Chapter Eight





He had to read the first paragraph again.

Oh, dear Hyne...

His brain was stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the words his eyes were taking in. Irvine took a long sip of his fresh cup of coffee, begging the caffeine to rearrange the words on the page.

But the words weren't budging.

His eyes trailed down to the bullets beneath the initial heading, hoping that they could return to that first paragraph and find it a little more pleasing. No luck.

He couldn't believe it.

This changed everything. This bloody changed everything.

He gulped the coffee, this time pleading, hoping that the next page would perhaps be different. But it wasn't. His eyes were drawn upwards, scanning through those dangerous words. Returning back to the first paragraph that so casually had rewritten Irvine's life.

There was an urgent knock at the door.

"C'mon in," he barked.

Selphie opened it, her face white, her version of the folder clasped in her hand. "Irvine...?"

He gestured her in, guiding her to a chair, his hand on the small of her back.

"Have you read this?" she asked, her voice small and timid.

He nodded. "Just this morning." He poured her a cup of coffee, added some milk, and offered it to her; she took it gracefully with a wan smile.

"What's going on?" Her poor little face was frightened, and Irvine realized that she hadn't known about the subterfuge incident or any of the background.

He reached across the table, clasping her hand in one of his own. "Look," he said. "This all started with my SeeD mission - the one I was training those students for? Well, I read the mission over and noticed something fishy. So I took it to Cid and Squall to look over." He gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm not sure how they got you involved. I'm sorry."

She looked at him, curious. "What happened with the report?"

"It was just - the mission wasn't right." He struggled to explain it. "It was poorly planned, too much dependence on insufficiently trained cadets and questionable information. It was the sort of mission that never should have qualified as a field exam - much too difficult."

She gasped. "They think somebody altered it?"

Irvine shrugged. "Based on this, I guess so." He gestured at the folder. "They suspect that someone inside the Garden system is trying to take us out while we're confused. Embarrass us. Kill off our cadets. Make us look incompetent."

He gave her a wry smile. "And we're the investigation."

The fear was gone from Selphie's face, replaced with the determination Irvine had become familiar with on their voyage. "Those jerks!" She set her cup down hard on the table. "They can't mess with our Garden!" She looked at Irvine, her eyes shining with anger. "Those were my students they were targeting! My students that they were going to send on that mission! They can't get away with this!"

Irvine laughed. "Calm down, Seff, we're not even there yet."

Taken aback, she blinked, and then smiled softly. "You know how personally I take these things."

Irvine, thinking back to the assault on the Missile Base, had to smile in return.

Selphie's eyes turned back to the folder; she was chewing her lip, something Irvine knew she only did when upset. "You alright, Seff?"

"I'm just upset," she said softly. "I mean, I didn't know about the subterfuge - that changes everything. I thought, honestly, that they were just pawning us off on some dangerous mission to get money for Garden."

She sighed, flipping through the pages. "Now that I know what it's about, I'm a little less bitter. But it's not any less dangerous."

Irvine squeezed the hand he suddenly realized he was still holding. "I know. It's one hell of a mission this time."

Selphie bit her lip again. "I just wasn't expecting an assignment," she admitted. "I thought being an Instructor meant you didn't go on assignment."

"I think they figured you'd like to take care of it, since it was targeted at your students," Irvine said softly. Mentally he was chastising himself: This is your fault, Kinneas. You dragged her into this.

Selphie opened her folder to the first page and lightly grazed her fingers down the page. Clearing her throat, she softly and tentatively began to read:



The team from Balamb Garden will be working in tandem with teams from Galbadia and Trabia. Though the focus is on the mission tentatively entitled Desert Rose, the main job of the Balamb team will be to monitor the behavior of both other teams, both of which are suspected terrorists and enemies of Garden. The Desert Rose mission (details of which are found inside) has been set up by an independent council to invite an act of subterfuge. If at any point any members of the Desert Rose operation are found to be engaging in acts of treason, it will be the responsibility of the Balamb team to act upon this to the best of their judgement.



At the bottom of the page Headmaster Cid had scrawled in his messy handwriting: "The whole mission is a cleverly constructed trap. You guys are both the jaws and the bait. Be careful!"

Selphie looked up at Irvine, determination and fear mixing in her face. "It all depends on us," she whispered. "We have to figure out who the traitors are before they act - and before they find us!"

Irvine shook his head. "I know, Seff. But they wouldn't have given it to us if they didn't think we could do it. I mean, come on - we're the SeeD who fought the sorceress."

Selphie smiled vaguely as she turned the page. "Did you read the actual mission?" she asked. "They've made us the hiring party. We're not even supposed to be SeeD - we have to act like the representatives who hired SeeD. We're taking up residence in Deling City at the end of the week."

Irvine knew all too well. He had read the case over carefully: a pair of newlyweds in Deling City. The brother of one has gotten himself tangled in illegal weapons trading and is missing. Hired SeeD mercenaries for information and rescue mission. He had read the specifics. Living together in a small apartment. Rich but not too rich. May need to find jobs if mission extends indefinitely.

He and Selphie. Living together happily. Surrounded by SeeDs, some of which were suspects of crimes against Garden. Complicated. Much too dangerous.

There was no way he could tell her now. No way he could explain. The courage he had gathered last night with Quistis's help was useless.

Not with this much on the line.

He felt a light squeeze: her hand in his. "Irvine, what's wrong?"

He sighed. "I'm worried about this, Seff. I don't really want either of us to get hurt."

"We'll be there together," she said, trying to cheer him up. "We can take care of each other. We have to live together," she said, a little hesitantly. "Um..."

"I know," Irvine said. "It'll be okay. I trust you."

She laughed. "Yes, you do," she said. "And I trust you. I'm glad you'll be with me - I can't imagine doing this myself..." She shuddered.

Her face was so forlorn; a sudden thought struck Irvine. "Hey, Seff, let's put this away. We'll think about it later. There are more important things we need to take care of."

She looked up at him as he reached over and gently closed the folder. "Like what?"

"Well," he said gently, "our picnic celebration just became a goodbye party. Let's take care of that first. Mission second."

She looked at him, amazed, and laughed in spite of herself. "Mission second?" she asked, gently teasing. "Special Instructor Kinneas, I believe that's called improper attitude."

"You sound like Quistis," he said, standing up and stretching. "Where's my Selphie?"

She grinned and stood up from the table, tackling him, her arms going around his waist and her face burying itself in his shirt. "Jerk," she said affectionately.

Irvine hugged her back, not quite knowing how to take this unexpected development.

She sighed into the warm smell of his black shirt. "Thank goodness you're coming with me, Irvine," she said.

He looked down at her, gently teasing: "Unable to handle the mission yourself, Instructor Tilmitt?"

"Now who sounds like Quistis?" she murmured, looking up at him with a silly smile.

Irvine realized that if he was able to start every day like this - Selphie Tilmitt in his arms, looking up at him with that smile - the mission wouldn't be all that bad.

Then the back of his mind presented him with reality again.

Selphie could die.

He squeezed her and then released her, turning to gather his coffee and papers. "C'mon, Instructor, don't we have classes to teach?"

"They've all been canceled," she said oddly. "Last page of the report. They're sending someone else to take care of the sniper mission your students were training for. Zell's picking up my class."

"Poor kid's gonna have to do double duty," Irvine said.

Selphie smiled. "You didn't read that far? Cid stuck on a note. He wants to give us a two-day break before we have to leave."

Irvine shrugged. "Must've missed it," he said. "So what shall we do today?"

"I really want to have that party," Selphie said. "Let's make sure that everything's gonna work out. Especially if we're - leaving."

"Alright." Irvine grabbed his mug and hers and put them in the sink. "We'll go down and reserve the van - for real this time. Then we'll check in with the cafeteria people and make sure everything's ok."

Selphie was finally starting to cheer up - returning to her normal self, banning the fear and the anger. "Alright! And then we should check with everyone and see if they want to go tonight or tomorrow." She put a brave smile on. "So we have to go. We can enjoy things here until we go, right?"

Again, Irvine found himself admiring her resilience. "Of course, Seff. Now, c'mon, let's go ask Squall. I'll back you."

They went immediately to the third-floor office - Irvine wearing his suede pants and a black shirt, Selphie in jeans and a golden tank-tee - and were taken quite aback to see both Squall and Headmaster Cid.

"Uh, Squall," Irvine said after a hasty salute. "Can we talk to you for a second?"

Squall, obviously amused by their lack of uniform, stood up and smiled. "What can I do for you two?"

"Well," Selphie began, "you know we were planning on having an initiation party for the Instructors, right? Well, we, um, want to have it before Irvine and I have to ...leave." Her voice was hushed to keep from bothering Cid. "When are you and Rinoa free?" she whispered.

Squall smiled. "We could do it today," he said. "Tonight. Picnic for dinner and an evening on the beach. It'll be great."

Selphie squealed and then clapped her hands over her mouth. "Thanks," she whispered. "Let Rinoa know."

"She's here today on business," Squall said.

Irvine raised an eyebrow. "Business?"

Squall put a finger over his lips. "She's arguing for admission again," he said under his breath.

Selphie rolled her eyes. "They still won't let her?" she whispered loudly.

Squall sighed. "She's a sorceress," he muttered.

Cid threw them a curious look and Selphie and Irvine scattered, with a wave to Squall.

They headed down to the second floor, where they hung around impatiently in the hall until the morning classes were over.

They commandeered Zell as he came out of Selphie's old classroom, his shoulders drooped with mock exhaustion. "Good gracious, Selphie," he said, "you didn't tell me they were such terrors!"

Selphie giggled. "They're not terrors for me," she said sweetly.

Zell glared at her playfully. "You guys had better get done soon," he said. "I'm beat!"

"Hey, Zell," Irvine began, "we were thinking of getting everybody together tonight and having a little congratulations-slash-going-away party. You up?"

"YEAH!" Exhaustion forgotten, Zell punched the air playfully. "I've been waiting for that!" He boxed around them. "I'll call Ma right away and have her make us something delicious!"

Exhilarated, he bounced off down the hall.

"Excellent," Irvine said under his breath, and Selphie snickered.

"Hey," said a voice behind them, "aren't you guys supposed to be doing something important?"

"Look, Quistis," Irvine drawled, "we have a couple days off, you know."

She stood there, immaculate as usual in her SeeD uniform, primly carrying a stack of books and giving her two friends a genuine smile. "What did you do to Zell? He looks ...excited."

"We're having the party!" Selphie squealed, and then grabbed Quistis's arm. "Tonight. You have to come."

Quistis hastily rearranged her stack of papers before they spilled all over the floor. "Tonight? But I have to read all these essays..."

"Oh, come on, Q," Selphie insisted. "We're leaving and we have to have the party before we go! You can't miss it!"

"Besides," Irvine added, "you'll miss one of Ma Dincht's desserts."

The smile spread across Quistis's face. "Well, in that case," she said. "I'll be glad to attend."

"Woo-hoo!" Selphie jumped up and down. "We'll come get you at 4, then! Right after classes end!"

Quistis winced. "Then I should get back to work," she said apologetically, and headed for her office down the hall.

Selphie grinned and grabbed Irvine's hand. "Come on, let's go down to the caf and see what we can get for tonight!"

Irvine followed her in a whirl of excitement. Together they dashed through Garden as fast as they could run, skidding to a stop in the cafeteria where they implored the lunch ladies to make up a fancy picnic for "Commander Squall's banquet," as Selphie wickedly referred to it. The cafeteria workers were thrilled with the request and promised to make something delicious - and including hot dogs - to be ready at four-o'clock.

From there they nabbed the SeeD errand car and sped down to Balamb, where they regaled Ma Dincht with their plans before running to the general store and purchasing some fireworks - Irvine's idea, met with drastic squealing approval from Selphie. Irvine bought them both sandwiches in Balamb, which they devoured. Upon their return to Garden they put the van on reserve for the evening - the only automobile large enough to fit all six of them.

And by then the afternoon was almost through - and they were both exhausted.

"I'm going to go jump in the shower," Selphie said.

"Gross," Irvine said, "you haven't showered yet?"

She stuck out her tongue. "Yes I did," she said, and then laughed. "Frankly, I'm exhausted. I need a little pep-up."

"You need no pepping," Irvine said, feigning exhaustion. "You've worn me out."

She poked him. "You'd better not be tired now, Irvy! We are going to PAH-TAY!"

Irvine tried to keep a straight face, but couldn't quite manage. "Alright, I'll go take a nap or a shower or something."

They parted ways at the entrance to the dormitory. Selphie ran up to her room, her light footsteps echoing down the hall. She burst into her room like a whirlwind and then collapsed on her bed.

I'm so excited! She smiled at the ceiling. We're finally going to get to hang out, all of us. It'll be so awesome! Everyone's changed so much since the battling stopped and we haven't gotten a chance to hang out together.

Then she winced. But it's scary, too. I have to leave in two days for that mission. I hope everything goes well - I can't be nervous. I shouldn't be nervous about a silly mission. It doesn't even involve any combat!

She started to pull off her socks. I'm really glad that it's Irvine and I going. He was such a big help today. A strange thought crossed her mind as she balled her socks up and tossed them into her hamper. In fact, he's been a wonderful friend for the past week. She paused in thought. And I haven't seen him look at another girl - besides Quisty and Rinoa - in a long time. He's just been helping me - spending time with me - being there for me...

Then she shook her head, giggling to herself. Why does that matter? He's my friend. And we have a mission to do.

The thought of staying in such close quarters with Irvine was exciting in both good and bad ways. It would be really fun to be able to hang out. But 'engaged'? 'Newly-weds'?

I can't really do anything ...it'd be too awkward. I treasure him too much. Can't mess things up.

With a determined grunt, Selphie lifted herself from the bed and plunged into the shower.



Irvine, on the other hand, remained sprawled across his own bed, similar thoughts consuming his mind.

I can't tell her anything. I can't let on now. It will complicate things - jeopardize the mission. Stupid mission. The thought was childish and made him chuckle to himself. Stupid dumb mission. I sound like a five-year-old again.

He stretched. Selphie's boundless energy was impressive and difficult to take for someone who had always been laid-back and relaxed. He admired her stamina - there was nothing delicate about her at all. Rinoa was the delicate one, the 'princess'. Quistis was tough as nails. But Selphie? She was balanced in-between. Lively. She had spunk.

Spunk that had made Irvine Kinneas very tired.

If I'm this worn out now - what's it going to be like when we're living together?

The thought pleased him in a very odd way. If I didn't know better I'd call this mission contrived - a plot by Quisty, perhaps, to get us together.

But it wasn't, he was sure. There was a dangerous feeling in his gut that he could only call instinct. It wouldn't be all fun and games. His intuition didn't kick in very often, but when it did - it usually called the shots.

He stretched again, lazily, and then headed for the shower.





They all gathered in the front lobby of Balamb Garden a little after four; Zell was late, coming from the library with a tell-tale flush on his face. Selphie ushered everyone into the van, the food already hastily loaded. Irvine took the wheel; Selphie leapt at shot-gun. Zell and Quistis sat in the middle while Squall and Rinoa - of course - cuddled in the back.

They stopped in Balamb (as required by Zell) to see Ma Dincht, who passed them a covered tray with a wink. Irvine then sped off to the beach.

It was a beautiful day. Zell quickly started a game of volleyball - first just batting it around with Irvine, then Quistis joined, and soon they formed teams - Zell, Irvine, and Quistis against Squall, Rinoa, and Selphie. It wasn't a very fair game: Rinoa wasn't very good at volleyball, though she was quite amusing (and amused) by her mishaps; and Selphie was too busy throwing sand at Irvine. The uneven teams made for a short, uneventful game. But at least Rinoa was laughing at herself; Quistis got upset every time she missed the ball and proceeded to sulk until Zell tackled her and put sand in her shirt. Then she got really upset and threw Zell in the water. Everyone else collapsed in laughter; Selphie was in tears and her stomach hurt.

Zell squelched his way out of the ocean, fury written across his face. Even Quistis started to giggle - which was a mistake. Zell leapt at her; Quistis took off nimbly, the dripping martial-arts expert on her heels. They tore through the beach, Quistis laughing a panicked laugh, Zell growling.

Irvine and Selphie looked at each other and nodded; as the sprinting duo passed nearby they leapt up. Selphie tackled Quistis; Irvine threw himself at Zell. Surprise was on their side, and they managed to drag the protecting two over to the ocean's edge. But then Quistis, fighting fiercely, managed to topple both herself and Selphie into the cool water; Zell, seeing this bright idea, threw his strong arms around Irvine's waist and let himself fall, pulling the cowboy under.

The four of them surfaced, dripping wet with the brisk water, everyone laughing. Irvine playfully dunked Selphie; Quistis then dunked him in return.

Then - almost in unison - they decided Squall and Rinoa should join in the fun.

Six soaking wet bodies crawled out of the ocean much later. The air was cooling off quickly, so Rinoa and Zell headed out to get a fire started while Squall and Irvine hauled the food out of the van. Selphie and Quistis set themselves to spreading out the tarps Irvine had "borrowed" from the supply closet. They set up the baskets of food in the middle.

The cafeteria workers had overdone themselves - mounds of food were available for the picnic-cookout, including a stack of hot dogs that almost made Zell cry with glee. Cold-cut sandwiches, pasta salad, vegetables and dip. An entire cooler of sodas. All the necessary ingredients to make s'mores. And Zell's Ma had made the most amazing plate of cookies a SeeD could ever ask for.

Needless to say, they stuffed their faces.

Zell finally kicked back, the last one to stop eating. Quistis was lying on her back, looking up at the sky, which was painted with the sunset. Rinoa was trying to stuff Squall's mouth full of cookies; Squall was trying not to laugh at her.

Irvine glanced at Selphie; she was shrugging on her little denim coat against the chill. Breaking the silence, he said softly, "Thanks for coming out, guys."

Squall took the opportunity to tackle Rinoa and put her in a headlock. "Thanks for putting it together, you guys," he said, as Rinoa struggled.

Selphie grinned. "Well, it's the last time we'll be together for a while, so..."

"Where are you -mmmph - going?" Rinoa poked her head out long enough to spit out the sentence.

"Selphie and I have been assigned to a mission," Irvine said. "We're off to Deling City day after tomorrow. So this is a party both for congrats and for our going-away."

"We threw ourselves a going-away party!" Selphie exclaimed, suddenly amused. "Whoops!"

Quistis sighed. "And Zell and I get to pick up your slack while you're off in Deling, having a blast."

Zell tossed half of a cookie at her. "You didn't have to deal with Selphie's brats today!"

"They're not brats," Selphie retorted. "You just can't handle them like I can!"

Quistis rolled her eyes. "Fee, you're ridiculous."

"Hey," Irvine said, dramatically commanding the audience, "this is our last goodbye. We've spent so much time together, and all Selphie and I wanted to do before we left was relax with all of our closest friends."

Zell snickered. "You're so corny."

"You all mean so much to us," Irvine said over the hush, gesturing with melodramatic emphasis. "We'll miss you worse than anything."

"Full of crap," Quistis said to the night air.

"And so, in tribute to all of the memories we've shared..."

All eyes turned to him at the end of his 'dramatic' speech, expecting him to be serious.

"We got fireworks," he said simply, and whipped them out from under the blanket.

"Ooooh!" Rinoa squealed. "I love fireworks!"

"Just like ..." Quistis whispered.

"Hey!" Zell yelled. "It's like that memory - the first one we all had together. Fireworks on the beach!"

Selphie grinned at him. "That's the point, doofus!"

Zell stuck his hands on his hips in a childish imitation. "I'm gonna tell on yooo!" he whined.

Selphie clapped her hands to her mouth, giggling. "You sound exactly like you did when you were a little kid!" she said, and Zell laughed.

"So do you, giggle-face," he said, and wagged his tongue at her.

Selphie clapped her hands. "Fireworks for the orphanage gang!"

A soft sigh reached Irvine's ears over the din - Rinoa.

He turned to her and said softly: "We wanted to include you in this memory, Rinoa."

She smiled at him, her eyes filling with tears. "Thanks," she said softly. Squall reached out and took her hand subtly; he threw Irvine an appreciative glance.

"You all wait here," Irvine said, and stood up with the box in hand. "I'm going to set them off from that spot over there."

He had been eyeing the place since they had arrived that afternoon; there was a little ledge, perfect for launching the fireworks, and a stone against which to prop them. He knelt down, arranging the launching device they had picked up, and then struggled to wrestle the box open.

Soft footsteps behind him made him turn. "I thought you'd want help," Selphie said as she knelt down across from him, grabbing the lid and pulling. "Besides," she said casually, "you shouldn't have to be alone."

Irvine couldn't have been happier.

Between the two of them they got the top off, revealing the colorless paper-wrapped stalks. Irvine smiled at Selphie over the box: "You pick."

She grinned and chose one, delicately handing it to him. Irvine pulled a lighter from his pocket; he propped the firework inside the launcher and lit the end. Laughing, he ran from it, pulling Selphie to duck behind a nearby tree stump.

Boom! The firework shot out from the holder and burst across the ocean in a flare of golden sparkles. A light chorus of appreciation drifted over the sand, followed by Zell's clearly audible "Oh, YEAH!"

Selphie and Irvine looked at each other, grinned, and dove for the box.

They set them off in packs of twos and threes - brilliant, twinkling radiance in rainbow colors, lighting over the ocean like stars. Ones that twirled, ones that whistled, some that just exploded. Fire-red, sky-blue, green and violet, silver and rose-gold, twisting together in that last illumination. It was the most beautiful thing they could have done that evening. Every time a particularly bright one went off, Selphie cooed in awe and squeezed Irvine's hand.

The nearness of her - the absolute darkness - the brilliance and beauty - it was driving the cowboy mad.

Only about a dozen remained. "Hold on," Irvine called out over the sand. He grabbed them by the handful and went out on the ledge, arranging them in tandem, leaning them against rocks and sticks when he ran out of holders, precariously lacing their wicks together.

"What are you doing?" Quistis called.

"You'll see," he said with a smirk.

Finally they were arranged as he wanted; he set the first one off and hurried back to duck behind the stump with Selphie.

"What did you do?" she whispered up at him.

"Just watch." He gently turned her to the ocean, his hands lingering on her shoulders.

The first firework flew into the air; the second one hissed in response. As the light from the first one died, the second one followed out over the ocean, sparking the wick for the third one. They went off like a chain reaction - an endless furious onslaught of light and color, reflecting off of the ocean, mixing into pools of glorious iridescence.

Selphie sighed and leaned backwards, resting her head on Irvine's shoulder; impulsively his arms went around her, holding her tight. A burst of green, a splash of silver. He rested his cheek against her hair, not wanting the night to end, not wanting to have to leave on this dangerous awkward mission. A fiery burst of red, screaming spirals as it died. He sighed.

"Vin?" Selphie whispered, hearing his sigh. She turned in his arms to gaze up at him. A burst of golden splendor lit her face, her eyes full of concern.

He wanted to say, you're missing the fireworks, but something in her face stopped him - the words caught in his throat -

Then something lit up in her eyes, and to Irvine's surprise - she leaned forward and kissed him.

Her lips touched his softly, a sweet, gentle caress; shocked, he kissed her back without thinking, eyes closing, his entire being forgetting about the glory of the fireworks for the simple wonder of Selphie in his arms...

Raucous cheering brought him back to reality.

A flush crept over his cheeks at the thought that they had been discovered, but it was only Zell and Rinoa and Quistis celebrating the finale of the fireworks. He looked down at Selphie, wide eyed, concerned and scared and exhilarated all at once. Irvine didn't have any idea what to do next.

And then Zell dove over the ridge, tackling Irvine into the ground. "Duuuuude!" he exclaimed, clapping the cowboy on the shoulder. "That was so AWESOME!"

Quistis appeared behind him, clapping. "Excellent."

And Rinoa ran up behind her, throwing her arms around Selphie and then Irvine, gushing, "It was so beautiful!"

Even Squall praised them: "Not bad, Kinneas."

"Fireworks," Rinoa sighed, "we should do this more often."

Fireworks? You have no idea.

Through the commotion his eyes landed on Selphie's; hers were full of a secret smile and a multitude of questions. But no other opportunity presented itself. They gathered their things, packed up the van, and drove back to Garden. Selphie called a cheerful goodbye as she headed to her dorm room, arm in arm with Quistis. Squall surreptitiously escaped off to his own dorm room with Rinoa. Zell walked with Irvine, chatting until he found his own door and vanished.

Irvine shut the door behind him, not bothering with the light. He sank into his bed with a groan, knowing he wouldn't sleep.