Disclaimer: What horrible, ghastly individual came up with the concept of disclaimers. They are nothing but mere humiliating reminders that I am nothing but a poor fan that owns nothing but the pepsi can before me!

Author's Notes- First off. I apologize for this chapter taking so long to come out. I had everything written and complete a week or so ago, but it still needed one little scene between Fujin and Zell. Between me water sanding and painting my car, I was too exhausted to think, so it took me a week to write a three, four paragraph little bit. Also, my husband is coming in for his two week leave next week. So no one is going to hear from me for a while. Hopefully I'll be able to get the next chapter out before then. If not, it'll be a little while. Sorry everyone.

Roarke Stratton- Yeah I figured you'd like Ross being tortured...have I told you lately that you're twisted?

JadeAlmasy- I'm glad you like this version better.

Rune- Thanks for the review.

Dollet

"Man its so boring here ya know," Raijin complained as he lay on the floor, his feet kicked up on one of their room's two beds.

"Tell me about it," Zell grumbled as he continued to spin in the desk chair by the window.

"I figured you and Fuu would go somewhere ya know. I mean this is Dollet ya know. The city of the arts and to some, the city of love."

"Psh."

"What?" Raijin asked as he rolled over onto his stomach and held his head. "I happen to like art ya know." Zell grabbed onto the desk to stop himself from spinning and nearly tumbled out of the chair. "Thanks, your spinnin' was makin' me sick ya know."

Zell slumped in the chair and crossed his arms. "Fujin's avoiding me." Raijin raised an eyebrow.

"What'd you do?"

Zell shrugged. "I don't know. I'll just be glad when Garden gets here so we can be done with this mission."

"Our mission's already technically over ya know. It ended when we stepped off the train. So Fujin's not talkin' to ya...you must've done somethin' wrong ya know."

"I don't know," Zell said as he hopped out of his seat and pulled his uniform jacket off. "I'm going for a walk." Raijin watched as he pulled their door open and left the hotel room.

The smell of salt laced the evening breeze. Xu sat up on a brick wall and watched the waves wash up on the empty beach below. Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath of ocean air and exhaled slowly. She would be okay; she hadn't entirely plundered her mission. "Where are you off too?" She spoke as Zell walked past her. He jumped at her voice and then approached her slowly.

"I dunno," He shrugged. "Just getting some fresh air." She watched as he leaned on the wall's short ledge and stared down at the beach.

"Me too," She replied as she closed her eyes. "So how's your head?"

"Better," He answered. "Still a little sore though."

"That's good." After a pause she spoke again. "I have to say, this is my favorite city to visit."

"Why's that?" Zell asked as he watched the waves rise and fall on the shore.

"Look around. The whole city is just full of history. I mean half of the buildings are a few centuries old and the streets are hand formed with cobblestone. The city has a rich heritage and the people here seem determined to preserve as much of it as possible. There's not many places like it left in the world."

"This is where I made SeeD," Zell grinned. "I remember Squall, Selphie and I were all chased clear across the western end of town and back down onto this beach. That was one scary robotic spider. I never told anyone but we passed like, within a block of my aunt's house. I was so afraid she would come out with a frying pan and try and defend me or something. That would've been so embarassing." Xu chuckled at the thought and watched as Zell stared out at the beach. He was silent for only a moment as he debated saying anything else. Finally giving in, he turned to her and started talking. "I like Dollet too. It's the home of the oldest Arts and Literature Academy in the western hemisphere. The cobblestone roads take on average, about three years to put down because of the tedious manual steps involved in it. Also, the century old buildings aren't all as old as they look. There was a fire that swept through the eastern half of the city and destroyed nearly everything about forty years ago. The locals chose to replace the damaged buildings with those of antiqued design because of the tourists that come here...that and they didn't want the city to loose its identity to more modern buildings and designs."

Xu raised an eyebrow. "Wow. I'm impressed."

"Yup," Zell grinned. "Like I said earlier,my aunt lives here. Her husband used to put down the streets. I made the mistake of asking why he didn't just use cement and save himself some time. For the record, don't ever say that to a Dolletian. They get pretty critical," Zell laughed. "The streets here are an art."

Xu looked at the road behind them and then at the city's night time skyline. "The oldest Arts and Literature Academy eh? I bet it's haunted," She nudged Zell with her shoulder.

"Let's not talk like that okay," Zell looked around.

"Are you afraid of ghosts?" She smiled.

"Yes, no, I don't know. I just know that this town has its really creepy places and one of those places happens to be our hotel. We can exchange ghost stories after we've had a good night's sleep."

"Aha!" Xu turned to him quickly. "You are afraid."

"Excuse me," A girl spoke as she climbed up the stairs leading into the main city. They both turned to see a raven headed girl, no older than twelve, climbing the stairs with a sketchbook under one arm and a pair of sandy boots under the other. "He has every reason to be afraid. The Academy and entire east side is haunted." Zell looked the other way in an effort to block her out. "Being afraid isn't that big of a deal. Most foreigners are. Sharing this world with the spirits of the dead isn't something they're used to." She paused her story when Zell shuddered. With a grin she continued. "Forty-two years ago this fire spread throughout the east end of town. It was started when some cook or baker fell asleep while their furnace was on. He and his wife had been sick, and to make up for it he was working late into the night, trying to prepare for the next morning. The small shop caught fire, and seeing how the region was suffering through a drought, it was only a matter of minutes before the neighboring building caught fire, and then the next and the next...By the time morning came, parts of the eastern side still burned, but for the most part it was nothing but ash. Thousands of people lost their lives that night. The fire engulfed Dollet's East Gate Penitentiary, two orphanages, Eastbrook Medical Complex and an off campus neighborhood of dorms for one of the colleges. The loss of life that night was utterly devastating." Finally deciding to stop picking on Zell she changed the subject. "You two are SeeDs aren't you. I can tell," She said as she climbed up on the ledge next to Xu.

Xu grinned as she watched the girl drop her pad and boots on the ground.

"So are you two on some sort of mission?" She asked.

"Nah," Zell answered.

"Classified," Xu answered just after he did. Xu shot him an annoyed look.

"We're not here on a mission," He defended himself. "We're stuck here watching the waves." The girl looked out at the water and then back at him.

"You know the waves here inspire a lot of people. For the artists the ocean is their influence. For the common workers it's a place to relax and play. For those that don't fit in...it's a way to get out."

Zell and Xu looked at her uncertainly. "A way to get out?" Xu asked.

"Yeah," She answered. "My mother and brother never got along well. He used to come down to these beaches to get away from her and clear his mind. I used to think that she just didn't like him because he wasn't her child...now I realize she doesn't really seem to like anybody. I'm not one to sit down and talk about my problems with people. But considering I'll more than likely never see either of you ever again...it can't hurt to talk just this once. She sent my brother off on a boat for Balamb. When we get into fights, I almost always end up down here, just waiting for the day when she'll do the same to me too." Xu and Zell watched as she hopped off the wall and pulled her boots on. "He was sent to Balamb Garden. When he turns eighteen, here in the next few weeks, he says he's going to get custody of me and bring me to Garden with him."

"So you're brother is a SeeD?" Zell asked.

"Yeah. His name is Nida Roe. Know him?"

"I work on the bridge with him," Xu answered, suddenly very interested in their conversation. "He's a very good friend of mine."

"Really? How's he doing?"

"He seems to be doing alright," Xu answered. "Quiet as always though."

"That's good," She smiled. "I probably need to get home. Could you tell him Amira said hi?"

"Sure," Xu said. Amira smiled as she picked up her sketch pad.

"Oh and Zell...I mean you are Zell Dincht right?" He nodded. "Is your Ma okay? I saw her and her sister leaving the doctor's office."

"What! Are you sure it was her?" He exclaimed as he took a step back. "Wait, how do you know her?"

"She's Rachel's sister right? The one that lives in the brown cottage on the corner?"

Zell nodded as he looked in the direction of the house. "I need to go," He said apologetically to both Xu and Amira and then ran back to his hotel room. Upon re-entering the tiny room, he dug through his jacket for his phone and flipped it open. The door to his room slowly shut, causing him to jump in fright. A smile spread across his face when he realized that it was Fujin, and not a ghost, that had made the noise.

"TALK," She said.

Zell looked around at the empty room. "Where's Raijin?"

"OUT."

Zell looked down at his phone guiltily. "I'm sorry Fuu but I really need to go. I promise it's important."

"NEGATIVE," She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Fuu," He protested. She stared at him for a moment in disbelief and then spun on her heel and started to walk away. Zell rushed forward and caught her arm. Fujin turned to face him, her eyes now holding a glossy shine. "Fuu I'm sorry," He apologized as he let his hands fall to his side. "I just heard that Ma visited a doctor while she was here and I wanted to go check on her," He let his phone drop to the bed. "I guess if it was serious she would've called...Come on," He tugged at her arm and sat down on the bed. She casually tossed his phone to the bed across from them and then sat down beside him. "So what did you want to talk about?"

She opened her mouth to speak and then stopped. After composing herself, she continued. "We failed our mission," She whispered.

"We were supposed to protect the train and its cargo. We didn't-"

"NO!" She jumped to her feet. "By letting them get away we failed!"

"No we didn't Fujin," Zell grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her close to him. "We didn't go above and beyond by capturing them...but we did stop them."

"But we could've," She whispered. "...If I'd actually fought." Zell looked at her curiously.

"What do you mean?" We were all up there on the train today.

"I got up there and got scared. I could barely walk across those train cars."

He sighed. "The first mission I went on as a SeeD I had to train hop...it was actually a lot like what happened today. Only difference was, it was Squall that led the team from car to car, and it was me who was scared. You'll get used to it...its kind of like being on a boat. You just have to get used to moving on the rocking surface," He explained as he coaxed her into sitting next to him. "It's alright Fuu."

"No it's not. It's my job to do this."

"Well yeah...but until you've done something at least once...you can't honestly expect to excel at it." Fujin sighed and stared at the wall across the room. "Don't worry about it," He said as he put his arm over her shoulders and pulled her to him. "We'll get em next time."

Fujin's expression darkened at his comment.

"Is something else wrong?" He asked.

"NEGATIVE."

"You sure? Nothing else is bothering you?" Zell said as he tried to turn her to face him. "I heard you yell Dak's name..."

"Its not who you're thinking," She turned to face him and shrugged. "I was mistaken."

"Oh," He let his hands fall from her shoulders. Running her hands along his arms, she slowly and hesitantly laid her head on his shoulder. Zell watched her pale fingers drift across chest before coming to rest at the base of his neck. She tilted her head to look up at him. Their eyes locked as she continued running her finger up along his adam's apple and then back along his jaw line. He continued staring into her eyes. She was amazed at the deep stormy blue his normally bright cerulean eyes had shifted to. In a trance, he placed a hand along the side of her face and gently brushed her hair back behind her ear. Her finger made its way to the tip of his nose and she began laughing. "What?" He asked.

"You have a cute nose," She continued laughing as she let her hand fall to her lap and leaned up and kissed him. When he didn't return the kiss she pulled back and looked at him. The hurt and concern was evident in her eyes but all Zell could do was look away guiltily. "Zell?"

"I'm sorry," He shook his head and stood up. Fujin watched him wordlessly as he paced the length of the room. "It's just..." Zell covered his mouth, not really wanting to continue his sentence. Still sitting on the bed, Fujin quirked an eyebrow. "It's just that the fourth guy we were fighting today...looked a lot like me. And I'm not talking about us having similar features. I'm talking about him looking like my twin or something. Freaked me out a little bit."

"...Just like you?" She asked as she reached out and grabbed his hand. He nodded as he let her pull him closer.

"It was really creepy because it was like he was expecting me or something."

Fujin grinned as she pulled him down beside her. "We'll figure out who this guy is once we get back to base and have Garden's resources at our disposal. Until then," She pulled her jacket and patch off. "Let's sleep."

With a smile, Zell kicked off his boots and quickly crawled over to lie next to her. "Love you Fuu," He whispered as he draped an arm over her waist.

"Love you too."

A dense fog was still lingering through the city streets when they set out for his Aunt Rachel's house at six the next morning. They walked the first few blocks silently as they listened to the sound of the waking city around them. He gave her a glance out of the corner of his eye and then looked away whenever she looked over at him. Fujin stared at him suspiciously before she turned her attention back to the invisible ocean on the horizon. Noticing she was distracted by the sounds of rolling waves hidden below the early morning fog, he stole yet another look. She turned to look over at him at the same instant. Both looked away quickly and began laughing.

"You look really nice like that," Zell confessed. Fujin nodded as she brushed a strand of platinum hair behind her ear. Noticing the slight blush crossing her cheeks he encouraged the situation. "Yup, that's a cute outfit. You should wear pink more often." She shot him an unsure look. "What?" He smiled as she rolled her eyes and leaned against him as they walked. He put his arm around her waist as she rubbed the wrinkles out of the pink material of her shirt. "Pretty in pink," He said quietly as they rounded the corner and stopped in front of a little brown house.

"BIASED," Fujin stated. Zell shrugged and then removed his arm so he could unlatch the gate and push it open for her.

Zell grinned, took her hand and led her up the stone sidewalk. Fujin stared at the green plants that covered most of the small corner lot. "Ya know it's early when you're up before the morning glories have bloomed." Turning back around, they were surprised to find the front door already opened.

"Mornin'," A voice called from inside. A broad smile came over Zell's face.

"Hey man! It's been forever!" Zell cried out as he bounded up the front steps and into the doorway. Fujin slowly followed and stopped just outside the door. Wrapping her arms loosely around herself she watched as the two bounced around in excitement and then hugged. "Oh hey, I want you to meet my girlfriend. Come on in Fuu," Zell reached out to her and motioned for her to come in. Hesitantly she stepped inside and looked around. Her eyes came to rest on a man not a few years older than Zell who held a crooked grin and curious eyes.

"I'm Raab," He held out his hand to her. She took it politely and then stepped back to Zell's side. He laughed whole heartedly at her action as he slapped Zell on the back. "I be Zell's cousin. Don't worry, I promise I wont bite." Turning his attention to Zell he continued. "So what brings you to Dollet? You haven't visited in years."

"Well," Zell pulled out his billfold as he sat down. Fujin slowly sat next to him as she looked over the shelf ladened walls and carvings in the rafters. "I found this picture," He said as he handed it to Raab. "I've never seen it before. Is Ma here? I was hoping to catch her before she left for..."

"Lex," Raab's recognition of the boy in the photo caught Zell off guard.

"You know who that is?" Zell exclaimed.

"You don't?" Raab's voice took on a serious tone.

"No."

"Then maybe you should show this to your Ma and not me. This is something you two should talk about."

"Wait!" Zell stood up as Raab did. "You know who this is so tell me! Ma may not give me a straight answer."

"Alright alright. Keep it down," Raab said as he pulled two books from one of the shelves. "Okay. Let's see what we have here." Zell waited impatiently while Raab flipped through the photo albums. He paused on a page covered in baby pictures, most of which were taken in the bath tub.

"I didn't come to see your baby pictures man," Zell pushed Raab playfully.

"Who said they were mine?" Raab raised an eyebrow and then cleared his throat. "Seriously though, these pictures are of Lex Dincht. He was...um...Aunt Mirenne's only surviving child." Zell turned to face his cousin slowly.

"What do you mean by only?"

Shifting in his seat uncomfortably Raab answered, "Your Ma miscarried twice before Lex was born...You do know that you're adopted right?" Zell nodded numbly. "So at least your Ma told you that much."

"Nah, I found out from someone else," Zell corrected him.

"Oh," There was a pause. The staircase behind them creaked, causing them all to turn around.

"Raab! Why didn't you tell me we had company? I could've fixed a little something to eat or at least something to drink," She continued as she came down the stairs. "Why haven't you offered them something to eat or drink? You know better."

"Sorry Ma," Raab laughed off her unexpected outburst.

"Zell is that you?" She smiled. "Oh my, and you've brought a lovely young lady with you," She raised her voice a little louder.

"Aunt Rachel," Zell smiled while trying not to show his embarrassment.

"Mirenne come down here," Rachel called out as she hurried down the steps and into the kitchen.

"Ma?" Zell stood up and walked over to the base of the stairway. Alone on the couch with Raab, Fujin lifted the album up off the table and slowly flipped through its pages. She paused at what were obviously pictures of a much younger Zell. "Hey Ma," Zell said as she reached the bottom step.

"I don't believe I've ever seen you up this early. You're not up to something are you?" She asked with a smile.

"Nah not really," He answered as he scratched the back of his head. "I did want to talk to ya."

Ma Dincht froze and looked him over skeptically. "Are you in some kind of trouble? If you've gone and done something irresponsible or irrational-" She let the accusation die on her lips as she looked over at Fujin.

"What! No it's not anything like that! "He quickly corrected her. She looked him over in an attempt to decide whether or not he was telling the truth.

"So you're not in trouble but yet you come all the way to Dollet to see your ol' Ma...Zell I know you're up to something so lets hear it." She sat down on the other side of Raab and watched as Zell found a seat in the chair opposite of her.

Slightly perturbed, he picked up the picture he'd shown Raab and thrust it in her direction. "Who is this Ma?" She paled at the picture as she took it from him and ran her fingers across it. There was an uncomfortable silence and Raab was quick stand up and excuse himself. Fujin continued flipping through the pages of the photo album while trying not to seem nosy.

"This..." Ma's voice dropped uncharacteristically low. "This is Lex. I had him a few years before you came along," Her words started coming slowly. "Your Pa and I lived here in Dollet then. Lex was very special to me. He was the first child I didn't miscarry."

"You had other children?" Zell asked.

Ma hesitated for a moment. "What do you think you are Dear?" She said with a slight chuckle. On the other side of the couch, Fujin watched Zell's eyes. She could tell he was getting upset.

"I think I'm adopted," He answered. Caught totally off guard, she stared at him in shock. "Why wouldn't you tell me Ma?"

Still clutching the picture, she rubbed her hands over her face. "Lex died at the age of four. He had accompanied your father up to the communications tower. Your Pa was giving an estimate on some repairs needed due to storm damage. Lex wandered off while he was getting some measurements and apparently slid down one of the steep embankments. He suffered from a lot of head injuries and died a few days later in the hospital." She quit talking as she fingered the picture some more. "I was told after he was born that I wouldn't be able to have anymore children. He was so precious to me...your father never forgave himself for it either. We moved to Balamb because Dollet held too many memories. On this one job down in Centra, your father was investigating some mineral deposits when he noticed an old decrepit lighthouse. Being a true Dolletian, he couldn't resist the opportunity to check it out." She paused. "It was from the top floor of the lighthouse that he noticed a small orphanage down the shore. Once again his curiosity got the better of him because he had to find out why someone would choose such a remote location for such a facility."

"I received a call that afternoon from him. He said he'd found a preschool aged little boy that we just had to have. At the time I was still upset over Lex's death and I didn't really care. It wasn't after he told me about your history that I had to have you. He said that you were removed from your household during some type of crime/drug raid, and that your name was Audley." Fujin looked up at her for the first time that morning. "I guess it was my protective nature that told Kyp to bring you home...it was beyond me how someone could put a child in that situation. I was beyond disgusted. I never even asked to see a file on your parents; I didn't want to get to know them."

"My last name was Audley?" Zell asked. Ma nodded.

"I just never told you because part of me was afraid that when you were older you'd leave me to go find them." Fujin was beginning to grow uncomfortable as she watched Zell's eyes start to tear up.

Zell fidgeted in his seat. "I'm not going anywhere," He said softly. Ma smiled as Zell moved over to the seat next to her and gave her a hug. Fujin watched the scene beside her with a faint smile until she turned the album to its next page. Her eyes fell to newspaper article. The same one she'd found back at Zell's house in Balamb.

"I have an idea. Are you two hungry?" Ma asked them as she rose. Fujin quickly shut the book and watched as Zell hopped around in excitement.

"Heck yeah!" He shouted. "I always have room for more food!"

"If you're going to be with him I sure hope you can cook," Ma shot Fujin an amused look and Fujin just shrugged and smiled in response.