Chapter Two---Hiding
"Well, how did it go?" The short, plump woman smiled at Fujin as she walked in and sat on the stool at the front counter.
"As good as could be expected. I'm under a three-month watch though. Idiots. I don't want to think about it. Was he good?" Fujin stood, looking around only to be tackled around her legs.
"Momma!" Fujin giggled and picked the child up, ruffling silver locks.
"There you are! How's my little boy?" Startling blue eyes sparkled against alabaster skin.
"Good! Gramma gave me a cookie!" Fujin laughed and set her son on the ground.
"Thank you for watching him Mae. I really apreciate this." Mae simply chuckled.
"He's no problem and the customers love him. He's actually quiet the help. Now, we all decided that today and tomorrow should be your days off. I don't want to it hear Fujin," Mae fixed Fujin with a stern look as she tried to protest.
"You go spend some time with Arien and get some rest, your going to need it."
"Where do you want to go for lunch Arien?" Arien decided that he wanted noodles, so Fujin stopped at a small Chinese resturant and the two enjoyed their lunch together. Fujin watched Arien as he ate, so meticulas and precise, even for a near three year old. He carefully wrapped his noodles around his fork, as he had not yet master chopsticks like his mother (much to his displeasure), and was very careful not to slurp or splatter his shirt. Fujin smiled.
The waitress came by and smiled at them, laying their check on the table. Arien grinned at the woman from under a shaggy mop of silver hair.
"He's adorable, how old is he?"
"Two and a half."
"My, your a big boy now aren't you sweetie?" Arien nodded and looked to his mother proudly. She grinned at him and laid the money down beside the check.
"Come on honey. Say thank you." Arien waved goodbye and called a thank you over his shoulder, following his mother out the door.
Squall stared at the paperwork on his desk, the letters and numbers and facts and names swirling around until they were blurred completely and his mind gave up trying to get them into focus and instead focused on a certain silver warrior.
Of course, the relationship they had formed was completely unexpected and yet some how logical. Both were quiet, intelligent and deadly. They liked their privacy and respected that of others but they would not be pushed around. Fujin could take care of herself and she didn't have to validate her own existence through the existence of someone else. She simply continued on with her life like a perfect machine and allowed no one and nothing to get in the way of what she wanted. Squall was much the same. Quiet, collected and introverted. He preferred to obeserve and listen. You learned so much more that way.
And somehow, they found each other. Fujin had made it very clear that she didn't need Squall. She didn't need anyone. But, she was willing to get to know him, to give him a chance and see what became of them. That was what drew Squall.
Fujin had expectations. She didn't expect anything of him other then to be honest and respectful. The same requirements she had of everyone else. The fact that he was Squall Leonheart, savior of the world, son to the President of Esthar and soon to be Garden HeadMaster had no bering to Fujin. He was simply another person trying to survive.
He was just like everyone else.
And that, was what he wanted more then anything.
"Where too next Ari?" Arien thought and smiled.
"Uncle Seifer!" Fujin smiled. Seifer had today off and Arien would love to see him...
"Alright, let's pick up Uncle Shaine on the way, alright? And maybe he'll come with us for icecream after dinner." Arien squealed delightedly and grasped his mothers hand as they walked, humming a tuneless tune.
----
"Shaine? Shaine?" Shaine opened up the door and smiled at the pair.
"Well, hey there! How's my favorite nephew?" Fujin rolled her eyes as she resisted the urge to point out the fact that Arien was his only nephew.
"Uncle Seifer!" Arien cried, hugging Shaine tightly.
"We're going to see Seifer. We wanted you to come with us." Shaine agreed and the trio were soon on their way to Garden.
"What do you mean you aren't coming in tomorrow?" Squall narrowed his eyes at the blonde who stood before him.
"I'm not coming in. You heard me the first time, Pubuerty Boy. I have a date...of sorts." Seifer smirked and Squall sighed. Seifer was always on dates.
"Who is it this time Seifer? Some 16 year old whose parents extended her curfew to 11 instead of 10?" Seifer laughed.
"Who woulda thunk? Ice Man has a sense of humor. Sadly, no. I'm taking a very important person fishing tomorrow."Squall raised a brow. Seifer prized his fishing time almost as much as his good looks. Not just anyone was allowed to go fishing with him. It was a sacred thing in Seifer's eyes.
"...Whatever. Just go." Seifer turned to leave, spotting Fujin and Shaine.
"Fuu!" Squall looked up and found the woman smiling brightly at Seifer. However, his gaze quickly fell on the man beside her. Deep blue eyes smiled from beneath massive spikes of pure ebony. Suddenly, Seifer leaned down and hauled soemthing off the ground. A child.
"Hey there little man! You all set to go fishing with Uncle Seif?" The boy nodded happily in Seifer's arms, sending a cascade of silver locks into beautiful stormy blue-grey eyes. Squall's throat tightened as Fujin reached for the child, turning to smile at the ebon haired man beside her. He laughed and wrapped her and the boy into a hug and the four turned to leave.
So that's why she left...There was someone else...But...why?
Fujin smiled as her gaze fell upon Arien sleeping form on the couch. He was drooling slightly and his breath sent small strands of hair flying up. Fujin bent down and carefully lifted him into her arms, carrying him to his room.
Seifer had promised to take the boy fiishing tomorrow and Arien was terribly excited. Fujin loved the way his blue eyes lit up when Seifer was near, because Seifer always had something for Arien to learn and Arien loved to learn. Thinking about Seifer, Fujin felt an unfamiliar ache in her heart.
Seifer was her best friend and she trusted him with her life. This trust had quite obviously never been broken for Fujin was still alive and well. The blonde man had willingly put placed himself into Fujin's busy life to help with Arien whenever he possibly could, staying late nights or simply keeping the boy entertained while Fujin worked. Arien had even asked if Seifer was his father.
Fujn smiled sadly at the thought. If Seifer had been Arien's father, he would have those same beautiful jade oceans that burned like fire. That proud lift of his chin and that infuriating smirk when he knew he'd outsmarted her. That same pride and confidence in his carriage that never ceased to amaze Fujin.
If Seifer had been Arien's father, he would have flaunted them like a million dollars, would have treated them like the world because to Seifer, Fujin and Arien would have been his pride and joy. His life.
Carefully, she tucked him in, brushing the hair back from his face. Her heart ached for the child, but she knew this was better. She didn't want him to be let down like she knew he would have been.
But,Fujin told herself. Seifer is NOT Arien's father. His father's life is work. There was never room for anything or anyoneelse.
The clock hit 2 am and green eyes stared at the red numbers restlessly. His mind refusing to settle on anything but Arien and Fujin.
For three years he had managed to persuade himself to believe he was happy for Fujin when she dated Squall. He was happy to see her going on with life.
Seifer really did have a bad habit of lieing to himself.
He had made a truce of sorts with Squall, though. The had fought for so many years they had learned to respect each other, to read each other. It was not trust, simply a mutual respect for the others' trials and tribulations and being able to stand when everyone said they couldn't.
However, Seifer could not over look the fact that Squall had dated Fujin.
His Fujin.
That's what you get, Seifer told himself, Waiting so long to swallow your damn pride and tell the poor girl.
Seifer had never been happier then the day Fujin had left Squall.
But, in a way, she had left him too.
"She's late Quistis." Quistis was about to reply when Fujin rushed in, breathless and yawning with her coffee in hand and a box of donuts.
"Tomorrow, be on time." Squall muttered coldly. He really hadn't changed a lot. A little, yes. But not a lot.
"Easy for you to say." Fujin muttered. Squall glared at her and she glared right back.
"You wanted in Kazeno. You're in. Now you have to earn it. Report to Zell's." Fujin growled and slammed her way from his office. Quistis watched her go and looked at Squall disapprovingly.
"It's harder then you think for her to get here on time. Let alone stay awake for all those classes." Squall didn't look up. He didn't want to know what was going on. He didn't even want to see Fujin.
A part of him was glad she came back...
The other part wanted her to stay gone.
"You're late Kazeno."Squall snapped later that day as Fujin scrambled into her training session. She didn't reply.Simply started her warm-ups beside Seifer.
"Why are you back Kazeno?" Fujin saw Seifer's jaw clench but he stayed silent.
"... A paycheck, Commander." Squall sighed and looked away.
"Is that all? You had enough training to get one of those. A good one too. So why are you back here?" Fujin stood and stretched her neck muscles, taking a deep breath.
"That's my business, sir. Not yours." With that, she started her two mile jog.
-
"What isn't she telling me Seifer?" Seifer didn't answer for a long time.
"That's her business. Do you have any idea what she would do to me if I told you? I'd be dead. Then she'd bring me back and kill me again." Squall nodded. He should have known Seifer wouldn't tell him.
But why wouldn't Fujin?
A.n: Oh spiffy, two chapters. Review! Hoped you liked!
Sorceress Fujin: Weeee the second chapter oh lady-me-Muse. Lol. Hope you liked! -throws a skittle at you and laughs- Yes, curious. But wait'll you see the ginormus wrench I'mna toss into it :D -grins innocently and hands you more skittles-
Jasmine: Heheh so now you know a little. All will be explained, no worries. hope the second chapter is up to the high standards you all seem to expect of me lol
Matron: I'm just gonna call you Matron now. :D -grins- Yes, yes sad stuffs. It will get sadder trust me. But it will be happy too! I think. Maybe. Lol Review!