Mythology
Chapter Nine: The Night I Lost My Life
By PasifiKStaR

Author's Note: I think I revealed a bit much in this chapter, but it has to happen sometime. Anyway, starting in May, I'm going to take a MONTH LONG BREAK!!! :D Please don't hate me, I'm just kind of drained right now. I'll make it up to you, I promise!

*All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy.

As soon as she had fallen on her cot, she knocked out. Her head gently rested on her pillow as she laid there, her black shoes still on. Her eyes were closed as her mouth parted for her soft breaths. Her head was tilted to side as her arms laid limply at her sides. She was so drained, she didn't even know she had fallen asleep. When her heavy eyes finally opened, she realized she had.

She looked up at the tent and noticed that there was no light trying to penetrate her tent, meaning it was night already. She closed her eyes tiredly and took a breath. She shifted and felt something holding her down. Rinoa's brown eyes opened and turned to her left. A soft smile caressed her lips as she saw Squall's hand gently placed on top of hers.

She followed the leather clad arm up to the man who was slumped over in her chair, next to her bed. His eyes were closed and his head leaning forward. Stray brown bangs fell over his handsome face as his shoulders moved slightly with each breath.

*How long has he been here...?* she thought. Her brown eyes drifted over to her desk. Her lock said it was around ten and she frowned. She had been asleep for nearly fourteen hours! As if to solidify her discovery, her stomach grumbled.

At the slight sound of her stomach, Squall's eyes blinked open and he looked around quickly, as if he had fallen asleep on some sort of duty. His hand was still encasing hers when he felt her slender fingers gently squeeze his hands. Blue eyes softened as they turned to look at her. "Did I wake you?" he asked thoughtfully.

Rinoa shook his head slightly as she blushed. "How long have you been here?" she whispered. She frowned. Her voice was raspy.

Squall's hand pulled out of hers and lifted to slowly brush back her blond streaked locks from her face. "Long enough," he whispered. "Are you hungry?"

"Very," she replied. "Has the food come in yet?"

Squall nodded and noticed her try to sit up. His arms swept around her and gently helped her into a sitting position. Rinoa felt her face blush heatedly as her legs went over the side of the cot. "Stay here, I'll get you something to eat."

Rinoa nodded. "Water, too?"

"Water, too." Squall gave her one last look before exiting her tent and slipping out into the darkness outside. Rinoa reached over and turned on the lamp on her desk. It illuminated the entire room lightly and she stretched out. Curious, she stood up and stepped outside her tent.

The tents, except for the cafeteria and research tent, had all been taken down. The only other tents, where Selphie, Quistis, Irvine, Zell, and Seifer resided were now clumped together closer to the base of the mountain, leaving her tent and the research tent as the outliers. She saw Squall's tent close by, his being the only one that was dark blue instead of dark green. It was taken down slightly to avoid being blown away by the wind.

"Hey," a voice said quietly. Rinoa turned her head and smiled as she saw Quistis walking out of the tent. "How are you feeling?"

Rinoa nodded slightly. "I'm okay..." she said. "Should I move my tent?"

"We'll move it tomorrow," Quistis said fondly. She stood next to Rinoa and let out a heavy sigh. "You missed the chaos."

Rinoa grinned. "Was it that bad?" Quistis closed her eyes and nodded. She raised her hand to rub the bridge of her nose as the memory of the day flooded her mind.

"We had to take down two dozen tents by ourselves," Quistis told her. "That was how we spent most of the day."

"You guys didn't get any sleep!?" Rinoa gasped. She immediately frowned. "Quistis, everyone was up last night!"

"No, no," Quistis assured her. "We took naps here and there. Around noon, Selphie, Zell, and I all fell asleep. The other three seemed to be wide awake."

"I see," Rinoa said. She turned to scan the area once more. "So what's going to happen? Where did all the stuff go?"

"Well, until the volunteers return, Hyne knows when," Quistis began as she also studied the camp area. "We'll be here doing survey work. I've already planned the tasks. Zell's in charge of food, Selphie is to take Irvine to the market area to do the measurements. Seifer and I will continue at the palace. Squall will stay here in the research tent with you and you'll finish up the tablets and any other artifacts we manage to bring up. And we packed the stuff behind the cafeteria tent."

Rinoa nodded. "It seems like so much for just seven people..." she whispered. She glanced up at Quistis. "How are you taking it?"

Quistis let out a slight chuckle. "Don't worry about me," she said. "As long as I'm allowed to stay and do my work, I'm happy."

"You're such a workaholic, Quistis..." Rinoa sighed.

"You didn't want to leave either," Quistis reminded her. Rinoa looked away sheepishly and Quistis laughed. "Well, it's getting late...I just going to get some sleep. Did you eat?"

"Squall's bringing me something from the cafeteria," Rinoa told her. Quistis nodded. "Did you?"

"As soon as the food arrived, we raided it," Quistis said. She turned and began to head for her tent. "I'll see you tomorrow, Rin! We have a long day ahead of us."

Rinoa nodded. "Good night, Quistis!" As she waved Quistis passed by Squall, who was walking down the path with a tray of food and a bottle of water. He acknowledged Quistis with a nod. Rinoa waited for him to arrive. "What did you get me?" she asked cheerfully.

"Cold spaghetti and slightly warm sauce," Squall said. "Sorry, we just had left overs."

Rinoa shook her head. "That's okay," she said. Squall motioned for her to go into the tent with his head while he followed behind her. She pulled out a small folding table that was just big enough for the tray and set it up in front of her cot. "Thanks..."

Squall placed it in front of her as she sat on her cot. He sat on the chair across from her and handed her a fork as he lifted up the plastic cover. The entire plate was covered with strands of spaghetti and drenched with sauce. "I didn't eat either," he explained. He lifted up another fork and began to eat. "Go ahead and start."

"Huh?" Rinoa shook her head and nodded as she stabbed the food and began to curl it around her fork. "Umm...Squall?"

"Yeah?" He didn't look up from what he was eating.

"How long where you here?" Rinoa asked quietly. She quickly stuffed the spaghetti into her mouth as Squall paused. His eyes rose to meet hers, making her heart skip a beat.

"Just an hour..." he said, trailing off. *Or three...* he added mentally.

Rinoa nodded. "If there was so much work, you should've woken me. I could've helped."

"You were knocked out," Squall replied. "No one wanted to wake you."

"I feel bad for not being able to-"

"You can help tomorrow," he told her. "For now, just get some rest."

She giggled as she finished slurping up a noodle. "I just had fourteen hours of sleep Squall. I think I'm all rested out." A slight smile tugged at his lips and Rinoa felt herself blush at the mere sight of it.

"Then we have a problem now, don't we?" he said. "The rest of them will be sleeping while we're wide awake. And then tomorrow, we'll be sleeping when they'll be wide awake. It's going to be difficult trying to work together when we're nocturnal."

"What do you mean 'we'?" Rinoa laughed as she swallowed her food. "You have to get some sleep."

"I can't leave you to your own devices," Squall told her casually as they finished up the food with much gusto. "Besides, if I let myself go now, I'll just slip into a food coma."

"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Rinoa paused. "Actually...I could get to work on those tablets."

"You haven't been down to the ruins for a while," Squall reminded her. "We should go see how far they progressed."

"But it's dark!" Rinoa said, putting down her fork. "We won't be able to see anything."

"That never stopped you before." Squall reminded her. Rinoa blushed. She forgot that Squall knew all about her little disappearing act that caused her to wind up unconscious for a few hours.

"Well...okay, fine. I'll get my flash light," she sighed as she stood up. "I hope those grave robbers aren't any where near."

"Grave robbers?"

"Yeah," Rinoa said as she opened up a chest by her desk and began to rummage through it. "I saw light in the ruins that night and when I woke up, Quistis told me that someone had stolen some of the bodies in the tombs."

"Stolen bodies?" Squall asked. She nodded and pulled out a big yellow flash light. She turned it on to check the batteries.

"The Chamber of the Dead," Rinoa said. "There are six tombs in there and they were all opened and the bodies were missing. Strangely enough, nothing else was stolen."

"Are you sure there were GRAVE robbers?" Squall persisted. Rinoa nodded once more and turned to look at him.

"What else could they be?" she asked. Squall paused for a moment and nodded.

"You're probably right," he said. He stood up and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I'll bring the tray back to the cafeteria and stop by my tent to get a flash light."

"Okay, I'll wait in the research tent." Rinoa replied. She pocketed some extra batteries just incase.

"And don't worry about the grave robbers," Squall said as he headed towards the exit with the tray in his hands. "I'll protect you."

Rinoa laughed slightly as he vanished outside. She stopped slowly and touched her cheeks. They were burning with warmth. *Protect me, huh?* she smiled. *Sure.*

"Watch your step," Squall said as his warm hand wrapped around Rinoa's. She steadied herself before jumping down to his level. They both held flashlights in their free hands as Squall lead her through the palace. He carefully stepped over fallen pillars and walls, holding her hand the entire time to make sure she avoided them as well. "I believe Seifer and Quistis were doing their little dancing number here."

Rinoa giggled and shined her flash light around as they stepped into the center of the fallen ballroom. "Wow...this place must've been something..."

"Very much so," Squall told her with a slight smile. "In the summer months, they would have fire works after all the grand parties."

"Really?" Rinoa asked. She had let go of his hand to wander around. She inspected the ceiling with her flash light and smiled slightly as the moonlight shone down against her. Her eyes trailed downwards and landed on the columns that supported the once glorious ceiling. The columns had niches in them were oil lamps had been kept to illuminate the room. "I wish I could've seen it when it was brand new. I bet there were people lined along the walls, watching people dance..."

Squall chuckled as he sat down on a fallen column. He put his flash light next to him and smiled slightly as he watched her rummage around. "So...when your Matron told you the stories of the Fall of Centra...what did she say happened?"

Rinoa shrugged as she wandered around. "She said that a woman was possessed by an evil sorceress and she destroyed Centra..." Rinoa paused underneath the center of the ceiling and raised her flashlight towards the sky. "She said that she was stopped when her lover killed her."

Rinoa missed the look of pain that flashed through Squall's face. He looked down at his hands. "Is that your favorite story?"

Rinoa nodded and brought the flashlight back over him. He blinked and turned his head as she giggled and pulled the flash light away. "It sure is!" She said as she walked over to him. They had been wandering around the ruins for hours. She hadn't told him about the strange feelings she had gotten as they wandered through certain parts. Especially through the temple.

"Why?" Squall asked, confused as she sat down next to him on the pillar. She turned off her flash light and placed it next to her. They were facing the east side of the ball room. "It's a sad story."

"Yeah, but it's a beautiful story," Rinoa insisted. She brought her knees up to her chest. "Man, I'm tired...you made we walk through all of ancient Centra!"

Squall merely laughed and shook his head. "Ancient Centra would've been more exciting to walk through all those years ago." he replied wistfully. Rinoa nodded.

"Do you hate the story?" Rinoa asked. She turned her head slightly to look up at him. Squall shrugged, not looking at her, but looking straight ahead.

"It's just a story..." he whispered.

Rinoa followed his gaze. "I think it's romantic..."

"Romantic?" Squall asked, almost shocked. "What? HOW? The man killed his lover!"

Rinoa sighed. "It's not about death, Squall," Rinoa said. "It's about devotion. Self-sacrifice. Inner strength and passion," She paused to let him answer, but he kept silent. She continued on. "The woman didn't want to die, obviously, but she didn't want to destroy the world where she and the man she loved had the happiest moments of the lives. She freely sacrificed herself to spare all those she loved and to protect her memories. She didn't want to hurt anyone else."

"It doesn't change the fact that he still killed her..." Squall mumbled.

Rinoa leaned forward slightly, her eyes still focused on the dark horizon. "He didn't kill her, Squall," Rinoa whispered in reply. He turned to look at her and strained his ears to hear what she would say next. "She was trapped...and he set her free."

"I still can't believe it," Rinoa said as she stood in a little circle along with Quistis and Selphie. She looked up at the tall, slender blond. "You're actually going through with this."

"Squall was right," Quistis sighed tiredly as she held a wine glass lazily with one hand. One hand that carried a large, crystal clear, sparkling gemstone on a elegant platinum band. "Someone has to run this country and Hyne forbid that it's going to be Seifer."

Selphie raised an eyebrow. "So...you're saying that you're marrying him for the good of the nation?" she asked, choosing her words carefully.

Quistis nodded and quickly took another sip of her wine. "Of course," Quistis said sternly. "Merely for the good of the nation."

"Are you sure it's not because you love him?" Rinoa asked, raising an eyebrow in question. She watched Quistis' features carefully as the blonde's blue eyes quickly darted to their right and eyed the tall blond man in the white and gold robes.

He had been talking to some nobles, but her sapphire eyes quickly caught his. He smiled slightly, emerald orbs twinkling mischievously as he lifted his wine glass to her. Instantly, Quistis' realized she had been caught and turned her head away, her face flushing. "I do NOT love him!"

"Right..." Selphie and Rinoa chorused. Quistis frowned.

"Look at the man!" Quistis said, pointing directly to Seifer while not looking at him. "He's obviously not capable of running a country like Centra. Frankly, I find him incapable of doing anything."

"Aww...Quisty, did you miss me?" Seifer's voice cut through their conversation and Quistis turned around, her eyes narrowed as she realized that he had walked over. His arm slipped around her slim, silver toga lined waist.

Rinoa and Selphie giggled, both noticing the hardened look on Quistis' face soften with a few perfectly placed caresses from Seifer's hand. "Well..." Rinoa said as she and Selphie began to back away. "I guess, we should leave the two love birds alone."

"Would you?" Seifer asked, almost sweetly. The two brunettes giggled and Quistis sent him a glare.

"See you later, Quistis!" Selphie smiled cheerfully. She and Rinoa quickly turned and sped away, leaving Quistis opened mouthed, but not fast enough to stop them.

"Why did you encourage them!?" Quistis snapped at the other blond. Seifer shrugged and leaned over quickly. He kissed her cheek and Quistis struggled to keep from turning red.

"I just wanted you all to myself." Seifer smirked. All around them, people were enjoying the party. Friends of the family as well as important members of Centran society had been invited to come to the engagement party of the future King and Queen of Centra.

Rinoa looked over her shoulder and smiled contentedly as Seifer put his arms around Quistis and gently kissed her on the lips. *I never knew he could kiss her without getting a black eye...* she thought to herself, amused. Seifer had announced just a week before that Quistis Trepe, daughter of the greatest man on all of Academia, was going to be his wife.

Quistis hadn't been present in the market place when Seifer had Zell stand by the central fountain and make the announcement. She had been watching the shop with Selphie's aunt. However, Rinoa and Selphie had been at the market place. They ran up to Seifer after the announcement and asked when he proposed. Seifer merely smirked and said "I just did."

By the time the two girls reached the store, Quistis was already being mobbed by well wishers and a few jealous noblemen's daughters. She accepted the congratulations, but didn't know why they were congratulating her. It was Selphie who told her the news.

Furious, the blond ran out of the shop, through the market place and nearly throttled Zell for information as to Seifer's whereabouts.

"Um...he said you would be mad so he went to seek shelter at the temple!" Zell said as he tried to pry Quistis' vice like grip from around his neck.

She dropped him like a rock and when Selphie and Rinoa reached Zell, he was on the ground rubbing his bruised neck. He told them where she had went and they ran to the temple. There, Quistis was being held back by several monks as Seifer stood in front of her, kneeling down with an engagement ring.

Squall stood a little bit away, rubbing his head. It had taken the combined strength of Rinoa, Selphie, and Irvine to drag Quistis back. Quistis stayed locked in her room for three days, not wanting to see anyone. Well wishers came by every day to get a glimpse at the future queen. Seifer also came by every day, but she would not see him.

Finally, Zell arrived and said that Seifer was sick. Quistis said she didn't care, but when she thought Rinoa and Selphie were asleep, she sneaked out. Irvine let her into the palace and lead her to Seifer's room. She had paid him off to keep him silent, but since Selphie and Rinoa had followed her, it didn't do any good.

Seifer wasn't physically sick, just somewhat depressed. Rinoa and Selphie made Irvine and Zell lock them in the room for hours to 'talk'. For a few hours, it was mostly yelling. Finally, by dawn, Quistis had agreed to marry him.

"Irvy!" Selphie's voice cut through Rinoa's thoughts and she turned and smiled. She waved at Irvine as Selphie skipped over to him.

"They're getting along nicely, aren't they?" a deep voice whispered in her ear. Rinoa didn't have to recognize the voice to know who it belonged to. His mere presence caused her knees to grow weak. He didn't have to do or say anything.

"Squall..." Rinoa already felt her entire body heating up just as his name rolled off her tongue. He smiled slightly.

"How is your evening?" he asked casually. Rinoa looked him over. He wasn't wearing temple clothes this time. He was wearing a dark blue toga edged with silver.

"I'm fine!" she said happily. She looked around them nervously. "Umm..." she said in a low voice. "Should we leave...?"

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Let's stay a few more minutes. You leave first and I'll follow. So it won't be so obvious."

Rinoa nodded slightly. Their relationship had been secret for a while now. They suspected that the others knew, but they wouldn't say anything. "So you're going to oversee the wedding ceremony?"

Squall nodded. "Yes," He replied. "I've selected a good day. I asked my sister how the day will be, but she hasn't replied to me about it."

"You have a sister?" Rinoa asked curiously. Squall shook his head slightly.

"She's not my blood sister, but I consider her that," Squall explained. "She's a prophet-"

"Ellone!" Rinoa gasped suddenly. Squall paused and nodded slightly.

"How did you know?"

"I met her once..." Rinoa stammered. "In the market place..." Squall's eyes narrowed slightly. She diverted his eyes and he frowned.

"Did she say something...to upset you?" he asked in a soft voice. Rinoa shook her head.

"No!" she assured him, a smile plastered on her face. "Nothing I already didn't know! Anyway, let's not talk about that now! This is a happy evening," she insisted, turning back to Seifer and Quistis. She was scowling slightly as he kept pulling her closer to him. "...at least it is for Seifer."

Squall chuckled slightly and looked back at the future King and Queen. Seifer lead Quistis towards the a mountain of gifts that he would present to her. Quistis looked up at it in shock. She was unsure of how to react. "Ahem!" Seifer shouted.

The music played on in the background as only a few people around him turned towards them. Seifer frowned and Quistis had a light smirk on her face. "They're not listening..." she said in a sing song voice.

Seifer coughed once more. "SHUT UP!" he growled. The entire ballroom went silent, except for Rinoa and Selphie's muffled snickering. He looked around at the crowd, his face looking stern. "I have something to say!"

*You always do, but that doesn't mean we always listen...* Quistis thought to herself smugly.

Seifer reached out and took her hand. "I want to present my future Queen with gifts of which I have rightfully gained on the conquest!"

"Meaning spoils of war." Irvine said with a roll of his eyes as Selphie giggled once more.

"To symbolize all of which will be bestowed upon her as my WIFE," he stressed. Quistis bit her lip to keep from rolling her eyes. Seifer reached out with his free hand and lifted a small box. "I present her with this chest. Everything that is mine is hers."

He leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek. He placed the little box in her hands and Quistis blushed. "Thank you..." she said, loudly for everyone to hear. "My love..." *I just did NOT say that...ugh...I feel so...eww...*

Seifer smiled, pleased, and she smiled back warmly. Her hand squeezed his gently and he lifted her hand to his lips. "You may all return to the party now!" Seifer shouted.

Irvine let out a groan as he ran his hand down his face. "Who really says 'you may all return to the party'?" he said as he threw his hands up. "I swear, he as no finesse what so ever."

"I'm going to check out Quistis' presents!" Selphie said gleefully. Irvine nodded and let her hand slip out of his as she headed to the mountain.

Quistis was left alone to face her gifts, Seifer's symbolic present still in her hands. He had been whisked away by Council members to discuss wedding plans. Rinoa also left Squall's side momentarily to talk to Quistis.

"So...what'd you get?" Rinoa said.

Quistis looked down at the box. "It looks like a jewelry box from the north..." she mumbled as she looked at it.

"Let me see! Let me see!" Selphie said. She peered over and looked it over. Her nose wrinkled. "It looks old."

"Yes, but that just adds to it's beauty..." Quistis said, slightly defensive.

"Well?" Rinoa said cheerfully. "What are you waiting for!? Open it!"

"Yeah!" Selphie agreed, her eyes large with wonder. "I bet he put something in there!"

Quistis chuckled to herself. *He would, actually...* She pressed the crystal buttons that locked the case and they heard it click.

Something in Rinoa caused her to freeze suddenly. Her smile left her face as she watched Quistis' pale hand lift up the top. All she could do was stand there with a vacant expression on her face as she watched Selphie and Quistis' eyes grow large. They let out a yell as they dropped the box.

It fell right into Rinoa's awaiting hand and shock flashed through their faces as Rinoa stood there, unmoving. She wanted to squint, but her body wouldn't let her. Her vision was growing dark and foggy. It was growing darker, but she could see the horrified faces of her friends as they vanished in a wash of cloudy darkness. Her head began to throb, as if someone was breaking into her mind.

In the far reaches of her mind, she could make out his voice. He suddenly sounded afraid as he called out to her. She couldn't even turn her head to look at him as she slipped away. Something was pushing her out of her own mind and she felt as if a heavy liquid was coating her from within. Like poison. Just before she lost control, she was able to make him out. They were holding him back from her and she couldn't understand why.

But his ice blue eyes contained fear. Fear that he was going to loose her. Her name slipped past his lips as his arms reached for her. "Rinoa" was the last thing she would hear from him.

He felt her head rest against his shoulder and looked down at her. From the horizon, the early rays of the sun peeked through in a rich array of warm colors. The dawn was slowly illuminating her placid face.

Her eyes were open as she looked out before them. She didn't seem to be aware of what she was doing. His heart was beating quickly as he lifted one arm around her shoulders. He felt her stiffen slightly, but quickly relax. He glanced down at her once more and noticed the reddish color in her cheeks.

Rinoa felt his hand gently cup her chin and lift her face to meet his. Her eyes were hesitant to look at him, but once they did, they were locked on. His hand gently caressed her face as his eyes tried to read hers. Slowly, his head lowered down. She closed her eyes, his breath going over her peachy skin.

His lips were soft, warm, and incredibly talented. She felt her face burn up even more as she was pulled closer to his body. The smell of leather and a subtle cologne flooded her senses as his lips pressed against hers strongly. Her hands slowly rose and placed themselves on his chest, slowly winding around his body, underneath his jacket.

Her entire body felt weak and it seemed that for the moment, he was the only thing holding her up. He gently caressed her hair as he parted for a breath. Before she could ask any questions, Squall leaned down and kissed her once more, putting a little more energy into the action. He could feel her rapid heart beats against his chest and the heat of her body against him.

It seemed like eternity when he finally let her go. She was flushed all over as her eyes dropped. His gaze continued to stay on her gentle figure intently. "Umm..." she whispered, deciding to break the silence that hung over them. "I..."

His hand reached up and brushed her bangs out of her face. "I know a story," he whispered as Rinoa looked up at him. Sunlight was slowly peeking into the fallen palace. "About Centra," he paused. "Would you like to hear it?"

Rinoa looked up at him and nodded slightly, transfixed in his eyes. "Yes..." she whispered. She didn't even realize that her arms were resting around his waist or that his were still around her body.

"There was once two Centras," he said softly as pleading blue eyes looked at her. "One was on the ground, a little ways from here. It was a city populated by mortals."

"And the other?" Rinoa asked. Deep within her soul she knew the answer. She didn't know how, but she knew.

"The other was in the heavens," Squall told her gently, his face looking almost nostalgic. "It was a city populated by immortals..."

"Like gods?" Rinoa asked, tilting her head to the side slightly while looking confused. Squall shook his head.

"No," he replied. "Simply immortals."

"They could never die then?" Rinoa asked.

"They live for ever," Squall told her. "But can still be killed by the hands of another immortal. The woman from your myth was an immortal."

Rinoa's brown eyes narrowed. "So her lover...?"

"He was an immortal as well," he answered. "He would live forever carrying the pain of murdering the one he loved the most. An eternity of guilt...of self loathe..."

She could see the pain in his eyes. It filled her with remorse as she tightened her hold around him and buried her head against the crook of his neck. His arms fell from her form as she held him. "He shouldn't feel that way..." Rinoa whispered.

Squall sat there numbly. "He should..."

Rinoa shook her head. "She wouldn't want him to..." Rinoa whispered back. She began to notice tears rimming in her eyes as she felt an overwhelming aura of emotional pain wash over her. Her fingers dug into the cloth of his shirt. She closed her eyes. "I don't want you to..."

Selphie was heading to the bathroom, determined to get there before she experienced another Seifer x Quistis moment. She shivered at the very thought and picked up her pace. She was nearly the research tent, when she heard footsteps approaching. Not knowing who it could be, she quickly ducked behind the tent and peeked around the corner.

Green eyes went wide as she saw Squall trudging up the hill, Rinoa fast asleep on his back with her arms lazily around his neck. In her hands were two flash lights and it looked like they were returning from the ruins. Selphie smirked slightly and watched as Squall balanced Rinoa riding piggy-back on him while opening her tent.

As soon as he had miraculously managed to get it open, he stepped in. Selphie waited for a while. She saw the tent flap move again and she expected Squall to come back out. Instead, it zipped closed. Her eyes went wide as she realized what was going on. *Wait until I tell QUISTIS!!*

"I don't want you to..." Her words echoed in his ears as he laid down next to her on her cot. He was partially amazed that it would hold them both up. His arm was wrapped around Rinoa's shoulder as she curled up against him on her side.

His heavy jacket was laying across her chair along with hers while their shoes laid at a pile next to the cot. Rinoa's blanket was around them. Gently, he caressed his hair as she slept.

*I shouldn't be here...* he thought to himself. *Quistis or Selphie could walk in at any moment and see us...* Despite his objects, he didn't budge. He just wanted to be with her a few moments longer.

Her words hadn't reached him fast enough. When he finally realized what she had said, Rinoa had fallen asleep against him momentarily. When he shifted, she stirred and he told her he would take her back to her tent. She got on his back, held the flash lights, and allowed him to carry her away. Squall skillfully maneuvered them both out of the ruins and back to her tent.

*But what did she mean by that? Does she know? No, impossible. She can't possibly know...* he reasoned.

Suddenly, Rinoa moved and Squall froze in his side of the cot. He looked down at her face and watched as she reacted to a dream. Her eyes closed tighter and her fingers, which had been holding on to his shirt, tightened around the cloth. He could feel her body stiffen in his arms.

Her soft pink lips opened and let out a gasp of air. "I'm sorry..." she whispered softly. Squall felt his heart stop in his chest. Her face fell and her grip loosened. "I'm sorry, Quistis..." she nearly choked out. Squall closed his eyes and held her tighter.

She reacted unconsciously and tightened her hold around him. He looked down at her face and saw tears slipping from her eyes. Squall knew what she was dreaming about and held her tighter. He would've given anything for her to never ever re-live that night. She sniffled against him. "Shh..." he whispered. "Everything will be fine..."

Rinoa's breathing was in short gasps and he could feel her chest rising and falling sharply against him. He reached out and gently checked the pulse against her neck. As expected, her heart beats weren't normal. He moved away slightly, about to reach for his bag, which was resting against the side of the cot. She only tightened her hold.

"Selphie..." she whimpered tearfully. "I'm sorry..."

Her voice was painfully miserable and Squall bit his lip. He didn't blame her. Seifer didn't blame her. Irvine and Zell didn't blame her. But she blamed herself, it seemed. It wasn't her who was doing it, but because it was her body being used...

"Rinoa..."

She began to cry in her sleep. Squall closed his eyes and held her against him. She had seen her past. She had seen the past of hers he didn't want her to see - the night Ultimecia possessed her body and took the lives of her two best friends.

Smoke coiled around her body and Quistis screamed. Seifer ran to her, pushing away his body guards as he grabbed his wife to be and pulled her back against him. "No!" Quistis screamed. Her face was filled with panic as her wide blue eyes looked up at the swirling darkness surrounding her friend. "No! Let me go! I have to help her!"

"You can't help her!" Seifer shouted. "Quistis! Stop!"

"Rinoa!" Quistis screamed. All around them people were screaming and vacating the glorious ball room while in front of them, a young dark haired woman as lost in a sea dark energy.

"Irvy, please!" Selphie shouted as well, her voice just as terrified. She was being held back by two strong arms around her waist. "Stop! I have to help her!"

"Hold on, Selphie!" Irvine pleaded as she kicked and flailed her arms.

Perhaps fighting to be freed worse than Quistis and Selphie was Squall. The young man who had grown up in a temple and fought in numerous battles was struggling against Zell and Raijin's iron grips. He reached out to the young woman who was trapped in a vortex of darkness.

Her hair rose in the air as wind seemed to create a funnel with her in the middle. The fine cloth of her toga whirled around her body as a shadow emerged from the box. A sorceress. An even more ancient evil sealed within a dark box hidden away for centuries before Seifer found it. Squall had sensed it the moment the blond man showed it to him, but Seifer insisted it was nothing.

Now Seifer's 'nothing' was settling into Rinoa's body. For the life of him, Squall couldn't understand why they wouldn't let him go to her. Everyone was fleeing around them through all the exits. The only ones who stayed where those who were struggling to save her and those who were keeping them from doing so.

"You have to let me go!" Squall growled. "Rinoa!!"

The box dropped from her hands and landed on the hard cold floor with a clank. Now, it was nothing more than a wooden, lacquered chest. The window was dying down around Rinoa, but something was different about her. She stood there, her hair a disaster around her head.

"Rinoa!" Selphie and Quistis shouted. They stopped struggling for the time being as they watched the young woman slowly lift her head. Her eyes were closed. "Rinoa!"

Irvine and Seifer made their biggest mistake. As soon as both women had finished struggling, they loosened their holds. And Selphie and Quistis were able to break loose of their embrace. "Quistis, no!" Seifer shouted as Quistis pushed him aside and ran to her friend.

"SELPHIE!" Irvine yelled in horror as she squirmed out of his grasp. The blond and the petite brunette rushed forward.

"Rinoa, are you-!" Quistis stopped in mid sentence as Rinoa's hand flew up and wrapped itself around her neck.

"Rin-!" Selphie began, but had the wind knocked out of her as Rinoa's other hand grasped her neck. Her eyes went wide with shock and confusion as Rinoa's grip tightened unnaturally strongly.

"Rinoa, what are you doing!?" Zell gasped.

Seifer ran towards them and was immediately recoiled by an invisible shield around them. Irvine's eyes went wide as he ran forward and was also thrown back. Energy crackled around Rinoa's body as her eyes slowly opened to reveal glowing red orbs.

"Rinoa..." Squall gasped, his body frozen in it's spot.

"Rinoa is gone," her mouth was opening, but that was sure as hell not her voice. Upon hearing it, Quistis and Selphie paled even more as they felt their lives being drained away. "And soon these two will be as well."

"No!" Seifer shouted.

He foolishly ran forward again and was once again thrown back. He shook his head and looked up, watching in horror as black smoke coiled around Quistis and Selphie's bodies. It seemed to wind around them, taking their very essence and drawing it back into Rinoa's body.

"Who are you!?" Zell yelled out.

"Where is Rinoa!?" Squall growled out angrily.

Her fingers, which now ended in insanely sharp tips, casually released Selphie and Quistis. Their bodies fell to the floor at her feet with dull thuds. They now had bruises around their neck. "Ultimecia," her eyes flashed red light once more as a foreign smirk graced Rinoa's usually content face. "She is dead."

"Ugh!" Squall's eyes flew open. His heart pounded in his chest as sweat trickled down the sides of his face. His body was cold and damp. A warm hand reached up and touched his cheek. His head immediately looked down to look into Rinoa's worried face.

"Are you all right?" she whispered softly. Squall nodded slightly. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"I'm fine..." he replied breathy. Rinoa narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but replaced her arm around his body. They were still laying on her cot. Squall closed his eyes and kissed her forehead as his arm wrapped around his body. "Are you all right?" he asked softly.

Rinoa nodded. "Yes...Squall, what's wrong?" she persisted.

"I dreamt..." he looked down at her. *I dreamt what you did...* he wanted to say. From Rinoa's looks, he could tell that she hadn't remembered her dream and he silently thanked Hyne for that. "Nothing..." he assured her.

She nodded. "If you ever want to tell me," she said, making it obvious that she didn't buy his excuse. "I'll listen."

"I know." Squall murmured. He buried his face at the top of her head, letting himself get lost in the scent of her dark hair.

"Squall..." Rinoa said quietly. Her eyes were diverted and looking at the Griever pendent around his neck. There was only one explanation that would make sense to her, although she found herself not believing that it was the only explanation that would. She swallowed slightly and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. "Can I ask you a question...?"

"Yes..." Squall replied as he stroked her hair.

Rinoa opened her eyes and lifted her head to face him. "Do you promise to answer me? Truthfully." Squall nodded. Rinoa took another deep breath and exhaled. Her eyes locked on with his. "Are you..." *This is so stupid...of course not!* her mind yelled. "Are you...an immor-"

"Rinoa!" Zell's voice cut through her thoughts, immediately bringing her back into reality. She frowned. Zell seemed to tap on her tent door lightly. "Breakfast is ready! Have you see Squall, by the way?"

She groaned. Squall shifted in the cot and sat up, putting his feet over the side of the cot. "I'm checking up on her right now!" he replied casually. He looked back down at Rinoa, who couldn't look at him.

"Okay! See you two at breakfast!" Zell's cheerful voice called.

They listened to him walk away and Squall looked down at Rinoa as he put on his boots. She sat up slowly, slightly embarrassed as she brushed her hair behind her ear. "Forget it," she mumbled. She turned to him with a fake smile. "Never mind."

Squall paused slightly. He stood up, his back to Rinoa. He put his jacket on and turned around as he fixed his shirt. He knelt down by the side of her cot. "Get ready for breakfast," he told her. He paused and locked eyes with her once more. "...and Rinoa," he added softly. His eyes looked sad of a sudden and Rinoa saw pain in them. His hand lifted up and gently caressed her cheek before he stood up. With a simple one word answer, he turned and headed for the door.

Rinoa sat there in bed and mouthed the last word he had told her in question. "Yes?"