There's a whole long chapter in Squall's POV here....so,a message to
Phoenix,hope ya enjoy it!!!
P.S---psssssst!Dark Raion,I absolutely love your fic Of Angels and Demons!Ya gotta get a new chapter in there!!
P.P.S---Nope,Anonymous,Zoan did not rape Rinoa,if you want to know.He just....dyeh,wanted fun,huh?
P.P.P.S-----Cloud Strife,what's wrong with Xu evil?HEHEHEHEHE...I'm mean,huh?GWAHAHAHA!!
P.P.P.P.S----Brainy,Aaron!But the riddle was simple...Squall was a little dumb he didn't know the answer...hee...hehehehehehe...
P.P.P.P.P.S----Sorry,folks,but I'll spoil your story a little...Squall is gonna die,but he's still gonna live!!!
Chapter Forty (Squall's POV)
~* "Griever?"
*Leonhart..*
I laid a hand on my face and sighed."Dammit,Griever,you knew she's gonna be kidnapped!Why didn't you tell me?!" I yelled at the calm looking lion in front of me.
He didn't answer,just stared at me with his gleaming eyes.
"Hey!I'm talking to you!!"
*You must learn to face challenges,Leonhart.You have faced many in the past....so why do you fret on this one now?*
"I....because...because..." ~Because....Rinoa is my life....~ "But you could have at least told me!"
*To be strong,one must endure pain and grief....I have my reasons....*
"But...what if something happens to her?!What if...she's being tortured...or..or rap--" I didn't want to say it at all,but the words HAD to come out.However,Griever raised a finger at me,telling me to stop.
*The Sorceress is fine,trust me....there is still time before Hixon is summoned...*
My fists tightened.Then I remembered Professor Vine's words.Looking closely at Griever,I asked,"What...what will happen to me....if I call you?"
Without hesitation,he replied,*Hixon and Zoan will disappear....but so will you....*
"Why the hell didn't you tell me about all these?!Why do you wait until now?!" I was beginning to loose my temper again.
*Do you not wish to save the one you love...?You want the Sorceress to die?*
"I...no...of course not...but....why...?"
The lion kept quiet for a while,then he began.
*The right time does not matter,Leonhart.Only your heart does....even if I told you days ago,you will still want to save her....wouldn't you?Or are those words simply lies...*
"No!No...I love her...and I'd be willing to sacrifice my life...anything...everything for her..."
*Then,like I said....the right time does not matter....*
"Wait...how will I summon you?Aren't you gonna tell me that?"
*When it is time,you will know....*
"Hey!!What the hell do you mean?!How will I know?!"
*You will know,Leonhart.....*
"I said,how will I know?!?!HEEEEEEEEEEEY!!!!!!!!!" *~
***************************
~Why is Griever being so vague?~ I frowned as I walked to the Cafeteria.Some SeeDs saluted to me,but my eyes didn't even notice them.I was busy worrying about where Rinoa was and what Griever had said to me last night.
"Yo,Squall!" Zell yelled and waved to me from his table.I said nothing in reply,just approached him and gave him and my other comrades a nod.
"When are you going to Esthar again?Want us to follow you?" offered Selphie.
"With the Headmaster's permission,after this.And if you don't mind,yeah," I answered.
"Hey,of course we're coming too!!" Stuffing a hotdog into his mouth,Zell smacked his palm on the table,causing his glass of water to leap and settle down again."We're all gonna save Rinoa,aren't we?!"
"Booyaka,YEAH!!" Selphie sang along with him.Irvine simply tipped his hat down and grinned widely.
"We're with you all the way,Squall," Quistis said.
Suddenly,I was overwhelmed with the feeling of gratitude and warmness....gratitude because of my comrades help,and warmness for having such great friends....
"Thanks," I mumbled,rather without feeling.
"Awww,look at him," Selphie teased."Hey,what're friends for,huh?"
For once,I smiled...not a small smile,but a wide,hearty one....
***************************
"We'd like to see Dr.Odine and Prof.Vine,sir." My comrades and I saluted to Laguna.It was strange calling my own father 'sir',but...well,I guess I just wasn't really used to it.I nodded and smiled at Ellone,who was standing beside the president,Kiros,and Ward.Selphie ran to her and gave her a hug.
"Hey,Sis!How're ya?"
"I'm fine,Sefie.Hello,Quisty,Irvy,Zell,Squall."
"Hey!!" chorused the others.I looked impatiently at Laguna,and he noticed my expression at once.
Clearing his throat,he gestured towards the door leading to his office."The doctor and professor are in there.You may go in."
Saying no more,I passed him and went into the office.After some more words with Ellone,my comrades joined me.Odine and Vine were chatting quietly and they perked up when they saw me.
"Ah,SeeDs..." Vine remarked and bowed.Slightly surprised by his humble behaviour,I frowned and eyes him carefully."Do you know where Rinoa may be?" I demanded,and was relieved when he nodded.
"Yez,of course.I am,after all,ze great Profesiour Vine...vhy,once,I even figured out--" The little idiot started bragging,but he quickly stopped when he saw my eyes narrowing coldly."Ahem,sorry.But before I tell you,I vant you to promise me that you vill let us examine ze Sorceress later!" Odine immediately nodded together with his cousin.I clenched my fist,but like before,I had no choice.
~I'm sorry,Rinoa....but I just want to save you....~ I apologised silently."Fine.." I muttered.Vine and Odine smiled gleefully.
"Very vell...after some hard and long research,I have finally found out where Sorceror Zoan is hiding." Vine clicked a button at the wall and the hologram of the world map appeared in the air.
"Zis is the world map," he stated.That was too much for me.
"Of course we know what it is,you dumbass.Get to the point!" I screamed.He mumbled something I couldn't hear and clicked another button,causing a small area to the south of Centra to light up and flicker.
"Zat....iz where Zoan iz.It iz not specifically on zat spot,zhough.He grew an island from ze sea and made it hiz hiding plaze.The other living things there are Zoan's pets....or in other vords,monsters of all kinds.Ze island iz hidden between other small islands,and iz very hard to find."
"If this island is so hard to find,then how come you found it?" asked Zell in scorn.Vine simply smiled darkly and once again began to brag,"Ah,like I have said,I am ze great Professor Vine!I can--"
"How sure are you that Zoan is there?" I said,tired of his boastings.
"You do not believe me?!" He was in a rage."Very vell then!Go and find ze Sorceror yourself!"
"Whatever..." I muttered."So,how're we gonna search for this island?And do you know if we stil have time?" ~Please...please...I just need a little more....~
"I vill guide you from here,through ze Ragnarok.And according to my studies and research,Hixon vill only be summoned just before the sun sets.Dusk,zat iz....and you have....exactly 7 hours to zat.However,I do not know if Zoan wishes to summon it earlier...you vill have to vork fast..."
I did a few quick calculations.From Esthar to Centra takes about and hour and a half,or maybe an hour in Ragnarok's fastest speed.And to find our destination,we may take about another hour.And to push our way through Zoan's place,goodness know how many hours we would take.....
~We have to try....even if....if it's too late...~ I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed."Thank you for the information.We'll be leaving now....if the President does not mind?" I turned to Laguna,who nodded at once.
"Good luck,SeeDs," he said as we saluted to him.Then,as I walked pass him,he whispered to me,"You'll...you'll come back,right,son?"
I stopped,looking at him.For the first time in my life,I couldn't believe I was loved by someone I should call my father.I had never known my parents before,and the only people who ever showed me love were Matron,Ellone,and Rinoa.Taking a deep breath,I did what my heart told me to do.I stepped up and gave him a hearty hug.He was rather surprised,and so were the others there,but I didn't care.
"I'll try...." I said,then added softly,"Father...."
****************************
I stared out at the blue sea below the flying spaceship.My mind was clouded with thoughts...thoughts I myself couldn't talk about.Leaning back onto a seat in the Meeting Room,Ragnarok,I placed a piece of paper,an envelope,and a pen on the table.My comrades were all at the cockpit,knowing I had something private to do.
Taking a deep breath,I took the pen and a moment to compose myself,then settled down to write the letter......or more like,stare at the blank sheet of paper...
~How do I start?I'm not good at things like this....~
After a few minutes of cracking my head,I finally got the answer.I wrote down the the first few words:
'My dearest Angel,Rinoa,'
It was then that I suddenly perked up.~Angel...~ That word rang a bell in my head.Where had I heard it before?From Griever....he said something about an Angel,the Lionhearted,and Crossfated.An image flashed in my head...the image of Rinoa and the picture or whatever you call it on her back.The picture of a pair of wings....did Griever mean....Rinoa was the Angel?
Then,like tiny pieces of puzzles,it all came flying into my head.I finally understood what Griever meant.He had said,'When evil claims and confronts the Angel,the Lionhearted and Crossfated shall be one.' Evil....that's Zoan...and what he meant by claiming and confronting is kidnapping the Angel,Rinoa.And...and the Lionhearted...
I reached up and held the pendant at my chest.The pendant of Griever...a lion...
~So...I'm the Lionhearted?Then...the Crossfated...must be...~
I froze as realisation hit me.Cross...only one man had that symbol...
~Seifer?!How come I never thought of him?!~
But when I regrouped my thoughts again,I began to wonder.Was I supposed to team up with Seifer to defeat Zoan?I could vaguely remember Griever saying something about us being one and all that...so.....
~We have to cooperate....?~ My eyes widened in shock.~What?Me and Seifer?Cooperating?Being one powerful force to defeat the evil?I'm like asking the sky to drop down!!~
I rested my head in my hands with a sigh.What to do.....?
~Uggh...I'll think about it later....~ I grabbed the pen again and continued my letter.
**************************
"Okay,so now what?" Selphie turned to me when she had piloted the Ragnarok to the wide ocean below Centra.I frowned at the world map on the monitor at the cockpit and traced my finger around the thousands of small islands.
"We contact the professor.He did say that he'd help us," I replied stonely.Selphie nodded and pressed a button.
"Tee hee!SeeD Ragnarok to the Sir Laguna's office!" she chirped.Vine's voice came in through the speakers.
"I am here.Vhere are you now?"
"Just to the south of Centra.Which island is Zoan on?"
"Very good.Listen carefully...." The whole long process of searching for the specific island began.It took longer than I had expected,with a few angry and impatient remarks continously from both Selphie and Vine.Selphie,because she was irritated with the 'long and bad-pronounced sentences',as she called them,from the latter.And Vine,because he was annoyed in return with Selphie's words.
Finally,after what seemed like 2 hours or more,we spotted the island.On it,camouflaged cleverly,was a tall castle-like building,looking exactly like the white sand around it.I strained my eyes to see clearer,and I could noticed some small moving dots....probably monsters....
Once more,I thank Vine for his help.Selphie stuck her tongue out at the speaker and shrugged.Then she turned to me.
"Landing?"
"There." I pointed at a wide area of sand near the castle and she nodded.When the Ragnarok reached the ground,I ran a hand in my hair and took a deep breath.Then,I cleared my throat politely,meaning to get everyone's attention.They turned to me at once.
"If....if I really can't make it out....just....make sure you get Rinoa safe,okay?I don't want anything else to happen to her..." I said quietly."And...I want to say..." I trailed off,swallowing."You guys are the best friends anyone could have..."
My comrades looked touched.Selphie had tears in her eyes and she hastily wiped them off."I'm sorry...but Squall...we've been through a lot together...all of us...are you...are you sure you want to do this?I mean...surely there's another way?"
"Even if there is another way,there's no more time.I don't care....even if it means my life,I will save Rinoa..."
There was a pause.Zell scratched his head and sighed."I have nothing to say..." he mumbled.
Irvine raised his hands as if saying "Me too.".I looked at Quistis and noted her rather worried expression.I gestured towards the door.
"Oh,Quistis....can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked as everyone walked out of the Ragnarok.My comrades stared at me in surprise,but I guess they respected my request.
~Please...just one last moment,Quistis....~
Chapter Forty One (Quistis' POV)
I was surprised that Squall wanted to see me privately.Of all the people,why me?However,I nodded my head and patiently waited as he composed himself.The others had already got out of the Ragnarok.
Finally,he pulled out a white envelope and held it out to me.I raised my eyebrows.~Huh?~
"Give this to her...please...when everything is over..." he said.
I didn't need to ask who the 'her' was.I knew it was Rinoa....nobody else.Ignoring the slight ache in my heart,I reached out and grasped the envelope.
"Okay..."
"And...." he continued.He was trying to be calm,but I knew he couldn't.It was still hard for him to express his feelings,though Rinoa opened him up a little."And...tell her....tell her I love her...wtih all my heart and soul..."
My eyes lowered down.Taking a deep breath,I nodded again."She knows,Squall..."
"I want her to really know that....you'll tell her,won't you,Quistis?"
~Squall....~ "Yeah." Tears were growing in my eyes,but I quickly blinked them away.He studied me for a while before suddenly wrapping his arms around me.I was shocked at his gesture,but somehow,I felt that his hug wasn't a lover's type...it was simply an affectionate hug from a comrade.I exhaled and hugged him back,knowing it was the first and last time I would be doing it.
Chapter Forty Two (Zoan's POV)
"Master..." Xu came running to me.I turned and noted her nervious and panicked expression at once.
"What is it?"
"SeeDs....they're heading here..."
I smiled thinly."And that Leonhart?"
She nodded.I laughed softly and continued smiling.
"Let them deal with the monsters....and while they're doing that,we will get ready for the ritual.Then...." I chuckled."Then...I will show them the true power of Zoan and Hixon..."
"Yes,master.I will go and get the things ready." She turned and went to the door,but stopped when I called out for her again.
"Oh yes,and Xu...." She turned to me and stared silently."Should you fail,you know what will happen,wouldn't you?"
She lowered her eyes,then nodded after a pause."Indeed,master.."
"Very good.Now go."
Phew....a whole chapter....tired....anyway review pleaseee!!
P.S---psssssst!Dark Raion,I absolutely love your fic Of Angels and Demons!Ya gotta get a new chapter in there!!
P.P.S---Nope,Anonymous,Zoan did not rape Rinoa,if you want to know.He just....dyeh,wanted fun,huh?
P.P.P.S-----Cloud Strife,what's wrong with Xu evil?HEHEHEHEHE...I'm mean,huh?GWAHAHAHA!!
P.P.P.P.S----Brainy,Aaron!But the riddle was simple...Squall was a little dumb he didn't know the answer...hee...hehehehehehe...
P.P.P.P.P.S----Sorry,folks,but I'll spoil your story a little...Squall is gonna die,but he's still gonna live!!!
Chapter Forty (Squall's POV)
~* "Griever?"
*Leonhart..*
I laid a hand on my face and sighed."Dammit,Griever,you knew she's gonna be kidnapped!Why didn't you tell me?!" I yelled at the calm looking lion in front of me.
He didn't answer,just stared at me with his gleaming eyes.
"Hey!I'm talking to you!!"
*You must learn to face challenges,Leonhart.You have faced many in the past....so why do you fret on this one now?*
"I....because...because..." ~Because....Rinoa is my life....~ "But you could have at least told me!"
*To be strong,one must endure pain and grief....I have my reasons....*
"But...what if something happens to her?!What if...she's being tortured...or..or rap--" I didn't want to say it at all,but the words HAD to come out.However,Griever raised a finger at me,telling me to stop.
*The Sorceress is fine,trust me....there is still time before Hixon is summoned...*
My fists tightened.Then I remembered Professor Vine's words.Looking closely at Griever,I asked,"What...what will happen to me....if I call you?"
Without hesitation,he replied,*Hixon and Zoan will disappear....but so will you....*
"Why the hell didn't you tell me about all these?!Why do you wait until now?!" I was beginning to loose my temper again.
*Do you not wish to save the one you love...?You want the Sorceress to die?*
"I...no...of course not...but....why...?"
The lion kept quiet for a while,then he began.
*The right time does not matter,Leonhart.Only your heart does....even if I told you days ago,you will still want to save her....wouldn't you?Or are those words simply lies...*
"No!No...I love her...and I'd be willing to sacrifice my life...anything...everything for her..."
*Then,like I said....the right time does not matter....*
"Wait...how will I summon you?Aren't you gonna tell me that?"
*When it is time,you will know....*
"Hey!!What the hell do you mean?!How will I know?!"
*You will know,Leonhart.....*
"I said,how will I know?!?!HEEEEEEEEEEEY!!!!!!!!!" *~
***************************
~Why is Griever being so vague?~ I frowned as I walked to the Cafeteria.Some SeeDs saluted to me,but my eyes didn't even notice them.I was busy worrying about where Rinoa was and what Griever had said to me last night.
"Yo,Squall!" Zell yelled and waved to me from his table.I said nothing in reply,just approached him and gave him and my other comrades a nod.
"When are you going to Esthar again?Want us to follow you?" offered Selphie.
"With the Headmaster's permission,after this.And if you don't mind,yeah," I answered.
"Hey,of course we're coming too!!" Stuffing a hotdog into his mouth,Zell smacked his palm on the table,causing his glass of water to leap and settle down again."We're all gonna save Rinoa,aren't we?!"
"Booyaka,YEAH!!" Selphie sang along with him.Irvine simply tipped his hat down and grinned widely.
"We're with you all the way,Squall," Quistis said.
Suddenly,I was overwhelmed with the feeling of gratitude and warmness....gratitude because of my comrades help,and warmness for having such great friends....
"Thanks," I mumbled,rather without feeling.
"Awww,look at him," Selphie teased."Hey,what're friends for,huh?"
For once,I smiled...not a small smile,but a wide,hearty one....
***************************
"We'd like to see Dr.Odine and Prof.Vine,sir." My comrades and I saluted to Laguna.It was strange calling my own father 'sir',but...well,I guess I just wasn't really used to it.I nodded and smiled at Ellone,who was standing beside the president,Kiros,and Ward.Selphie ran to her and gave her a hug.
"Hey,Sis!How're ya?"
"I'm fine,Sefie.Hello,Quisty,Irvy,Zell,Squall."
"Hey!!" chorused the others.I looked impatiently at Laguna,and he noticed my expression at once.
Clearing his throat,he gestured towards the door leading to his office."The doctor and professor are in there.You may go in."
Saying no more,I passed him and went into the office.After some more words with Ellone,my comrades joined me.Odine and Vine were chatting quietly and they perked up when they saw me.
"Ah,SeeDs..." Vine remarked and bowed.Slightly surprised by his humble behaviour,I frowned and eyes him carefully."Do you know where Rinoa may be?" I demanded,and was relieved when he nodded.
"Yez,of course.I am,after all,ze great Profesiour Vine...vhy,once,I even figured out--" The little idiot started bragging,but he quickly stopped when he saw my eyes narrowing coldly."Ahem,sorry.But before I tell you,I vant you to promise me that you vill let us examine ze Sorceress later!" Odine immediately nodded together with his cousin.I clenched my fist,but like before,I had no choice.
~I'm sorry,Rinoa....but I just want to save you....~ I apologised silently."Fine.." I muttered.Vine and Odine smiled gleefully.
"Very vell...after some hard and long research,I have finally found out where Sorceror Zoan is hiding." Vine clicked a button at the wall and the hologram of the world map appeared in the air.
"Zis is the world map," he stated.That was too much for me.
"Of course we know what it is,you dumbass.Get to the point!" I screamed.He mumbled something I couldn't hear and clicked another button,causing a small area to the south of Centra to light up and flicker.
"Zat....iz where Zoan iz.It iz not specifically on zat spot,zhough.He grew an island from ze sea and made it hiz hiding plaze.The other living things there are Zoan's pets....or in other vords,monsters of all kinds.Ze island iz hidden between other small islands,and iz very hard to find."
"If this island is so hard to find,then how come you found it?" asked Zell in scorn.Vine simply smiled darkly and once again began to brag,"Ah,like I have said,I am ze great Professor Vine!I can--"
"How sure are you that Zoan is there?" I said,tired of his boastings.
"You do not believe me?!" He was in a rage."Very vell then!Go and find ze Sorceror yourself!"
"Whatever..." I muttered."So,how're we gonna search for this island?And do you know if we stil have time?" ~Please...please...I just need a little more....~
"I vill guide you from here,through ze Ragnarok.And according to my studies and research,Hixon vill only be summoned just before the sun sets.Dusk,zat iz....and you have....exactly 7 hours to zat.However,I do not know if Zoan wishes to summon it earlier...you vill have to vork fast..."
I did a few quick calculations.From Esthar to Centra takes about and hour and a half,or maybe an hour in Ragnarok's fastest speed.And to find our destination,we may take about another hour.And to push our way through Zoan's place,goodness know how many hours we would take.....
~We have to try....even if....if it's too late...~ I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed."Thank you for the information.We'll be leaving now....if the President does not mind?" I turned to Laguna,who nodded at once.
"Good luck,SeeDs," he said as we saluted to him.Then,as I walked pass him,he whispered to me,"You'll...you'll come back,right,son?"
I stopped,looking at him.For the first time in my life,I couldn't believe I was loved by someone I should call my father.I had never known my parents before,and the only people who ever showed me love were Matron,Ellone,and Rinoa.Taking a deep breath,I did what my heart told me to do.I stepped up and gave him a hearty hug.He was rather surprised,and so were the others there,but I didn't care.
"I'll try...." I said,then added softly,"Father...."
****************************
I stared out at the blue sea below the flying spaceship.My mind was clouded with thoughts...thoughts I myself couldn't talk about.Leaning back onto a seat in the Meeting Room,Ragnarok,I placed a piece of paper,an envelope,and a pen on the table.My comrades were all at the cockpit,knowing I had something private to do.
Taking a deep breath,I took the pen and a moment to compose myself,then settled down to write the letter......or more like,stare at the blank sheet of paper...
~How do I start?I'm not good at things like this....~
After a few minutes of cracking my head,I finally got the answer.I wrote down the the first few words:
'My dearest Angel,Rinoa,'
It was then that I suddenly perked up.~Angel...~ That word rang a bell in my head.Where had I heard it before?From Griever....he said something about an Angel,the Lionhearted,and Crossfated.An image flashed in my head...the image of Rinoa and the picture or whatever you call it on her back.The picture of a pair of wings....did Griever mean....Rinoa was the Angel?
Then,like tiny pieces of puzzles,it all came flying into my head.I finally understood what Griever meant.He had said,'When evil claims and confronts the Angel,the Lionhearted and Crossfated shall be one.' Evil....that's Zoan...and what he meant by claiming and confronting is kidnapping the Angel,Rinoa.And...and the Lionhearted...
I reached up and held the pendant at my chest.The pendant of Griever...a lion...
~So...I'm the Lionhearted?Then...the Crossfated...must be...~
I froze as realisation hit me.Cross...only one man had that symbol...
~Seifer?!How come I never thought of him?!~
But when I regrouped my thoughts again,I began to wonder.Was I supposed to team up with Seifer to defeat Zoan?I could vaguely remember Griever saying something about us being one and all that...so.....
~We have to cooperate....?~ My eyes widened in shock.~What?Me and Seifer?Cooperating?Being one powerful force to defeat the evil?I'm like asking the sky to drop down!!~
I rested my head in my hands with a sigh.What to do.....?
~Uggh...I'll think about it later....~ I grabbed the pen again and continued my letter.
**************************
"Okay,so now what?" Selphie turned to me when she had piloted the Ragnarok to the wide ocean below Centra.I frowned at the world map on the monitor at the cockpit and traced my finger around the thousands of small islands.
"We contact the professor.He did say that he'd help us," I replied stonely.Selphie nodded and pressed a button.
"Tee hee!SeeD Ragnarok to the Sir Laguna's office!" she chirped.Vine's voice came in through the speakers.
"I am here.Vhere are you now?"
"Just to the south of Centra.Which island is Zoan on?"
"Very good.Listen carefully...." The whole long process of searching for the specific island began.It took longer than I had expected,with a few angry and impatient remarks continously from both Selphie and Vine.Selphie,because she was irritated with the 'long and bad-pronounced sentences',as she called them,from the latter.And Vine,because he was annoyed in return with Selphie's words.
Finally,after what seemed like 2 hours or more,we spotted the island.On it,camouflaged cleverly,was a tall castle-like building,looking exactly like the white sand around it.I strained my eyes to see clearer,and I could noticed some small moving dots....probably monsters....
Once more,I thank Vine for his help.Selphie stuck her tongue out at the speaker and shrugged.Then she turned to me.
"Landing?"
"There." I pointed at a wide area of sand near the castle and she nodded.When the Ragnarok reached the ground,I ran a hand in my hair and took a deep breath.Then,I cleared my throat politely,meaning to get everyone's attention.They turned to me at once.
"If....if I really can't make it out....just....make sure you get Rinoa safe,okay?I don't want anything else to happen to her..." I said quietly."And...I want to say..." I trailed off,swallowing."You guys are the best friends anyone could have..."
My comrades looked touched.Selphie had tears in her eyes and she hastily wiped them off."I'm sorry...but Squall...we've been through a lot together...all of us...are you...are you sure you want to do this?I mean...surely there's another way?"
"Even if there is another way,there's no more time.I don't care....even if it means my life,I will save Rinoa..."
There was a pause.Zell scratched his head and sighed."I have nothing to say..." he mumbled.
Irvine raised his hands as if saying "Me too.".I looked at Quistis and noted her rather worried expression.I gestured towards the door.
"Oh,Quistis....can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked as everyone walked out of the Ragnarok.My comrades stared at me in surprise,but I guess they respected my request.
~Please...just one last moment,Quistis....~
Chapter Forty One (Quistis' POV)
I was surprised that Squall wanted to see me privately.Of all the people,why me?However,I nodded my head and patiently waited as he composed himself.The others had already got out of the Ragnarok.
Finally,he pulled out a white envelope and held it out to me.I raised my eyebrows.~Huh?~
"Give this to her...please...when everything is over..." he said.
I didn't need to ask who the 'her' was.I knew it was Rinoa....nobody else.Ignoring the slight ache in my heart,I reached out and grasped the envelope.
"Okay..."
"And...." he continued.He was trying to be calm,but I knew he couldn't.It was still hard for him to express his feelings,though Rinoa opened him up a little."And...tell her....tell her I love her...wtih all my heart and soul..."
My eyes lowered down.Taking a deep breath,I nodded again."She knows,Squall..."
"I want her to really know that....you'll tell her,won't you,Quistis?"
~Squall....~ "Yeah." Tears were growing in my eyes,but I quickly blinked them away.He studied me for a while before suddenly wrapping his arms around me.I was shocked at his gesture,but somehow,I felt that his hug wasn't a lover's type...it was simply an affectionate hug from a comrade.I exhaled and hugged him back,knowing it was the first and last time I would be doing it.
Chapter Forty Two (Zoan's POV)
"Master..." Xu came running to me.I turned and noted her nervious and panicked expression at once.
"What is it?"
"SeeDs....they're heading here..."
I smiled thinly."And that Leonhart?"
She nodded.I laughed softly and continued smiling.
"Let them deal with the monsters....and while they're doing that,we will get ready for the ritual.Then...." I chuckled."Then...I will show them the true power of Zoan and Hixon..."
"Yes,master.I will go and get the things ready." She turned and went to the door,but stopped when I called out for her again.
"Oh yes,and Xu...." She turned to me and stared silently."Should you fail,you know what will happen,wouldn't you?"
She lowered her eyes,then nodded after a pause."Indeed,master.."
"Very good.Now go."
Phew....a whole chapter....tired....anyway review pleaseee!!