Friends Forever

[Ultima Star]

:cry: don't say gay...no Cloud is not gay..am I right?:blink: ..grrrr....Squall...you better not make Cloud gay or else you'll regret it o('^')o.........XD

[Squall]

Well hopefully I will write the next chapter today.Well Cloud is not at all gay dont worry,I am just trying to give an interesting twist to the story.

[Squall]

Here is the next chapter,

Chapter 3:Why are you running?

Sora approached Leon cautiously. He was unsure if he should go near the pacing man swinging his sword viciously through the air. Sora stood still, wondering if the man would notice his presence, and he had been standing still for a while. "Uh, Leon?" Sora said, moving just a bit closer.

"I saw you there fifteen minutes ago, Sora." He did not falter in his exercises. "What did you want?" Sora scratched the back of his head, a goofy look on his face.

"I just wanted to come and talk to you about a few things." Leon stopped swinging and was now giving his full attention to the young boy. "It's about the heartless. Cid just installed this wicked cool gummi block to a new world, the only problem is it's crawling with heartless bigger and stronger then anything I've ever dealt with."

"It's because you're moving closer to the origin of the heartless. This will continue to happen until the heartless are gone. Perhaps you should go visit coliseum." Sora nodded.

"But I was kind of wondering if I could rest here for a while. I know the heartless get stronger every second that passes, but I'm kind of worn out on fighting at the moment." Leon was silent making Sora nervous. "I also know it'll be cramped, with Cloud here and all."

Sora jumped back in surprise as Leon gave him a harsh look. "Cloud won't be here for very long, he's leaving tomorrow." Leon stated, crossing his arms, his Gun blade now resting on the floor.

"Well, uh-" Sora stuttered.

"You can stay, but you'll have to stay with Merlin, and only if he approves." Sora nodded happily. "And you'll have to go patrolling with me." Leon looked past Sora suspiciously. "Where are the King's aids that are always following you around?"

Sora dropped casually to the floor, sitting Indian style. "Donald and Goofy went back to Tarzan's world. They promised to help him and Jane with something, and it could take a while." Sora leaned back. "I would like to speak with Cloud though, could you tell me where he is?" Sora asked.

Leon picked his Gunblade up off the floor. "A sparring match. If you win, I'll tell you where he went. But if I win, you have to spend the whole day and night here fighting me." Sora gulped hard and brought up his Keyblade to block as Leon lunged at him.
~*~

"I don't wish to speak about the subject, Yuffie." Aerith said, as the two women walked towards Merlin's house, having just made it to the second district doors. "And no amount of constant begging will change my mind." She added in for good measure, because one could never be too subtle with Yuffie.

"But I'm the one who got Leon out of the room! So you and Cloud could have some time alone!" The young woman stated. "I at least deserve to know the details." Yuffie continued to whine.

"One question." Aerith mumbled her words making Yuffie cheer and jump in the air slightly.

"Are you a couple now?" she asked, hearts in her eyes.

"No." Was the calm answer.

Yuffie, expecting the other answer, tripped in her surprise and dropped to the floor. "What?" She asked, outraged. "Why not?! You and Cloud are the perfect couple; we've all known it since our childhood. What did he say to you?"

Aerith was by mature a clam woman. And after having recovered from the pervious days events already, she felt comfortable enough to speak. "I said one question and you have asked three now."

Yuffie sighed. "Can you give me a strait answer? If you do I promise I won't ask on the subject again." Aerith gave her a knowing look. "Well, not for a while." The younger added in just seconds later.

"This Cloud is not the same one we grew up with." Aerith's voice was calm and collective. "He has changed, changed in ways I never thought possible. Cloud has let the darkness seep into his heart-and his soul." Aerith's own heart crushed at this revelation she had been denying until this point. "I'm not sure if he knows, but he's been touched by the darkness for a while, aiding what we are fighting."

Yuffie frowned. "Have you told Leon or Cid yet?"

"And break Leon's heart? Crush what little Leon can still feel?"

"I just-" Yuffie started, the conversation having gone sour just moments ago.

"I've seen the look Leon gives Cloud, looks he himself is not even aware of. Leon lusts for Cloud, possibly even loves him."

Aerith bit her tongue from talking further. Ever since her world had been invaded and they had been drawn to Transvers Town, Aerith had carried her hope. Hope that Cloud would return to find her and offer her his love. But her hope had been broken when she had observed Leon and Cloud in the same room. Leon wanted Cloud, she mused, and more then she wanted Cloud.

"But you and Cloud were always together, right up until the heartless invaded our world." Yuffie reasoned back. She knew the deep feelings that Aerith harbored for Cloud, knew the way the woman was breaking. In an ironic twist it was the same way Yuffie herself had broken when she had heard Leon calling out for Cloud in his sleep some months ago.

"He doesn't remember anything of that sort. He confided in me that his oldest memory is the coliseum that Hercules resides in. He's forgotten all about me, but not him."

Yuffie frowned at the tone of her friend's voice. "Who?"

Aerith paused in the middle of the district and clenched her fists. "Leon." Yuffie felt the tension in the air. "Cloud remembers Leon." Yuffie was suddenly concerned at the tone of her friend. She had never witnessed the brunette angry, and Aerith was something much more then angry. She was Jealous.

"Let's just get to Merlin, we need those new protective charms." Aerith stalked ahead, leaving a confused female ninja in her wake.

~*~

Cloud was concerned. More precisely he was worried, must more then he had been in the pervious month. He sat cross-legged on top of Merlin's roof, the one flat spot it offered. Lines creased his forehead, the pressure in his chest intensifying.

He had known from the start it was a bad idea to come to the town. He had known he would draw the others with him, draw them to Yuffie, and Aerith, and Squall. He had known they would easily have picked up his trail from the coliseum. And yet he had still allowed himself to come to the town, and more so interact with the people here.

Cloud's gaze settled on nothing particular as he rolled his thoughts over in his head. His original reason for traveling to the town was to allow his body enough time to heal. The wound he had acquired had been laced with a poison that blocked all his attempts to magically heal himself. He had assured himself he would be in and out of the town within a week's time. More then enough time to heal and avoid them.

One arm cradled his broken ribs while his other fingered the blade of his sword. Uncharacteristically he found himself allowing his mind to wander further and further into his situation. He felt slightly lifted that Squall had wanted him to stay, but terrified of what would happen if he stayed.

It was no big secret to Cloud that he was in serious mortal danger. He was being hunted, hunted by something that neither slept, nor ate, not paused. And he would be damned if he involved Squall in the matter. Cloud was sure he could take care of himself; he had been doing so for a while.

"Thought I might find you up there." A calm voice called out.

Cloud need not have looked down to realize it was the old man who had so graciously allowed him to rest on the roof. Slowly he uncurled his feet, and slid to the edge of the roof so he could see Merlin. "Do you require my help?" He asked, his ribs hurting him more then before.

"I'd like to talk to you." Gone was the happy smile that always seemed to line the man's face. As was the optimistic attitude that had forced Cloud to think lightly.

"Is this the young man?" Came a new voice.

An older woman dressed in a blue gown stood next to Merlin. Cloud had never laid eyes on this old woman before, and was by nature wary of anyone he could not trust. See seemed nice enough, but Cloud remembered his past mistakes, mistakes that had hurt him greatly on his quest.

"I'm Cinderella's fairy godmother, dear." The old woman stated. Cloud nodded and slipped down from the roof, arm dropping from his ribs when he came into view.

"If you've come to inform me that I must leave because of what I draw to this town, I am well aware and will be departing shortly." Cloud remained defensive.

The fairy godmother chuckled lightly and Merlin smiled. "No dear, I would never ask you to leave nor would Merlin. All beings have the right to reside here, this is a place of piece."

"But you do know what clouds my soul. You know what hunts me." Merlin gave a short nod.

"I want to offer you protection." Merlin stated. "But I doubt by that look you'll accept it." Cloud immediately became emotionless again; refusing to have the old man read his emotions so well again. "My magic is much stronger then Maleficent's, or-"

"I appreciate the gesture." Cloud cut him off. "But I was foolish enough to create the problem, and now I must find the solution, however painful it might be. I will be leaving this town within hours; I cannot risk bringing any of them here. They cannot know that this town exists."

At this both the fairy godmother and Merlin nodded. "This is possibly the last escape for those who have lost their homes. If anyone associated with the darkness was to find this place, the results would be devastating." Merlin said.

But at the man's statement Cloud gave him a hard look. "Then why do you trust me with this secret? How do you know I will not tell Maleficent the exact location of this town and who resides here?" Cloud challenged. "Perhaps I'll lead heartless here myself and take over this town."

"For the same reason Hercules gave you the location of this town." Merlin informed him. "Because you have been misled. You harbor troubling darkness in your heart, but that does not make you evil. You have been drifting for so long you have forgotten the feel of your own heart. You need only to rediscover it and the darkness will flee your body."

Cloud nodded and stepped down the stairs to the moving, floating rocks that would take him away from Merlin's house. "This town's secret is safe."

"There are those who would protect you here." The fairy godmother spoke. "Particularly one young man whom cares deeply for you."

Cloud stiffened. "If you are speaking about Squall I can assure you that man feels nothing for me aside from anger."

Cloud froze in his actions when a small giggle was heard from the old woman and a contained laughter from the man. "What?" He inquired, uncomfortable with the woman now.

"That is the very problem." Cloud turned away. "I cannot risk the lives of anyone here. And by staying I do that very thing. I thought I could avoid them." He confessed.

"My dear boy, fate is very much inevitable. You would have found some way to reach this town." Merlin informed him. "You are heading to Hollow Bastion, are you not?"

Cloud nodded. "But Ansem is still controlling that boy, and Maleficent is still in power. Won't you wait until Sora-" The godmother spoke up.

"I need to take the chance. I need access to that library. The library holds my history, or at least something I can use. But this really isn't any of your concern." Cloud hopped from the platform to the first floating rock. "Would you please greet Sora for me, I did wish to speak with him again."

"You can see him now." Cloud faced towards the old man's house, to spot the young man brushing past the cloth covering the entrance. Cloud could never understand how the old man knew so much. But on closer inspection he spotted a figure behind Sora, the very man he had been hoping to avoid.

"Cloud!" Sora took off in a dead run towards the man. And Cloud was very thankful when Merlin intercepted the boy, asked to speak with him about his travels. It did not, however escape Cloud's eye that the old man had purposely nudged Leon towards him. 'Meddling old man.' Cloud ground his teeth together, watching Leon move slowly towards him, and Merlin lead the old woman and Sora away.

"You're really going." Leon noted. "Not yet healed."

Cloud stood silently. "I was not under the impression that I had misled you when I informed you I would be leaving in a short time. My apologies, but certain circumstances have required me to leave earlier then planed."

Leon moved onto the small platform before Cloud. "Why?" One set of eyes locked on the other and Leon refused to back down. "Why are you running?" He demanded.

"I am not running." Cloud made to hop to the next rock when a warm hand reached out to grasp his wrist. The stand off began as Leon edged forward and Cloud tried to pull away. "Release me." Cloud ordered.

"Not until you tell me what you're running from. Why you are running from the only friends you have?" When Cloud tried to jerk away for the fourth time Leon pulled back and was able to easily pull the blond onto the platform, and very much close to his body. "Who are you running from?" He demanded again.

"You!" With a burst of energy Cloud ripped his hand away and moved back as fast as possible. Unfortunately for the blonde the stones in the water did move. And while the first one might have been right in front of the platform seconds before, now it had moved completely to the right. Cloud's foot reached for something solid he would never find and hit the water with a loud splash.

Cloud allowed himself to sink down in the icy water. His lungs did not burn for air yet and he was suddenly appreciative for the moment to solitude he found in the water. His eyes searched the murky waters for a place to come up for air, a place that would not contain Squall Leonhart.

When he could find none and he was in dire need for air he began to move towards the surface. But in the darkness of the water a sleek shape moved quickly. Cloud saw this immediately and in his surprise he lost what precious air he had been holding. His lungs were red for air and his ribs burned. He found himself kicking less and less until he felt himself, weighed down by his sword, sink to the bottom.

Suddenly strong arms wrapped themselves around his waist and he felt his head break the surface. He was now gasping for air and clinging to the figure that had pulled him from the watery tomb.

"Are you alright?" Leon asked him, his arm around Cloud's back supporting him. "I thought you were just joking around." Leon chuckled, trying to calm his breathing. "Then I realized that you don't joke."

Cloud regained his senses and pushed away from Leon. He climbed to his feet, knees shaking slightly. "I have to go."

Leon was on his own feet and rushing after Cloud. "Wait." He caught the man in another embrace, ignoring his mind chiding him for becoming so emotional. "Don't run. Don't you dare run from me."

"I have to." Cloud was actually allowed to pull away.

"Don't leave me." Leon said taking a step back. "Stay here, help me protect what is left."

Cloud shook his head and began to move from the rock to rock. "I can't stay, you just don't understand."

Leon clenched his fists and began to move after the man. Leon found it much more difficult to keep his balance on the floating rocks, being weighed down by his wet clothing and Gunblade. He watched in astonishment as Cloud moved seemingly effortlessly, but determinedly. "Then at least promise me something!" Leon yelled, his voice echoing loudly. "Promise me you'll come back!"

Cloud hopped onto the sand of the shore and looked back to Leon halfway from the small house. "You seem to know me so well." He stated. "So you must know I cannot make that kind of promise."

Sora had now exited the house and was racing towards Leon and Cloud. "Wait, Cloud, don't go!"

Cloud felt the small urges of a smile beginning to surface. "Hello, Sora." Sora rushed past Leon as fast as possible, meeting the much taller figure on the shore.

"You were going to leave without talking to me, weren't you?" Sora accused, crossing his arms. "Aren't we friends?"

Cloud moved down onto one knee, keeping Leon in side view. "Of course we are friends, Sora." His voice went low. "And being such I must ask you to do something very important for me. Would you please keep an eye on Sq- Leon for me? That man is very reckless at times."

Sora chuckled nervously. "You want me to keep an eye on a guy with a sword as big as me?"

"I'm trusting you with this Sora, as one of my closest friends." Sora nodded, accepting his new side mission. "Just for the duration of your stay is all I ask, while I'm away."

"Where're you going?" He asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"To my old home. There is something I need to do there, someone I need to speak with. Hollow Bastion has been in the back of my mind for some time now."

"Hollow Bastion? I've never heard of that place."

Cloud shook his head. "It isn't important to you yet, there are still many worlds for you to visit before you encounter a place such as Hollow Bastion." When Cloud had moved but five steps away Sora spoke again.

"Maybe you can't keep your promise to Leon."

Cloud smirked. "Ever the perceptive one."

"But I will keep my promise to you-under one condition." Cloud raised an eyebrow. "Don't do anything reckless."

Cloud nodded. "Far enough. I will try my best to honor your request."

Cloud disappeared away from the house and Sora hopped back to Leon. "Why-" Leon began to ask while Sora moved past him.

Sora chuckled. "And all those years Riku said I was dense."






End of chapter!

[Ultima Star]

Wow the chaper was quite long but really interesting^^
Squall loves Cloud O.O....never knew that O.O
Well now I'm more interested in it ^^ update your fic when you can 'kay?^^

[Haku]

Good chapter, I look forward into reading a update.

[soraluverforever]

thats a good chapter i can't wait for the next one

[Enchanted Rose]

Lmao, I'm loving this, although I do feel very sorry for Aerith.

[Squall]

Well thanx guys,I will try to update it as soon as possible.

[iloveyou502]

Leon lusts for Cloud? I wouldnt mind Leon being gay though We should get djglorix to draw a gay pic of Cloud and Leon. haha. Anyways that was a good chapter.

[Squall]

Chapter 4:Save the Town



"Sora!" The young brown haired boy sidestepped a blow meant to decapitate him and turned in the direction of the voice. "They're breaching the doors to the first district!" Leon shot a finger to the wooden doors being broken at the very moment. "Freeze them, electrocute them, just do something!" Leon gasped in pain as a heartless' claw made contact with the open skin on his arms, having discarded his jacket earlier.

"I can't get to them!" Sora took another swipe at the heartless, confused when it ducked and launched back at him in anger. "They're so smart now, why?" Behind him a heartless embedded a foot into his back and sent him sprawling out onto the hard floor. Sora lost his grip on the key blade and the second he lost contact with it; the powerful tool was lost to the eyes.

"Hold on, Sora!" Leon made a mad dash past the heartless to the fallen boy. "I'm not gonna lose you too!" Though his feet carried him as fast as possible, Leon knew far ahead of time that he wouldn't make it to Sora in time. The boy was simply too far away and Leon had to dodge too many heartless bent on their destruction.

"I've got you!" Leon stopped dead in his tracks as the heartless surrounding Sora were destroyed and the ones around him disappeared into the ground. Leon looked confused and glanced his battle filled eyes towards the corridor to the third district.

"Don't just stand there," Yuffie commanded. "We still have a fight to win!"

Leon could see distinctively now that it had been her ninja stars that had destroyed the heartless around Sora. "Yuffie?" He questioned. "I thought it told you to evacuate," He chided the woman. He took a quick swipe at a heartless that had been foolish enough to appear close to him while the others kept their distance.

The young girl placed her hands on her hips. "I tried," she told him, taking aim to knock out a few gathering heartless. "But the people wouldn't leave, they're fighting back." She took a quick step to the side to reveal Aerith awkwardly holding a short sword and Cid gripping his daggers with white knuckles. "We tried, honest, but they wouldn't listen."

"The heartless!" Sora drew attention to the heartless that had once again gained forces and were attacking him. "Those people will be killed!" Sora's eyes were wide with panic as he called his key blade forth. We're totally out numbered!"

Yuffie somersaulted her way out of an attack and looked back to make sure Aerith was fairing all right. "You can't stop those who wish to protect their homes, Sora. We'd rather die fighting for what we have left, then run away and drift in space."

Leon slashed down at a team of heartless that had overtaken Aerith momentarily. "What about the wards? How the hell did this many find this place?" In the back of his mind Leon knew there was a possibility Cloud had betrayed them. He was the only person who knew of the town's existence and of its importance. Cloud was a high possibility.

"No one knows!" Aerith answered, excited she had finally destroyed a heartless. "Merlin is trying to strengthen the wards they've broken through, but his home has been breached and we lost track of where he was. Everything is happening so fast!"

"What the--?" Leon broke off in confusion as the heartless around them sank into the ground and moved quickly away from them. Leon wiped the blood he felt trickling down the side of his face away and shook his head, trying to rid himself of the sudden bout of dizziness. The world was spinning just slightly, causing him to assume he had been stuck in the head harder then he had first imagined.

Cid stood next to him, breathing hard after being forced to fight so hard at his older age. "Why are they leaving?" He asked. "Did we win?" Leon shrugged, not really sure if they had worn the creatures out, or if something worse was coming. It seemed as if they had been losing, and the heartless weren't known for retreating. "We won!"

A low chuckle caused Leon's blood to run cold. "Sorry to burst your bubble." Leon frowned as a dark puddle began to form in front of the fountain. Naturally a heartless would emerge from such a puddle, but Leon had a feeling that it was much more. It was not a creature that emerged, then possibly Leon considered it might be. Whatever it was, the manlike figure that emerged in a blue flame gifted him with a chilling smile of pain and the distinct feeling of pure evil.

"Who the hell are you?" Cid asked. In return Leon shot the man a quick warning glance, but such glance was almost spoiled by a smile, when he spotted Cid's usual toothpick back in the corner of his mouth.

"That's not important," The robed man assured them. "But I've got some questions that are."

Leon tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the sudden urge to protect himself and those around him. This new figure was not a heartless, and yet he had the feeling of a heartless. Suddenly he remembered Cid's words and turned to him, his suspicions confirmed. He was one of the big bosses. This was no little battle that was going to unfold; it was going to be an all out war.

"What sort of questions?" Yuffie asked, being shielded purposely by Leon.

The figure slicked his invisible hair back quickly, the flame returning to his head seconds later. "I've been looking for someone," He told them. "And the heartless have led me to this place, and I want to know where he is."

"We don't know what you're taking about." Sora addressed him for the first time.

"But I have good feeling you do." He told Sora. "You know exactly who I want, and I'll destroy your sorry excuse of a town to get him. I hope you really didn't think I wouldn't find him here." The man like creature paced a short distance, blue flame hair turning a wicked orange-red. "That little no body thinks he can weasel his way out of our contract. We had a deal, and I want to collect my share."

Leon took a quick step forward and raised his sword. "For the last time, we don't know what you're talking about. You have no business here, leave now."

"Not until I get what is mine!" The figure burst into red flames and Leon was forced to take a half step back from the heat. "I'll rip this town apart to find that one winged freak." Leon felt his stomach drop into his feet and he was gripped with icy fear. This thing had to be looking for Cloud, had to be the reason Cloud was injured and had been forced to hide in the town. And he obviously wanted Cloud back.

The figure caught the quick looking Leon's eyes and a sinister smile grew on his face. "You wouldn't happen to be hiding him from me, would you?" He managed, the red becoming a flickering blue again. "That wouldn't be smart or healthy for you."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Leon said convincingly. There is no one here, other then who you see. Leave us in peace and we won't have any forced confrontations." Leon's eyebrows furrowed, for once thankful Cloud had left days ago. Leon wouldn't kid himself; he knew he would not win a fight against the fiery figure. And that meant he couldn't protect Cloud. The blonde was better protected far away from the menacing figure that wanted him.

Sora shook his head again. "You have to believe us, we don't know what you're talking about." His key blade slipped out of sight and he hoped it hadn't been seen. "Hades, we're simple people here."

Hades rolled his eyes. "You, simple, Key Blade Master?" He chuckled. "You're anything but simple. But I am afraid you'll have to die." Hades offered him a small smirk before he reached for thin air and sent a powerful wave of dark energy towards the normally energetic boy. "I won't have you standing in my way!"

Sora raised his arms to brace himself when the blast suddenly ended. He had first expected to see Leon, guessing the older male had blocked the blast or taken it instead. But it was then he realized he was no longer standing on the ground of the second district. Leon did not save him; he was in the arms of Riku instead.

Sora blinked confused blue eyes as Riku landed them safely onto of a nearby roof. Knowing it was wrong Sora wrapped his arms around Riku's neck stronger and hugged the older to his body. "What the hell are you doing?" Came Hades' angered voice down below them. Sora felt the warm arms holding him release and he was set gently on the top of the roof.

"We had a deal as well, Hades, and you were not prepared to honor it." Riku called down to him. "Are you injured?" Riku asked Sora quickly, not offering him a look.

"I thought I'd lost you, Riku." Sora wanted nothing more then to throw his arms around Riku and embrace the silver haired teen for the longest of time. But even with his untrained eyes, Sora could tell there was something different with Riku. The older was somewhat distant, almost cold. "Yeah," He said finally. "I'm fine."

Sora leaned over the edge of the roof as Riku took a quick drop down to the recent battle scene. "You hurt him, and I'll hurt you," Riku threatened.

"He knows where Cloud is," Hades argued back. "I wasn't going to kill him."

Sora managed to slide down the building and landed roughly near Riku. He climbed to his feet rubbing his back, sad eyes on Riku. "You're working with them, Riku, aren't you? Why are you working with the heartless? They're what destroyed our world, took us all away from what we loved. The heartless took us away from each other. You're fighting against me, Riku."

"Leave him alone, he's mine," Riku warned Hades a last time. "And leave, who you're looking for isn't here." Riku gazed once more back at the saddened form of Sora. "You can't beat the heartless Sora, and by helping them I guarantee our safety. We'll be together Sora, just not right now." Riku allowed the darkness to flow over his body and vanish into the darkness, retreating back to whom he knew could help him."

Leon had observed the exchange and felt anger boil within him. As if they did not already have enough problems. Their Key Blade Master was now involved with a boy who was aiding the darkness. Their one safe place to rest had now been revealed to the heartless and Cloud's life was in even more danger then he had first realized. "You know where he is," Hades felt the darkness wash over him. "And I'll make you feel his pain when I find him."

"What was that?" Aerith asked quietly.

"That," Leon remarked, "Was big trouble." The heartless around them had since vanished, only a few healing balls and munny left in their place. "Cid, how much damage did the heartless do to the port?"

"Pretty bad," He informed them. "Half the ships were damaged beyond flying capability, but I think yours survived when we started shooting the heartless down. I'm almost certain yours and a few others survived."

Leon nodded. "Yuffie, guard the town. Close down the shops, secret entrances and keep everyone indoors. Try to turn people away from this town if they want to dock. And if it's possible, lock down the second and third districts. Every heartless now knows about this place and we'll be overrun if we pretend nothing just happened. Concentrate on keeping everyone safe in the first district and try to evacuate them as soon as possible." He offered her a conforting pat on the shoulder as he rested his Gunblade on his shoulder and strode off towards the first district and town port.

"Wait! Leon, where are you going?" Yuffie called.

"I'm going to find Cloud. That thing wants him and I'm not going to let him find Cloud."

Yuffie frowned. "You don't even know where Cloud went, you can't just fly around in Gummi space and hope to find him. If he doesn't want to be found, he's not going to be and you know that."

"I'll find a way!" Leon told her, pushing on the half broken first district doors.

"I know where he went." Sora volunteered quietly. Leon drew back almost immediately. "He said something about a going to a place called Hollow Bastion, said there was someone there he needed to talk to and there were some answers he needed to find."

Aerith looked terrified. "But the heartless still control that place. And Ansem will be waiting along with Malificent if they know he's going there. He'll be walking into a death trap, and so will you if you follow him. You can't go after him, you'll be killed!"

"I'm not going to sit back while he's killed either! I'm not going to leave him alone and defenseless in a place he has no memory of. I've got to be there to help him, to-to protect him."

Aerith clenched her fists in silent anger. Cloud was lost to them now, to her especially. But she wasn't going to lose Leon as well. There were no illusions that they were winning against the darkness. They knew going in that it was a lost cause, a predestined fate to fight a losing battle. But they had each other no matter what, they clung to each other as lifelines and shared love. But they had lost too many people each and as a group. And just as they had thought they had regained Cloud, he had left them and was long dead by their current time. "You can't be there, Leon! You can't protect him because you aren't strong enough, you can't be there for him because he won't let you, and you can't go to him because he's already dead!"

"He is not dead. I expected you to know him better then that. And maybe I can't save him, or make him understand why I want to. But I can be there for him when he needs me, and I can die for him."

Leon was gone and Aerith was in shock. "If Cloud is going to be near Malificent, then Riku is going to be there too! I'm going with him!" Sora took off after Leon hopeful he could catch up with the fast walking man.

Cid sighed and crossed his arms. "That went well."



"Stupid Heartless," Cloud muttered as he inspected the claw marks in his cape. He had expected interference into the castle, and had been prepared to fight his way in. But what he had encountered had been almost more then he had been able to handle. Just making his way to the castle gates had exhausted him and caused a fiery hot pain to shoot through his body. And the entrance hall had been even more difficult. He had up until that point managed to scare off the heartless, for he would never have forgiven himself if he had destroyed one. But the heartless in the entrance way had overwhelmed him and he had been forced to strike out.

Now resting against the inside doors of the library, he could feel the anguish washing over him. He had lost his temper and he had killed. And because he had not been able to contain his feelings, he would never know if he had known who that had been. He would never meet them in the future when Sora set everything right. He would never have a clear conscious, not that he really ever had one. But his one claim had been that he had never killed. And a heartless wasn't just a heartless. It was a person who had let the darkness seep into their heart. He had killed a person who could have been given a second chance.

But reality drew him away from his dark thoughts and back to his cape that had been practically destroyed. Finally concluding that it would be pointless to keep it, he discarded it on the ground and raised himself to a standing position.

His fingers came out to run across the books on the shelves in amazement. There was some deep memory; he could feel that much in his mind and heart. There was something about the castle, but the library specifically that he felt a connection with. The castle was not evil; the walls were neutral as were the books and the windows. The power within the castle was not evil either. The evil emanating from the castle was in the form of a person, of a place rather. Maybe neither, perhaps the evil he felt was merely a feeling, a conscious thought that influenced destruction and chaos.

Cloud slowly made his way through the small maze of bookshelves on the first level, silently and quickly memorizing the way he had come. He was frustrated at himself mostly. There was something about that castle that he remembered, something about it that struck a nerve in his heart. But the harder he tried to remember why he felt safe in the mist of heartless and danger was beyond his comprehension.

He took the steps of the staircase cautiously, knowing that he was not alone in the castle and his presence had already been detected. Just because the heartless had refused to follow him into the library did not mean that they could not if they desired to. It was simply his ignorance of them that limited his adventurous nature. He would be tempted, but he would never again strike out at them. He would never destroy them as Sora did so easily, or as Squall did to protect the town.

"You've come back." Cloud looked up sharply at the voice from the top of the stairs. His eyes searched the figure of the man standing above him, harboring a genuine smile. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you would come home."

"Home?" Cloud asked confused at the way the male was talking to him. "Am I supposed to know you? This is my home?" He gripped the rail as he gazed up at the beautiful sliver haired male.

"You have forgotten me, what we had," He told Cloud. "But fate has brought you back to me and I will help you remember. You will remember me." The man took a step down and Cloud backed away, noticing the black aura surrounding him.

"You're a heartless," Cloud spoke evenly.

The male shook his head. "I merely have the shadow of one. I'm using the power they possess for the time being; until I gain enough of my own to take myself back to our world, and you too. I'm going to take you with me, Cloud. I've been waiting a long time for you."

They met eyes and Cloud was struck with the distinct feeling of familiar. He knew this man, knew him from long before anyone else. This man was special to him, or had been at one time, even if he was a heartless at the moment. "Who are you?" Cloud asked him.

"Me?" He pointed at himself as a smile spread. "You'll remember me soon, I'm Sephiroth."







End of Chapter!

[iloveyou502]

Woo Hoo! Sephiroth Finally!

I mean, good chapter...

[Haku]

Awesome chapter this story is really coming together.

[Squall]

Well thx,its take quite a time to write a chapter.

[TheLastKnight]

coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Enchanted Rose]

SEPHY has arrived.

There was almost a SoraxRiku moment there as well xD