Author's Note: Okay, here's Chapter Fourteen. But before that, let me thank my reviewers. Thank you, Tatsuki. Glad to see you reviewed. Hope you enjoy the story. Thanks, The wise. Yes, feel bad for Rinoa. Poor girl.anyway, it might be better. Thank you, Tai-Style. I'll see if I can put a bit more conflict between Squall and Seifer. But as you know, this was originally a ten-chapter story so I'm not sure if that will work out. Thanks, diamonddust1414. I can't believe you liked that part.but if you did, I guess you did. Thank you, PasifiKStaR. Squall and Seifer might have a bit more fights, but Rinoa will do something about that so it won't be like the one before. I can't say too much here, though. Thanks, LionHeart823. It's only a moment's confusion; it won't last long.
Okay, now some notes. A few new inspirations just hit me. I am now involving both Squall and Seifer's fathers in the story. Some other stuff might happen, too. But I'm walking near the edge here. This was supposed to be short but because of you guys, it's getting longer. Oh well, I just hope you continue to enjoy the story.
Chapter Fourteen
"Rinoa.?" Seifer asked as he knocked on the door to the bedroom a few times the next day. "Hey, are you awake yet?" He opened the door and looked inside. Rinoa was curled on her side, her back towards him. "Rinoa.?"
He walked towards her and placed a hand on her arm. She faced him and he saw she had been crying. "Rinoa.I'm sorry." he said, sitting down.
She sat immediately and wrapped her arms around him. "No, I'm sorry. You must be very angry with me," she said. "I keep making all these stupid mistakes and---"
"Hush," he said with a laugh. "No more. You always told me mistakes should be forgiven, right? Today is a new day, Rinoa. Let's go back to Deling City and make this day a good one. It will help you forget about Squall."
She smiled and nodded. Seifer left her room so that she could get ready and she got up from the bed. As she did so, she noticed the little yellow doll she had flung at the wall the night before. She sighed softly and picked it up. 'I'm sorry,' she thought. 'I guess I got carried away.' She gave the stuffed toy a hug and placed it on the bed.
- : - : - : -
"Rise and shine, Squall!" Ellone greeted cheerfully when she entered Squall's room. She opened the curtains to let the sunlight wash over the room and Squall only turned over in bed. "Come on, get up already," Ellone said with a laugh.
"No," Squall grumbled. "I didn't get to sleep. I'll just stay here.and try again." He pulled the blankets closer about him and Ellone frowned.
"You didn't get sleep?" she asked. "Why so? Is it because you're here in Esthar and you aren't comfortable with being here?"
He shook his head. "Rinoa." he grumbled again. "She's mad at me."
"She is?" asked Ellone. "Squall, you're speaking nonsense. That's enough, come on, wake up, take a bath and get dressed."
"No," he said. "I'm serious, sis. She's really mad. She threw me and I hit the wall and---," he yawned and didn't bother to finish his sentence. Ellone laughed. He sounded so much like a daydreaming child whenever he was half asleep.so unlike his wide-awake self.
She shook his shoulders. "Stop it. Get up. It was only a dream, Squall."
"No, it's real," he insisted and he closed his eyes. Ellone sighed, giving up. She just bade him sleep well then left the room to tell Laguna.
- : - : - : -
"Seifer," Rinoa murmured as she ate the ice cream he had bought her. They were having some quality time together some nights later at an ice cream store because Raijin and Fujin were having an argument on who owns the fried fish on the table that Raijin ate. "When will you let me visit my friends at Balamb Garden? I miss them so much," she asked.
"Soon, Rinoa," he replied.
"Does this have anything to do with the fact that Squall is in Garden?" she asked him, saying the name Squall very slowly. "Are you jealous?"
"No," he said. "But I will be."
Rinoa laughed and he frowned at her. "Let's go to that new club in town. They say it's real nice." This time, Rinoa frowned.
"You know I don't like going to clubs, Seifer," she said with a scowl. "Clubs are filthy, disgusting places. And I don't drink and I don't smoke, which clubbers do all the time. And I can't do that dance thing they do. I don't want to go."
"Come on, it will be fun, Rinoa," he said. "And dancing is easy. Just move with the beat and that's basically it. Come on and go with me!"
Rinoa frowned even more.
"Don't be so stubborn, Rin!" said Seifer.
"What about Angelo?" she asked, gesturing to the dog who was inattentively playing with a ball Rinoa had brought for him. "We can't just leave him here and I am not going to take him to the club. Oh, and we are not bringing him home. I don't trust Raijin and Fujin with Angelo. They'll starve him."
Seifer sighed. "Fine, fine, come on. Let's go find something else to do." Rinoa gave what was left of her ice cream to Angelo, who finished it in a second, and they left the store. They walked around a little, not really knowing where to go until Angelo bounded off into the park. Rinoa, of course, followed and Seifer didn't really have a choice.
"Angelo!" Rinoa called. The dog stopped and turned around; dropping the ball he had been carrying. He stretched his forearms out in front of him and barked as his tail wagged back and forth in a playful manner.
Rinoa picked up the ball and asked, "You want to play?" Angelo ran around her a few times and Rinoa turned to Seifer. "Wanna play, too, Seifer?"
"I'm not your dog," he answered.
"Aw, come on," she pouted. He gave in and stayed across her. She tossed the ball to him and as he caught it Angelo ran towards him. He threw the ball back to Rinoa and Angelo spun around and headed towards Rinoa this time. "It's a simple game," she called out to him. "Just don't let him get the ball."
For about half an hour they played thus with Angelo. When the dog sat down, tired, Rinoa hugged him and sat on a bench. Seifer sat beside her. "I love you, Rinoa," he said, nibbling gently on her earlobe. She giggled and answered, "I love you, too, Seifer." She turned her head to kiss him and they moved closer to one another. Rinoa leaned on him and he embraced her, softly telling her again that he loved her.
"I just noticed that the moon is full," she said. "It's lovely."
Seifer looked up. The round, pearl orb stared back down at him. "I've been thinking," he heard Rinoa say; "We've put off our wedding far too long."
"Yeah, we have," he replied.
"Well we should start getting back to it now," she said with a smile.
Seifer smirked. "Are you sure you want to marry me?"
"Of course," she answered. "Why not? I love you." Seifer kissed her and she laughed softly. "I love you, Seifer," she told him again. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened before. From now on everything will be better, okay?"
He kissed her once more before they both left the park to head back home and see what has become of Raijin and Fujin. Knowing them, Seifer assumed that the house was now in chaos. They reached the house and went inside. Seifer was surprised to find that the house was still intact. But he was also surprised to see an unexpected visitor in his home.
"Welcome home. I have been waiting an hour for you." his father greeted.
Seifer glared at the intruder as he clasped Rinoa's hand in his. "What the fuck do you think you're doing here, bastard?"
"That's no way to address your father, boy," answered Zeon.
"Good evening, sir," Rinoa greeted politely.
Zeon nodded and said, "You should be more polite, like your bride." Seifer only glared some more as his hold on Rinoa's hand tightened.
"Get out!" he said firmly, pulling Rinoa towards him and shielding her protectively as if his father was some demon planning to eat her.
"I will be staying here for a while, Seifer," his father said. "I want to see how well you and your darling fiancé are doing."
"Rinoa, go upstairs," Seifer told Rinoa. "I'll follow you." Rinoa nodded obediently and headed up the stairs to their bedroom. Once Seifer was sure Rinoa wouldn't hear what he was going to say, he raised his Gunblade threateningly near his father's throat.
"I'll let you stay here because you are my father," he said. "But if you ever dare do anything to Rinoa or do anything to separate us, I swear by my life you will die!"
Seifer walked away and his father scoffed at him. "We'll see about that, boy."