Chapter XV: Face to face, heart to heart
Seifer stood nervously at the altar, as he and the rest of the church in the pews watched the doors of the church, awaiting the bride's arrival.
A strong, old organ began to play, shaking the congregation with it's matrimony song.
"What a ridiculous, little sweet charade Rinoa set up.." He thought to himself in disgust. The entire wedding perfectly reflected Rinoa's personality; melodramatic and overblown, but at the center of it all, there was nothing meaningful or relevant. But still, he felt grateful, or maybe just indebted, to her. And she had been so supportive and loving with him when he heard about Zell..
After what seemed like an eternity, the doors of the chapel slowly opened, and Rinoa emerged. In a huge, flowing white gown, she began a slow gait down the isle, looking back and forth at those in the pews with a wide grin. There were audible whispers from the audience, most of them saying how gorgeous she was. Seifer even heard someone call her "as gorgeous as a swan", while he couldn't help but think that this little act of hers made her look as dumb as a duck.
Before long, she'd made her way to the altar and took her place next to Seifer. She smiled warmly at him, and he couldn't help but feel moved. "Maybe this was the right thing to do.." he thought..
"Dearly beloved, we gathered here today.."
"Argh!" Fuijin screamed, finally giving up on pounding the closet door. She was trapped, and her best friend was going to get married to this shallow bitch who truly didn't care about him one way or another.
After catching her breath, Fuijin stood in the darkness, and her mind started to wonder. Just what was it that made Rinoa such an opportunistic, self-righteous bitch?
Maybe it was because Rinoa had already lost a man to another man, and now the same man she lost the first one to now threatened to take her new one. Maybe it was because she couldn't deal with competition. Maybe she just couldn't stand the thought of being unattractive..
"Or maybe she's just a two-timing WHORE!" Fuijin shrieked, her anger overcoming her once more.
"Excuse me!" A voice from outside called.
While Fuijin was lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed the sound of footsteps outside.
"Uh...HELP! INSIDE! CLOSET!" She called frantically. She heard the dressing room door open, and shortly thereafter, the closet door itself was pulled open.
"WHO--" Fuijin began, staring at her rescuer while her eyes came back into focus, after having been in the darkness for so long.
Seifer slipped the wring on Rinoa's finger nervously, his hands shaking badly.
Rinoa winked at Seifer as the minister continued. The ringbearer handed Rinoa a ring to put on Seifer's hand.
"Now, if there are any who object to this union-"
Suddenly the doors of the chapel blew open loudly, as thought someone had kicked them. The crowd gasped and quickly turned around to see who was interrupting the union.
Out of the shadows, a figure emerged into the grand hall.
"I object!" He screamed, running forward. As he dashed forward, Seifer was able to indentify the person.
It was Zell, though looking unlike Seifer had ever seen him. He was wearing a beautiful gray suit, but it was his face that had changed the most. The vibrant features that had been dampened and erased with years of a tired and hard life had reverted to their original beauty; his face shone with confidence and with the relief of his burdens gone. His spirit had been washed clean from all the dirt and sadness, and all that remained now was happiness and determination.
Fuijin ran in, following behind Zell.
Seifer went numb, his entire body freezing. "W-wh.." was all he could muster.
Rinoa's eyes went wide, and then bloodshot. Her once-shiny and immaculate hair became frazzled and wild as her rage mounted. She threw her arm forward, grabbing Seifer's arm with surprising force and then shoved the ring on his finger.
"YOU'RE TOO LATE!" She shrieked like a wild animal, holding his hand up with hers, showing the rings as though they connected them in an impenetrable bond. "YOU'RE TOO LAAATE!" She repeated, followed by feral, victorious cackling.
Unable to turn his head or gaze from the sight in front of him, Seifer, without even thinking, pressed his hand against Rinoa's face and shoved, sending her flying to the ground with a yelp.
"Zell.." He whispered, tears coming to his eyes.
"Seifer!" Zell called gleefully, taking a few steps forward as his eyes brimmed with tears as well.
"How--" Seifer started, before finding himself to choked up to speak.
Smiling, Zell dashed forward to the altar.
Still stunned, all Seifer could do was open his arms and accept the smaller man running into them. He threw his arms around Zell, and they cried for a moment, until Zell looked up and their eyes met.
"I don't understand.." Seifer whispered.
"It wasn't me who died..they meant to kill me, but they mistaked my friend for me.." Zell explained quietly, as the tears rolled down his cheek. "I came to your house last night to tell you, but you weren't there..I asked Rinoa to let you know I was going to run away from it all..but..I knew I couldn't leave you after all. You're all I have!" Zell finished, sobbing.
"But, Rinoa told me you were--" Seifer managed, trying to make sense of all this.
"Apparently she lied and let you think I was dead.." Zell scowled, pointing behind him to Fuijin. "She told me everything. Apparently Rinoa spilled the beans to her and then locked her in the closet."
"Oh Zell.." Seifer whispered, grabbing Zell by the hips and pulling him up to plant a kiss on his lips.
During this sudden commotion, Rinoa had gone by completely unnoticed, and while Seifer and Zell were talking, she'd slipped over to the buffet table and grabbed the knife that was sitting next to the wedding cake. As she walked towards the altar once more, she had a wild, furious glint in her eyes.
Her fist clenched down tightly on the handle of the blade as she neared Zell's back.
"I'll teach you to mess with me you little tramp!" She shrieked in rage, readying the knife and stabbing downward.
Seifer saw Rinoa out of the corner of his eye, and moved on instinct. He grabbed Zell by the shoulders and twisted his body, causing the two to switch positions. He didn't have time to move further though, and the knife landed deep in his back. Those in the pews, previously stunned into silence, now screamed and gasped loudly.
"So much for true love!" Rinoa cackled as she pulled the knife out and stabbed once more. She was broken out of her trance however, by seeing Zell's shocked eyes staring back at her. If Zell was facing her, then that meant the one she stabbed was..
"Seifer!" Rinoa screamed, dazed.
Before she could react further though, Fuijin tackled hard into Rinoa, sending the two flailing across the room.
Seifer began to slump back, nearly falling down the altar steps. Stunned, Zell reached forward and pulled him back, helping him down into a laying position.
"Seifer!" Zell gasped, fresh tears entering his eyes, although now for a very different reason.
Seifer coughed, blood in his mouth. He appeared to be in shock for a moment, his eyes wandering the chapel ceiling high above. After a moment he came to however, and saw the beautiful blue eyes of Zell staring down at him.
"Zell..I still..can't believe you came back," He whispered with a slight laugh. Reaching up weakly, he ran his fingers through Zell's soft, silky hair.
"Of course I came back.." Zell cried, closing his eyes at the warmth of his lover's touch. "I couldn't let her..oh, if only I'd gotten here sooner.." He sobbed.
"Sh..maybe..it's better this way.." Seifer offered, wincing in pain. "At least now, you can move on and have a full life.."
Zell gasped, and shook his head. His tears fell, landing on Seifer's tuxedo. "Don't talk like that! You'll be all right..we're together now, everything's going to be fine..you'll see.." His voice trailed off and eventually broke with emotion.
Seifer's hand slid down Zell's soft cheek, and fell to his side.
"At least I got to see you again.." Seifer whispered, a finality in his voice that made Zell feel as though he was going to crack and shatter into a million pieces.
"No, don't leave! Don't leave me!" Zell sobbed, leaning forward until his head rested on Seifer's chest. "I love you so much, Seifer.."
As his head rest on the older man's chest, Zell finally began to tune in the hysteria that was around him.
A shout rang out from the crowd. "Someone call a doctor!"
"What's going on!"
"Rinoa? Rinoa? What did you do!"
"Oh, my daughter's wedding is.."
"I said call an ambulance!"