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ANNOUNCEMENT: All... or more accurately some of your questions will be answered this chapter, and yes, MORE LAGUNA/RAINE! YAAAAAAAYYY!!!! *flailing arms like Kermit de Frog*. And some... Squinoa if you will.
Twin-Lance: yep, yet another new story [where do I get these urges?] My inner muse is working overtime, so yes... twin, quite... you've got tibs? What's that mean? All I know is that I've had this story in the works forever, just didn't have the right experience to do it correctly.
Crescent Pearl: Oh yes, Rinoa is the boss of Squall. Woman power. Whoot! Raine was Laguna's real love, that is more than apparent, he didn't really love her just was infatuated with her. Totally different thing. Totally.
Seth8: Eventually everyone wants to know their origins, that saying is quite profound. Enjoy
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Another new day, Mr. Sun was calmly fluttering through the curtains as some local Winhill birds decided to compose a few concertos outside the window. Stupid birds. Stupid sun. Stupid day. Laguna, who clearly was experiencing the odd sensations of a hangover muffled out the happy concertos with his pillow, not a good move concidering it meant having to move at all, but then again, better than the Mozarts on the window pane. Someone shifted on the bed, and Laguna, out of the fog and pink elephants had a distinct memory of Raine. More of a smell, really, the smell of roses, the sound of laughter and broken glass, the face of Raine, an arm... right!
"Uuuggggmmm Shut up, birds!" Raine said, slinking her way through the sea of sheets to flop a naked arm over Laguna's half-turned chest and back. It took a second before the sensation of Raine's skin died down from the best feeling in the world to a sweet electric buzz.
"Doesn't work" Laguna mumbled, "Here, have my pillow" he concluded, flumping the pillow so it encompassed both their heads.
"Mmph. Not helping." Raine mumbled, "You're the big warrior man, do something"
"Launch a grenade out our window?" wow! he called it 'our' window!
"Use Silence!" Raine chuckled, flopping another hand against his chest. He caught it.
"Woo... how'd I do that?" Laguna mumbled,
"'Cause you're amazing" Raine finished, eliciting a moan from Laguna as she felt up his leg with her toes. It felt... wow. Okay, so Laguna wasn't exactly coherent, but the soldier-turned-journalist couldn't move major parts of his body, like... legs... let alone voluntarily complete sentences. That moment seemed to last forever, even the birds didn't bother him as Raine snuggled up to her 'warrior man' as the sensations of naked skin against skin sent fireworks to join the May Day parade already thundering through Laguna's head.
"Laguna?"
"Yahah?"
"Did ya really mean to say our window?" Laguna opened his eyes to see the most beautiful woman in all of Hyne's Golden Creation staring at him, half expectant, with dazzlingly blue eyes. It took time before Laguna was able to kiss the eyebrows above those dazzling eyes and form some sort of answer,
"No, but I don't retract the statement by any means." he could hear Raine's muffled chuckle as she put her forehead on Laguna's chin,
"How can you be so coherent?"
"Dunno... it'll never happen again, promise"
"Can it?"
"Me be coherent?"
"Can it be our window?" Raine snuggled up against him, both of her hands smoothing out the skin on his chest, one of her legs snaking around to rest on his hips.
"Hyne Almighty, yes." Raine seemed to sigh, or lack oxygen, as she raised herself higher, putting her lips on Laguna's locking them both together with her arms around his neck, feeling and tugging loosely at the long strands of hair. Snapping out of his hungover weariness, he kissed back, as more of what happened the night before encompassed the minds of the young, barely married couple's morning.
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Laguna woke with the familiar fuzz of too much to drink, the sun boring holes through the blinds, his comforter on the floor and some sort of crow... or overly tiny dragon squaking outside his window. Note to self, kill all squaking birds found outside Presidential Window. He thought, half expecting to flop his arm over another torso.
"Dammit, another dream" he was really getting to hate this. Then again, it was a beautiful day, his son was visiting for the first time in ... okay so it was the first time, his soon to be daughter in law was sleeping soundly in his son's bed, and Kiros was suposedly returning with what little was left of the recruits. Getting up out of bed, Laguna shook his weary head, yep, still attached, stumbled to the bathroom and six point four minutes later emerged dressed in the usual. Walking out of his room and shutting the door, Laguna walked out to the terrace to find somebody already there.
"G'mornin' Squall" Laguna said, hands in his pockets as he walked out to where his son stood arms out at his sides, he looked like a cross.
"Hm? What time is it?" Squall said, putting his arms down and sitting on the edge of the veranda.
"Don't wear a watch, but the Butler'll be here around oh, 9:00 am to herd us in for breakfast" Laguna said, leaning on the ornate ledge,
"That early, huh?"
"Hey, I happen to have a schedule to follow. 900 breakfast, 9:45 office, 10:00 infiltration of paperwork."
"Infiltration?"
"Yep. Here's a little advice: when in a point of leadership where there's paperwork, treat said paperwork like enemy fire, that way you attack it, get down early and have time for a cup of coffee before the inevitable onslaught of clients, well-wishers, and treaty negotiators"
"Does it work?"
"Every time. Of course, it also teaches you to never underestimate the enemy, namely your Secretaries and Presidential Aides, and keeps them away from your personal life on those days when the newbies wear low cut shirts"
"Right." silence found it's way around the two men, Laguna happy to close his eyes and feel the breeze, until something hit him,
"Where's Rinoa?"
"She's not the kind of girl you wake up without a death wish. Or heavily armed"
"Aah, got ya. Remind me to tell the Butler not to go on the wake-up call"
"Yeah. Last time someone decided to wake her prematurely, they got blasted through the wall. Just so happens she keeps a couple spells handy for the occasion"
"That they would be you, right?"
"... Yeah."
"Word to the rookie: when it comes to waking sleeping beauties, kiss first, then duck and roll"
"Heh." Squall gave a little chuckle before standing and stretching his muscles. Laguna looked at his son in triumph.
"What?" Squall asked, suddenly worried Rinoa was to be found behind him.
"You laughed"
"No I didn't"
"Yeah. Haha. My son laughed at my joke!"
"That wasn't a laugh!"
"Then what was it?"
"A snigger"
"Nope. I distinctly saw a smile"
"There was no smile!"
"Yep."
"Whatever"
"Hah! You did laugh!"
"Don't publish it or anything."
"Heh. I can see it now: Long Lost Loire Son Laughs, it'd make a great front page spread" Laguna said, once again putting his hands out like a banner. Squall just crossed his arms and huffed, facing the opposite direction from his father. Must've been earlier than he thought. A minute later, Laguna had sat on the ledge, sighed a thick, heavy yawn and slumped his posture as Squall took a hold of the ledge, jumped up and sat beside his father.
"Umm... Dad?"
"Okay, that's the third time you've called me that. You either need money, land, heavy weaponry, big secrets, or are actually getting used to the idea of this moron as your father"
"Griever. What is it?"
"Hmp. Secrets. Of course I was hoping the latter, but then again, words are just words"
"When we were fighting Ultimecia, Griever was there. She summoned him to fight, and it was wierd, like it knew me or something. What do you know?"
"Griever is a GF. Rare one, doesn't junction itself to just anybody. About ten times as powerful as Bahamut, rivals Eden, he's a protector of Royalty."
"The ring."
"That ring belonged to your mother. It was her mother's before her. From what we could find out it's old, some sort of magical heirloom. she'd wear it on her thumb sometimes, most times she just kept it on a chain looped onto her jeans. There used to be some sort of engraving on the inside, can I see it?"
"Please" Squall said, taking the ring off his finger, Laguna inspected the silver band, the lionhead on it, the wings sweeping along the side, then looked on the inside,
"Yep, there it is" Laguna said, pointing to what looked like squiggles and patterns on the inside
"So?"
"So, that is what used to be your mother's clan's battle language. Before Galbadia or Esthar, or any of the countries today, there used to be many clans who'd war or generally live their own lives. Several were nomadic, some were more stationary, but Raine's clan lived on Centra actually, Edea's House is standing over ruins of what used to be their major embarkation point. They were mariners and summoners, they built strongholds all over the world, the Tomb of the Unknown King was pretty sacred to them, they built it. They partnered with GFs quite a bit. The Brothers GFs stayed in the Tomb to protect their king, in the mean time forgetting that their constant juncture and protection of the king left his spirit unable to leave. I take it from what Irvine was telling me you took care of that."
"Yeah, Irvine has Brothers now"
"Okay, this is where it gets wierd. Your mother's family was the head of the clan, this ring is the symbol of leadership. Within this ring is the power to call on Griever, the Guardian of the Royal line, a Guardian Force endebted to Raine's Line for as long as the line remains unbroken."
"That means... Ultimecia."
"Yes, most likely, Ultimecia is going to be a member of Raine's line."
"So if Rinoa and I don't have children, then"
"Griever would pass to the next person in Raine's line."
"What happens when Raine's line is broken?"
"Exactly what happened to Brothers"
"What about my twin?"
"Where'd you hear about that?"
"Ellone sent me back into your memory, I saw when you found out about Raine's death, and in the box there was a death certificate, birth date the same as mine, but"
"She was still-born" Laguna cut Squall off, making Squall grimace,
"Dad, I have a right to k..."
"She's dead. Took Raine with her. End of discussion. Keep Griever's Ring with you wherever you go. It'll only summon Griever to you, it's no good to anyone else." the older man snapped.
"How do you know?"
"We tried" Laguna jumped off the ledge and tossed the ring back to Squall, walking briskly back into the Presidential Residence, clearly not wanting to discuss such a touchy subject. Squall sat there brooding over the information Laguna had told him,
"What is going on?" Squall whispered, fingering the ring until he heard a rustling behind him.
"Uh oh. Squall's in pensive mode again. Spill, what happened? Laguna looked like he could lob off someone's head with a butterknife. I've never heard someone slam a door so loud." Rinoa said, lacing her arms around Squall's neck from behind.
"Talking"
"Got that. What about?"
"Griever"
"Oh, I take it didn't go so well?"
"Understatement"
"Squall, can you speak in more than one word sentences? You're beginning to sound like Fujin"
"Huh? Oh, Sorry"
"Three, well at least it's an improvement"
Squall turned, put his arm around Rinoa's waist and laid his head on her shoulder, bringing her closer to him,
"What happened?"
"Tell you later"
"Squall? Is everything alright?"
"Laguna's hiding something big."
"Don't you think he has a right to?"
"What?" Squall said, looking up into Rinoa's hazel eyes. She took Squall's face in her hands,
"I mean, he's re-hashing some of his oldest, most painful hurts here. He loved Raine more than anything, what would you feel if I suddenly died and was burried without your knowledge? It's hard for him. Give him time, please? We'll figure things out eventually, promise."
"Rinoa?"
"I'm right here, Squall."
"Do you want kids someday?"
"Wow. He really did a number on you. Yes, someday hopefully"
"Me too."
Rinoa didn't know all of what was going on, but for Laguna to reduce the great anti-social Squall Leonheart to talk of future crying babies, it had to be big. Of course from what Rinoa knew of Laguna it took a lot for the perky, bouncy President to get angry. Perhaps it was her turn to ask questions.
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Raine sat on the grass thinking while quietly peeling the orange she had brought with her. She had never heard Laguna yell before. It had sincerely scared her, she just wanted to sink back into bed like a little girl and cry, but Ellone had beat her to it, and Laguna had stormed out, slamming the door so hard the foundations of the building shook. Raine had enough trepidation about marrying Laguna as it was, she didn't need anything more, but as fate would have it,
"I never would have expected he'd react that way." Raine said to herself, fingering the ring on her finger, then leaning down to where another ring hung from a loop on her jeans. It all started yesterday, when they had taken a walk in the fields outside Winhill, and as dangerous as things go, they had been attacked by a wandering group of monsters. She watched him fighting, as she held Ellone, as he cast protect on them and continued on, wielding his machine gun and magic with such ease it terrified her. His face held the mantle of someone enjoying what he did, and it scarred her senseless to see him so alive. She never thought anyone could take such joy in killing things. It then occurred to her that there must have been others, that through his time in the Galbadian Army he took lives, and it wasn't just out of self-defence, he enjoyed it. Not the killing of people, but ridding the world of another monster... that had been the first time she saw him kill something, the glint in his eyes shocked her as he jumped up victorious and took the prizes left behind as the monsters faded away. He had turned around with the same smirk on his face he had after they'd kiss. It faded. Fast. As soon as he saw Ellone crying, and Raine, she was still terrified. He had tried to say sorry, but Raine had simply fled, ran back to Winhill with Ellone in her arms, Ellone screaming to go back to Uncle Laguna. She realised how dangerous Laguna Loire actually was. By the time Laguna got back, she had made dinner, he ate in silence until they finally argued, beginning softly, then shouting at each other.
"You know I did this! You hired me to kill monsters!"
"I KNOW!"
"WHAT DID YOU EXPECT, I'D INVITE THEM FOR DRINKS AND PEANUTS!?"
"NO!"
"Then what? What did you expect, Raine!?"
"I didn't expect you'd enjoy it!"
"Well, I'm sorry, but I happen to like ridding the world of pain, thank you very much!"
"I was always taught taking lives was.."
"You were taught? Look around you Raine, this town couldn't help itself if it had an army! Monsters aren't lives, they're dangerous! People FIGHT danger!"
"What if we could..."
"Fence them in? You can't negotiate with growls, Raine"
"Stop calling me that!"
"It's your name, isn't it?"
"Yes! But the way you're saying it... stop looking at me like you did that monster!"
'WHAT!?"
"The smirk... you had that same smirk on your face. The one when you kiss me. It was there, Laguna. You can't deny that you enjoyed it... Like you enjoy me... ... Is that all I am? Some ... thing to be enjoyed then thrown? AM I!?! SAY SOMETHING!!!!"
Raine was right up in Laguna's face, she could see his nostrils blaring, sucking in oxygen and spewing out poisonous gasses as the vein in his neck pulsed like a warning sign. His normally sweet, loving eyes were glazed over in grief, animalistic rage, and his body was trembling with bursting muscles, his voice, when it finally did come, was a low gutteral growl,
"I never want to hear that again. I'm going to leave before I wake Ellone. Don't follow, I'm liable to hurt something."
He began walking out, and she, her voice guilty, shaking,
"B..breakfast at 9"
"I won't be hungry." he seethed, grabbing his gun and slamming the door. That's when Raine broke down crying.
Sitting there, Raine's normally happy face held a frown, then jolted as she got some orange juice in her eye. Finishing the peeling of the orange, she took a piece and bit, relishing the cool, citrus flavour. Laguna hadn't come home after that, the town was buzzing with rumours, and Kiros couldn't find him anywhere. One thing was for certain, from the bits of monsters in the surrounding area, and several places where trees used to occupy grenade pits, he wasn't happy. Biting another section of orange, Raine slowly sucked the juice out, licking her lips as some of the juice spurted onto her chin. This was a good orange. Ellone was spending the day with Mrs. Jordan down the road, she didn't want to come to breakfast, she had heard the screaming last night, and was scarred Laguna wouldn't come back. So was Raine.
To her left, Raine heard a noise, finishing the orange section and placing another half-way in her mouth. Thinking it was a hungry monster, she bolted upright, ready to run like hell back to her bar, and Kiros, but instead, saw one tired, long haired ex-soldier limped up the hill with two pieces of his machine gun. Seeing her, he stood a little straighter, pensive,
"What are you thinking about?" Raine asked, breaking the intensely awkward silence, chewing the orange section before swallowing it. Laguna scratched the back of his neck, dragging his leg a bit as he walked closer,
"How much I'd like to be that orange right now" he smiled weakly, mirrored by her own smile of relief.
"Yeah? I've got some left. You must be hungry."
"And tired" he said, flopping down to put his head in her lap.
"I'm... I'm sorry Raine, I didn't mean to get mad like that"
"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have yelled, I didn't mean... it wasn't my place"
"Yes, it was. If you're going to marry me, it's only right that you see what I can do. After I left... I was lost. Not really, I knew where I was, but I just couldn't find my way back. I ended up fighting any monsters that came near me. I was so mad you'd even think about something like that. I love you, Raine! Hyne, I love you too damn much to hear you say that I'd even think you as temporary"
"Laguna... I'm not going to lie, you scarred me. I was terrified. I was always taught... never mind. If I had followed through with what I thought, I'd be dead and you wouldn't have an orange right now, forgive me? For even entertaining the thought?"
"Already have. Raine?"
"Yes?"
"Can we just sit here for a bit? I ... sorta... can't feel my toes." Laguna asked, the weak, little boy lost smile creeping sheepishly on his face again, Raine beamed, put another section of orange between her teeth, and kissed him, both chewing their half of the orange before swallowing.
"I love you" Laguna breathed, reaching up his tired limbs and bringing Raine's neck down to his, kissing her lips for the last little taste of oranges.
ANNOUNCEMENT: All... or more accurately some of your questions will be answered this chapter, and yes, MORE LAGUNA/RAINE! YAAAAAAAYYY!!!! *flailing arms like Kermit de Frog*. And some... Squinoa if you will.
Twin-Lance: yep, yet another new story [where do I get these urges?] My inner muse is working overtime, so yes... twin, quite... you've got tibs? What's that mean? All I know is that I've had this story in the works forever, just didn't have the right experience to do it correctly.
Crescent Pearl: Oh yes, Rinoa is the boss of Squall. Woman power. Whoot! Raine was Laguna's real love, that is more than apparent, he didn't really love her just was infatuated with her. Totally different thing. Totally.
Seth8: Eventually everyone wants to know their origins, that saying is quite profound. Enjoy
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Another new day, Mr. Sun was calmly fluttering through the curtains as some local Winhill birds decided to compose a few concertos outside the window. Stupid birds. Stupid sun. Stupid day. Laguna, who clearly was experiencing the odd sensations of a hangover muffled out the happy concertos with his pillow, not a good move concidering it meant having to move at all, but then again, better than the Mozarts on the window pane. Someone shifted on the bed, and Laguna, out of the fog and pink elephants had a distinct memory of Raine. More of a smell, really, the smell of roses, the sound of laughter and broken glass, the face of Raine, an arm... right!
"Uuuggggmmm Shut up, birds!" Raine said, slinking her way through the sea of sheets to flop a naked arm over Laguna's half-turned chest and back. It took a second before the sensation of Raine's skin died down from the best feeling in the world to a sweet electric buzz.
"Doesn't work" Laguna mumbled, "Here, have my pillow" he concluded, flumping the pillow so it encompassed both their heads.
"Mmph. Not helping." Raine mumbled, "You're the big warrior man, do something"
"Launch a grenade out our window?" wow! he called it 'our' window!
"Use Silence!" Raine chuckled, flopping another hand against his chest. He caught it.
"Woo... how'd I do that?" Laguna mumbled,
"'Cause you're amazing" Raine finished, eliciting a moan from Laguna as she felt up his leg with her toes. It felt... wow. Okay, so Laguna wasn't exactly coherent, but the soldier-turned-journalist couldn't move major parts of his body, like... legs... let alone voluntarily complete sentences. That moment seemed to last forever, even the birds didn't bother him as Raine snuggled up to her 'warrior man' as the sensations of naked skin against skin sent fireworks to join the May Day parade already thundering through Laguna's head.
"Laguna?"
"Yahah?"
"Did ya really mean to say our window?" Laguna opened his eyes to see the most beautiful woman in all of Hyne's Golden Creation staring at him, half expectant, with dazzlingly blue eyes. It took time before Laguna was able to kiss the eyebrows above those dazzling eyes and form some sort of answer,
"No, but I don't retract the statement by any means." he could hear Raine's muffled chuckle as she put her forehead on Laguna's chin,
"How can you be so coherent?"
"Dunno... it'll never happen again, promise"
"Can it?"
"Me be coherent?"
"Can it be our window?" Raine snuggled up against him, both of her hands smoothing out the skin on his chest, one of her legs snaking around to rest on his hips.
"Hyne Almighty, yes." Raine seemed to sigh, or lack oxygen, as she raised herself higher, putting her lips on Laguna's locking them both together with her arms around his neck, feeling and tugging loosely at the long strands of hair. Snapping out of his hungover weariness, he kissed back, as more of what happened the night before encompassed the minds of the young, barely married couple's morning.
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Laguna woke with the familiar fuzz of too much to drink, the sun boring holes through the blinds, his comforter on the floor and some sort of crow... or overly tiny dragon squaking outside his window. Note to self, kill all squaking birds found outside Presidential Window. He thought, half expecting to flop his arm over another torso.
"Dammit, another dream" he was really getting to hate this. Then again, it was a beautiful day, his son was visiting for the first time in ... okay so it was the first time, his soon to be daughter in law was sleeping soundly in his son's bed, and Kiros was suposedly returning with what little was left of the recruits. Getting up out of bed, Laguna shook his weary head, yep, still attached, stumbled to the bathroom and six point four minutes later emerged dressed in the usual. Walking out of his room and shutting the door, Laguna walked out to the terrace to find somebody already there.
"G'mornin' Squall" Laguna said, hands in his pockets as he walked out to where his son stood arms out at his sides, he looked like a cross.
"Hm? What time is it?" Squall said, putting his arms down and sitting on the edge of the veranda.
"Don't wear a watch, but the Butler'll be here around oh, 9:00 am to herd us in for breakfast" Laguna said, leaning on the ornate ledge,
"That early, huh?"
"Hey, I happen to have a schedule to follow. 900 breakfast, 9:45 office, 10:00 infiltration of paperwork."
"Infiltration?"
"Yep. Here's a little advice: when in a point of leadership where there's paperwork, treat said paperwork like enemy fire, that way you attack it, get down early and have time for a cup of coffee before the inevitable onslaught of clients, well-wishers, and treaty negotiators"
"Does it work?"
"Every time. Of course, it also teaches you to never underestimate the enemy, namely your Secretaries and Presidential Aides, and keeps them away from your personal life on those days when the newbies wear low cut shirts"
"Right." silence found it's way around the two men, Laguna happy to close his eyes and feel the breeze, until something hit him,
"Where's Rinoa?"
"She's not the kind of girl you wake up without a death wish. Or heavily armed"
"Aah, got ya. Remind me to tell the Butler not to go on the wake-up call"
"Yeah. Last time someone decided to wake her prematurely, they got blasted through the wall. Just so happens she keeps a couple spells handy for the occasion"
"That they would be you, right?"
"... Yeah."
"Word to the rookie: when it comes to waking sleeping beauties, kiss first, then duck and roll"
"Heh." Squall gave a little chuckle before standing and stretching his muscles. Laguna looked at his son in triumph.
"What?" Squall asked, suddenly worried Rinoa was to be found behind him.
"You laughed"
"No I didn't"
"Yeah. Haha. My son laughed at my joke!"
"That wasn't a laugh!"
"Then what was it?"
"A snigger"
"Nope. I distinctly saw a smile"
"There was no smile!"
"Yep."
"Whatever"
"Hah! You did laugh!"
"Don't publish it or anything."
"Heh. I can see it now: Long Lost Loire Son Laughs, it'd make a great front page spread" Laguna said, once again putting his hands out like a banner. Squall just crossed his arms and huffed, facing the opposite direction from his father. Must've been earlier than he thought. A minute later, Laguna had sat on the ledge, sighed a thick, heavy yawn and slumped his posture as Squall took a hold of the ledge, jumped up and sat beside his father.
"Umm... Dad?"
"Okay, that's the third time you've called me that. You either need money, land, heavy weaponry, big secrets, or are actually getting used to the idea of this moron as your father"
"Griever. What is it?"
"Hmp. Secrets. Of course I was hoping the latter, but then again, words are just words"
"When we were fighting Ultimecia, Griever was there. She summoned him to fight, and it was wierd, like it knew me or something. What do you know?"
"Griever is a GF. Rare one, doesn't junction itself to just anybody. About ten times as powerful as Bahamut, rivals Eden, he's a protector of Royalty."
"The ring."
"That ring belonged to your mother. It was her mother's before her. From what we could find out it's old, some sort of magical heirloom. she'd wear it on her thumb sometimes, most times she just kept it on a chain looped onto her jeans. There used to be some sort of engraving on the inside, can I see it?"
"Please" Squall said, taking the ring off his finger, Laguna inspected the silver band, the lionhead on it, the wings sweeping along the side, then looked on the inside,
"Yep, there it is" Laguna said, pointing to what looked like squiggles and patterns on the inside
"So?"
"So, that is what used to be your mother's clan's battle language. Before Galbadia or Esthar, or any of the countries today, there used to be many clans who'd war or generally live their own lives. Several were nomadic, some were more stationary, but Raine's clan lived on Centra actually, Edea's House is standing over ruins of what used to be their major embarkation point. They were mariners and summoners, they built strongholds all over the world, the Tomb of the Unknown King was pretty sacred to them, they built it. They partnered with GFs quite a bit. The Brothers GFs stayed in the Tomb to protect their king, in the mean time forgetting that their constant juncture and protection of the king left his spirit unable to leave. I take it from what Irvine was telling me you took care of that."
"Yeah, Irvine has Brothers now"
"Okay, this is where it gets wierd. Your mother's family was the head of the clan, this ring is the symbol of leadership. Within this ring is the power to call on Griever, the Guardian of the Royal line, a Guardian Force endebted to Raine's Line for as long as the line remains unbroken."
"That means... Ultimecia."
"Yes, most likely, Ultimecia is going to be a member of Raine's line."
"So if Rinoa and I don't have children, then"
"Griever would pass to the next person in Raine's line."
"What happens when Raine's line is broken?"
"Exactly what happened to Brothers"
"What about my twin?"
"Where'd you hear about that?"
"Ellone sent me back into your memory, I saw when you found out about Raine's death, and in the box there was a death certificate, birth date the same as mine, but"
"She was still-born" Laguna cut Squall off, making Squall grimace,
"Dad, I have a right to k..."
"She's dead. Took Raine with her. End of discussion. Keep Griever's Ring with you wherever you go. It'll only summon Griever to you, it's no good to anyone else." the older man snapped.
"How do you know?"
"We tried" Laguna jumped off the ledge and tossed the ring back to Squall, walking briskly back into the Presidential Residence, clearly not wanting to discuss such a touchy subject. Squall sat there brooding over the information Laguna had told him,
"What is going on?" Squall whispered, fingering the ring until he heard a rustling behind him.
"Uh oh. Squall's in pensive mode again. Spill, what happened? Laguna looked like he could lob off someone's head with a butterknife. I've never heard someone slam a door so loud." Rinoa said, lacing her arms around Squall's neck from behind.
"Talking"
"Got that. What about?"
"Griever"
"Oh, I take it didn't go so well?"
"Understatement"
"Squall, can you speak in more than one word sentences? You're beginning to sound like Fujin"
"Huh? Oh, Sorry"
"Three, well at least it's an improvement"
Squall turned, put his arm around Rinoa's waist and laid his head on her shoulder, bringing her closer to him,
"What happened?"
"Tell you later"
"Squall? Is everything alright?"
"Laguna's hiding something big."
"Don't you think he has a right to?"
"What?" Squall said, looking up into Rinoa's hazel eyes. She took Squall's face in her hands,
"I mean, he's re-hashing some of his oldest, most painful hurts here. He loved Raine more than anything, what would you feel if I suddenly died and was burried without your knowledge? It's hard for him. Give him time, please? We'll figure things out eventually, promise."
"Rinoa?"
"I'm right here, Squall."
"Do you want kids someday?"
"Wow. He really did a number on you. Yes, someday hopefully"
"Me too."
Rinoa didn't know all of what was going on, but for Laguna to reduce the great anti-social Squall Leonheart to talk of future crying babies, it had to be big. Of course from what Rinoa knew of Laguna it took a lot for the perky, bouncy President to get angry. Perhaps it was her turn to ask questions.
--------------------------------------------------
Raine sat on the grass thinking while quietly peeling the orange she had brought with her. She had never heard Laguna yell before. It had sincerely scared her, she just wanted to sink back into bed like a little girl and cry, but Ellone had beat her to it, and Laguna had stormed out, slamming the door so hard the foundations of the building shook. Raine had enough trepidation about marrying Laguna as it was, she didn't need anything more, but as fate would have it,
"I never would have expected he'd react that way." Raine said to herself, fingering the ring on her finger, then leaning down to where another ring hung from a loop on her jeans. It all started yesterday, when they had taken a walk in the fields outside Winhill, and as dangerous as things go, they had been attacked by a wandering group of monsters. She watched him fighting, as she held Ellone, as he cast protect on them and continued on, wielding his machine gun and magic with such ease it terrified her. His face held the mantle of someone enjoying what he did, and it scarred her senseless to see him so alive. She never thought anyone could take such joy in killing things. It then occurred to her that there must have been others, that through his time in the Galbadian Army he took lives, and it wasn't just out of self-defence, he enjoyed it. Not the killing of people, but ridding the world of another monster... that had been the first time she saw him kill something, the glint in his eyes shocked her as he jumped up victorious and took the prizes left behind as the monsters faded away. He had turned around with the same smirk on his face he had after they'd kiss. It faded. Fast. As soon as he saw Ellone crying, and Raine, she was still terrified. He had tried to say sorry, but Raine had simply fled, ran back to Winhill with Ellone in her arms, Ellone screaming to go back to Uncle Laguna. She realised how dangerous Laguna Loire actually was. By the time Laguna got back, she had made dinner, he ate in silence until they finally argued, beginning softly, then shouting at each other.
"You know I did this! You hired me to kill monsters!"
"I KNOW!"
"WHAT DID YOU EXPECT, I'D INVITE THEM FOR DRINKS AND PEANUTS!?"
"NO!"
"Then what? What did you expect, Raine!?"
"I didn't expect you'd enjoy it!"
"Well, I'm sorry, but I happen to like ridding the world of pain, thank you very much!"
"I was always taught taking lives was.."
"You were taught? Look around you Raine, this town couldn't help itself if it had an army! Monsters aren't lives, they're dangerous! People FIGHT danger!"
"What if we could..."
"Fence them in? You can't negotiate with growls, Raine"
"Stop calling me that!"
"It's your name, isn't it?"
"Yes! But the way you're saying it... stop looking at me like you did that monster!"
'WHAT!?"
"The smirk... you had that same smirk on your face. The one when you kiss me. It was there, Laguna. You can't deny that you enjoyed it... Like you enjoy me... ... Is that all I am? Some ... thing to be enjoyed then thrown? AM I!?! SAY SOMETHING!!!!"
Raine was right up in Laguna's face, she could see his nostrils blaring, sucking in oxygen and spewing out poisonous gasses as the vein in his neck pulsed like a warning sign. His normally sweet, loving eyes were glazed over in grief, animalistic rage, and his body was trembling with bursting muscles, his voice, when it finally did come, was a low gutteral growl,
"I never want to hear that again. I'm going to leave before I wake Ellone. Don't follow, I'm liable to hurt something."
He began walking out, and she, her voice guilty, shaking,
"B..breakfast at 9"
"I won't be hungry." he seethed, grabbing his gun and slamming the door. That's when Raine broke down crying.
Sitting there, Raine's normally happy face held a frown, then jolted as she got some orange juice in her eye. Finishing the peeling of the orange, she took a piece and bit, relishing the cool, citrus flavour. Laguna hadn't come home after that, the town was buzzing with rumours, and Kiros couldn't find him anywhere. One thing was for certain, from the bits of monsters in the surrounding area, and several places where trees used to occupy grenade pits, he wasn't happy. Biting another section of orange, Raine slowly sucked the juice out, licking her lips as some of the juice spurted onto her chin. This was a good orange. Ellone was spending the day with Mrs. Jordan down the road, she didn't want to come to breakfast, she had heard the screaming last night, and was scarred Laguna wouldn't come back. So was Raine.
To her left, Raine heard a noise, finishing the orange section and placing another half-way in her mouth. Thinking it was a hungry monster, she bolted upright, ready to run like hell back to her bar, and Kiros, but instead, saw one tired, long haired ex-soldier limped up the hill with two pieces of his machine gun. Seeing her, he stood a little straighter, pensive,
"What are you thinking about?" Raine asked, breaking the intensely awkward silence, chewing the orange section before swallowing it. Laguna scratched the back of his neck, dragging his leg a bit as he walked closer,
"How much I'd like to be that orange right now" he smiled weakly, mirrored by her own smile of relief.
"Yeah? I've got some left. You must be hungry."
"And tired" he said, flopping down to put his head in her lap.
"I'm... I'm sorry Raine, I didn't mean to get mad like that"
"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have yelled, I didn't mean... it wasn't my place"
"Yes, it was. If you're going to marry me, it's only right that you see what I can do. After I left... I was lost. Not really, I knew where I was, but I just couldn't find my way back. I ended up fighting any monsters that came near me. I was so mad you'd even think about something like that. I love you, Raine! Hyne, I love you too damn much to hear you say that I'd even think you as temporary"
"Laguna... I'm not going to lie, you scarred me. I was terrified. I was always taught... never mind. If I had followed through with what I thought, I'd be dead and you wouldn't have an orange right now, forgive me? For even entertaining the thought?"
"Already have. Raine?"
"Yes?"
"Can we just sit here for a bit? I ... sorta... can't feel my toes." Laguna asked, the weak, little boy lost smile creeping sheepishly on his face again, Raine beamed, put another section of orange between her teeth, and kissed him, both chewing their half of the orange before swallowing.
"I love you" Laguna breathed, reaching up his tired limbs and bringing Raine's neck down to his, kissing her lips for the last little taste of oranges.
