Quistis slowly paced circles around the Garden directory as she waited. Kei leaned against the directory, watching Quistis go around without comment. After several students passed them with questioning looks on their faces, Kei spoke up. "What are you so nervous for? She's as anxious to be back as you are to see her." Quistis stopped her pacing and sighed. "What if she doesn't want to see me?" Kei favored her with a level look. "That was a stupid question." Quistis resumed her circling. "When will Xu be here?" "A car was sent to Balamb all ready. The train she's on should have arrived," Kei paused to look at her wrist chronometer, "20 minutes ago. Which leaves me to ask why you're waiting for her here? If she's arriving in a car, she'll enter the grounds through the Parking Garage." She stopped her pacing with a look of mild panic. Kei was right! She darted down the corridor to the Parking Garage. "Wait! It's not like she's not... staying," Kei shook her head before following her to the Garage at a more sedate pace. A lot has changed in the two years Xu's been gone. The Garden looked the same, that much would be a comforting relief. No, a majority of the changes involved the young woman so anxious to greet her. Quistis had grown a lot during that time, both physically and emotionally. With her maturing appearance coming closer to matching her superior intellect, Kei often had to remind herself that she was only fourteen. She didn't look fourteen and she shot past acting fourteen months ago. 'Xu will be pleased with the results,' Kei assured herself smugly. She didn't have as much to do with Quistis' growth as she would have liked, but she did play her part in guiding the young cadet. If only everyone was as dedicated as Quistis was. Further down the corridor, Quistis ran into the Parking Garage as they were still unloading the car that brought a handful of SeeDs from Balamb port to the Garden. Where was Xu? Ah, there she was, leaning into the cargo compartment. Quistis found an out-of-the-way spot to wait while her friend to finished retrieving her things. When Xu looked up to see her former roommate waiting for her, the years that passed since their last meeting melted away. She couldn't believe the sight of a quickly maturing Quistis. Was the adolescent standing before her really the girl she first met four years ago? Several centimeters were added to her height during her time away. Xu now looked up to Quistis instead of vise versa. Quistis' body was rounding out as Sean predicted it would. Perhaps the belt wasn't such an outrageous idea as she originally thought now that she could see what he'd envisioned. When Quistis was finished growing she would be a lithe, full-figured woman. Her facial features were also boldly defining themselves. Her sharp nose and high cheekbones gave way to a pair of slender eyes. Those eyes shone brightly with joy at seeing her friend while also telling of the intelligence that sat behind them. Thin lips stretched into a smile before she brought Xu into a warm hug. 'She's started weight training,' Xu noted as her exuberant friend squeezed the air out of her. She winced with discomfort as Quistis pounded on her back. "It's so good to see you again!" Quistis continued to hold her tightly. "You too, though I fear for my life if you get much stronger," she quipped, returning the embrace firmly. "Let me get a better look at you," Xu said as she pulled back. "That rascal was right in saying that you'd fill out nicely." Xu needn't say who the rascal was, they both knew it was Sean. "Now these don't surprise me one bit," she lightly tapped the bridge of the glasses resting on Quistis' nose. "They don't?" "Nope. Don't think that I didn't notice all the times you buried yourself under your covers to read with a hand light once the lights were turned off." Quistis flushed. "You've got me there." "They do make you look older, more mature. It's a good look on you," she smiled with approval. "Sure, hug Quistis and neglect me," Kei drawled dryly from her leaning position against the hallway wall. "I see how it is with you." Xu marched over to Kei and stood squarely in front of her before responding. "And since when does the self-reliant SeeD Kei need a hug?" She challenged. Kei pouted. "Remember that time I got in trouble for throwing rocks at a Jelleye's nest and the elder's performed all those ceremonies to discover why the monsters were restless?" Xu pulled her cousin into a strong embrace. "Yes, I remember that. And the lashings you took because of it." "My butt hurt for a week, a feeling you can relate to?" "The greeting I'll receive today may kill me," Xu released her hold on Kei. "We'll discuss it later." She frowned slightly at that, but nodded her agreement. They didn't need to switch languages to convey a message that someone listening to them wouldn't get. Kei made a mental note to stop by Xu's quarters tonight after she was settled in. Xu hefted one of her duffels up onto her shoulder. Quistis already claimed the other one. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to your quarters. Then you have to report in with the Headmaster," the cadet said. "He's anxious to see you." "'Anxious' isn't quite the word," Kei amended as they walked. "He's been 'Xu this' and 'Xu that' since last week. He'll have you running around here like a person who's been hit with Confuse before too long, I'm sure." "Even if he does, it's good to be home," Xu said with fervor. Cid insisted on keeping their meeting informal and short (since there were plenty of others who wanted to greet her). There would be time later for her to give him a full report. They also needed to discuss her new duties at Balamb, but that could wait until the morning. His 'orders' for today were to reacquaint herself with the Faculty and students. Quistis was more than happy to go around with her to introduce the new faces that she didn't recognize -- of which their were plenty. Kei left them before long citing that she had some other things to do. Many of the older students who remembered Xu from when she was cadet warmly welcomed her home. "Our Triple Triad decks are in danger of being ravaged by a returning card shark," one student lamented. "I wouldn't worry too much. I haven't played in two years," Xu explained with a woeful expression. "I'll play you," Quistis offered. "Don't do it, Xu. She's the biggest shark of them all!" He warned. Quistis crossed her arms and acted innocent. That was how most of the day went. It would take her at least a week to catch up on the Garden gossip from the sounds of it. Though she suspected that she would be the topic of discussion for a while. A new Instructor always primed the pump of the rumor mill. Many students had scraps of information about her time in Galbadia. Most just wanted to know more, especially the full story behind the rumor that she met Vinzer Deling and lived to tell about it. Quistis parted ways with Xu after dinner. She slowly meandered back to the room. Her roommate, Nym, was seated at her desk with her twin brother, Myn, in Quistis' chair. Both of them were on schedule to graduate at the end of this term, so she wasn't expecting to see much of either of them for much longer. She smiled inwardly as she considered their sameness. The uniforms they wore were the most distinguishing difference between them. Both had their light brown hair in a bowl cut that worked for either gender. Both of them wore tinted glasses because of a sensitivity to light. Even their personalities were oddly mirrored by each of them having their own bizarre eccentrics. They bickered constantly (as she's told siblings tend to do) and were quite willing to pull her into the middle of their mischief. "Yo, Quistis, how'd it go?" Myn gave her a jaunty wave as Nym continued to muddle through the problem they were working on. She hadn't even tried to hide the joy she felt at Xu returning. For the past week she was practically bouncing off the walls waiting for her friend's return. "It went well. Xu's unpacking now," she walked up behind Nym to look over her shoulder at the problem. "Hum... You didn't move the decimal point here," she stabbed a fingertip onto one of the rough calculations on a scratch sheet. Nym stared at the sheet, then pinned Myn with an evil look. "Idiot," she growled before scribbling furiously to correct the mistake. "Hey! This isn't my subject," he defended. "It's not mine either," Nym retorted. "One of us has to do it." "Flip a coin?" "No way, you always win," she pounded on the keys of her calculator to come up with a new solution. "Didn't the Faculty say that it'd be 50/50? 'Cause there's a one in two chance it'd land on either side. How can I always win with odds like that?" He reasoned. "Don't confuse the issue with the facts!" She snapped. Quistis could no longer resist the urge, she rocked back on her heels and laughed with startled expressions on their faces resulting. They didn't even realize how funny their bickering was! "I'm glad at least someone is amused," Nym muttered. Quistis waved an apology. "I'm sorry, but you're too much sometimes. 'Don't confuse the issue with the fact'? Honestly, Nym," she flopped herself down on her bed after picking up a magazine to glance through. Myn was fond of leaving the things lying around their room and she was beginning to follow some articles regularly. "She's got a point," Myn admitted. "Shut up, I'm not talking to you," Nym sniffed. Quistis hid her grin behind the magazine. They could go on like this for hours and in the end still be the best of friends. Nym was more aggressive in her abuse of her brother while Myn inadvertently did things that really screwed Nym up. A good example of that was the time he inadvertently flushed the key to her training room locker down the toilet. They still aren't entirely sure how it happened. They think she forgot to take the key out of her gym bag. He washed the bag with some of his clothes and the key got in with those. Then he went to the bathroom and the key fell into the toilet and gone it was. Stupid things like that seemed almost natural when they happened to him. Myn kicked himself around on the swivel chair briefly before becoming bored with it and turning to speak with Quistis. "So, your friend Xu is an Instructor, huh?" It was a subject they had discussed several times already. He knew the answer, but she indulged him. "Yep, that's why she was in Galbadia. I hear that she picked up her Master qualifications while she was there." "Meaning that you shouldn't hit on her unless you want to get your ass kicked, Myn," Nym commented off-handedly while she worked. "Xu wouldn't do that," Quistis defended. "Not unless you provoked her, that is. Don't worry, she's one of the fairest people I know." "Do you know what she's going to be teaching?" Myn pressed, ignoring both his sister's jab and Quistis' reassurance. Quistis shook her head. "Not even she knows yet." "Why do you care so much?" Nym eyed her brother suspiciously. "I'm just curious. I heard the guys at dinner saying how hot she was. A real fireball too. I wouldn't mind having her as my Instructor, if you know what I mean?" He rocked in the chair as the females present gave him dirty looks. "I hope she kicks you into next week," Nym muttered darkly before going back to their assignment. "I'm telling you, she wouldn't do that," Quistis gave herself a mental shake and went back to the magazine. Myn did have a point; Xu was looking better than ever. She was in excellent condition. No SeeD uniform could completely hide the athletic body contained within. It was something Quistis could only strive for. ***** There was a light tapping on the door to Xu's quarters. She stood and tightened the belt to the night robe she wore before answering it. Kei stood in the hallway with her hands neatly folded in front of her. "I was wondering when you'd come around," Xu stood aside to allow her cousin to enter the room. "Everyone is so happy to have you back. I didn't want to bother you with this until things were settled down for the evening." The room was sparse on personal effects. Kei wouldn't have expecting anything else from Xu. She wasn't one for keeping knickknacks. The majority of her unpacking probably involved putting uniforms away after ironing them. "That's considerate of you. I'm as curious to know as you are," Xu led them into the bedroom. Kei respectfully turned her back as Xu began to undress. "So they did *it*, huh?" "See for yourself," Xu invited. Kei turned around to have her cousin's bare back towards her. The fact that Xu was completely naked except for a pair of panties didn't faze Kei. Her eyes were intent upon the elaborate tattoo that went down the center of Xu's back and spread across her ribs and shoulder blades. Kei lightly traced a finger along it, noticing that Xu squirmed some at her touch due to its newness. "You always put yourself through more pain than necessary," Kei complained while pulling a Cura spell from her pouch. This she cast with enough force behind it to bring relief to the tender skin. The tattoo was a 'wound' that was inflicted long enough ago that no curative spell could reverse the 'damage', only complete the natural healing process. "Sometimes I think you enjoy suffering. You don't do anything to prevent it." Xu purposefully ignored that last comment by answering the earlier one. "I didn't want to risk the spell removing it," she explained. With her back to her cousin, Xu couldn't see the glare and obvious difference of opinion that Kei felt. There was no chance of it healing completely after a day passed. Xu didn't heal herself because she was following 'tradition' and that irked Kei. It was stupid to suffer when one didn't have to. Kei sighed heavily, then returned to examining the markings on Xu's back. "Damn, this must have taken them hours and hurt like hell," she leaned closer to take in the finer details. "You're right on both points. Can you read it?" "I'm trying," Kei muttered as she concentrated. Xu was much better at reading their language than she was. She'd switched over to the standard language as soon as she could and rarely looked back. It was only because of Xu's insistence that they speak in their native language when they were alone like this that Kei retained any fluency at all. "This is so elaborate. Not even my father's tattoo can match it for detail." Kei sighed again and looked around her. "Where's a piece of paper? I'll draw it for you and you can try to read it. I don't recognize more than your name between your shoulder blades." Xu remained still as Kei carefully copied the design onto the paper. For as long as it was taking Kei, she was either being careful with her drawing or it was very detailed. "Why did you let them do this to you? It wasn't bad enough that your name is blazon across your back, but you'll never be able to wear something that doesn't fully cover your upper body again," Kei scolded as she worked. "It- I can't explain it, Kei. It felt like the thing to do." "It's called an 'impulse'. You generally ignore those because they prompt you to do foolish things. If I listened to my impulses, there would be fewer cadets running around the Garden. I'm going to touch you for a moment," she warned before angling Xu's skin differently. The center of the back was an inconvenient place for such nonsense. "But it feels significant," Xu insisted quietly. She let that feeling fade before speaking again. "They were anxious to see you as well." "I'm not going near them if they're going to try to do *this* to me," Kei growled. "Blast it all, but this is some piece of work. I don't think I'm doing it justice. It might be better to wait until your physical. Doctor Kadowaki will take an image of it and you can look then." "You know I can't let her take an image," she protested. "This coming from Miss Let's-Keep-A-Journal? Don't be hypocritical," Kei gave her a solid poke in the back for that. Xu winced, but didn't reply to the comment. Kei was right, it was hypocritical, but her *feelings*... She didn't understand them, nevermind being able to explain. "I'm finished," Kei announced, handing the sheet to Xu over her shoulder. She then turn away again to allow her cousin the chance to belt her robe back on without her watching. Such courtesies really weren't necessary between them considering their familiarity with each other, but Kei was funny that way. Xu let out a low whistle as she looked over the sheet. "This is really on my back?" "I didn't get all the details, but that's what it generally looks like," Kei pointed out the areas she fudged on. "Can you read it?" Xu sat on the corner of her bed as she studied the picture. There were a pair of upward turned four pronged designs across her shoulder blades with a character at the tip of each. This pattern with a different set of characters was mirrored across her lower back. In the center was an elaborate design that had some characters (or so Xu assumed) that she didn't have a chance of reading. Surrounding this center design were various other characters that almost looked familiar, but not enough for recognition. "I'm as boggled as you," she admitted. "'Something of something' here in the center? I don't know..." "And I doubt my father would be helpful if we asked him," Kei added sourly. Stupid traditions about having to figure it out on your own if you couldn't read it already. It wasn't like there was a dictionary here that they could go look the characters up in. The Anshin were pretty stingy when it came to letting such materials out into the world. "It's fine. I'm sure we'll figure it out someday," Xu rolled onto her stomach as she lay on the bed, studying the picture. "It's almost pretty..." Kei leaned over to look at it again. "Not to my tastes, but I can see it," she allowed. "Honestly, what did you do there?" "I'm not sure I should tell you," Xu drawled slowly. "It should be a surprise for when they catch you." Kei wasn't amused by her cousin's stab at humor. "C'mon already." "The elders pounced me as soon as I got off the transport. I saw my parents standing off to the side, but the elders pulled me away. I was actually looking forward to seeing my father too," she frowned slightly. "I hadn't ever been in the building they led me to before. I don't know if you have either. It's the one behind the old granary, with all the tall shrubs in front of it?" Kei indicated that she knew which one Xu was describing. "I thought it was closed off, but it wasn't. It was dark and the air was thick with the smell of incense," she wiggled her nose as she recalled the scent. "They had me change into traditional robes -- you know the ones. Then we sat and they asked me all sorts of questions for who knows for how long." "What sort of questions?" "Anything... Everything! They asked about Garden, SeeD, Galbadia, Sean," his name was said at the tail end of a sigh. "They did say it was my punishment that he died, as I knew they would." "Insensitive bastards," Kei squeezed her hand sympathetically. "We spoke at length about Sean, in fact. They wanted to know everything about him. Especially how I felt. I missed him so much, Kei. I can't help it. I'm lonely without him. "When I was too tired to keep talking they wouldn't let me return to my parent's house to sleep. I curled up and slept where I was sitting. They all left then to go do whatever it is they do. Probably to go to bed in their own homes," she added bitterly. "The next day -- or so I assume, there was no way to tell the passage of time in that room -- your father led me to another room in the building. This room had a large hot spring. Your mother was there. They wanted to me to thoroughly cleanse myself. Your mother insisted on helping me wash, though I'm more than capable of doing it on my own." "How odd," Kei mused, "she wouldn't help me tie my shoe after I learned it once. I wonder what got into her?" "I don't know. After that, I was led into a third room with a table and, well, you can figure out what happened *there*." "You could have fought back. You could have told them to go to hell and left," Kei frowned as she regarded her cousin. Xu bobbed her head in agreement. "True. None of them could stop me if I was that intent on leaving, but I wasn't. Like I said earlier, it just felt right -- being there, I mean. It was as if I was finally doing something I was supposed to and it felt good." Kei scoffed. "Being a SeeD, an Instructor, and a Weapons Mistress aren't enough for you? You have shoes large enough for ten people to fill. Don't let them add any more responsibilities to your already heavy load." "That's what was so odd about it all," Xu reflected. "They didn't ask me to stay, nor to make any commitments. I went to my parent's house after that and didn't see another elder except your father for the rest of my visit. That reminds me..." Xu got off the bed and went to her desk. She pulled out a drawer to retrieve a small bundle from it. "Several of your siblings asked me to deliver their letters to you. Catch," she tossed the bundle over. A data chip followed the bundle as Kei's quick reflexes snapped it out of the air. "I took a lot of images while I was there. Mikel's gotten big, but he's as cute as ever." "Thanks," Kei replied only half-paying attention. She was intently studying the envelope of the top letter. It was from her father according to the outside label. She undid the twine holding the letters together so the she could read his letter now. He always wrote so formally. She usually needed Xu's help to understand him whenever he did send correspondence. "Hum? What is it, Kei?" Xu was too polite to look over her shoulder, but was curious as to what caught her attention. "It's a request that I return as soon as possible. 'It is of the utmost importance that you come home. While I cannot order you to do so, I can beg you. Please return, Kei.' What's gotten into them?" She hit her fist on the bed. Such puzzles frustrated her and the fact that she and Xu were apparently the keys didn't make her any happier. "Maybe he wants to bury the hatchet?" Xu offered. "..." Kei handed the letter over to Xu for her to read. "I wonder if they'll call the Headmaster and ask him to release you as they did with me. I can't see him being pleased about that without some answers being given. But it might be the only way we'll find out what they're up to. Besides," her serious expression softened as she smiled, "you're better at telling them off than I am. It would give you a chance to vent." "Tch, what nonsense!" ***** Xu tried to maintain a stoic expression as she stood at ease before the Headmaster's desk, but it was hard to not return his smile. She was wearing one of her Galbadia uniforms. Unfortunately, she was unable to get any of her Balamb ones altered before this meeting. She had considered borrowing a uniform from Kei, but then she would be dressed as a male, which was almost as bad as wearing the wrong uniform to begin with. To Cid, it didn't matter what she was wearing. She could be in a potato sack and he would be just as glad to have her back. "I've read through your report. You've certainly outdone yourself," Cid complimented while flipping through some papers in a folder on his desk. "Are you ready for your next assignment?" "Yes, Headmaster," she replied promptly. He regarded her over the top of his glasses before glancing down once more. "Your next assignment is the complete the first one I gave you. Make sure Quistis Trepe graduates as a SeeD," his eyes moved up to meet hers. 'But... you told me that when I was a still cadet!' Her mind protested. "Yes, sir," she acknowledged without hesitation. Boggling over his long-lasting memory could be left for later. He closed the file he was reading from. Then stood up and walked around the desk so that he could lean against it while speaking with her. He folded his arms across his chest in a relaxed manner. "The upcoming year will tell the tale. I expect great things from Quistis, just as I expect great things from you. Every garden needs nurturing and I believe that you will make an excellent gardener, if you'll forgive me the pun. "Not that I expect you to pour all your efforts into a single student. I want you to set up a weapon training system here that is similar to the one Galbadia has. Teaching weapons was never one of my strong suits and you seem to have a knack for it," his eyes crinkled closed with a smile. "The Faculty can ease the burden on you by continuing to teach the introductory level classes. But by the end of the term I want all of the upper division classes being taught by you." Xu's mind raced to figure out a way to fit in both instructing and weapons classes. She managed it for a week while in Galbadia, but she couldn't do it on a long-term basis. There were enough students at Balamb to justify having a full time Master. "Sir, in my opinion, contracting a full time Master would be for the best if you want to implement that system," she advised. Cid was open to suggestions, so she didn't feel uncomfortable pointing out the possible shortcomings of his plan. "And what's wrong with the Master I have standing before me?" He challenged. She flushed before answering. "I'm concerned that I won't be able to maintain quality instruction while also teaching weapons work. It'd become too much before long." His eyes narrowed. "Whatever gave you the impression that I would waste your time with instruction? It's all too rare when I have a SeeD who is also a member of the Guild. It's an opportunity I won't waste. Let the Faculty deal with the instruction end of things. I want you spearheading the physical training programs. And don't forget Quistis, understand?" "Yes, sir." "Good," he nodded his head sharply. "I want you to feel comfortable coming to me for anything you need. If you want to talk, professionally or otherwise, don't hesitate. We'll be working together closely in the upcoming years. We need to become familiar with where the other is coming from." "Yes, sir." "Cid." "Sir?" "Xu! At ease," he favored her with an exasperated look while shaking his head. "You're not in Galbadia any more. Military precision has its place, but my office is not one of them. You will kindly leave your 'sirs' at the door when you enter. Call me Cid." "Yes, s- Cid," she corrected herself hastily. "Well, that's a start." He drew a ring with many keys on it from his trouser pocket. "Here are the keys to the training room and center. If you need access to an area that you don't have a key for let me know." There had to be at least twenty keys on the ring he handed her. Each one with a little tag attached that indicated what it opened. She tucked the ring away in a secure pouch until she found a way to fasten it to her belt. "The training facilities are your domain now. Take an inventory and requisition any items you need, then organize them as you see fit." "I'll get right on it," she assured. Cid's lips quirked, "Business as usual, Xu? I would encourage you to not squander your youth in favor of duty if I didn't need you so desperately." Xu's expressionless mask broke into a soft smile. "I gave myself willingly to duty when I came here. It's a decision I don't regret. I'll give the tasks you assign me everything I've got until I succeed." "I know you will," he placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. "That's why I chose you." ***** Only a few lights were on when Xu entered the training room. She turned to a panel on her right and upped the brightness so that the room wasn't cast in shadows. Calling it a 'room' was a misnomer. The Training Center applied to the area that contained live monsters for combat purposes. The Training Room were the training facilities which consisted of a weight room, shooting range, weapons locker (another misnomer for the small room that contained various practice weapons), an office, locker rooms, and a large practice area with several mats to spar on and a punching bag in each corner. Xu didn't doubt that there were more rooms here that she'd never been in. There had to be for all the keys that dangled from her belt. The first place she decided to explore was the office. It was a smallish room off of the main practice area. A large window was in the shared wall with draw down blinds offering the office privacy. The key that was labeled 'office' slid into the lock with it tumbling easily when twisted. A sparse room with a desk terminal greeted her. She could look through the files stored on the terminal later. For now, she moved into the room and began familiarizing herself with it. Shelves filled with books ranging in topic from weapons to first aid to monster anatomy hung from the wall above a storage cabinet of some sort. The cabinet contained many small bins that could be pulled out. Doing so, she discovered that the bins contained various spell beads. She made a mental note to make labels for the bins while pulling them out to get a rough idea of how much of each spell was present. 'The supply of Cure spells at every strength is low,' she noticed. It was good to have a healthy supply of the bead form of spells on hand so that anyone could cast them in an emergency. Using potions for mass curative purposes quickly became expensive whereas spells could be harvested from monsters time and time again at no cost. She crouched down to reach the lower bins. "What the-?" She asked aloud at discovering a softly glowing, emerald colored stone. It had to be a Guardian Force of some type, but why was it orphaned in a locked office? It *should* be with its owner being properly cared for. "Hey there," she greeted the stone as she picked it up. "Let's take you into the other room and see what you look like." She could feel the Guardian Force within awaken. It stirred sleepily at first -- its time tucked away must have span into the years -- then snap awake. Xu stumbled on the edge of a mat due to a wave of disorientation that washed over her. The GF's bond to her was like an iron grip. None of her other GFs aligned themselves with her as quickly or as firmly as this one. Especially considering that she had yet to summon it even once. A trickle of fear crept into her mind as she wondered again why this GF was so long forgotten in a bin. Now standing in the middle of the main mat, she focused her energy into summoning the Guardian Force. The world around her shimmered then a small hole opened up a few meters from where she stood. An emerald colored creature with long, pointed ears to match an equally long tuff of fur off the top of its head poked up. After looking around, it leapt into the air with a spin. The ruby red jewel on its forehead exploded into light. Xu nodded appreciatively as she felt the Reflect spell being cast upon her before the creature disappeared back into its hole. "Nice to meet you too, Carbuncle," she caressed the stone in her right hand. The Guardian Force bonded even tighter to her, if that were possible. She twitched her head physically in response. "What are you doing?" She mumbled softly. "You can't lodge yourself in my body, but I feel as though you would if it were possible." The idea didn't frighten her, as it ought to have. She slid the GF into a pouch with the others in her possession. Carbuncle wouldn't be denied the attention it craved any longer. The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the facilities and taking note of things to change, look into, or replace. The facilities weren't bad, but she had some ideas on how to improve them. If Cid was giving her this opportunity, she might as well test how long of a lead he put her on. What order to start taking over students in though? She rolled the question around in her mind before deciding to approach those that were closest to graduation first. A bit of spit polish before sending them out for the exams wouldn't hurt. But before she could polish, she'd need to establish where the students were. The thought of taking cadets out to assess them while gathering beads to refill her supply came to mind. That would kill two birds with one stone. The first ones she could take out as early at tomorrow. ***** Kei frowned as she read the message that was displayed on the terminal in her quarters. It was another request from her father to return home. Why won't he leave her alone? She didn't want to see him. He didn't want to see her. That was the status quo. This arrangement suited her just fine and she saw no reason to change it. "I'm not some Guardian Force to be summoned at your whim," she muttered. With a savage poke of her index finger the message was erased from the system. ***** "Do you think you're ready to challenge her?" Nym asked in a hushed tone. "I've been ready for a year now," Quistis waved off her current roommate's concern. Her former roommate sat across from her at the Cafeteria table. Xu hadn't been back for two days before Quistis challenged her to a Triple Triad match. But not just any match. The cadet was making her way through the ranks of players and was stuck at Xu's tier. Quistis couldn't advance until she beat her friend at a game. Nym was present to witness the match since it was an official one involving player rankings. Xu didn't comment as she sorted through her cards. Even *finding* them had been a challenge. As much as she loved her cousin, she should never have sent them to Kei. Her idea of organization defied all established definitions for the word. Xu finally found her deck tucked between the mattress and the frame of Kei's bed. She wasn't brave enough to ask how they got there in the first place. The rules were agreed upon. The winner would collect one card from the loser. The question was; how good of a deck did Quistis have? Xu didn't have any of the newer cards that were released within the last couple years. If Quistis was in possession of a handful of them, she was quite likely screwed. The five cards she would use to defend her ranking were selected with the rest of the deck being set aside. Quistis set the first card down in the corner with both facing sides strong. So she was going to play defensively and catch her at the end, huh? The strategy was vulnerable to forced draws if both players were defensive. That wouldn't save her skin for long since Quistis could continue to challenge her for as many matches as she wanted. But if Xu took a big enough bite out of her deck it might discourage the cadet from coming around again any time soon. The first match did end in a draw. Quistis immediately challenge Xu to another one. Xu was able to fend off Quistis' more aggressive tactics this game. In the end, she won by a single point and claimed one of the newer rare cards from Quistis' hand. The girl frowned deeply and challenged again. Xu knew that she didn't have the cards to fend off Quistis if she was persistent. In the end, it didn't matter. Quistis surprised Xu with the last card she laid down capturing two of Xu's. The cadet reclaimed the card Xu captured while her elder lamented her lost status. "Do you know who to challenge next?" Xu slipped her deck into a pocket. At least she hadn't lost any cards. Quistis nodded, "We've just been waiting for you to return." "Well, if you want to practice, you know where to find me. Which reminds me, Nym, I want you and Myn to come to the training room after your classes let out tomorrow. We're going bead gathering, so bring your Guardian Forces." "Sir?" A puzzled expression crossed her face. "That's right, Balamb doesn't have the well developed rumor mill that Galbadia does," she mused before explaining further. "You know that I hold a Master's rank within the Weapons Guild?" They both nodded. "With that in mind, the Headmaster has decided that I will take over teaching weapons work to the Garden's student. I intend to start with the students closest to graduation and work my way back in class. I want to take my new students out spell gathering so that I know where to begin when we get back." Nym bobbed her head. "We'll meet you there," she paused briefly, "Instructor? Mistress? SeeD? Which title should I use?" "Xu, please, just Xu. I've had enough titles to last a life time." ***** A party consisting of Myn, Nym, and Xu left Balamb Garden the following afternoon in search of Cure spells. The easiest monster to get them from was the Glacial Eyes. The appearance of the Glacial Eyes always reminded Xu of a floating spinal cord complete with rib cage. The description wasn't far off. Their flesh stretched from the bottom of one 'rib' and over the top (where a head would be on a neck if they had one) and down the other side. Their glossy blue coloring was almost beautiful, despite being a fairly ugly creature. Only Xu carried some curative items in the form of a few potions. If they could all return with a full pouch of Cure beads, that would give her a solid head start on rebuilding the Cura supply when she refined the Cures into the stronger magic. Myn checked over his utility belt once more as they walked up a grassy knoll not far from the Garden. "Is something the matter?" Xu asked, curiosity piqued by his rummaging around in his pouches. "I feel as though I've forgotten something," he said more to himself than to answer her. Xu looked him over quickly to see if anything was out of place. He had his knife, several pouches, and his weapon: a pair of steel fans. 'Steel fans' was the laymen's description for them since they were much more then that. From how he explained it, they had a sharp cutting edge and poisoned tips that he could extend with the press of a switch. The skill that would impress Xu if it were proven true was that he could throw one of them and have it return. Such a defiance of physics was something she would have to see to believe. His twin's weapon was a variation on an old theme. She went into battle with a long hooked knife. Simply put, it was a long knife that hooked at the end, thus allowing the wielder to dig the hook into something and then rip it out with nasty results. Above the simple guard of the knife, another blade protruded facing upward towards the hook. With such a weapon, any battles fought were guaranteed to be very messy. "Why did you chose such a gruesome weapon?" Xu asked Nym after the cadet allowed her to examine it before they headed out. "When we were younger we used to clear Papa's fields of monster's nests for him," she explained. "I used a hoe for that. I guess I got used to a hooked weapon." Myn pointed down the slope of the hill to where two Glacier Eyes hovered near some underbrush. Xu acknowledged his keen eye and motioned for them to range to either side of her. She would take up the point while they tried to catch the monsters in a pincer attack. "Kill off one of them and leave the other to draw spells from," Xu ordered after successfully engaging the monsters. Myn moved forward first to attack. He lunged up to the monster and swiped the edge of his weapon across its vulnerable underside. The Glacier Eye howled with rage at his impudence. Nym jumped into the fray after he withdrew. She brought her hooked knife around hard, sinking it deep into the creature's flesh. With a sickening sound, she twisted it once before withdrawing the blade savagely. That proved to be its deathblow. The Glacier Eye convulsed once before dropping to the ground with a thud. Xu quickly stepped in and cast Sleep on the remaining monster. The creature couldn't resist the pull of her spell, drifting off to sleep. "Pull as much as you can while it's out," she put words into practice as she prepared to draw the Cure spell. "Oh, crap!" Myn exclaimed. "I left my Guardian Forces on my desk when I bent over to fasten my boots. That's what I'm missing." Xu frowned at his thoughtlessness. One didn't leave their GFs behind, especially when they were on a spell-gathering mission. Spells could only be collected with the aid of the GFs. Anyone could cast magic, but the collection required training and a Guardian Force that was junctioned to the user. "Finish off this Glacier Eye and I'll lend you one of my GFs," Xu motioned for them to attack. The twins acted quickly to carry out her order. Once the immediate area was safe, Xu pulled out a Guardian Force for Myn to use. She didn't even think about which one to give him as long as it wasn't already junctioned to her. It came as a surprise to them all when Carbuncle rejected Myn outright by refusing to junction with him. "I haven't done anything!" He protested his innocence. If he had neglected or abused the GF he could understand its hostilities towards him, but this was his first encounter with Carbuncle. "I'm sorry, let me give you another one," she lent him Diablos instead. Once Carbuncle was back in her possession, she felt it 'cuddle' up to her. It didn't like being away from her, even for the few minutes that Myn held the stone. 'What's your problem?' She thought silently to the Guardian Force. It didn't answer her, of course, except to wash her over with a wave of love, adoration and assurance. She had never encountered a GF with so much personality. Usually they were content with being summoned and occasionally fondled. Carbuncle was a constant presence in the back of her mind, always wanting to be in on her thoughts and feelings. 'I should speak with the Headmaster,' she decided. But when would she have the time? As long as Carbuncle wasn't doing any harm, she could let matters stand as they were. She would just have to remember to mention it next time she caught up with Cid. Once Myn was junctioned, he turned out to be a strong magic user. He consistently pulled the maximum amount one could in a single attempt. It was a skill his twin couldn't mimic. She would draw only a few castings if she didn't outright fail in the attempt. This disturbed Xu. Trabia drilled their cadets in the use of Energy Quanta, which was considered an advanced magic technique. Bead magic was simple compared to it. She hoped that Nym was simply out of practice with the use of beads since Trabia didn't hit upon the subject very hard. It took fewer encountered than she expected to get their fill of Cure. She wasn't sure if she was pleased by their efficiency or disappointed at not having more of a chance to see the twins in action -- especially Nym. She had an uneasy feeling about the true skill level of the cadet. "Let's head back, guys," Xu motioned in the general direction of the Garden. They were far enough out that it would take a couple hours to get back if they stopped to battle monsters. "If you want to impress me, now's the time to do it." "You heard the Instructor, Myn, we've gotta knock her socks off!" Nym jabbed her twin. "I'm thinking that our 'Twin Magic' should do the trick," he ducked his head in agreement with his own idea. "'Twin Magic'?" Xu asked, pulling up the rear of the group. "You'll see," Nym promised, motioning to a pair of nearby Glacier Eyes with her head. "Orders, sir?" "Engage them, standard formation," Xu took up the point with Nym and Myn fanning out to the sides. One of the Glacier Eyes took notice of Xu and lunged at her. She spun away easily while managing to clip it along one of its fleshy flaps with her sai. To her left, Myn made a hand motion with Nym following his cue. They were focusing on casting a spell if Xu didn't miss her guess. The Glacier Eye came around again and was rewarded with a gash to its other flap for its efforts. "FIRA TWIN!" They call out simultaneously; perfectly mirroring their focusing exercises. Twin bursts of Fira engulfed the pair of Glacier Eyes, causing them to squirm with pain before dying as a result of the double cast spell. Xu had to admit that she was impressed, "I wonder if you could cast two spells liek that -- one right after the other -- if you had used a Double spell first..." she mused aloud. Their little trick did have merit under the right circumstances. If both of them could double cast a spell, and then did their twinning of that, it would make for a powerful magical attack. "It's something to try if we can get some Double castings," Myn agreed. "It took us long enough to figure out how to cast Fira without having any Fira spells with us." "I didn't think you guys had an Firas with you," Xu admitted. "How did you do it? Can you do that with other spells?" The party continued making their way towards the Garden while Myn explained the logic behind it. "We discovered that when we were both casting the same spell at the same time, we could boost its power using the other as a sort of mirror. So if we focused on a Fire spell, we could boost it in strength to a Fira spell, but it was a single casting between two people." "And how useful is that when you could simple refine Fire spells into the more powerful Fira?" Nym chimed in. The point was well taken. It was poor combat practice to tie up two fighters on a single task when a single person could accomplish the same thing with a little preparation. "So we worked on learning how to split the Fira after we combined to create it. Took us a while and a lot of charred rocks, but you can see that our efforts were successful," he beamed with understandable pride. "We're well practiced at boosting low level elemental spells to medium level. We've only been able to boost a high level Firaga spell up to a Flare once. And we felt drained for days afterwards. It was too big of a leap for us," Nym picked up the explanation. "Where did you get the idea to even try a combined magical attack?" Xu marveled at their ingenuity and wondered if the Headmaster knew. More than likely, he did. He wasn't one to let such things slip by unnoticed. "Oh, from this silly video game Nym used to play a lot. It had these twin magic users in it that cast powerful magic together." Myn disregarded the validity of the game with a flip of his wrist. "It was *not* a silly game," Nym huffed. "They were cute! And when they sacrificed themselves in..." Nym continued arguing for the rest of the trip with Myn about the merits of the game. Xu chuckled to herself. She had to agree with Myn on this one, video games really were silly. ***** Later that night, in the privacy of Xu's quarters a game of Triple Triad was being played between a woman who loved the game and another who hated it. "Xu?" "Hum?" "Are you going to lay down a card or stare at my shoulder?" Kei sighed. "You make me play this damn game with you and you aren't even paying attention." The game itself was distasteful to Kei as it was a blatant waste of time, but she indulged her cousin once in a while. Xu inhaled deeply before focusing back on the cards in her hand. She put one down in a position that even Kei could see was a foolish mistake. Kei set her borrowed cards aside. "Enough games. What's on your mind?" "A lot of things," Xu answered, not even protesting the abrupt end to the match. She leaned back in the desk chair she pulled up to a small table for their game. Her quarters were too quiet sometimes, she could almost hear... That bit of insanity was cut off before the thought could fully form. "That much is obvious," Kei said dryly. That was her way of being sympathetic. Her cousin wasn't much for offering a shoulder to cry on, but Xu would be hard pressed to find someone more willing stick up for her. Kei would listen to her, as she always did. Then she would offer suggestions that ranged from ignoring the problem to confronting it in a manner that was complete and total overkill. The middle ground of 'peaceful resolution' that someone like the Headmaster would suggest wasn't in Kei's repertoire. "The Garden feels different. No... That isn't true. The Garden feels normal, *I* feel different," she fumbled for the words to describe the ambiguous feelings she was having ever since leaving Galbadia. It wasn't like Balamb didn't feel like her home anymore. Galbadia could never replace it in her heart, but everything felt *different*. The frown on Kei's face only deepened as she listened to her cousin grasp for the words. "Are you sick? Do you need to see Doctor Kadowaki?" "I don't have gas, Kei," Xu said, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "Though it feels uncomfortable like gas does..." "When did you start feeling this way?" "After leaving Galbadia. I don't think anyone has ever been happier to get out of that place, but when I came here my joy was muted," Xu sighed. She wanted to be ecstatic about being back in Balamb, but she couldn't quite muster the enthusiasm. "Did something more happen while you were back home that you didn't tell me?" Kei's mind rapidly shifted through everything Xu told her and tried to make sense of it. "You did say that coming of age felt right. What did you mean by that?" "It did feel right. I don't know why. Maybe I'm more Anshin than I wish to admit," Xu sighed and slouched in her chair. She knew Kei wouldn't buy that. It was a weak excuse, even to her ears. Kei bowed her head with thought. "You are more traditional than you'll admit. You always have been," she met Xu's eyes and held them. Those rich brown eyes that matched Kei's own reflected the confusion that was warring in her soul. "That's not a bad thing," Xu said finally. "No, it's not," her cousin allowed, "but you need to decide where you stand on some issues. You can't remain neutral forever." Xu opened her mouth to protest, then closed it without anything being said. She sunk deeper into her chair and closed her eyes. "I've never seen you so listless. What's wrong with you?" Concern colored Kei's voice. This was most definitely *not* like her. Xu was confident and strong. She knew what she wanted and went straight for it without hesitation or regret. "Nothing. Everything. I don't know anymore," Xu muttered without moving from her slouched position. "I feel different but I can't explain how." "Xu..." Kei resisted the urge to take by the shoulders and give her a solid shake. That would do nothing for Xu's lethargic spirit. "Are you fit for duty?" Kei asked after a silent pause stretched on for several minutes. "I will always complete my duty without fail." Kei didn't need to see the fire in Xu's eyes to know she meant that. The steel in her voice regarding her convictions to serve SeeD faithfully was absolute. As they should be. They continued to sit, Xu with her eyes shut and a sad expression on her face. Kei watched her, knowing that she was likely working with her Puzzle Stone searching for an answer. She would be available to talk when her cousin brought herself out of her meditations -- even if they sat there all night and into the next day. ***** The next day, as it turned out, wasn't a very good one for Kei. She left Xu's quarters after another baffling chat with her. That girl was messed up, no doubt about it. She got less sleep than a growing SeeD should, which left her feeling grumpy in the morning. While eating a cold breakfast, a courier informed her that the Headmaster wished to see her. The distasteful meal was left on the table in favor of answering Cid's summons. "You called for me, Headmaster?" Kei saluted, then stood at attention before Cid's desk. His elbows were on the desk with his hands steepled together. He leveled his eyes on her as she wondered why he called for her. He didn't seem pleased, whatever it was. "I try to be flexible when it comes to my SeeDs. I realize that we all have obligations besides the ones we take on willingly as a member of this organization. That said, I've spoken with the Anshin more in the last month then I have in the last ten years. I don't think it's too much to ask to be let in on whatever it is you all are doing." Kei's head cocked slightly before realization hit her. "I don't know, Headmaster," she kept her eyes locked forward as her anger flared. So they called him behind her back! The growl she wanted to release was carefully contained. "Don't know or can't tell me?" "They've called for me to return several times and I've refused. I don't know why they insist I come," she said through gritted teeth. Damn it! She was losing face before one of the few men she respected. There'd be hell to pay for this! "Well then, SeeD Kei, it is your job to find out. You'll leave on the next transport. Don't come back until you can give me some answers. Dismissed!" She saluted smartly, then turned on her heel and left. Her pride was stunned as her anger boiled over. She didn't want to go see them. He was giving them exactly what they wanted: her. She would find some answers, if for no other reason than to know why she was giving them the boot when she delivered it to them. ***** Quistis beamed happily as she and Xu walked down the well-traveled road to Balamb. Xu suggested that they go to town for the day to get reacquainted. There were so many things Quistis had to share with her. She was bubbling with stories to tell. And she wasn't the only one. Xu had some tales to spin as well. Balamb hadn't changed much while Xu was away. A few planks in the dock the guys liked the fish off of had been replaced. The general store expanded to selling some basic Guardian Force supplies. It was still a slow paced, everyone knows their neighbor, sort of town. "I've missed this place," Xu inhaled deeply, taking in the salty air. A fisherman with a pole on his shoulder tipped his cap as he passed them on the dock. Quistis watched Xu as she gazed out over Balamb Bay. It was the perfect day for being out on a skiff riding the gentle waves. "How are *you* doing, Quistis?" Xu asked, taking her eyes away from the lovely ocean to regard her young friend. She leaned against the rickety railing that would supposedly prevent someone from falling into the water (if it didn't give out) while considering her answer. "I'm doing better. You're back, which is reason enough to be happy. I'm doing well in my classes. The only thing holding me back is my Limit." "Your Limit?" A strange expression crossed Xu's face. "Yeah, I haven't been able to find it yet," she sighed and placed her head on her arms that were folded along the railing. "The Headmaster says that I'll stumble into it soon enough, but I can't advance to my next level of courses until I learn it." Xu went pale. Quistis didn't understand what got into her suddenly. "Is something the matter?" The Instructor shook her head. "No, nothing. How long have you been blocked?" "Not too long, a couple months. They say it could break at anytime. I just need to keep throwing myself into battle until something snaps and I get it." "Yes, that's one way to approach it. Don't worry, I'll make sure you learn your Limit," the steel in Xu's eyes startled Quistis. Why was she so fired up? It's not like she would remain blocked forever. "I know you will. You've always helped me when I couldn't get something," she smiled kindly. That was the truth, Xu had always been there for her when she was available. Not that she was going to become dependant on Xu now that she'd returned. Quistis was able to take care of herself now. But having her friend there to offer reassurance would always be welcome. Xu nodded and resumed watching the skiffs as they moved from one end of the Bay to the other. "Would you mind working on your Limit on our way back to the Garden? Nothing should be holding you back." Quistis blinked. Xu had always been a straightforward type, but even she respected the importance of rest days. Her not knowing her Limit must bother Xu more than she was letting on. Quistis frowned on the inside. She didn't want to let her friend down. If practicing today would make her feel better... "Okay, we can go looking for monsters on our way back if you'd like," the cadet agreed. Their conversation wandered to other topics from there. She learned all about the new friends Xu made while in Galbadia. That Pan fellow sounded like one Quistis would have avoided herself. The idea that he could best help Xu by fighting her when she first arrived didn't strike Quistis as being completely sane. Jen and Eileen seemed to be people more to her liking. Ah well, what were the chances that she'd even meet any of them? ***** Quistis stretched out on her bed after a long afternoon of monster hunting. They fought Bite Bugs and Glacier Eyes until she was tired of seeing their ugly forms. And in the end, she was no closer to learning her Limit. She flopped over on the mattress and buried her face into her pillow. She was such a failure for not getting this. Xu learned hers like second nature, and here she was struggling. Was she even good enough to be a SeeD? She let the doubts roll around in her mind as tears slipped down her cheeks. What if she did fail Matron and the Headmaster and Xu after all? The room was slowly pitched into total darkness as the sun set. She didn't bother to turn on the lights; she didn't want anyone to see her in her misery. Time slipped by and she must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing she knew someone flipped on the overhead lights as the entered the room. "Aw crap!" The lights flicked off again. "Sorry, Quistis, didn't realize you were taking a nap," Nym apologized as she tried to come into the room quietly. "Shh, I'll get my books and we'll study out in the lounge," she told someone who waited in the hallways -- likely Myn. "It's alright. You can turn the lights on if you want," she sat up, smoothing down her hair. The lights came to life again. Nym took one look at her and was immediately at her side. "Are you okay? You look like hell," she brushed aside a few loose strands of Quistis' hair. It was hard for the girl to hide that she'd been crying, especially when her eyes were still puffy. Quistis bobbed her head, trying to play it down. "I'm fine, just felt a bit discouraged," she explained. Myn poked his head into the room, then noticed that they were having a conversation without him. "Hey! Yo..." He trailed off. "What's wrong, Quistis? Time of the month?" "Shut up, you moron," Nym snapped. Quistis sat herself upright so that Nym could sit on one side of her while her twin took up the other. "What's got you down?" Nym asked gently, taking Quistis' hands into her own. "Xu and I went to Balamb today. I told her that I hadn't learned my Limit yet. She suggested we go around and fight monsters this afternoon to see if I could get it and I didn't. So I'm feeling frustrated at my own failure," she sighed heavily. "That's nothing! There was this cadet named Lee at Trabia Garden who couldn't learn his Limit so they stuck him outside the gates to fend for himself. He finally learned it when a Snow Lion started chasing him across the Bika snowfield," Myn encouraged. Quistis' face paled. "Idiot!" Nym reached across Quistis to give her twin a smack upside the head. "That's not what happened. He refused to return to the Garden until he learned his Limit and the Snow Lion ate him. Dammit, now you've scared Quistis. Why did you even bring that stupid story up to begin with?!" "I was *trying* to cheer her up and then you go and ruin the ending!" He growled back. "It's okay," Quistis assured, not feeling up to being in the middle of another one of their fights. "I'm sure I'll figure it out soon." She smiled weakly at each of them. Neither of them seemed convinced, but realized they'd already worsened the situation and were willing to leave matters where they stood. Nym got her books and left the room. Myn stood up slowly and stretched. "Don't listen to her this time Quistis, *I'm* the one telling the truth," he bent over to give her a platonic kiss on the cheek before leaving himself. She wanted to believe Myn, but for some reason her mind was certain Nym was the one telling the true tale. ***** ***** tries to teach her the puzzle stone and fails. quistis is frustrated => depressed.] [xu doesn't want quistis to be like kent. book smart but without a limit. quistis is trying too hard.] ***** [kei decides to stay for a couple weeks longer while grilling them for information. she's uncomfortable with how they treat her now. kinda like 'i think i liked it better when you all hated me o.O'] [quistis doesn't notice her quieter skill of picking up monster's tricks. (does so by accident once and xu is like 'ah ha!!'.) quistis is disappointed with this 'weak' limit until xu slaps her around some and points out how truly powerful it really is.] [kei returns to the garden bursting with information. she doesn't know what *everything* on their backs mean, but she's got most of it. (scene: report to cid). the 8 & 8 small characters status ailments/elemental magicks. their resistance to them has been increased by 20%.]