9
Squall frowned as a hand shook him gently, "Get up, kitten. It's almost noon…"
Seifer grinned as the brunet bolted up, "What!"
Dran was licking the snow outside as Squall and Seifer mounted their horses and continued on their journey.
"The spring is two days away…it would be nice…we could wash up and fill our bottles with warm water."
"That's great. I hate winter…the cold always makes me feel edgy."
"Really? In my kingdom it's spring now. The snow is melting all over and there are flowers everywhere."
Squall's eyes shone, "Are you serious? Flowers and spring? Gavin told me about those countries, but I've never been to one."
"Really? I think you will love my hometown. My father had been such a peaceful ruler and I'm trying my best to protect it and keep it that way."
Squall blinked sadly and nodded.
"Angelus betrayed me, but I'm not going to war against him. I don't care about an insult like that…too many people would die if I decide to take petty revenge and the beautiful meadows that once bloomed with roses would just burn and turn to ashes."
Squall's head began to throb dully…fires…it was something about fires.
"I heard this kingdom's castle burned to the ground the day Angelus came to invade it."
Squall stopped his horse, feeling slightly lightheaded…a burning castle.
"Squall?"
Seifer stopped and turned to him, "Are you okay? You look pale."
"The castle…burned…and what happened to the king, the queen?"
"They were killed."
"Killed…"
"Squall?"
The brunet swayed slightly but shook his head to clear it. 'What is wrong? Leon?'
Seifer frowned, "Squall?"
Violet eyes trained themselves on the blonde's face, "Man, you sure are a talkative one."
"What the hell…your grey eyes." Seifer frowned, the first night he had slept with the brunet…violet eyes, "What the hell is going on Squall?"
Leon frowned and shrugged, "Nothing would have gone wrong if you would stop talking you know."
Squall's voice was now deeper, his frown harsher, "Your eyes, they were like that too… the day you saved me."
"Yeah…Just call me Leon when that happens."
"What?" Seifer frowned.
"Huh…look, when Squall was young, he had an…accident…and well forgot all his past and I was created to protect him when he decides he can't handle the pressure."
"What pressure…I didn't do anything."
"Yeah, aha, except the burning castle scene was all too familiar and…distressing… anyway, now that I am here, we might as well make the best of it, after all Squall will come back after I go to sleep. So don't worry like that."
"I don't understand."
Leon chuckled, "Yeah, I thought so, but who cares. Let's go on…it's still a few hours before nightfall, and it's been a while since I was to roam free."
"Where's Squall?"
"Sleeping…don't worry about him… he is such a weak guy…unable to handle his own memories…"
"What memories?"
"That is for me to know, for Squall to run away form, and for you to ponder."
Motioning to Dran, Leon took off, "I suppose your homeland is this way?"
Seifer came back to his senses and sent his horse galloping after Leon, "Tell me something, Leon…The night you saved me…and I"
"Yeah, it was me…Squall didn't know about it. When I am in control of his body, he's not there…whatever you say, or do…he won't know about."
"But…"
"How do I communicate with him…I write a letter before going to sleep, but if nothing great happens, I don't."
"My God…you wrote him a letter telling him about us?"
"Yeah…but that isn't a problem since you and him…you know…last night."
Seifer frowned, "I like Squall better."
Leon laughed, "Yeah? It is your fault, so you might as well accept me…you have to admit though," Leon winked at his companion, "I'm a bolder lover than him."
Seifer frowned and galloped ahead, muttering things about shameless beings and arrogant mortals.