Squall stood at the ledge of the Market Place, overhanging the town square. Leaning over he stared off at the distant horizon, watching the sun rise, a pale purple over a haze of blue. He sighed softly, a small smile ghosted his lips. This had become a morning ritual for Squall, ever since Sora had returned home. Not because he was expecting to see the lights of the Gummi Ship flash as it landed softly on the borders of the world, but because with the world at a relative peace –Tron's security system took care of the few Heartless that remained- the brunet had more time to think about things. And the few moments of peace, as the sun rose and people first started coming alive, he could be Squall again. In the brief time that it took the disc to rise and the day to start, he could let himself remember a time before this. Way before this.

Looking up, his eyes drawn to the soft purple hue the sky had taken, the color was the same shade as the sharpshooters' eyes... or maybe a little lighter, Squall wasn't sure anymore. Try as hard as he could to remember, the only thing that the brunet could almost see the confident, sly, grin the other always wore. 'Squall,' the way that he had said his name with a soft drawl, 'Squall,' the same voice that in a whisper could send shivers down the brunets spin, 'Squall!' the same voice that had been so full of pain when the Heartless had attacked. 'Leon!' That voice, was not his cowboys voice, it wasn't the soft hum of the Galbadien sharpshooter. No. It was the understanding voice of the blond Leon had substituted him with. Turning around, a glare set, to face the man who had interrupted his brooding. Cloud Strife, smiled softly at him, 'I said your name three times already. What were you thinking about that had you so spaced out?'

'I… didn't hear you.' Was the solemn reply as he turned back around, to look back at the sky, the purple was gone, just like that… both where gone. One forever and the other until the next morning and the sun fully in the sky, mocked him of that fact. With another sigh, Leon pushed himself up and stood besides Cloud, 'I was thinking about…' about what, Leon thought angrily, what could he tell the blond man that wouldn't upset him. Sure Cloud sounded and acted understanding when ever Leon just got up and left in the mornings. But just how understanding was he? 'Nothing important… anymore,' he nodded and started walking back towards Merlin's house. Cloud looked at his boyfriends retreating back with a sad look. Something was tormenting the man and he wanted to know, but like always, Leon held back.

'Squall!' came the hyper squeal of the little brunette as she jumped out from behind a plant and hugged him. He growled and she let go and stood back to fix her yellow sundress with a wide grin on her face, like her latest scheme had gone the way she wanted it. His eyes widened a little bit, it wasn't all that noticeable, but to the people around him it was. 'Leon, are you alright?' Leon shook his head as Arieth's voice broke his train of thought. Yuffie stood in front of him. Not, '…Selphie…' he mumbled softly, but the ninja picked it up and raised an eyebrow 'Who's Selphie?' she asked, almost regretting it as a pained look crossed her leader's eyes. 'No one… Yuffie… no one' without another word he walked pass the group and went back out, heading for the Computer Lab. Maybe checking up with Tron would keep his thoughts occupied.

'Good morning Leon' the sound of Tron's voice echoed through the room as the brunet walked in. 'Good morning, Tron.' He nodded back to the computer, taking his seat in the overly comfortable chair he had 

moved in from the office area. 'Anything new for me,' he asked. A few beeps later, Tron's voice came back through, 'Something very new and interesting. Made it myself… well with Cid and Sora's help of course. It's a world status detector or WSD for short.' Leon raised an eyebrow, the computer sensed what he confused thought for confusion, 'All you have to do is type in the name of a world and after a few seconds the world will show up on screen, along with the threat and damage level of the Heartless.' For a computer he sounded awfully smug with himself, and Leon wanted to try the WSD out for himself. Tron happily opened the file for him.

User: Leon Leonhart

Password:

-Welcome, Leon Leonhart, to the World Status Detector. Please, enter the name of the world you wish to find.-

Balamb.

-…Processing…-

Leon leaned back in his chair, hands folded behind his head and feet placed lazily on the consol, as he waited for the search to complete itself. After a few minutes had passed, the brunet had an uneasy feeling in his gut and almost at once wanted the search to be called off. He was about to voice his command when the screen flashed an angry red and big bold letters flashed on the screen. Words that only confirmed the fact he had tried so hard to deny.

-ERROR –NO WORLD FOUND-

He had known the truth before he had even thought about the WSD, before he knew about… back before he had even met Sora for the first time. He knew that Balamb had been destroyed, Galbadia, Trabia too. Staring at the flashing red words that covered the entire screen, the hope that maybe they hadn't been erased that maybe, like Destiny Island, had managed to come back from the darkness. That hope was shattered. Hanging his head, Leon stood and left the room. Oblivious to the sad blue-green eyes that watched him from the other side of the room.

--

The last thing he remembered?

That was an easy question, he had been talking with some cadets over hot dogs and soda, while Zell was complaining that there was never any left by the time he had got to the counter. Quistis had made the comment that it used to happen to Squall all the time... and then the table fell silent. The instructor had apologized for the misplaced comment and then conversation had went on as normal... only not as enthusiastic.


Then, the power had started to flicker and the alarms went off as students and SeeDs rushed around to their respected stations... the Garden crashed in the side of a mountain, not by the cause of the driver but due to running into a magical barrier of some sort. The cadet that Irvine had been talking to was yelling and jumping around, Zell was cursing and Quistis was trying to open the door, but it wouldn't accept her combination and denied them access. After a few more tries it had been made clear that the four of them where stuck in the cafeteria, but not from the battle as little black things that looked like bugs with glowing yellow eyes started popping out of the ground. The same things that had attacked them the night that Squall had gone missing.

A rather large one jumped on his back as another attacked from the front. The last thing Irvine heard was Quistis's scream before it all went black...

It wasn't the rain, nor the bellow of the thunder or footsteps that ran for shelter, that had woken the sharpshooter up. No, it had been the cold shiver that ran down his body, not caused by the damp weather but by the feeling that he wasn't anywhere near the Gardens anymore. He woke with a jump, hair all a mess and his hat lying besides his rifle a few feet away from him. The soft yet muddy ground beneath him and the sure sound of restless waves crashing further on bellow confirmed only one thing. He was on a beach.

Standing up, slowly, he looked around... no one else was there, only him and idly he wondered if maybe this is what had happened to Squall as well? Irvine shrugged it off as he went and collected his things. Hat on his head and rifle slung across his back, plenty of time to look for the man later, right now he wanted to find out where he was.

He started walking along the top of the beach, dusting sand off himself, he noticed a train station a few yards off and decided that the best thing he could do at the moment was get out of the rain. Perhaps even find out where it was exactly he was. It seemed that luck was playing in his favor, despite all that was currently happening to the sharpshooter. As he stepped foot on the platform, a train pulled up. 'Ten munny.' The conductor told him and Irvine raised an eyebrow, 'I don't have any… munny. I have gil though.' The conductor sighed, and shook his head, stupid tourists, he thought and signaled for the cowboy to get on the train.

It was a short ride, but Irvine didn't recognize any of it. Not that he was paying that much attention anyway. His eyes were drawn to the sky which, because of the rain, where a comforting storm-gray. He sighed and leaned back in the seats, looking about the car, it was empty. That didn't surprise him though, it was storming and he didn't figure that too many people would be going to, or coming from, the beach. When the train stopped he got out, tipping his hat to the conductor, and walked down the stairs. The sign had said 'Sunset Terrace' but it didn't look very sunset-like at the moment.

The rain had let up slightly though, so that it was only a soft drizzle and people started leaving their homes. Being the adventure that he was, Irvine rather that he found out his own spot then asking 

people where he was, after all there was no fun in the latter. Walking up a hill he came to what seemed like a bunch of tunnels that connected this place to others. Even if it wasn't going to lead him anywhere but in circles, it was dry and he could get out of the weather. Even though it wasn't so bad anymore.

He walked out of the tunnels and down a few more streets, he knew that he was in a different part of the town, but not sure where. A few more turns and he came to an open area, the street post read, 'Sandlot'. In the middle of the sandlot where three kids, a girl and two guys, who seemed to be having an argument, at least the girl and the bigger of the boys, the third just looked bored an amused.

'Imbecile.'

'Now that's just mean, ya'know?'

Irvine blinked, as he watched them. It couldn't be… could it? He couldn't mistake their voices, he walked closer. Indeed, they looked the same… or at least the bigger guy did. The girl had distinct changes, like the lack of eye patch and the fact that she had both arms. His suspicions where confirmed when the third stood and looked over, a familiar cocky grin on his face and. That scar.

'Seifer?' Irvine found the word leaving his lips before the thought process to form it had been completed. The blond looked over with a raised eyebrow did he not recognize Irvine, or was he simply being Seifer? The question was answered when the blond boy spoke.

'Do I know you?'