First of all,I'd like to inform all of ya that I'm really gonna take some time to update this fic!!!Mayonaka,ya better hear this!! It's cuz EXAMS and TESTS are just round the corner!!!My parents are grounding me and I really don't want my PC to be confiscated!!So just be patient....and enjoy this long chapter I wrote to make up for my lateness........

@ This chapter is dedicated to Dark Raion.Thx for my 'spot' in your fave authors list! @

## FOUR ##
Wild music filled the cool atmosphere as the band Saturated strummed rocking notes on their electric guitars.The drummer was practically slamming all the drums down,and the lead singer screamed out lyrics which nobody could hear at all.But that was what the students wanted,a night with nothing else but fun and...well,music.

Squall stood in a secluded corner,watching the dancing students with cautious eyes.He could see Irvine and Selphie laughing madly,just below the stage.Zell was with Leane,of course,and it looked like he was trying his best to even move his body to the rhythm of the music as Leane giggled teasingly.A small smile touched Squall's lips.Poor Zell....

Although he WAS having fun,he didn't forget to keep an eye on Seifer.Like he'd told Irvine and Zell before,he didn't want anything bad to happen to Quistis.That sly weasel Seifer might get her drunk and then bring her to his room...and....

Wait a minute,even if he did,it's not like Quistis will hate him for that.Heck,she always acts like she enjoys sex with him..... Squall sighed and massaged his temples with his fingertips.He couldn't lie to himself anymore.He still cared about her....and it hurt like hell to think that she actually left him for someone like Seifer....

Ugh...just..forget 'bout it..... Squall ordered himself.He began to dismiss the idea of 'keeping an eye on Seifer'.The effort wasn't worth it.Suddenly,he regretted for not having a date.Not only did he earn surprised stares from other students,mostly females,he also felt kind of lonely.A few girls had actually offered to be his date when he'd arrived earlier that evening,but he calmly turned them down because he thought he just wanted to be.....

To be...

Alone...

Yeah..alone...like Rinoa Heartilly,huh? Once again,Squall was shocked with himself.Why was that girl always plunging into his mind at the most unexpected seconds?Gritting his teeth,he pressed his temples harder.

As a waiter passed by,he grabbed a glass of whatever-it-was and gulped down half of it,the cold liquid trickling down his dry throat.Ahhh...much better.... He peered at the orange coloured juice in the glass and wrapped his hot fingers against the ice-cold surface.

"My love....never ending.....for you....!!!" screamed the singer on the stage,or what Squall vaguely made out.He raised his eyebrows when he saw all the band members for the first time.How the hell could the students be crazy over a group of such wild and....Hairy!! people?!?!

Taking another sip of his drink,Squall caught sight of Seifer and Quistis and froze.

Oh...my...God...

They were practically doing some sort of erotic dance!Their lips were locked with each others',drawing a lot of attention from the other students.And their hands........Squall widened his eyes when he saw what they were doing and gasped.Oh my God!! He couldn't even imagine what their tongues might be doing as they made out without shame like that.He quickly averted his gaze and began walking away.His heart pounded against his chest as he made his way to the other end of the hall.

And that was where he saw Rinoa Heartilly,silent,expresionless,and calm in her uniform,observing the dance floor.Surprise struck him like lightning,but he walked towards her casually.

Okay...let's try one more time.... "Hey," Squall greeted with a smile.Rinoa turned to him and secretly,he was a little disappointed to see that her eyes were the same old empty ones.He'd expected just a little change,at least...

"Hello," she said in an emotionless voice,but at least she wasn't THAT unfriendly to him.Squall had already seen how she snapped at other people.

"I thought you said you wouldn't come," he pointed out.She shrugged.

"Consequences..."

"Oh...okay..." Squall brought his glass to his lips and gulped down the remains of his drink.Rinoa glanced at it,then at him.

"Is that orange juice?" she asked.

"Uhmm..yeah." Squall swallowed."Want one?Here." He politely stopped another passing waitress and took a drink,then handed it to Rinoa like a perfect gentleman.

"Thank you," she mumbled.One side of her lips slowly curved up in a small smile,causing Squall to be amazed.

She's smiling?!?Wait,I'm not dreaming,right?

A groups of girls passed them,whispering between themselves and casting smiling looks at Squall and uhh-look-at-that-girl looks at Rinoa,who simply stared at them coldly without a word.They walked away quickly,embarrassed expressions on their faces.

"You're a pretty popular guy...." remarked Rinoa.Squall gave a low laugh.

"I wouldn't deny that." A pause."Um,can I ask you a question?"

"What?" she responded.

"Why're you always acting...so...cold?" There!Come on,answer... Squall's heart beated twice as fast as he waited for her reply.He saw her narrowing her eyes and turn away.

"I have my reasons..." she answered stiffly.He felt his heart sinking into his boots in disappointment.

"But--"

"Yo,Squall!" Zell's voice interrupted him.Squall turned as both his best friends approached him....with their dates...

"Oh,hey,guys," he greeted coolly.They had wide smiles on their faces,but they froze in their tracks when they saw Rinoa,who locked gazes with them silently.

Seeing their shocked and surprised looks,Squall hurriedly made a brief introduction,"Um,Rinoa,these are my best friends,Irvine and Zell,and their dates,Selphie and Leane.Guys,this's Rinoa...."

Irvine and Zell threw him a like-we-don't-know?-look.He shrugged.

"Hi!" Selphie and Leane squeaked cheerily.

"Uh,hey," mumbled Irvine.Zell just waved his hand,a faked happy look on his face.

Oh,geez,Zell,if you wanna act,make it look good...

Rinoa grunted with a nod dryly.She turned to Squall and said,"I'm heading back to my dorm.Good night." She looked away and started walking.

" 'Night.Oh,hey,want me to walk you there?" offered Squall nobly.She stopped and turned back to him,her eyes suddenly melting in emotions.Once more,that amazed him.

"I'll be okay," she replied before walking off.Squall kept his eyes on her for a while.When he turned to his friends,they were all staring at him,half in shock,half in amazement.

"What?"

"What was THAT?" demanded Zell."Heck,you actually talked to Rinoa Heartilly!"

"Yeah,and the only people who manage to do that are the instructors and headmaster," Irvine added.

"She isn't that bad..." admitted Squall.

"Oooh,you like her!" Selphie chirped teasingly.

"No,I don't," answered Squall calmly.I just want to know why she's acting like that all the time..

"Geez,it'd take one helluva guy to like her and make her like HIM," Irvine muttered.

"Whatever," Squall said.Leane tugged Zell's sleeve and gave him a sweet smile.

"Do you wanna dance again?" she asked.

"No prob!!" cried Zell at once and the couple rushed to the dancefloor,slowly disappearing among the moving bodies.Irvine looked inquiringly at Selphie,who nodded in agreement.Before he left,Irvine looked at Squall.

"Hey,join us?Come on,whaddya say?"

"Nah.Dancing isn't my department." Squall shook his head.

"Well,see ya later,then."

When he was alone again,Squall moved his eyes to the entrance of the hall.After glancing at the crowd of students on the dancefloor for one last time,he made his way outside.

** ** ** ** ** **

His boots made a clicking sound on the polished floor.He was heading for the dormitories,not because he wanted to rest,but because he just felt he needed to confront Rinoa.His curioustity was burning fiercer than ever now...he wanted answers...

As he passed a quiet hallway,his eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure standing outside on the balcony.Surprise struck him.

Huh?Isn't she supposed to be in her room?
He took a deep breath and approached her,trying not to make too loud 'clicks' with his boots.She was leaning against the railing there,a hand slowly fingering the silver ring hung at her neck,and her eyes staring contentedly at it.She sighed heavily and released her grasp on the ring,looking up into the sky lit sky.

"I thought you were in your dorm?" Squall's voice,though soft,sounded like a megaphone in the silent night.Rinoa jumped and turned towards him at once,a frightened look in her eyes.But when she saw that it was only him,she wore her cold expression again.

"What are you doing here?" She scowled.

"What are YOU doing here?" He returned her question.

"It doesn't concern you.Can't a girl have time for herself?" she grumbled.

"Why're you acting like this?No,why're you ALWAYS acting like this?" Squall asked,frowning.

"Does it matter?You mind your own business and I'll handle mine...." was her cold reply.

"Can you at least just tell me why?"

"Why the hell do you care?" Rinoa looked annoyed."Wait,don't tell me your interested in me,'cause if you are,I'll--"

"No,I'm NOT interested in you," he said firmly."Forget the relationship stuffs.I just wanna know why you're acting like this..."

"Who are you,a psychologist?" she replied sarcastically.

"Rinoa,I--"

"Whatever your explanation is,I don't need it." With that,she cast him a poisonous look and stamped away from him,her head held high.Squall stared after her in desperation.He exhaled heavily and pushed his hair back with his hands,tugging it softly.

Way to go,Squall....

** ** ** ** ** **

The next big events after the successful Garden Festival were the SeeD Written Exam and Field Exam for students aged 17 and 18.Both the exams were held yearly during the mid-term and only 2 students would qualify as SeeDs among the others cadets.To every student,being a SeeD was indeed a great honour and pride.

Zell was dying to be a SeeD,though he knew his martial art skills weren't good enough.Irvine and Squall weren't that hard-up.Rinoa,on the other hand,didn't actually care about the exams.Squall noticed that she suddenly became less friendly to him,unlike before.He had practically given up the idea of finding out 'what's her problem' after she coldly put him off when he tried a little more interactions.

The Written Exam wasn't hard,and plenty of students passed with flying colours.It was the Field Exam that was challenging,and sometimes even dangerous.Real life monsters were used in the exam,and it was just your luck if you encounter a deadly monster.

All the cadets aged 17 were given a mission to eliminate some monsters which recently swarmed and attack Dollet City,somewhere in Galbadia.The 18-year-olds were to go to Lyle Town,a port-like place to the south of Galbadia,to finish off a few ferocious sea monsters.5 SeeDs would be accompanying them to give them a brief explanation of their jobs and to take over the mission if they fail.

The cadets were divided into teams of 5.Unfortunately,Squall,Zell,and Irvine weren't on the same team.Much to Quistis' disappointement and dismay,she and Seifer weren't together too,and much to Seifer's delight,Rinoa was on his team.

After a 15-minute-journey from Balamb Town to Dollet City,the junior cadets stepped out of their vessels.As soon as Squall got out,angry howls and roars of monsters reached his ears.He rested his eyes on the city,noting the amount of monsters roaming around.

Whoa....how are we gonna kill all of them?

"Attention,cadets," a SeeD,with a tag written Wane Diale beside his collar,said."Please group in your respective teams and assemble here at 1700 hours.This is the list of places that you will be stationed at.Team 1,Town Square.Team 2,roadway beside Moon Lake,Team 3,the park,Team 4...."

The list was clearly read.Squall's team,Team 7,was to scout around the roadways between the hospital and mayor's mansion.As the cadets moved out to their areas,he secretly made a quick note in his mind about Rinoa's location,the area around the Dollet Hotel.

Geez,like I'm gonna need that info...

** ** ** ** ** **

An hour passed.Squall executed his finishing blow on a Wendigo and wiped a bead of sweat above his eyebrow.He looked around and saw his team mates battling some other monsters with a little trouble but finally managing to finish them off.

"Anymore?" Squall asked a tall,dark haired guy named Leo.

"Don't know.We still have half an hour to go before 1700," answered Leo.

"I say we stay here for 20 minutes and then get back to the shore.10 minutes should be enough for us to do so," stated another guy,Dway.

"Sounds good to me," agreed Squall,and the others said the same.

"Hey,guys,we got company!" Leo suddenly said.An Armadodo appeared,roaring angrily.Squall calmly took out his gunblade and prepared for battle.There wasn't any difficulty at all,since it was 5 against 1.

"You're good," commented a spunky-looking guy with his hair all frizzled up.Squall recognised him as Trane Something-or-other.

"Thanks," he replied,feeling a little pleased.

"I bet you'll be a SeeD!" Dway stated enviously.

"Nah...there're more students out there better than me..." Squall answered.

Or think they are...like Seifer.... He added in his mind.

** ** ** ** ** **

"Is that all ya got?" Seifer sneered at a dying Geezard,his cocky expression on his face."Eat this!" He made a victorious slash at the monster,causing it to have a last roar as blood splashed out.Seifer grinned and smoothed back his hair modestly,knowing that his other 2 female team mates(with the exception of Rinoa) was staring at him in awe and admiration.

"Did you see that?He's so good!" whispered a girl to her friend.

"And handsome!" added the other.They started giggling.Rinoa,a few metres away from them,cast them a bored look and rolled her eyes.

"I think we better get going," Cyan,a calm looking guy with blonde hair,said,looking at his watch."We still have 10 minutes,and this place here is kinda far from the beach.We should leave now."

"Then let's go!" Seifer snapped,his voice full of spirit as he marched pass the Dollet Hotel.The pair of girls continued whispering and giggling.Cyan followed Seifer's tracks,leaving Rinoa without a word.She didn't mind at all.

In fact,that was exactly what she wanted...

"Geez,did you see that?" a girl said,glancing at Rinoa with a weird look.

"Yeah,what's wrong with her?" her friend whispered back.They walked off,still talking quietly.Rinoa narrowed her gaze as she followed behind them,keeping a good distance away.

What's their problem?Is it a crime to mind my own business?Why can't they ever--

"Ahhh!Wendigoes!!" cried one of the girls in fright as the one-eyed monsters stomped down loudly.

"Heh,some action!" Seifer immediately reloaded his gunblade and grinned,pointing his weapon at the monsters."Ya're dead!" He rushed forward and made a slash,wounding one of the Wendigoes.

"He's so braaaaaaave....." cooed the girls dreamily,earning another bored and you-can't-be-serious? look from Rinoa.

"Don't just stand there!Help us!" Cyan yelled at his female team mates.Rinoa turned to him,her cold eyes staring him down,and he gulped,returning to his battle as if nothing happened at all.

It took quite some time to clear the monsters out.Wendigoes were always very irritating,especially when they squashed you into a ball and tried to play basketball with you.After what seemed like a century,they finally dropped onto the ground,dead.

"Eeeek!!We have to hurry!!It's already 1700!" screamed a girl.Her friend and Cyan were alarmed and quickly ran off,Seifer trailing behind.Rinoa stared after them for a while before picking her pace.Although she was quite far away from them,she just took her time,partly because she didn't care about that stupid exam,and partly because she had trains and trains of thoughts in her head.

Her eyes looked in front,but her brain didn't register what she saw at all.She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't notice something moving silently behind her,sharp claws ready and gleaming,evil eyes staring at her menacingly.

As she passed a row of closed shops and saw the reflection on the glass,only then did she realise that a Grand Mantis was directly behind her,one of its sharp spikey claws raised in preparation to attack.

Oh my God... She spun round just in time to feel the claw slashing through her uniform and slicing her skin,evoking a shocked cry from her throat.A sharp pain shot through her nerves as blood dripped out of the deep wound.She staggered back,clutching her abdomen,coating her pale hand with the red liquid of her blood.The Grand Mantis raised its head and gave a high-pitched roar.

Run... was the first thought in her mind.She commanded her legs to stand up and took to her heels immediately,trying to ignore the agonizing pain from her wound.Roaring again,the Grand Mantis went after her,its four sharp legs making deep holes on the road.

Rinoa ran as fast as she could.Although her mind was screaming at her to fight,she knew she couldn't.Fighting wasn't one of her specialties.She hated it.

Oblivious to where she was going,she found herself in an alleyway...with a...

Oh no...

....with a dead end...

Frustrated and alarmed,she faced the Grand Mantis,slowly taking steps back.Its eyes glowed down to her and it made a low,hissing noise.Its claws were dangerously poking deep into the ground.

Then it raised a spikey claw and--

Oh God!

--and a blade slashed through its body,cutting it into half.Green liquid poured out in gallons as the monsters high-pitched cry rang in the air.

Relief striking her,Rinoa fell back,her legs suddenly weak.Her hazel eyes moved up to see her rescuer.

"Ain't gonna thank me,Ms.Heartilly?" smirked Seifer with a grin.He kicked the dead monster aside and approached her slowly.She simply stared at him,breathing fast.

"My,my,don't you look ravishing...." The sly smile on his face told her that he was up to no good.He calmly placed his gunblade down and slid off his grey coat.

Oh my God,no! Her eyes widened in horror when she realised what he intended to do.That smile was still on his lips as his hands moved down and unbuckled his belt.She backed away quickly,a familiar feeling within her.

"Aww,come on.You know you want this...it's just a 'lil fun..." Seifer laughed and then reached out for her.She wanted to scream,but her throat was dry.Her brain ordered her to struggle....to stand up and run away...but her whole body was numb..

God,please...NO! She squeezed her eyes shut just as his cold hands touched her.Tears of shock and fright rolled down her cheeks.

Please...someone....

** ** ** ** ** **

Squall raised his head to his right as his ears caught the sound of a high-pitched scream.It was from somewhere around the local restaurant....or maybe around the Dollet Hotel..

Wait....Dollet Hotel?! His eyes widened.Rinoa... Turning to Dway and his other team mate in front,he called out,"Hey,guys!I'll catch up with you later!"

"But,Squall!We're already late!" Leo protested.

"I'll just take a few minutes!Go on without me!" Squall replied and ran towards the place he'd heard the scream.Behind him,he heard his team mates taking off for the beach.His eyes searched around carefully,his feet still taking huge steps.

As he approached the inn,he heard the sound of someone crying and sobbing...then the voice of someone familiar.

"I know you'll like it rough,huh?Heh,just what I wanted..."

Seifer!! Wasting no second,Squall ran to a nearby alleyway and stopped for a while when he saw the thrown grey coat and belt on the ground.Seifer was bending onto somebody struggling with difficulty.

Squall immediately knew what he was trying to do.Anger swarmed his body as he rushed to Seifer and took hold of his shoulders,swinging him away from the victim.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Squall yelled,his grip on his gunblade ready and standing in front of the girl who he'd recognised as Rinoa.Seifer,sprawled on the ground,quickly got up and grabbed his own weapon.A smirk lay on his face.

"Ya just gotta spoil the fun,huh,Squall?" he said."That's too bad...'cause if ya didn't,I might have given you your share...."

"You're gonna pay for what you did.When Headmaster Cid finds out,you're dead..." Squall growled.

"Nah...I don't think so...'cause he won't know!" With that,without a warning,Seifer brought his gunblade down at Squall.The latter was ready for that and immediately shield the attack off.

In just a few seconds' time,a fierce battle began between the two.Squall knew that it was against the exam rules to fight with the other cadets,but he also knew that Seifer would never let a chance to have a duel with him slip away from his hands.

"Rusty,aren't you?That all you got?" Seifer sneered.Squall gritted his teeth and slashed at him.Both of them were excellent fighters and it wasn't easy to injure each other.

Until...

"Hey,Squall,eat this!!" Seifer lowered his gunblade and held his other hand out at Squall,who grew alarmed when he realised what his opponent was planning to do.

Magic?!But...the cadets aren't allowed to use or junction magic to themselves during the exam!Seifer must have cheated...damn him...

A ball of fire grew from Seifer's hand.Before Squall had time to dodge,Seifer fired the fireball at him,causing him to knock against the bricked wall by the impact.His skin was scalded,but luckily,his uniform had long sleeves.When he looked up,he saw Seifer's gunblade already coming down to him.

Uh-oh...

Squall felt the blade hitting the skin between his eyes,causing his head to be thrown to the other side.The pain was sharp and sudden.His vision was filled with red....his blood...and even the ground had a puddle of it...

He suddenly felt dizzy,but the growing and blazing anger in his heart made him stand up,grab his gunblade,and return the blow to the laughing Seifer,catching the same place between his eyes.His rival gave a cry of pain and stumbled down onto the ground,unconscious.

Pressing his hand on the wall for support,Squall leaned against it for a moment to gain his stability.Then he turned to Rinoa,who was clutching a bloodied wound at her abdomen.He advanced to her slowly,trying to stand the dizziness in his head.

"Are you....alright?" he asked in concern,kneeling down.He shut his eyes to conquer the thudding in his head.He felt something soft touching the cut on his skin lightly,and when he opened his eyes,he saw that it was Rinoa's hand.Her brown eyes weren't the old cold ones anymore.They were filled with emotions of all kinds,but he was too dizzy to realise that at that moment.

"Squall...." she voiced his name for the first time before her head fell limp against his shoulder.Summoning all his strength,he gently slid his arms around her and carried her up,leaving the fainted Seifer on the ground.

He didn't know how long he walked.One moment,he was at the alleyway,and the next,he was already at the beach.He saw Zell,Irvine,and the 5 SeeDs waiting impatiently for him.Zell and Irvine gasped when they saw his situation and rushed to help him at once.

"God!What happened,man?!" Zell cried.

"She's wounded.Get her into the vessel now," ordered Wane to another SeeD,who took Rinoa from Squall's arms.Irvine and Zell supported him at once,dragging him to the vessel.

"Wait...Seifer....alleyway..inn..." With those last words,Squall collapsed.

Awwwwwwww,how was it?!?!!?!?!Plz review!!!!