Chapter 5

Life returned to complete normality or at least the new normality. The old wounds healed and life went on, it had in fact been just about six years since the tragic event that befell the SEED who went to Maideen City. Rinoa was now married to Seifer and they had two children, although she loved her family very much there were still times where she thought of her fallen love. Over the years Seifer had found it difficult raising Squall's son, he had never seen why it had to be his responsibility he had never even liked the man. Back during training he had never pictured himself as the step father of Squall's son. He resented the boy with every pent up emotion he had ever felt against Squall it didn't help matters that Leon was a difficult child who seemed to know full well that Seifer was not his real Father. Despite all these difficulties he had found a way to cope with Leon, beating him. The boys were playing on the floor with Seifer looking on, he often watched over the boys in the evening while Rinoa was preparing dinner. An argument broke out between the two boys and as always Ryun burst into tears knowing that his Father would intervene. Stepping in Seifer hauled Leon from the floor by one arm and pulled him away from his brother before striking him sharply. He swung the boy towards the stairway and released his arm sending him reeling across the floor. Leon just sat there on the floor staring blankly not making eye contact with anyone. Rinoa had heard the commotion and came in; she looked at her family from the doorway her hands on her hips.

"What's going on in here boys?" she gave the three of them a stern look

"Leon's being a nuisance as always" Seifer scoffed

Rinoa shook her head and gave Leon a slightly disappointed look before scooping Ryun up into her arms.

"Come on now stop crying there's a good boy" She kissed Seifer "Dinner's nearly ready. Shall we go to the table Ryun?"

Taking her younger son Rinoa went into the other room, Seifer's eyes followed her until she was out of sight. He turned to find Leon's sharp blue eyes fixed on him in a cold empty glare, that reminded him so much of Leon's father Squall.

"What are you looking at me like that for?"

"You stole my mommy"

"Don't be stupid you don't know what you're talking about."

"I hate you…" muttered Leon

Seifer swung for the boy catching him hard, the strike should have sent him to the floor but the boy had braced himself. He set his feet firmly and hardly moved at all when his step father hit him. Still he didn't cry, over the years he had grown strong and no longer reacted anymore.

"You've been nothing but a nuisance since the day you were born. Everyone crowds round you because you're his son!"

Seifer hit the boy again. Narrowing his eyes Leon unexpectedly kicked Seifer hard in the shin.

"I hate you! You're not my Dad you don't love me and I hate you!!" Leon ran for the stairs and went to his room as the door slammed Rinoa came back in.

"What's all this shouting? Where's Leon?" she looked around the room but her husband stayed silent. "Seifer?"

"He's nothing but trouble… He just kicked me in a tantrum and ran upstairs."

"I'll go see to him"

"Don't bother that's what he wants. Rinoa he's just attention seeking."

Going to the bottom of stairs Rinoa sighed deeply.

"Come down and have your dinner honey… Leon?" There was no reply, Rinoa sighed again rolled her eyes and went up the stairs to tend to her son. Seifer folded his arms and made an irritated noise.

"That kid is too much like his Father…" He was snapped from his thoughts by Rinoa giving a startled scream. The sound of her running above made Seifer worry, she came rushing down the stairs and threw herself into his arms.

"Seifer! Leon's gone his window's open and he's gone!"

"Don't worry he can't have gone far"

"Watch Ryun I'm going to find him"

Rinoa ran out of the front door not stopping to put anything on her feet. She could see no sign of her son anywhere, for a window of just a few minutes he had gone well out of sight. She looked high and low and asked everyone in sight but it was soon growing dark and she still had not found him. Rinoa returned the house hopeful that her child had returned but he wasn't there. She leant forlornly against the door frame and Seifer approached her pulling her close.

"Leave him; he's just a little boy he'll come back when he gets hungry"

"I'm his mother Seifer I will not leave him anywhere" she snapped pushing him away.

Rinoa left the house again seemingly filled with a new determination, before long the entirety of Galbadia Garden was out searching for the runaway. Even though they searched long into the night no one found any sign of the boy. Two weeks passed and the little boy had not been found there was great concern for his safety. He was after all only six years old and monsters were everywhere, he couldn't defend himself and he'd starve to death if the monsters didn't get him first. Rinoa had fallen physically ill with worry and although he didn't admit it Seifer feeling partly responsible, contacted Balamb and Trabia. Even with all three Gardens on the look out for Leon no one found him and people thought the worst.

Leon huddled in the ship's hold; he had stowed away on a ship and had no idea where it was going. He felt physically weak and exhausted; he wanted nothing more than to curl up in his Mother's arms. He lay curled into himself hugging a small intricate box to his chest, he didn't feel well, he had only eaten what he had managed to take before he had run away. Silent tears started to escape his eyes, he felt cold and miserable. He shivered and curled up even tighter after a while he fell asleep.

"Hey come and look at this"

"What?"

"There's a kid down here in the hold"

"Is he alive?"

"Yeah"

"Really? That's unreal. Hey kid… Wake up little guy" As a hand reached down and gently shook Leon he opened his blue eyes, there were two men stood over him they had soft smiles on their faces. He didn't feel afraid of them but his head lolled as he tried to sit up and he almost flopped over again. The closest man caught hold of him and scooped the boy up. "He's half starved to death, let's get him up on deck you go get some food."

Sat on one of the men's knees Leon ate his fill of what the pair had to offer, sat in the sun and having now eaten Leon felt a lot better. The other man now studied Leon carefully.

"What are you doing here kid?" he asked quietly

"I'm trying to get to the big City"

He took a key from his pocket and fiddled with the lock on the box he was still clinging too. After rummaging around the box's contents he pulled out a picture of a group of young people posing near a car, in the background there was a large very technically advanced City.

"That looks like Esthar. I won't ask you must have your reasons. You've come a long way for such a little guy. You must be one tough little kid"

"What's that?" Leon pointed to the approaching land.

"You picked the right ship to hitch a ride on that's the Esthar Continent. We're heading to the Lunatic Pandora Laboratory there and that's only about 2 miles from Esthar City."

"What's Esthar City"

"Esthar is the place in that picture of yours"

Leon smiled he was so close to his destination and he hadn't even realised. He put the picture back into the box and locked it again; he pulled a silver chain from his pocket and threaded the key onto it. Putting the chain around his neck he safely stowed the key beneath his clothes.

"What's the Lunatic Pandora Laboratory?" Leon asked curiously

The men looked at each other in confusion this child had tried so hard to reach this place yet he seemed to know nothing about where he was going.

"The Lunatic Pandora Lab used to be a research facility into something called the Lunatic Pandora but that disappeared a long time ago now it's just for scientific research into magic. We're carrying new equipment and resources."

Leon looked around a little more and something else in the distance caught his eye, from the ship they had a good view of everything in Esthar. He pointed to this new object of curiosity.

"What's that?"

"That's the Sorceress Memorial"

"What do they do there?"

The men looked at each other and the one who held Leon on his knee shook his head and the other man nodded.

"Nothing much" he replied

The ship's horn sounded.

"Well we're about to make port so we'll have to say goodbye."

"Are you scientist men?"

"Yes how'd you guess?"

"You talk like scientist men, big words and stuff…"

The two men laughed. The ship drew into the harbour, when they got on land the two men gave Leon some more food for the road and pointed him toward Esthar.

"Thanks a lot Mr Scientist Men!" Leon waved and ran off with a new hope now that he knew he was so close.

"What a nice little kid."

"Yeah good luck to him"

Leon carried on toward Esthar he could see it even though there was a long way to go. He remembered why he wanted to go there; one of his Mother's friends had mentioned it once when he was 5. He could just about remember him; Zell had always told him stories about the places in the world. He remembered hearing a story about Esthar with space ships in it. His mother had told part of the story she had been into space before and when she was there she had felt safe and loved. After hearing that he decided that he would take his Mother and escape to outer space where he wouldn't be beaten anymore. He was snapped from thought when he heard something behind him. A long low growl came from just behind him he could feel the hot breath of the creature. He slowly turned to find himself face to face with a repulsive monster that looked a lot like it wanted him for lunch. He let out a startled cry as the monster leapt on him tearing at his clothing. He was about to give up when he remembered something that Zell had taught him. He tensed up and set himself low before jumping up and kicking the creature in the mouth. His blow was powerful enough to send the creature across the ground, it wasn't strong enough however to make the creature stay down. As the blood red eyes rounded on him he set off at a run, the monster gave chase. There was a long road nearby and Leon made headed for it but the snarling beast was close on his heals. A car flew past and Leon had to stop to avoid being struck down by it. Stopping meant that the creature was now within in attacking distance and another was car approaching but Leon hadn't seen it. Leon turned and braced himself as the beast leapt and struck him hard knocking him into the path of the car, the driver swerved to avoid the boy but it was too late. Everything was dark even though his eyes were open there was the sound of car doors and voices.

"Sir we've hit a small boy."

"What the hell is a kid that age doing all alone out here?"

The growling sound came again but the creature's noises were finally silenced by a gun shot. There was a sticky wet feeling down the side of Leon's face he closed his eyes there was a blinding pain in his head. Even with his eyes closed he felt as though everything was spinning. He felt someone take hold of him gently.

"He's hurt bad but he's still alive." The man holding him brushed hair away from his face. "You're gonna be alright kid don't you worry."

All Leon could feel was pain seeping through every part of his body, everything went cold and silent.