A/N: Hi! Sorry for the late updates! Writer block you can say…but anyway...here's the next chapter!
DreamCherry: Well…you maybe right. But anyway…thanks for reviewing! Hope you will love this chapter
Celes1337: I am glad that you like my story! Hope you will like this chapter too!
Shortie630: Thanks for your constant review! I hope you will like this chapter!
A.R: Thanks for your comment! I hope you will like this chapter!
Chapter 14: Winhill"Rinoa!"
Rinoa turned around and saw that her long time best friend, Selphie, running towards her.
"Selphie!"
Rinoa said as they hugged each other tightly. Selphie released her hold as she examined Rinoa from head to toe, and said,
"You have grown more beautiful Rinoa! What's your secret?"
Rinoa giggled and said,
"There's no secret Selphie. You too, look just as great!"
"Oh my…thank you!" Selphie replied and then, her eyes widen,
"Is that Squall? You two are having vacation here?" she said excitedly.
"Well…" Rinoa started to reply when she felt a hand around her waist and she knew instantly that was Squall, who replied,
"Sort of Selphie. Me and Rinoa decided to take a little vacation here, and please, don't reveal our identity."
Selphie nodded and asked
"Will you stay at our home? We will be quite honor if you did so."
Squall was about to decline when Rinoa replied,
"Sure, why not? I bet staying at your house is better than staying in the hotel room."
"Really! That's great! I will prepare a room now and I will get the servants to bring your stuff here!"
With that, Selphie ran back home and make the necessary arrangement.
"She did not act like a mother of 3," Rinoa stated. Squall shrugged as he headed his way back to the hotel, not before saying to Rinoa,
"Remember, not a word on why we are really here," Rinoa nodded and then, she followed Squall back to the hotel room.
At the mansion…
"Tell me! What happened during the past 3 years?" Selphie asked, clinging on Rinoa.
It had been 3 years since they last met and Selphie was eager to know the happenings in the Palace as well as Rinoa.
Well the girls had their own talks, so does Squall and Irvine.
"I don't think you came here for a vacation," Irvine stated simply. Squall stared at him…did he knew the kidnapping case? No…wait, this incident was never let out outside of the Palace…how he came to know about it?
Irvine then looked straight at him in the face and lean in closer…
"You guys…" he started in a whisper, as if telling a secret
Squall's heart started to beat, Irvine did know!
"…are having a honeymoon!" Irvine said and laughed.
Squall broke out in a cold sweat, well; at least let him misunderstood the purpose of the 'visit'
"When you guys get so…well…in love? I mean, I swear that you guys are like cold fish towards each other 8 years ago? It is because of Storm? Must be it!" Irvine said confidently, as if he knew the whole truth.
Well…you are partly correct. It is because of Storm…"You are…right." Squall said and forced a smile. He glanced sideways to see Rinoa and Selphie chatting merrily nearby. Not wanting to disturb them, he decided to investigate the next clue himself.
"Irvine, I got to check thing out around here. Let the ladies do the chatting here. I shall see you later."
Squall said. Irvine nodded and Squall headed out of the mansion.
"Therefore, the next time I…" Rinoa stopped mid-way when she noticed that Squall was heading out of the mansion.
OH NO! She had nearly forgotten about her purpose of this trip here!
"Sorry Selphie, I think we will continue later on. I shall join Squall."
"Sure," Selphie said and then Rinoa bolted out of the mansion.
On the street…
"Squall!" Rinoa shouted across the street.
Squall turns around and sees Rinoa running towards him.
"What's the matter?" he asked when Rinoa was near him.
Rinoa paused in her track and asked, 'why don't you tell me that you are going out?"
Squall shrugged and said
"I see that you and Selphie are talking quite merrily. I did not want to disturb both of you so I decided to do the investigation on my own."
"Sorry Squall, I think I had forgotten the reasons we are here…"
Rinoa trailed off.
Squall shook his head and replied,
"Is all right Rinoa. After all, you and Selphie had not met each other for 3 years already.
Rinoa hung her head down in shame; she had almost forgotten an important purpose and Squall still could pardon her!
When Rinoa looked up, she saw that Squall was way far in front of her, walking towards a sign that said
"Warning: Chocobos running free ahead. Walk with caution."
Wait a minute…Rinoa thought… This must be the place the man had given!
Excited by the thought, she quickly ran toward the signs, hoping that it might contain the clues both of them wanted.
"Squall, is this the place we are looking for?" Rinoa asked when she came close to Squall.
Squall nodded as he walked towards the road.
Just then, a complain was heard.
"Shouldn't have promise it. Now, my vase had been broken…" the man was talking to himself. Squall and Rinoa walked towards the man who seemed to be engaged in finding his own things that he did not noticed them coming up towards him.
"Excuse me sir, are you finding something?" Rinoa asked politely.
"Oh!" the man raised his head in surprise.
"I was finding my broken vase pieces. Actually, my vase was all right till a guy asked me to help him do a favor and I was away with my vase for awhile and…"
"Wait, did you see a man asked you to do him a favor? What's it? Is it a envelope to someone?" Squall interfered when he heard that a man had asked him to do something.
"Yes, well, how to you know…?" the man paused for a while and then began to examine Squall and Rinoa and then, it hit him.
"So, you are the guys the person was talking about!"
"Brown hair, blue eyes…" he began to mutter to himself.
Knowing that they had gotten the right man, excitement running through their veins and Rinoa asked eagerly,
"Can you give us the envelope? It is really important to us!"
"Oh! Sure!" the man said. He was about to take out the envelope that he had put it in his coat and then stopped, he then looked at both of them and said,
"I think I will give it to you if you help me to find something."
Both of them sighed in defeat, they knew that getting all this was not an easy pie.
"Then, what you expect us to do?" Rinoa asked.
"Well, it is due to the fact that my precious vase got broken into 5 pieces and that the naughty little chocobos get away with my vase pieces. SO, I want you guys help me to find the other 4 pieces."
The man stated.
"What your broken vase got to do with us?" Squall asked, annoyed.
"Not your guys fault huh? It is because I got to promise this guy to give you this envelope that I did not keep watch over my vase! Then when I got back, I saw that that my vase was gone! And what's left is the chocobo's feather!"
"So…you suspect a chocobo stole and broke your vase…?" Squall asked, obviously finding the whole damn thing ridiculous.
"Of course! Look! I found one of the 5 pieces here! Now, you will guys kindly help me find it? I will be at the museum waiting…" the man said. When he was finished, he turned and left for the museum.
"….Whatever." Squall replied and began to walk off. Finding this whole task very ridiculous.
It was worse than the one at Tear Point. Squall thought.
I can't believe it. I, Squall Leonhart, the king of Esthar have to come down to this state to find 4 stupid broken vase pieces!
"Squall…?" a voice called him. Squall stopped at his track and had realized he had walked a bit too fast and Rinoa had a bit of difficulty catching up with him.
"What is it?" he asked, a bit annoyed.
"I know that this is hard for you Squall," Rinoa said softly.
"But we have to think of our child Squall, any parents will do anything for them…let alone us…" Rinoa trail off.
Squall paused in his thought. Rinoa was right, sometimes, a man had to put down his pride to do something for his love one.
"You are right Rinoa, I think I am a bit rush back there," Squall said.
With that, he pulls along Rinoa's hand with his and said,
"Come on, we got to find the thing for him otherwise we can't get our next clue."
Rinoa smiled and nodded as they began to walk and search for possible clue of where the rest of the broken vases go…
As they walked and search for clues, Rinoa can't help but feel that someone was watching over them, as Squall was walking ahead, searching for the missing vase.
After about 2 hours or so, they had found two of the broken vases. One was in the chocobo road where they had just walked pass and another in the knight amour when they decided to walk back to the museum to and ask for the man for the picture of the broken vases.
"Squall, do you think that someone was following us or watching over us? I kind of feel uneasy right now…" Rinoa started.
"Huh? You mean you sense someone is following us?" Squall replied, stopping in his track and look towards Rinoa.
Rinoa nodded her head and Squall scanned around the area. No one was in sight but somehow, like what Rinoa said, he do felt that someone was following them.
"I guess you are over sensitive. Let's not worry about this right now. We had 2 more to find."
Squall said.
Rinoa nodded her head and they stepped inside the flower shop. Somehow, their instinct told them the other pieces was in here as they could see traces of chocobo feather around.
"Welcome," the old lady said as she saw Squall and Rinoa entering her shop.
Rinoa nod a smile to her as she takes a look at these flowers. It was really beautiful, more than any flowers she had seen in her country. She picks up a bouquet of roses, smells it and put it back and takes another one.
As she was doing her selection of flowers, Squall walked over to the old lady and asked,
"Do you happen to saw little chocobos running in here?"
"Oh yes, about a few hours ago, a few little chocobos ran here. Why you are so interesting in it sir?" she later asked.
"Well…nothing…just…" Squall was cut off when he heard a cry of pain from Rinoa.
"OUCH!"
Squall quickly rushes over to Rinoa and see what's wrong with her. To his shock, Rinoa had a rather deep cut on her hand, with the piece of a broken vases struck at her hand. It seemed that when Rinoa was picking up the flowers, she did not noticed the broken vases and the sharp point just pierce into her hand.
"OH MY! Poor lady, I am so sorry! I did not know that there was a broken vase in there! Do come over into my room and I will help you to clear up the wound."
Squall helped Rinoa into the old lady's room as the old lady helped to clear up Rinoa's wound. Rinoa winced in pain as the old lady plucked out the broken vase pieces from her hand. Just as she was about to chuck it onto one side, Squall stopped her and said
"Wait, we want that piece of broken vase."
The old lady looked at him with a weird expression on her face but did not comment further. Soon, the old lady had done bandaging up Rinoa's wound and said,
"Done. I am sorry lady. Maybe I will try to compensate you with well…a few bouquets of flowers?"
Rinoa smiled kindly and said, "No thanks, in fact, we have to thank you instead. This is what we looking for though it might be found in the wrong place at first."
The old lady again, gave them a curious look and comment no further.
Both of them gave a polite good bye to the old lady and exit the flower shop.
"Do you want to rest at the mansion? I think I can look for the remaining piece myself," Squall offered.
Rinoa shook her head and replied, "Since you had said that we had a remaining piece left, might as well as find it."
Squall sighs in defeat and agreed to her request.
"Excuse me, do you happed to know by a lady named Raine?" a middle aged man asked, as he passed by both of them and saw the features of Squall's face.
Raine…isn't that my mum's name…? Do he happened to know her…?His series of thought was cut off when Rinoa replied for him,
"Nope, not at all. Who's she by the way?"
"Oh, that's a pity. This fine lad does remind me of Raine. Especially his eyes. That poor lady, she died giving birth to that back then Esthar's prince's son. His father would not accept her, as she is a commoner …if not, she could be the Queen of Esthar already…" the man said…bowing his head sadly and walked off…
When the man finished his story, Rinoa realized that Raine was non other than Squall's mother! Oh well…its look like another discovery of hers about her husband heritage.
She looked over to Squall and realized that the expression in his eyes changed, sadness was what she could see from his eyes as he pulled Rinoa's hand along with his and said,
"Come on, let's go to the bar over that side…that's was once opened up by my mum…" he trailed off.
Rinoa knew what was happening and followed him quietly to the bar.
At Raine's bar…
Squall entered the silent bar with Rinoa behind him. Everything seemed to be in place, as if someone was keeping care of it. Squall walked the counter and began to examine everything he saw right from there.
"My dad told me once that he met my mum at this bar while touring the country," Squall started as he sat on the chair. Rinoa soon followed suit and decided to listen to it more.
"It was a love at first sight, he told me. And he decided to stay for a few more days,"
Squall paused. He looked around at the bar again and then continued.
"From his last few days of stay, he realized that my mum was what he had looking for. Kind and caring on the inside but strong at the same time. Not to mention, she was rather beautiful herself." Squall paused again, it seemed like he was going to tell his parents' story after all.
"And 2 weeks after his stay here, he asked my mum if she would go out with him," Squall started again.
"And she agreed?" Rinoa asked.
Squall nodded slowly, and then said,
"My father told me that it was the happiest moment of his left, he never felt that way to any other women. Though he knew that grandfather would probably would not agreed to his marriage to a commoner, he decided to ask her for her hand in marriage."
"But, isn't he afraid that your grandfather would greatly object to this marriage?"
Squall shook his head and said,
"In fact, he was rather confidence that grandfather would agree. After, he was the only son and so far, grandfather had been giving him whatever he wanted. Just a little argument and persuasion, and dad was very such that grandfather would give in to his request."
"But sadly, it doesn't, right?" Rinoa said. She might knew little of Squall's family but from the Book of Records of Kings and Queens of Esthar, she could see that she's the Queen right after Squall's grandmother, rather than his mother.
Squall hung his head down and said nothing, then he looked up again and said,
"My dad told my mum the truth about himself the day before he left for Esthar in bid for my grandfather to grant his wish to marry my mum. Mum was in shocked; she did not, even in her wildest imagination that my dad was a crown prince himself…"
Flashback
"What!" Raine exclaimed when she heard what Laguna had told her.
Though, it was every girl's dream to marry a prince, Raine knew immediately what it meant for her. She and Laguna were over. It was a taboo, for a royalty to marry a commoner, as they said, would disrupt the pure bloodline for the royal family.
"So…is over for us…" Raine asked, tears in her eyes, and she turned her back and prepared to run, as fast as possible from the reality.
But Laguna caught her arm and spun her round her faced him and said,
"NEVER Raine! It was only you and me. Tomorrow, I will go back to Esthar to ask my father for permission."
"What if he never agreed?" Raine asked, eyes red with tears.
"He will Raine, believe me. But…" Laguna trailed off
He knew that his father can be stubborn sometimes and especially on this, though he might be a good king, he still object strongly of the relation with commoners and royalties.
"Even if he never agreed," Laguna said, "I will still marry you, after I was throne. No one shall stop me then, from marrying you. But promise me, you will wait for me,"
Raine nodded and head and said,
"I promise Laguna, that I will wait for you, no matter what. I love you."
"I love you too Raine," Laguna replied.
As they kissed under the star, they never realized, that was the last time they held each other in their arms…
End of flashback.
" My mum never gets to wait for my father's return. Shortly he left, my mum found out that she was pregnant with me and then, nine months later, she died giving birth to me. Squall said.
"After I was born, I was taken care for a few months by lady named Nancy. She later found my mums' diary and then realized the truth about my own heritage," Squall paused a while and then continued,
"They knew immediately that I was part of the royalty. Part of them were proud that their future prince came from this place but part of them fear one thing,"
"What would it be?" Rinoa asked, after Squall had paused for sometime.
"That…that my grandfather would send someone and kill me," Squall said
Rinoa gasped in shock, how would a grandfather bear to kill his own grandson, though he might not be of a bloodline he had wanted?
"The residents or rather, the people of Esthar knew that my grandfather could not tolerate his bloodline being mixed. He loved the people all right, but the thought of sharing his bloodline with them disgust him," Squall said, and paused a while and the continued.
"In fact, rumor had said that when one of his mistress got pregnant and gave birth to a boy, he had secretly ordered him to be killed. My dad also heard of this, and he had asked once if this were true. My grandfather blew his top immediately and told him to mind his own business. From then on, my dad stop asking,"
"So…so they send me to the orphanage, and named me the name my mum would have named me, and gave me her surname." Squall paused and then said,
"And 5 years later, my dad found me, I guessed the story ends here."
Rinoa nodded and then asked, "Why don't you changed your surname when you realized you have a dad?"
Squall shrugged and said, "Don't know, maybe it's a way for getting back at my father back then. Beside, I prefer Leonhart then Loire."
Rinoa giggled and said, "I guessed too…I think Leonhart sounded nicer…"
When she realized that Squall was looking at her, she blushed red and turned her head around. Squall too, realized that he had been staring at her for a bit too long, found himself red too as he asked,
"Well, how's your hand?"
"Oh! It's fine now, though it may still hurt a bit…" Rinoa trailed off as she noticed something shiny in the vase. Taking a closer look, she realized that she had found the last piece.
"Look Squall! I think I had found the last one!" She said as she held up for him to see. Squall carefully took away from her and said,
"Be careful, you had just hurt your hand…"
Rinoa nodded. As when both of them were about to leave the bar, Squall felt a cold wind behind him. As he turned around, he swear that he had seen the imagine of Raine but dismissed it as an illusion, as he went outside with Rinoa.
"Let's go back to the museum." Rinoa said as walked out from the bar.
Getting no replied, she noticed that Squall had gone the other way.
"Where are you going Squall?" she asked.
"Well…to my mum's grave. I think it's been a long time since I visited her…" Squall said and he walked off.
Rinoa decided to follow him and soon, they were at a beautiful field where a grave could be seen.
Raine Leonhart
Her spirit shall always live with us
Squall step forwards towards the grave as he kneel down besides it and whispered,
"Mum, if you are in heaven watching us, please help us to ensure that Storm is safe and sound and we can find him as soon as possible,"
Rinoa stood a distance away as she watched Squall whispering things to his mother. Just then, a soft breeze came through and when Rinoa was enjoying it, by closing her eyes and feel every moment, she heard a sneeze behind her.
"Who's there?" she asked as she walked towards the source of the noise. Just then, a figure came behind from the tree and stabbed Rinoa in the shoulder, as he quickly ran away.
"RINOA!" Squall shouted as he watched in horror for the scene that unfolds in front of him.
He quickly caught Rinoa in his arms before she falls to the ground, unconscious.
Damn it! He had been found out! He was following Squall and Rinoa, as his boss had instructed and followed them to the flower field.
It was a bad move. As he was sensitive to flower pollen, the minute the wind started to blow, pollens started to come into contact with him and tried as he might, he sneeze.
Unfortunately, Rinoa had had this noise and decided to investigate him.
Suddenly frightened and afraid to be found out, he quickly brought out his knife that he had been hiding in his coat pocket and stabbed her on her shoulder.
He didn't mean it but right now, he had to quickly get out of this place before anyway found out and went on to what would be the next destination for Squall and Rinoa…
"Trying to leave boy? I had been suspicious about you since you came here and asked about Squall and Rinoa…"
The man turned around in horror and was met with a fun pointing onto his forehead. It seemed that the Lord of this countryside, had found him.
Irvine pointed his gun directly onto his head and made a click sound, indicating that he could shoot anything. Signaling his guards beside him, the guards took the stunned man away.
As he was about to leave, he saw a video camera on the floor. Curious, he picked it up and played.
To his horror, the entire scene inside was all about Squall and Rinoa.
I should have known. Knowing Squall, he would bring his whole family rather than Rinoa only…
Irvine switched off the video camera and he heads off to his mansion. He shall bring this back to Squall and hopes that this might be a clue to Storm's whereabouts.
Back at his mansion…
"Bad news Irvy!" was the first thing he heard when he got back. Selphie was running towards him, panic written all over her face.
"What…what happened?" Irvine asked. He knew that whenever Selphie panic, something wrong had happened.
"Rinoa…Rinoa…she had been injured!"
"WHAT! Where is she now?" Irvine said.
"She's now in the guest room with Squall. A doctor is attending to her now."
Irvine nodded and just when he was about to enter the guest room to see the condition of Rinoa, a very distraught Squall came out.
"How's the condition?" Irvine asked when Squall came near him.
Squall look away and said, "Bad. The doctor said that she had lost quite a bit of blood and now, he was trying his very best to save her…
"DAMN!" he said, while punching the wall, "I should have watch closely over her. Is my fault that she is hurt now!"
Irvine put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Come on Squall, nobody expected this. Take a look at this…"
Squall's eyes widen when he saw what's being played in the video camera. He was boiling with fury now as he realized that they had been followed during the past week.
"He was about to run away when I caught him, he was holding a knife with blood stained on it…" Irvine trailed off when the realization hit him.
"He…"
"Yes, he is the one that hurt Rinoa. He is going to pay…" Squall said, interrupting Irvine's word.
Then Squall stopped. Why did that guy followed their moves?
Then Irvine said, "Squall, I think you better watched the last part."
Irvine, with a disturbed look handed it over to Squall.
Squall took a good look at it and nearly dropped the camera onto the floor.
Inside, was something that Squall and Rinoa would want it to happen, and that was….
A/N: Hiding behind the desk from angry readers.) Sorry guys! I knew that this update is really late! I deeply apologies for it! I know somehow, this chapter turns up much longer than I had expected and said in the last chapter.
Read and Review please? I will appreciates it very much…
Chapter 15: DangerTo Squall's horror, what he saw inside the camera would hunt him for nights, and it was best not to let Rinoa know.
Rinoa had survived the stabbing but would this unfortunate incident turn up to be better for Squall and Rinoa's relationship?
Who's that guy they caught? It was obvious he was working for the kidnapper, but will he let the cat out of the bag?
And lastly, what would happen to Storm, especially when the kidnapper's accomplice had been caught?
Stay tuned for the next chapter of Nothing Love.