Author's Note: You better love me! Lol . . . I wrote this despite the suggestion of being torched by some of my other story (Emerald Dragon)'s fans if I didn't update their story soon. This chapter is a bit of a break from dramatic cliffhangers . . . hopefully this will satisfy you guys for a little while.

To Angel of the Lion: Thanks for the help/reviews/comments.

To light_of_the_moon: I'm sorry if it bothered you that Squall seemed to ignore the fact that he trusted Rinoa before he discovered she was a Sorceress. He didn't ignore it though. In fact, he was battling years of brainwashing (that Sorceress's are power hungry and everyone is supposed to serve them) with the feelings in his heart. This chapter should explain things more thoroughly.

Chapter 9 – Judgment and Execution

It was a lie of course. But she needed him to believe it. Rinoa needed to play upon his emotions, to trigger the rage, the dark warrior that lie in shadow even now in his heart.

His eyes widened in momentary surprise at her 'confession', and then resumed their normally guarded stance. Squall had enough time to weigh his feelings, instincts, memories, and his common sense against each other. He had reached a conclusion. And two words, normally resulting in heartbreak, in pain, and in loss, freed him from the prison of his mind.

"You're lying." Squall's steadfast gaze penetrated Rinoa's defenses, any self-pity, and any anger she held.

Her morbid desires slowly drained away, as did her energy. She realized in his pronouncement there escaped any possibility for argument. He knew the truth. Rinoa recalled her power and it ebbed slowly back into the recesses of her body, for the moment. Angel wings folded neatly in and disappeared, waiting for its herald to call upon them once more.

Squall eyed her; he was weary of the games that had been played upon him, weary of the surprises. Upon the newly discovered secret, Squall felt that his heart was right. Rinoa was still the same person, regardless of being one of them. No, she's not one of them. She's Rinoa and she merely shares the same power they did. Not by her own choice, but by Fate.

Rinoa had lost her battle to summon the dark demons within Squall. She slumped against the wall and slid down onto the floor and began to cry softly, trying to muffle the sounds. She curled into a ball, feeling more protected and more alone. Perfectly formed drops of tears fell onto the ground as she turned away from him.

Squall stood standing, studying the girl before him, just watching her cry. He let a long sigh. Just because he refused to kill her didn't mean he could simply disregard everything she had told him. But he would ignore reality for a short while . . . for her and so he disappeared into the shadows.

Rinoa sobbed quietly in the corner. Why wouldn't fate be kind to her for once? She had sacrificed the little normalcy of her life for the eternal peace of a dying Sorceress. When Rinoa heard no noise emanating within the cave, she assumed her suspicions were right. Squall had deserted her. The bastard. She pulled out the Winter Rose still in her pocket. The little light from the cave shone upon it, and it emitted a soft silvery glow. It was his present, and she would disregard it as he had disregarded her friendship, her worth as a person.

She threw it harshly into the air, towards the entrance where, if she was lucky, it would be swept away with the storm. Rinoa watched the rose, fascinated as it slowly spun through the air, and never fell to the floor. She gasped as it was swiftly snatched from its flight into gloved hands. Her eyes rose from the floor towards his face.

Amusement was written upon his face. She saw the handsome, rugged face with tousled brown hair that could only belong to him.

Her mouth formed a perfect 'O' but she did not speak. Her amazement at his presence, at his very existence enraptured her. Tears still flowed from her eyes, but they were no longer testaments to her sadness, but to her hope and relief.

His lips formed a small wry smile. "Remind me not to give you anything expensive."

His name flowed from her soul to the tip of her tongue, but still she dared not utter it for if it escaped her lips she feared her only hope would escape with it.

Squall purposefully allowed his boots to utter a 'crunch' against the cold floor. He stood a step nearer to Rinoa and took another, shamefully reveling in the fact that she needed him. She needed him.

The perfect innocence that he believed defined Rinoa returned to her as she gave him a small, tearful smile.

Her hope would not leave, and she knew it as he stood in front of her. "Squall," she whispered tearfully. "Squall . . ." and she began to sob again, relief flooding through her. After all her worrying, all the rejection, she had found her role, her purpose. She existed solely for him, as he did for her.

Squall took the last step that separated him from the beautiful girl that was as innocent as the day they met. He knelt down to her. "Hey . . ." he said softly as she turned towards him. "Don't cry . . ." He hoped his presence was soothing enough for her, as contact was not his best subject of expertise. He didn't know how to comfort her.

"Here, I'm guessing you'd like this back," Squall offered the white rose with frosted silvery-blue edges.

He was beginning to get nervous as she said nothing and didn't even glance at the rose. What was he doing wrong?

"Oh Squall," she cried as she flung her arms around him and let her tears run their last course. "You dummy . . . I only want you," she dared to whisper; she clung onto him, as a child holds on to the parent they had previously lost.

A faint warming sensation filled Squall's cheeks and he recognized it to be a blush. He awkwardly patted her back, allowing her this moment of comfort.

Squall pulled away from her finally, coughing and trying to rid the pink staining his cheeks. The storm had cleared as he turned around. Only light trickles of snow fell.

"Let's go," he ordered gruffly, but he knew Rinoa realized his command was well-intentioned.

Rinoa lifted herself off the ground and dusted her self unceremoniously. The floor had been incredibly dirty and cold. She looked at the rose he was still holding. "I know I said I only want you . . . but I don't mind flowers either."

Squall tossed her the rose, turned to the entrance and motioned for Rinoa to follow. He turned around to make sure she was complying. "I knew you wanted that damn flower," he added with his back turned to her.

Rinoa smiled. "Of course. It was from you."

"Stay close to me at all times," he growled, trying half-heartedly to inspire a little fear within her but more to change the subject. All cadets he had trained had been afraid of him. Fear inspired respect, and a well-respected mercenary had an immense amount of control over his troops.

She let out a tinkling laugh. "You couldn't scare me if you tried Squall."

So much for inspiring fear.

Squall cast an annoyed look at Rinoa, who looked to him the image of perfection. His eyes lingered a second too long on her face and Rinoa raised a curious eyebrow at him. Squall hastily returned his gaze to the front after grabbing Rinoa's hand to ensure compliance. Yeah, that's all this is. To ensure she stays close to me. A warm tingling sensation crept up his arm and the thought of holding her in his arms teased his mind.

The two crept out of their hiding place and headed towards the nearest town, which was a good distance away. Squall glanced behind him again to inspect the surroundings. A soft, feminine voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Squall, were you . . . blushing?"

He snorted and pulled her along. Rinoa laughed softly to herself.