Wow, I can't believe that I already wrote another chapter. I am not sure if my characterization of Rinoa in this chapter is accurate. I was struggling a bit with it. Hehe, everything with Fujin comes out so naturally. Please let me know what you think! Also it might be a few days before I update again cuz otherwise I am gonna fall behind on my schoolwork although it's almost worth it. grin But for now, ENJOY!

Chapter 11

After parting with Seifer, Rinoa practically ran to the bus stop, her mind racing with jittery excitement. Her lips still tingled slightly, and she felt blood rushing to her cheeks tingeing them a soft, reddish hue. She forced herself to slow down and lowered her cloak to get a breath of fresh air. Quickly she ran over everything that happened during the meeting and couldn't help feeling very content with herself. I am the leader, and it is my plan that is going to save us all…not his…but mine. He may've had the upper hand at first, but I got the final word. She knew it was childish to think like that, but winning a battle of the wits with Seifer gave her immense pleasure. No matter what I say, he always has a comeback, always keeps his cool…but for once I didn't back down… She smiled feeling slightly lightheaded. Yet she had to admit that she felt extremely attracted to his quickness of mind and his ability to handle just about any situation with such ease. I bet he always gets what he wants… she thought remembering his forceful kiss.

A few minutes later, Rinoa absentmindedly climbed onto the bus and made herself comfortable in front of the window in the back, continuing her pleasant meditations. Chuckling, she remembered how furious she had been with him right after the meeting yet how fast her resolve to never speak to him again melted as he looked into her eyes. She hated the kind of control he seemed to possess over her, yet it was that exact feeling of not being in control that made her heart beat a little faster every time she was with him. At times, she hated him for bringing her down by his pointed jests, his taunting self-assured grin that spoke louder than words to show her the true master of the situation, but when he raised her up she felt like she could achieve anything, infected by his confidence. Seifer Almasy was undoubtedly full of surprises and somehow she felt like she was only grazing the surface of his many complexities. Out of the corner of her eye, Rinoa felt that someone was observing her and this sudden realization snapped her out of her daydream. She slowly turned her head, pretending to fix her hair and found herself looking at a stranger with light brown hair and piercing gray eyes that looked away as soon as she had noticed him. Oh, shit…I hope I'm not being followed. Hmm… Have I ever seen him before? I don't think so. One of my father's spies? She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, instinctively touching her blaster edge that was hidden deep under her cloak. Mentally she reviewed all the spells she had junctioned to herself before setting out to meet Zone and Watts, noting to her dismay that she was not likely to win a confrontation armed with only Water and Cure yet it's all she could get inside her father's estate. However, to her surprise the stranger got up and after giving her another long look, he simply got off the bus without a single word. As he walked past her, Rinoa caught a glimpse of a distinct- looking blue earring shaped similarly to a claw of large cat in one of his ears. Get a grip Rinoa! You call yourself a leader! Freaked out by some random guy looking at you on the bus… Seifer would laugh at me if he knew how much I hated going out alone. She had then decided to put all the thoughts of the eerie stranger out of her head and instead concentrated on figuring out the details for the upcoming mission.

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"Seifer… Seifer?" She swallowed hard and slowly opened her eyes.

"Shhh, don't try to move," said a pleasant male voice that sounded vaguely familiar. She tried to move her neck, and immediately felt a sharp jolt of pain that seared through her entire body. A blur of coppery hair came into view as an unfamiliar man sat down by her side. His intensely green eyes were observing her with concern.

"Morning, Fujin. How're you feeling?"

"HURT…WHO? " She tried to sit up, but sank back to the pillow feeling extremely dizzy.

"Some asshole at the club attacked you. Think he's a bouncer. Don't worry though, I doubt he'll be able to get his filthy hands on anyone for a long time… I made sure of that."

"Umm.. WAS I…"

"No… I got there just in time. Cooled him off a bit… so to speak. You should be fine in no time… Although those bruises will probably take a day or two to heal." He suddenly got off the bed.

"Umm… would you like something to drink… or maybe eat? I'll fix breakfast. Chocoberry pancakes ok with you?"

"NOT HUNGRY." Where am I? Where's Seifer? As she tried to roll over on her side, pain once again gripped her entire body, but this time it was centered closer to the heart that seemed to leap down into her stomach. He wasn't there. When I needed him most, he wasn't there! She thought back to the time when they were both children…about the Seifer who protected her …about the Seifer who told her he needed her when she was on the brink of death. I should've died. Pity! That's all it was, just pity! The kind you feel for a stray animal…crippled, abused animal that no one can pass by on the street. A guttural sob escaped her throat as hot tears streamed down her face.

"Shhh, it's gonna be alright. He can't hurt you now." The stranger gently ran his fingers along her bare arm making her flinch.

"Oh sorry…I didn't mean to…" he stammered, looking away apologetically. "Should I call that Seifer guy for you? Is he a friend of yours?"

"DON'T!" Her voice was hoarse, urgent and pleading. But seeing that he wasn't going to pursue the topic, Fujin allowed her tense muscles to relax and now looked at him with interest for the first time since she found herself in what apparently was his bed.

" YOUR NAME?"

" Kona. We talked for a few minutes in the nightclub before… umm… well… before you know…" He immediately wanted to slap himself on the forehead for being so inconsiderate yet she didn't seem affected by it. Instead she glanced up to meet his eyes and whispered, "THANK YOU."

"Uh, sure… I just wish that I had stayed with you the entire time… then none of this woulda happened." Unwittingly her eyes focused again on his earring that glimmered softly in the warm rays of the morning sun, giving off a faint bluish glow. Noticing the direction of her stare, he quickly turned his head and now said in a more casual tone, "So pancakes?"

"SURE." Smiling somewhat awkwardly at her he headed for the kitchen, leaving her alone to her thoughts. Fujin finally managed to sit up, propping herself against the wall. Then suddenly she looked down and noticed that her usual blue shirt was gone and instead she was wearing a long black T-shirt. She drew in her breath at the images that formed in her mind--it was almost as if she could still feel his large ugly fingers savagely ripping at her clothes, his foul breath saturating the air around her. She looked on the floor to see the nearly shredded shirt lying by the bedside, covered with blood, his blood. Kona… what if he… what if he… NO IDIOT! The guy saved you and this is the gratitude you give him? Suspecting him? Get control over yourself. It's not like you were raped! A few bruises and scratches… happens plenty of times in training and this is no different. She at once wished she had her weapon with her, but then she remembered where she had left it. She hated feeling weak and defenseless, it just wasn't her. Or was it? Moments later, Kona returned to the room carrying a small tray with steaming pancakes and a tall glass of juice. Thanking him, she eagerly dug into her food, realizing that she had hardly eaten anything in nearly a day. He watched her eat in silence, closely studying her face. What now? Do I just let her go? Does she have anywhere to go? She seemed so lost last night…. like she was trying to forget something…what is she hiding and who is Seifer? He smiled seeing the speed with which she was devouring her pancakes. She's so beautiful… so fragile. He could barely control the urge to touch her milky skin, to comfort her. He sat up, startled, as the sound of the phone broke his contemplation. Smiling at Fujin, he went to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Kona, it's me, man. We've got to talk. Meet me in a half hour. North Station."

"Jed. No, not now. I can't."

"But it's about…"

"Later Jed. I am busy." He hastily hung up the phone, turning back to Fujin who gave him a quizzical look.

"I.. LEAVE?"

"No, stay, please," he said with a little more urgency that he had expected. "Umm.. You need your rest and then we can figure out where to go from there." He was right, she was in no condition to leave, still slightly disoriented by all the fumes she had inhaled the night before. Obediently, she put her head back down on the pillow and closed her eyes, unwillingly falling into a deep slumber, unable to resist her need to recover her strength. Kona walked over to her bed and covered her gently with a blanket, not wanting to wake her. Taking one last look at her, he walked into the next room.

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Glancing at his watch, Seifer increased his pace. It was nearly 3:30, and he still had to walk over a block to their motel. He was hoping that Raijin had already found her so he could have a chance to apologize and forget the whole night ever happened. He tried to keep his mind focused on the mission given to him by Rinoa's group, yet inadvertently, his thoughts kept going back to Fujin. We've had fights before... Hyne knows I don't mean to hurt her. If only I didn't feel like she was constantly breathing down my back. I will be with whomever I please and she is just gonna have to learn to deal with it. But she's never been gone so long… Dammit!

Without realizing it, he ended up at the front entrance of the motel, almost running head on into Raijin who was nervously fiddling with his staff.

"Seifer! Where've you been, man?! I've looked everywhere for her… It's like she simply vanished, ya know? Checked all the bars in this part of the city… all the alleys." Seifer looked at him incredulously as if the words weren't sinking in. Then suddenly he balled his hand into a tight fist, running it right through the glass door with such force that the it shattered, showering both of them with tiny shards. He cursed loudly as he watched the crimson blood seep out of his mangled knuckles.

TO BE CONTINUED

Special thanks to blakdove and Sorceress Fujin for taking such an interest in my story! You guys rock!