[Chapter 2: Desire and Emotion]

It was 6 a.m. The stillness of the early morning air disturbed Squall. He lay in his bed, thinking, wondering, and pondering. What have I done…? Am I so deprived…that I have to seek out a girl four years younger than me…? Squall…get a grip on yourself…you can't act like this…! He turned to his right to check if Eien was up and saw she still slept, without even a hint he had kissed her. He flushed a slight red as his heartbeat picked up pace. "That's it…I'm going for a walk." Muttering underneath his breath, he got up silently and pulled on his coat and black jeans. Carefully, he wore his necklace, which had a silver lion's head pendant hanging from it, and slung his gunblade on his belt. He took a quick scan of the room; secretly happy they were all still sleeping. At the dormitory door, he drew a key from his pocket and inserted it into the lock. He cringed as a tiny 'click' opened the wooden mahogany door, glancing back to check if his teammates were asleep. Satisfied, he stepped out, and re-sealed the door.

***

The rays of the rising sun shone cheekily through the window, warming Eien's face. The gentle twittering of the gleeful birds pierced the atmosphere and relaxed her. Enjoying the cold light, she stayed in bed, though hearing the Cockatrice crow at daybreak and the muffled voices of the groggy SeeDs getting up. Suddenly, she felt a warm hand brush against her nose. Startled, she opened her eyes reluctantly and blinked, staring up at a blonde-haired bespectacled girl. Quistis smiled at her expression.

"Time to get up, Eien. Or else you'll miss all the food that the cafeteria prepared!"

"Hmm…ok. Getting…*yawn*…up…"

"Good…I'm going to change now! See you!"

"…Ok…"

Eien blinked, annoyed that she had to be woken up. She quickly stopped herself before she began scowling like a spoilt kid. Rubbing her eyes, she deliberately delayed her rising. Soon, she lay back, on the pretext of resting her back, and lulled off to sleep again.

After changing, Quistis re-entered the now-almost-empty dormitory, and what she saw made her sigh. Smilingly she trudged her way over to Eien's bed, where the girl now lay all curled up, basking in the cold rays of the morning sun. She bent over her, scrutinizing her cute face. Finally, she poked her.

"Hey…get up. You've fallen asleep again, Eien!"

Eien pretended not to hear her and flipped over to her side. Deciding to leave her alone, Quistis wisely exited the dormitory for her own breakfast.

Hearing the door click shut, Eien opened an eye cheekily. Only after making sure the coast was clear was she pacified to get up. Hurriedly, she cleaned up, and it occurred to her she had not seen Squall among the group of sleepy teenagers. Puzzled, she decided to try out her sorceress powers in locating him. Clasping her hands, she closed her eyes, focusing on Squall's face alone. Slowly, her whole body pulsated with a transportation glow…seeking out his location.

Squall stood at the balcony where he had kissed Rinoa, wistfully staring out at the glittering aqua-blue ocean that lay before him. The rays of the sun glowed and shone through his deep brown hair. His mind was weighed down with thoughts, and how he wished to let them all go, and fling them into the ocean as if they were just excess baggage. Strands of stray hair blew across his face, thanks to the gentle breeze stirred up by the moisture and all other natural things.

…never have I been this troubled. The last time I was like this…it was when Rinoa got possessed and lay unconscious when I carried her to Esthar…the most intriguing city ever…Buried in his thoughts, he moaned and lay his head on the balcony railing, peeping down into the deep ocean that Balamb Garden was sailing on. He was so deep in himself that he did not notice the young girl materializing behind him in a brilliant flash of white. She stepped out of her trance, looking around, and saw Squall in a disturbed state near the balcony.

Approaching him silently, she leaned on the railing beside him.

"Squall, is there something wrong…?"

"What?? How did you get here?? Can't I even have privacy…???"

His incredulous tone both shocked and mystified her even more. She looked at him straight in the eye, and held her place.

"I was worried about you. I didn't see you this morning…so I tried locating you…and I did!"

"Nobody needs to worry about me! I'm seventeen…I'm not a kid…now leave me alone…"

Each second made him uneasy. Images of Eien in the eerie glow of the crystalline nightlight flashed in his mind…how her soft hair fell so naturally around his arms, how kissing her felt…guilt weighed him down and made him reluctant to talk to her. How he wished she'd just leave…why did she have to stay? Why?

"Squall…if you'd just come with me…please…I'm really worried…you're not usually like this…"

"Hah…a girl I've never set eyes upon until yesterday knows more about my attitude than me, that's really interesting. And to top it all off…she's thirteen…"

Suddenly, he flicked his eyes wide open upon noticing what she was doing. Smiling teasingly, she pointed her right index finger to the sky, with the gentle morning breeze caressing her hair across her shoulders. "Squall…remember what your love did…? Squall…? Uuhh…"

Ignoring her, he smiled and reached out with his left hand, yanking her extended arm toward himself. Pulling her closer, he encircled her tiny, beautiful body in his arms as she herself willingly wrapped her arms around him. He gently lifted her up and pressed his lips to hers. They stayed, each entranced by the other's boldness in that moment. It was the first time she had ever been this intimate with him.

Finally, he snapped back into reality. Shyly, he parted and put her down, still smiling. A reddish tinge crept across his face. She too placed her hands behind her back, pawing the ground with her foot nervously as she looked down. An uncomfortable silence eased its way between the two of them. Her voice broke the silence.

"Um…so…shall we…uh…get going to the…cafeteria…?"

She lifted her gaze, meeting his for a split second before glancing away. Wiping the smile off his face, he assumed his usual look.

"Whatever…"

She began giggling, looking so amusedly at him. Amazed at his ability to change expressions, she poked him, insisting he continue smiling like he did.

"No way…what would the others think…? I have a reputation to uphold. Squall the Silent."

"Huh…alright. Let's go…!"

Before he could respond, she grabbed his arm and simultaneously snapped her fingers. A flash of bright light surrounded them, transporting them from the balcony to the cafeteria entrance.

"Whoa! What took you guys so long? I've already finished!!"

"Heya all! Sorry we're late…I went searching for Squall!"

Upon entering, Zell looked up from his crumb-littered plate in shock at them with a question whereupon Eien swiftly countered it with a well-prepared answer. Giving him a smile, she steered the still-in-a-state-of-shock Squall to the cafeteria line to get breakfast. Meanwhile, the others watched good-naturedly at the 17-year-old young man being led everywhere by the young sorceress.

"Eien has certainly taken to our Squall! Good for him…another girl like Rinoa to keep him occupied."

"I think he's being unfaithful to Rinoa, Sis Ellone. He should keep his distance…"

"Seriously, Quistis…he can't always clam up like he always does!! I, as his elder sister, am very happy he's being kept occupied. I hate it when he gets all silent and cold."

"…I don't know. Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm right. Maybe…"

"Please! Perk up, Quistis! Look now, here they come. Either you say something nice, or you keep quiet."

As soon as Ellone finished her threatening sentence, Quistis slumped back in her seat, her heart filled with doubts and jealousy. Why was she always like this? Why couldn't she just leave him be? Shaking her head, she removed her glasses and laid them on the table, making a soft clinking noise on the smooth marble surface.

Ellone watched her, with a half-scowl. Hearing Eien and Squall approaching, she hastily dragged Quistis off to the dormitories with her. Squall and his sorceress soon occupied the space that his two elder sisters evacuated, talking and laughing together as if they'd known each other for years.

In the corridor of the dormitories, Ellone faced Quistis, her eyes betraying her true emotion, sympathy.

"Quis…I know how you feel. I know you want someone to love, not as a sibling…but as a…companion. But please, please don't let that stop you from being happy that Squall's opened up to the world. For me, for everyone's sake, please…"

A streak of her blonde hair fell across her face, causing her to lift a finger to put it neatly behind her ear. Quistis bowed her head as she leaned against the cool wall for support. A few tears trickled down her face. She was hurt that Ellone exposed her true feelings just when they were at their strongest.

"Quis…Quis? Why are you…!"

Ellone stumbled back from the impact of Quistis's shove. She ran down the empty hallway, just wanting to leave Ellone, just wanting to…escape. Too stunned to do anything, the 21-year-old Sorceress watched helplessly as her orphanage sibling ran away, choked with emotion.

"What have I done…? Or is this just because of Eien…"

She trailed off in her beliefs, gathering the folds of her green wrap around her arms. Ellone walked back to the dormitory, buried deep within her own worries, head bowed.

On the other end, Quistis ran, the cool wind whipping her tear-streaked face scathingly. One hand was raised as if to shield her face from sight and the gloating wind. Finally, too exhausted, she found herself in the Secret Area of Balamb Garden's training center, alone. Limping over to a railing stretch, she laid her head on her arms, weeping softly and cursing her inability to find love and her luck. All the painful memories of rejection in her life as a teenager flooded her mind, restricting her to wallow in self-pity. How the first boy who ever liked her got put off because of her talent; he was an average Garden student whereas she was top. How her girl peers teased her incessantly ever since she got glasses. How she was discriminated against simply because she chose a whip instead of a bladed weapon as her primary weapon. How she excelled in Blue Magic instead of the basic Whip Skills…how she…oh…the endless memories.

She raised her head, gazing at the blue light of Balamb Garden's protective halo. She relaxed momentarily. Her finger moved gently across her face, wiping off the sweat and tears that had been shed. She silently vowed to try to be happy for others instead of being selfish as always.

"Quistis…?"

Stunned, she turned at the familiar voice. She gasped at the familiar figure. The black hair with brown streaks, the blue dress, the black ribbon on the left arm, the fine silver chain on the neck, with two silver rings…and most of all, the smile…the kindness.

"Rinoa…!"

"Yes…Quistis…I'm back…"

Tears filled her eyes as she scrutinized Rinoa. Standing, she embraced her.

"You…you're safe! H…how…? I…I thought the Galbadians captured you…?"

"Yes…but I escaped…isn't that good enough? Good enough for Quistis Trepe…instructor of Balamb Garden??"

"Rinoa! What are you saying??"

Quistis withdrew, sensing a strange, steely edge in the sweet voice. She scrutinized her, gasping as she saw her eyes begin to glow red…blood red. In a split second, the 'Rinoa' thrust her right arm forward, in the time before it connected, her hand morphed into a single-clawed mutation. Red, thick blood gushed out from the wound, causing the victim to fall to the ground.

Quistis lay on the steel floor of the secret area, life slowly draining out of her as the precious blood trickled away, dripping off the balcony into the jaws of a hungry T-Rexaur waiting greedily below. "Rinoa…why…did…y…you…"

She barely completed her last sentence, finally closing her eyes and releasing her soul from her body. Quistis's lifeless, limp, blood-covered form lay on the ground as the 'Rinoa' laughed in a different voice.

Slowly, she morphed back her arm to the gentle fingers of a teenage girl. Touching her right fingers to her forehead, she chanted a word before a strange rippling went over her skin. That word alone morphed her back to her true form, a silver-haired, red-eyed girl who looked about 8 years old.

She floated in mid-air, leering at her innocent victim whose soul she captured. Her hair blew around her mysteriously, giving her the air of a sorceress, which she was.

"Mother…I will avenge your death…I will destroy all that dared fight you…I will achieve time compression for you…I swear by your name…Ultimecia Weiur…"

She trailed off into a sinister laugh that resonated in the training center, scaring even the fiercest monsters back into hiding. With a maniacal gleam in her eye, she disappeared, leaving the bloodstained body of Quistis Trepe on the ground.

***

"Anyone seen Quistis…?"

Selphie's ever-cheerful voice piped up on the bridge. Nida, Xu and Edea stood, discussing their plans for the Garden's course. Upon hearing her voice, they paused to face her.

"Selphie! Hi…and sorry, we haven't seen Quistis. Maybe the others would know?"

"Hmm…maybe. Thanks anyway!"

Flashing them a smile, she leaped onto the lift platform that connected the bridge with the Headmaster Cid's office, now converted to the quarters of the Garden Staff. As it approached the floor, she spotted Irvine coming from afar, his brown hair poking out from beneath his cowboy-style hair. Grinning, she yelled out to him.

"IRVY!! PREPARE!!!!"

She leaped off the lift that was in progress of its descent to the ground and aimed toward him. Smiling, he caught her and kissed her cheek. "My sweet Selphie…cheeky as always," he whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck, giggling. The duo made their way down to the 2nd Floor, where Seifer was conducting a class as the Garden's newest instructor.

"And when you hold a gunblade, your finger must be positioned like this, don't pull the trigger…" His voice droned on like a real instructor's. Irvine purposefully walked through the doors, causing an immediate disruption in Seifer's class. Whispers and giggles erupted as he walked in, Selphie in his arms.

He grinned, noticing the glare that Seifer directed at him. "Irvine! Selphie! Please…I'm teaching here…!!"

"Ahh…Seifer…we came in to ask if any of your lovely students or you have seen Quistis…?"

A wave of giggles crossed the female students' desks as he gave his manly smile to them.

Glowering, he answered. "NO I have not and will you PLEASE leave before I kick you out???"

"Aww…don't be so uptight, Seif ol' buddy…we'll leave…"

And after causing sufficient irritation, they exited.

Down in the cafeteria, Squall and Eien finished their breakfast. She had talked to him, told him about her world, and he in turn had told her about his world.

"So…you promised to take me training in case there's a battle, right?"

"…Yeah…when do you wanna go?"

"Guess now. I've got nothing to do!"

She shrugged and looked at him, awaiting his response. He pondered slowly, finally nodding.

"Oh YEAH!!!" Let's go!! Lead the way!"

He walked out of the cafeteria, turning left. He decided to run, considering it was a long way to the training center. He ran along the corridor, turning at the training center's hallway. He turned around at the entrance to look out for Eien. "Hey!"

"AHHH!"

He half-yelled as she landed into his arms from the ceiling. He blinked, looked around, and noting nobody was there, allowed her to remain in his arms. She snuggled her face into his shoulder, taking in his manly smell. Slightly embarrassed, he carried her into the training center.

"Hey…let's go!"

She slipped out of his grasp easily. He drew his Lionheart gunblade, a brilliant blue gunblade with the shape of a lion embossed on its handle. He smiled to himself as he watched her skip light-heartedly through the dense growth of the training center.

"Eien…be careful…T-Rexaurs might be around here…just stay close to me."

She glanced back, grinned and ran ahead playfully. He smiled to himself, imagining the carefree pleasures of junior teenage hood. Suddenly, he heard a deafening roar followed by Eien's scream.

"SQUALL!!!! AAAAH!!"

"Eien!! Dammit…I'm coming!!"

Cursing under his breath he summoned all his speed and made haste, following the sounds of Eien helplessly casting spells to deflect her enemy. Finally, he reached them. Glitters of blue magical light glimmered around her as she dealt out her spells. He watched momentarily, entranced by her magic. He soon snapped back in control when the T-Rexaur roared and slammed its tail against her, narrowly missing him.

"Aaaaah! Squall!! Do something……"

Her voice trailed off as she unsuccessfully tried to regain consciousness on the grassy clearing ground. A fury burned within him. He noted quickly that there were traces of blood on the canine teeth of the Rexaur, something they had never craved after. Instantly, columns of yellowish light encircled him as he closed his eyes.

He blocked out all sounds of the monster charging towards him fiercely. Breaking his concentration, he unleashed his most powerful attack…

"Lion Heart!"

His gunblade glowed and galactical beams of light flew around him as he gathered his strength. Stunned by its small adversary's power, the T-Rexaur hesitated in fear. Finally, Squall yelled and charged towards it, using all of his force. He slashed it countless times until it gave a final roar of defeat and collapsed, dead.

Squall sank down onto the ground; sweat dripping from his forehead and hair slipping over his face. He gasped for breath in short, fast intakes. Sheathing his gunblade, he forced himself up and limped towards Eien. He knelt beside her, lifting her up. She slowly regained consciousness as he raised her head gently.

"Uh…Squall…what…happened?"

She got up, gazing into his eyes weakly. He stroked her hair back and lifted her into his arms.

"I'll tell you later…you need rest now…I'll take you to the secret area to rest, its not safe here…"

He trailed off as she collapsed into his arms, cringing with pain at the bruise from the T-Rexaur's tail slam. He walked carefully with her, finally reaching the entrance to the secret area, where students usually gathered after curfew at night.

Suddenly, the metallic, sickly smell of fresh blood drifted in the air. Stunned, he shook Eien awake. He looked around with alert eyes until they rested on a bloody figure in a corner, close to the balcony…wearing his instructor's clothes.

Could it be…Quistis…? No…it can't…it…His mind reeled with thoughts that flooded in. The horror if it was Quistis. He swiftly laid his young sorceress on the floor and stepped gingerly over the spattered blood to the bloodied figure. Eien moaned softly in horror and shock as he flipped the person with his gunblade.

"No! Quistis!! It…it…NO!!!"

He sank to his knees, shouting in frustration and anger. Hot tears poured down his cheeks, burning them and adding to his confusion. He flung his gunblade aside and wept for the recognized person…his instructor Quistis Trepe.

Eien knelt, clutching her rings, crying for Quistis, crying because she had never seen Squall like this…crying for…the grief that was to be felt after the loss sank in.

Somewhere far away, a silver-haired girl with the ability to transform laughed in pure insanity and glee. She loved the grief she brought upon them…she leered at the helpless soul of the 18-year-old instructor whom she had captured…wailing for freedom…mercy.

She gazed back into her crystal viewer, a maniacal smile creeping on her face as she repeated a promise… "I swear by your name…Ultimecia Weiur…" and trailed off into her own world of death and revenge with a sinister laugh that echoed through the stony walls of her castle, hidden from mortal view…