Note : Hi, me again! This fanfic is special… It took me a long time to write it and now it comes on PC. It's based on Romeo and Juliet with FFVIII context, guess how it ends… I followed the story as I was writing the fic but I changed the dialogues of course… Well, you tell me how it is. The characters are copyright from Squaresoft! The heart of the story is Romeo and Juliet, I didn't come up with it, just the context… Well, enjoy!
The Lion And The Angel
A Tale Of An Impossible Love
(Based on Romeo and Juliet)
Opening Theme
Two households, both alike in dignity,
On fair Earth, where I lay my scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean,
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventure'd piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, naught could remove,
Is now the following, can you manage;
The which if you with patient eyes attend,
What here shall miss, my toil shall strive to mend.
Part 1: Until It's Too Late...
In Deling City, on a public place walked two Galbadians soldiers. They were wearing armor and carried machin guns on thier shoulder. One was wearing a red armor, the other a blue one.
"What are you thinking about, Wedge?" the red one asked.
"Why?" the other replied.
"You look thoughtful."
Wedge looked at the night and sighed.
"I'm bored, Lieutenant Biggs!"
"Why is that!? You should be glad we are at peace! It can't possibly last."
"Oh?"
"You know our master..."
"Yeah... And I wouldn't mind if there would be a war with these dogs of Loire! My gun's rusting!"
"You should take better care of your weaponry. You never know when you'll need it."
"Would I meet a Loire soldier, I'll aim right at his heart! That would clean my weapon! Then I'll take a tour of the women in their accursed city."
Biggs frowned at the private.
"If there would be a war, it's between our masters and their men."
"Whatever! Do you know when I last slept with a girl? There won't be one girl left virgin when I'm done!"
The Lieutenant shivered and grimaced.
"Do you really wanna become a monster?"
"I just can't take the Loire! I'll show their girls a thing or two!"
"The way you talk, you'd rather make them feel a thing... Weapons out! Here comes Esthar soldiers!"
"That far from their city? They got a death wish? I hate those flashy armors... My gun's ready; insult them, I'm behind ya."
"Yeah, right, you'll stay behind so you can run."
"Don't worry."
Two Esthar soldiers approached, wearing their flashy armors but no helmets, showing their blond and brown head. They were carrying their strange weapons on their shoulder.
"Let's wait for them to begin. The law will back us," Wedge suggested.
Would they start the fight, they could be accused of starteing a war. The two families were not in good terms but that's no reason to fight.
"I'll frown at them and see what they do," Biggs said.
"And I'll show'em my fist," Wedge replied.
One of the Esthar soldiers saw Wedge raise his fist..
"Are you raising your fist at us, sir?" the soldier asked.
"I'm raising my fist," Wedge answered.
"Are you raising it at us, sir?" the soldier asked again.
"I'm raising my fist," Wedge answered again.
"Are you raising it at us, sir?" the soldier asked one more time.
Not looking away, Wedge lowered his head to Biggs.
"Is law still on our side if I say yes?" he asked in a whisper.
"No."
Wedge stood straight and looked at the soldier.
"No, sir. I'm not raising my fist at you, sir, but I'm raising my fist, sir."
"Are you looking for a fight, sir?" Biggs asked.
The Esthar soldier shook his hands in sign of peace.
"A fight, sir? No, sir!" the soldier answered.
They came in Deling to buy somethings they could only buy in this city. But would the Galbadians listen? They hoped they wouldn't meet any but Lady Luck was not on their side.
"If you're looking for a fight, sir," Wedge started. "I'll take you on! I serve a master as good as yours!"
"But not better!" the soldier replied looking at him straight in the eye.
"Well, sir..."
From a corner came a long brown haired tied in a ponytail man. He was wearing a brown cowboy hat and a long coat with fur on the collar. From another corner came a black skinned young man with short black hair. Seeing him, Biggs elbowed Wedge.
"Hey, say he's better! Here's a friend of our master," he said.
"Yes, he's better!" Wedge stated to the Estharian with a proud defying smile.
"How dare you!"
"Take your weapons out if you're a man!" Wedge threatened.
The four soldiers took their gun in hand.
"Lieutenant Biggs, now's the time to put your training to the test!"
The coboy guy suddenly caught a glimpse of the scene and hurried in, loading his shotgun.
"Just what do you think you're doing, fools!" he exclaimed at the Estharians. "Bring down your guns, you don't know what you're doing!"
He hit the guns with his to bring them down. His strength was great and the guns were dropped. He was related to the Loire but living in Galbadia, it's enemy country. He frowned at the enemies. That's when the black one appeared behind him, his staff in hand.
"What? Gun held between these fools, ya know! Turn around Irvine and face your death, ya know!"
Irvine turned around and recognize Raijin.
"My only purpose here is to maintain peace! Put your staff aside or use it to help me separate these men!"
Raijin frowned and spun his staff from a hand to the other.
"What? You got your gun loaded and you talk about peace??! I hate that word ya know! As I hate hell and all the Loire, ya know! Get ready, coward!"
And they started fighting. More soldiers from both countries arrived and entered the fight. Then twonspeople appeared with shopkeepers. Some had guns, others clubs, but all were yelling at the fighters.
"Weapons out!" a citizen yelled raising a spear. "Let's beat them down! Down the Carawya! Down the Loire!"
The fight wasn't occuring too far from the Caraway mansion. Allerted by the gunshots and the screems, Caraway ran past the gate with his wife, Julia Caraway.
"What's all that noise?" he asked looking around.
But when he saw the fight, his face changed.
"Hey! Bring me my sword!"
"No! Why ask for a sword?" Julia asked holding his arm.
"My sword, I said! Loire is coming and holds his gun in my face!"
That's when a shoulder lenght dark haired man came in sight accompanied by a long bronze haired woman dressed with pants and a cram sweater. Loire was dressed of brown pants and a blue jacket. He was carrying a machine gun on his shoulder. Laguna Loire and Raine, his wife.
"Curse you, Caraway!" Laguna teased. "Don't hold me back! Let me go!"
But Raine was holding him tight.
"You won't make a single step farther!"
Everyone's attention was drawn away when the president appeared with his personnal guard surrounding him. He was president of Galbadia. Caraway was the general of the whole army and Laguna, the president of Esthar.
"Fools! Enemies of peace! You stain the ground with useless blood! What are you, men or monsters? Blow out the fire of that eternal rage in the life from your veins is your way to achieve peace?! Stand down now, or suffer the consequences! Listen to your president!"
Everyone stopped fighting and turned to the red headed young man. The president Escalus was young but he was presiding like no other president ever did. He was only 25 and respected amongst everyone!
"Three civil brawls," he continued. "Always by your fault, Caraway and yours too, Loire!"
He pointed threatening fingers at both leaders.
"Three times the people had to take their weapons out to stop you! If you ever trouble these streets again, you shall pay with your lives for a chance for peace. But for now, I want everyone to leave. Caraway, you come with me! And Loire, I want to see you in my office first thing this afternoon to know my decision on this case. Now everyone leave!"
The soldiers left one by one. Soon, everyone was gone except for Laguna, Raine and Irvine. Laguna turned to the young man.
"Who started this quarrel? Speak up, were you around when it all started?"
"The soldiers of your adversary and yours were fighting when I arrived. I had my gun ready to separate them. But damn! That's when Raijin cam, brandishing his staff and challenged me in a scream while spinning his staff around my head. He was making fun of me, what was I supposed to do? We started fighting when more soldiers from both sides appeared to fight along until the president appeared to separate them."
Raine started to look worried, nervously looking around.
"And where is Squall? Have you seen him today? He wasn't in Esthar for a long time now. But I'm relieved he was not in this fight."
"M'am, an hour before dawn, I was going out for a morning walk here. I walked in the forest south of Dollet where I could relax. I saw your son walking around there. The Ragnarok was visible on the other side of the forest.
"He takes it often, and mostly without permission," Raine commented.
"Lucky for us it's not a prototype, we'd never be able to leave Esthar," Laguna added.
"I walked to him," Irvine continued, "but when he caught sight of me, he disappeared in the depths of the woods. Judging by the look on his face, I decided to walk away."
Raine sighed and Laguna turned to her.
"He's been there for many mornings. Our planet is so small... He keeps shedding tears in the dew, making more clouds then there already are with force sighing. But at the second the sun is up, he comes back home, locks himself up in his room, closes the window, shielding himself from the sun like he wants to remain in eternal night. Ah... This behavior will be fatal to him if wise words can't dissipate it's cause."
"Man, mister president, do you know the cause?"
Laguna helplessly shook his head.
"Nope! He wouldn't tell me."
"Did you insist enough?"
"I did myself and even some of my friends, but as usual he keeps everything for himself. Not wise but the best secret guardian possible. If only we could know where his pain comes from, we would be eager to ease it!"
Close to the exit of the city, a young man appeared, walking towards the main place with hands in his pockets. He had short bronze hair and crystal blue eyes. He was dressed with black leather pants and a short black leather jacket with a feathered collar opened on a grey t-shirt.
Irvine pointed at the young man.
"There, he's coming. Could you leave please? I'll know about his grief or I'll be damned!"
"May you be more successful than me and hear a confession. Coming, dear?" Laguna asked turning to Raine.
She nodded and the couple left on the other way to leave the enemy territory.
"Good morning, man!" Irvine exclaimed with a wide smile greeting his friend.
The brown haired guy looked at Irvine with blank eyes.
"Is the day so young?"
"It's just nine o'clock."
Squall looked away and sighed, slowly blinking.
"Sad hours can seem so long... Wasn't that my father who just left?"
"Yup. What kinda sadness can make your hours longer?"
The sad guy hesitated. Should he speak his heart out? He did.
"Sadness of not having what would shorten them."
"In love?" Irvine asked with a corner smile.
"Out..."
"Of love?"
"Out of her favor."
Irvine widened his eyes, not believing any girl would reject his friend. For himself would never reject a girl...
"Hell! Why must love be so harsh?"
"Hell, love is blind and leads to an endless goal! ... Where shall we eat, now? ... O, Hyne! What was all that racket I came onto? ... No, don't tell me, I already know! There's much to do here with hatred, but even more with love... Brawling love! Loving hate! Eternal from dying! Heavy lightness! Feather of steel, bright smoke, frozen fire, sick health! Awakened slumber, that's not what it is! That's the love I fell and I don't feel love... Aren't you gonna laugh at me?"
"Hell, no, my friend! I'd rather cry!"
"And at what?" Squall asked a bit surprised.
"At your pure heart and soul so oppressed."
"Yeah... Pain is heavy on my heart and you want to extend it with yours... That concern you show me adds more pain on mine. Love is a smoke of sighs; clear, it's a sparkling flame to lovers' eyes; presses, it's a sea fed by their tears. What else? The most discreet madness, a choking gall and a preserving sweet! I could give you more but my loneliness calls me back. See ya, Irvine."
Squall turned around to leave to where he came from. Irvine quickly placed a hand on his shoulder, brushing the feathers forming his collar.
"Wait a sec, I'll come with ya. I'm hurt to see you leav like that."
"Bah! I've lost myself; I'm not here; it's not Squall you see, he's somewhere else."
"No, seriously tell me who it is you love," Irvine asked with a mocking smile.
But Squall wasn't smiling when he turned to him. Pain was in his eyes, heavy.
"Seriously?" he asked. "Squall could only tell with sobs."
"Sobs? Hell, no! Tell me seriously."
Squall shrugged.
"Ask a sick man to seriously make his will," he said shaking his head. "What you ask is painful to who's in pain! Seriously, Irvine, I do love a woman."
"HA!" Irvine exclaimed clapping. "I guessed right."
"Good guess... I'd say she's incredibly beautiful."
"The more beautiful the goal is, the easier it is to reach."
Squall shook his head.
"That'S where you're wrong; she's out of cupid's arrows' reach: she's like siren playing her harp to turn silent who'd try to reach for her sublime form. Oh, she's rish in beauty, but damn trreasures she holds must die with her!"
"Don't tell me she swore to live virgin?"
"She did," Squall nodded slowly. "It's a huge waste... Starving that beauty with her severity, she cuts it from posterity. She's beautiful, wise, wisely beautiful. She deserves heaven making me desperate. She swore never to love and that vow kills me to let me live."
"Then follow my advice," Irvine started putting an arm around his friend's shoulders. "Stop thinking about her."
"Please, tell me how I can stop thinking..."
Irvine tried not to laugh. Squall was a walking thinker. Telling him to stop thinking would be like telling a baby never to grow up. But he still answered his question.
"Give some liberty to your eyes: look for other beauties."
"Hmph! That would be the way to bring her beauty in question even more. She partly hides behind glasses to look serious and hide her real beauty, only to make me wish she'd take them off. Would I become blind, I'd never forget the precious treasure I'd have lost with my sight. Show me a charming girl, what could be her beauty for me except a page where I'd read the name of an even more charming beauty? Farewell... you can't teach me to forget..."
He started walking away but Irvine ran after him.
"I'll pay that secret or die in dept!"
And they left the place.
Back to the Caraway mansion, General Caraway was standing in uniform with a young blond haired man with blue eyes. He was wearing a long grey trench coat. There was also a servant of Caraway standing behind them.
"Loire is bound like me in same penalty. It's not hard for old fools like us to keep peace."
"You both have an honorable reputation," the blond said. "It's sad you lived in quarrel for so long... But now, sir, what's your answer to my request?"
Caraway turned to the young man. Seifer Almasy was talking like the quarrel between Caraway and Loire was sad. For he saw the Loire sometimes, he could tell he didn't like much of Squall.
"I'll say again what I already said. My child is a stranger to this world. She haven't seen the end of her 17th year yet. Let one more summer go by until she's judged ready for marriage."
"Some younger than her are already happy mothers," Seifer said.
"And they're too soon spoiled. The Earth swallowed all my hopes. Rinoa is the hopeful queen of my Earth. Court her, Seifer, earn her heart. If she agrees, her choice will make me agree... Tonight will have a ball here where I invite all my friends and you're welcome if you want. On that starry night you'll see beauties. Listen to them all, see them all and give your preference to whom deserves it. My daughter will be one of them. Now come with me."
He turned to his servant.
"You! Travel the world around to find the people with their names on this list and tell them my home and hospitality is theirs."
He gave him a sheet of paper and turned away into the mansion with Seifer.
Left alone, the servant examined the paper.
"Find the people with their names on the list? It says.... that Quezacoatl uses Ice, Shiva, Fire and Ifrit, Thunder; but I'm asked to find the people named on this list when I can't even read the names! I must find scolars and quick!"
The servant walked to the entrance of the city where he came upon Squall and Irvine.
"Excuse me! Would you have a moment to spare for a man in pain? A pain is healed by a new one."
"Yeah, Phoenix Pinion is excellent for that," Squall said.
Irvine arched an eyebrow.
"Huh? For what?"
"A broken leg."
"Why, Squall are you mad?"
"No, but I'm bound more than a madman. I'm jailed, kept away from food, shocked and tourmented and..." he stopped seeing the servant. "Good evening, sir."
"Good evening... telll me sir, can you read?"
"Yes, my own fortune in my misery," Squall said.
"You could know this without reading books," the servant advanced. "Can you read anything you see?"
"Yes, if I know the letters and language."
The servant sighed.
"You talk nonsense. Hyne blesses you."
He started to leave.
"Wait," Squall called. "I can read."
He took the paper from the servant's hands and started to read.
"Lord Dobe and his wife and daughters; mister Martine and his lovely sisters; the widow of mister Dincht; doctor Odine and his lovely nieces; Zell and his brother Valentine; my uncle Caraway, his wife and daughters; my sweet niece Quistis; Selphie; senior Rick and his cousin Raijin; Cody and the lively Fujin."
Squall gave back the paper.
"Nice crew, where will they gather?"
"Up," the servant answered.
"Where is this 'up'?" Squall asked.
"To supper at our house."
"Whose house?"
"Mt master's."
"Whatever... should have started with that."
"Now I'll tell you without you asking: my master is the mighty Caraway. If you're not from the Loire house, I invite you to a cup of wine. Hyne blesses you."
He hurried away to find the people on the paper. Irvine turned to Squall.
"It's the ancient Caraway party; sweet Quistis you so desperately love will be there along with all the most beautiful babes on Earth! You should go, you'll be able to compare her beauty with others'. I'll show you and you'll see your swan is just a crow."
"If my eyes would tell such a lie, may my tears turn to flames! Snd that my eyes left alive, even though so often drowned, be burned like imposters! A girl more beautiful than my sweetheart! Sun seeing everything never saw her equal since the world started!"
"Ha! You think she's nice because you saw her alone. For your eyes, she had no competiton than herself. In that crystal balance place your sweety against other gals I'll show you and she won't as shining as she is for you today."
"Fine! I'll go, but not to see what you say buit to rejoice from my sweet's beauty."
And they walked away.
Meanwhile inside the Caraway mansion, Julia was walking around apparently looking for something or someone. She came upon the nurse. She was a long black haired woman with a long black dress. She raised the daughter of Caraway since her birth. Her name was Edea.
"Nurse, where's my daughter?" Julia asked her. "Call for her."
"She's like the wind always going here and there. Come, angel, heaven's pride. For Hyne's sake, I wonder where she wandered now... Rinoa!"
A black haired girl came around the corner wearing a blue sleeveless gown over a short blue skirt and a one piece black clothing under. Edea couldn't help a smile at the sight. A warm smile, as usual.
"Who called now?" Rinoa asked.
"Your mother," Edea answered.
"Mother," Rinoa said turning her face to Julia. "Here I am. What is it?"
Julia joined her hands together.
"Here's the matter.... Nurse leave us, please. We must talk in privacy..."
Edea bowed and turned to leave.
"No, wait Edea. I changed my mind, you'll hear what I have to say. You know my daughter' of a pretty age."
"Miss, I can tall her age to a second."
"She's not seventeen," Julia said.
"I would bet on all the years I spent here she's not seventeen. How much time until Hyne's day?"
(Note: Considering I made Edea the nurse, I changed the way she usually speaks because, if you know Romeo and Juliet, the nurse speaks funny. After all, it's Edea!)
"Two weeks, I'd say."
"That's when she'll turn seventeen, right on Hyne's day. Istill remember how lively she was when I was feeding her as a baby. She used to bite me sometimes and as she grew up, she was curious of everything, exploring everywhere her short legs would carry her to. Would she get hurt, my husband, peace to his soul, would bring her up and tell her to get up stronger each time she'd fall. She'd stop crying and say Yes!"
"Please stop now."
"Yes madam. But I can't help smiling thinking she stopped crying and say yes! Even though she had a bump as big as Carbuncle's ruby and made her cry heavily loud. You'll get up stronger each time you fall. She stopped and said yes!"
Rinoa started to get annoyed as well.
"Please stop this now, nurse!"
Edea shrugged.
"Well, I'm done. May Hyne mark you with her grace! You were the cuttest baby I ever raised. Would I live long enough to see you married, I'll be blessed."
Julia took advantage of the subject to cut in.
"That's what I wanted to tell her about... Tell me, Rinoa darling, how do you feel towards marriage?"
"It's an honor I didn't think about yet."
"An honor!" Edea exclaimed. "That's wise."
"Well think of marriage now. Younger girls than you are, nmot far from Deling are already mothers. If I'm not wrong, I was an early mother too. In short, here: the valiant Seifer Almasy seeks you for his bride."
"That's a good man," Edea commented. "He's strong and good-looking. He's a good match, young mistress."
"Galbadian summer doesn't have such a flower," Julia stated.
"Yes, child. He's a strong flower."
Julia seemed Excited, smiling widely at her daughter. Edea was smiling widely, pleased.
"What do you think? Could you love the gentleman?" Julia asked. "You'll see him tonight at the ball. Read on Seifer's face all the traces of strength and beauty life granted him. If you think something darkens his face, it will be lightened by the fire in his eyes. By marrying him, you'll share everything he owns, giving you no less."
"And she shall grow bigger. Women always do by men. She'll bare beautiful kids."
Julia nodded and turned to Rinoa.
"Now tell me if you'll answer his love."
"I'll see to it, if I only have to see to love."
A servant arrived in the hall. He bowed in front of Julia.
"M'am, the guests are here, the feast is served, you're called, my young lady's asked, everything's a mess! I must go to serve, I beg you come quick."
"We're coming," Julia said. "Rinoa, we're expected."
Edea gave her an encouragement.
"Go girl. Get changed then add happy nights to happy days."
With her long red dress baring most of her back, Julia hurried downstairs while Rinoa headed for her chamber with Edea to help her put on a short white dress.
The night was young when three young men stood by the gate of Caraway's mansion. Music could be heard inside the mansion while people were seen through the windows of the ballroom. Squall, Zell and Irvine were finely dressed. Zell was wearing the SeeD uniform from Balamb Garden. He lent Squall one so he could enter unsuspisciously. And it was suiting him just fine. Irvine put on a nice suit and he had a mask in hand. Zell too. This mask would help hide his well known tattooed face. He was invited but after all, he was still tattooed.
Squall frowned.
"Can we go in just like that without saying anything?" he asked his friends.
"Ha!" Irvine exclaimed. "We don't have to say anything, let's go! Let them think what they want. We'll have a dance then leave."
"I feel dark so I'll stick by light," Squall said.
Zell placed an arm on his back.
"Ah, Squall. We want you to dance tonight."
Squall turned to him shaking his head.
"No, really. You just enjoy yourselves. My soul's too heavy I can't dance."
"But you're in love!" Zell commented. "Borrow cupid's wings and you'll be as light as a Chocobo feather!"
"He's arrows pierced me too deeply to let me fly. I'm stuck under my love's burden."
"Cheer up and you'll get over it! Too oppressing for something so tender!"
Squall sighed.
"Love, a tender thing? It's brutal, rude violent; scorching like cactus thorns."
Zell tapped him.
"If love's brutal to you than be brutal to it! Scorch it and Hell, you'll get it!"
He put a mask over his face.
"A mask over a mask!" he said. "To Hell if someone tries to see my marks!"
"Come on already!" Irvine cut in. "Let's go! Once we're in let's find nice girls!"
Squall shook his head. His heart was heavy with only one girl and Irvine only wanted to see more and more all the time.
"I'll just watch. My dark feelings would only put a shadow on yours."
Zell smiled behind his mask.
"We'll get you out of there, you'll see."
"Really?"
"Yeah! I mean there will be plenty of fun inside!"
"Mmh... We had good intentions coming here but my mind is not at it."
Zell widened his eyes.
"Oh? Can I ask why?"
"I had a dream last night."
"And so did I."
"Well, about what?"
"That dreamers often lie."
"While they sleep, they dream true things."
"Oh, I see shiva visited you..."
Zell started talking about the Queen of Ice freed from her cage of Ice aeons ago the placing the earth under a thick sheet of ice for what seemed like endless sleep. Her ice would freeze Ifrit himself who finally put an end to the eternal; night. She was able to put anyone in eternal sleep.
Squall snapped his fingers in front of Zell's face. It was not the first time Zell was talking about legends on the Guardian Forces, but when he was doing so, it was not of any purpose and he was quickly getting carried away.
"Whatever, Zell... You're talking nonsense again, that's enough!"
"True, yup! I talk about dreams."
"Well stop talking now," Irvine interrupted. "Supper's done and we'll arrive too late for a last dance!"
"Too soon if you ask me," Squall said. "I fear that something awful hanging in the stars will come this night and end the life in me with an early death... May Hyne, ruler of my destiny guide my steps!"
He turned to his friends.
"Let's go, then!"
Irvine lifted a thumb and showed a large smile.
"Wait for me, girls!"
They walked past the fate and entered the mansion.
Inside the mansion, the servants were having a hard time taking the empty dishes away. Some servants were missing and the others awkward. Once everything was taken away, the tables were taken out to free the room, leaving it for the dancers. Caraway showed up in a corner with Julia, Rinoa close behind with Edea smiling peacefully as usual.
Squall and his friends entered the room. Zell and Irvine were both wearing masks like other guests. The servants were running around to clean the place.
Caraway raised his arms to get everyone's attention.
"Welcome, gentlemen. Ladies with healthy feet will give you some exercise. Which one of you misses will not dance? I remeber the time where I wore a mask myself to whisper to girl's ears. That time's over. Welcome all of you and enjoy yourselves. Let the music start and dance begin!"
He saw a relative of his coming his way.
"Ah! Glad you came. Let's sit down and talk, our dancing time is far in the past unfortunately. When was the last time you and I wore masks at a ball?"
"Twenty years ago, by Hyne!"
"That much? I'm sure it's not that much."
They talked some more, arguig about the past while Squall was sadly watching the floor. Whenhe looked up, he was sure he saw an angel surrounded with a white aura. He blinked and shook his head. Close, it was the most beautiful girl he ever saw. She was wearing a short sleeveless dress with a cross on her chest. Her dark hair loose on her shoulders. She was holding the arm of a man he didn't notice, speaking with two girls. One with long blond hair he knew only too well for being the source of his recent heart ache and another one with short curled brown hair. But Squall had eyes only for the angel.
When a servant past him, Squall caught his arm and showed the girl.
"Who's that girl enlighting that man's arm?"
"I don't know, sir."
"She shines more than the stars! Her beauty's like a jewel to a rich lady. Beauty too precious to be possessed, too good for Earth! She would make Siren jealous and Shiva's ice heart melt with emotion. When this dance's over, I'll go to her. Did my heart love until now? No, my eyes swear it! Until tonight, I haven't seen real beauty."
Raijin was walking around not far. He suddenly stopped at the sound of a familiar voice.
"I know that voice; must be a Loire ya know?"
He caught a servant's arm.
"My staff, ya know! This fool dares coming here to insult our peace, ya know! For the honor of my kind, I think it wouldn't be a crime to lay him dead ya know!"
Seeing the young man geting angry, Caraway walked to him.
"What's wrong my young friend? Why so much rage?"
"Sir, this is a Loire, ya know!" Raijin exploded pointing Squall. "An enemy who dares to show himself in our little party!"
"Isn't that young Squall?"
"It is, that damn Squall, ya know!"
"Calm down, my friend! Leave him alone. He has good manners and to tell the truth, Deling's proud of him like a well governed youth. I wouldn't want anything to happen in my house tonight. Be patient, don't pay attention to him, it's my will. If you respect it, take a graceful face and put aside that angry look of yours which doesn't fit in a party at all."
Raijin folded his arms, sulking.
"It fits well when you have a vilain for guest, ya know. I'll not tolerate him, ya know!"
"Yes you will!" Caraway warned. "I say you will! Who's the master here, you or me? Come on, now! You won't tolerate him? Hyne forgives me, you want to cause trouble among my guests? You want to be the man?"
"But sir! It's a shame!"
"Now, now, you're insultent! It could cost you dearly. You want to upset me... Oh, it's time!"
He turned to the dancers.
"You're doing well, my friends!" he said then turned to Raijin. "You're quite a pain, so be quiet and behave or else..."
He turned to servants.
"Light!" he exclaimed. "More lights, for Hyne's sake!"
Turning to Raijin again, he frowned as a warning.
"I'll make you quiet," before turning to the guests. "Cheerful everyone!"
He walked in the ground, leaving Raijin groaning alone.
"The patience I'm forced in fights within with anger and it makes me tremble, ya know... I'll go but the rage apparently thin will get bitter, ya know."
He walked out of the place with a last disgusted look at Squall.
Rinoa has been left alone climbing down the stairs where she came back from. Squall approached and placed his hand on top of hers, startling her. She looked at him.
"Was it wrong to touch your hand? If so, I'm ready for punishment."
"Young man, you're too hard on yourself. Your hand only took mine out of respect. It's like a gentle kiss."
"Don't angels have lips? Like lions?"
"Yes, lionheart, lips to eat."
"Oh. Then dear angel, would you let your lips do what hands do? They're praying you, grant them before their faith turn to despair."
"Angels stand still or fly away."
"Then stand still while I claim my purge."
He bent over her sweet face and brushed her lips with his.
"Your lips erased the sins of mine."
"They claimed for themselves the sins they got from yours."
"You took it? Dear Hyne give it back to me!"
He kissed her again.
"You seem to like kisses."
Edea came from upstairs.
"Miss," she said. "Your mother would like to speak to you."
With one last look at Squall still holding her hand, she freed it and went to Julia.
"Who's her mother?" Squall asked Edea.
"Young man, her mother's the lady of this house, a good and wise lady. I nursed her daughter, the one you were talking to. I'd say the one who'd win her would be blessed."
"She's a Caraway?!" Squall exclaimed with despair. "My life's held by my enemy!"
Irvine came to him and put an arm around his shoulders, not seeing his distress.
"Let's leave, Squall. The party's come to an end."
"Yeah... But I'm just more troubled..." he said to himself.
As all the guests were leaving, Caraway saw them at the door.
"Are you already leaving? A good meal awaits us!"
But the guests politely refused, they were tired.
"Oh, is that so? Fine, than thanks for coming, thank you all and good night. More light over here! Let's go to bed, then!"
He turned to his cousin.
"Ah, it's getting late I see. I'll go rest."
"I'll do that too."
Everyone was leaving and Caraway climbed the stairs to his chambers. Only Edea and Rinoa were still there, watching the remaining guests leave the mansion.
"Come here, nurse," Rinoa said. "Who's the gentleman over there?" she asked pointing at a man who was leaving.
"He's the son and heir of Tiberios."
"And the one leaving now?"
"I think it's the young Carlos."
Then Rinoa pointed Squall.
"And who's that other one who didn't dance?"
"Mmh... I don't know."
"Please, go ask his name."
Edea went to the leaving people a moment.
"If he's married, I'll die!" Rinoa said outloud reaching for a ring tied to a chain around her neck.
Edea came back with the same calm look on her face.
"His name is Squall and he's a Loire, the only son of your enemy."
"Oh, no! My love comes from my hatred! I saw him too soon not knowing him and knew him too late. A great love was born and I have to love a hated enemy!"
Edea looked shocked.
"What are you saying, my child?"
"Something one of my dancers taught me."
A voice coming from upstairs called for Rinoa.
"Yes, yes, let's go. All the strangers are gone."
On that night, the stars crossed. Now that they were, it was too late. An awful fate was awaiting, death was waiting to come claim the ones it wanted.
So?? I know it's strange because Squall talks a lot and all, but think this: he was raised in Esthar by both Laguna and Raine and never lost anyone! If you think this is the worst crap you've ever read... I'd rather not know about it, cause I'm short tempered and might get angry! I'm kidding, If you think it's crap, go ahead, say it but don't overdo it!
This story's not my favorite either but I just had to do it. That you read it, I'm glad. The second part should come soon (I hope...)
