Devil's Cub

Chapter 9

"What's the matter, Rin? You seem down." Rinoa jerked her head up in surprise as Zell cut off his general conversation to ask her. Her gloved hands tightened marginally around her glass "Nothing," She fixed on a bright smile and looked at her concerned friend. "I'm fine."

Zell grinned back and continued chatting lightly. Rinoa once again tuned out of his conversation, only making civil replies. She managed an ironic smile, if Zell was noticing something, or rather someone was troubling her; it must be rather obvious.

She was attending a ball put on by one of her families various contacts. The genial hostess was wandering around greeting her guests. The elegantly decorated apartments were filled with the important people of Esthar. The President Laguna was chatting energetically with a rather dazed looking dignitary from Centra. Footmen were discretely pulling heavy blue drapes across the large windows and a new dance was starting up. There was a grand piano being played softly at the other side of the room, not drowned out by the conversations and other sounds at the party.

Rinoa's various contacts were scattered throughout the crowd, her friend Zone saw her and waved with a smile. His eyes suddenly were averted and grew large and horrified, he then clutched his stomach and ran to the toilet. Rinoa frowned, then saw a formidable looking lady had approached him. The woman watched him leave hurriedly with a thwarted yet determined expression. Rinoa giggled and tried to stifle it politely. Usually Rinoa enjoyed these gatherings but she hadn't felt the same since she had left Deling, she thought sadly.

Absorbed by her own thoughts, she hardly noticed Zell had stopped talking.

"Was the fact that Mr Trevenham had just got recently married that funny?" he said in a baffled voice..

Rinoa nodded vaguely.

"Rin!" groaned Zell exasperatedly.

"What?" asked Rinoa, oblivious.

"Are you even listening to me??"

"Um, yes?"

Zell threw his hands up in despair.

Rinoa punched her friend lightly "Meanie, I was just thinking."

Zell rolled his eyes "Oh yes, your mysterious suitor."

"What? Jealous?" asked Rinoa teasingly.

"Of course." Replied Zell promptly.

Rinoa moved over to the balcony and looked out at the city lights of Esthar. The emerald city was cloaked in darkness but for the many lights that twinkled.

She turned to Zell and leaned forward slightly, her hands clasped lightly behind her back "Well, I don't think you are!" She looked slightly behind Zell at a brunette "Someone is though." She added thoughtfully. The girl was watching them with a worried stare, flickering between them.

"Who?" asked Zell, oblivious.

Rinoa sighed and leant back "You," she said in an ominous voice to Zell "are hopeless."

"So are you!" replied Zell defensively.

"Am not!" she retorted, flicking her hair back.

"You don't listen to people!" Zell said standing straight.

"You…you have funny hair!" said Rinoa pointing an accusing finger at the aforementioned hair.

"Whaaaat??" cried Zell, his hands going up to his hair, looking scandalised.

The brunette who was watching them almost started forward towards them as if feeling Zell's pain but then drew back flushing as a woman who seemed to be her mother protested feebly. A feather in her hair moved as she spoke.

Rinoa crossed her arms and looked defiant, putting her chin up. "I win. You're more hopeless than I am." She said smugly.

Zell have her death glare and went back to smoothing out his hair. Which seemed to be a futile task as it just popped back up to say hello again as soon as he'd done it. The brunette was looking agonised.

"Seriously though," began Zell, looking fairly self conscious as he finished smoothing his hair "You seem to have got it quite bad for this Storm guy."

"Squall!" cried Rinoa "His name is Squall." She repeated quietly, taking a drink of wine.

Suddenly a perky girl in a sunflower yellow dress practically bounded up to them. "Hey guys!" she greeted them enthusiastically. "Hey Selphie!" said the tattooed blonde casually "What's up?"

"I'm fine." Selphie replied "Just a bit bored." Rinoa regarded her sympathetically "Did Sir Leigh start talking to you again?" Selphie shuddered, closing her eyes momentarily "All he talks about are his new shares in Dr Odine's new research."

"What, the freaky guy with the collar?" interrupted Zell. Both girls shushed him urgently "Not so loud!" hissed Rinoa. Zell rolled his eyes "Oh yeah, not supposed to say about Dr Odine's various fashion crimes. Just about his wondrous research." Selphie held out her hands as if to fend something away "Please, not more of that! I'd rather talk about the weather!"

Rinoa laughed "Hey, you survived at least."

Selphie giggled "Only just. Hey, by the way, Aunt Lulu said she would let she help plan her next party! Isn't that great?" she said happily. Zell nodded vigorously and Selphie looked at Rinoa for confirmation. But the black haired girl was silent, looking outside in detached fashion. Selphie turned to Zell for enlightenment, puzzled. He shook his head, muttering "She thinks I'm hopeless." and with a devious expression said loudly "Look! Squall!" Selphie wore an identical evil grin as she realised.

Rinoa's head jerked up, she glanced at the entrance, seeing no stormy eyed knight in shining armour she turned to Zell "Meanie!" she cried fiercely, standing stiffly. Selphie looked at them both animatedly, balanced on the balls of her feet. "Oh Squall." She said knowingly, winking at Rinoa. "What?" cried Rinoa, blushing.

"Rinoa and Squall," began Selphie in a sing song voice "Sitting in a tree…" Rinoa glared at her. Selphie trailed off looking innocent.

Rinoa pouted "Stop teasing me!"

"Hello again Miss Tilmitt. Are these your friends?" a middle aged man had walked up and stood beside Selphie. She turned around to look at him with almost a comical look of dismay "Sir Leigh!" The dark haired man smiled knowingly, seeming not noticing- or at least ignoring Selphies's expression. After a moments hesitation, she smiled quaveringly "This is Mr Zell Dincht and Miss Rinoa Caraway., Zell, Rinoa his is Sir Leigh." She said politely. Zell and Rinoa greeted him cordially.

An awkward silence descended. "Um, it was nice weather today. Was it not?"

"Miss Quistis Trepe." A solemn butler proclaimed her entrance with dignity and held open the door as Quistis passed through. She thanked him and looked up with a smile at her dark haired friend who returned it. The butler left and shut the door.

Xu moved forward "How are you?" she inquired as she gave Quistis a sisterly hug. "I'm okay." Smiled Quistis sitting down as Xu did "You?"

Xu grinned "I'm good. But you look troubled. What is it?" she said bluntly. Quistis shook her head "It's nothing."

"Quistis," began Xu dryly "I've been your friend for a while now. I know when somethings up."

"I told you! It's nothing."

"Oh and Seifer Almasy escorting you to the door is nothing as well I presume?" said Xu coolly.

Quistis made choking sound.

"Ah, and the fact that your sister has been practically attached to him for the last few months?" Xu continued dispassionately.

"Xu!" exclaimed Quistis.

"So it is that then."

Quistis gave her grudging smile "At least your honest, I guess."

"Don't worry, you sister isn't stup- that stupid to run away with him." Supplied Xu helpfully.

Quistis fiddled with a stray piece of cotton on the chair she was sitting on, she was silent for a moment "Oh yes she is."

"What?" said Xu "I overestimated her then." She said frankly. "What makes you think she would?"

Quistis chuckled grimly "She told me."

"She told you?" echoed Xu incredulously, leaning forward, surprised. "Does your mother know?"

"I'd say they planned it together." Quistis looked up with rueful smile "Will you ever speak to me again?"

"Of course I will!" Xu said brusquely. "I'm guessing you've tried to persuade her not to?"

"Yes." She replied glumly, crossing her arms.

"Hm…" Xy pondered for a minute "Well you could beat either of them unconscious, or even both! Do the world a favour." She finished musingly.

Quistis laughed "I don't think mother would like me to beat my sister unconscious. And don't you think beating up a Marquis might cause a bit of scandal?"

Xu sniffed mock dolefully "Oh well, what about poison?"

Quistis smiled "Seriously though, I'm kind of out of ideas. Maybe I should just let them run away and become a nun."

"Too boring. What about a chimney sweep?" said Xu thoughtfully.

"Think I might beat you to death in a minute."

"A champion boxer!"

Quistis half stood up from her chair and fixed her friend with a stern expression betrayed by her small smile "I am warning you…" she said threateningly, laughter in her voice.

Xu lifted one hand in surrender "Ok, I'm serious."

Quistis sat down and raised an eyebrow.

"I am!" protested Xu. "Anyway why was Seifer with you before?"

Quistis grimaced "He knows I want him to stop chasing Saria." Her eyes narrowed dangerously "He thinks it's amusing to annoy me."

"Asshole." Said Xu sympathetically.

"Anyway," said Quistis, rising from her chair "I'd better go. Thanks for the ideas." She said ironically. Xu stood and waved her hand airily "Anytime."

Quistis glanced out the window "Nida's here." Xu sighed dramatically "Oh all these suitors of mine… Bye."

Quistis walked out, nodding at the flushed Nida as she left with a wry smile.

Seifer left his parents house loking pale and less arrogant than usual. His interview with his father had gone as expected. His father had simply told him without rebuke that he had better go to Esthar for a while, until the fuss had died down. He had fixed Seifer with his half- lidded gaze and said "I cannot condemn you for what you did, as I was very much like that at your age and so I would be a hypocrite to say that you should not have done it. I apologise for the bad blood we have in our family, and I will just say this. There is good in you Seifer. But sometimes it takes someone to find it." He smiled as if reminiscing "It took your mother to make me a good man." He said in a softer tone.

Seeing his mother had probably been worse. She had had no lecture to read him, she had just looked slightly sad. And that was the worst for Seifer.

He shook his head angrily. He was Seifer Almasy, he would carry on. He wouldn't look back.

Okay, I made that chapter a bit longer. Actually putting Selphie and Zell in the story. As usual please review. Tell me how I'm doing etc etc Action starts next chapter! I have decided to get my ass in gear and update more often now I have the dear sweet internet back…Anyway thank you reviewers so far!

Review…You know you want to….

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