(Disclaimer: I think my reviewers are getting lazy O.O send in them names for Fujjin's baby please! I have an idea of one, but send in some in case I like them best)

An Old and New Face

Quistis had found Raiun down in the cafeteria, and asked him to come with her.

She had taken him to the third floor, at Cid's office. Cid sat down in a large, red chair. He had aged quite a bit. "Raiun, the new student, I assume?" He said.

Raiun nodded. "I've met with you before, sir."

"Well, my memory is slipping. I know you came here a few days ago to see me and to join the school, but Quistis says you want to become an instructor."

"That's right."

"How old are you, son?"

"Nineteen. I hear you have to be at least eighteen to be an instructor, when you graduate from Garden."

"Well, Quistis was an exception," Cid said. Quistis smiled proudly. "but it requires more than a marked score," Cid continued. "I need to see how you do, as well. Quistis watched you and graded you, and that requires me to grade you, as well. I'm not intimidating you, am I?"

"Not at all. I understand."

"Raiun is a good kid," Quistis told Cid. "He's very shy, but when teaching the students, he's liberal, yet firm."

"I'm not saying he isn't," Cid assured her. "I just need to be able to see how he does as well."

Raiun seemed restless. "Can I leave now?"

Cid nodded. "Yes, you can, but make sure and talk to Quistis later this afternoon and schedule a good time for me to come in and examine you as instructor."

Raiun stood, and walked for the elevator quickly. He wanted to see if he could catch up with Rinoa somewhere and talk with her. He had found a real liking to her, more than she imagined.

Cid found it odd that Raiun left in such a hurry, without even saying goodbye. "A bit rude, that was," Cid told Quistis.

"Well, he is shy, and he probably felt uncomfortable talking to a headmaster."

"I suppose so, but I hope he won't be up to any mischief."

"I don't think so. He seems like a very well-mannered young man."

"I hope so."

Raiun took the elevator down to the first floor. He gazed down the stairs, scanning the area for Rinoa. He descended the stairs downward and walked past the security gates. He spotted her staring out at the ocean by the walkway, leaning against the four-foot high concrete wall.

"I'm glad I got to see you again, Rinoa."

She recognized his voice, and turned his way. "Hi, Raiun. Haven't seen you all afternoon."

"Well, I had to talk with Instructor Trepe and Headmaster Cid."

Rinoa smiled. "You didn't get into trouble, did you?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing of the sort. You know I'm trying at becoming an instructor, yes?"

"Is that why you were there? He was discussing some ground rules for you or something?"

"Yes, he wants me to be instructor for an upcoming day, and wants to score me on how well I do."

Rinoa bit her lip and stroked her chin in thought. "There's something I've been wondering for the longest time about you."

"What would that be?"

"You speak.. very well, almost too well, like an older person, or in older English."

"That is the way I was raised, in a rich home, and was taught proper English. Does it bother you?"

She giggled. "Not at all, but if you had an English accent, it would match it so well."

Raiun imitated an English elder. "Would you like to stop in for a cup of tea or a scone?"

Rinoa laughed, and it brought tears to her eyes. Raiun loved how her eyes lit up when she laughed. "That was funny."

"I'm glad I made you laugh."

After Rinoa's laugh had faded, she returned to her frown she wore before. She sighed.

"Something wrong, dear?"

"I still miss Squall."

"Why worry about him? You don't know where he's about, and he could be breaking your heart, you unaware of it this whole time."

"I don't believe he would do that."

"But what if he is?" Rinoa had returned her gaze to the ocean. Raiun put an arm around her neck. "Don't worry about that boy. If you're ever down, you know you can come to me, right?"

Rinoa wasn't even aware that his arm was around her neck. She was listening to the breaking of the waves on the shore, but then she heard a distant voice. "Rinoa!"

She turned her head to the south. She saw two boys running her way, and when they got within view, she recognized them as Zell.. and Squall! She turned immediately from Raiun and ran toward him with open arms. Before reaching him, Squall flew open his arms and embraced her tightly, and kissed her many times on the cheek. "Where have you been? I missed you so much!"

She stayed clung to him, her arms around his waist, her eyes half-filled with tears, staring into his, waiting for an answer. "Well, Rinoa," he started, "I didn't mean to scare you. I went into Deling City to get you--"

"A surprise," Zell finished. "He got you a surprise present, and he wanted to return a day earlier, but he got caught up in traffic, but he's going to give it to you at the SeeD Ball in three days." Zell nudged Squall in the ribs. "Isn't that right, Squall?"

Squall felt a lump in his throat, and swallowed it. "Yeah. I meant to sneak out and go get it and return before you even noticed, but my plan kinda failed." He tried harder to follow up with this story. "So now you know you're going to get a surprise present. Thanks for ruining the surprise."

Rinoa stuck her tongue out. "Well, that's what I do: be mean to you." She turned her face away from him and hugged him tightly. "I just missed you when you were gone."

He returned her embrace. "I missed you, too," and kissed her forehead, then played with her thick, dark hair.

Raiun finally had enough guts to walk over to them. "I'm assuming you're Squall," he said.

Squall nodded, surprised. "Yeah, I am. How do you know me? And who are you?"

"Well, for starters, my name is Raiun Almasy."

Squall blinked. "Almasy?"

"Yes, I'm Seifer's older brother. I'm sure you've heard of him."

"Unfortunately."

"You and him don't get along?"

"Not very well." Then Squall said, "how do you know me?"

"Rinoa has told me a lot about you."

"Has she, now?"

"Yes, and while you were away, deserting her, leaving her in the dark, and being an inconsiderate bastard, I spoke with her a lot and reassured her when she missed YOU. I really don't see why she deserves you."

Zell stepped in. "You better shut the hell up, Raiun. You don't even know what he left for."

Raiun smirked. "Yes, I know exactly what he left for: to hit on the other ladies and have himself a good time. Parties, women, drinking, all that good stuff, while she stayed behind here, sulking over you."

Rinoa had her fists balled up so tightly, that her fingernails were cutting into the skin, and she could feel her palms bleeding when the skin broke. She tore from Squall, stepped right up to Raiun, and bashed him square in the nose. He toppled backwards onto the ground, unaware for a moment as to what had happened. He held his hand up to his nose, and noticed his nose was severely bleeding. He held it with one hand, and stood. "If this is what I get for standing up for you, then to hell with you."

Rinoa turned back around, then swiftly kicked him in his privates. He fell to the ground within a second, holding his crotch. "Mercy.." he whimpered.

"Then keep your mouth shut," Squall said.

"Can't I give him a kick, too?" Zell asked.

"No, I think he's learned his lesson. If not, we'll be back for him." Squall looked to Rinoa. "Or maybe we'll just let Rinoa handle the whole situation."

She giggled, then they all walked inside, ignoring Raiun in his feeble position on the ground. "I'll get you back, Rinoa Heartilly," he whispered to himself. "For all the things I've tried to do for you, you come and stab me in the back? I'll get you back."

(PS, I wasn't making fun of the English peoples. They rule '.'!)