Part 2
The morning sun cast light warm rays through the window and rested on Raine's face. Her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. There was a trace of a smile still left on her lips and Laguna smiled as he took one last look at her before walking out of the door to start his patrol…
Raine woke to find Laguna had gone. She got up and began to clear away the bowl of water and the bandages from the night before. She smiled to herself as she remembered the feeling she got when he said she was the one. She couldn't be happier than she was now.
She looked around and wandered how Laguna was doing on his patrol. She wondered how many cuts and bruises she would have to patch up this evening. She went downstairs and began to tend to her flowers. Her white orchids were her favourite. She breathed their scent in deeply and gazed at them. She picked a few and carried them upstairs to place in a vase.
Flowers filled her shop downstairs. From roses to blueberries. She loved them all. Each flower was carefully tended and she was famous in Winhill for her flowers.
Laguna however was famous for getting into trouble with his monster patrol. Raine just couldn't figure out why the people of Winhill didn't like Laguna. He was only trying to be nice. Why couldn't they see his sweet kind personality? His heart was in the right place. She smiled and laughed to herself at the thought of him living a simple life and trying to run a shop. With that thought she gathered a new delivery of flowers in her basket and wandered outside and down the road to visit an old lady who adored her flowers almost as much as she did.
A Blizzard attack smashed Laguna to the floor. He stood up and blasted the damned creature with his machine gun and watched it slump to the ground with a look of triumph! He looked at the old lady as she watched behind her shop window. Just as the monster slumped to the floor he heard the cheery voice of Raine. Grinning stupidly he turned around and waved his arms in victory.
Laughing she saw that once again, a large gash was on his chest. She ran up to him and scolded him "look at your chest! When you've finished cheering you can wait for me to give these to Mrs Carotene and then we can returned to the shop for me to patch you up…again!" She grinned and flounced into the shop. Laguna sat in the road and started to sulk mumbling "…ruin my victory…in front of everyone…my chest hurts…"
Raine looked at Laguna on the journey back, head bent and scuffing his feet. "Please cheer up, it makes me sad when you look like that"
He carried on. She tried again
"I didn't mean to sound like that. I was only playing."
He looked up at her and smiled, she looked at him and he pulled her into a hug. "Got cha didn't I?"
She poked him and laughed, "you really got me worried! I don't want to fall out with you so soon!"
He winced and then she realised where she'd poked him "…oh! I'm sorry!" He smiled weakly and they carried on until they reached Raines home to repeat what they had done a thousand times before and would probably do a thousand times again.
The next day began like the first; the morning air was warm yet it had a crisp edge to it that meant change was on the wind. Laguna was wandering round Winhill with the same stupid grin plastered on his face that had been there for a month. Raine had a silly smile too that appeared every now and then. It was not as obvious as Laguna's but it was there. People had begun to notice and had put two and two together. Raine and Laguna were a couple and people were pleased. Raine was the happiest the village had ever seen and Laguna was beginning to be less clumsy around Winhill. They hated to say it but Laguna was beginning to grow on them.
This morning Laguna waited for Raine outside her shop. She opened the door to find Laguna, clumsily holding out a bunch of white orchids for her grinning proudly as for once in his life he had done something which he had thought up himself and needed no hints. Laughing, Raine took them and breathed them in deeply. She kissed Laguna's cheek and laughed as she saw him blush a deep crimson, then she danced into her shop and put then in her window, centre of her display and proudly showed them to the world.
Hand in hand they wandered down the road to the nearby shop and bought a few simple items, nothing much but it was enough for them. And then it happened.
Wandering down the path confused and lost was a little girl. She tripped over in front of Laguna and Raine and began to cry. Raine looked at Laguna with her large eyes and Laguna's heart melted. He gently picked the little girl up and carried her to Raine's house.
By the time they reached her little shop, the small girl was only making little snuffling noises and the tears had stopped running down her cheeks. She needed to be cleaned up though, she had a snotty nose and her eyes were red and puffy from crying. Her cheeks were tear stained and her knee was bleeding from where she knocked it. Raine took one look at her knee and smiled at her. In a bright voice she told her "awww don't worry. We'll patch you up. You'll be fine; your leg won't fall off! Ask my friend here, I'm an expert when it comes to patching up people!" and with a grin she walked inside. The girl looked up at Laguna and smiled when he tried to look brave. He sighed and grinned. "Great, everyone laughs when I try to look impressive, why do I bother?" And with that he took her inside.
When Laguna finally reached the small house about the shop, Raine was busy getting together a bowl of warm water, a flannel, some tissue and a large plaster. Laguna sat the girl down on his usual chair and went to talk to Raine.
"I wonder how she got here?"
Raine gave Laguna a look "does it matter? The poor girl is upset and lost. Let's just worry about here and now rather than how she got here"
Laguna looked at her, knowing what she was thinking "But what about the poor girl's family?"
Raine turned away and busied herself with the water "Well if they cared for her in the first place she wouldn't be here. We're her family"
He turned her around "You know that's not true. What happens if her family come looking for her? You know we would have to give her back."
She looked at him "she's a child, not an object. Look at her, you can't tell me you don't feel anything for her."
He looked at her and when she looked in his green eyes with her own large brown eyes his heart melted. He had to admit she had grown on him already. He looked back at Raine "ok ok, I admit I would miss her too." She looked at him and he gave in "Ok we will look after. But when her family come looking for her we have to give her back" Raine smiled at him and gave him a large hug before kissing him lightly. Then, with a look of triumph, she danced into the room with the bowl of water and bandages and went and sat on the floor next to the little girl. Laguna followed and sat on another chair nearby. The little girl was watching him intently until Raine began to talk to her.
"Right, lets get you cleaned up!" and with that she dipped the flannel in the water and began to gently wipe the girls face. After a moment or two the girl took it from her and started to wipe her face herself. Raine gave Laguna a grin that meant, "see? She catches on fast, I think she likes me!" and with that she went to clean up the little girls knee. However as soon as she touched it the little girl drew back her knee and she looked as if she was about to cry. Laguna saved Raine just in time though. He knelt down beside the little girl and whispered in her ear "She does that to me too. I'm brave and don't cry. If you're as brave as me I promise to buy you some chocolate from the shop nearby!" And he took the girls hand and gave it a little squeeze and smiled. It seemed that the prospect of some free chocolate did the trick and not a single whimper was heard from the girl until Raine smiled "all done!"
The small girl looked up at Laguna and gestured for him to bend his head. He did so and in a small voice she said, "umm…can i…have my chocolate…please?"
Laguna laughed and looked at her. "I never go back on a promise" he said and he smiled at Raine, "excuse us". And with that he took the small girls hand and they disappeared out of the door, to appear five minutes later with Laguna and the girl bearing sticky smiles. Raine put her hands on her hips and laughed, "what am I ever going to do with you Laguna Loire? I clean this girl up and within five minutes she's covered in chocolate!" She looked at them then grinned "well? Where's my bit?"
Later that evening, when the little girl was tucked up asleep, Laguna and Raine were sitting in Raines shop with a small bottle of wine between them and they began to talk.
"I found out the name of the little girl at the shop. Her names Ellone."
Raine took a sip from her glass "Ellone… such a sweet name"
Laguna smiled "such a sweet kid"
She poked him and smiled "I told you she'd grow on you"
He pulled her into a hug "but not as much as you. You know I love you don't you?"
She smiled "of course I do, but what about Ellone?"
"She could live with me and in the day come round here and help out with the flowers"
Raine hugged him tightly "That's a great idea! You never cease to amaze me"
He kissed her and grinned, "I know."
The next morning Laguna woke up to find Ellone poking him and smiling. He sat up and smiled at her. "Well good morning, and how are you today?"
The little girl laughed at grabbed Laguna's hand in an attempt to pull him up.
"Come on Uncle Laguna! Isn't it time to find monsters yet?"
Laguna laughed and hauled himself up. He then looked at Ellone and picked her up so she was eye level. "Most of the monsters I fight are too big for you, I'd be too worried you'd get hurt and then I could get hurt"
Ellone looked like she was about to cry…
"But there's a small road near here where a tiny chicobo runs by, if you like we can stop there and we can meet the little guy?"
Ellone's mouth broke into a wide grin, for she had never seen one of those before.
Laguna put Ellone on his shoulders and went out the door "alright then, once I've done a bit of monster patrolling, we'll go see that chicobo!" He put her down and crouched down "I'll have to report to you after every patrol yeh?"
Ellone jumped in the air and cried out "yes!!" and ran into Raines open arms. She had seen it all and laughed. "Hello there!" She stood up and smiled at Laguna "and hello to you too!"
Laguna smiled "so I've finally been noticed!" He wandered over and winked to Ellone "Laguna Loire reporting for duty!"
Raine gave him a puzzled look until he mouthed the words "monster patrol" and then it all clicked. She gave him a look of authority and said, "Well Sir Laguna Loire, you may start your patrol and I expect a report on your return!" She had to stifle a laugh as he bowed to her and began to march down the road. Raine and Ellone watched him until he disappeared out of sight and then went into the shop for some ice cream and to start sorting some bunches of flowers for some orders.
Laguna wandered down the path with a slight strut. He knew his two favourite women were watching him and he wanted to look like a true hero. With his trusty machine gun on his shoulder and a huge grin on his face he turned and waved at them, to be met with a confused and dazed little chicobo looking up at him. He sighed and stroked it where it jumped up and scuttled off, leaving him with a handful of yellow feathers and a phoenix down potion. It seemed to just get better and better. He put the potion in his pocket and continued on his way, while a small pair of eyes watched him from some nearby bushes…
"Now where has she got to? Ellone? Ellone!" Raine was searching high and low but Ellone was nowhere to be found. "I have some more ice-cream if you want it?" She had searched all over the shop and upstairs and now she was at a loss. Where was she?
And then she remembered.
"Come on Uncle Laguna! Isn't it time to find monsters yet?"
Slowly realisation came into her eyes and she dashed out of the shop and ran down the road. She saw Laguna in the distance, battling some bug oblivious to the fact that Ellone was behind him…
Wham! The bite bug hit Laguna and created a small cut to his arm. He wasn't too bothered. The Bite bug tried to use break magic but he dodged it. He thought that was it, until he heard a scream.
He began to panic as he spun round, and his panic slowly turned into horror as he saw the whole scene in slow motion.
There, just behind him, stood Ellone. She had wanted to see him fight so she had followed him. She stood in terror as the attack sped towards her. It seemed she was going to be hit. That was, until Raine appeared.
Raine had screamed and jumped in front of Ellone, and the attack hit her full on. Her body froze, her mouth open in a silent scream and her eyes open wide at Laguna. He fell to his knees in tears and then the bite bug attacked him again.
Thinking of Raine he turned around and passion filled his eyes and filled his heart. He blasted the damned creature with his machine gun and watched it fall to the ground. Then he turned back to Ellone and Raine.
The people of Winhill saw Laguna running to the nearest shop. Much to the surprise of the shopkeeper, who had never seen him in such a state.
"Help I need something…Raine…trouble…bite bug…battle…break"
The shopkeeper stopped Laguna where he stood. "Wait, now what happened to put you in such a state Laguna?" As soon as the words slipped out the shopkeeper knew something must have happened to Raine.
Laguna caught his breath "I was battling, and Ellone had sneaked behind me. The monster had used break and I dodged it but it was gonna hit Ellone. Raine jumped in front of her and got hit. I need a soft please!!"
The shopkeeper hurriedly picked up a bottle and ran with him to where Raine stood, her expression fixed and Ellone stood next to her, clinging to her leg and sobbing. Laguna took the bottle and opened it. He went over to Raine and tenderly stroked her cheek. Then he tipped the potion bottle so a few drops landed on her lips and then he stood back and waited.
Slowly the colour returned to Raines cheeks and finally she blinked, looking confused and dazed she saw Laguna and collapsed. Luckily he caught her before she hit the floor and he just looked at her smiling. He picked her up, and promising the shopkeeper he would return to pay him, he carried Raine home, with Ellone clutching at his leg following.