Part II: Her Fears

"Shhh..don't tell," Kiara pleaded with Squall and Zell in a hushed voice as she quickly ducked behind a towering book shelf. The two had been showing Kiara around the Garden for quite some time now, just to reach the library--where they found students from Galbadia waiting for her. She'd explained to Zell quietly that these were the students which Headmaster Martine used to do his bidding, and they'd returned to take her back. Hiding behind a bookshelf, she knew, wouldn't help her long..she'd have to think hurriedly.

The boys looked at each other in question. 'Instructor Blake' had looked quite worried...possibly even afraid of the students she had seen upon entering the library--something was up. She'd told them, shortly before hiding herself, that she couldn't explain now..and they'd agreed to help her, until they found out why the students were here. Prolonging the students' search of the library, Zell laughed. "Kiara Blake? U--uh, no, we haven't seen her.." he stuttered. The Galbadians obviously found his lack of composure quite suspcious, and looked to Squall for more answers...he didn't supply any.

Kiara silently pulled a single book from the shelf behind which she hid, peeking through the hole at the students, who had begun their search of the room. Her eyes widened in surprise as she heard someone step up behind her, breathing heavily. "Looking for something?" the older boy asked, chuckling.

"N--no," Kiara mumbled, rising to her feet, and spinning around. Much to her dismay, she found a shotgun aimed directly to her head--one held by none other than Irvine Kinneas. She'd seen this boy around Galbadia Garden several times, and had even taught a class which he was supposed to attend...not that he ever did.

"Instructor Blake," Irvine allowed a small smirk to cross his lips at the sound of the name. "Who would've ever thought that you would be the one we were ordered to bring back to our Garden," he mused, "Dead or alive."

Kiara's body seemed to relax a bit, her facial expression growing dark. "After everything we've been through together, Irvine Kinneas, you'd shoot me right here?" she shook her head. "I thought I could trust you more than that."

Irvine's hand shook slightly, his smirk fading for a moment. Even if he did shoot her now, he'd be disobeying the Headmaster's orders.. He'd been ordered to assassinate her from afar, and only if he realized the others weren't getting the job done. A moment later, he lowered his gun. "Not now..," he assured her, looking her over. "Why do they want you back at our Garden, anyway?" he questioned her in a whisper..he couldn't let the others know he was talking with her.

"I um...I can't tell you that now," she admitted in return, quickly finding a place on the floor beneath them to stare at. "It's ..too complicated, and if I go into it now--I'll..well, I guess I'm already caught?" She folded her arms across her chest impatiently, awaiting his response.

After a bit of thinking, the sharpshooter's smirk quickly returned. "Nah," he paused to think again. "Put your hood over your head..get out of here. Go to your dorm...we've already searched there," he instructed her, pulling the hood of the girl's cloak over her. "Keep low." And with that, he pushed Kiara out into the open, immediately looking to the other students. "She isn't here," he lied, watching the small girl slink through the shadows of the library, pausing only to wave carefully at Squall and Zell--to simply tell them she was alright.

The remainder of the Galbadian students looked a bit saddened at such news. They had all, of course, been hoping to be able to bring this particular instructor back to their Garden, and receive their Headmaster's praise. "The only place we haven't searched already is the second floor," spoke up one of the students, "So we should check there..and then we can get back to our Garden." His voice sounded almost as if the boy was in disbelief. They were all amazed they'd found no resistance..none of the Balamb students or instructors had forced them to stop their search--they found it almost eerie.

When Kiara thought herself far enough away from the library, she lowered the hood of her cloak, ducking into the dormitories. Having decided she'd stop to rest..regain her thoughts perhaps, she leaned against the wall for a moment, breathing heavily. "I can't..believe he helped me like that," she whispered to herself, closing her eyes for a brief period of time. She sighed, sliding carefully down the wall, until she sat with her back resting against it, eyes hazed in thought. She was fairly positive the students searching for her wouldn't be coming back this way anytime soon, and that she was safe for now, so she allowed herself to relax.

As the Galbadians left the library a while later--after talking to Zell once more (Squall still refusing to answer)--Irvine let out a sigh, looking down at the ground, amused. He looked up for a moment to see they were nearing the elevator, and cleared his throat. "I think I'm going to go give the dormitories another once-over..make sure she didn't make her way back there somehow," he informed them--it was close enough to the truth. There were a few people posted at different places throughout Balamb Garden...he found himself wanting to make sure that Kiara had not already been caught..or killed, for that matter. The others gave their acknowledgement, not seeing any reason as to why he shouldn't do so. "Just make sure you're back when we leave," one demanded, waving a hand to him as they boarded the elevator.

Several minutes later, after Irvine was positive the other students would have already gotten off the elevator onto the second floor, he began the brisk walk to the dormitories. He admittedly wasn't positive he'd be able to find the girl, not knowing which dormitory was hers.

Kiara's eyes quickly popped open as she heard footsteps nearing her. Uh-oh.. she thought quickly, shaking her head. She should've known better than to just sit here...there was no way she could get all the way to her dorm before they found her. "And I was so close to being safe.." she muttered, looking up at the ceiling in disappointment.

"K--Instructor Blake?" Irvine's voice shot through the silence. Kiara's gaze shifted to the doorway, where she noticed Irvine stood, looking at her intently.

"Yeah...what is it?" She asked cautiously..voice full of fear. Surely he hadn't changed his mind, and decided to turn her in? When she noticed his innocent smile, she allowed herself to be a bit relieved. "Come to gloat? You always did think you were better than me...I guess you're right now, hm? It must be strange for you, threatening the life of one of your Instructors--for something she didn't do?"

Irvine sat down beside her, leaning his shot gun against the wall as well before adjusting his cowboy hat. "Well, you're right--it is pretty strange.. but that's not why I came back here," he assured the small girl, grinning at her. "I came back so I could be sure you made it here...safely...and alive."

"You confuse me, Kinneas," Kiara snickered under her breath. "First, you're threatening to shoot my brains out, and now you want to make sure I got away?" she rolled her eyes. There was definately something up with this boy. She would have never really called the two of them "acquaintances"--much less friends. Her cheeks flushed a light tint of pink as he leaned in a bit closer to her.

"Well, I suppose I always did admire any lady who could resist me," he cooed, tilting her chin up so her glance met his. He smirked casually: Sure, this wasn't what he had come here for, but it was certainly nice. His face fell, however, as she promptly pulled away from him, tugging her brown jacket tightly around her.

Kiara's gaze dropped immediately to the ground, shaking her head. "I--I don't think so, Irvine," she narrowed her eyes. "I hardly know you anymore.." she gulped. After all, this teen had been her student at her old Garden--even if she'd never really gotten the chance to teach him. She'd only talked to him once..and that'd been a few moments ago when he helped her to escape from the library.

"Aw, but there will be time for you to learn more about me," Irvine chuckled, standing up. "I'm going to convince the remainder of kids from Galbadia to let me stay here a while...to.. 'keep watching for you,'" he informed her, offering her a hand.

Kiara graciously accepted, slipping a hand into his, and allowing him to pull her to her feet. "W--well, er..," she murmured, having not yet regained her composure. "Thanks for..helping me out of there--I owe you one," she forced herself to smile warmly up at him.

"You'll pay me back soon enough, don't worry," he waved over his shoulder, winking at her.

Part III: Her Reverie

"Thought you might want this back," Irvine muttered quietly, shoving the book which he'd been carrying gently into Kiara's hands. "I don't figure you'd want me to keep it..what with all that's going on," he insisted, turning to walk from the room quickly, not giving her a chance to protest.

"Hey, wait..," Kiara called after the sharpshooter, chasing after him. "I--I'm sorry..I didn't know all of this was going to happen!" She caught hold of the hem of his sleeve, trying to force him to stop. "Don't walk away from me, Irvine.."

He reluctantly stopped for a moment, pulling his sleeve away. "Why shouldn't I?--After all, that's what you're doing to me..just walking away from our Garden, and from me--and you won't even tell me why? Don't you think that's a bit childish?" he asked her angrily, refusing to look at her.

Kiara sighed heavily, closing her eyes. "Sure, You'd..You'd rather me stay here in Galbadia, and get killed, than go to Balamb and see you again some day?" she asked him, shaking her head. "Who's the childish one now?" Her eyes shimmering with tears, which she held back, she brushed gently past him, making her way carefully towards the exit of Galbadia Garden. There were others following somewhere close behind her, she was sure, as someone had found the guts to tell the Headmaster she was leaving. For a while, she'd admit she had thought Irvine had told him..as a last resort to make her stay. "I'm sorry," she repeated in a whisper, looking back at him one last time.

A smirk somehow found it's way across Irvine's features, as it always seemed to do, as he watched after her. "Hey," he began, to catch her attention, "I'll see you again one day, got it?"

Kiara's eyes suddenly fluttered open, unfocused and hazy. "What the..?" she asked herself, blinking several times. When at last she could see, she let out a short, ear-shattering scream, at the sight she saw—Zell.

"I think she's awake..."