Where am I? What happened? I can't move, why? That's right, someone attacked me from behind. I felt something sharp and slick slice my back. And that voice…was it Kira? No…Kira wouldn't kill me. But if I'm dead…why am I thinking? The dead don't think right? …right?…

"He'll wake up right?" Rinoa asked quietly. Squall's eyes fluttered open, filling his mind with blinding light. Everything blurred together and he groaned quietly.

"I think he is waking up Rinoa." Dr. Kadowaki replied. Squall's vision slowly focused and Rinoa was kneeling beside him with a tear in her eye.

"Squall…you're okay…" she sobbed. Squall didn't reply for a bit. He felt he had went through hell and back. His mind was swirling with dozens of jumbled memories. What really happened? Was…is everyone alright?

"Squall? You alright?" Rinoa asked. Squall sat up with Rinoa's help. She smiled at him but he didn't return it.

"Is everyone alright?"

"Yes everyone is fine…they retreated and Garden is safe."

"You?"

"A little stressed but good." Squall realized Kira wasn't there. In the back of his mind he thought she would be the first to greet him.

"And Kira? She's alright??" Rinoa's happy air disappeared, replace with venom and hate.

"…" she sighed and gave him an odd look. "Unfortunately she isn't."

"What?"

"I'll explain after you get better." She stood and left and Squall felt the undying feeling that his problems just got worse. Dr. Kadowaki came in, complaining about if he kept being wounded he'd be dead before 20. Her words were drowned out by his own thoughts. What's going on? Why is it that no one is really giving me straight answers?

Kira sat alone inside the dorm Squall had given her. Locked in from the outside, she stared at the blank walls. Her weapons gone, she felt very betrayed and yet almost happy.

"What goes around comes around…" she whispered to herself. In a way this was her own doing. "Its all karma and fate. I killed and betrayed for a profession…now I'm imprisoned and lonely."

She understood her predicament. She was very close to execution for "attempted" murder and domination. She also realized there was very little chance that she'd escape…since someone checked on her every few hours and she was weaponless. She understood everything.

Hm…interrogation…I've always hated it, she thought. She was interrogated every day, different person, same questions. She never replied. She had no reason too answer them. In her heart she knew the only person she'd answer…and he'd probably never speak to her again.

The sound of the door opening lifted her head. Kira expected Quistis or some other Seed to interrogate her. Her eyes widened then narrowed as Rinoa closed the door. She pulled the chair from under the desk and sat in front of Kira. Their eyes locked.

"What are you doing here?" Kira spat, loathing Rinoa for everything that had happened, though none was her fault really. Rinoa gave a sneer.

"You'll be happy to know that Squall is fine."

"I'm certain you're ecstatic."

"…Why?"

"Why what?" Rinoa leaned in and peered at Kira. Kira shrank back under the gaze.

"Why did you really attack him?"

"…None of your damn business…" Rinoa sighed and looked at her.

"For some reason I knew you'd say that." Rinoa leaned in. "It would make a lot of sense if you just cooperated…you'll probably be dead soon." Kira said nothing, her eyes fixated on the floor. Rinoa stood and went for the door, probably through with trying to ask questions. She started speaking.

"You know, it probably would make sense if I cooperated. I could probably get off with multiple life sentences if I'm lucky…but what does it matter?" She raised her head and noticed Rinoa staring at her. "I don't want to live if he hates me…"

"Squall?"

"Who do you think?" Kira snapped cynically. Rinoa sat back down again. She suddenly didn't look nearly as vile as she had when she had attacked her.

"…Tell me…" she said quietly. Kira sighed in defeat.

"You don't understand him…if you did you'd know why I attacked Squall in such a way."

"What?"

"You know who I mean…you've seen him."

"Oh…and?"

"And that's all I'm going to tell you." She folded her arms. "My loyalties are my own. I owe you nothing…"

"Kira-" Rinoa started. Kira raised a hand for silence.

"Leave me to rot in hell in peace…" she whispered. Rinoa stood and left quietly. Kira sank against the pillows and wept. "I hate you…I hate you for everything." She curled up into a ball. I wish I never came back…

Squall was quiet as Rinoa walked beside him down the dormitory hall. Everything she had said was echoing with in the seclusion of his mind. Kira attacked me? She's helping him try to gain world domination? She almost successed? She's a prisoner of war? What's happening to me…why does this keep happening?

"You sure you want to do this by yourself?" Rinoa asked turning back to him. Her eyes had a gentle glint but she wasn't smiling. He nodded quietly and the door opened.

Kira stood quickly, facing him in shock as the door closed behind him. Neither he or she spoke only stared in silence at one another. Was Rinoa…right?

"Squall…" she finally said. He didn't reply. She looked away.

"Is Rinoa right?" he blurted out. Kira winced, pained by some emotion. She sighed heavily but remained silently. Hell…Rinoa was right.

"You lied to me." He snapped. She looked up tearful.

"No I didn't I-"

"Save it." He ordered. Kira sank onto her knees, head down neck exposed. He stood over her, seething.

"Please…forgive me…" she whispered. Squall leaned against the wall, staring down at a girl he thought he loved but betrayed him.

"Tell me everything."

"I can't." His sword moved on it's own. The blade was under her neck, centimeters from her pale flesh. She shivered but he refused to take notice.

"Tell me…"

"…Seven years ago my godfather did come to take me away. I had no idea he was a terrorist…He took me to that man. Let him try and break me and turn me into something close to a devil. It took me seven years to pull away."

Squall was silent during her talk. For some reason, he still didn't believe her. She had tried to kill him. How could he forgive that?

"And?" he said. Kira looked up and sighed.

"When I was in the snowfields, I was coming back from another mission when the dragons spotted me. I wanted to get away without spilling blood but it became inevitable."

"The attack…you knew."

"Yes…"

"Why did they attack us?" Kira looked fragile, weak and pale as she spoke to him but he didn't give a damn. He was going to get the whole story.

"…He wanted you and the others dead. The ones who defeated Ultimeca…"

"Why?"

"He's afraid of you…all of you. He believes you're the only one who can stop him from controlling everything. He couldn't let that happen."

"So he sent you."

"No! I didn't know he wanted me to kill you! Originally I was just here because you brought me! He had nothing to do with it."

"Quiet." He snapped. She closed her mouth. "Where is he?"

"A hidden base…" he pulled the sword away from her neck.

"We're going to find him and then you'll be executed." He turned away.

"You won't be able to…" she whispered.

"Why?"

"Only his fighters know how to enter…"

An idea rose in Squall's mind. Kira is one his fighters. She knows his plans and weapons. She knows his objectives and where he is. More importantly, she can get us in undetected. He stepped over to her again.

"Alright…then you'll take us there." Kira's head shot up, horror stricken at that thought.

"Never! I will never take you there! You'll-" Squall grabbed her by the jacket and pulled her off the ground. Kira closed her eyes and turned away from him.

"You have no choice…" he hissed. She nodded slowly and he let her drop to her knees. He walked to the door. "You'll be free to wander the school. Do not try to run away. When I come for you, you will take us there understand?"

"Squall…"

"Do you understand!" he yelled. She was weeping.

"Yes…" he left her on the floor in tears. He stood out in the empty hallway. He leaned back against the door and panted. A picture rested in his pocket. He stared at it venomously. Unthinkingly he tore and walked away, leaving the fragments on the steel floor. She will never be that little girl. She was never who I thought she was. She betrayed me and I will never forgive her. A betrayel…

Rinoa searched in silence. She was so worried about Squall now. She never knew what conspired in that room that day. She had left with Selphie to eat something. The first time she saw Squall after that was not too long ago.

She met him in the cockpit above the headmaster's room. He wasn't speaking, just staring sullenly out into the distance. She had called his name quietly then louder but he refused to speak or move. He didn't know she was there.

Kira had something to do with it. I just know it. Even when she's a prisoner, she still manages to do damage. Rinoa was wandering about the school now. She had to find Kira and get the answers she needed out of her. She had already checked places she thought she might have been: the balcony on the second floor, the Quad, the cafeteria, her room. She couldn't be found.

Rinoa stood outside the training center, a place she rarely ever went to. Monsters roamed free within and leapt out at unsuspecting victims. But she did remember when Squall had taken her on that tour of the school, when she had mentioned that Squall would probably take someone on a date there. What a stupid thing to say.

She didn't know why she was checking there but she felt she should anyway. The babbling of the water dulled under a voice. A female voice, straining and breaking… Kira.

Kira stood near the dock, sword out and swinging. She was training. Rinoa watched in amazement at Kira's steps, powerful and balanced, yet smooth and graceful. She had the air of an expert about her as she stepped and twisted, battling something in her own mind. Amazing…I never thought she'd be that good with a sword…

"Ah!" she tripped, collapsing on to the dock. Her blade laid at the edge, water reflecting in the black blade. Kira lay on her hands and knees. She choked out pitiful sobs and beat the wood with her hand. Rinoa suddenly felt a tinge of remorse.

"Why Squall? Why have you forsaken me so?" she sobbed. Rinoa stood apart, trying to hide her sudden remorse.

"Its your own fault." Rinoa answered. Kira laughed a pitiful, weeping laugh. She sat on her knees and stared into the water.

"Rinoa…come here to gloat on your victory?"

"What do you mean gloat?" Rinoa asked startled. Kira raged, sobbing and screaming.

"Isn't this what you wanted Rinoa? To have me thrown out of Squall's good graces? To have him to yourself! Well be happy Rinoa!" she stood, tears streaming down her face. "Squall hates me! He wishes he never laid eyes on me! The one person who held my sanity in him…has forced me into my own torture…" She gripped her chest like her heart was ripping apart at the seams. She was breaking…

Rinoa stood in silence. She had never fully understood Kira and now she felt more clueless than before. Kira…is this really what I wanted? Did I do all of this in hopes of destroying her? Am I no better than her? What did I do to her…

"Kira…" she said. Kira jumped back, holding her sword again. She refused to listen.

"No Rinoa! Say nothing to me! I don't want to hear your pathetic worthless, fake apologies! They mean nothing to an empty shell! Nothing!" she fled in tears out of sight. Rinoa stood, a tear dripping down her face as two pieces of paper fluttered to the ground, face up. The fragments of a photograph.

Kira laid weeping inside her room in the middle of the night. She was free to wander about the school but with out Squall's kind word it felt like hell. They avoided her now, every student, every Seed feared and despised her. She felt like the world was shattering around her now. She had finally lost.

She stopped eating, stopped sleeping, stopped feeling anything within the fragile frame of her being. He had finally won. Not through violence or his malicious and gruesome tortures. Not through his missions or his hateful phrases to her. Simply through driving her to help Squall had he broken her. She no longer existed.

Rinoa had met her in the training center a day ago. She knew that Rinoa had had no idea the pain she was causing. Kira didn't care now if Rinoa wanted to apologize, she wasn't the one she wanted to hear from. Squall…the man she had loved since she was young…he wouldn't spare her a passing glance. Everything she had been suffering to keep had been ripped away by him when he tore it up. The seemingly innocent photograph was all it took to break their tie.

Kira sat up, wiping her eyes and gazed out the window. They were over the ocean, painted white from the full moon. She sighed and sat against the wall. I must take him to his death. He will not come out alive. Why do you hate me so fate?

It was almost instant, the ringing started in her head. What do I have to lose? Mechanically, she reached her hand to her ear, heard static and said nothing.

"Echo?"

She didn't reply.

"Echo where are you?"

"…"

"Very well Kira, play your games. I still congratulate you on your splendid disposal of that bastard Leonhart." That hurt. She winced and held her head. "I trust you took care of the others. Well hurry back so we can finish. Then you and I can rule the world. Echo?"

"…"

"I await your triumphant return then we can reap the world clean of the others that pose any little threat." Nothing more. Kira panted quietly, her eyes ablaze with fiery hate. Screaming quietly, she yanked the earring from her ear and threw it to the ground. It glistened under the moonlight. She stood menacingly over it.

"No…there will be no triumphant return. I will no longer be your slave. I don't care how much he hates me, I will not let you murder him." She smiled violently. "And you will pay for every word you said against him!" she crushed it, leaving only tiny fragments of that damnable earring. "We will both pay for our crimes…we will pay in blood."

Squall, Rinoa, Kira, and Selphie flew over the southern continent in the Ragnarok. Selphie piloted while Squall and Rinoa sat behind her. Kira was nowhere near them. She had given him the coordinates to the site but was not staying with them. Squall really didn't care.

He kept thinking about everything. Kira has been lying the whole time…she tried to kill me. How could I be so stupid? He sighed heavily and looked down at the floor. But…everything has been happening like the dream…I don't know anymore.

"Squall?" Rinoa whispered, out of Selphie's hearing. He passed her a sidelong look. She's going to ask me something…

"Hm?" was all he said. He took his hand slowly, gently.

"Would you please go and talk to Kira?" Squall shot her a vile look.

"What?!"

"I know it sounds strange but…please?"

Squall sighed and stood up. He didn't really understand why he was doing this but he was going to anyway. He took the elevator down to the floor below and stopped. He heard the strange sound of someone singing quietly, someone very close to him. He peered cautiously into the conference room. Kira was standing aloof, in front of a window, singing a song he knew well.

"Whenever sang my songs, on the stage on my own. Whenever said my words, wishing they would be heard. I saw you smiling at me, was it real or just my fantasy? You'll always be there in the corner of this tiny little bar…"

Squall had never known that Kira could sing. She had never sung when she was little, not that he knew of anyway. She had a beautiful voice.

"My last night here for you, the same old songs just once more. My last night here with you, maybe yes maybe no. I kind of liked it your way, how you shyly placed your eyes on me. Did you ever know that I had mine on you?" She leaned her back against the glass, eyes closed but with a single tear dripping down her pale cheek. Her voice kept singing even after he turned away.

What am I feeling now? Is this still hate or anguish? Her voice is so gentle…why can't I pick one emotion and hold it anymore. Why can't I decide?

"She does have a nice voice…" Rinoa said. She stood in front of him, out of Kira's view. Squall said nothing. Rinoa smiled and placed something into his gloved hand, closing his fingers over it.

"Maybe we were wrong…" she whispered and went back up the elevator. Squall stood in silence and stared at his closed hand. He unclenched it slowly, looking down at the fragments of the photograph. But maybe I'm still right…there really is no way to know…I'm sorry…

"Squall?" Selphie's voice rang over the intercom. Kira answered it.

"Squall isn't here." She replied. A moment of silence followed. Selphie still decided to reply anyway.

"Well we're at the site. I'm setting her down. Get ready…"

"Sure…" she sighed and turned around. Their eyes met.

"Kira…"

"Selphie said we'll be landing soon. This is still a very bad idea Squall. I'll let you know that I'm completely against this."

"I'll remember that…" he said coolly. Kira pulled a cloak off the chair and handed it to him. "What's this for?"

"So you can get in with out be noticed. They all think you're dead. If they know you're still alive before the right time it'll cause an uproar." He took quietly and Kira walked past him, carrying another one for Rinoa most likely. He stared out the window to the barren desert. He wasn't sure how to pull this off.

Rinoa stood beside Squall underneath a dark cloak. They watched as Selphie took off, going off in the distance as far as she needed to to be safe and still able to watch over them. Kira watched as well, her eyes almost soulless as she disappeared. Her body turned away slowly.

"Well?" Squall said.

"Two things. One: Don't say anything. They might recognize your voices…and two: Squall keep your head down."

"What?"

"Everyone thinks you're dead remember? They recognize your face and the mission is blown."

"…Fine…get us in." he said coolly. Rinoa had hoped that she could fix what she had helped destroy but it wasn't working. Yet then again, Squall never swayed easily when he was certain about something. She turned her focus onto Kira.

She stood in the center of two large stones and looked almost like fists…or it might have been a trick. Slowly she unsheathed her sword, hesitant and fearful. Her head shook slowly and she raised the sword. A murmured phrase escaped her lips and the sword plunged into the sandy earth…nothing stirred.

It felt like an earthquake suddenly hit. The ground beneath them shock with the force of a thousand meteors yet Kira stood unaffected. Ground shook and headed downwards into a dark abyss, carrying the three of them into the earth's belly.

When they finally stopped, Rinoa dropped to her knees. She hadn't expected any of that. Squall helped her to stand and Kira looked towards the two of them while yanking her sword out of the ground.

"Let's hurry…"

Neither of them replied but followed in silence after her. Rinoa watched as Kira led them down a dimly lit corridor, through turns and twists that made her feel like a rat in a maze. The hall was small, confining, force them to walk in single file. She held Squall's cloak tightly, praying to any god that she wouldn't be lost and attacked by whoever these people were. The hall widened…

"It's like an underground city," she whispered staring out into the massing catwalks that intertwined and ran deep into the earth. She stared towards doors the laid in rest with in metal walls and looked as dangerous as the contents behind them. She moved to the edge of a railing and looked over. A dark pit spanned underneath them, so menacingly dark, she would never see the end.

"No time for sight seeing…" Kira sighed heavily. "This way." She walked towards a door on the distance. Squall and Rinoa followed quickly behind. Rinoa watched Squall look over the railing and down into the darkness, maybe fear it she didn't know. Kira stopped before a door. Her hand passed over a panel silently. Again she hesitated but kept going as the door opened. Again they followed.

It went on like that for a bit. Kira leading them to doors and getting them access. Kira, often looking like she was having second thoughts about helping them. For some reason, Rinoa kinda understood why.

"Kira…" a voice said. Kira whipped around quickly. Rinoa and Squall followed her gaze. A male, no older than Seifer most likely smiled at them. Squall's head lowered slowly, blocking his face from the man's view. He ran his fingers through his blonde hair and his gray eyes had a malicious glint. "I was wondering when you'd get back…"

"I don't have time for you today…" he laughed quietly.

"Oh please Kira. You know that I outrank you." Kira seethed and Rinoa watched her making menacing steps towards him.

"True Geoff, you may outrank me but my strength is greater than yours tenfold." He laughed loudly. Kira doesn't look happy about seeing this guy at all. What am I saying? I'm not happy about seeing him.

"So who are they?" Geoff motioned to Rinoa and Squall. They went rigid as he walked towards them. Kira stepped between them.

"Two Seeds who showed great promise…"

"Oh really? You know its usually kids…" That made Rinoa's stomach lurch. What does he mean, "its usually kids"? I don't like this.

"I-I know but-" Kira stammered.

"You won't mind if I take a look at them right?" He moved towards Squall. Squall took a step back.

"Don't even try it Geoff!" Kira yelled. Too late. Geoff made a grab for Squall's hood and Squall tried to dodge it. The cloth fell of his head. Geoff stepped back, staring into Squall's face.

"Him?! ALA-" that's as far as he got. Kira grabbed his throat and forced him against the railing, his head hanging over the side. Her sword pressed against his throat. "Let me go Kira!!"

"Shut up damnit!" she snapped. Rinoa pulled her hood down and watched with horrid fascination. "You're not going to tell a soul he's here."

"Kira you really lost it!"

"Oh you think I've lost it now?! Just wait till later."

"You always were rebellious…and after everything he did for us…" Kira exploded with rage.

"Everything he did for us!? I…He…" she calmed down slowly. "Listen here…you go to him and tell him that we're here and I'll make sure your down so deep no one will ever find your corpse." She let him drop and walked off. Rinoa and Squall pulled their hoods back on and followed.

"Wait!" Geoff called. Kira turned back slowly. "Why?"

"Because I hate running…I hate being covered in blood…and I hate people like you drones…and I especially hate people like him…" they left him there, following Kira down a metal flight of stairs. Kira hates him? She's been running…why are we doing this? She suddenly realized that Kira had stopped before a door, black as raven's wings.

"I hope you're ready…" she whispered.

"We are…" Squall replied. Kira turned back to him, her eyes watery.

"Let me just say this Squall Leonhart. I'm dead serious when I say this is the worst idea you probably ever had. I'm serious when I say we don't have much of a chance and-"

"Just open the door…" he said. Kira looked hurt but opened the door willingly, letting him go first into a dark room. Rinoa watched him go and heard Kira say one more thing before following.

"And I'm serious when I say…one of us will die…"

Kira stood between Squall and Rinoa inside the large dark room. She had tried to warn him and had failed. Now she was leading them to their deaths. She looked around warily, mechanically, about the room. It was large enough to fit his army…more than large enough to be his tomb…and probably hers.

She had come many times before alone. It had never been an enjoyable experience but then again she had usually been brought against her will. She recalled old memories and shuddered quietly at the thought of them. The footsteps approached.

He stood there, waiting for her. That damn mask covering his face and his brown eyes smiling grotesquely at her. He stood before in red and black, red representing the blood of his enemies and black representing his perception of his world. He opened his hand to her.

"Kira…welcome back. Brought new recruits? You're getting better…"

Kira's lip trembled slowly and her feet started to move. What am I doing? Why am I going towards him? They watched her walk towards this man, the man she hated more than anyone. They watched.

The room seemed to stretch forever, her footsteps echoing eerily inside her head. Still he waited. Yes wait for me. Welcome me with arms open…let me shed thy demon blood. She was right against him. His arms closed around her, she could feel it. They were probably wondering why.

"I've missed you Kira…" he whispered. Slowly, she reached into her jacket sleeve, slowly revealing a silver dagger.

"Will you miss me?" she asked quietly. "…in the afterlife!!!" she cried. She slashed at him suddenly, barely contemplating what she was doing. The blade barely missed his chest. She glared violently at him, sword now unsheathed.

"You dare to go against me!" he snapped.

"I go against anyone who insults him!" Kira lunged at him, eyes begging to see his crimson river escape his body. A glow penetrated her mind and she stopped in midair.

"Ever since I first saw those eyes…I knew you'd try to defy. I should have killed you earlier." Kira found herself flying into the wall. Sword clattering to the floor, she sank into a heap. She glared up at him.

"If you want to destroy him now's the time to help." She yelled at Squall. He nodded and pulled off the cloak. Rinoa did the same and the stood, ready to battle.

"I thought you took care of him." He hissed. Kira smiled a sly smiled.

"I guess he's just too strong for me."

"How dare you mock me!" he yelled. A blast of energy formed around his being. Kira had never seen this. He glowed and she could feel his power grow immensely. That's how he does it…remains unharmed and injures without movement…he's the devil reborn.

"Squall watch it." She hissed, standing with him. "He won't die easily."

"I already know that!" he snapped. Kira said nothing but stared down at her blade. I must beg forgiveness in battle? How ironic…

"Come Kira. Attack again. Let's see how good you've really become." He hissed at her. Kira glowered.

"Very well!" she rushed at him before Squall and Rinoa. He met her slash with his double-ended sword. It was a grueling duel; he matched her blow for blow and gave her no chance to escape his strength. She barely managed to stand as they stood, locked together, trying to bare the other down.

"I will not…lose." She whimpered. He smiled at her.

"You depend to much on the emotion love. It has gotten you nowhere. Why love a man who won't return it? Especially one as weak as Leonhart."

Kira felt her rage overpower. She kicked hard in the knee, watching him howl in pain. Her sword slashed his chest and blood the color of ash dripped on the air. He fell back and she stood over him menacingly.

"The only person weak is you…" Suddenly she lifted again, thrown across into a wall. Her sword clattered and she laid defenseless. The others were nowhere near her. Slowly she tried to pull herself up.

"You are the first to ever slice my flesh…you'll death will quite memorable." He sneered. The leather lash of a whip struck her neck, wrapping around her fragile throat. She couldn't breathe and tried desperately to untangle it. Her eyes rolled quietly behind her. A sudden bolt of electricity shot through her entire body. Her screams echoed as blood dripped.

Squall, my love. Please forgive me! I don't want to die…with out…your…forgiveness…

Squall heard it in his head. The desperate plea for forgiveness in Kira's voice. Her body twitched under the spell and she bled. She'd die. A flash of scarlet invaded his mind. Kira before another man…scarlet…no I can't, won't, let her die!

"Kira!!!" he cried. His feet moved instantly, rushing at the leather, slick with her blood. The Lionheart cut through it with ease.

"Damn you Leonhart!" he cursed, falling back. Kira toppled forward, leather still wrapped around her throat. He pulled it from her neck. Please Kira, I'm sorry. Please be alive! She laid in his arms, panting quietly. Her eyes stared up at him.

"Squall…why…"

"Rinoa." He called. Rinoa rushed to him, kneeling beside him. He handed Kira to her. Rinoa had a surprised look on her face but took her anyway.

"Please…hold on to her. Heal her if you can. I'm gonna take care of him…"

"…Tear him apart." Rinoa replied. Squall stood slowly, his dark blue eyes ablaze with hate as he glared at his opponent. He had tried to control Kira, kill her. He wouldn't forgive him for it.

"Again we face each other in battle. The outcome will be the same as last time though."

"No…it won't." he said quietly. They rushed at one another, sparks flying from their clashing swords. It seemed like they were perfectly matched. He slashed at Squall, Squall blocked and came back with an attack of his own. It went on like this for forever moments.

You tried to take over the world. You tried to destroy Garden. You killed many innocent people. You kidnap children…you kidnapped Kira. You controlled her, used her, forced her to spill blood onto her innocent hands. You tried to kill her…I'll kill you for this.

"I wonder what goes through that trap of a mind of yours." He said with a laugh. Squall jumped back, casting Holy as he did so. Light swirled about his opponent but he was ready. It bounced off his reflect and wrapped around Squall. He cried painfully and sank down to his knees. "You're still not as good as they say…"

Squall glared at him, his anger rising. He stood, gripping his sword angrily. His energy grew drastically.

"What the?" he murmured, feeling Squall's rising energy.

"Let me show you why I defeated Ultimecia…" he snapped. He let loose his Lionheart, attacking him like he had never attacked anyone. Slash after slash, he forced all his anger and hatred into the attacks. He waited for the dust to clear…

"Not bad Leonhart…not bad." The masked man whispered. He stood smiling, practically unscathed. "But still useless."

"N-no!" he cried. It wasn't possible. Not even Ultimecia had been able to stand so confidently after he attacked with the Lionheart. It's not possible. My strongest attacked…worthless? How can I win now? He sank in a strange sense of defeat, something he had never really felt.

"Squall lookout!" Rinoa cried. A blade rushed at his eyes. He was going to die.

Rinoa sat there watching Squall fight the masked man. In truth she didn't mind being pushed to the sidelines; she didn't think she'd last against him. But she was still holding Kira…

Squall had told her to watch her, heal her if she could but she couldn't. Kira was too hurt for her powers to heal. She just held her, Kira's breath coming out in quick gasps as Squall fought…fought for her.

Rinoa realized he had changed. Something in watching Kira cry in pain from the man's brutal and merciless attacks changed him, for the better. He won't let her die like that. He still cares about her. Kira still bled slowly but was still living. Squall was fighting for her to live.

She was watching him battle, watching the swords clash and ring inside this dark and desolate room. Watching them match each other, blow for blow, and keep the score standing still. But that wouldn't get them anywhere.

Squall had tried to attack with Holy, a good spell. It probably could have won it for him. But that man had a reflect ready for him, mirroring the attack and torturing Squall and still he didn't back down.

The lionheart was their last hope. The attack the aided in Ultimecia's defeat. Squall was a master of it. It should have defeated him. Yet he came out unharmed. How could that happen? What is he to be able to stop Squall's most powerful attack. Squall sank in defeat, letting the sword fly at him

"Squall lookout!" Rinoa cried desperately. She wanted to go to him and would've if she wasn't beaten to it. Kira was up, amazingly enough, running to meet them. Rinoa felt useless as the sword came at the two of them. "NO!!!!"

Squall my last act for you. Kira was wounded beyond repair. Even if she missed, she'd die of blood loss and then so would Squall. She couldn't let that happen. She had tried so hard to keep him from death's realm and she would not let the mask take him.

It was a huge gamble. There was a good chance that she wouldn't be able to stand let alone run to save him. She still had to try. All the strength in her body blended together, forcing her to stand.

The last thing she would ever do…it truly would be a real goodbye. But this good bye would be the one she wanted because he would know how she tried to save him, how much she cared. How she loved him so much, his life was worth more than hers. My last act for you, she thought as she ran, is to give my life. Squall I'll pay for my crimes and hope…you don't forget me. It was painful…

Nothing happened to him. Squall's eyes were closed and nothing happened. No pain, no cry escaped his lips. No blood dripped down his body, no blade petrodded from his flesh. He dared to open his eyes.

He was on the ground, on his side. He was out of the line of fire by less than an inch. The sword wasn't on the ground nor was the masked man near him. The man's eyes stared wide at something beside him. He turned his head slowly.

Kira was on her knees, eyes wide with terror. The double bladed sword petrodded from her pale flesh, staining her black shirt red. Soaked to the hilt, her blood dripped onto the floor. She let out pained whimpers and try to pull it out. All her strength left her and she fell backwards.

"Kira!!" Squall cried. He caught her before her head hit the floor. Rinoa was beside him now. Quietly Squall gripped the blade in Kira's chest and pulled it slowly out. Kira made no sound as she lay in his arm. Abandoning the tarnished blade, he cradled Kira's head, begging himself not to cry. Please no…

Kira's eyes looked into his. She smiled quietly. "…I won't tempt you now…"

"Please Kira…no…" he begged. Rinoa was in silent tears. She stared down at the floor. Kira smiled at her.

"I'm not mad…Rinoa…" she coughed. Rinoa started to cry. Squall looked back into Kira's face. Her eyes were closed.

"Kira please don't die…" he pleaded. Her eyes opened slowly. Her jade eyes teared and a single tear dripped down her face.

"Please…" she said quietly, taking his hand. "Please…don't forget…me…" She went limp, her eyes in a soulless dead stare. Her hand fell from Squall's and she was gone.

"Kira…" he cried. Childishly he shook her. "Kira no…" he sobbed. Squall had never sobbed since he had nearly lost Rinoa in the forgotten dimension he had nearly been banished to. He felt torn, abandoned…heartbroken. The masked man's footsteps backtracked. Squall lifted his head slowly.

He stood slowly, leaving Kira on the ground. Picking up the Lionheart he glared menacingly towards him. Rinoa stood beside him as well, her eyes dripping with tears.

"Do you still think you can win?" the masked man asked angrily.

"You murdered her…" Squall said quietly.

"She was the idiot who tried to save you." Squall glared down at him.

"Go to hell…" he murmured. He and Rinoa both decided to cast Ultima. The masked man was engulfed in its power and his screams echoed eerily. He laid against the stone. Squall stood over him, sword over his chest.

"Kill me and you'll be no better than me…" the man snapped. Squall hesitated, thinking about that. Same as you? No…

"No…you'll be the first I've killed out of pure hate…and the last." He plunged his sword deeply into the man's chest, blood spraying lightly. He stood over him, hands still gripping the hilt. He didn't move for a long time. Kira…I killed him…for you…

"Squall?" Rinoa said, her voice still breaking. He looked back to her slowly, his eyes still tearful. Her hand was on his shoulder. "Let's go…"

Squall said nothing but pulled his sword out of the body. He sheathed it and went back to Kira. Rinoa picked up her sword, still covered with ash colored blood. Squall knelt down beside Kira and lifted her into his arms, carrying her out of the room and down the hall…till they saw the desert light and the Ragnarok of in the distance.

Squall sat outside at night in the Quad. He hadn't said anything since he had returned to garden. He had held Kira all the way back. He didn't want to see her buried…didn't want to think that her frail body was lying in the cold unforgiving earth. He decided to have her cremated. He was sitting with her ashes in an urn.

No one had said anything to him after he watched her burn and collected her ashes. He didn't know what they thought. Did they hate her? Did they think she was still the enemy? Did they mourn for him and her? He sighed heavily and stood at the edge, looking out into the starlit sky.

You asked me for forgiveness…why was I so blind and deluded? Why didn't I give it to you when I had the chance? It's too late now. It's not fair. I didn't get to tell you I forgave you…I didn't say I loved you. Why didn't I get the chance to tell you I loved you? Why didn't I get to say goodbye?

A tear dripped into the wind as Squall wept in silence. He still couldn't let go without being able to say goodbye.

"Squall?" Rinoa called. He turned to her slowly. "Let her go…"

Squall looked down to the urn and opened it slowly. The white porcelain top felt so cold in his hand. A wind picked up and whipped around him. It makes so little difference now. It's too late but…goodbye… The ashes sailed into the wind and away. He leaned against the rail and watched them go towards the full moon and dispel. Rinoa still stood behind him. He started to turn away.

Goodbye Squall…

He heard it quietly and looked back towards the moon. Something felt like it drifted into his pocket. He pulled a bended photograph out and stared at it. Kira stared back at him. He turned it over slowly and read: Please don't forget me. Goodbye Squall…Kira.

"I won't Kira…I promise…I will never forget again…" he whispered and looked out into the moon, a smile on his face now. For now, he had gotten to say he was sorry, that he loved her…and goodbye…

~The End~

I do hope you enjoyed that. Sorry it took so long to finish but…you can't rush art. Send me feed back…and never forget to say goodbye.