"What to do? Life is through
Just want to kill, Myself for you
So tell me why, You say goodbye
And tell me why, You're fuckin' up my whole life
Fuckin' up my whole life"

Tala sipped from a glass, watching as Seifer left. True, she had promised Squall she wouldn't do anything to *his* thoughts. But Seifer hadn't been off limits. Picking his mind had been easy. And she only felt a smidgen of guilt at what she had done. Besides, he had been thinking about leaving. Just not at this very moment.
She drained the rest of the glass, making her way over to the door. Time to go comfort the poor lost boy. She opened the door, stepping outside silently. And then froze.
Squall was still against the railing, but was now using it for support. His shoulders were shaking, and she could tell that he was crying. Alone. Then she remembered something Ellone had told her.

"Squall became withdrawn after I left him. That issue, of being abandoned.. Still haunts him to this day. And it's my fault, though I could do nothing to prevent my leaving. I had no choice. If another he loves leaves him... I couldn't live with myself if he did anything drastic."
"What would you do to the person that left him? Or was the cause of the person leaving?"
Ellone smiled, but it was a chilling one. Kind of like the way a cat will smile right before it pounces on it's prey. A lion protecting her cub.
"I'd kill them."
Tala blinked. She couldn't picture Ellone harming a bug, let alone a person. But she believed her. She did then, and she did now.

~I'm so dead. If Squall doesn't kill me, either Ellone or Laguna will. Hmm, I just won't tell I had anything to do with it.~
One thing Tala had always been adept at was keeping secrets. This had been the first time she'd ever used her powers to get something for herself. So, no longer was she could at that. Her father always said power corrupted. Damn, seeing him like this made her want to cry. Why had she done it?
~You had the hots for him, admit it. He cries on your shoulder, lust forms, and badda bing. Then, Seifer comes back, and everyone is happy.~
She forced herself to move the small distance to him.
"Squall?" Softly. No response. She laid a hand on his shoulder, and repeated his name.

He finally turned to glance at her, and the emptiness in those alluring eyes was something that twisted at her gut painfully. Not that it would matter by tomorrow, she would have forgotten all about it. Unlike some mind readers, who could remember everything they did, she had taught herself to forget.
"Are you alright?"
Dumb question, but hey - people asked *dumb* questions in times like this. As if tears didn't show that someone was *not* all right. He said nothing, as she figured, instead he just turned.
"Tala..."
"Yes?"
"Make me forget."
"WHAT?!"
He winced at her tone, and so did she. Make him forget? Why?! She was going to help him get Seifer back.
"I want to forget that I loved Seifer. Please.. Tala."
"Don't you... Don't you want him back? Isn't he going to return? You two are in love, Squall! Don't throw it away!"
"No."
His voice had gone soft, and cold. Empty, like those eyes. She shivered.
"Make me forget, Tala. I command you, as a ranking officer."
"Squall.. Please.. Don't do this."
~You know you want to do it, this is your chance!~
~~Shutup! No! They belong together, I had no right...~~
"Do it. Now."
"... Why?"
"I am lion. Strong, noble, proud."
"To proud to have a broken heart?"
Those orbs flashed silver lightning, as they narrowed. She sighed.
"Fine, I'll do it."
She reached up to lightly press a hand against his cheek.
"Close your eyes, focus on Seifer.."

"*So, I'm on my way, I leave today
If I get away, It'll be ok, It'll be ok*"

He felt something run through him, rather like when a spell had been cast upon him. But this was different. Unlike the blast of heat from a cure, or the ice of an aura.. this was.. Something between the two. Painful, yet not so. Bittersweet.

"Open your eyes, Squall."
He blinked, twice. Then frowned at her.
"What are we doing out here?"
"You needed some fresh air, wanted to get away from the crowd."
"...."
"Ready to go back inside?"
He nodded, then paused, leaning forward to look closely at her.
"You're crying."
"No, something got in stuck in my eye. I don't cry, you know that."
He just lifted a brow, then shrugged. Hmft, women. He'd never understand them.
"Well, if you're alright, we can go back inside."
She nodded, and for reasons unbeknownst to him, he held out a hand to her. She took it, smiling.

"If there's a better place you can take me
A better life you can give me
Whatever place I can start all over
Then I would never need what you gave me
And never need you to save me
And never feel like this life is over"

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A/N- The end? Possibly.. although I might write one where the boys get back together if enough people wish it. The twist in this, I hope was surprising.. (requested by a review in "A thin love between love and hate").. instead of one falling for another girl/guy. Or Seifer becoming evil again, what have you. Many thanks to everyone that reviewed, you are what kept me going. And thanks also, to those that will review.
Oh yea, Squall's telling her to make him forget is also because of Tala, because of that "other voice". Just wanted to clear that up. ^^;;
Disclaimer: Characters owns everyone but Tala and the Lyrics. Lyrics are from Limp Bizkit's "It'll be ok" (get Hot Dog, it's got some great depressing stuff on it.)