Chapter 8: The Journey
Rinoa played with her long dark hair as she waited in Zell's room for him to come back. She had to tell him what was going on and beg him to come so she wouldn't be alone with Seifer. Plus she really didn't want to be away from him. She sighed when she realized he was 20 minutes late from the time he normally get back from lunch. She wasn't worried she just figured he was eating a few extra hot dogs or chatting with Quistis.
He walked in grinning with flowers in his hands. He skipped lunch so he could go to town and by Rinoa the best roses he could find. He knew something was bugging and he was just trying to cheer her up. He really did love her. What's not to love? She was beautiful, intelligent, funny, and everything else that a guy could ask for.
"Awe, you shouldn't have," Rinoa exclaimed as she ran over and hugged her boyfriend. He always knew just how to make her feel good. She knew that he would understand why she had to go. Her main worry would be that he wouldn't come with her. She needed him there for support if nothing else.
"Baby, could you let go? You're suffocating me," Zell pleaded as Rinoa hugged him tighter. Now he could tell that there was definitely something wrong. He only hoped that she didn't decide to go back out with that cold-hearted son of a bitch. He'd do anything for Rinoa except let her leave him.
"Sorry," she said as she grabbed his hand. She guided him over to the bed and they both sat down. She figured it would be best if he sat down when he heard this news. It might be easier for him to take. On the other hand, she didn't understand why she was getting so worked up over this. Why should her searching for the man that killed her sister be a problem? If he loved her, which she hoped he did, then he would understand and come with her.
"You know I love you, but I'm not letting you go back to that bastard!"
"What!"
"That's why you're so worried right because you don't want to break my heart? Well, Im not letting you leave me."
"Zell, those were never my intentions. I love you."
"Yeah, but you also love Squall."
"Squall and I are completely over. We have both moved on with our lives and I couldn't be happier."
"Then what has been on your mind."
"Well a little over ten years ago my sister died. Now I'm having these weird dreams like she's try to tell me something. She was murdered so I think she wants me to avenge her death. I have to go figure out who killed her. I have to serve justice before that person kills again."
"I don't know what to say… Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"I'm going to search for them and so is Seifer. It was his gunblade that killed her but not him. I figured maybe he could help. I don't want to go alone with him… Come with me."
Zell stood up and started pacing back and forth in front of Rinoa. He did love her, but it sounded like she wanted to commit murder. He couldn't murder anyone; it wouldn't be right. On the other hand, he couldn't let her go alone with Seifer, who know what the creep would try to do? He didn't want to let Rinoa down, but he didn't want to kill anyone. Maybe if he went with her, he could talk her out of killing whoever it was and turn them into the proper officials instead.
"I knew you wouldn't want to help me. I should never have asked you," Rinoa cried throwing her hands over her face. If he finds out too much and doesn't want to help her… She might have to kill him to, and she didn't want to do that. But she's do anything for Deidre and she wasn't going to let anyone stop her. Especially if there was a way to resurrect her in Edea's book.
"I never said I wouldn't help. I just don't want to get in any type of trouble because I killed a man."
"I never said I was going to kill. I just said that I was going to make him pay!"
"I will help you; I just don't want you to do something that you would regret."
Rinoa stood up and grabbed Zell. She thought maybe if she looked him in the eyes he would understand where she was coming from. The two of them just stood there looking at one another. It was almost as they were both afraid of what the other was thinking. Neither one knew what to say or do.
"I got a car, so we can leave whenever you are ready," a male's voice beamed through the silence. Seifer had already prepared. He was just confuse that Quistis was nowhere in sight, so he couldn't say goodbye. He knew he'd miss her, but if he didn't go Rinoa might kill him just for spite.
Zell nodded and quickly packed his bags. He didn't trust Seifer yet, so he really didn't have a choice. Zell had to go; he had to protect his love. He just glared at Seifer as Rinoa stood pretty close to him as the two waited for Zell to finish getting ready.
"Where exactly are we going?" Zell asked as he finished packing. He was slowly walking over to the others. He saw a look in both of their eyes that screamed evil, but he refused to believe his Rinoa could be as evil as Seifer. It wasn't happening. How did she even get along with this guy?
"I'm not sure."
"I have a good idea about where we have to go," Seifer chipped in although he could tell he wasn't wanted by either of the other two. He just laughed at the glaring sets of eyes on him. He grabbed Zell's bags and motioned for the other two to follow him. His gut was telling him the guilty one would be back at where it all started. They had to go to the orphanage.
