DISCLAIMER: I dun own nothing, ya hear?!

Well here it is, chapter 10!! Yipee-skippee! I had actually forgotten about Seifer and Selphie...oops! Thankfully, I found a corner to shove them into, so there they are. Not really, they play really really important parts. Oh, and just before you get there, a part of this chapter sounds a little like Seifer has sumthin' for Squall. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!! I read it over and said, OMG! Seifer's sooo gay!' But all in all, I was too lazy to rewrite it, so prepare yourself! (mwhahaha, just when you thought it was safe!) It's not that bad...really, it isn't!

Chapter 10: Singing in the Rain

Deling hadn't lost one drop of life, despite its being captured. Civilians worked and thrived through their every day lives, surrendering themselves peacefully under the strict watch of Galbadian soldiers. If he didn't know any better, he'd say that Deling was Galbadia. Part of it, at least. Last time he had been here, people hid within there houses and buildings, scared as mice when the Galbadian forces invaded. So the sky-high buildings and fancy technology was just a bluff, he guessed.

In a matter of months, a full capture and victory had taken place, leaving the monstrous city in the tight grip of sparse vantage points and hidden bases. Nobody would have known though, for now each house and structure shown proudly in the sunlight once again, as if never knowing the term war'. It was this innocence that brought everything back to Seifer. He remembered. His mind sparked and twisted with this new, yet known information.

He was there for the excruciating Term of Death', as it was call. The time he put out lasted nearly a year and costed nearly his life. He was sent out into the front lines in the face of defeat, inhaling the breath of Galbadia's dripping maw. The beast knew mercy, or that's at least how some people saw the act of kindness'. Had not the bases sent out survivors, then Seifer would have never made it out. In his memory everything was etched perfectly into place, despite his stolen sight.

He was one of the first captured. Blindfolded and tranquilized, the few hundred captives were dragged across scorching sands for miles on end until they reached the Desert Prison. During the time, Seifer had managed to make out all his surroundings while most others around him fell into the soothing effect of the drugs. To his great distress, the Galbadians were not willing to waste anymore morphine when they implanted the metal chip. Even to this point, it never occurred to him what was placed in the side of his neck. He rubbed the tender spot wondrously.

((FLASHBACK- - Seifer's POV))

"He's still conscious..." a shifty looking man said. He wore a heavy suit and one of those irritating Galbadian helmets which made it damn near impossible to tell one from the other. About a dozen were in the room. It's a very uncomfortable feeling being here, strapped down to a cold metal dish and having everyone crowd around you talking in snide voices as if you weren't right there for them to tell it to your face.

The voices got lower until they were nearly inaudible: "Well, how about...", "...against regula...", "Perhaps...and just...", "...ask first, unlike what happened...", "...give em more!" Then there was a tremor of nervous laughter, the kind you get when you know the choice of sin would lead to certain death. A metal door slid open and the whole room grew quiet with unease.

I hear another voice, this one sharper and cutting commands like a falling cleaver. Several of the crowding soldiers gave the response "Sir" and were off to the computers that lined the walls. Their experienced fingers clicked away at the keys noisily. Footsteps.

A new man hovered over me with a posture of utmost boredom. From where I lie I can barely make out his features against the lab light shining down on me like a holy blessing. He is a basic silhouette against this makeshift heaven and I urge to shield my eyes to get a better glimpse. I struggle against my restraints, but upon failing I decide to smirk up at him. It's the smirk I have given my whole life- the one that says What? Is that all you got?' even though I'm terrified out of my wits. Then my eyes begin to adjust and I can make out few details.

I'm first brought to his eyes, the focal point of everything about him. They are a blue beyond blue that I can't even begin to describe past just being the oddest, well, blue! I feel broken glass falling from them, shredding past my barricade smirk and pressing into my deepest fears. I get this sensation of falling into oblivion and total darkness. I've never been one to loose my face and my pride, especially to another man. This is no man, though. He is a lion- tearing, feasting, and laughing with a mouth full of razor teeth and my remains. Here, at this moment, he is not laughing... or even cracking his basilisk stare. I come to the sensation that I'm just a small child under the watchful glare of a god.

He looks away and I close my eyes tightly. I've never known what it was like to be scared like that. I hope to never be again so I shakily take a breath and turn my head. Thankfully, his menacing presence leaves as he directs more barbed commands. I do not comprehend anymore, but I lay still as if I was turned to a stone with a racing pulse.

When relaxation and my confidence finally begins to return, I'm hit with a sharp needling pain in the side of my neck. Something thin and keen drives deep and my vision blurs for a moment before pouring complete darkness into my head.

All I remember from there was waking up on the streets. I wandered for about three days in another drugged state. On the third day I am awakened by a newspaper stand. Dollet Press reads one of the papers and I finally know where I am. My soldier attire is still on from back in Deling.... Deling? Why am I not in Deling?' I ask myself. I hurts to think back so I decide to instead head home....

((END FLASHBACK))

"Hey there Grump-o," disturbed a voice from behind him; a voice he learned to hate.

"What?" Seifer snapped impatiently. He quickly removed his hand from the red spot on his flesh.

"Sheesh, if you're going to be like that, then never mind."

Seifer sighed heavily, finding it the most tedious job to tip-toe around Selphie's delicate feelings to gain some fleeting knowledge. "Sorry," he whined while rolling his eyes.

"No you're not..." she began, but shut her mouth with Seifer's cautioned glare. "Anyway, I got a call from Ms. Trepe. She's such a nice person... unlike some people I know-"

Seifer gripped the short girl by the shoulders painfully and lifted her off her feet. The sentence was cut off with a squeak of protest. "You're hurting..."

"What did she say?!" Seifer nearly shouted.

"If you'd just let go-" she winced and he dropped her to the ground. "Nothing much," Selphie continued. "All she told me was that she had met Rinoa... at least she said the features and name matched, but she didn't have time to grab her."

"How the hell could she not get her?!" Seifer was now yelling loudly.

"Don't ask me!" Selphie snapped back. "I wasn't done, either. Ahem: so she couldn't get her because there was an attack from Esthar. Her and whoever she was with made it out okay, but none of the survivors were Rinoa or Commander Leonhart..."

"Who?"

"Commander Leonhart. You know, the one she was originally out to get."

Seifer crossed his arms and nodded. "Continue."

Sephie took a breath as she continued to recite: "Still, she suspects that this Leonhart guy made it out because he's done this several times before. You see, he's actually not a commander, but really a-"

"I don't care about him!" interrupted Seifer, waving his arms in exasperation.

"You know mister, this would be a lot easier if I could get it out all at once. I'm getting to her! Man, where was I?"

"The guy made it out alive..."

"Oh yes! So, uh, anyway, he also has two other guys he's working with. During the regrouping after the attack, she took one hostage and worked some information outta him. His name was, uh... hm... I think it started with a Z' or something. Anyway, Ms. Trepe managed to have him slip clues to a girl named Rinoa with him." Seifer's jade eyes lit up. "Also, she said they were most likely headed south of here. She didn't know exactly where because he's been using it as a private hideout for the past three years or so. The guy she was interrogating didn't even know it."

"Well that won't stop me," Seifer stated firmly.

"Figured it wouldn't," mumbled Sephie to herself. Unfortunately, Seifer's ears caught it as well.

"What? You expect me to just leave Rinoa out in nowhere in the captive of some maniac assailant?"

"He's not an assailant!" protested Sephie. "He's-"

"Doesn't matter," reminded Seifer. "We're leaving today."

"Aw, we just got here and Deling is such a pleasant place. Besides, Ms. Trepe said she would be searching too and would bring Rinoa back with her if it's within her power."

"Exactly! If it's within her power. That's not good enough for Rinoa. We're going. Now."

Rinoa awoke to the sound of thick splashing rather than the warmth of sunlight. She cracked her eyes open and was painfully reminded of what had occurred the previous day. Either the fall had really bumped her head, or this rock bedding just wasn't the downy pillow she made it out to be. Crud. Still in this stupid cave, she concluded when all she saw was a stone wall.

She turned over and was pleasantly greeted with the sight of rain. Crud again. It must've been pouring all night. The forest floor outside no longer looked like it was earth, but rather a terrain that crocodiles and overgrown snakes thrived within. The tree trunks were almost three feet under and Rinoa sighed relief knowing the rocks were well above five feet of ground level.

Rinoa shakily sat up. Her head swam and she could hardly make out what was before her past the swirls and dots. "Ugh," she groaned, then rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Wait a minute? Why was she alone? Where was the mesmerize? And where in the hell was Squall?! Rinoa jumped to her feet and skidded to the hanging lip of the boulder. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.... oh thank the heavens!! There he was, far off to the right under a possessively bent tree that overhung the boulders. He was wringing his coat and shirt with his pant legs rulled up to about his knees. His boots and socks were tossed off to the side and his back was facing her. Rinoa caught herself gazing admirably at the the back of Squall's naked torso as he wrung each sleeve. Oh my,' she cooed to herself as she noted the lean muscles trailing up his sides from his waist to gather and bunch at his shoulder blades. His arms as well were finely chiseled, but still lean with lithe movements. Ack! What am I doing?' She quickly adverted her gaze and marched back into the cave.

Squall returned about five minutes after, his arms full with his boots and still-wet shirt. He wore his coat, but it was unfastened in the front to yet again reveal his sleek and well muscled torso. Rinoa caught her eyes staring again and mentally kicked herself. What's wrong with me? I've got to stopdoing that,' she scolded. "Um, where were you?" she asked innocently.

Squall looked up at her from his end of the cave where he was arranging his clothes to dry. He cocked his head to the side slightly as if he had never known she was there. Rinoa raised her delicate eyebrows expectantly. "Just out taking care of some things," he managed.

"Just out'? What, were you jumping in puddles and singing in the rain?"

Squall glanced at her with a confused expression, his brows knitted as if he had missed something. "You know," stated Rinoa. She smiled at his childlike ignorance. "Just siiiingin' in the rain, what a glooorrious feelin'..." she chimed the tune and put her hands to a shoulder as if twirling an umbrella.

"No, I don't think I do..." he returned to his organizing.

"Oh c'mon! You have to know that one. Everyone does!" she piped and sat up.

"Nope." He didn't even spare a glance.

Geez, he can't be this dry, can he? Where's his sense of humor? Or even his interest for that matter? All he does is organize, write, plan, organize...Ugh!' Rinoa jumped up from her seat at the back wall and stomped demandingly up to Squall. She kneeled in front of him and waved her hand before his downcast eyes. He looked up at her and she decided to ignore the obvious vexation. "What do you know then, hm? You certainly don't live in a box, do you?" She smiled encouragingly.

Squall was caught off guard. One minute she was in the back corner, out of his view, and the next she was mere inches from him, beaming brightly. Dammit! How did she make him want to strangle and ravish her all at once? If she kept getting so close to him, he knew it would be one of the two. Thankfully, she jumped back to her feet. "No," he tried to remember the question. "I don't know it and I don't live under a box!"

Ooh, that one hit em,' thought Rinoa. "I'm only teasing," she tried to explain. Why is it I used to be able to give him the ultimate insult and he wouldn't care for the life of him and now a simple poke in the ribs sends him reeling up the walls? Maybe I'm starting to get to him... maybe I'm just really annoying. Perhaps I should stop.... or...' Rinoa was back on her feet and twirling across the stone slab with a mixture of ballerina grace and handicapped sloppiness. She suddenly took a deep breath and sang at the top of her lungs:

"I'm siiiingin' in the rain, just siiiigning in the rain! What a gloooorrious feeling, I'm happy again!" She danced her way outside into the real storm drops and grinned an even brighter smile.

"I'm laaaughin' at the clouds, so dark up above, cause the sun's in my heart and I'm reeeaaady for love!" Rinoa began to make wide circles with her arms spread out. She turned her face to the sky and sung some more:

"Let the stormy clouds chase, everyone from this place! Come on with the rain, I've a grrriiin on my face!" She stopped and put her arms down. Her pale face was flushed red and she panted heavily. Still, her features glowed with pure happiness and enjoyment.

Squall had watched her, completely mesmerized. At first he had been a little shocked and irritated when she threw her voice throughout the cave. By the time she had circled herself outside, his opinion of her took a total turn. Up until now, he merely saw her as a small child, immature and trying her best to piss him off. But in one of the most adolescent acts she had made before him, it was the only one that expressed who had really grown up.

Here he had been brooding and hiding for seven years, taking life through dangerous paths and fatal decisions. He looked out onto the rest of the world and laughed at them inwardly, knowing that in the end, he would have his point shown and his last laugh laughed. Every moment was pessimistic through his eyes and he set himself up for the worst. He prepared and braced, setting up barriers and draining emotion or anything that could cause damage. Now everything was beginning to turn upside down.

Before him stood a beauty that he had never known existed. Her jet black hair was plastered around her face and her oversized clothes clung to her mature curves. Her large brown eyes stared innocently into his with more power than she probably cared to notice. But her true beauty, her true power, came from within. Her outlook on life conflicted with everything Squall had followed so strictly. Instead of closing herself up, listening only to the nagging voice in the back of her head, she opened to everyone for new ideals and expressions. Every path she took had a light; a guide. Her apparent intelligence and wisdom was utterly mistaken for ignorance and heavy curiosity. This woman, gorgeous in every way, could teach and destroy all at the same time. The power inside was beyond Squall's and had given her the upper hand the whole time. She was the beacon in darkness; the moon during night. She was the candle that the moth blindly flew to, unknowingly meeting his doom.

Squall snapped out of his revery and looked back to the soaked girl outside. "Actually," he called out nonchalantly, "I believe its I've a smile on my face.'"

A/N: Whew, what a chapter. Not really, it's kinda dull. Oh well, that's all I got for it. Please please review!! Thanx!