Part 18: Just you
Meanwhile at the cabin's platform…
'Laguna couldn't we have borrowed a boat or something of the kind?' Selphie whined as she stared at him in the water waiting for her to jump in…
'Selphie…don't start…' Irvine mumbled as he stood next to her, sat on the platform and dived into the water, splashing water on her face.
'I hate water!' she cleaned her face.
'C'mon Selphie, you look stupid…you're the only one on the platform! He he!' Zell yelled swimming in her direction.
'Oh yeah?' she yelled back at him.
Zell nodded, smiling mischievously.
Selphie walked back out of everyone's sight, making everyone go silent in wonder.
'What does she think she's doing!' Irvine muttered.
'Dunno' Laguna mumbled staring at the platform.
'She's fooling you all…' Seifer swam away from everyone.
'Selphie , there's no point in throwing a tantrum…this is just part of the mission, c'mon…' Laguna yelled, hoping she was hearing.
Suddenly they heard fast heavy footsteps, coming in their direction.
'Whoo-hoo!' they heard a squeaky voice.
And before anyone could move out of the way, Selphie had already jumped into the air, and made a bomb position in order to when she dropped into the water, she'd splash on everyone…
She had splashed on everyone alright, but she had dived in and was taking some time to come back up to the surface. Too long, in fact. The comrades were getting worried…
'Selphie!' Irvine yelled worriedly, taking his heavy coat off and diving in to look for her.
Irvine had disappeared into the water as well…
'I hope she's ok, man…' Zell gasped.
'I wish you wouldn't provoke her Zell, she always ends up doing something stupid…' Quistis looked at him in a scolding way.
'I was just trying to make her get a move on, that's all…it's not as if I asked her too dive in…' he shrugged his shoulders.
'Fine.' Quistis mumbled.
Irvine had finally made it up the surface in a great splash and now was holding Selphie under her arms. She was unconscious and her head was rolling around as he shook her.
'Selphie, c'mon!' he groaned worriedly now blowing air into her lungs.
Selphie spat water on him and kept her eyes closed. Then without saying anything she started screaming. Irvine's eardrums almost exploded with the squeakiness of her voice, closing his eyes with the pain.
'Selphie…' he murmured, still holding her in his arms.
She opened her eyes and looked at him with a petrified look, then stopped screaming.
'Irvy!' she squeaked, throwing herself at his neck.
'I thought I had lost you!' he whimpered.
'Do I look stupid now?' she asked worriedly, gasping for air.
'No…you look fine. Beautiful like always.' He murmured smiling at her.
'Oh, Irvy…' she chuckled hugging him again, then kissed him repeatedly on his mouth.
'Oh, please!...You're making me sick!' Zell groaned.
Quistis smiled entertained.
'C'mon guys…that's enough…' Laguna chuckled.
Selphie hopped onto Irvine's back and they all started swimming in direction to the other side.
'Errr…Squall…I'm not so sure about this. I'm kind of scared...' she stopped as Squall continued to hold her hand, making him turn around. 'This bridge is far too shaky, one of those planks are about to fall…and I'm scared!' she continued now looking down and pulling him closer to her by his clothes.
'Rin, the only way to get to the other side is by crossing the bridge…we have no other way. C'mon…hold my hand…if you fall I'll catch you…' he smiled at her.
Rinoa looked at him with a petrified face, looking down and then back at him.
'Come here…' Squall took her hand and guided her to stand right in front of him as he held on her hands from behind.
'Squall I didn't tell you this before, but I'm scared, petrified, frightened o-of heights…so if I freak out…' she started talking in a nervous tone as Squall interrupted her:
'You won't freak out…I'm right behind you, now hold my hand and with the other one hold on the rope…' he murmured softly as he place his face next to her ear.
'…ok, now take a deep breath and don't look down, keep your eyes on where you're heading…' he said gently.
Rinoa did as he asked, took a deep breath as she closed her eyes, lifted her head up straight and opened her eyes slowly as she focused on the other side, but frightened as she was, she accidentally looked down…
'Nope, that's not where we're heading…straight forward is where we're going, now keep your eyes on the other side…' Squall smiled.
'Are you sure?' she mumbled.
'As sure as I can be…' he chuckled.
'Ready?...Ok…now one step at a time…I'm right behind you…' he murmured softly as he held her hand and placed his other one on her waist.
Rinoa tried to look forward the whole time as she took the first few steps over the wobbly bridge.
They had almost reached the middle of the bridge when Rinoa stopped abruptly, let go of the rope of the bridge and placed her hand on her face as she started panting slightly…
'Go on…you're doing fine…don't stop...Rin, are you Ok?' Squall murmured at her softly as he felt her stop…
'I just need a small break…that's all…I just had a…a…' Rinoa sounded worried.
'What? Rinoa, are you feeling alright? Hm?' he caressed her hair as he placed his head on her shoulder and looked at her caringly.
'I just saw something…i-in my mind...' she murmured worriedly still covering her face with her hand.
'Are you ok, Rin? W-What did you see?' he touched her face gently as he spoke.
'…I don't know how to explain…it was dark and I only saw shadows… someone torturing someone else…two men… he was screaming in pain…the other one…he was…laughing so loudly it hurt…'
'A vision…you just had a vision…I remember, Matron also used to have visions. She would feel weak afterwards and couldn't even stand…I remember she even used to cry, but she would never tell us what she saw…probably didn't want us to worry…didn't work, though.' Squall stared into the distance as he remembered his days in the orphanage…
'Can you walk?' he asked her caringly.
'Yes, I can. I'm felling better now…let's continue…I don't want to be here any other second…this bridge gives me bad vibes…' she chuckled nervously.
'Take my hand.' Squall murmured.
Rinoa smiled at his request and took a step forward, then another one, breathing deeply to keep calm, for she felt as if she ought to panic.
'Argh!' one of the wooden planks had snapped into various pieces and Rinoa had slipped through the hole, and though Squall had tried to grab her waist, she slipped through and he now held her under her arms…
'Squall!...I thought this wasn't where we were heading!' she cried as he held her under her arms.
'I'm stuck!' she cried.
'Don't panic…I'll get you out of here, just hold on tight to my arms…' he panted.
'Squall it hurts…the plank's got me in my side…I don't think I can move…' she murmured worriedly.
'I'm getting you out…just hold on me as tight as you can, don't let go…all you have to do is do what I say, ok?'
'yes…' she closed her eyes.
'I want you to relax, a tense body will just make things worse. Breath in slowly and tell me when you're ready…'
'Ready?...ready for what?' Rinoa opened her eyes worriedly.
'Just do as I say…trust me.' He murmured, kissing her head lovingly.
'Lean your head back, now don't move….'
Rinoa leaned her head back and found herself face to face with Squall, with his misty dark blue eyes staring into hers caringly.
He stood there, on his haunches, staring into her eyes for a few seconds. A weird moment it was. As if they were communicating without words. Squall then leaned his head down and kissed her lips gently.
Shortly after parting from the kiss he held her even tighter under her arms and started pulling her slowly upwards.
'Urgh…' she moaned as her waist passed trough the hole, for she had been wounded by a splint.
'Almost…' he groaned as he pulled her out and rested her torso on his lap. They stayed like that for a few moments in mid-air on the groggy bridge, breathing hard.
'Let me see that…' Squall placed his hand over Rinoa's (she held tightly onto her side) waist.
'…it hurts…' she moaned.
'…' Squall examined her wound and without saying anything he placed his hand over it, grabbed the small peace of wood which pierced her skin painfully and in a rapid move he removed it quickly, making Rinoa jerk and open her eyes in surprise. He then threw the splint out and gently rubbed her skin.
Squall then took her arm, put it around his neck, picked her up and started making the rest of the way across the bridge.
Rinoa remained silent all the way, she just looked at him in amazement, although she felt very tired, she still had enough energy to gaze at his serious frown.
He held her with almost no effort and just the fact that he was carrying her, made her feel safe and loved, making her want that moment to last forever.
They had finally made it across the bridge. It was a great relief, for the simple idea of hanging in mid-air on something rather old and likely to fall, was scary, they were anxious all the way, expecting a plank would snap at any moment. But thankfully nothing snapped. They had made their way safely over the bridge.
Squall walked up to the nearest trees and placed Rinoa carefully leaning against one.
He then kneeled next to her and embraced her, remaining silent as he just snuggled into her neck comfortingly and kissed her.
'I'm so glad that's over…' she murmured, closing her eyes as she put her arms around him as well.
'Me too…' he murmured back at her.
'Do you think we'll make it?' she looked at him.
''Course we will…' he smiled slightly in a reassuringly way.
Rinoa smiled back and then looked down sadly.
'Hey…' he pulled her face in his direction gently to look at her. 'Don't be scared…everything's gonna be fine. I can assure you…I'm always with you, no matter what happens, ok?' her murmured.
'I know.' She smiled. 'I'm just worried, that's all.' She looked at him.
'Come here.' He embraced her warmly once again.
'I guess we should be going, huh?' she murmured sadly.
'Yeah, time is scarce and we still have some way to go…' he replied staring at the other side of the cliff.
Squall rubbed her shoulder caringly, got up and opened his hand in Rinoa's direction.
'Full Cure!' he healed her as purple and blue lights swirled around her and faded away slowly.
'…thanks' she smiled 'I feel like could take on the world!' she got up in a jump, took a step forward and tripped on a huge root that stuck out of the grassy ground.
'Ops…' Squall caught her in time.
'I can see. Take it easy, though. Most probably you could take on a nice big bed where you could take a very long nap. ' He chuckled with a mischievous smile on his face.
' Ha ha ha…for your information I need no nap. I could go on for many hours, walking, fighting…you name it!' she wrinkled her nose.
'…sleeping…' Squall went on with an entertained grin on his face.
'Shut up! I don't need any sleep, I'm perfectly aware of my capacities. For all we know I'm probably more capable of staying awake longer then you…' she smiled.
'Oh is that so?' he grabbed her by her waist and pulled her closer to him.
She nodded seriously.
'How about being able to resist me…?' he murmured charmingly as his stretched his neck out to kiss her…
'…better than you think…' she whispered smiling as she pressed her fingers against his mouth.
'I know…' he whispered smiling at her.
She looked suspiciously at him.
'…you can't…' he leaned his face against hers with a cute grin, making her give in to his inflammable kiss.
His lips just sort of magnetically attracted hers, resulting in the most wonderful kiss imaginable. Squall's touch just made her weak in her knees, making her want to just cling onto him forever.
'Maybe I'm not so immune to that…but I am capable of many, many things, you know? I just hadn't had an opportunity to show it to you…' she looked at him seriously.
'You don't have to, I know very well what you're capable of…and I love you for that and much more…I know you're strong…there's no doubt about that, but I also don't want you to have a hard time for no reason…I care about you and the last thing I want is for you too suffer…' he murmured seriously.
'Who said I'm suffering!...I'm with you, that's the only thing that matters to me, as long as I have that, I'm happy. I don't need anything else, just you…so no one can ever say I'm suffering.' She smiled lovingly at him.
'…' Squall just stared at her with a serious face.
He knew deep inside she did suffer, but if she didn't want to talk about, he couldn't force her. He knew how hard it was to talk about things that hurt you and just that was a good enough reason to not insist. He felt that she had too many worries, that she was having a hard time with all this sorceress thing, for she was going through many different fazes, having visions and probably other effects that she wouldn't dare to tell. He knew she wasn't feeling too well, that she suffered deep down with many worries and doubts. Squall just felt that it was his duty to support her with anything that would come up and that he had to protect her with all his might. He wasn't going to let anyone touch her, he was going to fight until he was absolutely sure she was safe. That's all he wanted.
After a long moment of just staring at her, he embraced her silently and closed his eyes, enjoying her sweet scent, the soft touch of her hair, the silkiness of her skin and every breath of hers as if it were the last time.
She too remained silent. She seemed to know what went through his mind and his heart. She could sense that he too, was scared.
'The Ragnarok…' Laguna muttered to himself in amazement to its greatness.
The spaceship stood there, so great and beautiful, its colour took your breath away.
'What are we waiting for! C'mon, move…' Quistis smiled at Selphie and Laguna staring at the ship with a dreamy look on their faces.
'Beautiful, isn't she?' Selphie said rhetorically to Laguna who stood beside her.
'Yeah, just one thing, he's beautiful. It's a he, k?' Laguna said informatively.
'Who says!' Selphie looked at him disapprovingly.
'Says I…' he smiled.
'It's a she, what are you thinking?' she squeaked.
'No, it's a he…' Laguna said calmly.
'How dare you!' she looked at him in disbelief.
'I'm telling you Selph, it's a guy ship!' he moaned.
'No, it's a girl ship! That's final!' she answered back.
'Uh uh…it's a guy…' he whispered provocatively.
'It can't be!...It's a she…it's a girl. Ragnarok is a girl's name, if it were a boy he'd sound queer!' she squeaked.
'Selphie! Laguna! Come here immediately! You're wasting our time! C'mon, in you go!' Quistis stood on the staircase waiting for them.
'Girl!' she said coolly.
'Guy…' he said carelessly…
'Girl!' she squeaked.
'C'MON!' Quistis started loosing her patience, grunting her teeth.
'Girl! Selphie said as she ran towards the entrance of the ship.
'No way…!' Laguna said running after her.
Selphie sat in the pilot's seat and started the engine.
'She's such a beauty, starts like a champion…a champion-ess that is!' she said loudly for Laguna to hear.
'He…' Laguna moaned irritably.
'Laguna act your age! The same goes for you Selphie!' Quistis ordered, sitting down in a chair.
'But she's treating the ship like some kind of Drag-Queen!' he mumbled.
'No, sorry about that, but you are…' Selphie went on.
'Whatever…' Laguna groaned. And to this Quistis looked at him. He had sounded just like Squall that moment, voice and all. Maybe it was her imagination, she thought.
'Fine.' Selphie chuckled.
'I got my way!' she whispered, winking her eye at Irvine who sat next to her.
The ship rose slowly into the air and a few moments later the ship had started making its way North-West.
Squall and Rinoa started walking through the country plains where the grounds seemed to become drier and drier as they went. The trees started disappearing and the ground was looking dustier, where the only thing in sight were dry bushes and weeds. Not one animal in sight. After a long while of walking, they had amazingly walked into three creatures: a weird looking desert tiger and two big reptile-looking blue eagles.
'Rin, draw as much as you can!' Squall said as he cast blizzaga on the Tiger.
Rinoa did as he asked, drawing 10 Cures from the one of the big birds.
Squall then drew his Gunblade and sliced the blue bird, making it fall n the ground in a loud thump.
Rinoa then drew 5 Bios from the tiger and Squall moved in and decided to let Shiva stretch her legs.
'Diamond Dust!' he called as he pulled his hand out and huge pillar of ice grew in front of him having Shiva as graceful as ever, brake out of it, sending her ray of ice to the creatures, as a path of ice made its way towards them, froze them and broke them into a million pieces.
'It's been a while…' he muttered smiling at Rinoa after the encounter.
'Yeah, I know…' Rinoa smiled at him.
They went on walking into the infinite horizon, seeing only more desert land as they travelled.
'What's that?' Rinoa stopped and stared into the distance.
'What?' Squall stopped as well.
'It was…right there…' she pointed.
Squall moved closer to her and stared into the distance as well.
'It's another forest…' he muttered.
'I know, but…behind it…there was a green light…now it's gone.' She looked puzzled.
'A green light…are you sure?' he stared into the distance.
'Yeah…it was shinning between the trees…what do you think it was?' she looked at him.
'I don't know. Something must be going on there…' he said.
'I have a bad feeling about this…maybe we should go and look. Someone may be in trouble. Don't you think?' Rinoa looked at the forest then back at him.
Squall without saying stared again at it.
'There goes another one…' he spotted the light again.
'C'mon…' he took her hand and ran in the forest's direction.
When they reached the first trees, they had equipped themselves with GF's.
'I'll take Quezelcolt and Ifrit, you take Shiva, Brothers and Siren.' Squall said as he drew his Gunblade and walked in to the forest.
'Stay right next to me' he muttered to her as he reached his hand out to hold her arm.
They were approaching the heart of the forest, when they heard the bushes rustling in front of them.
'Stay here…' he let go of her arm and approached the bushes.
He heard the noise again and he approached them silently.
Then as he made a quick run to whatever was moving he entered a kind of naked spot of trees, where three men turned around quickly. They looked exactly like the ones that had appeared in Dollet. Dressed in black cloaks with hoods on their heads.
'That's him!' said one of the guys.
'Where is she!' said one of the guys viciously as he pointed his arrow at Squall.
Squall kept silent as he remained in his fighting position and just stared at them.
'Where is the sorceress!' insisted the other one.
'You'll have to get passed me first…' Squall groaned.
'Get him!' said one of them.
The other two ran up to Squall, one pointing an arrow and the other one sharpening his two swords with a greedy grin on his face.
Squall then stepped in and grazed the guy with the bow and arrow, making the guys fall on the ground on his knees and screech of pain.
'Get up you fool! Kill him!' said the boss.
'Boss, it burns!...I-It's the sacred blade, master!...'said the injured one.
'I'll kill him, boss!' said the one with blades, jumping in Squall direction and grazing his arm.
'The sacred blade, eh? …I think master will be pleased to hear that…' said the boss, making a weird gesture with his hand.
'Go look for the sorceress, Iratk.' He said. And the guy with the blades flew into the bushes so quickly, Squall tried to attack him, but he had already disappeared.
'Rinoa run!' Squall ran after the guy and searched for Rinoa all over the place.
'Argh! Squall!' he heard Rinoa scream far away, turning around to where he heard it come from.
'Urgh!' Squall was kicked in his back, dropping unconsciously on the muddy ground. The last thing he heard was the piercing sound of his Gunblade dropping on the ground. The pain in his back was so intense, the moment he felt himself falling, he just went unconscious.
Part 18! How about that? Did you like it? Hope you enjoyed that…boy, I had fun writing that!
Please review! Oh, Rebellious Princess! Thank you so much for your wonderful comments. The same goes for you Angelo. It means a great deal to me, really it does. I put my heart into this fic and the fact is that I can't get sick of writing it. I know it's taking a while to end, but the fact is that I don't really want it to end. Anyway, I know my duty is to give it a dignifying ending and that's what I'll do. Thanks for you support GoldenHeart! Thanks everyone.
Thank you for reading, thank you so much! Any suggestions, just e-mail me. Please review!
PS: Rebellious Princess, I've put titles on the chapters, do you like them? Thank you for your suggestion, I agree 100 with you, I just was too lazy to do it!