Disclaimer: I don't own FF8...
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone! You guys are absolutely right! This story ain't over yet and I do have a couple of surprises in store for you!
Rhapsody
Chapter 11- You're a Danger
A while later, Squall parked his car in front of the Star Club. Rinoa was seated beside him, but she had dozed off during the ride. "Rinoa?" Squall shook her gently. "Rinoa, wake up. We're here."
Rinoa stirred and finally opened her eyes. "Squall? Where are we?"
Squall smiled. "Look around you."
Rinoa laughed. "Sorry, I'm really out of it." She yawned, then winced.
"What's wrong?" Squall asked gently. "Are you hurt?"
Rinoa shook her head. "I'm fine. I just have a bad headache." She assured him. "I could just lie down and go to sleep..." She yawned again.
Squall grinned. "You think we can go inside now?"
She nodded and got out of the car. "I can't believe I got out of that place. I honestly thought that I would never see any of you ever again."
"Don't think about that. The important thing is that you're safe now. Seifer isn't going to bother you anymore, and you can finally live in peace." Squall told her.
"You're right, but still... I'm in your debt. You saved my life."
Squall shook his head. "You don't owe me anything. I just did what I wanted to do." He walked into the club, and Rinoa followed behind him.
"Rinoa! You're okay!" Selphie exclaimed as she ran up to Rinoa and gave her a hug.
"We were so worried." Quistis said, as she, too, embraced her friend.
"I have Squall to thank for rescuing me." Rinoa turned and smiled at him. "It's so good to be home...even if home is this club."
"Thank you, Squall. You don't know how much it means to us to have our friend back." Quistis said sincerely.
Squall ran a hand through his hair embarrassedly. "It really wasn't anything."
Noticing Squall's discomfort, Rinoa changed the subject. "So, where are Irvine and Zell? I should thank them, as well."
"They headed back to Garden after Seifer was taken into custody. They're probably filing their reports right now, which is exactly what I should be doing right now." He told her.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Rinoa apologized. "Look at me, wasting your time! You have to get back to Garden, right?"
Squall nodded. "I'm really sorry, but I do have to get back to work."
"Of course." Rinoa said softly. "Do what you have to do."
"Umm...we have to check on our new supplied. Right, Quisty?" Selphie asked.
"Right...the new supplies!" Quistis said, catching on to Selphie's act. "Let's go."
"Uh, okay..." Rinoa said puzzled as they left. Turning to Squall again, she said, "I'm sorry for being such a burden to you. You really should go."
"Rinoa, you are not a burden to me. Didn't you listen to anything I just told you?"
Rinoa smiled. "Of course. I just love to tease you."
Squall shook his head, but a smile tugged at his lips. "Seriously, I do have to go. I'm glad you're safe." He said softly.
"And I'm glad that you found me." She kissed him softly. "Now scram before I change my mind and don't let you out of my sight!"
Smiling briefly, Squall turned around and left.
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"Bring, bring!" The phone in Squall's dorm rang impatiently.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." Squall grumbled as he grabbed the phone. "Hello?"
"Squall Leonhart?" The man on the other line asked.
"Yeah, this is Squall. Who's this?" Squall asked.
"I am General Caraway...Rinoa's father. I would like to see you at my estate promptly at 6:00 pm." Caraway told him.
"Why do you want to see me?" Squall asked, confused.
"You'll see when you come here. I'll be seeing you at 6:00, Mr. Leonhart." With that said, Caraway hung up.
"What the hell?" Squall asked out loud as he slammed down the phone. "Who the hell does this guy think he is?"
The phone rang again and Squall picked it up angrily. "Caraway, what the hell is your problem?!" He shouted into the receiver.
"Squall? Is that you?" It was Rinoa.
"Rinoa? Sorry, I thought you were someone else." He apologized.
"Like my father?" Rinoa asked. "Why would you think he was calling you?"
"It's kind of a long story. One that I'd like to explain to you in person. Can I see you?"
"Of course. Actually, I was just calling to say that I haven't seen much of you this week and I miss you."
"I'm sorry, but you know I've been busy with work. Can I come see you now?"
"Yes, I'll be at the Club, as usual."
"Alright, I'm on my way."
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"What could he possibly want from you?" Squall had explained Caraway's call to Rinoa, and she was puzzled and kind of angry at what Caraway's intentions could be.
Squall shook his head. "I have no idea. I've never met him...hell, I didn't even know he knew I existed!"
Rinoa blushed. "Um, that's kinda my fault. You see...when you were out of town, I went to go visit him. I told him about you, but...it didn't go very well."
"What do you mean by that?" Squall asked. Seeing Rinoa's hesitation, he said, "Don't worry if it's bad. You can tell me."
Rinoa debated whether or not to tell him. Finally, she nodded. "He told me that you were basically a dangerous mercenary who was out for blood. I tried to tell him differently..." She hung her head. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Rinoa. What your father said about me has nothing to do with you." He told her.
Tears welled up in her eyes. "I should have stood up to him more. I should have told him that he has no idea what you are like and if he doesn't want me to be around you, the tough." She said as a tear escaped and trickled down her cheek.
"Rinoa, look at me." Squall said as he gently lifted her face to his, silently wiping her tears away. "You did stand up to your father and that's all that matters. It doesn't matter to me what he thinks of me. It's you that I care about."
She smiled genuinely. "You are amazing, do you know that?"
Squall grinned. "I try to be." He said as his lips finally met hers and they engaged in a heated kiss.
Minutes later, they broke apart. "Wow..." Rinoa said as she touched her lips, a dazed expression on her face. His kisses just keep getting better and better! Finally coming back to reality, she said, "Squall, I need you to promise me something, okay?"
"What do you have in mind?" He asked.
"Promise me that you won't go to see my father tonight. Whatever he wants with you can only be to cause you pain. Please promise me that you wont see him." Rinoa begged.
Squall had definitely planned on going to see Caraway that night, but seeing the look in Rinoa's eyes, he just couldn't. "I promise, Rinoa. I won't go to Caraway's house tonight."
"Thank you, Squall." She said as she hugged him. "Thank you."
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Squall looked at the clock...5:15. He still had time to get to Caraway's. You promised Rinoa. You can't go back on your word. "I know that!" Squall said, frustrated. Something inside of him just wasn't going to rest unless he found out what Caraway wanted with him. "I'm sorry, Rinoa." Squall whispered as he left his dorm.
Leaving, Balamb Garden, he headed into Deling City. Once he arrived there, he walked towards that Caraway mansion. If Rinoa finds out about this... He tried not to think about that. He finally spotted the Mansion and headed up to the door. Taking a deep breath, he knocked.
Seconds later, the door was opened by a woman who appeared to be a maid. "Can I help you, Sir?" The woman asked.
"Uh, yeah. My name is Squall Leonhart. General Caraway called me earlier today asking me to come here at 6:00." Squall explained.
The maid nodded. "Yes, that's right. Come on in." The maid led Squall into the study. "Have a seat. I will go inform the General of your arrival."
Despite the maid's invitation, Squall did not have a seat. Instead, he stood near the window and stared out at the busy city that was Deling. Squall turned around as he heard someone approaching him. It was Caraway.
"I see that you made it." Caraway said. Squall just nodded. "I would have thought that my daughter would have persuaded you not to come here."
"Rinoa doesn't know that you called." Squall lied.
"Keeping secrets from her, are we? Tsk, tsk."
"Excuse me for being blunt, but why exactly am I here?" Squall asked.
Caraway nodded. "I suppose I should explain myself. Let me be blunt now, Mr. Leonhart. I don't like you and I don't like how close you are getting to my daughter. You are nothing but a danger to her."
"I would never harm Rinoa. I would give her my life." Squall told him.
"Those are strong words coming from a man like you. Do you realize that it is because of you that Rinoa was kidnapped by Seifer? One day, she will be killed and you will be the one to blame." Caraway hissed.
"May I ask you a question?" Not waiting for a response, Squall continued. "Why do you hate me so much?"
"Hate, Mr. Leonhart? Hate doesn't even describe what I feel for you. This is not just some personal dislike of mine. You are a danger for my daughter. No one can be safe with you."
His words sounded eerily familiar. Then he remembered Seifer's words to him during the battle. "No one is safe when they are around you..."
"Take my advice...leave Rinoa alone before you have her death on your conscience."
"Are you finished?" Squall asked. He had to get out of there.
"I believe that I have gotten my point across." Caraway said. "Remember my words, Mr. Leonhart. Do not make the wrong decision..."
Author's Note: Thanks for reading everybody! I'm sure you can tell now that this story definitely isn't over yet!