Chapter 3: The Storm Is Coming
The boat swayed fiercely as crashing waves splashed all around it. Zell lay sprawled across the floor of the little raft. He pushed himself up by his arms and lifted one of his hands to his lip. Looking at his fingers, Zell saw a dark red liquid.
"Damn it," Zell muttered to himself as he leaned back against the side of the boat.
"It's about time you came to," Seifer said spitefully when he noticed that Zell had gained conscientiousness.
Zell turned his head and stared coldly at Seifer. When he inspected his previous fighting opponent closely, Zell saw, to his great pleasure, a huge gash along his cheek and that his left eye had begun to swell and blacken. Seifer's right hand was also wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth.
Although tying to meet Seifer's cold look, a smile slowly formed on Zell's face and he laughed quietly, despite himself.
"God, do YOU look bad!!" Zell exclaimed, pointing at Seifer.
"Yes, and you...," Seifer chuckled, "you look like a half drowned, blood-soaked rat."
Zell startled at the statement. He had not had a chance to look at himself. He glanced down and surveyed his body. Zell saw that his arms were covered in bruises and scratches, there was blood from a gash on his chest seeping through his shirt, and his pants were ripped and stained. Plus, he noticed a tingling numbness running through his body, concentrating mostly around his legs.
". . . Yeah," Zell admitted, "I don't really look, or feel, like my handsome self, huh?"
Zell hesitated and then looked at Seifer again.
"You know what? I may appear to be in bad shape, but," he paused as excitement (and amusement) began building in him, "you look much worse than me. I really kicked YOUR ass! Who"s the chicken wuss now, eh Chicken wuss?"
Zell laughed and was surprised to hear Seifer's laugh accompanying his.
"Let's see you stand up and say that to my face," Seifer retorted, his mischievous eyes glowing in anticipation, ". . .that is, if you're man enough."
Zell leaped to his feet to meet the challenge, but as soon as he did, a sudden blinding pain swept through his body and he crumpled down to the floor. He shut his eyes tightly as he lay inertly on the ground of the boat.
"That's right," Seifer said amusingly. "After you foolishly attacked me and left this gash on my face, I hit you across the legs with the paddle. You fell unconscious immediately and then Raijin saw that I had broken your right leg. Raijin set the bone, and he generously stuck you with some morphine shots, which will, I assure you, wear off completely within the next half hour."
Zell raised his eyes to his foe and cruelly stared at him, "Why did y. . .," he started to question, but was quickly interrupted.
"I still don't like you and, in fact, I think I loathe you even more than before, if that's possible. However, Squall would come after me himself if I happened to kill you or injure you permanently. That's something I just don't feel like dealing with right now." Seifer sighed, "Hey, there's an incoming storm. With a little luck, you may yet be hit by lightening and die of electrocution. Squall won't be mad at me for that, though I'm sorry to say that I can't control the weather; thus, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for your painful demise."
Seifer smiled to himself at the thought.
"Right," Zell responded wryly, "sure, what ever you say."
Turning his attention away from Seifer and onto the environment, Zell suddenly realized that the boat was moving. Looking around, he saw that a paddle (most likely the one used to break his leg) was split in two and thrown in pieces on the little so-called "deck". Still, they were moving, but how? Zell turned his gaze toward the bow and saw that a rope attached to the boat was pulling them to what seemed to be a small island that he could barely see in the distance.
"What the hell?" Zell mumbled as he looked at the mysterious rope.
Seifer, disturbed by all the muttering and mumbling, glanced upward at Zell.
"Oh, that's Raijin," he said, annoyed with Zell's stupidity. A wry smile appeared across Seifer face, "He graciously volunteered to pull us all the way to land. We'll be landing on that island, Naoka Island, shortly in order to get out of this goddamn no-excuse for a boat before the storm hits."
Seifer paused and then added vehemently, "If that's alright with YOU, Chicken wuss."
Seifer laughed to himself as he returned his attention to re-dressing the wound on his hand. He was really quite pleased Raijin had spotted the little boat. It was fun to tease, bully, and make fun of Zell. Seifer liked Zell's determination and "don't stop 'till I have what I want" attitude. It was refreshing and a pleasant change from the idiotic chatter of Raijin. Even Fuujin wasn't a good person for conversation, but Zell . . . . . Zell soaked everything up like a sponge. Seifer was satisfied in knowing that his insults would not be wasted on a moron, like Raijin, but rather be placed upon someone who will take offense and understand their meanings.
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Lightening lit the room in a burning blaze, and the sound of thunder rumbled ferociously a second later. The storm was getting closer to Balamb. Power all over town had gone out and sirens rang out from the fire station, urging people to stay inside. Squall sat nonchalantly in the living room with Ellone, who was like a sister to him, while Rinoa dashed around the house to secure every window or crack from leakage.
"You know," Rinoa's voice hinted at her distress and weariness, "it would be nice if someone could help me."
Ellone stirred in her seat, ready to give assistance, but remained where she was when she caught a glimce of Rinoa's face. Following her friend's stare, Ellone's eyes rested on a black brief case next to Squall's feet.
"I'm going to go to the guest room," Ellone smiled at Rinoa. "You two have to talk, I sense."
With that, Ellone strided to the quaint little room assigned to her. She jumped happily onto her bed, glad to get away from the tension of the living room and to have a place to sleep. Content, although a tad worried about Squall, she closed her eyes in hopes of a peaceful slumber. After all, he could and would take care of himself....and she would help no matter what.
Rinoa frowned at Squall after Ellone had left. They had just gotten back from the train station and Squall, so far, had said little over a few words between Ellone and herself. Something was up and she fully intended to find out what.
"Honey," Rinoa said as she picked up Squall's hand, "what's wrong?"
She waited for him to answer, but no reply came. She sat down on the couch, scooting closer to him as she leaned her head on his shoulder, stroking his back with her hand.
'I . . . . . . ." Squall swallowed and took Rinoa's face into his hands, "have some news and . . . . . . . .it's not at all good."
Squall gazed into Rinoa's eyes, a concerned look on his face. Should he tell her? He fought with himself internally. Of course! After all, Zell is her friend, too. But looking at his love, he doubted his first judgment. Maybe she'll cry, he thought. This was something he never wanted to make his wife do. I'll be causing her pain!
As these thoughts raced through his head, Rinoa sat patiently next to him.
"Alright." Rinoa crooned, trying to sound calm, "Tell me what happened."
Squall hesitated, "Cid came by earlier today. I have to return to the Garden for . . . . . . . ."
His voice trailed away to a stop. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat to continue, "A search party is needed. . . . . to find. . . . .umm . . . .to find Zell. He's missing. No communication with him has been made in hours."
Rinoa gasped and covered her mouth. "Zell?" she questioned, "That can't be! I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. . . . .right?"
Squall shook his head slowly, "He's definitely missing, . . . . . . . but he's probably fine."
"Yeah, I know." Rinoa sighed, "It's just like him to go off on a mission and get lost, worrying us to death."
Squall smiled, "You're right. Still, I need to go to the Garden. It's going to be very hectic, what with the search party gone, cure ingredients needing finding, and other international problems awakening."
"Right," Rinoa said sadly. "You can't leave everything up to Cid. It's your job now, and you have to go even if it means less time together."
Squall chuckled as he pulled his wife closer to him, giving her a soft kiss on her rosy cheek, "I was so mad when Zell accidentally knocked me down the stairs, running like a madman in order to obtain a few measly hotdogs!"
Rinoa's eyes lit up at the memory, "Ah, yes. You yelled at him like YOU were a madman when you gained consciousness and found that he had broken your leg."
They both smiled as they remembered Zell's heartfelt apology that came along with his never-ending presence around their home. Zell had made a point to come by every other day to help out with chores Squall's leg prevented him from doing. It was a sweet gesture, greatly appreciated by Rinoa especially.
"I really should go. . . . ." Squall whispered into her ear. "I probably won't get home tonight with all this work and the storm."
Rinoa blinked. "Please," she asked hopefully, "can I come? I won't get in the way! I swear, and. . . ."
Squall raised his hand to silence her. "I was hoping you'd want to. After all, I won't feel right leaving you while there is such a dangerous storm brewing outside. I would worry my head off!"
Rinoa hugged him tightly. "Thank you! I'll go get Ellone and pack."
"Be ready soon, the storm is getting worse by the minute." Squall warned as Rinoa fled to the guest room.
Squall sat back and sighed. "I hope Zell's not caught in this monstrosity," he mumbled to himself fearfully as he glanced out the window at the waving branches, pouring rain, and flashes of lightening.
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