Selphie Kinneas
Journey To The Past
Chapter Five- The Growth Of A Relationship
Raine turned in surprise, "What?"
Squall rubbed his neck in embarrassment, "Rin is in a wheelchair. She has a cast on her leg. She can't sit straight without help… that's ALLLLL my fault." Raine looked at her son, her eyes were deep and thoughtless. A smile began to appear on her face as she broke into laughter.
"Oh Squall! You don't know how glad I am to hear that!" She held her stomach as her fought to hold chuckles. Squall scrunched his nose as left the dining hall. Outside Ellone was introducing Rin to her father. Apparently Ellone was told the truth, she wasn't saying anything as absurd as her and Squall together. That would be the same as saying, "Squall picked up a gal off the street and now they're dating."
Laguna exchanged hands with Rin as she smiled politely. Ellone noticed Squall enter and smiled widely. "Oh hey Squall! How bout you and me give Rin here a tour!" Squall shrugged as he examined Rin's excited face.
"Sure, why not?" He replied. Ellone smirked and Rin nearly squealed with joy. Elerna had gone along with Laguna and the three of them were left.
Soon the tour started, Rin was exposed to half of the household by midnight. By then, most everyone was exhausted. They headed back to the third floor.
"All our rooms are pretty much on this floor. You can find us easily," Ellone explained as she passed a doorway and waved. "Goodnight." She said sweetly.
Squall rolled his eyes. He pushed Rin into her room.
"So you like it here?" Squall asked quietly. Rin nodded happily.
"Yeah, it's beautiful." They stopped beside the bed, Rin looked around nervously before she was lifted from the wheelchair. She blushed aimlessly as she realized she was in Squall's arms.
She felt time had frozen and the two stood there alone, quietly without a word. Suddenly her fantasy broke as she landed gently on the soft mattress. Rin blinked as she stared at Squall who sat himself on the nearby corner of the bed. Rin's blushing halted in replacement of a grin. Squall looked around trying at the moment to avoid eye contact.
"So……… tomorrow." Squall started.
"I'm sorry for the trouble!" Rin shouted quickly. Her voice echoed throughout the room as Squall looked at her blankly.
"What trouble?" He spat in frank.
"… I heard you talking to your mom and I'm sor-"
"It's my fault, you don't have to worry about it." Squall stood and waved goodnight
Rin watched Squall pass the door, but he stood in the doorway. He lingered there a bit, hesitantly walked away.
Rin kept her eyes on him, her attention didn't turn away until he was completely out of sight. Her eyes fell close as she grew into a deep slumber.
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The morning sun shone greatly through the east side window. Rin rubbed her eyes as she peered around the room. Once again, her surroundings were empty from any other person. She quickly pointed her brown eyes toward the doorway, it was empty as well.
It wasn't long before Elerna helped herself into the room. Rin soon was dressed and set for the day. It wasn't long before she found Squall in the lobby.
"Morning." She said cheerfully. Squall looked away from his business and gave a quick grin that RIn barely caught.
"G'morning." He said.
Rin was wheeled into the surrounding as she waited nervously in hopes of a conversation. She twiddled her finger as Squall's voice rang.
"If you'd like, today I could introduce you to some of my friends. They're always here and a proper intro should start us all out. Right?" He asked profoundly. Rin nodded unable to speak.
Not formal? THEY ARE THE MOST FORMAL PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET! How could Elerna say that? I'm not going to fit in here. I'm not. This will be a horrible month… and the many more to come.
Squall slowly advanced toward her. "Want to go for walk?" Rin's eye's widened as she met pupils with Squall. He gripped the wheelchair as he awaited a reply.
"I'd like that." Rin smiled innocently.
Outside of the Presidential Palace laid peaceful gardens filled with exotic blooms and buds of assorted colors. Stone benches with long carvings on their side as the shimmering stone path glimmered in the sun.
Tall statues of sorceresses stood in the center of the walkways with a golden plaque surrounded by flowers. The largest stood in the heart of the garden.
"The Great Hyne…" Rin read as Squall gazed at the enormous memorial.
Squall looked deeply at the statue and sighed, "Do you believe everything happens for a reason?" He muttered quietly. So soundly Rin was again surprised he was talking to her.
"Like... destiny?" She asked, "Well, I don't believe in destiny but I guess some things aren't accidents."
He stood so quiet and emtionless, or was there invisble emotion? Squall turned his head and corssed his arms. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense." He said with dismay within his voice. Rin felt uneasy at once. She didn't know this person well, what was this conversation they were having? Such a awkard topic for the occasion wouldn't you think?
The gray eyes looked so deep in thought Rin was sure he'd cry, what a sight she was in for. She gulped and hoped he would decide to turn back soon.
Squall didn't sob, or shed a tear. He simply spoke to Rin… quietly. She gulped as she opened her mouth to speak. "…………I was in an accident when I was a kid." She whispered. Squall looked down but not to her, "I never remembered it. Never. Only things that could come to mind after racking it for hours would be fire. Fire and someone screaming. Then someone holding me… hugging me. Then I hit something hard and cold and everything went black. I couldn't remember anything after that day. Then the lady at the orphanage said, the faeries will help you. Another kid told me fairies were the falling snow, or it was their gift to us. It never worked, until one day I remembered a lady singing a song. Nothing else."
"I'm sorry Rin." Squall said sincerely. Rin bobbed as she looked happily at Squall. The first person that had listened to her for a long time.
You're a good person Squall. So good I don't deserve be around you. She thought silently.
I'm sorry Rin, I came and interupted your harsh life already. I guessI've never been able to do anything right.Squall kept in mind.
"Let's go," Squall said finally as the two headed towards the building.
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Squall left thirty minutes after breakfast time. Ellone spent her days in tutorials and other studying activities. Rin was very much alone the whole day. She kept herself occupied in the Palace library. A large room with endless shelves with books of leather rims and golden print. Most shelves were filled with dust, thick clouds which unable you to see the title of a book. These shelves were placed in the back. That's where Rin kept herself.
After a long day, Raine allowed herself to visit Rin in her room. She entered and smiled kindly to her.
"Hello Rin," She greeted in a sincere tone. Rin bowed her head as she spoke too.
"Hello, Mrs. Loire." She replied.
"Well, I thought you were unoccupied. I can see why too. Ellone refuses to go the private school we told her of, so she spends her days studying so she'll be accepted to Galbadia Garden. And Squall, Squall is just dedicated to his work. I can understand your boredom dear. "
"Oh no ma'am. I'm not bored at all." Rin argued.
"How modest of you, I think we're going to enjoy having around Rin dear." With that Raine exited the room.
Rin sighed as she leaned her head on the seating of her wheelchair. She reopened her book and read along the lines again.
Meladenté Esther was the daughter of the great king Icoras Esther. Meladenté was a sorceress, at the time her father was having a burning and massacre to anyone who practiced black magic. In fear her father would find her great powers, she fled the palace and rushed to a safe haven now know as Tear's Point. A large cathedral had been built there at the time. Meladenté spent day after day in the holy church. Soon the minister noticed the girl who never left the sanctuary. Once he met the girl she immediately told him of her unbearable powers as a sorceress.
The minister told her to leave the kingdom for any hopes of surviving and that the church couldn't keep her safe from the king's wrath forever. She left that very night. She rushed as far as possible until she stumbled upon another person. The person was very weary and looked old.
"Hi Rin." Squall's voice called.
Rin dropped the book in surprise as she met eye contact with Squall. She held out her hand to grab it, instead Squall retrieved it and read its title aloud.
"The story of Meldenté Esther, the sorceress who carried Adel's powers. Interesting pick." He gently handed the book back. Rin tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked towards the doorway. Two people stood there quietly. "Oh yeah, I told you I was going to introduce you to my friends…"
"Any day now Squall!" Irvine's voice called as he walked deeper into the room followed by Selphie. Squall turned around,
"Where's Zell?" He asked bluntly. Selphie shrugged.
"Where is always? Probably stalking Ellone as usual."
Squall shrugged as he wheeled Rin out the room along with Selphie childishly walked backwards in front of Rin.
"Hey Rin! I'm Selphie Tilmitt. Squall doesn't stop blabbing about you! I think he likes ya!" She winked mischievously.
"Whatever." Squall snapped irritably. Rin giggled slightly now finding the informal side of Squall. Irvine walked to her side.
"So how you been feeling? Your back any better yet?" He asked kindly.
"Actually, it feels great. Almost like before, but not quite yet…" Rin thought for a moment. Irvine quietly nudged her in a friendly way.
" I understand how ya feel." He replied.
The four entered Ellone's room. The room was a bright color of lime green. A figure stood by the large bed that was completely concealed in long green drapes. The figure was a blonde hair man with a long tattoo on the side of one cheek. He kneeled by a small stool which sat at the foot of the bed.
"Milady Ellone!" He called. Surprisingly a hand appeared from out of the curtains. The man took it gratefully, kissed it, and led it out of the bed. Ellone's full body appeared from behind the bed drapes as her feet landed on the stool then to the floor. It looked like something out of an old romance movie. Ellone smiled at the man then walked away from him.
"Sorry Zell." She said as she rushed up to Squall. Everyone chuckled loudly at Zell as he blushed aimlessly.
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"So you're the girl Squall never shuts up about." Zell inquired ten minutes after his embarrassment with Ellone. The group sat outside in the garden near the statue of Hyne.
"I guess?" Rin replied. It was Squall's turn to feel humiliated.
It wasn't long till everyone was comfortable talking with each other. A week later Rin understood why Squall said his friends were always there, they were. Selphie was closer to her than the other two friends. She was the type who loved gossip, sappy romances, cute little animals, and anything else that's cheery or something suitable for a blabbermouth.
Irvine was much like Selphie, outgoing and doesn't hesitate to embarrass someone. Zell was a tad different, who had a huge crush on Ellone but stayed quiet when it came to keeping secrets. They were all friendly, but after they were gone, none could compare to the kindness Squall showed her.
Every night he'd visit her. They'd talk for hours and hours. Every night he'd stay a little longer. First it was five minutes just to make sure she was okay in her room, then ten to talk a little. Soon conversations developed and hours were spent.
But when Rin finally went to sleep a figure stood at her doorway, considering he wasn't stalking her Squall watched confused, and almost in awe. It was as though Rin had something that he couldn't quite point but he still tried.
oooo
Rin opened her book, "The Story Of Meledenté Esther." She hadn't read much over the few weeks. Squall oddly appeared sooner each day.
No one was sure what happened to Meledenté after speaking with the old person. A few days later, the king's soldiers found her in that very spot dead. The king was in awe for many days. The minister was very surprised to hear the girl in the church was none other than the Princess of Esther. The minister told the king of her sorcery and her fear of him. King Icoras couldn't bare the thought and locked himself for many days and nights. Oddly enough, ever since the day Meledenté died, not a drop of black or white magic was ever found in Esther for years and years to come. The king didn't realize such but ended the massacre immediately anyways.
Far from Balamb the old person was found once again. They imprisoned the person for many decades and realized she didn't age, or die. The kingdom became more interested with technology they forgot of her. Again someone found her still alive dwelling in the dungeons.
Research today proves Sorceress Ultemicia possessed her. The grand sorceress stripped Meledenté magic from her. Others claim Meledenté gave her powers to the Sorceress Adel directly and truly never died. By all means, Meledenté contained the kingdom's black magic for the last moment of her life and released it all to one sorceress. Since Adel is a follower of Ultemicia, some say Ultemecia granted them to Adel at due time. Researchers today argue between two sorceresses who possibly held Adel's powers. More signs point to Meledente.Till then civilians of Esther call Meledenté the "The Carrier Of Sorceress Adel's Powers."
Rin closed the cover of the book and sighed to herself. Unfortunate that the truth was clouded.
"The only reason I hated that dang book." Squallsaid monotonously ashe entered the room.
Rin placed the book away. "It has a horrible ending!" She cried. Squall shrugged as he sat himself by her.
"Not that bad, it is true though." He replied flatly.
The rest of the night ended the same way. The conversations dwelled for hours and jumped from one discussion to another. Soon the clock struck an hour after midnight.
"Dang, it's late." Squall thought aloud. Rin nodded. Her back no longer pained her and she used crutches to move around she didn't need Elerna's help for everything but still she was a bit handicapped.
"Goodnight Rin." Squall started. Rin bowed her head. She head towards the bed. From what the doctor last said she'd be able to take off the cast in another month or so. Her time here was growing thin. How much she was going to miss everyone. Suddenly she felt herself being lifted. She dropped the crutches and observed what was holding her. Squall held her close and gently a smile across his face comforted Rin.
"I got you Rin, don't worry." After landing on the bed, Squall looked at Rin for a moment and Rin kept her eyes on him. Rin could see every line and detail in the cloudy gray pupils. She knew she was close to him, very. Her heart beat several times as she leaned forward. Her lips planted a kiss on his cheek.
Squall back away almost instantly, then without noticing...
The two hugged each other tightly without realizing the world around them.
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