Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Final Fantasy VIII.
"Do you ever wish that your life was different?"
"…why do you ask?"
"Sometimes I do. Sometimes I dream that my life was different, that I wasn't an orphan. Sometimes I think back to that day and wished that I had done something to stop her from going…"
"You didn't know what would have happened. It's not your fault."
"But I feel that it is. Ever since she died, everything changed. I drifted away from that man and left to join the Timber Owls. Perhaps if I had begged her to stay with me that night, she wouldn't have died."
"Rinoa, it's over. It's in the past."
"I still can't help it. I…I miss her."
"Your life could have been different, Rinoa but so would my life. I would have never met you. Without you, I wouldn't have lived."
"…do you mean it, Squall?"
"I mean it, Rinoa. Every word of it."
"Then promise me that you won't leave me. Promise me that you'll come back to me no matter how far away you are. Tell me that you will keep the promise you made to me."
"I promise Rinoa."
I promise you, Rinoa. I'll come back.
Be strong, Squall.
I'll come back to be with you, Rinoa. I won't leave you alone.
Never forget who you are.
I'll keep my promise, the promise we made in the flower fields.
Never forget the ones that love you.
No matter what, nothing will stop me from seeing your face again.
Never forget the one you love.
From hearing your voice, from touching your cheek.
I will always be by your side when you need me.
I'll stand by you until the world is torn apart and the end has come.
Go back to her and live.
Because I cannot live without you.
This is goodbye.
This is not goodbye.
I love you, Squall.
I love you, Rinoa.
I have to find Rinoa. I have to go back to her. I have to keep our promise. But where am I?
This cave…it doesn't look familiar. I was knocked out by a Ruby Dragon. Could it have dragged me in here?
I leapt to my feet and looked around. My muscles were aching but I felt little pain. Only a slight feeling of lethargy. I looked at my hands. Bandaged and cured. I lifted a hand and touched my face gently. I can feel outlines of cuts but they were healed and none were left open. Who saved me? Laguna? No, he couldn't have. He couldn't possibly survive a Ruby Dragon beating and neither do I care if he does. I don't want to see him again, ever.
My eyes searched the cave but I saw no one. I was alone in the cave. Then how did I get here? Surely if I was the only survivor, I would have been eaten by predators long ago!
How long have I been here? What day is this? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month?
I touched my wounds again and winced slightly. No, it could only have been a few days. I don't know how long and I had no way of telling. My watch had been taken by those Galbadian rebels.
Then I noticed it. A little slab of meat beside the place where I last lay. I picked it up and sniffed it before recoiling in disgust. Chimera meat. I should have known. It still had a little blood on it but it was edible. Someone had killed it and cooked it. Could that someone had found me and brought me to his home?
I turned to examine for signs of any sort person or creature dwelling in here. But there was nothing here. Perhaps the person who saved me just brought me here for a while. This cave didn't seem to have any other hosts except for me. Not even a Red Bat or two. Then I remembered. I was on Centra, a place which was mostly deserted save for the few monsters that were descendents from the Lunar Cry.
I contemplated staying to wait for whoever was taking care of me. But who knew when he might come back? Perhaps I should take a look outside and see if I can recognize my surroundings.
Searching for my gun, I found ammo in my pockets instead. They were still unused but what good were they without a gun to fire them? I left them in my pockets and looked around for another weapon. I stopped and smacked myself in the forehead. Hyne! What was I thinking? I've already established that this wasn't a dwelling place for anyone - or anything. Someone obviously saved me, judging by the amount of bandages on my body. I just don't know who.
I gave up and decided to just look outside. If there was anything outside, I was going to have to depend on magic and Bahamut. I wished I haven't relied so heavily on Lionheart. Still, what could be worse than Ultimecia armed with Apocalypse?
Cautiously I looked outside, prepared for any action that might come. I was on a cliff that was high enough to keep predators away. Still I could see a slope to the left side of me so still taking precautions, I walked out of the cave and down the cliff. Just before I had made it all the way down, I saw who had saved me.
He was half-lying, half-sitting on the ground with his eyes closed. Before I could turn my back to him, he opened his eyes and looked at me. Then he called me.
"Squall…you're awake at last." He gasped out before struggling to his feet. I watched him, making no attempt to move to his side. If he's trying to get sympathy, he's looking at the wrong person. He was all right as far as I could see.
"You…better start a fire outside…of the cave. Or they won't…see us." His words were strained but I don't care.
"How did I get here?" I ask him suspiciously.
He shook his head. "It…doesn't matter. Light the fire. Or they'll pass us by." His words chilled me.
"What are you talking about?"
"They're coming…" was his only answer.
"How would you know?" I demanded.
"Just do it."
Something about his tone made me obey and I went back up the cliff. After scouring around for a while, I found a few bones and shriveled twigs to start a fire. I cast a Fira spell on the twigs but apparently he didn't seem to think it was enough. Glaring at him all the while, I used a Firaga spell and the fire burned even brighter. Surely he's happy now.
He was leaning on the cave wall when I looked and his eyes were closed. He looked like he was sleeping but pain seemed etched across his face. What did he do to look so exhausted?
My hand which was hanging limply down my side felt a bulge on my pants. I dug into my pocket and drew out a Potion. Hyne knows how it got there but perhaps it'll make him stop looking like some sick puppy.
I shook his shoulder not too roughly and waved the bottle in front of him. He seemed to have trouble focusing but shook his head when he realized what it was. I shrugged. Have it your way. I turned my attention back to the fire and searched the sky for signs of rescue. Isn't that why he wanted that fire? So that anyone from above can see the light below?
Sitting down far from the fire so that I wouldn't be scorched, I began to puzzle out my situation. Somehow I had been dragged to this cave on top of this cliff and kept alive. That must be how he got me up here. He dragged me. Surely there was no other way I could have gotten up here unless I sleepwalked. I don't anyway. He might have had a Float spell with him but they would have ran out after a while considering that they only lasted at the most - and if you were exceptionally lucky - fifteen minutes. I know. Instructor Loni once told me that.
I wonder why he revived me. He could have just left me there to die. Could there be another reason? Perhaps that sorry jerk still thinks that I'll forgive him because I owe him my life. How long will it take him to get that I don't give a damn about him at all? I never did and I still don't. I will have nothing to do with him anymore after this. Xu or Quistis will just have to take care of all Estharian affairs from now on. I wash my hands of him and his precious country.
A ragged whimper tore me away from my thoughts and I glared across the cave. His eyes were still closed and his lips were drawn into a tight line. I frowned. What the hell is wrong with him? He doesn't have any serious wounds that needed attention. Does he really think that I'm going to go over and start pampering him? He didn't want the Potion so he can't blame me for asking. Damn pathetic sod!
A sudden wind began billowing around us and a loud humming sound followed. I looked up to see an airship approaching us, nearly blowing the fire off. Rescue!
"President Loire? Commander Leonhart? Is that you?" A yell from the inside of the airship.
"I'm Commander Leonhart. We're both safe and sound!"
"Oh Hyne! We've found them! We've found the both of them! Hang on, Commander! We'll be landing down there!"
I rushed over to Laguna's side and shook him. Wake up! Stop pretending to be more hurt than you really are! They're here!
He opened his eyes and stared at me blankly for a while. Hyne I never felt so much like slapping him now! He blinked and got to his feet before I could follow through with my intention though. Frustrated with him, I grabbed his arm and pulled him into step with me. He staggered around in a daze but I had had enough. Firmly holding on to him, I walked the both of us down to the waiting airship where a few soldiers leapt out to us. Estharians.
They took hold of Laguna while someone else from inside yelled at me to get on. I climbed in and the last soldier behind of me slid back the door. We were rescued and I was going home to Rinoa.
Notes: Well, they're off Centra now and heading back home. Still wondering what else I'm going to do with them anyone? *grins slyly*
