Disclaimer: I don't own FF8...
Author's Note: Nice try everybody, but the quote "God, it's good to be alive" comes from the song "Big Machine" by the Goo Goo Dolls. Thanks for the reviews, I really appreciate them! Now, here's the next chapter!
Never Free
Chapter 10- Assassination
"Agent Heartilly, I don't know what to say... Thank God you're safe! What you did back there was amazing and you were able to get those valuable files!" Cid was ecstatic. "No, it won't be long now...Galbadia can't hold out much longer!"
"That's wonderful news, Sir!" Rinoa exclaimed. "The day that Galbadia is brought down will be a happy one for us all."
"Yes indeed." He turned to Squall. "And you, my boy! I'm sorry that I ever doubted you. Surely, Ms. Heartilly wouldn't have been able to achieve her goal so smoothly if it wasn't for you."
"Thank you, Sir." Squall saluted.
"No, thank you, Squall, and you too, Rinoa." He stood up. "You are both free to go." Rinoa and Squall turned to leave when Cid called out. "Oh, and Squall?"
He turned around. "Yes, Sir?"
"You've earned a promotion. How does Rank A sound to you?"
"That's a tremendous honor, Sir. Thank you." Squall replied.
"You are most welcome. Dismissed."
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Rinoa ached to be near Squall. After the incident at Galbadia Garden, she had become so much more appreciative of her life. Although her life was full of secrets and danger, she felt blessed to be alive, and, more importantly, that she had someone like Squall. He was her rock, the only person that she could trust completely.
Now, Rinoa wanted nothing more than to find Squall and confess her feelings towards him. Never mind if Galbadia found out, or her father, or even Cid. She needed Squall to know that the only thing on her mind when she had been trapped with the gas, was him. How, if she had died, her only regret would be never seeing Squall again.
I have to let him know... She thought to herself. After contemplating the matter for a while longer, she vowed to confess her feelings to Squall the next time that she saw him.
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"Rinoa, Cid informed me of your...dilemma with your mission at Galbadia Garden." Caraway told Rinoa before they headed to Billows' office.
"Yeah, so? Are you going to lecture me about how I got myself into a situation like that?" Rinoa asked.
"No."
"Oh, so then you're going to lecture me about Squall and how he could have prevented it?"
"Nope."
"Then, why are you bringing it up?" She asked, exasperated.
"I just wanted to tell you that I think you handled the situation very well, and I'm glad that you're safe." Caraway replied coolly.
What? No lectures? No being sarcastic? Maybe this man does have a heart, after all. "Well, thank you. I appreciate your concern."
Having said that, both Rinoa and Caraway entered Galbadia Garden and Billows' office. Judging by the look on his face, he wasn't in a good mood.
"Have a seat." He barked to Rinoa and Caraway. Irvine was already seated in the office. "It has been brought to our knowledge that someone from Balamb Garden has been stealing important classified information from our database. We believe that this is the person." Billows said, pointing to an image of Squall on the projector. Rinoa fought to stifle a gasp. "Squall Leonhart- a top agent at Balamb Garden. We also have reason to believe that he hasn't been working alone. However, as of now, the identity of his partner is still unknown. We do believe that his partner is female, though."
"With all due respect, Sir, how could this Leonhart guy break in and steal these files?" Irvine asked. "I thought that out security was better than that."
"Well, Agent Kinneas, so did I. With our two recent moles, who have now been taken care of, Leonhart could have had easy access to the codes. I do assure you that this will not happen again." Billows smiled.
I don't like the sound of that... "What are you planning to do, Sir?" Rinoa asked.
"It is simple. Squall Leonhart is to be assassinated by means of a sniper. That's you, Kinneas. You are to go to Balamb Garden. As soon as you see Leonhart, take the open shot. Any questions?" The room was silent. "Good. You are all dismissed."
Rinoa hurried outside of the building. Irvine would be leaving for Balamb Garden very soon. Her only hope was to get to Balamb Garden to warn Squall of what was going to happen before Irvine did.
"Rinoa!" Caraway called, as he ran up to her. "You're going to warn Leonhart, aren't you?"
"Of course I'm going to warn him! Do you expect me to just sit around and watch him get killed?!"
"This is very risky, Rinoa. If Billows finds out that you helped him, he'll have you killed."
"Well, that's just a risk that I'm going to have to take."
"Rinoa, please listen to me! You're walking into a death trap!"
"Dad, I'm sorry, but I cannot let Squall die. Billows has taken so much away from me! He's not going to take Squall away, too!"
"Rinoa, you're not thinking rationally! Why would you want to risk everything for this boy?!"
"Because I love him!"
Caraway's jaw dropped. "What?!"
"I love him, Daddy, and I am not going to let him die. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a train to catch."
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"Squall!" Rinoa shouted as soon as she entered Balamb Garden. Unfortunately, Squall was nowhere in sight. However, Seifer was. "Seifer!"
"Rinoa? What are you doing here? Squall didn't say anything about a mission..." Seifer said, puzzled.
"Seifer, where is he? I need to talk to Squall right away!"
"Whoa, calm down. What's going on? Maybe we should go see Cid..."
"No! There's no time to go to Cid! Galbadia- they ordered Squall's assassination! There's no time to explain! We have to get him into hiding!"
"Okay, okay, let's find him! Cid will know where he is."
They hurried into the elevator and ran to Cid's office. "Sir, where's Squall?" Seifer asked frantically.
"Seifer, what's the problem?" Cid asked.
"No time to explain!" Rinoa said urgently. "Squall is going to be killed if we don't get him into hiding right away! Where is he?"
"I'm pretty sure that he's in his room." Cid told her. "His room number is twenty-seven."
"Alright, I'm going to get him. Just keep watch for a guy with long brown hair and brown eyes. His name is Irvine Kinneas and he is the sniper..."
"Don't worry about it. Just go!" Seifer urged her.
Rinoa nodded and left Cid's office. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her to room twenty-seven. Once there, she started pounding on the door. "Squall?! Squall, open up!"
The door swung open to reveal a very tired looking Squall. "Rinoa? What are you doing here?"
"Thank God I found you!" She said as she threw her arms around him.
"Rinoa, what's going on? Why were you looking for me?" Squall asked, very confused.
"There's no time to explain! All I can tell you is that Galbadia is going to have you killed! You have to come with me and hide!"
"No, you're not going to be a part of this. I'll go into hiding, but you can't come with me, Rinoa." He said gently.
"There is no way that I'm not going with you! Please Squall, I don't want to leave you!" Rinoa said desperately as tears welled up behind her eyes, threatening to overflow.
"Rinoa, we don't have time to discuss this. I have to leave now, and you should, too. You can't let Billows find you here."
She nodded sadly. "Be careful, alright?"
"I will." He kissed her forehead gently and left without looking back.
Rinoa stared into the distance for a few minutes. Suddenly, realization hit her like a sudden gust of wind. Squall doesn't know that Irvine is at the front entrance waiting for him! I never told him to go out the back way! She ran frantically to the entrance of Balamb Garden and stepped outside to see Irvine just about to pull the trigger.
"Squall, look out!" She screamed, but it was too late. Irvine pulled the trigger and then everything in Rinoa's world went black.
Author's Note: Stay tuned for major mushiness in the next chapter! Also, don't forget to review!