Pre-authors notes; Everything is in Rinoa's point of view, and if I do switch the point of view from hers to somebody else's then I will make sure to try and make it clear. Also, there are some more time jumps in this chapter, just to make you aware while you a reading it, thanks and enjoy.

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Destiny In Motion

The Beginning

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'Let her go,'

A voice, threatening.

'No,' an agile laugh, shaking my body, fingers brushing firmly over my shaking figure.

Cold, crystalline blue eyes hold me still more then his grip does. More then the fatal injury, the blood that I can hear dropping to the floor, my own.

'Bastard, what do you think you're even accomplishing?'

Seifer's hunched over figure catches my attention from the other side of the room, holding his bloodied, nearly decapitated arm.

'Nothing,' the mysterious man says and smiles. Seifer had said his real name earlier… what had it been?

-

'Get back!' Seifer had screamed, taking both me and the young soldier at my doorway off guard.

He had gripped at my arm, pulling me back roughly and we both watched as the man who had just entered the room did not hesitate a moment before piercing the young soldier from behind. A face so cruelly memorized by my mind only moments before.

A body falling to the floor with a thud. The young man obviously dead.

My mind had begun to rush and all I could do was take in Seifer's scent as he pressed me behind him and I leaned into his back. Manly, like a dull peppermint mixed with cinnamon.

'What are you here for, Squall?'

-

Everything had happened so quickly after that, I cannot remember precisely what had happened. Seifer ended up fighting the man, especially when he had come at me. I had asked him why he was protecting me, and he had simply replied 'I don't like you, but it's my job'. Pitiless words even from a man risking his life for me. Does a simple job really hold that much power over somebody?

'Squall?'

My eyes flutter, and the lights above me make my vision hazy. I catch a glimpse of the man above me whom I had just addressed. He looks surprised, no, mortified.

As if he has just realized that it is a human he is holding in his arms.

Seifer says something but the blood rushing in my ears grows louder and louder, I feel myself twitching, my body moving restlessly as I realize something is wrong. So incredibly wrong.

Then the darkness washes over me, like something completely natural.

Something meant to be.

'Rinoa!! Where is she?!' a frantic blonde woman comes into the room only moments after I've collapsed.

The whole time that I've been lying here, with that corpse and the shattered window, I've been squirming, cursing. Cradling my injured, nearly severed arm. Reaching for what I hope is an escape. I just want to see her face again, be with her, I'm tired of this all, so tired…

'Ah? Oh Hyne, are you alright?!' the tap of the womans high-heeled boots as she comes towards me, and then what I had been fearing, happens.

'CRACK'

'Oh? What is this?' she leans over, taking my hope, my escape, into one of her gloved hands.

I don't know how pitiful I must look, weak, unwanted, desperate… but I don't care, I want that picture back.

'Don' fuckin' touch that!'

She only gasps and slowly, very slowly kneels down to me. When her face comes into view I'm astonished, those pale blue eyes, ivory skin, fine strands of honey-blonde hair framing her thin face. So much like her, even the full lips lined with bright red, even the lipstick looks the same!

'Uh… hello? Can you hear me?' I suddenly realize that she has been trying to talk to me. I struggle with my one good arm to sit up and her jaw drops.

'Wait! Do not move!' I arch an eyebrow at this command suddenly barked at me. I realize that I'm in somewhat of a daze because I completely missed her getting up and tearing a piece of linen from the quilt on my bed, in the guestroom where I've been staying. She is suddenly tying it onto my wounded arm as tightly as her strength and my flesh will allow and gently lending me her hand. I reject it, and stumble to my feet.

My eyes scan the room again, where is it?

'Hey, you need to get the doctor to help you, if you do not, then soon you may bleed to death!' I can only wonder why there is so much concern on this womans voice. She is a stranger to me but I assume that she must be one of Rinoa's servants.

'Leave me alone,' I grumble and make my way to the bed, cursing at how dizzy I've suddenly become. I wait for all the blood to rush back to my head, for my eyes to focus and my heart to stop racing as fast as it is.

There is a sigh from the corner of the room, the muttering of two people, and I don't bother to look back.

Ha, I'll probably be fired, only two weeks and I've already failed. Cid just wanted to get rid of me, this is my fault.

'Hey… this is yours?'

I had completely forgotten the blondes presence but gave her a grateful smile when she handed me the broken picture frame. I look down at it, the broken shards of glass cutting out the vision of the picture beneath them.

My fingers reach shakily towards the glass, hoping to pry them away and get to the true sentiment, what it had been meant to protect.

'Careful,' the woman says, grabbing my hand away.

I look over to her now sitting by my side on the bed, the white sheets are stained with red. She must be watching me, having told somebody else to go get the doctor. I don't care anyways, I failed.

I watch like a dumbfounded baby as she reaches over, softly brushing away the tiny glass remains from the photograph in my lap.

She gasps at what confronts her.

Ah, where am I?

'Why?'

'I… don't know,'

'You were to bring them both to me, and that was to be that… and did I not tell you how I wanted them to be brought to me?'

'Yes,'

'I will discuss this with you later, I don't have time for you right now,'

'Yes…'

I am cold, and my neck hurts… and, I am so scared.

'You!' I gasp out in a raspy voice as the man from earlier steps into the room, the person he had been speaking to a moment ago having vanished from sight in the room further back, in the realm outside of the doorway.

He looks at me and irritably shoves my head back down onto the pillow of the bed I find myself on. I quickly swat him away fearing that my young womanhood is in jeopardy.

'Hey! What do you think you are doing? Do not touch me!'

'You need to rest,' he says almost too quietly to hear and gets up from the bed. The expression crossing his face makes it seem like he is scared of me.

'Tell me where I am,' I demand and he turns to me, his scruffy, auburn hair framing pallid flesh and divinely blue eyes.

'You don't have the right to know that yet, now be quiet and do as I say,' he states matter-of-factly and turns, ready to leave.

'Excuse me?' I mock and take just enough time to scan my eyes over his new apparel. Tight leather black pants and a white undershirt. When he turns back around to say something I also notice the chain around his neck and what seems to be a lions head hanging off of it, carved into metal.

'Alright, how about this?' out of sheer anger or annoyance, I cannot tell which of the two, he backtracks all the way to the bed, leaning in so that our faces are only mere centimeters apart.

'Be quiet and do as I say or I'll slit your throat, again, and this time I won't heal you'.

'Y-you slit my throat?' I gulp and one of my hands reaches for my neck.

I know that it has been hurting, but… is that even possible? How?

'How did you-?'

'-There are a lot of things I can do that you can't'.

I did not think it was possible for another man to be more arrogant then Seifer… I guess I was wrong.

I inspect the empty room after, what was his name, Squall? Oh yes, it was Squall.

After Squall seemed like he had suddenly remembered something and rushed out the door.

It is not very large, and I can see a window in the corner of the room at the end of where the bed is positioned. It is a navy blue room, with a bedside table, a lamp, and a dresser. Besides that it is completely empty. 'Maybe it is his room?' I think and check it once again for any sign that this may be true.

Finally, the rather tall man comes back into the room, those petrifying eyes focusing on me and capturing me.

I suddenly realize what he had left the room for when he dumps a plate of fruits onto the bedside table.

I do not know what to say, so I just mumble a 'thank you'.

He stands over me for a few moments as I nibble at some of the grapes he has brought me.

Glancing up at him every now and then I am surprised to find him doing the same. Taking nervous glances in my direction. What is it with him? First he gives me the impression that he is a big-headed jerk, and now he is making me feel bad for being so rude before, acting so sensitive, insecure even.

I turn my body and suddenly realize the chain on my arm, I gape at it, then at him.

'Oh, that's why,' he says, expecting me to know what he means.

'What is this? Take this off of me, right now!' I yell, furious and ready to rip into him with all I have got.

'Ha, I was wondering why you were being so… good,'

'So good? I am not some little puppy you can handle whichever way you like! Now, unchain me! Now!'

My voice goes squeaky again, something that happens often when I am really worked up. I fight with the chain but to no avail.

He smirks at me, the closest thing I have seen to a smile on his face, and then just as quickly he retreats from the room yet again.

It takes a few minutes this time, before he comes back into the room. He seems shifty, jittery almost. His eyes keep glaring around the space like there are millions of unseen enemies lurking around each and every corner.

'Tell me your name,' I say, food half hanging out of my mouth. I do not even know why I have said it.

'Very lady like,' he says, without a smile or any kind of emotion behind it. Just a stare.

I swallow, a very dry and hard swallow. Then glare up at him again, 'Hey! That is not answering me. I think the least you can do is tell me who you really are!'

He bends over at the end of the bed and lifts a strange case onto it. It looks like it could hold a guitar or something, but is too small for that… maybe a violin?

He pulls out a sword.

'That's the last thing I want to talk to you about'.

I feel like biting this guys head off. Throwing any smart remark I can in his direction. Instead I sit on the bed quietly, realizing that I am choking on a grape.

I try to cough, it will not come out. My hand starts slamming my own chest convulsively. How long have I been choking on this thing without noticing? I cannot make a sound and I cannot get any air. It is so restrictive. My face feels like it is on fire and my head like it is going to explode, like it is swelling up and pulsing. I look around and cannot find Squall anywhere.

Where has he gone?! He cannot leave at a time like this! Does he even realize what is happening to me? Is this really how I am going to die? Choking on a miserable grape after getting kidnapped by some disrespectful man with no manners?

I feel something cold jabbing my wrist and suddenly I am getting pulled to my feet. I am so dizzy, but I can still feel the arms being wrapped around my waist, the force coming directly with it.

Then suddenly I can breathe, and I fall backwards. The person holding me stumbles and my vision which had slowly been driven into blackness returns.

There is the room, the sword case still sitting open on the bed, a chain with an open arm link near it.

I look down and see the grape.

I try to moan but I cannot even do that, suddenly choking on the air and making small wheezing noises.

Then, behind me there is a groan, and I am turned around to sit down on the bed, coming face to face with Squall.

I know I probably should not like my capture as much as I do at this very moment, but he saved my life! I feel like leaping into his arms!

'Freak, who chokes on a grape?'

Maybe not.

'Did you…' cough, 'just call,' cough, 'me a freak?'

Oh joy, my voice just had to crack at the end, sending it into yet another squeaky high-pitched interval.

'You saying you're not?'

Busy again, with his back turned to me.

I grapple with the idea of running, I am currently unchained and remain so without this Squall person paying any real attention to this little detail. My eyes dart around the room, to find the closest escape. As this is reality, all I can see from where I am sitting is the hallway, I do not even know where I am. It seems like a small house somewhere, but I cannot be certain. We could be in the middle of nowhere, then how would I get away? What is my plan for an escape route when I do not even know the layout of the house or even where this house may be?

'Bathroom?'

'What?' he snaps at me, the random comment most likely taking him off guard.

'Um, the bathroom? Could I please use it?'

He looks me over, eyes intense, body stiffening.

'No,'

'What? You cannot tell me that! I woman has the right to use the facilities when she so desires, now take me to the bathroom!'

'It's not about that. You're acting too polite now… don't even think of taking off, unless you really want to end up dead'.

I glare at him and he turns once more, finishing up whatever he had been packing in his bag from the small dresser and finally spinning back towards me.

He looks me over with what seems to be compassion and nervousness in his eyes. Then he thrusts a couple of the bags in my direction. I fall backwards on the bed and dart back up, ready to yell at the top of my lungs.

With one single look he tells me he will not except this and I do not know why, but I listen and keep my mouth shut. This man really knows how to communicate with his eyes. Those gorgeous eyes.

Wait, why am I even thinking that?

He looks around his room like it is the last time he will ever be seeing it and finally his gaze falls back on me.

'Come on, it's time to go,' and he turns and does not look back.

Post-authors notes; I have some very interesting advances in the plot now, more to be revealed in later chapters. Keep reading and supporting me with your comments/telling me what you think. Thank you!