Seifer sighed and scratched the back of his neck as he looked around the unfamiliar street.

'Where the hell am I? Of course, I don't know. Now's a good time to join the 'Who's gonna win a Million Dollars' show, betcha I'll answer everything. Starting with my name. Wohoo! Damn street. It's not my fault all the streets look the same these days! Technology screws up lives! No…wait I'm talking like I'm from the old generation. I might not know my age but I'm young and handsome! Start acting like one, Blondie!'

Birds were still chirping, going about their daily routines as the street bustled with calm activity. Sunlight continued to filter through the plants and break in the clouds. The street was filled with an almost soothing scent. Maybe it was the scent from the café a few blocks down. Not that he can afford to find out. The blonde sighed again. He knew in his current situation, he had no place to go to. It was downright stupid of him to have left Squall's house without thinking twice. It annoyed the blonde that Squall had let him go so easily.

'Well I don't need a stupid, neat freak of a father anyway… I'll look for and find Me on my own.'

Seifer took to the street, deciding to walk North almost aimlessly. There was no tightening in his chest or no instincts telling him where to turn, and definitely not a sense of familiarity that everyone always unconsciously relies on. There were sign boards here and there pointing to names of other adjacent roads and streets. Not one name sent a jolt down his lithe frame.

'Maybe I can find my name in some records? Where? Police office! Omg… was I a criminal? Hell what if I'm wanted?! No, no, not logical.'

Afternoon was quickly turning to dusk. Seifer's stomach growled in demanding hunger. The blonde shrugged and kept walking, staring around the blocks in annoyed interest, trying to find something that would make his head spin and grow faint. Seifer's senses were sharp, and even he could see that whenever he remembered something vital, he would come close to losing consciousness. The wind was howling, growing more billowy as the night drew nearer. A shiver ran down the blonde's spine as his emerald eyes turned to the sky. The clouds were silvery grey, reminding the blonde of Squall's intense eyes. It was going to rain.

'Damn it all…'

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Marlene sat with her father around the kitchen table, working on her homework as her father absentmindedly leaned over her books along with her. Her twinkling grey eyes were rather intelligent as she looked up from her math homework to stare at her father, who was frowning slightly, apparently deep in thought.

'He looked like he had no idea who he was. What if he has amnesia? Oh Lord! Does that mean he has nowhere to go? I kicked him out so heartlessly! …He did get on my nerves. That rotten, obstinate idiot. Why did he lie though? Maybe he's a conman! I mean he had so many scars. What if he's involved with the Mafia or some mob? It's not like I can welcome such a man in the house. I have Mary to think of. Damn… Am I just trying to dissolve my own guilt? Seifer's no conman. Damn….'

Squall's eyes were unfocused, staring beyond the page. His hand was absently toying with the dark locks at his nape, giving a big indication that the brunet was lost in deep thought.

"Papa? Are you okay, Papa?"

Squall was too lost in his thoughts to hear his daughter. Marlene smiled and reached over the table to pat her father's hand. Just then, thunder sounded outside, causing the brunet to jump out of his chair in surprise and dismay. Marlene instantly retracted her hand.

"Papa?!" Mary's eyes clouded with worry and instant fear.

Squall reached to pat his daughter's head, "Don't worry… It will be okay… It's time for Papa to make dinner. Finish up your HW, sweetie."

Mary smiled in relief and bent back over her notebook as Squall gazed affectionately at his little cherub, his grey eyes determined.

'Mary comes before everything. She is my everything.'

*FLASHBACK IN SQUALL'S MIND*

"I have found another!"

"What do you mean, you've found another? Are you crazy woman? Your daughter is just one!"

"She's your daughter too, you damn tyrant! You never pay attention to anyone or anything, you cold, callous toad!"

"Shut up and go fetch some food for your daughter, she's crying like a banshee in her room!"

"She's crying because you're shouting!"

"You're shouting too! You know, the kid takes her annoying voice from you. I'm surrounded by annoying shrews!"

"That's it… I'm leaving! Damn you to hell Squall Leonhart! I don't even need to damn you; your life is pretty much a hellhole as it is!"

"Leave already, you always say you're leaving but you sit here like a stupid pup!"

"Let me take my daughter, please! I'm begging you please!"

"Never."

*FLASHBACK ENDS*

"Papa, it's raining. Do you think uncle Seifer is okay?"

"Well he's a big, grown-up man, beloved. Surely, he can take care of himself."

"Papa can't take care of himself though; I have to be here, right?"

Squall turned to smile lovingly at his daughter, "Yes lil one, if you're not here, Papa will die. So you should always be careful and stay strong no matter what, for Papa, okay?"

Marlene giggled happily and nodded. Her father was her prince charming. He always made her feel so loved and special. She will always take care and be strong to make her Papa proud. Her Papa was everything to her… He's the best Papa ever! Better than alllllllllll the Papas in the world!

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Seifer found he was about to get lost. It was dark now, the street lamps were the only thing illuminating his way. They cast dancing shadows on the pavement, almost spooking the blonde as he continued at a faster pace. The buildings were rather dark as well. Apartments, maybe? Some windows revealed life within, brightly shielded from the inside with colorful drapes, the light filtering out to add some life and light to the all but deserted street. A dog barked somewhere in a nearby garden; safely tucked behind a fence. The walkway was adorned more with shrubs and small plants rather than big trees. The wind still caused those leaves to dance to its melody. The sky was dark and the rain mocked him. He could smell it, feel the humidity, but the rain wasn't falling yet, only the wind continued to tease his skin.

'Damn weather. Does it always rain in this stupid place? Dammit, where am I supposed to go now?! Homeless shelter?! Hell, even if I wanted to go there, which I don't, I don't know the way! Excellent… I'm a genius! I really should go on that show and win a million. Then I can start anew! Wonder if I was a womanizer. Hey, I still don't know I was married! Well, good thing I seem to not know anything, now I'm free again! See, Seifer, this thing with you has its benefits.'

Seifer rolled his eyes in reaction to his own messy thoughts. This was crazy. Did he always talk to himself like that? Thunder clapped again in the sky as lightning flashed for a fraction of a second. His body grew weary and he was getting hungrier by the second. With an exasperated groan, the blonde turned around and began to backtrack.

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Squall woke up suddenly with a start. The electric clock across the room indicated it was an hour past midnight. The brunet sat up, wondering why on earth he had awakened. It was not his habit to have broken sleep. Suddenly he jumped off the bed, almost panicking as he bounded to Mary's room, gently yet swiftly sliding the door open. He tiptoed over to where his daughter lay sleeping on her side, holding the hand of her favorite doll in her small fist.

The brunet sighed in relief, leaning to pull the blankets higher to his daughter's chin, tucking her in warmly before leaving the room and softly shutting the door behind him. He was wide awake now, his steely grey eyes alert as he made his way to the kitchen for some water. It was a stormy night, lightning flashed outside just as he switched on the light, running a hand through his messy hair. The temperature was considerably low in the kitchen, causing a shiver to run down his bare spine as he filled a glass from the sink and began to gulp it down, simultaneously gazing out the kitchen window with a bored stare. Just then, the sight of his open gate caused his eyes to narrow with suspicion. He was sure he had shut the gate before calling it a night.

Once again, the brunet's instincts were on the alert as he pulled out a sharp kitchen knife and made his way to the door, unable to shake off the feeling that something wasn't quite right. It could have been the strong wind that had pushed open the gate, but that was unlikely. His bare feet barely made any sound as he pressed closer to the door, trying to make out if anything was out of place in his back yard. However, besides the squeaky sound of the hinges on his daughter's swing being pushed by the wind, nothing out of the ordinary could be heard. Squall sighed and tried to calm his frayed nerves. He's lived in the splendor of this neighborhood for over five years, and not once did he have to worry about security.

'Damn… I'm getting paranoid…'

Just as he turned around to set the knife back in his place, lightning lit the sky and an audible string of obscenities followed. Squall gasped as he rushed to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open with astonishment etched on his delicate features.

"Yo."

Seifer grinned, raising a hand in greeting, a broad grin on his face, "Your expression is priceless, you know."

Squall smiled and shook his head, "Well well, will you look at what the rain washed in."

Seifer ran a hand through his hair and smiled, "Well… I needed to return your shorts… I still have them on."

Squall nodded, playing along, "Yea, they were a pair I was starting to miss since the minute you left."

Seifer nodded in understanding, "I thought so… so…. Gonna invite me in or what?"

Squall snorted and shifted to the side, allowing the blonde to walk in, soaked as the night he found him, and plop down on the ground so as to not mess up anything in the house.

"So…Why are you really here Seifer?"

Emerald eyes clouded as he turned to study the smaller man, "I… I'll tell you everything I know about me… it's not much…"

Squall's smile faltered slightly at the sight of vibrant green eyes stirred something deep within.

*FLASH BACK IN SQUALL'S HEAD*

"You… you're not normal, you know! You're fucked up in your head!"

"Get lost, Rinoa. I'm not in the mood for you. And shut your child up. Her crying is jarring!"

"Get her yourself! Damn you rotten psycho!"

*FLASHBACK ENDS*

Seifer nudged the brunet, "Hey man, what's wrong with you? Phasing out on me."

Squall snorted as he buried his memories behind for a second time that day, "Nothing, let's get you out of these wet clothes. Again."

Seifer nodded and curiously studied the brunet, "So…you do this often?"

"Do what? Adopt wet, homeless puppies?"

Seifer laughed, "Yea?"

Squall grinned and winked, tossing a towel to the blonde before leaving the kitchen to fetch some clothes for the blonde.