*chapters fixed, hopefully.

1. Gummybears
By: Southwest Eggroll

Chapter Nine: Anything Can Happen

~©~

NEARLY A WEEK LATER, AMIDST all of the laziness that had fallen over Balamb Garden, Seifer was sitting in the Quad, staring up at the fantastic work the FH mechanics had already completed. The Garden Festival stage was looking great. Seifer thought it was a shame, that once the Festival was over, it would have to be torn down. Large streamers had been hung around the walls in light shades of pink, green and yellow. It all fit the time period Selphie had been aiming for perfectly.

Selphie had been terse with Seifer since the mechanics from FH had stepped into the Quad for the very first time. Seifer thought maybe Garden Festival was too much for her to handle, because it seemed to be taking a lot out of her. She was first in the Quad before dawn and the last one to leave well after midnight. He wondered if she slept at all. Her cheery demeanor did not seem to waver, despite the barely-there rings that were forming under her eyes. And Pilot was following her around like a second shadow. To Seifer's delight, Selphie had been getting annoyed at him.

"So...whatcha' think?" said a chipper voice from behind him.

"Hm, it's lookin' good," Seifer told Selphie, not bothering to turn.

"Yeah. Those FH mechanics are a Hyne-send. They're so very obedient!" Selphie exclaimed.

"What's left? We done yet?" he said.

Shaking her head violently, Selphie answered, "No way! I still need to run all this by Cid. The tickets are still in the process of being printed out. We'll have to sell them and pray we make some money we can keep for next year's Festival. Pilot and I made up a list of food we want the caterer to provide us with...but being the dork I am, I haven't even picked out a caterer yet."

"Tickets and a caterer. That's it?"

"Nope, and a band. That's it," she declared.

"That's not much," he pointed out.

"I guess you're right. But...I want everything done perfectly. There are all sorts of problems that could happen! What if we don't find a caterer? What if the FH mechanics have to leave in the middle of building the stage? What if Cid decides it's a bad idea? What if we go to another war? What if there aren't enough tickets? What if-"

"What if Sorceress Ultimecia returns and destroys Garden?" Seifer said sarcastically.

"Exactly!" Selphie exclaimed. "Anything could happen, and if Garden Festival gets shut down this year for any reason...I'm going to die!"

"Selphie, it's just a-"

"No, see, that's where you're wrong!" Selphie said violently. "You don't seem to understand...Everyone in this place has underestimated me as much as it can possibly be done....Gummybears, almost everyone of my close friends refers to me as the 'ditzy, spunky brunette'. And yeah, I'm spunky. A-and I might be ditzy. And I'm definitely a brunette but that does not mean I'm incapable of unscrewing a pickle jar lid! It's so super-duper-mega-sucky that everyone thinks of me as a little girl. And Garden Festival...If I make this one better than all the rest, they'll realize I'm not just an airhead!"

Seifer's eyebrows rose, and he took a step back. Selphie's fists were clenched beside her, and tears were welling in her eyes. She seemed overcome with fury, probably a result of the fact that she hadn't been sleeping too much. He thought he should hug her, and he made a move toward her. Just then, the intercom came on.

"Will Seifer Almasy please come to the Headmaster's Office? SeeD Seifer Almasy, to the Headmaster's office."

He hesitated to leave.

"Oh, just go," she said.

~©~

"SIR, THIS IS INSANE," SEIFER said.

"I understand that you like work with a bit more action, but Seifer, you're the only SeeD available for the job," Cid sighed. He looked apologetically at Seifer. "You know I'd only call on you as a last resort."

"Pilot Shaden. Same rank, and he's-"

"He's in Timber, visiting his father," Cid declared.

"Headmaster, this is a task-"

"This is a task that, as a SeeD, you cannot escape! You will leave in one hour. You will take a car to the city of Balamb, and there you will stand guard at a court proceeding for one week-"

"Logue Quelm-"

"Mr. Almasy! This is a direct order from your superior, and I think that a person with a reputation that precedes him like a sack of onions would do better to follow my instructions!"

Biting his tongue to hold in a string of obscenities, Seifer nodded. He clenched his jaw and left the office quickly. He took long strides to be out of the 3rd floor, before he ran back in and choked Cid. The mission was...unbelievably lame, and Seifer was extremely over-qualified for it. His job was to stand guard during a court case in Balamb. It was something that a normal cop would do, but most definitely not a SeeD. Seifer's fists clenched. Selphie was coming close to a breakdown, and he would be in Balamb, watching a bunch of lawyers do their thing. He punched a fist into his hand as he made way for the Quad.

~©~

SELPHIE WAS SITTING IN A chair, looking every bit serene and calm. She was no longer on the verge of tears, but she wasn't the normal ball of energy either. Seifer pulled up a seat next to her and sat down in it.

"Are you okay?" he said.

She nodded a little. Her eyes seemed out of focus. He moved the chair so he was facing her and sat down in it.

"No, you're not. What's the matter?" he asked.

Shrugging, she leaned forward and studied her hands. "I don't know. I guess I haven't been sleeping much lately."

"I can tell. Anything else?"

"No, nothing important, anyway...It's just I want this to succeed so badly. If we have to cancel, or if it comes out mediocre, it's going to be just another Garden Festival. I'm still going to be That Sparkplug Who Helped Save The World."

"That's a pretty grand title if you ask me," Seifer said.

"Maybe...but I want something to call my own," Selphie whispered. "Instead of the That Sparkplug Who Helped Save The World, I want to be known as Selphie Tilmitt, Who Produced The Most Fantastic Garden Festival Ever! Gummybears, just to be remembered for anything. Like you- you're famous!"

"Notorious," Seifer corrected. In a soft tone, he continued, "I'm leaving for a week."

"A week?" Selphie squeaked.

"Yeah, mission in Balamb. I tried to argue, but Cid..."

"Hmm, it'll be boring without you."

Seifer leaned back and tilted his chin up. "Of course it will be."

She giggled and smiled a genuine smile. "You're so cocky."

"I prefer 'confident', but whatever lifts your skirt..."

"Cocky."

"Ok, so I'm cocky," Seifer said. He shrugged. "You're hyper."

"Cheerful."

"Hyper."

"Fine then. I'm cheerful, and you're confident. Deal?" Selphie said. She extended her hand.

"Deal," he said. He grabbed her hand, pulled her to him, and put his lips down on hers. Seifer leaned forward, a moan rising from his throat. He moved his hand to gently cradle her face, and he stroked her jaw slowly. Whatever he'd expected, the kiss he shared with her then was ten times that, so much better than he could've imagined, and sweeter than he thought he deserved. It was Selphie who broke the kiss. She looked to the side.

"You should really stop doing that, you know..." she said weakly.

Seifer chuckled. She looked up at him, a sheepish smile on her face.

"Can I ask you a very stupid question?" she said.

"Yeah," he whispered.

"Can you- hear my- can you hear my heart? Beating?" Selphie asked, a small grin on her face.

He threw his head back and let out a loud laugh. Selphie pouted a little.

"Don't laugh..."

Trying to stop the mirth rising in his throat, Seifer said, "I just didn't expect that. Answer: no. I couldn't hear your heart beating. But was it?"

Selphie let out a sigh of relief. "It was pounding. You do that to me."

"Sorry, it's a habit," he replied cockily.

She cleared her throat so as to hide the word, "COCKY!- ahem!..." She feigned coughing.

Seifer smiled at her. Slowly, he asked, "Does this- are we...?"

"Seifer Almasy to the Parking Lot," the intercom said. Seifer's jaw and fists clenched. Selphie began to giggle insanely. "Seifer Almasy, please report to the Parking Lot. Your transport has arrived."

She put a hand on the chair nearby to steady herself, because she was giggling uncontrollably.

Looking to the side, a smirk on his face, Seifer asked, "What's so funny?"

She shook her head. "It's just that stupid intercom! It ruins everything for you, doesn't it?"

Seifer nodded. "Yeah. Think you can get it turned off for Garden Festival? I might try to kiss you again, and I wouldn't want any interruptions."

Smiling, Selphie replied, "I'll see what I can do. Now- go! You've got a mission, buddy!"

~©~

THE MISSION COULD BE CALLED the most boring mission in SeeD's history. Seifer was leaning against a wall, next to a witness stand in the most ridiculous outfit you could imagine. He was dressed in a blue cop outfit right out of your stereotypical TV cop series. He was even equipped with a hat and a shiny badge that read "J. WALKER." Seifer prayed he wouldn't see anyone he knew...he cringed at the thought. Seifer hadn't been paying much attention to the case; in fact, he had been spacing out for a while. The only thing he was responsible for was swearing people in. There weren't even any "hostile witnesses" that he could arrest.

~©~

THREE DAYS LATER, SELPHIE WAS humming in her shower. It was the same song she'd been singing since she first heard it. It had become her anthem, in a way.

"IIIII'm gonna soak up the sun! I'm gonna tell everyooonne, toooo, liiiighteeeen up!" she belted loudly as she shut off the water.

Selphie stepped out of her shower and wrapped a towel around her thin body. Shaking her bum to the beat of the song in her head, she opened the door.

And Pilot was standing there, with his eyes closed, like he was asleep, almost.

"Erm...Pilot?" Selphie whispered, forgetting that she was in a towel.

His eyes snapped open, and he took a few steps back. Then he surveyed her body in such a way that made the hair on Selphie's neck stand. She crossed her arms over her chest and cleared her throat. Pilot seemed to realize she was expecting some kind of explanation.

"Oh, right...Um...the caterer called? He can have the food...erm...on time," he stuttered.

"Why didn't you knock?" Selphie asked.

"Wh-when you didn't answer, I thought something might be wrong."

"And you fell asleep in front of my bathroom?"

Pilot was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. He was scratching his neck and trying not to look at Selphie. "Yeah...I'm going now.."

Selphie nodded. "Yeah. Go."

As he left, Selphie couldn't understand why he had creeped her out so much suddenly. It hit her how much she valued his help- but also how he had been following her around lately. Ever since Seifer had left on his mission, Pilot had been popping up absolutely everywhere. And now, he was even in her bedroom, "sleeping" outside of her bathroom. She shivered, but hoped it was just the chill air.

~©~

HE HAD FALLEN ASLEEP. SEIFER had actually fallen asleep standing up. No one would have noticed, either, if that jury member hadn't needed to relieve herself. He might've gotten away with it then. But instead, he was sitting in a judge's office, held in contempt. He was engaged in a rather vicious staring contest between the elderly judge and himself. After five minutes of eyeballing each other, the judge finally spoke.

"You- I know all about you. You're that- that Sorceress Knight. I recognize you. And now you've become a SeeD. Well, I would've sent you right back where you came from. Hell. But Cid's choice-"

"-was a good one. Shall we get back to the case, your Honor?"

The judge glared. "We shall...Mr...Walker," he said. "Get out there, young man." On the way out, the judge grumbled about bad publicity.

Seifer walked back into the courtroom with a grin on his face- he glared at the juror, however- and went back to his spot in the corner. A few people giggled, but the judge silenced them with a bang of his gavel. He ordered the case back in session, and the lawyers began arguing at once.

Deciding he should pay attention, so as not to fall asleep again, he examined the defendants and the plaintiff. The plaintiff was an old, fat, balding man who needed a shower. The defendants were a group of four, young men. Each was looking as bored as Seifer felt. He liked them, he decided. One tipped his chin at Seifer, who smirked back.

Though Seifer'd been spaced out for the previous parts of the case, he'd discerned that the defendants were being sued for character defammation. The prosecution called witness "Adam LeBlanc" to the stand, at which point the old plaintiff rose from his seat and walked to the witness stand. Seifer swore him in, in the traditional fashion, as he tried to keep from making a face. LeBlanc smelled, and strongly so.

"Now, now, Mr. LeBlanc," began his lawyer. "Would you please explain to us what exactly these...young men...have done to you."

"They've spread nasteh rumah's about meh."

"Nasty?"

"Nasteh. Untruthful, too. They called me dirteh, fat, measleh scoundrel tha needed a bath." Seifer snorted then. "And they keyed meh car, too," LeBlanc testified.

"Have you ever done anything to deserve such negative acts?"

"Nevah. Ah's a good man, honestleh, yeh Honor. They's accused me of running over their kid sista, but tha was an accident, and the court of Balamb says so too!"

A defendant, with brown hair spiked in his face, stood up. "You paid off that judge and you know it, bastard!" he shouted. His lawyer calmed him down.

"Mr. Kincaid," the elderly judge said, "I'd advise you to keep your clients under control and refraid from using such language. At any rate, that case has already been tried, and that's not why we're here today."

"See's? They'sa hatin' me fo' nothin'. Nothin' at all."

The more Seifer heard, the more he detested LeBlanc. It was clear that he was lying- by the way he was smiling, Seifer guessed he probably did run over the defendant's kid sister, which was a very sad thing to think about. Seifer shrugged and leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

"She wassa dern whore anyway," LeBlanc exclaimed, just loud enough for the defendants to hear. All at once, two of the defendants shot over the desk and at the witness stand. Seifer dived forward at them, but not before LeBlanc jumped over the rail and attacked the two younger men. Seifer frowned at the stupidity of the move; just one of the defendants could easily take him out. Seifer dived into the fight, feeling just a little heroic. While he was shoving one of the younger boys who was trying to throw a punch at one of the lawyers that had jumped in, he saw something flash out of the corner of his eye. The other young man had a knife. Seifer paused for a tenth of a second and made a quick decision. He leapt at the young man, wrapped his hand around his wrist and expertly took the knife out of his hands. Seifer turned to LeBlanc, who was putting up a surprisingly valiant fight against one of the other young men, and hit him forcefully on the head with his elbow.

"Tha' wassa unfair..." he said, just before falling into unconsciousness. When LeBlanc went down, the fighting stopped abruptly.

"Walker!" the old judge shouted. He was referring to Seifer. "You're not supposed to hit him. He was attacked! I'll place you--"

"He had a knife, sir," Seifer lied, holding up the switchblade. "He would've killed the defendants if I hadn't've done something, your Honor." He gave a short glance to the stocky defendant who'd possessed the weapon.

The judge peered over his podium at the knife, and then sat back. "Well, that's certainly against that law. Have this man taken into custody, Walker. No one brings a knife into my court. And we'll have to see about that other court ruling as well..." Seifer smirked as he lifted LeBlanc and took him away.

The defendant smiled up at the judge. "What?"

"If he had the gall to kill one of you without a thought, he might well run over a child," the judge said. "Can't be lenient on these law breakers! Nope, I can't stand anymore bad publicity."

~©~

AFTER THE THE EVENT, THE judge announced that the trial would be postponed until a week later, and by then the real J. Walker would be back from his leave, so Seifer could go home if he wished. Seifer immediately took off to his hotel room. He felt in a rush to get home.

/...why, though?.../

He packed his things as quickly as he could, not caring to fold any clothes. He ended up having to sit on his suitcase to get it to fit correctly. Seifer grabbed his suitcase and left the hotel room swiftly.

/...you're in such a rush. how come?.../

Seifer paid the lady on the way out, just as he heard someone call a familiar name.

"Yo, Walker!" said the voice.

Slightly irritated that people were still calling him Walker because of that blasted name tag, he turned around and frowned. They were the four defendants, the "leader" of which standing a few feet in front of the rest.

"Hey, man, we just wanted to thank you for what you did back there," he said.

"No problem, but the name is Seifer. Wrong name tag."

"Seifer, huh? We would've gone to jail if it weren't for you. Rollo over here doesn't think about things," he said. He gestured to the man who weilded the knife. "I'm Prado, this is Lotter and Levvey."

"Rollo, Prado, Lotter and Levvey," Seifer repeated, a small grin creasing his lips.

Prado shrugged. "Our dad was poetic. That's where we get the talent to write our lyrics."

"You're in a band, then?"

"Ruby Dragon, if you've heard of us," he said.

Seifer smiled. "As a matter of fact, I have..."

"Well, you look a little in a rush. We'll let you be on your way then, but listen man, if you ever need a favor, call me up." He deposited a small slip of paper into Seifer's palm, and shook his hand.

Seifer thought for a moment. "A favor, huh? Now that you mention it..."

~©~

Just when you think a story is dead, the author pulls her last tricks out of her hat. Hi guys, it's good to be back.

I really don't like this chapter, I think it's boring. But I think the next chapter makes up for it with all it's fluff and loveliness, so that's why I chose to release them together. ^_^ Read on.