AN: Heres another chapter! And as you guys requested, I'll just change the rating to R. Heh, why was I not surprised to hear that ?? ;) Expect something soon!

Hikari Heijin : Thank you so much again! –blush- Im glad to hear that..heh :)

Angels-Obsession: Thannnnkk you!! Yeah me too!! Hope mines not too awful though, I'll try! :)

Disclaimer : I own nothing, and am not making anything off of this fic.

-


"Mr. Leonheart?" The insistent knock came again, and not surprisingly getting no response. The manager at the other end huffed and walked away, he wondered if Leonheart was even still in the room, he needed that room for tonight.

Squall was sitting on the bed, staring at a spot on the floor in front of him; he'd been like that for a good hour.

What am I going to do?

He didn't want to go back to the Garden, he just wanted a new life, where no one knew him nor expected him to live up to anything. He closed his eyes, his posture reflecting his defeat, last night still replaying in his head.

Seifer had made him realize something, just how dreadfully shallow and empty his life was. Seifer had his work, his friends whom, he actually liked, and even from just one night he'd seen his love life not lacking. Seifer was living as he pleased.

While Squall was living everyone else's life decided for him except the life he actually wanted.

He liked it better before all of the sorceress fiasco took place, back to when he acted as himself, feuded with Seifer and actually enjoyed his life, even if it didn't appear so to others.

Still, I still love Rinoa, despite it all.

He got up lethargically, pulling his jacket on. He needed to go see her, talk to her. She never judged him; at least he could depend on that. He just needed to ..to what? Come back crying to her? He was torn; maybe a walk would clear his head.

-

-

Several hours later, it was mid afternoon, and dark clouds hung above the rapid waves of the ocean, threatening to storm at a moment's notice. It was inevitable and so was the fact that he had to go back at some point. He wasn't one to run away from his duties, nor avoid the inevitable.

It was decided, I'm going back, and then what? I'll worry about that when I get to that point.

He knew he'd have to do something, Hyne only knew what.

-


"C-Commander?" Jennifer stared in surprised and disappointment, she had honestly not expected for her boss to return, it had been about a week since he'd stormed off, and she had been glad to be rid of him, what was his problem anyhow?

Squall didn't even seem to hear or see her until several minutes later, he was so used to the routine of picking up his new work off her desk and going into his office that only once his gloved hand was on the door knob did he pause, his back to her. "You're fired, I want you out within five minutes."

"What?" Jennifer got up and stared blankly at his back as he retreated into his office without another word, "but commander, Rin-" SLAM.

That bastard! She bit her lip, she would definitely bring this up to Rinoa, how freaking dare he? Indignant, she grabbed her few belongings and left, going straight to Rinoa's dorm room.

-


Squall breath a small sigh of very temporary relief.

At least that nuisance was gone now

He knew it wouldn't be long before someone came looking for him, other students had seen him come in, so he enjoyed the brief solitude while he could. He suddenly felt the sting of insult and humiliation of what Seifer had done. Hyne..

He shoved it out his mind, knowing it would pass and have no effect within a few days.

He looked at his desk, the papers laying in the same disarray as he had left them, now feeling like he had never left at all, he began to organize them, his eyes were anyone there to see them sad and hidden behind his loose hair.

All too soon a knock sounded at the door, his gaze snapped up to glare at the door in hatred. Go away. He knew that was too good to be true, he continued to organize the papers, unreachable once again.

"Squall?" a muffled voice asked, not expecting a response nor waiting for it, Rinoa opened the door, dreading what's next.

She had replayed this conversation in her head for days, but now stepping in and standing in front of Squall, who did an incredible job of ignoring her, she couldn't remember a word of it.

"Squall?" She watched him, he looked tired and broken, he was always so fragile and his pretty features touched by that familiar frown, only the touch of blue under his eyes showing he hadn't been sleeping well.

She just wanted to wrap her arms around his small frame but knew better.

"How have you been Squall?" She asked, not knowing what else to say. He placed the stack of papers down, not looking up from them. "Fine," well, at least he's talking.

"Jennifer told me you came back, and that you fired her," Rinoa tilted her head, watching him with an apologetic smile on her face, "I'm sorry I asked you to hire her."

I might as well get this over with, he thought to himself, not wanting to waste anymore of his time nor hers. Resting his open palm against his forehead, he closed his eyes, speaking so quietly, Rinoa had to move right next to him to hear, looking down at the top of his head, she knew this was something he'd had on his chest a long time.

"Rinoa, I think you realize this isn't working for either of us. I'm grateful to you for everything but," he sighed, feeling uncomfortable from her gaze.

He stood and went to the window, his back to her. "I'm sorry, I can't be your knight," his voice distant, stating it as a fact. He should have said this a while ago. At the beginning, he had felt this, but eventually pushed it away, until a few weeks ago. This isn't me, I can't do this.

"Squall, I'm sorry too," she was trying to control her voice but it was breaking.

She felt cold and alone, her world had just come to an end as she knew it. She had felt this coming on; she hugged herself tightly. She couldn't believe this was happening.

"I don't want you to be anything," she pleaded, "Just you as you are. You don't have to be anything you don't want to," she reasoned, loosing her guard and wrapping her arms around his chest from behind him, her cheek pressed gently against his back, "please Squall, don't do this," she whispered.

He hung his head in defeat, looking to the floor for an answer, but he knew what had to be done.

"Don't you love me at all anymore?" she needed to know.

Squall breathed out deeply, feeling her warmth around him, and her soft sob and plea, he felt his resolve weaken but he couldn't back away now. He pulled her arms off him gently.

"Rinoa, I can't do this, please try to understand," he turned half way, "I'm not who you want. You're in love with what you think I am," his tone softer now. He turned to look at her, "you already knew this, but it was something I had to say," his gaze offering a little warmth, making it even more unbearable for her.

She looked down, his words were the truth. "I'm sorry," he offered. She nodded lightly, tears starting to flow freely; she wished he wasn't so nice about it. She didn't know what to else to do but turn and run.

He watched her go, then sat down at his desk, his head in his hands.

Well, I did it.