Thanks for the reviews, and I would say "enjoy", but this chapter's pretty ugly. But there's a reason for (almost) everything I write, hopefully the next few will be easier. And longer.
Oh, yeah, I don't own anything but the story. The characters are not mine. (much as I might wish sometimes) So unless you want my cat, it's not worth suing me over…
Nightmares
Struggling, gasping for air, there was not enough strength in Fujin's hands to break the blonde's stranglehold. She tried screaming "NO!" but all that came out was a pathetic croaking sound. His blue eyes held no sign of the mercy she knew he had in him. "Sorry, baby," he growled as darkness narrowed her vision. "Man's gotta do what a man's gotta do…"
…
Fujin sat up with a yell, heart pounding in fear. She looked around the room panicked, then sighed in relief that she was alone. "Dammit! Hate this shit!" She turned on the light and rubbed her face. "Well, wide awake now. Might as well run."
Pulling on sweats, Fujin tried to remember when the dream started. The last few months similar dreams had woken her up at least once a week. When sleep evaded her, Fujin had taken up running to exhaust herself back to sleep. It allowed her time to think without Seifer or Raijin.
Seifer was a concern right now. The Sorceress wasn't as benevolent as she'd first seemed, and her 'knight' couldn't see anything but her power. Fujin knew that Seifer had wanted power for a long time, but she'd also thought he wanted admiration and respect. "Now he's got people fearing him instead," she thought bitterly as she ran. "This has to stop, but how?"
The dark sleeping town was a perfect course – no people, no disturbances. Not that anyone would have stopped her. They all knew the petite, silver-haired woman had a temper to rival a T-Rex and was maybe, just maybe, as lethal. No one had tested that part of the theory.
Approaching the building where she had started, she saw lights coming on. "Must be almost breakfast time. Shower first. I'll talk with Raijin over food and see if he has any thoughts on Seifer."
After a quick shower, Fujin dressed and waited for Raijin. Breakfast with him every morning was a comforting routine when everything else was crazy. She liked things to be predictable with moments of chaos, not the other way around. She was pulling her eye patch on when she heard a knock on the door. A quick glance at the clock "Raijin's early?" and she answered the door to find Seifer standing there.
"We need to talk," he stated, brushing past her into the room. He waited until she closed the door, and then locked eyes with her. His voice cold and bitter, he asked her quietly, "What is your problem?"
She tried to look puzzled, pretending she didn't know what he meant. "SLEEP. NOT." She volunteered, hoping this weak excuse would suffice.
"Bullshit." The blonde knight hadn't moved, hadn't even looked away. Fujin wasn't sure if he'd even blinked. "It's more than that. You doubt me, you doubt Her. Why? Dammit, Fujin! I brought you with me to share this! NOT sabotage it!"
Fujin let her gaze drift to the window and sighed, shaking her head slightly. "I wasn't ready to do this." Looking back at Seifer's face, she could not meet his stare. "NOT SHARE" She looked at her boots, then back up to finally meet his eyes. "SERVE" "Sad state of affairs for friends."
"Only because you're not smart enough to grab the power." The sneer on his face matched his voice.
"AGAIN?" Fujin's hands clenched themselves in to fists as she gave Seifer a chance to change his words.
"I know you heard me. You're either not smart enough or not brave enough. Either way, you lose. If you're not gonna take what's yours …"
Her right fist swung out and backhanded him. Seifer had never been like this to her before, and Fujin wasn't sure if she was more mad or hurt. She gave in partially to the rage boiling inside her. "KNIGHT? HA!" she yelled, stepping right up to him. "CHILD … SPOILED … FOOL … BLIND!" There was much more she wanted to say, but a couple things happened simultaneously to interrupt her rant.
A quick knock on the door as it opened, and Raijin entered in time to see Seifer strike Fujin across the face. "The Hell's going on!" Raijin demanded, stunned.
Seifer looked at his hand like it had betrayed him. When he looked up, his eyes looked clearer. "Fuj, I …" But Raijin had stepped between the two.
"Seifer!" The big man shoved the other away from his cousin and into the wall. "The Hell's wrong with you!"
Looking from his hand to Raijin then back, Seifer didn't speak.
"We're done, okay? This is way over the top, ya know?" Fujin set her hand on the back of Raijin's shoulder. "No, Fuj, this is the line."
"AGREED" Her voice was so quiet Raijin had to strain to hear her. "LET'S GO" She walked around the room, avoiding Seifer and picking up a few things to put into a bag. As the left the room, Fujin looked back at Seifer. "Why isn't he saying something? Hyne, help him find a way out. We tried, but we can't do it. We're just not strong enough." She almost waved to him, then changed her mind before her hand did more than twitch. "No, no blunting this blade. Maybe the sharp edge will cut through to him."