Rinoa rolled over in her bed, blinking dazedly in the sudden burst of light streaming in through her window

Rinoa rolled over in her bed, blinking dazedly in the sudden burst of light streaming in through her window. "Rise and shine, sleeping beauty," a wryly amused voice said from somewhere to her right. "Eh?" She looked up into the neat face and combed blond hair of her mentor. "Ugh." She rolled over again. Quistis chuckled. "Good morning to you, too. Come on, I know you're tired, but it's time to wake up and smell the exam. Today's your big chance to prove yourself, to show us what you've got. Come on, get up! I'd be leaping out of bed if I were you."

                Rinoa yawned, and rolled unceremoniously onto the floor, gathering up the blanket she'd pulled off with her, and dumping it on the bed. "But dear instructor," she said innocently. "I need my beauty sleep!" She batted her eyes rather pathetically at Quistis, who didn't look convinced. She laughed, giving up, and smoothed the covers over her bed. "Alright, alright, I'm up, let's go already."

                Halfway down the hall, Rinoa suddenly got nervous. I really should have practiced more, she thought. What if I really screw up? What if they kick me out of garden? What if- Quistis turned and gave her a quizzical look, then her face softened. She nodded understandingly. "You'll do just fine, Rinoa. After all, you are my student, aren't you? How could you do badly?" She grinned and gave Rinoa a quick hug. "Trust me." "But what if I-!" "Stop already! You're wearing yourself out, jumping to conclusions and worrying like that. Calm down!" She's right, she's right, thought Rinoa. I've been training for this, nothing could go wrong, I will be a SeeD. She attempted to maintain that view, as she entered the headmaster's office.

                Cid looked up from the pile of papers on his desk. "Ahh, Rinoa. Glad you're here on time. It's so nice to deal with a student who understands the necessity of being punctual. Come in, come in. You too, instructor Trepe." He closed the door behind them, and settled back down into his chair. "Now…to business. So, Rinoa. You have come to posted on a SeeD exam mission. I'm going to send you…not because you're the wonderful person that we all know you are, but because I see in you the potential to be a great fighter, and a wonderful SeeD member, a true asset to our fighting forces. Instructor Trepe agrees with me, as do the other SeeD members accompanying you on your exam mission. Quistis? Please go get them for me, they're waiting outside." Quistis saluted, and left the room.

                Rinoa wondered who she'd end up with. Xu wasn't so bad, and Raijin and Fujin were sometimes fun to be around, although they did get annoying sometimes. She only hoped she didn't have to be with Seifer. It was too hard to be around him a lot. Too many weird old memories. She'd tried so hard to forgive and forget…but they were still there…being thrown at Adel, cackling laughter…

                Quistis re-entered the room, followed by… "Selphie? Zell? Irvine? Squall??" Rinoa grinned in delight. "Together again," said Irvine, and he smiled. She laughed and hugged each of them in turn, lingering a moment longer in Squall's arms, partly for reassurance, and partly just to be with him. Still smiling, she turned to Cid, and nodded. "Where am I-where are we going?"

                Cid stood up, and began pacing the room. "A request has been made for SeeD to assist the village of Winhill. They're having difficulty with a large number of unclassified winged creatures, who are repeatedly attacking them. You are to go in, and see if you can eliminate these things. Do whatever, just don't disobey the withdraw order. Assemble at Balamb station, and Godspeed to all of you."

                Selphie jumped up and down with excitement. "Yay! We get to take a train! Train, train, take us away," she skipped off down the hall, followed by Irvine, who turned to wink at Rinoa. Quistis shook her head and smiled, starting off down the hall. She grabbed Zell on the way there, and yanked him along with her, giving him a meaningful look, and pointing in the direction of Squall and Rinoa. So the two were left alone, walking together down the hall.

                Squall was silent, unusual when he was with Rinoa, whom he didn't' see as often nowadays. There was something definitely troubling him, Rinoa thought. She could sense it in the tension around him. Putting a hand on his arm, she asked, "What is it?" "Hmmm?" He looked at her. "What's wrong?"

                He took a deep breath, then expelled it. "I don't know if I really want you to be a SeeD." She stared at him, shocked and somewhat hurt. "Why not?" He heard the hurt in her voice, and quickly shook his head. "No, you don't understand. Rinoa…I…it's so dangerous out there. I…almost lost you once already, I really don't want to lost you again." She turned to him again, her glance much kinder. "Squall, she smiled," "You can't protect me from everything forever. I have a life to live too, you know. You can't always be behind me, scolding me from crossing the street, like a mother duck." He had to laugh at that. "And remember, I was fighting Ultimecia right alongside you. And I am a sorceress. There's no avoiding that." Squall flinched, but nodded. "I know…but it's hard not to worry sometimes."

                They had reached the end of the hall by now, and found the others waiting. "Hey, you guys took long enough, giving Squall a clearly read look." "Oh, shut up," said Rinoa amiably, stepping into the elevator. "Well? Are you coming, or what?"

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                "Open, open!" Squall patiently complied with Selphie's plea. She giggled, and bounced down the train. Irvine followed like a puppy looking for it's mother, and Squall could hear them talking down the hall. He turned and saw Rinoa standing by the window, gazing out. I shouldn't let her do this, He thought to himself. Yet, he knew he couldn't really stop her. And…it would be wonderful to have her in his squad, with him all the time, seeing her more often than he did now. It would really be wonderful. If she succeeded. But then, he had no doubt she'd succeed. And he wasn't sure whether or not he was happy about that, or horrified.

                Zell, who clapped him on the shoulder, brought squall out of his thoughts. "Hey, Squall! What's bugging ya?" He groaned inwardly. Not now, Zell, it's none of your business. "Nothing," he muttered. "No, c'mon tell me! I won't tell anybody! Is it Rinoa? Did you and she fight or something-!" "No! Nothing is wrong!" "Ok, ok," Zell muttered, slouching and turning back towards the window. "Just wanted to help. AAAAAAAH!" He was thrown backwards as the train shuddered violently, and slammed to a stop. "The HELL?"

                Quistis, braced against the wall, exhaled heavily. "I guess…we've…arrived?" She slid to the floor. Rinoa ran forward. "Selphie! Irvine!" She rushed through the door, Squall following on her heels. The two battered SeeD members lay on the ground near the front of the train. They weren't injured, but were badly shaken. Rinoa helped Selphie and then Irvine to their feet. "You guys ok?" "Y-yeah," Selphie said. "What was that?" Asked Irvine. Squall shook his head. "No idea. Can you walk? Let's go back to the others."

               

(This is only the beginning of a VERY long story, in MANY parts. I will have the next 3 or 4 posted within the hour, look for the 5th sometime this week.)