DISCLAIMER: Final Fantasy 8 and its characters belong to Squaresoft/Enix. Story plot and other characters belong to me. Don't sue me, coz I need my money!

CHAPTER 9: Confrontation and Practical Jokes

Zell heaved up his duffel bag on his shoulder as he shut his dorm room. He had packed some of his clothes and magazines in his SeeD overnight bag before heading home in Balamb. Strolling down the dormitory hallway towards the cafeteria, he decided to pack some hotdogs before leaving.

After the meeting, he didn't want to take any chances. Remembering those awful nightmares, he decided to stay back to talk to Cid and Edea about visiting home to check on his mother, especially being all alone in their house. Cid was thoughtful about the idea with him being separated from the other SeeD's in case of any danger he will be powerless to fend for himself, but again he understood that he is worried about his mother as well. In the end with more reassurance from Zell, Cid agreed for him to go. He also suggested bringing someone else with him, so if anything happens he can have back up with help.

Now that was the tricky part. He doesn't really know anyone who would be willing enough to leave with him from Garden at the last minute. All other SeeD's either has important missions to go to, or busy with Garden duties. He sighed. Guess he's going to go buddy hunting for a while.

He reached the cafeteria entrance and groaned. There was a long line of cadets and SeeD's waiting to buy their lunches. Making a sour face, he stepped into the back of the line for his turn. Why can't there be more cashiers to serve us or why can't the students stop eating so much on the day he has to leave? Not really known for his patience one thing he hates the most is waiting. He's got about twenty students ahead of him. He prayed to Hyne that the hotdogs won't run out by the time he gets there. Dropping his bag to his side, he practised some air punches to keep him busy.

"He–oof!"

He turned around to face the cry to see Selphie with a surprised look on her face.

"What are you up to? Killing some invisible Wendigos?" she asked rubbing her foot where he stood on.

He gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry again, Selph. Waiting in line is killing me! You would have thought that they would add more cashiers by now especially the student body's growing. But no, they'd rather make us wait and suffer from starvation!" he complained with a sour expression on his face.

Selphie giggled. "You know Garden. They really wanna torture the living daylights outta their best SeeDs. I was just in here to grab some lunch before I arrange my Garden Festival meetings." She looked down and noticed his bag by his feet. "Where are you goin'?" she asked pointing to his bag.

"Oh, that. I was just heading home after packing some hotdogs; you know to check with Ma and stuff. She's all alone at home and I'm not exactly thrilled about that idea. Especially with that bitch on our asses" he replied waving a hand. "Oh yeah, Cid also wants me to have a buddy to go along in case anything bad happens".

Selphie nodded. "I see. It must be tough for you and your mom. I sure hope everything's gonna be alright."

"Thanks. How are the Garden Festival Committee meetings? Have you decided what the theme this year?" Zell asked moving his bag with his foot as the line shortened.

"Not bad. Not exactly great, either. We're kinda stuck on deciding the themes. Not every member can be present coz most of them have missions to go to. Anyway, I've decided to do some research on a good theme first before actually commencing. No one seems to agree on one decision or idea."

"Oh. Say, would you like to come with me to Balamb for a while? I know this is asking at the last minute, but I really need a buddy to go or else Cid might not be too thrilled with me going alone."

Selphie tilted her head to one side, considering. "Ummm…well I suppose so. I mean, I have no missions lined up so far, not til next month and the Garden meetings are dead so far. Yup! I'd love to come with ya!"

Zell grinned. "Alright! As soon as I get some hotdogs let's rock and roll away!"

"Ok. Let me pack my bags and I'll meet you by the Garden entrance, ok?"

"Sure. Meet you in around 20 minutes?"

"Sounds good"

Zell watched her retreating form with a satisfied smile. It certainly gives him comfort knowing that he's not alone. At least now he's got a buddy to help him out. A sudden vibe suddenly overcame him and he remembered his dreams, odd as they may be. The fires licking the walls of his house, his parents running and crying for help. The feeling of despair and anguish of being helpless was unbearable. He shut his eyes tightly. Whatever's going on he's gonna get to the bottom of this. No one is gonna hurt his mom. No one's gonna destroy his home. Ultimecia can you read my thoughts? Can you hear my voice in my head? You're gonna have to kill me first before you get through to my mom and friends. I will see to that.

Quistis strolled the hallway carrying two sets of cadet uniform, several changes of underwear, socks and a pair of military boots. She gritted her teeth at the thought of visiting Seifer to his dorm, carrying his clothes. Cid has insisted that he must be given clothes during his stay at Garden. And who else is the perfect person to bring them to his dorm room? She seems to be getting stuck to this babysitter role very quickly since no one else seems to be volunteering. She finally reached his dorm room at the end of the hallway. Balancing the neatly folded clothes in her arms, she gave the door quick taps with her foot.

Silence.

She waited impatience growing inside her. Frowning she gave the door loud kicks this time making a loud pounding noise.

"Fuck off! I'm not allowed visitors" came an irritated voice inside. She rolled her eyes.

"Seifer, it's me. Open the door, I came here to give you your clothes." She wished he'd hurry up and open the door, her arms are starting to ache from carrying his bundle.

"Oh, thrills and chills. I'm touched my instructor gave her favourite student a welcoming visit" he replied sarcastically finally opening the door. He was met with an icy glare from the blonde woman.

"Seifer here's your change of clothes while you stay here in Garden." she dumped the heavy pile into Seifer's arms her glare never faltering, voice even.

"I don't need your help or Garden's" his voice matched hers, low and snide. He dropped the pile into the floor by his feet.

"Fine. As much as I care I don't give a damn, Seifer. Go around Garden with your tattered, shitty clothes and look like the ass you are. I'm merely doing this as a favour." her voice rising, anger clearly written on it. She was sick of him. Sick of him pushing her. Sick of his continuing ungratefulness at her efforts to help him. "Listen well, Seifer. I'm here under orders to help you out. If you don't want to take it then leave. This could be your chance to get your freedom. If you're going to be a whining prick all the way I'll–"

"You'll what? I never asked to be helped, Instructor. If I can have the choice, I'll leave in a fucking millisecond. But no, Garden won't let me. I guess you or anyone hasn't changed. Still enjoying keeping prisoners like me under your fucking command." His eyes were cold, anger pooling every space of his emerald eyes. Who does she think she is? She's still the same bossy, high strung instructor in need of a chill pill.

Quistis gave an exasperated sigh, closing her eyes and clenching her jaw before her fist find Seifer's jaw. He never changed at all even after all these time. She could never get through to him and he never listened to her. "Listen up. If you would just cooperate things would go a lot easier to the both of us. While you are at Garden you will need to follow certain rules so that your stay here will go smoothly as possible. Tomorrow morning meet me in the conference room, so that Cid and I can brief you on what's to happen with your mental and physical examinations. See us there at 7:30am on the dot."

"And then what? We're gonna sit there for hours sitting pretty while I get interviewed by a bunch of money hungry morons? Oh, hey how's it going? Haven't seen you for a while. Oh, by the way don't be scared of me. I promise I won't kill you. That little incident back then was a huge mistake; I was a puppet by Ultimecia dangling by her strings. But now I can assure you I'm completely sane." He sneered turning around and walking back towards his bed. His clothes still laying in a pile on the floor. He gritted his teeth. These people would really wanna throw shit in his face now. As soon as he would enter the door, he's sure as hell they'd be ready with handcuffs and electric chair for a one week interrogation.

"Either you're in this or not! Which path are you willing to take? If you really want to waste your worthless life somewhere in the world, I really couldn't care less. It's Matron who wanted this bad. I don't even know why I took this job. I don't even know why I'm even bothering to speak with someone as bull headed as you! Quit your sorry act. I'm not here to feel sorry for you. If you wanted so badly to lose then to hell with you!" Quistis cried, her voice low and threatening. She had never felt so irritated with him. He had always been problematic. A troublemaker since he walked the doors of Balamb Garden. In every single chance he made her life difficult. It stops now. It's only so much that she can take.

Seifer whirled around to face her only to meet the loud slam of his door. Sure, he drove Quistis mad standing up against her in classes, disobeying her as an instructor and rebelling against Garden rules. She stood up to him, but never to this extent. She never sounded so mad, so driven, and so…intense. I was wrong about you, Instructor. Maybe you had changed. For better or for worse, he couldn't tell.

"Ma, I'm home!"

Zell dropped his bag by the kitchen floor as he and Selphie entered his house. It smelt strongly of home cooked steak and over by the counter he could see that his mother made some mashed potatoes with butter. It nearly sent him racing towards the food, his mouth watering. Just then a plump woman entered the kitchen wearing an apron and a dishtowel slung to her shoulder.

"Zell! My, what are you doing here? I didn't know you took a break from SeeD." Ma Dincht exclaimed, surprised to see her tattooed faced son standing in the kitchen. She rushed over to him and gave him a warm hug.

Zell blushed while Selphie giggled. "Awww, Ma! Well, I don't have any missions lined up for a while and since I really missed your cooking I decided to come home and visit ya." He scratched the back of his head. His mother laughed and ruffled his hair. "Oh, and I also invited Selphie over since she also told me she wanted take a break from her Garden duties." He said gesturing to the petite girl standing by the doorway.

"Selphie, of course! How have you been, my child? It's good to see you again." Ma Dincth came over Selphie and gave her a warm hug. Ever the maternal mother to everyone she always made people safe under her presence.

Selphie smiled. "Hi, Mrs Dincth. How are you doing? Hope you don't mind me staying over. It's much nicer here than Balamb Hotel and the food is waaaay better too!" she said hugging the plump woman back.

Ma Dincth chuckled. "Of course you're more than welcome to stay here! Feel free at home. Go get your bags unpacked while I fix you kids something to eat."

"Thanks, Ma." Zell replied flashing a grateful grin. He motioned to Selphie upstairs towards the bedrooms and they started heading towards it. "You can have the guest room. It's right next to mine. I promised it's clean and spotless."

He received the are-you-sure look from his smaller friend. "Yeah, right! For all I know there's the plastic poops and spiders you love leaving under the bed sheets." Her arch an eyebrow very wary of her friend.

"Plastic poops and spiders? Puh-lease! I'm a little too old for those kiddie tricks. That was ages ago, man. My tricks have evolved" he said putting on his I'm innocent look. He shifted his arm holding his bag over his shoulder a little to the side trying to conceal his smile. He stopped as they reached a white plain door. He reached out to the knob and turned it open. "Here it is. Hope you'll like it."

Selphie poked her head in observing her room for the time being. It was a small room enough for one person, but decorated simply. A single bed covered in white sheets and a blanket lay in the middle of the room against the wall. A bedside desk was situated beside it, a peach coloured lamp at top of it. There was a drawer up against the corner of the room decorated with pictures of roses and other porcelain trinkets. A closet door was opposite of the bed. A painting with a square frame hung on one side of the wall, a painting of a small cottage by the lakeside held simple beauty to the eyes. Selphie was interrupted from her pleasant observation of the room by a shuffling noise behind her.

"Yo, Selphie!"

She turned just in time to see something grey and furry fly towards her face. In surprise she took a step back as she stumbled to catch the little thing only to see the long ringed tail, button nose, whiskers and a pair of black beady eyes staring up her from her palm.

"Aahhhhhhhhh!"

She dropped the lifeless rat like a ton of bricks and stumbled into the bed. "Zell! I'm gonna kill you!"

A trail of wild laughter was heard throughout the house followed by a loud slam of a door.

Anger. That is all there is within her. An empty void with an endless depth beyond understanding. There is nothing in her. No one has ever gotten far enough to reach inside her.

Because all she had is anger. Darkness. Hate so powerful it consumes her every being. And this is just the beginning…

She escaped. The little blonde instructor managed to escape the curse. This doubled her rage, the growing stench of revenge tingling the tip of her tongue.

She hissed. She will damn them to damnation. She will destroy whoever destroyed her life…her being.

Tomorrow, they will bleed…

Author's note:

Sorry for the long absence! Oh well, college life completely consumed me over the last several months. Got great results tho! Please make my day better by following this up with review! Cheers )