*Author's Notes* Woah.as of now I officially declare "Laguna chan" to be my favorite person in the world! Lol.that was a freaking long review! And you have no idea how much it meant to me that somebody appreciates my stories so much.personally I think they're crap but that's cause I've been part of fanfiction.net for over a year and have therefore been overshadowed by the TRUE great writers of final fantasy fanfiction. Check out my 'favorites' on my bio page some day.I have all the best of the best on my list including Dark Raion, Ashbear, Wayward Tempest and many many more (these are just a few of the classic ff8 authors here.all my favs are bout Squall and Rinoa by the way). But because this note is becoming REALLY long I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all reviewers! After ignoring this fic for so long I was reminded of how much I loved it when I received all those nice messages from people. And thus I decided to continue.hopefully a little more quickly this time. Enjoy!

~*Chapter 11*~

Breathe.Just Breathe

*Common sense is not so common.* -Anonymous

The journey up to Cid's office couldn't have been short enough in Squall's opinion. Now that the first phase of his plan was done (the part where he showed his love for Rinoa and disowned SeeD) he was more than anxious to get the rest of it over with before he lost his nerve. Cid had a habit of trying to brainwash people.but he would not succeed tonight. Not if the ex-commander had any strength left in him yet.

*5 minutes* he vowed to himself as he cautiously stepped over the threshold and, once again, entered the overwhelming office of the headmaster, who held the door for him. He had never seen this part of Garden during night hours.and somehow it seemed more tranquil and serene than the last time he had visited. He guessed it was the blinding light from behind Cid's chair that made he look so God-like during the day. But here, in the twilight, he appeared to be nothing more intimidating than a fragile, elderly man. Once the door was closed behind them, Cid made his way to his large desk and for the first time, Squall noticed details in the headmaster's composure that he had never before given thought to.

His limbs, that had once been muscular in his soldier years, were now bony and thin. His skin was loose and was beginning to gather around his eyes and his chin. His once mighty strides were but careful limping motions now. He even needed the support of the desk in order to be able to safely lower himself into his infamous, gigantic leather chair.

Though it had seemed impossible not too long ago, Cid Kramer seemed sickly, weak and, quite frankly.he seemed old.

Pity almost overthrew Squall then and there before he even had a chance to sit down. This man.this great leader had spent his whole life on one single purpose: to defend the known world from the threat of the sorceress. And what had his quest given him? Nothing but years of loneliness due to the loss of his wife, regret, anger, fear and yes.maybe a bit of recognition when he finally did conquer ONE sorceress.but then there was always another. And the cycle repeated itself.

Cid was fighting a lost cause. And it was clear that he had intended Squall Leonhart of all people to continue in his place after the years took him. He had put all his hope in that young man.everything he had worked for was at risk due to the actions of the same person he had trusted the most. And though Squall knew perfectly well that he never asked for this responsibility, and he was still entitled to his own life and his own decisions.the legitimate excuses did nothing to help bear to guilt.

How Garden would suffer after he and Rinoa were gone.

How Cid personally would suffer.

The man had practically raised him.

Desperate not to appear as shaken as he actually felt, Squall attempted to casually sit down on one of the chairs in front of the large mahogany desk, but his nervousness became obvious as he missed his mark and fell quite loudly on the hard wood floor, bringing the chair down with him with a booming crash. Cid chuckled from above. A somewhat forced, throaty laugh that sounded almost painful as it was interrupted now and then by hacking coughs.

How come he had never noticed this before?

Cid was old.he was sick.he needed all the help he could get with Garden.

*What am I doing?* Squall thought as he quickly pulled himself up and started to re-arrange to furniture to its original settings. *I can't leave now.He needs me.I must..*

"Don't." His thoughts were interrupted as the headmaster raised his hand to signal his commander to stop thinking. He coughed again a little into his palm and waited for him to sit down again before continuing. "I beg of you." he pleaded in a small yet authoritative voice "whatever comes out of this conversation.please don't feel sorry for me."

"I didn't say."

"You didn't have to say anything Squall. You were thinking it.I know." He allowed himself a small sigh and shook his head in disbelief. There was no getting past Cid.that much was obvious. It was weird how well the man knew him. Almost as much as Rinoa did but not quite. Though now frail, he still refused to be pitied.and Squall was eternally grateful for that. It meant that whatever this conversation may lead too, it would be open and honest. No falsehoods would be shared in an attempt to convince one opinion better than the other. For guilt was an easy emotion to prey on.and surely, if Cid had not been the honorable man that he was, his condition would surely have people eating out of his hand.

"I'm old Squall." Cid began finally after a few moments of silence. Five minutes had surely passed by the time they began talking, but neither of them was counting anymore. "You probably know that I was hoping you'd fill in for me someday.someday soon in fact when I'd no longer be around."

Squall nodded reluctantly and avoided his eyes "I guessed sir."

"But that's not the reason I brought you here my boy.that's far from the reason. I had great plans for you but none of them matter when it comes to the grand scheme of things.when it comes to the well being of the entire world, personal desires seem insignificant don't they?"

"Rinoa is not dangerous sir!" he yelled, in a voice much louder than he had intended. Well beyond the tone of civilized conversation in fact. Yet if one thing angered him about the headmaster, it was the way he always beat around the bush. Forcing his adversary to bring up painful subjects first. But tonight he had no time for mind games. The clock had re-entered his mind and he had the girl of his dreams simply waiting for him upstairs.after a whole year, he didn't expect her to wait much longer. "I have resigned SeeD so there is no more need for your worrying about her 'influence' over me. You no longer have any other reason to keep her here other than your selfish need to prove yourself to the world! To be the man who holds the keys to the jail of the most powerful threat!"

"Squall." Cid said in a dangerous tone, very close to crossing the line himself in anger of these false accusations. "Are you implying that I want to keep her here like a prisoner simply for publicity?"

"You tell me? How much does the world council pay you for keeping the sorceress out of their way?"

"." Cid remained silent for a while after that outburst, and for a few tense moments, Squall actually believed that he had dug up the truth at last. But Cid seemed unmoved by the allegation. He casually removed his glasses and began cleaning them with the fabric of his vest, as was his habit, while he left the foolish youngster to ponder his words.

And ponder he did.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Squall stared at the headmaster and attempted to see things from his perspective. Cid was simply doing what he thought was best. It had nothing to do with money or power, he had always known that, and yet that begged the question: What was the point of all this arguing?

"I'm sorry" Squall said at last with a sigh, as he stood up briskly from his chair and walk toward the back wall of the office. Gently, he leaned his head upon the cool glass and blankly stared out into the dark, bland fields of Balamb.

How many times had he stared out onto this same scene? Every night it seemed since he came to Garden. And never before had the boring plains of the outside world seemed so tempting and beautiful. Quickly glancing up towards the heavens Squall waiting patiently for some sort of inspiration to come to correct this rather cruel mistake, for as he already insulted Cid enough with his resignation, he still didn't want to leave Garden on a sour note.

Then, as if on cue, a single star streaked across the sky and, allowing himself a secret smile, his determination immediately returned.

"You've told me countless thousands of times that 'Rinoa is going to turn on you', and 'Rinoa is being searched for to be used as a tool of war' and, the most common, 'Rinoa will be your doom'." he paused to take a breath, carefully backing away from the glass as though afraid he may fall through it. "And yet, I somehow can't seem to care." Finding strength in his own words, he turned back to face the headmaster who sat patiently, simply listening. Squall took his silence as hint to continue his case.

"There is no doubt that not too long ago I would have jumped off a cliff if you, or any superior officer, asked me too. But, and this goes without saying, I've changed since then. SHE changed me. She taught me that there's more to life than always doing what other people order you to do without question. And so, the point of my saying all this is that." he stopped again, desperately scanning the area, hoping to find the words he was looking for. Luckily, Cid found them for him.

"You want proof," he said, while drumming his fingers on his arm rest. "You're starting to question things more and more and you have no reason, no experience at all that suggests that every horrible thing I've said will happen, will actually happen. Am I correct?"

Squall nodded curtly. His reasons for disobeying Cid were not exactly far fetched. What sane man would simply give up on the love of his life without any evidence whatsoever that she was in fact dangerous?

"I see." He looked about him for a while, tapping his fingers together as if in boredom as the SeeD waited for any sign that the conversation was indeed over. Finally, as if suddenly remembering, Cid's fingers ceased their drumming and he quickly turned his chair and typed a complicated number combination into the keypad on his desk. Instantly a hidden drawer popped up from the floor next to his right leg and before Squall had a chance to question, he continued.

"What if you did have proof Squall? If I presented to you authentic justification that Rinoa was indeed IN danger if not A danger.what would you do?"

He remained silent for a moment. He didn't like where this conversation was heading too. * Why is he speaking so confidently? * Squall thought, suddenly nervous. *What is in that hidden drawer? There's no way he has solid evidence that Rinoa would turn evil. History is theory, not evidence. Why haven't I walked out yet?*

"If Rinoa was in danger, I would to what is necessary to save her." He responded smoothly, though his heart rate had increased significantly since the appearance of the secret compartment.

"You would do anything for her. wouldn't you?"

"Anything." This was a question he could easily answer. "I would die for her."

This was a promise.

Cid smiled "I do not doubt that my boy. I never doubted how special she is to you. Hyne knows it would take nothing less than a machine gun to your head for anyone else to get you to dance." He both chuckled lightly, but then stopped abruptly as he cautiously reached into the drawer and pulled out a damaged and dirty manila envelope.

Though Squall had no idea why, but the sight of it made him shudder. For he knew, he didn't know how or why but he knew, that the contents of that envelope would change his life forever.

"These arrived a few hours ago." He pulled out a small pile of paper from the envelope, some of it documents and some of it pictures. He flipped through it casually, not giving Squall any hint that he should see them yet. "I didn't tell you this, but there is a plausible reason behind every 'crazy' theory I have fed you about Rinoa. Most of them based on history of past sorceress...but I think we both agree that history cannot be taken seriously in this case. Though I don't like the idea of there being of large CHANCE that she will turn, I would not insist on you being apart if I wasn't sure. You know that right?"

Squall made no move, but kept his eyes glued to the papers held in the headmaster's hands. Cid noticed this and continued more quickly.

"I've had a spy down in Galbadia for a while, since the war in fact just in case they decided to be idiots and start something up again like they did during the last sorceress war." Cautiously, he handed the pile to Squall, his hands shook uncontrollable as he did so and the ex-commander was reluctant to take them, but his curiosity overcame his fear and soon he was flipping through them. "Seems instead of realizing how stupid the whole thing was, Galbadia has decided that during that war was the peak of their supremacy.a peak that was most beneficial to the entire population and which they would kill to reign again."

But Squall wasn't listening, he was to busy fitfully scanning the pages in his hands. There were pictures.

Pictures of shrines built around Deling city to Edea.

Pictures of citizens cheering as they watched the Garden world peace center burn to the ground.

Pictures of armies that outnumbered SeeDs worldwide 10 to 1.

Pictures of General Carraway standing at a podium, hosting a pep rally with millions of citizens chanting his name as he held up a pile of paper. His official war declaration.

And finally, the document itself. Phrases were highlighted here and there as he went through it.

*I, general caraway, the epitome of Galbadia and all it stands for, declare..*

*SeeD has become our dictator.its so called "peace project" is no more than oppression to our people.*

*We have the right to expand and become as strong as we once were without these ridiculous constraints disallowing us to better ourselves.*

*We can be strong again, we can be like we once were.*

*All we need is a leader. Someone who can lead us back into the light.*

*We need another Edea.*

*We need the sorceress.and I, General Fury Carraway, will deliver her to you*

*I promise.Rinoa Heartilly will be ours within the week*

His hands were shaking by the time he finished reading. With a gasp his fingers grew limp and the entire pile fell to the floor with an echoing thud.

The silence was deafening.

"I've had my suspicions for a while. But I refused to act until I was certain that Galbadia would first.Nida called last night. He confirmed that Carraway has mobilized his army. That means." he trailed off while lowering his gaze to his hands, knowing very well that Squall knew what he meant, though neither of them wanted to give it words. Not yet.

"A lot of people died to get us this information. I'm telling you this not to inflict guilt. Only to justify how serious this situation is. And also, perhaps, to explain why I have been so hard on you in situations regarding her."

When he finally gathered the courage to face Leonhart, he found him neither shocked nor sad. He stared out through the glass wall, as if simply enjoying the view with an air of indifference.

Eerie indifference.

"Squall?" he asked, cautiously standing up from his chair and approaching him. "Are you alright?" He was careful to keep his distance yet appearing not so, just in case the revelation was too much. His silence was more disturbing than his arguing.it confirmed Cid's fear that something had definitely snapped in the youngster's mind.

He just continued to stare out into the wilderness. Maybe he was expecting the Galabadian army to march over the hills with more soldiers than he could count. Or maybe he was waiting for the missiles to comes flying over the horizon like they did last time. Either way, he was patiently waiting for doom in any form to stare him in the face and consume him.

"I'm sorr."

"Don't say it." Squall interrupted, speaking at last with a dead, tight voice. "Don't you dare say you're sorry for me." He turned to face him and Cid couldn't help but notice his eyes shining with unspent tears, and his heart went out to him then. Squall hadn't cried since he was 6 years old when his sister left him. Every time something as shocking and heart wrenching as this had happened to him, no matter how much his heart urged to let go he would always find some corner to hide in until the feeling passed. Not once in 14 years had anyone seen Squall Leonhart shed an actual tear. And even now, when he was faced with his worst trial yet, not even now would he let the physical effects of emotion gain control.

"It's alright though..." he wiped his eyes with his sleeve, the fabric quickly absorbing the few traces of tears that had begun too pool. Why was he so concerned? So what if Carraway was after Rinoa. That just meant that their leaving together would be even more convenient. "I'll take Rinoa away. Away where neither you nor Galbadia could ever find us."

But Cid shook his head sadly. "That won't work Squall. We have arranged."

"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK WHAT YOU'VE ARRANGED!" he screamed, as he kicked the glass wall so hard that it cracked and splintered. Cid didn't flinch, even as the screeching wind suddenly filled their ears as small shards fell into the courtyard hundreds of feet below them. He leaned his head against the glass again, as if it were the only thing that could give him comfort in the room.

"Rinoa will leave with me. We'll leave Garden and we won't have to hear about war or Galbadia or Garden or anything!"

"And you think that'll solve all your problems Squall? You think that if you run you could just forget about us and let Galbadia blow us all up! You've seen what their capable of. Even without the sorceress, it'll just delay the inevitable victory."

"Then what do you expect us to do?" he snapped back "stay here so that they can just take her when they arrive?!"

"Of course not! There's no doubt that she has to leave. If you would just listen."

"Good, then that's settled." He strode towards the door with every intention of running through it and never turning back but Cid beat him to it and blocked the entrance. "Don't make me kill you Cid."

The glint in his eyes told the headmaster that he was serious.

"I would have thought you were smarter than that Squall. I would have thought you were braver. Is this what you plan to do for the rest of your life when the going gets tough? If, Hyne forbid, Rinoa does inherit the lust for power that ALL sorceresses to date have, will you just walk out and let her wreak havoc!?"

"I will stay by her side.no matter what." Was his simple and honest reply.

"I believe you would Squall. And don't you see that that is precisely the problem! Do you honestly believe that your destiny is too become someone's puppet for the rest of your life?"

"Rinoa is different!"

"Rinoa is, yes.but the sorceress isn't." he looked Squall in the eyes after saying this, seeing nothing but hate and fury, but searching for realization. "Please understand my boy, for both her safety and that of the world. She has to go someplace safe, with someone who knows how to handle her. And, where not even you know of her whereabouts."

Squall was silent for while after. Neither angry nor understanding.simply thoughtful. To him it didn't make sense. If Rinoa had to leave why shouldn't he be the one to go with her? They needed someone would could "handle" her.well who else could do so better than the one person she trusted most?

"You think to yourself too much" Cid said, sensing the millions of questions forming in his mind, left unexpressed. Again, the SeeD had to work hard to suppress his violent urges.

"You want to hear what I think? I think you're crazy. I think you're an arrogant pessimist who only sees things getting worse and not better and is determined to make my life miserable. How is the world supposed to better itself with people like you in charge?" Even as he said it, he knew that wasn't what he thought at all. Cid was a great leader. Because of his worldwide Gardens, Earth had advanced more than people once thought possible. With the era of peace, the borders between all countries had once again opened and Esthar gladly shared its infinite technological knowledge with scientist throughout the globe.

"Squall" he stepped away from the door, giving him an escape route knowing he wouldn't be a coward and run. As expected, he stood his ground. "We've had this discussion before. And I know you care for her, but you must understand that I want no one to repeat my mistakes. You could both live in isolation for the rest of your lives until someone finally discovers you or until Rinoa gets a will of her own and realizes she wants more out of life and she'll begin to use her powers to stop anyone who gets in her way." Squall opened his mouth to counter but Cid kept on talking. "You said that you'd stay with her too the end.you would kill for her if she was in danger but would you be able to kill innocent people just because she asked? You think you'd actually be happy if you went around destroying the world with her!? I don't know about you, but that was one thing I couldn't bring my self to do no matter how much I loved my wife.the thing is." he took a deep shaky breath, his emotion in this conversation was obvious "By the time she was suggesting this evil, it was no longer my wife. It was a creature from the underworld. I saw it grow in her gradually, until I couldn't see Edea anymore, only evil and hate and a chilling lust for power that over threw her body. I know this will happen to Rinoa eventually, Carraway obviously predicts it to happen soon, the whole world is anxiously keeping on their toes awaiting another war. If EVERYONE sees it why can't you try to think reasonably for one second and see it yourself? Ignorance will only keep you happy for so long."

*Breathe.Just Breathe* Squall had to remind himself. He didn't know how long he stood there taking it all in. He wasn't sure what he wanted, or what was best. For this moment on he wasn't sure of anything anymore.

Cid had many qualities.and none of them were along the lines of betrayal or mind distortion.

And Squall knew he was right.

He was always right.and he hated him for it.

Though, inside, his heart was clenching painfully and it took all his concentration simply to remember to fill his lungs with air, Squall gave into reason. And said what his mind was screaming at him to say. His heart was too pained to have an opinion.

"I understand" his face held no sign that this conversation had affected him in any way whatsoever. His features were unwavering and solid. "What do you want me to do?"

Cid, through all his pains, somehow smiled.

There was still hope.

~*~

Quistis had only realized a minute after Seifer had pulled her out of the room that maybe going with him was not such a good idea after all. This man was tried and convicted of treason and murder. Why would he come here of all places once he got out? Was his sentence shortened? Or did he escape?

Garden was the lions den.why go through all the trouble unless it was to inflict some horrible, gruesome revenge on every one of the rank 'A' SeeD members who had robbed him of his romantic dream and turned it into nothing more than a children's fantasy? He must have been pretty pissed after Ultimecia was defeated. He would either hold her ransom for some insane price, or kidnapped them all one by one so that he could torture them to death all together.

Quistis shuddered at the thought, but if Seifer noticed he didn't show it. She had quickly grown too tired of running and he now held her by the shoulders from behind. Strangely though, he was not heading in the direction for escape. Once they arrived at the intersection he turned left toward the elevators, instead of right towards the front gate.

*Maybe he's going to throw me off one of the second floor balconies* she guessed, daring to glance back over her shoulder to see his face. He didn't look at her as he reached over and swiped an 'all access' SeeD card through the keypad and punched in the code to bring the elevator to the 4rd floor.

He was taller than she remembered, broader too. Then again it may just be the fact that she had never been this close to him before. In a military academy, teachers didn't exactly hug their students after class. He was also pretty well dressed for an escaped convict. The navy blue SeeD officer uniform he wore was pressed and fit him well. He was clean-shaven and his hair, though a little longer than his old buzz cut, was clean and smelled distinctly like oranges as he leaned over.

"Wow" she couldn't help but think as she stared at him both shocked and amazed. He cleaned up well, VERY well in fact. And for a moment she forgot that he was impersonating a member of security in order to kidnap her. She was so lost in surprise and drunkenness that she hadn't realized her exclamation was said out loud.

"I'm glad you approve instructor." He said slyly "you're not too bad yourself." He gave her one of his infamous grins that made her feel weak in the knees.*I'm just scared* she coaxed herself to explain her body's natural reaction to his smile. And yet, deep down, for some reason she wasn't afraid at all. He held her firmly, but not enough to prove aggressiveness. And he hasn't said or done anything to imply dishonorable intentions. But that just begged the question: what was he going to do to her, if he was being so gentle now?

Before her slowed mind could come up with the words, the bell sounded stating their arrival to the restricted high-ranking SeeD dorms. How did he get up here? Where did he get that card? Where did he get the code?

Carefully, so as to make sure she didn't stumble and fall, Seifer led her down the hall with one arm around he waist for support and the other one handedly typing into a small handheld computer.

"Trepe, Quistis" he said to the machine, and it automatically responded *436*. Her room number she realized. How did he get a directory? That information was securely restricted to SeeDs only.

This time, she couldn't help but ask even if she was scared to death. "How did you get that? You shhhouldn't have that!" she pointed at the small computer that held all the information on every student and administrator in Balamb Garden. It would be a dangerous tool if it ever got into the wrong hands. For student listing weren't public knowledge for safety reasons. If a team of SeeDs defeated a terrorist group, Cid didn't want to make it that easy for revenge on family members or other such cruel things.

"It was a birthday present" was Seifer's simply reply. He always did have an annoying habit of answering questions, no matter how serious, with the first stupid response that came to mind. She remembered all too well correcting his tests.some of his answers were the funniest things she had every read in her life. They were honest. He didn't memorize from textbooks like Squall and many other great students had. He had given his opinion on even the most straightforward definitions.

*Question #3

Name and Define every training center monster you have encountered in today's exercise:

Grat: Weed looking plant thing that puts me to sleep from both it gas and from fighting it.

and

T-Rexaur: a HUGE (literally) pain in the ass.

Ps: Balamb Garden isn't too big on variety is it?*

Quistis laughed to her self while remembering this, forgetting for a second what danger she was in. One things for sure, there was never a dull moment when she taught Seifer. Back in the days when she actually enjoyed teaching.

Before she knew it, they had arrived at her room, and just as quickly her apprehension returned. She suddenly grew limp as he used his all access card to open the door and then, with the last ounce of strength she had, Quistis tried to run for it.

As expected, he was much too fast for her, and she didn't move five steps when she felt him grab her from behind and easily lift her up in his arm. She tried to flail, to bite, to scream, anything to get help fast. But she knew it was no use. She was tired, and everybody was still at the ball. No one was even on this floor at this time.

It was hopeless to resist.

"This'll be much easier if you cooperate" Seifer whispered in her ear, as he carried her into the room and kicked the door closed behind him.

~*~

*Author's Note* I'm tired.and this chapter I just realized has no flow since I wrote it over the period of two weeks randomly adding bits here and there. I have no school today, and this also happens to be the day my dad decides to start construction on the house at 7 in the morning! UG! Note to self: either kill my father or move out. (*sigh*) anyway, I'm pretty sure this chapter was as tedious for me as it was for you. FINALLY I get to write the good stuff that I've been dying to get to since I started this fic! Stayed tuned for next chapter! Cause here's where things get interesting.

Ps: I'm contemplating putting a "soft core" lemon scene (Squinoa of course). I dunno though. Tell me what you think? Would it ruin the fics 'innocence' or give it the 'spice' it lacks? I'm basing my decision on reviews so, and this goes without saying, REVIEW!