Chapter 19

Seifer's POV

Hyne, I really didn't expect that I'd have to share the room with the Instructor. I seriously wished that the others would reconsider the arrangement. I think that it seriously inappropriate that I share a room with Quistis. Things will be so awkward. I have no idea how am I supposed to "keep my distance" when the room is practically the size of a cupboard. It'll be hell.

I walked into the room with my luggage after Quistis went in. I walked in to see her unpacking her essentials. Hyne, she seemed as though nothing happened and that it was as though she shared rooms with male collegues on every mission.

"Now what?" I asked, sincerely wondering how were we going to share this limited amount of space.

She turned around and looked at me for a moment before shrugging and returning to her unpacking. Then she said, "I guess this is fine with me. But remember what I said, stay away.

I'm not about to lose my concentration on the mission." She sighed and said "To be honest, I don't like this arrangement either. But, if this means that the mission will carry on smoothly, I have no qualms about sharing the room." She went silent and took a deep breath and added "And the bed. It won't for either of us to use the floor or the couch as both us know how crucial it is for us to get proper rest. Of course, if sleeping on the floor makes you feel better, I'm not stopping you."

If there was anything to make me feel more like a worm in the ground, this would probably be it. I mean, she's supposedly the lady, but it turns out that I'm the shy one. Hyne, I feel like a loser. Whichever. Looks like I really should learn how to take things to my stride.

"Fine, thanks. So, which side of the bed do you want? The window side?" I asked as I placed my bags by the door.

"I'd prefer the window, if you don't mind."

I simply shrugged and said "Go ahead. I know you like the window." And I placed my gunblade by the bedside table that I would be using and started placing some of my items on the table.

"Thanks. Say, how long do you think the mission will take? Or what will be required of us? And I get the feeling that this mission will even affect us personally. In fact, I don't like the mission at all and I get the idea that something, well, bad will happen." she said, biting her lips.

Oh man, she's now getting the chills.That's so... unbelievable. Not that I could blame her. In fact, I doubt that any of us actually like the mission, especially since no one knows anything about the mission. "I don't know. None of us do, but I get the idea that this mission will probably be one that none of us will forget. In a bad way. And I don't think any of us are comfortable with the mission and its details. But I think that we should simply just accept it and just do our best for the mission. I think all of us will survive it, no worries there, as we all know we can take care of ourselves. So quit worrying, especially since it won't help matters to worry. Here, grab some of it. It'll help." I passed her the tin containing my private stock of...

"Candy? You eat chewable fruit candies?" she slapped her free hand on to her forehead and started laughing. "My goodness! Who would have thought that you ate such candies too?" She placed my tin onto the bed and opened up her bag and took out an identical tin. She opened it and showed me the contents. We both ended up laughing our heads off.

"Gracious me," I said", trying to stop laughing "Who would believe this?! Don't tell me you happen to store your chewing gum in a small tin in your pocket too?" We both reached into our pockets and lo behold! Another pair of identical tins! This just made us laugh even harder.

"Sheesh. I don't believe this! I think this is starting to get too coincidental! Has this got something to do with how we were brought up? If so, we must indeed come from the same

orphanage!"

Suddenly, I remembered something. "Speaking about the orphanage, when do you intend to take the pill to restore your memories?"

Quistis merely shrugged. "I don't know. I keep putting it off. I think I'll go once this mission is over. I seriously can't imagine how I'll see things after I take the pill."

"Same case for me. Say, why don't we go get the pill together?"

"I don't see why not. After all, I'll feel better with you around."

"So, I guess that's settled then. Wanna go grab a drink?"

"A soda will be nice."

So we left the room and headed for the miniature kitchen on board the Ragnarok.

"Hey, Quisty! Can you come here for a moment? I think a cadet wants to ask you about whip usage." Selphie waved her over.

Quistis turned and said "Looks like the soda will have to wait. I'll join you later."

So I went off to get a soda for myself. Just as i walked into possibly the smallest room on board the ship, I walked right into Chicken Wuss and Mr. Perv. They were talking about something, but immediately stopped talking about the topic when I entered the kitchen.

"...believe it went so smoothly! I mean, that's probably gotta be the easiest thing I've pulled off! I still can't believe it!" said Zell's shadow as it punched the air above him.

"Yeah! I can't wait to see their faces when... OOF!!! WTF do you think you are doing?! The... OH! Oh... Hi Seifer." said Irvine, rubbing his stomach where Zell booya-ed him.

"Nice to see you around." added Zell.

WTF happened to Chicken Wuss? Did he eat something weird? If there's anything that makes me smell the rat more than usual, it would be Chicken Wuss' comment.

I narrowed my eyes. "Is there something that I shouldn't know? Or did the cat get your tongue?" I said, sounding as though I noticed nothing.

I almost died from laughing too hard when I saw the Chicken and the Pervert turn pale.

"No. There's nothing you shouldn't know. Right, Irvine?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes. Nothing at all."

"Fine." I decided not to pursue the matter. After all, what concerns them may not concern me. I picked out two cans of soda and went to com-station where Quistis was busy coaching a cadet. I sat at the workstation nearby and checked out some announcements. Looks like the Garden Committee really enjoyed decorating the ballroom for the graduation ball. They did so much decoration that they are still busy removing the decorations.

"I'm done. I can't believe how little that cadet knew. I think she's the new cadet Professor Aki was talking about. She's supposedly very talented."

"Well, sometimes people tend to exaggerate. And there's such a thing known as mental block. But all of the above happens to wusses only."

Quistis nudged me. "Nobody's perfect. That includes you."

"No, I'm perfect, for I'm nobody!"

I got kicked for that.

Author's comments: Well, looks like I've decided not to do the hinted lemon chapters after all… And after all the waiting… Well, to all those who wish to read those chapters, gomen. Just hope that I'll actually upload it to my website… twitches at the scene which I actually typed out but refuses to upload for fear of the deuses who own this place and may delete it due to its intensity Anyhow, I now have a webpage. And this fic may be found there to. Here's the

Note: I WILL change the background once I get my act together!!! (Same goes for the rest of the page. stabeth my friends who have yet to send me their links Will add a guestbook or a msgboard in the near future. Possibly ditto a journal…)

Once again, thanks for the reviews!!!

Gelidus Era