The fourth day of traveling to Trabia Garden was another 'dorm day' as Zidane began to call them. It seemed Squall was still Squall, in that he stuck to routines once he made them; one routine being he spent every third day away from the rest of the group, locked up in his dorm. Zidane wondered how well that worked out prior to his light theft of Rinoa's card key and his own presence, but apparently he was quiet enough that Squall didn't mind him hanging around. In fact, it was Squall who typically started their short conversations, Zidane finding ways to preoccupy himself so not to intrude. The blond didn't know why Rinoa, or anyone else for that matter, figured out that so long as one gives Squall space, he'll come to them. He figured that out a long time ago; although bugging Squall was fun and all, patience really did pay off when off the battlefield and in the tents.

"So," Squall's voice jarred Zidane out of his intense study of how the hell Triple Triad worked. "The whole crystal thing was a sham by Cosmos."

"It wasn't a sham," Zidane scolded as he put the face card down on the top of the 'borrowed' deck he managed to get put together. "She knew the only way to stop the conflict was to give us her powers… and give us the hope of the world. That's what the crystals are."

"Uh huh." Squall sat down on the couch next to him. "How's yours?"

Zidane leaned back sigh a heavy sigh. "It's there, just doesn't wanna come out."

"So ten of us got thrown together," and here we go, Squall does his concise summarization again. "Cosmos is at the end of her rope, so she throws us a bone. We all ten go through these stupid trials against Chaos' pawns, get our crystals, only to have Cosmos let herself permanently die. We swear to fulfill her last wish, with a dash of side vengeance, kill our respective obstacle and take down the god of discord."

"Yep."

"So how the hell does the god of discord get bagged?"

Zidane picked up his deck, shuffling it just so his hands had something to do. "The crystals were Cosmos' powers. If you want, you could think of it as her splitting herself into ten pieces. We were all mini-Cosmoses, with our own powers on top of that. Chaos didn't have a chance."

"And the war-world?"

"From what I figure before I disappeared, it was purified and became the Warrior of Light's homeworld. Probably accounts for why his memories never really came back—his own homeworld was twisted til we fixed it." Zidane shifted in his seat, hoping his clothes would be done today so he could at least get his usual pants back. He tried to get a hole for his tail in these, but the seamstress freaked when he did laundry and patched them up. He hoped she left the one in his clothes alone…

Squall rested his elbow on the arm of the couch, leaning his head against his fist. "What was everyone like?"

That slightly surprised Zidane. Outside of names and basic battle functions, Squall showed little to no interest in the friends they left behind. Now, he wasn't asking if they were melee or ranged, or what their tactics were… he looked interested in who they were.

"Well, there was Warrior of Light," Zidane started, knowing he couldn't go into too much detail, else Squall got bored. "We never did know his name, and we all disappeared before he remembered it himself… anyway, pretty stoic guy. Never could shake him, though; he was basically our leader after Cosmos. Took the reins and kept us on track; had to admire his faith. Firion was a worry-wort, especially over Tidus, and he really loved his flower. But it wasn't so much the flower as what it represented."

"He the 'I want to have a world where wild roses grow?'" Squall asked.

"Yep! That's Firion and his dream, but not in a literal sense you know. Other than constantly worrying and being uptight, he was definitely the type who had your back through and through." Zidane put a hand to his chin, thinking. "Cecil was a knight, as far as I could tell, that could use both 'dark' and 'light,' and I tell you, that affected his personality. When he was a Dark Knight, using the dark part, he was pretty depressed a lot of the times. His enemy was his brother, so I can relate to that. When he was a paladin though? Guy ripped the battlefield apart in one minute, and was giving Firion love advice the next. It was kinda funny."

Zidane started to shuffle the cards again. "Onion Knight wouldn't tell us his name, but he was a brat anyway. Smart, but a brat. Had a thing for protecting Terra and showing off, but he was a good kid. Mouthed off a lot, but a good kid. Bartz was… well, Bartz," Zidane laughed. "He was a fun-loving, free-spirited guy. He was older than both of us, but you were definitely more mature. Still, he was an awesome buddy. Lessee… Terra was a sweet girl, you liked her too."

"I did?" Squall sounded a little surprised.

"Yeah, one couldn't help it. She was powerful as all hell—her Meltdown spell seriously melted walls and all—but a total sweetheart. Loved moogles and kids, probably why Onion liked her so much. All she wanted was to have a picnic with everyone." Zidane let himself smile at that. "Cloud was… a lot like you, actually. He was a mercenary, had a sword way bigger than even himself! Had problems with expression, but from what I get, it wasn't so much his job then so much how he came into the world. I dunno the details, but he had a thing about proving he wasn't a 'doll.'"

Squall shrugged. "Bad childhood, I guess."

"Maybe." Zidane shrugged. "And Tidus, jeez, you couldn't get Tidus to calm down. If he was happy, he was extremely happy—if he was mad, he was extremely mad. Apparently, Firion said there was one time he was walkin' and all of a sudden Tidus starts screaming and running across the field cause he was frustrated! A good guy though, all smiles, could even cheer you up."

"What was I like?"

Zidane was about to answer when he paused, even stopping his hands. The question sounded like it had more to it, and the more he repeated it to himself, the more he saw it. Squall was disconnecting himself from Zidane's 'tall tales' and trying to dissect it… still didn't think he was a part of it. Or, barring that, thought he was a different person, too different to be 'him.'

Well, Zidane had to set the record straight, if just to prove a point. "You were pretty much the same as now," Zidane finally said. "You liked being alone, going off without others and barely spoke to us. Sure, you definitely warmed up to us, especially Bartz and I, but it took us a while, just like your group of friends now probably took a while."

Squall stared at him, and Zidane hesitantly put a hand over Squall's free one—a light touch, nothing too sentimental or heavy, of course. "You didn't just change or something," Zidane muttered. "Memories or not, you were still you, just like you are now."

Squall pulled his hand away, but more out of the general discomfort of touch then anything. "I'm sure," he muttered. He waited a few moments, then stood and walked toward a window, looking out into the ocean.

Zidane waited for Squall to speak, drawing on every patient fiber in his being (which admittedly isn't much, but for Squall he'd deal) to keep from asking questions or trying to 'fix' what he said. Eventually the mercenary sighed and thumped his forehead against the glass, closing his eyes.

"I asked about them because I wanted to see if I could remember anything…" Squall muttered. "Figured if nothing rang a bell, you were lying, and I could stop trying to find ways to convince myself it's true. Yet, while I still can't put a face to all the names, each one does sound familiar. Firion's rose, Terra's insecurity, Onion Knight's overconfidence… even your inability to sit still. It's… there."

Zidane dared to hope and he also rose from the couch. "Tell me," he implored, "what else do you recall?"

Squall shrugged. "Not much, still. Just bits and pieces. Bartz had a nasty feather he tried to pass off to me is one of the clearest ones. And you vanishing after… touching something."

"Ah," Zidane coughed. "I fell for a trap."

"And that's something I expect," Squall turned to him, for once openly looking confused. "I don't get it. I barely know who the hell you are, but at the same time I get the feeling I do know you."

"Cause you do," Zidane muttered, looking at the ground before his facial expression exposed him. "You, Bartz and I… we were good friends. Our own little team within the team."

"That's not it. There's…"

"That's a depressing topic!" Zidane suddenly cut in, making Squall go into a slightly shocked silence. The blond held up his deck. "C'mon, teach me Triple Triad, let's stay positive, eh?"

"Positive?" Squall arched an eyebrow, but Zidane already plopped on the couch and started to unfold the portalable Triple Triad board that came with all decks.

He'd have to ask later to get any decent answer, so Squall was ready just to go into his room and ignore the brat. But as Zidane looked up at him, forcing a smile and trying to look expectant, Squall didn't really want to just leave him alone. He was hiding something, particularly painful, and it had Squall's name all over it.

So he sat on the opposite end of the table, opening a small table drawer and withdrawing his own deck. Zidane actually looked surprised as Squall began to shuffle his own deck.

"First, you need to know the rules…"

Getting his own clothes back was an awesome feeling, and Zidane was unable to resist letting his tail wave happily in the air. Unfortunately, a student happened to have passed by the seamstress' office when he was letting it express its gratitude, and by the time Squall paid for a good two weeks' worth of clothes, partially in Zidane's 'outlandish' style and something more in line with the Garden's uniform, the entire school was abuzz with rumors. Every other step the pair took, a student or four came up to them and pestered Zidane to show his tail.

It finally got to the point Zidane just let his tail go, tired of keeping it coiled anyway, much to Squall's chagrin. And so Zidane marched to the main gate, tail high and waving to all that stared, pointed and gawked, getting ready to go with the others to the ruins of Trabia Garden.

It had taken an extra day to maneuver through the mountains, but the burnt remains of the Garden were finally sighted. Selphie was itching to go, even disembarking ahead of the others despite Squall's order to wait. Irvine, of course, scolded Squall for giving such an order when the rest of the group finally moved out. Squall in turn ignored him, of course.

When they caught up to Selphie, she was scaling the gnarled fence that encased her old school. Using the same net-like thing, the rest followed after her, getting to the top to see her take off down the broken pathway toward the crumbling ruins. Zidane stared at the destruction around him, amazed by the overturned earth and fissures of stone… it brought a memory, unrelated to the war-world, to his mind. As Squall and the group began to talk, Zidane staggered a bit as the memory assaulted him, filling his senses to the point as if he were back in the memory. Fire surrounded him, people screaming in terror as they ran; buildings collapsed and were torn apart, those too slow suffering the ultimate sacrifice. The sense of panic, of hurrying, guilt and shame hit the thief right between the eyes and he fell back.

He lashed out with a hand, unable to help it, and Squall was there to catch his hand and hold him up. Zidane gripped Squall's hand as the others gasped and surrounded him, immediately inquiring if he was all right, what was wrong. The only voice he didn't hear was Squall's, and that was fine, because Squall was supporting him and didn't have to say a word.

After the memory faded, the freshly burning town replaced by the days-old ruins of the Garden, Zidane still held tightly onto Squall's arm with both of his own. He couldn't help but cling, especially when he felt a surge of loss and hopelessness. What was this memory? It had nothing to do with the war-world… a homeworld memory, triggered by ruination in Squall's?

"Zidane," finally, Squall's voice, making the blond look up with wide, glassy eyes.

Squall frowned at the look, and he turned to everyone else. "Go on ahead, I'll figure this out. Someone needs to make sure Selphie is all right."

Immediately Irvine took off, and at the look Squall gave, the rest followed, although Rinoa lagged. She worriedly stared at Zidane, but when Squall once more waved her off, she backed up a few slow steps before turning and racing after the others.

When alone, Squall slowly knelt to the ground, keeping Zidane supported until he was safely sitting. Even still Zidane clutched him, but that dazed look was gone, replaced with one of deep regret and sadness.

"What's wrong?" Squall asked, raising his free hand and letting his fingertips brush aside some of Zidane's bangs.

The sudden contact worked, snapping Zidane out of his depressive reverie enough for him to mutter, "I think… I think my home was like this," he closed his eyes, the smell of burning brimstone and the light of fire intensifying. "Destroyed by something, and I was in it… and somehow I survived."

Just like Selphie, Zidane was going into a state of shock, especially since the memory was so sudden. Squall moved his hand to the back of Zidane's head, guiding him over so he could rest it against the arm Zidane clutched to so hard. Zidane kept his eyes squeezed shut, tried to keep his breathing regular. Was that his home or some other place? What happened to it?

Despite the severity of the images, no other memory was associated to it. Zidane felt the shock slowly bleed out of him and he opened his eyes, loosening his grip as he got ahold of himself. He couldn't let a random memory do this to him… nor could he let anyone have sympathy or pity him right now. Selphie needed all of her friends, this ruined place was her home.

"I'm fine," Zidane whispered, letting go of Squall's hand and arm. "Sorry."

When Squall removed his hand from Zidane's head, the blond turned away, obviously embarrassed. Feeling awkward himself, Squall waited a few moments before standing, helping Zidane to his feet as well. The thief muttered another apology and began to run down the path, leaving Squall behind to stare at the hand that held Zidane's.

A few minutes later Squall caught up to the group, witnessing Selphie chatting happily with a Trabia Garden survivor. The way her face brightened with each word, even as she jumped up and down in excitement, brought smiles to everyone.

Selphie's friend turned as Squall approached, the first thing out of her mouth being, "So… you've been looking after Selphie?"

Squall blinked, then crossed his arms. He wasn't sure how exactly to answer, but then shrugged. "Selphie's been a great help."

Immediately Selphie blushed. "Ahh…" she hid her face, and Squall could feel Irvine's annoyance at his back. "That's not like Squall at all!"

Her friend giggled, and Squall frowned. …Whatever.

The Trabia student looked back at Squall, smiling. "I'm so glad I saw Selphie. I feel a lot more cheerful just talking to her!"

Selphie was all smiles again. "There could be a basketball court in the back. Wait for me there, okay? I want to catch up with some of my friends."

Squall heard a trace of, 'the ones still alive' in her tone, and said nothing more. He nodded and, looking toward where Selphie pointed, began to walk in that direction. The others followed, slowly moving through the destroyed Garden, passing by students and children. An old man, presumably a teacher, stopped them for a moment to ask if they could donate to Trabia's restoration; Squall ended up giving him several hundred gil, as did everyone else, before they moved on.

Zidane stared, unable to resist, when they came by the still embedded missile. He had never seen anything like it, and Rinoa had to tug on his vest to get him to follow them to the court. He moved slower than everyone else, still staring as they went into the basketball court.

Once there and away from the Trabia survivors, Squall surveyed the area before turning to the group. "We're leaving as soon as Selphie comes back. We're on standby 'til then."

All nodded, each going off into a little area of their own. Rinoa sat on the ground near the basketball goal, Zell a few feet away perched on a bench. Quistis stood near the back fence, arms crossed, Irvine leaning his hips against an upright piece of debris across the goal looking pensive. Zidane went to the fence, hopping up to sit himself on top of it.

The thief made idle talk with Quistis, who asked if he was feeling better, and Squall waited near the middle of the court looking deep in thought.

About thirty minutes after their arrival, a round, brown ball rolled into the court. It stopped at Squall's foot, and Selphie raced in after it moments later. A smile, tired but real, was on her face, and everyone looked at her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Selphie said. She turned so she could see everyone, and her smile grew. "Thanks so much for coming all the way out here, everyone."

Irvine pushed himself off the debris, getting her attention. "Cheer up, eh?"

"Thanks," Selphie nodded. She looked right at Squall as she said, "Take me with you when you fight the sorceress, okay? I wanna get even… I want my revenge!"

Squall nodded, then turned his head as Rinoa suddenly stood. "Um…" the woman in blue shyly glanced around a moment. "Do we… have to fight? Isn't there another way? Y'know, to avoid any bloodshed?"

Zell frowned, standing from his bench. "Yo? What the… What're you sayin' all of a sudden?"

Rinoa waved her hand at Zell to calm him. "Maybe someone really smart can come up with a way, so we wouldn't have to fight anymore…"

Zidane looked to Squall, noticing the frown on his face as he stared at Rinoa, who stared back. It seemed to be the usual routine for them, for no one said a thing as they stared intensely. The blond wanted to break the moment, not liking how 'romantic' it could be perceived, but he remained on his perch, silent. This wasn't his world, wasn't his place… wasn't his Squall. Why couldn't he get that point across to himself?

"Squall?" Rinoa broke the silence. "You have to voice your feelings, or else I won't understand."

Squall looked uncomfortable to be put on the spot, but he finally managed, "You were… part of a resistance movement in Timber, right?" at this Rinoa looked away in what seemed to be shame. "Unlike others who are all talk, you took to your weapon and fought. And now you're saying all this? What happened to you?"

Rinoa sighed helplessly, one hand grasping the opposite arm's elbow. "I guess… I'm getting scared. Sometimes, when I'm with all of you…" she looked at everyone, even Zidane. "I feel like we're on the same wavelength, you know? But when the battles start happening… it's so different. Everyone's tempo seems to pick up and…"

She stared to pace. "I get left behind. I try to catch up, but it's no use… How far is everyone going? I can't hear anyone. And when I do manage to catch up… I'm worried. Is everyone safe? Will they be okay? Am I still welcome even if I get left behind? Can we make it back together? When I think like that, I…"

Irvine stepped forward, drawing eyes. "Rinoa, I understand. You're afraid someone might not be there… someone you love may disappear before your very eyes. It's hard when you live your life thinking that way, kinda the way SeeDs have to be. But… that's the very reason I fight."

He picked up the basketball, dribbling it a bit. "When I was about four or so… I was in an orphanage. It was about during the Sorceress War, so there were plenty of kids without parents." He shot the ball, making it into the hoop. "Out of all of 'em, one was very special to me. I really liked this girl… made me happy just talking to her."

Selphie's look made Irvine pause in his story, and she hesitantly asked, "Was it… a stone house?"

"… by the ocean?" Quistis cut in.

Irvine broke out into a grin. "You guessed it… I knew right away, when we first met!"

Both women protested his lack of sharing, and Irvine chuckled a bit. "Cause you two seemed to have forgotten!" he said in his defense. "It just kinda sucked I was the only one who remembered… spunky little Sefie and bossy little Quisty."

Zell's turn to look thoughtful. "Do you guys… remember setting off fireworks?"

Irvine smiled. "Out on the beach… you could see a lighthouse…"

Zell looked astonished. "The lighthouse!"

Quistis' hands flew to her mouth in shock. "We did set off fireworks! We all got in big trouble…"

"If I remember this…" Zell frowned heavily. "What about my parents in Balamb…?"

"The Dinchts must have adopted you." Quistis supplied, and Zell's face fell.

"I… was an orphan…" he shook his head a bit, then suddenly he took on another look of shock. "Oh god, now I remember…! I kept being teased… always getting messed with, by Seifer!"

Selphie gaped. "He was there, too! I remember, he was such a jerk!"

Irvine chuckled again, picking up the basketball and bouncing it. "Except for Rinoa, and Zidane… we were all there."

Immediately eyes turned to Squall, who had taken Irvine's spot at the debris. When he noticed them looking, he pushed himself up. "Yeah. I was there, too. Always waiting for 'Sis' to come back… Sis Ellone."

Zidane tilted his head. Ellone, again?

"She was a bit older than us," Squall shrugged. "We all used to call her 'Sis.' All of us we were together, whatever the meaning behind all of it is."

"The one who takes us to Laguna's period…" Selphie muttered.

"She wanted to change the past," Squall supplied. "She must not be happy with the present."

"Well, we should help her!" Zell cut in, once more loud and brash. "She's part of our orphanage gang!"

"You didn't even remember her!"

"That goes for you too, Selphie!" Irvine teased. He looked to Squall, giving him a quick wink as he went on, "We were all fond of Sis, but you kept hoggin' her for yourself, Squall."

Squall scoffed, not even answering that. "This is strange. But I guess, I wasn't adopted because of the way I am."

Quistis frowned a bit at that, and Squall went on, "I guess Seifer was the same. We grew up at Garden… he never mentioned the orphanage. And when I saw him, it never crossed my mind."

"That's so weird!" Selphie declared. "How could we all forget?"

Quistis crossed her arms, one hand at her chin as she pummeled her brain for her memories. "I… don't remember too well, but I was adopted out. Things didn't work out, though, so I went to Garden when I was about ten… Squall and Seifer, always fighting."

"Yeah… Quistis always used to break us up," Squall muttered.

"Yes!" Quistis lit up, memories flooding to her. "That's right! Seifer was the brat who had to be the center of attention, and the fact Squall would ignore him always made him mad. But they'd end up fighting… I wanted to take Ellone's place." She paused, a sudden realization come to her.

"I thought… oh, damn it!" she turned away from everyone, blushing furiously. It was no mystery what she realized and what she was thinking.

"But how the hell did we forget?" Zell asked. "We all grew up together, and even as adults we act pretty much the same, so…"

Irvine began to sprout some theory about the Guardian Force that Zidane only barely knew about, and he couldn't help but tune out that part of the conversation. Instead he looked to Squall, going over in his mind what he just learned. He knew Squall was an orphan… but how incredible, to grow up with the same people one meets at the peak of their lives and re-form as a group. If that wasn't some crazy play of fate, or the gods, Zidane wasn't sure what the hell it was.

"What should we do?" Quistis was saying when Zidane turned back in.

"Nothing," Squall muttered. When Zell protested, he turned to the boxer with a slight glare. "What do you want to do? Wanna stop using Guardian Forces now? Stop using the junctions and Para-magic? So long as we fight, we're indebted to the GF; if there's a price I have to pay for the power to do as I need, then I'll pay it."

"Hey…" Quistis quietly cut in, before Zell could say much else, even cutting off a remark from Zidane. "Do you all remember Matron? Very kind… long black hair… always dressed in black, too. Really admired her."

At this, Irvine lost his smile, dropped the ball. "I hate the fact I remember this and have to tell you all… but, Matron's name is Edea Kramer… she's Sorceress Edea."

There descended a hushed silence at they took in this information. Zidane felt for them all… the woman who raised them was their enemy now? The incredible feeling of the group re-forming was gone, replaced by the sardonic bitch that was fate getting her cheap laughs.

"So like…" Zidane hadn't realized he missed some of the conversation when Irvine spoke again. "I understand what Rinoa's saying, but I'm still gonna fight. I wanna stay true to everything I've stood for, and I'm sure it's the same for everyone… it's why I think it's best if you knew we would have to face Matron."

Irvine sat down on the basketball. "You've all heard this before, 'bout life has infinite possibilities. That's such crap, cause sometimes there'd only be one path or very few, and with the limited possibilities I faced, here I am, full circle, with all of you again. Even if a lot's changed, we're together again. Do we fight Matron or not? I say… yeah. We have to. It's kinda… kinda like our right."

"We can't run from her forever," Zell agreed.

Squall turned his attention to Rinoa, who had seated herself back in her corner. "Rinoa, it's up to you. We're going to fight, and I think it's the only way we can move on with our lives. So if that makes any sense at all… everyone wants you to come with us."

All, except for Zidane, were smiling and nodding at her. Rinoa got to her feet, and shyly, she returned the smiles and nodded herself. And so it was decided… to fight they will. Snow began to drift from the sky, Selphie exclaiming happily, and Zidane lifted a hand to watch a snowflake land and melt in his palm. Sort of ironic.

"Let's head for Edea's house," Squall suddenly said. "Despite what truth we find, it's not going to change anything but… I wanna see it. And I'm sure you all do too."

All were in agreement, and when they began to move, Zidane stayed on his perch. When the rest vanished, and apparently he was forgotten, Rinoa looked to Squall with obvious admiration.

"I guess we're fighting… you guys are fearless," she said.

Squall didn't have much to say to her, just managing, "I wish we didn't have to fight, either."

Rinoa nodded and followed the others. Squall didn't move, watching her go before turning to face Zidane. When he was noticed, Zidane jumped down from the fence, crossing his arms so his hands covered his exposed skin from the cold, snowflakes clinging to his hair.

"You know… it was like the war-world." Zidane muttered as he went to Squall. "No one… really wanted to fight anymore."

"That so…" Squall shrugged.

"You'd really give up your memories for power?"

Squall knew that was coming, and the only answer he had was a pessimistic one, "It seems like I don't have a choice, anyway."

Zidane nodded solemnly, looking to the ground and acknowledging Squall's truth. He started to walk past him when he heard a shuffle, but before Zidane could turn, he felt something warm drape across his shoulders.

"Should have worn your uniform." Squall muttered and briskly walked away before Zidane could react. In truth, all Zidane could do was slowly pull the leather jacket tighter around him and enjoy the remnants of Squall's warmth. He couldn't help but wait a few moments, standing there with it, remembering when Squall would give him his jacket all the time.

Zidane couldn't help it. He was still very much in love with Squall…

"Centra?" Nida asked incredulously. "Even if we go north to get there, it'll take months!"

"No it won't," Selphie protested, reaching over Nida to the control panel and pointing to a button. "You claim to know how to drive, you didn't even notice the turbo button!"

"There's a turbo…?"

Squall rubbed just around the middle of his scar, and despite suddenly learning more about him a few hours ago than he ever did the days they were together, Zidane still didn't know where that scar came from. He wondered, in light of their new bonding, if Squall would tell him if he asked.

"It's an old stone house near a lighthouse," Squall cut in, making Selphie and Nida stop their quibbling. "So I'd imagine it's on a peninsula."

"I'll figure it out," Nida said, glaring at Selphie.

"Tch, yeah, right…" she muttered.

Squall brought his palm to his forehead with a light smack as the two began to argue again. "C'mon, Zidane."

Happy to be away from the arguing, Zidane followed Squall down the lift and to the elevator, tail low and swaying with each step. Since his tail was no longer a secret, all of Zidane's new clothes had to be taken back to the seamstress to be modified for the appendage, much to her annoyance. If not for the fact Squall was now Commander, Zidane was fairly sure she'd stab him with her shears.

"So…" Zidane began slowly as they rode the elevator. "From what I've gathered from listening, ya'll are a military force meant to go after the sorceress… except that sorceress is like, your adopted mom. And she's the one who made this military force. Now she's gone nuts."

"That's about it," Squall replied nonchalantly. "Stop the sorceress, put Galbadia down, and go back to life."

"Think it's that simple?"

"What else am I gonna hope for?"

Zidane adopted his thinking stance, looking at the ceiling of the elevator in thought. "I don't get it," he muttered. "This Edea lady is of your world. What, exactly, am I supposed to do? I wasn't brought here just to help you deal with your world's natural... stuff."

"Maybe whatever it is hasn't come to pass yet." The elevator dinged and the men stepped off, heading for… was Squall leading him to the training area?

Zidane had half the mind to whine. He went there once with Irvine, and he swore never to go back after that giant T-Rex-whatever-they-called-it thing nearly bit off his tail. But Squall was going there with a purpose it seemed, and Zidane helplessly followed.

"Are you really gonna fight Edea?" Zidane asked as they stepped through the threshold, the tropical climate immediately making Zidane sweat.

Squall swung his gunblade, cutting through the foliage and following the haphazardly placed metal walkway. "If we don't, who will?"

Zidane fell silent after that, knowing better than to make Squall question himself. He was a leader now, and he had to believe in himself and his choice. All Zidane could do was support him.

The trek through the training area was relatively peaceful, and Zidane thanked whatever higher power was alive in this world that no giant monster thing came after him again. Squall paused at a large sheet of metal, and glanced around several times before he pushed it aside. A hole was revealed, and Squall motioned for Zidane to go in. Zidane paused, but did as he was bade, Squall following shortly after.

Once Zidane emerged from the hole, the hit of fresh air made him take a deep breath of it. He gazed out, realizing they had gone to a bottom balcony of the Garden, near the propeller bottom even, and looked out into the ocean. The waves rushed by as the Garden sailed, the sound of rushing water filling Zidane's ears. Looking up, he realized the only way anyone could find them was coming through the same entry they came.

Squall leaned his gunblade against the stone rail before folding his arms on the top of it, gazing out. Zidane was just tall enough to look over the edge, and so he opted to turn and lean his back against the railing, hands in his pockets. Where were they? If Squall wanted to talk to him privately, they'd just go to their room as always.

Zidane fought a blush. Squall's room, not their room.

"What aren't you telling me, Zidane?" Squall's voice incised his embarrassment, and when the blond looked at him, Squall was still gazing out. "Something doesn't click right with your story and what blurry memories I'm recovering."

"What do you mean?" Zidane's heart was quickening. He hoped the splashing water made him hear things.

Squall looked at him, gray eyes so serious. "There's something else, about… my time in this war-world."

Well, there are two things, which one are you referring to? Zidane swallowed, nervously pushing some of his hair behind his ear only to have it slip right back in place. "I told you everything I knew. Not even my memory is pristine, Squall."

"You're lying," Squall said, and Zidane frowned, knowing his actor's face was flawless. Except… "You look to the right when you're lying, just enough to avoid direct eye contact but still look as if you're looking."

Zidane swallowed again, throat dry. "How do you figure that?" he asked casually.

"It's a quirk I remember learning about you." Squall paused, then fully faced Zidane, staring him down. "I apparently looked at you enough times to pick it up."

"Squall, look—"

Nida must have finally believed Selphie about that turbo button; the Garden jerked as it suddenly sped up, slicing through the water and sending high enough splashes to nearly hit them. The turbulence caused Zidane to stagger back, Squall forward.

Squall grabbed the railing and snatched at Zidane, jerking him forward against his chest. Zidane's forehead smacked just above Squall's abdomen and he held onto the leather jacket until the Garden ceased it's rocking, stabilizing in the new blurring speed. They waited several minutes more before Zidane slowly looked up.

Squall had let him go, but Zidane had held on. Now, the mercenary was giving him an odd look, one Zidane couldn't discern. Was that shock? Worry? Maybe even disgust?

That last one made Zidane shove himself away. "Sorry!" he said quickly. "I… I was surprised and…" he couldn't stand the look anymore, and although his pride wanted to kill him, Zidane turned tail and fled.

Squall watched him go, still trying to figure out that sudden flash of memory. What just happened?

Author's Note: This chapter more or less wrote itself LOL with the whole orphanage flashback taking up so much. But ah! Zidane and Squall are getting on pretty well, maybe too well! All this, and we all know what's comin' next... Mwaha. I love this pairing too much XD

Review replies! Cause I should be a good author and acknowledge ya'll lol I'm so terrible ;_;

Wingsong5555 - Thanks for the reviews thus far! I am curious, did Zidane do what you thought he was gonna do in chapter 3? XD But hope for them... is it real hope, or an illusion? *mystery music plays*

xJuneii - I am back and I hope this fic is turning out as well as Familiar did for you! =) So far we've seen Zidane use his thievery skills, as for trance, that'll be interesting haha! All of a sudden he's all furry... As for your confusion, I won't give anything away, but worry not, it all ties up later on. Thanks for the reviews!

Anon (RandomAnon too?) - Thanks~ This pairing has a lot of potential for all sorts of genres, I'll hopefully explore most if not all of the possibilities. Prolly not with this fic tho, hah!

Kupo-Lady - That link didn't work, so I had to dig for it, but it was totally cute, thank you! =) And I found all sorts of nice images I didn't have before, kekeke. Curious of where a few come from, like some of the doujin pages, would looove to find 'em. As for Zidane being unable to junction, it's just merely the fact he isn't of Squall's world, therefore, his brain isn't equipped to to the complexities of Para-magic (which I think is the 'true' term for the junction system).

Kuroneko03 - Your english isn't as bad as you think! Thanks for all the reviews =) I never minded Rinoa myself, although re-playing the game, she does get on the annoying side sometimes.

Beige - Thank you! =) I can't wait til I get to the later chapters, they'll be so fun and full of the boylove XD

Elia41 - I am honored you enjoy the fic, despite your usual liking. Thank you for the review =)

Suyiro Motsuko - Haha, you know, you're right! Loose-haired Zidane should be Squall only! I see Squall liking running his fingers through it and such, hee~

Thanks to everyone, see you in chapter 5!