Copyright: Once again I hereby doth declare I don't own final fantasy 8. It s on the list of things I don't own. That list is very long. If you feel the need to sue me, you could have the list of things I don't own. On that list is also the lyrics in this chapter. I don't own them, they are from "Rose of Sharyn" by Killswitch engage.

Note: Well here is chapter 3. Chapter 4 coming very soon hopefully.oh and apologies for the typos, i only seem to spot them after i've posted the work! Thank you to the usual, anyone who has read or reviewed any of my work. thanks to Rinoa the Wastelander , glad you are enjoying the story!hope you like this chapter too.And Hannah and Wayne as always, I love ya guys. Stick with this story, it's just starting to get good! there's a lot of dialogue in this, but it's quite important, so please keep on reading. Enjoy the chapter everyone

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Numb and broken, here I stand alone

Wondering what were the last words I said to you

Hoping, praying that I'll find a way to turn back time

Can I turn back time?

Early the next morning Squall knocked on Rinoa's door. He wanted to apologise, he knew he had not handled any of this situation as well as he could have. Rinoa was obviously confused by everything that had happened and he couldn't have been any less supportive. After knocking a few times, Squall tried the door knob. Unlocked, the door opened revealing an empty room. Squall stepped inside, a strange feeling of worry coming over him. Wandering over to the desk, he noticed the empty frame.

"What the hell…?" he muttered to himself turning around. As he turned, something caught his eye. Lying on the pillow of the bed at the opposite side of the room was a white Square of paper. Suddenly full of fear Squall went and picked up the paper. His fingers starting to tremble slightly, he unfolded the note. He read down the page slowly, fighting back forming tears with each word he read:

My Dearest Squall,

Now you're reading this, you've probably figured out that I'm gone. I'm truly sorry that I didn't say goodbye properly, but I knew that would have been just too difficult. I knew you wouldn't let me go, and I had to go. After everything that's been happening I think we both know I couldn't have stayed. I can't risk hurting anymore people. I know that somehow I am maybe responsible for the deaths, but I haven't figured out how yet. I think the time has come when the sorceress inside me can't be hidden anymore. Everything I feared, the hatred and fear people felt towards me was starting to rise again. And maybe I deserve to be hated, maybe I truly am evil, or at least on the path to becoming so. And I had no idea who I would hurt next, it could have been you. I knew I had to leave before I hurt you anymore than I already have. I know this will be hard for you as it is hard for me too, and in a million years, I never thought I'd have to say goodbye to you, to us, with a note. But that's just the way it ended. I want you to know though, that I love you still, far away as I am, and will always love you. I will treasure every memory you have given me. Thank you for being there for me, thank you for loving me. And Squall, I ask just one more thing from you; I want you to move on, to live your life. please don't come and try and find me. It will only hurt us both. It is better this way, as hard as it seems.

All my love forever my knight

XX Rinoa XX

Squall stared down at the piece of paper, confusion and disbelief causing havoc in his mind. She was gone. Rinoa, the girl he had sworn to protect, the girl he loved was gone. He read the words over and over again until they lost all meaning. He couldn't believe this was happening to him. 'Somehow no matter what I do, I always seem to end up left alone' he thought to himself. But this time he knew he was to blame, at least partially. He hadn't bothered to realise just how afraid and confused she had been. He hadn't really thought how hard everything must have been on her. Suddenly his head started to painfully ache. He sat on the edge of the bed and rested his head on his hands, "how could I let this happen?" he muttered to himself. He stared down again at the end of Rinoa's note, 'please don't come and try and find me. It will only hurt us both.'

Almost as if she was there saying the words to him he argued back "but I can't just let you go. I have to find you…."………………

Later that day Squall had the difficult task of breaking the news to their friends. He briefly explained what Rinoa had told him about the dreams and her fears and suspicions that she was involved in the deaths.

"But…but.." Selphie stammered "She couldn't be…..Rinoa's not evil"

"No" Quistis said firmly "Not the Rinoa we know. But after all she is a sorceress. Perhaps she could not suppress that side of herself forever"

Irvine shook his head and gestured wildly with his hands "Uh-uh. No way. I still don't buy it. Rinoa's not a killer"

"I know. Good lord do I know that. But all this, it just scared her. She hates that side of herself, the sorceress in her, and she just felt overwhelmed by it. So she ran"

Just then a knock at the door interrupted the conversation. Squall shouted to the person to come on. A tall, slender woman entered the room followed by a shorter, balding man. The woman addressed Squall "Commander Leonheart I assume?"

Squall nodded.

"I'm lieutenant Roberts. This is lieutenant Spencer. We're leading the current investigation. We'd quite like to speak with you" she glanced around at the little group gathered in the office. "privately please"

One after the other his friends filed out of the room and the woman shut the door behind them "We'd like to ask you a few questions please"

And so Squall spent the next hour answering question after question. Did he know the victims, did he know their background, did he know who their friends or perhaps even enemies were. Did he have any idea who could be responsible. After all the questioning the woman stood up and cleared her throat. "Well I think you've told us enough" She headed for the door, followed by her colleague but after a few steps she stopped and turned back to Squall "One more thing Mr Leonheart. Have you seen Rinoa Heartilly today?"

Even the mention of her name caused a fresh wave of pain to rise within Squall. He struggled once again to stop tears forming. He shook his head. "No"

The female officer glanced at her colleague. "I'm sorry, but we were under the impression that you and her were…..together"

"we were. I mean are. I mean………" he took a deep breath "she's gone. Ok?"

"Gone?" the short man echoed.

Squall was becoming increasingly irritated with these people "Yes, gone. She left."

Lieutenant Roberts crossed her arms over her chest sternly "Mr Leonheart, you are aware that she is in fact rather an important suspect in this case. And the fact that she was allowed to leave during a formal investigation and forgo questioning simply because you are…"

Squall was finding it incredibly hard to restrain from throwing these people out of his office they were frustrating him so much. "Well, I didn't let her leave. She just did. And why is she such an important suspect?"

Lieutenant Spencer glared at Squall. "You mean to say that she ran away?"

"you didn't answer my question. Why is she a suspect?"

"Mr Leonheart. You're girlfriend is a sorceress. That already causes suspicion. And now the fact that she has run away does not help her case at all. It looks incredibly suspicious in fact.if she was infact nothing to do with this, why would she run away?"

Squall clenched his fists and tried to control his anger. " I don't know. But I do know Rinoa had nothing to do with any of this. She is a sorceress but She is not evil"

Spencer took a little notebook from his pocket and flipped a few pages "She was at one time I believe though"

"You certainly did you're homework" Squall hissed at him

Spencer laughed to himself "calm down lad. But explain something to me would you? You see I always thought that SeeD's purpose was to defeat the sorceresses. Why did you decide to go the opposite way on that I wonder?"

"How the hell is this relevant?" Squall demanded

"Because" Roberts hissed "You so clearly are blinded by your feelings for this girl. If you will defy the purpose of the establishment which run out of love for someone, then what is to say you would not lie to protect her. I know you know were she is. So just tell me Leonheart"

"For the last time, I don't freakin' know were she is ok. How many times are you going to make me say this, she left me, no goodbye, no anything, She just left. If I had a clue in hell were she was you think I'd be here?" Squall snapped

Roberts, who seemed rather taken aback by Squalls anger hissed at him "fine. Say what you like. But we will find her. We will not give up until we find her. She just became the prime suspect in this case" with that she stormed out and her colleague threw Squall a dirty look before following her.

Squall banged his fists on his desk in anger. What had just happened? Rinoa was now the prime suspect in a murder case. They were going to chase her down, arrest her and persecute her undoubtedly for being a sorceress. "Rinoa" he said quietly to himself "I can't let that happen. I've got to find you first……"

What I would give to behold the smile, the face of love,

You never left me as the rising sun will always speak your name

Squall was awoken the next morning by a voice gently speaking his name. He blinked a few times, before noticing he was still in his office. He had been up all night trying to think of a way to find Rinoa and had eventually fallen asleep.

"Rinoa" he asked sleepily upon hearing the gentle voice, but looking up, he saw Edea standing before him.

He sat up and brushed some stray hairs out of his face. "Sorry matron. I was just…"

'I know." She said taking a seat in the office "How are you coping"

"Not well" Squall admitted "It's all my fault, that she left. I just don't know how to handle this."

"Squall, dear child you are not to blame. There were other forces at work here. Rinoa, she came to me a few days ago and told me of her terrible dreams and the tormenting voices she was hearing. I fear know I was not of much help. But you or I are not to blame. Whatever this tormenting spirit is, is responsible for Rinoa leaving."

Squall shook his head "but do you know what the last thing I said to her was? I told her maybe she was involved in those deaths. Because she's a sorceress."

Edea gently touched his hand "We all make mistakes Squall. What matters is how we fix them. We must find a way to help her."

"I have to ask you something. Is this all to do with her being a sorceress. Is she going to …turn?"

Edea sighed. "I do not know Squall. I wish I did. But from what she told me of the words this voice spoke to her, the goal of this spirit seems to be to turn her, to bring forward another evil sorceress. But before this, we must focus on Rinoa herself. We must save her, we have the advantage that we know her"

"I don't understand" Squall said confusedly

"From what she spoke of to me, doubt was planted in her mind. It can be a great hardship to doubt all that you know. And what does she know more than you? If you find her, I believe you will be the one to restore her faith"

"I wish it was that simple" Squall sighed

'Perhaps it will be or perhaps it will not. But no matter what Squall do not forget, you are her Knight"

"And I did a great job of that didn't I?" Squall sighed. "Besides, even if it was so easy. We still have to find her. She could be anywhere in the world."

Edea rose to leave "This is very difficult I know. But I will think of ways to find her. We will not give up on her Squall, I promise."

"Thanks matron. I…" But at that moment something clicked. The words 'I promise' echoed in his head. "I promise" he whispered to himself. "matron, wait! I think I know were she is!"

It wont be long, we'll meet again

Your memory is never passing

It wont be long we'll meet again

My love for you is ever lasting

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So theres chapter 3 for you. I am hoping at least one or two people are still following this story. i know it's got loads of dialogue, but i still think it's kind of intersting. there are either 3 or four chapters left to go. sugestions and comments welcome as always.