Chapter 4: Sweet kisses

Squall pulled Selphie closer to him. As he closed his eyes and lean in for a meeting with her lips, he could feel his heart melt to pieces. He couldn't understand why he wanted to be with her. He hated her. He loathed her and blamed her for his ruined relationship, yet there he was kissing her.

Flabbergasted Selphie pulled away from Squall. She didn't want to let herself fall in love with him. It would only hurt her in the end and she couldn't stand being hurt like that again. He looked at him trying not to cry. She wanted him so badly. She wanted to feel his hands savoring her skin. She wanted to see what it felt like to have every inch of him entwined with every inch of her. She just felt crazy around him. She had never so much passion for one man before.

"I have to go…" Selphie as she ran down the stairs. She couldn't look at him or talk to him. She had to get away. She had to talk to Rinoa. Rinoa was her best friend, she told her everything. Selphie had to let Rinoa what happened; otherwise, Selphie would always feel guilty for kissing her ex-boyfriend.

"Selphie!" Squall yelled after the brunette who was sprinting for the dormitories. He didn't know why she was running away from him. Everyone seemed to be running away. He felt so betrayed by her, so hurt. He could feel the tear burn his cold cheeks as it rolled down his face. "Come back," he whimpered to the teenager whom was now out of site.

Everyone has turned their backs to me. What have I done? I have no friends it seems. Rinoa doesn't love me anymore. Zell will never talk to me again after what I did to him. Quistis is too wrapped up in Seifer to say hi every once in awhile. Never really cared for that obnoxious jerk of a flirt Irvine. Selphie… Selphie I really care about her. I wish I could tell her that. I can't believe I kissed her. Now, she doesn't want to be friends. If I knew she'd run away, I wouldn't of kissed her. I wish I had someone to talk to, just someone to understand me. I don't know how a guy can go from having the best friends in the world to having no friends at all. I must be the most wretched person in the world. Maybe this is payback, for all the people I hurt. I don't understand. My life is falling apart. The only other thing that can fall to pieces is my rank. I know Cid would never pull my rank down. He loves me; maybe I can talk to him. He's a bit older; maybe he has some great life knowledge to help me through this. Nah, he'd probably just talk about his wife. The two of them have been inseparable ever since she tried to kill everyone. That's love…staying together against all odds. I thought I had that I had that with Rinoa, but I guess I was wrong.

"We're a like you and me," came an acerbic male tone. The man had such confidence and anger all in one. He himself had been through the abandonment only weeks prior. Seifer was the most hated man in the universe. After all he betrayed his garden to become a minion to an evil sorceress. He only knew what it was like to have an actual friend because he had Quistis. He didn't want to be there for Squall, but he knew how bad it hurt inside. Even cynical, cold-hearted fighter has a soul with a heart core.

"What do you want?"

"Just heading back to the dorms."

"I don't have time to deal with your crap."

"Please Leonhart, I don't have the time to give you crap."

"Then keep walking…"

"Feel a little alone? Feel like dying just to save yourself from all the pain?"

"I don't want to die."

"You will when you see all your friends having a good time without you. You will."

"How about I just kill you instead?"

"Did that make things better with Zell?"

"No."

"Trust me Squall, I am the only one in this garden who know what you are going through."

"Leave me alone."

"Is it what you really want?"

"Is it any of your business?"

"Maybe we can try being friends…"

"We were never friends Seifer… NEVER!"

"That's doesn't mean we can't try."

"Maybe I don't want to be your friend."

"Why? Because I can beat you in a fight?"

"Because you nearly killed me."

"C'mon Leonhart. I'm all you have."

"I'd rather die."

"Selphie likes you. She really likes you. Don't screw up and you may also have her on your side."

"She hates me."

"She hates the thought of losing you."

"What do you know?"

"I know she talks to Quistis about you, but since you don't want to be my friend. I think I should call it a night," the blonde grinned as his peer. He had finally understood why they hated each other so much. It was like they were the angel and devil on the shoulder of the same teenage boy. They were too alike for comfort. Seifer respected Squall. He idolized him in a way. He wanted to be friends with him because, he knew him.

"Selphie?" Rinoa asked her friend tenderly, "What's wrong?" She hated it when someone hurt Selphie. Selphie was the most sincere person she had ever met. She was always there for everyone else but it seemed everyone else always fucked her over. That's why Rinoa was so close to Selphie, the two of them were to kind to other. The girls were normally broken hearted and disappointed. They met at an online chat room before they joined forces to defeat Ultimecia.

"I'm so sorry Rinny!" Selphie cried to her friend, "I didn't mean to. It just happened."

"What just happened?"

"I… I kissed Squall. It won't happen again?"

"What's the big deal?"

"It's a violation of the friend code."

"Because friends are supposed to go after the same guy," Rinoa said mockingly as she laughed at her friend. Selphie and her have been friend for a little over five years now and she had never seen her get so worked up. She admired her friend's commitment to their friendship. She always knew she could count on Selphie.

"Right! I'm so sorry Rinny…"

"You should be! You are such a drama queen. You're giving me a headache. Oh were you talking about Squall?"

"I won't even talk to him again."

"He's all yours sweetie. If he likes you, you mine as well try to have a relationship. You have my permission."

"I'm such a scum-sucking road whore."

"What's that?"

"I dunno a really bad person."

"Get over yourself. Selph, you deserve a great guy. If Squall is that guy, I want you to be happy. He and I are completely over."

"You love him."

"Not after what he did to my boyfriend. I loathe Squall. He's such a child."

"So is Zell."

"He shouldn't have attacked him. If he has a problem with me, he should have come to me."

"Did you ever think maybe Zell was the one he had a problem with?"

"Please, Zell is innocent."

"He stole his best friend girlfriend."

"So did you…"

"I'm never talking to him again."

"I'm just joking." Rinoa laughed as she looked at her friend. Selphie was more like a sister to her. She knew that she could trust Selphie with her secret, the part of her soul that has been haunting her for years. She had to tell someone, someone who would be caring and understanding. She could feel small tear drops crawl down her cheeks. She hated to admit what had done all those years ago. After all, the past was the past.

"I told you, you cared about him," Selphie exclaimed as she wiped away the tears from her friend's eyes. In all the times she had seen Rinoa cry, Selphie had never seen her in such agonizing pain. She couldn't imagine who or what would cause her friend such unbearable pain. As she watched her friend explode into an emotional disaster, she swore to get revenge on who ever did this to her friend."

"I have something to tell you, but you can't tell a soul."

"You have my word Rinny. I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Oh Angelo, what am I supposed to do?" Rinoa asked her faithful companion as they sat at her favorite spot. It was a ledge that overlooked the undiscovered universe. To Rinoa, the world beyond what the eye could see was fascinating.

"Are you ready my child?" Rinoa's father asked her as he walked up to her. He was planning on using his daughter's powers against the most fearful leaders of the time. His main target was the Royal family of Crystallis. The city made of crystals that lived under the sea. The Tilmitt family had always been powerful. They started the city as a shelter for the strong and intellectual. It was made for the best of the best.

"I don't want to do this father. I don't want to cause anyone pain."

"Did I say you had a choice?"

"No."

"General Dragonhart is waiting with his daughter. Deidre is a sorceress just like you. The two of you are going to create an alternate universe to hold captive any forces that oppose my domination, starting with the cohabitant of the silly city Crystallis."

"I can't do that. I am not powerful enough."

"Not alone no, but when you and Deidre mix powers, she said you can do anything."

"I don't want to."

"Either they die or you die, which is it?"

"That's not fair."

"Life is not fair, get used to it."

"I hate you and I always will."

"You could never hate me."

"I just said I did."

"You're a naïve child," General Caraway said as he pulled her to her feet. "You don't understand what you say." He picked his daughter up and threw her over his shoulder. He would carry her to his truck. His 5 year old daughter was already one of the most powerful sorceresses this world has ever seen. He chuckled as he threw her down in the front passenger seat and buckled her in. With her powers, He would be able to control the whole world.

"Hey Rinoa," Deidre said quietly from the backseat as she fumbled around with her red hair. She was almost ten years older than Rinoa, so she knew what it felt like to be different from everyone else your age. She always had a soft side for Rinoa. They were sister in a way, two seeds of the same pod.

"Hi…"

As the general drove the girls to the space station he talked all the while of what his plans were. The Tilmitts would be waiting at the station. They believe that they are receiving an award for their courage in the war of all wars between the various gardens. They were the ones who ultimately ended the war. While Callista Stevenson was in love with a man she met while visiting a cousin at Balamb garden, She, herself was a loyal attendee of Trabia. They were like Romeo and Juliet. When Lysander Tilmitt proposed to her, he connected the two gardens as one. He was the commander of the forces and everyone idolized his search for a peaceful ending. They had been married for about five years with a baby girl who loved dearly. When they found out there was a bounty hunter with their names on his paycheck, they sent her away to an orphanage to be unknown. That way there little bay, Selphie, wouldn't get hurt. They just prayed did it was a trapped, that they wouldn't find their daughter.

When they arrived at the space station Rinoa wanted to run away. How could see ever hurt a happy family. She knew she was going to hate herself someday for what she was about to do. As much as she didn't want to do it, Rinoa wanted to perform the magic so that she could impress Deidre. She had always looked up to her for some reason.

"Here goes nothing," Deidre stated as she grabbed Rinoa's hand. She closed her eyes so she could focus all her energy on warping the space station to another dimension. She instructed Rinoa to copy whatever it was that she was doing herself. After she was focused she created a perfect world wear no one could get in and no one could get out. At first the mere thought of the alternate universe didn't happen. Then she started chanting: Latinicka basutil Camino (Listen to me).

When Rinoa started to joined in and chant with her the world seemed to get fuzzy. She couldn't see a thing. It was like see was watching a TV. with no good reception. She just wanted to run away but Deidre had a firm grip on her hand. She could see the blurry specs in front of her turn into nothing until she completely blacked out.

When Rinoa awoke she was in the nursery of her five story mansion. She smiled as she saw Deidre lying on the floor next to her. She always liked it when Deidre babysat her. There was never a dull moment, and Deidre treated her like and equal. She walked over to Deidre to give her a hug, only to find her idol soaked in blood. She didn't know what to do, so she wandered around her mansion. She stumbled upon a gun blade with the name Seifer inscribed in it. She thought for sure who ever Seifer Almsay was he was going to pay for what he did to Deidre. All she had to do was grow up and learn how to fight.

She cried as she looked at Angelo and her companion licked her face in both comfort and agreement. She cuddled with her pet until a man with piercing blue eyes walked up to her. He gave her the necklace that Deidre was wearing and he even admitted to killing her. He was only a child, a strong ass child. Rinoa couldn't believe what she was seeing. He ran away before she could hurt him and she never saw him again. She had to hunt him down and kill him. She had to make sure he paid for killing the only person that understood her. Then she had to find a way to save Selphie's parents.

"I should be the sorry one Selph," Rinoa said after she finished up her story. Now that she knew Selphie she felt horrible for what she did when she was younger. She was the one who took Selphie parents away from her. She could barely look at her friend. She had to make things better. She had to leave the garden. She had to find out who killed Deidre and how to get Selphie's parents back. She just hoped they weren't dead already.

For once in her life Selphie didn't know what to say. After all those years of this her parents were assassinated, she has come to realize they are alive and her best friend took them from her. She loves Rinoa like she was family. It was something that she could forgive her for, if she'd bring her parents back. She wanted to see her mom and dad and see how similar they really were.

"I've wronged you I know," Rinoa cried as she stood up and paced in front of her friend. She had to see Seifer. She had to know if it was really him who killed Deidre. If it was him, he'd wish he had never messed with Rinoa Heartilly when she was through with him. She will make him pay for what he did. She'd make who ever it was pay.

"I understand."

"Why do you understand? I sent your parents away."

"Can't you just bring them back?"

"Selphie, I have been trying to for the last ten years. I really wish there was something that I could do, but I don't know how to control my powers. When I did it, I just gave all my energy to Deidre, and she committed the crime. I wish I knew what she did, so I can get them back, but I don't"

"Well, do you think you could try?"

"If you leave me alone to practice using my powers I will try to get them back for you, but I need to concentrate."

"Are we even then?"

"We'll never be even Selphie. What I did was one of the most wretched things a girl could do and I can't even fix it."

"I have faith in you."

"But you said yourself everyone will think I'm a power seeking murder."

"Not if you do something to reconnect a family."

"You're really too good to be my friend sometimes."

"I'll always be there for you Rinny. To me, you're the sister I never had."

"I'll do whatever it takes to get your parents back I promise."

"Thank you, for telling me. It means a lot that you admitted it. Don't worry, I won't tell a soul."

Rinoa looked at her friend. She couldn't stand to look at her, she just felt too guilty to. Rinoa smiled and hugged her friend she had to do something. Had to make everything better again and it all relied on her.

Selphie looked at her friend. "I have to go do some things. I'll talk to you later ok?" Selphie asked as she helped herself to exit. When she got to the door, she looked at her friend. She knew that Rinoa would never do anything to hurt her on her own. General Caraway must be stopped otherwise he'll be the next to kill all the innocent people. Selphie walked down the hall crying. Why did everything have to hit her all at once?

Rinoa sat in her room knowing that she hurt her best friend. She could barely live anymore. She wanted to be gone in an alternate universe somewhere as a slave girl to an alien king. She just wanted to get away. Plus she didn't understand why she got the flashbacks in the first place. Her father had her brain wiped when she was 13, so she wouldn't remember everything he made her do with her powers.

Rinoa ran from her own bedroom. She couldn't stare in there. She was evil and cruel. She didn't deserve the hospitality of the garden. She needed to go somewhere to think. She ran down the dormitories hallway knocking down 3 junior girls on her way. She didn't care what she did or who she did it to. She just needed to get out.

She had to sort everything out in her head. She had too much to think. She just had too much to lose she couldn't believe what she had all been through in her short lived life. She had seen and done murder. She has fallen in love and broken hearts. She has gained friends and lost friends. She has been through more terrible things that no one else would ever see or do.

"Whoa there princess!" Seifer exclaimed as she nearly knocked him down as she bolted out of the hallway to the dormitories. He was just heading back to his room after having a little chat with Squall. He was carrying his gun blade with him for some strange reason. It didn't look as if he had been in the training center.

"Seifer! Just the man I was looking for."

"What do you want?"

"I have to talk to you. I have been having these flashbacks lately…"

"I am not going to play shrink!"

"I'm not asking you to."

"Great, then I will see you later," Seifer said as he turned to walk away. He wasn't in the mood to talk to Rinoa. She was a drama queen, someone you always needed attention. He never like her attitude and he hated how she always got her way.

"No, wait," Rinoa called after him. She barely caught a hold of his hand when she reached out to him as he turned to walk away. She grabbed at him with all of her might and pulled him back toward her.

"I don't have time for you bullshit!"

"I saw a young boy in my flashback. When I was 5 someone murdered my dearest friend."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"The young boy in my flashback was holding the gun blade that killed my friend."

"And?"

"The gun blade looks just like that one," Rinoa says pointing to the gun blade that Seifer is holding in his right hand. "It had your name written on it." She was positive it was him who committed the murder. She was also positive that he would deny it with all his might. She knew she'd be able to tell if he was lying or telling the truth.

"When I was born my father had this gun blade made especially for me. When my parents died and I had to go to the orphanage, my gun blade was stolen. You can even ask Matron, She'll back me up. I didn't murder your friend princess."

"Fine, I'll ask Matron. That's Edea right? But I'm not done with you yet! I will get to the bottom of this!"

"You got nothing on me princess!"

"Stop calling me that! You know I hate it when you call me that!"

"Well I don't like being accused of something I didn't do.

"You did it, and I'll prove it!"

"If you want, I'll help you find the perpetrator, but I didn't do it."

"Fine, we'll work together then."

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"Is that all you wanted?"

"Do you know where Edea is?"

"Probably in her classroom, she teaches a magic course."

"Thank you."

"You have to believe me. I know I fucked up when I became the sorceress's knight. I know I killed innocent people, but that was only a few years ago not ten. I've changed; I have no reason to lie to you. I have everything to lose."

"I believe you for some reason, but if you fuck me over, I will get my revenge," Rinoa said as she started to walk away. She needed to find Edea fast. Not only could they talk about Seifer's childhood, but she could also ask Edea about getting Selphie's parents back.

A/N: Alright I'm trying to add some more action into the story. Tell me what you think of this chapter. If the action doesn't seem to fit, I'll change it.