Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I do not own the places. I don't own anything related to FFVIII, all I own is the plot.

- Chapter eight: Cold Decision -

"SURE?"

"Yes ma'am. Everything is secured. The plans have all been tested and orders have been handed out ma'am."

She lifted her eyes and looked at the sky. A bright sky like this always made her feel as if there was a whole other world, waiting for her to reach out.

But she'd settle for her own world first. First her birthday and the announcement, then the wedding to secure it all.

Her fingers touched the silky fabric of her newest gown. She couldn't wait to try it on, but she would have to resist the soft fur and keep it new for her birthday.

She smiled. Never had she imagined that life would be so easy. She had expected more difficulties from what she had heard, eavesdropping on Seifer long ago when he and Edea had spent nights talking about their plans.

She had listened and absorbed everything the woman had said in her mind, knowing that someday this knowledge would benefit her. The knowledge of how to use power. The knowledge of how to make proper warfare.

There had been one little problem, but to her surprise it had cleared up easier than expected. All she'd had to do was threaten to kill and they had listened to her. Threats, bluffs. It was too simple.

And all that because she needed him, to bind him to her forever. She had waited long enough, it was time for her to be centre stage.

"GO." she ordered the guard who had started to feel nervous.

He nodded relieved and hurried away gratefully. Fujin looked at the dress on more time before hiding it in the back of her closet. The white colour seemed to radiate light even though it was surrounded by nothing but darkness.

She locked the door and slipped the key in her pocket. She left the room in search for Seifer. It was surprising to see how much he seemed to long for solitude these days. Nothing, it seemed, could cheer him up.

He'd pretend to be happy but she knew it was all fake. Her mind wandered back to the party a few nights before. She had been surprised at the sight of her old schoolmates. She had been quite careful not to invite them.

But it had not only affected her. Seifer had become even more silent and introvert after seeing them and Fujin knew why. He had never stopped loving Quistis, even though he had agreed to this marriage.

Believing she was dead had softened him, but now she was afraid he might go back on his decision.

She halted in front of one of the balconies she loved so much. They had been her secret refuge as a child. A place where she could listen to the sea, to the sounds of the city, and a place where no one had bothered her.

Now this one had been confiscated by Seifer. She opened the doors quietly and sat down on the stone floor beside him.

"HOW DO YOU FEEL." she asked, making sure she wasn't looking at him.

"You know how I feel. You must know. Why else would you ask." he said flatly.

"I CARE."

But he ignored her. Seeing Quistis again had been something amazing and miraculous. But he felt it wasn't his miracle to be happy about.

"You care. I know I should too. I- I do care, I guess."

Fujin waited a few moments, savouring the sound of those words. He had barely spoken since the party. Suddenly something on the ground below caught her eye.

Selphie and Quistis were walking down the road together. Selphie seemed to be comforting her friend. Suddenly a third player showed up. Squall.

Selphie stuck out her arms protectively, acting as a wall between him and Quistis. But being smaller she was easily pushed to the side by Squall. He talked to Quistis, who turned away from him.

Fujin couldn't hear their words, but found no need for them. Seeing them was enough and what she saw pleased her. It was as she had expected, especially after the row that had disturbed her party.

She glanced at Seifer, who had noticed them too. With one eye on him she watched the quarrel below.

Squall took Quistis' wrist, who pulled away. But she wasn't as forceful as before. At last she let Squall embrace her and as they continued down the road, he rested his arm around her shoulder.

Suddenly Seifer stood up, leaving his precious spot on the floor. He marched inside, ignoring Fujin.

With a sigh she followed him. At least he would give in soon. He wouldn't be able to last like this much longer. Perhaps he would finally see he belonged here, not back in Balamb.

"…cut! Beautiful guys. I would have believed it myself if I hadn't been in on the game." Zell whispered into his microphone.

He lowered his binoculars and left his hiding place in between the curtains of his hotel room.

"We don't need you to believe it, Zell. Just as long as they do." he could hear Selphie's voice whispering into his ear.

He took out the earpiece and dropped it on the table.

"Don't worry. They believed it. They went back inside and Fujin seemed rather pleased with herself."

He walked back onto the balcony and took a deep breath. There was nothing better than ocean side air. He breathed again, this time a more curios frown on his face. The air had a strange, bitter edge to it.

Was it the Dollet ocean side air that he smelled, or was there something else. He had always been a firm believer of the theory that air spread the scent of change. Air never lied nor did his nose.

He could smell the anxiety people felt before they did something grand, like going on a mission or make decisions.

He could still remember the scent his nose had picked up the day he had been allowed to go on his first mission. That had been the biggest new thing he had ever done. Sort of a maiden voyage. Yes, this was the scent of a maiden voyage of some sort too.

He snorted, realising how stupid that sounded. He went downstairs and took a seat in the foyer. He ordered four drinks and waited for his friends to come back.

Selphie was the first to come in. She seated herself on a couch near the fireplace.

"Didn't expect it to go this well." Zell said. "I wonder why they took this all in so easily. Don't they even remember about Rinoa?"

"Zell…it's because they both see things a little different. That happens when emotions get very strong. They mess up your mind and if you were under a heavy dose of love, you'd believe what you saw a whole lot easier."

Zell was quiet, a small frown on his face.

"…You do know what happened, right?" she asked after a while.

He shook his head slowly. "…I…I don't believe I do…I think I know, but I have a feeling that I'm missing something important."

"Well, I'm not going to tell you. You're probably better off not knowing anyway. It's complicated."

The door opened and Quistis came in accompanied by Squall. They were discussing something in a soft tone of voice. Selphie tried to listen in on their conversation but they stopped talking when they reached the table.

Squall nodded curtly. "I'm going up to meet Rajin. I'll need to get some more information about the birthday party. No doubt we'll be discussing the last party as well. We might need to change our tactics."

He took two sips from his drink and left them again with another one of his short nods. Quistis sighed. All this business here in Dollet was too confusing. Seeing Seifer again, having to pretend not to care…not to mention having to protect Fujin.

And then there was Squall as well. His mood swings were more confusing than a berserk spell. One minute he appeared to be the best friend in the world when the next moment he would only be able to think about the mission.

And then there were the brief moments he'd go completely mad and order her to stay focussed and keep a clear mind. She felt lost in the middle of the ocean with only her own confusion and uncertainty for company.

"Quistis?" Selphie woke her from her thoughts. "You're so quiet. Are you alright?"

Quistis let out a heavy sigh. "I wish people would stop asking me that question!"

She stormed up the stairs and his in her room. Selphie excused herself quietly to Zell and followed her. She found Quistis leaning on the banister and staring out over the city.

Her eyes were locked on the house she would have to visit with a false smile at least two more times before she could go home. If she was going to do this, then she'd have to it properly.

"Selphie…I've decided. If I want to do my job, then…then I'll have to forget about him. He is to be married and I know I can tell myself to stop caring. I can stop caring."

All she had to do was decide to stand behind her decision. She had enough willpower to push this whole ordeal to the back of her mind, if she only wanted it enough. And after suffering for three months she'd had enough sadness.

Loving Seifer could never make her happy again, she saw this. She did not want to hurt daily. She did not want to tremble with uncertainty every time she'd have to face him. Three months had been enough.

'If it does not kill you, it makes you stronger.' her teacher had once said, and seeing as how her attempt to drown herself had failed, she felt like she had built a certain amount of armour around her heart, protecting her from further hurt and giving her the ability to stop caring.

It wouldn't be easy, but then again, love was never meant to be easy.

"I'll manage." she said softly.

Selphie shook her head. "Quistis, you can't just shut down your feelings."

"I can. I've had enough time to settle this. Seeing him brought back my memories, but I was already forgetting about them. I made myself think over and over again that he's to be wed and that I'm alone. I got a second chance when I survived and I wasn't going to waste it pining for someone who'll never be mine, someone who had probably forgotten about me anyway."

She sat down on her bed.

"I really feel good about this decision." she said, perhaps trying to convince herself more than Selphie.

Selphie shook her head. Quistis was so determined to focus only on her job. But Selphie quietly wondered if she'd truly be able to do it.

"If you say you can do this, then I'll believe you. But like I said before, don't go falling in love with someone else just to forget. Hiding in someone else's affections isn't going to solve anything." she said quietly with a warning tone of voice.

On the street below she saw Squall who had returned. He waved at them.

"It'll solve nothing at all." she whispered quietly.

AN: I thought I'd update real quick, just because you never know with my internet connection and because you guys deserved one, too. :)

JadeAlmasy: Well, I hope this was soon enough :D

Dark Angels: Well, this story was meant to bring a better ending to the story of Bittersweet Goodbyes, so perhaps there's a good ending in the future for them after all! But I'm not telling you yet ;)

Firess Ifrit Devil: Hmm, you know what, how 'bout you use those fireballs to threaten my internet connection into working properly:D Glad you liked the reunion!

Matron Raenee: Hehe, a hint of Quall if you squint? Well, you're going to be squinting a lot throughout this story then. You see, that little hint of Quall is my special ingredient for the sequel. But I'm going to build that up slowly. Just to make the story a little more complicated along the way nn And yay! I've got a kitty on my head. It's purring too. Nice kitty! Poor Sherbert.