Chapter Twelve: She

"We're too late!" I say.

"No! ...Dammit." Squall mutters.

"Balamb..." I say.

"...Garden." Xu mutters. I look at Seifer, who tosses his helmet to the ground, uttering several vile cusses.

"Look, the missiles wont get there for five minutes. Call garden. Use the pay phone over there, take your uniforms off first so we won't seem suspicious." We all run over, dressed in normal attire, and Squall picks up the phone. Dammit. If only the missiles would turn around... Thats when I felt it. A sudden pain in my chest. I knelt on the ground as I heard Squall say he couldn't get through.

"Quistis, are you alright?" Seifer asks.

"...Y, yeah... get out."

"What?"

"Get as far away from here as you can."

"Why?"

"NOW!" I nearly yell.

"Quistis?" I collapse on the ground, and darkness closes in all around me. I feel myself being lifted off the ground, and I am no longer conscience.

~~~

I wake up and look around. It's dusk, and I am laying in the Balamb Garden Infirmary. I feel a little dizzy as I stand up and walk over to the door, and clutch the counter for balance.

"Quistis..." Seifer gets up from a chair and walks over toward me.

"What happened?" I ask.

"I dunno, but its a good thing you told us to get out of there, because the missiles turned right around and bombed the missile base! Balamb went undamaged... How'd you know that was going ta happen? And why'd you pass out?"

"Seifer... thats enough. You think I know?!"

"Quistis, are you alright?"

"No...! ...How am I supposed to be alright?! ...I don't know what happened back there..."

"Quistis... it was probably nothing... now, uh, lets leave here." We walk out of the infirmary, and head to the dorms, on my way, I hear Selphie and Zell discussing something about a power failure.

"Was there a power failure?" I ask Seifer.

"Yeah, thats what everyone is saying... While the missiles were being launched and aimed, the power went out, which would explain why we couldn't get through to call them..." I stared ahead blankly, having nothing to say.

"...Quistis...?"

"Mhm?"

"You look sorta pale..."

"So?"

"...You should go rest."

"...I don't need t-" I hear voices from Squall's dorm. "Shh." I whisper, walking closer.

"Do you think we should tell her?" Squall.

"No way. What are the chances?" Rinoa- I think.

"I dunno, but, honestly, Rinoa, doesn't it seem fitting...?" Squall.

"I... I guess." Rinoa. There is silence. Seifer and I back away from the door.

"What were they talking about?" I ask him.

"I'm... not sure." We walk back to his dorm.

"...Seifer... I'm scared." I admit.

"Of what?"

"I just am." I turn, and he hugs me.

"Quistis, whats the matter...?" I'm scared, thats what... I don't know what of... But... I think I did something to reflect the missiles...

"Nothing." I bury my face in his shoulder.

"...Quistis, tell me..."

"...Seifer!" Squall's voice yells through the door.

"What the hell do you want?!" Seifer asks.

"Rinoa and I... we need to tell you something..."

"Come in." Seifer says, letting go of me. I turn and see them both.

"We...uh..."

"Well? What is it?" I ask impatiently.

"Rinoa... She uh..."

"Look, Leonheart, tell us, or friggin' leave." Seifer, said, glaring at Squall. Rinoa picked up where Squall left off.

"I... gave my sorceress powers away to someone awhile ago... I don't know who..." Me? Are you saying me?! No... no way.

"So, this is stupid. How is this relevant?" Seifer asked.

"Quistis... knew the missiles were coming back... and she relfected them." Squall said slowly.

"What? She cast reflect on a whole friggin' continent?!"

"Thats something only sorceresses can do..." Rinoa added. I stayed silent.

"It was a fucking mess-up at the missile base, alright!? Now, go away!" Seifer said, pushing Squall toward the door. Squall turned, angry, but Rinoa pulled him out the door. Seifer forked his fingers through his hair and sat on his window-sill.

"Damned Leonheart. He doesn't know what the hell he is talking about..." I still don't say anything. I don't want to talk.

"Quistis?" I look up. "You okay? You're awfully quiet..."

"I... I'm fine." I swallow and look away. Seifer jumps down from his seat and walks over to me.

"Hey, I told you, Squall doesn't know what he is talking about!"

"...But Rinoa does..."

"No, she doesn't. She just wants attention."

"But they have so... so much proof to back them up..." He runs his fingers done my jawline.

"Hey, even if you are a sorceress... It'll be okay."

"No, it won't...!"

"What makes you so sure it won't?"

"What makes you so sure it will?!"

"Rinoa survived it... And you're stronger than her... so, it'll be okay."

"But, I don't want to be a sorceress, Seifer..." He wraps his arms around me.

"Hey, maybe you aren't even one."

"Sure... right."

"Quistis... It'll be alright... I promise." You promise? Seifer promised...

"You won't ever leave me... right?"

"Never."

~~~

I walked down the halls of the Dormitory alone. It was two AM, and I couldn't sleep. The cold breeze made me shiver, and hugged myself to keep warm under the large blue sweatshirt I wore. I glared out the window, wanting the world around me to disapear. I was in one of those moods when you just don't care about anything. You feel no pain or pleasure... and nothing phases you. So, I continued to glare at the moon.

"Quistis..." I turn. Its Rinoa.

"Hey, what are you doing up so late...?" I ask.

"I, um, wanted to apologize."

"For what?"

"Giving my powers to you..."

"You don't know that."

"I did it... on purpose. I was sick of them... Stupid powers... so I gave them to you."

"What?! Why?" I ask.

"I was angry... I didn't think about... how it would affect you... I just... did it..."

"...No... So, I really am... a sorceress....?" Rinoa nodded slowly.

"Yeah... you are."

"...Well." I leaned against the wall. "Anything I should know?"

"Well, yeah..." Oh no. I knew this would be bad. "Sometimes, you'll lose control of your powers. When you feel that happening, ...You need to go to your dorm or something, and don't go near anyone! It didn't happen to me that often, because I have such a pure heart..." Pure heart? I don't have a pure heart... Well, not as pure as yours, Ms. Perfect. I sigh.

"Well, how do I know its coming on?"

"You just can't control them, thats all."

"I see..."

"Its almost like being possessed. It happened to me once... Its scary, I hurt Squall... Oops." She giggled, and I fake laughed.

"What causes it...?"

"When you do bad things." Oh, well, Im going to lose control alot.

"What is considered bad?"

"I dunno, read the Book of Hyne."

"Well, you had better get sleep." I suggest.

"You're right. Bye, Instr- er, Quistis."

"Good night, Rinoa ." She leaves, and I decided to sneak into the library to read the book of Hyne. So, I do, easily.

I place the book down quietly on a table, and sit. I flick on a little lamp above my station, and flip to wrong-doings.

" According to Hyne, there are many wrong-doings, especially for young, aspiring sorceresses." Tch.. aspiring. "Seduction. Sexual interaction before marraige. Drugs of any sort. Over-drinking alcohol. Abuse of powers." It also listed a few more non-important ones. No sex... eh? I wonder what Seifer'll have to say about that. Maybe... I just won't tell him... Marraige. It seemed so far away... yet, I am 22... Ugh. I pushed the thought out of my mind and snuck back out of the library. I walked back to the dorms, and glared outside again, wishing Seifer had class tommarow. Its not that I don't want to spend time with him... I just... don't think we'll have that good of a relationship with these restrictions, and I don't plan to tell him about them. I take a seat out in the halls, on one of the small benches they have set out, and fix my gaze on the moon. It slowly falls, and the sun rises. At six AM, several students pass me, and wave. I must look awful, not having slept at all last night. I keep staring out the window, but the outside just seems too crowded, so I head to the Quad, which is empty, and I stare outside. Its empty... Quiet... I like it. So quiet.

"Quistis! There you are!" Ugh, who is it now?

"Yeah, I'm here." I mutter, not bothering to turn.

"What are ya doing here?" Its Seifer... Oh... I'm sorry... for being a sorceress.

"Just thinking." I say, still not able to look him in the eyes.

"About what?"

"...Nothing in particular."

"Sure. Why don't ya look at me when you are talking to me?" I can't. I don't want to. He grabs my arm and turns me around.

"Thats better. Now, what were you thinking about?"

"Just... um, stuff." Great answer, Quistis.

"What kinda stuff...?"

"Um, ...nothing important..."

"Then why were you thinking about it?"

"It's important to me."

"Well, if its important to you, its important to me." Why do you have to care so much?

"...Its nothing... really!"

"So? I just wanna know..."

"Seifer."

"Come on..."

"I was just thinking about my sorcer-" My voice trailed off, realizing he didn't know that I was truely a sorceress yet.

"What?!"

"N, nothing."

"You know somethin' I don't?"

"Maybe."

"Hm? ..."

"Rinoa ...she gave her powers to me... on purpose..." I say slowly.

"WHAT?! That bit-"

"Seifer! She apologized..."

"Yeah, but still!"

"Its okay. Sorceress powers... they don't do much..." Hah, yeah, right.

"How do you know? You've never had them before..."

"...Rinoa told me."

"Well... she told me otherwise." He talked to Rinoa?!

"I'm sorry..." I said. He hugged me.

"How do you think this'll effect us...?"

"Well, I can't do anything considered bad in the book of Hyne... so..."

"Say WHAT?!"

"You... didn't talk to Rinoa, did you?"

"No, but I knew if I didn't, you wouldn't tell me. Sorry." He smiled sheepishly and kissed me.

"Seifer... you do know what that means... right?"

"Wait, explain the whole thing to me...?"

"I'll lose control of my powers if I do anything bad... which means any kind of... sexual... things... I can't do until marriage... along with some other stupid things."

"...Damn... what does that include, exactly...?"

"I dunno..."

"Well, there anyone who specializes in Hyne around here?"

"...Selphie..."

"Well then, lets go talk to her."

"And tell her what?"

"...I dunno, we'll make up something."

When we arrived at Selphie's dorm, she was sitting, watching TV.

"Come on in!" Said her cheerful and bubbly voice. We stepped into the room, and she got up, and walked over.

"Heey, Quisty! Seifer... what are you doing here?!"

"We, um, have some questions on Hyne. You did very well, and knew extra information during class, Selphie, so we figured you'd be the person to ask." I say calmly.

"Sure thing! Lemme get out my book."

"She *owns* the Book of Hyne?" Seifer whispered.

"Yeah, I guess." I mutter.

"Here we go!" She placed the huge book on her bed. "What's your question?!" I flipped to the page, and pointed to it.

"What, um, does that include?" I ask. I see her turn red. "Seifer, go get me a coffee." I order, trying to get him to leave so Selphie feels more comfortable.

"Uh, sure." He leaves.

"Thanks." She says.

"Well, the you-can't-seduce part, that means like, you can't... well, flirt, or anything to that effect. You can't use your sexual advantage over men... unjustly."

"Tch, I see..."

"Um, the drugs... thats pretty obvious; no drugs. Alcohol; don't get drunk. Powers; don't use them unjustly... and the sex... well... you can't even... um, lets say, french kiss... -before marriage that is." She blushed again, obviously not liking the subject. Well, I didn't like the reply either.

"Oh..." I say blankly.

"Why?" She asks, turning back on the TV.

"...I was just... helping Seifer study, that's all. Thanks, Selphie."

"Sure!" I left, and Seifer stood against a wall, with an upset look on his face, obviously having heard the whole conversation. I didn't say anything. I just walked to my dorm... Maybe he'd stop by later... My life had become so limited now... All because of... Rinoa. But, I'd be okay. Maybe it'd go away... No, I'd have to give it away... Perhaps I could give them back to Rinoa. Was there some way to get rid of them without passing them on...? Yeah, right. Somehow wishing *I* owned the Book of Hyne, I exited my dorm and headed toward the library. On my way, I looked at my reflection in a window... Hyne, I looked awful. I was tired too... Maybe I'll stop at the Cafeteria and pick up coffee on my way.

When I finally got to the library, coffee in hand, I found the book of Hyne missing. Odd, no one is allowed to take that out of the library. I look around the library. There was no one. I went into the back storage room, where they kept out-dated books. Thats when I heard it. Someone was back there.

"Hello?" I ask in a loud voice. No reply. "Is... someone there?" I hear a book being slammed shut, and movement. I reach into my back pocket and place my hand on my whip, just in case of trouble. I walk further into the dark storage room. Footsteps.

"Hello?! Who's there?!" Foot steps got closer... Then Seifer came storming past me. He glared at me... with hatred?

"Seifer?!" No reply. What book was he looking at? Hyne... the book of Hyne?! I jog back to where Seifer came from, and there it is, on the floor, The book of Hyne. What made him so upset? Oh well... Lets see... cures from sorceress powers...

"There is one cure, and one immunity from sorcery. The immunity is if you are in love, and the cure is to fall in love. You can't just pretend to be in love, you have to be absolutely sure, because... Hyne knows." ...I am in love... aren't I? Is this what made Seifer so upset...? I'm not in love? I AM in love... But... Hyne... says Im not... My eyes water, and I lean my body against a bookshelf. Love... I thought I was in love...

End Chapter.

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© 2001 by Koudelka.