Unpredictable Endings
Disclaimer: I don't own ff8, but I wish I did. Damn.
Last chapter: The person in the Garden car was Squall's old friend Quistis. He
returned to Garden to find out that they have problems with the new
headmaster. What's the plan? And more importantly, what's gonna
happen between Squall and Rinoa? All that and more in ' Unpredictable
Endings.'
Chapter 3: Loose Ends
Walking around the Garden I noted several changes. The Garden was now stationary
where it used to be located. It had 10 floors added filled with extra facilities to make them the
perfect soldiers. The children began to stop and stare as they saw me walk through the halls. 'So
some of them still remember me,' I thought. I turned down the dormitory hall where more kids
began to stare. It didn't bother me in the least.
I stopped in front of my old dorm room. Quistis told me they didn't touch the room since
I left. Opening the door I saw that the room was in the same exact order as it was when I left it
except the picture of Rinoa and me at the picnic wasn't turned face down anymore. I grinned. 'My
next mission, clean the room,' I thought. I took off my shirt tossing it to the bed. 'But I need a
shower first,' I thought.
After an hour shower I came out. Clad in just my pants I began lighting candles around the
room. I remembered I had them as thoughts of Rinoa and I's many romantic escapades came into my mind.
I layed down on my bed staring up at the ceiling. 'Doesn't this seem familiar. I'm thinking too much,' I
thought. I got up walking over to my window. I pushed it open letting the night air saunter in. The wind
played in my long brown hair and sent a chill through my skin. Looking at the sky, I saw countless stars.
I smiled to myself. 'Always had to love those Balamb nights,' I thought.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at my door. Not thinking to put on a shirt, I answered
the door topless. The door revealed the person to be Selphie. I was aware of my current state when I
saw her blushing. " Um, did you just get up or something? I can come back," she said. " No, come in. I'll
put on a shirt if that's what's wrong," I said. I led her in then put on my shirt that I tossed on the bed. She
sat down on the bed but I chose to stand up. She's probably not that comfortable around me yet.
" So, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?," I asked. She played with her fingers looking at
them as she did so. " We wanted to apologize for how we acted when you first got back. We were still mad
that you left without a valid explaination," she said. I chuckled. " I'm surprised you guys don't travel in packs
like you used to," I said. She looked up at me letting her vibrant green eyes stare into my cool blue eyes.
" They were ashamed," she said. I smirked. " Even Zell and Rinoa? Trust me they have far greater things to
be ashamed about with me," I spat bitterly. A confused expression crossed Selphie's childlike features. " I don't
understand," she said trying to get me to explain. " Never mind. Is that all or do you want to talk?," I asked. She
stood. " No that was all," she said.
She was about to walk past me, but I held her arm. She glared at me in a manner that said she would kill
me if I tried anything. I shook my head sadly releasing her arm. Her look softened to that of remorse when she
realized what she did. I sat down on my bed looking at my former friend. " You don't trust me that much?," I asked
softly. She started to move to me but she stopped. " I don't know you anymore," she said. I forced a laugh. " Well,
if that's the case, did you ever know me?," I inquired. Pain crossed her features at my words. " I thought I did," she
said a bit unsure of herself. " You still do. I haven't changed Selphie. I've just gone through some shit," I said. She
relaxed a bit. " Like what?," she asked.
I motioned for her to sit beside me. She hesitated at first then sat down. I knew she still had an inquistive
nature. " When I left here I ended up near Winhill. I didn't have a prayer in hell. A woman named Violet 'saved' me.
She ran a male 'whorehouse' if you will. I was clearly in her debt so I worked for her for three years," I said. " You
were a prostitute?!," she asked. I nodded. " Not something to tell the grandkids huh?," I asked. She giggled a bit.
" Anyway, when my so called 'contract' was up, she let me go. Quistis found me at my house where I've been for the
past five years," I said.
Selphie was silent taking in the whole story. " But that still doesn't explain why you left," she said. " I know.
I'll tell all of you in due time. You all can barely talk to me in a civilized manner so what makes you think you can handle
why I left?," I said. She nodded in agreement. " I understand. Hey!, how about I give you a tour of the school?," she asked.
I chuckled as her old enthusiasm reappeared. " Sure, why not. I showed you your first day right?," I said. She stood and
I followed suit. I towered the small girl slightly. " Let's go!!," she said.
We went through all of the floors except for the last one. I asked her what it was and she said it was a special
SeeD room. Only the elite could go in. " Aren't you one of the elite Selphie?," I asked. " Yeah, but you aren't," she said.
A look of skeptism crossed my features. " So saving the world was just a small feat? If it wasn't for me there would be no
world for the Headmaster to take over," I said. Her gaze shifted downcast. " I know," she whispered. I calmed down a bit
realizing the tone I used to talked to her.
I let my arms slide around her small waist. She tensed up as she felt me so close to her. I bent down a bit so my
mouth was near her ear. " I 'm sorry," I whispered. My voice sent shivers down her back. " It's okay," she said softly.
" No it's not. I shouldn't have gone off on you like that. I shouln't have expected to be respected like I was before I left. Can
you forgive me?," I asked as I kissed her ear. Her breaths caught in her throat but she didn't answer. " Can you forgive me
Selphie?," I repeated kissing down her neck. " Yes," she said breathlessly. My hands left her waist and began making a
sensual trail down her thighs. She moaned softly. I was going to continue until I realized what I was doing. I immediatly let
her go. She turned to me wondering why I stopped.
I sat down on a near by bench. She stayed where she was but watched me intently. " I'm sorry," I said. She blushed
a little. "Me too. I guess I should've stopped you," she said. I forced a bitter chuckle. " Another side effect of being with
Violet. I learned the art of seducing women. A little extreme even for me," I said. She smiled a little. " I'll take you upstairs
one day. Until then, you'll have to wait, tee-hee," she said as she ran down the hallway. I watched her small figure dissapear.
Running a hand through my hair I began to realize how much I changed.
My thoughts were interrupted when a pair of legs came into view. I looked up to see that it was Fujin in her SeeD
uniform. Even she went through some changes. She let her hair grow out so that it stopped at her shoulders. She also took
off her eye patch revealing both of her brown eyes. She still had her deathly pale skin but she looked very....attractive.
I smiled at my former enemy. " Can I help you?," I asked. " We have a meeting with the headmaster and he insists
you attend," she replied. " Did you tell him I was here to find out his secret and kill him?," I mused. The sides of her lips
quirked up. " No. He wishes to meet the man who saved the world," she said. I stood looking down at her. " Sure. Fuj, do you
know that you have an extremly beautiful voice whenever you aren't fussing at Rajin or kicking his ass," I said. She blushed
lightly. " Come on. We are already late," she said. I nodded following the smaller girl to the conference room.
*~*~*~*~*~*
As we entered the hall everyone was already seated. Fujin went to sit beside Rajin leaving only one vancant seat by
Rinoa. I went over sitting down. Usually to sit next to someone I don't exactly like would make me extremly nervous but I sat
there without a care in the world. " Sorry I'm late," I said smoothly. " It's fine. We're waiting for one other anyway," Quistis
said. I shrugged it off relaxing into the leather chair. When I looked around the room I noticed all eyes were on me. Sighing in
annoyance I looked back at each one of them. " Something wrong?," I asked. The room was silent until Seifer spoke up. " Why
the hell did you leave? You abandoned your responsibilities and your friends," he said. I chuckled at my former rival before
answering his question. " That's not really any of your concern. The point is that I'm back until no longer needed," I said. He
frowned. " What type of bullshit answer is that?!," he asked enraged. I ignored the anger in his voice and still spoke calmly.
" An answer that you'll have to accept for the time being or until I feel like giving a better one," I retorted.
He growled in annoyance but held his temper in the presence of his wife. 'Quistis has him well trained,' I mused to
myself. " Squall, if we didn't need you would you have come back on your own?," Selphie asked. My gaze shifted from Seifer
to Selphie. Her question took me by surprise. In truth I never contemplated returning. " No," I replied. Hurt crossed her gentle
features. " Why not? We didn't mean anything to you?," Irvine asked. Their questions were beginning to take their toll on my
emotional barriers. They actually thought I didn't care about them. " That's not it. Why do you think I came back at all? Garden
can go to hell for all I care. I came back for you guys not Garden," I said. I stopped talking so I could regain my composure. The
room was silent until Rinoa finally spoke up. " But will you stay?," she asked.
I turned to my left where the girl sat. Staring into her chocolate brown pools I answered truthfully. " Probably not," I
said. " That's enough," a man said as he entered. All eyes diverted to the door where the man stood. All of my friends stood and
saluted. " Headmaster Griffon, Sir!," They said in unison. The man grinned at the respect he was getting. He stood at a height
that was about 6'3. He had brown hair that hung in his face slightly. He also had the coldest blue eyes that I've ever seen. He was clad
in his SeeD uniform giving him the superior look.
I chuckled at the older man. " Headmaster huh? Okay," I said. The man frowned for a moment. " At ease," he said. The
other's dropped their arms and sat down. " Listen Leonhart...," he started before I cut him off. " Call me 'Squall' please. No need to
be so commanding. After all, I'm not one of your Seed," I quipped. His annoyance showed clearly on his features. It took all of my
strenth to stop myself from laughing. " Okay then 'Squall'. I'm not sure what you are used to, but in my institute I demand respect.
Even though you are the former Commander that holds no water with me," he stated bluntly. I chuckled at him now. " I'm not saying
that it should but know this; You will not rule over me like I am one of your SeeD. I don't give a damn who you claim to be or what you
claim to demand. Oh yeah, and you being the Headmaster now holds no water with me. To me the only Headmaster of Garden was Cid
and you can't change that opinion," I retorted.
Skeptism crossed his boy-like features. I heard Seifer trying to stifle his laughter and the expression on Zell's face made it
seem like he wanted to yell 'YEAH BABY!' at any given moment. 'What's the problem? They don't have enough guts to stand up to
him?,' I asked myself. " Meeting ajourned. Squall, the next time we meet you need to learn how to curb all unnecessary words or else
you won't be here too much longer," he said leaving the room. I whistled. " Well, you guys gotta a real piece of work don't 'cha," I said.
The room errupted into laughter. " I've never seen him get so flustered before," Selphie said. " Yeah, Squall got him ya know," Rajin
added. A little beep from Seifer's watch signaled the stop of laughter. " Damn," he cursed. " What's wrong?," Quistis asked. He looked
at his wife with remorse clearly showing on his features. " I won't be able to go with you to the Seed ball tonight. The mission is starting
a few hours earlier than I had anticipated," he said. " But you promised," she protested. He stood calling Fujin and Rajin to join him. " I
know and I'm sorry. I'll make it up to babe I promise," he said. Kissing her on the cheek he and his posse left the room.
Silent tears fell down her cheeks but she wiped them away quickly. " Oh well," she said sadly as she stood. I hated seeing her
like this so I made a suggestion. " I'll go with you Quistis," I said. I heard shocked gasps from the remaining people in the room. " You
will?," she asked. I smiled at her." Sure. Who wouldn't want to take someone as beautiful as you to the ball? It would be a pleasure as
well as an honor," I said. She blushed lightly. " Okay. We have to get going then," she said. " Man, he has more game than me," I heard
Irvine mumble. I smiled to myself as I escorted Quistis down to the party.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After Squall and Quistis left it was just Zell, Irvine, Selphie, and me left. I wanted to cry at that moment. The Squall I once knew
was gone and a new and improved Squall was present. Only time would tell if I would like him or not. " Geez, Squall has to drop me some
pointers," Irvine said. " On what?!," Selphie asked enraged. He chuckled nervously. " Nothing Sefie," he added quickly. Zell noticed my
saddness and placed a hand on my shoulder.
" Something wrong Rin," he asked. The tears began to fall freely now. Zell put his arms around me letting my head rest on his
chest as he comforted me. My mind wandered to the last time he held me like this. I broke away violently. Selphie and Irvine stared at me
in confusion. I looked back into Zell's now hurt eyes. " I'm sorry Zell, but you remember what happened the last time we were like that," I
said. He nodded understanding what I was saying. " But we don't. What happened?," Selphie asked. I looked at Zell and he glanced back
at me saying that I could tell them.
" It was a week before Squall left the Garden. He was distancing himself from me and I didn't know why. I thought he didn't love
me anymore so I went to Zell to talk to him," I began. Then Zell took over. " That same week I broke up wit the chick at the library. We
found comfort in each other's company and we ended up sleeping together," he said. Shocked looks crossed their faces. " Ooooh," they
said in unison. Zell and I blushed furiously, but I continued the story anyway. " After that night it seemed like Squall distanced himself even
more. Then later that week he left," I said. The pair was silent until Irvine spoke up. " Did you say a week before he left you two slept
together?," he asked. We nodded. Irvine then slapped his forehead. " No wonder!! Sefie, don't you remember what he told us a week before
he left?," he asked. Her brow furrowed in contemplation. " Yeah, he said he was going to ask Rinoa to marry him," she answered. My heart
stopped. 'He was going to marry me?!!!,' I thought.
" That would explain why he was distancing himself. He was trying to figure out when or how to propose," Zell clarified. Selphie
snapped her fingers. " That reminds me. On that fateful night when he was going to propose he asked me where you were and I said with
Zell in his room," she said. Then the realization hit me like a cold wind. " He walked in on us," I said. " Probably," Zell said. " So he left
because he was hurt. He told me earlier that he had to leave because he might have gone crazy and killed someone. Then he said that you
two had other things to be ashamed about with him. I guess this is what he meant," Selphie said. My tears began to fall again. I felt Selphie
patting my back in comfort. " It's okay Rin, it's no way you could have known that he wanted to marry you. Maybe if we would've told you
instead of wanting it to bea surprise this wouldn't have happened," she said. I sat up. " No, it is my fault. I should've waited for him to tell me
something instead of assuming. Now It may have cost me the man I love," I said.
I stood from the table then left the room. 'But I'll be damned if I don't try something,' I thought as I went downstairs to the Seed
ball.
to be continued.......
End chapter 3. It's starting to get interesting right? C'mon, tell me something! As always review and no flames. May be a little more romance
in the next chapter. Oh, and for those who are confused, this will be a Squall/Rinoa fic. I'm also aware that Squall is very OOC. But this is
how I always wanted him to act. He's too cute to be so cold. Tell me if you agree.