Author's Note - I'm be writing yet another story! The title might sound odd, but you'll understand in the last chapter. Or, if you are really smart people, (hehe no offense) you'll get it earlier.

The Meaning of Whatever
By Moshi Moshi Mai

"...So, I need you to complete this mission," the Headmaster concluded.

Squall nodded in reply and stood up.

"Is that all you need?" he questioned politely. Cid nodded and Squall left the office.

Squall walked down the halls of the huge Garden that was his home. He was already tired from his last mission just two weeks ago, and now Cid had assigned yet another task for him. Sometimes he wished he wasn't a high rank SeeD so he could spend time like a normal teenager.

He sat down on a bench and stared at the fountain. The water sparkled and glistened as it came out of the spout. Squall rummaged through his pocket and fumbled out a penny. He tossed the coin into the shallow water and closed his eyes in deep thought. He made a wish, a million things he knew he never would have. Squall sighed and stood up from the bench.

He checked his watch. He still had two minutes left before he was supposed to meet Rinoa in his room. She had told him earlier that day that she something important that she wanted to tell him in person. Knowing how picky his girlfriend was, he hurried back to his room.





Rinoa slid her keycard into the lock to Squall's room. She stepped inside the room, and was met with a dark, unoccupied space. Flipping on the lights, Rinoa was surprised that Squall was not there yet. Usually he was there before her. She shrugged and sat down on a velvet chair. A moment later, a swipe of a keycard was heard and Squall entered the room.

Rinoa smiled in greeting at him and he nodded. She motioned for him to take a seat across from her. He sat down.

"Well?" he asked expectantly.

Rinoa took a deep breath and said, "You know that mission you're going on?"

Squall nodded.

"Well, I was thinking that maybe after you come back, we could go to Timber and spend two weeks max there; you know you need a break from all of this," she said.

Squall shook his head, "I can't, Rinny. It's not that I don't want to, it's just-"

"Just what, Squall? It's not against the rules. I'm sure Cid would be ok with it," she begged, pleading with her eyes.

"Look, I can't," he said firmly and stood up. It was his way of saying period, end of conversation.

"Look, Squall. The Garden will be fine while you and I are gone. Stop trying to be a Macho Man all the time," she joked.

Squall arched a regal eyebrow.

"……Macho Man?"

Rinoa giggled at his puzzled look and smiled.

"Well, yeah! You're always so busy helping everyone out and," she made a wild gesticulation, "saving the world. I'm starting to feel left out of your life."

"I'm sorry you feel that way," he said quietly. Rinoa waited patiently. Wasn't he going to say he wanted to go with her? Several minutes passed and Rinoa lost her patience.

"Well, Squall?" she said, deciding to whip out her best puppy dog eyes.

"...'Well', what?"

Rinoa smacked her head exasperatedly.

"Come with me to Timber! Please?"

Squall sighed again and shook his head, his silky brown hair shimmering in the light.

"I told you I can't go, Rin. My duty as Commander of—"

"—Garden is much more important than going to Timber to have fun," Rinoa finished with a dead voice, frowning.

"Well, if you knew what I was going to say, then why did you even bother to ask?" Squall asked, staring at her. He was starting to grow angry.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said mockingly, "Am I wasting your precious time, Commander?" Rinoa bowed her head and curtsied, glaring at her boyfriend when she came back up.

Squall stood up, towering over her.

"That's not fair. You know I'd love to go with you, but I can't, ok?" he said, his stormy grey eyes swirling. His patience was starting to wear thin at an alarming rate.

"That's not fair. That's not fair," she mimicked, "I can't go because I'm Macho Commander to the extreme and I'd rather go on missions that risk my fucking life than to spend time with…oh, what's her name?, Rinao? Rin..oa? Yes, Rinoa!" the brunette sorceress imitated him, placing her hands on her hips.

Squall was becoming more irate with every word that came out of her mouth. His eyes flared as Rinoa continued to pick at him, her harsh words making him snarl.

Rinoa was just as angry. She didn't care at the moment how Squall reacted. Rinoa continued to mock him. When she finally noticed the look on Squall's face, she shut her mouth and glared back. Seconds passed by like hours as the tense silence went on.

Suddenly, Squall's mouth opened and he spoke in a quiet, yet dangerous voice.

"You know what? If you want to go to Timber so badly, then go. No one's stopping you. Go ahead and leave," he spat.

Squall crossed his arms and looked away as if daring her to leave.

Rinoa could feel small tears starting to fall down her face, and wiped them off harshly, not wanting Squall to see she was weak. Not wanting him to see how his words hurt her so.

"That's not a bad idea, Squall," she said icily.

Rinoa pivoted on her heel, stalking off towards the door. She whipped around, meeting Squall's ethereal cold grey eyes with her own fiery amber.

"And don't be surprised if I don't bother to come back!" she screamed, slamming the door with an amazing amount of force, leaving a shocked commander behind.

Author's Note - Reviews for this story!