Seifer opened his eyes: ... it doesn't look like the street where he fought earlier. He sat on the bed where he was sleeping, and looked around him. On two other beds, were lying Quistis and Zell, still tired of this dreadful fight... they were in some Inn's room. He took his head in his hands... he remembered it all: ... Sarriss, ... her rose... by the way... what was that white rose doing next to him on a small table? The fair haired boy took out of his coat the rose that Sarriss gave him two days ago, he looked carefully at her, and then hid it again. He stood up, picked the flower that was on the table, and walked down the stairs. Downstairs, he saw something that looked like a Café and went to the barman.
Barman: Ho, you awake!
Seifer: Where am I?
Barman: Well, you're at Balamb's Inn, son! You slept for long, ya know.
Seifer: +shows the flower+ Why was there this on a table near my bed?
Barman: It was just in front of you when I found you and your friends. They're awake too?
Seifer: I don't know... and I don't really care... Did you see a girl any lately?
Barman: A girl?
Seifer: Yeah, early in the morning. She must have arrived at about 5 a.m.
Barman: Ho, you mean : a brown haired girl with a pendant who was wearing a beige and long coat?
Seifer: +excited+ Yes! It's her! What do you know about her?!
Barman: +tries to remind himself+ Well, she arrived very early in the morning, just as you said, and asked for a boat or a train.
Seifer: +excited+ And??
Barman: the man in the port told her that there won't be any boats or trains until 7. Then she turned mad at him... +thinks as hard as he can+ Then, later, I saw her going to talk to the same man, and this time her told her that he had a boat for her.
Seifer: +nods+ And?
Barman: She said "here, take this." as money of course, and got off her pendant. God, it was amazing! The girl fell down just after having wear off the necklace. She even had troubles to breath! She put it back at the neck, and put lots of Gils on the table. Man! If I had what she gave him! I'll be rich! Then she said that she must go to Deiling city and went in the boat. That's all I know...
Seifer: Well thanks, that helps. +starts to leave+
Barman: Hey! What about your friends?!
Seifer: +turns and faces him+ I've got a personal business to do... Ho! If they ask about me or the girl, tell them about Deiling city! +leaves+
Barman: Alright!
* * *
Sarriss: +looks at the sea+ So when are we going to land? She's waiting!!
Sailor: Hey we're doing what we can! You must be patient...
Sarriss: +glares at him+ You dare giving me orders...?
Sailor: +scared+ ...
Sarriss: +walks down the stairs and to him, look straightly in his eyes+ You have a wife... and children... just imagine... how they will be... so sad, if they knew that their father has died?
Sailor: +scared+ ...
Sarriss: You've imagined?
Sailor: Y... yes Miss...!
Sarriss: +smiles+ Good. +grabs him by his shirt+ Then make sure that this won't happen. +walks back to her where she was+
Man: +yells+ We're landing in a few time!
Sarriss: +looks at him+ Fine. +looks at the far mountains+ Deiling city... I'm coming...
* * *
Quistis: +sits on the bed+ Ho... it was a hard battle... +looks at Zell+ Hey, Zell! You awake too?
Zell: +holds his head+... Yeah... I'm awake... Damn that girl has gone too far this time...
Quistis: Please don't hate or blame her too much... Sarriss must be possessed by her necklace.
Zell: +stands up+ Ok, now let's get out of here, we still have work to do!
The fair haired girl nodded and they wen downstairs.
Barman: Ho, you two awake!? Your fair haired friend told me to tell you about the girl.
Zell: +excited+ What is it?!
Barman: Well, the girl is heading for Deiling city and I think the boy went after her. That's all I know.
Quistis: Do you have any phones, in here?
Barman: Sure. +shows the back of the Inn+ You see the corner, there? Well there's one just before!
Quistis: Ok, thank you. +runs to the phone, and dialed a number+... Hello, Quistis speaking... Ho, hi Shu!... Yeah, ... Well I need to talk with Squall... really? Ok, I'm waiting...
Squall: Hello?
Quistis: Hi, Squall. It's Quistis...
Squall: Did you catch Ill Rose?
Quistis: You mean Sarriss? No we didn't...
Squall: What happened?
Quistis: Well Sarriss attacked us with her G-force and limit... and it turned wrong...
Squall: Everyone alright?
Quistis: Well yes... Ho by the way... she's going to Deiling city.
Squall: +thinks: What will she do there?!+ We're coming with Ragnarok.
Quistis: Seifer is after her.
Squall: +thinks: Everything but that!+ Ok, just wait where you are. Don't move!
Quistis: Ok, bye... +comes back near Zell+
Zell: What did they say?
Quistis: Squall's arriving with Ragnarok. He said to wait.
They went out.
* * *
Sarriss got off of the boat. Deiling city wasn't far from her. She entered the city and looked all around her, something in her head told her to go to the hotel.
Sarriss: +enters the Hotel+ Hum... what a odd place...
Woman: Miss Melford?
Sarriss: +comes nearer the woman+ What?! How do you know my name?
Woman: Miss Aphrodite has reserved a room for you.
Sarriss: +looks away+ Fine. Where is it?
Woman: Second floor, room 17.
Sarriss turned and went to the elevator, without saying anything. When she entered the room, she saw a woman dressed in white, standing, looking coldly at her.
Sarriss: Aphrodite?
Aphrodite: Yes, come to me, my child.
The girl got nearer and watch carefully at the woman.
Aphrodite: Time is running, Sarriss... you know it, don't you?
Sarriss: +looks away+ ...
Aphrodite: I need your help. You must go... To the Past.
Sarriss: +absent+ Past...?
Aphrodite: Yes, past. I'll send you just before the party in Deiling city.
Sarriss: +gets near the window+ Edea's parade, right?
Aphrodite: You've guessed well. You exterminate the ones that will turn this into a carnage. Their name are: Squall and Rinoa.
Sarriss: +laughing+ What a pity... killing young people... +puts a hand on the window+ young lovers...
Aphrodite: +gets angry+ This is NOT a game!
The woman raised her hand and Sarriss fell down on her knees, breathing hardly. But she quickly got back on her feet, glaring at Aphrodite.
Sarriss: +whispers between her teeth+ You'll regret this...
Aphrodite: I ask you to destroy them and ask Edea for an alliance with me.
Sarriss: +bored+ Whatever...
Aphrodite: As a reward, I allow you to take this guy you care so much about... this... Seifer...
Sarriss: +thinks: sure...+ +smiles+ That'll be fun...
Aphrodite: +raises her hand and make money appearing in Sarriss' hands+ Take this, and go dress yourself as a true sorceress...
Sarriss: But I'm NO witch!
Aphrodite: We'll do "as if". +smiles+ I'll come back when you'll be ready. +disappears+
Sarriss: Sure... everything you'll want... Aphrodite... +smiles and gets off the room+
* * *
Squall entered the city of Balamb, and noticed Quistis and Zell, waiting for him.
Zell: Squall! You already here!
Squall: Ok, let's go.
They left the town for Ragnarok. Inside...
Rinoa: Fine. So how are we going to do?
Squall: We'll fly to Deiling city and split up in two groups and...
Laguna: +enters+ Wait son, I'm coming too. I want to help this girl.
Squall: But...
Ellone: +enters+ Yes, and me too.
Squall: Hey, but it could be dangerous!
Selphie: Squall, let them go with us!
Zell: Yeah!
Squall: +thinks: being a leader in here...+ Ok, then we'll make three groups.
Rinoa: Who with who?
Squall: Quistis, you'll be another leader. You'll go with Selphie and Zell. Rinoa, Irvine, you two'll be with me. And...
Zell: +looks through a window+ Hey! What's that explosion?!
Selphie: +driving Ragnarok+ What explosion! I wanna see it!
Irvine: No Selphie, you can't. You're leading the ship, remember?
Selphie: +looks down+ Yes...
Quistis: +at the window too+ Didn't you say that Seifer went after Sarriss? That could be him...
Ellone: Selphie, could you please land the Ragnarok?
Selphie: +smiles+ Sure.
Ragnarok landed down, Squall and Ellone got off the ship and ran to the walking figure who was wearing a long coat.
Squall: Seifer!
Seifer: +stops and turns+ Huh?
Ellone: Seifer, please, come with us.
Seifer: Why should I follow you?
Squall: We're going rather fast with Ragnarok... and besides... we're after Ill Rose.
Seifer: +gets angry+ WHAT did you call her?!
Squall: +a hand on his face, thinks: Few... this guy is really SUSCEPTIBLE!+ Ok, ok... I'm sorry... So, will you come with us?
Seifer: +walks to Squall and Ellone+ I warn you, I'm only doing for Sarriss.
Ellone: We're not asking more Seifer, we just want to help her.
Seifer: +nods+ Hum... sure...
Squall: Ok let's go, we don't have time to lose.
They went back to the Ragnarok and began to fly to Deiling city.
Rinoa: I really wonder why Sarriss is having a glove on her right hand...
Everyone looked at her strangely.
Rinoa: I know it looks odd, but she told me that it was to protect her hand from the edge of the gunblade... but I carefully looked at her when she was fighting...
Quistis: Didn't you know? Sarriss has got her right hand burned.
Seifer/Rinoa: +surprised+ Really?!
Rinoa looked at Seifer who was against a wall, he was a bit red. He quickly turned his head away, when he has noticed that the young girl was watching him. Of course, Rinoa was about to be the last who didn't know that Seifer was having a crush on Sarriss...
Seifer: Hum...
Rinoa: +excited+ So how did it happen?!
Quistis: Well... +looks up at the ceiling+ One day she was wandering outside in a big guarden with flowers everywhere. When she came back in the evening, she told me and Shu that she found at last her limit break. Sarriss showed us a white rose, at this moment, like she was holding the flower with her right hand, Shu noticed that she was hardly burned. I asked her how did it happen, but she didn't reply anything, she was only looking down at her feet. The day after, she was having a glove on her wounded hand, because the doctor told her that Sarriss would have an awful and large scar on her hand. But when students where asking her about the glove, she pretended that it was to protect herself from the gunblade, like she was holding it with two hands.
Rinoa: Ok, thank you, I see know... +looks down+
Selphie: We're arriving!
Squall: So remember? Rinoa, Irvine and I, will look at the north. Quistis, Selphie and Irvine, to the east; and finally Ellone, Laguna... and Seifer, will go west.
Quistis: Fine.
Irvine: Understood... but why can't I be with Quistis???
Selphie: +laughs+ You having a crush on her or what?!
Irvine smiled at this question, while Quistis was turning red and confused.
Selphie: Next stop : Deiling city!
Ragnarok landed down, and everyone got off the flying machine. The groups were madden and the all went in a different direction...
* * *
Rinoa: +holds Squall's arm+ Where can she be?
Squall: +looks around as walking+ ...
Irvine: Rinoa, maybe your father can help us!
Rinoa: +looks down+ Well...
They stopped, as they saw the big arch.
Irvine: +looks down+ Okay, bad idea...
* * *
Selphie: Few... walking is SO boring... isn't there a fight somewhere?
Zell: Yeah... I want to get some practice.
Quistis: Would you two stop saying that you're bored?! We've just begin! +thinks: besides, I'd like to visit one of those clubs, with boys everywhere... hum... I think Irvine wouldn't like that...+ Ok, we're doing a stop!
Zell: Great!!!
Selphie: +comes nearer to Quistis+ Hey, Quistis...
Quistis: Yes?
Selphie: How about ... +whispers+ whisper whisper whisper whisper whisper whisper
Zell: What are you talking about!?
Quistis: Oh yeah!!! That'll be fun! And besides: +says at Selphie's ear+ whisper whisper whisper...
Selphie: Ok!
Zell: Selphie, Quistis! What's going on?
Quistis: +shows quickly a turning road+ Zell quick! A hot dogs' saler!
Zell: +excited+ Huh? Huh! Where?!
Selphie: Ho no! He's just turned by taking this street! You should hurry if you want some!
Zell: +runs+ I'll be back in a second! Wait for me!!!!
Zell left the two girls as they were laughing.
Quistis: Ok, now let's hurry before he'll find out that there weren't any hot dogs' saler!
Selphie: Yeah!
The two girls hid themselves behind some hugs trees, ... some seconds later...
The boy came back...
Zell: +yells+ Quistis! Selphie! Where are you?!
Selphie: +low to Quistis+ Shh... don't say anything!
Quistis: I can't hide anymore, I'll go and apologize to him....
Selphie: Hey!
Quistis: I'll tell him that it's all my fault, ok? +walks to Zell, looking down+ Zell, I'm...
Zell: +hands over a hot dog+ Here Quistis, that's for you.
Quistis: +open big eyes+ What?!
Zell: Yeah, like I was hungry, I thought that you and Selphie will like to have one.
Selphie: +runs to them+ Hey, hey! I want mine!!
Zell: +hands over another hot dog+ Ok, so : one for each of you...
Selphie: Wait! So why do you have three others?!
Zell: +happy+ ... And four for me!
Quistis: Ok, now that Zell has "fetched" food, we could eat while walking. Let's go guys!
* * *
They walked for long, but for the moment, Seifer, Laguna and Ellone were in one of those big avenues, full filled with clothes and jewelers shops.
Laguna: +shows a dress+ Look Ellone! Wouldn't that be good on you?
Ellone: +smiles+ Maybe, Uncle Laguna... but it's really expensive...
Seifer: +gets bored and annoyed+ Have you guys finished?! We're not here to do shopping!
Ellone: Wait! That girl in the back of the shop... isn't she Sarriss?
Laguna: +looks carefully+ Hey... but you're right! It's her.
Seifer: We mustn't be see by her. We need to know what is she going to do.
Ellone: Right... I'll follow her, like she doesn't know me, and you two will cover me.
Laguna: +nods+ Ok.
Seifer: Fine.
The two men hid themselves, while Ellone was looking around her, waiting for the girl to arrive. Sarriss got out of the shop, she was holding a big bag, and started walking... the young sorceress began to follow her, but... suddenly Sarriss stopped herself, and look around her.
Laguna: +whispers+ She's noticed Ellone!
Seifer: +whispers+ Wait some more, if she attacked her; then we'll intervene.
Ellone was a bit afraid of what Sarriss was going to do. But the girl turned and face Ellone, smiling.
Sarriss: Excuse-me, but I've lost my way. Could you please, show me the way to the hotel?
Laguna: +thinks: The hotel!? But what will she do here?+
Ellone: +smiles+ Sure, I'll lead you to it. Please follow me.
The two brown haired girls started walking in along the streets, full filled with people. When they arrived at the hotel.
Ellone: +shows the building+ Here it is.
Sarriss: Alright, thank you.
The girl opened the door, and entered the large building. She went to the elevator, without saying anything, a cold gaze on her face. She reached her room, and firmly closed the door with her keys.
She got off the clothes from the bag, and looked at the window.
Sarriss: Soon... I'll rule this city... oh and Balamb guarden too... Aphrodite could do this favor to me... after all I'll done for her...
Ellone: +looks at the men+ She's inside.
Laguna: Ok, thanks Ellone. +gives her a hug+
Seifer: I'll go inside. +starts walking+
Laguna: We'll wait for you in the bar.
They all entered the hotel. Laguna and Ellone went in the bar, while Seifer was asking for Sarriss' room.
Seifer: ...Yeah, the girl that's just entered.
Woman: I'm sorry sir, but I can't give you her room's number.
Seifer: +gets angry+ But you don't understand, ... I... I need to talk to her! Question of life or death!
Woman: It's no use, I can't help you until I got her permission to give it to you.
Seifer: +pulls out his gunblade+ Give me her room's number RIGHT NOW!!!!!
Woman: +really scared+ Y... Yes sir, +looks at the book on the table+ ... room 17, second floor sir...!
Seifer: +walks to the elevator, calms down+ And do NOT dare calling her for telling what happened!
Woman: ... y yes sir ...!
The fair haired boy took the elevator for the second floor, and reached Sarriss' room. There, in front of the door, he kneeled down and peeped through the key hole.
Sarriss was putting on a black short a small tight-fitting shirt. She combed her long hair, and wear on long dark boots and finally a dark red coat, long and beautiful...
Suddenly a white rose fell down on the ground, and big flash lighted the entire area. The girl protected her eyes with her hand, until the lighted faded away.
Aphrodite: +looks carefully at her "slave"+ Hum... Can't you be MORE beautiful?! These clothes are awful!
Sarriss: Wah shut up! +walks around the room+ I'm doing all the job here, so let me dress myself as I want. ... by the way, when am I going to the past? I'm bored here!
Seifer: +surprised, thinks: PAST!?+
Aphrodite: So remember: ...
Sarriss: +cuts the witch+ Killing those Squall and Rinoa, and asking Edea for an alliance with you... +bored+ yeah, yeah... I know...
Seifer: +thinks: WHAT?! What's going on here!?+
Aphrodite: I'll send you just before Edea's party, make sure that you could get something that will lead you to her. But remember : you must discreet, as people must see that you're different from the others.
Sarriss: Of course... I'll take my own chariot and have some fun too...
Aphrodite: Squall and Rinoa will be in some kind of disgusting roundabout, a man having a long rifle is accompanying them.
Sarriss: +bored+ The one that must shot on the sorceress, right?
Aphrodite: Yes, and three others will be hiding in the arch, waiting to trap Edea into the arch.
Sarriss: Yeah... I hope it's more funny than listening to you.
Aphrodite: Your reward my child... if you succeed, I will offer you the man you care so much about.
Sarriss: +bored+ I know... +low: She thinks I care for him?! Foolish one!+ Yeah, after all of this, Seifer will be mine... and Balamb guarden and this city too...
Seifer: +looks down, thinks: Sarriss, no...+
Aphrodite: You also want those things?! Well... if that's what you want... you will have them...
Sarriss: +smiles+ Good...
Aphrodite: Are you ready?
Sarriss: Let the party begin!!
The witch crossed her hands on her chest and cast some kind of dark blue portal. It was making awful noise, wind blowing from nowhere, making Sarriss hair floating.
Aphrodite: Now, my child... for your mother... ENTER!
Seifer: +thinks: Mother?! Wait! What's happening?!+
Sarriss looked at the gate, and slowly entered it and vanished into the gate as Aphrodite in the air.
Seifer felt rage and hate in his body... he couldn't take it anymore... surely that he will have to kill her... surely that he won't see her again...
Seifer: +yells+ SARRISS! NOOOOOoooo...!
Burning tears fell down on his face...