Rinoa winced when another Bite Bug rammed into the side of her vehicle.  She stomped on the accelerator pedal, roaring across the countryside towards Balamb Garden.  Angelo sat in the passenger seat, snarling at the swarm of blue-winged insects as they gathered for another dive.

"Hang on, boy!  We're almost there!" soothed Rinoa, biting her lower lip, waiting for the outline of Balamb Garden to appear in front of her.

With a loud buzzing that vibrated in Rinoa's ears, the swarm of Bite Bugs attacked, lancing down from the clear blue sky and crashing into the left side of Rinoa's racing vehicle.  The vehicle was thrown onto its right side, skidding through the earth until it came to a stop.  The Bite Bugs hovered around the overturned vehicle, waiting for their prey to emerge.

"Are you okay, boy?" asked Rinoa with a groan.

Angelo barked in the affirmative, struggling back onto his paws.

Rinoa unbuckled herself from her seat, then grabbed her blaster edge from the backseat.  Settling the weapon over her right arm, Rinoa kicked open the driver's side door with her left foot before climbing out into the sunlight.

Bite Bugs dove down at Rinoa, buzzing sharply.  Rinoa threw her blaster edge, cutting through three of the flapping insects.  Blue ichor sprayed over Rinoa as she dove off the vehicle and landed on the ground.  Angelo barked at the attacking bugs, jumping up off the vehicle to snatch one insect in his strong jaws.  Rinoa kept her back against the overturned transport, hurling her blaster edge, cutting down more of her attackers.  The pincers of one Bite Bug began to flicker with tiny flames, Rinoa's eyes widened in realization.  She dove away from the vehicle just as the Bite Bug threw Fire at her.  The bolt of flame smashed into the transport, and set off the fuel tank.

The vehicle's explosion threw Rinoa off her feet.  She lay on the ground moaning while the intense heat of the transport's demise washed over her.  Angelo rushed to the fallen girl's side, snapping at any bug that ventured too close.  The Bite Bugs gathered in a tight cloud, preparing to dive at Rinoa for the kill.

A gun blast reverberated in Rinoa's ears as half of the Bite Bug swarm exploded into blossoms of blue gore.  The other bugs hovered uncertainly, allowing a tall, blonde man dressed in a grey duster to jump into their midst, hewing them apart with a shining silver sword.  The man laughed exuberantly while he slew the remaining Bite Bugs, hacking them to pieces skillfully with his gunblade.  Rinoa wiped her hair away from her lovely face, in awe of the graceful warrior.

The tall, blonde man leaned on his blood-drenched gunblade after the last Bite Bug was dispatched.  He regarded Rinoa, raking his sharp eyes over her body.

Can you walk?" asked the man with an arched eyebrow.
"Yes.  Thank you for saving me," smiled Rinoa, struggling to her feet, Angelo standing watchfully at her side.

"You're bleeding, do you have any serious injuries?" inquired the grey-coated man.

Rinoa noticed that she had several scrapes on her arms and legs from her fall after the vehicle explosion.  A shallow cut over her forehead bled profusely.  The man approached Rinoa, and offered her a piece of cloth from his tunic.  Rinoa accepted the cloth gratefully and pressed it to her forehead to staunch the blood flow.

"Were you heading for Balamb Garden?" asked the man.

"Yes, I need the help of SeeD," nodded Rinoa.

"I'm heading that way, you can walk with me if you want," offered the man.

"Thank you," smiled Rinoa gratefully, following the man as he began walking north.  "What's your name, if I may ask?"

"Seifer, Seifer Almasy," replied the blonde man over his shoulder.
*****
 

Rinoa was dumbstruck when she first set eyes on Balamb Garden.  It was the most beautiful city she had ever seen.  A halo of runes burned over the city, slowly rotating, protecting the Garden and its inhabitants.

"Your first Garden?" asked Seifer after he noticed Rinoa had stopped to admire the sight of the city.

"Yes, I never imagined they looked like this," breathed Rinoa.

"Where are you from?" inquired Seifer after Rinoa rejoined him and they resumed their walk towards the Garden.

"Timber."

"Why are you visiting Balamb Garden?"

"I..I need to speak to Headmaster Cid," mumbled Rinoa, lowering her eyes.

"Why?  Do you want to hire SeeD for something?" prodded Seifer.

"I really shouldn't discuss it with anyone except the Headmaster," evaded Rinoa.

Seifer snorted.  "Fine, have it your own way.  I suggest you go to the Infirmary first, have those cuts looked at."

"Um, where is it?" asked Rinoa while they drew closer to the front gate of the Garden.

"I'll show you," said Seifer.
*****
 

"Nothing serious, but it's good to have these wounds treated so they won't become infected,"
said Dr. Kadowaki, cleaning the last of Rinoa's arm cuts.  The kindly doctor handed Rinoa a vial of liquid.  "Please drink this, it's a healing potion."

Rinoa drank the potion, and warmth suffused her body as the magic healed her.

"I'll be leaving, doctor," announced Seifer from his resting place on one of the Infirmary's walls.  Straightening, Seifer saluted Rinoa casually before heading for the Infirmary's exit.

"Wait!  How do I get a meeting with Headmaster Cid?" asked Rinoa fearfully.

"Make an appointment," said Seifer over his shoulder as he passed through the doorway.

"I could.." began Dr. Kadowaki.

Rinoa raced after Seifer, the doctor forgotten.

"Could you introduce me to Headmaster Cid, please?" begged Rinoa from Seifer's right.

"Look, Rinoa, I'm busy.  I'm head of the Garden's Discipline Committee, I've got a job to do."

"Please, Seifer!  I need your help!  I'll do anything!"

"I have to check in with my committee, I'll see what I can do tonight," sighed Seifer, glancing at Rinoa.

"Where should I wait for you?" asked Rinoa.

"I don't care!  Anywhere!"

"I'll stay with you."

"Fine," growled Seifer, heading for the Garden's elevator tube.
*****
 

"You require the help of SeeD?" asked Headmaster Cid, leaning back in his chair while the stars twinkled through the massive observation window behind his desk.

"Yes," nodded Rinoa.  "President Vinzer Deling is a tyrant, oppressing the helpless people of Galbadia!"

"I've heard of his..excesses, his enormous military build-ups.  I agree, he is a serious threat."

"You'll help us?" smiled Rinoa hopefully.

"We're mercenaries, we don't work for free," reminded Seifer from his leaning spot against one of the walls.  "Who's paying our bill?"

"The Forest Owls," answered Rinoa.

"The rebel group opposing President Deling.  I've heard good things about your group, Rinoa," nodded Cid approvingly.  "I think SeeD can help you."

"Thank you, sir!" sighed Rinoa.

"You should get some rest.  Tomorrow is the celebration for this year's graduating class of SeeDs.  You're welcome to attend if you wish, we can discuss the details of deploying SeeD in Timber afterward."

"Thank you for the invitation, sir!  I would be happy to attend!"

"Seifer, show Miss Heartilly to a room.  I want you to take care of her during her stay in Balamb Garden."

"But sir!  The Discipline Committee..!"

"I'm giving you a direct order, Seifer," frowned Cid from his chair.

"Very well," snarled Seifer, leading the way back to the waiting elevator.
*****
 

"If this is too much trouble.." said Rinoa hesitantly.

"No, I've just got a lot on my mind," replied Seifer, his left hand tightening around the pommel of his gunblade.

The elevator doors slid open, and Seifer stepped out with Rinoa in tow.  They headed for the Dormitory, where all of the SeeD trainees lived.  After consulting a directory, Seifer led Rinoa to an empty room, a small living area with a bedroom and a tiny bathroom.

"It's not much," shrugged Seifer from the doorway as Rinoa entered.

"I've been in much worse," smiled Rinoa from the entry foyer, turning to regard Seifer.

"The glamourous life of a rebel, eh?" grinned Seifer.  "I'll check in on you tomorrow morning."

"You..you could stay if you want.  We could talk for awhile," murmured Rinoa, lowering her eyes shyly, hands clasped before her.

Seifer watched Rinoa.  "I'm not very skilled when it comes to small talk."

Rinoa looked up at Seifer, her eyes bright as she reached up and unfastened the shoulder clasps of her blue dress.  The garment fell to the floor, revealing Rinoa's shapely, firm breasts.  Seifer strode into the small foyer, closing the door behind him.
 

Rinoa fell back onto the small bed as Seifer pulled off his coat and black tunic.  Rinoa opened her legs, rubbing her crotch suggestively.  Seifer smiled, reaching out to grasp Rinoa's slender legs, running his hands up her flesh to her sleek thighs.  Seifer pressed his chest over Rinoa's ripe bosom, kissing her hungrily, sucking on her pink, soft lips.  Rinoa hugged Seifer's waist, rubbing her crotch against his.  Seifer licked the left side of Rinoa's neck, slid his tongue down to her stiff left nipple.  He sucked on her tit, filled his mouth with her warm breast while his hands entered her panties, pried open her pussy.

Rinoa arched her back, moaning with pleasure as Seifer fingered her cunt, thrusting his right index finger into her wet vagina.  Seifer slurped on Rinoa's tit, licking her brown nipple, left hand moving underneath the moaning girl to squeeze her taut ass.  Seifer kissed Rinoa again.  Rinoa thrust her tongue into the man's mouth, massaging his tongue with hers.  Seifer locked his mouth with Rinoa's, caressing her right buttock while he rammed his index finger into her cunt over and over.  Rinoa's juices covered Seifer's right hand and dribbled between her smooth thighs.

Rinoa struggled with Seifer's pants as he kissed her throat and buried his face in her musky, dark hair.  Seifer squeezed Rinoa's breasts with both hands, flicking his tongue over her erect nipples, inhaling the sensual scent of her creamy white skin.  Rinoa freed Seifer's cock from his pants.  She stroked the prick with both of her delicate hands, making it shiver with arousal, hardening in her firm grasp.  Seifer hugged Rinoa to his body, sucked deeply on her right tit.  Rinoa groaned softly, fondling Seifer's shaft faster, tightening her legs around his hips.  Seifer guided his prick to Rinoa's glistening pussy, slowly slipped it into her cunt.  Rinoa gasped, her arms slithering around Seifer's waist while he pressed deeper into her, filling her vagina with his shuddering meat.
Seifer dug his hands into Rinoa's thick hair, pumping between her open thighs, slapping his crotch against hers.  Rinoa moaned sharply, bucking against Seifer, holding him while he rammed into her belly, making her pussy throb with molten fire.  Seifer kissed Rinoa, drank her breath, caressed her slick tongue.  Rinoa pushed up with her hips, forced Seifer's cock deeper into her, a stiff shaft that blasted into her cunt.  Sweat beaded the naked bodies of Rinoa and Seifer.  Seifer licked Rinoa's left cheek, nuzzled the side of her throat.  Rinoa moaned, her body bouncing on the bed, trapped beneath the strong man thrusting into her, impaling her with his long, rock-hard member.

Rinoa's thighs began to shiver, her belly clenched with her approaching orgasm.  Seifer pounded faster and harder into her cunt, his own body building towards a violent release.  Seifer jerked back on Rinoa's dark hair, kissed her roughly on the mouth.  Rinoa moaned in pain, her body on fire, her climax an irresistible force growing within her vagina.  Seifer pressed down upon Rinoa, crushing her against the mattress, her flesh hot and slick against his.  Seifer groaned, his cum squirting into Rinoa's cunt.  Rinoa moaned weakly, her thighs squeezing Seifer's hips as her own climax overcame her, her pussy tightening around Seifer's cock, milking it with a vice-grip.  After Rinoa's cunt had relaxed, Seifer slid off of the panting girl, resting next to her on the small, sweat- drenched bed.

"Is this celebration tomorrow going to be nice?" asked Rinoa, snuggling next to Seifer, scratching his chest lightly with her right hand.

"The Discipline Committee has a lot to do," said Seifer, pushing off of the bed and quickly dressing.

"Can't it wait till morning?" asked Rinoa, pulling up a damp sheet to cover her nudity.

"No," replied Seifer, running a hand through his gleaming blonde hair before leaving Rinoa's room.

Rinoa stretched out on the bed, regarding the ceiling, until sleep finally came to her.

The End.