A.N/: here's the third chapter! Thanks a lot to Raine who reviewed this story, I really appreciate it (you have no idea how much) ! I hope everyone who read until now will enjoy this chapter as well.^^

Transient Eternity.

Chapter 3

"So…You're supposed to learn all those things by heart?"

"These are runes Squall. I have to learn how to trace them as to be able to use them." Rinoa explained a bit fed up, but quite amused, at his childish behavior. It was so uncharacteristic of him to be so curious about these things. He usually always kept this dark, stoic persona…Around her he was a bit more open.

"What do you do with 'em?" he questioned taking a seat at the table where she was currently studying an old and dusty looking book full of complicated symbols.

"Well…Runes enable you to cast long lasting spells, like powerful curses and enchantments or… Sometimes you can use them in advance as to cast a complicated or destructive spell and trap your opponent in the place you put them. That's not very common because it's hard to predict that your rival will be at the exact right place so most people use them to maintain a lasting spell without it draining too much energy out of them."

"What would you use them for?"

"I don't know…Maybe I could get some secret passages to open with them…"

"Well good luck. Judging by how many there are in just one book, I'd say you're in for the whole month." He pointed out a bit mockingly.

She groaned in annoyance. "Thank you very much Mr. 'I can't cast a firaga properly'."

"Ouch. You said you wouldn't bring that up…" he defended feigning hurt.

She chuckled in a devilish way. "Only if you let me study these dumb runes so we can get out of here."

She pointed her index finger straight at his face as if scolding him so that he had to look at her. She was scowling instead of looking up at him with her usual warm smile but he knew she wasn't really angry when he saw the grin she tried hard to refrain from forming on her lips. Then she glued her eyes back to her book trying to imprint these dumb symbols into her brain and he was left watching her from his seat next to her with a smirk on his face.

It had been nearly three months since their meeting at the ballroom. They kept arranging their schedule (more like skipping in Rinoa's case) so that they could see each other almost every day. They would always have to hide in some secret passage in the castle when the guards were looking for the Sorceress and then come out after an hour or so so that the research squad would have given up and the coast would be clear.

Today happened to be the day when they got caught. They had bumped straight into some guards patrolling while running away from another squad. They had locked Rinoa into a random study room before strolling away leaving Squall at the door 'for the Sorceress to concentrate properly'…When will they realize that unlocking a door magically fell straight into the said Sorceress' capacities?

There they were now. She had insisted on him staying here with her to help. * Seriously, what could I possibly do to help her study runes?* he thought. He leaned closer to the big book she was currently busy reading and tried to squint to read as well.

"…It's so soft." Rinoa suddenly said causing him to turn to her with a questioning look.

"The fur on your collar. It's soft!" she was beaming. Sometimes he didn't understand why things so simple and random like that would make her this happy. Maybe runes were just that boring…

"Rinoa, what exactly do you think you're doing?" he asked in a low incredulous voice as she started petting the fur on his jacket's collar.

She looked up at him with the cutest pout she could muster. She was inching closer to him and still had her fingers caressing the fur. Her big dark chocolate eyes sparkled as she locked gazes with him giving the young soldier a pleading look, a slight blush on her face and her rosy lips slightly parted. If she got just a little closer he could…

He blushed madly. Not only because of their current position but also because of what he had just thought. *What's wrong with me!?* He scolded himself *What if she heard that!?*

"Heard what?"

Squall jumped at her question and she tilted her head to the side cutely.

"Oh my gosh! You're turning red!" she exclaimed.

He just looked away, his face tomato red. Rinoa started laughing heartily. She just loved to mess around with him. Embarrassing him like that was a rare thing though. She never remembered seeing him so red in the time they had spent together, even when she had tackled him to the ground the other day.

"Hey, I'm sorry…" she said apologetically but her still amused voice betrayed her.

"Yeah, whatever…" He still wouldn't look at her so she pouted again but when she realized he couldn't see her do so, she decided to act.

Squall felt something drop onto his left shoulder. When he turned around to see what it was he was surprised to see Rinoa resting her head on his shoulder and literally leaning on him as she played with the fur on his collar once again, her eyes closed. He couldn't help thinking she looked like an angel in such a position and immediately cursed under his breath in fear that she had heard his thoughts yet again. She chuckled quietly but he didn't know whether she was amused with what he had just thought or because he had cursed. On the other hand, what he did very well know was that she was undeniably nuzzling closer to him.

Rinoa wondered if it was alright to do so. She wasn't really one to ask for permission when she wanted to do something but what if Squall didn't enjoy the close proximity as much as she did?...It felt so right to her… This was certainly better than studying old runes in a dusty illegible scrawl… The warmth radiating from his body made her mind so much at peace. All she wanted right now was to take a nap there, close to him…Maybe even in his arms…She felt so secure…

Suddenly she felt him shuffle and opened her eyes just a crack to notice him snaking an arm around her and making her rest on his chest. Had he heard her thoughts!? She opened her eyes a bit more and looked up at him with a tired gaze. He looked back for only a second but it was enough for her to understand. Maybe he couldn't hear her thoughts but…He could feel them. She put her arm on his chest returning the embrace and she swore she could feel him blushing at that moment.

"You're so cute…" She breathed out tiredly. Oupsi, she didn't intend on letting that slip out of her mouth. Maybe he cast a confusion spell on her or something…No, he couldn't even cast a firaga… Why did she feel her head spin like that then..?

He just gave a soft sigh in response. He never thought that out of the two of them, he would be the one called 'cute'. He just rested his chin on her head as he heard her breathing rhythm calm and slow.

Silence filled the room. It was not one of these uncomfortable silences when you dropped a bomb question or felt embarrassed. He felt perfectly at ease and serene with Rinoa falling asleep in his arms, her warm breath on his chest and her heart beating against him were soothing. Never had he felt that way…It was so peaceful…

"Leon! Wake up, we're almost there!"

The tall man awoke slowly from his dreams of the past. These happy memories almost haunted him, filling him with melancholy. It was as if she had really been here, sleeping with him in his arms all over again…

Sora was looking at him with wide eyes as if he had grown a second head.

"What is it Sora?" He asked trying to get rid of his sleepy mood.

"I just told you we were almost at the Disney castle." He said with his trademark grin.

Determination got back into Leon's eyes as he stood up to watch Tifa maneuver her Gummi ship towards a world with a great castle seemingly full of light, nothing like Hollow Bastion's. It had great blue roofs and clean white walls. And just when he thought that the castle in which Rinoa and him had lived was big…

The small group now consisted of Sora, Kairi, Tifa and Leon. Sora just had to tag along in Leon's quest to help his dear Rinoa. Kairi wouldn't leave Sora's side and though she wouldn't admit it to herself, she wanted to get some details about Leon and Rinoa's relationship…Girls and love stories… Tifa was the owner of the Gummi ship. She had had to acquire one when she decided to travel through worlds looking for Cloud. Besides, she really had to help anyone who needed to be. She could relate to Leon…Being apart from the one you love and not being able to do anything about it really hurt...She had learned that the hard way.

They had already been to Yen Sid's place. The great mage was sorry to announce that he knew nothing that could help them besides the fact that the King would certainly find an answer to their problem. They could only hope he was right.

"We're going to see Donald and Goofy again!" Sora exclaimed joyfully. He almost seemed to have forgotten why they were here in the first place.

"Hang on guys, we're going to land." Tifa declared from the front of the ship.

*Here's our last chance.* Leon thought tensing as he watched the Disney castle come closer into view.

The party stepped into the castle and past the guards walking a fast and determined pace. Leon had his gaze fixed straight ahead of him once more, following closely behind him were Tifa and Kairi who chatted about the size and decoration of the castle. In front of him, Sora tried to keep cool but failed miserably at hiding his excitement to see his old friends again.

After a long walk to the top of the palace, they finally arrived at the throne room and saw very familiar faces at each side of the golden and velvet throne.

"Daishy! I toldsh you I don'tsh know where she necklashe is!" Donald duck complained as his girlfriend kept assaulting him.

"But, I'm sure you do! You always know where I put my things!" She pleaded almost desperately.

"Ohyo! Calm down Lady Daisy!" Goofy attempted to shove her away from his feathery friend.

"Oh dear…" Queen Minnie sighed from her spot beside the King.

"My friends, I think we have company." King Mickey announced while proceeding to stand up from his throne and walk closer to the small group at the other end of the room.

Daisy stopped her tantrum trying to shake some answers out of Donald (literally) so that they could all have a better look at their visitors.

"Sora!" They all exclaimed at the same time.

Donald and Goofy ran to the spiky haired boy and tackled him to the ground making the others –minus Leon who was staring out one of the great windows of the throne room – snigger slightly.

"Leon, Kairi, Tifa! You're there too, ohyo!" Goofy called out when they finally managed to stand up.

"It'sh been sho long!" Donald said in the same happy tone.

"Ohyo, so what's new guys?"

"Oh well…" Sora started.

"Did you and Kairi finally get together?" Daisy inquired as she made her way to the rest of her friends. She had always been curious about those things.

The two teens blushed madly at that.

"Wait..! No! I mean…Raaaaah!" Sora cried in frustration as he tried to explain what seemed to be a lost cause. "After we got back to Destiny Islands we…"

"Your Majesty, we have a favor to ask you." Leon interrupted in a serious voice, completely changing the atmosphere in the room.

Everyone stared at him, Daisy with a bit of annoyance. Not that he wasn't happy to see them all again but…He came here for a very special reason…

"Oh come on, can't this wait a little, we have soooo much to talk about…Right Sora, Kairi?" Daisy declared in a voice that meant it was to no avail to try and get out of this.

"Our time is running short." The tall man replied in a harsh tone, his patience low.

"What?...What do you mean Leon?" Tifa asked worried.

"She…" He hadn't found the strength to tell them earlier. He pressed on, it was now or never, he had to tell them. "She's getting weaker…"

"What!?" Sora and Kairi shouted at the same time. Tifa gasped.

"I wouldn't have gone to the castle yesterday if I hadn't felt something was wrong. I just had to check that she was still alive but…I feel it even more now, she's getting weaker and weaker with every hour that goes by." He finished explaining, clenching his teeth.

"But…She still held on until now didn't she..?" Tifa tried to reassure him.

"It's been more than five years…It's surprising she held on that long, even with her powers…" He trailed off in the end as his eyes got back to the floor.

"What aresh you talking aboutsh?!" Donald cried out, annoyed that no one explained what was going on.

"Calm down ohyo!" Goofy prayed him as he tried to prevent his friend from doing anything stupid.

"You're talking about Sorceress Rinoa…Aren't you Leon?" the King asked. Silence now filled the room. Leon was bewildered.

"I heard of what happened to her…" Mickey explained.

"How do you..?"

"Maleficent herself told me once when she was in a position of weakness."

"What else did she tell you? How do you break the curse!?" Leon questioned vehemently, walking closer to the King.

"She didn't say anything about that… I'm afraid…" the King said in an apologetic voice.

"No…" Leon dropped to his knees. His last hope of saving her was crushed. He could do nothing, just let her die… It was his fault, he shouldn't have let her go…He just watched as she turned to stone, forever remaining silent…Never to smile again… He could do nothing.

"Leon…" The King walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder as they were now at the same level.

"I couldn't protect her, it's all my fault…" he whispered darkly, his head was down and everyone in the room just stood there silent, watching the tragedy unfold before them.

"Don't say that Leon…" Sora said quietly from behind him.

"Leon, look at me." The King demanded.

When the man looked up, Mickey could see everything he had endured during the past years in his sad blue eyes. The worry, the sleepless nights, the tears that were shed for no one to see, the guilt, the pain…

"There might still be a way."

Leon's eyes widened. He prayed for him to continue even though he couldn't voice his thoughts.

"Rinoa may have been cursed using runes, or a catalyst."

Leon froze stiff. He recalled her gentle voice that day in the study room as she explained to him: 'Runes enable you to cast long lasting spells, like powerful curses and enchantments…' It was all very clear to him now. '…most people use them to maintain a lasting spell without it draining too much energy out of them'.

"…Runesh?" Donald asked loudly, completely and utterly confused. "What doesh it have to do wish..?"

Leon didn't let him finish. "So, you're saying that we have to find where the rune was placed and destroy it to release Rinoa?" He deduced, getting his determined tone back.

The King nodded. "Yes, but it might be a bit more complicated than that…"

"I know the rune can't be too far from where Rinoa is from what she told me about them, so we'll just have to look around the castle." He said, getting back up. A fire was burning inside him, he now had a precise goal.

"Know that Maleficent wouldn't have placed it at the bottom of any tree, she must have put the rune in a place which would be difficult to reach. My best guess is that you will feel a certain aura when you near it." King Mickey advised.

"Got it!" Sora took part in the conversation. "Anything else you might know your Highness?"

"In order to break the rune, you'll need this." Queen Minnie approached them with a small chest in her hands. Leon took it and opened it.

"What is it?" he asked when he took a better look at what was inside the chest. A silver pendant with a diamond rose in the center.

"This is a relic. It is vested with powerful magic. It's the only way to break a rune when you're not a Sorceress." The Queen clarified.

"How do you use that?" Sora asked as he moved beside Leon to examine the relic. Rinoa had never told him anything about relics…Of course, she didn't need them since she was already a Sorceress.

"I'm not sure…I guess you will know when it's time." Minnie replied. Sora wanted to facepalm at that.

"One more thing." King Mickey asked for attention from the others. "After the rune is broken, you'll be required to do something else Leon."

"Anything." He replied, his mind set. Minnie and Daisy smiled at his devotion to saving the woman he loved while the others kept listening intently.

"The last time Maleficent cursed someone, Princess Aurora ended up sleeping for a hundred years before her prince went to save her. Do you know what he did as to put an end to her eternal slumber?" the King asked…A bit mischievously…

"No, I don't." Leon said somewhat disconcerted by the King's constant beating around the bush.

Mickey chuckled. "…Sora will explain it to you later then. I do believe you don't have much time left."

Leon and the others were shocked but the gunblade wielder still nodded and made his way to the exit door.

"Thank you, your Highness." He concluded. Maybe they hadn't realized it, but the King gave him a reason to continue, a last string of hope to hold onto. Now he just had to take the chance he was given and save Rinoa.

"Ohyo, you're already going?" Goofy asked a bit disappointed.

"Would shomeone exshplain pleash!" Donald cried furious.

"Donald dear, calm down…" Daisy attempted.

Minnie just smiled at the irony of the situation. "May luck be on your side." She bade them goodbye.

"Your Majesty, please…" Tifa took a step ahead and in front of the King.

"Yes?"

"Would you happen to have seen a man with spiky blond hair?"

The others refrained from sighing. She just never gave up. They understood though, it must have been hard for her too… never finding Cloud -since the man always kept chasing after Sephiroth- after all this time looking for him…

"I'm afraid not miss, I'm sorry." The King responded apologetically.

"Oh…I see, it doesn't matter." She flashed him a gentle smile to prove her point. She was used to it.

Sora turned to Goofy and Donald. "I'll come back to see you guys in a while." He grinned at Leon who was still standing near the door. "I promise you'll meet Rinoa too."

A.N/: Thank you for reading! I'm sorry about Donald's English, I tried my best to make his 'duck accent' show through.^^"

As always, I'd loooove it if you left a review! Even if it is to tell me this sucks, I don't mind! Just tell me what I could improve or, if you liked it, what you enjoyed the most!