A/n: Thank you for the reviews everyone! Sorry for the long delay in updates, but I've been having so much drama I ought to turn that into a fic. Although on the upside, I completed my time in Theatre Recovery, and kicked some butt on the surgical ward and in my exams. Phew! Finally made it to the holidays, and it's time for the wine!! Yippie :)

'Are you searching?'

MONDAY EVENING

18:46

Rinoa stared at Squall over the table; he was flanked by both Selphie and Seifer, and between them looked the paragon of seriousness and wisdom. He was watching Zell set out the table with a critical gaze. Except for the stupid games she had played with her friends when she was younger, pushing a wine glass around the kitchen table making it point to letters written on card, Rinoa had never been involved in a séance before.

"We will use an ouija board," Zell said, clicking little pieces of carved wood into the board he had laid out. With each click a letter came into play, A B C D… and with them a chill ran up Rinoa's spine. She had no doubt in her mind that these letters would speak with an otherworldly voice. This was nothing like the scribbled letters of her childhood. Looking at the other faces at the table, she could tell those who were nervous from the ones that had done this before. But to her surprise Seifer was joining the apprehensive team.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Seifer said eyeing Zell with some scepticism. There was no doubt in Seifer's mind that Zell was a practicing freak, and although Squall had decided to trust him, didn't mean he was convinced yet. Selphie seemed to have fallen for his hapless nature the moment she met him, so her opinion was even more useless to Seifer. The only one that looked equally as worried was Rinoa.

Not that he could blame her, even though she had managed to control what her aura was doing, she was still vulnerable. In fact from what Squall had told him about the way she had reacted to this request, Seifer was sure she had a screw loose also. Why Squall should want to involve Rinoa in this Seifer couldn't understand. She appeared to Seifer to be a little unstable, especially when it came to Squall. Then again, Seifer considered Squall to be a bit of a twat when it came to women, so he wasn't really surprised.

"Of course I know what I'm doing," Zell replied affronted. "If you think you can do better?" he asked daring Seifer to say yes.

Zell had been involved in many séances over the years, but not always being the one conducting it. Some were unbelievably faked, with ghostly spectres appearing on the walls through tricks of lights. Others he couldn't explain. It was the times he couldn't explain that kept him believing that there may be something after death, but he'd never yet seen any proof. He doubted today was going to change the world, but at least he could be sure no one here would fake the results.

Seifer had remained quite since being challenged by Zell, however it was clear he hadn't changed his mind. Folding his arms and staring out of the window, he yawned loudly. But although he might not see the value in this, it seemed Squall believed in something, and Seifer had enough respect to let it lie.

The only one not taking part today was Quistis, she was busily writing goodness knows what in her notebook, and setting up her camera. It was clear now that Quistis was planning on putting photos in her book. Nobody seemed to mind that she was now taking pictures, no one thinking too far ahead.

"So um," Rinoa said, "What is the actual point to this? The aim?"

Squall had been hoping that Rinoa wouldn't want to ask that. He had be half hoping she was still annoyed enough not to want to speak, but it seemed their previous argument had been forgotten. Although she looked concerned, she didn't look as if she was going to get up and storm out. Which, in Squall's mind was an improvement.

"To test your powers Rinoa. Didn't Squall explain?" Zell replied before Squall had the chance.

Feeling a flash of dread come over him, that Rinoa was about to flip out once again, Squall watched her reactions with apprehension. But Rinoa remained calm, almost uncaring. It was a far cry from her previous behaviour.

"Oh, right. No, Squall didn't explain anything," Rinoa said. Her unconsidered reply managed to annoy Squall.

"You didn't give me a chance."

Rinoa shrugged and waited for Zell to finish placing the letters. The planchett was sitting in the middle of the table, and it drew her eye. Squall didn't know how to respond to this, he couldn't understand why she was suddenly so calm. Deciding to ignore her, Squall said no more. It was better to take advantage of her change of mind than try to understand it.

"Zell, mind if I photograph the table before you start?" Quistis asked eagerly. She could already see the photo as the front cover to her book, blown up on huge posters. Advertised in magazines, number one bestseller. Quistis let her mind wander as she checked the images in her camera album. There were some good shots already.

"I'm well excited," Selphie exclaimed once it looked like everyone was finally ready to call up some spirits. "I wonder who we'll contact? I hope it's someone famous."

"I hope it's someone useful," Seifer replied, "Maybe you could take some notes," he added under his breath towards Selphie.

Selphie scowled and folded her arms. Ever since they had met Rinoa, things between the three had been rather strained. Rather than only having each other, they suddenly had three other people who they could be honest to. The dynamic had changed, and Selphie felt even more pushed out. Even though Seifer had never really welcomed her presence, he had always accepted her. Now, he seemed to be going out of his way to hurt her feelings, and Squall was no longer attempting to defend her. Selphie scowled at Rinoa for a while, then looked away. It wasn't Rinoa's fault that she was new and interesting.

"Right, I'm ready," Zell declared sitting back in his seat. "What do you want to do first?" he asked. Tapping his fingers on the table in excitement. The buzz was starting to kick in, and he was nervous about what might be about to come.

20:00

It took almost an hour before something of interest happened. So far nothing had tried to contact them through the ouija board, and Rinoa was beginning to wonder why they were all still bothering. Perhaps it was her desire to see something happen, that called to the Bleak floating in the street outside. In a sudden burst of chaos, the Bleak crashed through the window, raining glass over the surly company and across the table.

"Holy crap!" Seifer yelled as the Bleak smashed into him, hitting his right shoulder like hammer. The sharp unexpected pain lost him is grasp on the planchett, sending it spinning across the room after the Bleak. The small block of wood travelled through the shadowy creature, seeming to take an unnatural time to hit the wall.

Rinoa and Quistis had covered their heads at the sound of smashing glass, but Squall was already on his feet, and the aftermath of his bullet ringing in their ears. The Bleak fell to the floor, tiny pieces clattering on the floor like hailstones, and then silence.

"There is something else out there," Selphie shouted, staring out of the broken window. "I saw him, he was staring at me!" she added hysterically.

"He's not there now," Squall replied looking up and down the street. No one had arrived to investigate the gunshot, and now that the sky was dark with rain clouds, it seemed unlikely anyone would.

Squall had never seen Selphie so pale, and while the occupants of the room scrabbled together to clean up the mess, they might as well have disappeared. For once, Squall could see on the pixie's face that she had seen something worth being frightened about.

"We'll carry on," Squall said as the other began sweeping the glass into a pile.

Seifer was still rubbing his shoulder and cursing under his breath. The pain was showing no signs of abating, but it was the hard expressions on Squall and Selphie's faces that told him something was wrong. Instead of complaining, Seifer simply retook his place at the table and waited for the others.

The interruption had not stopped Quistis from scribbling, in fact she seemed to be re-energized, and every now and then she darted her eyes up to the Bleak and then towards Rinoa. In her hand the camera flashed, recording the mess.

Squall found that a nagging thought had returned to him, that there was something about Rinoa that no one had quite figured out yet. He had no doubt that it was her power and presence that had distracted the Bleak and caused it to hurl itself through the window. But her face was expressionless. She didn't even appear shaken, just serenely sitting at the table waiting for everyone else to calm down.

"I tell you, that bastard out there was looking straight at me," Selphie said once she'd composed herself, flicking a piece of glass off of her shoulder.

The look that Squall gave her told her to stop speaking. Selphie knew instantly that he had something to say to her, but that he didn't want to end the séance.

"Well that certainly spiced things up, what's next Rinoa? An undead circus troupe? A murderous poltergeist?"

Rinoa shrugged.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because that Bleak didn't stop by to say hi to us lot, you're the one they like," Seifer replied. He couldn't understand how Rinoa was so composed when his heart was still hammering at a hundred miles an hour. He felt like he needed to rile her up, but she wasn't responding to anything. What was the matter with her?

"Maybe you should leave if you've already crapped yourself?" Rinoa retorted, irritated that no one was going to just get on with the séance. Why did the Bleak have to be discussed at all? It was just one of those things.

Selphie sorted with amusement.

"Yeah, Seifer you really wussed out there. Good job Squall saved your sorry ass, or we wouldn't have the pleasure of your witty company. We'd all be off to accident and emergency instead."

Seifer decided not to respond. Since he was being attacked by two women, it probably wouldn't take long for Quistis to join in too, and the delay would only annoy Squall.

20:30

The planchett moved across the board without making much sense until the letters H E L P, spelt out a chilling message, followed by T R A P P E D.

The collective silence made the room feel heavy, and suddenly the night, which had started as a sort of game became solemn.

"Are you looking for someone Squall?" Rinoa asked suddenly, startling everyone. "Are you searching?"

The randomness of the question prompted a host of questioning stares from those around Squall, who didn't understand what Rinoa was talking about. But Squall had become frozen. The eerie light from the street lit Rinoa's face in an odd way, making her look otherworldly. For the first time since he met her, she suddenly looked like her Heartilly namesake.

Seifer was puzzled. Had Squall been keeping something from him all these years? Was tonight's séance more than it appeared? Torn between feeling angry that he had been kept in the dark, and impressed that Squall had finally done something underhand, Seifer waited for Squall's reply.

"Yes, I am looking from someone," Squall said after a while. "My sister."

Rinoa looked down at the board.

"It's her," she replied assuredly, staring at the board, where the planchett still pointed to D.

But from the on, no matter what questions they asked, the planchett moved no more, and the evening ended with the guests feeling confused.