Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any part of the series.
Author's Note: Here it is!!! My Christmas present for all of you, my beloved readers! This chapter is also what I believed to be the most awaited part of the whole story... How's that? read to know... ^-^
I might take a short break after this chapter... There are still alot of things I need to attend to, and this holiday break will also make me very very busy... I'll be updating soon, probably on the week after next. But, if by some luck, I get to have some time to write, I'll start working on chapter 15... ^^
I would like to thank all of you who gave me obvious support for this story, MonMonCandie, XxGoodGirlGoneTobixX, Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly, Cerulean Crystal, Nami-Lass, GreenOpalus, floutistvivi, FaithFromTheMystic, Verdanii and wais101. I love you guys, you keep me inspired. :3
He was playing with the bottle Rinoa gave him between his fingers, examining it carefully. It was about the size of his thumb, with a cork sealing the small, blue paper rolled inside. Rinoa said she was supposed to give it to the guy meant for her, to the person she will love. But after buying that silver ring with a lion on it, she gave it to Squall instead, telling him to do the same with the girl he likes. By the fireplace, he admitted that there was someone in his mind, but he was careful not the reveal her identity... especially when the person listening was the same one he planned to give the bottle to.
Two days ago felt like yesterday to Squall. He could still remember the pain of jumping into the icy water of the fountain to save the drowning Rinoa, how he tried to regain her consciousness through the running lukewarm shower with the unforgettable feeling of turmoil that he almost lost her, and the fireplace he shared with her as they relaxed from the incident with the warmth that the fire did not give but the moment he had spent with her, as if it was exclusively made for them.
It bothered him how someone would think of doing something like attempting to harm her by drowning and excessive freezing. Rinoa had always been a cheerful, nice and lighthearted person, and no one would dare lay a finger on her. Not even the brute Seifer who became alot friendlier to the raven haired after he got to know her better. Clearly, the reason Leblanc ended up doing such actions was driven by her jealousy of Rinoa, after she had gone obviously closer to the two persons the blonde bully was stalking so fondly, Squall and Cloud. Only someone as mad or crazy as she was would dare hurt someone as angelic as Rinoa. Well, Squall considered her angelic in every way that she was. Sure, she gets into his nerves sometimes, especially with her stubborn nature and childish traits. Even so, they were all part of the things he liked about her.
And he clearly had no idea why.
He only knew that every night, before he drifted off to sleep, he would recall her face. She could never be angelic enough, with her white, porcelain skin, her elegantly rounded countenance, well sculpted nose and lips, as if they were perfectly made by a passionate artist, her flowing, ebony hair...
And her eyes... her chocolate brown eyes that instantly won his heart, ever since the first time he saw her.
And in his dream, he would wish that they were all his... that she was his. But she was placed at the other class where Squall was practically forbidden to enter. Worse, his rival Cloud became one of her first friends, and the bastard had claimed her first. He admitted that Rinoa herself would instantly like him, judging by how most girls at Deling High would seemingly kill each other to get the spiky-head's attention. Rinoa would obviously consider herself lucky for all the things that Cloud had done for her so far, which had gone way way beyond from what most girls wanted of him. And with the way she giggled and smiled at Cloud that afternoon when he suddenly appeared at the restaurant, one can only assume that she was quite as fond of him herself. Squall sighed at the thought. With the way things are, he had no chance against a classmate of Rinoa's named Cloud Strife. He should just give up and accept the fact that he will only be a family friend to her. It was much easier that way for someone like him.
His technique, though, had earned him loneliness. And he plainly blamed himself for it. He had always been used to distancing himself from people he tend to get close to, ever since his mother died. He began to believe that attachments and relationships would only cause him agony and pain. Because in the end, they will all leave, and he'll be on his own. His aloofness had been his narcotic to shield himself from the same anguish he was so scared of experiencing again. But he felt something different about Rinoa. He did not want to do his way of remoting himself away from her. He wanted, more than anything, to become a part of her life. It's as if he wanted to take the risk of the pain, just to be closer to her. And once he had her, he would not let her go. To hear her voice that lights him up, everytime. To see her smile that gave him comfort. To look into her eyes that implanted nothing but peace in him. To stroke his fingers against her hair that would give him the sense of security.
And that thought only made him lonely.
Rinoa said she was lonely herself, that was why she bought the bottle and the ring. The way she spoke about loneliness made Squall wonder how someone like her, who always surrounded herself with a stirring, light aura, would find herself lonely. It was a sad thought. She was the last person he would imagine being lonely, after she consoled him when he spoke of his mother's death. Squall saw her as someone who would see the brighter side of everything, and her sadness could only break his heart.
Squall stared at the bottle for another moment. He had no one else in mind the entire time but Rinoa. He wondered how she would react if he gave it to her. Would she be mad? Would she reject him? Or would Cloud magically appear by her side again and laugh at him for his ridiculousness of giving her the bottle that contained his confessions of helpless feelings and emotions for her?
The brunette shook the thought off his head. Carefully, as if the thing was fragile, he pulled the cork from the opening and slid the paper out of the bottle. He rolled it open to see it blank, telling him to waste no time and write on it. And he wanted to, so badly, but it will all be pointless. He had never been the type of guy who would do something sweet or romantic such as this, but being alone in his room, with all the privacy he needed, he couldn't help but fantasize himself writing on it and giving it to Rinoa.
But she already had Cloud, in her heart, he assumed that she did anyway, with the most obvious reasons. And she will undoubtedly give that nice ring to him. Though that only made it more tempting for Squall to write on the paper, since he won't be giving it to her anyway and she will never see it. He would only do himself the favor of writing his shameless confession that will give him a peace of mind, and will also be his remembrance that he fell in love with a girl, at least for once in his entire life.
Squall chuckled at himself. Great, my first love.
Yes, he can always keep it for future use. Who knows, he could see someone else that he might like. He can always do that. But he doubted that he'll find someone as wonderful as Rinoa.
Meh. Whatever.
He took the pen, lying on his bedside table and began to write. He immediately regretted it. Squall knew he could've done better, but the permanent ink indicated that there was no way he could erase and take it back. He read it over and over again, as he laid on his bed. It wasn't exactly what she would like to hear, but it was what he wanted to tell her. Was it enough? Should it be enough? He can always cut a small piece of blue paper somewhere and replace it. But what would he write?
With the paper inside, he placed his hand on top of his chest as she stared at his ceiling. Whatever happened in his thoughts, in his room, will stay in his room forever. No one, and nothing else but the paper knew that he fell in love with Rinoa Heartily.
He closed his eyes, as if pleased with what he did. He was finally at rest with his thoughts for the night, which was only waiting for him to express whatever he had in him through writing. Slowly, while he thought about her, he drifted to to his slumber.
"Merry Christmas, Mister President."
"Merry Christmas!" Laguna cheerfully replied to one of his maids, first of the people who bothered to greet him. With an eager smile, he reached a small box to the maid, wrapped in red paper with a huge card attached to it. "A little something from me to you!"
"Thank you, Sir." The maid bowed.
Laguna stepped into an elevator, which brought him up to the floor where his son's room was located. As he entered his room, he silently tip-toed his way to reach Squall, who was still sleeping lazily on his bed. Laguna decided not to wake him up anymore and simply left his message written on a Post-it, greeting him a "Merry Christmas" and reminding him of the event that will ensue that night. He was about to leave when he noticed something blue clipped between Squall's fingers.
Curiously, he approached to look at it. It was a small piece of paper, with something written on it in black ink. The Esthar's President had never been the type who invades another person's personal things... except when he couldn't help it. And especially when it had something interesting to do with his boring son. Carefully and silently, he pulled the paper out of Squall's hand, who thankfully did not feel a thing. The brunette did not even move from his position, except for his rhythmic breathing. Laguna grinned at his success and read the paper.
And his eyes widened.
His grin grew even bigger, though smugly, and decided to steal his son's paper altogether. He browsed around the room to search for anything more that could amuse him or something else that he did not know about his son. Then, he spotted the corkless bottle on Squall's bedside table, took it and realized that the paper fitted perfectly in it. This time, he smiled naughtily, exposing his white teeth.
With great care, he rolled the paper and placed it inside the bottle. He then searched for the cork and sealed the bottle with it. Carrying the bottle in his hand, he quietly left the room like a sneaky ninja. He knew exactly who to give it to. He may be idiotic and clumsy at times, but he was much of a good father to know his son only so well.
The Caraway mansion was not as busy as it should be during Christmas. Everyone, from the maids, the butlers, and even the driver Robert, went to their respective hometowns to celebrate the holidays with their loved ones, of course, with the General's consent. He, on the other hand, headed to his daughter's room, with a medium-sized square box in hand. Quietly, careful that he might wake Rinoa in the morning of Christmas, he opened her bedroom door and approached her bed. He sat on it and gently brushed his daughter's hair. Rinoa moved slightly and slowly opened her eyes.
The General chuckled. "So you're a light sleeper." Rinoa grinned.
He kissed his daughter's forehead. "Merry Christmas." He greeted and handed her the box.
Rinoa gave him a confused smile before sitting up and looked at the box. It was obviously his present to her, but she was instantly curious what it held inside. She took it and found out that it was a clamp box, which made her even more curious since it was usually used to package jewelries. She opened it and revealed a beautiful white gold bracelet.
Rinoa gasped, and with teary eyes, she looked at the person who gave her the present. "Oh Daddy, it's beautiful!" She picked the small trinket and wore it on her wrist. She gazed at it in awe.
"Thank you Daddy!" Rinoa jumped to her father and threw him a big, warm embrace. The General hugged back. "I'm glad you like it." He said with a wide smile.
"Are you kidding? I LOVE IT!" As soon as she let go, she examined her present on her wrist again. "Thank you..."
"I don't even get a greeting?" Her father jokingly said.
"Oh!" Rinoa raised a finger as she remembered that she too prepared a present for her dad. She turned at the other side of her bed and reached for something from the floor. She turned back to the General and gave him his present in a smaller box, wrapped in green paper.
"Merry Christmas!"
He smiled at her. "Thank you, Sweetheart."
"Open it!" Rinoa nodded at him enouragingly. And he obeyed.
Carefully, he unwrapped the gift and opened the box.
"Wow!" He widened his eyes in a pleasantly surprised way as he pulled out a small, golden round clock with a long, golden chain.
"It's wonderful." He faced his daughter. "Thank you, Love."
Rinoa giggled.
Then, out of nowhere, they suddenly heard the familiar noise of engine running outside.
"Hmm... must be Laguna."
The father and daughter went downstairs and opened the mansion's main door. True enough, the huge, Ragnarok airship greeted them, with Laguna walking down from it. Rinoa waited for Squall to follow, but much to her dismay, he did not appear.
"Merry Christmas!" He greeted with a wide smile open arms.
General Caraway chuckled. "Merry Christmas, Laguna."
"Merry Christmas Uncle Laguna!" Rinoa said heartily.
"I came by to drop my presents for you and Rinoa." Laguna reached a large, red paper bag to Rinoa. "Here's for you, Dear."
"Thank you." Rinoa gave him a smile as she accepted the present.
"And here's for you, Buddy." He tossed a small box to the General.
"How come she got a big one and I don't?"
"'Cause you're no longer a kid, you big baby!"
The two men laughed, and Rinoa joined them. Her Uncle Laguna never ran out of surprises.
"Oh, and uhm... just to remind you as well, like every year..."
"Yeah, I know, the Christmas ball." General Caraway nodded.
"Yeah..." Laguna scratched the back of his head. "Glad you still haven't forgotten about that yet."
"Of course not, my friend. My daughter and I will be there tonight."
"Oh, I'm coming too?" Rinoa asked in shock. She heard her dad mention about the ball a few days after the start of her Christmas break, but she had thought, all this time, that he was going alone.
Her father looked at Rinoa confusingly. "Of course you're coming with me!"
"But- I- it's a ball, I don't have a dress to wear!"
Laguna laughed. "I'm sure you look beautiful in whatever you wear!"
The General shook his head. "Nah, it was my fault. I didn't tell her she's coming with me. We'll find her a dress in no time within the day."
The cheerful visitor shrugged. "Well, I trust you. It doesn't matter what you two wear, really. What's important is that you two arrive! Or else, I'll drag you both from here myself by force with the whole Estharian army!"
A few hours after lunch, Rinoa was finally able to find a beautiful dress she would wear for the night's ocassion. It was a long, white, halter-type gown that she fell in love with the moment she saw it displayed at one of the store windows. It was plain, with no bead designs or embroideries on it. But it looked elegant and flattering on her, especially with the white color which emphasized her fair skin and long, black hair. She matched it with a new pair of white, strapped shoes.
Exhausted from all the searching of her dress, she lazily relaxed on her fluffly, soft bed. She was even lucky that the stores were opened during the important holiday. And when she asked one of the saleclerks, he only replied that the owner simply wanted to keep the business running no matter what. It was sad.
She inhaled deeply. She had never been to a ball before, and she had no idea what happens there. All she knew was it should be a formal celebration where people wear extravagant clothings. She didn't want to be or to look extravagant, she was never that type of girl, even if she had every right to be. She wanted to keep herself and everything else simple.
Then, she thought about the venue. Her father said it was held at different places every year, and it will be Laguna's palace this time around. Important people from all over the world will arrive at his invitation of the Christmas ball, talk about business and what nots, dancing their way to the night...
Then, she thought of Squall.
He will be there, for sure. At least for formality's sake, he will show up as the son of Esthar's President. Maybe it was partly the reason why Rinoa chose a dress that will flatter her greatly. She wanted to be beautiful in Squall's eyes. She did not ask or hope to stand out among the daughters of the other rich guests, but she wanted to at least look decent to him.
But why would she bother with that, anyway? After all, being the gorgeous prince of Esthar made him the dreamiest of the dreamy guys around. He will not ask girls to dance with him, it will be girls who would ask him out. Rinoa would not be surprised if she suddenly sees girls forming a long que just to dance with him.
However, she got one asset that probably no other girl has. She was a good friend of Squall's and of his father, Laguna. She even received a considerably big Christmas gift from him!
She turned her head to the big, green paper bag which she placed right beside her bed. She sat up and grabbed it. Carefully, she removed the metal staple that closed it and it showed a medium sized Moomba stuffed toy.
Rinoa giggled. "So cute!"
But it did not stop there. There was a red ribbon tied on the hand of the lifeless moomba figure, with a familiar bottle hanging on it. Rinoa stared at it closely, confirming if it was the same thing she thought it was. Her eyes widened.
It was bottle she gave Squall the other day. The same one she told him to give to the girl he likes.
No. It couldn't be. Maybe he didn't want it. Rinoa told herself.
She took it off the plushy's hand and examined it. She spotted traces of ink, which were seemingly written in words. He had obviously used it, ready to give it to the lucky girl.
Only that, Rinoa got it.
But there was only one way to confirm that it wasn't meant for her. She opened the bottle, partially guilty for invading personal property, and shook the paper out of the bottle. Meticulously, she opened it and read the words written by his own hands.
"If you give me that ring, you will never be lonely again. I promise."
Squall was cooly leaning his back on a nearby pillar at the ballroom of the Presidential palace in his black suit, watching as guests after guests arrive at the ball. Despite his composed demeanour, he was immensely restless inside. When he woke up that morning, he realized that the blue paper containing the confession of his lifetime was gone... with the bottle. No matter how he searched every corner and spot of his room, he couldn't find it. Until he found out from his dearest father that he already gave it to Rinoa.
He almost commited treason against the President of Esthar.
Idiot.
More than ever, he was embarassed, worried, annoyed, afraid... how did she react? He hoped that she'd never realize it was for her. But he wrote of the ring, and included the word "lonely". As far as she knew, she only admitted her Christmas loneliness to him. Not unless she sent a text message to Cloud or contacted him in any way, but that would sound a bit too ridiculous and strange. His heart was pounding and his hands were getting sweaty. Squall was sure Laguna mentioned that he invited General Caraway and Rinoa over, and he was looking forward to it too. But after the President gave her the bottle, the chances of her insisting not to attend the ball to avoid him were big.
Squall groaned at his father's clumsiness.
Speaking of the devil.
Laguna was approaching him with three people whom Squall assumed to be guests; an old man with a woman about his age, probably his wife, and a young girl about Squall's age.
"This is my son, Squall." Laguna gestured at him to greet the participants of the ball, and Squall followed. "Squall, this is the Mayor of Fisherman's Horizon, his wife, and their daughter, Lenne."
"Pleasure to meet you." Squall said stoically as he held out his hand.
"Pleasure's all mine." The mayor said in an equally plain way, took the brunette's hand and shook it.
"Laguna," His wife, a tall woman with curly blonde hair, turned to face Laguna. "would you lead me and my husband to the drinks?"
"Uh..." Esthar's President said awkwardly. "Why yes, of course. This way." He extended his hand to the buffet table where a big bowl of punch was served for the ocassion. They walked away, leaving Squall and Lenne alone.
The mayor's daughter was a short one, with long, brown hair that fell to her waist. She was wearing a long, purple-blue gown, decorated with a few sparkling rhinestones.
"I've been wanting to meet you." Her voice was melodic, quite entrancing to anyone who hears it. Squall looked at her, and met her eyes. She had light brown ones, staring right back at him. Her tanned skin complimented her. He admitted that she was quite good looking, but still nothing compared to the one he wanted to see that night. "Merry Christmas." She said shyly.
Squall nodded. "You too."
Lenne smiled at him. "I've heard about you from all the other girls here. They said you were handsome." Squall looked away at her commendation. "But I think that was an understatement."
If he chose to be rude that night, he would tell her his favorite line "whatever". But she was the Fisherman's Horizon's princess, the daughter of the mayor, and he can't afford a bad reputation as Laguna's son. Being flattered like that without getting to know him first was one of the things on top of Squall's list that made him uncomfortable. He had the feeling that the reason why her mother asked his dad to lead her and the mayor to the drinks was to leave Lenne and him alone.
The girl seemed to notice that she was being too fast with that remark, evident in Squall's snobby silence. She looked down to the floor bashfully. "Sorry."
There was a long, awkward pause. But it only bothered Lenne.
Squall continued watching the crowd, which number kept on growing every minute. He scanned them, hoping to find any sign of Rinoa or of her father.
Then, suddenly, he saw a tall man with black hair he recognized and in black suit. He was talking to his father Laguna and laughing with him. His heart jumped.
"I was wondering if..." She started again, in a low voice. "you would like to dance."
Squall turned to Lenne. "Uh... excuse me."
In the most calm and gentle way possible, he left their spot and walked to General Caraways' direction. But he was not with his daughter, Rinoa.
Could it be she refused to attend? Was it all because of that stupid bottle?
He fought the urge to punch his father in his face.
Frantically, he continued his search for the raven haired girl he had been wanting to see ever since the night started, even if he had the hunch that there was a big possibility she wasn't there. But he had to make sure, he couldn't pass up another minute of his chance to explain the message to her. It might cost their friendship, the only thing left to him of her. He was halted by some girls, here and there, asking if he was interested to dance with them, but he mildly turned down every one of them. Before he does anything else, he wanted to know if Rinoa was indeed at the ball.
It took him around half an hour to search every corner of the huge, crowded ballroom, to no avail. Tiredly, he rested his back against a wall and ran his hand over his forehead. He did not want this, he never wanted it to happen. He couldn't find Rinoa.
He looked up to the glass ceiling and saw the stars. Every Christmas, lots of stars tend to appear in the night sky. They seem to be his only company that he could confide to, at the lonely night of Christmas. Then, a star suddenly passed by, leaving a long trail of light behind.
A shooting star.
It's direction was downward, a strange one for the usual slant, celetial pattern. Squall followed it's direction and then found himself looking at someone where the star lead him to.
About eight feet away from him stood the girl he had been distressly searching for. She was in a long, plain, ivory white dress that she looked beautiful in. She let her long, black hair down, flowing gracefully in every movement of her head. She too, was looking at the same sky of stars.
Squall found himself staring at Rinoa, startled to see her. He felt happy and satisfied that he finally found her, but panic quickly overruled him. There was still that issue of the bottle and he didn't know how to explain that to her.
Suddenly, she turned to look at him, with those enchanting features he had been thinking about the whole time last night. He suddenly had the pang of nervousness. How should he react?
He reminded himself to remain composed. It's what he had always been good at.
Then, she smiled at him. He was surprised that she could easily forgive him. Or maybe she didn't get the bottle? Maybe she lost it, or maybe she mistook it for someone else. Maybe he had been panicking for the wrong reason the whole time?
Finally, she walked to him.
"Hey Squall." She waved at him with her hand. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." Squall nodded. He was happy to see her.
Rinoa held out her white purse, opened it and searched for something. Then, much to Squall's surprise, she took out a silver ring, the same one with the lion engraved on it. She gripped Squall's hand and slid it to his ring finger.
The brunette stared at it and gazed unbelievably at the thing she put on him. It was meant for the guy she would love... and she gave it to him. Him. Could it mean that...
"Rinoa..." His azure eyes met her blooming, brown ones.
"It had always been yours..." Rinoa nodded shyly. "from the very start."
Squall had a sudden outburst of happiness that made him want to kiss her right then and there after she said those words. But his reply only came with a wide smile as he grabbed Rinoa's hand and pulled her out of the place. They ran through the halls, the lobby, and headed to the elevator that brought them up to the floor where Squall's room was located. Then, they walked straight to his own sanctuary.
"Stay here." The brunette told her before he made his way to a drawer on his bedside table. He opened it and took something. "Close your eyes."
She obliged and closed them intently with a smile. His command meant he had prepared something for her, a surprise. Then, with only her sense of touch to depend on, she felt Squall held her hand and lifted it up. He then slid something cold and metallic on her ring finger, just like what she did a while ago to him before they escaped the party.
"Now. Open them."
Rinoa immediately looked at her hand Squall held, and gasped at the gift he wore to her. It was that ring, the plain one she saw at the jewelry store that she wanted so badly. Squall thought she would buy it, but she instead bought the ring he was wearing now.
"Squall... I-" She looked at him, and locked with his ocean blue eyes, which looked back at her passionately.
"I was supposed to give this to Cloud and tell him to give it to you, because I knew you wanted it." Squall smiled while gently massaging her hand. "I know, it was crazy for me to help my rival. But whenever I think about you..." He trailed off. "I just tend to lose my mind and do insane things.
"But after tonight, I..." Her eyes began to get teary, and he never dared to look away. "I just had to give it to you myself." He looked down to her soft hand and squeezed it gently, like a fragile thing. "Rinoa, with this ring, I swear to you, you won't have to make sacrifices for me. Because I will do those for you... in everyday that I'm with you."
Rinoa couldn't help but sob at his words as her heart suddenly stopped pounding. She giggled at the sweetness of his promise and embraced him tightly. In response, he hugged her back in his arms and inhaled her scent through her hair. It wasn't like him. Rinoa was Squall Leonhart's glitch.
Finally, she let go, but her body remained close to his. Squall leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers.
Rinoa sniffed. "Does this mean, you're mine?"
Before she could say more, Squall leaned closer and brushed his lips against Rinoa's. It was the first time for him, and it also was to her, but it somehow felt perfect for both of them. He tilted his head slightly for her better access, and their lips continued dancing with each other. Rinoa placed her hands on his face, making sure that she wasn't dreaming and that it was all real. They parted and Squall gazed at her again, with those cerulean eyes she had always loved.
"Always." He replied.
A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! ^-^