(Disclaimer: I haven't written in so long! Someone told me Fujjin seemed out of character. Not sure how, but I didn't intend for her to. She's changed, after all, cause she's been around Selphie a lot, so that might explain a few things {or it should} Anyways, hope you like this!)

The Night the Music Stopped

The evening was nearing. Just within the last hour, word has spread around about Fujjin's child. Selphie and Seifer had returned to Balamb, but Seifer hadn't much to say. He hadn't seen it, and remained quiet. Selphie was a blabbermouth, as usual.

"She was soo cute," she would tell them. She bragged about how only she saw it, and Seifer was asleep. She dare didn't say that while he was around, though. She didn't want to hurt his feelings.

Zell had finally met up with her. He hadn't seen her in the last day, and embraced her tightly. She quickly returned the hug.

"Hey, Selphie," he said, then grinned. "Did the baby look anything like Seifer?"

Selphie giggled. "I hope not. It was a girl."

"So, does she look like Fujjin?"

"Well, she has ash-blonde hair and large green eyes, so she has both Fujjin and Seifer's qualities."

"Not Seifer's mischief, I hope," Zell smirked.

"Let's hope not," Selphie reminded him, "because Fujjin was in the Disipline Committee for some time, too."

Within moments, Zell's smile had faded. "I'm glad you came back."

Selphie smiled sweetly. "Aww, you were worried about me."

"Well, I was worried about you," he told her, "but I'm also worried about Rinoa."

Selphie's eyes widened. "Did something happen to her?"

"More like I'm afraid something will happen. Since you've been gone, Raiun's been following her around."

"But I thought she told him off."

"She did, and so did Squall. He's just hiding from Squall, but he's watching Rinoa from a distance."

Selphie crossed her arms, and shifted her weight to one side. She gave a cocky grin. "Come on, do you really think that Squall will let that creep do anything to her?"

"A creep he is, which means he can creep around right under our noses."

"Well," Selphie informed, "Squall's been going to the Training Room in the evenings to get stronger to protect Rinoa, and he'd kill anyone if he had to save her."

Zell sighed, becoming a bit discouraged. Why didn't anyone but him find Raiun a threat?

Selphie left him to hang around in the Quad, telling stories about Fujjin's girl. Zell went immediatly to Quistis, who was in the Teacher's Lounge down the hall from her Homeroom. The door was shut, so he lightly knocked. He looked around warily to see if anyone had followed him. Quistis opened the door to him.

"Zell? It's a little late, don't you think?" She had only opened the door half way, peeking her head out.

"May I come in, Instructor? It's a little urgent."

She opened the door all the way, standing in her pajama tank, shorts, and a loose-fitted robe. "Well, I'm not exactly dressed for the occasion," she told him, "but come on in."

He stepped through, and she closed the door after him. He sat down on one of the sofas lined against the wall. Quistis tightened her robe, then sat across from him. She looked over to the kettle. "Coffee?"

He shook his head. "No, thanks. I've already had a difficult enough time sleeping, and coffee wouldn't help."

Quistis sipped coffee from her mug, then put it down on the small table near her. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, I know you won't believe me," he started slowly, "but I believe Raiun is a bad kid."

Quistis's eyes widened. "I don't see where you get that from, because I have yet to see him do anything wrong--"

"I knew it," Zell muttered.

"--he's well-mannered," Quistis continued, "nice, sweet, and shy, so I don't see how he can cause any trouble. Cid's ready to appoint him as a new instructor, seeing he did so well when I scored him."

Zell gasped. "You're not serious!"

Quistis nodded. "Why, I believe he has every qualification to be an instructor. I mean, come on, Zell. He was able to calm Seifer down and keep him quiet. I've been teaching for almost three years, and I even baby-sat him in the orphange when Matron was busy, and I still couldn't get him to stay quiet. He taught one time, and Seifer didn't speak out but once, and that was quickly settled."

Zell rolled his eyes, getting frustrated. "Didn't Squall or Rinoa tell you about what happened outside of school yesterday?"

Quistis blinked. "Something concerning Raiun?"

"Yeah. Rinoa was standing out on the platform, and Raiun tried to get all close to her and convince her to break from Squall. He's done that ever since he saw her, because Squall was in Deling City, and Raiun tried to make it sound like Squall was deserting her for someone else," Zell finished. His voice had cracked a bit because his pitch in voice had gotten higher when his tone got louder.

"Well," Quistis replied, "Raiun didn't try to start any violence or argument--"

"Inconsiderate bastard," Zell interruped.

"Zell Dincht!"

"That's what Raiun called Squall. Squall came back to Balamb and met up with Rinoa moments later, and Raiun was still at her side. Raiun was saying what an inconsiderate bastard Squall was for leaving Rinoa like that."

"And Squall hit him?"

Zell smirked. "No, Rinoa did. Squall didn't even have to touch him, because Rinoa was able to take up for herself."

"So, even if he was doing something bad, you don't think that could've been a warning for him to leave her alone? You said it yourself; she can take up for herself."

"But he's been stalking her!"

"Or have you just been assuming that?"

"Dammit Quistis!"

Quistis stood, infuriated. "Zell!"

"I'm so fricking tired of people telling me I'm wrong!" He stood up, inches from her face. "I know that something's wrong with the guy! No one ever listens to poor little chicken-wuss! Well, you can all go to hell!"

Quistis's face was a deep scarlet. She opened her mouth to say something, but then listened. The radio that was softly humming on her desk had picked up loud static, and then suddenly died. The lights flickered, and both of them were quiet. They watched and listened. The lights shut off completely. For a few seconds, there was darkness, and then the auxillary lights kicked in. The dim red lights hardly lighted the halls and rooms.

"Odd," Quistis said in a loud whisper. She looked to Zell. "Just a power failure."

"How often does that happen?" Zell questioned her.

Quistis groaned. "Are you blaming this on Raiun, too?"

Zell turned from her, and left the room. "Only one way to find out," and he slammed the door shut as he left.

(Dum dee dum dum!)