Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ SeeDs, Ronins, and Scouts ❯ A Night to Remember ( Chapter 18 )

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.

"A Night to Remember: Sage and Lita"

Chapter Eighteen

Balamb's Quadrangular Area:

"Can you move that drapery about an inch to the right?" Jessica Payne yelled to one of the girls on the right. She pointed to the fabric that was slightly off-centered.

"The dark blue one right?" Caitlyn Burnett asked as she glanced over her shoulder.

"Yeah, that's the one," Jean-Luc Burgess confirmed as he stood next to Jessica.

As Caitlyn began climbing up, the ladder began to wobble slightly. "Make sure you keep the ladder steady Todd."

The auburn-haired, hazel-eyed male looked up and straightened the ladder. "Yeah! No problem," the eighteen-year old replied.

"And just in case you slip, I'll catch you," his older brother Jason Armstead added.

"How are the flowers coming along?" Jessica inquired of the small group of flower arrangers.

Lita and a small group of females placed the last flowerpot on the stage. They carefully straightened the beautiful arrangement and smiled at their work. "We're done here. Is there anything else?" Jade Taylor asked.

The vice-president's advisor, Jean-Luc shook his head. "No, that's all for today." He summoned everyone's attention. "We can take a break and finish on tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for volunteering your time and services to help out with Founder's Week," the blond-haired male stated professionally. All the individuals sighed and cheered in relief.

"Great job everyone!" Alexandria Jones commented earnestly as she surveyed the work. "As V.P. of the Balamb Garden Events Committee (B.G.E.C.), I just wanted to say thank you for your time and service. I know that our president, Selphie would be proud of the planning and progress we've made, in spite of her absence."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "As you all are aware, Founders' Week will begin on Monday." A few enthusiastic interjections were heard from the group. "Being a member of the B.G.E.C., I will ensure that Founders' Week will be one of history and tradition, as well as excitement and fun." The strawberry blonde looked at her watch-bracelet. "Now it's 5:57 p.m. We'll see some of you guys tomorrow around 4:30 p.m. Have a wonderful evening!"

The small crowd simply left the Quad area and dispersed to different areas of the institution. Lita sighed quietly while heading towards the Dormitory. The emerald-eyed blonde pulled on the hem of her black, form-fitting baby tee as it kept riding up to reveal her toned abs. She glanced to her left at the Cafeteria and spotted the long line. 'Looks like they're serving the usual slop today.'

A few moments later, the honey-blonde cupped a hand over her mouth as a small yawn escaped. She walked through the Dormitory entrance. "Man, I feel tired," she murmured as she scratched at the nape of her sloppy bun. The emerald-eyed female yelped slightly when she felt a pair of warm hands on her small waist. After sensing the person's aura, she turned around and tried to slug him in his shoulder. "Sage!"

He chuckled lightly as he anticipated her move and grabbed her fist. "Hey. You shouldn't let your guard down so easily." He released her hand. "So… where were you just coming from?" the indigo-eyed male asked curiously. She murmured a response as she turned around and headed towards her room. "So are the preparations for Founders' Week going okay?"

Lita nodded her head as she pulled her keycard from her baggy, gray sweatpants. She swiped her card and her room door unlocked. "Yeah. We're basically done, but there are a few small errands we have to do tomorrow." She leaned against her doorframe and stared at her friend. "So where were you coming from?"

He leaned on the adjoining wall and crossed his arms over his chest. "From Balamb City. I ran into one of my friends from high school and I talked with him for a while. Ben Milton invited me to play a game of Hearts with Melissa Little and Heather Johnston." He offered a charming smile to the female before him. "I told him I had some plans later on today," -he reached over and caressed her cheek- "with a veryspecial lady."

"Hmm…I see," she added with a thoughtful expression. Lita smiled at the blond male. "Well, I better get ready for our evening out!" she announced brightly. "Just knock on the door when you're ready."

"No problem." He stood at his full height and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. He murmured, "I'll see you later," then walked down the hall to his room.

Timber Station:

Squall, Quistis, Selphie, Zell, and Rinoa arrived in Timber. They grabbed a few magazines, such as Timber Maniacs and Pet Pals, and then headed into town.

"So when would be a good time to search for Seifer?" Zell asked as he thumbed through the Combat King issue.

"We'll do the search in the morning." Everyone glanced at the intelligent blonde. "If we don't find him by tomorrow afternoon, we'll leave on for Galbadia Garden that same night," Quistis explained as she straightened the arm cuff on her blue and white SeeD uniform.

"In the meantime, we better get some rest," Squall murmured as he massaged his neck to release some tension.

"Can we change out of our uniforms and stop somewhere to grab a bite to eat?" Selphie begged as they walked pass several shops. "I'm really hungry guys!"

"We can stop by Jacob's Pub," Rinoa offered as they stopped in front of Timber Inn. "How about we drop off our bags here, then I can show you where the place is?" the petite, raven-haired girl suggested coolly.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Zell smiled as he and the others entered the hotel.

Balamb Garden:

Lita sighed warmly as she stepped out the bathroom in her undergarments, a lilac robe, and her head wrapped in a white towel. 'Nothing like a nice, warm, refreshing bath.' She began humming a little tune as she pulled out a form-fitting, ¾-sleeved oxford shirt. The shirt had pink and black diagonal stripes. The tall blonde reached in her closet to find a pair of black chinos and a pair of black, ankle-strapped heels.

She glanced at the small desk clock display 6:32 p.m. She shrugged off her robe and pulled on her oxford shirt. As Lita stepped into her slacks, her phone rang.

The honey-blonde nearly fell as she stumbled in the kitchen to retrieve the cordless ringing device. "Hello?"

"Good evening Lita. What's going on?" the voice responded.

Lita smiled as she recognized the voice. "Hey Blaze," she greeted warmly as she fastened her silver watch-bracelet to her left wrist. "I'm getting ready to go out tonight." She fastened a delicate silver tennis bracelet to the same wrist with the other accessory. "So how have you been?"

Blaze laughed lightly into the receiver. "I've been pretty busy and frustrated lately. Other than that, I'll make it." A brief pause occurred before a rustle of papers, followed by a male voice, was heard. "Unfortunately, I have to work on an important case with Axel right now."

Lita smiled mentally as she stated her response. "I believe part of your 'frustration' is coming from him isn't it?"

Blaze waved off the comment. "Whatever," she laughed nervously. "So…don't you have some big mission to embark on Monday?"

Lita sighed quietly. "Yeah, but I'm not gonna worry about that now," she murmured dejectedly as she pulled the towel off her head.

"I didn't mean to put you in a solemn mood before you go out tonight," the auburn-haired female apologized sincerely. A few moments passed before she spoke again. "I better let you finish getting ready. However, I may have to wring Axel's neck if he doesn't quit aggravating me about the details in this file."

"What was that Blaze?" Axel inquired teasingly as Lita heard more paper rustling on Blaze's end. The emerald-eyed beauty laughed when she heard the other female emit a low growl into the phone.

"I swear… if he wasn't an excellent partner…" Blaze groaned as she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Then who would be able to endure that pretty little mouth of yours and that fiery temper hmmm?" Axel countered smoothly on Blaze's end. The auburn-haired female murmured a few choice words under her breath. He then began chuckling lightly as he sifted through the papers.

Lita raked her wavy tresses from her face as she glanced at the clock on the stove display 6:40 p.m. "Yeah, I better go," she responded into the handset. "If I don't hear from you before Monday, I wish you the best of luck on your case." She sighed inwardly before another thought hit her. "By the way, don't hurt him too much," the tall blonde teased lightly.

"I'll try not to," Blaze muttered darkly as she glared at the object of her frustration. "Well…have fun tonight! Bye!"

Lita grinned before she ended the conversation. She clicked a hidden button on her watch-bracelet as a holographic screen appeared before her. She then glided a finger down the phone book and spotted a name. The tall female tapped on the name and her watch-bracelet began contacting the person. "I'll call Serena to see if everything's okay. After that, I better hurry before Sage arrives."

~~~~~~~~~~

Sage brushed off invisible dust from the sleeve of his blue blazer. He glanced down at his tan watch-bracelet show 6:55 p.m. He grabbed his wallet, room keycard, and car keys before he left his room.

The attractive male casually strolled down the hall to Lita and Mina's room. He knocked on the door and waited patiently. He quirked an eyebrow in question as he heard a loud thump, followed by a small, "Ouch!" before the room's occupant opened the door.

"Hey." He observed her hunched-over stance and a frown appeared on his handsome face. "Are you okay?" he asked out of concerned.

Lita nodded her head as she limped over to her bed and sat down. She held out her left foot before her and wiggled her pink polished toes to relieve the slight thumping. "I'll be okay in a few moments."

Sage followed her and pulled up a chair and sat across from her. He reached forward and placed her foot in his lap. "Well, let me help you out," he murmured as he carefully massaged the area.

Lita sighed and moaned in pure bliss as she felt the slight pain wane. "Thank you," she whispered before displaying a small smile. She slipped her foot into the black shoe and fastened the buckle. "So what are the plans for tonight?"

Sage returned the small smile as he answered her question. "Well, I thought that we could try the Lunar Dreams restaurant in Balamb City. It's located across the street from the harbor. I heard that the atmosphere there is quite amiable."

"Sounds lovely." She stood up and grabbed her room keycard and her black purse. She carefully tugged on the pink ribbon that held her high ponytail.

Sage held out his hand to her. "Shall we?" The female smiled at the gesture and grabbed his hand as they left the room.

Outskirts of Balamb City:

"What the…?" The blond male swerved his Acura to the left to dodge two Glacial Eye monsters before coming to a complete stop in front of three Bite Bugs. He looked at his companion. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine Sage." The female winced as she rubbed the back of her neck. She and her partner stepped out of the vehicle and watched as the monsters encircled them. "Isn't this wonderful? We're fifteen minutes from Garden and we run into this mess," Lita muttered sarcastically before she reached in her pocket for her transformation pen. "Jupiter…"

Sage held up his hand to stop her. "There's no need to transform. We'll let someone else handle it." Lita eyed him hesitantly before she concealed the item. "Don't worry," he reassured her.

Before he could summon one of the Guardian Forces, the blonde-haired female spotted one of the creatures creep behind him. "Sage, watch out!!" Lita warned as she dodged one Glacial Eye's fangs. She turned around, added a weak Fire spell into her right hook, and struck the flying monster.

The blond male lunged forward and struck the other Glacial Eye with a Firaga spell. He then turned around and froze a Bite Bug with a Blizzaga spell. A small yelp from his right startled him. "Wha…LITA!!!"

Lita struggled to get free from the remaining Bite Bugs' clasp. She felt the creatures' talons slowly dig into her shoulder. "Let me go!!" she yelled before they flew into the air. She cried out as she felt her body being lifted a hundred feet in the air. "Sage, help me!!"

Sage aimed at the Bite Bug to her left and fired a weak Aero spell and a Fira spell. However, the remaining Glacial Eye floated intercepted the attack and fell to the ground in a whirlwind of burnt ashes.

"What are you trying to do?!! Kill me?!!" the blonde screamed incredulously.

He swore under his breath at the failed attempt. Sage watched as the two insects moved back and forth side to side with Lita in tow. "Just hold on!! I'll get you down!" he promised as he concentrated again and aimed a weak Aero spell at the insect on her left side.

The Bite Bug swayed once more before colliding with the other insect on Lita's right side. Both of the blue insects released the female.

Lita let out a loud scream as the ground rapidly approached her. 'I won't be able to break the fall in time…even if I transform.' Suddenly she felt someone catch her in mid-air and landed soundlessly on the earth. She glanced up at her savior in sub armor and released the breath she was holding. "Sage."

"I told you that I'd get you down," he stated as he placed her on her feet. He glanced up at the remaining flying monsters. "I better take care of them before someone else gets hurt."

As the two monsters moved in for the kill, Sage summoned the GF Quezacotl. The thunderbird appeared and charred the creatures with his Thunder Storm attack.

Both individuals sighed in relief. Sage transformed back into his crisp white shirt, khaki slacks, and blue blazer as they walked towards his vehicle.

"Are you alright?" he asked once they sat in the car.

"Yes," she lied before acute pain stabbed her right shoulder.

"No, you're not," he countered as he glanced at her. "You're obviously in pain Lita. We'll go to your house and I can take a look at your shoulders."

"I think they may be infected," she hissed as she held her right shoulder. She fished in her purse and placed her house keys in the cup holder.

Sage shifted the car into fourth gear. "We'll go to Lunar Dreams at another time. I'll go to the store and pick up a few things after I've checked those scratches."

Lita nodded her head weakly as Sage sped towards Balamb City.

Balamb City:

Fifteen minutes later at 7:40 p.m., Sage parked his vehicle in Lita's driveway and grabbed the house keys. He glanced at the passenger and noticed that her face was flushed. A light sheen of sweat covered her forehead and she began to shiver slightly.

"Damn!" he swore as he jumped out of the car. He slid over the hood of the car and jerked the passenger door open. He picked up the nearly unconscious female and carried her bridal style to the front door. "Stay with me Lita," he whispered as he opened the door.

The female weakly murmured a few incoherent responses as he laid her body on the couch. He quickly made his way to the bathroom, grabbed a small washcloth, and filled a small pail with cool water. He carried the items back into the living room and placed them by the couch.

"Time to check these scratches," he murmured quietly as he shrugged out his blazer and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. He reached over and unbuttoned her blouse and winced as he saw the red abrasions on both shoulders. "Dear Hyne…"

The indigo-eyed male pressed a button on his watch-bracelet and quickly contacted Dr. Kadowaki. When the doctor's voice came through, Sage explained the situation to her, as well as Lita's condition. He listened carefully as the 27-year-old doctor gave concise instructions to ensure Lita's full recovery.

"She has some poison in her bloodstream and in her state, she can't fight it off. As a result, she's having a fever and slight chills. If you do what I instructed, she will be just fine. As a matter of fact, she should wake up within the next two hours," the doctor assured. "Just contact me to let me know if she's doing better."

The blond thanked her before ending the conversation. He carefully extracted the poison from her blood via Esuna magic. She began to shiver lightly and mumbled incomprehensibly. The male murmured loving, and soothing words to calm her down. Next, he placed the cool cloth on her feverish forehead. Lastly, Sage cast a Regen spell on the ill female and placed a light quilt on her frame.

"She should be okay in a little while," he observed before picking up the cordless phone. He dialed Ben Milton's number and asked him to pick up some items from the grocery store.

"Sure," the brown-haired male answered.

Sage gave him directions to Lita's house. "Thanks man. I truly appreciate it."

~~~~~~~~~~

Lita slowly opened her eyes and found herself staring at the ceiling. She carefully reached up and felt a cool cloth on her forehead. "What happened to me?" she groaned softly.

The female slowly raised herself into an upright position. At the same time, a delicious aroma floated into the living room. Unfortunately, her stomach lurched in protest and the emerald-eyed female jumped off the couch to run into the hallway bathroom. She suddenly became friends with the toilet as she emptied out the contents in her stomach.

"Lita, is everything okay in there?" a male voice inquired in concern.

"I'm okay Sage." After flushing the toilet, she glanced at the mirror. 'Hyne, I look like shit.' She noticed that the skin on her shoulders was slightly red but the scratches were completely healed. 'Wait…where's my shirt?' She turned to her right to head into the living room and ran into the blond-haired male. She flushed in embarrassment as she covered her bosom.

The male blushed slightly as he held her shirt in his hand. "Sorry about that." He turned around as she dressed. "So how are you feeling?" he asked over his shoulder.

She pushed him out of the restroom as they walked to the staircase. "Like hell, but I feel much better than earlier," she commented. "Thanks for taking care of me."

"It's nothing." A few seconds of silence passed before he spoke again. "I know we were supposed to dine in, but I'm preparing something in the kitchen. Is that okay?"

"Yeah." She placed her left hand on her hip and jerked her right thumb upstairs. "I'm gonna take a shower and change before I eat."

"That's fine. I'll make sure nothing tragic happens to dinner," he stated jokingly as she jogged up the stairs and into her room.

~~~~~~~~~~

Twenty minutes later at 9:30 p.m., Lita walked downstairs in a pair of baggy, gray drawstring sweatpants and a form-fitting, orange baby tee. She tucked a few stands of hair behind her ears as she entered the kitchen. The blonde spotted her friend stirring one of the many pots cooking on the stove.

"Hey you," she greeted as she stood next to him. "Whatcha cookin'?"

"Nothing really," he answered nonchalantly. "Just a little Chicken Alfredo and Fettuccini noodles. Cai just gave me a few pointers about the seasoning." He glanced over at the female and smirked at her surprised expression. "Can you do me a big favor and watch these?"

Lita nodded her head as he left the kitchen. As she checked the noodles and flipped the chicken tenderloins over in the wok, Sage appeared in the kitchen in more comfortable attire. He adjusted the drawstring on his dark navy sweatpants, then ran his hands over his relaxed-fit gray t-shirt.

"The food looks good," she remarked as she reached into the cabinet for two plates.

"Well, we'll soon find out how good it tastes," Sage said as he placed the pots on the dining table.

They sat at the table and served themselves. During the intimate dinner, Lita was in total awe of the delicious cuisine. She complimented him on dish.

"It's one of my favorite dishes anyway," he explained casually. "I just wanted to share it you. Besides, this beats the slop they serve at Balamb Garden any day." Lita grinned as she nodded in agreement.

~~~~~~~~~~

Thirty minutes later, Sage sighed in content as he stretched out on the loveseat. He just finished chatting with the doctor about Lita's condition. He propped the folded quilt under his head and closed his eyes. He felt a body straddle his hips. Before he could raise a question, he felt Lita's fingers flying rapidly along the sides of his torso.

Surprised laughter filled the living room from the two individuals. "So…you are ticklish!" the female grinned at her discovery.

Sage tried to catch her hands and hold them steady but decided on another tactic. He turned to his right and had her pinned against the back of the couch. He allowed his fingers to run along her waistline. "And so are you, my lady!" he smiled smugly as she shrieked before giggling uncontrollably.

"N-no…fair!" she protested between breaths.

Sage laughed as she tried to escape her torture. He finally stopped when she yelled, "UNCLE!!!"

Lita laughed softly before reaching across him for the remote control. She flipped the channels and stopped on an action-packed movie. The female sighed as she placed her head on his chest and draped her right thigh over his left one. "Thank you for everything tonight. I truly appreciate it," she murmured as she slipped her right hand under his shirt and rubbed his toned stomach.

He smiled as he covered her right hand with his left. He lightly stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. "You're welcome. I did all of it to make you happy," the indigo-eyed declared as his right hand reached up and released the wavy tresses from its ponytail. He slowly began raking his fingers through the soft strands.

Lita closed her eyes and sighed in pure pleasure as his fingertips massaged her scalp. "Hmmm…keep doing that," she purred as she felt tantalizing shivers crawl down her spine. She bit back the whimper that threatened to spill from her lips.

Sage grinned softly as he continued with the soothing task. A few moments passed before he spoke again. "I could have lost you again -first to Cale, then to the Bite Bugs' poison," he whispered as he gazed at the ceiling.

"But you didn't," she countered sternly. "I'm still alive, thanks to you."

"And I realize that," he replied through a sigh. "I wasn't sure if we would be together tonight because of it all," he admitted as she sat up and quirked an eyebrow in question.

Lita sighed in concern. "I understand baby, but what matters now is that I'm here with…you." She smiled arrogantly as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Besides, I know I'm a tough chick and I refuse to go down without a fight." The female uncrossed her arms and placed a soft hand on his cheek. "I swear to you that no enemy will separate us ever again. That's a Sailor Scout promise," she stated seriously.

"I know that you're a strong woman and can take care of yourself. I've witnessed that for myself." The male chuckled at a memory. "In all seriousness, I told myself I would be there for you and protect you always," he vowed softly as his hands gripped her hips. "Unfortunately, I nearly broke my promise today. I almost failed to protect you. I thought I would lose you before I had the chance to tell you how I felt."

Lita gazed into his eyes and saw a sense of hope in their blossoming relationship. However, the overwhelming emotion she saw in his eyes was so powerful that it rocked her very soul. The crystal tears slid down her cheeks. "Is it really true?"

Sage nodded as he slowly brushed away the salty streaks from her cheeks. "I love you with every fiber of my being Lita. I've loved you since…Hyne I can't even remember." He sat up and embraced her. "I knew you had my heart when we shared that kiss in your room a few months ago. Despite the fact that I was an immature jerk in the past, I knew from those few moments we still had unfinished business between us." He kissed her temple as he held her. "Besides, you are my world and I'm not going to lose you," he whispered ardently.

Lita tried to laugh through her snuffles. "And here you are, purposely making me cry when you know I don't like to," she stated teasingly. She gave him a watery smile as she cupped his face. "You have made me a very happy woman. At first, I was very hesitant about sharing my feelings because I thought you'd reject them. So being the stubborn person I am, I kept them to myself. Now, I'm not afraid…"

Sage smiled in understanding as he rested his hands on her waist. "But now that you know how I feel, it should be easier for you to express your feelings." He began showering her face with butterfly kisses. "I don't want you to keep them from me, ever again."

Now the female smirked at the male. "Yes," she whispered seductively as his lips brushed against hers. "I can't deny the fact that I love this passionate, and equally stubborn man before me."

The two individuals shared a passionate kiss that shook their very souls. The emerald-eyed female ran her fingers through his coarse, but soft hair as the kiss deepened. The couple moaned in unadulterated ecstasy.

The movie, which was long forgotten, continued broadcasting on the channel. A distant rumble of thunder echoed through the city before a light rain shower fell. The clouds cried tears of joy as the couple shared their newfound happiness.