"Close to hell." Quistis Trepe

"I hit you and you hit me back
We fall to the floor the rest of the day stands still
Fine line between this and that
When things go wrong I pretend the past isn't real
I'm trapped in this memory
And I'm left in the wake of the mistake slow to react
So even though you're close to me
You're still so distant
And I can't bring you back"

Linkin Park "With You"

Everyone in the room stopped, even held their breath as their blonde ex-instructor sat up. Confusion was clearly just one of the many emotions she had running through her. Wasn't I...? How did I...? Where...? She sighed softly. Surveying the scene in front of her. Everyone was focused on her now, waiting for her to say something. Rinoa sat in a chair at the end of the bed, one hand over her swelled abodomin, the other half covering her mouth as tears lined the bottomless deep brown wells of her eyes. Squall stood off to the side, a hand resting upon the hilt of his gunblade, his posture one of defense. Fujin and Rajin were in the corner of the room, Rajin leaning against the wall, his muscular arms crossed, Fujin facing him, though her head turned towards Quistis. Lastly, there was Seifer, one hand on the doorknob, in a half turn.

"Are... you... going somewhere?" She asked him. Sounding rather lame, but it was all she could think of saying to break the silence of the hotel room. Hell, she still didn't know what had just happened. Last she knew she was prisoner in a rock tunnel that was "close to hell". How she ended up in a hotel room was beyond her.

Seifer smirked, seemingly finding something funny or amusing about her words to him as he turned the handle the rest of the way and opened the door. "A walk." Was all he replied, however, Quistis pushed the blanket off of her legs and stood up, a wave of nausia and dizzyness hit her and Rinoa was soon at her side. Supporting her.

"Maybe you should rest." Rinoa suggested softly, but Quistis merely smiled. kindly.

"I'm fine... just stood up too fast. Seifer, mind some company?" She asked, startling everyone in the room, including herself, but the atmosphere in the hotel room was admittably cramped and therefore she needed fresh air.

"Quistis..." Rinoa began but Quistis merely shook her head.

"I'm fine, really... just need to strech my legs and get a little fresh air." She assured the mother-to-be. Rinoa nodded, smiling and partly relieved to see that Quistis was still acting very much like herself. Well, except possibly volunteering to go walking with Seifer Almansy alone. Then again, maybe there was a reason behind that. Maybe she wanted to figure out what he knew of what had happened.

"I'm not your keeper, go where you want." Seifer replied. Quistis couldn't help but laugh softly, she wasn't expecting a kind reply from him. That would be too much to ask for. Still, he was a lot harder to read then Squall was. She could figure out his replies, but not word for word, and he always held a surprise or two up his sleeve. Keeping to himself. Defending himself.

"We'll talk when Seifer and I return." Quistis said to those present in the room, before following Seifer out the door, jogging slightly on shakey legs to catch up to him. They walked in silence. Not saying a word to each other. Both caught up in their own thoughts.

I have to tell him sooner or later... best when the others aren't around... The day was nice, slightly chilly, but nice. She found herself keeping as close to Seifer as she possibly could. Was she afraid that the boy was still around? What did he want with her anyways?

It had been near half an hour before Quistis finally said something to Seifer, she and him had long since left the small village of Balamb behind them as they walked across open fields of endless hills and grass now. "Seifer... where are we going?" She asked. Hoping that he wasn't just getting them lost.

"I told you, I was going for a walk." He replied, avoiding straight answers as always and instead pointing out the obvious. What was on his mind? She wondered. How would he take the news. A few seconds of silence fell between the two of them once again before this time he broke it. "It's easier to think out here then it is in Balamb." Was he actually opening up to her? Only slightly?

"Excuse me?" She asked. Why was he telling her this anyways?

"Nevermind." She sighed. Nope. He was still the same Seifer Almansy she knew and lo... erm... knew.

"Seifer..." She asked, shyly, not that she was ever shy and he'd probably catch on right away that she wasn't acting her usual self... but... it was hard to tell him what needed to be said. Maybe I should wait...

"What?" He snapped, annoyed that she had tagged along no doubt. He probably wanted some 'Seifer-time', probably wanted to sort out his own thoughts, maybe she should just leave him be. Let him figure out whatever he needed to and return to the hotel when he wanted to.

"Uhh... nevermind, I'll meet you back at the hotel." She hastily said, stopping and turning to go back, she had gotten a good two steps in before a strong hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her. There wasn't anything aggressive about how Seifer had stopped her, but still, it scared her. For a second she had thought it was the kid that had attacked earlier.

"Your not going off anywhere alone." Was he actually concerned about her? She looked back at him, caught in the gaze of his uncaring emerald eyes. At least, on the surface... but it seemed that there was genuine concern floating just underneath the surface. It was strange, seeing that in Seifer's eyes. He wasn't one she could read so easily. He was always pushing everyone away, everyone but Fujin and Rajin anyways. Then again, she reminded herself, He did talk to Cid about returning to Garden... Maybe... maybe he cared about all of them more then he let on.

She shook the thoughts from her head and placed her free hand upon her hip, pinning Seifer with a determined glare. "And just why is that?" she asked, arching a blonde eyebrow and resisting the urge to smirk.

"That kid is still out there. Unless you want him to kill you, your not going anywhere alone." Seifer said, still holding tightly to her wrist, it didn't hurt, he wasn't squeezing, just making sure she didn't try running off on him. In truth, it felt comfortable.

"Alright then. I get it." Smirking as she glanced at his hand, "Can I have my wrist back now?"

Seifer seemed confused for a second before he realized he still held her and let go, turning his back to her and beginning to walk again. She followed behind him, enjoying his company. And now she knew why too. She felt safe. She knew that Seifer wasn't about to attack her and he wasn't about to let that kid get to her either.

"What were you doing in Balamb anyways?" Seifer asked after a few moments of walking once more. Catching Quistis off guard she turned to face him before she realized the meaning behind those words. Oh no... Cid had told him that she would bring news of his decision to him. Right now, she could only pray that the kid was there to distract them.

"I... uh..." she stammered childishly, trying to remember if she had planned out what to say to him or not.

"Quistis?"

"No." She blurted out. Hoping it could be left at that.

"What?" She looked down, watching the grass beneath her feet as she had now, unknowningly, began to lead the way to wherever they were walking.

"No!" She repeated again, answering his question.

"No, what?"

"No... you can't come back."

"Oh." He sounded hurt. She looked up at him, frowning. Surprised to see the obvious pain in him. He himself had looked down at the grass, walking as if he had no purpose in life.

"I'm sorry Seifer."

"Shut up." He hissed, looking at her, anger burning behind his eyes. "You don't give a fuck about me! So don't you dare try to tell me your sorry. I don't need nor want your pity Quistis." She took a step backwards, slightly startled by his outburst.

"Seifer... I..."

"Did I not just tell you to shut up?" He spat, and she took another step backwards, shocked at what was happening, however, her foot lost solid surface and she found herself falling into a hidden hole. Grass, sticks dirt and mud all fell with her, the mud burning her eyes and blurring her vision, not that there was much to see in the dark cavern anyways.

"Quistis?" Seifer called out, and she looked around, moldy rock. She was standing upon moldy rock. Looking up at the only source of light within the cavern she could see Seifer's head leaning over the side. Trying to pierce the darkness to try and find her.

"I'm... I'm fine. I'm down here." She called up, looking around once more. This place seemed so familiar. There was a sound of cracking, mud and grass fell and Seifer soon landed with a loud curse next to her.

"Where the hell is this?" Seifer muttered, standing up and approaching Quistis. It was then that she realized where this was.

"Close to hell." She whispered, fear beginning to fill her. She could feel Seifer's questioning gaze upon her, but she couldn't answer his unspoken question. She, herself, didn't know what it meant.

Chapter Dedication: Kat because... she unwalled my Writer's Wall.

Next Chapter: Hell