Disclaimer: You know what's mine and what isn't, I really don't think I
have to say it anymore.
A/N: Yeah I know, a long wait on this one, but I decided to take certain people's advice and take my time in order to make the chapters better. I hope you enjoy it! And thanks goes out once again to Megs for her awesome "scenes", lol. Thanks soo much girl! You know I appreciate it! As for the "surprise"... half of it is at the end of the chapter, but for the second half, you'll just have to wait until I update again! Ah, I love cliffhangers... don't you?
They both returned, with Akira leaning heavily on Shiloh, still shivering. Shiloh didn't know what else to do but bandage up her injury. He didn't even know why she would be shivering besides a cold. But Akira wasn't getting better. She was getting worse.
As the two bedraggled cadets walked -or rather, stumbled- through the front doors and headed to the infirmary, they received odd looks and stares from everyone.
'Why aren't there any teachers around? It's not Sunday or anything!' Shiloh thought exasperatedly. He did his best to hold both Akira and himself up as they approached the infirmary door. It slid open with a whoosh and he saw Dr. Kadowaki sitting at her desk on the opposite side. She looked up at the noise and her eyes widened behind her thin glasses.
"Oh my! What in the world happened?" she cried as she took the half awake girl from Shiloh's side. She led her to the single bed in the back part of the office and set her down.
"Something attacked her during the field mission. I did what I could to bandage her wound, but she's still not getting any better. Plus, she keeps shivering and I don't know why."
Dr. Kadowaki felt Akira's forehead. "No fever," she stated. She opened Akira's eyes wide with her fingers and shook her head. All under the irises was bloodshot, and they had an odd yellowish color to the whites. "Do you have any idea what it was?" she asked turning to Shiloh.
He glanced up at the doctor, then rested his gaze back on Akira. "No. When I found her, she'd already been injured."
Dr. Kadowaki only nodded and proceeded to examine the wound itself. She took in a sharp breath as she saw it. The bleeding had stopped, but the skin wasn't closing properly, and it had shades of purple to it. That could only mean one thing. "She's been poisioned."
Shiloh's icy eyes widened. "Poisoned?" he repeated.
Dr, Kadowaki went over to a cupboard in the main office and removed a small brown bottle. She shook it to make sure it wasn't empty and returned to the bedside. "This should do the trick though. I don't think it's fatal."
"You don't think?" Shiloh's voice held comtempt.
After helping the girl swallow two of the pills, Dr. Kadowaki took Shiloh out into the hall. She needed her rest. "Why don't you go tell Seifer, hmm? I'm sure he'd like to know what happened."
Shiloh's face grew fearful. "I... I can't do that."
Dr. Kadowaki raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"
"Because he hates me. If I have to be the one to tell him, he'll probably try to kill me or something."
A laugh escaped the doctor as she went back into the infirmary. "Mr. Leonheart, Seifer can be a bit moody, but I highly doubt that he's *that* bad." And the door shut.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shiloh found Seifer at the cafeteria having lunch by himself. 'Great, there's no one here to help if he goes mid-evil on me...' he thought with an inward groan. He found the courage to move his legs in the direction of the blonde and stopped short in front of him.
Seifer raised his eyes from his sandwich. "Yes?" It was a simple question, but Shiloh didn't like the tone it was in.
"Um... I have to tell you something. About Akira..."
"What about her?" Seifer asked as he stood. "Is she all right?"
Shiloh bit his lip. "I think so. She's at the infirmary."
Seifer lurched forward and grabbed the boy by the shoulders. "Well what happened?" His voice wasn't loud. In fact, there was fear in it instead of the anger Shiloh had been expecting.
"Something attacked her on the field exam. Dr. Kadowaki said she's poisoned, but she gave her something that will probably help."
"She's there now?" Shiloh nodded. Seifer thanked him for informing him and left the cafeteria for the infirmary in a hurry. Shiloh let out a breath he'd been holding and sat down in a nearby chair. Two hands were then placed on his shoulders, and he turned to see Rinoa smiling down at him.
"Hi sweetheart," she said as she planted a kiss on his head.
"Hey Mom."
Rinoa glanced at the cafeteria doors. "Seifer certainly left in a hurry. What did you say to him?"
"I told him about Akira. She got poisoned during the field exam and now she's at the infirmary with Dr. Kadowaki."
Rinoa's eyes flashed. "Is she going to be all right?"
"The doctor thinks so. She gave her medicine that she said will probably help, but I'm still worried about her."
Rinoa smiled. "Is it... love?" she asked mysteriously.
Shiloh's face twisted. "Mom! Don't do that!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. Talking about their kid's love lives is off limits for parents." She laughed.
Shiloh's lips curved into a small smile. "Exactly." He thought for a moment. "Hey Mom? Did... Did Dad say anything? About us?"
"Actually, he said it would take a little getting used to, but he feels it's time that this whole Seifer/Squall rivalry died down. And I think Seifer feels that way too."
Shiloh nodded. "So do I. He's actually kinda... nice once you get to know him, you know? It's hard to believe he's the same person who everyone hated."
"I know. Apparently he's a wonderful father. I can see it in the way he cares so much about Akira. And it seems him and Quistis are getting close, too." Rinoa had to giggle to herself. "Ever since day one I thought those two had something special. It's kind of ironic how everything is turning out."
"Mom, the walk down memory lane? It *has* to stop."
Rinoa placed a hand on her son's shoulder and stood. "I have to get back home. Selphie's coming over later and the entire house looks like a tornado struck it. I'll see you later, all right?"
"All right Mom."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He stepped in the moonlit room. The white glow from the silver orb in the sky lit her features like an angel. Her blonde hair looked like spun gold in the soft lighting. Then, he turned his attention to Seifer, who was seated in the visitor's chair beside the bed. He looked at Shiloh carefully, nor realizing until now just how much he resembled his father. He shook t he thoughts from his head as the boy began to speak.
"I she... all right?"
Seifer waited a few moments to reply. "Yes. Dr. Kadowaki said the medicine worked and she's just going to have flu-like symptoms until it leaves her." Shiloh nodded as Seifer stood. "There's something I wanted to tell you, too."
"What's that?"
"I wanted to... thank you. For looking out for her. If you hadn't been there, she wouldn't have even gotten back here in one piece."
"Don't mention it," were the only words Shiloh could think of to say.
He placed a hand on his shoulder as he went around him to leave the infirmary. "You're a good kid Shiloh," he said in a low tone. Shiloh listened as the door opened and shut, leaving him alone with Akira, although she wan't awake. He walked over to her and sat in the visitor's chair beside her. The feeling was overwhelming. He had to touch her face, hair, anything.
He brought a hesitant hand forward and brushed it against her porcelain cheek. Her skin was so soft and warm. She started to stir, and he withdrew his hand quickly, not wanting to wake her. He'd talk to her when she was feeling better; she needed her rest now. He paused, got up from the chair and headed to the door.
Akira's emerald eyes opened slowly at the sound of footsteps and she watched as Shiloh walked away from her and exited quietly. When he was gone, a warm smile crept to her lips and she hugged herself gently at the thought of Shiloh coming to visit her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ooh! I can't stand this waiting any longer!" Chloe exclaimed as she pounded her fists against the wall. "How long does it take to tell someone if they're a SeeD or not? I mean, all they do is look at your scores and stuff, right?"
Shiloh chuckled at his friend's rambling. "Chloe, take it easy. They'll get to us eventually."
Akira raised an eyebrow. "But it really isn't fair to keep us waiting like this. We don't have all day."
Shiloh shook his head. "Girls..."
A guard appeared in the archway of the hall and glanced at the sheet he was carrying. "Leonheart... Almasy... Kinneas... Graff. That is all."
Akira, Shiloh and Chloe glanced at each other and followed the guard down the hall to the elevator. A boy, Merrick Graff, with bright red hair and dark brown eyes walked with them as well. "Looks like we made it," he said with a smirk.
"How can you be so sure Merrick? Maybe we're the only ones who *didn't* make it!" Chloe cried with a shudder.
"Yeah right. We're going to see the headmaster. What does that tell you?"
They all stepped into the elevator and rode it to the next highest floor. They were greeted by a cheerful Headmaster Cid and saluted him. "At ease. Well, here we are, a new generation of SeeDs is born." Smiles swept across each of the teens faces. "But... this is not playtime anymore. This is now serious and you should treat it that way. You will be going on real missions, ones in which you could be captured, injured... or even killed. Let's hope that none of those extremes occur.
"But I'm not going to stand here and make you all fearful of this." He stopped to chuckle a moment before continuing. "This is also a very rewarding experience. You will grow as fighters, but also as human beings. You'll get to see the world and meet new people, as well as save a few lives here or there.
"Do not be afraid. Just be strong in any way that you can and do your best. That's all that this Garden can ask of you.
A second guard approached Headmaster Cid, carrying bundles of clothing in his arms. SeeD uniforms.
"Ah, yes. The unifroms." Cid made his way to each of the cadets and handed them out. He stopped when he reached Akira, looking her square in the face. "I know you were seriously hurt during the field exam, and you did not become a SeeD because I felt sorry for you. You have great leadership qualities that I feel will be very useful. Don't take this to heart, but please... don't become your father on me Miss Almasy. I have high hopes and expectations for you, and you have the discipline that he lacked."
Akira nodded. "I understand, sir. I won't disappoint you." She smiled, and Headmaster Cid did the same.
After handing out uniforms, he stepped back and surveyed the four individuals in front of him. He gave a nod. "All right then, I'll see you all at the ball tonight."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Akira pulled at the chain necklace around her neck. Something was wrong. Maybe not wrong, but it definitely wasn't right. It felt as though someone were watching her, and she couldn't figure out who.
A group of girls suddenly began walking towards her, and she recognized one of them as Vessa. She held her breath as they stopped short in front of her. Vessa stared at her for a few moments until she finally smiled. "Congratulations Akira. I'm sure you'll make a great SeeD."
Akira blinked in surprise. "Oh, um... thanks."
A brunette standing beside Vessa giggled. "Yeah, especially with the way you punch!"
Vessa threw the girl a glare, then turned back to Akira, a smile reappearing on her face. "Well anyway, congratulations." And she walked away.
"Well that was all too weird," she muttered. She glanced across the room and saw a woman who had been staring at her. The strange thing was, she didn't look away when Akira met her gaze. In fact, the smile that had been on her face grew even wider. She had light brown, wavy hair and striking blue eyes that she could distinguish even from across the large room. Then suddenly, she motioned for her to approach her. At first, Akira wasn't sure who she meant, but when she pointed to herself, the woman nodded. Slowly, Akira made her way over to her, still having no idea who she was.
The woman still didn't say anything, which confused the girl even more. "Um, do I... know you?"
Who is the woman? And what is she doing there? Maybe it's obvious, maybe it isn't. Whatever the case, you'll find out in the next chapter, which is also going to be the last. I already know how I'm going to end it, and from the way things look, there's a high possibility of a sequel. So stay tuned and don't forget to review!!
A/N: Yeah I know, a long wait on this one, but I decided to take certain people's advice and take my time in order to make the chapters better. I hope you enjoy it! And thanks goes out once again to Megs for her awesome "scenes", lol. Thanks soo much girl! You know I appreciate it! As for the "surprise"... half of it is at the end of the chapter, but for the second half, you'll just have to wait until I update again! Ah, I love cliffhangers... don't you?
They both returned, with Akira leaning heavily on Shiloh, still shivering. Shiloh didn't know what else to do but bandage up her injury. He didn't even know why she would be shivering besides a cold. But Akira wasn't getting better. She was getting worse.
As the two bedraggled cadets walked -or rather, stumbled- through the front doors and headed to the infirmary, they received odd looks and stares from everyone.
'Why aren't there any teachers around? It's not Sunday or anything!' Shiloh thought exasperatedly. He did his best to hold both Akira and himself up as they approached the infirmary door. It slid open with a whoosh and he saw Dr. Kadowaki sitting at her desk on the opposite side. She looked up at the noise and her eyes widened behind her thin glasses.
"Oh my! What in the world happened?" she cried as she took the half awake girl from Shiloh's side. She led her to the single bed in the back part of the office and set her down.
"Something attacked her during the field mission. I did what I could to bandage her wound, but she's still not getting any better. Plus, she keeps shivering and I don't know why."
Dr. Kadowaki felt Akira's forehead. "No fever," she stated. She opened Akira's eyes wide with her fingers and shook her head. All under the irises was bloodshot, and they had an odd yellowish color to the whites. "Do you have any idea what it was?" she asked turning to Shiloh.
He glanced up at the doctor, then rested his gaze back on Akira. "No. When I found her, she'd already been injured."
Dr. Kadowaki only nodded and proceeded to examine the wound itself. She took in a sharp breath as she saw it. The bleeding had stopped, but the skin wasn't closing properly, and it had shades of purple to it. That could only mean one thing. "She's been poisioned."
Shiloh's icy eyes widened. "Poisoned?" he repeated.
Dr, Kadowaki went over to a cupboard in the main office and removed a small brown bottle. She shook it to make sure it wasn't empty and returned to the bedside. "This should do the trick though. I don't think it's fatal."
"You don't think?" Shiloh's voice held comtempt.
After helping the girl swallow two of the pills, Dr. Kadowaki took Shiloh out into the hall. She needed her rest. "Why don't you go tell Seifer, hmm? I'm sure he'd like to know what happened."
Shiloh's face grew fearful. "I... I can't do that."
Dr. Kadowaki raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"
"Because he hates me. If I have to be the one to tell him, he'll probably try to kill me or something."
A laugh escaped the doctor as she went back into the infirmary. "Mr. Leonheart, Seifer can be a bit moody, but I highly doubt that he's *that* bad." And the door shut.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shiloh found Seifer at the cafeteria having lunch by himself. 'Great, there's no one here to help if he goes mid-evil on me...' he thought with an inward groan. He found the courage to move his legs in the direction of the blonde and stopped short in front of him.
Seifer raised his eyes from his sandwich. "Yes?" It was a simple question, but Shiloh didn't like the tone it was in.
"Um... I have to tell you something. About Akira..."
"What about her?" Seifer asked as he stood. "Is she all right?"
Shiloh bit his lip. "I think so. She's at the infirmary."
Seifer lurched forward and grabbed the boy by the shoulders. "Well what happened?" His voice wasn't loud. In fact, there was fear in it instead of the anger Shiloh had been expecting.
"Something attacked her on the field exam. Dr. Kadowaki said she's poisoned, but she gave her something that will probably help."
"She's there now?" Shiloh nodded. Seifer thanked him for informing him and left the cafeteria for the infirmary in a hurry. Shiloh let out a breath he'd been holding and sat down in a nearby chair. Two hands were then placed on his shoulders, and he turned to see Rinoa smiling down at him.
"Hi sweetheart," she said as she planted a kiss on his head.
"Hey Mom."
Rinoa glanced at the cafeteria doors. "Seifer certainly left in a hurry. What did you say to him?"
"I told him about Akira. She got poisoned during the field exam and now she's at the infirmary with Dr. Kadowaki."
Rinoa's eyes flashed. "Is she going to be all right?"
"The doctor thinks so. She gave her medicine that she said will probably help, but I'm still worried about her."
Rinoa smiled. "Is it... love?" she asked mysteriously.
Shiloh's face twisted. "Mom! Don't do that!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. Talking about their kid's love lives is off limits for parents." She laughed.
Shiloh's lips curved into a small smile. "Exactly." He thought for a moment. "Hey Mom? Did... Did Dad say anything? About us?"
"Actually, he said it would take a little getting used to, but he feels it's time that this whole Seifer/Squall rivalry died down. And I think Seifer feels that way too."
Shiloh nodded. "So do I. He's actually kinda... nice once you get to know him, you know? It's hard to believe he's the same person who everyone hated."
"I know. Apparently he's a wonderful father. I can see it in the way he cares so much about Akira. And it seems him and Quistis are getting close, too." Rinoa had to giggle to herself. "Ever since day one I thought those two had something special. It's kind of ironic how everything is turning out."
"Mom, the walk down memory lane? It *has* to stop."
Rinoa placed a hand on her son's shoulder and stood. "I have to get back home. Selphie's coming over later and the entire house looks like a tornado struck it. I'll see you later, all right?"
"All right Mom."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He stepped in the moonlit room. The white glow from the silver orb in the sky lit her features like an angel. Her blonde hair looked like spun gold in the soft lighting. Then, he turned his attention to Seifer, who was seated in the visitor's chair beside the bed. He looked at Shiloh carefully, nor realizing until now just how much he resembled his father. He shook t he thoughts from his head as the boy began to speak.
"I she... all right?"
Seifer waited a few moments to reply. "Yes. Dr. Kadowaki said the medicine worked and she's just going to have flu-like symptoms until it leaves her." Shiloh nodded as Seifer stood. "There's something I wanted to tell you, too."
"What's that?"
"I wanted to... thank you. For looking out for her. If you hadn't been there, she wouldn't have even gotten back here in one piece."
"Don't mention it," were the only words Shiloh could think of to say.
He placed a hand on his shoulder as he went around him to leave the infirmary. "You're a good kid Shiloh," he said in a low tone. Shiloh listened as the door opened and shut, leaving him alone with Akira, although she wan't awake. He walked over to her and sat in the visitor's chair beside her. The feeling was overwhelming. He had to touch her face, hair, anything.
He brought a hesitant hand forward and brushed it against her porcelain cheek. Her skin was so soft and warm. She started to stir, and he withdrew his hand quickly, not wanting to wake her. He'd talk to her when she was feeling better; she needed her rest now. He paused, got up from the chair and headed to the door.
Akira's emerald eyes opened slowly at the sound of footsteps and she watched as Shiloh walked away from her and exited quietly. When he was gone, a warm smile crept to her lips and she hugged herself gently at the thought of Shiloh coming to visit her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ooh! I can't stand this waiting any longer!" Chloe exclaimed as she pounded her fists against the wall. "How long does it take to tell someone if they're a SeeD or not? I mean, all they do is look at your scores and stuff, right?"
Shiloh chuckled at his friend's rambling. "Chloe, take it easy. They'll get to us eventually."
Akira raised an eyebrow. "But it really isn't fair to keep us waiting like this. We don't have all day."
Shiloh shook his head. "Girls..."
A guard appeared in the archway of the hall and glanced at the sheet he was carrying. "Leonheart... Almasy... Kinneas... Graff. That is all."
Akira, Shiloh and Chloe glanced at each other and followed the guard down the hall to the elevator. A boy, Merrick Graff, with bright red hair and dark brown eyes walked with them as well. "Looks like we made it," he said with a smirk.
"How can you be so sure Merrick? Maybe we're the only ones who *didn't* make it!" Chloe cried with a shudder.
"Yeah right. We're going to see the headmaster. What does that tell you?"
They all stepped into the elevator and rode it to the next highest floor. They were greeted by a cheerful Headmaster Cid and saluted him. "At ease. Well, here we are, a new generation of SeeDs is born." Smiles swept across each of the teens faces. "But... this is not playtime anymore. This is now serious and you should treat it that way. You will be going on real missions, ones in which you could be captured, injured... or even killed. Let's hope that none of those extremes occur.
"But I'm not going to stand here and make you all fearful of this." He stopped to chuckle a moment before continuing. "This is also a very rewarding experience. You will grow as fighters, but also as human beings. You'll get to see the world and meet new people, as well as save a few lives here or there.
"Do not be afraid. Just be strong in any way that you can and do your best. That's all that this Garden can ask of you.
A second guard approached Headmaster Cid, carrying bundles of clothing in his arms. SeeD uniforms.
"Ah, yes. The unifroms." Cid made his way to each of the cadets and handed them out. He stopped when he reached Akira, looking her square in the face. "I know you were seriously hurt during the field exam, and you did not become a SeeD because I felt sorry for you. You have great leadership qualities that I feel will be very useful. Don't take this to heart, but please... don't become your father on me Miss Almasy. I have high hopes and expectations for you, and you have the discipline that he lacked."
Akira nodded. "I understand, sir. I won't disappoint you." She smiled, and Headmaster Cid did the same.
After handing out uniforms, he stepped back and surveyed the four individuals in front of him. He gave a nod. "All right then, I'll see you all at the ball tonight."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Akira pulled at the chain necklace around her neck. Something was wrong. Maybe not wrong, but it definitely wasn't right. It felt as though someone were watching her, and she couldn't figure out who.
A group of girls suddenly began walking towards her, and she recognized one of them as Vessa. She held her breath as they stopped short in front of her. Vessa stared at her for a few moments until she finally smiled. "Congratulations Akira. I'm sure you'll make a great SeeD."
Akira blinked in surprise. "Oh, um... thanks."
A brunette standing beside Vessa giggled. "Yeah, especially with the way you punch!"
Vessa threw the girl a glare, then turned back to Akira, a smile reappearing on her face. "Well anyway, congratulations." And she walked away.
"Well that was all too weird," she muttered. She glanced across the room and saw a woman who had been staring at her. The strange thing was, she didn't look away when Akira met her gaze. In fact, the smile that had been on her face grew even wider. She had light brown, wavy hair and striking blue eyes that she could distinguish even from across the large room. Then suddenly, she motioned for her to approach her. At first, Akira wasn't sure who she meant, but when she pointed to herself, the woman nodded. Slowly, Akira made her way over to her, still having no idea who she was.
The woman still didn't say anything, which confused the girl even more. "Um, do I... know you?"
Who is the woman? And what is she doing there? Maybe it's obvious, maybe it isn't. Whatever the case, you'll find out in the next chapter, which is also going to be the last. I already know how I'm going to end it, and from the way things look, there's a high possibility of a sequel. So stay tuned and don't forget to review!!