Chapter Four---Festival
"Squall? Where are we going?" Rinoa asked, looking around. Squall smiled and patted her knee.
"It's a surprise." Rinoa smiled. Surprises were rare for Squall. They pulled into a small the driveway of a two story house beside the ocean. All was calm, including the vast expanse of crystal waters. Rinoa took a deep breath and smiled. It was peaceful. Homey.
Squall knocked on the door three times and waited. If he knew Seifer, the blonde wasn't a morning person, but it would be the perfect time to practice and years of getting up at 5:30 were hard to erase. This made him fairly sure that Seifer would be awake. The door opened and there stood a brunette who glared t him before rubbing his eyes sleepily and shutting the door in his face. A yell was heard and thundering footseps. The door was yanked open again and there stood Seifer.
"Squall?...Oh! Come in." Seifer stepped aside to let Rinoa and Squall in, smacking his brother in the back of the head.
"You could have at least let them in, you asshole." Squall laughed and leaned against the counter while Seifer ran to the back door and brought his mother and father inside.
"Squall, Rinoa, this is my mother, Cale and my father Arien." Squall smiled and shook their hands. He was glad Seifer had found his family. It was apparently doing him good.
"It's nice to meet a friend of Seifer's. Won't you sit? I've got coffee if you want some." Cale's warm smile made Squall feel as if the woman was including him into her family. Like he was apart of one.
"Coffee sounds great, thank you Mrs. Almasy." Cale laughed.
"That would be my mother-in-law. Cale or mom will do just fine." Cale went about getting coffee while Rinoa gripped his hand. He looked at her but she was in a conversation with Seifer's father Arien.
"So Squall...why the sudden visit?" Seifer asked, fixing him with a look. Squall snickered.
"Can't I just stop in to see an old friend?" Seifer snorted.
"No, you can't. I know you Squall." Squall had to admit, Seifer had a point. Squall was not one for pointlessness.
"Fine. We wanted to tell you...that..." Squall looked to Rinoa who was damn near glowing with happiness.
"We're pregnant!" She squealed. Cale wrapped her into a hug while Arien ruffled Squall's hair.
"Congratulations man. I guess you do have it in you." Squall glared at the blonde, but Seifer just smirked.
"You will stop by more, right? You're always welcome." Cale smiled at the couple and Squall nodded slowly.
"I think I'd like that."
"Hey...why don't...why don't you bring your father down too? At least for dinner. Hell, why not bring everyone?" Seifer said, leaning across the table. Squall pursed his lips.
"...Alright...I'm sure Xu can spare us a weekend. What about you? Your taking care of things?" By Squall's raised brow, Seifer knew what he meant. Fujin.
"...Yea... I just have one thing left to do." Squall nodded and then looked up to find Cale beckoning them outside.
Fujin flopped down on to her bed with a sigh when a knock came to the door. It couldn't be Selphie or Quistis, because they were already in their own dorms sleeping after a night of partying at the club. Selphie was consequently estatic to have procured the nessecary people for her little Festival.
"Squall?" Squall smiled a little at her. Rinoa peeked out from behind him with a small wave.
"Hey Fujin. I just wanted to let you know, you've got the weekend off at the end of the month. Everyone's going to the beach for the weekend and your coming." Fujin opened her mouth to protest.
"It's an order Fujin." Squall's smirk told her it wasn't an order persay...but if she didn't go there was going to be hell.
"Fine. Is that all?" Squall nodded and bid her goodnight.
"Night Fujin." Rinoa's small voice chimed. Fujin thought, maybe...just once...itwouldn't hurt to be nice.
"Goodnight Rinoa." As she closed the door she heard the delighted squeal of the brunette. A small smile crept on to her face.
--Spring Festival, One Week Later--
"Fujin, you rock! This is the best Festival yet!" Selphie's delighted shrieks made Fujin laugh. Yes, the party was a hit and everyone was having a good time. Someone tapped her shoulder. She turned to face emerald eyes.
"May I have this dance?" The brunette was slightly taller then herself and something about him was horribly familiar. The letter...
"How do you know me?" He laughed.
"You'll find out soon enough. My name's Makai." Fujin pursed her lips.
"Normally I might consider bothering to introduce myself but it seems you know me already."
"So it would seem." Damn fortune cookie.
"Don't worry. You'll find out soon enough." Fujin was about to make a smart ass reply when someone tapped her shoulder.
"May I cut in?" That voice. It sent chills down her spine and her breath hitched as she turned slowly. Please...not another dream...
"...Seifer?" The famous Almasy smirk sat easily on his lips.
"The one and only." She shoved him back hard.
"This is no time for your smartass remarks. How dare you come waltzing back in here like that! Three years Seifer!" Fujin's fist was shaking at her side. Those were not the words she'd intended to say. His smirk fell.
"Fuu...please...I didn't want to leave like that, but I had to work things out on my own." Fujin's lip trembled and he took a risk and stepped toward her.
"What couldn't you have worked out with me? What took three years of wondering whether you were dead or alive and if you would ever come back?" Seifer pulled her into his arms and she stood there, suddenly sapped of strength as she wrapped her arms around him.
"It's a long story...and I'm...I'm sorry Fuu. I am. But I'm here now." Fujin glared up at him.
"Do you think that makes up for three years, Seifer?" Seifer frowned.
"No, I don't but if you give me a chance--" Fujin stepped away from him fully.
"A chance! You didn't give us a chance Seifer! Raij and I followed you no matter what and then you simply disappeared on us. Didn't you trust us?" Seifer was getting angry. He was trying to apologize but she...she couldn't accept that. Why, damnit!
"Of course I do! What the hell do you think I've been doing these past few years?" Fujin struggled to keep the reply 'Every whore in Balamb', from her lips and succeeded.Bravo.
"I don't know. You're the one who left!" Seifer shook his head. This was wrong.
"Maybe I shouldn't have bothered to come back after all." Fujin wanted to tell him that she was sorry that she didn't mean it, any of it. That she was glad he was home. But the words just didn't come. Instead she replied in a cold, bitter voice.
"No, you shouldn't have." Seifer's eyes relayed his shock and she immediately wanted to take it back. The tears formed behind her eyes as she willed herself not to cry. However, the hardening and helpless look in his eyes was too much for her and the tears spilled over. Choking back a sob, she rushed past him and out into the cool night.
"...Seifer?" Seifer turned from watching the woman run away from him and into the bright jade eyes of Selphie.
"...Yea?" Selphie sighed.
"Go talk to her...she's just hurt you know? You've been gone so long...and she's been so hoping you'd come back that it's a shock for her. She really does want you here." Seifer managed a smile for the girl.
"Thanks... I'll give her some time. I think she needs a little space right now." Seifer and Makai left, each wondering where the hell everything went wrong.
A.n: Hum. I don't like this chapter. I don't know why. It's nessecary though. To my Muse Sorceress Fujin: Yay! I get spared! Hehehe I'm glad you like! I hopre you enjoyed this last chapter, though I may repost with something new later.
And as for chapt. Three. I had to redo it twice so I'm glad everyone liked it! whew. Ok, review my lovelies!
i Ultimate!