He wasn't the type of cowboy who drove a big pickup truck. He didn't chew tobacco. Irvine Kinneas was a nod to the cowboys of old, those sexy men that saved damsels in calico dresses on prairies. He was the type of man that had walked into saloons, head held high, while the other men became docile to his power. The gunslinger at noon, hand tickling his gun.

      He was a good aim too. More so than he had been when he was called upon to save the world from the Sorceress. Since he had become a teacher at Galbadia Garden, he had been practicing nearly everyday with demonstrations or mock-battles. His students and even the other teachers were impressed by his skill. He was respected.

      He had been respected. He had been a cowboy. When he was alive.

      It was cold outside, but Squall didn't mind. The warm fur collar of his jacket kept parts of him warm. Because it was pretty much winter now, he was wearing a black sweater underneath it. It was hard to find sweaters short enough to wear his jacket with.

      His thoughts weren't of apparel now though. He was reminiscing. Running things over in his mind, because it wasn't possible that Irvine was dead. He had to be alive and buoyant. Had to be fun and macho. Not dead.

      "You fight like a girl!"

      It had been back in the days before Ellone had been taken away. It was before Squall had become the quiet, self-sufficient warrior. Back when his only focus in the world were his friends.

      Squall looked ridiculously like Charlie Brown in his stupid orange shirt. He looked more ridiculous though in his balloon helmet. It was purple and blue unlike Seifer's green and blue helmet. Irvine's was brown and red. Zell hadn't wanted one.

      "He doesn't fight like a girl! I can fight better than Squall!" squealed Selphie, lunging in with her green sword swiping from side to side.

      Unfortunately for her, Seifer still didn't grasp chivalry, and he slammed his shoulder against her and knocked her down. Of course, Irvine ran to help her. She was his best friend after all.

      It was amazing that Squall even remembered what Irvine was doing. He had been so focused on defeating Seifer. After all, it was HIS birthday. Really though, it wasn't too surprising. Irvine was always around him. Upon reflection, it probably had something to do with the fact that Squall was always with Ellone.

      "Hey Seifer, don't be dumb!" yelled Irvine angrily.

      Seifer poked his sword toward Irvine. Squall had taken the opportunity to lunge in towards Seifer and knock off his helmet. This made the blonde lose his temper. He dove at Squall with his hands, balloon sword tossed aside. The scuffle ended with a bang.

      It was Squall's beautiful orange sword, now a rubbery lump on the ground.

      Squall remembered how his heart had plummeted. He didn't want to cry in front of everybody, so he ran off outside to the flower field. It had been there that Irvine had come to him with a big grin on his face. He always smiled.

      "Open your hand," said Irvine. Squall did as he was told and was surprised when Irvine dropped a little deflated blue balloon in his hand. "I popped his sword."

      Good old Irvine. Squall could hear their laughter. His birthday had been saved.

      A huge orange leaf chose that moment to hit him in the head. Squall eyed it as it bounced off to the ground. Little Irvine, always up to making someone else happy.

      The same Irvine Kinneas was laying in a casket in Galbadia Garden. Symbolically of course. There hadn't been enough of him to put together to bury.

      Deling City had a problem with a man that had kidnapped three children, no ransom note, he had just wanted the kids. It had taken the police weeks to track him down. It was amazing they had found him at all. Now they just needed to get the kids. The problem lay in the fact that the man never left his house. The neighbors reported that they had only seen him outside once in the two years they had lived there.

      That wasn't the only problem. Once they started digging into the man's record, conducting interviews, and checking his online purchases, they discovered a horrifying fact. The man had a near-warehouse full of explosives and ammunition.

      Infiltration was necessary. And anyone shooting would have to be careful not to hit the children or any explosives. If you wanted an accurate shot, you called Irvine.

      No one knew what went wrong. It had only been three days and investigations were still going on.

      "No sweat," had been Irvine's last words.

      Ashes that had once been human were spread throughout the man's hideout. The firemen had been prepared to advance, just in case. No other deaths. Just three children, their kidnapper, and one of Squall's closest friends.

      "Squall? It's time." He felt Quistis's hand on his shoulder. He used to hate to be touched. Over the past few days, he had been feeling so needy though. It felt nice.

      "I don't think I can do this."

      She sat down beside him. Her long black dress looked like something Matron would wear. Her hair was down, he hadn't seen it like that since she had become an instructor. "It's hard on all of us."

      "I know." And he did, on the surface. Down deep he felt that surely none of them could feel as terrible about Irvine's death as he did. There was something that he hid from everyone. It was always his feelings that he was hiding. This had been his feelings for Irvine. "Let's get this over with."

      Quistis closed her eyes, a tear falling down the side of her face. "It's just the beginning."

      He helped her to her feet, because otherwise he didn't know if he could go into Galbadia Garden. His feet felt like running in the opposite direction.

      Everyone was already seated. Their seats were near the front, by Zell, Seifer, and Selphie. Selphie shouldn't be made to wear black. It didn't fit her. Neither did her red eyes.

      Seifer on the other hand, was stunning in his black garbs. It seemed disrespectful that he should look so good. His face didn't share the same statement though. Everyone looked so gray, so withdrawn.

      Headmaster Cid stood up front. "We are here to pay tribute to Irvine Kinneas and the short but remarkable life he led..."

      The casket was in front of them, but Irvine wasn't. Squall couldn't shake the feeling that he was anyway. It was a mental trial to remind himself that there was no body in that casket.

      'Irvine can't be dead...' The mantra kept repeating in his mind. Squall didn't know where he was, but he sure as hell wasn't plastered to the walls of some pervert's house in Deling City.

      "So, why didn't you tell us that we grew up together?"

      "What and spoil the surprise?" A flash of the famous Irvine Kinneas grin. "Besides, how do you think you all would have reacted?"

      Squall shrugged. He guessed they probably would have thought he was crazy. Now that he could remember their childhood, it all seemed so perfect, before Ellone was gone. Sneaking out with fireworks, play fights, late nights of scary stories. Seifer had always told the best scary stories. When it was his turn to tell one, someone always had to share a bed with Zell. Usually Irvine offered his bed. Squall had always been too much of a man to offer his.

      "Do you think about it?"

      Irvine lopped his gun over his shoulder. "Sure. You were a cute kid."

      Squall had not blushed. Years of crab-like nature came in handy. Did Irvine really think that? Or was he just teasing. "We were ALL cute kids."

      "Especially Selphie." Selphie hadn't actually changed that much. Damn perky girl.

      But, Squall remembered being a goober. He hadn't felt the least attractive until he was sixteen. That was when he had bought the jacket. He had found a short enough shirt for it and let his hair grow out a bit. Suddenly he hadn't been as studious looking. He looked a bit rebellious.

      Irvine had always been feminine, but it got more dramatic overtime. His long eyelashes, that he flashed at all the pretty girls, grew darker. He grew out his hair to an enticing length. So womanish in his mannerisms, but like a sassy woman. He wore leather that heated his skin and Squall's cheeks. It wasn't manly to think thoughts like he was thinking about Irvine.

      "Hey! Watch out!" A thunderous noise sounded just over Squall's head. He ducked as Irvine shot the grat that was just about to attack the back of Squall's head.

      "Shit!" exclaimed Squall, jumping to his feet.

      Irvine laughed loudly. "It wouldn't have killed ya, but it probably would have smarted."

      Squall was amazed. He had been rescued. Now he was blushing, because he couldn't help the things that were popping into his head.

      Irvine noticed even as Squall turned away, his hand on the back of his neck. "Hey, what's wrong?"

      Squall had avoided the subject, but hadn't been able to shake the image of Irvine standing over him, gun still raised above his head, always there for him. His hero.

      "Did you want to say anything Squall?" Quistis was nudging him. He had missed everyone's speeches. Was there anything he wanted to say? Was he ready to talk about Irvine in the past tense?

      Selphie pushed at his lower back, forcing him out of the seat. How could such a little girl be so strong? Suddenly he was walking to the front of the room. He couldn't speak now. It wasn't stage fright at the hundreds there. It was blasphemy. His Irvine Kinneas wasn't dead. Couldn't be.

      The microphone stood at him like an anacondaur, waiting to bite him. Irvine wasn't in the wooden box in front of him. Everything was okay.

      "Irvine..." his voice broke. He would try again. "When we were kids, I got to see a side of Irvine a lot of you missed. He really...he cared about all of us. He was like a big brother to me. Always...he always kept his eye on me. He saved me so many times."

      The others in the front row were nodding. It was true for them too. Squall still felt special though. He was different from the others. "But, I'm going to miss him for more than his saving nature. I..." He paused. Strong men didn't make confessions of weakness. But without Irvine, he wasn't a strong man. "I loved Irvine."

      Murmured agreements. Yes, everyone loved him. It was so hard. They didn't even understand what he was saying. He needed to tell them at least. He had never told Irvine. He would never have a chance to tell him. "I never let Zell share my bed when he was scared. Irvine did. He wasn't afraid of people thinking he wasn't manly. I wish I could have shared that trait. I would have...I would have told him that I loved him."

      Sad sighs. 'He was like my big brother' echoed in Squall's brain. What did it matter if they didn't understand him. He shut his eyes quickly. The tears would hit him soon, he could feel them. He had cried after he had been abandoned in the void of time. He would cry for Irvine.

      "Excuse me," Squall choked out as he stormed past the casket and out the closed double doors. He even left the Garden. At the front entrance, perched by the bushes, he wept at his loss.

      "They want me to be a teacher there Squall!"

      The news hit hard. Just as they had begun doing things together again. It was like they were kids now, he didn't want Irvine to go away. "That's good."

      "Aren't you happy for me?" Irvine leaned down a bit.

      "Of course," he had lied.

      He had even lied the day that they all lined up in the parking lot of Balamb Garden to say goodbye. He had told Quistis that nothing was wrong. When his turn came for a big hug, he had fought his emotions, pushed away the feelings like an irritating bug. And he hadn't told Irvine that he was in love. He didn't when the frequent calls came in from Galbadia Garden.

      "So, how is Balamb doing?"

      "Oh, it's all right." I'm going insane without you.

      "Everyone healthy and horny...I mean, happy?"

      "...Yeah." We are all fine. All fine.

      "They are carrying him to the... It's time to say goodbye now."

      Quistis again. She was always having to be his mother. At least this time, Selphie was with her. Both there to see Squall's tears and he didn't even care anymore.

      "They didn't understand me Quisty." He wrapped his arms around her waist, since he was still on his knees. The ground was soft beneath him. It had been rainy and cold. Even nature was mourning Irvine.

      "Squall, they really are going to put him in the ground soon. I don't want to miss it." Selphie was watching the students hanging around in the entrance to Garden.

      "It's not him, but I'll go."

      The girls grabbed his hands and walked with him to the cemetery, that was improperly placed near the front of the garden. From here, he could see the road into the garden, and in his imagination, the place he had cried. Foldable lawn chairs are more uncomfortable when you are watching a loved one put in the ground. It was either that, or try to stand in his semi-panicked mind.

      As the dirt hit the coffin, the semi part vanished. It was all panic. No, it was alright! Irvine wasn't in there! It was the only reason that Squall didn't stop them. If his body had been in it, he was sure that he would have thrown himself over the casket begging them to stop.

      But his Irvine was somewhere else. He looked back towards the road. Somewhere out there. His tears started again. Who would save him now? No one. He would be sad forever, and Irvine couldn't fix it this time.

      The road was alive. Strange that life could carry on. Figures in the distance walking towards Garden. Walking? In this cold. That was strange. Car rental places were everywhere. There were two little figures and a very tall figure. 'Orphans' thought Squall. He had seen so many first days. When someone finally wanted a child. Wanted to teach a child, in fact. It would be the greatest experience of their lives. He felt happy for them.

      The tall one was wearing a hat. It looked like Irvine's cowboy hat. Everyone looked like Irvine now. Except, the closer he got, the more he looked like Irvine.

      'Oh fuck' thought Squall. He fell to his knees right off the chair. Everyone stared at him. He kept his eyes focused on the road. It was Irvine. He knew that swagger, it looked worn out and bruised, but it spoke of infinite ego.

      He was running towards the road and the whole gathering was watching him in horror. Had Squall lost it? In fact, he was wondering the same thing. How could Irvine still be alive? It was literally impossible. "Irvine!" he yelled.

      The tall figure removed his hat and waved it. "Squall!"

      It was Irvine and Squall didn't care if he was imagining all of it. He would be a self-delusional, but extremely happy man. He could make out the familiar feminine features. His legs hurt with his effort. He had to tell him, before he faded away again.

      "Irvine!" Finally he was on the road with Irvine, long lost Irvine. His arms flew open and wrapped around the chocolatey, wonderful man of his dreams.

      Irvine was shocked. Completely and utterly stunned, but even more so when his lips were greeted with Squall's. There was so much love, so much need in the contact it felt like lightning. It threatened to overwhelm the both of them. He felt the tickling of Squall's jacket against his neck, which Squall was practically wrapped around. His lips tingled with the sudden heat, they had been nearly blue. The hands at the back of his own neck gripped tightly as if he might slip away.

      Squall crushed Irvine's lips with all the love in his heart. With his hands, he made sure he wasn't kissing someone that wasn't Irvine. There was Irvine's hat, his coat, his leather pants. He smelled like Irvine. He tasted like wine from the Gods.

      When Squall ended it, it was only to pour out his soul. "Irvine Kinneas, I love you eternally." Too poetic of words for Squall Leonhart. But he had been thinking them for so many years, they spilled out like old acquaintances. He then tossed away the interruption and resumed tasting every part of his love's mouth.

      Irvine would have smiled, he would have laughed out loud if it hadn't been for the man suction cupped to him. Squall loved him? Well, he was damn good at hiding it. Every pass that Irvine had ever made at him had been avoided so drastically, that he had given up hope of ever being more than friends. And now, this! Oh, a relationship more than friends they would have! Irvine wouldn't have let Squall out of it now. Squall was his property now.

      The only thing in the world that could have broken them up was a gun to their heads. The crowd that gathered around asking how it was possible had no effect on their happy makeout session. Even Irvine's fatigue and hunger for having walked for two days wasn't enough to end it. After the children had been taken in to Garden for some dinner and the crowd had cleared away, they stared at each other happily.

      Squall pressed his head to Irvine's chest. He didn't understand why he was there, but he didn't care. Irvine had come through for him. "You saved me again."

      "From what, my love?"

      The endearment nearly brought him to his knees with pleasure. "I thought I'd have to live life without you."

      "Never. I'll always be there for you."

      Oh...How nice.... That's the end. You didn't think I'd actually kill Irvine? He's my cinnabon....

      And... there WILL be a sequel. After all, I have to explain where Irvine was....