Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII or Kingdom Hearts 2, nor do I own Squaresoft or any of the characters portrayed in the story. No one can use this story without my permission anywhere without getting permission from me first. If you do, the wrath of hell will grab you and drag you into the fiery deeps, where you will be tormented by little people with knifes that stab you. You have been warned.

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Chapter 1

An Odd Proposal

There weren't any music fanatics in Balamb Garden. Sure, there was the odd person that had their Walkman turned up a bit too loud in class, but that was about it. On top of that, barely anyone knew how to play an instrument. Thus it came to no surprise that when a poster was put up requesting a band to play in the Winter Festival, no one showed any interest.

Squall looked upon the poster with a vague boredom. Having just finished marking a pile of exams for the new batch of students, he barely even noticed that he was staring at it without realizing what was on it.

The door hissed open, and Seifer strode into the Commander's office, his black trenchcoat flapping around his heels. Having looking for an excuse to kiss his brunet lover, he was disgruntled that Squall took no notice of his entrance.

"I'm not that dull, am I?" Seifer said loudly, snapping Squall out of his trance.

Squall Leonhart and Seifer Almasy had only recently gotten together as a couple. It had only been a few weeks since the public knew about it, but no one took any notice, not even the students in Balamb Garden itself.

To Squall, the Head Commander of Balamb, it came as a surprise that the public had said nothing about their relationship. The war must have changed the public's outlook on life more than he first realized, considered that Squall and Seifer were both men. Then again, as both of them had said time and time again: gender wasn't an issue.

Squall looked up at Squall wearily. It pained Seifer to see Squall's finely shaped face marked with stress, but he stared Squall in his grey-blue eyes. "What are you so distracted about?" Seifer said calmly.

Squall rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Nothing," he said with a yawn. "I'm just tired."

Seifer chuckled, and walked behind the Commander's desk, grabbing him around the waist and dragging him close to him. "I can see that." Seifer whispered softly.

Squall nuzzled in that tight embrace, inhaling the spicy scent of the taller man's aftershave. "We need to go back to my apartment." He said, his voice muffled by the blonde man's trenchcoat.

Seifer grinned triumphantly, ruffling the already messy brown hair of Squall. "I can see where you're getting at." Seifer said knowingly.

Bending his head down for a gentle kiss, the two of them didn't hear Selphie walk in. The bubbly young woman, already ecstatic over the fact that she was the witness of many of Seifer and Squall's intimate acts, she stayed silent, brewing in the mounting tension in the room.

To her disappointment, Squall pushed out of Seifer's embrace, giving Selphie his full attention. "Yes, Selphie?" he said wearily.

Selphie groaned openly, stomping her sandal clad feet on the ground. "I missed out again!" she moaned, openly showing her immaturity in the matter.

Seifer burst out laughing. "Again?" he said within breaks of laughter. "You haven't seen anything yet, Tilmitt."

Selphie Tilmitt stopped her stomping, regarding Seifer's words. She had been the most enthusiastic of the people in Balamb to hear of Seifer and Squall as a couple. She knew that her appearance had stopped one moment of intimacy, but she conceded, knowing they would be many more later on.

"What are you doing here, Selphie?" Squall repeated wearily, embarrassed unnecessarily by his display.

Selphie smoothed down her signature overall dress, giving the impression it was something important. "Did you get the note about the band for the Winter Festival?" she said.

"YOU put it up?" Seifer said incredulously.

Selphie nodded. "Have you seen it already, Seifer?" she said enthusiastically.

Squall picked the poster up from the desk, looking at it again. "Wanted – band to play at Winter Festival..." he read aloud. "If interested, see Selphie Tilmitt..."

Selphie clapped her hands enthusiastically. "It's good, huh?" she grinned.

Seifer grabbed the poster off Squall while Squall furrowed his brow in thought. "But no-one plays anything in Garden." Seifer said as he read the poster. "You do know you're better off hiring a band."

"But I want student involvement," Selphie explained knowingly, as if explaining one plus one to a group of three year olds. "If the students and instructors in Garden get involved, then it'll be more fun!"

Seifer almost scoffed at the young woman's proposal. He would wager Squall that no-one in the school was interested in the Winter Festival in the first place. But then again, it was a smart idea...even if it wouldn't get off the ground.

"Have you talked to Quistis about this?" Squall questioned, still puzzled.

Selphie's face looked downcast at Squall's words. "She doesn't like the idea," she said forlornly. "But at least you do." She finished, instantly perking up at her own words.

Seifer resisted an urge to sigh openly. "Yeah, Tilmitt," he said deliberately. "We do."

Selphie squealed in excitement and hugged Seifer, squeezing him as tight as her frame could. Then, pleased with her work, she skipped out of the room, short copper hair bouncing as she went.

Squall and Seifer watched her leave, mouths slightly agape. Silence fell over the room. "Do you have any idea what she has gotten herself into?" Seifer said finally. "I mean, she knows no-one will be interested."

Squall shook his head. "She won't quit." He said simply.

Seifer laughed again, scooping up the brunet in his strong arms.

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Days passed, and Selphie's posters were left ignored. Selphie's frustration grew with each passing glance of a student ignoring her poster. She had even resorted to wearing a poster on her overall dress to gain attention.

The sun set in Irvine's room as he dozed on the couch, his face masked underneath his wide-brimmed cowboy hat, muffled snoring was heard from underneath. His gun, Exeter, was leaning casually against his leg, and a magazine nearby was discarded onto a coffee table.

He didn't hear the door open with a pneumatic hiss. He didn't hear Selphie stomping into the room with anger. In fact, he didn't know she was there until she ripped the hat from his face and placed it on her head.

Irvine woke with a start, reaching for Exeter, but noticed Selphie walking towards the window. Irvine shook his head and chuckled.

"Why did you have to do that, darlin'?" Irvine drawled lazily, rising from the couch.

"I like stealing your hat," Selphie replied, not bothering to hide her frustration. "It makes me happy."

Irvine chuckled again, walking to the window and draping his arms over Selphie's shoulders. "What's wrong, darlin'?" he whispered softly.

Selphie raised a hand and laid it on Irvine's. "No-one's interested in the Winter Festival anymore…" Selphie said sadly. "I try to help but…"

Irvine shushed her gently, holding her tighter. "People are interested, Selph," Irvine said comfortingly. "But maybe not by playing music."

"I suppose…" Selphie replied slowly. "But I would like some decent music for the Festival."

Irvine thought for a minute. "I think I know someone that might be able to help you." He said finally.

Selphie whirled on him instantly, her cold misdemeanor gone as she grasped at Irvine's collar. "Really, really?" She shouted. "Who? What? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

Irvine was stunned, even though he knew that something like that was going to happen. He would never get used to her manic mood swings. "Yeah, I know him from somewhere," Irvine said slowly. "He's a great musician."

"Who is he?" Selphie yelled, her lithe arms shaking Irvine's collar vigorously.

Irvine chuckled and lifted Selphie away from him. "I know where he is now," Irvine said, still chuckling. "I think he might be arriving in Balamb in a few days. I'll talk to him for you."

Selphie grabbed Irvine again, this time in a hug. "Thank you!" She squealed, skipping off. Irvine watched her go, shaking her head. Irvine sat back down on the couch, placing the hat on his head again and dozing off, content with the fact that he was one step closer to a good making out.

TBC

NB: I know this chapter is pretty short, but I just want to introduce the story to everyone. There will be another chapter (hence the TBC) and I will post it as soon as someone wants it. If no-one does, I'll post it anyway. Please review.