Chapter, 45 I think. Cripes I swear this fic has taken away my life. ::pokes it:: And it's not even going strong and I sit here writing it. Sheesh I'm one heck of a push over.

Disclaimer I don't own FF8, my mind is not that creative anyway.

Warning: This story may cause damage to your brain.




Edea and Seifer exit out of the east side of Esthar. It was empty and only monsters darted here and there. More opt to go on with there day then bother with two people more powerful than them. It was a cold, winter day, and nothing wanted to move, much less be outside for long. The sky, filled with heavy clouds, shown promise of snow. Edea looks around and tries to catch a glimpse of either Squall or Alana. It was Alana's style, Edea noted, to pop up when one least expected.

"Right again mother." Alana pops up confirming the case in point. "But you already think you have me down when you know nothing about me. It's a shame mother what you don't know about me."

Edea and Seifer look towards Alana. She stood with a grin on her face, Squall stood rigid beside her. Ready for a fight, and longing to draw first blood. Still he stood obediently at her side. Not moving and not showing any signs of caring.

"Alana, enough with your games, this is your last chance." Edea says with authority.

Alana nods to Squall. "No mother, it's time you see who rules around here."

Squall takes a step forward.

"You will learn your place." Alana hisses.

Seifer releases his gunblade and steps towards Squall, ignoring Edea's hesitance to a fight. Both knew it was inevitable and both could see it coming from a mile away. Better get it over with before the people of Esthar get hurt.

"No, my daughter, you will learn your place, Seifer."

Seifer nods, finally getting the order to go.

"Squall finally today I will end your life." Seifer says lifting his gunblade confidently.

Squall grins slightly and meets Seifer's stance with one of his own. One the real Squall Leonhart took time and time again, that assured his many victories. Both men look at each other. It seemed like there lives still revolved around the idea of one more rematch. A little from Seifer and both launch at each other.

As Squall and Seifer's blades clash, the wind blows hard, and a heavy snow breaks from the heavens. Edea covers her eyes only for a moment. The snow didn't halt the knights one bit. One clash low, two clashes up high. Both seemed to fight like they did as kids. They were just getting warmed up though. Seifer and Squall fall back to their own spaces. Staring at each other wondering how time changed each of them.

Seifer smiles like a giddy child and castes fire spell on Squall. Things didn't go as planned. Unlike before, Squall was not blinded, and Seifer found for perfect diagonal marks running up his chest. As Seifer clutches his chest, blood running through his fingers, Squall stared at his fingernails memorized; Only a second though. With first blood drawen, the fun was just about to begin.

Squall launches at Seifer. Barely having enough time to raise his blade in self defense, Seifer's body rattles with the force of Squall's blow. Seifer nearly trips over his own to feet as he backs up. Knowing his victory was close at hand Seifer launches at Squall with a rabid vengeance. Starting a deadly dance of skill.

Edea looks poker faced at Alana. "Knock off this foolishness, and come home."

"You can see your losing, can't you mother?" Alana looks at Edea unaffected by her mothers words. "Come now, why would I give up now? I'm winning."

Edea draws her eyes away from Alana. //Knight win for me.//

Seifer glances at Edea and nods. He launches at Squall with renewed vigor, pushing away all Squall's strikes and takes a swipe at Squall's arm. Squall flinched as blood ran down his arm.

Snow whips around blinding temporarily, neither could see so both struck blindly at each other. Seifer taking a heavy wound to his leg, and Squall taking a hit to his stomach. Both backed off and searched for each other in the blinding snow, eventually the gave up and starting a game of blind of battle. Were the next strike would come from neither knew.

The snow blew ferociously. It was as if mother nature didn't want the two to fight. Prohibiting the two knights from finishing off each other. It was like the planet was alive and watching. Edea focus's her power trying to see Alana.

"Mother, remember what you did to my knight one time." Alana says through the snow. "Wonder how your knight will respond to it."

Edea caught a glimpse of her daughter, her hand back forming a chuck of ice. How could she? There was no way of telling who was were in this snow. She could hit any of the two men. Edea wipes the snow out of her face and takes a few steps forward.

"Alana no! There's no way of knowing who you'll hit!"

It was to late, the ice was out of her daughters hands and flying blindly at the men. Edea's mouth opened to scream but none came now. The knights lives were now up to fate. She could do no more for them.

Seifer clashes blades with Squall again and they switched sides. Squall's back was now to his sorcerous, and Seifer to his. Both breathed heavily, but it was clear after all this time Squall had more of his energy left. Seifer had gained to much wounds. Squinting through the snow he sees a hint of blue coming at Squall. His heart jumps, he knew it was danger.

"Squall watch out!"

Squall froze startled, why was his enemy telling him to watch out. Seifer grabs Squall, and spins them around. Putting up his hand Squall freezes Seifer in place. He didn't get his enemy's move. Seifer couldn't get why he couldn't breathe and couldn't move. As far as he knew Squall didn't caste anything. Squall's eyes narrow and squeeze Seifer's mind.

Suddenly the chunk of ice pierces Seifer's back and out the front, tearing his lung to pieces. Looking into Seifer's wide open eyes, he was startled that what he knew as his enemy, and this body knew as an enemy risked his life to save his. That's what Seifer's actions were all about!

"Seifer?"

Seifer falls forwards pushing Squall to step back. Blood splatters over the accumulated snow, as he hits the ground. A pain pings through Squall's shoulder and he feels the blood were the ice mildly pierced his shoulder. Mingling Almsy and Leonhart blood. Squall staggers back this couldn't be? This had to be a deception.

The snow dies down and calms to a slow steady snow. Edea looks horrified as she notices Seifer on the ground face first, blood all around him. Squall looked lost confused and it looked as he was about to break.

"Seifer stop playing!" Squall screamed and slammed his blade down near Seifer's head.

More blood flowed from a cut on Seifer's head were Squall's gunblade grazed it, and he still didn't move. Edea rushes forward to Seifer.

"Stop it!" Edea calls out using her powers to push away Squall.

Alana's eyes narrow, and suddenly strange noises escape Seifer's throat, and more bone popping noises are herd.

"I wouldn't do it mother, you've lost admit it." Alana orders.

"Enough Alana." Edea castes down her eyes. "We have lost."

Alana smiles, then laughs. She always wanted to hear that and now she did. Such a sweet sound it was. As tempting as it was to have her mother repeat the words again she knew that she must be getting back. She had things to do now that her mother knew her place. triumphantly Alana looks at Squall.

"Come puppet."

Squall sat on the snow staring at Seifer. No one moved to save him, he was as good as dead there on the snow. He saved his life, and no one cared to save his. Something pressed on his heart, guilt, and guilt he knew his humanity was coming back.

"Listen to me!" Alana says harshly.

Squall blinks and looks at Alana confused. He pulls himself to his feet and staggers towards her. Something still drew him to her, for now he'd go with her, but why did this enemy save his life? Alana grabs his arm and pulls him to her, leaving permanent fingernail marks on his arm. One last glare at Edea and she was gone.

"Seifer!"

Edea leaves her cool and runs to him. His body cold, and still by the time she arrives.

****

The train swayed back and forth, and the clanking of the wheels filled the chamber. It seemed to tease the fact that there was a loss. A loss not easily taken considering it was the good side that taken a fall. It was shameful feeling being in the train right now, headed home without good news.

Seifer groans and opens his eyes, he was dizzy and his body screamed with pain. It didn't help that he was rocking back and forth. He felt a hand brush back his hair gently, moving carefully he looks up into the eyes of Edea.

"Go back to sleep, we've got awhile till we get to the Garden."

Garden? Seifer didn't care, he closed his eyes and welcomed back unconsciousness.

****

Seifer and Edea walked into the Garden together. Edea wished though that Seifer would accept some help, he was still weak and tired from his injuries. But she was to tired to fight him cause she to was tired from the immense job of bring him back.

"I'll be by my son." Seifer says to Edea, ignoring the looks he received.

"Okay, and please, try to get some sleep."

Seifer groaned and grabs his chest, making his way painfully to the infirmary. Irvine walking by him, Irvine almost tripping over a plant cause he was so concentrated on Seifer. Talk about dead man walking, Irvine couldn't figure out why Seifer still was walking.

"What happened?" Irvine asks Edea.

"What does it look like." Edea sighs. "He got his ass kicked, by Squall no less."

"Squall?" Irvine nearly jumps.

"Yes, I fear things are just going to get worse." Edea shakes her head. "What we need is a miracle."

"Sorry, we don't have any."

"How long have we been gone?"

"Four and a half days." Irvine answers. "Ellone was just about ready to go out and chase you."

"Edea! Squall!" Ellone runs up to them. "It's Squall, we have to find him, I sense something, and he's in danger. I know you probably don't belive me but you must listen, please!"

Edea and Irvine look at her like she was nuts, but both knew better then to doubt Ellone. She was rarely ever wrong. In matter of fact, neither of them knew of one time when she was proven wrong.

***

I need a hug.