Light Unto My Path

By: Ayato Kamina

Chapter 1: A New Year, A New Beginning

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Final Fantasy 8, and Squaresoft/Square Enix owns it all.

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He never thought he could find love. Love was a transient, fleeting gazelle to him. It was a brief moment, never to return. Like King Dellinore of the Estharian Kingdom, Squall could never catch it. Surprisingly, he did. However, he would have to suffer for it. He would have to suffer more than he ever asked for. More than he could ever imagine.

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The sun rose. And by rote, Squall Leonhart awoke. He was currently seventeen years of age, and he attended Balamb High. Squall was enigmatic to a sense because no one knew what was running in his mind. He performed his morning rituals within approximately ten minutes. Just like that, he was out the door. However, his father Laguna wanted to give Squall his best wishes for school. Today was the first day of a whole new school year.

"Squall, where do you think you are going? You forgot to eat breakfast."

There Laguna was. Squall looked back and saw his sorry excuse of a father. He despised conversations with his father. They stuck together like fire and ice.

"Excuse me father, but I have finished all my duties. I have actually eaten breakfast, but like always, you are a few steps behind me. I am properly dressed, and I really don't need you to waste any further time." Squall stated. His eyes narrowed into a glare that would shake mountains.

"Come on, son. Cut the formalities." Laguna exclaimed. Then he smiled the goofiest smile ever. "I just wanted to wish you well for your first day of school. Son, I know since your mother died…"

"Whatever." Squall quickly interrupted.

Why would you mention mom at a time like this?

Squall left the big oaf standing there in the doorway and headed to his car. Even though Laguna was quite the klutz, he was an amazing journalist. His father would travel around the world, and then write stories on his trips. Squall wasn't used to a father-figure since his dad was never home. However, his mother died tragically when he was ten. He loved his mother, and he gradually retreated into his own hollow where no one can bother him. These factors of neglect affected Squall's personality in many ways driving him into becoming quite introverted and cold. He drove off into the world to start his day.

He parked his car in the school parking lot. Balamb High was crowded as always, and Squall was now starting his senior year. As he locked up, he pulled out his schedule.

Great, the classroom is on the other side of the school. Now I have to get there in five minutes.

Not wasting time, Squall quickly headed to his destination. As he walked the halls, he could feel the stares of other students. He heard whispers too. Squall had quite the reputation at school because he never spoke, but he highly excelled in his extracurricular activities. His name was always on the announcements for fastest long distance runner, and his intelligence was unmatchable. However, Squall would give his perpetrators the coldest glare that would freeze hell over if they even slightly annoyed him. As he walked down the hall way, he recognized some jocks that were picking on a young freshman.

"Hey, LOOK!" said one of the jocks. "It's a FREAK!"

"Yeah, look at him. Look how small he is." another replied.

"No, I bet his dick is…AAAHH!"

Squall had intervened in this verbal assault by pushing one of the jocks hard onto the wall.

"Leave him alone." Squall stated. "Picking on the small to bolster your own self-esteem…pathetic."

"Leonhart, stay out of this." said one of the jocks. "You don't want to get us started."

"You pushed me… oh you're going to die I swear to God." said the enraged jock.

Great, now you're going to get killed Squall.

Just when things were starting to turn ugly, Principal Cid Kramer appeared. Quickly, the group dispersed leaving Squall and the freshman.

"Squall, it's the first day of school, so I'll let you off." declared Principal Cid. "But, don't cause any more trouble… you know how much you mean to this school."

"Sir, I apologize for my violent actions, and it won't happen again." Squall replied.

They did everything. I just stopped it.

Then Squall left the scene, but the freshman was not through with Squall. The freshman ran up to him, and Squall quickly took notice.

"Excuse me, but I would like to thank you for helping me." murmured the boy. "My name is Zack."

"I'm Squall." Squall said flatly.

"Squall, I'm lost, can you help me?" said Zack.

Goodness, this kid won't leave me alone.

"Look, there's a directory if you turn left up that way." Squall replied. As he was saying this, he pointed. "Now I got to go."

Squall left again to get to his class. He was tardy for the first day of school, but he did some good in the process. He remembered vividly when he was picked on like Zack was. He recalled how he wanted someone to stop it, but no one did. He gave Zack the only thing he ever wanted. Squall had some power now, and he exerted it to its advantage.

I'm getting soft. I'm shouldn't mess with heroics… I've talked too much as well. Now I'm late.

Squall now jogged briskly. He entered the classroom with everyone looking at him.

Just ignore them. Don't make eye contact.

He sat in the last desk in the back. The teacher did not even mention anything. There he looked to see who his classmates were. He recognized most of them, but he saw an unfamiliar girl sitting in front of him. Her hair was majestically black from the back. He saw that she wore some kind of sky blue dress of some kind, yet it was contemporary. Squall did not understand fashion and such, but he was somewhat attracted to the figure like a moth to the flame.

You idiot. First day of school, and you're moping over how pretty the back of this girl looks.

She turned around, and then Squall was captivated. She was beautiful like an angel. Her eyes gave off a caring glint. Her face was perfect. There was no way to describe it. She had some highlights near the front of her hair, but they were actually natural. This all happened in a split second. Squall was wondering why she was looking at him, so he gave her a look of indifference. She then spoke.

"Excuse me." she said harmoniously. "I lost my pencil; do you have one I can borrow?"

Squall did not say a word, but he nodded. He searched his backpack for a pencil and gave it to her. Why was he helping her out?

"Thank you." she said gracefully, and then she smiled.

Squall was so enthralled that he just simply remained quiet. He didn't know what to do. Taking this as his way of saying, "You're welcome." she turned around and prepared herself for class.

Squall reacted with this experience by pulling out his notebook and his other pencil. As the teacher was explaining the class, a million thoughts raced in Squall's mind.

What am I doing? She's pretty, but that doesn't mean anything. Isolate yourself from her. Never begin a conversation with her. Do not flirt like the other losers do. Stop thinking.

He did not know what to think, but he sorted things out and reached a conclusion.

Admire from afar, but don't degrade her. Don't devour yourself in lust.

Squall remained silent throughout the rest of the period. As Squall was walking out the door, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"I'm Rinoa." said a voice.

Squall turned around and saw the girl. She was giving the pencil back.

"Keep it." Squall said quickly.

The girl seemed to have wanted something more from him. He realized his mistake a moment later.

"I'm Squall."

She smiled, and his heart awakened. This was going to be an interesting year.

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Author's Notes:

Review and critique is highly welcome. I want to make this story reach its best.