Note: A little short, but one of the best chapters, in my opinion. So, sorry about length.

"I can't go back now. I can't go anywhere."

-Seifer

PEACE OF MIND

Rinoa continues walking quickly away from where Gilmahn is. She isn't really sure why she was so mean to him. Maybe he was right...she is so tired. Strange visions cloud her mind and even her dreams. To the point where she can only sleep a few hours regardless. What does this all mean? After a lot more walking she sits on the ground, her back against a rock. She peers over the top of it to make sure no one is following her, even her friend.

She turns back, looking down at her hand, which is clenched tightly. Slowly opening her hand, she looks at Squalls ring. She had been holding on to it all the time since he passed away. Her eyes get so heavy, tired from not sleeping the last few nights. She tries to keep them open as long as possible. But she fails, they slowly come to a close, her hand loosens up, and she falls into a deep sleep against the rock. Rinoa is completely unaware of where she ends up in her long walk. Within a short distance from where the field is. The one where the promise was made.

Rinoa treads through the tall grass. White flower petals surround her on all sides, flying peacefully breeze that comes by at a constant pace. She holds her hands out, the petals fall lightly into her hands. She looks at them, smiling brightly. She doesn't remember the last time she felt so at peace, so hopeful about the world. She even forgets about Squall for a moment, just one moment, until voices begin to come in along with the cool breeze.

"I'll be here... I'll be 'waiting' here... I'll be waiting for you, so... If you come here... You'll find me... I promise..."

As the voices come, Rinoa looks around towards the sky, and then turns in a full circle, unable to find the source of it. After a few moments, she looks down at her hands. Instead of white petals in them, they are black pedals, with drips of blood coming off of them. She shakes them off her hands quickly in horror at this change.

"We're fighting across generations."

She jumps back, startled by Squall's voice, clear as day right next to her. She thinks she even saw a glimpse of his figure...and perhaps even her own with him? She had heard those words before...but from where? Then she remembers, on their way to Ultimecia's castle.

"No matter what happens, even if you become the world's enemy,

I'll be your knight."

The words continue to come. The last few are also Squall's. He says them very confidently into her ear. She turns quickly to see no one standing there.

The enemy of the world.

She is the enemy of the world. For doing what? She had done nothing to them. The opposite actually, she had helped save them. But she is a sorceress, and that changes everything.

"Squall, why did you have to leave?"

"Rinoa, why are you leaving? As we speak, even."

His voice continues to respond back from nowhere.

"I'm...not?" Rinoa looks down at her hands again. She is now wearing gloves, ones she had never owned. Her eyes widen at all these odd images and voices.

"I was there for you, Rinoa. If I had my way I would still be there for you. But that isn't my decision. Don't grieve, don't stay in the past."

"..Why aren't you here waiting?"

"It's not about going back, Rinoa. It's about going forward. Come with me." The voice goes through the air, so calm, so caring.

"But...I can't...I can't see you..." She looks around, distressed, breathing heavily.

"There is one other you can follow." The voice trails off, and stops responding.

"Squall..." Subconsciously, her hand moves to her long hair, moving through it gently. She looks to the side and gasps, seeing that it has turned completely gray. "I---I----..."

She begins to hear loud footsteps in the grass behind her. She turns quickly to face the newcomer. She looks eye to eye with Squall. The love of her life, standing there in the field, alive and young. This happy moment is quickly eclipsed by increasing clouds overhead. She smiles back at him, but his feelings don't seem to be the same. He merely looks back with a serious and cold stare, no longer saying anything.

"Squall...please." She pleads to him to give a response, besides the cold stare. She begins to notice it gets even darker outside. She turns her head to the side to see a large castle hovering in the near distance. She blinks a few times in awe of this.

Squall looks at the castle too, taking a long glance at it, still with his serious expression. He slowly looks back, as if Rinoa is at fault for something unspoken. He takes a few steps closer, Rinoa hesitates. Squall keeps his hand near his side, at the handle of his gunblade. His serious expression turns into one of pure hatred and rage. She had never seen him look at her like that before. She is terrified of what he is thinking, and why he is acting this way.

"Squall...please...why!" She begins to step back quicker and quicker. Squall moves forward, matching her pace, and even going quicker. He pulls out his gunblade in front of him, clenching his teeth tightly, and lunges at her. All Rinoa can do is stand there as his blade comes at her.

Rinoa wakes up abruptly from her short slumber. She has gone from leaning against the rock to curled up next to it, shivering violently. She tries to sit up, but her hands and legs tremble. A few tears come down her cheek as she finally sits up fully. The area around her is very dark. At first she thinks it is just clouds, but as she turns she sees a large castle so close in front of her. It is the one from her dreams.

"It's not about the end result, Sis. It's about the journey. If you get nothing out of the journey, then the result doesn't mean a damn thing. So enjoy the ride, and if you don't, then screw it."

-Temoren