Chapter Two: Balamb Festival
(A/N: Everyone is around fifteen- sixteenish.)
It was ferocious, twisted and utterly petrifying. Everything about it was scary, from it's sleek curves to it's tight waist. The sleeves were long, with bells that could touch fingertips like butterfly kisses. But she knew it's tricks. It had and area in which it would engulf her, should she provoke it.
It was Fujin's worst fear.
Raijin grinned as he held up the dress. "I picked it out m'self, ya know? Strange, though." he said, looking at the dress. "They asked me if I would like to wear it out."
Fujin rocked on the edge of her bed, staring up at her step-brother Raijin, and their friend, Seifer. The dress wasn't that bad (and you know that it wouldn't be, since I'm such a tomboy...) compared to the other things that Raijin had bought for her, should it be birthday dresses to mother's day blouses. (everyone considers Fujin to be the mother and Seifer or Raijin a father. Or maybe Raijin was the mother, but nobody said it out loud. Oh well.) Fujin especially hated that yellow one with the frills and lace that hugged her like a sweater instead of a shirt. The dress that Raijin held up couldn't compare to the horror that she had thrown in a ball into the back of the closet.
The gown was modest, with a nice trim, no frills or lace, thank Hyne. She wasn't use to good dresses, them being poor and all, but there was one major problem.
It was pink....
Okay, so maybe not PINK! A darker version of it, but still....
"I couldn't find any red ones, ya know?" he grinned. "I thought that this would bring out your... eye..."
"RAGE!" shin-kick. She remembered the eye thing for a long time. She had gone out to the Chocobos and a T-Rexaur had come out to tear her to pieces. The giant animal had scraped at her left eye, but the thing was, her eye had been fully functional for years now. She had just never wanted to take it off.
"Fujin, Raij was just trying to be nice, ya know?" Seifer scowled. Damn Raijin and his contagious speech impediment. For the past 5 years that they lived together, (Fuj is 14, the boys are 15) ever since Raijin's parent had died. Seifer was lucky that he wasn't using Fujin's. Then again, he was lucky that he wasn't running both of them together. (shudder)
He shook the speech impediment off. "Anyway, what else are you going to wear to the Festival tonight?"
"NOT GOING."
"Like hell, you aren't." he said. "Raijin's making me, and your going to."
"Yeah, we are gonna shake our groove thang, ya know?" Raijin beamed.
Seifer frowned. "I told ya to stop usin' my words, ya know!"
"Then stop using my speech impediment!..." he blinked. "ya know?"
Fujin cocked her head to the side. "YOU, DANCE?"
The both turned their attention on to her. "Oh yeah." they said, and both began to... er hem, shake their groove thang?
Fujin resisted the urge to laugh. She knew if she did, Seifer would go sulk and Raijin would... I dunno, cry or something. She sighed. This would be a long night.
* * *
"Oh my..." young Squall blinked. Ellone was at his side, swallowing her tongue. He wasn't even sure if Sis was breathing. It's not like he could blame her; he doubted that he was breathing either.
"So, do you like it?" Laguna asked. There it was. A painting of Laguna, laying outside on the grass, holding an apple, a flower tickling his forehead. Next to the painting was a fruit basket. (Trust me, you'll know where I'm going in a minute)
Oh did I mention (hold your noses, people!) that Laguna (In the painting) was naked?... I didn't? Well, you know... he was!
(What a way to scare the hell out of your children.) Squall thought.
"Ellone, what do you think of it?" Laguna asked.
She finally inhaled. "It's... " she began turning green. "It's... um... Will you excuse me for a moment?" she clutched her stomach, slapped a hand over her mouth, and ran out of the room.
"Hm..." Kiros thought out loud. "Do you think that she didn't like it?"
"Oh no!" Laguna said, his naivete, once again, getting the best of him. "She probably loved your painting."
Squall frowned. (KIROS painted that thing?)
"Yeah, she was probably green with envy!" Laguna said, happily.
"...!" Ward said, smiling.
"Thank you, but she could have at least finished her sentence."
"Well," Laguna said, turning to Squall. "we still have Squall. He and Elle are practically joined at the hip." Laguna put an arm around his (Kasualyte: (raises an eyebrow) friend. "So we can just base everything off of him, Kiros."
"..." said Ward.
"What do you mean 'If he doesn't like it, blame me for wanting a naked portrait?'" Laguna frowned, scarily enough, looking just like Squall. (I know, ain't that a b*tch?)
"He means nothing by it, Laguna. He was just kidding. Learn to think things through, it's getting embaressing." Kiros folded his arms. Laguna wrapped his arm around Kiros tighter. Oddly enough, Squall AND Ward both rolled their eyes.
"So Squall?" Laguna began. "How do YOU like the picture?"
If Squall learned anything from his father, it was that he was a little melodramatic. Anything could set him off towards the melancholy.
So Squall carefully chose his words. "It's... nice."
Laguna grinned. "YAY! Because we were thinking of putting it in your room."
"I'm not worthy." Squall said. (Believe it, believe it. Please believe it! I don't want to have nightmares for the rest of my life!)
"..."
"Ward, your absolutely right!" Kiros exclaimed. "We can put it in the room with all of the other portraits of the Loire's. We'll put it right next the space we were saving for Squall."
Squall had a sudden spontanious thought of calling Kiros mommy, just to see how he would react. Of course, if Kiros threw up, Squall would have a mutual feeling.
"Er, Prince Squall?" Zell poked his head through the door. "Ellone told me that you have to get ready for the Festival."
"Okay." he bowed at his departure and ran to catch up with Zell.
"Hey!"
Zell blushed, "Yes, Prince Squall?"
I thought that you would scream or something, you know, with the picture and everything." Squall said.
"I would have, but Ellone warned me."
(I wish I got a warning)
"There you go." Zell ushered Squall into his room.
Squall frowned. "I have to wear THAT in public?" It was something of an Estherian garment, only poofier at the edges. There were frills. There was lace. There was even a bow in the back.
"Yeah, I know. Laguna made the design for it and told Selphie to make it. It's not exactly the most booyaka thing you've ever seen, but..." Zell grinned. "Toodles." He jet out the door laughing. If it were anyone else other than Sis, Selphie, Irvine or Zell, he would have had a fit.
Squall sighed. He was gonna have to find a way to get out of this. "Selphie."
"You rang." Squall almost jumped. She always did that. Zell actually asked her once if she sprang out of the floor from hell or something.
"Yeah, er... find me a way to get out of this."
"No prob, Bob!" she squealed and left, giggling maliciously.
Squall sat on the end of his bed and fell backwards. (What have I done?)
* * *
The night began as all Balamb festivals did. There was lots of music and dancing. But unlike what most people wear to other festivals, this festival was special. Royal women didn't have to wear petticoats and corsets. Everyone was dressed like a peasent and the peasents were having the best time. People began to dance around the fire and calling out for more ale. Men grabbed their ladies and twirled them to dance around the fire. The night was young and the sky was glittered with sparkling diamonds and a moon that hung like a mother to her children.
Fujin watched Seifer and Raijin dance with whomever. (Well, I think that Raijin was dancing with Xu, but I'm not to sure.) She didn't feel like dancing, and no matter how much they prodded and poked her, she waited on the sidelines.
She began to find entertainment in watching Seifer trying to woo his way into a someone's heart. The girl was obviously from Timber, it was easy to see the way she held herself, though Fujin wasn't sure what part, and looked absolutely perfect. Her hair was all black and hung a bit past her shoulders, but not by much. Seifer took her by the waist they both began to walk towards the darker places of Balamb.
She sighed, finishing her hot chocolate. Placing the cup down, she scanned the area for a way out. Glancing at Seifer and Raijin, she took her leave, headed down for the Balamb docks.
The last thing she heard at the party before she left was trumpeters and horns and someone annoucing, "And now, please give a warm welcome to.. the Royal family!"
"Screw it." she said, exiting, stage right.
* * *
Needless to say, Squall didn't get his better costume. If anything, Selphie made it worse. (I could swear that she added ribbons, because the last time I saw this thing, it didn't have ribbons. Or maybe it did.... you know what, I don't remember. Stupid good-for-nothin' GFs...) Squall swore to himself that he would pitch them into the river, but then, he would accidentally junction them and forget. No wait, was Selphie in his party last time? Because then, she junctioned it.... oh, to hell with it. (I have this problem a lot!)
Well, the costume was also dressier, more frills, more lace, more poofiness. In fact, there was so much poofiness, that coming down the aisle to greet the people, he looked like a big, puffy blue and white pumpkin.
With ribbons. Don't forget the ribbons.
He scowled at his sister, for she managed to get by without too much embaressment. When Squall asked her how she did it, she simply stated that she didn't let their father design her clothes anymore. Typical.
Zell, Selphie and Irvine even managed, and Selphie designed their clothes.
Of course, he had to confront his father about this. But when he did, all Laguna and Kiros said was "Your so CUTE and CUDDLY in that outfit." or "Awww.... what a precious angel." or "Isn't he the cutest thing with the cubbiest cheeks you've ever seen?" (poke, poke)
Squall didn't want to be cute. He didn't want to be cuddly. He didn't want to be a precious angel. (And I as sure as HELL didn't want to be chocobo. Wait, did anyone call me that. Oh, yeah. Damn you, Zell.)
But Selphie had pulled through with something. She said that she could pack him a bag with some of his clothes, and when the time was right, he could just leave the party and change.
"How am I suppose to hide it?" he asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Under your dress."
"It's not a dress."
She patted his shoulder. "Of course it isn't."
It was bad enough to be patronized. It was even worse to be patronized by Selphie.
Hell, it was gonna be a long night.
* * *
Squall snuck past his last group of people before reaching his destination- the public docks. He let out a breath that he didn't know that he was holding, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never really snuck out of the castle by himself. Most of the time he was with Zell, Selphie and occationally Ellone. But they never really did anything bad, except for that one time they hung Zell upside-down on the docks, but nothing else.
He crept to the safe haven, that through dark, loomying shadows into the sea. The only light came from the full moon in the dark sky.
He stopped short. Someone was there.
Years of training taught his ears to hear past a block radius and his mouth not to yell. Also, his eyes could see a form by the water, but he did try to use other senses. Instead, he was quietly approached his target, taking them by surprise first.
As he began walking again, he noticed several features about this person. One, it was female. Two, even in the night sky, she was ghostly pale. Three, she had an eyepatch under her left hand. Finally four, she had taken off her shoes to dip her feet into the summer water.
He sat down on the other side of her shoes and heard her inhale quickly. Mission accomplished.
"Sorry if I startled you." he appologized.
She bowed her head, dove-colored hair spilling over her eyes. "OKAY,"
"Why aren't you at the Festival?" his tongue felt like it was slipperier than soap. He definately didn't mean to say that. "I mean- it's none of my business." (Just wanted some me time, that's all) He sulked, inwardly.
"CAME. FORCED."
Squall raised an eyebrow. She spoke with an accent he couldn't recognize. He was surprised that she even gave him an answer. (Might as well continue the conversation) "Forced?"
"WANT COME, NOT."
"Why didn't you want to come?"
She shrugged. "No-" she coughed a bit. "Nothing to look forward to."
He blinked. She can *TALK*!
"O~kay." Squall said.
"You wouldn't understand."
Squall swallowed. Bottling everything up, not letting anyone know what she thought and felt. (Damn) he thought. (She sounds a lot like me.)
"I probably understand a lot more than most." he whispered.
Fujin frowned. "What do you mean?"
(Damn, she heard me.) "Nothing, except." he sighed. "It's okay."
"You're right. It's none of my business." she held back a smile.
"Are you mocking me?" he said, unlacing his boots. He placed them on the other side of his body, and dipped his feet into the water.
"Only if you think I am."
He turned to her, "Are you flirting with me?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to be?"
"No. And even if you were, it's none of my buisness."
She flicked water at him with her foot. He winced. "Leather pants..."
"I'm sorry."
The bells in the towers began to ring. Fujin grabbed her ears. They were sounding off midnight.
There was a Balamb tradition to kiss the one you loved at midnight. Seifer kissed his girl from Timber and Xu pecked Raijin's cheek, who laughed at his friend. Poor Laguna began to think of Raine as he watched over his balcony.
Squall swallowed. He didn't want to think of his parents. He could barely remember Raine, but everytime he did, she was always smiling. One fond memory, the last Balamb Festival she was with them, he remembered her and his father kissing by the balcony, a young Squall and Ellone watching. Sometimes, because of the close resemblence, it was even too hard to look at Ellone.
Of course, this caused him to think about it.
"You're not gonna kiss me now, are you?" Squall had to ask.
She made a face. Did she even know his name?
"Then again," he teased. "You were flirting with me..."
She rolled her eyes. "Only if you think I was."
"I think you were." he drew up his legs and wrapped his arms around them. "Unless you have someone else to kiss."
"NEGATIVE." she said.
"And it's not like we willever see each other again." he mumbled.
Fujin raised an eyebrow. "DESPRETE?"
(More like bored.) "...whatever."
Fujin decided to play along. She closed her eyes.
Squall turned to her and took a sharp breath. He hadn't expected her to actually go through with it. He blushed... this would be, after all, his first kiss. He leaned in and teetered on the dock.
Both of them looked down at what was between them. Her shoes. She threw them behind her. (Go, Fujin!)
She pulled her knees up under herself, sitting on the back of her legs. Even though he wasn't sitting on his own, he was definately taller than her. She sighed and closed her eyes again.
Squall swallowed and leaned closer. He closed his eyes as their lips got closer.
"Squall? SQUALL?" Selphie called out. "Where are you?"
"Who's that?" Fujin opened her eyes.
Squall groaned. "No one important." He couldn't believe he was even a bit annoyed.
"Girlfriend, huh?" Fujin began to feel a little offended.
"Her?" he snorted.
They waited until Selphie passed through, listening to her footsteps fade away.
Fujin thought for a minute. "Squall?"
He turned. "Hn?"
"No... you're name is Squall."
Squall placed a hand up to his head. He was afraid of this. "Promise not to tell anyone who I am?"
"I promise, Prince Squall." Fujin ran a hand through his hair and kissed his forehead. She quickly pulled on her boots and turned to go.
"Wait! Don't I at least get your name?" Squall called out.
She turned around. "Until we meet again." she ran away.
* * *
A/N: Whoo hoo! That was soooo cute! I had so much fun with that chapter! Oh, next chappie: Fujin leaves the house for something that she feels like she's missing and disguises herself. Irvine comes into the picture and Selphie swoons.
(A/N: Everyone is around fifteen- sixteenish.)
It was ferocious, twisted and utterly petrifying. Everything about it was scary, from it's sleek curves to it's tight waist. The sleeves were long, with bells that could touch fingertips like butterfly kisses. But she knew it's tricks. It had and area in which it would engulf her, should she provoke it.
It was Fujin's worst fear.
Raijin grinned as he held up the dress. "I picked it out m'self, ya know? Strange, though." he said, looking at the dress. "They asked me if I would like to wear it out."
Fujin rocked on the edge of her bed, staring up at her step-brother Raijin, and their friend, Seifer. The dress wasn't that bad (and you know that it wouldn't be, since I'm such a tomboy...) compared to the other things that Raijin had bought for her, should it be birthday dresses to mother's day blouses. (everyone considers Fujin to be the mother and Seifer or Raijin a father. Or maybe Raijin was the mother, but nobody said it out loud. Oh well.) Fujin especially hated that yellow one with the frills and lace that hugged her like a sweater instead of a shirt. The dress that Raijin held up couldn't compare to the horror that she had thrown in a ball into the back of the closet.
The gown was modest, with a nice trim, no frills or lace, thank Hyne. She wasn't use to good dresses, them being poor and all, but there was one major problem.
It was pink....
Okay, so maybe not PINK! A darker version of it, but still....
"I couldn't find any red ones, ya know?" he grinned. "I thought that this would bring out your... eye..."
"RAGE!" shin-kick. She remembered the eye thing for a long time. She had gone out to the Chocobos and a T-Rexaur had come out to tear her to pieces. The giant animal had scraped at her left eye, but the thing was, her eye had been fully functional for years now. She had just never wanted to take it off.
"Fujin, Raij was just trying to be nice, ya know?" Seifer scowled. Damn Raijin and his contagious speech impediment. For the past 5 years that they lived together, (Fuj is 14, the boys are 15) ever since Raijin's parent had died. Seifer was lucky that he wasn't using Fujin's. Then again, he was lucky that he wasn't running both of them together. (shudder)
He shook the speech impediment off. "Anyway, what else are you going to wear to the Festival tonight?"
"NOT GOING."
"Like hell, you aren't." he said. "Raijin's making me, and your going to."
"Yeah, we are gonna shake our groove thang, ya know?" Raijin beamed.
Seifer frowned. "I told ya to stop usin' my words, ya know!"
"Then stop using my speech impediment!..." he blinked. "ya know?"
Fujin cocked her head to the side. "YOU, DANCE?"
The both turned their attention on to her. "Oh yeah." they said, and both began to... er hem, shake their groove thang?
Fujin resisted the urge to laugh. She knew if she did, Seifer would go sulk and Raijin would... I dunno, cry or something. She sighed. This would be a long night.
* * *
"Oh my..." young Squall blinked. Ellone was at his side, swallowing her tongue. He wasn't even sure if Sis was breathing. It's not like he could blame her; he doubted that he was breathing either.
"So, do you like it?" Laguna asked. There it was. A painting of Laguna, laying outside on the grass, holding an apple, a flower tickling his forehead. Next to the painting was a fruit basket. (Trust me, you'll know where I'm going in a minute)
Oh did I mention (hold your noses, people!) that Laguna (In the painting) was naked?... I didn't? Well, you know... he was!
(What a way to scare the hell out of your children.) Squall thought.
"Ellone, what do you think of it?" Laguna asked.
She finally inhaled. "It's... " she began turning green. "It's... um... Will you excuse me for a moment?" she clutched her stomach, slapped a hand over her mouth, and ran out of the room.
"Hm..." Kiros thought out loud. "Do you think that she didn't like it?"
"Oh no!" Laguna said, his naivete, once again, getting the best of him. "She probably loved your painting."
Squall frowned. (KIROS painted that thing?)
"Yeah, she was probably green with envy!" Laguna said, happily.
"...!" Ward said, smiling.
"Thank you, but she could have at least finished her sentence."
"Well," Laguna said, turning to Squall. "we still have Squall. He and Elle are practically joined at the hip." Laguna put an arm around his (Kasualyte: (raises an eyebrow) friend. "So we can just base everything off of him, Kiros."
"..." said Ward.
"What do you mean 'If he doesn't like it, blame me for wanting a naked portrait?'" Laguna frowned, scarily enough, looking just like Squall. (I know, ain't that a b*tch?)
"He means nothing by it, Laguna. He was just kidding. Learn to think things through, it's getting embaressing." Kiros folded his arms. Laguna wrapped his arm around Kiros tighter. Oddly enough, Squall AND Ward both rolled their eyes.
"So Squall?" Laguna began. "How do YOU like the picture?"
If Squall learned anything from his father, it was that he was a little melodramatic. Anything could set him off towards the melancholy.
So Squall carefully chose his words. "It's... nice."
Laguna grinned. "YAY! Because we were thinking of putting it in your room."
"I'm not worthy." Squall said. (Believe it, believe it. Please believe it! I don't want to have nightmares for the rest of my life!)
"..."
"Ward, your absolutely right!" Kiros exclaimed. "We can put it in the room with all of the other portraits of the Loire's. We'll put it right next the space we were saving for Squall."
Squall had a sudden spontanious thought of calling Kiros mommy, just to see how he would react. Of course, if Kiros threw up, Squall would have a mutual feeling.
"Er, Prince Squall?" Zell poked his head through the door. "Ellone told me that you have to get ready for the Festival."
"Okay." he bowed at his departure and ran to catch up with Zell.
"Hey!"
Zell blushed, "Yes, Prince Squall?"
I thought that you would scream or something, you know, with the picture and everything." Squall said.
"I would have, but Ellone warned me."
(I wish I got a warning)
"There you go." Zell ushered Squall into his room.
Squall frowned. "I have to wear THAT in public?" It was something of an Estherian garment, only poofier at the edges. There were frills. There was lace. There was even a bow in the back.
"Yeah, I know. Laguna made the design for it and told Selphie to make it. It's not exactly the most booyaka thing you've ever seen, but..." Zell grinned. "Toodles." He jet out the door laughing. If it were anyone else other than Sis, Selphie, Irvine or Zell, he would have had a fit.
Squall sighed. He was gonna have to find a way to get out of this. "Selphie."
"You rang." Squall almost jumped. She always did that. Zell actually asked her once if she sprang out of the floor from hell or something.
"Yeah, er... find me a way to get out of this."
"No prob, Bob!" she squealed and left, giggling maliciously.
Squall sat on the end of his bed and fell backwards. (What have I done?)
* * *
The night began as all Balamb festivals did. There was lots of music and dancing. But unlike what most people wear to other festivals, this festival was special. Royal women didn't have to wear petticoats and corsets. Everyone was dressed like a peasent and the peasents were having the best time. People began to dance around the fire and calling out for more ale. Men grabbed their ladies and twirled them to dance around the fire. The night was young and the sky was glittered with sparkling diamonds and a moon that hung like a mother to her children.
Fujin watched Seifer and Raijin dance with whomever. (Well, I think that Raijin was dancing with Xu, but I'm not to sure.) She didn't feel like dancing, and no matter how much they prodded and poked her, she waited on the sidelines.
She began to find entertainment in watching Seifer trying to woo his way into a someone's heart. The girl was obviously from Timber, it was easy to see the way she held herself, though Fujin wasn't sure what part, and looked absolutely perfect. Her hair was all black and hung a bit past her shoulders, but not by much. Seifer took her by the waist they both began to walk towards the darker places of Balamb.
She sighed, finishing her hot chocolate. Placing the cup down, she scanned the area for a way out. Glancing at Seifer and Raijin, she took her leave, headed down for the Balamb docks.
The last thing she heard at the party before she left was trumpeters and horns and someone annoucing, "And now, please give a warm welcome to.. the Royal family!"
"Screw it." she said, exiting, stage right.
* * *
Needless to say, Squall didn't get his better costume. If anything, Selphie made it worse. (I could swear that she added ribbons, because the last time I saw this thing, it didn't have ribbons. Or maybe it did.... you know what, I don't remember. Stupid good-for-nothin' GFs...) Squall swore to himself that he would pitch them into the river, but then, he would accidentally junction them and forget. No wait, was Selphie in his party last time? Because then, she junctioned it.... oh, to hell with it. (I have this problem a lot!)
Well, the costume was also dressier, more frills, more lace, more poofiness. In fact, there was so much poofiness, that coming down the aisle to greet the people, he looked like a big, puffy blue and white pumpkin.
With ribbons. Don't forget the ribbons.
He scowled at his sister, for she managed to get by without too much embaressment. When Squall asked her how she did it, she simply stated that she didn't let their father design her clothes anymore. Typical.
Zell, Selphie and Irvine even managed, and Selphie designed their clothes.
Of course, he had to confront his father about this. But when he did, all Laguna and Kiros said was "Your so CUTE and CUDDLY in that outfit." or "Awww.... what a precious angel." or "Isn't he the cutest thing with the cubbiest cheeks you've ever seen?" (poke, poke)
Squall didn't want to be cute. He didn't want to be cuddly. He didn't want to be a precious angel. (And I as sure as HELL didn't want to be chocobo. Wait, did anyone call me that. Oh, yeah. Damn you, Zell.)
But Selphie had pulled through with something. She said that she could pack him a bag with some of his clothes, and when the time was right, he could just leave the party and change.
"How am I suppose to hide it?" he asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Under your dress."
"It's not a dress."
She patted his shoulder. "Of course it isn't."
It was bad enough to be patronized. It was even worse to be patronized by Selphie.
Hell, it was gonna be a long night.
* * *
Squall snuck past his last group of people before reaching his destination- the public docks. He let out a breath that he didn't know that he was holding, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never really snuck out of the castle by himself. Most of the time he was with Zell, Selphie and occationally Ellone. But they never really did anything bad, except for that one time they hung Zell upside-down on the docks, but nothing else.
He crept to the safe haven, that through dark, loomying shadows into the sea. The only light came from the full moon in the dark sky.
He stopped short. Someone was there.
Years of training taught his ears to hear past a block radius and his mouth not to yell. Also, his eyes could see a form by the water, but he did try to use other senses. Instead, he was quietly approached his target, taking them by surprise first.
As he began walking again, he noticed several features about this person. One, it was female. Two, even in the night sky, she was ghostly pale. Three, she had an eyepatch under her left hand. Finally four, she had taken off her shoes to dip her feet into the summer water.
He sat down on the other side of her shoes and heard her inhale quickly. Mission accomplished.
"Sorry if I startled you." he appologized.
She bowed her head, dove-colored hair spilling over her eyes. "OKAY,"
"Why aren't you at the Festival?" his tongue felt like it was slipperier than soap. He definately didn't mean to say that. "I mean- it's none of my business." (Just wanted some me time, that's all) He sulked, inwardly.
"CAME. FORCED."
Squall raised an eyebrow. She spoke with an accent he couldn't recognize. He was surprised that she even gave him an answer. (Might as well continue the conversation) "Forced?"
"WANT COME, NOT."
"Why didn't you want to come?"
She shrugged. "No-" she coughed a bit. "Nothing to look forward to."
He blinked. She can *TALK*!
"O~kay." Squall said.
"You wouldn't understand."
Squall swallowed. Bottling everything up, not letting anyone know what she thought and felt. (Damn) he thought. (She sounds a lot like me.)
"I probably understand a lot more than most." he whispered.
Fujin frowned. "What do you mean?"
(Damn, she heard me.) "Nothing, except." he sighed. "It's okay."
"You're right. It's none of my business." she held back a smile.
"Are you mocking me?" he said, unlacing his boots. He placed them on the other side of his body, and dipped his feet into the water.
"Only if you think I am."
He turned to her, "Are you flirting with me?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to be?"
"No. And even if you were, it's none of my buisness."
She flicked water at him with her foot. He winced. "Leather pants..."
"I'm sorry."
The bells in the towers began to ring. Fujin grabbed her ears. They were sounding off midnight.
There was a Balamb tradition to kiss the one you loved at midnight. Seifer kissed his girl from Timber and Xu pecked Raijin's cheek, who laughed at his friend. Poor Laguna began to think of Raine as he watched over his balcony.
Squall swallowed. He didn't want to think of his parents. He could barely remember Raine, but everytime he did, she was always smiling. One fond memory, the last Balamb Festival she was with them, he remembered her and his father kissing by the balcony, a young Squall and Ellone watching. Sometimes, because of the close resemblence, it was even too hard to look at Ellone.
Of course, this caused him to think about it.
"You're not gonna kiss me now, are you?" Squall had to ask.
She made a face. Did she even know his name?
"Then again," he teased. "You were flirting with me..."
She rolled her eyes. "Only if you think I was."
"I think you were." he drew up his legs and wrapped his arms around them. "Unless you have someone else to kiss."
"NEGATIVE." she said.
"And it's not like we willever see each other again." he mumbled.
Fujin raised an eyebrow. "DESPRETE?"
(More like bored.) "...whatever."
Fujin decided to play along. She closed her eyes.
Squall turned to her and took a sharp breath. He hadn't expected her to actually go through with it. He blushed... this would be, after all, his first kiss. He leaned in and teetered on the dock.
Both of them looked down at what was between them. Her shoes. She threw them behind her. (Go, Fujin!)
She pulled her knees up under herself, sitting on the back of her legs. Even though he wasn't sitting on his own, he was definately taller than her. She sighed and closed her eyes again.
Squall swallowed and leaned closer. He closed his eyes as their lips got closer.
"Squall? SQUALL?" Selphie called out. "Where are you?"
"Who's that?" Fujin opened her eyes.
Squall groaned. "No one important." He couldn't believe he was even a bit annoyed.
"Girlfriend, huh?" Fujin began to feel a little offended.
"Her?" he snorted.
They waited until Selphie passed through, listening to her footsteps fade away.
Fujin thought for a minute. "Squall?"
He turned. "Hn?"
"No... you're name is Squall."
Squall placed a hand up to his head. He was afraid of this. "Promise not to tell anyone who I am?"
"I promise, Prince Squall." Fujin ran a hand through his hair and kissed his forehead. She quickly pulled on her boots and turned to go.
"Wait! Don't I at least get your name?" Squall called out.
She turned around. "Until we meet again." she ran away.
* * *
A/N: Whoo hoo! That was soooo cute! I had so much fun with that chapter! Oh, next chappie: Fujin leaves the house for something that she feels like she's missing and disguises herself. Irvine comes into the picture and Selphie swoons.