[A/N this starts with Quistis' thoughts okay? Um, and yeah… nothing much to say really… So just review please? I need inspiration! I need to know if I should continue too… so reviews PLEASE? ^^ Oh, and I revised this chappie...]

Girls sobbed. Boys looked away with tears in their eyes... "It brings great sorrow for me to announce that, our dear friend, Rinoa Heartilly... has passed away yesterday..." Cid's announcement a few days before still rang clearly in her head... She knew before that, but the awful realization didn't sink in completely until she saw everyone's sorry faces... tear-streaked cheeks. Sad apologies to her, and her friends...

Quistis thought about this as she walked across the classroom to her friends who didn't look any happier than her.

"Hi, Quisty... Is Squall okay?" Irvine greeted her solemnly.

"I'm... not sure... I spoke to him this morning and he said he was going to Edea's house for a while... I'm getting a little worried here..." She said.

"I think he should be okay... I mean Rinoa..." Selphie paused for the longest time before continuing. "Gone..." She was already near tears again. Irvine placed his arm reassuringly on her shoulder.

"Yes, but... well... I mean, that's one thing and also, how about that lady Squall said he saw? It could get dangerous and we're still grieving about Rinoa's... death." She said.

"Wow, I haven't even thought about that." Zell said, surprised.

"I have, and I think we ought to talk to Squall. Soon. But not until we think he's ready." Selphie said. "Maybe we can talk to him later... we need to... soon..."

Not until he's ready... How long would that take? I mean, Rinoa is... not coming back... and... taking in that realization could take the longest time. Especially for him. Especially for the one who loved and needed her most.

Rinoa... why? Why?

Squalls questions remained unanswered. He stood in the middle of the beautiful field with the beautiful flowers, but to him, it was just a place that had memories he would never again have.

Remember when before... I still remember clearly... when you said...

***FLASHBACK***

It was at the same field. At that place he was standing, with all his grief, only at the time, he was with her.

"Squall, something's bothering you. What is it?" He knew he couldn't hide it from her.

"I guess you always know now when something's up, huh?" He said teasingly.

"Yeah! You can't hide these things from a sorceress!" She jokingly glared at him with her arms up like she was going to cast a spell on him, but then broke it by tripping.

"Woah!" She stumbled on him and they both ended up falling.

"Oops..." She said.

"A very clumsy sorceress, you are." He laughed as they stood up and she laughed with him.

"Yup, I know. I can admit my faults. But seriously Squall, what's on your mind?"

He sighed quietly. "I don't know. Nothing really... it's just... I'm so happy now... and..."
"You worried again that something will happen to us?"
He nodded. "Mostly you." He said quietly and sat down on the grass. She sat with him.

"Squall, don't worry." She said comfortingly, "I know it's really frustrating knowing people can just suddenly leave you but we can deal with it."

"I know, but sometimes I wish people wouldn't have to leave. I mean things are so perfect now and if something would happen..." He sighed again.
She laughed gently, "I know. I wish that too. But you know Squall, angels are forever, remember that."

"What?" He asked looking at her.

"Angels are forever. As long as you give an angel your love she will have a path back to you. As long as you give an angel your heart, she will have the wings to fly back to you. As long as you love her, she will have her reason to find you, love you and never leave your side." She quoted.

"And where'd you get that?" He asked.

"Well, it's true isn't it?" She giggled.

He smiled. "Alright, my angel. Let's go find the others and keep up the perfection we have going."

***End***

He looked down and then he looked around the field just waiting for no one...

"You said..." He started to whisper. "I'll be waiting here... but are you? I can't seem to find you... I am the one having the nightmare of not finding you now... I want to see you..."

His voice so quiet seemed to echo in the silent garden.

"You said you'll be waiting here..." He repeated. "Well, I'm still waiting for you... Rinoa."
Saying her name hurt him, calling it and not seeing her appear made his heart ache.

"I'm still waiting." He said louder than before.

He stood there for the longest time, just staring, wondering and remembering times when she was there with him... He needed to see her so bad... thinking about her made him feel even sadder.

I was always afraid... afraid of losing everyone... and now... you, the person I care most about, leaves me... I still need you... how will I see you? You said we will find a way? What other way is there? I need to hear your voice... I need to feel your embrace... tell me this is a dream... Wake me up...

He felt a comforting hand on his shoulder. He didn't turn around, he knew it wasn't his angel. And that was who he was calling. He wanted to see her.

"Squall..."

It was Ellone. His comforting 'Sis'. He didn't respond but did not leave either.

"We need to talk to you, all of us. Everyone's waiting for you in the house."
He nodded and walked back with her.

The only one not waiting there... is Rinoa... I don't want to believe it... I can't take this...

When they reached his friends they greeted him sadly.

"Look, Squall... we need some answers and so do you. We need to figure out what happened to Rin..." Quistis said.

"...I know..." He said. "But we can't figure out anything." He turned away from them.

"There has to be a way." Selphie said, determined to find out for her friend.

"...Like what? We have no lead... that lady could be any person in the whole world." He said.

"That is true but we have to do something. We can't leave it at that." Irvine said, also wanting to help.

Squall didn't reply. He was deep in thought.

But then what... even if we find her it's not like that will bring Rinoa back.... but I guess... we should help... Rinoa would want it like that.

"Um... I think..." Ellone started.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"I think..." She started again. "Maybe, I mean, I haven't tried this before, but... maybe I could bring someone to the past of Rinoa, I mean when she was attacked, then we might figure out something."

Squall thought about this. "But, Sis, isn't that dangerous? You never tried it before right? You could get stuck with no way of disconnecting or something like that."

"I... I don't care. I want to help. I want to try this, it's the only way." She answered firmly.

"Sis..."
"Come on, Squall. You know we have to do this, we have no other choice!" She said.

He thought about it, they really didn't have another choice. He nodded.

"Alright then..."

"Are you sure Ellone?" Selphie asked.

"I'm sure." She said.

"Okay, I guess..."
"So, who will I be bringing to the past of Rinoa?" Ellone asked.

They all looked at Squall and he looked away in shame.

It would be too much... seeing her in pain... again... in pain... and I wasn't able... to save her... I'd see myself, not being there for her... should I? Could I?

"I'll do it, Ellone." Spoke up a voice...

"Quistis...??" Squall said. "But... I..."

"No, really, Squall. I know it would be painful for you to see her like that again. I can take this..." She smiled sadly. "And maybe this can be my way of helping her; I wasn't there for her before."

"Wow, Quisty..." Selphie said, awed, after a shocked silence passed.

Quistis... going.... But... shouldn't it be me? Wouldn't Rinoa want it to be me?

He looked at Quistis' face and saw she really needed to see this, some sort of something that tells her that she did her part.

"Thank you..." He said to her.

She nodded. She looked afraid but determined.

"When can we do it, Quisty?" Ellone asked the scared instructor.

"As soon as possible." Her voice and decision getting more sure, by the second.

Ellone nodded. "Shall we do it now?"

"If you're ready." She told Ellone.

"Good luck, Quistis." Selphie told her. Everyone else nodded solemnly.

"Here it goes..."

I'm going to help... I will be strong... I can do this... I don't want to see her in pain... but I will... for her.

Quistis began to see a light... her vision of the orphanage faded and she saw nothing but the light... Tears began to form in her eyes but she stood strong.

It started...

Rinoa, here I come...