Chapter 5
Squall, Yannie and Rinoa got very little sleep that night. Squall's head was filled with thoughts of this mysterious powerful Yannie, also, of how he could get Rinoa to listen to him. Yannie mostly was very scared. How many people would she hurt or kill today she wondered? Rinoa's mind was filled with hatred. What little sleep she did get was filled with dreams of murder, blood and decapitation. She woke up in a cold sweat. Her dreams disturbed her. She had never felt hatred for anyone else as much as she hated the so-called Yannie.
It was ten minutes past ten o'clock the next day. Rinoa and Squall were sat at opposite ends of Headmaster Cid's office. The office had now moved to the other end of Garden. The Headmaster did not very much like his old office after they had learned to fly the thing. He thought it might have something to do with the fact it didn't have a ceiling. Quistis, Irvine and Selphie were sat around a coffee table, and Zell was propping up one of the walls. Yannie was sat in a chair in the corner. She had had a good wash and Quistis had helped brush the knots out of her hair. Selphie had leant her some of her clothes. They had asked Rinoa for a pair of her shoes to lend her, but she refused. She could almost pass as a student had it not been for her gaunt features and skinny limbs. Squall had the cafeteria crew make her a large breakfast, although she didn't much feel like eating, she was so nervous.
It was at that point that Cid and his wife Edea walked in. All the SeeDs saluted. Yannie made a feeble effort to salute, but got her hands the wrong way round. She noticed the tall, thin woman, who was arm in arm with Cid. She looked vaguely familiar. Was probably nothing she told herself.
"At ease," said Cid. He sat as his desk. Edea sat beside him in an armchair. "So, what was so dam important that called for an 'urgent' meeting?" he looked over to where the stranger was sat in he corner, curled up in a ball. "And who is this girl?" Squall stood up.
"Sir, I would like you to meet Miss Yannie Ocaspe." Yannie walked over to the desk and stood there hands in pockets, face down at the floor.
"Umm, Squall, can you tell me what this is all about?" Cid said, puzzled.
"Miss Ocaspe here," he began, "is the girl who put me in the infirmary for a week."
"Ah," said Cid. "The legendary bag thief. You pulled quite a number on my friend here." He leaned back in his chair, feet on table. "So, you want the disciplinary committee to take action, is that it?"
"No!" Squall said, dismayed at Cid's lack of empathy. "She needs our help." Cid said nothing for a moment. Then he said,
"Ok, let me get this straight. She almost killed you right?" Squall nodded. "And you are telling me, that she needs our help?" Again, he nodded. Yannie looked up briefly. She looked Cid straight in the eyes, then looked back down at the floor. "So, Miss Ocaspe..."
"Yannie." She spoke for the first time. "Call me Yannie. Please."
"Yannie, explain yourself. Why do you need our help? And give me one good reason why I shouldn't have the disciplinary committee come right in here now and take you to the D-District Prison?"
"I didn't mean to do any harm. I am truly sorry for hurting Mr. Leonheart." She looked up.
"Then why did you hurt him, hey? You know you almost killed our topped ranked SeeD?" He sighed and wiped his brow. "On second thoughts, I don't care what your reasons are. I'm calling the DC." He pressed a button on the intercom and said, "Seifer, Raijin, Fujin, can you come up to my office right away please, I repeat..." he was stopped short by Squall who pressed the 'off' button.
"Please, sir, at least hear her out." He looked Cid straight between the eyes. A small-scale battle of wills took place. The room became full of tension. Eventually, Squall won. Cid spoke into the intercom. "Disciplinary Committee, cancel that last request, I repeat, Seifer, Raijin, and Fujin, your assistance is no longer required. Thank you."
"Thank you." Said Yannie, under her breath.
"You've got five minutes to explain yourself." He stood up from his chair and walked around to the front of his desk.
"I'm not sure if I can explain."
"You better try." Cid interrupted.
"Sir," protested Squall, "Let her finish."
"Very well. Go ahead."
"Like I said, I don't know if I can explain. I've always just had this power. I can't control it. When I get scared or angry, or panicked, it.... it, takes over. I always hurt someone. I don't know why I have this power. But I do. And I don't want it. I don't want it any more." Her bottom lip began to quiver and tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry." She sniffled. "But I don't know what to do anymore. Mr Leonheart told me that you could help me. If you want me to leave, I will, and you'll never see me again. If you want to send me to the prison, I'll go. Do with me what you will. 'Cause I'm passed caring what happens to me anymore." The room was silent for a minute or so. Zell was the first to speak.
"How come you were living on the streets? Don't you have a home? Family?"
"I don't got no family." She looked up. "I've lived on the streets for many years. I think I remember having a home once. But they kicked me out. I don't think they could handle me."
"Where were you born?" asked Selphie.
"I honestly don't know. I have no memories of my childhood. I don't know who my parents are or even if they are still alive."
"So you've been on you own all this time?" asked Selphie.
"Pretty much. I cope on my own. I did have a friend once. Her name was Kira. We were such good friends. She made me feel normal. We looked out for each other. We were like sisters. I loved Kira like a sister. But that all changed when we got into an argument, like friends do. Except...she...I...I didn't mean to kill her. She stole my last piece of bread. I should've just let her have it. But I was so hungry." She began to cry, but composed herself and carried on. She turned to Rinoa. "That's why I stole your bag. I hadn't eaten in days, I thought you might have some money. I am so sorry." Rinoa said nothing. Irvine nudged her, prompting her to accept her apology.
"Whatever." She said reluctantly at last. "It's OK I suppose."
"Thank you." She sighed, and resumed her inspection of the floor. Cid sat in silence for a few minutes, before saying,
"So, what are we to do?"
"That," began Squall, "is up to you."
"I think there is no doubt that this girl needs help. But I'm not so sure that this is the place she can receive it." Rinoa smirked.
"Where else can she go?" Cid pondered this for a while. Yannie stared at her hands, not liking all the attention she was receiving. All her life, she had done her best to avoid attention, and now to have it thrust upon her was unsettling.
"I suppose there is no harm for her to stay for now. But I want her under constant supervision. I don't want a repeat performance of what happened." He walked towards Yannie, and lifted her chin with his hand. She looked him straight in the eyes. "I swear, you harm anyone in this institution, I don't care if you can control it or not, your out. You understand? Out!" Yannie nodded. "I have other business to attend to. Squall, can I trust you to take care of our guest?"
"Yes sir." Rinoa grimaced. Had he forgotten what she did to him?
"Well then. On your head be it should anything happen. Class dismissed." The class saluted. Yannie didn't even bother this time. Cid exited the room, Edea trailing behind. Before she left, she turned and looked at Yannie. Once satisfied, she left.
**************************
Edea sat in her room removing her makeup. Old habits die hard she thought to herself. She still wore as much makeup as she did when a sorceress.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of Yannie. Was it true? Was she the same girl? It couldn't be. But why couldn't it? Of course, if it was, she has grown up a lot. Could she be sure it was she? Yannie was a very popular name, assuming it was her real name of course. No. It's definitely not the same girl.
But that power. It couldn't be possible. Could it? Edea hoped it was. But one could never be sure. She considered telling Cid, but decided against it until she knew for sure. If it was, she was filled with emotion. But it wasn't her, she decided. It would be too coincidental, for her to turn up here. No. Definitely not.
But a small part said, maybe...just maybe...
Squall, Yannie and Rinoa got very little sleep that night. Squall's head was filled with thoughts of this mysterious powerful Yannie, also, of how he could get Rinoa to listen to him. Yannie mostly was very scared. How many people would she hurt or kill today she wondered? Rinoa's mind was filled with hatred. What little sleep she did get was filled with dreams of murder, blood and decapitation. She woke up in a cold sweat. Her dreams disturbed her. She had never felt hatred for anyone else as much as she hated the so-called Yannie.
It was ten minutes past ten o'clock the next day. Rinoa and Squall were sat at opposite ends of Headmaster Cid's office. The office had now moved to the other end of Garden. The Headmaster did not very much like his old office after they had learned to fly the thing. He thought it might have something to do with the fact it didn't have a ceiling. Quistis, Irvine and Selphie were sat around a coffee table, and Zell was propping up one of the walls. Yannie was sat in a chair in the corner. She had had a good wash and Quistis had helped brush the knots out of her hair. Selphie had leant her some of her clothes. They had asked Rinoa for a pair of her shoes to lend her, but she refused. She could almost pass as a student had it not been for her gaunt features and skinny limbs. Squall had the cafeteria crew make her a large breakfast, although she didn't much feel like eating, she was so nervous.
It was at that point that Cid and his wife Edea walked in. All the SeeDs saluted. Yannie made a feeble effort to salute, but got her hands the wrong way round. She noticed the tall, thin woman, who was arm in arm with Cid. She looked vaguely familiar. Was probably nothing she told herself.
"At ease," said Cid. He sat as his desk. Edea sat beside him in an armchair. "So, what was so dam important that called for an 'urgent' meeting?" he looked over to where the stranger was sat in he corner, curled up in a ball. "And who is this girl?" Squall stood up.
"Sir, I would like you to meet Miss Yannie Ocaspe." Yannie walked over to the desk and stood there hands in pockets, face down at the floor.
"Umm, Squall, can you tell me what this is all about?" Cid said, puzzled.
"Miss Ocaspe here," he began, "is the girl who put me in the infirmary for a week."
"Ah," said Cid. "The legendary bag thief. You pulled quite a number on my friend here." He leaned back in his chair, feet on table. "So, you want the disciplinary committee to take action, is that it?"
"No!" Squall said, dismayed at Cid's lack of empathy. "She needs our help." Cid said nothing for a moment. Then he said,
"Ok, let me get this straight. She almost killed you right?" Squall nodded. "And you are telling me, that she needs our help?" Again, he nodded. Yannie looked up briefly. She looked Cid straight in the eyes, then looked back down at the floor. "So, Miss Ocaspe..."
"Yannie." She spoke for the first time. "Call me Yannie. Please."
"Yannie, explain yourself. Why do you need our help? And give me one good reason why I shouldn't have the disciplinary committee come right in here now and take you to the D-District Prison?"
"I didn't mean to do any harm. I am truly sorry for hurting Mr. Leonheart." She looked up.
"Then why did you hurt him, hey? You know you almost killed our topped ranked SeeD?" He sighed and wiped his brow. "On second thoughts, I don't care what your reasons are. I'm calling the DC." He pressed a button on the intercom and said, "Seifer, Raijin, Fujin, can you come up to my office right away please, I repeat..." he was stopped short by Squall who pressed the 'off' button.
"Please, sir, at least hear her out." He looked Cid straight between the eyes. A small-scale battle of wills took place. The room became full of tension. Eventually, Squall won. Cid spoke into the intercom. "Disciplinary Committee, cancel that last request, I repeat, Seifer, Raijin, and Fujin, your assistance is no longer required. Thank you."
"Thank you." Said Yannie, under her breath.
"You've got five minutes to explain yourself." He stood up from his chair and walked around to the front of his desk.
"I'm not sure if I can explain."
"You better try." Cid interrupted.
"Sir," protested Squall, "Let her finish."
"Very well. Go ahead."
"Like I said, I don't know if I can explain. I've always just had this power. I can't control it. When I get scared or angry, or panicked, it.... it, takes over. I always hurt someone. I don't know why I have this power. But I do. And I don't want it. I don't want it any more." Her bottom lip began to quiver and tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry." She sniffled. "But I don't know what to do anymore. Mr Leonheart told me that you could help me. If you want me to leave, I will, and you'll never see me again. If you want to send me to the prison, I'll go. Do with me what you will. 'Cause I'm passed caring what happens to me anymore." The room was silent for a minute or so. Zell was the first to speak.
"How come you were living on the streets? Don't you have a home? Family?"
"I don't got no family." She looked up. "I've lived on the streets for many years. I think I remember having a home once. But they kicked me out. I don't think they could handle me."
"Where were you born?" asked Selphie.
"I honestly don't know. I have no memories of my childhood. I don't know who my parents are or even if they are still alive."
"So you've been on you own all this time?" asked Selphie.
"Pretty much. I cope on my own. I did have a friend once. Her name was Kira. We were such good friends. She made me feel normal. We looked out for each other. We were like sisters. I loved Kira like a sister. But that all changed when we got into an argument, like friends do. Except...she...I...I didn't mean to kill her. She stole my last piece of bread. I should've just let her have it. But I was so hungry." She began to cry, but composed herself and carried on. She turned to Rinoa. "That's why I stole your bag. I hadn't eaten in days, I thought you might have some money. I am so sorry." Rinoa said nothing. Irvine nudged her, prompting her to accept her apology.
"Whatever." She said reluctantly at last. "It's OK I suppose."
"Thank you." She sighed, and resumed her inspection of the floor. Cid sat in silence for a few minutes, before saying,
"So, what are we to do?"
"That," began Squall, "is up to you."
"I think there is no doubt that this girl needs help. But I'm not so sure that this is the place she can receive it." Rinoa smirked.
"Where else can she go?" Cid pondered this for a while. Yannie stared at her hands, not liking all the attention she was receiving. All her life, she had done her best to avoid attention, and now to have it thrust upon her was unsettling.
"I suppose there is no harm for her to stay for now. But I want her under constant supervision. I don't want a repeat performance of what happened." He walked towards Yannie, and lifted her chin with his hand. She looked him straight in the eyes. "I swear, you harm anyone in this institution, I don't care if you can control it or not, your out. You understand? Out!" Yannie nodded. "I have other business to attend to. Squall, can I trust you to take care of our guest?"
"Yes sir." Rinoa grimaced. Had he forgotten what she did to him?
"Well then. On your head be it should anything happen. Class dismissed." The class saluted. Yannie didn't even bother this time. Cid exited the room, Edea trailing behind. Before she left, she turned and looked at Yannie. Once satisfied, she left.
**************************
Edea sat in her room removing her makeup. Old habits die hard she thought to herself. She still wore as much makeup as she did when a sorceress.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of Yannie. Was it true? Was she the same girl? It couldn't be. But why couldn't it? Of course, if it was, she has grown up a lot. Could she be sure it was she? Yannie was a very popular name, assuming it was her real name of course. No. It's definitely not the same girl.
But that power. It couldn't be possible. Could it? Edea hoped it was. But one could never be sure. She considered telling Cid, but decided against it until she knew for sure. If it was, she was filled with emotion. But it wasn't her, she decided. It would be too coincidental, for her to turn up here. No. Definitely not.
But a small part said, maybe...just maybe...