Chapter Sixteen: Waiting At The Finish Line
By PasifikStar
Author's Note: Going with my whole Utada Hikaru song theme here, please listen to "First Love" for the final scene. ^_^ For those who are not content with the end, I'm sorry, but all stories must have an ending. I hope you enjoyed this story!
Dedication: To my sweet reviewers. For your never ending encouragement and threats to continue or else, thank you. :) I'm happy you enjoyed the story.
* All standard disclaimers apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters.
"Squall!" Rinoa shouted. Her eyes were wide as saucers as the sirens sounded around her. Tifa and Cloud were rushing around, clearing the space for the paramedics to come through and reach the young man's limp body. "Squall, wake up!"
Through the commotion, Selphie, Irvine, Quistis, Zell, Seifer, and Fujin arrived with Laguna and Ellone in tow. Seifer let out a swear as he saw Rinoa holding the body close to her, her eyes unblinking as she looked down at the unconscious man.
"What happened!?" Quistis gasped.
"Squall!" Laguna screeched. "Let me through! I'm his FATHER!!"
"Sir! Sir! Let the paramedics, get to him!" Selphie insisted. Zell and Seifer automatically went to hold back the frantic parent as Ellone tried to make her way through the crowd.
Irvine squeezed through the crowd and managed to make his way towards Rinoa. The girl's pale hands were clamped around Squall's unmoving shoulders. "Rinoa, let go-"
"Why isn't he waking up?" Rinoa gasped. "What's wrong with him!?" she said. Her eyes turned to Irvine and the cowboy felt himself pull back a bit. Rinoa's eyes were flashing colored light.
"Rinoa, you have to let him go!" a voice said behind her. "The paramedics need to bring Squall to the hospital!"
"No! Why isn't he awake!? What happened to him!?" Rinoa insisted. Pain was written all over her face as her body shook.
Irvine grabbed her by the shoulders. "Rin...Rin look at me. LOOK at me, Rinoa!" he ordered. the fear struck female turned her eyes up to his. "You have to let Squall go so he can get better."
"Better?" she asked numbly.
Irvine nodded. "The sooner you let him go, the sooner they can help him," he told the singer. Rinoa nodded and immediately let the racer go. The paramedics swooped in and pulled Squall from where he was resting against Rinoa to a stretcher. They quickly brought him into the awaiting ambulance.
"Wait, I want to go with him!" Rinoa gasped as she realized he was no longer against her. She turned her body and Irvine grabbed on to her. "NO! Irvine let go! I want to be with Squall!"
"We'll follow in the limo!" Irvine insisted. "Seifer! Bring the limo around-"
"Auron already went to get it!" Seifer shouted before the order was completed. "Rinoa," he said as he knelt down next to the crumbled girl. "Rinoa, calm down, okay?"
"What's going on...?" Rinoa whispered quietly. She began to breath in shallow gasps as her body began to sweat. Her heart started to race and she turned panic stricken eyes at Seifer and Irvine. "Where are they taking him." she stated, rather than asked.
"To get him help," Irvine assured her. "Rinoa...?"
Her breath was growing shallower. She looked down and saw the spot of blood that had been left after Squall coughed. Her hands began to shake furiously. "Rinoa?" she heard someone calling behind her. "Rinoa, he'll be all right."
Hands were on her back and shoulders, gently rubbing and patting her in hopes to calming her down. She looked around her at the sea of concerned faces. She saw Squall's father ordering his limo to be bring them to the hospital while Squall's 'Sis' was in tears. Irvine and Seifer were yelling at each other, both concerned as to what to do with Rinoa.
Irvine wanted to take her to the hospital. Seifer wanted to take her home. Quistis was calling the Garden to tell Cid what was going on. Selphie was desperately trying to calm her down. Fujin was keeping Seifer from punching Irvine. Zell had gone to fetch Kiros and Ward for Laguna.
"...to the hospital!" Selphie's words cut through her head and she looked directly at her.
"Take me to Squall!" she insisted.
Selphie looked at the others, unsure whether or not to agree to it or not. "Rin-"
"Take me to him!" Rinoa pleaded, almost desperately. "I need to be there for him!"
"Limo's here!" Fujin shouted.
Irvine shot on final glare at Seifer. "We're taking her there."
"What if something HAPPENS?" the blond hissed back.
"Do you want to tell her no!?" Irvine snapped. "She won't last if she's away from Squall when they're like this!"
"Seifer, he's right," Quistis told him. She shoved her phone back into her pocket and knelt down. "Come on, Rinoa. Let's go see Squall."
Nodding, the young brunette allowed herself to be picked up. Quistis helped her into a standing position before Irvine swept her up in his arms. Selphie was waiting by the limo, which had rolled up on the track.
"There are some pillows ready inside!" Selphie said. She followed Irvine and Rinoa into the black stretch.
"I have to call Caraway," Seifer said. "We'll meet you at the hospital."
"Right!" Quistis said as she rushed in after the other three. The door closed and Fujin handed Seifer a small black phone. He dialed the numbers that he had memorized and listen impatiently as a maid answered.
"Hel-"
"Let me speak to Caraway immediately!" Seifer snapped.
"I'm sorry, sir, the General has stepped out-"
"Out!? Out where!?" Seifer demanded.
"He was watching the G-14 on television and then rushed out immediately-"
"Where did he GO!?"
"I don't know-" before she could finished, Seifer hung up. He looked at the white haired woman.
"Fujin, get us a taxi!"
Selphie placed a damp cloth on Rinoa's forehead as the limo rushed to the hospital. Rinoa was laying side ways on the limo's seat, her head on Irvine's lap. Quistis was on the phone with the hospital, trying to see if Squall had arrived.
"Rinoa...?" Selphie whispered softly. The young singer's eyes were glazed over as she stared ahead of her. "Rinoa...are you okay?"
Rinoa didn't answer. She just laid there, staring blankly ahead of her. Fearfully, the green eyed brunette looked up at Irvine. He looked at her and shook his head. "Rin has a hard time in this sort of situation..." he began. "When something like this happens, her body shuts down."
"Shuts down?" Selphie piped. She looked down at Rinoa.
"When her mother died, Rinoa wouldn't eat. She wouldn't drink. She wouldn't sleep. She would lay on her bed and stare at the ceiling for days..." Irvine admitted. "Her father was worried sick. He was devastated...first his wife, then his daughter. I tried every day to try and cheer her up."
"What happened?" Selphie asked.
"I don't know," Irvine mumbled. "One day I came to visit after school and she was sitting there, eating and talking to the maid like nothing had happened. That's when she told me she wanted to sing like her mother."
"Rinoa seems like such a strong person," Selphie said. "I mean...she defied her father and...everything."
"She thinks she's going to loose him," Irvine told her in a low voice. Selphie's head shot up and her green eyes grew wider. "She can't handle it."
"But she's not!" Selphie gasped. "Squall will be fine!" She turned to Quistis, who just hung up her phone. "Right, Quistis? Squall will be fine, won't he?"
The blond woman closed her eyes and turned her head away. "He's...he's in critical condition right now..." she whispered in a low voice. "No one knows what's going to happen."
Selphie's mouth opened slightly and she looked back at Rinoa. The girl's expression hadn't changed one bit. Selphie began to wonder if she had even blinked the entire time they had been in the limo.
"We're arriving at the hospital." Auron stated.
Quistis looked at the others. "Let's go."
The halls were white and lined with white linoleum on the floor. Men and women dressed in scrubs rushed around as people stood, waiting to be seen or waiting to see someone. The bright white lights in the hall only served to make the place seem more sterile and surreal.
Rinoa couldn't remember anything else. The door had opened and Auron and Irvine helped her stand up. Just as they arrived at the hospital, another limo pulled up and out tumbled Laguna. Ellone stopped to help him out before they ran into the emergency room.
Zell had been with them and ran over to the others as they came out of the limo, Rinoa being the last to come out. The young woman's face was blank of all expression as Selphie took her hand and lead her into the room. Quistis had gone in first to find out where Squall was and what his condition was like.
By the time they entered the lobby, Quistis had been told and walked towards them. Selphie made sure Rinoa was sitting when Quistis approached. "What's the news?" Selphie asked.
"Still in surgery," Quistis said. "They don't know yet."
"What's wrong with him?" Zell asked as he sat down next to Irvine.
Quistis let out a heavy sigh. "Apparently, Squall has internal bleeding right now. I don't know what caused it."
"I do," a voice said behind her. Quistis turned around and saw a young man with shirt blond hair, cut straight above his shoulders approach. "I'm Zidane Tribal, I'm on Squall's pit crew."
"Do you know what happened to Squall?" Selphie asked. Zidane nodded and Rinoa slowly looked up.
"A few days ago, Squall was in an accident and slid down a hill. He had a pretty bad fall, but the doctor said he could still race, providing that he wore a brace," Zidane explained. "He wore it, but keep loosening it. And against orders, he performed some stunts that would have aggravated his mid section worse."
"So he could win?" Zell asked, his eyes wide.
Zidane nodded. "He said something the other day...something about having to win. I don't know what he had riding on it, but it drove him to go against the doctor's orders."
"So the stunts and the loosened brace caused the internal bleeding?" Quistis clarified.
"As far as we know yes," another voice said. "Zidane, go back to the track and help Tidus clean up."
"Yes, Cloud." The younger blond rushed out of the hospital as Cloud approached the group.
"I'm Cloud Strife, Squall's...um...mentor, I guess," he mumbled. "We're trying to find out all we can right now."
"Please try to keep us updated?" Selphie asked. Cloud nodded and walked away.
"I need to see him," Rinoa whispered. The others strained to hear what she was saying. Rinoa shot up from her chair before Irvine could stop her. "I need to see him!"
With that, she took off into the hallway. "Rinoa!" Irvine shouted.
"Rinoa, stop!" Quistis gasped. Rinoa ran past some nurses, nearly sending them colliding with the walls.
Zell and Irvine were already after her, with Selphie and Quistis at their heels. They were yelling at her to stop and she rounded a corner without even slowing her pace or sliding. "Rinoa!"
"Rinoa!" Their foot steps echoed in the halls as nurses yelled for them not to run. They paid no attention to the yelling nurses as they went around the corner. Irvine slid to a stop as he saw what was in front of him. Zell almost ran into Irvine and Selphie and Quistis slid to a stop behind Zell.
There was a large glass window and Laguna and Ellone were standing in front of it. Their eyes were focused through the glass. Rinoa had stopped running and stood next to them, her eyes also looking through the glass. The others followed their gazes with silence.
Squall laid on a table, doctors and nurses hovering over him as bright lights shone on his naked body. His clothes had been stripped off and sheets covered some parts of his still flesh. Blood was on the doctor's gloves and scrubs. The nurses were rushing back and forth with precision. Rinoa's eyes studied the face of the man she had been holding in her arms not even thirty minutes ago.
"Squall...?" she whispered softly. Her right hand rose slowly. It shook slightly as it touched the cold glass that separated them. "I'm sorry..." she whispered tearfully.
It was when the clear streams were sliding down her soft cheeks that the others noticed that she hadn't cried. She had looked close to tears, but she hadn't shed one yet. Until that moment. "Rinoa..." Selphie whispered.
Her breathing was growing shallower and more strained. "Zell, go get a doctor," Irvine said. Rinoa placed her hands on the glass. Zell looked at Irvine, confused. "GET ONE NOW!" Irvine shouted.
"It's MY FAULT!" Rinoa suddenly screamed. The entire hallway turned to look at her as she clawed at the glass.
Behind it, the nurses and doctors ignored her to focus on their patient. "Rinoa, calm down!" Irvine said as he rushed her.
Rinoa felt his arms go around her and she struggled against him. "It's my fault!" she kept screaming frantically. "He forced himself to win because of me! It's MY fault he's in there! It's MY fault!"
"Zell, don't just stand there! Get a doctor!" Quistis barked. The blond man nodded, still shaken by the singer's sudden outburst. He turned and stumbled as he rushed towards the lobby.
"Rinoa! Stop it! Stop!" Irvine pleaded as he held her arms tightly against her as his arms enclosed her. She was shaking and struggling and her head was turning from side to side wildly.
"Rinoa, stop! Please stop!" Selphie begged.
"No!" Rinoa shrieked. "SQUALL!!"
The green line that had been reaching peaks and valleys on a black screen suddenly went flat. Rinoa's eyes went wide, as if she had been looking at it the whole time. Laguna began to freak out and started yelling and Ellone burst into tears, sobbing insanely. Rinoa's body went still.
Irvine looked down at her. Her eyes flickered with lightly and he swore.
"AH!" A scream was heard down the hall way and the others turned their heads. The sounds of light bulbs popping echoed in the hall ways as nurses and by standers shielded themselves from the glass that flew from the light fixtures as the bulbs exploded. From both the left and the right side, the series of exploding lights approached.
"What's going on!?" Selphie shouted as she covered her head and looked around.
"Laguna!" a voice shouted from the lobby. Kiros and Ward were rushing out. "Laguna! A sorceress is in the building!"
"WHAT!?" Laguna growled.
Irvine's eyes went wide and he looked at Rinoa. The girl's eyes were still flashing different colors. People were yelling all around them. Nurses were running around trying to calm the people.
"Where the sorceress!?" Ellone gasped in horror.
"No! Squall!" Laguna gasped, realizing the danger that Squall was suddenly in.
Irvine looked down at Rinoa, her body was shaking. Her skin was starting to grow extremely hot as magic energy flowed the surface, ready to burst out. Her eyes told him that she had lost consciousness and that the only reason she was standing there know was pent up energy. He had to get her out of there.
For Rinoa, there was nothing. From her eyes, she could see the darkness of the hall as the emergency lights were turned on. Nurses and aids with flash lights ran around her. Inside the operation room where Squall's body laid, was dark. The doctors and nurses seemed to be at a loss.
*Squall...* Her heart beat for him. Her hand touched the glass once more and she willed it to move. Irvine prayed that the darkness could last a little longer as he realized that Rinoa was at a whole other level. He was forced to take his hands off of her after her body put out an incredible about to heat that he could feel through is clothes.
The lights were slowly being replaced around them. Rinoa narrowed her eyes as the glass seemed to turn into liquid before her. Her slim fingers slipped through the glass as she took a step forward. Squall was so close. Irvine was looking around wildly, trying to figure out what was going on.
Rinoa continued to step forward. Her body touched the wall and the glass and as the lights were fixed, Irvine swore. Rinoa walked through the wall.
"What the!?" Zell gasped as he arrived back with a doctor.
Irvine stood there, unsure of what to do. The doctors turned and scrambled away as the young woman orated out a pulsating energy. It was so obvious to anyone that saw her what she was. Squall's body was on the operating table in front of her. Blood was all over.
"Squall!" Laguna cried out, horrified.
"Rinoa, what are you doing!?" Quistis screamed. They pounded on the glass, trying desperately to get to them, to no avail.
Rinoa stood over his still body. Her face grew soft and intent as she looked down at him. He'd done so much for her and she had done nothing but cause him trouble. Her heart twisted in her chest as she looked down at his cold lips. The lips she had longed to kiss for days. "I love you..." she whispered tearfully. "If it costs me everything, I'll prove to you how much I love you..." she added. She closed her eyes and held her hands over his body. She concentrated everything thing she had into the one spell she knew would save him.
He felt warm all over. As if he were laying on a peaceful green field, allowing the sun to caress his body as he relaxed. His eyes were closed. They felt heavy and tired, but he wanted to open them. He wanted to see his sun. His moon. His stars. His life. Crystalline blue eyes opened beneath long dark brown lashes.
"Rinoa..." he whispered breathy before the blurs he saw before him.
"Shh...Squall..." a soft voice whispered intently. "Don't over exert yourself."
"Rinoa..." he demanded, knowing that wasn't her voice. "Where...?"
He slowly blinked his eyes, trying to clear the blurs. He couldn't make out of the faces, but he could make out the hair color. "You've been asleep for a month, Squall..." Ellone told him. "Don't force yourself."
"Where?" he demanded, roughly this time. He narrowed his eyes as best as he could. He was able to make his sister's face to his left. He could see Laguna's worried face to his right side. "Where is she...?"
"She's...she's not here." Laguna whimpered softly, unsure of how his son would act.
Squall wanted to grab his father's collared shirt and pull him down to yell at him, but found that his body would not move. "Where is she?" he hissed.
"Squall, the nurse will becoming with medicine soon-"
"WHERE is RINOA?" Squall growled.
"Uncle?" Ellone mumbled, looking across the bed. Laguna's eyes were closed tightly and he shook his head.
"In Esthar..." Laguna told Squall. Squall's eyes narrowed once again.
"Why?"
"Squall, she's a sorceress!" Ellone exclaimed, unsure of how else to put it.
Squall felt his hands growing into fists at his sides. "I KNOW what she is," he snapped. "I want to see her."
"Squall, you flat lined," another voice said. Squall turned his head as much as he could, which wasn't a lot. He looked up and saw Quistis standing there. Her glasses were off and she was playing with them in her hands. A nervous action. "When you flat lined, Rinoa snapped."
"What?" he breathed out. "I flat lined...?"
"You died, Squall," another voice said. Zell's face seemed to finally come into focus from were he was sitting by the window. He was looking out the window at the lawn. It was bright, sunny day, yet it did nothing for the situation. "You were on the operating table and your heart stopped. Rinoa saw the machine flat line and suddenly, all the lights burst. When they were finally fixed, she...somehow got into your room and was standing over you..."
"She had these wings, Squall..." Quistis whispered, her eyes glazed over as if she were lost in a memory. "They were soft and coiled against her back. I thought she was the angel of death."
"She brought me back..." Squall's voice was low and hoarse. His blue eyes narrowed. "Didn't she?" He looked up at them, trying to get an answer. No one would meet his gaze. After moments, he grew impatient. "Tell me the truth!" He shouted angrily. "Did she bring me back!?"
"Yes, Squall, she did." Ellone finally answered. Squall turned to look at her.
"Then where is she...?" his heart stopped as he waited for them to answer. It seemed that time had stopped all together.
"Rinoa Caraway..." Laguna swallowed hard. He closed his eyes and turned his head away from his son, not wanting to see his reaction. "Rinoa Caraway is gone...I'm sorry."
It was a lie. It had to be a lie. Squall shook his head slowly. "No..." he whispered. "No, she brought me back. She has to be-"
"She put a lot of her own energy into bringing you back with her magic," Quistis whispered. "As soon as she said it, there was a white light that went over you. No one moved, Squall...we just stood there and watched. And then...Rinoa's wings disappeared. They just faded away...and she fell back wards. Your heart was beating again...and you were alive..."
"She couldn't have," Squall insisted. His heart was ripping in his chest. "No, she's still alive. I can feel it-"
"Squall-" Ellone began, but Squall cut her off.
"Take me to her!" Squall shouted. "Where is she!? Take me to Rinoa!"
Quistis closed her eyes and rushed out of the room. Squall was speaking just as Rinoa had been moments before he flat lined. Zell ran his hand down his face. "We can't-"
"Where are we!?" Squall snapped. He looked around the area.
"We're in a private hospital in Esthar-" Ellone began.
"Then Rinoa is near!" Squall snapped. "Take me to her! I need to see her-"
"We can't Squall." Laguna said.
"Why the hell not!?" Squall shouted. "Don't tell me she's dead! She's not dead! I know she's not! I can FEEL her alive!"
"Stop it...she's...gone." Zell said. He shook his head and walked out of the room. Squall watched with confusion.
"Rinoa is at the Sorceress Memorial," Laguna told him. Squall's eyes went wide. He shook his head, but Laguna nodded. "She was loosing control. We had to-"
"She brought me back to life, you bastard!" Squall growled. Laguna's face flooded with pain at his son's harsh words. "And you have the gall to put her away!?"
"Squall we had not choice!" Laguna gasped. "We had to seal here away or else the entire public would've been after her!"
"We didn't put her away because she would hurt people, Squall. We put her away to keep her safe!" Ellone insisted, her hands grabbing one of his as she begged him to understand.
"Her father! What about General Caraway?" Squall asked. "Didn't he stop you!?"
"The man disappeared!" Laguna exclaimed. "Right after we got Rinoa, Caraway vanished without a trace!"
"Irvine? Seifer!?" Squall asked, knowing that they had been close to her. "Fujin? Raijin!?"
"Gone," Ellone whispered. "Selphie's missing, too."
"No..." Squall whispered. "No, this can't be right..."
"I'm sorry, Squall-"
"Stop saying that!" Squall growled. He glared viciously at his father. "Take me to the Sorceress Memorial."
"But-"
"I want to see her," Squall said, his voice deep and angry, but still a desperately plea. "I just... I just want to see Rinoa."
Ellone and Laguna looked at each other. Laguna nodded and Ellone closed her eyes. "As soon as you're well-"
"I want to go NOW." Squall demanded in a low voice.
"Squall, you just woke up-"
"NOW!" Just as he yelled, two nurses walked in.
"Mr. Leonhart, we've brought you some medicine." one nurse told him. She lifted up a cup with two pink pills in it and Squall weakly lifted his hand. He wanted to slap the medication away, but was only able to push her hand aside.
"No..." Squall snapped. "I don't have time for this. I want-"
"Sir, you have to-"
"I don't CARE!" Squall growled. "What the hell am I going to live for if she's gone!?"
"Call the doctor," the first nurse told the second one calmly. "He's over exerting himself and should rest."
"Mr. Leonhart, we're going to have to sedate you if you do not calm down." the second nurse told him.
Squall narrowed his eyes and tried to push himself up. He wasn't anywhere near succeeding. The nurse called the doctor and Ellone and Laguna stepped aside. They turned their heads away as Squall yelled and shouted profanities mingled with demands. By the time the doctor stepped away, Squall had fallen back on the bed, asleep once more.
"Uncle, are you really going to let Squall see Rinoa?" Ellone asked.
"If I had one more change to see Raine," Laguna mumbled as he sat back down on his chair and looked over his sedated son. "I would go against the world to see her."
The building towered above them as the limo stopped before it. The chauffeur opened the door and Laguna walked out, wearing his usual tan khakis and buttoned up shirt. Ellone had opted to stay back at the palace. Squall came out of the limo next. He had grown thinner while he was in a comatose, but his old clothes still fit him.
His black leather pants and dark leather jacket were around him as his typical white under shirt rested against his skin. He looked up at the tall building. They wouldn't let him out of the hospital for two weeks. He had tried numerous times to run away, all being caught by watchful guards.
Tifa and Cloud had come to visit him. Tifa was in tears, begging for forgiveness for something that Squall believed she had done nothing to need forgiveness for. He was told about his winning and his rival.
It seems that in the final moments of the race, Sephiroth had lost a lot of time to do an old wound he had gotten in a fight with Cloud years ago. His reflexes weren't as sharp as they had been in the beginning of the race. Squall had been able to catch up thanks to some added accessories to his motorcycle that the Al Bhed people had put in his bike when he was in the accident. That along with Squall's insane driving lead to his victory.
"Are you ever going to race again?" Tifa asked softly once day. Squall shook his head.
"I'll still ride...but no more races." he whispered in reply. He knew that Tifa had wanted to ask about Rinoa.
While he was stuck in bed, practically hand cuffed to the damn thing, he would watch television. It seemed that there wasn't as much news on Rinoa as there had been while he was asleep, but there was still a lot. It was revealed to the world that she was a sorceress and the beloved pop icon had 'passed on' and was sealed away in Esthar.
It angered him to find that some people regarded her as a monster, but found some sense of peace when he heard her fans mourn her. They said that they didn't care what she was and that someone who had a heart like Rinoa could never be bad. A few people called her a hero, as she had given up everything to save his life.
Squall was annoyed at the attention he was getting, but his father's power made it possible for him to be kept away from the public eye and the stalking media. Regardless, Zell still called it a 'media circus'.
They entered the building and their footsteps echoed in the hard floor. Squall felt cold suddenly as they entered. Laguna led him to the chamber were Rinoa's body was kept as if he knew it all too well.
"I come here a lot," Laguna admitted as he typed in the code to let them into the room. "I sit here and I talk to her...I tell her how you are. I feel I owe it to her for saving your life."
"You would've loved her," Squall whispered as the doors opened. He walked in first and stopped just two steps in. His entire body went cold as he laid his eyes on the small chamber in the middle of the large, sterile room. "Rinoa..."
Laguna followed his son's gaze. She was laying on her back, her body covered by white sheets with only her head exposed. Dark hair rested perfectly on the white pillow, framing a fragile face as she laid on a cushioned metal bed. "You fell in love with an amazing woman."
Squall eye's burned with tears he was forcing back as he stood behind a heavy glass window and looked into the tiny chamber where Rinoa was inside of. The chamber was in the middle of the massive, empty room.
"What's amazing is that she loved me..." Squall said. He raised his hand and touched the cold glass, wishing to touch her once more. He winced inwardly as his heart felt another stab. Was she cold inside? "I wanted to set you free, Rin...I wanted you to be happy..."
Laguna took a step back, feeling that his son need some private time. "I'll...I'll be in the limo."
Squall nodded numbly as he caressed the glass over her face. "I want to be with you," he told her softly as soon as the doors closed behind him. "I want to spend eternity with you. But you gave up everything so I could live...you'd hate me if I wasted it..." he mumbled. "I'll always love you, Rinoa...Just wait for me," he closed his eyes and leaned down. His lips touched the icy glass and he felt warm drops coming from his eyes. They fell on the cool glass. "Just wait a little longer..."
Esthar Speedway was practically empty. It was past midnight, and yet one lone rider continued what he had been doing for hours - riding his motorcycle. The bike hugged the corners as he sped past the empty stands. He still felt that it would take some time to regain his former caliber, but he didn't care.
He enjoyed cutting through the darkness. He felt free as he flew down the bare speedway, his helmet clasped on to his head as his gloved hands gripped the handles tightly. It was a simple pleasure to escape reality for just a moment.
The full moon shone in the sky as a dark limo pulled up to the front of the speedway. A tall blond man leaned back against one of the seats. "Quisty says that Zell is waiting at the gate to let you in." he said casually.
The young woman nodded. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" asked a cowboy dressed young man, who had his arm around a petite young brunette.
"If you need anything, you have our cell, okay!?" the green eyed brunette asked.
The young woman with the dark hair with blond streaks smiled and nodded once more. "If he tries anything..." a deep voice added. They had been hiding for months, trying to keep a low profile to avoid the media.
"Dad, I'll be fine." she insisted. The chauffeur opened the door and the blond lifted up the cell phone to his ear.
"All right, she's heading out now." he said into the phone. She had spent months in a special room in Esthar's Sorceress Memorial to regain lost energy that she had poured into Squall. The process was long and she had been in deep sleep, almost deathlike, but when she had awoken, it was worth it.
The young woman stepped out, wearing simple cream colored dress and heels. She reached up to her neck and gently played with the silver rings hanging on her necklace. The door closed and the green eyed girl grabbed on to the cowboy's leather jacket.
"Irvy, let's go watch!" she insisted.
"Just wait a second, Selphie," Irvine smiled with a chuckle. "We don't want to be too obvious that we're spying."
"Pssh..." the blond said as he pressed a button on the side of the limo and brought down a small television. "You two can spy all you want. I've got surveillance cameras."
"That's lame, Seifer!" Selphie said. "You take all the fun out of it!"
"Okay," Irvine said as he looked out the window. "General, Seifer, we're heading out."
He gave a small salute as he and Selphie opened the other door and sneaked out. The brown eyed girl was ahead of them and already reached the front gate. Zell was waiting for her and waved excitedly as they approached. She giggled and waved back.
After she fell, Laguna had Kiros and Ward take her to be checked in Esthar. Irvine and Selphie accompanied them. Caraway joined them later, on the verge of killing Laguna, but allowed Rinoa to be cared for by Esthar's technology. She was kept away from the public eye and a rumor had been spread that Rinoa Caraway had died.
In reality, she had lost consciousness and a large amount of energy, putting her into a comatose state, just as Squall was in. However, it would take her much longer to regain her magic and get her healthy once more. When she woke, her new identity as simple Rinoa Heartilly was prepared and she would be relatively safe from a sorceress hating world. Now she would gain the only thing she needed.
"Been a long few months, huh?" she asked. Zell nodded and opened the door.
"Don't get run over!" he teased. She shook her head and blushed, embarrassed that even Zell knew how she first met Squall.
A tall blond female was waiting for her and pointed out the direction to go. She nodded and went out into the designated area. On the wide black asphalt track, there was a yellow and black line. It was the finish line.
She looked back nervously and the blond gave her a thumbs up. She turned back to the track and took a deep breath and stepped out into the track.
The sound of a motorcycle echoed in his ears as he checked his time. He had to leave before the speedway went on automatic lock down.
*One more lap!* he thought. He tightened his hold on the bike and sped forward. He hugged a corner and ended up on the final straight way. He could see the banners of the finish line up ahead. The moon hung over it, as if he were going to ride right into it.
His blue eyes narrowed. Someone was standing on the track. He grabbed the breaks and the motorcycle let out a screech as it skidded forward. Squall was able to keep his control over it and tilted the bike to it's side as it skidded several yards.
The sound of the engine stuttered below him as he stopped a few yards from the finish line. His breathing was shallow as he put up the kick stand. His eyes were locked on to the figure standing in front of him. Squall's hands rose and lifted the helmet off his head.
He stared ahead of him, not able to believe what he was seeing. His helmet dropped to the ground.
She lifted up a silver ring that was attached to her necklace and smiled. "Well?" Rinoa asked softly as the cool night wind blew through her layered dark hair. Soft, chocolate colored eyes looked at him intently. Squall slowly got off his bike and stood next to it, shock and disbelief written all over his face as if he were afraid to believe it. She stood there with open arms patiently. Squall began to run forward and she smiled. "I'm waiting."
Author's Notes & Thank Yous:
General Thank You
To everyone who has read this story, I hope you found some pleasure in it. Thank you so much for reading
and for all your support, it means a lot to me. The encouragement really helps and I hope that I didn't
keep you waiting for the end too long. I hope you'll drop by again. I want to thank all the reviewers
especially. I usually write down everyone's name, but there are too many and it's 12:33 AM. -_-;;
But you all know who you are and I thank you so much for telling me what you think. I'm sorry that this
story has to end, I had a lot of fun writing it. It was too fluffy, huh? Plus the songs I choose didn't
really lessen the fluffiness. I love you all!
Domo arigatou gosaimasu!
Take Care,
PasifiKStaR
Notes
What happened to Rinoa?
Rinoa spent all her magic to revive Squall and was so weak at the end, she was thrown into a coma.
Laguna, realizing what she had done, had her taken to Esthar to be taken care of. She was put into the
Sorceress Memorial for the sake of being 'sealed' so that the public, which hates sorceresses, would assume
that she is no longer a threat. There she was taken care of and nursed back to health
What happened to Seifer, Irvine, Selphie, Raijin, Fujin, and General Caraway?
They went into hiding for a few months while Rinoa was recovering. That way, they'd be protected from
the media as well during that time.
So what happens after Squall runs into Rinoa's arms at the end?
They Lived Happily Ever After...duh. ^_^
