The Return of Ultimecia
Author: SoulOfFlame
Chapter One: Some Things Never Change...
Rinoa Heartilly walked through the halls of Balamb Garden in search of a familiar face. The raven haired beauty wore her usual attire consisting mainly of baby blue, along with her dog Angelo. Pausing at the Quad to glance around, Angelo gave a joyful bark and tore after a butterfly passing through the air. Laughing to herself, she took a seat on a nearby bench and waited for her companions return.
"Rinoa!" Called a voice in greeting. The young sorceress lifted her brown-eyed gaze and saw Quistis walking towards her. She waved in greeting and rose from her seat.
"Hiya Quistis." She said flashing her pretty smile. The older blonde walked over with a smile on her normally stern features.
"How are you?" Quistis asked politely. Rinoa let out a light-hearted laugh and looked at her friend.
"You don't always have to be so formal Quistis." Sighed Rinoa. "But other than being bored I'm great how about you?" She asked.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little lonely." The ex-instructor let out a sigh but inwardly laughed at the black-haired beauty's energy.
"You're not the only one! I haven't seen a single person all day; you're the first one!" Rinoa let out a disappointed sigh but immediately smiled again.
"Yes, I wonder where everyone could be." Quistis pondered aloud. Rinoa shrugged and looked around her for a moment.
"I do too, but today seems to just be a quiet day." She laughed slightly. "I had better not say anything or Seifer may pop out of nowhere like he always does."
"He does tend to do that at times, what with him being so unpredictable and all." The blonde gave a small laugh.
"I don't think unpredictable even begins to describe it Quistis." Said Rinoa as she continued to scan the area as if waiting for him to show up.
"What do you mean?" Asked Quistis. The serious blonde arched a delicate eyebrow at her friend, but her question went unanswered as Squall walked over to the two friends.
"Hi Rinoa." He said giving his girlfriend a small but earnest smile. He turned to Quistis and nodded curtly. "Quistis."
"Squall." Quistis smirked as she bowed her head in acknowledgement, mimicking his monotone greeting. Rinoa covered her mouth and let out a tiny giggle.
"Hey Squall." She says trying to stifle her laughter. She cleared her throat under Squall's gaze and looked to Quistis. "I mean Quistis, that he is more than just unpredictable, he's ..." She was interrupted as Seifer came out of his hiding place with his posse following behind him as usual.
"Who's so unpredictable?" Asked the blonde ex-knight casually. His trademark smirk was firmly placed on his face as he ran a gloved hand through his hair. Squall rolled his eyes, choosing to ignore his long time rival.
"I understand now Rinoa." Said Quistis stifling her laughter at the ironic timing.
"I'm glad because this is what I meant." Rinoa turned her gaze away from Seifer as the blonde turned to her pleadingly.
"Aw c'mon Rinoa, don't ignore me." He said grinning at her arrogantly. "Why would you want to do that?" He asked.
"Why should she pay any attention to you?" Muttered Squall more to himself than anything else. Seifer glared daggers at his foe. Fire beginning to burn in his harsh emerald gaze.
"And why wouldn't she Squall?" He asked dropping his voice menacingly as he glared at him.
"I haven't found a good enough reason to pay any attention to you yet Seifer so ... leave!" She inched closer to Squall seeing a look of plotting form in Seifer's eyes.
"That and plenty of other reasons Seifer." Challenged Squall as he returned Seifer's glare and placed an arm around Rinoa's shoulder.
"Could you please just try to be mature about this?" Quistis interjected as she placed her hands on her hips.
"And may I ask who invited you into this conversation Quistis Trepe?" Asked Seifer rudely as he glared at the slender blonde. "Why don't you go ahead and name one or two Squall?" Challenged Seifer turning back to Squall.
"Leave Quistis alone Seifer!" Said Rinoa placing a hand on the arm Squall had wrapped around her shoulder.
"I was already a part of the conversation you so rudely inserted yourself into Mr. Almasy!" Quistis retorted shifting her weight, but the taller blonde ignored her.
"Reason one is that everyone hates you now Seifer, and reason two is you don't care about anyone but yourself. You tried to kill all of us without a second thought." Said Squall coldly.
"INSUBORDINATION!" Said Fujin from behind Seifer. He silenced her with a wave of his hand.
"Whatever Squall ... so I'm self-centered, so what? There's only one other person who could change that. Anyway, I'm assuming another reason is that she's already taken?" He asked gesturing to Rinoa. Fujin and Rajin moved behind Squall and Rinoa as she moved closer to Squall.
"That would be reason number three. Number four is that you're extremely impatient." Said Squall sarcastically. Quistis looked away, hurt that she was being ignored, yet feeling the mounting tension.
"You'd better watch your mouth Squall. You can't be around to protect her all the time and you know it." he said. Fujin and Rajin took their positions behind Rinoa and Squall to attack them.
"Squall ..." Rinoa whispered slightly afraid. Squall glared pure hatred at Seifer and let his voice drop low.
"If you ever try to hurt Rinoa I will only let you live long enough to regret it and then die." Threatened Squall. Seifer signaled and Fujin and Rajin moved to attack.
"Enough!" Cried Quistis jumping in between the four. Fujin and Rajin looked to Seifer for instructions, confused by the unexpected intervention.
"Hurt her? Now why on Earth would I hurt her?" He asked feigning innocence. He motioned to Fujin who elbowed Quistis sharply in the side. Quistis fell, clutching her side in pain. "Maybe the Instructor, but never Rinoa ... now Quistis go away!" He demanded.
Squall held his tongue and tightened his grip on Rinoa. He made an attempt to move to Quistis but was prevented by Rajin.
"I may not hit girls, but I'll hurt ya if Seifer says so ya know?" Said the larger man as if offering some consolation for what he may do.
"No Seifer ... I won't leave!" Said Quistis rising slowly. "Why are you trying to cause a problem? I don't want anyone getting hurt that's all!" She said.
"Since when do you care about me?" Asked Seifer not really caring about the answer. Rinoa hid her face in Squall's shoulder, silently wondering the same thing.
"It'll be okay." Murmured Squall as he held Rinoa, never taking his eyes off Seifer.
"I always have you idiot!" Quistis was growing impatient. She placed a hand over her whip out of habit and glared at Seifer.
"I hope so." Rinoa said looking up at Squall. Seifer smirked at Quistis and took a step towards her.
"I would love to see you prove it." He shoved the smaller woman slightly, causing her to stumble. Beginning to move towards Quistis, Squall hesitates fearful of leaving Rinoa's side.
"I have no idea ... that's your problem not mine. All I did was ask you to prove it." He said arrogantly. He motioned to Rinoa. "What's wrong Puberty-Boy? Are you afraid to leave her side?" He mocked.
"Oh knock it off Seifer." Muttered Squall as he rolled his eyes. Quistis nearly yelled at Seifer.
"I would love to Seifer but I don't know how to make you believe me. You're just too stubborn." She said angrily.
"That's not my problem." Repeated Seifer.
"What do you want exactly Seifer?" Questioned Squall growing tired of this stupid game of back and forth.
"You're so rude Seifer! Why are you like this?!" Asked Quistis dropping her hands dejectedly.
"Oh boo hoo." Said Seifer mockingly as he rolled his eyes at Quistis. "And you know what I want Leonhart so don't play stupid with me." He said rudely.
"Me?" Whispered Rinoa fearfully. Squall heard this suggestion and held her closer.
"Seifer, maybe you should get a life?" Suggested Squall seriously. Seifer chuckled to himself.
"Aww, that really hurts ... except, I do have one Squall! Bugging the hell outta you! You're boring me, I'll bug ya later." He motioned to his posse and they three left.
"Seifer ... If that guy was any more of an annoying jerk the world would be doomed." Muttered Squall.
"Oh Seifer you are so aggravating!" Said Quistis mostly to herself.
"I think we can all agree with you there Squall." Sighed Rinoa exasperatedly. "Hey Quistis are you okay?" She asked.
"Don't worry Rinoa, I'll protect you from him." Joked Squall.
"I'm fine." The petite blonde lied as she walked away looking at the ground. She crossed her arms in thought and headed slowly in the direction of her dorm.
"I don't believe her ... but thank you Squall." She kissed him lightly on his cheek and slid out of his arms. "I need to talk to Quistis. Something other than Seifer is bothering her and I want to know what it is." She said taking off after her friend.