Hey! I Could Be A Messenger From Hyne, Ya Know!-
A Misadventurous Romance Story
Chapter Nine-You Malignant Sod!
AN~Hey-lo, all! I'm just kicking back and listening to 'Where I Belong' from the FF8 soundtrack and thinking up new plot twists. I do regret to inform everyone that because of the way this plotline is going, the humor is slowly but surely going to fade out of this, I think. I'll try to keep some funny things in, but it just won't be as humorous as parts 1-7. *cries* I'M REALLY, REALLY, SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anywhosen, some stuff is answered in this part. Erm, yeah. ~tigerofthewind~*is grumbling about the crappy turn her fics have taken*
We found him a week later, just outside the gates of Esthar Garden. Well, I found him, at any rate. It had happened when I was going out to do some monster hunting, because a few random Mesmerizes were creeping into Garden, and I was going to take care of them. I was walking out of Garden with my Strange Vision slung over my shoulder and thinking about what I should junction to my elemental attack when I came across him slumped against the gate.
More like, TRIPPED over him slumped across the gate, but he could have tripped me intentionally and broken a limb or two and I wouldn't have cared, because at least he was back.
"Hey, you---"I stopped in midsentence, my eyes widening. He'd looked like he'd been through Nemeris and back again, with his clothes ripped and his arms and legs and face all bloodied.
Allanna(who hadn't spoken to me since our talk about the underworld, by the way) got one look at her son and screamed. And I screamed with her.
'HYPERION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
And aloud, I cried the same thing."HYPERION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Dropping to my knees beside him, I put an ear to his chest and listened. Okay, he was still alive. But from the shallow rasp that was his breathing and from the blood that seemed to be collecting everywhere, I knew it wouldn't be for very much longer.
Just as I was about to haul him over my shoulder and start for Garden, Seifer coughed a little and his eyes opened."D-Damn, T- Til.......mitt..............dunno have........"He coughed, and I recoiled at the sight of the blood that came up with it, trickling down his chin."..........dunno have to........shout............."
"Quiet, don't talk,"I said, trying to be comforting but in actuality letting slip how scared I really was. Panic isn't something that you can easily hide.
"You............you c-called me...............Hyperion..................."Even at the very brink of death, he could still put that wary, suspicious look in his eyes. It was like having a dead man glare at you."W-Why...............? O-Only........I know.........th-that name.............."
Well, it wasn't quite true. From the letters on the side of his gunblade, anyone could tell that the thing was named Hyperion. Then again, they didn't exactly know that it was the name of it's wielder, as well. But that wasn't exactly the most important thing to deal with now, was it?
"It doesn't matter,"I hushed him, wondering if I should run for help instead. I knew that someone of my tiny stature couldn't carry someone as tall as him, lean though he was. I stood up to leave, and he grabbed my wrist with a strength that was surprising, considering the fact that he was dying in front of my very eyes.
"D-Don't......"Another cough, and more blood. I wondered what in Hyne's name had happened to him. And in my head, Allanna's panic mirrored my own."........D-Don't..............leave me.................."
If the situation hadn't been so precarious(a.k.a., he was DYING!!!!!!!!), then I probably would have wondered, and maybe even laughed a little, at that. But seeing as how he wasn't going to live very long without some help, I barely took any notice of it.
"Oh, Hyne,"I breathed, feeling tears of panic and frustration and pain fill my eyes."I've gotta go, and get some help!"The next part slipped out, even though I'd meant to keep the little fact hidden from him---"If I don't get help, you'll DIE!"
Seifer didn't look surprised, only haggard. Only haggard."Issss..........s'okay..........."he managed."I'm.......just..........p-pissed because..........those......worthless pieces...........of Grendel.............sh-shit......."
"D-Damn!"he started again."They.........tr-tried to...........k-kill me..............."
Dropping everything for a minute, I turned to stare at him."Who tried to kill you?! Who'd want to?!"
"Galbadia!"he choked hoarsely, before falling forward onto the pavement."A-Ambush.................."
'Hyperion!!!!!!!'Allanna shrieked, and I hastened to make her quiet. I couldn't concentrate on what to do if she was wailing like a harpy in the back of my mind.
"Oh, man!"I shouted aloud, hopping from one foot to the other like the pavement was on fire. I couldn't carry him back to Garden, and by the time I went for help and got back again, who knows?! Plus there were those Mesmerizes around.......
I got an idea."Float!"I cried, spinning my nunchaku around. The angel wings that were vaguely similar to my Rapture spell attached themselves to Seifer's back and hauled him upright. I had to admit, he looked worse for the wear. I couldn't find a single spot on him that wasn't torn or bloodied. I wondered; what had Galbadia done to him to beat him up this bad? It looked like bladework, but then there had to have been at least ten soldiers ganging up on him at once! Why had Galbadia done this?!
Getting one arm under his shoulders to pull him along, I carried Seifer up to the Garden directory, where Headmaster Chanton and(oh, thank Hyne!) Doctor Padant were deep in discussion. At the sight of me and their commander, Headmaster Chanton's eyes popped open in shock, and Doctor Padant dropped her clipboard and hurried over.
"Tilmitt, what happened?!"she demanded, helping me lower Seifer to the ground."I doubt a Mesmerize could have done this to him!"
"No, he said it was Galbadia,"I answered, watching as she checked him over."Something about an ambush, and how they tried to kill him."
"Yes, yes,"she muttered, distracted."These are the mark of Galbadian blades. We've got to get him to the infirmary, quickly!"
I cast another Float and helped Doctor Padant haul Seifer along to the infirmary, Headmaster Chanton on our heels. On impulse, I also cast a Regen spell on him, something I hadn't thought of earlier. Settling him into the biggest bed in the infirmary, I breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the room.
Headmaster Chanton was pacing in front of Doctor Padant's desk, his hands clapsed behind his back and a worried expression on his face. Doctor Padant herself was muttering incoherently and gathering up all sorts of supplies from her cabinents.
"Tilmitt!"she barked, and I hurried over.
"Yes, ma'am?"I asked, and saluted hurriedly. Doctor Padant had been known to have a quick tongue and an even quicker temper. She gestured towards the bed.
"I'm going to need your help. All these wounds need bandaging, but I'm afraid even the commander won't be able to live without more help than that. I want you to stand there and cast Regen at my behest; don't cast a single spell until I say so, or I'll have your hide. Got it?!"
"Right!"I nodded, wanting to help as much as she.
We worked late into the night; even Headmaster Chanton had gone off to bed by the time we were done. Thankfully, due to the Mesmerize plague, students were restricted to their dorms by 17:00 hours, so no one had seen what had happened, thank Hyne. The last thing we needed was students standing at the door pestering us with useless questions. It was taking all of our concentration on this alone.
"Tilmitt, Cure, there!"Doctor Padant pointed to a shallow gash across Seifer's chest; almost wearily, I cast a Cure spell on it. It had been going like that for some time; her shouting orders, and me following them in a sort of half-concious state.
Finally, after what had seemed like an eternity, Doctor Padant stood up, stretching out back and cracking her knuckles."Phew! One more Regen should do it for him, Tilmitt, then you can head back to your room."
Casting the Regen, I hadn't realized how tired I was until it was all over and done with."Doctor, can I---that is to say, would you mind if I stayed with him for the night? Just in case something happens---"
"Alright, Tilmitt, no need for a speech,"the doctor cut me off, waving a hand at me dismissively."Just don't do anything to bother my patient, or I'll have you tossed out and fed to the Malboros!"
"Yes, ma'am."Of course! By now, I was heartily sick of the creatures. Gathering up some blankets, I made up a bed on the floor. I'd had a lot to think about, considering everything that had transpired today.
For example, where was it Seifer had gone? And without telling anyone? Plus, why would Galbadia even THINK of attacking him?! Were they HOPING to start another war? An unprecedented attack on their Garden's commander would surely make Esthar take some sort of retaliation action!
Phew, I shuddered to think of how much Seifer'd been through. I mean, if the attack took place in Galbadia, then that meant that he had to come all the way across the HORIZON BRIDGE just to get where he was! Not to mention all the monsters that were crawling all over the plains! Nasty business, this was. When he woke up tomorrow morning, I'd have to get him to tell me everything.
Something pushed irritably against my mind, not allowing me to fall asleep just yet. Blinking unfocusedly, I crossed my eyes inadvertantly.
'Bella............'Allanna's tone was mournful.'I am sorry. I should not have yelled at you so.'
'Mfft, it's okay,'I replied, something close to a mental grunt escaping my lips.'I shouldn't have kept poking at you to talk about the Place Between the Worlds.'
'Well, there are more important things at stake, now.'She was just as eager to forget our fight as I was. I mean, I liked Allanna. She creeped me out at first, but she wasn't so bad to have around.
'Yeah, there are. Tomorrow I'll find out exactly what ha---'
I was still thinking to myself when I fell asleep.
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Something was poking me. I mean, who pokes someone when they're asleep?! Unless of course they wanted to wake them up--
Hey, was I asleep? WoW, I guess being asleep isn't exactly something you think about WHEN you're asleep. Weird! But maybe I was like........half- asleep and half-awake, ya know? Like when you fall asleep in class, but you can still hear noises going on in the background? But you can't exactly move or anything? That's kinda like what this was now.
OKAY, not the problem! Back to the original crisis! SOMEONE was poking me, and they'd better stop it!
"Hey, come on! Hyne, Tilmitt, you sleep like a fucking log! I'M the one who got messed up, and you're the one taking the vacation!"
"Commander, perhaps you should take it---"
"Hell, no! I'm tired of takin' it easy! Look, somebody get Tilmitt up before I get drastic and start pokin' holes in her with the Hyperion! I'll do it, I'm warnin' ya!"
Well, sheesh. Someone sure was belligerent this early in the morning, hunh? Hey, wait!
I retaliated quite viciously when something sharp nicked my collarbone."MFFT!!!!!"I gave the loudest possible grunt imaginable and flailed my legs up, kicking what clearly had to be the user of that sharp object. So the series of sounds went as such---poke, 'MFFT!!!!!!', THWACK!. I suppose anyone not being poked or kicked must've found the scene quite amusing.
Still grumbling to myself, I opened my eyes to:"Ow! Fuck! Shit!" and the sight of Seifer leaning over me, one hand up to his face. I was pleased to note that aside from his trademark scar, there was no other marks on him. Doctor Padant and I did a kick-ass job. Which of course reminded me that I just kicked a man who nearly died.
But no one, I repeat, NO ONE pokes me and gets away with it."Ah, shaddup!"I muttered, and hauled myself upright. Those hours of sleeping on the floor sure had left their toll. My back hurt, my neck hurt, my arms hurt, and dammit, my collarbone hurt from that damn scratch from the Hyperion.
I rolled my head around on my shoulders, trying to ease the aching in my neck."Question---what're you playing at, poking me so early in the morning?"
Seifer shrugged, taking his hand away from his face. The bruise I'd given him a week ago had faded, but it was still noticeable."Dunno, you weren't getting up. I thought you died or something."He caught my glance at the bruise on his eye."Tried to tell Doctor Padant that I'd gotten it from those Galbadian assholes, but she didn't believe me. I guess it was too old- lookin' to pass for something I'd just gotten done."
I took a look at him. The bandages Doc Padant and I had wrapped so carefully around him were gone, but I could see that he still hadn't had the decency to put a shirt on, either. Hmph! Aside from a few bruises that made him look more battered than what he was, he looked as onery and vexating as ever. But Hyne, he was alive! I mean, hello?! He was actually ALIVE!
"You're okay!"I shouted happily, launching myself at him and throwing my arms around him, ignoring the fact that my legs were still quite tangled up in my blankets on the floor. He gave me a look of utmost surprise, then laughed a little and returned my hug.
Allanna's exultation soaring through my mind was only a little more than my own.
"You malignant SOD!"I shouted, beating him wearily with my fists and ignoring the tears of relief that were streaming down my face."You had us all worried SICK! You're positively EVIL, and don't be surprised if I never talk to you again!!!"
"I don't think Hyne likes me enough for that,"he murmured in my ear, and we both laughed. We were back on the old footing again---hate.
Disentangling myself from him, I only became more tangled in my blankets, and fell to the floor with a thump. I tried to ignore the pounding of my heart. I mean, I'd never hugged a shirtless guy before, not even Irvy. Blech! Guys were too complicated! I'll think I'll just become a nun.
"You've gotta get back to your classes, Tilmitt,"Seifer was saying, getting up and kicking stuff around in the vain attempt to find a shirt."You've been asleep for two days now, so don't expect any pay or anything."
Mfft. The pay here sucks, anyway.
I began folding up my blankets and putting them away, watching in quiet amusement as Seifer went around destroying the things I'd just worked so hard to organize."Well, later. Tee-hee!"
I smiled and waved cheerily, then went on my way. Behind me, I heard a loud BANG! and the Beast bellowed:"PADANT!!!!!!!!!! WHERE'RE ALL MY FUCKING SHIRTS?!?!"
Had to hand it to him. Even being only a few days out of his deathbed, Seifer Almasy could still bellow louder than anyone I'd met.
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Oh, Hyne. A rumor had gotten out about what had transpired over the past couple of days. Between kids telling stories about how their commander battled a fifty-foot octopus monster to how a group of street whores(this one surprised me, Branton had started it) ganged up on him for short- changing them were spreading all over Garden like wildfire. Myself, I still had classes and the Mesmerize attacks to deal with(blasted things, I was starting to hate them almost as much as Malboros), so I generally ignored them. I'd gone back to using my Strange Vision as a means to deter note- passing, and I'd still had all those classes to teach.
Which of course reminded me that I was supposed to have started gunblade training with Seifer before he'd left, and made me wonder if he'd forgotten. The first night since I'd seen him out of bed, he hadn't come to his dorm that night. I fretted for a bit, then discovered that he'd just spent the night getting things straightened out in his office. I wondered if his receptionists had 'helped' him with that one.
Then again, THAT wasn't something I wanted to think about.
'You are weary, Bella,'came Allanna's voice, after my classes were over and I was trying to get ahead of all the grading that had piled up on me. I considered just stamping A's on everything and going off to bed.'You must rest.'
'I can't!'I informed her, for the fiftieth time.'I'm already behind on all this stuff!'
'You and Hyperion,'she sighed.'You both do not know your own limitations.'Her tone grew mock threatening.'I will give you the hiccups, make you sneeze over and over again, or have you become thrown in a fit of convulsions if you do not sleep, Bella. You must promise me.'
I knew she would(and could), too. It certainly wouldn't have been the first time. Shaking my head, I conceded defeat.'Okay, okay. Just let me finish this paper, and I'll head back to my room.'
After I'd finished grading the junctioning report I'd been working on, I packed up my things and headed back to my dorm. Tossing my briefcase into a corner, I wearily stripped down into my flannel short-shorts and my tank top that made up my pajamas, and crawled into bed. The sheets had been freshly washed and ironed; I was in heaven. For once, Allanna had made a suggestion I was willing to agree with.
I was just nodding off when the door clicked openly more quietly than usual and Seifer appeared, looking a bit disheveled. The narrow rectangle of light vanished as he closed the door, but I could still make out his outline in the moonlight that was pouring through the window. Hardly bothering to supress a yawn, he shrugged off his overcoat(his traditional trenchcoat had been sent off to be mended, since it wasn't exactly in primo condition after the attack) and threw it into a corner.
This was something I had marveled at for a time. My tiny space in the room was spotless except for my clothes which I had dropped unceremoniously on the floor. But the rest of the room, which undoubtedly belonged to Seifer, was a total mess. I mean, it was worse than IRVY'S dorm room, which was quite a feat. Papers, clothes, old food, and even something I took to be a car tire littered the floor, while various magazines and other clothes protruded out of the drawers. I didn't even want to guess what was in the closet; I had never opened it.
Well, no matter. Not being a neat freak myself, I could learn to live with it. But back to the present. Seifer glanced in my direction, then made his way across the room with much trepidation, clearly not wanting to wake me up. However, I heard a faint thud and a much louder curse as his foot hit something on the floor, and I couldn't hold back a giggle.
".......Tilmitt?"he asked hoarsely, and tried to fumble his way towards me. However, another protrusion on the floor made him curse again, and this time he tripped over his own feet and fell beside my bed, holding his ankle in both hands.
"Sir? Are you okay?"I asked, propping myself up on my elbows and looking down at him. I think he thought the moonlight must've hidden his grimace of pain.
"Yeah. Bashed my ankle."
"Well, the way this room is, BROKE it seems more likely,"I replied cheerfully enough, and managed to get my arms under him and hoist him up to my level."Jeez, why do I always gotta be the one to save you?"
Man, Seifer looked tired. From the moonlight, I could clearly see the shadows under his eyes and the two-day stubble crossing his jaw, not to mention the definite slump of his shoulders and the hanging of his head. I wondered if he'd gotten any sleep lately. I also wondered if the receptionists were to blame.
I think he meant to take ahold of my shoulder, but ending up smacking me in the nose with his hand instead."Ouch!"I cried, as quietly as I could. It was night out, ya know.
"Oh, shit!"He groped around, feeling at my face and rather ungracefully getting a finger up my nose before I grabbed his hand and held it in midair. There was silence for a time, until:"Hey, uh.......about that whole saving me thing. Thanks."It was spoken curtly, like he wasn't used to saying thank you for anything. Which I supposed was true."Doc Padant told me that, uh---that I woulda died if you hadn't came along and thought to cast Float on me and get me back inside Garden. And that, uh..........well, that whole stuff about you workin' into most of the night to make sure I didn't, uh, ya know, die or anything. She said that the next time I saw you, I should think before I say anything, because I owed you my life. I guess that's what I've been doing, thinking about stuff. That, and trying to get my office back into order and find the little shit that messed it up."
I laughed."It's okay,"I replied, then remembered something."You saved me from the Malboro, remember? So we're even."
Seifer shook his head."Training center, that day with Loire. We both would've been dead that day, too."
"Hmmm............"I frowned."Then you owe me BIG TIME! Booyaka!"
He shrugged."Fair enough."When he didn't move, and didn't say anything, I thought to venture on something that had been bothering me ever since he came back.
"Sir..........where did you GO? I mean, when you didn't come back..........."
Confusion replaced the ordinary mask that veiled his face."You got my letter, didn't you?"
I nodded."Yeah, but........well, it just didn't seem like you'd be gone THAT long. And when I found you in front of the gate, and you said that stuff about Galbadia and an ambush, well............."
I shifted awkwardly, and Seifer grinned."You were WORRIED about me!"
"It's just that no one knew what to do with you not around!"I defended, feeling my face turn red. I hoped the night would hide it."Everyone kept asking me, like I knew!"
"Ha ha ha...........you were worried about me."His face grew expressionless once again."I went off to run a little errand in Esthar, and stopped back in here for a few hours to drop off some stuff. It was after curfew; no one was out and I used my key at the gate. I went up to my office, then I left again. You see, something'd been bothering me. Even after Edea fell outta power, Galbadia hadn't really gone back to normal. It was just anarchy, and they couldn't see it yet, because of the even bigger problem with Adel and Ultimecia. They don't like Esthar, and sorceresses, and since Gardens kinda coincide with both of them, I knew things were gonna come to a head sooner or later. So, I went to try and stop that."
I frowned, but didn't interrupt. I just waited as patiently as I could for him to go on."Galbadia's got no president, you see, just some governer or mayor or something like that, some jackass named Powell. He wants to launch a direct assault on Esthar and it's Garden, because he thinks we're in league with some sorceress or something. ANOTHER one, like we didn't learn our lesson with Adel and Ultimecia."
I noticed that he said 'we'. I wondered about that. He kept going."So, I went to this guy's house(it's the old Presidential Residence, mind you), and he sicks all of his armed guards on me! Pah!"He just stopped himself from spitting on the floor in contempt."Worthless sons-of-bitches! They're planning to fire missiles right at us, without any warnin' at all! DAMMIT!!!!!!!"
I had to duck out of the way as his fist went whizzing into the wall. Straightening up with more than an immeasureable amount of fear, I caught his fist again as it hurled toward an unknown destination that was hopefully not me.
"Hey!"I said quietly, getting my face under him so that he was looking me in the eye."They haven't done anything yet, have they? It's been a week, maybe it was just an empty threat---"
"No way!"he muttered, yanking his wrist out of my grasp. Rubbing it thoughtfully, he regarded me with something, that if I hadn't known better, I would have said was akin to fear in his eyes."There's a whole bunch of puny kids here, though. They wouldn't really shoot at a bunch of kids, would they?"
I couldn't meet his eye.".........You did........"I answered softly, staring at my hands. We were sitting so close together, that I could actually feel him freeze.
"I did, didn't I? Well, no more. No MORE!"The last word was shouted most viciously; I recoiled a bit. Allanna, I'm certain, would have been thoroughly giving me the middle finger if she was actually alive to do it. As it went, she settled for mental curses and little twitches of my fingers, because I badmouthed her son.
"No more,"I agreed, put both my hands on his shoulders, and shook him gently."Come on, man! We'll stop it, don't worry! Heh, I stopped 'em last time, with Galbadia! We can do it, and if you won't, then I will."
That seemed to give him some of his old vigor back."All right. We'll kick some Galbadia ass!"
"But...........heeeey, I destroyed their missile base! Did they build another one?"
Seifer shook his head."Nope. From what I heard, they're planning on using an old abandoned one near Esthar. They're firing in a week. That doesn't give us a whole lotta time, Tilmitt."
"Duh!"I said, and made a dorky face at him."Tee-hee, I've been through the whole thing once before. Another go shouldn't be too hard."I frowned, already making plans."Okay, I don't wanna cut it as close as I did the last time, but we've gotta think things through, too. Three days?"
A slight narrowing of his eyes."Alright. Three days."
"Okie!"I punched the air excitedly. Whoo! BLOWING THINGS TO SMITHEREENS!!!!!!! I hadn't had this much fun in a long time!"Heeeeey..............."Something else nagged at me."How'd you find all this out, anyway?"
A shrug."They told me. Must've thought they were gonna kill me without a hitch; they didn't have any inhibitions about spilling out their whole plan before they threw those twenty guys at me."
TWENTY?! WHOOOOA! Doctor Padant and I had been pretty sure that there had only been fifteen, at the most! Sheesh! I guess everyone's favorite commander was stronger than we all thought. Which got me to thinking about something else.
"Sir.......how did you get BACK here?"
Another shrug, his favorite gesture besides the traditional middle finger."I jumped outta the window before those guys could whack on me real hard. Train was leavin' the station for FH just as I burst in, so I jumped from the platform into the cargo car, in the back. When I got to FH, I footed it across the rest of the Horizon Bridge and the Great Salt Lake. Somehow, I ended up back here."
MAN! He did all that?! Was that even POSSIBLE?! Doc Padant was right; it WAS a wonder he survived! I'd have to start calling him Miracle Man from now on, or something.
"Ack! You are one lucky fuck, ya know that?"I informed him, with all of my usual grace. He grunted.
"Enh. It's not luck, Tilmitt, it's SKILL."
"Well..........."I shifted again."............I guess it's okay that you didn't die, and stuff."
That grin again, the one that made me want to hit something(preferably him) as soon as I saw it."In other words, you're glad I'm all right."
"Yeah, okay, maybe,"I allowed grudgingly, and planted both of my sock- covered feet on his back, kicking him lightly to the floor."I'm goin' to bed."
Seifer did a bad job of smothering a yawn."Yeah, same."
"Heeeey,"I questioned again, just as he was flinging himself into his hammock with the utmost of ease."What'd ya do in Esthar, anyways?"
A laugh."You'll find out in the morning. Now quit pesterin' me and let me get some sleep. I've got work tomorrow."
That wasn't quite right."Erm.......so do I."
"Point. Ah, whatever! Fuck off, Tilmitt."
That made me giggle uncontrollably."In other words, 'good night'?"
Success! He laughed at it, too."Yep."
"Well, fuck off to you, too,"I replied, rolling over and arranging my covers around me."And I'll see in you the morning."
I had a lot of worries on my mind before I drifted off to sleep. The first one was clearly the threat about the missiles. The next one was my harried schedule, since I had no more free periods left to myself. The third was about Allanna, and her judgement day that was soon in coming. And finally, I fretted over stuff back at Balamb, and the transmission that I was supposed to have sent Squall and never did. Whoops.
My last thought before I drifted off to sleep was how badly I needed a vacation.
AN~W00T! This chapta is FINISHED! Crappy, but finished. The one thing I do credit myself for is the re-introduction of humor back into this part. Perhaps I can find a way to keep this thing both funny, humorous, and romantic(yes, I know you can't have three subjects if you use the word 'both') all at once. Perhaps. Anyways, let's keep going with those reviews! Make it to 150, and I'll give you a cookie! Tee-hee! R/R, everyone, and don't forget to boycott pork!!! ~tiger~
Chapter Nine-You Malignant Sod!
AN~Hey-lo, all! I'm just kicking back and listening to 'Where I Belong' from the FF8 soundtrack and thinking up new plot twists. I do regret to inform everyone that because of the way this plotline is going, the humor is slowly but surely going to fade out of this, I think. I'll try to keep some funny things in, but it just won't be as humorous as parts 1-7. *cries* I'M REALLY, REALLY, SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anywhosen, some stuff is answered in this part. Erm, yeah. ~tigerofthewind~*is grumbling about the crappy turn her fics have taken*
We found him a week later, just outside the gates of Esthar Garden. Well, I found him, at any rate. It had happened when I was going out to do some monster hunting, because a few random Mesmerizes were creeping into Garden, and I was going to take care of them. I was walking out of Garden with my Strange Vision slung over my shoulder and thinking about what I should junction to my elemental attack when I came across him slumped against the gate.
More like, TRIPPED over him slumped across the gate, but he could have tripped me intentionally and broken a limb or two and I wouldn't have cared, because at least he was back.
"Hey, you---"I stopped in midsentence, my eyes widening. He'd looked like he'd been through Nemeris and back again, with his clothes ripped and his arms and legs and face all bloodied.
Allanna(who hadn't spoken to me since our talk about the underworld, by the way) got one look at her son and screamed. And I screamed with her.
'HYPERION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
And aloud, I cried the same thing."HYPERION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Dropping to my knees beside him, I put an ear to his chest and listened. Okay, he was still alive. But from the shallow rasp that was his breathing and from the blood that seemed to be collecting everywhere, I knew it wouldn't be for very much longer.
Just as I was about to haul him over my shoulder and start for Garden, Seifer coughed a little and his eyes opened."D-Damn, T- Til.......mitt..............dunno have........"He coughed, and I recoiled at the sight of the blood that came up with it, trickling down his chin."..........dunno have to........shout............."
"Quiet, don't talk,"I said, trying to be comforting but in actuality letting slip how scared I really was. Panic isn't something that you can easily hide.
"You............you c-called me...............Hyperion..................."Even at the very brink of death, he could still put that wary, suspicious look in his eyes. It was like having a dead man glare at you."W-Why...............? O-Only........I know.........th-that name.............."
Well, it wasn't quite true. From the letters on the side of his gunblade, anyone could tell that the thing was named Hyperion. Then again, they didn't exactly know that it was the name of it's wielder, as well. But that wasn't exactly the most important thing to deal with now, was it?
"It doesn't matter,"I hushed him, wondering if I should run for help instead. I knew that someone of my tiny stature couldn't carry someone as tall as him, lean though he was. I stood up to leave, and he grabbed my wrist with a strength that was surprising, considering the fact that he was dying in front of my very eyes.
"D-Don't......"Another cough, and more blood. I wondered what in Hyne's name had happened to him. And in my head, Allanna's panic mirrored my own."........D-Don't..............leave me.................."
If the situation hadn't been so precarious(a.k.a., he was DYING!!!!!!!!), then I probably would have wondered, and maybe even laughed a little, at that. But seeing as how he wasn't going to live very long without some help, I barely took any notice of it.
"Oh, Hyne,"I breathed, feeling tears of panic and frustration and pain fill my eyes."I've gotta go, and get some help!"The next part slipped out, even though I'd meant to keep the little fact hidden from him---"If I don't get help, you'll DIE!"
Seifer didn't look surprised, only haggard. Only haggard."Issss..........s'okay..........."he managed."I'm.......just..........p-pissed because..........those......worthless pieces...........of Grendel.............sh-shit......."
"D-Damn!"he started again."They.........tr-tried to...........k-kill me..............."
Dropping everything for a minute, I turned to stare at him."Who tried to kill you?! Who'd want to?!"
"Galbadia!"he choked hoarsely, before falling forward onto the pavement."A-Ambush.................."
'Hyperion!!!!!!!'Allanna shrieked, and I hastened to make her quiet. I couldn't concentrate on what to do if she was wailing like a harpy in the back of my mind.
"Oh, man!"I shouted aloud, hopping from one foot to the other like the pavement was on fire. I couldn't carry him back to Garden, and by the time I went for help and got back again, who knows?! Plus there were those Mesmerizes around.......
I got an idea."Float!"I cried, spinning my nunchaku around. The angel wings that were vaguely similar to my Rapture spell attached themselves to Seifer's back and hauled him upright. I had to admit, he looked worse for the wear. I couldn't find a single spot on him that wasn't torn or bloodied. I wondered; what had Galbadia done to him to beat him up this bad? It looked like bladework, but then there had to have been at least ten soldiers ganging up on him at once! Why had Galbadia done this?!
Getting one arm under his shoulders to pull him along, I carried Seifer up to the Garden directory, where Headmaster Chanton and(oh, thank Hyne!) Doctor Padant were deep in discussion. At the sight of me and their commander, Headmaster Chanton's eyes popped open in shock, and Doctor Padant dropped her clipboard and hurried over.
"Tilmitt, what happened?!"she demanded, helping me lower Seifer to the ground."I doubt a Mesmerize could have done this to him!"
"No, he said it was Galbadia,"I answered, watching as she checked him over."Something about an ambush, and how they tried to kill him."
"Yes, yes,"she muttered, distracted."These are the mark of Galbadian blades. We've got to get him to the infirmary, quickly!"
I cast another Float and helped Doctor Padant haul Seifer along to the infirmary, Headmaster Chanton on our heels. On impulse, I also cast a Regen spell on him, something I hadn't thought of earlier. Settling him into the biggest bed in the infirmary, I breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the room.
Headmaster Chanton was pacing in front of Doctor Padant's desk, his hands clapsed behind his back and a worried expression on his face. Doctor Padant herself was muttering incoherently and gathering up all sorts of supplies from her cabinents.
"Tilmitt!"she barked, and I hurried over.
"Yes, ma'am?"I asked, and saluted hurriedly. Doctor Padant had been known to have a quick tongue and an even quicker temper. She gestured towards the bed.
"I'm going to need your help. All these wounds need bandaging, but I'm afraid even the commander won't be able to live without more help than that. I want you to stand there and cast Regen at my behest; don't cast a single spell until I say so, or I'll have your hide. Got it?!"
"Right!"I nodded, wanting to help as much as she.
We worked late into the night; even Headmaster Chanton had gone off to bed by the time we were done. Thankfully, due to the Mesmerize plague, students were restricted to their dorms by 17:00 hours, so no one had seen what had happened, thank Hyne. The last thing we needed was students standing at the door pestering us with useless questions. It was taking all of our concentration on this alone.
"Tilmitt, Cure, there!"Doctor Padant pointed to a shallow gash across Seifer's chest; almost wearily, I cast a Cure spell on it. It had been going like that for some time; her shouting orders, and me following them in a sort of half-concious state.
Finally, after what had seemed like an eternity, Doctor Padant stood up, stretching out back and cracking her knuckles."Phew! One more Regen should do it for him, Tilmitt, then you can head back to your room."
Casting the Regen, I hadn't realized how tired I was until it was all over and done with."Doctor, can I---that is to say, would you mind if I stayed with him for the night? Just in case something happens---"
"Alright, Tilmitt, no need for a speech,"the doctor cut me off, waving a hand at me dismissively."Just don't do anything to bother my patient, or I'll have you tossed out and fed to the Malboros!"
"Yes, ma'am."Of course! By now, I was heartily sick of the creatures. Gathering up some blankets, I made up a bed on the floor. I'd had a lot to think about, considering everything that had transpired today.
For example, where was it Seifer had gone? And without telling anyone? Plus, why would Galbadia even THINK of attacking him?! Were they HOPING to start another war? An unprecedented attack on their Garden's commander would surely make Esthar take some sort of retaliation action!
Phew, I shuddered to think of how much Seifer'd been through. I mean, if the attack took place in Galbadia, then that meant that he had to come all the way across the HORIZON BRIDGE just to get where he was! Not to mention all the monsters that were crawling all over the plains! Nasty business, this was. When he woke up tomorrow morning, I'd have to get him to tell me everything.
Something pushed irritably against my mind, not allowing me to fall asleep just yet. Blinking unfocusedly, I crossed my eyes inadvertantly.
'Bella............'Allanna's tone was mournful.'I am sorry. I should not have yelled at you so.'
'Mfft, it's okay,'I replied, something close to a mental grunt escaping my lips.'I shouldn't have kept poking at you to talk about the Place Between the Worlds.'
'Well, there are more important things at stake, now.'She was just as eager to forget our fight as I was. I mean, I liked Allanna. She creeped me out at first, but she wasn't so bad to have around.
'Yeah, there are. Tomorrow I'll find out exactly what ha---'
I was still thinking to myself when I fell asleep.
**************************************************************************** ******
Something was poking me. I mean, who pokes someone when they're asleep?! Unless of course they wanted to wake them up--
Hey, was I asleep? WoW, I guess being asleep isn't exactly something you think about WHEN you're asleep. Weird! But maybe I was like........half- asleep and half-awake, ya know? Like when you fall asleep in class, but you can still hear noises going on in the background? But you can't exactly move or anything? That's kinda like what this was now.
OKAY, not the problem! Back to the original crisis! SOMEONE was poking me, and they'd better stop it!
"Hey, come on! Hyne, Tilmitt, you sleep like a fucking log! I'M the one who got messed up, and you're the one taking the vacation!"
"Commander, perhaps you should take it---"
"Hell, no! I'm tired of takin' it easy! Look, somebody get Tilmitt up before I get drastic and start pokin' holes in her with the Hyperion! I'll do it, I'm warnin' ya!"
Well, sheesh. Someone sure was belligerent this early in the morning, hunh? Hey, wait!
I retaliated quite viciously when something sharp nicked my collarbone."MFFT!!!!!"I gave the loudest possible grunt imaginable and flailed my legs up, kicking what clearly had to be the user of that sharp object. So the series of sounds went as such---poke, 'MFFT!!!!!!', THWACK!. I suppose anyone not being poked or kicked must've found the scene quite amusing.
Still grumbling to myself, I opened my eyes to:"Ow! Fuck! Shit!" and the sight of Seifer leaning over me, one hand up to his face. I was pleased to note that aside from his trademark scar, there was no other marks on him. Doctor Padant and I did a kick-ass job. Which of course reminded me that I just kicked a man who nearly died.
But no one, I repeat, NO ONE pokes me and gets away with it."Ah, shaddup!"I muttered, and hauled myself upright. Those hours of sleeping on the floor sure had left their toll. My back hurt, my neck hurt, my arms hurt, and dammit, my collarbone hurt from that damn scratch from the Hyperion.
I rolled my head around on my shoulders, trying to ease the aching in my neck."Question---what're you playing at, poking me so early in the morning?"
Seifer shrugged, taking his hand away from his face. The bruise I'd given him a week ago had faded, but it was still noticeable."Dunno, you weren't getting up. I thought you died or something."He caught my glance at the bruise on his eye."Tried to tell Doctor Padant that I'd gotten it from those Galbadian assholes, but she didn't believe me. I guess it was too old- lookin' to pass for something I'd just gotten done."
I took a look at him. The bandages Doc Padant and I had wrapped so carefully around him were gone, but I could see that he still hadn't had the decency to put a shirt on, either. Hmph! Aside from a few bruises that made him look more battered than what he was, he looked as onery and vexating as ever. But Hyne, he was alive! I mean, hello?! He was actually ALIVE!
"You're okay!"I shouted happily, launching myself at him and throwing my arms around him, ignoring the fact that my legs were still quite tangled up in my blankets on the floor. He gave me a look of utmost surprise, then laughed a little and returned my hug.
Allanna's exultation soaring through my mind was only a little more than my own.
"You malignant SOD!"I shouted, beating him wearily with my fists and ignoring the tears of relief that were streaming down my face."You had us all worried SICK! You're positively EVIL, and don't be surprised if I never talk to you again!!!"
"I don't think Hyne likes me enough for that,"he murmured in my ear, and we both laughed. We were back on the old footing again---hate.
Disentangling myself from him, I only became more tangled in my blankets, and fell to the floor with a thump. I tried to ignore the pounding of my heart. I mean, I'd never hugged a shirtless guy before, not even Irvy. Blech! Guys were too complicated! I'll think I'll just become a nun.
"You've gotta get back to your classes, Tilmitt,"Seifer was saying, getting up and kicking stuff around in the vain attempt to find a shirt."You've been asleep for two days now, so don't expect any pay or anything."
Mfft. The pay here sucks, anyway.
I began folding up my blankets and putting them away, watching in quiet amusement as Seifer went around destroying the things I'd just worked so hard to organize."Well, later. Tee-hee!"
I smiled and waved cheerily, then went on my way. Behind me, I heard a loud BANG! and the Beast bellowed:"PADANT!!!!!!!!!! WHERE'RE ALL MY FUCKING SHIRTS?!?!"
Had to hand it to him. Even being only a few days out of his deathbed, Seifer Almasy could still bellow louder than anyone I'd met.
**************************************************************************** *********
Oh, Hyne. A rumor had gotten out about what had transpired over the past couple of days. Between kids telling stories about how their commander battled a fifty-foot octopus monster to how a group of street whores(this one surprised me, Branton had started it) ganged up on him for short- changing them were spreading all over Garden like wildfire. Myself, I still had classes and the Mesmerize attacks to deal with(blasted things, I was starting to hate them almost as much as Malboros), so I generally ignored them. I'd gone back to using my Strange Vision as a means to deter note- passing, and I'd still had all those classes to teach.
Which of course reminded me that I was supposed to have started gunblade training with Seifer before he'd left, and made me wonder if he'd forgotten. The first night since I'd seen him out of bed, he hadn't come to his dorm that night. I fretted for a bit, then discovered that he'd just spent the night getting things straightened out in his office. I wondered if his receptionists had 'helped' him with that one.
Then again, THAT wasn't something I wanted to think about.
'You are weary, Bella,'came Allanna's voice, after my classes were over and I was trying to get ahead of all the grading that had piled up on me. I considered just stamping A's on everything and going off to bed.'You must rest.'
'I can't!'I informed her, for the fiftieth time.'I'm already behind on all this stuff!'
'You and Hyperion,'she sighed.'You both do not know your own limitations.'Her tone grew mock threatening.'I will give you the hiccups, make you sneeze over and over again, or have you become thrown in a fit of convulsions if you do not sleep, Bella. You must promise me.'
I knew she would(and could), too. It certainly wouldn't have been the first time. Shaking my head, I conceded defeat.'Okay, okay. Just let me finish this paper, and I'll head back to my room.'
After I'd finished grading the junctioning report I'd been working on, I packed up my things and headed back to my dorm. Tossing my briefcase into a corner, I wearily stripped down into my flannel short-shorts and my tank top that made up my pajamas, and crawled into bed. The sheets had been freshly washed and ironed; I was in heaven. For once, Allanna had made a suggestion I was willing to agree with.
I was just nodding off when the door clicked openly more quietly than usual and Seifer appeared, looking a bit disheveled. The narrow rectangle of light vanished as he closed the door, but I could still make out his outline in the moonlight that was pouring through the window. Hardly bothering to supress a yawn, he shrugged off his overcoat(his traditional trenchcoat had been sent off to be mended, since it wasn't exactly in primo condition after the attack) and threw it into a corner.
This was something I had marveled at for a time. My tiny space in the room was spotless except for my clothes which I had dropped unceremoniously on the floor. But the rest of the room, which undoubtedly belonged to Seifer, was a total mess. I mean, it was worse than IRVY'S dorm room, which was quite a feat. Papers, clothes, old food, and even something I took to be a car tire littered the floor, while various magazines and other clothes protruded out of the drawers. I didn't even want to guess what was in the closet; I had never opened it.
Well, no matter. Not being a neat freak myself, I could learn to live with it. But back to the present. Seifer glanced in my direction, then made his way across the room with much trepidation, clearly not wanting to wake me up. However, I heard a faint thud and a much louder curse as his foot hit something on the floor, and I couldn't hold back a giggle.
".......Tilmitt?"he asked hoarsely, and tried to fumble his way towards me. However, another protrusion on the floor made him curse again, and this time he tripped over his own feet and fell beside my bed, holding his ankle in both hands.
"Sir? Are you okay?"I asked, propping myself up on my elbows and looking down at him. I think he thought the moonlight must've hidden his grimace of pain.
"Yeah. Bashed my ankle."
"Well, the way this room is, BROKE it seems more likely,"I replied cheerfully enough, and managed to get my arms under him and hoist him up to my level."Jeez, why do I always gotta be the one to save you?"
Man, Seifer looked tired. From the moonlight, I could clearly see the shadows under his eyes and the two-day stubble crossing his jaw, not to mention the definite slump of his shoulders and the hanging of his head. I wondered if he'd gotten any sleep lately. I also wondered if the receptionists were to blame.
I think he meant to take ahold of my shoulder, but ending up smacking me in the nose with his hand instead."Ouch!"I cried, as quietly as I could. It was night out, ya know.
"Oh, shit!"He groped around, feeling at my face and rather ungracefully getting a finger up my nose before I grabbed his hand and held it in midair. There was silence for a time, until:"Hey, uh.......about that whole saving me thing. Thanks."It was spoken curtly, like he wasn't used to saying thank you for anything. Which I supposed was true."Doc Padant told me that, uh---that I woulda died if you hadn't came along and thought to cast Float on me and get me back inside Garden. And that, uh..........well, that whole stuff about you workin' into most of the night to make sure I didn't, uh, ya know, die or anything. She said that the next time I saw you, I should think before I say anything, because I owed you my life. I guess that's what I've been doing, thinking about stuff. That, and trying to get my office back into order and find the little shit that messed it up."
I laughed."It's okay,"I replied, then remembered something."You saved me from the Malboro, remember? So we're even."
Seifer shook his head."Training center, that day with Loire. We both would've been dead that day, too."
"Hmmm............"I frowned."Then you owe me BIG TIME! Booyaka!"
He shrugged."Fair enough."When he didn't move, and didn't say anything, I thought to venture on something that had been bothering me ever since he came back.
"Sir..........where did you GO? I mean, when you didn't come back..........."
Confusion replaced the ordinary mask that veiled his face."You got my letter, didn't you?"
I nodded."Yeah, but........well, it just didn't seem like you'd be gone THAT long. And when I found you in front of the gate, and you said that stuff about Galbadia and an ambush, well............."
I shifted awkwardly, and Seifer grinned."You were WORRIED about me!"
"It's just that no one knew what to do with you not around!"I defended, feeling my face turn red. I hoped the night would hide it."Everyone kept asking me, like I knew!"
"Ha ha ha...........you were worried about me."His face grew expressionless once again."I went off to run a little errand in Esthar, and stopped back in here for a few hours to drop off some stuff. It was after curfew; no one was out and I used my key at the gate. I went up to my office, then I left again. You see, something'd been bothering me. Even after Edea fell outta power, Galbadia hadn't really gone back to normal. It was just anarchy, and they couldn't see it yet, because of the even bigger problem with Adel and Ultimecia. They don't like Esthar, and sorceresses, and since Gardens kinda coincide with both of them, I knew things were gonna come to a head sooner or later. So, I went to try and stop that."
I frowned, but didn't interrupt. I just waited as patiently as I could for him to go on."Galbadia's got no president, you see, just some governer or mayor or something like that, some jackass named Powell. He wants to launch a direct assault on Esthar and it's Garden, because he thinks we're in league with some sorceress or something. ANOTHER one, like we didn't learn our lesson with Adel and Ultimecia."
I noticed that he said 'we'. I wondered about that. He kept going."So, I went to this guy's house(it's the old Presidential Residence, mind you), and he sicks all of his armed guards on me! Pah!"He just stopped himself from spitting on the floor in contempt."Worthless sons-of-bitches! They're planning to fire missiles right at us, without any warnin' at all! DAMMIT!!!!!!!"
I had to duck out of the way as his fist went whizzing into the wall. Straightening up with more than an immeasureable amount of fear, I caught his fist again as it hurled toward an unknown destination that was hopefully not me.
"Hey!"I said quietly, getting my face under him so that he was looking me in the eye."They haven't done anything yet, have they? It's been a week, maybe it was just an empty threat---"
"No way!"he muttered, yanking his wrist out of my grasp. Rubbing it thoughtfully, he regarded me with something, that if I hadn't known better, I would have said was akin to fear in his eyes."There's a whole bunch of puny kids here, though. They wouldn't really shoot at a bunch of kids, would they?"
I couldn't meet his eye.".........You did........"I answered softly, staring at my hands. We were sitting so close together, that I could actually feel him freeze.
"I did, didn't I? Well, no more. No MORE!"The last word was shouted most viciously; I recoiled a bit. Allanna, I'm certain, would have been thoroughly giving me the middle finger if she was actually alive to do it. As it went, she settled for mental curses and little twitches of my fingers, because I badmouthed her son.
"No more,"I agreed, put both my hands on his shoulders, and shook him gently."Come on, man! We'll stop it, don't worry! Heh, I stopped 'em last time, with Galbadia! We can do it, and if you won't, then I will."
That seemed to give him some of his old vigor back."All right. We'll kick some Galbadia ass!"
"But...........heeeey, I destroyed their missile base! Did they build another one?"
Seifer shook his head."Nope. From what I heard, they're planning on using an old abandoned one near Esthar. They're firing in a week. That doesn't give us a whole lotta time, Tilmitt."
"Duh!"I said, and made a dorky face at him."Tee-hee, I've been through the whole thing once before. Another go shouldn't be too hard."I frowned, already making plans."Okay, I don't wanna cut it as close as I did the last time, but we've gotta think things through, too. Three days?"
A slight narrowing of his eyes."Alright. Three days."
"Okie!"I punched the air excitedly. Whoo! BLOWING THINGS TO SMITHEREENS!!!!!!! I hadn't had this much fun in a long time!"Heeeeey..............."Something else nagged at me."How'd you find all this out, anyway?"
A shrug."They told me. Must've thought they were gonna kill me without a hitch; they didn't have any inhibitions about spilling out their whole plan before they threw those twenty guys at me."
TWENTY?! WHOOOOA! Doctor Padant and I had been pretty sure that there had only been fifteen, at the most! Sheesh! I guess everyone's favorite commander was stronger than we all thought. Which got me to thinking about something else.
"Sir.......how did you get BACK here?"
Another shrug, his favorite gesture besides the traditional middle finger."I jumped outta the window before those guys could whack on me real hard. Train was leavin' the station for FH just as I burst in, so I jumped from the platform into the cargo car, in the back. When I got to FH, I footed it across the rest of the Horizon Bridge and the Great Salt Lake. Somehow, I ended up back here."
MAN! He did all that?! Was that even POSSIBLE?! Doc Padant was right; it WAS a wonder he survived! I'd have to start calling him Miracle Man from now on, or something.
"Ack! You are one lucky fuck, ya know that?"I informed him, with all of my usual grace. He grunted.
"Enh. It's not luck, Tilmitt, it's SKILL."
"Well..........."I shifted again."............I guess it's okay that you didn't die, and stuff."
That grin again, the one that made me want to hit something(preferably him) as soon as I saw it."In other words, you're glad I'm all right."
"Yeah, okay, maybe,"I allowed grudgingly, and planted both of my sock- covered feet on his back, kicking him lightly to the floor."I'm goin' to bed."
Seifer did a bad job of smothering a yawn."Yeah, same."
"Heeeey,"I questioned again, just as he was flinging himself into his hammock with the utmost of ease."What'd ya do in Esthar, anyways?"
A laugh."You'll find out in the morning. Now quit pesterin' me and let me get some sleep. I've got work tomorrow."
That wasn't quite right."Erm.......so do I."
"Point. Ah, whatever! Fuck off, Tilmitt."
That made me giggle uncontrollably."In other words, 'good night'?"
Success! He laughed at it, too."Yep."
"Well, fuck off to you, too,"I replied, rolling over and arranging my covers around me."And I'll see in you the morning."
I had a lot of worries on my mind before I drifted off to sleep. The first one was clearly the threat about the missiles. The next one was my harried schedule, since I had no more free periods left to myself. The third was about Allanna, and her judgement day that was soon in coming. And finally, I fretted over stuff back at Balamb, and the transmission that I was supposed to have sent Squall and never did. Whoops.
My last thought before I drifted off to sleep was how badly I needed a vacation.
AN~W00T! This chapta is FINISHED! Crappy, but finished. The one thing I do credit myself for is the re-introduction of humor back into this part. Perhaps I can find a way to keep this thing both funny, humorous, and romantic(yes, I know you can't have three subjects if you use the word 'both') all at once. Perhaps. Anyways, let's keep going with those reviews! Make it to 150, and I'll give you a cookie! Tee-hee! R/R, everyone, and don't forget to boycott pork!!! ~tiger~