A/N: So let's see if that darned writer's block has left yet. Because he has overstayed his welcome waaaaaayyyyyy to long!

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Rinoa lingered in the library for a few hours after Laguna had spoken to her. She decided it was time for her to tell Squall and Seifer something. How she feels, the dilemma she was in. She didn't know how she was going to start, but hopefully she would find the words. She wasn't aiming for just one of them in particular, in fact she was very reluctant to find either of them. She walked about the garden observing the people who were so oblivious to her. What kind of life did these people lead, she wondered. Were they in the same situation, did they have perfect little lives, or were they in far worse trouble than Rinoa could imagine.

She walked outside and sat down on the grass. It was such a beautiful day. The sun glistened off her shiny, black hair. She squinted to look round her because of the suns rays' and saw someone approach her. She couldn't quite see who it was, for the sun blocked him out. She shaded her eyes with her hand and saw Squall coming her way. Oh boy, it was time. He walked up to her and stood beside her. Leaning his hands on his knees and bending down, he stared into her sun-beat face. She was the epitome of beauty in his eyes.

Everything about her resonated happiness, and she was so easy to love. It was impossible for her soul to hate anything, and he loved that feeling she gave off. A feeling of warmth and serenity. It was pure bliss for him when around Rinoa.

She looked up at him through glass like eyes and smiled lovingly at him. He put both hands out to help her up to her feet. As he stood there, lost in her gaze, he couldn't help but kiss her sweet lips. She pulled back quickly though. This was going to make what had to be said to him twice as hard. Before she could speak, though, he had to talk first.

"I have some bad news." He said, staring down at the grass. This was great, on top of this bad news he had more coming. It truly was turning out to be a horrid day for her.

Tilting his head up with her fingers they made eye contact once more.

"What is it? You can tell me anything."

"I went to talk to Cid today about my schedule, and it turned into a whole different topic. He's sending me away."

"Away!? Where?"

"Esthar. Every Garden is participating. The captains of the SeeDs' have to go to Esthar. From there we're going up to space. Some type of new training program, and they only want the best of the best. I have to go, I have no choice."

She looked at him dumbfounded. He was leaving her.

"How long will you be gone?" She sounded hurt.

"I don't know." Both stood silent taken with one another.

Rinoa fell into his arms and clenched onto his jacket. She cried without stop. She seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. He held her tight, with pieces of her hair griped in his gloved hand. The other supporting her back.

"I love you so much! How can you leave like this?" She yelled, her voice low from being covered by his jacket. He pulled her head away so he could look at her eyes, which were drowning in tears. She brought both of her hands upon his face, slowly maneuvering them through his hair.

People around them looked on as they passed by. They caused quite a commotion that afternoon.

Squall managed to keep up his usual cold exterior once he was standing before Cid, but inside he felt as if he was slowly being gnawed away at. After their big scene in the garden Rinoa locked herself up in her bedroom, while Squall went and got briefed about the mission more extensively.

As she lay on her bed crying she heard a knock at her door.

At the sound, she took a pillow and covered her head. She should've been happy about this, it made what she was going to tell Squall so much easier. But deep down inside, she knew she wasn't ever going to tell him she wasn't in love with him because that simply wasn't the case. Even when he approached her at the garden, before she found out about where he was going, she couldn't find the words in order to tell Squall she didn't love him.

"Rinoa." It was Quistis at her door.

"I heard what happened between you and Squall. The whole Garden witnessed it. Do you want to discuss it with me? Everyone will be talking about you, and I just think its better if you get it out of you're system now, rather than as you're walking down the hallway." Quistis stared at Rinoa's door, and just as she turned her back on it she heard it open.

Rinoa and Quistis sat down on her bed.

"So what exactly is happening between you two?"

"He's leaving. I don't know when he'll be coming back, either."

Quistis didn't know what to say, but she thought, as her friend, she should be there to listen to her.

"How do you feel, Quisty?" She was quite surprised at her question. Why would she want to know how she felt about Squall's sudden absence?

She wanted to tell her,

"Well, I'm in love with someone I know will never love me. I'm talking to his girlfriend, or whatever you two are, about how you're feeling that he's leaving. Never once has he paid me any mind, and now that you have showed up, my hopes are as good as dead. No, better than that, dead, buried, and forgotten. I have these suppressed feelings, which will forever stay that way, and now you're asking ME how I'm feeling. Well, how do you think I'm feeling, Rinoa? Like crap, but I'm still here listening to you blubber away about you're love for the only man I will ever care for." She was lost in her thoughts for longer than she had noticed. Snapping back to reality, she simply answered,

"Fine. I'm sure we'll all be sad to see such a dear friend go, but no one will hurt as much as you." How she lied so perfectly even scared herself a bit.

"Why don't you go and help him pack? I'm sure he'd like it."

Rinoa leaned over and hugged Quistis with the utmost sincerity.

"I think I'll do that."

Both girls exited the room and walked down the hallway together. Quistis was right, the whole of the Garden new, and whispered as the two walked by. Some just stared while others snickered now and then. Reaching Squall's dorm, Rinoa gave Quistis another hug and let her go.

She stood in front of the door for what seemed like hours. She cowardly raised her hand to knock and twirled her hair on the tip of her finger from anxiety.

Squall opened up. She could see boxes stacked in the background, and noticed he was packing suitcases. It looked as if he was leaving permanently.

He was overjoyed at the sight of her, but hid his emotions as usual. Rinoa, on the other hand, didn't care to hide her happiness. She flew into his arms, and bestowed a number of kisses upon his face.

She sat down on his bed and viewed his room.

"Looks like you'll be going for a while." She said trying to sound a little happier, but feeling as if her world was deteriorating around her.

He didn't answer her, just continued to rummage through clothes and belongings.

"I've come to help you pack." Bent down, he turned round to face Rinoa with a smile. Squall actually smiled at her. He was happy she came, which filled her with pure joy.

He returned to picking out things to bring along with him after he flashed her that rare smile.

She was really happy when around him. Just the sight of him brought her into a peaceful state of mind. Tip-toeing her way toward him, she jumped onto his back and gave him little kisses on the side of his face. Standing upright, he shifted her from his back to his front and they were face to face.

"I love you so much, Squall. Did you know that?"

He didn't answer, just looked at her face. The face of an angel he thought. Could he be so lucky as to have this person love him as she did? He had done nothing to deserve such affection from another, especially her. All he ever did was push people away, including Rinoa. To be rewarded with her love, he couldn't explain it any other way than just being plain lucky.

Setting her back on the ground, she quickly went to work trying to find what he would bring along with him and leave behind.

After they spent about an hour or so digging through stuff, Rinoa threw her tired body onto his bed. Lying down next to her, he brushed her hair away from her face.

"I am NEVER helping you pack again! You have more stuff than I do!" Of course he said nothing in reply, but it wasn't as if she was expecting to hear anything.

She moved in closer to him and he cradled her in his arms.

"I'm gonna miss you, ya know." She said, as he tilted his face downwards and kissed the crown of her head. Getting up and putting his jacket on, she knew it was time for him to leave. She watched as he grabbed his bags. Both walked out of the dorm together down to the main lobby. Talk about them had finally settled, and everyone was once again wrapped up in their own problems.

"Howdy!" They heard Irvine call out. He had his arm draped around Selphie's neck as they walked their way.

"Heard about you're goin' away. Such a pity."

"We just thought we'd come and see you off." Selphie chimed in. Pretty soon everyone was there, except for Seifer that was. Quistis stood there, more depressed than anyone could have known, Zell, too, was there. He stared down Irvine most of the time, but tried to keep up being in good spirits. Then, all heard the elevator doors, and watched as Cid walked out.

Squall, grabbing his bags, looked back at Rinoa one last time before leaving. She looked so sad. He didn't want that to be his last image of Rinoa. He yelled out to her, astonishing the rest. He just yelled her name, but he loved the way it rolled of his tongue. Rinoa, it was such a pretty name, made for a beautiful girl. She perked up a bit, sending him off with a comforting smile.

Rinoa was surprised she didn't cry at his leaving. Perhaps she had run out of tears? That's all she seemed to be doing, she just couldn't find it in her to cry anymore. If it were Seifer leaving, would she have cried, she wondered. She was too tired to think about it. Quistis approached her, putting an arm over her.

"He'll be back soon. Don't worry." She said leaning her head on Rinoa's shoulder.

"I know."

"Do you want to spend the night with me? I'll' give you the bed?"

Rinoa laughed a bit. God, had it been a while since she laughed.

"No. Thanks anyway, Quisty. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Quistis gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked away. Somehow, even though Rinoa was the girl who stole Squall's love from her, she still adored her as if they were sisters. And to face up to reality, Squall was never going to love Quistis, even if Rinoa never showed up. So, she was happy for Squall that he finally found something real and solid he could hold on to. Perhaps it was time she let go of him.

Instead of going back to her dorm, Rinoa decided a late night walk around the Garden might not be so bad. As she made her way down the steps and outside onto the premises someone from behind grabbed her. Whoever it was, they had sedated her and she was passed out on the floor. Throwing her into a car, they drove off, taking her to what she thought would be unknown to her.

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A/N: The suspense! I think our little friend called writer's block decided to go home. Woo hoo! I'm pretty pleased with the way this chapter turned out. Anyway, pretty please review my story! Thank you!!!