So many reasons in so many ways... My life has just begun... Need you forever, I need you to stay... You are the one, you are the one... ------

Squall opened his eyes, placing a hand to his forehead. Hyne, his head felt like it'd been split open. "It had been." He blinked, hearing Rinoa's voice. But when he looked in the direction her voice came from, he saw three. "...Rinoa?" The middle one nodded the other two silent. "You're not alone." "We are..." "Always with..." "Me." The one on the left spoke first, the one on the right, second, and Rinoa - third. "Adel. Ultimetica"

As he spoke their names, the other two of Rinoa's forms melting, revealing what they had been. Ultimetica Was dressed in her ruby colored garment, black wings folded behind her back. Her gold eyes were alive, dancing with malice. Adel was pacing, not looking at any of them. "So, how do you like it, Squall? Stuck here, with us." He frowned. Stuck?

"He does not understand." Adel said, whipping around to face Squall. "After cracking your skull open, Rinoa decided to save you. By using a rather potent magic. Only because you had a bond, do you live. Although we tried to prevent it." Although it was Adel who he saw, it was Rinoa that he heard. "Yes, she loves you, though you love another. We tried to make her see what you were doing to her. And by killing you, and blaming your love, she would find a respect none of us have ever known." "So this was, your fault..." "We played only on her own jealously." "Rinoa?" He glanced towards the girl he'd once loved, no, still loved. Loved as he could never love Irvine, because she'd been the one to actually reach him. "Squall... I..." She bowed her head, shoulders shaking slightly.

Edea frowned, as Squall started to murmur things in his sleep. "Irvine should be here. Should anything..." "Matron..." Ellone paled. The implied thought. No... "I will get him. Watch over Squall." Ellone nodded, taking Squall's hand again. "Fight it, Squall. You must fight..." Whispered, as she choked back a sob.

He managed to get over to her, the other two giving him wide berth as he pulled the crying girl close to him. He started stroking her hair, rocking back and forth as he did so. The same as he had done with Irvine, so many nights ago.

Irvine blinked, as Edea walked right through the door. "Ma.. Matron... ?" "Come with me." He stood, trying to fight it as his buckled, wanting to sag down to the floor again. Her words, and tone, said that she had lost all hope. But then, Selphie's words came back to him. He'd be damned if he loose Squall, after just getting him. He loved him. And he knew Squall returned those feelings. She watched, as he started to wilt, then something snapped in his eyes. Finally...

"I'm so sorry Squall. I couldn't, I couldn't fight alone. Without you.. "She is nothing. Just as she was when you had to rescue her the first time. You and Irvine, the knights helping the damsel in distress." Adel laughed, it tapering off slowly as she noted that he was *staring* at her. Rinoa was cradled in his arms, and was he was not about to let her go, but those eyes spoke volumes. She remembered, it had been him to deliver the final blow. Killing her with that sword, the same ice sheen as those *damned* eyes. "Kurse you, Seed." Ultimetica whispered from the right. "You would be dead already, a thousand times over, if I had my way. You kreated me!"

Irvine started running once they reached the hallway. The room he'd been placed in was at the end of the seemly endless row of doors. As soon as they had disembarked from the elevator, something cold had gripped his heart. Even now, he heard mocking, female laughter ringing in his ears. He flew through the doorway, the slamming of the door against the wall not causing the hunched over figure to stir. Ellone was draped against Squall, shoulders shaking wildly. He still, creeping towards the bed, hoping, praying to Hyne, any of the gods...

As he neared the bed, he noticed that he could only hear Ellone crying, but even that seemed to be fading away as he moved closer to Squall. 'Please Hyne, Squall... Please Squall, you must be, you can't be...' He reached out to tenderly brush Squall's cheek with his fingertips. Just hours ago, though it seemed like years, Squall had smiled at him when he did that. And whispered, "I love you..." But now, the flesh was cool to the touch. And his chest, in which had beat a hero's heart... was no longer.... Irvine slid to the floor once again, not having the strength to scream, nor cry. Instead, he just whispered brokenly. "I love you...."



You are the one, you are the one... Said I loved you but I lied... 'Cause this is more than love I feel inside... Said I loved you but I was wrong... 'Cause love could never ever feel so strong... Said I loved you... but I lied...

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Disclaimer: I own nothing. Lyrics- Michael Bolton Will this be continued? Perhaps....