Prologue
She walked down the beach, the water seeping through her boots and her socks, but somehow she did not care. A large grayish-white dog followed her, trotting along her side, a protector and a friend. Angelo was not bothered by the fact that they were trotting around aimlessly. To the faithful dog, being with its master was the most rewarding thing. However, Angelo's happiness was momentarily stumped when she unwittingly collided with Rinoa who had stopped all of a sudden. Confused, the canine looked up at her master and whined. Rinoa ignored Angelo, so lost was she in her thoughts as she caressed the ring she wore on a necklace. There was suppose to be another one, a ring carved with the head of lion but. . .it's over. A tear streaked down her face quietly, and then another, until she could not stopped herself. With a heart wrenching sob, she fell to her knees and cried.
It had been a month already and yet the wound in her heart was still fresh and bleeding
Chapter 1
A week later, Rinoa surveyed her room with vague disinterest. It had been precisely 2 years and a month after they had defeated Ultimecia and a little after a month after her broke up. She had spent 2 years in the Garden, working hard to be a SeeD, and equally hard to be part of their clique, but. . .she had failed. It was the first time in her life that Rinoa woke up in the morning with an empty feeling in her stomach and tears behind her eyes.
Getting up from her bed, she picked up a comb from her dressing table and started brushing her hair casually. Her life seemed so hollow now, so meaningless. What could she do? Timber was halfway to getting full independence now, Zone and Watts don't need her already. She and her dad were at least on talking terms now and she had already moved back, but. . .
Rinoa narrowed her eyes as fresh tears threatened to fall. She must not cry; she must be strong. Brushing away the unshed tears with the back of her hand, she was timely distracted by Angelo who tried to comfort her by whining softly. Dropping the brush down on the carpet, Rinoa knelt down and hugged Angelo. Angelo will always be beside her, her truest friend. Her world had fallen apart but somehow Angelo had managed to stay by her side through all disasters.
She must find a purpose in life, she must. It is the only way for life to get on. In her heart, she believed that somewhere, in a corner of this vast world, there is a place that she could truly be of use. "I must." She whispered into Angelo's silky fur while tears rolled down her cheeks. "I must."
==
Getting out of the mansion was certainly a good idea, paying a visit to the peaceful Fisherman horizon was an even better idea. Walking on the old railway tracks and enjoying the scenery with Angelo made Rinoa forget the pain, at least for a little while. Humming a slow ditty, Rinoa threw the Frisbee with a certain carelessness. Bounding with joy, Angelo participated in a game of Fetch. Breathing in the fresh air, Rinoa felt her moods inched upwards, slowly but surely. Yes, she will survive with or without him.
"Rinoa?!"
She spun around, the voice sounded darn familiar. And then she saw him, the usual smirk in place, and the air of utter confidence still intact. Angelo recognized him too and went over to give a friendly greeting. Laughingly Seifer ruffled Angelo's head with affection.
"Hyne, she remembers me better than you! I didn't know you had short term memory, Rinny." Seifer teased, before he started smirking again.
"Seifer?" Rinoa called out hesitantly while hot tears blurred her vision. She thought, correction, everyone thought that he died. After Ultimecia's defeat, Seifer disappeared along with Fujin and Raijin. Poof! Just like that, Seifer disappeared off the face of the world.
"We. . .I thought you died." She croaked out. She never hated him for what he did, even when the whole world hated him, Rinoa could never bring herself to do that. To her, she would forever cherished the summer they had spent together, those sweet days tinted with an innocence lost forever. Seifer smirked again before strutting over. "I feel very much alive, thank you.' He then started stretching to emphasize his point. To his surprise, Rinoa ran towards him and gave him a hug before bursting into tears.
Awkwardly, he held her and patted her back, not knowing what to say. Since when did she learnt how to cry buckets of tears. Something was fishy here. "So where's Puberty boy and chicken-wuss?" To his greater surprise, his front shirt got even more soaked. 'Wise move old man', he congratulated himself and wished that he could give himself a kick in the ass. Maybe he could get Fujin to do that. Hell, Fujin could do anything.
"Rinny, do you want to tell me what happen here?" Seifer asked in what he hoped was a soothing voice. He was not that great when it comes to comforting people.
Rinoa lifted her tear-streaked head to look at Seifer, while she shook her head in a helpless gesture. This gave Seifer time to notice that the Griever ring was missing from her necklace. Suddenly, everything made sense to him. 'They broke up?' disbelief clogging up his mind, Squall and Rinoa broke up? Is that even possible?
"Rinny what happen?" Seifer asked albeit softly, real concern colouring his voice. He always calls her Rinny, it was a nickname for a girl he used to love and still liked as a friend. Truth to say, he regretted all that he had done towards her. He admitted that he was blinded by a dream, a false dream, sugar coated with lies and confusion. Seifer paid the price of his foolishness; after the war, the climb back to sanity was littered with his blood.
"I. . . don't know Seifer. I don't. . . know." Rinoa bowed her head, her voice small and confused. "Time passed in a blur. . .we drifted apart and the. . . harder I try to catch up, the faster I get left behind."
Seifer sympathize with Rinoa. She was different from the rest of them, Quistis, Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Squall and himself. They all grew up together in the orphanage and had been to Garden, while she. . . she's a General's daughter who lived a very different life and now she was a sorceress. 'Life ain't kind to you wasn't it? Wonder what Quistis thought about the broke up.' Seifer mused.
"There was so much work for him. . .Squall. Everyday pile after pile. . . I don't get to see him till late at night, when it's almost time for bed. . . he would just give me a tired smile and disappear into his room and. . . we don't talk anymore. . . sometimes he goes out for mission. . .when he comes back I got dispatched. . .I don't know what to do Seifer. . .I don't. I tried. . .I tried. . ." Fresh tears blurred her eyes again and Rinoa cursed herself for her own weakness. 'Stop crying. Stop crying. You must be strong. You must be strong' Rinoa tried to rally herself, but she could not stop the treacherous tears that escaped. Angelo gave a sad whine as if she was crying for her mistress. That whine made Rinoa cry even harder.
Surprisingly, Seifer pulled her into his embrace. "Cry it out Rinny, you'll feel better. I'll bet that you've been hoarding those tears like a miser. You are too hard on yourself."
Rinoa gave in to Seifer's warm and sincere tone, her defences crumbling in one shot. She didn't know how long she stood there crying but afterwards, she felt a whole lot better though her eyes felt sore and puffy. She never seemed to stop crying nowadays. 'Ditz'. She cursed herself again.
Stepping back, Rinoa gave Seifer a watery smile. "Thank you Seifer."
Digging around his pockets, Seifer found his handkerchief and passed it to Rinoa who took it shyly. "That's what best friends are for Rinny. Are we still. . .?"
Wiping away the last traces of tears, Rinoa nodded her head. "Seifer, the war's over. And besides you are the one who held me when I cried."
Seifer gave her another confident smirk to hide his relief and said "Of course. So wanna come to my house? You haven't seen Fujin and Raijin for a long time."
"How are they?" Rinoa inquire politely. She was not very close to them. Fujin reminded her of Shiva, ethereal and quiet where else Rinoa can't even hold a decent conversation with Raijin. "Guess what?" Seifer smiled mysteriously while looking darn smug about something. "I'm engaged." Then he paused to heighten the effect. "To Fujin."
Rinoa eyes widen in surprise before she burst out in laughter. The first laugh in a month. "Oh Hyne! Seifer! What?!" Seifer smirked. "So, coming over?" he asked expectantly.
Rinoa shook her head ruefully. "Seifer I can't. . .when are you gonna get married?" She asked quietly, her feet drawing circles in the gravel. Angelo sidled up next to Rinoa thumping her tail while looking expectantly at Seifer.
"Uh, we haven't planned anything yet. But we'll call ya, that's for sure!' Seifer smiled.
"You can be her bridesmaid." He offered generously.
"I will. . . .Thanks for everything, Seifer." Rinoa said quietly.
"So. . . what are you gonna do now, Rinny?" Seifer asked in a serious tone.
"I don't know Seifer, maybe get a job. . . pick up the pieces. . .I don't know, Seifer." Rinoa strolled over to the edge of the railway tracks. The ocean looked so vast and frightening, just like her future. She, an ex- Seed, a Sorceress and ex-rebel, what can she do with her own pair of hands other than fighting? Looking out at the ocean, an idea came into her mind.
"Rinny?"
"Don't worry Seifer, I'll be all right. . . I have a direction now." Rinoa turned around and gave him a reassuring smile. 'Yes, I will be strong.' She thought. Silently, she handed him back his handkerchief and gave him a goodbye kiss at the cheek. Very quietly, she walked away with Angelo by her side, feeling stronger than ever before. 'Yes, I'll be strong. . ..'
She walked down the beach, the water seeping through her boots and her socks, but somehow she did not care. A large grayish-white dog followed her, trotting along her side, a protector and a friend. Angelo was not bothered by the fact that they were trotting around aimlessly. To the faithful dog, being with its master was the most rewarding thing. However, Angelo's happiness was momentarily stumped when she unwittingly collided with Rinoa who had stopped all of a sudden. Confused, the canine looked up at her master and whined. Rinoa ignored Angelo, so lost was she in her thoughts as she caressed the ring she wore on a necklace. There was suppose to be another one, a ring carved with the head of lion but. . .it's over. A tear streaked down her face quietly, and then another, until she could not stopped herself. With a heart wrenching sob, she fell to her knees and cried.
It had been a month already and yet the wound in her heart was still fresh and bleeding
Chapter 1
A week later, Rinoa surveyed her room with vague disinterest. It had been precisely 2 years and a month after they had defeated Ultimecia and a little after a month after her broke up. She had spent 2 years in the Garden, working hard to be a SeeD, and equally hard to be part of their clique, but. . .she had failed. It was the first time in her life that Rinoa woke up in the morning with an empty feeling in her stomach and tears behind her eyes.
Getting up from her bed, she picked up a comb from her dressing table and started brushing her hair casually. Her life seemed so hollow now, so meaningless. What could she do? Timber was halfway to getting full independence now, Zone and Watts don't need her already. She and her dad were at least on talking terms now and she had already moved back, but. . .
Rinoa narrowed her eyes as fresh tears threatened to fall. She must not cry; she must be strong. Brushing away the unshed tears with the back of her hand, she was timely distracted by Angelo who tried to comfort her by whining softly. Dropping the brush down on the carpet, Rinoa knelt down and hugged Angelo. Angelo will always be beside her, her truest friend. Her world had fallen apart but somehow Angelo had managed to stay by her side through all disasters.
She must find a purpose in life, she must. It is the only way for life to get on. In her heart, she believed that somewhere, in a corner of this vast world, there is a place that she could truly be of use. "I must." She whispered into Angelo's silky fur while tears rolled down her cheeks. "I must."
==
Getting out of the mansion was certainly a good idea, paying a visit to the peaceful Fisherman horizon was an even better idea. Walking on the old railway tracks and enjoying the scenery with Angelo made Rinoa forget the pain, at least for a little while. Humming a slow ditty, Rinoa threw the Frisbee with a certain carelessness. Bounding with joy, Angelo participated in a game of Fetch. Breathing in the fresh air, Rinoa felt her moods inched upwards, slowly but surely. Yes, she will survive with or without him.
"Rinoa?!"
She spun around, the voice sounded darn familiar. And then she saw him, the usual smirk in place, and the air of utter confidence still intact. Angelo recognized him too and went over to give a friendly greeting. Laughingly Seifer ruffled Angelo's head with affection.
"Hyne, she remembers me better than you! I didn't know you had short term memory, Rinny." Seifer teased, before he started smirking again.
"Seifer?" Rinoa called out hesitantly while hot tears blurred her vision. She thought, correction, everyone thought that he died. After Ultimecia's defeat, Seifer disappeared along with Fujin and Raijin. Poof! Just like that, Seifer disappeared off the face of the world.
"We. . .I thought you died." She croaked out. She never hated him for what he did, even when the whole world hated him, Rinoa could never bring herself to do that. To her, she would forever cherished the summer they had spent together, those sweet days tinted with an innocence lost forever. Seifer smirked again before strutting over. "I feel very much alive, thank you.' He then started stretching to emphasize his point. To his surprise, Rinoa ran towards him and gave him a hug before bursting into tears.
Awkwardly, he held her and patted her back, not knowing what to say. Since when did she learnt how to cry buckets of tears. Something was fishy here. "So where's Puberty boy and chicken-wuss?" To his greater surprise, his front shirt got even more soaked. 'Wise move old man', he congratulated himself and wished that he could give himself a kick in the ass. Maybe he could get Fujin to do that. Hell, Fujin could do anything.
"Rinny, do you want to tell me what happen here?" Seifer asked in what he hoped was a soothing voice. He was not that great when it comes to comforting people.
Rinoa lifted her tear-streaked head to look at Seifer, while she shook her head in a helpless gesture. This gave Seifer time to notice that the Griever ring was missing from her necklace. Suddenly, everything made sense to him. 'They broke up?' disbelief clogging up his mind, Squall and Rinoa broke up? Is that even possible?
"Rinny what happen?" Seifer asked albeit softly, real concern colouring his voice. He always calls her Rinny, it was a nickname for a girl he used to love and still liked as a friend. Truth to say, he regretted all that he had done towards her. He admitted that he was blinded by a dream, a false dream, sugar coated with lies and confusion. Seifer paid the price of his foolishness; after the war, the climb back to sanity was littered with his blood.
"I. . . don't know Seifer. I don't. . . know." Rinoa bowed her head, her voice small and confused. "Time passed in a blur. . .we drifted apart and the. . . harder I try to catch up, the faster I get left behind."
Seifer sympathize with Rinoa. She was different from the rest of them, Quistis, Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Squall and himself. They all grew up together in the orphanage and had been to Garden, while she. . . she's a General's daughter who lived a very different life and now she was a sorceress. 'Life ain't kind to you wasn't it? Wonder what Quistis thought about the broke up.' Seifer mused.
"There was so much work for him. . .Squall. Everyday pile after pile. . . I don't get to see him till late at night, when it's almost time for bed. . . he would just give me a tired smile and disappear into his room and. . . we don't talk anymore. . . sometimes he goes out for mission. . .when he comes back I got dispatched. . .I don't know what to do Seifer. . .I don't. I tried. . .I tried. . ." Fresh tears blurred her eyes again and Rinoa cursed herself for her own weakness. 'Stop crying. Stop crying. You must be strong. You must be strong' Rinoa tried to rally herself, but she could not stop the treacherous tears that escaped. Angelo gave a sad whine as if she was crying for her mistress. That whine made Rinoa cry even harder.
Surprisingly, Seifer pulled her into his embrace. "Cry it out Rinny, you'll feel better. I'll bet that you've been hoarding those tears like a miser. You are too hard on yourself."
Rinoa gave in to Seifer's warm and sincere tone, her defences crumbling in one shot. She didn't know how long she stood there crying but afterwards, she felt a whole lot better though her eyes felt sore and puffy. She never seemed to stop crying nowadays. 'Ditz'. She cursed herself again.
Stepping back, Rinoa gave Seifer a watery smile. "Thank you Seifer."
Digging around his pockets, Seifer found his handkerchief and passed it to Rinoa who took it shyly. "That's what best friends are for Rinny. Are we still. . .?"
Wiping away the last traces of tears, Rinoa nodded her head. "Seifer, the war's over. And besides you are the one who held me when I cried."
Seifer gave her another confident smirk to hide his relief and said "Of course. So wanna come to my house? You haven't seen Fujin and Raijin for a long time."
"How are they?" Rinoa inquire politely. She was not very close to them. Fujin reminded her of Shiva, ethereal and quiet where else Rinoa can't even hold a decent conversation with Raijin. "Guess what?" Seifer smiled mysteriously while looking darn smug about something. "I'm engaged." Then he paused to heighten the effect. "To Fujin."
Rinoa eyes widen in surprise before she burst out in laughter. The first laugh in a month. "Oh Hyne! Seifer! What?!" Seifer smirked. "So, coming over?" he asked expectantly.
Rinoa shook her head ruefully. "Seifer I can't. . .when are you gonna get married?" She asked quietly, her feet drawing circles in the gravel. Angelo sidled up next to Rinoa thumping her tail while looking expectantly at Seifer.
"Uh, we haven't planned anything yet. But we'll call ya, that's for sure!' Seifer smiled.
"You can be her bridesmaid." He offered generously.
"I will. . . .Thanks for everything, Seifer." Rinoa said quietly.
"So. . . what are you gonna do now, Rinny?" Seifer asked in a serious tone.
"I don't know Seifer, maybe get a job. . . pick up the pieces. . .I don't know, Seifer." Rinoa strolled over to the edge of the railway tracks. The ocean looked so vast and frightening, just like her future. She, an ex- Seed, a Sorceress and ex-rebel, what can she do with her own pair of hands other than fighting? Looking out at the ocean, an idea came into her mind.
"Rinny?"
"Don't worry Seifer, I'll be all right. . . I have a direction now." Rinoa turned around and gave him a reassuring smile. 'Yes, I will be strong.' She thought. Silently, she handed him back his handkerchief and gave him a goodbye kiss at the cheek. Very quietly, she walked away with Angelo by her side, feeling stronger than ever before. 'Yes, I'll be strong. . ..'