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A Maid's Tale	By : tealover Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Het - Male/Female Views: 886 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
Rinoa had changed into her sleeping clothes and was seated
on a large cushioned sofa at the common area of Selphie�s large quarters. She
wrapped a large comforter around herself as a quiet fire roared in front of
her. Ballari was sleeping on the couch across from Rinoa and Selphie was in her
bedroom. It took hours of reassuring talks from Ballari to get the redhead to
finally rest. Rinoa was much too distracted to pay attention to what had
happened with Selphie; even as everyone else slept she continued to watch the
fire while replaying the night�s events in her mind. Perhaps I�ve been alone
for far too long. I welcomed his attentions so easily. Yes, that must have been
it. Long white hair and intensely gazing ocean colored eyes flashed in her
mind. Rinoa blushed at the thought of him and his voice. Ugh, who am I
kidding? I would have done anything he asked! Rinoa continued arguing with
herself until she dozed off.

Elsewhere in the chateau, Master Leonhart was wrapping a cold
cloth around his right hand. Using such a pistol in frequent succession had
caused it to get swollen. I should tell her who I am and end this game. He
paused while wrapping the white material. But what difference would it make?
Would she even trust me afterwards? He finished wrapping and rested his
head in his hands as he continued to think. What if she doesn�t even feel� she
willingly kissed a man who she just�Like hell I�m going to admit that� He absentmindedly
raised his left hand to his lips and traced them with his fingertips as the
conflicting thoughts poured through his mind. ...damn it.

The sound of random notes being played on a piano drifted to
Rinoa�s ears as she carried the first tray of the morning up the winding stairs
and down the wide halls leading up to the Master�s quarters. She stood outside the
gilded door as a tired looking butler knocked then opened it for her. When the
door was opened all the way and the butler nodded to her, she went inside the
room.

Rinoa placed the tray�s contents on the bedside table and noticed
that the bed was fully made, as though untouched from the night before. As she
did this, the Master stopped playing the piano and silently stared at her as
she fixed his morning tea from a small pot. It had no milk or sugar, and was extremely
dark as he always favored.

�Your breakfast, Master Leonhart.� She chirped as she continued
arranging various silver utensils in the proper placements. Without answering, the
Master left the piano and went towards the largest window at the other end of
the room�s living area and sat down with his legs crossed. He closed his eyes
and placed his arms at the sides of his legs.

�Go away.� He ordered in his usual stern voice.

Rinoa looked in his direction, confused. She could barely
see him but the side of his face looked somewhat haggard while he was wearing mostly
white. It was as though he had not slept all night. �Sir, I�ve not finished
bringing your��

�Please.� He mumbled in a softer tone as he lowered his head.

�Of course, Sir.� Rinoa hugged the tray and made her way out
of the room. He slightly opened his eyes and looked back to make sure she was
gone, then closed them again, not intending to eat.

The door was closed behind Rinoa and she informed the butler
that she would not be bringing the rest of the meal�s courses. The butler nodded
his head in response and promised to take care of it. Rinoa was about to walk
the rest of the way back down to the kitchens to get the newspaper and mail, but
stopped and twirled on her heels.

�Um� may I ask something, Sire?�

�Yes?� the old man answered, his brow creased in worry.

�What is the Master doing? He�s sitting at the ledge near
the window and acting strangely.� Rinoa whispered.

�Ah, yes. That is known as Meditation. The young master
studied with the Shumi tribe for some time, apparently they do these sorts of things
rather often.�

�Meditation?�

�He uses Meditation as a means to center himself and
concentrate. Often he does this when unable to stay focused�� The butler
scratched his head thoughtfully at his own answer while his brow creased even
further.

�Oh.� Rinoa didn�t seem to absorb what the butler said and twirled
on her heels, heading downstairs. Minutes later she returned with a tray
carrying a newspaper and the mail. She left it on the table outside the Master�s
room and then curtsied. �I�ll leave it to you, Sire!� she said as she left. The
butler shook his head knocked lightly on the Master�s door.

When no answer came, he opened the door anyway and heard Leonhart
loudly sigh as he entered. The butler wordlessly placed the tray on a small bureau
and paid Leonhart�s annoyance no mind.

�What is it, Rycharde?� The younger man angrily said without
turning or opening his eyes.

�Did I interrupt something?� the gray haired man said as he
placed a few sealed letters and the pressed newspaper onto the desk.

�Don�t you always?�

�I wanted to inform you that we�re going to have to go through
with the plans soon or else Seifer will��

The mention of his rival�s name made Leonhart�s eyes snap
open. The dilated pupils of his blue eyes shrunk as the clouded morning sunlight
tried to make its way in. ��how is Seifer?� he interrupted.

�If you read the news, there have been killings. Mostly young
upper-class women found impaled.�

Seifer�

�Suffice to say, a young man calling himself Almasy has been
sighted around Galbadia�s socialite parties as of late. He has been linked with
last night�s incident but the Deling City Police wouldn�t commit to anything in
this morning�s conference. Seems the government has been keeping their own
police and army in the dark over what they�re up against. The police force
intends on conducting it�s own investigation on Vampires.� Leonhart�s head
whipped in Rycharde�s direction. �The government has made the newspapers write the
disaster off as another Lunar Cry of sorts but the people aren�t buying it. It�s
also highly unusual for Seifer to come out of hiding� I found out that his decoy
is stuck in Trabia at the moment. Apparently the 19 year-old Crown Prince
has gone missing and all the ports out of the country have been on lockdown
ever since last month.�

�I don�t want to run away.�

�Your father would have��

�I don�t care about that man.� Leonhart spat.

�Seifer is strong� more stronger than you now��

�I�ve trained hard.�

�You can have all the training in the world but you�re still
human. Seifer has fully turned and has no chances of going back. You still have
a chance.� Rycharde quietly pleaded with a sorrow smile on his face.

Ellone, where the hell are you� Leonhart rested his
forehead in his hands. �Whatever, I�ll go through with it. Just leave me alone.�

As Rycharde left the room, Master Leonhart rifled through his
mail and roughly opened the most decorated looking letter with a small knife. The
seal showed it came from someone of Galbadia�s royalty but he didn�t pay much
attention to it. He opened it up and read the immaculately written script carefully.

Sir Leonhart,

I am overjoyed to hear that you had left unscathed,
last night had ended in an unfortunate series of
circumstances.
It is at this time that you should go forth and not delay
in keeping yourself and your loved ones safe
using the instructions given to you many years ago.

Hyne�s Descendant
The Throne of Galbadia
Queen Ultimecia

The Master scanned and reread the letter, as Ultimecia
always sent an encrypted one after such incidents. The letter had meant to say,
�I am overjoyed to hear that you had left unscathed. It is at this time that
you should go forth and not delay using the instructions given to you many
years ago.� The Master nonchalantly tossed the letter and envelope into the
trash and quickly opened the next.

Leonhart paused at the upstairs banister as he heard the familiar
sound of heels clicking down the halls on the level below him. He looked down to
see Rinoa happily at work dusting the vases and imported ornaments, which
decorated the lower foyer area. She was humming slightly off-key, it was as though the cold treatment he gave her that morning didn�t affect her at all.
For some reason he couldn�t quite place, this bothered him greatly. She suddenly turned in his direction and he moved away from the bannister on instinct, so that she wouldn�t notice his presence as she dusted.

When I see another man near her I feel possessive. When she
approaches, I tell her to leave me alone. When she doesn�t think of me, I lose
my mind.

He leaned back on the wall behind him and stared straight
ahead, seeing nothing. The sound of her humming was putting him into a trance
as he continued to debate with himself.

What is wrong with me? How am I supposed to know whether this
feeling I have for her is mine or the monster inside me?

Leonhart slowly sank
towards the floor. His teeth clenched as he fought to stop his fangs from
emerging.

And when she�s near, I lose control�
- 10
- 11
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A Maid's Tale

Seifer�

Queen Ultimecia