A Door Between Worlds

"Not again."

Rinoa was laying on Squall's bed. He had taken her to his room, an upgrade from his old dorm room that Cid had insisted he take as the Garden's Commander. It was about as spacious as any room to be found at Garden, and Squall had always felt uncomfortable in it. Of course, the only time he ever found himself there was when he was sleeping, and there hadn't been a lot of that lately. Having Seifer back under the Gardens dome wasn't something that was inclined to improve his sleep. Squall had never considered himself vengeful, but it was hard not to be with Seifer. He just seemed to have a way of bringing out the best in some, and the worst in others. He had made no secret of his resentment of Garden, and Quistis in particular, for his failed Seed exam. Squall seemed to be the only one who saw the currant situation as an attempt by Seifer to stir up old ghosts, and have a cruel laugh at his old instructors expense. To make it worse, he had reminded Rinoa of something she did her best to avoid. Squall knew she would have to deal with being a sorceress at some point. But not like this, not some dreamed up crisis of Seifer's that dragged her through the worst parts of what happened years ago. He conceded that she and Quistis were having dreams, and that they clearly meant something. Everything else about this was suspect, and, not coincidentally, reliant on them taking Seifer's word for it, for his having 'touched' some mystical end-all, be-all, source of ultimate knowledge. That had always been Seifer's fallback, thinking he knew more about something than his opponent.

And until he showed a reason for Squall to think otherwise, that's exactly what he considered him.

Rinoa hadn't said much since the meeting, but she didn't need to. If nothing else, this last statement, as she lay curled up on the bed, showed that she was having bad memories come back. Squall knew she still blamed herself for much of what had happened to the world by her letting Adel loose. The fact Adel hadn't had time to do much before they defeated her didn't seem to matter. She was having the dreams. She was having them because she was a sorceress. She didn't want to be a sorceress, or be reminded that she no choice but to be. Squall silently damned Seifer again. Why now? Why dig up the past just when the past had almost been laid to rest? Why couldn't he realize he lost, and accept defeat.

"Squall?"

Pushing his resentment down, Squall looked over at Rinoa. She had been crying again. He was beginning to reconsider his objection to the party Selphie wanted them to go to. He had no doubt he would be miserable, as always, but Rinoa needed this, a distraction. A reason to party mindlessly. Something that didn't involve sorceresses, dreams, or Seifer in any capacity.

"Yea?"

"Where is Quistis?"

"With...him, I guess."

"She's really going to do this, isn't she?"

"Yea, she is. For someone so smart..."

Rinoa sat up, a weak smile on her face. "If there is anyone who's judgment of character I trust, it's Quistis. Don't think he has her fooled for a minute. But she can't toss this aside just because it's him."

"That's exactly why she should. This is all a bunch of nonsense. There is no Pangea. If there was, someone would have found it by now, would have left some record of it. He can't prove any of it. I've talked to Laguana, and he assured me that Esther has no record of there ever being something called Pangea. I'm going to trust that more than I ever will him."

"Squall, I know perfectly well what you think of him, we all do. And for the most part, you're right. He's not being completely honest, he never will be. I don't think he knows how. And yes, he is going to spoon feed information on a need to know basis, with him being the one to decide who needs to know. He is, and always has been, a little boy who likes having a secret, because it makes him important. But we have to consider the possibility that at least some of what he is saying is true. And we both know he always wanted Quistis, wanted her approval. He would never let her get hurt. This just doesn't feel like an attempt at revenge. If it was, why now? When we are having these dreams? There is no possible way he could have known about that without something telling him. And he is scared, Squall. He won't say it, but he is, I know him. And he doesn't scare easily.Whether what he says is true or not, He believes it."

"You said he is hiding something?"

"I know when he is hiding something, he used to do it a lot. And for the record, I know when you are hiding something to. Like now, for instance. What aren't you telling me?"

"Cid...thinks we should forgive Seifer, let him back into Garden. Maybe even let him have another shot at Seed. I told him I couldn't agree to that."

"Because?"

"You have to ask?"

"No, I don't. But I can see his point. We have a lot of history with Seifer. Granted, most of it isn't very good. But he was there at the orphanage to, Squall. And maybe that is what this is all about. Coming back without seeking your permission to do it. He knows you're the Commander, but Cid still had the final say."

"Then this is a messed up way of doing it. Which is classic Seifer, come to think of it."

"Sweetheart, why can't you let it go? It was three years ago. Yes, the part about sorceresses had me freaked out, how could it not? But if Quistis really is a sorceress, she is going to need me."

"No offense, Rinoa, but I don't know if she could come to you for advice on being a sorceress. You refuse to learn how to be. Or even admit to being one."

"Point taken. But I am one. She can go to Edea for the how to, but there are things Edea won't be able to tell her. She took on Ultimecia's power as a married, mature woman, a mother to us all. I became one as a scared teenager, with no idea of what was happening, or what to do about it. Quistis will take it a little better, but she's a lot closer to my story than Matron's."

"If she is even a sorceress. We still have to take Seifer's word for it. And I don't. The fact you are both having dreams, which haven't involved you going to the same place or seeing the same person, by the way, it could be for any of a number of reasons. It could be coincidence."

"But it's not, Squall. And it's just as possible that he is right, that he did see something, and she is a sorceress."

"Wouldn't you feel it if she was?"

"Edea would. I haven't learned enough about being one to recognize it."

"If you let Edea teach you..."

Rinoa smiled as she got of the bed, and pulled him close. "We've talked about this. You got a death wish or something?"

In answer, he surprised her with a kiss on the nose.

"Guess I do."

She pulled him in for a kiss, her lips exploring his mouth. Normally he didn't match her for passion, but the thought of not having to go to the party after all spurred him on. She giggled as he deepened the kiss, and he wrapped her in his arms, his hands exploring her back.

He had her shirt halfway off when there was a loud knock at the door. There was only one person who could have that bad of timing.

"Squall? Rinoa? Are you decent? I can come back later"

"But you won't.", Squall growled under his breath. Rinoa giggled again.

"We'll be out in a bit, Selphie."

Squall groaned, knowing that this meant they were going after all.

"Can't we just eat in?"

"Oh, we will, handsome. Later."

Rinoa brushed past her party dress, hanging by his closet. One of the perks of his room was the connecting bathroom with full shower. Squall could make out the sound of Rinoa pulling her clothes off, and the shower starting up. After a few moments, she poked her head around the corner.

"You coming?"

Squall grinned., "In a minute"

Rinoa smiled and popped her head back, and he heard the sound of the shower door opening and closing.

'Seifer, if this is a trick, you will wish it wasn't. I promise you that."

With that thought, he headed toward the bathroom, shirt already off.

-----

"You want me to do what?"

"I need to retrieve my sword. For what I can gather, it is in the possession of Dio at the Gold Saucer. He has offered it to anyone who can defeat him in the battle arena. Having already done so once, you should have no problem doing so again."

"Okay, I just wanted to confirm the fact that you are still out of you mind."

"Cloud!", Aerith cried.

"What? He honestly expects me to go risk my life for the very sword he killed you with, just so I can give it to him again. If that isn't madness, what is?"

"He will need it to fight."

"To fight what? Some magical sorcerer from a far off world who wants to come here? What use will his sword be in that fight?"

"That's not the point."

"There is no point, because there is no logical reason to do. That fact that he feels nostalgic about his weapon of massacres past isn't my problem. He wants it? He can go win it."

"My appearance at the Gold Saucer would severely complicate our mission."

"What mission? We don't have a mission. We don't even know how he plans to do what he plans to do, or if he can even do it."

"Are you prepared to wait to discover that he can?"

"Until I have a clear idea of what we're up against, I can't come up with a plan of attack. And I see no reason to retrieve your old toy."

"You are trying to bait me. It will not work."

"I'm not going after your sword."

"Then I will", this from Vincent.

"You can't."

"And why is that, precisely."

"Because you don't have Chaos anymore, so you have no limit breaks."

None of them had seen Tifa approach where they had been arguing, standing on the deck of the Highwind. She continued, "Dio would eat you for lunch."

"I will find a way to offset the disadvantage."

"You won't have to."

Cloud frowned, "I'm not doing it, Tifa."

"Of course not. I am."

At this, three sets of eyes trained on her. No one knew what to say at first. Finally, Sephiroth shook his head.

"No, I cannot allow it."

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing I'm a big girl, and you have no say in the matter."

"But why would you do such a thing for me?"

"I'm not doing it for you. I've wanted to kick Dio's ass for a long time. But a fight like that needs a reason, and now I have one. An ass like him needs to know a girl can beat him."

"That's hardly a valid reason to risk your life."

"Dio wouldn't kill me, it would be bad for business. And it isn't risking if I know I'm going to win."

Cloud started to look a bit pale. "Tifa, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Well...", he took a moment to answer, "If you do win, are you going to give the sword to him?"

"That's my call."

"What if you lose."

"Then I lose, and big bad Cloud can come rescue me again."

They were surprised at the sarcasm of this last statement. Vincent spoke up next.

"This is hardly a time for childish games, Tifa. Much is at stake."

"Then I guess I'd better not be playing games. I'm going to do this, boys. Deal with it."

"Hey Cloud, you gonna give me somewhere to go at some point?", Cid called down from the bridge.

Cloud looked at Tifa for a few more moments, then shouted back, "I'm on my way.", As he walked off, he turned back to Tifa. "Do what you want, Tifa.", and made he way to the bridge. Vincent silently wandered toward the body of the ship, leaving Tifa and Sephiroth.

"Whatever your motives, Tifa, I thank you nonetheless."

"I already told you, I'm not doin' it for you. I just like the thought of having something you want, for once.", and with that, she headed to the bridge, to make sure Cloud didn't send them in another direction.

Sephiroth watched her walk away, and quietly said to himself, "You already do."

-----

The party was exactly what Squall expected it to be.

Loud

Flashy

Crowded

And Loud

He had been in the room for less than ten minutes, and he was already beginning to get a headache. But Selphie was in her element, and Rinoa seemed to be having fun. She had guilted Squall into one dance already, and he knew she would get one more out of him before he could escape. He wondered how Irvine managed it, not having to dance with Selphie. They all knew how bad she was on a dance floor, but an inability to do something had rarely stopped her in the past. Squall found it amusing how she flirted with the guys, in a deliberate attempt to make Irvine jealous. The strategy never worked, for three reasons.

1. Irvine wasn't the jealous type.
2. Irvine was usually to busy flirting with a girl to notice
3. Selphie didn't have the patience to carry it on for very long, mainly because she was the jealous type.

As Squalls eyes finally began adjusting to the flashing strobe lights, he was surprised to see Quistis out dancing with someone. He hadn't realized that Selphie had talked her into coming. He didn't know the guy she was dancing with, but he was pretty sure it wasn't someone Selphie set her up with. The fact she seemed to be having fun with him kind of gave that one away. He was happy she had found a bit of fun. He had been worried about her lately. When a work-a-holic feels someone is working too much, it's never a good thing. And for all the work Squall did, he had Rinoa, and their showers, to go back to. Quistis hadn't had someone steady in the years since...it, and it was starting to show in her general attitude. Her performance was still first rate, and she was still the best instructor the Garden had. But it was refreshing to see her cut loose for a change.

And then she collapsed.

Squall jumped up, ready to run to where Quistis had fallen, when he heard Selphie shout.

"Squall! Get over here!"

He looked over and saw that Rinoa was in a heap on the floor, having seemingly also passed out. Making a quick decision, he yelled for Irvine to check on Quistis, and ran over to where Rinoa had fallen. When he turned her over to check her breathing, he was shocked to find her eyes had a glassy, hazy look to them. Her gently shook her, and pressed his hand to her face, calling her name. She didn't move, but her chest rising and falling let him know she was breathing, at least.

Irvine arrived, carrying Quistis.

"She looks stoned, Squall. Has she ever gotten high?"

Squall looked at Quistis, draped in Irvine's arms with her arms placed around his neck. She had the same glassy look in her eyes as Rinoa, and Squall suddenly realized what was happening.

"They're having one of those dreams. We have to get them out of here."

Squall picked up Rinoa, and he and Irvine headed for the door, with Selphie in front, dividing the crowd in front of them to allow them to pass. They made it to the car.

"How long to get them to the Garden?"

"Five, maybe ten minutes with traffic."

He nodded his head, throwing out the idea of heading toward the local hospital. It would be to difficult to explain, and he wanted some answers out of Seifer on what he had done to Quistis when they had gone off earlier. Irvine pulled the car out, and headed for the docked Garden. Selphie sat in the front with Irvine, while Squall had the two girls laying on either side of him in the back. Neither moved during the trip, except for their steady breathing.

Irvine came to a screeching halt, and he jumped out to grab Quistis, while Selphie did the same with Rinoa. Squall got out, took Rinoa from Selphie, and they headed through the Garden entrance, headed for the infirmary.

At the late hour, Squall knew Dr. Kadowaki would be out of the infirmary, and he decided against waking her up. They would have to ride this one out.

He had no regret whatsoever waking Seifer up.

"Get Seifer down here. NOW!"

Selphie broke off and headed for the dorms. She wasn't sure where he would be, but assumed he would still be awake, and waiting for Quistis to return to her dorm room.

Squall and Irvine reached the Infirmary, and each placed their respective charge on a bed, side by side. Irvine took a step back, but Squall held on to Rinoa, again calling her by name, trying to wake her up.

It was only a few minutes before Selphie came bursting in, Seifer on her heals, looking ashen.

"What happened?"

Squall turned to him, death in his eyes.

"What did you do!?"

"Squall, this isn't about..."

"WHAT DID YOU DO!?"

"I...kissed her."

Squall was to stunned to form a coherent answer, so Irvine did it for him.

"You did what?"

Seifer shook his head, "Now isn't the time. Look, Squall, they're fine. We just have to watch over them while they are gone."

"Gone where?"

"Another world, I would guess. This is what she does, what Aria does. We can't do anything about it."

"Seifer, If you did something to my Girlfriend..."

"Aria did this, Squall. And they are perfectly safe. This is why she called them, to help undo what has happened. She needs them."

Selphie looked from Quistis to Seifer. "What if it's him, this sorcerer you were talking about."

Squall looked over at her, "There are no sorcerers."

"Pull the stick out of your ass and listen for once, Leonheart. There are sorcerers. But no, Selphie, this can't be him. Only Aria can do this, It's why he wants her power so bad. He's stuck otherwise."

"So I'm supposed to just sit here and HOPE she wakes up? All because you say so?"

"It doesn't look like you have much choice, does it?"

Squall looked back at Rinoa, and dropped to his knees by the bed.

After a moment, Selphie looked back at Seifer.

"What do you mean, you kissed her?"

-----

Gold Saucer hadn't changed much in three years. If anything, the years of peace, free from Shinra and the Turks raising hell had made things that much crazier for Dio. Not that he minded. Gil was flowing through his hands like rain from the sky. And he was having to get crazier with his offers to stay fresh. He could have just hired someone to take over running the place, but it wasn't his style. He was hands on, as some unfortunate souls continued to find out. Truth be told, he hadn't fought a good round in some time, as nobody seemed to be interested enough to fight him. He had even offered the Masamune, and that had brought out some good fighters, each trying to be the next bad-ass Sepheroth clone. But he had beaten them all, and the fights had all but trickled out.

Then she came strolling in like she owned the place.

He knew who she was, of course. He never forgot a pretty face, particularly one who had been in the company of the last man to beat him. He heard how they had saved the planet from Meteor, and knew she was a skilled fighter in her own right.

So this might be interesting.

"You still offering Masamune for someone who can beat your ass?"

So that was why she had come. It made sense, he supposed. Her history with Sepheroth was also well known. He just wondered why it took her so long to come for it.

"Yea, baby, it's still up. So who's gonna fight for it? You? Or your boytoy?"

"I seem to recall that boytoy kicking yours last time, Dio."

"Even a blind pig finds a truffle now and then. So it's him, then?"

"No, I figured you needed a woman's perspective on ass kicking for once."

Dio allowed himself a chuckle. "I don't make a habit of fighting the ladies. It's bad for my image. And ruining a face and", he leered at her chest, "...a pair so fine would be a crying shame. Maybe we could make...other arrangements."

"Battle arena, one hour, Dio. Don't make me ask again.", and with that, she walked out, headed for the arena.

Dio's grin covered his entire face.

"I'm gonna enjoy this."

-

Some time later, the two combatants stood on either side of the mat, a bustling crowd watching and cheering above. Most were obviously cheering for Tifa, but Dio didn't mind. These were paying customers, and they had come for a show, so he was gonna give 'em one. He figured he would go easy for a few rounds to get everyone into it, then turn it up and pin her. He would be a gentleman about it, because he knew she wanted the sword, and he was ready to bargain, after humbling her pride a bit. He hadn't played with a pair like that in far to long

"How do keep those babies still while you fight, little girl?"

"The fights don't tend to last long."

"If you say so."

At the sound of the gong, they began to circle, throwing light jabs, testing each others weak points. Dio figured out right away that her strength was in those gorgeous legs.

'They must be a mile long', he thought. 'Damn'.

A moment later, he got an introduction as Tifa took his moment of distraction and placed a perfectly timed flip kick. Dio suddenly found himself on his ass, rubbing his chin.

So much for going easy.

Clearly she packed a punch. But then, so did he.

Rising with blinding speed, he threw a vicious punch at her mid-section. Many a fighter had fallen from that first punch, but, despite his speed, his punch found nothing but air. He realized a moment to late that the punch had left him exposed, and got a left hook to the face that his grandfather probably felt.

Backing away, he looked at Tifa with new respect. He began to wonder if she had been the one to teach the spiky headed fool how to fight. But their styles were to different. He was cautious, where she was all attack. Dio began planning how to use that to his advantage.

The crowd got restless, as most of the next two rounds were Tifa punching, and Dio blocking. He was again impressed, this time by her stamina. She kept up the fight, and her punches had lost none of their power. But she was slowing. Not enough for most to catch. But then, he hadn't gotten this far by being most.

On one particularly hard punch, he saw his opening. In the same motion as his block, he twisted the punch out of the way, and sent a left cross that found purchase on her chin. He expected to follow with another, but she recovered to quickly, throwing a punch of her own that he barely managed to block. This was going to be a game of attrition, he realized. A battle of who could last longer. And Dio had never lost such a fight.

Again they settled into the pattern, her attack, him defend, and he had to believe it was taking more of a toll on her than it was on him. Every while, he found an opening and threw a punch of his own, usually landing it, then backing up to defend again. He knew that he was winning because her reaction was slower each time he hit her. It wasn't helping him that they were both sweating a river by this point. And while her shirt was made of thick material, it was white, and being that wet, gave him a spectacular view. Her nipples were hard as a rock, and it was hard for him to keep a part of him from doing the same.

That would wait for later.

But later would never come. Because she had been watching him, and could see where his eyes kept returning to. She had spent most of her adult life with a mans eye level at that point, and it always meant one thing. They weren't looking into her eyes.

He never saw it coming.

"FINAL HEAVEN!"

A moment later, Dio was laying on the mat, spread eagle. His eyes were trying to focus, his mind trying to catch up to the beating his body had just received.

Tifa looked down at him, and noticed a tent in his loose pants.

"So where is my sword, Dio?"

Taking a moment to catch his breath, he muttered, "...In...m...my...of...fice...be...hind...the...pain...ting."

Tifa walked out of the arena to a chorus of cheers, a wry smile on her face.

'That felt way to good to be healthy'

She put a hand over her jaw. Dio could throw a punch, and her jaw would start swelling soon if she didn't ice it.

Of course, it was better than where he was swelling. He'd need more than ice to take care of that.

Tifa arrived in his office again. It was disgustingly decadent, satin and silk and gold everywhere. She did approve of his taste in art, however, and stood for a moment to admire his enormous painting. She had wondered how something could cover Masamune, but this would do it. How she had missed seeing it the first time in, she didn't know. Removing the piece from the wall, which proved difficult because the frame was high quality wood, and very heavy, she found that he had carved a space into the wall behind it. Sitting on a metal stand was the sword in all it's glory.

Tifa stood speechless for a moment, looking at the sword.

The sword that had killed Aerith.

The sword that had killed her father.

The sword that had almost killed her.

She was afraid to touch it at first, but found herself reaching out and taking it in her hand. It was amazingly light. She was no sword fighter, but she could tell that the balance was exceptional. This was a work of art as extraordinary as the painting, the work of a master. She wondered how he had come to get it.

'Probably killed someone for it.'

With the sword in hand, she made her way out of the office. An assistant came running up to stop her, but saw who she was, and the sword in her hand, and slowly backed away.

As she exited the battle area into the main square, she found Sephiroth and Vincent standing there.

"You were all you said you would be"

She wasn't sure what to make of the comment from Sepheroth, but it sounded good.

"You doubted me?"

"I...worried. But you were more than a match for him. For this day, you have no equal."

Tifa looked at Sephiroth, again speechless. He sounded so genuine, and his face showed no deception, no hiding, only admiration and...something else. She looked over at Vincent.

"You were indeed impressive, Tifa. Cloud would have been proud."

'Would have been'., she thought. He had told her before the fight that he wasn't going to watch. She had wondered if it was some lingering feelings about Gold Saucer, or about fighting Dio. But now she wondered if it was something else. It had been her proudest moment, and the only one she knew who saw it was Vincent.

Vincent and...Sephiroth.

"You're still not getting it back.", she said, trying to be flippant, but losing the edge on her voice.

"As you wish, Tifa. You have certainly earned that much. We should see to your chin."

"How did you...", she trailed off. Her jaw still hurt, the more so for talking.

'It must already be swelling up', she decided. He couldn't be that perceptive, know her that well.

Could he?

-----

It was pointed out to me that Sephiroth's name was being misspelled through these last two chapters. I have gone through and corrected the oversight. Not that any of you would have noticed.