People had began to gather in the lobby, and drinks had been set out prior. Some students had been asked to watch the drinks to reduce the risk of them getting spiked. Reduce the risk? Well, of course they would be in on it, too.
Selphie was standing in the lobby, waiting for Zell, and Irvine had quickly followed behind. He had to keep wiping tears away because the braids Selphie gave him were rather tight. He was dressed in Squall's SeeD uniform. Selphie questioned him.
"Why you wearing Squall's uniform?"
"Well, I was cussing because I couldn't find the tuxedo I wore to the last ball, and he had walked by the door and asked if I wanted it. I was a little hesitant at first because I didn't know what he would wear, but he said he had something to wear."
"Not that I know of," Zell said when he joined them. "Something fishy is going on, if you ask me."
Selphie giggled. "You still think Squally is demented?"
"You still don't believe me?"
"Not exactly demented," Irvine said, "but something is weird."
Selphie frowned. "Irvy, you too? Why do you think something is wrong?"
"He's acting weird, and some things just seem.. different about him."
Selphie was ignoring Irvine, and was looking at Zell's arm. Zell was finally able to use it without the sling, but the vent had sliced his shoulder. Selphie was pulling down the collar of his shirt and observing it. "Whew, that vent really left a scar, didn't it?"
"Selphie, why aren't you paying attention--" Irvine started.
Then it hit Zell. "The scar!"
Selphie blinked. "Huh?"
"The scar between Squall's eyes! It wasn't there! That's why he looked so peculiar!"
Selphie gasped. "Yeah! Come to think of it, that is why he looked different."
"And his eyes looked green," Irvine added.
There was silence among all of them. They only listened to the chatter of the crowd behind them.
"We've got to find Rinoa! She might not be aware of it!" Zell said.
Zell had broke through the crowd, and Selphie followed eagerly behind. Irvine desperately tried to keep up. They raced for Rinoa's room and prayed that she would be there.
Rinoa stood at the top of the Garden out on the balcony. She looked out at the ocean and the scarlet moon that was slowly leaving the form of a lunar eclipse.
She observed the moon and looked behind her when she heard footsteps. She turned and saw Squall. "We need to talk."
"I'm sure we do," he said, and stepped closer to her. He softly laid his hand on her arm and wrapped his fingers around it, pulling her closer. The darkness of the red moon made his eyes look so dark, his face so shadowed.
Rinoa stayed firm, her arm slightly shaking. She felt the urge to pull away. "I'm serious. We really do need to talk.. Squall."
Squall pulled her ever closer, and moved his lips to hers, inches from kissing her. "I'm not Squall, you know."
The voice echoed in her mind. She almost felt sickened. She pulled away quickly, and backed up inches from him. "I know you're not."
He frowned. "How long have you known?"
"The way you looked at me in the infirmary.. I knew you weren't Squall. Your eyes seemed so mischievous and menacing. You don't have a scar like he does, either. Until then, I didn't even notice that, though."
The lunar eclipse had passed, and the moon resumed it's bright, white glow. You could clearly see his emerald eyes now. "Well, it doesn't matter who I am now," he said, walking to the edge of the balcony that Rinoa took for shelter, "because I'm here alone with you, and no one will hear you scream."
Rinoa bit her lip, and tears streamed from her eyes. "I don't care what you do to me, but I want Squall back safely, Raiun!"
"Didn't you know? He fell out of your window in the struggle. He hit the ground, and all his bones probably shattered. His neck and spine mangled, his blood and organs spewed all across the concrete--"
"Stop!" She screamed. She began to break down and fell to her knees. "Tell me where he is!"
"I told you. Within the ground, most likely." He kneeled down to her. "And I'm here with you. I've blockaded the doors, so you cannot run, and no one will hear you scream."
"I'll fight you if I must," Rinoa muttered.
"And you expect to win?"
"Perhaps not, but I do intend to win," a voice whispered.
Raiun turned his head only to feel it forced in the other direction when backhanded. He hit the ground, and wiped the blood from his lip. He looked up to a figure dressed in dark attire, and backed away from him when he saw the glowing scarlet he saw of the prior lunar eclipse in his eyes.
(Evil, aren't I?)