lucky. But Mrs. Kadowaki was not to be put off. She had already opened the door for Quistis. 'Quickly now, it looks important. The man must be missing his papers."

Geez, it could be divorce papers for all I care, Quistis thought angrily as she plunged her arms into her coat. I could be doing the poor sod a favor by throwing it in the rubbish dump. Not to mention the load of trouble she would be in if she was late... how come these things weren't described in her job description?!

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"Any luck?" Raijin peered at Squall, who was pacing faster now. It was making the man dizzy just watching him. Squall frowned as a boy came to the door. He spoke rapidly with Squall and the latter shook his head and scowled. "Damn!"

"What?" Raijin sighed, looking at the clock. Half an hour to go... Garden's future was at hand here. He couldn't believe Squall could have 'misplaced' the briefcase - he never so much as misplaced his hair before! Of course, it would kill him to have this little mistake rubbed in - this meeting could prove to be the turning point for Garden. All these years, garden was a part of a group of companies, always in the shadows, even though it made more money than the other companies could put together! Squall wanted to prove that they could stand as an independent company, and it would take a hell lot of convincing on his part today - but not without the BRIEFCASE.

Squall scowled harder. "I thought I would have left it at the restaurant we went for lunch, but it's not there..."

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Rikku the chambermaid flitted in and out of the rooms, carefully dusting the ornaments and frames and humming happily to herself. No matter how angry her master was this morning, he wasn't home and probably would have found the silly briefcase by now. Holding the duster in hand, she trooped down the staircase and was making her way to a bronze statue of an eight- legged horse when she saw Martine speaking to someone at the front door. Strange... Martine isn't the kind to entertain salesmen... feeling decidedly curious, she approached the butler. Perhaps it's one of Master's admirers asking if they could see him...

"...I'm sorry miss, but the master is not present." Martine was saying sternly. "Perhaps I can take it for him - "

"No! I want to see Mr. Leonhart! If I don't then this bag isn't." The visitor yelped and clutched a black briefcase to her person.

Rikku had been eyeing the briefcase with interest and at the mention of her Master's name, jumped. "Hoee... is that Master' briefcase?!" She breathed and elbowed past Martine, making the poor man stumble in confusion. Quistis too stared at her like it was nuts. Rikku was jumping up and down now, wringing her hands in distress. "Oh... oh... but it's too late!" She burst out, wailing. "Master has gone to work, and-and-and..." She spoke something in a foreign tongue to Martine and the man nodded, understanding.

Martine was looking at Quistis closely. "Miss, I know it is too much to ask, but I must ask you to send this briefcase to Master Leonhart immediately." He breathed urgently, clutching the shoulders of a very startled Quistis. "Who... me??" she squeaked bewilderedly.

"Yes, you." Martine stared right into her eyes, his wizened face gleaming with excitement. "This briefcase means life and death to him, and I beg you, please."

"Uh..." Quistis was at a loss. She was irritated at first by the sudden change in plans, but after a while she realized other people's matters are just as important - especially when it's up to her. "Where is he?"

"Midgar Tower, across the Red Pipe." He said and Rikku was smiling now, her eyes shining with hope. "Please, miss."

Quistis heaved a sigh. Midgar Tower was wayyyyy across town - she might as well skip her morning class if this is the case.

"Alright."

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Rinoa entered the tower and looked around in confusion. One of her friends had called her and asked to meet her here, at Midgar Tower, but she couldn't remember which floor...

"Excuse me," Rinoa came up to the receptionist and listened to the rumble of thunder outside. Oh no... she'd better find her fast - or she'll be stuck in the rain! "I wonder if you can tell me where Miss Xu's office is - "

"Excuse me!" Rinoa was stunned when a golden-haired girl ran up to the counter, looking harassed. "Is Mr. Leonhart here?"

The receptionist couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or amused. "Yes, but he's in a meeting - "

"I don't care if he's in hell." The girl was saying, rather hurriedly. "I need this briefcase delivered to him now! Interrupt him if you have to - I'm sure he'll be grateful." She looked desperate, and she was already half- drenched from the rain.

The receptionist was clearly annoyed now. "I'm sorry, but I told you, Mr. Leonhart is in a meeting."

"That's alright." Rinoa said suddenly and took the briefcase, smiling at the girl. "I'll take it on my way up. I'm sure this briefacse is important." She smiled to the receptionist and the woman quickly simmered down. "Of course. Miss Xu is on the nineteenth floor, and Mr. Leonhart is on the seventh." She kindly gave the directions and shot the blonde a dirty look, which she kindly gave back. "Thank you." She said breathlessly at Rinoa and Rinoa laughed. "No problem! I'll tell him you delivered... what's your name?"

"Never mind." She said quickly and smiled at Rinoa. "Thank you again so much!"

"Mr. Leonhart, the board has agreed to give you a ten-minute delay." The tight-lipped secretary duly informed him and he nodded tersely. They sure have time to make me suffer, he thought blandly. Raijin was on the phone, yelling furiously at his workers to get the reports over, verified or not. But he knew, there was a slim chance of it...

He flopped down on the sofa and pressed his palm to his forehead. Sis... I'm so sorry... He wondered how his sister would react when he gets home today; she probably would hug him and tell him everything will be fine, that it didn't matter if they continued to be suppressed by those old misers up at the board. But he had planned so long for this - it was as much as his dream as it was hers. Outside, thunder rolled and the first signs of a downpour began.

"It's no good, Squall." Raijin breathed heavily as he slammed the phone back on its cradle. "I can't make it."

"..." Squall sighed and looked at his watch. Five more minutes... before he would have to face up to the board and bear the humiliation...

The door slid open and a raven-haired girl came into the room, looking around. Squall eyed her for a moment, frowning. She looks familiar... where has he seen her... "You!" he said suddenly and the girl turned towards him. She too looked surprised and clutched her briefcase to her chest -

The briefcase!!

With a cry Squall shot up and grabbed the briefcase. 'Where did you get this?!" He said hoarsely and riffed through its contents. All there. He shot her a grateful look and flashed a thumbs-up signal to Raijin, who was mopping his brow. "Thank Hyne..."

"I was downstairs and a girl - "

Squall didn't give her time to elaborate because he was already striding to the room. As he walked down the corridor, he chanced to looked out of the window into the gloomy world outside - and saw a figure dashing out of the building despite the heavy rain and at that precise moment, she turned around and shielded her eyes as she looked up.

Quistis looked up at the soaring facade, and she wondered; if she was in time to save whoever it was that owned the briefcase. For she knew what it was like to be thrown into despair - and saved by a total stranger. "Hope my trouble's worth your while, Mr. Leonhart!" She shouted through the rain, though she seriously doubted he could hear her.

What was she saying? Squall squinted to see better, but she had turned away and soon disappeared from view. Something about the woman nagged at him, but he didn't give much thought to it because the boardroom door had opened, and seven expectant faces were staring right at him.

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The level of noise at Esthar Institution of Art was... short of pandemonium. Laughter, yells, grunts... you name every offensive and non- offensive sound and it's here. But it suited this week's assignment - they were supposed to interpret 'noise' into art. Yet Quistis had a feeling her sculpture was going horribly wrong. Her concentration was awry, thanks to the sneezes she had developed after the run-in with the rain yesterday - she couldn't afford to miss another class after what happened. She briefly wondered about the briefcase, and quickly pushed the thoughts away.

Sneaking a peek at the pizza-faced guy sitting across her, she regarded his sculpture with a degree of interest and amusement. He had titled his work 'explosion'; which looked suspiciously like a bunch of fluorescent tiddly- winks attached to similar colored sticks and glued into distorted positions. She idly wondered if he was doing the level of noise in the room anyway - it seems so to her.

"Well, well, and what is this, Miss Trepe?" A sneering voice breathed too close for comfort and Quistis swung around to face her professor - a middle- aged woman with a build like an elephant and a character like a vulture. Quistis really felt like strangling her - if she could find the neck first! "Mrs. Brahne." She said icily and gave her sculpture another jab. Mrs. Brahne gave another sneer, eyeing her sculpture. "I would like to remind you that your last entry... 'Diminutive Speech' is very... mundane." Drawled The Elephant. Quistis kept silent. Hyne, how much longer could her patience endure...

"Also, I must remind you about the manner you were accepted into this school..." Her eyes flashed as Quistis stiffened. It was true, she arrived a week later than other undergraduates and did not carry an entry piece - which was supposed to be compulsory. But the board had agreed that her marks in her last examinations spoke for themselves, and they had studied her past works as well, so she had been given a waiver. But The Elephant wasn't going to let her off easily. "I have a different idea on your entry 'piece'... though I wouldn't consider a village girl like you to consider... open services now, do we?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper, but Quistis heard it quite well. And her anger told her she understood as well.

She glared at The Elephant and jabbed at her sculpture and hissed angrily; "Do you know what this is?! It's 'Silence'. But I think I have a better interpretation for it!" She swung her arm back and brought it down hard across The Elephant's flabby cheeks.

The loud crack brought total silence to the room. Quistis nodded in satisfaction as she surveyed Mrs. Brahne's outraged face. "I quit. Oh, and did I fail that interpretation too?" She asked sweetly before swinging her bag over her shoulder and storming out of the room.

Author's note: In case you're wondering, the cameo characters from other Final Fantasies are exactly like they are, so you can picture Quistis slapping Brahne's pugsy face! Muahahahah!!!! Reviews please, much appreciated!