Dedicated To You
Disclaimer: Rinoa, Squall, and several other awesome characters are property of their creators and Square. I merely borrowed them (too bad for me)
Chapter 16
'I'll be waiting...' she thought, watching the road go by. She stared out the limo, and sighed. 'I'm so grateful I saw him...' she added, grinning at the memory of their kisses. 'That made me soooo happy! I can't give up now.'
" I won't." she added softly, aloud.
Irvine looked at her. " What?" he asked.
Rinoa shook her head. " Nothing." she replied, staring outside again. This time, she saw the ocean. " Stop the car." she said quietly.
" Why?" the cowboy asked, confused.
" I just want to stop for a moment," she said. " Please?"
Irvine sighed, and knocked on the glass window separating them from the driver. " We're stopping here for a bit."
The limo pulled over, and the passenger door open, Rinoa practically flying towards the gentle waves. She stopped close enough to feel the water lapping her feet. Looking at the stars, she thought, " My ocean is your ocean. Hyne, I hope you're staring at it, too. Think of me.'
" Rinoa?" Irvine called. " Rinoa, we're going to be late!" He started to walk toward her, but she took another step into the water. She sighed.
" Squall..." she said softly, almost as if he was by her side at that very moment. " I know you're thinking of me. I just want to tell you...that I'll be waiting for you." She stared at the stars, mesmerized. Suddenly, she felt a yank on her arm. She tripped, and fell into the water. Irvine helped her up.
" I'm sorry, Rinoa!" he exclaimed, and she shook her head.
" We have an excuse for being late," she replied. " I wanted to see the water, and I tripped. The wet clothes are proof."
Irvine puzzled, asked, " What are you talking about?"
Rinoa smiled, but didn't speak.
" Ooooookay, Princess." he sighed, helping her to the car. They continued to the mansion.
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Squall stayed in Quad, hiding out until everyone was gone, and it had been locked. Then, he looked through the skylight at the stars. " Rinoa..." he sighed. " I don't know what's going on...but remember..." He reached up to touch the ring that hung around his neck, but soon remembered it was gone. He smiled at the memory.
----
" Squall?"
He turned around, smiling warmly at Rinoa. The sun had set hours ago, but they were still out on the balcony, talking.
" Yeah?"
" I was...wondering..." Rinoa started, " If maybe I could..."
" Yeah?"
" Borrow your ring." she finished, a bit flushed.
He reached up and touched the Griever ring he had carried on a chain for years. " Why?" he asked.
" Well..." she said slowly, " I-well, Zell said he's pretty good working with metals, and I wanted him to..."
" Make a copy?"
" Well...yes." she replied, with puppy eyes. " You wouldn't possibly let me-"
" No."
Rinoa looked at the ground. " Oh, I see..." she sighed. " That's okay."
" Really?"
She nodded. " I know how much it means to you-"
It's the only thing I've had since childhood...
" After all, I feel the same way about my mother's ring..."
The most precious possesion you've ever valued...
" I don't know what I was thinking..."
" Rinoa..."
She looked up at him. " Yes?" she asked meekly.
Taking the ring off the chain, he placed it lovingly in her hand, closing the other over it. " I want you to keep it."
Rinoa froze. " What?"
" Keep it."
She refused. " Squall, I couldn't possibly keep-"
" I want you to have it. It's the one thing I've always had, a precious possesion, but I want YOU to have it."
She froze. " Why me?" she asked nervously.
" Because," he replied, " I know you'll take care of it."
----
Squall grinned when he touched the chain. But, it wasn't barren. He wasn't the only one who had made a sacrifice that night.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Rinoa fell asleep, she remembered that night as well.
----
" I can only keep this on one condition."
His blue eyes were piercing in the moonlight. " Which is?" he asked.
" You have to take this in it's place." She gently placed her mother's ring onto the chain.
The couple smiled tenderly at each other. " I guess we're even?"
He nodded. " But promise me, whenever you look at it, or remember the medallion around your neck, think of me."
" I'll never forget..."
----
" I'll never forget." she repeated, falling into a peaceful slumber.
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Time passed. Another month went by, and still the General didn't give Rinoa her freedom.
One morning, about breakfast time, he sent the maid upstairs to announce breakfast. She had been upstairs for a few minutes, when she came back down again.
" She is still asleep, sir," she replied, " I knocked on the door three times, and she didn't make a sound."
"That's strange..." he said for a moment, then, thinking of her recent behavior, he sighed. " Thank you, that will be all for now, Rosie." he said, dismissing her. When she had walked off, he began mumbling, as usual. " She's been acting odd since she's been back home," he muttered, " If depression is setting in, God forbid it, then I will have to fix that, too. She will stay here with me, and be happy!"
Upon further reflection, he decided to go upstairs himself. He walked up the steps, and felt an eeriness about him in the corridor. He walked down to the end, where Rinoa's room was, and knocked on the door, softly at first. " Rinoa?" he said, knocking on the door a little louder than before. No answer. " RINOA!" he shouted, banging his fist against the lightweight door, which shook. " I'm coming in!" he added, swinging the door open. He walked to the bed, noticing something that was out of place. At that moment, he understood everything, from the confused maid that morning, to the creepy feeling he got walking upstairs. He ran back downstairs, grabbing the phone.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Squall was sitting at his desk, doing paperwork. 'She will always wait...' he thought patiently, 'And I will know when to come.'
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
" Come in."
Quisitis walked in. " Commander," she said, " I have another pending request for vacation time." she said, handing him the slip.
He sighed, setting it in the incoming pile. " Thank you, Instructor." he replied, not once looking up.
She sighed as well. " Permission to speak freely?" she asked.
" Granted."
" Squall," she started, " I know Rinoa may be gone, but do you have to be so tempermental?" she asked.
" I believe that is none of your..." he started.
" Buisiness?" she finished. " I don't give a damn what you think is and is not my buisiness, but as a friend, listen for just one moment!"
That made Squall look up. " Whatever." he said.
" I know you don't care what other people think, but, if you won't listen to me, at least listen to your heart! You can't just go around all depressed all the time! Get out more! Speaking of which," she added, placing her hands on her hips, " I think this office is REALLY getting to you. Your secretary says you haven't been out of here for the past few days!"
" I have work to do." he said, looking back down at his paper.
" Yeah." Quistis replied coldly, sick of playing this game. " So do I." She walked out angrily, trying her best not to stomp out of the room.
Just as Squall got back to his work, there was another knock at the door.
" WHAT?" he asked.
The door opened to reveal Headmaster Cid.
" Headmaster, I apologize..." he said, a bit offguard, " I've had a...tiring morning."
" Squall," he relplied, " Miss Heartilly has gone missing."
Squall flew up out of his chair. " Missing?!" he repeated.
" Yes." he replied. " Her father just called me to verify that she isn't here. He has also set up a generous reward for her safe return. But, Squall," he added cautiously, " If you DO find her, I think it wise not to take her back in person. Have one of your friends do it instead."
" Why would you say that?" he asked.
" Because," the old man replied wisely, " The General is VERY angry..."
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Author's Note: I had to fix a minor detail in the fic, and would like to thank Breath of Fire for pointing it out, alos, to my renewed love of the game: It wasn't the medallion Squall gave Rinoa, it was the blasted ring! Sorry you guys! Well, keep on reading!
LYL!!!!!!! Trinity
Disclaimer: Rinoa, Squall, and several other awesome characters are property of their creators and Square. I merely borrowed them (too bad for me)
Chapter 16
'I'll be waiting...' she thought, watching the road go by. She stared out the limo, and sighed. 'I'm so grateful I saw him...' she added, grinning at the memory of their kisses. 'That made me soooo happy! I can't give up now.'
" I won't." she added softly, aloud.
Irvine looked at her. " What?" he asked.
Rinoa shook her head. " Nothing." she replied, staring outside again. This time, she saw the ocean. " Stop the car." she said quietly.
" Why?" the cowboy asked, confused.
" I just want to stop for a moment," she said. " Please?"
Irvine sighed, and knocked on the glass window separating them from the driver. " We're stopping here for a bit."
The limo pulled over, and the passenger door open, Rinoa practically flying towards the gentle waves. She stopped close enough to feel the water lapping her feet. Looking at the stars, she thought, " My ocean is your ocean. Hyne, I hope you're staring at it, too. Think of me.'
" Rinoa?" Irvine called. " Rinoa, we're going to be late!" He started to walk toward her, but she took another step into the water. She sighed.
" Squall..." she said softly, almost as if he was by her side at that very moment. " I know you're thinking of me. I just want to tell you...that I'll be waiting for you." She stared at the stars, mesmerized. Suddenly, she felt a yank on her arm. She tripped, and fell into the water. Irvine helped her up.
" I'm sorry, Rinoa!" he exclaimed, and she shook her head.
" We have an excuse for being late," she replied. " I wanted to see the water, and I tripped. The wet clothes are proof."
Irvine puzzled, asked, " What are you talking about?"
Rinoa smiled, but didn't speak.
" Ooooookay, Princess." he sighed, helping her to the car. They continued to the mansion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Squall stayed in Quad, hiding out until everyone was gone, and it had been locked. Then, he looked through the skylight at the stars. " Rinoa..." he sighed. " I don't know what's going on...but remember..." He reached up to touch the ring that hung around his neck, but soon remembered it was gone. He smiled at the memory.
----
" Squall?"
He turned around, smiling warmly at Rinoa. The sun had set hours ago, but they were still out on the balcony, talking.
" Yeah?"
" I was...wondering..." Rinoa started, " If maybe I could..."
" Yeah?"
" Borrow your ring." she finished, a bit flushed.
He reached up and touched the Griever ring he had carried on a chain for years. " Why?" he asked.
" Well..." she said slowly, " I-well, Zell said he's pretty good working with metals, and I wanted him to..."
" Make a copy?"
" Well...yes." she replied, with puppy eyes. " You wouldn't possibly let me-"
" No."
Rinoa looked at the ground. " Oh, I see..." she sighed. " That's okay."
" Really?"
She nodded. " I know how much it means to you-"
It's the only thing I've had since childhood...
" After all, I feel the same way about my mother's ring..."
The most precious possesion you've ever valued...
" I don't know what I was thinking..."
" Rinoa..."
She looked up at him. " Yes?" she asked meekly.
Taking the ring off the chain, he placed it lovingly in her hand, closing the other over it. " I want you to keep it."
Rinoa froze. " What?"
" Keep it."
She refused. " Squall, I couldn't possibly keep-"
" I want you to have it. It's the one thing I've always had, a precious possesion, but I want YOU to have it."
She froze. " Why me?" she asked nervously.
" Because," he replied, " I know you'll take care of it."
----
Squall grinned when he touched the chain. But, it wasn't barren. He wasn't the only one who had made a sacrifice that night.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Rinoa fell asleep, she remembered that night as well.
----
" I can only keep this on one condition."
His blue eyes were piercing in the moonlight. " Which is?" he asked.
" You have to take this in it's place." She gently placed her mother's ring onto the chain.
The couple smiled tenderly at each other. " I guess we're even?"
He nodded. " But promise me, whenever you look at it, or remember the medallion around your neck, think of me."
" I'll never forget..."
----
" I'll never forget." she repeated, falling into a peaceful slumber.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time passed. Another month went by, and still the General didn't give Rinoa her freedom.
One morning, about breakfast time, he sent the maid upstairs to announce breakfast. She had been upstairs for a few minutes, when she came back down again.
" She is still asleep, sir," she replied, " I knocked on the door three times, and she didn't make a sound."
"That's strange..." he said for a moment, then, thinking of her recent behavior, he sighed. " Thank you, that will be all for now, Rosie." he said, dismissing her. When she had walked off, he began mumbling, as usual. " She's been acting odd since she's been back home," he muttered, " If depression is setting in, God forbid it, then I will have to fix that, too. She will stay here with me, and be happy!"
Upon further reflection, he decided to go upstairs himself. He walked up the steps, and felt an eeriness about him in the corridor. He walked down to the end, where Rinoa's room was, and knocked on the door, softly at first. " Rinoa?" he said, knocking on the door a little louder than before. No answer. " RINOA!" he shouted, banging his fist against the lightweight door, which shook. " I'm coming in!" he added, swinging the door open. He walked to the bed, noticing something that was out of place. At that moment, he understood everything, from the confused maid that morning, to the creepy feeling he got walking upstairs. He ran back downstairs, grabbing the phone.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Squall was sitting at his desk, doing paperwork. 'She will always wait...' he thought patiently, 'And I will know when to come.'
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
" Come in."
Quisitis walked in. " Commander," she said, " I have another pending request for vacation time." she said, handing him the slip.
He sighed, setting it in the incoming pile. " Thank you, Instructor." he replied, not once looking up.
She sighed as well. " Permission to speak freely?" she asked.
" Granted."
" Squall," she started, " I know Rinoa may be gone, but do you have to be so tempermental?" she asked.
" I believe that is none of your..." he started.
" Buisiness?" she finished. " I don't give a damn what you think is and is not my buisiness, but as a friend, listen for just one moment!"
That made Squall look up. " Whatever." he said.
" I know you don't care what other people think, but, if you won't listen to me, at least listen to your heart! You can't just go around all depressed all the time! Get out more! Speaking of which," she added, placing her hands on her hips, " I think this office is REALLY getting to you. Your secretary says you haven't been out of here for the past few days!"
" I have work to do." he said, looking back down at his paper.
" Yeah." Quistis replied coldly, sick of playing this game. " So do I." She walked out angrily, trying her best not to stomp out of the room.
Just as Squall got back to his work, there was another knock at the door.
" WHAT?" he asked.
The door opened to reveal Headmaster Cid.
" Headmaster, I apologize..." he said, a bit offguard, " I've had a...tiring morning."
" Squall," he relplied, " Miss Heartilly has gone missing."
Squall flew up out of his chair. " Missing?!" he repeated.
" Yes." he replied. " Her father just called me to verify that she isn't here. He has also set up a generous reward for her safe return. But, Squall," he added cautiously, " If you DO find her, I think it wise not to take her back in person. Have one of your friends do it instead."
" Why would you say that?" he asked.
" Because," the old man replied wisely, " The General is VERY angry..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: I had to fix a minor detail in the fic, and would like to thank Breath of Fire for pointing it out, alos, to my renewed love of the game: It wasn't the medallion Squall gave Rinoa, it was the blasted ring! Sorry you guys! Well, keep on reading!
LYL!!!!!!! Trinity