Rinoa woke up and found herself lying on a field of flowers. Where am I? For a moment she was completely disturbed, but later on she figured out where she was and why she's there. She had summoned the power of the past sorceresses and went back through time where she would bring Squall back and make their story end happily ever after.

Yes… Squall…

Out of habit, she reached for Squall's ring hanging on her necklace and found it missing. She remembered that she removed her necklace and held onto Squall's ring while casting the spell… the spell that brought her back through time. It was a success! She's here, in this garden where they made a promise. Now, all she had to do is find him, and to do that she should figure out how far back in time she had traveled.

Pulling herself up, Rinoa took a handful of flowers and walked into Edea's house. To her surprise, little kids were running around the place playing tag. She caught sight of little Selphie pestering little Irvine. Little Quisty was at the other end of the room, bossing several kids around – including Zell – while little Seifer kept teasing him. Goodness, I traveled wayyyy back! She took another step closer to the kids, but it seems nobody could see her… or everyone was too busy to notice, save for one.

"What are you doing here..?" somebody asked in a low hiss. Rinoa turned around and found little Squall standing near the doorway from where she emerged.

"Squall?"

"How'd you know my name?" he mumbled with childish surprise that he was trying desperately to hide.

Rinoa shrugged, then smiled. "I… oh well, I'm an angel."

He eyed her, surveying her from head to foot, then shook his head. "No you're not."

"I'm not?"

"You simply look like one." He said, casting another glance at Rinoa's face.

"Well, I guess you need to see my wings, huh?"

Squall dismissed it with a curt nod, reminding Rinoa of the frigid guy she loved. "You're not supposed to be here."

"I'm not?" A shrill whisper at the back of her head kept saying: You're not supposed to be here. You don't belong here. Go back. It terrified her so much that she had to press her palms against her ears to shut the sounds out but it was no use.

"Are you alright?" Squall came to her side, his hand holding hers. The whispering vanished.

"I'm fine." Rinoa lied.

Quistis felt like her head was about to burst. She had never been this angry with anyone all her life. What a selfish little… Were Rinoa standing there in that room with them, she would've slapped her so hard to bring her back to reality. Looking around, scanning the familiar faces for any hint of emotion, she met Selphie's pleading eyes. Try to understand, her eyes told her but Quistis was too preoccupied with her own personal thoughts concerning the matter. She was too preoccupied in her mental list of judgments regarding Rinoa's lack of rationality, and with that she failed to hear –or deliberately blocked herself from hearing— the conversation taking place.

"We must warn Matron." Irvine said, addressing it to headmaster Cid. "Should anything happen, say, if her powers return or anything of that sort, at least she knows. She could warn us. Or she could help us."

"I chose to keep this conversation among the five of us so we could come out with the best decision. I apologize to you all but my thoughts are in chaos and I find it hard to make a decision by myself." Cid explained sincerely.

"Ours as well." It was the first time Quistis ever spoke since she came into the headmaster's office.

"I hope we are not over reacting… I mean, nothing has happened yet, is there?" Zell asked.

"Rinoa summoned the powers of the dead, for crying out loud! It is of common knowledge that the dead and the living are not supposed to inter-relate." Quistis explained firmly. "What she probably –no—certainly unearthed in the process are the sorceress powers we have already defeated. And do you know what that means..?"

Zell gaped at her in disbelief. "The return of the sorceresses…"

Quistis nodded in agreement.

"Oh my g…"  Zell stared at Quistis long after, allowing all the painstaking memories sink into his mind. "Rinoa, what have you done?"

"I've seen this coming…" Selphie muttered under her breath. "I knew it… and I should've been there for Rinoa. I guess… this wouldn't have…" she was about to cry, but Irvine gently reached for her hand and squeezed it. With that, Selphie became stronger.

"Don't fall apart like Rinoa did." He warned. "Despair won't do you any good."

"It won't do us any good, either." Quistis said coldly.

"So what do we do about it?" Zell asked.

Headmaster Cid sank deeper into his seat in a helpless gesture.

"How about Ellone?" Selphie asked; her hand still linked with Irvine's. "She's got some 'abilities', too."

Ellone sat on a Greek chair and exhaled. "Are you asking me to use sorcery to solve this problem?" She looked at everyone in the room –who were all looking intently at her, waiting for her reply. Ellone shook her head and spoke. "That I cannot do. We are forbidden to use sorcery, and sorcery is the only thing we can use to bring Rinoa back. We'll never know, perhaps she's already lost in time. She doesn't know much about the power she summoned in height of desperation, how can she find her way back?"

"You mean… we'll just let her be?" Selphie asked. "We'll leave her just like that? I can't believe this."

"We have no choice." Quistis answered matter-of-factly. "In the first place, she should've thought of the impossibilities of this 'solution ' of hers."

"We asked Ellone for help because we thought she could help us. Because we hoped something could be done." Selphie explained, then pleaded. "Don't just leave her there?!"

The look on their faces confirmed Selphie's inner fears.

"They can't see me, huh?" Rinoa asked the little boy with brown hair sitting on the sand beside her, his gaze fixed intensely at the waves. "And you're the only one who can. So, that makes me a ghost." For a moment, she figured that the little boy in deep thought might not answer her. In the first place, he probably didn't hear her.

To her surprise, he turned to her, his deep eyes marked with something Rinoa couldn't define. "You're that old and you still believe in ghosts?"

"I beg your pardon? I am not old!"

Squall shrugged. "Whatever." After glancing briefly at her, he fixed his attention towards the dark evening sky and stared in deep thought. Rinoa watched him silently, studying his features that hinted of the incredibly handsome teenage guy. The guy she so loved. The guy she had painfully lost. Much like the Squall I've known, alright.

"Well, how about me? How do you explain me?"

He shrugged again. "I dunno'. Hallucination. Daydreaming. Imagination. But not a ghost."

"You really don't believe in things you don't see, huh?"

Squall turned away with the same coldness Rinoa had one identified him with. "I don't believe in things that do not exist."

Rinoa nodded. "I know."

"Well, how do you explain this?" she leaned her hand against a huge rock beside them and just as she had expected, it didn't get through it like some ghostly manifestation.

He simply eyed her, allowing her question to pass. He thought that there would be a more appropriate time for talk, and today is not it. Besides, he was half-expecting to see her tomorrow morning. Standing up, he headed for bed without another word.

And he woke up the next morning to find out that he was right.

When Rinoa blinked her eyes at the first peek of daylight, she found herself in a different place. Full sized blankets that served as curtains surrounded her in a tent-like fashion. Well, moving around a little, she figured that she is inside a tent… something like those set up by gypsies and fortune-tellers moving from place to place. And to her surprise, there was somebody inside with her: a lady, quite beautiful at middle adulthood. She was dressed like a gypsy. Well, she is a gypsy, judging the way she looks into that crystal ball settled on a table in front of her. Rinoa took several steps closer until she was able to look into the crystal ball as well. She saw a couple, the woman cuddling a baby in her arms, the man looking over her shoulder and down to the baby. Their child…

Rinoa glanced at the gypsy. She seemed so mad at what she was seeing in the crystal ball.  Why..? She started chanting something in a strange language Rinoa swore she had never ever heard before. And then the gypsy looked straight at her. She could see her.

"You're not supposed to be here. You don't belong here. Go back."

The fierce look in her eyes was so terrifying; it made shivers run down her spine.

"You're not supposed to be here. Go back. Go back!!"

Rinoa took backward steps, creating the distance between her and the terrifying gypsy, and then she started to run. What she saw in the crystal ball was blood, suffering and death… to the couple, to the child. But what she saw in the gypsy's eyes was more frightening: Evil. Undiluted evil strengthened by envy and hate.

She stopped and closed her eyes. Visions were being shut. Her recollections of the image in the crystal ball started vanishing. She was taking the memories off her mind and replacing it with other visions that didn't really make any sense; a jumble of events that she couldn't understand. There was nothing to be understood save for a jagged scar that was all too familiar to her. A rough scar on the forehead… her forehead.

"NO!" she fought the visions to stop.

Go back!!!

Thrashing her arms in an effort to escape the maddening flashes, she saw a shadowy claw-like hand reaching for her neck.

"Are you alright?"

It was young Squall reaching out to her.

"You were fighting someone." He informed when Rinoa turned to him with a blank stare.

Rinoa exhaled, feeling extremely grateful that the claw was nothing but a nightmare. Or was it? She studied Squall's young, somber face, and net she noted the cross of his brows. It seems as if she had disturbed somebody's sleep. "Sorry." She mumbled.

Squall shrugged, like saying "what for? I'm awake, anyway".

"I'm really sorry. I was…"

"So you've returned." He said.

"I have?"

"You came back, Miss ghost."

Rinoa looked around. The place was more familiar now. She's in Balamb Garden. And the Squall she's talking to isn't the cheeky young boy who seemed to act ten years older than his age. The Squall she's talking to is Squall Leonheart in his pre-teens.

And he's looking at her as if he's bothered with the way she's staring at him.

"Oh, sorry…"

"Why are you here?" he asked in that similar manner he had during his childhood.

"I've come for you."

He eyed her. "Why?"

"Because in my time, you're dead."

Emotions on his face changed from suspicion to understanding. "So, you are from the future."

She nodded. "Might sound crazy but yep, that's where I came from."

His eyes glittered with grief. "How did I die?"

Matched with similar grief in her eyes, Rinoa turned to him and answered. "You got sick."

"Oh." He said in a low tone as if he didn't like the way it sounded. Of course, Rinoa thought, he would've wanted to die like a hero…

"Some things can never be changed." Squall added.

"No, you're wrong. There are things we can change… and that's why I'm here."

He eyed her again, as if assessing her sanity. Rinoa sensed this gesture as a hint that she was being heard, although it seems he would only find her words amusing at the moment. Anyway, she jumped on the chance to speak. "You've become a hero in my time… that would be years from now… and after the battle against the sorceresses –which, you, led- peace returned. We all thought it ended happily-ever-after but you died. It was a mystery how illness stole you before our very eyes…" traces of sorrow were evident in her words. "Whatever it is that happened, whatever it was that led to your death, I want to change it. And by warning you ahead of time, I was hoping I could accomplish that."

Squall looked like he was about to laugh sarcastically. "I think you're crazy." He said. "First, I don't suppose you really do know me otherwise you would've said things differently."

"I know I sound crazy but…"

"Maybe you've come to the wrong person, in the wrong time, miss." He turned to leave. Rinoa ran after him.

"Squall… you have to listen!" she grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him to face her. "Someday you will lead this Garden, you will fight in the Sorceress Wars, you will be sent to aid the Forest Owls, and you will meet me."

"As if I haven't yet."

Rinoa ignored his tone. "You will fight Sorceress Edea. You will meet your big sis." She saw a surprised look on his face, and went on. "You will lead, Squall, and you will succeed. You will change, learn to love and be loved in return." She desperately tried to hide her emotions but something about the way she had said that last part made Squall turn to her with an unnamed emotion in his eyes.

"And the one I loved…" he began in a soft, sincere voice. "Would be… you…"

Rinoa nodded. "I'll do anything to undo your death, Squall, now that you've already changed."

Squall looked deep into her eyes in thought. "And big sis, what was she… like?" There was sadness in his voice.

"She's everything you've ever believed her to be, Squall."

In his usual gesture, Squall pressed his palm against his forehead and turned to one side. Rinoa watched him. One thing about Squall is that no matter what time in his life you go back to, you'll always identify him. That snobbish, inapproachable look; that hardened and composed personality; that quiet, cold and reserved demeanor… had she not known the real him, she would think differently of this man before her. But knowing Squall and all the hardships he's going through, all Rinoa could feel was sympathy for him. At that point in time, Rinoa fought the strongest urge to hold him, knowing that his judgment is raking at the impossibility of the situation.

"Do you think you can really stop death?" he said, looking at her with his intense, challenging gaze he was very used of.

"I'm willing to try everything just to stop yours."

He chuckled. "This is crazy!"

"Life is crazy." Rinoa concluded. "But I'm here, now. Better believe it."

"Can anybody else see you?"

"I dunno." She answered in a child-like manner. "Wanna find out?"

The smile from his face faded as he surveyed her from head to foot. Rinoa felt uneasy under his scrutiny. "Enough observation?"

He threw his hands up in the air. "I'm going crazy."

"You think?"

"And you…" he pointed an accusing finger at Rinoa. "You are nuts."

Rinoa curtsied. "Nice compliment. Thank you."

Squall turned his back on her and left. For the next few moments, Rinoa practically felt as if she was being avoided. And like the utter fool he condemned her of being, Rinoa kept following him around like some dog… well, that is, until she grew tired of tag and chase. Standing on the Training Hall entrance with her hands braced on her hips, Rinoa faced him.

"Let's stop this. It makes us look really stupid."

He stared at her, that look of wanting to toss her off the window etched on his face. Then eventually, understanding dawned on his hard features – too hard for a boy his age – and he tipped his head to one side. "You're right. We look stupid."

Rinoa jumped with delight. "Great! So we'll stop this stupidity now?"

He looked at her, surprised. "I was hoping YOU would."

Rinoa exhaled. "You still don't believe me, do you?"

"You can't blame me…"

She exhaled again. "You're right. Anyway, I'll prove my point… eventually. For now… I guess we could shake hands." She offered for a handshake. Squall accepted it.

"Fine."

"So, were friends now." She said matter-of-factly.

"Don't push your luck."

Rinoa's shoulders fell. "Oh well…"

Squall learned much about this strange woman from nowhere by spending time with her. Actually, he didn't choose to spend time with the girl. She seemed to have made it her point to stick to his side. At first, it was irritating. Unfortunately, Rinoa was the sort of woman anyone would like, not just because of her beauty, but also of her sweet disposition. Squall had used up all of his tactics simply to shove her away and none of his attempts seemed to have irritated her, and somehow, this made him soften towards the sweet, angelic, mysterious, irritating woman.

"Excuse me, but I have an important assignment to finish… so if you could be so kind as to…." Squall's words died in his mouth as he turned to search for something through the piles of objects scattered across his bed and found a very distressed Rinoa sitting atop everything instead. Days ago, he wouldn't have cared a farthing about her feelings, but now, he felt a brotherly concern toward the frowning female glaring at the things on his bed.

"Now, what..?" he asked, being extremely careful not to sound a bit concerned.

The frowning female looked at him and exhaled. "You really don't believe me, do you?"

Squall foresaw the direction of their conversation. Earlier this day, when Rinoa learned that Squall was off to Balamb for his first mock mission, she insisted to go with him… which was ridiculous. Squall kept ignoring her request, but this only prolonged the argument.

He sighed.

"I wanna be there!" Rinoa explained.

This won't get anywhere. Squall decided. Anyway, this past few days they had both learned that nobody could see her save for himself so why not?

"C'mon!  Are you seriously locking me up in here?" she asked, jumping off his bed.

"Ok. But behave yourself."

She jumped with joy.

"And stay close to me. We're not entirely sure nobody else could see you."

Rinoa ran and wrapped her arms around him. "Thanks! Thank you!"

Squall, perfectly unused to such gestures, gently detached her arms from around his neck. It felt quite satisfying to have her smiling like that. At Balamb, however, Squall started regretting the decision he had made. Instead of fixing his concentration to his assignment, half of his mind was checking on Rinoa: her location, what she's doing, and if anybody could ever see her save for himself. For the latter, Squall had confirmed by now that Rinoa is as invisible as she was the first time he had seen her… at Matron's house where he refused to call her an angel.

"Rinoa…" he started, fixing his bed and replacing it with fresh sheets for Rinoa to sleep on.

Rinoa, who was standing at the doorway, took several steps to face him. "Yeah?"

"I figured, nobody could really see you except for me."

She nodded. "I learned that, too."

"So, there's no way I can get you a room."

"Unless I can walk through walls…"

"And you can't do that"

She sighed. "Unfortunately."

"So, I'll let you occupy my bed… until…" realizing that he really had no idea how long Rinoa is going to stay, he decided to let the topic pass. "Until such time."

"And where would you be spending the night?" she said with grave concern.

"That's my problem."

"However, it is my concern, too." She looked around, and then retreated her gaze back to him. "You won't be sleeping on the training grounds, will you?"

He felt the first impulse to laugh. "No."

"So, where? Tell me."

He shrugged. "I'll figure out."

Rinoa grabbed him by the shoulders and sighed. She realized while they were standing face to face that she was just as tall as Squall. "Well, we could share this room. However," she released his shoulders and took a step back. "We cannot share the same bed. We don't have to worry about propriety since nobody knows of my existence except you. And," she raised her forefinger in accentuation, "I don't think a boy like you would make advances on me."

He groaned in revulsion.

"What?!" she crossed her arms protectively over her chest. "Besides, making advances are not on Squall's list… at least, not with the Squall I know."

"Whatever."

"Whatever." Rinoa followed that with a chuckle. "You'll sleep on the floor and be a gentleman. I'll sleep on the bed."

"Fine."