A/N: Yo im back :) anyway this one's pretty short but be happy with it. please? Lots of love. Idontownanything but my laptop
I walked toward our room while carrying Rinoa. I checked every signage on the doors just to get it correctly. 120, 121…126 ah there.
"What the…" I muttered to myself as I scanned the one bed suite. "It's a 15-hour train ride… and we only have one bed?" I placed the bewildered Rinoa on the bed and went out to find Quistis who was now settling in their own suite.
"Quistis!" I called. She spun around and smiled at me. Seifer waved his hand and entered their suite. I can hear him exclaim that their suite is quite the huge S.O.B., further pissing me off with the dump me and Rinoa got.
"Yes?" Quistis whimsically said, oblivious to the facial expression I was wearing.
"What the hell is my room supposed to be?"
She chuckled and smiled at me for a moment then realizing that I was angry, she immediately explained the predicament. "Um…you see we thought you were travelling alone? So we set the room to a single…but then Rinoa became a small child so we cancelled hers and…" she took a deep breath and finally said: "there wasn't any vacancies for 2 people suites… so maybe you can squeeze in there?"
"No." I said flatly. "I mean it's fine if I'm by myself, but with Rinoa… it's not very appropriate."
"Well, maybe Rinoa can room with me and Seifer—"
TRAIN 188 BOUND FOR DELING IS NOW DEPARTING.
"Oh." Quistis said as she grabbed on to my shoulders as the train buckled to start the journey. "Well, these are bullet trains; at least it's not 20hours anymore?"
"What a very comforting thought." I sarcastically remarked as I removed her hands from my shoulders.
"As I was saying, maybe she can room with me?" Quistis suggested. "I mean, we have bigger spaces…? Xu and Zell both got rooms of their own so … you're not the only one with the small suite."
"I don't want Rinoa rooming with you or with Selph and Irv, for that matter." I added as Quistis began to retort. "You guys have sex all the time and the men might wanna strangle me for not taking care of her and ruining your 'moments'." I said monotonously.
"Um…" Quistis began blushing furiously at what I said and how I said it. "How blunt; but your point has been taken."
An awkward eerie silence was cast upon me and her. Second after second passed and the only sound we could hear were the wheels turning on the tracks and the shaking of the locks. People started coming out of their rooms when we hit the main track and I decided to fix the matter.
"I'll keep Rinoa in my room, and I'll try to upgrade my ticket if all else fails maybe I can leave Rinoa with Zuri." I said through gritted teeth obviously trying to hide the fury. I don't really hate Quistis for this, but this is frustrating, I mean I can freakin pay!
"Who's Zuri?" Quistis sheepishly asked.
"Zuri's a friend I met in Dollet while shopping for Rinoa." I said flatly. "Rinoa adores her and I can trust her."
"Forgive me Squall, I didn't think this through but maybe I can fix it… I mean it was Seifer who booked the rooms." Quistis said thoughtfully. She was now attempting to push the assistance button on the side of the door. "I mean Rinoa's my best friend and I don't want some stranger—," She raised a hand to stop me from retorting, "To me, attend to her needs."
"I'll sort this out." She muttered as I crossed my arms and sighed.
"Yes. This is Miss Trepe from room 136. Can you send a supervisor please?" She was speaking to the intercom and after a few minutes a supervisor came trotting down the hallway.
"How may I be of service Miss Trepe?"
"Ah yes, I was wondering if I can upgrade my friend's ticket?" Quistis was now conversing with the supervisor. I checked my watch just to see how long I've left Rinoa in the room, she's probably okay though.
"Squall!" Quistis called out to me from 6 feet away. "This is Mr. Halcyon and he's here to talk about your upgrade."
"Forgive me Mr. Leonhart." He said as he shook my hand. "I believe we do not have premier rooms available anymore."
"Ah I see." I murmured. "Then what other options do you have for me?" I asked. "I have a child with me, it wasn't part of our original plan and I thought maybe we could fit in the room, but sadly it is way too small."
"Um for while." Mr. Halcyon said as he whipped out his organizer and checked to see if there are any vacancies. I believe it connects to the main computer of the train. "Ah yes, we have one vacancy sir." He said without looking up. "I believe the customer cancelled their ticket on the last minute."
"How much would I have to pay?" I asked as I was running out of patience and was unknowingly tapping my feet.
"Well, it's a deluxe suite. And from your original ticket, you would need to pay an additional 39,000Gil." Obviously, he was expecting me to bend from the price but to prove him wrong, I just smiled at him.
"Do you accept cards?" I asked as I searched my pockets for my wallet.
"Sorry sir, but we do not accept credit cards aboard…" He said as he placed the organizer back into his pocket with a smug look on his face.
"Oh, I have debit." I said as I waved the black plastic card in front of him. "I am not sure if this works here, but they said it's international and can be swiped on any machine." I said as I checked again. It was a platinum debit card issued only to those filthy rich people much like me and my family.
The supervisor's eyes went wide as he took the card and called two butlers to help me with the luggage. He swiped the card on his organizer and it was accepted.
"Sir, here's your card," he said as he handed me my card back. "And the butlers will show you where your new suite is." He said with what seemed like money signs in his eyes. "And if you ever need me, I am just a button push away."
"Have a good day sir." He added with a very satisfied grin.
When he took his leave and returned to the main cart, Quistis looked at me strangely and said: "Just how much allowance do you get monthly?"
I just smiled at her and placed my card back in my holder. "You should go to your suite Quistis." And as if scripted, the butlers came and brought me my new card key and asked me to surrender my old one. Deluxe Suite 23. I guess I am on the first cart?
"Follow us sir." They said as they carried my duffle and Rinoa's.
Rinoa came rushing towards me as two unfamiliar men entered our room and carried away her things. "Squally! They'we stealing!" she complained.
"No they're not." I beckoned for her to come near so I can carry her. "We're transferring to another room." I bade Quistis good night and went and followed the butlers.
"Is it biggew than the othew one Squally?" Rinoa murmured as she made herself comfortable in my arms.
"Yep. Way bigger, I guess." I said absentmindedly. I was thinking of what will happen in Deling again… OH! Zuri!
"If I leave you there in the bigger room, promise me you'll lock the doors and stay there okay?" I told Rinoa as we stopped in front of a double door suite. "Is this…?" I started but stopped by the luminescence and grandeur of the room.
"Wow." Rinoa said as she jumped off and ran to the 42" Plasma TV. "Just like Squally's TV!" She exclaimed as she now bounced on the leather sofa.
I left Rinoa to what she was doing as I scanned the room I was staying in for only 15hours. It was a minimalist room. It had a king size bed, its own bathroom, entertainment, and a dresser. It's not like it's a very long journey but what the… I went in and sat on the bed for a while. I was thinking what might happen when I see Ellone… if all goes wrong I could just let her faint from the story? Where's Rinoa?
"Rinoa, you okay?" I asked as I peered to see what she was doing. She was currently playing with the doll she brought, leaving the television on and pillows in disarray.
"Squally come play with me!" she waved at me as she laughed. "Please!" I nodded and proceeded to her. "What're we going to play?" I asked her.
"This is Sophia." She said as she introduced a new toy to me. "Rinoa bwought her." She added with a smile as she urged me to hold the doll in my hands. It's porcelain… it's Ellone's!
"Rinoa where did you get this?" I asked her as she was busy rounding up pillows from the sofa. "I found her in my woom. Is it not okay for Rinoa to play with her?" she asked as she sat on the pillows she arranged.
"It's okay but be careful okay?" I told her she just nodded and took the doll from my hands. "Squall's the doctor!" She suddenly exclaimed. "You're going to heal her!"
"Why? Is she sick?" I asked as she prepared the "surgery table". She was placing pens, papers, tiny buttons, pennies and a wristwatch (probably mine) on the so-called "gurney".
"Yes she's sick!" she suddenly exclaimed as she finished prepping the table up. "She has a sick heart and you have to give her suwgewy!" she handed me a pen and asked that she take Sophia to the table. "I am the nuwse!" she proclaimed as she placed a handkerchief over her nose and mouth like a surgical mask. "Its weady doctor!" she said as she pushed the "gurney" to me.
"What do I have to do?" I asked her.
"Well you'we the doctor!" she answered and laughed. I didn't even find anything funny but I started laughing too. We both burst into a fit of laughter and she ended up gassed. "I feel funny, Squally." She said clutching her stitches and stomach.
"It's probably just fart Rin." I said as I sighed from too much laughing. "Gosh I've missed this." At that moment I didn't know what happened, or why I did it, but I grabbed the tiny girl and embraced her to the point that I might be able to crush her.
Damn this moment would be too perfect if I was with the right Rinoa! This little girl she's oblivious to the fact that she's in fact a grown woman. I wonder if deep inside she might be able to remember everything, every feeling that she harbored before she turned young again. I want my best friend back so badly…
"Squally! OUCH!" She complained but I didn't let go. I was cut off by her sudden exclamation.
"Sorry." I muttered as I moved her away in arms length. "Rinoa, do you want to go bed?" I asked her without looking.
"Maybe later Squally!" she called back as she jumped off from my grasp and catapulted herself directly to the carpeted floor. "Oww." She said, clutching the back of her head.
"Rinoa are you okay?" I asked as I helped her up. She was laughing so much that it made her dizzy, further making her fall. "You need to rest—I need to rest." I muttered as I massaged the back of her head. She didn't answer nor did she wipe the smirk off her face.
"Does it still hurt?" I asked, finally giving in to my curiosity of what she was thinking. She shook her head and continued on to smirk at me. I finally stopped and yawned, giving in to the sleep that I know was coming.
"Rinoa, think we should call it a night." I whispered as my head started to lull to the side and my eyes glazed, blurring the image of the little girl who was desperately trying to wake me up. "Please." I added as she acknowledged my yawns and croons.
I mustered enough courage to drag my feet to the bed and collapse. It's only 1AM. This is a long train ride… I thought to myself as I removed my boots and plopped myself on the king sized bed. Not long before I fell into a deep sleep did someone lightly press on the mattress as they climbed to my side.
Knowing that this was Rinoa I paid no mind and decided to just fall asleep.
BEEP BEEP… BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEP *silence*
The alarm must've gone to "Snooze" mode… I better get up I need to find Zuri…
I woke up to find disgruntled sheets and pillows thrown everywhere around me. Feeling a light, yet soft sensation on my skin I noticed that my leather jacket was taken off and I was snug under a blanket.
I must've tucked myself in. I tried to think where I could've placed my watch. I didn't know how long I and Rinoa had before we could reach Deling. I needed to talk to Zuri too.
Feeling a whopping headache coming from cutting my sleep early, I tried to sit up and search for the little girl. "Oh no you don't." Someone said from the couch.
It must be from the TV. I said to myself as my eyes squinted in the dark. "TV's not on, hmm." I said. Much to my surprise I felt two, dainty, but not small, hands push me back to the bed. "Yep TV's not on. You need to rest Leonhart." The voice said.
It was a very familiar yet foreign voice, definitely not belonging to Rinoa… at least not the little one's! My eyes started to adjust to the darkness and I found the switch to the end table lamp. With a click, the light showed me a face that I've missed for so long. My best friend, Rinoa.
She was sitting beside me, smiling proudly as she ushered me back to sleep. "10 more hours before Deling, you should go back to sleep, you told me you needed it." She said as she placed both hands on my shoulders again and pushed me to the pillows.
What in the world?
"Rinoa," I began as I resisted her pushing. "You're not a kid anymore? What? Why? How did this happen?" she just shushed me and said, "Nope! It's me again." Gallantly showing herself off.
"Did you miss me?" she asked as she placed both hands on her waist and smugly grinned at me.
I simply nodded and to my surprise I placed my right hand on the back of her head and pressed her to my chest. "I missed you so much." I muttered into her ears as she wriggled to get free, but eventually, she gave up and smiled against me.
"I've missed me too!"
I chuckled as I stared at her. It was bizarre. How did this happen? How did she manage to turn back into this? I shook my head in disbelief.
"Hey…" she murmured as my eyes began to glaze as I stared at her. She placed her hand on my cheek and asked if I was alright. "Stop worrying! We're going to Deling remember?" she slapped me lightly repeatedly as I to wake me up from my trance. "Back to my home town! At least try to look excited." She frowned as she spoke the last few words.
It amazes me how many facial expression she can pull before finishing an actual statement. "TALK!" she suddenly exclaimed making me jolt and panic for a moment. "Something's different about you." she said as her brows furrowed and she placed her hand on her chin. "Hmm…"
I was still mystified by the fact that I am speaking with my best friend…Quistis! I left Rinoa to herself on the bed for a while and searched for my phone. "Shit." I said as I pulled every drawer and found nothing. "Where's my phone?"
"I have it here! Why do you need it?" she tilted her head to the side as she tried to give me my phone back. "I need to message Quistis." I simply replied as I snatched my phone and dialed.
From my peripherals, I saw her start get up from bed and come near me. This is when I noticed she was wearing one of my shirts with her hair tied up in a messy bun. I paid no mind to her as tried to locate the "missing" number. What the hell… I thought as I repeatedly pressed the down button.
Rinoa was near me now, I can almost feel her on my skin; I looked up and I found her grinning at me. I raised my eyebrow at her. "What?" I asked.
She simply grinned at me and said nothing as if contented by just standing in front of me. I find this unbelievable, but I have actually hugged her…so that would mean she's real—right?
"What's wrong with you Squall?" she asked as she now toyed with my shirt. "I…" I began but immediately stopped as I tried to take her hands from my shirt. "Please, Rinoa go sit somewhere." I said.
She pulled my shirt and pouted at me before she went back to sit on the bed. "I don't get it… you should be nicer… I mean…" she was giving out hand gestures as she tried to figure out why. "You should be happy to see me and super nice because you missed me!" I paid her no mind as I tried to search for Quistis' number. Where the fuck is it?
She stood up again and this time snatched my phone away. "Hey!"
"Sorry but this," She dangled the phone, "has to go!" and threw it away, with a small thud it landed on the couch. "You should be nicer… you missed me!"
"I should be angry; you threw my phone away." I retorted as I advanced on her, this only made her grin widen. I grabbed her by the wrists and she gave out a yelp as she writhed in my grasp. "Let go!" she screamed. "Unless—you wanna play with me?" she asked.
"No, I don't want to play with you. I want you to explain why you're behaving this way." I said sternly as she continuously mocked me with her sly grin. She tried to bite my hands away but I knew better so I lifted her arms and placed them way above her head. "Why are you being so obnoxious?" I held her in place with one hand and rubbed my temple with the other.
"You're stressing me out." I told her. She wriggled and grunted as she jumped and straddled me with her legs. "Did you forget I fight?" She was mocking me as she tightened her straddle. "I don't like it when you're being a bitch Rinoa…now get off." I told her as I tried to push her by the abdomen with my free hand.
"NO!" she yelled and thrashed. I didn't waver though I kept a steady hand on her abdomen and pushed her back, this made her squirm and then something accidentally came to contact with my lips.
Her eyes grew big and were shocked by what was happening. I couldn't agree with her more. This made me lose focus and completely drop my guard. Her eyes glinted and with little effort we both fell to the floor.
She was laughing so hard, as she scrambled to get up. "Well, I hope that wasn't your first kiss Leonhart." She said as she held out a hand for me to grab. "Not a chance." I said sarcastically, returning her smile with my own.
"Hmm… I wish it was though… okay! It's our first kiss…together!" Rinoa said as she fixed her shirt and grinned at me. "Whatever." I said as I began to look for my phone.
"Hey!" She complained as she ran towards me and pulled on my arm. "We're not done yet!"
I sighed and whirled around to grab her by the shoulders and keep her steady. "Okay. Then I'll finish it now." I could tell she knew what was coming and panicked. She didn't try to wriggle out of this one, instead she braced herself for the incoming kiss she anticipated from the moment I grabbed her.
This is it! She must probably be thinking, but I was too cruel and I don't think of her that way… I actually don't know what I thought of her. I leaned in and gave her a kiss—on the forehead. "Please stop." I whispered on her head.
She didn't move an inch and we were both completely silent. I guess that's that…OR she could just be waiting for the opportune moment to attack. And then CLACK! CLACK!
The train suddenly shook which caused her to lose her balance and fall. I caught her and dropped to the bed in the process. "Whoa! You okay?" I said as she tried to get up from me. What a ridiculous position.
I was leaning on the bed and she had her face buried on my stomach. "I'm okay I was just—"she tried to stand up and then CLACK! CLACK! She fell beside me.
Laughing at her, I let myself collapse on the bed. "Idiot." I said as I closed my eyes and thought about the past few days that Rinoa was a little girl it was such a pain… I don't wanna go through it again. No sorry! Hmm I'm getting sleepy. I thought as I let myself fall asleep again.
BEEP. BEEEP. "STUPID ALARM!" I hissed as I searched for my wristwatch. I found it under my pillow and it read 0300H. What… didn't I just…? What?
I sat up from the bed in disbelief. I reached for the bedside lamp to illuminate the room and find Rinoa. That woman must've played with my watch again! I got up angrily from the bed to find her in the room. I didn't want to open the lights so my eyes won't need to adjust too much.
I felt my way down to the mini bar… but she wasn't there. The bathroom… nope… the couch perhaps?
I went to the couch, my eyes fully adjusted to the lighting now, I heard a small whimper beneath the throw pillows. "Sqwually…?"
Crap. It was a dream.
A/N: thank you for reading! love yah mwa :D
