Chapter 7: Predator/Prey

AaAaA

Squall looked out the window of the train, the countryside turning into a cityscape as they approached their destination.

"Ladies and Gentleman, we will be arriving in Deling City shortly, please make sure that you have all your personal belongings with you when you disembark. Thank you for riding Deling Rails and enjoy your stay."

Squall sighed as he glanced to the seat next to him, his bag was where he left it, and he knew that his trunk was safely in the baggage car.

He had been on this train often enough to know that the conductors were bored out of their minds and would rather be doing something else. So having your baggage together when you left was always a good thing for they could be grumpy at times.

Returning his eyes to the window he watched as the train slowed and eventually pulled into the Deling City Station. Grabbing his bag he stood up and moved to the door and out of the car.

"Wow, it's so pretty," she said from his elbow as they left to collect their luggage from the baggage car, he had almost forgotten she was there in the silence.

"How long since you were last here?" he asked as he grabbed his trunk and drug it to a nearby luggage trolley.

"Several months," she said automatically, but paused as she actually thought about it, "actually it's been almost a year and a half."

Squall only grunted as he pushed the trolley out of the station and towards the awaiting taxicabs.

AaAaA

"Wow, this is where you live?" Rinoa asked as the taxi pulled up to a nondescript building in the industrial/warehouse district.

"Yes," was all Squall said as he paid the driver and moved to open the door; he was surprised that she was that excited about an old warehouse.

Opening the door he pulled the trunk through and dropped it just inside. Entering the pitch-black portal he fumbled around the wall for the light switch.

Rinoa gasped when the lights illuminated the interior.

On the left side of the building was a row of cars, trucks, and a motorcycle. On the right was what appeared to be a training area complete with weapons and target range. In the back Rinoa could see the two-story office area that Squall had converted into an apartment.

"Wow," was all she said as she stood in the doorway, half outside the building.

"Are you going to come in or stand outside all night?" Squall said when she made no move to enter, his voice carrying only a hint of annoyance.

"Oh, yeah," she said with a small grin as she stepped in and closed the door behind her.

Her eyes were having trouble focusing on any one point as she walked toward the row of vehicles. Eventually they gave up trying to identify all the artifacts that lined the walls and focused on the motorcycle, or motorcycles as it turned out to be.

"Is that a Harley?" she asked as she pointed to a big black and silver motorcycle dwarfing the sport bike on the side furthest from the door.

"Yes," he replied from halfway across the room.

Leaving the bikes, she wandered over to where Squall was checking the mail that had been placed in a drop box just to the left of the door.

"You know, I never pictured you as a biker," she said in mild humor, a smile gracing her face.

Squall only turned to look at her before returning his attention to the mail.

"Things aren't always what they seem are they?" he asked as he threw the junk mail into a shredder.

"No, I guess they aren't," she replied as she watched him walk to the office/apartment's stairs.

Realizing that he was leaving her, she ran to catch him as he began to make his way up the stairs.

"So," she began as she slowly followed behind him, "where am I going to sleep?"

"On a bed," he replied without even missing a beat.

His remark had the ability of silencing her for the rest of the journey into the apartment.

Once inside he didn't even give her a chance to look around, with a gesture he led her to a spare bedroom.

"You'll sleep here, the kitchen is down the hall to your left, bathroom to your right." With that he turned and walked down the hall toward what could be considered the living room.

"Squall," she called, waiting until he paused to continue. "Where's you room? In case I get scared."

"Down the hall behind you," he replied before continuing on his way. "Wash up, dinner in half an hour."

AaAaA

The kitchen/living room was silent as Squall and Rinoa sat eating their small dinner. Several times Rinoa had tried to start a conversation, but each time she opened her mouth she closed it just as fast, no words would leave it. So after failing to start even a simple conversation she had given up and found herself in the silence that now shrouded them.

Glancing up from the chicken she was eating she took a moment to study the man opposite her. His steel grey eyes were hidden by his bangs as he looked down to cut his entrée. So much went on in the mind hidden behind those eyes. Oh, how she wanted to know what he was truly thinking, not the front that he showed the rest of the world.

She watched him as he raised the fork to his mouth and took the food off the end, her eyes traveled to the scar that ran along his face. How did he get it?

"What?" he asked even as he lifted the fork to his mouth once again.

Rinoa blushed when she realized she'd been caught staring.

"I ... er ... I was just wondering where you got that scar." She stammered out even as his steel-grey eyes rose to meet her own chocolate eyes.

"When I was a child," he replied after looking at her through slightly closed eyes.

She waited for him to continue but he didn't.

"That's all?" she asked in frustration. "When you were a child? There has to be more to it than that!"

"There isn't!" He snapped before managing to calm himself, due partially to the look of hurt and shock on her face and partially because he was overreacting.

With a sigh he put his utensils down and looked at her.

"You already know I was an orphan and a little about my life before I came to Garden, this scar is one of the reminders of that life."

She knew he was holding something back, but she wasn't going to push. She was just glad that she got him to open up even a little bit.

After finishing dinner Rinoa tried to ask Squall a question that she'd been wondering all night.

"Um … Squall," she began but trailed off when he turned from the dishes he was washing to regard her. Steeling her courage she continued on. "Can we go into town tonight; I haven't been back in so long I'd like to look around."

He just looked at her as he dried his hands on a towel.

"I need to get some supplies anyway."

"Thank you," she said in a squeal of delight as she rushed to him and hugged him. She quickly let go and rushed to her room to get a jacket.

Squall just return to finishing the dishes.

AaAaA

Walking through the markets of Deling City brought back many memories for Rinoa. Some good, but mostly bad, mainly consisting of the time after her mother's death and how her father had turned cold.

Now she and Squall were beginning the journey back to his apartment, he having found the supplies he needed and she having had a trip down memory lane.

Having begged and pleaded with him, she had finally got her way. They were now making their way through one of the city's parks, much against his better judgment.

Rinoa was happily running along in front of him as he carried the bags. She stopped beneath a tree to watch the Moon as she waited for him to catch up. She did this several more times before they reached a thick clump of trees.

Before either knew it Rinoa was jumped by four assailants. Squall dropped the bags and reached for his gunblade only to remember that he hadn't brought it. Shrugging the problem off he ran toward them and opened with a left hook to one of the attacker's jaws. Needless to say he was somewhat surprised when the attacker withdrew from the blow and hissed at him.

Letting out a string of profanity he cursed their luck to run into a pack of Vampyrs out on the hunt. Falling into a stance he waited for them to attack him, hoping that they would forget about Rinoa and focus on the bigger threat, three did, leaving the fourth to hold a struggling Rinoa.

"Don't worry," he hissed in her ear, "once we finish with your little boyfriend it'll be your turn."

She continued to fight but his grip around her throat was too tight, all she could do was watch.

AaAaA

Squall for his part was partly thrilled, he lived for this stuff after all, but part of him was worried about Rinoa. So in order to alleviate that worry he had to kill the vamps quickly.

Grabbing the arm of the same vamp he had hit he turned behind him and quickly broke his arm at the elbow joint. Pushing him aside he focused on the other two who were keeping a distance as they looked for weakness.

Yet even as their pain and rage filled friend attacked again they realized what they were fighting. He bore the smell of dusted Vampyrs on him, the clear sign of a hunter.

Even as Squall moved to take the attacking Vampyr in a headlock he knew that the others were waiting for an opening. Moving quickly he practically tore the head off the one he held and turned to the others even as he crumpled to the ground, Rinoa's scream ignored.

"You will die tonight Hunter, then we will feed on your woman," one of the remaining hissed at him. Squall said nothing as he rushed toward them and took them both on in hand-to-hand combat.

He ducked as the claws of one passed through where his head had been, but that brief moment allowed the other to dig his claws into Squall's back. Wincing in pain he kicked them both away from him.

Taking a moment to rotate his shoulder he gauged the situation. Three Vampyrs, two fighting and one with a hostage. He had no weapons except his hands and the small switchblade he always carried.

Well, it was better than nothing. With that thought running through his mind he removed the knife and opened the small switchblade. With knife in hand he took a fighting stance and hoped that he'd be able to end this soon.

Waiting for the attack he didn't have to wait long. They both rushed him, confident in their ability to defeat him.

Ducking below one he jabbed the knife into the stomach of the other as they passed by, the blade dragging out a long gaping wound. While it wasn't fatal it would slow him down enough for Squall to deal with the other Vampyr.

Focusing on the other Vampyr he shifted the knife to the other hand. Moving closer he made several experimental stabs, testing his opponent's defense. Needless to say there was very little as he had no training in fighting bladed weapons.

Taking a chance he rushed into his opponent, the blade slashing and stabbing, scoring superficial wounds. These only served to throw off the Vampyr's concentration, as was the intention. With a move fast as lightning he stuck the blade into the Vampyr's heart before pulling it out and shoving it into his throat. Using the knife he cut along the throat, making it easier for him to remove the head with his bear hands. Even as his opponent struggled Squall was still able to snap his neck and tear his head off.

Covered in blood from the two Vampyr's he had already killed he turned his attention to the final two. His eyes landed on the one he had sliced open, but this was just the opening that this one holding Rinoa was waiting for. Sinking his teeth into her neck he began to feed, covering her muffled scream with a hand. He didn't stop there, as he was feeding his other hand made its way to her arm and with out any hesitance snapped the bone there.

Dropping her with a smirk he backed away, content with the knowledge that he had drained her almost to the point of death. He had stopped though, he wanted this Hunter to feel the pain of holding her in his arms as she died.

Vanishing into the shadows he left his friend for dead, but he was no idiot, he too made his way into the darkness.

Turning to face the one holding Rinoa he came to a realization. He had failed her, he was supposed to protect her and had failed. Now she was bleeding to death on the ground.

Without a thought he ran to her and scooped her up into his arms. She was so weak that she couldn't even hold onto him. Moving as fast as he could he made his way back to his apartment. He only hoped that he would be able to save her in time.

AaAaA

End Chapter 7; TBC Chapter 8: I Can't Do This.