Sammy-Chan: Ahh, the beginning of my first chapter. This story may be updated again this weekend so I would ask you to PLEASE review each and every chapter. Yhank Tou … that sounded dirty … eeh …
~Chapter 20: The Deadly Dinner~
"What?" Echoed Rinoa. "What are you talking about, old man?"
He merely smiled at her, "You'll learn with time … I suggest that we return to our homes. I'll be calling each of you in the morning."
"Alright …" Said Loire a tad bit shaken by the young lady's outburst.
Michel Almasy merely grumbled, why did Caraway always give out orders? Squall interrupted his thoughts.
"My home is here … and looks like no one is staying here tonight. So I'm guessing you wouldn't mind me occupying your daughter's room?" He sneered.
Caraway contorted his face into a grimace, "Hah …" He gave a brief, forced laugh. "I don't think so … you'll be going home to Esthar tonight."
"Then I guess I'm going to Deling …" Zell said.
"This is so pathetic …" Rinoa hissed. "I'm not going home … not till everything is clear on what the hell is going on …"
Raine and Julia stepped forward. Rinoa looked as if she was going to jump in her father's face.
"Calm down Rinoa …" Julia whispered.
Squall put a hand on her shoulder. The others seemed quite surprised by this sudden movement but they decided to ignore it.
"Just forget it … the stupid bastards lied to us for about 20 years now why would they tell us the truth now …" He looked directly at Raine and Laguna with cold eyes.
"Yah Rinoa … let's all go … home …" Zell emphasized on the word in a mocking tone.
"Just agree with your little friends … Rino …" Quistis stepped up from behind her brother. She gave a short laugh, "You know your name is so easy to make fun of …"
"Enough …" Caraway intervened. "Let's go …"
***
Squall paced around the mansion. He couldn't recognize any familiar landmarks. This place was huge. He didn't like it that much. All he really wanted to do is fly back to Galbadia and find Rinoa. Selphie had already gone to sleep and his 'parents' as well … or so he presumed.
"You can't sleep?" Asked a rough voice.
"Wow you are certainly on top of things today, father …" His reply was sarcastic and full of mockery.
Laguna walked towards his son and put his hand on his shoulder. Squall jerked away and turned around to face his biological father. Anger could be read from his smooth face and cool blue eyes.
"Why are you mad?" Asked Laguna, "I've done nothing wrong …"
"No … nothing …" Squall spat, "You … abandoned me, left me to die and then didn't even bother looking for me. I guess you could call that a nothing."
"I did look for you …" Laguna's eyes shone out in sadness. " Squall … I did … I-"
"Bull shit …" Squall hissed, "I can't believe you'd even try that …"
"You are my son … and I'm sorry if you … despise me. I … there wasn't any other solution … I had to let you go …"
Squall stayed silent for a while then added bitterly, "You know, I love her. Actually, I love her more then anything … it's sad but not even a bastard like you could stop what was already planned to be. I would have fell in love with her no matter what the situation is. Isn't that your biggest fear? You fell in love with a sorceress too, tell me, what's the price to pay?"
"Squall …" Laguna mumbled, "There is a price to pay … you can't be together for long. She's going to die after the battle … no matter what."
Squall stood there for a moment. Then swiftly he punched his father across the face and before leaving the deserted hallway he added, "She won't die."
***
She felt her shoulder being shook. Light burst into the darkened room and a voice she only knew too well spoke up.
"Up … now …" Her father ordered.
She slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the light shining from the nearby window.
"Dad, get the hell out!" She screamed, "Ever heard of human privacy? OUT!" She took the nearby cushion and chucked it at him.
"I don't want to see your face in my room for another two hours." She spat.
He took one side of the mattress and tipped it over so that she fell on the cold, wooden floor.
"Show some respect. If it wasn't for me you wouldn't be here right now."
"Yah if it wasn't for you fucking-"
"UP!" He roared.
She grinded her teeth and yelled back, "FUCK OFF!"
This seemed to set him off because he exited the room abruptly, slamming the door behind him. After she had heard his exit she slowly got up, piled her mattress and covers back onto the bed and went back to sleep herself.
***
"Where's Rinoa?" Squall demanded when he glimpsed Caraway, Zell, Julia and Hikari enter the meeting place, Galbadia garden.
"Sleeping." Caraway spat at the young knight.
"Up yours, old man …" Squall muttered incoherently.
Caraway's ears were aged but still sharp, "Excuse me?"
Zell smirked, "Gee father, that's twice this morning."
Three little men stumbled into the room. The three teenagers looked at them slightly amused and slightly confused on their sudden appearance.
"Jean!" Said the first and he bowed.
"Pierre!" Said the second and following the first, he bowed.
"Vincent!" Said the third and he too, took his turn to bow.
They all had the same accent. Almost like a foreign language on its own.
"They will be altering your images … so that you look more … normal." Laguna explained.
"Normal?" Selphie echoed, "Normal?"
The two guys burst out laughing, "NORMAL?" They wondered how they could be made to look normal by three little dwarves with foreign accents.
"Enough … to make you look more like nobles is what Laguna meant." Caraway said. "Now let's begin."
The little one named Pierre reached out for Squall's hand and started running, "Ah, oui, oui monsieur! We shall make you look all pretty."
"What the fuck?" Questioned Zell but he had no time to reflect for Jean was dragging him the opposite direction.
Squall followed the little gnome into the infirmary. But it didn't look like the infirmary at all, it looked like a hairdresser's salon.
"We shall cut your hair, oui, oui, oui, monsieur!" Said Pierre.
"There is no way a little shit like you is cutting my hair …"
"Not even to impress mademoiselle Rinoa?" Asked the gnome maliciously.
Squall stayed silent for a moment, "Rinoa likes my hair …" He said more to himself then to his attendant.
"Oh really … did mademoiselle Rinoa tell you so herself?" The gnome's ugly face twisted into a smile.
"Yes she did … when I was fucking her …" Squall said impatiently.
The little gnome smiled, "Mademoiselle Heartilly will like your new hair …"
Squall reluctantly sat down in the chair.
***
Squall spun around on the chair to look in the mirror. He gasped at what he saw. The hair that had taken so long to grow to his satisfied length was ruined. His sideburns had been shaved off, his bangs trimmed to his eyebrow level. The hair in the back of his head was cut short and shaved near the back of his neck. He looked like the typical rich boy.
"She won't like this …" He turned angrily to the gnome, "I don't like it!"
"Ah, oui, oui! You shall see, she will like it! Monsieur might get lucky with her again, oui, oui!!" Squealed the trollish figure. "Now, go meet the others!!"
Squall grudgingly got up from the chair and headed towards the directory. Zell was there and he also had his hair cut short. He also looked very displeased. Selphie, on the other hand, hadn't changed a bit. Obviously her hair was too short to be dealt with.
"Wow, so even gnomes can work miracles …" Sefeir sneered.
Squall looked as if he was going to say something but Michel Almasy intervened. "Just because they look like nobles it doesn't mean they are."
"Then what do you propose?" Questioned Caraway.
"A supper … if they can openly chat with the rest of us while following good table manners I will accept them for what they are by blood."
"Fine … done." Caraway declared. "I will teach Zell, Raine will teach Selphie and Laguna will inform Squall. They need at least some time for learning."
"Fine … done." Almasy mimicked but Caraway simply ignored him.
"No … Laguna isn't teaching me anything." Squall snapped, "Rinoa is going to teach me table manners."
Caraway laughed, "She's sleeping and it would be a miracle for you to get her up."
"Watch me …" Squall challenged.
"Fine … work your magic Leonheart." And he exited the directory motioning for Squall to follow him.
***
Caraway leaned on the doorframe of the door leading to his daughter's bedroom.
"Go ahead … teach me how to wake up my daughter …" Caraway mocked.
The rest of the crew had come along to watch. Julia was fairly curious on whether it mattered who woke up Rinoa. She'd be in a bad mood anyways. Squall pushed his way past Caraway and entered the room turning on the light.
"Do you not get the picture?" Rinoa shoved her face in the pillow. "Get out …"
"It's Squall …" He said shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Oh … ok …" She didn't show any signs of getting up.
"Rinoa can you get up, please?" He asked.
"No not really …" She responded her voice muffled by the pillow.
He was silent for a moment; "I need you to help me with something …"
"Later …" She replied.
"No we have a deadline to meet." He said, "Now come on."
"Go away …" She responded. "Tell who ever made the deadline to go fuck himself."
He turned around and faced Caraway and Michel, "You heard that gentlemen?"
Her head shot up from her pillow, "What are you all doing here?" She asked incredulously and then she looked at Squall and gasped, "What did you do to your hair?!"
"I'm going to kill that gnome!" Squall yelled.
"You should!" She replied.
"Are you getting up?" Caraway asked.
"Well I was going to but since you asked I'm going back to sleep." Rinoa responded.
"Rinoa, it's lunch time and I really have to meet this deadline."
"Then it sucks to be you!" She said shoving her head in her pillow once more.
"Please … baby-"He cut himself off and the added rapidly, "I mean … Rinoa. Please, help me."
"I'm tired …" She whined.
"Good luck." Caraway sneered at Squall and then left with the others.
"Please …" Squall continued to beg.
Rinoa slightly lifted her head from her pillow and whispered, "They're gone?"
"Yah, now please help me." He sat down at the feet of her bed.
"Why did you cut your hair …" Rinoa demanded to know.
"They wanted to make me more noble." Squall grimaced.
"Ugh …" She grunted. She stretched and yawned. "Get out …"
"What? You won't even help me?" He asked gently.
"Yes … but I'm not letting you watch me while I'm getting changed so get out. I'll be out in 30 minutes."
"It wouldn't have been anything I hadn't seen before …" He grinned.
"Out …" She repeated.
"Chh … fine …"He said and then he left.
Rinoa slowly got up and did her morning routine. Took her shower, brushed her teeth and got dressed. She opened her door and found Squall leaning against the wall.
"Ok …" He said, "Finally."
"First I'm hungry so we're gunna go eat." She stated and he sighed desperately.
She strode into the dining room and noticed that almost everyone had left. Only her mother, sister and brother remained.
"Miracles do happen …" Her father snickered behind his morning paper. She grabbed it away from him and folded it to a certain page.
"I was reading that …" He stated.
"I don't care …" She paced towards the kitchen and then added, "I'm reading it now …"
Squall pulled up a chair next to Zell and stared awkwardly at the dining room.
"Hey what is it you need help with anyways?" Rinoa came back into the room with a sandwich.
"Dining skills …" Squall said.
"Are you finished with the paper?" Caraway demanded.
"Oh, yah, I left it on the counter." She smirked.
The president roughly scowled and left the room to go to the kitchen.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"We aren't classified as nobles yet so we need to prove ourselves by knowing which fork it used for what …" Zell filled in a smiled.
Rinoa laughed, "That is so gay."
Hikari grimaced, "Yah it is …" Then she added quietly, "Rinoa, is it your birthday in three days?"
"Mhmm …" Rinoa responded. "Why?"
"Wondering …" Hikari seemed to turn all her attention back to her alphabet soup.
"Need anything?" Her mother asked from the end of the table.
"Yah, a gun."
Julia looked at her daughter oddly but Rinoa quickly cleared up the situation, "One that's quiet so I can shoot father without anyone knowing."
"If you're planning on killing me you could be more discreet." Caraway spat at his daughter before exiting the dining room.
She called after him, "Don't worry, it won't be anytime soon. But I would watch out if I were you … here's a hint; I booby trapped the study door!"
"Rinoa!" Her mother hissed.
"Oh come on, it would do us all a favor!" She replied. "Ok, let's go Squall, I'll teach you how to use the 85 forks."
***
Rinoa had laid out a plate with different types of utensils in the second study of the house.
"Ok … start from the inside going in. Put the napkin on your lap, sit up straight and look at people in the eye when speaking to them." She instructed.
"Don't drink to much wine and avoid the topic of anything cute, fuzzy or anything else relating to rabbits."
"Why?" He asked.
"Because you'll probably be eating it at some point during the evening."
"You people are sick …" Squall said disdainfully.
She smiled. "Anyhow. When someone offers you a cigar you take it, it's rude to refuse."
"Fancy seeing you with a cigar." Squall sneered.
"Women don't smoke." She laughed.
"No … if I understand right women are an object to satisfy sexual needs in the upper class world. I wonder how you got by. So you are sure you're a virgin, eh?"
"Shut up. Yes, I am a virgin." Then she added, "Was."
He laughed. "Ok … moving on."
***
He was dressed in black, formal pants and a white shirt. The tie made his feel as if he was choking. His hands in his pockets he observed the scene. Everyone was socializing but he had a bit more difficulty blending in.
"Hm, aren't you looking sharp." A soft voice made him turn around. He nearly fell over backwards.
She was wearing a beige dress that flattered her already attracting curves. "Woah …" he said stupidly.
"Close your mouth and stop looking at me like that." Rinoa rolled her eyes. Squall Leonheart straightened up, "Yah, that is so not your color …" He snickered. "If you'll allow me after the dinner to take it off for you I'd-"
"If you finish that sentence I will so kick you in the shin." She interrupted.
***
Finally everyone was seated. The whole council was there. Including their wives and children. It was quite a crowd.
Squall, to his dismay, sat next to his father and Sefeir. Making a mental note to kill the one who had planned out the seating arrangement he noticed that Rinoa was sitting nearly across from him.
The first course was served. Squall thought that whatever it was (some soup thing) looked like crap but he dissipated the thought and forced himself to eat it.
"So Leonheart, how would you say is your portfolio?" Sefeir's voice mocked.
"Portfolio?" Squall was totally at sea, "I would say … um …"
Rinoa came to the rescue, "You said you wanted to invest in the Dollet Communication Tower industry, did you not?"
"Uh … yah … I mean, yes!" Squall responded.
"I agree, that is definitely a keeper in your portfolio. It won't skyrocket but it will certainly go up slowly and you could make billions of gil." Kiros, one of the council treasurers spoke up.
"Oh definitely …" Another agreed.
Squall smiled at Rinoa from across the table. She smiled back, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"You know I have a feeling the medication industry might go up …" Sefeir said in an 'as-a-matter-a-fact' way.
"Oh yes, that's for sure. I'm going to get myself five bottles of aspirin tonight. I've got a head-ache just listening to you." Squall responded sharply.
The whole table went silent and suddenly Hikari burst out laughing next to her sister and couldn't control herself. This in turn made Rinoa start laughing and she had to cover her mouth with her hand to try to stop herself. Zell was at this point drinking and he started coughing and laughing. Selphie started giggling uncontrollably.
Some of the council members tried to hide their smiles. Rinoa looked at her knight as if to say, "Hyne, how can I not love you?" He just smiled back.
***
The cool air matched the blue sky dotted with stars. Caraway hastily entered Galbadia Garden and everyone followed except for Rinoa and Squall.
After dinner, the rest of the council had left but the three presidents and their families had gotten changed and made it key point to meet at Galbadia to discuss 'certain issues'. Actually, Michel Almasy was the one who had suggested it.
Squall pulled Rinoa towards him and kissed her softly. "I love you …" He whispered.
"I know …" She smiled and traced her finger along the edge of his face.
"That isn't the answer I anticipated." He said frowning.
She continued smiling, "I know …"
Squall raised an eyebrow, "So then?"
"We should go in …" She stated simply.
His heart sank even lower as he followed her inside. The three presidents seemed to be discussing important matters.
"You know, I'm sick of this." Michel stated. He walked up the stairs near the elevator and turned around to face them all.
"We end this now. The sorceress war, we end it now. I will not tolerate anything anymore. We end this now, we end this tonight." He hissed and drew out a katana.
Without warning Sefeir whipped out his gunblade and dashed at Squall whom in turn, took out his gunblade just in time to counter Sefeir's attack.
Michel Almasy darted towards Laguna who in turn also took out his weapon. Caraway totally seemed to be anticipating this and he took out his sword.
Rinoa barely had the notion of what was going on when Quistis cast a Thundaga spell aimed for her. Zell rapidly shielded Rinoa and in turn cast a Blizzaga spell on Sophie who had taken up the bow and arrow.
One arrow pieced Julia's arm. She screamed in pain and in turn cast Firaga on Sophie. Quistis kept shooting out random energy beams to anyone in her target line.
Deciding to act up before she was a bloody heap Rinoa dashed at Quistis avoiding the beams. She jumped up behind her and when Quistis took time to turn around Rinoa blasted her in the face.
Squall blocked Sefeir's onslaught of slashes. Sefeir powered up a Fira spell and this was unexpected on Squall's part. The fira spell hit dead on as he stumbled backwards. He attempted to get back up but Sefeir's gunblade slashed down at his face.
A sharp pain between his eyebrows. The metal contacted his nose. He felt blood stream down from the tip of his wound. The blade cut deeply into his skin and finally he felt the blade retreat.
He found the strength to stand up shakily. He looked at Sefeir in the eye, blood still flow down the middle of his face and he lunged his blade in the same swift movement as had made Sefeir.
He felt the blade pierce some skin and crimson blood gushed out. He couldn't hold onto his blade and it went flying back, hitting the floor with a clash. Everyone stopped their fight to see those of the two feuding knights.
Squall looked into the face of his rival. He felt the sharp pain across his nose and he knew it mirrored the one his enemy felt.
Sefeir gave into the pain and drew his hand over to his face. He let out a loud scream and turned around letting his gunblade fall to the ground with the same clash as its preceeding.
He fell to his knees cursing, "I'm going to kill you … I'm going to kill you." He whispered but then repeated it loudly, "I'm going to kill you!!!" He got up and faced Squall blood still emitting from his deeper wound. He saw that there would be no reason to attack.
Squall was taking deep breaths and you could tell his eyes were starting to go out of focus. He was shaking and sweat was beginning to form on his forehead.
Michel Almasy screamed, "So then one couple down!" And he jumped towards Squall his katana aimed.
Rinoa shouted, "No don't!"
Michel Almasy's concentration was broken and he landed a few feet away from Squall, "Will you be able to stop me Commander Heartilly?"
"Yes…"She said her voice shaking, "I will be able to stop you."
He laughed and she continued, her eyes glowing a bright red, "I will …" She outstretched her arms and opened her hands.
Michel continued laughing but he turned his back and headed for Squall who was backing up.
Rinoa closed her eyes, blood pounding in her ears. She felt her hands getting warmer and as if they were radiating some sort of energy.
Michel turned from Squall and looked towards Rinoa in horror.
She closed her eyes and let the power take over her mind and her body. Without even knowing so she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "Ultima …"
Michel Almasy screamed as loud as his lungs would allow but it was no use. Green flames of venom engulfed his body and he could feel his skin being peeled off, his organs disintegrating and his muscles melting off his bones.
Rinoa gave a small cry and collapsed on the floor. Squall did the same nearly twelve seconds later. Julia rushed to her daughter and Caraway stood in awe looking at the bubbling puddle that had once been Michel Almasy.
Sefeir, Sophie and Quistis just took off quickly and the Ragnarok's engine could be heard from the outside. They had fled.
James Caraway closed his eyes and ordered, "Someone get a doctor …"
***
Rinoa slowly opened her eyes. Her mind was awake already questioning her surroundings. Suddenly as if she remembered everything that had happened she jerked upright in the hospital bed and looked around. She decided she must be in the infirmary and her father was looking at her. Was that a worried glace he had just given her? Well, whatever type of glance it was it wasn't there anymore. He had replaced it with a cold, unforgiving stare.
"Awake?"
"Is Squall ok?" She blurted out without thinking twice.
"Oh yes, he's fine …" Sarcasm was detected from Caraway's tone.
"What happened?"
"Well you used at Ultima spell … you want to know how you achieved this spell?"
"Ok …" She answered slightly confused.
"Well, this spell is normally achieved when a virgin sorceress and her knight make love." Caraway responded coldly.
It struck her as a Thundaga spell. He knew … in fact everyone who had been present now knew. Well, maybe not Sefeir, he might have been slow on the pick-up.
"I … what?" She repeated. Maybe this was just a bad dream.
"Stop acting innocent, that pissed me off …" Her father snapped. "I can't believe you'd do such a goddamn stupid thing."
"I …" She tried to say but no words could come out.
"You … you …" Her father mimicked, "You fucked him!!"
"I had every right to …" She snapped out of her trace.
"Oh?" Caraway sneered.
"Yes, I did." She spat and she got up. When she was standing on her two feet she felt the far away dinner coming back up but she forced it back down. She tried to the best of her ability to stay standing by holding onto the bedside.
Her father stepped right in front of her, his eyes piercing into her own. "You like to tune everything out don't you? When something isn't going your way you just shut everything out."
"I've been doing that ever since I was able to talk and understand you, father …" She ridiculed.
She pushed her way past him into the doctor's office. Dr. Kadowaki quickly said, "You shouldn't be walking yet Ms. Heartilly you might-"
"Where is Squall?" She asked.
The doctor looked as if she was going to say something but then stated, "In the other room."
"Thank you …" And she walked into the neighboring room.
A tin scar went from his right eyebrow down across his nose to the other side of his face. She walked towards his bedside and notice he was still asleep.
She bit her lower lip and moved back from the bed. This seemed to sudden a movement for Squall's eye shot open. Then scanned the room and fell upon Rinoa.
"Are you ok?" He asked her.
"Are you?" She retorted.
He paused and slowly said, "Yah … I'm fine …"
She walked back over to him and examined the scar.
"My forehead hurts …" He said suddenly.
She smiled tearfully and leaned over to kiss him. When they drew apart he looked at her curiously and asked, "What did you do to M. Almasy?"
"I don't know …" She whispered hoarsely.
There was a short silence between the two and then she added awkwardly, "You know, I love you …"
"Yah, I know …" He said.
She smiled and mimicked, "That isn't the answer I anticipated."
He grinned back, "I know …"
"And so?" She asked though she already knew the answer.
"And so I love you too …"
Sammy: Yaay, another chappy, another chappy. Ahem … I'm ok. So yah, there probably will be another chapter before the week-end is over so I would really appreciate it if you reviewed this chapter and the other one INDIVIDUALLY … PLEASE … I know some people are still going to only review once so I don't know why I bother. Why does no one care about authors comments? Curse you all … *mutters some more and then walks off*