Watching You
Chapter Ten: On Your Marks
By PasifikStar

Author's Note: Beta-Reader Wanted!! I have a friend whose looking for a beta-reader and if anyone is interested, please send me a note! You'd have the honor of being the first to read her work, so this is a good chance. ^_^ And many people seem to be POed at Squall for his choice of action. @.@

* All standard disclaimers apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters.


"Hey, Irvine!" Rinoa said. She leaned back against the soft cushion of the car's back seat as she looked out the window at the passing street. "Hmm...oh, no I just got out."

From where he was sitting, Auron listened in on the young woman's phone call. He couldn't make out what Irvine was saying. "All ready?" Irvine asked her nervously. "That was pretty short."

"Actually, the photographer's hand was burned when someone spilled his latte on him by accident. We stopped half way through," Rinoa replied. "But I'm glad. I can relax a little."

"So where are you off to now?" he asked with a smile.

"Going home," Rinoa replied. She took a deep breath as her smile faded slightly. "Hey... Irvine, you haven't heard from Squall, have you?"

"Squall? Why would I have heard from Squall?" Irvine said. He was sitting in the living room of his condo, his eyes darting around the room nervously.

"Because I tried to call him earlier and he wasn't answering his phone," Rinoa pouted. "I'm kind of worried."

"Why?" Irvine asked thoughtfully. "You know he's not cheating on you. If he was, Seifer would've already called to say that he's killed him."

"No, it's not that," Rinoa mumbled. She looked down at her lap. "Nothing...never mind."

Irvine paused on the phone. "Rinoa..." he mumbled. "It's never just nothing with you. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, really," Rinoa asserted. She smiled weakly as she held Auron's phone up to her ear. "...It's just that I was hoping to talk to him and...well...you know, I couldn't reach him."

"Oh..." Irvine nodded. "I see..." *That's because he's at your place right now talking to your father...oh, crap! She's not supposed to know that!* "Hey, Rin, I have to get going," he said as he looked up at the clock on his wall. "I...uh...need to pick up my laundry! I'll call you later?"

"Sure," Rinoa said. "Bye!" Irvine hung up his phone and tossed it on the couch as he ran towards the door. He grabbed his keys and hat on his way out before flying out of the condo.


Squall pulled his hand away from the General's firm grip, trying to keep a serious look on his face the whole time. "You made the right decision, sir."

"Don't patronize me," Caraway hissed. "I obviously underestimated you, Leonhart. I now find it hard to believe that my sweet, innocent daughter could possibly fall in love with someone who would use her as you are."

"I have my reasons," Squall spat out. "And I do hope you realize that Rinoa is not to be informed of this...as well as the wager."

Caraway's eyes were narrowed viciously. "Of course."

"Good," The corners of Squall's lips pulled up slightly as his phone rang. "If you'll excuse me..."

He stepped back, away from the desk slightly. He lifted the phone to his ear as he paced by the door across the room. He kept wary eyes on General Caraway as the General watched him suspiciously. "Get out of there," he heard Irvine's voice hiss in a low tone. "Rinoa's coming home!"

A tiny spark of surprise went through Squall's hardened face. "I thought I had a few more hours."

"It was cut short! I just called her!" Irvine replied.

"I see..." Squall nodded. "Thank you." He hung up the phone and slowly slipped it back into his jacket.

"Problems, Commander?" Caraway asked coolly, noticing the slight change in attitude about Squall.

Cold blue eyes locked on to his. "Not at all," Squall said, a slight smirk on his face. "I have a long day tomorrow. I trust you'll be there at the start of the race - midnight tomorrow."

Caraway nodded. "I plan to."

Squall nodded. "Thank you for your time," he replied. "Have a nice evening."

Caraway headed towards the door, with Squall following behind him. He opened the heavy door and watched as Squall stepped out. "I would see you out, Commander, but I have things to attend to."

Squall nodded subtly and waited for Caraway to close the door before heading towards the stairs. He walked the short walk from Caraway's office to the top of the stairs. He quickly walked down the long, curve of stairs into the elegant foyer. As he reached the bottom floor, he pulled out his phone.

The maid who had let him in approached him from the a side hall and opened the door for him. He gave her a nod to thank her and stepped outside. "Where are you?" Irvine asked as soon as he answered the phone.

"I just got out of the mansion," Squall replied. "Where are you?"

"Outside, across the street," Irvine replied. "Hurry up, she'll be here soon."

"Right." Squall nodded and shoved his phone back into his pocket. He looked down the long drive way and speedily walked towards the front gate. He assumed that the entire area was fixed with cameras and that Caraway could be watching him at that very moment. In order to play it safe, he attempted a casual get away.

It took him a short minute to get to the front, already opened gates. He slipped out casually and as he walked down the street, searched for Irvine's car. He saw the vehicle parked in the shadows by the street corner and narrowed his eyes. Irvine was sitting there nervously, his hat hiding his face, but also acting as a dead give away that it was him.

His passenger's door open and he turned to see Squall enter. The car sank down slightly as Squall sat in it and closed his door. "How'd it go?" Irvine asked.

Squall nodded his head. "I'm racing tomorrow."

Irvine let out a heavy sigh and nodded. "Great! How'd you do it?" Irvine asked. Squall turned to look at him.

"Don't worry about it," Squall told him in a stoic voice. "Let's just get out of here before Rinoa drives by and sees us."

Irvine sighed and nodded. "Fine," he grumbled. "But just know that you're the first man to be able to change Caraway's mind about something like this."

*Figures...* Squall thought to himself. Irvine started the car and turned on the head lights.

He pulled out into the street. "But congratulations, man! You're going to be racing in the G-14!"

"Just make sure Rinoa doesn't find out about this," Squall informed him. "If she finds me in the G-14, she'll want to know how I got into it."

"What am I supposed to tell her?" Irvine asked as they drove down the street and turned the corner. "I mean...if she finds out."

"Nothing," Squall said. "I don't want her to worry."

"She'll worry even if you don't want her to."

"I know."

"Then let's just hope she doesn't find out." Irvine asserted.

Their car stopped at a stop light and a car that was coming from their right made a left turn, crossing in front of them.


Rinoa checked her watch. It wasn't too late in the night. She sighed and looked out her window. Immediately, her eyes locked on to a familiar car stopped at a stop light. *Looks like Irvine's car...* she thought to herself harmlessly. As Auron's car crossed the other car's line of sight, Rinoa's eyes went wide.

Directly through the wind shield, she saw Irvine sitting at the driver's seat. His mouth was moving as he talked. But her eyes weren't looking at Irvine. They were looking at the young brunette who was sitting in the passenger's seat. Rinoa sank down quickly into her chair, forgetting that the windows of her vehicle were tinted.

"Is something wrong, Rinoa?" Auron's voice asked from the front as he caught her actions in the rear view mirror.

Rinoa flushed and shook her head. She sat up straighter, her eyes still focused on the car that they were now passing. As the lights turned green, the car started forward. As it disappeared in the distance, Rinoa watched. "Nothing..." she mumbled. *Squall? What's SQUALL doing HERE? And in IRVINE'S car!? Did that little...dammit Irvine! You lied!*

Her face grew warm as her knuckles clenched in fury. How could her best friend lie to her...he was hiding something. She narrowed her eyes and looked over at Auron. Before she opened her mouth, he answered. "Yes, you can borrow my phone."

Rinoa jerked her head back, surprised that he knew what she was going to ask. "How..."

"I saw Irvine's car, too."

"So I wasn't just dreaming..." Rinoa grumbled. "He lied to me..."

"Perhaps he had a reason," Auron replied. They reached the front gate of her family's mansion. "All right, Rinoa. We're back." They pulled into the drive way and parked in front of the front steps. Auron held out his phone and Rinoa took it.

"Thanks," Rinoa said as she hid it in her purse. "I'll pay for the minutes." He got out of the car just as a butler, who had seen their arrival, opened the front door for them. Auron got out and opened Rinoa's door for her to get out.

"Would you like something to eat, young mistress?" the white haired butler asked. Rinoa shook her head.

"No, I'm going to bed," she explained. "I'll skip my midnight snack tonight."

"Yes, young mistress. Please call if you need anything," the butler said. "Auron, sir? Would you like something to drink?" The tall, foreboding man nodded.

"Vodka," Auron said as he followed the butler into the hall. "Are you going straight to bed, Rinoa?"

"Yes, Auron. Thank you again," she said, referring to more than driving and protecting her. She put her hands into the pocket of her jacket, feeling for the phone that had passed her before exiting the car. "Goodnight."


"Thanks," Squall mumbled as he closed the door to Irvine's car. The cowboy nodded and watched as the young man in black leather headed into the lobby of the Deling Hotel. His dark hair framed his face as the sliding doors opened and he stepped in. *Oh no...*

To his dismay, and the clerks' annoyance, the lobby was filled with people who would be spectators at the Galbadia-14. The lobby itself now had a line that went across the floor of people who were checking in. Many were rowdy, yelling and hollering at each other from across the room.

He had neglected thinking ahead to this situation. In his rush, he never even considered the company he would be in. It was not like he didn't like these people. In fact, he understood them completely. It was the fact that they would keep him up all night with their room parties that caused him to be displeased. Luckily for him, the race did not officially start until midnight, as was the tradition.

Squall took a deep breath and let out a small prayer, hoping that none of the spectators would realize who he was without the racing gear on. He lowered his head and marched through the crowds in the lobby, heading straight for the elevator.

"Hey! It's SQUALL!!"

He inwardly winced as he recognized the voice. "Squall! We were afraid that you weren't going to come!" another voice shouted.

The brunette slowly turned around as two blondes reached him. One of them seemed to be on the verge of tears of joy as eager blue eyes locked on to his. "Tifa's having a breakdown! She really thought you wouldn't come!"

"She hasn't submitted your retraction forms yet, you know." Zidane added as Tidus nodded.

"I didn't think she would," Squall mumbled. "Where is she? I should talk to her."

"She's in line checking us in," another voice said. Squall turned around and saw a short, spiky haired blond walking towards them. "You had us worried."

"Sorry," Squall mumbled. Cloud was holding half a dozen bags around him. "You packed a lot."

"A lot?" Cloud scoffed. "Two bell boys already left with two carts filled with Tifa's luggage!"

"That's all Tifa's?" Squall asked.

Cloud shook his head and lifted up on seemingly half empty dark blue duffel bag that stood out from the brown, matching LV luggage. "This is mine."

"Did you bring my stuff?" Squall asked.

"Oh, sure...NOW you need your stuff," Zidane grumbled. "Yeah...stupid Tifa made us pack it all up. It took us hours."

"Including your precious racing bike," Tidus said. He frowned. "I wanted to ride it over, but they threatened to skin me."

"As they should," Squall mumbled. He turned to Cloud. "I need to talk to Tifa and you about the race tomorrow."

"So you'll be there, right?" Cloud asked, just wanting to make sure. Squall nodded. The blond gave him a bright smile and let out a relieved sigh.

"I need to schedule some times to practice tomorrow...just to get my bearings," Squall told him. Cloud nodded in understanding. Before he could open his mouth to answer, Squall was suddenly hit upside the head. "What the-" he growled as he turned around.

He faced the glaring eyes of Tifa Lockheart. "Do you know how worried I was!?" she growled. "I thought you wouldn't make it!"

"How did you even know I was coming?" Squall asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Women's intuition," Tifa said. "Everything has been ready for you. Practice times, set up fees, everything. Just show up tomorrow by three in the afternoon and get some practice in the track. Get a look at the area and then be at the final briefing at eight that night."

Squall nodded. "Thanks."

"And what room are you in?" Tifa asked as she handed Tidus and Zidane separate hotel keys.

"Why?" Squall asked, slightly suspicious.

"Wake up call," Tifa said. "I want us to have brunch tomorrow to discuss the race." Squall nodded.

"523," Squall mumbled. "At the end of the hall."

Tifa nodded and Cloud looked over at her. "Umm...where's my room key?"

Tifa smiled deviously at the blond who was covered with bags. She slipped the last key beneath her white shirt, between her breasts. "With ME."


Irvine just got back to his condo when his phone rang. Grumbling, he lifted it up and brought it to his ear. "Hello?" he asked as he took off his hand and began to shrug off his thick jacket.

"Hi, Irvine!" Rinoa's cheerful voice said on the line.

"Hey! Back already?" he asked casually.

"Yes," she said, her voice still sweet. Rinoa was standing up in her room, pacing the area before her large canopy bed. "So did you get your laundry?"

"Laundry?" Irvine asked. His eyes went wide. "Uh...right! My laundry! Yeah...you know what, I should've just taken it to the dry cleaners...I mean...I just can't get rid of that one lipstick stain-"

"You're a bad lair, Irvine..." Rinoa said in a sing song voice. The cowboy froze in his spot by his half empty fridge.

He let out a nervous chuckle. "Rin, why would I lie to you?"

"I really don't know, Irvine," Rinoa shrugged. "Why WOULD you lie to me?"

Irvine leaned against the counter and ran his hand through his hair. "See? And I wouldn't."

"There you go again...lying to me," Rinoa sighed. "How could you, Irvine? I thought we were friends..."

"Of course we are!" Irvine gasped. "Rinoa, I'm not lying to you!"

"So you weren't by my house earlier?"

"No."

"And I probably just saw some guy who looked like you?"

"I guess...you saw it not me."

"And the guy was wearing your clothes, your black hat, and was in YOUR car."

"Hey, I have good taste-"

"And the guy in the passenger's seat WASN'T Squall?" Rinoa continued. Irvine froze. Rinoa nodded to herself, her suspicions haven't been confirmed. "Irvine," she said as he held out a steady pause. "Why is Squall in Deling City?"

Irvine coughed. "Rin, you must've been mistaken. Squall isn't here-"

"Don't LIE to me, Irvine!" Rinoa growled. "Tell me the truth! I know what I saw! It makes sense WHY you weren't at my shoot! You were with HIM! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"Because he told me not to!" Irvine retorted back. "Dammit, Rin, just drop it-"

"How can I possibly drop it!?" Rinoa shouted back. "Are you forgetting about what's going on between us, Irvine!?"

Irvine ran his hand down his face, frustrated. Rinoa swallowed hard, feeling slightly bad for yelling at Irvine. In his usual calm voice, Irvine replied. "Listen...I know how you feel about him. But he has his reasons for not wanting you to know. He just doesn't want you to worry about him."

"Why?" Rinoa asked quickly. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it-"

"Fine, I'll ask him myself," she asserted. "Where is he staying?"

"What? Rin, I can't tell you that." Irvine gasped, as if she had gone mad.

"Just TELL me where!"

"Even if I do, how are you going to get there?" Irvine asked. "I doubt Auron's going to take you and if I take you, Squall's going to kick my ass for squealing on him."

Rinoa grumbled to herself. "Fine...at least tell me where so I can try to call him there," she said tiredly as she sat on the foot of her bed. "It'll be a local call anyway..."

Irvine thought for a moment. "All right...but I didn't say anything."

"Fine."

"He's staying at the Deling Hotel." Irvine told her hesitantly. Rinoa nodded.

"Thanks," Rinoa said. "Good night."

"Wait a second! Promise me you won't go-" The line went dead and Irvine looked down at his phone. He frowned. "Dammit, Rin..."

Back in her room, the young woman grabbed a beanie from her closet and shoved it on her head, making sure it hid her hair. She put on a long sleeved baby blue duster under her black, sleeveless, thigh high dress. She grabbed some boots from her closet and shoved them on her feet.

She walked to her bedroom door and locked it. She reached out and turned off the lights in her room. Rinoa gently patted Angelo's head as she passed the sleeping dog on her bed. Without hesitation, she headed for her balcony. She opened the French doors, letting in a gust of cold night wind. She narrowed her eyes and stepped into the stone half circle shaped platform.

She looked back at her room and closed the doors. Rinoa checked her watch. The night security would have started already, but they would still be on the other side of the house. She checked the security cameras around the house. She mentally swore, knowing that there were too many for her avoid. If she fried the circuits with her powers, they would come to check on her and she would not be there.

There had to be a place where she could leave without being seen. As she gripped the edge of the balcony railing, she smiled slightly. Her eyes were drawn to the cellar doors just to the right of her balcony. From there, she could sneak into a pathway going over the city's sewer system.

She looked around, making sure that the security guards were no where in sight and that the security cameras were scanning away from her. The one right over her balcony was turned away and she jumped on the thick railing. She looked down at the fall before her and took a deep breath. *Come on, Rinoa...you've taken worse in the Garden training room!*

With that in mind, she jumped from the edge of her balcony, landing on the soft grass. She made a dash towards the cellar doors and slipped into the unlocked old wooden doors with ease. She didn't notice that on her way down, she had dropped the phone on the lawn.

From the shadow beneath her balcony, a man leaned against the wall, swirling a glass cup half filled with liquor. He took a shot of it and let out a breath. "If she's going to sneak out...she has to cover her tracks better..." the man with the squinting eye mumbled as he walked out from underneath the balcony.

He lifted his foot and fixed the imprint of Rinoa's landing on the ground and picked up his phone.


Rinoa checked her watch as she stood in front of the Deling Hotel. It had taken her a grand total of three hours to reach her destination. She had gotten lost in the sewer system before managing to sneak out through an open duct. It was then that she realized just how insanely clean the sewers were. She didn't even smell coming out of them.

She decided to go through some of the lesser known streets before she reached the hotel. She looked up at it's form, reading the name of the hotel on the sign at the top floor. Almost all the lights were on in the hotel. Irvine had once told her that it was because the G-14 started the next night at midnight that people wouldn't go to sleep until the morning so they could get up to watch it.

In order to kill time, the people would throw massive room parties. There wouldn't be a day during the G-14 where a party was closed for being too wild and disturbing other guests. Rinoa tugged her hat around her head and entered the hotel. As she entered the lobby, she looked around and frowned.

There were people talking and drinking all over the lobby. Because everyone was buying from the hotel bar, which seemed to be packed at that time, the hotel wasn't complaining. Rinoa's eyes drifted over to the registration desk and she quickly made her way over there. "Excuse me," she said as she leaned against the desk. "But I'm looking for the room number of one of your guests."

"Are you a guest here, too?" the female clerk asked. Rinoa shook her head slightly.

"No, he's my boyfriend-"

"What's his name?"

"Squall Leonhart." she said. The female clerk sighed and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, miss, but Mr. Leonhart has specifically asked to make sure no one gets his room number. And truth be told, many women have come here claiming to be his girlfriend." the clerk told her.

Rinoa frowned and narrowed her eyes. "You don't understand. I REALLY am his girlfriend-"

"If you're his girlfriend, how come he hasn't given you his room number himself, hmm? Ever think of that?" the clerk snapped.

Rinoa let out a low grumble and stepped back from the counter. "Well...thanks for nothing," she hissed. She turned around. *Three hours...it took me THREE hours to get her...I got lost in the sewers...I was almost hit by a car... weird guys tried to pick me up...and I can't even SEE him!*

She took a deep breath as she sulked towards the door, not knowing what else to do. It was then that a four people were dragging someone out of the hotel bar. "I'm telling you HIC I'm fine! HIC!" an obviously drunk blond was proclaiming.

"This is all YOUR fault!" Cloud snapped at the young man with the layered blond hair. "I told you not to challenge him to a drinking contest!"

"Hey, he didn't have to accept it!" Zidane said as he held up Tidus' other arm over his body as Cloud held the other side. "It's an obvious sign that he's questioning his manhood."

"Just please help me get him to his room..." Yuna pleaded, embarrassed to see Tidus staring at her chest, as if hypnotized.

Tifa was standing behind them, her head shaking. She lifted her head to say something when she saw someone slowly walking towards the door. "Rinoa...?" she mumbled. She looked at the others. "You guys get him to the room. Yuna, try to find some hang over medicine for the idiot. I'll be right back."

"Where you going?" Cloud said as they dragged the drunk Tidus around the lobby rather carelessly.

"Don't worry!" Tifa said. She was already running away from them. She tried to look over the crowds to the figure disappearing outside the hotel. She ran forward. "Hey! Hey! Rinoa!"

The dark haired girl's head perked up at the sound of her name and turned around. *It's that racer lady!* Rinoa thought to herself. She stopped just outside the doors and allowed Tifa to catch up to her. "You're...um...the racing queen?"

"Tifa," the other brunette laughed. "I'm glad I caught you before you left," she studied the young woman's face and frowned slightly. "I take it from your expression, you didn't see Squall."

"I don't know which room..." Rinoa sniffled. "I sneaked out of my house...came here by foot...and after three hours of that, I still can't see him," she laughed bitterly. "Just great, huh?"

"You can't give up now," Tifa said. "You're already here. And how come you don't know his room number? Didn't he tell you?"

"I didn't even know he was here," Rinoa explained. She closed her eyes and ran her hand down her face. "Oh, Hyne...what if he doesn't even want to SEE me-"

"Wait a second," Tifa said. "I thought everything was fine between you now," she told Rinoa. The younger girl looked up, confused. "I mean...he's racing tomorrow-"

"He IS!?" Rinoa gasped. "HOW!?"

"I was just going to ask you that," Tifa said. "He just showed up and I'm not one to ask questions so long as he can race."

Rinoa looked down at the ground in dismay. "He...he never even told me..."

Tifa narrowed her eyes. "He's in room 523," she stated. She put her hands on Rinoa's shoulders and pushed her back into the hotel. "Go talk to him."

"But what if he doesn't want to see me-" Rinoa began, but Tifa shook her head.

"You didn't spend three hours on foot after sneaking out of your house for nothing," Tifa said. They headed towards the elevators and Tifa pressed the up button. After a few seconds, one of the five elevators opened and she placed Rinoa inside. Just to make sure the girl didn't get lost, she pressed the 5 button before leaving Rinoa in the elevator. "Good luck."


The knocking seemed never to end as Squall rolled over in the thin bed sheets of his single bed room. He grumbled and closed his eyes tightly. He didn't know when the knocking started, but as he looked at his clock, it had been three minutes and whoever was there was still knocking.

*Damn! I better just answer it or I'll never get any sleep!* he thought miserably. He grabbed the edges of his covers and threw them over his bed. His bare legs swung out over the edge of the bed as he sat up. He scratched his biceps as he got up and walked towards the locked door clad in dark blue boxers that said 'SeeD' in gold letters around the edges.

Mentally swearing the entire time, he didn't bother to look out the peep hole. He was going to yell at whoever was bothering him and his precious sleep. His nimble, callused fingers unlocked the door and pulled it open. Through his sleepy eyes, he could barely make out the figure of a woman standing in front of him, but all his senses flooded with her. "Rino-"

*SLAP* Squall's face moved to his right slightly as a sharp pain shot through his face. His eyes were wide open as he turned back to the young woman. Tears were rimmed in her soft brown eyes as she looked up at him, looking betrayed. His heart suddenly began to beat quickly at the mere sight of her, despite the fact that she had just slapped him.

Rinoa stood there, looking up at the face she had just hit. She had been so confused and then hurt, she didn't know what else to do. Why hadn't he told her he was there? Why didn't he give her his room number? Why? Did he still even care about her? Thousands of questions ran through her head at that moment, but the strongest one contained a mixture of fear and betrayal. What if he wanted to break it off with her because she was a sorceress?

Squall just stared at her, dumbfounded. He made no move to step aside or to close his door. He just stood there. Her lower lip trembled as her shaking hand rose once more. Squall didn't move as her soft finger tips caressed the area that she had hit just moments before. His cheek didn't even flinch, rather, she felt it grow warm under her touch. There was a slight red mark, but she knew it would disappear soon.

She took a deep breath as she stepped forward and slipped her arms around his neck, pulling herself against him. Rinoa buried her face against his shoulder as Squall stood there, still in shock that she was there and had just slapped him. She closed her eyes as the heat of his bare body wrapped around her. His arms went around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. His beating heart raced against her's as his hands rose from her body and cupped her face intently.

He gently pulled her head away from her. She looked up into his eyes, transfixed by the crystalline color as he lifted the beanie over her head and threw it over his shoulder. Her dark hair came tumbling down around her face and he swept back from stray bangs. Blue eyes studied her face. He had missed feeling the warmth of her breath against him when they were close. His thumb gently ran across her parted lips.

Rinoa closed her eyes as his heart quickened. Hard lips pressed against hers, almost roughly, in their needy quest to be assured that she was really there. She let out a gasp of air as he pulled her into the room, closing the door securely behind her. She was pushed back against the door as his mouth assaulted hers. His body pressed against hers, pinning her against the solid door.

Squall's right hand fumbled with the door locks as his left hand held her securely around the waist. Her breath was ragged as his lips lifted hers and exploded the sensitive areas below her chin. Part of her wanted to cry out in pleasure, yet part of her wanted him to stop. She had come to talk to him, not just see and touch him.

Regardless of what her mind wanted, her body had a will of it's own. Her arms were running down his perfectly chiseled back while her leg ran up against his. "Why...?" she gasped out. She opened her eyes as she felt him slow down to a stop. He pulled away from her reluctantly.

His hands fell from her body and suddenly she felt naked and abandoned. Dark, messy hair fell over his face as he stepped back. He swallowed hard and ran one hand through his hair. "What are you doing here?" he asked, trying to sound angry as his eyes looked away from her.

Rinoa narrowed her eyes. "I'm here to see you!" she said. "Why didn't you tell me you were in Deling City!?" she demanded.

"I didn't want you to know-"

"Why?" Rinoa gasped. "Didn't you want to see me?"

Squall looked at if that was an unheard of question. "Of course I want to see you!" he nearly shouted. Rinoa jerked her head back. "Hyne, Rinoa, I didn't want you to worry!"

"Is it that you don't want me to worry or is it that you don't want ME anymore!?" she sobbed out. Squall raised his head to look at her. Rinoa's eyes were shedding tears down her soft face as she turned her head away and tried to wipe the tears away with her hand. "It's because of what I am, isn't it?" she asked, disgusted.

"What?" Squall asked. "No, Rinoa-"

"I never got a hold of you after I told you," Rinoa breathed out sharply. "I thought that you really meant all those things you said on the phone. But, whenever I tried to call you afterwards, I haven't been able to reach you."

"I've been busy." Squall answered.

"Avoiding me." she concluded.

"Will you stop it?" Squall snapped. Rinoa turned to glare at him, but failed. He was giving her a concerned look. "I made up my mind to come here just yesterday. I've been packing and traveling."

"You haven't been answering your cellular phone." she said, still not believing him.

"What am I supposed to say if you called?" Squall asked, slightly annoyed. "I was trying to come here in secret-"

"Some secret!" Rinoa snapped. "Irvine knew!"

"Irvine picked me up! He had to come and get me and keep it from you. Don't blame him, blame me!"

"I AM blaming you!"

"Then I'm sorry!" Squall shouted. They were now standing across the room from each other, their eyes locked as they tried to calm themselves down. Rinoa ran her hand down her face as her head dropped. "Look, this has nothing to do with you being...being what you are. To tell you the truth, I couldn't care less what the hell you are," he spat out easily. Rinoa closed her eyes. "You are what you are," he continued in a softer voice. "And I'll love you, no matter what."

Rinoa felt her legs want to give up under her, but she held her ground. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to be in the G-14?" she asked weakly. "Why are you keeping it a secret from me? Especially if you say you love me?"

"I didn't want you to have to worry about it," Squall assured her. "That's all."

"How did you get to go? Did Cid retract the punishment?" Rinoa asked.

Squall paused slightly. He nodded. "Yes," he answered simply. "Rinoa...I didn't want you to know because they you'd want to see me. And I want to see you, too, but your father still doesn't approve-"

"I don't care!" Rinoa gasped. "I want to see you! I've missed you so much...I..." She took a deep breath and tried to collect her thoughts. "I love you so much..."

Squall walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her. "Hyne, I love you..." he whispered softly. She buried her face against his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him. "I'd never hurt you...even if the world turned against you, Rinoa, I'll protect you."

"I don't understand you..." she said, her voice muffled against him

"I don't even understand myself." Squall murmured. His hand gently caressed her hair as her arms held on to him.

Her lips trembled as she clung on to him tighter. "Can...can I stay with you tonight...?" she whispered reluctantly.

Squall gently pushed her away and shook his head no. "You sneaked out didn't you? They'll be looking for you." Even as he said those words, he secretly hoped that she would stay.

"I don't care." He felt relieved.

"But I do," he answered calmly, trying to suppress his emotions that the time for her sake. He cupped the left side of her face with his hand. "Rinoa...I don't want you to get hurt."

"How could you ever hurt me?" she whispered, completely assertive of the fact that he never would.

He took deep a breath to calm himself before he kissed her softly. It was much gentler than the kisses he had showered on her previously. It was long, tender, and sweet. He could taste her flavor as his other hand lifted up and slipped underneath the shoulder of her duster. He lifted it up and pushed it over her shoulders, revealing creamy pale shoulders.

"I'm capable of hurting you," Squall assured her as his lips trailed down her neck. "Trust me."

"I do trust you," Rinoa insisted, as she tilted her head back. Her body shivered with the feeling of his lips against her smooth skin. "That's why I don't care." Squall pulled away from her.

Silence took over the room as they stared at each other in the dark. Only the soft moon light from Squall's open window light up the room. Their bodies were touching and as they stood there, Rinoa blushed. *If anything happens during the race...this might be the last time I'm with her...* Squall thought to himself. *I should make it count.*

He looked over at his messy bed. Rinoa followed his gaze and blushed even more. Before she could look back at him, his arms went under her knees and her back as she was lifted up. She let out a yelp as he silently carried her to bed and gently placed her on the soft covers. Her entire body flushed as her heart threatened to explode.

Rinoa watched with anticipation as he went around the bed to the side he had been sleeping on. She kicked off her boots quickly and shrugged off her duster. She tossed it mindlessly to the floor. Her heart was racing as Squall sat down next to her. He then laid on the bed and looked up at her. She smiled and laid down next to him.

He took her arm and pulled her toward him. She rested her head on his bare chest as her arm fell over his flat stomach. His arm went around her shoulders as his other hand lifted up the blankets over their entangled bodies. He kissed the top of her head as she snuggled against him and smiled. "Good night..." she whispered.

Squall smiled slightly. "I actually did have something else I wanted to do with you... or to you, depending on how you look at it..." he chuckled with a grin. Rinoa smirked.

"It's too late," she told him calmly as her hand slowly ran over his chest and stomach. "I'm going to sleep now."

Squall nodded slightly. "Rin..." he said as her eyes closed.

"Hmm?"

"Whatever you hear while I'm away...just remember that I could never hurt you," Squall said softly. "I'll do...anything to protect you."

Rinoa nodded. "I'll be here waiting for you," she whispered. "When you cross that finish line, I'll be there. Waiting."

"Is that a promise?"

"Yeah...I promise. I'll wait as long as it takes."


One of Squall's eyes opened reluctantly at the sound of knocking on his door. He looked over at the person still clinging on to him and smiled. The bright morning sunlight was filtered through the open blinds and cast stripes of light against her sleeping figure. Messy dark hair was scattered around her head as she shared his pillow.

The knocking continued and he glared at the door. Slowly, he slipped out of Rinoa's grasp. He heard her whimper out as he managed to leave the bed. He stretched out slightly before walking towards the door. He unlocked it, careful to be quiet so as not to wake Rinoa.

"What?" he grumbled as he opened the door a crack. Cloud was standing there, also looking partially dead tired.

"Tifa says to wake up so we can all have brunch together," Cloud yawned. "Afterwards, you can go back to sleep or whatever."

Squall nodded. "Fine."

"And Squall," Cloud said as he turned around and headed down the hall. "Put some damn pants on."

Confused, the brunette looked down. He slammed the door closed and heard a giggle behind him. He turned around and saw Rinoa sitting up with her knees brought to her chest. The white sheets were tucked under her arms. "Personally, I can live you with not wearing pants."

Squall immediately turned red as he covered himself and rushed to the bed. He grabbed one corner of the sheets and pulled. Rinoa pulled back. "Come on, Rin! Give me a break!" he said as he tugged on the sheet.

"But it's a good look for you!" she said. "Nude is very you."

"Funny."

"I know," she smirked. Squall gave one final tug and the white sheets flew from her body. "Hey!" she screamed as she quickly wrapped her arms around herself and glared at him.

"And you thought nude looked good on me..." he grinned. She stuck her tongue out at him as he threw the sheets over her. As she tried to dig her way through the mountain of white sheets, two warm arms wrapped around her. His lips grazed hers lightly as his hands ran up the sides of her body. "Good morning." he breathed.

Rinoa opened her mouth to reply when someone knocked on the door again. Squall let out a low grumble and Rinoa laughed lightly. "Do you want me to get it?" she asked as she stroked his hair. He shook his head.

"I'll get it..." he mumbled. He got up, grabbing his discarded boxers from the night before and quickly pulling them up before he got to the door. He opened it up and narrowed his eyes. "Who are you...?"

"My name is Auron," said the man in the dark suit. From inside the room, Rinoa's head perked up. "I'm Rinoa's bodyguard."

"Oh my Hyne!" Rinoa yelped out. She grabbed her dress and put it on before rushing towards the door. She grabbed Squall and pulled him away. "Auron, what are you-"

"Your father is wondering why you did not join him for breakfast," he said, displeased. "I had to call him and tell him that we were at a shoot."

Rinoa ran her hand down her face as Squall looked at her from behind the door. "I'm sorry, I just got caught up-"

"Get your things," Auron said sternly. "He told me he doesn't want you to leave the mansion tonight."

"What?" Rinoa gasped. "Why not!? I was going to go to the G-14 with Irvine tonight! He even said I could go!"

Auron didn't fidget. "He didn't say why," he answered simply. "But if I were you, I'd ask Mr. Leonhart."

Rinoa nodded understandingly. "I'll meet you at the lobby. I'm sorry about this."

Auron merely nodded and Rinoa closed the door. Squall was in the room, pulling out clothes from a bag. She turned to look at him and frowned. "He knows."

"How...?" Rinoa asked. Squall closed his eyes and paused. "I wanted to see you off."

Squall stopped what he was doing and slowly turned around. "Do you remember a few weeks ago? We both knew you weren't going to be able to see me off."

Rinoa nodded. "I said I'd watch you on television."

Squall smiled slightly and walked over to her. "And when your concert is broadcasted, I'll be watching you."

"It's not the same, Squall."

"I know," Squall said. He gently caressed her face. "But it'll have to do for now."