Chap 9 ( Memories )

Rinoa closed her eyes waiting for the abadon to attack, but no attack came. She opened

her eyes a little and saw that something was shielding her. She felt a familiar presence.

She watched the abadon get near the shield and as it did, it got immediately destroyed.

Rinoa fainted, tired, vaguely remembering her friends running over to her to help her

out.

Rinoa woke up. "Uggh… where am I?" she asked as she saw everyone crowding over her

worried. "We're in the salt lake Rini," Selphie answered, "Are you okay?" Rinoa sat up

steadily. "Yeah, I'm fine." Rinoa said softly. "What happened back there Rinoa? You

shouldn't have cast that shield magic or whatever it was. You knew you were too weak

by then to use magic." Irvine said worriedly. Rinoa sat up steadily, surprised. "I…I didn't

cast any magic of any sort!" Rinoa said, "I thought one of you guys did." "We didn't

Rinoa, we didn't even know what that magic was!" added Quistis. "Yeah, it was weird, it

was like a red shield, and somehow I felt something weird. DON'T THINK I'M A

WEIRDO! It just felt somehow familiar. The magic… you know?" Zell said softly, "You

guys probably think I'm stupid don't you?" "No…I felt the same too…" Quistis replied.

"Of course…it's him," Rinoa said straightly, "It's Squall. I was able to able to feel his

presence. He shielded me, and you guys felt it too for you were nearby." "It could be…I

mean we all are familiar to Squall, Rinoa you might just be right." Irvine told her firmly.

"Does that mean that Squall is somewhere here?" asked Selphie. "Could be…"Quistis

answered. "Well aren't we gonna go look for him?" Selphie asked excitedly. Rinoa got

up. "C'mon. Let's go find Squall. If we didn't see him or hear him behind us, that means

he must have gone ahead of us and went back to help. What if he's in Esthar?" Rinoa told

all of them with a hope in her voice. "Your right Rinoa! He's probably in Esthar! I mean,

where else would he go? Esthar is the biggest city around! What if he had some sort of

business or something in there?" Zell said loudly. "Okay then! Let's go to Esthar!" Irvine

yelled out. "YEAH!" chorused the others (not including Rinoa). Rinoa got up and led the

group and went on. After fighting some monsters and walking for a while, they decided

to rest. "We're almost there, it shouldn't take us a couple hours longer." Rinoa

announced. "Good, cause I'm tired." Irvine replied sighing. "I remember the last time we

came here…" Quistis said softly. "I never figured it out Quistis, I remember going into a

coma, but then, when I woke up I was just floating out in space at the Esthar lunar base."

Rinoa told her confused. "Don't you know Rinoa? Squall was really worried about you

when that happened!" Selphie squealed. "Yeah, he just kinda lost it and took matters into

his own hands! You should have seen it!" Irvine added. "Yeah, he left the garden with

you and didn't even tell anyone where he was going," Zell said, "Of course, we all

figured out soon that he was heading to Esthar to find Dr. Odine." Rinoa bolted up and

sat up straighter. "You mean, Squall was the one that brought me here?" Rinoa asked

surprised. "Uh huh! He took you in a piggy back ride and carried you all the way from FH

to Esthar! He wouldn't let anyone touch you too! He was a bit nippy." Selphie answered.

Rinoa couldn't help it, tears just suddenly came to her eyes. Squall was the one that took

action. The one that wanted to help her the most! He was even so protective! And to top

all that up, he went to space risking his life to save her! "Rinoa! I'm sorry! I'm really

sorry! I shouldn't have said anything!" said Selphie as she saw Rinoa cry. "Rinoa…

please don't cry!" Quistis added. Rinoa stood up. "No, no. It's non of your fault. I was

just a little shocked, that's all. Rinoa wiped her tears and grabbed her gun blade. "Let's

go!" she said loudly and encouragingly. "Right!" the others said following Rinoa.

They walked once more and this time they the entrance to Esthar. They entered, being

carried by numerous elevators just to reach the city. Finally they reached the middle of

the city and some Estharians approached them to talk to them. "Sorceress Rinoa, I

suppose?" asked the lead Estharian. Rinoa nodded. Another Estharian walked up to her.

"Will you please state your business?" he asked. "I came to talk to the president, Mr.

Loire." Rinoa answered. "Do you have an invitation or an appointment?" the estharian

asked again. "Um…No," Rinoa replied, "I know he has lots of things to take care of, but

it would really help if we could have a word with him." "Please wait here," the lead

estharian said, "I will see what I can do." The estharian gestured for his assistants to join

him and took an lift to the presidential palace. Rinoa sat down at the floor and sighed.

"Well, I guess all we have to do is wait," Rinoa told them. They all nodded

understandingly and sat down with Rinoa. After about 15 minutes, the estharian leader

came back. "The president has agreed to meet with you young SeeDs. Please take this lift

and go see him right away," the estharian said gesturing them to go. They took the lift

and soon they were on their way to the presidential palace.

Squall

Squall sat nervously at his chamber. "They're coming here. I hope the estharians keep my

secret. I can't let her know I'm here." Squall muttered softly. "Rinoa…" Squall sighed, "I

wish I could come over there right now and talk to you, to tell you why I'm gone. I'm

causing you so much pain…" Squall closed his eyes, trying to accept. Trying to accept

his new reality. A new reality, as a sorcerer in confinement…in solitude…to protect the world.

Well that's about it for chap9,Thanks for reading! Please review.

Ceres81