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All Final fantasy characters and locations are the exclusive property of Square Enixand do not belong to me.

Every thing else is me and my friends.

Ch.3 Tests, Tests, Tests, oh yeah did I mention Tests

Xavier couldn't see. It was that simple. No matter which way he turned his head. He could not see a damn thing. Xavier slowly reached up to his face. His face felt normal to him, nothing out of the ordinary there. Xavier turned his head again letting the rest of his senses take in his surroundings. Maybe then, he thought, he would be able to tell where he was.

The smell of burnt flesh was the first thing to reach him. Frantically Xavier ran his hands over his body, but he felt only clothes. Deciding it would be better to ignore it for now; he tried again to figure out where he was. Beyond the smell of burnt flesh he smelt. Flowers, spring time flowers. And fresh grass, and other spring time woodsy smells. He also smelled the far off smells of food cooking.

"What the hell is going on?" Xavier thought to himself.

Xavier decided to concentrate on his hearing since his nose had obviously decided to join his eyes in not working right. Calming him self Xavier concentrated on the sounds that surrounded him.

The sounds of a gentle breeze washed over him like a breath of fresh air. Then came the various sounds of birds chirping, small wood land animals scampering, and some where in the distance a brook was bubbling.

"Am I out side in the woods?" Xavier wondered to him self.

Then something else came to his ears. The rustling of leaves, like some one running at him. Xavier thrashed his head around desperately trying to see what was coming at him. It wasn't a crippling hit. But he was hit that was for sure. Xavier's hand flew to his side and drew his gun blade.

Laughter.

A small feminine laugh reached his ears next. It sounded familiar some how. Then nothing. Xavier waited, listening again for any movement. He didn't have to wait long before the sound of rustling leaves reached his ears again. And once again he was struck. This time from behind. More laughter. Xavier whipped around towards the laughter slashing.

"Stop laughing at me." Xavier said in a barely audible whisper.

Nothing.

Then again something rustled and he was struck again. This time, who ever was attacking him, slapped him on the rear. More laughter.

"STOP LAUGHING AT ME!" Xavier screamed as he threw every thing he had in to slashing in the direction of the laughter. He felt his blade tip slash a crossed something. He heard a brief gurgle, as something hot and sticky sprayed him in the face. Then some one hit the ground. Xavier lowered his gun blade and reached a hand up to his face to wipe away what ever had sprayed him. As he pulled his hand away his site returned to show his hand covered in blood.

Horrified Xavier looked down and saw his best friend Shyri laying there in a growing puddle of her own blood. Xavier dropped his gunblade as if it were a vile evil thing. Dropping to his knees he bent over and gently shook Shyri's lifeless form.

Her flesh was cold and clammy. Her fur was starting to wilt and look lifeless. Xavier rolled her over, and retched at the site. He had cut her from her upper left shoulder almost to her stomach. He gently cradled her lifeless body in his arms, and wept in to her slashed shoulder.

"No, no, no, no. This can't be happening. I've been looking to long, and hard to lose you now." Xavier wept into the rapidly cooling corpse.

"Please come back. I'm sorry Shyri. I need you."

Shyri's lifeless eyes stared out at nothing. Xavier rocked back and forth weeping uncontrollably into the dead girl's body. All around Xavier the world went dark. Over head a dark cloud swirled round, and around blotting out the sun. Xavier didn't notice till another feminine laugh filled the air.

This laugh was completely devoid of the innocents that Shyri's had less than a minute ago. Xavier looked around himself for the first time and realized where he was. He was in the woods on the out skirts of Beartree, where he and Shyri had trained all those years ago.

"What's the matter Xavier?" The voice asked him.

Xavier clutched Shyri'sdead body to him even tighter as he looked around for the source of the voice.

"Have you done something bad Xavier?"

More humorless laughter.

"Who are you? And how do you know my name?" Xavier asked laying the corpse back on the ground.

"I know every thing."

"I see every thing."

Xavier reached out and grabbed his gun blade. Than standing he positioned himself to defend Shyri'scorpse from any thing that might try to defile it.

"If you know so much than show your self bitch." Xavier said still trying to find the voice.

"No, no I don't think so. You would like that too much."

"Than what is the point." Xavier demanded turning to face another direction.

"I bring you a glimpse of the future young ninja. A future that I will create. And ultimately you will help me do it one way or another."

Instantly Xavier's mind filled with images of a darkness covering the entire world. Every thing it touched was altered. Trees rotted. Flowers wilted. Animals died. People fell on each other killing one another indiscriminately. Finally Xavier saw a mountain of corpses. And at the top were his friends and loved ones. Standing on top of the hill was he. Xavier saw himself and his gun blade covered in blood and gore. He was smiling.

Xavier screamed...

... And sat bolt up right in the infirmary bed he had been laid on. Instantly his body was racked with searing pain, and he fell back instantly. Once again he could not see. But this time when he reached up to his face he felt that he had gauze wrapped around his head covering his eyes.

Desperately Xavier clawed at the bandages trying in vain to remove them. His senses were a mess. No matter how hard he tried he could not focus any of them. He tried to hear, but heard only the sound of dripping. He tried to feel, but all he felt was numbness to his touch. He tried to smell, but only smelt burnt flesh. And the gauze would not come from his head.

Xavier thrashed wildly as his fingers refused to find a place to start tearing. All the sudden he felt many cold hands forcing him to lie back down. And voices, he finally heard voices. He could not make out what they were saying over his own yells. Then something warm worked its' way through his blood stream. Xavier felt oblivion sweep over him, and was out before he hit the pillow.

When he woke next it was to the feeling of someone making circular rubbing motions on his belly. Xavier slowly opened his eyes. His left eye opened fine to the welcoming dimness of one of the recovery rooms in the infirmary. His right eye was still tightly bound in gauze.

Xavier slowly moved his eyes down his body. He was badly burned, and bruised. As his eye made it to his stomachehe saw, with a slight feeling of detachment, the SeeD nurse rubbing a slightly green cream on to his burns. Slowly the burns and bruises started to fade. Very slowly. Xavier took a deep breath and let it out.

"Oh, so you're finally awake. I hope you're in a better mood this time?" She said as she continued to apply the cream in very liberal amounts as she got to the more serious burns.

"What the hell happened to me?" Xavier asked in a very stained weak voice.

"Donno, about a week ago you were brought in here."

More cream, more burns were soothed. Slightly.

"Why?"

"Well, as far as any one can tell some one put a stop spell on you. Then they proceeded to beat the shit out of you. And then thought it would be a great idea to set off a flash bang in front of your unprotected eyes." The nurse replied as her hands deftly moved over the burns, and bruises on his chest.

Xavier stared blankly at the ceiling as she continued to talk and work.

"This more than likely caused you to lose it, and you torched a good chunk of the training grounds."

She lifted up his right arm and applied a large amount to it. Especially the hand.

"Good thing your friends were there. Other wise you probably would not be here now."

Xavier just laid there staring at the ceiling as she finished her work. This included some very painful eye drops to his damaged eyes. She promised a very skilled white mage would be here soon.

Xavier ignored her as she worked trying desperately to make sense of that all too real feeling dream he had.

Six Hours Latter

Drake stepped through the doors to the infirmary holding a small paper bag. The smell of sanitizer and other various disinfectants asaulted his sensitive nose as he approached the front desk.

"Ah Drake, here to visit Xavier are we?" The doctor asked as he approached.

"Yes Dr. Greene. Is he awake finally?" Drake asked saluting the middle-aged doctor.

"Yes he is Drake. He woke up about six hours ago." She said as she got up from her chair.

Doctor Greene was a very attractive middle-aged woman. She had transferred in from Deling after the last doctor retired some twelve years ago now.

"And how are you doing today Drake? I see that Zella helped you wrap your tail today."

Drake immediately whipped his tail around in front of him and grabbed it. Sure enough "Z" had bound the tip of his tail with a pink ace bandage. Drake cursed under his breath as he let his tail fall to the ground behind him. A tiwing of pain shot up his tail reminding him that he had sprung it on the last landing. But that had been the least of it. He had to post pone his tests because he had gotten a hair-line fracture in his leg that would not allow him to jump.

"I am doing better now thanks to those potions you gave me."

"I am glad Drake."

"What did you all put in those by the way?"

"Oh all the usual. Then a little extra of this, that, and the next."

"Oh... Do I wanna know what the usual are?"

"Just some herbs and the such grown out in instructor Kinneas's Green house."

They walked in silence for a little bit as Drake went over the possible list of herbs that could have gone into that horrid smelling potion.

"By the way Drake, is that a snack for Xavier?"

"Yes ma'am. I figured that he would be aching for a good meal."

"What did you bring him? It smells good"

Drake hesitated before answering.

"I brought him a breaded chocobo breast sandwich." Drake said.

He took all of a dozen steps before realizing that the good doctor wasn't walking by him any more. Slowly Drake turned around knowing full well what he would find. Sure enough there she was giving him this confused look.

"He likes to eat chocobo meat?"

"Yes ma'am claims nothing tastes better. I think he is nuts."

"Where did you get that meat Drake? Chocobo are a protected animal."

"He orders it from a legal Chocobo farm somewhere near Deling."

Drake watched as she worked it over in her head that some one would actually eat a chocobo. She obviously was like so many others that thought that Chocobos were the greatest thing in the world. As far as Drake was concerned they served their purpose. He agreed with the masses though that they were a magnificent animal. But like Xavier didn't see the big deal.

"Well if that is Xavier's thing so be it. I suppose he could be taking, or doing a lot worst." Dr. Greene said as they reached the door to Xavier's room.

It was empty.

The doctor and Drake looked in shock at the empty bed where Xavier should have been resting. Dr. Greene rushed forward and started looking frantically for Xavier. Drake bowed his head and started chuckling to him self. He didn't have to look to know that Xavier had been gone for several hours. Looking up Drake could make a more than educated guess about how Xavier had gotten away. The window just above the bed stood wide open. The breeze was gently blowing the curtain into the room as Drake went and looked out of it.

The sound of Dr. Greene talking brought Drake back to the room.

"He was still here five hours ago when the white mage had left after fixing his eyes. And he took all the potions and extra ingredients."

This time Drake did laugh as he walked out of the room to go find "Z" for a quick bite to eat before he went and trained for his up coming magic test.

Cafeteria

Drake walked through the super packed café, tray held high over his head. Drake thought he must look ridiculous ducking, and weaving as to not get ran into. With a huge sigh of relief Drake set his tray down on the table that "Z" had held for them.

"My God. You would think that no one had ever experienced a finals month." Drake said as he watched a young red headed girl stumble by carefully balancing a dozen books, a tray of food, and two guns. She sat down at the table next to them with the girl that Drake had questioned the night Xavier had torched the training center.

She shot Drake a withering glare with her one red-eye, and one orange eye. Drake just looked at her as she hastily pulled a black mage pointed hat on to cover her eyes from view.

"What?" "Z" asked turning around to look at the girls as they went over their notes.

"Nothing, she just has some really odd eyes that's all."

Drake thought about this for a minute his own reptilian like eyes staring off into nothing as he mindlessly munched on the tacos he had ordered.

"You know..." "Z" said around a mouth full of hot dog.

"The age of the students taking the finals this term is really low." Thankfully she swallowed before continuing.

"I heard that there is an eleven year old taking the tests this term. That's fucking insane." She picked up another hot dog and hastily started eating it.

"Yeah, absolutely insane. Though from what I am to understand Xavier is the oldest student to ever take the tests." Drake thought about what he had just said.

"Defiantly, they usually kick students out at like 23. Don't they?"

"Z" thought about this as she shoved the last bit of hot dog into her mouth. Apparently coming to a conclusion she happily picked up her last hot dog and took a bite.

"I don't know."

"Thanks "Z". You're such fountain of knowledge." Drake said picking up his last taco and leaning forward to take the first bite. When suddenly a kid walking by caught a wad of mashed potatoes to the face that sent him sprawling.

Drake, and "Z" stopped eating long enough to look at the poor kid.

"You missed John." Drake said with out emotion

"You moved freak." Big John said stepping up to the table.

The two men stared each other down. "Z" watched as the other two members of team John fell in behind Big John. The air was thick with tension between the two.

"Now what do you think we should do about this freaks. You don't have "X" here to save your ass this time." Big John said right into Drakes face. The stench of the liver and onions that he had just got done eating was enough to make Drake vomit.

"I don't need "X" to beat your asses. Unlike you, were it took all three to beat him." Drake said with a smirk. He could tell that it wouldn't take much to set them off. He could already see the vanes in Big Johns head starting to bulge as his temper rose. Jon O. though was just waiting for an excuse to level Drake.

Drake also noticed that they had the attention of the entire Cafeteria.

"Oh yeah, that's right. Did you know that Xavier came up missing this morning." Drake said the smirk growing on his face.

"What! He hadn't even woke up yet yesterday." Big John stammered.

Drake noticed that the other two members of team John got the implication right away. Big John would need it spelled out for him as usual.

"No one knows where he is not even me. But I can take a great guess about what he is doing now." Drake finished.

Realization dawned on Big John. He like every one else knew that "X" would be coming for them.

"You scaly son-of-a-Bitch!" Big John yelled as he through a wild punch at Drake.

Drake rolled with the punch and judo through Big John over him and "Z"s table. With a shower of mashed potatoes and other steamed veggies Big John landed right between the black mage and gunner that had been studying at the next table.

The two girls looked up from their studies completely covered in there lunches. The black mage glared at Drake as she whipped mashed potatoes off of her face.

Drake spotted an open window three tables over and formulated a plan. With out a second thought Drake raised his fists in to the air and bellowed at the top of his lungs. "FOOD FIGHT!!"

All hell broke loose as every student who had food hurled it at some one else. The black mage took a hand full of potatoes and froze them. She then lined up and hurled it at Drake.

Drake dodged at the last second. The frozen potatoes caught Jon O. right between the eyes as he was coming up behind Drake to dump his tray on him. Johnalooked down at Jon O. and charged "Z".

"Z" took just enough time to swallow her bite of hot dog before she stepped out of Johnas way and tripped her in the process. Johnasailed through the air and landed right on Big John who was just getting up. The gunner and mage found themselves once again covered in food due to an action by team X-Treme.

Drake shrugged at them as he stuffed the majority of his last taco in his mouth and grabbed "Z".

"No, Fucking let me go and kick her ass." "Z" yelled as she thrashed under Drakes arm.

"No, I don't wanna be here when disciplinary gets here." Drake said opening up the window all the way.

With one look up "Z" hurled her last hot dog right in to Johnas gaping mouth. Drake jumped.

HOURS LATER

Eric Masters looked at the giant mess that had become the cafeteria. Quists was still storming around surveying the damage, taking notes about who would be serving what punishment for the disaster. Xqu came up to Eric shaking her head.

"These spats between your team and team John are getting out of hand."

Eric just nodded his head.

"How much further do they need to go before they are stopped?"

Eric calmly looked down into Xqu'sface as he kicked a soda can that had been under foot.

"Come now my dear. This was just a harmless inter-school food fight. No one but Jon O. really got hurt." Eric said in a smooth tone that he hoped would diffuse the smaller woman's anger.

"Yes Eric, this was relatively harmless. But what about the attack on Xavier Lofbrah?" Xqu asked waiting to see how Eric would sweet talk his way out of the topic.

Eric looked back down at the floor.

"The training grounds were completely destroyed. It cost the government hundreds of thousands of tax payer's dollars." Xqu continued to vent on Eric as if he were a mere student.

As Eric was deciding that it would be a good idea to passive-aggressively ignore her, something caught his eye that made him smile.

"What is so amusing Eric?" Xqu yelled at him.

"My team wasn't even here for the brunt of it."

"What do you mean?"

Eric pointed at his foot. Xqu looked down at a small pile of taco meat and fixings, and right in front of it was a large open window.

Xqu looked at the evidence dumb founded.

"Drake started the food fight to avoid an even bigger fight." Eric said placing words to Xqu quiet thoughts.

"A fight that Drake, and Zella would not have likely won because there was no room to truly maneuver in here." Eric continued gloating about his student's excellent strategy.

"Especially since not even Drake knows where Xavier is." Eric finished as he walked away from a fuming Xqu.

DORMS - SAME TIME

Drake unlocked the door to Xavier, and his dorm with a weary sigh. He knew full well that he would be getting a detention detail soon for the food fight. But at least he had not been there when the disciplinary comity got there. Drake groaned again as he pulled his sneakers off his sore feet. Without his boots on jumping was hard on the legs, especially the feet. The thought of going to the gym in the sub-sub-basement and relaxing in the hot tub sounded very appealing. Not bothering to check his messages on his answering machine or his computer, he staggered right in to his room and grabbed his swimming trunks and a couple of towels.

As Drake was slipping into a standard pair of sandals, "X" and he had a very lengthy debate over the different types once, two things caught his eye. First both his answering machine and his laptop was flashing that he had urgent messages. And second, Xavier's gear was missing. Drake dropped his duffel and ran into Xavier's room to make sure he had seen what he thought he saw.

Sure enough, Xavier's Gun blade, Pouch of holding, and throwing knives were missing. On a whim Drake looked to Xavier's night stand. He was not surprised to see that "Xs" sake jug was missing. However the Al Bhedpotion with the orange feather on it that "X" had received from a far away friend was still in its glass case. Drake let out a sigh of relief and decided he needed to go to the roof and smoke before going to the gym.

As Drake entered the living area he got bowled over by "Z".

"Drake have you checked your messages yet?" "Z" asked from where she sat on Drakes chest.

Drake wasn't hurt, just winded, but his view was spectacular at the moment so he didn't make to get up right away; for though Drake didn't have a large affinity for human women, he had to admit that "Z" was fairly striking, especially when she was winded on a cold day.

"Z" gave Drake a dumb look for all of three seconds before she realized that Drake was staring at her heaving chest.

CRACK

Drake never thought it was entirely possible to have the taste slapped out of ones mouth. But as he was making a mental note to consume unhealthy amounts of aspirin before smoking, he realized that his next meal was going to be an adventure.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT GIRL!" Drake said as he slowly got up.

"I came over here to ask you if you had checked your messages yet. Not have you gawk at my tits." "Z" said in an offended way. Drake almost believed that she was offended but knew her better than that. Though she did look upset, which was very unusual for "Z?"

Getting up Drake rubbed his jaw and hit play on his answering machine. But there was only one message telling him that "Z" and he had to polish all the class room windows on the second floor and higher. From the outside. With nothing but a grappling hook and a rope.

"Is that what you're so hot and bothered about?"

"No, you tool. I meant your Instant messenger, not your answering machine."

Drake logged into his computer and was assaulted by messages. He got one from Dr. Greene asking him if he had found Xavier and if so to drag him back to the infirmary, He got one from Mr. Masters reminding him of his up coming exams in blue magic, summoning, and jumping. He got one from Head-master Leonheart asking him if he knew where Xavier was, or what he was planning. It went on to basically tell him he would not get in trouble if he revealed Xavier's whereabouts. And the last message was from Xavier.

Drake,

_ I do not need to tell you what I am up to because you already know. I will be back in time for the big test next week. However, do not. I repeat DO NOT try to find me. You will not be able to. But keep your eyes and ears open. You'll know when it happens. See you in one week._

_ "X"_

Drake didn't know how well the techies were down in network security. But he deleted the message immediately. He then made a note to visit his friend that worked in network security, and see if she couldn't accidentally make his message history file permanently disappear. Drake straightened as he worked this new information over in his head.

"Well are you just gonna stand there? Or are you gonna do something about this?" "Z" asked impatiently hands firmly planted on her petite hips.

Drake gave her a shit eating grin. "Yeah I'm gonna do something."

"What?" a small trace of apprehension in her voice.

"Nothing, notta, precisely dick."

"Z's" jaw dropped.

Drake placed a finger under her chin and closed her gaping mouth.

"What do you mean nothing?"

"Xavier doesn't want us to interfere. So that's exactly what we are going to do. We are going to go about our lives as if nothing is a-miss."

With that Drake picked up his duffel and left his room to go and talk to his friend in network security, and then go and soak in the hot tub. "Z" just stood there and for once in her life was at a loss for words. Drake came back and steered her out of his room and in to hers.

FIVE DAYS LATTER

And with sudden finality the door to Drake and Xavier's dorm exploded in ward. Drake, and "Z" sat bolt upright in Drakes bed both struggling to cover their naked selves with Drakes bedding.

"WHAT THE FUCK? WHO'S FUCKING THERE?"

All the sudden in strutted "X" in nothing but a canary yellow pair of Speedos, swinging a chokobodrum stick over his head.

Xavier started making odd sounds like those in a bad porno. Drake and "Z" looked at each other.

"GOT THE PORNO MUSIC PLAYIN." Xavier started singing. Poorly

"GOT THE SPEEDOA SWAYING." "X" continued singing, and now making odd thrusting actions with his hips.

"GOT THE CHOCOBO __DRUMB_ STICK SWING OVER MY HEAD."_"X" sang as he added in the swinging of the drum stick to his little spectacle.

Drake and "Z" just continued to stare at "X" as if he was the one caught with his pants down. Of which they were but now it was just getting odder, and odder.

All of the sudden "X" stopped and looked at the naked Drake, and "Z". A very wide shit eating grin broke across "X's" face. Drake, and "Z" embraced each other in horror.

"Drake! "Z"! What have we been doing. Now, Now we know better no sex between students. Gotta wait till your full fledged SeeD's."

"X" then made an execrated showing of thinking of something.

"Fuck it. ORGY! Is there room for one more?" "X" asked as he leapt into the air at his two best friends.....

Drake sat bolt up right in his bed sucking air like it was going out of style. He immediately made sure that he was alone in his bed. Then made sure that the front door was still there. On his way back to bed Drake threw away the Ham, pineapple, and Gyshalgreens pizza that was left over from him, and "Zs" cram session last night. He also made a point to dump the herbal tea as well. Both of which were "Zs" idea because Drake was so, "Oh what was the word that she used?" "Flighty" what ever the fuck that means.

As Drake was crawling back into bed he seriously wondered that if the pizza and tea combo gave him that messed up of a dream, what was "Z" dreaming. On second thought he didn't want to know.

ACROSS THE HALL EXACT SAME TIME

"Z" stood in the middle of a field of hot dogs that were the size of her, and all singing. With a joy full squeal "Z" through her arms wide and fell backwards in total bliss. When she opened her eyes her view was obscured by "X" and Drake towering over her, grim-faced and wearing hot dog suits.

"Hey guys how's it going?"

With that they both smiled and helped her up. They then proceeded to eat hot dogs, sing, and dance the day away.....

In her bed Zella had a huge grin on her face and was humming in her sleep. The stuffed hot dog that she got from Drake and "X" last year for Christmas clutched firmly to her chest.

DAY SIX

"Big" John entered the front door of his room. It had been almost a week since Drake had told him and the rest of the world that useless piece of shit Xavier was on the loose and coming for him. One week, and no sign from Xavier. So far though the week had been good. He had passed all of his finals, barely, save the final exam that would take place next week. He had beaten the snot out of some junior class men for fun, and took their lunch money.

"Yeah it has been a good week."

"Big" John walked over to a coffee table and turned on a lamp. John looked up and nearly jumped out of his skin.

"It's nice to know that even when I am not around my team can still out smart you."

John brought his machine gun up in a heart beat. But before it could be brought to bear on his intruder something flashed. John was dimly aware of his gun splitting in two, the long way. John looked back up at his assailant. Faster than he could see he was struck in the solar plexus. Darkness swiftly took "Big" John into oblivion.

"Sleep well, you fucking hick." Was the last thing that John heard.

CAFITIRA** HALL WAY**

"Z" skipped down the cafeteria hall lost in her own little world. So far her finals week had gone great. She had kept up with her father, and mother during her fighter finals. She had squeaked by on her warrior magic finals. She aced all her tactical, and strategy finals. And now. Now she was on her way to get some much deserved hot dogs.

As she pushed the door open to the café though she heard a familiar voice. JohnaRaven, and Jon O were just on the other side of the door talking. So for fun "Z" decided to listen.

"What do you mean you haven't seen him Johna?"

"I told you that I don't have time for your foolish games Jon. That and I have been to busy to even see if he had any plans or not."

"Damn it, he was supposed to meet me here for breakfast, but he never showed up."

"Obviously since you are still here asking me where he is."

"He has been missing all day. Missed all of his finals."

"I'll keep my eyes open for him."

With that Johnapushed open the door. "Z" jumped behind a plant to hide her self from the melodramatic black mage as she made her way down the hall.

"Hmm. Very interesting Big John is missing." "Z" thought as she entered the café. She noticed that poor Jon O looked completely lost to the rest of the world.

"Oh well. I wonder if Drake knows yet."

"Z" instantly started humming, and skipping again as she pulled out her P.D.A. to tell Drake as she waited in line for her turn at the counter.

STUDENT DORMS

Johnaopened her door fully intending to sit at her desk and write some poetry before her next test. But as she flipped the switch for the lights nothing happened. Puzzled she flipped it two or three more times before giving up.

"Oh well it is fitting that these damn things don't work." She said out loud just to hear her self be depressed.

"My room might as well be as dark as the void that is going to swallow the planet in a few centuries any way."

Johnamade her way to her desk in the dark to turn on her desk lamp. However when she got there the lamp was missing. Johnalet out an irritated sigh and light a fire ballin her hands.

As the light filled the room it illuminated the last person she thought she would see. Before she could react a stop spell was cast on her. Johnacouldn't move as Xavier moved closer to her, his reflective eyes shining brightly with the maddens with in.

"Johna, Johna, Johna. So much talent, all wasted on crappy poetry for a depression that is faker than a double D tit job, and being the team John magical grunt." Xavier whispered so close to her face that she could smell his foul breath.

"Why Johna. Why do you let your self be used by a raving red neck, and a stoner that have no use for you other than to cover there unskilled asses." Xavier said his face still really close to hers.

She suddenly realized that Xavier was close enough that if he wanted to he could kiss her. The thought didn't bother her. She often caught her self fantasizing about a tall, handsome man whisking her away to live happily ever after. Then reality crashed in as she remembered that she was rather plain. So she felt rather unattractive.

"Oh what is this. Is JohnaRaven the coldest bitch in all of garden blushing? I would never have thought it possible." Xavier said brushing a finger over her reddening cheek.

Johnas happy bubble burst as she realized that Xavier had mocked her the entire time. With a mighty exertion of will Johnabroke the stop spell.

"How dare you play with my emotions Xavier." Johnascreamed as she through a mighty gout of fire at Xavier. Xavier dodged away with ease.

"You will never know what it is like to be an out cast, to be found completely unattractive." Again Xavier easily avoided the fire spell.

"To be unwanted, even by your own team mates because you are so ugly." This time she swung her staff at Xavier because he was so close. Xavier easily parried the swing with his gun blade. The shot from the gun blade nearly ripping Johnas arm out of joint. She swung again. This time when magical staff met super keen gun blade the shot clove the staff in two. The upper part fell to the ground.

Johnathroughdown the other half of her staff and ran at Xavier in an attempt to catch him off guard. But Xavier did the surprising as he through down his gun blade and swept Johnaoff of her feet, and into his arms as she came flying at him. Before she had time to be surprised Xavier swung her around and side-walk slammed her right to the floor.

"I... thought... you... never... hit... women?" Johnagasped from the ground.

"I don't and I didn't. I restrained and threw you. Big difference." Xavier said still holding her down. Thinking quickly back on the semester of self defense that every student was made to take Johnacurled her legs up to her chest, and kicked with all of her strength. Amused, Xavier let go and jumped up. Johnarolled backwards, and up on to her feet.

"WHAT? DOSE IT AMUSE YOU THAT I MUST STRUGGLE SO! IT MUST BE NICE TO BE SO PHYSICALYPERFECT!" Johnascreamed at Xavier.

"You know for all your lamenting on looks, and struggling to do something because of your physical weaknesses, I don't exactly remember you trying to stop "Big" John from setting off that flash grenade in front of my exposed eyes."

Johnawilted a little.

"I just do what I am told by my team leader."

"Oh yeah, and how long are you gonna continue to take orders from some one who is below you in every conceivable way?"

"At least He acknowledges me."

"And how long do you think that will last?"

Johnaswung at Xavier again. Xavier easily caught the punch in his hand. He also caught the next one too. With one fluid motion Xavier spun Johnaaround. He never let go of her hands though so she ended up pinned with her back to Xavier's well muscled chest, her own arms crossed over her chest, hands held fast at opposite shoulders by Xavier's firm grip.

"Let me go you bastard."

"No, I want you to see something first."

With that Xavier maneuvered her into the bathroom, never once letting go of her, till she was right in front of the mirror above the sink.

"Look in to the mirror Johna." Xavier said in a near whisper.

Johnapointedly hung her head, refusing to look at her ugly self in the mirror.

"Look into the mirror Johna." Xavier repeated a little firmer than he intended.

Johnalooked up in to the mirror, and just stared at the helpless reflection of her self looking back.

"You look at your self every day in disgust because you think that you are plain. You believe that you are unremarkable." Xavier said in a near whisper again almost right in her ear. Johnajust continued to stare at the week frail girl who was staring back at her. She saw her reflections eyes start to brim with tears at the sight of her ugly self.

"You have your self so convinced that you are ugly and undesirable that those around you, including your own team mates, start to believe it. And they too start to ignore you, and discredit you, and your abilities."

Johnadropped her head again and started to weep uncontrollably. Xavier let go of Johnas hands, but they stayed there in a self hug as her feet gave way and she sank to the floor. Sighing Xavier helped her up to her feet. This wasn't going as planned. He hadn't counted on her breaking the stop spell, but he had one trick left, a very strong sleeping potion. However he knew he would have to force her to take it, she would never take it willingly.

Xavier reached deep into his pouch of holding and pulled out the capsule filled with the thick yellow liquid. He quickly tossed it into his mouth and waited for the shell to dissolve.

Johnafelt Xavier shift behind her as he was rubbing her back trying to make her feel better.

"If you didn't wanna make me cry, then why be so blunt with me." She thought to her self.

Suddenly Xavier spun her around and caught her in a hug. Johnawas completely caught off guard. No one had hugged her in such a long time. She had almost forgot what it felt like to be hugged. Johnathrough her arms around Xavier as best she could because he was much bigger than her, and proceeded to cry harder in to his exposed chest. He tightened his grip in response. She had forgotten how good it felt to receive a truly honest hug that she didn't pull away or look away when Xavier tilted her head back and kissed her.

Johna had never been kissed before either, so she didn't question when all the sudden the kiss tasted bitter. The sleeping potions effect hit her as soon as it hit her stomach. Xavier never let her hit the ground. As gently as he could he laid her on her bed, and turned on her lap top.

Johna,

_ I'm sorry I deceived you as I did. I did not think you would get out of my stop spell. I underestimated you, and for that I am sorry. I am also sorry that I deceived you the way I did. But for what it is worth you are a very good kisser, and will make some one very happy some day. I hope they do the same for you. More over every thing I told you was absolutely true, and I told it to you so that you would not slip into true depression and go against SeeD or worst yet kill your self. I hope you can forgive me, but you did attack me so that is why I left you the way that I did. If ever you need to talk to some one who you know will listen, call me and I will listen._

"X"

Xavier put his e-mail and PDA number in the message too before closing it. He then hefted Johnas lithe body over his shoulder. "God could she stand to gain a few pounds" And then jumped out the window.