A Sequel to ReCreating Hell
Chapter Nine: Opening The Gate
By PasifikStar
Author's Note: For a larger, more desciptive passage on Hell's Gate's unsealing, please read the original story; ReCreating Hell ^_^. I can't remember which chapter...Also, this chapter contains nudity.
* All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters."Well, well, well..." Seifer said from where he was sitting in the den with Quistis, Raijin, and Fujin. "If it isn't the loser." Hunter and RJ entered the den from the hall way, wearing the clothes they had been wearing earlier.
Quistis slapped his upper arm and shot him a glare as Hunter took a deep breath and held himself back from jumping his father. "Seifer, don't call him that!"
"But he is," Seifer insisted. "He lost therefore he is a loser."
"If I remember correctly," Quistis said with a frown. "You lost to RJ as well."
"I did not 'lose'," Seifer snorted. "It was a draw."
"Right, old man," Hunter retorted proudly. "At least I lost WITHOUT having years of experience and so called 'skill' under my belt. I can't believe that someone who brags about being one of the greatest gunbladers since Hyne created the world could have been beaten by HER."
He pointed to RJ, who lifted her hand up and waved from behind him. "Hi."
"Hey, I'm not the one who got set up to be beaten!" Seifer snapped back. "If you paid attention, you could've noticed that RJ is holding herself back when she was 'sparing' with her dad."
"He has a point." RJ piped next to the tall blond.
"I don't care if he has a point!" Hunter seethed. "C'mon, let's go take a shower." He grabbed RJ's hand and dragged her behind him.
"Edea's spell?" Fujin asked.
"Yeah," Quistis replied as they turned their attention back to the television. "I'm more disappointed in our son than ever."
"You would've thought that he could sense the spell put on RJ, ya know," Raijin added. "It's the same spell Edea used on Squall, ya know. So that he could dance, ya know."
"Well, I'd prefer if RJ just kept the little secret," Seifer said casually. "At least her father and I know it's a spell. As long as Hunter thinks other wise and his pride is crushed into dust, I'm happy."
"Bad father." Fujin commented.
Seifer scowled. "Fujin, have you been talking to Seraphim again?"
"So...what you're telling me is that the son of Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockeheart-Strife is now living in FEAR of your father?" Laguna asked. Seraphim nodded, her long blond hair bobbing around her head.
"So...um...if there are any complaints, as they are connected to your clan, please dismiss them," Seraphim said. "Sorry to cause trouble."
"No, that's fine," Laguna said. "Thank you for telling me Seraphim."
"Thank you for listening, sir!" Seraphim stood up and bowed her head before heading out the hallway.
When she closed the door, Kiros looked over at Laguna. "So what do you think?"
"I think Seifer is over doing it."
Kiros and Ward looked over at each other and exchanged glances. They turned their gazes to Laguna. "You do know that you do the same thing to RJ and Hunter."
"I do not!" Laguna gasped, as if shocked. "I give Raine Julia all the room she needs!"
"You pinned him to the wall when he came out of their bedroom," Kiros stated. "I'm afraid to ask what you'll do when she makes him her mate."
Laguna paled of all color as his eyes went wide. "Her MATE!?" Laguna gasped. "No way! My Raine Julia would NEVER do that!"
"Oh yes, she will," Kiros insisted. "RJ will get a mate and maybe move out."
"Move...out...?" Laguna whispered. His eyes slowly rolled back as he fainted in his big leather chair.
"See," Kiros said to Ward as they walked over to the unconscious leader of the clan. "THIS is why we can't tell him that RJ wants Hunter to be her mate."
"Damn...that's a big cut..." RJ said as Hunter stood in front of her. The gash on the left side of his chiseled abs was deeper than she expected. He had been bleeding a lot, however, covered it well so RJ couldn't see it.
They had forgotten about the eight inch wound until Hunter lifted his shirt over his head so he could take a shower. RJ knelt down and examined it. It was healing pretty well, but slower than normal.
"You can at least apologize, you know." Hunter said as he watched RJ look at his gash.
"Apologize for WHAT?" RJ snorted. "You're the one who left yourself open."
She looked back up at him with large blue eyes and he rolled his green ones. "You didn't have to cut so hard."
"Let me heal it then." RJ said, lifting her hand.
"Oh no," Hunter said, taking a step back. "You will NOT use magic until the twenty four hours after the spell is OVER, like your mom said."
RJ rolled her eyes and looked at the digital clock by their bed. "I have four more hours."
"That's still four more hours." Hunter stated.
"Fine, I'll heal it the old fashioned way!" RJ said. She grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. "Don't move!" she ordered.
Hunter opened his mouth to protest when her lips were placed against this wound, right over his hip. *Oh, Hyne...* he thought to himself as he felt her warm tongue clean his wound and slowly quicken the healing process. His body felt hot all of a sudden as her small hands placed themselves on his hips, holding him still in front of her.
RJ closed her eyes as her worked her way up and down the eight in wound. She could taste his sweet blood in her mouth and relished the taste as she helped heal him. She opened one eye and looked up from her kneeling position.
Hunter's eyes were closed as his hand gently fingered her now loose hair. *He looks like he's enjoying this a little too much...* she thought to herself. One hand rose up his body, gently feeling his stomach and chest, searching for any more wounds. She heard him take a sharp breath whenever she passed by a bruise. There seemed to have been a lot.
Finally, the healing was done and she pulled her head back. "Thanks." Hunter said as he fell back on the bed he was standing in front.
"You look flushed," RJ said as she sat down next to him and licked the remainder of the blood of her lips. "Are you okay?"
"I'm just super..." Hunter smirked lopsidedly. RJ rolled her eyes as he pulled her down next to him. He turned his head to look at her. "You have a very talented mouth."
RJ grinned. "So I've been told."
"Yea...what?" Hunter narrowed his eyes as RJ giggled and sat up. He wasn't sure that he liked hearing that.
"I'm going to take a shower," she said as she stood up and removed her tank top over her head. "Don't try to sneak in, you perve!"
"Perve!? Who are you calling a perve!?" he growled as he sat up. "You're the one who copped a feel while you were 'healing' me!"
He heard the shower start up in the bathroom. "Hey, I'm a vampire! When I do, it's not perverted! It's SENSUAL! There's a difference!"
Hunter mere grumbled as he fell back in bed. His hand went to the wound, pleased to find that it was perfectly healed now. From the bathroom, he could hear RJ singing.
Before he could tell her to spare his ears so that he could continue to hear, there was a knock at their door. He sighed and stood up, walking towards the door and opening it. "Master Laguna!"
"Hunter, I want to apologize," Laguna began. "I'm sorry that I've been treating you like some sexual offender after my Raine Julia."
Hunter raised an eyebrow. *Okay, first Mr. Leonheart and now Master Laguna...something is up.*
"You're a good boy. I've known you for a long time," Laguna took a deep breath. "I...TRUST you with my Raine Julia."
"Hunter!?" a voice shouted from the bathroom. "Baby, when are you coming in!? The water's getting cold!"
Hunter paled several shades as he slowly turned his head from the bathroom to Laguna. He swallowed hard as he was met with glowing red eyes. "I... I..." Hunter stammered. *Oh, shit,* "She's just joking, sir! I was waiting for my turn to take a shower-"
"Hurry up, Hunter!" RJ said as she put some shampoo in her hair. She could sense her grandfather's blood boiling as she smirked. "I need you to wash my back!"
"Oh Hyne..." Hunter whimpered. "Sir, really! It's not what it looks like!"
Laguna took one step forward and glared into Hunter's green eyes. "You better treat her like a queen..." Laguna hissed. "Or you'll have to deal with the WHOLE CLAN!" Laguna growled.
Without a second thought, he whirled around and stomped back up the hall. Hunter's heart was pounding in his chest as the adrenaline rush began to die down. He closed the door and leaned against it tiredly as he locked it. His eyes narrowed as he turned his head towards the bathroom. "RJ!!!" he growled. "You're dead!" *Let's see how you like your shower! I'll flush the toilet!*
Hunter took off, running barefooted across the room to the bathroom entrance. He turned the corner and ran into it, letting out a furious growl as RJ pulled the door of the shower aside. Hunter froze in his tracks.
"What?" RJ said as she shamelessly stepped out of the bathtub naked. As water dripped down her skin, she walked right past him to the pile of towels on the counter and grabbed one.
As she wrapped it around her, she realized that Hunter was still staring and turned around. She turned around to face him as she tucked the edge of the towel under her arm. She snapped her fingers in his face and he shook his head. "Hyne, RJ!" he growled as he covered his face with his hand. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?" He whirled around and took a step forward, only to run into the door. "AH!"
"Hey, watch it!" RJ stated. Hunter groaned as he rubbed his face. "Let me see-"
"Put some clothes on first!" He said as he waved his right hand out to ward her away. "Don't you have any shame!?" She rolled her eyes and backed up.
"What are you talking about?" RJ grumbled as she grabbed another towel and began to wrap her hair in it. "We used to go swimming naked when we were kids!"
"That's when we were kids!" he shouted as he put one hand on the wall. He began to feel his way to the door.
The vampiress put her hair in a towel turban and lifted her head up, just as Hunter passed by her, his hand extended and landing on her face as he searched for a way out. "Hey!!" she moaned.
"Ah! The wall just got ugly!" he feigned as RJ backed up.
"Shut up, meany!" RJ said. She pulled her head away as Hunter stumbled out the door way and finally removed his hand over his face. "Eww! Now I have to wash my face again!"
"It'll take more than soap and boiling water to remove all the ugly!" Hunter snapped back. RJ's mouth dropped.
"I am not ugly!" she shouted loudly as she shot out of the bathroom. Hunter turned around at the sound of her footsteps and held his hands out as she jumped into them. "I am damn adorable!" she shouted as her arms wrapped around his neck.
Hunter smiled as he swung her around slightly. "I know," he said. They came to a stop and Hunter kissed her softly. "You do know that I'll do ANYTHING to get out of that little bet of ours, right?"
"And you know that I won't let you off of it, right?" RJ countered. Hunter kissed her softly once more.
"We'll see...I'm going to go take a shower."
"Good, because your reek." RJ let him go and playfully shoved him away. Hunter shook his head with a slight smile and headed back into the bathroom while RJ went to change from her towels to her pajamas.
"Two nights from now will be a full moon," Squall said as he looked at a book while he sat in bed with Rinoa. "Hunter will be at his peak," he said as he snapped the book close. "What do you think, Rinoa?"
Rinoa was in a world of her own. "I think that our grandkids will probably have light brown hair...I mean, blond and brunette would probably lead to a sandy brown color, right?"
Squall raised an eyebrow in question. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"What, you've never wondered!?" Rinoa gasped, as if shocked. Squall rolled his eyes.
"Good night, Rinoa-"
"Squall," Rinoa said quietly as Squall snuggled into the bed next to her. Rinoa tilted her head to the side laid down next to him. "Which would look better? Green or blue eyes? Brown, maybe?"
He let out a groan.
"Hunter..." RJ gasped as the lycan's lips slid down her collar bones. "Hunter... uh...I have a confession..."
"What is it?" he asked in a gruff voice as he partially laid over her on their bed.
"It's about the sparing..." RJ mumbled.
"Mmm...what about it?" Hunter said. RJ ran her hand through his damp blond hair as her other hand slid down his smooth shoulders.
"Uh...it's a spell."
"Wha...?" Hunter asked. "What are you talking about?"
"When I was little, Edea put a spell on me. Um...whenever I use a gunblade, I'm suddenly able to use it and read my opponent reallly well..." RJ said. "I'm not really a good gunblader. I'm probably only as good as Mr. Kinneas without the spell."
Hunter stopped his trail of kisses and looked up at her. "So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that Edea's spell enables me to learn by watching," RJ sighed. "Without it, I would've never been able to beat you."
Hunter narrowed his eyes and rolled off of RJ's slim body. "So you cheated?"
"No, I really did use what I knew, it's just that my learning was accelerated." RJ explained.
"So...this means that I don't have to go through with the bet."
"No, you still have to," RJ continued. "You still lost."
"But you cheated."
"No, I didn't."
"You used performance enhancing magic."
"No, I used learning enhancing magic. The performance part was all me." RJ stated.
Hunter looked at her suspiciously. "You cheated."
"I did not cheat-"
"That means I win-"
"Wait a second!"
"Where's my kiss?" he demanded. RJ let out a grumble and rolled her eyes.
"What do you mean where's your kiss? What were you doing the last fifteen minutes?" RJ snapped.
"You weren't kissing me. I was kissing you," Hunter stated simply. "There is an obvious difference right there."
"I'm not kissing you," RJ sighed. She rolled over on her side so her back faced Hunter. "Good night."
She heard him let out a tired sigh as he arms went around her body, pulling her closer against him. Soft lips pressed against her bare shoulders as his head rested right behind hers. "Sweet dreams," he told her softly. "I'll see you in the evening."
He closed his eyes and pulled her against him tightly. When they would wake up, they would board the Ragnarok and go face the demon that had haunted RJ since she was a child. As he laid there with the sleeping vampiress in his arms, he vowed to himself that Sephiroth would die at his hands...even at the cost of his life.
"You are NOT coming with us!" Squall growled for the billionth time as Laguna looked at him with needy eyes.
"But WHY?" he asked loudly.
"You need to hold down the fort," Rinoa told him. "We will take care of RJ!"
"But what if-"
"Everyone is with us." Rinoa insisted.
"But-"
"Everything will be fine..." she repeated slowly. Laguna looked at her reluctantly, but finally gave in a nodded. Everyone let out a heavy sigh.
"Don't worry, grandpa," RJ said as she gave her grandfather a hug. "I'll be okay."
Laguna sniffled and nodded weakly. "Can I speak to Hunter?" he asked quietly as RJ pulled away. RJ looked at him reluctantly. "I swear I won't do anything to hurt him."
"Oh...okay..." RJ said. She turned to the tall blond standing at the door way and waved for him to come forward.
Hunter swallowed hard and nervously approached the vampire clan leader. His blue eyes kept themselves on Laguna, just in case he made any sudden moves. "Yes, sir...?" he asked in a nervous voice.
Laguna looked at Hunter thoughtfully. "If you bring Raine Julia back, safe and sound, I'll give you my blessing." he told the two teenagers quietly.
Both RJ and Hunter recoiled as the solemn words left the usually goofy vampire's mouth. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" they chorused at the same time. They realized that they were close to each other and let out yelps as they jumped apart.
Rinoa giggled and shook her head. "Come on, you two. If you're done, we better get going."
RJ and Hunter kept weary eyes on each other as they headed out the door. Rinoa followed after them as Squall looked back at his family. "We'll be back," Squall told him. "I don't worry."
The doors closed. Outside, the sounds of the dragon shaped ship was heard roaring as they ascended into the dark night sky. Laguna closed his eyes tightly. "It's happening all over again," Laguna whispered as he stared blankly at the door. "I thought that in a world that we spent so long working on to make peace in...they would be safe."
"You can't protect them forever, Laguna," Kiros told him. "Everyone has to face their demon sometime."
RJ looked out the window of the Ragnarok as they ascended into the sky. The palace disappeared below the clouds as everyone settled into their seats. It would be almost an entire day before they reached the Island Closest to Hell. She wasn't sure what was supposed to happen once they descended upon it.
She looked over across from her, Hunter was playing a hand held video game and she rolled her eyes. He seemed to be deep in concentration as he occasionally let out a growl of frustration. *Geez...we're flying to our doom and he's playing that chocobo game...*
"RJ," a soft voice said next to her. She turned her head and looked into the chocolate brown eyes of her mom. "Honey, I just wanted to go over what might happen."
"Oh...okay..." RJ whispered. "This is kind of sudden."
"The full moon is tomorrow night," Rinoa told her. "Hunter, Seifer, Selphie, and Irvine will be at their full power tomorrow. We're the strongest then."
RJ nodded. "I know...but...I'm nervous. What if something goes wrong? What if something stupid happens, like I get a splinter or a cut. One drop on the Gates means that-"
"RJ, don't forget that Sara, Leon, and Adel are all there," Rinoa told her. "They're still holding the barrier. If need be, your father and I are prepared to become seals as well."
RJ looked back at her mother and nodded her head. "No, we shouldn't have come to that!"
"RJ, calm down," Rinoa told her. She gently cupped her daughter's face and looked at her. "Normally, if a vampire spirit couldn't pass into the after life peacefully, we would have to try to appease it somehow."
"I think that option has flown at out the window." Squall said from next to her.
Rinoa sighed and nodded. "Our best bet is to destroy the spirit," Rinoa said. "Prophecies have said that those in Hunter's blood line would be the one that kills Sephiroth once and for all."
"Is that why when Hunter is there, Sephiroth backs down?" RJ asks. Rinoa nodded.
"Perhaps," she replied. "RJ...you and I are going to open the gates."
"What?" RJ gasped. "But mom, you saw-"
"I know," Rinoa cut her off. "Sephiroth...grows more and more...'solid' as we speak. And while he's still vulnerable in his spirit form to magic, weapons might have no affect on him."
"So how are we going to kill him?" RJ asked quietly.
"Hunter has to battle him..." Rinoa whispered.
At that, Hunter's portable gaming device fell out of his hands. They turned to him as he looked up them. "What...?"
"You heard correctly," Quistis said. She was sitting next to Hunter, a thick book on her lap. She had it opened to a page and placed it in front of him. "You can't fight him when he's in spirit form in this world. You have transcend your physical form."
"And what?" Hunter gasped. "Fight him in hell?"
"That's impossible!" RJ gasped as her eyes darted from Quistis to her mother and back. "Hunter isn't a full blooded sorcerer! He can't cast that spell!"
"We're casting it for him," Rinoa said. "Together we should be strong enough to create a spiritual portal him for him to go through."
"It runs it's risks," Quistis said as she looked at her. Hunter was flipping through the book, looking at the recorded details and attempts of that particular spell. "He could get stuck and trapped there. If he's too weak to return after the battle...he could be trapped."
"Hunter...we told you that being a knight was a responsibility that might request your life..." Rinoa said.
Hunter looked up from the book, a hardened determined look on his face. "And I told you all many times already that I would gladly give it," he snapped the book closed and handed it back to his mother. "RJ...can I speak to you for a moment?"
RJ, who was playing with her hands nodded and stood up. She walked to the aisle, followed by Hunter. As they headed towards the back of the ship, Irvine smirked. "Trying to get one last bite, Hunter?" he shouted loudly.
Hunter stumbled and nearly fell over as he looked over his shoulder and yelled that it wasn't so. RJ was blushing as they headed to the very back of the ship. Selphie slapped Irvine's shoulder. "Don't say that!"
"Dude, you're making him uncomfortable..." Zell said.
"Yeah!" Selphie piped. "He'll have PLENTY of chances AFTER!" Hunter nearly fell through the door.
Hunter stepped through the door way and watched as it slid closed. He mentally swore about the stupidity as he typed in the code to lock it, just in case someone tried to 'accidently' walk in on them. He turned around.
"What are you doing?" he asked. RJ was casting a spell over the room.
"Just a privacy concern," she said as she finished casting the silence spell over the room. "You never know..."
Back outside the door, Selphie grumbled as she, Irvine, Rinoa, and Quistis leaned against the door. "She cast a silence barrier!"
"Hmm...smart girl..." Quistis said.
"WHAT are you four doing?" a deep voice grumbled behind them. The four froze and slowly turned around. Seifer looked at him as if they were crazy.
"Honey!" Quistis said. "We...were...concerned...for the...children! Yes! The children."
"Do you have any idea how stupid you four look?" Seifer asked casually. "Zell and Squall are already watching the security camera footage in the main deck."
"WHAT!?" As if on command, the four them jumped up and nearly ran over Seifer as they ran down the narrow hall and into the main deck. There, Squall and Zell sat comfortably in their chairs, looking up at the screen in front of them.
"What...what did you want to talk about?" RJ asked nervously as she turned to look at him. Hunter studied her as she stood there, nervously playing with her fingers as her eyes darted around the room.
"RJ..." Hunter began softly. "Whatever happens, I want you to know that I'm really glad I got to spend time with you over the last few days. As short as they were..."
"I'm really glad, too!" she shouted. Hunter looked slightly surprised at her outburst as RJ's face turned bright red.
His smile softened and lifted his hand to slowly caress her cheek. "I won't regret anything..."
Outside, Selphie, Quistis, Rinoa kept their eyes pasted on the screen as Irvine passed out some snacks that Selphie had smuggled along in her bag. Squall raised an eyebrow as he heard Hunter's line.
"That is so romantic..." Rinoa sniffled.
"It's beautiful." Quistis agreed.
"I'm having qualms with this..." Squall mumbled, unsure of what to think.
Inside the room, RJ closed her eyes, relishing Hunter's warmth against her face. "Hunter...if you had chance...would you..." RJ took a deep breath. Her blue eyes slow lifted to meet Hunter's green ones. "Would be my mate?"
There...she had officially asked the question. Hunter knew she loved him, but this was the official word. Hunter's eyes went wide as he studied her face. "RJ, do you know what you're saying?"
"Would you?" RJ asked. Shaky pale hands lifted up and cupped his face in her hands. "I don't want anyone else by my side for eternity...you know that."
"RJ..." Hunter whispered quietly. He immediately cupped her hands in his larger ones and pressed them against his lips. "Of course..." he gasped out, as if he would be crazy to say no. He pulled her against him, crushing her body against his as his arms enveloped around her.
RJ closed her eyes tightly as she buried her face against him. "Oh, Hunter..."
Outside, the screen blanked out. "HEY!" Selphie gasped.
"Private!" Fujin said.
"Fujin! I demand that you turn it back on immediately!" Seifer shouted. "PLEASE!?"
"Negative!" Fujin affirmed over the speaker.
"Maybe it's for the best..." Rinoa mumbled quietly.
"What do you mean?" Seifer gasped. "They could be doing ANYTHING in there!"
"Anything?" Squall piped, suddenly concerned.
"ANYTHING." Seifer asserted. The two fathers looked at each other. A split second later, they made a break for the room.
"Oh, no you don't!" Quistis said firmly. She raised her hand and stopped them in mid step. "You'll leave those two alone."
Irvine looked at the two men, who had attempted to run off. "You didn't have to paralyze them, did you, Quistis?"
Selphie and Rinoa answered for her. "Oh, yes she did!"
He looked down at her and gently stroked her face with his hand. "I love you so much..." he whispered. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"You do know that I won't let anything happen to you, as well," RJ said. Her arms were around his neck as she looked up at him. "I'll do everything I can to make sure you're safe."
Hunter lowered his head and pressed it against RJ's. "I love you..." he whispered quietly. "I'll always love you..."
"Hunter..." RJ lifted her head upwards and pressed her soft lips against Hunter's. She closed her eyes as he responded readily.
He felt warm all over as her fingers wove through his hair. He could smell her subtle scent the curves of her body pressed against his. So...RJ really now was his 'girlfriend'. When he was a child, he never saw this coming.
RJ felt his hand on her shoulder loosen as they got deeper and deeper into the kiss. He was so comforting just to have around her. She felt completely at peace. Suddenly, she felt something over her left breast. The feeling was foreign and it took a while to realize what it was.
"What do you think you're doing!?!?!?!"
The door slid open and a furiously blushing RJ stepped out into the narrow aisle. She walked back to her seat, her chin turned up as she walked, self assured, back to where her parents were.
She sat down with a huff next to her mother and crossed her arms over her chest. Rinoa and Quistis looked at each other. "RJ...are you all right?"
"I'm fine."
"Okay..." Rinoa trailed off. After a few seconds, Hunter dragged himself from the backroom, a hand shaped mark on his face. *Oh...I see...*
Everyone, except for RJ, stared at Hunter. The blond sat in his seat across from RJ and crossed his arms well. They looked up and accidentally met each other's gaze. "Hmph!" Immediately, they turned their heads away.
"All right," Seifer said, cutting through the tension. "What the hell did you do to her?"
"ME!?" Hunter gasped as he looked at his father in shock. "Why do you assume that it's MY fault?"
"Well, for one there is a big red mark on your face..." Irvine said. He narrowed his eyes and studied the young man. "You did something inappropriate, didn't you...?" he smirked.
"I...uh...um..." his face flushed.
"Hunter," Squall said. The blonde's face went from red to a pale color in less then a second of hearing Squall's voice. He slowly turned his head to face the older man who locked his gaze with steel blue eyes. "What did you do to my daughter?"
"Nothing, daddy, can we just drop it?" RJ said from her seat.
Quistis' mouth dropped as she covered it. She let her curiosity get the best of her and took a peek into their thoughts. "You grabbed her breast!"
As soon as she said it, all hell broke loose. And they weren't at Hell's Gates yet.
Rinoa had separated Squall from the rest of the group after the protective father went ballistic and began swinging his gunblade around. Hunter looked like traumatized child, cowering in his seat. The Ragnarok had landed on the main land just north of the Island.
"Just give him time to cool off," Rinoa said as she walked past them to get her things. She would stay with Squall to make sure he was all right. Selphie and Irvine had retired to their room while Zell went to the cock pick to keep Fujin and Raijin company. "He'll be fine."
"That's...that's nice..." Hunter whispered cautiously.
Rinoa left them sitting there with Quistis. The door to the restroom opened and Seifer walked out. "Ready to go?" he asked his wife. They were in charge of gathering some supplies from their connections in the area. Quistis closed the book she was reading and nodded as she put away her glasses.
"We'll be back in a few hours," Quistis said. Her eyes darted to her son. "Hunter..."
"I won't touch her!" the blond male exclaimed.
She gave him a look of warning before following Seifer to the exit. A few moments past and RJ and Hunter heard the doors open and close. Reluctantly, Hunter's green eyes wandered over to the brunette. She was laying across several seats on her back, reading a book.
"I'm sorry."
Hunter jerked his head back in surprise. "What?" *What's her game...?*
RJ put the book down on her chest and turned her head to look at him. "I'm sorry for slapping you..."
He took a deep breath and leaned back against his chair. "I'm sorry for groping you. It was uncalled for and I made you uncomfortable."
"It was neither the time nor the place."
"I agree."
"And it felt weird."
"I'm sorry about that."
RJ sat up on the chairs and put her book on the seat next to her and stood up. She sat down next to him and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Okay, good," she said with a content sigh as she curled up next to him. "Now I can get some sleep."
"Aren't you afraid that I'm going to molest you or something while you're sleep?" he asked, almost sarcastically.
RJ rolled her eyes and tilted her head up to kiss him slightly. "No," she said with a smile. "Because at any second my dad might come out, see us this close and kill you."
Hunter stiffened and froze in his seat, suddenly putting all his senses on alert just incase the vampire returned, ready to kill him. RJ snickered as she put her arms around him and closed her eyes. "Uh..." he said. "Do you mind...um...sleeping a little further away?"
"Yes," RJ stated with a smirk on her face as she snuggled closer to him, her smirk left her face. "This could be my last time holding you like this...let me enjoy it."
Hunter looked down at her face and frowned. He slowly caressed her head and kissed her forehead. "Don't say that," he whispered. "This is definitely NOT the last time."
The Island was below them. It seemed to rise out of the sea they descended upon it. The older generation looked out of the windows as the island stretched out along the ocean, bathed in the darkness of the light.
The full moon hung in the sky, illuminating the plot of land with it's glow. "We're back," Rinoa whispered to Squall as they looked out the window. "Hyne, I prayed that we never have to come here again." Squall closed his eyes and gently ran his hand through Rinoa's hair.
"It'll be fine," he assured her. "We were fine."
"My heart is racing," she whispered. "I'm scared for my baby and Hunter."
There was a knock on the door. "Mom! Dad! We're going to jump from the ship soon!" RJ said. "Are you ready?"
The vampire couple looked at each other. Squall kissed his wife's lips softly and cupped her face in his hands as he looked deep into her eyes. The warmth in his blue gaze surrounded her as took her hand and lead her to the door.
"We're ready!" he called out to his daughter.
They exited their room and headed towards the main part of the ship. Fujin was holding the ship steady as Raijin passed out the parachutes. Everyone was getting strapped in, including RJ.
"Is everyone ready, ya know?" Raijin said. Squall put on his parachute and nodded as he clasped it into place. Rinoa nodded.
"Mom, you're not wearing a-"
"Don't worry about that," Rinoa told her. "I'll be fine. This wouldn't be my first time jumping."
Raijin opened the sliding door and a gush of wind blew through the deck. "Good luck!" Raijin shouted.
"C'mon, Raijin!" Irvine said as he stood next to Selphie in line to jump. "That's so cliched!"
Raijin let out a laugh and nodded. "We'll see you later, ya know!"
"That's BETTER!" Irvine shouted. He kissed Selphie's lips as he stood at the edge. "Whoo-hoo!"
Irvine jumped out the ship. Selphie jumped after him, followed by Zell, Seifer, and Quistis. "RJ, are you sure you can do this?" Squall asked as he looked at his daughter. "It's a long drop."
"Dad, I'm fine..." she sighed tiredly. Rinoa rolled her eyes.
"Stop babying my baby!" she said. She grabbed his shirt collar and kissed him strongly.
*Whoa...Mrs. Leonheart is pretty aggressive...* Hunter thought to himself. He looked over to RJ. *Hmm...*
As soon as Rinoa finished her kiss, she pushed her husband off the plane. "RINOA!!!" Squall yelled, having been unprepared to be pushed off. She snickered and waited until she saw his parachute open. When it did, she waved for the next jumper.
Hunter looked over at RJ, who was staring out of the ship. "RJ," he said. She turned her head to look over at him. He took a step forward and leaned his head against hers. "I'm going to continue what I started eventually."
RJ immediately blushed as the blond gave her a wink and that all too familiar smirk as he jumped out of the Ragnarok. *Little perve...* she thought to herself.
"RJ," Rinoa said. "It's your turn, honey."
RJ looked at her mother, dressed in all black with boots and leather jacket. She shook her head and shed her parachute. "If you're going to jump like that, so am I."
Rinoa raised an eyebrow and looked at Raijin, who chuckled. "She's just like you, ya know."
"Oh please," Rinoa said as she waved for her daughter to join her. "She's just like her father." RJ smiled and walked over to her edge with her mother. Rinoa extended her hand and RJ took it.
"I'm ready, mom!" RJ said brightly. That smile reminded Rinoa of when her precious child was still just a child.
Rinoa smiled. "That's my girl." They looked over the edge of the platform and stepped over it.
Hunter looked down as he maneuvered his parachute over the designated landing area. His parents as well as aunt and uncle, Zell, and Squall were standing there, removing the parachutes off their bodies.
"Here they come!" Selphie shouted. Hunter was still in mid air when he turned his head the direction of his aunt's voice. His eyes went wide as he saw two darkly dressed figures falling from the sky.
RJ and Rinoa fell past him as they landed on the ground. With grace, they seemed to rebound like a cat as they stood back up. Hunter rolled his eyes as his feet finally touched the ground. *Show off...*
"I told you he wouldn't run into a tree!" Quistis yelled at Seifer, who shrugged.
Hunter glared at his father. "I was pretty sure he would. He seemed to loose control at one point." Seifer replied.
"Shut up, old man..." Hunter grumbled as he removed his parachute.
Zell looked around. "Man...look at the sea..." The group turned towards the ocean view and found that it was churning with dark waves.
Rinoa took a deep breath. "Let's just get going," she said. She turned her attention towards the mountain ahead of them. "RJ...do you have it?"
RJ nodded and reached into her shirt through her collar. She pulled out a silver chain with a thick silver ring dangling from it. "I have it." Rinoa nodded.
"Let's go."
The site was just as the group had last seen it. The fallen columns, the niches on the ground...the blood stained on it. Rinoa pulled a box from under her coat.
"We have to open the Gate," Rinoa said. "So we can contact Sara and Leon."
"Why?" Hunter asked quietly.
"They must know what we're doing...that way they won't be caught unprepared." Rinoa said.
"If anything goes wrong, they'll be of help." Squall said.
"Also, if the gate is opened, it'll be easy for Hunter to get in." Rinoa added. Hunter nodded.
"Irvine, Zell..." Quistis said as she handed them both small knives. "Just a drop is all we need."
"Oh man..." Zell mumbled. RJ removed the ring from her neck and placed it in it's niche the center of the circle. Irvine stepped forward first and pressed his finger on the blade.
He didn't flinch as a blood dripped to the top of his finger. A drop landed over Griever. Zell reluctantly pricked himself and was being quite dramatic in letting the one drop fall over Griever.
"Was that REALLY so bad?" Rinoa sighed.
"Hey, I hate needles." Zell countered.
Squall stepped up to the center. He lifted up the sleeve of his leather jacket and brought his wrist to his mouth. They could barely see him slice his own wrist with his fanged teeth.
Blood bubbled to the top and he turned his wrist upside down over the ring. As it hit Griever and mingled with Zell and Irvine's blood, the seal was reactivated.
It unfolded before their eyes like a dream. RJ watched in awe as the glowing seal shot up a beam of light through the night sky. Her eyes widened as she took a step back.
Two hands placed on her shoulders and she turned her head up. Hunter stood behind her, holding her steady. He gave her a warm smile as the RJ looked back at the center of the seal.
A hand reached out from the center, glowing with pale beauty. A beautiful blonde woman lifted herself up from the seal as a man melted out of it behind her. Clinging to them was a child and RJ recognized them immediately.
The woman's glowing eyes opened to focus on them. "Why have you opened the seal?" she asked questioningly.
"Because we need to get in," Rinoa began. She knelt down before the woman in a humble fashion. Her eyes were down cast as her layers of dark hair fell around her pale face. "Forgive me, Princess Sara...but I need your help to aid my daughter yet again."