Chapter four, oh yeah baby, I'm on a role.Not really. You know the drill, I don't own ffviii, Squaresoft does, and all that yabber jabber. Yes, I said yabber jabber, shut up and read already! Then review of course.

Chapter 4: The Posse

As he rushed into "his" house, everything was hitting Seifer like a wrecking ball. He put a new shirt on hastily and started pacing, trying to figure out what the hell he was going to do. How could he go on with this charade? Quistis and himself just didn't work, there was no way, and even if it was a possibility, he couldn't possibly act like a husband to a whole new Quistis. Sure she had become beautiful.Sort of. She wasn't so stuffy anymore that was for sure, and she wasn't so authoritative. Quistis now wore her hair down, she had gotten contacts, and she appeared to be a lot happier. Seifer was trying to figure that out too, the source of her happiness, it just wasn't Quistis like.

"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the reason for her happiness is you?" he spun around as he heard the familiar voice of Passion, who was standing in the corner.

"Take me back," he demanded in a threatening tone of voice. She just sighed in frustration.

"This is not going the way I planned it to, you know that?" she took a step forward, "I mean you try to do something nice for somebody and they don' take advantage of the opportunity. Do you really want a visit from Rellick? Because, I'll tell you something, he is not a merciful person."

"What do you want me to say?" he questioned with a raised voice, "You want me to get down on bended knees and thank you? How did you expect me to react to this, huh?"

"Like it was a gift!" she yelled angrily, "This isn't a common thing Seifer! You wanted it, I provided it, so why are you so scared of what could have happened?!"

"Because it didn't!" he spat viscously, "This isn't real! None of it! The fact is, I did betray them, I did kill countless people, and I have paid for it every single day of my life-"

"Except now!" she pointed out, "In my head I hear the most tragic people, they tell me their stories, they share with me their pain, and they don't even know it! You, Seifer Almasy, you were screaming, and thrashing with pain and guilt and so much agony! We couldn't take it anymore; nobody deserves to suffer like you have!"

"I never asked to suffer in the first place!"

"That isn't the damn point!" she took a deep breath, "We, the emotions, ruling over beings to an extent, made a decision. You would get your "what if," but only if you didn't act the way you are. Do you want to die? It can be arranged you know, if you would rather die than have a few happy moments then just say the word."

Seifer let his head drop and gaze upon the floor, contemplation was an evil thing. Death would be the easy way out, but would it be worth it? No. Death was not the answer, but he just didn't know how to deal with this sort of situation.

"I don't want to die," he said quietly.

"I know," she brushed her bangs back, "Maybe you just didn't come in with enough information, maybe it was my fault.But this is the way it is, and has been since we were given to the first thinking and feeling things, and this is the way it must remain.

"I understand that," he said calmly now, "It's just a hard place to be put in."

"Just treat this life as a relationship, I mean you have had some flings, but now you get a chance at a life. Even if it is for a certain amount of time, you should enjoy this, because this is your alternative life. You are a hero to the people of this world, you are all the things you hoped to be. Be affectionate, be friendly, and be realistic. The fact is, the Seifer from this reality is you and you are him, just in different circumstances. So find the man that matured as a hero inside the man who matured as a lifeless nothing."

"I resent that."

"Hey, I don't lie.I actually can't lie, part of the contract," she smiled a little, "No get back to your job, in fifteen minutes you go to the inn for your shift, okay?"

"Yeah," and with that she disappeared once more. He took a long breath and left his new home, to wander, but finding no more battles. Fifteen minutes passed like it was an instant, and he found himself standing in the lobby of their establishment.

"You feeling better?" Quistis asked, riding from the fron desk to greet him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss.

"Oh, you know me, I've been better, been worse," he gave a smile, trying desperately not to freak out once more. She gave a little laugh and broke the embrace.

"So I had an idea." she stared, dragging him to a nearby sofa.

"Oh?"

"Well I was thinking that because our busy season is coming up, that maybe we should hire a person.Or persons to patrol the town," she paused, "And I know two SeeDs looking to take a break from their level 88 missions."

"Oh?" he had the feeling that she thought that he knew who exactly she was talking about, but he didn't.

"So, should we hire Raijin and Fuujin?" she asked with a face that appeared to be awaiting a blow. Seifer was shocked, utterly shocked, for his two best friends were, well, dead. Maybe this would make things a little more manageable in this crazy universe.

"Raijin and Fuujin are alive?" he asked in the deepest form of surprise. Quistis gave him a confused look.

"Of course they are.Dear are you sure you're feeling alright? Maybe you still have poison in your system.You have just been acting so strangely."

"I was just thinking about some things I had on my mind," he knew that his words sounded quite confusing, but he didn't really care at this point, "I think we should."

"Really?!" she stood up happily, which he found quite odd, "I was a little nervous there for a second.Wow it's a really good thing that you agreed because I sort of already hired them."

"Without consulting me?" he thought it sounded something like a husband would say.

"Lighten up boss, ya know?" came a voice that Seifer had not heard for years. They were both standing at the bottom of the staircase, and boy were they a sight for sore eyes.

"Raijin, how many times do I have to tell you to knock off the 'ya knows?" Fuijin asked speaking normally for a change, but then she turned her attention to Seifer, "Been a while, good to see you again."

"You too," he said in a flabbergasted tone.

"This is gonna be fun, ya know?"

Well r/r and thanks in advance.