Lina got up early in the morning to leave; she didn't want to cause a scene. She taped a little note to Quistis's door telling her to find a substitute for her class over the next couple of months and kind of smiled. Everyone would talk--Alpha Team at least--about her sudden disappearance, and while Rinoa would be disappointed to say goodbye to her sister, Squall would be relieved that it meant less damage for Garden.
Lina took up her backpack and left for the nearby woods. When she wasn't too far away, she turned back and looked at Garden. She would miss it, but she had to move on. Lina carried with her a burden that meant her life--she was a sorceress, and she knew everyone wasn't meant to be happy...especially based on her best kept secret. She sighed and pushed herself onward, feeling the roughness of the ground resonate through her boots to her knees with each step. She walked for a very long time, contemplating whether she'd made a wise choice. It was the greatest challenge for her to say goodbye to the only person she'd ever loved and ever would love.
"I haven't done this in so long," she said to herself to try to cheer herself up. Lina shuffled through a thicket of trees with an effort and pushed through only to find herself at a familiar site. In the clearing she saw the shrine where Nakago had stabbed her. The blood still stained the sides of the pedestal, obviously unable to come out.
As Lina recalled the night, someone jumped down from the trees behind her. Before she knew it, there were muggers surrounding her, sharp knives in their hands. "Well, what have we got here?' one of them said. He approached Lina slowly as she dropped her bag and clenched her fingers into fists. She grabbed his arm and threw him onto the ground. The toher grabbed her. "No good, filthy rat!" the man got up and spat. "Very feisty, eh...where's your money?"
"Don't have any," Lina lied. She seemed rather calm for someone in her position.
"Give it up, punk!" someone yelled and another pointed a knife at her neck, but Lina still stood unflinching. She knew that if she were to set off her powers right at that instant, they would all be headed straight for hell. She couldn't control her powers, and if they were to be set off with her temper, they'd take control and set off a scene.
"CHARRGGGEE!" someone shouted suddenly. Her voice was high and squeaky, but familiar nonetheless. Out of nowhere, Miaka Yuuki ran forward and flung herself on the mugger, punching and kicking. Lina threw the others off and onto the ground, then brushed herself off.
"You alright?" A man whose face somewhat resembled a squirrel or a cat said to her. Lina recognized him as a member of the Suzaku Seven named Chichiri and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks," Lina mumbled. Chichiri blinked at her and smile, although it was difficult to see the difference through his always-smiling mask. Tamahome rushed in as well and together, the four of them fought off the muggers, sending them away in fear.
"Receiver of Powers right?" Miaka turned and asked Lina. Lina nodded in response. "Oh...okay, just making sure." She smiled and they led Lina away with them. They ushered her back into the woods and through a dirt path clearing to the city. After a while, the lower class huts began to expand into high class houses until finally, Miaka and the others led Lina into the palace! The emperor, Hotohori, made sure they were all welcome there in the palace with its extravagant silk banners and decorate statues at every corner.
"Nice place!" Lina stated, looking around at the glamorous view. Everything looked so ancient--the buildings were rectangular and the roofs were packed tightly with several thousand titles together.
"Yeah...no da," Chichiri said. He brought her down the hallway to the room she would stay in; it was very large for "just a guest room" as Chichiri described it. Lina thanked him for his hospitality and settled herself in. She might as well stay here for a while--it wasn't that far from garden anyways; she could go back and visit anytime. Lina pulled open the window and saw that the sun had already fallen for today, and suddenly she realized just how tired she really was. She changed into her pajamas and climbed right into bed. The silk sheets felt she soft against her skin that it lulled her immediately into a deep sleep.
Moments later, Chichiri entered again to remind her to wake up early, but she was already asleep. He looked at her--her hair sprawled across the pillow, and her face was trouble free. He smiled and pulled the blanket up under her chin in case it got cold. "Forgive me for my rude manners," Chichiri whispered. "Goodnight, Lina Heartilly."