Disclaimer: Same as the Prologue.

The Order to Assassinate Irvine Kinneas

Chapter 1

"Hey, everyone...." Selphie started but was cut off by Squall.

"Yes," he said simply.

"Huh?" Selphie looked at him confused. "What do you mean Squall?"

"Never mind." He responded. He looked up to see Seifer standing there.

"Can I sit with you guys?" He asked, glancing at everyone sitting there.

Rinoa smiled. "Sure, have a seat." Seifer nodded and sat down next to Selphie, which was the only spot left.

Selphie looked at him and grinned. "Anyways," she said turning her attention back to everyone else. "Did you guys know there's going to be a new student coming to Garden?"

"Really?" Rinoa asked excitedly. "Cool, when are they coming?"

"Tomorrow," replied Squall.

"Hey, how do you?" question Zell. Squall looked at him. He had actually gotten a hotdog this day. He swallowed what was currently in his mouth and said, "Is that what the Headmaster wanted to talk to you about?" He took another bite.

Squall nodded. "He requested that I meet her at Bala...."

"Her?" Asked Irvine. Selphie jabbed him in the ribs. "What? What I say?"

"Yes, 'her'." Squall said, answering Irvines question. "Cid asked me to meet her at Balamb train station."

"Hey, Squall, can I come?" Irvine asked after some silence.

"Yeah, I wanna go too!" exclaimed Selphie.

"Can we, Squall?" asked Rinoa, sounding hopeful. "Squall?"

"Whatever," he mumbled.

"I'm taking that as a 'yes'." Rinoa said smiling.

"Whoo-Hoo!" was Selphies response, Ivrine grinned, and the rest of the meal was eaten in silence.

Squall got ready to leave early the next day. He was hoping to avoid having Selphie go with him, but to no avail. He was spotted by her in the hallway. "Hey, Squall!" He slowed down slightly. "Come on, Squall. Wait up!" He sighed. 'I give up.' Three pairs of footsteps were heard coming up behind him. One was running.

"Well, you're up nice and early." He heard one the people say.

"Well, so are you, Irvine," he replied.

"Yeah, well, Selphie woke me up about an hour ago saying, 'it's time to get up, we were going with Squall, remember?'." he said mocking Selphie. "She practically dragged me out of bed."

"I didn't know when Squall was going so I wanted to be up in time." Selphie said, keeping her voice level. "There's nothing wrong with that is there?"

"No, but you didn't have to wake me up."

Rinoa sighed and turned to Squall. "So, when are we leaving?"

"If they stop arguing we could leave now," Squall answered. He turned to face her. "Unless you want to stop at the cafeteria first."

"No, I had something when I woke up." Rinoa turned back to the arguing Selphie and Irvine.

"It's not my fault you had to go to bed late yesterday, Irvine," Selphie said irritated.

"You keep me up," backfired Irvine.

"I did not! As a matter of fact, you keep me up last night playing your damned guitar!" Selphie replied, quite frustrated.

"Quiet!" Both Irvine and Selphie looked back at Rinoa surprised. "Do you want to wake the whole Garden?" she asked. "We are still in the dorm hallways, remember?" The two slowly nodded. They don't want to anger Rinoa. Her being a sorceress and all. "Good," Rinoa said and turned to Squall. "When are we going?" she asked with her usual sweet voice.

Squall glanced at Selphie and Irvine, then answered, "We'll leave now."

"Balamb station. We are arriving at the Balamb station. All passengers who are getting off please get ready," they announced over the speakers. Irene looked at her watch.

"Well, might as well hang around here for awhile." She said to herself standing up. "Don't think anyone will actually pick me up this early." She bent down to pick up her hat which she placed in the seat next to her along with her luggage, which wasn't much.

Irene stepped off the train and looked around. She placed her stuff down and began to dig through her belongings. "A-ha, found it." She pulled out a couple sheets of paper and flipped to the second one and stared at the picture. I still think that he looks familiar. "I don't care what Jefferey says."

************************Flashback************************

Irene walked inside the backroom of the arcade and glanced around. "Why haven't you left yet?" She heard a voice say from behind her.

"Well, I was thinking," she replied as she turned to find the man she was looking for, Jefferey.

"Let me guess, it's about your assignment, correct?" he questioned.

Irene nodded. "I just can't lose the feeling that I know him, or that I've seen him somewhere before."

"Just forget about it. This doesn't help getting your mission done." He almost shouted, but kept his voice low so no one in the actual arcade could hear. "Once you're through with this assignment the feeling will be gone. Just think of him as just another person." With that he turned around and left not giving Irene a chance to say anything.

"Just another person," she mumbled. "Just another....." she sighed.

************************End Flashback************************

Irene folded up the papers and put them back in her bag. "I'll worry about it when the time comes," she told herself standing up. She started to walk to Balambs entrance, only to bump into someone. "Excuse me," she mumbled and walked past the man she bumped into.

"Are you Irene?" Irene heard the young man say behind her.

"Yes," she replied, and turned around. There stood a young man who looked the age of either 17 or 18. He had short brown hair and his eyes were a turquoise. Along with his left ear being perished, he has, right between the eyes, a scar. Plus, he's wearing a necklace with the..... 'Greiver? Why, where did he get that necklace? He doesn't have Greiver.' Irene thought. 'Oh, right.' "Are you from Balamb Garden?"

"Yes, my name is Squall Leonhart," he paused. Irene looked past him at a young lady in blue with auburn streaked black hair.

"Hi," the girl said smiling. Irene forced a smile.

"This is Rinoa Heartilly," the young man, Squall said motioning with his hand. He looked around and directed to his left. "There," he said pointing out two people. "Is Selpie Tillmit and....." He was suddenly interrupted, when the girl he said was Selphie darted up to them.

"Did-he-say-he-was-the-leader-of-Garden-if-not-he-is-and-can-tell-us-to-jump-around-like-monkeys." She said all in one long breath.

"Selphie, did you have any sugar?" questioned Squall, looking at the brunette.

Giggling she nodded. "Irvy, gave me some."

"Irvy?" asked Irene curiously.

"Irvy is a nickname she gave Irvine." Rinoa replied. She looked back to see every ones favorite cowboy coming.

Irene froze. "Irvine," she whispered.