A/N: Well, here's the next chapter, finally. Sorry it took so long, but I just couldn't get it together. Well, read on.

Executioner Chapter 13

Quistis turned toward the source of the voice, a wide smile twisting her face as she realized she would finally get to see Seifer. What she did see, however, was not at all pleasing. Seifer was not alone, nor was he there of his own will. A pair of strong hands was shoving him roughly into the room, and a darkened figure stepped in behind him, but stayed where he would block out the sun. He gave Seifer one last powerful shove, and sent him stumbling wearily to the ground.

Quistis gasped slightly and rushed to his aid, studying his battered face in the dark. "What happened?" she asked.

"Enough talking," came the strong, dark voice of the stranger. "It's time for us to get down to business."

"It's you." Rinoa began slowly. "From the train."

Had they been able to see his face, they would have seen the cruel, sickening grin that came over it. "Yes, I'm the one from the train. You're a quick one, aren't you Heartily? Such a shame. such a waste of life," he murmured. "Your only purpose is to carry the gift, and nothing more. Now the gift will be mine, and there will be no use for you."

Squall stepped forward, shielding Rinoa with his own body. "If you even think of touching her, I'll-"

"You'll what?" the man interrupted. "What could you possibly do to me? I can't die, I'm already dead. You're powerless against me, just like he was," he pointed to Seifer, who was still on his knees upon the floor. "All the things you took from me. Now's my chance to get it back."

"I don't even know you," Squall growled.

He shook his head, stepping away from the door and coming closer to the stern-faced young man that stood in utter defiance before him. "You never knew me. you never had the chance. You never will. You will suffer them same fate as I did. You will live, while everything you care about dies."

Suddenly, a loud crack sounded through the air, and their enemy gave a slight grunt of pain, clutching his side. Irvine slung his gun over his shoulder, barrel smoking, and said, "Let's go, now!"

The only way to go was up the stairs, to the second level of the pub. They all climbed up the stairs, Quistis helping Seifer along, and piled into the room at the top, which appeared to be an old bedroom. Dusty, faded sheets covered a wooden framed bed, and the wilted remains of flowers sagged pitifully in a dirt-encrusted vase.

From the pub beneath, a chilling laughter rose, and that voice that they'd all come to dread called after them, "Hide now, and enjoy your finally days. I'll be back."

For several moments, there was nothing but silence, until finally Rinoa spoke up. "He's gone. I sense it."

"We need to get out of here as soon as possible," Shiva spoke up.

Before anyone could answer, Rinoa swayed slightly, a small groan of weariness escaping her before her eyes fluttered closed, and she began to fall.

He sat at the table alone, staring into the tiny flame before him as if it were his only salvation. This room had once been so familiar to him, but now he didn't recognize it at all. It was so empty, and desolate, with everything gone but that one table and chair and the small fire before him bathing the nearby wall in golden light, while casting shadows around the rest of the room, which shifted and lurked menacingly. The place was merely a ghost of it's former self, the silence that enveloped it telling of precious memories passed, known only to his mind now. This was the place where she'd lived during her childhood, the place where he had met her. And now the room was mocking him, with it's own, soundless voice.

A quiet knock sounded on the old, wooden entrance door. He stood slowly, pulling the door open to greet his guest for the evening. He smiled at the baldheaded man that stared up at him through glass lenses. His guest didn't see it, but the smile wasn't in the least friendly.

"Nice to see you could make it, doctor," he said, his voice feigning politeness.

"I must say, I'm surprised you wanted to meet with me while I was here in Timber. You were so angry, when." his voice trailed off, ending on a note of sympathy.

He shook his head, his long dark hair rippling over his shoulders. "I was, but I wanted to apologize. And, what better place than her old home. Her parents used to run a pub down here," he explained. "It's where I first met her. Love at first sight."

The doctor looked at him with saddened eyes. "I'm terribly sorry. I wish I could say something more."

He shook his head again. "Don't be." He took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "It wasn't your fault."

The doctor nodded, in his mind debating over the next question on his tongue, then finally decided he seemed stable enough. "Where are your boys, Laguna?"

He studied the doctor with an intense gaze, his restrain beginning to snap beneath the weight of his words. "Sit down, Doctor," he offered, gesturing to the chair he occupied earlier. He smiled slightly as the doctor took his suggestion, and looked away for a moment, watching the shadows dance across the room. Laguna took the opportunity that he had been waiting for. He reached beneath the table and pulled out his shotgun. At the sound of him cocking it, the good doctor quickly looked up to his host. "When I said it wasn't your fault. I was only half right."

"Laguna, calm down now, you know it's not worth it," the older man pleaded.

"I was only half right. It was partly your fault. But it was also theirs."

"What are talking about?"

"Enough questions. It's time you paid for what you've done," with those last words, he tightened his hold on the trigger, and watched as his impeccable aim ensured his revenge.
After the deed was done, Laguna sat in silence once more, ignoring the corpse that was now sprawled out over the ground, leaking blood over the bare concrete floor. He stared at the picture in his hand, tears threatening to escape from his eyes. The love of his life was gone forever. and full justice had yet to be served.

As Rinoa slowly came back to the world, the first thing she heard was, "Gee, Leonhart, I didn't think you ever had it in you to hook up with a woman."

"Shut up, Seifer," a nearby voice replied. She knew at once it was the voice of her Angel in shining. well in a black trench coat. She could feel the vibration of his voice. She smiled, feeling herself in his arms and snuggled closer to him, opening her eyes slowly.

"It happened again?" Squall asked her gently.

She nodded. "I saw him kill that man," she explained. "Downstairs, in the pub. I heard his name. When he was living, he was called Laguna."

"Impressive," Seifer commented. "We're the first people to know his real name in about a century."

"Do you guys. smell something?" Zell asked.

Shiva took a deep breath, before her eyes widened in near panic. "It's smoke. He must have set the building on fire!"

"We have to get out of here. Going downstairs again isn't an option," Squall said, looking around the room for an escape. "Looks like we'll have to use the window."

"Lovely. I despise heights," Quistis mumbled, sliding the window up. "We'd better work quickly, though. There's smoke seeping into the room."

"I'll go first!" Ifrit offered, putting on a daredevil grin. He jumped through the window and balanced on the roof below, before jumping to the roof of the next building. Shiva, Zell, Irvine, and a reluctant Quistis followed him. Rinoa climbed out next, with Squall right behind her. He squeezed her hand as he studied the nervous look on her face.

"What if.?" she began.

"Don't worry," he whispered to her. If you start to fall I'll catch you. I promise."

She smiled back at him, then took a deep breath before jumping. She made it safely to the other side, much to Squall's relief.

"You've become a real ladies' man, huh?" Seifer laughed, patting him on the back.

"Whatever," was the only reply he got for Squall made his escape.

Seifer was next to go, but he wasn't as lucky as the others. His foot caught on the gutter as he jumped, and he barely managed to grab on to the edge of the other roof. Squall, being the closest to the edge, grabbed him and pulled him up.

"I should've just let you're sorry ass fall," he grumbled as they watched the building they were just in be engulfed in flames.

"Let's just get out of here," Quistis mumbled. "I can't watch this anymore."

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"So what happens now?"

Squall sighed. "I don't know anymore. I just know I have to keep you away from the psycho."

Rinoa frowned slightly at the thought. "Why? Why am I being hunted like this?"

He let out a sigh and allowed his arms to tighten around her. There was a great fear threatening to swallow him now, threatening to cloud his judgment and scramble his thoughts. In so many years of existence, he had never really known fear. Of course there were always those childhood terrors that were born of shadows and fairy tale monsters that plagued the sleep of the young. But that was a kind of fear that was shed through adolescence, shunned by pride to never return again. Had he not been so reckless in his later years, he might have struggled with those chilling worries of death, and life gone awry, as most people did. He, however, knew no such worries. One who has nothing, fears nothing. Now, it was as if karma had caught up with him. He was now staring into the face of the greatest fear his imagination could never even comprehend. Squall never expected to have to worry about the welfare of another human being, living or dead. Now his life revolved around one woman, and he faced the possibility of losing her. These were the things real nightmares were made of.

"Squall?" her small voice saved him from his dreary thoughts.

"Sorry," he apologized quietly. "I didn't mean to slip into my thoughts again."

She laughed slightly and shook her head. "It's okay. I know you have a lot on your mind right now. But maybe you should relax instead." She sat up from her comfortable position of lying with her back against him, and gave him one of those slow, sensual kisses he had come to treasure. "We have a whole night to ourselves, why don't we make the best of it. Unless, of course, you'd rather go catch up with Seifer."

He shook his head slightly, taking firm hold of her hips as she sat up in his lap. "You think I'd rather spend time with the man I've been trying to avoid all my life than I would enjoying myself with you?"

She laughed again, gently tracing his scar with her fingertip and listening to the gentle pattering of rain outside their hotel room. "You know, you never let me finish my sentence the other night," she mentioned cautiously, watching his face closely for his reaction.

If she had expected fear, or nervousness, she was out of luck. There was only a look of slow acceptance, and understanding. "No, I guess I didn't. I got a little distracted. I guess," he paused for a moment, wondering if he was really ready to hear the words he had scorned all of his life, "you can tell me now."

She propped herself up with her elbows on his chest and lost herself in the deep oceans of his eyes. "I love you, Mr. Reaper," she spoke softly, a tiny hint of humor in her serious voice. "If you're not-"

"I love you, too," he interrupted, blurting out the words as they came to his lips.

Her smiled widened, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears that were barely visible in the darkening room. The sun had set, and they hadn't bothered to turn on a light. It was just as well, Rinoa thought, as she leaned down again and engaged in a slow, but passionate kiss. He pulled her closer to him, hands roaming to all those places he had only recently discovered, and smiled as much as his occupied lips would allow when he heard her quiet moan of approval.

She broke away reluctantly, but allowed her lips to hover over his as she spoke. "I didn't think you would say it," she said in a quiet, breathless voice.

He kissed her briefly before replying, "I didn't think I would either. I guess we were both wrong."

Whatever words she had prepared in response died on her lips as he kissed down her neck, and over her shoulder, pushing the collar of her shirt to one side. She sat up, suddenly frustrated at the restrictions the annoying piece of cloth put on her, and yanked it off before sinking back into her comfortable position. His concentration was focused solely on her, and now most of their nervousness had clamed, making the situation much less awkward. She unhooked her bra from behind, not bothering to sit up again, and let it slip off her shoulders. She ran her hands up his chest, feeling a thunderous pounding beneath his skin and muscles.

"You still have a heartbeat," she pointed out.

"I know," he responded softly, after taking a deep breath and swallowing hard from the feeling of her pressed so closely against him. "It's kind of hard not to notice right now."

"Why?" she asked. "I thought the side affects were supposed to wear off after a few hours."

He shook his head, sitting up and sliding his own shirt off before saying, "For once, let's not worry about it. I've got other things on my mind right now."

She laughed, trailing a finger from the middle of his collarbone to just above the top of his pants. "For once, I have to agree with you."

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The sky had become a swirling void of dark hued colors, dotted with sparkling specks of stars, and the town of Timber was mostly asleep, with the exception of a few. So silent and still was this small town that for a moment, she thought she didn't recognize it.

How long since I've been here? she wondered. How many years have passed since I moved away with him, never once looking back on my home?

Her feet kicked at loose stones along the path as her mind wandered over events long since passed. Her mother and father had never agreed to her betrothal to the journalist from the big city, so she had snuck out of her home one night, and the two had eloped. Unwilling to face her parents after such a decision, she left for Deling City, leaving only a letter of apology in her wake. Never once did she regret her decision, but she missed her parents, as well as her hometown terribly.

My children have come here, I'm certain of it. I must find them, and see them. Protect them. I've walked so far, and searched so long. I must see them.

Instinctually, she headed for the pub and apartment where she had spent her childhood. She would never forget its location, between a cluster of shops and an apartment complex. She spotted the complex right away, and recognized the cluster of shops nearby. But between the two, there was nothing but a charred, and still smoking, hollow and abandoned shell of a brick building. Could that truly have been the fate of the place she loved so much?

Allowing a soft sob to escape her throat, she ran to the remains and collapsed before it, sinking her hands into the ashes and holding them tightly, as if to rebuild the dreams of youth that were now forever lost. She allowed her tears to fall, a gentle rainstorm over her face that could never entirely express her sorrow.

She had nearly forgotten about her precious children in this unstoppable rush of pain that befell her, but her attention was caught immediately by the sound of heavy footsteps, and a presence that begged for her attention.

"Hey, lady, you all right?" a tall, blonde-haired man asked, looking extremely uncomfortable in the position he suddenly found himself in.

She looked up at him, wiping at the tears in her eyes with blackened hands as she studied him closely. She then uttered two words, in whisper, "My child."

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A/N: Well, there you go. Sorry if this chapter was a little boring, it'll get faster paced in the next chapter. There're only about two or three chapter left, though.