A/N: Hello dudes, dudettes…
Another update of this story… And yet another slightly sad one. Just so you know, updates will be a tad less frequent (one or two days more tops) due to my upcoming exams. My apologies beforehand.
Last chapter summary: The SeeDs finally approach the white ship, but Ellone is nowhere to be found. Our heroes decide to set a new course for Esthar, were Ellone most possibly resides for the time being. However, something weird happens to Rinoa that causes her to awaken.
A second chance
By: Sickness in Salvation
Chapter 28: Eulogy
"Gimme the body count…" Seifer said, running a hand through his hair.
The blond Commander was standing outside the Infirmary, cigarette between his fingers. Before him, stood a young female SeeD, holding a binder. As the two conversed, cadets passed by every now and then, carrying black, nylon bags.
Body bags.
The girl hesitated, fiddling with the pen in her hand as she skimmed through the report on the binder.
"Well…" she said "There are many students recovering as we speak. Some of them are in good condition, but others may not make it, so-"
"The body count." Seifer repeated firmly. The girl sighed.
"Four deceased, seven severely wounded." she replied "And about three recovering."
"Do you have their names?" Seifer asked, taking in a long drag from his cigarette.
"Johnson, Gabriel. Moreno, Brian. Silveria, Drake. Schaffer, Angelina…" the girl muttered "The deceased ones."
Seifer swore, throwing his cigarette onto the floor.
Angelina used to be his girlfriend. They may have not ended their relationship in good terms, but the news of her death was a heavy blow to take. The image of her smile came in mind. He always liked her smile; it brought out her pretty face. Her full lips stretching, the little dimples appearing next to them, her misty blue eyes lightening up, her laughter… He remembered the feel of her silky black hair as he ran his fingers through it when they were together… He suddenly felt a tremendous amount of guilt for never truly loving her, for the way things turned out… He'd never even apologized for any of the things he felt he'd done wrong. But now it was too late…
And then there was Gabriel. He was in Seifer's team the day he passed his SeeD exam. Handsome, spirited, a good fighter… A nice guy… A guy he could have easily befriended. His thoughts traveled to his girlfriend, Sandra Keenan. He'd met her in the SeeD Ball. A pretty brunette. They had both passed that day. And seemed so happy together… He couldn't even begin to imagine how she must be feeling right now.
Two out of the four people deceased, had been people he knew. People he'd met. And now they lay rigid in black body bags, waiting patiently to be carried to their final and eternal residence.
The last body bag emerged from the Infirmary door, carried by Cedric and Raijin. The blond stepped over to them.
"Hold on a sec." he told them.
He picked up the small white card dangling from a piece of rope onto the bag and read it. Angelina Schaffer.
"Lay it down." he ordered.
"But Seifer, man…" Raijin protested "We gotta take it to-"
"Lay it. Down." he repeated.
Raijin looked at Cedric, nodding in agreement. Slowly, they lowered the bag down, resting it onto the marble floor. Seifer kneeled down next to it and with trembling fingers, he zipped it open.
A pair of pale blue lips and the tip of a nose stood out. Seifer pulled the sides of the body bag down. Angelina's face and shoulders appeared. Her eyes were closed shut and her long hair, even at this moment, we sprawled graciously around her face and shoulders. Her left eyelid had burned away, her right cheek was tainted by a huge open gash and the skin on her neck was wrinkled beyond imagination.
Magic burns. And fatal ones, considering the strong spell they had resulted from.
Seifer shut his eyes and hissed, stifling a curse through clenched teeth. His hands were still gripping the sides of the bag so strongly, that his knuckles had turned white. Trying hard not to take in the scent of once vivid flesh, now decaying minute after minute, he opened his eyes. He touched a stray lock of her hair. Just as soft as it had always been… But the tip was burned out… He tucked the lock behind her ear and ran a finger down her less wounded cheek.
"Rest in peace, Angelina…" he whispered, zipping the body bag shut.
He stood back up and turned to Raijin.
"Take her away." he said, walking inside the Infirmary.
Dr. Kadowaki glanced outside her window. It was pouring outside and the wind, accompanied with the distant sound of thunder s wasn't promising a good weather for the night.
Fujin was standing above the doctor's wheelchair. The resident physician was temporarily using one until she'd be able to walk normally again. The surge of energy that had filled her the moment Rinoa had touched her, had paralyzed her nerves. And she was beginning to accept the fact that some may never return to fully normal function again.
The doctor glanced at the silver-haired girl standing above her, changing the bandages around her neck. Fujin had been there for a fair couple of hours along with other students, in order to help out with the injured ones, since Dr. Kadowaki wasn't able to fulfill her duty at this moment. However, Fujin hadn't uttered a single word from the moment she'd stepped inside the Infirmary. She just followed the doctor's directions with skill and patience and was now tending to her own wounds.
Still speechless.
Fujin Kazano was always known to say little, very little in fact. Bringing up the background history behind the girl in mind, Dr. Kadowaki reminded herself that Fujin came from a wealthy, but very strict family. Her late father, once General Kazano of the Trabian army, had no offspring other than Fujin. She figured that a great military figure like him would have opted for a boy had he been able to choose, but from the looks of it, Fujin was everything a man could be in terms of a soldier. Disciplined, graced by Hyne with admirable skills when handling a Shuriken, reserved… From what the doctor had heard, Fujin was the pride and joy for her father, who would announce in every given occasion that his daughter would once become a very gifted member of the Trabian forces.
Until he passed away.
Brutally murdered in his house by traitors of his own forces, while Fujin watched with her still so very young eyes. The eyes which would later on be mutilated during an attempt of her murder by the assassins of her father. She was brought back to safety from few of the still faithful to the General Trabian soldiers. But she would always carry with her a reminder of the night her father died in a way that was disgraceful for a soldier of his caliber. Unable to go on residing in the same house in which she saw her father slip away from life, she was brought to the nearest Garden Academy; Balamb Garden. She refused to speak to anyone for a fair amount of time, until her grief was soothed.
Her eyesight and speech never recovered fully.
And now, she stood in front of her, a grown woman. Beautiful and austere, still not uttering a single word.
"Thank you, Fujin." Dr, Kadowaki spoke, once the girl was done with the bandages.
The girl simply nodded and bowed her head slightly in response.
Seifer Almasy stepped inside the Infirmary that moment. Holding a cigarette.
"Seifer…" the doctor said "Need I remind you that smoking is prohibited in here?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah…" he said, smacking himself on the forehead "Sorry. Forgot." he mumbled, putting it out by the garbage bin near the entrance "How's the situation here?" he asked.
"Better than expected." the older woman replied "Even the severely wounded seem to be recovering well."
"Good, good… Fujin, everything OK?" Seifer asked his long-time companion.
"IN ORDER." she replied, nodding.
"Right… Well, we'll be holding the… funeral in a couple of hours, before it gets too dark outside…" the blond muttered.
"Have you informed their parents?" Dr. Kadowaki asked.
"Yeah, they're on their way. We sent out our aircrafts to pick them up." he replied "This isn't going to be pretty…"
"ANGRY?" Fujin asked. Seifer scoffed.
"'Angry' hardly does them any justice." he said "They hold Garden responsible for what happened. And I'm willing to bet they're not liking Rinoa too much, either…" he added, running a hand through his hair "Anyway, we'll try to explain the situation and hope for the best. Our primary objective is to track Rinoa down and see what happened to her."
"Any luck?" the doctor asked.
"Squall and some of the others are already up in the bridge." Seifer replied "They're tracking down the vessel she took with her using the radar, so that we can pursue. They should-"
"Commander Almasy, sir?"
Seifer turned around to face the person who had called him. A male student clad in SeeD uniform stood there.
"Yes?" Seifer said.
"Commander Leonhart is outside, expecting to talk to you." the boy replied.
"Speak of the devil…" Seifer muttered, walking towards the exit of the Infirmary.
The tall blond stepped outside, coming face-to-face with Squall and the rest of his friends.
"Well…? Did you find her?" Seifer asked.
"Yes. She's headed Southwest." Squall replied "Fortunately, she's moving slowly. The bad weather and the fiord-like formation of Centra aren't allowing her to go fast enough."
"Good." Seifer replied, nodding "So what do we do from here?"
"We need two groups formed." Zell replied "One has to go after Rinoa, but we still need to contact Esthar and find Sis."
"We can't afford to lose more time in case Rinoa goes ballistic again." Irvine added "Only Ellone can help us."
"OK, I see…" Seifer replied "But it'll have to wait for after the funeral."
"It might be too late then!" Squall snapped "If we don't go after her now we're bound to lose her!"
"We won't. Not if we take an aircraft." Seifer said "We'll just wait after the funeral, when the weather gets better and go after her."
"Who tells you the weather will get better?" Squall retorted, narrowing his eyes "If we don't go now, it might get even worse and the game is over."
"Umm…" Quistis piped in "Actually, Xu made a few phone calls to the Met Centers in FH and Balamb and both said the storm won't last long. An hour, tops."
"I'm still not waiting." Squall persevered, crossing his arms.
"Four people died today, Squall!" Seifer snapped "While both of us were away. The least we can do is attend their funeral. Fuck, if you won't do it for them, at least do it for the sake of their parents. What the hell am I going to say to them if you're not there?"
"I DON'T CARE!" Squall yelled.
Seifer stared at his co-Commander through narrowed irises. Squall returned the glare determinedly. He couldn't begin to tell them how guilty he felt for the death of those four SeeDs while he wasn't even there, but right now, he couldn't think of anything else other than Rinoa. He didn't want to do anything else other than help Rinoa. And no-one seemed to understand. Especially Seifer… The silence between them was becoming too heavy with each passing second.
Selphie's comment didn't help either…
"Geez, Squall… Show some sensitivity… We're all worried about Rinoa, but-"
"Did anyone ask for your opinion?!" Squall snapped at her. Selphie lowered her head.
"What the hell's wrong with you man?!" Irvine piped in, frowning "I can understand how you feel, but don't go lashing out at us!"
"OK, FINE!" Squall hissed "I'm staying for the funeral. Is that what you all wanted to hear?!"
"Fuck you. If you're going to be an ass about it, then don't stay." Seifer said "I'll just tell everyone's parents that we're sorry Commander Puberty isn't here, but the lover-boy within him awoke all of a sudden."
The silence became deadlier this time. Squall's breathing became deeper and his eyes narrowed into slits.
"You take that back." he hissed, voice ominously low.
Seifer stood up straight, crossing his arms in front of his chest, the familiar Mephistophelian smirk crossing his lips once again.
"What's the matter?" he asked "Did I… hit a nerve there?"
"Take it. Back." Squall repeated in a growl, stepping towards the blond.
"What if I don't?" Seifer said in a daring manner.
"I said, take it back, Almasy!" Squall hissed "Don't you dare to try and have a go at me because you decided to grow a FUCKING CONSCIENCE AFTER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF BEING AN ASSHOLE!!!"
It all happened within the blink of an eye.
Seifer grabbed Squall by the T-shirt, slamming him against the wall behind them. The blond's height gave him an advantage over Squall, which he was more than willing to use to his own gain. The latter didn't take time to retaliate, lading a hard kick on Seifer's crotch. The blond doubled-up in pain.
"SON-OF-A-BITCH!" he hissed.
The moment Squall got back to his feet, he was greeted with a hard punch on the face that sent him slamming against the wall again. Lunging forward, he grabbed Seifer by the waist, bringing the blond down to the floor with him. Standing above him, he took his revenge for the previous blow, by punching Seifer himself.
The latter fought back, rolling with Squall on the floor among a flurry of punches and kicks, in an attempt to pin him down to the floor.
"STOP IT!" Quistis shrieked "You're only making this worse!"
But none of them seemed willing to listen. Squall's bottled-up emotions found a crack in order to surface. It was almost too easy to pick a fight with Seifer. Both of them knew how to push each other's buttons ever since they laid eyes upon one another. It was a miracle they didn't fight like that every single day. On the other hand, Seifer never lost a chance to appear superior to the eyes of others, and beating Squall was always a good way to achieve this in his own eyes.
The blond suddenly felt a pair of strong arms pulling him up, locking his arms behind his back, and at the same time felt the bodyweight of Squall shift above him. Irvine and Zell had intervened eventually, restraining Squall and Seifer respectively. However, it took the combined forces of Irvine, Selphie and Quistis to finally keep the first at bay. Seifer didn't need much persuading; he wasn't in a mood to fight today anyway… Glaring at Squall, he spat some extra blood that had collected in his mouth down to the marble floor.
"Chill. Both of you." Zell growled, still keeping a firm lock on Seifer's arms.
"Let go." Seifer mumbled, squirming "I won't punch him."
Zell reluctantly removed his grip, keeping his hands close for the possibility of Seifer pulling a dirty move. The move never came. The blond just stood there, still staring at Squall, who was panting, trying to catch his breath.
"Is it out of your system now?" he asked.
Squall nodded, licking the side of his bleeding lip. Irvine and the girls let go of him, helping him up to his feet. The Commander raked a hand through his hair, sighing.
"Sorry, everyone…" he mumbled, striding away towards the Dormitories.
"I don't need a fucking nurse." Seifer said, pulling his face away from the iodine-soaked piece of cotton shoved onto his left cheekbone.
"Don't be such a baby." Quistis snapped, pressing the piece of cotton against the wounded area.
The blonde was kneeling down on Seifer's bed, where he lay, trying to push her away. Quistis pinned him down from the shoulders forcefully, continuing to take care of his minor cuts.
"Stop squirming!" she hissed "You should be thankful I didn't let you off to Dr. Kadowaki… You'd be listening to her lecturing right about now…" Seifer scoffed.
"Look who's giving the doctor heat about lectures…" he said sarcastically.
Pursing her lips, Quistis grabbed a near-by cotton piece soaked in alcohol, pressing it right upon a cut on Seifer's forehead.
"HSSH! HYNEDAMMIT WOMAN!" Seifer hissed like a cat.
"I'll never understand men…" Quistis said, shaking her head in disbelief "You take blow after blow pretending to not hurt once, but you act like babies when someone tends to your wounds. Women preferably…"
"Ha, fuckin' ha…" Seifer mumbled "Ow…" he whined, as another cut got cleansed "So… Did Squall decide who's going with him after Rinoa?" he asked, looking at her.
"I don't know…" Quistis said, shrugging "You're going to Esthar, right?" Seifer nodded "Well of course… One of you needs to be on either team, and seeing as Squall is set on going after Rinoa… Anyway, talk to him and work upon it. But I've decided. I'm going for Rinoa."
Seifer pulled away, grabbing her wrist with one palm.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because I want to."Quistis replied "Now let me-"
"Why can't you come to Esthar?" Seifer asked.
"Because I feel bad for not being able to help when the whole incident happened here, so I want to help now." she said "There. Satisfied?"
"No-one could have done anything. You know that…"
"Still, I want to go." Quistis insisted.
"Well… I'm not letting you." Seifer retorted.
"Why, exactly?"Quistis asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Cause I said so. I'm the Commander and I say who goes where." Seifer replied, grinning smugly.
"Who gave you that right?"
"No-one. I'm giving it to myself."
"Why are you acting like this?" Quistis asked.
"Because I don't want you to go!"
"Why?!"
"Because it might be dangerous." Seifer replied, frowning.
"What, you think I can't handle it?" Quistis asked, sounding offended. Seifer rolled his eyes.
"Of course I think you can more than handle it, I just-"
"Then why don't you want me to go?!"
"Hynedammit, Quistis," snapped Seifer "Two people I knew died today! I don't want another name added on the fucking list!"
"Damn you, Seifer! Stop acting like you're my boyf-!" Quistis began, but immediately ceased talking.
"Go on, say it." Seifer dared her "Acting like I'm what?!" Quistis frowned.
"Forget it…" she mumbled.
She turned her attention back to Seifer's wounds, rubbing them with ointment vigorously.
"OW! Dammit, are you trying to kill me here?!" Seifer hissed.
"Is there anywhere you don't hurt?!" Quistis yelled, exasperated.
"Well, the fact that I've been getting battered every fucking minute for the past few weeks isn't helping, Trepe!" Seifer snapped.
"So what do you want me to do?!"
"Fuck, I dunno! I never asked you to play nurse for me anyway. Either figure a way to make it hurt less or get the hell outta here!"
Quistis took in a deep breath, trying to calm down. She glared at Seifer, locking his ferocious emerald gaze with her own. She let go of the ointment and cotton, resting them on the nightstand.
"Does it hurt here?" she asked, pressing hard with her finger near a wound on his left arm.
"Fuck!" Seifer hissed in pain "What to you think?!"
Still maintaining her cool, Quistis leaned in, placing her lips on the cut. Seifer's eyes widened in surprise, as he felt a tingling sensation all over his skin from the tender kiss she placed upon his arm. Quistis drew back and looked at him.
"Better?" she asked softly. Seifer nodded "Does it hurt anywhere else?"
Seifer swallowed with difficulty. He pointed at the cut on his forehead.
"Here."
Quistis leaned in again, cupping his face in her palms, as she kissed the pain away from that wound as well. She withdrew once again and looked at him.
"Umm…" Seifer mumbled, pointing at his left cheekbone "It hurts a bit here, too…"
Smiling, Quistis leaned in, holding his other cheek with her palm, kissing his cheekbone. This time, she drew back less than a couple of inches. Seifer looked at her eyes.
"And… here…" he said, pointing at his lips.
Seifer caressed her cheek with a crooked finger as she slowly leaned in. He closed his eyes and…
"I'm still going with Squall."
Seifer's eyes snapped open. Quistis's lips were millimeters away from his. He pulled away, frowning.
"Fine, go with Squall! Don't listen to a fucking word I say!" he said, crossing his arms, looking away.
"I'm not doing this to go against you! I'm doing this because I want to!" Quistis retorted.
"Don't let me stop you!" Seifer spat back sarcastically.
"Dammit, can't you respect my need to do this?!" Quistis asked, exasperated.
"Can't you respect that fact that I don't want you to go?!" Seifer persevered, glaring at her.
"This conversation is getting us nowhere." Quistis said, raising her palms up in exasperation, getting off the bed.
"Couldn't agree more!"Seifer snarled, resting his back on the wall behind his bead, arms crossed, gaze away from her.
Quistis literally threw everything back inside the bag she'd brought it in and stormed towards the door. It slammed behind her with a thud.
"Fuck it!" Seifer hissed, kicking the wall with his right leg.
Out in the Centra fields, the air smelled of wet terrain. The storm had long ago ceased, leaving the weather outside cold and damp. Thick fog encircled the rather large group of people that were gathered outside, formed in a big circle. White, thin candles held by everyone, provided light within the dimness of the environment. The grassy area upon which everyone stood was lean and smooth, something particularly rare in a land with formation similar to Centra's. The even grasslands were marred only by four heaps of freshly dug soil.
Four marble plaques rose vertically above them.
Seifer Almasy and Squall Leonhart stepped up to the small makeshift altar humbly. As they looked down to the crowd gathered before them, they met with a flood of sorrow stricken faces. In the worst cases of all, said faces were drowned in grief that no words could ever soothe. But a speech from both was required. It's part of the 'package' that arrives once one is hit by the abominable feeling of guilt. Especially if that someone one felt guilt over, was once a person close to them.
Squall was the first to speak.
"We are gathered here tonight to pay our respects to the souls of four people that not long ago, existed among us."
A long-dragged moan of mourning cut through the air like a knife, interrupting Squall's well-organized train of thought. It belonged to the mother of one of the deceased students. It seemed like it was all those people were capable of doing during a time life this; mourn. Squall and Seifer had expected accusations and well-deserved protests from these people, but they never came. And that was even worse. Once the first surge of charges had been dropped upon him and Seifer, these people didn't utter a single other word. They avoided the gazes of everyone continuously, and when they did, a myriad of emotions that ran along the lines of hatred and disdain literally poured from their eyes.
Squall could have handled anger. He could have handled blame.
But not this.
He couldn't handle the 'silent treatment' he was receiving from those people. It added to his already oversized amount of guilt.
Clearing his throat almost mutely, he went on.
"All of them, regardless of Rank or position, were important assets of Garden, but most importantly, loved ones among our small community." he said "I ask all of you never to forget their courageous spirits, who remained committed to their duty till the end."
And with those words, he walked towards one of the graves, plunging the candle within the soil, among a flurry of bouquets, written dedications and poems. He slowly made his way back to his comrades standing in front of the altar, allowing Seifer to continue with his own eulogy for those lost.
The tall blonde stepped forward, fiddling nervously with the candle in his hands.
"I was fortunate enough to have met two of the people to whose memory this ceremony takes place." he spoke "I was never close to them, but from the short period of time I got to know them, I realized why they will be missed so greatly. Today, Garden didn't lose four great fighters only; it lost four people who made a difference to others' lives."
Seifer swallowed with difficulty, pausing for a split second. His gaze caught that of Sandra Keenan. The bloodshot, once sparkly brown, eyes of the girl accompanied the sad smile she gave him. Her pain was beyond tears by now. She had shed one too many before, not having anymore to shed right now.
"We are once again living in dark times, marred by forces that bring destruction to their wake. We may have lost a battle today, but the War is far from over." he went on "Vengeance upon those sacrificed today, will be taken."
Finishing up with his brief speech, Seifer descended from the altar, following Squall's steps in resting his candle upon a different grave. He resumed his position near his comrades. As Cid Kramer, accompanied by his wife, walked upon the altar, Seifer felt Quistis's hand slither onto his own, encasing it. He looked down upon her, returning the weak smile that appeared upon her lips.
"There is nothing I can say that hasn't already been said." spoke Cid "May the four souls that have returned to Hyne tonight rest in peace. Amen."
Cid's words triggered the end of the short ceremony, allowing everyone to pay their respects to the four students, by placing their candles near the graves, then silently make their way back to Garden, stationed many feet away.
Seifer, Squall and the others were the last to stay behind, along with Cid and Edea. The couple approached the six young fighters.
"So…" Cid spoke with a sigh "What are your plans now?"
"We're splitting up in two teams." Seifer replied.
"I will be leading the group pursuing Rinoa." Squall added.
"And I'll take the rest to Esthar." Seifer finished.
"Right…" Cid said, nodding "Have you decided on the teams yet?" he asked.
"We figure we'll need more forces in the first team." replied Squall "Quistis, Zell and Selphie are coming with me."
"So me and Irvine are heading to Esthar." added Seifer.
"May I… make a request?" Edea spoke for the first time "I wish to be taken to Esthar with you."
"Esthar?"Irvine asked, arching an eyebrow "Why, Matron?"
"I need to see Dr. Odine." she replied "I'm hoping to become rid of my… powers." she said, bowing her head down "There's no telling whether Ultimecia will possess me again or not."
"Are you sure he can help you, Matron?" Selphie asked.
"I can only hope." replied the older woman.
"Don't worry 'bout it, Matron." Zell intervened "Dr. Odine is a genius. I'm sure he'll be able to help you out."
"Thank you, Zell." Edea said, smiling to one of her children.
"Well, we'd better get going." Quistis said "We need to leave immediately to be able to catch up with Rinoa."
"We'll come pick you up at 8 o' clock sharp, Matron." Seifer said "We're leaving early in the morning."
"Very well. I shall see you again tomorrow morning then." Edea replied "As for the rest of you… May Hyne be with you, my children." she said, touching Squall's cheek tenderly "Be careful."
"We will. Don't worry." Squall reassured her.
The older couple made their way towards the Orphanage, visible only by the Lighthouse shining amidst the fog. The rest, slowly retreated back to Garden.
Quistis walked down the Dormitory corridor, straightening the black shirt of her SeeD uniform. For weather conditions such as the present one, different uniforms where issued. Quistis inwardly thanked Hyne for not having to fight in her standard attire; she'd freeze to death before even getting close to Rinoa. Her boots, tucked inside the pair of black pants she was wearing, clattered as they made contact with the marble floor beneath her feet, the sound resonating among the walls surrounding her. With her backpack resting on her shoulders, she was making her way towards the third floor, from where they'd access the one under the roof-top, where the SeeD aircrafts were kept.
She didn't notice the figure that was following her, stealthily hiding in the shadows of the dark hallway. Suddenly, a hand sprang out of nowhere and grabbed her shoulder, turning her around.
"Don't go."
Quistis shut her eyes, sighing, as Seifer pulled her close to him from the sides of her black trench coat.
"You know I have to." she replied in a whisper.
"No you don't…" he insisted "Come to Esthar."
"I will. With everyone, after we get Rinoa back." Quistis replied.
Knowing that nothing he could ever say would persuade her, Seifer sighed, accepting defeat.
"Alright." he said.
"Thank you." Quistis replied, resting her palms on top of his, which were still grasping her coat firmly.
Standing on her tiptoes, she reached up, placing a feathery peck on his lips, which caught him by surprise. Seifer bit his lower lip as she drew back.
"What was that for?" he asked.
"To ease the pain from the wound you have there…" she replied, smiling "I think I missed it before." Seifer chuckled.
"Be careful, OK?" he asked, caressing her cheek with his palm.
"I will." she replied, kissing his inner palm.
She withdrew from their embrace and continued her stride down the corridor, turning around to give him one last look before disappearing from sight.
Seifer smiled at her weakly, wondering if he'd just allowed her to slip away from him and into her death…
Quistis fluttered her eyelids open.
Her sleepy gaze traveled among her surroundings. Selphie was sitting beside her, sleeping deeply. And so was Zell, who was seated right across them. However, the seat next to him was vacant. Creasing her forehead, Quistis got up, slipping her arms through the coat she'd used as a blanket so far.
It didn't take long to find the person missing from his seat.
Squall was standing near a window, staring at the repetitive pattern of the dark waters of the ocean below him. His concentration was broken by the sound of footsteps behind him. He didn't need to turn around. He'd become familiar with that perfume ages ago.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" he asked.
"That's my line…" Quistis said, grinning weakly as she approached him "Why aren't you sleeping, Squall?"
"I'm not tired."
"You'd think I know you well enough by now to fall for an outright lie like that…" she said, chuckling the slightest bit. Squall didn't speak for a few minutes.
"Can't." he replied eventually, as laconic as ever.
"Squall…" Quistis said, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder "We all need you to be strong tomorrow. Especially Rinoa."
The sound of her name made him turn around to face Quistis. His normally severe gaze held none of its usual austereness. His steel blue eyes seemed almost… defeated.
Almost.
This was Squall Leonhart we were talking about…
"I know it's really hard, but you need to get some sleep." the blonde continued "The pilot said it'd take a few hours before we approach her vessel. And we've all had a long, hard day. We all need some sleep in order to help our friend, don't we?"
With a sigh, the brown-haired Commander nodded.
"Now come on," she said "Zell's in deep sleep by now and has finally stopped snoring."
Squall laughed the tiniest bit at that comment, making Quistis's hopeful smile wider.
"I'll be there in a sec." Squall said "I'll just go check on the pilot."
"Alright."Quistis said, nodding.
She wrapped the coat tighter around her, walking back towards her seat.
"Quistis?"
The blonde turned around. Squall was still looking outside the window.
"You're a good friend…"
A/N:
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'A SECOND CHANCE':
Quistis gets a second break into the 'real world'…