[A/N Hmm… wondering if this came too soon… anyway, a big part of the story comes in here and sorry to all Rinoa fans who read this! =) This is a pretty long chapter at least compared to the others… read on anyway!!!]

Voices calling her name she failed to hear them, her mind focused on another calling her, instead her eyes were on a pair staring back at her... Her thoughts clouded over... she felt weak all of a sudden... The voices still calling... Shouting her name...

"Rinoa? You okay?" Squall asked her, concerned.

She shook her head and looked around. She forgot what she was looking at. She felt strange. Light-headed. Her hands were shaking.

"Yeah..."

"Are you sure?" He asked her, her friends also looking at her.

"I'm fine." She said, her voice light, her breathing deep.

"You look pale... do you want to go to the infirmary?" Selphie asked.

"I don't think I need to. I'm just tired I guess." She replied slowly.

"Maybe you should go..." Irvine said. "You really do look pale and maybe the mission yesterday tired you out and you caught something."

"Maybe." She said, still unsure if she wanted to go. She did feel strange but she didn't want to worry everyone.

"Come on, we're going." Squall decided for her. "Just in case."

She didn't even reply, instead she just took Squall's hand with her shaking one trying to control herself and left, as the same pair of eyes she was staring at before brightened and kept it's glare on her.

"Hmm... do you feel any different, Rinoa?" Dr. Kadowaki asked Rinoa and she nodded.

"How?" The doctor asked her.

"I feel a bit more tired than usual and my head feels light and I feel dizzy..." She replied not sure if she should tell.

"Well, you look pale... I'm not sure if you are sick, it doesn't show it at least not yet unless you got something very rare, but well, I am pretty sure you are exhausted. Perhaps you're just worn out. Maybe you should stay here for the night..."

"Oh, no, I don't think so... I am tired but I think I can manage." She really didn't like the thought of staying in the infirmary alone for a whole night.

"Well... I suppose... if you feel well enough..."

"You can stay on your own, Rin? Maybe you should spend at least this night in my room." Squall interrupted.

"Really..? I mean, could I?" She asked, pleased Squall would suggest something like that.

"Yeah. If you want."

"Okay, thanks!" She said actually feeling a bit better, but that only lasted a few seconds and then she felt her head throbbing again.

"Let's go..." She told Squall. "I think I'll go to bed early."

"Alright." He reached for her and she closed her Rinoa woke up with a start. She looked eyes and just leaned on Squall.

She fell asleep shivering. She closed her eyes and thought of sweet thoughts. Quickly though, they were interrupted by a dark shadow. Pulling her thoughts into a whirlpool, swirling around, surrounding her and then sliding out of her grasp. She turned and saw a light, she walked towards it and then it grew smaller, smaller... it vanished. She was alone with the darkness. It came close... she screamed...

She woke up, looked around and realized she was still in Squall's room. Squall was already awake and he looked at her when he realized she woke up.

"Feeling better?" He asked her and sat down beside her.

"Not much... I still feel dizzy." She replied.

"Maybe we should go back to the infirmary..." He was truly worried.

"Um... not yet. I just need to breathe and rest a little."

"Well, if you don't feel better soon we're going."

"Can you come with me? I want to go get some fresh air. Maybe walk outside a little."

"Okay I guess..." He said, uncertainly.

"Great." She said tiredly.

Before she even had to ask Squall grabbed her arm and let her lean on him for support. She smiled a little and rested her head on his shoulder. They walked out together and slowly they made their way out of Squall's room, the hallway and then the garden.

All the while someone feeling better each second, as Rinoa felt weakened.

They walked through the forest a little, not wanting to go too far. Rinoa felt a little bit less dizzy. She actually let go of Squall for a second, feeling her vision getting clearer. She walked to the edge of the forest slowly and dreamily.

Squall watched her for a second or two. She turned around to face him, they looked at each other and their eyes locked for a moment, before a sudden burst of light and magic hit Rinoa.

She fell and felt pained and weak everywhere. Suddenly she felt Squall next to her. He turned around and saw a lady with long black hair and an evil smile. He didn't see what Rinoa saw.

Rinoa saw the lady too as she struggled to open her eyes, when she did the first thing she recognized were her eyes. They seemed so familiar. Then suddenly she remembered, she had seen them before. Then suddenly the memory disappeared, as the woman did too.

Squall was still next to her, he touched her white hand softly and she looked at him. He looked so torn apart. She mustered all her energy and placed her hand on his.

"Rinoa! Rin..." He called out her name, his voice trembling.

Squall... Squall... what happened to me? Am I....? Yes... I'm... I'm dying....

"I should've protected you... I was supposed to be your knight... I'm sorry..." He said to her, his voice so quiet.

No... you're still my knight... You always will be... you can never fail me, Squall...

"No, Squall. You didn't fail me..." She smiled weakly and closed her eyes.

"Rinoa... don't... don't..." He couldn't say the word. Don't die... is what he wanted to say and she knew that.

I won't! Angels are forever, remember that, Squall... I've told you that before...

"We'll find a way... don't worry... you won't lose me, Squall. Remember..." She couldn't finish her sentence yet he knew what she meant... like he knew what she was thinking.

Then in an instant she felt weaker... the darkness seemed to surround her... then a bright light... She opened her eyes briefly, took a long look at Squall, closed her eyes again, he knew she was getting weaker.. she heard Squall say sadly...

"I love you, Rinoa..."

I love you too, Squall... Forever.

She whispered those words, her voice barely audible, yet Squall heard her.

The light pulled her in... and she was taken. And she was gone.