Authors Note: Wow, I updated quickly for once. I know, I'm shocked too. Anyway, on with the story...

Chapter 9 - Temptations

"This is bad," Quistis said shaking her head.

Squall had just told her the whole story about finding the file, minus the real reason why he was at Rinoa's home. Eh thought it safer this way.

"Have they said anything about any explosives?" Quistis questioned.

"No," Squall shook his head.

"Not even any references to something like it?"

"No," he repeated.

"Well we can't act yet then. You'll have to stay undercover," Quistis instructed. "If they are planning something the facts should come out soon."

"Fine," Squall answered.

Quistis turned and looked him in the eye. "Squall, this isn't fine. We have a group of potential terrorists and you're not keeping in contact with us. Cid's been threatening to pull the plug on this operation, you would have been pulled out already if hadn't have been for Caraway."

"I'm reporting to you now."

"That's not the point. You're supposed to keep in contact with us everyday, if not we don't know what's happening...we don't even know if you're alive."

"It can't be hard to report sometimes," Squall tried to explain.

"I don't care how hard it is," Quistis said raising her voice. "I expect a report everyday. If you can't do that then I can't see this operation going on for much longer."

"Okay, I'll try to report," Squall gave in. He really needed to keep Quistis off his back at the moment so agreeing with her was the easiest way.

"Good," Quistis smiled at her false victory. "Before we can do anything we need some evidence." Quistis opened a drawer and pulled out a small camera. "Use this to photograph those files."

Squall took the camera off her and placed it in his pocket.

"Right, that's all Squall. Remember to report tomorrow, Cid and Caraway will want these reports even more now. Dismissed."

Squall stood and turned to leave her apartment. As he opened the door she called him back. "Squall, you're not seeing Rinoa anymore are you?"

"No," he lied.

"Good, because now it could jeopardise the case even more."

"I know," Squall said, before leaving the apartment.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Squall walked down the road, his head filled with thoughts. What was he going to do next? He had reacted rash last night with Rinoa when he found the file, he might have blown it with Rinoa. At the moment he didn't know which mattered to him more – Rinoa or the case.

Squall heard someone shout from behind. Turning around he saw it wasn't for him, but someone a few metres back. He started to turn round again when something caught his eye. A spiky-haired blonde stood about 100 metres back stood looking rather dubiously into a shop window – a bridal shop window.

Squall could have sworn he had seen him just after he had left Quistis' apartment and here he was, 30 minutes later, still just behind him.

He quickened his pace and ducked into a side road. Quickly looking for cover he hid in a doorway, squeezing his body into the corner. After waiting a few seconds he heard footsteps enter the alley.

"Shit, they're gonna kill me," the voice said to himself as he saw the empty valley.

The footsteps quickened down the alley, biding his time Squall waited for the footsteps to become parallel with him. As he heard them reach him he jumped out catching the man off guard. With precise military training he threw the blonde against the wall and held him by the throat.

"Who are you?" Squall asked aggressively.

"Hey, let go of me. I'm a good guy," the man shouted panicking.

"Not until you tell me who you are."

"I'm Z-Zell," the man stammered. "Zell Dincht."

"And that's supposed to mean something to me?" Squall asked looking him in the eyes.

Zell turned his eyes away from him. "Ease off and I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

Squall nodded and released his grip but made sure Zell couldn't get away by keeping close to him. Zell took the opportunity to take some deep breaths.

"So what do you want to know?" Zell asked.

"Why were you following me?"

"Hey! Who do you thing I am? Why would I follow you?" Zell questioned.

"Don't deny it, I know you were following me," Squall said, slightly annoyed.

"I don't know who you think you are, but I wasn't following you," Zell continued to deny. "Some people have no manners."

Squall quickly thrust his fist into the man's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Grabbing him by the throat he held him pressed him against the wall once more. Zell gulped, desperately trying to breathe.

"One more time," Squall snarled. "Why were you following me?"

"Someone paid me," Zell choked.

Squall released his grip, letting Zell drop to his knees as he tried to desperately to regain the air that had been knocked out of him. Squall kneeled beside him. "Who paid you?"

Zell took a while to answer, breathing deeply. Once he had regain his composure he stood up. "Look man, I can't tell you that. Client confidentiality, you know?"

Squall raised a fist in warning. "Who hired you?"

Zell raised his hands in defence. "Some woman. Quistis, I think."

Squall smiled and lowered his fist. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry man, I just do what people tell me to."

"And what did Quistis want you to do?" Squall asked.

"She wanted to know what you was doing, where you was going, things like that," Zell explained. "What is she a possessive ex or something?"

"Something like that," Squall answered.

"I thought so," Zell smiled. "That's why I kept my mouth shut about some things."

"What things?"

"That new girl you got. Damn, she's nice. Has she got a sister that you could set me up with?" Zell grinned.

Squall shook his head in dismay. "What things didn't you tell Quistis?"

"Well, I figured if she was an ex, she wouldn't take kindly to you sneaking off to another girls house in the middle of the night."

"Thanks," Squall said. This man was a loser but he had probably just saved his job.

"So how much are you gonna pay me?" Zell asked.

"Excuse me?" Squall said, looking him in the eyes.

"How much do you want this to remain a secret?"

"Isn't this blackmail?" Squall asked, he couldn't believe this guy.

"Let's just call it bending the truth," Zell smiled. "5000 Gil seems about the right amount. Quistis sure looks feisty, I bet she could do some major damage if she wanted."

"How about I just let you live?" This guy was really pissing him off now.

"No way," Zell exclaimed. "5000 Gil or I let Quistis find out."

"Fine," Squall said pulling out a wad of cash. He couldn't take the risk so decided he had no choice. Zell eagerly grabbed at it.

"Good doing business with you Squall, I'll see you around," Zell said before walking away.

"Hopefully not," Squall muttered.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Squall stood in the corridor outside Rinoa's office. He wanted to knock but he didn't know how she was going to react to him. Finally he decided just to knock; after all he was starting to look a fool just standing there.

"Come in," Rinoa's sweet voice floated from inside.

Squall pushed open the door and stepped into the office.

"Oh it's you," she muttered, looking away from him. "What do you want?"

Squall looked at her, she couldn't even look back. "I'm sorry," he said, keeping his eyes locked on hers.

Rinoa looked up briefly to meet his eyes. "For what?" she asked.

"Walking out on you last night, upsetting you...and being a bastard."

Rinoa smiled and this time she kept the eye contact. The two stared across the room into each other. "Why did you do it?" she asked.

This time it was Squall's turn to look away. He couldn't look her in the eye as he told a lie. "It was just moving too fast, I just needed time to think."

As his eyes rose from the floor he saw that Rinoa had moved towards him. She lowered her head to look him in the eye. "So it wasn't because you don't like me?"

"No," Squall shook his head.

"Good," Rinoa smiled. She closed the gap once more so there was only a breath's distance between them. "Don't worry we'll take it slower this time," she said before leaning in to kiss him slowly.

Once the kiss ended, Rinoa pulled back smiling. "I have a good idea. Why don't you stay at mine?"

"I thought we said we would go slower."

"No, I mean you can stay at my house instead of the hotel. I have a guest room so you can sleep there," Rinoa explained.

"Okay," Squall said, kissing her again.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Rinoa pushed the door open as quietly as she was able. Squall had moved into her house earlier on that day and now lay asleep in the bed before her. The sheet had fallen down in his sleep and now his chest lay exposed. She crept forward moving closer to him, silently she admired him. He looked so peaceful asleep, his chest moving steadily up and down. She reached a hand out and gently placed it on his chest, he stirred but it was nothing to worry about.

Her hand began to caress his chest, running down until it reached the top of the sheets. She dared herself to push further, giving into temptation she began to edge the sheets down, but quickly removed her hand as he stirred again, more violently this time. She quickly retraced her steps the door, she didn't want to be caught by her guest.

Just as she reached the door she heard her name.

"Rinoa." She turned around to see Squall raising on to his elbows, a confused look on his face. "What are you doing?"

She smiled. "Just wanted to make sure you were okay?" she said lying. Subconsciously, she found herself walking back towards him. As she reached the edge of the bed Squall raised his hand, pushing her raven hair behind her shoulder.

"I'm fine," he said, his eyes locking on to hers. Squall soon found his attention wander on to the short semi-transparent black nightie that Rinoa was wearing.

The temptation was too much for both of them, to go slow would be impossible. Squall's arms raised to Rinoa's shoulders and pushed the thin straps off Rinoa's shoulders, the nightie easily slid to the floor. Moving aside Squall allowed Rinoa to enter the bed. She slid in and Squall quickly moved his body over hers.

"So much for taking it slowly," he whispered, as he lowered his body to hers.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Irvine sat on the phone, a rarely spoken to friend on the other end.

"His name's Squall Leonhart," he spoke down the phone. "There's something about him that's suspicious. Find out whatever you can about him. I'll phone you again tomorrow."

Irvine smiled as he put the phone down, he'd get to the bottom of who Squall Leonhart really was soon and then he would make sure that he got his revenge. He knew his suspicions were true...he just knew.

Authors Note: Well there you go, another chapter done. Tell me what you think. You might have been wondering where this story was actually going but now the real action is about to start. Thank you Keiry, Mariko and FF9 Zidane for reviewing.