Disclaimer: Squaresoft and whoever else has legal claim own FF8 and its characters. This story was written for entertainment only and I gain no profit from it. Only help from people on writing.

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'Wow. The sky is breath taking tonight. The colors in it are amazing. I never knew half these colors could exist. It's true what people say. One of the most amazing things about the world is watching the sun set. It is never the same twice. It is amazing. Breathtaking even. I wish it would never end. Because with the setting of the sun comes another day. And every day that comes brings me closer to Friday. Friday. The day I'm meant to be taking Rinoa out to dinner. It's Tuesday now, only two more days then it's the day I have to take her out. I need to find something smart to wear. Should I wear my SeeD uniform or just a tux? Wow I can't believe I'm taking her out to dinner.'

'The thought of dinner. That thought brings fear to my mind. And my heart. What if she doesn't feel the same? What if she rejects me? How could I live with myself? Could I go on living if I saw her everyday wrapped round someone else? I don't think I could. I love her too much. She is my world. I'm her knight. She is my Sorceress. We belong together. I hope she feels the same to.'

'Oh for Hynes sake, now what do people want?'

"Come in."

"Hey Squall."

"Hey Irvine. What do you want now?"

"Whatcha doing over by your window?"

"Zell? You're here too?"

"Yep."

"What do you both want?"

"I came to talk to you about what we were talking about earlier." Said Irvine.

"You mean he know what we were talking about."

"Yes."

"You couldn't respect that I don't want my personal life spread round Garden?"

"Don't be so harsh Squall. He was only trying to help." Said Zell.

"What? By telling everyone that I'm weak? That I can't help myself? Great help."

"It's not like that." said Irvine.

"So what is it like?"

"Squall; like it or not, we are all concerned for you and Rinoa. We don't want to see either of you get hurt." Said Irvine.

"I just don't like everyone knowing my business. I hate being the centre of gossip."

"You're not Squall. Just because you fear if doesn't mean that it is actually happening. Try to be a little more trusting." Said Zell.

"I can't help it. So why are you here?"

"Has Rinoa been to see you?" Said Irvine.

"No, why would she?"

"Now I really have a bad feeling about this." Said Irvine.

"Irvine, tell me. Has something happened to Rinoa? Is she ok? What's happened to her? Tell me please. I need to know."

"As far as we are aware nothing has happened to her." Said Irvine.

"So why the bad feeling?"

"Selphie has been to talk to Rinoa. And we fear that she may have said something that caused Rinoa to do something that would not be wise." Said Zell.

"You mean she may have killed herself????"

"No that's not what we think. But we think that she could be hurting." Said Irvine.

"I have to go find her. Make sure she is ok."

"Squall, no wait…" Said Zell.

"Zell. It's no use. You can't stop him now. He's already half way down the corridor. He wouldn't listen anyway. He cares too much for Rinoa."

*~*~*~*~

'I hope he finds her soon, or someone else does. If Selphie and I have cause undue anguish by lack of communication, I'll never forgive myself. Squall deserved happiness. He has had so much pain in his life he need happiness so that he realises life is worth living again. If he looses Rinoa I think we may also loose him. And this world needs Squall Leonhart. He is a brilliant leader, a great friend, but more importantly he is a loyal lover.'

'Rinoa please don't have left Garden. He needs you and I believe you need him. He is your knight. Not something easily replaced. He was there for you when you went to the Sorceress's Memorial. He rescued you. Going against everything he was trained for. To defeat the Sorceress. Instead he save her. He really does care for you. Please still be here.'

*~*~*~*~

'Rinoa. Where are you? I can't find you. You were here only an hour ago. Where have you gone? Why is so much of your stuff missing from your dorm? Please don't have left. Where could she have gone if she has left? We haven't stopped at a town or city recently. So where could she be?'

'Irvine. I've go to go tell him before he gets to Squall. We need to sort this out before he finds out and is hurt. I can't think what could have happened to make her leave. I don't understand. When I left her in her dorm she was fine. Happy even. What could have happened in that time that would make her leave?'

Selphie is running round Garden in tears, running blindly, hoping to find Irvine.

'Oh Irvine where are you? I need you. I need your support. I need you to tell me it's all going to be ok. I don't know what to do. No one has seen her. What do I do? Please someone help me. I think I've done something dreadful. I think I've caused two of my friends a lot of pain. I just don't know what to do. Help me please, someone help.'

"Irvine." *Selphie runs straight into Irvine, throwing her arms round him and holding him tight, crying hard. Irvine holds her back, worried about her.

"Selphie what's wrong?"

"I think I've done something dreadful."

"What do you mean?"

"I think I've made Rinoa leave."

"Oh Hyne no."

"Yes I can't find her anywhere. And no one has seen her in ages. Oh Irvine what do I do?"

"It's ok Selphie; it's not your fault."

"But Irvine, don't you see it is? If I hadn't gone to talk to her then she wouldn't have left."

"Hang on, how do you know she has left?"

"Because some of her stuff is missing."

"Oh Selphie. Selphie please don't cry. It's not your fault. You couldn't have know that I was going to talk to Squall. I think it may be both our faults."

"But…but… I shouldn't have talked to her…I s-should ha-have talked t-to you f-first. P-please Irvy. Hold me." *Irvine tightens his grip on Selphie, to let her know he is there for her.

"Come here Selph. Try not to worry about it. We'll find her. I'm sure."

 *~*~*~*~

'Wow she really is upset. She is shaking so badly. Please don't cry Selphie, how were you to know. We both should have talked to each other before talking to Rinoa and Squall. We both messed up. But we can sort it. I really hope we can. For Rinoa and Squall's sake. We really have messed up this time. Maybe we should go somewhere more private. Sefie can't be that heavy can she?'

Irvine puts Selphie's arms round his neck then picks her up so that she is in his arms. He starts walking for the dorms.

"Irvy, w-whatcha d-doing?"

"Shhhh Sefie. It's ok. I'm sure rules can be over looked this once."

"Huh?"

"Don't tell on me will ya?"

'She's lighter than I expected. I can carry her easily. I just hope no one sees us go to my dorm. I can't leave her this upset. She needs me. Needs me to hold her. To be there for her. To look after her.'

'We won't do anything, I'll just hug her. Hold her til she falls asleep. Be there for her when she wakes. I don't ever want to loose her. I care for her too much. She is so important to me. I couldn't bear it if I lost her like Squall may lose Rinoa if he isn't careful. I hope he finds her.'

*~*~*~*~

Squall has been searching frantically throughout Garden. He has the authority to override any ones lock on their dorm door and can go on both sides of the dorms-girls and boys. He has been through Rinoa's dorm, and has discovered that there are several things missing, basic things such as hair brush, underwear, things like that. He is now searching through the rest of Garden, looking for her everywhere.

'Rinoa, Rinoa where are you. Your stuff is missing. Please, please don't be out of Garden. I know Garden slowed down earlier. Please don't tell me you left then. We were in the middle of Centra then. It's dangerous out there on your own. Since the Lunar Cry there are allsorts of dangerous enemies out there. I'm not even sure I could handle them on my own, and I'm stronger that you. I should be there with you. I'm your knight I should be protecting you from these beasts. I need to see you. To hold you close. To make sure you're ok.'

'Am I that untrusting that I've sent you away...? Maybe I'm this way because I'm scared. I thought nothing lasts in this world. It feels great to have friends who believe in you, and adults you can rely on. That's why it's so dangerous, especially if you become used to it. Someday you're bound to lose everything. Everybody around you will be gone. Then what are you left with? Nothing. Nobody...It's so miserable. And it's inevitable. It's so hard to recover from something like that. I never ever want to deal with that again. I can't. Even if it means being alone... But I realise I love you. That I need you. I can't live without you. I care too much to let you go.'

He suddenly finds himself at the entrance to Balamb Garden, and a flash of inspiration sparks thought his mind.

"Hey gatekeeper."

"Yes commander."

"Did a young girl with black hair, and pale skin leave here a while ago?"

"How long you thinking of?"

"Within the last hour."

"Yes a girl did leave. I thought it a little odd that she left in the middle of the Centra but she insisted."

"Did she say anything before she left?"

"She said she was going to stay with friends. And that they move around a lot."

"Thanks. Do you know what time it was when she left?"

"I'd say about 5.40ish"

'Hyne Rinoa. Don't tell me that you're out there on you own.'

"Oh one more thing. I don't suppose you noticed if she was carrying a pin wheel weapon on her arm?"

"Now that you mention it I think she was. But I couldn't swear by it."

'Great so not only are you out there on your own. But you may not have your weapon. I have to get to the bridge and fast. I have to find Rinoa. She may need my help. It's getting dark. It isn't going to be easy. But I have to find her. She means to much to me for me to let her get hurt.'

Squall runs through Garden, heading for the Bridge. He runs into the elevator and punches the top floor button, willing the elevator to go faster.

'Why can't this stupid elevator go any faster? I need to get to the bridge.'

"Nida."

"Yes Squall"

"Stop immediately."

"Commander?"

"Just do it."

"Now turn Balamb round exactly 180o and put on the search lights."

"Yes sir. May I ask what we are looking for?"

"Look for Rinoa. Where are the Binoculars?"

"Over by the control panel."

"I'll use these to scan the darkness. You just concentrate on looking in the search light path."

"Squall."

"Yes Irvine?"

"Rinoa's gone."

"I know."

"Please don't blame Selphie and me. We were only trying to help."

"That's ok. You go look after Selphie. Oh and if you see Zell can you send him up here? Don't worry, we'll find her."

"Thanks Squall." Irvine throws his arms round Squall and hugs him.


"Ugh Irvine. There is no need to hug me."

"Yes there is. You're a good friend."

"Thanks now get back to Selphie."

*~*~*~*~

'Must get back to Selphie. She doesn't realise I've left her alone in my dorm. Also Squall said he didn't need me so I'm fine to go back.'

'Hang on…… Squall said "Get back to Selphie." Did he realise she is in my room right now? And he didn't say anything? But he knows that it is against the rules. Wow he really must value my friendship not to tell anyone. Thanks so much Squall.'

"Hey Irvine."

'Hyne, that scared me.

Irvine looks round to see Zell running towards him.

"Hey Zell."

"Have you got any idea what's going on?"

"Yeah, Rinoa's left Garden."

"What?? When??"

"About an hour ago we estimate."

"But we've not stopped at a city or a town or even a village in that time."

"That's the problem Zell."

"You mean she is out there on her own and with so many monsters about now due to the Lunar Cry?"

"Yes"

"Hyne we have to find her."

"Zell, calm down. That's why Garden turned around a few minutes ago."

"But she may not have walked in a straight line. She could be anywhere."

"Squall and Nida are scanning the area around Garden with binoculars but neither of them are strong magic users so it's hard work."

"I'm a strong magic user. I could help them."

"Squall did ask if you could go up to the bridge. But with the intercom out of action he could not just call you up."

"I'm gone. I've got to help find her."

Irvine watches as Zell runs towards the Bridge, then heads back to his own dorm.

'I hope you can Zell, I hope you can.'

*~*~*~*~

'Help. I'm running low on magic. Help. I can't hold of many more enemies. The first few Jelleyes were easy. I only used a little magic on them. But that stupid Elnoyle knock out Leviathan and used a lot of my magic supplies. And the Behemoth pretty much used up all but the last 3 of my spells. I can no longer see enemies coming at me. It's become to dark. I need to avoid all these monsters. I can't defend myself very well right now. My pin wheel is broken, Leviathan is KO'd and I have about 3 spells left, two of which are curagas. So I have one offensive spell left. And I'm no closer to getting to the last place I know the White SeeD Ship was.'

Rinoa has been running and walking over the Centra trying to find the White SeeD Ship but hasn't had much luck. She has run into more enemies than she expected and is in serious trouble.

'I feel so alone. I'm scared. I don't want to die. I'm afraid of dying. I should have stayed in Garden where I was at least safe. If not happy. I can't cope out here on my own. Squall; even though you've hurt me, I still want you. Please come help me.'

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH"

'Something small and hard has just hit her in the back.'

'What in Hyne's name just hit me? Oh, it's only an imp. Mind you I had better be careful, these little guys have powerful magic, and normally they aren't alone. They either travel in packs or with something larger.'

She suddenly hears a very large growl, just behind her.

'W-what was t-that v-very loud g-growl? D-do I run o-or do I s-stand s-still and hope it hasn't s-seen or h-heard me? I'm s-shaking so badly. I t-think I'll r-run. I d-don't like t-the sound of t-that g-growl. It's too close.'

She sets off at a run, away from the growl, not daring to look back at what is chasing her. She soon lets go of the holdall she is carrying so she can run better.

'Squall where are you? I can't run for long without either falling or collapsing. Help me please?'

*~*~*~*~

'Rinoa where are you? Why did you have to leave Garden? There are so many strong monsters about since the Lunar Cry. You must have known it isn't safe to wander round the open on your own. I hope you're ok. I could never forgive myself if something terrible happened to you.'

"Zell. Are you picking up on anything?"

"Sorry Squall. Not a thing. When she left she must have walked away from Garden."

"We've been hunting for an hour. Where could she be?"

"I don't know Squall. I'm sorry."

"I hope nothing has happened to her."

"So do I. The only things I can locate are monsters. Lots of them."

"Zell; keep comments like that to yourself please."

"Ok."

"Hey Squall. What's that in the search lights?" said Nida.

"It looks like Rinoa's holdall. Oh this can't be good." Said Squall.

"I wonder how long ago she dropped it." Said Zell.

"Hopefully not long."

"It does look a little tattered Squall."

"Nida. Can this thing go any faster?"

"I'll try." Said Nida.

'Come on. Come on. Where are you Rinoa? Hyne please look after her. I need her.'

"Squall. Squall quick. I've got something. Over to the left. It's a monster. And something that is most definitely not a monster."

"Nida, turn this thing to the left. Hurry. Rinoa needs us."

'Hurry up. I need to help my Sorceress. She needs her knight. She needs me.'