Here's chapter one! I don't know how long it'll take to get the second chapter up, so try not to get too attached to the story... ^_^ kidding. Anyway- go on and read already!

Chapter One: Challenge

"Where do you think our SeeD exam is?" Tristan asked his best friend. They were both sitting in the cafeteria munching on food.

"I think somewhere near the mountains- I'm not sure. I heard my Mom and Dad talking last night about the location. Of course, Mom was making sure that it was 'safe' for me to take this test." He sighed. "Parents these days... I'm already almost 17 if they haven't noticed..."

"Yeah, I know how you feel... pass me another one of those please?"

Kai reached for a hotdog and handed it to Tristan. "Isn't that your fifth one already?"

"Ah, who's counting?"

After Tristan finished his snack, Kai challenged him to a Triple Triad card game.

"Oh, alright. I've got a few new cards... maybe I have somewhat of a chance this time."

Kai grinned. He knew what Tristan meant. Just recently Kai became the champion card player at the Balamb Card Tournament and was promoted to compete in the Deling Tournament. And he knew he was good.

Kai met Tristan and Sage, his cousin, in the Card room. Ever since his father became Headmaster of Balamb Garden, there had been a lot of changes to the campus. The Card room was added in the Quad as well as a basketball court.

"Hey guys. I brought my new tournament deck. I wanna try it out to see if it works." As he and Tristan set up their play area people started to crowd around to see the outcome of the battle against the two best card players of Balamb. "Alright, Sage, flip the coin to see who starts then set the rules."

Sage nodded. Flipping he saw that Kai would go first. "Rules: Same, Plus, and... Random. Kai has first play- ready- go!"

After ten draws, Kai finally wins and he and Tristan shake hands when they stand. With the crowd cheering nobody noticed the new comer push her way to the center table.

Sage motioned for Tristan to look at who just came in. "Hmm... It's Adrian and her- stalker..." Tristan smirked at his joke. He knew his sister hated being called a stalker.

Leiya glared at Tristan hard enough for him to back away. Adrian smiled an evil smile at Kai. "I want to challenge you."

With a confused look on his face he replied, "Um... since when did you play cards?"

"I don't. I want to challenge you... physically. A Gunblade duel in the training center. I'll meet you there tomorrow at 2100 hours. I want to try out my skills..." With that said she turned sharply on her heels. Leiya followed after a quick hand gesture to her twin.

"I guess you have an enemy now..." Sage said after the crowd had cleared.

"Nope. She'll only be my enemy when she wins. I'm actually looking forward to this battle, though. First I have to tell Dad about this. I know he'll want to know. C'mon, let's go guys."

"She flipped me off!" Was all that Tristan could say.

"He is sooooo cute!" Chel squealed as they walked through the busy sidewalks of Balamb. "I wish I could have been there to see his face. I love it when he crinkles his nose as he thinks..."

"Yea, me too..." Adrian said quietly to herself.

"So I'm guessing he took your invite?" Leiya asked after Chel's excitement wore out.

She sighed almost dreamily. "I hope so..."

"Huh, sounds more like you're beginning to like him..."

"Who?! K-Kai?! No way! His and my father have been enemies for a long time now-"

"And that makes a difference how? You're just trying to avoid my question. Now, do you have feelings for him or not?"

"I'll never like a gu-"

"Don't say never! You just might. Besides, you're not that much of a tomboy." Chel pointed out.

"Anyway, it's so obvious! You want him on your team for the exam, don't you?" Leiya already knew she did, but she just wanted her to admit it openly.

"Oh alright! I do like him, okay? Now let's finish our errands… we have to report back to the Headmaster's office."

"Hey Dad-"

Squall looked up from his paperwork. "Hey Kai, what's up?" He nodded his greetings to Tristan and Sage. "Oh, Sage, your mother is looking for you… she's in the infirmary."

"Thanks." Sage told Kai and Tristan that he would see them in the quad later on at around 6, then left.

"Guess who challenged me to a duel today."

"Hmm… you know I'm not that good at guessing… is it a guy?"

Tristan answered his question. "Nope. A chick."

"A girl eh? Do I know her?"

"You know her parents…" Kai said walking around his office.

"Chel? No, wait… this is a gunblade duel, huh?"

"Yup… and I know I'm ready."

It suddenly clicked in the Headmaster's head, "It's Seifer and Quisits' daughter, Adrian… I think she'll be challenging."

"Why do you think that? I mean, come on, she's not really good at anything else, and she's a huge pain in the ass if you know what I mean." Tristan said taking a nearby seat.

"If you would remember correctly, you haven't even battled her and yet you have already judged her! I think you should at least give her a chance."

"Huh, with what we grew up with, she doesn't seem like any competition." Kai motioned to Tristan that he wanted to leave. "Come if you want to." That last remark he directed to his father.

When the two boys had left Squall said to himself, "Kids…"

"C'mon, Rin, I know you need a break from work. Let's take a walk, huh?" Squall took his wife's hand into his as she frantically tried to find something.

"I would really like to go with you, but I have to find those papers and get them sent off!"

"Don't you have a secretary for that? And anyway, it won't take long, I promise."

Rinoa suddenly stopped. "Those words…"

Squall, as usual, had no idea what she was talking about. "Huh?"

She took off her glasses and set them hanging off her blouse; staring at Squall's bewildered eyes while she stepped closer to him. "I promise. You remember, don't you?"

"Uh," Not sure with what to do now, because he still didn't remember, he bluffed. "Yeah, I said that, uh-"

"Lemme guess," She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up. "You're gonna blame your forgetfulness on the GFs… just like last time…" Letting her head rest on his chest she closed her tired eyes.

Squall suddenly remembered. "We were in the orphanage… next to the field of flowers when you told me about your dream… your dream about not being able to find me… so I made you a promise that I'll always be there…"

Rinoa smiled. "I knew it would come to you someday…"

"How about this… I'll be here…"

Catching on to his little game she answered never opening her eyes, "…Why?"

"I'll be waiting for you… so if you come here, you'll find me. I promise."

Rinoa glanced up and their heads slowly met into an affectionate kiss.

Rinoa placed her small-framed glasses back on. "I do need a break, don't I? Alright, but just for a little. I can't leave Balamb into the hands of my secretary for long."

"Hurry up and hack into the computer before the Headmaster comes back! You know this is against the rules, right?" Chel was pacing frantically from the office door to back where the girls were at the computer.

"Chel, you're supposed to be the lookout, remember? Not the worrier! And yea, this is not just against the rules-" Adrian was interrupted by Leiya who was busily typing away at the headmaster's computer.

"This is illegal! We're breaking into the Garden's files, dammit! Sorry, got kinda distracted… I only need a couple of seconds and then I'll be- done! Got it! I'll print this out and then we can leave."

As they were leaving, Adrian grabbed the piece of paper that was still warm from the printer and hurried out the door and carefully scanned the area, making sure that everything was left like they found it.

Okay! You're finally done reading it- now review please!