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05.02.04- 05.04.04

waiii… month of may ish up! ^_^ weeeeeeeee… that means im gonna get a digit added to my age… T~T hahahahaha… hope you guys will enjoy this episode!!! Its kinda long.. hehehehe…

3 ne0nchan!

SHOUTOUTS TO:

Dkmagby88 = waiiiI! Glad to hear you again! Hehehehe.. missed you and your story! 3 hope you'll update soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be waiting! Hahaha.. 3

zornoid13 = hiya!! Thanks a lot for your review! Glad you liked my story.. 3 hope to hear more from you soon!

Gohan-Chan = thanks a lot!!! Heheheh… I feel the same way too.. when I was creating Perilemia's character.. X3

Standard disclaimers apply.. ^^ but Perilemia and the plot do belong to me.. XD

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Ffviii: Sweet Love…

Story Eight: A SECRET TO SHARE

3:30 pm    Expanse Gardens

"Rinoa? … Rinoa?" Quistis called out as she searched for her friend at the place the following month. "Where are you, Rinoa?"

"I'm here, Quistis." Rinoa said as she made an appearance, coming out from the left. "I'm sorry if I made you…" She pasued to look at Quistis from head to foot. "Tired. Hiding from you wasn't my intention…"

"It's alright.. anyway, I'm here to spread the good news."

"… Good… news?"

"Well…" Quistis held her breath as part of her 'spread the good news' act. "We.. the SeeDs.. will have a new mission tomorrow! And of course, I'll be the one in charge! Isn't that great?"

"That's fabulous, which means no more classes again!"

"I almost forgot! Selphie's supposed to be coming with me too! She's the person who'll manage the food and supplies. Had you seen her?"

"Um.. I guess she's at the Garden Headquarters.." Rinoa predicted.

"So, see you then, Rinoa! Ciao!" Quistis ran off, leaving Rinoa alone in the process.

She murmured as she sat on the marble seats. "I guess I'll be lonely here once again, like the time I arrived at Balamb.. unless I do something about it!" She stood up, determined not to repeat her awful lonely experience, not noticing Seifer eyeing her every move.

*~*~*~*~*

"Knock. Knock. Knock! Anyone on the house?" Zell inquired, rhythmically tapping on Squall's dorm door.

"I'm here." Zell then barged into Squall's room without further ado, which unfortunately happened to be unlocked.

"Squall! Haven't you heard? We're leaving tomorrow!" He reminded in a song-song tone, just like Selphie's, seeing Squall pack up his things in his navy blue duffel bag.

"Uh-huh. What are you doing here?" Squall replied in a monotone, still focused on his packing things. "I guess I should lock my dorm next time for barge-in people like you."

Zell just laughed, totally ignorant of Squall's previous statement. "What about Ms. Rinoa? You still haven't managed to make a move on her yet. She'll get pretty lonely around here, ya know… unless Seifer.."

"Well.." Squall took hold of his gunblade and pointed it at Zell. "if you don't shut up, I'm gonna blow up your head with this."

"Ok! Ok! Don't be a spoilsport!" Zell laughed as his hands searched for the door switch behind him. He pushed it to open the door. "Look.. it's already dinner time! Gotta go!" Zell quickly stepped out of the room before the door closed, relieved.

Squall sighed as he lowered his gunblade and looked out the window where the sky was purplish-black. I will miss her though…

*~*~*~*~*

8:00 pm    Dorm No. 426, Dormitory Section C

Rinoa began rampaging through her closet like a mad scavenger, searching for the things she could use for her trip to Timber after having found out the obvious details on the said SeeD mission. She already pulled out three outfits and put them in her cream colored bag. Rinoa also included some food, her pinwheel and some gil inside. As soon as she was done, she grabbed her cellphone and began dialing.

"Hello? Motorcyle Rent Shop? I would like to rent one of your best motorcycles. I mean, the best of the best. Uh-huh. I'll be dropping by to get it tomorrow. Ok. Bye."

*~*~*~*~*

7:45 am     Main Lobby

Selphie walked down the hall, carrying a huge stack of brochures for the SeeD mission which is an obstacle to where she was headed. She tried to maintain her balance as she walked but fell when someone accidentally dumped into her.

"I'm sorry, Selphie! I'll help you…"

'Rinoa, it's ok! " Selphie assured, picking up the brochures on the floor, together with Rinoa. She noticed Rinoa's casual get-up. "Hey, you're going out?"

"Yeah.. it's Saturday, ya know. " Rinoa replied as she successfully shoved one of the brochures into her bag unnoticed.

"Hi, Selph! Hi, Rinoa!" Zell greeted, lowering her duffel bag to help out.

"Be careful, Zell. You don't want to hurt Rinoa's feelings now.." Selphie reminded.

"Oh, I don't mind at all." Rinoa played along. It's because I'm joining you guys for the fun. She added silently.

"Oops, sorry to leave you now, but if we don't, the bus will leave us. Soo.." Selphie began, finished with the picking of brochures on the floor.

"Don't worry about me. Just go! Take care!" She pushed Selphie and Zell towards the bus outside.

"Ok.. You too, Rinoa!" Selphie and Zell waved as they both went to the bus. Rinoa waved back. As she was just going to leave, a hand touched her shoulder that made her heart skip a beat. She turned to see who it was.

"Mr. Squall… What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the bus now?"
"I'm going… just asking if.."

"I'll be fine. Don't worry.." Rinoa assured. "All you need is to concentrate on your mission. Besides, I'll be…" The microphone blared when Rinoa almost slipped her tongue.

"Mr. Squall Leonhart, please proceed to the Tempest ASAP." She felt relieved after hearing the announcement.

"I guess I have to go now." Squall adjusted his duffel bag on his shoulder.

"Good luck!" Rinoa managed to say before they departed ways.

I'll miss you. Squall's mind reiterated the words he could not get himself to say in front of Rinoa as he boarded the bus before it moved out the campus.

*~*~*~*~*

Boy! Lady Luck is into me! Rinoa thought as she rode her rented motorcycle after reading the brochure on her way to Timber City. She expertly maneuvered the vehicle in the alleys and streets.

Two more blocks and I'll be there at the Timber Power Core! She recounted, making her way through.

*~*~*~*~*

"Hey look! There are a lot of cool buildings here!" Zell exclaimed, moving around to look at the scenery the bus ride was offering as it passed by around Timber. Squall secretly rolled his eyes as Irvine kept a smirk to himself.

"Squall, isn't that building your father's office before? Timber Maniacs?"  Zell questioned, pointing at the red bricked short building at his window. Squall turned to look.

"Yeah." Squall then returned to his sitting position once again, holding his gunblade down with its top on the floor.

"No wonder it's kinda familiar." Zell commented, slumping back to his seat. Squall didn't bother to reply, staring blankly at the painted ceiling of the bus. "You sure are rich…"

"Hey, Seifer! Wanna have some chips?" Fuujin asked as she offered some in front of him. Instead of a reply, Seifer ignored her, looking longingly at Rinoa's picture on his hand.

Fuujin sighed as she sat down angrily beside him. He's been like that for weeks already… if he only knew I liked him.. never mind.

"Testing microphone. Testing microphone! OK! May I have your attention, SeeDs?" Selphie began, using the microphone to project her voice through the noisy surroundings of the bus. "Thank you. As you all had known, I had distributed each SeeD a brochure, telling you about the mission, its objectives, and so forth. By the way, if ever you lost this or you don't want to refer or hold this paper all throughout the mission, see the wristband on your wrists?" Selphie demonstrated. "Just press the green button and presto. You have all the info you need. However, refrain from losing this brochure. For it is a requirement for the upcoming SeeD written exam! Now may I turn it over to Commander Trepe for some important announcements."

"Thank you, Selphie. As you all know, we will be grouped into three's this time, each with a distinct mission objective. Check your wristband sized pcs for your group members and objectives." Quistis continued as she further explained the dos and don'ts of their goal.

*~*~*~*~*

11:30 pm    Timber Power Core

"So, this must be the place!" Rinoa looked at the very huge building surrounded by large steel gates. She checked the brochure again just to be sure.

"Ok! I'll come back tomorrow morning here." She decided as she maneuvered her motorcycle to the Timber Hotel.

*~*~*~*~*

"I'm soo tired!" Selphie sighed as she flopped onto the bed beside Quistis inside their room in Timber Hotel.

Quistis agreed. "Me too!" She sat down on her own bed to start unpacking. "We got a big day ahead. Get some rest, Selph!" When she turned, she saw Selphie already soundly sleeping. Quistis yawned before settling on hers. I need some too..

*~*~*~*~*

9:00 am     Timber Power Core

Rinoa took a deep breath upon arriving at the site again. Back again! This is it! She thought as she hid her motorcycle expertly in the bushes. Armed with her concealed identity and disguise, she finally entered the place.

*~*~*~*~*

"WHAT?" Quistis shouted over the phone inside the hotel room of Timber Inn. "Ok. I'll assemble them to be sent there right away."

Selphie entered the room with a puzzled look on her face. "What are you shouting for anyway? Your voice was practically heard all over the hallway, ya know."

Quistis explained as she garbbed her coat. "Someone is reported to be entering the Power Core unauthorized! We must go there to investigate. I'll be summoning the SeeDs now. So, you'll be staying here, ok?"

"Ok, but promise me you'll be careful. " Selphie said before Quistis left the room.

*~*~*~*~*


"… Somebody was reported to be entering the Power Core unauthorized. And we SeeDs were being assembled here to investigate." Quistis informed firmly as the fifty cadets were called to the Core's front gates.

"You'll go with your groups with the same objectives. We'll meet here at exactly 14:00 hours. SeeD!" They dissolved into their groupings as they entered the place.

*~*~*~*~*

"I guess I'm done for this round!" Rinoa asid, satisfied as she clapped her hands. On the floor were the dead monsters which Rinoa had defeated on the way. When she was just leaving the place, she failed to notice a surviving Cocktrice on the point of unleashing its poisonous attack on her.

"Look out!" A voice warned as the sound of a gunblade was heard. Rinoa turned.

"What the…" She stopped when she came face to face with Squall.

"You.. who are you? What are you doing here?" Squall asked, taking hold of Rinoa's arm so that she would not escape. She turned the other direction, covering her face in the process.

"Who are you? Speak!" Squall pressed on, but Rinoa still remained silent. "Ok.. you won't speak, huh? Well then, you have to accompany me until I turn you to Commander."

Rinoa sighed. Arghh! I should had been more careful! C'mon girl, think! She let Squall lead her the way through the Control Tower. She noticed the strange ambiance on the narrow hallway. "Umm.. don't ya think it's kinda strange? I mean… "

"What do you mean strange..? You're the one strange here."

"I mean… the ambiance… it feels like a trap or something…" Rinoa continued, with her eyes alert on danger. However, she was surprised when Squall suddenly turned around and saw Rinoa's face upclose.

"Ms. RINOA?"

"Dang! I blew it!" Rinoa sighed, falling on the floor. "It's me."

"What are you doing here?! Don't you have any idea on the danger involved???" Squall worriedly inquired, releasing hold of Rinoa's hand. "You should had stayed at Balamb, and let us take care of this."

"I know. I know. Save that sermon later. How much time do you have left?"

Squall checked his watch. "An hour left before 14:00.."

"Ok. I already figured out this place. We need to get up to the Power Engineering Room and the Control Tower at the same time." Rinoa explained. "Oh yeah.. who are your teammates?"

"Zell and Marionne." Squall answered as they went out the hallway.

"Are they…?"

"Don't worry. They are on the other end of this place." Squall showed Rinoa the computerized map on his wrist.

"Ok… but…"

"I know… we need to split." Squall finished for her. "Umm.. toss coin then?"

"Ok.. heads for you to Power Room. Tails for you to the Control Tower." Rinoa said. Squall simultaneously flipped the coin and it went tails.

"Alright! Power Room's mine!" Rinoa smiled. Squall sighed in amusement.

"We have no time to waste. Let's go!"

"Wait! Promise me, please!"

"What?"

"Please don't tell the others about this, ok?"

"All.. right.."

"Promise?"

"You have my word, Ms. Rinoa."

"You can always remove the 'Ms' title, Mr. Squall."

"And you can always remove the 'Mr' on mine." Rinoa laughed.

"Ok.. See ya later, Squall!" 

"You too, Rinoa." Then they separated.

*~*~*~*~*

"I had arrived at the Control Tower." Squall reported at his transmitter on his wristwatch to Rinoa.

Rinoa replied. "Me too.. at the Power Room. All's clear here. How's yours?"

Squall sat down on one of its chairs as lists of instructions appeared on the screen. "I'm ok here."

"Good. What's going on there?"

"A lot of instructions. History and stuff. Wait… what's this?" Squall pressed a button to focus the screen on the documents.

"What's there?"

"The Core's going to blow up in fifteen minutes! Explosion beginning at the Power Room itself!"

"What?? Are you serious?!"

"You have to get out there fast!"

"There must be something…." The transmission was terminated.

Rinoa! Squall worriedly thought as he paced around the room. What can I do??? IS there anything I can do to help her?

"Squall!"

"Zell! Marionne!" Squall replied upon seeing Zell and Marionne enter the room.

"Whoa! Look guys!" Marionne said, pointing at the screen. "A monster was reported to be disrupting the elemental balance in the Power Room's energy last week. Maybe that's the cause of its malfunctioning and upcoming explo--"

"No! You guys wait here.. I'll check the Power Room." Squall instructed before running out the room, leaving the two behind.

*~*~*~*~*

Rinoa caught her breath after climbing on top of the main engine. Whew.. Am I tired. Now, to fix this big guy. She unscrewed the top lid of the engine and saw the complicated mechanism and parts inside. She brought out the manual she had printed the day before leaving for Timber.

She bit her lower lip as she cut the few wires and replaced it with new ones, then she switched some wires on their connections. Now for the hard part.. She thought, Where's the main piece? Rinoa grabbed her pliers and changed the piece with the new one. She clapped her hands.

"I'm done!" She smiled as the engine started working to its normal state. "You're gonna be ok now." Then she heard footsteps approaching the room. Squall suddenly appeared.

"Rinoa! You have to get out here fast!" Squall warned, making Rinoa feel surprised.

"Squall.. what do you mean?" Rinoa asked, standing up from her position.

"Please listen to me!" The engine began roaring louder.

"What?? I can't hear you!" Rinoa shouted, confused at Squall's actions. What she didn't notice was what Squall was warning her about. A monster, namely a rare icy white Adamantine-bred T-Rex appeared behind Rinoa, ready to attack her.

"Rinoa!"

*~*~*~*~*

Squall's eyes slowly opened, adjusting itself to its new surroundings, the Balamb Garden Infirmary. He groaned as he sat up straight on the hard bed. "The infirmary? What happened to me?" His eyes widened upon recalling. "Rinoa!" Then the door opened, and somebody entered the room.

"Squall! Thank goodness you're awake!" Rinoa exclaimed as she put down a tray of food. "You've been unconscious for two days, and everyone's worried. How are you feeling?"

"Just a little headache, but I'm ok."

"Good!"

"How about you?" Squall inquired back.

"Don't worry. I'm ok. Just a little scratch." He saw the bandaged right arm of Rinoa as she sat beside him.

"But…" Rinoa laughed.

"I'm really ok.. See?" She moved her right arm as agile as she could. Her face only twitched a little in pain. "Hehehe, thanks anyway for saving me.. I really owe you one.."

"Did they…"

"Nope. I escaped as soon as the SeeDs arrived at the Power Room. Boy, you got them worried in your unconscious state!" Rinoa recalled. "I'm glad they didn't find out.."

"Ok.." Squall said before eating the food.

"That will be a secret we'll be sharing together from now on, right?" Rinoa said, showing her pinky out. "Promise?"

He accepted it by tangling his with hers. "Promise."

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Now its done its done! FINALLY! And now, my fingers hurt as hell.. T~T hehehehe… this is my bday treat to yew all.. soooo.. what do you think? Hate? Like? Or GRR?? *_*??? Tell me.. ^_^ I appreciate your reviews..

.. Another new comer comes into Balamb Garden! How does this character fit into the Squinoa relationship, hmm? UP NEXT! Story Nine: Pictures of Betrayal! Please do review and support my fanfic.. ^^