Disclaimer: I do not own FF VIII, or any of the related characters.

Note: Hello! I am bored, so, yeah. I am going to change my storyline around a bit. Review! Review! I want reviews! Even if you don't type anything, just show me that you read it. Please?! Oh, yeah, I was wrong about you meeting my character yet. I'll reveal me soon enough, but not yet. Tee hee. Also, I am trying to use italics again. I will eventually figure it out!

Chapter 6: To be, Or Not to Be.

      Squall awoke the next, morning, the towel still around his chiseled waist. He grabbed his pants, and wife beater shirt. He dressed slowly, wasting time so that he doesn't have to see people so soon. He grabbed a brush, and rubber band, and pulled up his shoulder length hair.

     He had grown it out for Rinoa, and now debated whether, or not to cut it again. The hair whisked the back of his smooth neck as he left to go outside. The rain had stopped, but the clouds remained on the horizon. His coat hung on a chair in the kitchen, alone in its forlorn state of neglect. He grabbed it, and put it on. The coffee pot groaned from its occupation, and soon Squall filled a mug with the black liquid.

     He walked outside, and at first the sunlight hurt his blue eyes. He moved his arm to block it, and loose hair covered part of his face. His eyes adjusted, and he slicked back the hair to its proper place. He held the cup with one hand, and put the other in his leather pants pocket. He aimlessly wandered to the shore again, and sat on a damp piece of driftwood. The coldness gave him a chill, but he ignored it. His mind was on bigger things.

     Rinoa haunted his mind. The mind that so often pushed people away now couldn't think of a life without her. He thought about whether, or not to give her a fourth chance; whether, or not she really loved him; whether, or not she was worth the risks he would be taking.

     In his contemplation he wandered to the spot where he saw the girl the night before. He was quite shocked that he had gotten there unintentionally, and slightly blushed at his absent-mindedness. He looked at the rock once more, and found nothing.

     A voice so familiar, and yet unrecognizable flooded his ears. It sang, and seemed to trap him in its melody. He looked to the part of the beach closer to the house, and the girl walked to him. He was like statue, but didn't know why. His mind raced as to why he couldn't move. But he couldn't think on it long, because she came to him.

     Her slender hand removed the stray hair from his face. She whispered something to him in a foreign language. The shell in his pocket felt warm. She drew it out, and moved his arm to hold it. The ruins on the back of it glowed a bright blue. The woman smiled, and walked away, into the waves. After she vanished into the water, he regained his movement. He figured that she must have used "paralyze," or "stop" on him.

     He sat on a nearby rock, looking at the now dormant shell. He was confused.

Squall: No one can make a shell glow. It's impossible. Am I losing my mind? Does that girl exist? Or is she a figment of my imagination? She can't be real. People die when they stay underwater for too long. Also girls just don't walk out of nowhere, and put their hands in other guys' pockets. It's weird…I'm weird? I' m the one that is hallucinating her after all…. But…the shell…it's in my hand…. How is this possible?

     The sunlight filled the room that Rinoa was staying in. She awoke, stretched, and yawned as always. Some things never change. She smelled the food that Edea was cooking. The smell of bacon filled her nostrils, and dressed quickly for breakfast. She pulled her hair up into a loose ponytail, and jogged down the hall, and into the kitchen.

     The bacon crackled, and spurted the hot grease in the pan. Edea would occasionally back away so that she wouldn't get burned. Cid was still asleep, and his snores could be heard even from the kitchen. Rinoa sat down at the table, and placed her head on her crossed arms. Edea took no head of her, and continued with her duty. A few moments later Edea placed the now fully cooked bacon on the table along with eggs, toast, and other usual breakfast foods.

     Rinoa lifted her head, and yawned once more, breathing in the aroma. Cid wandered into the room, and kissed Edea on the cheek as she cooked some sausage. He grabbed a mug, and poured coffee into it. The now fat man sat down at the table opposite his call girl.

Cid: It's been awhile since we've had coffee. You usually make tea, Dear.

Edea: I didn't make it, Darling.

Cid: Oh… Then who did?

Edea: Squall probably. Have you seen him today? He isn't in his room.

Cid: Why were you in his room?

Edea (wanting to scream): Not for the same reason you were in Rinoa's! I looked for him this morning. I couldn't reach the tea, and I didn't want to wake you.

Cid (smiling): Okay.

Rinoa (blushing): Um, I'll go look for him (leaves).

Edea: What was that all about?

Cid: I do not know.

Edea: Eat up. It'll get cold.

Cid: Just like your shoulder.

     Squall sat on the rock still, but he had let his hair down. The wind blew it around slightly, and he closed his eyes for a moment to take in the moment. The sun was shining, and the birds even began to sing. It was a beautiful morning, and he actually was enjoying it. He refused to let his troubled mind plaque him right now.

     He drew his gunblade to his neck. The polished metal shone in the sunlight. He gripped the handle tightly, unsure if he should go through with it. He hesitated, and did the act.