Disclaimers( yet again...): I don't own the FF8 characters etc, etc, etc. They (sadly) belong to Squaresoft so don't sue me!!! Honestly I got no money...not a dime so you're going to waste your money if you sue. Hahahaha!

Thanks for all the reviews...and thanks for your compliment PhoenixBlade...I'll try and improve and make this story interesting!

Chapter Six The search team **************************************************************************** ********************

"Wake up...wake up." Quistis was shaking Paul lightly urging her to wake up. The sun was shining brightly as it was well past 8 o'clock in the morning. Unfortunately, all Paul did was grunt lowly and muttered some just- a-minute-I'm-sleepy for dozens of times and continued her slumber. As Quistis was still trying to wake her up, someone knocked the door. Quistis opened up the door and lead Rinoa and Squall inside the room.

"Hey, I think we need to talk about our mission so can you go down to the cafeteria?" Rinoa asked as she looked around the room. That was the first time she actually had a good look on Quistis room.

"Good morning everyone!" Selphie shouted excitedly as she too entered the room followed by Irvine and Zell. Now everyone involved in that mission was crammed inside the not-so-big room.

"I thought we're suppose to go to the cafeteria to discuss something. Why is everyone here?" Selphie asked curiously.

"Well, you have to wake HER up before discussing about the mission. She's the one who's going to find the sword," Quistis said as she pointed towards Paul who was.well, snoring quietly. Everyone looked at her sleeping form and started to shake their heads.

"Come on wake up! We need to talk about the mission.THE MISSION!" Selphie started yelling on Paul while Irvine was shaking her hoping to wake her up.

"Mmm..yeah yeah.mission..missi..zzzzz,"

* sweat drop *

"Let me try.hey your sword's lost! Someone stole them away!" Rinoa pretended to be panic as she shouted.

"WHAT!!! Who stole my swzzzz..." "We'll never wake her up!" Quistis said with a sigh.

"How bout this? Hey wake up..I heard there's a food fair going on in the cafeteria," Irvine said sheepishly. This time Paul really woke up.

"Did someone say food fair? Where? When?" Paul jumped up from her sleep excitedly. Irvine grinned proudly towards everyone.

"The great Irvine did it again!" he said while making a peace sign. Everyone sighed.

"Hey, did I miss something? Where's the food.hey!" Paul yelped as everyone pushed her towards the bathroom.

"Brush your teeth and change your clothes. We'll be waiting for you in the cafeteria and hurry up if you want to start the mission fast!" Quistis yelled impatiently. Boy, she sounded like an instructor again. They walked out to the cafeteria leaving Paul alone as she groggily brush her teeth.

--------Five minutes later--------

Paul walked out from the bathroom after combing her hair walked grabbed her swords before closing the room's door and going to the cafeteria. " Look's like everyone's ready for a new adventure my friends," she whispered slowly to her swords. The swords shone brightly as if answering her question.

--------In the cafeteria-----------

"What took you so long," Zell said while munching his hot dogs. (I wonder why he never got tire of them?)

"Sorry...anyway can we start now?" Paul asked while gesturing an apologizing nod to Zell.

"Sure, take your seat and explain everything. We're gonna par..tay!" Selphie screamed in excitement.

"Party? Whatever..so here's what I'm thinking. We're going to find those swords according to the clue given. A place where there's someone who was once the world afraid of. There're a few places we can head to," Paul explained slowly. "The first destination is Tomb of The Unknown King in Galbadia. Since we're captured there, so I guess she probably hid them somewhere near Galbadia and Tomb of The Unknown King may be the place."

"Then?" Squall asked coldly.

"The second destination was Centra. We can try out the Centra Ruins where Odin resides. If it's not there then we had to go to our third destination, the Deep Sea Research Center. I heard the great GF Bahamut is living inside that dark place, who knows...we may find the sword there. If we fail again,....then we have to go to our last destination that I can think of according to the clue."

"What?" everyone asked in unison.

"Esthar...the Sorceress Memorial."

"NO!" Squall yelled out loud in protest. Everyone was shocked to see his big reaction against that place.

"What's with that place? As far as I know Sorceress Adel wasn't there anymore so you don't have to worry bout fighting her." Paul asked curiously.

"We'll never go there!" Squall yelled again as he got up from his chair and looked very angry.

"Yo, calm down man," Zell said as he tried to pat Squall's shoulder, only to receive a cold stare.

"Go anywhere you like but not there!" Squall yelled for one last time and walked away.

"Squall!" Rinoa shouted as she too, got up and started to chase against Squall. Everyone kept quiet not knowing what to say leaving a blur Paul scratching her head.

"Gee.he sure is one mysterious guy," Paul said , breaking the silence.

"No..it's just that a lot of things happened back then and." Quistis snapped back.

"And.?"

"Well, I don't know how to explain. It's too complicated but to make things short..Rinoa..she is a sorceress and she was once nearly locked up there.."

"Oh..I see.I see.No wonder," Paul said with a sigh. "Although I just got to know you all a few days but I'm not stupid and I can see what's going on between them..well, guess if we really have to go there..I'll drop both of them out but don't worry who knows that we got lucky and found the sword before going there right?" Paul asked with a convincing smile. Everyone just smiled back as a reply. Squall's reaction sure shocked everyone..

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* Inside Squall's room *

"Squall, calm down," Rinoa said as she followed Squall into his room. "I don't mind if we really have to go there."

"I care! Why should we help someone we barely knew at the first place and what's worst?! What if something happen to you? Rinoa...I can't bare to lose you again," Squall blurted out as he held Rinoa in his arms tightly. Rinoa was shocked at his sudden burst out. You can't see the Garden Commander acting like this every day you know?

"Squall..I'm gonna be alright," Rinoa whispered to his ear lowly as she return his embrace. "Besides, I'm sure Laguna won't let them lock me up right?"

"That old loser?! He's blur enough to even forget our face!" Squall snapped back. He was losing up a bit by then. Rinoa couldn't find any words to protest anymore. Besides, she loved the way Squall cared for her. Rinoa smiled sweetly and kissed Squall lightly on his lips making him blush.

"Hahaha...I like to see you blush," Rinoa teased him as she continued to embrace him tightly. "Anyway, if we really have to there, I'll be extra careful and stay beside you. Isn't that enough Mr. Leonhart?"

"Hmph...you win!" Squall said as he smiled. "Only if you stay beside me all the times."

"Yes sir!" Rinoa answered as she mimicked the SeeD's salute. Squall couldn't help but laughed lightly at her reactions. "Can't we go back to the cafeteria now? We need to discuss when we should leave. Besides, it's not very nice to leave them in the cafeteria looking blank."

"Anything for you, my princess," Squall said as he walked out of his room with hand in hand with Rinoa.

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*In the cafeteria *

"Finally, both of you came back! Sorry bout mentioning going to the Sorceress Memorial. Look if you two don't want to go I think I still can manage without.."

"Um. Paul.Paul!" Rinoa interrupted her.

"Well, I can actually still sneak in with the help of..what's that you want to say?" Paul asked suddenly as she mumbled to herself.

"We'll go together," Rinoa answered with a smile. "Really? That's great! You sure?" asked Paul. She really didn't want anything bad to happen.

"Yes. I assured you," Squall said plainly.

"Oh..ok then! Everything's set let's set out this evening!" Paul exclaimed excitedly.

"Alright...let's par...tay!" Selphie screamed in excitement. " I'll pilot the Ragnarok!"

"Let's rock and roll!" Zell clenched his fist and started to bounce lightly.

"Let's go girls!" Irvine grinned as he pat his hat lightly with his gun.

"We'll assemble at the front gate at 1800 sharp. Any problems?" Quistis asked.

"Nope," Paul answered while the others nodded. As everyone went back to the dormitories to pack their things, Rinoa followed Squall to his room again.

"Anything?" Squall asked as they arrived at his room's door. Rinoa answered him by pulling him by his collar and gave him a hard kiss.

"Thanks for believing in me," she said as she walked away leaving Squall who was blushing madly. He stood still watching Rinoa entered her own room then he too, entered his room with a large smile.

"Believing huh?" he said with a smile...

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Chapter 6 ended! I want to write on but I got school tomorrow..so I need my sleep badly. Please R+R! Please! Please! Please don't flame me by the way...I'm afraid of fire....thanks for reading, everyone! Minna arigatougozaimasu!