Author's Note: Alright, I realize this is far too short and probably boring considering the time I spent to get it here. More to come soon with interactions between Selphie and Seifer. Can't think of much more to say, besides the fact that I think I interpret Selphie to be extremely observant, if not analytical, despite her spacey moments. I think of her as an observe/react type of person, rather than one who picks things apart intro- and retrospectively. This will probably get her into trouble later. Just saying…

Thank you to my early reviewers. I'll try to make this worthy.

The winding wooden streets of Fisherman's Horizon groaned and rose and fell. I rushed toward the docks, losing my orientation as all the paths seemed to curve out to the sea, becoming piers, ports, and jetties with subtle transitions. The whole place, except the park outside, was brown. Ugh! All wood and rot and rust. My feet skidded to a halt as I nearly plummeted off a rickety wooden platform. I looked around, trying to superimpose the sights around me into my memory of the waterlogged man at the docks. He must have been south of here and higher, because I couldn't remember being able to see mayor Dobe's house.

Backtracking into the mercantile, I found urchins and fishmongers and far too many people. It was too loud to listen even for the distinctive bellow of the man I was almost sure was Raijin. I hopped, skipped and jumped my way to the flat, board-topped restaurant at the end of the main street. From that view I could make out the pier from earlier, but no former disciplinary committee...

There! It was definitely Raijin, and Fujin was next to him, waving her arms wildly. They were coming down one of the upper branching paths to the throng in the marketplace. I clambered down the back of the building to cut them off. I had little trouble once on the ground navigating the pulsing throng of people. Darting between bodies and shoving others aside I listened to the many conversations taking place, especially keeping an ear open for any "ya knows" or "IDIOTs."

The merchants were really playing up the possibility of invasion. Particularly those who imported their goods, citing probable embargoes. I rolled my eyes. FH had plenty of military value, being the keystone to the only path by land that connects Esthar to Galbadia, but presently there was no reason to hold it. Esthar was now good at sharing with the rest of the world; there was no need to take from them.

I eavesdropped on a conversation between two fishermen.

"Did you see him?"

"Who?"

"The Knight, you idiot! He was fishing on the pier not twenty minutes ago."

"Fishing? Why? What is he doing here?"

Pretending to peruse the vegetables, I listened to the conversation and looked around for the posse, since I could actually see several feet in any direction and was standing where they would have to travel to pass by.

"How the hell should I know? I just want him gone."

"Enough to invite the Galbadian army in to collect him?"

"Not that much... Would have been easier if SeeD had just taken him. Heard the kid commander said they wouldn't touch him. Guess that leaves Trabia and Galbadia to fight over the rights to prosecute him."

Prosecute? They have an entire battalion outside. It's a firing squad with 438 extra shooters, not a clerk with an indictment.

"Well, I hope Dobe finds him and throws him to the wolves. I'm still repairing the damage from the last time soldiers were in town."

"Ah, well. If he was here to cause trouble he'd have done it already. Besides, if he was trying to lay low, why would he fish right out in the open, in the middle of the ocean with no way to escape. He must know the whole world is after him."

"Except SeeD, apparently... I guess if I fought him three on one three times like they say, I'd probably give up too. Think he has a plan?"

"Who knows? Seems to be able to disappear when he needs to and I can't think of a better place to come for peace."

Peace and Seifer... Conversation and Squall... Underachieving and Quistis... Reason and Zell…

The conversation ended. I considered reporting the merchant for labeling and charging for Balamb Fish when he was clearly selling Badamb Fish, but I didn't have time. Instead, I turned around to look at the other side of the bazaar, and ran into someone. Or rather a mountain who became man. Raijin.

"Whoa... Excuse me, ya know? Didn't see you there."

"Didn't see me?"

I hated it when anyone made light of my small size. Anyone who did found out that I'm little, but loud.

"You're telling me you couldn't see me coming from the view on the peak of Mount Gagazet?" I think my insult went over his head, despite his height.

"Well, your dress is bright but you are pretty small, ya know? Besides you weren't watching where you were going."

I huffed and put both fists on my hips, stomping on his foot for emphasis, causing him to hop on one foot and yelp in pain. "Why don't you watch where I'm going, lookout tower?" That comment earned a giggle from Fujin, who lowered the Zan, which had been aimed almost imperceptibly only moments ago at my neck. I had my nunchaku within reach, but didn't think I'd need to use it. I like to disarm with charm.

"EXPLAIN."

"Explain what? I can be here if I want. What are you two doing around here? Mayor Dobe doesn't like trouble."

Raijin sent his partner and anxious glance. She stared at me, studying for several long moments, then she nodded to him.

"Are you looking for Seifer, cause we won't let you take him in, ya know?"

"I just want to get to him before the Galbadians do. He should come home."

"HOME?"

"Garden. To keep him safe." Fujin narrowed her eye at me.

"We're here to keep him safe. He wasn't himself during the war, ya know? He shouldn't be held accountable..."

"..." Only Fujin and Squall could make an ellipsis into a full sentence. She and Raijin stood there, looking sullen and worried.

I decided to press the unaddressed issue. "Where is he?"

They exchanged meaningful looks again. I think they decided to tell me the truth.

"GONE."

"Gone? What happened?"

"I don't know... He was there," He pointed to the docks. "Fishing with us just a little while ago. Fuj knocked me into the water and after she helped pull me back out he was just gone. We've been looking for him since then."

Maybe he fled when he saw Garden coming to dock. "How long was he with you guys?"

Raijin scratched his neck. "Just a couple a hours, ya know? He found us in town this afternoon. It was the first we seen him since, well, everything happened."

I nodded. "He never indicated where he might be going next?"

"NEGATIVE."

"Yeah, here one minute, gone the next."

"GHOST." Fujin concurred.

I considered. Since most of the town was over the water, there were few places to hide in it. Galbadian troops would have seen him if he tried to go outside the walls to the west. Everyone would have seen him if he tried the restored train, and there would have been quite a stir either way. Word got around quickly in FH. That left only one other option, he would be wide open, but completely unopposed. The Horizon Bridge. Needed to cover my bases here first. I would check the town, buy provisions, and likely take the long trek toward Esthar.

"Do you guys have place in town he might have gone to?"

"Possible, but we never told him where it is, ya know?"

"All right then. Lead the way." Raijin nodded and we walked toward the center of the town, past the master fisherman, the mechanics that helped us with Garden, and the renovated train station.

We walked up a couple of flights of outdoor stairs and Fujin opened up the door. Inside was a dimly-lit studio apartment, clean, but smelling faintly of fish and salt breeze. To be fair, everywhere in FH smelled like that. It made me anxious to go. The three of us looked around briefly for any sign that Seifer had been by, but soon found that there was no trace. I peeked out the window at the solar array and had to avert my eyes from the glare. If I was him I'd hide among them and sneak my way out to the eastern maintenance tunnels under the bridge. I resolved to head that way on my way out of town.

Raijin sat down heavily on the sofa. "I'm worried about him, ya know?"

"DIFFERENT."

"He seemed different? How?"

Fujin shrugged and pleaded with her eyes, er… eye, to have Raijin explain. "Dunno. Like he wasn't really there. He seemed… Troubled, almost, ya know? He was lost in his own head, like…"

"DISTANT." Fujin paused for a moment. "COAT."

"Oh yeah! His coat."

"What about his coat?"

"Well, last time we seen it it was torn to shreds, ya know? Today it was good as new. Like he was in a badly edited action-movie."

That was an analogy I could understand. Man, nothing ruined the suspension of disbelief as much as when you'd just watched someone jump out of an exploding building and into a pool and five seconds after they emerge every hair is in place and they're all dry. What gives? …But, back to the information at hand. ..

"So, maybe he bought a new one, or stole it." The other two shrugged, not finding my explanations likely. It did strike me as a unique coat: not easily replaceable, white dragon leather. "Well, I should get going. Thanks for the info guys."

I was a little surprised they hadn't asked to help or followed me on my quest, but knew Raijin was employed as a dock-worker now and probably couldn't travel. Fujin closed the door behind me as I stepped back down into the recycled city and felt revulsion at the smells and sights. The world's official home of peace and love should have looked more the part.

A sigh flitted through my lips as I scanned the town again. At the western gates the red uniforms were starting to break through. Soon they'd conduct a grid search and would undoubtedly find Seifer if he was here. FH had no recourse to keep them out at present, with no army or police force, they had to suffer through the Galbadians until Esthar or SeeD showed up with enough military or political power to compel them to leave. Dobe was still arguing with the commanding officer as I climbed down the steps and headed to the market and item shops. I had to buy provisions and go.

Fishermans Horizon is a terrible place to buy things for a trip. Most of the substantial food is fresh and even the rest didn't tend to keep well. There wasn't much call for camping equipment either, since everyone seemed so content with their lot in the middle of the sea. I sighed for the second time in as many minutes.

I bought what I needed and quickly stuffed into a backpack, only as much as necessary to make it over the bridge. From there I'd have to hunt or purchase more somewhere, but I didn't have time to worry about it, the Galbadians were coming closer.

Hoisting the pack onto my back, I sneaked my way to the solar panels in the east and looked back toward the setting sun. Men in dinghies were scouring the underside of the city, checking everywhere for the wanted ex-Knight. Walking along the highest level of the array, I quickly surveyed the levels below, finding nothing except an unsuspecting couple, wearing little more than the surprise on their faces. Whoops…

Rather quickly, I backtracked to the maintenance hatch of the eastern rail, tugged the lever, and climbed in.

Where the bridge met the city the constant salt spray of the crashing waves made the tunnels wet. I looked down and saw footprints leading away from the city. They were big ones, with the distinctive diamond flower patterns of many steel-toed boots. I grinned.

Big brother could never hide from me for long.