Dedication: To all who read, review, and love.... o.O... *giggles*
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~The Heart Of a Lion... But The Soul Of a Man~
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~Prologue~
~~The Angel Comes and It Goes...
' Mom and dad aren't going to be too happy to find that I decided to go swimming in a puddle of mud. '
He blinked and then frowned as he found himself peering up into a pair of wide shocked chocolate brown eyes. He grunted lightly as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. His attacker crouched down on her hunches and looked at him
" I-I didn't hurt you, did I? ", she asked gently.
He ran a hand over his face to try and wipe off the water and mud. He shook his head slowly and looked at her with narrowed sapphire blue eyes, " No, but why don't you watch where you're going next time? ", he suggested bitterly.
' Who is she? She must be new... I haven't seen her around here at all... '
She bit her lip and brushed aside some of her shoulder length raven black hair that fell from it's place behind her ear, " I-I'm sorry.... did I... offend you in any way? "
He sighed and then stood up. He reached down and tried to wipe off the rest of the mud that was splashed across the front of his light yellow t-shirt. The girl stood up as well, smoothed away the wrinkles that had appeared in her short pink dress and watched him with curious eyes, " Do you live over there, in Winhill? ", she asked as she pointed to the little town from where she stood in the fields which came up to her stomach.
He looked at her and his angered eyes softened just a touch.
' She looks like an... angel. '
He nodded slowly, " Yes... where do you live? "
She smiled lightly and scratched her head, " I live in Derling City... with my daddy and mommy. My name's Rinoa Heartilly. What's yours? We're spending time in Winhill. Do you have a mommy and daddy? "
He nodded, " Yes... ", he then frowned. " I'm Squall Leonhart.... "
Rinoa smiled at him again, " That's a pretty name... are they nice? "
Squall frowned and then self-consciously rubbed the smooth skin between his eyebrows, " Yes. Why do you ask? "
Rinoa bit her small lower pink lip and shrugged, " I don't know. I guess because some mommies and daddies aren't nice.... "
Squall watched her soft featured face and then cocked his head to the side, " Why are you here in Winhill? "
" I... I don't know. Daddy said that he wanted to get away from... his work back home to spend time with his family. "
" Oh... w-would you like to come home with me to play? ", Squall asked lightly, almost shyly.
Rinoa giggled and then nodded, " Alright. Mommy and Daddy are there probably talking with some of the older people... but I will go home with you to play. "
Squall smiled and nodded as he reached over and unexpectantly took her by the hand and led her into the town. Rinoa blushed behind her hair as he tightened his grip on her hand. He bit his lip and grounded to a halt as he stood in the middle the now dead quiet town.
Rinoa bumped into him again and he grunted lightly. She looked around frowning, " Where is everyone? ", she piped up quietly from behind him.
Squall looked around and then took his hand from hers to scratch his head in question, " I... I don't know. Everyone was here when I left, but now they're all gone. "
Rinoa nodded, " I know. S-squall... would they all be in the bar? ", she asked, her small voice taking on a hint of hope.
Squall shrugged, " I don't know, Rinoa... I'm going to go and check. Will you come with me, or do you want to stay here? "
"....I guess I'll come with you. I'm scared, Squall....", she whispered softly as she reached out to clutch his arm.
Squall patted her hand awkwardly, " It'll be alright. I'll protect you if we get into trouble... alright? "
Rinoa nodded, " O-okay... you promise? "
Squall looked over his shoulder and suddenly smiled at her, " Of course...."
Rinoa smiled back and released his arm. Squall slowly and quietly made his way towards the little bar his mother owned. He swallowed slightly as he walked up the step to stand in front of the closed door. There were no sounds coming from the other side and that puzzled his little eight year old mind to complete confusion.
Rinoa looked around the empty town over her shoulder and didn't notice the strange tall figure leaning casually up against the house across from them in the light shadows. She turned her attention back to the closed door.
Squall looked over his shoulder, " You alright? "
Rinoa looked at him and nodded, " Y-yes... I'll be fine... "
" Okay... I'm going to go inside now... stay close...", his little voice hinting a major note of seriousness.
Rinoa nodded and watched him as he pushed the oak door open. She hugged her arms to her chest for comfort as a sudden draft brushed across her bare arms. She gasped inwardly and took a step back. Squall stood in the doorway and blinked hard as he stared at the bodies sprawled out all over the bar floor and on the tabletops.
He closed his eyes and shook his head, muttering, " T-this isn't happening. Where's mother? Where's Ellone... I want sis...."
Rinoa tried to look over Squall's trembling shoulders, but she wasn't tall enough. She reached out and gently placed a warm, small hand on his shoulder. He jumped and whirled around to face her. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he began to hiccup quietly, " R-r-rinoa... *hic*.... we have to g - *hic* away. S-something's not *hic* - ght here. "
Rinoa blinked as she watched his tears fall. She felt her lower lip tremble as tears of her own brimmed her eyes.
She nodded slowly, " S-squall... where's my mommy? I want my daddy....", she began, but he cut her off by placing a trembling finger to her lips.
Squall shook his head, " W-we can't. Not now.... *hic*...close your eyes. Alright? "
Rinoa nodded slowly and did as she was told, the tears then slid down her cheeks, " A-alright. Now what? "
Squall reached out and grabbed her hand. He walked into the bar and guided her up to the stairs where they walked to the upstairs room of the bar, where his mother and father usually sat and talked with customers about adults things.
" We're almost there. Just hang on and keep your eyes closed. ", Squall instructed.
Rinoa nodded, " W-where are we going? "
" I'm going to see if my mom or dad are upstairs..."
" Ok..."
Squall pushed open the door and slipped Rinoa's hand from his. He turned and looked at her, " Okay... open your eyes. I want you to stay here.... don't go outside just yet. Not until I'm done taking to my mom or dad. Alright? "
Rinoa nodded and looked at him with scared eyes. Squall reached out and gently trousled her hair, " It's going to be alright. Okay... just don't worry. I'm going to get you back to your mom and dad. ", he assured her.
Rinoa smiled lightly through her tears and nodded, " Okay... "
Squall left her to stand by herself, leaned up against the door, with her head bowed. He walked up the rest of the stairs to find no one in the room. He frowned deeply and walked over to the closet. Squall pulled open the doors and would've cried out loud, but the body that fell out and landed on top of him muffled his cries of shock and surprise.
Squall fell to the ground, banging the back of his head against the floor hard. He groaned lightly and rubbed at his head, completely forgetting about the heavy body on top of him. Rinoa's small voice flooded up from the small set of stairs, " Squall? Y-you alright over there? "
He groaned and nodded absentmindedly, " I-I think so... just stay there. I'm coming back... "
Rinoa nodded and remained silent, waiting for him to return. Squall reached over and roughly pushed the body aside so he could stand up on wobbly legs. He knitted his brows as he peered down into the pale and blood streaked face of his mother - Raine Loire.
His father and Ellone were no where in sight. Not even in the little town. Squall shook his head and backed away, " N-no... mom? You can't be d-dead... where's dad? Why isn't he here? " , he asked her.
Squall got no response from her, but he got something from Rinoa, " Squall? Y-you alright? ", she asked as she began to make her way up the stairs towards him.
Squall heard the floorboards creak and he whirled around," No! Just stay there... don't get involved with this just yet...", he called out.
Rinoa swallowed, stopped and then sat down on the step, wondering what was going on.
Squall walked over to his mother's dead body and knelt down. He reached out and gently traced her cheek with small, chubby fingers. Her blue eyes that were so full of life before were now wide as saucers and lifeless. Her small mouth was set in grim determination of protecting something. Him? Her family? Herself?
Squall was so busy thinking about his mother that Rinoa's shrieks didn't pierce his mind till he heard the door leading to the bar slam shut.
' Rinoa! '
Squall's head snapped up and he jumped up. He ran to the stairs, knocking the fish bowl that was sitting comfortably on the little table by the staircase onto the ground, spilling the contents and it's owner out onto the ground.' No... I promised to protect her. She's all I have now... this isn't fair... where's sis? Where's dad? ', he thought as he raced down the stairs.
Rinoa's voice suddenly cried out to him, " S-squall... the fields! Look for me there! I'll be there... I promise.... "
' No! I won't... Rinoa, you can't... fight him. ', he pleaded silently. ' I promised to protect her and now she's being taken away from me. I didn't even get a chance! '
Squall shook his head not wanting to believe anything she just said and ran down the stairs as fast as his legs would allow him and then weaved his way through the sea of bodies. It was raining outside at the moment. He could hear it banging down upon the roof when he was upstairs.
He threw open the door and ran out into the open to watch as Rinoa outstretched her hand to him, her little and scared face streaked with tears, blood, and the rain that fell.
Squall ran to catch up with her, his little blue sneakers making sploshing sounds in the puddles, outstretching his hand to her, praying that she would be safe and that he'd be able to get her back, " Rinoa... don't! ", he cried out as he continued to run with all his might though the heavy downpour of the rain.
He heard approaching footsteps suddenly to his right and when he whirled around blinded by the rain and tears, he wasn't quick enough to spot whoever smacked something on the back of his head, sending him into the eerie darkness that awaited him, the little girl named Rinoa Heartilly's sobs and cries haunting him the entire way....
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~Chapter 1~
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~~Memories~~
//Nine years later\\
" Come on, Squall! You're going to be late for the graduation. ", Zell hollered from the other side of the closed door as he began to pound loudly on it.
Squall Leonhart groaned inwardly as he sat up slowly. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and rested his head in his hands. Something was tugging at the end of his mind and it was annoying him to great lengths. He frowned lightly and then ran a hand through his thick short brown hair.
" Count on Zell to be your personal alarm clock. ", he muttered under his breath sarcastically as he stood up and stretched the stiff knots from his back.
" Don't make me bust down this damn door, Squall! At least holler back to give us a sign that you're alive and kicking in there... ", Zell called out.
" Yeah! Come on, Squall... don't be such a party pooper! ", Selphie Tilmitt's voice followed.
Squall then groaned loudly and Zell chuckled, " I heard something! He's alive.... "
Squall couldn't help but smile lightly at his stupidity. He shook his head as he crossed the room to his closet where he opened the doors slowly only to fall to the ground as he felt something heavy fall on top of him. He groaned lightly as the back of his head hit the floor hard. He sat up and went to push whatever had fallen onto him off, but his hands passed through air.
There was nothing there...
Squall knitted his brows together and stood up slowly, rubbing the back of his head and muttering, " What the hell was that all about? ", he shook his head to try and clear it.
The was a loud pounding at the door and Zell's voice called out to him, he sounded worried, " Squall? You alright in there? We heard a noise...."
Squall frowned, " Yeah! Me hitting the ground. Now, will you leave me alone in peace for just one second so I can change without anyone watching over me? ", he questioned, hollering back.
There was silence on the other side of the door and he let out a breath of relief, ' Good, maybe they'll learn? '
Squall reached into the closet and pulled out his SeeD uniform. He walked over to his bed, carrying the uniform in hand...
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Zell Dincht frowned deeply as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned up against the wall. Selphie watched him from across the hall, " Whatcha thinking? He's going to be fine...."
" You heard the noise... didn't you? ", Zell asked eagerly.
Irvine Kinneas nodded, " Yeah... I heard it, didn't you hear it, Selph? "
Selphie turned to flash Irvine a dirty look with her emerald green eyes that always sparkled with unknown mischief, " I did! ", she told him. " But, I think Squall can take care of himself. Don't you? I don't think that he needs us watching over his shoulder twenty-four seven...."
Zell sighed and shook his head, " Look... he's already been in there for how long now? "
Selphie pursed her lips together and placed her hands on her hips, " Just stop it already! He'll come out in a little while, Zell. "
Irvine lifted an eyebrow and looked at Zell, " Aww, cheer up. At least you'll be dancing with that girl who you've been having your eye on. "
Zell suddenly smiled as her image showed up in his mind. He nodded, " Yeah... I guess you're right. "
Irvine nodded, " Yeah... and I heard that someone's suppose to show up at the graduation tonight as well. "
The door quietly opened and Squall stepped out into the hallway, trying to adjust his SeeD uniform. Zell looked up at him and smiled, " Well, it's about time you showed. "
Selphie frowned, " Cut it out, Zell! Hiya Squall... ready to party? ", she asked him as she grinned from ear to ear.
Squall looked at her frowning, " I'm not going to ' party '. I'm just going because Headmaster Cid wants me there to greet the person who'll be speaking at the graduation. "
Her smile slowly faded and she slowly turned and walked over to Irvine. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gently squeezed them affectionately, " It'll be alright, Selph! You have me..."
Selphie frowned suddenly and nodded slowly, " What good will that do me? You'll be off flirting with the other girls....", she mumbled unhappily.
Zell snickered and Irvine shot him a nasty look. Directing his attention back to Selphie, he sighed lightly and grabbed her hand, twining her fingers with his own, " Come on, Selph... I'll be there, spending my time with you the entire night. Don't worry.....", he assured her.
Selphie rolled her eyes sarcastically and mumbled, " That's what I don't feel like doing... worrying about you. But for tonight, I guess I'm stuck doing just that. "
Irvine lifted an eyebrow, Zell snickered again, and Squall tried not to smile once again that night. Shaking his head he turned and headed down the hall towards the vibrant sounds of music and chatter. Zell frowned as he watched Squall leave. He waved a hand in the air and chased after him, falling in step beside him he shoved his hands into the pockets of hiw own SeeD uniform and looked down at the ground.
" Hey, Squall? "
Squall kept his gaze to the ground, " Mmm? "
" Do you think Isabella will dance with me tonight? ", Zell asked shyly.
Squall blinked and then nodded, " Yeah, why wouldn't she? I mean... you're everything a girl could ever want in a guy. "
Zell's light blue eyes went wide. He stopped and stared after Squall, " W-what?! I don't really have a thing that a girl could want....", he frowned after considering Squall's word. " Name a couple of things..."
Squall sighed and stopped. He didn't have time for this. He turned to face Zell, " Well... you're honest. You never lie... well, hell...you can't lie. Um... ", he scratched the split skin between his eyebrows that was once smooth as a baby's bottom. " well... I can't think of anything else, because I don't know how girl's think, now do I? No.... there. Now, can we get going before we miss the guest speaker? "
Zell nodded slowly and then walked up to him and fell in step with him. Together they walked in silence towards the room full of music and chatter...
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Selphie turned her head so she could look at Irvine. Her short brown hair that curled upwards bounced lightly as she shook her head, " Irvine? Why do you think Zell is so.... attached to Squall? ", she asked lightly.
Irvine looked down at his girlfriend with tender blue eyes, " I don't know, Selph.... I don't know. Maybe because Squall use to be very good friend's with him back in the good old days. "
When he always used 'that' term, he meant back when all of them were living at the orphange with Matron.
Selphie nodded slowly, " Well... what happened to them? "
Irvine gave her hand a little squeeze, " They grew apart. Zell got adopted by Mrs. Dincht, Squall stayed behind at the orphange, and that was the end of that friendship. "
Selphie bit her lip, " How terrible...", she whispered.
Irvine nodded and remained silent. Selphie sighed lightly and looked at the passing ground beneath her feet as they both walked hand in hand towards the room. Selphie knitted her brows together, " I-irvine? What will become of us in the furture? "
Irvine suddenly looked down at her, " I... I don't really know, Selph. I guess we'll stay be together... always and forever...."
Selphie smiled gently and nodded, " Good! I don't ever want to lose you, Irvy. "
Irvine smiled down at her, " I don't ever want to lose you too Selph. I lost you once, but I found you. ", he brought her hand up to his lips and tenderly kissed it.
Selphie giggled and blushed a light pink. Irvine chuckled and then shook his head, muttering under his breath as they stepped in front of the twin glass doors, " Never ever do I want to have to go through another lifetime without you by my side.... "
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Rinoa Heartilly frowned disapprovingly as she watched her father, General Caraway, talking with Cid Kramer, the headmaster of Balamb Garden. She rolled her eyes and then stood up from the chair she was sitting in. She licked her lips and took a step to go and join in on the festivities surrounding her but she stopped and called out to her father over her shoulder, " Caraway! I'm going to grab something to drink.... don't get too worried. ", she snapped and then smirked as she slowly made her towards the punch bowl.
Rinoa really hated the white dress that she decided to wear at the last minute. Actually she kind of regretted even laying eyes upon it when she was digging through her closet full of clothes. The dress went down to end just above her knees. It was strapless and low-cut. She had also grabbed a silk transparent scarf that she just used to drape lazily over her shoulders.
She walked over to the punch bowl and scooped out a cup of punch. While she poured it into her cup, someone cried out to her right, " Ah! Behind the pillar... he'll be there... I promise! "
Rinoa blinked hard trying to understand the image that had just popped up into her mind at those words. A little boy with short brown hair and sapphire blue eyes, wearing a light yellow t-shirt that was soaked and stuck to his body like a second skin with his hand outstretched to her as if trying to reach out to her. The little voice then cried out in her mind, echoing as it faded out.
" ' Rinoa... don't! ' "
Rinoa frowned and shook her head, ' I think I should get more sleep....', she thought to herself as she turned and walked away from the punch bowl.
She walked down some steps to find herself standing at the very edge of the dance-floor. She watched in amazement and awe as the dancers danced to the Waltz for the Moon. She sighed lightly and shook her head, " you'll never catch me out there... I'd be dancing by myself..", she muttered as she turned and began to make her way to stand against a wall alone in the shadows.
Rinoa took a small sip of her drink and made a sour face, " Ugh! Someone must have spiked it already...."
She shook her head and then tossed the cup into the closet garbage bin she could find. She walked up to the wall and spotted a man about her own age leaning up against the wall. His head was bowed and his thick brown hair fell in front of his eyes. Rinoa cocked her head to the side and watched him
He looked up suddenly and spotted her. He frowned and then squinted his eyes to catch a closer glimpse of her. She giggled quietly and slowly made her way to him. When she was standing in front of him, she watched him as he took a sip of his wine.
Rinoa quietly cleared her throat, " Hello... who might you be? Why are you standing alone... over here? "
Squall looked at her with sapphire blue eyes and then shrugged lightly, " What are YOU doing over here? ", he countered with an uplift of the right side of his lips.
Rinoa knitted her brows together in confusion and then shrugged, " I came over here because I don't feel like sitting with my father all this time. And besides, I don't have a partner to dance with, so... I decided to join the shadows, since they are always alone....", she told him softly as she scratched her head lightly.
Squall nodded and remained silent. He took his final sip from the wineglass and then gently laid it on top of a serving tray that floated past them. He grazed a finger over his right eyebrow before looking up at the star filled sky through the glass dome roof.
Squall sighed lightly and Rinoa frowned, " What's the matter? "
He shook his head, " Nothing...."
" Oh..."
Silence.
Squall bit his lip and waited for something to happen. He turned his head to the side and found himself lost in a pair of sparkling chocolate coloured eyes, ' Those eyes....', he thought.
He shook his head and frowned, " Do you dance? ", he asked suddenly.
Rinoa chuckled lightly and nodded, " Yes... I've been waiting for someone to dance with me. But there's no one around who's available. I was going to go for that guy over there in the black cowboy hat, but I guess I can't anymore, now that that girl with the curled hair that points upwards won't let him out of her sight. "
Squall suddenly chuckled lightly. Rinoa lifted an eyebrow and then frowned, " What? What did I say? "
He shook his head still chuckling, " N-nothing.... I... those are my friends. ", he explained. " They're going out. "
Rinoa turned to watch them. Selphie was waving her arms around in the air and shouting and Irvine was backing away slowly with his hands held up in defense. She then laughed lightly, " They sure do make a good couple..."
Squall looked down at the ground and then shook his head, " They love each other. That's all that matters...."
Rinoa nodded and looked up at him, " I suppose you're right. "
The music for the Waltz slowly began and Rinoa unexpectantly grabbed his hand and began dragging him out onto the dance-floor, " Come on! We're going to miss in on the intro.... you know how to dance to this? ", she asked him suddenly.
Squall nodded, " Yes... done it million's of times...", he lied lightly through his teeth.
Rinoa lifted an eyebrow, " Well then. Let's just see how long you last then..."
Squall shrugged lightly and fell in step with her to the rhythm, " I will try...but don't blame me if I end up stepping on your dainty feet. ", he joked lightly.
What was he doing? He didn't even know the girl and he was already flirting with her. He groaned inwardedly and gave himself a mental shake as he stared down into her eyes and found himself completely lost. He then heard her cry out quietly enough for him to hear.
Squall blinked and looked down at her feet, feeling a warmness creep up into his cheeks, " I'm sorry... see? What did I tell you? ", he tried to laugh it off, but he just couldn't. Instead he sighed in sudden frustration and turned to leave.
Rinoa shook her head and muttered under her breath as she lunged at him and grabbed a hold of his forearm in a firm grip, " Oh, no you don't. You're going to dance with me weither you step on my damn feet all night long. "
Squall whirled around to face her, " What? "
Rinoa pressed her lips into a tight line, " Where are you going? The dance isn't finished. We still have to go through the last part. ", she reminded him.
Squall swallowed nervously as he spotted his friends standing at the edge of the dance-floor, waving to him and probably talking about him too, " I... yeah, I'm sorry. "
Rinoa sighed a quiet breath of relief and took her hands from his arm. Together they stood in the middle of it all, staring at each other with their opposite arms lifted in the air, their palms touching lightly. Then the band stormed down into the last part and Squall and Rinoa fell right into the rhythm of it all. Completely ignoring everyone around them until she stood with her palms pressed flat against his chest. His arms tightened around her slim waist as he pulled her to him.
Suddenly there was a big bang and a bright flash as the fireworks lit up the dark skies overhead. Rinoa and Squall watched in silence. Rinoa suddenly brought her eyes to gaze upon the side of his face. She noticed the scar running diagonially across the flesh between his serious eyebrows, fading a little as it ended on his cheek and she smiled gently.
She blinked and began to soak in other little details about that side of his nicely featured face...
Her eyes trailed from his strong and determined jaw up to the little sterling silver earring in his one ear up to his serious blue eyes straight to the scar. Squall blinked realizing that someone was watching him closely. He looked down to find Rinoa gazing up at him. He frowned lightly and knitted his brows together in question.
Rinoa flashed him a small smile and then looked over his broad wide shoulder to find her father waving at her, signaling that it was time.
Rinoa sighed quietly and then slowly pulled away from him. He looked at her, " What's wrong? "
She shook her head and held up a finger, placing it to his lips, " Don't speak another word. Look, I've got to go now. I'm sorry for just leaving you like this, but I have to meet someone. I'm running a little late too. ", she said rapidly as she watched her father wave his arms in the air frantically.
Squall opend his mouth to say something, but Rinoa brushed past him quickly, leaving him to watch her go with a look of confusion on his face...
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~
Caraway frowned and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched his daughter rush up to him. She tightened her scarf around her shoulders and then snapped, " What is it, Caraway? "
Caraway chuckled and uncrossed his arms, " It's time for the meeting. Did you not... want to go? "
Rinoa narrowed her eyes, " It's the only real reason why I'm here, Caraway and you know it. "
Caraway nodded, " I see... so, who was the young man who held you in his arms? Hmmm? "
Rinoa's hard features softened and she smiled lightly, " I... "
Her father lifted an eyebrow, " Well? "
" He never told me his name. ", she admitted lightly.
Caraway frowned, " Strange. Did you happen to tell him who you were? "
Rinoa shook her head, " I never got a chance to. ", she lied.
" Why not? ", he demanded.
Rinoa looked up at him and then sneered, " Why would you even care, Caraway? My life is my own affair, not yours. You go and run your little life and I'll run mine. Don't interfere..."
" Is that a threat coming from my very own daughter? ", he questioned her.
Rinoa shrugged and then began to walk towards the room where her father was going to be giving the SeeD graduates a speech. Caraway followed closely behind her and then entered the room which was starting to fill with SeeD's. Rinoa walked out onto the stage and took her place in the chair situated to the left of the podium.
She crossed a leg over the other and looked down at her hands. Her father walked out onto the stage and took his place at the podium. Every seat was full with SeeD's that had passed the SeeD exam.
Caraway cleared his throat and then lifted an arm into the air, telling everyone to be quiet now. Cid slowly made his way up onto the stage and whispered something to her father. She watched and tried to eavesdrop, only catching the name, Leonhart. She frowned and watched as Cid stepped off the stage to cross the room and talk to someone standing by the far door.
Rinoa scanned the room slowly and found no one who she recognised so she sighed lightly and looked down at her hands again. Caraway looked around and saw that everyone was watching him.
' Good...', he thought as he smiled briefly. " Welcome. I'm sure you are all happy that you can finally be called the true SeeD's of Balamb Garden. I'm also sure that your headmaster, Cid, is also happy for you. I'm General Caraway from Derling city. I was asked... well I wanted to just drop by and congratulate you all on becoming SeeD's. "
He stopped and then scratched his chin before continuing once again, " I was wondering about what some of you SeeD's have planned for your futures? "
One female SeeD slowly lifted her hand into the air and Caraway nodded at her, " Yes? "
She stood up and scratched her head, " Well... I don't really have anything planned. I was just wondering about if there were any new threats about in the world? "
She sat back down and waited for a response. Caraway frowned and looked at Cid. He just shrugged and frowned as well. Caraway looked back at his daughter who just lifted an eyebrow, " What? ", she asked lightly.
He shook his head and turned his attention back to the audience, " Well... I don't believe that there is any new threat to the world.... now that Ultimecia is dead. But what made you ask that question? "
The girl shrugged lightly, looked over at Rinoa and then quickly brought her gaze back down to her lap. Cid lifted an eyebrow and began to make his way to the stage. A male SeeD cleared his throat and yelled out to Caraway, " What about your daughter? "
Caraway blinked hard, " W-what about her? ", he demanded.
" Who is she? "
" Her name..." he looked over his shoulder at her and she gave a flick of the wrist. " her name is Rinoa Heartilly... why? Why do you want to know? "
He shrugged, " Because... I was just curious as to why she's up there with you. What does she have to do with us graduating? "
Caraway lifted an eyebrow and opened his mouth to say something unappropriate, but Cid climbed up onto the stage and placed a hand on his shoulder. Rinoa suddenly stood up and looked at the audience. ' Something's not right here...I can sense it..'
She shook her head and began to back away, tipping the chair to the ground. Caraway turned around to face her, " Rinoa? What's the matter? "
Rinoa shook her head again. Everything was spinning. She looked at her father and he went out of focus, " I... I don't want to be here anymore... I can't go on...", she whispered in pained voice.
Caraway took a step towards her, " Rinoa... come on. Nothing bad is going to happen....", he assured her gently.
Her eyes drooped suddenly and she watched the ceiling pass over her head as she fell back onto the ground. Caraway ran to her and dropped to his knees, calling her name. Cid frowned and looked down at her with worried blue eyes, " Is she alright? What happened? "
Caraway shrugged lightly as he placed a hand onto her smooth forehead that was bathed in a light sweat, " I don't know. She has a fever... I guess she just fainted because of that... "
Some people in the audience stood up and were about to run onto the stage to what had happened, but Cid stood up and turned to look at them, " It's alright. She just fainted...", he told them as he stared out at Squall who was standing up against the wall with a strange look on his face....
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~
Squall looked back at Cid and shook his head, muttering in confusion, " That name... Rinoa Heartilly... why does it sound so familiar? Why does it feel like I've met her before...? "
He brought a hand up and ran it over his face, trying to shake off the funny feeling that had begun to grow in his stomach. Zell walked up to him," What's wrong? "
Squall shook his head, " N-nothing.... I'm just a little tired right now...", he told him.
Zell lifted an eyebrow, " You're sure? "
Squall nodded, " Yeah.... just go grab the others and lets go. This isn't a place where we're suppose to be at the moment. This is between R-rinoa, her father and headmaster Cid..."
Zell sighed lightly and nodded as he left Squall to go in search of Selphie and the others. Squall bit his lip as he watched Caraway lift Rinoa into his arms and then disappear into a door on the right side of the stage, followed closely by Cid. He shook his head and then turned around so he could leave, but he stopped as it suddenly hit him hard in the chest.
Rinoa Heartilly was the little girl... who he had met in Winhill, when he was only eight years old, the day his mother was killed and his father and... sister disappeared from sight....
(Author's Note: *shakes her head* I know, I know... I stole some parts from the FMV of when they danced... but *shrugs* Meh! What can you do? Nothing! *giggles* haha, but I know it's a little short, but I'm trying.... I hope you guys liked it, because I'm going to start writing Chapter 2 right now, after I stop babbling to you guys.... *grins*....)