Author's Note: I'm still debating on how much romance/drama/action should I put in. This story could go so many ways . . . so let me know what you guys want most of. Til the next chapter =)

Days passed as Squall stayed around the small town, hoping to catch another glimpse of the raven-haired girl. She was a mystery to him. There was no one who had been unafraid of him before, especially after discovering his identity. He could accept hatred, fear, solitude and the loneliness that threatened to consume him, but he could not understand her forgiveness. He spotted a small stream nearby and decided to hunt. The crisp air stung at his cheeks and hands as he kneeled by the water, waiting patiently for fish to swim by. After several minutes, his reward was two trout. Squall headed into a nearby cave to light a fire to cook his meal. He could not afford someone seeing the smoke and investigating.

After roasting the fish sufficiently, Squall began to eat. Then he heard the familiar soft crunching of snow a small distance away.

"Squall?" whispered Rinoa as she looked around. The snowy white scene betrayed no movement. Please let him still be here . . . She lowered her light blue hood once more and peered into her surroundings. Then she felt his presence. Rinoa spun around too quickly and almost fell except for a strong pair of arms steadying her.

Squall quickly jerked his hands back from her. It was the first time he had ever touched someone in many years. He took a couple of steps back and resumed his gruff pretense. He narrowed his eyes and asked harshly, "What are you doing back here?"

Rinoa was not fazed. She gave him a small smile. "Ever the charmer I see." She paused before pushing an invisible stray strand of her hair behind her ear, as was her habit when she was nervous. "I just wanted to talk to you, if you don't mind of course." Rinoa let her voice trail off. She really hoped that he did not mind her presence.

Squall said nothing but turned around and headed back towards his cave and meal. He walked a few more steps but did not hear hers. "Fine, whatever."

Rinoa decided that was the closest answer to a 'yes,' she would get from him and hurriedly followed him.

They seated themselves alongside the fire. Rinoa sat slightly apart from Squall. He did not seem comfortable with human contact just yet. Squall did not continue to eat but merely looked away from Rinoa's gaze.

She started the conversation, or rather monologue. "How long has it been since you escaped?"

"Three years," came the curt and seemingly irritated reply.

Rinoa nodded her head in thought. "You're from Balamb right? What's it like there?"

Squall sighed. "I don't know. We weren't allowed outside unless for missions."

"Why did you escape? I mean, I thought mercenaries have no free will or conscience," Rinoa asked.

Squall rolled his eyes. "We have free will and a . . . 'conscience' as you call it. It is just hard to oppose beliefs that have been instilled since you can remember."

Rinoa laughed a little. "You avoided the question. What makes you different from the rest of them?"

Geez, does every human ask this many questions? No wonder we were never allowed to talk to them. We always asked them questions and expected a concise reply. It is . . . nice though. But you cannot grow accustomed to comfort. It's all taken away from you eventually. There are no such things as friends among mercenaries . . . comrades maybe, but no true friends. Perhaps this is what Ultimecia did not want us to see . . . that life is not all war or back-stabbing policies.

"Squall?" Rinoa waved a hand in front of his eyes.

He came out of his thoughts and remembered her question. "My parentage perhaps. My parents were the only ones I ever knew that didn't believe in the need to kill. They believed in your way of life." Squall felt an ache in his heart. Mom . . . Dad . . . I wish you were here with me now and telling me that I'm doing the right thing . . . that living my life as an outcast is better than living with mercenaries.

Rinoa sensed Squall's pain and asked quietly. "What happened to your parents?"

Squall laughed bitterly but said nothing.

"I have to go . . . but I'll see you soon ok? You will still be here won't you?"

Squall did not look up at the leaving figure. He gave her a one-word reply: "Whatever."

Rinoa pretended to be angry. "Meany!" She smiled as she turned around and left.

Squall chuckled at her response after she had gone. It felt good, almost natural to laugh.

----

"But Dad!" Rinoa protested.

"No buts! I said it and I mean it! You are not to go out there! Someone sighted a mercenary, and I refuse to let you endanger yourself just to watch the dawn!" Cid yelled. There would be no arguing with him now. He was very stubborn and authoritative when he wanted to be. Cid was also very protective of his daughters.

Rinoa crossed her arms but did not say anything more. She knew it would be pointless to argue now. She headed up to her room where Quistis was sitting on her bed.

"What do you want?" Rinoa asked tiredly. She was in no mood to deal with her foster sister.

"I know your secret!" Quistis said in a sing-song voice.

That got Rinoa's attention and she narrowed her eyes at Quistis. "Whatever." Geez, he's already rubbing off on me! This can't be good!

"I'm going to tell! Then you'll really never be let outside again!" Quistis smiled smugly. Despite being one of the best fighters in the village, Quistis was still very innocent and childish. She did not know what it was to be a true, battle-hardened warrior.

Quistis jumped off the bed and pretended to walk towards the door. Rinoa stopped her with a firm arm. "You're not going to tell any one," she said firmly.

"And why shouldn't I? What would you give me?" Quistis asked. There was always something to be gained from useful knowledge.

"What do you want?" Rinoa rolled her eyes tiredly. As if not being able to see Squall was not enough, now she had to put up with her foster sister too. She was not having a good day.

Quistis did not even hesitate in her answer. She had given it sufficient thought already. She stated matter-of-factly, "I want to meet him."

"That's not possible and not up to me," Rinoa protested. Squall would be very angry and probably even leave if someone else knew about his presence. She hope he would be forgiving and comforted by the fact Quistis kept her secrets and promises . . . most of the time.

"Then I guess you won't get to see him again. Besides, I'm sure you guys are best buddies now that you've been spending so much time together. He'd probably do anything for you!" Quistis announced. She wanted to meet Squall because he was very dangerous from the reports, as well as very handsome. There were people who had shown his picture and asked about him. Then again, she would be one of the very few people to meet a mercenary and live. Quistis also believed there was nothing Rinoa could have that she couldn't. She decided that if she liked Squall enough, she'd use her 'irresistible' charm so that he'd have no choice but to dump Rinoa for her!

Rinoa sighed, defeated. She had no choice. "Get us out of here then."