Just One More Kiss
By Rinoa Angel


Chapter 2
Forgotten Memories


Her surroundings past by her in a blur. Her eyes were fixed on their destination yet it was not nearing her at the speed she was intending. The grin plastered on her face was probably enough to persuade most of the people she passed to believe that the next place she would be running towards would be a mental home. She could hardly contain herself any longer. For years she had dreamt of this day and now she was finally relaying the good news to the people she loved most in the world. As she sprinted around the curved hallway images of the day SeeD came to help the cause flashed through her mind. She couldn't wait to see their faces when she told them.


"Could all SeeD personnel please report to the level four conference room immediately. I repeat: Could all SeeD personnel please report to the level four-conference room immediately. Thank you."

"Hey, sounds important!" Irvine said after the message.

"Finally something exciting is happening around here!" Zell said as the group raced towards the exit.

"But what about Rinoa?" Selphie questioned.

"It's SeeD business, she'll understand." Squall replied.


Rinoa stopped in her tracks after hearing the announcement. Her heart sank. She saw the others appear from the cafeteria after a short while and run clockwise around the hall. She was disappointed that her news was intercepted by 'official SeeD business' but relived that Zell had taken the lead and chosen the route, which travels past the library. She resented the fact that all her friends were SeeD but knew that she would never sign up herself. Even though most of the missions were justified in their cause she knew she wouldn't be able to fight for something that she didn't believe in. Besides that she was too highly strung to be treated like a puppet she had to do things her own way. Although at times she may have made some wrong decisions and her methods may have not gone according to the 'book' she had a passion that drove her and she had learnt her lessons well. And it paid off she thought smiling to herself. After everything she had gone through, after countless people had told her that her plight was worthless she had succeeded.

She couldn't wait to tell everyone but she guessed she'd have to. She made her way slowly to her dorm room and although she knew she would never be able to get to sleep with so much on her mind she thought it best to try. It had been an especially long few days and she hadn't slept at all the night before. As she reached her room she took her key card out then noticed that the light on the electronic key slot at the side of the door was flashing red. Some one had tried to get in.

***

Seeing her had thrown him. One person had complicated everything. So many feelings he thought were lost had come back and now, suddenly so many new one's had been found. He needed to breathe.

He took the elevator to the second floor and made his way to the exit past the classroom. The wind was cool and sharp there and he welcomed it gladly. He walked slowly over to the balcony and observed the familiar surroundings. He shut his eyes. It wasn't meant to be this way. He wasn't meant to feel like this, he wasn't meant to show emotion. But then again wasn't that the reason for coming here? To show that he had changed? Why was he trying to be some one he was not?

He regained his composure. Inhaling deeply he went over his original plan in his mind. It was simple; go to the headmaster, ask for forgiveness, re-enrol to the academy, act like nothing happened, study for a year, pass his exams and become a SeeD at the end of it! He rubbed his eyes with his hand. Who was he kidding? It was never going to be that easy and now there was a complication in the equation: Rinoa. It wasn't like he could just go over and talk to her; Even though he couldn't fully remember what happened the last time they had seen each other he did know it involved kidnapping her and sacrificing her to an infinitely evil sorceress. What if she could never forgive him?

He stared out once again over the horizon. The sun was beginning to set, it's crimson rays bleeding into the darkening sky. His heart ached. He turned away and moved slowly towards the exit his mind swimming. He looked back up at the building when he had departed in the same way he had earlier that day unsure if he would come back.

***

It was getting late, they had to be done by now? It was beginning to feel like she was always being kept waiting. Like she never came first. She walked aimlessly around the halls keenly observing each individual that she came across. She was yet to see anyone familiar. She crossed her arms to her chest in frustration. She looked around the building that had been her home for nearly a year and her mind began to wonder about the future when someone grabbed her shoulders from behind. She span round in surprise.

"Oh my god, you scared the hell out of me!" She gasped.

"Sorry, didn't mean to!" An amused looking Squall replied. "I was just coming to look for you."

She frowned. "You took your time didn't you?"

"It's not my fault, you know how Cid goes on!"

She eyed him suspiciously. "Humm... well what was so important that it took nearly four hours to explain? Or is it official SeeD business?" She added sarcastically.

"No actually that's what I came to talk to you about."

"Oh, and there I was thinking you just came to see me!" She joked.

"Well that too!" He defended himself, "but this is actually pretty serious." He sat down on a near by bench and she followed suit.

"Okaaay...?"

"Apparently there have been reports of a spy somewhere in garden. They've told us to be aware of any unusual activity."

She starred at him for a moment. "That took four hours to say?"

He scowled at her lack of understanding. "Security has been slack ever since the end of the war. There could be someone wondering around gathering information right at this very minute and we'd be none the wiser!"

"Well what information would they be gathering!? All the top secret stuff is kept under wraps, even I don't know anything!"

"That's true all the confidential stuff is kept pretty safe. We're guessing that whoever it is would be observing the working's of the school; what's happening when, who's doing what at what time. You know?"

She thought for a moment. "So it's most likely to be someone who's recently enrolled then?"

"Well yes, maybe but as I said I don't think security would pick up on anyone coming in repeatedly, there's no longer anyone at the entrance, anyone's free to get in!"

"So you're saying that no one would notice some guy sneaking around with a notebook and a dodgy hat?"

He looked at her with puzzlement "You've never been a spy before have you?"

She laughed. "Well if I was going to be one that's what I'd look like!"

"But then everyone would know what you were doing and that defeats the whole object!"

She sat and thought for a second.

"......damn."

He looked at his watch. "Right, I've got to go meet the others to discuss strategy." He got up to leave.

"What!? What were you doing for four hours!?"

He smiled at her, "Sorry Rin, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever." She said sulkily.

"Hey, less of that! Once you start saying it, it's like a disease! See you later!" He turned and began to walk away.

She jumped up. "Hey! Don't you want to hear my news!?"

"Yeah, I heard! Congratulations, sweetheart." He came back and kissed her on the forehead. " I knew you could do it!"

She stood there silently as he walked away. After all the waiting she never got to tell him! She turned round and kicked the bench in annoyance.

***

"Hold on one moment please, Sir," the less than chirpy secretary said even before Seifer had the chance to open his mouth. It appeared that she had only arrived moments before he had and she looked in dire need for a caffeine fix.

He took a seat on an oversized sofa next to the door and watched her desperately try and sort out her workstation in a professional manner. The early morning sunlight cascaded through the vertical blinds on the window creating shadows like prison bars on the floor. He smiled to himself as he thought back to the time when he felt that Garden was like a prison and now he was doing all he could to beak in. a military academy isn't the best place for a rebellious child to grow up in.

"Okay, sorry about that. What can I do for you, sir?" The timid secretary asked.

"That's okay. New to the job?" Seifer questioned.

She looked away, embarrassed. "First day. Is it that obvious?"

"No, no it's just that I didn't recognise you."

She smiled but said no more about the statement.

"I came to talk with the headmaster."

"Certainly, do you have an appointment?"

"Well, not exactly. I'm an old student, came to see if it would be possible to re-enrol." He stood in front of her hopefully. She looked unsure of what to do.

"Umm... hold on a minute I'll just ask him if he's busy or not."

She pressed down on the intercom. "H-headmaster Cid?"

"Good morning Nikkie," the old, familiar voice replied. "Please, call me Cid."

"Oh, okay, Cid; there's someone here to see you, a former student, shall I send them up?"

"An old student you say!? Well, yes, yes send them up!" He said excitedly.

She removed her finger from the button on the intercom and turned to Seifer.

"Okay, you're in luck! Go head it's just up the elevator and down the hall." She smiled at him.

"Thank you." Seifer smiled back and took her directions.

"Nikkie?" Cid's voice came once again.

"Yes headmas- I mean Cid?"

"Can you give me their name please, then?"

She froze for a second and bit her lip. "Ummm.... I err- forgot to take their name, Sir. I'm so sorry I-"

"It's okay, Nikkie," The headmaster cut her off. "Just try and remember for next time!"

"Y-yes sir I will!"


Cid sat back in his chair and chuckled to himself, poor girl. He searched his brain for who could possibly be paying him a visit. Even though he was very busy with the new scare of an infiltration within his school he always had time to meet old students. He looked upon many of them as his children and being the old sentimental that he was he enjoyed seeing them again.

Before he had time to ponder the thought anymore a knock came at the door.

"Come in!" He called out.

The door opened and a tall figure entered the room. He tried his hardest not to look too shocked.

"Seifer Almasy." He stated. "Well, you're the last person I expected."

"I know Sir, and I'm sorry if I have surprised you but I wasn't sure that I'd get a reply if I wrote to you before hand."

Cid looked up at him unsure of how to respond to what he had just said.

"You see I realised that I can't keep running away, that I have to face my past, and this was the place to start." He looked in to the old man's eyes pleadingly.

"So what are you saying, Seifer?" He questioned even though he was fairly sure of the answer a test of Seifer's pride may help to sway his decision.

Seifer looked straight into Cid's eyes. "I want to re-enrol. I want to become a SeeD.... I want to come home, Sir."

***

The day had past rather uneventfully for Rinoa. She had desperately wanted to get in touch with all of her old friends from Timber to tell them the good news but she had agreed with the President that she would keep the information quiet so that the troops could be moved out with minimal hassle. She had spent most of her day reading in the library and helping Quistis out marking her exam papers. It was early evening and Rinoa decided to grab something to eat from the cafeteria.

As she neared her destination she saw Squall walking up to meet her with his hand behind his back.

"Hey." He said once they were in hearing distance of one another.

She smiled. "What are you hiding?"

"Me? Nothing! Would I ever hide anything from you?" He feigned shock.

"So that's just some new disability then is it?! She said pointing to his arm.

"Ah! Observant as always! It's for you actually."

"What, I'm getting a disabled boyfriend as a present?!"

"No." He pulled out a bunch of red and white roses. "These."

She felt her heart miss a beat; he'd never done anything like this for her before. She felt tears of happiness form behind her eyes.

She beamed up at him. "What's the occasion!?"

"What do you think!? You freed a whole town from oppression! I think that deserves at least flowers," he said softly drawing a hand down her hair.

"Thank you... they're gorgeous."

"I felt bad that I was busy all of yesterday. I know you were desperate to talk about it and I promise you can have me all to yourself for the rest of the day."

She looked at her watch and raised an eyebrow at him. "You're so generous."

"I know, that's why I'm also taking you out to dinner." He smiled smugly.

Her face lit up once again. "Really!?"

"That is, of course, if you want to?"

"Of course I want to! Eating anywhere apart from the cafeteria is luxury!"

His face dropped. "Oh, well I was just gonna order something out from there."

She frowned at him. "You know, I think I like you less now you've found a sense of humour."

"You know?" He said putting an arm around her shoulder and leading her to the parking lot. "Zell said the very same thing to me the other day."

***

He had felt his stomach twist as he saw the scene in front of him. He had finally plucked up the courage to speak to her; he'd even gone over what he was going to say and what happens? Squall gets in the way. Were they really together!? How could she fall for someone like Squall he was so... unlike himself. He sighed. He hadn't yet thought of the possibility that she had found someone else. To tell the truth he hadn't really thought about her much for a long while. Now it seemed she was all that was in his mind.

He felt anger and pain boil up together inside of him. He needed to get it out of his system. It made him feel weak, not in control of himself. He made his way to the training area and drew his gun blade.

***

It was late when they finally got back. Everywhere was quiet and the lights were dim. The soothing sounds of the fountains were echoing around the walls. It was nice to be able to spend some time together; just the two of them, the chance was a rare thing. As they walked back to the dorm wing hand in hand Rinoa thought back over the time they had been together. Nearly a year now. She loved him and he loved her, they were so comfortable in each other's company it felt as though they had known one another forever. She smiled to herself and cuddled up closer to her boyfriend.

It had been a tough relationship, especially at the beginning. People don't change over night and she remembered how frustrated she used to get with him when he used to blow her out in favour for sitting in his room and 'thinking.' They used to argue a lot of the time-well it was mostly Rinoa shouting and Squall being his dismissive self and doing all he could to get out of the situation, but things had got better quickly. Slowly Squall began to show signs of becoming a 'normal' boyfriend; calling to see how she was, going out of his way to help her, surprising her with dates out and most recently buying her flowers.

She couldn't imagine them being apart but now she had achieved her goal of freeing Timber she had to start thinking about the future. They both knew it but neither wanted to talk about it until it was absolutely necessary.

"Well here we are," Squall said as they reached her dorm room.

"I've had a fantastic evening Squall, thank-you."

"It was the least I can do, you more than deserved it." He smiled at her and brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"Well I don't deserve you." She replied wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest.

He kissed the top of her head. "Of course you do." He said softly.

She exhaled contently and closed her eyes enjoying the moment.

He moved back, breaking the moment and looked into her eyes. "You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," she said quietly, "just thinking."

"About what?"

"The future."

He pulled her close again. "You know what you're problem is?"

"What?"

"You think too much."

She looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks for the advice."

"Anytime."

He moved close to her and kissed her softly.

"I'll come and see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah, as long as it's not too early!"

"Of course not, I wouldn't want to disturb your beauty sleep!"

She laughed, "How rude!"

"Goodnight, Rin," he said kissing her again before he headed off towards his own room.

"Night," she replied pulling her key card out of her bag. She looked at the pannel in front of her. At least no one else had tried to get in, she thought to herself.

She opened the door and the image of a tall figure in front of her made her heart stop.

"Seifer!?"




Author's Note: There you go! Second chapter up-sorry it took so long! Please review I thrive on feedback people! I'm also going to upload the second attempt of the first chapter (@_@) of my other story 'Dangerously in Love' so go read that & tell me what you think! Thanks for reading!

Rinoa Angel


Disclaimer: I still own nothing!