A/N: God, I think I have a spelling problem! I noticed I had been spelling Deling instead of Delling. So, I'm sorry and I hope I fixed all of the mistakes in this chapter. Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing, I'm really happy and love you all!! Once again, I ask those who haven't reviewed to please, please do so! Thank you!
Oh yea, I wanted to thank Ayumi-Hamasaki for pointing out that I forgot to mention Angelo. Sorry about that, it's just I never paid much attention to him and just forgot when I started writing the story. Let's just pretend he's staying with Zone and Watts.
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Coming to, Rinoa sat up in bed and looked round her room. Getting up she walked over to her suitcase, which still hadn't been unpacked, and rummaged through it looking for a regular old tee shirt.
Removing the babydoll from her body she pulled the black shirt over her head and placed her hands under her hair releasing it from beneath the shirt. As she sat down on her bed unlacing her shoes she looked at her alarm clock. It read 9:17 P.M. 9:17,… wasn't she supposed to be somewhere at nine sharp? She couldn't quite remember where, then it hit her. Cid's office, all SeeD's were to report to Cid's office!
Rushing to lace her shoes back up she grabbed her keys and bolted out the door. Making it to the elevator she persistently kept on pushing the button.
"C'mon, c'mon." She said to herself as she stood there jingling her keys in her hand.
After boarding the elevator she stepped out onto the third floor to meet the angry eyes of Quistis.
"It's already nine twenty-two. You're late." She said without faltering.
"I know, and I'm sorry. I over-slept."
"Well, no use in delaying you any further. Let's go."
Both girls walked into Cid's office. Everyone was there, and on time. Even Selphie and Zell. Rinoa looked down at the floor to avoid the faces of the others. She took her place next to Irvine and waited to be scolded.
Bending over to try to whisper in Rinoa's ear he said,
"What's goin' on with ya, doll? You seem so out of sorts and things, ya know? Like, ya haven't been functioning right at all."
She simply smiled a weary smile and he returned upright before Cid could catch them. To her great astonishment she received no lectures, not even a disappointing glare from Cid.
"Well, I've called you here to my office to inform you of a top secret experiment Esthar has been working on. I can't release the details to you yet. SeeD's will be boarding the Ragnarok shortly which will then fly you over to the Lunatic Pandora Laboratory. I will not be accompanying you on the journey. Quistis, I leave you in charge, and Nidia, I trust in you to pilot the aircraft. Xu will also be joining you as second in commander. Understood?"
All responded in a chorus, saluted their headmaster, and filed out to board the ship.
As Rinoa sat, strapped into her seat, she saw Irvine approach her. Taking off his hat he ran his fingers along the brim of it.
"So how you've been feelin' these past few days?"
"Just tired, I guess. Don't worry about me Irvine."
"Can't help it, it's my job to worry bout' pretty little things like yourself."
She smiled but returned no answer to the cowboy.
"Just take care of yourself is all I'm sayin'." He said patting her on the head before returning to his seat.
Rinoa watched as they zipped through the night sky. She felt as if she could stick her hand out and be able to touch the stars. Unbuckling her belt she got up and proceeded to walk out of the control room.
"Where are you off to, Rinoa?" Quistis questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Just outside. I don't feel too good so maybe walking will help."
"O.k."
She sat down on the steps that were outside of the control room. She wasn't really feeling bad she just couldn't stand to be cooped up in that room any longer. Her ears caught the sound of the automatic doors sliding open. Turning around to see who it was her eyes stared up into Seifers'.
He came and sat down next to her.
"What's wrong?"
He asked without ever turning his head to look at her. She stared at him for a while, hating his arrogance. She couldn't fool him, as best as she tried. Nothing ever escaped him. She hated that he could read her as if her life was an open book. How he saw right through all of her well-thought out lies that often would fool the rest of her friends. How he knew her inside and out.
Turning her head away she answered,
"Nothing."
There was a pause between the torn lovers.
"O.k. Now why don't you tell me what's really wrong?"
Another lie out of her mouth that he detected. How she despised her inability to cover up what was going on inside from him. Her head dropped and she supported its weight with her knees. Seifer, finally turning to acknowledge Rinoa's presence, put his arm over her back. She didn't move at first, but soon rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so tired." She said with a sigh.
"I'm so tired of everything. Of life, of heartache, woes, tragedy, happiness I know I can't have without hurting someone in the process. It seems that I just bring misery upon all whose lives I've encountered."
He took his gloves off and ran his fingers through her fine hair. He loved the way she felt.
"How could you say that, Rin? You, who's been the only real thing in my life worth living for. Without you, what reason do I have to keep on going? Without you my whole life crumbles around me and I'm left in the dark."
Tilting her head upwards to look him in the face she smiles. While he brushes her hair out of her eyes.
"What would I do if you weren't always here to pick me up and tell me its o.k.? To make me feel wanted and special? I feel as if I have a purpose when I'm near you. And I like that feeling, I like it a lot." She said hugging his torso tighter than before.
The sound Rinoa had previously heard when Seifer first entered the room was heard again by both.
"Um…… Quistis told me to come and get y'all." Irvine said as he watched the two pull away from each other as fast as possible. Walking away, Seifer and Rinoa exchanged looks and laughed at Irvine's feeling of awkwardness.
Seifer graciously offered his hand to Rinoa, as if he was really her one true knight, and she accepted placing her fragile hand in his large, rough palm.
Picking his gloves up for him before they left she tucked them into his trench coat pocket. They entered the control room and Squall's eyes' immediately shot up. He looked at Rinoa's hand tightly gripped in Seifers'. He didn't show signs of rage, but she knew if he were pushed any further he'd lose it in a matter of seconds. Or was she confusing him with Seifer's character? Squall would never lose his cool, especially when it came to how he was feeling. How could she do such a thing as to replace Squall's personality with Seifers'? Quickly removing her hand from his she walked out of the room, claiming she would be waiting for them outside.
Squall eyes shot daggers at Seifer, who returned the attack by throwing spears his way.
Everyone stepped off the ship except for Nidia and Xu, who would man the aircraft until their return.
Quistis spotted Dr.Odine in front of the building as the group approached. He stood there with Piet feeding a pet Moogle of theirs'.
"Ahhh, my dear Instructor Trepe." The old man said in a low, raspy, shaken voice as he took the blonde's hand into his own.
"As you can see, the experiment is quite something if it managed to get me to come all the way from Esthar." He chuckled to himself.
Piet walked over to them instructing them on how to act while in the lab.
"Now, now, Piet. Let's not bore them with any more of you're instructions. They are SeeD's and know how to act properly."
As he said so, Quistis looked at the SeeD's as to ensure their behavior. But being Squall was commander, she trusted they would all mind their manners.
"First, and foremost, I'd like you to meet some people. This is just a guess on the wild side, but perhaps you know them." He said smirking.
Quistis' face lit up at Dr.Odine's words and she eagerly looked for the guests.
And who walked in but non-other than Mr. Laguna Loire, president of Esthar himself.
Rinoa's eyes widened like a child on Christmas morning awaiting eagerly to open their presents. She ran faster than the speed of light right into Laguna's arms. He picked her up off of her feet and twirled her around. After the incident with the Sorceress she and Laguna became very close. He'd usually send her letters or gifts from Esthar, and she'd reply in a matter of days. No one really acknowledged the bond between the two until they saw the glee in Rinoa's face at the sight of him.
"Hey, beautiful! You just look absolutely stunning!"
They hadn't seen each other in over a year, and Laguna was quite astonished at how much her natural assets had grown.
"Uuuu,… um,… er, Rinoa, you sure have… g-grown since last time I saw you."
"I know!" She said completely unaware of what he was referring to.
"Oh, I've missed you so much!" She said pinching his cheeks.
"Hey, save some for Kiros and Ward, they're in the lab."
After Laguna greeted the rest of them they walked into the lab. It was a strange reunion for Squall, considering Laguna was his father and all. And it was even weirder that Rinoa was so acquainted with him, while he barley new the guy.
Rinoa equally gave Kiros and Ward warm, friendly hugs. She was just a friendly person. Selphie ran up and hugged them as well, even though she hadn't the slightest idea as to who they were. She knew about the whole Squall and Laguna thing, but she was never intimately acquainted with them. But being the carefree, happy-go-lucky person she was she treated them as if they were family. Everyone else just stood by and said hello.
Dr.Odine began his explanation of the experiment.
"Well, what we've called you all here in the middle of the night for is something very intriguing." Piet came in wheeling a cart with three large needles and a vile of medicine next to the needles. Selphie cringed at the sight of them. She was terrified of needles.
Dr.Odine, coming up to Selphie, placed his hand on hers.
"Don't fret my dear. They are not for you." She tried her best to look relieved but she couldn't shake the feeling of being totally creeped out.
"This vile of medicine contains something that any Garden would die to get their hands on. It just might be called the best, most helpful and useful discovery of our time. It puts you through a little process I like to call DE-aging."
"Why is it called de-aging?" Selphie questioned with curious yet fearful eyes.
"Because, my pet, it makes you grow thirty years younger."
Everyone gasped, except for Squall that is. He just kept on listening without disrupting the muscles in his face.
"Yes, you heard correctly, thirty years younger. This is such a valuable discovery because almost every Garden is in need of this. Every retired SeeD, or retired soldier, almost any one who had fought in some sort of battle, could once again return to fighting. It's a blessing upon all Gardens. They can now have some of their best and brightest fighters return to being fit and physique for combat with more information than ever before. Do you realize what we have done? We have just caused life expectancy to jump thirty years and some!"
Everyone was left speechless. Could their really be a medicine that did this to you? Was it possible?
"There is one problem, though. It only works on those with a specific blood type. We have not yet discovered which blood type that is unfortunately. And that is why you are here. To watch the experiment lay out. Laguna, Kiros, and Ward have volunteered to be tested on. Each ranging in different blood types. Now if the medicine doesn't work on any of them we will have to gather new test subjects, so hopefully it works."
Dr.Odine, Piet, and the 'test subjects' all proceeded to walk into a glass room.
"The experiment must be conducted away from those who could catch a drop in their eye or mouth. Highly doubtful, but they are precautions we must take.
Piet exited the room after preparing the needles and sat down next to Quistis.
"The medicine must be applied to an artery so the medicine can be carried throughout the body."
They watched as the Doctor stretched Kiros' arm out and ran alcohol over where he would inject the needle.
Then, the needle cut into his arm, as a sharp knife would, and the doctor pressed down on it until no more medicine was left. Taking it away, everyone looked on eagerly to see if there were any changes in his appearance. But nothing.
"If you don't see a change right away, you know it's no good." He said as he filled up the second needle with medicine.
The same procedure was practiced upon Laguna.
As they all watched Selphie screamed out,
"Look, he's getting younger!!!" It was very true. The wrinkles in his forehead soon began to disappear, and the lines on his face in general were slowly fading away. His hair looked healthy and strong, and he began to look better and better by the minute.
"How am I looking, doc?"
"My boy, you look like a 24 year old again." He said patting his back.
All of them walked out of the room and everyone's face was in utter shock.
"Piet, you can put down blood type B. It works on blood type B."
"Laguna, you look… incredible!" Rinoa shouted. She ran up to him and put her hands on his face.
"Jesus, he really did it. You're young! Heck, you're only seven years older than you're son. You're only seven years older than me!"
"Hey someone get me a mirror, I need to see how gorgeous I look." He said laughing.
Piet took Laguna and his buddies away to find a mirror, while Dr.Odine approached the SeeDs'.
"Now we're not giving the vile out just yet. We're still going to hold on to it, see if it works on any other blood types, doubtful, but I must see none the less. But, Laguna gave me orders to give it to Balamb Garden, and Balamb Garden only, when it's ready for release. Keep it a secret from all other Gardens as long as you can. Once they figure out just exactly what you have I predict feuds being carried out. Another reason for keeping it under raps until I feel the time is right. We thought, since all of you are SeeD's from Balamb, it would only be right for you to watch the first experiment being conducted. And considering it was your friend, Laguna, well you get the picture. So here it is the miracle medicine."
"Holy crap! Have you seen how good I look?" Laguna said running inside.
"God damn, that stuff really works." Seifer said laughing to himself.
"Crazy old kook actually stumbled onto something big. Probably by accident." He couldn't help but keep on laughing. Quistis jabbed him in the stomach and gave him a nasty look.
"Got good news for ya guys! I'll be comin' back to Balamb with you! Ah, I'm tired of being president. It's so god damn boring! So, Kiros, you can take charge while I'm gone!" Kiros looked quite surprised.
"You never told me abou-"
"Never mind that. Yep, I can see it now. Kiros, I know you'll make a great president. And Ward, buddy old pal, you'll be vice president!"
"Hey, Laguna, you never said anything about me and Kiros taking ove-"
"Not important. Not important. You'll two will love it. I'll be waiting back at the, the um…, hey what did you guys come on?"
"The Ragnarok." Selphie chimed in.
"The Ragnarok!"
"Hey, but Laguna, how are me and Ward going to take over Esth-"
"Bye!" He said walking away.
"O.k. Ward, we better get moving if we're gonna go and be president and vice president of Esthar. Goodbye Dr.Odine, Piet, everyone." With a nod of the head both men walked out.
Selphie let out a yawn and rubbed her eyes.
"Hey, Quisty, what time is it? I'm sooooo tired." Without realizing it she rested her head against Zell's shoulder. He looked down at the sleeping girl who was propped up against him and smiled. Taking his jacket off he wrapped it around Selphie's arms. Irvine observed them carefully. What was gong on between them, he wondered.
"Time for us to be leaving." Everyone walked out of the lab and onto the ship, where they found Laguna making fun of Nidia.
"They put you in charge of flying this thing? Are you sure you know how to operate it? I mean, I'd like to know who exactly I'm entrusting my life with. I'm sure its precautions everyone would take."
"Yes, for the last time I am highly qualified to fly the Ragnarok!"
"O.k. o.k. no need for hostilities."
Everyone soon found their seats and almost all fell asleep in them. The only people up were Nidia, of course, and Squall, who kept on staring at Laguna.
"Could that IDIOT possibly have spawned me?" He wondered to himself.
"He is a complete imbecile who can't do anything. How the hell did he become president of Esthar? That must be one stupid city." A soft hand on his own brought him back to reality. He looked at the seat across of his and saw it was Rinoa who had touched him. She smiled at him.
"What are you thinking of?"
"Nothing." It didn't take long for him to rebuild the walls she thought were permanently destroyed back in Delling.
"God, Squall. It feels as if every time I get close to you, you go on the rebound and shut me out again. You were doing so much better back in Delling."
He looked at her than at her hand that was hovered over his. He paused for a minute and then turned his hand upward and clasped Rinoa's in his. Intertwining their fingers. Thankfully Seifer was asleep, as he was on the train when Rinoa had gotten bit, otherwise it would have been one bloody showdown.
They stood like that for the rest of the ride. Rinoa had fallen out once again, and Squall had gone back to his thoughts. Looking around the room he spotted Selphie fast asleep with her head on Zell's lap. Zell was off in dream world as well. Didn't Selphie have a thing for Irvine, he pondered. Ah, who gave a damn anyway? Selphie was a free spirit who could only be restrained by the laws of gravity. And he even sometimes wondered if that would be enough to hold her.
The aircraft coming to a landing woke Rinoa and the rest. Quickly realizing Seifer was up now, she pulled her hand out from under Squalls'.
Back in Garden they had to figure out where they would keep Laguna.
Scratching his head he looked around the desolate Garden. No student was up.
"Well, uh, I could,… gee where can I sleep?"
"With Squall, of course." Quistis stated. He shot her a nasty look.
"I'd rather not." He grumbled.
"Aw, c'mon Squall, it'll be fun!" Laguna said smacking him on the back.
"Tons."
"Good, now that that's settled we can all get some over due rest. Good night."
She said walking away, her blonde hair swinging side to side.
Squall gave an agitated look at Laguna as they walked towards his dorm.
"I want a piggy back ride to my room!" Selphie's little voice piped up.
"I'm too tired to walk. Please? Anyone?" Irvine was about to offer until Zell caught him approaching and volunteered before he could.
"Wee-hoo!" She ran up to Zell and jumped on his back.
"Giddy up partner!"
"You know, for being such a tiny thing, you sure are heavy."
Seifer laughed at the twosome.
"Nah, you're just weak. Selphie's as light as a feather. But then again, you can't even pick that up without complaining! Hahahahahah!!!"
"Shut the hell up!"
"C'mon Zell, just move it!" She said kicking him in the sides as if he were a real horse.
"Night y'all." Irvine replied. He seemed a little down at Selphie and Zell's sudden attachment. You could hear the clanging of his boots even down the hallway.
The only ones left were Seifer and Rinoa.
"Guess I'll be heading to bed now." Rinoa said.
"May I walk you princess?"
"It would be my pleasure." She said taking his arm.
"You know, I never see you act the way you act around me with others. You try and give off such a tough guy image, but when around me it all melts away. Why is that?"
"Cause,… I don't know. You have this way of just making me feel at peace with everything. Just the sight of you brings me joy. It's a weird feeling, and I can't really explain it. I just know that when I'm with you it feels right. Like before we broke-"
She put her finger to his lips.
"Don't say another word." She whispered.
"I hate thinking about that time in our lives. It was so depressing."
They had reached her door but she wasn't going in just yet. She stayed silent for a few minutes.
"You know if only you hadn't have been possessed by the sorceress and I wasn't going all out of wack. We could've just…"
"Just what? Stay together?" He said with eager eyes.
"Forget it now, it's all in the past."
"Why can't we still be together? We can start afresh. Start over with each other. I know you don't want to believe it but I'll never love someone the same way I loved you. The same way I STILL love you."
"Why do you do this to me, Seifer? If you love me so much then just let me go. I can't keep constantly crying my eyes out over you. Don't let me believe you still love me, otherwise I'll never move on with my life. I'll never let go of you if I think there's still hope, a chance for us to be together. Because I know in my heart there is no chance of us ever being happy with each other. If we were to get back together do you know how much pain we would cause people? We can't keep being selfish." She was crying throughout their conversation. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek before closing the door. She threw her body on her bed and tried desperately to block out Seifer from her mind. But he even invaded her thoughts.
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A/N: I was just wondering, should I keep on continuing the story? I just feel as if no one is really reading it and that I'm just wasting my time. I don't know what to do. Anyway hope you liked it.
Oh yea, I wanted to thank Ayumi-Hamasaki for pointing out that I forgot to mention Angelo. Sorry about that, it's just I never paid much attention to him and just forgot when I started writing the story. Let's just pretend he's staying with Zone and Watts.
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Coming to, Rinoa sat up in bed and looked round her room. Getting up she walked over to her suitcase, which still hadn't been unpacked, and rummaged through it looking for a regular old tee shirt.
Removing the babydoll from her body she pulled the black shirt over her head and placed her hands under her hair releasing it from beneath the shirt. As she sat down on her bed unlacing her shoes she looked at her alarm clock. It read 9:17 P.M. 9:17,… wasn't she supposed to be somewhere at nine sharp? She couldn't quite remember where, then it hit her. Cid's office, all SeeD's were to report to Cid's office!
Rushing to lace her shoes back up she grabbed her keys and bolted out the door. Making it to the elevator she persistently kept on pushing the button.
"C'mon, c'mon." She said to herself as she stood there jingling her keys in her hand.
After boarding the elevator she stepped out onto the third floor to meet the angry eyes of Quistis.
"It's already nine twenty-two. You're late." She said without faltering.
"I know, and I'm sorry. I over-slept."
"Well, no use in delaying you any further. Let's go."
Both girls walked into Cid's office. Everyone was there, and on time. Even Selphie and Zell. Rinoa looked down at the floor to avoid the faces of the others. She took her place next to Irvine and waited to be scolded.
Bending over to try to whisper in Rinoa's ear he said,
"What's goin' on with ya, doll? You seem so out of sorts and things, ya know? Like, ya haven't been functioning right at all."
She simply smiled a weary smile and he returned upright before Cid could catch them. To her great astonishment she received no lectures, not even a disappointing glare from Cid.
"Well, I've called you here to my office to inform you of a top secret experiment Esthar has been working on. I can't release the details to you yet. SeeD's will be boarding the Ragnarok shortly which will then fly you over to the Lunatic Pandora Laboratory. I will not be accompanying you on the journey. Quistis, I leave you in charge, and Nidia, I trust in you to pilot the aircraft. Xu will also be joining you as second in commander. Understood?"
All responded in a chorus, saluted their headmaster, and filed out to board the ship.
As Rinoa sat, strapped into her seat, she saw Irvine approach her. Taking off his hat he ran his fingers along the brim of it.
"So how you've been feelin' these past few days?"
"Just tired, I guess. Don't worry about me Irvine."
"Can't help it, it's my job to worry bout' pretty little things like yourself."
She smiled but returned no answer to the cowboy.
"Just take care of yourself is all I'm sayin'." He said patting her on the head before returning to his seat.
Rinoa watched as they zipped through the night sky. She felt as if she could stick her hand out and be able to touch the stars. Unbuckling her belt she got up and proceeded to walk out of the control room.
"Where are you off to, Rinoa?" Quistis questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Just outside. I don't feel too good so maybe walking will help."
"O.k."
She sat down on the steps that were outside of the control room. She wasn't really feeling bad she just couldn't stand to be cooped up in that room any longer. Her ears caught the sound of the automatic doors sliding open. Turning around to see who it was her eyes stared up into Seifers'.
He came and sat down next to her.
"What's wrong?"
He asked without ever turning his head to look at her. She stared at him for a while, hating his arrogance. She couldn't fool him, as best as she tried. Nothing ever escaped him. She hated that he could read her as if her life was an open book. How he saw right through all of her well-thought out lies that often would fool the rest of her friends. How he knew her inside and out.
Turning her head away she answered,
"Nothing."
There was a pause between the torn lovers.
"O.k. Now why don't you tell me what's really wrong?"
Another lie out of her mouth that he detected. How she despised her inability to cover up what was going on inside from him. Her head dropped and she supported its weight with her knees. Seifer, finally turning to acknowledge Rinoa's presence, put his arm over her back. She didn't move at first, but soon rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so tired." She said with a sigh.
"I'm so tired of everything. Of life, of heartache, woes, tragedy, happiness I know I can't have without hurting someone in the process. It seems that I just bring misery upon all whose lives I've encountered."
He took his gloves off and ran his fingers through her fine hair. He loved the way she felt.
"How could you say that, Rin? You, who's been the only real thing in my life worth living for. Without you, what reason do I have to keep on going? Without you my whole life crumbles around me and I'm left in the dark."
Tilting her head upwards to look him in the face she smiles. While he brushes her hair out of her eyes.
"What would I do if you weren't always here to pick me up and tell me its o.k.? To make me feel wanted and special? I feel as if I have a purpose when I'm near you. And I like that feeling, I like it a lot." She said hugging his torso tighter than before.
The sound Rinoa had previously heard when Seifer first entered the room was heard again by both.
"Um…… Quistis told me to come and get y'all." Irvine said as he watched the two pull away from each other as fast as possible. Walking away, Seifer and Rinoa exchanged looks and laughed at Irvine's feeling of awkwardness.
Seifer graciously offered his hand to Rinoa, as if he was really her one true knight, and she accepted placing her fragile hand in his large, rough palm.
Picking his gloves up for him before they left she tucked them into his trench coat pocket. They entered the control room and Squall's eyes' immediately shot up. He looked at Rinoa's hand tightly gripped in Seifers'. He didn't show signs of rage, but she knew if he were pushed any further he'd lose it in a matter of seconds. Or was she confusing him with Seifer's character? Squall would never lose his cool, especially when it came to how he was feeling. How could she do such a thing as to replace Squall's personality with Seifers'? Quickly removing her hand from his she walked out of the room, claiming she would be waiting for them outside.
Squall eyes shot daggers at Seifer, who returned the attack by throwing spears his way.
Everyone stepped off the ship except for Nidia and Xu, who would man the aircraft until their return.
Quistis spotted Dr.Odine in front of the building as the group approached. He stood there with Piet feeding a pet Moogle of theirs'.
"Ahhh, my dear Instructor Trepe." The old man said in a low, raspy, shaken voice as he took the blonde's hand into his own.
"As you can see, the experiment is quite something if it managed to get me to come all the way from Esthar." He chuckled to himself.
Piet walked over to them instructing them on how to act while in the lab.
"Now, now, Piet. Let's not bore them with any more of you're instructions. They are SeeD's and know how to act properly."
As he said so, Quistis looked at the SeeD's as to ensure their behavior. But being Squall was commander, she trusted they would all mind their manners.
"First, and foremost, I'd like you to meet some people. This is just a guess on the wild side, but perhaps you know them." He said smirking.
Quistis' face lit up at Dr.Odine's words and she eagerly looked for the guests.
And who walked in but non-other than Mr. Laguna Loire, president of Esthar himself.
Rinoa's eyes widened like a child on Christmas morning awaiting eagerly to open their presents. She ran faster than the speed of light right into Laguna's arms. He picked her up off of her feet and twirled her around. After the incident with the Sorceress she and Laguna became very close. He'd usually send her letters or gifts from Esthar, and she'd reply in a matter of days. No one really acknowledged the bond between the two until they saw the glee in Rinoa's face at the sight of him.
"Hey, beautiful! You just look absolutely stunning!"
They hadn't seen each other in over a year, and Laguna was quite astonished at how much her natural assets had grown.
"Uuuu,… um,… er, Rinoa, you sure have… g-grown since last time I saw you."
"I know!" She said completely unaware of what he was referring to.
"Oh, I've missed you so much!" She said pinching his cheeks.
"Hey, save some for Kiros and Ward, they're in the lab."
After Laguna greeted the rest of them they walked into the lab. It was a strange reunion for Squall, considering Laguna was his father and all. And it was even weirder that Rinoa was so acquainted with him, while he barley new the guy.
Rinoa equally gave Kiros and Ward warm, friendly hugs. She was just a friendly person. Selphie ran up and hugged them as well, even though she hadn't the slightest idea as to who they were. She knew about the whole Squall and Laguna thing, but she was never intimately acquainted with them. But being the carefree, happy-go-lucky person she was she treated them as if they were family. Everyone else just stood by and said hello.
Dr.Odine began his explanation of the experiment.
"Well, what we've called you all here in the middle of the night for is something very intriguing." Piet came in wheeling a cart with three large needles and a vile of medicine next to the needles. Selphie cringed at the sight of them. She was terrified of needles.
Dr.Odine, coming up to Selphie, placed his hand on hers.
"Don't fret my dear. They are not for you." She tried her best to look relieved but she couldn't shake the feeling of being totally creeped out.
"This vile of medicine contains something that any Garden would die to get their hands on. It just might be called the best, most helpful and useful discovery of our time. It puts you through a little process I like to call DE-aging."
"Why is it called de-aging?" Selphie questioned with curious yet fearful eyes.
"Because, my pet, it makes you grow thirty years younger."
Everyone gasped, except for Squall that is. He just kept on listening without disrupting the muscles in his face.
"Yes, you heard correctly, thirty years younger. This is such a valuable discovery because almost every Garden is in need of this. Every retired SeeD, or retired soldier, almost any one who had fought in some sort of battle, could once again return to fighting. It's a blessing upon all Gardens. They can now have some of their best and brightest fighters return to being fit and physique for combat with more information than ever before. Do you realize what we have done? We have just caused life expectancy to jump thirty years and some!"
Everyone was left speechless. Could their really be a medicine that did this to you? Was it possible?
"There is one problem, though. It only works on those with a specific blood type. We have not yet discovered which blood type that is unfortunately. And that is why you are here. To watch the experiment lay out. Laguna, Kiros, and Ward have volunteered to be tested on. Each ranging in different blood types. Now if the medicine doesn't work on any of them we will have to gather new test subjects, so hopefully it works."
Dr.Odine, Piet, and the 'test subjects' all proceeded to walk into a glass room.
"The experiment must be conducted away from those who could catch a drop in their eye or mouth. Highly doubtful, but they are precautions we must take.
Piet exited the room after preparing the needles and sat down next to Quistis.
"The medicine must be applied to an artery so the medicine can be carried throughout the body."
They watched as the Doctor stretched Kiros' arm out and ran alcohol over where he would inject the needle.
Then, the needle cut into his arm, as a sharp knife would, and the doctor pressed down on it until no more medicine was left. Taking it away, everyone looked on eagerly to see if there were any changes in his appearance. But nothing.
"If you don't see a change right away, you know it's no good." He said as he filled up the second needle with medicine.
The same procedure was practiced upon Laguna.
As they all watched Selphie screamed out,
"Look, he's getting younger!!!" It was very true. The wrinkles in his forehead soon began to disappear, and the lines on his face in general were slowly fading away. His hair looked healthy and strong, and he began to look better and better by the minute.
"How am I looking, doc?"
"My boy, you look like a 24 year old again." He said patting his back.
All of them walked out of the room and everyone's face was in utter shock.
"Piet, you can put down blood type B. It works on blood type B."
"Laguna, you look… incredible!" Rinoa shouted. She ran up to him and put her hands on his face.
"Jesus, he really did it. You're young! Heck, you're only seven years older than you're son. You're only seven years older than me!"
"Hey someone get me a mirror, I need to see how gorgeous I look." He said laughing.
Piet took Laguna and his buddies away to find a mirror, while Dr.Odine approached the SeeDs'.
"Now we're not giving the vile out just yet. We're still going to hold on to it, see if it works on any other blood types, doubtful, but I must see none the less. But, Laguna gave me orders to give it to Balamb Garden, and Balamb Garden only, when it's ready for release. Keep it a secret from all other Gardens as long as you can. Once they figure out just exactly what you have I predict feuds being carried out. Another reason for keeping it under raps until I feel the time is right. We thought, since all of you are SeeD's from Balamb, it would only be right for you to watch the first experiment being conducted. And considering it was your friend, Laguna, well you get the picture. So here it is the miracle medicine."
"Holy crap! Have you seen how good I look?" Laguna said running inside.
"God damn, that stuff really works." Seifer said laughing to himself.
"Crazy old kook actually stumbled onto something big. Probably by accident." He couldn't help but keep on laughing. Quistis jabbed him in the stomach and gave him a nasty look.
"Got good news for ya guys! I'll be comin' back to Balamb with you! Ah, I'm tired of being president. It's so god damn boring! So, Kiros, you can take charge while I'm gone!" Kiros looked quite surprised.
"You never told me abou-"
"Never mind that. Yep, I can see it now. Kiros, I know you'll make a great president. And Ward, buddy old pal, you'll be vice president!"
"Hey, Laguna, you never said anything about me and Kiros taking ove-"
"Not important. Not important. You'll two will love it. I'll be waiting back at the, the um…, hey what did you guys come on?"
"The Ragnarok." Selphie chimed in.
"The Ragnarok!"
"Hey, but Laguna, how are me and Ward going to take over Esth-"
"Bye!" He said walking away.
"O.k. Ward, we better get moving if we're gonna go and be president and vice president of Esthar. Goodbye Dr.Odine, Piet, everyone." With a nod of the head both men walked out.
Selphie let out a yawn and rubbed her eyes.
"Hey, Quisty, what time is it? I'm sooooo tired." Without realizing it she rested her head against Zell's shoulder. He looked down at the sleeping girl who was propped up against him and smiled. Taking his jacket off he wrapped it around Selphie's arms. Irvine observed them carefully. What was gong on between them, he wondered.
"Time for us to be leaving." Everyone walked out of the lab and onto the ship, where they found Laguna making fun of Nidia.
"They put you in charge of flying this thing? Are you sure you know how to operate it? I mean, I'd like to know who exactly I'm entrusting my life with. I'm sure its precautions everyone would take."
"Yes, for the last time I am highly qualified to fly the Ragnarok!"
"O.k. o.k. no need for hostilities."
Everyone soon found their seats and almost all fell asleep in them. The only people up were Nidia, of course, and Squall, who kept on staring at Laguna.
"Could that IDIOT possibly have spawned me?" He wondered to himself.
"He is a complete imbecile who can't do anything. How the hell did he become president of Esthar? That must be one stupid city." A soft hand on his own brought him back to reality. He looked at the seat across of his and saw it was Rinoa who had touched him. She smiled at him.
"What are you thinking of?"
"Nothing." It didn't take long for him to rebuild the walls she thought were permanently destroyed back in Delling.
"God, Squall. It feels as if every time I get close to you, you go on the rebound and shut me out again. You were doing so much better back in Delling."
He looked at her than at her hand that was hovered over his. He paused for a minute and then turned his hand upward and clasped Rinoa's in his. Intertwining their fingers. Thankfully Seifer was asleep, as he was on the train when Rinoa had gotten bit, otherwise it would have been one bloody showdown.
They stood like that for the rest of the ride. Rinoa had fallen out once again, and Squall had gone back to his thoughts. Looking around the room he spotted Selphie fast asleep with her head on Zell's lap. Zell was off in dream world as well. Didn't Selphie have a thing for Irvine, he pondered. Ah, who gave a damn anyway? Selphie was a free spirit who could only be restrained by the laws of gravity. And he even sometimes wondered if that would be enough to hold her.
The aircraft coming to a landing woke Rinoa and the rest. Quickly realizing Seifer was up now, she pulled her hand out from under Squalls'.
Back in Garden they had to figure out where they would keep Laguna.
Scratching his head he looked around the desolate Garden. No student was up.
"Well, uh, I could,… gee where can I sleep?"
"With Squall, of course." Quistis stated. He shot her a nasty look.
"I'd rather not." He grumbled.
"Aw, c'mon Squall, it'll be fun!" Laguna said smacking him on the back.
"Tons."
"Good, now that that's settled we can all get some over due rest. Good night."
She said walking away, her blonde hair swinging side to side.
Squall gave an agitated look at Laguna as they walked towards his dorm.
"I want a piggy back ride to my room!" Selphie's little voice piped up.
"I'm too tired to walk. Please? Anyone?" Irvine was about to offer until Zell caught him approaching and volunteered before he could.
"Wee-hoo!" She ran up to Zell and jumped on his back.
"Giddy up partner!"
"You know, for being such a tiny thing, you sure are heavy."
Seifer laughed at the twosome.
"Nah, you're just weak. Selphie's as light as a feather. But then again, you can't even pick that up without complaining! Hahahahahah!!!"
"Shut the hell up!"
"C'mon Zell, just move it!" She said kicking him in the sides as if he were a real horse.
"Night y'all." Irvine replied. He seemed a little down at Selphie and Zell's sudden attachment. You could hear the clanging of his boots even down the hallway.
The only ones left were Seifer and Rinoa.
"Guess I'll be heading to bed now." Rinoa said.
"May I walk you princess?"
"It would be my pleasure." She said taking his arm.
"You know, I never see you act the way you act around me with others. You try and give off such a tough guy image, but when around me it all melts away. Why is that?"
"Cause,… I don't know. You have this way of just making me feel at peace with everything. Just the sight of you brings me joy. It's a weird feeling, and I can't really explain it. I just know that when I'm with you it feels right. Like before we broke-"
She put her finger to his lips.
"Don't say another word." She whispered.
"I hate thinking about that time in our lives. It was so depressing."
They had reached her door but she wasn't going in just yet. She stayed silent for a few minutes.
"You know if only you hadn't have been possessed by the sorceress and I wasn't going all out of wack. We could've just…"
"Just what? Stay together?" He said with eager eyes.
"Forget it now, it's all in the past."
"Why can't we still be together? We can start afresh. Start over with each other. I know you don't want to believe it but I'll never love someone the same way I loved you. The same way I STILL love you."
"Why do you do this to me, Seifer? If you love me so much then just let me go. I can't keep constantly crying my eyes out over you. Don't let me believe you still love me, otherwise I'll never move on with my life. I'll never let go of you if I think there's still hope, a chance for us to be together. Because I know in my heart there is no chance of us ever being happy with each other. If we were to get back together do you know how much pain we would cause people? We can't keep being selfish." She was crying throughout their conversation. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek before closing the door. She threw her body on her bed and tried desperately to block out Seifer from her mind. But he even invaded her thoughts.
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A/N: I was just wondering, should I keep on continuing the story? I just feel as if no one is really reading it and that I'm just wasting my time. I don't know what to do. Anyway hope you liked it.