Flashbacks of a past life No.2 : Rinoa Heartilly By : Stephanie Osborn Note : Now THIS story is dedicated to my 2nd best friend Cathryn , my sometimes wrestling partner , my Balamb fish singer and an overall “literary genius” ( or so she likes to think.............. =) ^_^ Author’s note : This takes part in the same place where Squall is in , BUT in a different period of time . Kind of confusing huh?? Happy reading ............JUST GET ON WITH IT!!!!!!!!!!! The sand stung and blistered her delicate , once pale skin . The beating sun shone it’s roasting rays over her head , making the sand dunes almost glitter into the distance . The lonesome palm tree in the distance was her only goal for the day , but still she never reached it no matter how long she spent trudging her way through the baking grains of rock . Her magic had finally fizzled out pathetically and left her defenseless to the sweltering heat . “Whenever sang my songs” Her aching throat rasped an attempt of a merry tune , but failed and sounded like her last cries for survival.......... “On the stage , on my own” She didn’t think about what she was singing . One thing was imprinted in her mind , and one thing only . A young man of fine statue , with glistening blue-green eyes and oak brown hair . A cold , silent man who opened up to her , shared his feelings with her , making her feel special every time they even made eye contact with each other . The feet she walked with were bare and exposed , blisters and peeling skin only causing her more pain than she needed to suffer through . Her arms were cracked and sunburnt , making it impossible to use them in a functional way . “ Whenever said my words , wishing they would be heard ” Yes , her eyes had deteriorated it their sharpness , but yes , she was nearly upon the wilted shrub that would be a defense and an ally towards the ongoing battle with the flaming ball in the sky . She flopped and writhed in it’s shade . Her shredded clothes , torn and tired served as no protection from the heat . She didn’t care about her beauty and her behavior any more , only about reaching Squall . Squall , even that name against her lips told of cool breezes and rain storms . Squall . That name reminded her of his presence and his touch . She yearned for him to look at her with his cold , yet gentle eyes . She laughed , a wicked , painful noise like shards of glass , in near insanity and realized the tune she sang was her mother’s immortal ballad “ Eyes on Me ” . That painful fact sent her reeling in a white-water rafting trip through her memories..................... “ Mommy , are you okay ??” The little girl rested her head on her mother’s pillow . Julia Heartilly smiled at her young one , and winced again as the wracking fire in her chest rose up in flames . There she lay , a goddess in white tucked inside her neat , crisp bed sheets and goose down pillows . “ Now darling , ” The child’s father remarked sadly “ Mommy needs to be gentle with ...... Remember ?” The little child pouted , oblivious to the obvious truth . She gently raised a small hand to stroke her dying mother’s sweat soaked hair . “ Anthony , wait outside . I need to speak to Rinoa privately ” Julia shuddered and managed to raise her hand . General Anthony Caraway obeyed his wife for one last time and gently shut the door to the private room in the hospital . “ Rinny ,” Julia’s thin lips smiled . “ Rinny , remember what you and mommy play sometimes , about the princess and the sorceress ? ” The child sighed and looked deep into her mother’s coal black eyes , much like her own . “ Yes mommy ” “And....” it was getting hard for Julia to speak..... “ And ..............remember.........how the story ended?” “ Yes” Rinoa answered with unusual seriousness “ The sorceress and the princess together went to heaven.......and lived there forever.....” “ Well ........ Mommy-” Julia gasped and let out a small sob before returning to her train of speech “ Mommy ......... is going to visit them for a while ........... in heaven........” The child finally realized what fate had installed for her helpless mother . “ No mommy !! I won’t let you go!!” Rinoa sobbed , pounding on her mother’s pillows , writhing with the agony that filled her young heart to the brim of it’s edges. “ I’ll...........say hello......to them..........for you.......” Julia rasped “ I........I love you ...........Rinny..............make sure.........you ........water .......my daffodils .......” Her eyes went cold and glassy as she uttered her final words . The hand Rinoa clutched to her heart went limp and landed with a soft thud on the pristine bed-spread . “ NO MOMMY!!” Rinoa screamed . The racking sobs she uttered as she clutched her mother’s lifeless hand burned and wracked her tiny chest . The general burst in at that moment and the blood drained his face . Silent tears ran down his suddenly aged face . “ Come.......sweetheart we-” Caraway’s voice cracked at that moment as he gently pulled Rinoa away from her deceased mother . Silent tears ran down her face painfully , wasting the precious water inside her . As she re-lived that moment painfully , other forgotten memories resurfaced and entered her mind . She wiped her face with a blistered hand , and winced as the salt from her tears irritated and dried leaving her arms stinging , bleeding . She shuffled into the shade , making sure none of her was exposed ............................ Author’s note ; This part of the story reminds Rinoa of her first meeting with Squall i.e.: The infamous ballroom scene . Cathryn , this is when the ‘ boom- cha-cha ’ music is played ^_^ I-am-a-Balamb-Feesh!! She looked splendid in her pale canary yellow gown . All the simple jewelry she wore was a necklace with a sterling silver ring hanging from it gently . As she strode gracefully onto the ballroom floor , all eyes turned . She was confident that she would find him tonight . A young man , tucked away in the crevice of the walls, was sipping his champagne , oblivious to her charm . He was tall , and beautiful , a scar slashed across the bridge of his nose . His blue-green eyes were cold and bored , but still reminded her of a squall , windy and wild ( author’s note : tee hee ! I enjoyed that line the BEST!! ^_^ ) . A shooting star swept itself gracefully across the night sky , displaying it’s beauty through the gigantic skylight . Their eyes made contact , but separated when he looked away almost bashfully . Rinoa winked cheekily at him and walked gracefully over to his serious and bored form . He was handsome , she had to admit that . He had a certain grace and statue about him , it overwhelmed and mystified her . “ You’re the only good looking guy here . Care to dance ? ” She smiled flirtatiously at him . When there was no response from the opposing party , she made another attempt at conversation ...... “ Let me guess , ” Rinoa grinned “ You’ll only dance with somebody you like right ? Well let me try this ” she mocked , pretending to hypnotize him “ Your-going-to-like- me , your-going-to-like-me . Did it work ?” The only reply was a slight shake of his elegant hand and the nearly silent uttering of : “ I ..... I can’t dance ” Rinoa though , was not discouraged by this lack of emotion . She would teach him a thing or two about dancing!! She grabbed his callused hand in her smooth ones , and gently proceeded to drag the stranger across the ballroom floor . A merry waltz began to fill the air with it’s cheery tune . She enjoyed the feeling of his hand in hers , and the light touch of his hand at her waist . As she lead him through the first steps of the waltz , he clumsily fell over her , making her trip and lose their balance . Mortified by this , the stranger decided to call it quits . Rinoa stopped him however , and dragged him back to their original spot . Again they resumed their delicate dance , oblivious to the outside world ...........Until they collided with another couple of lovebirds . Rinoa returned their angry and unimpressed looks with a quick poke of her tongue . The music reached it’s climax as he finally caught on to what she was teaching him . Together they moved in unison , swinging together in time and finally , returning back into each other’s arms . Overhead , fireworks explode over their heads. “ What is your name anyway ? ” Rinoa breathlessly whispered , overwhelmed by the proximity of his body , the music and the fireworks . “ Squall ”..................................... She smiled for just an instant , remembering her past as vividly as if it was yesterday . The heat had lowered , as the sun had finally put it’s self to rest . The moon was it’s watery replacement , bringing a chill into the desert landscape . As gently as she could, the girl finally lowered herself onto her back and curled into a rigid ball . She shut her bloodshot eyes and released herself of the fiery hold those memories had on her..............