By: Angelo Di Desiderio
Disclaimer: Square-Enix owns Final Fantasy VIII & Kingdom Hearts II and related characters. Not I. Than 'kith.
A/N: Boo-ya! I'm back!
"Why do you always have to be the hero? Won't you just let me die?"
Squall wasn't expecting a hug or any sign of appreciation but he didn't expect him to actually want to die. 'He should be at least grateful that anyone is letting this scum live. If I had my way I'd…'
"Look I'm not anymore thrilled about this than you are but be grateful Cid is a merciful man. If I was in-charge you would have been dead along time ago."
" So what is this? I'm just free to go? No one will let me back in town!"
Squall was now getting frustrated. 'Why won't he just shut up and listen?'
"Technically Seifer, you're not free. In exchange for you life you've given up that right." He pulled out a white sheet of paper and began to recite from it as if in front of a classpoetry reading.
"According to Article 119 Section C of the Balamb Garden Code, you Seifer Almasy, are forbidden to set foot in or within 150 feet of any rural town, city, or land subject of civilization. To breech this contract results in immediate death without trial or bail."
Impressed with the recital he let out his all too familiar grin.
"That code is bogus. Something you and Cid made up to save your butts?"
"More like yours, now sign it."
Squall forcefully held out the papers to his face and flashed a pen to indicate where to sign.
Shrugging in defeat Seifer sighed, "Sure, not like I have a choice right?"
"You got it."
A part of Seifer was somewhat enthralled with the fact he got to live, but there was one minor detail Squall had 'forgotten' to mention before he signed the contract. He was forced to wear a tracer 24/7 and if he took it off, even for just a moment, he would be executed in a flash. He didn't mind being alone so much, but living with the fact that someone had to bargain for his life was pathetic.
'All this trouble…they should have just killed me. Cowards.'
It was first week adventuring the world as a loner, something he had never really done before.
'So this is what Squall feels like…'Balamb & Galabadia had permitted him to have his gunblade back to use as protection from monsters, so he made good use of it. Even though it was degrading to have puberty boy bail him out, he felt like a man again whenever he brushed that trigger between his fingers and felt that blade slash through the light air softly like silk.
He had ended up in the Gotland Peninsula and was admiring the ocean for a bit when he heard someone coming towards him. Grabbing him gunblade he towards around to find the most unexpected but then again completely expected creature in front of his eyes.
"You guys again eh?"
Sorceress A & B rushed towards him with great speed. He was expecting an attack but instead felt a rushing wind from behind him sucking him into a black abiss.
'Oh shit.'
Squall had been informed in the middle of a very important meeting with Dollet that Seifer had disappeared off the tracing map. This was not what he wanted to hear today, of all days. 'Damn you Seifer, it hasn't even been a week!'
When he excused himself as politely as he could he found it exceedingly hard to control the wave of anger that wanted to flow through his entire face. When Nida had showed him whereSeiferhad beenbefore he disappear Squall immediately came to the conclusion that he decided to hop into the ocean and drowned himself. Well that's what he wished for anyway.
Despite the issue with Seifer it had been a winningly quiet few months at Balamb Garden. That was mainly due to the fact that everyone of the gang had left. After the Ultimecia Affair, Selphie grew extremely homesick and gathered a bunch of garden volunteers to help rebuild Trabia Garden. Zell and Irvine decided to tag along.
Quistis was offered her position back but profoundly refused. She didn't think she had it in her anymore to be a member of SeeD and found great pride in joining Edea at the orphanage and becoming a matron. This surprised much of garden and extremely disappointed the trepies. In fact, garden was even on high alert when the news was announced because of fear of riots, or possible suicides.
For Rinoa's efforts in freeing Timber she was given the key to the city as Timber was made an independent nation for the first time in 17 years. Squall ridden with guilt, could not make the ceremony.
His private life had returned to normal, his friends had all left him and his duties as a SeeD got in the way of any teenager activities he might have otherwise been doing.
Squall hadn't informed anyone of the Seifer situation, he knew everyone was busy with their own affairs and didn't want to interfere. So he decided to take along 4 SeeDs to check out the area where Seifer made his annoying disappearance. When they checked out the area (which was a relatively blank open space) and found nothing, Squall got worried. Cid advised talking to his comrades to spark up a plan.
"That crazy bastard! You know he probably broke the freakin' tracer and is running around crazy somewhere killing a bunch of people right? This is totally insane!" Zell of course always had to give his opinion first, with his fists tightly clenched.
"How are you gonna keep this a secret from Galabadia? This could mean big trouble if they find out." Her juvenile voice had matured a bit, but not much.
"I know Selphie, that's why I'm asking you guys for some ideas. I just don't understand how this could happen. We would have spotted him somewhere, Balamb sent hover crafts to patrol the entire continent and not one goddamn plane has spotted him yet!"
"Hey man, just chill. Seph' and me u'll come up with something alright? You just sit tight and file papers or whatever it is you do." Irvine had perdominatly become more laidback and careless. Everyone figured it was because he was trying to impress Selphie.
'Gee thanks, Irvine.'
"…Okay."
"In the meantime you should ask Edea, I bet she could sense where he is."
"Thanks Selphie, I will."
On Squall's way to the orphanage he noticed a strange light show in the sky. It almost appeared as if the stars were dancing around a large purple ball rotating in the sky. The phenomenon was all over the news and many thought it was the end of the world.
When he reached the tall white castle he saw Quistis who was expecting his arrival, was already waiting for him outside.
"Hurry Squall, Matron's ill."
Suddenly he felt his entire gut clench up and his heart stop.
Six children were all huddled around Edea's bed when he entered her bedroom. He didn't think she could get anymore pale, if it was even more humanly possible, but she was as white as pure snow. Her black hair now streaked with light gray was messy and tossed about on her pillow. Her lips, usually a periwinkle pink, were now so pale it looked at if they melted into her skin.
'How could this have happened?'"It was strange, she was fine yesterday and now she looks deathly ill. It occurred as soon as that orb appeared in the sky."
"So you think it's related?"
"I don't know for sure, but it seems that way."
He kneeled next to the bed like a knight next to his mother in her deathbed.
"Matron I wish this wasn't the time to ask you but I need your help."
"It's okay Squall. I know. Just take Rinoa there…"
Quistis and Squall alike were confused by her words.
"Matron, what do you mean? Take Rinoa to the peninsula?"
Edea gallantly passed out.
"Edea!"
A/N: Okay so I was a day late, but I'm done with school now! Yey! I can only blame my tardiness on work, they gave me an 8-hour shift and I was wiped out from that and school. But Hey, I'm back and ready to continue full speed ahead so tell me what you think ya? I know the chapters are semi-short but I just feel like these are good spots to end them.