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 nine: Growing Web of Lies -
"Do we have to? I haven't even had breakfast today!"
Squall sighed. "I've said this to someone else before and I don't want to repeat it again. If you don't feel up to the mission then you shouldn't have come. If you can't even handle different meal times then perhaps being a SeeD isn't what you're cut out for."
"Squall! You are way out of line!" Selphie roared.
It took them all by surprise. No one had ever heard her angry like this.
"You may be our commander, but you don't have the right to talk to your friend like that. Don't you forget that we went through exactly what you went through! We were there too. We can handle as much as you can. So don't you ever dare doubt that!"
This was the first time Squall had ever watched her with awe. He regained his calm after a minute.
"Fine. Whatever."
He strode to the door and held it open.
"Ladies, Zell, let's go."
Selphie walked past him without looking at him, dragging Zell with her. She hadn't meant to yell like that, but he confused her. He was so…unpredictable lately.
It was like Quistis had said to her, sometimes he forgot who he was with and other times he forgot why he had been sent. What was going on in his mind that made him behave like this? He knew something and he wasn't telling them.
Quistis followed them. A visit to the mansion on the top of the hill was not what she had been looking forward to. But, as she told herself, it was her duty and she had managed to push all her emotions to the darkest corner of her mind.
She threw a fake smile at Selphie but turned back to the cold harness of indifference she had chosen to wear.
"Why do we have to go anyway?" she heard Zell whisper.
"They'll wonder if we don't. Besides, what's wrong with meeting up with friends." Selphie answered.
She took his arm and they turned the corner and walked up to the house. Quistis waited for Squall to catch up before taking his arm.
"You ready for this?" he asked.
"Yes." she said in a steady voice. "I'm ready. It's just lunch."
She gave him a smile and felt sure about the decision. It had given her strength.
They walked up to the door where two guards waited patiently. They opened the door and were guided up to the garden doors where another guard took over and lead them outside.
A beautifully decorated table waited for them. They were left on their own as the guard retreated.
"What now?" Selphie asked curiously.
"We wait." Quistis said. "They'll probably be fashionably late. The way only hosts can be."
She stepped up to Squall and leaned her head against his shoulder. He responded by slipping his arm around her waist. It felt strangely awkward yet comforting. Another help to build up her strength.
When the doors opened again and footsteps approached, she waited a few more moments before turning around, stalling the time as much as she needed.
When she faced her hosts she conjured up a dazzlingly cheerful smile that could have given Selphie a run for her money.
"Fujin, Seifer! How nice to see you both. How are you?"
She kissed Fujin in greeting and did the same with Seifer. A friendly yet distant gesture. Seifer felt a hand close around his heart, giving it a quick squeeze. Was this the same heartbroken woman he had left behind? The woman who had sworn never to forget him?
Secretly he had assumed that that had meant that she would never choose another man. He had assumed that, hadn't he believed her dead, she would have been filled with sorrow for ever.
The group sat down at the table and Fujin clapped her hands, signalling the maid she could enter. Quistis allowed herself to be helped to her seat by Squall and she gave him a warm smile as thank you.
The look of fondness that was exchanged between his old friends caused a jolt of jealousy to course through Seifer's veins. He looked at Fujin and found himself smiling fondly at her too. This show of affection seemed to please Fujin, who relaxed a little.
"Fujin, this place is beautiful. The servants, the food…and what a gorgeous interior." Selphie said, sounding a little too enthusiastic for Quistis' liking.
"Yes." Quistis said, trying to make the conversation a little less platonic. "And this garden is beautiful."
She stared out into the garden where a weeping willow loomed over a pond.
"TOUR?" Fujin asked.
"That would be lovely." Selphie replied. "There's nothing better for your digestion than a walk after lunch."
Seifer was silent. The entire meal he glanced at the looks Squall and Quistis exchanged. They painfully reminded him of how he had looked at her before. This was the glance of two lovers.
"So, Squall…" he said, surprising himself. "What happened to Rinoa…you and her were…"
Squall shrugged. "Were, yes. But apparently it wasn't what we both wanted. She has Irvine now and I…"
He gave Quistis another fond smile, who managed to call a blush to her cheeks.
"IRVINE?" Fujin asked surprised.
"Oh, I can clear up that mystery." Selphie said quickly. "You see, a lot happened after you guys left. Irvine and I broke up shortly after your departure. I'm a content single now. When Squall and Rinoa broke up, Rinoa found comfort with Irvine and Squall with Quisty. Funny how things turn out. Luckily no one has any hard feelings about any of this."
"Where are they now?" Seifer found himself asking.
He thought about this new revelation. Irvine and Rinoa seemed too different for a relationship, but perhaps their differences made it all the more interesting.
He looked at Quistis. She had been ignoring him all day, even though she was good at hiding it. Perhaps she felt a bit awkward about facing him while Squall was there.
He drank from his glass and looked back at Quistis. Suddenly the glass burst in his hand, causing everybody at the table to jump. Seifer looked up at their faces. Fujin stared at him angrily. He excused himself.
"Sorry…squeezed too hard…" he muttered.
He sighed. The maid came back in and retrieved the broken shards. Fujin stood up and opted to show them around the garden and house. Squall helped Quistis up from her chair, as Zell helped Selphie. Selphie giggled and called him a gentleman in a little mocking voice.
Zell seemed hurt but he knew Selphie didn't mean to hurt him. It surprised Seifer he could read all this from their faces.
He followed the group. Quistis clasped herself to Squall's arm, burying herself in that comforting feeling. She felt safer with him near her, as if he could protect her from facing Seifer.
She could feel his eyes on her constantly. She leaned in and whispered something to Squall.
"Go on ahead. I have to talk to him. I'll catch up."
Squall nodded. He looked at Seifer over his shoulder and then quickly leaned in and pecked her cheek. Quistis looked at the ground. She sat down on a branch and took a deep breath as the others walked on.
Seifer waited till the rest of the group was ahead before opening his mouth.
"So…" he said, waking Quistis from her trance. "You seem pretty happy with Squall."
She nodded, seeking her voice. "Y-Yeah. He makes me feel at ease…How have you been?"
Seifer sat down on a branch near her. "…Alright."
"The wedding's soon, how do you feel about that? Nervous?"
He sighed. "Quisty…how can you care so little? You ask all these impersonal questions, ignoring what happened between us completely. Perhaps you were able to get over this easily, but I sure as hell haven't been able to do that."
He grabbed her hand desperately.
"Don't tell me you were able to forget about this just like that."
She pulled her hand back.
"Seifer, you went. You left me so you could marry. Now I know why you did it, but neither of us can allow ourselves to linger in something that couldn't be." she stood up roughly, turning around so she wouldn't have to face him. "I took a long time to get over you, I'll admit that. But this thing with Squall makes me really happy."
Happy. The word had to be forced out. What a lie! She didn't know she could lie like this, lie about feelings.
"Now you go and marry Fujin because it's not an option to hope and change my mind. Things changed and I am content with the way they are now. If you care for me at all then you'll accept this."
"Quisty, please understand…don't forget I left to save your life. I never stopped loving you."
She bit her lip, forcing back her tears. Once she had dreaded to hear those words. Now she had dreaded them even more.
"I guess that's too bad then, Seifer. Because I told you before that I don't want to change the way things are now. Apparently you can't accept that, but that's how it is. I'm happy with Squall. I have to go. I'll see you tonight."
She hurried off without saying goodbye. Even though his pleas had pierced her armour, she knew she had acted the right way.
White, the colour of purity. She let the silky fabric slither down over her body as she zipped up the dress. She looked at herself in the mirror. The white dress fitted her like a glove. Long white sleeves covered her arms and ended in little fluffy fur cuffs.
The dress was long and spread out behind her as she walked. She paraded around the room once, careful not to step on the rim and smiled contently.
She opened a decorated box on top of her dressing table and carefully took out a thin silver band with a moonstone in the middle. She placed it on her forehead and fastened it behind her head.
Again she looked in the mirror. She was ready for her party. She was ready to be reborn.
Time for another update, I figured! Be ready for some revelations in the next chapter ;) so stay tuned nn
Dark Angels: there's nothing wrong with being romantic at all! I wanted Fujin to be happy too. After all, she does love Seifer. It must hurt to love someone who doesn't return those feelings. But if the ending is going to be good…I won't say a thing. I don't want to spoil it now, do I? As for the Quall bit…it's just there to spice some things up. But remember that I rated this story as a Seiftis and not a Seiftis/Quall for a reason ;)
Frost: Hmm, I have a hard time picturing a Seifu too (or seijin as you call it) but I did use it in the original story and it does return in this fic, doesn't it. I'm not a major Quall fan either, though I must admit I'm not a Squinoa fan for that matter. I seem to like seiftis, selfer and things like that most. Selphie is my favourite character up till now…and I used to hate Rinoa. But I'm slowly changing my opinion about all of the characters and the pairings, so I'm not sure what's my favourite at the moment. Anyway, glad you liked the story so far!
Matron Raenee: You know, it's comforting to have a kitty on your head, purring all day :) The Quall will be rather obvious, yes. But, as I told Dark Angels, the story is rated Seiftis and only that for a reason. So…glad you liked the chapter and I'll update again soon.
JadeAlmasy: Haha, bond thing? As in James Bond thing? Anyway, I'll be sure to update soon and I hope to see you there!
Well guys, I'll see what I can do and try to post as soon as I can. I'll try to post either Friday or Thursday because I get to hear if I passed my exams on Thursday and the next day is my eighteenth birthday! So…enough reasons to celebrate, I suppose. And hey! Fujin's eighteenth is the main bit of the next chapter, so what could be more fitting!
See you all at the next chapter!
Love, Raven55