I was anxious in getting this chapter written, and I love how it turned out. People, this is the first you'll see of Squall, starting to have a change of heart. Enjoy!

Lyrics used: "Honesty" by Sevendust, off the Seasons album

Chapter 16: Echoing Sorrows

It's not supposed to hurt this much…

But it could never feel the same again…

Tossing and turning at the first hint of light, the sleeper could not block it out. Positioned on his left side, he slowly opened his eyes. The pile of magazines still littered his carpeted floor. Softly groaning, Leonhart sat up and began to clean up the mess. And the alarm clock on top of his private drawer wasn't even close to going off. It would only be another half hour until it would do so.

Ever since Squall was first assigned to his very first real SeeD mission, and not being tested, he had adjusted to make himself his own alarm clock. This would mean he would force himself to rise early, no matter how much sleep he'd get.

After placing the pile of most recent Weapons Monthly issues neatly on top of his desk, which faced one of the windows of his dorm, Squall stood up and stretched his arms and back. This happened to be a technique he's gotten accustomed to in over the past several days of traveling and fighting off monsters and Galbadian troops. A final yawn signaled to Leonhart that he was ready for the new day ahead of him.

Walking to the closet, he began fingering through the shirts and jackets on the hangers. He didn't feel like wearing his favorite leather jacket, so he picked his second most favorite: a jacket made out of the same fabric style used to make jeans. It was a button up, with single button and holed pockets on the upper front of the jacket. Goldenrod colored yarn was sown on for decorative lines. Squall took it off the hanger and tossed it onto the bed behind him. Then he turned to the small dresser with different drawers for socks, briefs, pants, and shirts.

The rest of his chosen outer attire were blue jeans, white socks, and the usual black boots, deciding not to wear his belts. Only they were to be worn for military and battling purposes, to store the bullets for his Revolver gunblade. Of course, no casual morning was complete with a nice, hot shower…

When Squall was all ready to leave his dorm, he looked around, just making sure that he didn't forget to do anything. Keeping his room clean was taught by early age at the orphanage he grew up in, and he made it into a daily habit. This was one of his few hobbies besides working out and exercising his strengths at the Balamb Garden's Training Center.

He took his time in walking down to the main entrance and exit. The sun would only start to rise, for it was a little after 7 AM in the morning. There was no hurry for the new appointed Commander. Besides, he hated being in a hurry for anything. He liked taking his time. Opening the door slowly and quietly, he hit something. There was a little sound. Once fully out of the boys' dormitory, Squall saw a plastic bag full of various items. He first recognized a stuffed animal. A gray and white dog looking thing that was clear to see by the dimmed hallway lights. There was some sort of heart shaped tag with two white lower case letters close together. A "t" and "y."

Only during the night until the sun would just start to peak over the horizon, these solar powered ceiling lights would dim, making it easy on the eyes for night patrollers who made sure that everyone standing around in the hallway or main entrance lobby were in their dorms with the lights off.

Anyway, besides the dog plush, he had found a casual outfit. Socks, white and light icy blue sneakers with shoe laces, blue jeans, underwear and bra that he had no intention of laying a finger on, and a T-shirt that had the picture of a cartoon orange and black striped cat in a white suit sitting on a bench. "HUNGRY IS AS HUNGRY DOES…" read the thought bubble. There was also the big font: Forest Gulp. On the side of inside the tan plastic bag, there were some more of those glass CD cases with various covers and words on them. Meaningless things to Squall, really.

"All of this belongs to Marianne," informed Quezacotl's voice in Leonhart's mind. Of course, he thought back. Edea left her another present… Feeling the wants of his Guardian, Leonhart thought it wasn't a big deal in just placing them nearby Marianne's hospital bed in the Infirmary. Besides, with that girl's head pain and all, he figured she'd still be asleep, right?

Off he walked then, to the Infirmary, with the dog under one arm, and plastic bag firmly gripped by both handles in one hand. The idea formed in his mind in dealing with Marianne for today was to just put her stuff down near the bed, then leave. He wasn't going to linger. Besides, he'd probably spend some of the day working out in the training center. He could read something from the library… Or just sulk to himself in misery. Leonhart was still not feeling that great on being Commander of Balamb Garden.

There were so many innocent people to watch over. So many to look up to him. It felt as if the entire world was lifted and then placed onto his shoulders. Did Cid really think he could take up this kind of responsibility? Why him? Why not just someone else?! It's fucked!!

Approaching quietly and cautiously as possible, Squall just wanted to get this done and over with. He pushed open one of the double doors to the resting area. Someone's muffling sounds were heard on the other side.

The head pain had come back, full throttle. Marianne reluctantly woke up. Hissing in pain, she placed one of her hands gently on where it hurt. She's awake then, Squall observed and approached nearby the bed she laid down on. The sound of his boots touching the floor had caused her to look in his direction. Fighting down on the pain, Marianne could just feel more tension coming from her. Ever since yesterday morning, she's felt intimidated and a little scared around this cold hearted young man known as Squall Leonhart.

Hostility, out of all things, was what she had not wanted. And since that early evening when Headmaster Cid Kramer was giving the announcements, Marianne had been trying to see past what she used to see Leonhart as. He had been a favorite video game character before, and now it was known that he was actually a real person. Deep down, a tiny part of her still had the same admiration, and it was to be hidden from him on this morning. Maybe one day she would tell him, but now was just not the time. Her head was hurting like hell, and she did NOT want to be dealing with Squall today. Anyone else was okay. Seifer, Zell, Quistis, Selphie… Perhaps a complete stranger. …Just not him. Can't he see that she's gone through enough for now?

"…If you are here to make-" Marianne was trying to say under her breath, through the pain she felt, but Squall abruptly cut her off from saying anything further by the serious tone in his voice. "Save your breath. I'm not here about that," Squall said, rather cold and firm. I know you don't want me here… The way he said it had gripped her attention. Drifting her eyes toward Leonhart, his look was blank, and he was truly trying his hardest not to stir tension in the other.

Showing her the bag and the dog, Squall added, "I'm just here to drop off your stuff. You do recognize all this, right?" From the way he was acting, Marianne easily read that Squall just wanted to respectfully take them to her before someone she wouldn't know would take her belongings into his or her possession. That, and he seemed to be in a hurry. She was too hurt and tired to tell him off for the previous events. A part of her wanted to, but overall felt that it was not going to happen. The pain… This God awful pain, Marianne's thoughts expressed in agony.

The things that Squall was holding in both of his hands. She couldn't clearly see what was in the bag, due to the dim light, but the dog plush she noticed. It was definitely hers. "Well?" Leonhart sighed, in irritation. The look on his face told Marianne that he didn't want to be here for long, and it was clear that he didn't want to be around her, period. "Yeah…" she whispered. "I know the dog is…" God, she hated this headache so much… "What's in the bag?" From that question asked, her whisper got a little louder. Placing her things down on the floor, Squall blankly reported as to what he found. "Clothes, a few of your 'CDs'… That's all I found in there."

"Ice…" Marianne softly requested all of a sudden. She heard Squall clearly, but just needed to numb down the pain, for it was just too much. "And… Could you hand me the…?" To Squall, he could see that she was very much in pain, but couldn't understand what that other request was. Quezacotl figured it out. He watched through Squall's eyes to see Marianne reaching for the nose part of the plush. "The dog… Give it to her," his Guardian insisted as Squall did so without complaints. "I'll be right back with an ice pack," Leonhart told her blankly and walked to the left, further down into the medical sections of the Infirmary, rather than exiting. Surely after this little task, he would leave. It's clear enough that neither of them want him to stick around.

I'm left with nothing but the memory of the way you used to feel…

He never went down this way, but it was no big deal. But a part of him felt a little bad for this person and fought through that dark, cold side of his heart. She's just as normal as any other human being, he mentally sighed to himself. For a while he has known that, and broken his own promise earlier to lighten up a little. Not his fault that Cid chose him to be Commander, to make him angry. That's the Headmaster's own damn fault.

In no time at all, in turning on the lights, Leonhart found what looked like a silver mini refrigerator. He opened the upper door. In there were the ice packs, as he thought where they would be. Without hesitation, he grabbed the cold rectangular blue ice pack and shut the freezer door. Then he walked back to where Marianne was resting, still hugging the dog with both arms, but gently. She looked to him and received the ice pack. Shortly, she softly uttered a "thanks" in reply, holding it to her head with one hand, and holding that dog close to her with the other. But what caught Squall's attention afterwards was the sad look in those blue green eyes, in which he's seen fear and terror from her before on the night of the Deling City Gate collapsing. How could such a person do this, as in break down his walls? Why should he even care?

The look in her eyes bothered him just the same. "What now?" he said, partly aggravated. He should have started walking out those doors to somewhere else, but didn't move. Marianne didn't do or say anything, but remained looking sad. "What is it?" he pressed. A part of him just wanted to know. What if it were something important to the Seifer and the others, and Cid?

Marianne heard him the first time, just after she begun to recall what was said in that dream before. That she was going to be in this world of Gala for a while. And there was something that had slipped her mind. The homesickness had been trying to recall this, but to no avail.

Scheduled to be at the end of June, there was somewhere she was looking forward to going with her father to. The National Invitational Theatre Festival of 2004. Back two years ago, she went with the high school drama group she was in. That is, until she graduated. At the University of Maryland, was a week full of fun. A week full of different high schools in her home world to perform shows and fun workshops. Including a day at the amusement park, Six Flags. It was basically going to be the same thing this year, but with her father, Thomas J. Markham. He didn't go the first time she went. This year was to be her second time at the National Theatre Festival, and this time her dad was going too. She was so wanting to go too… Because of what happened, she was going to have to miss out.

Squall got that same mental grip on reality towards her to answer him. "I'm…not going to Nationals…" she said, in summary of what was supposed to happen. Okay, what Marianne had just said did not make any sense to him whatsoever. "What are you talking about?" he asked. What's Nationals? What the hell…? …I don't get it, thought a perplexed Squall. "Then listen to her," Quezacotl suggested, feeling the need to tell him that. Squall has been feeling very shut off lately. "Have an open mind this time."

Marianne didn't want to go into full details on it, and decided to be brief as possible, but without giving much confusion. Besides, she knew Squall well enough to like explanations over anything. "There's a…certain event I was supposed to go to, at home. With my dad. I was really looking forward to going…" In talking about it, a part of her just felt so torn, remembering on seeing her father as an emotionless puppet to Sorceress Edea. Fresh, new tears were starting to appear in her eyes. Quickly, they came down her face. It hurt so much on missing this event, and how much she wished her father, along with her mother, was here with her, right now.

All of a sudden, a pang of guilt flooded across Leonhart. The walls easily seen through by the other, had been taken down again. He didn't fully understand on what Marianne was on about, but understood well enough that she didn't want to talk about it. Missing this "certain event" definitely hit her where it hurts. Her shaky breathing signaled to Squall that she had started crying.

She's wasn't even supposed to be here in the first place, he thought to himself and looked away from her. Now she can't go on that trip with her father… She really has been as normal as I have been all along. It was hard pushing away these feelings. The truth about him and the world of Gala hurt just as much. About halfway, he had begun to see past all what Marianne has explained, as to letting him in on that cold, cruel truth. Of all things, Squall felt he wasn't that cruel or near as cruel to that point. And leaving her like this would be on the same level.

Standing there for a moment longer, he was confirming this situation in thought. She's supposed to be at her home on Earth, with her family. She doesn't deserve all of this, damn it. Furthermore, her sadness reminded himself of how miserable he was as a child, an orphan. He knew what it felt like to not have any true parents of his own. In a few ways, he felt alike to Marianne.

Squall moved the chair by the far wall close to the bed and sat there, remembering how hurt and scared she was at first sight. The way she turned to Zell when Seifer raised his voice in just abruptly finding out what was going on. The emotional pain and suffering she was feeling now was somewhat similar to Ellone leaving Squall at the orphanage. In a way, he crystal clearly understood her situation.

Something bubbled up inside Squall's mind. There was a yearning from his Guardian. The thunderbird read Squall's feelings and made another suggestion. "Talk to her." Squall mentally objected. Marianne hadn't seen the alarmed look on his face. What?! I don't have anything to tell her to make her feel better, you know. "…I think you do, Squall." his Guardian Force further pressed.

Furious, Squall wanted to tell the nosy one off, but first… Oh… You deeply care about this girl, don't you? Squall had it figured out, and quick, remembering what Marianne said on that one dream. Quezacotl did meet her there, according to Marianne's words. He wasn't able to easily forget things. If you like her so much, then why don't you junction to her? Stop telling me what to do. Quezacotl countered, "I know you don't mean that. …And from before, I sensed two presences within Marianne in coming out of that battle with the T-Rexaur yesterday. Now there's only one. She drew out Leviathan, so where is that Guardian now? She must feel that Bahamut's enough for her to handle as a life partner, and I agree." This fact had opened Squall's eyes. Leviathan! If he wasn't inside Marianne, then where…?

"But don't ask her about that now. Don't rush her," Quezacotl said, quickly getting the upper hand on this mishap. "Just… at least be there to listen, if not to say much."

Marianne looked to Squall, realizing that he should have left by now. Bahamut figured it out. "Quezacotl…" No need to say anything more. She remembered how nice Squall's GF was. So, he must have made Squall stay and be of comfort. "Squall, how's Quezacotl doing?" she had to ask. Leonhart crossed his arms and remained blank and emotionless as he could. "He's fine… Rather concerned about you…" The bit on Quezacotl concerned for her got on his nerves. Curiously and likewise, Squall asked about Bahamut. "How's Bahamut treating you?" "Good, very good," Marianne said through her tears. "Yet somehow I feel his thoughts on feeling sorry in not being able to comfort me this time."

I guess you finally took the deepest cut.

I guess the blade on my tongue was just too much…

Her eyes drifted away from him again. "I guess you kind of know how I feel, huh," she figured, not realizing it was along Quezacotl's suggestions. I guess, Squall silently answered her. He really didn't have anything to say to her. He felt as if nothing would help. But what about hope? Weren't there any words out there for him to grab into mind and tell her?

No one's really sure on getting Marianne back home. Not even Marianne herself. Quezacotl didn't say anything. It seemed impossible to get his life partner to give hope. This was something Squall didn't want to believe. He was especially not a person to give false hopes to another. Leonhart was a direct and to the point person, strongly and completely down to earth. Let others be the ones to give her hope.

Tucked in bed, Marianne was feeling a little afraid again. Bahamut grumbled about Squall, irritated on how he's just sitting there and not saying anything. He was bringing a little bit of discomfort.

Just then they both noticed that the sun was beginning to rise. Marianne was faced away from the window beside her, but saw the light show on the wall far ahead of her. Squall briefly looked out the window, then down at the floor at his feet. The long and dangling dark brown hair on both sides of his head prevented the sun to blind him in the eye.

"Squall, at least say something to help her cope. If you were her, in that bed, and in her situation, would you want at least a little encouragement?" Quezacotl had tried, and it was up to his life partner to say anything or not.

Marianne, on the other hand, wasn't going to wait for Squall to say anything. Bahamut felt the same thing she was feeling. He probably wasn't going to say anything at all. "Well…there's always next year…" she tried to say, desperate to stay positive and kept Rinoa's presence in mind. "If there is going to be a next year," she added, unable to fight down those heartbroken feelings that Edea's caused in the long run. At any moment she would just let herself cry until she couldn't shed anymore tears.

"I don't know if there will be, but we sure will do our hardest to help you." The statement just slipped off Leonhart's tongue before he took notice. Damn it… Well, too late to turn back now. Quezacotl felt relieved, in which was what Squall could feel to his dismay. Leaning forward, Squall decided to finish off his statement in his own honest words. He saw the girl's innocent, teary eyes look at him. "I don't want to give you a false hope, but it is true that we're all concerned about you." Marianne slowly nodded in agreement, through her sobs. Squall continued, "I'm only promising that we'll try our best." She nodded again, knowing they would. And Marianne also knew that Squall wasn't one to give hope to anybody. She figured he'd say something like what he's just told her.

Every word that I said came from my dark side, now this

Emptiness is real…

"Thank you," she managed to whisper to him. Slowly, and a little louder, she added, "Thanks, for everything…" I know you really don't give a shit whether someone thanks you or not, but I had to say it. Squall, in return, didn't react. He just sat there, all stone faced. Just as she somewhat suspected in knowing him too damn well.

Thinking back to that night in which she had to explain everything, Marianne just couldn't look away from Squall this time. "I'm…sorry it had to turn out this way," she found herself apologizing. This sort of startled the usually untouched Squall Leonhart. She's sorry…? But, it's not even her fault. She's not involved in any… Shaking his head side to side slowly, he countered, "You don't have to be sorry on anything. It's not your fault that you are here. I can tell you don't even want to be here." From those words, Marianne was caught by surprise. So, he's truly having a change of heart around me? "Only by a little, I'm afraid," Bahamut assumed. "It's an improvement at least."

As from one Guardian Force to another in little personal missions, Bahamut forced himself to keep Quezacotl's secret mission remain a secret. If Marianne was let on it now, she would probably tell Squall, thus ruining his compassionate sibling's plan. And the dragon king didn't think the thunderbird would forgive him so easily for that.

You reach beneath the surface more…

"About Odine and Esthar…you're not in good shape at all to be dealing with it. My comrades and I will take it from here," Squall said for the injured one's sake. Wow, you sure did take a load off of my shoulders… Yeah, no doubt at all that Squall's a natural born leader, thought Marianne in part sarcasm, looking to him. "You just need to focus on getting better," Leonhart continued, really trying to put an end to all of his statements. He didn't want to go to far, because he won't fully admit he's gone a little soft. He paused for a second, and the look on Marianne's face was somewhat surprised. Shocked maybe. "Don't say it," Squall snapped irritably, and stood up. "I know what you're going to say. Yeah, okay…maybe I was chosen to be Commander for a reason. And there's no one else up to take my place, so I have no choice."

Indeed, somewhere along those lines, Marianne was going to bring up something on him being the Garden's commander ranked person. So, he can still read me like I can read through him. Bahamut found this to be interesting, and understood on why Marianne was hesitant in admitting to what she felt towards him before all of this mess. He didn't want to push her to say it either, knowing the results would be traumatizing for them both.

About to push his chair back where it belonged, Leonhart coldly announced, "I'll be going now…" "Hey," he heard her call to him, and he turned his head to look in her direction. Now what do you want? "Could you just stick around here for a while, until someone else comes…? Please?" Marianne gently requested.

There was something she felt from Leonhart… Comfort. And for a time, just his presence would just help her, along with her junctioned Guardian from breaking down in tears. Bahamut, no matter in how much pain she was in, could feel the her brain improvising. She was quite a fighter.

Squall only gave her a look that said a "no," but she had come up with something to make him agree. "In return…I won't mention what was said this morning. When someone else comes, I'll just say you were just leaving." "But, I don't have anything else to tell you," Squall honestly protested, and trying not to make her upset or anything.

Why are you promising this? …What is it that you want from me? Confusion and irritation clouded his mind all at once. What bugged him even more was feeling Quezacotl's agreement in this. "You don't have anything better to do, Squall," the bird from within pointed out. Surprisingly, Marianne had said something similar to that, possibly not realizing that his Guardian came across it first. "It's not like you have anything better to do right now."

Too blind to see…you stole my honesty…

In proving that the two were right, Squall placed himself back down in the chair. "I know you're not one of words, but at least just listen," Marianne asked of him. "Bahamut can do that too, you know," Leonhart mentioned, defending himself. "Squall," Quezacotl pressed. Well, fine then! Leonhart mentally grumbled to him and remained sitting down. "I know, I just…" she was trying to say, but was having a bit of trouble finding the right words. "Don't want to be alone?" Squall finished. He watched her think for a moment, and nodded somewhat in agreement. Yeah, I know how you feel… I felt the same way after Ellone…

"That, and I'd like a human presence if it's not too much to ask," Marianne added after a moment long pause. "A…person for a person I thought of and miss so much." Her father, Squall figured, on about the one being missed. He didn't know how it felt about having a father, but could understand her troubles anyway. He's someone she really cares about… And her mother too… Squall then realized that she was having another case of homesickness. Oh yeah, this was going to be a constant thing, knowing that Edea's made her parents to be mindless slaves.

Hey, it isn't too bad Marianne… At least they're alive. "At least they're alive," Squall repeated from his mind aloud. The monotone of his voice remained the same throughout, showing no emotion. "Yeah, but I'm not sure if it'll stay that way," she somewhat agreed. The sound of her voice signaled fear. Fear and care for her loved ones.

These feelings of despair were reaching deep into Leonhart's soul and gripping onto it. Her grief was just emotionally frustrating him. Didn't he prove himself clear that everyone leaves you at one point? No, being like that towards her would be cruel. He'd just lifted her spirit's a little, and he had no intention of taking them down. Quezacotl, no doubt in his right mind, would disapprove all the way.

Unable to shake her emotions away, he had to just point out something. Directly facing her dispirited form, he spoke what he thought was right. "From what myself and the others are getting, you don't know much on what's going on at Earth right now. So don't assume anything." The way he said those words was just through irritation, and a small part of him hated seeing Marianne like this. Somewhat noble and understanding, he confirmed in his mind that he would do all he can, now that he was to be the Commander.

Leviathan… he reminded himself and was impatient to ask about it. "Quezacotl let me know that you no longer have Leviathan. Where is he?" Marianne felt a jolt in her veins when Squall brought that matter up. "Nobody told you yet?" she quirked in a medium whisper. So, everyone else besides me knows what happened to Leviathan? "No…" he replied, forcing himself to remain calm. He hoped she didn't do anything…rash. "What did you do with Leviathan." "Okay, don't be mad or anything, but…" Marianne begun to say, knowing from her experience as the "game player," the SeeD trainees would have to earn their Guardian Forces. And Seifer Almasy didn't actually earn one yet, did he?

"I gave him to Seifer," Marianne said, pushing herself to just remain calm. Squall wasn't mad, but rather surprised. "He was the only one without a Guardian Force. And as…the, you know, I knew you'd have to basically study hard or whatever to earn as GF." Leonhart of course knew that Marianne hadn't been here in Gala for as long as he has, and nodded. He understood upon her actions. The intentions were from her heart alone, and that she wasn't from here.

"Okay," he simply said, to Marianne's disbelief. What, not even a disapproval? No, Squall wasn't even one to make much disapprovals over one's actions. So the disbelief was short lived. Inside, she was thankful that Squall took this in okay. "So, if no one told you anything about it, where were you?" Marianne curiously asked her visitor. "Sleeping," Leonhart simply told her, voice going back to the dull monotone. "Oh," she replied, smiling a little. She should have known he would have done something like that. Squall caught Marianne's little smile, and didn't understand, but ignored it.

In monitoring them both, through Marianne's eyes, Bahamut felt like he could relax through this. For once, Squall wasn't intimidating her or causing her to be tense, afraid or angry. This was good. Quezacotl's plan was working. Maybe, in time, the two would get to know each other and form a bond of trust. It seemed to be a high possibility. "Quezacotl, like you, knows Squall too well," he told Marianne. She acknowledged this, but didn't feel like responding.

From there, Marianne had fallen silent for a moment. She felt a tiny bit better in knowing for sure that Squall would do all he could to be of help.

Squall, on the other hand, felt like he was just warming up. His curiosity had gotten the better of him now. "So, if we manage to get you back to Earth, what does that make us?" Realizing on what he was on about, Marianne quickly replied, "You guys could come on Earth with me and stay there. You don't have to…" She trailed off, knowing that Squall knew he didn't like the concept of being created for someone else's entertainment. "Besides, I'd need help in defeating Edea…" A sad sigh escaped from her lips. Right, he doesn't know the total truth on Edea. Only half of it…

Like the Headmaster, Cid Kramer, Marianne knew that Edea wasn't always…evil. She used to be the caretaker at that orphanage Squall and the others grew up in. Matron… Yes, of course. Squall and company had addressed her by "Matron." This is really depressing, she thought.

"Squall, there's also something else you don't know about the sorceress. Of who she was before, I mean…" Leonhart's attention never left her. "…What do you mean by that?" The sigh and frown on her face made him feel a slight dread on what was to be explained. "She wasn't always like that…" Looking into his eyes, Marianne questioned, "Do you remember…the woman who organized the orphanage you stayed in?"

There was a startled reaction. It was truly freaky and strange over this whole thing that Squall has learned about. She used to see us as fictional game characters after all… It's all just sick… He was going to get have to get used to her. Shaking her head in guilt, she added, "Sorry…" Abruptly, Squall bit back on the shockwave he felt and focused on answering her question. "…I think so, but I've always addressed her as Matron, but not by her name." Remembering, his mind drifted off into another place for a moment. She was such a compassionate person…

Quezacotl helped a bit by bringing the memory that he was struggling to remember. The thunderbird showed him an image of Edea before she became a sorceress. Long brown hair. A caring, loving face with brown eyes. She sort of looked like Rinoa.

The idea shocked him whole. No, Edea couldn't be… "Are you saying that Sorceress Edea was Matron?" The tone of Leonhart's voice was deadly serious. He didn't want to believe it. "Depressing, isn't it?" she said, tone of voice sounding like she was depressed. Squall sat back in his chair, taken back by all of what has been mentioned on Edea. First, on Marianne, bringing her here and switching places. Then he found out she was married to Cid. And now the third puzzle piece.

"A truly twisted human being," Marianne confirmed. "Although it's not her fault. It's…Ultimecia's." Ultimecia, the name repeated in young man's mind. The sorceress from the future.

Then, the two had heard someone come in. It was Dr. Kowadaki. "Oh, good morning Squall," she said. "Congratulations on your promotion." She seemed oblivious for a moment as to wonder why Squall was visiting Marianne. She noticed the tension between the two, yesterday afternoon. Well, then she returned back to normal.

Squall had ignored the comment as Kowadaki asked, "Why are you here?" He began to stand up, knowing that Marianne had to fill her part of the bargain. Actually, he said the line for her. "I was just leaving…" he said, returning to the stone faced persona. "I found a few of her things left by Sorceress Edea, and brought them to her." With a shrug, he furthermore said, "She also asked for ice, so I gave it to her."

After that, he said nothing more. Leonhart moved the chair back to his original spot, and left the Infirmary without looking back. He didn't hear her say anything to make him halt in his footsteps, so it must have been what was exactly planned.

Cueing to the good doctor, Marianne heard her state in sympathy, "It must be so difficult for you. Being away from home like this, I mean…" She silently nodded in response, remaining depressed when letting Squall know of Edea's former life. Her tears were long gone, but she still missed her parents and hated having to miss the National Theatre Festival.

Kowadaki had a tray of breakfast food with her. Orange juice, toast, and eggs. "I've brought you some breakfast," she told her gently while placing the tray on her desk that was clean of paperwork. She left briefly to get a small table for Marianne to eat upon. After everything was set up for her, she began to eat.