Battle of Egos

Author: Qevna

I don't own the characters. They are property of Square Enix Co, LTD.

Chapter 8 Duel

The first wave of meteors came right away. With a couple of furious blows and kicks Zell destroyed those which came near him. Still Zell wasn't fast enough to take them all out so he got couple big hits right to his head and knees. He cursed but knew that the second wave would a bigger one. The man was panting behind him and the fighter hadn't seen his face yet.

"What a fool. Without a weapon on the field. Noobish decision." He thought but kept his eyes on Behemoth.

The next wave hit him hard. He only got few meteors taken care of and the rest hit him and the surroundings. Even the mystery man got some damage. But this wasn't enough to knock the fighter from his stand. Zell prepared to attack with a series of punches and kicks. Behemoth just got angry because of this little chicken tried to tickle him. Furiously the beast attacked Zell with a tail which Zell just barely dodged. His breathing was getting a bit heavier as he layed down an another round of punches. The next attack from Behemoth was brutal. He rushed against Zell with his full mass knocking Zell on the field.

While laying there on the ground Zell knew what was going to happen next. Behemoth was going to ready the two waves of meteors and that would definately mean the end of the fighter. With the last of his strenght Zell got up and took an advance of long summoning time by making his own move. This was his chance. With Duel he could make some serious damage to the beast. And without wasting more time, he ran towards Behemoth and landed Punch Rush right to his ugly face. This was followed by Mach Kick and an another round of Punch Rush. Suggesful combos made Zell more fired up and he let the beast taste his own medicine with Meteor Strike and finally he was able to perform one of his specialities, Burning Rage which didn't spare the beast even if he would have begged.

After this limit break Zell jogged back to his stands and watched as the Behemoth tried to keep his balance.

"That would teach him.." Zell thought but the match wasn't over yet. In a seconds Behemoth was recovered from his confusion and used his tail like a whip damaging side of Zell.

"Son of a.." Zell thought holding his bleeding rib and trying to protect himself and the stranger with one arm while Behemoth's sharp claws dugged into his arm. What happened next, wasn't expected by either of sides. Loud bang was heard and a blade pierced Behemoth's huge head. With that the beast was done and the battle was over.

"HELL!"

"That was awesome, ya'know."

"PRAISE!"

"With one shot, impressive ya'know"

"ENOUGH!"

"Right right, to the aid of Seifer, ya'know"

"SHUT UP"

"Yes Fujin, ya'know"

Zell was confused. Just what had happened? And now he heard this weird conversation. The bleeding of his arm and rib was making him dizzy and he collabsed to the field next to the stranger who was also injured badly. Behemoth had whipped the mystery man with his tail and scratched with claws before Zell had come to an aid. But what Zell didn't know, was that the man was Seifer who had been looking for him.

Next time Zell opened his eyes, he saw the roof of the tent where he had spent the last night. Or was the attack just a dream, he wondered but when he tried to get up, a sharp pain stopped him and he layed his head back to the pillow. He reached out with his hand and saw the red stained white bandages. His whole arm was wrapped tightly with it. He was also able to see the bandages that was wrapped around his chest and ribs. That was when he noticed that he was just barely clothed. He grabbed his shirt and vest from the side of the tent and tried to pull them over his head while he was laying there on the floor. This didn't end so well and in a minute he was stuck, his right arm sticking from the sleeve and his head somewhere inside the shirt.

Right then Seifer poked his head into the tent and couldn't help but laugh when he saw the fighter in an awkward situation.

"I could give you a hand if I didn't enjoy this show so much." He chuckled and continued to crouch on the doorway.

"Oh fuck you." Zell panted trying to release himself.

"Maybe you should give it a try." Seifer smirked and crowled into the tent.

"Just get me out of here." The fighter snorted frustrated.

Zell's body was trimmed, Seifer had to admit that. Without those poorly wrapped bandages he could see the fighter's sixbag."In a minute." He said softer than he had intented to.

Zell had stopped moving and was now breathing heavier, knowing what the other was doing with his gaze. Seifer raised his hand and was just about to touch Zell's muscles as Fujin's loud yell stopped him and he yanked Zell's shirt down with one sharp tug.

"BOSS!"

Zell watched as the knight crowled out of the tent and heard him answer to the woman. He couldn't hear more because obviously the others had moved away from the tent.

"Just my luck..." Zell groaned and searched for his shoes.

"What are we going to do now, ya'know?" Raijin asked as the three of them walked away from the forest.

"Just go report back to the Garden and say that me and the chicken-wuss are on a training mission." Seifer said after thinking a while the situation.

"IMPOSSIBLE!" Fujin shaked her head.

"You are injured boss, ya'know." The big man added but knew that Seifer wouldn't change his mind.

"Just be safe, ya'know." He told and turned around dragging furious Fujin with him.

"NOT OVER!"

Seifer couldn't help but chuckle to his friends' behavior. Then he turned around and head back to the tent. This would be interesting.