Each chapter will alternate between Squall and Rinoa's POVs.
Groaning I rolled over. Beams of light hit my closed eyes.
It was morning
Sunlight...
Sunlight always hits your face when you least want it to.
Sunlight likes to wake you from you from a comfortable and soft sleep.
Your nice dreams.
It likes to act as an alert telling you that's it's time for school or work.
School...
Work...
Homework...
Projects...
... Holy crap!
"THERE IS A PROJECT DUE!" I shouted as I shoot up from my bed nearly falling off of it. That would have been the second time in two days. Squall grunted at my sudden outburst and put the pillow over his head. He pulled it away from his face and looked up, raising an eyebrow.
"Rin.. was there a reason for that?" I laughed nervously and nodded my head.
"Yeah actually, there is. Instructor Cain assigned a big project that is due Monday!"
"Oh... ok..." Squall then put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him. When my skin touched his bare chest I remembered the events of the night and blushed a good tomato red. I was slightly drunk but I knew what was going on. During it I was feeling so many emotions. I think he was too. His short, gentle breaths caressed the skin on my neck. I looked up only to see him smiling. Getting engaged at seventeen wasn't really on my make-believe five year plan. And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep very little company together nowadays.
Squall ran his fingers through my hair and pressed his lips to my forehead. I nuzzled my head into his chest, we were just laying there, feeling each other's warmth. It was so bliss. I wanted to stay in his arms forever. But soon Instuctor Cain's voice appeared in my mind, nagging and yelling. Telling me "Hey you! You with the face, you have a project young miss. One that worth twenty percent of your grade! So get away from your boyfried, I'm sorry, fiannce, and get to work!" But then in my mind, I imaged myself shoving a big sock down his throat to shut him up. I laughed to myself and Squall looked at me questionally.
"Nothing, just thinking."
"We should get up soon." He pointed out. I looked at the clock noticing it was around noon. Either our session yesterday was longer than I thought or we slept in really late. Luckly it was it Saturday. Slowly...very slowy...I removed myself from his warmth and nodded.
"I guess so...but..."
"It's nice right? Being like this..." He laid back down hands behind his head. "I wouldn't mind just staying like this." He turned to me with a his radiating smile on his face. " It feels almost like a dream."
"Yeah..it.." I remembered yesterdays' dream. For some reason it was still bothering me. I would have to him about it sometime...
"Thinking again?" I snapped out of my thoughts. Squall had a worried look on his face. "You... you... don't regret...saying yes do you?" Squall was always too pessimestic. I shook my head and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Quit being so insecure. I told you, I want nothing more than be with you." I smiled softly and placed a kiss on his lips. "Ok, we should really get dressed soon. We missed out on breakfast, and you know that's my favorite meal of the day, and soon we're gonna miss lunch...I like that meal too..."
Squall chuckled, "You eat like a pig."
"Nah-uh! Pigs eat really messy like. I eat neatly... I just eat a lot..."
"Sure, sure. Alright let's get up now, or we're never gonna do it."
"Right. I get to take a shower first."
Squall's eyebrow raised. "And why is that?"
"Cause... you're not the one...covered in-"
"Say no more. Please."
"So you agree. Good." When I got up I felt a sudden cold. It was then I relized I was naked. "Squall...do have any clothes I could use?"
"What's wrong with your dress?" Squall was already grabbing a pair of pants, bluntly exposing his ass.
"It's for..." I really couldn't focus. You can't blame me, it was in plain view! "...for.. ummm. special occastion...besides.. it's umm..." I shook my head quickly trying to get it out my mind. "...dirty and crap so..."
Squall turned around, a smirk on his face. "You ok Rin?"
"I would be if you freakin' covered up!" I pulled the blanket over my head, trying to hide my embrassed face. I felt the bed shift, the blanket was removed from my head. Squall smug face replaced the white of the blanket.
"You weren't complaining last night."
"Well I didn't have to stare at that when we were doin' it! Now let borrow some clothes!" Squall smiled again, placed a kiss on my cheek and threw the pair of pants onto my head.
After a nice warm shower, I dressed up in Squall's white tee, leather jacket and and some navy blue pants. My hair was up in pigtails, sky blue ribbons holding them both up. I skipped out of Squall's bathroom and made a pose. With a hand behind my head, the other on my hip, legs spread I asked "Well how do I look?" Squall started laughing. No... not just plain laughing, it was a hysterical laughter, so bad his eyes were teared and he was grabbing his stomach in pain. The only thing I thought was...do I look stupid?
Squall calmed down a bit and wiped his eyes. "You look so cute." That was it? ...Wow... I've seen people laugh because of cuteness but.. that was a bit over the top. "Sorry. It's just that...my clothes are so big on you, and the pigtails...you set me up for that."
"So ...cute right?
"Very."
"Good..aww damnitt! We missed lunch! I'm hungry..."
So Squall ordered some room service and we parted ways. I had to meet with Selphie and Quistis, and he, even though it was a weekend, had to get to the office and file papers, or whatever the hell it is that commanders of Garden did. He was right though...his clothes were preety big on me. The garmits intoxiced me with his scent. Sometimes I would stop walking and hold the sleeve to my nose, just to breathe it in. Anyone who stared at me would recieve "What! It smells good!"
First things first, I needed to tell him about my dream. it was bothering me a lot, and when you have a dream like that, you know it means something. I had to get it out of my head so I could think about other things. So I went to the best dream interpeter I know, and so I began my serch in the cafeteria.
"Irvy! Hiya!"
That's right.
Irvine Kinneas.
This man had been like an older brother to me for a long time. Though he was known for his womanizing, Irvine gave great advice, and it would always help. Of course he would throw in a perverted joke after his advice, but that was usually to lighten the mood. Irvine diverted his attention from a red haired girl he was talking to, and gave me one of his famous winks. It seemed like he ended his conversation with the girl and started heading over to me.
"Ah, Rinoa, what can I do for you? Squall getting boring? Looking for a more wild man?" Irvine said after he gave me a kiss on the cheek. "You look really adorable in that outfit." Oh.. so Squall wasn't lieing to make me feel better. Cool.
"Yeah, you wish. I'm actually here, cause I need your help."
"Squall wasn't as good as you thought, was he?" Irvine said while he was playing with my pigtails.
"He was a better lay than you."
Irvine let out this gasping, offended sound. His finger was pointed at his heart. "That hurts right here." We laughed together and found a seat at a small table and I began to tell him about my dream. He seemed really focused as he listened.
"Damn Rinoa. Leave it to the sorceress to have a dream like that. To be honest.. I can't really figure it out." I twitched at the sorceress remark. Still wasn't used to that.
"Nothing? At all? "
"Well...I don't think you want to hear this.."
"Just tell me." The curiosity was agonizing.
"I can tell you one thing. It's a foresighting dream. It's about something in the future. If I'm interperting this right...Rinoa...You probaly going to lose something dear to you." Great. Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut? Why didn't I let it slide like I do other nightmares?
"Something dear? Like what?"
Irvine just shrugged. "Only you can answer that." With a nod I walked away but not before Irvine called out "You sure that's all you came here for? You don't want anything else?"
"I'm sure Irvy! No thanks!"
"Damn." I should really go feed Angelo. Poor little guy must be so hungry. Speed walking towards my dorm room I tried to open the door, but my hand trembled. Shook. Felt weak. Though I didn't show it to Irvine, what he told me...had really affected me. Nothing but fear struck me when he said that.
"You probaly going to lose something dear to you."
Those words rang in my head. Something dear...something dear...
"Only you can answer that."
Dammit Irvine! Why couldn't he be like a fortune teller and lie!
I was pouring food in Angelo's and pondering things that were dear to me. "Let's see...well my friends are dear to me. Famliy. Garden. Ummm ...Squall...and food! Food is dear!" Angelo wimpered before taking a bite of his Kibbles n' Bits. He was probaly wondering why I didn't think of him. "Well of course you dear to me Angelo! I just didn't say it out loud becuase it was so obvious!" I giggled and petted his head. He stopped eating and the dog's version of the 'yeah right' face. Wait... if Angelo was dear... I grabbed his poor little head and screamed "How old are you boy? Don't you die on me! We fought way too many battles for you to givin' up on me now!" What if that was it? I trained Angelo to fight ...without asking him if it was ok! What if he didn't want to fight? What if he got really hurt? I grabbed Angelo and gave a hug a bear would call powerful. "I'm so sorry!"
Angelo decided to take this chance and nip on the boob. His way of saying "I can't breathe!" I quickly let go and rubbed it. So after Angelo finished eating I opened the door and let Angelo out to run around. I was allowed to do that, thanks to Headmaster Cid. Now it was about time to meet with Selphie.
I was nearly there, when my head pounded. Surging pain just attacked my head. I tried to lean againsht the wall for suport. I just ended up on the floor grabbing my head and screaming. A brunette teenager saw me, he was probaly only about fifteen. He tried to help me up, I looked at him to say thank you, but when my eyes met his, he let go of arm. He looked terrified. His voice was but a wimper when he turned around and booked. I looked my reflection in the window.
My chocolate browns eyes had become snow white. Pure white...and they were glowing. My normal pale face had markings from ears leading to my eyes, the same crystal, snow white. The markings resided on my cheeks as well. I could see why that freaked out. I let out a scream, soon after the ounding my head stopped. My face was back to normal. Everything looked like should've. I started hyperventaling, trying to tell myself it wasn't real. A trick of the mind, since it was hurting so badly. I knew it was real, that child was there, and he was terrifed of me too. He wouldn't be scared if it was just my headache. He saw that what I had. There was no lieing to myself.
I leaned on the wall again, this time to help me up. My legs were weak, still frozen from my fear. I took slow, easy steps for the rest of the way to the front gates. The meeting place Selphie and I decided upon. There I was, not only Selphie, but Quistis, Rushi, and Rina too. Rina was the first to notice me, she starting jumping around and motioning me to hurry up. I smiled back and walked a bit faster. Selphie ran up to me and gave me a tight hug.
The white snow that was left from last night reflected bright light into my eyes. Balamb wasn't supossed to have snow. So last night was a real mircle. But natually, as nature would take it, the heat from the island continent melted most of it away, leaving little piles of snow here and there. Still it was a beauty.
"You sure took your sweet time." Selphie said as she pulled me towards the others.
"I know, sorry. I was talking with Irvine."
I noticed how Rina and Rushi were clothes completly different that I expected them to. Rina's dark hair was in a spikey bun. One of the two strips of hair, that hanged from her behind her bangs, was put into a braid, She was wearing a white t-shirt that had red lining on the bottom and on the sleeves. It also had a zipper in the middle of it. On her right arm she was wear a white cloth that had a black strap with what seemed like a holster with a cute feather design on it. She was wearing white shorts with two belts going across it, similar to Squalls'. On her Shorts was a chain that was connected to another holster on her left leg. Her right leg had a series of three small belts on it. Knee high boots were her foot wear, they both having chains criss-crossing around them. To finsh off this complicated outfit, a pair of red googles hung around her neck.
Rushi was wearing a black headband on her forehead. Parts of her violet hair were put put into small braids with beads on them. She was wearing a white long sleeve jacket with a black design around where a zipper would be . Her hands were covered with combat gloves, showing her fingertips. She wore a pair of loose black pants, a single green belt loosly hung from her waist falling to the right. Her outfit not as complex as Rina's.
Rina smirked "You sure that was all you were doing?"
"Huh? Well I woke up at noo-"
"Why did you wake so late? Are you pregnent Rinny?" That time it was Selphie.
I felt my face flush. "Y-you..don't pregnent after the first do you?"
"First day of what Rinoa?" Quistis.
"Umm..." That's right... Squall and I snuck out of our own engement party.
"Did you and Squall make love?" Selphie asked with a smirk.
"Wh-wha!" I asked stupidly. My face felt even hotter than before.
"Or was it sex?" Rushi smiled.
"There's a difference?" Me again.
Rina squealled and jumped up. "Oooh I knew it! Squall and Rinny sittin' in a tree F-U-C-K-I-N-G!"
"It wasn't even like that!" I cried out.
This time Quistis smirked. "So something did happen."
"You guys are mean." I pouted.
Selphie giggled. "Don't worry Rinny. We saw you guys leave."
Shit.
"Yeah, you weren't extacly ninjas." Rushi smiled. "So, shopping right?"
Then it hit me. The cute blob of brown wasn't around. "Where's Anbaa?" I mean, whenever I saw Rushi or Rina, Little Anbaa was always with them.
Rina seemed to be alerted by my question.
"Umm... Anbaa? She..ummm.." How can could she not notice Anbaa wasn't there?
Rushi took a step foreward. "Anbaa didn't want to come. She's not a big fan of shopping, especially for clothes." Rina happily nodded at Rushi's response.
Strangely...something didn't feel right.
Selphie changed the subject with " So is there a baby in there Rinny?"
"How the hell should I know?" I looked over to Quisits nonverbally asking for some help.
"Well, you wouldn't know until around the first month. So don't worry about it now Rinoa"
"Right... got it." Squall would die if he found out I was carrying a child.
We began towards Balamb town, which surprisingly enough had some pretty good stores. Selphie told me to resevere a wedding dress. I told her not to worry about it, Squall and I weren't going to get married soon anyways. Besides it wasn't even legal!
We were having a pretty good time. We even stopped for a bite to eat at a local cafe. But there, Rushi said something that was really odd.
"Rinoa? Are you ok?"
I took a bite of my cheeseburger. " Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
Rushi took a bite of her apple. "Have you felt any pain lately?"
Was she talking about my headache? ...Wait.. How would she know that?
"Umm...no?" I wasn't really sure if I should give an honest answer, the way she knew stuff was.. kinda creeping me out.
"Are you sure? Nothing?"
"Not at all." Rushi nodded and stayed quiet for the rest of our meal time.
Today... was.. really weird.
"So what's the difference between making love and sex?" I was trying to start a conversation with Rushi again, She stayed quiet the way home too. It seemed she was pondering something, not to mention, sometimes her eyes would the freaky glow thing.
Rushi's head snapped, from what seemed as thought. "Huh? What?"
"What's the difference between making love and sex?"
"Oh...well.. making love is more romantic and umm... sex.. is just sex." she went right back to thinking.
"Oh.. ok.." That plan failed. "So... how did you guys know I didn it with Squall?"
Rina hopped her way over hearing my question. "Well, you woke up late. You blushed when we mentioned it, and the final piece of the puzzle was..." Her finger pointed at me "... you're wearing his clothes."
"It smells good." I said putting the sleeve near my nose again.
Rina tugged at my other sleeve. "Can I wear it? Please?"
"Nope!" I ran off when Rina gave chase. I was a good seven feet away from Balamb Garden. The front gate was right there, and I think I can saw Squall walking out the gates too. But then it happened again.
The surging pain in my head. I fell face foreward, my body became weak as I startyed writhing in pain. Twisting, grabbing my head, and screaming were the only things I knew at the moment. I saw a flash of white. An enourmous amount of pain shot from my back. I heard the sound of ripping fleash. Blood splattered on the the cement floor next to me.
More screaming.
More writhing.
More pain.
And..
Feathers.
Feathers everywhere.
If I opened my eyes, I would see them. But I barely did that. The pain from my head, back and my entire now, kept my eyes clenched. I heard several voices cry out my name, saying the words "What's wrong? What's happening?" No way to respond. No way to tell them the hell I was going through right now. I tried to open my eyes to see who was around me, trying to comfort me. Tears blocked my visual. Blurry.
I heard one last call of my name before I blacked out.
Squall...
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Blink.
Tick.
Breathe.
Tock.
Shift,
My life has been like this for the past four days.
Sitting.
Watching.
Waiting.
Four days since white wings appeared on Rinoa's back.
Four days since I heard her scream in pure agony.
Four days since I felt my heart rip a hole in itself, because that pain wasn't as great as hearing her cry out my name, thinking I would be able to help her.
After that, Laguna grabbed the Ragnorok, and drove us to Esthar. There we lay in wait.
Hoping.
Praying.
We've been here for four days. Rinoa hasn't moved. She hasn't made a sound. The sign she was alive were the short quiet breaths that escaped her mouth.
This was the second time she had been in a coma. It wasn't less harder to deal with. I sat there. Beside her. Held her hand. And pleaded...begged... for to wake up.
We brought her to Dr. Odine, a scientist trained in anything having to do with magick, and sorceresses. He was no fucking help at all. He said he would have to wait until the subject had awoken. Subject? She wasn't a fucking experment! She wasn't here for him or his fucking reserch. She didn't have a choice in being here.
So here I've been. For four days. Hardly do I move from my chair. Hardly do I blink, eat, drink, sleep, or even go to the bathroom. I didn't want to miss it. I wanted to be there. I wanted to be there when her opened and she said sorry for making me worry. If it was time to eat, Selphie would bring me food, and some water. I would eat, but my eyes were fixed on Rinoa.
Slowly...ever so slowly.. she moved. Her eyes flickered slightly. I quickly put the plate of food in my hand on the table next to her bed. I reached for hand, held it so tightly and pressed against my forehead.
"Rinoa?" I would call out, trying to get a reaction. Nerver would it work. But today... today it did. Rinoa's eyes opened slightly. I was so happy I might've cried. Rinoa stared. That's all she did. Stare. I smiled. "Hey...what's wrong? You ok?"
Rinoa blinked... that's all.
"Rinoa?" This time she began to look around. As if she was looking for someone. As if she was looking for the object of my words. "Yes dummy. I'm talking to you." I said in a humorus tone.
Her next words...
They were something I never wanted to hear.
I would've rather died than hear those next three words.
"Who are you?"