Author's Notes: Wow I love Jeremy Sumpter. Anyways…this is more abuse of Kiri. Read pleeeeeeeeeeeease.

Disclaimer: I own my story and characters, everything else belongs to Squaresoft. Except the song. It's Holy Water by Big & Rich. And I don't own them or their songs either.

Chapter Three: With the Stars as My Witness

Somewhere there's a stolen halo.

I used to watch her wear it well.

Everything would shine wherever she would go

But looking at her now you'd never tell.

Caden stirred lightly under his covers. His eyes glazed over for a moment as he considered going back to sleep, but then he heard a faint noise. Assuming it was what woke him up he crawled out of bed and grabbing his Hyperion, walked to the door. Outside he heard the same noise, only now he was able to identify it as someone tripping in the hallway and cursing under their breath. They were growing closer and tripping often. He smirked as he identified the person as Kiri. The Angel Guard facility was brand new, and Kiri had gotten lost five different times showing him where his room was. Luckily in the week he'd spent there he'd become familiar with the place, and knew where everything was better than Kiri.

He slipped out of his room following after Kiri. Despite her tripping and subsequent cursing she was still silent enough not to wake anyone else. She got lost several times, but eventually found what she was looking for: the door outside. Once outside she began to move more confidently and swiftly. Caden remembered Briar telling him Kiri has spent the majority of her time outside on the grounds, designing everything from man made lakes to paths through the forest, and the provisioned cabins located everywhere for students and people who were passing through and needed a place to stay. She would only return every night so exhausted she could barely walk to her room.

Now that Caden paid attention, Kiri did not look well now either. She reached the lake nearest the facility and collapsed on the ground clutching her head. She was visibly shaking, from the cold most likely. It was late autumn now after all, and Kiri was only wearing a loose white halter top, and black shorts. Not that he minded…

Someone ran away with her innocence.

A memory she can't get out of her head.

I can only imagine what she's feeling when she's praying.

Kneeling at the edge of her bed.

Caden walked cautiously up to Kiri and poked her shoulder, "Hey, you okay?" She jumped, surprised at his touch. Her head whipped around and she was visibly relieved when she saw it was only Caden.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just couldn't sleep"

"Any particular reason why?" Caden, who had been sleeping in only his black boxers, noticed the chill suddenly and shivered for a moment. Kiri noticed, but said nothing instead pulling her knees up to her chest and leaning her head and arms on them. "Kiri, I've only known you your whole entire fifteen years of life. You know you want to tell me!" he cajoled slightly.

"It was nothing…just a nightmare. About…well you know." She shrugged her blue eyes downcast. Of course Caden knew. Any child who saw the death of their own parents would surely be haunted by nightmares. He had never seen what the house had looked like afterwards. No one really had. The carnage had only been witnessed by Kiri, Laguna, and some police. The house had never been cleaned, as no one had wanted to step inside. The police had removed Squall and Rinoa's bodies and that was it.

"Oh Kiri." Caden was not sure what to you say. Instead he just pulled his friend close, cuddling her to his chest. She snuggled in, appreciating the warmth of his body. He rubbed her back soothingly with one hand, burying his head in her hair. Oh Hyne, this was too close. He shuddered as he pulled away from her, breathing hard. Oh Hyne, oh Hyne.

"Caden? Are you okay?" one eyebrow was arched in some emotion, Caden couldn't tell what. Oh Hyne, oh Hyne. Why did he ever let himself get that close? He wanted Kiri more then he had ever wanted anything, but he knew he couldn't have her.

"Caden what's wrong? You're acting funny." Kiri leaned in close, her body close to his once more. She snuggled once more into his chest, her head against his bare chest. "Sorry, I know it's kind of a strange subject. I've just never…There hasn't been a single night since then that I haven't had nightmares. I used to just sit in bed scared to go to sleep because of them. I can see everything so clearly, the blood, the fighting, but I can't remember what the man who killed them looks like. My mom crawled up to me, while my dad was fighting the guy. I remember her putting Briar in my lap and telling me to get away from the door, and she said something else but I can't remember. It was important too."

And she says take me away

And take me farther

Surround me now

And hold, hold, hold me like holy water

Holy Water

"Oh Hyne Kiri. I'm sorry. You know I wish that had never happened to you. If you ever need anything you know I'm here."

"I know. I don't need to talk. Just hold me please." Caden's heart jumped into his throat. He reached his arms around Kiri's slender frame. She rested her head against his chest and continued to shake. After a moment Caden realized she was not shaking from the cold but crying.

She wants someone to call her angel

Someone to put the light back in her eyes

She's looking through the faces and unfamiliar places

She needs someone to hear her when she cries

He resumed rubbing her back, murmuring that it would be okay into her ears. She continued sobbing into his chest. After about 15 minutes or so her sobbing abated, and she just lay against Caden. He continued soothing her, wishing that he could hold onto her like this forever.

"Caden? I'm sorry you have to put up with this. You didn't need that."

"Kiri I don't care. I love you." Both Kiri and Caden jumped at his words. Caden turned bright red once he realized what he said. He had never meant for that to come out.

And she says take me away

And take me farther

Surround me now

And hold, hold, hold me like holy water

Holy Water

"Caden…Don't say that please. We can't. I won't do that to you. I won't get you involved in this mess."

"What mess! Kiri, everyone else on this planet has the chance to be happy! Why not us?" Kiri looked down and Caden knew she was thinking of the new rule that Einar had placed in effect for Angel Guard as of yesterday. No one within Angel Guard would have any relation beyond that of a friend with any other kind of military personnel. Caden kneeled in front of Kiri and placing one had on each side of her face he forced her to look at him, "Kiri listen to me. With these very stars as my witness, I swear this. I will never stop loving you. I don't care how long it takes. If I have to wait for you until we're both old and grey and retired I will." Kiri's eyes had teared up again at his words. Before he could stop him he leaned forward and kissed her. For a brief moment she relaxed into his hold but pulled away suddenly.

"Damn it Caden!" She screamed, standing up with her hand over her chest. He tried to stand up and stop her but before he could move she was gone.

She just needs a little help

To wash away the pain she's felt

She needs to feel the healing hands

Of someone who understands

Kiri ran from Caden the memory of his haunting silvery green eyes staring at her fresh in her mind. Kiri had been kissed before but never had she encountered that much passion, that much raw need from another person. Damn Caden! And damn Einar's stupid ass rule! She needed to talk. And there was only one person who would understand.

Catten awoke to knocking at her door. She dragged herself out of bed and opened the door to find her best friend standing in tears.

"Oh Hyne, Kiri. What's wrong sweetie." Kiri started sobbing and the words "Einar's stupid fucking rule" and "Caden" were all she understood but it was enough. "Oh sweetie. You're okay." She pulled Kiri into her room and sat down on her bed, Kiri sobbing into her lap. Catten soothed her best friend. She knew her friend had been crazy about Caden for…a very long time. If Caden had confessed that he felt the same way, as she had long suspected he did, and nothing would come of it because of Einar's "stupid fucking rule" it was no wonder Kiri was this crushed. She continued soothing Kiri until she fell asleep in her lap.

"Hyne help her. She doesn't deserve this life."

And she says take me away

And take me farther

Surround me now

And she says take me away

And take me farther

Surround me now

And hold, hold, hold me like holy water

Holy Water

Wow, I'm really kind of mean to poor Kiri. I almost feel bad. Not really. I promise that a long ways in the future it'll get better for her.