AN:L A quick update because a friend asked...or demanded rather to know what happened next. This chapter was supposed to have like 5 scenes but the scnes i was working on went on longer than i thought. The events below happen two years (about) after chapter 8. Hope you guys like it.

Dear Rin— (smudge)

It's almost time for the ball again. I was kind of wondering if you wanted to attend this year. We haven't met for such a long time. My dad is actually surprised that I'm not mad he is making me go. I told him I had a special reason. He thought I was nuts.

I really hope you come though. I...well I miss you ok? It's not fair. We're friends. How come we can't see each other more? Besides, I really need to talk to you. There's a…a secret I want to tell you. One that even my parents don't know. Especially my parents. But I want to tell you. In person. You have to come. Promise? I'll even dance again. I've been practicing with my sister.

I think she knows that I…well...you know…like you and stuff. She promised not to say anything to mom or dad. ESPECIALLY dad. Ellone did say I was getting better, so if you come…maybe we can dance again? And then talk again on the balcony? And then after that we could maybe…never mind.

Just, please be there ok? I'll sneak down to Galbadia all by myself otherwise if I have to. Just…come.

Your boyfriend

Squall Loire

It was the same old pattern that happened just like last year and the year before that. Apparently no one even bothered to update the decorations of this magically created room as nothing seemed to change. Or maybe they did that because none of the officials who attended these gatherings ever seemed to remember the small little things like that.

A young Squall Lorie however, has etched every detail from this 'party' into his mind because it was here and only here did he meet the one special person he had no problem telling his secrets too.

He remembered every moment from the intoxicating use of colors to the mesh of tapestries that hung across the ballroom. He remembered every year where they displayed the food, where the waiters used to go on break, where people from the various different parties sat, and most especially where Rinoa used to enter with her parents.

It was tough being a boy on the verge of young adulthood. Especially when one was granted with such a princely status. The whole world had expectations and guidelines laid out for him as if he had no choice in the matter, which in most cases was just plain true. But when it came to Rinoa, things were different.

She didn't want him to be Squall Loire, son of the president of Esthar. She didn't want him to be the future heir of a country that used to be at war with her own. All she wanted from Squall was for him to act the way he wanted. And if that meant at times he would become shy with words and a little fidgety when she was around, then that was just fine with her.

But what she loved liked (children that age are too young too truly love) about Squall was that he accepted who she was. In fact, he adored who she was. Squall never asked her to be prim, proper and composed, even though most of the time he was. He saw her wild nature and fanned the fire and passion that burned within her. He wanted Rinoa, to just be more like Rinoa.

So Squall waited like he did the last few times for her at these ballroom gatherings. He leaned up against a pillar with his eyes focused intently on the floor, with a beverage in his hand. He didn't have to glance up every few moments to look for Rinoa when she finally made it. That would have driven him insane with anticipation. All he had to do was to try and play it cool. That's what girls liked right?

No matter. It still didn't stop him from being vulnerable from fear that she might not get his letter after all. If she couldn't make it…

"Dance with me?" Squall's troubled eyes quickly shot up and glanced into Rinoa's gorgeous puppy dog brown eyes accented with a little smile.

She looked absolutely amazing in her light blue dress. Tonight more than ever she really did look like a princess. All she was missing was the conical hat with a scarf tied to the top and the image would be complete.

"I…uh…" Squall, you promised. More importantly, you practiced. You have to dance with her. "I…would…." Come on you dimwit!? What happened to acting cool, calm, and collected "I err…."

"Great!" with a chirp and a smile Rinoa grabbed his hand and pulled her towards him as they made their way onto the dance floor. He was so shocked by the sudden movements he never realized the drink slip out of his hand and into the uniform of a nearby passing waiter who nearly stumbled from the newfound…wetness of his situation.

Rinoa bravely led her 'boyfriend' through the crowds in the ballroom floor until she found a spot right in the middle for the whole world to see. This is where she felt Squall needed to be. This is what Squall was missing from his home life and pined for constantly. This is what he got whenever he was with Rinoa. For just one more time, Squall finally got to be the center of attention.

This time Squall didn't need to be guided on what to do next. Without fear of the consequences, he rather bravely put his hand around Rinoa's waist and held her free hand within his own. All that he needed now was coordination. Dancing with his adopted sister was one thing. He didn't have a crush on her. Rinoa was…well Rinoa was just special.

'Don't count. Just pay attention to the girl. Don't count. Just pay attention to the girl. Don't…1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3-'

"Squall are you counting again?" Rinoa could always tell what was running through Squall's mind. An amazing feet considering they could only talk to each other via letters before. It was even easier in person though. You could read Squall's thoughts just by looking deeply into his eyes as if someone left all his secrets unlocked there. Or maybe it was because Rinoa was the one with the key to those secrets within her.

"Yeah….sorry." Damnit, don't clam up now. You have been waiting weeks to see her. Say something to make her feel special!

"I'm…glad you came." Atta boy! Looks like we don't need to order you that new backbone after all.

"Course….I'm your Rin!" If it was possible to walk on clouds, Squall would have been soaring right now. For once a thunderous young mind was unusually calm and receptive to what other people had to say. Wait a minute….Rin? Was that Galbadian for girlfriend or something?

"Rin?" Where did she get a nickname like Rin? More importantly who had given her a nickname like Rin? What where other people doing giving her a nickname? Never mind, looks like we will need that new backbone after all.

"Yeah Rin. That's what you called me in your letter remember." Shoot. Should Squall tell her that the ink simply smudged when he wrote her name down? No…that would be bad. She seemed to like the idea of being called Rin.

"Oh right…." That's right…just play along.

"Anyways…what did you want to talk to me about?" Squall was so lost within conversation with Rinoa that he failed to notice something. He was dancing, and well at that. They'd been at it for some time now and he hadn't stepped on anyone's feet or bumped into someone else yet. What was it about girls that made all your other problems in life just seem to disappear?

"Could we….go to the balcony?" He already began leading her there as she willingly followed his steps. Something was bothering him. Something he wanted to share with her and only her.

"Squall, do you just want to kiss me again?" She meant it as a joke really, but his response certainly wasn't.

"Yes" Wait, but that's not what he needed to talk to her about on the balcony. "I mean no. I mean I really do need to talk to you about stuff ok?"

"And then kissing?" Squall could feel his hands getting very sweaty. This was bad because they were still holding onto hers. He better make this fast otherwise he may pass out before he even really gets a chance to say anything to her. "Cause…I want to…if you want to…"

If Rinoa knew anything about boys, it was that they always always always wanted to. She certainly had to stop enough boys from trying back in Galbadia.

Squall just looked back at Rinoa with a smile plastered on his face. Turns out Rinoa does know a little something about boys after all. But none of this hid the fact that there was something bothering Squall this very moment. Something that might involve her.

Once they were safely standing outside on the balcony, away from any ears that might try to overhear their conversation did Squall truly feel relaxed again. He made his way over to the balcony railing and leaned against it as Rinoa shyly looked at him waiting for him to clear his mind of whatever thoughts he was occupied by.

"Rin I…" He already liked the sound of that name. "I might be going away for a while.'

This already didn't sound good. The two were far away enough from each other as it was. Why did he have to put even more distance between them? "Oh" Rinoa's saddened expression glared towards the floor as she felt a sudden need to clasp her hands together. "Where are you going?"

"I don't…I don't know." It was then she looked up at Squall with a look of total confusion upon her face at that answer. "Rin I have to run away. I can't stay home anymore. I have to get away, at least for a little while."

Astonished at this news Rinoa took a few steps towards Squall and took his hands within her soft gentle ones. The outline of tears could be seen in her eyes as she heard the news her boyfriend gave. If he ran away, there would be no letters. If there were no letters, Rinoa would be alone again. If Rinoa was alone, that meant Squall was alone. She didn't want Squall to be alone anymore. He didn't deserve it. Every little boy needs some attention. "But…but why..?"

"Things are….things are going to get bad, fast." You can't tell her about that meeting Squall. You can't tell her that you've overheard things you shouldn't. Don't worry her too much Squall. Learn to be strong. Become strong. "I can't explain but, if I stay we might never get to be friends anymore. If I go…there is a chance. That's all I can say."

Overhearing that secret midnight meeting was both a blessing a course. A blessing because had he not found out what he did, his friendship with Rinoa would be forever lost. But a curse because now knowing what he did, he had to disappear, at least for a little while.

"But then you'll be all alone….I won't be able to talk to you…. You can't go. You just can't go! I thought you liked me and that you were my friend!" Little drops of sadness descended from her crying eyes as she began to weep more openly now. This was hardly the news she was expecting after reading his letter those few weeks back. This wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"I do like you and I want to be your boyfriend" It's that very same feeling that compelled Squall to leave. "But I have to go. I have to hide for a little while Rin. I'll find you though. Someday. I promise I will. Ok?'

Rinoa fell forward and unashamedly hugged Squall with all the strength that could be found within her tiny little body. She wiped the tears from her eyes and onto his clothing as she sniffled every few moments. "I don't care so much about that. You'll be alone. Scared. I know you Squall. You'll need me. I know it. You just can't go." Rinoa wasn't about to lose her only true friend without a fight. If it took guilt to make him stay, then guilt him she would.

"I'll be fine. I can…I can take care of myself ok?" Squall didn't want to look at her face when she was crying. He got to see it so little as it was, he didn't want to be one of his last memories of her shimmering face to be of her crying.

"You'll still need me. You might forget me you know..." Rinoa was forgotten about enough by her dad. She couldn't take it if Squall forgot about her too.

"I promise I'll never forget about you. Never." Rinoa's sniffling suddenly stopped at the heartfelt proclamation given to her by the bug whose arms were wrapped around her. She looked up with little sparkles in her expression with a hopeful sound to her voice. "Really?"

"Really"

"Squall I…I want to give you something. I bought you this cause, it reminded me of you." From seemingly out of no where Rinoa revealed a ring from a pocket that must have been hidden somewhere within her dress. She kept it in her palm and held it out for Squall to take from her. It was a strange looking ring, the kind a guy would actually wear. It had the features of a lion carved into it.

"The guy at the store said it was called Griever. He said it stood for great courage and strength." Rinoa continued to look up at him with a little bit of a smile curling upon her lips. His answer now was all that mattered.

"I love it." For such a rare moment, a rare event had to occur. Squall smiled. Not a cheeky half grin or one that he tried to fight back down. This was a full fledged smile. One that was only for Rinoa.

And for this effort, he was rewarded with a not so quick kiss as Rinoa stood upon her very tippy toes so that her lips could momentarily meet with Squalls. They smashed together at first but then became more accustomed to a gentle touch. It was soft and innocent, just like how life should have been for these two.

When their moments connected ended and they released one another from their hold, both had a blushing smile upon their faces. Rinoa had to fight the urge to bury her face deep within her hands at her own boldness. But now wasn't the time to feel that way. Squall would be leaving and she wanted to spend every moment she could looking at him, staying with him.

"Squall, you really promise you will find me? Or keep trying to talk to me…I don't want to be alone forever…" Squall was after all, the bestest friend she had ever had. Bestest was a title reserved for that special best friend who could never be replaced, no matter how hard you looked.

"I promise."

"Squall, if you don't, I'll come looking for you. I mean it. I'll run away from home too and I'll find you Squall. I don't want you to be alone either." Squall smiled at the gesture Rinoa was making. In his mind he knew she spoke the truth. She wasn't the type to just let her important people slip away from her.

"I won't be alone Rinoa." He looked down at the ring she had given just moments before. "I'll have Griever with me. And that means….you'll always be with me too."

And so they were always with each other, at least for the rest of that evening. But even that night eventually had to come to an end and the two bestest friends had to part ways once more for the last time in a long time.

Because just a week later news would be hushed around Esthar as their leader's son seemed to have vanished into thin air, never to be seen or heard from again with no clue as to who was the abductor.

Then a few months after that, a secret war erupted as the faces of two nations would hide the inner conflict and battle that would take place, but none would see.

You guys know the drill. Reading first, reviewing once you're done. :-)