#Shizuka Nishidake

[cleverfoxhound-writes]

Four years after the defeat of Ultimecia, rumors of her power and Adel's power are resurfacing, another unknown sorceress waits in the darkness, will she stay silent or will she act? 

To prevent another disaster Balamb has been called in to take care of the issue, but what happens when the SeeDs themselves are targets? 

Chapter One.

Balamb Garden, Headmaster's Quarters

"Yes…I understand…we will move accordingly,"

A woman lounged one of the two plush chairs in front of a large dark cherry wood desk, her attention focused on the phone in her hand the string of messages that seemed to have no end as she scrolled through the messages. Annoyed a bit at the number of messages but it was the duty of a SeeD commander to answer and read every single message that came to her even if she received messages from the man she waited on in real time.

She glanced at the man and shook her head, he was on one cell phone and had another in his hand as he sent messages to her and to others. Seconds later the man ended his phone call and shoved his cell phone into his back pocket.

"You could have just told me in person, I'm sitting right here," she began.

"It was faster," the man replied as he took off his worn bomber jacket and tossed it on to the desk. The woman crossed her legs and placed her phone into her lap as she focused all her attention on to the man in front of her.

"What are your orders, Headmaster?" the woman seemed to sneer at the man, in turn, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Don't," The man replied as he leaned on the ornately decorated desk chair.

"I have to keep up formalities somewhere. She may be listening," She replied with a small laugh and looked up at the man.

"You know that she isn't, stop," He replied.

"Fine...now what is it Squall?"

"We've officially received approval from the President of Esthar," Squall began. "With that being said, you are my first witness. I hereby pardon his actions against the students of Balamb Garden and myself. Please bring him back to Balamb Garden,"

"It's escalated to that type of situation that we need his help…" The young woman commented.

"I'm sure he's matured during his time of solitude…but you know this is important Akira. The president is adamant about Seifer's part in this situation," he continued. Akira shifted slightly at the mention of the President of Esthar and just how serious the situation had become.

"Besides…if the information you got from your sister is true…then we're going to need all the help we can get," Squall said as he sighed and ran a hand through his chocolate colored hair.

"But how do you feel about this Squall?" Akira questioned.

The man's icy blue eyes focused on Akira for a moment before they fell on to the papers sprawled across the man's desk. The papers belong to a file of a man he once fought alongside with, a friendly rival, a sorceress knight, Seifer Almasy.

"My feelings on this situation…or him doesn't matter. This is for the safety of the world, I think I can get pass old rivalries," Squall replied as he pulled out the chair from the desk and plopped down into it. Akira crossed her arms as she looked down at the man who seemed to be deep in thought.

"You're so cool," Akira quipped.

"Enough," Squall shook his head at the woman's joke, she snickered.

"I suppose, I'll see how you really feel once I bring him back," Akira replied. Casually he looked over Akira and smirked. He knew that she understood the seriousness of the mission that he gave her, he wouldn't have given it to anyone else.

He trusted her and she knew that.

She was one of his best SeeD Commanders, Akira Nishidake, who arrived from a Garden and city that had been overtaken an earthquake and the golden sands of the Bikanel Desert.

"It seems like you're deep in thought…I'll take my leave then," Akira commented. As if he was broken from a trance he realized he had been staring at the woman, lost in thoughts that were no mission related.

"Akira," Squall began. Akira glanced over her shoulder as she reached for the door.

"Good luck," Squall said curtly with a small nod. With a grin, the woman shrugged.

"Save it for those who need it,"

"I feel like you played me Aki. The way you explained this mission made it seem completely different than what it actually is, why would you torture me like this?"

"Zell. Honey, please. Relax. You've been at this for nearly an hour," Akira said as she tried to focus on the road in front of them. The two had traveled from Balamb Garden and to the Island of Centra for nearly two hours, they had recently arrived on the island thirty minutes ago and were now on their way towards their target.

Seifer Almasy

"I just wanna know why?" Zell questioned as he slumped in his seat.

"You could have said no but you didn't so why are you still complaining?" Akira asked. The man in the seat next to her immediately became silent and sighed.

"Two reasons. One, you know I can't say no to a SeeD Commander, that looks bad no matter how close you are with them. The second one I can't exactly….say," Zell replied.

"I guess I should have just asked my sister if I knew that you were going to complain," Akira scoffed.

"Listen…" Zell began.

"I know, I know, you want me to put in a good word to Shizuka," Akira sighed.

"Hey—"

Within their small group of SeeD members, the group knew that Zell had eyes for Akira's younger sister. She was nearly identical in appearance but in personality, they were on the opposite ends of one another. Kind, sweet, and feminine compared to Akira's blunt, calm and coolness that she exuded.

"You're so easy to read," Akira replied as she maneuvered the car to in front of an old and weathered building.

"When you word it like that you make it seem like I'm easily gullible," Zell replied as he looked out the window and at the old building.

"There is no seem. You are," Akira replied.

"This is…," Zell started.

"The Orphanage," Akira completed.

"Is he here?" Zell asked as he got out of the vehicle and looked at the ruins, this is all that's left of his childhood home.

"That's what Cid and Edea said. Shizuka followed confirmed that information that there had been signs of someone living here," Akira said as she too exited the vehicle.

"Wonder why he could come back here. It's so far away from Balamb," Zell muttered under his breath

"We'll never know how he thinks. Let's just find him ok?" Akira said as she walked into the most stable looking building, Zell followed after her.

"Seifer!" Akira called out as she walked into the building.

"Yo Seifer, you here?" Zell called out after her.

The two were greeted by the soft breeze of the wind, the sounds of birds and the soft chirps of crickets. There were no signs of the man. Zell looked at her then looked around.

"Where could he be?" Zell asked. Akira quickly examined the area before her eyes zoomed in on the old worn stairs and then to the open walkway above.

"Aki-" Zell started as he noticed the woman as she looked around the area.

"Stay down here and look for him, I'll look upstairs," Akira said as she began up the stairs. Zell stole a quick glance at the woman before he turned and began his own search on the lower level.

Carefully, Akira walked the empty halls of the old orphanage, it looked to be as if Mother Nature had just begun to worm and work its way into the building to reclaim it back to the lush greenery. Silently, Akira moved through the halls and occasionally stole glances in the abandoned rooms. Majority of the rooms remained intact but showed no signs of life

The floors looked to be fully intact and so did all the rooms she passed as she looked for the man. He must have preserved some of the rooms as he stayed here. As she continued, the footsteps of Zell could be heard downstairs along with the cheerful serenades of the birds masked the footsteps behind her.

Her senses suddenly flared to life and she quickly turned around ready to strike but bumped into someone.

"Nice one girly," a deep voice echoed through her ears. She recognized the voice, it was their target, Seifer Almasy.

"Seifer," Akira said as she stepped back calming herself down from the adrenaline that shot through her body. Seifer quickly looked over Akira and smirked.

"A SeeD…you're pretty far from Balamb…," Seifer said with the smirk still plastered on his face.

"We came looking for you," Akira replied. Seifer quickly looked the woman from head to toe and sighed heavily.

"We?" Seifer questioned as he turned to look around in search of the other person she spoke of.

"Zell I found him!" Akira called out to the man on the lower floor. Seifer looked towards the stairs as he heard heavy footsteps rushing up the stairs, Zell tripped but caught himself.

"Well, Well, Well, never thought I would see your face again," Seifer commented lowly. Zell stood at the top of the stairs as he looked at the man, Akira could see the wave of emotions that flooded the younger man's face. She knew that they all have their grievances, gripes against one another but knew that this mission was important and integral to world peace.

Zell scoffed at the man and cautiously began to approach the man.

"I'm upset that I had to see your ugly mug so soon," Zell commented bitterly.

"Aw, I missed you too Zelly," Seifer teased. Akira could see anger shoot through the younger blond and spoke up before it escalated.

"Relax," Akira began as she focused on Zell and then back to Seifer, Seifer sneered at the man and then focused back on her.

"Why are you two here, what do you want?" Seifer began.

"We came to get your sorry ass," Zell replied bluntly, Seifer began to scratch gently at the stubble of his beard.

"Uh huh,"

"Shouldn't you be more excited about that?" Zell questioned

"I dunno," Seifer replied. "Why? What happened?"

"We can explain all of that on the way back to Balamb," Akira added.

"So then I was your mission target then," Seifer commented.

"No, we just decided to take a walk and we ended up here," Zell spat sarcastically.

"Cute, but you're clearly not her type," Seifer replied.

"You know what-" Zell started.

"Enough, I'm getting a headache from you two. Get your stuff and let's go. We can explain in the UMV," Akira said as she pushed past the two men.

"Get yer shit a let's go," Zell added.

"You expect me to be all willy nilly and return to Balamb Garden that easily?" Seifer asked. Akira stopped at the top of the stairs and looked at the man. "I left for a reason,"

"He doesn't wanna come back, let's go," Zell said as he took one look at the man and turned his back to him. "I'll call Squall and let him know,"

Akira stopped at the top of the stairs and looked at the man as Zell passed her and down the stairs. The woman crossed her arms and stepped back from the stairs as she looked at the silent man.

"You know what I did, you know they don't want me there. I've been gone for three years, why now?" Seifer began. Akira sighed softly.

"News hasn't reached you yet if you're not aware of it," Akira began, Seifer arched an eyebrow as the woman spoke.

"Everyone needs help, Squall needs your help,"

"Oh really? He should have come himself instead of sending his little soldiers to find me," Seifer scoffed

"It's complicated. But as an Ex-Knight…" Akira trailed off.

Ex-Knight

A word, a title he thought he would never hear again but it rolled off her lips just as easily as a shiver shot through him. Four years later, it still affected him.

"We remember what you did…but you've been pardoned by the President of Esthar and Squall," Akira continued.

"I'm sure you have some emotional baggage but if you would please gather your things so that we can arrive back at Balamb before the evening…that would be great,"

A tension-filled silence settled between the two, deep emerald green eyes locked with pale jade. There were things that he wanted to say but the words wouldn't come. Akira sighed softly before she turned again and descended down the stairs.

"Are you fucking serious?" Seifer murmured to himself as he watched the woman descend.

Akira and Zell stood outside the building and by the vehicle, Akira sat in the passenger seat while Zell leaned on the open door. Zell fidgeted with his cell phone as did Akira, it was only a few moments of silence before Zell spoke.

"You think he's gonna come?" Zell questioned.

"I don't know…he still has some emotional baggage still," Akira replied.

"Ah…" Zell trailed off. Akira quickly stole a glance at the man and noticed his once annoyed look had melted away into a thoughtful expression. She knew that Zell had a history with the man, he and the others had been in this same orphanage with one another before they went their separate ways and met up with one another again at Balamb Garden. Herself and the others had gone through the hell of Ultimecia's power trip and control over Edea and Seifer.

She knew that many people had not fully forgiven the man but there were others that moved on with their lives and allowed for time to heal their wounds and scars.

"I hope he does…" Akira trailed off. "You didn't call Squall did you?"

"No…I didn't," Zell replied.

"I figured you weren't going to call him," Seifer commented as he stepped outside of the building. Zell scoffed at Seifer's comment. Akira sighed as she hopped out of the vehicle and placed a hand on her hip.

"I take it you have all of your things?" Akira asked as the man stopped in front of the two and looked at the vehicle.

"It's not like I have much…is this a new model?" Seifer questioned as he slung his small duffle bag over his shoulder.

"Yeah, It's a new prototype for a slim model utility truck," Zell replied. "Since Akira is a SeeD Commander she gets to test out all of the new toys and gadgets,"

Zell got into the passenger side as Akira had already walked over to the driver side and got in. Seifer took one more glance at the vehicle before he opened the back door and got in.

"A SeeD commander huh," Seifer said as he began to strap himself in. He stole a glance at the woman in the front seat, her jade green eyes met his emerald green ones through the rearview mirror before she started up the vehicle.

"Are you sure you got everything?" she asked.

"Yeah…"

Akira nodded and began to drive to their extraction point, the beginning of the drive was mostly silent until Seifer spoke up

"Sooo Zelly ol-boy," Seifer started.

"Oh god, don't start with that," Zell said firmly.

"It's a term of endearment," Seifer chuckled.

"Endearment my ass," Zell scoffed and frowned. Seifer smirked at the man's comment.

"It's been a while…and truthfully I missed you," Seifer confessed. "Stop being such a hard ass," Seifer leaned towards the front seats.

"Don't give me your shit already," Zell retorted, Seifer laughed slightly.

"You haven't changed at all," Seifer sighed. Zell turned in his seat to face the man in the backseat of the vehicle, Seifer, unperturbed by the frown on the younger man's face turned his attention to the silent woman.

"So what's going on in Balamb that you all…need my help," Seifer began

"It's more of what's to come if it's not dealt with," Akira replied as she felt the man's eyes on her.

"And that is? Wait…were you always at Balamb?" Seifer questioned.

"I was there four years ago," Akira replied and glanced at the man through the rearview mirror.

"Can't say I remember you…" Seifer trailed off.

"I'm not too surprised," Akira replied, her attention focused on the road ahead.

"I'm surprised too, she nearly broke your nose when you put your hands on Shizuka," Zell commented.

"Oh…it's you…" Seifer grimaced.

"My name is Akira Nishidake, use it," Akira replied, Seifer, scoffed.

"You're the girl that came from the Garden that was destroyed by that earthquake…The Bikanel Garden was it?" Seifer asked.

"That's right," Akira grimaced at the thought of the Garden being destroyed.

"Hmph…I'm surprised you're still here…I guess your sister is still around too huh," Seifer added.

"That's right," Akira nodded.

"But she's not the same person you think she is," Zell began.

"I hope not…I assume she grew up," Seifer added.

"I was more so talking about her being bullied by you," Zell commented.

"I would assume she would have grown up into a wonderful woman," Seifer said bored.

Four years ago when Akira and Shizuka had just arrived at the Balamb garden after being transferred from the now-defunct Garden, it took some adjusting before the two young women would settle in with their new surroundings.

Unfortunately, the two had a run in with Balamb's Disciplinary Committee gang and the all the 'disciplinary actions' that they handed out to the students of Balamb. Seifer and his crew tried to make an example out of the two women and quickly began to butt heads with one another.

"That was so long ago…" Seifer sighed softly as memories of the time before he—before everything that happened, happened.

"Anyway…" Seifer began. "You two are both SeeDs right?"

"Yeah…Akira here is a SeeD Commander, I'm damn near reaching that level," Zell replied.

"Well, now look how much you've grown Zell," Seifer smirked.

"Shut up," Zell frowned. "Just know that I have more authority than you,"

"Want a gold star?" Seifer replied casually.

Seifer knew that that younger man was for once in life above him and knew that he couldn't look down on him. Seifer also knew that the man was going to use every chance he could get to remind him of that, but Seifer for sure was not going to make it easy for him.

"Sounds like someone still hasn't grown up yet," Seifer replied nonchalantly as he leaned back in his seat.

"Fuck you," Zell hissed at the blonde haired man, Seifer chuckled.

Quietly Seifer admitted he enjoyed the squabble between him and Zell, it masked the uncertainty and the plethora of questions he had in the back of his mind. He knew that wasn't in exile, he left Balamb on his own will, the Garden held too many painful memories for him and the people reminded him of that.

"So back to my initial question…What's going on in Balamb that you require my assistance," Seifer questioned again.

Zell glanced at Seifer for a moment before he turned to face the front, Akira remained silent as she continued to drive.

"Balamb is still standing…I can assume that much because you two are here…" Seifer began.

"Yeah, it's great," Zell replied, his brows furrowed as he faced forward.

"Squall will go into more detail once we get back. Don't worry," Akira replied.

"You two made it seem like someone died or something," Seifer commented.

"No…Squall asked us to find you and bring you back," Zell started. "I guess he figured it would better if someone you knew were to welcome you back,"

Seifer looked at the man's reflection in the rearview mirror, the man was too focused on the sights outside to notice him.

"To put it simply, we just wanted you to know that you were welcome back. We don't know why you left in the first place," Zell said as he looked out his window.

"Squall…wants you to come back…start over-" Akira started.

"���and to actually live your life…not in hiding," Zell added.

The man was silent once again as if he needed time to digest what the two had said. The man, Squall, wanted him to come back? He had to admit that he was a bit surprised, he assumed that everyone hated his guts, wanted him dead for everything that he had caused, the sorceress.

"It just sounds like you all want something from me…so what is it?" Seifer asked bitterly as he looked out his window.

Zell glanced at Akira as if he was asking for permission to speak. Whatever he was asking permission for it had to be something serious that they didn't talk about without hesitation.

"What?" Akira asked as she looked at the man next to her.

"Squall won't get mad will he?" Zell questioned

"Squall isn't going to be upset…him and I are…friends," Akira said with a smile.

"…friends?" Seifer muttered under his breath. Zell scoffed.

"Do you know how hard it is to be friends with you and Rinoa? She told me she feels threatened by you," Zell said.

"That is not my problem. I've done nothing and I know my limits," Akira replied with a short shrug. "Anyway"

"Well, to start remnants of Adel's and Ultimecia's powers have surfaced, there are rumors going around that there's another sorceress around and there seems to be a violent pro-sorceress group spreading propaganda," Zell began as he counted on his fingers the problems that seemed to plague the world.

"What?" Seifer said in disbelief.

"Yeeeeah…that pro-sorceress group is a problem…especially with all of that propaganda. It's gotten some of the officials worried…" Zell trailed off.

"I hope that you can see where this is going," Akira added.

"I don't," Seifer replied bluntly. "I am not a SeeD, member and I haven't been attuned to any magical items in years,"

"Stop playing dumb. You're an Ex-Knight, I'm sure you have some hidden sleeping power that you need to unleash or something like that," Zell commented as he glanced over his shoulder at the man.

"Real funny chicken shit. The joke's on your dumb ass because I have no such power," Seifer replied.

"Listen—"Zell began.

"Enough. There are things that have yet to be discussed about the entire situation and as I said before," Akira sighed. "So until then, this topic is no longer up for discussion. Understand?"

"Yeah," Zell replied.

"Sure. Whatever, "