Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Final Fantasy VIII.
I dreamed about Raine last night. It probably sounds strange but I've never dreamed about her before. Not while I'm sleeping anyway. I would think about her and sometimes talk to her spirit but I've never dreamed about her. This dream wasn't what I would think it would be though…
I dreamt that I was in Winhill. It was night and I was waiting out in the fields for her. I was going to tell her that I love her and that I wanted her to be mine. I even had her ring prepared. I was looking at my own ring and thinking of how happy she'll be when she called me.
I turned around and I saw her. She looked so real then that I wanted to just reach for her and crush her against my skin. I ached to feel her touching me, to let me know that she was there. She looked at me and asked what's wrong. I told her that it was nothing and turned away.
Raine reached for me, asking why I looked so sad. I turned around, grabbed her hand and slipped the ring over her finger. She stared at it sparkling and winking in the moonlight. Her lips parted and something glinted in her eyes. She looked up at me, her eyes so full of love for me. I reached out to embrace her but instead I fell to the ground.
When I got up from the ground, I tried to look for her. She wasn't in front of me like she should be. She was far off in the distance but there was something wrong. Her presence was fading and her arms were outstretched towards me. She was calling my name, wanting me to go to her.
I ran after her; calling her name, pleading with her not to leave me. But with every step I took, she faded faster and faster. She was sobbing and calling me as I came closer. When I was nearing her, I flung out my arms to catch hold of her but again she slipped through my fingers. This time, she wasn't anywhere to be seen. But I could hear her voice screaming and calling my name. I shouted her name, beseeching Hyne above to give her back to me. As I shouted, her cries grew louder and louder until they became shrieks of pain.
Then suddenly she appeared again but far away in the distance. She was still screaming my name but this time she seemed to be straining against something. I ran after her. I ran and ran and ran but I couldn't get any closer to her. It was as if I was stuck in one place and I could go forward. My legs were tiring but I refused to give up. I wanted to go to her and comfort her.
Suddenly with one last shriek of pain, she trembled and pushed away her burden. Then I saw him. A baby. Our baby. He was crying and screaming too. Raine touched his cheek tenderly with a huge effort before disappearing. I uttered a long cry of despair but no matter how hard I try, I could not move from the place where I was.
The baby was still crying but as I watched, he began to grow. From a crying baby, he became a sobbing little boy. He was calling out a name but I couldn't understand that name. It sounded strange and foreign to me. He was still calling the name when he grew into a young teenager. This time he was struggling against some unknown emotion and was wiping his eyes fiercely. I know he wanted to cry because I could hear him whisper that he will be strong and not cry. Then he changed again and this time I knew who it was.
Squall as he is now was standing in front of me. I don't know why I stopped running but I know that I just stood there and stared at him. He was looking at me. I read anger and hatred in his eyes but I saw something else I had never seen before. Tears were flowing from his eyes.
As we stared at each other, I reached out with my hand and called his name. But no sound came out. I tried and tried again but no matter what I said, my voice remained mute.
His fists were clenched and the tears were still flowing when he spoke to me. His voice sounded like thunder rolling across the plains, echoing around me until it was more than I can bear. I fell to my knees and tried to cover my ears so that I wouldn't hear what he was saying. Still the voices echoed in my head.
Traitor…traitor…traitor…traitor…
Traitor…traitor…traitor…traitor…
"Mr. President? Mr. President sir?"
"W-what?" I jumped and I looked around. Where am I? I could still see Squall's image in front of me.
"Sir, the SeeDs are here."
I stared at him for a while. The word was still echoing in my mind.
"Sir? Are you all right?"
I nodded my head hurriedly. "Yes, yes. Send them to the Reception Room. I will meet them there. Inform Minister Kiros and Minister Ward of their arrival."
"I already have Mr. President sir. They're already in there and Miss Daran will meet them later." So Ellone and those two have already known of their arrival. Why am I always the last to hear of any news?
"Umm…sir? Are you sure you're feeling all right?"
I straightened up in my chair and addressed the aide crisply. "Yes, I am Anson. You may go now."
He saluted and left. I could feel the Bite Bugs fluttering in my stomach and the beginnings of a leg cramp.
"Greetings, Mr. President." I winced. I have only just entered the room and I could already feel his animosity.
"At ease, SeeDs." I was trying desperately to sound official and formal for the sake of the guards in the room. No more scandals or rumors must escape the Palace. It had taken tremendous effort to convince the media that ties between Esthar and SeeD are not strained despite the conflict. I do not want to have another outbreak of gossip among the people. My career was at stake but more importantly, my relationship with SeeD.
"President Loire, I apologize for the delayed response to Esthar's request. There were a few problems which required Garden's full attention." Each word was carefully spoken with a hidden barb behind almost every word. Stab stab stab!
"Indeed? I sincerely hope it would not happen again." Ouch! Did I really say that or had I imagined it?
"Esthar is not fond of indecisiveness especially when it concerns such an important matter." Okay, it wasn't me talking. If anyone could sound that sarcastic, it had to be Kiros.
As I wondered what his retort would be, Squall said nothing but I could almost see his teeth clenching. Perhaps it was the presence of the guards. Maybe he was suffering the same pressure as I am not to jeopardize Esthar and SeeD ties.
Ward turned to address the guards who saluted and left. We were left alone and I looked carefully to see who was there.
Not all of the people I saw in my office a year ago were there. Other than Squall, Rinoa was there as well. An image of Julia's portrait with her family swam before my eyes and I had to shake my head hard to get rid of it. Beside her was the martial artist with the huge tattoo on his face - what was his name again? - Zell. There were two more SeeDs in the room but I had no idea who they were and dismissed them as escorts. The tall SeeD looked the quiet type and was uneasy about something. The other remained silent and hardly fidgeted at all. I smiled inwardly. These two have obviously never been in the presence of any VIPs. I know that feeling.
"President Loire," The carefully accentuated tone again. "I and two of my fellow SeeDs will be escorting you to Galbadia as requested. As you know, the treaty signing is in three days and we hope that you have made all plans to leave soon."
Before I could reply, Kiros was already speaking. "The plans for departure have already been made and the president - with escort - leaves at 1500 hours today. You have two hours to make all preparations ready and so on." What is this? Am I speaking a foreign language all of a sudden and need an interpreter? Surely Kiros and Ward don't think I can't carry a conversation on my own.
"We also hope that there won't be anymore 'unforeseen delays' or 'technical errors' and that all goes well." I shot a look at Kiros. He never liked Squall but this was going too far!
I could feel everyone tensed as they waited for Squall's reply. I waited as well with dread.
He said nothing but nodded. I tried to see what his expression was but it was as if he was wearing a mask that hid his emotions. I wonder if Garden is really putting pressure on him?
The five saluted and left the room. As they left, Zell waved a little and Rinoa smiled warmly at me. I smiled back but she was out the door before she could see me. As the door closed behind us, I turned to look at Kiros.
"Do not ever do that again!"
He shrugged and replied.
"He ought to know that being a hero of the world doesn't mean some rules can be broken."
I glared but had nothing to reply with. Ward however had the last word.
".. . . . . ….. . . … . . .. . ."
And just because you're his father, it doesn't mean that you have to indulge him.
Notes: Let the stabbing begin! *grins* Relax, Read, Review!
