The Bodyguard

A/N: Alright, this one has taken me a while; basically I had to figure out where I was going with this! Thank you to the people that commented, it made me feel loads better about this story, thank you!

Chapter 3- THE Rinoa Heartilly

"Hey Cid! Long time no see man!" a stranger with long brown hair tied in a ponytail shouted happily, waving over to the headmaster. Zell and Squall followed Cid silently, leaving their belongings behind them.

"Irvine! How are you?" Cid said, shaking the man called Irvines hand warmly. "I trust you have brought the van?"

Irvine pointed behind him to a large yellow vehicle, in which two men dressed in black immersed, looking tired. "Of course. I'm doin' ok, I guess. It's been a bit stressful, Rinoa keeps beggin' me to let her go home."

Cid chuckled. "I see. Oh, I had better introduce you. Irvine, these are my two best SEEDS in the whole of Balamb! Squall, Zell, this is Irvine. He's Rinoas manager."

Irvine put on a pretend shocked expression. "I resent that! I'm ALSO her best friend!" he joked, acting as if he was hurt. He smiled and shook hands with Zell, who could barely contain his excitement, but managed to control himself after Squall gave him a furtive glance. Irvine then attempted to shake hands with Squall, who just looked away, uninterested, as Cid interred.

"Um, Squall is...ah, not a very social guy," he muttered to Irvine under his breath so Squall couldn't hear. Irvine nodded in understanding and quickly took his hand away.

"Hey then guys. Well, if you're ready, we should get goin'. Rinoa's desperate to leave, and I promised her we would pick her up as soon as I could."

Cid grew worried suddenly. "She's...still focused on the next concerts then, Irvine? You haven' tried to dissuade her?"

"...Cid, you know what's she's like. Ever since...you know," he signalled to Cid, who quickly nodded, "She won't give up o her dream, which I totally respect. Besides, she thinks you guys will get to the bottom of it and that will be that." Irvine mumbled anxiously, touching his cowboy hat with slightly shaking hands. "I'll do anything for Rinoa, no matter what. But if it happens again...I honestly thought she was gonna..." his voice trailed off and Cid hastily motioned for Squall and Zell to retrieve their possessions.

They loaded the van, and Irvine sat directly behind the men dressed in black, who were preparing to drive. Irvine was wiping his eyes on his sleeve awkwardly, sniffing quietly. He didn't look at them but he motioned for Squall and Zell to sit in the back of the van. Cid, however, sat beside Irvine and put a friendly hand on his shoulder and gave him a comforting smile. Irvine sat up straight and stopped sniffing abruptly. Excited Zell and a glum Squall sat alongside their luggage, which began to be hurled in every direction as the driver took off, speeding around every corner.

"Rinoa will be real pleased to meet you," Irvine said after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence "Just do me one favour; don't tell her to sing one of her songs. Once she starts, you can't stop her!" he groaned and Zell frowned unhappily, his eyes still gleaming as his expectations fell.

When they arrived at the hospital, Squall and Zell were both glad to leave the back of the van, after being pummelled several times by their cases thanks to the drivers hectic skills on the road.

"Alright, I need to go check what room she's in." Irvine said forlornly. "They keep moving her around, you know, different wards and stuff. You just wait for me in the waiting room." He strode off to the reception, while Cid and Zell sat down dutifully in the crowded waiting area. Many people stared as they approached; most had never seen SEEDS at work before. Squall felt embarrassed as so many eyes bore into him, he began to feel like a display.

20 minutes later, Irvine still hadn't turned up to meet them. Cid was reading the newsletter casually; Zell was sitting and standing up again like a soldier being given commands. Squall leaned on the wall, musing, as many of the people who were waiting had long since gone, and they were already feeling rather impatient.

"I'm going to go look for him, this is ridiculous," Squall said angrily when he couldn't take it anymore. He marched around the many halls and corridors, watching out for any sign of Irvine. He searched the rooms one by one, getting more confused as he lost his way through the maze of lobbies and passageways. Suddenly, he collided with a brown haired girl who went flying as Squall, bewildered, crashed into the wall.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she gushed as she stood up and rushed to Squall, placing a hand on his arm to steady him. He looked at her, still dazed.

"Fine." Squall replied absent-mindedly, and made to turn and attempt once again to find Irvine, when the girl spoke again tenderly.

"Um, excuse me?" You don't know the way out of here, do you? I'm looking for someone."

Squall shook his head. "No, I don't. I'm looking for Rinoa Heartillys room, know where that is by any chance?" he ventured, expecting a negative response.

To his surprise, the girl smiled widely at him. "Actually, I do. That's me!" she exclaimed. "And you're one of the SEEDS from Balamb!" she stated, pointing at his uniform.

Squall nodded, still taken aback. Rinoa laughed happily and unexpectedly leapt onto Squall, wrapping her thin arms around his neck with surprising strength. Squall jumped back in shock, and quickly removing himself from her grasp.

"Calm down." He muttered crossly, as Rinoa extracted herself with awkwardness. A sudden sharp pain rushed through her chest like a cold blade, and she realised she wasn't supposed to make sudden movements for a while. She sighed.

"I'm sorry, I'm just...really relieved, I guess. I can finally get out of here!" Rinoa said quietly, still holding her hand close to her chest, as the pain ebbed away.

"If we ever find the way back out again." Squall muttered, turning to look down the passageways again. He glanced helplessly at the signs above the wards; all made no sense to him whatsoever.

"RINOA! You're here! I thought I'd lost you!" Irvine came flying from one corridor to the left and ran towards Rinoa, catching her and hugging her tightly. She screamed delightfully in surprise and hugged him gratefully back. Squall noticed that Cid and Zell came closely behind Irvine, both carrying large suitcases, he presumed of Rinoas, both panting and looking exhausted.

"Ouch! Irv, too tight, too tight!" Rinoa spluttered, pushing away from Irvine, who grimaced at his stupidity.

"Rin, I'm sorry, I'm-"

"It's okay, you're forgiven.." Rinoa replied happily, although her eyes still showed she was in pain. Irvine put his arm around her and looked to the others.

"I see you've met Squall then." Irvine said, giving him a friendly look. Squall nodded.

"Well, actually, we haven't been properly introduced," Rinoa strided over to him and held out her hand. "I'm Rinoa, pleased to-"

"Erm, Rinoa, Squall doesn't usually shake hands with str.." Irvine began, but stopped as a confident Squall held out his own hand and took Rinoas politely. She smiled.

"I'm Squall."

Irvine raised his eyebrows, and Cid looked pleased, as Squall let go uncomfortably when he realised everyone was staring.

"...uh, this is Zell, Rinoa. He's a SEED too." Irvine said t fell the gap in the conversation, and Rinoa whirled around to meet him. Zell was shaking as he held out his hand, and vigorously shook Rinoas hand, with a fixed expression of shock on his face. Rinoa giggled slightly as he stared at her, but took her hand away quite quickly.

"And...Cid you know," Irvine chuckled. Cid threw his arms into the air and hugged her gently, careful not to hurt her.

"How are you? Not working too hard?" Rinoa asked him sincerely, and Cid merely shrugged his shoulders.

"Not really. I'm more interested in hearing about you! Fill me in, where we're in the car," Cid said worriedly, although Rinoa just gave him a wink.

"Alright then. Let's get goin'!" Irvine said cheerfully, helping Cid to carry some of the many cases Rinoa had, while she walked at a slow pace, obviously not able to move as usual.

Rinoa breathed the fresh air as they stepped outside; it felt like it was for the first time in her entire life. She saw Irvine and Cid put her suitcases into that old van of Irvines, and felt a sudden dash of gratitude for them, her true friends...

She thought about the stranger, whoever they happened to be, what did they want? Well, she could answer that one quite easily. It seemed pretty obvious they wanted her dead...Mama...she thought to herself. Please help me...

The stranger stared with his mouth wide open in fright and outrage. She had survived. All over the newspapers, the news and the internet had been these words 'singer survives gun attack', 'Rinoa Heartilly in attempted murder scandal' and the usual drabble by some stuffy nitwit who thinks this is all a giant prank, blah blah. The man turned over in his bed, and reluctantly picked up the phone, terrified by images of what could happen to him.

"Yes?" the piercing voice spoke coldly.

"Master," the stranger pleaded, "Master, I did what I could...it all went to plan...please, Master, forgive me...I beg you, one more chance, and you can have what you want...Master?"

"You have failed me. I put my trust in you, after all that has happened, all my careful planning for this moment, and yet again you have failed. Do not think I have forgotten the incident in Balamb...you are worthless. I, however, will give you one more chance, and you had better hope everything goes to plan this time. I'll call with details, but for now..." the voice faltered, and the phone line went dead. The stranger whimpered as he set the phone down. He sighed shakily, knowing what was coming. If the Master was not happy, he would have to do his best to ensure the plan went accordingly next time. This isn't over Rinoa...

The surveillance team consisted of four lower SEEDS, two girls and two boys. They had already installed video cameras into Rinoas home, and secret surveillance tapes were being recorded all over Rinoas house, garden, and also in her own private recording studio. Quistis had appointed herself head of the division, taking great pride in being involved in a mission that Cid regarded so important.

"I've made a cute little teddy for Rinoa, just to say a sort of 'get well soon' kind of thing? I know she doesn't want any cameras or anything in her room, so this is also to say 'I respect you' sort of thing, but then-"

"Quistis...you've said this already." a SEED named ... said tiredly, resting his head in his hands.

"Did I? Sorry! I'm just quite excited. You know, this will be my first mission with Squall, and-"

"Quistis! You've said this already!" ... exclaimed in annoyance, clenching his fists.

She shrugged and carried on stroking the cuddly toy lovingly, its blue fur soft to the touch and shiny.

"Oh, fine..." Quistis mumbled angrily. She had made the toy blue, Rinoas favourite. And during the inspection of Rinoas home she had noticed that Rinoa had a shelf stuffed with toys of all sorts, but Quistis had a feeling that Rinoa would make some space for this one.

When they arrived, Rinoa had been delighted to be back with her own familiar surroundings, although her mood quickly changed when she saw the surveillance team had taken over her entire garden and had built a shed right in the middle. Not to mention of course the fact they had planted hidden cameras without her permission.

Squall had sat patiently in her large white living room with Zell talking to him excitedly every two seconds while she battled it out with Cid and the others, until she unhappily agreed to keep the cameras. As she entered the room, grumbling and moaning, it seemed the first time she had noticed them since she had left the hospital.

"Oh yes...erm, Zell. Cid decided you would be my top surveillance guy, he said you had a good background in...uh, something. But you have lots of energy so my guess is you can stay alert the longest." She said with a grin, as Zell got to his feet.

Squall, I can't believe this but you have to-"

"Oh, Rinoa, stop arguing," Irvine interrupted, going over to Rinoa in the room and standing by her side comfortably. "It's for your own safety."

"Alright, alright," she griped, holding up her hands in defeat, shaking off Irvine from her.

Irvine sighed and motioned to Squall. "You have to be her full time bodyguard. Since she's insisted on having no cameras in her bedroom and things like that, she needs to have something, or rather someone, to protect her. You basically just go where she goes, you follow?"

Squall's mouth dropped. Sleep in the same room as her? What kind of mission is this? "I-"

"Oh for Gods sake, I'm not a child!" Rinoa said heatedly. "I don't need someone to sleep in the same room as me, always be around me all the time, never leaving me alone..." Rinoa shouted, bringing her hands to her face. Tears welled in her eyes.

Irvine took one look at her and walked over, wrapping his arms protectively around her. She sobbed into his chest as Squall looked away, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry..." Rinoa whispered to the room, but it seemed more to herself. Irvine nodded and kissed her forehead, and let her go. She paused then looked over at the young man sitting down, determined not to watch. She walked over to Squall and sat beside him, looking into his eyes.

"I know you probably hate this as much as I do...but if you're willing..." she seemed to plead.

Squall looked at her and sighed. "Alright," he moaned. "I guess I don't have a choice."

Rinoa nodded slowly then said timidly. "Neither do I."

A/N: Hullo once again! So, what did you think? Sorry I can't update too often because I'm not sure where to bring this story, plus I have lots of studying and stuff to do now! I hope you all like this...oh, I better explain some stuff. First off, yes, in this, Quistis and Squall had a relationship, but I can say it didn't go anywhere, but I hope you can see that Quistis wants more? Also, thank you to everyone who has reviewed, but please, I need more! I love the fact people are actually suggesting things, like one guy suggested it could be Rinoas father..? I'm not gonna tell you, obviously! I can tell you that he plays a part in this story, but I'm giving no hints to who the stranger is. Ooh, and what did you think of the whole Master thing? COMMENT! It's nice to know people are genuinely interested. Please comment, please, it inspires me to write more! Next chapter will be a biggie, I'm sure, hope you enjoyed! See you soon, hopefully!

P.S Thanks to Lady Rinoa and Astraea Eris, you made me get a move on! Lol : )