...leave it up to you...

Chapter 10 : An angel's help

Squall

Rinoa laughs a little. "You said you missed him?" she asks. I nod. "And what did he say? Did he get mad, Squall?"

I really wish he had. Maybe that would have made things easier. But he didn't get mad. He didn't say anything. He just had this look of pure torture on his face and brushed past me, back to his room I guess. That was all. I don't know why I said that. It just seemed like the right thing to say.

And it was true.

"He just walked away."

"O-oh."

I shrug. "He's having it hard."

"And you're not?" Rinoa asks. She has a sparkle in her eye and pulls a strand of hair out of my head.

"Ouch."

"Yeah, ouch. It's nice to know you can feel again. It's different, having him back. It's like whatever was missing from Garden, is back. Seifer's irreplaceable. He's an important part of this place. I haven't lived here as long as you guys, but I know that it's true."

Grinning and bouncing up and down a bit she continues, "Seifer's a good guy. He's just like you, Squall. I don't know why or what exactly it is, but you and him are so similar!"

There's always something about Rinoa that's just... cute. She acts so young. I don't always know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe it's both. Actually, I suppose it's both.

"Rinoa, you're not helping."

"Oh, oops! I'm sorry, Squall," she apologizes. I just shrug. "Anyway, Tamiel explained a lot about Seifer and where he's been. She said he stayed with her for seven months, then disappeared. He was the one who bought her Tiara."

"Tiara?" I repeat.

"Yep. Tiara. Her white chicobo."

"... Whatever."

Rinoa rolls her eyes. She hates when I say that. "So he's back now to make amends and things like that. It sure has taken him a long time to get here, though. I wonder why."

"He's depressed. He's angry. He's..."

"... scared. Most of all, he's scared," Tamiel says as she walks into the room and leans against the wall. "He won't stay for long. He just needs enough to know that he's completely closed things off here. Then he's gone forever."

Rinoa shakes her head. "No. He can't leave. He should stay here. We can help him; we can cheer him up, give him somewhere to call home."

"Rinoa..."

Rinoa ignores me and continues, "I don't want him to run away again."

"You can't stop him from doing anything."

"Yeah? Well... maybe you can! I mean, you two grew up together!" Rinoa exclaims, probably forming a plan in that little head of hers. Oh no, here we go. I don't want another one of her plans to even start forming. Those things are just BAD NEWS all around. Honestly, I don't know where she comes up with some of the things she does.

She's still thinking, too. Tamiel's just standing in the doorway shaking her head. "Rinoa, this isn't the time for games."

"I'm not playing games. I just want to make sure Seifer stays!"

Tamiel's starting to get mad. I wonder why she's so upset?

"He's not going to stay, alright?! As soon as he's done here, he's leaving forever! There's nothing you can do, I can do, or anyone else can do! If there was anything... I'd do it. But there's nothing left for him so he's not going to stay, okay?!" she screams. I can see her eyes filling with tears.

Before she starts crying she turns away and leaves, closing the door. I turn and stare at Rinoa, who has a very shocked look on her face. She shakes her head and puts her hands in her lap, staring down at them.

"Rinoa, are you alright?"

"I... wow. I didn't expect that."

"Neither did I."

"Is she mad at me?"

I shake my head. I doubt she's mad at you, Rinoa. I think she's hiding something. Not sure what, but definitely something. "No, I don't think so."

"Oh, okay."

"Just take it easy, Rinoa. Don't overwhelm either of them. They just got here."

Rinoa nods as she starts thinking again. She's obviously got an idea because she looks up at me and smiles. "I know!" Uh oh, what now? "Why don't try spending time with Seifer? Get him reacquainted with not just Balamb and Garden but everyone, especially yourself. I think you and Tamiel are the only chance we've got to keep Seifer here." Rinoa flashes me a huge smile and adds, "Please? You know it's true."

Yeah, I know it's true. That's the problem.