Life's Lessons on Stress

by Nona Mae King

  ~*~

  I swallowed hard as I clenched and unclenched my fists. The debrief was over, thank goodness, and Zell had left to class. Seifer had left, too, but only to get Fujin. Me? I was still trapped in Seifer's office.

  This morning Zell and I had walked around the Training Center talking about those few days in Winhill--the professional aspect of it--and touching base about our different perspectives. Zell had made the suggestion, saying that he hoped it would help me with the debrief later that morning.

  It had. And it would probably even help with the further meeting with Seifer and Fujin about to happen. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. It's no big deal, Sally. Sheesh. But Fujin scared me. Maybe because I didn't think she saw me as anything but a librarian. Maybe because I knew that she knew she scared me. Fujin didn't respect me because of it. And that, well, it kind of made me feel miserable.

  I heard Fujin's recognizable steady step and looked over my shoulder. Here we go, I sighed as I stood. I faced her and saluted. "Fujin. Ma'am."

  "REGAL."

  She moved to stand beside me, standing at attention while facing Seifer's desk. I turned and did the same, even though I wanted to ask her what I could do to make her respect me. Or at least ask her how to make her see me as more than a librarian.

  Seifer entered and closed the door behind him, moving to his desk after he'd lowered and closed the blinds. "At ease."

  He motioned to the chairs. I sat. Fujin didn't. She only continued to stare above Seifer's head, hands clasped tightly behind her back. I watched her, all the while wishing I could stand up to Seifer as easily as she did. What I wouldn't have given for a fraction of Fujin's spine.

  Seifer smirked as he watched her. "Fujin, you might want to sit your ass in the chair for this."

  She arched an eyebrow but still declined. Wow.

  Seifer presented Fujin my typed and bound report. She took it and read the heading and byline before flipping through the pages and skimming the information inside. My insides twisted up as I watched and waited, wondering if the report was good enough to show her I could do this job.

  Fujin looked up and met Seifer's gaze.

  "Guess where you're being sent?" he asked, still smirking.

  Fujin pressed her lips together.

  "Marshal will be meeting you at the dock in Balamb."

  I blinked in surprise and focused on Seifer's face. Already? But I just turned in the report! Seifer must have set everything up while Zell and I were enjoying the movie. That made me feel guilty. Seifer never stopped doing his job. He never took a day off. Never took a vacation. It was Garden or nothing; for both him and Fujin.

  "From there, you will take a small transport to Winhill and pick up where Regal left off," Seifer continued.

  "WHY?"

  Fujin didn't sound happy, and I couldn't understand why. Winhill was a great place. How could someone not like it?

  "'Why' what?" Seifer asked.

  "MARSHAL."

  I blinked again and moved my gaze to Fujin's profile. What's wrong with Marshal? Seifer leaned back in his chair, kicking his feet up onto the desk as he crossed his arms. The action drew my attention, but not before I noticed that Fujin tensed up even more than usual.

  "Regal, tell Fujin why."

  My stomach slithered to the bottom of my feet and disappeared. "Yes, sir." I cleared my throat and faced Fujin. She only kept glaring at Seifer, who continued to smirk. You can do this, Sally. Come on. This is your chance! "Anytime someone from one of the Gardens visits, suspicions rise and cooperation plummets. When Zell and I were in plain clothes and walking around the town as if we were visitors, people were more relaxed. They actually came outdoors and talked to us about things. Nothing worthy of report or suspicion, but they still talked to us. If--"

  "That's enough, Regal." Seifer's lips twitched upward a little higher. "You and Marshal will be going undercover. Your back story is with Marshal. Understood?"

  Fujin didn't say anything. She only gave a curt nod.

  "Good. Regal, dismissed."

  I stood and saluted. Then I stealthily left the office, closing the door after me with a sigh of relief and a whispered "Good job."