A/N: OMG! I've finally written another chapter! Can you believe it lol? Apologies for my lateness, people. Don't really have the story figured out properly yet, but this chapter is kind of...well...read for yourself. R&R with your comments, I need to know! I hope you noticed I've posted yet another one off FF9 fic, just read it, I got teary eyes when I wrote it, I'm so cheesy...:) Enjoy!

The Bodyguard

Chapter 4-Secrets

This is ridiculous...Squall threw his suitcase on the floor moodily, and tossed his jacket on top. Rinoa moved silently to the need and sat down, deep in thought. Squall watched, standing uncomfortably.

The room was white, with symbols on the walls, clothes scattered on the floor and various music sheets sprawled across a large pine desk. Squall spotted a rather crowded shelf of toys, mainly teddy bears. A large blue one sat squat in the middle, its black button eyes shining brightly.

"From the surveillance team," Rinoa said as she caught him looking. She smiled faintly. Squall nodded absent-mindedly, turning his attention to his shoes.

"You can sleep here, I'll get you some sheets." She continued, motioning to the sofa bed opposite.

"Thanks."

Rinoa opened her mouth to say more, but looked down, shaking her head. "At times like this, you wonder what you've done that's so bad you're life has come to having bodyguards in your own bedroom." She muttered, gazing out of the large window to her left.

"I'm not exactly thrilled to be doing this either." Squall responded irritably, heaving his body onto the sofa with anger. Rinoa shot a glance at him.

"Why should you? To you, it's just a job. Nothing should be thrilling about this at all."

Squall frowned. "Tell that to Zell."

Rinoa sighed. An awkward silence followed as Rinoa gave up trying to share her thoughts with him. Squall once again began to drift, forgetting where he was or who he was with. He began to lose focus on the room and his mind swirled as he was taken back...

"Sis..." a little boy stood in the cold and wet drizzle that poured down with considerable force. His clothes were soaked, his body shivering and his face stung with the chilly wind. Drips of water fell from his young face, but Squall noticed tears spilling from his eyes. He was surrounded by bushes and trees, and stood in front

of a large stone building.

"Sis..." the boy called out louder this time, his wide eyes searching wildly around in the darkness. "I'm all alone...but I can be strong. I can take care of myself. But I miss you, Sis..." the boy began to sob, wiping his saturated face with a small hand.

Squall lost himself in his vision, his heart beating furiously as he began to panic. Who is that boy? Is it...? No. No, it can't be. Who...Sis?

"Squall? Squall!"

"Huh?"

Rinoa was holding Squall firmly by the shoulders, her face furrowed in worry. She stared into his eyes as he could see clearly again, and focused on her, loosening her grip unconsciously.

"What?" he demanded.

Rinoa scoffed. "You went blank for a minute. You looked like...you went somewhere else for a minute...?" she replied anxiously, still unsure.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine." He said through gritted teeth. Rinoa inhaled and rolled her eyes.

"Alright, alright. Geez." She stropped off and slammed the door. Squall sighed.

"What was that...?" he said to himself quietly, confusion overcoming him. He got up and started to pace around, stepping over the assorted clothes and piles of various books carefully.

"Here are those sheets." Rinoa said with hidden frustration, tossing them down and pulling out the sofa to form the bed. "You'll manage, I take it?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'm going out. I'll-" Rinoa stopped with sudden realisation. She sighed impatiently and sat down. "I can't go out...not without you there." She restrained the sadness in her voice for Squalls sake, but he could tell she was upset still.

"I don't really have to yet. My contract doesn't start until tomorrow." Squall encouraged, quite happy to be alone for a while.

Rinoa shook her head. "Not much point...it's nearly ten o'clock anyway. I suppose I had better get used to nights in, huh?"

"I guess."

Rinoa held her head in her hands as the night felt young, she longed to be outside, in the fresh air, she could be free with other people, go to a club or a bar without feeling uneasy, not having to be with a bodyguard who didn't even know her all the time, never being alone, even just for a few hours. The freedom she had so loved was taken from her, and she felt more trapped with every second that passed. A canary in a cage...she could understand how that felt now.

A knock at the door brought her back. "Come in."

Irvine entered with a nervous expression, as two stern policemen followed. Rinoa stood up suddenly and flung herself at the mess, hastily shoving it underneath her bed covers. She grinned at them tensely, her eyes full of uncertainty.

"Er...yes? Um, how can I help you?"

The first policemen, who bore a sombre expression on his young pale face, spoke with concern. "Ma'am, we have to question you on the...er, incident. We need to determine some leads. Do you know of anyone who could want to harm you, Miss?"

Rinoa looked at Irvine with pain in her eyes. "Can-Can this not wait until tomorrow? I-I'm kinda of tired, officer." Her voice began to break as she spoke.

The policemen sighed and shook their heads simultaneously. "Of course," he replied, although making it quite clear he wished otherwise. "We shall call around in the morning. Have a think about it, Miss. We require your assistance." They gave a nod to Irvine. "We'll see ourselves out."

Irvine seated Rinoa down gently and took her hand. They looked at each other as if passing a message between them, then Rinoa cleared her throat.

"You okay?" Irvine said quietly. Rinoa nodded.

She rose and went to the door hurriedly. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"To get really, really drunk."

Four hours later, Squall was beckoned down by a helpless Irvine and a tipsy Selphie, who kept insisting on singing. "We Will rock You" to Squall every time he looked her in the eye.

"Rinoa needs to sleep." Irvine said annoyingly, hauling Selphie down from the sofa and into the kitchen. "She's on the table." Irvine said with a hint of amusement. "Just left her off, and don't, for god's sake, drop her."

"I know." Squall said miserably, unable to believe this is what his job was forced to entail. He found Rinoa lying on the dining table, mumbling to herself softly, her face against the pine wood.

Unsure, Squall reluctantly told hold of her arm and pulled her a little towards him. She moved with ease, seemingly undisturbed. She opened her eyes and focused on Squall, although still mumbling.

He took her other arm and dragged it, wrapping it over his neck. He clumsily wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her to her feet. She slipped slightly as she lost her balance, then she leaned heavily on him. Grunting, Squall lifted her up the stairs, as she fell every step. Halfway up, he gave in and lifted her legs, carrying her awkwardly up to her room. She seemed to groan in protest, but he couldn't really tell. He felt embarrassed as he imagined the other SEEDs could see him now, watching his every move. He understood how Rinoa refused to have one in her bedroom. The very thought of someone watching you sleep was unnerving.

Squall effortlessly dropped Rinoa onto her bed, stretched a little and gratefully jumped onto his bed. He heard Rinoa moan as she turned over, closing her eyes.

"Meh..the light..." she whispered, pointing to the ceiling. Squall sighed and got up, walking past Rinoas small form. She leapt up suddenly and grabbed his hand, laughing as he fell against her bed, landing next to her legs. Squall grumbled and tried to get up, but Rinoa sat up and took his shoulder, smiling drunkenly.

"I don't get you." She said with sudden seriousness. Squall sighed petulantly, folding his arms. "S-Squilll...you're...afraid.." she said, looking at his cross face.

"No, I'm not."

"Yeah...but...I'm afraid too. S-Scareded...of...of what might come. And you. You have a secret. Shh." She put a finger to her lips, giggling. "We all have 'em, Quall, I got a big one. A really big one...but only Irvy knows, ya see. We all have secrets. Where am I?" Rinoa asked suddenly, looking around her room in fear.

Squall looked at her in sarcasm. "You're in your room, Rinoa. And my name's not Quall."

Rinoa nodded furiously, holding onto Squalls arm tightly to hold her up. "Yes, I know. We shook hands...I remember. Squall." She pronounced his name with a slur, still giggling slightly. "You...you have no family." Rinoa stated sharply. Squall turned to her in bewilderment.

"What? How did you know that?"

Rinoa giggled. "I didn't. Until now. Ha!" she pointed at him with a shaking hand, and bit her lip playfully. "Knew I could get...get info out of you." She inhaled deeply as dizziness overtook her for a moment, then she straightened up again. Squall was still staring at her, aghast.

"Oh, what? Like...like y-you have never used that before, Squll." She joked, and raised up to a pretend glass to him. "To...er...you know, if you say gullible three times, hehe...it sounds like...a cow." Rinoa took a moment and burst out laughing.

Squall frowned. "Gullible gullible gull-." Squall stopped and blushed, unable to believe his silliness. Rinoa laughed heartily once more, slapping her hand on her knee. She missed and hit Squalls, who swung back immediately. Rinoa seemed hurt by this and moved further away from him, her head held down.

"You...you can't let anyone near you, can you?" she slurred. Squall felt pain at those words, although he tried to remain impassive. Why should I? We're alone in the end anyway.

"We have to face some things alone, but you can't cope for the rest of your live without depending on someone at some point." Rinoa said, the drunken tone disappearing from her voice. "I learned that...when..." her voice lowered to a whisper.

Squall looked deep into her eyes. A pain embedded in them spoke, wishing to get out, but Rinoa closed her mouth firmly. Squall felt it wasn't his business, but his curiosity was getting the better of him. "Rinoa...why did you not talk to the police tonight?"

She looked afraid for a moment, then quickly shook her head. "I...I just...was tired." Rinoa finished lamely.

Squall pursued. "Why?"

"Look...I think I know who they are going to ask me about, and...well, I'd rather not discuss it." She confessed.

"Well, who is it? They're only trying to help you."

"But that's just it. If they sit me in a room with this person, they won't be helping me at all." She sounded troubled.

"Rinoa, who is it?" Squall attempted to restrain the irritation from his voice. Rinoa sighed.

"My father."

The Master sat impatiently at the table, writing neatly on a piece of paper. An article lay beside them; their bright eyes darted back and forth, seemingly extracting information. On the other side of their figure lay a neat piece of writing, which appeared to be a note. The Master was doing their best to copy the style, although they most certainly admitted it was not their forte. Since the disappointment of the concert, The Master had been searching their brain for another plan, of which there were many half concocted notions. At this time, drastic measures had to be taken. The Masters only servant, of which so far had proven themselves a complete failure, was also the Masters alibi if the plans were uncovered. So far, in truth, the Master had done nothing themselves.

"The wicked shall receive their just rewards." They muttered, aware several of the librarians staring in a rude fashion. The Master finished writing in due time, ready for the next duty that beckoned.

The Master promptly found a shy librarian. "Will you deliver this for me?" they spoke in a sharp tone. "The address is already on it." The librarian stood, about to protest, when the Master slipped them some Gil. "It's urgent."

Reluctantly, the librarian nodded, read the address carefully, and walked off instantly, happily slipping the money into their pocket. The Master sighed and set off to their appointments.

The stranger knew the Master was mad, he could hear it in their tone when he spoke to them the next day, discussing the new plan. But he would prevail. This wasn't just about fulfilling the Masters wishes and doing as he was told, it was about his own personal revenge, the things he couldn't forget about, the things he would wake up at night and think about, those memories at which he would quiver at the very thought. This had to be done. He dreamt of her again. Rinoa. That very word sent shivers up his spine as he imagined what would happen to her, he could see it, and this time, oh yes, this time, it would not go wrong.

He strode off down his stairs to the living room, where scattered newspapers articles lay, demolished and a red marker scored through Rinoas face on the front. The stranger wiped his dry mouth, aware this habit would cause his lips to bleed, but he didn't really care. His bloodshot eyes scanned the room, aware he would have to clean up the mess if the Master were to arrive. He stepped around the old sofa and found his prey, the fax machine. It had already begun to release the paper, its insides clicking and lights beeping. The hot paper fell into the strangers hands, and he grinned widely as he read. Genius...he thought gleefully. Revenge.

Rinoa hadn't said much when she finally awoke in the morning, and did her best to avoid Squalls eye. She had fallen asleep pretty quickly after their conversation or rather, confession. Her eyes seemed to say her apologies about Squalls family for her. She seemed close to tears as she woke up stiffly and caught Squalls gaze. He had turned over, not too keen to speak to her either. As he had lay awake thinking of what she had said, he had felt many emotions. Anger, sadness, pain, angst, and then simple fury. She had no right to say any of it. What does she know about it? But then with a pang of guilt Squall recalled the awful expression upon her face when she mentioned her father. Maybe, after all, she might know something about family.

"Squall." Rinoa whispered, shaking his shoulder lightly. "It's almost eleven. We have to go soon."

Squall grunted. "Fine." He got up and tugged his suitcase over to him, taking out some fresh clothes. Rinoa had put on a new pair of jeans and a light blue top, tying her hair loosely in a bun. Even without make-up, she looked beautiful. She folded her sheets neatly and turned around to Squall, waiting patiently. He began to remove his shirt when he realised she was watching him.

"Do you mind?"

Rinoa shook her head. "Nope." She grinned cheekily. He continued to look at her sardonically, and she rolled her eyes. "Oh, alright. I'll wait for you downstairs. And...hey, just forget about...last night. I was drunk, I-I don't know what I was saying. Yeah?" she said desperately, trying to sound casual. Squall sighed.

"Yeah."

"Okay." Rinoa replied somewhat cheerfully, and left the room, closing the door tight.

"Alright, let's go!" Irvine exclaimed as Squall finally arrived. He nodded to him and they left one after the other, closely followed by Rinoa. Irvine led them out around the large house and behind, next to the garden, where a large building that said 'Recording Studio' on it.

"You ready, hon?" Irvine said kindly to Rinoa, who hugged him gratefully.

"Yep. Just gimme the damn microphone." She smiled. Squall couldn't help but note that pain still lay in her brown eyes, although she still tried to avoid looking directly at him.

Irvine sensed this and opened the door for Rinoa, who hastily jumped in. Several men in black nodded towards her as she did so, as they prepared the sound booth. Wires and lights lay everywhere, bright camera flashes, large recording tables and one single booth where Rinoa headed.

"Rinoa, which one first? You gotta record two, if you're up to it." One man yelled at her gruffly, although he smiled politely.

She gave him a knowing look. "Now, why do you ask that, Mark? You know what you want me to do. Just play the music, I'm ready." She directed.

Irvine pointed Squall over to a couple of sofas facing the booth, but out of the way of all the recording equipment. Some of the men held a finger to their lips as the music began to play softly, a short instrumental followed.

Squall watched in interest as Rinoa placed the headphones upon her head, and closed her eyes in concentration, as the piano sounded and she began to sing;

"Toiki omowaseru amaoto ni tsutsumarete

kotoba wa muryoku to ki ga tsuiteru"

Squall looked around, confused slightly as she sang in a different language. He had no idea she could do that, and found himself thinking she was really quite talented. He turned away from watching her in the booth, and closed his eyes to himself as he listened to the words, feeling a slight sense of familiarity.

"Tsutawaru no wa hitotsu dake

sou, sameta hoho ni tenohira de furete kanjiru"

Irvines face softened as he watched his closest friend lose herself in her words, he remembered how much she loved to sing when she was very young. He always knew she would make it.

"Hakanai nukumori de futari no sukima wo umete

kodou wo hibikasete kono toki wo wakachi aeru kara

hitomi tojite"

Zell could see from the cameras in the surveillance room that Squall was getting the best part of the job. To watch the great Rinoa Heartilly at work, singing her heart out, knowing all her little secrets that no one else does, it was a dream he could only imagine. Although he couldn't hear because Quistis had selfishly taken the headphones, he could tell she was singing from her heart and it must have sounded beautiful.

"Kimi to aruku gogo wake mo naku futo omou

yagate kono hibi wa owaru no kamo..."

Quistis listened deep in thought to her lovely voice, and secretly wished she could possess such a talent. She smiled to herself as she got lost in the song, although she knew she couldn't understand the words.

"Yokan no koe kiku yori mo

sou, emi wo kawashi tenohira wo kasane shinjiru

sasayaka na nukumori de futari no kizuna tsunaide

inochi wo kanadete itoshisa wo moyashite

kono shunkan wo somete"

Rinoa felt her heart bounce as the words flowed from her throat, she felt on form today, and the people watching her made her feel confident and admired. The second language was a beautiful one, even though she could only translate half of the song for herself, she understood the love in it.

"Nani mo kamo utsurou sekai

toki wo tometai to negau yume kiete mo

ima kimi to ikiteku hitotoki wa

yume jya nai kara..."

The music got louder as one of the technicians blasted it up through the speakers, making Rinoa jump slightly. The man held out his hand in a thumbs up gesture, to which she nodded. She closed he eyes once more and held her hands up high above her head.

"Hakanai nukumori ga haruka ni hanareta toshite mo

tamashii furueta shunkan no omoi yadoshite ashita he

natsukashii tenohira wo watashi wa wasurenai kara

kimi he to tadoritsuki meguriau... kanarazu

kurayami sae mo koete..."

The music ended and all of the technicians clapped in approval as she stepped out of the booth. Her face was pink with heat and she looked quite beaten, but she simply wiped her face and grinned emphatically.

"Like that?" she said with a tired sigh. Irvine nodded and hugged her around the waist.

"You're doing really well." He said happily. "Now the other one." Rinoa laughed.

Squall sat down as he realized he would be here for a while. "What did you think, Squall?" Rinoa asked somewhat timidly, as she sat beside him, taking a bottle of water from the table next to him.

"I couldn't understand it." He said. Squall didn't know why, but he felt it better to avoid the question. Rinoa smiled.

"I guess not. It's called Kimi he. Or, To You." She explained, as the technicians began to set up the next song. Squall just nodded simply.

"Rinoa, next one!" Irvine shouted over, as the technicians signaled to each other to begin.

"Awwft. Damn." Rinoa said awkwardly, giving him an apologetic smile. He nodded again.

As the music played, technicians exchanged words and cables and wires were being used all around him, Squall sat silently, thinking, how did he end up here, and how come a complete stranger had figured out his history just like that? He thought of his past, blank. His future, blank. Now…yep, still blank…she was wrong about one thing. You can make it on your own. Squall considered this thoroughly, but he knew in his heart this was the way he was meant to be. Alone.

A/N: Lol, what did you think? Seriously. I'm thinking about extending this one just a tad…any thoughts? Yes, so, I used Kimi He from FFX-2, but I like that song.  No suing please. Tell me what I can improve on etc, working on next chapter!

I've edited the last little bit so forget about the attraction happening too fast, it's all gone! Hope you enjoyed. 