Disclaimer:
I do not own any rights or anything of/or belonging to Final Fantasy VIII or Square Enix.

FFViii is one of my favorites. Some parts of this will not be true to the actual game, of course.
But all is fun in a fanfic. I have added some of my own characters in there also, just an FYI.
Please R&R! :) thank you! And enjoy!

{{ Status: INCOMPLETE }}

One:

There was a full moon, bright and up high in the night sky. It illuminated the floors of Balamb Garden's hallway. With it being empty, each of the outdoor pillars cast a long shadow down the hall. It was eerie, almost. Yet beautiful. With the occasional sounds of roaring fiends coming from the training center, it only made the night that much better.

Squall enjoyed it. Enjoyed the silence and darkness above all else. Only at night was he still able to revert back to his old, quiet demeanor without a soul questioning him. Why would the top Instructor at Balamb be so quiet? So out of place? He had a large flock of cadets following his path and begging, just begging, for personal training time.

Please, Sir Squall! - Next time, I promise...

He pressed his back against one of the pillars of the hall. He wasn't sure the exact time of night, but he did this normally. Once he was sure almost the entire Garden was asleep, he would creep out of his quarters to think. Or what Quistis called moping. All you do is mope! is what she told him, I made you an instructor for a reason! Come on, Squall! He always reminded her, he appreciated it. He loved her for it and always, each time, thanked her for the massive opportunity. Sometimes his shallow behavior would kick in and he would remind her - I did save the world, you know.

As he thought about it, he told himself - that was years ago. It had been six years since Ultimecia had tried to bring her reign upon the planet. He did it - him and his team. After the world regained it's order and composure, and each of the Garden's recomposed themselves, he returned. Squall walked through Balamb Garden, with his jacket pulled over one shoulder and a small smirk on his face, straight to the headmaster's office. Cid had welcomed him with the largest of hugs and beamed. His top notch SeeD had returned.

It wasn't those thoughts that made Squall creep out at night, no. He had been happy and humble for a long time. Everyone was at the Garden. Almost everyone had become an instructor of some sort, or in some way. And then you just left, Rinoa... and that was it. Squall looked up towards the moon, and moved his hair from his face. Sometimes in the moon's light he could see her smile. Maybe he was foolish. Maybe it wasn't right to hold on. She had up and left his quarters without a note or a word to anyone. No one had seen her leave the grounds. She even left every ounce of clothing behind, including his griever chain that he had given to her once the war had ended. Four years had passed, and still Squall brought himself outside to think of her face. Her voice.

Sometimes his skin would ache for hers, or his heart would pound for no reason. He missed her, that was for sure. And the moon calmed his loneliness. The night air calmed his grief. He did anything to remove himself from the bed they once shared. Sometimes he would take himself to the training center and put his gunblade to work. He purposely sought out the T-Rex every time; it was the only fiend that the Garden had acquired that was suitable for a fight. Something to get his blood pumping; an adrenaline rush. But this night, he needed something calming.

"It'll be the 24th tomorrow, Rinoa..." Squall spoke into the air. Of course he received no response. If she had stayed, and they had remained with one another, it would have been their anniversary. Five years. Five years, Rinoa...

He heard the light clicking of footsteps, more like the sound of boots. He looked up, and saw Irvine walking towards him. "Oh you're awake." Squall said.

Irvine chuckled sightly as he reached his good friend, and leaned against pillar just next to him. "Hey now, I'm a grown boy and don't got no type of curfew."

Squall had rolled his eyes and pushed his attention back towards the moon, "Well, good night, Irvine." he said, "Sleep well."

Irvine caught the uneasiness immediately. He looked at his lonesome friend, who's saddened eyes stared up at the moon in between his now light pink scar. He still wore his instructor clothes. Irvine couldn't say much different as he himself an instructor, still in his instructor attire but he was heading to bed. He knew Squall had no intentions on sleeping. "Will you be alright?" He asked.

Squall looked at his long haired friend and nodded his head slowly. Irvine nodded in return - he understood. He understood more so because he was one of the few who remembered what time of the year it was. He remembered because he and Selphie weren't too far off themselves with an anniversary. "Well I'll see you in the 'morn. Don't know if you got Quistis' letter yet, but we have a meeting bright and early."

Squall nodded, but in truth didn't pay much attention. As Irvine walked passed, Squall made the note to tell Selphie he wished her good night. Irvine nodded with his good old brown cowboy hat and walked down the hallway towards the personal quarters.

Once alone again, Squall closed his eyes and listened to the wind. Maybe he could hear their song if he tried hard enough. If he heard it, maybe then he could sleep. Just maybe. Yet, with all his will, he pulled himself from the glow of the moon and the frame of the pillar; he too turned down the hall towards his personal quarters. I think it's time I let you go, Rinoa... He thought to himself.

Apparently, tomorrow would be a big day for him.

Hopefully it was an alright start! This started off as just a OneShot idea, but halfway through the second paragraph I wanted to continue it :)