~2~
Siro Leonhart, the most promising cadet of Balamb Garden since.well, his father had finally taken part in the field exam, after passing the written test with flying colours. But all he could do was wait until the results were announced. He gazed at the forests surrounding Garden. His eyes grew soft and he reached for something in his pocket. The wooden flute. He had kept it ever since.
His mother had been furious with him when the staff of Garden returned him that day. He had tried to explain but when he had told Mother about the girl, her blue eyes looked icy and cold and.afraid. She had forbidden him to ever enter that forest again, and even on training missions, his superiors knew well enough not to go against the orders of his mother, the legendary Quistis Trepe, one of the six SeeDs who saved the world from the elusive 'Time Compression'. She had ordered all available SeeDs to find the girl. Siro had been horrified, his mother was acting as if the girl was some kind of monster. But that was how his mother was. Serious and concentrated, always ready when it came to her job but over protective and irrational when it came to him. So he obeyed and followed his training under the watchful eye of his Mother. But he had never shown her the flute. He had shown it to his father though, but Father's reaction had only puzzled him. It was the only time he had ever seen his father have that watery shine in his normally distant grey eyes. He had put his hands on Siro's shoulders and had looked him straight in the eyes for a few minutes with a soft smile. "Never show it to your mother boy." Siro nodded, he had never intended to show her but.was this how fathers were supposed to react? But then Squall Leonhart was no ordinary father. They hugged then, and Siro felt safe and secure.he loved his parents.his ever -serious father and his worrywart-mother.
But today he would know.because if he had passed the SeeD exam, he had promised to himself to go search the girl. Holding the flute, he felt rather stupid.maybe the girl wouldn't remember him, or maybe she was an annoying brat or maybe she had moved.he held the flute tighter. He would soon find out.
Siro saw Zack bent over next to a bush. He decided to give his best friend a scare. Keeping his voice as low as he could, he coughed and mumbled as if in disdain. "Cadet 65389? Zack Dincht? May I remind you that it does not suit a future SeeD to be messing with bushes"? The boy shrieked and nearly fell over; he turned to Siro, completely pale. "Siro, you idiot, you nearly scared me to death" Siro grinned, " you shouldn't be acting so suspicious then.whatcha hiding?" A smile spread over the other boy's face "I finally got it." Siro gasped, "You mean?" "Yeah", cried the Zack and after glancing whether the coast was clear he continued in a lower voice, "My dad's old T-board!" Siro bit his lip, he was dying to see his friends T-board, those things were out of this world, maybe he could take it for a spin, but. "You better hide it real good then" said Siro, bending down to help his friend to hide the precious object under the leaves, "they're gonna announce the results any minute!"
Both boys dashed through the hallway to the grand stairs leading to the lift "Wait uuuuuup!" Both boys froze and turned around to see two other teenagers running towards them in Garden uniforms. Two identical faces looked up to them. "Hi Yoko.Yuno " greeted Siro nodding to the twins. Instead of doing the same, Zack pointed to their clothes and asked "Whatcha wearing your uniforms for" "Didn't you hear, you HAVE to." wailed the girl crossing her arms. Siro and Zack looked at the two "I never heard of that " frowned Siro "See!" yelled the boy "I toooooooooooold you.really you can be so bossy.now look at us.we'll be the only ones in uniform!"
"Hi guys" Céres adjusted the straps of her shoes while she stumbled towards her friends Her short brown hair bounced up and down. She too was in uniform. "Why aren't you guys wearing your uniforms?" asked another girl following Céres. "See" said Yoko in a cocky tone Yuno just scratched his head. While the twins started one of their heated discussions (just-admit-you- were-wrong-no-I-wasn't-REALLY-wrong etc.), Zack turned towards Beatrix. "We.we didn't have to.to wear our uniforms, did we?" he asked in a more timid voice "But we did" assured Céres "Oh no" groaned Siro while Zack banged his head to the wall "We'll never get ready in time" "Don't worry, we'll stall them" said Beatrix "You guys just hurry and change," urged Céres
******
"Just in time' whispered Siro as he and Zack, finally in uniform joined the line of SeeDs-to-be. "We will now call out the names of those that passed the SeeD exam" announced a member of the Garden staff "But first a small word by Quistis Trepe" Siro looked up to heaven, praying that mother wouldn't embarrass him
Quistis was still a picture of health and beauty. Although her blond hair was a bit whiter here and there and she had some wrinkles, the Trepies fan club still existed. "As you all now, this years SeeD exam is something special for me and the commander of Garden, not only because our own dear son himself has participated in this years tests but also the sons and daughters of our dear friends." Quistis paused for a minute, letting her words sink in "To prevent misunderstandings we had each SeeD candidate wearing a letter on his or her back as you all know, so that the judges only gave points to person A, B or C not to the 'son' or 'daughter of.". This was to avoid mixing interests." She looked each SeeD candidate in the eyes. "Furthermore I would like to add that the commander nor I have seen the results" "Alright then ", she nodded "let's announce the results.. Commander if you please?" Squall Leonheart got up from his desk. "I will now call out the names of those who have passed this years exams" Silence. "Aeris Gainsborough" A slender girl with beautiful dark blonde hair tied with a pink ribbon stepped forward, saluted and walked to the elevator leading to the Commanders office where the new SeeDs would get their grades. "Beatrix Tilmitt" Beatrix too stepped forward, saluted Siro's father and went in the same direction as the other girl. "Betty Kiltu" with a small cry of joy yet another girl walked away,"Boris Kretcip". "Enough with the 'b''s already ", groaned Zack. "Céres Loire" Céres waved to them as she too proceeded to the elevator. "Yoko Kasuga" and "Yuno Kasuga" The twins stepped forward and saluted. "I never got why they use the alphabetical order with first names, don't normal people use last names for that kinda stuff" sulked Zack Siro smiled nervously "Shin Demears" "Siro Leonhart" An enormous weight was lifted from Siro's shoulders, he felt as if he was floating on air while he walked up to his father and saluted. He would always remember this moment, his father looked so proud. "And Zack Lee.that is all" As Zack ran up to his friend, they heard the disappointed cries of those who did not pass.
"Let's celebrate!!" Céres high-fived Beatrix. They had all passed.Zack, Beatrix, Céres, Yoko and Yuno and.him.they had all passed.(though Zack had come close to failing because he had tried to take along some hotdogs and had ended up spilling ketchup on some of the material) Zell asked one of the other 'fresh' SeeDs, that Aeris-girl along too. "Where do you wanna go, Siro?"elbowed Zack "Eh.there is something I got to do." "What?" you're not gonna go off by yourself on a time like this?!?" "What?" cried Céres? "I.I'm sorry..i'll .ehm.see you guys tomorrow.." And with that Siro took off.in the direction of the forest. ******
He was crazy.nuts.daft.Siro kicked a pebble on the path he'd been dreaming to walk again for so long. Why had he even believed he stood a chance of finding her again.Why she might...have moved..to a faraway place or...maybe she had grown tired of the woods..but.a strong voice in the back of his head told him...he had to find out.
Find your way.
The words had entered his mind and although the sentence itself was new to him...it seemed like he'd known it for so long.Siro shook his head trying to clear his head from all the confusing thoughts.. 'I am going mad.'he thought and sighed 'I'd better return now...i was a fool to come here again.all for a memory.
'In my dearest memories.I see you reaching out to me.
'It was a coincidence we met in the first place' He said to no-one in particular...trying to block the voice singing in his head
'.was it fate...that brought us close and now leaves me behind...?'
He was going mad.Siro turned to leave but suddenly...there it was and it seemed as if no time had passed. That melody.
Melodies of Life
His heart pounded in his chest as he followed the melody..
.love's lost refrain.
He had found her again...the girl he'd secretly named Melody.his Melody So it was true .she had not been a dream or hallucination.and there she was real as could be.absorbed by the music coming from her flute.. Her delicate fingers seemed to simply brush the wooden instrument.making it produce its sad hollow and mysterious tones.
"You.you.YOU?!!!.Again?" commented an annoyed voice.breaking the magical atmosphere. Mog was hovering before him.flapping his little wings like crazy
Melody looked up.not as surprised to see him.almost suspecting.him?
I kind of liked it your way.how you shyly placed your eyes on me Did you ever know.
Siro turned red Melody smiled.a soft smile...sweet and innocent
..that I had mine on you..
Siro got the feeling he had to speak.he did look rather foolish just standing there. "uh...mm.hi." "uh...mm.hi."What was he thinking.of as the stupid things to say...argh...he hated himself."uh...mm.hi.".really.
Darling so there you are With that look on your face
"Hi" replied Melody shyly Siro looked up.surprised...she was still talking to him ?.
As if you're never down As if you're never hurt
******
"Linoa" Siro felt his tongue moving.tasting the letters before setting them free Linoa the sound of his voice .her name still ringing in his ears.the world kept spinning.turning.but in a nice way "Linoa" he said again, trying to snap out of it. "That's a very pretty name" "Thank you, but I didn't choose it, my parents did" she giggled "Oh yeah.uhm.ofcourse" blushed Siro "So why did you come back ?"she smiled Siro reached in his pocket "I had to give you back this." He took out the flute and held it out to her. 'And I had to see you again.know your real name' he added in thought
'I still believe you can call out my name
"I can't take that back.I gave it to you.for protection" now it was Linoa's turn to blush. "It did.protect me" smiled Siro, thinking of the many battles he had fought and won with the flute in his pocket. "So can you tell me a bit more about yourself" asked Siro "Well, there really isn't much to tell.I'm n-" But Linoa never got to finish her sentence a beam of light hit her and she fell forward
Author's note: 99% of the characters are owned by square ^^ (all hail square), Siro etc.. are mine but if Square would see fit to use them I'd be honoured ^^ (seriously doubt they would though)
I know I know a very long chapter, ne? Hope you like it though; please r&r, no flaming please, constructive criticism is greatly appreciated as well ^^
Siro Leonhart, the most promising cadet of Balamb Garden since.well, his father had finally taken part in the field exam, after passing the written test with flying colours. But all he could do was wait until the results were announced. He gazed at the forests surrounding Garden. His eyes grew soft and he reached for something in his pocket. The wooden flute. He had kept it ever since.
His mother had been furious with him when the staff of Garden returned him that day. He had tried to explain but when he had told Mother about the girl, her blue eyes looked icy and cold and.afraid. She had forbidden him to ever enter that forest again, and even on training missions, his superiors knew well enough not to go against the orders of his mother, the legendary Quistis Trepe, one of the six SeeDs who saved the world from the elusive 'Time Compression'. She had ordered all available SeeDs to find the girl. Siro had been horrified, his mother was acting as if the girl was some kind of monster. But that was how his mother was. Serious and concentrated, always ready when it came to her job but over protective and irrational when it came to him. So he obeyed and followed his training under the watchful eye of his Mother. But he had never shown her the flute. He had shown it to his father though, but Father's reaction had only puzzled him. It was the only time he had ever seen his father have that watery shine in his normally distant grey eyes. He had put his hands on Siro's shoulders and had looked him straight in the eyes for a few minutes with a soft smile. "Never show it to your mother boy." Siro nodded, he had never intended to show her but.was this how fathers were supposed to react? But then Squall Leonhart was no ordinary father. They hugged then, and Siro felt safe and secure.he loved his parents.his ever -serious father and his worrywart-mother.
But today he would know.because if he had passed the SeeD exam, he had promised to himself to go search the girl. Holding the flute, he felt rather stupid.maybe the girl wouldn't remember him, or maybe she was an annoying brat or maybe she had moved.he held the flute tighter. He would soon find out.
Siro saw Zack bent over next to a bush. He decided to give his best friend a scare. Keeping his voice as low as he could, he coughed and mumbled as if in disdain. "Cadet 65389? Zack Dincht? May I remind you that it does not suit a future SeeD to be messing with bushes"? The boy shrieked and nearly fell over; he turned to Siro, completely pale. "Siro, you idiot, you nearly scared me to death" Siro grinned, " you shouldn't be acting so suspicious then.whatcha hiding?" A smile spread over the other boy's face "I finally got it." Siro gasped, "You mean?" "Yeah", cried the Zack and after glancing whether the coast was clear he continued in a lower voice, "My dad's old T-board!" Siro bit his lip, he was dying to see his friends T-board, those things were out of this world, maybe he could take it for a spin, but. "You better hide it real good then" said Siro, bending down to help his friend to hide the precious object under the leaves, "they're gonna announce the results any minute!"
Both boys dashed through the hallway to the grand stairs leading to the lift "Wait uuuuuup!" Both boys froze and turned around to see two other teenagers running towards them in Garden uniforms. Two identical faces looked up to them. "Hi Yoko.Yuno " greeted Siro nodding to the twins. Instead of doing the same, Zack pointed to their clothes and asked "Whatcha wearing your uniforms for" "Didn't you hear, you HAVE to." wailed the girl crossing her arms. Siro and Zack looked at the two "I never heard of that " frowned Siro "See!" yelled the boy "I toooooooooooold you.really you can be so bossy.now look at us.we'll be the only ones in uniform!"
"Hi guys" Céres adjusted the straps of her shoes while she stumbled towards her friends Her short brown hair bounced up and down. She too was in uniform. "Why aren't you guys wearing your uniforms?" asked another girl following Céres. "See" said Yoko in a cocky tone Yuno just scratched his head. While the twins started one of their heated discussions (just-admit-you- were-wrong-no-I-wasn't-REALLY-wrong etc.), Zack turned towards Beatrix. "We.we didn't have to.to wear our uniforms, did we?" he asked in a more timid voice "But we did" assured Céres "Oh no" groaned Siro while Zack banged his head to the wall "We'll never get ready in time" "Don't worry, we'll stall them" said Beatrix "You guys just hurry and change," urged Céres
******
"Just in time' whispered Siro as he and Zack, finally in uniform joined the line of SeeDs-to-be. "We will now call out the names of those that passed the SeeD exam" announced a member of the Garden staff "But first a small word by Quistis Trepe" Siro looked up to heaven, praying that mother wouldn't embarrass him
Quistis was still a picture of health and beauty. Although her blond hair was a bit whiter here and there and she had some wrinkles, the Trepies fan club still existed. "As you all now, this years SeeD exam is something special for me and the commander of Garden, not only because our own dear son himself has participated in this years tests but also the sons and daughters of our dear friends." Quistis paused for a minute, letting her words sink in "To prevent misunderstandings we had each SeeD candidate wearing a letter on his or her back as you all know, so that the judges only gave points to person A, B or C not to the 'son' or 'daughter of.". This was to avoid mixing interests." She looked each SeeD candidate in the eyes. "Furthermore I would like to add that the commander nor I have seen the results" "Alright then ", she nodded "let's announce the results.. Commander if you please?" Squall Leonheart got up from his desk. "I will now call out the names of those who have passed this years exams" Silence. "Aeris Gainsborough" A slender girl with beautiful dark blonde hair tied with a pink ribbon stepped forward, saluted and walked to the elevator leading to the Commanders office where the new SeeDs would get their grades. "Beatrix Tilmitt" Beatrix too stepped forward, saluted Siro's father and went in the same direction as the other girl. "Betty Kiltu" with a small cry of joy yet another girl walked away,"Boris Kretcip". "Enough with the 'b''s already ", groaned Zack. "Céres Loire" Céres waved to them as she too proceeded to the elevator. "Yoko Kasuga" and "Yuno Kasuga" The twins stepped forward and saluted. "I never got why they use the alphabetical order with first names, don't normal people use last names for that kinda stuff" sulked Zack Siro smiled nervously "Shin Demears" "Siro Leonhart" An enormous weight was lifted from Siro's shoulders, he felt as if he was floating on air while he walked up to his father and saluted. He would always remember this moment, his father looked so proud. "And Zack Lee.that is all" As Zack ran up to his friend, they heard the disappointed cries of those who did not pass.
"Let's celebrate!!" Céres high-fived Beatrix. They had all passed.Zack, Beatrix, Céres, Yoko and Yuno and.him.they had all passed.(though Zack had come close to failing because he had tried to take along some hotdogs and had ended up spilling ketchup on some of the material) Zell asked one of the other 'fresh' SeeDs, that Aeris-girl along too. "Where do you wanna go, Siro?"elbowed Zack "Eh.there is something I got to do." "What?" you're not gonna go off by yourself on a time like this?!?" "What?" cried Céres? "I.I'm sorry..i'll .ehm.see you guys tomorrow.." And with that Siro took off.in the direction of the forest. ******
He was crazy.nuts.daft.Siro kicked a pebble on the path he'd been dreaming to walk again for so long. Why had he even believed he stood a chance of finding her again.Why she might...have moved..to a faraway place or...maybe she had grown tired of the woods..but.a strong voice in the back of his head told him...he had to find out.
Find your way.
The words had entered his mind and although the sentence itself was new to him...it seemed like he'd known it for so long.Siro shook his head trying to clear his head from all the confusing thoughts.. 'I am going mad.'he thought and sighed 'I'd better return now...i was a fool to come here again.all for a memory.
'In my dearest memories.I see you reaching out to me.
'It was a coincidence we met in the first place' He said to no-one in particular...trying to block the voice singing in his head
'.was it fate...that brought us close and now leaves me behind...?'
He was going mad.Siro turned to leave but suddenly...there it was and it seemed as if no time had passed. That melody.
Melodies of Life
His heart pounded in his chest as he followed the melody..
.love's lost refrain.
He had found her again...the girl he'd secretly named Melody.his Melody So it was true .she had not been a dream or hallucination.and there she was real as could be.absorbed by the music coming from her flute.. Her delicate fingers seemed to simply brush the wooden instrument.making it produce its sad hollow and mysterious tones.
"You.you.YOU?!!!.Again?" commented an annoyed voice.breaking the magical atmosphere. Mog was hovering before him.flapping his little wings like crazy
Melody looked up.not as surprised to see him.almost suspecting.him?
I kind of liked it your way.how you shyly placed your eyes on me Did you ever know.
Siro turned red Melody smiled.a soft smile...sweet and innocent
..that I had mine on you..
Siro got the feeling he had to speak.he did look rather foolish just standing there. "uh...mm.hi." "uh...mm.hi."What was he thinking.of as the stupid things to say...argh...he hated himself."uh...mm.hi.".really.
Darling so there you are With that look on your face
"Hi" replied Melody shyly Siro looked up.surprised...she was still talking to him ?.
As if you're never down As if you're never hurt
******
"Linoa" Siro felt his tongue moving.tasting the letters before setting them free Linoa the sound of his voice .her name still ringing in his ears.the world kept spinning.turning.but in a nice way "Linoa" he said again, trying to snap out of it. "That's a very pretty name" "Thank you, but I didn't choose it, my parents did" she giggled "Oh yeah.uhm.ofcourse" blushed Siro "So why did you come back ?"she smiled Siro reached in his pocket "I had to give you back this." He took out the flute and held it out to her. 'And I had to see you again.know your real name' he added in thought
'I still believe you can call out my name
"I can't take that back.I gave it to you.for protection" now it was Linoa's turn to blush. "It did.protect me" smiled Siro, thinking of the many battles he had fought and won with the flute in his pocket. "So can you tell me a bit more about yourself" asked Siro "Well, there really isn't much to tell.I'm n-" But Linoa never got to finish her sentence a beam of light hit her and she fell forward
Author's note: 99% of the characters are owned by square ^^ (all hail square), Siro etc.. are mine but if Square would see fit to use them I'd be honoured ^^ (seriously doubt they would though)
I know I know a very long chapter, ne? Hope you like it though; please r&r, no flaming please, constructive criticism is greatly appreciated as well ^^