Disclaimer: I don't own FF8...
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Very quick author's note this time and that is THANK YOU to every single person who has reviewed this! Hugs and kisses all around ^-^
Rhapsody
Chapter 8- Doubt
"There she is!" Selphie exclaimed, pointing towards Rinoa, who was walking into the Star. "And there's Squall!" Selphie told Irvine. "I told you he'd be somewhere with her!"
Rinoa waved as her and Squall approached Selphie and Irvine. "Hey guys!" She smiled.
"Hey Squall, man, you finally decided to show up. Were ya keepin Rinoa busy?" Irvine grinned.
Squall gave him a cold glare. "Looks like you've got yourself a woman, as well." He said.
Irvine gaped. "Squall...joking around? Man, if being around women does this to you, then we've gotta get you out more!"
"Excuse me, Irvine, but I think I can take care of that." Rinoa joked.
Irvine shrugged. "Believe me, I never doubted that."
Just then, Zell came running through the door, clearly out of breath. "There you are!" He wheezed.
"Whoa, man, take it easy." Irvine told him. "What's going on?"
Zell took a few seconds to catch his breath, and then spoke. "Squall, Irvine...you're needed at Garden right away."
"Needed at Garden?" Squall asked. "Why?"
Zell shrugged. "Cid just told me that an urgent mission has come up and he needs us three right away. He sent me out to find you as quick as I could." Zell told them.
Squall sighed. "I don't like the sound of that. Looks like we'd better go." He turned to Rinoa. "Are you going to be okay?"
Rinoa nodded. "Just be safe." She said as she kissed him on the cheek.
"See ya later, Selphie!" Irvine waved, and the two of them took off.
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"We have a problem, boys." Cid told Squall, Irvine, and Zell once they arrived at Balamb Garden.
"What kind of problem?" Zell asked.
"You all know Doc Odine, correct?" Seeing them nod, he continued. "He is currently stationed in Esthar, and is causing all sorts of problems for the government and the citizens. He has been creating destroying machines and sending them throughout the city. I am sending you three to Esthar to track down Odine and stop him." Cid told them.
Squall nodded. "When do we leave?"
"As soon as possible. Take whatever you need with you, and go. Odine needs to be stopped before he causes even more chaos and destruction in the city."
"We won't let you down, Sir." Squall said. He grabbed a piece of paper and quickly scribbled a note. "Sir, can I ask you for a favor?"
"What do you have in mind, Squall?"
"Could you give this note to Rinoa Heartilly? She lives in Deling City, at a club called the Star." Squall told him.
Cid smiled knowingly. "Don't worry, my boy. This girl will get your letter."
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Dear Rinoa,
There is not much time for me to write this. Irvine,
Zell, and myself have been called away on a mission. I
can't tell you where or why, and I don't know how long
I'll be gone. I guess I'll see you when I get back.
-Squall
P.S. Seifer shouldn't be a problem anymore, but just
in case...be on your guard.
Sighing, Rinoa put down the letter. A messenger from Balamb Garden had brought it to her earlier. Squall's job is to protect people, and to do that, he has to go on missions. You shouldn't be surprised that he had to leave so abruptly. Even so...
"Damn!" She shouted, while kicking the floor.
Seconds later, Quistis peeked her head into the room. "Rinoa, are you alright?" She asked.
"I'm fine." Rinoa said through gritted teeth.
"I heard you shouting..." Quistis paused. "It's Squall, isn't it? You're upset because he left."
"Damn it, Quistis, you know me too well." Rinoa sighed. "I want to get to know him better, but every time I feel like we're getting close, he has to leave."
Quistis patted Rinoa on the shoulder. "I know it's hard for you, but it's his job. You'll be together when the timing is right." She told her.
"What if the timing is never right, Quistis?" Rinoa asked. "Sometimes Squall can be so distant. When I think about it, I barely even know him. I want to know him...but...does he want to know me?"
"That is a question only Squall can answer." Quistis said. "Why don't you ask him when he gets back?"
"If he gets back. Do you know all of the danger he puts himself through? I might never see him alive again."
"Rinoa, stop it! What has gotten into you? You're always so positive, so why are you being so negative now?" Quistis demanded.
"Because I'm scared, Quistis! I'm scared that I'm falling for someone that could be dead in the blink of an eye!" She shouted.
"It's not just that, is it?" Quistis asked softly. "You're afraid of getting hurt again?"
Rinoa shook her head. "It's not about getting hurt. I don't know if I'm getting through to Squall sometimes. It's like he has this barrier around him...and I'm not so sure I can break through."
"It seems to me like you've already started to." Quistis said.
"I don't know... I'm going to go for a walk. That always seems to clear my head." Rinoa told her. "Do you mind?"
"Of course not. I guess I'll see you later, then?"
Rinoa nodded and then hugged her friend. "Thanks for listening, Quistis." She said simply and walked out the door.
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Rinoa's steps led her to the Caraway Mansion. Her father had been released from the hospital and she felt like talking with him could really help her right now. It had been so long since she had actually sat down in this house and had a decent conversation with him.
Feeling a bit nervous, she rang the doorbell. One of the maids answered the door. "Ah, Miss Rinoa! You have finally returned to us."
"Nancy!" Rinoa exclaimed. "God, how long has it been?"
"At least three years." Nancy told her. "Well, don't just stand there! This is, after all, your house."
Rinoa walked in, looking all around her. The house looked just the way she remembered. Turning to Nancy, she said, "How have you been? My father hasn't been too demanding has he?"
"Your father has been very kind." Nancy smiled. "Never thought I'd hear the day when you called him that, though."
"After I found out about his heart attack, I decided to be a little more forgiving. Maybe calling him 'General' and 'That Man' was childish of me." Rinoa brightened. "Where is he, anyway? I would love to talk to him."
"He's in his room. Would you like me to bring him down?" Nancy asked.
"That's not necessary. I'll go up and see him." Rinoa assured her.
"Alright then, Miss Rinoa. It was wonderful seeing you again."
"You too, Nancy." She said as she made her way up the central staircase. Once she reached the top, she turned left into her father's room.
"Rinoa?" The General sat up in his bed. "You've come home."
Rinoa smiled slightly. "How are you doing, Dad?"
Caraway smiled at the word 'Dad.' "Much better now that you're here with me."
Rinoa sat down next to him. "I wanted to talk to you about something..."
"Something or someone?" Caraway asked.
"Rinoa blushed. "You're right. It's about this guy...Squall."
Caraway's smile vanished. "Squall Leonhart? One of the highest ranking students at Balamb Garden? Please don't tell me you're in love with him."
Rinoa could feel the anger rising within her. "Squall Leonhart is a good man. Why do you make it sound like he's a criminal?"
"He is dangerous, Rinoa! I don't want you mixed up with a man that could get you killed." Caraway told her.
"He protects me, father. He has never put me in any danger. The only danger I faced was Seifer, and Squall took care of him for me." Rinoa said.
Caraway grunted. "Took care of him for you? You mean killed him. The man should be arrested."
"Seifer is in jail. Squall would never murder someone in cold blood."
"He's a mercenary, for God's sake! Open your eyes, Rinoa!" Caraway shouted.
"You know, I thought that talk we had in the hospital was a new beginning for us. I thought we could start over, maybe even get along." She paused. "I guess I thought wrong." That said, she turned and fled from the room and out of the mansion.
Rinoa was so wrapped up in her thoughts and anger that she never heard the figure approach. She never felt him creep up behind her. By the time she realized what was happening, his hand was already over her mouth.
"Now the fun begins..."
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed that chapter. Feedback is greatly appreciated ^_^