Disclaimer: Wow...Squaresoft owns Final Fantasy...
*Sunday Afternoon-Irvine and Selphie*
Selphie: So, when are you going shopping or are you gonna wear the same thing like always?
Irvine: It's a surprise this time.
Selphie: WOW! Really, you're not gonna wear the same thing?
Irvine: Nope, I'm not.
Selphie: Will you be the same person though?
Irvine: What's that got to do with it?
Selphie: Oh, nothing. What do you wanna do now?
Irvine: Huh, (looks at his watch) 5:00, there's a good anime on right now. It's a little hard to follow but it's good. We can go back to my dorm and watch it. Wanna do that?
Selphie: Okie! We just have to check on Illy first! She's real sick.
Irvine: Uh...you can do that. I'll get changed and wait for you.
Selphie: Are you afraid of Illasu?
Irvine: Well, she's got that death glare. I don't know if I wanna mess with her. You go on and make sure she's ok though. I'll see ya in the dorm, later!
Irvine took off without another word being said. He did look back and smile at Selphie. She waved and ran the other way to check on Illasu. She hoped Rin hadn't freaked when she wanted to work again. It was just her nature. Realizing he might have, she sprinted for the dorm.
*Rin and Illasu*
They were just sitting on the couch together when Selphie came and started to bang on the door. She was screaming and pounding even when Rin opened the door. She actually hit him a few times in the stomach. Selphie stopped and smiled at him. She saw Illasu alive and well on the couch so she left without another word. Rin looked back at Illasu. She shrugged her shoulders and he shut the door again. He stretched and picked Illasu up in his arms. Walking over to the big window that he had requested, he set her down on the giant ledge and sat down himself. She slid into his lap like a cat would. She was still very weak so she was a little sleepy. He looked down at her in the light and saw her eyes were different colors all mixed into one beautiful ocean of color. Browns, blues, greens, all the colors into one. She shifted her gaze from him to outside. The sun was casting a pink sunset with green in it. She sighed and sat up in his lap. He realized what time it was and knew he had to get to class. He didn't want to go. Everything was just like a dream. He had never thought he would have a great girl like her. The phone was on the other end of the dorm. He didn't want to get up but if he didn't someone would suspect something. He would have too. The school knew they were staying together and so did everyone here. That didn't mean that they didn't spread rumors about what went on inside the dorms. Rin played with her long brownish hair. He sighed and leaned back debating with himself. There was a knock at the door. Hopefully it's not Selphie again, he thought as he got up. Illasu lay in the window. He grabbed the blanket and covered her quickly. Then answering the patient person on the other side of the door he was surprised. It was Kuro. He looked at her with suspicion.
Kuro: Rin, I need to talk to your little girlfriend. Is she in?
Rin: Uh, no she's sick. Do you want me to tell her you came by?
She shrugged and looked at him with cold eyes. There was something else.
Kuro: You better watch your back Rin. You hurt me a lot. I'd be more careful.
She turned to leave. Rin narrowed his eyes. Kuro looked back and smiled evilly.
Kuro: Come and get me, then everyone will know. See you later, little devil.
Rin's eyes were quickly scared. He watched her go back into her room. He shut the door and walked over to Illasu. She was asleep in the sun but she was on top of the blanket. Her hair was every-which way and it made her look magical. She was smiling. She sun made her dull brown hair glisten red, a bright crimson red. He touched it slowly thinking it would disappear if he touched it. He managed to and when he did it felt like silk. He slid on the ledge and lay there. Kuro hadn't talked to him since they broke up and now she was like the lady devil. Her eyes had no spark of life or emotion. She was lifeless inside. She didn't cry over losing him or anything. Kuro was so hurt from something that no one wanted to save her because she shut them out. Shiro had a chance. She was defiantly opposites with her sister. She seemed to care about Rin but she might hate Illasu for having him as her boyfriend. If that was the case, Illasu might be in danger. Then he thought Kuro would have hinted at it. She had said for him to watch his back. He wasn't scared. He just lay there looking at Illasu. She moved a little then sat up screaming and crying. Rin quickly sat up and hugged her close. She wouldn't open her eyes. She was screaming and clawing at him. Her nails were sharp and they hurt but he wouldn't let go. She finally stopped clawing and threw her head back crying. Illasu opened her eyes and saw Rin looking horrified at her. She hugged him and he was scared for her.
Rin: What's the matter Illy?
Illasu: Oh, Rin...it was just a dream...
Rin: Hey, you broke your fever.
Illasu: Yeah, it ended in a bad dream that seemed real, like always ...
Rin: Always?
Illasu: Whenever I had a fever my mom would always stay with me until I was normal for hours. I always ended the fever with the same dream. You were in them. I never knew you were real until I met you that time with your sister. I've liked you ever since like I said.
Rin: What happens in the dream?
Illasu: A lot of things, horrifying things, why?
Rin: You wanna tell me?
Illasu: I start out asleep in bed in my room, no matter what age. I can hear my mom cooking on the other side of the door. I get up and walk to the door. It's funny, but I walk through it and come out into a ballroom dressed in a gown. You're there leaning on the balcony. You turn around and, just like I've known you forever, you kiss me and we start to dance outside where everybody else is. Then it gets weird again. Every one slowly disappears. One by one the couples fade away. Then a shadowy figure points a gun from a balcony high up and I see it pointed at you. I rush in front and...
Rin: You are shot...
Illasu: Yes, I fall down dead, or so I thought. Then it starts to scare me. I can see hazy images. I see you run towards the balcony and you throw away your red coat. The figure aims and I scream at you. You look at me and she fires. You keep looking at me, unaware it fired, and smile. Then you fall down slowly to your knees and then on the stairs. You were.. you were...
Rin: Illasu...
Illasu: (tears come to her eyes) I run to you and my hands become drenched in your blood. 'Oh, please God' I say over and over. You just lay there with your beautiful eyes closed and no smile on your face. The figure steps out from the shadows and I scream. That's when I wake up. I never find out who did it. It just is so real feeling. I woke up one time and thought my hands were covered in blood. I found out I was covered in water because I was sitting in the bath. I just don't want it to ever be real. It always ends like that. I never told you because I didn't want you to know. I am so scared, Rin.
Rin: Illy, it's ok. It's just a fever dream. Everyone has them. I'm here, I'm right here.
He drops to his knees when she starts to cry again. He pulls her down too. He takes her hands and she stops crying for a second. He puts them on his face and holds them there. He smiles at her slightly and then lets go. She stares into his eyes. He looks straight back at her. Reaching up to dry her tears, he kisses her. He hugs her and pushes her away. He takes off his shirt and she just looks at him. There is a scar across his whole front. It looks torn and deep. Rin looks down and his hair hides his face. Illasu moves closer and reaches out to touch it. She pulls her hand back for a second then Rin grabs her hand and puts it over his heart, where the scar starts. He slowly moves her hand over the whole scar, down to his right hip. Illasu cries a little and then she spots tears splashing down on her hand in his lap.
Rin: My father did this to me. Yugo has one on his back. His is smaller. It's barely noticeable. This is not a dream Illasu. This is quite real. My father hated me when I said I didn't want to work for his company. Yugo said he didn't want to but he was his favorite. I don't hate him for it though. He resented it. So, when I was 9, my father took me and ...he...
Illasu's eyes are full of love for him. He could see it and he lowered his head crying. She moved closer and he hugged her. She held back more tears and tried to be strong for him. He drenches the front of her shirt and she still doesn't move. She just lets him cry and she strokes his silver hair.
Illasu: My silver angel, has broken wings, but he will fly again, if he believes he can.
Rin finally pulls away and she kisses him over and over. She looks at him and then at the scar. Illasu hands him his shirt and he looks at her.
Illasu: I know most people would look and see you as a monster. I know the feeling, but I told you I love you and no matter if you were covered in scars, I still wouldn't change my answer.
Rin: Illy, there's something you don't understand yet about me. I am not safe.
Someone knocks at the door and Illasu kisses him, drying his tears with her thumb. She smiles and gets up, extending a hand to help him. He pulls himself up and puts his shirt on. He opens the door as she disappears into the bathroom. It's Yugo.
Yugo: Hey Rin...what's going on...
Rin: I need to talk to you. C'mon.
Yugo: What about Illasu?
Rin: She's fine, trust me.
Yugo: Ok, what about?
Rin: Not here, it's about dad and what he did.
Yugo: Oh, you didn't did you? Rin, I'm sorry she freaked.
Rin: She didn't. That's why I have to talk to you.
Yugo: Where?
Rin: C'mon, I know of a place.
They headed towards the stables. Rin got two lead ropes and brought up Trojan and Stu. He got on Stu and laced the lead into his halter like a set of reins. Yugo did the same and hopped onto Trojan. Rin kicked him into a run. He bolted across the field. Yugo followed.
Rin: (as they are running and the wind is whipping past them) I showed her.
Yugo: But you said she didn't freak!
Rin: She didn't because I think she is one to! If she's not she has a very good understanding.
Yugo: What possessed you to show her?
Rin: Her dream, she broke her fever when she had a dream of death.
Yugo: Talk about gothic!
Rin: This is serious! I don't know if I should show her more.
Yugo: Wait till after the dance! I am telling you this because I am your brother. I am your only family here! Ruka would tell you the same.
Rin: She said a set of words to me that makes me believe she would understand.
Yugo: So? Rin, Ruka and me don't wanna see you get hurt!
Rin: I can't. Not with Illasu, she's a rock. She's strong when I'm not exactly at my best.
Yugo: Enough with the romantics! (Pulls to a stop) Rin, don't tell her anything more. How far did you tell her?
Rin: (turns Stu around on his heels to a sudden stop) I told her dad gave me the scar, that's it. I couldn't say anything more. I thought she would freak but she just kissed me and let me cry on her. I think I owe her a new shirt.
Yugo: Rin, I'm sorry I couldn't help you. I didn't know...I'm sorry.
Rin: It's not your fault. It was me who made the decision. I just can't hide it forever. After the festival I have to tell her. We better get off now, they feel pretty hot. I have to get back anyway. She might have had the dream again.
They got off and Rin headed back looking sadder than ever. Yugo was hurt too. His bro had to hide from everyone and now he was coming out to reveal himself to her. It just might be a turn around for him yet a dangerous thing to do, considering their past. He ran to catch up with him but as soon as he had turned around the corner he saw his bro sprinting to the school. He was always proud whenever he could feel the wind whipping around him. He could see sheer happiness in his face. He knew he was going to be ok. He had Illasu to thank for that. He thought about Shiro and Friday, wondering what she'd look like as he put up the lead and walked back.
*Selphie and Irvine*
The anime had been good and then they had just talked for hours. Three hours, Selphie concluded later. They got up to get some food. Irvine was so happy, he picked her up and twirled her around and around. Selphie was laughing and Irvine was too. They had such a weird relationship. Everything was ok now. Selphie and Irvine went back to her dorm to play on the PS2. It seemed to be broken to Irvine. Selphie gave it a good kick and then turned it upside down, shook it side to side three times and then set it down. She banged on it with her hand once and it popped into life. She clapped her hands and smiled.
Selphie: All better! I guess I forgot to do that yesterday. I have to do that every year otherwise it won't work.
She got up and tried to locate the post-it note amid thousands of them. She found that months' roster and searched for it. It had fallen onto the floor. She picked it up and moved to the top for next year. She scanned them and found that it was cleaning day for her. She let out a long sigh and then sulked over to Irvine.
Selphie: I am supposed to clean. I guess we don't get to play...
Irvine: I'll help. It'll go faster!
Selphie: Let me warn you of all the dangers and hideous things you'll find in here. There's probably molded pop cans and some underwear around here. Are really sure you wanna help?
Irvine: Yes, but I am not touching moldy underwear.
Selphie: It's not molded but I wouldn't doubt that it's not laying around.
Irvine: Well then that changes everything. Let's get started!
Selphie: Wha?...
Irvine started by getting a trash bag and picking up pop cans that looked safe. Selphie pulled stuff from out under the bed. She was throwing it out and a pair of Japanese gym shorts hit him in the forehead. He picked them up and looked at Selphie. She smiled and went back to dragging things out.
Irvine: How come you never wear these?
Selphie: Their not mine. Illasu left them here a long time ago and I washed them for her. I meant to give them back but I forgot. Put them on the bed will you?
Irvine: These are Illasu's? Huh, never would have thought that.
Selphie: They are part of her schools gym uniform. You know, like in the books?
Irvine: Uh huh, maybe you need to go there to get a pair of these...
About that time, a softball came flying at his head. Selphie had her hands on her hips.
Irvine: Looks like you missed.
Selphie: Who said I missed?
The ball bounced off of the desk and came back to hit him in the butt. He gasped when she smiled. He took off his long coat and hat setting them on the coat hanger on the door. Selphie went back to cleaning. She found more lost treasure. A pair of Irvine's socks, a book long overdue from the library, gum wads, paper balls and other miscellaneous things. Irvine took the socks and threw them in her laundry basket and the paper balls and gum wads in the trash bag. The book went on the bed. The under side was clear again. The stuffed animals were all set up in their corner and the action figures were put on her display shelf in the closet. Her shirts and pants she put in there as well, the clean ones anyway. The bed sheets were changed. The gum was pried from the carpet. The pop stains were already pretty much in the carpet. They tried Resolve but it only lightened them. They finally had the floor clean except for all the familiar colored dust in the carpet. Selphie went to fetch a vacuum. She came back with it and had at it. The floor was once more white carpet with pop stains here and there. She was now going to tackle the desk along with Irvine. He was pilfering in her underwear drawer. She slammed it shut on his fingers and he helped her with the desk. She found countless pictures and homework papers crumpled up. She would defiantly improve her grade by finding all these papers. She found her CD/radio player and slammed in a CD she had found. She hit it in the side and it started to play Big Yellow Taxi. She started to sing and Irvine thought she was real good. He laughed out of having a goodtime and Selphie thought he was being mean about her singing. He got a foot in the stomach and shut up. Selphie smiled at him and started to sing again. The desk was clean and sparkling, the floor vacuumed and the bed freshly made. Selphie realized it was now 10:00 and so she put a racing game in. Since Illasu was better, they could work on their make-up and hairdos for the festival. Illasu didn't really wear make-up, just lip-gloss and occasionally eye shadow. So she would be easy. It was her hair that would be hard. She probably had something in mind already. For now, Selphie had some butt kicking to do. She sat in Irvines' lap and they played all night.
Micky-chan: (I try to keep time to track what day it is, so yeah...)
*Rin and Illasu earlier that evening around 8:00*
Illasu had let him in and was looking better. She was in a different outfit. Rin smiled and came in. She went and got him a drink from the small fridge she had brought. He sat down and she came over to him. She felt the scar underneath his shirt. Laying her head on his heart, she began to sing again. Rin loved her singing. She was pretty good but she didn't like singing in front of people so she sometimes forgot the words. She softly sang the song she liked a lot that had words. It was called Imagine and Rin's mom had sang it to him every Sunday night. So he knew it and when she messed up on healing light he sang it for her. She smiled and put her arms around him, just cuddling up next to him. Selphie was right when she had said they were a very quiet pair. They didn't really talk much but they knew what the other one was feeling. Rin put his drink down and pulled out a movie from underneath the cushions. It was a new movie. Not even opened, she laid it down on the table. She didn't care about movies, homework, or festivals right now, just Rin. He smiled and laid his head down on hers. She didn't really like it when he did that.
Rin: It's not because your short, it's because you remind me of when Ruka was little. I always used to rock her to sleep when mom was working late. I would lay my head on hers and she would fall asleep. So, that's why. I love you so much I just can't help it.
Illasu: Ok, but not in public please?
Rin: Why not? We're so cute together!
He tickled her and she laughed and laughed. She fell onto the floor rolling with laughter and he still tickled her. She was crying and laughing so hard that she was paralyzed. She couldn't tickle him back. Finally, when he got tired from tickling her, he just lay on the floor on his stomach. Illasu crawled over and he rolled over onto his back. They could hear Selphie and Irvine vacuuming on the other side. Illasu laughed as she climbed onto Rin. She lay on him still laughing and was so tired that she just lay there. They both were and so when the homework came under the door from one of Rin's friends, they didn't get up. It was late in the night so they decided to try to make it to the bed to go to sleep. Well when that failed, Rin pulled the blanket from the window ledge onto them. Rin took off his shirt because his scar was burning like it did a lot. Illasu lay her head on his heart. Rin's skin had turned very sensitive there from the scar. He winced when she did and she could feel his hurt. She listened to his heart and kissed him where his heart was. Rin had his eyes closed and was playing with her hair. Illasu moved her hands over and over the scar lightly to make him feel better. Rin said it tickled and she had laughed and said it was payback. He lay there letting her run her hand over it. It felt better. He was still worried about showing her more. Illasu lifted her self up and kissed his forehead then lay her whole upper body over his scar. He winced again and gritted his teeth. He looked at her in his pain and she looked back at him with sadness for him.
Illasu: It really does hurt still doesn't it?
Rin: Yes, don't you think it would?
Illasu: Anything I can do?
Rin: Just what you're doing now. I know it hurts but, it always hurts. I love you, Illasu.
Illasu: I love you more than you'll ever know, silver angel...
She kissed him and lay her body on him again. She started to sing again, only this time it was more of a depressing song. Bring Me To Life wasn't exactly a happy one for her. It was a good song though. She could sing exactly like the artist Rin thought. He whispered the part that the guy had sang. He put his hand on her back and the other around her waist. He hugged her close as she sang into his ear, quietly. It was soothing yet painful at the same time. He started to cry again and Illasu, still singing, kissed his cheek. Then she kissed him on the lips and kept singing. It was painful for her to see the hurt in his eyes. His silver purple eyes were full of hurt as he winced again in pain. It was like laying on a fire. The immense heat from the scar was defiantly real and she didn't know what to do. She just lay there trying to make it not be so hot, but her shirt repelled the heat back. So she did the only thing she could think of. She asked Rin to pull her shirt of slowly so she could lift herself to take it off. She had a bra on like she always did at least. But that was the least of her worries. Rin had just stared at her in disbelief. Illasu looked him in the eyes with a smile and he moved his hands to her shirt. He started to gather the bottom of her shirt and she looked away when it was up over her stomach. She lifted herself up and lifted one arm at a time letting herself out of it. Whenever she reached out to let it off, the light hit her stomach showing Rin her secret. He was shocked and when she was out of the shirt, he put his hands on her face. She was crying now. She slipped off onto the floor. She rolled over onto her back and Rin crawled over. She was crying, letting the tears roll onto the carpet. He ran his hand over the scar embodied into her right side. It was just like his only on her right side mostly in a curve from her right hip up to where her neck made that little dip. He looked at her and she didn't look at him. She was still crying looking at the ceiling with closed eyes. Rin looked at her scar and traced it with his fingers. He kissed her long enough to get her to stop crying for a little bit. Illasu looked into his eyes and pulled him closer to her. It was actually a hug but he was pulled onto her because she was on the floor. He wrapped his arms tight around her and hugged her so tightly he cringed the whole time at the pain. He couldn't believe it somehow. He didn't think it was real. She pushed him back whenever she felt wet, warm tears on her back.
Rin: How can this be real? We were the only ones who had the operation. How can you be real?
Illasu grabbed his hands and put them on her face imitating what he had done.
Illasu: I am very real Rin. You know that. I was just scared. I'm not as brave as you. Please forgive me. I'm so sorry...
Rin: If I would have known it would have made it a lot easier to understand why you have always changed in a different room, even when you spent the night with my sister at the sleepovers. They all changed in Ruka's room. You were the only one who changed in the bathroom. I never would have thought. Illy, I wish I knew who did this to you.
Illasu: I don't know! I don't know Rin! I was never able to figure it out, then the place blew up. So did my past. My father and mother left me, scared that I was dangerous. I tried to convince them I wasn't!
Rin: Wait, what? They thought you were dangerous from having a scar?
Illasu: No, I was kicked out of a car that night it happened into the drive and in pain I tried to go to bed. I managed to sleep through the night. I had to cut my shirt down the middle to be comfortable. But when I woke up the next morning, shirt torn, knife on the floor and bloody, my mother ran to get my father. He came in and saw it. I screamed for them to stay. They wouldn't because they thought I was dangerous. My father loaded up my crying mother into our car and drove, far away. I, unlike you, was 13. It happened so fast that I don't remember it. I went back after that night to where I thought the lab was. I collapsed from the loss of blood. The flesh had been left open and sheets of it were hanging off. They didn't even let me heal. Then someone saw me lying in a pool of blood and I was rushed to the hospital. They couldn't find my parents and I couldn't talk because I was unconscious. I had that dream and then one after that made me feel dead. I woke up to see two elderly people beside me. They were the two people I have learned to call mom and dad. I was raised in a Christian home by them a long way away form here. Then, when the army came to destroy the evidence from the lab, they smuggled me out to the island. I made a new life for myself here. I picked up a new name and identity. Then I got a memory wash of most of my life before that. They said they had to do it. It was the only safe way. I don't know what they did to me or who they were. I just wanted to live normally. Then I met you and your sister and brother. She doesn't know. No one knows. They thought they erased my memory. Rin, I was so scared...(crying harder now)
Rin closed his eyes and tried to get the image of it all out of his head. He shook his head and sat up. He was so hurt. He couldn't help her. Rin suddenly stopped crying. He knew he had to be strong for someone now, someone he cared about more than anything else. He crawled over and helped her into the bed. She turned and cried into the pillow. Then realizing she was in a bed looked at Rin through wet eyes. He was on the edge of it, turned away from her. She moved over to him and he felt her heat. He turned around and saw she was done crying.
Rin: I will be strong for you when you need me. I will love you always and I will protect you. Illy, I don't care about all of what has happened to day. That was the past. I just know we are now more than ever alike than I dreamed possible.
Illasu: You're not afraid of me?
Rin: The only thing I am afraid of is losing you to someone else. (smiles slightly) Boy, what a day, huh?
Illasu: Yeah, I'm real tired now. I love you Rin, oh gosh, I love you.
Rin: Does it hurt anymore?
Illasu: No, just emotionally. It doesn't have any heat. It's cold so that is why I get a fever a lot. And that means more bad dreams more often. I'm so sorry...
Rin: You have nothing to be sorry about. Tomorrow, Selphie wanted you to go over and do some hair and make-up thing. You should go. I need to talk to Yugo. Now you need to sleep. Goodnight Illy. (kisses her on the lips, messes with her hair and gets up and goes to the window)
Illasu: Rin, don't tell Yugo please. I know he's like me but I've known him a long time. It might shock him.
Rin: I promise, now sleep please. I don't want you to get sick again. I'll be right here. Nothing will harm you as long as I am here. Goodnight sweety.
Illasu: Where are you going?
Rin: To the window. I need to think on some things. I probably won't come to bed tonight. I'm sorry.
Illasu: Please, come. I don't know what to do either. Please, Rin please...
Rin: (looks at her crying and her pain) Ok, I will. I have a good feeling we aren't gonna get much sleep though.
He walked over to the bed and she laid on him again. The heat from his scar helped hers. Rin was kissing her and hugging her. Illasu forgot all her pain and was free for a while. Rin was too. He felt her scar and smiled that he had found someone who could understand. It was so great. He had to talk to Yugo. An idea was in his head and he was terrified but excited to the brim at the same time. He needed to talk to Yugo or rather Ruka first. When they went to the mall on Tuesday, they could stop by. Then he could talk it over with her. She knew Illasu better than anyone, even Selphie. But now, he was getting to know her even better than her. Illasu finally gave into the warmth and overcoming force of sleep. She lay down, her face towards Rin's turned towards her. She was up to where they could look each other in the eyes. Rin watched her eye's go misty. Then, as she went to sleep, she kissed him. Then went into the deepest sleep she had ever known. Rin was glad she was right there. He kissed her and kissed her. She smiled as she was still awake enough to feel him. She wrapped her arms around behind his neck and let him kiss her as long as wanted. It was the most pleasure she had ever felt. She was so beautifully happy in this moment. She knew it would end tomorrow or when he fell asleep but he didn't fall asleep. He got tired though and so he quit for a while. He lay there playing with her hair and got up in the middle of the night to go talk to Yugo. He couldn't stand it. He slipped on a shirt and tiptoed over to his room. He knocked softly. Shiro answered, sleepily. He asked for Yugo and she got him. He appeared at the door and they walked to the Library. No one was ever there at this time of night. Yugo was really tired and half awake. He still could do anything for his brother. They sat at the back table and Rin began.
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Sorry to leave you hanging! I had too...I can't spoil it for you! Ok, well I have concluded it might have grown now into 25 chapters or more. I keep getting ideas for future chapters! Ok, well most of you are probably tired of reading this. So please R&R even if it's your last one! Thanks a bunch!