Hey there!Exhile87 here,and this is my first fan fic,so don't sneer if it isn't good!As usual,all the characters in FF8 here belong to Square, and Rikku from FFX,I've change her background a 'lil. !~Enjoy~! Chapter One:A Knight Returns The gunblade slashed at the T-Rexaur's neck in one powerful swish.The monster roared in pain as blood gushed out,then it slumped down onto the ground,dead. "Wow!That was your 20th 1-hit-kill T-Rexaur!Awesome!" said Zell in excitement and awe. Squall grunted and placed his blood stained gunblade on his shoulder,walking away to find somemore monsters. "Hey,tell me how'd ya do it!" begged Zell,running after him. "Easy.I junctioned 100 Blizzagas to my Elemental-Attack." "And your Status?" "Some Deaths..." "Oh wow!Why didn't I think of that?" wondered Zell,smacking his fists together. Squall was about to give him an appropriate answer when Cid made an announcement. "Attention to Squall Leonhart,please come to my office now.Thank you." Squall sighed and turned in exasperation."What now?" "Probably a SeeD mission?But he'd call us too if there's one.Maybe there's a new student or something,"suggested Zell. "Again?We just had one last week..." Squall's thoughts drifted to Ande,a 13-year-old brat and pest who was transfered from Galbadia Garden."I just hope this one won't be bratty." "Yep.That Ande really gets on my nerves sometimes!" Zell said."Hey,maybe I'll show him my new Limit Break today!" "I'd rather not,Zell," Squall quickly said,remembering Zell's new attack,The Forsaken Place.He performed it with the help of Bahamut,the GF.Bahamut would fly the enemy up into the sky and then Zell'd give him a series of kicks and punches."Well,I'd better get going." "See ya.Tell me 'bout it later." When Squall reched the 3rd floor,he found Xu waiting outside Cid's office,looking troubled.He raised his eyebrows. "What's up?" he asked. "You're not gonna like this," Xu replied."Go in and see for yourself." Squall nodded and pushed open the door.As he walked in,he got a shock and his heart almost stopped beating. Cid was wt his table,his usual expression on his face.Standing in front were Raijin and Fujin. Plus Seifer. Squall's eyes locked with his rival's.Hatred burnt deeply in his heart,but he just frowned.Then he approached Cid and sluted. "Yes,sir?" "Ah,Squall.I...have some news for you." "That is?" "Raijin,Fujin,nd Seifer had talk with me just now.They have assured me that they would change and never repeat what they did.Therefore,I'm recruiting them back to Garden.Rijin and Fujin will return as the Disciplinary Commitee and Seifer will take his SeeD exam.When he's 20,he'll have an instructor license.What do you think?" Squall could hardly believe his ears.Have Seifer back again?With his two notorious friends?No way! "Sir,but what if they're under the controil of some ev--" began Squall,but Cid interrupted him. "I had Rinoa and Edea do a check up on them.They're 'clean'." 'Rinoa?MY Rinoa?' Squall thought and frowned again.He sighed silently."Then I've nothing more to say,sir." "Good.Alright,Rijin,Fujin,please take up your duty as the DC.And Seifer," Cid paused,looking at him carefully."Don't disappoint me. Squall is the Commander of SeeD,so try to follow his orders,please.I would like a good report from you." "Yes,sir," answered Seifer.Then he turned to Squall,who looked at him without enthusiasm."We meet again....Commander." Squall didn't reply.He just looked. "Dammit!I just don't get it!How can Headmater Cid allow that villain to come back?!" Squall was hysterical.He slapped his hand onto the table,and Irvine's drink upset.He grimaced but said nothing. "Hey,chill,man," said Zell."I'm mad too.But if that's the headmaster's decision,then he must know what he's doin'." "Yeah,that's right," agreed Quistis."Headmaster Cid never makes a wrong choice or decision." "Seifer still gives me the creeps,though," said Selphie,shivering."I mean,how long has it been since the Ultimecia War?You think he's change?" "About 5 months.Well,come to think of it,I don't think he has...." admitted Irvine. "I think we'd better give him a chance.We can't disappoint Headmaster Cid by acting cold to Seifer whenever we see him,right?" suggested Xu. The others,with the exception of Squall,agreed.Then Squall asked a question which had been on the tip of his tongue. "Where's Rinoa?" "Oh,she's with Matron at the Quad.Their usual Sorcery Lessons," answered Quistis. Squall got up and walked away.Zell yelled after him. "Hey!Do ya still want this hotdog?" "Take it." "Thanks." The ray of light disppeared,and a bouquet of lovely red roses sat on the grass.Edea smiled. "There,that wasn't so hard after all,right?" Rinoa sighed."I guess." "Just concentrate on this tuft of grass again.Hmm,now,I'd like you to bloom some violets." Rinoa closed her eyes,focusing on the tuft of grass in her mind.Another ray of light appeared,shedding a single violet flower. "Whooops." "It's alright.You've to concentrate more to bloom more flowers. Should we try that again?" "Oh,no," Rinoa muttered,looking at the roses,an oak tree,and a bonsai plant she had 'bloomed'. "Alright.We'll move on to the Elements,oky?" "Okay," said Rinoa.Then she paused."Edea,why do you think Seifer came back?" Edea looked surprised for a moment."Why,child,I have no idea.But I do know he means to change." "I wonder where he was the last 5 months..." "Been around,I figure.He has always been daring and adventurous eversince he was a young boy.Not to mention mischevious and annoying.." Edea said,running a finger on her forehead. "Tell me about it," prompted Rinoa eagerly,hugging her knees. "Well,he'd always tease and try to provoke Zell's temper.And poor Zell would run off crying to me." Edea frowned,trying to remember."Then I'd give Seifer a spank,but he was still very naughty." "And Squall?" Rinoa's thoughts slowly floated to the handsome,brave SeeD Commander. "Oh yes,both he and Seifer were always in a fight or quarrel.But it always ended up with Seifer being the winner." "Poor Squall..." Rinoa smiled slightly. Just then,footsteps were heard behind them.Edea and Rinoa turned. "Matron.Thought I'd pay you a visit," said Seifer nobly.Beside him were Raijin and Fujin,who nodded without a word. "Hello,Seifer,Fujin,Rajin." Edea gave them a smile.Rinoa looked at Seifer,then turned back. "What're you doing here,Matron?" asked Seifer. "Oh,I'm teaching Rinoa to control her powers.She's having quite a hard time doing that." Seifer glanced at Rinoa,then back at Edea."She'll learn." "Get away from her." Everyone turned.Squall was walking to them,his eyes never leaving Seifer's.Fujin muttered one word,"RAGE." "Commander," stated Seifer slowly. "Why're you here?" demanded Squall. "Can't I have a chat with Matron?" Rinoa,sensing Squall was going to burst sooner or later,got up and took his hand. "It's okay.He wasn't trying to do aything," she whispered into his ear.Then she turned to Edea."We'll continue tomorrow,okay?" "Alright.Make it the same time." Rinoa nodded and pulled Squall away.He still looked at Seifer angrily but turned to Rinoa when she stopped at the entrance of the Quad.She leaned onto the railing and stared down at the clear water below. There was a silence.Squall couldn't think of what to sy. "Squall...." "...Yeah?" Rinoa looked at him.He stared back at her. "You don't hve to worry about me." "Have you forgotten what Seifer did to you 5 months ago?You're still gonna relax on him?" "I know.But he was controlled and possessed,Squall.You can't blame him for what he did,it was against his own will." "What?!I can't believe you're saying that!" Squall was hysterical again."He,was Ultimecia's knight!And he,handed you over to Adel,wanting to return her powers!" "Squall,calm down," said Rinoa,trying to soother him by taking hold of his hands.He cooled slowly. "Give him a chance,okay?" "But what if--" "Please?For Cid's sake?" Squall sighed and lowered his eyes."I'm just afraid I'll lose you.You don't know what's it like to be left alone without someone to love and love you," he said softly.Then he felt Rinoa sliding her arms around his neck.Her head leaned against his. "Hey,I can take care of myself.I'm a Sorceress,remember?" She replied in a whisper.She felt her heart sinking at the word 'Sorceress', and she tightened her embrace around Squall."A Sorceress..." Squall reached out his hand to bursh her hair back.His voice was gentle and low,"Come on.Forget the Sorceress stuffs,okay?Let's go for a walk." Rinoa loosened her embrace and looked at him for a while.Then she laid her head on his chest and closed his eyes. "Let's just stay here." !~End of Part One~! Well?What do you think of that?Comments or whatever,please send it to Exhile87@hotmail.com Hope you enjoyed it!