Chapter 4

Quistis, Squall, Rinoa, Selphie, and Zell glanced curiously to where Irvine was pointing. It was at that moment that Squall recognized who the girl was.

"Who's that?" Selphie asked curiously, staring at the mysterious girl.

"That's Squall's last fiancée, the one before Rinoa came along," Irvine answered. "Her name's Lady Fujin Sanada."

Zell choked over the pastry he stuffed in his mouth. "Hack! What?! That's Fujin?! She's so…different looking. The last time I remembered her, she had both of her eyes!" he shouted in surprise. "Damn! What the hell happened to her?!"

Squall shrugged. "That was six years ago. She was only eleven back then," he answered.

Irvine gulped and nudged Zell. "Remember when you asked Squall how she took the news about the engagement being broken off? Well, obviously she didn't take it so well," he whispered quietly.

As Quistis gazed at Fujin's pale face, she quickly looked away as the mysterious girl suddenly glanced at her. The mysterious girl's gaze had sent shivers down her spine, making her look away quickly. "Was she always so…stern?" she asked curiously.

Squall nodded. "Although when I knew her, she was rather different looking, she was always stern and quiet. No one knows why, though," he answered.

"Hmm, maybe she was just lonely," Selphie suggested. "Didn't she have any friends?"

Irvine nodded. "Yeah, but not much. Usually she was always hanging out with only one of them though, since the other one was always away." He pointed towards the man next to Fujin. "That's Raijin. He's always following Fujin almost everywhere."

Zell frowned. "This other friend of hers…who does it happen to be?" he asked curiously.

Rinoa let go of Squall and crossed her arms over her chest. "Um, no one really knew, since he was rarely seen. But I think that guy she's talking with is that one," she replied in boredom. "He looks like that guy you're engaged to."

Quistis glanced at Seifer and sighed. "He is the one I'm engaged to," she muttered grimly.

*

"Yo, Fu, ya know. That chick Seifer's gonna marry is starin' at you, ya know," Raijin said, noticing Quistis look away.

Fujin continued to stare at Quistis with her one eye before answering. "AFFIRMATIVE," Fujin answered, looking away.

Seifer glanced at the beautiful Quistis and smirked. "She seems pretty interested in you, Fu. Why don't we go and say hi?" he asked slyly.

Fujin shook her head. "NEGATIVE," was the dry reply.

"Why not? I'm sure she'll be glad to meet you. Besides, if she were going to be my wife-to-be, shouldn't my best friend get the chance to know her?" Seifer asked, almost dragging her towards Quistis.

"What about me, ya know?" Raijin growled, catching up with the two.

"What about you?" Seifer mumbled.

Rinoa frowned as they came towards them. "Don't look now, but they're coming this way."

Seifer stopped in front of Quistis and grinned. "Ah, princess, nice to see you. I'd like you to meet my little posse," he said, gently pushing Fujin towards Quistis.

Fujin gazed at Quistis unemotionally. Her crimson eye made Quistis' skin prickle slightly.

"And this is Raijin," Seifer added as Raijin glared at him.

"Pleased to meet you, ya know," Raijin said, extending his hand out to shake with.

Fujin's eyes moved to glance at Squall, who was staring at her uneasily. "LEONHART."

Seifer followed Fuijin's gaze and scowled. "Well, if it isn't Puberty Boy, the one who broke my little Fu's heart," he sneered in a hostile way.

Fujin's pale face turned bright red in a second. "NEGATIVE!" she growled in her usual monotone voice.

Squall glared at Seifer unemotionally. "…Whatever."

Seifer chuckled amusedly. "Same ol' Puberty Boy, huh?"

At this Squall didn't reply. He stood unemotionally, as everyone grew uneasy.

As another waltz began to play, Seifer grinned mischievously. "Princess, care to dance with me?" he offered, extending his hand out towards Quistis.

The princess hesitantly accepted the offer and glanced at her other guests. "Excuse us, please," she muttered, before being swept away in Seifer's grasp towards the middle of the dance floor.

Seifer studied Quistis' moves carefully as she moved to the music. "You're a good dancer. The best I've danced with in a while," he complemented.

Quistis' cheeks glowed red. "I thought you knew? Didn't you see me dancing with Squall?" she asked curiously. She continued to stare at his charming face, studying it carefully.

"You shouldn't believe what you see until you experience it yourself. Where I came from, the things you see may not be real. I could be a dangerous GF," he began, "even though I look human. You may never know."

"You're a strange one," Quistis muttered under her breath.

"Hmph. I wouldn't go accusing someone you hardly knew, remember? Besides, wouldn't you be dead by now if I was?" he asked slyly.

Quistis frowned. "You wouldn't be able to kill me if you were some type of monster anyway. Even if you did destroy the kingdom's defense, you wouldn't be able to kill much, especially one in the royal family," she replied.

"Really? Is that so?" Seifer asked slyly.

Quistis shrugged. "I don't know. It's just that way, I suppose. My mother explained to me the reason a long time ago when I was merely a child. I was young back then, so I don't remember much of the details," she replied.

"So…you…don't…know…" he said slowly, his eyes focusing on her face.

"No. I just know that it can be done. There's something special about the royal family, I guess."

Seifer shook his head. "The only special one here in this kingdom is you," was his dry response.

At this Quistis looked up. "What?"

Seifer met her gaze and grinned. "Haven't you heard? Only those with the Trepe title can be the one to uphold the kingdom. When your mother dies, she passed on her powers to you. And…so will you when your time comes."

"What if I don't produce an heir?" she asked defiantly.

Seifer chuckled softly. He leaned forward so his mouth was very close to Quistis' ear. "That's exactly what they want," he whispered quietly, leaving shivers down Quistis' spine.

Quistis frowned. "What do you mean –"

Suddenly, the room shook violently.