Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 8....

Note: Hey! Someone figured out that this was a cross with Utena! GO YOU!! I absolutely LOVE Utena! Except that everyone is like a lesbian, that's not cool... but the fights are GREAT!! Anyways, most of the questions everyone had will be answered either in this chapter or the next... THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS EVERYONE!!!

~ Chapter 3: When the Word 'Protest' Became a 'Thank you' ~

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"Hey, Rinoa." Squall began as they stepped into the elevator to take them to the green house with the roses in it.

"Yes?" She asked sweetly.

"If I may ask... Why weren't you sad that you had to get married? I mean, without even knowing me and all." Squall asked her, touching his rose ring lightly.

"You must be new." Rinoa plainly stated.

"Huh?" Squall began, a questionable look on his face. "What is that supposed to mean?" He asked.

"I didn't mean to be offensive, it's just that most of the people know who I am already." She told him.

"Well... who are you?" He asked.

"I am the Princess of Blade, or as some call me, the Bride of Rose." Rinoa told him. "I'm called the princess because my father started this tournament. And I'm called the Bride because the winner of the tournament weds me one month after the tournament." She told him.

Squall nodded, signaling that he understand what she was talking about. "But, why do you have to get married each year?" Squall asked.

"I don't know." Rinoa told him in a hush voice.

"Then why don't you just run away from all of this?" Squall asked, sentiment in his voice.

"Because I don't where to go or what to do." Rinoa told him. "Running would be so simple but it would only mean death for me. I'd die on the streets. My parents and loved ones have all moved to unknown regions or have died." She told him sadly.

"I'm sorry." Squall told her as he placed a hand to her shoulder.

"It's okay." Rinoa told him, still looking down as the elevator doors opened revealing the green room. "We're here." Rinoa said, stating the obvious as she exited the elevator. Squall followed her, his eyes scanned the area with an awe in them.

"This place is awesome." Squall exclaimed, turn his head all around, taking in the beauty of the area. The walls were gigantic windows, sunlight pouring through them and onto the plants. The plants were all potted but they had grown so large that they looked like one seamless rose plant. Ivy was hung on the glass panes in strange order, they had separated themselves just so perfectly so that enough light was given to all the roses.

"I'm glad you like it." Rinoa said to him, turning to face him. "I come here to relax and gather my thoughts." Rinoa told him as she sat down onto the floor, letting the sun bask on her.

"Don't you have to water?" Squall asked after few minutes of her silence.

"Yes, but that can wait a little while." Rinoa told him. Squall nodded, showing his understanding and took a seat next to her. They sat there quietly for a few moments and Rinoa let herself fall back to lye down. Squall followed her into the same position. Rinoa rolled over to face, tucking an arm under her head simulating a pillow as did Squall.

"Hey..." Squall began quietly, afraid of breaking the tranquil silence they had started. "You never answered my first question." He reminded her.

"And what was that?" She asked.

"Why you weren't sad when you were forced to marry me." Squall reminded her once more.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, slightly embarrassed at the fact she had not answered him. "Well, I've been married to alot of men. Each one I hold a special place in my heart for, never forgetting them. So, I guess after awhile I just figure I'll always have my memories so I just let go of them as I'm forced to the next man." Rinoa explained to him.

"So, you marry the man who wins?" Squall asked, really just trying to prove he had heard right.

"Yes." She answered him.

"So... you were married to Seifer?" Squall asked hesitently. She nodded.

"For two years actually. He had won two years in a row." Rinoa told him as she trailed off. "I was surprised he lost this year... he promised..." She said her last bit in a hushed voice as tears almost came.

'He purposely lost.' Squall thought. "Hey! Wait a minute! What do you mean you're surprised!?" Squall asked with an annoyed voice. Rinoa smiled and laughed.

"I didn't mean it like that." She told him with a smile, hushing him. "I only meant..." She was about to finish until she stopped herself. "Never mind." She told him.

"It's all right, you don't have to tell me." Squall told her.

"Thank you." Rinoa said to him with a smile.

"No problem." Squall said to her with an equally pleasant smile.

"YOU LOST HER!?!?" Exclaimed a man from behind his desk as he stood, slamming his hands on his desk.

"I'm sorry." Seifer said as he dropped to one knee.

"Dammit!" The man cursed, once again slamming his hands onto the desk. "Who did you lose to?" The man asked in a quiet yet angered voice.

Seifer was hesitant on answering. "Squall, Squall Leonhart." He answered, his so low the man could not see his eyes.

"I knew it. I knew you would lose to someone like that." The man laughed. "Get out of my sight." The man demanded as he pointed a finger to the door.

Seifer stepped out of the door, closed it and sighed with relief. 'Finally, all of the commitment and stress behind this stupid project is out of my hands. God, this what I've been waiting for for so long!' Seifer secretly cheered in his mind.

"I think you should start your watering now." Squall suggested after lying and talking for about 30 minutes or so.

"Good idea." Rinoa said to him with a smile. She stood up from her lying position and dusted herself off. She walked over to a switch on the low but before she could flip, Squall's voice stopped her.

"Want me to leave?" Squall asked, already slowly heading towards the elevator.

"No. Please stay, I need to find way you're staying." Rinoa told him with a wink and a smile. She flipped a switch and water poured down from pipes on the ceiling. "All done. The water should shut off in about 10 minutes." She told him as she walked towards him and the elevator.

"Quite the job you have!" Squall joked. Rinoa just gave him a wry smile as the elevator sped down to the first floor.

Squall opened his dorm room door and let Rinoa step into the dark room. He flipped on the lights revealing a small room, clothes littered just about everywhere and an unkempt bed. Rinoa lightly laughed at the sight of the room.

"So it's kinda messy. I wasn't exactly expecting you, either." Squall told her as he made his way into the center of the room, beginning to pick things up.

"I don't mind." She told him with a smile. She placed her little bag of clothes to the side of the front door. "Where can I put my stuff. It's not very much so I think it'll fit just about anywhere." She told him with a little happy smile.

"Where would you like to put it?" Squall asked her. She picked up the small bag and looked around the room. She found an empty corner and began to walk for it.

"This is perfect." Rinoa told him with a happy smile as she placed her bag into the corner.

"Are you sure?" Squall asked. "'Cause I can put it in the closet or something." Squall suggested, but she protested.

"I couldn't, your stuff is there." She reminded him.

"Really it's-" Squall was about to protest once more until Rinoa cut him off.

"Know, it's not alright. My belongings are fine right here." Rinoa told him. He nodded, even though he really didn't want to have her do that. "Now where can I sleep?" Rinoa asked, looking around the room.

"The bed." Squall answered, pointing to it. "Where else?"

"But that's for-" Rinoa was about to protest until Squall broke in.

"It's all right Rinoa, the bed's for you." He told her.

"Really?" Rinoa became excited. "You want me to? Are you sure?" She wanted to make absolutely sure.

"Of course!" Squall told her.

"Thank you." She said with a sweet smile.

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A/n: How was it? I hope it was good! Thank you so much for the reviews everyone! They mean SOOOO much to me!