Squall Leonhart hadn't spoken a word for 1 week, 6 days and 4 ½ hours exactly. Nearly everybody in Balamb Garden had tried to pry speech out of him for a week with no success. No words, no smile, no nothing. There wasn't a flicker of emotion to reward their efforts, and all because of one Rinoa Heartilly. The second person ever to be able to get Squall to show emotion in public. The second person to abandon him when he showed signs of improvement.

From her position in Squall's mind, Shiva wept frozen tears. She wept for what could have been, and what almost was. The arctic goddess raged in her own way against the flighty woman who had cruelly left her charge, with no thought of the damage she would be doing. Suddenly she stopped, knowing what she must do. Taking her leave of her Lion's mind quietly, she set out in an icy wind to find the only person who could help him.

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Irvine pushed through the crowds in Galbadia, cursing the early morning rush. He finally managed to get into a quiet corner, wondering once again why he was out this early.

He had woken up in a weird state of restlessness, so he had left Galbadia's Garden in favour of its streets. He was heading back now, if the crowds would let him. The lanky man cursed, tilting his hat back. Despite the fact he loved the busy streets of the place where he had grown up; his thoughts kept drifting back to Balamb, and its Lion...Irvine shook his head, pushing thoughts of Squall away. He was probably happily settled down with Rinoa. Irvine grimaced at the memory of the woman who had stolen Squall's affections from him. He sauntered back through to his room, winking at the giggling girls who walked by. He slumped on his bed, glad for the privacy SeeD rooms brought. He shivered in a sudden cold breeze, frowning at the closed windows.

"Irvine" Irvine's head snapped up, staring at his uninvited guest. He recognised her instantly. Who wouldn't recognise the guardian of ice? She stood casually, arms folded and frosty blue eyes narrowed.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Squall?" He grinned at her, knowing he was taking a risk talking to her so.

"I was, until I took matters until my own hands" She replied coldly. I raised an eyebrow at her, not knowing what she was talking about but now wanting to let her onto the fact I didn't know.

"Why are you talking to me? I'm sure the 'orphanage gang' or Rin can help" I started to turn away, but her voice stopped me.

"Heartilly is the reason I am here" The bite in her voice as she said Rinoa's name was obvious, and I turned to look at her again.

"She left him then? Bound to happen, sooner or later" I quelled the sudden urge to grab Exeter,track Rinoa down and put a bullet through her heart.

"You still love him" He was a statement, not a question. Irvine started, but pasted another smirk on.

"Squall?" Shiva merely tilted her head and smirked in return.

"Yes, you still love my charge" She nodded her head, as if confirming something

"Come along, Kinneas. You're going back to Balamb Garden"

"Since when?" Irvine protested vehemently. Shiva glared at him, stance telling him to obey "Since when do I owe Squall anything?"

"He needs you. I can't help him,I can't give himwhat he needs" Shiva looked at him,sorrow in her face"He hasn't said a word for almost two weeks"

"...fine" Shiva gave me a faint smile, but it was sly this time "What? I'm not gonna leave him alone this time, if this is what's gonna happen"

Shiva merely smiled again, and waved a hand, a slip of paper appearing between her fingers. She held it out, and Irvine took it, ignoring the slight frost dusting it, and raised an eyebrow when he recognised a one-way Galbadia-Balamb ticket.

"Do I want to know how you got this?" All he got in rely was an indulgent smirk.

"If you are ever at a loss for what to do, speak to Siren. She thinks as I do" Before he could ask what that meant, Shiva had disappeared, leaving him alone with a piece of paper, a freezing room and enough intrigue to lead him back to where he was needed.

TBC...