Author's Note: You know, I just noticed, I haven't mentioned Quistis until now…I think… Anyways, PasifiKStaR, currently my fave reviewer, thank you yet again. Thanks to you, too, Sadistic Shadow, very nice name. Oh yeah, my friend gave me the title. I suck at titles. The real title of this was supposed to be 'No Need to Remember' or something like that. So, here's Chapter Six. Enjoy! I'm sorry it's going a little too fast, but, once again, time presses me to hurry.
Chapter Six
Rinoa found herself in Squall's bed when she woke up. It was noon. She had overslept. A yawn escaped her lips and she looked to her side. Squall wasn't there. She turned her gaze to the ceiling. Last night…did it really happen? Or was it a dream? He said he loved her…how she wished it was real. It was only then that she noticed the soreness between her legs. It was real…she smiled.
"So you're awake."
She looked at the foot of the bed and saw Squall there, his hands behind his back. "Hi, Squall," she said softly.
"How do you feel?" he asked her.
"A little sore…" she replied, sitting up.
"I got you something," he said, walking to the side of the bed. "I hope it will make you feel better." He showed her what he held behind his back and she smiled.
"Aw…" she said, taking the chocobo doll. "And you kept saying I couldn't have it." She squeezed it tight, expecting it to squeak, but it didn't. Instead it said, "I love you."
"Now it's like me," he said, smiling.
"Thank you, Squall," she said, looking at him.
"I love you, Rinoa," he told her.
She laughed. "It sounds so…odd when you say it."
"Oh?" he said, sitting down beside her. "Then I won't say it anymore."
"No!" she said, pouting. "Say it again…and again, and again…"
"I love you," he told her. "And I love you, and I love you. I'll say it as many times as you want me to, Rinoa, and I'll never tire of saying it."
"I love you so much, Squall," she told him with a smile, as they wrapped their arms around each other. "I've always wanted to hear you say that."
Squall smiled. "You look so beautiful, Rinoa, especially when you're smiling," he said, looking deep into her eyes.
She laughed softly and gave him a quick kiss before getting up and saying. "I should go to my room now. I guess I'll see you later, Squall."
- : - : - : -
Raijin was taking a walk around the town of Balamb. The men he had asked said Rinoa was here. He decided to check it for himself before telling Seifer or Fujin. He wasn't really in the mood to get scolded.
He sighed. "Maybe I should start asking people," he said to himself. He walked towards a young man wearing a cowboy hat and asked, "Hey, you seen this girl?" He showed the guy a picture and the guy smirked.
"Isn't that Rinoa? Yeah, I have seen her," he answered. "Why? Who are you and why are you looking for her?"
"You know her and you've seen her?" exclaimed Raijin. "That's great, ya know. Name's Raijin, friend of Rinoa's fiancé. So where is she? Is she alright?"
"Fiancé?" asked the guy. "Well, she's alright, but…"
"Hey, who're you, anyway?" said Raijin.
"My name is Irvine Kinneas. I am a student at Balamb Garden, you know, the one nearby," he answered. "So…Rinoa has a fiancé?"
Raijin nodded. "Her fiancé is Seifer Almasy, ya know. We've been looking for her for months. I'm glad she's alright, ya know. So where is she? Could you take me to her now?"
"Rinoa…Rinoa has a boyfriend," said Irvine, "a friend of mine at the Garden, in fact. How can she have a fiancé?"
"You sure it's the same girl?" asked Raijin, showing Irvine the picture again.
Irvine took a long hard look and said, "That's her, I'm sure." He brought out his wallet and showed Raijin a picture he had taken with Zell, Squall, Selphie and Rinoa. Rinoa was right beside Squall, holding his arm. "Isn't that her?"
"That's Rinoa," said Raijin. "But…she has a boyfriend? Boy, Seifer would be so mad, ya know. Gotta go tell him as soon as possible, ya know."
"Wait, I have to ask you something," said Irvine. "You said you were looking for her. Why? Did she run away or did something happen?"
"She was kidnapped," said Raijin.
"Rinoa was kidnapped?" Irvine asked. 'Squall couldn't have…it doesn't look like he's the type to…but…? Even if he did kidnap her…why is she playing along?' he thought.
"Irvine!"
Irvine looked behind Raijin and saw Quistis Trepe, an instructor from Balamb Garden, walking towards him. "You should be back in Garden by now," she scolded.
"Sorry," said Irvine.
"That must've been my fault," said Raijin. "I was questioning him."
Quistis eyed Irvine. "What were you doing this time?"
"Nothing!" Irvine said defensively. "But you have to listen to this guy."
"Why?" asked Quistis.
"He's looking for Rinoa," Irvine replied.
"She was kidnapped in Deling some time ago," Raijin said. "We've been searching for her everywhere, ya know. Irvine here says he knows where she is."
Quistis looked at Irvine than at Raijin. "Rinoa is in Balamb Garden right now," said Quistis. "Was she…was she really kidnapped?"
"What if…" said Irvine, "what if Squall…?"
"Then why is Rinoa not telling us?" said Quistis. "I've talked to her a lot of times, without Squall, and she's never hinted anything."
"Could Squall be threatening her?" said Irvine.
"Wait, wait, wait," Raijin said. "Are you saying the kidnapper is in your Garden right now? With Rinoa?"
"We're not concluding anything," said Quistis.
Irvine nodded. "Yeah. This could be a mistake…but…but we still have to be sure. If Squall really did kidnap her…I don't know, we need to talk to Rinoa. You, uh…Raijin, go call this Seifer guy or something---"
"Seifer?" Quistis asked.
"Yeah," said Raijin. "Did Rinoa ever mention him?"
"I…I think so, but I don't really remember. Who is he?" asked Quistis.
"Her fiancé, ya know," Raijin replied. "Anyway, I'll go call Seifer, ya know. You guys go back to your Garden and try talking to Rinoa."
"I think Seifer - whoever he is – should come here," said Quistis.
Irvine nodded and Raijin said, "Yeah, ya know, that could work. I will go give him a call right now." Quistis and Irvine left Raijin and headed back to Balamb.
"First," said Irvine. "I think we should talk to Rinoa. Confronting Squall doesn't sound so good to me. What do you think?"
"I agree with you," said Quistis.
- : - : - : -
"Rinoa, there you are!" said Irvine when they got into the Garden. Rinoa was seated on a bench near the stairs leading to the elevator.
Rinoa looked up and smiled. "Hello, Irvine, Quistis."
"Where's Squall?" Quistis asked.
"Um…he went to Dollet to meet his sister," Rinoa answered. "He won't be back until tomorrow noon, I think."
"That's good," said Quistis.
"It is?" Rinoa queried.
Irvine nodded. "There's something very important that we have to talk about, Rinoa. Could the three of us go somewhere alone?"
"Yes, I guess so," she said, looking puzzled.