It was a sad day indeed for young Squall Leonheart. Rain poured down drenching the earth in watery tears that seemed to be for him. His Sister was leaving him here. Big Sis Ellone was going on a trip, without him…and he didn't know where she was going or when she would be coming back…if ever.

What he did know was that she would be gone a long time.

"Why are you leaving?" Squall sobbed as Ellone knelt down to eye-level to her little brother seeing the tears streak down is soft cheeks looking at the ground, as hiccups wracked his small body.

"I'm sorry but that has to be a secret." Ellone whispered softly to him with a sad smile on her lips as she rubbed his head in an affectionate manor, trying to dispel some of Squalls depression.

"Don't be sad, I'll come back for you…someday and then we can be a family again."

Rubbing his face to clear the tears Squall looked up with hope clearly evident in his watery gaze.

"-But only if you're a good boy, don't cause trouble for Matron, stop fighting with Seifer, and don't pick on Zell along with everything else you get in trouble for okay?" Ellone told him as she gently rested her forehead on his.

Squall nodded and with a quick promise, Ellone rose to her feet suite-case in hand as she started walking down the long path away from the orphanage. Squall following her with his eyes that despite his wishes still continued to make tears.

Ellone was almost out of site when she turned back and even though the distance was great she could see the smile on Squall's face as for a moment he thought she was going to stay as hope filled him, until she smiled back and began walking again turning the hope into depression.

For several seconds Squall though of running to her begging her not to leave, but to stay with him and the others Zell, Selphie, Quistis and even Seifer…but he couldn't , he wouldn't, if he did that he would be a bad boy. He would be causing trouble again, he would break his promise to her and she wouldn't come back.

So he stood there waiting for her to keep her promise…

Opening his eyes Squall looked around his room noticing that it wasn't the orphanage as the walls of Balamb Garden, his new home stared back at him blankly. This had happened before this dream, nightmare…and it always made him remember her.

"Stupid dreams." Squall muttered as he rose from his bed, starting the day.

&

Changing into some light clothes Squall left his room for the main center of Garden, with its large open area it was the perfect place to do some morning exercises. Several laps around the center and a few sit-ups and push-ups were a good enough exercise to stay in shape.

After a quick shower and a change of clothes Squall left his dorm to pay a visit to the cafeteria, breakfast was the most important meal of the day and not eating since last night and his early morning workout food was a must.

Seeing as it was seven-thirty in the morning most students were just now beginning to arrive. Looking around quickly Squall noticed that many of the SeeD hopefuls around his age didn't take things as seriously as he did, in fact if he remembered right only five other's beside him ever woke up early just to get some exercise in.

Most of the upperclassman we're up early, but they were allowed into the training center, so it was understandable.

Being the first day of the new semester worked wonders on Squall as he couldn't help but be excited, even if his cold exterior portrayed anything but.

This year students finally got to do weapons training, something that would have had Squall jumping into the air. With his choice the classes might be hard but the payback in return would be well worth it.

Squall had chosen the Gunblade as his weapon. With its speed, and elegance his chance of passing the SeeD exam would skyrocket, he knew the rarity of Gunblade specialists and planned to capitalize on it. Although it would take a lot of time and discipline to use it properly Squall stood firm with his choice.

After all you never gained anything worthwhile without hard work.

Finishing his breakfast Squall turned to leave the cafeteria when he bumped into the last person he ever wanted to run into.

Seifer Almasy, a member of the schools disciplinary squad, he acted as if he was a king, no one was better than him, only people below him existed in his world.

"Watch where you're going!" Seifer snarled at Squall throwing a hateful gave at his rival.

"Why should I?" Squall shot back equally sending a look of pure loathing.

"Because I'm your superior." Seifer stated aloud for all those around to hear drawing their gaze.

'Why does Seifer have to show off!?' Squall thought before he retorted. Walking up to Seifer Squall spoke.

"The only thing you are superior to me in…is your ability to fail."

Seifer pushed Squall and the two tussled back and forth as a fight was beginning between the two until they were stopped.

"Cut it out you two!" Quistis yelled as the blonde-haired, glasses wearing girl descended on them. She was a year older than Squall but the same age as Seifer.

Placing a hand on the others chest she pushed them apart before taking command.

"First of all Seifer, Squall didn't mean to bump into you so back off and stop trying to pick fights." Turning to Squall she added "-and you Squall need to ignore Seifer's taunts and not let them get to you." She finished before lecturing about school policy and other things before the tension wound down.

"Your girlfriend won't save you next time." Seifer sneered as he stomped away in fury. No doubt to meet his group of friends that consisted of no more than Fujin, a silver-haired enigma and the ever loud and abrasive Raijin.

Turning in the other direction in equal anger with his fist tingling in anticipation of punching Seifer in the face Squall missed the blush that dusted Quistis's fair cheeks at the mention of her being Squall's girlfriend.

&

Making his way to his first class Squall found the first desk he came to and sat down, watching the other students filter in. When the Instructor walked in the class started as he began his lecture.

"As you all know this year you will be training in using weapons." Taking a look around the room to ensure he had everyone's attention he continued "-I will call you up in alphabetical order to go and get your starting equipment." He finished as he pulled out a list of students names before he began reading them off and sending to the armory, where he waited until they returned gear in hand before calling the next name.

Everything was fine for Squall until his name was skipped. He began to grow more nervous as each name after his was called until the list was finished.

"Now that you have your equipment open your cases and make sure everything is in order and inform me if there is any problem."

Walking up to the front of the room Squall stood before the teacher's desk.

"Is there any problem?" the instructor asked as Squall explained that he hadn't received his weapon.

His brows furred in question the instructor looked through the list again before turning to the paper's on his desk where he found a small note.

"Oh my mistake Mr. Leonheart, it says you are to report to the headmaster's office." With a quick "Thank you" Squall made his way to the elevator.

Entering he pressed the button for the third floor where the headmaster's office resided. As the elevator made the short trip entertained himself with ideals as to what the headmaster's office looked like, he had never been there before.

A sharp 'dinging' sound filled his ears as the doors opened up to a small plain room with a set of elegant set of double doors rested, most likely the entrance to the actual office. Walking forward with a nervous gait Squall stood before them and knocked sharply.

After a few seconds he was told to come in. Placing a hand on each door handle Squall pushed them open.

From his desk Cid Kramer, the headmaster, looked up from his work noticing Squall.

"Mr. Leonheart please take a seat." He asked pointing to the chair across the desk from him.

Making his way to the chair Squall sat down noticing the soft leather of the chair as it conformed to his shape as he wondered what this meeting was about.

Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose Cid looked over his desk with an inquisitive glace before beginning.

"As you have no doubt noticed by now you have not received your weapon Squall…would you like to know why?"

With a nod Squall answered. "Yes, sir I would like to know why."

Taking off his glasses Cid began cleaning them while he continued.

"As you know Garden is all about the success of this establishment." With a nervous nod from Squall he continued, as he brought his glasses up to the light making sure they were free of dust before putting them back on. "-If the success of the mission is in question then Garden has to look into the success rate of those SeeD's on that mission and their expenses we need to make sure we're using our money wisely, and the cost of a Gunblade and maintenance is high…Garden has yet to decide if you are worth the expense."

Squall was horrified, his dream was to be a Gunblade specialist and now his dream might be over before it ever began.

Clearing his through Cid spoke "As you might know Seifer received his choice of weapon, a Gunblade, last year but with Seifer's low grades and his low probability of passing the committee it is unsure if we should invest money in what might be a repeat."

Sitting in the chair Squall was furious 'What the hell! That bastard, he's always causing trouble!' Squall thought.

Seeing Squall's reaction Cid smiled, which confused him.

"But I know how dedicated you are Squall and on your behalf I have asked the committee to make an exception and allow you your weapon of choice."

A small smile graced Squall's lips as he heard this, but was soon replaced as the headmaster continued.

"-However there is a catch. You must take several extra classes, of my choice of course, and pass them in addition to your other classes. Do you agree to these terms?" Cid asked.

Nodding quickly Squall signed some paperwork that the headmaster put in front of him.

"Now it will take roughly half a month for you Gunblade to arrive Squall, so you will be put in Study Hall until that time." Cid reminded him before printing out his new schedule and sent him off to his next class.

Taking a quick glance at his schedule Squall noted that he's Study Hall was located in the Quad, as he hurried to get there.

&

After the long abysmal time in Study Hall he noticed his next class was Advanced Espionage, eyes widening in shock Squall looked down at the rest of his schedule.

It seems the headmaster forgot one "tiny" detail in his office about his schedule besides having to take those other classes…all the ones he signed Squall up for were advanced, making the next several years of Squall's life a living hell.

When Squall reached the room of his class, room 232, he entered only to find five other students besides himself inside. Four of them he didn't know but the last person he happened to observe was none other than the silver-haired enigma Fujin.

Walking to one of the many empty seats in the room Squall sat down pondering his classmates.

'I never thought I'd see one of Seifer's friends smart enough to be in an advance class.' Squall thought as he regarded Fujin sitting in the back corner of the room.

The classroom door opened revealing the instructor, which promptly ended the musings of Squall as his attention was brought to the front of the room.

Going over to her desk the instructor picked up the attendance sheet before going over the names raising a delicate eyebrow at the new addition before quickly going over Squall's file nodding when she finished.

"Nice to know you are all here." She told them.

Walking to the center of the room the instructor launched into a lecture.

"You all know this is Advanced Espionage, to begin what will be the next several years I will split you into groups of two, there is a reason for this." She paused making sure they all understood "-the person you are working with is not negotiable, just like out in the field you won't always be working with your buddies, you might not even have met them before."

Moving two next to each she said one last thing before naming the groups.

"I based your partner on who you would work with based on your files, you will be working with the person you have the most dislike for in this class."

While the first group was situated, Squall attempted to figure out who he would be working with. As far as he knew no one held a great dislike for him. If the instructor based his partner on hes' personality he could be partnered with anyone.

Taking one last look in the room he thought to himself 'There is no one I hate in this class the only person I hate with a passion is…'stopping the track of his thoughts Squall looked at one person in particular in the room missing the second group being called.

The only person in Garden Squall hated, and hated with a great amount happened to be Seifer, and the Silver-haired girl Squall was looking at was friends with his "rival".

"Squall you will be partnered with Fujin." The Instructor said before making her way back to her desk.

Moving to the seat next to Fujin he watched as she looked at him as if seeing him for the first time, before turning her gaze back to the front of the room and waited for the class to begin. Closing his eyes, Squall couldn't help but think this was going to be a long couple of years.

well the here is the first chapter. Hope you enjoy.

And a great thanks to my editor/beta Zanaso Clramm. Who helps prevent me from making a total fool of my self