Walking Blind

Author's Notes: Wow, that last chapter was REALLY long! It took me a REALLY long time to finish that. A lot happened and now it's time to pick up the story! In this chapter, a lot more interactions will take place and I promise that I'll add some Squall/Oni action. This is mostly going to be a build up chapter to the Christmas party that is going to happen. Toki will appear once more and shake things up!! What do I have up my sleeve??? Find out by READING! Enjoy, but don't forget to review!

Disclaimer's:We all know that I don't own Final Fantasy 8 or any of the songs used in this chapter, but I own Oni!! Mwahahahahah! Ok, back to the story.

Chapter 5: Haunted Hymn

Trapped within a dream world,

A place that's real yet fake,

It is here I've found I've made my worst mistake.

I've let myself be taken,

I've let myself forget,

These actions will leave me only with regret.

My heart begins to fail me,

My eyes begin to shut,

I'm drifting within a sea of heaven knows what.

But just when I think it's over,

The darkness begins to dim,

And I'm left with only a haunted hymn.

~Lynxionia

From her tightly shut eyes, something fell down her cheeks and moistened the pillow her head was resting on. No sounds came from her slightly lips and no movement was made. And Squall just stood there watching her.

As crystal tears fell, Squall realized, she was crying.

That moment played itself over and over in Squall's already troubled mind. For some reason he could not shake the vision of her tears rolling down those almond cheeks and soaking into her pillow. It wasn't so much that it had happened that held his attention, no instead it was the fact that this stoic appearing woman showed that within her unconscious mind she suffered something that brought on tears.

He recalled the actions he had taken after he had seen the water leak from her shut eyes. After the first tear fell he had waited until he saw another to confirm that she really was crying before slowly backing away from her. Stealing only one glance at his roommate, Squall had gone back to his bed and just sat there, not knowing what to think. He had seen tears on her face many times because of meaningless arguments or disagreements, but the crystal drop of water running down Oni's "always silent" seemed so much different from seeing them on someone else. The problem was, he didn't know why.

Rolling over to lay on his stomach, Squall rested his head on his arms that lay atop his pillow. It had been an hour since he had seen Oni's tears and he found himself still restless in the extreme August heat. Turning his gaze to the side, he could see Oni on the other side of the curtain motionless in her sleep. Squall wondered what plagued her dreams while her body rested in the staggering heat. What demons tortured her mind?

With a sigh, the former commander looked back up at the white ceiling trying to clear his mind of the image he had seen only an hour ago. What was it that made that image stay embedded in his mind?

Not wanting to think about it anymore, Squall rolled onto his side still clad in only his boxers with all the covers at the end of the bed and drifted into his own restless sleep.

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She could see his face looming over her with a look that was obviously not his own. His forcefulness was unknown to her and she wasn't sure what could be done to stop his painful assault. From the moment he had come through the door she knew that something wasn't right, but before she could even begin to inquire about the problem, he had pushed her back.

Her cries of anguish were silenced with his harsh voice warning her to keep her mouth shut or suffer a greater consequence. What greater consequence could be given then the one he was now forcing upon her? For the first time in her entire life, she felt as though she was being drown but kept alive to feel the pain of passing from the world of the living over and over again.

It was then that she became silent and bit back every cry that would have made him inflict more pain on her. Her fingers were clenched so tight that her palms began to bleed, but she stayed silent. With every ounce of willpower she had, she held it all back, but as he continued his insane torture she felt the one thing that would betray her begin to rise.

Even with her eyes shut so tight that pain streaked into her temples, she could not stop the silver tear that leaked out and slid down her cheek. That was the last thing she ever felt before something with staggering force pushed her into the world of darkness and her mind helplessly cried out in vain.

"Someone…save me."

With that plea drifting though her mind, she fell into a black pool that threatened to shallow her whole. But as she felt the air beginning to leave her, she saw a light spark in the endless void. As the light sparked again she could just barely make out a figure standing in the darkness looking at her. Not knowing or caring who it was, she reached out her hand with the last of her strength and cried out in desperation.

"Help me, please!!! Don't leave me here!! Save me!!"

As though someone had shot her in the heart, she snapped up out of her bed with her hands fisted tightly in the sheet lying on top of her. Sweat rolled down her face and her breathing was heavy, but if one were to look upon her face at that moment, they would see that her face was still the emotionless mask it always was. Slowing her breathing to a normal pace, she pushed back the sheet and let her feet hang off the edge of her bed.

Her mind was focused on the dream that had plagued her for years. Every detail was embedded in her mind to torture her for the rest of her life. Each night she fought it, each night she fought the pain, but this night had been different. For two years this dream surfaced within her mind at night. Some nights, she could fight back the tears that always seemed to betray her, but tonight was not one of those nights. Yet, the tears weren't what played over and over in her head. Never before in any dream could she remember seeing someone standing encased in light like a beacon in the night sky. It had sparks something in her that she hadn't had in two painful years. Hope.

Still thinking of the dream and its strange turn of events, she heard a groan come from the other side of the curtain. Letting her wine red eyes turn to look in the direction of the sound, she reached for the robe on the end of her bed and pulled it on around her, but left it open with nothing holding it close.

Silently, she rose from her bed and walked around the small curtain in the room to view what she knew to be the source of the sound. As expected, her eyes were met by the former commander's sleeping form. His covers were tossed to the end of the bed to escape the summer heat and all his clothes, except his boxers, were gone from his body. The cool breeze from the window behind the beds caused his brown hair to lightly blow across his face in a serine way that made him look gentle.

Oblivious to his roommate's presence, the former SeeD groaned once more and turned his head so that he was now facing the curtain. He had his arms underneath his pillow and his head rested lightly atop them. This left his entire back visible to the scarlet gaze of his roommate. She noticed that his skin was drenched in sweat from the intense heat of summer that he was undoubtedly not accustomed to. Every muscle in his back was defined from his stretched out position but that was not what caught her attention. Instead, it was the multiple scars that were scattered over his tan skin that told her he was not foreign to battle. This only made sense considering that he was a former SeeD, but the large number of them seemed somehow startling. Some marks were fainter than others, but all were healed over from obvious use of cure spells and potions.

Walking around to the side of his bed, she prepared to awake him to get ready for the day ahead, but stopped. Standing there looking down on him with her ever silent face, she decided to let him sleep at least until she had her shower.

Deserting his bedside, the red-eyed woman headed towards the bathroom at the back of the room stopping only momentarily to grab a towel. Entering the small room, she closed the door behind her and didn't even bother to lock it before removing her robe, tang top, and underwear. With the shower on its hottest setting, she stepped in and let the water wash away all the sweat from her sleep.

Once she washed her body and had thoroughly washed her hair, she stepped out and dried herself. Remembering that today was Wednesday and everyone was allowed to sleep in, she simply grabbed the underwear and bra she had brought with her and put them on. Then, reaching for her robe that she had laid aside, she pulled it on and tied it closed around her concealing her bra and underwear.

Soon, her roommate would be awake and she wanted to have breakfast ready before he did so. So, throwing a towel on top of her long damp hair, she exited the bathroom and walked into the kitchen making sure to throw a glance at the sleeping man in his bed to insure that he was still asleep. Seeing that he was, she pulled out a pan and some cake batter to make some pancakes.

Within less than a half and hour, she had made five good sized pancakes, two for her and three for her still sleeping roommate. Grabbing two plates from the cabinet and setting the pancakes on them, she set them at the table along with two tall glasses of milk, a tub of butter, and a bottle of syrup. She did this entire routine silently, never once making enough noise to disturb the sleeping man in the queen sized bed on the other side of the curtain.

Now that the table was set and the food was ready, she turned to the task of waking the former commander so that they could eat. Slightly surprised that he hadn't already awoken, she walked over to the far side of the curtain once more and came to stand at the side of his bed on which the curtain was. His face was turned away from her but he still lay on his stomach as he had been only an hour ago. For a moment, she didn't feel that she needed to wake him when he seemed to be sleeping so well, but also remember that she couldn't let his food just get cold. Besides, it was already almost nine o'clock.

Leaning forward, she placed one hand on the bed to steady herself and with the other reached out to rest on his forearm so that she might awake him. Lightly grabbing his arm, she carefully shook him as not to awake him too abruptly. Shaking his arm, she tried to get him to come out of his slumber, but was rewarded instead by him turning his head towards her. His hair fell gently over his face from the breeze coming from the window and a groan came from his slightly parted lips.

Carefully, the fire eyed woman sat on the edge of his bed and this time laid the same hand on his shoulder nearest her to try, once again, to wake him. Not even noticing the sweat that coated his skin and using a little bit more force, she shook him and was given only another groan, but still needing him to awake, she put both hands on his shoulders and softly but firmly shook him.

"Squall."

As his name was spoken in her emotionless tone, he roused from his sleep and opened his eyes to see who was trying to wake him. With his eyes now open, he could focus on what was trying to wake him. But as he looked at what was in his line of sight he was greeted by a pair of tan legs sitting on his bedside. Not really awake and thoroughly confused, he blinked a few more times to confirm the fact that a pair of legs was next to him. He must have then realized that her hands were touching him as she could feel his muscles tighten under her fingers. As if he was afraid to see who it was, he slowly turned his head up so that he could see her. A kind of relief seemed to wash over his face as he realized who it was and sat up to completely see her. (Author's note: Remember, that this entire "waking of Squall" thing is happening in a matter of seconds. The only reason it feels long is because I'm describing every moment to you. Just thought I'd make that clear! ^_^)

The crimson-eyed woman severed the contact between them as he sat up and looked straight at him as she spoke.

"Breakfast is ready."

Her voice was the same as it always was, absent of any feeling, but her words never came out sounding rude or annoyed. With her simple phrase, she stood up from her seated position on the side of his bed causing her wet hair to fall around her face because it wasn't pulled back in its usual hair tie and made her way to the dining table where the food was waiting.

The now awake Squall pulled himself up out of bed and grabbed his pants that were lying on the end of the bed where he left them the night before. Pulling them on but not bothering to clasp any of the belts, he dragged himself over to the table where his hot pile of pancakes were waiting for him. He plopped down into his seat beside Oni and they began to eat in silence.

As they ate, Oni ran her towel through her hair to try and get the damp tresses to dry enough to be able to do something with it. After drying it with the towel to her satisfaction she laid her towel next to her on the table and used her fingers to lightly toss it around. Her long manicured nails pulled her hair around her face in a thrown style that was quite attractive. Sighing and rising from the table, she cleaned her plate, grabbed clothes, and prepared to dress for the day ahead.

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Squall just sat eating his pancakes with one arm resting on the table stealing glances at Oni every once in a while just to see what she was doing. Having her awaking him obviously having already taken her shower had surprised him. He hadn't slept so well since the time when she was with him. It had been so long that he had actually awakened thinking that he would see her standing there, but he couldn't even begin to explain the relief he felt when he saw Oni's silent face instead.

Seeing her standing there had brought such a calming feeling that he had been truly surprised with himself. But not just the realization of her standing there surprised him; instead, he actually found more surprise in her appearance.

Her almond skin held a kind of hue to it and the smell of cocoa butter and roses told him she had already showered. Wet obsidian hair dripped crystal drops of water onto his back and he found himself resisting the urge to shiver from their cool pricks. The hands he felt on his shoulders were cool and smooth on his heated skin and he suddenly became very conscious of the sweat pouring off his back. He felt like he should be embarrassed but realized that it didn't seem to be bothering her at all. Her position of leaning over him caused her wet hair to drip even more onto his sweat slick back and his many scars.

Looking at her he suddenly noticed her attire. She was dressed only in her robe that, he assumed, covered her bra and underwear. Her strong but shapely legs lay slanted on his bed allowing him to see their smoothness. The scarlet eyes that were looking at him held a strange gentleness despite being void of emotion. And as if that wasn't bad enough on a man mind, Oni's large breasts tucked behind her robe and bra were perfectly fixed into his line of sight. A breeze from the window in the back blow her wet tresses of hair lightly over her face as well as causing goose bumps to rise on his sweaty skin. Overall, it was another one of those "situations" where Squall found the tension in the room beginning to rise dangerously high.

After what seemed like forever, Oni rose from her seated position on the bed and walked back to the dining area where breakfast was hot and ready. It took Squall a few minutes to completely register what she was talking about when she said "Breakfast is ready" but eventually he snapped out of it and grabbed the pants sitting on the end of the bed.

Even in the morning, it felt like the sun was baking him alive and so he left the belts on his pants unclasped. He ran a hand through his sweaty hair, pushing it out of his eyes so that he could see his way to the dining table. Plopping down in the seat next to Oni, he grabbed his fork and began to eat his pancakes after applying butter and syrup.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Oni ran a towel through her wet hair trying to dry it. When it was dry enough to work with, Squall watched as she dragged her nicely done nails through it, shaking out the tangles. The former Commander had never noticed how long her nails were before now. Each one was about an inch long with a red swirl designs and tiny jewels on them.

Finishing doing her hair and eating her food, Oni rose from the table, her knee length hair swinging behind her and cleaned off her plate. Walking over to her dresser, she pulled out a pair of jean capris and a light blue tang top. The outfit was similar to the one she wore yesterday but was still light enough in the heat.

Squall suddenly cursed his choice of clothing. It was always black and always leather which meant it was always hot. Surviving the summer here was going to be one of Squall's many challenges. Sighing, he rose with his now empty plate and washed it in the sink before walking over to his side of the room. Grabbing a white T-shirt, white cotton boxers, and a clean pair of black leather pants, he walked to the bathroom at the back to take a shower.

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With ever-observant eyes, Oni watched her roommate grab his clothes and head for the bathroom at the back for a shower. She knew that his choice of clothing was much to warm for the summer heat he was now living in. That meant that a change in wardrobe was needed. That was all good and well considering she was going to have to get material for Toki's dress anyway.

Oni shed her robe from her lean form reveal to the empty room her lacy baby blue bra and matching bikini underwear still thinking about what needed to be done today. She pulled on her jean capris and light blue tang top then sat down on her bed still lost in her thoughts.

Leaning back onto the pillow, she looked over to the radio beside her and turned it on. Flipping through the stations she didn't care for she finally found the one she was looking for and laid back when a song she liked came on.

Please come now, I think I'm falling

I'm holding onto what I think is safe

It seems I found the road to nowhere

And I'm trying to escape

I yelled back when I heard thunder

But I'm down to one last breath

And with it let me say, let me say

Oni reached over into her drawer in her nightstand and pulled her sketchpad out of it. Opening to a fresh sheet of paper, she grabbed the pencil on the stand and began to sketch the first thing that came to mind when listening to this song.

Hold me now

I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking

Maybe six ain't so far down

The red-eyed woman's hands skillfully sketched out her minds image as the song continued to play in the background. Lost in her drawing, she never noticed her roommate exit the bathroom with his towel once again in his hair. His crystal clear blue eyes looked at where she sat on her bed with her knees propping her sketchbook up. He stayed quiet, not wanting to disturb her in her moment of deep concentration. Instead, he silently listened to the lyrics of the song playing from the radio.

I'm looking down now that it's over

Reflecting on all of my mistakes

I thought I found the road to somewhere

Somewhere in his grace

I cried out "Heaven save me!"

But I'm down to one last breath

And with it let me say, let me say

With years of SeeD training under his belt, the former Commander crept up to the back of Oni's bed so that he might be able to look over the headboard and see what she was drawing. His steps were silent and he crept closer and closer to his target.

Hold me now

I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking

Maybe six feet ain't so far down

Hold me now

I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking

Maybe six feet ain't so far down

He was almost there when Oni stopped drawing and seemed to just look at her unfinished sketch almost analyzing it. Her wine red eyes scanned over the page, the page that Squall was still unable to see clearly.

Sad eyes follow me

But I still believe there's something left for me

So please come stay with me

'Cause I still believe there's something left for you and me

For you and me

For you and me

For a few moments, Squall stopped not really sure why he was trying to sneak up on his roommate while she was drawing. He considered just leaving her alone and minding his own business, but for some reason his legs refused to comply. All he wanted was one little peak into Oni's thoughts and the only way to do that was to see that drawing.

Hold me now

I'm six feet from the end and I'm thinking

Hold me now

I'm six feet from the end and I'm thinking

Maybe six feet ain't so far down.

Hold me now

I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking

Maybe six feet ain't so far down

Taking the last few steps that were needed, Squall peered over the headboard and saw the drawing. His eyes grew slightly larger at the surprisingly detailed sketch that lay in Oni's lap. But his glance at the picture was cut short when Oni closed the sketchbook and leaned over to put the sketchbook back into her nightstand.

Please come now, I think I'm falling

I'm holding onto what I think is safe

Having leaned over, she now saw the shadow that was on the bed and she turned her head to look up into a pair of sky blue eyes. He stood there behind her bed with his black towel in one hand and his white shirt in the other just as he had yesterday. His damp hair allowed tiny drops of water to drip onto his strong shoulders, muscular chest, and lean back that were bare. His close proximity allowed her to smell cocoa butter and roses similar to herself from the shower gel and shampoo.

Neither one moved or broke the silence for several seconds, but eventually Squall felt like something needed to be said. Oni just looked at him with her same emotionless gaze but Squall could sense she was searching for something in his eyes.

"…Is there somewhere we need to go this morning?" The question sounded quite stupid to Squall but it was enough to break the awkward silence that had fallen upon them.

Oni finally moved from her stretched out position but kept her eyes connected with Squall's as she spoke. "No, just our class that starts at eleven."

Nodding but never once breaking eye contact, Squall simply said, "ok" before looking away and walking back over to his side of the curtain where he pulled his white shirt on over his head. Although Squall pretended not to notice, he could feel Oni's eyes on his back that was now covered. When he heard the bed rustle he turned to see that Oni had turned around and was now turning off the forgotten radio.

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The rest of the week pasted with very little incident. Oni and Squall went about their own business not really getting in the way of each other. Toki stayed her ever-cheerful self and often talked to Squall about various things. The little girl was getting more and more excited about the weekend when Oni would take her dress measurements.

After what seemed like forever to little Toki, Saturday finally arrived and Oni was ready to take the measurements. It was another hot day and Oni wore a pair of tan colored shorts and a white halter top. Squall was dressed in his usual white T-shirt and black leather pants that he was burning up in, but not having anything else to wear, he stayed quiet and didn't complain.

After lunch had pasted and Toki had already been to her class, the little girl came bounding through the door of room 917. With a smile on her face and a huge bag of Snickers, Toki greeted Oni and Squall with a hug.

Toki then hopped onto Oni's bed, bag of Snickers in hand, and excitedly jumped up and down. "Measure me, measure me, measure me!"

Squall couldn't help but smirk at the young girl's excitement over having something as simple as taking measurements. Her brown hair bounced around her face and her chocolate eyes glowed with joy. The former commander had never seen a child with so much energy until he had met little Toki.

Oni opened up the bottom drawer in her nightstand and pulled out a tape measure, a notepad, and a pencil. Walking over to where Toki was bouncing, she laid the stuff on the bed and reach for the bouncing child.

She gently held out her hand in front of Toki to help her get off the bed so that she could take the measurements. "Come on Toki." The little girl smiled wider and took Oni's hand before jumping off the bed and onto the floor. "Stand here." Oni pointed to an open area on the floor where she had placed a small step stool. Taking the bag of Snickers from her tiny hands and laying it on the bed, Oni got down on her knees and began her measuring.

Toki just stood there listening to the directions that Oni gave her with the same over energetic smile plastered on her face. After a few minutes passed, Toki began to hum to herself and swing her arms to the beat. Oni had to get her to stand still once more so that she could finish her work. The measurements only took about 15 minutes and when Oni announced that she was finished, Toki leaped of the stool and scrambled onto the bed where her bad of Snickers lay. Taking one out, she began to munch on it while bouncing up and down excitedly.

In-between her jumping and munching, little Toki tried to form a sentence but failed miserably. "Hey Oni, (munch) An e atch a (munch) ovie gether! Quall an atch (munch) t ith s oo!"

Oni walked over to the bouncing child and stopped her by laying hand on her shoulders and pushing her to sit. Toki giggled with mouth full of half chewed up Snicker bars and watched as her "big sister" tried to settle her down.

"Chew first." Nodding, Toki chewed up the Snickers bar and swallowed so that her mouth now had room for her tongue. Oni nodded at her and then gave her the go ahead. "Now say that again so we can understand you."

Taking a deep breath to emphasize that she was going to speak correctly, Toki spoke her question again. "I saaaaaaaaaiiiiid," she paused to take another breath, "Can we watch a movie together?! Squall can watch it with us!"

Having now understood the Toki's question, Oni went down onto her haunches so that she was at Toki's eye level before answering her question. "Go pick one out."

Squealing with excitement, the little child hopped over to the bookcase that was off in a corner of the room and after doing some skimming, grabbed the movie she wanted off the shelf and bounded over to Oni who was making some popcorn.

Waving the movie in the air she handed it to the scarlet-eyed woman holding a bowl of extra butter popcorn. Trading items, the girls walked to the door to make their way up to Toki's room where the TV was. But as they were about to leave the room, Toki stopped and turned around to see Squall stretched out on his bed with his eyes closed. With an intense frown, the child dragged her feet as she walked to his bedside.

Taking a hold of his shirtsleeve, Toki gave a small pull that caused Squall to roll over to face her so that he could see her sad eyes. "Squaaaaaaall, come watch it with us, please!"

With a light sigh, the former commander pushed himself up out of his bed to join the two girls in their "movie night". At seeing Squall rise, Toki's eyes immediately brightened and she clung to his arm in joy over his decision. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Squall let another sigh escape him, not in annoyance but rather at his inability to say no to the small child. Somehow he just found it hard to shrug her off, but despite that fact, it didn't make him feel annoyed at all.

Now that Toki had gotten her way with the former commander, they joined Oni at the door and headed for the 10th floor where Toki's room was. The elevator carried them in silence and when the short ride was complete, the three patients made their way to room 1013.

As soon as the door swung open, Squall completely expected that the walls of the room would be some bright perky color, the bed sheets would have chocobos on them, and curtains would be covered in moogles but instead, he was met with something quite different.

Behind door 1013 there were tan colored walls and normal white curtains. Nothing that would be considered out of the ordinary in a place like The Ocean's Shore and Squall guessed that almost all the rooms look similar if not identical.

Toki skipped into the room with a hold on Oni's hand leading her to the couch that was at the back of the room along with a TV and stereo. Setting the bowl of popcorn on the table, the chocolate eyed little girl bounded over to where Squall still stood observing the room. She curled her fingers around his large hand and with a huge smile led him to the back of the room.

Oni was closing the blinds on the windows when the two brunettes walked over to the large couch. With the movie in the DVD player, Oni took a seat on the left hand side of the couch while Squall, seeing her on the left side, took the right. Toki then plopped down in between the two of them. The little child gave a slight frown when she noticed how spread out everyone was on the couch and to fix it she leaned over and hooked her arm around Oni's and pulled her towards herself. She then repeated the action with Squall so that both roommates were seated directly next to her.

"There, now we can watch the movie together!" The tiny child's smile only grew when Squall looked down at her after she had pulled him closer. It still baffled him why this little girl liked him so much. What had he down to merit her trust and care? He really didn't know, but her actions towards him stirred a part of him he didn't even know existed.

After looking down at Toki, he stole a glance at Oni sitting next to her with the same stoic face she always wore, but in the darkness of the room he saw a kind of glow around her that suggested a distant aura about her. Why was it that she seemed so far away but so extremely close at the same time? With one look from her blood colored eyes into his sky blue ones could make him feel so near her but just out of arms reach.

Turning back to the scene, Squall let his attention slip from his roommate and focus instead on the movie that was now playing. Toki seemed to have seen it many times because whenever a song came on that she knew, she would immediately begin to sing it and sway her head back and forth or kicking her feet that just barely hung over the edge of the couch.

Titan A.E. was Toki's movie of choice and Squall found it to be quite an interesting feature despite the fact that it was animated and the main character reminded him of someone he knew. Every once and a while, he would steal a glance at Oni who remained stationary throughout the entire movie except when reaching for a handful of popcorn every now and then. For the most part, Squall focused on the movie and tried to just have a relaxing afternoon. And sitting there, watching that movie, he found he could not recall a time he ever felt as relaxed as he did at that moment.

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Leaning forward to grabbed the last handful of popcorn of their second bowl, Oni collected the last few pieces and munched on them while the movie's ending scene drew to a close. With the credits now rolling, Oni reached for the remote and switched off the movie and looked down at where little Toki was.

The little child had fallen into a deep sleep about three-quarters into the movie and hadn't waken since. Her small body was slumped on the couch with her eyes lightly shut and her crest slowly rising and falling.

Lifting herself from the couch, Oni moved to stand in front of Toki so that she might lift the little girl and carry her to bed. At the same time, Squall saw what Oni planned to do and tried to get out of the way, but stopped when Oni put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down onto the couch before he could even sit forward.

Confusion etched into his eyes, Squall whispered to Oni through the darkness of the room as not to wake the sleeping girl beside him, "What?"

Silently, Oni pointed to the small girl next to him and he cast his crystal blue eyes to look down at the child to discover something he hadn't noticed before. In the blackness of the room, the former commander saw little Toki's head resting softly against his arm and her little fingers clutching to his arm in an affectionate way. The sight startled Squall and he found himself almost uncomfortable with this child's sweet gestures towards him. He had very seldom been on the receiving end of someone's kind actions and even less on the giving side. Toki's actions touched some part of him that had never been touched, not even by her, and Squall really wasn't sure how to act.

Only a few moments passed, but Squall felt like it was an eternity. Yet, for some reason, he didn't want this eternity to end. Toki's clinging to him made him feel a sense of being wanted that he had never felt before. And as if his body was moving of its own accord, his hand reached out and touched the crown of little Toki's head. The caress was gentle and brief but the action stirred inside him a serine feeling that he dare say he was content with.

His gesture now complete, he felt himself become suddenly embarrassed when he saw Oni watching his private moment with her silent visage. He half expected her to giggle and then comment on how "sweet" or "adorable" his action was, but instead Oni turned her gaze to Toki.

A few more seconds pasted before Oni finally made her comment. "She usually doesn't sleep when someone is near."

Squall found himself confused by her strange statement and looked back down at Toki who still clung to him. "Most kids don't, do they?"

Oni shook her head lightly before answering, "No, she always stays up when we watch movies. Sleep does not come easy to her."

The former commander nodded lightly but didn't bother to comment further although he silently wondered why sleep was not something Toki found easily.

Reaching down, Oni gently wrapped her fingers around Toki's arms and tried to pull them away from Squall's arm. She succeeded but caused the sleeping child to awaken. Groggily, she lifted her eyes to see her surroundings and smiled sleepily when she saw Squall and Oni.

Softly, Oni lifted Toki into her arms and spoke quietly, "Come Toki, it's late."

In a tired voice, Toki protested to the older woman's demands, "Can't I at least say good night to Squall?"

The little girl gave Oni her best puppy dogface and the scarlet-eyed woman looked as if she were going to ignore the child's pleas, but gave in by lightly setting the girl back on the couch next to Squall.

With a half asleep smile, Toki wrapped her arms around Squall's neck before he could even protest and pulled herself to him in a warm embrace. For a moment he grew stiff and didn't make a move to do anything, but when Toki's grip did not relinquish its hold on him, he slowly wrapped his arms around her. When she felt his arms close around her, Toki smiled and buried her face in the side of his neck the way a child does its parent. Squall was once again surprised but didn't push her away or tell her to leave him. Strangly, the former Commander found himself calm and at rest with the child's arms tightly wrapped around his neck.

After a moment pasted, Squall realized that she had dozed off again right there on his shoulder. Not really knowing what to do he just sat there trying not to act like he didn't know what he was supposed to do. He watched Oni for a moment, but she turned from him and walked over to a bed that was on the other side of the room. She pulled back the covers and Squall readjusted his arms to cradle Toki and made his way over to where Oni was.

The former SeeD felt like he should be embarrassed but he couldn't find it in himself to feel that way. Toki's gentle breathing on his neck calmed him and made him feel like nothing was strange about what he was doing no matter how awkward it felt.

When he reached where Oni was standing she reached out her hands to take Oni from him. Her roommate carefully pulled Toki's sleeping form away from himself and held her so Oni could take her. The scarlet-eyed woman silently took hold of the little girl held in her roommate's strong arms.

As Oni placed her arms around the little girl's waist her fingers grazed over the skin of Squall's stomach. The unintentional caress caused a strange feeling that he couldn't explain to sweep over him. Her fingers had been cool to the touch but it wasn't a chill that had crept up his spine when her elegant fingers with long nails swept past his abdomen.

While Squall watched her, Oni placed Toki in her bed and tucked her in. The silent woman looked at Toki for a moment and then turned to Squall standing beside her. Glowing orbs of red pierced the darkness and landed on Squall's face. Both roommates stood in silence for a second, but Oni stepped past him and cleaned up the area where they had been watching their movie. When all was put away, both Squall and Oni left room 1013 and made their way back to their own room. It was rather late and no one was out and about at this time, so the roommates were left alone to make their way to their room quickly.

They both entered and Oni groped for the switch to the lamp next to her bed. When the light spread through the darkness, both roommates walked over to their beds and changed.

Oni pulled off her shorts and placed them back into her dresser then pulled her bra out from under her tang top. Her roommate from the other side of the curtain watched her strong form do this as he discarded his pants, shirt, shoes and socks. Clad in only his boxers he sat with his legs over the side of his bed facing the curtain unable to remove his crystal blue gaze away from Oni's curvy figure.

Where Squall's former lover had been slender and petite, Oni was built and full in a strong womanly way. Where she had been pretty and tempting at times, Oni was deeply beautiful and could be down right obsessing. For Squall, it was a whole new way of seeing a woman from the way he once saw them.

Yet, at the same time, Oni was so much more than some sexy seductress. She was like shelter in the storm, the mother of a lost child. One look from her eyes could make any man feel like their thirst had been quenched forever. But at the same time, a chill ran up Squall's spine when she spoke. Not because her voice was heartless, but because it was so needy. When she looked at him, he felt like she was close enough for him touch, but at the same time, just out of his arms reach. In her every move towards him she was strong and able, but at the same time so utterly lost. She was calling to him, but he didn't know how he should answer. She needed something, but what was it?

He stared at her as she pulled back her covers with strong arms and slipped her long legs into her bed. Pulling his eyes away from her bed, Squall let himself lay back with all the covers once again at the end of his bed and drift away in the excruciating heat of the summer at the Ocean's Shore.

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Even with the curtain between them and her back to him, Oni could still feel his eyes on her back. It was almost like they were burning holes into her skin, but anyone who looked at Oni wouldn't have known that she knew. Her eyes stayed the same as they always were, void. His gaze on her form did not disturb her the way she thought it might and that was what beginning to bothered her. After two years, she thought that suddenly living with a man was would cause her to feel uncomfortable, but instead, she found herself quite calm in the former commander's presence. Whenever her was near, she didn't feel like she was alone or frightened. When Squall was around, there was an air of oddness between them, but there was also something she couldn't quite place.

Oni decided to drop the matter for now and simply pulled back her covers and climbed into her bed. Switching off the lamp on her bad side, she listened as the rustling of the bed on the over side of the curtain continued to fill the room. When the noise stopped, Oni could hear Squall's calm breathing and with its even rhythm ringing in her ears she fell asleep.

With that plea drifting though her mind, she fell into a black pool that threatened to shallow her whole. But as she felt the air beginning to leave her, she saw a light spark in the endless void. As the light sparked again and she could barely make out a figure standing in the darkness looking at her. Not knowing or caring who it was, she reached out her hand with the last of her strength and cried out in desperation.

Her fingers seemed to be only within a meter of this unknown person as her voice rang out, "Help me, please!!! Don't leave me here!! Save me!!"

Oni snapped up out of her bed once again as the last image of her dream faded away. Her breathing once again, she sat still trying to regulate it. After a few minutes, she was able to do so and she swung her legs over the side of her bed and closed her eyes.

The same thing had happened again. That person in her dream had been so close to her, but still she had been unable to reach far enough to touch the anonymous figure.

Her senses now returning, Oni was suddenly aware of a familiar sound floating through the room. Listening closely, she tried to determine the nature of this noise with out disturbing its master. The sound of heavy breathing crept through the silence of room 917 followed by a deep groan.

Oni softly walked towards the other side of the curtain where her roommate's bed was set along with the rest of his belongings. Without having bothered to grab her robe, Oni neared his side of the room still clad in only her underwear and tang top, but the scarlet-eyed woman could have cared less. Long black tresses cascaded around her shoulders framing her face that remained stoic.

It was in this state that she came upon the sight of her roommate lying on his back in the middle of his bed. The moonlight from the back window cased highlights on his handsome face that was now filmed with sweat. His brown hair lay strewed across his face and his lips were partly open from his heavy breathing and groaning. The covers on his bed were carelessly thrown to the end leaving him exposed except for the black boxers he wore. His chest rose quickly from his labored intakes of breath while his he tossed his head and ceased his brow in discomfort.

Realizing that his current state was due to more than just the extreme heat, Oni made her way to his bedside and gently sat down near him. Carefully, Oni reached for his wrist and felt his pulse. When her assessment was complete, she softly put his wrist down and rose to retrieve what she needed from the kitchen. Returning with a bowl of water and a washcloth, Oni sat back down on the side of the bed, dipped the cloth into the cool water, wrung out the extra water, and began to slowly pat Squall's forehead. When the cool rag touch Squall's burning skin, the sleeping man sucked in another heavy breath and a deep groan, but did not wake.

After patting down his forehead, Oni proceeded to bring the cloth down the sides of his face and neck then across his shoulders that were also drenched in sweat. With that complete, she dipped the cloth back in bowl of water on her lap, wrung it out, and folded it before laying it across Squall's forehead. She then pulled her hands away from him and just looked at his face with wine red eyes.

Without thinking or finding a reason, she reached out and let her fingers brush his hair away from his sweaty face. Her fingers continued to drag through his hair and touch his sweat slick skin, but she seemed not to notice as she continued her ministrations. It was then, sitting next to him with her hand brushing through his tresses that she began to do something she hadn't done in two years. Her lips parted and words spilled out into the room.

Spend all your time waiting for that second chance

For a break that will make it ok

There's always some reason to feel not good enough

And it's hard at the end of the day

Words that had not been uttered in so long now rang throughout the room that was once filled with only the sound of her roommates heavy breathing and moaning.

I need some distraction, oh a beautiful release

Memories seep from my veins

May they be empty, oh and weightless and maybe

I'll find some peace tonight

Squall's breathing continued to come in unsteady streams of air, but somehow, it seemed that it wasn't as erratic as it had been. Oni's fingers traveled deeper into his sweaty hair causing her fingers to become wet, but she did not even skip a beat.

In arms of the Angel fly away from here

From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that your fear

You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here

The former Commander began to stir with Oni's fingers stroking his hair softly and her voice flowing through the room so close to him. Yet, whatever nightmare he was having refused to release him and he continued to labor his breathing and groan.

So tired of the straight line and everywhere you turn

There's vultures and thieves at your back

The storm keeps on twisting, keep on building lies

That you make for all that you lack

Although Squall continued to sweat, Oni still ran her fingers through his hair that was surprisingly soft despite its state of wetness. Oni's cool fingers passed over his skin in an unintentionally comforting manor that even the woman administering the touch did not notice. And so she sang on.

It don't make no difference, escaping one last time

It's easier to believe

In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness

That brings me to my knees

Breathing heavy and body coated in sweat, Squall struggled to return to consciousness where he would be free from his nightmare. Something was calling to him, but he couldn't quite hear it. Then, suddenly, he became fearful that he would open his eyes and find his nightmare come to life.

Trying to decide between his dreaming nightmare and the possibility of a living one, Squall sucked in another breath as he felt a hand brush over his temple into his hair. Taking a quick breath, he snapped open his eyes to look upon the owner of this hand.

Confusing his dream with reality, Squall suddenly saw a raven haired woman with a smile he knew all too well looking down on him and before he even took a moment to see more, he grabbed her by the wrists and with sheer strength flipped her over onto the bed in anger and fear.

In the arms of the Angel fly away from here

From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear

The years of SeeD training that were under his belt came into action as he pinned the woman's hands to the pillow now beneath her head. The bowl in her lap had been abruptly thrown causing the contents to splash all over her from the impact. Not caring about it, Squall noticed the woman trying to bring her legs up out of the corner of his eye and he immediately threw all of the weight in his legs between hers to keep her from trying to catch him off guard and knee him in places she shouldn't.

You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here

With his aggressor firmly restrained, he prepared to get angry, to yell, to be forceful, and unrelenting. Opening his mouth to begin his verbal assault, he brought his eyes up to meet what he was almost completely sure were going to be chocolate brown eyes, but when he made eye contact everything inside him froze so stiff you would have thought it was negative forty degrees in the room.

Trapped beneath him in complete restraint, was not the raven haired, chocolate eyed, cheery smiled woman he had so fearfully thought it was. No carefree glassy eyed girl lay under him to mock him. No gleeful smile to make him feel alone. No giggling voice to torture his already cracking soul. No, that was not what he saw, and he truly didn't know whether or not to be relieved or twice as fearful as he gazed in to a pair of passive, blood red eyes.

You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here

Not shoulder length, raven hair with brown streaks, but knee length, ebony hair with a red hue. Not peachy, white porcelain skin, but rich, almond, earth tone skin. Not small, pink, dainty lips, but full, red, strong lips. And not glassy, carefree chocolate eyes, but deep, silent, wine red eyes.

Squall found breathing even harder than it had been before. In fact, he wasn't even sure if he was breathing anymore. From fear or awe, he couldn't be sure. For it was not only her features that were dramatic, but also the way they were presented.

Oni's long obsidian hair was now wet from the water bowl lay strewed around her face and on the pillow beneath her. Her red lips were parted as she sucked in breath to recover from his "attack". Her smooth skin was now slick with cool water causing her to glisten in the dim moonlight. And her scarlet pools looked at him with the same expression they always held; silence.

The moments passed like eternities as both roommates made no move to take any action besides stare at each other, one with shock, the other with passiveness. Still lost in trying to come to grips with what he just did, Squall heard Oni mutter something that he barely caught in between her heavy breathing and his own.

"Squall."

The former commander was afraid to respond in fear of what might happen to him. What would Oni do? He could only guess, as he still stayed poised with her wrists trapped in his hands and his knees between her legs.

It was then that he suddenly became painfully aware of everything around him and his sense of touch ignited the most. The feel of Oni's cool skin against his fingers was the first thing that his senses noticed. Then his eyes registered the sight of her chest rising and falling from her deep breaths with her wet tang top clinging to her otherwise, naked upper body. His nose then picked up the lingering smell of roses mixed with sweat that assaulted him in a strange way. But the last thing that entered his mind was the feel of Oni's cool water slick inner thighs brushing against his hot, sweaty sides that were, beside his black boxers, devoid of any other clothing.

Squall felt like he should be extremely embarrassed by this, but found that he felt no such thing. He wasn't thinking that he wasn't feeling suddenly hotter, but he was thinking that he didn't feel like he was doing something…"wrong". Fear was more present than anything else because of the impending thought of Oni's reaction. He couldn't even remember why he had so abruptly attacked her and was sure he would not be able to defend his actions. But just when he prepared for her angry retort, Oni jogged his memory instead.

"You were having a nightmare. Your pulse was high and your temperature was up," Oni's voice was no different from what it usually was and it came as a slight surprise to Squall. For a few moments, he thought she wasn't going to say anymore, but she added in a whisper, "What did you see?"

Surprise whipped through Squall's face at her question that he had not been ready for. She had never ventured to ask such a question of him and he hadn't expected her to even care. He was sure that she was going to yell at him for attacking her like he did, but that didn't seem to be it.

The former commander groped for an answer but found none that would justify his actions and instead he remained silent and lowered his head with his eye closed. He knew he should move away from her, but he found that his body would not allow it.

"Whom did you mistake me for?"

At that, Squall's head snapped up and he connected his eyes with hers once more. Staring in her orbs of fire, he found the memories of his dream seeping back into his mind and his once forgotten images returned. His breathing increased and his eyes suddenly became like liquid and Oni watched as a raindrop fell from his sky blue eyes.

The drop splashed onto her cheek and slid down her face as if it were her own. More drops fell and splashed onto her skin before cascading down her cheeks while Oni continued to look at Squall who had now lowered his head away from her.

Suddenly, he let go of her wrists but sat on his knees that were still between her legs. Oni pulled back her legs away from him and lifted herself up so that she could put them under her, but never let her eyes drift from her roommates down cased face.

In that moment, Squall made a confession, which he had never made to anyone, right there kneeling on his bed in front of this woman. "She haunts me. She won't leave me alone." He sucked in breath as he whispered, "Why wouldn't she just go away?"

Tears, one by one, fell and Oni looked upon his face no differently then she would anyone else, but something was going on inside her that could not be seen on the outside.

Squall balled his fists in the sheets and struggled for the first time to control himself, but he found himself failing. Before this woman he could not find a way to feeling as sorry as he felt now. And suddenly, he just let it out, "I'm…………sorry. I……just……"

His broken words were cut off when Oni suddenly reached out and lifted his face to look at her. Somehow, her eyes seemed to be more intense than he had ever seen them and her actions even more intense.

Slowly her thumb wiped the tear off his face. Squall had never felt so weak in his entire life and he really didn't know what to do. He had just…broken down right in front of her, and now he just waited for the whiplash. But he should have learned by now, that he would receive no such thing from Oni.

"Never." Her voice was deep and thick with meaning. "Never be sorry." Squall stared at her with surprise that was obviously seen on his face, but Oni continued, "Never be ashamed." The scarlet-eyed woman brought her other hand up to his naked shoulder that was still wet with sweat. "Don't ever be sorry or ashamed for the way you feel. Never."

The former commander found that he could not speak or even utter a sound in a reply to such words. A feeling of comfort and care washed over him and it was strange and new to him. Was this what it felt like to be really cared for?

Squall's eyes were locked with Oni's red ones and something passed between them then and there that could not be explained in any words he might have tried to use to explain it. Not able to move, Squall just waited for anything to happen.

Sitting there, on Squall's bed clad in only their nightclothes, the roommates stared at each other as Oni uttered her final word, "Never." And as it passed her lips, she put both her arms around his shoulders and pulled him to her. One hand in the middle of his naked back and the other on the nape of his neck, she held him to her chest. Her cheek lay against his hair and her eyes were closed as she just held him.

Shell shocked, Squall just let her hold him to her body, but after a moment, he felt the warmth of her skin against his and her smooth hands holding him close. Tears returning, he brought his own strong arms up to wrap around her waist. And she held him as he clung to her, accepting the comfort she was offering him in his moment of weakness.

Slowly, Oni leaned back against the headboard of the bed not letting go of Squall even for a moment. The tired man rolled onto his side and allowed his head to drop down into Oni's waiting lap. With his head cradled in Oni's lap, one hand wrapped around her waist, and the other laying across her knees, he let his breathing fall in time with hers and closed his eyes.

The woman he lay on, moved her hands so that one was still stroking his hair and the other stroked his arm comfortingly as she simply sat there not even bothering to pull the covers over them. Oni's fingers stroking Squall's arm caused his mind to slowly drift into the world of sleep, but before he broke away from the conscious world completely, he heard the soft sound of a melody floating around his ear. And even as he did fall into the realm of sleep, the sound stayed with him keeping his mind at rest. But in the back of his mind, he groped to find the source of this sound and found himself needing to know its maker. Yet Squall's already exhausted body refused to stay away from sleep and so with the darkness closing in around him, he faded.

Oni looked down on the sleeping form lying in her lap and her own eyelids began to weigh down on her. Still stroking Squall's arm, Oni leaned her head back against the headboard and closed her eyes, relinquishing herself to sleep. But as her mind drifted just as Squall's had, her lips still moved forming the words to her seemingly unheard hymn.

And so, they slept in peace.

"And I'm left with only a haunted hymn"

Author's Note: IT IS COMPLETE!! OMIGOSH!!! THAT TOOK FOREVER!! ~_~ I thought I was never going to finish that chapter! Anyhow, So what did you think? I personally loved writing it! It was so much fun! But it was kind of confusing so let me explain. What was Squall's little breakdown about? Well, everyone has a breaking point. Squall has been holding all his emotions inside for so long that he had to crack eventually. This just happened to be his time. No longer able to hold it in, he lets it out and Oni is there to catch him. But remember that Oni has problems of her own, so when is she going to reach her breaking point? Will Squall catch her? You'll just have to wait and find out! I promise the next chapter will be shorter because I can't keep writing these super long chapters.

Reviews = More Chapters. PLEASE REVIEW!