This chapter will be slightly shorter. Sorry…

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story or the places. All but three characters that is.

Chapter Twenty-One

"All right, Squall, explain what has happened to the Headmaster." Quistis demanded once they were inside their room. The six of them were to stay in a guest room made for the purpose of many people. There were about nine or ten beds in the room, all positioned in two long rows. They all sat at the first six.

"I told you," Squall said curtly. He sat with his head against the back board, eyes closed. His head was throbbing. He just wanted them all to shut up so he could get some rest.

"But, Squall! Laguna told you to explain the situation better to us!" Selphie pouted. She sat next to Rinoa, who was drifting off as they all rested there.

Squall growled and opened his tired eyes. "Fine. Laguna informed me that Xu had called because Cid went crazy. They think that Ultimecia may have possessed him because of how he acted. We're to find him and monitor him. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep him at bay. Keep him from doing any damage."

"How can you be so calm?" Quistis cried out. "Cid is in danger and you're over there like you don't give a damn! Has it not sunk in your thick head? He's being possessed and you're just Mr. Cool!"

"I'm quite aware of the situation, dammit!" Squall yelled, causing everyone to flinch and Rinoa to wake up. He was tired, stressed, and worried like crazy and didn't need Quistis to give him a Student-Instructor lecture. "Although I may not look like I care, I do. all right? I just have a lot on my mind right now and I don't need all this damned bullshit!"

Quistis sat back in surprise and anger. She bit her tongue, not wanting to cause a scene. She could have said a few things to him, but decided against it.

Everyone else said nothing and got ready for bed. There were a few grumbles, but still no actual speaking took place.

Still madder than Hell, Squall got up and went to the farthest bed away from everyone and sat with his back to everyone. Rinoa was tempted to go over to him, to talk to him, but figured it would only anger him more if she got involved or in his way, and she really didn't want him mad at her. So she took a bed up near everyone else.

The beds in there weren't of bad quality. The comforters were all a light blue with white sheets and pillowcases. Laguna must have made sure that they received good treatment. After all, his son was one of the members of this group.

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Squall stared at the wall for some time into the long hours of the night. He hadn't moved an inch since moving away from the others. He wanted nothing to do with anyone at the moment.

He heard the loud, battling snores of Irvine and Zell. Selphie was talking in her sleep, something about a chocobo… Even Quistis made some sort of noises in her sleep, most of them sighs. The only person whom he couldn't hear in sweet slumber was Rinoa. He strained his keen ears, hoping to hear some sort of sound that she was sleeping soundly, that she was still there. He didn't dare to turn around. Not after the way he had yelled at Quistis earlier.

So he just stared at the wall for hours upon hours. It was about eight or nine when they had all gone out. Burnt from a long day. He guessed that it was close to one or two in the morning, if his body clock was right. He couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep. No. Not yet. Part of him just didn't want to move. He sat there like stone.

The only reason why Squall couldn't hear any sound from Rinoa was because she wasn't asleep. As badly as she needed it, she wouldn't allow herself that pleasure. She had laid down in her bed, but kept her eyes focused on his back, hoping that he would either lay down or turn around. Neither came. He was still mad and wouldn't move. He could stay there like that all night, and she knew it.

Finally, she just had enough.

Squall heard the rustling of sheets, but he paid it no mind, it was probably someone just rolling over. Probably Zell. The martial artist rolled around a lot when he slept. He couldn't stay in the same position for very long. Hell, even when he was asleep, he still was restless.

But the shifting weight on the bed beside him said otherwise. He immediately recognized that comforting hand that was placed on his shoulder. He would not look at her though. He kept his gaze focused on the wall with everything he had. Why? Because he was ashamed. He hadn't meant to jump down Quistis' throat like that and scare everyone. He just got crazy when his stress level was as high as it was.

She just sat there beside him, staring at the wall as he was doing, trying to figure out what to say to him, but also to figure out just what he found so intriguing about the plain surface. Was there something hidden there that she just didn't see? Or was he just lost in thought like always? She looked into his eyes but saw no sign that he was in his own little world. No, he was there with her, just ignoring her. A tinge of aggravation hit her. What had she done to him? She managed to push away her growing irritation.

"Squall?" She finally spoke, whispering his name so quietly. He shuddered as her voice filled his ears. He concentrated harder on the wall.

She frowned. Moving closer, she rested her arm around his neck and ruffled his hair a bit, hoping to get him to look at her as he hated having his hair messed with. But still, he did nothing but stare at that stupid wall.

"Squall?" She whispered again, but got the same response. Silence was all that came from him and it was bugging her. Never in a million years for a million gil would she allow him to settle back into his old world without a fight on her part. "Squall." She no longer asked using his name. Between the lines, she was asking for him to speak, now it had become an order.

But again, she got nothing from him. An annoyed sigh escaped from her by accident. Well, she has now found the meaning of Talking to a wall.

At the thought of that, she let out a hoarse laugh. This time, he turned his head at looked down at her. She saw no readable expression until she looked into his eyes, which held a bit of confused amusement and curiosity.

"I have figured out the meaning of talking to a wall." She answered to curiosity. He nodded and began to turn his head back to the wall, but Rinoa stopped him. She captured his chin in the palm of her hand, keeping his gaze toward her. "Don't go back to that. Please."

He hung his head as her hand slipped away and rested gently on the top of his chest. He shook his head in a way of apologizing.

"Don't ignore me again, please."

"I wasn't ignoring you." He stated, keeping his head down. "…I was ashamed. I…" But she hushed him.

"I know. Quistis feels bad too, even though she won't voice it."

"I didn't mean to snap like that. I was stressed." He shook his head again.

"You still are, aren't you?" Rinoa tilted his head back up. His eyes were expressing his hurt. He only nodded. "Will you let me get close to you?" It wasn't a question meant to scare him, it was a meant to ask to help him relax. He did nothing and she took that as an invitation. She released her hold on him to move behind him. He relaxed when her hands began to rub his shoulders. He let out a quiet grunt or two every once in a while, but otherwise he remained quiet.

"Do you feel any better?" She asked moving her hands to his neck. He managed a nod. She loved the feel of his skin beneath her fingers and was surprised that he allowed her to touch him like this. He began to relax considerably as time went by. Somewhere along lines she stopped as her eyes began to close on her. He frowned and wanted to voice a plead for her not to stop. But turning around, he saw that she had fallen asleep. He moved her body more comfortably onto the bed and covered her. Her hand slipped around his and gently pulled him down. There, they rested with several hours left until they were to get up.

A/N: Sorry I cut that so short. I really wanted to get it over with. I didn't know what to put because this was another chapter I had to rewrite and it took a rather lot of me. Also, sorry about the language. I was a bit angry when I started this. My dad and I had a round. Thanx to those of you who have reviewed. I thank you a lot. Later Days mes amis!

E/N: Oy author, you forgot that nifty little line between your notes and the story. Care to add it?

A/N: OH! HOW ON EARTH DID I DO THAT! Oh, woe is me! Woe is me! The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

E/N: Hey chicken little, didn't the world end in the LAST chapter?

A/N: What? I'm confused again. But THIS time, I know it! HA!

E/N: Congrats! Would you like a cookie? Artificially sweetened! ;)

A/N: But I am still confused! Explain to me!

E/N: Chicken Little is an old childhood tale where he thinks the sky is falling because an acorn knocks him in the head. You should really read up on your childhood stories. 8)

A/N: No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no nono no no no no no and no! Why did you say that 'didn't the world end in the LAST chapter?' That's why I'm confused you ninny!

E/N: Go read the A/E notes from them! Oy vey.

A/N: What? Oh, geez! I'm confused again. Just lovely. Nevermind. I have reached the realm of understanding for the time being. (Now I know why I'm the Galbadian Idiot...)