Last Revenge



Chapter 1: The Garden Festival



It had been a whole year already since they all had defeated the sorceress Ultimecia and Selphie had thrown a party to honor that day. All of Balamb Garden was decorated and every one of it's inhabitants was in it's best mood.

Since that day one year ago, Headmaster Cid had shared his leadership with Squall and he was to become the new headmaster when Cid was to retire. All others of the party had been officialy rewarded with a new status. They were in charge of all important duties of Balamb Garden, they were like Squall's helpers. No one mind being in a lesser status as Squall, he never treated them differently, nor did the pupils of the Garden. It was not like they were the big people, they were all the same.

Rinoa had taken her place among the people of Balamb Garden as well, yet had not paid attention to receiving her Seed rank, unlike Irvine, whom had achieved it with enormous ease. Cid had told her it was only for the papers, they would treat her no different, except for the dormitory. No matter how much Squall and she had asked the headmaster, he had not agreed on them sharing a dorm, "If you start, then all of the students will ask for this and judge me for giving you priority" he had spoken. Squall had eventually agreed with his decision, as did Rinoa, but they still felt it was wrong. Rinoa had taken a dorm among the young non-Seeds of Balamb Garden, though did have one of her own. And all of her friends were on the other side of the dormitory, which was too far away for her liking. It was almost a five minute walk to the rooms of Quistis, Selphie, Irvine, Zell and Squall.



*~*~*~ Squall's POV~*~*~*



Selphie's Festival was once more a big hit and she had managed to create a group of over ten persons to aid her with the festivals. Selphie really was a Festival Queen. Irvine was by her side always, kind and encouraging words always there for his Selphie. He had tried to win the small girl for himself all year now, but she did not go in on his advances. She pretended to be so ignorant. I myself had to encourage Irvine sometimes, how he was so terribly sad Selphie completly ignored him. Often I had told him he had to let her know she was the only one for him, that he should not let his eyes wander to others.

I walked across the room, searching for the woman I loved when my eyes fell upon a couple in the corner of the room, kissing passionatly. I squeezed my eyes to see who they were when I finally found out and laughed. Irvine and Selphie, she finally did react then.

I always knew she liked Irvine a lot, the moment they met in the train, when he had put up one of his charades, never knowing he would fall for her and her alone for real. How she had spoken of her heart beating and the strange feeling she held within herself. Back then I had not known what that meant, but now I did, now that I had my own angel. Where was she? She had told me she would meet me here at the festival about ten minuts ago!

I walked around some more, talking to some people here and there until I ran into Quistis.

"Hi Squall, have you seen Zell around?" she asked. Squall shook his head, "No, nor Rinoa, but I have seen Selphie and Irvine" I smiled. A lovely smile lit Quistis' face, "Yeah, truly, madly, deeply in love, finally" she rolled her eyes. "Poor Irvine was about to do the craziest things to show her he did love her and Selphie just kept on ignoring him. She plays a sneaky little game" she laughed. "Indeed she does" I only commented, scanning the room once more for Rinoa.

I suddenly realised how Quistis looked, she had this great dress on, looking stunning to say the least and a scene popped back in my head...

I looked into her blue eyes deeply, serious, "Quistis, I'm sorry" I only spoke. A frown came upon her face and her eyes questioned me. Before her voice could form the words, I explained; "A little more as a year ago, the Garden Festival, I was incredibly rude to you.... I am sorry for my actions back then.... And...I am sorry I cannot or could not return your feelings, it is not like you are too less, for you are fairly beautifull... I just, you know..I..." I did not know how to express my feelings once more, I did not know how to apologize for this, I must've hurt her bad, but before I could continue my stuttering, Quistis interrupted me, "You are forgiven Squall Leonheart, I know now too it was not meant to be.... and thank you for your kind words" she smiled at me, "I now know it was not the love you share with Rinoa, it was from way back when we were in the orphanage, I only wished to look after you as a big sister. But now I do as a good friend".

Her wise words made sence, indeed that was what she could have been, was I not such a loner. I watched her leave, mingling herself among the people once more.

Suddenly I saw Zell walking, he must've arrived a couple of moments ago. I decided to ask him if he knew what was keeping Rinoa.



*~*~*~Normal POV~*~*~*

"YO Squall!" Zell saw Squall approaching and immediatly walked towards him. "So, Selphie really did it this time ey!" Squall nodded, but paid no further interest, "Have you seen Rinoa?". To his surprise Zell nodded, "She was on her way to her dorm some time ago, said she had forgotten something. Y'know she did not look to well". Squall sighed and nodded, "She has been ill of late, fever and a little short on air. Doctor Kadowaki said it was nothing to worry about, just a small illness she said".

Zell sighed, "This has not been the first time though, seems it is getting worse, right?". Squall simply nodded, "Nothing to worry about she told me, as well as Rinoa herself".

"Hey guys!" Zell and Squall immediatly turned at the sound of the voice. "Sorry I'm late". And there she stood, Rinoa in a beautifull blue evening dress. A silence fell while both men kept their eyes upon her. "What? Something wrong with my dress? No, that can't be, I checke..."

Squall had her mouth covered with his vingertips, "You are beautifull....like an angel..." he knew not what more to say. Zell simply nodded, lost for words as well.



*~*~*~Rinoa's POV~*~*~*



Don't they look cute together, both lost for words and staring at me. I felt myself giggle at their reaction. "Thank you" I then spoke to both of them. My eyes turned to Squall and for a moment I gazed in his beautifull blue eyes, instantly being remembered what life was worth. It then hit me again, again I had almost forgotten, I turned to Zell. "I have a gift for you".

Zell's eyes went wide and confusion clearly flashed in his eyes, "For me?" he almost stutterd. I nodded and giggled again, "It is in your dorm". He smiled and ran off, shoving some people out of his way. I laughed out loud, then turned to my love again, "dance?" I asked in my sweetest way.

"Ofcourse" he answerd as he took my hands and led me upon the dancefloor. I looked him in his eyes and felt his hands touch me as we started to dance. "You look a bit better" he spoke softly to me. I nodded, "Feel a bit better too" I lied to him.

I did not feel so well at all, but I was good at hiding it, even for my lover. Lately I have been feeling these strange feelings in my chest, as if something was crushing it, making it impossible for me to breath normally. Sometimes I even coughed up small amounts of blood, but they were real small, not worth mentioning to anyone... Probably a small wound because of the hard coughing, like a noseblood when you blow your nose too often too hard.

I smiled at Squall's face, he was so concerned for me sometimes, yet I had managed to convince him there was nothing wrong with me. And to my luck the doc had him convinced as well. Well, most of the time that is.

"Rinoa, the dance is over, let's get something to eat and drink" Squall shook me out of my thoughts as he guided me too the table which held the food and drinks. I looked at Squall taking a piece of this and that when suddenly I felt myself being lifted in the air and swung around. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" I kept hearing. "Zell! Please put me down! You're making me dizzy!" After another three rounds he had put me down finally and now he was clung onto my neck. "Thank you Rinoa, can't tell ya what it means to me!".

It felt great to see Zell in such a way, he was such a sweet guy and all he did was keeping up with all set backs life threw at him and still he remained Mister Positive always. He did deserve this.

I smiled and then looked at Squall's face, his eyebrows lifted up and a strange questioning expression on his face. Made him look ever so different as his normal self and I started to giggle at the sight. "Don't you look silly" I laughed. "What's going on?" he spoke, totally ignoring me laughing at him. "I gave Zell a new hoverboard, to stunt with and...", "But those are not allowed here" Squall interrupted me. "Ahem, and to teach some student how to interact with such a board, so they would be able to use these when needed in a Seed mission" I spoke wisely. "Cid agreed and since I am in charge of the funding and new accesoires, I agreed as well, all we now need is your permission, Commander".

I tried to put up my sweetest face and I noticed Zell did the same by my side, Squall could simply not refuse and he knew. With a loud sigh while lifting his hands in the air and rolling his eyes he agreed. Zell was dancing around joyfully and I immediatly clung around my boyfriends neck, thanking him with a thousand kisses.

Suddenly I felt that akward hideous feeling again, pressing heavily upon my chest and blurring my vision. I could hear myself breathing, my heart pounding and fresh new stabs stung me in my chest when I opened my mouth to inhale deeply. I was forced to breath shallow and I felt my body asking more support from Squall's.

"Rinoa?" I felt how two strong gentle hands pulled me a bit backwards, forcing me to stand on my own two legs while a concerned face looked at mine. "Are you okay?" I could hardly make a picture of his face as my sight still blurred all around me. I tried to nod and open my mouth to answer 'yes', but nothing came.

"Squall? What's goin' on?" I fagely heard Zell's voice behind me and Squall's before me, "Rinoa, can you hear me? Rinoa, what's wrong with you?" The voices died out and I felt my eyes closing slowly, my body weakening and supporting upon my lover's hands. It hurt, my chest hurt so badly, all I wanted was peace from it, all I wanted was.... "Squall" and then darkness...