Selphie Kinneas
"Journey To The Past"
Chapter Twelve- Winhill
"Song?" Rin repeated in query.
"Yeah. Song. The lady said you knew a song. What was that song?" Squall explained.
ooooo
Awhile Later
"Why won't you sing the song Rin." Squall interrogated. Rin sat by the hearth in the rickety old shack.
"I told you! I don't remember it!"
Squall aggregately paced the room. Rin hesitated, she gulped then looked futilely at Squall. "…Squall?"
"What?"
"Are you still an insomniac?"
"Sorta, yeah I guess."
"Then come here." Rin beckoned him near. Squall approached her then sat down. Rin laid his head on her lap and pondered into the storm eyes. "It's my only true memory." She brought her head to his ear, "This needs to stay with you and me."
"Constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved. And my love shining in through you will help you make your dreams come true, will help you make your dreams come true………
"I look the stars I see your face, I know it's you. There's no one with a smile so true. Oh my love, all my love…
"Constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved. And my love shining in through you will help you make your dreams come true, will help you make your dreams come true………"
Squall tired and weary eyes were gently shut. Rin smiled in triumph as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against his.
ooooo
Squall opened an eye. He yawned as he looked at Rin whose head was neighboring his. He stared for a moment at the raven hair that swept her pale face. Squall sat straight as he brushed away the bangs from her face.
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At this moment she could give a good morning greeting. Her slowly tip-tampering took more time than she imagined. Finally she gained speed and rushed to Squall. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good morning." She serenely welcomed.
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Squall shrugged as he stood. The light airy voice of Rin's singing filled his head. So awkwardly, the song and voice sounded so familiar. He heard that song someplace……… yes! If he had heard it wasn't a personnel song. It wasn't just some traditional song in a family. That was a good thing, and a bad thing. A bad thing since it may just lead him to a general group, a good thing since it will still lead him somewhere.
But that song… where had he heard it? A concert……………………………… yes, he was in Winhill with his father. A large concert for Winhill. Surely Winhill wasn't the origin of the song. Maybe it would lead him somewhere.
ooooo
A few hours later
Squall sat in the back seat of a small taxi avoiding eye contact with Rin. Rin didn't seem to want to talk either, she merely sat with her head in the window peering and the frothy land to which she once called 'home'. Squall leaned his head.
"Rin?" He mumbled.
"Hmm?" Rin muttered in reply not leaving her view.
"Where'd you hear that song?"
"Oh… someplace. It was before the accident, so I don't remember."
Squall clicked his tongue and returned to silently sitting. "Hee we aar." The toothless cab driver smiled, "The twain sation." Squall noiselessly paid and exited the car and retrieved his baggage.
Rin walked to his side. "Where are we going?" She asked. Squall said nothing, Just trust me for once. They came toward the box office.
"Two for Winhill…" He paid and took the two slits of paper. They went to a certain platform and boarded the train.
Rin felt oddly uncomfortable with Squall's silence. Why was acting so sullen abruptly? Squall found a compartment and the two sat, once again in utter silence. Rin stubbornly looked from Squall's broad face.
Why are we going to Winhill? Rin's eyes closed as she fell into the world of slumber.
"RINNY!"
Blazes of fire crashed down with smoke infecting the air. The view changed as someone dragged out. A huge push of fumes threw the view into what looked like black stained and wet snow. "RIN! WHERE ARE YOU?"
"Rin…" Squall nudged. The brunette shook her hand away,
"I'm here." She whispered. "I'm… right here."
"Rin." Squall repeated. Rin bleakly opened a pupil and gazed at Squall's face.
"Oh… sorry." She said as she sat up to see where she was. The train had stopped and a sunset sky shone through the window.
"Are we… at Winhill?"
"Yeah." Squall replied slightly monotone. Rin asked no more and pulled off her jacket. The weather was so much warmer and she felt far to hot to wear more than her clothing. She followed Squall out.
The small town of Winhill was a few miles from the train station. It was a small, unnoticeable plain town of simpletons. Rin could easily imagine her origin from there. Once they reached the entrance, the cab driver left into the distance to another Galbadian town.
Rin looked side to side to see if any thing was familiar. There was nothing. The stone cobbled streets were infested with dirt and dust. Houses were old and nearly torn down. There were a few large mansions, the only buildings that still looked suitable.
Squall finally cracked a smile at Rin and beckoned her to observe everything. The two pondered at the peaceful area. There were wild flowers and weeds growing near small banks of ponds. Beaten down roads were Chocobos and cars had been through had weak painted wooden posts.
Down one street was a dilapidated church neighboring a withered inn. As he began down the road, a lovely scene captivated them. West of their prior point was a blue clear lake with luscious gardens and white bridges and a large well made villa that looked only a few years old.
Squall frowned at the sight, for a thick iron set of curved bars surrounded the land piece and held a elegant sign reading, "Seifer Almasy."
"How beautiful." Rin breathed wondering the villa.
"That cheapskate." Squall mumbled under his breath.
"What?" Rin turned to him.
"It's… nothing." He replied.
"Tell me!" Rin ordered.
"Fine, it's no lovely story though. Seifer Almasy was a son of a wealthy family in Deling City. A high part of government, wealthy but not the wealthiest." Squall trudged down the road into the inn. An old lady with large spectacles took his moment and led him to a room with two patched bunk beds and a crack mirror. A door in the corner led to the bathroom. Squall and Rin dropped their items.
The brunette slowly made her way to the window, which now showed a night sky. "Go on Squall."
Squall inhaled and collapsed on a bed, "Well. His father worked and was close friends with the Caraway family. Probably one of the richest families ever known. The only person who may have been richer was Vinzer Deling, but that's just a might."
The Caraways? Why does that sound so familiar? Rin thought.
"The whole family was close to the other. General Caraway with Mr. Almasy, Mrs. Caraway with Mrs. Alamsy, and last but not least there was Rinoa Caraway and Seifer Almasy. They were only kids, about 9 or 10 years old. Maybe older. Anyways, the Almasy's were taking a trip to Trabia, and since Seifer and Rinoa were really close friends Rinoa came along. There was a cabin fire and Seifer was I think the only survivor."
I was in a cabin fire… there were only two survivors, not many. She kept inferring.
"When Seifer came back to Galbadia, the Caraways had already heard that their daughter died. Seifer inherited the Almasy fortune, which was said to be able care for him until he was an adult. A few million gil.
"A FEW MILLION GIL?" Rin gasped.
"That's nothing compared to what he was about to get." Squall continued. "The Caraways took Seifer in upon losing their daughter. Soon General Caraway's wife, Julia fell ill… some say with grief, others say she committed suicide, either way she died two years later. General Caraway went into a psychotic mode and locked himself in his room for days at a time only a maid to bring his meals.
"He resigned from office the next year and retired to Esther. Seifer was all alone then with Caraway's home and money. Two years later George Caraway came back to Esther. He went home. The next day a maid came out of his room screaming. Police came and announced General Caraway had died of nothing more than depression. Seifer was written on his will to inherit everything Rinoa was supposed to, literally everything including a fortune of 100 million gil."
Rin looked as if her eyes were going to come out of her sockets. "That's horrible! He must've not worked a day in his life!"
"He didn't, he has a villa in everything country and the most leisurely life. He travels, sits in a mansion and nothing else. A laid back carefree life. And he is happy about it. Irvine and I think he forged his named onto the will. But The Caraways was a small family, and adopting Seifer made him their child. The will really said their child would receive everything."
Squall tossed back with a yawn. "Rin… I'm actually tired so I'm going to go to sleep now." Rin stared in amazement, all the names sounded so well-known, or to her at least. It wasn't mundane… she knew those. They were famous so it may have been on the news someplace. Rin changed her suit and climbed to the top bunk.
Her head was filled with thoughts as she curled under the blankets and closed her eyes. Was Seifer sad when his second pair of parents died? His parents, then his best friend, then people who adopted him? Oh… poor Seifer, I don't think money is enough for his pain… but soo much.
oooo
Tepid light bathed Rin as she rolled over. She opened her eyes toward the shadowed part of the room. Slowly she raised herself to find Squall still fast asleep. Rin happily climbed off the bunk and eyed him carefully. She grinned and dressed herself.
A few moments later she left the inn to explore Winhill. The peaceful town was almost silent other than the soft winds that flew to and fro. She stepped forth to examine everything, nothing was familiar. She came to a green house that had cracks in its shingles. A white blossom caught her eye.
She rushed through the door and came to them. "It's the ones Raine had!" She cried smelling the amazing fragrance.
"You know Raine?" The cracking voice of an elderly lady came from behind Rin. She hastily turned to the voice and smiled politely to her.
"Uh huh, Raine Loire." She replied.
"… Yes, everyone here was so happy when she met someone. A man would take her around the world. A journalist with a childish smile. She never was happier. They married here… in Winhill. Twas, the most gracious celebrations we've had… in a long time. After she had a son, he grew up a little then they all left. Those white flowers and our memories is all that Raine left us. We never knew what became of her, how is dear Raine?"
Rin smiled hopefully listening to the story. "She's wonderful. Her husband is the president of Esther. And she also had another daughter. She's really happy with her life."
"Oh?" The lady smiled gingerly, "You've made my day, my dear." Rin grinned.
ooooo
Squall trudged along the roads. He didn't know his exact purpose of being here. Suddenly, like a intuition a song played in the distance.
"Constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved…" Before another lyric was sang, Squall rushed to the production of the music.
Standing outside of a small house was an old record player, beside it was a cover for a record of Julia Caraway. Squall sighed, this was the only clue he had here, and it was a singer's song. He massaged his temples and slowly amed his way to the hotel.
Once there he sat himself on the only computer in the area. It was old and slow but at least it worked. He typed a search for songs of Julia Caraway.
TOP TEN SITES FOR 'JULIA CARAWAY SONGS'
Lyrics for Julia Caraway
Concert History
Special Song, (Never released)
Squall ignored the other seven sites and clicked on the third site. There, was information on Julia Caraway's song. She had two versions of it. One was released on CDs and records everywhere, the other was said once and only once at a final premiering concert in Deling City. The lyrics for the special song were very short since it was to be a lullaby fro Julia's new born daughter Rinoa Caraway.
Constant as the stars above,
Always know that you are loved
And my love shining in through you
Will help you make your dreams come true,
Will help you make your dreams come true………
I look the stars I see your face,
I know it's you.
There's no one with a smile so true.
Oh my love, all my love…
Constant as the stars above,
Always know that you are loved
And my love shining in through you
Will help you make your dreams come true,
Will help you make your dreams come true………"
I need nothing more
You're my delight galore
A bundle from heaven I'll never forget
No, no, no and I won't ever regret
Constant as the stars above,
Always know that you are loved
And my love shining in through you
Will help you make your dreams come true,
Will help you make your dreams come true………"
Squall pondered for a moment. The song Rin had sang was almost the exact song. Though, Julia Caraway only sang this song once … it could mean Rin went to the concert before the accident, but it could mean more. Perhaps her family was in Deling? It was a hasty conclusion though there was nothing else to be led on.
"Hi Squall!" Rin entered and looked at the old computer screen. "Julia Caraway… Squall?" She examined the lyrics, "That's so scary." She gapped.
Squall said nothing on the matter, "Rin, I think I have one place left before I start over. Let's go to Deling City."
Ooooooooo
Sorry for the wait! And guess what? If you've been bored all this time, IT IS GETTING NEAR THE CLIMAX! Also our appearance of Seifer Almasy will be coming. And for a little teaser here's a clip of an upcoming chapter.
Squall's blade shone in the dim light, "What kind of sick bastard are you?" Seifer swung the gunblade on his shoulder.
"Look, Rinoa would been fine if you never came into her life… I'll be doing her a favor."
"Just like what you did in the house, telling your brilliant plan." Squall scowled.
Seifer lifter his rapier and charged for Squall. Squall held it in defense, "It ends now!"
No more for now-muwahahahha!
