Chapter 9:

Irvine ran into the Deling City hotel, and saw Zell and Squall looking angry and a bit worried.

"Where you last night?" Zell yelled.

"We had an agreement. All of us were to meet here last night." Squall added, annoyance creeping into his voice.

"Sorry guys, something came up last night..." Irvine replied, as he scratched the back of his neck and tried to avoid eye contact.

"What came up?" Squall asked, still annoyed at Irvine for the night before.

"Just...something."

Irvine knew Squall would not be pleased about him bumping into Quistis. Let alone, what had happened at her apartment later on.

"We better get the train back to Balamb and head back to the Garden." Zell said.

The three men left the hotel and walked off towards the train stration. Irvine wondered how to get back to Quistis' apartment, just in case he came back to Deling.

They arrived at the train station and borded the train to Balamb. Zell, still tired and sore from battling various monsters the day before, fell asleep.

Squall, wondering why there was no sign of Ultimecia in Deling City, stared out the window and pondered over what to tell Cid in his report. He knew he had to mention Irvine straying from the group overnight. He casted a glace at Irvine, who looked like he was deep in thought about something.

Irvine sat in his seat, the song that Quistis was singing in the shower that morning was playing through his head.

i"My last night here with you. Same old song, just once more. My last night here with you. Maybe yes, maybe no."/i

"Eyes on me..." Irvine whispered out loud to himself.

"Huh?" said Squall as he turned around in his seat and looked at Irvine.

"Nothing. Just thinking..." Irvine replied to him. There was no way he was going to let Squall or anyone else know what had happened. It was no one's business to begin with anyway, was it?

iHow does she know that song? Does she remember it? Has she heard it recently? Will she ever get her memory back? Will she ever come back to the Garden?/i

Irvine's thoughts were interupted when the train came to a halt. Zell snorted and woke up reluctanly as he looked around and saw they were in Balamb. He stood up, stretched and yawned.

Squall got up out of his seat and grabbed his gunblade. He turned around and saw Irvine gathering his belonging, but he could tell something was on Irvine's mind. But what? Did it have to do with where he was the night before?

The three men got off the train and looked around Balamb.

"Well, now we go to the Garden and talk to Cid." Squall said.

iGood, I can't wait to see Cid. I have a few questions for that man./i Irvine thought to himself as he threw his gun over his shoulder and made his way to Balamb Garden.