Rinoa had bathed and changed into her sleeping clothes but was lounging on a thickly cushioned sofa in the common area of Selphie's expansive suite. She wrapped a heavy comforter around herself as a quiet fire roared in front of her. Ballari was loudly snoring on the large chaise across from her and Selphie was in her bedroom. It took hours of reassuring talks from Ballari to get the redhead to finally rest. Rinoa was far too distracted to pay attention to what had happened with Selphie and other strange happenings of the night; even as everyone else slept she continued to watch the dancing fire while replaying the night's events in her mind. Clearly I've been alone and unattached for far too long. I welcomed his attentions so easily! Yes, yes, that must have been it. The taste of wine on someone else's lips and intensely gazing ocean-colored eyes flashed in her mind. Rinoa blushed at the thought of him and his voice. Ugh, who am I kidding? I would have done anything! Rinoa continued arguing with herself until she dozed off.

Elsewhere in the chateau, Master Leonhart was wrapping a cold cloth around his right hand. Using such a pistol in frequent succession had caused it to get swollen. I should tell her who I am and end this game. He paused while wrapping the white material. But what difference would it make? Would she even trust me afterwards? He finished wrapping and rested his head in his hands as he continued to think. What if she doesn't even feel… she willingly kissed a man who she had just… Like hell I'm going to admit that… He absentmindedly raised his left hand to his lips and traced them with his fingertips as conflicting thoughts filled his mind as they always did. ...damn it. I must conquer this.


The sound of random notes being played on a piano drifted to Rinoa's ears as she carried the first tray of the morning up the winding stairs and down the wide halls leading up to the Master's quarters. She stood outside the gilded door as a tired looking butler knocked then opened it for her. When the door was opened all the way, the butler nodded to her and she went inside the room.

Rinoa placed the tray's contents on the bedside table and noticed that the bed was fully made, as though untouched from the night before. As she did this, the Master stopped playing the piano and silently stared at her as she fixed his morning tea from a small pot. It had no milk or sugar, and was extremely dark as he had favored it.

"Your breakfast, Master Leonhart." She chirped as she continued arranging various silver utensils into their proper placements. Without answering, the Master left the piano, crossed the fireplace, making his way towards the largest window at the other end of the suite's living area. With slow serene movements, he lowered himself at the window's ledge onto a mat with his legs crossed. From her angle, Rinoa was unable to see that he closed his eyes and placed his arms at the sides of his legs.

"Go away." He ordered in his usual stern voice.

Rinoa looked in his direction, confused. She could barely see him but the side of his face looked somewhat haggard and he was wearing mostly white. It was as though he had not slept all night. "Master Leonhart, I've not finished bringing your…"

"Please." He mumbled in a softer tone as he lowered his head.

"Of course, Master." Rinoa hugged the tray and made her way out of the room. He slightly opened his eyes and looked back to make sure she was truly gone, then closed them again, not intending to eat.

The door was closed behind Rinoa and she informed the butler that she would not be bringing the rest of the meal's courses. The butler nodded his head in response and promised to take care of it. Rinoa was about to walk the rest of the way back down to the kitchens to get the newspaper and mail, but stopped and twirled on her heels.

"Um… may I ask something, sir?"

"Yes?" the old man answered, his brow slightly creased in worry.

"What is the Master doing? He's sitting at the ledge near the window and acting strangely." Rinoa whispered.

"Ah, yes. That is known as Meditation. The young master studied with the Shumi tribe for some time, apparently they do these sorts of things rather often."

"Meditation?"

"He uses Meditation as a means to center himself and concentrate. Often he does this when unable to stay focused…" The butler scratched his head thoughtfully at his own answer while his brow creased even further.

"I see, so it is a Shumi thing." Rinoa didn't seem to absorb what the butler said and twirled on her heels, heading downstairs. Minutes later she returned with a tray carrying a newspaper and the mail. She left it on the table outside the Master's room and then curtsied. "I'll leave it to you, sir!" she said as she left. The butler shook his head knocked lightly on the Master's door.

When no answer came, he opened the door anyway and heard Leonhart loudly sigh as he entered. The butler wordlessly placed the tray on a small bureau and paid the Master's annoyance no mind.

"What is it, Rycharde?" The younger man angrily said without turning or opening his eyes.

"Oh? Did I interrupt something?" the gray-haired man few sealed letters and the pressed newspaper onto the desk.

"Don't you always?"

"I wanted to inform you of the news this morning. We will have to go through with the plans soon or else Seifer will…"

The mention of his rival's name made Leonhart's eyes snap open. The dilated pupils of his blue eyes shrunk as the clouded morning sunlight tried to make its way in. "…what news of Seifer?" he interrupted.

"If you read the news, there have been killings. Mostly young, upper-class women being found impaled."

Seifer…

"Suffice to say, a young man calling himself Almasy has been sighted around Galbadia's socialite parties as of late. He has been linked with last night's incident but the Deling City Police wouldn't commit to anything in this morning's conference. Seems the government has been keeping their own police and army in the dark over what they're up against. The policeforce intends to begin conducting their own investigation on Vampires." Leonhart's head whipped in Rycharde's direction. "The government has ensured that our newspapers write the disaster off as yet another small Lunar Cry but the people are no longer buying it. It's also highly unusual for Seifer to come out of hiding in this manner… I found out that his decoy is stuck in Trabia at the moment. It seems the 19 year-old Crown Prince has gone missing last month, so all the ports and borders out of the country have been on lockdown ever since."

"I don't want to run away."

"Your father would have…"

"I don't care about that man." Leonhart spat.

"Seifer is strong… more stronger than you now…"

"I've trained hard."

"You can have all the training in the world but you're still human. Seifer has fully turned and has no chances of going back. With our plan, you still have a chance." Rycharde consoled him with a sorrow smile on his face.

Ellone, where the hell are you… Leonhart rested his forehead in his hands. "Whatever, I'll go through with it. Just leave me be."

Some time after Rycharde left the room, Master Leonhart rifled through his mail and roughly opened the most decorated looking letter with a small knife. The seal showed it came from someone of Galbadia's royalty but he didn't pay much attention to it. He opened it up and read the immaculately written script carefully.

Sir Leonhart,
I am overjoyed to hear that you had left unscathed,
last night had ended in an unfortunate series of circumstances.
It is at this time you should go forth and not delay
in keeping yourself and your loved ones safe
using the instructions given to you many years ago.

Hyne's Descendant
The Throne of Galbadia
Queen Ultimecia Talle Shailaja

The Master scanned and reread the letter, as Ultimecia always sent an encrypted one after such incidents. The letter had meant to say, "I am overjoyed to hear that you had left unscathed. It is at this time you should go forth and not delay using the instructions given to you many years ago." The Master nonchalantly tossed the letter into the fireplace and quickly opened the next.


Leonhart paused at the upstairs banister as he heard the familiar sound of heels clicking down the halls on a level below him. He looked down to see Rinoa happily at work dusting the vases and imported ornaments, which decorated the lower foyer area. She was humming slightly off-key, it was as though the cold treatment he gave her that morning didn't affect her at all, and that whatever had happened the previous night between them, although she had not known it was him, was forgotten. For some reason he couldn't quite place, this bothered him greatly. She suddenly turned in his direction and he moved away from the banister on instinct, so that she wouldn't ever notice his presence.

When I see another man near her I feel possessive. When she approaches, I tell her to leave me alone. When she doesn't think of me, I lose my mind.

He leaned back on the wall behind him and stared straight ahead, seeing nothing. The sound of her humming was putting him into a trance as he continued to debate with himself.

What is wrong with me? How am I supposed to know whether this feeling I have for her is mine or the monster inside me?

Leonhart slowly sank towards the floor as her voice came closer. He could almost smell her hair. He clenched his teeth as he fought to stop his fangs from re-emerging.

And when she's near, I lose control…