Disclaimer: Still don't own FFVIII. Or make any money from writing fanfics.

Chapter One: Left Behind

The day after the SeeD field exam was calm and quiet, the hallways vacant save for the Disciplinary Squad making their usual rounds. Classes were in session, and only those with a serious death wish would dare to so much as breathe the wrong way the day after Seifer Almasy had failed a SeeD exam.

Fujin and Raijin included.

"I mean, it might not bother me so much if Puberty Boy and Chicken Wuss didn't pass, either." Seifer explained for the umpteenth time that morning. "They disobeyed orders, too, and I know that Squall wanted to cause trouble just as badly as I did, but no, they chalked it up to them being good soldiers and following the captain's orders." He spat over the railing and into the water flowing around the school. "Well if all they can do is take orders without thinking, I worry about the future of this rundown school."

"Did you find Rinoa?" Raijin asked, undoubtedly hoping at least something had gone right for Seifer.

"What do you think? I couldn't get in!" Seifer snapped. "Stupid Trepe caught me before I could sneak in."

Very softly, Fujin let out the breath she'd been holding. They had met Rinoa the summer before, when they'd been stationed in Deling for a SeeD field exam. Personally, Fujin couldn't see anything fantastic about the girl, but Raijin and Seifer treated her as if she were a celebrity. In the end it was Seifer who had won her affections, and he would run off with her for the entirety of their breaks and come back starry-eyed and talking about helping her to escape from her horrible father to Timber, where she could do some good in the world.

It was the longest SeeD Field Exam in nearly a decade, and Fujin cursed every single day of it. Spanning an entire week due to a tricky monster infestation, the young cadets had been stationed right across from the General Caraway's mansion, making it only too easy for the raven-haired girl to stop by and socialize. Right off the bat Fujin didn't like her for disturbing the natural chemistry the three friends shared, but the dislike grew into loathing when Seifer began to ignore her.

She had thought that it was all over when they finally boarded the train that would take them home, but Rinoa had come running up to the platform, dramatically waving a small paper in her hand. Seifer had stopped, smiled down at her and taken her address and phone number along with a kiss.

Seifer had excitedly told them of his plans with Rinoa the whole ride back, while Raijin congratulated him on a job well done and Fujin did her best not to mope. To add insult to injury, none of them had passed the exam as they were spotted talking on the job on numerous occasions. Fujin had never said a word to Rinoa, but she guessed that didn't matter.

Seifer still kept in touch with Rinoa through weekly letters. All letters that came in from her were scented with her perfume and inquisitive about SeeD. Seifer assured her that he would someday personally meet her and help her cause, but she must not have believed him, because the day came when she finally asked about prices and a possible discount. His pride had been hurt, but he'd given her the information she needed and promised he'd meet her at the SeeD Ball.

They finished off their inspection of the library and made their way up to the office to report the few petty crimes they'd come across. When they entered, Quistis was putting the last of her possessions into a cardboard box, and she looked down to avoid their gaze. Seifer wasn't about to let her down so easily.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen." Seifer commented, a grin spreading on his face. Quistis closed her eyes and took a deep breath, obviously going to great lengths to control her reaction.

"I could say the same to you, except you've never had a perch to fall from, have you Seifer?" she replied coldly.

"Was it possibly for hitting on students?" Seifer ignored her response, and Raijin snickered, only stopping when Quistis directed a pointed glare at him. It was common knowledge among the Disciplinary Squad that their instructor was infatuated with Squall Leonhart. They had figured it out when they realized she was would praise him more often than others, not to mention the fact that she was always close to livid when Seifer fought with him. She ignored him, but Fujin noticed a muscle flex on her jaw.

"Where's your little pube-muffin, Instructor?" Seifer taunted, eyes shifting around as if Squall would jump out from behind a potted plant. "I could use a little sparring right about now."

"For your information he's on his first mission." Quistis snapped, her icy blue eyes locking onto Seifer. "In Timber, along with the rest of your squad that actually passed-"

"What?" Seifer cut her off. Fujin and Raijin exchanged a glance, and Quistis knew she was treading in dangerous waters.

"He's in Timber." she repeated slowly, regarding him carefully. "Why?"

"Who else went?" Seifer demanded, his eyes suddenly fierce.

"Selphie and Zell-"

"I heard that, who else?" Seifer was close to yelling.

"That's it. That's all that was sent." Quistis replied curtly.

"What? They might end up fightin' the whole Galbadian Force!" Seifer roared. "And all they dispatch are three rookie SeeD members?"

"Seifer, you better calm down right now." Quistis growled, sliding her box onto the counter and taking out her whip. Fujin's hand twitched towards her chakram.

"What's going on in here?" Xu walked through the door, her fingers adorned with brass knuckles.

"Dammit, I'm going to Timber! Fu, Rai, cover me!" Seifer ordered, knocking Quistis and Xu out of his way and bolting down the hall. Before he was even out of sight, Fujin and Raijin had their weapons drawn and ready. Quistis and Xu stared at them incredulously.

"This isn't a game, you two. If you attack you'll be in serious trouble." Neither Fujin or Raijin wavered, and the older women were forced to put their weapons to use.

Fujin dodged the snap of Quistis' whip, not intending to hurt her former instructor, just distract her long enough to give Seifer time. She and Raijin did a decent job of holding off the SeeDs, but soon the women became vicious with urgency, and it was all the Squad members could do to defend themselves.

"I've got this, Quistis, go after him!" Xu yelled, casting a fire spell on Raijin. Quistis hurried down, casting a haste to try to make up for lost time. Fujin's chakram just missed Quistis' hand, and Xu glared before firing a sleep spell at her.

Please be safe Seifer. She thought before falling to the ground.

Hours later...

"Attacking two SeeDs, one of them an instructor." Headmaster Cid shook his head, but Fujin and Raijin simply stared straight ahead, neither of them ashamed of what they'd done. After all, they were the ones who'd had to visit the infirmary.

"Why did you do it? Was it simply because Seifer told you to?"

"AFFIRMITIVE." Fujin answered immediately, and Cid sighed.

"Seifer may have been the Squad Leader, but his authority does not overpower that of SeeDs, you know that." he looked directly into Fujin's eye, and she knew he was remembering earlier days, before she met Seifer. Days when she had no friends but followed most rules, when she was a quick learner and hard worker who got good grades and passed exams on the first try. She didn't feel guilty, she'd done the right thing.

"May have been?" Raijin repeated. "So Seifer's not in charge anymore?"

"No, I'm afraid not." Cid told them, leaning back into his chair. "As for punishment-"

"Headmaster Cid, you need to see this, it's Seifer!" It was Nida, the new SeeD that burst through the door. Before anything could be said, Nida crossed the room and placed his portable computer on the desk. Fujin and Raijin crept behind Cid to watch, and Xu was too distracted to tell them not to.

"…For the last time, stay back! You're only going to provoke him!" Quistis could be seen on the tiny screen, ordering the Galbadian guards that threatened Seifer. Raijin's mouth fell open and Fujin gasped. The whole room was silent.

"Timber Team, are you still watching? Get over here right now! You HAVE permission! I need your help!" she practically screamed. The former instructor was usually known for her cool attitude, but now she looked scared, no better than a nervous cadet.

"Are they gonna help her?" Nida asked nervously. It took a few minutes, but finally Squall, Zell and Selphie appeared on screen. Zell and Selphie glanced around uncertainly while Squall stared cautiously at the sight before him. Some SeeDs. Fujin thought, rolling her eye.

"We need to restrain him!" Quistis ordered, obviously distraught by the situation.

"What do you think you're doing?" Squall asked, looking like he'd rather be anywhere than on camera at the moment. Fujin shook her head, he couldn't follow a simple order, he didn't deserve to be a leader. Seifer rolled his eyes.

"It's obvious ain't it? What are you planning to do with this guy?" Seifer asked impatiently, shaking the President as he spoke.

"…planning to do?" Squall repeated numbly. Raijin snorted, also displeased with Squall's uselessness.

"Just do something, ya know!" Raijin muttered, but Xu and Fujin elbowed him. A look of understanding crossed Zell's face.

"I get it! You're Rinoa's-"

"Shut your damn mouth! Chicken Wuss!" Seifer cursed. Though the screen was tiny and the lighting was bad, Fujin could see the sweat glistening on Seifer's brow. How was he going to make it out of this situation?

"He broke out of the disciplinary room, injuring many in the process." It almost seemed like Quistis was speaking just for the sake of speaking. Fujin wondered how many Seifer had barreled past on his way out.

"YOU STUPID IDIOT!" Zell yelled. He had always talked too much and thought too little…

"Be quiet." Squall hissed. Fujin counted that as the first smart sentence he'd said.

"Instructor, I know! You're going to take this stupid idiot back to Garden, right?" Xu inhaled sharply and Cid put his hand to his forehead.

"Shut up! NO!" Squall yelled. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't have been that stupid. She looked over at Raijin, who was slowly shaking his head and staring at the screen in disbelief. On screen, the President smirked as he stared at the SeeDs' shocked faces.

"I see…so you're all from Garden. Should anything happen to me, the entire Galbadian Military will undoubtedly crush Garden." he turned to face Seifer smugly. "You can let go of me, now."

"Nice going, Chicken Wuss! You and your stupid big mouth!" Seifer spat. Zell's eyes were wide open and he was frozen stiff as if he couldn't believe he'd messed up so bad. Fujin clenched her fist. If anything happened to Seifer because of him, she would make him pay.

"Take care of this mess, Instructor and Mr. Leader." Seifer shot, backing out of the room with the President. Quistis followed carefully, and after she was out of the camera's view, the rest of the SeeDs followed. They watched the camera for a few more minutes before someone in Timber had the sense to shut it off. The office became eerily quiet.

"We have to go after Seifer ya know!" Raijin decided, and Fujin nodded. Xu glared at them.

"Don't be stupid! He's probably already-"

"They'll be headed towards Galbadia Garden." Cid murmured under his breath.

"What?" Xu asked, tearing her gaze away from Fujin and Raijin.

"Article Eight, Line Seven. They'll be headed towards Galbadia." Cid explained in a detached voice. He turned to Fujin and Raijin. "If they all managed to make it out alive, that's where Seifer will be." Fujin stared at him. Was he actually going to let them go?

"But, Headmaster-"

The phone rang just then, and Cid glanced at the number before picking it up. He listened and answered "yes" once, then frowned as he hung up.

"It would appear as if I have to ask a favor of you." Cid told them. "A Garden Faculty Member will be waiting with a letter to the Galbadian Headmaster, please give it to him." he looked between the two and waited for them to nod. When they did, he dismissed them.

"You're too kind, sir." Xu mumbled as Fujin and Raijin bolted out of the room.

Fujin felt sick as she ran down the hallway, her mind tumbling with Seifer's possible fates. She shook them off and didn't even stop in front of the Faculty Member, Raijin had to collect the message. She didn't know how, but she was going to help Seifer when she got there, or die trying.

I should have gone with him. We could have knocked past them, all made it to Timber to help. Fujin cursed her own inability to stand up to the older women, wishing she was stronger. The bright sun hanging overhead mocked her dire situation, it seemed so wrong that she and Raijin were running scared on such a perfect day. I've gone soft…

When they boarded the train, Raijin simply sat at the window seat and stared out of the train, for once not having anything to say. Fujin sat next to him and stared at her hands for the whole ride, not letting herself think of anymore "what ifs".

If he's dead I'll kill the President. Fujin thought murderously. I'll put up another broadcast and kill him right in front of everyone, and I'll beat the shit out of Zell for causing this…No one would harm Seifer without answering to her. Her mind continued to dangerously twist down paths Fujin hadn't been aware of until now, and it didn't completely stop when the train did.

"Let's go, we can rent a car." Raijin said, picking up on the fact that Fujin wasn't thinking clearly. She simply followed him and got into the car when he opened the door for her.

She needed to see Seifer. He had to be okay. She didn't know what she would do if he wasn't okay…

"We'll deliver the message first, and I'll ask if Seifer's around, ya know?" Raijin said nervously. Fujin nodded numbly and followed him once again.

"Who are you?" An stern-looking man sized them up before they could ascend the first staircase. Raijin saluted, but Fujin was too out of it to imitate him. The guard relaxed a little, but looked at Fujin suspiciously.

"We're from Balamb-" (here, the guard let out a heavy sigh) "-and we have something to deliver to the Headmaster, ya know?" Raijin explained, holding up the envelope as proof. The man scowled as he turned away from them.

"Follow me." he said curtly, marching up the staircase. Fujin and Raijin followed him, both wishing he would walk a little faster.

"Headmaster Martine!" the man called after pounding on the door. "Messengers from Balamb have arrived!"

"Very well, let them in." A voice called from the other side. The man opened the door and stood aside to let them pass through first.

Martine looked like a war-hardened soldier-turned-politician; his face was heavily lined, his still-blond hair slicked back and his clothes perfectly pressed. He regarded them with experienced eyes, his gaze lingering on Fujin's eye patch before he bothered to speak. This time, Fujin remembered to salute when Raijin did.

"Proof of your affiliation with Garden?" he asked impatiently. Raijin withdrew the envelope he had been about to hand him, digging through his pocket for his wallet. Fujin fished hers out before Raijin did, but they presented them simultaneously. A corner of the headmaster's mouth tugged downwards as he held out his hand for the message.

Not wasting anymore time, he tore it open and read through it, his face not betraying anything contained in the letter. He carefully folded it and slipped it back into the envelope when he was done.

"It will be carried out. You are dismissed." he told them.

"Uh, Headmaster?" Raijin asked uncertainly. Martine only stared at him, and Raijin took that as a cue to go on. "We were wondering if any of the SeeDs from the Timber incident came in yet."

"You're not here to socialize, soldier." Martine said. Raijin nodded to him and they both saluted one more time before leaving.

"Well that was helpful." Raijin muttered as they walked out of the room. Fujin wasn't about to say anything, but a streak of black and white caught her eye on the floor below them.

"LEONHART." she informed Raijin, pointing. The teen was running as if his life depended on it, his teammates nowhere in sight.

"Yo! Squall!" Raijin leaned over the balcony to call him before he could get away. Squall stopped as if he'd been hit by lightning, confused for a second until he saw Fujin and Raijin heading towards him.

There was something scared in his eyes, Fujin noted. He looked almost as messed up as she felt, although he tried to compose himself as they approached him. He even looked a little embarrassed, as if he'd just done something extremely humiliating.

"What are you doing here?" he muttered, eyes going to his feet.

"What am I doin'?" Raijin asked, squinting down at Squall. "I'm a messenger, ya know? Brought you a new order from Headmaster Cid, ya know?" Squall furrowed his brow when he heard that, obviously not liking the sound of that.

"What kind of order?"

"I don't know. I gave it to the head honcho here. Just did what Headmaster Cid wanted, ya know? Kinda relieved to see you guys here." Raijin rambled. Fujin couldn't believe he hadn't brought up the most important thing.

"SEIFER?" she asked roughly, just barely keeping the pleading note from her tone. Squall's eyes softened, as if he were in another place, but Raijin didn't notice.

"Oh yeah! Wasn't Seifer with you?" How was Raijin staying so casual about the whole thing? Was it because he was talking to Squall?

"I believe Seifer may be dead…" Squall said quietly, his blue eyes flickering between the two friends before dropping back to the floor. "I heard he was tried in Galbadia and executed…"

"LIES!" Fujin barked, yelling to stop the horrible feeling that consumed her. Her roar echoed down the hall, and a few students looked back at them. She bit down on her lip to keep from showing anything other than shock. Raijin made an awkward noise as he stared at Squall, his fist clenching.

"That's gotta be a lie, ya know! There's no way he'd put up with a trial, ya know! Or an execution for that matter! It's just not Seifer, ya know!" Raijin yelled almost hysterically, his voice shaking just a little.

"FIND!" Fujin yelled, not able to stand the blank look in Squall's eyes.

"O' what…!" Raijin stared at her as if he couldn't understand her for a second. "We're going to meet up with Seifer?" she nodded at him impatiently. "Well, see ya Squall, we're gonna head off to Galbadia to look for Seifer." Without another word to Squall, they took off in the opposite direction, leaving Squall staring after them.

Seconds later, the intercom demanded Squall and his group to meet at the main gate. Fujin and Raijin ran for the back entrance, not wanting to see anyone else from that miserable team.

Seifer's not dead. Those idiots don't know what they're talking about. Seifer can't be dead! Fujin didn't know how she kept going, only that somehow, her body still worked. She bumped into a man with a cowboy hat, but didn't stop or apologize, even when he yelled something back at her.

"It's gonna be a long journey, finding Seifer, ya know?" Raijin glanced sideways at his companion, and if she had been paying attention, she might have noticed that he was quieter than usual.

"FIND HIM. HAVE TO." she said, and this time she couldn't keep the desperation completely out of her voice.

"Yeah, don't worry, he's out there." he replied, no real conviction in his voice. "It's gonna be dangerous, too, ya know…"

Everything will be fine once we find Seifer. Even if we have to flee the country, live the rest of our lives as fugitives, it won't matter, as long as Seifer's there…

"Fujin?" Raijin asked, and she didn't look up to see the sorrow in his eyes. Instead she internally cursed, ready to snap if he made one more complaint about finding Seifer.

"WHAT?" she growled. He was on her blind side, and she didn't waste the time required to fully look at him.

"Take care of yourself, okay?" Before she could even process what that meant, something heavy hit her on the back of her head, and her vision faded to black.

End Chapter

A/N: I really hope this didn't come off as character bashing, I was just trying to get into Fujin's head, and I figured she'd be pretty hard on everyone. I wanted to keep this as accurate as possible, but already I've had to alter a few scenes from the game. Well, please review, let me know what you think whether it be good or bad.