********** IX – Deceived **********

When Seifer and Fujin reached the Old Brewery, their fine-attuned fighters' instincts immediately told them that something was amiss. They cautiously walked to the door to find two unconscious men bound and gagged inside, and the sounds of frantic activity further inside the building. They also sensed a familiar release of energy, and identified it with ease.

"Guardian Force summoning!" Said the blond man.

And then they were moving with silent efficiency towards the source of the commotion. People scattered out their way, not all those presents were into the conspiracy and were totally confused at the turn of events. Even some of the minions in league with Chrislen Khosgrove fled, unwilling to face the wrath of the SeeDs.

Having reached the level on which the sorceress was fighting for her life, Seifer noticed Zell, Selphie and a tall blonde woman already there. They exchanged silent signs and then engaged the remaining combatants. They were desperately trying to reach their friend, but these opponents were trained fighters and usage of magic or GFs was out of the question in the circumstances.

Seifer parried an attack and saw with alarm that a man in front of him was advancing on Rinoa, a hatchet raised and with obviously homicidal intentions. The tall man sent an assailant over the railing and hurried to stop the would-be murderer, knowing very well that it was already too late. Time seemed to slow down and everything took on a crystal-clear quality, he was readying himself to throw his Gunblade when he felt something fly by near him.

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A few moments before Seifer and Fujin reached the level she was on, Rinoa was doing her best to avoid Chrislen's attacks and waiting for an opening in his defense. But she was weaponless and unjonctioned, her assailant was a good fighter and she had already suffered several cuts. She heard steps behind her and knew that she would be soon surrounded, but still refused to admit defeat.

"It's too bad you weren't killed by Vincent Deling's simulacrum as planned, Rinoa!" Shouted Chrislen, in an attempt to distract her.

She just stared at him wide-eyed, and he continued, "Yes, all that information I gave your group about his train, the codes, everything – it was just a ploy to crush the resistance."

"You betrayed us?" Asked the young woman.

"Betrayal is such an ugly word," Stated the man, "It was a doomed battle from the beginning, and the Galbadians offered me much in exchange for my cooperation. But then you had to take initiatives and hire SeeD, I still haven't figured how you pulled that one out."

"And what about Jek Thorson?" Demanded the young woman, "Did you also kill him?"

"I guess it won't hurt to tell you," Answered Chrislen, "He was on to me, and so had to disappear."

Rinoa was still looking for a chance to strike, and she also was trying to distract her opponent, "Let me guess, there was no Galbadian convoy, and Jek messed you up pretty bad before you managed to murder him!"

"Ha, you are one for harsh words, Princess, but one has to do what one has to do…"

"I don't believe that!" Exploded Rinoa, "Not when it hurts innocent people!"

'That's it, Princess,' thought Chrislen, 'Just stand there while my friend rearranges your hairstyle.'

She was too intent on her foe to notice the menace at her back, and she suddenly heard a whistling sound followed by a dull thud. She instinctively glanced back to see her would-be executioner face down on the floor, Fujin's Shuriken embedded between his shoulder blades.

Chrislen glanced around him, looking for his henchmen and finally seeing the SeeDs and Marla advancing on him. The ex-Sentry Fox suddenly realized that he was surrounded, and utterly alone. Pure hatred shone through his eyes as he realized that all was lost. Months of careful preparation, years of plotting and deceit, all for naught…

Well, he wouldn't go down that easily – and if he did, the troublesome Owl-Princess would too. Taking advantage of Rinoa's temporary distraction, he leapt and connected his knee with her midriff. The young woman doubled over in pain, and he secured an arm around her neck while the other held his blade to her throat menacingly.

The four SeeDs and Marla rushed to the duo's position, but Chrislen's angry shout stopped them in their tracks.

"Don't move or she's dead meat!" Warned Chrislen.

Seifer advanced threateningly, "You let go of her, asshole! Or you'll suffer the consequences!"

"No," stated Rinoa's captor narrowing his eyes, "SHE will suffer the consequences…" – and with that he slowly trailed the tip of his knife from her collarbone to her throat, drawing blood.

Rinoa clenched her teeth against the pain and they all froze in their tracks, shock and rage burning in their eyes.

"STOP IT!" pleaded Selphie.

Chrislen smiled cruelly, keeping his weapon on his captive's neck, "The next time I'll scar her pretty face, so I advice that you all back down – now!"

The young sorceress weighted her options, and then remembered the effect of the bracelet she was wearing. She braced herself and called on her powers, which had an instant effect as a radiant crimson light engulfed her and the man holding her, and violent searing pain shot through every one of her nerves.

Chrislen screamed in agony, his body racked with intolerable torture by the conflicting energies of Rinoa's powers and the bracelet. Unfortunately, he was too shocked to let go and tightened his grasp, choking his prisoner in a deadly grip. In spite of the pain and the inability to breathe, Rinoa didn't pause and put her whole will at keeping the power flowing. She knew that it could kill her, but abandoning the fight now was certain death anyway.

Kathrya's mind reeled in pain, the wound in her side was still drawing her life away, but the effects of Rinoa's fighting were even more painful. She felt again that disharmonic vibe, throwing wave after wave of torment through her mind. And suddenly, she understood…

'All is harmony, all is music in one form or the other…' had said her father once. Her fine-attuned senses felt what this out-of-tune note was, as Rinoa called on her powers and the stones in the bracelet countered them. There was an impurity in one of the gems! And that imperfection could, perhaps, be used to their advantage.

She was weak from blood loss, and her remaining strength was ebbing away with each passing moment, but she concentrated and put every ounce of her will into forming one perfect note – one pure wavelength, concentrated in a precise and controlled shout. The unnatural sound, impossible to perform for a normal human being, left her lips and clashed with the wild cacophony of the bracelet. The uncleanness in a green crystal made it vibrate madly, and the aura around Rinoa and her captor flared with an unhealthy light.

The emerald-colored stone shattered into uncountable pieces, and the bracelet fell from the sorceress's wrist. Rinoa's powers, suddenly unleashed, knocked all present down and she collapsed to the cold metallic floor. Kathrya was engulfed by darkness, her strength spent and the last thought in her mind being that she had succeeded.

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Rinoa saw her friends coming to her rescue, and she shouted, "I am all right! Help Kathrya!" – she then wept from weariness and relief that it was all over.

Selphie and Fujin went to tend the singer, while Seifer and Zell took care of the sorceress. SeeD and Resistance training proved their efficiency once more, as they all worked like a team to control the situation. Marla went outside to call for help on the transmitter in her car, leaving the others to take care of the two wounded women.

Chrislen Khosgrove, or what was left of him, wasn't a concern anymore. The man was now a bloody mess on the wall, but parts of his ravaged body still retained some measure of life and twitched distressingly. Rinoa had managed to control the release of her powers well and not harm her friends, but there was nothing she could do for him – a hard choice had to be made after all. In spite of all he'd done, she would still feel bad for him for no one deserved such a messy and painful death.

The next hours passed in a blur, as a medic team arrived from Balamb Garden and both women were brought to the infirmary. Fortunately, Kathrya's condition was serious but not fatal, and after learning of this Rinoa allowed herself to sleep.

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Squall finally arrived to the infirmary, his concern for Rinoa was at the front of his mind and he stormed into the room to find her connected to various monitors and an IV. He stood over her, fighting the tears that stung his eyes and gently caressed her face.

"Rinny, please, I have no right to be here… but I…." – the tears finally came, from relief to know that she was alive, fear for her well being, and guilt for his own actions. He kissed her brow, cursing himself for not being there to protect her, as was a knight's duty. He prayed that she would be all right, with a fervor that he had never felt in his entire life.

Suddenly, her eyelids fluttered open, and she weakly said, "Squall?"

"R-Rinoa…" – seized by the strength of his emotions he gently embraced her, and kissed her lips with tenderness. To his relief she responded, but somehow this was different – it felt… unusual.

Kathrya wondered what was going on. She felt Rinoa's feelings for Squall, having absorbed some of the sorceress's emotions, and now she was dreaming that he was kissing her. It was so sweet, and so soothing… and he felt so sad, so lost, so in need of warmth and comforting. It was a pleasant, if weird dream, and she was so weary – too tired to think…

*AHEM!*

Squall looked towards the room's door, and there was… "Rinoa!"

"Who did you expect?" She asked with a frown.

"But… who… you…" He blabbered incoherently.

Kathrya managed to say in a whisper, "Huh, hi, I am Kathrya, pleased to meet you…"

Unaware of the mime's abilities, the dark-haired man was in a state of utter confusion. He looked from the figure in the doorway to the one resting on the bed. Finally figuring out his mistake, he stormed out of the room. On his way out he stated, "Huh, glad to see that you are all right… I, huh, have things to take care of."

After he had left, Rinoa went to sit beside Kathrya. The younger woman offered weakly, "I am sorry, I thought I was dreaming…"

"Don't worry, you look so much like me it's understandable." Stated the raven-haired woman softly caressing the mime's brow in a friendly gesture, "And at any rate it means that he still cares for me…"

"He does, Rinoa," replied Kathrya, "He aches to be with you, that much I felt from him… but there is a painful darkness in his heart."

"Hush," said the sorceress gently, "You need your rest, and I'll keep you company so sleep now."

After the singer fell in a deep slumber, Rinoa mused about what she had just witnessed. Somehow it meant that Squall had feelings for her, strong feelings that even he couldn't deny. Maybe there was something there, and a tiny spark of hope lighted in her heart.

After all, a spark - no matter how small - was all that was needed to start a roaring fire.

Or rekindle it…

********** ********** **********

~ To Be Continued ~

Next Chapter:   Revelations. Telling the truth is often painful, but it can also be liberating.