"Seifer, kome here. This mission is of great importance," Ultimecia began.

Seifer stepped closer with a characteristic cocky grin on his face. He would not fail this test. He was, after all the best fighter in the mercenary academy, or so it was rumored. There were bets placed on Squall and there were bets placed on Seifer. Squall had run away before they could find out who was the better.

"Seifer, I want you to bring the traitor back, alive." Ultimecia wanted to torture Squall personally.

"No problem," Seifer replied.

"Do NOT be arrogant, foolish boy!" screamed Ultimecia.

Seifer lost the smirk immediately. He answered quietly, as she had touched upon his insecurities. "I am not a boy."

Ultimecia tossed her head back and laughed. It was too easy to play her instruments. She managed a wicked smile. "We shall see."

---

Twigs cracked under Rinoa's feet despite her best efforts to move stealthily. She winced as a particularly loud crack sounded from under her feet.

"You'll never be of any use except for a semi-competent housewife," scoffed Quistis.

Rinoa said nothing but sighed in response to the insult. She was use to it after all. It was pointless to argue with her foster sister who believed she could accomplish anything. The two women had completely different outlooks on everything.

Rinoa was humble, grateful to Cid for raising her. She felt lucky to be rescued and sheltered. Quistis however, felt she deserved everything. Cid was the lucky one. After all, who could be so fortunate as to raise such a wonderful, perfect foster daughter?

Rinoa was kind, sympathetic to others, where as Quistis was unforgiving. Quistis felt bitter towards her parents for abandoning her – and it showed in the way she acted towards other people. She was manipulative, using others, especially stupid men who fell for her charms for her own purposes – sometimes just to entertain herself, other times to show Rinoa who the real woman was.

"Are we almost there yet?" Quistis asked impatiently.

"Almost," answered Rinoa softly. She was wrestling with her conscience. She knew Squall did not want any one else to know his whereabouts, but she desperately wanted . . . needed to see him again.

The forest was still a beautiful blinding white. Crystal snowflakes began to fall. Rinoa looked up at the sky and held out her hand, catching one dazzling, intricately fashioned snowflake. She smiled away from Quistis, who would only mock her childlike innocence. Unbeknownst to her, Squall was watching her hidden pleasure.

Rinoa pulled her light blue fur-lined hood with gloved hands. "We're here," she said, stopping in front of a cave entrance.

"You first. He might have laid a trap or something," Quistis said while she pushed Rinoa into the cave.

Rinoa stumbled but caught her balance on a nearby rock.

Quistis followed, satisfied there was no trap. She smiled haughtily, straightening her hair with her fingers.

"Call him," she ordered Rinoa.

"I'm sorry Squall . . . I hope you will forgive me," she muttered under her breath. "Squall! Are you here?" Rinoa called out.

Silence was her answer. She smiled with bittersweet thoughts. Maybe Squall had left to find a better hiding place. Maybe he would find the acceptance and peace he was looking for. Maybe . . .

Rinoa whirled around sensing another presence . . . his presence. She saw the edge of a gunblade pressed against Quistis's throat. A glowing white-blue blade, Lionheart.

"Don't say a word," Squall growled dangerously into Quistis's ear. The hard winter-blue eyes shifted to Rinoa.

She saw the look of betrayal, and anger in his eyes. Squall was waiting for an explanation.

"She knew. She's been following me when I went to see you. Quistis is my foster sister," Rinoa explained hurriedly. She disliked Quistis, but she did not want to see her hurt.

Squall's eyes softened slightly but his grip on Lionheart did not flinch. "You do realize the consequences of your actions, don't you?"

Tears began to form in Rinoa's doe-brown eyes and she turned her head away to hide them from the mercenary. Emotions were a weakness . . . that's what she knew he had been taught. She couldn't let him see her weak. She wiped the tears away with her hand and faced Squall, sadly nodding.

"There was no choice for me." Rinoa tried to explain while losing the battle with her falling teardrops. "It was either taking Quistis to see you or have her tell everyone and risk your freedom." She looked at the ground, avoiding his piercing gaze. "I did what I had to . . . I can only hope for your forgiveness before you leave." Rinoa closed her eyes and balled up her fists, praying for strength. She wondered what Squall was thinking, how much he hated her . . .

"I don't want you to leave hating me . . . but I don't know how to make it up to you . . . or how to make you understand I did what I thought was best for you." Rinoa didn't want to lose the only friend she felt she had, besides her foster parents.

Squall said nothing. He thought about his options. He studied the beautiful raven-haired girl who had been his sole companion for the past few days. She had shown him the beauty of humanity with a smile at simple delights, of carefree afternoons, and of peace . . . inner peace. The demons that haunted him had been silent while she talked to him, told him of her childhood, her memories. Squall secretly wanted to see her smile, laugh and be anything but sad. He knew he had no choice in his decision either.

Squall raised an eyebrow at Rinoa. "Who said I was leaving?" There was a very small hint of a teasing smile upon his lips. He would not be the one to break this beautiful girl's heart.

Her eyes fluttered open. Rinoa was in a state of disbelief. Her wildest and almost impossible hope had been realized. Forgetting everything except her happiness, Rinoa ran to Squall and pushed Quistis aside. She flew into his arms, resting her head upon his shoulder while warm tears of joy ran down her already tear-stained cheek.

Squall was shocked by her suddenness and unsure of what to do. Both of his arms were still parallel to the ground, in position from holding Quistis. Squall lowered his arm holding his gunblade and used his other arm to roughly push Rinoa away, despite his protesting inner emotions. The contact unnerved him.

"Get off," he said gruffly.

Rinoa looked hurt and Squall regretted his harsh tone with the gentle beauty. They were interrupted by a wolf whistle. Squall immediately turned towards Quistis, annoyed and narrowed his eyes.

"Hey Rin, no wonder you kept him all to yourself. He's very . . . well built." Quistis eyed the mercenary extensively, much to his displeasure. She set her cornflower blue eyes upon his wintry blue ones. "Are you as dangerous as they say . . . Squall?" Quistis pried as she ran a finger down the side of his arm.

Squall pulled away from her and stood closer to Rinoa, much to Quistis's dismay. "Leave," he barked.

"Oh surely you don't mean that," Quistis said with a sultry expression. "I mean you can't possibly stand Rinoa's company . . . unless . . ." Quistis smiled knowingly and with malicious intent.

Rinoa's eyes widened in realization of the secret Quistis was about to expose. "No! Don't Quistis! You promised! We made a deal remember?!" Rinoa was frantic to keep Quistis from talking.

Squall stood between the two women as to figure out what they were talking about. "What is she talking about Rinoa?" asked Squall Rinoa . . . you would have told me right? He looked at Rinoa, whose eyes pleaded with him for understanding. Rin . . .

"I knew he didn't know! No one could ever be your friend if they knew." Quistis smiled triumphantly.

"Squall . . ." Rinoa whispered. "I'm so sorry." With that, she ran out, letting crystalline tears continue their trail. Quistis is right. No one would ever be my friend if they knew. She shut her eyes in pain and ran off deeper into the forest.

Quistis purred at Squall, moving closer to him once again, until she placed both hands on his shoulders. "With that out of the way . . . you can let your true self show. You don't have to pretend to be her friend just to impress me." The tall physically beautiful blonde caressed Squall's roughly-shaven face with one hand.

Squall snapped out of his reverie and grabbed Quistis's offending hand. He held it with a crushing and bruising grip. "The hell I'll ever do anything to impress you . . . stay away from me," he spat.

"Aw . . . you spent far too much time alone. You don't know what you're saying," Quistis replied, unfazed.

"Let me make myself very clear so even you can understand. I don't want or need a pathetic excuse for a woman and a friend you pretend to be," Squall said with a steel-blue stare. With that, he dropped her hand and slipped out of the cave and into the forest to track down Rinoa.

Author's Note: Not to shabby I think . . . I've decided on several twists in the story that you may or may not guess (probably not =P). If you're reading my other fic, Emerald Dragon . . . it's currently on hold due to writer's block (what else?). Anyways, drop a line or two; let me know if this is going where you want it to. Til the next chapter ;)