Authors Note: I am so sorry about the delay. I went home for spring break
and barely touched a computer, then I had a short spell of writers block,
but ideas of flowing and I should have regular updates soon. I am back
now, and can devote time to it. Thanks for all of the great reviews!
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"What are you wearing?" Asked an exasperated Selphie. She ran to the door with a frown on her face. "You look like idiots. Irvy where's your hat?"
Irvine frowned obviously not happy with the fact he was missing his beloved hat. "We got into a bit of trouble, and we are kind of needing some help." He shrugged.
Squall stepped forward with a mournful look on his face, he glanced at Rinoa but didn't look directly into her eyes, it was too hard. "We shouldn't have come, I told Irvine that. I don't want you guys to get mixed up into this."
Seeing their agitation Rinoa signaled to Selphie to open the door and get head inside as quickly as possible. "If you need our help, we will give it." Said Rinoa forcefully. Quistis and Selphie nodded their heads with approval and lead them into the house. Quistis went into the kitchen to get some drinks and the others started making their selves comfortable in the lounge. Squall was clearly agitated and Rinoa examined him carefully trying to work out what was wrong. She felt hurt that he wouldn't pay any attention to her and kept as far away from her as possible barely even glancing at her.
Squall was also feeling hurt. He wanted so much to say something to her, but after the awful images he had seen earlier that day, he just couldn't bare it.
"So, is someone going to tell us what happened?" Called Quistis and she appeared in the room with a tray full of food and several drinks.
The girls sat there as Zell and Irvine retold their adventure, making sure they did not leave out any detail. Occasionally they would glance at Squall to make sure they had facts right, and he would just lightly nod, not adding in anything to the story himself. When they got to the end, they sat there expectantly waiting for one of the girls to give their opinions on the events.
"So....no one going to say anything?" Said Zell.
"I have something to say." Said Selphie standing up and walking towards Irvine. "HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID?" She screamed picking up a pillow and hitting him repeatedly over his head, tears forming in her eyes.
"Whoa!" yelled Irvine as he snatched the pillow of Selphie. "I didn't do anything stupid, this is my job."
Selphie pouted looking hurt. "Look its ok darling." Murmured Irvine pulling her into an embrace. "I won't happen again"
"What are you next plans?" Asked Quistis. "Are you going to head back to the Garden?"
"Ordinarily we would Report back to the headmaster, but this seems to be more complicated. Squall doesn't want to go back until he has figured out what is going on there. Somehow they knew who he was and that doesn't please him." Zell explained.
Squall stood up and started pacing the floor "We will be out of you hair as soon as possible don't worry." And he walked out of the room. The others just stared and didn't say a word as they heard the back door slam and Squalls footsteps signaling the fact he had left the house. Zell started to get up and chase Squall.
Rinoa who had been sitting in silence through most of the conversation shook her head. "I'll go and talk to him, if that's alright?"
Rinoa got up from where she was sitting grabbing a jacket and followed Squall out of the house. She saw him sitting cross-legged on the patio at the edge of the garden, which looked out over Trabia. "Mind if I join you?" She whispered, feeling that if she spoke any louder the peaceful atmosphere would be broken. Squall didn't make any movement and Rinoa just took that for a yes, and sat beside him without saying a word. She looked over at Squall and saw the worried look on his face. It hurt Rinoa so much, she wanted to comfort him but didn't know how as she had no idea what the problem was.
Instead, she just leant her head sideways and rested it on his shoulder. Squall flinched slightly but relaxed after a few moments. Her leaning against him felt nice and he started to relish in the warmth of her had resting against him.
They were both silent for a while, until Rinoa turned her head slightly and looked at Squall. "Something else is bothering you, I can see it in your eyes. You are not telling us everything about what happened today."
Squall kept silent and did not meet her eyes and instead just continued to look forward and stare into the distance. After a few moments of contemplation he spoke up. "Have you ever had a dream that felt so realistic that you were afraid that it was somehow true?" He moved his head round slowly and met her gaze.
It was Rinoa turn to falter and she moved her eyes away. "...Yes...but you just have to tell yourself that it is only a dream and not real."
"That is the problem, I really don't think I can do that. These aren't ordinary dreams. Today one occurred when I was awake. I saw a scene play out right in front of me. I saw myself."
"Just keep running." Muttered Rinoa.
Squall pushed Rinoa slightly so she was no longer leaning on him. "What did you say?" He demanded.
"I just said keep running, I don't know where it came from. Something I thought I would pass on." Rinoa was all flustered and regretted every saying the words. Now he would ask questions.
Squall could see that she was clearly agitated and drew her into his arms. This surprised Rinoa, as she didn't think this was a very typical Squall action. She didn't protest though as it made her feel comforted and for a moment she forgot everything, which had been playing on her mind the last few days. She felt so relaxed that she considered telling him about the dreams that she had been having and the vision of the boy. Just as she was about to tell him everything she decided not to. What would he think of her? He would push her away and never want to see her again and Rinoa didn't know if she could just take that.
. "Aw, don't they look so sweet" cooed Selphie tugging on Irvine's jacket.
Irvine grinned. "I have never see Squall ever do that. He always stays away from girls. Me and Zell were starting to worry about him."
"Hey, you guys get away from there and give them some privacy." Called Quistis from the living room.
Reluctantly Selphie pulled herself away from the window and headed back. "You should see them Quisty, they look so adorable." Squealed Selphie.
"I am sure they do, but would you like it if we were all watching you and Irvine?"
This stopped Selphie in her tracks and she didn't say another word. Instead she collapsed on the couch. "So what are the plans for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow we are phoning Cid, the headmaster, and see what he has to say and then make our decision. We will probably leave your place, as we are putting you in danger and the Trabia government will be looking for us soon." Zell explained.
Almost leaping from her seat Selphie started yelling. "You don't have to leave. We wouldn't hear of it, would we Quisty?"
"Of course not, we want to help you as much as possible."
Irvine weakly smiled. He appreciated the offer, but decided the girls did not know what they were getting themselves into. "We shall see." Was all he said on the subject. This received a glare from Selphie but he just ignored it. "Alright this has been a long day, and although it might be early, I am off to bed. I have a lot to think about." The others nodded their silent agreements and dragged themselves up the stairs.
h..
Squall looked down at the girl in her arms and noticed that she had fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful and Squall did not want to disturb her but it was getting really cold outside and they would become ill of they stayed out too much longer. Squall scooped her up in his arms and headed into the house as silently as possible, trying not to wake Rinoa. He tiptoed up the stairs and found her bedroom; he placed her on the bed, and wrapped her up in the blanket. Just as he was leaving the room he heard a small voice. "Please don't leave me." Rinoa murmured into a pillow barely looking up at Squall. He hesitated for a moment and then headed to the bed and lay down next to Rinoa pulling her into a warm embrace. From her position Rinoa smiled and fell into a peaceful sleep.
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"Have you found her yet?" Screamed Caraway down his phone. "I am in Esthar trying to negotiate peace with the president here, I do not have time to go looking for my daughter."
General Caraway was pacing around his hotel room, glancing at his watch every now again. Damn, I am going to be late he thought.
"What do you mean you lost Leonhart! I managed to placed him in your hands and you let him get away? You better find him or this will be the end of your job." And he slammed the receiver back down. All his careful plans were falling apart, he cursed Rinoa for disappearing like that and wondered how he was going to get in find her. She hid her tracks well and no one would tell him everything. He supposed she had learnt how to survive well enough on her own as he was never about. Now it was coming back to haunt him. "That's it!" He exclaimed. He picked up the receiver once again and quickly dialed a number. "Seifer, that you? Pull up Rinoa's credit card records. She can't have gone two days without using them."
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Authors Note: Sorry that is shorter than normal; I just thought it was a good place to end it. The story might be weird at the moment but it will all come together soon, don't worry.
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"What are you wearing?" Asked an exasperated Selphie. She ran to the door with a frown on her face. "You look like idiots. Irvy where's your hat?"
Irvine frowned obviously not happy with the fact he was missing his beloved hat. "We got into a bit of trouble, and we are kind of needing some help." He shrugged.
Squall stepped forward with a mournful look on his face, he glanced at Rinoa but didn't look directly into her eyes, it was too hard. "We shouldn't have come, I told Irvine that. I don't want you guys to get mixed up into this."
Seeing their agitation Rinoa signaled to Selphie to open the door and get head inside as quickly as possible. "If you need our help, we will give it." Said Rinoa forcefully. Quistis and Selphie nodded their heads with approval and lead them into the house. Quistis went into the kitchen to get some drinks and the others started making their selves comfortable in the lounge. Squall was clearly agitated and Rinoa examined him carefully trying to work out what was wrong. She felt hurt that he wouldn't pay any attention to her and kept as far away from her as possible barely even glancing at her.
Squall was also feeling hurt. He wanted so much to say something to her, but after the awful images he had seen earlier that day, he just couldn't bare it.
"So, is someone going to tell us what happened?" Called Quistis and she appeared in the room with a tray full of food and several drinks.
The girls sat there as Zell and Irvine retold their adventure, making sure they did not leave out any detail. Occasionally they would glance at Squall to make sure they had facts right, and he would just lightly nod, not adding in anything to the story himself. When they got to the end, they sat there expectantly waiting for one of the girls to give their opinions on the events.
"So....no one going to say anything?" Said Zell.
"I have something to say." Said Selphie standing up and walking towards Irvine. "HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID?" She screamed picking up a pillow and hitting him repeatedly over his head, tears forming in her eyes.
"Whoa!" yelled Irvine as he snatched the pillow of Selphie. "I didn't do anything stupid, this is my job."
Selphie pouted looking hurt. "Look its ok darling." Murmured Irvine pulling her into an embrace. "I won't happen again"
"What are you next plans?" Asked Quistis. "Are you going to head back to the Garden?"
"Ordinarily we would Report back to the headmaster, but this seems to be more complicated. Squall doesn't want to go back until he has figured out what is going on there. Somehow they knew who he was and that doesn't please him." Zell explained.
Squall stood up and started pacing the floor "We will be out of you hair as soon as possible don't worry." And he walked out of the room. The others just stared and didn't say a word as they heard the back door slam and Squalls footsteps signaling the fact he had left the house. Zell started to get up and chase Squall.
Rinoa who had been sitting in silence through most of the conversation shook her head. "I'll go and talk to him, if that's alright?"
Rinoa got up from where she was sitting grabbing a jacket and followed Squall out of the house. She saw him sitting cross-legged on the patio at the edge of the garden, which looked out over Trabia. "Mind if I join you?" She whispered, feeling that if she spoke any louder the peaceful atmosphere would be broken. Squall didn't make any movement and Rinoa just took that for a yes, and sat beside him without saying a word. She looked over at Squall and saw the worried look on his face. It hurt Rinoa so much, she wanted to comfort him but didn't know how as she had no idea what the problem was.
Instead, she just leant her head sideways and rested it on his shoulder. Squall flinched slightly but relaxed after a few moments. Her leaning against him felt nice and he started to relish in the warmth of her had resting against him.
They were both silent for a while, until Rinoa turned her head slightly and looked at Squall. "Something else is bothering you, I can see it in your eyes. You are not telling us everything about what happened today."
Squall kept silent and did not meet her eyes and instead just continued to look forward and stare into the distance. After a few moments of contemplation he spoke up. "Have you ever had a dream that felt so realistic that you were afraid that it was somehow true?" He moved his head round slowly and met her gaze.
It was Rinoa turn to falter and she moved her eyes away. "...Yes...but you just have to tell yourself that it is only a dream and not real."
"That is the problem, I really don't think I can do that. These aren't ordinary dreams. Today one occurred when I was awake. I saw a scene play out right in front of me. I saw myself."
"Just keep running." Muttered Rinoa.
Squall pushed Rinoa slightly so she was no longer leaning on him. "What did you say?" He demanded.
"I just said keep running, I don't know where it came from. Something I thought I would pass on." Rinoa was all flustered and regretted every saying the words. Now he would ask questions.
Squall could see that she was clearly agitated and drew her into his arms. This surprised Rinoa, as she didn't think this was a very typical Squall action. She didn't protest though as it made her feel comforted and for a moment she forgot everything, which had been playing on her mind the last few days. She felt so relaxed that she considered telling him about the dreams that she had been having and the vision of the boy. Just as she was about to tell him everything she decided not to. What would he think of her? He would push her away and never want to see her again and Rinoa didn't know if she could just take that.
. "Aw, don't they look so sweet" cooed Selphie tugging on Irvine's jacket.
Irvine grinned. "I have never see Squall ever do that. He always stays away from girls. Me and Zell were starting to worry about him."
"Hey, you guys get away from there and give them some privacy." Called Quistis from the living room.
Reluctantly Selphie pulled herself away from the window and headed back. "You should see them Quisty, they look so adorable." Squealed Selphie.
"I am sure they do, but would you like it if we were all watching you and Irvine?"
This stopped Selphie in her tracks and she didn't say another word. Instead she collapsed on the couch. "So what are the plans for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow we are phoning Cid, the headmaster, and see what he has to say and then make our decision. We will probably leave your place, as we are putting you in danger and the Trabia government will be looking for us soon." Zell explained.
Almost leaping from her seat Selphie started yelling. "You don't have to leave. We wouldn't hear of it, would we Quisty?"
"Of course not, we want to help you as much as possible."
Irvine weakly smiled. He appreciated the offer, but decided the girls did not know what they were getting themselves into. "We shall see." Was all he said on the subject. This received a glare from Selphie but he just ignored it. "Alright this has been a long day, and although it might be early, I am off to bed. I have a lot to think about." The others nodded their silent agreements and dragged themselves up the stairs.
h..
Squall looked down at the girl in her arms and noticed that she had fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful and Squall did not want to disturb her but it was getting really cold outside and they would become ill of they stayed out too much longer. Squall scooped her up in his arms and headed into the house as silently as possible, trying not to wake Rinoa. He tiptoed up the stairs and found her bedroom; he placed her on the bed, and wrapped her up in the blanket. Just as he was leaving the room he heard a small voice. "Please don't leave me." Rinoa murmured into a pillow barely looking up at Squall. He hesitated for a moment and then headed to the bed and lay down next to Rinoa pulling her into a warm embrace. From her position Rinoa smiled and fell into a peaceful sleep.
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"Have you found her yet?" Screamed Caraway down his phone. "I am in Esthar trying to negotiate peace with the president here, I do not have time to go looking for my daughter."
General Caraway was pacing around his hotel room, glancing at his watch every now again. Damn, I am going to be late he thought.
"What do you mean you lost Leonhart! I managed to placed him in your hands and you let him get away? You better find him or this will be the end of your job." And he slammed the receiver back down. All his careful plans were falling apart, he cursed Rinoa for disappearing like that and wondered how he was going to get in find her. She hid her tracks well and no one would tell him everything. He supposed she had learnt how to survive well enough on her own as he was never about. Now it was coming back to haunt him. "That's it!" He exclaimed. He picked up the receiver once again and quickly dialed a number. "Seifer, that you? Pull up Rinoa's credit card records. She can't have gone two days without using them."
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Authors Note: Sorry that is shorter than normal; I just thought it was a good place to end it. The story might be weird at the moment but it will all come together soon, don't worry.