Disclaimer: I don't own anything in affiliation with Final Fantasy VIII.

Thank you to all my loyal readers! Again, I left all of you hanging on my last chapter. I took an extended hiatus from this site, giving me time to improve my writing and go through a difficult period of change in my life. Thanks for sticking with me! If you haven't noticed, I updated A Love Beyond The Twilight twice already. Please read and review those chapters, as well.

This chapter was pretty difficult to write, especially since my writing has changed a lot. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Eight:

Trial of the Heart

Bianka-chan

Squall's POV.

A month had passed since Rinoa was taken away from me. 30 days went by at a snail's pace, accompanied with quiet suffering. My dad chose to extend his monthly visit, deciding to live with me during my darkest times. His company did little to relieve my somber attitude, but they tended to my feelings of child abandonment.

That day, I would go to court.

That day, I would see Rinoa again.

That day, Rinoa's fate would be decided.

That day, I would do everything I could…to save her from my mistake.

I'm so sorry…

I had made myself feel slightly better by blaming everything on myself. Rinoa had done nothing but defend herself, so she was faultless. She would not be jailed—or worse, executed. I had to repeat those words to myself several times a day. I had hoped that I could believe them, one day.

But that day…never came.

"Squall…" my father called quietly from the entrance of my office. "It's time to go."

I nodded, remaining mute. Standing up from my chair, I revealed to my father that I was already dressed. I had been fully prepared since four o'clock that morning, having been too nervous to sleep long.

The ride there, all I could do was think of Rinoa. Such thoughts came naturally to my mind, having already fantasized about our old encounters, stretching each out to original but beautiful untruth. All I wanted at that time was a second chance, to see her smiling face, her dancing eyes looking directly into my eyes—seeing everything that there was to see in life. I often wondered why she had to live through such a tough life. It seemed so unfair that I had all that money but no one to share it with, while she had nothing but a dog and a dark blanket over her eyes.

I leaned my head onto the back of the passenger seat. Folding my hands over my lap, I closed my eyes.

Flashback

"Come into my office, Rinoa," I said, maintaining a professional tone.

I kicked my chair, extending my leg to do so. I was sitting on the couch in my office, but I was trying to pretend like I was sitting in my chair at my desk. Stretching my arms along the back of the couch, I watched as Rinoa walked slowly into the room.

"I-Is there something you wanted to talk about?" she asked softly.

"Please come toward my couch, Rinoa. We have serious matters to discuss."

I had amazed myself. Never before was I much of an actor. Rinoa had already memorized where my couch was, so she took short but confident strides in my direction. The blind woman stopped before the couch, facing toward my desk.

"Sit, please," I lightly commanded, trying hard to contain a smile. Though she could not see my face, I often hid my surprises from anyone but myself.

Rinoa did as she was told, sitting exactly where I'd wanted her to.

"Squall!" she exclaimed, her face turning red.

I held Rinoa's body with strong arms, afraid she would get up to run off to her room. Rinoa's light frame was sitting atop my legs, just like I'd often seen other lovers position themselves in the park near my home.

"I've got you where I want you, and now I'm going to eat you!" I yelled, delighting myself in quoting an old silly story Nana had once told me.

Rinoa squealed in my grasp, hardly able to breathe between laughs. I tickled her mercilessly, my fingers playing her stomach like a piano. She struggled to stay situated comfortably on top of my legs, shifting wildly in an attempt to get away from my mischievous fingers.

"Stop! Please, stop!" Rinoa pleaded between laughs.

But I couldn't let go. Even though I stopped tickling her a good five minutes later, I still held her tightly. Rinoa did not attempt to run away anymore, her body comfortably curled on top of mine. I stared at her face, examining the soft creases by her eyes as they faded from laughter to peaceful silence. Soon, though, I recognized a cloudy look in them.

"Hey, hey… Rinoa, what's wrong?"

Rinoa sniffled happily before answering my question. "Nothing. It's just…I love this so much."

"Okay…" I said, amused. "So then why are you crying?"

"Because…" Rinoa sniffed again, "I'm so afraid of losing it all."

"Well, then you don't have to worry about that," I explained, matter-of-factly. "I'll always be here for you. You just have to trust me."

Rinoa wiped quickly at her eyes, trying to erase any evidence of tears. "Okay."

"Do you trust me, then?" I had asked, putting my head on her shoulders.

"Yes."

"So stop crying, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Good," I said, loosening my grip around her waist. "Now, are you ready to discuss those serious matters I mentioned?"

"Serious matters…?" she asked, worry in her tone.

"Very serious."

As I ended that sentence, I began to tickle her again. Her happy screams of surrender rang throughout the house, but it would be a long time until I wanted to let her go.

A long time.

END FLASHBACK

"I wish I never had…" I mumbled quietly to myself, reluctantly waking from reverie.

Stepping out of the car, I put on my most professional sunglasses, attempting to mask the emotions playing on my face. I shook hands with every passing businessman that came to watch the trial take place, looking at the mundane building between each handshake. Noting that I was the last man in the full parking lot, I began walking toward the building.

Rinoa's POV.

After being cooped up in a cell for a month, court was almost a relief to me.

Almost.

That day…I would either get freedom, or be condemned to solitude.

That day…everything would either change or go back to normal.

That day…I would be near Squall again.

SLAM!

The sound of the gavel brought my attention back to the court setting. I sat at a table, a female lawyer sitting beside me. At the table beside me sat Quistis and her male lawyer. Quistis' eyes avoided mine, staring at the judge only. I could not blame her for hating me. That was the hardest part of wanting to be free. I knew I had done something wrong, but I wanted to at last spread my wings. It just wasn't fair that I had to live such a hard life, while all Quistis did all day was sit on top of a pile of money.

Quistis was first called up to the stand. She swore that she would tell the truth, so help her Hyne. I could only marvel at her two-faced ways, resting my chin on my hand. Some would say I looked like a dreamer, but I could only imagine what Quistis was about to say.

"Mrs. Almasy, how would you say Mr. Almasy treated Ms. Heartilly?" my lawyer questioned Quistis, who appeared entirely composed at the stand.

"Incredibly well, considering her skills. Ms. Heartilly often ruined family heirlooms and other china as a result of her clumsiness. My husband also fed her, provided a room for her, and a steady-paying job."

"And…considering that your husband was so generous toward my client, was Rinoa asked to do anything outside of her job as payment for his…kindness?"

"Of course not! I am offended that you even ask such a thing! You question our good reputation, Ms. Xu?"

"Pardon my insolence, Mrs. Almasy, but since when has this been about your reputation?"

Quistis stomped her foot on the ground, apparently insulted beyond retort.

"That is enough, Ms. Xu," boomed Judge Kramer. "The jury now calls for Ms. Rinoa Heartilly herself. You may sit, Mrs. Almasy."

"Thank you, Your Honor," purred Quistis, slinking her way back to her seat.

As Quistis' lawyer approached the bench, I made my way there, as well. I, too, swore to tell the truth and nothing but it, but it seemed as if Quistis' words held no such honor. I briefly considered calling out her lies, but it all seemed futile. Quistis' status could hold up to any words I could possibly say. Slowly, I began to sadly realize my fate.

"Briefly explain how your employer, Mr. Almasy—one of the richest and widely-respected men in this area—treated you while you were under his roof?" Quistis' lawyer questioned me.

"He…" I struggled to allow the words to come out of my mouth. "He beat me."

The jury gasped. I did, too, hearing all that noise at once.

"Whenever I made a mistake, I knew what was coming… He bruised me…everywhere."

There was a still silence in the room as I made my testimony.

"One day, he tried to…he tried to…" I began to choke on the words. "He tried to rape me!"

The jury gasped once again as I revealed the chilling truth. I felt as if I had their full attention.

"I fought back, but I couldn't win… So I reached out for…I reached out for…Squall. When I did, I felt the gun on the shelf. Knowing that I had no other choice…I pulled the trigger."

"REJECTION!" Quistis screamed from her seat far away.

"I-I never wanted to kill him… I just wanted to live!"

"She's LYING!" Quistis screamed again.

"Please believe me…" I quietly begged, my eyes pouring tears.

Though the jury seemed to be quiet with shock, and so was I.

"Ms. Rinoa…" Mr. Nida began, his voice like ice. "Did anyone see all this occur?"

"I-I…" I couldn't claim that I had or that anyone else had…except for Quistis. I hadn't. I wasn't sure I ever would see again.

"I'm not even sure you saw any of this."

"So," Judge Kramer interrupted, his voice regal. "You're saying that Ms. Heartilly has been lying this whole time?"

I could feel Judge Kramer's gaze on the side of my face. It burned.

"Can you certify that this all occurred? Did anyone see this happen? Did you even see this all occur…? Did you create this scheme in your head in an attempt to capture freedom?"

"I-I," I began to stutter again, becoming dizzy with fright.

Judge Kramer cleared his throat. "Ms. Heartilly, tell the court the truth. Did you or did you not witness Mr. Almasy's crimes unto you?"

I swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me Hyne…

"No…"

Help me, Squall…

"I didn't."

Everyone in the court began to talk about my confession. I held my head low, my eyes boiling with anger. I supposed that everyone that I was ashamed, but they were wrong. I stood up from the bench, my hands clenched into fists at my sides.

"You don't know what it's like…to have to close your eyes to see!" I screamed, running away.

"Guards!" Judge Kramer shouted, ordering his personal police men to catch me before I got too far. It was pointless. I could never run away. From anyone. From fate. From myself. From the darkness that blanketed my vision everyday of my melancholy life.

SLAM!

Judge Kramer hit the gavel onto his desk again.

"Court is adjourned until noon tomorrow. Ms. Heartilly's sentence will be set by then. Dismissed."

A/N: Once again, I apologize for the incredibly long wait! I hope that this chapter is everything you hoped for. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story so far. It still has a little way to go, so please stay with me. As always, REVIEW! Pleeeease! Your opinions mean so much to me. Have a wonderful day, and happy father's day! 6/18/06.