Give a reason

Chapter Eleven:

A/N: guess who gets drunk in this chapter ^_^;; BTW, this is the bystanders POV again. BTW, this is a long chapter ^_^

~~

 

Seifer shifted in his seat and asked, “The man who just disappeared was your father, Ultimecia’s husband?”

Fujin nodded, “My mom and dad.”

After a short pause, Seifer spoke, “Well, it’s your turn.”

“Oh.” She snapped out of her daydream, “Okay.” After a few moments of thinking back, she decided on a question, “Why did you give me water the other night?”

Seifer leaned back, “This is out of the subject!”

The albino scowled, “Answer the question, Seifer.” Why is this conversation turning familiar all of a sudden?  

Seifer nodded, “Well, you’ve been coughing all night and I’ve heard the rumors flying around garden about you, your old room mate enjoyed making you the subject of her small talk.” He smiled, “My turn, do you remember anything about your childhood before Matron?”

Fujin crossed her legs Indian style, and then leaned back, “Not really, all I remember was speaking some unknown language which I realized later was the language of sorceresses.”

The knight nodded and turned off the annoying television, providing his sorceress his full attention.

“What was the stupidest rumor flying around about me?” Fujin asked with a half-squint.

Seifer chuckled, “Well, they are not as bad as the rumors the ‘guys’ make, but I guess the worse one was that you walk around your room naked and sing holding a hairbrush with curls in your hair.”

 

Elegant colorless brows arched up in surprise, “That’s it? ‘That’ was the worst rumor about me?”

Seifer shook his head, “You are not allowed two questions.” At her disappointed look, he asked, “What did you understand from Raijin’s book?”

“That there is no way for a sorceress to pass her powers without dying and that there is one way for her to carry her knight’s child, but I don’t know what it is.” She smiled, this game is fun! “My turn, what is the worst rumor about me in the ‘guys’ hallways?”

Seifer’s face turned several shades of red as the inevitable question surfaced. “I don’t think you want to know.”

Her heart skipped a beat. It must be a real biggie for Seifer Almasy to blush! “No, no tell me! It’s the rule!”

He hung his head, “It was much easier telling it to Raijin.” He cleared his throat, “Well, after every PE class the guys would usually gather around in the locker room and share their ‘Romantic adventures’ that happened through the week. It was like a weekly game of poker to them or like a weekend.” He shrugged, unable to reach the point, “A lot of guys like to describe their experience and that is very understandable, the problem is that a few newbies to the group make up stories and tell it all wrong.”

Fujin crossed her arms, “Get to the point Seifer.”

He coughed and continued, all the while avoiding eye contact, “Well, for some strange reasons, some stupid teenagers like to include *you* in their affairs, mixing in some butter, cream, ice cubes and beaches.” He chuckled nervously.

He stopped there, and she -being the innocent virgin that she was- didn’t understand, so she urged, “And?”

“What else? I mean, they were saying it all wrong and icky, you’d want to spill your guts if you’ve heard all the sick stories.” He shook his head as if clearing an unnerving image from his brain. “Any way, my turn now, do you think you can write down a list of all the supplies we’ll need for our stay here?”

“Yes,” she answered quickly, “Tell me Seifer, how did you know all that about the locker room meetings?” she had a devilish gleam in her eyes as she spoke. 

He smirked, “Easy, I attended them, along with every single male student.” He made a small squeaky sound as he held back a laugh, “Squall was there a few times, got sick of the bantering and mocking of his inability to keep Rinoa down and decided to not go there anymore.” He sighed, “I guess I’ll pass for this question, you ask now.”

The young sorceress was grateful for the opportunity and then shot her most powerful question, “Do you love me? I mean, really.”

He calmed down a bit, but still held a smile on his face, “Of course I do, was it so hard for you to see?”

She slumped into the fluffy couch shyly, “I guess I had a little of a hard time to make sure.”

“Do you love me fuu?” he asked quietly.

 

The moment of truth had come.

 

She peered up with her big innocent eyes, “Oh, I don’t know…”

He growled playfully and wrapped her in his arms, “Come on! You’ve squeezed it out of me! Now I’ll squeeze you till it’s out of you!”

She laughed softly, feeling the long hair of her knight tickle her cheeks, “I guess you can be useful since you help me get rid of the headaches and buy me free lunches.”

He made a funny face at her and they both laughed, “I love you Seifer, I guess you didn’t have a hard time seeing it, huh?”

He shook his head, “Would you marry me?”

Her eyes widened.

 

Isn’t it a bit too soon for happily ever after? She thought, I guess this way I can justify living with him… I can’t believe we haven’t even spent a week together and he is already asking for my hand?

 

“Alright Seifer, what's the gig?” she looked into his eyes.

He shrugged, “No gig! I just need a wife for my meeting with my boss tomorrow.”

Suddenly her throat went dry and she felt her stomach curl all over itself painfully. That was why he was asking her to get married?       

He chuckled sheepishly, “Just kidding, I wanted to lighten up the mood alright?”

She felt tears bubbling behind her eyelids but she stubbornly refused to let them go, “Sure…”

 

Oh man, what have I done? The misfortunate knight cringed inwardly, she is made of glass!

 

“Come on Fuu, I didn’t mean to hurt you! I was just kidding!” he forked his naked fingers in his hair and kept on talking, unable to resist trying to make her feel better, “When you asked if there was some kind of gig I- I got nervous and feared you’d say no. so I didn’t want to embarrass us both, alright! I didn’t mean the job thing, really.” He’d seen the tears build in the corners of her eyes and cling to her eyelashes, but couldn’t do more than talk.

 

Great, I just screwed things up, I’m an ass.       

 

She nodded and hugged her knees to her chest, “I’ll help you with your boss, don’t worry about it, *sniff* just give me a ring to make everything believable.”

He nodded, he was planning on proposing under a different and better set of circumstances later. 

“Well, *sniff* go get a piece of paper if you want a list of groceries.” She rubbed her nose and hugged her toy dolphin.

 

God she looks beautiful when she is being tough, but she looks more beautiful when she is being weak, that I guarantee.

 

After a few moments he had ripped a paper from and old text book of his and found a pen hiding somewhere between his stuff. He watched in awe as she quietly scribbled on the paper and he was surprised at the very long while she took to write them. Was the list that big? He thought with a frown.

 

“Here.” She gave him the list with puffy eyes and swollen lips, but still dry cheeks.

His eyes widened when he’d seen the things he was expected to get, “Fuu, I’m gonna need a fortune as big as Cid’s to buy all these!”

“Use my credit card.” She suggested.

“Fujin, don’t you think the sh!!ty knights would be watching your account? The reason I haven’t asked for your help yet is because I didn’t want us to get caught!”

 

And here I was thinking that he was a resist. She thought as she brushed back her hair.

 

“Alright, but be sure to bring the dishes and spoons. Wouldn’t do to feed your boss in plastic dishes.”

He chuckled, “Of course not.” He started to get up and indulged in kissing her on the cheek. He felt unbelievable relief when she didn’t resist and smiled down at her, “I’ll try to get back soon.”

 

She nodded and a shadow of a smile played over her lips, “Don’t forget to bring the drinks, old married people with children dig that.”

Seifer laughed softly, “They have their reasons!”

 

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

Two hours later:

 

“Dammit.” Seifer cursed as another item dropped down from his bag. “Why wouldn’t these things stay still?” he sighed in frustration, “I can’t even get a cab, I have to ~walk~ all the way home.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~      

 

Fujin was startled as a foot was banged awkwardly against the door. She had been watching a stupid movie and was getting drowsy.

 

“Who is it?”

“It’s me honey,” he called quietly, his voice muffled from the big bags in his arms, “Open up.”

 

The bored sorceress got up, retrieved her keys and opened up for her knight. “Hi, let me help you.” She took a few bags from his face and they both half stumbled into the kitchen.

 

“Did I write all these?”

Seifer huffed, “Yeah, and I had to walk all the way here, so nobody would find our place.”

She bit her lip, “Sorry.”

 

She was just too cute to resist. He pulled out a bottle of beer and went to rest on the couch, “I’ll just rest my legs a little if you need any help just call.”

 

Fujin started to stuff cartons into cupboards and meat into the freezer. She’d spent about half an hour stocking and rearranging things that she was only left with a dozen bottles of alcoholic beer to stuff into the fridge.

 

The devilish side of her kept poking at her consciousness, asking her to drink, you are a grown up after all!  She shook her head, last time I got drunk I almost killed Selphie. The other voice spoke again, just a few sips! You’ll throw it up later anyway!

 

She stood there for a long moment, deciding finally that she might be old and strong enough to hold the liquor now. She grabbed herself a bottle and downed two-thirds of it.

 

She breathed for a long while, feeling the acid boiling in her delicate stomach, and already starting to pull down her rational thoughts.

 

“Seifer,” she wanted to call, but it came out as a sing song voice as she stumbled into the living room. “Hi.” She started fooling around with the rim of her oversized shirt and rubbing her calves to the too-long cuffs of her pajama pants.

 

Seifer put down his empty bottle -in which he was holding absently during the stupid long commercial break, debating on whether or not should he throw it on the screen.

 

“Fujin, are you drunk?” he’d never seen Fujin drunk, well, maybe once but it was a horrifying sight. She was swaying left and right and fighting something trying to escape her throat.

 

She nodded happily, “Aha! I haven’t got drunk ever since my eighteenth birthday!”

He nodded with guilt, he and Raijin had given her something light as a start, but she ended up kicking their best friend where the sun doesn’t shine and knocking her own head to a wall. Seifer managed to get out of it alive but hadn’t it been to the aid of Selphie that escorted Fujin to the bathroom and held the albino to relieve herself, they all would have been in big trouble with Dr. Kadowaki.     

 

“I remember,” he spoke between gritted teeth, “You feel sleepy huh? Why don’t you got to bed.”

She nodded, unusually hyper, “Okay, come tuck me in?”

He had drunk just as much as she has, but he was used to the alcohol in his blood, she obviously wasn’t, “Sure.” this will be easy, he insured himself, just wrap the blankets around her and she’s asleep.

 

Two minutes later she was stubbornly arguing with him about changing her clothes.

 

“But I don’t want to sleep in those! I want my yellow dress!”

“Fujin!” the poor man argued hopelessly, “The yellow dress is Selphie’s!”

“I don’t care!” she pouted.

“Arrg!” Seifer just scooped her up in his arms and laid her on the bed, “Go to sleep now and I’ll get you the dress tomorrow!”

“No!” she spat, wrapping her arms around his neck firmly, “You’ll just say that you forgot tomorrow!”

Seifer rolled his eyes, Thank Goodness tomorrow is a weekend. “Fujin, let go of me so I can turn off the lights.”

 

She kicked in the air lightly, “Great, what’re we gonna do?”

“Huh?” before he had a chance to say anything else, she was kissing and biting at his lower lip -rather clumsily too- it was starting to annoy his intoxicated mind and the only way he could reply to such an act was to kiss her back. He figured that she was getting the hang of it after a few moments, but then she gasped playfully.

 

“What's this?” her eyes shone mischievously at him as she slid a hand lower and curled her fingers.

His throat went dry as a sudden gasp ripped through his throat. That had to sober him up.

 

Is she THAT drunk? She’d never even dared to kiss my lips before, but now- this?

 

He started to get up, “That’s it, Fujin, you are too drunk to even think,”

She giggled happily, “What was that?”

Just like a child.

“What?” haven’t she been to anatomy lessons?            

“What were you hiding there?” her small fists were held close to her face in a childish matter.

She really doesn’t know!      

“What do you think?” he frowned, or maybe she’s just playing dumb.

“Hmm,” she raked her empty brain for a single thought, “Your wallet? No, it can’t be because you went shopping.”

 

His face went beat red.

 

“Aha!” she sat up, “You got me a present!” at his face she pouted. “Are you going to tell me?”

He shook his head. 

Suddenly, she changed the subject, “Did you sleep with Rinoa?”

God, this nightmare never ends!  He thought before frowning, “No I didn’t sleep with-”

“Was she slim?” Fujin pulled back her shirt to look at the actual size of her body, swaying left and right slightly,  “She looks like a model in skimpy but she looks like a sick crab in the swim suit.”   

That had to make Seifer laugh, he’d seen the raven-haired girl naked, but never went beyond there, as for all his other affairs. “I guess she does, but Fuu-”

“Would you make out with me if I asked you to?” she frowned, seeming less happy than a few moments ago.  

“No.” that’s it, Seifer, you can do it! Just say N O!

“Why not?” her brows knotted in a cute frown, “You don’t think I’m attractive?”

Why does she keep changing the subject? He sat at the edge of the bed and frowned at her, “Yes you are not attractive enough, now go to sleep.” that aught to shut her up, she’s drunk and will pass out soon anyway.

 

For his surprise, tears splashed down her cheeks.

“So, Rinoa is better than I can ever be.” She sobbed and gave him her back.

 

I’m a terrible person, I’ve hurt her this week more than I can ever hurt her through her whole life time. He cursed quietly and then touched her shoulder. “That’s not it, Fuu, you are beautiful, it’s just-” he was never able to say his whole thought as she cut him off mid-sentence.

“I’m just sleepy… Good night.”

“*Sigh* Good night princess.” He hugged her softly as she passed out.

 

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

 

Somewhere in the middle of the night, Seifer woke up at the sound of coughing.

 

“Oh man…” he turned on the light of the table lamp and pulled the weight of his body lazily off the bed, then went to pour a glass of water. He shuffled slowly into the bathroom and stood for a moment to observe.

 

The petite body of Fujin lay balled up at the cold tiles of the floor, coughing lightly every once in a while.

 

Seifer knelt besides her and pulled her up in his arms, touched the rim of the glass to her lips and she sobbed softly as she drank and cleared her throat.

 

“Here, let me help you.” He pulled her up and guided her to the bed, “You shouldn’t drink anymore, it just drives us both crazy.”

She nodded and sniffled as she threw herself heavily at the soft mattress, falling asleep immediately.

The blond knight pulled her closer to the warmth of his body and turned off the lights to join her into slumber again.

 

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

 

She was holding a sleeping infant. The child looked like Seifer -literally! She brushed a few silver strands away from her face and smiled down at the infant, feeling tears run down her cheeks.

 

Shiva smiled at her, and at the door, stood Ultimecia.

 

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

 

Fujin awoke at the end of the strange dream, why was she with Shiva and Ultimecia? Where was Seifer? Who was the child? All of the questions dissolved into her subconscious as she gazed through the dark at the handsome face that lay only inches away from her nose.

 

“Seifer,” she whispered quietly, receiving nothing from him but a sigh and more nuzzling.

 

His breath was warm against her cheek and the alcohol had already cleared from her head, she decided that it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy the moment, she would say that she was still drunk had anybody asked, it would work. There was only the two of them and it was up to them to do whatever they wished and nobody would question them.

 

It felt strange and a bit horrifying that all the rules and discipline that Garden had taught them meant nothing now that they were free, free to do whatever nonsense they want. Now she can drink, dress skimpy -if she ever wished so- curse taboo things and even *gulp* sleep with men?

 

The last thought scared her, living within the rules was boring, but having no rules whatsoever was scary!

 

“Fuu, you awake?” Seifer shifted and pulled his arm from around her, squinting in the dark, “It’s still dark, go back to sleep.”

“I just had a dream, sorry, did I wake you?” she questioned and snuggled closer, the night was indeed cold.

He smiled and lay back down, “No…” *pause* “Alright yes, I was worried about you, you were spilling your guts and coughing all night. I’m not allowing you to go close to any alcoholic drink ever again.” He warned.

“Okay.” She giggled, now *this* rule she agreed on. “Why are we sleeping in the same bed?”

He thought for a moment, “I don’t know. Sorry.” he was attempting to move away but she reached out for his shirt.

“No, its cold anyway, stay here till the morning alright?”

Seifer grinned, “I never thought you’d ask.”

Fujin’s pale cheeks flushed, “No! Not that stay!”

 

After a few moments of wholeheartedness, Seifer whispered, “Do you remember what you did last night?”

She shook her head, “Not really.”

Seifer held a chuckle, he was glad, “Oh, okay.”

“Was it bad?”

Seifer shook his head and stretched, “Nah, forget it.”

Fujin rolled to her side and rested her elbow on the pillow, “I remember you comparing me with Rinoa, and spilling my lunch.”

“Sorry about that, I just wanted to keep you away from me. I guess you were going through a heat phase.” He chuckled.

She blushed as bits and pieces of night before cleared, “Sorry.”

Seifer yawned and pulled the covers over her shoulders, “Go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”

She nodded, “Yeah, I have to be your *wife*.”

“Wanna get married?” he asked, looking into her eyes in the dim light.

“Seifer, love isn’t everything.” She started, but before she could continue, he spoke.

“I know! Fujin, I think people marry for a lot of reasons, and right now I think we have enough reasons.” He turned on the bedside lamp and sat up, “I think we will have to live together for a long time until things settle down, and I don’t really like the way some people speak of you already.” He shook his head. When his sorceress didn’t say anything he continued, “And besides, I think us living together is a good thing, you know, like Cid and Edea lived together, sorceress and knight!”

 

Fujin nodded.

 

Hmm, not convinced yet? He thought before brushing back his hair and raking his mind to find more reasons, “Maybe if we get married we can solve a lot of mysteries, like why the heck your father was trying to kill you, and why they killed Raijin.” He shrugged, trying to get his idea through her stubborn head.

“Okay.” She leaned back.

 

*Blink blink* “That’s it? Okay?” Seifer asked.

She nodded, “Yeah, you convinced me.” She smiled, “I guess since you are the one paying, there has to be something I can do for you.”

“No Fuu, you don’t owe me anything. I just want you to be happy.” He hugged her. “Really.”

She hugged him back, “But you know we are not married yet.” He glared at him and he gave a sheepish smile.

“I know. Tomorrow morning, alright?” he pulled her down and turned off the light.

Through the silence and darkness, she spoke quietly, “Don’t you think it’s a little early, I mean, I want to marry you, but there are several issues waiting to be solved.”

He nodded, “Yeah, tomorrow we will sit and talk, its weekend.”

She yawned and snuggled closer.

 

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

 

The sound of birds and traffic woke the sorceress up, she was grumpy and had a hangover, and in no mood to wake up and smile at stupid Estharian birds.

 

“Oh life just keeps getting worse.” She yawned and stretched. The window was open and sent in a chilly cool breeze that froze her over.

 

Fujin got up and almost fell on her face as the blood drained out of her head for a long moment. The smell of freshly cooked eggs and toast drew her to the kitchen. What she saw there woke her up for sure.

 

Seifer was singing a cheesy song while wearing a pink kitchen apron, stirring eggs in a frying pan and adding some salt.

 

Fujin smiled and sat down silently at the table, nibbling at the warm bread that was served at her plate. Hmm, maybe he doesn’t need me as a house maid like I thought. She thought with a smile and fought a giggle as drops of hot butter popped out of the pan and into his shirt.

 

“Oh crap…” he cursed and turned off the stove. Upon turning around and serving the eggs, he noticed his wife-to-be sitting at her seat, cheeks red from suppressed laughter.

He smiled, “Morning.”

 

She was surprised that he didn’t make any stupid comments or tried to defend his bruised ego. What had happened to the old sarcastic Seifer?                

 

“Good morning.” She smiled and watched as he sat down and started eating. “Seifer was I dreaming last night or were we discussing something important?” Stupid alcohol.

Seifer grinned, “Yeah, you agreed on marrying me.”

“Oh.” She took a moment to think, through all the festivals and happiness that filled her vision with pink and white happiness, a black spot marred her thoughts. “Seifer, you look so much like my father.”

Seifer nodded, “Yeah, I’ve been thinking that too, we need to ask Matron a few things about our past.” He took a bite off his bread, “I want to know who gave us to her.”

 

It’s strange that neither one of them thought about asking this any earlier.

 

A mutual understanding passed between them as they quietly ate their breakfast.

 

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

 

Seifer sat at the sofa comfortably, back leaned, arms stretched and legs apart, he was watching a stupid sitcom and yawning.

Fujin emerged from the kitchen and took off the apron, “Why’d you buy a pink apron?”

Seifer chuckled, “I thought girls loved pink! Besides, it was the only color left.”

Fujin made a face, “I’m not that fond of pink, but its okay.” She shrugged and sat down next to him. “Should we get going?”

“Where?” Seifer gave a confused face.

“To Edea!” Fujin exclaimed in a-matter-of-fact tone.

“What? Edea is at Balamb! There is no way we are going there now.” He crossed his arms, “If we are going somewhere it will be to Rinoa in Odine’s laboratory.”

The young sorceress nodded approvingly, “Okay, lets go.”

O/_ O “Now?”

“Yes!” she panted angrily, “NOW!”

“Okay okay!” he laughed, “Fine!”

 

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

 

After fifteen minutes of walking to and fro the rent-a-car agency, Seifer finally called Fujin down and helped her into the car. She had settled on a scarf over her hair and put on sunglasses so that nobody would recognize her.

 

The easy part was leaving the apartment, the hard part was actually entering Odine’s lab without getting Fujin to stay there for tests again.

 

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

 

Seifer sighed and took a quick glance at the veiled woman next to him, he hated the silence with a passion, and would do anything now to make it stop.

 

“You know, Fuu, nobody is watching that now we are in Esthar desert road.” When she didn’t respond, he explained, “You can take off that scarf.”

Fujin sighed and took her head off the window. She took off the glasses and scarf and placed them in her lap. “I can’t believe I’m going to Odine’s lab on my own free will.”  

Seifer chuckled, “Me neither.”

“Seifer do you think it’s too late to turn back now.” She started to fret.

“Nah, I brought my gunblade and whoever dares to touch one hair of you is dead meat.” He assured and took a quick glance around the disserted road, “I bet a lot of people hate Odine, or else they would have used this road more often.”

“Seifer, why would a perfectly healthy human being walk to his doom? Odine is a psycho.” She shrugged.

 

Seifer nodded and silenced, he hated those pauses where there was nothing else to say.

 

“How much till the laboratory?” the sorceress asked, trying to fight the edginess and nervousness that made her muscles spasm.

“No less than an hour.” Seifer checked his watch, “We should have brought some snacks.”

Fujin chuckled, “I never thought the ride would take so long.” She pulled up her purse, “But I have some Skittles!”

“Cool, gimme the red ones.” Seifer reached out a hand to receive the treat.

“No way, I love the red ones, you take the purple ones.” She joined her brows and smiled, “Or else.”

“Or else what?” Seifer stopped the car and turned to scowl at the young sorceress.

 

Fujin looked like a deer caught in headlights. After a few moments of re-thinking what she had just said, and noticing nothing wrong with it, she started to panic. “What?”

Seifer undid his seat belt and shifted closer to her, still gazing into her eyes.

“Seifer.” Fujin warned in a worried tone, “Here, have them all, I don’t even want the red ones.” She gave him the sealed small package and crossed her arms.

Seifer chuckled, opened the bag of sweets, and handed her the red ones. “Here, I was just trying to frighten you.”

Fujin refused to take the red ones either, “Just drive.”

“What's with you?” Seifer screeched irritably, “I was just trying to pass time okay!” he started the engine and then started to drive again, “Sorry, Fuu.”

Fujin shook her head, “I don’t know what's wrong with me lately,” she hung her head and sighed, “I get upset easily, drink, cry over stupid stuff like dolphin toys and ask to go to Odine’s lab.”

“S’okay sweetie, you’ve been going through a lot lately, I don’t blame you.” He sounded so soft and… caring?     

“Seifer, you’ve changed.” The albino admitted, brushing back her hair, “I think I like the new you.” A small smile tugged at her lips as she peered at him shyly through colorless eyelashes.

Aristocratic features softened as a smile split the knight’s face, “I’m trying my best, but it’s just hard to keep the upbeat persona when your best friend died a few days ago.”

“True.” She nodded, “So what you are saying is that this is only a phase?” she questioned quietly, unable to hide the disappointment.

“I hope not.” He confessed.

 

After a few moments of pleasant silence, Seifer chuckled, “That’s funny, I thought you’d say something about me pet-naming you.” He glimpsed at her quickly before turning to the road.

She fought a smile, “I was surprised at first, but then it just felt- kind of… *blush* it felt kind of right.”

“What did Selphie use to call you?”

“Oh no, please.” She rolled her eyes.

“Come on!” he urged, “Tell me!”

She sighed heavily, “She used to call me Fuji-pooh.”

Two seconds of silence later, Seifer was throwing his head back in a loud husky laugh. “Fuji-pooh? Why didn’t I think of that?”

Fujin pouted and fought hard to keep the sheepish smile off her face. “Because you don’t eat a dozen pixie stix every day.”

“Oh, yeah.” As a matter of fact.

 

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

 

“For the last time sir!” the guard at Odine’s laboratory tried to convince, “I have no authority to let you in!”

Seifer frowned and returned to the car. Just when the guard sighed in relief, he was shocked to see the huge gunblade the blond -and angry- man pulled out of the back seatt.

“S- s- s- sir!” the guard choked, “I -I th- think I- I -I c-can arrange s- s- something *gulp*!” he pulled up a small walkie-talkie from his belt and pressed a red button, “Uhh, Blond male, veiled female coming in to see Sorceress Rinoa Kenneas, authorization granted. Let them pass.”

 

Seifer smiled and nodded approvingly, “Come my dear.” He addressed the light-skinned woman next to him and they both strolled in like king and queen.

 

 

 

After two minuets of walking around and following signs, they finally found the sorceress’s (observation room).

“This just creeps me out, Seifer.” Fujin clung to his arm and looked around suspiciously.

“I know, can’t you feel the bumps on my skin?”

“You are wearing a leather shirt.”

“Hmm, sorry, my mistake.” He nodded and pushed the door open.

 

They walked into the room and found a couple of empty white beds pressed to the walls to allow more space in the middle. Back into the corner of the quiet room, lay a woman and a man next to each other. And from where the new sorceress and knight had stood, the two unknown persons weren’t moving at all.

 

“I think we should go.” Fujin whispered, fearing to have barged into a privet moment.

“No way, I’m not going out and risking you getting caught, again.” Seifer grabbed his fiancés hand and practically dragged her to the end of the room. “S’cuse me,” Seifer called from a two-bed distance, “Is Rinoa here?” 

 

The woman turned her head slowly and got up on her elbow, her soft black hair flying slightly as she turned around to observe the person who was addressing her. “I’m Rinoa… Oh Fujin!” she pulled her arm away from her sleeping husband and got up to greet the albino sorceress who saved her life. For Fujin relief, the raven-haired sorceress was fully clad.

 

“Fujin, you saved my life,” Rinoa hugged her savior warmly, “How can I ever repay you?” remains of tears hung at her dark thick eyelashes.

For an unknown reason, Fujin felt something hot and bitter swell within her, “Take your powers back, I don’t want them.” The albino girl could almost feel Seifer’s gaze on her.

Rinoa blinked for a few moments before stating, “I can’t take them back, and even if I could I wouldn’t want them.” The soft innocent face that was thanking just a few moment ago turned into an angry and sorceress-like look, “Life isn’t fair, Fujin, you should have learned that by now.”

Seifer kept quiet as he let his sorceress defend herself for once, “Not fair? You get shot, send lightning through my body, give me unwanted powers and make the whole world hate me just because ‘life isn’t fair?’”

Rinoa shifted her weight, “Sorry, Fujin, I can’t do anything, even without the sorceress powers I cant have children with Squall.”

Fujin shook her head, “Then what am I supposed to do?” Even if I pass my powers I wont be able to marry my knight? Why is this all happening to me now?

“Go ask Odine, he knows almost everything about sorceresses.” Rinoa stated before going back to sit next to the sleeping Irvine.

“Odine?” Fujin screeched, “I didn’t come here to get caught by Odine!” despite Rinoa’s attempts to keep it quiet, Fujin was so enraged that she didn’t care anymore, “I don’t care if your husband was asleep! Get him a room! I need answers!” suddenly, Fujin turned around and grabbed Seifer’s hand, dragging him out carelessly.

“Nice seeing you again, Rinoa.” Seifer waved before being dragged out.

 

~~

 

“Fujin,” Seifer called out quietly when Fujin started walking around the lab aimlessly, her fingers still firm around the cuffs of his jacket with not intention of letting go. 

“WHAT?” She growled and turned around with a frown, “Nice seeing you Rinoa?” she mocked, “That was so sick! You just love kissing up for her don’t you? Every guy does.” She huffed then let go of his clothes to barge into a door.

Seifer shrugged wide-eyed and followed, “Fuu, this door is off-limits!”

“I DON’T-” the young sorceress started angrily before realizing that the room she had just entered was completely empty save for the sorceress capsules. “Care…” she completed the last sentence quietly.

 

The same capsules that were locked up safely at the guardian force world were now present in front of the sorceress and her knight.

 

Seifer’s jaws dropped open at the sight of so much sleeping sorceresses, most of them had light-colored hair. “Fuu, what's all this?”

At his question, he was answered with a slap upside the head, “Stop staring!” Fujin blushed, “That’s probably a naked me you are looking at!” 

“Really?” Seifer gave a dopy grin -on purpose- and widened his eyes at the sleeping silver-haired body in front of him, “I never knew your hair was so long.” His expression turned to one of wonderment as he gazed at the Shiva-pose with her long hair covering her lower stomach to her calves. 

“Yeah, yeah, sure. This isn’t me, I don’t have tattoos on my face.” Fujin started to shove him out of the room with her cheeks burning red at the thought that she might be around here somewhere. Suddenly she stopped, “Wait a minuet. This room is supposed to be in the GF realm, how the hell did it get down here?”

Seifer shrugged, “Dunno, ask that little guy behind you.”

Fujin turned around to find a small, ugly, frowning face with so much white make-up and a funny bozo outfit, “Vat are you two doing here?”

Fujin gave a forced smile, “Odine!” the clown, “It’s nice to see you!”

Odine corked an eyebrow, “I never thought you’d say that.” He turned around and pressed a button on a panel, all the capsules carrying the women disappeared.

“Hologram?” Seifer crossed his arms.

“Yes.” The small man answered with an unpleasant face, “Vat did you vant to come all ze way here?”

Fujin sighed, “I want to get rid of these powers.”

Both men stared at her, and spoke at the same time, “What?”

 

“I don’t want to be a sorceress!” she explained, “I want to lose the powers!” thought it’s been fun to communicate with guardian forces.

Odine shook his head, “Unfortunately, you have already crossed ze point of no return, you must die to lose ze powers.”

Sorceress and knight stood quietly, still awaiting explanation.

“Edea vas possessed, zat vas why she didn’t die when ze sorceress from ze future left her body and took ze magic with her.” The doctor explained while messing around with some wires under the panel, “Gimme a screw driver.”

 

Seifer looked around and was just about to bend to get the tool when suddenly a purple cat with black stripes grinned wickedly and took the screwdriver into its mouth, then handed it to its master that was bending under the panel.

 

“Ahh!” Fujin grabbed Seifer’s arm, “Gimme cat!”

“What?” the baffled blond took one step backwards, “I’ve never seen anything that hideous! What is it?”

Fujin shivered, “The worst thief you’ve ever seen!”

 

They both watched as the unusually obedient creature followed Odine’s orders and brought him the tools he needed.

 

“Odine.” Seifer started, “What are you doing?”

“You are ze first person to ask zis!” the short doctor stood up from under the metallic object and pressed the button again. The hologram of the capsules returned again. “Zis is a live picture from ze guardian force world! We can look at ze guardians whenever zey cross zis room!”

Fujin crossed her arms, “That’s eavesdropping, besides, Gimme cat stole the keys so nobody will be in for a long while.”

 

Odine blinked several times before searching his small pockets and producing a huge key, “Take zis and put it where it belongs.”

In a flash, a small Gimme-Cat-sized portal opened, the small creature jumped in, and then the portal was gone.

 

“Handy.” Seifer admitted, getting an elbow plunged into his arm, “Ow! What's that for?”

“Odine,” Fujin ignored her knights whining, “There was a guy who looks just like this man.” She pulled Seifer closer, “Have you seen or read anything about him?”

The busy doctor huffed, “I am busy, please!”

“He claims to be Ultimecia's knight!” Fujin shrieked, pissed off. “Now either you tell me what you know or I’ll fry your ass! I hate you enough already!”

Black eyes watered as the doctor took a few steps back, “Okay okay! I’ll help you!”

 

Seifer chuckled.

 

“What do you know about Ken Nomura?” she asked and found herself a nice panel to sit at.

“*sigh* He vas a knight to passed three sorceresses. The first one was killed by ze ‘holy knights’” he stopped and turned to the albino sorceress.

“I know them, carry on.” She nodded.

Odine nodded then stepped over to one of the capsules, “Of course, zis is a hologram, we cannot touch it.”

“I know that already! What about the sorceress!”

Odine frowned, “Okay, okay. Don’t be so impatient! Nomura married the first one, but ze holy knights killed her.” The woman in the capsule in front of him had blond hair and a bluish-white skin tone, of course, she was dead, you’d look like this if you were dead, too.

“You said that already.” Seifer Frowned and leaned back on a wall, “Stop repeating yourself.”

“Sorry!” the unusually short scientist sighed, “I’m getting old.”

 

“No kidding?” both youngsters mocked at the same time.

 

“Well, anyway, her powers were transferred to her daughter.” With that, the doctor stepped over to the capsule next to the blond woman. “Zis is her, she also passed her powers to her daughter Ellone Loire,.”

 

That information kicked in a few questions. Seifer perked up and asked, “You knew Ellone’s mother?” Does Ellone know about this?

Fujin had a completely different train of thoughts, for she asked, “She had a daughter?” Sorceresses having children?

 

Odine nodded, “Yes, Ellone knew, her mother and father were shot in front of her, and yes ze sorceress had a child, But not with her knight. Of course, her knight vas her father so there vas no way she was going to... You know.” He shrugged at the strange glares he was getting. 

 

“Ellone isn’t dead,” Seifer frowned, “That means she still has powers.”

The patient doctor shook his head, “No, her powers were suppressed by me. Only her hidden powers are working now.”

“Sending people to the past.” Fujin figured.

“Correct.” Tiny feet scuffled to an empty capsule, “Zis is her tomb, she iz not in it yet.”

 

After a few silent moments, Fujin asked, “Nomura is Ellone’s knight, then?”

Odine shook his head, “No, Nomura vas killed by Laguna Loire at ze first sorceress war. Nobody vas able to locate his body though.”

“That’s because he isn’t dead yet. We’ve seen him a few days ago.” Seifer stood behind the doctor, “Don’t you think this tomb is a little too small for Elle?”

“You vant to actually PUT her there?” the doctor cried out, “She is sill young and pretty! *whisper whisper* I still haven’t done enough tests on her.”

 

“Odine,” Fujin changed the subject back, “Ken Nomura married Ultimecia, she had a baby daughter.”

The doctor widened his eyes, “Vat?”

“You didn’t know?” Fujin joined her brows, and then climbed down from where she sat to stand in front of an empty capsule. That’s funny, I’m supposed to be here, aren’t I?           

“No, do tell!” the doctor scuffled his feet quickly to stand next to the albino, “Please!”

“Ultimecia married Ken, they had a daughter.”

“Fuu, you said that already.” Seifer noted.

“*Glare* I know.” She frowned, “Their daughter is supposed to be in this capsule.”

“Not if she was still alive.” Odine rubbed his chin. “Sorceress, vere is your capsule?”

Fujin peered down, Oh yeah, he already made stupid tests on my sorceress body, he must wonder where I’m gonna die. “You are looking at it.”

 

You can practically see the wheels turning in the small bald head of the doctor, before he snapped, “YOU are Ultimecia’s daughter?”

“Duh…” Seifer yawned.

Fujin nodded, “I want to know more about Ultimecia.”

Odine shrugged, “Then go to ze sorceress memorial, she is zere vaiting for you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you, ze ‘new sorceress who took over Rinoa’s powerz’” he made hand gestures and then turned back to the panel. “Vere iz zat stupid cat, I need to know if zis hologram machine can show guardian forces.”

 

Seifer walked around and tried not to gaze too long at the beautiful women, “Why do you want to see Guardian forces?”

“To know zeir life style!” he explained, “Vat zey eat, their habits, how zey feel when zey are summoned, things like zat.”

Fujin shrugged, “It’s easy, they-” suddenly, all memories about her two days with Shiva and Siren were wiped clean of her memory, as if they never happened.

“You will tell me?” the doctor asked with glee.

“I- I- I can’t remember, I forgot…” she held her head, trying to get the memories back, “I was there, and Ifrit… that’s it, I remember Ifrit, and Bahamut was doing something… I can’t remember.”

Odine pouted, “Just like ze other sorceresses, I vill not hurt zem! I promise!”

Fujin shrugged innocently, “I know! I would tell you, but I really forgot! Moments ago I knew everything, but now I can’t even make sure if I was actually there!”

Odine sighed, “Z’okay, all of zem forget. Have a nice trip outside and don’t get caught. I like you.”

 

A muscle in the knight’s cheek twitched, “You what?”

Odine laughed sheepishly, “Sorry, I don’t like you, I hate you, come on, get lost!” he shooed the sorceress outside. “I don’t vant to get my butt kicked, you too, out.” He pushed the tall blond outside as well before locking himself up in the ‘hologram’ room.

 

“How rude.” Fujin fixed her shirt. “Where did I leave my scarf?” she looked around and then realized that she had left it inside the room that was just locked. “*sigh* he wont open the door, lets just get out of here.”

 

Seifer nodded, “Yeah, I don’t want to not be there when my boss comes to visit.”

Fujin crossed her arms as she walked next to her knight through the hallway, “Seifer, how can Ken Nomura be my father and look more like you?”

Seifer shrugged, “Keep asking questions, Fuu, you might find an answer.”

She frowned.

“No really! Sometimes if you keep asking you get an answer to a question you’ve decided to forget! Like if you were looking for your hair brush and then decide that you don’t want it anymore, and then you go looking for your hair clip and find the hair brush instead, life is crazy, it might happen you know.”

Fujin gave him a look one would give a sick chocobo trying to jump on one leg. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, then. My father is Ellone’s father, my father looks like you not me, but Sorceresses don’t have children from their knights… *growl* it just doesn’t make sense!” she scratched her head madly, “I don’t want to be sisters with Ellone Loire! I hate Ellone Loire!”

 

Seifer made a pouty face, “I like Elly, she’s nice.”

Fujin squinted her eyes, “She’s a wimp, don’t you remember the way she started crying and calling for her ‘uncle’ when she was held hostage at the lunatic Pandora?”

“You were threatening to cut off her arm with a Shiruken for crying out loud! You would call out for your uncle if you were her, and you don’t even have an uncle!”   

“I still hate her.” Fujin argued.

“Fine hate her, who cares.” Seifer turned a corner and sent a fist to the guard that was just standing there quietly

Fujin’s eyes went wide, “Why’d you do that for?”

“I hate people who stare.”

“And that’s a reason enough to break his face?”

“Yeah.”

 

The rest of the trip to the car went eventless and quiet, pretty unusual for the couple.

 

Seifer fastened his seat belt, and then looked at his fiancée, “You really don’t remember anything about the last two weeks?”

The sorceress shook her head. “Other than that Odin gave me an advice, no.”

“Really? What is it?” Seifer leaned back.

Guide him to his heaven before he drags you both to his hell… she remembered, “I- I didn’t understand it.”

“What was it?” he started the engine, “Maybe I can explain it.”

“I can’t remember it.” She lied.

“Come on, I’ve seen the look on your face, you just don’t want to tell me.” He grinned.

“Okay, I don’t want to tell you, just drive.”

“Fine, where are we going?”

“To the sorceress memorial.”

A soft frown crossed over elegant features, “No, it’s not time yet.” At her glare he explained, “Nomura said so.”

“Let’s go home then.” She hung her head, “My head hurts.”

“Again?” he touched her shoulder.

“No, no. just a hangover from the alcohol.” She explained, “I get the unusual and sudden headache only when Ultimecia tries to posses me.”

“And you know this how?”   

“Hmm, Nomura.” She looked outside, “He explained a lot of things.”

“I’m not even sure if we should believe him.” Seifer made a face before leaving the laboratory.

“Great, now we have two hours to think.” She fumed and slunk down into her seat.

“Do you like the silence, Fuu?” Seifer questioned quietly.

“Not really, but I can shut up if you like.”

 

The depression was obvious in her voice, and there was nothing the knight could do to make her feel better. “Fuu, talk to me.”

“Why?”

“Because I hate to see you depressed like this.”

She gave him a tender smile before sighing, “Sorry, what do you want me to talk about?”

The blond shrugged, “I dunno, did you have a good night sleep?”

She nodded, then remembered a question she was intending to ask him, “Seifer, two days ago -when we had just moved into the apartment- where did you sleep?”

Seifer fixed the side mirror before answering, “At the kitchen, you’d be surprised at how comfortable that chair was.”

“Really?” she gave him an I-don’t-believe-you look.  

“Yeah really.” He sounded too serious to be lying, “Fuu, how about we get married right now.” He stopped at a junction that had two signs, ‘Esthar city’ and the other ‘Hyne’s house of prayer’.

Fujin bit her lip and started to really consider marrying the man next to her. Isn’t it a bit too early? I want to be with you, Seifer, I’m just not sure if this is the right time. Odin’s advice is driving me crazy, should I be with you or shouldn’t I?

“There is no pressure Fuu,” Seifer assured and pulled off the breaks, appearing to be a little down, “Let’s just get going before it gets late.”

“I know your plan, Seifer, you want to rush me so that I’d tell you to stop and then you’d go that way and then it will be too late to run back, right?”

“No.”

“*Blink blink* Of course it is, every man does that.”

Seifer corked an eyebrow, “And how many ‘men’ did that to you?”

“Including you…” she started to count, “One.”

Seifer smiled at her giggle, “So what's your choice? I’ll respect it whatever it was.”

Fujin smiled and brushed back a few strands of hair, “Tell me again why we are getting married?”

Seifer took a deep breath and turned off the engine, this will be long. He thought before answering, “Firstly, because I am your knight and I have to be with you to protect you. Secondly is because I like sleeping in beds, and chairs/sofas aren’t that comfortable to sleep in. Thirdly is because we’re going to live together and life won’t be fun if we were just two separate people living in the same apartment.” He explained, and at the expecting look on her face, he chuckled, “You don’t suppose loving you counts does it?”

She gave a small smile and he could almost se her crying in next few minuets.

 

Damn, glass Seifer, they are made of friggin glass!

 

“Is there a zero condition?” he asked, “Because loving you would top everything and it was so obvious that I forgot to mention it first.”

“I get it, Seifer, let’s just get married.”

He knew she didn’t believe him, but he guessed that if they were married he’d have a better chance at being nice without being misunderstood or humiliated. Nothing was as humiliating as being seen wearing a pink apron.       

 

They took a turn in the direction of Hyne’s worshiper’s place and pulled over in front of the gates.

 

The huge room was empty with a few chairs scattered here and there, Seifer shifted his weight, “Not your typical church.”

Fujin nodded in approval.

 

A man in a dark robe walked quietly pass them.

“Excuse me,” Fujin called, “We want to get married, who should we talk to?”

The man shifted his gaze from Fujin to Seifer and then back to Fujin, “You two are getting married?” at their nod he motioned for them to follow. 

 

~~~~~

 

“Just sign these papers and you are husband and wife.” The man explained.

“I get to kiss her don’t I?” Seifer grinned.

The man looked up in boredom, “You can if you want, but do it somewhere other than here.”

“What do you mean?” Seifer frowned, “Everybody gets to kiss their brides in the church!”

The man joined his brows, “Listen, kids, I’m sorry but I’ve had a bad day. Please get this over with!”

Fujin nodded and started to sign when the priest started fuming angrily.

“It’s not enough that I’ve had rebellions up my a- erm… on my case, and sabotaging every wedding party that occurred in the passed two weeks,” the priest then raised his voice to a level so that the two would hear him, “Their leader looks just like you young man, said something about you two not getting married.” He turned to Fujin, “You should be grateful they left yesterday to the sorceress memorial, or you, Sorceress, and your knight would have been done for.”

 

Seifer finished signing the contract and lift his head, “You recognized us?”

The man smiled, “Of course.” He folded the paper, “Go along now, just make sure you ask Odine Binary before you go off doing things.”

“Yeah, sure.” Seifer held his wife’s hand and walked her outside. “Binary?”

“French people have the strangest names I’ve ever heard.” Fujin rolled her eyes, “Besides, the nice man was just trying to help.” she defended.

Seifer grinned, unbelievingly happy, “Now let’s go Home.”

“Sure.” Fujin rolled her eyes with a smile, “That’s what you’ve been thinking about for the passed fifteen minutes right?”

Seifer made a stupid smile, “Naw! I wouldn’t think that!” suddenly he held her in his arms, “Hmm, Fuu.” He whispered.

“Yeah?” she was stunned at the thought that he was going to kiss her undoubtedly.

“Let’s go home.” He brushed back a few strands of her hair, she could feel his breath on her lips.

“Why?” she swallowed.

He let her go and walked towards the car with a shrug, “Because I forgot the rings there.” 

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Seifer unlocked the door and stepped into the dark living room. “Home sweet home, or so they say.”

Fujin closed the door behind her, “Is Rinoa beautiful?”

Seifer dropped his arms down from their stretch, “Fujin.” He whined, “Why would I marry you if I thought Rinoa was prettier?”

She crossed her arms with a pout, “I don’t know, because she’s taken.”

“No.”

“Because she has a child?”

“Nope.”

“Because she’s a bossy annoying witch that can’t decide on one man?”

O/_ O “Umm, she’s not that bad.”

Fujin frowned, “Who cares, what do you want for lunch?” she changed the subject.

Seifer followed her into the kitchen, “Fuu, you can’t run away from your problems, face them. Now what does Rinoa have that you don’t?”

“A baby.” Fujin sniffled and angrily searched through the cupboards to pull out a pot, fill it with water and then put it on the stove. “She’s prettier than I’ll ever be, and every single man that lays eyes on her turns mysteriously into butter.”

Seifer swallowed, “No they don’t!”

Fujin moved dangerously close to Seifer so that her nose was barely touching his, “Look at me Seifer and tell me what you see.”

He blinked. There is no wrong answer, whatever my answer is I’m gonna get kicked there. “Erm… A pair of pretty eyes?”

From what he could see, that was not the correct answer. “Umm, Umm… My wife?” he grinned. That had to be right!

Fujin just stayed there, expressionless.

Seifer held his breath unconsciously and braced himself for the hit that had to occur in the next few moments. That had to be right. But instead, he saw tears filling his bride’s eyes.

She turned away from him and started searching through the cupboards again, quietly.    

 

Seifer let go of the breath he was holding and sat down at the chair. “I gave up, what was the right answer?”

“There WASN’T any right answer!” she screeched, “Just hand me that spatula.”

Seifer handed over her demand quietly and pressed his hand to his cheek. “Any thing else?”

She just shook her head and ripped open a bag of macaroni, tiny pieces exploded out of the bag and fell to the floor like rain.

 

“Its okay, I got it.” Seifer bent down and started collecting the macaroni from around her feet. “Don’t get upset.”

“Sorry.” She whispered and he got up smiling.

“It’s nothing, really.”

 

Could Seifer be really that gentle?

 

“Why are you being so nice?” she asked softly before pouring the solid food into the boiling water, “You’ve never helped me in house work whenever the posse went on vacation.”

Seifer’s expression darkened, “We need each other now. There is a group of bloodthirsty people, who want us both dead, it wouldn’t really do if we keep on fighting.”

She nodded her understanding, “You’re right, I’m so sorry.”

“Besides,” he smiled back at her, “We are married now, nothing I do or say will be more humiliating than… than, hmm…” he rubbed his chin and advanced her, “Than making fun of your small bony body!”

She blushed, “Seifer! You are more perverted than I ever thought!”

He shrugged, “What? I’ve already seen you naked!” he started to count on his fingers, “When that freaky Nomura guy tried to drown you through your bath.” That was one, “And I’ve seen many naked sorceresses who look like you.” That was two, “And back when we were fourteen and I was caught in the girls’ locker room, I was watching you, you know.” There you go.

 

She sighed. “But you’ve never turned into butter through any of those times, huh?”

He blinked, “In the first time, I was too caught up in saving your butt, I couldn’t think. In the second, I was too caught up in trying not to let you see me gaze, I couldn’t enjoy it. And thirdly, I was afraid of getting caught, so it never really counts.”

Fujin nodded, “Aha…”

“What ahha?” he blushed, “Is lunch ready yet?”

She chuckled, “In a minute, dear.” She emphasized the word dear for no obvious reason.

“Well, then, Princess, I’ll be watching TV.” Pet-naming her felt like second nature to him.

 

 

Fifteen minutes later Seifer was pushing back his chair, undoing his belt and giving out a huge disgusting belch. “That was the best meal I’ve ever had in years.”

Fujin made a face but then smiled, “Get out, I bet you’ve had enough good food while in Garden!”

He shook his head, “Nothing like a meal made with love.” Seifer leaned forwards, “Or whatever spice you put in there.”

Seifer had never flattered her so much in one day, either he had changed for real, or that he was worming his way into something.  

“Sugar, Spice and everything nice.” She smiled, “Or in this case, only a few things that are nice.”

“What are they?”

“A kiss, a hug and a dash of salt.”

 

His laugh was like music to her ears, it’s been quite dull and sad ever since Raijin passed away, and though it was only a few days, it felt like several years to the albino.

 

“When will your boss get here?” she asked as she started clearing her plates.

“Dunno,” he got up to help her, “Probably seven or eight, do you have proper clothes?”

She nodded, “I guess. Am I going to be the pregnant woman again?”

“No.” he laughed, remembering last vacation when they wanted to get a room with double beds to the price of one, and Fujin had to stuff a pillow into her stomach and be as angry as she could, in the end, they got the room but Raijin had to share the bed with Seifer because Fujin couldn’t get the angry attitude out.

 

She nodded and finished washing her spoon, “Listen, I have a plastic ring with a blue fake diamond on it, would it do or are wedding rings diamond-less?”

Seifer held her hand, “No, come with me.” He took her into the bedroom and opened the drawer of the nightstand. “I got these.” He pulled out a small velvet box and pulled out two golden rings.

 

Fujin held her breath, expecting the most romantic proposal ever. Wait a minute, she thought, we are already married…

 

Seifer wordlessly slid the ring into his finger and then pushed the other to her own. “I hope it fits, I got it only a few days ago and you weren’t here to size it.”

She was too caught up in being disappointed at the dull ‘ring inserting’ thing that she didn’t notice right away the fact that he had bought the rings A FEW DAYS AGO!  

 

*click in information* “A few days ago? I wasn’t here a few days ago.”

He nodded sheepishly, “Umm, yeah. Raijin kinda got it in my head that- *ahem* you know. Have feelings for you.”

 

Disappointment after disappointment after disappointment.

 

Fujin felt tightness in her throat, “Oh, so it was Raijin who put that thought in your head, huh?”

Seifer, oblivious to her disappointment, sat down and smiled, “No, he just kind of reminded me, I guess I loved you all along, but never noticed it before.”

The tightness cleared. “Seifer, I’m tired of thinking everything through.” She sat down next to him, “Promise me that you won’t keep anything from me.”

He nodded, “Sure, I’ll be as open as a book.”

“Thank you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder, daring to seek his affection.

“Okay, I have a confession, I’ve never slept with a girl.”

She cringed, “Not that open.”

“What?” Seifer chuckled, “I thought that would be the first thing you’d want to hear.”

“Sure, you’ve never slept with anyone other than that girl from the bar, Rinoa Heartilly, that blond girl with curls, and the list goes on and on…” Fujin waved her hand in the air.

Seifer rolled his eyes, “If you have went right at them and asked them they’d tell you! Fujin, acting like a playboy is natural when you are a teenager living in a hallway filled with critical perverts.”

She pouted, “Well, I lived with critical perverted girls, they have no problem at being a virgin!”

The knight touched his sorceress’s cheek, “Living in a world of men is much different from your pink velvety world, honey. Us men created war, you women created settling down!” he hugged her suddenly, “Ohh, but this isn’t the topic is it? Can you play dress up for me?”

O_o? “Dress up?” Fujin squeaked, “For you?”

“Yeah, in hoping I’d get to see you naked and mysteriously melt into butter.”

She made a face, “Forget it.”

“Aw come on!” he kissed her cheek and made small humming sounds as he went down to kiss her neck, “Pwease!”

She squealed and squirmed in his arms, there was no way out of it for her! His hands traveled down and started tickling her stomach. “*Giggle* SEIFER! *giggle*”

 

*buzz buzz*

 

The newly wedded couple gasped and looked at each other in horror. “The boss!”

 

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

 

“It’s an honor to have you at my house sir.” Seifer smiled warmly as he shook the headmaster’s hand. “Where is the Mrs.?”

The black haired man returned the friendly gesture before answering, “She wasn’t feeling as good, you know how pregnant women are.”

“Unfortunately not.” Seifer looked back at his wife, “We just got married a last week.”

“Oh.” He chuckled, “Then I promise to not tire you tonight, and here I was hoping to play some poker.” He murmured before following the new teacher into the living room and sinking himself into the couch, “Wow, how long had this been here? Its so fluffy!”

“A few days,” Seifer smiled and watched as his wife excused herself to change, “We never really thought we’d need it. But you know how jealous women can get.” He winked.

“Oh.” The other man nodded in understanding, “I remember when my wife just had our daughter, she became real edgy and couldn’t take any word from me. I had to sleep in the baby’s room for a whole month!”

The blond chuckled lightly before asking, “Excuse me, Sir, but until now I haven’t had a clear answer about your name.”

The happy headmaster laughed and placed his hand on the younger man’s shoulder, “Just call me Jack.”

“Alright, Jack, what would you like to eat for dinner?” Seifer shifted, feeling friendlier.

Jack leaned back, “I didn’t know you cook Almasy.”

“I don’t.” Seifer shrugged, “I look like a real ass next to her talent.”

“Oh, for a minute there I thought you were one of those men who only get off the TV when its lunchtime and dinnertime, then they belch and leave without even helping the poor female do the dishes.” Jack laughed, oblivious to the truth.

I’m dead meat. Seifer thought before the bedroom door was opened and Fujin walked out wearing a warm turtle neck and a long skirt.

“Sorry I was late,” she smiled and sat at the armrest next to her husband, “See, honey, I told you we should have bought that armchair.”

“Sorry princess.” He scratched his head and surprised her when he pulled her into his lap, “Comfy?”

Fujin fought the blush that was sure to burn her cheeks and nodded quietly.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

Two hours later…

 

Jack and Seifer were involved in a real intense conversation about gunblades that Fujin decided she’d go ahead and prepare for dinner.

“I told him he shouldn’t fire, but he did anyway and off went his wrist!” Jack explained enthusiastically before taking a drag at his beer. “The smallest dent in the revolver can cause horrific accidents.”

“Yeah,” Seifer answered thoughtfully, “I’m glad I got mine from Garden before the junky replica-thingy started to spread.”

The older man looked around, “Where is that beautiful wife of yours? She’s not enslaving herself in the kitchen is she?”

“I don’t know, she really likes cooking though.” Seifer explained before drinking all that was left in his bottle.

“I came here to see her too, and she hasn’t spoken a word ever since I got here!”

“FUJIN~” Seifer called in a sing-song voice to call his wife from the kitchen.

 

Jack gave a quizzical face, “Fujin? As in sorceress Fujin?”

Seifer’s face went pale, “N- No, Just…”

The headmaster nodded quickly, “Don’t worry, I kind of like sorceresses, when I was young, a nice blond sorceress saved my life when I ran away from home.” He explained, “Dog-wolves were chasing me and I was almost dog-food.”

“Please don’t tell anyone, we’re only here for a little while,” Seifer explained as Fujin stepped into the room. “There are a lot of tangled matters to solve.”

Jack smiled, “Don’t worry.”

“How old were you when the sorceress saved you?” Fujin questioned.

Dark brows furrowed as the headmaster thought back over the years to remember, “It was around this time of the year, forty years ago that it happened, I still remember it like it happened yesterday.”       

Fujin’s eyes widened, “Forty years ago? How old were you?”

The man smiled, “Eleven.”

After a few moments of calculations, Seifer spoke, “So you are fifty one now?”

“You can say that.” Jack grinned then was surprised when his beeper went on. “Oops, baby alert, I have to go now.” Jack excused himself.

“But what about dinner?” Fujin questioned quietly.

“Oh,” he scratched his head, “I’m so sorry, but whenever my wife pages me this means she’s in a bad mood and wants to go to the hospital, she is in her last months you know.” With a smile, he allowed Seifer to walk him to the door. “Have a good day.” With that, he left.

 

“Phew.” Seifer locked the door, “I’ve never thought he’d be so Cid-like!” O/_ O

Fujin shrugged and plopped on the sofa, “Are you hungry? I’m not hungry at all.”

Seifer sat next to her, “Nah, you can take off that apron.” He looked her up and down before smiling, “You look nice in pink.”

She blushed softly and took off the leathery garment.

“You look nice in a skirt too,” he noted, “Why didn’t you wear skirts before?”

“Have you ever seen a SeeD in a Skirt?” the sorceress corked an eyebrow, “It’s hard to fight a T-Rexaur when wearing a skirt.”       

Seifer nodded, “Alright, I get it. Well, can you fight without it?” he grinned mischievously.

 

The apron was thrown in his face, and by the time he took it off, all he was able to see was the silhouette of his wife entering the bedroom and slamming the door.

 

“Crap…”

 

End of chapter eleven.

A/N: yeah yea, things just keep getting complicated. I know. But believe me, Seifer and Fujin are NOT brother and sister *don’t worry people* I think I have it all wrapped up in my mind, I just need them to be together for a few days before the action happens. Give me a few chapters and its done (I hope I finish it in time, I have exams in the next two weeks and I’m not sure if I’ll be there after them)~ R&R please ^_^