Angel in Disguise
Chapter 3: 'Killing' me softly

Disclaimer: The characters mentioned here came from Squaresoft (now SquareEnix).

Author's Note: First of all….advance MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!! Hope you'll have a good and prosperous life this coming year and for the years to come.

WOW you're back Evan'sRinoa! I'm really happy that you're still here to brighten my day! (Words can't describe how happy I am when I saw your reviews) Thank you Evan's. Oh another thing, you've asked me why in the world will that piece of paper fall into Julia's Garden ? Uh remember when Rinoa accidentally bumped into Mr. Cid and all the folders were scattered …yeah that scenario results to one of folders to end up at Julia's Garden (Sorry I think I forgot to say that they're near the window when that happened).

And of course to Pretty Like Drugs, XXX Erica XXX, ElvenHorse, ComicalNoll, yeah, and to lendmemoni -- who've contributed their comments and reviews to this fic. Thank you and …

SeeD salutes

Previously…

Rinoa: Caraway's Mansion Hallway

Cid: (coming out of General's Meeting Room) ……….

Rinoa: Mr. Cid!!!

Cid: Rinoa! How are you? Ohh Am I seeing things or is it really you smiling?

Rinoa: Umm it's because of …. (Shyly gives the piece of paper to Cid) Do you know him?

Cid: Ohhh Rinoa! This is the one I've been looking for! Wait here. (His phone rings) Hello? Oh it's you. Yes my son….I'm looking at it right now. I'm going to… (Enters at Caraway's Meeting Room)

Rinoa: (pouting her lips) hmmp!

Continuation….

The next day….

Rinoa's room

"He didn't even bother to look at me and he just….hmmp!" Rinoa slumps her body to her bed still clinging tightly to the phone. She's been talking for 2 hours now non stop to Selphie, her closest friend.

"You know…maybe they're just too busy as usual", her brunette friend replied. "You can ask him for that next time if you're really dying to see this guy" she continued.

"Oh … never mind…." Rinoa sighed on the phone.

"Why? What's the matter? I know you very well Rin, you're really persistent if you really like something, you'll get it no matter what!" Selphie exclaimed, she remembered the day when Rinoa was just 7, half of his father's troops were hospitalized when she ask them to get that skunk at the park coz she wants that to be her pet. She shivered every time she remembered that incident. "If that what makes you happy…you go girl!"

"Oh…Selphie, you're such a good girl friend, but …" Rinoa let out another sigh, "Know what Sephie? What really makes me happy is….for my father to treat and love me ………..as his daughter" she said crying over the phone.

Deling's Military Camp

The sun slowly fades into the crimson sky but the excitement of these SeeDs soar high up for today will be "the day" they're going to be praise or be humiliated for the rest of the year. All of the teams line up for their annual "Your Codename for this year is…" agenda. Everyone's really keyed up to know what their codenames will be this year. For them, a better codename means not being bullied and be a laughing stock to other teams. Still others can't hide their fears of being mortified by this codename-giving day. Regardless of this, they're still looking forward for this day. As usual, the Alpha team, being the cream of the crop, leads the other lower ranking teams.

"He he he, I can feel it….I can feel my name being mentioned today in public…COMMANDER SEIFER ALMASY" Seifer brags to his comrades who were looking at him gaily.

"You bet Seifer, and oh….don't forget us when you're up there eh" Irvine punches Seifer at his left shoulder.

"Yeah you know, like in Awards Night, you should mention our names bro you know" Raijin added.

In the meantime, Nida and Zell were having their own chat.

"Bah let's see who's going to have the last laugh after our General's announcement" Nida whispered to his new tattooed-face friend.

"I'm going to bet a million gils to this new guy" Zell replied.

They didn't notice that Seifer overheard their conversation.

"Then you're going to be broke for lifetime pal" Seifer heavily slaps Zell's back, sending the new SeeD hard to the ground. "Sometimes, you have to use your coconut shell before making any stupid comments, ok?" he continued.

Raijin and Irvine laugh their hearts out at the poor SeeD.

"Cut it out bros, he's one of us now!" Nida defended his friend.

Their team mates continue their "laugh-and-insult-others" scheme but they were cut off by Xu who's now speaking in front of the crowd and starting the program. Xu greets and acknowledges everyone who's present at that moment. "And now may I call on our noble leader, our General, General Fury Caraway!", with that, everyone applauds. The General greets everyone and the program begins by calling the SeeDs and awarding them their 'codename badges' starting with the lowest ranking teams.

Rinoa's Room

Rinoa still sobs as she puts down the phone. "Hu hu hu, maybe my dad can't love me as what I've always wished that he'll be doing. He still loathes me for the death of my mom….." She covered her head with her soft pillow and screams as loud as she can. Underneath the pillow she weeps endlessly, wishing that she'll be like Selphie, free to do everything that she wants to and most of all, her parents love and care for her.

"I can't stand this pain any longer…..I've cried every single drop of my tears…I know my dad will never……. ever forgive me for the crime……..for a crime I didn't know that I've committed. There's nothing left…..there's nothing left for me to do but…" She wiped her tears and sit at the side of her bed. She looked at the cabinet next to her bed and opened it, revealing a small brown bottle.

"….to sleep eternally". She holds the cap of the bottle "…I'm so sorry dad, Selphie………. and to my ever loyal …..cutey and lovable pet …….skunky……goodbye!" She slowly twist the crown of the bottle but.. "Arghh…ohhh! Darn! What the heck…I cannot……arghhhhhhh!!!" she forcefully opens the cap but no matter how hard she tried to do so, the cap wont budge as if it doesn't want it to be opened. "AHHHH!!! That's it! you ….you don't want to be opened ….fine! I'll smash you into pieces!" She said furiously to the bottle and throws it to the ground… blagag! She forgets one thing though….her room was fully carpeted. "ARGGGHHHHH!!!! You meany little bottle you!!!!

She went into her bathroom and opens the small cabinet there above the sink. She frantically looks for something to open or bang it…anything that she can find to open that 'meany' brown bottle. She ransacked her cabinet and found a surgical blade. Her eyes widened as she observed the blade. She remembered using it when she dissected a frog for her biology project…anyway it really doesn't matter what she used that for…coz for now….the blade will be the key to end her sufferings.

"Forget about the darn bottle….this …this will help me" She lifted her right wrist and positioned the blade to it. "Just one slash….one pain will end everything…" she murmured.

Deling's Military Camp

"…..and lastly the Alpha team" General Caraway stands in front of the stage with Headmaster Cid. Xu starts to announce their names alphabetically.

"Alpha Team member, Irvine Kinneas made a remarkable job with the last month's SeeD examination and earned 9 thus making it to the top 5 of the said test. With this he will now be called ….level 45 Leviathan." Xu announced. The crowd cheers for him while Irvine proudly steps into the stage and waves to his comrades. Irvine smiled from ear to ear as he receives his badge. Cid and Caraway salutes at him. "Thank you Sir!" he said saluting back at them then he waves and dances a bit in front of the audience then goes back to his seat.

Xu and the rest at the stage just shook their heads. "Ehem…Alpha Team member Nida Glory ….." Xu winks at him then continue reading …" with his undoubtedly exemplary SeeD examination result that gave him a 10 to his rank and for making it to the top 2 he will be called Doomtrain with a level of 48. After this announcement Nida smiled and humbly walks up and receives his badge.

"Way to go pal!!!" Zell exclaimed. "I'm proud of you bro!"

"Next to him is Alpha Team Member, Raijin Nolastname (ha ha) will now be called as ………..Cerberus level 38."

"Ha ha ha man, you screwed last time that's why you're stuck with your previous level" Seifer said while he laughs at his friend.

Raijin just scratched his head and murmured "Better than demoting me to a lower level" He went to the stage and receives his badge.

"And now, we would like to welcome our new recruit, Mr. Zell Dincht. Please come to the stage to be awarded with a temporary badge of level 10 Chocobo.

Every SeeD starts to laugh after hearing his codename. Zell turned red in humiliation as he ascends to the stage.

"He he he, fits well to a chicken wuss like him hehheheh" Seifer then laughs hysterically after saying this.

"Yeah ya know!" Raijin exclaimed also laughing hard.

"Let's give him a "cheeky" party later hehhe" Irvine said.

"You mean "Chicky" hehehhe" Raijin added.

Nida looks at them furiously "I'll twist their heads …grrr they're really annoying"

"Yes a chocobo badge, it may be a lowest level badge now, but we all know that chocobos are great fighters like that of a momba or a moogle, they're known to be loyal companions and would really be helpful to others. They don't quit and always stays 'humble', witty and reliable too just like our new ALPHA Member" Xu said defending her new friend. "Also, he's the very first, newly recruited SeeD to have the privilege to qualify to join the Alpha team. That's why everyone should look up to this guy"

"That is true" Cid said nodding.

Zell somehow smile at Xu's speech and nods at her. Zell humbly receives his Chocobo badge and sits quietly to his chair. Nida just tap his shoulders and nods. "It's fine man, I'm also proud of you"

"And now, I would like to call on our General to award the last badge to our Top 1 SeeD" Xu said to the crowd.

"Ehem.." He said clearing his throat. "This guy needs no flowery intros for he really deserves this award. I'm really proud of him for taking over the Alpha Team when Vincent Valentinesday leaves the position coz of some…." He remembered Rinoa's mischief then continues. " of some inevitable circumstances. Now, may I call on Mr. Seifer Almasy to accept this highest rank so far …the level 60 Bahamut.

Some crowds yelled in joy and some booed him. One of them was Nida who's really annoyed at Seifer's foul attitude.

"He he he why…that's me?" Seifer said while smirking. He walks proudly to the stage and wave his two hands as if he's some kind of a politician having won the position from a poll. "Thank you sir" He said saluting to the two high-ranking officers.

"Congratulations Almasy" General Caraway said to him smiling."…and keep up the good work and who knows, you'll earn the right to lead the Alpha and the other teams."

Seifer was shocked to hear this. "What do you mean General?" He said while he's still standing on the stage.

Fury Caraway speaks to the crowd who's now talking to each other. "May I have your attention SeeDs, since I'm here I would like to ask our special guest, Headmaster Cid of Balamb Garden to come with me here to announce something really important and would benefit your SeeDs" after this he handed over the mic to Cid.

"Uh A pleasant evening to all the cream of the crop of this city, and perhaps…of this country, the SeeDs of Deling City. I would like to take this opportunity to announce that the Balamb Garden and Deling's Military Camp or so called the Deling Garden will …from now on, be merged into one Garden thus making this two mammoth Garden into one powerful SeeD training facility. From now on, our facilities such as our Training Centre, Infirmary, Library, and others will be available for you to make use of. We're going to provide this Camp everything from weapons to high tech equipments and machineries.

"Whoa that's cool!" Nida exclaimed. The other SeeDs start to cheer when they hear about this.

"Ehem..and one more thing, our own SeeDs will be joining your teams tomorrow" Cid added then handed the microphone to Fury Caraway.

"Because of this merging of students, we're planning to have a competition between the leaders of both Gardens and whoever wins this, will have the chance to lead the teams. We're going to start the competition next week, so the leaders will have the opportunity to hone their skills"

"What the? I thought I'll automatically be the commander …arghhh darn it!" Seifer murmured as he makes his way to his seat.

Rinoa's Room

She starred at the shining sharp blade in front of her. "This is it…." She closes her eyes and points the blade to her wrist. "I'm going to see you soon…mother. Please wait for me." She said to herself. "It'll be over soon…."

Author's Note: Ha ha ha poor Rinoa, oh by the way, kids…(and adults as well) don't you ever try to do that even if you're really frustrated with your life. Committing suicide is really a very lame thing to do…ok?

As you can see, I've changed the format of this fic. (Italics means the thoughts of character ) and I think it'll stay this way (that is if you're against this change, let me know) . Again, thank you for all the reviews.

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !