Thanks for the reviews everyone! I yield, I'll do the epilogue (If only because I've got soooo much to explain after this chap...).

Kamichiee: as loyal reader/reviewer, this chap's dedicated to you. Thanks!

Enjoy, everyone!

Chapter 6

I didn't know anyone could feel this happy. Least of all me!

It's still early, and the corridors are almost empty. Just as well. Anyone who would be looking wouldn't believe what he saw. I mean, I'm fucking notorious for not smiling, ever.

But I am smiling now. My world is reeling. Last night…One moment, one sign of affection and everything, everything is different. I don't care what everyone else thinks. Not what Rinoa thinks, or my mistrusting 'friends', and least of all do I care about their misgivings towards Seifer. It's strange to feel that way. Strangely liberating.

I get my breakfast from a still sleepy cafeteria lady and eat it in blissful solitude. Currently I don't want company from anyone else but one specific person, and he's not one to get up early.

Enjoying the peace and quiet I haven't had in quite a while, I consider taking a day off. A scarily spontaneous decision, especially coming from me, but I kind of like the thought. Or I could just go to work and give them all hell. Nice thought. Very appealing. I feel like I can take on the world today!

A bold statement as it turns out, one I get to put it to the test immediately. In the corner of my eyes I can see a familiar figure approaching my table. Knowing I can't avoid contact, I look up at him when he stops at my table. "Morning, Zell."

"Morning," he answers a bit distracted. He's picking at his fighting gloves, a habit he adopted when he got smacked one time too often for 'swatting flies', as Seifer calls it. But it means the same: he's nervous and impatient. My observation is confirmed by the complete lack of the usual word-storm he spouts.

"So…what's up?" he asks me in an attempt to both start a conversation and postpone having to say what he's here for.

"I think should be asking you that. You're the one who's sweating."

"I've… been running."

"And I'm Peter Rabbit," I retort casually.

He cracks a short laugh, but then goes silent again. I'm sure that whatever it is, I'm not going to like it. And he knows that, too.

"Look," Zell finally starts, "Quis asked me to…She wants to have a word with you. In your office."

I sigh. It was all too good to be true, right? Finally finding what you didn't even knew you missed all your life, and then of course the people come who want to take that away. I'm beginning to think that they intentionally want to keep me troubled and broken. I suppose I'm easier to push around that way. Well, not anymore I'm not!

Getting to my feet, I give Zell a stern look. "If that's what she wants, then that's what she gets."

But he just looks away with a pained look in his eyes. Involuntarily, my stomach tightens.

I should have known she wouldn't want to face me again on her own. You've got no case when there are no witnesses. And she brought out our whole team from the war. Irvine and Selphie are huddled together on my couch, and Zell steps up next to Rinoa after he closed the door behind me. Most disturbingly, however, is the fact that my chair is already occupied.

"So your 'coupe d'etat' is a fact now, Quistis?"

Leaning on the desk, she gives me a look that borders between anger and worry. And more professional than I'd like to admit.

"Commander Leonheart, as second-in-command and in the presence of Balamb Garden staff officers, I hereby inform you that you are relieved of your duty, effective immediately."

I keep my face still, but swallow at the coldness in her voice and her eyes. I expected this. Something inside of me knew this was going to happen. But it still took me by surprise. Lost for words, I can only nod. There's nothing I can do now to object, and I'm not even sure if I'd want to. If this is the price I have to pay to get a shot at happiness, then so be it. Slowly, I remove my insignia's and place them on the desk, one by one. They mean a lot to me, but not so much that I would betray Seifer for them.

Last night, we talked about the possibility of this scenario actually coming down. He knows the Garden staff doesn't approve of our friendship, and he said that if push came to shove, he'd stand by me. He hadn't been particularly displeased with the idea of me leaving Garden all together. 'Just a good reason for me to blow this joint, too,' he had claimed with his trademark grin on his face.

As I lay the last of my stars in front of Quistis, I meet her eyes again. They are much less factual now. Carefully she picks up my stars. "I only do what I deem necessary, Squall," she adds quietly. "That and nothing more."

Yeah, sure, as if. I consider snarling at her, but since everyone looks like they're attending a funeral already, I pass on the idea and just throw a salute at her. She's my superior now, after all. And the one to whom I should declare my resignation.

And why not? My career as a SeeD is down the drain now anyway.

"Sir, in addition to my rank I would like to hand in my resignation as SeeD. In light of all of this, I wish to leave Garden entirely."

Quistis looks surprised, but recomposes immediately. I watch her as she places my insignia in the drawer of my…no, her desk. Then she looks up again, eyes stern but not void of emotion.

"Premission denied," she says explicitly.

"What? Why?"

"Because of your condition."

What the hell? 'Condition'? They just took away my dignity, so why can't they at least let me keep my life, my future! "What's that supposed to mean, sir?"

Everyone in the room is shifting nervously now, except Quistis who straightens her back.

"Squall, do you know why I relieved you from your duties?" she asks carefully.

I can't stop something of a snarl coming out. She may be my older sister and my former teacher, but that's no reason to patronize me like this.

"Because of Seifer," I answer coldly. "Apparently you consider my friendship to the man who is technically our brother a threat to Garden security and my ability to lead Garden properly." I look around, examining each face in the room. My friends, my siblings… Even my girlfriend. Then why do I feel like a caged animal?

Quistis bites her lip. Then she opens one of the desk drawers and takes out a folder. "This is indeed about Seifer," she says as she places the folder in front of her, "But not about your friendship with him. If it were possible, all of us would actually encourage the two of you becoming friends rather than rivals. But it isn't possible, Squall. And you know that."

"It is possible!" I hiss. "Better yet: it's already a fact! We're friends, brothers. Maybe even more."

"It's no use denying what you've seen, Squall."

"What I have seen is my so-called friends denying me!" I yell at all of them. "Seifer is the only one who didn't try to change me!"

Quistis' face reddens. "Considering you were the one who discovered him, your reaction is very understandable. But that doesn't change the fact it's not healthy to deny reality!"

"Reality is that the people who call themselves my friends will stop at nothing to take away the only thing that really makes me happy!"

"YOU CAN'T RUN FROM THIS!" she screams in my face, slamming her hand on the folder in front of her. Tears are streaming down her face now.

Shit. This wasn't my intention. "Quis, please. No need to get upset. I don't mean to say you guys are bad friends, but you must admit that you've given me a very hard time lately."

But she isn't listening. Her fingers are trembling as she searches through the folder on the desk. Seifer's personnel file, I notice now. I try to calm her, but she rips the folder open and pushes it under my nose.

"He's gone, Squall! You can't keep denying it! Seifer's dead! And has been for months!"

Her words make me freeze. Dead? No, Seifer isn't dead. He was with me last night. He can't be dead. Or can he?, a part of me asks. I push the thought away, but it comes running back when I see which section of the folder Quistis has put in front of me. There are no documents, only photographs.

Photographs of Seifer…

And of a blood-covered wall…

And a handgun…

I don't want to see them. I don't want to face what the pictures tell me, what they remind me of, but I can't look away. My eyes are glued on each sickening detail, and all feeling in my body drains away. Tear are brimming my eyes. Someone help me? Please?

My body feels like it's tearing itself apart from the inside out.My mind is running overtime. Denial and memories are taking over one another for the upper hand. I'm not sure anymore of what I think. Of what I remember happening... The only thing I'm sure of is that I don't want to lose him. Not again. Not now! Seifer, you…

"I promised," a familiar voice says quietly.

I jerk when I suddenly feel a hand lightlky touching my shoulder. My head snaps up, and I see Seifer standing there right by me. He has a sad but tender look in his eyes, and a faint smile tugs at his lips as his strong fingers gently squeeze my shoulder. Then he leans forward.

"Everything I told you is true, Squall," he whispers in my ear. "And my promise still stands. Even when you think you can't find me."

A light kiss brushes my forehead. When I look at his face again, he's walking backwards toward the office windows, smiling at me all the while.

And then he's gone.

To everyone who expected a happy ending: don't shoot me! This isn't a cheap way of cutting a story short. It was planned to end this way all along. The epilogue should make sense of it.

(And to everyone who saw this coming: please drop me line on what clued you in, so I know what not to do if I decide to write anything like this again.)