AN: Okay… I know this is just my side project, but if there is anyone out there who is reading this…. I apologize for the extraordinarily long wait… there's not much excuse for it… I was hoping to make up for it by having the ballroom scene in it, but it was just not working, that is to be in the next chapter, because I have that part written, but not the stuff in-between. But when that gets taken care of then... well, the next chapter gets posted.

And I know Seifer and Quistis are a little tiny bit OOC, but I'm playing up some tension that will be necessary… okay not necessary, but you get the idea… come much farther down the line. (as in disk three… ish. Yes I have thought that far down the line).

That being said… enjoy ^_^

TECHNICALITIES:

A. For realistic purposes… I'm going on the idea that the Infirmary is a lot bigger than a single room and office.

B. Another thing to note is that obviously at the beginning of the game there are three GF's. In Trabia, you are given Ifrit and Quetzalcoatl and have to earn Shiva. Likewise in Galbadia you are given Ifrit and Shiva and have to earn Quetzalcoatl. Though other than Balamb Garden, the others still don't use GF's much.

C. Also I'm assuming that there is more than one elevator, and only the main one goes up to the third floor.

D. The Ballroom is on the second floor (which is much bigger than we ever saw) and is a closed off section except for special occasions.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final fantasy VIII, Square Enix does.

~Right of Passage~

He was out of breath. At this point he was seriously considering staying on the floor, lying on his back and just passing out. His body needed the reprieve that sleep brought, but his brain was going so fast, it would be in no way restful. He settled for getting up and stumbling to a nearby seat. Nida and Zell followed. Selphie was panting in a seat across the isle way and Rinoa seemed to be standing staring out into space as her breath was slowly beginning to regulate itself. Seifer was no where to be seen, thankfully. Squall closed his eye's and leaned his head back against the wall behind the seat trying to ignore the pain and calm his thoughts.

"Ow!" His eye's shot open. A field medic was attending to Zell's burns. The medic tended to all of them though Kadowaki would eventually look over all of them. The bullet was left in Rinoa's shoulder so the bleeding wouldn't be restarted just yet. As the medic walked out, Quistis walked in.

"You were two minutes late!" They all looked towards Quistis who was attempting to cover concern with anger.

"I apologize for our tardiness." Nida gave no excuse, as it didn't matter. The probability of them passing the exam had dropped from great, to bad, to non-existent.

"Xu is currently informing Instructor Aki that you two returned safely." Rinoa and Nida both nodded their head at this. Everyone remained silent.

"Is everyone alright?" Quistis asked, the anger gone, leaving only worry in it's stead. The medic answered,

"As long as they get in, to see Kadowaki as soon as they get back, they'll be fine." She nodded her head as the Medic finished looking over a nearly unconscious Squall. Rinoa opened her eye's and they were once again drawn to color. The medic was grey and white, with black hair and a small red cross on his jacket. Squall, in full color, in beautiful color, looked as if he were asleep, almost dead.

"Is he alright?" It was instinctual to ask, and she had already been caught staring, she could tell Quistis was slightly amused by it. Rinoa managed to suppress the blush and showed only concern as she ripped her eyes away from him to look at Zell as he began to talk,

"Yeah, he's just tired. He got hit pretty bad by the… creature, thingy…"

"… Elvoret." Selphie added in.

"Yeah, that thing, up on the tower. He hit his limit, which is actually really cool!" Zell had a huge grin on his face. It fit well, and seemed like it would be something that would be on his face even in the most desperate of situations.

"I managed to get him a cure, but still…" Selphie left it there. They all knew well enough how draining limits could be. What bothered Rinoa the most at this point, was that every occupant of this room besides Nida, had colored eyes. They weren't some shade of grey, they were full color. She couldn't help but wonder who else had colored eye's that she hadn't allowed herself to notice. What did this mean? How could she forget something as simple as being colorblind? How could she see color? Why was Squall like that little boy?

"Hey, not that I care, but where's the blond bastard?" Zell asked. Squall snorted, apparently he was awake. Had he heard her asking about him? Why did that bother her? Quistis sighed.

"He went with Mattie and Instructor Aki. The headmaster has been informed of the situation and I'm sure he will figure out what to do."

"That was his last try wasn't it?" Rinoa asked. Quistis looked surprised.

"At Balamb Garden, yes." Several curious gazes looked at her. She didn't comment further.

"You weren't kidding about making life hard for Galbadian soldiers last summer were you?" Selphie asked.

"Nope." She said popping the P.

"Rinoa, what don't I know." Rinoa looked at Quistis and smirked.

"Finally pulled my shit together and they let me out last summer for good behavior. Went back to visit the extended family and met Seifer and gang thanks to Watts and his strange infatuation with Fujin." Zell choked a laugh out at the last statement. Squall managed to open his eye's, now placing the new girl on his very long, "never talk to" list.

"What did we do?" Quistis asked, slightly amused and mostly mortified at what the pair could have done.

"The forest owls prevailed, albeit Seifer was a pain in the ass and clearly can't take orders from a girl." Nida snorted.

"Seifer doesn't take orders from anyone." Rinoa, and Quistis chuckled while Zell got up and did something similar to swatting flies.

"I hope Fujin kicks his ass, she's the only girl he'll take shit from." Zell continued his swatting fly dance. Selphie just had to ask,

"Zell what are you doing?" he continued and his answer came out in short bursts.

"… I'm sparing… in place… to keep my heart… rate… up… and… not…. get bored."

"Really? Cause it kind of looks like you're trying to close you're fly but you can't reach." Rinoa's laugh was instant, everyone else cringed, including Squall. Zell's reaction to Selphie's offhand statement was immediate. He landed a blow to the side of the room, denting the wall outward luckily not causing any permanent damage but still causing the sub boat to lean that way. This silenced Rinoa.

"It's sparing in place damn it!" Zell sat down. Everyone stayed silent for the rest of the trip.

"Ow!"

"IDIOT!"

"Fu…""Would you two shut up!" Rinoa couldn't help but laugh at the sight before her as they exited onto the Balamb dock.

"Laugh it up Heartilly." Seifer yelled as she walked toward the trio.

"REPORT?" Fujin asked Rinoa as she approached.

"FAILURE! Kick his ass for me, would ya." Fujin allowed herself a small smirk at Rinoa's comment. As the others approached, Rinoa let herself look upon her three comrades. Fujin and Rajin… both with eye color. Seifer… his skin was more than just grey, but it wasn't Squall.

All this time, it was like living under the sun, yet not acknowledging it's existence. Then one day you just… look at it.

"And It was NOT a failure."

"For you, it was. Shall I list everything you did wrong… that I know about. I'm sure Squall, Zell, and Selphie could finish it for me."

"Leave the decisions up to those who make them, Rin." Quistis said quietly interrupting the small spat.

"Everyone in the Van!" Xu ordered. Seifer waltzed in first followed shortly by Rajin and Fujin.

"I hope Fujin does give Mr. Ego a good kick in the shins." Zell muttered before following suit behind everyone else.

The trip back had been fairly quiet, the tension was thick. Seifer was far from uncomfortable with the tension, whenever Squall was around it was there anyway. He glanced at Rinoa, she had a bullet in her shoulder that Kadowaki was going to have to take out. While Seifer didn't regret his actions, he couldn't help but wonder that if he had stayed with his group, if he could have prevented it.

Instructor Aki had given him a verbal beating, not that he was affected, but then he had pulled out the binoculars to make sure the last group left safely… he'd never admit it to anyone, but even from a distance the mechanical monstrosity was easily visible, and when he saw it, and two very familiar blurs just in front of it, he had felt a swell of panic. It was short lived when the machine gun loaded the machine with bullets and Rinoa and Squall made it in the Sub boat.

The thing was… the panic hadn't just been for Rinoa. He had felt no such panic this morning when he gave Squall a scar that would likely always remind him of their rivalry… Seifer could have very easily killed him, but he hadn't… he couldn't. Above all, their rivalry had sprouted from their extreme differences along with the few similarities that led to the Alpha complex… the one that always created tension… the need to be on top…

He had proven that he was better than Squall… but only to himself. Rin knew he had failed as well as he did… but that didn't mean he was going to give up. Until they didn't call his name, he would assume that he had passed… but he would always know that he was better than Squall.

He thought back to the mountain top, when he had told Squall of having a "romantic dream". He wasn't sure what had possessed him to say it. Hell half the time he felt like he was on auto pilot… or maybe someone had rewound his life and pressed play… that would actually make sense considering his dreams.

She came to him at night, Matron did. She had always warned him, in his dreams, of what the GF's could do. He had been careful, he kept a journal, he never forgot Cid's wife… even though everyone else had. The real Matron had never spoken to him of such, but the Matron in his dreams… the one with the strange accent that turned soft C's into hard C's… she had always guided him, teaching him what his teachers did not. She was always there, as if they were imbedded memories within time itself…

Last night she hadn't come. He was angry…she always came… he took it out on Squall.

"Alright everyone we're here." The van came to a stop accenting Quistis' statement. Squall resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Quistis just needed a reason to break the silence. They all got out, Selphie was bouncing up and down, Nida was standing quietly, Rinoa looked dead on her feet, Zell looked like he was counting down for takeoff, Squall had his arms crossed looking down and mostly bored, Quistis looked nervous and Xu stood at attention, ordering.

"Alright, all of you to Kadowaki's office, that includes you Seifer. You should have come back with Instructor Aki." Seifer refrained from saying "whatever".

"Rai, Fuu… head to dinner, I'll catch up."

"Right, ya know." Rajin said looking at Fujin as she nodded her head briefly. The turned and ran ahead.

"Seifer, a word." Quistis said. He did a double take, she hardly ever used that tone with him… with anyone really. It was something he expected out of Xu, not Quisty. Quistis looked over to Xu who nodded her head leading the rest ahead, leaving Quistis and Seifer lagging behind. Quistis looked around briefly and when she saw no one, she dragged Seifer off to the side near one of the fountains.

"Well, hey instructor under normal circumstances I would love to make out with you, but I…" Her fist met his jaw.

"OW! What was that for?"

"Do you have ANY idea what kind of trouble you are in? Now is not the time for jokes Seifer.""Trouble?" She rolled her eyes.

"Seifer, The headmaster will have to decide what do with you but I have to say if it were up to me, you would be expelled!" He looked at her in shock of her words and her anger.

"I thought it was just a transfer to Galbadia?" Her eyes opened wider, if only barely.

"So you realize that you failed?" Shit no!

"I understand that it's a possibility." It wasn't often he had to pull out the diplomatic side of himself… why he was even bothering was beyond him.

"Ugh! You were the team leader, you failed every single part of being a leader. You left your post, you left your team. Do you have any idea how this is going to reflect on me? Do you?" He looked at her in shock. Gone was the quite thoughtful instructor that shared the same age as he… in her place was a young woman scorned… but not by a boyfriend.

"…" She sighed at his silence.

"Oh, why did I bother? It's not like you care. Just don't be surprised if the garden faculty come searching for you and lock you up." She turned from him, leaving him behind. His actions were his own. There was no reason for his actions to reflect Quistis… it's just the way he was. No one could change that… but Quistis was on "The List" this shouldn't be bugging him… he wouldn't let it bug him. He began walking towards the infirmary, never regretting his actions, never taking them back, always proud, always the best… and quietly wondering if he had done more damage to her than to himself.

Cid stood in front of the directory as always… awaiting the candidates return, congratulating them on a job well done, giving words of advice he may have. The Garden master may have control over who made it to SeeD, but NORG couldn't take away his right to see the students in the shape they returned in, always berating himself for ever coming up with the idea whenever someone came back injured.

The last group of students had it the worst, all of whom were now being led by Xu, with the exception of Seifer, and Quistis as well, to the infirmary. Xu shooed the rest forward and stood at attention before Cid.

"Mission Complete! I think we did a pretty good job. All the other candidates are back safely, right?" He nodded so Xu continued, "What we hadn't realized going into this was that the Galbadian Army was after the abandoned communication tower."

"Yes, We've just received word from the Dollet Dukedom. The Galbadian Army has agreed to withdraw as long as the communication tower is repaired and the uplink remains operational."

"Hmm… well in any case, Galbadia is out of there. We could have made more money if they'd stayed and caused more ruckus."

"Yes, though they are grateful they did complain that apparently we left a box of metal with a bunch of bullet holes on their beach?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly as Quistis came to join them, still slightly flushed from confronting Seifer.

"Yes, sir. That would be a part of the more ruckus. I'm not sure what it was, but Sub Boat C will need to be re-supplied with the machine gun ammunition."

"Galbadia just about took us out with that thing." Quistis nodded her head in agreement.

"Is everyone alright?" Cid asked suppressing panic, he had already seen everyone, and Seifer was at the gate walking their way.

"Yes everyone is fine, minus a few injuries, nothing life threatening." He nodded his head as Seifer passed silently by.

"Infirmary!" Xu yelled at him,

"I'm goin!" He yelled back, though he passed the hallway and went into the cafeteria.

"Fujin will make sure he goes." Quistis noted

"Hmm…" Xu agreed spotting Instructor Aki as she did. "Oh boy." to which Cid asked,

"What?"

Rinoa cringed as the forceps extracted the small bullet from her shoulder, to which had been numbed by a local anesthetic. She didn't look down as the blood began to run again.

"Almost done dear." She felt the warm itchy burn caused by curative spells, or in this case, by potions… a synthetic liquid with the properties of a cure spell. Though it didn't have as much effect as a cure spell, it could be localized far more affectively when applied topically, if ingested… a cure would have the same effect. In extreme cases Hi-Potions were used intravenously to heal internal damage, it did the job, though it left one feeling overheated almost as if one was burning from the inside out… or so she had heard.

"Alright, get changed and you're free to go." Dr. Kadowaki smiled at her to which she returned. The doctor left and closed the door behind her. Rinoa pulled the hospital gown over her head, it only had a small amount of blood on it. She checked her shoulder examining the damage… only a small pink spot was left. The doctor had already wiped the blood off with a sanitation wipe, so she didn't have to worry about that. She pulled on the uncomfortable SeeD standard bra and t-shirt as Kadowaki had taken her bloodied uniform top and her own bra to the washing closet… they would be taken care of there. She was just thankful she didn't have to worry about her pants. When she opened the door it was to a… most amusing sight.

"Ack! Back in the room Leonhart I'm not done with you yet!" Rinoa couldn't help snorting… The boy in color being yelled at by the doctor in white was just too funny. He looked at her, his arms crossed and eye brow raised, his lips a flat line lacking any emotion.

"Fine don't go back in the room," She looked to Zell hoping he would help her, but he had his hands raised up… there was no way he was messing with Squall when he might be pissed… might be, being key. Kadowaki motioned for him to sit in one of the waiting seats. He didn't move. The infirmary doors opened, Instructor Aki and Trepe following.

"Leonhart, in the seat!" The reluctance to follow Aki's orders was visible, but Squall did as he was told. He wasn't a SeeD yet.

"Are Rinoa and Nida free to leave Doctor?"

"Yes they are." She said as she examined Squall's scar… it looked new, and he was clearly wishing he had gone back in the room, so that the examination wouldn't have any onlookers.

"Nida, Rinoa, go get changed into your secondary uniform and come up to my office,"

"Yes sir." They replied to the Instructors back as he left.

"Seriously… Quistis, If you're my instructor, how did I end up assigned to him?" Rinoa asked

"It's just how the numbers worked out." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Where's it at?" Rinoa asked.

"Meet me at the main elevator and I'll show you."

"Thanks Nida." He nodded his head and before he could leave to move the doors opened yet again, this time with an uncharacteristically contemplative Seifer walked in.

"Squall, Seifer, my office." Neither boy bothered to fight about that one. Side by side, she could see the matching scars on their faces, perhaps they had marked each other in a duel? The doctor ushered the two into one of the rooms… for what though?

"What's up with that?"

"She's probably bitching them out about hurting each other in "training"" Yes Zell used his fingers to do the quotations,

"This morning?"

"Yeah, missed his fire cavern exam too." Rinoa's eye brows shot up,

"I've had Quetzalcoatl for months! Wait how did he…"

"I took him out after class." Quistis answered, her voice tried but patient.

"So that was were you were going?" Selphie piped up and Quistis nodded in affirmation.

"You two had better go. Instructor Aki, isn't known for his patience." Nida laughed, being in the man's class… he knew that all too well.

"So what happened?" Selphie asked Nida and Rinoa as they approached the rest of the candidates waiting in the hallway for the results.

"It was short and to the point… "you didn't do this", "you should have done that", thankfully due to the circumstances we wont be punished. As the instructor said, "Failing will be punishment enough," But we'll see." Mattie, a short distance away snorted, but didn't comment, nor did she make any attempt to approach them. When Nida had tried to apologize earlier,

"Mattie…"

"Shove it dickwad!" The look on Nida's face had been priceless, he had never been called that before.

"Dude, no way you guys didn't pass, I mean… seriously!"

"Thank you Zell." Nida smiled at his enthusiasm, though the smile was cut short by the coming trio.

"Well, well, well, look who's back from the principles office." Rinoa snorted,

"You'll get yours Seifer… shortly I would think."

"I didn't fail." He couldn't leave well enough alone.

"Yes you did, and you know it." She also couldn't leave well enough alone, despite Quistis' advice.

"So sure are you?" He said with a smirk.

"Hmm."

"And if I pass?" He questioned.

"I highly doubt it." Rinoa answered him, looking down the hallway, inadvertently staring at a silent Squall.

"But if I do?" He smirked again, she sighed and rolled her eyes then looked at him as seriously as possible.

"I'll make you chocolate chip cookies." His smirk slowly turned into what could only be described as a dumbfounded and confused look. It was an unexpected reply. From both her comment and Seifer's reaction Selphie Zell, and Rajin both burst out laughing and Fujin smiled shortly. No one noticed the small smirk on Squall's face. At least that's what he thought.

"Dude, you are capable of other facial expressions!" Zell announced causing everyone who was waiting for the results to turn to Squall which immediately brought the scowl back. "I swear he was smiling!" Zell muttered. The others returned to their quiet talking as Squall leaned against the wall. Seifer was standing silently next to Fujin and Rajin as Zell "swatted at flies" a safe distance away, and Seifer didn't comment. Rinoa was sitting next to Selphie and Squall would occasionally catch her looking at him. It didn't matter if he was looking at Rinoa, he just knew. But when he did look at her, she appeared to be listening to Selphie but her eyes were in the distance, almost like she was looking through him. It was unnerving.

Her eye's didn't hold the lust that many girls did while catching glimpses of him. He found the attention annoying but ignorable. Seifer on the other hand, loved the attention girls gave him, but never took it seriously. But how Rinoa was looking at him, it was in confusion, and frustration, like he was a puzzle she couldn't figure out how to solve. No one would ever solve him though, no one could understand and there was no point in hoping that anyone ever could. After all there really wasn't much to understand, he had always been alone, he liked being alone, he acted alone, so he was left alone… for the most part anyway.

"Attention!" Everyone was on their feet and standing tall. Three hooded Garden Faculty members stood in V formation. The front one was holding the list of those who had passed in his hooded glove.

"Will the following cadets please step forward."

"Camirosa… Teja Camirosa" He smiled… his group hadn't seen much action but they kept on guard and there was no funny business on his part. It wasn't a surprise that he made it.

"Dincht… Zell Dincht."

"OHHHHH YEAHHHHHH!" Zell jumped punching his fist high into the air, unable to keep it in. "See ya!" He ran forward into the hallway behind the Garden Faculty.

"Heartilly… Rinoa Heartilly." She stepped forward, her face serious while she did a mental victory dance within her mind.

"Kaisua… Shatti Kaisua." She skipped past the faculty as she giggled happily, no action and no screwing off meant instant pass. She was a happy camper.

"Leonhart… Squall Leonhart." He was slightly surprised, but you wouldn't know it. He had done his best and his outward demeanor showed nothing other than perhaps the fact that passing had been expected.

"Nihfoia… Nida Nihfoia." Nida walked forward stiffly, he was surprised considering he had gone against orders.

"Tilmitt… Selphie Tilmitt." She jumped up, keeping her squealing to a minimum as she walked passed the Faculty.

"I'm sooo glad all that running was for something!" She whispered to herself.

"That is all from Squads A. B. C. and D. Dismissed!" A collection of groans could be heard from the hallway behind, but if they hadn't passed, they weren't meant to.

"These are the seven students who passed today's exam" The three Garden faculty announced. The seven walked forward and assembled into a line standing at attention. The Headmaster stepped forward,

"First of all, Congratulations." He smiled and made eye contact with all seven of them, "However… From now on as a member of SeeD, you will be dispatched all over the world. While we are proud to introduce you tonight as the next generation of SeeD, Balamb Garden's mercenary soldiers, there is one thing I would like to say." He paused, then sighed, closing his eyes gathering his strength to say whatever it is he had to say next.

"SeeD soldiers are combat specialists. BUT… That is only one aspect of SeeD." He sighed again, "When the time comes…"

"Headmaster…" The Garden Faculty member interrupted, "It's almost time for the meeting. Please make this short." The headmaster's shoulders slumped, when he made no effort to continue the Garden Faculty member began his own, to the point speech.

"SeeD is a valuable asset to Garden. Its reputation is solely dependent on each one of you. Handle your missions with care." The Faculty member looked over to the aged man who was staring out the huge window behind his desk, "Is that what you wanted to say, sir?"

"Yes, in the end, I suppose it is."

"Here are the SeeD rank report's!" The Faculty member gave a small stack of thick mint paper, to the Headmaster. All but one had an attached bag with the new SeeD's uniform in it.

He already knew everyone's passing grade, it had taken some hedging on his part to get Nida and Rinoa to pass, albeit at the lowest of levels, but NORG had agreed that Nida would prove useful. Rinoa had passed, only because NORG wanted her out of the system, he wanted her gone. It was understandable, from a financial and political viewpoint, but still… she deserved better than this… so much better…

"Here you go." He started down the line forcing a smile on his face for everyone else. Each report was signed by Headmaster Cid Kramer and the Garden Master. And below each report was a small note that he would tell them before they opened it, but it would be there in writing for them to remember always.

"You have a wonderful personality! I'm sure the Garden Festival will be wonderful." He smiled as he whispered to Selphie. She had wonderful tracking skills for an armature. She had found group B with such and her reasoning skills to boot. She would be a wonderful addition to Garden… Plus, she never lost hope.

"You're a great pilot, do your best, even if you don't always stand out." He whispered to Nida. He had mostly been behind the wheel of a boat, and he was an excellent driver… If Garden ever needed a flagship, Nida would be the first driver on his list.

"Finally… A Gunblade specialist! I've been looking forward to this day, and it has come at last." Cid smiled at him, knowing far more about the future than the boy did. he had guided Squall to the best of his ability. He could only hope that Squall would live up to what was coming.

"You're quick on your feet; just remember to keep an eye on the your back when no one else can." He nodded to Shatti. She was faster than Selphie, but she used to have a small habit of falling into a tunnel vision like state. She had grown a lot since then, but a healthy reminder never hurt.

"You know the rule book well, you're a great fighter, and you're not afraid to say what is right and what is wrong… I wish I could have given you better." Cid whispered to Rinoa as he gave her the report, with no attached uniform. There was a flash of confusion as she noticed the difference as well as the headmasters expression, but she quickly controlled her own reaction. However his complexion was so similar to Seifer's… not color wise, but as in the existence of color in general, it completely mystified her how so many in color could be in one place, unless she was getting her color sight back…

"You have the enthusiasm to get you anywhere, but sometimes it may be useful to control your emotions a little." He smirked as he whispered to Zell, who wasn't moving an inch. The boy was a top notch fighter, but he still needed to work on his control some. But Zell had always been like that… ever since they had first met, Zell had been a bundle of misunderstood energy. Cid was glad that Zell had found a way to focus it elsewhere.

"You're a good fighter, you keep your cool in stressful situations, and you don't go looking for trouble where there isn't any. A model SeeD." He whispered to Teja. He was laid back… the comic relief and a great friend… a future leader no doubt.

Cid stood back to view the graduates… trying not to think of a day long since past… a day when children ran along the beach, swam in the water on calm days… they had changed so much. A sad smile reached his face as the Faculty member broke him from his stupor.

"This ends the SeeD inauguration. Dismissed!" All graduates stood at attention and saluted. Marching single file out the door, he couldn't help but wonder what would happen to Rinoa, when she realized what was to occur…

As he walked to his meeting with NORG concerning Seifer, he could not help but fall back into the dream of a life where Squall was just a curious boy… a boy who had his sister and his best friend. It was obvious he didn't remember her, nor did she remember him. Part of him felt sorry for the two… knowing what he did. The other part couldn't be more thankful, if they knew… After finding each other, separation would not be an option.

Not for the first time, and not for the last, he wished that his wife were here. She would see them, she would love them as her own as she always had… If only.

The graduates returned to the second floor. They were to stand in front of their fellow Cadets… the ones who had been on the mission but had not made it, as the graduates would be introduced as SeeD's. It was tradition.

They stood in front of the silent crowd for several moments before Seifer stepped forward and began clapping. Fujin soon joined him, the Rajin… then the others joined as well. The Seven stood proud, albeit slightly surprised at Seifer's actions. When the crowd disbanded, most to go eat before getting ready for the ball, the seven opened their manila folders to look at their grades.

Rinoa stared, stunned into silence… they were the lowest possible passing grades. Then she looked to the note at the bottom.

Miss Rinoa Caraway:

Congratulations on becoming a SeeD! Normally, having passed Balamb's Exam, you would remain here. However, taking your family into consideration; Your transfer has been denied.

When you return to Galbadia Garden, you may continue to further your education, or you may leave the system to find a separate career should you chose to do so.

Good Luck.

Sincerely

The Garden Master & Headmaster Cid Kramer

Her gray world became a haze of red. Her father prevented her escape yet again… and she was passed only so that they could not so subtly push her out the door. Closing Garden's gates behind her. Her anger felt out of control, like she needed release, like she needed to hurt something.

She didn't hear Selphie asking how she did, she did not hear Zell's whoop of accomplishment, she did not see Nida's smile, she did not see the confusion in Squall's eyes… the confusion caused by feeling an anger that was not his own. She attempted to walk away, she needed to cool down… but she wasn't watching where she was going. She tripped on thin air landing in what felt like arms.

She couldn't quite tell because the moment she was caught, her knees buckled on her. She closed her eyes shut, blocking out the world as best she could. It felt like she was being physically drained of her anger, as if she had been teetering on the edge of a cliff, she was falling and someone grabbed her and pulled her back mid-fall. She gasped, knowing her anger, but not feeling it.

Suddenly able to think, she realized that someone was holding her up, she regained her balance and stepped back, the hands let go.

"I'm s-sorry. Tripped, I think." She blushed, feeling like an idiot for her statement and for blushing, then she looked up to see who it was who had caught her. She could not help the thrill of fear that shot down her spine, but she quickly controlled it as she stuttered out,

"Th-thanks." She made a run for it trying not to look panicked as Squall looked at her somewhat annoyed and oddly amused, by her behavior. He told himself that catching her was some strange deranged version of self defense as she was falling towards him… somehow he didn't quite believe that yet.

"HEY! Rinny wait up, we need to get ready for the ball!"

AN: Again, I appologize for such a freakishly long wait. Next time a chapter is posted, this story will just be "Where all paths end"

And if you want some really random info about this chapter, go to my profile and the journal at the top has some stuff (kind of dumb but hey…. whatever)