After arrangements had been finalized with the kind stable attendant, Rinoa leisurely made her way back to her quarters. She paused at her door and instead carried on further until she reached Noriko's room. She lightly tapped on the doorframe.
"Noriko?" No answer came from within the room's dull innards. She reached out and drew back the curtain before entering. It seemed her maid must be elsewhere as no signs of life were evident upon her entry. Good. Rinoa stepped forwards, again using her staff to search her desired path. She soon came to Noriko's bed. She turned right from this and found what she was searching for. Noriko's dresser table. She fumbled about on the table's surface looking for an object of interest to her. It wasn't there. She then began rummaging around in the draws below where she founds scraps of paper, probably letters, Noriko always wrote letters to her parents that stayed in the town before the citadel to inform them and update them on her experiences in the upper-class clad lifestyle that she witnessed. Rinoa's fingers brushed against a leather surface. Her full lips produced smile of succession she'd found it. Noriko's pass.
The pass was given to the upper-class civilians as well as a number of their servants, incase they wished to venture beyond the great Bamboo Barrier. She gripped the small item and drew it from its confined prision. It was somewhat heavy for such a tiny thing, mainly because of the abundance of documents that were stored within it, Birth certificate, Qin civilian certificate, a form to say that Noriko was a qualified maid of the citadel, records of illnesses as well as a police record (yet Noriko's was blank). This was her key that would free her from the shackles of the Qin Empire. She hugged it to her chest out of relief before placing it in her pocket. She carefully placed everything back in its original place and prayed the young maid wouldn't notice.
Upon entering her room, she could hear faint voices in her common room, next door to her bedroom. It must be Noriko. Rinoa was struck by a pang of guilt, she had been a little too heartless towards her friend and her protective actions, she'd apologize, and luckily for her Noriko was a person of a forgiving and understanding nature.
"Noriko?" She entered the room and realized her maid wasn't alone.
"Rinoa! I'm glad you've finally returned from the stables." She greeted in her usual contented manner. Rinoa couldn't stop herself from smiling at her welcome, being angered at Noriko was like being angry with a young child, you'd quickly forgive and forget. "You have a visitor. I'll make myself scarce. I'll be in the next room if you or Seifer need anything." With that the maid past her mistress and entered the other room.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there that day my parents gave you news." He said as she seated herself across from him at the table.
"That's quite all right. After all you're a commander, you have many responsibilities now." She smiled, yet wished they would converse one of their more familiar conversations, such as Seifer's tales of his encounters with members of the rebel alliance, they were eternally interesting, however she knew the topic of marriage would be discussed in it's place.
"My family and I want to discuss the wedding arrangements with you tomorrow if that's okay?" Rinoa nodded, her smile saddening faintly, yet Seifer didn't seem to notice this, he wasn't really the observant type. They talked for sometime, each telling the other what they had done to pass their day's time. Seifer was a different man around this woman, he was no longer the emotional guarded egotistical military man that other's saw him as, who barked orders and enjoyed observing his soldiers' discomfort in combat training. He was transformed from that to a kind soul, would hung on this beauty's every word with a strong devotion.
"I should be on my way now, I've already taken up too much of your time." He rose from his kneeling position in front of the low table.
"Nonsense, someone like myself has nothing but time." She reassured also rising.
"Still I have a few matters to attend to."
"Very well."
He crossed the small distance between them, his well-built form towering over hers, taking in her features, something he mainly had done from afar until now. He reached out and ran his fingers across a small section of her sleek hair that had freed itself from her loose braid, enjoying how it felt on his skin. She smiled at the attention. He gently swept the loose strands behind her ear, which was decorated with a small silver earring. His fingers lingered there for a moment before softly brushing against the smooth, pale skin of her cheek.
"I am a lucky man." He spoke quietly and kindly pulled her into his arms. Several moments passed before he released her from the embrace. After exchanging farewells the Commander left the young woman by herself in the small room, Rinoa slipped her hand into her pocket and felt the leather binding cover of the pass.
"I'm sorry about today miss, I'm sure tomorrow will be a brighter day though." Said Noriko as she snuffed the flame of one of the many oil burners.
"You don't have to apologize…It's just sometimes I become tired of people treating me different, that's all." Rinoa explained calmly, she was sat up in bed, her hair worn down and with no make-up on. Noriko noted how childlike and innocent this girl could look when she wasn't clothed in the aristocratic attrite she wore relentlessly.
"I understand. I've left your staff at the foot of your bed should you need it. If you need any thing call upon me." But the maid knew that she wouldn't, in her six years of serving Rinoa, her mistress never called for her at night.
"Thank you Noriko." The maid drew a translucent thin material curtain of an elegant design around the bed, to keep out any insects that were crawling about.
"Pleasant dreams."
Rinoa now had to wait for sometime until she was positive most inhabitants of the household was deep in slumber before she could begin to move around. As she patently remained in her comfortable bed she pondered where she would go first, many had spoken of Numi Bridge, a narrow wooden suspension bridge that crossed over a vast gorge, apparently even if you cross this overpass on day that own the slightest of breezes the bridge would sway to and fro. Or maybe Rinoa would visit Kagami Lake, an immeasurable tranquil lake that's so placid it appears as if the land was doubled. The lake's water was supposed to be ineradicably cold she wondered what it would be like to dip her fingers into this water, would it be like sinking them into a liquid mirror?
The citadel had fallen silent. It was time. She threw back her bed sheets and reached for her staff. Now she had to find her clothes, Noriko always laid them over a chair that dwelled in the corner of her room. She steadily advanced forward, one hand firmly grasping her staff the other held out to find the chair's form. After she had found the chair she pulled her day clothes over her undergarment, which was a long simple dress cut from a thin fabric. She groped around in her pockets for a moment to reassure herself that the pass was still there. There was nothing else that she really needed; Sho was preparing all the necessities that she'd be taking with her on her travels. Leaving her room she made her way along the corridors, knowing roughly the route to the stables. Once outside the cool night breeze greeted her as it brushed against her skin and moved strands of her dark hair across her face. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air, before continuing along the sheltered walkway yet as she begin to walk a not to distant sound captured her attention, someone was still awake and outside, the movements didn't seem like that of Sho's they were the strong and slightly graceful motions of Wushu, it was Squall. He must be practicing. Yet as Rinoa stood undeceive of whether to continue on or call out the young warrior's name his voice rang clearly throughout the courtyard.
"Rinoa?" She turned to face the direction from which his voice came, a slight smile forming on her features. She heard his advancing footsteps along the stone ground.
"It's a bit late to be out here training." She commented.
"I couldn't sleep, why are you out here?" he questioned; eyeing her clothing suspiciously, had Noriko dressed her? Would Noriko even allow her to wonder around the citadel at night unaccompanied?
"Same… So all those years of training must mean you're good at combat now." Squall frowned, unsure what the girl was implying.
"I suppose."
Rinoa gripped her staff with both hands. Seeing this, Squall smiled, being the daughter of the legendary General Caraway, Rinoa too had been loosely educated in some areas of combat. The two used to spend so much time together that Rinoa would sit and listen to her friend's training lessons which he'd taken directly from Caraway, after the General noted that the youth had potential to become a successful warrior. The two used to have sparring sessions yet it wasn't long before Squall repeatedly won.
"You're a aristocratic lady, lady's don't fight." Reminded Squall, remembering how much she hated being addressed as a 'lady'. Rinoa laughed cheerfully at his comment.
"I think you'll find this one does!" She swiftly swung the wooden staff in the direction which Squall's voice came from; he effortlessly blocked it only using his hand. She continued her attack to find that each move was blocked, after a while of testing her skill against his, Rinoa initiated another assault only to find that instead of Squall blocking it he grasped the staff and unexpectedly pulled it from her hands, Rinoa stumbled forward but her opponent's hands gently seized her shoulders to prevent her from falling. Her cheerful laughter escaped her lips. He was the only person she had known barring her parents that didn't care for her differently because of her disability, he treated her like a normal citizen.
"Thanks" She said gratefully as she leaned into his arms.
"What for?"
"Not letting me win." She sighed, listening to the steady beat of his heart, if only she had been arranged to be wed to Squall…things would be different.
"Well I knew you always hated that." He explained in his usual informative tone, like Seifer he could be so emotional guarded at times.
"You know, you haven't changed at all!" she smiled "Still that moody little boy I knew all those years ago." But of course he had changed in some ways, after all when they were both still children, Rinoa used to be taller than him but now his growth through his adolescent years caused him to tower over her. "Do you still look like him?"
"Like who?"
"That moody little boy?"
Squall peered down at her, it must be frustrating owning sightless eyes, she couldn't see how much they'd both altered and metamorphosed over the years, odd a beauty like her would never actually see beauty, the pastel flakes of the cherry blossom fall in spring, nor the magnificence red tinted leaves in autumn, he could have taken her to one of the many towering mountains where you could see the land stretch out limitlessly and still she could never witness such a thing. He took hold of her delicate wrist and held it up so that her hand touched his face. Rinoa had never been keen on touching people's faces to see what they looked like she though of it as disrespectful as it was a very personal gesture only Noriko and Squall when he was a boy had experienced this and this was because Rinoa greatly trusted and respect the two of them.
Understanding what he was allowing her to do she raised her other hand and felt his hair, as she did she noticed that it was shorter than it should have been for a solider, it was a tradition that males wore their hair long, in fact very few cut theirs as it was seen as a mark for how long they had served under the Qin Empire. Squall's, however stopped just past his jaw line.
"Your hair's really short."
"It happened in Wushu training, I didn't move quick enough and my braid was accidentally cut." He said watching the smile on her face broaden. Her hands moved down, across his brow. Rinoa's fingertips brushed along something odd, a rough section of skin. Squall watch the young woman frown as she traced a finger down his healing scar.
"Is this from your fight with Seifer?" He nodded "You said it was just a scratch!" He said nothing. As she continued she noticed he had changed, his face when he had been the age of 8 or so had been a slightly rounded one yet now she could feel that he had cheekbones and a stronger jaw line than before. Squall had a simple earring in his left ear, military men were forbidden to wear such things, showing he still had a somewhat rebellious nature. Her fingers of her right hand gently brushed against his lips, they lingered there for a moment.
"What is it?" He whispered, not really wanting to distract her from her thoughts, she was probably trying to build up a mental image of him in her mind. Yet she wasn't creating a mental image she was thinking how hard it was for her to leave him, Rinoa wished she hadn't even bumped into him tonight as she hadn't really thought about how the others may react to her disappearance, she had just figured they'd eventually grow tired of wondering and worrying like they had done with Squall, yet she never really did, every day she'd questioned where he was, what he was doing, was he even alive? And why hadn't he taken her with him? She wanted to take him with her but the two of them suddenly vanishing would arose serious suspicions among the aristocratic households; Squall was already in enough trouble for abandoning his duties. She leaned foreword and softly pressed her lips against the skin of Squall's cheek, as she withdrew, in one flowing motion Squall slowly leaned in towards her and ran one of his hands through Rinoa's silk like hair. His lips nearly touching hers. Yet just as they pressed softly on hers the ruckus of the a door being yanked open interrupted his passionate gesture. The two hastily parted and stood a respectable distance apart. It was one of the attendants, no doubt going to the servant's quarters after finally being dismissed from his master's household. It wasn't long before he had crossed the distance of the courtyard; bowing at them as he past them and the pair were alone yet again. Rinoa reached for her staff that was in Squall's hand.
"I should be on my way." She informed, her hair covering most of her flushed face. He handed her the wooden implement as stepped back slightly. "Goodbye Squall" she said before turning on he heel and walking off. Squall frown as he watched her. Her smiled hadn't been her usual joyful one that she so often wore it was more saddened. He dismissed his thoughts with a shrug; she's probably still getting over that fact of marriage and with Seifer Almasy of all people! Knowing Seifer, the commander probably did it to spite him.
"I thought you'd changed your mind for a while there." Greeted Sho as Rinoa entered the stables.
"After taking so long to convince you to help me? I think not." She replied.
"Well then Tsuki has been loaded up with supplies that I managed to get. I also managed to swipe the smallest frame armour I could find as well as a sword."
"Thank you, Sho."
"But it'd be best if you also wear these civilian clothing over the armour, otherwise they'll be suspicious at the Bamboo Barrier's gate if a woman dressed in upper-class clothing is in fact a maid."
"Yes, well thought of!"
Sho fitted the slightly rusted armour over the young woman's undergarment; feeling slightly embarrassed whilst doing so, this was Noriko's job and if she ever found out she'd murder him! He then tugged the dark green thick cotton garment over the armour and wrapped a lighter shaded green overcoat around her petite frame. He had also managed to find a fine pare of fur-lined boots and a wicker hat, which would help keep her head and shoulders from getting damp when it rained. Finally her sword and its sheath were strapped around her waist. It was common for travelers to carry weapons for their own well-being so it wasn't frowned up when you saw civilians having swords hang from their belts.
"Now Tsuki is packed with food, water a long bladed dagger and a blanket" informed Sho as Rinoa felt each pouch and compartment the horse's saddlebag had been packed with. Lastly Noriko's pass was placed in the pocket of Rinoa's new clothing. She mounted Tsuki and Sho lead her out into the field, half way along he stopped.
"I beg of you please be careful!"
"Don't worry." She smiled but it rapidly vanished, "There'll be an uproar in the citadel tomorrow, please don't speak of how you helped me, I fear they'll punish you if you do."
"Yes, I'm quite a fine actor, I'll proceed like I know nothing of your disappearance."
"Thank you very much, for everything you've done Sho."
"I live to serve," he shrugged "Now go, be on your way before anyone wakes!"
And with that Rinoa motioned for her horse to go, Tsuki speed off leaving the stable attendant alone in the moonlight field.
Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews I've received so far! Leonblade, thank you for the idea you mentioned in on of your reviews, I may go back and change that section! It seems I'm getting easily inspired lately as I've begun writing another Squall/Rinoa/Seifer triangle based on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind (If you haven't seen that film I strongly suggest you do as I thought it was ace!) and it will be posted shortly on here under the title 'Perpetual Déjà Vu'.