Author's Notes: I want Rain! Rain stupid sky!

Chapter 8: Hyne's Truth

Fisherman's Horizon was dark, silent and seemingly empty. None walked the streets at night, none were brave enough. Even here there was fear, so everything happened in silence and shadows. Including, that is, our entrance to this city. Nida and Xu led us through the dead streets to our safe house: a bunker under the 'Mayor's House'. It is ironic that only a month ago we hid there after Ocean Midway was raided by the Black SeeD.

While my mind was distracted by the trek, my heart was twisting in pain. The sun was peeking over the horizon and heralding the arrival of a day of dread… Squall Leonheart's birthday. The anniversary of Ultimecia's conquest was also today, as was the anniversary secretly shared by Squall and myself.

We were soon 'safe' in the bunker, each in a different but small room. Thank Hyne for the small things like forced privacy. He will come tonight. I have no doubt about it. Many years ago, on this day, my views on Squall changed. To this day I fight because of what happened the. And maybe it is the cause of this whole damn situation.

2 years prior to the Game

Cake! Cake left unattended! Cake left unattended plus Seifer missing lunch for the Fire Cavern exam equals happiness! I grabbed the sugary confection, plopped down on the couch, and began to eat. Honestly, I didn't realize what the piece of cake meant until someone cleared their throat and I felt a familiar, albeit icy, gaze. Shit, it was the Ice Princess's Birthday!

"Yo Ice Princess. This is some good cake!" I said, fitting my normal arrogant smirk into place.

"Whatever," he declared in his evasive way before stalking off to his bed room, the trademark Leonheart scowl in its place.

"Damnit," I mumble. He can make me feel guilty without even trying. How could I forget that today was his birthday?

Knowing that Squall wasn't going to do anything, I chose to hunt him down, following the icy lion into his lair. Just like him, his room is bland, emotionless, and yet so appealing to me in everyway. Figures that the school bully has a soft spot for his total opposite.

"Squall, I'm sorry I ate your cake," I said once he'd finally opened his door to spare it further punishment from my fist. While his facial expression remained the same, his eyes revealed shock. Well, to someone who knows him like I do it did.

"So, you're fifteen now…" I said as he went back to work on his latest project for the uptight Instructor Aki.

"So?" he asked, voice cold and yet still sweet to me.

"Squall, how long have we been going out?" I asked.

"A year today," he said, blushing. Only I can make him blush like that.

"This is my longest relationship ever Squally-boy," I started, "But when was the last time I said I loved you?"

The blush became deeper, "You haven't."

"Well then, no better time than the present. I love you Squall, no matter what. I never want to let you down or hurt you."

"Then don't," he said logically. Hyne, sometimes when he says stuff like that I just feel like smacking him upside the head.

"But I have to, you know that. But it's only an act. They would kick us both out if they knew. So we have to be rivals. But you gotta tell me when I hurt you…"

"Seifer," he started by cutting me off, but I cut him off in return.

"I know that forgetting your birthday and eating your cake hurt you lovely. From now on, just say something, okay? I promise that I'll stop if you say something."

I never should have made that promise. Squall tried to use it when I was dating Rinoa, when we broke up, when I joined Edea, when I tortured him… And I didn't stop! I hurt him, broke him and left him for the Sorceress Bitch! Damnit Seifer!

"Yes, Damnit Seifer," a soft voice came in the darkness, "You created me, created her."

"And you haunt me with that fact every night dear spirit."

"Spirit? You think you hallucinate me Seifer?"

"Each and every night," I confirmed as his pale figure stepped forward, "But you know that."

"I did not know this or I would have manipulated it for my mistress," he responded.

"Squall?" I questioned, half angry, half on edge, and what the hell, half relieved that he was actually here, and not just the image that constantly haunted me.

"In the flesh," he chuckled, moving to wrap his arms around me in a familiar way. As much as I wanted the touch of my former lover, I pushed him away.

"I'm married you know…" I said.

"To my sister. Because Rinoa had me. Because you wanted me, but you couldn't have me."

"Then why are you here? And on your birthday no less?" I could sense that this was important.

"I want you to stop her Seifer," he whispered, sitting beside me and I leaned against him. He was always the stronger one in the end.

"I'm trying Squall," I said, wrapping my arms around his waist, "But I'm not going to fight you."

"You will have to Seifer," he said, standing again and opening a dark portal, "You'll have to earn me lovely…"

With that, my dark angel was gone.