Chp 7

The blade, the ball, and the bodyguards!

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Ding!! "Destination, reached!"

Squall walked into the Ragnarok's cockpit, and switched over to manual pilot. He eased Ragnarok over to the landing pad. Turning on the hover-jets, he set the ship down. When he walked down the ramp, a presidential attendant wlaked over and escorted him to an elevator. When they reached the bottom over to a limousine that was waiting for them. When Squall stepped in, it took off for the presidential palace.

"Squall!!! Son, how are you!!" Laguna, who had been sitting at his desk in the presidential palace, doing, or pretending to be doing paperwork, had jumped to meet his son, and wrapped him in an enormous hug. "It's so good to see you!" Laguna lessened his grasp on Squall, and his son slid away.

"I'm fine Laguna." Squall was still not ready to call this man father.

"Your aid said there was something important for me to hear, so could we just get on with it?" Squall's voice was cold.

Laguna went back to his seat, suddenly serious. "Ah, yes. Well, you see, I have been notified that Ultimecia's successor might be at the tournament. Now, as a safety precaution, I want you to have bodyguards on hand to protect you if Ward's killer strikes beforehand. Now-"

Squall cut him off. "Have the other contestants been offered this…protection?"

Laguna squirmed in his seat. "No, but the other contestants aren't my son. So, without further adieu, here they are. Vincent! Alucard!!"

Two men in matching red leather dusters approached, seemingly coming out of nowhere. The taller also had a red sombrero, and yellow tinted sunglasses. The smaller had a red bandana over one eye. They were both armed with large guns. The taller had an enormous hand gun, double barreled. The smaller had a slightly smaller shotgun.

Laguna stood. "Squall, meat Alucard," he gestured to the tall one, who smiled a feral smile to reveal two large and pointed canines. "And his brother, Vincent Valentine." Laguna nodded toward the smaller, who just nodded back.

Laguna stood up, as did Squall. "Now Squall, I know how you probably don't approve of them now, but I think you'll become fast friends."

The bodyguards walked toward Squall, hands outstretched. He Ignored Vincent's with a nod. But the one called Alucard smiled again, and Squall felt something, some invisible force, dragging his hand toward the other. He took it and applied all the pressure he could. The man just smiled.

"You have something very interesting about you, Mr. Leonhart. Very interesting indeed… perhaps I will find out later. It just seems that you have something…inhuman about you. But come. The ball is approaching, it is 7:30. Let's get you ready.

Squall turned to Laguna. "I'll allow them, but don't expect a thank you. Goodbye."

He turned to look at the brothers, but they had already vanished.

Squall just shook his head and left.

Bodyguards!!!! Who does he think I am! I am not weak like he is!

A voice answered him. He cares about you Squall. He fears for your safety. he is your father after all. Endure the escorts, if only for his sake.

The words calmed Squall, but how he did not know. He would endure the guards. They seemed quiet. In any event, he had the ball to go to now. At least there he might find some solace. He would be there. So would his request.

"Mr. Leonhart! It is an honor, sir. Are these your guests?" The doorman of the palace swung the doors wide open for the celebrity. Squall nodded, and he and the brothers walked in.

Squall was stunned. The palace looked amazing. There were new chandeliers, banners, streamers, everything possible. Men and women of every kind were there, each toting a blade of some sort. Squall recognized a few A class SeeDs, and some famous trick blade masters. But no other gunbladers. A pity. He decided that he might as well walk around and scout the competition some more. He passed a man with four arms (a little odd, might even be a challenge). He saw several men in the uniform of the Estharian army, probably some captains who wanted to prove they had something special. Oh well. Ward's killer was somewhere. He should be a challenge. Hopefully.

A man in a long trench-coat with a hood, pulled over where it should be, masking passed by unarmed. Or so Squall thought. As the man walked passed him, Squall whipped around, Lionheart out, just in time to block the Hyperion as it went to cleave Squall in half.

Seifer shook off his hood, and smiled. "Well Leonhart, thought you didn't recognize me for a second there."

Squall grimaced as they unlocked blades. "Well, I suppose you got my message."

Seifer smiled. "Of course. I just thought I have some fun with you first. Reward my hard work, ya know?" He lunged, going for Squall's right arm.

Squall hadn't expected a blow to go there. He tried to block, but his arm was hit by the dull edge of Hyperion, and dropped Lionheart. By this time a circle had formed around the two combatants.

Seifer was on him in a flash.

"Well well well, Squall, seems you've lost your touch." Seifer pointed his blade at Squall's throat. "Lucky for you this is only a game, now, if it was like the last couple of times,-"

"If it was like the two of you before, you would have a big hole in your already big head, fool." Seifer looked up to see Alucard's guns two inches from his head.

Seifer smiled. "I could kill you first."

Alucard smiled. "Unlikely. Besides, my brother might have something to say about that."

Alucard motioned to Vincent, only, it didn't look like him. In his place was a slightly smaller than usual behemoth. By this time, the entire ball populous was watching the exchange. Seifer, seeing several SeeDs wanting to gain the Commander's favor by slaying his assailant, backed off, and dropped his weapon, and Alucard lowered his gun.

Seifer gave Squall a hand up. Squall took it, angry. He shouldn't have beaten me so easily!

"Do you have what I want, or did you just come to embarrass me?" Squall said in a cold whisper.

Seifer smiled, and the crowd started to dissipate, and the behemoth slowly returned to Vincent.

"Of course I brought it. Here you go!" Seifer reached into his enormous trench coat, and pulled out a beautiful blade, light weight and shining. Squall's eyes widened.

"Presenting the Pearlblade. I modeled it on the Hyperion, but the blade is pearl covered, with titanium underlay. It's left handed like you asked, and compatible with most ammo, though I wouldn't try pulse if I were you."

Squall took it with his left hand, testing the balance. He went into an open stance, holding his blade arm out like Seifer.

Squall put it into his holster. He motioned to the brothers to follow him. "Thank you Seifer." He started to walk off, and then stopped to say, "Oh, by the way, Good luck" He walked out the doors, and into a waiting limo. I need to get some sleep.

Seifer just smirked, knowing better than to say anything.

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