Break Into the Lion

Chapter 1: Beginning of the End

I woke up at 6:00 sharp without any alarms. But not like I normally do. I woke sweating, with a sharp pain in my chest. I had no control. My back arched, and I screamed. Louder than any before. Louder than I thought possible. After a few minutes, I collapsed. My heart felt like it had been shattered into billons of tiny pieces, then pissed on. Then, all I remember is hitting the ground.

I woke up again, at 7:30, with the aid of my clock radio. On the ground. I found a puddle of a warm, crimson liquid that I found to be my own blood underneath me. My scar was..... bleeding? I didn't understand what was going on. This had never happened before. I went to the bathroom and cleaned myself up, then had a shower and got dressed. I was late. I decided to go see Dr. Kadowaki later.

After getting lectured by Cid, I sat down in my office. I feel like I'd forgotten something. I checked my papers, and it didn't seem like anything was wrong. I looked over my desk for something out of place, anything to figure out what was forgotten. Then it struck me, as I saw a picture of Rinoa. It's March 4. Shit, I was in for it.

BOOM. The door to my office was now scattered over the room it was protecting. So it begins......

"Oh, I'm sorry Commander. I forgot there was a door there. I casted Firaga at your head, and I forgot there was a door there. Just like you forgot my birthday. And the date in Balamb. And the night at the hotel. What's your excuse this time, dumbfuck?!?"

"....."

"Oh, that's right. You're the cold-hearted silent guy everyone looks up to as their leader. Well guess what! You're fucked now!"

"I'm so sorry....."

"No you're not! If you were sorry, you would've done something to solve this by now! Well, 'Commander', start thinking up a battle plan, cause you'll need one if you don't have a good excuse!"

"I don't have one. I was caught up in work."

"Wrong! We need to talk, once I've calmed down. Meet me in the Quad at noon."

".....fine."

"Is that all you're going to say?!?! Damnit, Squall, I thought you were better than this!" Saying no more, she stormed out.

I do mean it. I'm truly sorry. A single tear rolled down my face. I held back anything more. I knew it was the beginning of the end.

I went for lunch early, seeing as how I was screwed and I needed to get a few drinks for afterwards. I would stash them in my room, cause I'd need all the sanity in me to get out of this. And all the alcohol I could get if I didn't make it out alive.

11:55, and I started towards the Quad, thinking of every possible thing I could say to help. I couldn't think up much, though, cause I was bad at these things. I walked in on time, and there she was, standing on the balcony. Her hair was blowing in the wind, and the scene would've looked peaceful, but you could feel the tension and anger in the air.

She must've heard me coming. She didn't turn around, but muttered something about being on time and finally having done something right.

"Hey." I said nervously.

"Squall..... I'm sorry for blowing up like that, but I had a right to be pissed. I mean, this isn't the first time this has happened, but I feel like this has been the worst." She said, rather quietly, to my discomfort.

And she was right. This wasn't the first time this has happened. This was the third. And I haven't had a good excuse for any of them. I'm just new to all of this, and I'm not used to any of it.

"I know, but I....." I stumbled for the right words to say, having thought of none on the way here. I can tell her what I'm feeling, right? Right??? "I'm just...... not... used to it... Y'know? It's all so new.... I......" I sighed exasperatedly.

"That's enough. Squall, I love you...... but... I just...... I don't think it's gonna work out. I'm sorry Squall." She kissed me quickly one final time and turned on a heel and left.

"Rinoa..." I whispered her name...... and it was over. Our relationship was over. But I knew that my pain was far from it.

I couldn't keep it in any longer. I felt hot liquid run down my cheek, as I sat down leaning against the wall. I wouldn't bawl, I didn't have it in me. But I cried silently, with my head in my arms.

`Commander Leonhart to the Headmaster's Office. Commander Leonhart, Headmaster's Office.' Boomed over the intercom.

I don't know how long I cried, probably for a few hours. Neither did I know how many people saw me. Then again, I didn't care. The one thing I had been dreading, why I had kept everything inside, had happened. I got close to someone, and they left. Just like Sis. Just like Laguna.

I ignored the intercom. If I was really needed, they would look for me. But, I did get up. Not to see Cid, but to wash up. I headed towards my dorm.

Many people stared as I walked towards the dormitories. I kept my head low, trying not to make eye contact with anyone, but they still stared. Hell I would to, if I saw my superior walking towards his room crying silently. But it still annoyed me.

Just my luck, who did I bump into none other than - Seifer. He had been reinstated his position as a SeeD Candidate after a few months in rehab. He was also the head of the Disciplinary Committee, just as he was before.

"Watch it! Oh, hello, Commander Puberty. Pleasant weather, isn't it?" He said sarcastically. Rajin and Fuujin laughed stupidly.

"You watch it what you're saying, you forget that I have authority now, Cadet."

"Ooh, Commandy Poobity has a bwig mout!" He taunted in a childish voice. His cronies laughed yet again.

"How about you go see the Headmaster right now, and bring this note with you." I said, while scribbling down a memo about his behavior. "Now."

He started mumbling swears under his breath, and quickly snatched the note out of my hand, and started towards Cid's office.

I continued my way towards my dorm, when I heard Seifer scream, "The wuss of a Commander's been crying!"

That was it. I snapped. I cast Aura on myself and Protect on him, so I wouldn't kill him, just hurt him severely. He turned around just in time to see me coming. Lionheart in hand, I charged at him and did a most- impressive Lionheart Limit Break on him. Adrenaline was surging through every vein in my body, between every muscle in my arms. Every cut was more powerful than the last. After he finally hit the ground, I stood there and screamed, "You two gonna pull that shit on me too?!?!" And they ran. Then, after realizing that my actions would probably cost me my job, I ran all out towards my dorm.

I washed up, put on a different shirt, since mine was damp with tears, and put my gunblade away. I decided to take a nap.

No more than two minutes after I fell asleep, I awoke with a strained look on my face. Two Garden Faculty members, accompanied by Cid had burst into the room.

"Commander Squall Leonhart, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Seifer Almasy and for High Treason Class One. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a Court of Law. You have the right to an Attorney. If you do not have one or lack the funding to get one, Balamb Garden will supply one for you." Cid said quietly, trembling as the Faculty members picked me up and handcuffed me. I didn't resist.

"Cid..."

"Quiet Squall, this is hard enough as it is."