Disclaimer: You know this by now... Akira, Terra and Shiloh are mine and that's it!

"Is that... Seifer?" Shiloh asked, almost afraid of the answer.

Zell nodded, his hands balled into fists. "Yeah that's him... What's he doing here?? It had to have been... almost 40 years... But he hasn't changed a bit."

"Looks like his daughter..." Shiloh commented, hiding the fact that he knew very well who she was.

"Looks that way doesn't it?" Zell asked smartly. "But knowing him it's his girlfriend." Shiloh was taken aback. Seifer couldn't possibly be that bad could he? "We better go tell the headmaster..." Zell stopped midsentence as he watched Seifer and Akira walk up the steps to the elevator. They watched as they stepped in and rode it up, passing the second floor. "But it looks like they're already heading there..."

"I'm scared Dad," Akira said quietly as she hugged herself and leaned against the side of the elevator.

"Hey, everything's gonna be fine. No one made a scene yet, and I didn't see anyone I knew yet... That's funny..."

The elevator stopped and the doors slid apart. Akira glanced over at her father and he gave her a nod, telling her it was all right. She stepped out and Seifer followed her towards the large door to Headmaster Cid's office. He reached out and knock loudly. "Come in," came a familiar voice from inside. They stepped in to see a graying man in a white shirt, red vest and black slacks. He hasn't changed a bit Seifer thought. Well, maybe his hair...

Cid's mouth dropped open. He picked up his glasses from the desk and placed them on his face, still in complete shock. "S-Seifer?" he muttered as he stood. He couldn't believe his eyes. Was Seifer Almasy really standing six feet in front of him? "Is... Is that you?"

Seifer nodded solemnly. He wanted to remain as serious as possible to show that he had changed and matured. He didn't want to be an outcast anymore, especially with his daughter wanting to attend there. "Yes sir. It's me."

"What are you doing here?" Cid tried to remain civil, but Seifer could tell he wanted to be nastier to him.

"This is my daughter Akira." He motioned to the blonde teen at his side. "She would like to be a student here, and I'm here to sign for her."

Cid was extremely hesitant. "You do realize the rumors that will circulate? And the contempt that will be held against her?"

Seifer sighed. "Sir... she has nothing to do with what I did or who I am. I'd like her to be treated with the same respect as any other student. It would be very unfair."

"Seifer, it is not I or the instructors that I'm worried about. The students, they... Kids can be cruel." Seifer realized he wasn't Mr. Almasy, he was being called Seifer. At least Cid was being kind enough to refer to him on a first name basis.

"Um, sir?" Akira butted in bravely. "I've wanted to come here ever since I was little. I saw Balamb Garden so many times and I remember each time, I only wnated to see what it was like even more. My dad didn't tell me about the Sorceress War up until just yesterday. And if you don't mind, sir, I'd really like to enroll." Seifer placed his hand on her shoulder proudly.

Cid sighed and sat back down. "I cannot turn away any SeeD hopeful, no matter what. It is fine with me if you wish to enroll here. Just... know what you're in for, all right?" Akira smiled and nodded. He went into his desk and pulled out a form. "Fill this out and then have your father sign it. You can move in as soon as I find a dorm for you."

Seifer's heart sunk slightly at the words 'move in'. He gave a small smile to Cid, who simply nodded in reply. That made Seifer a little submissive, but he didn't take it to heart too much. "We'll be seeing you," he said. Seifer and Akira left and got back into the elevator.

"He's what?!" Squal exclaimed, almost spilling his drink of ice water on himself.

Zell nodded fervently. "Yeah, him and some girl Shiloh's age went up to Headmaster Cid's office just now. I don't know why though." As Zell told Squall the story, Shiloh stood off to the side, being extremely quiet.

"What's the matter honey?" Rinoa asked as she combed through her son's hair.

"Nothin' Mom... It's just... Nothing."

Rinoa knew there was something bothering Shiloh. At first, she thought it was because of Squall's reaction to Zell's gossip. Little did she know, that was only half of the problem. "Squall, sweetie... Why don't you calm down a little, all right? You're upsetting your son." Squall looked over at Shiloh, and Shiloh immediatly switched moods.

"No Mom! I don't care if he flips! Just leave me out of this okay??" He stomped away.

"Shiloh!" Rinoa called, but Squall hushed her.

"Let him go. We have bigger problems," he said sternly.

Rinoa narrowed her dark eyes and placed her hands on her hips. "Squall do you really think this is so important?"

"Rin, he might be here to do something even worse than what he did before."

Zell joined in to defend his friend. "Yeah Rinoa. This is Seifer Almasy we're talking about here! And he's back! What could be more suspicious?"

Rinoa scoffed. "Look, I agree that Seifer being here is a little... odd... But we can't jump to conclusions. Maybe he's changed, like I said before. And you said she has a young girl with him?"

Zell nodded. "Yeah, she's probably his girlfriend or something. He's the kinda guy to rob the cradle if anyone is."

"Zell, did you ever think for a moment that maybe she's his daughter?" Rinoa's question silenced both Squall and Zell.

Seifer and Akira were walking back in the direction of the exit when all of a sudden, Seifer stopped. He gazed out into the distance, almost in a hypnotized state. Akira couldn't understand what was so intriguing. All she saw were people walking around. Nothing special. "Dad?" She waved her hand in front of his eyes and he blinked, turning back to her. "What's got your eyes superglued to it?" she asked with a laugh.

"Oh, uh... Nothing. Let's uh... Let's go."

"No way Dad. You're not getting away that easily. What were you looking at?"

"Quistis Trepe," he said almost dreamily.

"Huh? Who's she?" Seifer pointed out into the distance to a woman Akira hadn't seen before. She had long beautiful blonde hair and was very pretty. One of the prettiest women Akira had ever seen to be honest. "Wow... You know her?"

"I've known her ever since I was little. She was my instructor too, but then... they told her she wasn't instructor material." Seifer was almost saddened by the words.

"Aww, that sucks," Akira said. "Hey, hey look! She saw you!"

Seifer began walking quickly away, pulling Akira along as she tried to stop him. "Let's go."

"Dad, stop it!! Ow! Let go!" Seifer lightened his grip but still pulled her behind him. "Dad, I wanna meet her!"

Seifer sighed and stopped. "Fine." They began walking over to Quistis, who had almost thought Seifer hadn't seen her. "Quistis." Needless to say, Seifer felt very awkward.

"What are you doing here?" she asked immediatly. "It's been so long..."

"I know, I know. And I don't really belong here, but my daughter wants to become a SeeD. Quistis, this is Akira." Quistis extended her hand to shake Akira's politely.

"Nice to meet you ma'am."

Quistis smiled. "Well at least she has better manners than her father," she commented only half seriously. It still caused Akira to feel uncomfortable. "I hope you become a SeeD Akira. Maybe you'll be in one of my classes this semester?"

"Oh, you're an instructor now?" Seifer asked.

"Yes. I was given my job back shortly after you left..." She felt odd about saying that and shifted her blue eyes downward.

Seifer was quieted as well. "Come on 'Kira. We gotta go. Nice seeing you again Quis."

Quistis nodded. "Likewise Mr. Almasy. And Miss." Akira smiled and followed her father out of Garden.