Author's Notes: Well, not many new reviewers, but I'm glad the ones who keep reviewing are coming back for more! I hope you all like it; I feel the pity for Squall. There were quite a few reviewers who kept saying, "Poor Squally," but don't worry, he'll be fine. He's gotta expect this though, doesn't he? Like Optical Goddess said, it's like Teacher's Pet, people feel like they have to pick on him to make themselves feel better. Special thanks to reviewers Optical Goddess, Rinoa Leonheart, Wolfy (my best girly!!) Noacat, Amber Tinted, AngelPrinczess29, Trinity and R Junkie. Btw, R Junkie, I made Squall say that line because I couldn't think of any other way to get Headmaster Cid to start calling him Squall. I know it was OOC, but I had to do it. Anyway, enjoy!!
Running
Chapter 4
Deling Sewers
Rinoa shut the door behind her as she arrived home from school, heading up the stairs without so much as an, "I'm home," or a, "Hello," to her father. She worked on her homework from 3:30 to 4, and decided to call Zone instead of having him call her as they'd agreed. She wanted to be out of that house as soon as possible, and she found it hard to concentrate throughout the school day because of her excitement.
Picking up the phone, she hoped he'd be there to answer her phone call. She listened to it ring in her ear, and on the third ring he picked up at last. "Hello?" he said, and Rinoa sprung up on her bed.
"Hey Zone, it's Rinoa again."
"Oh, hey there! I thought I wasn't going to talk to you until 5. You're lucky you caught me, I was just coming back in from outside to get something."
She smiled. "I know, but I couldn't myself. I just want to be rid of this place so bad."
Zone chuckled a little. "That's understandable. So, what should be the plan then?"
Rinoa shrugged. "I thought that was your area, not mine."
He made a noise of thought, and then replied, "I guess you'd be right about that. Okay, well first, what's a good time when your father isn't around?"
She laughed dryly. "How about 24/7?"
Zone realized the mistake he'd made in the phrasing of the question, and corrected himself. "Sorry…I meant when is he not home?"
Rinoa pondered for a moment, going over the General's schedule during the day. A few seconds she responded with, "He's gone to work from 9 AM to 3 PM, and then he's home by the time I'm home from school."
"I see," Zone said slowly, his mind working fast. "Does he see you go to school? Like, leaving the house?"
"No, he's usually still sleeping when I leave, if he's not working here or has a meeting."
"Okay…is there any way you can get out of there without being seen by neighbors, your maid, everyone?"
"Umm…" she wasn't sure about that one. Other than the front door and back door, there wasn't much else. "Oh!" a light bulb flashed on. "There's the passage that leads to the sewer." She made a face. "I used to sneak down there when I was little, it stinks so bad. I don't go anymore cause of all the monsters."
He was silent for a moment. "You know how to fight…don't you?"
Rinoa was offended. "Well of course I do! Do you have any idea how strong the monsters are down there? Just because I don't like to fight those kind of monsters doesn't mean I can't fight at all."
Zone put his free hand up and backed off the statement. "Okay, okay. I was just making sure. Don't get all defensive about it. But you will have to go through there and fight them to avoid being seen."
She glared into the phone, as if her stare would bore through the telephone lines and reach him so he could see her disdain. "That's fine, you don't think I can handle tough situations?"
He couldn't win with this girl. "Did I say that? Ever?"
"You implied it."
He sighed, giving in. "Fine, I'm sorry for implying that you couldn't handle tough situations. I'll watch myself next time, Princess."
"Princess?" Rinoa said skeptically.
"Hey, I kinda like that for you. Rinoa Caraway, I dub thee Princess of the Forest Owls!"
"Heartilly," she corrected.
"What?"
"I'm going by my mother's maiden name now. I'm Rinoa Heartilly. Call me that from now on, okay?"
"Okay…well anyway, on with the plan. How soon do you want to leave? Tomorrow morning?"
"Of course, if that's possible. What do I need to do?"
"Well, you're going to need to take some risks to get out of there without anyone seeing you. Are you up for it?"
Rinoa would've given him a look of stating the obvious if she could've seen his face. "Honey, I'd cheat death to get out of this place."
He chuckled softly. "Okay, I'll take that as a definite yes. So what you need to do is…"
Squall awoke to the irritating beeping of his alarm clock. He slammed his palm down on top of it to make the sound cease, and read the illuminated letters: 8:30. He still had an hour until the mission group left, and needed to shower and eat before that time arrived.
Shedding his boxers and stepping into the shower, he shuddered as the warm droplets met his bare skin. He reveled in the warm feeling and washed himself for fifteen minutes, and then toweled himself off after getting out. He pulled out his normal attire of black leather jacket, pants and boots, combed his hair the way he liked it, and left the Dorm, heading for the Cafeteria.
After finishing a light breakfast, Squall realized it was time to meet for his first mission. While he walked toward the exit, a figure ran toward and slammed into him, knocking him backward onto the ground. He looked to see who the guilty was, and discovered he didn't know the young man picking up his fallen books.
"Oh man, I am so sorry," the spiky-haired blonde apologized before even looking at whom he'd knocked down. "I was just in a really big hurry to get in line for the hotdogs and…" his voice trailed off as he extended a hand to Squall. Eyes widening, he took Squall's hand and brought him to his feet, jaw opening a little. "Holy shit," he muttered. "You're…you're Squall Leonhart!"
Squall straightened his jacket and picked up a stray paper of the young man's. "Yeah, so?"
"You're going on your first mission today, aren't you?"
Squall nodded. He didn't even know this guy's name, why was he asking things like this? "On my way now."
"Wow…you're like, the talk of the Garden!"
Oh goodie, Squall thought caustically. Excuse me while I do a cartwheel with joy. "Great. Bye."
He turned to exit from the blonde man, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder that he quickly shoved away. "No wait! I'm Zell Dincht."
Squall didn't have time for this. "That's wonderful, I need to go. You already know who I am. Bye." He walked out the exit with Zell calling after him. He didn't have time to chat, nor did he want to. If he didn't hurry to the entrance, he was going to be late and that would give all of his group members extra reason to pick on him. Running toward the entrance, he saw three men Clay's age standing together. They saw him headed toward them and nudged one another, pointing to him as he came up next to them.
"Look Nori, it's that Leonhart kid. The guy that got to graduate early…"
"I know, he's always been on Cid's good side. And now we have to tolerate him for the entire day."
The third stayed quiet, and Squall could only wonder why. He didn't say anything back to the two older men, but he didn't have to. The Garden official standing with the heard the two whispering, and came to stand beside them. "Gentlemen," he said gruffly, making them both jump. "I believe I asked you to stay quiet."
They both came to attention. "Yes, Sir."
"Alright. Now that everyone is here, we can begin the briefing on your mission. When you arrive in Deling, a guard should meet you at the entrance. He will escort you to the passage leading to the sewer, and will make sure you're SeeDs before taking you down there by asking you what Garden Code number five is. To which you will answer…?"
"All cadets and SeeDs must be ready to battle at all times, in the event that another Garden or hostile force attacks," all four answered simultaneously. Every student needed to know the Garden Codes by heart.
"Very good. The leader for this mission is Noriyuki Sandas. You are in charge of infiltration and success. Good luck to you all."
As the official left, Nori turned to the rest of the group. "Alright, this mission is going to be quick and easy if everything goes well. First, let's introduce ourselves. You all know my name now, so we'll pass it on to the next person."
He looked to the man to his left and gave him a nudge. The man cleared his throat and said, "I'm Brecken Wintercross." The one next to him nodded and then said, "And I'm Kushin Ryu. You can call me Kush." (Author's Note: It's pronounced Coosh) Next it was Squall's turn. He didn't know why he even bothered…they already knew his name, just like every other student at Garden. But oh well. Might as well comply to avoid trouble. "Squall Leonhart," was all he said. The three stared at him for a moment as if expecting more out of a new legend.
Nori was the first to speak. "Okay, well, now that we all know each other's names, let's get this show on the road. Move out, men!"
Brecken came up beside Nori to walk with him, and Squall could barely pick it up when he whispered, "And boys."
Both SeeDs got a hearty laugh out of that one.
As they arrived in Deling City, Squall spotted the guard that was to escort them to the sewers. Nori approached him, the other three following behind, and began speaking with him. He listened in on the conversation between them. "Good evening Sir," the guard greeted, and Nori saluted with the guard.
"Good evening," Nori said back. "Nice night, isn't it?"
"Certainly…say, do you happen to know what Garden Code number five is? My buddies and I were making a bet and I wanted to see if I won my 10 Gil."
Nori opened his mouth to reply, but then shut it again. He looked around him in desperation, and Squall could read his actions clearly. Mr. High-and-Mighty leader had forgotten the Garden Code.
Seeing him in need of a memory refresher, Squall came up behind him and elbowed him in the side. Nori looked at him, and Squall motioned for him to lean in. "All cadets and SeeDs must be ready to battle at all times, in the event that another Garden or hostile force attacks," he whispered.
Having gotten the answer, Nori snapped back up and recited what Squall had just said to him. His cheeks flushed…a fifteen-year-old could remember it, but he couldn't.
"Thank you Sir, right this way, follow me."
He led them through Deling City, past dance clubs that were closed until the deep recesses of the night, by people walking to work, and others just loitering outside restaurants and other buildings. Squall observed the people silently, taking in their different actions and first impressions as they walked by. Some looking like businessmen, others the common man or woman, and the occasional slums hooker-type. As he took in each person, they reached their destination and he nearly missed running into Brecken, who was walking in front of him. The guard opened up a door that to first glance seemed hidden because it blended in so well to the wall around it, and turned to them.
"The sewers are not easy to navigate, SeeDs. There are many turns and dead ends, so try to remember landmarks and be careful. Kill as many of the monsters down there as you can, and when you've finished simply come back up the ladder and back out to the city. Good luck to you all, and thank you from Deling City."
All four of them nodded in understanding, and the guard stood aside to let them through. Nori was the first to go through, followed by Brecken, Squall, and Kushin. They climbed down the ladder into the sewer, and the echo of the guard closing the door reverberated off the stone walls. Squall's feet hit the floor, and Nori walked in front of them all, not giving one glance to Squall.
"Okay, we'll take these monsters down two at a time, everyone, and to do that we'll have to work together. Let's get this done quickly and thoroughly, so we can go home. Everybody ready?"
Silence and a couple shakes of the head were his affirmation. "Then let's kick some monster ass!"
Rinoa awoke at 8:00, just as she and Zone had planned. She fished the bag she had packed the night before out from under her bed, and checked it over. Only half of her clothing had been packed for weight purposes, and special belongings lay underneath the pile of clothes. A picture of her and her mother, Angelo's puppy picture, and the music box her mom had given her when she was four that played, "Eyes On Me," were among the belongings.
She left the bag on top her bed, and got dressed before going down to the kitchen. She pulled on a navy blue and black skirt and a black top, along with ankle length boots she wore often. She headed down to the kitchen where the maid had already made breakfast, ate to satisfy her, then went up to her room, pretending to get her schoolbooks and backpack.
By this time the clock read 8:30, and the maid left at 9:30 to clean up after her father once he departed for work. She was a sitting duck until both of them left, because the maid thought she'd already gone to school.
Looking around her room to double-check for thing she might've forgotten to pack, she saw Angelo still asleep in her dog bed. She patted her knee and snapped her fingers to wake her up and call her over, too afraid to call her name. The loyal companion made her way over to the bed and jumped up next to Rinoa.
"You ready to go with me to the Forest Owls?" she whispered in Angelo's ear, causing them to perk up. "Yeah? Will you help me fight those big bad monsters? Huh?"
Angelo barked, and Rinoa was quick to quiet her. "Shh, we don't want to wake up the old man, now do we?"
The dog growled in reply, and Rinoa laughed softly, stroking her back and underside. Suddenly she heard footsteps up the stairs, and realized all too late that she'd forgotten one very important detail.
"Oh shit!" she whispered harshly, hiding the bag of clothes and belongings under the bed, along with her backpack. Just as the door was creaking open, she slipped into her very spatial walk-in closet and went to the very end of it, trying hard to breathe quietly.
The maid hummed a soft tune as she turned the bed sheets up and straightened them. She dusted around the room and fluffed the pillows (including Angelo's dog bed), humming the whole time. Rinoa's heart pounded so loudly she was afraid the maid could hear it, and when she opened the closet door to put clothes that were on the floor in the hamper, Rinoa nearly cried out. She closed the door, and after making a final inspection, left the room entirely.
Rinoa let out a huge sigh she'd been holding for what felt like an eternity. She left the closet, and Angelo came back over to her. She kneeled down and scratched the dog's ears, heart still thundering in her chest. "That was a close one, huh girl? Better not come that close again, or we won't get out of here."
Squall delivered the finishing blow to the black monster in front of them, their tenth one already in an hour. Despite the lingering cold shoulder Nori gave Squall, the mission team was working well together in battle.
"Nice job, kid," Brecken said, coming up behind him and patting him on the shoulder. "Took that one out pretty quick, didn't we?"
Squall moved forward to get the hand off his body, and sheathed his gunblade. "Whatever," he said emotionlessly, hoping to erase any feelings of "friendship" between them. It seemed to work, too. Brecken left his side and didn't say anything more to him.
"Breck, Squall, let's keep moving," Nori ordered, motioning for them to follow. "Remember, quickly and thoroughly."
They took down another four in the next ten minutes, Squall working just as hard as the others to kill them. The monsters were tough, but not tough enough. He sliced every one of them as hard as he could, dealing major damage each time. "Damn, Leonhart," Kushin said in wonder. "What's your secret?"
He honestly had no idea where the adrenaline came from. He was fairly strong even without a power rush, but for some reason, today he was a machine. The slimy beast before them didn't stand a chance.
"Forget it," Brecken shouted. "The guy's like a mute, he barely says one word. And that's if you're lucky not to be totally ignored."
"Concentrate!" Nori yelled. "Don't let yourself get distracted, it'll take advantage of you!"
Just as he said this, Squall unleashed his Limit Break, Renzokuken. The monster fell lifeless to the ground, and the other three men stared in awe at their teammate.
"Geez…I'd hate to have you for an enemy."
"No kidding. Warning to everyone: don't piss off the hormonal kid."
Brecken and Kushin laughed, but Nori and Squall remained straight-faced and unamused. Squall breathed hard from the exertion of the fight, and he met Nori's thoughtful gaze.
"Quit it, you two," he said sternly, still looking at Squall. The laughter ceased abruptly. "We've got work to do. Let's go."
In that moment when Nori held his fifteen-year-old partner's stare, a sort of mutual understanding passed between them. As the boys walked on, Nori nodded toward Squall, and from then on his shoulder turned warm to him.
They walked along the sewers together, Squall walking as far away from them as possible. He didn't want Nori to think they were friends, either, he needed no one and no one needed him. That was how things were supposed to be.
For as long as he could remember, Squall had been alone. After the Orphanage, all he knew was living alone. He was the only person he cared about. Since Ellone had left him…no, he mustn't think about her. He didn't need her. She was just someone who hadn't loved him enough to stick around. And that was just fine with him.
…Right?
Without realizing it, while he was looking down at the ground and walking, he'd strayed from the group. No need to panic, he thought to himself. I can get back to them easily. No problem. He continued down the very similar to each other passageways, walking faster with rising panic, despite what he'd told himself.
Suddenly, he came upon a doorway that looked like it might lead up above ground. Curiosity getting the best of him, he approached the door and looked closely at it, examining it and wondering what was on the other side. His fist lingered in front of it, while he decided whether to knock or not.
The time had come. The maid shut the door to their mansion, and she had heard Caraway leave a half hour before. All was clear, and she couldn't have been more excited about it.
"Angelo! They're gone! Let's go, girl!" she yelped, and the dog bounded after her down the stairs. Her bag dragged behind her, threatening to trip her if she wasn't careful. But she didn't care. She'd be free in less than twenty-four hours.
Now inside the General's room, she spotted the secret door in the left corner. She couldn't keep the grin off her face as she walked to it, each step feeling lighter and more independent. Freedom was calling her name…but as soon as she rested her hand on the intricately carved statue to turn it, she heard a knock against the wall. Bringing her hand back as if the surface were scalding hot, she looked at the wall with a puzzled stare.
"H-hello?" she called, pressing herself against the wall to hear the answer.
An unsure, but deep voice came through. "Uh, hello, can you tell me where I've reached?"
Rinoa's brow knotted. Should she really give that information to a nameless, faceless stranger? No, she'd find out some things first.
"Sure, but I'd like you to tell me your name first, please. And what you're doing here."
"I'm Squall Leonhart. I'm a-a SeeD from Balamb Garden. I had to come on a mission with a group to help clean out some of the monsters in the sewers. Strictly business."
He sounded so mature, so professional. Could he really be making that up? She didn't believe so. "You've reached the Caraway mansion, Squall."
Damn, he thought. I really did stray far. How am I supposed to get back now?
"So…that makes you who?"
"Rinoa Caraway-Heartilly," she replied. "But I go by Rinoa Heartilly."
Rinoa Heartilly…he mouthed the name, and noted the way it rolled off his tongue. He liked it. But he wouldn't let that on.
"General Caraway's daughter?"
"Unfortunately."
Great, he was messing with a pampered brat. But she did sound like she didn't have much pride in her status. But because she lived here, maybe…dare he ask? He had no other choice, really. "May I ask you a question?"
Wow, mature, professional, and polite. How old is he? Thirty-five? "I don't see why not. Shoot."
"Do you know your way around the sewers? I've lost my group, and I can't get around here very easily."
Rinoa bit her lower lip. "Roughly. I have to get through there anyway. I could help you out."
He didn't like have to accept help from someone-especially a girl-but if he wanted to get back to Garden any time soon, he'd need assistance, and she was his only hope.
"Okay."
"I'll open the door now."
"Alright, thanks."
She turned the statue, and the door opened to reveal the most handsome man she'd ever seen in her fifteen years on earth.
AN: Oh, and Noacat, you can fall off your chair now. ;)