Chapter 26

A Forgotten Enemy

"This is so awesome!" Rinoa exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement. She had her face pressed against the large window in the large dome area in the center of the airship. "I've never flown in one of these before!"

Shaltwan, who was standing nearby, began to laugh at Rinoa's childlike actions.

"Hey! It's true!" Rinoa said defensively.

"I believe you, don't worry!" She replied, still giggling slightly. Rinoa glared at her, but then joined in on the joke.

"Okay, I admit I sound a little childish!"

"A little?"

"Okay, a lot!" The two laughed again.

After their laughter subsided, Shaltwan turned and left for the control room. "The ships on autopilot, but I better make sure it's still on the right course."

"Alright."

Shaltwan walked into the room full of the glow from five large computer screens. She glanced around the room. "I wonder where Squall went off to…" She sighed and sat down at the navigation desk, to make sure their coordinates were precise.

The sky was a deep blue. The sun had dropped below the horizon, blanketing the world in its dark velvet. The stars twinkled high up in the sky, the moon reflecting off the ocean water beneath the airship. They had stopped it, for they needed rest and the ship needed someone to watch its course. Due to it's age, it would veer off in the wrong direction a few times.

A dark figure leaned against the railing on one of the balconies leading off the ship's side, their hair blowing slightly in the gentle sea breeze.

"So many things have happened in the past two months…" Squall thought as he gazed out over the sparkling ocean waves in the moonlight. "I've changed…" There was no sound except for the waves crashing into one another. "It all started when she showed up…" He closed his eyes and pictured the brown haired girl in his mind. Hearing footsteps, he turned around quickly.

"What are you up to?" It was Rinoa.

"Nothing…"

"Really? That's cool…" They sat in silence.

"Rinoa…"

"Yes?" She looked up immediately at the sound of her name.

"Why?"

"Why what?" She asked in confusion.

"Why did you…like me?" There was an awkward silence after his question.

"Well…I don't know, things happened…"

"I just don't get it though. I was so cold and mean to you…How could you possibly like someone with that kind of personality?" He raised his voice a little at his last words.

"Squall! Yes, I admit I didn't really like you at first, but then…you changed. You saved me twice. When I was hurt, when you held me close to you in your arms, I admitted to myself how safe I felt. There was something about you and I wanted to get closer to you to find out what it was!"

Squall remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I devised a plan to visit you that night. I ended up finding your ring instead, but it still worked out well in the end. After the next few days, I found myself getting more drawn to you. It felt like you were something every girl wanted, but only I could break in and get the key to unlock your secrets. I had to let you know my feelings! They were growing stronger and stronger! My heart felt like it would burst!"

He had finally turned around to face her.

"At your birthday party, when I kissed you, I felt as free as a bird. My feelings were there for you and everyone to see! Then, when you kissed me of your own accord, my heart wanted to jump out of my chest. It felt like I was flying, it was so perfect. I felt like nothing could go wrong as long as I was with you…"

Rinoa stopped, her voice starting to tremble a bit. Just as she felt a tear wanting to fall, she felt a hand caressing her cheek. Squall was looking deeply at her.

"Things did go wrong…" He said into the silent night air.

"Yes, things did, but we are here together again, and that's all that matters…" She whispered. There were a few more moments of silence. "Well, it's getting late. I think I'll get some rest. Good-night!" She leaned forward and gently pecked him on the cheek. "I'll see you in the morning…"

Squall watched her as she walked away, until no longer visible. Once gone, he turned back to watching the ocean waves and occasional fish breaking through the surface.

Rinoa walked towards her closet. She shuffled through the clothes till she found her usual blue shorts with a silk blue tank top. "Finally some peace and quiet! It's about time I can get some actual sleep…" She closed her eyes, resting her head gently on her pillow.

"That's right…peace and quiet…" A deep voice said slowly from the corner of the room. Rinoa's eyelids fluttered open.

"Who's there?" She said, her heart speeding up.

There was no answer. Then, out of nowhere, a hand covered her mouth with a rag. Once breathing in the drug on it, her eyes began to focus in and out. "Squall…help…" She mumbled into the cloth. Quietly, she was carried away into the darkness.

The orange sun rose above the horizon, lighting up the windows in the airship. Squall turned over on his side and looked at the clock on the table next to him. It read 6:52 AM. "I better get up…" He said quietly to himself. He got off the bed and walked towards the chair that had his white tank top. Pulling it over his head, he left the room.

As he walked down the hallway that led to the control room he made a left. Stopping in front of a large metal door, he listened. "I guess Rinoa's still sleeping…" He couldn't heart any sign of movement. Slowly he opened the door.

"Rinoa…are you up?" Her room was still dark, making it hard to see. He stumbled across the room and flipped the light switch on. As he turned around, his heart stopped. Rinoa was gone! "Rinoa? Rinoa!" He yelled out her name.

Shaltwan heard loud screams in the outside hallway of her room. She sprung out of bed and ran out the door. "That sounds like Squall!" She raced forward as fast as her legs would carry her. In seconds she had reached the entrance of Rinoa's room. "Squall! What is it?" She asked, gasping for air.

"Rinoa! She's gone!" His eyes were full of anger and hatred.

"Gone? How? Who took her?"

"I don't know who…" His voice trailed off. He spotted a small piece of paper in the fold of her sheets. Picking it up, he unfolded it and began to read.

"Squall,

Your precious Rinoa is with me for the moment. I bet your insides are just ripping themselves apart at your sorrow. Anyway, if you ever want to see her again, then meet me at the Centra Ruins at six o'clock tonight…or else…"

Squall brought his gaze up from the letter, staring into space. "Who's it from?" Shaltwan asked, her curiosity mounting. He didn't answer at first, but looked down at the name scrawled quickly in black ink.

"Seifer…"