Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any part of the series.
Author's Note: So there, I promised that I'll be updating a bit later than expected, but... yeah... I felt like I just have to upload this one... I'm not sure when I'll be able to finish the next chapter after this, since I'll be extra busy... But I do swear that I will update as soon as I can...
THANK YOU for everyone who READ AND REVIEWED!! *BIG TIGHT HUGS TO EVERYONE*
Also, I apologize if I haven't been replying as fast or as often as I can with your reviews... I've been pretty busy lately... Y_Y
So, as usual, hope you guys enjoy this one! :3
She touched the glass window by her thin fingertips as she felt the coldness of Christmas through the thin surface. The emerald haired girl longed to go beyond her confined space inside one of the rooms she was kept at the suite. For days, she waited until Cloud, her friend and protector, could tell her that she was free to roam safely around the town. Enviously, she watched as people with large, wrapped packages in hands pass by the streets of Deling City, enjoying the freedom they had while she was held up inside for quite a long time. So long, Terra could hardly remember what it was like to be outside anymore.
She sighed, and wondered when it would all end. The last time she felt free was seven years ago, before that incident happened. After it did, she was practically shut from the society, only interacting with the people she was fated and entitled to spend her days with. They were either there to protect her, to provide her with daily needs, or to capture her with ill motives.
Terra had grown to become a lonely, lonely person.
The door of her room creaked open, but she did not look at her visitor. She did not break her stare from the yearning scene provided by her window.
"Good morning, Terra." A familiar voice greeted, the same owner who had to deal with her with every day that she stayed inside that place. Though she knew he didn't mind, she could read it in his sincere actions that he showed her.
Terra finally turned to face her blonde childhood friend. He was carrying a tray with plates of food on it, as usual, and a glass of milk. She smiled at him generously, as she stood up and reached for the tray. Terra took it from him and placed it on top of her drawer.
"Thank you, Cloud." She said softly.
"Terra." He called again, in an audible whisper.
"Hmm?" She turned to him and forced a smile.
"Merry Christmas." Cloud, who was still looking down at his feet, shyly held out a small box wrapped in blue paper, like a shy little boy giving his crush a present.
Terra giggled. "For me?" The spiky head nodded. Gently, she took the box from his hands and held it to her chest. "Thank you!"
It was obviously the first time she received a present in years. And so, she forgot to get him a present, though she wondered how could she ever when she was stuck inside the room the whole time.
She brushed her fingers against the wrapper of the gift as her eyes slowly turned from happy and grateful to sad ones. Cloud instantly noticed them.
"Terra?" He asked worriedly. "What's wrong?"
Terra shook her head. "Nothing."
Cloud stepped closer to her. "Terra, you can tell me anything. What's wrong?" He asked gently.
Terra looked up at him. "I'm just..." She gazed at him for a moment before looking down to the floor again. "Sorry. I don't have anything for you."
"You don't have to give me anything." Cloud replied sincerely.
Terra hummed and nodded. "Thank you." She walked to her bed and sat, telling Cloud that he was free to go. But the blonde head was not satisfied with her answers. Slowly, he approached her and sat beside her on the bed. There was a long pause as he waited for her to talk. Minutes have passed as the room remained silent.
"There was something else." He started, encouraging her to tell more. She turned to him shyly, only to see him staring directly at her. It reminded her of the days they had back in Nibelheim, but their roles were reversed. She used to be the one forcing him to talk to her. But now, it was him practically pleading her to say something. She figured that she had gone through more problems in the past years than Cloud to act the way she did.
She stared back to his light blue eyes, which told her purple ones of his pure concern for her. Terra was afraid to answer because it might create worry and pity out from him. And those were the last things she needed.
But the way he begged with his eyes were tempting for her to pour all her emotions to him. Lack of socialization and contact with other people also meant lack of good communication. Terra had not really talked to a person for a long time now, and sadly, she got used to keeping all her feelings inside her. However, looking at Cloud told her many things. And above all those, his sky-blue eyes told her she can trust him in whatever she will tell him.
"I'm just... getting a bit lonely... in this place." She murmured that only he could hear. "Everyday, I watch people pass by this place, enjoying the town. And I'm a little jealous of them." She confessed bashfully.
Cloud realized where the conversation was going. He turned his head down to his lap. "Terra, you know we can't let you go outside. It's too dangerous for you. Kefka is still out there."
Terra sighed. "I know. I understand." Part of her felt betrayed by her friend with the response he gave her, a response that she had been receiving from anyone whom she confided of her loneliness to. And hearing that one from Cloud made her sad, it was as if he stole her of the last hope she had to experience the freedom she longed for. Carefully, she scooted behind Cloud and laid on her side, folding her legs. She did not want to talk to him anymore. She did not want to hear any more disappointment.
Cloud looked at her agonizingly. He too wanted to bring her out of the building, especially during Christmas day. But he had to protect her, as a SOLDIER and as her friend. He can't afford to lose her again.
He let another moment pass, waiting for her to say something. But she never did. All he could see was her back on him.
Finally, the blonde SOLDIER stood up. He took one last look at Terra before he stepped out of the room.
He wished there was something he could do for her.
"Where are we going?" Rinoa asked from the passenger's seat as she looked at her brunette boyfriend, who was driving his black convertible.
Squall grinned. "To show you the other part of my life."
Two days ago, when they gave each other's ring and made their confessions, Squall promised himself that he'll disclose everything about himself to his girlfriend, hiding nothing from her. That morning, Laguna's son went to the Caraway mansion to visit Rinoa and asked her out. Without questioning Squall further, she followed and excitedly dressed up in a blue blouse and jeans, with Squall noticing that she often dressed in blue clothes. She didn't ask him where their destination was, thinking it could be a surprise, since he did not say anything about it either. Until she couldn't help the anticipation anymore.
"Where?" Rinoa asked again, after noticing that they have left Deling City.
"To Balamb."
The place they arrived at was not exactly a town, which was about two hours away from the city they came from. It was a large, round building, which Rinoa assumed to be an institution, if not a school. Then, she saw three girls, about her age, pass by in their dark, blue uniforms, carrying what seemed like weapons in their hands.
"Welcome to Balamb Garden." Squall said, gently clutching Rinoa's hand in his. The raven haired stared at the huge place in great awe.
A Garden...
She had heard of the mercenary schools called "Gardens", but she had never seen one or been to one. She only knew that these places accept the gifted people, specifically who have reached the Garden's exceptionally high standards.
Meaning, if you attended one of these Gardens, you're one of the best of the best.
Also, the students learn not only of combat, but of advanced academic fields, making the institution a semi-military school.
Rinoa turned to Squall after examining the sophisticated lobby that welcomed them to enter the place. "You study here?"
The brunette nodded. "Yes, I study here."
His girlfriend suddenly felt her heart skip a beat as she felt proud for having a boyfriend like him. "Wow... You must be THAT great." She beamed at him.
Squall shook his head. "I was not meant to be here in the first place." Rinoa's eyes furrowed in confusion, asking him to tell more as they walked inside the building. "After my mo- that incident in Trabia, Dad took me and left me to the next person he trusted to take care of me. It was his cousin, my Aunt Edea. She and her husband Cid owns this place."
"Cid..." Rinoa looked up, thinking. "I think I've heard that name somewhere..."
"There are many Cids around. This one is a different Cid." Squall informed her.
"Oh."
Squall continued. "They took me in, commanding all their top students who called themselves SeeDs to protect me at all costs. They also changed my name. You probably noticed that I never used Loire as my surname." Rinoa's eyes darted away from her boyfriend and wondered. "Yeah, it was kinda strange why you kept using Leonhart when Uncle Laguna is Laguna Loire."
The brunette nodded. "It was for my own protection, one of the most basic things to do if you want to stay hidden from your enemies; change your name. Even those SeeDs who were protecting me didn't know what my real name was, Edea kept it from them."
"Oh, I see." Rinoa nodded. "How come you still use Leonhart then? I mean, Esthar is at peace now, right?"
Squall did not turn to her as he replied. "I still use it as my alias as a SeeD."
Rinoa's eyes widened. A SeeD? "You're a SeeD?!"
The brunette grinned and turned his blue eyes on her. "Yeah. I'm a SeeD."
"How long?"
"Two years. I still work here as a gunblade specialist. I perform missions assigned to me by Edea or Cid."
So that explains the gunblade in Squall's room, Rinoa thought, remembering that incident when she accidentally entered Squall's room back in Esthar.
"But... you... you study at Deling High! How can you study at both places at the same time?"
Squall shrugged. "I can manage to juggle both."
"Why did you have to study there anyway when you're already in Balamb Garden?"
"Dad wanted me to go to a normal school."
By this time, they have reached the fountain located at the middle of the place. Rinoa may not be as knowledgeable about the mercenary schools or what they exactly do, but she was aware enough what SeeDs are. When you're a SeeD, it means you are one of the best assets in an army, even doing better than a General, like her father. She just wasn't sure though if SeeDs join the government army or if they only stick with whatever job their Garden gives them.
"How did you become a SeeD?" Rinoa stared intently at her boyfriend, still asking for an answer, as if repeating her question through a look. Squall stared back at her.
It was a long story, but he was more than willing to tell her. "There was one of the SeeDs who was assigned to look after me named Auron; a blademaster. Edea told a six year old me that Auron never failed a mission, and that was why she especially trusted him to guard me and lead the group assigned for me. It showed how dedicated he was to be my guardian when he would allow everyone to take their day offs and be idle, while he never left his post. Until one night, when I was supposed to be asleep, I wandered around the Garden and saw him at the Training Center, practicing. He caught me watching him, and probably realized how interested I was. So he lent me his sword and taught me a few things about fighting. Maybe he thought I did pretty good, because the next morning, Edea asked me if I wanted to study in the Garden and become a mercenary like Auron. Even if I was a kid, I figured that Auron told Edea about what happened the night before and I guessed he saw my potentials. And so, I began studying here."
"For how long?" Rinoa instantly asked.
"Eleven years. I became a SeeD when I was fifteen years old."
"Wow." Eleven years of studying was a pretty long time. And Rinoa could tell it wasn't a joke, especially when he reached the highest rank in his early teenage years.
"What happened to Auron then? Is he still here?"
Squall shook his head. "He waited and stayed until I became a SeeD, and then he resigned. He told me that he needed to go to Besaid and fulfill a promise to a friend. He had to look over someone."
It saddened Rinoa. She wanted to meet the man who did Squall a huge favor. Then, she thought that at least he was glad to see Squall successfully become a SeeD.
"What about Uncle Laguna? Where was he the whole time?"
"He..." Squall trailed off, and stared at a blank space. "He stayed in Esthar; trying to sort things out. His enemy, a terrorist named Adel, wouldn't give up no matter how much negotiations and actions my Dad did. Also, he was afraid that if he left Esthar and visit me, he would be followed and reveal my location." Squall's brow furrowed at the memory and then chuckled. "That idiot. He didn't know that this place was safer than Trabia, or any other place in the world."
Rinoa couldn't agree more. With the place surrounded by SeeDs, attempting to infiltrate it would have been a wrong move. Then again, it should have marked the end of the war in Esthar.
The raven haired has a sudden revelation.
"Why didn't Uncle Laguna ask help from SeeDs?"
"Good question." Squall acknowledged. "He said he did not want to involve young lives in the war. Yet, he was willing to lose more lives from the Estharian army." He shook his head disbelievingly. "But Edea proved to be smarter than he was. Shortly after I became SeeD, the war grew worse and my dad's life was at stake, so she sent out SeeDs on a mission to help end the war. She included me."
Rinoa's expression changed from curious to skeptical. "Why did she send you when she was supposed to protect you?"
Squall shrugged. "I guess she had enough trust in me, so much that she knew I should be able to end it."
"You?" What about the other SeeDs?
He seemed to have read her mind and replied to her question. "I lead the group."
Rinoa's eyes widened once again. "But, you were only fifteen!"
"True." Squall nodded slightly. "But I was able to lead the group into ending the war."
"You ended the war?"
"Yeah."
She couldn't believe it. A war that lasted for years, costing many lives in the process... it all ended when a fifteen year old leading a group of SeeDs stepped in.
"Wha-wh-how did you do it?" Rinoa said after she realized that he mouth were gaping.
"Hmm..." Squall didn't want to tell her how he did it. It was simple; they assassinated the one leading the terrorrists, Adel. But he knew she did not want to hear it, and neither did he want her to think that he was a killer. True, it bothered him to kill someone, even when it was the same person who murdered his mother and stole his right to live normally. Adel was also responsible for the many lives that was wasted who died trying to protect more lives in Esthar. Killing Adel would save more people, but it was not a pleasant experience for a fifteen year old who was supposed to be having fun with his youth instead of leading an assassination.
"It wasn't pretty." He finally replied. "You don't want to know."
Rinoa stared at him for a moment. It bothered her to see his usual frown on his face again, as she assumed that he remembered something he considered as "not pretty". She instantly understood that it was one of the memories he'd rather forget.
"Sorry... for bringing it up." She said sincerely.
Squall shook his head. "No, it's okay."
They remained like that for another moment, walking aimlessly around the huge structure. And the longer they stayed as they were, they more it was becoming awkward for both of them. Rinoa reckoned that she needed to do something, to at least warm the moment up. She playfully skipped in front of Squall, wearing a smile and startled him.
"Give me a tour of this place!"
They went to the Quad, where events like balls were being held, then the library, which Rinoa considered as her favorite place in the school. They also went to the dormitories where Squall showed her his room which was thankfully neat, and the cafeteria where they were greeted by students here and there, giving Squall a respectful salute everytime. Squall decided not to show her the training center, thinking it could be dangerous, also considering that he did not bring his gunblade with him, rendering him unarmed in case a monster attacks. And he had no plans to bring Rinoa to the parking lot. But he did want to bring her to one last place.
"Where are we going?" Rinoa asked as she followed Squall inside the elevator.
"To Edea. I want you to meet her."
After they're reached the third floor, they stepped out of the elevator, and a huge, mahogany door greeted them. It opened and revealed a large room with antique furnitures and shelves with alot of neat, old books lined up. At the center of the place, there was a long, wooden desk where an old man sat. He was distinguishable with his gray hair and chubby figure. He seemed short, even while sitting, reading paper after paper with his thick, rectangular glasses. He looked up at the sound of the lovebirds' footsteps.
"Mr. Leonhart," He formed a glad smile at the sight of the brunette. "what a surprise! Glad to see you here."
"Headmaster." Squall suddenly stood straight, his feet closed together, folded an arm upward with a fist in front of his face. It was the same salute the students from the cafeteria had been giving him when they visited it.
The older man stood up from his desk and slowly approached Squall. "At ease." He gently commanded, and the brunette relaxed. He then glanced at Rinoa.
"This is Rinoa Heartily, Sir." Squall said in a straightforward manner.
The headmaster nodded. "Your girlfriend?"
Squall nodded. She blushed at her title.
Rinoa extended her hand to a formal introduction. "It's nice to meet you, Mister..."
"Cid Kramer." The older one grabbed her hand and shook it firmly. "Call me Cid, dear."
After the two newly acquainted people let go of each other's hand, Cid turned to Squall. "So, what brings you here?"
"I want to see Edea."
"Ah, Edea's in the other room. You can come in anytime you want, she would love to see you visit her." Cid nodded.
"Thank you, Sir." Squall did his salute again before grabbing Rinoa's hand. She made out that it was their que to exit the place.
"It's nice to finally meet you again, Sir Cid." She made a quick and final bow before Squall pulled both of them out of the office.
The "other room" the headmaster mentioned was at the right side of the hall outside the office. They entered through a smaller door, which opened a smaller office, but was just as beautiful as the one they came from. At one corner of the room was a medium sized desk, with curvy engravings, which emphasized the feminine side of the owner, who was sitting on a chair.
"Aunt Edea." Squall gently called.
The woman looked up. "Squall!" She stood up from her chair, ran to Squall and threw him a big embrace. "I'm so glad to see you again!" She pulled away and examined Squall. "How have you been?"
Rinoa checked out the woman Squall called his "Aunt", the same one who watched over him for nine years before the war in Esthar stopped. She looked alot younger than her husband, Cid, but she looked motherly enough to Rinoa, with her gentle features that complimented her long, black hair and slim figure. She dressed in simple clothings, very unlikely for someone who owned a large Garden.
"Aunt Edea, I would like you to meet Rinoa." Squall extended his hand to his girlfriend with an introduction.
Edea smiled nicely. "How do you do, Rinoa?"
"I'm good, thank you." Rinoa returned a smile.
"She looks lovely." Squall's aunt remarked as she mildly brushed her fingers through the girl's hair.
Squall nodded and grinned. "She does."
Rinoa giggled at the compliment. "Thank you."
Edea's smile widened. "Would you kids want to grab some coffee with me? I just want to catch up with you."
Rinoa looked at Squall for an answer, but the way he stared back at her indicated that he too was waiting for her permission or reply. The raven haired turned back to Edea.
"That would be wonderful."
Rinoa took another slurp of her hot coffee after she surveyed the cafeteria. Squall would watch her amusingly every now and then while talking to Edea about matters like what his father Laguna had been up to, or school, even his training out of the Garden with his gunblade.
"I make sure I do my routine of practice with my gunblade right after school."
"That's good to know, even when you visit the Garden only during the weekends."
"Dad wanted me to spend more time in Esthar, saying that I already spent nine years here."
Edea laughed lightly. "I know. I know too that Laguna is trying to understand these thing, you being a SeeD and all. I guess he just wants you to prepare for... something more."
Rinoa's head snapped up to Edea the moment she heard the last few words she said. Squall seemed to notice her.
"I'm not really thinking about it that much." He replied.
Edea nodded and turned back to her own cup of coffee. "Yes. But always remember that you still have that responsibility with you."
Squall's brows creased. Rinoa knew there was something more that she didn't know about him.
"Squall Leonhart, calling Squall Leonhart. Please head to the Headmaster's Office. Again, calling Squall Leonhart, please head to the Headmaster's Office. Thank you."
A voice from the microphone suddenly announced. Rinoa jumped at the noise, though Squall and Edea remained calm, proving how they were used to it.
"I'll be right back." Squall stood up from his chair and headed to the swinging doors of the cafeteria.
"Hmm..." Edea hummed under her breath a few moments later, after she took a sip of her coffee. "Tell me Rinoa," She gently placed her cup down and looked excitedly at Rinoa. "How did you and Squall meet?"
The younger one smiled, knowing where Edea wanted to lead their conversation to; girl talk. "Well," She smiled sheepishly, "he's a schoolmate of mine, and his dad Uncle Laguna happens to be my dad's good friend."
The headmistress of the school nodded intently. "So you started off as friends... that's good."
"Yes; Thank you." Rinoa replied as she took another sip of her caffeine.
"You said you went to the same school as him. Deling High, is it?" Rinoa nodded in response. "Are you a classmate of his?"
Rinoa shook her head. "No, we don't go to the same class."
"I see." Edea nodded. "I hope it's not the same class with Squall's rival."
Squall's girlfriend stopped herself from widening her eyes in her surprised reaction. "You know about that?" She asked while forcing a laugh.
The matron nodded. "Yes. I wasn't supposed to say anything more about it, but I can tell you that my husband and I know of Squall's fight with that boy..."
Rinoa tried to read Edea's expression, hoping that it could tell her if she knew beyond their rivalry. But her face was plain, her intentions only bounded to informing Rinoa that she was only aware of it. She proved to be good at hiding things, so Rinoa took it as a signal not to ask anything more about the subject.
The Garden's guest wanted to take advantage of her chance being alone with Edea, a person who spent a long time taking care of Squall. She wanted to know more about her boyfriend and came up with a question regarding her statement a while ago before Squall left.
"Uhm, Mrs. Kramer,"
"Please, call me Edea." Edea smiled at the girl gently.
"Uh-" She wasn't exactly used to calling other people with just their first names. "Edea... may I ask you something?"
Edea nodded vigorously. "Why yes! Of course my dear! Tell me, what do you want to know?"
Rinoa smiled, appreciating her favorable response. "Well, I'm just curious, when you said about Squall's responsibility a while ago. What did you mean by it?"
"Ah." Edea's expression shifted into a blank one. "I am not the one to explain, but since you asked..." She sighed. "You know how Laguna is the President of Esthar, right?" Rinoa nodded in understanding. "Ruling over Esthar had been running in the Loire family for years. Laguna's father, my uncle, was elected President of Esthar. Then, he somehow forced Laguna to run as well, but not before leaving a huge mess in the city. My cousin had failed miserably for many times trying to fix the problem his father had left; but he was remained loved by the people. What made their trust in Laguna grew was when Squall came to help him as a SeeD to successfully bring Adel down. And after they found out that Squall is their beloved President's son, the people made a petition to make Squall their next leader."
Rinoa tilted her head, trying to take in what Edea told her.
The older one nodded. "And Laguna approved." She shook her head. "But it made Squall upset."
"I can imagine." Rinoa said softly, feeling a bit sorry for Squall. With the way he acted when Edea reminded her of his duty for Esthar, he was clearly not pleased with it. He does make a good leader, no doubt. For a fifteen year old to lead a group and end the war against a notorious terrorist was enough to make him one of the genius ones around. But it was clearly not what he wanted for himself.
"I do feel sad for Squall. For most of his life, he barely had something he wanted. I've watched him grow ever since his mother died; he became distant and cold to everyone, shutting himself from everything else around him. It was quite hard to understand him, and his anti-social nature would require me to remind him everytime that there are still people like me he could count on. But it seemed like he never really cared. He never talked of his problems, even how he felt when Raine died. Sometimes I wonder if it even affected him." Edea said sadly.
Rinoa shook her head. "No, I don't think it's nothing like that." She turned to face Edea. "His mom's death affected him, I could see it in him when he told me."
Edea raised her eyebrows in astonishment. "He told you?"
Rinoa nodded, remembering that time when they sat on a bench and Squall told her of his past in Winhill. "It wasn't an easy memory for him. It was something he'd rather forget. But, when he told me, it's as if he had been wanting to tell someone about it."
Edea smiled. "He had been keeping it all to himself for eleven years." She chuckled amusingly. "I think you're the first one he's told you about it; I know you were, the one and only. And I can tell why. You're a wonderful girl."
Her nephew's girlfriend blushed, running her fingers around her porcelain cup. "Thank you."
They were back on the car, on their way to Deling City. An hour ago, when they were saying their goodbyes to Edea and Cid, Rinoa noticed how Squall's mind seemed preoccupied about something else. When she asked why he was summoned, leaving her and Edea to talk more about him, he simply said that he was briefed about business, though he never said what specifically. Rinoa knew it was only right to give him time and space to think whatever he had in mind, but one hour had been too long for her, and she needed to know what was bothering him. After all, it was her job as his girlfriend to help him with whatever problem he had.
Rinoa turned to look at him, seeing that he was deep in thought, though still focused on the road. His left arm was resting on the door of his car, while his other hand was stirring the wheels. His frown did not fade from his face, meaning he was still thinking. Rinoa wondered if he knew that she was still with him.
"Squall." She called gently, careful that it might break him off.
The brunette's face relaxed and groaned in response.
"It's gonna be fine. You know you can do it."
Squall's brows wrinkled. "What will be fine?"
"Whatever it was you were briefed about."
"You don't know anything about it."
"It would help if you'll tell me.
Squall sighed. "It was just a bunch of Esthar politics."
"Hmm..." Rinoa hummed in reply. "Was it about you being the next in line for Presidency?"
Squall's eyes widened. "You know about that?"
"Edea told me, about you being the next President of Esthar. It's gonna be fine, Squall."
"No. It's not gonna be fine."
Rinoa was a bit irritated with his answer. "How did you know it's not gonna be fine?"
"How do you know it's gonna be fine?"
"I don't know, but if you want it to be fine, then it will be fine." Rinoa tried to be gentle with his tone as much as she could. "No one can predict the future, but if you lead yourself to your own path, then you'll get the destination you wanted."
"But I didn't want to be the President of Esthar. I never wanted to be!" Squall replied in a helpless manner, as if asking Rinoa to explain to him his situation.
"Then again, you never said 'no' to them, or to Uncle Laguna."
Squall groaned angrily. "It was all his fault. He swore to them that I'll be the next President. He agreed to what they want without even asking me! As if it's my obligation to make those people happy!" Squall growled, scaring Rinoa a bit. He seemed to have noticed that his tone was a bit too much. He sighed. "I'm sorry. It just pisses me off how people dictate my future like that."
She stared at him, not with sympathy but with an empathetic feeling. She knew it was hard for him to do something he never wanted. Everyone is entitled to choose the life they wanted, and unfortunately, he was born with a written destiny. Things did seem unavoidable for him, with the way she heard his story. But it was also possible to change the way things are if willed. She believed in fate, but she also believed in the existence of choices.
And as for her, she chose to be there for Squall.
"It's gonna be fine." Rinoa said, with great confidence.
Squall frowned. "How did you know?"
She reached for his hand, the one controlling the car and gently squeezed it.
"I'm right here."
His face softened as he turned to her. She was smiling back at him, telling that she had his back. Despite the irrationality of it, Squall felt the truth in her words. It gave him comfort and assurance, things that he had not felt for a very long time. Just by looking at her, he suddenly did not care what kind of fate life granted him. He only knew he would be alright for as long as he had her by his side.
"Rinoa..." Squall gently called, his tone contrasting his low voice.
She bent her head to his face. "Yes?"
"Thank you."
Rinoa smiled. "Anytime." She replied as she released her grip from his hand.
They had been travelling for quite a long time, Rinoa figured that they should be close to Deling City, ending their date. She recalled everything that happened to them and replayed them all in her mind. Nothing much happened, except maybe when she met Edea, she who took care of Squall in his late mother's place.
Then, she remembered... there was still that issue about how Edea knew of Squall's rivalry with Cloud. That part of their conversation told Rinoa that there was something more, a bigger involvement in their feud.
"Squall, may I ask you something?"
Squall nodded. "What is it?"
"Don't be mad, okay?"
He gave her a confused look. "Is it something I can answer?"
Rinoa shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. You should."
Squall hummed under his breath. "Okay. Ask anyway."
"Okay. Well, Edea seems to know about Cloud, and she seems to know more about something else."
Squall raised an eyebrow. "Did she tell you?"
Rinoa shook her head. "No. That's what I wanted to ask you." She leaned forward to stare at Squall's focused eyes. "Is there something more about your rivalry?"
He thought for a moment. If there was someone who should know more about him and Cloud, it should be Rinoa. She was already deeply involved in their fight, and it was only natural that she needed to know how it all started... how it REALLY started. Besides, she wanted to end their rivalry, and he knew that she had done everything in her power to take action on it. She even swore that she'll help him somehow reconcile with Cloud, only that, she had no idea how hard it would be. Their rivalry ran skin deep to their veins, but she had no idea about it. And he did not want to involve her.
But...
There was that promise he made for her. He told Rinoa that he will do all the sacrifices for her, symbolized by the silver ring she was wearing.
And it also meant that he will do anything and everything for her.
Squall grinned. With his free hand, he reached for his pocket and took out his phone. He then dialled a number he swore to call only to piss the owner off. But not today, he would be doing it with a credible purpose. He refused to do it alone, out of respect for the other person involved.
Terra was taking her nap again before Cloud left her in the guest room and closed the door silently. She had not talked to him as much as she used to ever since that small talk they had last Christmas. Cloud felt sad, feeling a bit useless for not being able to help her. Terra's loneliness was growing worse, and no matter what Cloud did, her solitude was eating her with every passing day.
Exhausted, the blonde slumped down the couch, right beside his best friend, Zack.
"She still moping?" the black haired said while scanning the channels on their television.
Cloud sighed. "Yeah..."
"Why don't you just, let her go out for a while you guard her. She just wanted to go out and get some fresh air, feel some bit of the outside world... I mean, dude, she's perfectly safe with you. There's nothing to worry about."
"No, I can't risk it. Kefka's still around, and if I know any better, he can be right there outside this building, waiting for an opening to take Terra again. You know how unpredictable Kefka can be, he can attack as soon as Terra sets one foot outside." Cloud shook his head. "No, I can't lose her again. Not anymore."
"Man..." Zack sighed. "I think, you think too much."
"I guess I just can't help it."
Suddenly, they heard a phone ringing. Both men felt the vibration of the alert.
"Oh! Must be Aerith!" exclaimed Zack as he reached for his phone, while Cloud took out his own. They both flicked their phones open in unison.
"Hello?" Both said at the same time, but only Cloud remained on line.
"Oh. It's yours." Zack pouted.
"Strife." It was a male voice from the other end of the line. It was a familiar one, and its owner was undeniably someone the last person Cloud expected to call.
"What do you want?"
"Rinoa wants to know more."
"Know more? About what?"
"You know what."
Cloud frowned. "The hell... leave Rinoa out of it!"
"Shut the fuck up, you think I don't know that? She wanted to know, what am I supposed to do?!" Cloud could tell that Squall didn't like the idea either. But he couldn't say "no" to Rinoa.
There was a long pause.
"You know… that she has to know." Squall said after calming down, without waiting for a response from Cloud, and he hated to admit that the brunette was right. The times she had spent with the two men and her attempt to end the rivalry had placed her to the nearest level of their competition's pit. The only missing link was the incident that started it all. And it was about time that she knows. It was the only way she could understand why her efforts to end their rivalry were useless.
"Okay. Where?"
"Zone's Resto in thirty minutes."
The line went dead.
Zack was staring at Cloud the whole time, anxious and confused. "Dude, was that Squall?"
"Yeah." Cloud mumbled as he stood up and headed to his bedroom.
"Where are you going?" his best friend turned his body to face the currently changing Cloud.
"Gonna meet him at Zone's. He wanted Rinoa to know about that incident."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You sure about that? You can't just tell her that, it's confidential! That will also mean revealing to her that you're a SOLDIER! And that experiment! That's against the rules!"
"Rules of what? My father's?" Cloud sarcastically replied as he wore his black coat. "What is he gonna do? Fire me?"
"Okay, okay! I get your point." Zack raised his hands in defeat. He almost forgot that he was talking to Shinra's heir. "Just, make sure you know what you're doing."
Cloud appraoched the door and grabbed the knob. He turned it and opened, but before he stepped out, he paused. "Zack, look after Terra for me."
"Yeah, no problem!"
"Thanks."
Then, he disappeared beyond the door.
A/N: Happy New Year everyone! =D