Hiashi: Lemon? Of course! There's a reason why this is rated 'R'. And
since the NC-17 ban, I guess R is a sufficient rating for any lemon. But
out of curiosity, how 'lemony' do you readers out there want it?
Infatuation of the Rose... I'm not currently working on it, since I've been
devoting my time to this, and a few other side projects, but it will
continue eventually.
Dark Tsuki: A collaboration, huh? Certainly an interesting idea. Right now, I'm co-authoring another Squinoa story (or I will be as soon as I get my shit together and start writing my part). But it's definately something I'll consider. I'll have to see where time leads me.
Attention everyone: Well, I've started up this idea with my friend author Julia Minuit, about interveiwing FF.net's authors, getting their back stories, inspirations, and such. Problem is, we need 2 people, one well known, well established author who's willing to do this, and one up-and- coming author who wants to do this. If you're interested, let me know in review or e-mail, and Julia and I will make a desicion.
Chapter 10
The train ride to Timber seemed endless, even if it was only a few hours. There was nothing for them to do but sit and talk, or at least for Rinoa to talk. For the first time in his history, Squall Leonart actually listened to someone tell about their life, and he found himself hanging on every word. There was more to this dark-haired beauty then most people knew, he realized, and he was quickly becoming fascinated by it. Still, words could only go so far, and eventually silence over took them, and Rinoa fell asleep in her chair. Squall intended to stare out the window, and watch the scenery that flew past, but he once again found his eyes drawn to her, happy that he could just sit and watch her without her ever knowing.
His mind returned to the moment that occured only an hour or so before. The echo of her voice, as she swore her trust in him, was something he would never get tired of hearing. Thoughts of her would always envoke in him an overwhelming feeling, an overpowering emotion that he dared not to name. He had admitted that he cared for her, and trusted her, but he refused to acknowledge the more powerful feelings that he felt deep within him.
As Squall sat and watched the peaceful sleeper, a terrible shriek rose from the tracks beneath them, and the train gave a shudder, before coming to a complete stop.
Rinoa's eyes fluttered open at this, and she asked in a sleepy voice, "Are we there yet?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Something's wrong, apparently."
This woke her up pretty quickly. "We've stopped? But why?"
He shrugged, having no answers for her. They weren't the only people who were confused. The other people seated in the train car were whispering loudly amougst themselves, looking around, and panicking.
"You don't think Seifer's here do you?" Rinoa asked.
"Somehow, I don't think it's him. I have this feeling, though.... it's someone we should definately avoid. Come on," Squall said, standing up. "Let's get out here."
"What?! We can't. What about Timber?"
"Forget Timber," he replied. "We've got to go. Something's not right-"
Squall was interrupted as the door to the car slid open, revealing a tall figure outlined in shadows. He wore a wide-brimmed hat that hid his eyes, and had dark hair spilling over his shoulders. Nothing more could be seen of him through the darkness, no matter how hard Squall squinted at him.
"Leaving so soon?" the man asked of Squall, who still stood in the middle of the aisle. "Things are just getting started here. I've been searching for you for a long time."
"Why?" was all Squall could manage to say, while Rinoa still sat beside him, more confused than ever.
"My little secret," he replied. "Some things are yet to be revealed. If you had just listened to Seifer when you had the chance, none of this would have happened. A little too late, though, don't you think? He's lost what little bit of his mind he had left, and you've been given the same job to do for at least a few centuries, or until you lose your mind, too. Whatever comes first. Maybe I should take care of it for you?"
"Who are you? Why won't you leave me alone?" Squall demanded.
"You'll find out soon enough," was all he would say. "Now, I was thinking... it's been awhile since you've known mortality, right? Maybe I could help you. You don't want all of this, this responsibility. I can take it away from you."
"No deal," Squall replied. "I don't abandon my duties."
"You'll be sorry you made that desicion, Squall," he said, before turning to exit the room. "I will make your immortality your curse. When everything else around you dies, you will be the only thing left standing... all alone," he said over his shoulder. "Mark my words, Leonhart. Seifer's not your biggest problem anymore."
Squall started to follow after him, but Rinoa grabbed onto his arm, pulling him back. "No, Squall. Now's not the time. We need to leave. I think something bad's gonna happen."
Squall sighed, but helped her out of her seat. "Fine, let's go."
The two stepped out the back and jumped down off the train, taking care to distance themselves from the track before they started walking, hoping to make it to Timber before Seifer did.
"Who was that, Squall?" Rinoa asked, shoving her hands in her pocket in an attempt to warm them in the cool night air.
Squall took off his coat and tossed it to her. "I'm not exactly sure. But I guess Seifer was right when he said it was no accident. Someone's been after us both, but now what does he want?"
Rinoa slipped the jacket over her, but asked, "Won't you get cold?" After he shook his head, she continued, saying, "What happened exactly? I still don't understand a lot of this."
"Seifer was the other boy in that accident. He was injured as well, in several ways. Seifer and I had been rivals for years before that, but after the accident, it died down a bit. We were both in the same boat, after all. But after all the hell he put me through, I didn't want anything to do with him. We went our seprate ways shortly after getting out of the hospital and I moved to Dollet when I turned seventeen. He followed me there, though. He was suddenly convinced that the accident was actually deliberate, and that our lives were still in danger. He wanted me to help him, but I refused. I didn't believe it. I just wanted to move on with my life and forget about the past as best as I could. He went from place to place, gathering clues and evidence and such, against someone. He kept trying to get me in on it, to tell me. I didn't listen. Then, both of us were killed by the same person that arranged the accident. Both of us were murdered in Deling, on the same night."
"But why? Why would anyone want to hurt the two of you. You were just kids," Rinoa pointed out.
He shrugged. "Who knows. This is all so messed up..."
Before another word could be spoken, a loud explosion rocked the ground, the sky lighting up with brilliant red flame behind them. Squall closed his eyes and turned away from the sight. He could almost hear the victim's souls screaming now, but it was no longer his problem. He had been temorarily replaced in that department.
"I knew something was going to happen," Rinoa whispered, subconciously standing closer to Squall.
He hesitantly put an arm around her in comfort, and silently willed her to continue walking and not look back. "There's nothing we can do for them. Let's just keep going, okay?"
She nodded, frowning, but asked, "He offered to take all your responsibilities off your shoulders. But you refused. I know you said it was your duty, or whatever, but... is that the only reason?"
"Maybe," he answered cryptically. "Maybe not."
"Well, though I doubt you will, I need you to promise me something," she began, taking a deep breath. "....Don't ever bail out on me. I know you won't, but.... I have to do this, it's up to me. So I need you to stay with me, and help me.... I don't think anyone else can."
He was silent for a long moment, kicking at rocks that sat in his way as he thought of all the times he swore to himself he would never allow anyone to depend on him. But, in a lot of ways, he was already depending on her. "I promise," he answered finally. "I'll stay with you."
She smiled to herself, then said, "Why can't human guys be like you?"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure your future husband will be just fine," he said, then suddenly wished he hadn't. He didn't like the idea of her with another man in the least.
"Is there such a thing is marriage once you reach the afterlife?" she asked. "I mean, do you get to be with the one you love?"
"If the one you love is dead also," he replied.
"I see," she answered quietly, her mind churning with thought. It hadn't occured to her until now that she really couldn't see herself with anyone other than the brooding reaper that walked next to her.
Suddenly, Squall came to a stop, staring ahead, and said, "Do you know where we're going?"
"I thought you did," Rinoa pointed out, then realized that the train tracks had forked a while back, and that they had probably gone the wrong way, unconciously. "Shit! Are we lost now?"
"I see a town ahead," Squall replied, beginning to walk again. "I just don't know what we're in for once we get there.
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The town they arrived out was large, but not very crowded. It rested next to a busy harbor, and half of the town was actually built over the water. There was only one road leading into the town, which went to prove that it was a rarely visited place. The road lead straight into the heart of the town, which was nothing more than a cluster of old shops and apartment houses sitting amoungst dusty concrete and dirt paths. Children chased each other around the building barefoot, while a few adults shopped for food, or spoke with their neighbors. Surrounding the most urban section of the town, were large warehouses and factories that sprawled out over the ground, and eventually had to be supported on steel beams over the ocean. Huge ships glided slowly into the harbor, pulling up close to the factories and unloading crates. Beyond some of the smaller factories, but before most of the larger ones was another small group of houses, resting on a platform over the water with railed ramps leading from the ground level, up to their level, curving perilously over the sea.
The hotel in this town was not hard to find, as it was just a large wooden building with the words 'FH Inn' painted sloppily on a sign over the door. Upon entering, they found a simple set up, with a worn out sofa on one side of the room and a shabby wood counter on the other side. Behind the counter an older man with a dusty baseball cap sat on a stack of crates.
"Can I help you folks?" he asked as they wandered in.
"We need a room," Squall told him.
"Wish I could help," he said. "All the rooms're booked up, I'm 'fraid. There's a fishin' convention in town this week. The inn's all fulled up. Don't s'pose from the looks of ya that you're here for that anyway, huh?"
"Not quite," Squall replied. "Is there another hotel nearby?"
"Nope, 'fraid not. There's a man on the other side o' town that'll rent ya a room. He lives on up in that there other area with the houses. Can't miss it. He owns himself a big brewery," he answered. "Just tell him Mr. Bill sent ya up there."
"Yeah, thanks," Squall answered, walking out the door. He headed up one of the long ramps up to the other residental area, having to hold Rinoa's hand because the height made her nervous. Sure enough, on the edge of the small grouping of houses, there was one house with a big silver tank at the side, and a small warehouse in the back. They knocked on the door and waited for a few minutes for a reply.
Finally, a middle-aged man with graying brown hair, small round glasses, and the beer belly from hell, answered the door smiling. "What can I do for you?"
"Uh, Mr.... uh, the guy from the hotel said you had a room up for rent. We need a place to stay for the night," Squall explained.
"Oh, Mr. Bill at the Inn," the man smiled more. "Sure, I've got a room. Name's Cid, by the way. But, you know, I don't agree on puttin' two young people, such as yourself, in a room together unless you're married. I'm a little old-fashioned."
Squall and sighed and said, "Well, we are married. She's my wife." He put an arm around Rinoa, for affect.
"I don't see a ring," he pointed out.
"We were robbed," Squall said, exasperated.
Cid looked at them suspiciously. "Well, if you say so. Two hundred gil a night, by the way. Come on in, meet my two girls," he said, stepping back and opening the door to let them step in.
Cid lead them to the large kitchen inside where a young woman with a single brown pigtail was smoothing out bred dough with a rolling pin, and a much younger girl with long blonde hair was sweeping the floor while a fire blazed in the nearby fireplace.
"These are my daughters," he announced, gaining the two girls attention. "That's Lillian, she's seventeen. And that one there is Anna, who's only eleven. Girls, say hello to our new guest, Mr. and Mrs...." he paused waiting for them to say there names.
"Squall," Squall replied after a moment of hesitation. "I'm Squall Leonhart, and this is Rinoa Heart- uh, Leonhart."
"It's a pleasure, Mr. Leonhart," Lillian said, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Lily, please show them to their room," Cid said, handing her the key to the guest room.
Lily nodded happily. "Right this way," she said cheerily, walking off with Squall, Rinoa, and her curious younger sister in tow.
Cid laughed, muttering to himself about kids, then sat down in his favorite chair with a bottle of his very own "Kramer Beer" and turned on his old black and white television to watch the evening news.
In the hallway, their cheerful little hostess attempted to converse with the anti-conversational king.
"So, Mr. Leonhart, how old are you?" Lillian asked.
"None of your-" he began, but was cut off by a sharp elbow in his ribcage.
"Be nice," Rinoa hissed under her breath.
"Twenty, I think," Squall replied, trying to remember how old he was when he died. Upon seeing Rinoa's panicked stare, he quickly said, "Yeah, I'm twenty."
Lily laughed, as if he'd made a joke. "That's quite interesting, Mr. Leonhart. Tell me, where are you from?"
"We're both from Deling City," Rinoa answered.
She shot Rinoa an irritated look, as if to say 'I don't care where you're from' then said aloud, "That's fascinating. Well, look, here we are." she opened the door at the end of the hall and handed Squall the keys. "If you need anything, anything at all, please come find me," she said to him, offering her best smile, before leaving them to enter the room.
After the door was shut behind them, Lily said to her sister, "I think I'm in love, Anna."
"With who?" her little sister asked, clearly confused.
"Mr. Leonhart. He's handsome, older, and from the city. Everything I want in a man."
"Didn't you hear Dad? He's married to that nice lady he's with."
"You are so young," she said, rolling her eyes. "It was just a lie. You know how old fashioned father is, he wouldn't let them share the room unless they said they were married. And anyway, I didn't see a ring on either finger. I bet they're just boyfriend and girlfriend, and that can be easily changed. Yes, I can just see it now. We fall in love and runaway to the big city. No more rolling dough and helping father pack beer crates for me!"
"Isn't that the same thing you said about Mr. Almasy when he was staying here a few days ago?" Anna asked.
"Yes, but he was creepy... a little scary for even my tastes," Lily explained.
Back in the room, Rinoa was laughing to herself as she sat down on the spacious double bed.
"What's so funny?" Squall asked as he stared out the window at the nearby ocean.
"That Lillian girl likes you," she said. "She was hitting on you. I guess I'm gonna have to put her in her place before she steals my man," she joked.
Squall rolled his eyes. "I'm not anyone's man."
"Give me one night, and I bet you'll want it otherwise," Rinoa muttered.
"What?!" Squall demanded, evidently having good hearing.
"Nothing," Rinoa answered innocently, trying to ignore the blush that was creeping onto her cheeks. "Nothing that would interest you, anyway."
"More than you may realize," he replied, but in a low voice, that she barely heared.
Before he knew what she was doing, she had crept up behind him, running her hands up the back of his shirt, fingers gliding over the defined contours of his back and shoulders, the touch on his bare skin making him shiver slightly. "Well, you know, we have lots of free time to ourselves," she whispered in his ear, lightly tracing his spine with her finger nail in a way that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
"I... I don't know," he mumbled, the resistance in his voice weak.
"Please?" she asked quietly as she placed a kiss on his jaw, then kissed down his neck, gently grazing his sensitive skin with her teeth. She ran a hand over his chest at the same time, and could feel the small tremors that had begun to run through his body. She took advantage of the oppurtunity, grabbing him by the sides of his coat and pulling him into a kiss. He wasted no time in deepening their kiss, as he found himself longing for another taste of her. His hands, which were stationed at his side, found their way securely around her hips, pulling her body to his until he could feel each of her curves pressed against him. He reluctantly pulled away from her demanding lips and kissed across her jaw, until he was at her ear. His warm breath against her ear made her shudder slightly, and he took advantage of her sudden loss of strength, picking her up and laying her gently across their bed. Mentally, she celebrated, finally getting what she wanted. That is, until he broke their passionate kiss and stood up.
"Maybe we shouldn't-" he began.
"Squall, shut up," Rinoa said, sitting up and trying to undo his belt, with little success.
Before she could get to what she wanted, there came a knocking at the door, making Rinoa's fists clench. "Someone is about to die!" Rinoa hissed, stomping over to the door.
She opened the door to find Lillian smiling happily on the other side of the door. She took a deep breath, attempting to regain her calm after having been so rudely interrupted before she did something drastic. "Yes, Lillian? Can I help you?"
"It's dinner time," she replied, jerking her thumb down the hall. "Dinner's on the house here, by the way."
"Thanks, we'll be there in a minute," Rinoa said, then waited to shut the door until Lily had left. "So, where were we?" Rinoa asked, turning to her companion and smiling.
Much to Rinoa's surprise, Squall laughed slightly. "We have to go to dinner now." He started toward the door, his eyes locked on her own, dissapointed ones. He smiled, leaned closer to her, and whispered, "Maybe later."
She stood there for a moment, staring after him disapointedly before decided she should join him. There was always the promise of later, after all.
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Everyone was uncomforably quiet at the table, even Lillian, as she was becoming more and more nervous at Rinoa's constant death glares. Still, even that could not keep her curious little mind from trying to make conversation with Squall, who would only speak a few sentences at a time before falling silent again.
"So, Squall, tell me about Deling City," she said. "I've never been there before."
"But, Lily, Mr. Almasy told you about it two days ago," Anna pointed out.
Everyone fell silent, Lily because she thought her sister was stupid, and Squall and Rinoa for the more obvious reason.
"Who?" Rinoa repeated.
"Seifer Almasy," Anna said again. "He stayed here not long ago."
Before another word could be spoken, Cid stood up, and said, "I'm going to go check on tomorrow's shipment before I got to bed."
He went out to the warehouse, leaving everyone else behind, frozen in place.
"This isn't good, not at all," Squall began. "This must mean he's already in Timber. He must be by now. And with this hold-up, who knows how long it'll be before we get there. It might be too late..."
The tense conversation was interrupted as Cid's yell errupted from the storage house, followed by a serious of shots that sent everyone at the table to their feet. Squall headed for the door immeadiately, but Rinoa pulled him back.
"If it is Seifer..." she began.
"I'll be careful," Squall replied heading out the door.
She watched after him for a moment then ran after him, deciding that he might be the one that needed protecting for once.
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A/N: This chapter was a little slow-paced but it's about to pick up big time. I'm also thinking of putting the first lemon in the next chapter. I'm getting tired of those damn interruptions, too.
Dark Tsuki: A collaboration, huh? Certainly an interesting idea. Right now, I'm co-authoring another Squinoa story (or I will be as soon as I get my shit together and start writing my part). But it's definately something I'll consider. I'll have to see where time leads me.
Attention everyone: Well, I've started up this idea with my friend author Julia Minuit, about interveiwing FF.net's authors, getting their back stories, inspirations, and such. Problem is, we need 2 people, one well known, well established author who's willing to do this, and one up-and- coming author who wants to do this. If you're interested, let me know in review or e-mail, and Julia and I will make a desicion.
Chapter 10
The train ride to Timber seemed endless, even if it was only a few hours. There was nothing for them to do but sit and talk, or at least for Rinoa to talk. For the first time in his history, Squall Leonart actually listened to someone tell about their life, and he found himself hanging on every word. There was more to this dark-haired beauty then most people knew, he realized, and he was quickly becoming fascinated by it. Still, words could only go so far, and eventually silence over took them, and Rinoa fell asleep in her chair. Squall intended to stare out the window, and watch the scenery that flew past, but he once again found his eyes drawn to her, happy that he could just sit and watch her without her ever knowing.
His mind returned to the moment that occured only an hour or so before. The echo of her voice, as she swore her trust in him, was something he would never get tired of hearing. Thoughts of her would always envoke in him an overwhelming feeling, an overpowering emotion that he dared not to name. He had admitted that he cared for her, and trusted her, but he refused to acknowledge the more powerful feelings that he felt deep within him.
As Squall sat and watched the peaceful sleeper, a terrible shriek rose from the tracks beneath them, and the train gave a shudder, before coming to a complete stop.
Rinoa's eyes fluttered open at this, and she asked in a sleepy voice, "Are we there yet?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Something's wrong, apparently."
This woke her up pretty quickly. "We've stopped? But why?"
He shrugged, having no answers for her. They weren't the only people who were confused. The other people seated in the train car were whispering loudly amougst themselves, looking around, and panicking.
"You don't think Seifer's here do you?" Rinoa asked.
"Somehow, I don't think it's him. I have this feeling, though.... it's someone we should definately avoid. Come on," Squall said, standing up. "Let's get out here."
"What?! We can't. What about Timber?"
"Forget Timber," he replied. "We've got to go. Something's not right-"
Squall was interrupted as the door to the car slid open, revealing a tall figure outlined in shadows. He wore a wide-brimmed hat that hid his eyes, and had dark hair spilling over his shoulders. Nothing more could be seen of him through the darkness, no matter how hard Squall squinted at him.
"Leaving so soon?" the man asked of Squall, who still stood in the middle of the aisle. "Things are just getting started here. I've been searching for you for a long time."
"Why?" was all Squall could manage to say, while Rinoa still sat beside him, more confused than ever.
"My little secret," he replied. "Some things are yet to be revealed. If you had just listened to Seifer when you had the chance, none of this would have happened. A little too late, though, don't you think? He's lost what little bit of his mind he had left, and you've been given the same job to do for at least a few centuries, or until you lose your mind, too. Whatever comes first. Maybe I should take care of it for you?"
"Who are you? Why won't you leave me alone?" Squall demanded.
"You'll find out soon enough," was all he would say. "Now, I was thinking... it's been awhile since you've known mortality, right? Maybe I could help you. You don't want all of this, this responsibility. I can take it away from you."
"No deal," Squall replied. "I don't abandon my duties."
"You'll be sorry you made that desicion, Squall," he said, before turning to exit the room. "I will make your immortality your curse. When everything else around you dies, you will be the only thing left standing... all alone," he said over his shoulder. "Mark my words, Leonhart. Seifer's not your biggest problem anymore."
Squall started to follow after him, but Rinoa grabbed onto his arm, pulling him back. "No, Squall. Now's not the time. We need to leave. I think something bad's gonna happen."
Squall sighed, but helped her out of her seat. "Fine, let's go."
The two stepped out the back and jumped down off the train, taking care to distance themselves from the track before they started walking, hoping to make it to Timber before Seifer did.
"Who was that, Squall?" Rinoa asked, shoving her hands in her pocket in an attempt to warm them in the cool night air.
Squall took off his coat and tossed it to her. "I'm not exactly sure. But I guess Seifer was right when he said it was no accident. Someone's been after us both, but now what does he want?"
Rinoa slipped the jacket over her, but asked, "Won't you get cold?" After he shook his head, she continued, saying, "What happened exactly? I still don't understand a lot of this."
"Seifer was the other boy in that accident. He was injured as well, in several ways. Seifer and I had been rivals for years before that, but after the accident, it died down a bit. We were both in the same boat, after all. But after all the hell he put me through, I didn't want anything to do with him. We went our seprate ways shortly after getting out of the hospital and I moved to Dollet when I turned seventeen. He followed me there, though. He was suddenly convinced that the accident was actually deliberate, and that our lives were still in danger. He wanted me to help him, but I refused. I didn't believe it. I just wanted to move on with my life and forget about the past as best as I could. He went from place to place, gathering clues and evidence and such, against someone. He kept trying to get me in on it, to tell me. I didn't listen. Then, both of us were killed by the same person that arranged the accident. Both of us were murdered in Deling, on the same night."
"But why? Why would anyone want to hurt the two of you. You were just kids," Rinoa pointed out.
He shrugged. "Who knows. This is all so messed up..."
Before another word could be spoken, a loud explosion rocked the ground, the sky lighting up with brilliant red flame behind them. Squall closed his eyes and turned away from the sight. He could almost hear the victim's souls screaming now, but it was no longer his problem. He had been temorarily replaced in that department.
"I knew something was going to happen," Rinoa whispered, subconciously standing closer to Squall.
He hesitantly put an arm around her in comfort, and silently willed her to continue walking and not look back. "There's nothing we can do for them. Let's just keep going, okay?"
She nodded, frowning, but asked, "He offered to take all your responsibilities off your shoulders. But you refused. I know you said it was your duty, or whatever, but... is that the only reason?"
"Maybe," he answered cryptically. "Maybe not."
"Well, though I doubt you will, I need you to promise me something," she began, taking a deep breath. "....Don't ever bail out on me. I know you won't, but.... I have to do this, it's up to me. So I need you to stay with me, and help me.... I don't think anyone else can."
He was silent for a long moment, kicking at rocks that sat in his way as he thought of all the times he swore to himself he would never allow anyone to depend on him. But, in a lot of ways, he was already depending on her. "I promise," he answered finally. "I'll stay with you."
She smiled to herself, then said, "Why can't human guys be like you?"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure your future husband will be just fine," he said, then suddenly wished he hadn't. He didn't like the idea of her with another man in the least.
"Is there such a thing is marriage once you reach the afterlife?" she asked. "I mean, do you get to be with the one you love?"
"If the one you love is dead also," he replied.
"I see," she answered quietly, her mind churning with thought. It hadn't occured to her until now that she really couldn't see herself with anyone other than the brooding reaper that walked next to her.
Suddenly, Squall came to a stop, staring ahead, and said, "Do you know where we're going?"
"I thought you did," Rinoa pointed out, then realized that the train tracks had forked a while back, and that they had probably gone the wrong way, unconciously. "Shit! Are we lost now?"
"I see a town ahead," Squall replied, beginning to walk again. "I just don't know what we're in for once we get there.
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The town they arrived out was large, but not very crowded. It rested next to a busy harbor, and half of the town was actually built over the water. There was only one road leading into the town, which went to prove that it was a rarely visited place. The road lead straight into the heart of the town, which was nothing more than a cluster of old shops and apartment houses sitting amoungst dusty concrete and dirt paths. Children chased each other around the building barefoot, while a few adults shopped for food, or spoke with their neighbors. Surrounding the most urban section of the town, were large warehouses and factories that sprawled out over the ground, and eventually had to be supported on steel beams over the ocean. Huge ships glided slowly into the harbor, pulling up close to the factories and unloading crates. Beyond some of the smaller factories, but before most of the larger ones was another small group of houses, resting on a platform over the water with railed ramps leading from the ground level, up to their level, curving perilously over the sea.
The hotel in this town was not hard to find, as it was just a large wooden building with the words 'FH Inn' painted sloppily on a sign over the door. Upon entering, they found a simple set up, with a worn out sofa on one side of the room and a shabby wood counter on the other side. Behind the counter an older man with a dusty baseball cap sat on a stack of crates.
"Can I help you folks?" he asked as they wandered in.
"We need a room," Squall told him.
"Wish I could help," he said. "All the rooms're booked up, I'm 'fraid. There's a fishin' convention in town this week. The inn's all fulled up. Don't s'pose from the looks of ya that you're here for that anyway, huh?"
"Not quite," Squall replied. "Is there another hotel nearby?"
"Nope, 'fraid not. There's a man on the other side o' town that'll rent ya a room. He lives on up in that there other area with the houses. Can't miss it. He owns himself a big brewery," he answered. "Just tell him Mr. Bill sent ya up there."
"Yeah, thanks," Squall answered, walking out the door. He headed up one of the long ramps up to the other residental area, having to hold Rinoa's hand because the height made her nervous. Sure enough, on the edge of the small grouping of houses, there was one house with a big silver tank at the side, and a small warehouse in the back. They knocked on the door and waited for a few minutes for a reply.
Finally, a middle-aged man with graying brown hair, small round glasses, and the beer belly from hell, answered the door smiling. "What can I do for you?"
"Uh, Mr.... uh, the guy from the hotel said you had a room up for rent. We need a place to stay for the night," Squall explained.
"Oh, Mr. Bill at the Inn," the man smiled more. "Sure, I've got a room. Name's Cid, by the way. But, you know, I don't agree on puttin' two young people, such as yourself, in a room together unless you're married. I'm a little old-fashioned."
Squall and sighed and said, "Well, we are married. She's my wife." He put an arm around Rinoa, for affect.
"I don't see a ring," he pointed out.
"We were robbed," Squall said, exasperated.
Cid looked at them suspiciously. "Well, if you say so. Two hundred gil a night, by the way. Come on in, meet my two girls," he said, stepping back and opening the door to let them step in.
Cid lead them to the large kitchen inside where a young woman with a single brown pigtail was smoothing out bred dough with a rolling pin, and a much younger girl with long blonde hair was sweeping the floor while a fire blazed in the nearby fireplace.
"These are my daughters," he announced, gaining the two girls attention. "That's Lillian, she's seventeen. And that one there is Anna, who's only eleven. Girls, say hello to our new guest, Mr. and Mrs...." he paused waiting for them to say there names.
"Squall," Squall replied after a moment of hesitation. "I'm Squall Leonhart, and this is Rinoa Heart- uh, Leonhart."
"It's a pleasure, Mr. Leonhart," Lillian said, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Lily, please show them to their room," Cid said, handing her the key to the guest room.
Lily nodded happily. "Right this way," she said cheerily, walking off with Squall, Rinoa, and her curious younger sister in tow.
Cid laughed, muttering to himself about kids, then sat down in his favorite chair with a bottle of his very own "Kramer Beer" and turned on his old black and white television to watch the evening news.
In the hallway, their cheerful little hostess attempted to converse with the anti-conversational king.
"So, Mr. Leonhart, how old are you?" Lillian asked.
"None of your-" he began, but was cut off by a sharp elbow in his ribcage.
"Be nice," Rinoa hissed under her breath.
"Twenty, I think," Squall replied, trying to remember how old he was when he died. Upon seeing Rinoa's panicked stare, he quickly said, "Yeah, I'm twenty."
Lily laughed, as if he'd made a joke. "That's quite interesting, Mr. Leonhart. Tell me, where are you from?"
"We're both from Deling City," Rinoa answered.
She shot Rinoa an irritated look, as if to say 'I don't care where you're from' then said aloud, "That's fascinating. Well, look, here we are." she opened the door at the end of the hall and handed Squall the keys. "If you need anything, anything at all, please come find me," she said to him, offering her best smile, before leaving them to enter the room.
After the door was shut behind them, Lily said to her sister, "I think I'm in love, Anna."
"With who?" her little sister asked, clearly confused.
"Mr. Leonhart. He's handsome, older, and from the city. Everything I want in a man."
"Didn't you hear Dad? He's married to that nice lady he's with."
"You are so young," she said, rolling her eyes. "It was just a lie. You know how old fashioned father is, he wouldn't let them share the room unless they said they were married. And anyway, I didn't see a ring on either finger. I bet they're just boyfriend and girlfriend, and that can be easily changed. Yes, I can just see it now. We fall in love and runaway to the big city. No more rolling dough and helping father pack beer crates for me!"
"Isn't that the same thing you said about Mr. Almasy when he was staying here a few days ago?" Anna asked.
"Yes, but he was creepy... a little scary for even my tastes," Lily explained.
Back in the room, Rinoa was laughing to herself as she sat down on the spacious double bed.
"What's so funny?" Squall asked as he stared out the window at the nearby ocean.
"That Lillian girl likes you," she said. "She was hitting on you. I guess I'm gonna have to put her in her place before she steals my man," she joked.
Squall rolled his eyes. "I'm not anyone's man."
"Give me one night, and I bet you'll want it otherwise," Rinoa muttered.
"What?!" Squall demanded, evidently having good hearing.
"Nothing," Rinoa answered innocently, trying to ignore the blush that was creeping onto her cheeks. "Nothing that would interest you, anyway."
"More than you may realize," he replied, but in a low voice, that she barely heared.
Before he knew what she was doing, she had crept up behind him, running her hands up the back of his shirt, fingers gliding over the defined contours of his back and shoulders, the touch on his bare skin making him shiver slightly. "Well, you know, we have lots of free time to ourselves," she whispered in his ear, lightly tracing his spine with her finger nail in a way that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
"I... I don't know," he mumbled, the resistance in his voice weak.
"Please?" she asked quietly as she placed a kiss on his jaw, then kissed down his neck, gently grazing his sensitive skin with her teeth. She ran a hand over his chest at the same time, and could feel the small tremors that had begun to run through his body. She took advantage of the oppurtunity, grabbing him by the sides of his coat and pulling him into a kiss. He wasted no time in deepening their kiss, as he found himself longing for another taste of her. His hands, which were stationed at his side, found their way securely around her hips, pulling her body to his until he could feel each of her curves pressed against him. He reluctantly pulled away from her demanding lips and kissed across her jaw, until he was at her ear. His warm breath against her ear made her shudder slightly, and he took advantage of her sudden loss of strength, picking her up and laying her gently across their bed. Mentally, she celebrated, finally getting what she wanted. That is, until he broke their passionate kiss and stood up.
"Maybe we shouldn't-" he began.
"Squall, shut up," Rinoa said, sitting up and trying to undo his belt, with little success.
Before she could get to what she wanted, there came a knocking at the door, making Rinoa's fists clench. "Someone is about to die!" Rinoa hissed, stomping over to the door.
She opened the door to find Lillian smiling happily on the other side of the door. She took a deep breath, attempting to regain her calm after having been so rudely interrupted before she did something drastic. "Yes, Lillian? Can I help you?"
"It's dinner time," she replied, jerking her thumb down the hall. "Dinner's on the house here, by the way."
"Thanks, we'll be there in a minute," Rinoa said, then waited to shut the door until Lily had left. "So, where were we?" Rinoa asked, turning to her companion and smiling.
Much to Rinoa's surprise, Squall laughed slightly. "We have to go to dinner now." He started toward the door, his eyes locked on her own, dissapointed ones. He smiled, leaned closer to her, and whispered, "Maybe later."
She stood there for a moment, staring after him disapointedly before decided she should join him. There was always the promise of later, after all.
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Everyone was uncomforably quiet at the table, even Lillian, as she was becoming more and more nervous at Rinoa's constant death glares. Still, even that could not keep her curious little mind from trying to make conversation with Squall, who would only speak a few sentences at a time before falling silent again.
"So, Squall, tell me about Deling City," she said. "I've never been there before."
"But, Lily, Mr. Almasy told you about it two days ago," Anna pointed out.
Everyone fell silent, Lily because she thought her sister was stupid, and Squall and Rinoa for the more obvious reason.
"Who?" Rinoa repeated.
"Seifer Almasy," Anna said again. "He stayed here not long ago."
Before another word could be spoken, Cid stood up, and said, "I'm going to go check on tomorrow's shipment before I got to bed."
He went out to the warehouse, leaving everyone else behind, frozen in place.
"This isn't good, not at all," Squall began. "This must mean he's already in Timber. He must be by now. And with this hold-up, who knows how long it'll be before we get there. It might be too late..."
The tense conversation was interrupted as Cid's yell errupted from the storage house, followed by a serious of shots that sent everyone at the table to their feet. Squall headed for the door immeadiately, but Rinoa pulled him back.
"If it is Seifer..." she began.
"I'll be careful," Squall replied heading out the door.
She watched after him for a moment then ran after him, deciding that he might be the one that needed protecting for once.
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A/N: This chapter was a little slow-paced but it's about to pick up big time. I'm also thinking of putting the first lemon in the next chapter. I'm getting tired of those damn interruptions, too.
