A/N: Thank you everyone!! Answers on the way, promise, promise!
Back Once More
SATURDAY EVENING
20:32
It was kind of a long shot, but Rinoa could think of little else. Having now teamed up with oddball Zell the 'magician' and paranormal investigator Quistis, Rinoa didn't quite know what her role within the group would be. At the moment she had been assigned the task of finding the 'warriors' from another dimension. She stopped, hairbrush in hand halfway to her hair. She couldn't help the small disbelieving laugh that escaped her as she thought about what she agreed to.
Being the only one who knew what Squall and Seifer looked like; she had the heads-up compared to the others. She wondered how long their plan would last when they didn't find them tonight. The odds were so insane that the likelihood that they would return to the same club tonight was almost non-existent. No one went out two nights in a row, not unless they were on holiday or on a path to self-destruction.
Paracetemol was keeping the headache at bay and Rinoa was doing her best to stay alert. But she was in desperate need of sleep. From past experience she knew the night could either go one of two ways. One drink would either knock her out or send her into a hyper dizzy state. She hoping for the latter, at least that way she could forget about how damned insane her life had become.
Quistis' finger remained on the doorbell even after she heard it buzz on the other side of the door. She looked over her shoulder at the blond man still sitting in her car. Even though she had agreed to this, she still wasn't able to prevent the moments of scepticism that shook her resolve. In her heart she was what she claimed to be, an investigator. She couldn't base her world just on belief. She needed proof. It was this need that pushed her along, that forced her up the steps to Rinoa's house. If she didn't go looking for that proof, she'd never find her answers.
A quick sweep of the eye over Quistis' outfit of jeans and a conservative black top, instantly made Rinoa feel like the worlds biggest slut. Stepping out into the evening chill in her denim shorts and red halterneck, Rinoa wrapped her arms around her middle and hurried to the car. She saw Zell watch her progress eagerly, and for a moment wondered if it was entirely wise to get into a car with him.
"Hi," he said cheerfully as she slammed the car door against the cold breeze.
"Alright?" she replied in greeting. "Everyone knows this is a long shot, right?"
Quistis adjusted her glasses and raised an eyebrow at her via the mirror.
Zell didn't reply. He had been desperately trying to think of an answer as to Rinoa's broken aura. Unbeknownst to her he had tried his usual spells earlier that day. Seeing her walking towards the car, her aura still incomplete, he knew that nothing he had tried had worked. He knew immediately that it was beyond his capabilities to help. She was going to have to walk through life feeling like something was missing from her and there was nothing he could do about it.
As they drove through the town, Zell looked at the scattered few people on the pavement. Some faded into the background, others drew his attention. In the shadows, where the streetlights didn't reach, he saw a couple of Bleaks creeping across the buildings. Feeling the hairs on his arms standing on end, he suddenly had the notion that the Bleaks were looking at him. As if they were aware. He had never experienced this before; it had always been his belief that the Bleaks chose their prey at random.
He looked back at Rinoa. Perhaps the Bleaks weren't looking at him after all. They might be looking at her…
20:45
Seifer was once again pounding on the bathroom door. With the return of Selphie it meant that the queue for the shower had once again become longer. Always at the back of the line, Squall flicked through the TV channels. Not that he could hear anything over the never ending Selphie vs Seifer banter and arguing. The room began to close in on him, the space seeming smaller and smaller with every hollered word.
Eventually Selphie emerged looking harassed, a wisp of steam followed her out into the colder room. She stared up at Seifer with a defiant look, her eyes now framed in lashings of mascara. In the moment that they stared at each in a silent stand off, Squall decided to risk his life. Sneaking around Seifer, he slipped past Selphie and slammed the door.
"You've got to be freaking kidding me!" Seifer yelled.
22:45
Rinoa had to admit that she was rather drunk; once again she was stumbling to the bathroom. Zell had been paying for drinks by plastic and Rinoa had lost count of how many rounds he had bought. Usually seeing her money deplete was a good sign of how much she had drunk. Quistis remained stone cold sober, despite their assurances that she could leave her car and take a taxi home with them.
Once in the bathroom she caught sight of someone she recognised. Fighting her way through the groups of people she caused some hurtful comments to be thrown her way from those she pushed past. Managing to jump the queue for the toilets, she had to explain to those that complained she was simply waiting for someone. Social etiquette could be violent at times.
Selphie was surprised to be tapped on the arm as she tried to leave the bustle of the ladies. Turning around she saw she had further reason to be surprised. Rinoa gave her a nervous smile, as if not quite knowing what her reaction might be.
"Rinoa!" Selphie exclaimed. She didn't quite know what more to say, nor could they really talk over all the other voices in the small room. She was glad that she wasn't in the glare of Seifer or Squall. She knew that they wouldn't want her talking with Rinoa, not that she had been mentioned since.
"Can I talk to you?" Rinoa asked, trying to form her words well so that Selphie could lip-read.
Selphie bit her lip nervously as she wondered how she could leave. She couldn't use her magic, the place was too crowded and someone would notice something. In the end she decided that if went outside the she could disappear into the night air without anyone seeing her.
"OK, follow me," Selphie said before weaving her way through the crowd.
The air outside was filled with smoke, as those with the little white sticks conversed together, sharing lighters and stories. Selphie had never seen the appeal of smoking and decided it must be one of those strange irrational human things. When she turned around she realised she had been joined, not only by Rinoa, but by two others she didn't know.
"What's going on?" she asked nervously. The sight of two strangers looking at her with questioning gazes didn't make her feel easy. She was always on edge, wondering if she would be found out for what she really was and today it appeared her luck had run out.
"Selphie, after what happened… well I couldn't just forget it, could I?" Rinoa said in an apologetic voice. "So… well I…"
She looked back at her friends for some help.
"Quistis Trepe, paranormal investigator. I'm investigating unusual occurrences," Quistis said holding out her hand for Selphie to shake. Selphie shook her hand quickly before taking a step away from the trio.
"And I'm Zell. Magician, Clairvoyant… Bleak hunter…"
Selphie turned a paler shade at the mention of the Bleaks. She had never met anyone, other than Seifer and Squall who knew what they were.
"Hunting what?" she replied, stunned and refusing to believe that these people could be a part of the same world she was. "How do you…?"
"We'd like to help you," Rinoa said. "And, we have some questions."
Selphie stared at them until she was sure they weren't some kind of dream. She was certainly not expecting to see Rinoa again, especially not with knowledge of the Bleak and brand-new friends. This wasn't something she could solve on her own.
"You need to speak to Squall," she said at last.
