"So what did you find out?" The tall green-eyed man asked the girl by his side.
     "He said his name was Squall, and he was from Dollet," Lila snorted. "He told me all sorts of stories that sounded more like Balamb than Dollet."
     "Anything else?"
     "He was looking for someone, I could tell. And he was very perceptive," her hazel eyes narrowed. "He knew I wasn't twenty."
     "How old did he think you were?"
     "Sixteen," Lila put her hands on her hips. "I don't look that young."
     "No, you don't. But you reacting to it only assured him that you weren't who you said," the man sighed.   "So much to learn, little sister."
     "What did you find out?" Lila tilted her head up at him.
     "Rinoa. From Deling City."
     Lila frowned. "Wasn't Rinoa that sorceress from a couple years ago?"
     "Quite right, Lila." The man nodded at her, and she preened. "And Squall was a SeeD from Balamb who saved her. They are living quite happily together at Balamb Garden."
     "So what are they doing here?"
     "I think the question, Lila, is who is here, pretending to be someone they're not, and who are they looking for. And what happened to the three men that found our 'Rinoa' such a tasty tidbit," he gestured with his hand toward the men on his left. They nodded and quietly disappeared. "And we're going to find out."
     "But Martin, what if it's just a coincidence?"
     Martin Rueday smiled. "Then they have nothing to worry about."
                                *                              *                              *
     It was different this time.
     I'm not tied up anymore.
     Indeed he wasn't. He was standing over Quistis' dead body, close to the center of the light.
     What's that noise?
     His ears were ringing, and he clapped his hands over them in an effort to drown out the sound.
     Don't touch me.
     He jerked away from the soft touch on his back, a touch that sent a shiver of revulsion up his spine.
     I know her. Who is she?
     Hazel eyes glowed at him and she gestured wildly.
     What is she talking about?
     Escape? Not without the others!
     Dead? Everyone?
     Hey, what's wrong?
     He turned slowly, and saw through the bright light a shimmering set of green eyes. They came closer and closer. The girl's mouth opened wide as if to scream, then her eyes went blank and she crumpled to the floor. The man smiled and turned toward him. Then the man spoke, and every word rang in his ears.
     'All your fault. All your fault.'
     He covered his ears, but the litany continued.
     'All your fault. All your fault.'
     He began to shake, screaming his denial.
                                *                              *                              *
     "Seifer, wake-up," Quistis shook the thrashing form, trying to avoid the flailing limbs. Weakly, she pushed at him. "Seifer!" Even cured, she was still weak from the assault her body had taken. Her eyes narrowed with determination, and, taking a deep breath, she gathered her strength and shoved him. Off the bed.  Oops.
     He hit the floor with a loud crash. She winced, and peered over the bed at him. His turquoise eyes fluttered open, and he frowned at her. "Couldn't you have found a better way to wake me up?"
     "I'm sorry," she apologized. "But shouting would have brought others, and I'm still too weak..." She hid a smile at his expression.
     "Too weak?" he raised an eyebrow, and slowly got to his feet. She didn't reply.
     "The nightmare again?" Quistis scooted back on the bed to make room for him. He sat down and swung his legs up, laying back on his pillow. "What happened?"
     "Nothing."
     She tilted her head, frowning at him. "Seifer, when you say that, I know it was something. What happened?"
     "I don't want to say."
     "You mean, it wasn't what normally happens?" she leaned forward, blonde hair falling around her face.
     "No, it was much different," he laughed harshly.
     "Are you going to tell me?"
     "No."
     "Seifer!" She smacked him with a pillow. "Just cause you HAVE one doesn't mean you have to BE one!" He raised an eyebrow at her. "Come on!" She fluttered her lashes at him. "PPPPLLEEAASSEE!"
     "Whatever," he shrugged and, after more pushing and prodding, told her what happened. Immediately he regretted it, when he saw the pity in her eyes. Scowling, Seifer grabbed his pillow and rolled to the floor. Quistis opened her mouth to stop him, but paused. Instead she sluggishly turned her back to him and lay down, pulling the covers up to her chin.
     Awhile later, when she was certain Seifer was asleep from the sound of his even breathing, she kneeled on the bed, and searched inside for a Float. Happily, she located one and cast it on the sleeping Seifer.  When he hovered above the floor, she took a hold of him and guided his slumbering form over the bed.  Quickly she cast Dispel, and he fell gently to the mattress. She reached over the side, and brought his pillow up and tucked it under his head. With a half-smile, she started to turn onto her side, but stopped. He was starting to thrash again.
     Biting her lip, she moved closer to him, and slid beside him, wrapping her arms around him.  Why did it feel so right?  "It isn't your fault," she whispered. "It isn't your fault." The chant repeated itself until she fell asleep, her head on his chest.
     Seifer had stopped quaking.