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

Note: …. - _ - sob

Chapter 7: Renaissance

     Rinoa ran to the beach, her blue sweater flowing behind her. The rubber band fell from her hair, and the black mass whipped behind her.

Rinoa: Oh, gods of earth. What did you do, Squall?!

     She ripped the gunblade from his still warm hand, and cried. Her knees gave way, and she fell onto the wet sand.

Squall: What the- … What do you think you're doing?! (takes his gunblade back, and sheaths it)

Rinoa: You…you cut your hair!

Squall (picking up his coffee cup from the sand): Yeah, so?

Rinoa: I liked it long, and… you cut it!

Squall: Well, I liked you not being a whore, so call it even.

Rinoa: Really (hugs Squall around the neck)! You forgive me?!

Squall: I didn't say that… …

Rinoa: I love you, Squall.

Squall: I know.

Rinoa: Oh, yeah. Edea is cooking breakfast, so we should go in.

Squall (nods): …

     The cute couple walked into the house together, her arm in his. His cut hair floated into the ocean from the breeze. Peace could be felt for a moment, but not any longer.

     Edea, and Cid were already eating at the table when Rinoa, & Squall came in. Rinoa fixed herself a rather large plate, while Squall got barely anything. Cid tried to make conversation numerous times, but the eerie silence always stopped it before it went very far.

     Squall pushed the food around his plate with the fork, eating a bite now, and then. He had a lot on his mind, and eating wasn't his priority. Rinoa ate hungrily her food, occasionally drinking her green tea. Cid ate, but was too pleased with himself to eat a lot. He polished off his plate, and sat in the wonder of himself, and his luck. A grin was on his face, and he looked quite odd.

     Edea ate slowly, but every bite was a chore. She pondered of it was worth eating. After all it was helping her live another dreadful day. Grim thoughts filled her troubled mind. She wondered if life was worth living, if there was anyone she could trust, if anyone would miss her, and other morbid questions.

     Then they returned. Selphie ran out of nowhere, and hugged Squall around the neck. He almost choked on the food he was actually eating, and gasped in shock, horror, and out of breath. Selphie went to the end of the table, and was beaming with energy.

Selphie: We did it!

Squall (sprays out a mouthful of coffee in shock): ….!

Selphie: Everything's ready to go! Irvy, and I found the perfect place to…

Squall: Oh, crap.

Selphie: …place the Garden. Also, Quisty managed to get the other gardens to help us!

Squall: Whew

Selphie: Everyone's waiting in the Ragnarok.

Irvine (Enters): Well, not everyone.

Selphie: Irvy! I told you I'd get them. Just let…

Irvine: Food! Selphie was so excited that we finished our missions that she rushed us all over here before we had a chance to eat breakfast. May I?

Edea: Yes, dear. Help yourself.

Cid: There's enough for a whole Garden.

Edea: Not quite. Zell can eat a lot alone.

Zell (enters): Talkin' about me? FOOD! SAUSAGE! The cousin to the hot dog!

Squall: Shit. Here he goes again.

Zell (on the ground begging for food): Please, Matron! I am starving! Selphie wouldn't let us eat before we came!

Irvine: She knows (scarfs some more food).

Edea (chuckles): Yes, Zell. Help yourself.

Zell: Whoo-hoo! Chow time! (grabs a plate, and stacks on the sausage). Oh, yeah, Quistis is still in the plane.

Edea: I'll go get her.

Selphie (mouh full of food): Dwat woot beh a twood idebeer.

Quistis (enters): What is taking you so long? Oh, well I see.

Edea: Help yourself.

Quistis (one step ahead): Thank you, Matron.

     Everyone ate happily, except for Squall. He had snuck out the back door when no one was looking. He sat on the cold concrete where he had stood so many years ago as a young boy crying to his "Sis." He longed to hear her words again. To hear here act like the big sister Quistis tried so hard to be. He needed someone to talk to, someone to listen, and help him. Instead he had a roomful of people that mostly did care about him, but not the way he needed. Not the way he wanted. He longed for a guiding force in his life, and found none.

     He decided to figure things out for himself. He was usually good at that. After all he was stamped "the lone wolf" type. He slammed his fist against the broken pillar, and shook off the pain. Then he finally got it. He would begin a new life. A life where he did what he pleased, and didn't give a damn what other people thought. He had become too soft over time, or so he thought. He would become a new person. He would be reborn.

Note: Look up the definition of Renaissance. The chapter makes sense. Did you really think I'd kill Squall off so soon??? Not yet anyways…. Sorry for those of you who want me to hurry up, and get to the gruesome parts. I like to set the stage before I totally annihilate anyone. Tee hee. Patience is a virtue, and slamming your fist against a wall hurts. Oh, yeah, I know I am totally butchering Rinoa's personality, but it's more fun to write this way. (like Ellone as a child) Tooo baaaad! Tee hee.