OK, chapter two! Thanks to the people who reviewed (so far 1), and my friend who thinks this is the best story I've written yet! Thank you!

Pvt Webster- Thanks for your opinion, glad you think that!

Chapter two, here we come!

Chapter Two: Cowboy

A man stepped in, a long trench coat glistening in the light from the lamps. His long red hair was swept back into a loose ponytail, and he sported a black hat, pushed down slightly over his eyes. The rest of his wardrobe was standard issue for a cowboy, except for his long rifle resting in his hands. It had obviously been modified to fit this cowboy's style. The bar-goers waited to see if this new face was a threat or a friend, and stared apprehensively at his gun. Squall didn't feel threatened. If this man posed a threat to him, he'd take him out with his gunblade. Plain and simple, one bullet to the neck.

"Irvine! You're here!" Selphie called out. The woman ran out from her station beside Squall and enveloped the unsuspecting man in a giant hug, capable of only her. The cowboy laughed and patted her slightly on the back, warm grey eyes hidden by his gigantic hat.

"Yeah, thought I'd stop by, after we rounded up that cattle for a Mr. Caraway," he replied, and the bar regained its busy and loud stature. Selphie let go of Irvine and walked away to get him a drink. Irvine, in the meanwhile, had immediately begun to socialize with a group of women. Squall, after watching him with amazement, wondering how he could stand to be around so many females at once, realized that he still had his hand in the girl's, frozen in the handshake. Quickly, he pulled away, embarrassed at having such close contact with another person.

"Like Selphie said, I'm Rinoa Heartily," she said, apparently not even worried about their frozen shake. Squall nodded once more and stood awkwardly. The girl… Rinoa… seemed to be slightly frightened at the closing silence. The school teacher, Quistis, looked up from the papers once more and sighed exasperatedly.

"Sit down, please, before she has a heart attack." Reluctantly, Squall sank into a seat as far as possible from the two women while still sitting at the table, which wasn't very far.

"So… you own a ranch?" he said, throat parched. He wasn't used to all this conversation; people normally ignored him. Rinoa nodded and looked at her ring thoughtfully.

"I don't own it… my… Mr. Caraway does." Squall nodded and turned. Why was he sitting here? Why wasn't he out of this town?

"Oh, don't be silly, Rinoa. Her father is Mr. Caraway." Squall looked at her once more. If her name was Rinoa Heartily, then why was her "father's" last name Caraway? Squall decided not to press questions.

"Thank you for your company," he said, getting to his feet as quickly as possible. Squall bowed slightly, left a tip for Selphie on the counter, and swept up his hood. With one last look at Rinoa, he began to stride out of the bar. At the door, he pushed it open, just as someone tried to come in the same way. The hands met on either side of the door at the same time, locking the door in place. Squall's eyes rose from the ground and looked the person opposite him in the eye.

"Move it, kid," the man said. He had blonde hair, sticking up from his head. Grey eyes, hinting malicious thoughts, seemed to pierce daggers through Squall, and a white trench-coat with red crosses on the sleeves. His clothes were baggy, loose, as if he hadn't had a proper meal in a long time. Squall suppressed a shudder. However dangerous this man looked, he would not back down. Their eyes held for at least half a minute, and then the man had taken enough. With a single kick of his boot, he had sent the doors flying open, pushing Squall out of the way. As he looked at the man's demeanor, he recognized him as a customer from three years ago. Sure enough, in the man's hand was a gunblade model from the early days. He strolled over to the far end of the bar, where he had met Quistis and Rinoa. Rinoa and Quistis stood, Rinoa looking fearful but Quistis stiff as a board.

"What do you want?" Quistis asked. The man laughed and shoved her out of the way. He took a step towards Rinoa, the whole bar frozen in fear. As he continued to advance, the door banged open once more, and a black man, donned in ripped clothing and pants, holding a staff. Next to him was a young girl, white hair and an eye-patch covering one eye, with complete blue clothing, holding a pinwheel-like weapon.

"Hey, ya done yet, Seifer?" the male asked. "It was getting boring out there, ya know."

"AFFIRMATIVE," the female said, apparently having limited speech. Seifer laughed and touched Rinoa's arm. She yanked it away, and he looked around.

"Don't worry, Raijin, Fujin. Now, listen here, people," he said, addressing the people attending the bar. "You'd better give me your gold, jewelry, that kind of thing." Squall didn't like his tone… like it was all a joke. He was about to approach him, but the next action stopped him. With reflexes like lightning, Seifer had positioned himself behind Rinoa and had grabbed her arm, holding the gunblade to her neck. "Either that or everyone gets a first-hand look at what Miss Caraway's head looks like from the inside."

ACK, nooo! Heh, didn't know Seifer'd be like that… Whatever, I write the story, deal with it. Updated soon, again thanks to the people who supported me! Please review, I want to know if I can do better, plus I like to be praised. Just kidding! Lol

-greiverwings