Sammy-Chan: As promised, here is the second update for this weekend. I worked very hard on this chapter so I honestly hope you enjoy it. Thank you very much for all your reviews. Keep 'em coming, hee hee hee!
~Chapter 21: Happy Birthday …~
"I want you to demission from your commander post at the garden!" Spat her father, "I want you dismissed from the position on the council."
Rinoa stood, patiently taking all this in. She didn't speak, she didn't move. She just grit her teeth and swallowed the anger.
"In fact, you're old enough! Get out of my house!" He yelled. With a swift movement of his arm he smashed a nearby flower vase.
He tried to continue his speech but found nothing else to say. He growled and kicked his desk. She just stared at him calmly. This made him uneasy. He felt as if he was a caged animal and his daughter was examining him through the bars of the prison.
He yelled out in frustration at her responses that never came and he pounded his fists on the table like an angry gorilla that wanted his banana.
"You are pissing me off …" He snarled.
She still didn't respond. "Get out!" He roared and he pointed to the study door. She did as she was told. She calmly left the study shutting the door behind her. Then, as if reconsidering her move she opened it again and slammed it shut sending the nearby portrait crashing to the ground.
Caraway kicked over a small coffee table and smashed one of his fists to the wall. Why did she do this to him? Why had she done this? She had chosen the opposite path that he had set out for her. Why did she fall in love?
***
Hikari sat in her room with Zell incapable of not listening to the feud downstairs. Zell picked up a nearby teddy bear and seemed in deep concentration for half a second. He tossed the teddy bear back to its original spot.
"I'm scared …" Whispered Hikari.
Zell tried to cheer up the little girl, "Don't worry … Rinoa'll be fine."
"I hate daddy …" She said quietly, "I hate him."
"Don't … you shouldn't hate him." Zell lied, "You … shouldn't hate your father."
"I have every right to." She said tears rolling down her chubby cheeks, "I have every right to hate my father."
Julia popped into the room suddenly. "Are you all ok?"
"No." Hikari said weakly, her voice shaking. "I am not ok … I bet he doesn't even remember that Rinoa's birthday is tomorrow. I bet you he doesn't even care."
Julia sighed, "Hikari, you have to understand that your father-"
"Why should I understand? He never understands himself. He doesn't want to understand!" Her voice was rising, "He doesn't understand! He never adapts to anyone's choices! We always have to adjust to his choices, his decisions and his rules!"
The two other figures stayed silent, "I'm sick of it!" Her voice became shriller, "I hate him! I hate him!"
Her small voice carried out to the study where Caraway was leaning against his desk for support. He was shaking uncontrollably. A solitary tear ran down his left cheek as he covered his face with his hands.
***
Rinoa tossed and turned in her bed. She couldn't sleep and couldn't help the thoughts that ran through her head. First thing in the morning she would go to Galbadia Garden to sign her papers of demission. That is what her father, the president of Galbadia wished, and for once she was going to listen.
She glanced at the clock. 5:30 A.M. It had been the 3rd of March 5 hours and 30 minutes ago. She doubted anyone cared. She doubted anyone remembered. She was now eighteen, a young sorceress without a job and without a house.
Scuttling could be heard from the far end of her bed. She turned her head nervously to see who it was. She breathed a sigh of relief, for it was only her sister.
"Are you awake?" The meek little voice asked.
"Yeah …"She replied, "Come …"
The 7 year-old jumped atop of the bed and took her place near her sister. "Are you going away?"
"Maybe …"Rinoa responded.
"Happy birthday." Whispered Hikari.
"Thanks." Rinoa smiled slightly.
Rays of sunlight began to stream into the areas that the blinds couldn't cover. The room glowed a certain gold.
"I made you a card … all by myself. I drew it and wrote everything on my own." Hikari said proudly and she presented her sister with a folded blue piece of construction paper. An enormous cake with 10 candles on it ornamented the cover page along with a "Happy Birthday" in pink bubble letters.
Rinoa opened the card and read, "Happy birthday to the greatest sister." Two figures were drawn wearing birthday hats.
"Thank you, Hikari …" Rinoa whispered, "Thanks a lot …"
"Your welcome … I worked on it when-" Hikari didn't have time to finish her sentence, the mattress was tipped over and with a 'Woah!', Rinoa and Hikari found themselves on the floor with a mattress on top of them.
A snicker could be heard and the mattress was lifted up. "Didn't think you could keep the party for yourselves, did ya?" Zell smiled and helped both girls up.
"That's twice this week!" Rinoa picked up a pillow and began hitting Zell over the head with it.
Roooar!!" Hikari squealed as she tackled Zell onto the replaced mattress. Zell yelped out as he tumbled onto the bed. Rinoa shoved the pillow onto his face and got up.
"I surrender!" Came the muffled voice of Zell.
"Damn straight!" Hikari stuck out her tongue at her older brother.
Zell sighed, "So, you still up for the beer?" He looked at Rinoa smiling.
"Hah … no!" She laughed.
Zell pitched the pillow back to her and then said, "I got ya something."
Rinoa caught the pillow and looked at Zell surprised, "You didn't have to."
"I know …" He said simply, "But I wanted to …" He pointed to a small box on her dresser, "You can't open it though."
"Why not?" She asked, confused.
"Not until this whole war thing is over. You can't open it." He smiled.
"Says who I'll survive the war?" She asked.
"Well, I've promised myself that I'd kill Quistis, Squall is onto Sefeir. So there isn't much left for you to do."
"What's Quistis done to you?" She chuckled.
"She looks like Barbie. I've always expressed unusual hatred for those things."
Rinoa laughed, "Yah … whatever."
Hikari grinned, "So Rinoa can't open it?" She referred to the package.
"Nope …" Zell responded.
"Then can I?" Hikari persisted.
Zell pinched her cheek and beamed at her, "Nope!"
"Aw!" Hikari whined.
"I'm going to go take a shower before the greedy son-of-a-bitch takes all the hot water." Zell smiled, "Love ya!"
He left the room. Hikari gave her sister a quick hug. "I'm going to go back to sleep." She yawned at left her sister alone once again.
Rinoa piled her covers on her bed once more. She picked up Hikari's card and observed it for a minute or so. She strode to her dresser and put the card next to the parcel.
She slowly walked to the bathroom and decided on taking her shower as well. Then sooner she would be out of the house, the better. She wondered on how to slink out of the house remaining unnoticed by her father and mother. It would be so much simpler like this.
***
Dressed in denim jeans with a light blue, hooded sweater she poked her head out of the bedroom door. Tiptoeing along the desolate hallways she made her way to the kitchen, listening for any sounds of life in the household.
She heard Zell in his bedroom beginning to shave with his electric razor. That was it. She entered the kitchen cautiously and took out a mug from a cupboard. Pouring herself a cup of coffee she scanned the counter for the morning paper.
It was neatly stacked near the sink. The feeling a realization struck her. Someone had already been here before her. The coffee was made and the newspaper had been brought in so obviously she was retracing someone's steps.
Her mother emerged from the dining room, "Ah your up."
There goes a discreet escape. She thought. "Yah I am."
"Yes I am." Her mother corrected. "Yeah, yah and yea aren't part of noble vocabulary."
"Don't start." Rinoa pleaded while drinking her coffee.
"You're retreating from your post in the council and you're giving up the position of commander at Galbadia garden." Her mother paused for a moment and continued, "So basically, what you've thrived on for nearly ten years of your life … you're giving it away. Love makes you do stupid things."
"No. It was an undeviating request from the president of Galbadia. I simply follow his wishes." She said with mock sincerity.
Her mother smiled, "I see."
"I'm glad you do." She finished off her coffee and added before leaving the kitchen, "Bye mom."
She headed out towards the train station. There she would take the train to Galbadia garden where she would sign the stupid papers and then … well, after that she didn't know what she would do.
It was a chilly morning and she wished she had thought of wearing her jacket. Paying her fee for her ticket she entered what she thought to be an empty compartment.
"Oh sorry." She said when she noticed a young lady was already occupying it.
"Well, well, if it isn't the commander of Galbadia garden." A familiar voice said with amusement.
"Selphie?" Rinoa asked incredulously.
"Duh. Who else d'you think it was? Mother Goose?"
Rinoa sat on the opposite of her best friend and smiled. "You could pass for her. How did you know I was going to be on the train?"
"Simple. I'll tell you the whole truth. We can read your thoughts. The whole world can and you've been devising the plan for today since last night. So now the whole entire world knows your time table for the day."
"Ha ha … funny." Rinoa grimaced. "Now seriously."
"No, I am serious. I can so read your thoughts. Think of a number from 1 to 100."
"Ok …" Rinoa thought.
"Its number 36." Selphie guessed.
"75 but close enough." Mocked Rinoa.
"Oh shut up!" Selphie snapped, "I knew that … I just wanted to fool you."
"Sure you did." Rinoa laughed.
An odd silence followed between the girls. Selphie broke it by saying, "Happy birthday."
"Thank you …" Rinoa smiled weakly.
"Here …" Selphie pulled something out of her pocket, "I didn't wrap it because my family states that 'scotch tape' is below them."
She dropped the small object into Rinoa's hand. It was a small golden ring that glinted against the morning sun.
"Woah …" Rinoa said.
"Consider it a friendship ring. Wear it on your necklace." Selphie replied.
"Thanks Selphie." Rinoa spoke quietly.
"No problem …" She gazed out of the window. "Getting off at Galbadia Garden station?"
"Yup …" Rinoa said. "Why?"
"I'm going to get off there too … I want to get all my stuff from my dorm. I'm leaving the garden."
"Why?" Rinoa asked a tad bit shocked.
"Without you as commander I refuse to stay there. That news made it around the world pretty quickly, I'm not kidding."
"My demise hasn't even been official." Rinoa argued.
"Yah but everyone knows you can use the Ultima spell."
"Oh wonderful!" Rinoa spat sarcastically. "I imagine there's about 7 billion reporters awaiting my arrival at the station?"
"I doubt it. They already have the whole story."
"What? By who?"
"Centra made it their duty to open their mouths. You killed their president you know. So they're after the skin on your ass."
"That's an aspiring thought …"
"Not literally …" Selphie laughed.
"Hyne, I hope not …" Rinoa joined in laughing.
"Galbadia Garden Station, we have arrived at Galbadia Garden Station." The voice came on the PA.
***
Selphie was right, the station was completely deserted. The girls walked across the academy campus and entered the building through the front gates.
Rinoa noticed, when she entered the directory that the mess of Almasy had been cleaned up to a veritable spotlessness. A group of SeeDs passed by her and paused to look at her.
"Commander?" They addressed her formally, still.
"Yeah?" She turned around.
"You are leaving, correct?" One asked solemnly.
She nodded slowly and added, "Yah …"
"We are too …" Said another, they saluted her formally and picked up their travel trunks, leaving the barren academy behind.
"You know, you're respected here. I don't know why you're leaving."
"A humble request from the president." Rinoa filled in.
"Ah …" Selphie stayed silent.
***
Rinoa printed and filled all the information that the papers required. Selphie had left her to pack her things in her dorm.
Rinoa signed all the papers without reluctance and then began to wonder what she would write in her dismissal letter.
Dearest assholes, I have left because my bastard of a father asked me to. Had I the opportunity I'd blow your heads off but then I'd sink to your level.
No that wouldn't work, she thought to herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her office door. She was in no mood for visitors so she replied, "I'm busy."
The guest let himself in anyways and yelled out, "Happy birthday!!"
This startled her and her head shot up from her papers.
"Squall don't do that!" She yelled, "You scared me."
He grinned whole-heartedly. "That was the point."
She rolled her eyes, "Really …"
He leisurely walk towards her desk and leaned forwards, "So aren't you curious to what I got you?"
She raised an eyebrow, "What? A case of 24?"
He pondered this, "That would have been a good idea."
She rolled her eyes, slightly amused. He continued, "But I got you something. I got you two things. One thing you get now. The second thing you're getting at 9 o'clock tonight."
"Oh really? At nine? I'm guessing no one else will be present at this time."
He smirked, "No, what you're thinking about I'm going to be giving you at 10 o'clock. At 9 your sister, Selphie and Zell will be present."
"Oh?" She inquired.
"Anyways … get up." He said.
"Why?"
"Just get up." So she did. She stood up and awaited Squall.
He contoured the desk and faced her. "Ok …" He said. "Now …close your eyes."
"This is ridiculous."
"Close your eyes …" He said impatiently.
She did as she was told. Then he kissed her. While doing this he took her left hand and slipped something metallic around her rig finger.
Feeling this she backed away and looked at her hand in awe. Marriage proposition? Was he insane?
"Squall, this is-" She couldn't finish her sentence.
"Preposterous?" He asked in a mocking snobbish way. "I'm not really, formally proposing. Just keep it. I'll do it more fashionably when your 23. When this is all over."
She laughed, "Ok …"
"You should wear it around your necklace for now. Wouldn't want your dad to freak out or anything."
"Yah good idea …"She smiled. She observed the piece of metal. It was silver-like with a tiny lion engraved on the outside. She undid her necklace and slipped the ring. It collided with Selphie's making a slight 'ting'.
Squall resumed kissing her. He put his hands around her waist. She kissed back and placed her hands on his chest.
It wasn't the ideal scene for President Caraway as he strode into his daughter's office, not at all expecting Leonheart to be there.
"What the hell?" He demanded.
The couple pulled apart abruptly and looked bewildered at Caraway's interruption.
He looked at them, appalled at such a scene, "Get the hell out." He looked at Squall viciously.
Fire blazed in the young knight's eyes, "Not that I owe you any respects."
"Yes you do owe me respects. I just walked in on you kissing my daughter. You owe me respect and you'd better believe it. Now out!" Caraway snapped.
Squall grit his teeth and look towards Rinoa; "See you later." He said and left the office.
Caraway walked to Rinoa's desk and looked at the dismissal papers.
"I was working on those." Rinoa said bitterly.
"I don't care." He mimicked her from the paper incident from a dew days ago.
"I know." She said defiantly.
"What?" He snapped once more.
"I said I know. You never really have cared when it came to me."
"Sit your ass down." He ordered.
"I don't feel like it."
"Sit your ass down!" He yelled.
She sat obediently. He tossed the papers back at her and opened his mouth to say something but shut it again. He did this about five or six times until she finally said. "Ok, spit it out, I'll read it!"
He pounded his fists on the table and yelled at her, "Why do you keep doing this?"
"Doing what?" She yelled back and she stood up once again to face him.
"Acting as if I'm the worst father!"
"Wake up dad!" She snapped her fingers inches away from his face, "You are the worst father!"
She immediately regretted saying so. This was not true. He wasn't the worst dad. She had never realized it before until the words had finally left her mouth. She remembered, when she was around eight years old, her father promised her he would get her on the council.
Ten years ago, she had gotten along with her father. He used to come home and she would run up to him and hug him tightly. He would tell her all about his day. She would rave on about what she had learnt that day.
Ten years ago, father and daughter had gotten along.
Her father seemed to be choking on his words. Not out of anger, not out of hate but out of compassion. "You know I don't do this on purpose, Rinoa?"
She just looked at him and he continued, "I don't … mean to be like this." He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, "I'm sorry."
"When you were born …" He spoke slowly, quietly and evenly. "You were the most beautiful baby ever. You know that? I was so proud to be your father. I still am. You've grown up to be a beautiful young lady. Even though I …"
He stifled a cry, "I hate the way you act, I hate your attitude, I hate the decisions you make and I hate your goddamn boyfriend … you're still my little girl and I love you more then anything." He nodded and continued, "I thought you should know that."
He turned around and added, without looking at her, "Happy birthday Rin." He walked to the door and shut it quietly behind him.
"I love you too … dad." She whispered.
Sammy-Chan: 11:50 PM, Saturday! I'm DONE! I have updated twice this weekend! Bow down and sign praises to me!! *Tumble weed silence flows by* Aw, curse you all. Anyhow. This is by far my best chapter. I have unleashed the vault of emotion on you all!! I hope you were a little touched by that … were you? God I hope so!! R&R!! Thank you all, see you next week!!