Three Memories
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII doesn't belong to me. I make no money of this whatsoever. Therefore, please do not sue me. Thank you.
A/N: I feel like I'm speeding along with this fic…mostly because I've already written several chapters already, then putting it through some heavy revision. I've tried to catch any gaping grammatical errors, but if one or two slips through….don't hold it against me. Not that anyone has...I've just read through chapters one and two and found a couple. Anyway, enjoy!
3: The Field Trip
> > >
I've made my decision, and I'm going to stick by it. I have to. When you think about it, that's what got me into trouble in the first place. There were so many times I could have backed out, but I was just stubborn. But at the same time, I didn't want to be a hypocrite for not following through. How many times have I accused people of being weak and giving up?
I have many things I need to fix, because I have screwed so much up. But it's only one thing I am going back for. It's probably the only thing I regret in my life, and if I don't try to atone for it, it'll be a bone in my throat forever. I don't really give a damn about the rest. Well, that's not exactly true. I wouldn't wish them their deaths anymore, I just don't want to deal with them.
I wish I didn't feel this way. I wish I didn't feel the need to go back. It would have been much easier for me, and probably much easier for everyone else. I chuckle at the thought. I was never one to make things easy.
Only for Rinoa. She was different. And she was the one I have wronged the most. That's why I've decided.
> > >
We were taking some field trip to Timber. I don't remember why. Maybe we were just passing through to do some training. Quistis was busy giving out instructions to us. Something about not getting involved with the town politics. I looked towards Squall, who was just standing there, listening to her like some idiot. I sneered at him, and he glared back at me.
I was about to push him further when Quistis glanced sternly at me while she continued to speak. I rolled my eyes.
I was done listening. I was out of there. I nudged Fujin and Raijin. "I'm going, guys. This is boring."
"QUISTIS." Fuijin said, softly but forcefully.
I shrugged. "She's giving a theory lesson on the basics of elemental defense or some other junk like that. I know it already. It'll take all afternoon. Class ends at six, I'll be back before then."
"You'll be in major trouble, ya know?" Raijin said. "Especially because we're not at Garden or anything."
I looked heavenwards. "You think I can't deal with Trepe?"
Fujin looked resigned but muttered something to herself. "CAREFUL," she said finally.
"Yes, mother," I teased. With a swift glance towards Quistis, I slipped away from the class and melted into the crowd of townsfolk.
I wandered around for a bit. This town was small. It didn't look like there was much to do. I almost admitted to myself it would have been more interesting to stay in class. However, I was nearly at the train station, and I saw a magazine stand. I went towards it, figuring I might as well read something good. I saw some dirty magazines, some pet magazine, the usual collection of tabloids and fashion junk. Some train arrived at the station, and the sound that it was making was earsplitting. It must have been some old model engine, the newer ones don't make you go deaf.
"Hey," I shouted to the lady who was running the stand so she could hear me. "Is Weapons Mon May out yet?"
"Here." She passed me the magazine, yelling to make herself heard. "That'll be 1000 Gil."
I handed her the money and took my magazine. I was flipping through it, looking for the gunblade upgrades. They were doing some special feature on nunchakus. Who in their right mind would use nunchakus? Finally, I found the gunblade section. It was awesome. I could change the handle and refine the blade. My attack power would increase like crazy. That'll show Squall. I was just wondering if I could have afforded the upgrade when I collided into someone.
"Watch where you're going," I said automatically. I looked at the heap on the floor. It was some guy clutching his stomach. Pathetic.
"Owww, my stomach," he moaned.
"Come on, get up," I said impatiently. "I'm not on the floor because you walked into me." I had half a mind to leave him there.
"Zone, what's going on?"
That was the very first time I saw Rinoa. She was running towards her friend and pulled up him to his feet.
"He ran into me," Zone said to her.
I remember I couldn't find anything to say to her. Which was strange, when I think about it. It's not like she was drop dead gorgeous. She was pretty enough, but that wasn't it. It might have been the way her dark eyes were so…open, I guess. Like she knew me already and didn't have to guard herself. It made me uncomfortable. It made me feel like I owed something to her.
"I didn't see him," I said finally, lifting my magazine to show her.
"Well, it was just an accident." She said, smiling sideways at me. "Get back on the train, Zone, or you'll be late."
"Of course," he said, and scurried away.
"You can fight?" she asked, with her eyes on my magazine.
"Yep," I said. I liked where this was going. If we were going to talk about anything, my fighting was probably the best direction to take. "I'm training to be a SeeD gunblade expert." I didn't actually have Hyperion with me. I left it at the inn. We were forbidden to take our weapons out onto the street by Quistis, because of whatever politics she was talking about. "I'm Seifer." I extended my hand to her.
She hesitated for a moment. I don't know why. "Rinoa," she said, and took my hand. She smiled when we touched.
"Do you live here in Timber?" I asked.
She laughed. "No, I'm just visiting. I'm Galbadian." She whispered the last part, as if she didn't want to be heard. "Where are you from?"
"Balamb," I said. I furrowed my brow, thinking. Rinoa didn't want it to be known she was Galbadian, and Quistis mentioned some political junk. I glanced at a passing soldier. He was in Galbadian colours. "What, this town has a problem with Galbadia?" I said without thinking.
"Shh!" Rinoa said, slapping her hand over my mouth. Her eyes were wide. She checked to see if the soldier heard. "Come with me." She grabbed me by the wrist and began to pull me towards an empty alleyway.
"Rinoa, this relationship is going way too fast, I don't think I'm ready to go there and do stuff yet," I joked.
"Are you insane?" She demanded, looking up at me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, nonplussed. "My instructor kept mentioning politics and resistance and things like that."
Rinoa stared at me. "And did you listen?"
"Not…really," I admitted.
"Listen closely," she said, leaning towards me and speaking softly. I could feel her breath on my ear. "It's really simple, actually. Timber used to be a beautiful town. Huge forests and everything. Then Galbadia invaded Timber, chopped down the forests, and is trying to make Timber a part of them. This is all Vinzer Deling's fault, of course. The resistance factions are trying to take Timber back for themselves."
"I guess they haven't been so successful yet," I said, baiting her. I had my suspicions about her, and I wanted to see if they were true. The truth was, I liked her a lot. She wasn't like the other girls I knew, who were always giggling and trying to get me to date them.
"We've been trying!" Rinoa said hotly, and then clapped her hand over her mouth quickly. She looked furious with herself, and quickly checked the alleyway for other people.
I took her hand from her mouth. "Hey princess, I won't tell anyone. You can trust me."
She flushed pink. "Really?"
"Of course. I'm going to be a SeeD. I'll even help you train, if you like." I said. I don't know why I said it. We were only going to be in Timber for another few days. But Balamb wasn't really far from Galbadia, and I got weekends off from Garden. Summer vacation was coming up next month, too. I wanted to see her again, and I said so. She stirred something in me. I didn't have to condescend or act all cool with her. I wanted to make her smile.
"Do you want to get something to eat?" I asked.
"Alright," she said agreeably. "The inn has some good food."
Damn it, the inn! I checked the town's clock. I was late. I didn't realize how much time I spent out. I turned towards her apologetically. "I'm so sorry," I said. I meant it, too. That was probably another milestone in my life, the first time I was sincere about an apology. "I'm late, I have to get back to my class."
"That's okay. Do you have class tomorrow?" She asked.
I did have class tomorrow. Basics of elemental attack, and then we were going out into the field to put the theory classes in practice. Boring stuff. I decided to be honest with her. "Yes," I said. I felt better when I saw her disappointment. That meant she wanted to see me. "But I can get out of it. They're doing things I know already. Besides, I can help you out with it." I put on a stern face, imitating Quistis. "Elemental attack and defense is a very important lesson. It makes all the difference in the world when you are fighting elemental creatures."
Rinoa looked a little doubtful at first, as if she didn't want me to miss my classes.
"Come on princess, I'll be alright. I promise. Come to the inn tomorrow at eight. That's my room up there." I pointed to the window. "I'll be looking out for you."
Her face brightened and she smiled. Unexpectedly, she threw her arms around me and gave me a hug. "You're the best, Seifer," she said.
When she said it, I could believe it.
> > >
Fujin and Raijin think I'm insane. They won't follow me this time. I've accepted that. In fact, I expected their disapproval. It's probably better I do this alone, anyway. Fujin said it was too soon. I figured the sooner I did this, the better. Then I can get on with everything. Raijin had rolled his eyes in disgust. Oh well. So much for my beloved posse.
I wish I could go back to that summer with Rinoa. Things were so uncomplicated. I taught her how to fight like a SeeD, teaching her all the things I learned. She absolutely refused to learn the gunblade from me, though. She opted for some sort of pinwheel thing off her arm. She said it looked less offensive and scary.
She did try the Hyperion once and managed to pull off some decent attacks. I felt…proud, probably for the first time in my life. Proud of someone else, instead of just myself. It was a selfless feeling, and very unnerving for me.
I don't know if I could have actually called her my girlfriend. We liked each other. A lot. And we made that known early on. As the summer went on, we trained less and less and did more and more fun things together. I once 'borrowed' a Garden car and we just went driving all over the place. That day ended up in…well, Rinoa wouldn't be very pleased if I said. I even helped her out with some Forest Owls mission during that summer, rescuing Zone's ass more than once. I felt this strange kind of fierce passion I never felt before when we talked about fighting and liberation.
I didn't know that the end of the summer meant the end of us. If I knew, I would have never let it end. And now, I wish I could have called her mine.
> > >
To be continued…
Thanks to the lovely people who reviewed, I love you all. There were a couple interesting ones I wanted to reply to, so here they are:
Stardust Ray: Eek, I wanted Quistis to come off as uptight…so I guess annoying can work. To let people know, I'm not into anyone-bashing…this isn't were it is headed, I just figured Quistis would come off that way in real life.
Bimp Lizkit: I know I've said I've already finished several chapters, but I haven't gotten far enough to actually determine where this is going. I'm quite fond of Rinoa and Seifer myself…it's driving me nuts, how I should end it.
Houki: Aaaaah, you found me! No, really, I'm really grateful for how you read everything I write. You shall be my new best friend.
Anyway, next chapter…well, I can't promise two days. I have massive parties coming up, one for a friend, the other for myself, and all of next week I'm working crazy super shifts at the mall. Let's see, I shall have the chapter by Tuesday, latest. Thanks for reading and reviewing!