A long time (year) ago in a Galaxy to close for comfort a lot of things transpired to take down the writer know as Rapier and isolate him from the internet and computers in a most pennyless way. Needless to say these times must be forgotten, and in an effort to rehabilitate I intend to finish this story.

No doubt, you've all forgotten it… but on the off chance you want to know the ending I intend to provide it. We apologise for the delay… Enjoy.

Chapter 9: Convergence, Balamb Garden

Squall stared at the Garden as the wind wiped past him and he drew ever closer to it, something in his mind steadily grew as he approached, an awareness, a conscious linked to his mind, the being know as GF Shiva. Her desires, cold and emotionless as they seemed to a human mind meshed into his own.

It was impossible to describe really… the only way to fully understand was to junction to a guardian force for as long as Squall and Shiva had been joined. Past 10 years now, there minds interlocked, to an extent that finding the cut off point where one mind ceased and the other began was no longer possible.

They understood each other like no others understood them, each silent and cold, they were perfect company personality wise, perhaps the idea was a poor one, but then Squall had never intended the link to become so strong, it had been easy with all the other GF's how it was meant to be, cut off after one mission.

But they were too similar… and she had been silent so much… had he missed her? Felt sorry? kinship? No he knew what had caused there link to be so strong… and only one other person could even suspect the truth. But who would believe Seifer if he spread rumour about Squall Leonhart? his Rival?

***

"See…" Selphie beamed and pointed to her laptop screen. And Rinoa did see, a blip moving closer, just in range… probably somewhere underneath the sea just now, but Selphie had assured her it was the tracer on Squall's bike.

Rinoa smiled tiredly, and fell back onto the bed, looking up at the ceiling of Selphie's dorm room, so tired… Edea had put Ellone and her through a lot of harrowing procedures and experiments until they had finally managed to bring Laguna and Quistis back from there magical construct bodies… it had been so simple when they finally managed it… so simple.

She yawned, "That's good…" she murmured, but wasn't sure exactly how good… would Squall simply leave straight away? Doubts entered her mind… had they just retrieved the bike? was Squall really with them?

"Good?" Selphie repeated, "That's all the emotion you can muster? After all this time?"

"A few days?" Rinoa murmured and curled up into a ball sleepily, "We saw him a few days ago… remembered?"

"Yeah but that didn't count," They both grinned a little, "This counts…. he'll finally meet Ayisha as well…" There was a mixed sadness and joy in the brunette's tone, it wrenched at Rinoa's heart every time, even though she'd know about the events which lead to Ayisha's birth as long as anyone else…

***

"Why are we doing this?" Kiros complained as Laguna carefully looked through the computer records of Balamb garden for a picture that matched that girl. He was exhausted, but he intended to find out who she was and if she belonged here.

"I mean looking at pic's of chicks, I see the fun in it…" Kiros continued to drone at him, halting only to drink more coffee, "But come on Laguna… this is crazy…"

"Look, I explained it," Laguna whispered without looking from the screen, "And this girl from the time shift thing, I'm sure I've seen her and I want to ask her some things…"

Kiros sighed and looked to Ward, Ward who was keeping watch at the door… since Cid hadn't exactly OK'ed this excursion… since he didn't know about it or anything… he'd swap shifts and let Ward relax after this cup.

***

Synthrial looked into her ice blue gaze longer than most, but eventually he had to avert his eyes… given her lack of clothing, modesty forced him to drop his eyes further. The chill air about them seemed to grow hotter as his cheeks flushed.

"This complication he will not like," Shiva repeated and stretched her legs out… away from the warmth of the frozen radiator… it was still too warm for her tastes.

"Just tell me where he is?" Synthrial lacked the ability to talk with Guardian forces, he had never been junctioned to one, didn't understand them at all, and they didn't understand humans any.

Synthrial blinked, his face blanched, any thoughts of lust… or the chill or… well everything sort of left his expression and mind at her answer, his lips curled a few times as he sought the right words… and finally he asked, "Where is Ayisha? … or Laguna?"

Then he was running a complication had come up alright… a whole bunch of them… calm seas for months and all of a sudden six or seven whirlpools had showed up…

= = = = =

Author's note: Hardly an inspiring return chapter… oh well… and please if there is any interest in this story still, let me know… a story isn't a story unless it has a writer AND someone to read it.