Chapter Nine: Ditching the Party
By PasifikStar
Author's Note: (evil laughter) Still procrastinating! (more evil laughter). I really should study...
* All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters.
Quistis was running down the hall, her robe falling over her shoulders and down her back as she stumbled over the dragging edges. Her glasses were off her face, having no time to put them on as she ran out her door. Her straight, tousled blond hair swept past her face and shoulders as she turned a corner.
She turned a corner, stumbling as her slippers slid on the smooth Garden floor. Selphie yelled for her to be careful as she followed behind Quistis. The blond paid no attention as her blue eyes focused on the door at the end of the hall way.
Her heart was beating fast as numerous scenarios ran through her head. What if he was hanging between life and death? What if his bones here crushed or paralyzed from the waist down? What about internal bleeding? What if he didn't remember who she was? Was the last few weeks for nothing then?
She froze as she reached the door, stopping in front of it as her heart stopped. *What if he doesn't remember me...?* her mind whispered fearfully. Her eyes began to water at the thought of loosing HER Seifer. *MY Seifer? When did he become MY Seifer?*
"Quistis, go inside," Selphie said as she arrived behind her. Quistis jumped and nodded. "Fujin and Raijin are with him."
Quistis nodded and put her hand on the door. She pulled it open and stepped inside, with Selphie crawling in after her. The infirmary was brightly lit and Dr. Kadowaki, who was still dressed in a slinky black night gown underneath a black and gold robe and white lab coat was standing over a counter, reading a medical chart.
"Dr. Kadowaki," Quistis gasped. The older woman looked up and smiled. Quistis looked at her with worry filled blue eyes. "How is Seifer?"
Kadowaki turned to look at Selphie. "Selphie, what did you tell her?"
"Nothing!" Selphie gasped. "I just said that Seifer was caught in an accident and he was here."
"He's all right, isn't he?" Quistis asked earnestly. Kadowaki nodded with a soft smile.
"Just a few cuts and bruises...definitely nothing fatal." the doctor told her. Quistis let out a relieved breath.
"May I see him, then?" she asked. The doctor nodded.
"I'll go tell Irvine and Zell," Selphie said with a warm smile. She looked at Quistis who was wiping the corners of her eyes. "Are you going to be okay, Quisty?"
"Selphie..." Quistis breathed as she blinked and looked at the petite brunette. "The next time you come to tell me he's been in an accident, PLEASE tell me what's wrong."
Selphie giggled and nodded. "I don't know...it was kind of worth it to see your reaction to the man you supposedly don't like."
"Selphie!" Quistis said, flushing with eyes wide open as the brunette quickly turned and ran out of the infirmary. Quistis grumbled and frowned.
"He's in the back." Kadowaki informed her as she passed her to head for her office. Quistis nodded and began to head towards the back of the infirmary.
*Hyne, I hate coming here...* Quistis thought to herself. Immediately, her thoughts flashed back to when Seifer used himself as a shield and covered her body, preventing the falling slabs of wood from hitting her body. She had spent quite sometime in the waiting room, crying a river to tears out of guilt and worry.
Quietly she turned the corner and into the last little cubicle room. Seifer was laying on the hospital bed. It had been elevated so that he was in a sitting position. He was shirtless and nursing a few bandages here and there, but not as bad as when they had the on stage accident.
Fujin and Raijin were sitting in the corner talking as Seifer grumbled that something didn't matter. "Quistis! You came, ya know!" Raijin said with a smile. Fujin nodded.
"Hey..." Quistis said softly. Her blue eyes landed on Seifer, who gave her a questioning look. "Are you...are you...?"
"I'm fine." Seifer said, rolling his eyes.
"Little accident," Fujin assured Quistis as she stood up. "Alone?"
"Just for a moment, please?" Quistis asked. Fujin nodded and tugged on Raijin's shirt.
"Huh? Why?" Raijin asked.
Fujin sent him a deadly glare of warning and he stood up immediately. "Turn in." Fujin said. "Good night!"
"See ya!" Raijin chorused.
"Good night." Quistis said, smiling weakly as they walked past her.
"See you guys later!" Seifer shouted. As they disappeared from view, his eyes went back to Quistis. The slim female stood by the foot of the hospital bed in silence. She listened to the other two posse members' footsteps. She heard the door open and the close, leaving them alone in the infirmary.
Slowly, her eyes went to Seifer's, tearful and filled with relief. "Selphie said you were in an accident..." she began, her voice wavering slightly. She let out a slight, nervous chuckle. "I thought you were really hurt..."
Seifer's emerald eyes softened. He took a deep breath and held an arm out for her. "Come here," He said sternly. Quistis was still rooted in her spot. "Quisty, come here. No one is going to see."
Her lower lip trembling, the blond rushed over quickly and took Raijin's seat that had been next to Seifer's bed. She pulled it closer and sat down before draping her arms and head against Seifer's upper body. His bare arm closed around her shoulders as he smiled softly.
"You know what could happen on a mission!" Quistis exclaimed. "A thousand thoughts were running through my head! I thought you could be dying or have amnesia or something!" She cried as her pale hands held on to him.
"I swear, Quistis...I don't see you cry until I'm in the infirmary," Seifer sighed. "I have to stop coming here..."
"Seifer!" Quistis exclaimed as she looked up to look at him. "I'm serious! I thought you were dying!"
"I'm not dead or dying," Seifer sighed tiredly as he lifted his left hand and casually stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. "But...I might not have passed."
"What!?" Quistis gasped. Her eyes narrowed. "Don't say that! Of course you passed! Why wouldn't you have passed!? You're not the same as before, Seifer! I know you would've passed this time!"
Seifer took a deep breath and shook his head. "I may have changed, Quisty, but I know I didn't pass."
"Why not?" Quistis asked in a sad voice. "What happened?"
"I broke rank," Seifer sighed. "We were at the mission and my team was leaving. But the enemy attacked us just as we were leaving. The ruins we were sneaking around in began to cave in after some explosives went off. Two members of my team were still in there."
"What did you do?" Quistis asked, completely entranced with the story as she looked up at him with large wondrous blue eyes.
"I was instructed to leave," Seifer said. "You know the rules. Who falls behind stays behind."
"So you went back for Raijin and Fujin?" Quistis asked. Seifer shook his head and smirked.
"Do you think that little of me that I'd go in after them only if they were my friends?" Seifer asked. Quistis' eyes went wide.
"You mean...?"
"Two cadets," Seifer said casually as he stroked Quistis' long blond hair. "I met them on the ride over. They're good kids, kind of cocky, but they had their hearts set on being SeeDs," He smirked and shook his head. "Remind you of someone?"
Quistis smiled slightly and nodded. "A lot of people..."
As she laid her head against his stomach, she felt his hand on her head. "They got left behind and couldn't find their way out. Anyway, I threatened to behead the team leader if he didn't wait for them. So I had Fujin and Raijin make sure the guy didn't drive the ship off before I ran in after the boys."
"How are they?" Quistis asked.
"They just left the infirmary before you came in," Seifer told her. "Damn kids... I found them fighting for their lives against some machines. I took those down and lead them out. Then we got on the ship and got out of there as fast as possible."
Quistis grinned and tilted her head up to look at him. "Well done, Seifer..."
"But I still disobeyed my commanding officer...no doubt when the report goes in, I failed." Seifer sighed.
Quistis shook her head. "No...no, Seifer, you're a hero!"
He scoffed. "There's always next year."
"Seifer..." Quistis mumbled.
"Whoa!" a voice gasped. "I'm sorry!" Quistis' eyes went up as her body shot up and off of Seifer's taunt abs. Her entire body went as pink as her clothes as she saw Rinoa standing by the corner, dressed in white pajamas with snow flakes and baby blue chocobo prints. "Uh...Squall! Let's go!"
"I came all the way here, I'm not going back without doing what I came to do." Squall said in a gruff voice.
"Squall, they're BUSY!" Rinoa insisted.
"What are you talking about?" the brunette grumbled. He turned the corner and raised an eyebrow as Quistis scooted the chair she was sitting on several feet away from the bed where Seifer was laying in. Her head was turned away and her face flushing as Seifer gave her an amused look.
"Well, well..." Seifer said as he lifted green eyes to meet icy blue ones. "I'm honored!" he began sarcastically. Rinoa slowly turned around and stood by the entrance. "The Commander himself shows up to check on me! I'm FLATTERED."
Squall rolled his eyes. "Don't be," Squall said. "When the teams arrived back, I went over the reports," Squall stated. He held a manila folder in his hand and lifted it up to show him. Squall himself was still dressed in his black leather pants and bomber jacket over his white shirt. "This is your report."
"Oh, I'm definitely flattered now," Seifer smirked. "First a visit and then you check on how I did on my exam! I really don't know what to say."
Squall tossed him the folder. "Perhaps you'd like to read it," Squall stated. Seifer picked up the folder and brought it on to his lap. He opened the front cover and looked at his file. "Disobeyed orders. Disregarded commander's orders. Brash. Unable to take instructions."
Seifer scoffed. "There's always next year." he shrugged.
"No there won't." Squall stated in a stern voice. Quistis' eyes shot up and looked at Squall with fear. They darted over to Rinoa, who turned her head away.
"Squall, what are you talking about?" Quistis gasped. "Didn't you read the whole report!? Don't you know what-"
"Whatever you say is too late to change the decision, Quistis," Squall said in a deep, commanding voice. "I've already signed the papers."
"Squall!" Quistis gasped in horror.
"What the hell for!?" Seifer growled. "Listen, it's just a stupid test-"
"That could've killed you." Squall cut him off. Seifer shook his head.
"No! No! I worked my ass off to stay in the Garden this time. There is no way I'm getting kicked out! I'll appeal-"
"It's my decision." Squall told him, matter of factly. Quistis' face paled and she shook her head.
"Squall, no, you can't-" Quistis began. Squall extended his hand to Seifer, shutting Quistis up immediately.
"Congratulations," Squall said behind gritted teeth. "You passed."
Behind him, Rinoa was giggling and trying to hide her overly pleased smile as Seifer stared at Squall in disbelief. Slowly, he turned to Rinoa. "Rin, did you have anything-"
"He's the one that woke me up to tell me what he decided!" Rinoa said. "He reviewed your papers and came up with the decision on his own."
Quistis' face lit up with joy as she turned to Seifer. The green eyed blond lifted his hand as he turned to look at Squall. He took Squall's hand and shook it firmly. Immediately, the arrogant smirk crossed his face. "I thought so." Seifer snorted.
Squall rolled his eyes and pulled his hand back. "Squall, tell him why you passed him!" Rinoa insisted.
Squall gave her an annoyed look and shook his head. She narrowed her eyes threateningly. Letting out a tired sigh, he looked back at Seifer and Quistis. "He performed his mission well and succeeded. His entire team was in safe in the end."
"AND?" Rinoa insisted.
Squall let out a quiet swear. "That's it."
Rinoa rolled her eyes. "He said that he respects that you went back to save your teammates." Rinoa told them as she walked up behind Squall and put her arms around his waist from behind him. She looked from behind an annoyed looking Squall.
"Oh, REALLY?" Seifer asked, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm VERY flattered now."
"We'll see you at the graduation ball." Squall grumbled as he turned around. He put one arm around Rinoa and dragged her out of the room.
"Are you mad because I told them?" Rinoa asked sweetly.
"Yes."
"Good."
Quistis looked over at Seifer and stood up. She leaned over him and ran her hand through his hair. "You want me to help you to your room?"
"Yeah," Seifer nodded tiredly. "Grab my shirt and jacket, will you?" He smirked. "Unless you want me parading around half naked to be shown off."
Quistis snorted. "Oh, please...like you're any where NEAR a trophy man."
"Hey, I'm a hero," he reminded her as he put his legs over the side of the bed. "You said so yourself."
"I was in the moment." she shrugged. Quistis turned and headed towards the hooks on the wall that were holding his clothes.
She suddenly felt two arms around her slim shoulders and someone's head against the right side of hers. Warm breaths caressed her fair skin as she felt his heart beating against her back. "I'm sorry for making you worry..." he whispered. "But I'm happy that you cared to."
Quistis felt her entire body heat up as she clutched his shirt in her fingers. "You have to stop doing this to me..." she chuckled nervously, unsure of what to say.
His hands slid to her shoulders and slowly turned her around to face him. Emerald met sapphire and he pressed his forehead against hers. "I think I deserve a reward."
"For what?" Quistis asked, her eyes closed as she felt his skin touch hers.
"For passing. What do you say?" he whispered against her ear. Quistis shivered.
"My pleasure..." she breathed. She tilted her head up, opening her eyes to meet his just before his lips brushed against hers. She closed her eyes and dropped the shirt that was in her hands.
"Hey, good news!" Irvine said as he casually strode around the corner. "Dr. Kadowaki says you're free to leave-AH!!!!"
"All right, team! Great job!" Rinoa said as she, Selphie, and Fujin gave each other high fives. "So far, everything has worked out great! Aside from all the infirmary visits and accidents and misunderstandings, everything seems to be going to plan. If not better!"
"Agreed!" Fujin nodded with a slight smile on her lips.
"Hey, Selphie...where's Irvine?" Rinoa said as she looked over her Selphie's shoulder. "I thought he was following behind you."
"I think he went inside." Selphie said, pointing to the door of the infirmary. Rinoa paled and her brown eyes went wide.
"Oh no-"
"AHH!!" the heard a voice scream from within the sliding doors. They could hear the rapid footsteps running towards the door. *BAM!* "OW!" The sliding door was too slow to open as Irvine ran into it face first.
Slowly, the doors slid open and he stumbled out, rubbing his nose. His eyes immediately settled on Selphie, who was standing right across from him. "Irvy, are you okay-"
"Selphie, I'm blind!" Irvine shouted dramatically as he stumbled over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. The cowboy was wearing dark, silk pajama pants and a dark blue tank top under his usual leather jacket. He was even wearing his cowboy hat over his untied brown-red hair. Selphie had probably just woke him up.
"What are you talking about?" Rinoa said, rolling her eyes. "Hyne, Irvine, you're such a drama king..."
"Quick!" Irvine gasped as he looked at Selphie with a pleading look. "I need to see something to bring my vision back! Lift up your shirt!"
Selphie, who was dressed in yellow shorts and a yellow tank top frowned. "Irvy! You pervert!" she exclaimed as she hit him in the gut. The cowboy didn't flinch much, as he was in peak physical condition.
*But she still hits pretty hard for someone her size...* he mentally added.
Rinoa rolled her eyes. "I think this is enough excitement for one morning..." she mumbled.
"Affirmative..." Fujin frowned as she looked at Selphie and Irvine, who was clinging on to Selphie apologetically as he explained that it was just a joke.
Rinoa sighed and the sliding doors opened behind them. Quistis raised an eyebrow as she stood right next to a bandaged Seifer. "What are you guys still doing up?"
"Uh..." Selphie and Irvine froze, looking at each other nervously. Fujin slowly took a few steps back before she turned and quickly speed walked down the hall.
"Race you to your door?" Irvine offered.
"Right!" Selphie said. Within a moment, the two of them were running down the hall, leaving Rinoa alone with the blond couple. Slowly, the left behind brunette met the eyes of the two blondes and smiled weakly.
"Hehe..." Rinoa looked over to her right. "There's my contact lens!" she shouted suddenly and then took off running down the hall.
Seifer shook his head. "What did I ever see in her...?" he mumbled.
"You know, she's asked herself what she saw in you all the time," Quistis said, grinning. She looked up at him and smiled. "You'd think by now she'd realize that we know she doesn't wear contacts."
"That was a nice thing you did for him, Squall," Rinoa said as she laid against Squall's stomach. He was sitting up against his bed, propped up against the head board as he read the newest of Julia Loire's books. His blanket was up to his waist as her separate one, as she tended to hog the blankets, was up to her back. Rinoa was laying between his legs, her chest on his stomach and her head against his chest as she tilted her head to the side. She looked up. "Squall?"
"I have a question," he said. He put the book down and looked down at Rinoa. She beamed a smile at him and pushed herself up to face him. Squall put his hand on her back and held her against him, her head against his shoulder. "Rinoa..." he began.
*I always thought he was going to ask outside of the bedroom...it just doesn't seem like him to ask while we're in bed...* Rinoa mused. *Anyway, at least he's asking!* She struggled to keep her giggle down.
"I just want to know, is the President of Rahtse Leon's father?" Squall asked suspiciously.
Rinoa's bright smile immediately dimmed. "What."
"I have a sneaking suspicion that the man whose been giving Noa and the others missions is really Leon's father," Squall said. "I mean...call it a gut feeling."
Rinoa narrowed her eyes. "THAT'S your question!?" she asked loudly. Squall looked slightly surprised at her reaction and nodded.
"What...what did you think it was?" he asked, confused. Rinoa grumbled and rolled off of him. She laid on her side, her back turned towards him. "Rinoa?"
"What?" she grumbled as she tugged her blanket tightly around herself and frowned.
"So is he?"
Rinoa resisted the urge to hit him with a pillow. Instead, she rolled over and shot him an annoyed glare. "YES!" she shouted.
Squall jerked his head back slightly. *Maybe it's that time of the month...? No...I would've known...*
Rinoa took a deep breath to calm herself down. She quickly rolled back over and turned her back to him. *That's his freaking question? I thought for sure he was going to ask me! At this rate, Quistis and Seifer are going to get married, buy a house, have some kids, buy a mini van or mid level luxury sedan and retire before he even asks!*
"Um..." Squall mentally debated whether he should ask what was wrong or not. He decided to take the risk. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." she replied.
*Whatever...* he thought to himself. He put the book on the shelf by his bed and turned off the light. He rolled over on his side and put his arms over her. "Whatever..." he whispered in his ear as he pressed his head against her. *I still love you...*
Rinoa sighed to herself as she felt him settle in next to her. *I still love you, too...*
"You look tired," Seifer asked as Squall walked into their designated meeting room. Otherwise known as the small room with a single light bulb, a crappy table, and two wooden chairs. He smirked. "Rough morning?"
"Whatever," Squall grumbled. He sat across from Seifer and looked at his watch. Three hours until the start of the graduation ball and he had barely gotten out of bed an hour ago. Rinoa had been unhappy, for reasons that escaped him, and he wanted to 'make up'. However, every time he said something, she'd just grumble. He decided to let her get over it on her own and it worked. A few hours after their little 'Is the President Leon's father' question, Rinoa forgave him and allowed him to sleep close to her. He quickly snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Seifer. "So the plans are finalized. I've already prepared the Garden orchestra that's going to play the background music for the play."
Seifer nodded. "What about the rented chocobos?" he asked. "I don't have time to go pick them up."
"I'll do it," Squall said. "I'm having Kiros watch them while the play is going on."
"They're coming with your father-"
"Laguna." Squall cut him off. Seifer rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, sure," Seifer grumbled. "The costumes arrived while I was gone. They're in my room now."
"So everything is prepared." Squall mumbled.
"You nervous, Commander Puberty?" Seifer asked with a smirk.
"That's CAPTAIN," Squall corrected him. "Let's see if you're as composed when you're in my spot."
"Not yet, but soon." Seifer grinned. Squall looked at him with question.
"Surprising..."
"I've made up my mind."
"The question is will she agree to it."
"Shut up."
"I'll leave you to your thoughts." Squall stated. He stood up and headed towards the door.
Seifer heard the door close as he sat there in the dim room. One thought crossed his mind. *Would she say yes?*
The ball room was once again decorated in all too familiar a style as Rinoa giggled and danced around with Squall on the dance floor. Lining the sides of the ball room were assorted SeeDs, new SeeDs who just graduated, instructors, and of course Cid and Edea. Squall, like the other male SeeDs, all wore his uniform, adorned with a few medals he had earned.
Rinoa wore a low cut black dress with her hair up. Black crystal earrings dangled from her ears as a crystal, Victorian beaded choker went around her neck. Her bangs escaped the hold from her bun as her hand was placed on his shoulder and his other hand. One of his hands was placed on her waist as they did the waltz.
"You're so much better than when we first met." she reminded him, grinning slightly. Squall rolled his eyes.
"Must you always remind me?" he sighed.
"You bet." she giggled.
"I hate these damn things..." he grumbled as he executed perfect moves that just a few years earlier he had messed up so badly.
"Really?" Rinoa frowned. "I love them! They remind me when I first laid eyes on you. You looked so cute in your little suit...standing in the corner like a wall flower."
"I get the point." he said.
"I love dancing with you," she said softly as she looked into his eyes. "Even when you step on my feet."
"Well, we might as well dance here since we didn't get a chance at the anniversary party..." he grumbled.
Rinoa raised an eyebrow. "By the way, where were you? I didn't see you at all that night until I stopped by your room."
Squall inwardly winced. *I saw you...several times before I got hit with a banner, slipped on some punch, got hit in the eye with a discarded flare, and so on,* He shrugged. "I just had to work late..."
Rinoa rolled her eyes. "Irvine and Zell said you were looking for me."
"I was...but then some instructor wanted to talk to me and you know how they don't stop talking..." he said. *Okay, that part is true.*
She gave him a suspicious look but nodded. "Okay, I'll buy that."
Down the ballroom from them was Seifer. He was standing by a stone column, drinking punch with one hand and running a bandaged hand through his hair. His eyes scanned the room for Raijin and Fujin, who were being congratulated by Cid and Edea. Cid seemed to be chatting up a storm with them as Edea gave a weak look, unable to help them.
The blond shook his head and found that his eyes once again drifted towards the doorway. He lifted his bandaged hand and looked at his watch. *She's late...* he thought to himself. *Forty-five minutes late...*
Behind him, he heard snickering and reluctantly turned around. Standing by the punch was Zell, smirking like an idiot. "You look like a mummy." he stated simply.
Selphie, Irvine, and his girlfriend, who were all with him, shook their heads. "What did you say, chicken-wuss-" Seifer began when a hand was placed on his shoulders. "What!?" he growled, now thoroughly annoyed as he turned to look at who was touching him. He immediately regretted what he said as he saw who had tapped him.
Quistis merely raised an eyebrow and gently brushed some stray bangs from his forehead. "Sorry, I'm late," she said. "I had to finish some paper work..." She gently touched his slightly bruised cheek. "Does it still hurt?"
"Ow! Yes!" he grumbled, frowning. "Bruises usually do!"
Quistis rolled her eyes. "You are such a baby..."
"So are we going or what?" he asked. Quistis tilted her head to the side, giving him a confused look as he had time to look at her dress. Where he was dressed in a SeeD uniform, she was wearing a red, thin strapped, cocktail dress that ended at her knees.
"Leave? Why?" Quistis frowned. "I just got here!"
"Let's face it, it's boring, repetitive, and that Instructor Balding is going to ask you dance and probably grope you." Seifer informed her.
Quistis shook her head. "We don't have an Instructor Balding here-" she began, but Seifer pointed to the short, balding instructor who had a crush on Quistis. She winced. "Oh...I see..." She turned to Seifer. "But I want to dance at least once."
"Fine," Seifer sighed. "We'll dance and I'll grope you and then we'll go."
Quistis rolled her eyes. "You're not groping me." she told him.
"That's what you think," he smirked as he offered his hand. "Now come on, before short, hairless, and ugly asks you dance."
The female blond giggled and shook her head at Seifer's joke as he pulled her closer and lead her to the dance floor. As they passed by the other instructor, Seifer once again gave him a superior look.
"What do you want to do afterwards?" Rinoa asked Squall as she leaned forward, against the stone balcony railing. She lifted her hand up and undid her hair, allowing the thick dark locks to fly in the cool night breeze.
Squall was standing a foot from her, also leaning against the railing. He looked over at her. "What do you want to do?"
"That's why I'm asking you," Rinoa said. She smiled as she looked over at him. "Come on...I made you come to the party. I made you dance...it took a while, but I still made you. Why shouldn't we do what you want to do next?"
"I think we both know what I want to do next." Squall told her seriously.
Rinoa raised an eyebrow questioningly and smirked. "Oh REALLY...?" she asked. Squall turned and walked towards her, pinning her against the railing as he lowered her head down against her.
"Care to guess?"
Rinoa nodded slightly. She pulled away from him and smiled from ear to ear. "We're going to go star gazing!"
"Right, we're..." his voice trailed off and he narrowed his eyes. "What?" *Is she kidding me?"
"We haven't seen a shooting star yet!" she reminded him. "Come on," she said as she tugged at his arm. "Let's go star gazing!"
Squall let out a heavy breath and reluctantly nodded. "Sure..." *It's not like I was going to get any anyway...*
As Rinoa took his hand and started to lead him back into the ball room, she spoke. "For a second, I thought you wanted to go back to your room and fool around or something. I'm so silly! You're not a pervert!" *Heh... think you'll get out of that little episode this morning...I think not, Mr. Leonheart!*
"I can't believe we just snuck out of your graduation ball!" Quistis said as she and Seifer snuck out of the Garden. She was wearing his thick white coat as he held her hand and lead her out.
"It was boring and you know it," he persisted. "C'mon."
"Where are we going?" Quistis asked as they headed towards a car that was parked just outside the Garden. "Is that yours?" She asked, pointing to the dark blue coupe.
"Actually...it's Raijin's. He let me borrow it." Seifer informed her. Quistis nodded.
"So? Tell me! Where are we headed?" Quistis asked. Seifer opened the door for her and smiled.
"To heaven." he winked. Quistis rolled her eyes as he shut the door.
She watched as he went around the front of the car and entered the driver's seat. "That was the most cliched line that's come out of your mouth so far. And I'm including everything in Rinoa's play."
Seifer rolled his eyes. "I hope you're appreciating this."
"Why would I appreciate this?" Quistis laughed. "You're the one who insisted on sneaking out of the Garden."
"I rescued you." he informed her.
"From WHAT?" Quistis chuckled.
"Instructor pervert!" Seifer stated. He started the car and turned on it's head lights. "You should be thanking me right about now."
"Oh please," she sighed as she put her seat belt on and crossed her arms over it. "You did not save me."
"Hey," Seifer scolded her as he pulled out into the road. "A man knows when another man has that predatory look in his eyes."
"So you think he was going to actually set his eyes on me?"
"His eyes WERE set on you."
"Are you saying that you're JEALOUS?" Quistis asked, secretly pleased as she looked over at him from the passenger's seat.
Seifer merely shrugged. "Yes, I'm jealous of the short, middle aged, balding man."
"So you admit it."
"It's called sarcasm," Seifer grumbled. Quistis laughed. "Anywhere in particular you want to go, princess?"
Still laughing, Quistis nodded. "Anywhere my knight takes me!"
Irvine was standing at the front of the Garden, watching the dark coupe he knew was Raijin's drive away. "What are you doing?" a voice said behind him. He didn't have to turn around to know it was Selphie.
"Just watching Seifer and Quisty," Irvine said. He turned around and shot the petite brunette in a yellow cocktail dress a smile. "They snuck out."
"And you didn't tell me!?" Selphie gasped. She frowned. "Where'd they go?"
"Probably to town," Irvine said. He pretended to shed a tear and wipe it away. "Our little Seifer and Quistis are growing up...and discovering the joys of adulthood."
Selphie giggled and put her arms around Irvine's waist as she stood next to him. He put one arm over her shoulder casually. "Can we sneak out, too?" she asked.
"I thought you liked parties?" he said, raising an eyebrow as he gave her a questioning smirk. "Besides, didn't you organize this one?"
"I've organized plenty of parties!" Selphie stated as she looked at him. "Besides, we just have to come back before it ends."
"That gives us..." Irvine looked at his watch. "An hour...what are we going to do in less than an hour?" He smirked.
Selphie smiled back at him. "Yeah...you definitely would in less then an hour."
"Hey..." he frowned playfully as Selphie tugged on his arm.
"Let's go back then," she said with a warm smile. "Zell has my video camera and I'm sure he wants to dance with his girlfriend!"
A white streak shot through the dark sky. It's deep depths were littered with beautiful sparkling lights as Rinoa smiled. Squall looked over at her, having seen the shooting star. The young woman turned her head to him and pointed to the sky with her right hand. Squall smiled.
"I told you one would happen," Rinoa told him as they laid on their backs atop a soft plaid blanket. "And you doubted it."
"So I was wrong," Squall shrugged. "The point is that it happened."
Rinoa sighed and scooted over next to him. She put her head against his chest and closed her eyes as she put her arm over him. She felt a heavy arm go over her shoulders, keeping her close to him as he kissed her forehead.
*Hmm...this is pretty damn romantic...* Rinoa mused to herself. Her brown eyes casually glanced around the area. They were on the roof of the garden. It was relatively flat on that particular point and Squall had suggested it for their star gazing. *Deep down, he's a romantic...that's so cute.*
"The play is this Friday," Squall told her quietly. "Do you think you're ready."
"I know I am," Rinoa said. "Months of planning and preparing has all been worth it. Thank you."
He looked surprised. "Why are you thanking me? I didn't do anything?"
"You read my play," Rinoa grinned as she looked up at him. "And wanted to put it on. That's why I left it in your laptop that night."
Squall slowly narrowed his eyes and pulled away from her. "Rin...are you saying that you PLANNED of it?"
The female brunette smirked. "For a little over a year now."
"A little over a year...Wait a second," Squall sat up and looked down at her as she placed her head on one of the pillows they had brought. "This entire thing is a set up?"
She nodded. "Yep. Brilliant, isn't it?"
"You never intended us to play the lead parts in your play did you?" Squall mumbled. Rinoa shook her head. "Rinoa..." he frowned. "The play wasn't your pet project then?"
"It was PART of it..." Rinoa trailed off.
"All right," the newly promoted captain told her. "If the play isn't your pet project, WHAT is?"
He blue eyes bore down at her as she sat up slowly and looked away, having been caught. "It's the reason I brought Seifer back into the Garden. It's the reason I made him and Quistis the leads. It's the reason Selphie, Fujin, and I have spent the last couple of months preparing."
"WHAT is it?" Squall continued.
Rinoa looked up at him. "A promise."
"A promise?" he asked in disbelief.
"To a friend." Rinoa added.
Squall looked at her, filled with surprise. He knew how far she would go to fulfill a promise and it had always been quite admirable. However, listening to her now made her seem like destiny itself. "But...the Garden is in debt-"
"That was a stroke of luck."
"LUCK? How is that LUCKY?"
"It gave me a change to implement my plan without question," Rinoa stated. Squall still stared at her in disbelief. "Don't look at me like that!" She sighed. "I my be free spirited, but I'm still Caraway's daughter...unfortunately. And AM capable of planning, strategizing, and organizing! Not to mention executing and pulling off a plan like this!"
Squall groaned and fell back against the blanket. He ran his hand through his hair and turned to look at her. "So who's promise is it to?"
"Quistis."
"Quistis? WHY?" Squall asked. Rinoa laid back down next to her and laid across his chest. She looked up at him.
"Do you really want to know?"
"I've only been trying to figure it out for the last few minutes..." he grumbled. Rinoa sighed.
"It all started on her twentieth birthday party," Rinoa said. "That's the night I started planning Project Seiftis."
Next Time: We're coming to a close! Rinoa explains to Squall the whole story of her perfectly planned conspiracy. The day of the play arrives with an unplanned ending with the execution of the Seifer-Squall plan. And finally, the secret of Seifer's acting skills is revealed!