Disclaimer : None of these characters are mine. Hope they are though.

A/N: Finally it's finished! I thank all of the reviewers who keep me from stopping. I enjoy writing this so I hope you'll enjoy reading it too. And about Rinoa … I'll let your creative minds to think what'll happen to her. I am thinking about writing a sequel to this though. What do you think? Should I write it? Or it'd be better to leave it here? Review please!

Love Aftermath

By Misaki Sakura

Chapter 3

/Squall's POV/

We're all back at the Garden. I am getting a very long lecture from both Quistis and Matron. Handling Diablos by our own selves, trying to get ourselves killed, etc, etc. I don't care as long as they take care of Seifer. I've done the first aid that was taught by Dr. Kadowaki and cast Cure on him. He won't die, I know. He's too tough to die because of that.

I called the other team from the communicator I found in Seifer's pocket. All the squad leader had one with them for emergency cases and this is one of them. Nida, Irvine, and Zell quickly came to my aid. I had to take over the commanding position since Seifer was unconscious and as he'd put it, bleeding like hell. I told them to clear the field as I got Seifer to the Ragnarok, the mean of transportation my Dad chose to use that time, and that's the quickest one.

Quistis was furious when she knew we didn't follow the orders. I made her save her lecture for later. Seifer's condition was the first priority. As soon as we reached the Garden, Seifer's taken to the infirmary and me ended up in the Headmaster's office, being lectured. Well, I'll take all the blame as long he survives. I can make him make it up to me later. Just please don't die on me, Seifer.

In the middle of it, Cid receives a phone call. He looks so serious. Finally when he's done, he smiles at me. "Squall, I know you and Seifer have defied orders and being careless enough to think that you could handle Diablos … which you really did. But your action has stopped the rampaging monsters. Yes, I've just received a phone call from the mayor of Winhill and he claims that the monsters have stopped. That's why … I decide to graduate you as a SeeD."

I stand firmly and don't make any response. Quistis seems about to say something but decides against it. She looks at Matron who shakes her head and smiles. Then she shrugs.

Part of me wants to ask whether Seifer's going to get his promotion or not but part of me wants me to shut up. He continues, "And that goes for Seifer too." Sighing he shakes his head. "I don't want you to become robots, only following orders. I want you to think and decide what's the best to do. Even orders can be wrong. You and Seifer have proved your worth to me. Well done, Squall. Now you may go."

I give him a SeeD salute and walk out of the room.

/Seifer's POV/

I wake up at the feeling of someone's presence. Damn, my back hurts like bitch.

"Are you awake?"

I look at the speaker, a little bit surprised to see one Squall Leonhart's leaning against the wall across my bed. "Hello, Ice Princess. Where are we?"

"Balamb."

"Uh-oh. Don't tell me I'm in Dr. Kadowaki's clutches."

He gives me a look, a mischievous look. "Then I won't."

"Shit! She'll make me spend the rest of the month here!"

He shrugs, definitely doesn't care about that. But from his eyes I know he's pitying me. Hell, the whole Garden knows how Dr. Kadowaki is. She'll make sure you don't have anything unnoticed for her to check. That's why I usually help myself with my wound than going here.

"You're a SeeD now." He breaks the silence that's been occurred between us.

"Oh. I know you are too, Squall. There's no way I'll manage to become one if you're not."

Silence once more. Squall's not the type to start conversation nor that he wants too. But when he's determined to say something he'll say no matter what response he'll get. Like this time for example.

"Seifer, I think I'll start to believe you."

I'm stunned. "What?"

Annoyed, he looks away. "About the things you said before … in the cavern. Maybe you're serious. I don't know. "

"Well, that amazes me how long it takes for you to realize that I'm telling you the truth. Squally, Squally, is it that hard for you to trust me?"

"Yes." He replies curtly. I mimic a hurt expression. What I don't expect comes next. He smiles. I gape. It's slightly different than the one he gave Nida … cut that thought before I grab Hyperion and shove it down his throat!

"You should smile more often, Squall. You're pretty like that."

Calling him pretty is suicidal, I know, but I like the look on his face right now. It's priceless. And for a guy who's turned seventeen, he sure blushes a lot.

"Don't be stupid!" he says with his back at me, starts walking out. No way in hell I'm going to let him go. I bring myself up and run towards the door to stop him.

"Are you coming to the Ball, Squall?" I say, a bit panting due to the wound on my back.

"Why?"

"Do you know the meaning of 'date'?" I know I sound bad but hello, what do you expect me to do? Kneel down and give him a bunch of roses and declare my love to him? Fat chance. I'm not that romantic. Can you picture me doing that?!

He tilts his head a bit, exposing his pale neck in the process. Damn, what is he doing?! Torturing me?!

"So?"

"I'm asking you to go with me." As if that wasn't obvious.

"Fine."

I gape. I can't believe I can easily drag that word out of his mouth, that sweet mouth of his. I nearly beam with joy when he adds, "If you can get permission from Dr. Kadowaki."

"But-"

He walks silently out of the infirmary, leaving me with my mouth agapes.

Dr. Kadowaki is the hardest one to convince. Matron has given me a long lecture about what me being bedridden for my own good since there's a hella big wound on my back but when I told her that Squall has agreed to go to the SeeD ball with me, she's so ecstatic that she let me go. But of course that reason can't work on Dr. Kadowaki. Maybe that's why Squall was agreeing to me before.

"No, Almasy, you're not going to the SeeD Ball. You've just woken up after being unconscious since the afternoon when they brought you here. There's no way you're going to step your feet out of this room now!"

"But, Doc, this is about life or death for me."

She eyes me incredulously, clearly seen that she doesn't believe me. "I don't know about that, Almasy, but what I do know is that you're going to stay here tonight. Forget the Ball."

"Please, Dr. Kadowaki. I promise I'll be back here before midnight. I must to go to the ball!" my tone rises.

She stares at me for what feels like a long time then sighs. "I guess I can't help it. Fine, you may go."

I nearly whoop in joy when she adds. "But you have to take care of yourself!"

"I know. Thank's, Doc." I run out before she changes her mind.

I knock on the Squall's dorm room door three times before Nida opens it.

"Hi, Seifer!"

"Hi to you too. Where's Squall?"

"The ball."

"He's there?!"

"Irvine and Zell came here earlier and asked, um, forced, him to go. He refused but you know them."

"Yeah, I can see that."

I am about to turn around and go when I hear Nida calls me. "Seifer, I don't know the truth about what happen between you and Squall, but I want you to know that … after all he's been through, he deserves the best."

I stare at him for a while before giving him my best smirk. "Then I'll give him the best."

/Squall's POV/

"Where's Seifer?!"

"Zell, you don't need to take care of this. You go dance with Irvine. I'll be fine."

"Not without Seifer. I know Dr. Kadowaki let him go tonight. Now where's that stupid jerk?!"

I shake my head in surrender. There's no way Zell is going to leave me alone now. I take a sip of my juice while watching Zell paces around. Irvine is flirting with some girls. He's just doing that for fun and never really goes on a date with any of them. They know that of course but it's always a nice game to play.

Seifer manages to persuade Dr. Kadowaki. That, I'm impressed. It's not easy, mind you. She can beat him in stubbornness but it seems that Seifer is even more stubborn than she is. Then there's my agreement to go with him to this Ball. Zell probably doesn't think that Seifer is going to pick me up but either way I'm still going here. Anyway, Nida will tell him if he really comes.

Several minutes of watching Zell, I'm through. I walk to Irvine who is still in his flirting mode. "Irv."

"Yeah?" I manage to catch his attention.

"You go and distract Zell for a minute. He won't let me get out of this room."

"And where are you going?"

"Nature calls."

/Seifer's POV/

Much to my disappointment, I can't see the object of my affection anywhere. Where is he? Don't tell me he's not coming. I have to find him. Ah! There's Chicky with his cowboy of a boyfriend, but where's Squally?

"Hey, Seifer! Where have you been, man? We're looking for you." He says, hand holding hotdogs stops midway in front of his mouth.

"I went to Squall's room and Nida said that he's here with you. Where's he?"

He looks confused at first. Then he smacks his hand onto his forehead. "Damn! Where's he?!"

That's what you get when you give Chicky hotdogs. I sigh. Why do I even bother to ask him in the first place?

"Hey, Seifer! Looking for Squall?"

"Yeah, cowboy. Do you know where he is? Or you just have the same size of brain as this little Chiky here?"

"Hey!"

Irvine laughs as Zell pouts. "He went to the restroom earlier."

"When?" Zell and I choose the same time to open our mouths.

"When I gave you those hotdogs. That should be about, uh, three minutes ago?"

"I'll wait for him here."

"Suit yourself." He says as he gives me his patented smirk and drags his boyfriend to the dance floor who struggled to get the hotdogs into his mouth.

I lean against the wall with a glass of wine in my hand. My mind is wondering about a certain brunette that I don't realize I am smiling. Yeah, I'm going to get him tonight or don't call me Seifer.

That's when I see her, the stupid, brainless, good-for-nothing … princess who just walks inside the room, acting as if she belongs here. Too bad then, she doesn't.

"Seifer!" she beams as she spots me and rushes to me, knocking some of the offending cadets down.

I wince at the tone she uses. Even after I try to blend in with the walls … hey! I sound like Squall now. Whatever … Hyne, this is not going to be good.

"Seify, honey, I miss you."

"Hey, Rin. Why are you here?" I ignore her last comment and try very, very hard to maintain myself when all I want is to throw her out of this room … even better, summon that GF, Diablos, to deal with her. Nice!

"Well, I figured you're going to want me here as your dance partner since I don't think Leonhart can dance."

She 'thinks'?! Wow, that must have taken her so much effort to do that with a brain as the size of a pebble. "Dancing is not the idea here, Rin. Anyway, I can find anyone more competent than you are to dance with me. Fuck off."

Now she pulls her act a.k.a her puppy dog eyes and tears. "But … but, Seify, I love you."

How did I put up with her? I have no clue. I don't say anything until I feel her once again throw herself at me. "Hey! What the fuck are you doing?!"

"I'm not going to let you go until you promise you'll never leave me."

"Hell no!"

"Then I won't let go."

I have two options here. First, throw her out of the Garden for good. Second, grab my Hyperion and give her a good limit break to handle. Actually, I have another option.

"DC! We have a leech here!" I call out for my friends. We, the Disciplinary Committee, have gone through many, many things. But I never once thought we're going to deal with Rinoa 'Leechey' Heartilly.

Raijin and Fuujin quickly come to my aid, trying very hard to control their laughter while at the same time peel Rinoa off of me. She fights them of course, screaming and kicking, but Rai and Fuu are too strong for her. Good for me, bad for her.

"NOOOO! Seify!"

I like being the center of everyone's attention but no this way. Especially when they all laugh at the stupid nickname she calls me with. I grumble and start walking away when I see a certain brunette and his parents staring at me. His eyes go to Rinoa then back at me before he turns around and makes a dash out of the ballroom.

"Shit! Squall, wait!" I run after him with pairs of eyes digging at my back.

/Squall's POV/

On my excursion to the restroom, I meet my parents. Well, actually my mother is scolding my father for getting them lost. "Mom, Dad!"

"Squall!" my dad looks at me with teary eyes which turn shining brightly at me. "Raine, you see?! We're not lost. Tell her we're not lost, Squall." He looks at me pleadingly.

"Where were you going?"

"We heard that there's a ball to celebrate the graduation. We just want to come over and say hi. The Garden Faculty offered to take us there but your father said no, and look at this. We are lost."

"No, we are not."

"Actually, you are lost, Dad. Well, almost. The ballroom is that way." I point to his left.

"Oh." He scratches his head sheepishly. "But now we meet you so why don't we go there and have some fun?!" he drags me before I have a chance to answer. Mom shakes her head, exasperated with my father's antics.

By the time we reach the ballroom, I see the people gather around the center. What happen? Curiosity gets the best of me, so I tap Nida's shoulder, who apparently trying to find Selphie. "What happened?"

"Seifer and Rinoa. Now will you excuse me? I have a girl to find." He runs off, frantically looking for Selphie.

"I'd try to search in the first row if I were you."

Nida stares at me and smiles. "Thank's. Selphiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!"

Seifer and Rinoa? I feel a tinge of pain inside me when I hear the names. Are they together again? Does Seifer finally get bored and go back to her?

"Squall, we have to see that."

"But Dad-" But he doesn't let me finish my sentence as once again I'm pulled by my overly energetic father. You want a male version of Selphie, you have it.

When we finally get to see it clearly, I see Rinoa is clutching on Seifer for dear life while Seifer's trying to push her away but to no avail. He's still has his principle for not hitting a woman even when that woman is Rinoa Heartilly. I have to give him applause for that.

"DC! We have a leech here!"

Seifer's posses quickly come to his rescue and drag her away from him while she screams, "NOOOO! Seify!"

And 'Seify'?! What kind of nickname is that?! How he could stand her is beyond me. I want to laugh but I know I can't. It'll ruin my cold persona. But I desperately need to. Seifer choose that time to turn around and face me. I stare at him then at Rinoa then back at him. I can't stand it anymore. I run like hell.

/Seifer's POV/

Damn, he's fast! I have to run real fast to catch up on him. "Squall, wait!"

I doubt he hears me though. He keeps running regardless to my call. Shit! Why does she always have to screw everything up?! Next time, I won't hold back against her.

I lose sight of him but I know the way he's taking. The Training Center. Well, that place must be his favourite. I sprint to the TC right away.

There, down the corridor I see him. One hand on the wall, supporting him as his shoulder shakes. What the …?

"Squall?" I reach for him when I hear a sound and I m startled. He's laughing.

I just stand there and listen to his laugh. He doesn't laugh out loud like Zell or Irvine will do. No, he does it silently but as the sound ring in my ear, I know I love it.

Suddenly he stops and turns around. I can see tears in the corner of his eyes and he's blushing as if he's caught red-handed, well, that's if you constitute the fearless Squall Leonhart laughs is a crime.

"Seifer …" he says softly. His eyes flicker as if laughing at me.

"Squall. You kinda scare me there you know?"

He tilts his head and frowns in confusion. "Why?"

"I thought you were crying or something."

"Why do you think I'd cry? Because I saw you with Rinoa?"

I scratch my head. "Well, probably."

He looks straight into my eyes. "You asked me to go with you to the ball. And seeing that stunt you threw with Rinoa earlier, I doubt that you're lying to me … were you?"

"Of course not! I'm serious about asking you to the ball … but I don't plan on dancing." I grin as I walk over to him and trap him between my hands, against the wall. He doesn't try to escape.

"So … what do you have in mind, Mister Almasy?" he says in a very seductive tone. Damn! How long I'll be able to control myself?!

"Before I tell you," I say with a slightly trembling voice, "I'd like to know what you think about me now. I mean, I was a total jerk to you before … I still am. But I really need to show you what I feel and … oh hell, maybe Quistis was right. I'm afraid that you'd reject me and-"

I am cut short by the lips that pressed against my own. My hands have moved from their place on the wall and now they're around his waist, supporting him as I shove my tongue into his mouth.

I release him when the need of air is unbearable. His face is flushed, lips a bit swollen and his eyes shine. I've never seen him like this before. He lifts his head to face me and he smiles.

"How's that for an answer?"

"Never expected it'd come from you."

"I'm human, Seifer. I'm not as cold as you give me credit for. Actually, I think I love you too. We fight, I know, but … oh I don't know how to say it."

"Just tell me you think you love me or you know it."

My heart beats so fast as I wait for his answer. He frowns a bit then smiles. His voice is full of determination as he says, "I know I love you."

I lift him up and give him a hug. Showering kisses all over his face, I smile. "So, do you still want to know what I have in mind?"

The End

10