Ch. 5
Some Fish Get Away
Seifer had officially been a SeeD for three months now. He had quickly become one of the highest ranking and largest assets to Balamb garden.
On a weekend that the two gunblade specialist had time off they decided to take a nice fishing trip together in Balamb. Get away from the stresses that surrounded them. They rented a small boat and early one morning they set off from the Balamb shore.
Once they had paddled a good ways into the large body of water the young men took out their fishing poles and cast them into the great blue unknown.
The two at first talked about Seifer's first couple of missions. They apparently hadn't caused him any difficulties. Then again according to Seifer nothing ever did.
After awhile their conversation began to fade away. The quiet crisp air and the gentle ocean waves were the only sound that remained.
Silence, despite how much he said he wanted it, was never a good thing with Squall. It allowed him to think and Squall hated it when his thoughts were allowed to roam, because they always went to one person.Rinoa.
Memories of past's times together toyed with Squall's mind. One particular event had suddenly popped into his troubled head while sitting in that tiny boat. It was the night that the garden was celebrating their victory over Ultimicia. Everyone else was out mingling, but Squall and Rinoa were alone. They stood on the Balamb garden balcony looking out into the stars.
The night sky sparkled with thousands of lights each representing a new hope to Squall. Each unknown and alone, but still showed brightly never giving into the darkness that surrounded them.
Squall broke his attention from the beauty above and looked at the one right next to him.
He never thought anyone could affect him the way Rinoa Heartilly had. She had not only pierced his heart but his very soul. Her warm soulful eyes pierced his own, her bright smile lifted his spirit, her very being brought Squall joy that he never dreamed he could every feel.
With his eyes only on Rinoa he saw her slender finger trace across the night sky as a star shot across it mimicking the first time they ever met.
Squall smiled widely, it had been a long time since he had smiled like that. He was rewarded with the sight of seeing Rinoa's face light up.
Grasping the courage he felt at the moment before it fleeted away he took one of Rinoa's hands in his own putting his spare around her waist. The two closed in and their lips connected. To be so close to Rinoa made his heart flutter, he thought for a brief moment that it was just going to fly right out of his chest.
They pulled apart gazing into each other's eyes. Squall thought he should say something tell her how he felt.
"Rinoa"- he began but stopped when he felt one of Rinoa's fingers on his lips.
"I don't need the words," she told him "I can see and feel them."
Squall smiled again. God, how in the name of Shiva did he get lucky enough to meet her.
With a returning smile from Rinoa the two went to continue their kiss-
"Squall, earth to Squall."
Squall suddenly stirred from his day dream.
"Welcome back, now if you don't mind I could use a little help!"
Squall saw Seifer's pole being almost bent in half. He joined hold of the fishing pole and tugged with Seifer against the opposing creature.
After a long tedious battle Squall and Seifer came out the victors pulling up the end of the line. Squall quickly grabbed the net and scooped up the ocean's creation. It was a gigantic fish with a fin the size of his shoe. The scales were colorful almost like a blurry rainbow. Squall lifted the net and set the fish into the boat.
"Well Seifer that sure is one big ass fish."
"What the hell am I going to do with it!?" Seifer asked him flabbergasted.
"You're going to have to put it back."
"Squall are you crazy this is a once in a life time catch!?"
"Then what are you going to do about it?"
Seifer looks hard at the fish. It seriously looked like giving up the fish was the hardest thing that Seifer ever had to do. Suddenly his face lights up and he starts to look from the fish to Squall. A glint grows in Seifer's eyes and before Squall could react Seifer shoves him into the ocean.
Squall felt the cold waves splash over him. He struggled to the surface of the water plowing his arms through its force. When he reached the surface he let the air circulate in his lungs before he screamed at Seifer.
"What the hell was that for!?"
"It's either you or the fish Squall and I'm not about to let this beauty get away."
"So what am I suppose to do SWIM back to shore?"
"It's not that far," Seifer told him picking up the oars and starting to paddle away.
"Come on Seifer," Squall called after his friend, but Seifer didn't stop he just kept moving farther and farther away from Squall. So without any other choice Squall started to swim to shore.
It didn't take long for him to catch up with Seifer, but it did take some effort to stay on pace with the tiny boat. As Squall swam along he listened to Seifer rant on about this and that.
"You know the troubles in Timber are boiling again. I really wish Cid would send some damn SeeD's out there. If he sent me and you out there Squall we would have everything taken care of in one day flat."
Squall too exhausted from swimming didn't comment, but his mind began twirling. Rinoa wouldn't stand by and watch what was going on in Timber. She would most defiantly go out there and do something about it. Freeing Timber was always one of her goals. Squall actually felt quite obligated to accomplish that goal, but what was he suppose to do if he wasn't sent out there?
Getting too tired to think about it Squall continued to listen to Seifer.
"You know Emma; she's working for Timber's liberation." From that point Seifer went on with compliments. "God she's amazing, she's smart, funny, beautiful, determined. I really like her Squall."
Squall remembered the first time he met Emma a few months ago. He actually hadn't seen her since, but Seifer would mention her from time to time. Although Squall never understood where Seifer got the time to go visit her since she lived all the way in Timber, but being who he was Squall never bothered to ask.
"I think this can be really going somewhere buddy."
"Great," Squall gasped his body ready to sink.
"Do you think she's good for me?"
Was she good for him? Squall didn't know why Seifer was even asking him, especially right now when he was on the verge of death.
Squall never answered Seifer's question because land for the first time was coming into view. Squall made a push for it concentrating his very being on just making it to that beach. It was kind of nice for once not worrying about anything else.
When Squall made it to the beach he collapsed into the sand not caring that its little pieces were sticking to his skin causing it to itch. He was just grateful to be out of the water.
Seconds later Seifer's boat made it to shore. Seifer hopped out of the boat slapping his hands together.
"Can you give me a hand getting this fish out Squall?
Squall would have punched him if he had the strength, instead when Seifer's back was turned he gave him the middle finger. Seifer taking notice that Squall was in no shape to help started to lift the fish out himself.
It seemed to be quite the struggle. The fish twist and turned all the while Seifer let out a steady stream of cursing. He finally had gotten the gigantic fish out of the boat. Seifer had a triumphant look on his face when the fish gave one last wiggle slipping out of Seifer's grasp and landing in the ocean where he wasted no time in swimming away.
Squall spent his gained energy rolling in laughter while Seifer's cursing continued to make even drunken sailors cover their ears.
Eventually with only their poles in their hands the two trudged their way back to the garden. Seifer had defiantly been in better moods.
It wasn't until they were almost back at the garden when Seifer asked the question that he had asked before.
"Do you think Emma's good for me?"
Squall truly didn't know how to answer that question. Only the person actually asking the question can truly answer it. So the fact that Seifer was even asking him led Squall to believe maybe she wasn't. Squall never did any questioning with Rinoa.
"Do you think she is?" Squall finally asked him.
"I don't know. She's absolutely perfect and I love being with her, but.shouldn't there be more to it then that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Shouldn't I feel a clear cut answer if she's the one or not?"
"Not necessarily, at least not at first. Sometimes you have to look deeper within a person, see their heart and let them see yours in return."
Seifer breaks out in a fit of laughter. "God Squall, it still surprises me how much Rinoa changed you."
It still surprised Squall too, but he didn't say anything. They were silent for the rest of their walk back. Squall had quickened his pace dying to get into some dry cloths.
They arrived inside the garden. The two mercenaries had only taken a few steps when the headmaster approached, his demeanor more serious then usual.
The headmaster stared at Squall's soaked body but choose not to ask why. Instead he gave Squall an order.
"I want you Mr. Leonhart to come to my office as soon as you're.just as soon as you're ready," he then looks over at Seifer. "Maybe you should come to Mr. Almansy."
Both Squall and Seifer saluted the headmaster as he walked away. As soon as Headmaster Cid was out of sight Seifer turns to Squall.
"What do you think that's all about? Do you think were finally going to assist Timber?"
Squall shrugs "Not sure let's just hurry so we can find out."
The two men hurried to get changed both wanting to hear what's going on as soon as possible, but even as he was changing Squall knew that whatever it was that he was about to get involved in it was going to be big.
Seifer had officially been a SeeD for three months now. He had quickly become one of the highest ranking and largest assets to Balamb garden.
On a weekend that the two gunblade specialist had time off they decided to take a nice fishing trip together in Balamb. Get away from the stresses that surrounded them. They rented a small boat and early one morning they set off from the Balamb shore.
Once they had paddled a good ways into the large body of water the young men took out their fishing poles and cast them into the great blue unknown.
The two at first talked about Seifer's first couple of missions. They apparently hadn't caused him any difficulties. Then again according to Seifer nothing ever did.
After awhile their conversation began to fade away. The quiet crisp air and the gentle ocean waves were the only sound that remained.
Silence, despite how much he said he wanted it, was never a good thing with Squall. It allowed him to think and Squall hated it when his thoughts were allowed to roam, because they always went to one person.Rinoa.
Memories of past's times together toyed with Squall's mind. One particular event had suddenly popped into his troubled head while sitting in that tiny boat. It was the night that the garden was celebrating their victory over Ultimicia. Everyone else was out mingling, but Squall and Rinoa were alone. They stood on the Balamb garden balcony looking out into the stars.
The night sky sparkled with thousands of lights each representing a new hope to Squall. Each unknown and alone, but still showed brightly never giving into the darkness that surrounded them.
Squall broke his attention from the beauty above and looked at the one right next to him.
He never thought anyone could affect him the way Rinoa Heartilly had. She had not only pierced his heart but his very soul. Her warm soulful eyes pierced his own, her bright smile lifted his spirit, her very being brought Squall joy that he never dreamed he could every feel.
With his eyes only on Rinoa he saw her slender finger trace across the night sky as a star shot across it mimicking the first time they ever met.
Squall smiled widely, it had been a long time since he had smiled like that. He was rewarded with the sight of seeing Rinoa's face light up.
Grasping the courage he felt at the moment before it fleeted away he took one of Rinoa's hands in his own putting his spare around her waist. The two closed in and their lips connected. To be so close to Rinoa made his heart flutter, he thought for a brief moment that it was just going to fly right out of his chest.
They pulled apart gazing into each other's eyes. Squall thought he should say something tell her how he felt.
"Rinoa"- he began but stopped when he felt one of Rinoa's fingers on his lips.
"I don't need the words," she told him "I can see and feel them."
Squall smiled again. God, how in the name of Shiva did he get lucky enough to meet her.
With a returning smile from Rinoa the two went to continue their kiss-
"Squall, earth to Squall."
Squall suddenly stirred from his day dream.
"Welcome back, now if you don't mind I could use a little help!"
Squall saw Seifer's pole being almost bent in half. He joined hold of the fishing pole and tugged with Seifer against the opposing creature.
After a long tedious battle Squall and Seifer came out the victors pulling up the end of the line. Squall quickly grabbed the net and scooped up the ocean's creation. It was a gigantic fish with a fin the size of his shoe. The scales were colorful almost like a blurry rainbow. Squall lifted the net and set the fish into the boat.
"Well Seifer that sure is one big ass fish."
"What the hell am I going to do with it!?" Seifer asked him flabbergasted.
"You're going to have to put it back."
"Squall are you crazy this is a once in a life time catch!?"
"Then what are you going to do about it?"
Seifer looks hard at the fish. It seriously looked like giving up the fish was the hardest thing that Seifer ever had to do. Suddenly his face lights up and he starts to look from the fish to Squall. A glint grows in Seifer's eyes and before Squall could react Seifer shoves him into the ocean.
Squall felt the cold waves splash over him. He struggled to the surface of the water plowing his arms through its force. When he reached the surface he let the air circulate in his lungs before he screamed at Seifer.
"What the hell was that for!?"
"It's either you or the fish Squall and I'm not about to let this beauty get away."
"So what am I suppose to do SWIM back to shore?"
"It's not that far," Seifer told him picking up the oars and starting to paddle away.
"Come on Seifer," Squall called after his friend, but Seifer didn't stop he just kept moving farther and farther away from Squall. So without any other choice Squall started to swim to shore.
It didn't take long for him to catch up with Seifer, but it did take some effort to stay on pace with the tiny boat. As Squall swam along he listened to Seifer rant on about this and that.
"You know the troubles in Timber are boiling again. I really wish Cid would send some damn SeeD's out there. If he sent me and you out there Squall we would have everything taken care of in one day flat."
Squall too exhausted from swimming didn't comment, but his mind began twirling. Rinoa wouldn't stand by and watch what was going on in Timber. She would most defiantly go out there and do something about it. Freeing Timber was always one of her goals. Squall actually felt quite obligated to accomplish that goal, but what was he suppose to do if he wasn't sent out there?
Getting too tired to think about it Squall continued to listen to Seifer.
"You know Emma; she's working for Timber's liberation." From that point Seifer went on with compliments. "God she's amazing, she's smart, funny, beautiful, determined. I really like her Squall."
Squall remembered the first time he met Emma a few months ago. He actually hadn't seen her since, but Seifer would mention her from time to time. Although Squall never understood where Seifer got the time to go visit her since she lived all the way in Timber, but being who he was Squall never bothered to ask.
"I think this can be really going somewhere buddy."
"Great," Squall gasped his body ready to sink.
"Do you think she's good for me?"
Was she good for him? Squall didn't know why Seifer was even asking him, especially right now when he was on the verge of death.
Squall never answered Seifer's question because land for the first time was coming into view. Squall made a push for it concentrating his very being on just making it to that beach. It was kind of nice for once not worrying about anything else.
When Squall made it to the beach he collapsed into the sand not caring that its little pieces were sticking to his skin causing it to itch. He was just grateful to be out of the water.
Seconds later Seifer's boat made it to shore. Seifer hopped out of the boat slapping his hands together.
"Can you give me a hand getting this fish out Squall?
Squall would have punched him if he had the strength, instead when Seifer's back was turned he gave him the middle finger. Seifer taking notice that Squall was in no shape to help started to lift the fish out himself.
It seemed to be quite the struggle. The fish twist and turned all the while Seifer let out a steady stream of cursing. He finally had gotten the gigantic fish out of the boat. Seifer had a triumphant look on his face when the fish gave one last wiggle slipping out of Seifer's grasp and landing in the ocean where he wasted no time in swimming away.
Squall spent his gained energy rolling in laughter while Seifer's cursing continued to make even drunken sailors cover their ears.
Eventually with only their poles in their hands the two trudged their way back to the garden. Seifer had defiantly been in better moods.
It wasn't until they were almost back at the garden when Seifer asked the question that he had asked before.
"Do you think Emma's good for me?"
Squall truly didn't know how to answer that question. Only the person actually asking the question can truly answer it. So the fact that Seifer was even asking him led Squall to believe maybe she wasn't. Squall never did any questioning with Rinoa.
"Do you think she is?" Squall finally asked him.
"I don't know. She's absolutely perfect and I love being with her, but.shouldn't there be more to it then that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Shouldn't I feel a clear cut answer if she's the one or not?"
"Not necessarily, at least not at first. Sometimes you have to look deeper within a person, see their heart and let them see yours in return."
Seifer breaks out in a fit of laughter. "God Squall, it still surprises me how much Rinoa changed you."
It still surprised Squall too, but he didn't say anything. They were silent for the rest of their walk back. Squall had quickened his pace dying to get into some dry cloths.
They arrived inside the garden. The two mercenaries had only taken a few steps when the headmaster approached, his demeanor more serious then usual.
The headmaster stared at Squall's soaked body but choose not to ask why. Instead he gave Squall an order.
"I want you Mr. Leonhart to come to my office as soon as you're.just as soon as you're ready," he then looks over at Seifer. "Maybe you should come to Mr. Almansy."
Both Squall and Seifer saluted the headmaster as he walked away. As soon as Headmaster Cid was out of sight Seifer turns to Squall.
"What do you think that's all about? Do you think were finally going to assist Timber?"
Squall shrugs "Not sure let's just hurry so we can find out."
The two men hurried to get changed both wanting to hear what's going on as soon as possible, but even as he was changing Squall knew that whatever it was that he was about to get involved in it was going to be big.