Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Sowing the SeeDs ❯ Chapter 4

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sowing the SeeDs : Part 4

a fanfic by Greenbeans
edited by Helen Fong
based on the world of Final Fantasy 8
created by Square Electronic Arts L.L.C.


- Xu -

Summer looked up from her textbook when there was a light tapping on the
door. She and Xu exchanged looks before she got up to answer it. It wouldn't
be proper for her to make the Instructor get the door, after all. (Though she
doubted very much that Xu would see it that way).

Summer found herself warming up to her teacher. Instructor Xu was so...
*human* -- for lack of a better word. She expected Summer to act
appropriately, but she also had a sense of humor and was very kind towards her.
The quality she found herself admiring the most was that Xu had all the
professionalism of a SeeD, but not the coolness of the military (as was often
found around here). That approach towards life appealed to her.

"Oh, hey Summer," one of her classmates greeted once she opened the door.
He had never come by her room before. She couldn't even recall his name. "Is
Instructor Xu around?"

Well *that* explained his stopping by. What to do? Usually the
Instructor held her office hours in her classroom. Was Summer to turn away
people who came looking for her during off-hours?

"It's okay." Xu came up behind her, a pleasant smile on her face. She
didn't seem upset by the intrusion like most of the Instructors would be.
"What can I do for you?"

Her classmate came to attention. "I'm terribly sorry to disturb you,
Instructor, but I'm having difficulty with a problem and no one could help me,"
he stammered a few times while speaking, but managed to get it out coherently.

"What problem is it?"

"In our math text, page 215, exercise seven," he rattled off. Summer
recalled the problem. She'd skipped it herself because she didn't understand
how to do it.

"I didn't get that one either," she admitted softly, looking over at the
Instructor.

Xu rocked on the balls of her feet slightly as she thought. "Are there
others stuck on that one also?"

He bobbed his head then answered properly with a 'Yes, Instructor'.

Xu returned to her desk and began flipping through one of the textbooks
sitting on it. She mumbled something softly before snapping it closed and
returning to the door with it under her arm. "Take me to where you all are
studying. Come along, Summer, let's work through this one together."

"Instructor?" He gasped in surprise.

"Hum? Do you no longer want help?"

He shook his head back and forth vigorously. "Please help us!"

"Then lead the way," she invited.

He scurried down the hallway with Xu and Summer in tow. Summer knew of
the study group that usually met in the student lounge, but didn't attend.
They didn't often cover subjects that she had trouble with. When they saw that
he had the Instructor with him, they all stood and saluted while having a wide
range of startled expressions on their faces. Instructors weren't expected to
answer questions after hours, never mind actually come to the study group to
answer in person.

Xu stayed long after the one problem was worked through. The assignment
as a whole was a difficult one and there were many questions relating to it.
Summer learned more from the group session than she had from class. With fewer
distractions and less pressure, her grasp of the material became rock solid.

Xu made it clear when she left that it was all right to come ask her
questions if they couldn't figure it out amongst themselves. That invitation
immediately endeared her to several of her students. Knowing they could come
to her if need be increased their confidence. At the same time, it was
something they knew better than to abuse.

Afterwards, the roommates returned to their dorm room together. "Why
don't you study with their group?" Xu inquired as an afterthought. "It would
increase your teamwork skills and help overcome your shyness."

"Is that an order?" Summer asked softly. She dreaded the idea of having
to work with her classmates in a group setting. A class setting was different.
You were part of group while still being on your own. She didn't have to speak
with anyone if she didn't want to. Keeping to herself was completely
acceptable and often times preferred over the louder students.

"Well, no, it's not an order. A suggestion, certainly, but I won't make
you go if you don't want to."

"Thank you," she responded meekly. Her classmates were so foreign to her.
How could she ever get along with Logan or Tory or even Kent? Of any of them,
he was the one she was most likely to bond with. Even though he was amiable
towards everyone, she still dreaded speaking with him.

*****

The door to the room Kent and Logan shared opened soon after Xu knocked on
it. Logan saluted before stepping aside to let her in.

"What brings the Instructor to our humble abode?" Logan asked. She
couldn't tell if he was sincerely interested in her reason or if he was being a
smart ass, so she assumed the former.

"I need to speak with your roommate. Would you mind leaving us for a
while?"

Kent sat back and watched as Logan grimaced at the inconvenience, then
gathered his books and left. Kent stood to properly greet her before inviting
her to sit down.

"What can I do for you, Instructor?" He asked politely. He was *thrilled*
to have her alone for a discussion. Perhaps she'd be willing to speak with him
honestly regarding the Anshin since it was just the two of them.

"I wanted to know your thoughts regarding your current situation. It must
be distressing to be so close to SeeD graduation and yet have the Limit
qualification holding you back," her tone was sympathetic. It invited him to
tell her exactly what was on his mind.

"Oh," he shrugged. "It doesn't much matter. The Garden is just another
school to me. I've enjoyed my time here, but I don't have the same passion for
the work that you seem to." That was the honest truth. If he didn't become a
SeeD, he could always return to the family business. His parents wouldn't be
upset with him. The idea of having a son in SeeD struck them as more of a
novelty rather than something to really hope for.

Some might consider his outlook on life to be apathetic, but it wasn't.
He was flexible enough to make wherever he ended up his home. The advantage
SeeD offered him was that he could travel and see more of the world. That's
what he really wanted to do, visit the world over and write about it. He'd be
like Laguna Loire, that guy who published all those articles years ago in the
'Timber Maniacs' magazines he found in his father's study. To be the next
Laguna, that was his dream. They had both started off in Galbadia and in a
military establishment. Maybe that's just how these things worked.

"Headmaster Martine has already invited me to join the Galbadian officer
corps if I didn't make it as a SeeD," he added since she hadn't yet responded.

"Don't you want to be a SeeD?" The look of mild shock and disappointment
warred on her face.

He leaned back in his chair. "It's not that I *don't* want to be a SeeD.
It would be a great honor to join the organization, but I also realize my
limitations. I've been stuck here for two years now. I won't say that I've
given up all hope, but I'm not holding my breath either."

"Are you still willing to try? Or should I have you transferred to a
Galbadian Instructor?" Her eyes studied him intently.

What did he want? Would he prefer to be a SeeD or an officer? Or he
could just go back home, but there wasn't much ambition behind that option. A
SeeD does live a more exciting life; plus it would give him more material to
write about. With his luck, he'd end up working at a base guarding missiles or
something like that if he joined the Galbadian military.

"I would prefer to be a SeeD," he said after considering it.

She smiled broadly. "Good. We're going to be trying some unorthodox
methods for working you through your block, are you with me?"

'Unorthodox methods'? That could mean just about anything, but what did
he have to lose?

"All right. What do I have to do?"

She took his hands up in her own. "I want you to close your eyes and
listen carefully to my voice..."

A few hours passed during their session. It was tiresome and frustrating
for Xu. Patience wasn't one of her stronger virtues as Kent failed repeatedly
to create the Puzzle Stone. She was finally force to admit that he just didn't
have the imagination for it. Not everyone did and she didn't think less of him
because of it. But the Stone could have at least given them a hint as to why
he was blocked regarding the Limit. This wasn't a good sign. If he couldn't
visualize himself gathering the power -- of channeling it, and releasing it
through himself -- then there wasn't much to be done.

"How strong of a magic user are you?" Her face was taut with strain.

"Not very," he admitted on the end of a sigh. He was as tired as she was.
The last hour hadn't been a fun experience.

She bowed her head. "Okay, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to
partner you with Summer. You two will work on summoning the Puzzle Stone
together. I apologize for not having the time to do this with you every night.
But you and Summer should be able to meet for at least a half hour a day to
try, don't you think?"

"If Summer is available, I will be," was his answer. He didn't understand
what she was trying to accomplish by sitting here and speaking softly to him.
He couldn't see the things she described to him. It was like they were on two
entirely different worlds screaming across the distance at each other.

*****

Xu was dissatisfied with the current state of things. She channeled all
the frustration she felt regarding her failure to teach Kent the Puzzle Stone
behind her weapon. The polearm cut through the air in a broad arc before
sharply changing angles and leveling off against Master Pan. Pan maintained
his guard with his own polearm.

"I failed, Pan, completely," she admitted.

"Hog wash!" He brought his weapon up to strike against hers. They sparred
for a few moments before pausing again to speak. "I think you did the right
thing by having Summer try to show it to him. That'll help her, even if it
gains him nothing from the experience."

"Perhaps," Xu allowed. Pan struck at her suddenly, testing to see if she
had let her guard down as he thought. Xu quickly brought the polearm around
before going on the offensive. He skillfully parried her advances as she
nudged him across the mat they practiced on. His back was against the wall
when a devilish grin crossed his face. With a maneuver she wouldn't have
thought possible, her weapon was knocked away as he neatly disarmed her.

"How come you always do that to me?" She complained good-naturedly.

"Because I am a Weapons Master and you are not," he answered equably as he
leaned against the polearm he planted into the mat.

She shook her head while bending down to pick her own weapon up. "One of
these day I'll catch up to you," she taunted with a grin.

"I expect you to surpass me," he agreed as he moved back to the center of
the mat. She positioned herself across from him and prepared to have at it
again.

"How does that work? Is there an actual school for Weapons Masters or
something?" She hadn't heard of one, but that didn't mean there wasn't. From
how Pan spoke, there had to be some central organization behind it all.

"There isn't a school like Garden for weapons students. The Weapons Guild
uses an Apprentice - Journeyman - Master system for instruction. A Master can
take in Apprentices and graduate them to Journeymen. If the Journeyman wishes
to become a Master, he must go to the yearly convention in Deling City and
petition to become one. If the other Masters approve his petition, he may join
their ranks as a Master and start taking in Apprentices of his own.

"A Master's ranking is a lot like SeeD's system of ranking. SeeDs are
ranked one to A, in which A is actually rank 31. Masters are ranked one to
ten. This is to better reflect the wide range of weapons. A woman as young as
yourself could never be a rank ten since there are so many weapons out there,
but you could be a low ranking Master at your age.

"I'm currently ranked six. I hope to increase my rank to seven during the
next convention. Someday I'll reach rank ten, but there's still a lot out
there that I haven't fully mastered."

"That makes sense," Xu commented as she prepared for his attack. "I hope
you get it."

"Oh, it won't be for lack of trying," he chuckled lightly as he swung his
weapon around to strike. She blocked his attack, then tried to catch him in
the back of the knees with the shaft. He firmly planted his weapon down to
block the blow before it could reach his legs. They continued practicing until
it was time for his next batch of students to arrive.

*****

When Xu made it back to her room, she found a distraught Summer waiting
for her.

"What's wrong?" She immediately went to comfort the crying student.
Summer tried to swallow down the tears that were flowing freely before Xu came
in. They refused to stop and she was embarrassing herself in front of her
Instructor.

"Headmaster Martine," she took a deep breath as she tried to hold back the
rage and the sorrow she was feeling, "he took my Puzzle Stone away and told me
to not teach it to Kent."

Xu bit down hard on her tongue to keep from saying anything inappropriate
in front of the student. Martine would chose the worst time to undermine her
efforts! Any confidence Summer had gained through using the Puzzle Stone was
probably lost because of his reprimand.

"Come with me. We're going to get your Puzzle Stone back," Xu pulled
Summer to her feet.

"Are we going to see the Headmaster?" The fear in her voice was
unmistakable.

Xu shook her head and dragged Summer with her out of the room. She led
them to one of the outdoor areas near the basketball court. Gravel surrounded
the court on either side beyond its chain link fences. Xu led them out onto
the gravel and retrieved her own Stone from a pouch on her belt.

"Tell me, if I throw my Puzzle Stone out into the gravel, do you think
I'll ever find it again?" She asked Summer.

The student shook her head. "With all those rocks to look through, you'd
never find it."

Xu nodded sharply then pulled her arm back and threw the Stone as far as
she could out into the gravel.

Summer gasped. "Why did you do that?!"

"To prove a point. The Puzzle Stone can *never* be lost unless you want
it to be," she slipped her hand into her belt pouch and drew out the Stone
she'd just thrown into the gravel. "As long as you believe that you have it,
it will be there when you reach for it."

Summer blinked, then reached into her belt pouch. Her slim fingers pulled
out the black stone she thought lost when Martine took it. "Amazing..."

"You have to believe, that's the real key to the Puzzle Stone. I want you
to teach Kent what you've learned today. Don't worry about the Headmaster,
I'll take care of it."

Summer was sent back to their room believing that Xu was going to speak
with the Headmaster. In fact, Xu went to his assistant. It was time to test
Eileen's persuasive skills.

"So he jumped on Summer's case, huh?" Eileen leaned against the wall in
thought. Jen was attending her office hours, and so wasn't around when Xu
stopped by their quarters.

"There isn't anything in the Regulations Manual prohibiting Puzzle
Stones," Xu pointed out.

"No, there isn't. And I should know since I wrote the Manual," she bowed
her head. "Okay, I'll make your case to him in the morning. Summer did get
her Stone back, didn't she?"

"Yes, I showed her how to retrieve it."

"Good, good," Eileen replied, caught up in her own thoughts. "I'll let
you know how it goes."

"Thank you, Eileen."

All the more Xu heard on the subject was Eileen's assurances that Martine
would no longer interfere with her teaching the Puzzle Stone. Xu marveled at
her persuasive ability. Her tongue must surely be honey coated to keep the
aggressive Headmaster at bay.

What she didn't see was the angry confrontation in Martine's office. Nor
was anyone witness to Eileen firmly telling Martine to 'stuff a sock in it'
when he threatened to prohibit the use of Puzzle Stones on Garden grounds.

"Two of the most important skills a SeeD learns is focus and the ability
to *believe* in something intangible," she pointed out hotly. "Magic doesn't
work if you don't believe it will! Prohibiting something that practices these
vital skills has got to be one of the stupidest things I've heard!"

"Who's the Headmaster here?" He snapped.

His anger was a shield to hide the fear his outraged aide placed in him.
Sometimes he wondered if he relied upon her too heavily. She was the one who
kept things in balance at the Garden. Usually she was gentle when she cut down
one of his ideas before suggesting something better. This Puzzle Stone thing
hit a chord with her and he'd have to tread carefully.

"You may be the Headmaster today, but will you be tomorrow if Galbadia
stops producing quality SeeDs?" She retorted. An unbecoming frown marred her
usually cheerful expression.

"It's just a toy," he grumbled. "They distract the students from their
work."

Eileen favored him with an exasperated look. "Who says toys can't be
educational? Jumping rope increases dexterity. Nearly every 'game' has a
redeeming quality to it. Trust me when I say that it would do more harm to ban
Puzzle Stones than to let those who have them be."

"Fine, fine! You'll do whatever you want any ways," he threw his arms up
in defeat. Leaning over his desk, he pulled open one of the draws to get
something. "You can return the rock I confiscated the other da- Now that's
odd. I know I put it in this drawer."

"Don't worry about it," Eileen said. "I'm sure the student has found
another Stone by now." She didn't bother to point out that the reason it
disappeared was because he didn't believe in it. That would have been
expecting too much of the man.

*****

The school year marched on as even more students joined the already
crowded Garden for the spring session. Five students joined Xu's class with
only two leaving, neither of them as SeeD graduates. One of those to drop out
was Tory. A night's tryst with an unnamed male cadet had effectively ended her
chances of joining SeeD. A mother is what she would become soon enough.

Xu's first group of students would be ready to challenge the SeeD exam
come term's end. She was both excited and frightened by the prospect. Could
she give them all the final tidbits of information they needed before it came
time to take the exams?

Their efforts to help Kent summon a Puzzle Stone had all been in vain.
Needless to say the renewed attempts to coax his Limit out of him were also
fruitless. Xu was more disappointed on that front than he was. He had already
resigned himself to his fate as a Galbadian officer. It saddened her that she
wasn't skilled enough to work him through his block. There was one last thing
she could try, but not until the summer break. She long ago noticed his
fascination with the Anshin and planned to use that to their advantage.

Once Summer made some friends (beginning with Kent) she spent less time
around their room. Xu was glad. Things were going to work out for Summer, she
could *feel* it.

Pan kept her appraised on Logan's progress in training. He was getting
better, but was still no match for her. Her own training with the Master was
coming along nicely. They regularly practiced with a variety of weapons now.
She was better at some weapons than others. At the end of every session she
could honestly admit that she improved -- even if it was only slightly. The
small accomplishments pleased her as much as the large ones since often it took
many minor elements coming together for a major skill to be mastered. At
least, that was the theory behind it.

All these thoughts and feelings she recorded in the journal she kept since
she was a first year student at Balamb. She had good reason to note down her
experiences. People were destined to repeat what they did not remember.

It was an unusually warm spring day. Since it was a free day, the Garden
quickly emptied of its population. Most everyone took the morning train to
Deling City to enjoy the nice weather, walk along the shopping arcade, or sight
see. Xu decided to spend the day writing. There were so many things she
needed to get down before she forgot them.

She passed on wearing her usual uniform, opting instead for a sleeveless
button down shirt and a long skirt that flowed around her ankles. Her hair was
bound back into a short tail. She finally decided to grow it long enough so
that she could pull it back without fear of it coming free. Though, when she
was in uniform, she still let it brush against her shoulder unrestrained.

So much of her time was spent in uniform that it felt good to dress like a
*woman* once in a while. That thought brought a smile to her lips. Her
dearest cousin would undoubtedly disagree vehemently on that point.

She leaned back from the terminal she was working at. Her fingers played
with the necklace Sean gave her as her mind organized its thoughts. Months
after his death and she still held tightly to his spirit. She wanted to let go
-- to let him return to the Path peacefully -- but she missed him. It didn't
hurt like it used to. Now it was more of a wistful longing. Much like wishing
for a gentle breeze to brush her hair back on a hot day. She wanted so very
much for his hand to capture hers again, for him to give her a playful hip shot
as they walked, and especially to just lean her head against his shoulder as
they sat together. The peace he gave her was what she missed the most.

A tapping on the door broke her free of her musings. She paused to smooth
out her skirt before answering. Both of Master Pan's eyebrows rose as he gave
her an appraising look. He then whistled appreciatively. "I'm sorry, were you
about to go out?"

Xu flushed slightly before moving aside to invite him in. "I'm not doing
anything special today. I just felt like wearing something besides a uniform."

"It's probably for the best that you're dressed like this while everyone
is away. You do a fine job of reminded a man that he's a man," Pan laughed at
her discomfort.

She reseated herself at her desk and invited him to sit. He pulled the
chair from Summer's desk over, then something caught his eye. "May I?" He
asked before gently lifting up the pendant that she wore so that he could
better view it.

"Allow me to again offer my condolences regarding Sean. I hadn't realized
that you two were that close," he let the pendant drop back against the soft
flesh of her neck. Xu wondered about his comment. Did Pan somehow know that
she'd been so recently thinking of him? Or was there something more behind
Sean's gift than she knew?

Pan nodded when she voiced her questions. "I'm surprised that you
wouldn't know the significance of the pendant you wear. But then again, you're
not from around here.

"The different colors in certain combinations can mean a variety of
things. Many times such necklaces are given as a reminder of friendship
between parting friends. I should also point out the materials used are
significant. It's all rather symbolic."

"So what does mine mean?" She was fairly certain that she already knew,
but Pan could confirm her suspicions for her.

Pan bowed his head. "He loved you very much. The colors and arrangement
are that of a promise to find you. It's more than the parting of friends and
promising to write. His using magic to bind the promise is to signify that not
even the depths of hell itself will keep him from you. It's a life promise."

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I feel the same way," she admitted
softly.

"Considering how easily you could have just about any male (and a few
females) at this Garden, and yet keep yourself off the market -- your devotion
does you credit. But I have to wonder; will you ever let him go? Will you
ever allow yourself to love another?"

"I don't know," she whispered. "I didn't realize what I had until I lost
it. Am I even worthy of being offered another chance at love?"

"What a silly thing to ask," Pan scoffed. "You deserve to love someone
and be loved in return as much as anyone else. Love is equal opportunity,
anyone and everyone can have it."

"Yes, you're right," she said, giving herself a small shake. "I'm sorry
for taking your time. Why did you stop by?"

"Oh, I was going to ask if you wanted to spar, but now I feel like asking
you on a walk instead," he gave her a 'what's a person to do?' sort of look.
"You're dressed too nicely for me to fight you."

Xu chuckled. "You're not supposed to be sparring today. It's our free
day to do something we enjoy that isn't work related."

"Yes, but what if your 'work' is what you truly enjoy?" He waggled a
finger at her. "I'm sure you can understand that feeling."

"I do. I love being a SeeD. It almost seems criminal that I'm being paid
to do something I would do for free if no pay were offered. I can't see myself
doing anything else."

"Exactly," Pan slapped his knee. "Well then, my lady, it's far too nice
of a day to be sitting around indoors chatting. Let's take that walk and enjoy
the sunshine we've been neglected for so long due to winter."

Their walk around the Garden complex came to an end when they met up with
Jen and Eileen. They were sitting at an outside table playing a game of cards.
Xu and Pan chatted until their current game was finished. Jen then dealt them
in while explaining the rules to Xu. Triple Triad was so popular at Balamb
that it was as if no other card games existed.

The four of them played and talked. Xu enjoyed herself. She was finally
starting to feel like a member of Galbadia Garden instead of an outsider
looking in.

Later that evening, she put a call in to Balamb Garden. The connection
was acknowledged and Kei's face appeared on the screen. "Have you any idea
what time it is?"

"What are you complaining about?" Xu chided. "It's still dinner time
there."

"That's my point. You're keeping me from my meal," Kei winked to show
that she was only teasing. "What's up?"

"Just checking in. How are things on your end?"

"Lonely, huh?" Kei gave her a sympathetic smile. "Things are fine.
Quistis is doing as well as expected in her studies. The Headmaster is in good
health and causing his usual amount of mischief. I recently challenged Diablos
and won. Now I'm trying to get all my Guardian Forces to play together nicely
again."

"I knew there was something I forgot to do before I left Balamb," Xu said
dryly.

Cid always gave his SeeDs a magic lamp when they left the Garden for the
first time. The lamp would summon Diablos. If they could defeat the demon, it
would grant them its powers as a Guardian Force. Xu's lamp was still stored
away at Balamb with her cards and a few other things. She thought it would be
in everyone's best interest to put off her acquiring Diablos until after she
was away from Galbadia. It would be nearly impossible to strengthen her newly
established bonds if she wasn't allowed to summon Diablos once in a while.

"You can't claim to be forgetting things if you haven't been using GFs,"
Kei grinned impishly.

"How can you make jokes about such a serious subject?" Xu shook her head
at her cousin's twisted sense of humor. It was rumored that with use GFs
gradually erased a person's memory. That superstition regarding Guardian
Spirits has been part of the Anshin mythos for generations. Xu didn't doubt
its validity despite Cid's reassurances that there were no side effects to
using GFs.

"It's not like I don't have a few memories I would be better off without,"
Kei grumbled. "I don't know about you, but forgetting all the grief we've
taken from our clan couldn't hurt. Otherwise I'll be holding a grudge for the
rest of my life."

"There are some things I don't want to forget," Xu pointed out.

"You won't forget about Sean," her cousin was quick to reassure.

"It's not just that, but what about all the stories we were told as kids?
Don't you ever wish you remembered how one went?"

Kei scowled. "Occasionally, but I'm not going to shed any tears if I
can't remember a story."

"I don't want to forget, so I've been writing them down among other
things," Xu revealed. Kei's eyes went wide with disbelief.

"Xu! If the elders found out they'd have a litter of kittens!" A frown
crossed Kei's face that only deepened when Xu shook her head in disagreement.

"I don't care. I won't let myself forget who am I and where I'm from. If
I never find my way back to the Path or whatever other consequences my actions
may have, so be it!"

Kei's eyes narrowed as she regarded her cousin. "I always told them that
you were the quiet type that was just looking for a reason to rebel. Do you
even believe there is a Path of Life?"

"I don't know," she sighed and shrugged. "It's something to believe in,
but I don't know what happens when we pass on. We could become nothing or
something even greater than we are now. All I wish, with every fiber of my
being, is that Sean will be there, waiting for me."

"You really are lonely, aren't you?"

"I've been spoiled by having such good friends to share my life with up to
this point. I haven't built such bonds with anyone here yet," she explained.

"Tell you what, I have some leave coming up soon. Why don't I come by for
a visit? You can show me around the Garden or something?" Kei couldn't hide
the concern she was feeling. If Xu wasn't happy, neither was she. If there
was anything she could do to change the situation, she would.

"Actually, I have a favor to ask," Xu's voice took on a more serious tone.
Kei straightened up in her chair and nodded for her cousin to continue. "I'd
like you to take a student of mine to meet our clan."

Kei blinked, dumbfounded by such a request. "Why..?"

"I know this is a lot to ask of you, but I can't take him myself.
Headmaster Martine has already made it abundantly clear that I am to remain
stationed on campus during the summer break," Xu scowled as she recalled that
bitter discussion.

"Don't dodge the question, dear cousin," Kei scolded, knowing all too well
how Xu avoided answering things if she didn't want to. "Why do you want him to
meet the clan? Have you had a change of heart?"

Xu sighed heavily. "My heart was changed after Sean, but that's not the
issue at hand. To be frank, the student will turn 20 soon and he's been stuck
on learning his Limit for years now. Perhaps they can help free his spirit."

Something was fishy about that answer. This happened often enough that it
shouldn't bother Xu too much. Perhaps it was because it was *her* student who
was about to fail, but Kei didn't think so. Cid had never resorted to the
Anshin to work past this problem and there was no reason for Xu to either.

"Xu..." Kei drawled slowly in a warning tone. If she wanted Kei to help
her, she had better come clean.

"Tch, you always see through my bluff," Xu hissed. "Alright, he's very
curious about the Anshin. He's traveled the world over, spending time
everywhere that he could before he came to the Garden. The chances that he'll
never work past his block are high. I don't want him to think that the last
few years of his life have been for nothing.

"Martine intends to shove him into the Galbadian officer corps once he
turns of age. It would be nice to have at least one officer that has an
understanding and appreciation for our clan. You wouldn't believe how much
they hate us here," she sighed heavily.

Now *that* sounded like a Xu-worthy cause. Kei would have told the whole
lot of them where they could stuff their Anshin-hating ways long ago, but her
cousin was more diplomatic. (Or, at least she was trying to be while at
Galbadia). If Xu were back home or at Balamb, she wouldn't take crap from
anyone. But she couldn't afford to be that way in this case. She needed to be
careful in what she said and did because there were bigger fish in the sea that
were more than willing to eat her.

"You really think some good could come from taking him there?"

Xu bowed her head. "Please, Kei."

"I bet you expect me to fill out all the paperwork as well?" Kei sighed,
then smiled, indicating her agreement.

"I've already filled it out. Your handwriting is too sloppy for official
documents," Xu teased, even though it was the truth. "I still need to approach
Martine and Headmaster Cid to see if they'll sign off on it."

Kei nodded. "I'll pressure Cid from this end, though I doubt he'll be a
problem."

"Thanks, Kei."

She waved it off. "What are cousins for?"

*****

Pan forced Logan down to the mat and pinned him. They were locked
together in a hold that was to the Master's advantage. Logan grunted and tried
to work his way up, but was making precious little progress.

"What's the matter?" Pan taunted through gritted teeth. "You're never
going to defeat Xu at this rate."

The mention of the Instructor's name caused Logan's nostrils to flare. He
worked with renewed vigor to free himself of the hold Pan had him in.

"C'mon, you spineless worm! Use that anger to your advantage," Pan shoved
down on him, making it difficult to breathe.

"I'm... Better... Than... Her!" He growled as he pushed up.

"Ha! My grandmother could pin you with her walker tied behind her back!
Free yourself already!" Pan pressed against him again to make his point.

Logan tried every reversal he could think of. Squirming only tightened
the Master's hold. Brute strength wouldn't work against his equally well-built
opponent. "I... I... I yield," he gasped before going lax.

"Sickening," the Master released Logan in disgust. Pan stood up and
walked to the out-of-bounds area to take a drink from his water bottle. Logan
gasped for breath for a moment before getting up. He joined Pan on the
sidelines as Pan drank deeply from his bottle.

"I've gotten better," he grumbled sourly. There was no denying his
improvement since he started taking extra lessons. Pan was a very cruel Master
at times, and knew *exactly* how to get under his skin. When he was angry, he
made stupid mistakes. That's when Pan would get him.

"So has *she*," the Master pointed out. "You're never going to beat her
if you don't pick up the pace."

"If you want to help me, how about you stop training her as well?" What
was up with that any ways? Pan acted like he wanted to help him, but he was
also training the enemy.

"You haven't improved *that* much. Now you might have lasted three
minutes on the mat with her. That's before I began training her, mind you."
Pan took another swallow of water before speaking again. "I want to see a good
fight between you two. One worthy of riding some gil on. That means you both
have to be in top condition, else I'm just wasting my time."

"You are a sick bastard," Logan complained bitterly.

"Thank you, worm. And on that note, let's go at it again. I feel the
need to demonstrate just how many positions I can twist your spineless carcass
into."

*****

Xu followed Jen as she led them to one of the hangers where Galbadia
Garden kept its vehicles. She didn't even realize that she had a gaping hole
in her knowledge base until she saw some students practicing with the aerial
pods. Jen offered to teach her how to pilot one when she asked the senior
Instructor what they were.

The pods were a single man aerial vehicle with light armaments. They
looked funny to say the least. The pilot stood with his feet apart on a pair
of small platforms with foot petals. He then belted his upper body and waist
to the back restraint and put his arms along rests that had a controller for
each hand.

Jen ran her through the controls quickly. They were created with
simplicity in mind. Xu had to wonder about the quality of Galbadian pilots if
the machine was designed so that an idiot could manage it. That thought she
kept to herself.

SeeD itself didn't have any such aerial vehicles. The price tag for just
one of them would cover a notable percentage of Balamb's yearly budget. Xu
shuddered when she thought of how much just one of the battle skimmers SeeD
used for coastal landings must have cost. Looking around the hanger, Xu
spotted several other vehicles that she'd only seen via published media. Would
Jen be willing to show her how to use all of them?

The only reason SeeDs were permitted access to Galbadian vehicles was
because of the heavy military presence here. The more people qualified to
teach their pilots, the better, in the military's opinion. Xu wasn't sure
she'd be so willing to lend out expensive toys. But if they were going to let
simpletons pilot them in the first place, what harm could a SeeD do?

When they were done playing with the aerial pods Jen showed her how to
operate the motorcycles. Such vehicles were typically impractical because
monsters could easily take one on and win. That's why most vehicles had to be
a minimum weight and fully enclose the occupants. If worse came to worst, the
occupants could locked themselves in the vehicle and wait until the monsters
lost interest and left.

An aspect of the motorcycles' design that caught her attention was how
*long* they were. Xu's inexpert eye could tell that these weren't your run of
the mill bikes. "What are they used for?" She asked as she knelt down to get a
better look at the chassis.

"Raiding. If you can believe that," Jen shook her head in disbelief.
"Ramps are mounted on large trucks with the motorcycles being launched from
there and hopefully over any barrier that may be holding ground troops at bay.
If you haven't noticed yet, most of the vehicles around here require the driver
to be a daredevil. That or stupid, or quite possibly both."

"What's that joke about 'military intelligence'?" Xu stood up.

Jen smirked. "Whatever you do, don't let them talk you into taking the
motorcycle training course. After a term of that, half of the hairs on your
head will be gray."

"Why does that sound like the voice of experience?" Xu chuckled lightly.

"Everyone is young and stupid at some point in their life. I'm just
letting you know that there are better ways to be stupid," Jen looked at Xu
over the frames of her glasses before pressing them back up her nose. "We have
time for one more vehicle before dinner. How about a nice, basic troop
transport?"

*****

"The Headmaster was *not* amused by your request, Xu," Eileen commented
over dinner. Jen invited her to the quarters she shared with Eileen for dinner
after they were finished working with Galbadia's big toys. Not only did Eileen
want to show off her cooking skills; she wanted to inform Xu of her petition's
progress for Kent to go visit the Anshin.

Xu swallowed a mouthful of salad quickly before responding. "I didn't
think he would be. Does that mean we're out of luck?"

"Hardly. It just means that you're going to have to do all the footwork.
You will have to arrange times, transports, lodging, escort," Eileen ticked the
items off on her fingers, "everything pretty much."

Xu sighed on the inside. Arranging this trip was turning into a bigger
project than she anticipated. Martine hadn't squished her hopes, but he'd
thrown plenty of blockades up to discourage her. After conveniently 'losing'
her paperwork twice, she wised up and gave it to Eileen instead. His assistant
promptly submitted it to the proper channels and he hit the roof. He accused
Xu of going behind his back and how dare she? She calmly replied that since he
was having filing problems, giving the papers to another person was in their
best interest for assuring that her request would be addressed.

Martine hadn't been amused then either. The committee that reviewed
requests such as leaves of absence and transfers believed that sending someone
to Centra was a fabulous idea. Xu wasn't even going to ask how they came to
that conclusion considering the way Galbadians were in general, but she was
fairly certain Eileen had her hand in on it. She hoped that Eileen wasn't
calling in too many favors on her behalf for her pet project. There was no way
she could repay such kindness if she was.

"I'll make some calls tomorrow. Lodging won't be a problem. I've already
found an escort if Headmaster Cid will let SeeD Kei go for a few weeks.
Transportation may be the tricky part. There's only one transport that leaves
regularly and it's not a cheap ticket." She recalled over-hearing that Kent's
family was well off. Maybe she could try to work some sort of deal with them?
That was the only option they had, really. SeeD wouldn't cover the cost of
this trip.

"Where does the transport leave out of? Dollet? Let me know when and
where and I'll see what I can do about getting train tickets," Eileen offered
with a smile.

"Thank you," Xu smiled back. "You both have helped me so much. I can't
tell you how much I appreciate it."

"It's no bother," Jen assured. "Things were getting dull around here.
With all your foreigner ways to tip everyone on their ears it's been one
adventure after another." Jen chuckled until Eileen poked her in the side for
that comment, then she outright laughed.

"Galbadians need people like us to keep them on their toes," Eileen
amended. "We should stick together in case they try to do something silly like
gang up on us."

Jen's eyebrow quirked as she cut her lasagna with a fork. "From what I
hear, it would take a gang to bring you down, Xu. Has Pan been working you
hard?"

"Harder than I was worked at Balamb, but I'm up for it. I was ready for
something more challenging," she took another bite of her salad as she gathered
her thoughts. "I must admit that I enjoy working out with Pan more than
teaching. I don't doubt my ability to teach the book subjects, but I really
look forward to getting back out on the mat at the end of the day."

Eileen grinned. "It's a hobby. You're supposed to enjoy those more than
the required work you are assigned," she pointed out, trying to be helpful.

"Gee, thanks," Xu quipped. "I feel much better now."

"Excellent! Eat up, we've got dessert after this," Eileen waved at her to
keep eating. Eileen thoughtfully took into account Xu dietary requirements and
prepared a meal all three of them could eat. It really was delicious,
consisting of salad, fresh bread, and meat-less lasagna.

Offending someone was always one her anxieties when eating at a place
where she couldn't pick her own meal. She didn't want to upset the chef by not
eating what they prepared, but meat did *not* sit well in her stomach (assuming
she even managed to swallow it down in the first place). Fortunately, the
problem was avoided and for that she was grateful.

*****

Kent closed his textbook and sighed softly as class was dismissed.
Tonight's homework was going to be more tedious than challenging. He wasn't
looking forward to it at all. He put the last of his things into his bag
before heading for the door.

"Wait, Kent, I need to speak with you," Instructor Xu called to him before
he left the room. He walked over to her desk and waiting for her to finish
working on the terminal.

"I hope you don't have anything planned for the summer break. I've
arranged for you to study abroad," she smiled up at him from her seated
position.

"Where would I be going?" His parents hadn't yet contacted him about where
he wanted to go during the break. If the Instructor had something better, he'd
go with it.

"How does three weeks spent on the northern Centra plains sound to you?" A
sly smile crept across her face.

"What?" Kent's jaw dropped. Only one group of people was known to live in
that region of the world and the Anshin were it.

Xu arched an eyebrow. "You object?"

He shook his head rapidly. "No, Instructor!"

"Very good. Allow me to brief you then," she leaned back in her chair and
crossed her arms. "You'll be leaving here as soon as your last class lets out
for the break. You will take the train to Deling City, then from Deling City
to Dollet.

"When you arrive in Dollet, you'll meet up with SeeD Kei from Balamb
Garden. She will be your escort during your time away from the Garden. I
needn't remind you to be on your best behavior when around her," she gave him
an appraising look. There was something else behind it that he couldn't place.

"May I ask why I'm being given such a wonderful opportunity?" One
shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but it wasn't often one was given
exactly what they wanted. He had to know what strings were attached.

She considered her answer for several long moments before speaking.
"Magic, Limits, Puzzle Stones, and Guardian Forces are all heavily dependent
upon the ability to focus one's will behind a set goal. The Anshin have a
certain mysticism about them that might help unlock your Limit. Many of their
customs rely upon the type of focus you're having difficulty with. Focusing is
a life skill for them."

Idly, she kicked herself back and forth on her swivel seat. It was
unusual to see her so at ease. "Even if you don't learn your Limit, I believe
that you will gain some valuable insights from the experience. Don't you
agree?"

"Oh, yes," he said immediately. "I would learn a lot."

"There are a few minor details that still need to be worked out," she
stopped rocking back and forth as she pulled up a file on the terminal. After
reading over it once more, she spoke. "The Anshin clan has arranged for you to
stay with a host family. They have also generously offered to sponsor half of
the cost of transport. Since this isn't a SeeD-related activity, you will have
to pay for the other half of the transport costs between Dollet and Centra.
The costs of your train tickets from Deling City to Dollet were waived since
you'll be meeting up with a SeeD for your trip. Will you be able to cover the
4,000 gil for transport?"

"I can cover it," or, more exactly, his parents could. The excited call
home to tell them about this would be enough to get him the gil needed.

"Excellent, then I'll tell them to be expecting you. See me before you
leave. I'll have a letter of introduction ready for you then."

"Thank you. Thank you so very much, Instructor," he could barely contain
the excitement he was feeling. He wasn't only going to get to meet some
Anshin, he was going to get to *live* with them for three weeks! He resisted
the urge to dance down the halls while singing.

Xu nodded. "Oh, I wouldn't go around telling people where you're going
this break. That's as much for your protection as to keep the peace within the
Garden, okay?"

"All right, no problems," he grinned. "Thanks again!"

Despite the Instructor's warning he couldn't help whistling as he walked
to the Cafeteria for lunch.

*****

The end of the term arrived all too quickly. Half of Xu's students were
up for the written exam with half of those passing, including Logan. She spent
four nerve-racking days going from one meeting to another as Martine and the
other Instructors with SeeD candidates prepared for the field exam. Jen spared
her sanity during this hectic time. With the ease of experience, she guided Xu
through the planning process and getting her affairs organized.

Xu was almost ready to pronounce the evaluation of students as being even
more difficult than undergoing the evaluation itself. The Instructor's had to
keep a very close record on all the cadets. Even the most minor of details
couldn't be over-looked. The bean counting aspect of the job was enough to
drive her nuts.

When all was said and done, Xu was proud to announce that three of her
students had passed. Five of Jen's made it with another dozen coming from the
other classes. Among Xu's graduates was Logan. Personal dislikes aside; he'd
conducted himself well and deserved to be a SeeD. She could only hope that
life would knock a few more lessons into his skull that she wasn't able to
teach him.

Galbadia had the same tradition as Balamb of a grand ball in the honor of
the graduates being held that night. She was socially obligated to be there
since three of her students were graduates. Officers and SeeDs mingled with
the many administrators, Faculty, and Instructors that made up the population
of Galbadia Garden. Xu was reminded of her own graduation in a bittersweet
manner. The pride she felt could never be totally diminished in spite of the
terrible events of that same day.

"Three down, nine to go," Pan sidled up beside Xu, who was standing out of
the way along a wall.

'Nine to go?' She wondered before it dawned on her that he was referring
to her own graduation requirements of producing a dozen SeeDs in two years.
With so much else going on, that thought hadn't even crossed her mind. Indeed,
she was a quarter of the way there with a year and a half left to go. That was
reason enough for her to celebrate tonight.

"It's a shame that you decided to wear your formal uniform instead of that
outfit from a few weeks ago," he added slyly.

She smiled. "This is an official function. One must dress
appropriately," she noted. The point was well taken considering Pan's
diversion from his usual workout clothes in favor of a suit and tie.

He bowed in mute acknowledgement of her point before moving to another
topic. "I wouldn't be surprised if Logan came around to challenge you to a
rematch."

"SeeD Logan is welcome to one if he wishes it, but I'll show him no
mercy," Xu sipped from the wineglass she'd been neglecting.

"Good for you," Pan patted her on the back. "Would you care to dance? It
appears as though they're about to start another set."

"Certainly," she set her glass on a nearby table as Pan led her out onto
the floor. She enjoyed dancing with him. It was a shame that the only
opportunity she had for this type of exercise was at graduations. After Pan
was finished with her, another SeeD she'd only seen in passing before tonight
claimed her as a partner. Even Logan danced a set with her before the night
was over.

"I'm not ready to challenge you yet, Instructor, but I'm not going to back
down until we've finished our little duel." The way he said it would have been
charming if she didn't know the earnest intent behind the words.

"Whenever you're ready, SeeD Logan," she answered politely. It would have
been rude to egg him on tonight. Provoking him can wait until tomorrow.

He smirked, the glee he was feeling easily readable from his expression.
"I am a SeeD now, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are, which means the hard work is about the begin."

"Heh. Hard work is fine, just as long as I get to challenge you again.
My pride demands it!"

'Well, at least he has a goal,' Xu thought as they finished the dance.
She wasn't comfortable being the center of it, but she was more than capable of
holding her own if she had to.

Xu retired to her room as soon as it was polite to do so. Tomorrow was
still a school day for a majority of her students, even if most of them had cut
out early to return home for the summer break. Summer planned to leave as soon
as classes were over. Her things were already packed and set by the door so
that she could catch the first train out.

The prospect of spending summer in Galbadia didn't thrill Xu. The idea
would have been easier to accept if there was a *reason* for her to stay, but
there wasn't. She wasn't teaching any summer courses for the students who were
behind. In fact, no official duties were assigned to her. Martine was simply
being stubborn. Since she was under his command, she couldn't tell him where
to shove it.

Pan told her that he would be around if she got lonely and wanted to spar.
Jen and Eileen were going to visit friends in Deling City during most of the
break. Essentially, it was a month of boredom for Xu.

She shook off the anger that threatened to boil up again. Martine
couldn't keep her from leaving the campus, but he did require her to be back by
curfew each night. She was denied even spending a night out on the town.
She'd have to get special permission if she wanted to take up the offer of a
home-cooked dinner that Sean's family issued. This was the perfect time to get
to know them better, but Martine was making the timing difficult.

From what she could tell, he didn't favor the rest of his staff with the
same degree of hard-nosed, Cactuar up the butt, difficulty that he offered her.
That suited her just fine. She wasn't feeling too inclined towards getting
along with him either. She gave him the respect his office and title granted
him, but he received none of the deeper, more meaningful respect that she gave
to those who made a difference in her life.

*****

The days passed and things were as dull as Xu thought they would be. She
did manage to out-stubborn Martine into letting her off campus overnight on a
few occasions. Those nights she spent in Deling City with Sean's family. They
always welcomed her warmly when she visited. His father would send her and a
couple of his sons out to go looking for parts to modify weapons with during
the day and have dinner ready by the time they came back.

The Thrustaevis of the Great Plains offered her an unusual challenge. The
flying creatures were a challenge because her sai had a limited reach. While
battling them she soon discovered that Thrustaevis carried the Float spell.

Float was an amusing indirect spell that allowed the target to hover a
quarter meter off the ground. Its usefulness was limited by the fact that it
doesn't do anything more than that. If nothing else, it's a spell to play with
when bored. 'It'll allow me to finally look down on someone instead of always
having to look up at them,' the bemused part of her reasoned.

They weren't successful in finding all the items Sean's father wanted. So
many things were useful in weapons modifying that keeping a supply of
everything seemed to be the most effective way to inventory items.

"Tonight, we've prepared a dish I'm certain you haven't had in a long
time," Sean's father greeted Xu and her party as they entered the junk shop.
She immediately recognized the smell. It was a vegetable dish with a thick
scent that was very distinctive.

"It has been quite some time," she agreed with a smile. The dish wasn't
common outside of the Anshin. That was partly due to the difficulty of finding
some of the spices that went into it. The primary reason for its rarity was
that the taste could be considered a violent assault upon the tongue by the
uninitiated. Children were winged on a milder version until they were able to
withstand its full impact.

With that in mind, Xu noticed that a tamer version was set out on the
children's table while the real deal was on the adult's. Its reception by
those at the table was mixed. The biological children of Sean's parents dug
right in while the ones who had married into the family were understandably
hesitant. Xu politely ate all that she was offered. She had to admit that it
wasn't one of her favorite dishes, but their hearts were in the right place.

After dinner, she and Sean's father spoke privately out in the shop while
he sorted the items they brought back today.

"Ah, it's always a joy when you come to visit. As a parent, I could only
wish you came home more often," his face creased as he smiled.

She blushed slightly as she returned his smile. "SeeD keeps me busy.
This break is the first real opportunity I've had to spend some meaningful time
here."

"Aye, I can understand the call of duty," he rocked back on his heels in
thought. "How old are you now? 18? 19? It's about time for you to return to
the clan and claim your place as an adult, isn't it?"

She was slightly taken aback, then remembered that he'd spent a
significant amount of his young adult life with the Anshin and would know of
such rituals. "Yes, it is that time, but I won't be returning."

He raised an eyebrow, inviting her to explain why she was skipping one of
the most important events in an Anshin's life.

"SeeD is my life now. I doubt they would endorse that decision. I'm
saving us all a lot of grief if I don't return and demand to be admitted as an
adult clan member." Xu leaned against the counter she stood by. That was
partly the truth. She also didn't want to face their accusations of Sean's
death being her punishment for leading her life the way she wanted to. She
couldn't see herself ever taking a 'proper' place amongst them. They were too
different. Her feelings were mixed as if she even believed in all the things
they did. Many of the principles regarding monsters she didn't agree with, but
her feelings about the Path of Life were uncertain at best.

"Child, I would encourage you to not deny yourself this," he voice was
unusually gentle for such a large man. "For you, it is an important part of
growing up. Don't become discouraged on taking the final step now that you're
so close."

"Perhaps..." she allowed. "Even if I wanted to go tomorrow, I can't.
I'll never be permitted to visit them as long as Martine is my superior. It
will have to wait a couple years either way."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he rumbled. It was at times like this that he
was painfully reminded that his family was the exception -- not the rule -- in
Galbadia.

*****

Kei was thoroughly unimpressed as she hefted her duffel over her shoulder.
It was inconsiderate of Galbadia Garden to not even send a car for them. They
would have to walk to the Garden. At her side, Kent followed with his own
duffel and a small frown. His time with the Anshin was one of the more
profound experiences of his life. The regrets he felt for returning to
Galbadia ran deep.

Upon arriving, they reported in with their duffels still in tow. The
Headmaster was (thankfully) away. Kei wanted to spend the last week of the
Galbadian summer break visiting with Xu, but hadn't made prior arrangements
with the Garden. The administrative assistant, Eileen Pearcy, took one look at
her identification and immediately approved her for a week's stay.

"Xu's roommate is gone for the break, so you can lodge in the same room
with her. That should eliminate any objections by the Headmaster regarding you
using guest quarters," Eileen explained with a gleam in her eye.

Eileen offered to escort Kei to Xu's dorm room. When they got there they
noticed that the door was cracked open. A slight breeze could be felt as an
opened window in the room allowed the breeze to flow through to the hallway.
Kei silently nudged the door aside with her toe as she peered in. Xu was
standing by the window, looking out as the winds brushed hair back.

Stealthily, Kei slid into the room and set her duffel down. "What do you
see?" She whispered softly after moving to stand behind her cousin.

Xu didn't even flinch at the sudden appearance of Kei. Instead, she
closed her eyes and took a deep breath before letting it out. "I know he's out
there. I know he's watching me." Kei needn't ask who 'he' was, it was assumed
to be Sean.

Xu opened her eyes and smiled fondly at her before bringing her into a
warm embrace. "I've missed you!"

"The feeling's mutual," Kei assured as she returned the hug with interest.

"How long can you stay for?"

"A week, then I must return to Balamb," Kei finally released her cousin
and stood back to get a good look at her. She was wearing an outfit that
consisted of a long skirt and loose blouse. An embroidered vest worn over the
blouse completed the outfit. Her hair was longer now with her body looking
more trim than ever.

"A week? How did you convince the Headmaster to give you a week leave on
top of the three weeks to take Kent to the Anshin?" Cid was a generous man, but
this was extreme!

"Who said I was on leave?" Kei smirked. "It was my duty to act as an
official SeeD escort while on the Centra Plains. I am now conducting the
second half of my assignment; which is the rendezvous with SeeD Xu and receive
her progress report." She saluted smartly. How Kei could even deliver that
line of complete bull and keep a straight face amazed Xu.

"Well then, SeeD Kei, would an oral report suffice, or do you need
hardcopy?"

"An oral report will suffice, SeeD Xu," she couldn't hide her amusement at
the game they were playing. Kei wanted in on all the gossip Xu had to share.
That would be filtered and condensed by Kei, then delivered to the Headmaster.

The night quickly flowed into morning as they stayed up into the wee hours
speaking on all matters of interest. The more Kei learned of Galbadia and its
Garden, the more she came to dislike it. Not only for Xu's sake, either. With
a dictator in control of Galbadia, the injustices being conducted were
staggering. Kei's sense of fairness bristled at the thought of a place where
the person with the biggest army made (and broke) the rules.

Despite finally going to bed during the early morning hours, Xu was
wide-awake when the first rays of sunlight streamed in through the still-open
window. Kei muttered something sleepily as Xu inadvertently shook the bunk bed
when she got up.

"What did you say, sleepy head?" Xu purred as she nudged the resisting
Kei, who was clinging to the last wisps of sleep.

Kei pulled her head out from under a pillow to glare at her. "I politely
suggested that you cast a Sleep spell on yourself and stop making such a
racket."

"I'm sure..." Xu chuckled.

Kei muttered something about time zones and then rolled over. Xu
continued to laugh at her cousin's antics as she left to clean up. When she
returned 20 minutes later Kei was still curled up in a ball asleep.

"Lazy! You're never this difficult when on duty," Xu prodded her. "Get
up before the day is half over."

Kei rolled over and grumbled. "You said it yourself. I'm not on duty,"
she yawned hugely. "The day isn't half over. I bet it's not even mid-morning
yet."

"It isn't, thankfully, because I want to show you around and introduce you
to some people. I know how long it takes you to get ready, so I have to wake
you up now."

Kei sat up on the bed while rubbing the grit from her eyes. "That was
harsh."

Once Kei was cleaned and moving under the power of her own two feet Xu
took her on a tour of the Garden. Kei's demeanor was amiable as Xu escorted
her. From a bystander's point of view, one would get the impression that Xu
was rather fond of this young 'man' as they chatted easily while walking. Xu
didn't doubt that rumors would be flying by the time next term rolled around.

Kei had decided to wear her best Balamb uniform. It made her look
distinctive, which was almost taboo in such a militarily rigid place. The size
of Galbadia Garden didn't seem to have the same humbling effect on her that it
did on Xu when she first arrived. In fact, Kei didn't seem nearly as
interested in the Garden as she was in discovering how Xu was doing.

She appreciated her cousin's concern. Her time here hadn't been easy up
to this point, but things were steadily improving. She would survive Galbadia,
even if she had to resort to the stubbornness that her clan was notorious for.

Xu spotted Jen and Eileen among the many people enjoying the warm weather
today. They sat on an outdoor bench together. Each of them read her own book
as they simply enjoyed the sun and the company.

Eileen was the first to glance up and notice them. "Good morning, Xu,
SeeD Kei," she smiled warmly.

Jen looked up then. "Hello," she likewise smiled at them. "I don't think
I've had the opportunity to meet you. I'm SeeD Instructor Jennifer Sakachi."

"It's a pleasure. I'm SeeD Kei," she sketched a brief bow.

Eileen marked the page in her book as she spoke. "Now that the
introductions are out of the way, have you two made any plans?"

Xu shook her head. "Not really. I suspect we'll find ourselves in the
training room before too long."

"Why not try something a bit more interesting if you want to get some
practice in?" Eileen suggested slyly.

"What did you have in mind?" Xu took the bait.

"North of Deling City is a place called the Tomb of the Unknown King.
We've been considering using it as training ground like Balamb's Fire Cavern,
but haven't sent anyone in to explore it yet," Jen picked up the explanation.
They had obviously already discussed suggesting this adventure to Xu and Kei.

"What Jen can't add because she's Galbadian and ignorant of such things-"
Jen poked Eileen, "is the rumor that some sort of monster lives deep within the
tomb. If rumor is to be believed it may be a Guardian Force." She shrugged to
indicate how much credit she lent to the story.

"In other words, you want us to investigate the tomb for you," Kei said
dryly.

"Why not if you've got nothing else to do?" Eileen gave one of her
million-gil smiles. The one that won over the hearts of countless people and
helped to mask the frustration she felt while working with Martine at times.

"What do you think, Kei?" Xu turned to her.

"I think that it's been over three weeks since I've drawn my blade and
it's starting to feel neglected."

*****

The cousins returned the next evening successful in their 'mission'. Both
thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It had been quite some time since they had gone
out and have it be just the two of them.

They used to go on 'adventures' all the time when they were younger.
Neither of them cared that the elders considered their exploits to be nothing
more then mischief making. Those were some of the happiest times in their
young lives. Recapturing some of that magic today left them feeling playful.

Jen greeted them as they joined her and Eileen for a late dinner in the
Cafeteria. The glow they gave off would have been enough to light the room.
"I see that you enjoyed yourselves."

"It was an interesting challenge. Not as straight forward as the Fire
Cavern," Kei carefully restrained the enthusiasm she felt.

"But did you *find* anything?" Eileen pressed.

"We did," Xu pulled a rough stone from one of her belt pouches and set it
on the table. Eileen picked it up to examine it more carefully. It had an
earthy feel to it -- almost as through it would crumble in her hand, but
didn't. "We also mapped out the tomb. A student couldn't get into too much
trouble if they didn't go in far."

Kei pulled the aforementioned map out and spread it on the table. Jen
studied it intently while her friends ate. "If we had them retrieve an item to
prove that they had actually gone in... here," Jen stabbed a point on the map
with a fingertip. "That should be enough. A fitting junior level challenge,
don't you think?"

"That would work as long as we warned them to not go in too deep," Xu
agreed.

Eileen and Kei met each other's eyes, then Eileen shook her head. "It's
difficult to get Jen out of 'instructor' mode at times. I see her ways are
rubbing off on Xu, as well."

"What was that? I'm sorry, I'm busy creating a better Galbadian SeeD,"
Jen quipped.

Eileen snorted. "You know what I think would create a better Galbadian
SeeD, but a coup isn't likely -- no matter how much Timber wants it."

'Why would Timber want a coup..? Oh, wait, that's right. It was an
independent country at one time,' Xu recalled.

Galbadia seized the central government thirteen years ago and continues to
hold tight control to this day. Since then, Timber has become notorious for
its many resistance groups. Nearly every person there is involved with the
Galbadian resistance in one way or other. Galbadia views them as one would a
yapping dog that was annoying, but too cute to kick. They could utterly crush
Timber at any time, but haven't.

"What other territories does Galbadia hold?" Kei asked between bites of
her dinner.

"Galbadia holds most of the continent with the notable exception of the
Dukedom of Dollet, which used to control the continent itself a few generations
ago. In fact, the tomb you explored today is that of a past Dollet ruler,"
Eileen explained.

"Galbadia has also laid claim to Winhill in the south, but it's so remote
and people care so little about it that no one has made it 'official'.
Official meaning that it's militarily occupied," Eileen added in an aside. "I
visited Winhill once. It's such a backwater town that I can understand why
Galbadia is reluctant to bring it into the fold."

"Where are you from, Eileen?" Xu had never asked before. She knew that
Eileen wasn't Galbadian.

"The Dukedom of Dollet -- the best place to live this side of Balamb," she
grinned with pride.

"Doesn't the idea that Galbadia may set its sights on Dollet bother you?"
Kei asked. Dictators were rarely content with what they already had. How
Eileen could even stand to work in Galbadia boggled her.

"The thought crosses my mind from time to time. It's inevitable that
Galbadia will try to seize the Dukedom at some point -- I've accepted that.
I'm just hoping that someone will be there to liberate it when that happens.
The idea of Dollet becoming another Timber frightens me," she frowned briefly
before replacing it with a rueful smile.

After dinner, Kei had words privately with Eileen. "Can you set up a
meeting with the Headmaster for me?"

"His schedule is pretty full for the rest of the week. Is there something
I can help you with?"

Kei shook her head. "No, what I have to say must be done so in person.
Please fit me in somewhere."

"I'll do what I can," Eileen promised.

*****

"I'm a busy man, SeeD Kei, don't waste my time," Martine said tartly as
she came to attention and saluted.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Headmaster," she purred. A part of her was going
to enjoy this conversation. "As you know, I am from Balamb Garden. After
escorting one of your cadets to the Centra Plains, I was given the task of
coming here to check up on some things."

"To spy on us?" The growl in his throat was dangerously low. He was onto
her and ready for a confrontation.

"To assess the situation here," Kei corrected. "Several reports have come
to Headmaster Cid's attention regarding possible violations of SeeD
regulations. I'm afraid that I've been able to confirm a good number of them."

Martine's eyes narrowed.

"I realize that at a large Garden such as this one certain things can go
unnoticed. I'm here to see that this is no longer the case."

"You have no authority here," he thumped his desk. "I could have you
thrown off the campus in a heartbeat."

Kei allowed herself a small, shark-like smile. "You could, but I wouldn't
advise it. It is true that Galbadia Garden isn't accountable to anyone. But
let me remind you that a majority of the funding for this Garden still comes
from revenue Balamb SeeDs earned. Balamb is the breadwinner in this family,
and as so, we expect that *every* Garden meet certain standards.

"Now, if you think that the Galbadia government would be willing to pick
up the tab for the operation of this Garden, try it on your own if you want.
Until that day, I suggest you listen carefully to the *recommendations* of
Balamb Garden."

Martine sputtered with indignation with no coherent words being formed.
That was for the best in Kei's opinion. Balamb had Galbadia by the tail and it
was long past due for the rogue Garden to be reined in.

"I would suggest calling Madam Pearcy in to take careful notes for you.
We wouldn't want any points to be forgotten, would we?" Kei feigned boredom as
she watched him page for his assistant.

Eileen was quick in responding to his summons. Kei sketched out the
situation for her. A dumbfounded look crossed her face before she masked it
with one of her neutral smiles. On the inside, Eileen was dancing, but there
was no reason for Martine to know that.

"The most pressing issue is Headmaster Cid's concern regarding the number
of Galbadian officer cadets being trained here. He wonders if the *SeeD
cadets* are getting the top-notch training they need considering how your
attentions are divided. He would like some reassurance regarding the quality
of the SeeDs Galbadia produces. If he isn't satisfied, he will ask that you
return to being a primarily SeeD-based institution."

Kei neither sat nor roamed the office as she spoke. She stood squarely
before Martine's desk with her hands clasped firmly at her sides in a proper
stance when addressing a superior. If Martine didn't know what a SeeD looked
like, she would be sure to demonstrate it for him. Eileen sat on one of the
couches off to the side and furiously scribbled down notes. Martine sat behind
his desk with a sheet-white face and said nothing.

"No questions? Very well, the next matter is regarding our SeeD Xu. I
have seen the quarters she was placed in and find them to be unacceptable.
This concerns Headmaster Cid for two reasons. The first is that Balamb is
paying Galbadia a sizable fee to train SeeD Xu to be an Instructor. The
quality of her education is of the utmost concern for Balamb. If she isn't
getting what was paid for, the Headmaster will be *very* disappointed." Kei
let him digest that idea for a moment before moving onto the second reason.

"Besides this, it is against SeeD regulations for a cadet and a SeeD to be
sharing a room unless all other lodging possibilities have been exhausted. It
is a bad situation for both roommates. The cadet often feels intimidated by
the SeeD while the SeeD often times feel held back by the cadet. Roommates
aren't just that, they are *partners* within the Garden. Partnering a cadet
and a SeeD isn't fair to either of them.

"From what I have seen of the Dormitory block, there is ample space for
SeeD Xu to be partnered with another SeeD if not given her own quarters. This
is what Balamb asks for and expects to receive unless it is physically
impossible to do so."

"This isn't Balamb," Martine pointed out in a tight voice.

"For which I am very grateful," Kei answered in all honesty. Martine was
taken aback by her forthrightness. "Frankly speaking, Balamb Garden sees SeeD
Xu as an investment. An investment you are screwing with. We will only ask
once for you to take her training seriously."

"Why you-" Martine growled.

"Yes?" Kei asked politely. "That brings me to our third grievance;
alleged violations of the SeeD anti-discriminatory code. This is an equal
opportunity organization, Headmaster Martine, and some have been given a less
than fair shake. The geographic location of the Garden matters not. While a
person is on its campus, they are to be treated fairly regardless of origin. I
would recommend cracking down on the loose tongues among your student body."

"If you hadn't noticed, we're in Galbadia," he pointed out angrily.

"I noticed. Personally, I think it's time you stopped acting like a damn
lap dog," Kei snapped. "Your obligation to SeeD comes first and foremost. If
you can't fulfill that obligation, step aside and let someone who can!"

"You can't speak to me like that!" He roared. "I'll have you on report."

Kei shrugged indifferently. "Do as you will, Headmaster, I'm simply a
messenger. Get yourself back in line with the principles of SeeD or risk the
consequences." She spun on her heel and left without being dismissed by him.
She felt no loyalty towards the man. She'd be hard pressed to give him the
time of day if ordered to do so.

Maybe Cid was wrong in sending her to conduct such a delicate discussion.
Or perhaps she was the perfect choice because she could sting Martine into
complying. Whatever the consequences, the matter was out of her hands now.

*****

Xu was surprised when she was suddenly moved to her own quarters not far
from the ones Jen and Eileen shared. Kei helped her move her things to them
before leaving the next morning. Xu thought she was going to stay a full week,
but then again, Kei tended to round things off for convenience.

It looked like the next term was shaping up well. She would have even
more cadets ready to take the exam by the end of the fall term than before.
With Jen's continuing tutelage she was learning the ropes for maximizing the
amount of information she conveyed while still being there for the students on
a one-to-one basis. It truly was an art of sorts -- the art of scheduling.

Pan insisted on practicing with her as often as she was available. His
trials for raising a Master's rank were fast approaching and she was his
closest match for a suitable opponent. Xu didn't mind helping him out.
Especially since she improved right along with him. Never before had she
considered what a diverse thing weapons mastery was. There seemed to be an
infinite number of weapons and hand-to-hand styles for one to learn.

"I have a favor to ask you," he said one day after their training session.
They sat together along one of the wall benches as they caught their breath.
The last student left over an hour ago -- leaving the training room entirely to
them.

"What is it?" Xu asked as she mopped her face with a towel. Whatever it
was, she would likely do it, but it was best to know these things before
agreeing to them.

"Would you be willing to teach the afternoon training sessions after
you're finished with your classes while I'm gone? I don't want to leave the
Garden trainer-less while I attend to Guild conference later this month.
Having you conducting some sessions after classes was the best solution I could
think of."

His eyes studied her as she considered it. She was stunned that he even
asked her, but would her schedule allow for it? If she moved one tutoring
session to the mornings during that week she should be free. "I would be
honored to," she agreed with a smile.

"You wouldn't believe how glad I am to hear you say that," he clasped her
hands with his own. "Thank you."

The week Pan was gone with Xu replacing him was pure joy for her. Not
even Logan -- who came in every afternoon like clockwork to challenge her
(since she was in charge and couldn't refuse) -- took away the elation she
felt. This was what got her heart pumping and her blood flowing.

She recalled with a small smile the many times Sean teased her about how
much she liked to sweat. He was right. She did enjoy it and the physical
exertion that went into reaching that condition. Some people are just that
way, she figured.

When Pan returned a seventh ranked Master. He acted nonchalantly about
it, but Xu could see the spring in his step that hinted towards his elation.

Somewhat ruefully, Xu returned to teaching just her classes. As much as
she enjoyed physical training, she was a SeeD first and had other duties to
attend. One of those duties came as nothing short of a complete surprise.
Headmaster Martine called together several members of his staff -- including
Jen, Eileen, and Pan -- for a meeting.

"I'll get right to the point and spare you all the fancy speeches,"
Martine slowly paced around the long table that they were seated at. "I have
selected you to accompany me in representing Garden at the annual state dinner
to celebrate President Deling's time in office."

Xu nearly choked on the water she was sipping when he said that. His
choice of words implied that Deling was elected to the office he held. The
truth was that he seized it during a military coup and held on tightly to the
reins of the Galbadian government.

"It will be an all night event held at the Presidential Residence in
Deling City. Lodging for us has been arranged at the Galbadia Hotel since it
will be too late to return to the Garden that night.

"This is a formal event. I expect you to dress according... Master Pan,"
Martine pinned him with a glare. "Instructor Xu, it would be appropriate for
you to wear your Balamb best since that is the Garden you hail from. The rest
of you know the drill.

"Let's do our best to impress the President, shall we?" Martine met each
of their eyes before dismissing them.

Xu slowly walked back to her quarters while shaking her head. Eileen
noticed this and asked what was on her mind.

"How did *I* get invited? I thought the Headmaster had it out for me,"
that was a private thought she would only share with the present company of
Eileen and Jen. Then again, it wasn't very private when she was simply stating
the obvious. Her relationship with Martine was cool. It did seem to be
improving some since Kei's visit during the summer, but they weren't buddies by
any stretch.

The two women walked on either side of her, in a way separating her from
anyone that may eavesdrop on their conversation.

"I'll tell you this," Eileen said in a low undertone meant only for her.
"Things are changing around here. You are the spark for some of those changes.
He may not express it well, but the Headmaster is trying to mend the fence
between you two. Inviting you to a Galbadian state dinner probably wasn't the
best way to demonstrate it, but his heart's in the right place."

"Really?" Xu's eyebrows arched slightly. "What happened?"

Eileen giggled. "He finally encountered someone meaner than him!"

Xu's eyebrows continued to rise.

"That's not what happened," Jen quickly amended. "Headmaster Martine was
pointedly reminded of a few things and is endeavoring to correct the situation.

"Besides," Jen continued, "you graduated five SeeDs during the fall -- the
most from a single Instructor this term. That's no small accomplishment.
Allow us to crow a bit longer over your achievement."

Xu felt her cheeks flush some from Jen's praise. It really wasn't as much
her achievement as a triumph of the Garden as a whole. By the time the
students came to her they really only needed some polishing before they were
ready. Most of the foundation courses were already completed. Their training
from her was more along the lines of finesse than learning a new skill
altogether.

The feeling of accomplishment quickly faded when her mind reminded her
that she failed to graduate Kent. His next term would be in an officer's
uniform to receive their spit and polish before being sent out into the world.
There was nothing she could do for him. Unless he had a sudden breakthrough
within the next few weeks, his birthday would effectively end his hopes of
joining SeeD.

A look of sympathetic understanding was written on Jen's face as she
reached out to touch Xu's hand. They had spent several long nights discussing
what to do. Many of those nights also involved Xu expressing her frustrations
at her own failings. She knew that this happened, but the optimist in her
didn't want to accept it as a reality of teaching.

She wanted to believe that she could somehow magically train anyone to be
a SeeD, but that was just fanciful wishing. Precious few had the right
combination of intelligence, integrity, physical prowess, emotional stability,
and fearlessness required for such a calling. A SeeD could only be produced
from the right materials and it was her job to carefully shape the
mercenary-to-be.

Even with the right mix, not everyone was cut out for the work. As
important as her duty to train them, likewise was her duty to weed out the
weak. She may have graduated five SeeDs this term, but what wasn't pointed out
is that four students from her class withdrew from SeeD training.

She expected Martine to call her on it -- for her teaching ability to be
reviewed or come under fire. But such a thing never happened. She asked Jen
to look over her grading policies and exams to see if she was in line with the
rest of the Garden. In fact, she wasn't. She required more of her students --
and got more from them as a result. Xu was amazed when Martine adjusted the
Garden's standards to meet her more rigid requirements instead of pulling her
into check.

"Quality, not quantity," was all he would say when asked why he made such
a radical move. Jen seconded his decision with quiet approval. She was glad
to see the bar raised and knew they would produce finer SeeDs because of it.

*****

The party from Galbadia Garden sat together in silence during the train
ride to Deling City. Jen and Eileen sat opposite of Xu and Pan in a small
booth. Both Jen and Xu wore their formal uniforms. Eileen was in an evening
gown while Pan pulled out all the stops by wearing a tuxedo.

'I didn't know you even owned one,' Eileen teased the Master lightly while
they waited on the train platform.

'I don't. Martine rented it for me,' Pan dug his hands into the trouser
pockets before giving an impish smile.

Sitting next to him, Xu had to admit that he was looking sharp. They all
were, in fact. The officers in the next booth over had their chests covered
with the various honors they had earned. They were prepared to dazzle their
commander-in-chief.

Xu shuffled some in her seat and tried to calm her nerves. She had never
been to a non-SeeD related formal function. The fact that her first involved
one of the most powerful men on the planet didn't help her stomach any.

"Don't worry," Pan breathed into her ear, "we're here." He angled his
head to include Jen and Eileen into his assurance.

She smiled weakly. "I should have come down with the flu." She'd never
faked an illness before, but was certain she could figure it out if need be.

Eileen leaned across the booth to speak. "Politics aside, Vinzer Deling
is actually quite charming. As long as he doesn't see you as a threat to his
leadership, you're safe." She gave Xu's knee a reassuring squeeze before
leaning back into the cushioned bench.

The walk from the train station to the Galbadia Hotel was a short one.
Once there, everyone stowed their overnight bag and anything that could be used
as a weapon. The easiest way for Xu to disarm was to simply leave her entire
utility belt in the room she shared with one of the female officers.

A few minutes and a short bus ride later found them standing before the
Presidential Residence. The large iron-wrought gates were currently opened to
admit a vehicle carrying guests. With Martine in the lead, they presented
themselves to the guard at the gate. He quickly checked their credentials
before allowing them to pass. Xu was ready to criticize their security until
she saw a more elaborate setup just inside the main foyer of the residence
itself.

The group joined a short line that was passing through a thorough security
check at the door. Each guest's credentials were checked again. Then they
were passed through a detector of some type. Xu was the last of the Garden
group to pass through. One of the guards stopped her short when his display
told him something he didn't like.

"Please leave all weapons here," he put his hand out.

"What? I'm not carrying any weapons," Xu tried to think if she'd
forgotten something, but she always kept everything on her belt and that was at
the hotel.

"The scan says you have some magic on you," his manner was quickly turning
towards tried patience. He was sure of his readout and the line was backing up
as he played games with her.

"Your necklace, Xu," Pan had hung back from the rest of the group to
escort her into the main ballroom.

The necklace Sean made her had magic beads in it, but they were all low
level spells -- hardly worth noting. The thought of giving such a precious
thing to a fumbling foot soldier didn't sit well with her.

"No," she shook her head, "I'll return to the Garden -- Balamb Garden, if
I must -- before I'll surrender it."

"Then I'll have to ask you to leave," he moved forward to escort her out,
but Pan quickly interjected himself.

"Look at your scan again, buddy," Pan encouraged. "Fire, Blizzard and
Thunder beads, nothing that can cause that much damage."

"Rules are rules," the guard was ready to toss them both out.

Pan snorted. "Let me put this to you another way. Take a good look at
her," he spun the guard around to examine Xu.

"You're going to tell me she looks harmless. I've heard that line a
million times," he sneered.

"Maybe so, but take careful note of the uniform she's wearing. Do you
recognize it? It's a SeeD uniform. And do you know what that means?"

The guard gave him an annoyed look that clearly said his patience was
wearing thin.

"Dumb asses, the lot of you. It means that she *IS* a weapon. You
couldn't disarm her if you tried. She could take your leg and wrap it around
that chicken thin neck of yours before you had time to scream for your mommy."
Pan pounded him hard on the back before taking Xu's hand to lead her away.

"Halt!" The angry guard chased after them. "I'm going to have to ask you
to leave. If you don't, I'll have you escorted off the grounds..." his threat
trailed off as President Deling entered the foyer from the ballroom.

"Pan! Where are you?" His voice thundered throughout the lobby area. He
was a middle-aged man with dark thinning hair and a potbelly that was held in
by a dinner coat. He bore a striking resemblance to Xu's beloved Headmaster
Cid in those regards. The guard rushed up to the SeeD to keep her from
attacking the President.

"Why won't you go back to the rock you crawled out from under?" Pan
growled as the guard put himself between Xu and the President.

"She's armed, sir," the guard explained as he kept his eyes locked on Xu.

"Of course she's armed, she's a SeeD," Vinzer Deling scoffed. "Our table
is waiting and so am I. Come along, Pan." He turned his back on the guard and
returned to the ballroom. Pan smirked as he folded Xu's arm with his and
escorted her formally into the ballroom.

Once they were gone, Biggs sank to his knees. "I'll never make lieutenant
at this rate," he lamented.

The ballroom was simply stunning. Countless white clothed tables spread
out across the room like islands on a sea of wood grained flooring. Elaborate
crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling. Every piece of brass in the
room was gleaming as they reflected back the lights that played off of them.

Pan led them to a slightly raised platform near the head of the room.
Those from the Garden were already seated at the long banquet table. President
Deling was at the head and motioned for Pan and Xu to take the two seats that
were reserved for them not far from him. Pan politely pulled a chair out for
Xu and pushed it in for her before seating himself. She thought they would
have been stuck at one of the back tables, not at the head table with the
President himself. Her hopes of going the entire evening without speaking with
Deling slipped away as Martine began introducing his staff.

"President Deling, allow me to present to you Master Pan -- who you are
familiar with -- and SeeD Instructor Xu from Balamb Garden. She's stationed at
Galbadia Garden while she earns her teaching credentials."

"Yes, Pan and I are well acquainted," Deling's baritone voice was
surprisingly soothing. Upon hearing him speak again, Xu decided that the words
flowed almost musically from him. Perhaps he was a performer before a
dictator? That silly thought was quickly discarded.

"Your guards are idiots," Pan complained as a server came around to pour
wine for them.

"Our military can't be as selective as SeeD is," Deling acknowledged his
server with a nod. He peered over the rim of his glass at Xu before sipping
from it. "You're from Balamb Garden, are you?"

"Yes, sir," she answered promptly even though Martine had told him as much
when he introduced her.

"When did it happen that so many foreigners came to Galbadia?" He mused
before taking another sip.

That question struck Xu the wrong way. It wasn't her fault that she was
stuck in his backwards country. And it wasn't most of the other foreigner's
faults either. "I believe it started around the same time Galbadia began
expanding its borders by seizing independent countries," she stated dryly.

The server who was placing Pan's food before him nearly dropped the plate
in his lap. Martine's salad fork hit the table with a clank as other nearby
conversations stopped. Blank looks went from Xu to Deling and back to Xu
again. The nearby guards straightened up, preparing to seize Xu at Deling's
command. Eileen's mind raced to find a way to defuse Xu's blunt statement.

Pan nonchalantly dabbed his lips with his napkin before speaking. "I
would remind your guards that Journeywoman SeeD Instructor Xu of the Anshin
from Balamb Garden is fully capable of taking lethal action with or without
weapons. If I were them, I would be worried that her hand might slip and I end
up dead. She is second only to me, after all." That said, he resumed eating.
His disinterest in the potentially explosive situation sitting right next to
him was clear.

The guards clenched the hilts of the swords hanging at their sides. The
woman sitting on the other side of Xu scooted herself further away from the
marked SeeD. Pan continued eating as the tension at the table built.

Deling shattered that tension by laughing. It was a heartfelt guffaw that
left him dabbing away the tears in his eyes. "Now I remember why I like you,
Pan, you have a stunning way with words. So this one is an Anshin, is she?
Aren't you a long way from home and in the wrong line of work?" He peered at
her curiously.

"Life would be boring if we were all cast in the same mold. Xu has broken
away from her clan and good riddance in my opinion. Her skills would have been
wasted on farming or whatever other menial task they would have found for her."
Pan nodded his head sharply to emphasize the truth of that statement in his own
mind.

"Has she lost use her silvery tongue? Let her speak for herself," Deling
motioned for her to speak on her own behalf.

"What he says is true. I'm following the path I was born to walk, and it
is not one the Anshin endorse," she reached for her wineglass to wet the
dryness in her mouth. She'd just pulled a Kei and managed to not be killed for
it. And here she thought only her cousin had the luck needed to be able to
speak her mind and get away with it.

"Fascinating," Deling gave her a friendly smile before focusing on his
meal. He was about take a bite of his steak when something occurred to him.
"Then those stories about you all being vegetarians are true?"

Xu nodded. "Yes, sir," she looked down at the piece of meat on her plate.
She was certain that it would have tasted wonderful to someone else.

Deling snapped his fingers to bring a server to his elbow. "The young
SeeD here is a vegetarian. Have the chef prepare something appropriate
immediately." The server bowed before retreating quickly to the kitchen.

"It's all right," Xu didn't want them to go to any special effort on her
behalf, especially him. Judging by the scowl on Martine's face, he agreed.

"Hardly! I'll not have anyone seated at my table not eating and you look
like you could use a few more kilos. What do you do, starve her, Pan?"

"Training is all I do. Feeding is her own problem," Pan eyeballed the
steak on her plate. "May I have that?"

"Er- please," Xu passed the dinner plate to him. Pan and Deling were
acting more like college roommates than the posts they currently held. Xu
could see why Eileen would call Deling charming. He spoke easily with his
dinner guests and played the part of a perfect host -- seeing that their needs
were well met.

After the meal, the guests moved to the foyer to mingle. Once Pan and Xu
were away from the others Xu asked, "What was with that title you used and the
Journeywoman business?"

He shrugged. "Like it or not, that *is* your full Galbadian title. At the
Garden, it's obviously shortened to the one in which capacity you are most
often acting. I don't care for the Galbadian title system much myself."

"And the Journeywoman bit? You were just trying to impress them, right?"

He grinned broadly. "Hardly! You *are* my Weapons Journeywoman. You'll
be a Weapons Mistress by the time you leave Galbadia or I'll eat my sai."

"..." Xu was stunned. "When did this happen?" 'And what will this do to
my career in SeeD?' She added silently. Taking on more obligations than she
already had wasn't a great idea, no matter how much she loved weapons work.

"Hum? I filed the papers with the Guild to begin your training under me
after I first met you. You've been my Journeywoman for nearly a year now," he
laughed. He was enjoying dropping this bombshell on her. When did he plan on
telling her?!

"You're unbelievable," she shook her head in disbelief.

"We need more qualified Weapons Masters in the world. Your talents are
being wasted as a SeeD Instructor. You belong on a battlefield, not in a
classroom. I'd tell Cid as much if I ever had the chance!" Pan spoke with
such passion that her mind's eye created a scene with Pan chewing on the
Headmaster for misusing his resources.

"I'm flattered that you think so highly of my skills," she replied.
Perhaps the Headmaster wouldn't be too angry if she explored this avenue. She
was in Galbadia to learn new things, wasn't she?

"Ah! Pan, SeeD Xu, I'm glad I found you," the crowd parted to allow
President Deling to pass. "Please, come with me," he led them to one of the
small tables set off to the side. A bottle of wine sat in a bucket of ice at
the center of the table. He poured them all a glass once they were seated.

"There is something very wrong about you being in a tuxedo," he chuckled
as Pan pulled on the coat.

"Martine insisted that I dress appropriately this year," Pan explained.

"Martine can be such a stiff sometimes. I've tried to get him drunk but
it didn't work. He must have two hollow legs to be able to hold as much liquor
as he can without getting tipsy," Deling waved his hand before him for effect.

Xu privately thought there was something inherently wrong about the leader
of Galbadia talking about his attempts to get the Headmaster of Galbadia Garden
drunk.

The President turned his attentions back to her as though he heard her
thought. "You asked a question of me earlier and I haven't answered yet. I
believe I owe you that much, so let me give it to you now."

"Oh?" She sat up straighter. She couldn't recall what she had asked him.

"It wasn't a question, per say," he amended, "but a statement that
requires some elaboration. You're correct in saying that Galbadia would have
less foreigners if we didn't expand our boarders. But more to the point, I
want my people to *all* think of themselves as Galbadians -- whether they were
born here or not. It's a form of patriotism, really. I don't care if you
crawled out of the sea. If your allegiance is to Galbadia, then I'll be the
first to welcome you here."

Xu paused to be amazed at her current situation. The President of
Galbadia was explaining to her, a foreigner and a SeeD, why his country hated
her so much. The irony of it all would probably hit her full impact later
tonight. For now, she paid polite attention as he spoke.

"Of course, this type of loyalty can backfire -- and has to some degree
here. Many native-born Galbadians see themselves as superior to our newest
family members. Unfortunately, you can't make people love one another. If it
were that easy, I would have done it right after Timber," Deling gave a wistful
sigh.

"Galbadians are a bunch of mindless lemmings," Pan criticized harshly
before taking a swallow of his wine.

"Galbadia needs a strong leader, and I am that," Deling nodded his head.

Xu wisely kept her mouth shut this time.

"When are you heading back to the Garden? Do you think you'll have time
for a demonstration before you leave? I always forget to ask Martine to
schedule in the time when we plan these things." Deling grimaced at his own
forgetfulness.

"We leave in the morning. We can probably convince him to let Xu and
myself take a later train back if you want?" Pan quickly figured their
schedule out in his head and decided that it would work.

"Then I'll go find him now," Deling pulled himself to his feet. "You know
the place, Pan. I look forward to seeing you in action, Journeywoman," he
sketched a bow to them before melting back into the crowd.

"He's... friendly," Xu admitted slowly. The fact that he was a personable
dictator warred with her preconceived notions of him.

"He always has been. Surprised the hell out of me when he got the whole
ball of wax. Then again, it shouldn't have considering how ambitious he is,"
Pan shrugged as he downed the last of his drink.

"You two seem like long time friends. How did you meet?" Xu turned her
curious gaze to him.

"Ah, now that's a story best saved for another time," Pan hedged.
"Needless to say, random acts of kindness can lead you to some interesting
places."

*****

Martine put up quite a stink about releasing Pan and Xu for the day to
perform demonstrations, but relented when Deling persisted. They would return
that evening on the last train out.

Xu hadn't brought anything but a spare uniform with her. She wasn't even
sure what Pan meant by a 'demonstration'. Were they going to show off fighting
techniques? And to who?

She buckled her belt into place before slinging her overnight bag onto her
shoulder. Pan was waiting for her in the lobby. From there, the two them
walked to the Presidential Residence.

"Vinzer is a major supporter of the Weapons Guild," Pan explained as they
walked down the broad sidewalks. Not many people were out this morning, so
they made good time. "The Guild itself is as independent of national
affiliation as SeeD is, but he does all he can to help it grow. Most people
think that's because it promotes better soldiers, and they're partly right.
But the main reason is because he feels a deep sense of gratitude towards the
Guild for past services."

"You'll have to tell me this story some time," Xu chuckled. "What are we
going to do?"

"It's pretty cut and dry. We let the soldiers come up for a while and try
to defeat us. After we've pounded them soundly, I'll make a speech about how
great the Weapons Guild is and how they can be like us," he shrugged.

"That doesn't strike me as being very... honorable," Xu reflected.

"It isn't, but it's one of the few things these yo-yo's understand. I'm
sure you noticed how I kept promoting your skill last night. Physical prowess
is the language they speak. They simply wouldn't appreciate your finer
qualities such a loyalty and intelligence."

"You speak as though they're idiots," she commented dryly.

He put his fingertip to his nose before going up to the guardhouse. After
speaking for a few moments the gate swung open and they were permitted to
enter. Pan led them down a side path to a small door that was set into the
building. On the other side of the door was a narrow hallway that came to a
T-intersection. They turned right at the intersection and up a flight of
steps. Where they ended up was a short hallway with only two doors and the
stairs they'd just walked up.

The first door they only peeked through. It opened up onto a broad stage.
The second door was a dressing room of sorts. The room was just large enough
for them to do their stretching exercises. A short half-hour later, they
walked through the first door to find that the once-empty auditorium had
completely filled with soldiers while they were preparing.

Pan was dressed in a pair of loose pants and a tee shirt. Xu was in her
Balamb SeeD uniform. It wasn't her preference for workout clothes, but she was
just as capable of fighting in it as in anything else.

Pan stood in the middle of the stage, egging the crowd on. "All right, you
scumbags, you know the drill. Your challengers are off preparing themselves.
I hope they're better than the sickly lot you sent up last time." That earned
him some jeers. The soldiers were ready for today's demonstration. Xu idly
wondered what sorts of odds were currently being offered on the upcoming
matches. Gambling was discouraged, but who would stop them?

"In case you forgot, I'm Master Pan," he sneered at them, trying to get
them riled up. "This lovely young woman -- who could kick *all* of your pansy
asses -- is Journeywoman SeeD Instructor Xu."

The soldiers called out their own taunts; mostly to the effect of offering
rewards to the man who managed to reveal something under Xu's uniform. She was
flinching on the inside, but maintained her cool exterior. She had nothing to
say to these pigs. SeeDs wouldn't act in such a disreputable way. The fact
that she was in a situation that allowed the Galbadian soldiers to do so
disgusted her.

Pan was the first up to fight. A pair of soldiers that looked as green as
their uniforms presented themselves. Judging by their uniforms, they were a
pair of status magic using troops. Pan wasn't much into using magic himself,
so if they cast something like Silence on him, he should be all right. Their
teamwork quickly disintegrated as Pan disarmed one then used the sword he
gained against the other. They were out of the running not more than a few
minutes after they started.

Xu was up next. The cheering for the soldier to split her skirt was near
deafening. Xu tried to disarm him, but instead knocked him out cold by
accident.

"I wasn't trying to-"

Pan waved her off. "Don't worry about it," he then turned to the crowd.
"Poor guy got an up close look at her beauty and fainted. Guess he didn't
realize what a knock out she was!" A mixture of cheers and jeers erupted from
them. Xu was torn between being flattered and embarrassed.

They continued alternating with the final round being hers. The soldiers
hadn't even come close to scratching her up to this point. She was finally
starting to enjoy herself when it was nearly over. Perhaps she would have some
fun with the last soldier she fought?

Biggs crowed with delight when it turned out that he would get to fight
the SeeD that caused him so much grief. He would regain his honor in the
President's eyes and earn himself a promotion!

"You again?" Xu was surprised to see the guard Pan derailed last night.
Pan also noticed who it was before yelling some taunts at him.

"Make a fool of me, will you?!" Biggs charged forward with his sword.
Unfortunately, he wasn't very good... at all. Xu simply stood there as he
missed her completely. He left himself in a horrible position with the tip of
the blade resting against the floor. All she had to do was move on his
unguarded position and kick the sword away from him.

The crowd began jeering both Xu and their representative. Xu tossed her
sai aside with the sword. "Let's do this the old fashion way, shall we?" She
invited cracking her knuckles.

"You're on!" He took off his uniform tunic and tossed it to the side. Now
everyone could see just how pathetically built he was. Xu almost felt sorry
for him. Hum... There was one thing she could do to help him regain a bit of
face before she stuck it to him.

Xu stepped back and pulled off her own tie and tunic to reveal the simple
sleeveless turtleneck she was fond of wearing. The crowd erupted into cheers
as she tossed them onto the growing pile of discarded items. If he couldn't
make something of the opportunity she gave him with, he was hopeless.

He charged at her, swinging wildly. She could have easily dodged his
punches, but instead took the blows. Pan watched them intently as Xu took the
pounding Biggs dished out. 'What is she doing?' He thought, then the answer
came to him. 'Oh, you poor bastard...'

Biggs was starting to feel pretty good about himself when an eerie glow
surrounded her. Xu just smiled as she focused her Limit energy and slowly rose
off the floor. Biggs eyes grew to be the size of saucers as he realized what
was happening. Xu announcing the Pearl of Heaven drowned his 'Oh shi-' out.
It slammed into him, sending him crashing against the far wall. His prone form
was slumped against wall by the time Xu returned to her feet.

Nonchalantly, Xu retrieved her things from the pile before joining Pan at
the edge of the stage.

"And that is why she is a SeeD and you are not," Pan announced to the
stunned room. It wasn't every day that a SeeD demonstrated their Limit. Xu
hoped that the soldiers would keep her little lesson in mind should they ever
find themselves in battle against one.

A single pair of hands began clapping from the back of the room. The rest
of the soldiers soon joined them. Xu looked out over the crowd before spotting
President Deling standing at the back applauding vigorously. Why he was
applauding the woman who soundly defeated his soldier she would never
understand.

*****

Near ritualistic actions carried Xu through unpacking her things once she
returned from Deling City. Her worn clothes were set aside for laundering.
After that was done, she sat her terminal to collect any messages that had come
in while she was away. One message caught Xu's attention as soon as it was
received. It was from Kei, marked as high priority.

The way in which Kei had written it was clumsy Anshin. That was more a
consequence of the available characters in the standard language then a lack of
skill in their native tongue. Some things simply didn't translate well.
Despite that, Kei made her message abundantly clear.

'Having passed the Coming of Age, Child KwisTwis is no more.'

It was a formally worded announcement of adolescence per Anshin tradition.
Xu closed her eyes and gave brief thanks to the Spirits. Then her solemn smile
twisted upwards with humor at how Kei spelt her name. Quistis' name to Anshin
presented as many problems as Xu's name in standard had. That memory caused
her to chuckle.

Xu typed out a quick reply to the single lined message.

'Give thanks to the Spirits for protecting our daughter.' She paused, then
hit the return key several times so that this thought and the next would be
well separated. 'When will you no longer be a Child?'

The message was sent off with little hope that Kei would respond to it.
Some subjects were still sore points, even years after the fact.

-----

The characters Jennifer Sakachi and Eileen Pearcy are property of LeVar Bouyer
and have been used with permission.

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