Sowing the SeeDs : Part 5

a fanfic by Greenbeans <gbeans@tyrlen.org>
with His lordship Chaos <hislordshipchaos@hotmail.com>
edited by Helen Fong <iriachan@yahoo.com>
based on the world of Final Fantasy 8
created by Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. <www.squaresoft.com>


- Xu -

     "I'm very proud of you," Xu firmly shook the newly graduated
SeeD's hand.  A shy, but bright, smile lit Summer's face as she
pumped her Instructor's hand.  Of all Xu's students, this was the
one that had made the most progress since coming under her
tutelage.  It was a point of pride to see Summer now standing
confidently in a SeeD uniform.
     "I never thought today would come," she admitted.  "It's all
thanks to you, Instructor."
     Xu was about to demure when a pair of gentlemen joined the
two ladies.  SeeD Logan and Master Pan where dressed formally for
tonight's ball.  A class of SeeDs graduated today with Summer
among their ranks.  But the SeeDs weren't today's only graduates. 
Xu's instructorship was assured as her 12th SeeD graduated and a
pair more for good measure.
     "Congratulations SeeD Summer," Logan saluted her with a
playful smile looking out of place on his solidly built face.  It
was at times like this that Xu questioned her ability to judge
people's character.  Who would have ever guessed that the gruff
Logan had a long time crush on the bashful Summer?  For all his
posturing, he was a teddy bear if Summer was to be believed.
     Summer returned his salute before taking up his hand and
leading him away.  Pan chuckled lightly as they watched the
couple melt into the crowd.
     "Congratulations to you as well, Instructor Xu," Pan lifted
his glass in toast.
     "Thank you, Master Pan.  I finished two terms before the
deadline.  I wonder if I could return to Balamb early for good
behavior?"  She meant it in jest, though she wouldn't mind
leaving now that her assigned task was complete.  Balamb was her
home and she longed to return.  She berated herself for her
weakness at missing Balamb after only a year and a half away. 
She hadn't returned to the Anshin in nearly twice that time and
didn't missed them.
     "No chance of that.  You're contracted for two years at
Galbadia Garden with no way to back out unless you're killed or
dismissed.  Besides, now isn't the time to stand on your laurels. 
We have a lot of work to do if you're going to become a Mistress
by the time your contract expires."
     "You weren't kidding about that?" She assumed that he was
joking when he revealed that she was a Journeywoman within the
Weapons Guild a few months previous.  Especially since the
subject hadn't resurfaced since then.
     "When it comes to the Guild, I never joke," he said in an
expressionless manner.  "When the Guild announced that the
ranking trials would be held during the summer, I could only hope
that they would choose a week during the break.  I got word
yesterday that they had done just that."
     "How fortunate," Xu agreed, while not entirely sure of her
willingness.  She hadn't agreed to be his Journeywoman, but 
would entertain the idea if properly convinced.  There were
many questions that needed to be answered, such as what further
obligations would be placed on her.
     "It is.  I can't use you as my replacement if you're going
to be with me," he reasoned.
     "Will Martine let me off the campus this year?" Xu asked
dryly.  Pan was gone for a full week during last year's trials. 
Xu pictured Martine having a fit about releasing her for that
long.
     "He has no choice.  SeeD and the Guild have an agreement to
not interfere with each other if at all possible.  The only way
he could stop you is if you were reassigned.  And the Guild would
frown upon SeeD if you were reassigned to prevent you from taking
the trials."
     "Won't being in both SeeD and the Guild be a conflict of
interests?" She wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize her
current position.  If Pan's plans were going to cause problems,
she'd nip them in the bud now and be done with it.
     "Anything but!" He favored her with a reassuring smile. 
"I'm sorry, I should have clarified things before forcing the
idea onto you.  The Guild is an organization of professionals,
nothing more.  You won't be asked to make any commitments that
would be in conflict with your oaths as a SeeD.  You wouldn't
object to being a member of a Triple Triad club, now would you? 
It's much the same thing.  We rank our members and help each
other improve.  If our services are contracted out, it's on an
individual basis." 
     He gave her arm a comforting squeeze.  "I won't make you do
this if you don't want to.  But it would be a damned shame if you
didn't.  Feeding books to ungrateful minds is a waste of your
natural talent.  Having ties with the Guild would mean that you
could be among your true peers once in a while instead of the
lowly students that occupy so much of your time."
     Xu wasn't sure that she agreed with Pan's assessment of her
teachings being such a waste.  Seeing Summer tonight reaffirmed
her conviction that what she was doing was important and could
make a positive difference for that person individually and for
SeeD as a whole.  Her success would be through her students. 
That thought caused her to wonder if that was how Cid felt.
     "I would like to consult with Headmaster Cid before I make a
commitment," she said.  "This is something I should clear with
him first."
     "Of course," he indicated his agreement with a gesture. 
"Please give the Headmaster my regards when you speak with him."
     "Do you know him?" Xu gave Pan a questioning look.
     "We've had dealings in the past," was all he said.  Before
Xu could pump him for more information, she was whisked onto the
dance floor by one of the new SeeDs.  It was past time for her to
become actively involved in the celebration.
     It wasn't until the next day that Xu had the opportunity to
put a call in to the Headmaster of Balamb.  She hadn't contacted
him more than a few times while she was at Galbadia.  Most of her
correspondence was with either Kei (usually) or Quistis (during
the rare times when she wasn't busy elsewhere).
     Cid paid polite attention while Xu explained the situation
to him.  When she finished, he sat back for several long moments
as he considered it.  "How interesting... Trust Pan to come up
with an angle I hadn't thought of exploring with you," Cid
murmured to himself loud enough for the audio link to pick up. 
He then blushed when Xu gave him a curious look.
     "Yes, indeed," he straightened up as he addressed the visual
display.  "You have my permission to pursue a Mistress rank
within the Weapons Guild.  I would order you to do so, but that's
against our agreement with them.  So, I'll instead encourage you
to succeed," his lips quirked into a half-smile.
     "You've done well for yourself, Xu.  I was regretting that I
hadn't insisted upon an early release clause in your contract,
but it seems that you'll make good use of your extra time there."
     "I'll give it my best, Headmaster."
     Now that she had his go-ahead, she could say that earnestly. 
With nothing in her way, achieving her goal would become her top
priority.
     "That's all I ask.  Once again, congratulations and good
luck.  You'll do Balamb Garden proud, I know it," he cut the link
on his end.  Xu rose from the terminal ready to face her newest
challenge.
     To her surprise Martine freed her of her Instructor duties
and ordered her to assist Pan in the training room.
     If she thought Pan was a harsh taskmaster before, his
instruction now was nothing short of torturous.  Four months of
her life were spent practically living in the training room.  The
only activity that drew her out regularly was eating.  Many
nights were spent sleeping on a mat when she was too tired and
beaten to drag herself back to her assigned quarters.
     Logan enjoyed the many opportunities Pan gave him to spar
against her.  She somehow remained ahead of him on the learning
curve, but it wasn't by much at times.  When a student, SeeD, or
officer wasn't available to knock her around, Pan did it himself. 
By the time summer break came, Xu wondered how she ever
considered herself a competent fighter with only the training
SeeD provided.  She felt as ready as ever to take on the
challenges of the Weapons Guild.

*****

     Xu was becoming quite familiar with Deling City and the
Galbadia Hotel when she checked in at the front counter.  The
woman who issued her a room key even remembered her name.  It was
a good thing that their reservations were made months ago if the
number of people milling about the lobby was any indication of
the Guild's convention size.  This hotel was the overflow one. 
Pan encouraged her to stow her things quickly since the sign in
for the Journeymen testing was only open for another hour.
     They took a bus to an area of the city she had never been to
before.  The convention center was a large, squat building set in
a field of pavement.  A few patches of grass and the occasional
tree tried to freshen the appearance of the center with little
success.
     A blast of cool air hit them as they entered the lobby.  It
was the typical hotel fair with wood paneled walls and patterned
carpet.  Several small groups of people milled about the room
chatting.  Off to one side a small table was set up with a few
people seated behind it.  That must be where they sign in at.
     "Master Pan and Journeywoman Xu," Pan introduced as a young
woman flipped through the reservations book.
     "Yes, I have you here," she said with a smile.  The man
sitting beside her pulled two packets from a box behind the table
and handed them over.
     "The trials schedule has been changed as reflected in your
programs," she indicated the packets.  "Trials begin promptly at
the times stated.  Don't be late!  Good luck, Journeywoman Xu." 
She smiled again, then prepared to help the people standing next
in line.
     The two of them shuffled to an unclaimed corner and thumbed
through the schedule.
     "Damn, the first one begins in a half-hour.  That's barely
enough time to change and warm up.  You'd better get going.  The
locker rooms are this way," he pointed towards a hallway before
moving in that direction.
     They parted ways when Xu entered the locker rooms.  The fact
that a convention center even had a locker room surprised her. 
She didn't spend too much time on that thought since she had more
important things to worry about.
     Unzipping her bag, she withdrew the uniform that was made
especially for this occasion.  She had planned on wearing a pair
of workout pants and a sleeveless shirt during the trials since
it was an outfit that offered the freedom of movement she
desired.  Then Martine insisted that she represent her SeeD
origins somehow.  While one could fight effectively in the SeeD
uniform, it wasn't her first choice for clothing.
     A compromise was reached with the uniform she brought with
her.  The pants were patterned after a pair of loose workout
pants.  They were the same black color as a SeeD uniform with a
single red stripe running down each leg.  Her shirt was white
ribbed with a low turtleneck that had the emblem of SeeD
embroidered on the collar.  The shirt was made sleeveless at her
insistence.  A simple warm up jacket was pieced together as an
after thought.
     Xu was impressed by the results considering the haste that
the outfit was created with.  Her only fear was that a stitch
somewhere might have been missed with something coming undone at
an inopportune time.
     Signs were taped to the walls indicating where to go to warm
up.  Xu followed them to a small area that was occupied by
roughly three dozen other people.  She forced down the nervous
ball that formed in her stomach and began her stretches.  Why
should she be nervous?  She had done this countless times before. 
'I am a SeeD already.  That should give me some sort of
advantage,' she reasoned with herself.  It should at very least
make her less prone to beginner's mistakes.
     Xu had just finished her final exercise when a well-dressed
man entered the room.  He cleared his throat to catch their
attention before speaking.  "Is everyone warmed up?  Good.  You
will divide yourselves into the groups indicated here," he held
up the sheet of paper he brought with him, "and go to your
assigned areas.  First round is physical assessment."  He handed
the paper to the person standing closest to him before leaving
the room.
     Xu found herself in a group with three other females in a
corner of a large gymnasium.  Again Xu wondered about how
perfectly the convention center seemed to meet the Guild's needs
by having a gym.  From listening to the others talk she got the
impression that the facilities were owned by the Guild and they
rented them out to other groups when not in use.
     She brought her attention back from taking in her
surroundings to focus on their two examiners.  A man that could
have rivaled Sean's father for size looked down on them with
beady eyes.  Another man stood in his shadow with a clipboard
cradled in the crook of his arm.
     "We have received your medical clearances, but we like to do
our own assessments," the larger man explained.  "If you are not
ready for the physical demands of the upcoming trials, it's
better to wait until you are instead of injuring yourself.  The
doctor's call on the matter is final.  Don't bother trying to
appeal it if he says that you aren't fit enough."
     It was well into the evening when they finished.  One of the
women in their group was disqualified.  Considering Xu's line of
work, her passing was assured.  Pan wasn't around when she got
out, so she wandered around the center some.  Things were still
being setup for the main convention that would begin the day
after tomorrow.  People wishing to raise a rank or gain Mastery
began the trials beforehand and finished on the first official
day of the three-day event.
     Xu walked back to the hotel instead of taking a train.  The
humid night air did little to prevent further perspiration, but
what else did she expect during the summer?  It was nice out.  It
reminded her of Balamb.
     She wasn't the only one out for a walk tonight.  The warm
weather encouraged people spend time outdoors enjoying the
beautiful displays of nature that were present in the various
plantlife.  Though it was a bustling city, the capital of
Galbadia sported more greenery than most populated areas.
     As she meandered down the broad sidewalks her mind toyed
with the notion of ever feeling at home in Galbadia.  Her welcome
wasn't a warm one, but most of the people she had met weren't
bad.  The country in general had a feeling to it that made her
uncomfortable.
     Locations have personalities as much as people do.  Anshin
teaching encouraged one to create a living space that was in
harmony with itself and with the person occupying it.  She often
questioned how much credit she should give to such teachings.  On
the other hand, her unease seemed superficial without something
more solid to ground it in.  Not everyone was like Martine, after
all.
     Xu continued to ponder these things even after she arrived
at the hotel.  She wasted little time in preparing for bed. 
Tomorrow was the first full day of testing that promised to be a
challenge.
     The next two days would make or break her in her bid for
Mastership.  There were three scheduled tests tomorrow, though
any Master could ask her to give additional demonstrations if
they wanted.  Her first was a Master's choice weapons test. 
Whatever weapon the testing Master chose, she would have to fight
with.  The second test was a Journeyman's weapons choice.  She
already signed up with a group for that test (since she had to
compete against a complimentary weapon, which was likely someone
using sai or a knife).  The third test was Journeyman's choice
against a non-complimentary weapon.  Meaning that she could be
facing just about anything, though Pan assured her that it
wouldn't be a firearm or thrown weapon.
     As if that wasn't grueling enough, day two promised even
more bruises.  The first test that day was another free for all
match.  If she passed that match then she had to stand the last
challenge: an open invitation to any Master to fight her.  That's
the test that frightened her the most.  On a great day she could
battle Pan to a draw.  How on earth was she going to defeat a
Master whose tricks she didn't know?
     Worrying about it wouldn't help her.  Now wasn't the time to
be timid.  She had to take the T-Rexaur by the snout and win!

*****

     Xu gave a startled exclamation when her weapon went
skittering across the practice mat.  She stood there, stunned,
and regarded the sword where it laid near the judge's table.
     This wasn't the impression she wanted to make on the Guild
Masters.  Setting Guild matters aside, as a SeeD, she shouldn't
have been so easily disarmed.
     "That will be all." The head Master who was seated at the
table dismissed her without giving her a second look.  Xu was
torn between walking up to the table to retrieve her weapon or
abandoning it for someone else to reclaim.  It was a borrowed
sword, she really should returned it herself.
     After swallowing down the growing lump in her throat she
picked up the weapon and left the mat.  As soon as she had
stepped off the head Master called for the next Journeyman to
present himself to test his skills against the Master who had
just put Xu in her place.
     Without a word she handed the sword back to the man who was
in charge of the weapons used for testing.  He gave her a small
sympathetic smile before turning away.
     There wasn't a rock large enough for her to crawl under. 
Honesty forced her to admit that she was never very good with a
sword.  She knew that was a weak point when she came here, but
she didn't think she'd be reamed so thoroughly.  It was like she
didn't know how to use a sword at all.  The testing Master's eyes
said as much as he blithely knocked the weapon from her hand as
though she'd only had a loose grip on it.  This was a
disappointing showing as a member of SeeD and, even more so, for
her personally.
     Xu didn't look out over the gathered Journeymen and Masters
to find her own Master.  She knew that Pan would seek her out if
he was here to witness her shameful performance.  She really
ought to have done better!
     "Hey, Xu, snap out of it," Pan grabbed hold her arm and gave
it a small shake.  She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she
hadn't even seen him standing beside her.
     "I really messed up," she scowled.
     "Yes, you did," he agreed.  She shot him a startled look,
then shook it off.  He had every right to be disappointed with
her as well.  He gave her arm another tug.  "At your tender age
of 20 you can't know it all yet."
     "I know, but I want to do better," she sighed heavily.
     "That attitude puts you ahead of the pack.  So what if you
missed one art?  You're rock solid at unarmed combat. 
Demonstrate how great you are and it should all come out find."
     "You think so?"
     He shrugged.  "What I think doesn't matter.  What you think
does.  You're good at what you do.  I wouldn't have brought you
here if you weren't.  All you have to do is convince them that
I'm right."
     Xu nodded her head once with agreement and purposefully set
off to the next testing session.


     Pan didn't follow her right away.  He knew that the sword
was her weak weapon, a fact that he shared with those judging her
today.
     The point of the first challenge was to humiliate and humble
the Journeymen, not to test any specific weapon still (regardless
of what the applicant may be led to assume).  If the applicant
became furious or distraught at such treatment, they likely had
more emotional maturing to go through before they were ready to
be a Master.  He was allowed to offer her a few words of
encouragement after the battle, but nothing more.  She needed to
push herself forward to the next challenge, which would be a real
test of her physical prowess.
     He slid his glance over at the discreet Master who had
witnessed their earlier exchange.  The woman gave Pan a small nod
and he let out a mental sigh of relief.  Xu had passed.


     Bright overhead lights flooded the small gym that Xu's next
trial was held in.  Roughly a dozen people were standing about as
they chatted or waited for their turn to test.  Xu checked the
schedule posted by the door to know when she was up.  Seeing that
she wasn't due for a while, she found an out of the way place to
stand and observe her surroundings.
     Xu wasn't the only one wearing a uniform.  She spotted three
teenage girls who wore similar outfits.  They must be from one of
the Guild schools that Pan had mentioned to her once.  One of the
girls noticed Xu checking them out and pointed her friends
towards Xu.  A moment later and they were approaching the curious
SeeD.
     "I know I'm gorgeous, but you don't have to stare!" The
leader of their group flashed a charming smile.
     Xu was so startled by that greeting that she was at a loss. 
"I'm sorry..."
     "You were checking us out pretty intensely.  See something
that you like, sweetie?" Another one of the girls teased.
     Xu felt her cheeks grow hot.  "I was looking at your
uniforms..." she admitted, trying to save face.
     The third of the group pirouetted for Xu's viewing pleasure. 
"Happy?" Her eyes laughed at Xu's discomfort.  The other's
weren't so subtle in their mirth.
     The SeeD nodded, afraid to open her mouth lest these
mischievous students find another way to cause her discomfort.
     "Hmm, you're not that bad looking yourself, and a SeeD too. 
Whatcha doing in our corner of the world?" The leader of the
group peered down at Xu before standing back and folding her arms
across her chest.
     "I'm here for the same reason you are, I assume: to become a
Master," Xu answered.
     "A SeeD Master?" The second girl gave her friends a puzzled
look.
     "I guess..." The third drawled without paying much heed to
the fact that Xu was standing right there.
     Before Xu could respond her name was called.  Giving the
three girls a final, long look she went to the center mat. 
Mentally she shook the encounter off.  They were just three
school girls who hadn't learned proper manners yet.
     It was ironic that the testing went from her worst weapon to
her best.  The teenager she stood across from on the mat was in
the same uniform as the three girls.  Her dark hair was cut in a
bob style with equally dark eyes focused on her opponent.  She
gave both Xu and the testing Master a respectful bow before
drawing her sai and settling into her stance.
     'What a contrast,' Xu mused while returning the pleasantries.
     The Master called for them to start and Xu was immediately
on the defensive.  The teen lashed out at her with blinding
speed, her strikes were a furious cadence against Xu's sai.  The
SeeD was hard pressed to keep up with the battle.  This wouldn't
be an easy match.
     Xu's opponent was very good technically, but lacked the
flare and originality that would have given her an edge.  Xu
stood her ground and was successful in disarming the teen.  The
testing Master called them to a halt when it became apparent that
Xu was the victor.
     The student gave another series of polite bows before
dismissing herself.  Xu tried to catch up with the teen, but
she'd slipped out of the gym before Xu could catch up.  Having
missed the chance to ask what her name was, Xu backtracked to the
judge's table to get it.  Anya was her name.  She was a student
at West Hills, a prestigious Guild school.
     Xu was free to go to other events until this afternoon (when
her next test was).  As she walked down the broad corridors of
the convention center she kept poking her head into the rooms she
passed to see if anything caught her interest.  There was a
lecture on in the importance of diet that she almost stayed for,
but continued on.  She finally stopped when she came along a
demonstration of disarming techniques.
     When the session was over she noticed that the four West
Hills students were at the other side of the room.  Determined
not to be made the fool of again, she approached them without
notice as people went on their way to the next event.
     "Anya, you could have used a lesson in disarming techniques
in your last match," the second girl teased.
     Anya crossed her arms defensively.  "She was a SeeD.  I'd
like to see you do better against a professional killer!"
     The first waved this fact off.  "It doesn't take skill to be
a killer.  We're better trained than they are.  Ours is a pure
art.  You shouldn't have lost to her.  Besides, she's smaller
than you."
     "And slower," the third chirped.
     Anya shifted from one foot to the other.  Her body language
spoke volumes.  She was uncomfortable around these people and was
looking for a way to escape her schoolmates.  Xu presenting
herself would give Anya the way out she sought.
     "Anya, it's good to see you again," Xu greeted cheerfully
while nodding politely at the other girls.  "I wanted to
congratulate you on a fabulous match.  I don't think I've been so
challenged in quite a while!  I'd very much enjoy a rematch with
you sometime."
     "Thank you," Anya said simply.
     "Why don't we go have lunch together?  I'd love to get to
know you better." Xu turned on the charm to persuade Anya that
she was a preferable choice over staying with her tormenters.
     The first girl was about to speak when Anya quickly made up
her mind to go with Xu.  The SeeD placed a guiding hand on Anya's
hip and positioned her body between the teenager and the other
girls to make it clear that they weren't likewise invited. 
Thankfully, the hollered insult directed at Xu was ignored.
     "Are you going to be okay?" Xu whispered for Anya's ear
alone.
     The girl nodded.  "They give everyone a hard time."
     "I must admit that I'm not very impressed with your
friends," Xu commented wryly.
     "They are not my friends," Anya corrected, then thought
better of it and added, "they are my classmates."
     The two Journeywomen enjoyed a nice meal together, though
Anya was definitely one who 'knew her place'.  She never spoke
out of turned, nor did anything that could be considered
presumptuous.  It wasn't the same sort of shyness that Summer
suffered from, but she lacked even the bit of boldness that was a
part of self-expression.
     Xu did coax Anya into telling her about her school and
growing up in the Guild.  Martial arts have been her life since
she was a toddler.  She lived at the school and only went home
during breaks.  In many ways it reminded Xu of life at the Garden,
though Xu had the advantage of a childhood spent with her family. 
For Anya, the Guild was her life.
     "My father is a Master.  My mother died when I was young and
my father didn't know what to do with me.  So he sent me off to
be raised by the Guild that had raised him.  I only see him when
it happens that he is between contracts and I'm on a break."
     "Doesn't that bother you?" Xu interjected. While there was
no real love lost between her and her Anshin family, she did miss
her family at Balamb Garden regularly.
     Anya shook her head. "It does not bother me.  My classmates
are my siblings and Mistress Niethe watches over me."
     Xu didn't offer her sympathies. Anya seemed genuinely
content with her lot.
     "Life in the Guild and at the Garden seem very much alike,"
Xu observed.
     "They are hardly the same," Anya corrected.  "You are from a
military organization, but we are not.  We hone our mind, body,
and soul into a single unit, to make ourselves better.  While
some Masters will fight for money, many will decline because they
would rather be teachers."
     A smile tugged at the corner of Xu's lips.  So there was
something that Anya was willing to fight for and defend.  "You
make it sound like a religion," she commented lightly.
     "The more extreme Masters do treat it like that," Anya
agreed with a nod, glad that Xu was taking her seriously.
     After a few minutes of quiet eating Anya asked a question. 
"Why are you here?"
     Xu leaned back in the wooden chair she sat on.  She could
easily dodge the question by saying she was here because she was
filling time before she could return to Balamb, but that was only
half true.  Studying the physical arts really did interest her,
but it wasn't her passion like it obviously was for Anya.  She
wasn't forced since she came willingly, but she wasn't certain
why she was willing in the first place.  It just seemed the thing
to do.
     "I'm not sure," she answered after considering it.
     "You do not know?  How strange.  You strike me as someone
who would be certain of her place in life.  You seem to be very
confident." Anya idly stirred her drink with her straw as she
spoke.
     "It is silly, isn't it?  I know what I want to do--to be a
SeeD--but beyond that, it doesn't much matter to me."
     "What will you do after your time as a SeeD?" Anya asked.
     "I've never thought that far.  I can't imagine living a life
outside of this uniform.  It's who I am and who I will always
be."
     Their conversation lapsed into another drawn out silence and
Xu noted the time.  "I'd better get going.  I've got another test
soon," she stood up and put her hand out to shake Anya's.  "It
was nice getting to know you."
     "For me as well," the teen replied politely.


     The training room Xu was looking for wasn't hard to locate,
it was the one with the loud techno music blaring in it.  Wincing
at the assault on her ears she opened the door and peered inside. 
A modest crowd of Journeymen stood around waiting.  Xu shook her
head, wished that she had the wrong room, and then went inside.
     In one corner of the room a small group had their music
blasting as they did warm-up kata.  No one had gone over there
yet to tell them turn it off.  Xu looked at the posted schedule
and was glad that she was near the top of the list.  The sooner
she got out of here, the better.  That music was not helping her
concentrate in the slightest.
     Xu found an out of the way spot to stand and watch the match
going on currently. This set of mats had a sizeable circle drawn
in chalk; from the way the two current duelists were dancing
warily around the edges, it looked as if stepping outside the
line meant instant disqualification.
     Currently batting were a pair of young men who looked to be
about as old as she was--if not a little older.  One was wielding
a sabre and wore an outfit similar to Anya's whereas the other
brandished a pair of weighted chains.  Overall it was one of the
most unique weapons pairings Xu had ever seen.  Depending on how
well-versed each person was in his techniques, the battle could
go either way.  Each weapon had its strengths and weaknesses.
     However it looked like the youth with the sabre spent more
time trying to dodge the chains meant to either entangle his arms
and legs, or slap the weapon from his opponent's hands. The problem 
remained that the weighted chains held a lengthy reach, keeping him 
closer to the rim of the circle than Xu herself would have 
preferred.
     Fascinated to see who would come out the victor, Xu keenly
studied each Journeyman's movements. Too bad there was still that
horrible music droning on in the background. The man with the
sabre was certainly throwing a few murderous glances at the CD
player, as if wanting desperately to lob his blade and impale the
player right there on the spot.
     Abruptly the man with the weighted chains lashed out, and in
trying to defend himself the student with the sabre raise an arm
in front of his face. The chain wrapped around his forearm and
was immediately tightened. 
     'Game over,' Xu thought to herself.
     But then she realized that the one with the sabre was
actually holding onto the chain wrapped around his arm--his sword
hand still free and mobile.  With a vicious grin, he stepped back
and gave a hard yank on the chain, using enough force to send the
chain-wielder stumbling forward.  The sabre was raised above the
two opponents, either ready to cut the one chain in half, or
knock the other loose chain aside. 
     Xu leaned forward for a better look as the blade came
arcing down and--
     "You're screwing up that technique!" a woman's voice
bellowed, shattering the intensity of the fight.  "I thought I'd
gotten it engrained in your thick skull already!"
     Suffice to say, that threw the man with the sword completely
off. He froze in mid-slice, momentarily losing his footing and
his concentration. Forgetting about his opponent or his match, he
immediately whirled and yelled back, "Who's fighting this match,
Master: you or me?"
     "I wouldn't say you're doing that great a job of it," the
Weapons Mistress retorted.
     His face starting to turn pink from exasperation, the sword
student exclaimed, "I'm kind of in the middle of a match here!
Could you come back and humiliate me later?"
     Without answering the woman stomped over to the music
players and slammed the CD player off.  It was just as well that
she hadn't answered or given her student a second glance; the
Journeyman with the weighted chains took advantage of his
opponent's distraction, and snaked a chain around the sword-
duelist's ankles.
     Xu winced as with one solid pull, the student with the sword
was toppled onto the ground. She wondered if there might be a
rematch given all this interference. For the sake of the guy with
the sabre--who was wearing a glowering expression that would make
a Grendel stop dead in its tracks.
     "Okay, now I'm in a pissy mood," he growled as he pushed off
the ground.
     "How do you expect anyone to concentrate with that crap
playing?!  Who's the ranking Master here?  I'm going to
complain!"
     "You already are!" A smart-ass in the crowd called out.
     The furious woman shot angry glares around her.  Only then
did she realize that her student was now entangled at the ankles
with the weighted chains.  That sent her off on a new rant,
putting her already put-out student through the wringer.
     "If you're finished disrupting the match, Mistress Niethe?"
The Master administering the test asked on the end of a sigh. 
Sometimes the Masters could be very touchy, especially if one of
their prized students was testing.
     Xu wasn't even going to try to guess the Mistress's age. 
She was so withered and wrinkled that her age was impossible to
determine.  The oldest of the Anshin elders was probably
younger than this biddy was.  But her eyes dance with fire and
there was no mistaking the presence she had about her.  The
woman, Niethe, was fully capable of putting a student in their
place if they made the mistake of getting her ire.
     Well, if nothing else, Xu did have the old woman to thank
for shutting off that horrible music.  A rematch between the
competing students was called--probably more to placate Mistress 
Niethe than anything else.  In the end, the winner of the duel 
turned out to be the one with the sabre.
     Opting to prepare for her upcoming bout, Xu performed her 
own warm up exercises.  She took the opportunity to look around 
her to find out what sort of weapons she might have to battle.  
There were plenty of swords hanging off of people's belts, a 
couple polearms--in fact the shorter weapons seemed to be in 
the minority.  She psyched herself for a fight against a long 
weapon.
     Her name was called and she was pleasantly surprised when her
opponent presented himself.  It was a man who must have been in
his fifties carrying a single nunchaku under his arm.  The
testing Master announced again that the match ups in this round
were drawn at random, a fact that should be emphasized since
things were definitely tilted Xu's way.
     With a smile Xu recalled all the drilling Cid and later Pan
put her through versus the nunchaku.  The advantage of the
nunchaku came from its ability to strike with speed and then
withdraw to strike again.  A person armed with a sai could
neutralize this threat by tangling the nunchaku up in the prongs
of the sai and knocking the weapon away.  Xu was quite adept at
disarming techniques versus a nunchaku user and felt that the
luck of the draw was on her side this time.
     "I won't waste my time with you, little girl," he dismissed
Xu with a gesture.
     Xu didn't respond to the taunt.  It would be playing the
game by his rules if she exchanged barbs with him.  She wanted to
be in charge of this battle and to set the pace for it.
     Xu set herself to be on the defensive until he struck. 
That's when she would catch his nunchaku and relieve him of it. 
This man wasn't a fool.  He knew that he was at the disadvantage
to her ability to capture his weapon.  He needed to keep her off
balance if he hoped to win, so his taunts continued.
     "I can't believe the Guild has lowered itself to allowing a
SeeD to apply.  A bunch of money grubbing mercenaries, that's all
you are!"
     Xu kept back, ready for him to make his move.
     "You'd slit a baby's throat if there was gil in it for you."
     That insult rankled, but she kept her cool.  He didn't know
her, he didn't know Cid, and he most definitely didn't know SeeD
if he thought they were a bunch of child killers.
     "Tell me, why is it that so many Guild members think we're
killers?" Xu smirked, trying to intimidate him by force of will.  
It wasn't her sai he needed to fear, it was her.
     "Men are cowards, they won't do their own dirty work.  You
moral-less scoundrels set a price on life and then take it," he
spat.
     So far they had exchanged more words than blows.  The
testing Master was beginning to look annoyed at their posturing. 
Xu took a couple quick swipes at the old man to prompt him to
counterattack.  They didn't have all day.
     "At least you know where you stand with a SeeD," Xu quipped
as she chased him off of the mat.  The Master called for them to
halt and then go back to the center.  Her opponent gave her a
dirty look as they began again.
     He sent his nunchaku swinging out at her legs.  Xu extended
her sai down to block the strike, but was unable to hook and
fling the weapon away.
     The match came to an abrupt halt when Xu got the nunchaku
away from him with a well placed kick.  The old man stood in
stunned disbelief of her audacity.  His jaw moved without any
sound coming out.  With a coy smile, Xu bowed politely to him and
the testing Master.  Xu could have taken this opportunity to
gloat, but didn't.  He knew that she was the better this time,
there was no reason to rub it in.
     She was out in the corridor trying to recall which way it
was to the lobby when he caught up with her again.
     "Hey, SeeD, wait up!"
     She turned around and with a touch of annoyance coloring her
tone replied, "My name is Xu."
     "Xu then.  I'm Stewart.  I wanted to tell you that none of
what I said on the mat was meant as a personal insult."
     Wordlessly Xu folded her arms, inviting him to defend
himself.
     "No offense to you, but you're just another obstacle in my
way.  I *must* attain my Mastership.  Nothing else in this world
matters to me except that."  There was the same steel in his eyes
that could be seen in Logan's when he set his mind to something.
     "I'm not sure if I should applaud your determination or ask
how such a single-minded fool managed to live as long as you
have," Xu replied wryly.  It wasn't the most polite response, but
they'd had precious few of those already.  Exchanging insults
with the aging man seemed more appropriate.
     He gave a small chuckle.  "I deserved that.  I'm here for my
son, Jake.  It was his dream to join the Guild and become a
Master.  He was about your age when he died in Timber."
     "I'm sorry..."
     Stewart waved her off.  "Don't be.  The only thing Jake
loved more than Galbadia was his family.  His unit was sent into
Timber to settle the hostilities there. Ah, but I doubt a young
one like yourself wants to listen to the war stories of an old
man."
     By this time they had walked together to the lobby.  Xu
motioned at a pair of comfortable chairs that were arranged by
the wall.  "Please, I'd like to hear your view."
     From Eileen she had learned the Timber version of what
happened.  About how on a quiet summer day the Galbadian army
attacked and laid Timber and the outlying regions under siege. 
Xu was always willing to listen to a story if a person was
willing to tell it.  That trait had made her a favorite
amongst her students and gave her profound insights on life and
people.
     Once they were settled, Stewart continued his story.
     "It was during the closing movements of the war, though we
didn't know it at the time.  Back then there were two ways to
reach us, by ship or by the Horizon's Bridge.  Our navy had stuck
it to those Esthar bastards when they came by ship.  So the upper 
brass had good reason to believe that the next assault would be
via the bridge.
     "Those fools at Fisherman's Horizon wouldn't do anything to
secure their position against possible attack.  That region was
controlled by Timber, which couldn't pull its head out of its
ass long enough to secure the bridge.  Dollet wasn't doing
anything to help matters either!  Galbadia was the only nation
who was both willing and capable of preventing an Estharian
invasion.
     "President Deling sent forces to secure our end of the
bridge.  Timber balked at having their territory invaded by
Galbadia, apparently it was only okay for Esthar to invade. 
Diplomats tried to resolve the issue, but there wasn't time to
bicker, we were in the middle of a war!
     "When Timber began to attack our boys, we had no choice but
to defend ourselves.  Things escalated from there and we took
the region in hopes of quickly ending the fighting.  It wasn't
Galbadia's intention to invade Timber, but if that's how they
wanted it..." his voice trailed off and he shrugged.
     Xu thoughtfully digested his story.  Indeed, it was quite a
bit different than the version Eileen had told her.  And the
truth was likely somewhere between the two extremes.  "Why didn't
Galbadia blow up this end of the Horizon's Bridge?  That would
have prevented an invasion."
     Stewart shook his head ruefully.  "That'd be the sensible
thing to do.  I don't know.  It could have been because of
Timber's protest, or because after all the hard work that went
into building the thing they didn't want to destroy it.  You know
that it wasn't in service for long before hostilities broke out? 
The trains that traveled from the east to west and back again
were supposed to usher in peace.  Too bad it didn't turn out that
way."
     Xu nodded her agreement.  "How come Galbadia didn't
relinquish control of Timber after the war ended?"
     He scratched his chin as he considered it.  "I think the
only man who knows the answer to that question is Vinzer Deling.  
I could hazard my own guesses though.  Timber was torn up pretty 
bad when everything was said and done.  It wouldn't have been 
right to just leave them crushed like that.  Galbadia invested 
millions of gil into rebuilding Timber after the war. The most 
ambitious of projects was turning it into a train hub for the 
western continent.
     "Another reason could be revenge.  Timber was quite a thorn
in our side and slapping the twerps down for what they did
wouldn't be out of line in my opinion.  Make them pay for our
boys who lost their lives while trying to save us all."
     They sat in amiable silence, each caught up in their own
thoughts.  "Thank you very much for telling me your story."
     He waved her off.  "Thank you for listening.  Most young
people aren't interested in hearing about the war.  All they care
about are themselves.  Sometimes it makes me wonder if it was all
worth it, but then I meet people like you and know that it was."
     Xu bowed her head slightly.  "Where I'm from, story tellers
are respected for the insights they give us.  There are many
lessons to be learned from our past.  We mustn't forget it."
     "You were raised right then.  Where are you from?"
     "Xu?  There you are!" Pan greeted the two Journeymen
politely before addressing Xu.  "We need to get going.  The last
shuttle for the night is about to leave.  While you may enjoy
walking back to our hotel, I don't.  Let's go."
     She stood up, suddenly realizing how late it was.  She
hadn't eaten dinner yet.  Their hotel was near a shopping
promenade.  Maybe something would still be open.
     "It was a pleasure speaking with you, Stewart."
     "And you, SeeD Xu," he shook her hand before heading off.
     "I'm glad to see that you're making new friends," Pan
commented as they rode back to the hotel.
     "I've learned a lot today."
     Her mentor nodded.  "You should learn something new every
day."


     Anya was waiting in the lobby of the Galbadia Hotel when 
Pan and Xu arrived. She didn't appear to be waiting for either 
of them, though, given how the girl was sitting in one of the
armchairs and reading a book of combat philosophies.
     "I didn't know we were staying at the same hotel," Xu said,
pleased by the happy coincidence.
     Momentarily startled, Anya looked up from her book at them.
When she saw it was Xu, her tense expression lightened and
happily enough Anya smiled a little.
     "It's getting late, you should be in bed.  Where's your
Master?"  Pan frowned.  It was a Master's job to keep their
Journeyman on a leash.  Even though he trusted Xu's good sense,
he still called her back when it was late.
     "Mistress Niethe and Aucifer are fighting.  I came down here
to get away from the yelling," Anya admitted sheepishly, placing
a bookmark in her text before closing it shut.
     Pan and Xu exchanged looks.  "Niethe; figures it would be
her," Pan grunted, though with a wry smirk on his face.  "Where
are they now?"
     "The third floor."
     "The same as us," Pan said.  "Well, let's go have ourselves
a look."
     Xu gave a backwards glance at Anya, who seemed perfectly
content to remain in her chair with her book. "Did you want to
come upstairs with us?"
     Anya respectfully shook her head. "I will go up later," she
declined politely. "For me, it is better this way; my roommates
will not be quieting down until the early hours of the morning."
     Xu found herself feeling rather sorry for Anya at that
moment, and entertained the idea of asking if Anya wanted to pair
up with her for the night. Then again... after seeing Mistress
Niethe in action earlier this afternoon, Xu feared what might
happen if she made Anya breach a protocol within Niethe's school.
Besides, she added thoughtfully to herself, Anya seemed the type
who could take care of herself.
     It was the social dimension Anya didn't seem well-equipped
to handle. In a way Xu was reminded of Quistis--though for
Quistis it had always been about books, not physical training or
weapons.
     With Pan in the lead, the two took the elevator up to the
third floor of the hotel. Before the doors had even opened up for
them, they could hear the commotion.
     "I wonder if anyone's called the front desk to complain," Xu
mused aloud.
     Pan sighed as he walked out into the hall, where the noise
was even louder than before. "Would you want to deal with the
likes of Niethe?"
     At that, Xu ardently shook her head.
     Interestingly enough, Aucifer turned out to be the male
student with the sabre that Xu had seen fighting with the sword
earlier in the afternoon. He was standing in the hallway yelling
at a closed door, and looking somewhere between a helpless puppy
dog and a raging bull ready to break down the door.
     "What do you mean you didn't book me a room?!" he exclaimed.
     From the other side of the door came the muffled reply.  "It
means you're old enough that you should have thought of this
beforehand. I don't coddle someone who should be able to take on
their own responsibilities when it comes to attending a Guild
convention."
     "You booked rooms for every student but me!" Aucifer snapped
in exasperation.
     "So?" retorted Niethe's voice. She sounded abnormally calm
given the raging student separated from her by only a thin panel
of wood. "Take your bag and find another place. It's late and
you're disturbing the other guests."
     Aucifer rolled his eyes, his jaw clenched and his expression
showing that he'd rather do anything else but comply.  "Yes,
Mistress."
     "Oh," Niethe added, like it was just an afterthought. "I've
also instructed all the other students not to let you sleep in
their rooms. You didn't book yourself a room, you find a place
for the night."
     Xu could almost hear the evil laughter from the other side
of the door.
     Aucifer made to punch the door, but stopped his fist just
short of making contact.  He hovered there, torn between ramming
his fist through the door and just accepting that he'd lost yet
again. Finally Aucifer grudgingly picked his bag up from the floor
and slung it over his shoulder. Gritting his teeth he began to
walk towards the elevator.
     "Sadistic wrinkled mummy," he muttered darkly.
     "I heard that!" blasted Mistress Niethe's voice from on the
other side of the door, causing Aucifer to jump in surprise.
"You're going to regret that tongue of yours when we get back to
the dojo."
     Retorted Aucifer, "Who needs it then? I'm already regretting
it now!"
     Grumpily he stalked down the hall, shooting very unpleasant
glares at some of the other students who had been watching the
entire spectacle from partially-open doors. Xu could practically
see the dark cloud over his head, raining down on the student.
     He didn't even turn his head as he brushed past them on his
way to the elevator.
     "Hey there, sport, just a sec," Pan caught up with him. 
"Niethe put you out for the night?"
     "Oh...hi Pan," Aucifer said, backing down when he saw who it
was. "Yeah, she loves making my life a living hell. I tell you,
whatever I did wrong in my previous life, I think I've done my
penance for it and then some. Shit, I can't believe she pulled
that stunt on me. I should have seen it coming!"
     Xu was startled. "You mean she does this to you on a regular
basis?"
     For the first time, Aucifer took full notice of Xu's
presence. She could see him sizing her up in his eyes, and
something flickered there. Confusion more than anything she
guessed.
     "I don't believe you two have met," Pan said, doing the
formalities. "Journeywoman Xu, meet Journeyman Aucifer."
     The two shook hands. Xu immediately noticed how his grip was
almost crushing--but it was a deliberate act. He seemed to be
testing her strength. Xu responded by returning the favour and
tightening her own grip. Her work at always clutching her sai 
gave her the added edge, and finally Aucifer winced and let his 
hold go slack.
     "Okay, I yield," he sighed. Xu found herself the recipient
of an admiring smirk from Aucifer before he turned back to Pan. 
     "I didn't know you had taken on an apprentice," he remarked.
"You never take on apprentices."
     Pan beamed and gave Xu a slap on the back. "She's a very
notable exception. Trust me: you'll see that before the end of
the convention, I promise."
     "If her fighting style is anything like her grip, I can
understand why," Aucifer quipped. His grouchy attitude seemed to
be lifting; it appeared that Pan was at least a friend. And for
the moment he seemed to be grouping her into that category too.
     "Why don't you spend the night in my room?  We can talk
about it if you would like?" Pan offered.  
     Aucifer gave him a doubtful look, then glance down the
hallway again.  He wasn't going to get any sympathy from Niethe.
"I'll take you up on the offer of a place to crash, but not the
shoulder to lean on. I'd as soon lick my wounds in private
tonight."
     "That's fine," Pan agreed.  "We'll see you bright and early
tomorrow, Xu."
     "Good night, Pan," she said, turning to her own door.
     "Nice meeting you, Journeywoman Xu," Aucifer called out
after her.

*****

     Xu extended her arms above her head in a mighty stretch 
that expressed all too well how weary she was feeling.  While her 
days at the Garden certainly weren't idle, she couldn't recall 
the last time she had ever been so busy or worn out.  Perhaps it 
was the drain of interaction with so many new people that made 
her long for nothing more than to slip between the bed's sheets 
and sleep until the sun came up.
     With less vigor than usual, she took her time in unpacking 
her sleeping clothes and briefly considered just curling up as 
she was.  At the very least she should wash her face off before 
she went to bed.
     Patting her damp face with an all too small hotel towel, she 
unexpectedly heard someone knocking at her door.
     'If it's those students playing a prank,' Xu thought darkly. 
'They're going to wish they had never come here.'
     She unlocked and opened up the door, only to see Aucifer
standing there. Evidently he'd freshened up in Pan's room, given
how he was dressed in more casual (and less sweat-covered)
clothes and had that freshly-showered look. Xu was caught
off guard by his appearance.
     "Yes?" she asked.
     "Look, I feel that you might have gotten the wrong impression 
of me after witnessing me shout at the door," he said, looking a 
little sheepish as he scratched the back of his head. "If you're up 
for it, would you like to do to the bar downstairs and talk for a 
while? My treat, naturally."
     In all honesty Xu wasn't in the mood. Her mind was still 
alert, but she felt mentally and physically exhausted from the
day's activities. The last thing she wanted to do was go out in
public. Xu was about to decline when Aucifer added, "Or is it 
against Anshin beliefs to drink anything with alcohol in it?"
     The look on her face showed the instant suspicions she held
towards him. She'd taken so much grief on behalf of her people 
that she was about ready to close the door now and be done with 
him. He noticed the firm set of her jaw and realized that he was 
walking on thin ice. Hesitantly, he continued.
     "Pan mentioned a few things about you as I was unpacking my
things, and I put two and two together," Aucifer admitted. "I
have to say, an Anshin who's both a SeeD and a Master-to-be
fascinates me to no end. And since this may be the only time we
have to talk..."
     His voice trailed off, leaving that open bit of optimism
that she'd take the bait and go to the bar with him.
     "It's not against *my* beliefs to drink alcohol," Xu stated.
"But I only do so on special occasions."
     Aucifer shrugged. "Fine by me. Order whatever you want; I
owe Pan that much for saving me the money for a hotel room
tonight."
     "Did he put you up to this?"
     "Hey, it's not like you see me protesting?"
	Xu bowed her head with reluctant acceptance. Knowing Pan, 
he'll be milking her for details of her midnight rendezvous with 
Aucifer in the morning. She grabbed her workout jacket from 
where it lay on a chair and slipped it on while following him 
to the lift.
     Neither of them spoke as the cab took them down to the 
lobby, from there the bar was an elegant stairway down. The 
stage to the left had a mellow jazz band setting the mood. 
Aucifer found them an unoccupied booth away from both the bar and 
the music.
     Aucifer ordered for both of them when a server came by. He 
ordered something for her that Xu had never heard of before. She 
was pleasantly surprised when her drink turned out to be sweet 
and non-alcoholic.
     "So who gets to start: you or me?" he asked after taking a 
sip of his own drink.
     "You invited me out. The privilege should be yours."
     Aucifer leaned back in the booth. "Hell, now I don't know
where to begin. Pick a subject for me, will ya?"
     "Let's start with your poor attempt at picking me up," Xu
said scathingly.
     The server came by again to see if everything was 
satisfactory. Aucifer waved her aside without removing his eyes 
from Xu's. The steel had returned to their gazes; they might as 
well have been opponents in a weapons duel.
     "You don't like me very much, do you?" Aucifer said finally,
his tone colder than it had been a few seconds ago. 
     "I have reservations about someone I've just met," Xu
drawled. "You're still more a of stranger than a friend."
     He shook his head. "If you've got a problem with the way I
go about doing things, then you're bloody well welcome to leave.
I only asked you down here to talk. Nothing more, no strings
attached. Don't slap me in the face for being hospitable."
     Xu couldn't help but smile. For as icy as her remark had
been, it was meant to discern his true intentions. Given his 
reaction, it appeared that Aucifer really did want to just talk 
over drinks. The last thing she wanted to be was someone's latest 
conquest.
     "I'm not about to slap you," she demurred, working her charm
to easily defuse the situation. If Aucifer was smart enough, he'd
realize this was just a test. "So let's talk, and you get to go
first."
     Aucifer visibly relaxed, though it came more after he took
his drink and downed half of it in a few swallows.  "Hit me."
     Xu racked her brain for topics, going with what usually
first made her curious about anyone. "Where are you from?"
     "West Hill," he replied. "At least, that's where I currently
reside. The Guild dojo there is one of the older and more
prestigious ones; it looks more like a small academy than an
actual training centre."
     Glass in hand, he gestured in the direction of the stairs
they'd taken to come down to the bar. "You've already seen my
Weapons Master, merciless demon that she is, in action."
     "Is she always like that?" Xu had to ask. Certainly Master
Pan was a far cry from Cid, but even Pan's attitude had nothing
on Niethe. That anyone could survive, let alone train under her,
was beyond the SeeD.
     Aucifer shrugged and took another drink. "Nah. She's
actually quite personable--so long as you're not me."
     Xu looked up from her drink.
     "She generally rags on me harder than anyone," he explained.
"I'm always the one who gets yelled out for improper technique,
while the others just get scolded or corrected. I'm always the
one who does the extra practice hours. I'm always the one called
to answer the text questions on weapon types, tactics,
philosophies." He paused, studying his drink. "She's almost like
a wicked stepmother in a fairy tale."
     "Maybe she just sees the potential in you," Xu pointed out.
She knew that Cid was the type to push someone a little harder if
he felt it would pay off in the end. The way Aucifer described
the situation left Xu wondering if Mistress Niethe was more
grooming an heir to teach her students in the future.
     Aucifer snorted when he heard her idea. "Well, Niethe's got
a hell of a way of showing it. I swear, if I ever have my own
Guild school, I'm going to do things a lot differently."
     With that, he polished off the last of his drink.
     Now seemed like a good time to change subjects.
     "I've met Anya too," Xu said. "She seems nice, if not a
little shy."
     "Don't really know her," Aucifer said dismissively, setting
down his empty glass. "Separate classes, though we're in the same
skill level. From what I've heard she's rather formal. Most kids
raised in the Guild are though."
     Xu dared to speak her mind on the issue, regardless of how
little she knew about the way Guild schools actually worked.
"Well you should try to get to know her a little better. She
doesn't seem to have that many people to talk to."
     One of Aucifer's eyebrows went up.
     "I had lunch with Anya earlier today," she explained. "She
considers the school her family, but I'm not sure how many real
friends she has. You should try to help pry her out of her
shell."
     "I'm not her babysitter," he flicked the idea off as 
distasteful.
     Xu wasn't willing to let things go that easily.  "No, you're 
not, but it doesn't mean that you can't be her mentor or friend.  
When there are so many things out there in the world that can 
kill you in an instant, you need people to watch your back.  
People who will support you and encourage you to grow.  They'll 
guide you, defend you, and protect your life..." her voice 
trailed off with the last word as memories of Sean flooded her.
     "I invite you out for a drink and suddenly you're recruiting
me to be a big brother?" Aucifer remarked without noticing her 
sudden self-reflection. He seemed more amused than anything, Xu 
could see in his eyes that he was at least seriously considering 
it.
     "All I'm doing is making a few observations about a
classmate of yours," Xu pressed on. If her time in grading cadets
at Galbadia had given her anything, it was an eye for strengths
and weaknesses.
     "And hopefully make her less of a stranger in my world,"
Aucifer finished the thought. He sat back in his seat, draping
an arm across the back of the bench. "I have to say, you're rather
humane for a mercenary."
     Xu's cheeks flushed with momentary anger. He hadn't meant it
as a jab against her, but she'd felt the cut anyways. Aucifer
didn't notice either way, busy placing another order with a
nearby server.
     "To strangers in strange worlds," he said once he'd received
his drink, clinking his glass against Xu's. Once he finished his 
first sip, he asked, "And who isn't a stranger in your world?"
     Xu had to think about that. First temptation was to name
names, but that wouldn't mean much to a person who had never met
any of them. Xu quickly considered why certain people meant more
to her than anyone or anything else. The answer came faster than
expected. "The people I trust."
     "Ah...honour," Aucifer agreed with a nod. "Big thing in the
Guilds. If you weren't a SeeD, you'd probably make for a good
teacher here. That's meant as a compliment, by the way."
     That caused her to thaw some.  "I am an Instructor within 
SeeD."
     Once again his eyebrow migrated upwards as he regarded her, 
then a roguish grin crossed his face.  "I called it.  Damn, I'm 
good."
     She laughed at that.  "We'll see about that tomorrow!"  
That's when the final day of testing would prove their mettle 
to the Guild.

*****

     Later that night Xu woke up from her sleep with a start.  
The loose shirt she wore clung to her back as beads of sweat 
rolled down her belly from between her breasts.  With a fluid 
motion, she turned the nightstand lamp on while swinging her legs 
over the side of the bed.  She raked her fingers through her hair
before getting up from the bed.
     She had *that* dream again.  It was one that haunted her for
as long as she could remember.  She was in a battle versus these
horrible monsters.  They were unlike anything she had ever seen
or heard of before.  She would appear wearing elaborate
ceremonial robes like the ones the elders wore on certain
occasions.  Then she would utterly destroy the monsters in a fury
of moves that she could never reproduce in real life.
     That's when the dreams began to disturb her--what she felt
while bringing havoc upon the monsters.  She felt fulfilled,
disgusted, proud, concerned, and perhaps even a bit aroused.  The
experience as a whole was that of duty mixed with pleasure mixed
with sorrow at enjoying such a grizzly task.
     But this time there was more sorrow than usual and a greater
urgency to destroy.  She was protecting Sean and one other man
from the monsters.  She wanted to break free of the dream--
break free of the pattern--and throw herself at Sean and be
held in his arms.  But she couldn't.  She couldn't even try until
he was safe.
     And so she performed her dance of carnage, taking down the
creatures of her nightmares.  Once they were defeated, she
realized that she couldn't break free.  She would only see him
for a moment longer.  So she saluted him with her crossed sai and
bow.  Then she woke up.
     The shower she took did little to clear her mind.  The dream
was too powerful, too fresh, and opened too many weeping wounds. 
She missed him terribly.  It's been nearly two years and it still
hurt like it was yesterday.  Feeling this strongly after that
long probably wasn't healthy.  It didn't interfere with her
duties as a SeeD, what did it matter if she suffered silently?

*****

     "Are you sure that there are more than a dozen people in
this Guild?" Xu drawled when she looked at the schedule and saw 
that she would be fighting Aucifer in the morning session.
     Pan shrugged. "At this stage in the game there probably are
only a dozen Journeymen left.  This fight won't be an easy one.  
Aucifer is from West Hills.  Mistress Niethe's students aren't 
known for being pushovers."
     "I haven't had an easy fight yet."
     Sai versus sword.  It would be like fighting against Kei. 
That wasn't an easy fight either.  At least the challenge was one
that she looked forward to.
     This round was anything goes which wasn't considered dirty
play as defined by Guild etiquette.  On the mat, Xu held her own
against Aucifer, but things weren't going to stay that way for
long.  He was much stronger than her.  He'd already forced her
into some compromising positions that she'd just been able to
slip out of.
     "What happened to the little spitfire in the bar last
night?" he asked impishly. "Gone from SeeD to WeeD overnight?"
     "That's it!"  Xu's mind painted a picture of Martine
standing there saying that and she saw red.  She knew better
than to let her temper rule when in a bout, but it felt good to
let herself rage against that son of a bitch.  Aucifer yielded 
to her after she struck him upside the head with the butt of her
sai.
     Aucifer remained on the mat holding his head until the
testing Master cast a curative spell on him.
     "Ow! Dammit, what was with the channeling of Niethe's spirit
there?" Aucifer demanded angrily as he sat up. 
     "I've had it up to here with people insulting SeeD; I
thought you would have learned that from last night.  I had to
work hard to earn this uniform.  I take my profession seriously
and carry out my duty without regret.  Just because I wasn't
raised up in a Guild school doesn't mean I can't shove my sai
where you'll never find it again!"
     "So I noticed." Aucifer continued to rub the side of his
head, though he was surely feeling no pain after the spell took
effect. 
     Xu huffed and stomped off the mat.  Pan was at her side
following her out of the room.  "What was that?"
     Xu pursed her lips together tightly before exhaling.  "Two
years of frustrations compressed into two minutes."
	Martine was good for something after all...


     There were a few hours to kill before the final decisions 
were announced as to which candidates would be made Weapons 
Masters. Xu spent the first part of it cooling her jets in her 
hotel room under the spray of the shower.
     She'd heard of people referring to SeeD as WeeD before, but 
that didn't mean she had to like it.  She was very proud of the 
organization she had dedicated herself to and would go to great 
lengths to defend it.  Galbadians were too used to the unrefined 
soldiers that made up the bulk of Galbadia's military.  They were 
warm bodies--trained, but not thoughtful--and were hardly the 
same caliber of professional that SeeD was.
     With more force than necessary she turned the water valve 
off.  She then leaned her forehead against the tiled wall in 
silent apology for her misplaced anger.  Aucifer didn't mean the 
offense he offered her, she told herself.  But it was hard to 
not be on the defensive when people have been sniping at her 
since she first set foot in this country.
     Xu aggressively toweled her hair dry to work out any 
residual frustration. A knock at the door drew her out of the 
bathroom. It was probably Master Pan, here to tell her that it was 
time to get back to the convention center for the announcements. 
Still wrapped up in her towel, Xu shuffled over to the door and 
opened it up slightly.
     She was greeted with a somewhat surprised Aucifer.
     "Dressing down for the final ceremony, I see," he said in an
attempt to get over his surprise.
     Xu still found herself angry at him. "What do you want?"
She pulled the towel closer around herself. By nature she wasn't 
blushingly modest, but that didn't mean she was going to expose 
herself to him either.
     "Look, I have a habit of chewing on my feet," Aucifer said,
shifting awkwardly around the doorway. He was trying his best to
keep his eyes level with her face and not with her towel-clad
body. "I didn't mean the WeeD thing as an insult, but I'm sorry."
     He sheepishly added, "Believe me, after the pounding my ass
took from you, I'll never say anything bad about SeeD again."
     Xu pursed her lips together tightly as she weighed his words.
"Well, I probably shouldn't have hit you as hard as I did.  I'm 
sorry, I let my anger get the better of me."
     "Oh, that's okay," Aucifer said, shrugging it off. "From
what I hear, Niethe has never laughed harder in her life than
when she saw you trounce me."
     "Has she yelled at you for it?"
     He shook his head. "No, she has yet to track me down. 
Besides, it'll all just add up to extra practice hours when we
get back."
     An elderly couple walked by then.  Xu and Aucifer stopped 
talking as they passed.  The old woman had a look of horror on 
her face at seeing Xu half-hidden behind the door in only a towel.  
On the other hand, the randy old man gave Aucifer a sly, approving 
look.
     Aucifer brought he attention back to their conversation.
     "I think the Master inauguration ceremony will be starting
soon," he said. "You might want to dress in something a little
less... fluffy."
     Xu smiled pleasantly. "I'll be out in a minute."
     Then she slammed the door in his face. But as she figured,
Aucifer was patiently waiting in the hall next to her door when
she emerged. He nodded approvingly at seeing her dressed in her 
formal SeeD uniform. It was the first time he'd seen her wear it.
     The bus ride from the hotel to the convention center was an 
uneventful one.  Xu briefly wondered if she'd have the time to 
slip away for a few hours and visit Sean's family while she was 
in town.
     In one of the largest conference rooms in the center, the 
remaining Journeymen stood to one side of an elevated platform 
waiting to be called up.  Any Master could challenge them if 
they were still unconvinced of the Journeyman's worthiness to 
join their ranks. The room was packed full of onlookers and 
Masters.
     Stewart presented himself and was admitted to the Guild
without further ado.  Xu was happy for him.  Maybe now that he'd
completed his son's dream, he could continue on with his own.
     Likewise Aucifer went up onto the stage when he was called. 
The crowd was silent as they waited for anyone to present their
challenge.  Unfortunately for Aucifer, someone did voice their
desire to challenge him in combat.
     "I'd like to test him myself!" Mistress Niethe stated
loudly.
     At this, half of the crowd laughed (Mistress Niethe and
Aucifer's bickering having already become notorious) while others
groaned for Aucifer's sake. Most of the students were confused, 
but wanted to see the outcome of when a true Master fought an 
initiate.
     Aucifer remained as cool as he could, though his eyes were
now wide like headlights and his skin was starting to pale. "Oh
shit," he muttered, still acting composed in front of the crowd.
"This is going to hurt."
     Niethe got onto the platform and then tossed Aucifer his 
sabre. She took up a sword of similar design for herself. The next 
few minutes were filled with a rather impressive duel as Mistress
Niethe and Aucifer went at each other relentlessly.
     Xu seriously had the impression by the end that both
fighters had completely forgotten about their audience, and were
now just intent on finishing each other off in a grudge match.
However, for as skilled as Aucifer was he was no match for
Niethe.
     She quickly disarmed him and then delivered a swift kick to
his ribcage, sending Aucifer sprawled on his back across the
floor. There was dead silence in the room as Mistress Niethe
disdainfully looked at her student, turned to the judges and
sighed, "Okay, he'll do. You can make him a Master."
     The crowd burst into cheers, with no small part of that
being from his former classmates. Aucifer was helped off the floor
and presented to the rest of the Guild. He still looked dazed and
shaky, but there could be no denying the broad smile spread
across his face. Mistress Niethe herself seemed to be basking in
the moment, looking at her former Journeyman with a high degree
of pride.
     Xu would compare this moment to that of becoming a SeeD.
     Anya was in the crowd cheering him on.  Her own bid for
Mastership ended this morning.  Xu still didn't understand how
the scoring worked.  It didn't make sense to her how Aucifer
could be here but not Anya.  Pan had mentioned that the tests
challenged more than physical skills.  There had to be something
more behind that.
     Two more people went up before Xu was called.  With the
poise learned from years of SeeD training, she stood at attention
as the offer to challenge her was issued.
     "I challenge her," a light tenor voice called from the
depths of the crowd.  They parted to allow the Master to make his
way to the mat.  He was small by a man's standards, giving him
only a slight height advantage over her.  The pants he wore were
solid black and tailored to fit loosely.  His top was a forest
green color and spoke of elegant simplicity.  As he drew closer,
Xu could see that his eyes were the same shade of green as his
shirt.  The man jumped up onto the platform -- without the 
assistance of his hands or the steps -- and continued walking 
forward in a fluid motion.
     "Master Talasu," the Master announced to the crowd, though
it seemed to her that they already knew him.  "What reason have
you for challenging this Journeywoman?" The question was
punctuated with annoyance.
     "As is my right, I wish to assess her skills myself," his
green eyes captured hers.  They seemed to bore into her very
soul.  Xu shivered on the inside, for those same eyes were also
very kind as they regarded her.
     "As is your right," the Master reluctantly agreed.  "Get
your weapon, Journeywoman."
     Xu hopped down from the stage to retrieve her sai.  Aucifer
caught her elbow and leaned over to whisper something for her
ears only.  "That's Master Talasu you're fighting.  Watch
yourself."
     "Giving advice to a WeeD?" Xu inquired, trying to sound
casual despite the tightening knot in her stomach.
     Her jab didn't even get Aucifer cracking a grin.  "I'm
giving warning to someone who's good enough with her sai to have
earned my respect.  Talasu's a tricky bastard; he's got quite the 
reputation.  Expect anything--and I do mean anything, if he's 
your opponent."
     Xu was smart enough to know when to take a warning seriously.  
She gave Aucifer a questioning look and then returned to stage.
     She bowed to both Masters before pulling out her sai. 
Master Talasu was unarmed unless he had a knife hidden somewhere. 
"You're going to fight unarmed?"
     He waved off her question.  "You may start with those if you
wish.  You'll soon be unarmed yourself."
     The order to begin was given.  Xu tried for a quick stab to
his belly, but he caught her wrist and turned it around.  The sai
in her hand fell to the ground.  Its mate soon followed when he
grabbed her other arm and forced the weapon from her.  He then
released her to reset herself.
     'He's toying with me.'  The anger Xu felt at this insult was
honed into something she could use.  She lashed out at him with a
series of feints and punches.  These he blocked easily by
diverting the energy behind the strike.  It was a style she
hadn't encountered before.
     She came at him again, intent upon throwing him to the floor. 
Her forward motion was used against her as he levered around and
threw her.  She stumbled before regaining her balance.  Turning
to face him again, he simply stood there with that same probing
look in his eyes.
     "Stop playing games and fight me," she snapped.
     A corner of his mouth quirked up into a slight smile.  "You
believe that a strong offense constitutes a good defense.  I
believe that a strong defense is its own offense.  Prove me
wrong," he invited.
     And so she tried, but everything she attempted was reversed
in some way to his advantage.  All the energy being used during
the fight was hers.  Her mind desperately searched for a way to
defeat him.  He was too good for her.  She could continue to
pound her head against the wall or admit defeat.  Either one
meant that her hopes of becoming a Mistress this year were
finished.  It wasn't fair!
     She took hold of his shirt before he could dislodge her hand
and tried to throw him around by brute strength alone.  This
effort was as unsuccessful as the previous ones.  He could adjust
his center of gravity too well for that tactic to work.
     Releasing his shirt, she stepped away from him and bowed
deeply.  "I yield," the words came out as a mixture of
frustration and disappointment.  She had no choice but to give up
the battle or lose.
     A sympathetic groan ran through the crowd as they likewise
realized her options and forthcoming defeat.
     Pan bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood.  They'd
come too far to have her defeated when she was so close to
success!  This was a crushing blow for both Journeywoman and
Master.
     Xu righted herself slowly.  She turned away from the Masters
to leave the stage.
     "Why did you yield to me?" Talasu asked.     
     "Because I couldn't break through your defense.  I'm not
good enough." It hurt her to admit that, but it was the truth. 
As she was now, no matter the weapon, she couldn't counter his
defensive style of fighting.
     "Do you think that a strong offense is the only way to win a
battle?"
     Why was he doing this?  To rub salt into the wound her
defeat created?  "No, it's not the only way."  That much was
obvious from his demonstration.  Why did she have to announce it
before all these people she was humiliated in front of?
     He turned to speak to the crowd.  "Just as a strong defense
is not the only way.  I couldn't block a bullet," his eyes became
slits as he regarded the crowd.  "Journeywoman Xu has learned a
valuable lesson here today.  It is a lesson many of the Masters
need to be reminded of.
     "Kill this, defeat that -- aggression isn't the only way for
our Guild.  We can produce both soldiers and peacekeepers," he
turned from addressing the crowd to speak to her again.  "Your
reputation precedes you, Xu of the Anshin.  Within you lies the
spirit of a warrior and the wisdom of a peacekeeper.  You have
the advantage of most of us, use it!"
     "Haven't you done enough without preaching to her?!" A
member of the crowd yelled, irritated by his speech making after
shaming her.
     "No, I haven't," he replied calmly before locking his gaze
onto her.  "Only a fool would have continued fighting such a
hopeless battle.  In a few years, I see you figuring out my
tricks.  I look forward to a rematch then.  In the meantime, I
expect you to continue your weapons training, Mistress Xu," he
gave her an elaborate bow.
     "You- you *endorse* Journeywoman Xu?" The refereeing Master
had the most dumbfounded expression on his face.
     "Unless the other Masters disagree?" He rose an eyebrow as
he gave the crowd a questioning look.
     "How say the Masters?"
     The room roared with relief and approval.  Xu felt herself
become weak in the knees from the emotional whirlwind she'd just
gone through.  Master Talasu was at her side to escort her off
the platform.  Pan forced his way past the barriers to the 
Journeyman section of the floor to meet her.  Once she was down, 
he pulled her into a tight embrace.
     "You have a sick sense of humor," Pan growled at Talasu as 
the smaller Master came off the stage.  "In three years you've 
shot down more Journeyman than any other Master in Guild 
history. If you'd done that to Xu..."
     Talasu shrugged nonchalantly.  "Mistress Xu has a lot to
learn, as we all, but she already knows more than many of her
counterparts.  It would be wrong of me to hold her back."
     "Plus it would hurt to have all those Masters coming after
you," Aucifer chimed in, wishing to add his congratulations. 
"They looked more honked off than an Anacondaur who just got his 
tail run over."
     "There is that," Talasu allowed. "Niethe especially seemed
ready to tear me limb from limb."
     Aucifer smirked. "I don't think her intentions would have
been that merciful." He turned to Xu and warmly hugged her, from
one new Master to another. "You kick some serious ass, you know
that? Welcome to the Guild, Mistress Xu."
     Xu couldn't help but smile, lost in an overwhelming sea of
emotions.
     "So, is this one of those occasions that you'd have a drink
for?" Aucifer asked in an aside to Xu.
     "Yes, I believe this would be," she agreed with a chuckle.
     "Then let's make a date of it.  We can go to the bar and 
OW!! What did you do that for ya old bag?!" Aucifer snapped at 
the interruption.  The pinch Niethe gave him *hurt*!
     Mistress Niethe smirked and folded her arms across her 
chest.  "Just reminding you to keep your hands to yourself."
     "I didn't mean..!  I wasn't going to..!" Aucifer glowered 
at Niethe and appealed to Xu to prove his innocence.
     With a grin Pan placed a consoling hand on his shoulder.  
"There'll be plenty of time for that tonight.  Right now you 
two need to catch up with the other initiates.  You've got a 
meeting to attend."  He gave Aucifer a small push in the 
right direction.
     No accomplishment was without its mountain of paperwork.  
Aucifer grumbled as he filled out forms and signed releases.  
Xu carefully read what she was presented to be sure that it 
didn't conflict with her duty as a SeeD.  Cid told her to 
become a Mistress, but there was still lingering fear that 
needed to be dispelled.
     Afterwards she heaved an inward sigh of satisfaction.  
Once again she had accomplished the task set about her by the 
Headmaster.  And soon she'd be allowed to return to her home 
Garden and get on with the life she'd been preparing so long 
for.

*****

     Xu's sleep was restless as Talasu's words replayed in her
mind time and again.  The issue of his defeating her was easily
disregarded for now.  What her mind refused to let go of was his
proclamation of her 'dual nature'.  Wisdom mixed with strength?
     It would be accurate to say that she's gone through a
cultural evolution.  Despite turning away from the Anshin, she is
a product of their upbringing.  SeeD refined her and made her
strong.  And at times like this it left her feeling so very
confused.  Each group's ideology had its merits and flaws.
     Was it foolish of her to try to weave these extremes into a
single cloth?  She would experience less grief if she just went
one way or the other like Kei had.  But which to choose? 
Eliminating the Anshin part would leave her feeling empty inside
versus cutting her ties with SeeD and giving up her calling in
life.
     'When walking on the Knife's edge, don't be surprised if you
cut your feet,' she quoted a line from one of stories she learned
as a child.  Like a majority of her favorites, it was a Tonberry
story.  Myth portrayed the Tonberries as sage lorekeepers.  Their
wisdom was part of what attracted her to them.  
     Admittedly, she found them to be somewhat cute.  They were
traditionally portrayed as lizard-like creatures that were maybe
a meter tall.  They walked on two feet while being dressed in an
earth toned, hooded cowl.  In one hand they held a lantern that
was said to hold the Spirits of the past while in the other hand
they held a Sacred Knife.
     Xu closed her eyes and focused her mind on recalling how the
rest of the story went.
     It was about a young boy who encountered a Tonberry while
playing in a field he wasn't allowed in.  The Tonberry gave to
him a list of tasks to complete and a Sacred Knife to use on his
journeys.  The boy was so frightened by the encounter that he ran
back to his village with the knife still in his hand.  This he
hid away, hoping to never see another Tonberry again.
     Many years passed and the boy became a man with a wife and
two small children.  One day while working in the same field, a
knifeless Tonberry approached him.  It reminded him that he had
yet to complete the tasks set before him and that it would not
wait forever.
     The man begged to be released from the Tonberry's curse.  It
refused citing that it was not a curse, but his destiny.  He
reluctantly agreed to do as the Tonberry instructed, but it would
not be easy.  He had a family to support and the tasks were
dangerous.
     'You are a man torn between obligations.  When walking on
the Knife's edge, don't be surprised if you cut your feet.'  The
Tonberry sank back into a hole in the ground as he watched with
amazement.  Its warning reminded him of the knife he stored away
so long ago.  Upon retrieving it, he tested the blade.  It easily
split the skin of his thumb.
     The rest of the story goes on about the tasks he completed
while doing the best he could to support his family.  She always
thought the lesson implied was to not get caught in a division of
loyalties to begin with.  Now that she was older and finding
herself in a similar situation, she could appreciate the man's
despair.
     Tonberries were revered by the Anshin for their longevity
and ties to the past.  They're the ones trusted to remember the
stories since humans tend to forget.  There are many stories
involving the Tonberries.  Xu sometimes wondered if they held a
bias towards remembering ones that featured them.
     She smiled softly as she remembered her childhood fantasies
of one-day meeting a Tonberry.  It was (usually) a good omen to
see one.  It signified that the person's life meant something
more than just being a farmer.  The burning desire to be someone
special has driven her since childhood.  Being an average person
stuck in an insignificant position is one of the worst fates she
could think of.
     She remembered the time she tried to express these feelings
to her father.  He scolded her for belittling the value of
others.  She understood his point that people were linked
together in a chain and that *everyone* mattered.  But as she saw
it, some people just added up to being more than others.  He
rebuked her by asking why she was so special?  Didn't she realize
that others felt exactly the same way?  To a complete stranger,
she was just an average person until they came to know her and
her dreams.
     A tear slipped down her cheek as she recalled the deep frown
that marred his face.  The tears she cried that day weren't due
to shame, they were caused by frustration.  He didn't understand
the stirrings within her.  It was a restless feeling that kept
her awake on nights like this.  What she was doing wasn't enough,
not if she was going to be more.

*****

     "This is my favorite part of the convention," Pan rubbed his
hands together gleefully as they surveyed the large room full of
weapons vendors.  They picked a corner to start at and began
moving systematically from booth to booth looking at the latest
weapon designs.  The room was to the point of being nearly
over-filled with bodies, causing Xu and Pan to become separated.
     Xu found her way to a booth set up in a small alcove.  She
examined the weapons before looking up to see Sean's father
watching her politely until she noticed.
     "Hello," she greeted, settling down quickly after being
startled by his appearance.
     "Come here around back, child.  Let me give you a hug," she
did as he requested and was nearly squeezed to death in his
powerful embrace.  "You do our family proud!  I knew the day
would come when our family of Weapons Smiths would finally have a
Weapons Master."  He squeezed her again.
     "Xu?" She glanced over her shoulder awkwardly considering
the hold she was in.  Pan leaned across the booth's counter,
"What are you doing with the Weapons Smith?"
     "I'm congratulating my daughter," he release Xu from the
embrace, but kept an arm around her shoulders as he turned
towards the counter.  "What can I do for you today, Master Pan?"
     The Master blanched at the mention of 'daughter'.  "You
hadn't mention that you and Sean were married," Pan gave her a
hurt look.
     "We weren't," Xu corrected.
     "But they would have!" The Weapons Smith assured.  "Which
means that Xu's family," he reasoned.
     Pan boggled.  "You never told me that the most renown
Weapons Smith in Galbadia was your father-in-law.  No wonder you
have a weapon the likes of Heart Breaker.  You shouldn't hide
such things from your Master."
     "Speaking of weapons, I have a new one for you to try out. 
Give me your sai and belt."  Xu drew the sai from her belt before
removing it and handing them over.  He set the sai aside on a
back counter before pulling a velvet bag from a small chest.  He
gave the bag to her.
     She undid the drawstrings and slipped out one of the sai
held within.  It was a beautiful weapon that was light in her
hand.  The grip felt as though it was made with her in mind.  In
all likelihood, it was.  Xu's eyes narrows as she noted that this
sai had a sharpened tip.  Unlike the rounded off points of her
previous weapons.
     The Weapons Smith attached three sheaths to her belt that
would protect her from the tips.  Her eyebrows arched all the
further when she confirmed that the bag he gave her held two sai
in addition to the one in her hand.  She held her arms up as he
fastened the belt around her waist.
     "They're called 'Life Guard'.  Five Full-Life beads have
been worked into the butt of each sai.  I'm sure you can figure
out how the weapon comes by its name," his eyes creased shut as
he smiled broadly.
     "Thank you very much, but three?" She held one of the sai
out for Pan to examine.  He whistled appreciatively before
returning it.
     "Many Masters carry a third so that it can be thrown or in
case one is lost during battle.  I know that you're trained to
use your belt knife or fight unarmed, but I feel better knowing
that you have an extra one just in case," he hugged her once 
more before shoo-ing her around to the front of the booth.  "If 
you have the chance come by for dinner before you leave town. 
The rest of the family would like to add their congratulations 
to mine."
     Xu thanked him for the invitation before continuing on with
Pan.  They were well away from his booth before Pan spoke again. 
"I knew one of his sons died, but I hadn't put together the
relation," he admitted.
     "It's a small world."
     "That it is," he agreed, "look up ahead." A man with several
guards surrounding him was making his rounds.  Vinzer Deling
spoke with a weapons merchant as the guards maintained a
perimeter around him.
     "Should we approach him?" Xu mused.
     "He'll find us if we don't find him," Pan reasoned.  They
came as close as the guards allowed before Pan began calling out
his name.  The President would have usually ignored such things,
but he recognized the voice immediately.
     "Pan!  And you have Xu with you.  I hear that
congratulations are in order," he shook both of their hands in
turn.  "How does it feel to be one of the Guild's newest
Masters?"
     "Much like it felt being a Journeywoman.  I still have a lot
to learn," she said with all honesty.
     He chuckled at her straightforward answer.  "I'm sure you'll
strive to quickly fill the gaps in your knowledge."
     Deling and Pan spoke for several minutes while Xu paid
polite attention.  Who won next year's football tournament was of
no interest to her.  Five minutes became ten and Xu was beyond 
bored.  Discretely she searched for a way out of their sports talk.
Her opportunity came when Mistress Niethe seemed to swoop out from 
nowhere.
     "If you two are done boring this prized new Master to
death," she stated, wrapping an arm around Xu. "I would like to
have a word or two with her myself."
     "And what's wrong with football?  It's the national sport,"
Pan replied.
     Niethe pinned him back with a look. "Besides the riots
afterwards?" 
     With a sigh, Pan shrugged and waved them aside. "There's no
stopping Niethe when she's got that look in her eyes. Nothing
short of a tank that is--and even then, I'd put my money on
her, not the tank."
     Deling seemed rather amused in watching Niethe escort Xu
off. "I'll keep that in mind. So what do you think of that
underdog team from the Southwest district?"
     Once Niethe had taken Xu out of sight of Pan and Deling, her
bearish demeanor softened considerably. "I swear, some people
just can't take the hint that not everyone's into sports. Did I
manage to save you in time from their droning?"
     Xu nodded in relief. "Yes. Thank you, Mistress Niethe."
     Niethe beamed. "Think nothing of it. But in return, I'd like
for you to take one of my students out to lunch."
     Xu tried to keep the look of surprise off her face; so there
had been an ulterior motive after all. She was almost prepared to
decline until she noted that, despite the smile on her face,
Niethe was not making a request. Xu was going to take someone out
to lunch whether she wanted to or not.
     "I heard about how you treated Anya yesterday," Niethe
continued, bringing out some gil and slapping it onto Xu's palm.
"Very impressive, even though you were both her senior and
opponent. I would like to repay the favour: this should cover
your meal. And don't tell her I gave you the money, or else I'll 
be the next person you fight."
     "It's really kind of you to offer, Mistress, but I--" she 
pinned Xu back with a look that said 'no' was the wrong answer.  
Xu blanched and wordlessly accepted the gil.
     Finding Anya wasn't that hard; the girl was studying one of
her textbooks in the convention center lobby. Anya was startled 
when Xu asked her out to lunch again. Like Xu had early, Anya 
tried to decline, but Xu was insistent.
     They walked to a nearby cafe that was doing a brisk business 
when they arrived. Honestly, Xu didn't know what they were going 
to talk about. They both ordered, sat down, and then waited for 
the other to say something.
     "I've been thinking about what you said yesterday," Anya 
said quietly without meeting Xu's eyes.
     "Oh?"
     "More of idle ponderings, actually.  Wondering what motivated
you to join SeeD.  You seem to be too kind of a woman for such a 
grisly profession," Anya blushed slightly.
     Xu gave her a thoughtful look before answering.  "Just because
one's profession is disagreeable doesn't mean they are.  I've 
learned to wear many masks--to separate the different parts of me--
so that they don't come into conflict.  I know that as a SeeD I 
must do things that some people would frown upon, but that's how it 
is.  I must live my life my way."
     "That is very bold of you."
     The SeeD shook her head in disagreement.  "It's not being bold, 
it's being true to myself." A wry smile tugged the corners of her 
lips.  "It does no good to lie to yourself because you know that 
you're lying."
     Anya ducked her head.  "Thank you, you have once again given 
me something to think about."
     They finished their meal and parted ways.  Yes, Anya had a 
lot of growing to do, but when she came into bloom she would be 
a wonderful Mistress.
      Xu slowly meandered back to the hotel.  The convention was
quickly winding down and she'd accomplished everything she'd 
come here for.  There were more people occupying the sidewalks 
as she made her way.  Few people paid much heed to the woman in 
the SeeD uniform.
     When she arrived at the hotel she discovered that the lobby 
was bustling with people in the process of checking out.  Having 
so many bodies in one place gave the normally spacious room a 
claustrophobic feel.  She made her way towards the elevator while 
gingerly stepping over luggage and trying to avoid people.  She 
wasn't entirely successful when she rammed into Aucifer.
     "Isn't this a pleasant surprise?" He said.
     "Er..." Xu stepped away from him and straightened her 
jacket.  "I didn't think we'd have the opportunity to meet again.
When are you leaving?"
     "You're that anxious to get rid of me, eh?" He chuckled to 
take the sting from his words.  "Niethe said for everyone to be 
in the lobby in," he checked his watch, "10 minutes to catch the 
bus to the train depot."
     A passing bellhop overheard them talking and stopped.  
"Niethe?  The West Hill group checked out early.  They assembled, 
like two minutes ago.  That's their shuttle pulling away now," 
he pointed outside.
     The blood drained from Aucifer's face at realizing his 
Master's double cross.  He quickly located his bag and ran back 
towards the door.  Along the way he paused just long enough to 
give Xu a peck on the cheek in passing, while slinging the bag 
over his shoulder and rushing out the door.
     Xu lightly touched her cheek where he had kissed her.  No 
one had done that since Sean... She closed her eyes briefly and 
winced at the memory.  Would there ever be a time when it didn't
hurt?


     The lobby was so full of people, the noise was suddenly an 
irritant.  She went outside for a breath of fresh air.  A gentle 
breeze played with a few strands of her dark hair as she watched 
vehicles move along the busy street.  She walked along for a few 
blocks until she was in the outskirts of the park at the center of 
the city.  Here she finally let her shoulders relax.
     She followed one of the paths that traced behind a government 
building.  An old brick wall separated it from the beautiful park.
     "Peaceful, isn't it?" A voice above her asked.  She spun
around to locate the source.  Talasu was sitting on the wall
under the cover of some low hanging tree branches.  If he hadn't
said anything, she would have never known he was there.
     "Very much so," she agreed.  He slid off to land lightly next 
to her.
     "I wanted to speak with you once more before I left."
     "About what?" She was still leery of him after the grief he
put her through, but could see how his intentions were good.
     "About you and your place in the overall scheme of things,"
he made an expansive gesture to include everything around them. 
"You're in a difficult position that's awkward at best.  I wanted
to encourage you to keep moving forward, even when obstacles are
being thrown in your way."
     "I thank you for your encouragement, but how do you know
anything about me?" It was presumptuous of him to offer advice to
someone he had only met yesterday.  From how he spoke, it sounded
as though he knew much more about her than he was letting on.  If
that was so, she wanted to know what he did.
     His mouth quirked as his intense green eyes bore into her. 
"Let's just say it's my job to know things.  You've made quite a
splash during your time here.  If you looked yourself up in the
newslinks, you'd find nothing.  Not surprising considering the
stranglehold that's on the press.  But explore the underground
links and you'll find that you're a minor heroine to many people
for your bold demeanor towards Deling.  People respect strength,
and you possess it in great quantities both physically and in
your character."
     She shrugged it off.  "They could admire their cats for all
I care.  I'm just a SeeD going about my duty."
     "A SeeD, an Instructor, and now a Weapons Mistress," he
narrowed his eyes slightly, "and perhaps something more?"
     "What do you mean?" She asked with more edge to her voice
than she intended.  He was still playing games with her and it was
getting on her nerves.  If he had something to say, do so
already!
     "I think... You'll discover that soon enough," he inclined
his body to her briefly.  "May the Spirits protect you, Xu of the
Anshin, for we will meet again."  He jumped up and grabbed hold
of a low branch.  This he used to swing himself back up onto the 
wall, then down the other side.
     She glared at where he once stood.  "I hate mind games," she
muttered darkly before stalking back the way she came.

*****

     Master Talasu's subtle prompting and Xu's own sense of
curiosity prompted her to look herself up on the underground
newslinks before she returned to the Garden.  Navigating the
shadier areas of the networks wasn't one of her strong suits, but
she was competent enough to stumble across what she was looking
for.
     Among the recent articles was one proclaiming that the
'Strong Spirited SeeD' had acquired her Mastership within the
Weapons Guild.  It went on to give a surprisingly well written
description of her bout with Master Talasu and the end results. 
A sports columnist must have written it.  The article finished up
by listing the newest Masters.
     She searched for her 'confrontation' with Deling.  She found
it in an archive of old headlines.  After reading the story about
her, she idly browsed the other past headlines.  There was a
short blurb about continuing tensions in Timber.  That wasn't
anything new.  One story did catch her eye.
     "'Death's Angel Meets His Demise'," she read aloud.  A
warehouse explosion killed the Death's Angel who was apparently
some sort of cult legend.  The article listed his more memorable
crimes with several of those being assassinations of various
public figures.  Reading between the lines, she got the
impression that the author was of two minds about this turn of
events.  Death's Angel hadn't gone out of his way to make any
friends or be a revolutionary, but some of his assassinations
helped the Timber resistance movement along.  He wasn't a
respectable character from what she could tell.
     She clicked on a link that led to a blow by blow history. 
Her stomach sank to her knees.  As a mercenary, she understood
the necessity of killing others, but this... The finesse of his
murders ranged from relatively clean slittings of the throat to
gore-fests in which the victim could never be recovered with a
Life spell.
     She closed down the newsreader.  That was justification
enough for why she didn't spend much time shifting through that
garbage.  It was chock full of rumor mongering tale spinners and
terrifying 'heroes'.

*****

     The remaining months of Xu's stay at Galbadia Garden slipped
by without notice.  A couple weeks before she was to return to
Balamb she received a packet with her new orders in it.  She was
permitted two weeks leave before reporting in.  After considering
it briefly there really wasn't anywhere she wanted to go except
Balamb.
     Another sheet informed her that she would receive a
promotion and pay increase upon returning.  She was being raised
to SeeD rank ten with a respectable salary of 8,000 gil per pay
period.  Once again, the fleeting thought of it being criminal to
be paid to do something you loved crossed her mind.  Garden
provided most everything a person needed: room, board, and
clothing.  A majority of her stipend sat in a bank account
accruing interest.
     Upon reflection, the thing she looked forward to the most
after returning to Balamb was being at a Garden that didn't play
a national anthem at absurd hours in the morning.  That alone was
worth going home for.  The fact that she would be back with
friends and Instructors that cared deeply about her was icing on
the cake.
     A part of her was going to miss Pan, Jen, and Eileen.  With
the exception of those three, there was very little to make her
long to stay at Galbadia Garden.
     Xu did manage to squeeze in having dinner with Sean's family
one last time before she left.  The going away party they held
was a complete surprise.  It touched her deeply that they would
even go to the bother.  During dinner they discussed her plans
after leaving Galbadia.
     "What are you going to do during your leave?" One of the
older sons asked politely.  She knew that he was planning a tour
of Trabia to find rare items and would be glad for her company if
she were willing.
     "I'm not sure, to be honest.  I was thinking of just going
back to Balamb."
     "You could return to your clan and complete the coming of
age ceremony," Sean's father suggested over the rim of the glass
he was sipping from.
     "Yes," she drawled slowly.  There wasn't any reason why she
couldn't.  This was his oblique way of nudging her towards tying
up loose ends.  Honestly, the matter seemed to bother him than it
bothered her.
     "You're not a full adult yet?" The son she was speaking with
asked in a surprised tone.  "Even Father requires us to prove
ourselves!"
     "Are you saying that I haven't proven myself?" She smiled to
take the edge off of her retort.
     "My point exactly, child.  You've more than earned your
place.  Go back and claim it," he put his hand over hers to
squeeze it.  "When they hear of your deeds, they can share in our
pride of you."
     "Is that what they call being disowned these days?" She
quipped humorlessly.  It would only cause problems to return,
especially now.  The moment they learned that she was a Weapons
Mistress they'd shove her onto the soonest departing transport.
     He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.  "I
think you under estimate them."
     "I'll consider it," she finally agreed after mulling over
his words.
     "That's all I ask," he punctuated the statement with a
sagely nod.

*****

     "Are you ready to return to Balamb?" Headmaster Cid's face
filled most of the screen as he leaned too close to the visual
pick up... again.  Xu smiled on the inside with thoughts of being
around the technologically inept man again.
     "Yes, Headmaster, but I've decided to visit my family before
I return."
     His eyebrows rose up with curiosity.  "May I ask why?"
     "I have some loose ends to tie up," she answered.  Cid was
an understanding man, but things like this were uncomfortable to
discuss with someone who didn't fully grasp the significance of
the event.
     "How interesting.  I received a message from the Anshin
council of elders yesterday asking that you be released for a
week to visit them.  If something is going on, I'd appreciate
being in on it."  His gave her a look that warned against hedging
around the matter.
     She blushed slightly with embarrassed. "I'm sorry,
Headmaster.  I didn't know that they sent a message to you.  I
haven't spoke with them, so there's no way they could know that I
planned to visit."
     He leaned back in his chair as he considered it.  "Very
well, though I'm curious to know what's going on.  If you can,
please fill me in when you return?"
     "Of course, thank you," she closed the connection.

*****

     Jen and Eileen prepared a farewell dinner for her last
night.  They stayed up into the early hours of the morning
recalling events from the last couple of years.  Eileen was fond
of pointing out all the positive changes that had come into
effect since her arrival, like she had something to do with it.
     "You're too modest," Eileen waved her off.  "If it weren't
for you, Martine would still have his head firmly stuck up his-"
     Jen pinched her on the thigh before she could finish the
sentence.
     "From how I understand it, that was more Kei's doing than
mine," she reminded.  "Her and Headmaster Cid."
     "And they didn't care what went on at Galbadia before *you*
came here," Eileen extended the thought beyond where Xu left it.
     "Enough, Eileen," Jen cut in gently.  "The Garden reforms
weren't her doing.  Xu is a SeeD first.  She didn't come here to
help us with our difficulties.  The fact that she did so along
with completing her duty was a happy coincidence."
     Eileen sniffed.  "For as many boastful officers as I've
encountered, you two are their opposite.  I didn't realize SeeD
taught a class in modesty."
     "Not modesty," Xu corrected, "quiet pride in ourselves and
our organization."
     Jen nodded her agreement.  "Being a SeeD changes you that
way.  We don't need to tell the world that we're the best, we'll
demonstrate it for them."
     The next morning Xu carefully packed the last of her things
into a duffel bag.  Somehow she had acquired enough things in the
last two years to make the use of a second bag necessary.  'It's
the set of Galbadia SeeD uniforms,' she answered herself when
asking where all this stuff had come from.  She would have
returned the Galbadian uniforms except that her body had changed
sizes in a few key areas so that her Balamb ones didn't fit her
comfortably.  The ones she had from that Garden would have to be
altered before she could wear them again, a fact she hadn't
accounted for when she tried one on the other night.
     Pan said good-bye to her before his first training session. 
He looked forward to challenging her again.  It was a mutual
feeling.  Finalized copies of her paperwork was turned in after
speaking with Pan.  All she had left to do was to walk out the
gate with her bags in tow.  She already had her tickets bought
for the train to Deling City, then Dollet, and finally south to
Centra.
     Xu was nearly off the grounds when a car drove past her and
turned sharply in front of her, blocking her from leaving. 
Headmaster Martine got out of the passenger side and walked over
to her purposefully.
     "Headmaster?" She asked politely, keeping the annoyance she
felt at being stopped from reaching her voice.
     "I wanted to say something to you before you left, but
didn't have the balls to do so yesterday during our debriefing,"
he firmly placed his hands behind his back and paced to and fro. 
"I wanted to thank you.  I know that my treatment of you hasn't
always been favorable, but you stuck with it.  I regret seeing
you leave.  I know that Cid is going to produce the better SeeDs
with someone like you on his staff and that irks me."
     "You could raise the standards at Galbadia," she suggested. 
>From her time at both schools, she was certain that Balamb was
the more intensive program scholastically while Galbadia focused
on physical training and discipline.
     "That is what I will strive for," he gave her what was
intended to be a smile.  His face was so creased from his
constant frowning that the kind gesture would have looked more in
place on a Bite Bug.  "Good luck Mistress SeeD Instructor Xu
Anshin," he held his hand out to her.
     She took hold of the offered hand and shook firmly while
groaning on the inside.  She couldn't be rid of all those silly
titles soon enough and her family name wasn't 'Anshin' as he used
it.  Considering their first meeting, it was probably his poorly
aimed stab at humor.
     "Thank you."
     He returned to his car and rode back to the Garden complex
proper.  It would be a while before he figured things out, in her
opinion.  He could have just walked out here like any other
person would have.  And if he was going to take a car, courtesy
would have prompted him to offer her a ride to the train depot.
     Xu shook her head as she slung a duffel across her back with
the other on her shoulder.  She needed to get out of this
country.  Such acts were beginning to seem normal to her.

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