The Mountains Win Again

Chapter 4

Seifer awoke in a daze, the events of the night before slowly coming back to him. Realizing he wasn't in the straight jacket, he scanned his surroundings, coming to the conclusion that he was in the infirmary bed. He saw Quistis, asleep in the recliner next to the bed, a slight smile on her face.

He sat up, and realized his shirt was missing. Luckily, that was all that was gone. He looked over to the side of the bed, and grabbed his shirt off the floor. Standing up, he pulled on his trench coat, and walked out into main room.

Kadowaki spotted him, and stood up. "You're awake."

"No s." He replied sarcastically.

"Quistis convinced me that you had regained coherency. And so you were allowed out of the cell." Kadowaki informed.

"But only on two conditions." Seifer heard a voice say from behind him. Turning around quickly, he realized it was Quistis. "Kadowaki still doesn't believe you are well enough to live on your own, so you'll be staying with me."

"Aren't there rules against this kind of thing?" Seifer put on his signature smirk.

"We've already gone through to Cid, and he approved. The other condition… I don't think you'll like. You have to undertake therapy."

"WHAT?" He yelled, his face showing obvious signs of anger.

"I think we better leave." Quistis grabbed Seifer by the hand and drug him out of the infirmary.

Later…

"Quistis… I don't want therapy!" Seifer yelled.

"Would you rather go back in the cell?" Quistis narrowed her eyes.

"… …" Seifer hung his head.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." She tried not to crack a smile.

"Were you just smiling?" He asked.

"No." She replied. " Last night…You weren't yourself. I know inside, you desperately want to be a better person, but in a way, you're punishing yourself for your crimes."

"Oh." Was Seifer's first reaction. "I thought you were only an expert observer when commander puberty was involved."

"Haha, don't forget, you were both my students." She laughed.

"Yeah, but puberty boy was always your favorite." Seifer said bitterly.

"That's…" Quistis was in total shock. She had never even realized the way she treated Seifer when he was her student.

"Just forget it." He ended the conversation.

A few minutes later, the two walked into Quistis' dorm. Seifer dropped his bags in the corner, and sat at the table in the kitchenette.

Quistis walked in a moment later and sat next to him. "So, we'll be living together for awhile, so I guess we should learn to get along better.

"You're not the problem…" Seifer mumbled under his breath.

"Huh?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I said you're not the problem." He replied. "You're easy to get along with, but I'm not."

"Seifer… Do you remember what happened last night?" She took his hand.

"No" He lied.

"I want you to know." She released his hand, and he folded his arms. "Like I said, You were... Different." She squeezed his hand. "You were sweet. You acted the way that… Would make me fall in love with you."

"I don't know what you're talking about." He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"Just give me a chance!" She pleaded. "Let me show you that not everyone has given up on you yet."

"I… I'm sorry, for the way I've acted." He stood up. "But I'm not ready for what you're asking me to do."

"Then tell me. Tell me why."

"I can't. At least not yet."

Quistis sighed. "I'll give you all the time you need. Just know that I'll always be here."

"I'll remember that." He nodded, and left the room.

"Please do." She whispered to no one but herself, as she hung her head.

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A/N: This chapter was short. If you don't like it, bite me.