A/N: Okay guys, please don't be really pissed at my lengthy absence. I've been brooding a lot over things, and lost complete track of time. Plus my internet and phone line has been down for about a week, driving me insane with boredom. This chapter seems a little rough around the edges since I haven't written a thing in over 3 weeks...but it's been far too long. I must go on!
Of it's own will, Seifer's hand snaked out to take Quistis' in a firm grasp. She didn't object, and with a sidelong glance at him, squeezed his fingers gently. The sight ahead of them was really quite a disturbing one.
Quistis hadn't known that they had been taped that day.
The Timber TV Station had been set up with at least a hundred television sets. As soon as Quistis and Seifer had walked inside, the sets turned on; each one showing a different scene from the same day. The sound had been turned off, leaving them only pictures to work out.
Seifer's eye was trained on one set in particular. It was a close-up of him, an evil smirk spreading across his face as he waved a farewell to the immobile Squall and crew with his gunblade. As he turned, the camera swerved to capture Edea's image. The mask she wore only allowed her mouth and chin to be seen. In slow motion, mulberry stained lips grew into a cruel grin.
As Seifer disappeared through the portal, Edea fixed the SeeDs with a false look of sympathy, smirked coldly, and followed. As she vanished and the spell was broken, the camera panned to Quistis, who darted over to examine the portal. Seifer watched as her feet were shown, traveling upwards quickly. Soon, her hips came into view, her whip tucked neatly at her side. Then came her arms, tightly crossed over her chest. Finally, the camera showed her face. A deep frown was written there. Her bright blue eyes were narrowed; in confusion or worry, Seifer could not tell. Probably a little of both.
Squall looked at Quistis when Rinoa came running in. The camera was now at her back. She shrugged and walked back towards the group. Then the TV, along with all the others, faded to black.
(Notes: Hot damn, who was controlling these cameras?! Sorry, I bet that was a bit boring. Let's try to get some action.)
"Have some nice tele-time, kids?"
Seifer released Quistis' hand and whipped around. Hyperion was out in the blink of an eye. He heard the reassuring snap of Save the Queen, backing him.
Rinoa was leaning against the doorframe, blowing air over freshly manicured nails and admiring them. There were a few slight changes in her outfit. She had ditched the blue skirt, leaving her only in the black shorts and tank top. Her blue duster was the same style, but now it was black. She had also pulled her hair into a loose braid.
"Rinoa?" Seifer asked in disbelief, sheathing his gunblade. Quistis hesitated a little longer, pulling her whip taut. But then she coiled it and swiftly attached it back to her belt.
When she was through examining her nails, Rinoa smiled innocently and waved, approaching them. Quistis noticed that Angelo was following quietly, tail between his legs.
"I knew you would come here," she said in a lofty voice. "Oh, but you took so long with that Timber Maniacs moron. You should have just come to me with all your questions. I would have been more than happy to answer them."
"What are you talking about?" Seifer demanded, scowling.
"Perhaps we should wait for Zell to arrive," she sighed. A piece of ebony hair escaped her braid, and she pushed it out of her eyes.
On cue, Zell bounded in.
"Yo guys, Abby says that Rinoa is missing! Squall is going nuts, can't find her in Garden anywhere! Where do you think she could be?!"
Quistis coughed into one of her gloved hands, and jerked her thumb overtly towards Rinoa.
"Oh, there you are Rin. S'up? Hey, your hair looks different..."
Rinoa clapped her hands twice, quieting Zell. She raised an arm, and suddenly a throne made of intricately interwoven white feathers appeared. She seated herself comfortably upon it. Lacing her fingers girlishly over her knees, Rinoa smiled at the surprised looks on everyone's face.
"A girl has to be comfortable," she shrugged. "Now. Down to business."
"What the hell is up with Rin?" Zell whispered to Quistis, nudging her in the side with his elbow. She shrugged and looked at Seifer, who was just as confused as them.
"Silence!" she commanded. "Seifer. About that voice you've been hearing, the one you couldn't quite place. It was me. Surprise!"
"...You?! That was you?!"
"Guilty," she shrugged. "At least you know you're not insane, though."
"Why have you been bothering Seifer?" Quistis questioned.
"I want my Knight back," she cooed. "Is that so wrong?"
"Uh, yeah..." Seifer smirked. "The Knight is retired. What about Squall?"
"Squall is just so...dull. Sure, he's attractive. Strong. Capable, even. But he doesn't possess half the fire you do, Seifer. And fire, intensity, is what I need right now."
"Huh? I don't get it..." said a very confused Zell.
Quistis frowned, trying to piece the situation together. It was clear that Rinoa had been acting very differently from her usual self. She was worried. She didn't like the foreign smirk, or unusual light in her friend's eyes.
"You see, I believe I made a boo boo," Rinoa giggled. This, of course, explained nothing and only stupefied them more. "Oh man, SeeDs are dense! I suppose I will have to spell it all out for you?"
"Yes, that might help," Quistis agreed.
"I killed Nathaniel Deling!" Rinoa giggled at their shocked faces. "Yes, that is correct. However, I realize that I made the same mistake as Edea did. She pretended to join Vinzer Deling. She used him as the bottom rung of her ladder to power. However, even a sorceress cannot get away with doing this freely. I guess I forgot that."
Rinoa paused, tapping a pale finger on her chin. She soon continued.
"Edea got herself some pesky SeeDs chasing after her. I killed her victim's son, and they come after me. Only it is worse than that. Apparently, some of my 'comrades' don't like me very much. I was a new member to their group, and shortly after their leader was murdered. They grew increasingly suspicious of me. Then you three started on my trail. I want Seifer as sort of an insurance policy." She leaned forward on her throne of feathers, clasping her hands to her chest with a pleading look in her eye. "Will you help me, Seifer?"
Quistis spoke up for him.
"Look Rinoa, I don't know what you are trying to achieve here, or what is wrong with you. But why would Seifer help you if he was one of the people trying to hunt you down?"
Rinoa snapped her head towards Quistis, eyes narrowing.
"I believe it is Seifer's choice to make. So, who are you going to pick? Me or her?"
Seifer glanced at Rinoa's cool, determined face. Then he turned to Quistis. Her eyes were irritated, mouth set in an insisting line. He looked toward Zell for help. He was distractedly adjusting his gloves.
Sighing, Seifer pinched his eyes shut and ran a gloved finger across his scar.
*** What's happening in Garden? ***
Squall turned over on his back, laying an arm over his eyes to block out the sun. He had spent most of his time in his dormitory, staring at the ceiling, thumbing through Weapons Monthly, anything to get his mind off his missing girlfriend.
On the night he met up with Quistis, Zell, and Seifer at a night club in Deling, he was celebrating an anniversary with Rinoa. Truthfully, he had forgotten the anniversary. When Rinoa mentioned it to him, he panicked and blurted out the suggestion of going to the club. He knew that she loved to dance, she knew he disliked being around people. He was positive this would please her - she would think that he was sacrificing his time with something he did not want to do, for her.
Apparently she wasn't very pleased, though, since she had dismissed herself to go to the ladies room and never returned.
That night was over a week ago, and Squall was really starting to worry. He had been all over Deling City, went in every store, walked past every bus stop, braved every dark alleyway. He also visited Caraway's mansion even though the man and him didn't get along very well. She was absolutely nowhere to be found.
Deling City didn't hold the most moral of people. Squall had no idea if she was kidnapped, raped... dead...
And he had no idea if he would ever find out.
Squall clenched his fist and punched the mattress as a timid knock came at the door.
"...Come in."
Abby opened the door, stepped inside, and quietly shut it behind her. As she walked towards Squall's bedside, he sat up and supported himself with his hands. She nervously twisted her pigtail around in her hands. Squall's disposition was worse than ever before. He shut himself up in his room, only allowing people on the good days. But on those good days he would only snap, argue, or stare blankly.
"Hi Squall," Abby greeted quietly, but cheerfully. Squall and her really weren't close friends, but through Zell they had met on several occasions and were comfortable acquaintances.
"Do I have an overdue library book?" he spat bitterly.
"I talked to Zell today," she announced, ignoring the comment.
"...Thanks for the thrilling update," he rolled his eyes. "Nice of you to visit. Ta-ta now."
Abby put her hands on her hips, annoyed.
"He told me that he, Seifer, and Quistis would be sure to keep an eye out for her. If she's out there, I have faith that they will be able to find her. It's unhealthy for you to keep moping around in your room. Why don't you come with me, maybe get something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry..." he whined miserably. "Just go away, Abby."
"I'm not leaving here alone," she insisted stubbornly. "Everyone has been giving you your space, Squall. Enough is enough. I know you miss Rinoa, but she will be fine. Just think of her as being on a vacation. That's what I do when I miss Zell."
"That's touching and all..." Squall stopped as Abby gave him 'the look.' "Fine. I guess I am a little hungry..."
Satisfied, Abby walked out the door as Squall pulled on his jacket. He may be unpleasant company, but someone has to be there for him.
Of it's own will, Seifer's hand snaked out to take Quistis' in a firm grasp. She didn't object, and with a sidelong glance at him, squeezed his fingers gently. The sight ahead of them was really quite a disturbing one.
Quistis hadn't known that they had been taped that day.
The Timber TV Station had been set up with at least a hundred television sets. As soon as Quistis and Seifer had walked inside, the sets turned on; each one showing a different scene from the same day. The sound had been turned off, leaving them only pictures to work out.
Seifer's eye was trained on one set in particular. It was a close-up of him, an evil smirk spreading across his face as he waved a farewell to the immobile Squall and crew with his gunblade. As he turned, the camera swerved to capture Edea's image. The mask she wore only allowed her mouth and chin to be seen. In slow motion, mulberry stained lips grew into a cruel grin.
As Seifer disappeared through the portal, Edea fixed the SeeDs with a false look of sympathy, smirked coldly, and followed. As she vanished and the spell was broken, the camera panned to Quistis, who darted over to examine the portal. Seifer watched as her feet were shown, traveling upwards quickly. Soon, her hips came into view, her whip tucked neatly at her side. Then came her arms, tightly crossed over her chest. Finally, the camera showed her face. A deep frown was written there. Her bright blue eyes were narrowed; in confusion or worry, Seifer could not tell. Probably a little of both.
Squall looked at Quistis when Rinoa came running in. The camera was now at her back. She shrugged and walked back towards the group. Then the TV, along with all the others, faded to black.
(Notes: Hot damn, who was controlling these cameras?! Sorry, I bet that was a bit boring. Let's try to get some action.)
"Have some nice tele-time, kids?"
Seifer released Quistis' hand and whipped around. Hyperion was out in the blink of an eye. He heard the reassuring snap of Save the Queen, backing him.
Rinoa was leaning against the doorframe, blowing air over freshly manicured nails and admiring them. There were a few slight changes in her outfit. She had ditched the blue skirt, leaving her only in the black shorts and tank top. Her blue duster was the same style, but now it was black. She had also pulled her hair into a loose braid.
"Rinoa?" Seifer asked in disbelief, sheathing his gunblade. Quistis hesitated a little longer, pulling her whip taut. But then she coiled it and swiftly attached it back to her belt.
When she was through examining her nails, Rinoa smiled innocently and waved, approaching them. Quistis noticed that Angelo was following quietly, tail between his legs.
"I knew you would come here," she said in a lofty voice. "Oh, but you took so long with that Timber Maniacs moron. You should have just come to me with all your questions. I would have been more than happy to answer them."
"What are you talking about?" Seifer demanded, scowling.
"Perhaps we should wait for Zell to arrive," she sighed. A piece of ebony hair escaped her braid, and she pushed it out of her eyes.
On cue, Zell bounded in.
"Yo guys, Abby says that Rinoa is missing! Squall is going nuts, can't find her in Garden anywhere! Where do you think she could be?!"
Quistis coughed into one of her gloved hands, and jerked her thumb overtly towards Rinoa.
"Oh, there you are Rin. S'up? Hey, your hair looks different..."
Rinoa clapped her hands twice, quieting Zell. She raised an arm, and suddenly a throne made of intricately interwoven white feathers appeared. She seated herself comfortably upon it. Lacing her fingers girlishly over her knees, Rinoa smiled at the surprised looks on everyone's face.
"A girl has to be comfortable," she shrugged. "Now. Down to business."
"What the hell is up with Rin?" Zell whispered to Quistis, nudging her in the side with his elbow. She shrugged and looked at Seifer, who was just as confused as them.
"Silence!" she commanded. "Seifer. About that voice you've been hearing, the one you couldn't quite place. It was me. Surprise!"
"...You?! That was you?!"
"Guilty," she shrugged. "At least you know you're not insane, though."
"Why have you been bothering Seifer?" Quistis questioned.
"I want my Knight back," she cooed. "Is that so wrong?"
"Uh, yeah..." Seifer smirked. "The Knight is retired. What about Squall?"
"Squall is just so...dull. Sure, he's attractive. Strong. Capable, even. But he doesn't possess half the fire you do, Seifer. And fire, intensity, is what I need right now."
"Huh? I don't get it..." said a very confused Zell.
Quistis frowned, trying to piece the situation together. It was clear that Rinoa had been acting very differently from her usual self. She was worried. She didn't like the foreign smirk, or unusual light in her friend's eyes.
"You see, I believe I made a boo boo," Rinoa giggled. This, of course, explained nothing and only stupefied them more. "Oh man, SeeDs are dense! I suppose I will have to spell it all out for you?"
"Yes, that might help," Quistis agreed.
"I killed Nathaniel Deling!" Rinoa giggled at their shocked faces. "Yes, that is correct. However, I realize that I made the same mistake as Edea did. She pretended to join Vinzer Deling. She used him as the bottom rung of her ladder to power. However, even a sorceress cannot get away with doing this freely. I guess I forgot that."
Rinoa paused, tapping a pale finger on her chin. She soon continued.
"Edea got herself some pesky SeeDs chasing after her. I killed her victim's son, and they come after me. Only it is worse than that. Apparently, some of my 'comrades' don't like me very much. I was a new member to their group, and shortly after their leader was murdered. They grew increasingly suspicious of me. Then you three started on my trail. I want Seifer as sort of an insurance policy." She leaned forward on her throne of feathers, clasping her hands to her chest with a pleading look in her eye. "Will you help me, Seifer?"
Quistis spoke up for him.
"Look Rinoa, I don't know what you are trying to achieve here, or what is wrong with you. But why would Seifer help you if he was one of the people trying to hunt you down?"
Rinoa snapped her head towards Quistis, eyes narrowing.
"I believe it is Seifer's choice to make. So, who are you going to pick? Me or her?"
Seifer glanced at Rinoa's cool, determined face. Then he turned to Quistis. Her eyes were irritated, mouth set in an insisting line. He looked toward Zell for help. He was distractedly adjusting his gloves.
Sighing, Seifer pinched his eyes shut and ran a gloved finger across his scar.
*** What's happening in Garden? ***
Squall turned over on his back, laying an arm over his eyes to block out the sun. He had spent most of his time in his dormitory, staring at the ceiling, thumbing through Weapons Monthly, anything to get his mind off his missing girlfriend.
On the night he met up with Quistis, Zell, and Seifer at a night club in Deling, he was celebrating an anniversary with Rinoa. Truthfully, he had forgotten the anniversary. When Rinoa mentioned it to him, he panicked and blurted out the suggestion of going to the club. He knew that she loved to dance, she knew he disliked being around people. He was positive this would please her - she would think that he was sacrificing his time with something he did not want to do, for her.
Apparently she wasn't very pleased, though, since she had dismissed herself to go to the ladies room and never returned.
That night was over a week ago, and Squall was really starting to worry. He had been all over Deling City, went in every store, walked past every bus stop, braved every dark alleyway. He also visited Caraway's mansion even though the man and him didn't get along very well. She was absolutely nowhere to be found.
Deling City didn't hold the most moral of people. Squall had no idea if she was kidnapped, raped... dead...
And he had no idea if he would ever find out.
Squall clenched his fist and punched the mattress as a timid knock came at the door.
"...Come in."
Abby opened the door, stepped inside, and quietly shut it behind her. As she walked towards Squall's bedside, he sat up and supported himself with his hands. She nervously twisted her pigtail around in her hands. Squall's disposition was worse than ever before. He shut himself up in his room, only allowing people on the good days. But on those good days he would only snap, argue, or stare blankly.
"Hi Squall," Abby greeted quietly, but cheerfully. Squall and her really weren't close friends, but through Zell they had met on several occasions and were comfortable acquaintances.
"Do I have an overdue library book?" he spat bitterly.
"I talked to Zell today," she announced, ignoring the comment.
"...Thanks for the thrilling update," he rolled his eyes. "Nice of you to visit. Ta-ta now."
Abby put her hands on her hips, annoyed.
"He told me that he, Seifer, and Quistis would be sure to keep an eye out for her. If she's out there, I have faith that they will be able to find her. It's unhealthy for you to keep moping around in your room. Why don't you come with me, maybe get something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry..." he whined miserably. "Just go away, Abby."
"I'm not leaving here alone," she insisted stubbornly. "Everyone has been giving you your space, Squall. Enough is enough. I know you miss Rinoa, but she will be fine. Just think of her as being on a vacation. That's what I do when I miss Zell."
"That's touching and all..." Squall stopped as Abby gave him 'the look.' "Fine. I guess I am a little hungry..."
Satisfied, Abby walked out the door as Squall pulled on his jacket. He may be unpleasant company, but someone has to be there for him.