Shared Feelings
Written by Terra Trepe

Chapter 18: Planning and Leading

He was confused, but knew right away what had happened. The four figures were around him, waiting him to fill them up with details. What really had happened? And where was Quistis?

Seifer, his emerald orbs casting its hollow gaze down to the floor he was sitting on, took a deep inhale of air as he tried to work his words out of his drying mouth. Rinoa must have taken her

The question came, as loud as ever, from Selphie's tiny mouth, declaring the same thought at loud that everyone else around Seifer was thinking. Taking some time for the sudden news sink on these confused SeeDs, Squall was already sighing deeply, as he knew that what he had feared for was really true this time.

So it's true The ebony haired young man, slid his blue eyes down to the ground in the silent gaze of sorrow and fear for his loved ones, before he continued his words that he knew was true. Rinoa is the sorceress leading this Garden now

Everyone, including the silent gaze Seifer was now casting on his rival enemy so long back ago, stared toward Squall, the lonely wolf, who now seemed so puny as he was kneeled down to the ground on his one knee, his head down and his brown hair dropping down on the sides of his face, shedding a look of doom to his boyish features that had gotten some masculinity past these two years.

What?! Do you mean that Rinoa is behind all these nasty things the Galbadian Garden has done? No, you can't mean that, Squall?! Selphie, who seemed to take these words their leader had just stated to them, more shockingly than the others, was already defending Rinoa with this protest.

Irvine, who had stayed silent past this conversation, landed his other hand comfortingly down to her tiny shoulder, making her turn her brown, now deeply frustrated and sad eyes up to him, as she waited this cowboy to continue his words. Don't even try to claim that you didn't consider the choice of Rinoa being the sorceress behind all this Cause I know you did We all did.

But still I Her eyes gleamed sadly from the glow of few tears making their way through her big eyes, which were now half opened as she retreated her gaze away from Irvine down to the hilt of her brown boot, her hands behind her back and other leg scrubbing the floor absentmindedly, almost childishly, reflecting some passing memories from their shared childhood in the orphanage.

Seifer, who didn't act any way shockingly to this fact Squall had said aloud, closed his eyes down in slow motion, trying to regain his composure as he tried to make better sense to this whole fiasco. Not long went by, when he already saw some flashing figures getting created before his eyes. The woman clad in dark had been Rinoa, but her eyes They were suddenly haunting him more than anything. That dark, almost deep black, pair of eyes was emotionless for any bright feeling, as they were filled with gleam of hatred and pain and unsatisfied hunger that needed its victims to fulfil the pit that got larger and deeper.

And then, it struck him Those eyes They were so familiar Familiar from the times long gone, from the hurting times he wanted to forget but in vain it seemed now. Lifting his eyelids away from his eyes, Seifer uncovered his emerald eyes filled with sudden hollow gaze as he now understood it completely. His lips parted slightly away from each other, but still not a word came out. Suddenly everyone's gaze had turned down to Seifer's kneeled form on the floor, except Squall's who was still mourning to himself deep inside the depths of his soul and long forgotten emotions.

Her eyes They were His rich and deep voice cracked up on the end, leaving the others in utter confusion.

They were what, Seifer Selphie whispered this very softly, her voice like a wind as it was very silent, just a thought in the form of this silent whisper. She also lowered down a bit, tugging her hands between her knees which were bare as her bright yellow skirt ended above those tiny and fragile knees, and she tilted her head a little to her other side as she still kept her questioning eyes down on him.

Seifer raised his gaze up to Squall's blue eyes, which were now staring back at him, waiting Seifer to end his sentence.

I think Rinoa is possessed

The steely gaze Squall held to the blond across him, never wavered through these words. It just turned into stronger one, now knowing completely what was going on And what he was destined to do

Squall's voice were solemn, like pledging to make an end to this horrified sorceress who had planted pain, fear and darkness everywhere she was or even in the places where her name was whispered among the fearing people.

Somehow Squall had known this from the very beginning. When they had gone to the future and they had destroyed Ultimecia, he knew that it wasn't the end. When seeing her, wounded badly and asking for mercy, as she crawled with the end of her boundless strength to the past where Edea was still a young woman who owned her life to her parentless children, he knew there was things yet to come ahead of them. This, was what they really meant with the SeeDs' destiny This was going to be the turn to a better time where no one ever again connected the two words, sorceress and evil, together.

Seifer, who understood Squall's feelings, nod his head solemnly to him, as telling him that he was with him whatever the plan was going to be. Selphie didn't want to believe this, so she now quickly stood up straight, lifting her hands up to her mouth that opened up in shock, as she shrieked, still fighting against the whole idea.

The martial artist, Zell, was as shocked as Selphie or perhaps even more shocked as he opened up his mouth so he could give his own reply to the matter too. Even before the words started to come out, Zell threw his hand through the air in front of him, only reminding the people around him that he hadn't changed at all past all this time. Whoa, whoa, whoa, you gotto be joking here, right? We killed her over a year ago, there's no way that she could've survive that Am I right

I wouldn't be so sure, Zell Irvine took a step closer to the spiky haired blond as he tried to make him and Selphie understand the facts they were facing. SHE is after all a sorceress and SHE has the ultimate power that could overcome the whole universe And also, this is what I fear, even death

You're right Selphie shuttered this silently, knowing that his words made sense. Zell glanced toward Selphie, also starting to understand that there was no reason to hide away from this fact anymore Ultimecia was back and this time she had the lives of the two that were most important to them Quistis and Rinoa.

The shocked silence were really deep around them, as they still really hadn't melted all these terrifying facts they all now knew to be true. But then something started to peep up. Recognising this to be the alarm sound of his connector he was carrying with him, Squall started to take the connector into his grasp from the shadows of his jacket, as starting to answer to it. And then the silence were broken up, few relaxed exhales escaping from the people around Squall, almost like they had kept their breath for a while.

What is it The answer was typical Squall. Stern and cold, bored and uninterested.

Selphie came closer down to him, as trying to make sense what the conversation on the communicator was about. Her ears getting heated to make out what the muffling sound tried to say on the other end of the line, Squall shouted his bewildered question:

Scaring Selphie with his sudden loud answer, she immediately backed away with a leap as she tried to keep up with her balance.

I understand Keep up the defence and take care of the junior classmen I will send forces from here to back you up After saying this with determination, Squall hang up the call, now getting up from the floor as he faced the familiar trio, nervous Zell, over-excited Selphie and cool-acting Irvine, as to fill them with recent information.

The Balamb Garden is under attack. The whole Galbadian forces are out there attacking our base and you're going to go there and back our loosing forces up with the rest of the force you take away from here

The trio, although there was hint of persistent fear and shock because of the news and the new orders, nod their heads obediently to their leader. But before that you go and save Edea and Cid They are being prisoners on the third floor room number 4 Make sure that they get away from here in one piece Seifer and me will go and save Quistis And Rinoa Again, the trio nod their heads obediently, almost at the same time.

Squall slid his considering gaze between the three as he tried to think which of them was the one to lead this operation. First his eyes caught up on Selphie and her face suddenly twinkled with newfound joy – she had lots of it- as she already believed that Squall was going to pick her. The smile on her face scared his gaze away from her and he now balanced his gaze between Zell and Irvine. But the cowboy lost this round as Squall finally stopped his gaze down on Zell.

The sound of his name caught him by surprise. Zell's eyes were wide open as he lifted his hand to point himself with his own blaming finger. His voice was bewildered, almost making Squall regret his decision. Yes, you Good luck to you all Was Squall's cold sounding reply, before he again turned back to look down to Seifer, who was still on the ground, covering his stomach with his hand, almost like he was hurt.

WOW! That's great! Thanks, Squall Zell jumped up and started immediately to made his way down the corridor, but stopped on with his first steps. He turned toward to look Squall's back as he remembered a very important question.

What was that place again The second room Asking this almost sheepishly, Zell rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand, seeming like a lost monkey.

Selphie, whose smile got even wilder, started to run toward the blond martial artist and started to drag him by his arm toward the big roomy hall where this corridor led to, Irvine following just behind her steps.

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When the big view of the very large hall opened up to them now to its fullest, Selphie and Zell sighed almost as one, as they had totally forgotten how big this Garden really was It was so much complex than the Balamb's.

Irvine was grinning enormously, as he looked the twin like couple of awed faces, and decided to take the lead. Come and follow me! I will lead the way Before Zell could even response to this sudden robbery of the part of the leader, Irvine was out of his hearing range.

The words came almost as a whimper from his mouth, as Zell looked the cowboy who had now stopped faraway from them and was signing them to follow him, shouting something that Zell didn't hear. Selphie started to run but stopped when Zell finally found his voice again and started to shout after her, his voice obviously sounding like the voice of a beaten man. ! This isn't right!

The brunette just smiled as she backed up toward him and wrapped her hand around Zell's muscular arm and started to drag him on her side after Irvine. Oh, don't' be such a cry baby, Zell

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Squall looked the three when they disappeared away from his sight and slowly raised his glowed hand up to his forehead so he could give his usual frown. Oh God I hope I made the right choice

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Author's note: Huh I'm all sweaty here! ^_^ I've never before written this quickly, I mean my keyboard is on fire!!!! Aaach! Help me! Some one call the fire apartment!!!! This is an emergency!!! Heh! Just joking, just joking Or am I???

Thank you for all the reviews, I'm sure I would have never found this energy to continue this fic without those lovely reviews!!! Yeah, I'm all heated up! Heh, okay before I will let you go away I've got two no, actually three things to say to you

1.Send a review Pretty please!
2.Go and check out my new fic, Twisted Truth! And
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