The first thing that Seifer became aware of was that a hand was holding his. He opened his eyes gingerly, only to see that it was already night. He looked around, recognizing the hospital tent and finally seeing the owner of the hand that held his.

"Meiou…" he whispered.

The woman he called looked up in surprise and she smiled brightly, "Seifer! You're okay!"

She stood up and embraced him, and he was glad that her scent was the first thing he smelled, her body the first thing he held, and her voice the first thing he heard. She pressed to him tightly and he sighed in relief, for now he knew his ordeal is over.

Meiou settled herself on the chair she had been occupying and smiled at him, "Thank God you're alright. I thought you were going to die of fever. It was just so high. I didn't think you would survive. You had a high fever for three days!"

Seifer smiled weakly, "Mercenaries don't die that easily." He coughed and he realized his throat was parched, "Water, please."

She immediately got a glass of water, "Slowly now, I don't want you to choke." When he finished she smiled again, "You know what? There're some people waiting for you. They've been here ever since I told them what happened…"

He raised his eyebrow and said, "Who?"

"What's up, Seifer?"

"SEIFER!"

He looked to the door and saw both Raijin and Fujin at the door. He smiled brightly at the sight of his friends and said, "Hey! You're here!"

The two came to his bedside, "Yeah. We got here as fast as we can, ya know?"

Fujin nodded and also smiled, "SQUALL. ASSIST."

Raijin nodded to and translated, "Yeah, ya know. Squall told us to use the Ragnarok, ya know. It was faster than the trains, ya know. We left as soon as we heard about what happened, ya know."

Fujin turned to Meiou and she offered her hand, "FUJIN. GRATEFUL. THANK YOU."

The taller man also turned to her with a grateful smile, "Yeah… thank you."

Meiou blushed as she accepted Fujin's hand, "Yes… well… it is us who should be thankful. Seifer has been very helpful in the rebuilding of Trabia." She shifted uncomfortably as she said, "But I believe I still have something to do. So please entertain him. If you need anything, I'll be in the tent with a red cross." She smiled sweetly at Seifer, "Don't overexert yourself, you hear?" And with that she left.

Fujin settled herself on Seifer's bedside while Raijin occupied the seat Meiou sat earlier. Seifer looked at both of them, "Well, how's Galbadia?"

Raijin waved a hand, "It's okay now, ya know. That guy… uh…"

"IRVINE KINNEAS." Fujin supplied.

"Yeah! He took over with Quistis on Galbadia Garden, ya know. We're the Discipline Committee there, ya know."

Fujin shook her head, "DIFFERENT. WITHOUT YOU."

The other man turned to him, "What about you, ya know? How have been doing here, ya know?"

Seifer shrugged, "Pretty good. The people here are nice… and if they weren't, then I'd be dead."

"ACTIVITIES?" Fujin asked.

"Ahh… nothing much. I was in the Discipline Committee too, but I sort of got reassigned to the Rebuilding Committee. So I've been helping with the roads and stuff."

Fujin smiled, "GOOD. ROADS. BEAUTIFUL."

Raijin nodded a second, "Yeah. The roads look good ya know?" His face got serious as he asked, "It was kind of different when you blew it up with Galbadia's rockets, ya know? I thought everyone lost hope on this place, ya know."

"DISASTEROUS." Fujin added with a sorrowful look on her face.

Seifer shrugged again as he settled his pillows on his back, "I thought the same thing too. I really can't imagine that I did all this stuff… blowing up Trabia and all…"

"Seifer…?"

The three posses turned to the door to see Meiou standing, her eyes registering anger, disbelief and abhorrence at the same time, "You… didn't…"

Seifer tried to stand up and said, "No, Meiou! Please let me explain…"

Meiou's eyes closed for a second and when they opened, Seifer saw that she wore the same cold expression she wore when she first met him. "There is no need, Mr. Almasy. I have heard enough." She took her arms from behind her to show him that she was carrying his gunblade, "I had come to return this… and to tell you that you will be returned to Balamb."

His eyes widened even more at her words, "Meiou! Please!"

She turned a deaf ear as the turned to Fujin and Raijin, "Please take Mr. Almasy to your aircraft. I shall be writing a letter to your Headmaster to approve of Mr. Almasy's re-admittance to Balamb Garden and to explain that our contract is to be dissolved."

Seifer tried to speak, but Meiou cut him off by saying, "Enough words are spoken. Please leave today, if possible, as not to disturb the rebuilding. I bid you farewell, Mr. Raijin… Ms. Fujin."

"Meiou, please… hear me out…"

Meiou turned her flaring blue eyes to Seifer, and he saw that though she was trying to be cold, the tears standing on her eyes defied her, "As for you, Mr. Almasy…" she said as she tried hard to regain her composure, "I would order you to please stay off Trabia Garden's property… for both our safety." And with that she left, leaving Raijin and Fujin puzzled and Seifer crushed and depressed.