[Chapter 6: Raine Or So It Seems]

Morning broke, and as soon as it reached noon, the atmosphere in Balamb Garden was tensing up once more. Seifer had been found in the Training Center, bloodied, unconscious and badly injured, as if a terribly hungry dragon had ravaged him, but the Center had no dragons. It posed another mystery to the Faculty. He had been rushed out of the Center to the Infirmary ASAP.

Zell's girlfriend, Korin Andrea, who had found him, was busy filing a report to Edea containing all the details and circumstances in which Seifer was found. Other students, however, continued spreading rumors regarding Eien's dabbling and evil power. The Students' Organization's influence was growing, and so was the danger Eien was in. She risked death in many circumstances, until finally the Faculty decided she should stay in the special dormitory for her own safety.

Groups of shady looking students began appearing outside the Faculty dormitories, hoping to catch a glimpse of Eien, hoping to be the one to destroy her and be deemed a hero. It was until the extent that a riot had almost been staged outside the Faculty meeting room.

After being notified of the growing situation, Caraway had flown into the Garden with his soldiers to ensure Eien's safety; it was partly also because he wanted to be sure his daughter was going to be rescued amid all the chaos. Although they never got along really well, she was the only person left after Hyne had taken his wife, and Laguna's old flame, Julia.

Dr. Kadowaki was busy devoting her energies to restore Seifer. She had reluctantly admitted, though, that Seifer's case was the worst a dragon could do, but strangely enough there weren't any dragon ES (energy signature) imprints around him, and there was only an impenetrable aura around his accident site. A tiny sliver of glass had been found. It was kept by Edea in her office for further investigation. Ellone and Edea had been there countless times, but to no avail. The mystery remained unsolved.

***

Eien sat on the dormitory bed, her eyes red and face stained from crying. The stress had slowly built-up inside of her. Ever since she had placed a foot on the grounds of Artemis, she had thought it would be a dreamland for her. But now…she had lost her powers, was being hunted by the Balamb Garden students themselves, being associated with weird fatal accidents around the Garden, and whatever else more to come she didn't want to know. She really, really didn't want to know.

She leapt off the bed and landed on the floor. The tears had come again. She hated them. Sick and tired, she stomped off to the bathroom and filled a washbasin full of icy water. As the water ripples died down, she looked at her own reflection. She was still the same girl that had come to Artemis, but her inner self had been greatly changed. She sucked air through her teeth, drawing in a long breath.

She stuck her head underwater and screamed, the bubbles of pent-up rage exploding on the water's surface. With it she released all her cares and woes; a little voice in her head screamed out each scenario as quickly as it was let out… Jyrie! Edea! Ellone! Quistis! Rinoa! Seifer! Squall!!!!

She screamed until there was nothing left to scream about. She came back up, feeling much better. She dried her face and stepped out into the dormitory…and came face to face with Squall. He was flabbergasted and stood where he was, right outside the bathroom door, his hand half-reaching for the door handle.

"Squall?"

He snapped out of it. Withdrawing his hand, he pulled Eien from the door and lifted her onto the bed. He sat beside her, arm around her shoulders. He gazed into her eyes, as if searching out her real thoughts and feelings. She looked back content to just be looking into his bluish-brown eyes. He still had the pout on his face.

"Eien, I'm not feeling good that you're getting persecuted here."

Yes, okay, she thought, good you know it. The tears brimmed at the base of her eye. She bit her lip, willfully holding them back.

"And…I promised to be your knight."

Oh Lord, his promise! The memories of her first encounter with him came rushing back like a wild river. And so did her tears. She began crying and sank into his arms. He closed them around her gently, stroking her hair.

"I don't want to be your knight anymore, because I love you, Eien, but you're young."

Eien froze when she heard him admitting. She continued crying in his arms, getting support from his warmth. A part of her ached to be Rinoa.

"So I…since you don't have family here…"

Yes? She thought hopefully.

"I want you to be my sister. A real sister. Then I can protect you more. The situation here isn't holding out well and you're in danger."

That was it. She finally broke and squeezed him tight. She muttered incoherently, allowing Squall to only make out a few words, which were 'thanks', 'yes', and his name, Squall. She wept until it was reduced to occasional sniffing. She was exhausted from crying and finally fell asleep, leaning on his chest, grabbing his Griever pendant. He slowly removed her clutch from around it and laid her on the bed.

He was just tucking her in when Irvine's head appeared around the door. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped and a mischievous smile broke across his face. Squall quickly took his hand away from the bedcovers, trying not to look guilty. That made Irvine's smiles even wider.

"Squall, my man, don't go after her…you've got Rinoa waiting for you in some, 'Athens' place! Or is it because you want a little…oh, you know!"

"Shut up."

"Well, I won't ask more, I'll respect your privacy, but if you need some counseling, don't hesitate to ask me…" Irvine drawled. He reached into his brown trench coat and pulled out a hentai magazine. The shameless pictures blared across the front cover. He looked away quickly. It was a miracle Selphie or the other Faculty hadn't found it on him; it wasn't allowed.

"So no wonder you wear that trench coat!!"

"Tsk, tsk, still a virgin, are we? Nevermind, you'll change in times to come, eh?"

He flushed a bright red and walked past Irvine, into the doorway. Irvine put his arm around Squall, as if they were buddy-buddy good friends, and strolled down the corridor with him. He kept trying to get Squall to admit a juicy fact, but he remained indignant. At the end of the corridor, Irvine took his hand off his shoulder.

"Actually, Laguna wants you in his office. The big man says he's got something important to tell ya…"

"Thanks, Irvine."

He tipped his cowboy hat, flashed a smile and went off, waving to a few girls as he walked. Squall heard the giggles and sighed. He set off to Laguna's office. He felt weird as he rode the lift up. He was finally a real brother, but to a girl he loved. Life was strange, but what could he do? He sighed once more as the lift reached its destination and rebuked himself: Whatever, Squall. Whatever. He entered Laguna's office.

***

"Raine??" Squall's puzzled voice echoed around the room. Laguna nodded solemnly, a downcast look on his face. He had decided to tell Squall what he had encountered; he just couldn't hold it in.

"You saw Raine?? How? Isn't she dead??" Squall seemed reluctant to accept the inevitable. It was the third time his routine life had been interrupted by such a strange happening. He didn't want to get involved with ghosts, not after he just got himself a sister.

He glanced at Laguna's face. Not a trace of folly or faked feelings. Damn. He paced the room a while before he gave a frustrated sound and collapsed into a chair. There was an awkward silence, but for once Squall didn't mind it.

"I told you hoping you'd understand me. You're my only son, you know…" Laguna's low, sad voice pierced the silence that had invaded, startling Squall from his thoughts. Squall glanced up from his feet, looking straight into his father's eyes. He hated to admit it, but the man was right. He was his only son, and besides, he should believe Laguna. But here he was trying to believe Laguna.

He sighed, frustrated. He had been under a load of emotional turmoil ever since Rinoa's crystal ball had come through time along with her self-relayed transmission. He struggled with his feelings, digesting whatever Laguna had just said. He sighed again, finally deciding to give in.

"Alright, I believe you, dad. But why are you telling me? Surely there's another purpose behind it?" He rendered Laguna speechless for a moment.

"Squall, you're a smart boy, and I've always admired that in you, as Cid, Edea, and Rira have as well. I do have another reason–" He paused.

Curiosity probed, Squall retaliated, "Which is?"

"…I want to find your mother. And I want you to follow me. I know she's somewhere, still alive…"

"…No. I won't and I can't let you do that. It's too much of a risk, dad. The thought just struck me. It must be Jyrie's work. You know her powers, they can even summon spirits, and, besides, she must have conjured up a memory of Raine from your mind. Probably she's got a hidden motive, dad. I seriously highly suspect her."

Laguna couldn't believe what he was hearing. His own son had the audacity to think his mother's soul was just a conjured image, to tease and to manipulate (and also because Squall had never said more than monotone sentences and making short, brief conclusions). My god, he thought, he thinks of his mother as a shadow!

Laguna could think of nothing more to say and slumped on his desk.

***

Squall took a deep breath after he had finished his conclusion. He looked at his father for a moment before he wrongly drew the conclusion that he was just too upset. He went over, hating it whenever anyone got emotional in front of him. He laid a hand on his father's back, saying, "I'm sorry, but you shouldn't go. It's too dangerous." He walked to the door without glancing back and exited shortly.

Laguna looked up and grinned sardonically after the door slammed shut. He would go without Squall's knowledge. Without anybody's knowledge at all.

***

Jyrie laughed, the laugh sounding like a little girl's joyful laugh to anyone who did not know who it was. She had succeeded in extracting and duplicating enough of Raine's energy signature to conjure up an image of Raine whenever she wished. And it was having a deep enough impact on Laguna.

The process was tiring, draining almost all of Jyrie's energy, but it was definitely worth it. Now she could easily dispose of Squall's father as he had disposed of her mother.

She groaned. Her energy was close to depletion and she desperately needed to restore herself. She focused her mind and sent a message to her brother, using up the last of her energy. She was too tired to keep herself awake.

Xaron arrived shortly, and sensing her condition, magically etched out the accurate symbols on the floor with his finger, in a spiral. On finishing, he carried her, drugged with exhaustion, and laid her in the center of the spiral. He then chanted the secret verses and invoked the Great Hyne's restorative energies, and stepped back.

Warmth filled the room. He watched a moment as the glittering trails of restoration energy rose from the symbols and permeated his sister's body. A sheaf of blonde hair fell across his face. He brushed it away nonchalantly, and turned towards the door, exiting smoothly.

He made his way to his chambers hastily. Within, he sat by the verandah and thought of all those young sorceresses whose powers had been all absorbed by his sister. He shook his head. She was indeed greedy, pressing him to help her in those endless quests for additional power.

His aunt, Sorceress Terene, had indeed taught him the techniques, but refused to teach his sister. She was wise to know Jyrie would become power-crazed, like this. Most of them were an easy job, excluding one of them, Sorceress Eien Ryujin.

Eien was a strong one, he thought. She had been particularly difficult to manipulate, but he eventually succeeded in creating the perfect dream from her childhood memories. She intrigued him. Her aura had a different pulsation from those who dwelled in Artemis all their life. She had the life pulsation of the people from this planet…Earth. And yet, she had mysteriously appeared in Artemis.

He sighed and removed his outer garments and reclined on the couch. Why was he thinking so much about her? She was merely a pawn in he and Jyrie's joint quest to avenge their mother…wasn't she…?

***

Night fell quickly. A shadowed figure made his way out from the administrative quarters of Balamb Garden. Armed with various spells to help along his way, Laguna drew his hood closer around his face as he carefully made his way out of the Garden. He couldn't use the 2F exit any longer; they could track him easily with his data access key card, and besides, he knew Cid would have activated a tracking system, specially programmed to stop anyone from exiting or entering the Garden after-hours, personnel or not, ever since Squall told him about the Anacondaur cum High Disciple incident.

He sighed and brushed a sheaf of hair back behind his ear as he ran through the corridors towards the lift. He ascended to the 2F, stepping out of the lift and carefully scrutinizing the surroundings. All of a sudden, Raine appeared in front of him.

"Raine!"

He whispered her name excitedly, and then broke into a run towards her. She smiled and sank into his strong arms, nuzzling into his warmth. Laguna felt a pang of pain in his heart as he felt her iciness, all her bodily warmth missing. She was just a spirit, but he wanted the real her back.

"How'd you get here, my sweet Raine?"

"I came…because…I knew you'd come to help me. I want to tell you how to help me…"

"I knew I should come out…Squall tried to discourage me…"

"He's just worried. Don't worry about it. What I really need to say is…please go to the Winhill Bluffs…to my grave…"

"I will, Raine, I will! But…I can't get out of here!"

Raine raised her eyes to him for a moment, her gaze lingering on his face for a while. Then she smiled.

"Just promise me you'll help me, Laguna…"

He was about to reply when he found himself no longer within the boundaries of Balamb Garden, but right outside the sealed door on the 2F. He was too stunned and looked around for Raine. He couldn't risk calling out for her; it might wake a few citizens.

After a while of searching, she was nowhere to be seen and only her last words lingered around his ear, like a permeating scent. 'Just promise me you'll help me.' He held his cloak and listened to the wind a moment, thousands of feelings crossing his heart. Dammit, even if it cost him his life, he'd do it. "I promise you, Raine."

And he dashed off to the awaiting Ragnarok.

***

Laguna landed the Ragnarok at the Winhill Bluffs and stepped out. The night wind seemed colder than before; even goose bumps emerged on his skin. He briskly rubbed his hand over them and drew his cloak closer than before. He could make out Raine's grave in the distance. Checking his weapon, he hurried off towards her grave with butterflies in his stomach. What was he to expect out there?

He reached her grave. Looking around, he saw nothing amiss and slowly knelt down before it. He placed his hand on the cold marble, worn with age, and muttered a gentle prayer for her soul. As he finished, he got the creepy feeling of being watched by a strange persona. He clutched his gun.

In a flash, he stood up with eyes still closed, spun round 360 degrees and shot around while yelling like a madman. He could smell the gunpowder from his special bullets as the silence settled once more. He opened his eyes slowly. Nothing. He let out the breath he had been holding unconsciously.

He waited, sitting down on the mound that was marked by the marble headstone. He began to think it was all a façade, just a trick by Jyrie, as Squall had said. He rose and prepared to return to the Ragnarok.

All of a sudden, he did see a figure materialize barely a few meters away from him. "Raine?" The figure sharpened and he saw her smile. "My love…"

He ran forward, catching her in his arms, squeezing her tight, and expecting the same iciness that had driven him to save her. But this time, a strange sensation rippled through him: warmth. Shocked, he pulled back from her grasp and held her, his aquamarine eyes sparkling with pure joy.

"You're alive!!"

"Yes…I am…I'm so happy!!"

She flung herself at him, full of ecstasy. Warm, pearly tears flowed from her eyes as she held him. He on his part was overjoyed. "I can't wait to bring you home…oh how I've missed you…ugh…"

A wound had been inflicted; he fell to the ground, clutching his side. The Raine he so loved stood, a defiant look on her face. A steeliness that he had never seen before had surfaced. "Raine…I…you…"

He gasped. Thousands of thoughts flickered in his panicking and betrayed mind. How could she have done this? Why? WHY?? He loved her…yet she…

The bleeding was too much for him to stand. He moaned and took a last glance at her unrelenting face. His last memory of her was the wicked sneer on her beautiful face, staring down at him…

The so-called Raine Leonhart stood, head bowed, looking at him pass out. "Loss of blood…too bad the blow wasn't fatal, but he'll bleed to death," she muttered softly, so soft only she could hear it. She looked up and smirked. The blade she had used to slash him was clutched limply in her right arm, the blood slowly dripping off and drying, coating the silver surface with a steely magenta.

Turning to face the glow of the accusing stars, she closed her eyes and let the wind cool her smooth face. Silence reigned. A while later, she faded, leaving the bloodied dagger next to Laguna's unconscious body.

***

Morning broke upon the city of FH. The citizens rose to the sun's glowing rays to do their own jobs. In Garden, Squall awoke to the blazing morning glow in Eien's dormitory. He had moved in after assuring a worried Cid and Edea that nothing, absolutely nothing, would happen.

Cid had backed off, trusting him, but Edea remained worried. The last straw had been when Edea confronted him and asked the most ridiculous question in the world: "Are you having an affair with Eien?"

He had blown his top about the question, invoking her common sense about the age gap and she finally allowed him to move in. Of course, this brought a lot of sly glances from Zell, Irvine, Ward, Kiros and Caraway. They had teased him a lot about 'ze birds und ze beez', but he had shrugged them off.

He yawned and ruffled his hair. It was tousled with sleep. He sat up and stretched, then turned to the digital clock. The blinking display read 6:30 a.m. He reluctantly got out of bed, glancing in Eien's direction to make sure she was all right. He watched her sleeping form moving up and down slowly as she breathed. "Eien Leonhart…"

Just before he slept yesterday, she told him she wanted to be known to him as that. He smiled, a rare event, and gathered up his clothes. Right now he was only garbed in his boxers, and nothing else.

All of a sudden, the dormitory door burst open, and all nine of his teenaged friends, still in their sleeping clothes (the guys were all in boxers), ran in with the war cry: PILLOW FIGHT! They all carried pillows in their arms, and Selphie was clutching her well-known Cactuar beanie.

He began to protest but knew it was hopeless as they all ran with their pillows. They all clobbered him with pillows as he yelled for help, but in the end he fought back, with his ridiculously large Griever beanie. Feathers began to fly everywhere and amidst the chaos, Eien woke up. She was about to ask what had happened when a huge pillow flew in her face. She giggled and knew straightaway.

She lifted her pillow to throw at the pile of tussling teenagers but her efforts were stopped by Irvine. He appeared out of nowhere, yelling and jumping from the ground onto her bed. He lifted her off as he leaped past, flinging her right into Squall. She was just as breathless as he when the impact stunned them both. He regained his composure, but decided to have some fun.

He grabbed her around her waist, pulling her close and tickled her mercilessly. She giggled and struggled to release herself, but to no avail. She squirmed around to face him and he gave her a little peck on the cheek. She blushed with obvious pleasure and shyness. He, however, was shocked he even did it. He still didn't release her and continued the torture as she laughed herself sick.

Xu had been caught by Nida and was being tickled when Fujin, whose iron boot narrowly missed her leg as it made contact with Nida's butt, helped her. She laughed mercilessly and slammed a beanbag down on him. Raijin was busy assisting Fujin in her quest for 'BOOT-BASH'. Selphie and Irvine were wrestling together when suddenly the dormitory door opened.

A very flabbergasted Cid, Edea, Caraway, Ward and Kiros stood in the doorway, looking at them with buggered out eyes. The chaos stopped abruptly as their presences became apparent to all. The couples were pretty apparent to the five adults: Squall and Eien, Zell and Korin, Irvine and Selphie, Fujin and Raijin, plus Xu and Nida. Ellone was standing over Squall, a huge pillow raised above her head; she had been about to smack it down on him and Eien.

A feeling of dread washed over them all. Edea grinned. She smiled and started laughing uncontrollably at the sight: eleven teenagers, all full of feathers and scruffy-looking. The others cracked up and the atmosphere visibly lightened. Cid sighed, with a twinkle in his eye. "The re-feathering costs are about to rise…"

***

It was at breakfast when they all realized Laguna was missing. It was 7:30 and yet Laguna was nowhere to be seen. Ellone frowned. It wasn't her uncle's nature to rise late or leave without notifying anybody. Everyone gathered around the table to watch Ellone. Edea had asked her to try finding him through her memories and his mental imprint from yesterday. She crossed her hands over her chest, her features twisted in deep concentration.

A blue aura glowed around her, slowly, slowly spreading out. Finally it filled the whole Garden. After 15 anxious minutes, she withdrew the aura abruptly. She shook herself to ease up, then turned to Edea and Cid. "He's gone to the Winhill Bluffs."

***

Five minutes later, they were all at the Winhill Bluffs, thanks to General Caraway. As soon as Ellone had confirmed Laguna's destination, he had rung up the Galbadian Army Official in Deling City and ordered them to bring the Faculty there. It was very easy to do things when you were a president. Kiros, however, had arranged for the Esthar troops to be there, waiting. Dr. Kadowaki had insisted to go, bringing full medical equipment in case medical help was needed.

Caraway and Kiros dispersed the troops to search for Laguna. Others were to stop ant villagers from leaving or entering the area. Squall had his own ideas; he ran off unnoticed, towards Raine's grave. It was a good 10 minutes from their location. Eien had seen him run off and slipped away, tailing him.

He heard her barely two minutes after he left. Pausing in his tracks, he turned around and lunged for her. She fell to the ground, his right arm across her waist. "Don't follow me like that, Eien. Tell me first." He gave a brotherly smile and pulled her up. He reached Raine's grave, Eien behind him. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a bloody figure lying beside the grave. It can't be…he thought.

But it was. He reached around and pulled Eien close to him, telling her not to look. She obeyed, quivering with fear. He bent down, one hand over Eien's eyes, and gingerly tested for Laguna's pulse. Thank God it was there, but it was slow. His father's eyes were closed, and he looked as if he was in a deep sleep. He was still breathing as well.

Squall noticed a small dagger lying beside the marble headstone. He picked it up, admiring it for a while. He later slipped it into his pocket and drew out his walkie-talkie. He lifted Eien onto his shoulder and made sure she never saw Laguna. He pressed the talk button and said one sentence: "I've found my father, come ASAP, medic needed."