Give A Reason.

Chapter Ten:

A/N: ~insert stupid author’s note here. ~

 

*

“Ultimecia, I don’t think you can posses this certain girl.”

“That was the stupidest krack I’ve ever heard in my life.”

“Seriously, I don’t think possessing your daughter is considered safe, you know, giving her all those headaches!”

“She is not made of glass you know.”

“Yes she is.”

“…”

“I’m telling you, Ulti, as a mom, it’s not right!”

“And as a dad?” *glare* “Kurse you.”

“So you’ll stop trying?”

“Just for today. Maybe if you’d stop konfusing her by showing up when she doesn’t need you…”

“Fine, we’ll both stop for today and let her rest, okay?”

“But by the krack of dawn tomorrow I’ll be trying again.”

“*Sigh*~”

 

*

 

“Fujin…”

What?

“Fujin, wake up.”

Why?    

“Fuu, wake up and drink some water.”

I opened my eyes slowly, not quite adjusting to the light. Why was Seifer waking me up?

I felt something cold touching my lips and I found myself gulping down a tasteless liquid, I think sober people call it water. When the glass was taken away from my mouth, I opened my eyes to actually see.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it, go back to sleep.” Seifer eased me back into the bed and turned around to leave.

“Seifer, what time is it?” I watched him with half-lidded eyes, as he turned around and placed his hand on the light switch.

“Middle of the night,” he turned the lights off and started to close the door, “Good night.”

 

I blinked for a moment then snuggled beneath the covers to fall back asleep again.

 

~~~~~~~

 

The sound of birds chirping wasn’t exactly my favorite wake up call, actually, I kinda like the creatures but it gets annoying when you don’t feel like waking up.  I dragged myself into the bathroom, and splashed some water on my face.  We should get ourselves a heating system.  I walked back into the room and opened the cupboard, only to find that my clothes and towels were mixed with Seifer’s.

“SEIFER!”

I growled and walked out, my face still dripping wet, and frowned at him in the kitchen.

“Well, G’morning princess.” He was sitting at the small dining table, legs crossed over it and a newspaper in his hands. “Sleep well?”

I joined my brows and sat on the other chair, “Did you bring me water or was it a dream?”

“It was reality.” He chuckled and got back to his paper.

“No wonder my bladder woke me up.” I hung my head.

“Well, you’re very welcome.” His voice held sarcasm, but it was mostly said absentmindedly because he was so into the paper, he didn’t notice the kettle boiling its brains out.   

“Want some coffee?” I got up with a sigh and poured some hot water into two mugs. Getting the instant coffee jar out of yesterday’s bag, I added two teaspoons of coffee into my mug.

“Yeah, black.” He folded the paper and set it aside. “Nobody noticed Raijin’s death.”

I felt my stomach churn in pain, “Nobody cares.”

“I bet Cid will grant him a respectful funeral.” He tried to convince me, but I knew better.

“I just hope Selphie is in charge of funerals.” I said idly, for she can make any event happy, no matter how sad it was. I remember once when her pet goldfish died, she didn’t just flush it down the toilet or buried it.  She made a tiny wedding dress, turned a small weed into a bouquet, and placed her fish in a shoebox with a card that read, ‘follow your dreams, fishy.’

“Selphie?” Seifer gave me a look, “As in, THE Selphie?”

“Just forget it,” talking to you was a mistake from the start.   

Seifer sighed and unfolded his paper again, “Well, nobody forced you to talk to me.”

 

Oh yeah, I forgot he can hear me think sometimes… darn.    

 

I turned around to give him his coffee, but right then the screechy painful noise inside my head indicated that the headache was about to start.

 

“Oh no…” I cursed, and put the mugs on the table hastily before backing a few steps, pressing my back to the wall.

“Your head?” Seifer stood up and touched my shoulder carefully.

“Aha.” I nodded and hung my head, as the noise grew louder and more painful. “Oh, God!” I tried to stay quiet, but the pain was so immense, that I thought my whole head would erupt like a flare spell.  

“Fuu, just calm down and relax.” Seifer held my shoulders and pulled my hands away from my head, as I squeezed my eyes shut. “If you don’t think about it, it will go away.” His hands were very strong, as they kept mine away from squashing my head.

“But it hurts!” I whined in pain, and leaned into his chest when the pain suddenly evaporated, leaving me powerless.              

“Yeah… Sure,” he pulled me closer and sat me down on the chair, “Just rest.”

I frowned at him and held my mug to warm my cold fingertips, “You don’t know anything! It hurts like hell!”

“Yeah,” he sipped his coffee and started reading the paper again, “I bet it melts your head… Slowly.”

“It does!” I argued and snatched the paper from his hand. “You think I’m making it up?”

He gave me a serious look. “No, not exactly.”

I opened my mouth, searching for any kind of comeback, but the alarm clock in the bedroom started beeping repeatedly.

“Well…” Seifer stretched and gulped whatever coffee was left in his mug, before getting up to head to the bedroom, “I’m going to work.”

“Sure, be careful not to break a hip.” I snapped and opened the paper to pretend I was reading.

 

*

 

“Ultimecia…”

“What?”

“I thought you said you’d spare her for today.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Aw, come on! What kind of mother she’d think you are, if she knew you’ve been causing her pain?”

“Hey I didn’t have to endure seven hours of labor, and having my body split apart just so you’d pamper her and leave *me*!”

“I thought we already talked about that!”

“Well… I still didn’t beat the krap out of you.”

“Meh… Well, I’ll go tell her a few things.”

“No! Stop right th-” *windy sound~* “Or go… Who kares…”

 

*

 

 

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. I couldn’t believe Seifer thought I was making it up! What good would it do me to fake pain?

 

“I’m leaving.” He called as he left the bedroom and grabbed his Hyperion.

“Whatever.” I growled and got up to stand at the kitchen’s doorway, “Bring lunch on your way back.”

He nodded and buckled up his gunblade before turning around to look at me, “Anything else?”

“Yeah, a couch.”

He chuckled and started to leave, “I’ll try to squeeze my paycheck from the bank again. Maybe Cid forgave us.”

“I don’t think so.” I crossed my arms, “But check on my account, I should have a few thousand Gil lying around here or there.”

“Nah, we don’t need your money,” he searched in his pocket and threw me a key, “Here is your copy, make sure nobody lays hands on it.” With that he left.

 

I looked down at the metallic object in my hand and frowned. When did he copy this? What did he mean ‘he doesn’t need my money’ what's the difference? I hope he’s not thinking that ladies don’t deserve the money. He’s been a true enigma ever since Raijin passed away.

 

 

 

~~~

 

”Hey yah know! Yah look beautiful! Yah dun have to be like the rest to be pretty, do yah?”

“Raijin… I’m not going, okay!”

“But yah gotta, yah know! Seifie said he didn’t ask anybody and you have nobody so…”

“No Raijin, I’m not going. And that’s that!”

“*sigh* fine, but that means Seifie wont be there at the SeeD party!”

“I’m sorry Raijin, but I hate parties and you know that!”

“If Seifer means so much to you, you would do anything for him!”

*Think think* “fine, I’ll go. But it will be your shins if anything wrong happens!”

“Deal yah know! You’re the best, yah know!”

 

~~~~

 

A smile tugged at my lips as that memory played in my mind. Raijin was a very helpful person, but a very annoying one at times too.

I sighed and went into the bedroom to clean up. The room was nicely decorated but with nothing special, a double bed, a bedside light, a study desk with a chair and a dresser. The bathroom didn’t have anything either, which means we’ll need a fortune to redecorate this apartment to our liking.

 

The problem was, we would have to redecorate it to our liking. I hope Seifer approves of the way I decorate, because from what I remember, him and Raijin lacked the simplest speck of décor sense.

 

I placed my key on the nightstand and lay on my back. Things were very boring, and I couldn’t believe I wouldn’t have any  classes! I couldn’t go out and there was no television. I shouldn’t be seen either, or else I would have gone to Odine’s lab to talk to Rinoa.

 

“Sorceress Fujin.”

Oh great. “Yeah?” I got up on my elbows and gazed curiously at the blond man standing in front of me.

“Good morning.” He smiled. Now that I can see him up close, he looked only a bit like Seifer, he had wrinkles bespeaking of old age near his eyes and mouth. This guy could easily be in his late forties.

“Morning.” why is he being so nice? Two days ago he was drowning me and now he is greeting me.

“I see you are not afraid of me.”

I breathed a bit to clear the lump in my throat, “Because I won’t be able to do anything if you tried to drown me again.”

He chuckled but didn’t make any attempt to come any closer, “I just came to tell you, Ultimecia is trying to possess you.”

My heart leaped, “She’s here?”

“No, not exactly here but she is somewhere in Esthar.” He nodded, “By the way, she gives you a headache whenever she tries. I guess this happens to you only because you two are biologically related.” 

I thought for a moment, “So she is really my mother?”

He made a face, “Is there a doubt?”

“Why were you trying to kill me?”

He smiled, “I have my reasons.” Stepping closer to the bed and sitting on the edge, he started to speak again, “It’s not personal really. Ultimecia tells me to do things, who am I to argue?”

I noticed for the first time that he had a tiny ponytail at the nape of his neck. His hair was longer than that of Seifer’s.

I gasped, “YOU are the one who killed Raijin?” it was his hair that was at the crime scene!

He gave me a confused look, “You mean that tanned fellow? Yeah, he was a real obstacle. Refused to tell me where you were hiding.”

My chest burned with anger, “I don’t believe you!” I shouted and got off the bed to glare at him better, and also to keep a safe distance, “You could have gone to Garden and ask about me!” 

He shrugged, “I did, but then I found Lady Kramer, and decided that a better plan was to get rid of your blond friend too.”

“Seifer?” I guessed.

“Yeah, I think that’s his name. The headmaster almost wept and begged me to keep his wife alive. I guess love really does wonders.” He smiled and brushed back a few strands that had fallen on his face, “The only good in having your friend around, is that he helps you forget the headaches.”

“I don’t understand you!” I squeaked angrily, “You try to kill me but don’t want me to have a headache?”

He blinked stupidly for a moment before getting up, “Oops, time’s up, gotta go now.” Before I could utter another word, he dissolved in a purple fog and disappeared again.               

 

I gritted my teeth and sat on the bed heavily. This is the guy who is responsible for Raijin’s death. I bet he is the one who leads the Holy Knights. But then again, why would he listen to Ultimecia if he opposed sorceresses? Why would he want to kill me?              

   

I sighed and hung my head. I had never asked to be a witch. I had never wanted this life. I wanted to get my old Garden back. I hated it really, but compared to this hell, it was my heaven back then, especially with Raijin and Selphie to spice up the days.

 

Tears stung at my eyes but I squeezed them shut, I won’t cry. Raijin wouldn’t have wanted me to cry.

 

~~

“Why are yah crying yah know?”

“*Hiccup* I told you, Seifer won’t be there!”

“He just didn’t expect to find anybody yah know! I bet if I call him right now he’d-”

“No, stop. I’ll just go to sleep. I don’t want to go back there. Everybody will just stare at me like I was an alien.”

“They were just complimentin’ how pretty yah look!”

“*Sob* y-yeah right…”

“Come on yah know! *hug* I hate to see you cry, yah know!”

“*Sniff* DISAPPOINTMENT.”

“Yeah, he disappointed us both. But we’ll get even tomorrow yah know!”

~~

 

The next morning, we found out that he had been busy going out with a girl he met in a bar. Humph, how many SeeDs would miss their SeeD graduation ball to get laid?

 

I rolled to my side.

 

One, Seifer Almasy.

 

……

Then again, if Irvine wasn’t married, and became a SeeD one day, he’d miss his graduation ball to do such a thing, not that I know the guy. Selphie just kept complaining about how good he was with other women, and bad with her so much that I started to resent the guy for what he did to the poor girl.

 

Sigh…

 

But her problem is very long since forgotten and over with. Now I have my own problem. My Seifer and keeping myself alive!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

*yawn* I must have fallen asleep again. My back hurt and my head ached. I recovered my senses when I heard the door creek open.

 

“Who is there?” I got up on one elbow and squinted my eyes.

Seifer peeked in with a smile, “Don’t worry princess, just the delivery service guys.”

I rubbed my eyes, “What delivery?”

He smiled and closed the bedroom door. I got up and stumbled into the living room, just in time to see two men in overalls transporting a brownish-gray sofa into the living room, and another man carrying a table.

“What do you think?” Seifer grinned proudly and placed an arm around my shoulders. “I phoned Cid and convinced him that we needed the money. He had no intention of keeping it for himself though, which was a surprise.”

I nodded absently, and watched as one of the workers reached out the front door to pull in a huge box labeled ‘fragile’.

“What’s that?” I pointed to the box.

“The TV of course!” my knight locked the door behind the men -after a generous thank you of course- and turned around to rip at the covers of the TV set like a child with a present.

“Take it easy,” I smiled, “Are you done teaching already?”

He pulled out the heavy object, and placed it on the table set for it before heaving and smiling at it, “Nah, had no classes this morning. Just filled out forums.” He shrugged and murmured something before giving me a nervous glance. 

“You ma- me what?” I frowned.

He sighed, “Umm… I filled out that you and I are married.”

“WHAT?” O_O

He held out his hands in defense, and spoke in a squeak that confused me between happiness and tension, “A married man gets a higher salary alright! And it wouldn’t hurt if you wore a ring for a few hours in front of the headmaster, would it!”

“What ring? What headmaster?” I suppose he could hear the wheezing of anger in my chest, I hope I’m not breathing fire already, “EXPLAIN!”

“Uh oh!” yeah, he knows I don’t get back to that uppercase tone unless I’m too pissed off to think, “Erm, well, the headmaster said he’d pay me a visit tomorrow! He’s a gunblade freak!”

“You invited him here?” I screeched and stepped closer.  Seifer only laughed nervously, and stood behind the television set to keep away from my expected fists.

“I didn’t exactly invite him! He read the papers and wanted to meet my wife!”

“Couldn’t you tell him that we were just moving in?”

Seifer blinked before sighing. “I could’ve, but I didn’t.”

I crossed my arms and pouted, “Well, your *wife* wont be there because she has the flu.”

“You do?” Seifer corked an eyebrow, before sitting on the couch, and grabbing the remote control, “Too bad, who will make us dinner tonight then? I don’t think my dear, lovable wife would find it in her to make me a little dinner before going off and napping.” He smirked at me, “Would she?”

I sighed in frustration and stood between him and the new device. “No, she is too sick to move.”

“That’s funny, why is she standing here scolding me then?” he crossed his legs and started stuffing the dry batteries into the remote.

I give up. This man will drive me insane, I swear.  

I dropped my weight on the sofa, expecting it to handle my frame firmly, like the rough couches in Cid’s office. However, I found myself sinking in the cushy, and light material in a clumsy stance.

 

“Careful, it’s soft.” Seifer chuckled before getting up to hook the electricity with his new love.

I grumbled and sat up straight. “Why are you so interested in a television, when you have nothing to watch in it?”

He looked at me from behind the huge screen and grinned, “I got cable!” he said it proudly, in a sing-song voice, before pointing to the box the TV was in earlier. “They said there is a VCR and a present inside, could you check it out?”

I frowned and crossed my arms.

“Please?” he made an attempt at puppy dog eyes, but then changed his mind when a small dose of voltage touched his fingertips. Probably did something wrong with the wires.

I got up and peeked into the box, there was indeed another one inside with the label VCR. I pulled it out and carefully opened the wrappings. Seifer snatched it from my hands and admired it before setting it in its place, and hooking it with the TV. He was too busy in wires and channels, to notice the small present that lay forgotten in the bottom of the box.

 

I pulled it out and took it out of its bag, to be surprised by a dolphin-shaped plush toy.

 

“It’s so cute!” I exclaimed, passing my fingertips over the soft material of the furry toy.

“What is?” Seifer stepped away from behind the set, and sat on the couch before turning to me and exploding in hysterical laughter.

“What?” T_Tx

“THIS is their surprise?”

“Yeah!” I sat next to him and hugged the toy dolphin, “I think it’s cute!”

“It’s childish. Who would want to hug a fish while watching TV?”

“I would!” I stated and studied the toy’s plastic eyes, “If you don’t want it, I’ll have it.”

“Just make sure you feed him three times a day and-” he stopped joking when I flung the small pillow, which came with the sofa, at his face.

“Very funny.” I scowled and widened my eyes when the first channel came into view.

“Okay, it’s working.” Seifer turned the thing off and got up, “Gotta go to work now.”

“Just like that?”

He looked at me and smiled, “Yeah, this was lunch break, gotta go now because I have classes to give.” He winked and grabbed Hyperion before leaving.

 

I sighed when the apartment became quiet again. I hate silence, really, especially when I can’t do anything about it.

 

There wasn’t even a clock to give a rhythmic sound of ticking.

 

I lay on my side on the couch and hugged my dolphin, what do people do in their spare time?

 

Read!

 

I got up quickly, leaving the toy behind, and started searching in my bag for Raijin’s book. I pulled it out and made double sure that the door was locked. When I was sure nobody else besides me was inside, I flopped in front of the TV again and started reading. It really surprised me how much my friend knew about sorceresses. The very first chapter was about the few sorceresses that existed in the near past.

 

He gave a complete biography about Hyne, taken from myths and history books. He even provided pictures and resources!

A few sorceresses such as Adel, Ultimecia and Matron were pictured and explained as well.  I guess he had enough time to take pictures of Ultimecia back during the sorceress war; her pictures were very recent and colorful! 

Rinoa and Ellone came next, I guess because they were younger. Rinoa’s past was really clear, because everything about her was known thanks to her mother and father’s fame.

 

There was a pencil note next to Rinoa, it was scribbled but I was able to read it, ‘Pass powers to Fuusama’.

 

I continued to read the book, and though it was big, it was really fun.

 

To me at least. I realized that sorceress only pass powers when they die, and it is not possible to pass them without dying. So much to give back Rinoa’s powers…

 

How did Raijin get hold of such information?

 

“Give me the book.”

I looked up, not really surprised anymore, “Hello mister know-it-all.”

“Give me the book, sorceress.”

“Why?” I scowled, he was unusually impolite.

“Because I said so.”

I hugged the book protectively, “No.”

His face hardened before he crossed his arms, “Something bad will happen to you if you disobey me.”

“And who are you, my father? Why on earth should I obey you?” 

The blond man opened his mouth as if to say something, but hesitated for a long moment, before stating, “I am your father.”

I corked an eyebrow, “Yeah, right. I don’t even look like you.”

He frowned, “Well, anyway, give me the book.”

“Make me.” I frowned.

“Fine.” He started to approach me but then stopped suddenly, he closed his eyes and disappeared.

 

 

I let go of the breath I was unconsciously holding. What was that all about? What stopped him? Could Seifer be around?

 

Moments later, Seifer walked in with a bag in his hand. “Fuu, I brought you something to eat.” He shouted from the living room, and I held Raijin’s book to my chest as I stepped out the door.

 

“Seifer, aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

Seifer snickered, “I thought you were starving!”

Suddenly I felt my throat grow dry and tight, I let the book fall to the floor and hugged Seifer tightly. “He came back.”

“Uhh… Who?”

I tried to hold my whimpers, “That man. They are after Raijin’s works after all.”

It was kind of disappointing that Seifer didn’t hold me back, he must have thought I was going crazy or something,

“And who are they?” his voice didn’t hold any kind of interest, so I pulled myself away and picked up the book.

“The guy who looks like you.”

Seifer rolled his eyes, “Fujin, I’ve never seen him. Are you sure he was actually there?”

I frowned, “He disappears whenever you are around. I’m not lying Seifer!”

He nodded skeptically and patted my head, “I think you are a little bit too tired, how about you have lunch and take a nice long nap?”

“I’ve had enough sleep!” I snapped, “Seifer I want to talk to Rinoa.”

He frowned, “I don’t think it’s wise to go out right now.”

I stomped my foot on the floor -it hurt because I was barefoot- and made a face, “Why not?”

He shook his head and started pulling out wrapped burgers and French-fries. “Because your picture is all over the newspapers, people would recognize you.”

“I can dye my hair.”

My knight turned around to look at me, “What color?”

I frowned, “Purple!”

He laughed, and then took a bite from his burger, “I don’t think they have such a color around here.”

“Red.” I suggested and grabbed my own share of the meal.

“I think you look better this way, cant you wait for a few days?”

“No.” I just want to die.       

 

He smiled at me for a moment then went to turn the TV on.

 

“I thought you had a job to do.” I placed the book in my lap as I sat on the sofa next to Seifer.

“Told the boss I was just moving in, gave me the rest of the day off since the old teacher is already there and all.” He had already finished eating and was surfing through the channels.

“Seifer, take me to Odine’s lab.”

All the light-heartiness that was shining in his eyes dimmed and he frowned at me, “What?”

“I don’t want to stay here anymore, I want to be with somebody else.” If he didn’t believe me and didn’t want to help me, then I didn’t think he cared about me as much as I thought he did.

“You mean like another sorceress?” he asked as he turned the volume down.

I nodded lightly, “I have some questions.”

He gave a soft “Aha.” Before he turned completely to face me, “Well, how about we go there in a few days?”

I shook my head, “If you are not taking me there, then I’ll walk.”

He sighed, “Listen, Fujin, I’m not keeping you here in a prison! I’ll take you there so you’ll ask whatever questions you want. But I don’t want people to see you and start fights right now.” He explained, “Haven’t you read the paper today?”

 

I only looked at the headlines while thinking of something else…

 

I shook my head.

“Some reporter has seen you going out of the hospital, and again when you went into that hotel. He took a few pictures of you, but lucky me *grin* wasn’t in any of them, so I can walk around as much as I like.”

I frowned, “Yeah right.”

“Seriously Fuu! What good will it do me to keep you locked in here?”

“You can control me.” I guessed.

He made a face that was a mix of anger and hurt, “I have no right to control you.”

 

He’s not my father or brother, not even a husband… But he is a very loyal friend.

 

When I didn’t say anything else, he shrugged, “See?”

I sighed and slumped further into the couch, staring at the silent TV. Suddenly my eyes widened and my heart stopped, “Oh my God! Seifer turn up the volume!”

He looked at the screen and turned the volume up, so that we could hear the news. They were showing a picture of me, as I was walking on a street before the Sorceress War.

 

“It is thought that the sorceress has returned from Esthar during the last week.” Said the reporter, screening my picture as I was walking to said Hotel, “It seems that Balamb Garden has refused to take the sorceress in again, for here she is going into a cheap Hotel in the poor-alley of Balamb Town. SeeD must have made a big mistake, for if the sorceress decided to visit her wrath upon the world, she would definitely start with Garden.”

 

We both gasped. They were talking about me attacking, as if I had it already planned, and fully capable of doing it!

 

“Here we have spoken to some people on the street, to see their reaction to the new sorceress.”

 

I growled at that sentence, “I have a name you know.”

Seifer waved his hand hastily, “Shh…”

 

One guy, who looked like he didn’t care about the world, spoke into the microphone, “I think she should return her powers to Rinoa Kinneas, there is no way she could match her power or beauty.”

 

Blood started boiling in my veins. If there was something I hate above all, is being compared to Rinoa Heartilly. How come they just use the term Sorceress to identify me, and the other so friendly as Rinoa Heartilly?

 

Another girl looked into the camera for a moment before stating, “I’ve knew her for a while before I left Balamb Garden, she was a real b*t$#, shouting and kicking everybody, I bet she’s the one who killed Raijin Hefty.”

 

I gasped and held my breath. How could they say that about me?

 

Seifer laid a hand on my shoulder and I leaned closer, I didn’t want to cry, but I wanted to hear the rest.

 

A few other people were interviewed about their opinion about me. Some of them really explained how much they hated me, and the others only complimented my looks and my looks only.

 

“I think Sorceress Fujin is cool!” I lifted my head at that familiar happy voice, “Nobody knows her like I do, because I was roommates with her for a loooooong while!” Selphie grinned to the TV and continued, “She is real nice and she’s just like everybody else, she likes babies and squeals at the sight of little kittens, she eats pixie sticks whenever she gets the chance and the only difference between her and other people is that she can use magic without a Guardian force.” She huffed in that cute way of hers, “So what? A lot of people don’t even know how to summon magic!”

 

I bit my lip.  Oh Selphie, you are a friend indeed.            

 

“Well, that is it for the interviews with the people on the street, back to the station.” The reporter nodded, “Ladies and Gentlemen, back to the news on the terrorists in Esthar-”

 

I sighed, but before I could speak, Seifer shushed me again and slumped to the edge of his seat. “There are terrorists in Esthar?”                

 

“It seems that anti-sorceress terrorists have managed to break into the sorceress Memorial in Esthar.  They demand that the new Sorceress be brought to them as quickly as possible, otherwise they threaten to bomb the whole building with Doctor Odine in it.”

 

“Oh my God.” I murmured and rested my head on Seifer’s shoulder, “Things just keep going from bad to worse.”

“Don’t worry, Fuu. I won’t give you to them. They probably are the Holy Knights. Killing Raijin must have been a threat to us.”

 

“I don’t want anybody else to be killed,” I informed him, “Let’s go there and get it over with!”

 

Suddenly, a strange voice came from the bedroom’s doorway, “No.”

My eyes met with deep black orbs, which were seeping with gentleness towards me, and shooting daggers at Seifer. “It is not time yet, when it is time, I’ll tell you.”

Seifer got up and frowned, “Who the hell are you? How did you get here?”

I rested back into the sofa, “Welcome to my world of questioning, Seifer.”

My father -or who claims to be my father, spoke again, “Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly, everybody loved her.”

“WHAT?” Seifer growled and started to reach for his Hyperion. I held his hand and shook my head, this I wanted to hear. 

The man continued, “Sorceress Edea Kramer, everybody loved her, for she had taken care of many orphans.” He nodded and his expression hardened, “But sorceress Ultimecia, nobody even knew her last name. Nobody cared about her life, she was just the sorceress that was trying to compress time, and destroy the world for no good reason other than being evil.”

 

Seifer stood before me in a protective matter then asked, “So you know her last name?”

 

The man nodded, “I am her husband.”

Seifer was surprised, but I wasn’t even moved. This was my father, my mother tried to compress time for whatever reason, see if I care.

Seifer crossed his arms, “Yeah right.”

The man nodded, “My name is Ken, It means sword. Ken Nomura.”

Seifer exploded in laughter, “Your name is Ken? Such a childish name!” he laughed then, but in a split second he was growling like an animal with his hands on my father’s neck, “Why the fu** were you trying to kill Fuu?” he spoke between gritted teeth.        

The man seemed fearless even as Seifer squeeze the breath out of him. “Seifer stop!” I called but it was already too late.

“In order for the soul to recover,” Ken started, “The physical body must perish.”

 

Seifer let go of him with a snap, and he took his bubbling gloves off. It’s as if the man had poured acid into them.   

 

“Ultimecia wanted her daughter, and decided to get rid of the body to recover the soul, but it didn’t work so we decided on a better plan.” He explained.

“And that is… ?” Seifer frowned.

The elderly knight smiled softly, “Be good to her, she is a really sweet girl.”

My cheeks burned at the very thought that my ‘father’ was trying to get ‘Seifer’ to like me! I’ve never had a father and it felt very foreign to me.

“What do you know, you weren’t there her whole life.” Seifer hissed and crossed his arms.

Ken nodded softly before taking a few steps away, “I’ve been there two years for her, but it became too dangerous to stay at the guardian force world (also known as ‘The Umbra’), so we had to bring her here to Mrs. Kramer.” He smiled sheepishly, “Don’t worry, princess, I wont bother you ever again. Unless its time to go.” He shrugged and then disappeared into the fog.

Seifer scowled, “I’m the only one allowed to call her that.”

I chuckled and brushed back a few hairs off my forehead, “So, do you believe me now about the ‘you-look-alike’?”

Seifer nodded before striding back to the sofa, and patted the place next to him. He wants me to sit next to him?

 

“We are going to play a little game, Fujin.” He informed me as I sat next to him. He turned to me then started explaining, “I’ll ask a question, and you will answer it. Then you get to ask a question and I’ll answer. This goes on until we have no more questions.”

Ahaa, I see. Well, I need some answers too. “No answering a question with another one!” I warned.

“Okay.” He nodded, “I go first.”

 

I took a deep breath and braced myself, here I was, making a deal with the devil. He’ll get whatever answer he wants from and definitely he will worm his way out of my questions to him.

 

God help me…    

 

--------------------------

 

End of chapter ten.

A/N: sorry this chapter might seem shorter than usual… but I’ve been kind of depressed lately for no good reason, and didn’t want it to rub off on the story… :/ many thanks to Vick330 who beta read this fic and fixed all the horrible errors before I embarrassed myself ^_^;; it seems that I forget to thank him, or remind that ff8 isn’t mine from chapter to chapter… very sorry to both of you *Square and Vick330* and remember that without SS this story wouldn’t be here, and without Vick this fic would be a total load of crappy grammar @_@