Now it was nearly ten and she sorely wanted to get off her feet. All in all she had to admit she had a pretty good day.
She yawned and fumbled for her keys as she rounded the corner near her apartment. She cursed sharply as she dropped them.
She shuffled the bags careful not to drop them as she attempted to pick them up, she failed miserably.
"Oh for the love of!" She managed before the bags slipped from her grasp and strewn them self in a circle about her feet.
Various trinkets and rose shaped soaps rolled up the hall with rebellious fervor. A snow globe with singing children spiraled about crazily.
She got on hands and knees to capture the fleeing debris. She reached for the snow globe and came face to face with a pair of fluffy white Mog faced slippers.
She looked up slowly startled. Fujin stood above her looking down with a half-amused expression, she wore a loose black tank top with the garden's emblem on it with matching shorts. She noticed she smelled faintly of roses.
"Um nice slippers." Quistis said with a careful grin.
Fujin just stood her expression unchanging. Quistis looked away and started gathering her things once more.
"So much for levity." She mumbled under her breath.
"I assume you came for you Jacket?" She said, still not meeting the woman's gaze and feeling more and more like an imbecile.
Fujin nodded.
"I had it cleaned." She stated as tactfully as she could.
"It smelled like the party when I woke up." She had no desire to think about last night.
Silence was the only reply. Quistis just nodded gravely.
"Great, she thinks I'm retarded." She thought to herself.
Fujin knelt and started to picking up the scattered items. Quistis looked up genuinely surprised. Then frowned as she noticed Fujin's gauze wrapped hand and the angry bluish bruise along her jaw.
"Thanks" Quistis whispered softly, her expression softened with worry.
After a few quite moments they completed their task. Fujin picked up a few and stood. Quistis unlocked the door and carried her load inside.
Fujin waited in the hall until she came back to get the other bags from her. Quistis quickly put the items up then hurried back out with a flat rectangular box.
"Here you go." She smiled and handed it to Fujin.
"Good as new."
Fujin took the box and tucked it under her arm.
"THANKS." She said simply and turned to leave. Quistis was taken aback and looked after her. Fujin was just about to round the corner.
"Fujin?" Quistis called abruptly. The other woman paused but didn't turn around.
"You um hungry?" Quistis felt like a utter fool, but she felt the need to try. It was the least she could do.
"I kinda got tired of cafeteria food and bought some things to make dinner. You're welcome to join me. There's more than enough to go around"
Fujin remained still, causing Quistis to wring her hands nervously.
"Run away idiot! You are making a complete ass of yourself. She hates you just let her go, quit trying to make up." Her subconscious screamed at her.
Fujin turned and walked back towards her. Quistis's eyes widened slowly, she wasn't sure if she was about to be attacked or what.
"I ACCEPT." Fujin stated flatly.
"What are you doing." She asked herself.
Quistis sighed with relief and smiled causing Fujin to arch an eyebrow.
"Well come in then." Quistis said as she stepped aside. Fujin walked in and looked about.
"Take a seat on the couch while I put these up."
Fujin sat down stiffly placing her hands in lap. She glanced at her wounded hand, though she had wrapped it gauze it was still throbbing lightly.
She ignored it and looked to Quistis who was fluttering about in the small kitchen. She was putting various items on the shelves and in the tiny refrigerator, she turned and looked to her guest.
"Want anything to drink?" She called oddly cheery.
"I have, hmm lets see. Water, milk, tea, juice, wine and soda."
"WATER." Fujin stated as she noticed a group photo of Quistis and all her students including herself, her brother and Seifer. She allowed a faint smirk to cross her lips only to wince as her jaw screamed at her.
She remembered when that picture was taken, just days before Squall and Seifer exchanged scars while training.
Quistis walked over and handed her a glass.
"Here you go." Fujin took the glass and sipped silently. Quistis paused a moment then offered a quaint smile before heading back to the kitchen. Fujin watched her leave from under the cascade of her bangs.
She felt out of place and awkward, she laid her class on the coffee table. She was getting agitated. She looked down at her feet, smiling mog eyes stared blankly back at her.
She noticed she was tapping her foot slightly, a sure sign she was more unsettled than she would admit. She's invited to dinner by anyone before and she avoided social engagements like a plague.
"Why am I here? What does she want from me? She's probably trying to trick me somehow." She played various situations out in her mind; it did not relax her at all.
She stole a glance to the kitchen to see Quistis busily slicing a assortment of vegetables.
"Not a hint of danger there, I think you can relax." She noted to herself before taking another sip of water. She looked at a assortment of photos atop the entertainment center across from her.
She saw one of Rinoa and Squall, Rinoa peeking over Squall's shoulder smiling brightly her arms around his waist. Even Squall had a slight smile something she never seen before. They looked happy she thought.
A slight discomfort tickled her deep down. She paid no attention and looked to yet another photo. This one of that goof Zell and his lady friend, Nicole, Fujin believed her name was.