King's Heart (part 18 of 31)

Found

At around 4 in the morning, Irvine Kinneas was enjoying a wonderful dream of women surrounding him in an ancient Greek temple, feeding him all sort of fruits. He most certainly did not wish to have his dream rudely interrupted by Selphie’s deranged scream of joy. The pitch and tone was enough to have him jumping off the bed with a small pistol in his hand. Had it not been for Selphie’s quick movements, he would’ve shot her as she leapt at him from the computer room and tackled him to the ground.

“IRVY IT’S WONDERFUL!” She giggled. Irvine blushed, not used to having Selphie tackled him while he was dressed in nothing but boxers.

“Wh-what’s wonderful?” He began to laugh with her, not knowing why. Her mood was so contagious that he couldn’t help but join in. They laughed so hard that tears began streaming and by then, Irvine pulled himself together. “Ok, so tell me, why are we laughing?” She hugged him tightly.

“I found him.” Instantly, Irvine stopped being so gleeful and his eyes darkened. Him?

“Who’s him?” He asked.

“You know, the guy…um…ARIK! Yeah, that’s his name. You know, Quistis’s long lost love?” Instantly, Irvine relaxed but it didn’t go unnoticed by Selphie. “Heeeeyyyy…I get it. Were you jealous, Irvy?”

“Nope, I’ve got you all to myself.” He teased. Selphie got off of him and stood up, dusting herself off. “So, care to explain what the situation is?”

“Well, it’s nothing concrete but there’s this really old report that I found and it’s all about how this guy was found in the water at Fisherman’s Horizon. They took him in and he can’t remember anything. What they did find was some scraps of paper that clearly read, ‘Contract for SeeD’ His age, description and everything fits Instructor Mesh.” She jumped up and down with joy. “We’ve got to tell Quisty!” She headed for the door but Irvine grabbed her arm.

“I’ve got a better idea…”

-

-

Quistis awoke first. She always woke up bright and early to get some training done before doing whatever it was that needed to be done. So her biological clock was already set to around 5:00, earlier than most SeeDs and students who chose for the “late as possible” 6:30. But this time, she woke up at 6:00. Part of the reason she woke up early was because her dreams weren’t exactly the most pleasant. But last night…she drank a little too much. SeeDs are usually tolerant to high levels of alcohol, but even she could not believe how much she drank. She looked to the side of her, her heart skipping a beat. Xu was cuddled in her arms.

She had grown used to it. It was hard to sleep peacefully without Xu in recent days. But just seeing her, seeing the reality that was their relationship, it made her breath freeze in her throat and a warm feeling just spread to the tips of her toes when she thought about it.

“Mmmm?” Xu stirred, almost as if sensing Quistis’s thoughts. She opened her eyes and smiled. “Morning.”

“Morning.” Quistis replied softly, kissing her forehead.

“I’m getting so used to this.” Xu said, pulling herself closer. “It’s kinda scary.”

“What did we do last night?” Quistis asked. Xu smiled, knowing what she was hinting at.

“We didn’t do anything, Quistis. After Seifer left, we went to another restaurant and basically downed a couple of bottles of wine and had dinner.” She chuckled, her eyes still closed. Quistis was relieved. She was glad that they didn’t do anything yet. She wanted to be coherent and conscious when it happened. She blushed, shaking her head slightly to get rid of the thoughts in her head. It was making her uncomfortable. Suddenly, someone knocked at the door. Quistis and Xu both jumped off the bed and Quistis gathered Xu’s jacket and dress, still in her pajamas.

“I’ll go through the window!” The brunette said before toppling to the ground. She was still suffering from some of the aftereffects of being drunk. Xu began panicking, if someone were to barge in right now, what would she say? That they were having yet another sleepover? It’s possible that they’d believe her but it’d still be risky.

“Just relax, Xu. It’s not like they’re going to immediately assume anything.” Quisits whispered, touching her shoulder to calm her down. She walked over to the door and opened it.

“Hey!” Selphie threw her arms around Quistis, smiling from ear to ear. She spotted Xu. “Hi…wasn’t expecting.”

“Sleepover!” Xu blurted. Selphie eyed her warily.

“Riiiiggght.” She said. “Anyway, Quisty, we were thinking of taking a trip to say, Fisherman’s Horizon? Nida gave us the ok. We just thought we’d tour the place a bit.”

“Ok, that’s fine…but I’m still weak and I have to go back to work tomorrow.” She said cautiously. Selphie squealed and took hold of her arm. Quistis looked back at Xu just in time to see her twitch jealously before regaining composure.

“You’re emotions are written all over your face.” Quistis whispered with a smile. Xu shrugged. Selphie dragged her inside. Quistis wondered what the girl was doing until she started flipping through her closet, taking out outfits and judging each of them.

“Very nice.” She commented. “Too bad I’m not as tall as you, otherwise I’d ask to borrow these.”

“What are you doing?” The blonde asked. Selphie smiled and then put them back.

“Never mind, you look fine.” She said before plopping down on the bed and hummed happily. Xu and Quistis look at each other, knowing something was up and it was probably something neither of them would’ve liked.

-

-

Fisherman’s Horizon was still as beautiful as ever. The sun was high in the sky and the air still smelled like salt and fish. It was a wonderful little sanctuary and Quistis never minded returning to this place for rest and relaxation. Selphie took hold of her arm again and dragged her through the streets before she could thoroughly enjoy herself upon stepping outside. Xu followed, her eyes never leaving the smaller girl.

Quistis grew curious when she observed Selphie taking out a piece of paper from her jacket and looking around for an address. They had walked further than they had ever walked in the town and the area was quickly growing less friendly. Fisherman’s Horizon had two sections, the nice cheery one and the not so nice and cheery one. It was to be expected when outcasts from everywhere settled. Xu found herself tensing when a group of rather large males stopped to observe the three of them.

“What’s here that’s so important?” Quistis asked.

“You’ll see.” They entered a rather smoky and dark bar. Even meaner looking thugs played pool in the corner and when they saw the three lovely ladies, they walked over, smirking.

“So…what’s three fine looking girls doing around here, eh? Looking for action?” The one with a red, beer stained shirt said.

“No, we’re looking for someone cleaner than you.” Selphie retorted. The man was taken aback.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, go, shoo!” Selphie said, not making eye contact but instead scanning the bar. The man cracked his knuckles.

“Listen here you little.”

“We’re not here to cause trouble.” Quistis quickly added.

“Hey there fine thing…what’s that ya got? A whip, hey, we got a dominatrix here, fellas.” Another one with a crude buzz cut said, putting a hand on Quistis’s hip. Xu twitched once before swiftly putting herself between the two.

“Step away.” She hissed dangerously. The three males chuckled.

“Or what, little girls? We just wanna treat you to something nice…” The buzz cut guy drawled. He grabbed Xu’s wrists. By pure SeeD and martial arts instinct, she kneed him in the stomach. Even though he was obviously worked out and Xu a much smaller person, the pure accuracy and concentrated power honed in from her training brought him to his knees.

“What the-? Little!” The red shirted man dove for Xu who promptly dodged swept his feet and when he pitched forward, she brought an elbow down on his head. The third guy, a head shorter than the others, grabbed her from behind. She tried to wrestle free.

“Hey, boys, don’t cause trouble here.” The bartender walked over and clapped a hand on his shoulder. The man put Xu down, grumbling. The two others got up and the three stumbled out of the bar.

“We’re sorry.” Quistis apologized. “We didn’t mean any harm.”

“Nah, it’s ok.” The bartender said. He had short blond hair, a scar on the edge of his lip as well as above his eye, probably from previous barfights. He was a middle aged man who looked nice enough. He was very well built for a middle aged man. “What can I help you with?” Selphie smiled.

“We’re looking for a…Seer?” She said, reading the paper. The bartender blinked in surprise.

“You wouldn’t happen to know who he is, wouldja?” He asked in disbelief.

“Well, it kinda depends. Do you know where he is?”

“He’s in the back, come on, I’ll show ya. Oh, by the way, the name’s Heely.”

“Nice to meet you, Heely.” Quistis said politely. He smiled and led them through the back door. Quistis suddenly noticed something wrong. A young man wearing a white shirt that was drenched with sweat was lifting boxes from a ship. His back was facing them. He had brown hair, now matted against his face.

“Seer! People here to see you!” Heely yelled. Seer turned around.

Quistis’s heart stopped. Selphie looked from Seer to Quistis, her smile growing ever wider. The Instructor started trembling and Xu grasped her hand in concern. She knew who the man was. The resemblance was uncanny. It had to be him, it had to be Arik Mesh, the man Quistis…she took a deep breath and steadied herself. Do what’s best for Quistis…

“Arik…” Quistis whispered. Seer didn’t hear her; instead, he smiled and waved.

“Hi there.” Quistis turned around and bolted.

“Hey, wait!” Selphie yelled. She began to take off after her but Xu stopped the other brunette.

“You’ve done enough. Stay here.” She snapped, chasing after her girlfriend. It took a while but with Quistis’s condition, she couldn’t keep running that long. She turned and sat down on the pier, choking back her tears. Xu caught up. The brunette sat down beside her and even though Quistis tried to back away, Xu wrapped her arms around her.

“What’s wrong, Quis?” She whispered. Quistis buried her face into Xu’s chest and began crying. A jumble of emotions ran through Quistis’s mind and she couldn’t help but wonder if her feelings for him were returning. Why didn’t he contact her? Why did he just leave her all alone, thinking he was dead? Why did he change his name to Seer? What was going on? How was Xu going to react? She knew how close the two of them were years back, what was she going to say?

Xu didn’t say a word throughout Quistis’s inner turmoil. Instead, she just held onto her, stroking her strawberry blonde hair and rocking her back and forth. Behind them, Selphie walked towards them until she spotted the two. She bit her lip. She had only intended to make Quistis happy. In a choked voice and faux-clam voice, Xu whispered,

“D-do you still love him?” Quistis sniffed, trying to compose herself.

“I don’t know, Xu, I really don’t know. I’m scared because I love you more, I know that. But I don’t know what’s going to happen. There’s so much I want to ask…there’s so much I don’t understand right now.”

“I love you, Quistis. Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy.” She said. It wasn’t true, though. She wanted Quistis all for herself. The selfish devil in her wanted to go tell Arik to go and jump off a cliff, to be dead for real. But conscience won and her words showed it.

“Xu…”

“Just go to him, figure out what it is you feel for him, if what it is you feel is the real thing, then…well…go with it.” Every word hurt them both. Quistis felt like Xu was leaving her alone when she could use someone the most and Xu felt like every breath she took was distancing her from Quistis, giving her to Arik.

“Xu…”

“Go…” And the brunette stood up. Quistis knew her love was only trying to help but right now it was not what she needed. She needed support, support only Xu could give. Someone that she had solid, real feelings for, not just some trace of past emotions. But there she was, heading back to the Garden. What have I done? Quistis wondered. It would’ve hurt her so much less if I had just kept up with my rejection…

Exactly. You do nothing but hurt. That’s why you cannot exist. And the voice was back after so long. So blissfully long and now it returned with a bitter vengeance like that of an ignored child.

Stop it…Quistis sobbed, feeling powerless.

It comes with the power, Quistis. You inherited Ultimecia’s power, you hold it for her, and I’m here to tell you that so long as you live, she’ll rise. Quistis curled up on the pier, sobbing into her knees. Xu had abandoned her. What did she have left?