Author's Note: YES! FINALLY!!! AFTER YEARS (literally) OF WAITING! I PRESENT TO YOU CHAPTER 9!!! YESSS!!!!! Okay okay, first I have to apologize for the LONG LONG LOOOOOOONG wait for this chapter. Hopefully, you all will forgive me. I SWEAR!!! SeiFu fans, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!! I PROMISE YOU!!!!
Chapter 9
Persistent Pain
It was the least likely person to have ever come across Fujin's pills. Yet, it still did not erase the fact that the pills now rested in the palm of her hand.
"You…have…no…right…" Fujin rasped with great difficulty as she sat up from her bed. It was so hard to even spare a breath.
"No right? With these?"
Rinoa held up the bottle in her hand, shaking them loudly. She gave Fujin a sharp questioning look. "And just what are these for?"
Fujin gave a sharp intake of breath and clutched the stitch on her chest. "None of your damn business!" she rasped with great difficulty.
"Now is that how you would treat someone who has your precious pills in her hand?" Rinoa asked slyly, a toying smile on her lips. "I could sell you out for this, you know. Tell Seifer just what you've been up to."
With all her might, Fujin lunged at Rinoa with one swift movement. Within a split second, she was on top of Rinoa, wrestling her for the pills. "BITCH! LET GO!" she snarled, raking her nails against Rinoa's peachy skin.
Rinoa yelped and threw the bottle of pills towards Fujin, unable to hold her off any longer. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Get off me!"
Fujin lunged for the pills and immediately twisted open the cover. Popping two pills into her mouth, she swallowed and quickly collapsed, barely making it to her bed.
Rinoa rose up from the floor and shot Fujin a nasty glare before walking up to her. "Just what the hell does he see in you?!" she demanded, folding her arms over her chest. "Look at you! You're all skin and bones. You're unfeminine. And you're killing yourself!" She lunged at the SeeD's shoulders and shook her. "So why are you all he can think about?"
But the words never reached Fujin's ears. The world was roaring now, like a hungry lion. She was drowning in a painless bliss. Rinoa no longer mattered. Her image was fading with the rest of the world. All Fujin needed now was sleep.
"Listen to me!" Rinoa snapped, growing slightly panicked from Fujin's lack of response.
But there was no reply. Fujin was fast asleep.
Rinoa sighed and clenched her fists. She needed an answer. She had to have an answer. Spitefully, she glanced down at the open bottle of pills rolling out of Fujin's limp fingers and smiled.
Racing out of the room, she could barely keep her heart from leaping with glee. She had an idea.
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Itwas nearly midnight before Seifer arrived at the hotel. The endless interrogations and interviews drained him of most of his energy for the day, and there was absolutely nothing in the world more desirable than sleep.
Staggering over to his room, he fumbled with his keys and quickly unlocked the door. But as he began to make his way into his room, he noticed something very peculiar. Fujin's room had been left open.
Panicked, he stormed inside her room and cursed. Images of her dead body swam into his mind. What if she had been kidnapped again? What if she had been killed?
"Fujin!"
The door flew open all the way, and Seifer stormed into the dark room. As he frantically searched the room, he soon found a petite figure lying motionless on the edge of the bed. It was Fujin.
Seifer's heart skipped a beat. Was she alright? Was she dead? The questions all raced into his mind until he was ready to explode. Quickly, he rushed over to her, inspecting her carefully. Finally, he gave a sigh of relief and relaxed, convinced Fujin was merely in a deep sleep.
"Jesus, Fu. You sure know how to get a guy scared," he murmured softly, observing her sleeping face. Gently, he brushed the silver hair away from her face and caressed her pale cheek. With one finger, he traced a spiral on one cheek and moved it slowly down to her neck. It was then that he noticed she had not fully buttoned her shirt.
Perhaps she was too tired to manage it, Seifer thought, his finger moving to graze the skin below her neck.
Fujin looked so beautiful asleep. Her features were softened and she became delicate. Her moody scowl was absent from her face, and she resembled a pale, fallen angel.
Seifer gasped and pulled away, trying to shake the flood of thoughts and feelings away. Fujin was his partner. His childhood friend. She was nothing more. Angrily, he cursed at himself and looked away from her pale face. Fujin wasn't interested in him anyway. And she would never forgive him for making a move on her while in her slumber.
The SeeD sucked in a deep breath and took a step back away from the bed. He wanted to leave. But he couldn't. Something was stopping him. A force within him wanted to stay with Fujin for a little longer. This was his dream. His ideal paradise. Once Fujin awoke, his dream would be over.
With trembling fingers, he reached over to caress her face once again. He then traced a finger to her pale lips. They were cold. Then, in one swift movement, before he could stop himself, Seifer's mouth found his way to Fujin's lips, covering hers with his.
But suddenly, a thought struck him. A frightening thought, shattering his paradise forever.
She was not breathing!
Alarmed, Seifer checked for any signs of a pulse and could barely make out its weak beating. Something was wrong after all. Fujin was dying!
Seifer had no choice. Quickly, he fumbled for his cell phone and jammed his fingers onto the buttons, praying someone would pick up in time.
"Dr. Kadowaki's office. How may I help you?"
>>>>>>>>>>
"Listen up so I don't have to repeat myself."
"Yessir!"
"This is the biggest mission we've had so far, children. I'm expecting the best out of all of you. If you fail this mission, then our society could be doomed forever. Is that clear?"
"Yessir!"
"We will be arriving at Garden shortly. Have your equipment ready and assemble yourselves in your squads by then. You have twenty seconds. Dismissed!"
"Yessir!"
>>>>>>>>>>
"I said 'get back!' Dammit! Sai! Move!"
"There are too many of them! We won't be able to hold all of them off for long!"
"We've lost all communications with the Psyche. We're on our own now."
"What do you think…do you think we're doing the right thing?"
"Now's not exactly the time to get sentimental, Sai. We are young. But we are the best. Let's just get this over with for now."
"You're right. We've been through much worse. Let's get this over with. Ready, Fu?"
"Ready."
>>>>>>>>>>
"Avery! Fujin! What are you doing?! Get down!"
"Sai, you're hurt!"
"Doesn't matter now. Just get the hell out!"
"Are you stupid?! I'm not –"
"FUJIIIIIIIIN!!!!!"
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"SAI! DON'T!"
There was a giant spike on the screen. Her heart rate kicked back to normal.
Fujin choked at the rush of air filling her lungs, and her eye watered. Blinded by the bright light, she yelped and covered her eye, gasping.
"My God! She's alive!"
Firm hands steadied her and forced her to look up. Instantly, another blinding set of lights aimed into her eye, and she was forced to look away once again.
"She shows no signs of trauma. At least none I'm familiar with."
"If you call that not trauma."
"She's just shaken up. It's normal if you have your heartbeat suddenly pump back to life when it's stopped for quite some time." It was Dr. Kadowaki.
Fujin's eye began to adjust to the light, and her vision soon cleared. Faces soon swam into view. Familiar faces.
"Gentlemen, please. Move back. She's been through enough these past few weeks. Let her have some air," Dr. Kadowaki snapped, ushering Raijin and Seifer out of the infirmary.
"But we just got here, ya know," Raijin grumbled, fighting off the older woman.
Seifer remained quiet as emerald eyes rested on Fujin's pallid face. "Who's Sai?" he murmured quietly.
It took a moment before Fujin could respond. Seifer's gaze made her uneasy. There was no piercing glare in them as usual. Finally, she looked away and shook her head. "DEAD," she answered quietly.
"That's enough bothering her for one day, Seifer. You had better get going now. Come on, both of you. Out!" Dr. Kadowaki ordered, pushing Raijin successfully out of the infirmary.
For a long moment Seifer stood where he was, his eyes never leaving Fujin. Finally, in a quiet voice, he answered, "Let go of my hand, Fu. I'll see you later."
It was then that Fujin realized that she had grasped Seifer's hand when she had awoken. Blushing, she reluctantly let go and muttered a small apology before rolling over and throwing the covers back over her.
"Seifer was really worried about you, Fujin. It would do best you told him the truth and ease his fears for your safety," came Dr. Kadowaki's voice.
Fujin closed her eye and chose to ignore the suggestion. She would never tell Seifer. Never; for he would surely hate her for it. No, the secret was to remain with her and Dr. Kadowaki. And that was the end of it.
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It took a lot of convincing before Fujin was finally allowed to leave the infirmary. Although with a skeptical look on her face, Dr. Kadowaki finally complied with the young SeeD's vigorous demands, thus allowing her to wander about Garden in haste.
Fujin roamed about Garden for a few minutes, trying to make sense of her surroundings and what had gone on in her absence. But as she strolled over to the cafeteria, she couldn't help but ponder on Seifer. His very presence haunted her mind for hours. He was like a never-ending song. He wouldn't go away.
Stopping by the cafeteria to order something to munch on, Fujin wondered the absence of mirth in Seifer's eyes. He had looked at her strangely that day in the infirmary. Well, not strangely. Differently, perhaps. Fujin sighed. The very thought of Seifer was giving her a headache. Why couldn't that idiot just say what he was thinking for once?
"I take it this is going to be one of your 'Let's Avoid Seifer Day,'" a familiar voice rang out, snapping Fujin out of her reverie.
In the middle of nibbling on a pretzel, Fujin found herself face to face with none other than Seifer. With a reluctant sigh, she motioned for him to sit and continued to gnaw at her food.
There was a long period of silence. An awkward silence that Fujin preferred. Finally, Seifer chose to break the ice. "Why don't I take you out–"
Fujin choked. "WHAT?!" she demanded, catching her breath. Then, regaining her composure, she added, "WHEN?"
"Right now. It's pretty late, I know," Seifer remarked, ignoring Fujin's suspicious glare, "but I'm sure some bars are still open at this hour."
Seifer, you idiot! You know I don't drink, Fujin thought, discarding the rest of her pretzel in disgust.
"I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. So get up and let's go." And with that, he grabbed Fujin's arm and literally dragged her out of Garden in a flash.
So much for sweeping a girl off her feet.
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"Maybe I should've just invited Raijin. You're a lousy drinking buddy."
Fujin shot Seifer a glare as she shoved her drink aside. Then why'd you bring me here? She thought grouchily, watching Seifer down another shot. With a sigh, she rose from her seat and shook her head. "LEAVING," she announced, heading for the exit.
Suddenly, Seifer lunged for her arm. "Fine. We'll leave." And with that, he chucked his money towards the bartender and once again dragged Fujin out of the bar.
"You know, you sure don't make it easy for a person to warm up to you," Seifer remarked, once they were outside and out of earshot. "I was hoping to get you a little drunk so you wouldn't hit me if I asked the wrong question. Didn't exactly, work. But we still need to talk."
Fujin felt a sinking feeling in her gut. Seifer sounded serious.
"I know you don't like me very much, Fujin. But hear me out," Seifer began, fumbling in his pockets for something. "There's something going on with you, and I'd honestly like you to tell me for once what's going on. You're not making things easier by hiding things from me."
"ENOUGH," Fujin replied, holding up a hand to silence the blonde. "NOTHING WRONG. FINE."
"No, everything's not fine," Seifer snapped bitterly. "I've watched you, Fu. You've been in some sort of pain for a long time. What are you trying to hide?"
"NOTHING," came the brisk response. With a disapproving look, Fujin began to walk away quickly.
But Seifer was too quick for her. In one quick move, he blocked her way and thrust something at her. "Just tell me one thing."
Fujin looked down at the object Seifer had thrown into her hands and immediately recognized it. It was her bottle of pills.
"Why do you need those pills, Fujin?" Seifer said quietly, his emerald gaze staring intently into her crimson one. When he received no reply, his face twisted into anger. "What the hell is wrong with you, Fujin?! You're not sick! Why are you taking them? You don't need them!"
Fujin felt hot tears well up into her eye, and she shook her head vigorously, blocking them out. "I need them," she said quietly, her hands trembling as they encircled the bottle.
"What the hell for?! Are you stupid?! Do you want to kill yourself that bad?" Seifer demanded angrily.
Suddenly, a powerful rage welled up inside, and Fujin screamed. "Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?!" she lashed out violently. "You idiot! You've known me for so long and still you have no idea! I've never tried to kill myself! Never!"
"Then explain why you were in the infirmary!" Seifer snapped. "Explain why you weren't breathing when I found you? Explain why they had to pump out all those pills you took that night!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Fujin snapped back. "I'm careful with my prescription. I never take more than two a night!"
"Don't lie to me! Just tell me the truth, dammit!" Seifer grabbed Fujin and pulled her to him, holding her tightly. "Do you hate me that much to do something like that? Do you want me to be miserable?" His voice faltered, and he was no longer yelling.
Fujin found herself crushed against Seifer's chest. Suddenly tears rushed from her eyes, and she no longer had the power to stop them. "Seifer…" she whispered, resting her head against his chest. "Why? Why do you act like you care?"
"Why? Because I do care, you idiot!" Seifer answered, holding Fujin close. "Because I don't want to lose you." He buried his head into her hair wishing time would stop. "I was scared. I was so scared of losing you. When you weren't breathing, I was afraid you would never wake up. And it scared me to no end."
"Seifer…" Fujin whispered softly, losing herself in Seifer's warm embrace.
"Fu," came the gentle whisper. "Fu. I know you hate me…But…even this moment is enough. Please, just…let me have this moment with you…"
The tears never stopped flowing that night, and Fujin couldn't understand why. Seifer…Oh, Seifer. Why? Why do you do this to me, Seifer? Why do you punish me with all this pain? How can you care so much for my pain?----------------------------------
Author's Note: Oooookay, the chapter may have been a bit confusing, but DO NOT WORRY! For I will REVEAL ALL soon!!! I PROMISE!!!! Make sure to Review and tell me what you thought. Was I too mushy in the end?