To Levant: Yes, there is a point to the brevity of the chapters. I wanted to make it more…dramatic you could say. This one is more of a touching chapter, and I wanted to highlight the...well...if I said anymore I'd ruin it for you =)
To the_angel_of_the_lion: Thanks for the consistency in reviews. I enjoy writing as much as you enjoy reading…I think =)
To Tiger Eyes: I was a bit cruel I admit to leave you at such a cliffhanger, but to make up for it, I wrote another chapter fairly shortly. Enjoy =)
To aegis: I believe this chapter answers your question. I thought if magic could be casted upon oneself then maybe….
Author's Note: The entire story is a Squinoa…keep that in mind as you read this chapter, along with the upcoming.
Chapter 16
Squall felt a headache coming on. He put his hand to his head, trying to mentally tell the headache to go away. He could not remember why he was at his favorite spot until he looked up and saw Shiva.
"How do you feel?" questioned the goddess in his mind. She was concerned the spell had affected him more than it was suppose to.
"Massive headache. Wait…amnesia…who did I forget…why?" The headache was not helping Squall's minor confusion.
"You wanted to forget a certain person, but as I search your brain now, the memories of a different person have been erased."
He remember what he had set out to accomplish; Squall wanted to forget Rinoa, but why? "How is that possible Shiva? I still remember Rinoa…but I do not remember why I wanted to forget her."
"Perhaps it is for the best. For some reason, you did not keep your mind focused on the memory…the person you wanted to erase. At the very instant the spell was cast, you thought of a different person. I realize the effects of the spell now. It is a long range spell…a mile or so in your human terms. As you forgot the person, they will forget you, but only the short term memories."
"Explain. You're confusing me Shiva."
The ice goddess hovered off the ground and collected her thoughts. She needed to explain it in a way he would understand. "My spell affects only your short term memory…say everything in the past few months or so. Your long term memories, like your childhood memories, my spell does not affect. If it did, my well being would be affected as well. In other words, you forget this person and any interaction you had with them for say the last year, but if you have memories of them from your childhood, those will not be touched by the spell." She slipped back into the realm she existed in, exhausted from her long explanation. Shiva felt it was best if he forgot the person the spell affected.
Squall looked around, listening to the sounds of the night. (Why did I want to forget Rinoa?) Squall was so confused, but decided to let it pass. He knew he would not solve this puzzle unless he talked to the girl herself. He remembered the emotional pain and hurt in his heart before Shiva cast the spell…but he felt no pain now. (Why?) He sighed and lay back onto the ground. Squall let the peace of nature soothe his confused mind. Sometimes it was best to forget what you could not remember.
***
"Ugh," muttered Rinoa, picking herself off the ground. She felt the blood rush into her head as soon as she stood up. (Ooh…maybe that wasn't such a great idea…) Then she remembered, and ran to the hill.
"Squall!"
The cadet sat up, looking for the source of the voice. (Wait…I do remember hearing that voice before I cast the spell…is that what Shiva was talking about? Losing concentration…?)
His thoughts were interrupted by a certain raven haired beauty panting and collapsing beside him. "Geez, did you have to have a secret spot that is so physically strenuous on a girl with heels?"
Squall smirked, but wouldn't give her the satisfaction of hearing him laugh. She was the one that caused the pain…right? "What brings you to my place of peace?"
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt…wait…I did. What spell did you cast with Shiva? I didn't see any monsters around." A confused expression crossed Rinoa's face.
"I'll explain it some other time. Now that's not what brought you out here." Squall studied her expression. Perhaps she would remember, but he was not going to ask her how she caused him grief.
"I uh…" a frown replaced the confused expression. "I came here to apologize and explain something to you…but now I can't remember what or why. I only remember that I didn't mean to hurt you... Squall…how did I hurt you?" She blushed, being embarrassed for forgetting something that was so important.
Squall gave her a genuine smile. He was glad that the spell did not work according to plan. He would not ever remember the source of his pain... (But if I love her…and she is sorry…what does it matter now?) "Shh…" He placed a finger over her lips. "It doesn't matter any more."
Rinoa was breathless from her running, but the fast beating of her heart was not from the exercise. "Squall…I…" Rinoa did not finish her sentence as her love silenced her regrets with a gentle kiss. She ran her hand through his soft brown hair and they both leaned towards each other as their lips met over and over again. There was a gentle passion within the contact, but the soft, soothing effects overpowered any other emotion. They broke apart after a few minutes, and Rinoa rested her head against Squall. She was enjoying the view with him. He was enjoying the view of her…and nature of course.
Squall caressed her delicate face. "I love you Rin," he stated simply in her ear, using a nickname for the first time.
She smiled back at him. "Rin huh? I like that nickname…especially since you're the one calling me that."
The two lovers rested on the grass, in their matching outfits, watching the twinkling stars in the sky. A shooting star crossed the sky and Rinoa pointed eagerly to it. "Isn't that pretty?!"
Squall had never felt so fulfilled in his life. He had everything, because he had Rinoa. He whispered huskily in her ear, "As the stars watch over the night sky, I will always watch and protect you my love. Let the shooting star symbolize the hope that we will always be together. If we are ever parted, I will find you with the first shooting star you see…" It was a highly romantic notion Squall had to admit, but just maybe, Fate was listening.
"Oh Squall!" she hugged him tightly. He was her romantic…her poet, her love. She inspired him, as he inspired her. She opened up more emotionally and understood that trust could be found in many people. She inspired him to love, to live life for the dreams that might come true. Life was not all pain, and she showed him that. They understood each other and complimented each other.
(What would I have done without her? I've never felt this way about anyone before. I feel as if she's my…soul mate.) Squall was slightly embarrassed of his romantic thoughts, but did not mind them so much. He knew the truth in his thoughts, and remembered something. "Rin?"
"Yes Squall?" she asked, as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him.
"Didn't you have a surprise for me?" He grinned at her.