Everyone dug in for the long ride, finding things to keep themselves busy. Selphie amused herself with the scenery, singing softly to herself as she watched the world go by. Rinoa and Zell pulled out their card collections, going over which ones they had and which ones they didn't. Quistis found a magazine in the pocket on her seat and skimmed through the articles. Squall closed his eyes and fell asleep, to make up for the night before. He woke up with a start around an hour later, when a sudden sound broke the silence of his world. A rather rowdy game of cards had ensued while he had slept. Somehow Rinoa had roped Quistis into a game with her and Zell. The normally demure and dignified Quistis found herself enjoying being loud and rowdy with Rinoa and Zell. Quistis won the game, completely trouncing Rinoa and Zell.
Apparently Rinoa could make friends with almost anyone....almost. After the game she flitted around like a butterfly, engaging everyone in some kind of involved discussion. Most obviously leaving Squall out of the loop. He sullenly started out the window, not caring a bit if she decided to talk to him, all the better if she didn't.
Time wore on, Zell fell asleep, Quistis went back to reading and Selphie, as always stared out the window, singing quietly to herself. Rinoa got bored and with nothing else to do, plopped over in the empty seat next to Squall. She had avoided him most of the morning because he looked so tired and she didn't want to bug him. Besides, even though they'd made up the night before, there was an uncomfortable silence between them. A terrible gap, that Rinoa hoped she could bridge. He seemed to be more awake now, and perhaps in the mood to talk.....or something approaching it.
Rinoa furrowed her brow, he always looks so unhappy. She was bound and determined to get him to talk, and maybe even smile, if she was lucky.
She smiled and tapped his shoulder to get his attention, "Hey, sad little clown...What's up?" A bit too predictably, he didn't answer....not answering or acknowledging people was his thing, or at least that's what Rinoa figured. Trying another tactic, she continued, "Look into my eyes...NOW SLEEEEEPP.....you want to talk with me...you will make pleasant conversation, maybe even enjoy yourself....hypnotized yet?" He sighed deeply, a look of annoyance flickering across his face. She giggled, "Guess not....damn...and I was so close too."
Crossing his arms, he snapped angrily, "Don't you ever go away?"
"Nope....Don't you ever smile?" a sparkle of mischief in her eyes, "I've been debating, is that stick up your ass something you were born with or was it a later addition..."
"Just leave me alone..."
"Sorry...can't....I'm contractually obligated to annoy you until you talk to me...." She stopped for a moment, noticing the glint of silver on his hand. It had occurred to her that in the short time she knew him he'd never removed his gloves, until now, curious, "Nice ring...where'd you get it?"
"None of your business..." he said, rolling his eyes and tapping his foot impatiently. Cursing himself inwardly, it had been stuffy inside the car, so he'd removed his gloves and his coat.
His coat and gloves were physical barriers that he'd put up, removing him from the rest of the world. He couldn't touch or feel with them on, and foolishly he took them off to be more comfortable. Now she had a lead in to engage him in pointless conversation. What was it about her that allowed her to break into his private world like that? Was it just her own disregard for personal boundaries or something more? Whatever it was it made him uncomfortable and he scowled at her, hoping to intimidate her into silence as he'd done before to countless other people. She only smiled wider, his ire only seemed to amuse her.
"Woof!..... Can I see it?"
"Will you leave me alone if I let you?'
"Maybe....hope springs eternal."
He took off his ring and handed it to her. She turned it around and around in her hands, noticing an inscription on the inside of the band. Rinoa traced the grooves of the engraving with her finger. She looked up, her face turning serious and asked, "Hey, Where were you born?"
"Why?"
"Well, the inscription inside your ring...it's Old Galbadian..."
"Old Galbadian? As opposed to NEW Galbadian...." he replied, lifting an eyebrow.
"Yeah, sure laugh at my culture.....it's the language the ancient Galbadians once spoke. It's rarely used today...Actually, it's never used, except by really old people who like to say rude things without consequences.....Though I think its still spoken exclusively in Winhill, but that's about it.....It's a dying language, most people now only speak standard....My Grandma taught me some when I was little, and I studied a little at school... It's been awhile but I think I can translate...if you want me to."
"Knock yourself out..." Squall couldn't care less, at this point he'd already zoned out and was just waiting for her to shut up.
She looked at the inscription, pondering it for a moment before beginning, "Love bears all things, believes all things, ...h-hopes all things....it endures...Love never fails......I am yours, now and always.....Wow! Here you go..." she said, handing it back to him, "So, where were you born?"
"I thought you said you'd leave me alone?!"
"I lied, answer my question..." She said, with an impish smile.
Sighing shakily in frustration, he answered through gritted teeth, "Honestly, I don't know...I have no family, and no home that I remember. Satisfied?"
"I'm sorry....So....When did you get the ring?....the inscription, seems awful personal, not like something you'd just buy at a shop. Was it from your family?"
"No....it was a gift....." he stopped, the memory overwhelming him to a point that he was afraid she could see his emotion boiling to the surface.
".....Sounds like it was a little bittersweet....they left, didn't they? After giving it to you..........." Rinoa looked at him contemplatively, life suddenly draining from her face, tears brimming. "Before my mom died, she gave her ring to me...... it was like she knew.... I barely even remember what she looks like, much less what kind of person she was....I guess it's a little easier for me, though.....At least I have old photos, and relatives that can help me remember. Do you remember anything about your parents?"
"No..."
"Then I guess we have something in common. Whoda thunk?", rubbing her eyes and falling silent for a moment. She twisted a lock of hair around her finger and began again, "Ever wonder why life deals you the cards it did? I think about all the things that've happened in my life. If only one or two things happened differently, I wonder if my life would've turned out the same.......What's it like in Balamb?"
"Very sunny and warm, there's lots of beaches...."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"No."
"At that party we went to....Why'd you dance with me?"
"Because you forced me to."
Rinoa twirled her hair absently around her finger, "But....if you really didn't want to dance...how come you did? I didn't have a gun to your head...you could've said no...or something."
"I tried...but you wouldn't leave me alone...." looking at her with confusion. What was she getting at anyway?
"Well, you didn't try real hard.....I mean, if you really didn't want to dance, when I pulled you back...you could've just kept walking.....You're much bigger and stronger than I am. If you really wanted to go, you could've..."
He sighed, "What do you want? You want me to admit I wanted to dance with you? Fine...If it'll make you sleep better at night, I wanted to dance with you. Now will you leave me alone?"
For once, it was Rinoa who didn't answer. Just as she was an enigma to him...he was an enigma to her. His words and his actions never agreed...he'd reach out to her, only to tell her to leave him alone. The way he'd looked at her the night before, like he was begging her to help him. Asking her to release him from his pain...Then today, he was all cold and impatient....constantly pushing her away. It befuddled her, she just couldn't understand why he chose to exist that way....oh to hell with it, she thought, throwing caution to the wind for a moment. She stared at him, her eyes searching him out....trying to see into the deepest part of him.
"Stop it..." he said, his voice flatly even.
"Stop what?"
"Staring, it's very annoying."
"Jeez....I was only..."
"I'm tired of you....just leave me alone already......"
That tears it....Rinoa fumed, inwardly declaring war, "GOD! I don't know why I even tried with you!!"
"Neither do I." He replied calmly.
"And here I thought Seifer was the biggest asshole I've ever met....but he PALES in comparison to you...."
"Whatever. Not my fault you're a bad judge of character. But then again, I guess I should expect that kind of stupidity from one of Seifer's bimbos.... Did he leave you because you were such a clingy harpy?" Squall paused for effect, hoping this would be the final deterrent to talking to him. She didn't speak, he could see the anger seething in her eyes, "What? Hit a nerve? Not so funny when it's your own personal pain being exploited, isn't it? "
Anger had momentarily numbed all thought for her, but slowly she came back, "Oh! I didn't know emotionally stunted robots felt pain....and all this time there was a human heart inside that metallic shell of yours! Who knew?!" She gave a twist of the knife to the last few words. A muscle in his jaw twitched and she smiled sweetly, satisfied that she'd found a sore spot.
How could she know how much that last insult hurt him? Students at Balamb had given him that nickname behind his back, they thought he didn't know but he did. It hurt, he pretended not to care, but it still hurt to be treated like he had no feelings. He had them, they were just guarded. Why couldn't people just leave him alone?
".....Whatever." another twitch.
Rinoa went in for the kill, "I get it....I finally get you. You sit there and pretend not to care. Building up a little wall to keep us all out, all so you won't get hurt. You play the part of the sad loner and try to act like you're so brave, that you can do anything on your own. Pretending like you don't need anyone, but really you're just scared. You're a coward and a sad excuse for a leader. You don't care about your teammates....The only person you give a shit about is yourself, and that's just pathetic. And I can't wait for the day when you realize what you've lost by being such an asshole....When you're all alone, I'll be there....laughing my ass off. Because, unlike you, I understand how important friendship is.....hell, even Seifer had friends....." Rinoa glared at him, judging his reaction carefully.
That one got him. His entire body froze, his face pinched and stiff with anger. Steely eyes gazing into the distance, betraying the inner emotional turmoil. He pursed his lips, not wanting to let that insult go by without a retort. Nothing came, his mind groped for ammo, but came up with a big fat blank. Breathing heavily, he picked up his things and moved away from her. Pulling on his gloves and jacket as he relocated in the seat across from her, next to Zell, who was snoring noisily. Zell moaned, shifting positions; his body slumping against Squall for support. He closed his eyes in sheer frustration. Silently wishing this ride from hell to end. Squall glanced at Rinoa, who smiled angelically. She stretched out her legs and sighed contentedly. He knew she'd won at that instant. Somehow, she always got the upper hand, and he had no idea how or why.
"If that's all it took to get your fat ass to move, I shoulda done this sooner...." she said, the same satisfied smile on her face, "...More room for me!! Boy am I sleepy...." She fake-yawned, propping the back of her head up with her hands. Rinoa closed her eyes in utter contentment.
He felt his face twitch again, she knew she won and it didn't even matter. The whole argument had meant nothing to her. Not to say that he hadn't hurt her, but it didn't have the desired effect of her wanting to leave him alone. She just didn't care. Soon fake sleep had become real sleep, Rinoa drifting off happily into dream land. While he sat there with Zell drooling all over him, his pride still stinging like an open wound. The thing that galled him the most... was an hour later he thought of a really great comeback.
He looked out the window, watching the scenery change from the deep forests of Timber, to the more barren landscapes surrounding East Academy and Galbadia Garden. The sun and the moon circled 'round the sky, and sooner than any of them could have guessed, they'd arrived at their destination.
The party exited the train, briefly entering East Academy to pick up a few essentials before they had to walk to Galbadia Garden. All of them we happy to be off the train, and stretched their legs until they were ready to leave. An entire week on a cramped train cabin, with few stops, was not the worst way to spend one's time but hardly what anyone would call fun. Squall in particular felt an overwhelming sense of relief as he stepped off the train and onto the platform. If he was less reserved he might have acted as Zell had, singing and dancing like a crazy person, frightening strangers. Quistis reigned him in and got everyone focused on leaving the station as quickly and quietly as possible. A brief breakfast was had and they were off. They couldn't afford the paper trail it would take to rent a car, so they had to settle with walking. It was around eleven in the morning, and Selphie calculated that at a brisk pace it would take around two hours, more or less, to get to Galbadia Garden. They left East Academy, walking northwest to get to Garden.
Quistis, who'd bought a map, lead the way. Her pace was more than brisk and what could have been a pleasant stroll became a military style death march. Selphie was the loudest complainer, whining every five minutes, asking when they'd be there. It was enough to drive Quistis to kill. She was in no mood to be trifled with. When Quistis had arrived and found out that Rinoa was the girl Squall had danced with....she was more than a little happy that they had a falling out. Unfortunately, they seemed to have made up and she had to listen to them the entire ride to the station. It really burned her that he was so considerate of Rinoa....Ooo...it's Ancient Galbadian, let me translate... blah.. blah... blah......I'm so annoying and cute...It was enough to make her puke. He'd talked to Rinoa for longer and about more of his life than he EVER did with her. Hell, he was even more civil with Rinoa than he was with her. His blow up with Rinoa didn't have half the vitriol and venom that his fight with her had. What made it even worse, was she knew she wasn't supposed to feel this way. He was her student, she was his superior and her feelings were getting in the way of her doing her job. And it didn't help that Rinoa was really funny and sweet. If she'd been just a little brattier, just a little too nice, maybe Quistis could find an excuse to totally and completely hate her. It was also pretty funny to watch her get under Squall's skin.... and she had really told him off, laying into him in a way Quistis could only dream of. Try as she might to make Rinoa a complete bitch, she couldn't, though she desperately wanted to.
"Quistissssssssssss.....I'm TIRED!! Are we there yet!?" Selphie howled, stumbling way behind everyone else, "Can't we slow down?"
"I know you're tired, NO...we can't slow down and we'll get there when we get there....." Quistis hollered back.
"That's like the fifth time she's said that....I'd like to know when you're going to stop asking." Zell snorted, turning to make a face at Selphie.
"Shut up! If I wasn't so tired, I'd beat the crap out of you!"
"That's what you said this morning! I'm still waiting! NYAH!"
Selphie scowled and rushed Zell, who ran away at top speed. Selphie shouting as she ran, "COME BACK HERE! I'M GONNA KICK YOUR BUTT!"
"Not if you can't catch me!"
"YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER!"
They screamed and gibbered like a pair of monkeys, winding their way around the small path the rest of the team was walking on.
"Knock it off you two!" Quistis begged, without success.
Zell tripped over a bramble, allowing Selphie to catch him. She pounded his arm with both fists. Shrinking back, Zell cried, "OW!OW! OOOooo, it tickles! Stop IT!" He grabbed a hold of her, tickling her sides until she gave up, giggling like crazy. Smiling, he added, "That's what happens when you mess with the master."
"The master is gonna get left behind if he don't move his ass!" Rinoa shouted, sticking her tongue out.
"OUCH! You too! Man, I never get the breaks!" Zell said, jogging back up with Selphie to rejoin the others, "I wonder what Galbadia Garden is like?"
"You know, I bet it'd be just like every other Garden. It's the same thing with most schools....every single private school I was sent to was the same....I can't imagine military schools like the Garden would be much different."
"How many schools have you gone to?" Zell asked.
"Well, When I was younger I was a bit of a bad girl....I think I was thrown out of at least six different schools for girls.....Until Timber's Academy of Fine Arts."
"What'd you study?" Quistis piped up, wondering what a girl like Rinoa would study.
"My major was music, and I minored in languages, Esthar and of course Ancient Galbadian. I like the old, dead languages...they're the most fun, cus nobody else speaks them!"
"Really? WOW! That is so cool.....what instrument did you study?" Zell asked enthusiastically, completely impressed.
"Piano, guitar, and violin.....my main focus was vocal though."
"NO WAY! Hey, I play a little guitar...we'll have to jam sometime!" Zell said, jumping up and down excitedly.
"Sure, though I don't have my own anymore...." Rinoa said, laughing.
"No problem....I got a couple extra."
"Sweet! It's a plan....So once we get to Galbadia Garden, How do we get back to Balamb?" Rinoa inquired.
"Well, first we'll have to call Balamb from Galbadia.......Then we talk with Galbadia's headmaster to arrange for transport." Quistis said, "What are you going to do once you get to Balamb?"
"I'm not sure....I figure something'll pop up along the way. I'm just playing it by ear." Rinoa replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"You mean, you have no plan?" Quistis asked, absolutely astonished.
"Nope."
"But, you don't even know anyone in Balamb. How are you going to live, where will you stay?"
"I know you all....Besides.... It'll all work out. It always does. Life takes care of itself.....why worry." Rinoa said, smiling wistfully, "The future is made to be lived, not planned. HEY! I think I can see it from here....look....there it is!"
"What?" Zell asked, squinting.
"Galbadia Garden....and it's really close! THANK GOODNESS!" Selphie shouted, starting to run, "Hey! Zell! Rinoa! RACE YOU!"
Zell looked at Rinoa, "....We can't let her win...we'll never hear the end of it."
"Yeah...let's go! NO FAIR! YOU GOT A HEAD START!!" Rinoa called after Selphie, running as she went.
Zell and Rinoa took off running as fast as they could, leaving Squall and Quistis to walk by themselves. Squall had been even more reserved and quiet than he normally was. He'd barely made a noise since they'd left the train, not that he ever made much noise. Quistis was frankly a little worried for him, a state of mind she seemed to be in constantly. Her earlier frustration with her situation was gone, at least for the moment. Rinoa had really affected Squall's personality, and Quistis was unsure if it was positive or negative. He'd become more sullen and introspective, even more than usual.
"Interesting girl....hope she knows what she's in for..." Quistis said.
Squall didn't say anything, he looked up, watching Rinoa and the others fading figures charging down the path towards Galbadia Garden. He wished he could be so carefree. So much responsibility lay on his shoulders...he couldn't take the weight and yet he couldn't ask for help. He didn't know how...didn't know what he should do to relieve the pressure he felt pushing at him from all sides. God, she was right...I can't even think for myself....He pushed down his feelings, suppressing his emotions was the only thing he knew to do.
Eventually, Squall and Quistis found their way to the front gates of Galbadia Garden. It was far larger than Balamb, its hulking red facade looming over them in the afternoon light. Just inside, Rinoa, Zell and Selphie were resting on a hill, throwing handfuls of grass at each other, waiting for them to arrive. The reunited group walked into Galbadia Garden's entrance, past a group of students practicing on mobile hover units. Quistis took charge again, and found out where they had to go and who they had to talk to. She was told they were to wait in the guests lounge for a representative of Galbadia Garden to speak with them personally. A female cadet led them to the lounge, where lunch had been set out for them. They ate quietly, while waiting for this mysterious representative to appear. Finally the silver doors whooshed open and a short, bald man stepped in the room.
"Hello, I'm Moby, Headmaster Martine's assistant. I've been sent to debrief you on your next mission."
Quistis looked at him, "What?......Excuse me, I wasn't aware of being assigned to any mission. We don't come from this Garden. We're from Balamb....all we want is transport home. I think there must be some mistake."
"No....There's no mistake....I know you're not from Galbadia....However, your headmaster and ours have agreed to work jointly on this next mission. Your headmaster recommended the of four of you to assist us." Moby answered mildly, stopping to look at Rinoa with confusion, "You probably haven't heard, but President Deling has made a rather startling announcement. He's appointed a sorceress as his Chief Ambassador... Not much is known about her and everyone's afraid that he might attempt to make a repeat of the sorceress wars...We only have her name, Edea. We don't even know what kind of power she has and how much... However, our sources inside Deling's government have confirmed that their intent is hostile. Once the sorceress becomes Chief Ambassador, they're planning some kind of attack. We're not sure what though."
"You've got to be kidding!" Quistis exclaimed, "So what do they want us to do about it?"
"Well, we're going to try to assassinate her before they can put her plans into motion. We've chosen our champion sharpshooter to go to Deling City and kill the sorceress....but, another small team of SeeDs is needed to help get the sorceress in place. We'd also like a dual control of sorts, in case he misses. That's where you all come in."
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but....what about Balamb....We had some trouble in Timber and we're all worried they might retaliate." Zell asked, shifting nervously from foot to foot.
"Yes..." Moby said, furrowing his brow, "The official word is no action will be taken against Balamb Garden, as the West Galbadian government understands it was an independent act of aggression by an unstable individual. Besides, the rogue student who attacked the president was captured and has already been executed."
The entire room went silent for a moment, their minds unwilling to fully comprehend what they'd heard. Seifer had been caught and was already executed....
"Oh, my god..." Quistis gasped.
"I understand this must be quite a shock to you all...but we have such little time. I hate to be so brusque, but if I could continue?" Moby said, his voice respectfully quiet, stopping to look around and beginning again, "You'll leave as soon as possible, you have until fifteen hundred, assemble back here and meet the sniper. From there you'll catch the first train to Deling City and meet up with an associate of ours in the military. Go to this address...." handing a slip of paper to Quistis, "...our contact there will be able to help you. They'll explain the full details of the mission. Good luck....Take as much time as you need, but please be quick."
Moby saluted and left the still stunned room, no one moving until the doors closed behind him.
"I can't believe it...." Quistis breathed, "God....I...I don't know how to react....He was such a jerk and the worst student... but...he didn't deserve this....he was one of our own."
"Well, he got what he asked for...I don't feel a bit sorry for him." Zell said, putting his hands behind his head, "You reap what you sow."
"I didn't know him that well...." Selphie chimed in, "but I have to agree with Quistis....he might have been a jerk but he was one of us. I wish there was more we could've done."
Rinoa looked around, tears brimming in her eyes, "How can you all be so cold....you talk about him like he's not even human....like he's a thing to be gossiped about and nothing more. He was a friend and above all else, another human being deserving of compassion...." She was unable to continue and turned away, sitting on the floor with her arms around her knees, crying softly.
Squall listened in, they kept talking about it....Seifer was this....Seifer did that....talking like they really knew him, but did they?...The way they'd talked about him, like he was a character, not another human being....they acted like Seifer wasn't even worth their concern or compassion. How could they be that cold....is that what all their training taught them to do? To devalue human life....They called him cold...indifferent He knew the rumors....he heard the way people talked when they thought he wasn't listening....What would they say if he died right now....Squall was this...and that...talking about him in the past tense...so easily forgetting who he really was and putting together a skewed picture of who they thought he was. It made him so angry...she was right....good god she was right........I won't have them talk about me like that....judging me ....making assumptions for why I act the way I do....
His emotions overwhelming him, he exploded, "I WON'T HAVE IT!" Storming out of the room, blindly running down the corridors of Galbadia Garden. He ran and ran, almost knocking over a pair of students walking the halls. They shouted after him but he kept going; barreling down the narrow hallways, taking any corner that suited him. He stopped breathlessly in an open air garden near the middle of the school. Squall collapsed on one of the grassy hills, covering his face with his hands.
After Squall ran out of the meeting room, everyone, including Rinoa, split up and began to search for him. All of them agreeing to meet at the conference room in a half hour, even if they didn't find him. Rounding a corner, Quistis ran headlong into another student.
"Jeez I'm sorry I.....Raijin? What're you doing here?" Quistis looked at him quizzically, jumping a little when Fujin appeared behind him.
"Lookin' fer Seifer.....What're you doin' here?"
"Long story.....Actually, I'm looking for Squall. We're supposed to leave and he took off. Have you seen him?"
"THAT WAY." Fujin replied, pointing at the hallway to the left of Quistis, "SEIFER, SEEN?"
Quistis bit her lip, squirming uncomfortably, "I don't know how to tell you this.....Seifer.....he.....He's dead. After he threatened Deling's life, they caught him and executed him. I'm so sorry....." She trailed off, finding it hard to look into the siblings startled eyes.
"LIES! WRONG! SEIFER ALIVE!!" a single tear slipped down Fuijin's eye. She swiped at it, and turned around to compose herself.
Raijin thought for a moment, something he rarely did. "Ya know.....It's not that I think you're lyin' Professor Trepe....but I think somethin' ain't right 'bout all this. Seifer wouldn't go out like that, ya know. I think we still gotta keep lookin' for him."
What you'll find is his grave Quistis thought, but she said nothing. Instead she nodded, smiling sympathetically, "Suit yourself. Thanks for the help......be careful, okay?"
The siblings nodded, waving good-bye as Quistis ran down the hallway they'd pointed her to.