AN: This was written and edited once within an hour. I do not apoligize for being busy or for taking some time in updating because frankly, i have stuff to do. This chapter might not hit the standards i am trying to push but hopefully it should hold you guys over. Avoid complaining about grammer because i probably did not pay much attention to it. Other than that, i hope you guys enjoy the events to follow.

The next morning his internal clock was as sharp as ever, waking him up early in the morning only this time to a bit of a surprise. He yawned and stretched in his bed when he found out he was very much not alone. Rinoa had somehow found her way to his bed that night and had snuggled up against him, arms wrapped around his exposed chest.

He thought he might need to wake her to be freed from her grasp so he may start his day, but his efforts were returned with a cutes whimper and an even tighter hold. What amazed Squall the most was how comfortable he felt with her around him, especially since he never liked being near people. 'What is it about this girl that does this to me?'

With his uninhibited hand he turned off the alarm clock he had set to signal when he should wake up Rinoa once he decided they should sleep in.

'Missing one day of classes shouldn't hurt.'

If anyone had any problems with that, they could take it up with the commander.

In his mind he could feel a familiar presence lurking around looking for details he had denied Griever earlier. 'Stop that. You will ask for my permission first.'

< You will learn your place young one. Let the elders go about their business. >

'Young one? I thought I was a young pup.'

< Even pups grow up someday. Your time has come I think. Now hush so I can go about my work. There is something I need to be sure of. >

The young warrior rolled his eyes in annoyance knowing he could do little to stop the ever persistent guardian from doing his work. He had come to trust him after all this time. If Griever ever wanted to treat him in ill mannered ways, he certainly could. Perhaps it was time to extend his faith.

Squall fell asleep peacefully with the girl held tightly within his welcoming embrace. Rinoa had found her way to the nook of his neck and allowed Squall to rest his chin upon her soft raven hair, a smile smeared across both their lips. Was it possible for someone to feel so soft? To smell so good?

The room felt natural. Everything was as it should be and untainted by the clumsiness of human interference. They were not just two human sacks that were tossed against one another but two souls that searched and yearned to be completed. They were the product of the purest and most natural form of love.

The harmony that was floating through the air was suddenly grounded as a loud banging was heard against the door forcing the eyes of the couple to quickly shoot open. There wasn't time to be shocked at the position they woke up in, not time for Rinoa to have worried about missing her classes. They both knew they could not be caught like this.

"Quickly, hide back in the other room, I'll send away whoever it is." Even when snapped from his sleep Squall had an authoritative voice.

Once he heard the other door slam shut he rolled out of bed and pulled on an old T-shirt. He rubbed his eyes and ruffled his hair further to appear as if the banging itself had awoken him from a sleep he desperately needed, though he actually felt quite refreshed.

Squall needed a second to regain his cold composure once more. Rumors would spread like a fanned wildfire should he respond with a smile or even the slightest smirks upon his face.

Once at the entrance he forced a yawn as he disengaged the lock and allowed the door to open with a 'swish'. Who he saw before him was the last person he needed to see.

Irvine Kinneas, wannabe cowboy and sharpshooter extraordinaire. He was easily recognizable with his cowboy hat and boots that were declared his trademarks. The tan clothes he wore quite often looked like the rejects from an old cowboy movie, but no one would dare say that to him. Despite his fashion shortcomings Squall had granted him instructor status for one reason and one reason alone. He was simply the best at what he does.

Though now Squall suddenly regretted hiring Irvine. The man could smell a pretty girl from miles away, similar to how a shark could smell blood. Squall would have to get rid of him, quick.

"What do you want?" Squall winced when he said that, he was supposed to act sleepy.

"Hey hombre! Everyone has been wondering where you've been. No one could find you last night or this morning. Not like you to skip out on work. Come in? Don't mind if I do." Irvine brushed passed Squall who could only think of the punishments this man had just earned.

"Get out. I'm taking a personal day." It was no use. Irvine was already accustomed to Squall's commanding voice.

'Could I kill him and just hide the body? Would anyone really miss him? Damn. Selphie would and then no one would get any rest.'

The brash young cowboy stood just inside the room and took a thorough glance of the dorm none had ever seen the insides of before. There was no doubt his newfound vision would have a painful price tagged along with it.

It was then his eyes landed on two slim shoes that stood by the doorway. Heels none the less. There were only two explanations. It was possible the young commander had finally lost it and started cross dressing when no one was watching. While this was certainly the far more amusing choice, it was not likely. Not with the slight aroma of women's perfume still lingering around.

That only meant.

"A girl! Well well. Squall has finally grown up and bagged himself a girl. Looks like you finally learned a thing or two from yours tru-"

Irvine immediately found his body forcibly pressed against the door as eyes full of blue fire blazed on within Squall. The standard look of annoyance was replaced by a far more fearful expression.

"You were never here. You never saw anything. You will not say a word. If I catch even the slightest hint that anyone suspects anything..."

A pause for dramatic effect? Or a pause to ensure his prey understood that the threat which followed was not a bluff

"I'll have them ripped off." There was no doubt as to what Squall was referring to.

Squall wasn't about to let Irvine have even the slightest opportunity to respond as he pressed the door button and allowed it to swish open. Irvine stumbled backwards into the hallway in a near daze before straitening his hat and continuing along his merry way. In his mind a lone thought ran through his mind. 'I was never here. I was never here. I was never here.'

Squall's forehead met with the door when it closed. The consequences of his heart's choice were quickly dawning upon him. They needed to do this smart if they wanted to avoid getting caught.

His mind raced with thoughts as he refused to move from his position. His keen senses dulled to the world around him while potential plans stormed his foggy mind.

From behind a loving embrace strapped him into reality with their innocence and care as Rinoa wrapped her slender arms around the warrior. She rested her head ever so slightly upon his back while a 'thank you' escaped the confines of her soft pink lips.

With a flash of lightening, thunder soon rolled in his heart. The confusion his mind was tormented with seconds ago vanished as clarity settled in. Only one word could describe the emotion he was feeling. Only one word could communicate that feeling which was hard to pinpoint.

Betrayal.

< No! You fool! It's not what it seems! Don't jump to conclusion. You were not supposed to see that memory out of context! >

The hug he was enveloped in shattered as he roughly grabbed the arms of the surprised young lady and slammed her form against the door so harshly it almost felt the need to conform to her figure. He systematically reached for her throat and caused her quivering hands to reach up and clasp at his vice-like grip.

It was not shock that mastered her thought process, only fear. The murderous look he held was an image she could not soon eliminate from her memories.

Squall spoke in his cold calculated voice, as if the person he was interrogating was a prisoner and not a woman he just a few moments ago thought he cared for.

"Answer truthfully. A few years ago. Balamb Garden. An inauguration ball. Were you there?"

Tears started to slowly escape her eyes. Even though it was her neck that was ensnared, it felt as if someone had clutched her heart.

"WHERE YOU THERE?" He already knew the answer. She was caught within the tinniest parts of his memory, brought forth only by Griever's meddling for information. While the two never met, she failed to escape his sights back then. However the sorceress battle to come and time itself would bury many memories from the man who abandoned his past.

She could only reply in a soft whimper that resembled that of a child who knew not why they were being punished. "Yes."

"You met with Siefer?" His mortal enemy. The bane of his existence. The man whose life he wished more than ever he did not spare.

Rinoa had to cooperate. That was the only way she could get an answer as to why he was behaving that way. Perhaps that was the only way she could leave this room unharmed.

"Yes"

His face hardened further while his crystal blue eyes further glazed over.

< STOP IT! You are overreacting. If you do not start acting more rational you will do irreparable harm! >

'SHUT UP YOU SORRY EXCUSE FOR A GUARDIAN! They all betray. Never trust anyone. That has kept me from feeling this way for so long.'

"You tried to seduce him? Get him to support Cid in aiding your cause? To help your friends in Timber? That's what matters most to you isn't it?" He had learned that little piece of information just the night before. She joined the SeeD program in hopes she could bring her friends aid when she was strong enough. It was her reason for working.

She never asked him for his support. That was why Squall silently decided he would help her.

"Squall I…" Rinoa understood now what conclusions he must be jumping to.

"YES OR NO!" He couldn't let her sweet talk her way out of this. He would not be made a fool of again. He was after all, the Lion of Balamb.

"Yes..."

Only one more question was need in order to seal her fate The tears now too began to form at his own eyes as the anger began to subside and the pain settle in where it was most comfortable. In Squall.

"Do you know that I am the Commander?" He would know if she was lying. Ever person had a tell.

Her eyes darted back and forth looking for a way out of answering this question. If Rinoa lied she knew she would be caught. If she told the truth, a great misunderstanding would form between the two. She was caught in her own catch 22.

"Yes."

His grip upon her neck loosened allowing his arm to fall down and hang lifelessly at his side. His face fell foreword to lock gazes with the floor as a new quiet reverberated throughout his room.

Having found what Rinoa felt an opportune moment, she sought to explain her actions and rectify this ill situation.

"Squall I –"

"Get out. I do not want to see you again." Most thought he was a man that abandoned all emotions. None understood that he was one who felt more than most. He long ago had formed a disturbing hurtful relationship with pain.

"But "

"IF you so much as look at me again. You will be expelled. There will be no helping your Timber friends then." His resolve would not be shaken. He would not be tormented again. She had to leave his life now. She had to leave his memories forever.

Her lips quivered in sadness instead of fear. She didn't know what caused this sudden turn of events but a misunderstanding has now separated these two.

The emotions belonging only to mankind tore apart the natural beauty of love that flowed between them earlier. And yet Squall really could not be held at fault. Not in Hyne's eyes. For he was only human.

Rinoa's head hung in defeat as she slipped on her shoes and quickly exited the room leaving only a stream of tears in her place. With any other person she would have stayed and fought. With any other man she would have gotten her way. But not with the man she cared too much about. As strong as she liked to make herself seem, inside there was a child who was constantly turned away from those she cared about.

Squall remained in his room standing in almost near disbelief over what he had done. He was almost sure he had made the right decision. There could be no other explanation. She was trying to seduce him to get her way. Those feelings shared earlier were false.

How else could a homeless man/mugger smelling of garbage have had pearl white teeth and finely manicured fingernails?

It was a setup. An attempt to get him to fall in love with her.

Had it worked? Was he thoroughly seduced by the young enchantress? Had he fallen in love?

The answer was undeniably yes.

That left only one option. She must be expelled from his memories. That was the only way to keep the hurt from returning. The only way he could return to his former self. Only one could possibly grant him this blessing.

'Griever! Erase her from my mind. I command you this instant!'

Only silence ensued.

'Griever!'

But the guardian force was no where to be found toiling around in his head. For the first time since Time Compression, Squall Leonhart was truly alone. He was a Lion without a Pride.

Well now that you have read, perhaps you would like to review? WEll i think you guys really want to review, so go ahead!