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(Disclaimer will not repeated for the same reason.)

Legend:

" "-Talking
'''''- Flashback
( )- Voice Action or A/N
ooo-Different Person or Place
Italics- Thoughts
Underlines-Stressed Words
Bold-Passing Time
Bold Italics-Written Words

Selphie Kinneas
"Journey To The Past"
Prelude

"RIN! RIN! RINNNNNNNNNNNNNN!"

From inside the room, you could hear stones being pelted on the window. The room's window was concealed under a royal purple silk drape. The room it was in was a beautifully constructed and decorated room. Under the purple satin canopy of the bed, Rinoa Caraway laid asleep.

"RINNNN!"

Rinoa opened her eyes sleepily as she stood. The stones kept showering against the window. Rinoa rubbed her eyes as she ran to the pounding of the stones. She pulled the drapes open and looked down towards the ground outside. A small boy, most likely the age Rinoa was, stood there aiming his next stone. He had short blonde hair and was slightly tall for his young age.

"Seif you creep! I was trying to sleep!" Rinoa screamed. The Seifer jumped up and down.

"Rinny you sleepyhead! I was trying to wake you up! Come down! I gots big news to tell ya!" Seifer called loudly.

Rinoa's eyes glittered as she pulled simple clothes out of her drawers. She pulled off her Chicobo nightdress and slid a black skort and a white T-shirt that had small pink feathers on it. Rinoa ignored her tangled hair and zoomed out into the hall. One she made it to the stairwell, she sat herself on the thick dark oak banister. Her body glided down as the air pushed her hair out of her eyes. Unfortunately when she reached the end of the rail, she flew onto the ground and slid across the marble floor into the tearoom.

Two nobly dressed ladies sat in the room sipping their tea politely. Rinoa appeared through the doorway. There was a small shriek and the sound of a full teacup shattering.

"RINOA HEARTILLY CARAWAY!" Shrilled a familiar voice. Rinoa slowly raised her head.

"Heh, hi mommy…" Rinoa said to the towering lady in front of her. Rinoa turned her head over to the other lady, a blonde noble lady. "Mrs. Almasy…sorry for giving you a scare." Rinoa stood and brushed herself.

"Rinoa, why didn't you change for breakfast? You know what your father says." Julia commented, as she placed a smiled on her flawless face.

"I'm going to play with Seif!" Rinoa quickly waved and rushed out the door.

"Rinoa dear! Seifer will eating breakfast too!" Mrs. Almasy shouted. Julia shook her head as she seated herself again.

"I don't know what it is, we raised her to be poise."

"But, she has so much energy. Her and Seifer make such a darling couple."

"Yes, but even so, they're only ten, Genevieve."

"Of course Julia, I was just imagining the two eight years from now at the chapel aisle." The ladies giggled.

Rinoa ran out the door bare foot.

"SEIF! WHERE ARE YOU?" She screamed giving the gardeners a fright. Seifer walked from around the corner.

"Hi Rin…" He smiled slyly. Rinoa raised an eyebrow. Before she could speak another word a large mud clot slammed against her stomach.

"SEIFER! I'M GONNA CREAM YOU!" Rinoa started chasing Seifer madly around the front yard. She cornered her to a small rose bush garden, which had wet muddy soil. Seifer stood ready to grab another mud clot, his eyes caught someone towering Rinoa's shadow.

"Rinny…!" He muttered desperately. Rinoa smiled mischievously.

"You aint't running away this time!" She knocked him into the mud and rubbed it against his chest.

"MISTRESS RINOA! MASTER SEIFER!" Rinoa stopped punching Seifer with mud immediately. Seifer stood up as well. The two were drenched in mud. The flowerbed was now a muddy old mess. The dark children looked at the head maid, Selena. Selena dragged the children back into the mansion.

"Lets ditch her." Seifer whispered slyly. Rinoa nodded in agreement. She quickly ripped a part of her shirt, as Seifer. The two scurried into the backyard. Statues of Angels created shadows in the morning sun. A glistening pool was carved in the middle. Large fountains emptied themselves into it. Rinoa jumped into the pool as quick as she could. Seifer jumped as a cannonball.

"SEIFER JAQUES ALMASY!"

"RINOA HEARTILLY CARAWAY!"

Rinoa stared at Seifer quietly, "Busted…" They said together.

Later that day…night time

The Almasys and Caraways sat silently in the sitting room.

"Really Rinoa, you've been misbehaving all week!" Julia scolded. Rinoa looked guiltily at her feet.

"Sorry mommy."

"It wasn't her fault Mrs. Caraway." Seifer defended. A man seated by the General Caraway stood.

"Now Seifer, you know not to interfere what need not concerns you." He reminded.

"But it wasn't Rinny's fault! I called her!" Seifer persisted. Genevieve chuckled slightly and walked beside Julia.

"Please Ebenezer, I can explain this troublesome mess. Although I don't know why the mud fest started, I do know why Siefer is defending Rinoa." The General cleared his throat.

"Do enlighten us Genevieve." Genevieve crossed her arms and looked at Seifer narrowly. She turned around and began explaining.

"Well, Ebenezer and I received four tickets for a ski trip in Trabia. So, we had one extra ticket. Seifer pleaded to let Dear Rinoa come. We couldn't say no, well of course if you and Julia disagree, we thought it was be a nice shindig if Rinoa came along. It's obvious he was trying to tell her the news." Rinoa's eyes brightened immediately.

"OH CAN I? CAN I PLEASE MOMMY!" She screamed. Julia sat by her husband. George Caraway nodded.

"Of course Rinoa, as long as you behave." Rinoa shook her head in agreement furiously.

"Oh I will! I will!" She pranced up and down and waved goodnight to Seifer. She soon trotted upstairs into the dark. Julia smiled sweetly.

"Oh, I'm sure she'll have a wonderful time."

Half an hour later

"Rinoa, Dear Rinoa?" Julia opened the dark oak door into the violet room. Rinoa, dressed her chicobo nightdress, laid in her bed.

"Mommy?" She whispered. Julia walked over to her and hugged her tightly. She pressed her lips on Rinoa's forehead.

"Go to sleep honey…" Julia sang. Rinoa tugged at her mother's arm. "Please sing me a song. The song you sing every night?" Julia nodded.

"Whatever you say my darling." Julia breathed calmly, "Constant as a star, always know that you are loved. And my love shining in through you, will help you make your dreams come true! Will help your dreams come true...!" Rinoa wearily placed her hand on the ring finger of her mother's right hand. Julia pulled off her a small stainless silver band. "Everyday since you were six, you'd ask me for this ring."

"You always said no anyways." Rinoa pouted stubbornly.

"Yes, so I did. Tell you what, if you still fancy it by the time you're engaged, I'll give it to you. Then you can wear it on your wedding, and give it to your daughter who will wear it on her wedding. Then your granddaughter and so on and so forth." Julia kissed Rinoa once again and combed Rinoa's hair with her fingers. "Goodnight sweetheart."

Weeks later

Rinoa went on the trip, before she could return, a letter was sent to the Caraways regarding the Almasy's trip.

"What is it Julia?" George asked as he observed his wife opening a large letter. Julia tore the envelope and pulled the thin paper out.

"A letter from Trabia. It must from Rinoa." Julia's eyes zoomed through the letter. Her yes welled. "No…NO!" She rushed into the comforting arms of her husband. George hugged her tightly as he read the letter.

His eyes slowly watered. "Oh George! She was only ten! So young…there was so much life in her! Nooooo…I wanted to give her my ring on her wedding day. George, just cry…let it out. Rinoa will never return to us." General Caraway gripped Julia's arms as tears slowly streamed down his face.

The couple sat there, just sat there mourning. "I can't live without her! No matter how many other children I may have, I won't survive without my beloved Rinoa. My love was in her, only her!"

George patted Julia. "I never said a true goodbye. The last thing I said was 'Have a goodtime and behave like a lady.' And I won't even hear her voice again."

Dear Caraway Household,

A few days ago a small cabin fire led to horrible deaths. The fire met a tank of gasoline causing an enormous explosion. Fortunately only a small amount of people of five was around. Two survivors were sent to the hospital and three were found dead. We are sad to say that this incident occurred in the Alamasy cabin, while they were inside. We are happy to say there is a survivor from their family, though the following have deceased.

Ebenezer Jaques Almasy

Genevieve Terany Almasy

Rinoa Heartily Caraway

We are terribly sorry for your lost. The funeral will take place in Trabiaat your will. Thank you for understanding.

-Council of Trabia

000000000

This was the prelude, please keep in mind that this is AU (altered universe)

Also, this little teaser explains itself further in.

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