Do you know what I just heard online? Square-Enix doesn't want to sell Final Fantasy to some high school student with only ten dollars to her name. Sad, isn't it?

Author's Note: So sorry about the wait on this. Next chapter I'll finally be getting some more action to occur. This chapter begins to lay the groundwork for that action, and the climax.

Chapter Nine: Calm Before the Storm

Seifer and Quistis walked back into Deling City, tired but alive. As though the creatures had sensed the power of the brothers with them, they'd kept away from them like they were carrying the plague, chicken pox and rabies rolled into one. That was fine for them, though, because they were still tired from the endless fights in the Tomb of the Unknown King. As Seifer walked he kept thinking about what Quistis had said.

She has to be right. After all, that's why Gary's in command. Because of politics, not what may or may not be best for the group. A new thought struck him out of nowhere. Then what's my part in this? After I become a SeeD, and they can watch me better, do I die in an 'accident'? Or do I just stay in the lower ranks with no chance for advancement? Do I even want this anymore? His thoughts seemed to be whirling around in a circle at a very fast pace like a carousel with something very wrong, but he couldn't stop the ride. He just kept whirling and whirling, wondering what the hell was going on.

"Seifer? Where are you going?" asked a voice, breaking into his thoughts. He looked up, and realized he'd managed to change course away from Deling in his musings. He quickly changed direction.

"Thanks for the heads up." he said. Quistis nodded.

"No problem. What are you thinking so much about?"

"Mostly what you said." As soon as he said it he regretted it. Quistis smirked at him.

"You were actually thinking about what I said? Well then, you can learn!" She clapped her hands, still smirking. Seifer scowled.

"Hey, stop it! That's not funny!"

"Sure it is. You're actually thinking about a lesson. Maybe it should become a national holiday. 'Seifer learns something new' day, perhaps."

"C'mon, knock it off!" Seifer pleaded, waving his hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay." She kept walking along in silence for a moment, and then turned back to him. "Still, you have to admit it's unusual."

"We all have to make sacrifices for what we really want."

"And what is it you really want?" she asked him curiously. That stopped him. What is it that I really want? I know I don't want to be a SeeD anymore, at least not badly. I can't be a sorceress' knight even if I want to. Fujin and Raijin are god knows where, and most of Garden hates me. What ambitions did I ever have besides being a SeeD and a knight? The answer made him feel dizzy. Nothing. I had no idea what else there was to life. I just wanted to do two supposedly simple things. I was so focused on those I forgot about everything else. No wonder Ultimecia ensnared me in her web so easily. I had such a simple mind... I truly was a child...

"Um, Seifer? That wasn't supposed to be a profound question, just mild curiosity." Quistis said, looking at him nervously. He just blinked. The dizzy feeling hadn't left him yet.

"But now that you say it, I realize I don't know what I really want. Before I was going to be a knight and a SeeD. But now... I'm not sure if that's what I want anymore. Because you were right. Garden in a political organization, no matter what they say. All I'm ever going to be is a pawn to them. I don't want to live my life like that. But I don't know where else to go, what else I can do. All I ever did well was killing things, but that fills me with revulsion now." He looked up at her, and noticed she was watching him silently, as though she was really listening and thinking about what he said. It was a nice feeling to know that someone cared enough to listen to him. He quickly changed the topic before she started to read too much into his little statement.

"By the way, what was that back at the tomb?"

"Excuse me?" She blinked, and it appeared as though he'd stumped her, something that he should be proud of. He didn't manage to do that often.

"You seemed concerned about me."

"Oh, that." Seifer thought her cheeks looked tinged in pink, but he wasn't sure. "Well, if you die on me it looks bad in my record. Purely professional."

"Uh-huh..." he said in a sing-song voice, taunting her.

"Believe what you want," Quistis said, waving a gloved hand at him dismissively. She started walking again, and Seifer followed her through the gates.

That night Quistis lay down, but her eyes refused to close. Instead, her thoughts drifted to a certain blonde antagonist. So far, he was even more confusing than Squall. After learning a little more about Squall, he had been easy to predict. The mannerisms, the words, the actions, everything. But Seifer was something else. She thought she had him figured out, then he'd turn around a do the exact opposite, surprising her.

She fell back into her memories of him. She remembered his speech to her about how she was better than Squall and everyone else seemed to think. But had he just said that because he didn't like Squall? She had assumed that at first, but now she wasn't so sure, especially after the concern toward her and even Zell he had shown at the hospital. He might have been genuine. Then again, he had thrown food at her, and that was something that Quistis simply didn't approve of.

Still, she wanted to help him. That had to be why she was putting up with him. Because she'd seen him crying, and because she remembered the way he used to be before he was so cruel and sardonic. Back when he had acted tough and he'd teased, but it hadn't been as bad as it was when he'd grown up. And he'd even showed he'd cared back then, something he had only just started doing again, slowly. After all, he'd escaped from Garden, even going so far as to allow him to help, just because he didn't want Squall, Selphie and Zell screwing up. What had gone so horribly wrong?

And yet another conundrum presented itself. He was always trying so hard to take the easy way out, trying to skip learning as much as possible. And yet today he had done the exact opposite of what she'd expected. She'd been testing him by presenting him with the stone. She wouldn't have taken it back if he'd accepted, but then she'd have a reason to be annoyed at him, and yet he hadn't. Perhaps she was overanalyzing this, like she had her sisterly instincts toward Squall. She stared at the ceiling, the triangle pattern on it becoming burned into her retinas.

Oh my Quistis, here you go again. Trying to figure people out just because you want to know what makes them tick. She chuckled slightly. She always seemed to focus on the troubled ones.

She sat up, unable to sleep. She frowned as she stared out the window, although she didn't really see it or the wonderful view of Deling under the stars. Okay, it's time to stop thinking about him, she told herself forcefully. She got up, deciding to go downstairs for a drink of tea, which always helped soothe her when she was feeling confused. As she passed Seifer's door, she noticed the light was on. I wonder why he's awake? she thought as she descended the shadowy, carpeted stairs.

Seifer was sitting on his bed, trying to read his Weapons Monthly magazine. Instead, he was mentally cursing himself for his actions so far.

Why, oh why did you have to bare your heart to her, asking for forgiveness and telling her that you don't what you want anymore? She'll just analyze you with that psychology major of hers. Why couldn't you suck it up, instead of telling her practically everything? That was so stupid...

He got up, and began to pace. He still didn't understand what had made him impulsively trust Quistis all this time. It had happened all of a sudden, before his brain to get a word in the conversation. And now here he was, wishing that he could change the past. Well, as long as he wanted the impossible, why not change when he had first followed Edea, or when he had first met the sorceress Ultimecia as a child? Then she wouldn't be in this mess with Gardens and AI chips and shadowy people and information brokers and mysterious moving monoliths.

It was your own weakness that made you become a monster. Don't let them think you're still weak. After all, a weak person wouldn't come back, right?

Sighing, he continued his pacing, to the wall, to the bed, back to the wall. This may not have been such a good idea after all. Zell had been mad at him (although he may have grudgingly accepted his existence), Squall was mad at him in his own way, and Quistis probably thought he was a crazy person, or some sort of annoying slacker.

Seifer walked over to the small patio door, and drew out his cigarettes. It was a habit he'd picked up over the past six months, even though he knew that it was bad for him. But he needed something to calm his nerves, and this was the best way he could think of. Besides, he was sure that someone would kill him before the tar would. Everyone within Garden hated Seifer Almasy, the Traitor. And if the people outside knew the truth and that he was under Garden protection there would be so many mobs they'd kill him themselves and throw his body into the sea on worldwide broadcast just to stop the lack of clients. He light up a cigarette, and watched the smoke rise into the sky.

That smoke, that unhealthy, unintelligent cloud of smoke is freer than I am. And probably freer than I'll ever be. He shook his head to clear those thoughts, and leaded against a nearby tree. Whatever would he do with himself?

Zell had done it again. He'd forced his hand out, grabbed the receiver and dialed Melissa's number before he could think about it. He heard the ringing, and then the phone was answered.

"Hello? " asked a curious voice. He knew immediately that it wasn't Melissa.

"Um, hi. Is Melissa there?"

"No, she's on duty."

"Where?"

"Library."

"Is there a number down there?"

"Sure." There was a pause. Seconds reached a minute, and minutes seemed to reach hours.

"May I have it?"

"Oh, sure. It's 872-34-497."

"Thanks. Bye."

"Uh-huh," muttered the voice, and the receiver went dead. Wow, how weird was that? He called the number that she'd given him.

"Hello?" asked a familiar voice.

"Hey, Melissa. It's me, Zell."

"Zell? What are you doing?"

"Calling you, of course."

"Well, yes, I gathered that. I just meant that I'm on duty right now."

"Yeah, I know. But I haven't spoken to you in a while, so I thought that I'd call you. Sorry to interrupt your work, though."

"It's all right. Nothing much was happening now anyway. How's your injury?"

"Oh, I can't complain. Thanks for the box of chocolate. It really cheered me up and it was probably healthier than the hospital's food-like substances."

"I knew that you'd like it. I was going to get you the Combat King, but Quistis said that she'd already given you some."

"Yeah, she did. But it's the thought that counts."

"True. It was the first thing that I thought of, though, while I was in the library, because that's the only thing I've ever seen you read."

"Yeah, I don't like to read much."

"It's funny, how we're dating and I like to read while you dislike it." She had just used the one, or rather, one of the few words he had been avoiding during the time they had been seeing each other. He refused to let his nervousness show through, though.

"Yeah, that is pretty weird. But then again, look at Squall and Rinoa. If you want two opposites you don't need to look any further." Okay, so it was a desperate maneuver to get away from anything serious, but it seemed to work.

"That is so true," Melissa admitted. "So, how has your mission been?" He knew she meant how was it going with Seifer, as she obviously knew that he couldn't discuss mission details to anyone.

"It's been…trying," he finally said. She laughed lightly on the other end. "So, how are you doing?"

"Pretty good. I just heard about the best book from my sister called Black Rose, but I can't find it anywhere. As I don't have any missions, most of my time has been split between finding that book and getting something for her birthday."

"I hope you manage to find something. I always had trouble getting other people stuff. They either already had it or they didn't really want it."

"That's too bad," she murmured. "I'm surprised you haven't called before. Been that busy?"

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize! It was just a comment."

"Sorry," he said again, then quickly wished that he could take it back. She just laughed on the other end, causing him to feel more embarrassed than before. At least she couldn't see his crimson face.

"Why are you so nervous?"

"I-I'm not nervous," he quickly said.

"You are too! Every time you get nervous, you stutter and apologize."

"Well, I guess that happens when I talk to a pretty lady." Okay, so he had taken that line from Irvine, but he didn't know what else to say that sounded cool and yet nice. Fortunately, Melissa wasn't exactly Irvine's friend, so she wouldn't tell him. If Irvine learned that he'd used one of his lines he'd never, ever live it down.

"I'm miles away in Balamb, Zell, and you can't even see my face."

"Well, this is different!" he exclaimed, quickly covering for himself, which was why the next words managed to slip out. "I love you." He'd never meant for her to learn it like this, over the phone where she couldn't see the sincerity in his eyes. He could only hope that she wouldn't take this news too oddly. After all, they had been more casual before. Now, who knew? And her silence from the other end wasn't helping matters at all.

"What?" she said. Zell took a deep breath. He didn't have a time machine, he didn't have special sorceress abilities. All he had left going for him was honesty, so he might as well take a stab at it.

"I love you," he repeated quietly. Once more there was silence on the other end, and Zell suddenly felt light-headed.

"You know, Zell… I love you too," she said, and he blinked. That was the last thing that he'd expected.

"Really?"

"Really."

"BOOYA!" That was embarrassing, but he couldn't exactly hold it in.

"I'm flattered," she said, laughing. "Sorry, Zell, but I have to go. Give me a call later, okay?"

"Yeah, definitely."

"And try not to take as long!"

"Sor-"

"Don't you dare."

"Okay," he said. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

"We've gotten some information from Natalie about Darius and Marcus Deling working together in secret," Quistis announced to Seifer and Gary as she walked into the room the next morning, after having gone to check their drop box. The two looked up, interested.

"Really? What else does the message say?" questioned Gary.

"Only that 'someone' observed them meeting together at a small nightclub, unnamed, in the lower section of Deling earlier today, as well as two days ago. It was overheard that they mentioned something about Esthar and Winhill, but other than that there was nothing."

"That's fascinating," Gary muttered, staring at the ceiling deep in thought. Seifer raised his eyebrows at Quistis, clearing not missing the importance of the mention of Winhill. They both clearly remembered what Squall had said to them about the Research Center. "I think I'll go look into those two places. Why don't you wait here for Zell? The hospital called to say that he was released and coming back here."

"That's wonderful!" Quistis said. "We will wait here."

"Excellent," he said, and disappeared. She turned to Seifer.

"So, what have you gotten on the Research Center?" she questioned.

"Not a lot. I did manage to find out that the people of Shumi created it, as they did the Gardens. It's my thought that they have something hidden in it, as the Gardens were also carrying hidden things. What this is happens to be beyond me, though."

"Most things are," said a mocking voice. Quistis smiled.

"Zell, you're back! How's your arm?" she asked, hugging him. Seifer merely nodded.

"Fine if you don't squeeze the blood out of it," he laughed, pushing her away. "What's been happening and what's hidden where?"

Quickly, the two outlined their conversation with Squall and what they'd learned. Zell processed this a moment.

"Did you tell him about this already?" he asked.

"Yes, I sent him a message the moment I got the news," Quistis said. "Now I'm wondering what we're going to do."

"All we really can do is try and figure out what exactly is going on here in Deling, and why they wanted that AI chip. I personally think it's for a computer. It would make sense, having a great intelligence. With something like that they could take on even Esthar."

"That's true, Seifer," Quistis said. "It's even plausible, as Esthar was mentioned. I think we need to get to Winhill, but we need a logical reason to do so."

"What if we suggest that Caraway go there for a quick retreat?" suggested Seifer. "He can leave right after the ball tonight, and come back before the elections. We can say it's for safety."

"Run that part about a ball by me one more time," Zell said.

"Didn't you guys hear about this? They scheduled the ball for tomorrow evening."

"Well, thanks for telling me," murmured Quistis. "Okay, that sounds reasonable enough. We'll suggest that Caraway lie low in Winhill for a while, and there we can look around. They won't like SeeDs being there, nor government officials, but we'll disguise ourselves as best we can."

"Sounds good to me. I could use a vacation anyway," Zell said.