Mugen ~ 無限 ~ Part I

Chapter 3 – Bonum Commune Communitatis

"Oh! Don't you have those pretty little white flowers? Or were they beige? Off-white? Nah, I think it's more like ivory. You know those flowers that white cat likes to roll around in inside that shop with the old lady… Huh? The flowers are not for sale? Hmm… how about the cat?"

There was a click on the other end.

"Hello? Helloooooo?"

"They still hate you huh?" A dark-skinned man in a white Esthari robe shook his head as he stepped inside the President's Office. He placed a thick stack of discs on the desk.

"Call them for me, Kiros. Pleeeeaaaseeee."

"Laguna, you really need to start acting your age." Kiros touched a corner of the holographic screen in front of him and called up a file. "Here is the tentative guest list. There is an invitation written out for every major political leader and business tycoon from every city in the world. A special commendation letter is typed up and ready to be sent to Mayor Dobe of Fisherman's Horizon along with the invitation. It summarizes our appreciation for the citizens of F.H., recognizes their efforts while they were in Esthar, commends them on their superb work while repairing the lifts, et cetera… We need F.H. on our side".

"How about Squall? He's gotta come! I mean, it's important! I think he'll be mad at me if I don't invite him. I want to see Stormy and Nellie. I haven't seen them in forever! I wonder if Stormy pulled that prank on Squall like I told him to…"

"…."

"Ward says you should sign and encrypt the invitations. We need to send them off today." Kiros translated.

"But there're so many…" Laguna scratched his head. "How about you do it Kiros and I'll supervise?"

"Is there a problem, Uncle Laguna?" The doors to Laguna's presidential office opened slightly.

"Oh, hi Elle!" Laguna waved. "Come in, come in!"

Ellone stepped into the room and examined the guest list.

"Do we really need to invite that many people, Uncle Laguna?"

"Yeah Kiros, do we really need to invite that many people?" Laguna pointed at the screen. "I don't even know who half of these people are!"

"It is for the well-being of Esthar, President Loire." Kiros turned off the screen. "The other countries are waiting for us to show them where our loyalty lies. This banquet will serve to proclaim our neutrality in global political affairs. Trust me, Laguna. Staying neutral is the only way to retain peace in our nation."

"Well, all right." Laguna scratched his head again. I don't get it, but if Kiros says it's good then it must be.

"..." Ward eyed his dark-skinned friend. Kiros nodded knowingly.

"Since you will probably forget about it, I think we will go ahead and have your signature digitally brushed onto the invitations." Kiros gathered the gold-rimmed crystal discs and left the office with Ward following behind. "Until next time Miss Ellone".

"See you later Uncle Kiros, Uncle Ward," Ellone waved.

"Sooooo Elle, are you excited?" Laguna smiled.

"Yes of course, Uncle Laguna." Ellone sat down on one of the hover chairs.

"I was trying to get the folks back in Winhill to deliver the flowers for the banquet." Laguna pouted. "But they wouldn't take me seriously".

"We can get the flowers elsewhere." Ellone smiled at Laguna's comical expression.

"Yeah but it just won't be the same. I want Raine's flowers at your wedding, Elle. It'll be like she is there watching the whole thing."

"I feel like she watches over me everyday." Ellone put her hand on Laguna's arm.

"Yeah, I feel the same."

The two paused for a moment, tasting nostalgia at the memory of the woman who have given them a second chance in life.

"Uncle Laguna?"

"Yeah, Elle?"

"Is Squall coming?"

"I sure hope so. I told Kiros to send an invite to Balamb. Maybe I should go there myself, I still haven't tried their famous Balamb fish! I actually have the money to stay in hotels now!" Laguna patted his chest proudly.

"Maybe we can have the caterer serve that dish during the banquet." Ellone suggested.

"Oh yeah! Why didn't I think of that? Maybe some of that… uh… Miss Moogle's cake I've been hearing about too!"

"And hotdogs." Ellone added.

"Definitely! The kids would love it. Oh Elle my plan is brilliant! I can't wait!"

Ellone smiled. It always makes her happy to see Laguna so excited.

"I can't believe you're gonna get married already, Elle." Laguna sighed. "You're all grown up."

"I'll always be your Elle, Uncle Laguna." Ellone stood up from her seat and hugged Laguna tightly.

"You'll always be my Little Elle." Laguna held Ellone closely.

Laguna closed his eyes. Images of the happier days with Raine and Ellone flashed across the darkness.

If only time can stand still, and let me treasure this moment forever. Laguna sighed.

Raine, I wish you are here...

Rinoa walked quietly into the infirmary. She wanted to check in with Dr. Kadowaki about seasickness remedies for the new students. As the Garden Commander's wife, Rinoa's job largely consisted of figuring out the fine details of internal operations, making sure everyone had what they needed.

She waited in the lobby while Dr. Kadowaki counted her stock. In the other room, the Dincht twins threw up mercilessly into buckets while their mother shouted something horrible into her mobile phone. Zell is in big trouble, Rinoa shook her head.

Quistis and Kai walked out from behind a curtain, the boy held an ice pack to his face. Quistis seemed more cheerful than she was earlier. Her right arm wrapped around her son's shoulders. Rinoa waved, feeling thankful that Quistis was feeling better.

"Hey Rin."

"Hey Quisty. How's Kai?"

"Much better, just need to ice it for awhile. We're heading to the cafeteria to grab some lunch."

"That's good to hear." Rinoa smiled in relief. It was heartbreaking to watch Seifer raising a hand on this innocent boy. "Better hurry up Quisty. The hotdogs are almost gone and Zell is hogging the line."

"Ah... and with his poor boys here... Zell will never change." Quistis said disapprovingly.

"Yeah, I doubt it." Rinoa giggled. She bent down slightly so she could take a better look at the young boy who was clinging tightly to Quistis's skirt.

"Does it still hurt?" Rinoa looked into Kai's big green eyes. She had not seen this child since the day he was born five years ago. Almost immediately afterward he was taken by his father and disappeared without a trace. The boy was tall for his age; his limbs too long for his Garden uniform. His golden hair was combed back. His posture perfect. This boy is too tense, Rinoa thought.

"No, Mrs. Leonhart." Kai replied politely.

Rinoa smiled and tousled his head. "Hurry and go to the cafeteria! You can sit with Storm and Nellie if you'd like. Storm is your age and Nellie's only two years younger. I'm sure you three will have a great time together."

"Yes, ma'am." Kai stared at his shoes. His fingers squeezed tightly on the stuffed moogle dangling from his belt.

"You're way too polite to be Seifer Almasy's son." Rinoa laughed.

Taking it as a compliment, Quistis smiled. "Let's go Kai, your uncle Zell is merciless when it comes to hotdogs."

Rinoa watched as the two left the Infirmary. She was happy for their reunion. She hummed a tune her mother used to sing to her at night. Quisty looks so serene and content, Rinoa thought, the power of uncertain yet instinctive motherly love.

She picked up the inventory list from the doctor and followed Quistis and Kai a great distance behind. She wanted to give them some much-needed alone time. Quistis never divulged the reason for Kai's absence. Rinoa did not ask, and neither did any of their comrades, as they had agreed that it was a private matter between Quistis and Seifer. Rinoa couldn't help but wondered why Quistis willingly gave up her son for the past five years even though she very apparently lived in misery because of it.

"Hey Rin!"

Rinoa looked up and saw Xu running in her direction.

"Hey Xu! How goes the repairs?"

"The F.H. Techs are working on it. They are forging their own parts from scrap so it is taking longer than expected, but they should be done by the time we need to move out" Xu reported.

"Great! So..." Rinoa grinned mischievously. "About Nida..."

Xu had been dating Nida for a few years, and Rinoa was Xu's closest confidant. Rinoa secretly hoped to hear news of an engagement.

"Ah yes! Um..." Xu paused.

"How is Nida?" Rinoa tried to open the conversation.

"He's not good. Well I guess physically he's good. Er... he's good as far as he knows..." Xu sounded slightly irritated.

"Now I'm confused. What's going on with Nida?" Rinoa sensed a bit of hesitation in Xu's voice.

"Well the thing is," Xu looked embarrassed. "He's about to be demoted, and he isn't even aware of it!"

"Why is he being demoted?" Rinoa was curious. Although seemingly lazy and hardly stood out from other Garden and SeeD cadets, Nida was valued as Garden's main and only pilot. He was the last person Rinoa would expect to receive a demotion.

"Because that idiot missed all the deadlines for his re-certification exams!" Xu was visibly upset. "I've reminded him about a billion times and it all just goes into one ear and out the other. Since he has no active field duties as a SeeD, the only way for him to retain his title is via written exams or a senior thesis."

"I can't picture Nida writing a thesis." Rinoa laughed.

"Neither can I! Anyway, I was wondering if it is possible for you to ask Squall to approve an extension for him...?" Xu held onto Rinoa's arm.

"I can try, although I am not sure if this is in Squall's control. The rules were setup by the Kramers and the Shumi investors." Rinoa replied uncertainly.

"As long as you try. Thanks for your help Rin!" Xu smiled.

"I will do my best! I would hate for Nida to lose his wedding fund..."

Xu blushed as she pulled Rinoa with her down the hall.

A/N: Once again, Square-Enix Co. Ltd. owns everything in Final Fantasy VIII. I retain rights to my original characters and this storyline, and Dr. Kadowaki's uber seasickness meds.

Latin Lesson of the Chapter: Bonum commune communitatis is "Common good of the community". This of course refers to Laguna's scene. I love Laguna, but I have the hardest time writing him. He dwells on that thin line between being an innocent wanderer of life, and an idiotic leader kept in office by pure luck. I tend to write from the kid within his heart, as it makes Laguna all the more endearing. Though I often had to remind myself that he can be a brilliant leader when need be, with the ability to come up with insane but feasible plans.

Thanks for staying with me thus far! Onto Chapter 4!