She rolled her eye in disgust, having more important things to think about than fleeting thoughts of beauty. After a quick shower she donned a black tank top and gray sweatpants. By five-thirty she'd already started her daily routine. No one was in the halls at this hour and she was thankful for it. As she stepped out of the elevator she walked briskly to the cafeteria. Zell was the only other person up this early on a weekend and stood waiting patiently for the breakfast line to open. He was oblivious to the world; the headphones he wore blared loudly and he sang along with the tune, albeit poorly.
With a dry smirk Fujin stalked up behind him and stood in line. Meanwhile, Zell smiled cheerily as the serving woman appeared. He ordered a couple of chilidogs and sweet rolls and was already stuffing his face when he turned around. He nearly choked when he stumbled into her. Fujin could've moved, but instead she stood like a brick wall. Zell nearly jumped out of his shoes but to his credit he was able to keep his tray in order.
"Hyne!" He shouted in frustration. "Don't sneak up on a guy like that!" He looked her over sourly. "Don't you have babies to eat or something." He added sarcastically and shoved past her.
"SOD" She snapped back. An uproarious belch was his reply as he took a seat.
"Uncouth imbecile" She thought and turned to regard the lunch lady who stood watching with obvious displeasure. Fujin ignored her and picked out her breakfast. A simple affair consisting of eggs over easy, plain unadorned toast and some unsavory slab of processed meat that tried so very hard to be ham. After her meal she washed it down with a glass of orange juice and dumped the tray. As she headed out the door a sea of yapping children suddenly flowed around her, all of them screaming and laughing merrily.
"THE DEVIL?" She cursed in a mix of annoyance and shock. She recognized none of them. She surmised them to be the new students and waded through them unceremoniously. Several stared and pointed, others avoided her as if she were a predator. She was never fond of children; they were loud and had a smell about them.
"Much like Zell" She chuckled inwardly.
Rinoa leaned over the railings overlooking Balamb's lobby. Squall stood by her side watching the new students burst into the cafeteria. They only barely noticed Fujin heading towards the gymnasium.
"Squall?" Rinoa said smiling faintly as dorm heads tried to round up the children. Squall, watching the proceedings in amusement glanced over at her.
"Yeah?"
"I'm worried about Quistis."
""Why?"
"Don't you think she's grown more and more, I dunno darker, withdrawn ever since the Sorceress War?"
"War changes people." Squall said smoothly.
"No it's not that. It's something else. I think she handled the war better than any of us."
"She's got her instructors license again, she should be happy." He shrugged.
"You know she loved you." Rinoa said quietly. "I think she may still."
Squall winced and rubbed his temples; he didn't want to get into this.
"You should talk to her." Rinoa suggested.
"That's not my problem." Squall huffed irritably.
"Squall Leonhart, that's just rude, I mean, she is our friend!" Rinoa all but shouted. Squall blanched and pulled her close.
"Keep it down. What do you want me to do about it? She liked me; I didn't like her, end of story. She should get over it!" He stated with finality.
Rinoa sighed heavily and tried a different approach.
"Squall I'm just saying we should try to do something to cheer her up." She looked thoughtfully for a moment then smiled. "Her birthday is coming up soon, right? Do you have anything picked out for her?"
"Soap on a rope?" He offered dryly.
Rinoa's eyes nearly shot out their sockets.
"Your serious aren't you." She said in disbelief.
"Why, are we joking? Yes I'm serious."
"Your hopeless." She said exasperated, throwing her hands into the air she walked off. Squall was dumbfounded by her reaction.
"What'd I do now!?" He called to her.
Selphie answered the door after about five minutes of knocking. She wore an extra long T-shirt that hung to her knees. Rinoa nearly laughed aloud at the sight of her. The girl looked like she'd kissed a cow. Her hair was a tussled mess that stuck up far to straight for common decency.
"Omigod, Selphie I'm so sorry." Rinoa stammered behind giggles. Selphie blinked uncomprehendingly and staggered away from the door gesturing for her to enter. Rinoa entered and looked around. There were clothes everywhere and she nearly tripped over a giant pair of cowboy boots.
"Ack." She cried out and Selphie caught her then giggled putting a finger to her lips.
"You'll wake the pumpkin king."
"The what!?" Rinoa laughed, afraid to ask.
"Never mind " Selphie giggled. "Just keep it down." She said grinning while shutting the bedroom door. A heavy bellow that was hopefully snoring could be heard echoing within the darkened room. She walked to the couch and caught her reflection a mirror nearby.
"Ewwww, Ick. " She yelped in disgust and horror.
Rinoa exploded into laughter as she sat down. A groan and a heavy thud echoed somewhere in bedroom. Selphie meanwhile patted feebly at her hair in a pathetic attempt to tame it. Grabbing a nearby brush Rinoa motioned for Selphie to turn around.
"Here let me." She said with a motherly grin.
Turning around Selphie scooted to her, and soon Rinoa was working the brush with a single-minded vigor in hopes to vanquish the vile thing perched atop her friend's scalp.
"Not that I'm complaining Rinoa but what's up, its a little early for visiting?" Selphie asked curiously.
"I just wanted to talk about a few things and Squall is no help at all." Rinoa sighed.
"Ya don't say. Squall, no help in a talk?" Selphie giggled and made a cute face. Rinoa swatted her playfully.