Finally, sorry this took so long. Enjoy!
Chapter Two
Know Me
Wind blew lightly through the trees, leaves skirted along the ground, the faded patches of sunlight catching them in a golden-red hue. Dusk descended upon the forest, bestowing upon it the ethereal and peaceful moment of day transcending into night.
The moment was shattered as Rinoa Heartily woke with a start.
Panting as though she had run a great distance, she squinted around herself, trying to make out her surroundings in the dim light. 'Where…?'
With the force of a speeding train, white-hot pain enveloped her, her shoulder throbbing as she doubled over in pain, tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes. Blinking back another onslaught of tears, Rinoa squeezed her shoulder gently, examining it through another wave of pain.
'Crap…it's dislocated…I have to pop it back in place…'
Gritting her teeth, she pushed on her upper arm in what she hoped was the right direction. She gave a small, pain-filled gasp, and found herself lying flat on the ground, breathing raggedly as the pain slowed to a dull ache. Experimentally, she lifted her arm, moving it around in a small circle. Though it was sore, it didn't give any of the painful jabs from before, apparently having been set back right.
'Whew…that hurt! Stupid ground!'
Rinoa began to look around herself again, her eyes a little more adjusted to the dim light. "I…fell…"She murmured, eyes half-closed in thought. She frowned. "My injury wasn't that serious…so how did I…?" She closed her eyes as the memory washed over her…
She was falling, wind whipping in her ears like cold slaps of water. Inside she began to panic, as the ground loomed larger and larger as she sped downward. 'I have to do something or I'll die!' an idea sprung into her mind, wonderful and sweet with the possibility of survival.
"Protect!" she called, watching as the blue shield slowly began to go in front of her body…too slowly…Rinoa landed with a resounding thud, heard a loud 'pop' and knew no more…
"My shoulder must have taken the blunt of the fall," she said, feeling relieved that she had been able to prevent major injury on herself. But then, a thought entered her mind that made her insides freeze with fear…
"So…then…what about…" she gave a sharp intake of breath, jumping to her feet. "Squall!" she shouted, turning her head back and forth in worry, desperately searching for the leader of their group.
'Oh nooo…this is bad, this is VERY, VERY BAD!!!'
With her own worried voice screaming in her head, Rinoa ran over the sloping hills and darkening paths, the trees casting longer and longer shadows, until they blended in so that she could not tell the difference between light and dark.
And Squall was nowhere to be found…
'Rats! This is getting me nowhere…I can't see anything. Squall could be anywhere, in a million situations! I have no idea where I am or how to get out of here! This is not good…'
"Raugh!" Rinoa pound her fist against the trunk of a tree in her frustration. Panting slightly, she rubbed a hand wearily through her hair. "There's nothing I can do now…I should probably start a fire and—" she gasped as a realization hit her. "Duh! How could I be so stupid! I'll make a torch!" Dropping to her hands and knees, she scrambled blindly, fingers searching for a thick branch or stick to use. "I need a torch to find a torch…" Rinoa muttered as her fingers closed over nothing but dried brush and plants.
"Aha!" Her fingers closed over something long and thin.
"Please don't make this be a snake…" she stumbled to her feet. Unless it was a frozen snake, not to mention a dead one, she was fairly certain that she had grabbed a sturdy piece of lumber. 'Okay…now all I have to do is make sure that I don't light the whole thing on fire…' taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, concentrating.
"Fire!"
A bright blaze of red light lit up in front of her, for a moment illuminating a clear path above her like a flare. It simmered down, burning at the top of the long and rough bough that seemed to have broken off during a storm, as scorch marks dotted it's bottom rim.
"There…that should last a while…"
Almost as though on a secret command, the fire flickered and died.
"Hyne…You hate me don't you?"
A young woman with waist-length black hair smiled, walking at the front of a queue of small children. Another woman, older than the children, but much younger than the black-haired woman, walked amongst them, grinning at them all as though they had been a particularly fantastic Christmas present. The children were clustered around her, some fighting to hold her hand and others merely trying to get as close to her as they could.
"Matwon!" One of the children sobbed, grabbing the oldest woman's skirt in his small hands. "Seifer…Seifer called me a-a-" he gave a great sniff, his blue-green eyes glistening with tears.
"SEIFER CALLED ME A POO-POO HEAD!" He wailed, burying his face in her skirt. The woman, Matron, kneeled down, wiping his face gently with her hands. "It's alright Zell," she said gently. "I'll watch Seifer more carefully from now on alright?" Zell nodded, his head bent. Matron tilted his chin up so that he was looking in her dark eyes. "Zell…don't take count when people say mean things. Know that you are a wonderful person and be happy that there are many that care for you." She straightened up. "Elle," she said to the other girl who smiled in response. "Could you watch Seifer extra closely? I'll keep Zell up here with me…" The girl, Ellone though many referred to her as Elle, nodded, turning around to watch a blonde boy with cocky and cold green eyes poke the back of the brown haired boy next to him, smiling innocently at Ellone's raised eyebrow. Ellone sighed.
"Seifer, quit bothering Squall and come here please…" Sticking his tongue out at the six-year-old Squall he walked over to Ellone. Putting on his best 'puppy' look, he asked sweetly, "Yes, sis?"
Ellone couldn't help the small smile that crossed her face at his wide, innocent eyes. Shaking her head slightly she let a small laugh escape her lips. "Seifer, you'd make a great actor. But at your age…" her smile turned a deadly sweet, Seifer's innocent look replaced by one of terror. "Acting is just a fancy way of lying…and you know how I…dislike…liars…" Seifer squeaked, nodding his head hurriedly, as though afraid she would bite it off.
"So…" Ellone continued, the deadly smile still on her on her face. "You are going to stop bothering Zell and Squall and be a good little boy for the rest of the trip…isn't that right!?!"
Seifer squeaked again, nodding fearfully and scampering away to huddle behind Matron. Matron looked back at Ellone with a raised eyebrow at the cowering Seifer. Ellone giggled.
"What can I say? It's good to be the Queen." (A/N: For those Mel Brooks fans, you may recognize that line as "It's good to be the king." From 'History of the World, Part 1.')
Matron rolled her eyes with a 'I don't even want to know' expression. Still laughing, Ellone turned back and smiled kindly at Squall, who gave a small smile back. He was quiet, unlike many of the other children. He always had a far-off look on his face…as though he could see something everyone else could not. Like he was in his own world, and even when he spoke to others, he wasn't really there; he wasn't back from that world. He wasn't sad, just thoughtful. He always seemed to be apart from the other children, and though they mostly made an effort to include him, they also passed him off as something they couldn't understand. 'And that…' Ellone concluded, 'Probably does more harm than any of Seifer's taunts…' Sighing slightly, she glanced down at a small brown-haired girl tugging at her summer dress. "Yes Selphie?" The little girl with bright green eyes that, at such a young age, seemed almost too big for her face, pouted. "Irvy bwoked my teddy!" She waved the small brown bear for emphasis. Smiling slightly at the girl's complete unhappiness at the fact that her stuffed bear was now missing an arm. Taking the small girl's hand, she said, "Matron is quite the seamstress. I'm sure she can fix it. Irvine probably didn't mean to hurt your bear. I'm sure he'll apologize." Selphie squealed happily. Looking in delight at the bear in her arms, she exclaimed, "You hear that Mr. Duck? Matwon's gonna make you all better! Then you can kill Irvy!" She skipped away happily toward the only adult among them, waving the bear, Mr. Duck, in her hands as though he was a trophy. Mouth slightly agape, Ellone watched the girl skip off in some amazement. 'This is sad…I'm scared of a five-year old girl…who named her teddy bear Mr. Duck…yeah…' She slapped a hand to her forehead. "Hyne help me…"
They were taking one of the few field trips that the orphanage could afford. They were traveling to Deling City to see the grand opening of the Children's Art Museum. There, children could draw or paint pictures and have them added to the library's collection. At least, during the opening they could. They were staying in a small, but elegant hotel for a few days before it actually opened. The children had been ecstatic at the chance to see such a big city, and had been barely able to contain their excitement.
"Hello," Matron said, walking up to the reception desk at the hotel, the La Rinta, "I've got reservations for two rooms, double bed. Under the name Kramer." The blonde woman behind the desk nodded, fingering through a thick hardcover book. "Ah yes! Rooms 102 and 104. Enjoy your stay!" Matron smiled politely at the woman before turning to Ellone. "Elle, here's your key. Make sure that you watch over Squall, Irvine, and Selphie carefully. Don't let them get into trouble." And with that, she handed a small bronze key to the eleven-year-old before walking down the hall, Seifer, Quistis, and Zell hurrying along in her wake. Smiling at the youths gathered around her, she hefted her bag higher up on her shoulder.
"Let's get going then."
They clambered into an elevator, Selphie jumping with excitement as it began to go up to the second floor. "Wheeeeeeee! I'm flying!" She screamed, waving around her bear as she zoomed around the small enclosure. The elevator stopped and the doors slid open, Selphie racing out the door as though her pants were on fire. "I call the window beeeeeeeed!" she called back, running to the end of the hall.
"Sefie!" Ellone called, pointing the other direction. "Our room is this way."
Selphie screeched to a halt. "Oh. I knew that. I was just, uhh, testing you! Yeah! That's it!" She turned on her heel and sped the opposite direction, meeting their Sis as she slid the key into the doorknob and opened the door. The children, save for Squall, sprang into the room, throwing their things on the beds before climbing over to the window and peering excitedly out at the city before them.
"WooooooooW" They chorused, noses pressed flat against the glass. Ellone laughed, dropping her bag on the bed near the window where Selphie's bright yellow kitten bag lay jumbled across it. She joined them at the window, gazing in admiration at the bright lights of the city below.
Unbeknownst to her, Squall took this opportunity to slip quietly out of the room after throwing his bag on the floor.
He didn't really know where he was going; all he knew was that he wanted to get away from the others and the differences between himself and them. He didn't really know what it was; he just knew that he was different. They didn't think like he did, or see things the way he did. They were his friends, but among them he was already an outcast, not understood, passed off as different and unlike. He knew it was true, but he didn't understand why it made him feel this way. After all, everyone was different, right?
No one bothered him as he walked across the lobby, looking for somewhere to be. He noticed a stairway that was roped off with a sign that said 'Preparing for next Show' in big red letters. It seemed to be the perfect place for him to go. Not even caring if someone caught him going down there, he slipped under the rope and jogged down the stairs.
Squall found himself standing on a landing overlooking what seemed to be a theater. A good-sized stage lay across the room, with a number of straight-backed chairs for an orchestra in front of it. Many small round tables spread out same ways away from that space. A piano sat on the stage, with a microphone at the ready beside it. The dark red curtain beside the stage swished as three figures walked through, two adults, one child. The child was a girl, around Squall's age, with long dark hair that had been braided with wildflowers, and big brown eyes that overflowed with playfulness and joy. She giggled and twirled around, her bright blue summer dress flaring out as the adults talked with their backs to her.
Squall found himself moving closer to the railing and peering over at the girl. She just seemed so…happy. Even Selphie wasn't like that. Selphie was just hyper. This girl…carried joy with her. Suddenly, she looked up at him, and her eyes locked with his. She looked surprised, but smiled brightly, her eyes shining even more. Squall couldn't look away. Her eyes were just so…different. So…unique…unlike anything he had ever seen before. The girl broke the eye contact, running over to one of the conversing women and tugging at her red dress. The woman stopped in mid-conversation and bent her knees so that she was level with the girl. The girl leaned forward and whispered something into her ear. She pulled her face away and smiled at Squall, waving. The older woman laughed and nodded, turning and waving to a slightly bemused Squall. With a jump of joy, the girl raced off the stage and under the balcony that Squall currently stood on. Barely a moment had passed when he heard footsteps coming from behind him. Turning, he saw the girl from below panting slightly from running, though still smiling happily at him. "Hi!" She said, waving vigorously and bouncing over to him. Squall didn't say anything, merely stared. What was she doing up here?
"Whatcha' doin'?" she asked, stepping closer and putting her arms behind her back, looking at him as though she was examining something interesting and rare. Squall shrugged. "Thinking." The girl frowned, her bottom lip jutting out so that she looked, for lack of any other word, unbearably cute.
"Why are you all alone?" Squall shrugged, unable to take her searching gaze any longer, he turned away and sat so that his legs dangled over the edge of the balcony. The girl didn't leave. Instead, her footsteps approached again, and before Squall really knew what was happening, she was beside him. "I like thinking too," She said, and Squall found himself looking again into her smiling face. "But not too often. Mommy says it's not good to think too much." Her eyes were wide as though she had just revealed her darkest secret. "What do you think about?"
Her questions were so innocent; Squall found himself not only answering them, but also having no desire to get her to leave either. "…Everything…" His answer was short, and had he told anyone else, they would have demanded to know more, but all she did was nod as though it was the perfect answer. His mouth moved without his knowledge.
"What do you think about?"
The girl gave a small smile, and unlike her other ones, it seemed sad. "My daddy." She said, twirling her finger in her hair idly. "He's gone lotsa' the time. Mommy and I don' see him much. He missed my birthday, and Mommy's day too. He always says sorry, but I dunno what he means." She paused, cocking her head at Squall before saying, "What 'bout your parents?" Squall found himself surprised and unsure. He didn't have parents, he knew that. But he had never thought to ask Matron about them.
"I don't know." It was true; he knew nothing about his parents. The girl seemed distressed by the news. "But you gots to know! They're your mommy and daddy!"
Squall shrugged again before replying. "I don't gots either of those."
The girl was silent at his announcement. Looking over at her, Squall saw that she was deep in thought. For a moment he thought she hadn't heard him, but she suddenly brightened. "I'll be your Mommy!"
Squall blinked in surprise. "You can't be my Mommy! You aren't a growned up!" The girl seemed slightly put off at this, and Squall found himself regretting the words that made her lose her cheery attitude. But, once again, she brightened, saying, "Then I'll be your best friend!"
Squall found himself unable to say anything against that pronouncement, not that he really wanted to anyway. He had never had a best friend before.
He told her that, to which she smiled shyly. "Me neither. Can you be mine?"
Squall didn't answer, though he found a small smile curling at his lips, and didn't complain when she took his hand. They sat there for a moment, neither saying a word, both secretly marveling at how they seemed to understand each other perfectly. The girl giggled suddenly. "I forgot to tell you my name! I'm Rinoa!"
"Squall…"
Rinoa sighed, "Wow, I like your name. It fits your pretty eyes."
Squall found himself suddenly embarrassed. "Rinoa's nice too," he said, as though making sure that her name was worth knowing. Rinoa smiled again, but was cut off by the sound of a piano starting. They both turned to look at the stage, where the woman in red was standing in front of the microphone, while the other lady in a bright green played a soft melody.
Squall shot Rinoa a questioning glance, who was only too happy to answer. "They're practicing. Mommy's gonna be in a show tonight. My Mommy's the bestest singer in the world!" She pointed to the woman in red, who smiled and waved at her daughter. She then opened her mouth and began singing in what even Squall knew was a beautiful voice.
My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here with you?
Maybe yes, maybe no
I kind of liked it your way
How you shyly placed your eyes on me
Rinoa sighed happily. "This is my favoritest song that mommy does. She never sings it when daddy's here. She says that he wouldn't like it."
Oh, did you ever know?
That I had mine on you
Rinoa mother smiled softly, almost sadly, as she looked to a corner of the room, somewhere that neither Squall or Rinoa could see.
Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer
Rinoa frowned as she saw tears glistening in her mother's eyes. "Mommy always gets so sad when she sings this song. She said it's because she's remembering something happy. I don't know why she cries if she's thinking of something happy." Rinoa balled her hand (the one that wasn't clasped in Squall's) into a fist. "Mommy seems so sad…but then she says that I make her happy. Happier than she's ever been." Rinoa brightened slightly at that, as she began to sing softly with her mother, in a voice Squall found to be even more beautiful.
So let me come to you
Close as I wanted to be
Close enough for me
To feel your heart beating fast
And stay there as I whisper
Squall found the memory of the song becoming a part of him in a way nothing ever had before. The words were now imprinted on his soul.
How I loved your peaceful eyes on me
did you ever know
That I had mine on you
Rinoa squeezed his hand, and Squall found himself returning the gesture. He had never felt so comfortable around anyone other than Sis, and even she didn't make him feel so…relaxed. So…happy…
Darling, so share with me
Your love if you have enough
Your tears if you're holding back
Or pain if that's what it is
How can I let you know
I'm more than the dress and the voice
Just reach me out then
You will know that you're not dreaming
Rinoa's mother smiled, all traces of tears gone as she watched her daughter and the young boy on the balcony. She felt a happiness rise within herself, and she almost laughed out loud. Her daughter meant everything, and she seemed to have found someone else that felt the same way.
Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer
As the last note faded, a ringing silence greeted the end of the song. Abruptly, Rinoa stood up, dragging Squall with her as she cheered. "Yay! Mommy!" She nudged Squall, who looked rather shy as he said, "Um…yay?"
The laugh that she had been suppressing burst forth from Rinoa's mother at the sight of the undeniably cute boy seeming so flustered. Squall couldn't keep the smile from coming onto his face as Rinoa too, began to laugh.
"Rinny we have to go get ready! Introduce me to your friend before we go." Rinoa frowned. "Aww, we gots to go after I show you Mommy. But I'll see ya real soon, promise!" She dragged Squall down the stairs, to the stage where her mom stood. She smiled as they approached, walking down the stairs and bending over to get a good look at her daughter's new friend.
"Hello," She said, reaching out her hand for him to shake. "My name is Julia. What's yours?"
Slowly, shyly, Squall lifted his head to look her in the eyes. Julia gasped. "Laguna…?" she breathed, her eyes wide. Rinoa said, "Who's Laguna Mommy? This is Squall!" While Squall merely looked confused.
"I'm sorry," Julia said, her smile back in place. "You just…look familiar. Do I know your parents?" Squall shook his head as Rinoa replied. "He don' gots a Mommy and Daddy. I wanted to be his Mommy, but I'm too young!" She pouted. Julia laughed, shaking the slightly bemused Squall's hand. "It's very nice to meet you dear. Unfortunately, Rinoa and I have to go now. You two can see each other later, okay?"
Squall nodded dumbly as he found himself trapped in a tight hug with Rinoa. "Bye, new best friend!" Squall didn't reply, but found himself smiling for what seemed to be the thousandth time that day. How could this girl make him smile so much?
Rinoa stepped away from him and grabbed her mother's hand; letting go of Squall's much smaller one. Squall found himself missing the feeling of her hand. "Bye!" Rinoa chirped, her mother leading her away. Squall managed a feeble little wave as they disappeared through the door.
A few moments passed before Squall realized that he had absolutely nothing to do or think about. Almost unconsciously, he followed after Rinoa and her mom, not sure what he would do once he caught up with them.
By the time he was in the lobby, they had already walked through the spinning door. Squall followed, wanting, if nothing else, to say a proper goodbye. He was stopped by a crowd of people, tourists rushing to their rooms. Even as he was struggling to get around a woman that seemed to be carrying an alligator, he did not miss the sound of the crash.
He had never heard anything so loud. It was like the time when the others had set off fireworks, a huge explosion rocked through the hotel as Squall found himself even more desperate to catch up with Rinoa. As he neared the door, he was, again, blocked by a huge crowd that seemed to be gathering around something outside.
"Oh god! What happened?!?"
"Drunk driver…damn them."
"It was the singer from the bar right?"
"Caraway's wife? Is that their daughter?"
The whispered conversations meant nothing. None meant anything, save for the strangled cry that reached Squall's ears with a jolt.
"Mommy! Mommy, why won't you wake up? MOMMY!"
It was a voice that Squall knew he could never forget. He forced himself through the crowd, and discovered why Rinoa was crying.
Julia lay in a pool of blood. A truck that had crashed into the wall some ways away was smoking. Rinoa kneeled in front of her mother, her knees drenched in Julia's blood, a small cut on her arms seeming to be her only injury. Tears streaked down her face as she clutched her mother's hand, which was limp in her daughter's hold. Suddenly, she looked up as though sensing Squall's presence. Squall couldn't bear the look in her eyes; the helplessness and utter sadness. He had to look away.
The next thing he knew, Rinoa's tear-streaked face was in his, and she was wailing as her tiny fists pounded his chest. "Why won't she wake up? Squall, why won't she get up!?! Make her get up Squall!"
"Rinoa…I…can't…"
Rinoa stopped, her fist inches from striking again, before she said in a terrible voice of pain, "Mommy's not going to get up is she?"
She said nothing else but cried into his chest. He found himself hugging her, not saying a word as her sobs shattered the air like the crack of a whip.
A powerful male voice said, "Come on, there's nothing here for you now."
Rinoa looked up and said in a disbelieving voice, "…Daddy?" The man didn't answer her as he grabbed her shoulder roughly. "Don' stain the poor boy's shirt, Rinoa. Your mother wouldn't want you behaving this way."
He began dragging her away, though she shrieked and pulled against him. Squall found himself moving forward, but even larger men blocked his path.
"Mommy!" Rinoa shrieked, "Squall!" Her tiny fingers were reaching out to him, just beyond where he could grasp.
"Rinoa!" He called, wanting to say something, anything to see her smile before she was taken away. "Best Friends!"
Time seemed to freeze for a moment, Rinoa's eyes widening slightly. But then a smile blew over her face. It didn't last long, but it was true.
And it was the most beautiful thing Squall had ever seen.
Rinoa nodded. "Best Friends!" She called back.
And then she was gone…
Rinoa…
"Squall!"
There were voices, so many voices…
"Squall! Wake up! Don't you dare die on me! If you die, who will argue with me?"
He wasn't going to die…his body just felt so heavy…and he was so tired…
"Come on Squall, I've got you now, we're gonna get out of this alive!"
The voice…it was so familiar…so nice…so…
"Rinoa…" His voice was cracked, and he felt dried blood on his lips as he tried to speak. Rinoa's face, blurred, was above him. He could just make out her eyes…her beautiful…wonderful…eyes….
"Rinoa…I'm…so…sorry…"
"Squall!" He could feel her hands clutching his face, shaking him, trying to keep his eyes open. Squall found himself not caring if his eyes never opened again, just so long as he got to say what he needed to say…
"So…sorry…"
And everything went black.
Sorry for the depressing end. Squall gets concious next chap. Can't you picture a four-year-old Rinoa? Not to mention a Five-year-old Squall? Awwww!
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