Note:

WARNING: MILD NUDITY

 Chapter 30: Red Handed

     Oceania lay at the edge of her pond, deep in thought. Her still bloodied hair clung to her nude form, and she began to wash her feet again. The blood stained her fair skin, and her flesh became red with the constant scrubbing. She replaced her raw foot back into the cool water, and started cleaning her legs.

     She knew soon Squall would want answers, but she couldn't bear to give them. But he needed to know. She thought that maybe if he remembered everything, he wouldn't need to ask. But there was a lot he never was told.

      She slid into the water, and grabbed a large plant leaf that resembled kelp on steroids from the bottom of the pool. She used it to scrub, and bleach her skin back to its original color, but even it took awhile to cleanse her of the reminder of her sins.

Oceania: Soon, I won't need anymore power, and I can face my fate. But I am still too weak…

     She rose to the surface to find Squall on the bank. He quickly turned away at the sight of her, and she quickly put on a blanket. She walked to him, and stared into his eyes, hoping for any sign of forgiveness. She found his will stronger than ever, and feared him. She sat on a rock by the pond, and remained silent.

Squall: Did you ever think about asking the sorceresses for their powers?

O (playing with her feet in the water): To admit one is a sorceress is like cutting your own throat. People treat you differently, and…(looks at him) hate you.

S (looks to her): They wouldn't be after they gave their-

     Before he could finish, she rose, and laced her finger on his lips. She gently shook her head no, and continued.

O: The fear would remain.

S: …Do you have to kill them when you take their powers?

O: For me to regenerate, and get all of it, yes.

S: Ellone, is she-

O: She has the potential, but her powers are not sorceress type. It's complicated to explain.

     They stood silent for a while. She stared at the ground, unable to look him in the eye. He lifted her head softly to look at her face when she'd answer his question.

S: Why did you return to me?

O (trying to divert her gaze, but failing): Which time?

S: When you knew you'd get punished, when you brought me our child.

     She saw the emotion, and confusion in his storming eyes. Her own welled up, but she promised not to let herself cry. There had been too much of that already.

O: I wanted you to see her, and I couldn't live without you.

S: …You have, though.

O (falls to her knees, and turns away): I have had to. I have tried to kill myself multiple times, but can't. It's part of my curse. It's part of my race. To be immortal unless I be killed by an immortal.

S: …

     Squall helped her up, and held her close, breathing in her scent (that's more of an Inuyasha thing, huh?). She relaxed in his arms, and buried her head into his shoulder.

O: You are wandering where our child is at are you not?

S: Yes.

O: She's safe.

S: That's what I'm afraid of.

O: You killed her because you had no choice. You also didn't know it was her. (looks into his eyes) If you see her soon, will you kill her then?

S: …

O: Your heart is in the right place, my voel. However, it is often wrong.

S (still confused about his emotions)(angrily): Why should I still help you? You killed Rinoa.

O (pulls away): ………………First of all, you lusted her. Not loved her totally, though somewhat. You love this vision of her in your head more than her real self. Second of all, I will let you seal me when we are done. I give you my word. Third, you know what I'll do unless I fix my curse soon. I'm losing this war with my evil side, and I don't think you want that. Fourth, I'll revive Rinoa after I defeat my family. Fifth, I still love you although you hate me. That will never change.

S: There's a thin line between love, and hate.

O: I have crossed into hate, and I know it. Forgive me. I actually wanted her dead, and you as well…(falls to her knees again, and cries) Damn it. Why am I crying all of the time?

S (put on the spot by the crying): …Don't cry. It's pointless to. It doesn't solve your problems, or help any. It's only a waste of water, and minerals.

O(wipes her eyes despite them continually crying): I am little more than water. What do I have to lose? I have lost you already.

S: (gets on the ground, and holds her) …Not completely.

     She looked into his torn eyes, and saw that he did indeed remember that they did love each other at one point. But now that love had been starved into a crumbled pile of disgust, and confusing emotions. She rose, and left the room, stumbling as she did so. She decided to get dressed, and then talk to him candidly, but his gaze made her feel naked. And the fact that she was only wearing a blanket didn't help.

     He watched her go up the stairs, and wondered what he said that made her leave. He sat in thought about the whole situation, and his thoughts went to Rinoa. Had he only lusted her? Had she in fact been little more than an illusion to him, her true self hidden away underneath his expectations? He realized that this could be true, but then… why did he hurt to see her die? Was it the dreams he had for dieing that hurt, actually love being ravaged, or perhaps the fact that someone was being slaughtered before his very eyes?

     He sat pondering these things when he heard Oceania calling him. He rose, and walked to her. She stood in the doorway to the cave, dressed in a white flowing nightgown. He stared for a moment, and touched her shoulder; she shuddered and turned to him. Her cold blue eyes peered back at his, but she couldn't look him dead  in the eyes. She realized she still wanted him dead to a degree.

      She threw herself into his arms, and he held her. She began telling him that she was sorry, and how she hated hurting him like that. And then she grabbed a knife. She almost killed herself with it, but as it cut her flesh, she remembered that she couldn't die. Death called to her like a long lost friend, and indeed he was. But he had long been hating her, and found enjoyment in tempting her with what she couldn't have. He whispered sweet rest into her ear, making his world seem like the only way she could rest. She realized her folly, and collapsed to the floor, clutching the red stained knife.

     Squall helped her to her bed, and she didn't stir. Her misery engulfed her like a tomb of torture. Life without happiness. Pain without end.  Squall covered her in blankets, and sat by her side. She was little more than a shadow of what she had once been. He felt partially responsible for this, for had he not been with her, she wouldn't have been cursed. He blamed himself, and her sisters, and their child.

     Squall made a small fire, and stayed by her side. He removed a hair from her face, and held her hand. He still didn't know whether to hate, or love her. She was evil, but turned that way. Had things not been the way they were between them, would Rinoa have been spared? Would Oceania not been reduced to this pitiable shell? He wondered, and fell asleep.

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     Her consciousness was with Hades. She stood before him, clad in black. She shook with anger, and disgust as she stared into his black eyes. Her own appeared to be an inferno, the fire of her hate trapped in her soul, longing to choke him, and make Hades die. Her hands bled from the nails digging into them as she clenched her hands.

     He laughed, and called her name, knowing that the naïve sprite of a GF was long gone. He mocked her, and taunted her about eternal rest. She lunged at him, and grasped his throat, telling him how ironic it would be if Death were to die. She laughed evilly, and threw him to the floor. He grabbed his throat, and told her to leave, lest Squall die. She shot him an evil look, and vanished. Hades sat choking on the floor, realizing that she had become more powerful, or bold. He figured it was Latisha's jaded-self winning, and laughed. Soon, he'd rule all of the souls, and win. He thought so anyways.