Love Aftermath

By Misaki Sakura

Chapter Three

/Squall's POV/

I look at my reflection in the mirror. Not satisfied but know nothing to do, I run my hand through my unruly hair. Today is the exam, the final exam then I'll graduate and become a SeeD. I can do missions and be far away from Seifer as I used to want. Used to … ?

What does Seifer mean to me? Nothing, that I can reply quickly in my head. But somehow I can feel something is being torn inside me whenever I remember that scene in the classroom. I am not got jealous over Rinoa … so am I got jealous over Seifer?!

Since that incident in the Training Center, I find myself thinking of him anytime I have the chance. Hell, I even tried to help him with his essay! My attention for him has turned into affection and there's more emotion that I can't handle anymore.

How am I supposed to live with this fact?! He'll laugh at me for sure. After all, this is a joke, a joke that he thinks is funny to be played on me and I hate him for that … for giving me hope … I really need to go to Dr. Kadowaki after this. Maybe something is messing in my mind to make me think of these things.

I hear the announcement just when I step out of my bedroom. All cadets who join the exam today please report to the Front Gate. I repeat, all cadets …

Nida shows up in his cadet uniform, our uniform for the exam, when I am rechecking my equipment. "Guess this is it."

I nod.

"Are you ready, Squall?"

I nod once again. "Let's go."

When I arrive there with Nida, none of my team has come. Squads A, B and C have reported in and are on their way to the Winhill. Winhill … my mother's hometown and she spends his life there since she was a kid before moving out to Esthar with my father. That's what she told me … when we have this parents-son's talk.

I am too busy with my thought that I don't hear Quistis' calls. Until she gives me a tap in the shoulder that I spin around to face her. Smiling, probably amused to see me nearly jump at her tap, she turns back to her instructor-mode.

"Alright everyone." She looks past my head. So they're here. I can see the glimpse of Irvine's hat and the padding of two footsteps behind me but I don't make any move to turn around.

She clears her throat. "I see you're all here. I'm your instructor in this exam. I want you all to behave and stick to the orders, okay?" once again she calls for the ones behind me. "Oh, and Seifer, you're the leader for Squad D so make sure you take good care of your team."

What?! This time I snap my head and look past my shoulder. There he is, smirking at me, maybe thinking that this is funny, but I see he's not surprised. Why of all people he has to be the leader?! And why of all the bad lucks, I have to be in this team?!

I see him smirks at me once more before leading us out. I sigh. This is going to be a very long day.

"Do you have any questions?"

Xu was filling us with our task. There's an increasing amount of monsters near Winhill lately so when my father (she doesn't say it but I know he has something to do with this since we're being transported with Ragnarok) asked the Garden for help, they send us to finish our exam there. Sweet.

The increasing of monsters … there must've been a source for this kind of problem. The increasing of power the supplies their life near that area can cause the monsters to go wild. But the orders are only to keep the monsters away from the town. I cast a glance at Seifer who's leaning back against the leather couch. I know Seifer's thinking the same way. He's a good leader, a natural one if I may say so, and that's why he doesn't want to take orders from the others. That's also why I know this mission isn't going to be an easy one.

I study the others face slowly. Irvine's too busy flirting with Xu. I shake my head at his antics. If Zell knew … Beside me, Nida is sitting quietly. He's at the same age as Seifer and Irvine but he's far more mature than the two I mentioned earlier. He smiles at me, noticing my nervousness, and whispers soothingly, "It's going to be okay."

I don't know but it's funny to be comforted. Being with my father has made my mask corroded a little, making me show my emotions. So that's what leads to the next thing that rarely happens in my lifetime. I smile.

Quistis tells us to gather in the square when we've cleaned the outskirt of Winhill from monsters and wait for other orders. We all nod in assent except Seifer but she takes his grunt as a yes and leaves. Well, actually she is going to leave when I hear someone squeals, mark that, squeals, behind me.

"SQUALL!"

My dad. Of all time, why does he show up now? I can see Mom's walking behind him, smiling. I can't help but smile at her but give my darkest glare to my father who doesn't seem to notice it.

I know no one thinks that I remember but I do. I know I was with Seifer, Quistis, Zell, Irvine, and Selphie back at the Matron's orphanage. They get their surrogate parents. Except for me and Seifer, well, we followed Cid to the Garden when he built it with Matron. When I was fifteen, this guy showed up. President Laguna Loire of Esthar and his wife to have a feast with Cid to, what to say celebrate, the cooperation between Balamb Garden and the Republic of Esthar. That's when he saw me.

I was fighting with Seifer in the Training Center at that time. Laguna insisted on having a tour around the Garden. Unfortunately I was too concentrating on attacking Seifer to notice that there's another presence near us. Suddenly I heard my name's being called by the Headmaster and we stopped our fight.

I still remembered how I fidgeted nervously under his stare. He asked for a private meeting with me. I didn't give a damn care to what he's going to do but at that time I had no other choice than agreeing. He's a president, I'm a mere cadet. See who gets the power here?

Seifer teased me the whole time but I saw he glared at the President. I didn't know why even until now. Was he angry because he interrupted our sparring time? As if I care.

Anyway, I submit to his audience later that day and his wife, known later as my mother, had these whole teary eyes and said that I was their missing son, said that I was kidnapped when I was four. It's the age when I was found by Cid in front of the orphanage. Probably my kidnapper tossed me there because he/she didn't know what to do with me. They didn't ask for ransom. That's why my parents didn't know where to track me.

It's hard at first to deal with since I'm not familiar with the situation and anything that involves emotions scares me to death but I'm willing to try. I send them letters twice a month or anytime I want. And after spending my holidays with them for the past two years, I tend to know them more, especially my father. He's a klutz but besides all that, he's a good father I guess, and a very cunning one though he has this naïve exterior. And my mother, she's the typical mother. Kind and gentle, knows when to give me my free space and never demands anything from me. But as well as my father, she has this stubbornness that sometimes drives my dad mad.

However, I try as much as I can not to let anyone knows about this. I think only Headmaster Cid, Quistis and Matron who know. Oh, and Seifer since he was pestering me around to find out about my meeting with Laguna that I unintentionally said that out loud. This way, my father is helping me to announce this to the whole people. Great.

I stop my train of thoughts when I hear Quistis salutes him. "President Loire." The others follow her, well except me and Seifer. I can't because I'm being suffocated by my dad in the name of hug. I believe my face is turning blue by now. Seifer doesn't because … he's Seifer.

My dad finally releases me and gives me a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry. I'm a bit too excited I guess."

"More than a bit." My mother says and gives me a hug. Oh, I really wish they didn't do this in front of my friends. Not that I don't like the hug, it's the display of affection that I don't like. Being an orphan until the age of fifteen then your parents suddenly showed up … that can give you quite a shock. I'm not fully recovered from it even after two years.

Once again I cast a glance at Seifer. He's staring at me in a very odd way. Is that jealousy that I see in his eyes? Or is that envy?

I know I have to act professional here since this is a mission, especially when you have a forty four-year-old father who still acts like three, so I quickly reassemble with my team before my father comes up with the idea to have a family picnic together and asks me to abandon this mission. Not that I think he'll do that, it's just my father always comes up with plans that most of the times it's ridiculous to just think of them.

"Finish with your parents, Leonhart? Or you want your father to come along with you to save you from the boogy-man that's hiding under your bed?" Seifer says in a mocking tone.

He's back to his original self, the hatred is there too in his eyes. Finally finding this boring, Seifer, or you just can't help yourself but to make my life more miserable than it already is? You've succeeded.

I ignore his comment and closing my eyes, once again I slide behind my shell and shut down all emotions I've been feeling. The shell that I somehow let it slip slowly but surely … because of him.

/Seifer's POV/

I slash the Gargantuan in front of me with malice. I can feel fire is burning inside of me and that's because of a mere sight of my Squall, my Squall, smiling at Nida. I know Nida is dating Selphie but that smile … even Nida blushed and I hate that. I had to restrain myself from ripping him into pieces for the sake of this exam because I know how much this means to Squall.

They are fighting near me, Squall's backing Nida up … Sometimes they'll brush pass each other as they dodge the Visage's attack and that burns me even more.

Calm down, Almasy! Breathe. It's not that Squall would just jump into his embrace, … right? I shake my head and return my attention to the never-ending hordes of monsters. Heck! This won't stop until we find the source. I cast a glance at Squall. I have to-

Nida is holding Squall's hand … okay he's helping Squall to get up but puh-leaze, doesn't he hold his hand a little too long?! Really, I know that he's trying to finish this mission, but why flirting with Nida?! I tighten my grip on Hyperion. That's it! I can't take this anymore! I slash the Ruby Dragon, watch it dying in seething anger, and grab Squall's hand, taking him away from Nida as far as I can while glaring at Nida to stop him from saying or doing anything. If looks could kill, Nida would be in hell.

"What are you doing, Seifer?!" he tries jerking his hand out of my grip but to no avail. I slice through the monsters in front of me as I drag Squall against his will, literally. Of course he doesn't do the kicking and screaming thing. Luckily, I'm used to handling my Hyperion one-handed.

"I want to talk to you. Now!"

"There's nothing to talk about. Anyway, for your information, we're on a mission, an exam. Be more responsible, Seifer." He says, one hand tries to release his other hand from my grip.

I laugh. "Do you really think that I'll let you go that easily? It'd be better if you listen to what I say and we can get this over sooner."

"Where are you taking me?" the struggle ceases, but that doesn't make me loosen my grip on his hand. Hyne knows what happened to me when I loosen my guard around him. The last time I get my lips bitten.

I look around and spot a cave far behind the village. "There."

As we walk to the cave, Squall's hand has relaxed in my hold. So we walk hand-in-hand, not caring about our surroundings. Well, it didn't start out like that but hand-in-hand all the same. His hand is so warm. If only we're in a different situation …

"We're here." He says when we arrive at the cave's opening. "Now talk." He yanks his hand, successfully releasing it from my grip, and crosses them over his chest.

Leaning against the slightly rocky wall, I glare at him, being reminded of the previous event. "Stop flirting with Nida!"

His eyes widened in a way that makes him look much cuter. His mouth opens and closes, tries to form words but nothing comes out. Finally, he stares at me.

"Flirting?" he whispers, mostly to himself.

"Yes! Do you think I didn't see it?!" I try very hard to keep my voice as stern as possible. Heck, I don't think I can't keep that much longer seeing how cute and huggable he is right now!

He lifts his head to look at me right in the eyes. "I never flirted with Nida! And anyway, it's … none of your business." He says in a very cold tone that I think can freeze the hell out of me and turn on his heel to walk away.

I grab his wrist once more and say in a very threatening manner, "Squall, you're mine! I won't let anyone get near you or touch you. Or else I won't care if you find their remains scatter after being ripped off. Do I make myself clear?!"

"You're nothing but a bully, Seifer. You'll never change." I can hear his teeth gritted, face flushed in anger.

"Yes, I'll never change and I'll never stop, I've told you, until you become mine."

"You can dream on, Almasy." He faces me with a glare being aimed directly at me. His grip on Revolver tightened.

"Let go of me. We need to finish the exam!" now he sounds exasperated.

"Like hell I'm going to let you go when I can have you for myself like this." I smirk. I shove him against the wall.

"Anyway … the exam means nothing to me." I say when I tower him. Ignoring his glare, I trap him between my arms.

"Seifer, I'm here because I think you'd try to talk civilly to me for once, but it looks like I'm wrong." He says monotonously.

"Don't you think I'm civil enough?" I whisper in front of his lips. Guess I'll never learn, though he doesn't make any attempt to escape or to back away from me.

He snorts. "It's-"

He's being cut short, not by my lips upon his unfortunately though I prefer that, but by the shake of the ground that somehow affects the GFs that are junctioned inside us. Ifrit's power flows within me, trying to make me release them. The GFs sense something.

"A GF … There's a GF here."

"Yeah." I take a step back and look over to the far inside of the cave. Squall follows me quietly as I walk there. We're plunged into darkness suddenly. Cold breeze touches my skin. The more I get into the cave, the more the tremble I feel from Ifrit and Siren inside me. This GF must be strong.

"Squall, you're there?"

"Yeah." I can hear him answers behind me. His voice sounds a bit colder than before, as if he's ready for anything to jump at him, or at us in this case. "The GF … it's …"

"WHO DARES TO DISTURB MY SLEEP?"

A bat-like GF floats before us, its wings open wide with the claws that stick out of it. It points at us with his claw and the darkness envelops us, bringing us into another dimension. The dark, bat-like appearance with the dark aura around it, … that has to be …

"Diablos."

"Yeah." I tighten my grip on Hyperion. I like the feeling of fighting against anything and I really like to defeat this Diablos thing. From the lessons we get in the class, Diablos is said to be one of the strongest GF aside of Bahamut and Eden. If I can get it under my control …

I summon Ifrit. "Hell Fire!"

It dodges the fireball far too easily. I grit my teeth and set my eyes on the smirking GF. "Humans, they're of no use." Its laugh echoes inside the dark dimension.

Suddenly I feel another presence of a GF. You know, of all the GF he can junction (I know he has Shiva with him) he has to go and summon … Carbuncle.

"What are you doing?!" I hiss.

Calmly, but I can hear his breath a bit rushes, "You'll see."

"Well, why don't you summon anything else?"

He looks at me as if I have grown horns on my head, then he sighs. "Pay a little more attention to what the instructor said."

"I barely hear her since my attention was on you." I just can't help but to tease and hit on him.

Ignoring my comment, he says, "Diablos has no weakness thus attacking him with elemental spell will be of no use. The best way to defeat him is by summoning Carbuncle."

We jump aside instantly as Diablos' claws dig into the ground on which we were standing earlier. Okay, I'd better be concentrating if I don't want my body, especially Squall's, ripped by those claws. I want to finish this mission in one mission even if I didn't show it like that. Diablos turns at me and grins. Before I know it casts Demi at me. The barrier of Reflect that was set by Carbuncle has successfully reflected that spell back to it.

"ARGH! Not bad for human." With that it casts Gravija. Since it's not a magic, it can't be reflected by Carbuncle's barrier. I can feel the pain strikes my body in full force. Gravija can't kill you but it can make you feel ripped inside. I spit the blood that's in my mouth.

Squall attacks it with Renzokuken. I watch as it falls back, looks like it's getting weaker. The effect of Rough Divide adds to it. However, because of the blow he received earlier, Squall's drenched in sweat and blood. Diablos is a hard one to fight and a mere cadet doesn't really have a chance to defeat it, but I know we can do it together. I hit one of his wings and was aiming for the other one when I see the dark GF raises its claws up … and, being thrown to the ground earlier, Squall won't have enough time to dodge it.

I cover him quick enough that he doesn't receive the blow directly but it manages to cut my back. I wince in pain. Blood … my blood is all over Squall's hands as he holds me. "Seifer!"

"You're a damsel in distress, Squally. Glad that I'm here to be your knight in shining armor." I manage to smirk despite the wound I got there. That fucking GF …!

"It's not a time to joke, Seifer." He hisses. I can see concern flashes in his eyes. Hyne, I can die happily just to know that he's concerned about me, that I can drag emotion other than hate from this Ice Prince. Ng, correction, I don't want to die now. Nope. Not when I have Squall holding me like this.

I release myself from his hold and stand up, using all my strength to raise Hyperion. I have to finish this. No one … nothing can touch my Squall and get away with it. Especially this damned GF. "No Mercy!"

The GF falls, thank's to me and my limit break but at the same time I too collapse as my strength being drained out of my body by that limit break. Then everything goes dark. All I can hear is Squall frantically calling my name as I fall into darkness.

TBC

A/N :Hey! It takes me so long to update. Sorry. Anyway in this story, you'll find out about Squall's parents. Raine is alive, mind you. Sorry for the whole OOC-ness. Probably the next one is the last chapter. Hope you enjoy this one. R&R please!