Time had come and gone, and finally the small group of SeeDs stood at the gates to Caraway's huge mansion. The four teens simply looked around as if only there to sight see.

"I love to watch the travelers walk by." The man who had spoke it rolled back and forth on the balls of his feet. His brown hair was cut at an angel coming down longer in the front and shorter in the back. He had pale green eyes that danced in the early morning light.

Squall glared at him and mutter, "I like to travel on a bus."

The man's narrow face formed a broad toothy smile. "You must be the SeeDs from Balamb! Hi, my name is Taru." The man extended a hand.

Squall merely glanced at it. Seeing as he wasn't going to begin the introductions, the blond girl stepped forward and shook his hand, "I am Quistis Trepe," she nodded and gestured to Squall, "that's Squall Leonhart. That's Zell Dincht, and Selphie Tilmitt. Yes, we were sent from Balamb."

Taru guided them through the gates and into the building, through mazes of hallway after hallway, he led them to a small Guard's Post. Dust mounted on chairs and furniture. He knelt down and picked up a pack, though, while raising it stirred a small cloud of dust, and the man began a coughing fit.

When his small spell was over he turned back to the SeeDs. "The general knows Rinoa is up to something, but we don't know what. Your task is simple, just follow her around here and there--but don't make it obvious you're spying!" He sighed, "You can't hang around looking like SeeDs though, or she'll know. Now... I have a few uniforms here..." he pulled out a Galbadian army uniform. It was a bit short and Zell figured he was going to have to take it.

Quistis became a maid, while Selphie became a soldier. Leaving Squall.. "A butler? No way! I-"

"Listen, Squall, this is important. Just take the butler suit." She glanced at him, "But you know you'll have to slick your hair back."

Squall rolled his eyes and entered the small bathroom reserved for their dressing. Coming out moments later in a stark black tuxedo, a white dress shirt under the jacket, and a small black bow tie. He had left his ordinary white shirt on underneath this mess he wore, and his greiver medallion remained around his neck.

Taru had gone on a search for some hair grease and was working on Zell's hair when Squall stepped out, "I guess that'll work..." he sighed and finished Zell's hair. "You just look a bit.... Tough for a butler. Do you think you could lighten up a little?"

No response.

"Heh, well then, I guess... Let's do your hair."

Squall's hair had been slicked back firmly and tied tightly in a rubber band. 'Great... I look like I went running in the rain.' Squall almost sighed. He suffered even worse from the blue bandana tied around his head to hide his scar.

I find something of a dark humour in the way my writing improves throughout this fic (however minutely it does so) while my spelling heads in the opposite direction.

Taru assigned there positions. Squall would take the parlor, dining room, and any other downstairs leisure environments. Quistis was assigned to the upstairs area, where a maid would most likely be cleaning up around the bedrooms. Zell was to act as if staying at Caraway's home on business, he would stay around Caraway's office and the yard. Selphie was to keep guard anywhere, she was to act as a soldier guarding over the mansion and was free to roam anywhere except the bedrooms. Before leaving Taru mentioned that the General was expecting them, and he would be around if they had any questions or needed help.

Zell jumped as someone walked up behind him, and turned to see a soldier staring at him, "I haven't seen you around here before... What's your business here?"

The army officer impersonator stood straight, "I have business with the General, I am staying resident here for maybe a few more days."

The soldier he was talking to giggled and lifted the visor, "Am I that convincible!" Selphie smiled at him through the suit.

The blond SeeD sighed and slouched over, "It's only you."

"Don't worry! This should be easy. I wonder where Rinoa is?" The girl glanced around.

Shrugging, Zell turned to leave, "Good job, Selph."

Rinoa paced the parlor floor while question after question flooded her mind. Where was Yumenegau? He should have made some contact with her to report what was going on. She hadn't heard a word from him for the three days he was gone. What was happening in Esthar?

The raven-haired girl had left her father, so he could attend some business of no interest to her. She had lately been tiring of playing sweet and interested in everything. She felt Caraway suspected something was up, she had to admit, her return was kind of sudden. 'Oh, no... What if he got killed? What if everyone got killed?' She sped up her pace realizing what could have happened to Yumenegau. She had never before realized how important Yumenegau was to her plans. If he had gotten killed, she would have to continue playing sweet and innocent, until she found a replacement for him.

The girl stopped midpace to see a figure standing in the parlor doorway. She suppressed a smile seeing his odd dress. He wore a tuxedo that looked about three sizes too big for him, and it seemed extremely baggy. The blue bandana tied around his head hid his forehead, and gave him a rebellious, gangster, look. She had to hold herself from laughing. He looked like a gangster gone to funeral in a rehabilitation center. His expression only insured it. Though she felt a chill run down her spine as his icy blue eyes stared straight at her. His expression was cold, and dead calm.

She smiled slightly, "I haven't seen you around here before." There was something strangely familiar about him. He looked oddly out of place in his environment, he almost looked.. prefect.

Squall felt his knees get weak, 'What am I doing here!?' His mind screamed in panic, 'What did I do to deserve this? Why.. If she got free from Yumenegau and Waruitenshi.. Why didn't she come back to Garden? Why am I so nervous?' Squall stared at her, feeling as if about to fall flat on his face. He did the only thing he knew to do, he didn't respond.

Rinoa shuddered slightly, why did he radiate such coldness? His eyes were like crystals icy, burning straight through her. She faltered and felt her face take an expression she found unfamiliar.

Seeing how she looked worried that he wasn't responding, the blue-eyed SeeD decided to answer her question, "I'm the new butler."

The raven-haired girl looked uneasy but managed to smile, "What is your name?"

Squall felt his knees get weaker, this was pressure he didn't deserve. He knew there was something strange about her, something alien to her nature, but why did she look so honestly innocent, she seemed.. afraid of something?

Regaining his composure he stood straight, realizing just how much taller than her he was. Without thinking he said the first thing that came to his mind, "Laguna Loire." He paused, 'The soldier from those dreams?'

Deep inside of Rinoa, the real Rinoa stirred as her thought's became the sorceress's. 'Laguna Loire? But, I heard Squall, Zell, and Selphie talking about someone by that name! They said something about a dream... Could he be...?'The thoughts ceased sharply.

'Well? Who? Who could he be, girl?' The sorceress couldn't draw the thought from her. The real Rinoa was smarter than she's though she refused to think about who it was, instead she thought of her experience in Forest owls. These thoughts were no use to her, and she left Rinoa alone. "Laguna Loire? Hi, I'm Rinoa Heartilly." She smiled confidently, now that Rinoa's still conscious presence was being ignored. Now that she wasn't listening to Rinoa, she could be strong, who she had made Rinoa out to be.

Squall was startled by the girl's sudden look of confidence. 'There's something not right about her... Caraway was right, she is acting strange.' He nodded to her and glanced around quickly.

The sorceress wasn't in any mind to chat with Laguna at this moment, "Well, Laguna, I'm sorry but I would like to have sometime alone. So, maybe I'll see you later."

At that moment something like malice flickered in Rinoa's brown eyes and Squall snapped whatever it was going on with her was really not doing a good job at hiding itself. 'We'll see what's wrong with you soon, Rinoa. Sooner than you expect.' He turned and left.

Selphie walked through the yard outdoors, they had been at this for a whole day. Sure, everyone had seen Rinoa around, and for some reason, she seemed to avoid them all. She was acting suspicious. Selphie stopped and ducked out of site from the mansion, removing her helmet. She was disappointed to see that her hair was going flat.

She leaned against a bare wall and looked up at the now dark sky. He had been gone for five days now. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, as well as the twinkling stars. She couldn't help but remember him. Irvine. She stopped as something approached her.

A man walked straight up to her stopping inches in front of her, "Selphie, I need your help."

Selphie's eyes bulged as she looked up at the man, he looked just like Squall! "I don't know you. How do you know my name?"

"I know more than your name, Selphie. I know what happened to Irvine, I know what's going on here, and I know what's happened to Rinoa." the man took a step forward. "My name is Yumenegau, ignore all you might know about me already. I need your help, or you wont ever be able to see your friend Rinoa again. Trust me, Selphie. I can help."