Star-Crossed
Leaning her head against the door, she wondered what time it was right now. She haven't moved from her spot ever since Squall went back into his room. She sat down motionless, hoping that he was going to come out but he never did. Rinoa assumed that an hour had passed but she wasn't too sure. She gently rubbed her eyes. The tears had ceased but it left a pinkish shade around them.
Her head jerked up to the sound of light footsteps. Her heart immediately started pounding. Could it be Squall? The excitement slowly waned when she realized the footsteps were someone advancing towards her. She squinted her eyes but couldn't see the figure for the corridors were too dark. Catching a glimpse of the trench coat flowing behind the tall person, Rinoa stood up and moved towards him.
Seifer......what are you doing here?
Did you talk to him?
Rinoa nodded in the dark and pointed to the door. Of course... she whispered.
No good?
She sighed and shook her head. What about you? What are you doing? she repeated.
Seifer coldly turned around. I couldn't sleep so I decided to walk around and see what's going on around here. Funny, I'd never thought I was going to run into you, he smirked lightly. That was some kind of show before...huh? He slowly began walking away.
Rinoa stared at him as he drifted further and further away from her. She reached out her hand and followed him. Wait! Where are you going?
No where in particular......you want to go take a walk with me? There are some things...I want to talk about.
The Sorceress looked unsure. She gazed back and forth before the door and the man in front of her. Finally, she nodded and decided to take his invitation. Sure......I guess so....there's no use waiting here, she muttered the last sentence to herself and then left with Seifer.
He led her to the center of the hallway and motioned for her to follow him out of the front gates.
Rinoa shot him a confused look. Just where are we going Seifer?
I need some fresh air. I wanna get out of Garden just for a couple of minutes. Maybe we can look around Timber?
Managing a tiny smile, she nodded. It was a good idea just to get out of Garden for a little while. Everything there has been so tense recently with so much events going on and her latest encounter with Squall? It killed her for him to go through all this especially when he had been so good to her all this time.
A cool and rather soothing breeze welcomed the two as they stepped out. Seifer closed his eyes and sighed heavily. Its been awhile since he had felt the cold air. It was usually warm near Timber but for some strange reason tonight, the currents from the beach started to pick up as the waves clashed on to the shore. Without thinking, he walked towards the sandy ground. A surge of water splashed against another pair of boots against his. For a few minutes, they both remained silent, just staring out into the sparkling vast sea.
You left me for your stupid dream and sided with evil. You even fought against me because you were too blind to realize the truth and then... she sighed. Then you nearly killed me by sacrificing me to Adel! Seifer, how could you do this!? You didn't even bother apologizing for your mistakes...
Rinoa's words played over and over again in his head. Even though it was just a dream, he still couldn't help but feel guilty and he had every reason to be. His emerald eyes shot open.
I don't know how many times I had said this but...I'm really sorry. I don't want you to accept my apology. After all, saying sorry does not erase all those bad memories from the past. I wasn't there when you needed me...I wasn't there when you called out for me. Instead...I was out there...pursuing my ridiculous dream as knight. The truth is...I'm no knight...just a pathetic puppet being manipulated by Ultimecia all this time.
The Sorceress gave him a rueful smile. Yes, she was disappointed at that time when he wasn't there when she needed him the most and that was when...Squall came into the picture. Even when she started developing feelings for Squall, she still held on to Seifer and cared immensely for him. He was never out of the picture, never out of her heart.
You don't have to say anything else. I understand, I really do but things are different now. They've changed...you've changed Seifer. Ellone once said that the past cant be changed no matter how much you want it to. She felt so awful that Laguna wasn't there for Raine because he was searching for her. No matter how hard she tried to change that, it couldn't be helped but that doesn't mean she can't change her future right? There are no guarantees...we shape our own fate.
Seifer just stared at her, a little surprised at her words.
She gently placed one hand on his arm. What I'm saying is that...whatever happened in the past will eventually become a memory. There really is no need to keep looking back to it. We all have to get over it eventually. The question is...what do we do now? What will happen to us in the future?
Rin...theres something I cannot deny and saying this...will change everything for us. I love you......I really do. I know you love Squall but...our relationship never ended. None of us put an end to it. It's sort of just there...hanging... He slowly laid both his hands on her shoulders and turned him around to face her. She looked down at first but then slowly lifted her head up to meet his gaze.
God her eyes are so beautiful......
You're right Seifer....there was never really an end for us was there? Rinoa whispered quietly. So can she really say she love him? The truth is...she was in love. Deeply in love with him before she had even met Squall. Of course she heard people talking behind her back and gossiping that it was just some foolish crush every crazy sixteen year old go through but that wasn't true at all. She remembered she would always get so angry at them, treating her as if she was some foolish young girl who didn't understand herself, her own feelings. Fate had torn them apart but now that Seifer was slowly making his way back into her arms again, could she really resist him? Resist her first love?
His grip tightened on her. She felt a jolt of electricity running through her body. It made her heart beat at an incredible speed. She clutched on to the rings on her necklace and ran her slender fingers around it. Still...there's Squall...... the Sorceress replied in a voice that was barely audible.
I know, and he will always be there no matter what but I cant get over you and I don't think I ever will.
Deep down inside, she felt the same way. She could never forget about him either no matter how much she was in love with Squall. Hearing those words made her heart soar. He was no longer that Seifer who had been controlled by Ultimecia. Now that his dream is no longer in the way, he was his old self again. Still arrogant and cold hearted towards others but he was back to his old self again. Rinoa let a single tear run down her cheek.
Seifer...long time no see...I've really missed you...
Seems like its been forever huh?
The large full moon above them casted a tranquil glow on his face, tracing across the dark features in the night. The waves now splashed wildly up to their ankles but none of them seemed to notice at all. Each was captured in the other's gaze.
It's really you...isn't it? It was a rhetorical question.
The Ex-knight nodded slowly and gently caressed her silky raven hair. Rinoa's next action took him by total surprise. She lunged forward and threw her arms around his neck, embracing him. Closing her eyes, she sighed softly and leaned her head on his shoulder. For once, everything else didn't matter anymore. All her worries and problems were gone. Placing his chin on top of her head, Seifer encircled her waist with one arm. His trench coat was swaying furiously with the wind.
Hyne...it feels so nice be with him again...the real him...but do I still love him? Squall.........
She was so confused, so mixed up with her feelings and emotions.
I love Squall...I really really do but I also loved Seifer once...and I'm afraid my love for him didn't die out in the past......
She slowly released herself and broke away from him. "I'm glad you came back to us...the real you...
She walked away from the beach, taking the lead. Seifer followed silently behind her until they reached the outskirts of Timber. God...they had so many memories there. All those times she spent in the past with Seifer came rushing back to her in a whirlwind. She remembered the time when she had asked him to help her get in contact with Garden and SeeDs to liberate Timber from the Galbadian's grasp. Back then, she felt so weak and helpless but just by looking into Seifer's house, she felt a new courage, a new hope and it had carried her all the way here. The Sorceress frowned at the sight in front of her. The Galbadians were doing this again and this time; her own father was leading them. She shook her head, dismissing that thought.
No...he's not my father anymore...my father wouldn't do something like this. Is this how you and the others felt back at the orphanage? Lonely...having no one to love you, no family to be there? She could now relate to why Squall had changed so much after Ellone stepped out of his life. He felt he had lost the one thing he had become attached to.
I guess so...but there was Matron and Cid...they were always there but I still felt alone. The others had each other but me...well, I was always by myself. Always there to rile things up.
Rinoa could feel her lips curving into a tiny grin.
"Don't worry, we'll liberate Timber...trust me. I promise you we will Rinoa.
Author's Notes: I am so sorry I haven't updated for such a long time. I've been really busy again! I'm sorry that all you Squall/Rinoa had to read this chapter but I really need to start picking up the love triangle which involves Seifer. As always, thanks so much for reading and please leave a review. Hopefully the next chapter wont take as long to write once I get the chance to. Also, I have a slight idea of what to do with one of the alternative ending. =)
