Chapter 2

It was a couple of hours before sunset when Rinoa finally got off the bus in front of the mall. The sweltering rays of the hot Galbadian sun forced her to quicken her pace as she walked up the staircase almost feeling the coolness of the air-conditioned building. The Deling City Mall definitely lived up to its reputation as being the largest and perhaps the most richly decorated mall in all of Galbadia. Clever in its design, it attracted tourists from as far as the Centra Continent. The grand staircase adorned with an impressive looking statue of President Deling led up to a massive octagonal structure consisting only of enormous panes of multi-colored glass with steel supports that glistened in the sunlight. To augment the effect, the mall rotated slowly about its axis giving its visitors an exciting view of the many attractions of Deling City. The mall consisted of a total of three floors, each one designed specifically to cater to its guests every need. The lower level housed the food court that served the latest Galbadian Cuisine as well as occasional novelties from far away places that were on display for public's enjoyment.

Rinoa walked up to the glass elevator located in the center of the structure. By habit, she started observing the lively crowd below, wondering if she would ever be as carefree as them or was she forever destined to be locked inside the walls of the Caraway Mansion. Knowing that she had a little over two hours before she needed to get back, she needed to hurry. The last thing she wanted was for her father to learn of her little escapade.

About half an hour later, Rinoa, who was all done with her shopping, decided to get a frozen dessert to cool her off before making her way home through the scorching summer heat. She quickly returned to the first floor and headed towards the dessert stand. After getting her favorite dessert of luscious choco-berries she sat down at a table and resumed her previous activity of observing the people around her. Soon her eyes stopped on a group of three people who were crowding around a large cage containing a live Torama, a catlike monster, who was supposedly caught around the mysterious Esthar and displayed here for the curious eyes of the general public. Rinoa couldn't make out the features of the two fellows who had their backs turned to her, however she got a clear look at a young woman who stood between them. She was tall and thin with smooth alabaster skin. Her silver hair was cut short revealing her slender neck and shoulders. However, the most distinctive feature about her was the black eye patch that despite its appearance did not ruin this girl's unconventional beauty.

"Hey Fuu," Rinoa heard one of the guys say, "ever seen on of these ugly things? They are pretty vicious looking, ya know" He pointed to the Torama who no doubt was already trying to devise a way to make these three annoying strangers her late afternoon snack.

"DANGER. KEEP OUT " the girl with the eye patch responded.

"Hey, ya don't think I am scared of it, do ya? I fought bigger things than this little pussycat before, ya know. Right Seifer?"

"BRAG," interjected the girl again.

"Oh yeh? No one messes with Raijin, ya know. I'll prove to you all that I am not afraid of this Torama, ha. He swung his long staff at the animal.

"Hey, ya better watch out cuz…" replied the young man referred to as Seifer. However, Raijin was no longer listening. With total confidence in himself, he leaped over the enclosure and approached the cage. He reached out and touched one of the cat's long whiskers. "OUCH!!!" he suddenly yelled as the Torama gave him a powerful blast of energy from the tip of her whisker that caused him to tumble over and hit his back against the enclosure. His companions started cracking up.

"Aw, shit, that hurt, ya know."

"IDIOT."

"Ha-ha, I warned you, didn't I?"

Raijin has now made his way back over the fence only to receive a firm kick in the shin from the platinum-haired beauty.

Rinoa who has been paying close attention to this little comedy for quite some time could no longer contain her laughter. All three turned around to look at her. For the first time she got a careful look at the two strangers who she has been eyeing all this time. One of them immediately caught her attention. At over six feet tall, he possessed an aura of confidence and a quickness of movement that complemented his body posture that spoke of steel determination. Rinoa's eyes hungrily ran him up and down. His lean but muscular body was clad in a trenchcoat, adorned with a striking symbol of a fire cross whose blood- red color made it stand out against the whiteness of the fabric. Over his right shoulder, he nonchalantly held a long gunblade. Rinoa's eyes met his. Dazzled by his appearance, she did not notice that the stranger was observing her with equal interest. A spark of interest played in his emerald eyes as he ran his gloved hand through his golden hair. He retained his calm demeanor although his mind was racing for a way of making the girl's acquaintance. Noticing that his companions were looking at him Seifer sharply spun around.

"Hey, Raij, do you know this chick?" He was now speaking in half a tone, and Rinoa, to her displeasure, could no longer make out what he was saying.

"CARAWAY'S DAUGHTER," interrupted Fujin.

"That's General Caraway's daughter? Well, in that case, I guess I better go over there and introduce myself. What a pleasant coincidence… He smiled.

A pained expression ran over Fujin's face and her indigo eye sparked with a flare of emotion. She quickly regained her composure and now said in her usual unemotional tone, "BUSINESS."

"I know, why we are here, Fuu. Who says this business trip can't get a little more exciting? "

"MEN."

"Oh Fuu, you are not jealous, are ya?" he retorted smirking. Fujin didn't find it necessary to supply him with a reply and turned away yet his words seeped into her heart like drops of poison. Jealous, why should I be jealous? I have known him for as long as I can remember. He is part of MY posse…Still… He leaves me in a split second to chase after her! HER! A complete stranger…. She touched her eye patch with disgust wanting to rip it from her eye with all her might yet she knew she could not. Her lips twisted into a sour half smile.

Seifer turned back to look at Rinoa, however to his surprise she was no longer there.

"Dammit!" He looked around trying to find Rinoa's blue dress among the multitude of people. There she was… Seifer was resolute. He wasn't going to leave the mall without at least introducing himself. With that in mind, he quickly started walking in her direction.

"Yo Seifer! There are lots of other chicks in Deling. You don't hafta look desperate chasing after this one, ya know!" yelled Raijin.

"Shut up," Seifer snapped back at him.

"DELING CITY INN. LATER." rang Fujin's voice.

Rinoa was walking slowly toward the mall's exit, her mind still fixated on the handsome stranger. He seemed so different from all the other men Rinoa has been exposed to in her life many of whom were far more interested in Rinoa's prestigious name rather than her personality. She could not understand her sudden attraction to this man who looked like he could be either a criminal with blood staining the tip of his gunblade or a noble warrior willing to die serving his country. The duality of nature that she sensed from him perplexed her. She almost regretted that she would never see him again. Suddenly feeling a gentle pat on her shoulder, she turned around to find herself looking directly into the stranger's sea-green eyes. She blushed as if he could read her thoughts by mere contact with her skin.

"Hey, I saw you looking at me earlier. You know, it's really not fair for you to make me chase you like that across the mall," he said giving her his famous smirk. His voice was deep and pleasant. Rinoa feeling slightly exposed decided to cover up her interest with amusement.

"So why is it exactly that you were chasing me across the mall, Mr. ?" she said smiling coyly.

"I am Almasy. Seifer Almasy," he answered in an all-important tone of voice. "I thought a pretty lady like yourself looked like she may need an escort back to her house. After all, Deling City can be a pretty dangerous place. You never know if someone would dare to take advantage of your beauty."

Rinoa was indignant; a flash of anger roused by his words sparked in her large brown eyes. "You thought wrong, Mr. Almasy. I can take care of myself. I was taught to defend myself ever since I was a little girl. "

She pointed to her blaster edge without which she dared not leave the fortified walls of the Caraway Mansion. However, secretly she was glad that he thought she was beautiful.

She is some piece of work, this General's daughter. I wonder what her father is like… He found her feisty attitude all the more intriguing.

"Oh, a homegrown warrior princess, huh? I bet you couldn't even kill a Bite Bug with that blaster edge of yours. Behold a real weapon." He lightly ran his gloved hand over the sharp edge of his gunblade which he had lovingly named Hyperion.

She had to put him in his place.

"For your information, Mr. Almasy, my father trained me."

"Yes, let's talk about your father," he finally said after a few more seconds of silence.

"What about him?"

"General Caraway, no?"

"Yes," she retorted for once proud of her heritage. General Caraway was known to instill a sense of respect in the general public.

"How convenient, maybe you can give me directions to his house."

She caught a note of irony in his voice.

"What business do you have with my father? Some battle strategy advice perhaps?"

"Oh, what sudden interest in my affairs. But you are wrong. My battle strategy is just fine. I fight to win!" he replied smiling smugly.

"You don't suffer from a lack of self confidence, do you?"

"Aw, I am hurt. We only just met and already you judge me. And I thought we were off to a good start. You know, I was really counting on you to introduce me to your father. I gotta meet the man who taught you to fight so well."

My father!!!! His words struck her like a bolt of lightning. She had completely lost track of time.

Oh, what have I done?" she exclaimed. "He'll kill me." She quickly started walking away.

Seifer went after her. Their talk wasn't going as he had planned. His usual self-assured expression was now replaced with concern.

"What's wrong? Who'll kill you?"

"My father. He doesn't know I am here. The party… it starts in less than an hour…I'll never make it… he'll find out. I'll never be able to leave again. I'd take the bus but I am afraid that none will run to the mansion this late because of the celebration. The streets are bound to be packed."

"Hey, relax. I'll get you home on one condition though."

"And what would that be, Mr. Almasy?" She looked at him with newfound interest.

"First of all, call me Seifer. And now if you could please tell me your name so at least we are not complete strangers when we meet the famous general."

"If you meet the famous general. I have no intention of letting my father find out about this, Mr. Almasy. "

"Hey, that's part of the deal, no calling me…" Rinoa lightly placed her finger over his mouth.

"Rinoa," she said.

"All right then, Princess Rinoa. I say we go find a car, that is unless of course you prefer to walk.