Authors Notes

As I said a crossover between ff7 and ff8. But as its set in Balamb Garden it goes over to the FF8 characters more.

I would say it was crap but my friend told me not to do that anymore, she said "let others judge your work not yourself" so I have no opinion whatsoever.

I would love some reviews and if you spot any mistakes I would love for you to point them out. I haven't played FF7 before (I know shocka!) so I get all of the info from my friend, so yeah, there's probs some mistakes.

Why did I choose to include FF7 if I haven't played it…one reason…I wanted to so blows raspberry XP

I know Yuffie and Vincent aren't an official couple but my friend wanted me to include them so how could I say no :P

Hope you like it!!

COMPLETE!!

Rinoa tapped her pencil on the desk. She couldn't sleep so all she could do was stare blankly at the computer screen, hoping to win her game of freecell. She lent back on her swivel chair and gazed into the bedroom. Squall slept soundly as if nothing could awaken him,

He needs his sleep, Cid's made him run errands non-stop…so is the life of a Commander, she thought

She shook her head.

It had been almost a year and 3 months since the defeat of Ultimecia and she was glad everything had settled…well in her life anyway. She glanced at the clock 3:23am. She sighed unsure of the reason she was unable to sleep. Something tickled in the back of her mind. She spun a full circle on her chair. She saw the doorway to the bathroom, the kitchen, the TV, the front door and then back to the bedroom. She was amazed at the little apartment Garden provided for them. It was made especially for the Sorceress and Knight to live together so each felt safe and secure. Rinoa stayed staring at her love. She heard a soft whimper and looked down to see Angelo; her head resting on her mistress's lap.

"Can't sleep either, eh?" she whispered, stroking her collies head

The half-breed just looked back at Rinoa with worried eyes.

"You feel it too huh? What's d'you thinks gonna happen?"

Of course Rinoa heard no reply but just the pure fact Angelo was there to keep her company was good enough.

Rinoa patted her dog on the head and pointed to the bed next to the desk. Angelo immediately obeyed and lay silently in her basket. Rin moved back to her game, all was quiet except the humming of her computer and the slight breath from Squall's slumber. She closed her eyes slightly but was disturbed by a high pitched ringing that made her jump 20 feet in the air. The apartment phone was ringing loudly next to her. She grabbed it urgently hoping Squall wasn't disturbed.

"Hello?" she said in a hastened whisper

"Hello Rinoa? It's Cid, sorry to disturb you so late but its very important is Squall there?"

"That's ok Cid, I was awake anyway…and as for Squall…well…I'll wake him up but if I die I'm coming back to haunt you!" she joked

All she heard was Cid chuckle down the receiver.

"You brave girl!"

Rinoa shook her head. Slowly she walked into the bedroom. She crouched down and shook Squall slightly.

"Squall, Cid's on the phone, he needs to speak with you urgently,"

He started to stir and moaned grumpily. He took the phone from Rin.

"Hello?" he said in a mutter.

Rinoa sat at the edge of the bed making sure he didn't fall asleep again and also trying to catch the conversation.

"Of course…I'll be there in no more than 10 minutes"

He nodded slightly. Still half-asleep, he handed the phone back to Rinoa.

"He wants to talk to you again,"

Rin took the phone and left the bedroom

"Rin, here,"

"I need you to come too; this involves both of you…"

"What involves both of-?"

"I'll tell you both when you get here, is he waking up?"

Rinoa turned back to the bedroom, he was sitting with his arms resting on his legs, feet on the floor and his head held down.

"Slowly, but surely" she laughed "I'll make him some coffee…want one while I'm at it?"

"Yes please, Black with two sugars,"

"No problem, see you soon then," She flicked the button on the coffee machine

"Hurry,"

And with that he hung up, she walked back to the bedroom.

"He wants me to go too," Rinoa told Squall as she sat on the bed "He said it involves me..."

"You think its something to do with-?"

"Sorceresses? That's what I thought,"

"Well I wasn't thinking that until now," he pulled up his trousers and straightened his shirt

Rinoa walked to the coffee machine and poured three cups.

"I wouldn't worry too much, not until we know what's going on at least, but then you know how Cid overreacts,"

Squall didn't look too sure. He pulled his coat on and walked into the living room. He turned to the computer screen. Taking hold of the mouse he finished the card game in no more then five moves.

Rinoa handed him his cup and looked at the computer screen in awe.

"How did you do that? I was trying every move I knew for 10 minutes!"

"Simple procedure, plan your moves before your next step," he smirked

Pure SeeD talk Rinoa thought

Squall grabbed his Gunblade and went to pass Rinoa her Blast Edge.

"Why do I need that? We're only going to his office,"

"Just take it; no one knows what the future will bring,"

"I wish I never said that to you, you've used it against me ever since,"

He smiled as she equipped her weapon onto her arm.

Grabbing the two coffees left she took a sip of her own. She poked her tongue out as it was singed with the hot drink. As they reached the door she turned around.

"Angie!" she called and instantly her furry companion rose to her feet and bounded across the room.

The trio walked down the corridor. Looking around Rinoa felt eerie, the school was so dark compared to the light it saw everyday. She's always thought schools looked strange after dark. When she was in her private school in Deling she'd stay behind for dance lessons and would shudder every time she turned a corner. Luckily their apartment was on the same floor as Cid's office this way it was quicker to get to if Squall was called in for an emergency.

Rinoa looked out of the windows, the night was so dark and the only light she saw was of the newly built lighthouse of Balamb. It was built so when the garden took flight, if it was at night they wouldn't crash into anything.

Approaching Cid's office Rinoa felt the knot in her stomach tighten.

What if this is something really awful, what if I need to leave the Garden and I need to leave Squall…not just Squall, Quistis, Zell, Selphie and Irvine…everyone I'm friends with here…for once I'm happy…I do miss Zone and Watts but I'm sure they're happy without my burden.

Entering the office, the couple saw Cid and Quistis waiting there.

"Quistis what are you doing here?" She asked handing Cid his coffee

"Cid phoned and told me something came up and I needed to get here straight away,"

"He said that to me too," Everyone turned to see Zell at the door, "Why man, why?! I was having the best dream…there I was surrounded by 100 ruby dragons-!"

"No one care's Zell, everyone just wants to know why we're here," Squall interrupted

Zell dropped his hands and collapsed on the couch

"Ok, are Selphie and Irvine coming too, or can we get on with this?"

Cid raised his eyebrow at Zell but understood he was tired so didn't make much a fuss, instead he answered the question.

"Yes, they are coming they should be here soon, unfortunately I can't start before everyone's here…they're the only two left,"

"No we're here," Together the remaining couple walked in, Selphie was still in her pyjamas and yawning, her eyes blood shot as if she'd been crying. Rinoa guessed it was because of her disturbance in sleep.

"What gives? Sefie and I were sound asleep and now we're called here,"

"Yes, well I need to talk to you two about that, you shouldn't be in each others rooms, but we have more important things to discuss," Cid shook his head trying to gather his words.

Selphie and Irvine took a seat on the couch next to Zell, Quistis and Rinoa grabbed a chair whilst Squall positioned himself against the wall.

Whilst gathering his words, Cid grabbed a group of papers off of his desk. He looked at the front one and shook his head. He re-folded them and gripped tighter.

Finally he managed to speak,

"For the last 2 nights I've been getting…worrying faxes from an unknown source," He paused regaining his thoughts "But only half an hour ago I received one and I needed to tell you all,"

He fiddled with the papers in his hands and cautiously handed them to Rinoa.

She looked at the others and then down at the papers, slowly she unfolded them and gasped as she saw big red letters;

"DEATH TO THE SORCERESS!"

She handed it to Squall and then looked at the second one;

"LET HER ROT IN HELL!"

The knot in her stomach grew larger and she fought back any tears forming. With each new statement she could see Squall getting angrier and the others looking more worried.

Soon she got to the last one, the newest which caused Cid to finally tell them of these events.

"DON'T TRY TO PROTECT HER, SHE WILL PERISH. WE'RE COMING SOON, BUT NOT EVEN SEED CAN STOP US, RINOA HEARTILLY WILL DIE!!"

She closed her eyes and passed the paper along. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably as the thought of more danger entered her mind.

"How can you not know who's doing this!" Squall yelled

"Squall…" Rinoa wanted him to calm down

"Xu and I tried to track the sender but both of our computers were spiked and were filled with viruses," He turned to Rinoa "I don't mean to worry you but I thought you should know,"

Rin nodded in understanding.

"So what're we gonna do?" Zell said with a tempered voice "Just wait like sitting ducks until these guys come?"

"No, in the morning I'm going to announce to the school that there is a chance that an enemy attack will draw near but don't worry, I won't tell them why, no one will know you're a sorceress,"

"But how do we know these aren't just some practical jokers?" Quistis asked "Possibly even Seifer and his lot trying to scare us,"

"Seifer's a fisherman now," Selphie spoke up dreamily "it would be hard to him to afford a telephone let alone a fax machine and with the hardware so protected I doubt it would be him,"

Everyone nodded.

"We should step up protection, maybe even send the garden into air, at least this way if these people don't have air mobility they can't get it," Squall commanded "Lets not let anyone from outside garden in and if we have to we send someone to escort them around to keep an eye on them,"

"Sounds good to me," Irvine said "and hey, maybe I can get mates from Galbadia Garden to come here as well, I'm sure they'd be more then happy to help,"

"But who knows how long they'd be here for," Quistis argued "It could be a waist of both our times and we have the new junior class men arriving so-"

She was cut off by the noise of the fax machine. Squall ran over and snatched the fax almost too quickly. He read it allowed,

"We're watching you now…planning.

Don't try to fight; don't try to run
Coz by the end of the week

That Bitch is done!"

Quistis retracted her statement "Ok so maybe they'll come this week,"

"They're watching us!" Squall shouted

"Well then what are we gonna do? Hire a group of ninjas?!" Zell argued

A thought struck Rinoa…..

"Ninjas, eh?"