Disclaimer: If I owned FFVIII, do you really think the Squall would of ended up with Rinoa?

Look, an update a day after the the last one! -fans fainted readers-
This was originally part of the last chapter, but i ended up splitting it up as it didn't seem to flow just right with only a paragraph break between it.

Rinny Leonheart: Its a long story really but basicly the computer kept on breaking until i brought myself a new motherbaord, and then i packed my journals away when i was packing up my room. So sorry for the long wait, i'll be much quicker this time.

Yonaka Niji : Ohhh lemons, good for the soul (and for SxS too ;) ). I may write a lemon, but i might put it as a side story, incase readers might not like that sort of things. It really depends on how many people are comfortable with that.

Cloti: Usually Zell is just hot air, but he and Seifer didn't have a very good history to begin with, and i can see the resentment from the war just building up, and when Seifer insulted him... he just let it all out.

I know that there are other review that i haven't responded to, but i'm sticking to just answering questions/clearing things up as fan fiction . net has a reputation of deleting stories with long review answers. Speaking of reviews... 111 reviews! Thank you so much! I never expected that many reviews :)

Chapter 11
"Right, the mission is simple; retrieve the target Rinoa Heartily from Balamb Hotel and escort her safely to Balamb Garden."

Irvine sighed as silently as he looked over his team.

'You'd think they would of given me some more experienced SeeD's than all these students. Oh well, its only a ten minute job – its not like anything's going to happen.'

"Any questions?"

The cute young girl with the long brown hair on his right slowly raised her hand. Irvine smiled charmingly, "Yes Eva? And we don't need to raise our hands – we're not in the classroom anymore."

"Yes sir, um, what do we do if the sorceress shows up?"

"Our main goal is to escort Miss Heartily to Balamb Garden. If the sorceress attacks, we're to hold her off until Miss heartily is removed from danger, and then we are to retreat." Irvine looked at the pale faces as the young recruits played nervously with their weapons.

"But there's no need to worry about that. I'm here with you, and besides, I'd doubt that she would go for Rinoa while we're there, not in her weakened state. It's all cool." Irvine finished his prep talk with his trademark smile, brightening the faces of the team members.

'Ohhh yeah, the Kinneas charm works every time. Damn I'm just too good.'

"Right people, let's move out"

Irvine motioned the team into the armoured van, grinning back at Balamb Garden before entering the vehicle.

'Now lets go rescue our single damsel in distress, who's bound to give her dashing hero a kiss or two… ahh, somebody up there must love me'

'Man, somebody up there must hate me.'

Irvine stared at the smouldering mess that use to be Balamb Hotel. On the way to Balamb, the team had received word that there was trouble in the small town, but on arrival all they could do was toast a few marshmallows over the smouldering remains. Irvine ran his hand through his hair as he pressed uselessly at the power button on his mobile. Tossing it aside, Irvine replaced his cowboy hat back on his head and leant against the brick wall.

'At least she didn't destroy the rest of the town. Damn Squall's so going to kill me, especially in the mood he's been in.'

"Right," Irvine clapped his hands together as he surveyed his team. "I have to go and find a payphone so that I can contact the Commander and let him know what's happened. Meanwhile, I want a perimeter set up around the town, and two volunteers to supervise the extinguishing of the fire and the removal of any remains. I want to know if there are any remains there that may belong to Miss Heartily. Move out."

Irvine sighed dejected as he walked over to the only payphone in Balamb, rummaging through his pockets to find the necessary coinage.

'And now I have to pay to hear my ear bashing. Man, somebody up there really hates me.'

Ring Ring

Squall opened his eyes slowly.

Ring Ring

'Eh what? The phone?'

Ring Ring

"All right, I'm coming damn it."

"I think you have to pick it up before you speak to it Squall."

Squall tried to glare at the blonde man, who smirked at the failed attempt.

"You're just too cute when you're too sleepy to glare."

Squall pushed at the older man's shoulder as he tried to sit up, ignoring the soft laughter that arose from Seifer.

"Shut up and remove yourself from me so I can answer the damn thing."

Seifer levered himself from his current position from on top of Squall, rolling onto his side as Squall sat up and grabbed the phone from his bedside table.

"What!"

"Um… Squall, it's Irvine here."

Squall eyed the number on the caller ID display.

"That's not your number."

"Ah, well, that's because my mobile's flat so I'm calling form a payphone in Balamb."

"Balamb?"

Squall glanced at the clock next to the phone.

'It's 3 o'clock already? I've slept most of the day away. What a minute…'

"What are you still doing in Balamb? You were meant to be back hours ago."

"Well, you see Squall…"

Squall sighed as he massaged a temple with his free hand, feeling his headache growing stronger with each passing sentence.

"And Rinoa has not been identified?"

"We'll need to have the labs to do a more thorough test but from the looks of things, the three poor souls caught in the blaze were too large to be Rinoa so it would be safe to assume that Rinoa is now in the custody of Ultemecia."

Squall frowned.

"Very well, finish up there and make sure that every detailed is recorded and on my desk by tonight."

"Yes sir."

Irvine hung up the phone, grinning.

'Well, that was unlike Squall. Not a reprimand in sight. Oh well, I'm not going to argue with that.'

Squall replaced the phone and sat cross-legged on the bed, pulling at the hem of his white shirt distractedly. 'Damn it'

"What's the matter?"

Squall glanced at the blonde sprawled out across the bed, one arm draped across the pillow above his head, and the other snaking behind Squall, lightly rubbing along his leg as a small smirk appeared at the corner of Seifer's mouth.

"Stop it Seifer! Who said you could touch me like that!" Squall slapped the offending hand, causing Seifer to smirk as he rested his hand on the cover next to Squall.

"Well?"

Squall sighed and pulled one leg up, rest his chin on his knee.

"Ultemecia has Rinoa."

Seifer's face darkened.

"That's not good."

"No, it isn't."

Squall sighed again as he wrapped his arms around his leg tightly, chewing softly on his bottom lip as he frowned at the dark quilt.

"What am I suppose to do now?" Squall murmured softly.

'Rinoa was our only lead, our link to Ultemecia. Now we have no idea where she's hiding and now she has one of the most powerful sorceress' in her hands. What do I do now?'

"Fuck…"

Squall rubbed a hand through his messy locks, startling as a pair of hands snaked around his hips, pulling him roughly into a warm body behind him.

"Seifer!"

Caught up in his musings, Squall had failed to notice that Seifer had moved behind him until he had been pulled onto the blonde's lap. Seifer wrapped his arms tightly around Squall's waist as he pulled the young man closer, resting his chin on his shoulder.

"Relax Squall. There's no need to worry. We still have Edea; she should be able to help us out, and Rinoa may not be very bright, but she knows that she doesn't want to be in Ultemecia's hand, and that girl has the self-preservation instinct mastered. I'm sure she'll try to find a way to let us know where she is. We're not completely in the dark you know, so just relax for a moment."

Squall closed his eyes and relaxed back into the blonde, silently enjoying the strange, yet soothing comfort that Seifer offered.

"I guess you're right Seifer. We still have some time left before she'll make her move, and since she's gunning for us, she's bound to make an appearance soon, I just don't like this hide and go seek game she's playing with us."

"That's the whole point saiai. Don't let her get to you ok?"

"Fine."

The two men sat in silence; Squall dozing off in the warm hold, barely registering that was Seifer speaking again.

"What was that?"

Seifer smirked as Squall gazed up questioningly at him.

"How may I ask did I end up sprawled across your sleeping form at 3pm in the afternoon – not that I mind."

"I was tired. This is my bed."

Seifer chuckled deeply.

"Still a man of many words huh?"

"Hnn'

"Squall."

Squall opened his eyes at the serious tone.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for what happened during the meeting today. I shouldn't have provoked Zell like that."

"You're right, you shouldn't of, but he shouldn't of reacted like that either. What he said was malicious and spiteful. I'm sorry that I didn't step in sooner. It just caught me by surprise. I know that you and Zell never got on but I didn't expect him to say something like that."

Seifer shifted slightly, sighing as he hugged Squall tighter.

"But he's right you know. I am nothing but a worthless failure. You have no reason to trust me, and I'm surprised that you would accept me back without question, even after all the bad things that I had done."

Squall spun around to face Seifer, arms wrapped loosely around Seifer's neck as he brought himself to eye level with the blonde beneath him.

"That's enough of that Seifer – it doesn't suit you. Just because you've made some mistakes in your life doesn't make you a failure. It's what you do with the experience that determines that. If you do nothing, then that would be failing, but if you get back up on you feet and move forward with your life, then that is what really counts. Everyone deserves a second chance – you deserve a chance to make things right and move forward," Squall finished softly, leaning his head against Seifer's, eyes closed as he gave the blonde man a cautious hug.

"Squall, I…"

Squall started and pulled back, a light tinge spreading across his cheeks.

"I better go and make arrangements for the next meeting. We don't have much time and I want to strike her first, before she has a chance to gain anymore power," Squall muttered as he go up and strapped Lionheart onto his belt. Seifer just sighed as he shook his head, reaching out to grab his jacket.

"Well, we better see what Edea can come up with then. Shall we?"

Squall ignored the proffered arm as he marched to the front door.

'She will not escape us this time, I will make sure of that myself.'

Some SxS action there ;). just to let you know that saiai is Japanese for 'beloved'. I spent a while trying to find the perfect phrase for Seifer to refer to Squall as without being too obvious or corny. Remember to read and review.