06 – Mask

Disclaimer: I don't own FF 8, Seifer, Fuujin, Raijin, etc. ; they belong to Squaresoft. But I own Kyte Foda.

A.N.: As I'm on holiday for the next ten days, next chapter will be published on 29th of July at the earliest. I hope you understand that. Sorry it took me so long to update this time. I hope you like that chapter. Have nice summer holidays.

They had been talking about her again. She could see it in their eyes, hear it in the way they talked to her. Slowly, careful, always looking for a chance to cheer her up. She hated it when they talked to her like that.

"Tomorrow's our first practical combat test, ya know." Raijin mentioned and hoped she would notice the hint. "They say Foda's going as challenger this time."

"Fine." Of course she knew what he was aiming at. They, she, would have to fight Foda. Alone. It was just a test to see how far they had gotten the theory, but it was a real battle, with the chance of really getting hurt. "Will manage. Don't worry."

"You know, it really helps to hear that." Seifer answered with a snarl of clear sarcasm. "Whatever happens, Fujin, we're there. If he tries anything, I'll break is neck."

She smiled. Shortly, wearily. A weak gesture to change the topic. She wouldn't pull her brother and Seifer into that mess, too. Past was past and she would face it alone, as she had always done. Foda was just another part of it.

>>>

The combat test started out as usual. Most students who'd had full points in the theory exams went down within the first seconds, most who had hardly got enough points to pass before were now at least able to stand their teacher's attacks. Fear was a useful weapon. She had realised that long before school, Garden and stuff.

They kept going in the alphabetic order, or better yet, they kept sailing. This year's class seemed to be a particularly bad one. Only three of the twelve before her passed the test. Only one was able to nearly get full points.

This one, of course, was Seifer Almasy.

"Did a good job there, ya know."

"Stop talking crap, Raijin. I should have finished with him much earlier. Damn time limits." Seifer answered, rubbing his sore shoulder. Foda certainly was a combat master. Even ten rounds after, the spots where Foda had hit him still hurt. He just hoped it was the other way around, too. "Next one's you, Fuu. You're sure you can handle it?"

Her answer was a gaze of pure anger and a frown, when she was called for the test. She stepped into the circle marked as the borders and shot an emotionless look at the figure next to her. Whoever that guy was, he had certainly failed. Foda had beaten him unconscious.

"I suppose you know the rules." He mentioned roughly, as they waited for the defeated to taken to the infirmary. "No crossing the borders, no weapons, maximum three minutes. Ready to start?" She nodded in response, then signalled to the time keepers. She couldn't remember ever having spent whole three minutes on a challenger.

He didn't waste time either. With the opening sound of the bell ringing, his right leg shot up to hit her head, but she evaded quickly. She wasn't even the least surprise to find him blocking her own attack without much effort. He tried another few basic attacks, some of the more complicated ones. But after three years of repetition of the system, she was sure there was nothing left to surprise her.

Outside the ring, Seifer and Raijin watched the fight carefully. All students did. Some just to see blood flow, some to learn some tricks for themselves, most because they were obliged to do so. But for the two of them it was different. They watched because of Fujin. Watched out for anything that could hurt her.

She tried another one of her quick kicks, trying to wash the smirk off his face. He was a damn monster. He kept playing with her like a beast did with its prey, waiting for the right moment to take the final step. She just wasn't sure what that final step would look like.

He showed her in less than five moves, acting so fast she couldn't even blink before the scream of pain rippled from her throat. His foot against the back of her knee, the short strike that pushed her onto the ground with her face down. And then, the pure feeling of panic, as he twisted her arm up her back. She heard joints crack, girls scream, dozens of sounds of shock from the crowd. And his breath in her ears.

"You lost Fuin. But I know you're one of the best, so I'm not content with you losing the battle. I want you to lose your mask. You can't hide forever, anyway. Thank me for it." He ran a hand through her silver hair, found the string of the eye patch she always wore and ripped it off. Another wave of sounds of shock reached her ear, before she heard the joints in her arms crack for a second time, as she tried to move. This time desperately.

It took two other teachers to separate them. As she was finally free again, her body curled into a tight ball immediately, her arms moving her hands up to cover her face, although her shoulders still hurt like hell. "Ignore, ignore, ignore, ignore…" She repeated the words like a broken computer repeating the same actions over and over again, while the tears kept flowing. She saw nothing but their gloss on the sun lit ground, heard nothing but the consoling whispers of her brother, felt nothing but the pain. And the strong, comforting hands that gently stroked her hair.

>>>

It was already was late in the evening, when Seifer left the infirmary. She had talked him into heading for the town, getting drunk, maybe picking up some damn bimbos or whatever. Anything as long as he left her alone. He had refused for a long time, until she had yelled at him, had insulted him. Not in her one word sentences, but in real, long sentences that held none of the usual style of hers. She had hit a spot. A damn good one.

Dr. Kadowaki had told him she would have Fujin stay at the infirmary this night and would inform him if anything got out of control. From that point of view, Fujin was definitely safe.

Deciding that this probably was enough for the start, he made his way down to Balamb. Nevertheless, the unpleasant feeling in his stomach kept driving him mad and his mind awake.

>>>

She glanced at the watch for the hundredth time and hoped that Foda was getting reprimanded by Cid by now. If everything went her way, he would even lose his job. Sighing again, Fujin pushed her head back into the pillows. As she closed her eyes again, the vision of snow falling down on her returned again. Somewhere between the white flocks, she could see Foda, a blood-soiled vision that made her bones chill. And then, the face of a woman. Beautiful, troubled. They kept smiling at her, even though their bloody hands reached out for her.

"Come home, little girl. Come home."

A.N.: Thanks to my reviewers charmednwicked, animegoil and cueball and anyone who reviews this story.