Chapter 6

It was way after midnight when Seifer finally made his way back to the hotel. He asked the receptionist for an extra key, knowing that his friends were probably already asleep, still recovering after the three-day train journey from Balamb to Deling City. Seifer looked at the room number on the back of the key to make sure he remembered it correctly from the previous morning.

317…318…319. There we go. He noiselessly opened the door and peered inside trying to get his eyes accustomed to the darkness. The room was pitch black besides the tiny nightlight that illuminated a portion of Fujin's bed. Upon entering, Seifer carefully stepped over Raijin who was sprawled out on the floor wearing nothing but his boxers—the small room was very stuffy despite the cool air outside. As he was making his way to his bed, he cursed the air conditioner which offered no relief for the sun-heated room. He quietly stripped down to his boxers, throwing his clothes in a pile on the floor, and was ready to lie down on his bed when he saw Fujin's reproachful eye peering out at him in the near darkness.

Shit….Fuu….

"SEIFER?"

"LATE. CAN'T SLEEP."

"I know, Fuu. I am sorry. I was at Caraway's party."

"WITH HER? THIS LATE?"

"What if I was? You are not my goddam babysitter, Fuu," he hissed unsure what to make of this line of questioning that seemed more like an interrogation rather than a gesture of concern.

"SORRY." A hurt expression momentarily flickered before her indigo eye, then she turned away and pulled the cover over her head.

Ugh.. Why does she have to act like this? I am the leader of this posse… yet I have to give an explanation for every move I make. Still, he couldn't stand to have her mad at him, so he sighed and sat on the corner of her bed.

"Fuu?" She was silent. "Fuu, I shouldn't have said that. C'mon, talk to me. Please? Don't be like this." Then he got angry, frustration at her silent treatment boiling over in him like a cauldron of red hot water.

"Dammit, Fuu! Don't tell me you're jealous of Caraway's daughter! She means nothing to me," he lied. What do you care anyways?! You and I were only together for one night… one freakin night, almost two years ago! I am sick of you flipping out every time I do as much as look at another chick!" He didn't realize how loud he had said that until Raijin sat up on his mattress and stared at them.

"Hey.. What's going on here, ya know?" he sleepily inquired. At the sound of his voice, Fujin quickly lifted her head of the pillow, tears glistening in her eye, and gave Seifer a pleading look.

"Nothing, Raij. Go back to sleep.

"You ok, Fuu? I heard you guys yelling, ya know."

"FINE. SLEEP," Fujin responded pitching her voice down so Raijin wouldn't hear the tears that were nearly choking her. She wouldn't allow him to see her this way; she couldn't be made fun of. Raijin shrugged but said nothing more, putting his head back on the pillow.

Seifer reluctantly slid off Fujin's bed and made his way to his own, silently cursing himself for going off like Fujin like he did. He regretted his harsh words as soon as he said them, yet his apology would have to wait. Aimlessly staring at the ceiling, Seifer was trying to make sense of what just happened. More than anything in the world, he hated when Fujin was mad at him. If it was anyone else he probably wouldn't think twice of it, but Fujin was different. He cared for her since the first day he met her. She was the first person to really need him and whether he'd ever admit it to himself he enjoyed protecting her even long after she no longer needed his help. He sighed. He'd give anything in the world to just climb in bed next to her and hold her… to run his fingers through her soft silver hair, comfort her…Yet he knew he couldn't; he made that mistake once before. Glancing over at Fujin's bed, he noticed the gentle movement of the blanket under her muffled sobs. Seifer felt nauseous ; seeing Fujin like this seized him in a sickening awe. Strong-willed, emotionless Fujin was crying and he was the sole cause of her pain with his undue harshness. It seemed like her nearly impenetrable barrier of distance that up until then characterized her every action came suddenly crashing down revealing nothing more than a hurt, fragile girl. He tried to remember the last time he saw Fujin cry. Yes… Balamb Garden… the day we met. When that idiot… whatever his name was tripped her…. He remembered her smile, her hopeful, eager eyes with which she had looked at him after he offered her to go check out the training center with him and Raijin. Another image flashed before his eyes, Fujin's face, distorted in pain, trying to control her sobs, her pillow nearly soaked in tears. He quickly shrugged it away burying his head inside his pillow hoping to drown out the sound of Fujin's anguish. There he lay for nearly ten minutes until he could take it no longer. He swiftly got up and went across the room to Fujin's bed, determined to get her apology.

"Fuu? Please listen to me. I never meant any of the stuff I said to you earlier. I was angry. We are still friends, right?" His arm reached over to gently touch her shoulder yet she shrunk away from his touch faster than a bolt of lightning.

"AWAY," she hissed in a low whisper of an angry tigress.

"Not until you look at me," his voice although he was whispering was as strong as steel. He leaned over again to get close to her face. Without warning, Fujin suddenly rose up in her bed with an incredible force, knocking Seifer completely off the bed despite his six foot frame. He then realized, confused, that she was still wearing her street clothes. Without a single word she grabbed her pinwheel and headed for the door, unceremoniously stepping over Raijin's sleeping form, leaving Seifer sitting dumbfounded on the cold floor. Only when nearly five minutes have past did Seifer get off the floor and head back to his bed. He knew better than to follow Fujin as mad as she was at him right now. He had no doubt she'd be able to take care of herself. Even in this state, Fujin was still a force to reckon with and he almost felt sorry for anyone who'd dare cross her path tonight. Exhausted from arguing and sick to his stomach, Seifer lay there playing over in his head everything that took place that day. Rinoa… Caraway's party… Fireworks…Her lips… It all seemed distant and unreal to him at the moment like a dream. I have to see her again… Tomorrow maybe, after me and Fuu make up… Fuu, I hope she doesn't do something stupid and get in a fight or blow our cover or something… An image of Rinoa once again took over his senses. Dark-haired, spirited Rinoa… He came to a sudden realization that he had really enjoyed spending time with her today. Then he saw Fujin, her single eye looking at him with scorn beyond all words. The two images coiled and entwined in his overactive mind like vines until they became one…He drifted into a restless sleep, tossing and turning on his double bed…

TO BE CONTINUED