Author's Note: This note is IMPORTANT! So I suggest you read it. I just reread the whole story and saw what Sensei Raharu means in the review. I'm going a little off track of the original plot and this story seems to be getting a little longer than I had originally wanted. The Squinoa feel really is sort of fading away. As in, I read the story and loved the beginning but then I saw my mistake in the latter part. I want to correct that.
So from now on, I'm going to put Seifer a bit to the side – poor Seifer, but anyway – and Squall back into the story. Of course, this might get longer since I need to clear up why Laguna and Zeon are here and up to now they don't really have much of a paper in the story. Also, if any of you guys like Seifer, please forgive me, but he'll feel a whole lot of pain from now on.
Now, since there are eight reviewers, I will thank you in separate lines. I don't want to have paragraphs that are too long.
PasifiKStaR – Thanks for reviewing. As usual, I'm glad you're still reading the story. And, yes, they did have a bit of fun, didn't they? And they'll have more fun soon.
diamonddust1414 – Thank you for the review. Makes me happy to know you're reading. And it's okay that you can't review because you're busy. I understand. Enjoy the chapter.
SquallsGIRL – Thank you for reviewing. And I'm sorry about that, but this was supposed to be a ten-chapter story so their sex in the fifth chapter seemed okay, at that time. But now I can't really change that. Anyway, enjoy this chapter. I'll try to go check out your songfic.
Sensei Raharu – Thanks not only for reviewing but for bothering to tell me all that. Now I understand your point. I'll fix that somehow, you know, damage control. But I do hope you'll keep reading.
lostfallenangel – I appreciate the review, thanks. Anyway, the rape thing…yeah, I agree with that. And…to be honest…I was considering that idea. That's why I was a little shocked when you suddenly said that in the review and I was sure I didn't write anything about Rinoa getting raped. I'm still considering it, actually, but I have other things to alter for the moment.
flare draco – Thank you and your welcome for whatever you are thanking me for. Anyhow, I don't think you will be too pleased with why Zeon wants to kill Rinoa. But you'll see in future chapters. As for the reason why she'll choose Squall…you'll kill me. The reason is so simple but this story is so long.
Tai-Style – I'm grateful for the review and I'm glad you're still reading. Seifer not getting any? Well, I find it hard to write something between them because I like Squinoas. That is also why I'm fixing this damned story.
The wise – Thank you for the review. I wish I could tell you why he wants to kill her but I'll give you a hint. It has something to do with a psychological disorder that has something to do with children. That's all I can say.
Chapter Eighteen
The following morning, Rinoa woke up early and found Seifer still asleep beside her. She smiled as she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and got up. She showered quickly and dressed. Angelo leaped down from the bed as Rinoa walked out the door and he followed. Taking one more look at Seifer, Rinoa smiled again and closed the door.
"Come on, Angelo, let's get some breakfast," she said. Angelo walked by her side as she headed downstairs and went to the kitchen to prepare some food for herself. However, someone was already busy in the kitchen.
"Good morning, my dear," Zeon greeted, turning away from his cooking to face Rinoa. "Did you sleep well?"
Rinoa couldn't answer when she saw what was in his hand: a sharp knife, glinting through blood. She shook her thoughts away and mustered a smile. "Yes," she replied. "Um…would…would you like me to do that for you?"
"No, it's quite alright," said Zeon. "I don't want to stay here and do nothing to help. What would you like for breakfast?"
Rinoa couldn't answer again. Seifer's words were echoing in her mind. Does Zeon really want her dead? "Rinoa?" Zeon asked, walking towards her. "Are you alright?"
Angelo snarled and stood between Rinoa and Zeon when started to get closer. Zeon stopped walking, keeping his eyes away from the dog.
"I…I'm fine," she answered, taking a seat at the table. Angelo relaxed and lay at her feet while Zeon went back to his cooking.
"So what did you want?" he asked again as he continued cutting up some meat.
"Anything will do," she answered. "What are you cooking?"
"Beef in mushroom sauce," answered Zeon.
"Where did you learn to cook?" asked Rinoa after a moment of silence. The curiosity just jumped at her since she never really thought about men who cooked.
"Here and there," he answered. "But mostly, my wife taught me."
Rinoa got up and opened the cupboard to get some canned dog food for Angelo. As she opened the can and placed the food in Angelo's food bowl, Zeon watched her intently. Angelo snarled once more but Rinoa silenced him and gave him his food.
"I'm sorry," she said. "About Angelo's barking, I mean. He isn't normally like this." Angelo buried his nose in his food, creating a mess.
"It's alright," answered Zeon. "He's just protective of you."
Zeon began to fry the meat but still didn't let go of the knife. Rinoa didn't notice this since she was kneeling down, stroking Angelo. Zeon went to Rinoa and smirked just as Seifer walked into the kitchen.
"Get away from her!" he yelled, raising a fist at his father.
"Seifer, relax," Rinoa said as she went to him and kissed his cheek. "He wasn't doing anything wrong, you know."
"Yes he was," Seifer said angrily. "You damned bastard!"
"Seifer, stop," Rinoa said.
Zeon just went back to the stove and continued what he was doing. "Never," Seifer said to Rinoa, his hands on her shoulders, "don't you dare ever, go near him when I'm not around, understand? Swear to me, Rinoa! Promise me!"
"I promise," she said to ease his fret. "I promise, Seifer."
"Good," he said, hugging her. He looked over her shoulder and glared at his father. 'I swore I'll kill you and I mean it…just go ahead and try…I'll kill you…' he thought. He kissed Rinoa and Angelo whined.
Rinoa smiled at Seifer once before she knelt down in front of Angelo again. "We'll go for a walk after you eat, okay?" she said.
Angelo wolfed down his food as Seifer set the table and prepared a cup of coffee for himself. Zeon finished cooking and set the food on the table, along with some dishes. "Go on and help yourself," he said. Seifer scowled as Rinoa served him.
"Thank you," Rinoa said as she ate. Seifer picked sulkily at his meal and was nowhere near finished when Rinoa was done.
"Well, I guess I'll take Angelo on that walk now," she said. "And finish your food, Seifer, your father made that, you know."
"Take Raijin or Fujin with you," he said.
She laughed. "I know, I know," she muttered. She kissed his lips, moaning almost inaudibly, and murmured, "I love you."
"Love you, too," he said as she walked out of the kitchen with Angelo at her heels.
"Ah, love," Zeon said when Rinoa had left. "A nice emotion, that."
"How would you know?" Seifer said. "You never loved anyone, or anything for that matter, in your whole damned life. Oh, except maybe yourself."
Zeon frowned. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," Seifer answered, finishing his meal as quickly as he could. "I'm going out. I need to go to the hospital to pay the bill for Rinoa's dad. Poor old man...he's awake and pretty much alive but he can't move. And his only source of comfort is Rinoa."
"Oh, so you pity someone else's father more than you pity your own?" Zeon said.
"You're not my father, asshole," Seifer said. "Father's don't try to kill the person their son loves. Why don't you just listen to what I have to say and fuck off my life? I don't want you to have anything to do with me anymore."
"You aren't being rational, son," Zeon said,
"Don't call me that!" Seifer shouted. Zeon didn't reply and Seifer just said, "I'm going."
"I want to go to Deling," Squall told Ellone. "I seriously don't want to go back to Esthar. I don't want to go back to my so-called Father."
Ellone smiled. "Are you sure that is your reason?" Squall said nothing and Ellone laughed. "I have a feeling this has something to do with Rinoa."
"So what if it does?" Squall said.
"You could only cause trouble for Rinoa and Seifer," said Ellone. "You know that, don't you?" Squall stared at Ellone. Was she against him or something?
"Look," he said. "I just want to be near her."
"Well, there is nothing wrong with that…but…" she looked at him. "You could still bring Rinoa and Seifer trouble."
"I won't," he answered firmly. Ellone was about to say something but Squall interrupted, saying, "I know you're going to tell me that my father will be mad but I couldn't care less. Please, sis, I want to stay in Deling…near Rinoa."
Ellone frowned.
"You know, even if you say I can't, I will," Squall said.
"I guess…alright," she answered.
Squall had been pondering for days over how he should see Rinoa. He was finally bored so he went to kill time – and monsters – at the Tomb of the Unknown King. Just as he killed his seemingly hundredth Blobra, he heard a very familiar bark echoing along the corridors.
"Angelo! Stop it! We'll get lost!"
He knew immediately who was here.
"Angelo! Stop running! What's wrong?" He heard even more barking and the next thing he knew a gigantic mass of brown fur had leaped onto his chest and sent him crashing to the ground.
He heard a snort and then hysterical laughter as Angelo's drool dribbled all over his face. He pushed the dog off his chest and sat up. Rinoa knelt beside him and wiped his face. "Hi, Squall," she greeted. "It's nice to see you again."
Angelo stood nearby, chasing his tail as Rinoa helped him stand. "What are you doing here, Squall?" she asked.
"Killing time," he said.
"No, I didn't mean in this musty old tomb," she said. "I meant in Deling. That is, if you are staying at the city, which I'm not sure of. But since you're here, I assume you are staying in Deling."
"I wanted to see you," he answered. "And slow down, you're talking too fast."
Rinoa laughed and he asked, "Why are you here?"
"Killing time," she replied. "Well, Raijin, Angelo and I drove here so I could see the place. There's really nothing much to do in the city anymore and with Seifer's endless bickering with his father…well, it gets pretty irritating after a while. Anyway, Angelo sort of suddenly ran inside and Raijin chased after him, telling me to wait. But then, Angelo came back out without Raijin. So now, Angelo and I are looking for him."
"Did it ever occur to you that it's dangerous here?" Squall questioned.
"Yes," she said.
"Come on," he said. "I'll go help you find Raijin."
"But won't we get lost if we stray too far inside?" Rinoa asked. Squall, however, had already started walking ahead so Rinoa could only follow.
They were silent and only Angelo seemed unbothered by the eeriness of the tomb. Finally, Rinoa could no longer take the silence and decided to try to converse with Squall.
"Hey, Squall," she said. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Do you still love me?" she queried.
Without any hesitation whatsoever, he answered, "Always."
"So," she said, "if I ever got to decide whether I love you more than I love Seifer and I run crying back into your arms…"
"I'll hold you close and never let you go," he replied.