Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Second Chance ❯ Sister, sister? ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8: Sister, sister?

 

“Seifer, you are really here!” exclaimed Rinoa jumping on him as he came into Squall's office, along with the others except for Selphie.

 

“I thought Squally was kidding when he said you had come back” Seifer had to do his best to not roll into the floor at the nickname, as Rinoa hugged him he looked at the Commander with a playful grin and a cocked eyebrow, which earn him the middle finger from the brunet.

 

“When did you come back?” questioned the blond to the young sorceress

“Right this morning, I wanted to come back already”

“So what is your next plan? You're going to apply for SeeD?” questioned Quistis

“There's no need for that. I got my magic, my Knight and you SeeDs to protect me” said Rinoa as if it was the most obvious thing, making the present SeeDs to look at each other confused.

 

“Uh, sorry for interrupting this but I have some classes to give. So I'll see you around later, guys” said Irvine as he walked to the door but it suddenly opened giving way to a hurried Selphie that knocked him down.

 

“Hey, guys!” cheered the girl and then noticed the cowboy “Irvy, what are you doing in the floor?”

“Thought I saw a smudge on the carpet” said Irvine as he got on his feet

“What's all the commotion about, Selphie?” asked Squall

“You're not going to believe it!” she answered with a wide smile “Edea is moving to Garden!”

“You can't be serious!” said Zell

“I'm not kidding! The Headmaster just told me some minutes ago”

“But how can we know she's no longer under Ultimecia's power?” asked Rinoa, always talking for everybody else

 

“Edea is no longer a sorceress” said Seifer “She transferred her powers to you, remember?”

“But how can we be sure?” she insisted

“Rinoa, Dr. Odin proof that and we believe it. What else do you need?” said Squall

“This world is so little and hundred of unexpected things had happened to us” she said

“Well, I have to be going, I have things to do” said Quistis

“I have a class in five minutes too” followed Zell

“Me too” also said Seifer

“We better be going” said Irvine and they all walked out. Once the door was close, Quistis sighed with frustration

 

“I hate that-that... woman!” she said between clenched teeth

“Dear Instructor, you surely got a temper hidden behind that pretty face” mocked Seifer

“Don't push it Seifer or you'll regret it” said Irvine

“There's no need for that. I got my magic, my Knight and you SeeDs to protect me” said Zell imitating Rinoa “What are we, bodyguards?”

 

“She better behave properly once Edea moves in” said Selphie “Otherwise she will see it with me”

“Let's go before she hears us” said Irvine

“You're right, she then will ruin Squall's day with her whining” followed Seifer making the others laugh as they walked to the elevator to get back to their activities.

 

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It was noon already, Danielle had some spare time and she was in the library trying to solve some homework. Of course that implied theory classes, because even when she hated to admit it, she was an ignorant. She had never been taught general history.

 

She was writing an essay about the history of Esthar when she suddenly felt a hand gripping her ponytail hard, pulling her head backwards and a pair of lips land on hers in a bruising kiss. It didn't take her long to realize who it was.

 

“Hello, beauty” said Vandom when he pulled apart

“Leave me alone” she said pulling away from his grip

“Danny, Danny, Danny” he went taking hold of her hair again, this time harder than before “What do I have to do get your attention?”

 

Danielle closed her eyes not only because she didn't want to see him, but also because of the pain she felt in her scalp. She felt Vandom's lips brushing the shell of her ear and then he spoke.

“You know, people are starting to speak about us. They say you're cheating on me. That you are with that Almasy whenever you're not with me”

“Bullshit”

“I used to think that” said Vandom, his voice sounding angrier “Until I saw him going to your room last Sunday” and he tighten the grip on her hair, but she didn't answer. She didn't want Vandom to know about what had happened in the Training Center, Seifer had actually kept his word of visiting her the next day, arriving the moment Kadowaki was checking on her.

 

“I've seen it, Danielle” he proceeded “I've seen how he stares at you and you stare back. You barely look at me whenever I'm talking to you. You didn't used to be like that when I met you”

“That's in the past”

“Lies” he said with gritted teeth “You have always played hard to catch. You still love me, Danielle Jenvian. And before you both know it, you'll beg for me” He finally released her and walked away, Danielle following him with her eyes.

 

She buried her face in her hands. This couldn't be happening; it wasn't the fact that they now spread rumors about her relation with Vandom, oh no. It was the fact that she had a relation with Seifer, Seifer of all people!

 

It was true what Vandom said about the starring. She had caught Seifer starring at her, and whenever she looked back, he just smiled and looked away. Sometimes she will be the one watching him and he will grin whenever he realized it and she will look away immediately.

 

Vandom had noticed it and he wasn't very happy about it. Danielle knew how he was in this kind of situations, and it she got scared thinking of what he could to her. Or even to Seifer

 

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Selphie was running to Squall's office as fast as her feet could take her. She had to assist to a reunion and she knew how precious Squall's time was. She was hoping she didn't get late, being actually the one that asked for such meeting.

 

“Excuse me!” she cried passing in the middle of two students. “Sorry!” she said looking over shoulder; her race was suddenly interrupted when she bumped with a wall that knocked her over.

 

“Ow” complain the short SeeD rubbing her head; then she realized she had bumped with Seifer, who had remain standing at Selphie's impact.

 

“You would get in trouble if I still commanded the Disciplinary Committee” chuckle Seifer as he stretched his hand to the fallen girl to help her

“Hey! Where are you going now?” went Selphie as soon as she was back on her feet

“Finish early today, why?”

“Great, come with me! Hurry!” she exclaimed renewing her run

“Whoa, wait up!” went Seifer after her. She was sure short, but she was really fast. They both made it to the elevator and Selphie pressed the button that will take them to the third floor.

 

“What do you have in mind, Slinky?”

“You'll see” smiled Selphie as the elevator came to a stop and then they walked out.

 

“Hey, guys! Sorry I'm a bit late!” she first apologized as soon as she got inside the office, where the others were waiting for her.

 

“Now tell us what the commotion is all about” said Zell

“Well,” started Selphie “I know what you think about it, Squall, but I've noticed that the Junior Classmen are really, really homesick. They're kids after all, and also the other students and SeeDs need some relax, so I've decided to throw a big party for the whole Garden”

“And you need us for what?” questioned Quistis

“Well, one of the members of the Festival Committee suggested a play for the kids and we are the ones that will make it!” said Selphie excited. Different from the others that felt their world turning gray in that moment.

 

“Sunshine, I'm not sure if I heard ya' right” went Irvine “You're saying we are the ones that are going to act”

“That's right!” said Selphie

“I'm not acting” said Squall immediately

“The Headmaster already approved the party, but he said you should be the one to give me the green light for the play” smiled the brunette. In that moment, the rest turn to look at him.

 

“We agree with the party but not the play” went Zell

“We don't know anything about acting” followed Irvine

“We don't have any experience” said Quistis

“Oh, come on” suddenly said Rinoa “When you made the band performance, you didn't knew very much about the instruments, but you still made it great. I'm in, unless you want to let me out like in that occasion”

“We didn't let you out, you just played another role” said Selphie “And yes, you're in the play. I already got the story”

“And the title is…?” went Zell gesturing for the sentence to be complete

“Cinderella!” cried the brunette with her smile wider than before, while the others kept a deadly silence

 

“You gotta be kidding” went Seifer

“Oh, come on. It's gonna be fun!” said Rinoa

“I already have the script, and since we know the story from head to toe, it will be piece of cake. The problems are the costumes, found some in the store-room of the Quad, but they don't look in very good conditions” insisted Selphie

“Well, since it seems we don't have any other option but to help you, I bet we could fix them”

“That's the spirit, Quisty!”

“Just one little thing, there aren't enough characters as I remember the story” went Squall, relieved to know he didn't have to participate

“Another girl of the Festival Committee offered to participate and since I still needed another, I recruit one myself” explained the short brunette “She shall be here soon”

 

She had just finished saying such when there was a knock in the door. Selphie didn't even let Squall to let whoever was knocking to say “Come in” as she went to open the door to a familiar girl of black hair and crystal blue eyes.

 

Rinoa knew her too. It didn't took her long to recognize her, her tranquil eyes change to surprise and then to anger. Danielle was just coming inside when she spoke.

 

“You” went Rinoa, making the other girl look at her and surprising too when she recognized the sorceress

“Lin?”

“What are you doing in this place?!” demanded the older girl, but Danielle suddenly seem to lost the ability to speak

 

“Answer me!!” insisted the young sorceress

“I-I was send here by-by Mrs. Kramer…” stuttered the other girl

“Well, I'm not surprise. You're a burden after all”

“Lin, what are you…?”

“My name is not Lin, you stupid!! It's Rinoa!! Miss Heartly to you, understand?! Never again call me by my name, you freak!!”

“Rinoa!” said Squall, not really understanding her outburst

“You don't know what that bitch did to me!! She destroyed my family!!” yelled Rinoa

 

Danielle was just standing there hearing everything, her breathing picked up and she lowered her head.

 

“Oh, you're going to cry? You are going to cry because I said the truth? That you're nothing but a cancer for everybody, that nobody loves you?”

“You're just a liar” went Danielle between gritted teeth

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You're nothing but a liar”

“Don't tell me you really believe Edea send you here to become a SeeD? She just wanted to get rid of you” said the Sorceress

“Rinoa, stop it!!” said Squall

“You're nothing to me, you took away my father!”

“He's MY father too!” cried Danielle back and Rinoa slapped her.

 

Those who witness the situation couldn't really understand what was going on until Danielle's last remark. Was she Rinoa's sister? But why hadn't she mentioned her ever? Why did she hate her so much?

 

Danielle felt her cheek throbbing at the slap. She will normally strike back, but this time, she just preferred to look once again at the older brunette. Her blue eyes were glowing due to the tears she was containing.

 

“You won at the end. I was the one he abandoned, not you. Don't blame if at the end you pushed him away” and with that, she left the office.