~*Weeelllll, I don't have much to say except that the lack of reviews is quite upsetting at best. Oh well. Next chapter! Please review! And as you may have guessed, I am a supporter of free speach. Flames are quite welcome.*~
The evening started out perfectly. After a great dinner at a small Balamb cafe, Squall and Rinoa were off to see a movie, an event which hadn't occurred since the eighth month of Rinoa's pregnancy four years earlier. Once inside, the two didn't feel 28 at all, but 17, and acted accordingly. A janitor stared at them as he passed, but they didn't really pay attention to him.
A chance encounter with Nida, a long chat, and several drinks later, it was suddenly midnight and they decided to head home and take advantage of the Benedryl's affect on their small child. A slightly tipsy couple entered their house and made their way up the stairs, feverently kissing all the way.
Rinoa lit a candle on the bedstand and rejoined her husband in more passionate kissing. They undressed each other, and were completely unaware of a jealous onlooker, sitting in a tree outside their window. Once they had layed down and were invisible to him, he blindly found his way to the hotel, where he lived.
Seven years ago, after his girlfriend died, there was man named Seifer who sought to start his life over, for the second time in his 21 years. He traveled all over Gaea, meeting no one, forming no attachments. After six and a half years of wandering aimlessly, he was drawn to Balamb, where he had been raised. He found work as a custodian at Balamb hotel and lived in it's small staff quarters, working nights at the movie theatre.
For the first time in a very long time, he had seen people that he recognized. He expected he would, but not under the particular circumstances. Bitter that anyone else should be happy when he was perpetually miserable, he followed them all night, and they led him back to their house. Watching them fueled his rage even more, and he felt that he needed to do now, what he had been plotting for years.
Under his miniscule bed, he kept a case with his gunblade, which had been long since abondoned. He picked it up, and was amazed to find out how familiar it felt, that the curves of the handle fit perfectly to the curves of his gripped hand. The blade was tarnished and he decided to polish it, though he knew all too well how dirty it would be in a few minutes. The disgusting smell of polish filled his nostrils and he gagged. He pushed the case back under the bed, and with his newly rediscovered friend, made his way back to the Leonheart home.
In their haste to get upstairs, Squall and Rinoa had forgotten to lock the door, making Seifer's entrance far too easy. Silently as a cat, he krept up the stairs. A sweaty palm turned the door knob and revealed two people, lovers, sleeping happily, dreaming of their picture perfect life. He felt nothing but the anticipation of promised satisfaction as he soundlessly advanced towards the woman on the bed and gored her through her stomach. Her gasp roused her husband to wakefullness, who needed a second to process what had happened.
Seifer came out of his crazed state just as Squall recovered from his shock, and in a surge of emotion, Squall swung his gunblade at the intruder and cut his hand very deeply, causing him to release his weapon. He sank to the floor and nursed his injured body part, while Squall attended to Rinoa, who had become very pale. He grabbed a tissue and wiped the blood from her mouth.
She tried to talk to him. "Squa.."
He shushed her and told her to save her strength. With trembling
hands, he reached for the phone.
"You have reached Balamb
Garden. If you know your party's extension, please dial it now."
After years as an instructor,
one learns Dr. Kadawoki's extension. He dialed.
"One moment, please." Squall wondered if this
process could possibly take any longer. He gripped Rinoa's hand,
trying to keep her with him for as long as possible.
A tired voice issued from the phone. "Dr. Kadawoki's office."
"Put on her on the damn phone."
"I'm sorry sir, she isn't availible right now. Is this
an emergency?"
"MY WIFE'S FUCKING DIEING! PUT ON HER THE PHONE!"
"Excuse me." The patter of running feet was audible
from over the phone. A minute or so later, Dr. Kadawoki picked
up.
"Hello, who is this?"
"It's Squall. Seifer..."
"Give me ten minutes. In the mean time, get some potions
and curagas. I'm on my way." Click.
Squall hung up the phone and looked from a dieing Rinoa to a cringing
Seifer, wondering why things had to happen this way. He looked
back at the woman who meant the entire world to him, and pressed
her hand to his mouth, allowing one tear to trickle from his eye.
Seifer was on the floor, sucking at his hand like a beast. He had been cut deeply, and cursed himself for choosing Rinoa as his first target. He should've killed Squall. He cast a Cura on his wound, attracting Squall's attention. The lion, who was now strangley subdued, cast a Slow on the tresspasser so he could quickly retrieve his potions without the fear of further harm coming to his angel. They were now alone.
Rinoa caughed up more blood,
and Seifer slowly turned his head towards her, his reflexes greatly
impaired by the effect of the magic.
"My daughter turned four today." Her hands were soaked
in her own crimson fluid.
Seifer's mind was racing while his body could barely move. "I'm
sorry you had to do this to us," was all he could manage.
There was a lot she wanted to say, but was far to weak. She was
losing blood quickly. She could only reply, "Me too."
They were silent for awhile. "Who's fault is this?"
Rinoa had no want to answer that question, and thankfully, Squall
returned with the potins. She gladly accepted the silvery fluid
into her bloodstained mouth. It did very little change to her
situation, when it should have been more than enough.
The front door was kicked in, and shortly after, Dr. Kadawoki accompanied by five SeeD cadets entered the bed room. Three cadets held Seifer, while Dr. Kadawoki and the remaining students began to set up for Rinoa's cure. She cast a Curaga to tide her over. The Doctor cast every curative magic she had equipped, and the wound finally closed up. She had used all her plasma, but it still didn't replace nearly as much blood as she had lost. She did one last check on her vitals, and knew it was useless. She was fading fast, and the only thing she could do was let the two be alone for awhile. They withdrew from the room.
The mouisture from Squall's eyes was less sparatic. He kissed Rinoa's fingers as they tightly gripped his hand. She was so pale. Her breathing required such effort that it was painful for him to look. She reached up her free hand and brushed a stray piece of hair from Squall's forehead. Her tears were starting to come as well.
"Why?" she started
to say. "I'm so scared."
"Just stay close to me."
Her hand around his loosened, and she was gone.
