A Sequel to ReCreating Hell
Chapter Four: Promises
By PasifikStar
Author's Note: More Hunter & RJ action! Laguna cracks. ^_^
* All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters.Slowly, all the color from Hunter and RJ's faces drained from their faces as they were faced with the worst situation they had ever been in their entire lives. Not Sephiroth. Not Adel. It was their parents catching them at the most notorious club in all of Esthar.
"I'm going to die, aren't I?" Hunter said in a toneless voice as RJ slowly slid off his lap and stood next to him with her head bowed.
His father merely nodded. "Get in the car. Both of you."
Hunter got off his seat and lowered his head as he walked around the table to get to the elevator. RJ looked nervously up at her parents before she scurried around the table and ran after Hunter. She grabbed his hand, in need of some sort of comfort.
His fingers unconsciously wrapped around hers as they walked away. Nooj, Baralai, and Gippal watched their friends leave. "Uh...wait a second, Mr. Almasy," Nooj began as he stood up. "This isn't their fault.
"Yes!" Baralai added as he also stood up. "It was our fault. We kept pressuring them to take us here!"
"You boys should be ashamed of yourselves!" Rinoa said. "It is dangerous here! And-"
"If I ever see you three near my daughter again, I will personally hunt you down." Squall concluded. He sent them a vicious, red eyed glare as he turned around and grabbed Rinoa's hand.
"We should get the kids before they run off." Quistis said, tugging on Seifer's arm. The tall blond male nodded and looked over at the three young men at the table. They cowered back in their chairs at his particularly angry look.
Without another word, Seifer and Quistis followed behind Rinoa and Squall. Gippal looked over at the other two. "Guys..." he mumbled worriedly. "Is Hunter going to die?"
"What the hell were you thinking!?" Seifer growled.
"This is the second time you've went against our wishes, Hunter!" Quistis snapped as she and Rinoa loomed over their children.
In the tea room of the Presidential Palace, RJ and Hunter were seated on a couch as Squall sat in the large chair across from them with Seifer pacing to their left and Quistis and Rinoa standing and glaring at them at their right.
"You could've been attacked!" Rinoa sighed heavily. "Especially YOU, Hunter! You know what it's like in there already!"
"We shouldn't have indulged you that time and allowed you to go once," Quistis murmured to herself as she turned away and rubbed her forehead. "I should've known that the sort of environment at Al Bhed is addicting."
"I'm sorry..." Hunter mumbled quietly as his head was down cast. RJ looked over at him tearfully.
"Sorry won't cover it!" Seifer yelled. "What if you had been killed? That place is littered with vampires and lycans who don't like us! Not just mixed, like us, but don't like RJ because of her clan!"
"How could you two even THINK of going there?" Rinoa gasped. She put her hands on her hips. "I'm waiting!"
"Seifer, Quistis, Rinoa," Squall's low voice said from where he was sitting. Immediately all the attention was drawn to him. His eyes still occasionally sparked red, meaning he was more than just upset. "I want to know what lead up to the events to go there."
RJ opened her mouth, but Hunter spoke up first. "The other three wanted to see the club and I said I would take them. So we went." Hunter stated, as if it so simple.
"Hunter..." RJ whispered. "What are you talking about?"
Squall sat up in his chair and looked at the two. "We trusted you, Hunter," he said sternly. "Being the older of the two, we assumed that you would be the responsible one. Frankly, I don't know if I can trust you again after this."
Hunter closed his eyes and let out a deep breath as he let out an understanding nod. "Forgive me, Mr. Leonheart. I was careless when I should've been making sure RJ was safe."
"I'm very disappointed in you, Hunter." Quistis said, shaking her head.
"RJ," Squall said. He raised his face to look at hers. *Oh, Hyne...no...not the tears...* He turned away slightly, not being able to face his daughter's crying. "Explain to me why you were sitting on Hunter's lap."
"It's in obvious?" Seifer nearly shouted, frustrated. "Our worst fears have come to life and your daughter has the hots for my son!"
"Seifer!" Rinoa and Quistis said, shocked that he actually said it out loud. They had both been thinking it, but saw that as another matter completely.
"Is it true, RJ?" Squall asked, looking back up at his now flushing daughter. "Are you in love with Hunter?"
"What does that have to do with going to Al Bhed!?" RJ gasped. "I don't see how that would affect anything!"
"Squall, Seifer," Rinoa said in a low, defensive tone. "RJ is right. That doesn't have anything to do with going to Al Bhed."
"At any rate," Hunter said as he stood up and looked at the group of adults. "Don't you think it's a bit hypocritical for you four to scold us for going to a club that YOU frequent? If I remember correctly, Mr. and Mrs. Leonheart had their 'first date' there."
"Hunter!" Quistis gasped.
"It wasn't a date!" Rinoa gasped. "We were doing recon work!"
Hunter merely turned his eyes away in disbelief as RJ looked up at her parents with betrayal written all over her face. "That's not fair!" RJ shouted as she shot up.
"Do you know what happened that time?" Squall asked, standing up to meet their gazes. "Your mother wasn't a vampire yet. She was still a full blooded sorceress. She was caught in the blood rain," He narrowed his eyes. "She could've DIED."
"We don't want the same thing to happen to you!" Rinoa gasped.
"There wasn't even a blood rain tonight!" RJ exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter!" Quistis said. "Al Bhed is dangerous! We go because WE can handle it! We have more experience fighting than you do-"
"So in order to protect us, you're going to shelter us for as long as you can," Hunter stated. His blue eyes lifted to his parents. "Thus denying us the experience we need so protect ourselves."
"That's not what I meant, Hunter-" Quistis began, but her son shook his head slightly.
"You sent me off to military school to learn to defend myself and get a good education. I did both and when I returned, it's like I'm a child all over again. The old man still holds himself back when we were sparing with the gun blades," Hunter said, motioning to his father. Seifer fumed at the title 'old man'. "Mom's still fawning over me like I was still five."
"Hunter, I have not-" Quistis began, but Hunter cut her off.
"For crying out loud, I know you've been looking into my room in the morning to make sure I'm fast asleep!" Hunter exclaimed. Quistis closed her mouth, knowing it was the truth. "How do you expect us to stand up for ourselves and fight our own battles if you keep detouring us from them?"
"We're you're parents," Rinoa stated sternly. "You are our children! No matter how old you are, you'll always be our children and we don't want to see you hurt!"
"You can protect us all you want, but sooner or later, you won't be able to protect us any more," Hunter stated. "In the end, we'll all end up fighting our own battles. You can't protect us forever."
"Hunter!" Quistis snapped loudly. "Don't be so rude!"
"What's so rude about telling the truth?" Hunter stated. "Have you forgotten how it was to be our age?"
"It was a different time," Seifer added. "We were at war."
"If I remember correctly, the war ended by the time you were our age." Hunter replied casually.
His composed look never left as he stood there. Squall sat back in his chair and lifted the glass that had been placed in the table next to him. "While you have a valid point," Squall said, looking away from their children. "I do not think I can trust you with RJ after this incident. Please leave, Hunter."
"Dad!" RJ gasped.
"Squall, that's a little extreme-" Rinoa cut in.
"That's fine." Hunter said. He turned to get his jacket and RJ grabbed his arm.
"No! It's not fine!" she cried out loudly. She turned to her father. "Dad, I was the one who insisted on going to Al Bhed! I was the one who got us in! I was the one who brought us up to the vampire level! NOT Hunter!!" she exclaimed.
Rinoa and Quistis looked at her in shock as Squall stood up straight and put his glass back down. "I KNOW THAT," Squall stated in a dangerously low voice. RJ took a step back. She had truly done it this time. "Who else could've gotten into the club with such ease but a full blooded, vampire of this clan? Who could've brought them to the vampire level without question? If you truly had not wanted to go, you wouldn't have done so."
"Then why are you telling Hunter to leave!?" RJ cried out.
"Because he should've known better than to let you have your way!" Squall said. "Sometimes, RJ...I think we've spoiled you."
The dark haired vampiress sucked in her breath quickly at her father's words. Hunter pulled his arm away and headed out the door. RJ whirled around to see him exiting. "Hunter!"
"RJ!" Rinoa gasped as she watched her daughter running after the tall blond. She reached out and Squall shook his head to stop her.
Quistis ran her hand down her face. "How did this happen...?"
"Hunter wait!" RJ shouted as Hunter opened the main doors. He quickly ran down the steps as RJ bounded after him. She looked up at the sky as it's darkness was rimmed in the horizon with tints of orange. The sun was going to rise soon. "Hunter! Let me come with you!"
He sighed and turned around to look at her. "It'll only get us in more trouble," he grumbled as he unlocked his car. "Just go back inside."
"Hunter, I'm sorry!" RJ sobbed. "I just wanted to go! We've never been there together before and I thought it would be fun!"
"Some fun..." Hunter hissed. RJ looked down pitifully as she began to rub her eyes. He let out a heavy sigh. "RJ, it's not your fault."
"Yes it was!" RJ said. "I got us in and brought us up stairs!"
"Do you think that if I really didn't want go, I would've gone anyway?" Hunter snapped. "How weak do you think my will is, RJ?"
"I'm sorry..." she blabbered out. He let out a heavy breath and walked over to where she was standing at the foot of the stairs.
"Okay...that's enough," he told her as he brushed aside her hair and gently. He lifted her face look up at him. "Stop crying."
"I...I can't...I'm sorry..." she choked out. Hunter's hands cupped her pale face as he brushed aside her red tears.
"Shh..." he cooed as he lowered his head. "It's all right...everything is okay."
RJ closed her eyes as he placed his lips softly on hers. It wasn't the demanding, dominating kiss she had experienced earlier from him when he had found her in Centra. Instead, it was warm and fulfilling. Almost relaxing. He pulled himself away and studied her face as her blue eyes opened to meet his green ones.
"Hunter..." she whispered, blushing furiously.
He smirked slightly as he ran his hand through her hair. "I knew that would shut you up."
Too much in a daze to argue, RJ sniffled and nodded. "Jerk..."
"I'll be there when you need me. I promise."
"I'll be here waiting." RJ nodded.
The tall blond stepped away, smiling at her with a slightly arrogant smirk that made her smile back with amusement. He got into his car and sped away down the drive way. She waved and looked back at the sky. The sun was going to rise soon, and she stood up and headed back into the palace.
She closed the door behind her as she reached the foyer and looked towards the stairs. "RJ," a voice said to her side. She turned around and saw her father standing there. "I-"
Immediately, all the anger rushed up upon seeing her father's familiar face. She turned and ran up the stairs. "I hate you, dad!" she screamed loudly as she ran up the stairs.
"RJ!" he shouted. He took a step back. *Those words hurt more than you realize...*
"I'm going to follow Hunter," Seifer said as he passed Squall, putting on his jacket. "Quisty and Rin went to the library to get some more research done."
"Whatever." Squall mumbled.
Seifer paused at the door way and looked at him. "There's that all famous word again. I heard what RJ said. Don't worry, she'll get over it."
"She's never said she hated me before." Squall mumbled.
"Really?" Seifer said. He opened the door and looked up the stairs where RJ had disappeared. "Hunter and Seraphim tell me that all the time."
She was running. She didn't remember how long she was running, but it seemed to have been quite some time. Even as an accomplished dancer with great stamina, she was now stumbling over her tired legs. She looked behind her, her head beating quickly as she heard the sounds of someone tirelessly following her.
She was terrified. Why didn't the man just give up? Sweat was dripping down her body as she looked behind her. Her dark hair was damp with the fog as she ran non stop. The sound of twigs crunching under her foot steps echoed in her ears as the crisp night air surrounded her.
Her heart was beating quickly. Not just from her running, but from the fear she felt. She never remembered being so afraid in her entire life. She glanced over her shoulder once more.
Green eyes.
They were coming closer. "No..." she gasped as her eyes watered with red blood tears. A pale hand extended towards her. "NO!" she screamed. Green eyes drew her in, suddenly making her unable to move.
Her body froze in it's spot as the hands reached towards her. Long white hair surrounded her vision as the green eyes pulsated with an eerie glow. Glimmering white fangs rushed towards her pale neck and she screamed.
"Sacred blood?" Quistis whispered as Rinoa told her. "I know I've read that somewhere..." the blond mumbled as she looked down at the books and papers that were scattered around one of the desks in the palace library.
"Faith said that we should not let sacred blood spill," Rinoa said. "But I'm not sure what it is..."
"I think it has something to do with ancient vampires..." Quistis mumbled. She pointed to a stack of books close to Rinoa. "Check that stack for some books on ancients. I'll look through this one."
"Okay." Rinoa said. She began to go through the pile of books to her side. Numerous volumes of text had been removed from the shelves in order to find as much information as they could on ancient vampires.
"Is Squall really angry at Hunter?" Quistis asked quietly.
"Yes..." Rinoa admitted. "But I think he's more upset at the fact that we found them in such an...intimate position than upset about going to Al Bhed."
"I think so, too," Quistis nodded. "RJ really seems to be attached to Hunter."
Rinoa giggled slightly. "Do you remember when they were little and Hunter would come over?" Rinoa asked. Quistis nodded. "Dad...Laguna, once said that RJ made them play wedding."
Quistis immediately stopped what she was doing and looked at Rinoa. "WEDDING?" she asked, an amused smile across her face.
Rinoa nodded. "At first RJ was the bride, but somewhere along the line, it seemed that Hunter was turned into the bride. When he refused, RJ asked him 'why? Don't you want to marry me?'. Right in front of her grandfather!"
"No!" Quistis gasped. She let out a laugh. "Laguna must've died!"
"He said he nearly did," Rinoa laughed. She shook her head. "I know he wants to protect her, though."
"You know...Hunter pointed out something earlier," Quistis said. "Although I hate to admit it."
"What?" Rinoa asked.
"He said that no matter how much we try to protect them, sooner or later they'd have to fight their own battles."
Rinoa paused and nodded. "I understand..." she took a deep breath. "It worries me, sometimes. I feel like I've become my father."
"General Caraway?"
Rinoa nodded. "He wanted to put me in a Safe House, remember? And I refused. I'm starting to think that I'm shoving RJ into a sort of 'safe house' now. Preventing her from growing up, you know?"
Quistis nodded. "You're her mother. It's only natural."
"Anyway," Rinoa said as she continued to look through the pile of books. "Regardless of what Squall thinks, I trust Hunter. I know he'd take VERY good care of RJ."
"Not to mention the prospect of grandchildren seems quite a bit addicting..." Quistis grinned. "I'd love another little girl to dress up."
Rinoa sighed. "If only they stayed children forever," she said. "Oh, hey! I think I found the book!"
"Let me see," Quistis said. Rinoa handed her a heavy leather bound book. She took it and dusted it off. She opened it up and flipped through the pages. "Yes...this is definitely it."
"What does it say?" Rinoa asked as she leaned over the table.
"Sacred blood refers to the pure blood type in the veins of the vampires who originally were dropped from heaven," Quistis said. She narrowed her eyes. "Meaning that ancients who came from heaven...like Princess Sara, had sacred blood."
"What about Sephiroth?" Rinoa asked. "He's an ancient...do you think it's possible?" Quistis' blue eyes look up at Rinoa.
"I wouldn't be too surprised," Quistis mumbled. "His magic...his skills...he's definitely not ordinary."
"If Sephiroth has sacred blood..." Rinoa whispered as she sat back in her chair. "Wouldn't it already have been shed?"
"We shed his blood many years ago...when we beheaded him and thought we killed him," Quistis said. She looked up at Rinoa. "I don't understand. Is there another ancient we don't know about?"
"I don't know any one else who has blood like that." Rinoa replied quietly. "And truthfully, I'm not sure I want to."
Quistis nodded just as a scream echoed through the palace. Rinoa shot up in chair as Quistis grabbed her head. "A psychic scream as well as a real one!" Quistis said. "Rinoa, it's RJ!"
"Oh, Hyne, no!" Rinoa gasped. She and Quistis tore through the library and burst out of the doors.
They ran up the back stairs to get to RJ's room, running into Squall along the way. "Did you hear her?" the worried father exclaimed as he ran along side of his wife and Quistis.
"Another nightmare?!" Rinoa suggested as they reached the floor where RJ's bedroom was located and ran down the hall to get to her room. As they approached, Rinoa's eyes narrowed. "Magic..." she gasped. "It's not RJ's magic signature!"
"Squall, get the door!" Quistis said as the dark haired vampire rushed RJ's door.
"RJ!" he yelled. The door crashed open and they looked inside as a gust of wind blew past them.
Rinoa rushed in behind him and her eyes went wide. "RJ!!!" she screamed, terrified.
Squall rushed forward, against the current of the wind that was flowing in through an open window. "Quistis! Close the window!" he shouted to the tall blond behind his wife.
Quistis ran forward, rushing towards the window as Rinoa stood, frozen at her place. RJ's sheets were at a pile on her bed as numerous stuffed animals an pillows littered the area surrounding her bed. Her medium length dark hair flew around her face as her her loose pajamas wavered in the wind.
She was floating three feet off the mattress of her canopy bed. A horrified look was on her face as her eyes were wide open as blue orbs looked straight up at the ceiling. Her fingers were crooked as if she were trying to stand a lot of pain. Squall jumped up on his daughter's bed without a second thought and grabbed her around the waist.
"LET ME GO!!" RJ screamed.
She began to twist and turn, but her body was still quite stiff non the less. Quistis closed the window and the wind died down. RJ's body went still as it fell limp in her father's arms.
"RJ?" Rinoa asked in a shaking voice. Squall fell to his knees on the bed, gently placing his precious daughter on her blankets as Rinoa and Quistis rushed over. "RJ? Baby...?" the brunette whispered softly as she crawled on the bed next to Squall and reached over, gently to sweep her daughter's head out of her forehead.
Squall narrowed his eyes as he smelled a distinct scent. Quietly, he raised his hand and swept RJ's hair from the left side of her neck. "Rinoa!" he gasped.
Immediately, the brunette looked over and her eyes went wide with worry. Quistis looked over the wound. "A bite mark..."
"Did you see anyone go out the window!?" Squall said as he scrambled off the bed and ran to the window as Rinoa gently placed her hand over RJ's wound and began to heal it with a cure spell.
"I didn't see anything," Quistis said. "Do you smell anything?" Quistis asked.
Squall shook his head and looked around the room with narrowed eyes. "Rinoa?" he said, looking over at his wife, who was crouched down next to their daughter, tearfully healing the bleeding bite mark on her neck.
"It's familiar..." she whispered quietly as her eyes never left RJ. "I think it's..."
Her voice trailed off and Quistis narrowed her eyes. She turned to Squall. "Call Seifer and Hunter. Tell them to come here immediately."
Squall looked slightly surprised, but quickly narrowed his eyes. "Are you forgetting what happened tonight-"
"Hunter will KNOW If the magic signature belongs to who we think it belongs to or not!" Quistis snapped. "Don't argue with me, Squall! Go!"
The vampire stood there, mentally battling with himself. Rinoa whirled around to glare at him. "Go get him, Squall!" Rinoa hissed, exposing her teeth. "I don't have time for you to be stubborn!"
"Call the others back!" Quistis added. "I think it's time we kick this thing into full gear."
Squall looked at the women on the bed and nodded. He quickly turned around and headed out the door. Rinoa turned back to her daughter and gently caressed her face. RJ's breathing was still shallow. Moments passed and the brunette seemed to be battling with herself as she laid in bed.
Suddenly, her pale eyelids flew open to reveal terrified blue eyes. "No!" she screamed. Her body began to struggle and Quistis and Rinoa held her down.
"RJ!" Rinoa gasped. "RJ! Stop! It's me! It's me!"
Sapphire eyes turned to look into deep brown ones and slowly teared up with red liquid. Her breathing was shallow as she raised her hand. Her mother quickly took it and squeezed it reassuringly. "He's after me..." RJ whispered quietly. "He wants me...because he said that I'm like him..."
"Like who, baby?" Rinoa asked.
RJ bit her trembling lip. "Like the man with the green eyes..." she whispered.
Rinoa looked up and met Quistis' eyes. "Man with the green eyes?" Quistis asked. She looked down at RJ. "Sephiroth?"
RJ nodded slowly. "He said that we're the same..."
"RJ...what did he tell you when you were with him?" Quistis asked softly. RJ closed her eyes.
"He said that I was just like him..." she whispered. "That my blood is like his."
Rinoa stiffened and her heart stopped. "What exactly..." she breathed nervously. "What exactly is HIS blood like?"
RJ opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. "His blood is called Sacred Blood," the young vampiress said. "Just like mine..."
"What?" Quistis said. "RJ...honey...did you say he said you had SACRED Blood?" RJ nodded slowly.
"But...but you're not an ancient..." Rinoa stammered nervously. "That's impossible. Only ancients can have Sacred Blood. And even then, it's only a rare few that came from heaven."
"I know..." RJ said quietly. "I read about it in his library there."
"What else do you know?" Quistis asked. "We need to know as much as possible, honey."
"I know..." RJ answered softly. She struggled to get up and Rinoa and Quistis helped her into a sitting position. The young vampiress leaned back against her head board. "Sephiroth told me that there was something about my blood. That it was the same as someone he once knew..."
"Did he tell you who?" Rinoa asked. RJ shook her head slowly.
"He said that it was rare. That's why I was there."
"Does he want to drink you?" Rinoa asked.
"He already has..." RJ murmured tearfully. She rubbed her eyes with her hands and Quistis reached over to the night stand and grabbed a box of tissues. She handed them to the vampiress who pulled out a few sheets and began to wipe her eyes.
"I don't understand...why didn't you stop bleeding?" Quistis said. "I studied the bracelets. They only negate magic powers, so your healing ability shouldn't have been affected."
"I don't know, Mrs. Almasy..." RJ sniffled. "I really don't know!"
"Shh..." Rinoa cooed. She put her arm around RJ's shaking body and pulled her closer. "It's all right, baby...we'll stop. But if you can, you need to tell us as much as you know."
RJ nodded her head as she buried it in her mother's shoulder. "I will..." she sniffled, trying to be strong. "I'll be fine."
Rinoa looked at Quistis, showing her the worry on her face. *She says that... but I'm still worried.*
Quistis read her thoughts and nodded in agreement. *He's haunting her in her dreams...*
*He's doing it again...just like when she was a child at the Gates...* Rinoa thought bitterly.
*We have to stop him,* Quistis' thoughts reached Rinoa's mind. *Soon...*
*I can't stand to see her like this, Quistis...* Rinoa thought back as she squeezed her daughter against her. *It's like...It's like I can't do anything to help her. I'm not her knight.*
Quistis tilted her head to the side. "Her knight...?"
Rinoa opened her mouth to reply with RJ's door swung open once more. Rinoa turned her head, Quistis looked over Rinoa's shoulder, and RJ looked up from Rinoa's arms. Her blue eyes went wide as she saw the out of breath blond standing at her door way, dressed in a loose red shirt under a plaid long sleeve, unbuttoned shirt, and worn jeans.
Green eyes lifted to meet her as layered blond hair ran wildly around his face. He was leaning tiredly against the door frame. "RJ?" he gasped out as he set his eyes on her. "RJ, are you all right?"
RJ's breathing grew deeper and shorter as she sat up straight and looked at him. Her lower lip trembled as she crawled from her space between her mother and his. She rushed off the bed, stumbling as her feet landed on the cold floor.
Hunter's eyes filled with worry as he rushed forward, arms open. RJ stumbled against him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she buried her face in his chest. Her shoulders heaved up and down as her tearful crying went into over drive.
Strong arms wrapped around her frail shoulders as his head bent down and laid a top hers. "Hunter..." RJ whispered tearfully. "I'm scared."
He didn't know what to say. The only thing he could do was hold her, using his body as a momentary shield to keep her safe from the world. From where they were sitting on RJ's bed, Rinoa and Quistis watched the young couple hold each other. RJ seemed to be absorbed into Hunter's embrace.
Slowly, Rinoa's brown eyes grew large. *Her knight...*
*Rinoa,* Quistis' thoughts echoed in Rinoa's head, causing the brunette to turn her head around and look at the blond. *I think we should leave them alone.*
Rinoa smiled slightly and nodded. *Yeah...I have to keep Squall from coming up here.*
Quistis smiled and stood up. She and Rinoa headed towards the door as quietly as they could, although it seemed at the two people standing in the room were too lost in each other to even realize they were leaving. *Please keep Squall away for the time being. I would like to keep my son alive.* Rinoa giggled slightly as she pulled the door partially closed behind them.
"RJ...?" Hunter asked quietly.
"He came after me again..." RJ stammered tearfully as her fingers clung on to his shirt desperately. "He's in my dears, Hunter! And he drank from me again!"
He narrowed his eyes and swept aside her hair. He could barely see the marks on her neck, but knew what they were. "I'm sorry..." he said softly. "I wasn't there."
"Don't leave me again..." RJ cried. "I don't want to be alone when he comes again."
Hunter looked around the room and narrowed his eyes. There was magic signature there. It was faint, but he recognized it immediately. "Sephiroth..." he whispered.
RJ nodded. "Hunter, I'm scared..."
"I know...I know," Hunter said as his arms wrapped around her waist tightly. He put his head over hers and gently rubbed her back. "I won't leave you. Even if I have to hide outside your window."
"I'm not scared when I'm with you," RJ admitted, seemingly unaware of what she was saying. "I feel safe with you."
Hunter licked his lips slightly as she looked up at him, streaks of red on her face. "RJ..." he whispered quietly.
She tilted her head upwards, her eyes slowly fluttering closed. Her soft pink lips were warm and inviting. They called to him as he felt his heart pounding in his chest. A warm breath brushed his lips just as they pressed softly on hers.
RJ let herself be lost in a swirl of heated emotions as her body leaned heavily against his. Her fingers crawled through his thick hair as her lips parted to let out a breath. She felt something invade her mouth and let out a soft moan as his hands pulled her closer to him.
Hunter succumbed to drowning himself in her arms. Her strong scent flooded his senses as he tasted her. Nothing else existed for him at that moment. The only thing that mattered was RJ. The skinny, whiny, spoiled brat. The beautiful, fun loving, young vampiress.
RJ's door opened wide. "RJ!?" a voice gasped from the door way. Too lost in each other, neither party registered the voice.
Laguna stood at the door way, his eyes wide as he stared at them. They were standing in front of him, RJ partially hidden behind Hunter as the male's hands kept her steady. Her fingers continuously played through his golden hair as their heads turned slightly with each movement.
"Hunter..." RJ let out a soft whisper.
Laguna felt all the blood drain from his body as his heart stopped. He turned pale and his eyes rolled back. Within a second, he crumpled to a heap on the floor. *My little baby...*
A thud was heard and RJ pulled away from Hunter. She looked towards the door and her eyes went wide. A blush flooded her cheeks. "GRANDPA!" she gasped.
"Huh?" Hunter turned around and paled. "Master Laguna!" *I'm going to die. Yes. It's official. I might as well kill myself. He saw us. I'm dead. Good-bye world.*
"HUNTER!!!" a voice shouted through the palace as Ellone set some coffee on the table and looked up.
"That sounded like Uncle Laguna..." Ellone mumbled. Quistis and Rinoa looked at each other across the table, worriedly.
"What is he is yelling about now?" Seifer grumbled as he sat back in his chair. Selphie and Irvine shrugged from where they were seated across from him. Zell was reaching for a cookie on a silver platter when running could be heard.
"I'm SORRY!!!" a voice yelled, obviously terrified.
"GRANDPA, NO!!!" a female voice screamed.
"HOW DARE YOU DEFILE MY PRECIOUS BABY!?!?!" a furious male voice shouted.
Squall, who was in the middle of drinking, spat out his coffee and looked up with wide blue eyes. "What!?"
He jumped off his seat and Rinoa practically tackled him down. "No!" she shouted as she grabbed on to him.
"Rinoa!" Squall said sternly. "Let me go." he added in a low, warning tone.
"I refuse!" she yelped.
"I'LL KILL YOU!!" Laguna's voice yelled, sounding closer.
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!!" Hunter's voice replied back loudly.
"What's going on?!" Squall growled, still trying to stand up, but Rinoa refusing to let him.
"What's all the commotion about?" Selphie asked. "What's going on? Quisty? Rin? Do you know?"
"Uh..." Quistis mumbled nervously. "Um...well, Hunter went to check on something in RJ's room and..."
"We left them there hugging." Rinoa said.
"Aww..." Selphie cooed. "That's so cute!"
"You did WHAT!?" Squall growled. He shot out of his chair, sending Rinoa to the floor.
"Squall, don't even THINK about it!" Rinoa hissed as she jumped up. "Don't you see? Hunter might be RJ's KNIGHT!?"
"His WHAT?" Squall asked, annoyed.
"A sorceress' knight!" Rinoa said. "You always forget that RJ is a sorceress, too! When a sorceress of her caliber is in trouble, she needs a knight!"
"I'll be her knight!" Squall stated.
"You CAN'T be her knight!" Rinoa shouted.
"Why not!?" Squall asked, frustrated.
"Because you're MY knight!" she gasped. "When you said you'd protect me, you basically sealed the deal!"
"I'm...how come you didn't tell me!?" Squall asked.
"It slipped my mind!" Rinoa answered. "With my kidnapping, thinking you were dead, going to rescue you and all that, you should understand WHY I forgot!"
"Wait a second," Seifer said. The parents of the young vampiress turned around to look at the blond man who leaned forward from his seat on the couch. "What exactly are you saying about Hunter?"
"Hunter might be a sorceress' knight." Rinoa said.
"MY son?" Seifer asked. "Are you SURE?"
"Yeah, any son belonging to you is questionable..." Zell mumbled. Seifer shot him a look and Quistis let out a sigh.
"If Hunter IS RJ's knight, then they should be kept together." Quistis stated.
"WHAT!?" Squall gasped. "No!"
"He won't do anything to hurt her, Squall! And it's necessary! She's been attacked in her sleep, after all." Selphie piped.
"We can post guards!" Squall exclaimed.
"I don't know..." Irvine mused to himself. "I think the girls' are right. I think that the knight should stay with his sorceress."
"No!" Seifer gasped. "Do you know what will happen!?"
"There is NO way I'm letting that boy sleep in the same room as my daughter!" Squall growled viciously.
"I don't want to share grandkids with HIM!" Seifer and Squall shouted simultaneously. They froze and looked at each other.
"HELP ME!!" Hunter's voice echoed.
"Squall, Seifer, this not about you!" Rinoa hissed. "This is about the safety of my daughter! And whether you both like it or not, Hunter will remain close to RJ!"
Seifer grumbled and leaned back against the couch as Squall sat down on his chair. "Whatever..."
"Selphie, call them in," Quistis said. "Before Laguna kills them."
The brunette nodded and stood up. She walked out into the hall way as she saw Hunter turn the corner and head towards her. "AUNT SELPHIE, HELP ME!!"
"In here!" Selphie said. Hunter slid to a stop and quickly turned, grabbing the door way as he ran into the room where he saw his parents and their friends.
"HUNTER!!" Laguna growled. His eyes were glowing red as long fangs protruded from his mouth.
"Grandpa!" RJ screamed. "Stop it!!" She was running behind him, struggling to catch up.
Hunter dove behind the couch where his parents were seated as Laguna entered the room and paused with a blood thirsty look on his face. RJ ran up behind him. "Where is he!?" he growled while he sniffed the air.
"Grandpa!" RJ yelled, now angry. "Fine! You asked for it!" she shouted. She ran in front of him and took a deep breath. "WAHHH!!!!"
Irvine nearly fell off the couch he was sitting on as RJ burst into tearful hysterics. Complete with blood tears and a shaking body, the brunette let out wails between her sobbing. "THAT'S how she gets him to stop?!" Irvine gasped in disbelief.
"Deadly, isn't it?" Zell nodded.
Laguna's face softened as he watched his granddaughter fall to her knees and cry. "RJ?" He asked softly. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"
"You're going to kill him!" RJ sobbed loudly.
"No! No, I won't!" Laguna pleaded as he knelt down next to her. "Grandpa won't kill him!"
"Do...do you...promise?" RJ gasped out in broken sobs.
Hunter peeked out from behind the couch and raised an eyebrow. *Deep down...she's still a little brat...* he thought to himself.
*I really wouldn't be thinking that about the girl whose saving your life.* Quistis thought back to her son. Hunter looked over at his mother.
*He wouldn't REALLY kill me, would he? Maul me, maybe...*
*He's the leader of the most powerful vampire clan in the world,* Quistis said. She looked over at Hunter. *He'd probably get away with it.* Hunter's eyes went wide and he swallowed nervously.
"Yes! Grandpa, promises!" Laguna assured her. RJ nodded and rubbed her eyes.
"Okay..." she whispered, nodding her head slightly. She gave her grandfather a hug and Laguna was in tears with joy. His one weakness - RJ in tears.
Squall rolled his eyes. *That man is so easily manipulated,* he thought to himself. "RJ, we have to talk to you."
She turned around from where she was seated on the floor. "About what...?"
"You need a knight," Rinoa said. "You should've studied that at school in Galbadia. Do you know what is it?"
"A warrior that protects a sorceress of a certain strength when she is threatened," RJ said softly. "We learned about that."
"Baby..." Rinoa mumbled. "You don't choose your knight. And your knight doesn't choose you."
"So how do I find him?" RJ asked.
"You don't," Quistis said. "When you meet him, you'll know."
"It's a bond that'll be with you forever," Rinoa told her. "I think I know who your knight is."
RJ's eyes went wide. "Who?"
*Oh, that's just great! Just when I'm getting somewhere with her, some other guy is going to walk in and I'll end up not getting any in the end. This is just PERFECT.* Hunter thought to himself.
"He's hiding behind us." Seifer grumbled. He looked over his shoulder and Hunter froze.
"Me?" he asked quietly, pointing to himself, completely unsure if they were serious or not.
"No, the window BEHIND you," Seifer rolled his eyes. "Of course it's you!"
"Dad..." Rinoa said sternly as she looked at Laguna. "You will refrain from killing Hunter or attacking him. Or sending others to do so. Understand?"
"But-" Laguna began, Rinoa gave him a stern look. "Fine..."
Quistis shook her head. "I can't believe you'd threaten to kill him after just a hug..."
"A HUG?" Laguna asked. RJ's eyes went wide and turned red. Hunter froze and sank back down behind the couch. "They were NOT HUGGING!"
"Grand...grandpa..." RJ whispered quietly. "It's okay...you don't have to elaborate."
Squall leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. "What WERE they doing?"
"Hunter, I am SO sorry!" RJ said as she cast the healing spell over a particularly nasty cut. "I didn't know dad would go berserk like that!"
Hunter grumbled. He was laying on a sleeping bag on the floor, next to RJ's bed. "Just shut up and heal the damn wounds."
"I'm really sorry." RJ said once more. She was kneeling next to him and he grabbed her hand.
"Stop apologizing," he snapped, annoyed. "I'm tired of hearing it." RJ looked down slightly and felt him pull her forward.
"Hunter, your wounds!" RJ gasped as she flushed.
"Kiss them."
"What?"
"Kiss them to make them better."
"..." RJ raised an eyebrow as she turned her head to look up at him from where her head was pressed against his shoulder. "Hunter...I don't know what they taught you at Balamb Garden, but healing spells come through the hands."
Hunter rolled his eyes. "You are such an idiot..." He brushed aside her hair to reveal her neck. "He bit you here?" RJ nodded. Hunter pressed his lips against it. "All better?"
"It hurts here..." she mumbled, pointing to her cheeks. Hunter smirked and kissed her left cheek. "And here." she said, pointing to her lips.
"What a coincidence," he smiled. "I hurt there, too..." he leaned forward.
"Squall," Quistis said as she looked up from the book she was reading in the library with Rinoa. "What happened to those bracelets you asked for?"
"Hmm?" Squall asked casually as he looked up from a book he was researching. "Oh...I had Kiros and Ward do a few modifications. It turns out that with the right modifications, it can be set to stop certain thoughts and biological mechanics...a combination of both can stop magic. It also turns out that can be locked with a code so that no one without the code can take them off."
"Really? What were you going to use it for?" Quistis asked.
Suddenly, she heard a scream of pain coming from upstairs. Squall grinned, pleased with himself. "I'm already using it."