It was Seifer. Squall who was taken back sat there motionless, wide-eyed. The last thing he expected was to have Seifer just show up. Squall stood slowly, grabbing the hilt of his gunblade. Just incase there was need of it. "I'm sorry Squall" Seifer spoke so quietly Squall had to strain his ears to hear every word. "This never should have happened" All Squall could do was nod. Seifer continued. "I just came here to tell you that-" Before Seifer had a chance to finish his sentence, the ground started to quake unexpectedly. A bright light stung both Squall and Seifer's eyes. Causing them to shield their faces and hope that the light didn't do any damage. When Squall removed his arm, the only thing to be seen was tree's, grass, and the sun shining...What? .. How did this happen? .. It almost looks like the forest that was in one of my dreams.. Squall glanced around. What happened to Seifer? A sudden pain throbbed throughout his body. He fell to his knees. Most of the pain was centered at his stomach. As he looked down he realized that he had been wounded. Who did this? When did it happen? Blood continued to spread and stain his clothing, seeping through his fingers that he had placed upon the wound. This is just like my dream... why is this happening? Just when the pain was becoming unbearable he was back in the garden again. Something was different about the way he was thinking. Was it that he had lost so much blood? Or that everything that has happened has driven him mad. Squall kept his left hand on his stomach to help cover the wound. With his right he gripped his gunblade, prepared for any type of attack. Quickly but thoroughly he looked around for Seifer. Was this just a trap? Did Seifer set me up? Is he trying to kill me also? A few echoing footsteps were heard from behind. Squall turned around to face the enemy, or whoever was standing ever so close to him at a time such as this. Squall gasped. It was Rinoa. How is this possible? No.. no ... your gone.. You died. I was by your side when you did. Stop living in the past. She took a step closer to him. Squalls eyes filled with tears. One by one they slid down his face. " Rinoa? " She gave no answer. Slowly he extended a hand to her. Expecting her to reach out for it and save him from all of this. After a moment of silence. He fell to his knees. Once again he cried out, "Rinoa!" As quickly as she had been seen. She had disappeared just as quick. An odd sound was nearing him. Not at all did it sound dangerous. He looked at what was coming his way. Only to see that it was his ring that Rinoa had taken from him in plans of making her own just like it. It rolled over to him, stopping an inch or two from his knees. As he extended his hand to reach down and pick up this object that hadn't touched his fingers since he had pretty much first met Rinoa. She had, had it since. "Once again.. We meet Squall.." He jumped at the sound of the voice.. I thought I was alone.. And he was.. or he couldn't see any one when he glanced around him. Looking for some excuse to base the voice on. "It's been a long time. Has it not?" A few feet in front of him. The world began to waver, and an image was coming into sight. Was this the person I have been looking for all this while? The image became solid. Squall gasped.. "YOU?!" Shock numbed his mind. Stopping him from thinking of the attacks that he should be making. " This cannot be!! ... How did you become to be one again?" A loud laughter filled the garden. Causing the water in the fountain to ripple. " Did you think that you could get rid of me so easily? It was merely a decoy for when I was to get my revenge" Seifer entered the room from behind. Squall turned around quickly. Something about him was different. Squall then noticed it. His eyes were red. A glowing red. He was being possessed. Seifer grabbed the hilt of his gunblade and started in a run towards Squall. As fast as he could Squall rolled to the left, dodging the swing that would have surely killed him. Grabbing his own gunblade, tightening his fingers so as not to lose grip. Squall swung his gunblade as hard as he could at Seifer's gut. Faster than any human could have done. Seifer blocked the attack by pressing his blade against Squalls. Both of them trying to force their own blade into one another. Seifer must have extra strength while he's possessed. I need to take that extra strength away. As soon as I can. Squall managed to push Seifer's blade away from nearing his flesh with all his might. Just then the wound in Squalls stomach from earlier starts to sting. As Squall screams out in pain he drops his gunblade in agony. The stinging had made its way to his fingers, and was spreading out everywhere. It had just about covered his entire body when Squall fell limp to the floor, unable to support his own weight. As he lay on his back, wishing everything would just end. If I were to die now... I could be with Rinoa.. A bright light surrounded Squall, and a warm and loving feeling spread through his body. Fighting against the agonizing stinging that had taken over a few moments before. Squalls closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. "Squall?" He opened his eyes quickly to find himself in a field of flowers. He inhaled deeply. I promised.. but that was so long ago. The wind was warm, and smelled of daisies. He bent down and picked a flower from the thousands that surrounded him. As he turned around, something caught his eye. Is it really? ... no it can't be. He made his way to a clearing, where it was just grass. He smiled. "Rinoa... is it really you?" She looked over at him. Her face gleaming. Quickly she ran over to him and jumped into his arms. He embraced her as if he had never done before, and let his head rest on top of hers. "Squall..." She took a step back. " You have to go on. I'll be with you always." He frowned. "I don't want to go on without you" "But you must" Squall looked deeply into her eyes. Memorizing the way she looked, the way she smelled, the way the wind blew her hair. She put her arms around him once more. Holding him tight. "I love you" It was as if the wind had said those three words. They were carried away so instantly. Squall closed his eyes. Taking his last breath of what he knew was Rinoa. When he opened his eyes, he found himself on the cold, hard floor of the garden lobby. Seifer was above him holding his gunblade right over Squalls heart. Just as Seifer pushed the blade down into what was supposed to be Squalls heart. Squall was already up and ready to fight. As he rolled to his feet he grabbed his gunblade with his right hand. The wound in his stomach was gone and so was every other wound he had received. "C'mon Seifer!! Think you can handle!?" Squall yelled over the loud explosions everywhere around them. Seifer gritted his teeth, and ran towards him. Swinging his blade left and right. But Squall every time blocked or dodged the attack. Finally when Squall saw the perfect opening. He dug his blade into Seifer's shoulder. Seifer had dropped his blade, and fallen to his knees. At the point where Squall's blade had entered Seifer's body, a white glowing light spread through Seifer. His eyes losing the red glow. Squall removed his blade, and Seifer's wound healed instantly. However he lay inert on the floor. Squall glanced up. Grinning. I can do this.. I can take her on! Squall wasn't sure if Seifer was dead or if he was just in shock, but before he would have a chance to try and help him there was another thing he had to attend to. With the faith and reassurance of Rinoa, Squall now stood with a bravery and strength never known to him before. "Even though you've taken her away from me... my love for her will never die! And that is what will bring her back!!" Squalls yells were barely audible over the explosions, and the screeching sound of the enemy. Who was furious at Seifer's failure. Just then the screeching stopped. As so did the explosions, and the shaking of the ground. Everything stood still. " Haha. You think that you can win against me? The victory against Seifer was an easy one. He lacked the strength and courage to do the job. But you.. you have what it takes. If you join me. I shall bring Rinoa back to you, in perfect health. Just as she was. Since there is no other way for you to ever get her back" Squalls thoughts before were filled with the purpose of just finishing her off. To kill the main cause of all the pain, all of the loss. But the idea of joining her lit a different purpose in his mind. If I join her I would be sure to have Rinoa back again. "Join you?.. Yes, I'll join you" At that moment Squalls eyes glazed over and he had no control over his body. There was no feeling, none of his senses were at work. There was no pain, no heartache. A loud laughter filled the room, "I can't believe you gave in so easily! If I would have known that all I had to do was offer Rinoa's life to you, which I shall not be giving back to her. I would have you in my grasp. And now that I do, I will finally finish you off at last." Squalls body lay on the lobby's cold tile. His breathing short and rapid, and his body shaking uncontrollably. Memories flashed through his mind; his first SeeD mission, his first waltz with Rinoa, all of the times shared with Zell , Selphie, Quistis, and Irvine, the flower fields that he had promised to meet Rinoa in so long ago. Lastly, a memory that never took place, but with all his heart he had wanted it too. A single kiss with Rinoa. A single second where he could hold her in his arms, and know that through everything that she loved him, and that he loved her. Was there still time for that wish to come true? To be existent instead of a dream. Slowly the white silky liquid that had formed over his eyes began to thin and he could once again see. With great ease he sat up, his true feelings of love and hate fighting against each other. He grabbed hold of his gunblade, and started in a run towards the one that should have died long ago. Before she had a chance to turn around and see Squall approaching her at top speed. His gunblade pierced through her heart. Squall screamed and pressed the blade in deeper. His felt as if his own heart was being ripped and torn. Is it because I had joined her? That must be the reason why I'm feeling the pain she feels. Instantly she went to push him away, but his feet were planted and he wasn't going to move for anything or anyone. The pain he was experiencing was like no other pain he had ever felt. Fighting against the want to pass out. He once again pushed the blade even further into her. He stared at her through eyes of anguish, and hatred." Ultamacia... you've caused enough pain, enough heartache. Last time I thought I killed you and you proved me wrong. But this time I'll know for sure that you forever will be tortured for the deeds you have done upon people. Never again will you exist!!!!!" She looked back at him in terror, and a longing for sympathy. As if what he had just said were lies. Ignoring her fake looks of emotion, and the pain that which was overwhelming. He gripped the hilt of the gunblade as tight as he could, and put all his strength into the final blow. Ultamacia dropped to the ground. Her body white, and lifeless. Squall then fell to the ground and passed out. * * * * "Squall?.... Squall, can you hear me? His eyes fluttered and slowly opened. Adjusting to the bright, warm sunlight that was shining through the curtains. A slight breeze blew the hair off his face. "Huh.... what?.. where am I?" His vision was still blurry, he blocked the sunlight from his eyes by raising an arm and holding it in front of his eyes. "Your in your bed" That voice... it sounds so familiar... Just then it hit him. Quickly he moved his arm down and looked to the side of his bed. His eyes widened in shock, and worry. ... How do I really know if she's actually there or not... maybe its just like before. "Are.. you really there?" He didn't take his eyes off her once. "Yes, I'm really here." She smiled and placed her hand on top of his and squeezed it slightly." I'm here Squall." Squall slowly moved towards Rinoa, he could feel her breath on his lips. When he was about to place his lips upon hers the bedroom door opened. Behind it was the gang. Zell , Quistis, Irvine, and Selphie. "HEY!! Your awake Squall!!!" Selphie ran towards him, and hugged him tightly. Everyone then after hugged him too.... however everyone had to wait a few moments, because Selphie wouldn't let go. "So I'm wondering.. where were you guys when I was fighting Ultamacia?" Squall asked curiously. "We were blocked out of the lobby. Turns out Ultamacia casted some really strong spells, around every way to get in. She must have really intended on finishing the job." Irvine spoke with a little sarcasm with Squall couldn't quite figure out. "As soon as you killed Ultamacia the spells wore off and we all ran in to find you lying on the ground. I've never seen someone so pale before. I think the reason was that you were so overwhelmed by the pain that it caused all of the blood to rush out of your face." Quistis smiled after putting in her information. "Well we should really let him get some rest" said Rinoa as she interrupted Zell and Irvine who were arguing about the cafeteria food. "Yeah your right. See ya Squall!" They all waved good-bye, and headed out of his room. He lay back on his bed for a moment. He glanced at his clock. Noon.... hm.. maybe I'll sleep till around six. He set the alarm on his clock and drifted off to sleep. Six o'clock came and the loud buzzing of his alarm caused Squalls eyes to open instantly. He got out of his bed and dressed in some casual clothing. As he was changing he noticed a note on his dresser. Rinoa... you and your notes.

~Squall~ Meet me in the secret place. You know where it is. Lets set the time at seven, See you then! ~Rinoa ~

Squall smiled and ran towards the secret place. Which was the hang out where garden trainees went after curfew. After fighting a few monsters in the training center. Squall made it to the secret place. As he walked out onto the balcony he noticed Rinoa standing there. Gazing at the stars. Quietly he walked up behind her and placed his hand on her hip. She gasped slightly. "Oh, you scared me. I didn't know who it was." She laughed at herself for being startled at such a small thing. He grinned at her, "Sorry." "Rinoa?" "Yes Squall?" She turned to him and gave him her full undivided attention. "How ... are you.. I mean. You died. How can you be alive now?" She paused for a moment before she replied. Making sure she could fully trust her answer. "Well.. I think it's because of Ultamacia... I have a feeling that her last spell before you killed her was to restore my life." Squall stared at her, Hm... Wasn't quite the answer I was expecting... but it does make a little sense. Rinoa continued, "When I was in the flower fields I was happy, but I wasn't complete because you weren't there. And I couldn't let you die too. Maybe you joining Ultamacia proved to her that you really did love me, and that you would risk your own life just to get me back" Once again she focused her attention on the stars. Squall shrugged. "Well however I got you back. I would have died without you" He smiled." I guess I proved that point." He placed both of his hands on her hips and pulled her towards him, staring deep into her dark brown eyes, he grinned when he noticed the slight blush on her face. He pulled her close to him so her body was pressed against his; he placed his lips upon hers, and held her tight. When he pulled away, she hugged him tightly and said in a quiet whisper. "I love you"