Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ SeeDs, Ronins, and Scouts ❯ Cherish the Moments ( Chapter 15 )

Ronin Warriors, Sailor Moon, and Final Fantasy VIII do not belong to me. They belong to Sunrise Inc., Toei Animation, and Squaresoft respectively. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME!!!!!!!! Only the plot of the story and any new characters belong to me.

"Cherish the Private Moments: Serena and Cai"

Chapter Fifteen

Serena and Amy's Dorm:

Serena woke up to a constant beep coming from her alarm clock. She raised her head and groaned angrily at the device. The brunette slapped the snooze button on the clock and pulled the peach sheet over her head. A thought entered her mind and she quickly sat up in her bed. She glanced over to the clock to check the time.

"I know I'm supposed to be doing something today," she mumbled groggily. She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palms and yawned softly. "It's 6:00 p.m." She jumped off the bed and stumbled towards the bathroom, realizing her plans for the evening. "I'm supposed to go on a picnic with Cai!"

Twenty minutes later, Serena emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her small frame and a toothbrush in her mouth. She strolled over to her dresser and pulled her undergarments out a drawer. She then slipped into the two articles of clothing. The brunette groaned softly at the process of selecting a wardrobe. Before strolling over to her closet, the sapphire-eyed female shuffled to the bathroom to finish brushing her teeth.

Five minutes later, Serena left the bathroom and perambulated towards the closet. She sifted through the different articles of clothing and came across a white, baby t-shirt. She examined the t-shirt and realized the word `Princess' was written across the chest, decorated with glitter and fancy pink letters. The brunette giggled softly, placed the shirt on her bed, then returned to the closet for a pair of blue jeans.

"Which pair shall I wear?" she contemplated out loud, inspecting the different cuts and shades of the jeans. She pulled out a pair of indigo, relaxed-fit jeans and smiled at her choice. She slipped on the jeans, threaded a black belt through the loops, and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She snatched the t-shirt off the bed, pulled it over her head, and tucked it into her jeans.

"Now where are my shoes?" She then reached to the bottom of the closet and spotted her slip-in, shell-toed Adidas. She placed her feet in the white shoes that had three, pink stripes on the sides.

The brunette glanced at her clock. She realized that she had only seven minutes to fix her hair and meet Cai at the Parking Lot entrance. Suddenly, her watch-bracelet beeped as she placed the small pearl earrings in her ear. She reached over to her dresser and pressed the green button on the piece of jewelry.

"Serena here."
"Hey Rena, it's Lita," the other individual replied. "What's going on?"

Serena looked in the mirror as she parted her hair on the right side. She brushed her chin-length bangs over to the left and behind her ears. "I'm doing some last minute touch-ups. I'm about to go somewhere with Cai. I'm sorry I can't talk very long." She began twisting her hair up and placed a large white hair clip on the back of her head.

"Well, I'll let you finish getting ready. Just have fun. I'll see you either tonight or tomorrow morning," Lita responded. "Bye!"

Serena murmured a farewell and ended the conversation. She fastened the watch-bracelet on her left wrist and reached for her small indigo purse. She placed her key card in the purse, rubbed cherry flavored lip-gloss on her lips, and left her room.

Parking Lot entrance:

Cai and Ryo came back from loading the contents for the picnic in Cai's ocean blue Lexus Convertible. Cai thanked his friend for his assistance.

"No problem dude," Ryo replied. "Just remember to have a good time with Serena."

"Thanks Ryo," Cai returned before his friend headed back to the Dormitory. He sighed contentedly and looked at the watch-bracelet. `She should be here in the next minute or so,' he stated in his mind.

Serena continued down the hall when she accidentally bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she apologized.

"It's okay Serena. You might wanna slow down just a bit though," a male suggested jokingly.

Serena looked up from her purse and stared at the visage of Seifer Almasy. She smiled thinly. "Thanks for the advice Mr. Almasy, but if you'll excuse me, I'm meeting someone very shortly. Have a nice day," she replied curtly as she sidestepped him and continued towards her destination. A few feet away, she spotted Amy and Rowen.

"Hey Serena!" Rowen and Amy greeted.

"Hey guys! Bye guys!" Serena threw over her shoulder as she jogged passed them, to her destination.

Cai sighed lightly as he looked at his watch-bracelet in nervousness. "She'll be here," he murmured softly to himself. Suddenly, he felt a tap on his left shoulder and a small voice behind him.

"Hey. I made it."

He looked over his shoulder and smiled at the person before him. "So are you ready to go Serena?" The female nodded as both persons headed towards his parked car.

"I saw Amy and Rowen before meeting up with you," Serena commented as she opened the passenger door of Cai's vehicle.

Cai sat down in the driver's seat and turned on the car. "Really?"

She sighed quietly as he drove the car out of the parking lot. "I couldn't really talk with them though. I hope they weren't upset for me wanting to be on time for our outing."

Her sea green-eyed companion grinned lightly. "I know that they wouldn't hold a grudge against you for something as small as that." He glanced over at her and she gave him a smile. "Do you mind if I let the roof down?"

"Not at all," she answered as she sat more comfortably in her seat. Cai reached over and pressed a button on the dashboard. "So where exactly are you taking me?"

Cai smiled slightly as he easily weaved his car through light traffic. "You'll see when we get there," he answered teasingly. Serena looked at him as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hey! That's not fair!" she pouted lightly. Cai chuckled softly at the childish act. "Well, can you at least tell me how far this place is from the Garden?!"

The auburn-haired male executed a left turn and drove slowly down the asphalt road. He veered the car to the right and slowed down to a complete stop. He looked at his azure-eyed companion and chuckled again at her pouting expression. "You look adorable doing that," he responded softly as he caressed her cheek. Her lips parted slightly as a blush spread across her cheeks. "But to answer your question, we'll be thirty minutes away from the Garden." Before Cai could shift the car into gear, Serena let out a startled yelp. "What is it?"

She pointed a shaky finger over his shoulder. "B-BUG!!" she shrieked as the `bug' crept towards the car.

He placed his hands on the steering wheel and arched an eyebrow, confusion written on his face. "Of course you're gonna see bugs Serena. We're in a forest so don't…" he trailed off as he saw a shadow loom over his shoulder. He slowly turned around and spotted the `bug' his cohort was frightened about. "Crap!!" he swore as he reached for his Magic stock on his utility belt. "Cast Aero magic!"

The strong gust of wind knocked the eight-foot long `bug' onto its back. Cai quickly shifted the car in gear and drove a few feet when two more `bugs' blocked their path. Both individuals looked straight ahead and behind them and found themselves boxed in.

"Looks like we have no choice but to fight them," Serena commented wryly as her transformation broach materialized in her left hand. She unbuckled herself and jumped out the car. "Moon Crystal Power!"

Cai jumped out the car and transformed into his sub armor. He guarded Sailor Moon's back while he cast Scan magic on two of the creatures. "The really huge one is a Caterchipiller. It's weak against Fire and Ice spells. The Bite Bug is weak against Ice and Wind magic," Cai stated over his shoulder.

"Since I don't have my magic nor my GF with me," she began as she reached for her tiara, "I'll have to improvise." She aimed at one of the two-foot long, blue flies. "Moon Tiara Magic!!" The Bite Bug screeched before being destroyed. "One down!" The tiara returned to its owner, with one leg still twitching on the headdress. She shrieked and shook the appendage off the accessory.

"Serena get in the car!" Cai yelled over his shoulder.

"I won't do that Cai! I can't leave you fighting these creepy bugs by yourself!" Sailor Moon protested as she stood back to back to him. "Any other ideas?"

"Just draw a magic spell from me and cast it on one of the bugs. We just have to fend them off with magic I have on me," Cai answered over his shoulder. He held up his wrists, one in front of the other, palms toward the two Caterchipillers. "Cast Flare magic!" The powerful fire spell hit one of the bugs while the other stumbled to help its fallen mate. The second Caterchipiller also burst into flames as well.

Sailor Moon drew two spells from her companion and looked at the Bite Bug. "Time for you to be blown away to pieces! Cast Blizzard magic!" Unknown ice winds swirled around the bug and encased him in an ice crystal. "Cast Aero magic!!" Another gust of wind blew the iced bug into a tree and she witnessed the ice crystal shatter on impact.

Cai quickly doused the two flaming corpses with Water magic. He quickly surveyed the area. "Is that all of them?"

"Come on Cai before anything else comes out and decides to have us for dinner!!" Sailor Moon warned as she glanced nervously around her while sitting in the passenger's seat.

Cai jumped into the car, shifted back into gear, and sped out the Alcauld Forest. He sighed quietly as he transformed back into his dark denim jeans and an aquamarine Polo shirt. "Are you okay?"

Serena sighed wearily as she transformed back into her casual attire. "I'm okay. Just a little shaken up," she answered as she stretched her arms and legs while in her seat. She leaned her head on the headrest and gazed at Cai. "How much longer will it take to get to where we're going?"

Cai turned a few more left and right turns before spotting the beautiful beach to his right. "We're actually here." He veered his vehicle off to the right and slowed down. He parked his car in the nearby parking lot and shut off the engine.

Serena stared at the full expanse of the beach, in pure admiration. The waters were crystal clear. The small waves rolled gently against the shore. She smiled softly as a gentle breeze caressed her face.

Both individuals grabbed the items for the picnic and headed towards the beach. Serena chose a spot that was not too far from the car, but was also private. Cai spread the blanket on the warm sand and placed the picnic contents on the cover. He and Serena sat down on the blanket and unloaded the basket.

"So what did you pack in here?" Serena asked as she glanced at the containers.

"Nothing really fancy. I just had only some pasta salad, a baguette, a fruit salad, some drinks…."

Serena picked up a small foil dish and peeled back the aluminum foil. "Is this what I think it is?"

"If you're hoping that it's apple crumble pie…" Serena looked up from the dish and glanced at Cai. "…then that's it," Cai answered casually, a touch of humor in his voice.

"Cai, I-I thank you. You really didn't have to do this," Serena whispered as she glanced back at the dessert.

"Hey. It's no problem," Cai stated as he handed her a plastic plate. "Like I said earlier, I wanted you to be happy. Enough of that, let's eat!"

Serena and Cai sat and held a light conversation between each other. After placing the used dishes and food in the picnic basket, Cai placed the picnic items back in his car. He made a suggestion of taking a stroll along the beach shore.

The two individuals walked along the shore barefooted. The crystal clear waters rolled gently against the beach. A soft breeze blew smoothly against their body frames. They walked in comfortable silence, both teens thinking about the many events that led them to this point in their lives.

Serena gazed out at the sunset and sighed quietly. She stopped walking and sat close enough until the waters lapped at her small feet. Cai followed suit and sat next to her. He casually propped his right knee up and placed his right arm there.

"It's really pretty huh," Serena whispered quietly as she hugged her knees to her chest. Cai murmured an agreement. "I'm really gonna miss being here on Earth." She sighed quietly as she placed her hand on the wet, sandy surface of the beach.

Cai nodded while he pondered in thought. `This might be the last time that I see her,' he thought seriously. He glanced out the corner of his eye at the female next to him. `I really need to tell her how I feel.'

"I just hope that those Negacreeps and evil warlords are gone for good," Serena murmured.

"Same here. I just don't want to fight anymore," Cai answered softly. He paused for a few moments, then turned his sea-green gaze to Serena. "Serena, I have to tell you something."

The blue-eyed female raised an arched eyebrow at her friend. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's just fine." Cai chuckled quietly before he revealed his thoughts to her. "I'm just happy that I'm able to spend time with you." He silently prayed to Hyne to keep his shyness at bay before he spoke again. "I don't know if I'll ever get a chance to tell you this," he began as he reached out with his left hand and placed it over her right hand, which was lying on the beach, "but I want you to know I value our friendship."

Serena looked at Cai and gave him a small smile. "I value this friendship…."

Cai placed a finger over her lips and gave her a charming smile. "I wasn't finished yet." She blushed and murmured an apology. "Most importantly, I wanted to tell you that I've fallen in love with you."

The brunette looked at him and gasped. "Cai…I…" She inhaled deeply before she asked her question. `I love you too, but I have to know,' she thought to herself. "When did you realize this?"

"Well, I knew that I liked you every since we were reunited at Ryo's place," Cai admitted as he held her hand. He looked at the sun casting its warm rays over the crystal waters. "When Ryo used the Phoenix Pinion to revive us, and I saw Beryl standing over you to finish you off…" He turned and looked at Serena. "…I realized that I liked you more than a friend. I was willing to put my life on the line for you. That's when I knew for sure that I had deeper feelings for you."

Tears of relief and joy slid down Serena's cheeks after she heard his declarations. "Thank you Cai. Thank you so much for everything," she cried as she jumped from her spot, landed in his lap, and embraced him. She buried her face in the crook of his neck. "I really needed to hear that." She sniffled a little before she raised her head and gazed into his eyes. "I want you to know that I love you too."

Cai let out a breath of relief as he heard her confession. He leaned forward and lovingly kissed away her tears. He held her in his embraced as the moon shined down on them and as the stars began twinkling brightly in the clear, dark sky.

Author's Note:

Happy Holidays everyone! I'm finally done with this chapter. *sighs in relief* I definitely apologize for the wait. I know that I really have to do better with the updates. I hope that I didn't disappoint you guys with this one. Most importantly, I will make sure that this story will be done.