Warnings: implied shonen ai, AU

Pairings: IrvineSquall

Comments: It starts out with Irvine's POV or monologue thingy then goes into third person then back to Irvine's POV again. Just so you don't get confused. I dun normally do stories like this. x.x And.. .o forgive the title I couldn't think of anything else.

Author Comments: I guess this would be called a one shot? ; I've done what, one other of this type before? But anyway This would be my first FF8 fanfic. I got inspired while playing the game again and well x.x After seeing them as kids…I don't know but if him not remembering Irvine. sticks tongue out Ok I just wanted to mess around with it. It's an AU so don't freak out.

Extra note: thingies in italics = present Irvine's dialogue

Leave Us…Innocent

I'm pretty sure you've forgotten all about our childhood together. Heh, actually everyone forgot didn't they? You'll wonder why I never mentioned it. To be honest I thought the GF had completely eradicated the thoughts of that time, of my existence. I wondered sometimes if you had any internal feelings at all. But I had already known, just looking at you all, the expressions on your faces that you had forgotten me. Actually it makes me wonder now why I was the only not to make it to the garden after leaving the orphanage. Could it be that it was my fate? Yes that was it, I remember saying that now. It was probably because someone had to remember, and somehow that ended up being me. But still, no one ever believed…believes how alone I was being the only one left behind. It was as though our little childhood gang was breaking apart piece by piece. First Elle went missing. I remember Squall practically going crazy over that small notation. Elle…big sister Elle. She always watched over us when Matron was busy. Hell she made sure Squall and Seifer got along. She made Selphie eat her vegetables. She even stopped Zell's tears after he got teased by Seifer…again and again. And for you, Squall? I guess just having someone there like that was enough for you to make you feel…needed.

Come to think of it I never could figure out why you never played with us. Well maybe I did know, you obsessed fiend. You were keeping Big sis to yourself but…maybe that was because you didn't feel like you fit in. You know maybe if you had opened up a bit more, people would know you weren't such a bad guy. Mr. Pretend to be a tough guy. You really are just a big kid. And maybe you didn't really remember me because we didn't ever really talk…not until almost everyone was gone…Can you remember now? That time at the orphanage when….

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"Squall!" Irvine stood at the door leading out towards the beach. He was in a plain white shirt and a pair of old faded blue jeans that he wore mostly for playing in. "Squall, someone just came to take Zell away! Are you going to come say goodbye to him?" His small childlike form stood there staring at the other small boy, the one with the dark brown hair. Squall didn't even look back at him, leaning with his arms on the brick wall behind the sheets as he stared off towards the ocean. "Squall, did you hear me? Zell's leaving! He won't be coming back! The least you can do is say goodbye to him!" Irvine shook his head slightly running a hand through his short hair and turned around to leave when he suddenly heard it, very lightly, Squall's reply.

"Everyone's leaving…I'll be all alone soon." Irvine stopped walking and turned around glancing at him.

Yes maybe it was then that you started becoming so distant. You were always hovering over that ring that Elle had given you. It was your special keepsake but who knew what you were really thinking as you held it.

"Squall…are you coming?" Irvine stared at the little form standing there, the sheets moving at times in the wind blocking his view of the other. He didn't understand why Squall was acting like this. Ever since big sis left, he quit playing with the other kids. He just seemed so…alone.

All alone…is this why you didn't like making friends? You felt like they would only leave you…just like we did. I was probably the last to go, considering that not even two days later, Matron Edea decided to send you and Seifer to Balamb Garden. Everyone else had left long ago, first Selphie being sent to Trabia garden then Quitis with her foster parents and finally Zell to Balamb. Who knew everyone would end up meeting again. But because of the GF, none if you had even known what had happened in your past lives.

But maybe this was why…you closed yourself off from us. Was it because you felt betrayed and didn't want to be hurt anymore? Well if it was that it's not going to stop us. You may not know it, but we care. We care a lot. And well…maybe I care a little too much. Oh, hey! I see you're still wearing that necklace too. Do you remember how you got it? It was the day before you left for garden…

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"Hey Squall!" Little Irvine ran over to the little boy who was sitting against a column in front of the orphanage. Again he had taken refuge away from everyone, but in those two days, Irvine had pretty much found all of his hiding places.

"What do you want?" Squall gave him a stare before he folded his arms over his chest. Irvine panted slightly resting his little hands on his knees and bending over the catch his breath. Suddenly, he looked up at Squall with a smile and kneeled down in front of him opening his hands wide.

"Look what I found," Irvine said grabbing the necklace by the chain and holding it up letting it swing back and forth slightly in front of Squall's face.

"Yeah, what about it? It's just an old piece of junk. You probably found it while digging in the sand on the beach or something." Squall slightly turned his nose up at it then stared at the brunette male whose hair rested lightly against his neck. It was really starting to grow out now but Irvine refused to let anyone cut it. He said it was a part of him and his life so why should he go cutting things away just because others thought it was useless? That would be like saying he was useless as well.

"Well yeah…ok I did find it on the beach. But that's not the point." He grabbed hold of Squall's hand and placed the slightly wet and sandy necklace there.

"I don't want this!" Squall started to pull his hand away but Irvine held on to it, closing Squall's fingers around it.

"Yeah, as much as you probably don't like it, I do. So I'm giving it to you for safe keeping." Irvine looked up at him and flashed him a little grin. "We don't know whose going to be leaving next. And I know I haven't really spoken to you much before Zell left so I figured this was a way of making it up to you." He closed his eyes slightly, the grin slipping away to a small smile as he bowed his head a bit. "Just think of it this way. You're holding this for me until I come to retrieve it. So I want you to hold on to it for me, until I find you." Irvine opened his eyes and gave a slight wink of an eye as he stood to his feet. "So no matter what, we will meet again. So don't feel alone, ok?" He gave a slight pose, resting his hands on his hips and spreading his legs to the side standing like he was a hero. "Because the ole gang won't give up! We'll be a groupie once again! You'll see!"

Man I was kind of pathetic back then. But I think you had gotten my meaning as well because you actually smiled at me. I could never remember seeing such a smile in a long time. Even for just a little while, you were actually happy and content. It's a shame the GF made you forget all of that. But I think that subconsciously you remembered my promise because you continue to wear that necklace even now. Not only that but you kept that ring too. When you didn't remember me giving you the necklace well…I thought it best not to remind you. After all I think it looks good on you. I don't think I could take it back even if I wanted to, that and Rinoa would probably kill me if she knew I gave you that or more so that I have something of a crush on…well anyway. All that's important is that the promise was kept, and we all met again. Our groupie has reformed plus one and minus Seifer. But maybe he'll come around.

Come to think of it I think I remember now why I didn't go with you guys to Garden. I think Matron knew all along. Maybe not about the others but she knew that you would be qualified as a SeeD. And of course with Seifer as your childhood competitor, you two would work extra hard just to try and outdo each other. But also, she knew that GF would make you forgot. So maybe she wanted someone to remember her, someone to have inside information, therefore I was sent to Galbadia Garden, where I learned to be a sharpshooter. Or maybe she knew that she would not be able to keep up the orphanage for long so she had to start sending us away. But then maybe this was all just fate. I was destined to be with you…I mean all of you. Which means no matter what you can't get rid of me so easily. Course, I guess it kind of hurts when you have to work so hard to gain people's trust again. Then again I'm just glad to be a part of your team again.

So, good work Captain Squall! I'm here for you…forever…

The End

Well that's it for my one shot. : I thinkssss I am content with it. o Course there are things I could have added. .o But I'm thinking about making another one shot that goes through the FF8 plot. From Irvine's point of view again. blinks Probably doesn't work out quite the same considering that um….thinks . Not everyone chooses to play the same characters at the same time. .o So you know most often my character party was Squall, Zell, and Irvine unless I had to go with their choice cause they split up. I had fun writing this! Thank you for allowing me to. Now back to GW. .o