Zell had the woman swept off her feet and was kissing her like some sailor returning from a long war. She rolled her eye and found one of Selphie and Irvine both dress in full uniform.
They stood holding hands and smiling brightly a number of medals hung from each of their chests.
She found herself frowning as she glanced over the reaming picture, all of the smiling faces taunted her wickedly. She sighed deep and slow as she looked away.
She stopped something caught her eye. She glanced again at Quistis who was hoping up and down trying to get something from the top of a cabinet. Fujin got up slowly, a dull ache coursed through her body.
After two fights and her self-punishment at the gym, she felt like she was made of lead. She quietly moved to get a closer inspection of the pictures. There it was. One of pictures set amid the others on a simple stand. It was a small photo and it was of her.
She picked it up and studied it. Sure enough there she was and she remembered this day well. She stood under a tree outside the garden watching the sunset. She had a hand clenched over her heart and a letter in her other.
Fujin frowned softly at the memory, she had just found the letter from Rajin, she remembered all he wrote was that he was searching for what he had lost and would not be back for sometime.
Just days before they both had returned to the garden after Seifer's disappearance. She noticed how sad and small she looked in the photo, how alone.
Fujin carefully returned the photo to its place. Quistis must have saw her and secretly took the photo, she didn't know how to feel about that. She felt a cold dull emptiness creep through her insides.
She looked over her shoulder at her host who's back was turned and was preparing something that smelled like salmon. Fujin crept back to her seat and sat back down.
A few minutes passed and Quistis finally walked back into the living room. She was playing with the clip in her hair.
"Okay that about does it." She said peaceably as she removed the clip and shook her hair out. Her golden locks fell softly about her shoulders. She kicked off her shoes and laid them by the door.
"The foods still has a few minutes to cook. You don't care if I get a quick shower do you? I've been out and about all day."
Fujin shrugged indifferent.
"Thanks I will be fast. Umm I have some music in the entertainment center if you want to listen to anything while you wait."
Fujin nodded and settled back in her seat.
"Okay then, I'll be right back." She said as she disappeared into her bedroom. Fujin sat still for a long moment, she begun to smell the cooking food wafting through the apartment. It smelled good she had to admit.
She herself had zero cooking skills and could not recall when she had a real home cooked meal. Defiantly not after arriving at the garden so many years ago.
She allowed herself to smirk at the weirdness of her present situation. Here she was in the home of her former enemy in the middle of her night and waiting for dinner.
"This is ludicrous." She thought, There was a knock at the door. Fujin about jumped out of her seat. Quistis poked her head out bedroom door.
"Fuu could you answer that, if its Rinoa tell her I'm in the shower."
"Fuu!? What the hell is Fuu?" Quistis mentally screamed at herself, She gritted her teeth in horrified embarrassment and sunk back behind the door. Fujin unnerved by another knock did not even notice the cute take on her name.
Another knock and Fujin arose awkwardly she approached the door as if it where gallows. She reached out tentatively and paused.
Another knock this time somewhat exasperated. Fujin kicked herself for being paranoid and just opened the door.
"Hiya Quistis. Glad to see your back. How did your trip go? I know its late but Squall's still out at the training center and I got bored."
Rinoa babbled and stopped abruptly. She balked and paled visibly she looked about like she wasn't sure where she was.
"Fu..Fu..? Fujin?" She stammered and made a screwed up face. Fujin looked at her blandly and stood in the door like a bouncer.
"YES."
"Umm." Rinoa looked about again and focused on the woman in front of her.
"WHAT."
"Quistis?" She asked while looking over Fujin shoulder.
"SHOWER."
"She's in the shower you mean.?" Rinoa said feeling uneasy being under Fujin's piercing gaze.
"AFFIRMATIVE."
"Ok righty then." Rinoa said rocking back and forth as she clapped her hands together. Rinoa expected Fujin to move, or try to kill her, or something, but instead she stood fast in the door. A painfully long and awkward moment passed.
"Well then." Rinoa said "I guess that's all." She nodded with a half bewildered smile.
Fujin shut the door in her face.
Quistis walked into the living room drying her hair, her bare feet brushing lightly against the carpet she made not a sound.
She wore a comfortable faded blue button up shirt that hung midway down her bare thighs. She saw Fujin squatting by the entertainment center thumbing through several CD's.
A haunting melody drifted from the speakers, as a soulful and passionate female voice sang softly, of lost hopes and passing dreams.
She smiled warmly careful not to disturb her, it was a relief to see the woman relax, it made her feel more at ease herself.
Fujin finally stood and turned coming face to face with Quistis. Fujin jumped slightly and her smoldering gaze locked onto Quistis's winter blue eyes and lingered.
Quistis offered a ghost of a smile her eyes danced lightly as she tried to read Fujin's expression. As always she was unreadable, Quistis flushed a bit and looked to the door.