Well… here is the long awaited second chapter! I hope you like it as well! Everyone gets the plushie they specified for unless you didn't... Then you get a chocobo! -hums theme song-

Oh, by the way, none of this is mine. Shocker, I know….

Chapter Two

The table was made from… wood, of course. He didn't exactly know what type, but it was the kind that was tinted in certain places naturally. It swirled to make patterns and pictures. He always liked to find new pictures in the table, but no such luck today. He followed a line with his eyes until it met another to make… a shuriken.

He sighed inwardly. He felt like hitting his head against the table, if only the pain would make her leave his thoughts. But then, they would be able to tell that he wasn't paying attention to their 'lecture'.

"Leonhart! Are you listening to anything we're saying?" Cloud's angry voice drifted into his thoughts. He looked up at the blond blankly.

"It's your fault that she's gone, Squall."

Squall leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "She can do whatever she wants. She isn't a child anymore."

Aerith stepped out from behind Cloud. "So, you're saying that you don't miss her at all?"

Something changed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his usual look. "The quiet is nice." He stood to leave.

"You don't want to lose her too. I know you don't." Aerith hoped aloud.

Squall didn't reply; he walked out. Cloud called after him. "We're leaving to look for her in the morning." There was no reply.

Aerith looked up at Cloud, worried. "What if he really doesn't care?"

Cloud pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry. He'll come, And we'll find her."

"Vinnie! No!" They could hear Yuffie's cries from the distance.

"Squall! We have to get her! The gummi ship is leaving very soon!" Rinoa's brown eyes were filled with worry. Squall nodded and took off running, Rinoa close behind him. Yuffie's cries became louder. He had almost reached her, when he heard a sharp intake of breath from behind him.

Horror filled him and time seemed to slow down as he turned. A Familiar withdrew its sword from Rinoa's heart and drifted away.

Squall ran to her and caught her as she fell. He laid her carefully on the ground, and raised his hands to perform the only Cure spell that he had.

"No… Don't, Squall. It's time for me to go…" She reached out her hand and he held it. He hoped she could not see the tears in his eyes.

"Please don't be sad, Squall… you have to take care of Yuffie for me."

"I'm not leaving you."

She smiled weakly. "I love you… but Yuffie needs you now. Please go to her before she gets hurt." He held her in his arms one last time before she faded away.

Anger filled him, but he would have to deal with that later. First, he had to fulfill Rinoa's last wish. He began to run.

He saw her, clinging to Vincent's lifeless body. Her face was buried in his chest and she was sobbing loudly. He was about to call for her just as another figure appeared and lifted Yuffie off Vincent.

"No! Put me down!" She cried, struggling against him.

"It's alright, Yuffie. You'll be safe with me."

Squall's words were filled filled with venom. "Give her to me, Seifer."

Seifer smirked. "Why should I? You couldn't even protect Rin…"

Yuffie bit Seifer's arm and he dropped her. She ran back to Vincent.

An aura of darkness seemed to appear around Seifer. "Yuffie… don't resist. You must come with me."

Take care of Yuffie for me…

Seifer took a step toward Yuffie.

"Don't move." Seifer turned to see Irvine behind him. The sharpshooter's gun was pointed straight at Seifer's heart. "Get her and go, Squall."

The thought floated somewhere in Squall's mind that he would have to thank the Cowboy greatly later. He picked Yuffie up.

She clung to him. "Make it stop, Squall…" She cried.

"I wish I could…" He thought aloud as he ran.

They made it to the gummi ship just in time before it took off. Irvine didn't make it, and neither did Cloud, as they found out from an inconsolable Aeris.

Would they ever see them again?

Cid yelled at all of them to sit down as they left the atmosphere.

Each found a seat and tried to get their minds to rest, weeping silently.

Well, she had done it. The doors of Olympia Coliseum greeted her. She smiled, proud of herself.

Too childish? Well, she had come all the way here on her own. Ha!

And who cared about Leon anymore? He didn't try to stop her from leaving or anything… but he didn't matter.

She had a new life now. She could do whatever she wanted without him breathing over her shoulder.

"I knew you would come!" Aerith's happy voice greeted Squall the millisecond he stepped onto the ship.

He rubbed his eyes and sat down. "I'm only doing it so I don't have to pay rent for that whole house and a Hotel room on my own."

The couple looked at him in shock. "You gave away the house and the Hotel room?"

"Deal with it." He smirked. Payback was sweet.

Excitement built up inside Yuffie. She rushed inside, doing a couple of flips on the way.

Phil met her at the door. "You here for the competition?"

"No, I'm just here to have a nice conversation with you. Geez… what do you think?" She said, sarcastically.

The half goat had never liked the ninja ever since she first set foot in the Coliseum.

"Where's your partner?"

"Don't have a partner, Shorty." She grinned.

He grimaced. "I think it might be too rough for you on your own. Maybe you should head back home."

"No way! I'm the Greatest Ninja Ever! What are you talking about?" She replied, confidently.

"Fine… go get yourself killed. Not my problem. That's why you sign the waiver." He handed her the sign up sheet.

There wasn't anyone she quickly recognized, but she was sure the Keyblader would arrive at the last possible minute. She signed hastily and sprinted inside.

After performing a few more flips, she noticed a figure lying on one of the stone bleachers. On his back, arm raised, pointing a gun at the sky.

She needed someone to train with….

She bounced up to him. "Hiya! Will you train with me? I don't have a partner anymore and I'd like to rack up some EXP before the tourney… Hey, don't I know you?"

He looked over at her. "Yuffie?"

"Cowboy? I knew it was you! What are you doing here?"

He looked back up at the sky. "I'm looking for her…"

Who? Geez… he sounds like Cloud did. "I'll help you! But you're not gonna find her just sitting here!"

He grinned. "You're right. You're comin' with me?"

"After the tourney!" She almost wished Squall was there so she could ask him who in the heck he was looking for, but she caught herself. There were plenty of brick walls around here to talk to. Who needed Squall?

Squall checked the sign in list before adding his and Cloud's names. Aerith had decided to go check Wonderland and Agrabah to let the guys participate in the tournament.

"Yep. She's here." Squall said. Cloud breathed a sigh of relief.

Squall looked farther up the list. "This looks pretty easy. We should get a high se- He's here?"

Yay! An update! Please review, but no flames! Constructive criticism welcomed! Sorry if you don't like the FF8 characters being pulled in, but it's my favorite game ever! Thank you thank you to all of my reviewers! Especially Little Kitty Kyon for reminding me that it has been a year! I promise not to take that long next time, if you guys liked this one!

-Sora