Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Beneath the Mistletoe ❯ Everybody Dies...the End. ( Chapter 8 )

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

So, Christmas came, (because the author said so, plus she was running
out of time and the deadline was soon approaching, so this fic needed
to wrap up) and that meant the majority of people spent time opening
presents. Raijin was quite gleeful when he received his, all of which
were addressed from Santa Claus because really...no one had the heart
to tell him the truth. The rest of the main Final Fantasy VIII cast
(including those who had names like Xu and Nida) were celebrating much
the same way, by opening presents and just enjoying themselves. As
there always was, a few of the students decided to go caroling in the
halls, and filled the area with music. Unfortunately, these singers
were not a part of the choir and their singing was rather off, but no
one yelled at them to stop. Mainly because no one was paying much
attention. And anyone could bet that one of them was Selphie (who they
didn't really feel like dealing with especially on Christmas).

Decorations were suffering, half being torn off so that others could
spend the time throwing them at each other in all of their immaturity,
but the Disciplinary Committee wasn't around to discipline them sadly.
They were all enjoying Christmas themselves...even Seifer Almasy had
managed to get into the spirit of the Holiday, much like those beloved
characters in famous Christmas classics who hated the day (i.e.,
Scrooge; The Grinch; etc.). Such a thing was characteristic for all
villains in anything ever to just have a change of heart on Christmas,
but ONLY Christmas. There were no movies, shows, books, or fanfics
about villains who have a change of heart on Flag Day...or
anything...which in all honesty almost inspired the author to write
something about that...but nevertheless...that is not what this
paragraph is about!

So, anyway, after morning rolled by smoothly and everyone got tired of
trying on their outfits on or playing with their newly remodeled
weapons, most went down to get breakfast which was served near the
Quad for a change of pace. Zell was there, blowing all his gil on
cinnamon buns and doughnuts that he shoved in his mouth all at once,
some of the jelly filling trickling down his mouth. Ah, but Zell
didn't care. So long as he could have food, he was happy. The bands
that Selphie actually talked into playing (or blackmailed rather) were
setting their instruments on the stage, waiting for the announcement
that the festival itself was ready to begin. Rinoa and Squall
arrived...together of course...and together they bought
breakfast...and then headed into the area...together.

With the flocking of so many female students, Irvine Kinneas was in
heaven. Everywhere anyone turned, they could hear a cheesy line like,
'baby, I don't need a Christmas present so long as I can unwrap
you...' or 'I can stuff your stocking like no cowboy could...'; to
which he often received slaps for. This still didn't stop the 'lady's
man' and he headed off to find more. It wasn't too long afterward that
Selphie started ushering people in by use of her megaphone. Maybe that
was because she caught Irvine in the act and wanted to save the
womenfolk from his shameless flirting. Many were quite grateful to him
for that, and then moved inside the Quad. So did Irvine and Selphie,
though a displeased Tilmitt was currently hitting him with the
megaphone edge.

Eventually, Quistis arrived there as well. She hadn't really been
doing much, but handing in papers toward the other faculty members in
the Garden for purposes that were unknown at this time...but it just
seemed like an instructor-y thing to do, so that's what she did.
Though, once she got there, she noticed that Seifer wasn't around.
Maybe he was going to be late or something along those lines. It
seemed he was always late, mostly because it made more of a show that
way. And Seifer was pretty much attention starved. If only he could
have put that attention craving to good use in the earlier days...like
when he became the Sorceress' Knight and killed a bunch of people.
That was what was called 'negative' attention. But, she was glad he
had changed, and she even found herself highly fond of him after that
little 'beneath the mistletoe' kiss the last night.

The teacher smiled to herself, and followed the rest of the crowd into
that room, stopping on the upper level area to watch the festival
itself. It would be nice to see how Selphie's efforts (or rather
everyone else's efforts) paid off. One hand rested on the balcony
ledge, and she looked over the side toward the stage. Much to her
surprise, she felt her shoulder tapped. A bit startled, Quistis
whipped around to find Seifer and posse standing there. Her lips
parted slightly, but then curved to a small smile.

"Seifer..."

"Well, looks like I made it. Raijin and Fujin were planning on coming
anyway...so I just decided to...hang out with them..." Seifer replied
with that, because it really made him sound more manly if he said
nothing about it having to do with coming to see her.

"Merry Christmas, Instructor Trepe..." Raijin smiled pleasantly.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS," Fujin stated in that normal...loud abrupt way she
had for speaking.

"Merry Christmas to you both..." Quistis smiled, and looked toward
them...afterward her gaze found itself back on the blonde. "And to you
too, Seifer."

"Heh...hey, uh, Fujin, Raijin. You guys go down there and mingle..."
He motioned toward the lower level.

"But we...don't have anyone to mingle with, ya know? We only hang out
with you Seifer, ya know?"

"Then mingle with each other...just go down there!"

"Aw, but can't we all spend Christmas together, ya know? Like some
sorta big happy family, ya know? I never really had a family, ya
know...? Or at least I don't think I did, ya--"

"RAGE!" Fujin of course...kicked him. And then she pointed toward the
lower level that Seifer had instructed them to go to, since she was of
course the obedient one. "GO NOW."

Raijin sighed heavily, "Aw...okay..."

And with that both headed off in that direction. One of the bands
started up with their rock rendition of Jingle Bells, and Quistis
looked over toward the stage. That gaze was followed by Seifer as
well. They listened in silence for a moment, before they turned to
each other again. The gunblader shuffled his feet mindlessly, and
paused...about to say something...only to silence himself. Finally,
after it got annoying, Quistis decided to start the conversation off.

"What is it?"

"Well..." He paused, and then reached in his pocket, pulling out some
rather half-assedly(is that even a word?) wrapped box. "Here...Merry
Christmas or something..."

"Aww, Seifer, you didn't have to--"

"Well, I did. So, why don't you open it...?"

She blinked and nodded, removing the bow carefully, and then the
wrapping. Once that was slid off, she saw a small velvet box. A ring?
Did Seifer get her a ring? A grin crossed her lips, and she opened the
box itself...seeing a cheap plastic ring that came from one of the
vending machines. She raised her brows, though offered him a smile.

"T-Thank you, Seifer..."

"Heh, I thought you'd like it. Girls always like jewelry...and this
was the best I could get with the spare change I had..."

"Well, it...um...really is something..."

"Here, I can put it on you..."

Quistis quirked a brow, but then nodded...allowing him to remove the
tacky (about equal in tackiness to that creepy orange outfit Selphie
wore all the time) ring from the cushion, and slip it on her finger.
She offered him a forced smile, and looked down toward that. Well, the
instructor supposed it was the thought that counted the most...even
though this really wasn't much thought. So really, it was the fact
that Seifer got her ANYTHING at all, that mattered.

"Thank you...again. It...it um...matches my dress..." She held the
completely contrasting red 'gem' against her chest to show that off or
something.

"Yeah...yeah it does..." Either Seifer was colorblind...or completely
oblivious.

"This band playing down there...is...certainly interesting, huh?"

"Well...it kinda sucks if you ask me. What the hell are they trying to
pull...making Christmas songs...'cool'...? That's like some stupid
thing Chicken Wuss or Tilmitt would do..."

From somewhere in the distance, like he had super hearing or
something...Quistis would swear she heard Zell yell out, "DON'T CALL
ME CHICKEN WUSS, BABY!"

Nevertheless, the eighteen year old teacher turned toward the other
with the same age, "Well...they are mostly responsible for the
Christmas Festival..."

"Figures..." He silenced himself a moment, before he looked back
toward her again. "Hey, Quistis?"

"Yes?"

"What would you say...if I asked you to...you know...become my steady
girlfriend or something?"

Her eyes widened, and she glanced at him, "R-really?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't mean it..."

Quistis grinned. Well, THAT certainly made up for the crappy present,
"Oh, Seifer...I'd say yes!"

"Good...I'll keep that in mind if I do ask you someday..." Seifer
smirked.

"H-huh...?" The color seemed to drain from her cheeks.

"Eh...kidding, kidding. You know I can't change completely..."

"Seifer Almasy...you're horrible!" Quistis frowned, though couldn't
help but smile immediately afterward. "Maybe that's what I like most
about you. Like it's...dangerous or something..."

"That's me...'Mr. Danger.' Well, okay...no it's not. Because that just
sounded waay too corny to be anything that came out of my mouth."

"So..."

"So...there's some mistletoe hung up in the back corner. I think
Irvine did it...just as an excuse to make out with some girls behind
there. Wanna put it to good use?" The Disciplinary Committee leader
grinned wryly.

"Sure, why not..." Quistis laughed, looping her arm with his own.
"This can be -my- Christmas present to you..."

And so, Quistis and Seifer went there to do just what they said...and
ONLY what they said, because they weren't rotten horrible people who
shouldn't be doing those things out in public...like some sort of
Irvine. Then, they lived happily ever after, or really at least until
the end of this fanfic...because who knew really what happened to them
afterward. They could have all gotten hit by a comet for all anyone
knew. As for the others...well...they were conveniently
forgotten...because who really cares about what Squall and Rinoa do
anyway? Everyone could pretty much figure out what Zell, Selphie,
Irvine, Fujin, and Raijin were doing...because it was Christmas after
all. As for Xu and Nida, they were even less important to the
plot...so they didn't even deserve to have an ending thought up for
them. So, that was a Balamb Christmas...and one festival that Quistis
and Seifer would surely not forget for a long time to come. And sadly,
this story draws to a close (not that it really had any plot anyway).
So in the famous words of Santa Claus, the author leaves you with
this: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night...oh, and if you
want to leave cookies and milk for me, that would be appreciated too.