AN: Slightly longer than usual but not much, long stories don't suit my attention span. I realise my writing technique isn't perfect and I accept this fact, but you have to understand that I find this is the easiest and best way to make a story easy for all the readers. So I'm sorry if you find it hard to read or there are obvious mistakes. I haven't used the promise from the orphanage yet for a reason, so you'll just have to wait. :p Oh and the date's going to spread over 2 chapters, shrugs sorry.
Rinoa sat at the dressing table in her room in a dressing gown that tided loosely around her waist, her clothes for the evening neatly laid out across her bed. She stared at her reflection and began to run a brush through her long raven locks, smiling at the thought of the Squall she had seen for the first time the night before. He's the first to not give a damn about any of that sorceress stuff. She paused for a moment and frowned at the mirror. But if he didn't care then why would he just explode at me like that earlier? Has he really forgotten all about me? Is he just doing this to be nice to me because he feels sorry for me? Or worse, because his dad's making him be nice to me?
Squall was also sat on the stool of his dressing table but he did not wish to look at his reflection. He had, however, already gotten dressed and was wearing a simple outfit of black trousers with a white shirt, unbuttoned to his chest, his Griever necklace rested just above his breast bone. He ruffled his wet hair with a hand. Had he really meant what he'd said . . . . . . as a couple? Was that how he wanted to be seen? What was his dad going to think? He frowned and shook the thought from his mind. Why did he care! He paused and checked his reflection in the mirror. She doesn't deserve the stress being with me would cause, she's too good for me! His head dropped into his hands. No! If I can tell Rinoa that what others think doesn't matter, then I should live by the same rule!
Rinoa studied herself in a full length mirror once again beginning to question the outfit she had chosen. She wore a cream dress with straps that crossed over her back. It was shorter than she was used to wearing, coming only to mid thigh, Is it even appropriate? A knock came at her door and she called for the person to enter. Much to her surprise a happy Selphie bounced across the room to her in a daisy yellow flowing top and matching yellow mini skirt with a small amount of detailing around the hem. Her skirt was much shorter than Rinoa's dress, almost small enough to be considered a belt. Ok if she can wear 'that' then I can wear this! Rinoa looked to Selphie as she stared at her; "You look great!" were the words that finally rolled out of selphie's mouth.
"Do you always wear yellow?" Rinoa questioned, tilting her head to study the outfit.
"Yup! Except for my SeeD uniform and a few other things, I really, really like yellow, it's so happy!" Rinoa rolled her eyes at her as she spoke at a speed almost incoherent to anyone but Selphie.
"Hey, ladies? You ready?" Irvine stuck his head round the door.
"Ewww like, we could have been naked in here!" Screamed Selphie.
"You should be so lucky, although she does have a point!" Stated Rinoa as Selphie pretended to cover herself up. Rinoa ignored Selphie and tried to look past Irvine, "Where's Squall?"
"I'm here, just didn't want to invade." Squall shrugged as he stepped into the room behind Irvine.
"See at least someone has manners!" mocked Selphie as she waggled her finger at Irvine only inches from his face. Rinoa smiled as Irvine grabbed Selphie and squeezed her against his chest while kissing her, Selphie flapped about, making a level of noise while she tried to wriggle free from his grasp. She giggled slightly and looked to Squall, quickly looking away again as she saw his eyes on her. Squall moved his gaze from Rinoa to Irvine and Selphie shaking his head at the sight. "We should go or we'll miss the booking."
"Hey who's going to un-book Esther's President's son? It's the best publicity anywhere can get these days, everyone loves you!" Irvine exclaimed as he broke from the kiss but still dangled Selphie several inches from the floor.
"We should still get going." Warned Squall as Irvine and Selphie walked out of the room, still wrapped aground each other. Squall smiled and offered his hand for Rinoa to take; smiling at him shyly she took it.
"This is a pretty nice place." Irvine stated as he studied the unique detailing of the restaurant. The aged walls and metal work fitted well with the general appearance of the town. "No-ones allergic to sea food are they?" Everyone shook their heads at Irvine's question; even Selphie was staying relatively quiet. They hadn't stopped receiving looks from everyone there since they had arrived, and by 'them' it was clear it only applied to Rinoa. She sat hugging herself tightly, It doesn't matter what they think, it doesn't matter what they think, it doesn't matter what they think . . . Were the only words swirling in her head. She couldn't even lift her head to brave the faces of those she could hear whispering, she was shaken from her stare as Squall reached across the table to take her hand. Much to everyone's shock she snatched it back, "I need to go to the ladies room." She stated coldly before leaving her seat.
"Well this is going well." Mumbled Irvine as Rinoa left their company; this only received him a quick kick under the table from Selphie. "I'm going to choose the lobsters." Irvine mumbled as he left the table, hobbling to the tanks.
Rinoa was washing her hands when a woman walked in the toilets and gave some remark about sorceresses, staring intently at Rinoa as if to tell her she was not welcome. Rinoa gritted her teeth and turned away from the woman to grab some paper towels to dry her hands with. "Never mind drying your hands, why not try drying out people like you! You're a disgrace to your parents! What would your poor mother think if she saw your now?" Rinoa felt the tears well in her eyes and she gripped the towels with a force unknown to her, a burning sensation running through her palms. Turning on her heel to face the woman she spoke clearly and with dignity.
"My mother would be proud of me and she would love me as dearly as the day she died! Its people as narrow-minded as yourself that drove her insane and much like my mother, I am ashamed by the fact that I am even the same species as someone as cruel and petty as yourself. Why don't you look in the mirror and ask yourself who the monster is because I can assure you it isn't me!" She threw the paper in the bin not caring to watch the glowing embers fade. She walked confidently past the woman.
On the way back to her seat Rinoa found Irvine directly in her path. She tried to avoid him but he caught her before she could get passed him. He smiled to Selphie as she waved at them both. "What do you want Irvine?" Isn't it obvious Rinoa he thinks the same of you as everyone else! Rinoa questioned as Irvine grabbed her by the arm.
"You're the little girl that visited the orphanage aren't you?" Her eyes widened at Irvine's question. "Rinoa answer me. Are you Rin?" She glanced back to a frustrated Squall and talkative Selphie. Her posture dropped as she dropped her head.
"I thought you'd all forgotten me." She mumbled as she traced patterns on the glass of the tanks. "I told Squall Edea had been teaching me to control my powers before but . . ."
"They don't member me either." Irvine's tone surprised Rinoa, she'd been under the impression that being a womaniser was the extent of his emotions but it appeared she had been wrong. He was saddened by his childhood friend's inability to remember and she couldn't help but pity him. "I think it has something to do with the GF's they use in battle. Selphie's got loads of research on it I read some the other day, it'd explain a lot."
"Maybe. But they should know about you." Rinoa rested a friendly hand on his back, "They'd be grateful for their memories back, I know I would be."
"What about you?" He asked as he regained his composure.
"Maybe in time . . . I don't think they'd appreciate the memories of me."
"You know it broke little Squall's heart when you left, it was like Ellone leaving all over again." Irvine nudged her as he spoke, trying to tell her that he understood why some memories should remain un-remembered. "Oh and Rinoa, don't tell Selphie I've been reading her stuff, I've a reputation to keep."
AN: Thanks for reading;
AnGel Of Chaos2007 (chapter 1 onwards, I love dedicated people like you, all in one night!)
Lady-rinoa
DBZ Fanfiction Queen
