Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII...

Author's Note: I'm sorry that it took me so long to get this chapter up. I meant to have it up this past weekend, but I just couldn't get satisfied with what I was writing. I hope this chapter isn't too bad... Thanks to everyone that reviewed.

Hiasha: I got my camera yesterday, and since it's digital, I'll definitely be able to send you pictures from the concert. Who knows, maybe the Goo Goo Dolls will come to Brazil soon!

On the Ice

Chapter 8- The Mystery Man Is Revealed

A single ray of sunlight shone down on Rinoa's sleeping form. She hadn't got much sleep the previous night. Thoughts of the car crash and the mysterious note had made sleep seem impossible. Finally, after tossing and turning for a myriad amount of time, she had fallen into a light slumber. Because of this, the slight warmth that the ray of sunlight cast upon Rinoa's face awakened her. Her eyes fluttered and then opened. Sighing, she decided that she had better get up. There was no chance of sleep returning now.

Rinoa got up out of bed and pulled a robe over her nightgown. She entered the living room and spotted Squall, still fast asleep on the couch. They had decided that Rinoa could have the bed, although she insisted Squall could have it. She shook her head, a small smile forming on her lips. He's so adorable when he's old-fashioned! Laughing quietly, she proceeded to walk into the kitchen area. However, she didn't get far, as she felt a hand grab her wrist, pulling her back.

She spun around and saw Squall still laying there, a grin upon his face. "Squall!" She exclaimed. "I thought you were asleep!"

"Do you make it a habit?" He asked, trying to suppress his laughter.

Rinoa frowned. "Do I make what a habit?"

"Watching people as they sleep. Or maybe I'm an exception?"

She blushed. "I wasn't watching you sleep."

He smiled. "Oh, I think you were."

"Well, let me ask you this, Mr. Leonhart. Do you make pretending to be asleep a habit?"

"Only when I know someone is watching me."

She grinned. "And how would you know if someone was watching you?"

"Instinct. I was trained to detect such things at the military academy I attended."

"Ah, so it's not just some natural feeling that you were born with?"

Squall shrugged. "Maybe with you it is. Natural, I mean."

She shook her head. "Aren't we quite the charmer this morning?" She offered him her hand. "Come on, get up. You can help me with breakfast."

Squall grinned. "I can't cook."

Rinoa smiled triumphantly. "Then I'll just have to teach you!" She extended her hand again.

Sighing, Squall pulled himself up and followed Rinoa into the kitchen. "Okay, what do I have to do?"

"Well, what are you in the mood for?"

"Other than you?" He smirked.

She hit him playfully. "Can you please try to be serious?"

"Fine, fine. Let's make this simple. How about some pancakes?"

Rinoa nodded. "Sounds good. We're going to need eggs, flower, water, oil..."

"Tell me again why we can't just use an instant mix."

She rolled her eyes. "You want these to taste good, don't you?"

"Instant tastes just fine to me," he said defensively.

"You are impossible! Just humor me, alright?"

Squall was saved by the phone ringing. "I'll get that." He walked into the living area and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Is this Squall Leonhart?" The voice asked.

"Yeah," Squall replied, "This is Squall. Who's asking?"

The person sighed. "I can't tell you over the phone. All I can say is that I was the one who sent you that note last night. Can you and Rinoa meet me at Cirello Park?"

"I suppose we could, but how do we know that this isn't a trap?" Squall asked, very suspicious.

"I'm sorry, but there's no way I can prove this to you. Please, come and see for yourself. Bring Rinoa with you, Irvine and Selphie, too. I'll be waiting for you." The man hung up before Squall could answer.

Sighing, Squall walked back into the kitchen to find Rinoa rummaging through the cabinets. "I can't find any flower!" She told him as she looked up. "Who was that on the phone?"

"Some guy who says he's the one who sent us that note. Wants us to meet him at Cirello Park with Irvine and Selphie."

Rinoa paled. "What do you think he wants?"

Squall shook his head. "We won't find out if we don't go."

"When does he want us to meet him?"

"Now."

"Now?" Rinoa said exasperatedly. "What about breakfast?"

Squall shrugged. "I told you we should have used instant."

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A while later, Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, and Selphie had all assembled at Cirello Park. They looked around suspiciously, wondering who the mystery man was. Rinoa spotted a man with spiky blonde hair entering the park. She nudged Squall.

"Hey, isn't that Zell?"

Upon hearing his name, Zell walked up to them, smiling. "Hey! What are you guys doing here?"

"We're just taking a break from work," Irvine told him. "What about you?"

"The park is a great place to meet people, don't ya think?" He winked. "Especially secret people."

Everyone stared at him, comprehending what he had just said. "It was you?" Rinoa asked, not hiding her surprise.

Zell nodded. "I'm sorry that I have to be so secretive about this, but I didn't want to cause any suspicion."

Rinoa shook her head. "I don't understand. How are you involved in all of this?"
"Let me explain. Since I work as a part of the crew for all these competitions, I've been around Seifer and Quistis quite a lot. They don't give me a second thought...I'm just another face in the crowd to them." He shook his head. "Anyway, as I was cleaning up backstage yesterday, I heard them discussing how there were going to pay you back for what you had done. I followed them last night, and I saw what happened."

"So then you followed us to the restaurant?" Squall asked.

Zell nodded. "I couldn't tell you in person in case Quistis and Seifer had followed you, as well."

Squall nodded. "So you left us the note. Did you happen to hear anything else?"

"Actually, I did," Zell looked down nervously. "They said that they wouldn't stop at anything to get their revenge and make themselves champions."

Selphie gasped. "Meaning...they would kill us?"

Zell nodded grimly. "That's exactly what they meant."

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Meanwhile, Seifer and Quistis were training at the arena. They were quite pleased at the results of last night. If only their target had been injured...

"I told you that my plans never fail," Seifer said as he grinned at Quistis.

Quistis snorted. "Your plan? What about me?"

"You were great, too. I'm just saying that I was the one who came up with the plan."

Quistis rolled her eyes, but chose not to pursue the subject. "So, what's our next move going to be?"

Seifer shrugged. "I think we should just wait for now. I'm curious to see what Squall is going to pull."

"Why do you hate Squall so much?" Quistis asked seriously. "You barely know him, yet you want him killed."

Seifer chuckled silently. "Isn't that the same thing for you with Rinoa?"

"That's different," Quistis snapped. "She took Squall away from me!"

Seifer gave her a puzzled look, but continued. "To answer your question, I went to a military school a few years ago. That's where I met Squall. I never liked him and I still don't. He always takes away the things that belong to me!" He said angrily.

"I find it hard to believe that after attending a military academy, you would both turn to figure skating."

"I didn't turn to figure skating, Squall did. I wanted to beat my rival...he always thought he was better than me! I worked my ass off, but Rinoa held me down. That will not happen again." He glared at Quistis. "I'm going to show Squall who the true champion is!"

Quistis shook her head. "Squall never told me about any of that."

"Well I'm not Squall!" Seifer said his name like it was a disease. "You're not partners with Squall anymore, you're partners with me! Get that damn straight!"

Quistis stared at him. His outburst had been like a slap in the face. "Don't you ever talk to me like that again! I am your partner and I deserve some respect!"

"Respect?" Seifer shouted. "Go to hell, Quistis," he said, as he shook his head and walked out of the arena.

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"What, exactly, do you suggest that we do?" Squall asked Zell.

Zell shook his head. "I'll be traveling with the competition, so I'll keep an eye out for the both of them. If I hear anything else, I'll contact you."

They nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Zell," Rinoa said sincerely. "You've really helped us."

Zell nodded. "You're welcome. I'm going to head back to the arena now. I'll be in touch," he grinned. "You can count on me!"

Irvine turned to Squall and Rinoa. "We're going to go now, too. Watch your backs, and call us if you hear anything." Selphie waved and they both left the park.

Rinoa turned to Squall and grabbed his hand. "What do you make of all this?" She asked as they started walking back to the hotel.

Squall shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know what to make of it. When I teamed up with Quistis, I never imagined that she could do something like this."

"Squall, why did you team up with Quistis?" Rinoa asked seriously.

Squall turned to her, surprised. "I met her a long time ago. Actually, she was a friend of my sister, Ellone. It wasn't until a few years ago that I saw her again. She was into skating, so we decided to team up."

Rinoa nodded. "I don't mean to sound nosy, but..." She trailed off.

Squall looked at her, a small smile playing about his face. "You want to know if Quistis was ever my girlfriend?" Rinoa nodded. "To answer that, no. I always suspected that she wanted a romantic relationship and she had tried to force me to love her. She never understood that I didn't think of her that way."

Rinoa smiled. "What about Ellone, your sister? Am I going to meet her anytime soon?"

"No," Squall said sadly. "She died from Leukemia two years ago."

Rinoa gasped. "I'm sorry, Squall. It must have been horrible for you."

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I'd rather not talk about it, okay?"

Rinoa squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Of course."

Squall stopped suddenly and turned to Rinoa. "I need you to promise me something."

Rinoa looked up at him, confusion in her eyes. "What?"

"You have to promise me that you won't go anywhere unless I'm with you. I don't want you getting hurt."

Rinoa smiled. "How thoughtful of you."

"I'm serious, Rinoa. Promise me."

"I promise, Squall. I won't leave your side." And to prove that her words were true, she gripped his hand tighter than before and they resumed their walk to the hotel.

~*~