Chapter 10

Sai Sanada

…And he held me there for a long time. Pressed against his chest, I was helpless. But his touch wasn't rough and forceful like always. He was gentle, almost careful; afraid he might somehow break me.

I wondered what could have possibly possessed him to hold me the way he did. He loved Rinoa, didn't he?

He was drunk. Yes. That's it. He had been drinking. He doesn't see me that way. We're just friends. Childhood friends…

But…But if that were true…why does it hurt so much? Why can't I fight the pain anymore?

There was a soft groan, and Fujin jolted out of her thoughts immediately. Jesus! Where the hell am I? she thought, looking around the room. Within seconds she recognized her surroundings and her worries eased slightly.

She was in the hotel in Balamb. She had checked in earlier to…Fujin rubbed her temples. To do what?

Again there was another groan, this time louder.

Fujin's eye widened and she covered her mouth to muffle out her scream of terror. Did she…? Did he…? Did she and Seifer…? In an instant, she turned crimson red and slowly turned to glance at Seifer. No, we couldn't have done…that

With a small yelp, the thought struck her. Seifer had been drinking heavily that night. He eventually passed out in Fujin's arms, and she had no choice but to haul him over to a hotel room.

Fujin let off a sigh of relief and took a deep breath, regaining her composure. Seifer, you idiot! I can't make sense of you anymore. Why'd you have to go drinking all that liquor for?

Peering closely into his sleeping face, Fujin crinkled her nose and rolled her eye. Slowly, she crept onto the bed, curious to see if the effects of the hangover were taking their toll on Seifer.

Seifer groaned and mumbled something under his breath. It was barely audible, but Fujin was sure she heard her name in the sentence.

Curious, Fujin moved in closer, careful not to rouse the sleeping SeeD. But as she drew nearer, something resting on her lap slipped over and fell with a loud plop against the floor.

"Shit!" she cursed loudly, forgetting to remain silent.

Suddenly, two arms slung around Fujin and pulled her down quite forcefully onto the bed. Fujin yelped and quickly froze, trying to register what was happening. Seifer had literally grabbed her and was now snuggling against her, still half asleep.

"S-Seifer! You idiot! What the hell are you doing!" Fujin growled, flailing her arms wildly. "You pervert! Let me go!"

Emerald eyes peeked out drowsily, blinking a few times. Finally, Seifer winced and released Fujin from his hold. "Ow! What was that for?" he groaned.

Fujin scampered off the bed and backed against the wall, a murderous look on her face. "Keep your sick dreams to yourself!" she snarled, too upset to revert back to her monotone voice.

Seifer made a face and rubbed his aching temples. "Shh! Keep your voice down, will you? It's not my fault I can't control my own dreams."

Crimson burned against Fujin's cheeks, and she clenched her fists tightly. "Well now that you're a awake, it's time for work! I'm going ahead." And with that, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door – loudly – on her way out.

Seifer felt as if a hammer were pounding repeatedly on his head. With a pained groan, he shifted off the bed and immediately spotted something on the floor. As he peered closely at it, he noticed it was an old leather-bound book. It was worn and tattered in most places. There were burn marks on its leather binding, and looked as if it were used often.

"H-hey, Fu, you forgot your–"

But Fujin had already left before she could hear him.

Groaning, Seifer picked up the book and flipped through the pages. "What the hell's she doing with this old–"

He soon stopped and gaped at the inside cover of the book. Again and again he read it, trying to make sense of it. Should he read it? Or should he give it back to Fujin. After all, it was her diary; a diary – it appeared – she had kept for over ten years.

Glancing around the room to make sure there was no one else near him, he flipped open to the first page and began to read.

September 21, Windhill

Today is my last day here in Windhill. The Psyche has arrived and is recruiting kids my age to join in some special military training. What for, I haven't the slightest idea. Dad and mom don't seem to want to bring the subject up at all. I think they're upset that Sai and I are leaving today.

Actually, mom didn't want us to go at all. She said we were too young to be trained into adults. She said we're not ready.

I think that's why she's ordered me to keep track of everything that happens in this journal. She told me that one day when I come back to Windhill, I'll be able to give her a good account of everything that's happened to us.

I guess I'll try to write everyday. I can't promise much though.

Anyway, I'm really excited about this trip! I wonder if they're going to train Sai and me how to fight. Maybe we'll get to see some combat when we're old enough. I can't wait!

Sai, on the other hand, doesn't want to go. "I'm scared, sis," he told me today just before we packed up our bags. He doesn't want to be trained how to fight. He wants to stay with mom.

But Sai and I are the best of friends. We've never been apart. From the day we were born, we were together always. I think that's why Sai's coming along with me even though he's scared.

I'm scared too.

Fujin leaned her head against the table as she waited for her coffee to be served to her. Sighing, she closed her eyes and tried to picture something pleasant in her mind. God! She hurt like hell.

"Here you go, miss," a waiter spoke up, placing a cup of coffee in front of Fujin.

Lifting her head from the table, Fujin gave the waiter a nod and moved the cup towards her. Careful not to burn her fingers, she blew against the drink, trying to cool it down.

Suddenly, a loud ring erupted, disturbing the serene atmosphere.

Fujin placed her cup down and fumbled hastily in her pockets. What the hell is it now? she thought grumpily, clearly irritated by the abrupt disruption. Angrily, she pulled out her cell phone and jammed her finger against several buttons. This better be good.

"WHAT WANT?"

For a moment there was no answer, and Fujin was ready to hang up and glower angrily at her coffee. But as she moved her cell phone away from her ear, a voice rang out almost timidly.

She knew that voice. It was a voice she thought she would never hear again. But as she opened her mouth to speak, she suddenly looked up and out the window. Immediately, her attention was diverted.

What's going on? Fujin thought, no longer paying attention to the speaker on the other end. For a moment, she thought she saw something fly through the air, striking a rich businessman down in seconds. But before she could confirm what she saw, a crowd quickly emerged, surrounding the area where the man had fallen.

Fujin immediately rose from her seat and hurried out of the restaurant. In her haste to get to the scene, she dropped her cell phone onto the floor with the speaker still connected on the other line.

October 11, Psyche

Sai's sick again. It's been nearly two weeks now and he's still motion sick. I doubt he'll ever get used to living here.

Our commanding officers treat Sai bad. They're always pushing him around and yelling at him because he can't get anything right. They made an example out of him and beat him in front of all the trainees to show what would happen if we slacked off in our training.

Life here isn't what I expected it to be. I'm afraid for Sai. He never cries when he gets beaten up, but I know how he's feeling. He doesn't have any friends here and all the other recruits avoid him. They avoid me too. They say we're both cursed because we look exactly alike.

What should I do?

Oh no, Sai's throwing up all over the floor again…

Seifer skimmed through the pages quickly, wondering why Fujin's words kept him glued to the pages. This was not the Fujin he had grown up with. Fujin – as he had always known to be – was spooky and quiet. She had always spoken in one-worded sentences and always had that blank look.

Seifer thought for a moment, running a hand through his hair. Who the hell was Sai? he thought, puzzled. Back at the infirmary, Fujin had screamed the same name before regaining her senses. Were they the same?

Fujin had never spoken about having siblings. In fact, she had never spoken about her family at all. Seifer skimmed through the pages of Fujin's diary once again. Why was she keeping such an old book with her?

"MOVE!" Fujin barked at the crowd, pushing her way to the center of the crime scene. Ignoring the rude protests made at her, she shoved the rest of the civilians away and crouched over the fallen victim. In an instant, she knew he was dead.

"Murder!" someone cried out, backing away from the crowd.

"What the hell's going on!"

Fujin peered closely at the corpse, wondering what had killed the man so quickly. Earlier, she had seen something whiz through the air, but there were no traces of any weaponry near the man. He wasn't killed by bullets, she thought, scanning the body carefully. And he doesn't seem to be bleeding. So how did this man die?

"Ma'am, step away from the body, please," a voice ordered, parting the crowd.

Fujin took a step back and allowed four men with a stretcher to pass. "DEAD," she remarked dully, watching as the men lifted the dead body from the ground and onto the stretcher.

"Heart attack, most likely," replied a police officer. "The sun out here can be murder to some people."

But Fujin shook her head in disagreement. There was no way in hell that the man was killed by a heart attack. The man was young and looked in top shape. He was murdered out in broad daylight. For a long moment, Fujin thought this over as the ambulance took the corpse away. Whoever it was, she thought to herself, a scowl rising to her face, they wanted to make the death look natural. And so far, they've succeeded.

"What's going on?"

Seifer rushed into the autopsy room and found Fujin already waiting for him.

"MURDER," was all Fujin answered, gesturing at the dead body.

Seifer walked over to the corpse and examined it carefully. There appeared to be no signs of a murder weapon being used on him, but Fujin seemed convinced that the man simply did not die of a heart attack. Looking up, Seifer gave the doctor in the room a quizzical look. "Well, doc, what's your diagnosis?"

"I'm afraid this man's most likely suffered a heart attack," he replied, pointing to the corpse's chest. "There is a bruise where his heart is, as if someone struck him, but at the time, witnesses say that the man was clearly by himself when he had collapsed.

Seifer lifted the dead man's arm and looked at it carefully. "Who was this man?" he asked curiously.

"Eugene Tankada," the doctor replied. "He was a biochemist for Deiling Corps. He's worked with General Caraway a number of times on certain projects."

"General Caraway," the blonde SeeD murmured to himself, thinking. There had to be a link.

Suddenly, Fujin's eye bulged and she grabbed for the arm Seifer had been inspecting. Wordlessly, she twisted the arm and held it up towards Seifer.

It was then that Seifer noticed something peculiar about Tankada's arm. "What is this?" he asked, pointing to what appeared to be a small tattoo in red ink.

The doctor peered closely at the tattoo and scowled. "A tattoo – no…It's…" He rubbed a gloved hand over it and cleared his throat. "It's an injection."

Fujin and Seifer exchanged looks. There was something wrong.

"How long till you can get me this man's health history?" Seifer asked, frowning as he glanced at the injection.

The doctor motioned to one of his nurses. Wordlessly, the nurse exited the room.

"And blood," Seifer added as a final thought. "I want to see if he's been taking in any illegal substances. Maybe whatever medication he was on triggered the heart attack."

Once again the doctor nodded in agreement and moved to do what was instructed.

Meanwhile, Fujin drew Seifer over to the side, away from the doctor and glanced around the room. When she was satisfied no one could hear them, she whispered, "Something else is going on around here."

For a moment, Seifer gave no reply, too surprised to hear Fujin speak in sentences.

"I saw something fly out at Tankada before he collapsed. I think that's what caused the bruise on his chest," Fujin whispered quietly, turning to glance at the corpse of Tankada.

Before Seifer could give a reply, the doctor spoke up, interrupting the conversation. "I will have his blood samples earliest by tomorrow morning, and I will make sure to give you two a call once I can get this man's file."

Again Fujin and Seifer exchanged looks before replying. Ignoring Fujin's look of disapproval, Seifer gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. We'll stop by tomorrow morning as soon as possible. Be ready then," he replied, grabbing Fujin's arm and dragging her out of the room before she could protest.

Once they were out of the building, Fujin shook her arm out of Seifer's grip and was ready to strike him. "Seifer, what the hell are you doing?" she hissed through gritted teeth. You idiot! That doctor's not to be trusted!

But before Seifer could reply, another voice spoke up, interrupting the conversation for good.

"Seifer! Oh my god! What's going on? The media's going crazy over here!"

Suddenly, cameras flashed in every direction, blinding both Fujin and Seifer as they looked up in surprise.

Rinoa emerged from the flashing lights and tugged against Seifer's arm, pulling him away from the crazed media. Fujin, on the other hand was mauled over by reporters and journalists, unable to escape the crowd quick enough.

"Seif–" Fujin began, pushing against the microphones shoved at her direction. As she reached out into the bustling crowd, a hand gripped her firmly and pulled her away from the media. Within a few minutes, she was running through Balamb, ending up in an isolated area, away from the public eye.

"Fujin…"

Expecting to hear Seifer's voice, Fujin looked up abruptly, a scowl on her face. The voice she heard was soft and wispy, almost inaudible. It was then that a vision flashed before her eyes…

Silver hair cropped short…Matching red eyes…Tall, lanky figure…

"Sai…" Fujin whispered breathlessly, gaping at a splitting image of herself.

Crimson eyes stared back at her emotionlessly. "Sis…" He moved his hidden hand out of his pocket and held something up towards Fujin.

Fujin's pulse began to race. Taking a step back, she stiffened. "Sai…what are you doing?"

Sai held a gun in his hand, pointing it at his twin. "Sis…" he whispered quietly. And with that, he fired.