Lion Hearts:A Lion's Courage with an Angel's Heart

CHAPTER 1: Good Morning, Lady Sorceress...

Rinoa! Where are you?

A man with a long gash across his face runs across a barren landscape, not knowing nor caring where he was going, if he ever knew at all.He was tired, he was alone, and he was scared. The gash on his face represented all of his anger, all of his fears which never went away, like the shadow that follows us, always there, never leaving our side,until the end...

...then he hears a voice, the voice that ended all of this...

...his own.

I...promise...

...but, something was wrong.It was still dark, not like the flowery fields of Edea's House, as it should have been. But wait,is that not her coming to me? Rinoa, I'm here..."

The woman coming toward him had her face covered in darkness. She was wearing the familiar blue knitted dress, but she did not have Rinoa's long, lustrous black hair.The woman's hair was colored with a tint of chestnut.She had her hair tied up in one long braid, and what was left fell on the sides of her face.From her neck dangled a familiar lion-shaped pendant,and a ring...Griever? and there was something else: a GunBlade bullet is attached to it, glowing strangely with an eerie blue light. Did he give that to her? When?

He came closer. He could see her clearly now. Yes, he thought, this is her. I know her eyes, her wonderful eyes...It's all over now, Rinoa. Let's go home...

..then suddenly, the woman dissappeared.For a moment,there was silence,then he felt a piercing,searing pain on his side,as if someone had stabbed him. He touched it, and felt the familiar shape of a long blade...drenched in his own blood...it was...

...his own GunBlade.And looking behind him, he saw the woman again, but this time as a wounded, weakened witch, with torn wings, its bloodied hands holding the handle,smiling sweetly at him...

No...this is over...You're...still...

Squall Leonhart opened his eyes, and they met with a woman's eyes again. This time, it was Rinoa's. She came to his room to bring him his breakfast and leaned down to kiss him when he woke up.

"Well good morning to you too, sweetie!" said Rinoa, with an impish smile on her face. "Did you sleep well? you look pretty jumpy this morning."

Squall rubbed his eyes. "You startled me, Rinoa. Hey, wait, what're you doing here?"

Rinoa kissed him on the cheek, then set his food down in front of him. "Bringing my little baby breakfast. What else? Oh, before I forget, don't say anything to Zell, okay? because that's the last hot dog they had down at the cafeteria this morning.I met Zell at the corridor, and he was whining again about not getting even one. He'll go nuts if he found out that I smuggled out one for you.I wonder what he'll look like then?" She giggled, and to Squall this was always like the sun coming up.

Rinoa brought not just a hot dog, but some scrambled eggs and a glass of fruit juice,as well. She sat at the edge of the bed,hugging a pillow while watching Squall eat.She buried her chin in the pillow, then looked at Squall's eyes sweetly.

"So what do you think?" Rinoa asked earnestly.

Squall looked up from his food, and with his mouth full answered," 'Bout what? "

"the eggs."

Squall ate some more, thought for a while, and answered: "Can't taste 'em."

Rinoa's eyes went wide open. She stood up. "What? Are you sure? I woke up real early to cook that and..." She sounded really worried.

He smiled. He continued to eat, finishing the eggs, but not even touching the hot dog. He then set the plate aside, then sat upright on the bed. He stretched.

"That was the best plate of scrambled eggs I've ever had."

Rinoa's expression brightened.

"Even though it didn't have any salt."

Her expression darkened."Oh, yes, I think I did forget to put some...I'm sorry..."

He went to her side and kissed her forehead. "No, honey, it was great. Really. Would I finish it all if I didn't like it?" It was his turn to flash a mischevous smile. "Just remember to put a little salt on it next time, okay? We need salt in the blood, you know..."

Rinoa looked into Squall's eyes, saying nothing. There was a twinkle in her eyes...

...then she suddenly punched him,lightly in the chest.

"Then I'll put an entire shaker in next time! You'll never even say the word 'salt' again, Mr. SeeD Commander! Let's see how tough you are then! Tee hee!"

"Hey! I just ate! That hurt!"

Rinoa ignored him, and started to pick up Squall's plate. "After I leave, go hit the showers, get dressed, then head for the Headmaster's office. Irvine told me that the Headmaster wanted to see you."

Squall looked at his plate. "What about the hot dog?"

Rinoa smiled. "That's your next mission. Since you didn't eat it, give it to Zell on your way."

Hey,Squall thought, is this really Rinoa? She's acting like a...whatever...I've got to do it now...

"Oh, Rinoa?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

Squall closed his eyes. "Can I have Griever for a while? I'm gonna have it cleaned."

Rinoa looked at Squall suspiciously. "Oh, really? When will I get it back?"

now THIS is really annoying,Squall thought. Griever's MY ring!

"As soon as possible. Don't you trust me?"

Reluctantly, Rinoa took off her necklace and removed the ring from it. She handed the ring to Squall,then held his hand tight. "Please give it back soon, ok?I don't feel safe without it...I feel like...I'm without you..."

Then suddenly, Squall remembered his dream. He wanted to tell Rinoa about it, but then decided against it. She's already worried...cant't make that any worse...

He took her in his arms. He could feel the warmth of her body, and smell the sweet scent of her hair.No...I'll never make her worry again...It'll be the death of me if I do...

"Don't worry. I'll give Griever back. I promise. I'll even throw in a candlelit dinner when I do. Fair enough?"

Rinoa sank her face in Squall's shoulder. "Did you know that I renamed Griever?"

"Really? what did you name him?"

"Squall Leonhart."

"That's nice, honey. By the way, I noticed something about you today."

Rinoa looked up to him. "Really? what?"

Squall looked at her, then up to the ceiling. "You're acting like..."

Rinoa's eyes brightened. "Like what?" She was thinking:your wife, your wife, please say your wife...

Squall smiled. "...how my mother would."

The twinkle faded from Rinoa's eyes. "That's really sweet, but don't you mean..."

"what, hon?"

"Ahh...never mind..."Rinoa let go from Squall's embrace. She picked up the plate and headed for the door. She stopped at the door, and without looking back, she said:
"Remember, Headmaster Cid's office today, ok? You'll be late. Give the hot dog to Zell on your way. I'm going to feed Angelo now. Good morning." She slammed the door, even though she didn't mean to.

throwing tantrums again...Squall started to pick up his towel, but heard Rinoa's voice just outside the door.

"And don't forget to comb your hair, ok? You always look like a straw stack in the morning."

He heard her giggle as she went down the hall.

After she left, Squall looked at the ring in the palm of his hand. I know what you mean, Rinoa...Don't worry. You'll soon be.

He smiled.

"I'll give it back."Squall went to his dresser and picked up a velvet box, the kind wedding rings came in. he opened it, and inside was a beautiful wedding ring, with a blue heart-shaped diamond, with little wings on either side of it. There was a slot for another ring. Squall put Griever in the other slot, and closed the lid.

Somehow, seeing the blue diamond reminded him of his dream...the woman with the blue GunBlade bullet on her necklace. Could it be...?

No,thought Squall. that's all over. It can't be."No," Squall said to himself. It's all over. this is a new beginning...for me...for us..."

He then returned the box to his dresser, picked up his towel and the hot dog, and headed for Zell's room.