Teaching Respect.
By C S Sinclair.
Chapter Eighteen.
For long term readers of this story (hello there!), this is not a new Chapter. I wrote an extra Chapter, which I slotted in as the new Chapter 2 and simply bumped everything else up one number. Sorry if I got your hopes up, but like I say there is a new Chapter - it's just it's Chapter 2, not 18!
"Headmistress? Ma'am? Ma'am, are you awake? Miss Trepe? Quis?"
Snapping back to consciousness, Quistis started up in alarm. After a moment of uncertainty over where or even who she was, she slowly recalled the long, terrible day she had briefly escaped from.
Blinking the worst of her thoughts away, she glanced around at the conference room, rubbing absently at her cheek. It was sore from where she had been leaning on it and her clothes felt like she had been wearing them for days...
"I'm sorry Ma'am; I would have left you but you wanted to know when we were all locked down for the night" Nida explained, placing some documents she had requested on the table in front of her.
"Oh... yes, thank you. The Ambassadors...?" she asked groggily, working her shoulders and trying not to think too broadly about the sheer chaos that her life had become. Just keep it simple; focus on one thing at a time...
"All arrived safely back" he confirmed. "They seem to be keeping their word too – Trabia, Balamb and Galbadia's governments are all 'asking for the public's patience and indulgence until the facts can be ascertained'."
"Right... good" Quistis nodded, still feeling a little dazed as she sorted through the piles of papers before her. There was so much to do and her head felt so muddled, worn out with the worry and stress.
"The investigation teams will report as soon as they have any leads on where they took Xuse - you should think about getting some rest; you've done enough for today" Nida commented.
Mouthing a 'what do you mean by that?!', Quistis stopped short as she looked up to see that Nida looked genuinely concerned. Slightly embarrassed, she turned back and shuffled through her papers. She was tired and it was making her paranoid – she'd thought he'd been inferring she had screwed up somehow. But then, he wouldn't be the first to say something like that to her today...
"Um, maybe in a while. Oh, but there was something..." she said, trying to make this sound like less of a big deal than it felt.
"Ma'am?"
Quistis sighed and looked up. "Well actually, that's just it. Don't... please don't call me Ma'am or Headmistress. I'm not... this is just 'til we get Xuse back, okay?"
"Oh... ah, alright" Nida shrugged, forcing a smile, though Xu's name had hung rather heavily in the air.
This was the first chance they'd had to catch their breath all day since... the incident. Xu's name had of course come up many times, but it was only really starting to sink in now. After politely asking if she needed anything else, Nida had turned to leave, when he stopped and turned about, looking rather awkward.
"Um... I just wanted to say that you did a great job today, Ma... Miss Trepe".
Before she could restrain herself, Quistis let loose a snort of derision, freezing as she realised it had been clearly audible. Looking up, she saw Nida was indeed frowning with surprise.
"Did... I say something wrong?" he asked.
Quistis shook her head, trying to get a hold of herself; before leaning back in her chair with a bitter sigh.
"You don't have to... I'd rather you didn't dress it up, okay? I'd appreciate it if you just told it like it is – that I didn't know what on earth I was doing today!" she said irritably.
Nida's frown deepened and he walked over to the head of the table. "What are you saying – who's said that to you?! This isn't still about..."
"Please! Everyone knows I'm not cut out for this kind of thing... I never was" Quistis insisted, throwing some papers she was holding onto the table as if trying to get them as far away from her as possible. "You could see it today – they all saw it. I was so hopeless..."
"No, no; you're wrong!" Nida argued, coming round the table and drawing up a chair near her. "You really got through to them – when the Trabians and the Balambese ambassadors came in, they were all set to sever diplomatic ties with Galbadia over this – you stopped them!"
"Did I though? What politicians say and what they do are totally different things – I got some vague assurances; nothing more!" she snorted, dismissively. "This was nothing but a huge waste of our time! If Xuse was here..."
"...she'd be proud of what you accomplished here today too, especially given the circumstances!" Nida insisted earnestly.
"Is that right? Well maybe if we'd actually been out there searching for Xuse instead of kicking our heels here, we could ask her!" Quistis countered angrily, feeling her stomach lurch as a thousand grim speculations of her friend's fate flashed across her mind. "That would be accomplishment! Just ask Fujin how much she thinks we accomplished..."
"So this is about earlier..." Nida said, shaking his head despairingly, as she took a moment to calm herself down. "Quis, she was upset when she said those things before. She wasn't thinking straight and you know what she's like anyway..."
"Look, we both know she's never really liked me – all those reprimands I had to give Seifer didn't help… But she was right" she insisted. "We should have been out there today..."
"Doing what? Going after them, when they had a vastly more manoeuvrable craft and we had no idea where they were going?!" Nida replied incredulously. "You made the right decision – this incident had the potential to set the nations at each other's throats again. We had information they needed to hear; the first few hours of a crisis determine how it will play out, remember?"
Quistis slammed her palms on the table and got up, throwing herself back against the far wall. If he didn't stop being so reasonable, she was going to punch him! Feeling slightly better now she had at least got up and moved about a bit, she leaned her head back against the wall.
"Xuse could be... All day I was waiting for someone to come in and say they'd found her... her body, whilst I was yammering in here to these..." She closed her eyes, thinking of the many, many times that Xuse had consoled her over her many failures in life. "I felt so useless today, Nida! Why shouldn't Fujin have lost it at me?"
"Fujin's demands were selfish, irrational and completely unrealistic - they were exactly the reactions she should be having!" Nida argued gently. "Quis, we both love Xuse but well, you've seen them together – it's the real thing. It's like..." (He trailed off, but she knew he had been about to say Squall and Rinoa).
"I feel like someone ripped my heart out today" he continued, "But I can't even imagine what it must be like for her. We've just got to give her some time – roll with the punches she doles out until then, I guess."
She nodded miserably. Getting irrationally hysterical would help ease this pain somewhat she imagined, but he was right – that was something they couldn't afford. And Fujin was certainly making sure that someone voiced the furious anger they all felt over this.
"How is she doing, anyway?" she asked, collapsing back into her seat. "Did they get her settled in her room? I'd have looked in, but I doubt I'd be welcome right now."
"She insisted on sleeping in Xu's room – we catalogued everything for our investigation, before they tidied it up" he assured her. "She refused the sedative, but Dr Kadowski said the medication and the strain of the healing enchantments should keep out until morning at least, anyway."
Nida shook his head sadly "It's killing her, all this. You never realised how vulnerable she was until you saw how much healthier she looked with Xuse... Whoever did this..."
Quistis nodded, clenching her fist. If these people hurt Xuse, ruined all these lives, then if she screwed everything else up, she'd at least make sure they paid.
"Anyway, like I said, she has the luxury of being as selfish as she likes - but someone has to take the reins here and we're it" Nida went on, trying to dispel the vengeful mood that had settled over them. "And I meant what I said before - you performed exceptionally today. Without you, we could be in the middle of a war right now!"
Ignoring his praise stubbornly, she cast her mind wearily back over the day's fussing and nit-picking. It had certainly taken the ambassadors by surprise when she passionately argued in defence of Galbadia and their innocence. They'd probably thought her quite mad at first, but it just didn't ring true that Galbadia were behind this.
Xuse had been convinced of their readiness for peace and she knew this kind of thing better than anyone. She'd sat in on most of the big meetings, talked with their new rulers; seen the joy in the people's eyes that the wars were over. Galbadia had even recently donated their Garden to Trabia as a gesture of their repentance... this had to be someone else's doing.
"And if you don't mind my saying so – and I know you do, but I'm going to say it again anyway, I think you want Fujin to be right about us wasting time, because it'll make her other accusation easier to accept" Nida went on.
She held up her hands in sheer exasperation – not this again now?!
"How many times, Nida; I've made up my mind!" she insisted, a note of hysteria in her voice. "Whether she was upset or not when she accused us, the fact remains that a Trepie let these people in, gave them plans, let them smuggle their gear in, etc etc. Without Galen's help..."
"They'd have done this anyway" Nida countered stubbornly. "They were obviously professionals – they must have been planning this for a long time. They would have found a way."
"But it wouldn't have been so easy for them, if one of my kids hadn't..." she snapped, banging her fist so hard on the table, she almost broke it. "He was doing this for me, to make me Headmistress – and here I sit! That's never what we were about! I can't let it go on, if this is what could happen!"
To say this was a sensitive subject with her was an understatement. It was something she was dreading having to do and she really didn't need him bringing it all up again now.
"Besides, I'd have thought you'd be happy at my decision" she said in a tone of forced civility "Those in charge separating their work from their emotional attachments and all that..."
"Only when it interferes with their work – this is completely different!" Nida pressed, unwilling to give ground just yet, it seemed. "They love you and if you love them, then you won't..."
"Nida, stop right there; I'm warning you!!!" she shouted, glaring fiercely at him. "I don't want to talk about this anymore, okay? The decision has been made and I'll thank you to leave it at that!"
With that, she returned her attention to the work in front of her, pointedly ignoring him. This was none of his business, she fumed silently. Who did he think he was to tell her how she felt about her Trepies and what was best for them?!
After a moment or two, he sighed heavily and pushing up, made for the door. He paused on the threshold however.
"You know Quis, I'm a fair pilot; I've got a decent grasp of most GFs and spells too. I'm not so hot in a fight, but all in all... I'm a good SEED, if I say so myself" he said, looking out the door, not making eye contact.
"The fact is though, I'm not a star. Some of the things you, Xu, Squall and the others when they were here could do... Lead people, give them hope, tackle the really big problems... I'll never be able to do any of that" he said, philosophically.
Quistis didn't know what to say – she'd never heard Nida talk like this before. In the dim light, with shadows from the corridor falling across his face, he seemed older to her somehow.
"This has been one of the worst days of my life and given what we've been through around here, that's saying something" he continued in a hollow voice. "I know you feel like you can't handle the pressure and you worry you're not good enough... but no-one who knows you thinks that - you saved us from Ultimecia!"
Looking over at her, he met her gaze, eyes burning with an inner resolve. "I'm sorry you've been saddled with this Quis, but we really need some of that magic from you, right now... Xuse needs it. So you're going to have to get used to me calling you Ma'am, because you're the boss now."
She stood up, still not knowing what she could say to all this. She'd done her part but if she was honest, it was Squall who did most of...
"We all need you at your best, is what I'm saying. And I just don't see how it's going to help Xuse or any of us, if we start pushing our friends and the people who love us away."
Seeing she was lost for words (extremely embarrassing given the praise that was being heaped on her), he turned away to face the corridor again.
"That's all I'm going to say on the subject... I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Ma'am."
Stunned by his words, she stood dumbly behind the table, rooted to the spot for what seemed like hours after he left. The idea of her being some kind of hero... And of course she wanted to keep her Trepies, but this decision couldn't just be based on what she wanted, or felt she needed.
Because even if she could rationalise this as the actions of one deluded ex-member; Fujin's outburst had shown that people expected action against the Trepies over this. For one thing, the Garden's investors would almost certainly take this opportunity to lobby for an end to the Trepies. Xu had had to defend them more than once from their new investors (outside funding had become unfortunately necessary after NORG's rebellion).
They had never been happy with the Trepies, saying it put out an uncertain image that 'may be misconstrued' etc etc. They needed as much resources as they could lay their hands on right now – they couldn't afford to be messing around with these people. But then there was... ah, what was she doing?!
Cursing herself for all this pointless second guessing, she tidied up her notes irritably and left the room. She had gone through all this earlier and come to the right decision. If she started going over it all again, she'd drive herself crazy. The best thing was just to go and get some sleep; not give herself the chance to change her mind again.
Walking through the halls, trying not to think about the heartbreaking task that awaited her in the morning, she was struck by the feeling of sadness in the air. At this hour, the corridors were usually people by people chatting before bedtime, couples returning from their dates... but the only people here tonight were security staff conducting their patrols.
Stopping by the railing and setting her case down, she smiled as she remembered the outpouring of sheer joy when she had announced to her Trepies that she was returning to the Garden full time. She'd been so overwhelmed that they'd waited; that they still cared.
She giggled happily as she recalled the time they woke half the garden, singing happy birthday to her from the foyer as she passed by here on her morning stroll... She knew she shouldn't be thinking like this – it was just making things harder. But she couldn't help how she felt about them - her Trepies always found new ways to lift her spirits, help her cope with anyth...
"Don't give me that, you little bitch!!!"
Jaw dropping open, Quistis looked about in alarm, before realising the voice was coming from below her on the ground floor. Hearing further raised and a loud SLAP, she leaned over the railing in time to see Marcie racing in the direction of the dorms, away from Jeanette who was on her knees and visibly distraught. Clutching at her cheek, she was calling pitifully after the retreating figure.
"Marcie, come back, please! It's not what you think – I didn't... Marc', he's just my friend, I swear!"
Quistis was shocked - Marcie was one of the quietest, nicest people you could ever hope to meet. The idea of her using such language or striking someone (especially Jeanette whom she adored), was ludicrous. Seeing Jeanette bent over in abject misery however, she felt her maternal instincts come to the fore.
"Jenny?" she called down with concern.
Hearing her, Jeanette looked up but rather than taking on its usual look of delight, her face darkened.
"What do you want - have you come to give me even more bad news?!" she shouted bitterly. "Because that's what I could really do with! Make it a perfect day..."
Leaping to her feet as she said this, she turned and raced off towards the arboretum, sobbing loudly. Quistis sighed heavily, feeling an awful weight pressing against her chest. She didn't like it when they fought, when any of her Trepies fought. It was only to be expected though – Jeanette was the only member she had told, ahead of what would be their final meeting tomorrow.
Still, she thought defiantly; even if it did have to be done, that was tomorrow. Tonight, Jenny was still one of her Trepies and she was in pain. Her mind made up, she hurried down one of the cleared out stairs to the ground floor and ran quickly down the path to the arboretum.
The scent of flowers and greenery of all kinds washed over her as she entered: a pleasant change from the smell of smoke, gunpowder and dust particles. The lush overgrowth of the entrance clearing glowed softly around her, in a ghostly white light from the overhead lamps.
One of the many changes Xuse had made since becoming Headmistress had been to convert this area from a training ground, into a proper beauty spot. It was so calm and still here. The ripples of the nearby water, the wind from the concealed fans that rustled the leaves gently...
"Jenny? Honey, come out... Please, I want to talk to you! Jen!"
Nothing - she must be hiding somewhere. Standing here drinking in this peaceful ambience was all well and good, but she'd have to move in further if she wanted to track her down. Approaching one of the paths however, she hesitated.
If she went further in, she'd eventually come out... there - the picnic spot. That was somewhere she had avoided for a long time now, since Squall... since he'd rejected her advances there.
"Oh Jenny, come on! You know..." (She was calling out, but in a distinctly lower tone now) "You know how I feel about this place. Don't make me... Jenny!"
Still nothing... Well, there was nothing for it then. Steeling herself, she marched boldly in; keeping a sharp lookout for her errant student and trying not to think about what lay ahead. As she made her way forward through, pushing aside stray branches and the like, she couldn't help but roll her mind back over the terrible day that had just been.
Jenny and Marcie's fight was typical of the fallout that Xuse's abduction had caused throughout the Garden. Everyone was tense and upset, arguing over nothing... And when people were scared, they sometimes became harder, crueller than before. She'd been busy all day of course, but she'd heard the rumours about Jenny and Raijin.
It was nonsense of course: Jeanette was a passionate, loving creature – she 'loved' everyone in a way, but her feelings for Marcie were an open secret (and besides, Jenny always told her everything). At least she had before this... Before today, she could have counted the number of times she had exchanged truly harsh words with any of her Trepies on the fingers of one hand. Perhaps Nida was right... this situation wasn't good for anyone.
'Focus' she reminded herself crossly.' Stop trying to find a way to keep the Trepies together and do your job!' She'd just have to make an announcement tomorrow, reassure everyone that she was on top of everything... even if it was a lie. A lie...
The pressure of all that had happened suddenly seemed to drop upon her, almost knocking her to the ground. Feeling faint and slightly nauseous, she reached out to steady herself... and saw she had wandered right into the picnic area. Here again... alone again...
Desperately, she tried to reach the bench, but her strength failed her and she collapsed down against the wall, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. Filled with bitterness and despairing rage, she tried to call out again but could find no strength to do so. She was alone again, separated from those she loved. They were all counting on her... and she had no idea what to do!
Why did it always have to be this way – why did life always have to be this hard? she pondered bitterly. The last few months had been so good, but now she was once more stuck in the position of having to be strong, of needing to push her feelings aside and suffer in silence.
And again, as usual, it seemed utterly indecent for her to even be having such thoughts. Xu was the one in danger after all – what was her pain compared to that? But this is how it always was - there was always someone else who deserved sympathy more. Rinoa's coma, the attack on Trabia Garden, Xu's abduction... And meanwhile, she was left to slowly fall unnoticed between the cracks.
What made it worse was this time, she had really thought she'd found herself. When she had embarked on her journey with Squall and the others, she had intended it to be a kind of voyage of self discovery. It had not been an easy trip – she had seen the man she loved fall for someone else, found a group she shared a common past with, only to find she still felt alone; that however much she liked them, she was separate from them...
But it had been worth it in the end. Separated for long periods from the Garden and its inhabitants and regularly faced with the gravest peril, she had found that she missed her life here, more than anything else. It was during Seifer's siege that she had finally accepted that there were people here who cared about her and who she needed and loved more than she had realised. And it had made her feel so ashamed of how she had left them all behind.
It had been a hard thing to admit that a part of her had wanted to be rid of the 'single woman with children' image; that she had in some way blamed them for Squall's lack of interest in her. But coming back here to them and to Xuse... she had finally felt at peace with herself. And now she was losing them all over again...
Did people think this was easy for her?! That this was what she wanted?! She longed for Xu to be back home and safe, but she needed her family too. She cast about for Jeanette again – how could any of her Trepies doubt how much they meant to her? If only they could stay together... But it was never that simple, not for her.
Even if the backers could be convinced, Fujin blamed the Trepies for what had happened. If she didn't disband them, it was likely Fujin would leave to try and find Xu on her own. On their own (she'd almost certainly take Raijin with her), they would be more vulnerable and would likely be targeted by whoever this group were. How could she allow that, knowing how devastated Xuse would be if anything happened to Fujin? It would be the height of selfishness on her part.
And yet, could she deny that her desire to see Fujin and Xu reunited was not selfish also, she considered miserably, slumping against the wall. Right from the first time Xuse had confided her love for Fujin, she had been desperate to see them happily together. Because when Xuse had caused her to really consider Fujin, she had realised that she was very much like her. Outsiders, broken inside, wanting love but seldom receiving it...
Her journey had helped her to understand that there was someone waiting for even the most desperately lonely and broken people. Squall had found Rinoa, Irvine had found Selphie... So she'd thought that if she could just get Fujin together with Xuse, it would go a long way to convincing herself that one day, there might just be someone for her too.
It was a choice that no-one should have to make, made harder by Jeanette's reaction. Her Trepies would see only that she was abandoning them... again. But equally she couldn't let Fujin put herself in danger, as Xuse was counting on her to keep her lover safe, until she returned.
In anguish, she ran her hands through her hair and over her face, tucking up into a ball, shaking her head slowly with the hopelessness and complexity of it all. What on earth was she going to do?! And this was only the start... everyone needed reassuring, the Garden needed repairs, the investigation needed supervising, not to mention the need to keep an eye on the political situation...
Angrily, she slammed her fist on the ground, on the wall, into her head, trying to relieve the pressure that was closing about her like a vice. It wasn't fair! Why did she have to do this alone... why did people always reject her and abandon her? When it was going to be her turn?! What did Rinoa have that...
"Miss... Miss Trepe?"
Scrambling to her feet at this sudden disturbance, she saw that Jeanette was standing near the entrance to the picnic area, half hidden in the shadow of a tree. She was trembling and was evidently only seconds away from further tears. Nevertheless, Quistis felt her heart lift to see her. She wiped her own tears away and opened her arms out hopefully.
Only the wall prevented them both from tumbling back down the slope and into the lake, as Jeanette flew forward into her embrace. Sobbing with quiet relief to have her back, both in a physical and emotional sense, Quistis rocked her slowly in a loving, motherly embrace.
"What are we going to do, Miss Trepe?" Jeanette sniffed miserably, clinging to her for all she was worth. "Everything's going wrong... we're losing everything!"
Quistis kissed her lightly on the head and shushed her. "Don't worry... don't worry. We'll think of something... we always do..."
Lost in the temporary respite they had found, they found themselves unable to leave this sanctuary, resting against the wall instead. With her head in Quistis' lap and her coat thrown over her, Jeanette soon fell asleep, worn out from the day's exertions.
Quistis however remained awake, peacefully stroking her hair and wondering anew at how calm everything was here. The grip of the awful memories seemed suddenly exorcised by Jeanette's comforting presence. She knew now what she must do, come the morning.
And come it eventually did, so leaving the arboretum bathed in bright shafts of sunlight, they proceeded to the designated classroom to await the rest of the Trepies. Having explained her intentions carefully to Jeanette, her charge wore an expression of determination, resolved to back her up in the meeting ahead.
On time as always, the members filed in quietly, each wearing sorrowful expressions; they had evidently guessed what the meeting was to be about. Solemnly, they took their places and stood, arms behind their backs, trying as one to put a brave face on their despair. Marcie was present of course, taking her place at Jeanette's table, but refusing to look at her.
Feeling her heart ache terribly to see them all so scared and miserable, Quistis resolved to make this as quick as possible.
"Please be seated" she said aloud, her voice choking up somewhat.
Nobody moved a muscle. There was a crackle of passionate energy in the air; she believed the term 'not a dry eye in the house' would soon become appropriate.
"Please... Miss Trepe..." Cassandra spoke out suddenly.
"Don't ask us to leave you, Miss Trepe!" Marshall added, when it became evident Cassie was too upset to form the words herself.
Looking over at each other, they nodded and so too did everyone else. The air was filled with entreaties, pledges of support... she felt her legs weakening, her eyes stinging. Desperately, she glanced over at Jeanette, who nodded and stood up to face the class.
"That's enough, all of you!" Jeanette ordered in a crisp, loud voice. "This is an official meeting of the Trepies and Miss Trepe has requested you all take your seats!"
The din died down immediately and despite a few mutinous looks in Jeanette's direction (except from Marcie who looked enraptured, but who quickly looked away when Jeanette turned to look in her direction), the students all drew out their chairs and were seated.
Though they often glanced down at their desks or otherwise away to try and hide their sadness, all present tried to focus on Quistis with supportive gazes. Satisfied, Jeanette returned to her seat and after a final check (her gaze lingering on Marcie), she nodded that they were ready.
Beaming with touched pride, Quistis felt droplets spatter across her hands, held on the desk in front of her. Urging herself on however, she cleared her throat. As one, the class bated its breath, fearing what she would say next.
"As you know, a terrible incident occurred yesterday; one which our group... our family had the misfortune to be involved with."
A cry suddenly went up from Cassandra and she leapt up, rushing over to the front. Quistis looked up in alarm, but Cassandra wasn't facing her. Before she could rise to see what was going on, the rest of the class had followed Cassandra, hastening to stand by her, forming a wall between her and the door, facing away. What...?
Standing up, her eyes widened as she saw what they were staring at. The door had opened and Fujin was standing in the doorway, a look of sheer determination on her face. Presumably she had come to make sure they disbanded.
Her Trepies were unfazed however, silently linking arms and hands. Jeanette and Marcie took up position directly in front of her and after a moment's hesitation, grasped each other's hands.
'I have to tell them to stop this' she thought frantically, imagining dozens of scenarios which all ended in disaster. Pushing her way gently but firmly through her protesting students, she faced Xu's volatile lover.
This would not be easy – Fujin was an extremely awkward person at the best of times. Delighted as she was that Xuse had found someone she truly loved, her friend couldn't really have picked a more difficult person for her to have to try and get along with. Her furious tirade at Quistis' handling of the current situation; had shown that their relations had progressed little since the days they were actively trying to bash each other's heads in, during the previous year.
Before yesterday however, her antagonism had never been particularly personal. Quistis had always taken a degree of comfort in knowing that though she was separate from those around her in many uncomfortable ways, she was the same in one regard. Namely that she was one of the many, many people in this world who Fujin barely acknowledged as existing at all.
Now though, it was a different story…
However, before Fujin could deliver one of her trademark clipped rebukes, Jeanette suddenly called out to her from behind them.
"Fujin, please don't do this to us! You told me you understood; how can you do this?! Do you think we don't care about the Headmistress? Of course we do, but..."
Quistis held up her hand quickly to cut her off, before Fujin could reply to her outburst. She motioned to Jeanette to calm down, silently imploring them all not to make any hasty moves, before finally turning back.
"Before you say anything Fujin, could I just say something to you first?" she asked, in what she hoped was a level and civil tone under the circumstances. Fujin's only response was to nod slightly, her expression giving nothing away.
"Very well then" she began, taking a deep breath. "Xuse means a great deal to me as you know; we've been best friends since the day we met. Having her taken like this hurts more than I can bear, but I know it must be a hundred times worse for you..."
Fujin nodded again slightly, swallowing uncomfortably and shifting awkwardly. Quistis noticed she was stepping a little gingerly on her left leg - it had evidently not healed properly yet. That alone proved she must be here with some definate purpose.
"Please believe me when I say that I will do whatever it takes to find her and get her home safely to you" she went on, trying to tune out the tension in the room and focus on the one thing they (sort of) had in common – their love for Xuse.
"Fujin, I know you hold Galen responsible for what happened, and I am truly sorry for what he did" (The tension in the room deepened to an almost tactile sensation). "But I implore you not to tar me or my family here with the same brush as one deluded individual."
She looked back at her students and smiled, her spirits soaring to see their astonished looks of relief and joy. Preparing herself for the consequences, she turned back to Fujin.
"I can't disband the Trepies, not even for this – they're my family and I love them. I think you know how important it is to have someone to care about you... I beg you not to take mine" she concluded, moving back to stand with her students, having said her piece. Brace for impact...
In reply, her face set impassively; Fujin stepped forward towards them...