The second twilight broke over the town Seifer did what he would always do at the start of every day. He bolted from the orphanage with a speed none could match. He thought he could hear faintly behind him the shouts of disapproval, but that wouldn't stop him. Nothing would. Not when he had his mind set to something.

Skidding around the corner he slid forward sliding atop the water as he ducked under two men carrying a crate. And Seifer being small and limber enough slid right under them.

He chuckled as he looked back to the sight of them having dropped it right onto their toes. But then he set his sights ahead of him again and travelled through a narrow alleyway.

It funneled him through the houses and emptied out into the sandlot. He stopped for a moment just to see the outcome of the Struggle match. Setzer swung his baton at whatever poor fool was his opponent. And that poor fool not only dropped the baton but dropped off the edge of the arena itself.

"Winner!" the announcer shouted in a smaller voice as he was much smaller and thinner than he would become.

Seifer gleamed when he saw that. He wanted to get in there and participate, but he was too young to do so, but some day he would. And not only would he compete, but he would win. He would be the champion. But at the same time wondered what it would be like to wield a true weapon. A real sword.

"Tsch." he scoffed at the fanfare Setzer garnered from his win. But one day that would be his.

Shaking his head and shrugging Seifer bolted off from the Struggle match, leaving it behind as he had everything else. The time was drawing nearer just as he was, and he could not be late.

Skidding to a stop he came to the main center of town. It was here that multiple amber colored trams flowed throughout the town like fish in running rivers. Peaking past a moving one Seifer saw at the last moment the very place he was trying to get to. Kicking his feet up and looking more determined than ever Seifer ran towards it.

He passed by the front of a tram before its slow-moving mass would have cut him off; a delay he could not allow no matter how easy it would be to go around it or how slow it really was. Once passed it he barreled through some people who mistook it for another one of his rambunctious actions. Shaking their heads disapprovingly they saw him run off past them without another word. Popping up he grabbed the back of one of the trams only to bound off of it.

And with that done he had arrived. The end of his travels but the beginning of his adventure.

Looking up with wide eyes, one would think stars were reflected in them. It wasn't stars, however, only Twilight as it always was here. Instead, it was merely the lights from the movie theatre. Bright lights showcasing movie reels, popcorn and drinks; the smell of which radiated out into the streets like a Bistro would in this very same spot years later once this movie theatre was shut down and all the lights, magic and joy it brought Seifer would only be found in his heart and memory; a pit he hid deep inside himself.

But it was still here now, and the most important thing was not the lights, sounds or smells but what it showed. And what he read.

The title of the very greatest movie of all time. Seifer smiled as he looked up at it. And wasted no time in heading towards the front booth.

"One ticket." he said holding up munny for the man to see. The man inside the booth robotically went to exchange the munny for a ticket before he stalled in seeing Seifer.

"Ah! You again?" he exclaimed "Let me guess." he began lowering his voice "The one about the knight and the sorceress?"

"What else?" Seifer snapped back.

"This is the fourth time this week you've been here to see it. And it's only the third day of the week."

"So?" Seifer said "I paid you, didn't I?"

"Kids and their fads." the man shook his head but took the munny regardless. Or would have if Seifer hadn't clenched it into a fist.

"This isn't a fad alright! Take that back!" he extended a finger to point at him. Startled if only for a moment the man behind the booth corrected himself in a huff.

"Alright now I meant no offense. Here you are. One ticket." he said offering it to him "Enjoy the show.. again." he ended tiredly.

"You know I will." Seifer snapped. With his free hand Seifer snatched the ticket up and slammed the payment down with his other before running head first into the theatre as it went dark. Ready to go on another adventure. His adventure. Or it would be one day, once he found the sword a knight would carry and a sorceress worth protecting.

Across town the train pulled into the station. As soon as it had a woman popped out of it. She had long black hair, a round face, dressed in blue save for two white wings drawn onto her back.

She looked around enamored with all she saw of the station. But if that was all it took to impress her, she would be in for a real treat farther inside town which is exactly where she headed next.

From behind she was followed from the train by a darker figure. A tall man with brown hair and dark clothes. Following her, he was as close as a shadow and just as silent, save for the long weapon he carried, slung over his shoulder. It rattled like a revolver but with a long blade rising instead of a barrel. If she was in awe of this place, he was thoroughly unimpressed.

Rinoa burst from the door swinging it open and exiting the station. The man following behind her moved through it without needing to touch it as it closed behind him once he passed through it.

"Look at this place." she said breathlessly as she looked around Twilight Town for the first time "It's feels like one big beach day."

"You wanna go to the beach now?" a dry bland voice asked behind her. Turning around she viewed the man who was following her.

"If there's one here." he answered "We don't even know what we'll come across yet."

"Then why'd you want to come here in the first place?" he asked dropping his head as he did.

"Don't be like that Squall." Rinoa nagged lightly and at the sound of his name he perked back up only to see her closer to him as she peered towards him. His stiffness made his silence remain as he looked back to her.

"Where do you want to go first?" Squall asked.

"Yay!" she cheered as she shot her arms up and then put them behind her back crossing them. She then began to walk around taking a few steps forward to look ahead into town "Hmmm." she pondered aloud "Let's see what there is to do first." she turned back to him "There's only one road."

"So, let's follow it." he said stating the obvious as he stepped forward. As he passed by her, she jumped up a bit to undo her arms and latch them around his left one which was dug into his pocket. It was his closest arm, so it was natural to reach for it. But his other arm not only was farther away but occupied.

Looking past him to his other arm Rinoa's eyes traced the blade of the Gunblade as he rested it over his shoulder. It was so long, more than half Squall's own size but he held it like it was nothing. But a curious introspective look came on her face when she saw it.

"Say," she dragged out the word and paused long enough for him to take notice and look at her "did you have to bring that?"

He already knew what she was asking about, so he already had an answer.

"Yes."

"You don't really expect to run into anything do you?"

"That's the best time to have it." he said, and she didn't have an answer for that. She had a quip when they heard about 'Struggle' but nothing more than that. He only groaned in reply.

Making their way further into town she thought the trams were fun little rides to take while he thought they were inferior modes of transportation given that his walking pace was faster.

It was walking here among the trams, people, shops and sights that Rinoa's eyes lit up at the sight of something. Her eyes twinkled like stars as she came to a stop. Only a step ahead Squall followed. Right as she called him name "Squall!" she squealed excitedly. Turning around he didn't match her excitement not even when she pointed with childlike wonder at what it was.

"It's a move theatre." he stated drearily.

"Yeah, so?"

"So what?" he asked.

"Don't you want to see a movie?" she asked bringing her arm down.

"I don't know..." he paused looking at her and getting the hint "do you?"

"Only if you do." Squall paused in his answer of her, but the excitement of when she first saw it retained on her face and if anything was growing. It made his answer easy to make.

"Sure." he nodded though he did not sound anywhere near as enthusiastic "Let's go." he turned on his heels to head for the theatre, and she gleefully followed "Is there one you had in mind?" he asked. Rinoa turned her head up to look at all the ones now playing.

"Let's see that one!" she pointed to the words hanging over the theatre.

"The knight and the sorceress." he read drearily "What's it about?"

"A knight and a sorceress, obviously."

Squall rolled his eyes "I'll go get tickets." he said breaking away from her to do just that. Leaving her behind he wasn't more than a few steps away when the doors to the theatre opened up, releasing people from the dark void of the moviegoing experience.

And running out at the head of the group was one young man.

Pushing his way through the crowd Seifer edged them all out. Emerging from the theatre, he was just as excited as when he entered it. The movie just kept getting better and better every time he saw it. All the lines, all the moves, all the characters Seifer knew them all. The action, the adventure, the romance, he loved every moment of it, and he only loved it more and more each time he saw it. And with it over that meant there was only one more thing for him to do.

Cutting in front of and through more people who were merely trying to exit the theatre Seifer made his way to the front booth again, cutting the line that was forming in front of it and the people who were trying to get into the theatre.

Coming from the side and not the front, he caught the man inside the booth off guard. But it wasn't him who would be the issue this time.

"One ticket for the night showing." Seifer said holding up the money. The man did not reply "What? You waited for me to say please?" he asked obnoxiously. Right as he did that, a hand placed itself on his shoulder covering it entirely and even some of his arm and neck to.

"Hey." a grim voice said behind him. It made chills go up his spine, but he didn't show any fear from it "You cut the line." he then stated.

"So." Seifer said turning a head over his shoulder getting a look at half the man that held him. He had long brown hair and wore dark clothes, looking almost like a villain himself. But it was the deadpan stare of his face that matched his voice and the coldness of his eyes Seifer would always remember. Scar or not. "I got here first." Seifer snapped back at him "What are you gonna do about it?"

"Pay for my ticket and be gone." he said dryly as if annoyed by this.

"Well then fall in line." Seifer said and then stopped for a realization came over him "Saaayy. I don't remember seeing you here before."

"Then keep a better eye open." he told but sounded like he was talking down to him. Which he was.

"You some kind of trouble maker?" Seifer asked, feeling the knightly vigil surge in him just like in the movie. And a call to protect his home from outsiders just like in the movie.

"Much less than you are." he said gripping him tighter and ruffling his white shirt.

"Then get your hand off me!" Seifer was about to yell and shuffled in the man's grip but could not break it.

"Hey!" the booth man said, and they both looked to see the man standing with an outstretched hand, a small stub of paper in it. Seeing it behind him, Seifer smirked. He opened his hand over the counter and let the munny fall before taking the ticket. The man's grip on Seifer loosened, and he jabbed his shoulder free to make everyone think he broke free on his own.

With his munny exchanged for a ticket he looked back to the taller man.

"Get back in line." he ordered him before he walked off. Though everyone watched Seifer leave off, the man that held him did not. Seifer took notice of that even as he looked back when he left. And that only riled him more.

Breaking out from the movie theatre, the crowds finally cleared and dispersed into town. They went to eat, take a leisurely walk or tram ride or just went home.

But among all the moving there was one figure idle amongst them all. One who caught Seifers eyes instantly.

A woman, older and taller than Seifer was. But no doubt she was very beautiful. So much so that he slowed to a stop to look at her. Entranced by her just as much as he was with the movie he just saw.

Rinoa waited behind as Squall went ahead to get them tickets. She was more than content to take everything in with her eyes, ears and nose. Everything seemed so intoxicating. But then one sound broke out closer than all others to her.

"Hey beautiful." it called coolly. It was not Squalls voice for it was not deep enough. Nor dry enough. This one was lighter and livelier. And instead of coming down to her it was calling up.

Stopping her looking around she turned her head down to see a young blond haired boy staring up at her.

"Oh." she peeped "Were you talking to me?"

"Of course, I was beautiful." he said in a voice that tried to sound mature and suave "You're the only one here worth talking to. And a pretty woman like you shouldn't be out here all by yourself." Amused she giggled in reply to that bashfully so.

"Well, thankfully I'm not here by myself."

"Of course not, now that I'm here." he said coming up to her, not understanding her meaning.

"Well, it's very sweet of you to keep me company." she tilted her head to one side "Though it makes me wonder what you're doing here alone then?" she stated concerned.

"I just came from a theatre. From seeing a movie."

"Oh!" she let out sweetly "I'm trying to go too. Which one did you see?" she asked as she bent over to look at him giving him a better look at her face. Being a young boy, it was a bit intimidating, though he got over his bashfulness when there was really only one answer to her question.

"Only the best movie ever!"

"Ever?!" she giggled amused "That's the one I wanted to see too. Which one is it?"

"The Knight and the Sorceress of course!" he shouted, his excitement growing. Not only because he was talking about his favorite movie, but because he was talking about it with a beautiful woman.

"Is it any good?"

"Nothing's better than it. In fact, that's how I'm gonna live my life now."

"Oh." Rinoa cooed "You wanna be a knight I see?" she concluded, and Seifer blushed "Well knights need to be courageous and brave. I can see your full of those already." she complimented him, which it very much was a sweet innocent compliment but only ended up building him up more "But who's the sorceress?"

"She protects her country." Seifer told her "And the knight protects her." he took another step forward.

"Ooohh how exciting." Rinoa squealed and complimented "And romantic. I love stories like that." she admitted "Well, I hope you find your sorceress."

"Maybe I already have." he said rather boldly "But if I'm going to protect her, I need a weapon first. Every knight needs one."

"Well, you'll need to find that first then." Rinoa said bringing a hand to ruffle his hair "What's your name?"

"Seifer. Seifer Almasy."

"It's nice to meet you Seifer, I'm Rinoa."

"Well, my lady" Seifer said bowing, very much playing the part which Rinoa found even more amusing "the next showing is tonight.. are you going to that one?"

"If it's the next one, yes." she nodded.

"Well," he started gruffly and then cleared his throat "when you're done seeing the movie do you wanna-talk about it what you thought of it."

"Of course. I think I'd get more out of it from you." she said cheekily referencing how Squall likely would be too critical or not impressed at all.

"So..." Seifer's voice lowered for a moment sounding almost bashful "I'll see you then."

"Of course." she said. She then leaned down to peck him on the cheek. Seifer couldn't see his reflection, but he felt himself go red hot. "Buh bye now." Rinoa waved and walked off. Seifer turned silently to watch her go. She headed towards the theatre at first. That was until she ran into the man; the one he encountered on line. Seifer was ready to stand up to him yet again, for it was rude not to get out of a lady's way. But instead, he altered his course and walked beside her now. And they both followed the path that wrapped around the theatre and out of his sight.

So Seifer passed his time, until the movie would start, and he would see Rinoa again.

Seifer was restless as he waited. He didn't want to go back to the orphanage, but it was easier to pass the time and wait for the clock to strike and the night showing to start. After all, someone had to keep those kids in line.

But he knew his priorities. And he couldn't be late.

Rushing out of the orphanage the familiar shouts from earlier in the day didn't stop him now just as they didn't then. The only difference was that he didn't bother to look back.

He ran past the struggle arena, now empty with no struggle or spectators, through alleyways and back to the open market. The lamps looked like fireflies now and the theatre shined brighter as did the letters of 'The Sorceress and the Knight'.

He waited before the theatre now. Waiting for Rinoa to come, because she said she would. So, he would wait for her here.

For Rinoa the Twilight looked dimmer now as the sun was about to set behind the horizon to sleep. Reaching her arms out she stretched them in the air. Beside her Squall walked silently, save for the rattling of his Gunblade. Which reflected the twilight off the blade and onto her face. So, she hopped forward ahead of him.

"So, are you excited?" she asked.

"It's a movie." he stated.

"But it's apparently a really good one." she said cheerfully against his glumness "Maybe you'll even like it." she said "It's got action, adventure," she then leaned her head to his shoulder "romance."

"Hm." he let out a small huff that turned into a smile as he brought his arm up around her.

Rounding the corner, they entered the marketplace from the opposite side, and the theatre was right next to them. Bright flashing artificial lights contrasting with the slower natural sunlight. Both of which shined on her face as they came upon them.

"Come on." Squall said as he veered them towards the theatre.

"Wait!" Rinoa said abruptly alarming Squall who turned back to her as she slipped out of his grip.

"What is it?" he asked concerned.

"Well," she began almost mischievously leaning towards him slightly as she did "we're gonna need popcorn and drinks, right?" she asked though it sounded like the question already had an answer.

"Yeah. So?" he answered flatly.

"So, we should get it before the movie starts."

He blinked as if to acknowledge he was still alive "What do you want?"

"Popcorn and a drink." she answered simply. Squall obediently turned over to go and get what she asked "What are you going to get?"

"Popcorn and a drink for you."

"But what about you?"

"I'll just have some of yours if I want."

"Saving room huh?" she let out "Gonna be hard to do that when you haul that thing around."

His eyes swerved up to her now and a scowl deepened in his face. In reply to it, she confronted it with a cheeky girlish grin. Eventually but not surprisingly silently he relented, and he stretched his arm out to her, his fist holding the hilt of his blade rolled down in his hand so that it swung downwards, his finger tracing the trigger guard.

She took it from his hands into her own though it was heavier than she initially anticipated. With a free hand and nothing to do with it, Squall tucked it in his pocket and made off for the concession stand. Though Rinoa thought she heard some grumbling about it, she laughed anyway.

Holding the blade with two hands now Rinoa managed a marvel at it. There were few warriors in the worlds now and Squall was one of the greatest. In fact, he was the strongest, braves one she knew. Though he was also just as stubborn and stilted as well.

"Rinoa!" a voice called out to her. One she recognized but it wasn't Squall. Turning over she saw a young boy running up to her.

"Seifer." she let out with a small giggle as he came to an abrupt stop.

"You made it!" he said excitedly.

"Of course, I did. I said I would after all."

"I've been waiting all day for this." he said jumpily.

"Well patience is a virtue. A good quality in a knight." she said, and he took it as a compliment.

"Hold up!" he exclaimed as he focused not just on her but what she held "What is that?!"

"This old thing?" she asked looking at it the weapon "This is the Gunblade." she told, and the name inspired awe in Seifer as he gazed upon it. His entire reflection showed in the length of the blade.

"It must be wielded by only the greatest warriors." Seifer concluded. And he knew one who would wield it.

"You got that right." Rinoa told him in full agreement, but they were thinking of two different people.

"Can I see it?" he said reaching forward to take it in his hands as if she was already giving it to him, but she backed it away from him.

"See with your eyes, not your hands." she said keeping it from his reach. A shattered look came over his face that he would have hidden well if not for the pained look of rejection in his eyes. It brought a similar one to Rinoa who almost instantly regretted the action, making her feel as if she teased him with it when in fact it started with her teasing Squall "Well..." she then said dragging out the word and she saw hope rise through Seifer "it's not really mine to give away." she said looking back to the blade "But I suppose only for a moment." she relented quietly but seemed to question it at the same time.

"Yes!" Seifer cheered so loudly that everyone likely heard him. As it was not only a blade but a gun as well. Again, Rinoa handed it off carefully to him, though that care wasn't exactly shared by Seifer who snatched it up and wielded it like it was a new toy.

"Whoa!" Rinoa put her arms out coming short of stopping him "Careful now."

"Careful?" Seifer repeated "I don't have to worry about careful." he said as he tried to bring the Gunblade up with one arm but found he had not the strength to do it. Even with two he had trouble pointing it outwards. A far cry from one handed sword fighting that he dreamed of "Hm." he huffed confidently as he then tried to twirl the Gunblade around but nearly fumbled as he did. He gripped the hilt and then braced it before him pointing it upwards. Looking to him, Rinoa thought it was even bigger than he was "Because I'm the greatest knight ever." he declared before he rested it on his shoulder though it was so large it carried along his back in a very Squall like pose "Whadda think?" he asked with a flashy grin to Rinoa.

"It's a good look for you, I think." she managed a giggle and a smile for him. "Only the best for a knight, right?"

"And gifted to him by his so-" he was cut off when an angry voice called out. This one was familiar to them both.

"Hey!" Squall barked. And he sounded angry. The two turned as Squall came at them quickly rejoining the group. Though he found he got two different reactions.

"Squall" Rinoa let out.

"You again?" Seifer glared, his eyes setting in on Squall as his settled right back on him from above. He did not have a weapon in his hand, but a bag of popcorn in one and a cup of soda in the other "Still causing trouble."

"The only one in trouble is you." Squall said his hands ruffling the can and bag "What are you doing with that?" he said his voice and eyes simmering with anger that was ready to explode.

"What's it look like I'm doin'?" Seifer replied "It's my weapon of choice." he declared.

"It's no toy." Squall said tossing the popcorn and drink in his hands to the floor to let them fall and spill their contents all around them "And it doesn't belong to you." he said taking a step towards him his shadow overtaking the young boy.

"Squall it was me." Rinoa said apologetically, interjecting before Seifer could "I let him hold it for just a minute." Anger was still in him, but it seemed to fade when she spoke to him. His eyes turned back to Seifer and though he was still angry he spoke calmer now.

"Well, the minutes passed." Squall said "Give it back." he ordered.

"Squall huh?" Seifer let out hearing his name for the first time "That's your name?" he asked.

"Yes." Squall said, his voice tense "Squall Leonhart. And I'll have that back now." he ordered again. He was not going to ask again. But Seifer wasn't done yet.

"You know who I am?" he asked confidently, feeling a sense of rivalry forming between them.

"No and I don't care."

"I'm Seifer Almasy! And I've got my own dream. To be the greatest knight that ever lived."

"Not with that you're not." Squall shut him down with no hesitation "It takes, time skill precession and strength to wield any weapon, let alone that one." he paused as anger came back to him and boiled up inside Seifer ready to explode. Rinoa, however, looked on more and more worried as this went on "Why don't you try again in ten years?" he said reaching down to reach for what was his.

Seifers teeth gritted, his grip tightened over the sword, and his body tensed up. He didn't like the look of this guy from the moment he saw him. And now he was coming at him with all these insults. Well, he would show him, in front of Rinoa and everyone else. He was no different than all the other kids at the orphanage and he would show that now.

"Shows what you know!" Seifer roared as Squall reached in for him and he swerved the sword up. But the sword was long and heavy and even with two arms he found the outstretched weight in his arms displacing his ability to balance. The blade jutted up violently and Squall reacted to it, but he was still too close and a moment too slow. The tip of the blade slicing from beneath his left eye cutting to above his right.

Squalls eyes bugged open and showed white as the blade moved like lightning between them. Rinoa let out a high-pitched blood curdling scream at the sight of it. Seifer was glad by the damage he had done, having proved his word, and made the first decisive move, but swinging his arms up didn't think he had the strength to control the sword coming back down.

But someone did.

Snapping his arm out faster and more aggressively now Squall gripped at the vertical blade before him, his one hand overtaking both of Seifers. Seifer grunted at the vice grip he got caught in but what came next was worse.

Prying the sword from his hands, it was like Seifer didn't even have a hold of it. And when Squall brought the sword back to him, he slashed it downward, tearing it from Siefers hands as Seifer fell forward and into the retreating sword that went back to Squall's side. But as he fell, and the sword pulled away the tip of the blade sliced Seifer now; from above his left eye cutting diagonally down to below his right.

It was the perfect mirror of Squalls.

The pain he felt was unbearable and unlike anything he ever felt. The blade was cold to the touch and the pain between his eyes burnt as much as it bit.

Unable to hold himself up Seifer fell to his back as Squall dropped to one knee, that knee landed in a puddle of spilt soda from the cup he discarded as Seifer landed with multiple pops from all the popcorn.

"Squall!" Rinoa shrieked coming ot his side "Seifer are you alright?" she cried out.

But Seifer didn't have the voice to reply. Grunting he lifted his beck so that he could see what was before him. There was Squall on one knee with the Gunblade planted by his side as he leaned on it. And it was there that Seifer saw the extent of the damage in the reflection of the sword he admired.

His young clear face was different now. Carved up and mutilated a scar ran from his forehead to under his other eye. He saw the reflection clear in the gleaming blade. If he took any comfort in this, it was that when Squall looked to his own reflection in the other side of the blade, he saw the same scar mirrored on him.

Once each seeped in the damage that had been done, they looked to the other and glared dangerously.

"You." Seifer growled as he rolled himself over and planted a fist to the ground "You'll pay for that." he said pushing off the ground with his fist.

"I already have..." he said letting out a grunt "same as you." Squall said coming back to his feet and towering over him.

"It's not over." Seifer warned "Not yet." he said as his eyes glared at him only with a scar between them. Squalls eyes mimicked his perfectly if not for the scar tracing the other way.

And that was it. The story of their deadly first confrontation. The imagery of twilight on the town was replaced with the darkness of the committee room kitchen. You could hardly see the destruction caused by their second confrontation since the lights had been either destroyed themselves or dimly put on. The clean up done by Leon and Leon alone was finished, making the room seem barer and less lived in. He had shuffled the remnants of their battles into the darkened corners of the room, and he began to share the tale.

Everyone sat around him, all eyes on him. Never interrupting him and listening intently for every detail. Some of which stuck out more than others.

Tifa let out a deep breath. Almost in relief. That was a long story. Hard to believe they finally arrived at the end, though perhaps that was the story was still developing even now. But it was even harder to believe it actually happened. If she felt relieved to finally hear it, Leon seemed moreso even if he didn't show it. Maybe he felt ashamed to say it aloud.

The four of them sat on the chairs, those that weren't broken already. Yuffie having found herself at home on a counter Leon-Squall hadn't sliced.

The clean up was complete yet the room looked emptier now. With the broken furniture moved out to the trash, it made everything feel smaller. But there were other things to worry about than furniture. Cid still smelled of soda and they all just heard the fateful story of the duel from long ago that was never finished.

"So that's it huh?" Tifa asked.

"Yes." he answered as if releasing a deep pent up breath "It was an accident."

"He doesn't see it that way."

"He's young..." he admitted before a pause "he still is... so was I." he said sounding older than he really was. Deep in thought on what had happened. What his life was once like.

"But what do you get out of this now?"

His eyes rolled up as he thought back to all those years ago. He was the same person just with a different name. And his goal then was the same as it was now.

"Back then we wanted the same thing." Squall told. Tifa raised an eyebrow wondering what he meant. The Gunblade, what it signified, or the other person in the story whose name had come up multiple times by now "I wanted to be stronger. I had to be stronger." It seems he thought of something else. But there it was the story she'd heard about. Only with more details. But one still puzzled her. Maybe not a big one but... a recurring one.

"That sounds like you." she admitted hearing the familiarity in him "And what do you want now?"

"The same." he admitted. She nodded to that. But if he wanted that, what else was there? So that's what she asked next.

"And..who was she?"

For the first time Leons eyes turned up to her "Hm?" he let out like he didn't hear her, but he could tell he did. Tifa shifted slightly tucking her hands beneath her legs and the seat to stop from shaking.

"The woman you were with. That he talked to."

He shifted in place as if he wasn't expecting that of all things to be a question "She was my best friend."

"First I've heard of her." she said, and Leon went characteristically silent. But he seemed uncomfortable by it. She dropped her head bringing a hand up to tug her hair behind her ear before tucking it away under her leg. Her eyes drifted down as she thought of another way to ask this burning question "What did she look like?" she asked, and it shocked him more and more to hear.

"Whys that matter?" he asked. She shrugged slightly.

"Seems you both have the same taste in swords, women..."

If he didn't enjoy telling the story, he didn't enjoy it now. His eyes lingered across to her. Cid and Yuffie seemed to fade from the room as their stare on each other deepened. She held her stare on him, but his eyes began to shake and water. His face stiffening, he dropped his eyes and looked back to his lap.

"What now?"

"It ends. " he told seriously "Tomorrow."

"You mean today." Yuffie stated and looking to her they saw she pointed to the clock pointing upwards with both arms to see just like her both arms pointed up to the top of the clock. Midnight.

Dim and droning they heard the chime of the bell ringing like death through the night.

"Today it is then." Leon said "Whichever way it goes."