Chapter Two:

The morning sun peeped into the room whenever the little white curtains would allow it. A cool summer breeze toyed with the lightweight curtains making them dance with delight. Through the open window the birds twittered and chirped joyfully, enjoying the warmth.

The P.A played its regular jingle and announced: "Yo, Squall!" The voice from above Squall's bed crackled. The young mercenary looked up at the small box that sat on the pale coloured walls of his dorm room. His hair fell away from his forehead as he moved.

What now...? Squall thought as he rubbed the back of his neck, still sleepy from his nap.

"Get down to the cafeteria." Zell's voice died out and the P.A pinged as the transmission ended. Squall rolled over to the side of his bed and sat up.

Many of the students were already up and preparing for their written tests. Squall walked down the corridor ignoring the other SeeD cadets walking into to the 'Monsters Den' as he continued on his way to the cafeteria.

Squall stepped aside as two stretchers were carried to the infirmary, he continued down the short hallway that lead to the café. His gaze followed the pools of blood on the blue chequered floor, to the bloody streaks on the walls. He returned his attention to the immediate situation. Squall's grey-blue eyes scanned the room quickly for Zell. He found him standing next to Dr. Kadowaki.

"Yo, Squall!" Zell walked up to him, "Seifer's-" Squall brushed past the blonde haired martial artist and made his way over to Seifer. Zell sighed and followed.

Seifer sat in a chair, his coat ripped and his gunblade covered in blood. Dr. Kadowaki had awoken the sleeping man before Squall had walked in. One gloved hand supported his heavy head as he stared at the bloody ground in front of him.

"Seifer..." Squall started as he stood beside his rival. Seifer looked up, scowling only slightly then returned his gaze to the floor. "What happened here?" Squall asked, hoping for an answer.

"Do I look like I know?"

"You ought to." was the cold, emotionless reply.

"Well, I don't." Seifer's voice was scratchy, like it hurt him to utter a single syllable.

Squall said nothing and turned away. Taking a few steps forwards he called over to Zell.

The kitchen staff hurried about with mops after the doctor had taken samples of the blood. Their mops swiping at the blood stained tiles leaving a trail of fluffy bubbles. Zell dodged them.

"Who were those people on the stretchers?" Squall asked as Zell stood at his side. The room smelt like disinfectant.

"I was tryin' to tell you before. Seifer kicked Raijin and Fujin's ass!"

"And he doesn't remember anything?"

"Not a thing, the doc said he had like mild amnesia or something."

Squall rubbed his face, still weary from his sleep. "We got to send him somewhere. I dunno where, anywhere but Garden. It's too risky to keep him here..." Zell nodded. If Seifer didn't recall what he did, he might do it again.

The P.A crackled and Zell looked at the small box in the ceiling. Squall watched in silence as Dr. Kadowaki aided the shocked Seifer to his feet.

"Squall Leonhart; please report to the Headmasters Office." The static transmission ended in silence. Zell turned his head away from the ceiling and was about to say something to Squall, but; he was walking through the cafeteria doors.

***

Squall pressed a small button on the wall; he waited patiently for the lift to come. He listened to the trickling water that ran around the platform where he was standing. The lift arrived with a 'swoosh-ping' sound and the doors slid open effortlessly, he stepped inside.

The young commander leaned back against the turtle-shell patterned wall of the lift; he closed his eyes as the two metal doors in front of him closed, leaving a girl huffing and puffing - late for her private study lesson.

Every one needs me today. What time is it anyway? Squall's thoughts drifted away from the previous turn of events. The doors sliding open disturbed his thinking and he made his way into the Headmaster's office.

A very tall, large man came into view; he stood with his back to the large window at the back of the room. He wore a blue bandanna on his head. Squall looked towards Headmaster Cid who was standing next to the president of Esthar. The president stood, but then sat down again, thinking better of it.

Headmaster Cid smiled. "Squall, Mr Lore has requested our help. He'll fill you in on what's happened." Squall took a seat and rested his arms on his knees like he usually did. Laguna glanced back at Ward, and then decided to speak.

"Three days ago, I was kicked out of Esthar City."