A/N: Sorry I haven't updated this week but I haven't been very well, but here's the next chapter anyway, hope you enjoy.
She had woken early that next morning; it seemed her body had taken a swift dislike to anything that could actually be considered good for her mental state. She had taken it upon herself to explore the palace. Not managing to get too far before she'd found herself distracted by a large courtyard that was alive with all sorts of beautiful butterflies. All types of exotic flowers bloomed around the base of a tall statue of their ancient god.
Seconds later she found herself dipping her finger tips into the cool water of the pond dragonflies dancing around her fingers. As she looked up she noticed the red and orange tones of the rising sun through the glass roof. Smiling she remembered the last time she had watched a sunrise. Pleasant thoughts quickly left her as she realised it was with her mum just a few days before her death. She sighed and found herself gripping the necklace around her neck for comfort. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice anyone else in the room.
He looked at her from the distance, still unable to place her face. She looked like some kind of fallen angel, raven hair shone in the hues of the morning sun, a long creamy skirt and pale blue housecoat covered her enough to prevent any kind of up rise from Esther's traditional public. She continued to play with the water completely oblivious to his presence. He contemplated talking to her but he instead backed off slowly and headed for the door, after all what would a girl like that want with a socially challenged fool like himself?
"Hey Squall. Up early again?" Chirped Ellone as Squall almost ran into her while he tried exiting the room, still looking back at Rinoa. They both turned their attention to Rinoa as she turned slightly to look at them, shocked buy their presence in the room. He tore his eyes away from her and looked back to Ellone, "Whatever." As he spoke he pushed his way past her and out of the doorway. She shrugged him off and smiled at Rinoa who much to her surprise smiled back. Ellone wandered over to her and began tending to a couple of plants. Tracing a plaque hidden beneath them, that read, 'To a loving mother and wife. Raine Loire' "I'm sorry Ellone." Rinoa said hurriedly at the sight of the plaque. She had tormented herself about her mother's death for too long she couldn't bear to listen to Ellone's pain. She rushed out of the room as fast as she could make her legs carry her. Ellone lowered her head, slightly disappointed that Rinoa didn't want to spend much time with her. Yet under the circumstances it wasn't beyond her as to why.
Wandering aimlessly through the place Rinoa stumbled upon some of the private rooms for the President's family. She stopped in the doorway of one particular room. The guy from last night stood on a martial arts mat in the middle of the room. She watched intently as he practiced several moves that she recognised as SeeD training patterns. Suddenly she felt at peace, it was like watching her father drill a group of adolescent mercenaries for their enrolment into the army. She felt her own arms hugging her even tighter, saddened by the thought of knowing, in her heart, that she'd never hated the army as much as she'd lead her father to believe nor him for that matter. If only I hadn't been so stubborn maybe I could have let him know that I didn't blame him for mum's death after all. It's your own fault Rin! Now you'll just have to live with it for the rest of your life!
He could feel a pair eyes on him as he practiced, he wondered if it was another want-to-be fan or someone who had managed to slip their way past the guards. Eventually he couldn't take it anymore. "Are you going to stare at me all day?"
"Sorry I didn't realise I was staring . . ." Her voice trailed off as he turned to face her, a scar ran from the right side of his forehead to his left cheek bone, she smiled as if in recollection of him yet she couldn't place his face. She knew him from last night but had she known him from before then? His jaw dropped slightly as he realised who was watching him, quickly he regained his posture, "Rinoa, right?"
"Yeah! You must be Ellone's brother."
He nodded in response; an unwanted silence fell between them. Rinoa was the first to speak, "I should probably get going." She moved away from the doorway and he nodded reluctantly, did he want her to stay or go? Why didn't he know? Why does she do this to me?
She walked along the corridor biting down on her bottom lip, her feet dragging on the floor as she stared at it intently. How could I have been so stupid! Just staring at him like that he probably thinks I'm some nut job! She let out a stifled laugh, you are crazy Rin, and it's no surprise everyone acts like you are, look how strange you've become! She head quickened footsteps behind her, assuming it was just Ellone she carried on walking away from them. "Hey." A male voice yelled as the person stopped along side her, "I completely forgot, my dad said he wanted to see you about the presidential party for Deling's new president." She stopped and looked up at Squall, "I don't want to go! They don't need me there I'm not the president's daughter anymore." She said bluntly before walking away, he followed after her again, "Actually my dad has to go and I think he'd appreciate it if you came with us."
"I . . ," she thought about it carefully, "It might not be safe if I go with you."
What's the problem? There'll be guards there; hell there'll even be SeeDs.
"Do you always do that?" Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Do what?" What's she talking about?
"Going off into your own little world? Leaving everyone else out?"
Do I really do that? Maybe it's because nothing ever lasts in this world. Nobody ever sticks around.
"There you go again!" She sighed in frustration. He lifted his head finally speaking, "I don't see what the problem is Rinoa there are going to be hundreds of armed guards and SeeDs, nothing's going to happen to you." She looked at the floor while biting the corner of her bottom lip. Realising she'd become just as lost in her thoughts as he did she looked up, eyes brimming with fear, "Promise?"
What does she want me to do hold her hand all the time? Life isn't that simple, what if I can't protect her. What if something happens to her? Everyone would blame me.
"Squall?" Her eyes searched his face desperately for an answer. " . . ."
"I promise."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed, I even managed a pathetic attempt at some Rinoa/Squall communication. I'm hoping I will be able to get the 4th chapter up sometime this weekend although probably not till Sunday.
Thanks to;
Lady-Rinoa (reviewed the 1st chapter too, but couldn't be mentioned before now.)
Heartillyangel
And any anonymous reviewer(s)
