A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back with another action packed and suspenseful chapter and decided to upload two chapters today^^ because the last was a bit short but they will be longer from now on. Yay! And the next one will be up ASAP! Enjoy!~

Chapter 3

A few days after my little collapsing episode in the hallways I was released from the infirmary. Dr. Kadowaki had also given me some pills to help with the pain and other pills to help me sleep without anything interfering. I thanked her for those now as I woke up from a restful sleep as my alarm went off. I went to go get dressed for class wearing my usual attire. As I walked out of my room I slipped on my blue duster jacket and walked to the small kitchen in my dorm. The good thing about being an Instructor was that you got a much bigger dorm than students that included a nice size bathroom and a cozy little kitchen with appliances and a refrigerator.

I went over to my coffee maker and started it, needing some coffee to wake up as I yawned. I didn't feel like going down to the cafeteria and having everyone stare at me. Most everyone knew about my accident as people had no doubt spread it around. Important news traveled fast in Balamb Garden mostly by word of mouth. I sighed softly as the coffee maker went off and I got up, walking over to it. I poured myself a cup of the caffeinated liquid and sipped it with a sigh of relief.

Surprisingly, ever since that accident I had and infirmary outburst the voices hadn't come back. Also Squall had gone back to his icy self, much to my dismay. I frowned and sat down with my coffee, having gotten up much too early to be heading to class. I enjoyed my morning drink as my thoughts wandered and then I got up, going to my suitcase type of bag and making sure I had all the stuff needed for class. Thankfully all my magical theory and sorceress history class schedules were all in order as were the homework plans. All I had to do was push some things back a few days. As I was writing some changes down there was a knock on my door.

"Who could that be?" I wondered out loud as I set my plans down on the table and went to answer the door. I opened the door and was surprised to see the one person who would most likely not be at my door.

"Squall?" I said in disbelief and surprise as he was standing just outside my door. He was dressed as usual and his expression was mixed with several different emotions.

"Hey Rin. How are you feeling?" Squall asked in his usual monotone as I looked off to the side and nodded.

"I'm fine…would you like to come in?" I asked him, the air still awkward between us since the infirmary exchange between us. He nodded and walked in as I closed the door behind him. He stopped a few steps inside and I brushed past him, going over to my spot on the couch where my plans were on the table in front of it as well as my cup of coffee. I sat down and looked over to him.

"So why are you here so early?" I asked him as his eyes wandered around the room and then turned to me. My eyes were on my class plans as I made changes to them. I could feel his eyes on me, studying me.

"I came to see how you were doing and if you needed any help dealing with any class things," Squall said as I paused in my writing. Squall wanting to help me? Asking if he can help me?! What is up with him…he's not acting like himself, I thought to myself as I looked up to him, my hazel eyes locking with his storm grey eyes. His eyes had an unsure look to them that confused me. But I brushed it off and looked back to my plans.

"Um I don't think I need help. I just need to push things back a few days," I said as I closed my planning book and placed it back in my bag. I then stood to put my glass in the sink as Squall stayed mostly silent. As I gathered my stuff for class together Squall finally spoke.

"Rinoa about what happened in the infirmary. I--"

"Squall just forget about it. I know it didn't mean anything, you were just worried about me," I said softly to him as I picked up my stuff and slung my messenger bag over my shoulder.

"Wait Rinoa!" he said as I reached the door, it opening as I pressed the button next to the latch.

"Squall…it's better to forget. I thank you for your concern but…I'll be fine," I said softly as I walked out of the room. The door closed behind me as mixed emotions went through me, not knowing what Squall was gonna say but not wanting to know either. Because if he said what I thought he was, I knew I wouldn't be able to leave when I knew I had to. And that time was soon approaching.

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I finally made it to my magical theory classroom after being stared at and stopped by several of my students asking if I was okay. I answered with the usual 'I'm fine' response and sighed, walking over to my desk. Soon students flooded the room and the bell rang, signaling the beginning of class. I started off with telling the change of dates for some of their homework assignments that had been assigned because of my unexpected trip to the infirmary.

The class consisted of me giving a lecture of the difference between actual sorceress magic and the magic used by SeeD and students at Garden. I easily made a two hour long lecture to fill up the class, being a sorceress myself and reading up on this stuff for years helped a lot as well. I started to pack up my class stuff as the bell rang and walked out into the hallway only to run into something solid.

"Kya!" I cried out, being caught around the waist by someone. I looked up to see the person I had bumped into and the person that caught me. They were the same person and it was one of the people I despised the most.

"Seifer!" I hissed out, struggling out of his grasp and standing, his hand still gripping my wrist in an iron clad hold. I glared at him as his viridian eyes stared at me with glee, a smirk coming to his lips.

"Well if it isn't Sorceress Rinoa. To what do I owe this pleasure of meeting you?" Seifer asked as I growled and try to pull my hand back, but to no avail.

"Nothing, now let me go! I have class to go and teach!" I said with another growl as my glare intensified. He was pissing me off and pissing off a sorceress that's near the brink is not a good idea…in anyone's book.

"Oh but Rinoa I just want to have a talk with you," Seifer said with his trademark grin, my glare firmly in place as I became suspicious. What the hell would he possibly have to talk to me about?! I wondered as I stood my ground and looked back at him with an even gaze.

"Alright. Then talk. Here and now," I said, pulling my wrist out of his grasp and taking a few steps back from him. I didn't like being near him, he gave off a bad vibe and it made me uneasy. And I had learned the hard way to always listen to those feelings.

"But it'd be better for us to talk in private," Seifer said with a sly smile that made my heart beat speed up. I gulped down my fear and sighed as I narrowed my eyes, laughing sarcastically at him.

"As if I'd go anywhere private with you, alone. I'm not that stupid, I may have been when I was younger but not now. So talk if you want to talk," I said, crossing my arms across my chest.

I knew students were looking at us and frankly I was glad. There needed to be witnesses whenever Seifer was concerned. And the more the better if he tried to pull some stunt on me while I was standing her in the middle of the hallway…a very busy hallway. Not to mention I saw Zell in the hallway and he was watching us like a hawk. I didn't look to him specifically as I didn't want him being found out by Seifer.

"Alright then, if you want everyone to know what we're talking about," the blonde in front of me said with a smirk, making me narrow my eyes as I stood there. He was confusing me and I just wanted to know what the hell he wanted.

"I still like you Rinoa and I want us to be together. I know you maybe losing it but I'm your Knight, I will be able to keep you sane. Squally-boy right there behind you has cast you aside and I am here to replace him. Please let me help you Rin," he said, holding a hand out to me as I whipped around.

Squall stood there, his slate grey eyes ablaze with anger as he looked at Seifer. I stood between them, Seifer holding his hand out to me, waiting for me to take it. I looked between the two, not knowing if what Seifer said was true or not.

"Squall…" I said in a mere whisper, my lips barely moving as I almost breathed his name out. His gaze turned to me as it gentled and then he looked back at his rival, furious.

"Seifer. I gave you a job here so you could stay alive and be back together with us and you friends, not to cause more trouble to a situation that hasn't been resolved yet," Squall said through clenched teeth, trying to keep his temper and voice volume in check.

"Well I don't believe this conversation requires you input Squall…" Seifer bit out, his eyes angry now as he looked at his rival. I could feel the tension and the electricity in the air crackling as they glared at each other. Then I almost lost it.

Kill them my lady…they deserve death and worse… I heard the voices whisper in my mind, feeling like a long forgotten caress against me.

What? No, no go away! I don't want you here! I spat back at them, but it was too late. The voices already had a firm grip on me and they weren't letting go, their voices like a snakes hiss and their grip on me like a boa constrictor on their prey before they strike and begin to feast.

My lady…please do this for us! One voice.

You are the only one who can do this for us! Two voices.

Get us our revenge!! Three voices ran out in unison as I tried to fight them off, but it was taking it's toll on me again and I could still hear Squall and Seifer bickering over the stupid decision of who had the right to be my Knight.

Neither of them do! Squall may have the rights but right now I don't want one…I don't need one. Right now I just want the to shut up! I thought as I felt magic at my fingertips but clenched my hands into fists.

"Both of you just shut up!!" I said loudly, not going to take this anymore. I looked to the two men and they hadn't stopped.

"HEY! I said SHUT UP!" I half yelled at them, effectively making the look at me along with half of the students in the hallway.

"Both of you just stop bickering. Squall is my rightful Knight, not you Seifer. It's plain and simple and you have my answer. It's no if you didn't already figure that out," I said, looking at both of them with a hard gaze.

"Oh fiery little woman aren't you?" Seifer said sarcastically as I opened my hand, feeling the magic there. I then slapped Seifer across the face, the magic infused in it making him skid halfway across the hall, students scattering and falling over with looks of shock and surprise. But I didn't notice them. I was too focused on how good it felt to actually use the magic inside me and let my emotions out.

"Rin?" I heard Squall's voice and looked over to him, puzzled.

"What?" I snapped, somewhat annoyed.

"You're losing it aren't you?" he asked, a sad look on his face. I sighed and shook my head, reigning in my magic as Seifer looked at us with a hand against his cheek that was quickly bruising.

"No I'm not. But I am close to it," I said giving both of them a stern look. My gaze wavered on Squall though and I closed my eyes, hiding the tears as I walked to my dorm. I've got to leave…before it gets even worse… I thought, walking down the empty hall with only my footsteps and the voices in my head that were laughing accompanying me.

A/N: Well that's it for this chapter! Well what did you think of it huh? Seifer really has to learn to keep his mouth shut^^ like always. Well please review and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible.