X – Frozen

Disclaimer: I don't own Seifer, Fujin or any other FFVIII character. But I own all Temera characters

By the time they had reached Sapphire Lake, Seifer gave up asking her about what had happened in the hut. Fujin wasn't the talkative kind of girl anyway, so it was more than useless to try to get her talking when she didn't want to. If he had watched her better, he would have known before, but how should he? After all, he had been treating Raijin and Fujin like slaves for the last years.

God, how could he have fallen like that?

Unable to go on blaming himself, he roamed the landscape in front of them. Immediately, he found it hard to believe that anyone had ever survived coming near that lake, as he had to admit it was perfectly hidden. Framed by the trees and high rocks covered with snow completely, it was hard to make out the shore. Besides, the lake itself was snowed under, too. Only the slope of the mountain and the stream down valley marked it as so much as a small lake.

"This is what it looks like most time." Shura explained. "There are only few days in the summer when the ice above melts. Under the surface, the current still rushes quite wildly. You get either smashed at one of the rocks, or you drown on your way down. It's a real death trap."

Slowly, Fujin took a few steps onto the ice. It was deepest winter now, so why worry? When she reached the middle of the lake, cold crept through her body immediately. "Vanished. When?"

"You mean you and Raijin?" In his head, Shura juggled with some numbers. "It was May. May seven years ago. It's one of the most dangerous times, that's why we thought you and Raijin had probably come across it by accident and drowned here, though most people also considered it likely Foda had killed you."

"Doesn't seem to have worked though. Luckily." Seifer mentioned, as he stepped next to his second in command. The feeling that rose inside his stomach was an unpleasant mix of fear and curiosity. "You want to stay longer, Fuu?"

Shaking her head slowly, she turned to leave. And for the first time since they had come to Temera, she though of their mission again. "Mission. Report to BG."

"Good god, Fujin! Haven't thought of that, ya know!" In an instant, life returned back into Raijin's shivering body. God, how he hated cold! "You think they'll be angry we've taken so long, ya know?"

The only answer he got was a kick against his shin again.

>>>

"You're sure Fujin's gonna be alright, ya know?" Raijin asked sceptically, as they stood in the elevator up to headmaster Cid. The thought that his sister had wanted to stay in Temera for a while didn't please him at all.

"She's strong, Raijin. And she has Shura. I'm sure she's alright." But in his heart, he felt it was a bad lie. He was worried. More than just worried. Frightened. When he entered the headmaster's office, that feeling even worsened. "Wow… icy atmosphere. Anything went out of control besides Mr. Antihero?"

In a second, Cid's face darkened. "Save your sarcasm, Seifer, and tell us what you found out in Temera. And where the hell is Fujin?"

As usual, he didn't even care to stand upright when reporting. "Foda seems to be known to the inhabitants of Temera. He married a woman living there. Her name was Aresa Kazeno."

"Kazeno? Did you just say "Kazeno"?"

When Cid's gaze wandered to Raijin, Seifer frowned at nothing in particular. God, he hated to be interrupted. "Yes, Kazeno. Reliable information by Temera priest Damon Shura proved she was both Fujin's and Raijn's mother. Nevertheless, Foda is neither Raijin's nor Fujin's father. He just married her mother. And he probably killed her. Both the condition of her former residence and the information by Shura proved the supposition that Foda is highly aggressive and probably even able to kill. Raijin brought everything on record if you need accounts. I guess it was best if you banish Foda from that Garden tight away."

"Your personal opinion is not my concern, Almasy, though I think you may be right this time." He added quickly as he noticed Seifer's rising fury. "There is just one problem. Where is Fujin?"

"She decided to stay in Temera for further research."

"Dammit!" Like a man who had waited for a win at the lottery and lost for the thousandth time, Cid fell back into his seat. "Raijin, you'll stay here and give me full report. I can not allow your personal relationship to Fujin to complicate this. Almasy, you'll go and get her back into Balamb Garden. Foda's gone. I have a feeling he's looking for her. I can't give you additional cadets for support. Too obvious. And now go and get her back."

>>>

"Fucking Garden idiots!" Again, Seifer slammed his fist against the vehicles interior. He hadn't counted the times he had done so, but from the torn skin on his knuckles, it had been many, many times. But there was no pain. Just wrath because they had managed to lose sight of Foda just at that time. "Goddamn it, Selphie, can't you drive faster?"

"You're kiddiiiiiiiing?" Experimentally, she glanced at the displays. Maximum Speed. Only a few days ago, even Seifer would have complained about her dangerous style. When she reached the hill's peak, the first lights glimmered through the snow. "There we go. Next stop: Temera. Don't worry Seifer. Fujin will be alright. I'm sure she'll beat the hell out of that nasty, evil Foda. You really shouldn't-" Amazed that the sound of his fists slamming against the car's interior had stopped, she turned around to find the back empty. "Seifer?"

>>>

Pure rage made the blood boil inside his veins, when Seifer fought his way through the knee-high snow. Same as the first time when they had come to Temera, doors and windows were quickly locked. Within a minute, the village seemed to be dead completely.

At the end of the short street, the small church stood like an old, black palace. The lights inside were dim, but still seemed to be warmer and friendlier than the ones from the villagers' houses. Unwilling to wait longer, he slammed his already torn fist again the door. "Shura! Shura!"

When everything stayed silent, rage finally found its way out. Now unable to wait longer, Seifer threw himself against the door and broke it. What he saw inside made his blood freeze. "Fucking hell…"

A.N.: So, there we go. A new chapter, finally. Sorry it took me so long to update. Hope you liked it