Part 23:
Seifer parted abruptly from Quistis's lips.
'Aaaaargh!' Seifer screeched in pain as Quistis felt him throw himself onto the ground.
'Seifer!' Quistis gasped in the dark as she slid off the log worried and crawled looking for him as he just went on screaming and gasping in pain.
But she seemed not be able to find him. She went as fast as she could, hurt her knees even by crawling in the dark over the stones and dry twigs. She could hear him screaming in pain, but couldn't reach him. She didn't know what was going on, for him to react that way, it must've been really serious, and she was now getting worried for she couldn't feel him anywhere…
'Where are you!' she hissed nervously as she now got up on her feet going as fast as she could supporting herself on her hands as she went.
'Ger'out of here!' he winced as he went on gasping in pain.
'Seifer!' she had got hold of his arm.
'What's happening!' Quistis put her hands around his face as she kneeled next to him.
'Trepe go!' he yelled furiously between his teeth as he tried to deal with the pain, by taking deep breaths and ripped her hand off his face brutally.
'What's going on, Seifer! What's wrong with you!' Quistis started to panic as she felt him push her away with his hand.
'Get away! Go! Move! Ger'out of here!' Seifer yelled now louder than ever.
Quistis frightened with his behaviour jerked backwards as she stared into the dark, already gasping and sweating nervously.
But then, without anyone of them expecting, a small bright green light started to grow right in front of her. It started to expand slowly in lines that seemed to be creating some kind of symbol. It didn't stop, the light just went on expanding and now Qusitis could see that light came from Seifer's chest. It just went on making weird symbol patterns in odd shapes like spirals and triangles and other weird shapes.
Quistis's mouth dropped open as her eyes moved around from one spot to another. Just staring at that odd moment, not knowing what to do.
Seifer screeched even louder as he ripped his own clothes of his chest furiously and clenched his hands to his tearing skin as he moved around on the ground helpless and in true pain. The light was coming out of his skin like it was actually cutting trough his skin open as it drew some kind of tattoo.
And when the light had reached the side of Seifer's torso, it drew one more spiral and finally it ended in some ancient writing.
The light shinned brighter now that the image was concluded and now Seifer just moaned and gasped tiredly, as his chest bled.
And as the silence seemed to return, Seifer's whole body was illuminated by a white light, making Quistis strain her eyes as she assisted the whole scene. The light had been blinding for a few seconds, but weakened as Seifer started to calm down.
Quistis then approached him slowly as he seemed to be unconscious.
His chest was all covered in blood, shaped by the lines of the image drawn across his skin. She analyzed the symbols for a few seconds and then gently took his hand and noticed that on his wrist, there was a small black tattoo of two snakes that intertwined each other and formed what seemed like two S's. Then out of nothing, green light glowed in his veins and seemed to be slowly racing in direction of his whole arm towards his chest.
By the time it reached the end of his arm, all the veins in his arm could be seen, shining bright as the light started to invade the veins in his chest, Seifer started to jerk as if he were receiving small electrical shocks.
'No…' Quistis groaned.
'Not his heart!' she moaned as she placed her hands over his chest trying to stop the light from spreading into the veins near his heart. It seemed to work but it would just make the light spread quickly to other areas around her hands.
Quistis clenched her hands tighter trying to avoid that light from invading his body again.
But the light just went on spreading through out his body and when she could already see the green light shine through the end of his pants pipes, she knew it was about to reach his feet…
A few seconds later, his finger tips started to shine brighter as if the light would accumulate there. But before Quistis could even blink, the light raced now ten times faster through his arms and in the direction of his chest…
'Urgh!' Quistis fell over with the impulse.
The racing light had forced its way into Seifer's heart and pushed Quistis to fall backwards.
Quistis approached him again and kneeled next to him as she saw the light greedily take over the left side of his chest.
'No!' Quistis yelled desperately, not knowing what was happening, but knowing it wasn't good…
'Seifer…' she reached her hand out to touch his face, but before she could, Seifer shut his eye tighter and the green light started to reach his neck's veins and slowly up his chin it climbed his face.
Seifer opened his mouth and started to gasp for air as if he were being smothered and desperately clenched his hands to his neck as he struggled for air, piercing his nails through his own skin.
Quistis was so petrified and helpless; she couldn't even move her own muscles. It was like all she could do was assist Seifer die struggling to breathe…
Seifer opened his eyes, turned his neck and looked at her as he went on scratching his own neck and gasping for air as he opened his jaw that seemed to shiver, he looked Quistis in her eyes. All the veins in his body were visible. His eyelids, his lips, his cheeks, the green light would shine through all the veins in his body.
His eyes were half shut and his expression was of terrified fright and worry, but before she could even approach him again, he just stopped struggling and continued glaring into her eyes until he blanked out. His eyes dropped a small tear of blood that ran down his face and his arms dropped down unconsciously…
'Seifer! No!' Quistis jumped and grabbed his face, smacked his face trying to make him come back.
'Come back…' she murmured as tears rolled down her face.
'Come back…come back…' she hiccoughed softly, crying.
'No…' she closed her eyes as she bended down and placed her head on his chest and cried her heart out loudly. His body was cold and he wasn't breathing…but she didn't want to think about it. He couldn't be…
'No…no…no…this is not happening…it must be a dream…' she grizzled as her eyes just leaked uncontrollably. She lifted up to look at him again, cleaned the blood tear off his cheek and kissed his ice lips one last time…
His body still lit up by his illuminated veins now started to shine blinding white, making Quistis cover her face, for the light would hurt her eyes. Then after it weakened, Quistis opened her eyes again and to her horror, Seifer's body started to glow irregularly and started to fade away.
'No… don't go!' she moaned as she held onto his waistcoats torn collar…' Seifer! Don't leave me!' She shook him slightly and leaning on him, she held his head in her arms.
'Rinoa can bring you back...please don't…'Quistis cried now compulsively as she watched Seifer just fade away in her arms.
Eventually, Seifer's body had vanished in what seemed a blinding white flash of light.
'No!' she screamed furiously as all she was left with in her arms were his clothes and a thin black leather string he used to wear around his right wrist. She held it tightly in her hand, threw herself painfully on the icy cold darkened floor and cried with only grief in her heart, so that even the tears would hurt to come out. Seifer had gone away and he would never come back. He was dead…. She didn't want to live anymore. She now wanted whatever took Seifer to take her as well…She couldn't live anymore, it was to painful, even to breathe…
So she just lied there and screamed her pain out until she had no energy left in her, ending up unconscious with all the intense emotion she was put trough, while in the darkened forest it continued to snow and the owls flew around…
The moment Quistis's eyes had shut, she started to feel a strong cold gush of wind blow in her face and a loud sharp piercing sound, making her open her eyes immediately and finding herself in totally different spot…
'Aaaargh!' Quistis turned around to see who was yelling, and saw Seifer on the ground, rolling around in pain as three hooded men surrounded him and watched him suffer. One of them was producing the awful head bursting sound by clenching his teeth together and making louder by moving his jaw, which made Seifer just screech even louder.
Quistis started sweating and panting nervously as she tried to get up and run for Seifer but before she could even get the guy that was torturing Seifer raised his hand in her direction and immediately something grabbed her arms from the back and pulled her tightly against a tree, banging her back brutally. When Seifer was already too weak to even move, they picked him up by his arms, placed a metal chocker around his neck and as they dragged him, he lifted his head up weakly, looked at Quistis in her eyes for the last time with sorrow, trying to say something, but as weak as he was, his eyes shut before he could even spell the first word and his head dropped down unconscious. Seifer was dragged out of her sight into the depths of the forest as all she could do was watch…
'SEIFER!' Quistis yelled desperately for him in fury.
'Nooo! Don't take him!' Quistis cried out loudly.
'No…' she grizzled, shutting her eyes and allowing tears to roll down her face.
But suddenly, she felt what held her tightly to the tree pull her backwards into some kind of whole. It pulled on her brutally, making the roots that covered the whole snap and pulling her in…
Quistis started to scream petrified not knowing what was happening, she didn't want to be berried alive…
She was pulled inside the whole beneath the tree's trunk and when she was totally under the tree, the whole was covered up with more roots, leaving her stuck in that small confined space.
Quistis started panicking…she yelled petrified already feeling claustrophobic, not being able tot move because the roots where still wrapped around her arms and now pulled her tightly to the ground and other roots started to creep up her legs and her neck, not letting her move at all…
She went on screaming and crying not knowing what was about to happen to her, feeling helpless, which made her furious and frustrated.
She ended up loosing all her energy trying to loosen herself and screaming now that she only gasped and panted nervously.
'Just kill me… I don't wanna live anyway…KILL ME!...JUST DO IT!' she yelled furiously already loosing her voice.
But then on the shallow roof of the whole she was in, the wood started to crack in various spots as eventually little green lights would glow within them. Then when the lights were already superficial, they started to carve images on the wood. Quistis recognised this image, though she couldn't remember where she had seen it. Then, the head of two serpents had burst through the two largest spirals. They intertwined each other and formed what looked like, two S's.
'Seifer…' she said under her breath worriedly. Having in response the serpents hiss at her threateningly, which made her heart jump…
'Get away…' she gasped as she watched them make their way down.
The serpents both fell on her, making her scream with fear as they made their way next to her face and started to wrap themselves around her neck…
Quistis didn't move an inch; she was petrified and hardly could breath.
The snakes then hissed in her ears, making her shut her eyes tightly, already expecting the worse. They wouldn't stop; they just went on rattling their tongues in her ear so loudly it would even echo in her head. Quistis's eyes started to tear again as she felt her tense body loosen up and her heart beat slow down. The hissing didn't sound like the snakes anymore, it sounded more like someone whispering in her ears in some kind of weird language. But soon, the language started to sound familiar and Quistis was able to understand what the voice was saying…
'Near is the time when the Lord of Shadow will rise in triumph. His loyal serpents shall hand him the two greatest power sources and sacrifice their own existence. The Lord shall rule the universe for all eternity…The shadow shall break the light…there will only be one ruler…the Lord is about to rise…'
'No!' yelled Quistis opening her eyes rapidly and lifting up.
Quistis panted as she found herself stare into an oval shaped mirror that reflected her own petrified, sweaty, tired self.
She just took sore deep breaths as she felt her lips dry and tried to wet them with her tongue, but even her mouth was dry.
She then realised the place wasn't familiar. The walls, the floor and the roof were all done in some dark wood. With beautiful butterfly and rose sculptures carved on everywhere and familiar inscriptions written along the roof in gold.
The bed she was on was very comfortable and the sheets were very silky and had beautiful images embroidered on them.
In the room besides the king-sized bed she was on, was a huge desk covered in rolls of parchment and a small jar with a lovely yellow rose in it.
Quistis looked around a second time and spotted an arched door, on whose wall were exposed a collection of various weapons and masks, some in steal, others in mahogany and gold.
'Where am I?...' she said under her breath as she stared at herself in the mirror.
Quistis then pulled the sheets of herself and sat on the bed side, touching the wooden floor with her bare feet as a yellow silky cloth fell over them. She then realised she wasn't wearing her own clothes, she stared in the mirror and saw that what she was wearing was a silky yellow long night dress that reached her feet and had a very pretty bow just below her chest with elegant long bell-shaped sleeves.
After observing herself for a few moments in wonder, she got off the bed and stood for a moment on her own feet, took one step…
'Urgh!' she groaned as her knees shook and couldn't support her, making her fall on the wooden floor with a loud thump, making a hollow sound in the floor.
Quistis, worried then froze and listened carefully to make sure she hadn't attracted no one to the room. She then looked out the window covered in snow from the outside and noticed it was already day.
The moment she blinked, she had had a painful back flash…
She saw Seifer immobile on the snowy ground, jerking his body in pain, screeching as through his skin, the green light would cut its way and draw the lines of various symbols and inscriptions, making him bleed uncontrollably...
'Seifer…' she gasped painfully as a tear came rolling down her pale face.
Quistis panting nervously then opened her eyes wide and shook her head as she helped her self up again and made her way towards the door with tears in her eyes, sniffing constantly. When was close enough to the door, she grabbed the handle, turned it and squeaked as she bumped into a person, that grabbed her waist before she could fall.
Quistis was highly nervous, panting and trembling as she looked at the darkened figure hold her.
'Where are you going in such a hurry? Are you ok?' said a hollow whispering voice that pronounced the R's differently, with more emphasise.
'Where am I…?' she gasped still nervous.
'You're in a Mr. Turruco's house…err…Clover Path, 73 Southwest, Ganahir…' he said with a bit of nervousness in his voice as well.
'Ganahir? H-How that I get here? Where are the others? Who are you? What do you want?...let go of me!' she pulled away nervously.
'Hey, hey…don't be scared. I'm not one of the bad guys… I'm just the housekeeper, alright?…I won't hurt you…' he said reassuringly as he touched her shoulder gently, but she jerked.
Quistis just went on breathing really fast and shivering.
'Listen, lady, there's no need to be afraid. You're safe here. If you come with me downstairs, I'll answer all your questions. But before anything else, you've gotta eat something…' he said.
'I'm not hungry…I just want to find my comrades…I need to talk to them…something weird is happening…'she cried.
'I can help you, but first put something warm on…this place is cold…I don't want you getting sick.' he muttered as he walked into the room and started scratching around.
'Here, put this on…' he came back and helped Quistis dress a warm gown on and dropped a pair of slippers at her feet gently.
Quistis put the slippers on slowly, not really understanding what was happening, but cooperating with the guy for being so gentle. She was a little puzzled, not used to having this kind of treatment. But at this point, all she was worried about was Seifer. She didn't know what to think anymore. Her dream was so real and she wasn't sure if what happened before she closed her eyes in the forest, really happened. Her head was in great confusion.
'Come, the kitchen's this way…' he murmured as he gently guided her by pushing her shoulder.
Quistis looked down all the way, hearing Seifer's scream replay over and over in her head, making tears blossom in her eyes.
The guy took her through a narrow darkened corridor, then into a confined closet looking room with a small oval window that leaded down a spiral staircase.
'Careful this step has a whole in it…' he said, taking her hand as he helped her jump over the step and guided her down the staircase.
She could now see the guy clearly. He was a thin, tall guy. He had long dark brown hair until at his shoulders and wore a rather old scraggly black apron around his waist.
The kitchen was quite big, again the walls panelled in wood, as well as the roof and the floor, with wooden built-in cupboards and a marble sink. In the middle of the kitchen, there was a pan and pot rack that hung from the ceiling above a unpolished granite surface supported by four pillars of the same material..
'Sit down…' he pulled a chair for her and head to a tall cupboard that stood on the opposite side. Quistis did as he said and not thinking about anything else around her, she just crossed her arms over the table and rested her head on them, feeling only grief in her heart as she felt more tears come down her face, shivering and sniffing uncontrollably.
The guy just stood back faced to her, preparing something for her to eat, turning his neck around a few times in curiosity to try and get a better glimpse of her…
Quistis then heard the guy's footsteps come in her direction. He pulled a chair for himself and sat down next to her as he placed a plate on the table and a glass.
'Thanks…but I'm sorry…I can't eat right now…now you said you'd tell me everything you know…please go on…' Quistis mumbled sadly, still resting her head over her arms.
'But before anything else…once sip and one bite…please lady…it would be much of a shame if you passed out of hunger in this house…' he muttered gently.
Quistis turned her neck to look at him as in a "who do you think you are?" way…
The guy stared at her seriously. Quistis the was able to see what he really looked like, now that he was face to face with her. He was good-looking, though very unusual. Probably a little older than her, with the gentlest eyes she had ever seen, of the colour of amber. He had dark brown hair with golden streaks in the front and wore it long until his shoulders. He had a dark blond beard and a well-shaped moustache that hid small yet enchanting pale pink lips.
'Fine…'she sighed impatiently, lifting her head up, taking the glass slowly and taking a small sip of strawberry juice and taking shortly afterwards a small bite out of the delicious chocolate cake. Quistis then tilted her hand, expecting him to start.
'Good…' he smiled as his eyes wrinkled slightly. He had a gorgeous white smile.
'Ok then, what do you want to know?' he kept a small friendly grin on his face.
'First of all, how did I get here?' she said seriously.
'Well, Irik my pet, she's been missing since last night, so I went out and looked for her in the forest and that's when I found you. You were lying next to someone's clothes and…(he reached for his apron pocket and took out a thin black leather string) you had this in your hand…'
Quistis reached her hand slowly and took the string from the boy with a heart broken expression on her face.
'…so it was real…it wasn't a dream…' her voice trembled as tea blossomed in her eye.
'What wasn't a dream, lady?' he murmured looking at her worriedly.
'I'm sorry…could you please go on?' she muttered shyly, whipping the tear away.
'Oh, yeah…um…well, after finding you, I couldn't leave you there so I took you home with me…'he said shyly.
'Thanks…' Quistis sniffed.
'Didn't you perhaps walk into anyone else? A group of six people…three young men, one adult man and two girls?' Quistis asked him anxiously.
'No…I didn't see anyone else besides you…' he answered softly.
'They must be looking for me… and Seifer…' Quistis looked down sadly, whipping her eyes again.
'I have to look for them…' she got up from her chair rapidly and headed to the exit kitchen door.
But as she was about to reach the handle, the guy stepped in front of her and blocked the door and leaned against it.
'What do you think you doing?' Quistis said seriously.
'I can't let you go out…' he said simply, smiling nervously.
'Don't play with me! I'm not who you think I am…I have important things to do here and I need to find my comrades right away! I don't have time for this! Please move!' Quistis raised her voice slightly, feeling anxious.
'Either way, I can't let you go. You hardly can move on your own feet and it's freezing out there!...' he raised his hollow voice as well.
'I'm fine thank you very much and it won't be the weather that'll take me down, ok? Now I appreciate your concern, but please move out the way…I've really got to go…' Quistis sighed.
'You'll freeze in those clothes…besides; I can tell when someone isn't well. And you're aren't. Anyway, there are armed men marching up and down these streets and if they see anyone suspect…believe me, it's not a good idea…' the guy explained almost begging her to cooperate.
Quistis sighed impatiently.
'But I have to!' Quistis raised her voice anxiously.
'Lady, this could go on all day…I'm telling you, from experience, you do not want to be seen.'
'Then what do you suggest?' she asked.
'Let's wait…it gets dark at six, then we can creep into the forest and look for your friends.' He said.
'"we"?' Quistis frowned.
'Yeah, you and I…What? You didn't think I'd let you go out on your own, did you?' he said seriously.
'I don't need you to come with me, I'll be fine on my own…' she snapped proudly, rolling her eyes.
'Listen lady, if you want to go out at all, I must go with you. There's no way you going on your own, it's too dangerous out there and I know this place like the back o my hand…I won't interfere with your plans, I'll just accompany you, I promise.' He said.
'Whatever…' she grumbled turning around and walking up the stairs.
'Hey! Lady be careful with the…'
'Argh!' Quistis squeaked.
'…broken step!' said the guy frustrated as he ran after her.
When Quistis had vanished with Seifer, Laguna, Squall, Zell, Rinoa, Irvine and Selphie had decided to go look for them, but ended leading themselves into the town.
By the time they arrived into Ganahir, the sun had started to rise, making it important that they found a place to stay before it was day.
They had been creeping about in the streets watched by guards, when Selphie had fallen through a broken window, while peeping into a basement, ending up on a couch, thankfully. And when Irvine tried to pull her out, Squall had noticed that the basement looked abandoned for years and from there decided to use it as a hiding place and shelter.
Meanwhile, Rinoa had already woken up to Squall's relief , spending the whole morning, speaking to Headmaster Cid and crossing out areas they'd already searched for Quistis and Seifer, while Zell went on trying to reach Quistis on her IC and ear phone. But Quistis wouldn't answer.
'I don't care what happens to Seifer, as long as Quisty's alright…that bully deserves something nasty happen to him!' Selphie grumbled as she sat on the couch she had fallen to earlier on.
'Let's keep trying. We can't give up until we find them…her, to be honest if he got lost, it would be quite an achievement…' said Laguna.
'Laguna! Don't speak like that! He's one of us…I know he can be rotten at times, but he's still part of this group! Seifer can change; I truly believe he can be a good person, if he wants…' Rinoa's smiled.
Laguna shrugged his shoulders.
'He'll probably love you to try and change him…that is if he wants to be a good person…' Squall mumbled as he crossed out one area on the map.
'…sorry! I don't think I heard well?' Rinoa turned around to face Squall, but he kept faced down to the map.
'Dudes, is it me or Squall's hair is turning green!' Zell asked everyone, making everyone giggle.
'Stuff it Zell.' Squall said coolly.
'Whoa!' Zell raised his hands with a grin on his face.
'Seifer is human just like anyone else here, Squall. I think everyone needs a second chance. And to be honest, I think he could do with one, I don't think we've been to nice to him lately…' Rinoa's lip curled.
'Yeah, he is just the person that wanted to hand you in and get you killed; just to be in someone else's favour, which happened to be Sorceress Ultemecia and friends. He genuinely deserves a second chance…C'mon Rinoa we all know he always had bad intentions and probably has right now. He can't be trusted, he'll kill you if he wants to, he has no respect or honour. He doesn't care about anyone but himself… ' Squall said sarcastically and giving her an extremely hurtful look.
'Then why do you think he accepted to guide us here?' Rinoa gave him a challenging look.
'And why do you think he just disappeared with Quistis?' Squall tried to reason with her.
'I don't know…' Rinoa gave him a side look.
'…but we don't know what happened…they could be in trouble or hurt…' Rinoa crossed her arms worriedly.
'But it also could've happened for some other reason…we can't be sure of anything. And he's not exactly trust wordy…' he said lifting up and placing the map on an old coffee table.
Squall went up to her and pulled her gently by her arm to come with him, leading her to a large dusty glass door that opened onto a balcony, where the sun shinned brightly through and lit up the whole lounge. He opened the door and stepped on the balcony as he held her hand.
'I'd like to believe that Seifer has changed, Squall, and what you said is true, he hasn't been trust wordy, but he accepted to help us. Don't you think that means something?' Rinoa looked into Squall's eyes seeking his understanding.
'It would be quite a thing if it meant, but I've learned not to trust him a long time ago…I can't just start thinking his ok now, because I want to…besides, Seifer and I have been each others rival since… we were kids. He has done things I can't forgive him for; that's why I'd never give him a second chance…I can't help it and I'm not the only one, he brought it on himself. I wouldn't be surprised if it pleased him to have everyone hating him… 'Squall explained gently as he looked away into the distance that revealed a lake.
'How do you think he feels to have everyone dislike him? It shouldn't be nice to be lonely…' Rinoa hung her arms around his neck she rested her chin on his shoulder.
'I'd guess it makes him feel feared and…powerful…I don't know if he's as lonely as he seems…' Squall muttered.
'There you go again…you are so suspicious!' Rinoa chuckled.
'Believe me, Rin, I have reasons to. I have a bad feeling about his link to this place. That whole story is still very unclear to me…'
In response Rinoa pecked him on his cheek.
'Oh, shucks! Keep still, lady…I'll get you out of there in a sec…' said the guy as he walked up the first few steps and found Quistis holding tightly onto the railing with her leg stuck in the whole in the step.
'Great! This is just the last thing I need…!' Quistis moaned as she pulled her night dress out of the whole impatiently.
'Will you just help me?' Quistis said anxiously.
The guy took Quistis under her arms and lifted her effortlessly and put her down again on the good steps.
'I've gotta fix that…' he muttered.
'Oh yes you do…' Quistis said sarcastically.
'Your leg is hurt.' The guy said as he swung himself over the broken step, supporting himself on railing and bent down to look at her leg.
'What are you doing?' she snapped as he took her arm and flipped it over his neck and picked her up and walked down the stairs.
He took her through the kitchen into the lounge. The lounge was medium sized and had a big fireplace in front of a rather scruffy old blue couch, where he rested her.
He then walked out of the lounge.
'Oh…what have I got myself into?…I shouldn't even be here...' she murmured to herself.
The guy walked in the lounge with a wooden box under his arm and kneeled next to the couch.
'Let's see…Woo, that looks painful…' murmured the guy as he held her foot in his hand and observed the nasty scratch she had on her leg.
'It's not serious, though…' he smiled at her, looking back at her leg and opening the box, taking out a white bottle of liquid and poured some on a piece of cotton wool.
'It's gonna burn…' he looked at her worriedly.
'Oh, fine just get over with it. I'm not a child anymore, I can take a little pain…' she mumbled leaning against the couch impatiently.
'Are you ready? 1…2…….3!' he said as he placed the cotton wool on her sore.
Quistis jumped with the burning sensation as her mouth opened in agony, trying to put up with it.
'Take it off!' she gasped furiously.
'It is!' he said nervously.
'Blow!' she squeaked anxiously.
The guy never hesitated and started blowing furiously, taking the burning sensation away.
'Oh, thanks…' she panted, smiling thankfully.
'You can take a little pain, huh?' he smiled charmingly.
'Don't laugh, that's stuff you've got there is awfully strong! It could knock out anyone who sniffed it! I can smell it from here…it even burns my nostrils!' she complained.
'Get it away from your face! For all you know you're killing brain cells!' she said.
'It doesn't affect me, I'm already used to it.'
'What is it!' Quistis said with nauseated frown on her face.
'Ah, it's a concentrated mix of disinfectant plants and a bit of alcohol. My sister is really into homeopathy. She makes our own remedies and antidotes.'
'That's interesting. Is there any special reason for her to have started with it?' Quistis asked gently.
'Actually, yeah, she started out when we were kids, our mother used do the same. She used to know the name of all the plants imaginable and their use. She passed most of her knowledge onto my sister. Now we make a living out of it. She makes medicine and I bake cakes.' He smiled gently as he started to wrap a bandage around her injured leg.
'Oh, that's why you said it would be a shame if I died of hunger in this house.' Quistis smiled back at him.
He nodded.
'So, is this where you live?' Quistis asked.
'Yeah, basically. It's not actually our house, it belongs to Mr. Turruco, but he has gone missing since this whole situation started. So I haven't really paid the rent…' he smiled mischievously.
'I see…' Quistis smiled back at him.
'And where's your sister?'
'Oh, she's out. She went to the forest to fill our pantry. We're low on a few plants. She should be back by four.'
'How about you, lady? Where do you come from?' he sat on the couch after giving a last knot to the bandage.
'I probably shouldn't tell you, but you seem trust wordy. I come from Balamb. Balamb Garden to be more precise.' Quistis explained.
'So, you're part of the group that has come to help evacuate the evil force?' he smiled delighted.
'Yes, and hopefully I'll be able to find the group before anything bad happens…'
'You're a SeeD?' he asked.
'Yes. And I'm an Instructor too.' She smiled.
'Wow, I'd never tell…' he grinned.
'How come?' she asked.
'Being a lady like yourself, I would have never guessed you were a professional mercenary.' He smiled charmingly.
'Why not?'
'Oh, I don't know, lady…your structure perhaps, rather small and delicate…' he explained himself.
'Delicate, me? Huh! I wouldn't say so, I've been a real tom-boy since I was small and no one's ever called me delicate!' Quistis chuckled.
'By the way, my name's Quistis, Quistis Trepe.' She reached her hand to shake his.
'That's a fine name you've got there.' He kissed her hand, gentleman like.
'And you are?' she smiled, amazed at his forgetfulness.
'Oh! I'm sorry, you can call me Ash. Sorry for not introducing myself, with all the agitation, I forgot completely. It's nice to meet you Instructor Quistis Trepe.' He smiled reaching his hand out to shake hers now.
'Nice to meet you, Ash. Oh! But one thing, call me Quistis, just drop "Lady" and "Instructor". They don't quite suit me.' Quistis smiled gently, shaking his hand.
And before they knew it, an uncomfortable silence had fallen between them.
'Would you like to finish your chocolate cake?' he asked her seriously.
'Sure.' She nodded shyly as she watched him get up.
The both of them then sat in the lounge, eating chocolate cake and drinking strawberry juice as he sat on the floor near the fireplace and she sat on the couch, while the fire in the fireplace burnt and crackled happily and Ash's and Quistis's eyes met now and then in a blushed moment.
To be continued…
And that was part 23! Hope you liked, yeah, 'cause I've really tried hard to guide things properly. What did you think? Please tell me, I can't wait to know what you think. Please review and thanks for reading everyone, thank you so much!
Hope you enjoyed it, love to everyone.
PS: Guess what! I appeared on the radio! I know this sounds lame, but I woke up this morning and just phoned the radio station to participate in this competition and I ended up loosing, but who cares! I spoke to my radio idols (Diogo Beja and Miguel Peixoto! I luv you! – Best Rock Fm) Yay! I'm still in shock! LOL
Part 24:
When the both of them had finished their chocolate cake, Ash got up from the floor and took Quistis's plate and cup, walking back into the kitchen and leaving her to herself.
'What a weirdo…' she said under her breath.
Quistis then, feeling silly to sit on the couch like she needed help to go anywhere, she got up slowly and made her way slowly into the kitchen, passing by Ash who was too busy washing dishes to notice her.
Quistis then too tired to move any further sat on the chair she had been sitting on earlier.
When Ash finally dried his hands, he turned around and faced her with a surprised look on his face, he approached her. She was leaning her head on her hand.
Is anything troubling you?' he asked gently as he pulled a chair and sat down next to her.
And as Quistis heard these words, a vision of Seifer's face frowning in awful pain pierced it's way through her mind again and immediately brought tears to her burning eyes.
'Heey…what are the tears for…?' he gently touched her arm comfortingly.
'These aren't tears…' Quistis sobbed with a stupefied chuckle.
'They aren't? then what are they? he asked.
Quistis didn't answer…she just hid her face with her hands.
'Quistis…is there anything you want to talk about?' he asked her still rubbing her arm.
'Does it have anything to do with what happened out there?' he asked.
Quistis gasped painfully as she just nodded her head, still covering her face.
'His dead…' she sobbed and hiccoughed sadly.
'Dead? Who is dead?' he asked her.
'Seifer…' she murmured in a small gasp.
'Seifer!...' he asked in disbelief.
'Seifer Almasy?' he asked.
Quistis then removed her hand of her face to look at him.
'You knew him?'
'No, I know him. And if it's that that is troubling you., Quistis…Don't be troubled. I can assure you he's not dead.' Ash said confidently with a grin on his face.
'But he just stopped breathing and then he disappeared…How can you be so sure that…' she cried softly, tears still rolling down her face.
'I grew up with him, we've known each other since I can remember and I know for sure, that he can't be dead…' Ash gazed out of the window as he spoke with a thoughtful look on his face.
'Ash…if you trying to make me feel better, it's no use…' she muttered softly as she wiped her eyes.
'Trust me Quistis, he is not dead. I know it, I'm sure. It couldn't happen now…the timing would be wrong and it would destroy all the chances of…believe me, where ever he is, he's alive and kicking…' Ash took her hands as he said the last words, giving her a reassuring look.
'I don't understand, Ash…you speak as if you know more than I, as if you know more than anyone... You know where he is, don't you? Ash, for Hyne's sake, take me to him…' she muttered worriedly, furrowing her brow in wonder as she tried to read what went on his mind.
Ash lowered his head.
'Please, Ash. This is very important to me…If there's anything you know about what's happening, please tell me…I need to know. I'm here to fight Sarakman, to help your people and avoid him from taking over…tell me what you know…please. I need to get Seifer back…' she tugged his arm gently as she looked him in the eyes, pleadingly.
'I won't lie to you Quistis. I do know more than I should, but believe me, it's not something I'm proud of…it's a burden, a great responsibility that I and Seifer have been carrying for some time now…and I can't reveal anything, at least for the meantime …I'm sorry…please don't insist.' Ash looked her in the eye furrowing his brow deeply with concern.
'But, I can help. I want to help you and your friends defeat Sarakman…'he gave her an honest look and somehow he seemed to be a bit emotional, as if helping really placed a great importance to him.
'Ash… I don't know how involved you are in this whole situation, but…I don't think it would be rational if I...' she muttered…'Quistis, there's no time to be rational…you've just got to trust me… and tonight…we must act. Time is scarce…the more we delay, the less chances we have of regaining what's ours…please.' Ash's eyes widened with anxiousness and worry as he tried to talk sense into her. He was technically begging her to trust him.
'Quistis, I can lead you to him. You and your friends. But you've got to trust me first…there's no other way…' Ash's eyes radiated his worry and his desperation to help her.
Quistis just stared back at him, not understanding why it was so important for him to have her trust him. But his eyes said it all, he was willing to help, his intentions were good. She could see he was also being affected by Seifer' appearance and wanted desperately the freedom of his home.
'…I trust you, Ash. I'm counting on you to take me to Seifer. I want you to help us win this battle against Sarakman...'
'Thank you…' he smiled relieved.
'
ead to the staircase, but just as she put her hand on the rail, Ash dried his hands and turned around, looking strait at her.
'Where're you going!' he asked in surprise walking up to her, furrowing his brows.
'I'm going to put my clothes on…' she snapped proudly.
'Oh, your clothes, I've washed them for you…' he looked puzzled, walking quickly over to a cupboard under the stairs and bringing out her cleaned folded clothes, passing it to her gently as he bowed down shyly.
'…thanks' she muttered shyly as she took the first step up.
'Can I help you?' he said.
'It's ok. I believe I can make it on my own.' She said with a struggling voice as she pulled herself up the stairs.
'Ok.' He accepted a little surprised at her pride.
So Ash retreated and sat on the cupboard and watched her, silently.
Quistis was having real trouble trying to climb up the stairs, but things got harder when she reached the broken step. She had to put her hands on the upper step to the broken one and pulled herself up with some trouble.
Ash would just roll his eyes as he heard her struggle, not daring to ask for help.
'Ouch!...' she moaned.
This made Ash run up the stairs and pick her up, taking her up the last few steps.
'Hey!' she moaned.
'If you need anything just yell…' he turned around and walked down the stairs again.
'Hey!...Ash, I can make it on my own!…Let go!' she raised her voice irritated.
'I'm just helping you