Part 12:
The comrades made their way back through the bushes to the river side where the others awaited them anxiously…
As they reached the platform, Laguna knocked on the door…
'Why is the forest so silent!...' asked Zone once again from the inside, with a pinch of enthusiasm in his voice…
'Errr…Zone…just open the door, alright?…it's Laguna…c'mon…' Laguna couldn't remember the password and wasn't really into playing games, he really had no patience left in him, he was feeling miserable and felt a bit stressed…
'Sorry, dude…password is password…now c'mon…why is the forest so silent!' Zone insisted…
'Rats…Zone, if you don't open this flipping d…' Laguna was loosing his temper…
'…because the owls have flown away?' said Selphie innocently as she approached the door and pressed her ear against the door gently...
The door opened with a loud creak…
'Yeah…that's it…thanks Selphie…' Laguna felt stupid, trying to cover up by forcing a smile …
'…you're welcome…' she sighted tiredly…
'…man, I'm tired…' grumbled Zell as he threw himself on the dirty mouldy bed with no care whatsoever…
'…crap, these are itchy…and far too tight for my licking…these guys must have some drag queen influence in the clothing design…urgh…' Zell took the sweater off and threw it far away as he laid down on the bed and scratched his naked chest irritably…
'…so how did it go?...nobody found us out, have they? ' asked Watt worriedly…
'…no need to worry, Watt the "base" is safe…' sneered Rinoa giving Watt a cute smile and a pat on the shoulder as she walked passed him and sat on the floor next to Irvine.
'...that's good…I'm tired of swapping bases all the time…
'…what now, Squall?' asked Selphie as she sat on the bed next to Zell who both observed him…
'…I suppose we should talk to Cid, plan what to do next…I'm not really sure where that Ganahir Forest is…do we have any maps? ' Squall asked whoever was around him…
'Oh, yes…here…' Kiros who was sitting on an old scruffy armchair got up and started scratching in some draws that stood next to a desk where a whole bunch of screens, keyboards and other funny looking electronic stuff stood, apparently it had been set up while they had been out…
'Here, brand new…best make, pretty rare around these grounds…' chuckled Kiros as he handed the map to Squall friendly.
'…thanks…' Squall sat down on the floor and stretched the map out, starting to scour around with his finger…
'…north of Shummi village…Hirouth, Kraick…Ganahir…' Seifer walked up to where Squall was and with his Gunblade started pointing out the numerous forests he knew, making a hole in the place where Ganahir forest was, smirking at him provocatively once again and placing the Gunblade next to Squall's throat…
'…I didn't ask for your help…' groaned Squall as he gave Seifer a fearless, hating look in his eyes, ignoring the fact that he had a weapon right in front of him, ready to slit his throat.
'… not very nice, are you…? I'll teach you some manners…repeat with me…'thank- you- Sir- Almasy-it's- a- pleasure- to- be- whooped- by- you-once again…' c'mon Squally…don't be shy…you've done this before haven't you?…now apologise on your knees…c'mon…' Seifer tightened his Gunblade against Squall's throat, making the cruel cold blade touch the skin on Squall's neck, making him feel vulnerable, trying to resist moving…
Rinoa who had been sitting on the floor next to Irvine, had got up that moment in fear and approached the two rivals, trying to pull Seifer away, but he just pushed her away brutally, making her stumble and collapse painfully on the floor, remaining there in shock as Seifer continued to smirk….
'…Seifer what on earth are you doing!' Laguna gasped in shock as he observed what was going on…
'…dude, that is sick!...' shouted Zell as he sat up quickly….
'…so? Aren't you gonna thank me…or do you prefer for me to spill some of your blood…?...oh that would be hard to clean, huh?...Squall's dirty blood all over the shack…'
Squall just got up slowly…staring into Seifer's eyes with a frown of hatred, fury and no fear on his face…
'Squall !...' Rinoa gasped still sitting on the floor wondering what she could do to help…
As Squall rose, Seifer held his Gunblade higher following Squall's neck with a grin on his face, threateningly…
And before anyone could even breathe, Squall grabbed the blade with both hands, yanked it out of Seifer's reach, threw it on the ground carelessly, and as Seifer tried to attack him, Squall just pulled Seifer's arm and flipped him over his shoulder, making Seifer fall so hard onto the floor, the fall had broke some of the old floor wooden panels…
Seifer tried to get up in a rush, his whole back was in pain, but he wasn't going to let Squall win. Squall turned around to early for Seifer and kneeled down as he pushed Seifer back down brutally by his arms, making his head bang on the floor hardly. He stared into Seifer's semi-closed frightened yet mocking eyes threateningly…
'…don't mess wit me Seifer, you don't want to…' Squall groaned angrily between his teeth…but Seifer didn't surrender…His blue eyes frowned hatefully as more provocative words came out of his mouth…
'…what if I do…?' Seifer grinned challengingly as he grabbed the Gunblade that laid beside him, lift up, pushing Squall backwards. Without any other word, both of them got on their feet drew their Gunblades and in a loud sharp noise of the fury of two Guinblades scraping past, both weapons had clenched onto each other simultaneously with all the force both Seifer and Squall had in their arms…They did this a few times, clenching their swords together, both of them trying to hurt one another, but their attacking and defending was so synchronized, the only result was Squall and Seifer's growls of fury and effort as they fought and the loud, quick and furious rushing of their swords…
'…then I'll give it to ya…' Squall, seething with anger, then groaned as he in a rapid swing of his sword beat unprepared Seifer's Gunblade, making him almost fly with that strong impulse, having his back hit against the door violently and break it…Seifer looked up in fury and pain, got up a little feebly and stared concentrating, trying to disturb Squall's mind with that provocative look, who now was more furious than ever, his darkened eyes frowning in desire to slit Seifer's throat…
'…Squall, Seifer!…stop this crap right now!…you're on the same team…you can't fight each other like this…stop it guys!…' Laguna tried to split both of the rebellious teenagers as he followed them out of the cabin, Squall taking big fast steps towards the door, following Seifer as he raised his Gunblade once again, trying to hit Seifer with all his might…
'Laguna's right guys, stop it…Squall please, just calm down…' Rinoa followed Laguna and tried to calm things down…
'Not 'til I'm done…so Squall…enjoying my second hand things, are you?...I hear you and miss Big-Heart are mating… ' Seifer smirked as he defended himself, once more having their blades clench furiously…
'…she was never yours…' groaned Squall as he grazed Seifer's Gunblade violently…
'…isn't that sweet?... the puberty boy tries to defend his first girlfriend…I wonder if he has ever scored with her!...most probably not, huh!...what's the matter, Squall...she won't let you?...not man enough…?...your body hasn't evolved yet?...that's too bad…' .Seifer tried his best to infuriate Squall…and it was working…
'…shut your f#ing mouth, I'll kill you!' yelled Squall as he furiously jumped off the steps of the cabin's platform and banged Seifer's Gunblade repeatedly with his, approaching the bushes as they dwelled further…
'Squall! Don't!...' Rinoa yelled as she saw both of them move away…
'C'mon Squall kick his lily ass!' yelled Zell from the window…
'Zell! Don't make things worse!...' Selphie gasped worriedly as she watched the whole scene.
'Do I have to!...This is as worse as it gets…' Zell continued watching attentively Seifer and Squall's Gunblades clenching on one another violently…
Rinoa without saying a word took a few steps forward opened and raised her hand in their direction, closed her eyes and concentrated…a blinding energetic light shot out of her hand powerfully as it involved the whole river side for a few seconds making a deafening loud echoing sound…
She opened her eyes…the light faded away slowly, making a sharp sound as it faded away…
Squall and Seifer had froze…they were in the same positions, Squall raising his Gunblade with both his hands as Seifer held his hand open to use magic…Squall just started yelling furiously as he couldn't move one inch of his body, he was completely paralysed, frozen…Seifer on the other hand had passed out, his eyes were closed and his small mouth open, he didn't resist the energetic wave…
Rinoa ran up to Squall worriedly, while the Laguna made a gesture to tell the others to get back inside….
'Squall calm down…Squall…listen to me…hey…' Rinoa put her hands on his face caringly…Squall just went on panting and yelling, trying his best to move…with all the strength he had…
'…don't Squall, keep still…please calm down…Squall do you hear me?...' Rinoa continued touching and stroking Squall's face, trying to take his fury away…
'…Argh! I can't move!…' Squall groaned still panting as he grinded his teeth furiously looking at Seifer…
'…Shhh…Squall, listen to me…' Rinoa insisted, whispering in his ear soothingly, her breath touching his ear pleasantly, softly, feather-like…
'…I'll kill him…!' he groaned furiously breathing so fast his lungs would even ache, sweat was already dripping off his cold angry face….
'…shh…no no…you can't , Squall…you're not like that…he wants to provoke you, that's what he wants and it's working…don't let him have his way…you'll be doing him a favour…just leave him, Squall it's not worth it…don't let him do this to you…please'
'...' Squall just stared into the distance anxiously, swallowed and breathed deeply, still panting furiously…
'…just don't think about it…' Rinoa whispered to him as he stared into her eyes anxiously, still frowning and breathing nervously, his painful eyes hidden by some of his hair. Rinoa passed her hand on his face, now that he looked into her eyes, taking the hair out of his face and put her arms around him comfortingly…
'…relax…it'll soon go away…' she whispered reassuringly…
As her hands reached around his back, Squall closed his eyes, licked his dry lips and took a deep breath. He started feeling less tense; less anxious…his muscles were gaining their strength again…
A few seconds later, still being embraced by Rinoa, he dropped his Gunblade and put his arms around her too, paused his head on her shoulder comfortingly, closing his eyes, feeling completely flabbergasted by the whole situation…he just wanted to hug her…it was the only thing that would make him feel better…he was very tired and very sad, he felt miserable…
'…love you…' Rinoa said under her breath as her voice sounded as if she cried…
Squall just tightened their embrace and kissed her neck lovingly in such a way to say the same…
'…don't ever do that again…I don't want you ever to die…' she cried softly…
'…I won't die…' Squall mumbled bleakly…
'…Squall…promise me you won't ever do that again…don't ever pay attention to him…I don't want you to get hurt…he will kill you if he has a chance…' Rinoa looked into his eyes anxiously, taking hold onto his strong built arms…
'…I-I can't…' he groaned staring into the distance as a frown grew on his face…
'…but Squall, you can't go on like this, he's destroying your life…you can't allow him to provoke you this way…look what he made you do…'
'…you don't understand…I can't promise that, Rin…it's more complexed than you think…' Squall placed his hand on his forehead in frustration…
'…don't say that…y-you know you can, you just don't want to because you hate him so badly…you're hurt with all the things he has said about you, all the things he has done and now you want to take revenge on him…I know it, it's that isn't it?' she looked into his eyes as she gasped these words.
'…Rinoa, don't do this to me…I don't wanna talk about it…I'm tired…' Squall looked at her then far away in anxiety and sadness…
'…Squall, sooner or later you'll have to face this…you can't go on like this…you have to ignore Seifer…he wants you dead and I can't take this anymore…please Squall…promise me you won't do anything stupid…promise me you won't get involved in a fight again…please…' she insisted worriedly, still holding on to his arms…
'..I can't…I'm sorry…don't make me promise something I can't…I can't control it, Rin…it's stronger than me…don't you see?...' Squall gasped now holding on to her arms, jerking her slightly as he gasped.
'…I see I can't get through to you, Squall…Fine…well if keeping yourself alive is too much to ask, Squall, then go ahead, go fight him until you have no more hatred in you…do as he wants…I couldn't care less…just do me a favour and before you get killed remember what you've promised me…' Rinoa cried, tears growing in her eyes, she felt hurt with Squall's attitude…He promised never to leave her, she didn't want him to get killed…she wouldn't survive…
'Rin…don't…Rin…wait…!' Squall tried to follow Rinoa, who had ran into the cabin, but his leg had cramped up, making him stumble and forced him to sit down on the ground earthy, humid ground…
A few seconds later, Zell and Irvine came out and approached Seifer's frozen body…
'…Yo Squall, what's up? Rinoa's kind of tense!...' Zell shouted out as he stretched out a hand to help Squall lift up…
'…' Squall got up, picked his Gunblade up, swung it over his shoulder and walked out of sight towards the river side…
'…geez…what's happened to him?...it's getting tough getting around with girls nowadays…DUDE! I've got the greatest of ideas!...let's whoop Seifer out when he wakes up!' Zell suggested excitedly as he punched Seifer's back carelessly in enthusiasm…
'…ah…that's no good…I've got a better idea, dude….' Irvine smiled mischievously as he slapped Seifer's unconscious face in mockery…
'Oh yeah?…Spit it out, dude!. C'mon!...' Zell awaited Irvine to tell his idea…
Squall made his way towards the river side, far from the cabin, where the only thing he could see were trees, bushes and pebbles…
He just walked along slowly thinking of what happened out there with Seifer and Rinoa…
The anger inside him was so strong; he urged so much to destroy everything around him. Seifer was provoking him all the time to see how far he could get. He knew that what Seifer really wanted was to destroy his relationship with Rinoa and his SeeD career…The two things Seifer couldn't have…
But as much as Squall knew that was what made Seifer provoke him all the time, he couldn't help wanting to kill him…It was stronger then him, all those years of being provoked by Seifer made him burn with anger inside. Seifer was jealous Rinoa was now with Squall, after all she had been with him before Squall had came into the picture and the moment he saw Rinoa take Squall's side, he tried to kill her. He took the first opportunity and handed her to Sorceress Adel without hesitating, he couln't love her and if he did it would be a sick one. He was a selfish, heartless and angry beast; he just wanted to destroy everything around him and always with a smile on his face. He loved him self, nobody else, always fought for his own interests and never stopped to think about others. That above all is what made him such a bastard.
Squall at that moment wanted to kill him, for all the things he had done to him and to the people he loved. But there was no way out, he had to control himself and just keep things cool. He just was so sad Rinoa was now angry with him. She wanted him to promise not to do something that he couldn't control. It was in his blood, he couldn't control the urge he had to slice Seifer's head off. It was like a rush of adrenaline that flowed trough his veins uncontrollably, forcing him to raise his Gunblade and hurt the bastard.
He couldn't promise something and then break it. He just couldn't. It was best that way. Rinoa had to understand, she couldn't leave him for this, she couldn't…not because of Seifer…Squall wasn't going to permit that…
'No…she can't…not because of that asshole…I won't have this…' Squall mumbled to himself, still frowning angrily as he walked along the river side lit by the moon's weak light, stopped abruptly and started running towards the cabin as fast as he could.
'No…Kiros…I've tried…I'm tellin' you I have…he won't accept me…I know it…every time I try to approach him…he just leaves me hanging…he hates me…I'll never be a good father…it's too late, Kiros…there's nothing I can do about that…Somehow I fell he knows about this…why is he always avoiding me!...argh… I just wish Raine was here, she would have known how to deal with this whole thing…she just was the best at solving problems…' Laguna's voice soared from the cabin as Squall walked up the steps slowly not expecting to hear that, making him stop in surprise, he didn't like what he heard…
'No…!' Squall said anxiously under his breath after hearing Laguna speak, loosing the strength in his hands and dropping his Gunblade on the wooden platform, making a terrible loud sharp sound, which made Laguna, Kiros and Ward jump…
Squall jumped off the platform and started running…he didn't know where to go…but he had to get out of there…he didn't care if Laguna had heard him, he just had to leave that place at once…this was too much for him. He couldn't take all this pressure at once…it was just breaking him down inside.
Squall sprinted all the way through the bushes, getting frequently scratched on his face by the dead twigs that rushed by his skin violently, wincing as he ran painfully through that dead Forest, his eyes frowning in a mix of anger, sadness, anxiety and fury…
Squall was lost by now, he had no idea where he was going…or where he was…he didn't care anymore…
Squall had spent most of the time thinking about others, saving others, helping others…but…nobody was there for him now…he was alone…nobody was there for him at that painful moment…
'What was that noise!' Kiros gasped as he heard the sharp noise and opened the door quickly.
'Oh…' Kiros didn't like what his eyes saw.
'Laguna…it's…' Kiros tried to explain but couldn't find the right words…
'What, Kiros? Let me see…what is it?' Laguna made his way towards the door…
'…' Laguna walked out of the cabin and found a large sword on the floor. It was a Gunblade, Squall's Gunblade.
'…h-he was here…he heard everything…' Laguna picked the Gunblade up with both hands gently as he gazed at it hopelessly…
'…everything is going wrong…it wasn't meant to be this way…I was going to talk to him…and now he knows…and I don't know where his gone…he probably despises me by now…' Laguna thought out loud as he walked back inside and sat on the armchair staring at Squall's Gunblade…
'It's Ok Laguna, we'll figure something out…you'll see…I'm sure he'll understand…'Ward punched Kiros on his arm to say something comforting…
'…yeah…well I'm not so sure about that…he's a tough kid and he's not used to the idea of having a father yet…I'm not sure he'll ever be…not with a looser father like me…' Laguna mumbled bleakly as he placed the Gunblade on the floor next to the chair…
Suddenly Quistis, Rinoa and Selphie walk in…
'…feeling better?' Selphie asked Rinoa still holding her hand friendly…
'Yeah…thanks girls…you've been a great help…I'm sorry for everything…' Rinoa smiled weakly as she looked at both of them then stared at Laguna who sat on the armchair bleakly staring at his own hands…
'…Laguna?...are you alright?...' Rinoa asked gently as she approached him a bit surprised, not used to seeing Laguna so numb…
'…yeah, I'm fine…just a little tired…' he explained getting up from the chair, taking Squall's Gunblade and placing it in a corner against the wall…
'…where's S-Squall?' Rinoa asked immediately afterwards in a worried tone of voice.
'… he went for a walk…' Kiros answered her confidently.
'…where?' she started getting anxious…
'I don't know, but don't worry, his probably with the others…his fine'
'..and Seifer?' asked Selphie worriedly.
'…' Kiros pointed out at the bed in the corner…
'Oh…' Selphie sighed as she saw Seifer sleeping on the bed.
'Laguna, I'm sorry for interrupting but I think we should contact Cid for new orders…' Quistis gasped seriously.
'Do not worry everything's settled. We rest the night here and tomorrow morning we'll discuss this over with Cid…don't worry….' He murmured tiredly.
'Oh, in that case…thanks, Laguna…' Quistis was glad she could take a rest. She was dead tired, she could barely stand anymore and on top of it she had a lot of painful thoughts on her mind…She looked at Seifer's unconscious body by accident and swerved her eyes quickly, avoiding that disturbing sight.
'…Oh, Ward…take the girls to the other Cabin…you weren't expecting to sleep in this one were you?' Kiros smiled.
'…I was kind of hoping we wouldn't…' chuckled Rinoa.
'…Cool! Another hidden Cabin?' Selphie got all excited she was going to sleep in another cabin.
'…I'm glad we won't have to share that nasty old bed…huff…' Selphie giggled.
'…Selphie!' Quistis smiled in a scolding manner.
Ward waved his arm towards the door in a "ladies first" way and followed them…
'Hey, Irv…I thought you said Squall had gone this way?'
Zell and Irvine were sent to look for Squall by Quistis one hour ago and hadn't found him since…
'Well, yeah…he did…but his gone…nowhere to be found…' Irvine scoured around the river side with Zell…
'Man, I'm getting' tired…we've been here about three times and nothin'…his probably with the others by now…' Zell moaned…
'I guess you're right…I kind of tired myself…Let's head back then…' Irvine agreed with Zell for he was also tired…
'Hey, Irv…'
'Yeah…'
'What were you planning on doing to Seifer? You not gonna back out now are you?'
'Kind of yeah…why?' Irvine answered tonelessly.
'Whoa, dude! What's wrong! I don't know you anymore!...What's happened to you? Where's the attitude?' Zell yelled at Irvine in disappointment…
'Nothing's wrong…it's just that the plan is ruined…Seifer isn't in our hands anymore…got it?' Irvine pulled a dorky face.
'…yeah, I see…well what the plan was anyways?' Zell grinned mischievously.
'…ah…great plan it was…tying Seifer up to a tree in his brooks…oh! The humiliation!' Irvine chuckled loudly as said dramatically the last words…
'Holy-Cow! Irvine… you're a genius!' Zell yelled enthusiastically as he through a hug at Irvine…
'…Whoa whoa…don't take your loneliness out on me, dude…' Irvine pushed Zell off him, straightening his coat out…
'Dude, that's great! I can't believe I never thought about that before!...Man, we have to do that some day!...Revenge will be sweet then, he he!' Zell jumped excitedly as they returned to the cabin, punching Irvine in the arm…
As Irvine and Zell reached the Cabin, they knocked on the door and waited.
'Zell, dude…the lights are out…' Irvine peeped through the window…
'There's a note here!' Zell pulled a piece of paper from under the door.
'What does it say?'
'Err…"We're spending the night in another cabin. Just follow the map. It's quite clear…By the way don't knock on this door, the 'Seifer' is sleeping…you don't want to wake the bear up…
Don't do anything stupid. Kiros"
'I sure hope the cabin ain't far, my legs are tree trunks…' Irvine moaned as he turned around and took a few steps, but Zell pulled him by his collar…
'Dude, don't you know what this means!'
'Don't I know of what means what?' Irvine said annoyed.
' 'The Seifer' is in the cabin and is sleeping… make a connection, Irv!' Zell insisted.
A few seconds later…
'Whoa, no Zell…I'm out of here…you heard him…"you don't wanna wake the bear up"…and I don't ,dude…don't count on me…you're on your own…sorry, man…'
'…how could you!...' Zell gasped in disbelief…
'How could I what!' Irvine was feeling quite tired and lacking some patience…
'…how could you loose such a life time opportunity!...It only comes once…and you'll never regret it! C'mon!' Zell tried to convince Irvine to back him up on this plan.
'…fine, fine…what must I do…?' Irvine gave in…
'…Cool!...I love you dude!...' Zell tried to hug Irvine again…
'Whoa…don't push it…or I'll leave right now…' Irvine groaned…
'…Sorry dude…you're the best….you rule!...C'mon…this way…'
And so Zell and Irvine climbed through the window and entered the cabin, took hold of unconscious Seifer, slid him through the window carelessly, took his clothes off (leaving him in his grey boxers and his boots) and tied him to a tree that stood right in front of the cabin, face to face with it…
'…it's just like in my dreams…thanks dude! I appreciate it! You don't know how much this means to me…I'm really touched…' Zell grinned mischievously at Irvine as they both stared at Seifer's sad picture…tied to a tree with nothing on but his brooks and his boots…what a breath taking view…
'Yeah I can imagine…let's go, I'm tired…' Irvine smiled at Zell's satisfaction.
The two rebellious boys then took the map and made their way giggling to the cabin where everyone slept comfortably (except for Seifer really who was completely exposed to bugs and all sorts of animals).
When finally they had reached the cabin almost completely invisible between the darkened trees, they were so tired of laughing on their way, the only thing they did was walking in silently and occupying two heavenly comfortable beds that were at their disposal…
To be continued…
Ok, that was it, I hope you've enjoyed it. All comments accepted, even flamers (take it easy, though- don't chop my head off!). Send me some suggestions if you want, I'd be glad to include them in my fic…Please also send me some suggestions on how to end it, I am a bit boggled up… O
Thanks for reading once again! Thank you so much!
And please review!
Happy Birthday Matita! (31st of October- Halloween hahaha!) Luvies