DISCLAIMER: The characters all belong to Squaresoft. Only the story plot
belongs to me. Don't sue me coz I'm broke anyway!
CHAPTER 6: The Enemy's Return
He watched carefully as a group of teens rebuilt the orphanage shelter he had grown up on. Hyne knows how long it had taken him and his companions to get to the orphanage. It had only been days in fact. Fuck, it felt like weeks. They had used whatever gil they had obtained to travel there. And it all hadn't been pleasant.
They snuck inside a cargo train hiding behind the crates at one point. Haven't eaten a decent meal for what seemed like centuries hunger and exhaustion overtook and sleep forced itself into the three. They had been woken up by a dim light overhead of the ceiling of the train as one of the cargo staff inspected the cart they were in. All hid behind the massive crates hugging the wall and sinking within the shadows with the exception if Raijin. Unfortunately his huge built is a dead giveaway for anyone despite the dim lighting and giant crates. As a last resort Fujin had shoved the big man into one of the crates. Even more unfortunate the crate contained bags of peppers. And Raijin is allergic to peppers. Within minutes he'd been wheezing and coughing uncontrollably.
Needless to say the inspector was more than surprised to see a huge man hiding in one of the crates endlessly sneezing his ass out. All three posse were chased around the train by a very pissed man with a baton threatening to beat the crap out of them. Hell, he didn't even demanded to know them, only promised to skin them alive if they didn't get off immediately. Seifer was really into taking him out, but the rest convinced him that it wasn't worth it, bringing in more trouble for them.
In the end all three were forced to jump off the speeding train. Seifer and Fujin both gotten scratches here and there, clothes tattered and smeared with mud. Raijin, who seemed to be always the unlucky one, has gotten more pain than his other friends. Of course having to land in the thorny bushes meant he's gained a couple more hundreds of holes in his body. Needless to say, they spent the next hour plucking off the thorns. The majority seemed to be embedded in Raijin's butt. That they left to their bigger friend to take care of himself. Poor guy couldn't sit down on his hind for days. It was kind of amusing especially for Fujin who developed a habit of making fun of him.
They had traveled on foot to reach the orphanage. Nowhere to sleep, nowhere to eat and nowhere to stay, Seifer is getting much used to his life on the run. Of course having been deemed as a dangerous criminal it wasn't a surprise. He had been living his life in hell; he almost welcomed the pain, agony, bitterness, loneliness and guilt associated with his life. Those were the emotions which had become familiar to him. And most likely to stay.
He watched each of them with interest. He studied them as if studying how a piece of machinery works. He caught sight of his rival as he walked towards the supplies. Still as brooding and stoic as ever, he thought. He noticed that he still wore the same leather outfit with the fur collared jacket. Hell, when is he gonna outgrow puberty? He still looks gay as ever. He smirked. To his personal opinion, he thought fur collars should only be the territory for drags. Off to Squall's right is Zell. He watched as he lifted off some wooden planks. His smirk grew wider. So chickens still exist today. He saw the little messenger girl and the Galbadian student but paid little attention to them only recalling faint memories of them. Finally a female approached Squall and he recognized it immediately. Rinoa, who once he was close to.
He looked away. It's all in the past. And it should stay there buried where it belongs.
That's about it from my little orphanage gang. I wonder why they were rebuilding it back. Their old home was long gone since the last of them was taken away. Matron sometimes stays here, but there are no more children to take care of. Curiosity played upon him like a kitten with a ball of yarn. It has been months since he's seen anyone form Garden and seeing them all again brings back floods of memories.
"Seifer..."
He turned around suddenly. Did someone just called him? He turned back to Fujin and Raijin, but there were a few feet behind talking quietly together. He turned back. Fuck, I'm going crazy. Must be starvation. Or those bloody nightmares. He shook his head. He noticed how things are quiet around here. Usually the birds could be heard singing or the gentle blow of the breeze. Everything has suddenly gone still. Like death.
"The beach. You'll find your answers by the beach".
Who the fuck keeps messing with his head?! He could feel his anger rising in his chest. He gritted his teeth. Ultimecia, are you still trying to haunt me, you selfless bitch? I thought you would have gotten tired of your stupid lapdog by now. Haven't you had enough? He fumed silently. Silence greeted him. Everything is a blur around him. He couldn't focus. Hell, he couldn't even see Squall and the others anymore. He turned towards the beach and frowned.
He can see a figure standing by the shoreline. He squinted. He can't make out whether it's male or female from where he is crouching. He's several yards away from the orphanage house and further more towards the waters. Suddenly the figure started towards the waters walking deeper and deeper. His frown deepened. Who the fuck would want to swim in the cold like this? In an instant the figure just fell forward crashing into the waves. His eyebrows shot up. He felt himself start to get up but hesitated. Don't blow your cover, Almasy. The last think you wanna do is get recognized and get reported to the officials. He wanted to leave. He desperately wanted to turn around and walk away. Somehow his body wouldn't move. He can't stop watching. He let out his breath not realizing he's been holding it. It's been nearly a minute now. He can't see the figure's head. He clenched his fists. Just go. Why aren't you still leaving? Who the fuck cares if this person wants to commit suicide anyway? He or she will just probably beat your ass if you even try to prevent it, he persuaded himself.
"Yes, Seifer. Go. Your answers are waiting for you. She's waiting for you".
He felt as if he's being pulled by some invisible strings. He got up and started towards the shoreline. Boots crunching against the wet sand, the wind blew past him raising his tattered trench coat as he walked. Soon after his walk became a jog. Ripping off his coat he stepped into the freezing waters the waves lapping up against his legs. Taking a deep breath he dove taking in the shock of the cold water enveloping him. It's dark underwater. He struggled to see where this person is. Saltwater stung his eyes as he searched around forcing his arms and legs to move. Right arm over the left arm. Stroke after stroke. Bubbles obscured his vision as he swam deeper. Not knowing where he's heading he persisted to catch sight of the mysterious figure.
Nothing.
Complete darkness. Just like hell. Fuck. I'm gonna drown myself. His lungs were on fire. His mind screamed air. He searched frantically knowing that he couldn't hold his breath much longer. Something bright caught his eye. Was that hair he sees?
Blonde.
Yes, he is seeing hair. With a burst of energy he swam towards it. Muscles aching painfully he closed the distance between them. Finally he reached the body, golden blonde hair floating wildly around its face making it hard to identify her. Circling an arm around her waist from behind, he started tugging himself up towards the surface. The figure is surprisingly light even underwater. The body is limp and lifeless as he tried to pull up. He wondered if he's too late?
He gasped as his head broke to the surface. Taking a big gulp of air he raised the woman's head as well making sure her nose and mouth can't caught saltwater. With strong powerful strokes he wades until his feet reached sand dragging the body with him. He hooked his other arm under her knees as he carried her towards the sand, her body still limp. Gently he settled her down. Hair plastered all over her face he still can't take a good look at her. Coughing a little he shook the water out of his hair.
A moan escaped the woman's lips. Seifer turned to look at her. So she's still alive, he thought. Was he relieved? He gave himself a mental shake. What's wrong with you today? Since when did he ever fought for someone's life? The thought of him saving a life out of kindness makes him feel...disconcerting. More or else disturbed. You are seriously screwed up, he thought bitterly. He watched as the woman sat up a little as she pulled her hair out of her face. Spitting water, she rubbed her eyes as she looked at her savior.
Seifer froze. As she revealed her face it dawned on him that she looked a lot like someone he knows. A lot like his ex instructor. Oh, shit...
It seemed as if the blonde instructor felt the same. She stopped dead in her tracks as she took a good look at his face. Mouth slightly open her eyes traveled from his body to his face, her sapphire blue eyes never missing a detail.
"Sei...Seifer?!"
Holy fuck. He just saved instructor Trepe. One of Garden's best SeeD's, a childhood companion and his ex instructor. Quistis Trepe, an enemy he not only once, but many times has faced off in battle. That's right, he had tried to kill her and she had tried to kill him. It was ironic that he would end up saving her life. Hyne surely has a sense of humor. A sick one, but hell he knows how to seriously mess things up.
"Instructor. Somehow I've always known that your life's pretty fucked up. Never would have thought you'd have the guts to commit suicide".
She glared at him. "Seifer. What the hell are you doing here?"
He shook his head. "No thanks for your favorite student? Is this how you treat everyone who saved your ass? Your problems must have gotten to yourself badly. Let me guess. Your darling puberty boy getting married to Rinoa?"
If she wasn't so surprised to see him she would just love to slap his face. She opened her mouth to retort back, but she was interrupted before she could bite back at him.
"Seifer! Why'd you run off like that? Heck, since when did you decide to take a swim, ya know?" Raijin gasped as he reached the pair. He then realized that Seifer was with someone else. "Instructor! What are you doing here, ya know?"
Green and blue pairs of eyes looked up to the big, bronzed skin man. Seifer interjected before Quistis could answer.
"My dear instructor has gotten herself in a bind. Saved her ass but no thanks for me here. Guess I just wasted my time, I should've just let her drown" he said gesturing towards the sea.
Fujin has reached the group carrying his trench coat with her and took a good look at the two of them. "DANGEROUS".
"Yeah. And damn well stupid considering my efforts are wasted on someone even more pathetic" Seifer turned his gaze back to Quistis, his face hard and eyes glittered with irritation.
Quistis gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to hit him. Sometimes she would love nothing more, but right now she had to keep her cool. Even though Seifer is the biggest pain to handle, he did saved her life. His insults and taunts are hard to pass by and it's easy to forget what he did even if it's a good one. "Seifer, I wasn't trying to do anything stupid out there".
"Then what? Too cold for a swim in this weather isn't it, Trepe?"
She pinched her eyes shut. Yes, how would she explain this? She can't just blurt out that she heard a voice within the waters and decide to check it out. She can't just tell them she was somehow "forced" to delve in the freezing ocean to have her life threatened by a dead sorceress. She'd doubt they'd believe a word she'll say. Worse yet, Seifer would just think insanity took over her.
Maybe it has.
She was saved by a voice coming up from a cliff above them.
"Quistis! What happened?" a very concerned Zell demanded. Looking down to her from a ten foot cliff, she looked wrecked. Tired as if the life had been drained out of her system. With one swift motion he leapt from the tall cliff to land effortlessly on the sand with both feet.
Seifer got up and backed away as Zell rushed to his friend.
Zell put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok? Tell me what happened to you". He looked up, his eyes landing on Seifer. He clenched his fists ready to attack as he narrowed his eyes, blue green growing dark with fury. "Seifer! I should've known. You bastard! What the fuck did you do to her?!"
"I saved her" Seifer said, his voice low and steady. His face wore no emotion, jaw set and eyes in the midst of all tension was dark and serious.
"Hey, guys! We didn't do anything wrong, ya know?" Raijin protested not wanting anymore trouble than what they had in the past few months. He looked tensely back and forth from Zell to Seifer.
Fujin stepped up to Seifer and tugged on the bottom of his vest. "LEAVE". The last thing they want is to be hanged by a bunch of SeeD's they faced off in the past.
Quistis coughed out some more water which forced Zell's attention back to her. "Zell, they're right. Seifer did help me" came out a quiet reply.
Zell's expression changed like a hurricane, from shocked to confused to disbelief. No way. The words "Seifer" and "help" together in one sentence just don't seem right. Maybe he misinterpreted her words. Maybe he had some hearing loss from all the Thundaga magic practices he had with Selphie. Or maybe, Quistis was too shocked from whatever happened to her she's not making any sense at all. Maybe it was Seifer all along. He probably casted Confuse on her to make her go on his side. This is Seifer we're talking about, for Hyne's sake!
The betrayer. The enemy.
"Zell! Did you find her?" called a voice from the cliff. Selphie's figure appeared, her yellow dress making her stand out from the surroundings. "There you are! Quisty, what the heck happened to you?" Her eyes landed on the trio beside them. Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Seifer?! What are you-"
"You know, it's getting pretty tiring seeing the same expressions from people again and again in one day. Don't any of you have any fucking originality within yourselves? Instructor here was drowning and I saved her, alright? Hard to believe? Then fine. 'Cause I'm not taking any more bullshit from you-" he paused and looked at Zell. "Or you and most of all, my shitty instructor" he finished his eyes landing lastly on Quistis. "I'm outta here".
With that he turned his heel and began walking away, his two posse following close behind.
"How did you drown?" Selphie asked, alarmed. If Quistis answered the question he himself wondered, he didn't hear it.
"You're not going anywhere, Almasy".
He stopped in his tracks and turned around. Standing next to a still shocked Selphie was Squall. The one and only, in the flesh. Hyne, you just love fucking with me, don't you? He gave him his coldest glare. Any normal person would buckle up in terror from the fiery ex-knight.
"You are a criminal. We can't just let you off. It ain't easy getting away this time" Squall continued his voice emotionless. His expression matched the tone of his voice, one that wore no expression. It's hard for Seifer to guess what he's really feeling. Not that he cared or anything.
"Or what?" came out the reply. He returned Squall's gaze as if to challenge him what to do. He and authority has never been close. In fact, they seemed to be at opposite ends all the time. And he loved every minute of it.
Rinoa appeared at Squall's side. She didn't say a word but her eyes say it all. In one brief moment a river of emotions came out in those dark pools. Surprise, sadness...pity. A normal person would have overlooked them, but not him. Seifer is used to reading peoples eyes. Sometimes he can tell what kind of the person he or she really was just by looking at them. He saw lots of eyes during his reign as a knight. Most of them wore fear or hatred for him. And that was fine with him. One thing that he can never stand is pity. How he hated that word. It makes him feel worthless. Powerless. Dirty. At least by being feared or hated, he still held power within. He can still stand. He gritted his teeth upon seeing Rinoa.
"Then you leave us no choice. You will cooperate".
He saw the thin red line pointing straight at his heart. A normal person wouldn't have known the danger they were in if they were in his position. Seifer recognized it immediately having had experience training with weapons; the laser target of a sniper rifle could just easily shoot out blowing his chest into a big gaping hole. His eyes followed the line finally reaching into a single barrel rifle of an Exeter. The most powerful gun in the world, he doubt if he could survive this. Holding it was the Galbadian student just off the other cliff the others were in. With his tan colored outfit he camouflaged with his surroundings making it difficult to pick him out. His finger ready on the trigger he knows it's impossible to dodge this one. His eyes landed back into the quiet leader.
"So you gonna gun me down? Commander Puberty doesn't have the balls to take me on one on one? Guess even you sink in the lapdog level" he replied scornfully. He felt his two friends stiffen up beside him. Although they're in a tight situation right now, he knew no matter what they will always back him up. He could feel them tense up by the corner of his eye.
Squall's voice remained cool. "You will be placed in trial under the Garden officials. Your sentence has to be carried out according to the decisions".
"Ha! He doesn't need a trial. Everyone knows he's guilty of all the crimes he committed. Let's just skip the trial and execute him" Zell snorted in disgust. His gaze never left Seifer. In all the time he'd interacted with Zell, Seifer never received such a dirty look from him. Not even from all the times he bullied or made fun of him. He returned back the dark look.
"Let's just cool down, everyone. We should head back to Garden and settle this formally which everyone can have a say and defend their right including Seifer. Now is not the time and place" Quistis finally spoke up regarding each and every one of them at both parties. She has finally stood up with the help from Zell and Selphie who climbed down the cliff. A cold breeze fluttered past making her lips tremble and teeth chatter.
Quistis, always the mature one. Always the responsible. Always the reasonable one. Have you changed, Trepe? Or are you just like the rest of them always living up to expectations, Seifer wondered studying her.
"Let's head over to Garden and settle this once and for all" Squall nodded.
"Gee, do we get a choice?"
"The Ragnarok's over there".
Seifer trudged all the way to the ship well aware that Exeter's aim never left his form. He passed the others which gave him looks he's used to receiving. Shock. Wariness. Anger. Hatred. As he passed his former instructor the look she gave from her eyes passed through to him. It was one of curiosity as if trying to study him like a book. Observing him like an unidentified specimen in a science experiment. He supposed she's done that to the majority of people she had met. She used to be a teacher she's meant to evaluate her students. It was new to him.
Because she never really paid attention to him. She never really observed him. She never looked at him as a person. The looks she always gave him were one of utter anger or disappointment. He didn't blame her. He forced himself to tear his eyes away from hers. He can't stand to look at her and see his failure through her eyes. Most of all, he can't stand her looking at him anymore.
For the very first time, Quistis Trepe is finally looking at him. This time it was real. And it's gnawing at his insides like a disease spreading through his self like cancer. Because he knew that she is finally realizing that although he did made a good deed today, tomorrow it will be forgotten. Because there is nothing left in him but fury, revenge, hatred, anger and violence.
There is nothing left in him, but sins.
Author's note: can anyone out there tell me how I can show the italics? Oh, and thanks again for the reviews, my lovely readers! Keep it up ^_~
CHAPTER 6: The Enemy's Return
He watched carefully as a group of teens rebuilt the orphanage shelter he had grown up on. Hyne knows how long it had taken him and his companions to get to the orphanage. It had only been days in fact. Fuck, it felt like weeks. They had used whatever gil they had obtained to travel there. And it all hadn't been pleasant.
They snuck inside a cargo train hiding behind the crates at one point. Haven't eaten a decent meal for what seemed like centuries hunger and exhaustion overtook and sleep forced itself into the three. They had been woken up by a dim light overhead of the ceiling of the train as one of the cargo staff inspected the cart they were in. All hid behind the massive crates hugging the wall and sinking within the shadows with the exception if Raijin. Unfortunately his huge built is a dead giveaway for anyone despite the dim lighting and giant crates. As a last resort Fujin had shoved the big man into one of the crates. Even more unfortunate the crate contained bags of peppers. And Raijin is allergic to peppers. Within minutes he'd been wheezing and coughing uncontrollably.
Needless to say the inspector was more than surprised to see a huge man hiding in one of the crates endlessly sneezing his ass out. All three posse were chased around the train by a very pissed man with a baton threatening to beat the crap out of them. Hell, he didn't even demanded to know them, only promised to skin them alive if they didn't get off immediately. Seifer was really into taking him out, but the rest convinced him that it wasn't worth it, bringing in more trouble for them.
In the end all three were forced to jump off the speeding train. Seifer and Fujin both gotten scratches here and there, clothes tattered and smeared with mud. Raijin, who seemed to be always the unlucky one, has gotten more pain than his other friends. Of course having to land in the thorny bushes meant he's gained a couple more hundreds of holes in his body. Needless to say, they spent the next hour plucking off the thorns. The majority seemed to be embedded in Raijin's butt. That they left to their bigger friend to take care of himself. Poor guy couldn't sit down on his hind for days. It was kind of amusing especially for Fujin who developed a habit of making fun of him.
They had traveled on foot to reach the orphanage. Nowhere to sleep, nowhere to eat and nowhere to stay, Seifer is getting much used to his life on the run. Of course having been deemed as a dangerous criminal it wasn't a surprise. He had been living his life in hell; he almost welcomed the pain, agony, bitterness, loneliness and guilt associated with his life. Those were the emotions which had become familiar to him. And most likely to stay.
He watched each of them with interest. He studied them as if studying how a piece of machinery works. He caught sight of his rival as he walked towards the supplies. Still as brooding and stoic as ever, he thought. He noticed that he still wore the same leather outfit with the fur collared jacket. Hell, when is he gonna outgrow puberty? He still looks gay as ever. He smirked. To his personal opinion, he thought fur collars should only be the territory for drags. Off to Squall's right is Zell. He watched as he lifted off some wooden planks. His smirk grew wider. So chickens still exist today. He saw the little messenger girl and the Galbadian student but paid little attention to them only recalling faint memories of them. Finally a female approached Squall and he recognized it immediately. Rinoa, who once he was close to.
He looked away. It's all in the past. And it should stay there buried where it belongs.
That's about it from my little orphanage gang. I wonder why they were rebuilding it back. Their old home was long gone since the last of them was taken away. Matron sometimes stays here, but there are no more children to take care of. Curiosity played upon him like a kitten with a ball of yarn. It has been months since he's seen anyone form Garden and seeing them all again brings back floods of memories.
"Seifer..."
He turned around suddenly. Did someone just called him? He turned back to Fujin and Raijin, but there were a few feet behind talking quietly together. He turned back. Fuck, I'm going crazy. Must be starvation. Or those bloody nightmares. He shook his head. He noticed how things are quiet around here. Usually the birds could be heard singing or the gentle blow of the breeze. Everything has suddenly gone still. Like death.
"The beach. You'll find your answers by the beach".
Who the fuck keeps messing with his head?! He could feel his anger rising in his chest. He gritted his teeth. Ultimecia, are you still trying to haunt me, you selfless bitch? I thought you would have gotten tired of your stupid lapdog by now. Haven't you had enough? He fumed silently. Silence greeted him. Everything is a blur around him. He couldn't focus. Hell, he couldn't even see Squall and the others anymore. He turned towards the beach and frowned.
He can see a figure standing by the shoreline. He squinted. He can't make out whether it's male or female from where he is crouching. He's several yards away from the orphanage house and further more towards the waters. Suddenly the figure started towards the waters walking deeper and deeper. His frown deepened. Who the fuck would want to swim in the cold like this? In an instant the figure just fell forward crashing into the waves. His eyebrows shot up. He felt himself start to get up but hesitated. Don't blow your cover, Almasy. The last think you wanna do is get recognized and get reported to the officials. He wanted to leave. He desperately wanted to turn around and walk away. Somehow his body wouldn't move. He can't stop watching. He let out his breath not realizing he's been holding it. It's been nearly a minute now. He can't see the figure's head. He clenched his fists. Just go. Why aren't you still leaving? Who the fuck cares if this person wants to commit suicide anyway? He or she will just probably beat your ass if you even try to prevent it, he persuaded himself.
"Yes, Seifer. Go. Your answers are waiting for you. She's waiting for you".
He felt as if he's being pulled by some invisible strings. He got up and started towards the shoreline. Boots crunching against the wet sand, the wind blew past him raising his tattered trench coat as he walked. Soon after his walk became a jog. Ripping off his coat he stepped into the freezing waters the waves lapping up against his legs. Taking a deep breath he dove taking in the shock of the cold water enveloping him. It's dark underwater. He struggled to see where this person is. Saltwater stung his eyes as he searched around forcing his arms and legs to move. Right arm over the left arm. Stroke after stroke. Bubbles obscured his vision as he swam deeper. Not knowing where he's heading he persisted to catch sight of the mysterious figure.
Nothing.
Complete darkness. Just like hell. Fuck. I'm gonna drown myself. His lungs were on fire. His mind screamed air. He searched frantically knowing that he couldn't hold his breath much longer. Something bright caught his eye. Was that hair he sees?
Blonde.
Yes, he is seeing hair. With a burst of energy he swam towards it. Muscles aching painfully he closed the distance between them. Finally he reached the body, golden blonde hair floating wildly around its face making it hard to identify her. Circling an arm around her waist from behind, he started tugging himself up towards the surface. The figure is surprisingly light even underwater. The body is limp and lifeless as he tried to pull up. He wondered if he's too late?
He gasped as his head broke to the surface. Taking a big gulp of air he raised the woman's head as well making sure her nose and mouth can't caught saltwater. With strong powerful strokes he wades until his feet reached sand dragging the body with him. He hooked his other arm under her knees as he carried her towards the sand, her body still limp. Gently he settled her down. Hair plastered all over her face he still can't take a good look at her. Coughing a little he shook the water out of his hair.
A moan escaped the woman's lips. Seifer turned to look at her. So she's still alive, he thought. Was he relieved? He gave himself a mental shake. What's wrong with you today? Since when did he ever fought for someone's life? The thought of him saving a life out of kindness makes him feel...disconcerting. More or else disturbed. You are seriously screwed up, he thought bitterly. He watched as the woman sat up a little as she pulled her hair out of her face. Spitting water, she rubbed her eyes as she looked at her savior.
Seifer froze. As she revealed her face it dawned on him that she looked a lot like someone he knows. A lot like his ex instructor. Oh, shit...
It seemed as if the blonde instructor felt the same. She stopped dead in her tracks as she took a good look at his face. Mouth slightly open her eyes traveled from his body to his face, her sapphire blue eyes never missing a detail.
"Sei...Seifer?!"
Holy fuck. He just saved instructor Trepe. One of Garden's best SeeD's, a childhood companion and his ex instructor. Quistis Trepe, an enemy he not only once, but many times has faced off in battle. That's right, he had tried to kill her and she had tried to kill him. It was ironic that he would end up saving her life. Hyne surely has a sense of humor. A sick one, but hell he knows how to seriously mess things up.
"Instructor. Somehow I've always known that your life's pretty fucked up. Never would have thought you'd have the guts to commit suicide".
She glared at him. "Seifer. What the hell are you doing here?"
He shook his head. "No thanks for your favorite student? Is this how you treat everyone who saved your ass? Your problems must have gotten to yourself badly. Let me guess. Your darling puberty boy getting married to Rinoa?"
If she wasn't so surprised to see him she would just love to slap his face. She opened her mouth to retort back, but she was interrupted before she could bite back at him.
"Seifer! Why'd you run off like that? Heck, since when did you decide to take a swim, ya know?" Raijin gasped as he reached the pair. He then realized that Seifer was with someone else. "Instructor! What are you doing here, ya know?"
Green and blue pairs of eyes looked up to the big, bronzed skin man. Seifer interjected before Quistis could answer.
"My dear instructor has gotten herself in a bind. Saved her ass but no thanks for me here. Guess I just wasted my time, I should've just let her drown" he said gesturing towards the sea.
Fujin has reached the group carrying his trench coat with her and took a good look at the two of them. "DANGEROUS".
"Yeah. And damn well stupid considering my efforts are wasted on someone even more pathetic" Seifer turned his gaze back to Quistis, his face hard and eyes glittered with irritation.
Quistis gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to hit him. Sometimes she would love nothing more, but right now she had to keep her cool. Even though Seifer is the biggest pain to handle, he did saved her life. His insults and taunts are hard to pass by and it's easy to forget what he did even if it's a good one. "Seifer, I wasn't trying to do anything stupid out there".
"Then what? Too cold for a swim in this weather isn't it, Trepe?"
She pinched her eyes shut. Yes, how would she explain this? She can't just blurt out that she heard a voice within the waters and decide to check it out. She can't just tell them she was somehow "forced" to delve in the freezing ocean to have her life threatened by a dead sorceress. She'd doubt they'd believe a word she'll say. Worse yet, Seifer would just think insanity took over her.
Maybe it has.
She was saved by a voice coming up from a cliff above them.
"Quistis! What happened?" a very concerned Zell demanded. Looking down to her from a ten foot cliff, she looked wrecked. Tired as if the life had been drained out of her system. With one swift motion he leapt from the tall cliff to land effortlessly on the sand with both feet.
Seifer got up and backed away as Zell rushed to his friend.
Zell put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok? Tell me what happened to you". He looked up, his eyes landing on Seifer. He clenched his fists ready to attack as he narrowed his eyes, blue green growing dark with fury. "Seifer! I should've known. You bastard! What the fuck did you do to her?!"
"I saved her" Seifer said, his voice low and steady. His face wore no emotion, jaw set and eyes in the midst of all tension was dark and serious.
"Hey, guys! We didn't do anything wrong, ya know?" Raijin protested not wanting anymore trouble than what they had in the past few months. He looked tensely back and forth from Zell to Seifer.
Fujin stepped up to Seifer and tugged on the bottom of his vest. "LEAVE". The last thing they want is to be hanged by a bunch of SeeD's they faced off in the past.
Quistis coughed out some more water which forced Zell's attention back to her. "Zell, they're right. Seifer did help me" came out a quiet reply.
Zell's expression changed like a hurricane, from shocked to confused to disbelief. No way. The words "Seifer" and "help" together in one sentence just don't seem right. Maybe he misinterpreted her words. Maybe he had some hearing loss from all the Thundaga magic practices he had with Selphie. Or maybe, Quistis was too shocked from whatever happened to her she's not making any sense at all. Maybe it was Seifer all along. He probably casted Confuse on her to make her go on his side. This is Seifer we're talking about, for Hyne's sake!
The betrayer. The enemy.
"Zell! Did you find her?" called a voice from the cliff. Selphie's figure appeared, her yellow dress making her stand out from the surroundings. "There you are! Quisty, what the heck happened to you?" Her eyes landed on the trio beside them. Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Seifer?! What are you-"
"You know, it's getting pretty tiring seeing the same expressions from people again and again in one day. Don't any of you have any fucking originality within yourselves? Instructor here was drowning and I saved her, alright? Hard to believe? Then fine. 'Cause I'm not taking any more bullshit from you-" he paused and looked at Zell. "Or you and most of all, my shitty instructor" he finished his eyes landing lastly on Quistis. "I'm outta here".
With that he turned his heel and began walking away, his two posse following close behind.
"How did you drown?" Selphie asked, alarmed. If Quistis answered the question he himself wondered, he didn't hear it.
"You're not going anywhere, Almasy".
He stopped in his tracks and turned around. Standing next to a still shocked Selphie was Squall. The one and only, in the flesh. Hyne, you just love fucking with me, don't you? He gave him his coldest glare. Any normal person would buckle up in terror from the fiery ex-knight.
"You are a criminal. We can't just let you off. It ain't easy getting away this time" Squall continued his voice emotionless. His expression matched the tone of his voice, one that wore no expression. It's hard for Seifer to guess what he's really feeling. Not that he cared or anything.
"Or what?" came out the reply. He returned Squall's gaze as if to challenge him what to do. He and authority has never been close. In fact, they seemed to be at opposite ends all the time. And he loved every minute of it.
Rinoa appeared at Squall's side. She didn't say a word but her eyes say it all. In one brief moment a river of emotions came out in those dark pools. Surprise, sadness...pity. A normal person would have overlooked them, but not him. Seifer is used to reading peoples eyes. Sometimes he can tell what kind of the person he or she really was just by looking at them. He saw lots of eyes during his reign as a knight. Most of them wore fear or hatred for him. And that was fine with him. One thing that he can never stand is pity. How he hated that word. It makes him feel worthless. Powerless. Dirty. At least by being feared or hated, he still held power within. He can still stand. He gritted his teeth upon seeing Rinoa.
"Then you leave us no choice. You will cooperate".
He saw the thin red line pointing straight at his heart. A normal person wouldn't have known the danger they were in if they were in his position. Seifer recognized it immediately having had experience training with weapons; the laser target of a sniper rifle could just easily shoot out blowing his chest into a big gaping hole. His eyes followed the line finally reaching into a single barrel rifle of an Exeter. The most powerful gun in the world, he doubt if he could survive this. Holding it was the Galbadian student just off the other cliff the others were in. With his tan colored outfit he camouflaged with his surroundings making it difficult to pick him out. His finger ready on the trigger he knows it's impossible to dodge this one. His eyes landed back into the quiet leader.
"So you gonna gun me down? Commander Puberty doesn't have the balls to take me on one on one? Guess even you sink in the lapdog level" he replied scornfully. He felt his two friends stiffen up beside him. Although they're in a tight situation right now, he knew no matter what they will always back him up. He could feel them tense up by the corner of his eye.
Squall's voice remained cool. "You will be placed in trial under the Garden officials. Your sentence has to be carried out according to the decisions".
"Ha! He doesn't need a trial. Everyone knows he's guilty of all the crimes he committed. Let's just skip the trial and execute him" Zell snorted in disgust. His gaze never left Seifer. In all the time he'd interacted with Zell, Seifer never received such a dirty look from him. Not even from all the times he bullied or made fun of him. He returned back the dark look.
"Let's just cool down, everyone. We should head back to Garden and settle this formally which everyone can have a say and defend their right including Seifer. Now is not the time and place" Quistis finally spoke up regarding each and every one of them at both parties. She has finally stood up with the help from Zell and Selphie who climbed down the cliff. A cold breeze fluttered past making her lips tremble and teeth chatter.
Quistis, always the mature one. Always the responsible. Always the reasonable one. Have you changed, Trepe? Or are you just like the rest of them always living up to expectations, Seifer wondered studying her.
"Let's head over to Garden and settle this once and for all" Squall nodded.
"Gee, do we get a choice?"
"The Ragnarok's over there".
Seifer trudged all the way to the ship well aware that Exeter's aim never left his form. He passed the others which gave him looks he's used to receiving. Shock. Wariness. Anger. Hatred. As he passed his former instructor the look she gave from her eyes passed through to him. It was one of curiosity as if trying to study him like a book. Observing him like an unidentified specimen in a science experiment. He supposed she's done that to the majority of people she had met. She used to be a teacher she's meant to evaluate her students. It was new to him.
Because she never really paid attention to him. She never really observed him. She never looked at him as a person. The looks she always gave him were one of utter anger or disappointment. He didn't blame her. He forced himself to tear his eyes away from hers. He can't stand to look at her and see his failure through her eyes. Most of all, he can't stand her looking at him anymore.
For the very first time, Quistis Trepe is finally looking at him. This time it was real. And it's gnawing at his insides like a disease spreading through his self like cancer. Because he knew that she is finally realizing that although he did made a good deed today, tomorrow it will be forgotten. Because there is nothing left in him but fury, revenge, hatred, anger and violence.
There is nothing left in him, but sins.
Author's note: can anyone out there tell me how I can show the italics? Oh, and thanks again for the reviews, my lovely readers! Keep it up ^_~