A/N: wow....sorry if i mislead u about that. that wasn't the last chapter (i wouldn't make it that lame) but i have a confession, i love squinoas. so there u go...i had to have some in my story. but don't worry,u'll get ur well deserved ending. but anyways, here's a nice chapter to tide u over 'til the final chapter.

Part Six: The Lion

Eveningwear

Rinoa awaited the call to her room patiently. She had brushed her hair and gotten dressed for the night out. Rinoa didn't have any other clothes at the moment so Squall had to provide some for her. It was funny the dress she was to wear. It was the same one as the one she had met Squall in at the SeeD ball. The short, white dress she had danced in with him. She wore the same high heels too that matched the dress. She took off her bra and slipped the tight dress on. It only had two little straps to keep it up and the skirt went very high up, but she still liked it.

I wonder if Squall's changed any over these two years. He has a little. But it'll be nice to actually talk to him.

The phone rang in her room. She picked it up and heard an official on the line. It appeared as if Squall was waiting for her at the entrance to the presidential palace. She hung up the phone and headed out the door.

Rinoa met Squall, seeing him in his old SeeD uniform. It was like their first meeting again, wearing the same clothes as they had worn the night they met.

"Where are we going?" Rinoa asked him.

"A nice little restaurant downtown. You'll like it. But it's kinda small." He began walking.

"Where are you going?" She followed him.

"Well, I don't like to ride in cars in Esthar. It's much better if you walk and see the city." He smiled as she ran to catch up to him, which was hard to do in her high heels.

"No bodyguards?" She looked around for someone.

"Do you really think I need them?" They both laughed.

They arrived in the restaurant in about twenty minutes. Squall wasn't kidding when he said it was small. It was one tenth the size of most restaurants. Rinoa read the sign that flashed on top of the building. It said, "George's Pizza."

"A pizza joint?" Rinoa figured they'd be going to a big and fancy restaurant.

"Yeah...they have the best pizza." He held the door open for her. It was a manual door if that tells you anything.

But Rinoa understood when she got inside. It was small, but popular. She saw all sorts of people in business suits and robes that were dinning here. It must be very good, except that they never upgrade their restaurant.

"There will be a wait for your table." A waitress came by, her hands full with drinks.

"Um...but I think there's a table for us already. It's under Leonheart." Squall told her.

"Squall! Oh I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you!" She put her tray down and picked up two menus. She led them over to a table towards the back that was large and unused.

"Thank you very much." He sat down with Rinoa in a booth as she fumbled through the menu.

"Don't worry about the menu. I already know what to get us. You'll love it." He took it away from her and raised his hand.

Rinoa smiled and let him do everything.

He ordered a deep dish, supreme pizza. Rinoa had never eaten much pizza in her lifetime, so she was willing to try anything.

"So why did you have me dress up if we were just going to a pizza joint?" Rinoa asked him.

"I decided we should just start over. Besides, you look beautiful in that dress." He replied.

"Thanks...I haven't worn it in a long time." Rinoa brushed it slightly.

"So what should we do now?" He leaned over the table and took her hands in his.

"What do you mean?" She questioned.

"I mean, what should we do? I want to take care of you." He replied.

"I don't know yet...this is all so sudden. I just...don't want to rush into anything right now." Rinoa smiled at him, trying not to upset him with her answer.

"It's okay. I know it would be hard for you to just forget all that happened. But we just need to move on from that." He told her.

Their food came. He cut a slice for Rinoa who really enjoyed the pizza. There was a reason why people came here all the time. They laughed and talked some more during dinner. Though nothing was really discussed, Rinoa still felt happy to be with Squall again.

They left the restaurant. It was already nine and the lights of Esthar shown magnificently. Rinoa now understood why Squall wanted to walk. She wanted to live here. The place was so beautiful.

They walked continued to walk the streets, which were pretty empty at night. They came on top of a road that was above a few others. Rinoa looked over the edge to see the tops of buildings that were dazzling with millions of lights. She heard a rumble and looked into the sky.

Squall peered into the sky with her and realized it was going to rain soon. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kept walking.

"Squall, I think it's going to rain." Rinoa observed.

"Yeah...but we'll just keep on going." She kissed her on the cheek.

"Hope we don't get too wet. I don't want to ruin this dress." She laughed at the thought.

"Don't worry, when the going gets tough, you just gotta keep on fighting. Persistence is the key."

Rinoa stopped, falling out of Squall's loose embrace. Those words. They were there again. She had heard them in her mind over and over again during her struggles. She just kept thinking that to get her through. She had left all her feelings for revenge behind, but after hearing Squall say those words, they resurfaced. She couldn't give up that easily. He had taught her that persistence was the key to victory. She couldn't give into it that easily. She had come here to complete a mission and she wasn't about to back out from it now.

Squall turned around to see Rinoa standing, lost in thought.

"What is it?" He looked at her stern expression.

She broke her trance and stared at him. She put her hands to her side to resurface the handle of the gunblade. It appeared at her side as she unsheathed the golden blade and prepared it for battle.

"Did you really think I was going to give in that easily? After all, you taught me that persistence is the key." Rinoa smiled at him.

"Well...it was worth a try. I guess you really can't tame an angel." His gunblade, the Lionheart, appeared at his side. He grabbed it with his right hand and pointed it at her.

"Looks like we're going to settle this once and for all." She swung the gunblade across to her other side.

"We'll see." He smiled.