It wasn't until about 3 hours later that the mysterious young man woke up in the Infirmary. Dr. Kadowaki had been looking over him for the time being and had called Squall and Rinoa as soon as he regained consciousness. They arrived merely minutes after her page and walked into the Infirmary to check up on the patient.

"So," Said Squall walking into the room. "What's his condition Doctor?"

"He's stable and conscious, I've given him some medication for the pain he seems to be suffering from… malnutrition I believe. Try to get the poor boy to eat if you can."

Squall nodded to the doctor as Rinoa stepped into the room and looked over at the only occupied bed in the room. She walked over to the boy and knelt down beside his bed.

"Hey," She said with a smile." How are you feeling now?"

He shook his head as if he heard a loud sound and looked over to her. He smiled slightly but then turned away again.

"I'm okay I guess… I'm not hurting anymore." He replied in the same wispy voice from before except a bit stronger.

"So what's your name huh?" she asked with and even bigger smile.

"Max… Max Caron."

Squall looked over at the two speaking and returned to his conversation with the Doctor.

"So he hasn't eaten anything since he woke up?"

"No I tried right before I paged you… wouldn't touch it." She said shaking her head.

"I'll try and get some more information out of him, if you think he's healthy enough."

Dr. Kadowaki nodded and Squall walked over to Rinoa and Max still turned away from her on the bed. He Kneels down to Rinoa and whispers to her.

"He say anything?"

"Not much," she replied in the same whisper. "Just his name and he says he's not hurting."

"Thanks. Could I talk to him for a little while?"

Rinoa nodded and stood up. She walked over to Dr. Kadowaki and started talking. Squall looked back over to Max and tapped him on his back lightly.

"Hey Max. That's your name right?" He asked watching him turn back

"Yeah… what do you want?"

"Well first I guess, how did you end up in Matron's Orphanage?"

Max rolled his eyes at squall and snorted.

"You really want to know?" He said with a cold smirk.

"Yes Max… Why were you there?"

"Well," started Max. "I wasn't there very long… I was only there about 10 minutes before your Garden came up."

He paused and waited for Squall's reaction… nothing.

"Anyway," Max continued. "I was out practicing when I was attacked by… I think it was a Ruby Dragon. Beat the crap out of me before I could escape to your orphanage."

Squall looked a bit shocked at the statement… not many could survive a Ruby Dragon alone. Even he and his friends had trouble with the beast.

"I found the lowest part of the house and just hid there… then I heard your Garden show up… thought maybe it was another dragon so I just stayed there until you found me and took me here."

Squall stood up and rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

'How does that explain the malnutrition?' he thought looking over Max.

Max turned over again and waved his hand at Squall to leave.

"If there's nothing else could you leave me alone now?"

"Sure… just try to eat something okay. You look hungry."

He waved again and Squall walked back to Dr. Kadowaki and Rinoa quietly talking about some unrelated matter. Rinoa looked back at Squall and smiled.

"Find out anything?" She asked as he came near.

"He was practicing around the orphanage and was attacked… he hid in the basement. That's all."

The doctor frowned a bit.

"Did he say he was going to eat? He needs to." Asked the doctor.

"I told him he should… but it doesn't seem like he will."

They all looked at Max, his back still turned to them, and sigh.

"Nope." Giggled Rinoa

"Well you two better be off until I need you again." Said Dr. Kadowaki. "I'll call you when he's healthy enough to leave the infirmary."

Squall nodded and grabbed Rinoa's hand lightly as he led her out of the Infirmary. He brought her to the far side of the hall and stopped near the rail separating the floor from the fountain. He sat on the railing and Rinoa soon joined him.

"What's wrong Squall?" She asked playing with his short brown hair.

"Nothing, he just seemed a little... arrogant I guess."

"I think he's just been through a lot in a short amount of time."

"Maybe." Squall reached up and stopped Rinoa's hand in his hair for a second.

"What?" She asked a bit confused.

He moved her hand to his face and lightly kissed it.

"Nothing… I just like this better." He smiled.

Rinoa smiled back and leaned in closer to plant a kiss on squall's lips once again. He couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks," He beamed. "I needed that."

He hopped off of the railing and waited as Rinoa followed suit. He held out his and as she took it began walking down the circular hall towards the front of Garden. They had just reached the elevator when Squall noticed something behind him. He stopped and ran to the front of Garden's gate looking out towards the sea. He squinted as he saw a ship approaching as high speed.

'What? Is that the White SeeD ship?" He looked again and his suspicions were at once verified.

He ran back to the elevator and began pushing the button. He waited for it to return to the bottom floor then dashed in pulling Rinoa with him. She looked at him stunned and tried to get an answer out of him… all in vain. They reached the top level and Squall ran directly to the bridge intercom and turned it on.

"All Junior Students please report to your homerooms, I repeat all Junior Students please report to your homerooms. Other students report to the Garden Gate."

Rinoa had just reached Squall as he threw down the intercom.

"What's wrong Squall?" she sounded worried.

"Seifer's coming." He said coldly.

"What? But… I thought he was fighting in Esthar?"

That's what I thought too… I guess he's come to finish the score huh? He just can't stand being beaten by me can he?"

Squall grit his teeth as he watched the ship approach, Seifer standing proudly on the bow.

'Damn it Seifer… why now?'

He pounded the bridge controls and sighed heavily.

'Why now?'

Didyou like it? I hope so! Well Reveiw please! hope you liked reading it as much as i had writing it! Vincent Sekod.