These are both SL's from FW and PB 
SORA 

The fourteen-year-old was sitting down at one of the outside tables of the cafe in Traverse Town, staring into the flickering flame, produced by the Moogles, that would only go out with the help of magic. Both elbows were placed on the wooden table and his form was leaning forward some as he watched the fire. The Heartless were gone; all was supposed to have been resolved, and yet it seemed that nothing was. Riku was still gone, and Kairi was back at Destiny Islands. ...Kairi. He had vowed to see her again. He had promised. A blink. He had also promised to return that lucky charm she had given him. He dug into his pocket and pulled out the charm, styled in the shape of a star. He smiled softly as he looked down at it. He had to return it. And he had to now. 

He pushed his chair back and stood up, now determined to do so. The question was, how exactly was he going to do it? He bit his lip, trying to think of a way. Eyes gazed down at the charm again. A star... Worlds were stars. Maybe he could use this to get to another world? 

"Sora!" That cracked voice stopped him in his tracks, though, coming from the white duck Court Wizard known as Donald. He waddled over to him, pointing a feathered digit at him in accusation. "What are you up to?" 

Sora's cobalt eyes widened. Did he look that guilty? He stuttered out a response. "D-Donald... I have to return this..." He showed him the charm slowly, as if he was ashamed of having it. 

"We can come with ya', Sora!" exclaimed another voice, that of a taller, dog-like creature decked in green. "But... how are ya' gonna get there?" 

Sora shook his head, brown spikes swaying back and forth. "Sorry, Goofy. I have to do this myself." 

"What?!" the other two cried out in unison. 

He sighed. "You guys..." His tone was all that was needed to express what he meant. 

"Fine..." Donald, murmured, kicking at the ground with a webbed foot. 

"Don't worry," Sora replied with a grin. "I'll be back... with Kairi." He gave them a thumbs up and then headed off to the Item Shop. Before he left, he had to pick something up first. 

--- 

His huge yellow shoes were nestled in the sand as he stood on the beach, watching the waves rolling in and out. This wasn't his island, though. Just another beach; one similar enough that he thought his idea could work. 

Clutched in one of his gloved hands was the charm, his eyes were now closed as he said in his head... If this is lucky and is a star, then it should be able to get me home. Here we go... Take me to Destiny Islands... Destiny Islands.. Destiny Islands.. He repeated the two words of his home over and over for a few more moments, when he felt a warm air form around him. Eyes snapped open, and he saw he was surrounded by this strange sort of light. He seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once, the swirling lights around him making him dizzy. He winced his eyes shut, waiting for it to end, and once it finally did he had to collapse on the ground. 

This feels so familiar... 

His eyes slowly opened once again, and he pushed himself into a sitting position, a hand brushing the sand out of his hair. He then took a moment to look around, and lo and behold, there he was. It was Destiny Islands. It had worked. He slowly brought himself to his feet, for a moment in a state of disbelief. It was nighttime, and the sand had a strange glow to it, something that had mystified him since he was little. 

Where was Kairi? 

He walked away from the water towards the shack nearby, looking from left to right and back again. 

"..Kairi?" 
_________________ 
KAIRI 

The moonlight reflected on the water in a wavery, full circle. The fourteen year-old girl sat alone on the massive trunk of a fallen palm tree watching the natural spectacle. Kairi's blue eyes looked much darker with the absence of daylight... an ironic match to her mood. A melancholy expression and the glistening of salty tears tainted her carefree visage. There was no getting around it... she was miserable. Even when surrounded by Selphie, Wakka, and Tidus... Kairi still felt so alone. 

Sora... Riku... 

Her two best friends still had not returned to her. She had been flung back into the normalcy of life on the Destiny Islands, but without so much as a trace of two boys that she held so dear. Her hands idly smoothed the soft lavender fabric of her skirt as she let out a small sigh. 

She was only able to brush his hand... just a single touch before he was torn away from her again. She couldn't just sit there and accept that he might really be gone. He had promised her that he'd return. The girl longed for things to return to the way they were before. Life had been so simple on the island... they hadn't a care in the world. That is, until the darkness tore everything apart. 

Kairi had spent many an evening alone overlooking the water like this since it happened... she simply couldn't adopt the false ease of peaceful slumber when her friends were still out there somewhere. She dearly wished that she could do something to go out and find them herself. Just as they had been so readily willing to do for her. 

"Sora, you have to come back... you promised... you haven't returned my good luck charm yet..." 

Closing her eyes, she wiped off tear-stained cheeks... she decided she had cried enough. There had to be more that she could do than sit here and suffer their absence. A soft breeze stirred, ruffling her fiery red hair and lifting it off her neck gently. The familiar rustling of the palm leaves held some comfort to her... but also a sense of nostalgia... she could almost hear Sora calling her. Yes... she could still hear his voice in her head as if he was really there. 

....Then she heard the call again. 

Eyes snapped open as she leapt off the fallen tree and looked around urgently. Then she saw him. Blinking quickly, she did a double take. That silhouette... that spiked hair... it was unmistakable. Without a moment's hesitation, she launched herself towards the figure standing there. 

"Sora!" 

As she neared him, slender arms would reach up to cling around his neck tightly in a hug. Coming to her senses and stepping back slightly, she looked him up and down... then reached out a palm and rested it against his cheek. He was real... he was really there. Her mouth curved into the first smile that had visited Kairi in a long time. 

"You didn't lie... you came back." 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

The lone warrior stood propped up against a wall in the pub 
in Traverse Town. His toned arms were folded and deep 
thought had overtaken him. His wonders included his new 
" friends " that Squall introduced him to. He was hesitant 
at first but after a few hours they were able to get a good 
sentence out of Cloud. And one person in particular had caught Cloud's interest. The woman named Aerith. For some strange reason he was engulfed in the weirdest sense of de'ja'vu' around this lady. He had to find out more about her. 


Mako torn, aqua blue eyes slowly fell to a close as Cloud fell 
deeper into his thoughts. The next thing running through his 
head was finding his " Light " so that he could finally be at 
peace with himself. If he could do one thing before dieing, it 
would be without a doubt this. The only thing he cared about 
in this world was this. His mind suddenly traced back to his 
new " friends ", but Cloud gritted his teeth and mumbled, 
"Friends... I have none, only associates.." before opening his 
eyes and standing upright, walking out of the pub with a flow 
in his tattered and beaten cape. 


Spiky blonde blew gently over the rather rough man that was 
Cloud. He seemed to be headed to the old house where Leon and company always hung out. The people in Traverse town gave him stares of horror and disbelief, like they had never seen someone of his stature.. Maybe they thought he was a heartless? He didn't care. He didn't care about anyone much less what they would think about him anyway. Once he arrived, a gloved right hand knocked on the wooden 
door. Cloud's right hand eased down from the door and took 
new position at his hip as he looked in the small window on 
the door. Aerith and Yuffie were nestled inside the small home 
and were looking at the door, finally noticing Cloud. 
His bangs decorated his eyes with a fitting blonde highlight 
as he tilted his head to the side as if to say, " I'm tired of 
waiting." 
_________________ 
SORA 

That familiar voice yelling out his name made him jump a bit. He had to smile; he had always loved the way Kairi had said his name. There was just something about it... something he couldn't really put his finger on. All he knew was that he liked it, and that was all that mattered. Before he knew what was going on, she had pretty much jumped him. His eyes widened for just a moment at the fact that he was receiving a hug, but he returned it in due time, just as glad to be with her as she was to be with him. After the short embrace, he backed off to take a long hard look at her. She was, of course, exactly the same. It hadn't been that long since the two had seen each other, really, though it did feel like an eternity. 

The hand that was put against his cheek was cold, and sent a small shiver up his spine; he hadn't had physical contact like this with Kairi for a while, it seemed, and to actually be with her again was just fantastic. He simply couldn't stop grinning. There was a very slight frown at what she said, though, his eyes flickering with a tint of anger for a moment. "Of course I came back, Kairi..." he said, trailing off for just a moment. "You thought I wouldn't?" It was a bit disheartening that she didn't believe in him, but the thought that she was possibly just reassuring herself with that comment made him feel a little better. "I had to return this, remember?" He grabbed her arm, pulling her hand to his. They clasped hands as he placed the charm into her hand, the star a bit warm from being clutched in his palm for so long. 

Once that deed was done, he felt rather accomplished, and that smile returned yet again. "And remember, Kairi... We actually are always together." Though this was true, he himself knew it was much better to actually be with the person, not just in essence. He still felt it was his right to remind her of this; in case they ever got separated again. Hopefully that would never happen, but it was hard to judge with all that had been going on as of late. 

"Oh!" he exclaimed, his hair seeming to perk up a bit as he yelled out. "I almost forgot..." He grabbed into one of the many big pockets that he had and pulled out a fairly long box, off-white in color. "Here," he grinned. "I got this for you." He then handed the box to her, waiting for her to open it with a bit of anticipation. 

I hope she likes it... 
_________________ 
KAIRI 

Kairi felt a small twinge of surprise run through her as Sora suddenly grabbed her hand and placed that familiar star shape of the charm into her palm. The remnants of Sora's body heat obviously from having held it for so long brought feeling back into the numbness of her cold hand, the warmth tingling through her fingertips. She had been sneaking out every night to wait for him for the past several weeks, and the cool night air had made her just a bit chilly. Though a tropical island, the absence of the sun's rays did make it rather cold. 

She smiled up at him in her gratitude, but that quickly faded to a look of puzzlement for a moment at Sora's brief worry that she had thought he was gone for good. "No, Sora... of course not." 

Her eyes fell onto the charm that rested in her hand. It's star shape had always startlingly reminded her of a paopu fruit. A shake of her head supplemented her words. "I knew you'd come back..." 

She tilted her head up and stared into the vastness of the star-filled sky overhead. "...I've waited for you here every night... waited for this..." 

Now her gaze came to rest upon that face that she had always known she would see again. "Some of the others were considering that you were never coming back... but I knew you wouldn't break your promise to me. I knew you'd come back, and I..." Her face broke into a smile again. "...I'm so happy that you're back." 

One last tear, this one of happiness glistened on her cheek as she dispensed with the fluffiness. In any case, any further discussion on her part would be halted by Sora. As he presented her with a mysterious box, she blinked in more surprise. 

"...For me?" The murmur of curiosity heralded her taking the package and lifting off the cover. Inside was what appeared to be a long lavender glove. As she lifted it out to examine it, it looked to be attached to the arm by some clasps, and sported a pair of wickedly pointed claws where the knuckles would go. 

"Ah, a weapon!" A grin of triumph at her realization spread across her face as she began to try the contraption on. Wrapping the piece of fabric around her right arm, she used her free left hand to secure the buckles with minimal difficulty. After the glove was in place, she lifted her right hand to examine the points at the end. Poking one delicately with the index finger of her left hand, she snatched it away as it pricked her. 

Sticking her sore finger in her mouth and suckling on it a little, she now turned to Sora with a look of bewilderment in her azure hues. Sora, Riku, and the others had never included her in their play-fighting before... so this was unprecedented. It would not go unnoticed that the weapons they used were always harmless wooden toys. However, this was a real weapon... and a dangerous one. Taking her finger out of her mouth, she blinked at him curiously. Posing a question, she tried her best not to sound ungrateful while at the same time finding out what she just had to know. 

"Thank you... I like it... but, Sora... what would I need something like this for? The island isn't dangerous, right?" 
_________________ 
SORA 

His eyes watched her every single movement as she responded to his wary thoughts, watching her body motions and her eyes, which were said to be the window to the soul, to make sure that she was in fact telling the truth. He shouldn't have even accused her further, but he just wanted to be sure. He knew Kairi well enough to know that she was telling the truth, and mentally breathed a sigh of relief because of this. He was glad that he knew he could still trust Kairi -- that was always a good feeling, to know you had someone to confide in. Even if it were a girl. "I'm glad..." He neared closer to her once again, seeing that she appeared to be a bit cold, and she couldn't be blamed, seeing what she was wearing. A sleeveless top and a skirt wasn't the best attire for the night, even if it did suit her well during the day. "I'm glad you can believe in me, Kairi. And that you continued to do so..." he faltered for just a moment, "...even after the others were losing hope." He smiled right back at her, his eyes seeming solemn and happy at the same time-- something strange to see out of Sora. 

"I'm glad I'm back too..." His hand was lifted to wipe the solitary tear off of her cheek, and he stepped back a trifle to watch her open the box, anticipating her reaction quite eagerly. He grinned as she pulled it out, feeling rather accomplished at his good judgment in the selection of the weapon. It was a rather nice-looking thing; he had made sure of that. A glisten formed in his eye as he saw how it looked on her. "You look great, Kairi!" he assured her, stepping back even a bit more to admire the primal claws that were attached to her arm neatly. 

He laughed softly when she pricked herself, assured that she hadn't hurt herself much. "That's a real thing there," he told her, as if she hadn't already realized that. At her next question he became a bit bewildered, not feeling so good about answering this. He sighed, out loud this time, looking down at his feet for a moment as he tried to pull his thoughts together. "Kairi..." he started, closing his eyes for a moment, then lifting his head and looking her right in the eye, "we have to go back." He then started pacing for a moment, to distract himself. "We gotta find Riku, and..." He looked over his shoulder at her, for his back had been turned to her, "don't you want to see the other worlds?" He smirked faintly at this, but sobered up again. 

"Anyway, how are the others?" He meant Wakka, Selphie, and Tidus, of course. "Do you think... any of them would want to come?" It would be strange that he would ask for even more help, but he did his best to explain by adding, "I think we may need a lot of manpower this time around... Eh, womanpower, too.." he said with a grin and a V-sign. 
_________________ 
YUFFIE-SU 

[Uwahahahaha! I post. Now, you do it too Stephy. You didn't ask for that character for nothing...You'll shoot me for any inaccuracies. You know you will. I not even know if Yuffie know Cloud. Laugh at me pathetic ness.] 

Yuffie sat, warming her hands by the fire, on a large, red cushion. Or at least, it used to be red. Age and the amount of use it endured nightly had diluted the once vibrant colors down to a dull pink. The simple embroidery, once boldly outlined in yellow thread, had faded to a pastel hue as well, but it seemed to fit in the cozy atmosphere of Aeris' current quarters, only one of the many brightly-illuminated homes that lined the streets of Traverse City. 

The girl started at the abrupt rapping at the door, and exchanged an uneasy glance with Aeris. Who could that be, at this hour? 

Then through the window, slightly fogged by the cold, was the blurred image of a familiar face...and, of course, the unmistakable hairstyle. 

"Cloud!" Yuffie exclaimed, leaping to her feet and dashing to the door. "What brings -you- here?" 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She shot her glance toward the door as she heard his name, rising to her feet and dusting off her dress. Aerith's green eyes came up to meet Clouds, blushing slightly as they did. She walked towards the door beside Yuffie, her face lit up. 
"Won't you come in... Cloud..?" She sidestepped away from the door allowing his entrance, her gaze hadn't left his face. Aerith tapped her boots lightly on the ground, clasping her hands together behind her back. "You don't have to knock next time.. come in whenever you wish... you can stay, too.." She looked down to the ground, smiling, and looking back up at him, kicking her boot against the ground nervously. 
_________________ 
He felt distressed, the way his stance was formed near the two women. It was such a relief to see another male at the door, and the mood was set. 

"Ah, welcome Cloud." His pace was steady, metallic boots contra`ed on the vacant house's welded floor pattern. In cool stature he had held out his palm for a nice gesture. His burdens hidden behind frigid depths of iced pupils and he would of thought, his troubles were well hidden from view. But that was Squall Leonhart, unhappy and moody. 

He had brushed his molten honey-due locks away from his eye view, and then went over to where he was before the entrance of the other tall figure. "What brings you here?" 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

The tall blonde gazed into the emerald green eyes of Aerith 
that stared back at him with warmth. Cloud's cheeks turned a slight shade of red behind his scarf-like cape as he began to become lost in her being. Cloud struggled to regain himself, noticing that he had been standing in the doorway for at least a good five seconds without movement. Hoping that the others, who were all looking at him, did not pay heed to his and Aerith's slight spark, Cloud thanked Aerith for her kindness in a rather monotoned " I appreciate that.." before 
walking on past her and viewing the others. The pair of Leon and Yuffie beamed at him with welcomes to the small home. Cloud's chest burned with weird feelings from these people, this being the first time he actually had any friends in his life. 
Cloud reached out to Leon's hand with his right one, shaking it 
firmly while saying, " Hey.. Leon. Yuffie." 

After the welcomes, hugs, and kisses were done, Cloud 
took it upon himself to have a seat. Dusty, brown leather boots hit the wooden floor of the shabby house with a thump 
as he made his way over to a makeshift wooden chair, deemed 
his future resting place. Once his destination was met, brass fingertips clasped around the chair, pulling it out enough for Cloud to take seat. Cloud leaned back in the chair, making himself as comfortable as possible, folding muscle molded arms across his blue clad, leather strapped chest. Finally making camp for himself, Cloud glanced over to them, wondering if he he should answer their question of why he was here. A reason he did not have.. What he did have was loneliness. Now he couldn't just go ahead a tell them that, now could he? Why he couldn't just go out and say that? is' one of the many mysteries that made up the lone swordsman named Cloud. He was beginning to wonder who was the colder, him or Leon. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

Aerith still stood at the door blushing, bringing her hand up to her mouth as she smiled. She turned around, shutting the door behind her as she found herself sitting as close to Cloud as she could. She had missed him so much for that long period of time in which they had been separated. 
Resting her hands in her lap as she found her seat, Aerith looked at Cloud, her gaze remaining on him for a long period of time as she kept silent. Her face still warm with blush. 
_________________ 
LEON 

Seemed Cloud was turning insolent. Leon didn't seem to give another thought into it. Four of them were now in the vacant house, and not a word was hummed through the air. It gave him a bit of time to heave out a small sigh. 

"What do you think about Sora?" his attenuative mantle lips spoke in a low pitch. It dwelled his mind, the way Sora had ran after his companion. Just like his own childhood. It crashed into his mind, the destruction. The Heartless. 

He had placed his gunblade to the opposite of him, and just took that awkward moment to give a glance at it. His destruction. The wield of that weapon that had established him through so many pointless battles. He gestured his hand through his locks of tan crescent strands. 

He took time to notice the two little love birds over on the piece of furniture. Cloud and Aeris, so simple, yet complicated. Cloud stirred his blood sometimes, the way his personality had take a tole on him. Was Cloud another example of himself? Was this a sign? 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

Cloud could actually feel Aerith staring at him. His underarm began to water from sweat as he hesitantly looked over to the beauty that was Aerith. Cloud's heart skipped a beat, the two were locked like two lovebirds in a cage. It was like an unseen force, Cloud couldn't turn away, he had to look. He never felt this way in his life, the feeling was good, so good, so uplifting. Could it be? That "L" word that people feel for eachother, could it have truly been stamped on Cloud's forehead. Cloud's ears suddenly picked up speech from Leon that awoke him from what seemed like an eternity in bliss. 
If Leon hadn't have done that, Aerith and Cloud may have just stared at eachother all night. Cloud's face was turning so red it was starting to match the cloth that desperately tried to hide his face from the others. At last, Cloud tore himelf from Aeris and turned attention to the LionHearted Leonhart. 

"Sora? What do I think of him? Hmm... I admire the boy's determination and will. I also think it was a grand gest that he is seeking his freind. His abilities with the keyblade are also promising." 

Cloud suddenly bit his tounge, thinking he had said to much as it was. Feeling he had givin' his part and then some, he sank back into his chair once again, uncontrollably taking glances at Aeris every once and awhile... Between his helpless peeks at the lovely Aeris, Cloud took the time to ask Squall a question, peering over to him with aqua blue eyes sheltered behind blonde bangs. 

"Why did you ask such a qustion, Leonhart?" 
_________________ 
LEON 

There was a small chuckle hissed from his lips. Why had he taken such a fine interest on Sora. It was certainly not his problem where Sora uphold his destiny. 


"Red was always your color, Strife." With the auburn tone of Cloud's skin, it was just so hard to refrain from grasping a small joke about it. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She looked away from him, her blush fading. She closed her eyes, smiling slightly. She was way too obvious. Aerith turned her attention towards Yuffie, not knowing what she could say to her. She looked at Cloud again, then away immediately, she could tell she had been making him lose track of himself. Her eyes came to meet with Squalls, then looking back and fourth between the two men she thought she knew so well as they discussed. 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

Cloud took Leonhart's joke in a small chuckle. They were catching on to his and Areis' little flirtaious orgy of stares. Cloud now set his attention fully on Leon to make an excuse for his reddining like an apple. 

" It's kinda warm in here, you see.. Leonhart, could I have a look at that, that Gunblade you call it." 

Cloud tried with all his might to spark up converstation with Squall. If he didn't, he feared he would catch himself parading glares at Aeris again like an idiot. 
_________________ 
[ Lol! Nice one Cody. ] 


He took the gesture of the excuse as a sign to get off the subject. He gave a small grunt at the Man's reply. "Why the sudden interest in my weaponry? You've seen it plenty in the past." His glove wrapped thin lining around the shaft of the gunblade. It took a moment for him to realize the scenario. But his stoic mind couldn't get off the fact that Sora, that perky fourteen year old had set out without any consent. 

"If it'll get your mind off of Miss Aeris and keep you in touch with reality, we can discuss why you've brought yourself here, then sure. But I'm not getting off my ass to hand it to you." 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

Aerith looked up at Leon and brushed bright pink, she let out a little giggle as she heard his remark. What wonderful friends she had. She looked at Cloud, seeing his face go red as well, her hand went up against her mouth to muffle her laughter. She smiled at the two of them. 

"We all need to get our minds off of things..." She rose and headed towards the window, looking out at the small town in which they resided. 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

Cloud closed his eyes as his the fluttery feelings in his chest soon turned to a swirling anger from Leon's comments. He held his anger in, letting it escape through a low sigh. All that stuff Leon said was exactly one good reason Cloud liked being a loner. He didn't have to listen to other people damn mouths. 
Slowly he stood from his seat and walked over near Leonhart. 
His intentions were to tell him why he was here... 

" Just drifting through since you just have to know. And I'm here because of this." 

Cloud's gloved right hand gripped the knob of the wooden closet beside Squall. In it lay, proped up against the wall was Cloud's bondaged Buster sword. 

"If that doesn't make you feel any better, I also came to see Sora. And as for Aeris..." 

Cloud broke off his words and sighed, letting the point of his huge blade kiss the floor, his right hand holding the hilt. 

" I'm gonna go out for a bit.. " 
_________________ 
LEON 

Leon never was the one to feel hints of guilt after what was said, was said. He'd just wait, let everything calm down and go on with everyday life. 

It was different this time. Leon regreted the comments that had flooded the room from his tempered-mouth. It clenched his stomach the way Cloud fled off. Now he was alone once again, weilding his gunblade that was currently resting on his broad left shoulder. "Aerith.." he let out a slow but soft sigh. "Sorry for that.." His brissels had shoken in unison with his head. 

It was so unlike Leon to get like this, what was up? Maybe it was time to face those utterly hard facts. He wasn't alone, and he had friends. Yet he had once again pushed them away. His mind kept on the instant ticking as the akward silent was now present. He had let his words hang from calling Aerith by her name. He had not known what to back his words up with. 

Tick, tock, went his head. And the headache consumed his attention, as by the second it had worsened. "..." He had nothing to consume the silence with. He let himself fall into that deepened hole as he stood in an uncomfortable stance. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She walked over to Leon and pat his shoulder. "It's alright..." Her head turned toward the way in which Cloud walked. "I'm beginning to think he's not going to change... I wish he would open up to me..." 

A sigh escaped her lips as she moved over to the bed, sitting down gently. Her eyes closed gently, her head resting in her palm. 
_________________ 
LEON 

"...He reminds me of myself." He let out another famous Leon sigh. "It's a mess." His fingers help tipped at his cranium as the headache slowly came to a halt. 

"Aerith, is he acting like someone that he really isn't? You know him better than most of us." His frigid ice pelted pupils shifted it' view over to Aerith. Who wouldn't want to have her as their own? She had such small structure, yet beautiful features. His mind had turned raw at the moment. 

"Gut-wrenching." He shook his head too left and right once again. His mind focused on the situation. He gazed to the door, as if Cloud was about to enter it in any second. Time-consuming, yes. 
_________________ 
TNEB 

Cold. Actually, quite freezing as a small white creature found herself waddling down the road, small plum hued wings lightly flapping just to keep up body heat. Each step taken gave sway to the antennea like bit ontop this moogle's head, though this one particular seemed to have quite the noticeable kink about halfway to that russet tinted orb near the end. It bounced quite close to squinted eyes, then. 

Fuzz-clad and off-white would she continue her search for warmth. The last place she had, cozy spot in a local pub's cupboard, had been unfortunatly uncovered by a pair of nosey humans. Kupo. Wouldn't stand to become their little play thing -- though she seemed curiously happy to be thrown into this cold predicament. Earlier had she spotted a young spikey-haired boy that seemed well suited for a tag-a-long such as herself, and so her mind was quite set on finding him. Well. After finding something to eat. 

And then would crescent eyes fall upo a similar hairstyle to the one she'd seen earlier. Kupo! Might not be the same one, but oh boy did he have a warm-looking scarf. And what's this?coming out of a warm house, too. Scuttling over to the disgruntled man, small and crooked moogle would begin to flap such earlier mentioned wings, managing to lift her small form to eye-level, though in mid-air off to one side so his eyes might not catch her at first, she was close enough to be noticed, and perhaps even startle. "KUPO!" Little wriggle of that plump rose-hued nose. 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

A swift whiteness past Cloud and he looked around shocked. 
Reading his blade he looked around and befallen apon his eyes was a Moogle of all things. Part of Cloud wished it was a good Heartless to slay while the other part sighed a sigh of relief. Cloud's heartbeat started to slow down as he examined the small figure. Eyes blanked a few times before he finally spoke to the Moogle. 

"H-hey. Why in such a hurry?" his voice had regained it's monotone. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

Aerith looked at Leon curiously, her eyebrow quirking slightly. "He is acting a bit strangly... but I don't think it is anything to worry about..." She smiled to Squall, lying her head against his arm, her hand resting on his shoulder. " He'll be back soon, Leon." 
_________________ 
TNEB 

"Well, Kupo. It's cold out here." Scratchy bit of a voice heard from the female fuzzball. She'd eye him curiously, though more so those blonde spikes, quite sure she could nestle in perfecty without much work.. though, brunettes were warmer, fom her experience. 

This particular man looked particularly cold himself, though not so much his skin as those blue eyes. Kupo. He'd have to be crazy to be outside on a night like this. "Did you notice the fire inside, Kupo? Why would you be leavin' it, hm? Not the smartest idea, no, Ku, not one bit." 

Plum tinged wings would tire, and so she'd come to rest upon the window sill, staying near enough. It was tough to look up that high. "Kupo.. what if I accompany you inside? You can't have much better company than a moogle, let me tell you." 
_________________ 
LEON 

He took a step away from Aerith as his arm rested aganist the nearest window sill. "Aerith.. you like him, don't you?" His view was far from Aerith's figure. His eyes wandered down at the solemn streets of Traverse. Looking for a hint of Cloud's statured figure. It was obvious Cloud and Aerith had taken a liking to one another. 
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AERITH-SU 

Aerith looked at him from where she stood, smiling gently. "Yes... Cloud and I are great friends... Leon." She stood at the doorway now, staring out into the night sky. "Just as you and I are.." She looked back at him, smiling, her green eyes shimmering against the moonlight. She closed the door in front of her, taking a seat atop the bed again. A sigh once again escaping her lips.
-----------------
LEON 

"But I di--.." He watched as Aerith glanced into the night. What did she mean? He could see how Aerith reacted around Cloud. She was obviously setting up a big fat fib. "Hm." 
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AERITH-SU 


She let out a laugh as she heard him. "Cloud and I are close, yes. We have been friends for quite some time...." She looked towards him. "And yes... I do believe I have feelings for him..." She looked to the ground, blushing and kicking her boot against the floor softly, a nervous habit. She smiled to herself, thinking. "What's he trying to get at here...?" 
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LEON 

"I'm sorry, this is none of my buisness.." He patted the back of his head as he reached for his gunblade. He then glanced over to Aerith, seeing her in the shy state again. He then tilted his head as he brung the sturdy gunblade to lay rested on his shoulder, his arm reflexing it to pat it against his shoulder. He had held his other hand to his hip as his view was focused on the floor. "Maybe you should go talk to him. It might be a good solution to all this B.S" 
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AERITH-SU 

She blushed, looking up at Leon as he moved about. "I don't want to bother him...He probably wants to be alone." She smiled warmly as she tapped her boots together. Her hand came up to brush away her hair from her eyes. 
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YUFFIE-SU 

Surprisingly, Yuffie had stayed mostly silent throughout all this. Naturally, she would normally just poke a wee bit of fun at Aeris' 'crush' on Cloud, but the reason for her distraction was evident as soon as she stood up from the cushion she had returned to. 

"Finished at last!" she said triumphantly, holding up a completed...whatever they called those cube-puzzle doodads. Yuffie had forgotten the name quite a while ago, along with the person she had requested to make it. Instead of plain red, blue, an yellow-coloured panels, simple engravings were marked into each of the sides with great skill. The designs were completely mundane, although intricate: a heart twined with lace and vines, a Moogle, and...hmm, a gunblade? 

Her attention was soon drawn back to the idle conversation behind her back, though, and she grinned, walking over and nudging Aeris towards the door. "Come on, flower girl," she teased. "Go an get your man!" It would be -very- interesting to observe what colors Aeris' face would change into. 
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AERITH-SU 

Having been nudged forward was one thing, but realizing how obvious her crush on Cloud was was extremely embarassing. She could have made it not so obvious, but she didn't realize she was being obvious in the first place. Her face grew bright red and her eyes went wide. Aerith looked back at Yuffie, grasping the doorknob with a nod. "I'll...go find him...." She looked back at Leon, smiling. The door came open as she pulled it, stepping out into the dark of Traverse Town, the street lights blaring all around. 

After closing the door, she looked around for Cloud where she stood, only to walk around the corner and see him standing there with a moogle. She hid behind the corner, her head peaking out for just a moment as she gave in for a listen in their conversation. Her face was still red from the blush. 
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LEON 

My god, did Yuffie always dissapear and reapear in such a rush? He had glanced at her adolesecent figure, then it went right back to Miss Aerith. 

His parched lips were silent, so was his body emotions. 

He didn't want to lose his sight of Aerith, the room felt warm when she was lurking in it. Now it was damp, and he was shivering inside. 

"What now?" He had murmured under his uttered breath. His tone had slurred as he motioned himself to the door. Would it be wise to accompany Aerith? His thoughts tangled in web, he had looked upon Yuffie for some friendly advice. For once, mayber her perky attitude would come as a relief to him. 
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AERITH-SU 

Aerith rubbed her arms with her hands for warmth, she continued to watch Cloud from around the corner. She could tell nothing would come out of his conversation with the moogle. She heard a sound all too familiar in front of her and on her right side, opposite from which Cloud had been. It was the sound of the heartless. 

She let out a gasp, pulling out her staff and bonking them on the heads. "Leave me alone!" She hit them repeatedly. "I can't stand you little monsters!" Looking at them, realizing the staff had no effect on the heartless, she jumped back against the wall again. "For gods sake, leave me alone!" 
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CLOUD-SU 

Cloud eyed the small annoyance that was the Moogle. For a moment he studied it, seeing how truly cold and tired she was. 

" Why I'm out here is none of your concern. As far as letting you in.." 

Cloud held his tounge for a moment. Even though he was often cold-hearted, he was a righteous person and always did what he saw fit as right. Helping the Moogle just happened to seem right at the moment. Besides, he had heard tales of Moogles blessing whoever befreinded them with good luck and fortune. 

"I'll let you come in, but you have to join me. Be my companion. You help me, I help you. Deal? Do you have a name?" 

Although doing the right thing, Cloud also wanted find out were the Tall Tales true, hehe.A Moogle partner had to be more reliable then a human any day, anyway. The warrior was just about to turn the corner when he heard Aerith's screams for help. He reacted on impuse and rushed to her aid. 

The tip of Cloud Buster Sword ran into the small, yellow eyed Heartless, and it exploded into Muney. He was always the one to make a dramatic entrance and such so this was nothing new. Too bad he couldn't stay to savor the moment. Grabbing Aeris by the arm with his right hand, he pulled her on over to the door to the house, opened it and let her in. Cloud's eyes wondered around for his Moogle freind to pass through the door before he closed it. 

While in guarded wait for his new found pal, he tinkered the thought of how a Heartless had come back. Hadn't Sora rid the world of them forever?! A sly smirk ran across Cloud's lightly tan complexion, knowing his thurst for battle would soon be watered... 

" Hurry back, Sora, where ever you are.." 
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AERITH-SU 

She stood shocked in the door way, blinking curiously. "I...." looking back at Leon, then at Cloud. "What... what just happened here...?" 
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LEON 

He had heard it, the crie for help from Aerith. He had seen it, the resue of Aerith, by Cloud. Yet, he stood there. He stood there and watched as they had entered the door. 

"Uhm." He was a bit weary, confused. He replaced his gunblade on the fabricated cushion, took a step towards Aerith, with no emotional expression upon stoic facade. 

He brushed the stray strands from his eye view as he watched the two. Comforting, Cloud obvisously aided her, and he didn't lift a finger. Why did his gut react like this? Was he suppose to be that perfect knight, always there for a damsel in distress? 

"Anything troubling you both?" He gasped finally. His moment of slience broken as he watched both of them. Unaware of his surrondings at the moment. 
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AERITH-SU 


She fell back onto her bottom, rubbing her head in confusion. "What... what did I just see out there..." She looked out the door, then lying her hands in her lap. Aerith kept her gaze out the door, still highly confused as to why the heartless had come back. 
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LEON 

"Aerith.. are you alright? What did you see?" He took steps towards her as he had a small concern plastered on his face. Sorting it out, he turned to Cloud, since Aeris was the one lose for words. "Explain, Strife." 
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TNEB 

Rather small ears would perk up a bit at his words.. though it wasn't like they were ever in any other position. Curious creature would become relatively frustrated at the witheld information of his reasoning for being out by himself -- well, mostly just being outside in general, but perhaps this time she'd keep that nosey-ness to herself. For now, Kupo. 

Crescent hues would remain fixed upon the man as those nubbish like legs filled that fix of constant movement, swaying a little from one side to the other. There was a subtle blink given by that moogle, if you could really call it a blink, from his quick demands. Well.. she would have rathered that almond haired boy, but he'd do for the moment. 

"That was quick, Kupo. You sure you don't want to check me for diseases? Ku. " Light snicker, then. Though such was quickly broken by the sudden eh, shouting from nearby. Nosey fuzzball, that one, and so would she hop down from the window sill and follow her new, though still nameless, companion. 

Following the destruction of quite the ugly little creature, nubby legs would scuttle her right along towards the door, quite eager to get inside -- get warm. Though she took a slight notice to the girl he had apparantly saved, that was all she gave, just a look. Plum wings would carry her up to about chest height of the auburn man inside, circling him once or twice before coming to sit upon a coushion near the fireplace. Ah, Kupo. Then would she respond to the spikey-haired one. "Oh, Kupo. Tneb." 
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CLOUD-SU 

Once everyone was inside safe and sound, Cloud turned his attention to Leon, laying his huge weapon of choice over his broad right shoulder. 

"She got into an encounter with a Heartless. I know it sounds weird-" 

In the middle of his explanation to Leon, Tneb had addressed herself to him, and he paused to lend an ear to listen. 

"Tneb, huh? Hope you're warm. Name's Cloud. Everyone, the Moogle is Tneb, she's with me." after introductions were done, Cloud could finally finish laying the news on Leonhart. 

"I don't know how a Heartless could have come back here. Maybe he was one left behind? I thought Sora sealed KingdomHearts." 

Even though Cloud seemed completely interested in the Heartless and his next battle, he also had a bit of, well, alot of concern for Aeris. He wanted to ask her if she was ok.. Was she scared. All sorts of comforting questions like this and maybe even a warm hug, but he just, just.. didn't know 
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AERITH-SU 

Aerith sat there speechless, unable to speak at all. She looked away from everyone, tears rolling down her cheeks as she closed her eyes, her hand going up to rub them away, she tried to hide it, only to make her cry more 
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LEON 


"Heartless, hm?" He took a second to glance at the mog, then his eyes shifted over to Aeris. 

"Any bones broken?" He said with quite a ruffle. His eyes checked the obvisous parts of her body, arms and legs. 

"That's good." He then continued. "If the Heartless has returned, then we will need all the help we can receive. Cloud, how about you and I scout the area for anymore that is lurking in town? Aeris, Tneb and Yuffie, stay here. We need you girls safe." He then took position of his gunblade and leaned it on his shoulder, ready for Cloud to accept the mission. 
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CLOUD-SU 

Hearing the faint sound of weeping, Cloud turned to it's source, Aeris! His eyes widened and his heart felt like a sixty ton weight in his chest. How could he be so blind as to ignore her after she had gone through something like that! 

Cloud took a few steps over to her, a few very heavy steps. Once he reached her, he knelt down on one knee beside her. He never had to really comfort anyone so this was all too new to him. Cloud decided to do what came natural, raising his arm, he lay it across her shoulder, and held her close. He hated to see her cry like this, really he did. 

Cloud somehow worked his right hand glove off with his teeth and placed bare skin apon Aeris' silky, salty tear stained face. Slowly he wiped a tear from her cheek, his eyes filled with compassion never before seen within him. 

"Aeris, are you.. Are you ok?" despite the best he tried, he didn't know the proper questions to ask anymore. His mind was like mushy, cold, day-old soup. 
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LEON 

"Cl--" He had stopped himself. Seeing Cloud tend to Aeris almost shattered his heart. He liked Aerith, and was too blind to see Cloud actually loved her. "I'll go on my own" With a grunt, he had opened the door with the metallic knob, and let himself out into the darkened night.
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AERITH-SU 

She looked up at Cloud, her tears still running down her face. In an emotional burst of tears she wrapped her arms around him tightly, crying into his chest, her hands clenching onto his shirt tightly. 

"I...thought they were gone..." she said through her tears. "I thought they had been killed!" She continued to cry into his chest, holding him tightly and feeling the warmth of his seemingly cold body. Sniffling, she looked up at him, so close to his face. 

She didn't know what she wanted to do then, she held onto him so closely. So many emotions wanted to burst from inside her and flow out. She looked up into his eyes, her eyes watering, her body pressed against his in that close embrace. 
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TNEB 

Tneb gave a few nods to Cloud's words, reassuring him that yes, she was indeed warm. Infact, she'd begun to snuggle a bit into the chair she'd found herself upon, slouching a bit with stubby legs pointed towards the fire. Though it may have seemed as though this moogle was simply interested in the fire, those pert ears of hers did well to pick up on the conversation. Heartless, hm? Oh, she'd heard of those.. 

With notice of a sniffle or two, content gaze would wander over to the lady in the rose-hued dress, curious to how close a match it made to her oval nose. And really, that's all she noticed. This creature in particular was not very fond of other females, and did not, in fact, even like to think about the idea of being left with them. 

"Kupo, wait just a minute. You want me to stay here? Ku.." Then she thought. Quite cold out there. Warm in here. Hm. 

Added to her argument after pondering a good snuggle in that auburn hair. "Don't either of you know how much good fortune a, Kupo, moogle like myself could bring? Goodluck, you know." Goodluck. Oh boy would she play that one for all it was worth. What they were really getting was an curiously-natured, easedropping, and well, quite devious, ball of white fuzz. 
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LEON 

It was for the best, the two of them together. Aerith deserved the best, and Cloud seemingly could provide it. What did Leon have in return? A mournful of emotions and a bad case of anger. That was him. He had only loved one before, and she was gone. What did he do in return? Became that solemn son of a bitch he was before his lost love. 

He left his weaponry drag against jaded cement as he had paced himself through Traverse Town. With not a sign of the monsterly beasts, Heartless, he was only left to drag his feet and ponder B.S. 

He could have sworn his life was simple, before the placing event. Now he was there, dragging his metallic boots which made thuds against that cement, and feeling a bit moody. He was always the type that felt sorry for himself. He thought his choices were always wrong, and the paths he took was the opposite of the right one. 

So where did that leave him? On a endless hunt for the Heartless, that's where he was. It was his soul purpose in life. The silence rang through the town, and all that was pounding in his head was Aerith in Cloud's arms. 

"I'm such a fool." He had risen his head to look at the strandling stars. The stray stars were left alone. And he had related them to himself. Alone, and a stray. 

The gunblade was lifted, as his left hand was stuffed ruffly into his pocket. The gunblade laid on his shoulder as his head had lowered to straighten his glances. He was hoping for something to make him catch his attention. Something to get his mind off Cloud and Aerith. But, of course, there was nothing. He could always stop by Cid's and see if he had seen any of the Heartless, but then again, Leon wanted to keep a low profile. So he wandered, wandered through those lonely streets of Traverse. 
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CLOUD-SU 

When Aeris grabbed onto him, he felt like his heart had stopped all together. He could feel her fingertips grip tightly on his shirt, catching his skin a bit. She was warm, and heavenly to the touch. Cloud closed his Mako mixed, blue hues, letting blonde bangs mix into her brunette hair. The Swordman was speechless. What was there to say? Their bond said all that had to be said. It seemed like forever in eachother's arms, and Cloud loved every minute of it, hoping it could be everlasting as he could feel Aerith's warm teardrops slide down his neck, sending shivers up and down his spine and chest. His fingertips slowly ran through her hair as he heard her snobbed, frightened cries about the Heartless, working up the words to comfort her. 

"Aerith, it'll be alright. I'll.. I'll protect you with my life, always." 

Just as he finished his sentence, she brought her head up from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. Mako poisoned, sea-blue orbs looked directly into her watery green eyes. Cloud was once again speechless, feeling every one of Areith's feminine curves, molding with his own manly build, faces so close their noses touched.. This moment, this time, seemed still they shared was more precious than anything Cloud had come to live for in his life. For that moment, that one brief moment, Cloud felt he had finally found his "Light", found his light in Aeris. Maybe she is what he had been searching for all this time.. he sure did hope so. To the Gods above he hoped so. 

Aeris' soft breaths seemed to caress him and her eyes draw him in for what would come next... 
Cloud tilted his head a bit and moved forward, pressing his lips against her ever so slowly at first. This was his first kiss after all. It wasn't the most fantasticly graceful kiss one would see, but it was great for a first try. Cloud followed up the small french kiss with a deeper one, closing his eyes and loosening up, feeling Aeris do the same, he eased his tounge into her mouth, letting it explore with taste. What a taste it was, sweet, oh so sweet, like nothing Cloud had ever experienced in his life. His arms wrapped around her and his embrace tightened just a bit, not too much though. 

Cloud's mind was blank. He didn't notice nor hear Leon leave. All he knew now was Aeris. All he wanted to know right now was Aeris. No Heartless or nothing of that God forsaken manner. 

" I'll protect you forever.. Forver I will love and protect you, Aeris.." were the only words and thing on his mind at this point... 
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LEON 

[ :: TEAR :: LOL! So sweet! ] 
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AERITH-SU 

She smiled, leaning into his arms and holding onto him tightly, she didn't know what more to expect from him, she got all she ever needed in that one simple moment. She looked up at him, kissing him again softly. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest again. 

Aerith rested her hands against his back, still holding onto him, more tightly than before. She, also, hadn't seemed to notice that Leon had left, she was completely consumed by the moment, and Cloud. 
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CLOUD-SU 

Cloud's hand stroked Aerith's hair gently as he slowly started to sink back into reality. Cloud took the time to look around and he noticed Leon had left the room. 

" Aerith, maybe we should go see where Leon has gone off to?" 

Cloud kissed her on the forehead and loosened his grip on her, letting his arms fall back at his sides and getting up after Aeris released him. Cloud returned his glove to it's rightful hand and opened the door, holding it open for Aeris. 
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AERITH-SU 

She took his hand, pulling up to her feet. She nodded her head. "Leon may need some help." Aerith looked at Cloud for reassurance, smiling, and headed toward the door. She looked back at the small moogle, readying herself, staff in hand. "Do you want to help us?" She said warmly. 

She headed out the door with Cloud not far behind, waiting to see if the moogle would follow. Aerith looked around a bit, and looked out into the welcoming darkness of traverse town, only to see a whole shipload, or what seemed to be, of the heartless creatures. 

"We had better get going." 
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TNEB 

"Eh.. Kupo?" Now warm and toasty moogle became quickly impatient with the lack of words headed her way, finally getting out of that temporarily unmoveable mode of hers. Shifting onto her stomach, stubbish arms came ot rest upon the back of the chair she was sitting in. Then would those thin slits for eyes widen a bit with a few blinks. Ew, Ku. 

Subtle shake of her head caused that russet tinged orb wavered unusually close to that slightly lighter shade of a nose because of that little kink in her antennea. What exactly did he see in her? Hmph, Kupo. She whined too much. And if he liked her dress, well, the color was simply a copy of the naturally occuring hue of her nose!.. 

Crouching down a bit so only those narrowed eyes peeked above the back of that chair, she'd watch quietly. When the two were done with that unusual er.. ritual of theirs, she figured her new 'companion' would turn to the moogle and ask how she faired. But no, they decided to go look for the man with the comfy lookin hair -- white cheeks turned a light crimson with pout. 

"What do you mean, Ku! Let's go find Leon? What about me, Kupo. Having to sit here and watch the two of you, ick. If I had known this is what you were dragging me into, Cloud, sir, Ku, I wouldn't have come in here. Kupo. You just want the goodluck powers of the moogle.. always used by meanies like you-- .." She was cut off by that pink lady, Aerith, it was. 

"..Kupo. Well I don't know about helping.. but.." Hoping down from the chair, little scuttle would take her towards the two. Of course, she was always willing to help. But asked such by a lady, well.. just unusual. 

Plum tinted wings would flap, lifting the small form up between the two of them before turning to face the both in mid-air. "Have you seen a spikey-haired boy with Ku.. hair like yours, Cloud? Warm fuzzy brown spikes?" Then would she come to land upon the ground infront of them, head tilted back to look up to the both of them. 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

Before leaving out of the door after Aeris, Cloud answered Tneb's question. 

" You must mean Sora.. I have been looking for him as well." 

Cloud wondered what business the Moogle had with Sora but he figured since he didn't tell the Moogle why he was outside, he shouldn't be all in her business. 
Cloud stepped out into the night air and laid eyes on Leon. He was stood in his normal fashion, Gunblade on over his shoulder, trying not to stand out too much. Cloud approched slowly, the wind blowing his tattered cape behind him. 

"Leonhart. What do you plan to do now, my freind?" 
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LEON 

He side-stepped to view the other man strolling out in Traverse Town.His eyes were seemingly facade`d from it's normal temperature. He meant in no harm to give a small dirty look too Cloud, but it was efficient, and oh so normal for him to put on a small grudge to everyone that he has had his mind on. 

".. I haven't strategizied a well thoughtful plan, Cloud." He had shaken a few of his strands as his head turned away from Cloud's face. He proped up his figure onto the frozen wall to his left. As he did this, his Gunblade fallen from position down onto the paved cement, once again. 

".. Have you?" God, how he hated this feeling, the feeling of betrayal. Even though, Cloud had not necessarily betrayed him. Yet Squall had that gut feeling. 
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AERITH-SU 

Aerith held out her staff before her, her eyes narrowing. "I don't know why they're back.... but I'm going to kick their [dare she say the word!] asses!" She looked at Cloud. "They come back here.. wanting to destroy this peaceful town... they aren't doing it with me here." 

She lept down off of the stairs, heading into battle with the heartless. "What are you waiting for, lets get out there and beat them!" 
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TNEB 

"Oh, Kupo! So you do know him?" Excited little flap of her wings -- this, indeed, was for sure good news. She could only imagine the comfort that would come from those auburn spikes.. though, she was curious. Perhaps the smaller boy looked up so much to Cloud he had to steal his hairstyle? Hm.. curious, ku, curious indeed. 

Leading the way for the both of them though with backwards steps of nubbish white legs, she'd come to bump into the front shins of Leon with a light blink. As soon as such happened, slight back tilt of her head caused that red lil orb to scoot itself from her squinted view. Closely did she listen. 

Few wriggles of her nose and she'd come off the ground once more, furious few flaps of such purple wings -- and where would she land? Why, nestled comfortably in a mess of blonde spikes.. though.. she squirmed. Not so soft. Ku. Such would do for now, even if she was perhaps risking her life with such a friendly notion. 
_________________ 
KAIRI 

"Of course I believe in you. I always have, Sora. Always will." 

As Sora's hand lifted and brushed the single salty drop from her cheek, that red-haired head gave a nod and a soft smile that reiterated the trust and confidence in him. Those blue eyes were now kept glued to the claw that he had given her... she wondered why he felt it necessary to give her such a thing. He must have an important reason... 

Now focusing on his face, she listened to what he had to say in response to her query. There was little chance the boy would miss her eyes growing wider and wider as he explained what he... no, they had to do now. Kairi got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she heard his words. He had just returned, but now he had to leave again... Sure, he was willing to take her with him, and the others too... but it left the girl with a sense of uneasiness. 

"Go back? But... why, Sora?" 

She felt terribly confused by the whole mess... Riku was still out there, yes... but since Sora stopped those Heartless things, why did he need her? ...Or any of them, for that matter? Kairi mentally chastized herself briefly. It occurred to her that it didn't matter why Sora was asking. The fact that he asked at all should have been reason enough to sway her opinion in his favor. He was one of Kairi's best friends, and she'd do anything for him. 

Finally, she gave him another nod and a determined expression. "I'll go with you, Sora... now that I think about it, I don't care why. I just want to bring Riku home again... like you came home. I may not like the idea of leaving, but I'll do it for this." 

She then blinked and cast her gaze in the direction of their homes in the distance. "The other's are fine, Sora, but... do you think they'll want to go? I don't know. Maybe you should ask them." 
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SORA: His smile became ever broader at her words, inspired by what she was telling him. He cherished the fact that he knew that unconditionally, no matter what, he would always be able to put his faith and his trust into the girl that was standing before him right now. He frowned a bit that she didn't seem too happy as to what he was saying, but he should have figured as much. He was sure Kairi just wanted them to stay home, now that he had finally managed to return. Sadly, there were too many things left unturned, and he was glad that she was able to somewhat fathom this. It would make things a tad easier. "Thank you, Kairi. You'll be needed... as will the other three." He shoved his hands in his pocket and made a sort of pout at what she finished off with. "You don't think...?" he asked, almost pleadingly. "Well, I guess I can't expect that of them..." he nodded, looking over to the houses as well with a blink. Slowly turning his gaze back to her, he finalized. "Well, let's go ask them!" And off he was, walking towards the houses. Who knew why he was so eager to get going in the middle of the night. It seemed a bit over-rushed to want to do that. But he must have had his reasons to go then and there, and he hoped that Kairi would understand this and follow in his stead. 
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KAIRI: Yeah, I'll go... ::Kairi gave another nod of agreement.:: I was just hoping that... you know, that maybe you'd stay since you came back. ::Her hands folded behind her back and her shoe kicked absently at the sand as she said this. Kairi's heart had yearned for his return, and now that Sora was back, another adventure had to be taken immediately. It was enough to make her head spin. This time was different, though. This time they would be together in this endeavor. Physically... not just in spirit. That made her happy. Kairi was never one to take being left behind lightly, even in such cases as a trip to the Secret Place when they were younger. If Riku and Sora went without her, they would have undoubtedly come back to a very disgruntled Kairi. As Sora seemed in a hurry to go and recruit the aid of Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie, she blinked in bewilderment at this. It was, after all, very late at night. Scampering off in his wake, she tilted her head as she regarded him. No... whatever it was could wait until morning. Sora hadn't taken into consideration the subject of parents, and the likelihood of them skinning the boy alive if he barged in to take their children at this hour. A hand reached out and grasped his wrist to halt him.:: Sora, it's after midnight. I don't think their parents would be too happy with you if you wanted to wake them up now. 
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SORA: "Eh...?" he let out a gasp as he felt that grasp on his wrist. He froze, listening to what Kairi had to say. He stepped back a bit, as if he had gotten too close to where the other three were in slumberland. He turned around to face her, rubbing the back of his head in some embarrassment. "I guess you're right..." And of course she was. If you were to pick the logical one between the two, Kairi would definitely be the choice. Sora tended to rush into things without thinking, thanks to his overall eagerness to get things accomplished. He wanted to see all the other familiar faces, too. Yuffie, Leon, Aerith, Donald, Goofy, Cloud... Sure, this would always be his home, but he had made so many new friends on his journey. And besides, Riku, his supposed best friend, was still nowhere to be found. That was a sort of plague in the back of his mind. That, and this strange feeling he had been continually having that not all was well yet. He wouldn't express these to Kairi, though. They had the rest of the night to not worry about anything, to just have some time to themselves for a second. That would be nice. Just like the old days... When they had never had a care in the world. "You tired? If not, I could tell you what I'd been doing. Heh, me, Donald, and Goofy got into some funny situations," he said with a grin that was bordering on becoming trademark.
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KAIRI: 
::Yes, her logic and levelheadedness were always so welcome in their small circle of friends on the island. She was the voice of reason among them, and such a skill was coming in handy right about now. Smiling at him, she couldn't help but admire his eagerness to plunge ahead and get things accomplished, whether or not it was a good time, or smart to do so. Just one of the things that made him Sora, she supposed. Hearing his offer to regale his trip had definitely peaked her interest, and her smile widened at this before she even responded.:: Yeah! I want to hear about the other worlds you've seen. ::Kairi herself had only really gotten to know Traverse Town during the time away from the island. When the girl closed her eyes she could remember more... but it was more than she cared to think about. She didn't like where she had been at the time, or who she was in the care of when she was so helpless. It would be vowed to herself here and now, to not let herself become a victim ever again. Motioning to the log where she had been sitting previously, she gave an inquiring arch of her brow.:: Should we go sit down? 

(This is your cue, Pineapple, Kev, and Rose. We desperately need you to make your posts soon and put your characters in there, so we can move the Destiny Island group to Traverse Town. We can't do this until you all have posted.) 
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YUFFIE-SU 

Though whether or not Leon was aware, he had a little shadow following him. 

Alright, that wasn't strictly accurate, as the 'shadow' was three-dimensional, wore bright gaudy clothing, and bounced around a lot. But you get the idea, yes? 

Yuffie had slipped out into the streets, following Leon as he wound his haphazard way. Though Yuffie felt rather pleased at her indirect 'matchmaking', she didn't want to see the results. Heaven knew what Cloud and Aeris might be doing. At any rate, she did not want to find out, and hung back. 

The moment battle with the Heartless was imminent, however, she stepped foward excitedly, grinning, and tossed her (soft, fluffy, and well-kept, if lacking in elevation) hair with a dramatic flair. 

"Ladies first, eh, Aeris? Come on guys, last one's a rotten Heartless!" she grinned, skipping down the steps besides Aeris. It was only a joke, neh? Hopefully, no one would take her comment seriously. 

....Perhaps some might. 
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AERITH-SU 

Aerith looked at the spunky girl beside her, nodding in agreement with a smile. "Let's go boys!" she said, turning her head toward Cloud and Leon. 

She looked back toward the heartless, and started to run into the large group of them, swinging around her staff, until finally, pulling off the top half of the sword, which had been a sheath[sp, its a sword cover....x.x] and revealing that the top 3/4 of the staff had indeed been a large katana. She swung it about violently, but accurately enough to hit her foes, and not her friends. She knew this sword rather well, and had been practicing with it while her friends had been gone fighting the heartless before. 

Maybe now she would come in handy. 
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TIDUS-SU 

Tidus just settled down on his bed, when he heard a few unknown people talking outside in the dark. He blinked, got up, and tiredly threw himself towards the window. All he could see were two shadows coming towards his house. 

"Heartless?! Ack..!" 

He flew to the side of his bed, where he had just layed his wooden sword. He grabbed it quickly and headed down the small flight of stairs, a determined look on his face. He opened the door only so that he could see with one eye out of it. He then started to recognize the two shadows.. 

"Sora..? Kairi..? Is it you..??" 

He blinked in wonder as he opened the door a bit more, sticking his head out with curiosity. He then walked outside and held up his wooden sword. 

"Who's there?!" 
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CLOUD-SU 

(Did I miss something here? Since when did we start fighting Heartless in Traverse town?) 

Cloud's eyes narrowed, feeling the Moogle make nest in his hair. He reached up and pulled her down to eye view to tell her a thing or two. But Cloud wasn't mad, not at all. His tone of voice was playfully serious. 

"What's the big deal here? Since when did my hair become a house? If people saw me with a Moogle on my head, I'd..Damnit. Wouldn't you like to just sit on my shoulder or somewhere less embarrassing?" 

Cloud directed his attention to Leon, still holding the Moogle. 
He was asked had he had a plan? Hmm.. He had nothing. Damnit! Cloud figured the most logical thing to do would be. 

" I think we should each take turns patroling the town. Being in pairs would also be good. That's all we can do untill we can have a word with So-" 

Half of the boy's name escaped Cloud's lips because Aeris had gone to fight the Heartless alone. This being a rather bad decison on her part, and plans would have to halt untill they defeated the Heartless she was grappled with. 

Cloud sighed a bit, looking to Leon. " She's got more spunk then I thought.." said Cloud with an admiring smirk hidden behind his vale of maroon. " You want to handle these, Leonhart? I know you're just itching for a good fight." 
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SELPHIE-SU 

Holding up her nunchucks up to her face in defense, thinking that Tidus was going to strike her she let up a little 'eep'. Blinking a few times feeling no pain on her head she looked up at Tidus and lowered her weapon down. Giving a nervous laugh she shuffled her feet below her, looking down for a while before lifting up her gaze to look at him. 

"Eheheheh uhm I couldn't sleep...Soooo...Since I couldn't bother Wakka, because he might throw his anger at me for disturbing him in the middle of the night...I...decided to bug you for a while! Or talk...!"^_^ 

Selphie let out one of her happiest smile at him. She then raised a brow at him, seeing that he was still in his fighting stance. 

"Uhm...You can put your sword down now...Unless you are asking for a challenge. Wait a sec, you won't go easy on me because I'm a girl, and think I should take up a fight like you do. Then w-when you hit me hard then I'm gonna cry, cry, and cry my eyes out...- oops let me stop there." 

Selphie could tell that she was annoying Tidus with her talk. She knew well that Tidus enjoyed training with his sword rather than to keep on talking...especially with a girl. With a frown on her face she turned her back on him and started to walk off in a slow pace. 

"Oh wait, nevermind... I bet I'm bothering you enough already. Well... Goodnight Tidus. I'll see ya in the morning..." 
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SORA 

"All right!" Sora said with a grin, rubbing this hands together, partly to `prepare` himself, and also to warm them up a bit. It was remarkable how cold the island was at night, and his cheeks were a bit red from the icyness around them, not to be confused with any sort of blushing. He nodded at her question, walking back over to the log slowly and setting himself down upon it. Many times Kairi and Sora, along with Riku, sometimes, would sit down on this log together and just talk. It was nice to experience something similar to that once again, but also brought to him a tinge of melancholy, seeing that one member of the group was still absent. He didn't let this depression dig deeper, however, shaking it off before it could truly begin to manifest. A good thing, that he was able to do that. With all that he had been going through lately, being depressed would not make anything easier. 

He was about to begin to tell her of all their trips, the different worlds they visited, mishaps they had gotten into, battles they had fought and won, no doubt. People they had met, companions he had made, and so on and so forth. However, before one word was formed, a yell from the houses just a short distance away stopped him. He blinked, looking up and in that general direction. Such a familiar voice, yet one he hadn't heard in ages, it seemed.. 

"T-Tidus?" 
_________________LEON 

It looked as though he would never escape the heartless creatures. He almost envisioned that they fed off angst, his angst. He had yet a chance to actually think about his upcoming decisions, when the Heartless came bombarding. He then glanced at toward Cloud, his gunblade lay carelessly onto broad shoulder. 

".. I'm guessing you're being lazy?" He then rubbed the back of his head as his weaponry made a clatter against the cement, him, still having a grip on it. 

His metallic boots sounded like harmony coming to the rescue as he had slid onto point view with the targeted enemy. "I knew they'd return." Seemed he had stopped the pace of his boots, he stood in his stance. He really did pay any attention to the flower girl that was rearing up next to him. His anger was colliding with his reality, his vision. Nothing would stop his slaughtering until they had vanished, for good. 

He swung his blade at the cranium of one that was leading up through his passage to the others. Chucked the individual off with another swift kill and then turned to the others. 

"Typical." They were arising, feeding off the energy of his anger and reappearing within a mile radius. Left to right he was surrounded. "Thought of a plan yet Cloud?!" 
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AURORA 

....Darkness. Swirling around and around, all she saw was darkness. Consuming everything she had once known, leaving her alone...the Princess tried to scream, but it was if her voice had left her. Her mouth formed a small round `O`, but no sound could be heard. Never had she felt so helpless. Aurora was falling, deeper and deeper into an unfathomable abyss that she couldn't escape.... 

And just as suddenly, she was standing on solid ground again. Azure eyes blinked slowly. "This is an unfamiliar place....where am I?" She turned around in circles, observing the area. Aurora then brushed away a few strands of golden hair. "....What is this place?" Quite frankly, she was too much in shock to be overly excited. 

A sound behind her interrupted her thoughts. She looked over her shoulder and saw...some...monster. Now turning around fully, her eyes widened, mouth going slack. The monster hissed, extending gnarled claws toward her blue silk dress. 

"Get away!" She jumped back, then turned and started running, while screaming for help. 
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TNEB 

Light mumble or two could be heard coming from that particular moogle.. just when she was comfortable. Well, as comfortable as one could get in a blonde's hair, anyway. She expected a verbal beating or two, but instead was she held up and spoken to in a playful tone, Kupo. 

Of course, this cream tinged creature wouldn't much stand for being held for much longer than his questions would last, and so began a bit of a squirm. Russet tinged orb bounced a bit with her movement, though rested a bit above and between squinted eyes once she spoke. "Kupo! You're embarassed of me now? Well if that's how you're going to be, Ku, I might as well leave. Give my moogleish goodluck to.. to.. " 

During her bit of a speech, that *spunky* girl he referred to, 
"hmph, spunky, just brainless if you ask me, Kupo.. ", was out and about, slicing things up. This is not where her goodluck would go, nono. 

Then she'd look off to the side at Leon, that somewhat cozy-haired one, who was having some luck with those heartless they spoke of. Lightbulb. "Ah-ha! Ku. See that luck right there? I have now partially extended it to him, Kupo. That is.. unless you let me stay in your hair." Devious peice of fuzz, she. 

What a threat, eh? Of course, that moogle would probably obey if he said no once more, but hey, Ku, no harm in trying. And so little wings would give their flap, hoping to emerge from his clasp where upon she'd crawl back up his arm. Hm.. but that.. scarf.. yes, she'd eye that scarf.. especially as she'd caught sight of more of those heartless surrounding. Ah, yes, argue later. Quick scuttle and she was nuzzled behind his neck, eyes the only thing to peek over the top of that red fabric. "Ku..po.. so.. you can fight pretty well, right?" 
_________________CLOUD-SU 

Cloud sighed heavily, seeing how sloppily Leon entered the fight. This wasn't Leon at all. Cloud had seen and fought beside Leon many times, and Leon was always focused. He must be fighting without a clear heart! Idiot! He knows not to fight if he's ticked off! The Heartless would feed on him and.. 

A black leathery wing slowly rose out of his left shoulder as Mako-stained bloodcells rushed through his viens. It is true that Mako runs a man mad if an overdose, but it is also a fact that the lack of fighting after being injected with the Godly fluid would also run one to the brink of insanity. Cloud's lips curved into a devilish smirk as he retrieved his Buster Sword from where it lay. 

" You better hold on." Cloud said coldly to Tneb before extending his rather small wing and rushing to Leon's aid. If Squall thought Cloud was Lazy, he was sure in for a suprise. With the forced of a gale, Cloud came crashing down, Buster Sword tip first right into the skull of a Heartless, landing beside Leon, his sword stuck deep into the cement where the Heartless once stood. The finishing blow of his remixed Braver emited a strong wind that Blew all Heartless around him and crew into the surounding walls, where they exploded into Muney and other such materials. 

His muscles tightened as he pulled his mighty blade from the earth with some effort;Gotten it in too deep, he supposed. 
After this task was done, Cloud looked around and saw Aeris swinging one last time, but at air because the Heartless she was aimming to attack was blown off so quickly. After seeing Aeris was ok Cloud eased his attention to the LionHeart with a gleam in his eyes from the streetlights above. 

" You alright? Those were the weaker ones and you had trouble with them? I'd say all of you wasn't here..." 
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LEON 

He was by far from apologizing to Cloud. Yet, in some part of that stoned heart was a bit of sincerity. "... Whatever." Ah, that famous bit of Leon's personality finally awoken. 

He had turned to them all, his stoic facade hiding tears of renaissance within his deep torturing soul. "All right. Seems that Traverse isn't as safe as it was before. This means we can't carelessly step around like witted fools." It was cold, he knew. He was the one speaking to them with his most blunt persona. Right now it didn't matter. 


"Stay alive. If you need aid, I'll accompany you. Don't go around like assholes thinking your superior to the beasts." He took a second to glance at their expressions. He went on, "Let's make sure they do not leave Traverse gates, god forbid we need them roaming to other worlds.. let's just hope they're only appearing here." He then took the gunblade and cocked it so that he could slid in a few artillery into the gunblade's sheath. He then side-stepped as he led the others down the path of the darkened streets. 
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CLOUD-SU 

Cloud, being one not to have orders barked at him, gave Leon a stare for a moment before throwing his blade over his shoulder once more, letting the wind blow over him as his wing slowly regressed where it had came. 

" Who died and made you leader of this outfit, Leon? If you don't mind, I'd like to follow a few orders of my own on this one. For one I think we should split up. We'll cover more ground that way. After a sweep or two, we could meet up in first district. And lastly, I work best alone, heh. I guess you and the girls should go together."
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TIDUS-SU 

He blinked and got out of his fighting stance. He smiled with relief as he noticed that it was just the hyper-active Selphie. He smiled to her and nodded, hoping to give her a nice welcoming. Instead, she just walked off. He frowned and ran up next to her. 

"Hey! You aren't annoying me...C'mon, let's walk for a bit." 

He started walking towards the log as he heard someone call his name. He stopped and looked carefully within the darkness. He then saw a shadow on the log. This time, it truly was Sora's voice. He grabbed hold of Selphie's hand and ran with her towards the log. 

"Sora..? Gr...C'mon Selphie, hurry up. Are you a girlie-girl?" 

He chuckled and ran up to the figure to find that it really was Sora. He looked around for anybody else, but was just plain happy to see Sora. 

"Hey!!! Sora! How have you been? Where's everyone else? What have you been doing lately?" 

He started to talk a million miles a minute as he asked and asked questions. 

"I wish I knew where Wakka was." 
_________________ 
LEON 

That just tipped over the teapot. "Cloud, you came out here from nowhere and expect to be welcomed and sheltered. If you don't lik--" He stopped himself. "Fine, but I'm going solo." 
_________________ 
TNEB 

Small moogle just about held on for her life during those seeming long minutes in which Cloud would go about destroying every un-fuzzy looking creature that came his way. Plump, though terribly cold rose-tinted nose was kept pressed to the back of his neck, stubbly white arms held fast. Not exactly what she had in mind as a tag-a-long..ku. 

Snuggled in the warmth of that crimson scarf, eyes would finally creep open a bit once the fighting had ceased. Head tilted a bit to the right, peeking out just over his shoulder as he then spoke to Leon. Kupo! There he went trying to leave her with those ladies again. Hmph, he should know by now such a little creature would greatly increase his luck points.. he surely couldn't have done so well without her.. Ku.. well, she thought anyway. 

Moogle would speak quietly with a light snicker. "Looks like it's just you and me, Cloud! Kupo, po." Dangerous to speak so happily to an obviously now disgruntled man? Oh, she'd take that chance. Besides, he couldn't reach her even if he wanted to. 
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SORA 

Exchanging glances with Kairi, he then stood up, trying to see through the darkness to the little huts that they resided in. He hoped that he hadn't been hearing things; then Kairi would really think he'd gone off his rocker. However, before either of the two could say anything, out emerged two of them... Tidus, respectively, and the yellow-dressed girl known as Selphie. His eyes lit up as he saw the two, delighted to be reunited with his friends again. He was glad that Tidus was just as excited as he was. "Tidus, Selphie!" he exclaimed. "Err, sorry if I woke you up... I'm fine! A lot has been going on. I was just about to explain it to Kairi, actually..." he said as he motioned to Kairi, still perched upon the log for the moment. 

"How have you two been?" he inquired of the two with a tilt of his head. He frowned slightly at the last comment made by Tidus. "...you don't know where he is?" he asked with a hint of concern. 
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CLOUD-SU 

( I didn't mean Tneb when I said he worked best alone, Rebs.) 

Wondered out of nowhere?! Leon asked him to come to Traverse Town! Err.. Cloud let it go. No sense in carrying on something with Leon. He would most likely end up saying his trademark phrase, " Whatever..." a million times anyway. 

" Alright... We're both going solo by the looks of it, huh? Aeris, Yuffie, I believe you two are capable of taking care of eachother, correct?" 

After the breif speech, Cloud made his way over to Aeris, standing shoulder to shoulder with her, his eyes transfixed forward as he spoke in a low tone of voice. " Be careful, and don't go running off into a battle without Yuffie at your side, ok?" 
He took a few steps out and faced them all, Tneb's fur warming against his skin. 

" If anyone get's into trouble, send up a sign. Hmm.. how about a fire spell straight shot high in the air? We all can do that, right? See you all in a bit." 

Cloud turned and walked off into the darkness, headed for Second District and Heartless that await him. He did feel a little uneasy leaving Yuffie and Aeris alone, but he didn't want to stereotype them as defenseless just because they were women, no, no. His concern was just for Aeris' safety, sighing a bit knowing he had put his trust in Yuffie. She was a great fighter, and Aeris knew a bunch of healing spells. Ya.. ya, nothing could happen to the team of those two. 

" Here we go, Tneb. Bless luck on us, hehe. You wouldn't happen to know any magic of your own, would you? It would be nice if you did more then be a neck warmer..." 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

Aerith looked at Cloud, anger, for once, had taken over her expression. She stomped back toward their small vacant house, slamming the door behind her. How could he just say he was going to leave like that? She got more and more infuriated each minute. 

Sighing, she sat herself onto the bed, then stuffing a pillow in her face and screaming out loud. She threw the pillow across the room, extremely angery now, and looked toward the door. She grabbed her now covered Sword Staff, and walked out the door again, making her way out toward Cid's shop. 
_________________TNEB 

Oh this all made Tneb quite the happy and content moogle, ku, yes indeed it did. Chosen over the two lovely ladies to be his companion? Well, seeing as how he didn't want one she supposed a moogle was perfect. Small and compact neck-warmer at his service. 

Listening closely as he'd continue on with speaking to the others and giving orders as he did -- oh did she love the leader types -- there would she come very close to that spunky dress-wearing friend of his. Involuntary wriggle of that now slightly warmer nose against the back of his neck, and she'd peek up over that scarf.. sticking out a small pink tongue towards Aerith. Heehee, Kupo..kupo. 

Perhaps it was best that he turned so quickly from the girls, so that either of them wouldn't see that superior look she gave with squinted eyes. Though.. it was probably hard to tell the difference between that look and all the others. With Cloud's next few steps she'd be able to snuggle her way down into that scarf. Words were a bit muffled, then. "More than a, Kupo, neck-warmer? Somebody's a bit demanding, hmph. You're in luck, though. Tneb knows a few, Ku, magic spells.. But.. mostly healing. And one summon, Kupo! You'll like it." 

"Ku.. speaking of like.." With nubbish arms partially about the back of his neck, unusually warm fuzzed over cheek would lean to that small area beneath his ear.. she wanted to make sure he could hear her. "Why do you like Aerith so much, Kupo? Are you two planning to get married or whatever you humans do, ku?" Perhaps the blush generated would add some warmth. And well. That's what moogles did, anyway. Not much dating. 
_________________ 
KAIRI 


(Let's make things easy on ourselves and say Wakka is in bed asleep. -goes with that-) 

Ah, just like old times... which weren't so old or long ago, really. It just felt like an eternity without the luxury of having these discussions with Sora, and now it was happening again. Kairi felt rather silly, what with the smile that wouldn't seem to leave her face whenever Sora was around, and now that condition only appeared to have gotten worse. 

Hearing the familiar call of Tidus ring out through the night, she whipped around, looking in that direction. As expected, there he was, with Selphie in tow, to boot. Giving a friendly wave at the pair, she watched with a large grin as Sora practically leapt off the log to greet them. Ah, what a happy reunion... if only Riku were here... 

Gazing as the trio met up on the sand, she blinked upon hearing her name mentioned. Sliding off the fallen palm onto the ground, she dusted off her lavender skirt, smoothing the fabric before joining them. With a knowing smile and a tilt of her head, she placed one hand on her hip and teased Tidus a little. "Aww, c'mon, Tidus... don't be so overly dramatic. Wakka is at home sleeping... which we're not smart enough to be doing ourselves." 

The last was said with a small giggle. Now looking excited, she displayed her right arm to Selphie and Tidus, showing off the lavender claw-glove that had been his 'suvenior' gift to her. "Look what Sora brought me! He got it from another world... he was gonna tell me all about where he's been and what he was up to..." 

Crystalline gaze turned to the boy affectionately, and with a smile. "Why don't you tell all of us, Sora, now that we're all here?" 
_________________ 
YUFFIE-SU 

"...Eh?" 

Yuffie winced as a Heartless managed to lightly scrape her leg with its long, pointed claws. That would teach her to get distracted. Temporarily abandoning any attempts to look 'cool', Yuffie ungracefully smacked it with the thing that came closest to hand: that is, the Rubric she had been working on. With a dull 'thunk' the Heartless was instantly conked out. 

She looked in surprise at the block of wood. Hmm. She'd keep that in reference: 'Heartless can be smooshed with timber'. But of course, it was written hastily, in 4B pencil to boot, and shoved to the back of the file cabinet that was her mind. There were Heartless about, 'twas no time to be idling! 

No time to think about where Aeris, Cloud, or that Moogle were. Not even Leon, though if she should happen to run into any of them, she'd gratefully accept their help. Because, well, she was literally stuck between a rock - or, rather, a wall - and a hard place. 

Yuffie backed further into the corner, a faltering grin on her face. Her back soon met wall, however, and she didn't need to turn to see that it extended far, far above her head, too high to jump over. not even a crate in the alley to leap onto, which would've given her a bit of advantage. 

"Niiiice Heartless," she cooed weakly. "You wouldn't kill me now, would you?" 

The Heartless, though, with their eternally greedy eyes, looked anything but sympathetic as they advanced. 

"Someone, HEEEEEEELP!" Yuffie shrieked, even as she jumped into the melee, flaling with block and shuriken. 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

Cloud stepped into the huge square of Second District. Second District was lonely and silent. All the people were gone to bed, not knowing of the Heartless that prowled the streets. The water fountain trinkled quietly, the only sound to be heard besides Tneb's many questions about Aeris which indeed made Cloud blush just a bit. Speaking of Aeris, Cloud had hoped he hadn't made her mad with his leaving so abruptly. He really didn't think she would mind since this was business.. and an important task to be done. Peoples lives were at stake. 

" Heh.. eh, married, no.. And I don't like Aeris, I love her. Have since the first time I laid eyes on her. But getting married isn't just something I would jump up and do, Tneb. 
Why are you asking me this anyway? And why am I telling you?" 

Cloud sure wasn't the one to run his mouth about his personal business but the Moogle had a bit of charm to her that was just strong enough to break through his rough shell. They truly were Brother and Sister in arms now 
_________________
SORA 

Kairi then jumped into the fray, once again soothing them all with her logic. Yes, Wakka was perfectly fine and sleeping soundly in bed. It made sense, after all. I mean, what were the chances that he was going to be carried off by blood-sucking monsters? ...well, those chances were a lot higher know then they were before. But the Heartless are gone... he reminded himself. Little did he know, however, what was going on in Traverse Town during his absence. Her comment about them not sleeping was rather true as well; after all, Sora was beginning to get tired -- there was only so much you could do in one day. 

He did beam, however, when she showed off the weapon that he had purchased for her, rather proud of the selection that he had made. "Yeah, you guys interrupted us," he said, sounding as though he was annoyed but his eyes showed that he was simply kidding around. He liked to jest. Especially with his old friends. He had a similar thought to Kairi, though. 
The person I could joke with the most isn't here... It just... doesn't feel right. 

He tilted his head to the side at her request. "E-eh?" He looked from her to Tidus to Selphie, a sign of bewilderment on his countenence. "Eh... well... Wakka isn't here... right?" He bit his lip, then quickly adding, "I say we get to sleep and in the morning I'll tell all of you." A nod. He was really taking the easy way out, for he felt very tired all of a sudden and now just wanted to get to sleep. He gave the others a pleading look, hoping they would understand.
-----------------
SELPHIE-SU 

Standing there with both of her hands on her knees, it was quite obvious that she had a little trouble catching on to her. She could see in the corner of her eye that Tidus had begun asking like a billion questions to Sora. Rolling her eyes and straightening her back up she placed her hands on her hips with a pouty look on her face. 

"Next time...Tidus slow down! Gah, I've had so much trouble catching up with you! Anyways..." 

Pausing, she a while to look at both Kairi and Sora. She smiled and thought that she could break into joyous tears any moment, by just seeing them in front of her. Like right now. How long were they gone? She didn't care. As long as they were here, time didn't matter to her anymore. Finally, reunited again. With a questionable look on her face she felt kinda lost of the question that Sora asked because, A. she was tired B. her brain wasn't wheeling right in her brain C. it's late! Finally the answer ticked in her mind. 

"Oh...Wakka? Eheh well he's probably sleeping in his hut. I mean, it IS the middle of the night...don't think he would wanna to stay up this late. Besides, I would get in real BIG trouble if I bugged him. That's why I went to bother Tidus." ^_^ I couldn't sleep at all, something kept bothering me." 

Feeling that time had taken it's toll she rubbed her eyes, indicating that she was indeed tired. Looking at both Kairi and Sora she kinda felt bad that they couldn't talk much since it was late. She wanted to though, a lot. She missed the both of them so much and had felt as if she had never seen them forever. But not to worry, afterall tomorrow is another day! Walking up to Kairi she hugged her tightly and then Sora, hoping that time could expand so that they could at least all hang out together, like old times. Wishing them both goodnight she walked over to Tidus and placed a hand on his shoulder, practically dragging him away. 

"Goodnight Sora! Goodnight Kairi! Sleep tight and don't let the beach bugs bite!" She teased. "As for you Tidus it's off to bed! You're questions can wait until the morning!" 

With that, both their shadows can be seen under the light of the moon as it got farther away heading to the little huts, leaving Kairi and Sora alone. 
_________________ 
TNEB 

"Well, ku. I'm quite the charmer I've been told. Or maybe you just think I'm cute, kupo..?" It seemed this moogle didn't have much of a problem with asking questions of Cloud, even if more than one of them could be deemed inappropriate. Since when had that stop her before? Though she'd listen intently to his answer, left arm would lift a bit to stifle a somewhat drawn out yawn. It had been a long day and what did the night bring? More trouble of course. 

Light shiver or two, though would she be warmed up by his blushing, leaning a little more lazily against his neck. She'd continue on his response. "Hm, well you should sometime. You know that Leon fellow, Kupo? He looks at her the same way you do. Dunno so much if it's love, though. Hm, ku.. no worries. He wont act on it." Little moogle paid close attention to those details.. 

Shifting that fuzz clad form a bit, eyes would peek to the right and then to the left, barely able to see much down those darkened alleys. "Cloud, ku? Why are all of you here..? That is, just to fight the Heartless? And hmph, when am I going to see.. kupo.. Sora, was that his name? How could you lose him already.. ku, hope he wasn't eaten. Good waste of some comfy hair, kupo?" 
_________________TIDUS-SU 

He nodded to Sora and Kairi, smiling. He soon got tired and looked to Selphie with her little commands. He rolled his eyes and jumped off of the log, waving to Sora and Riku. 

"Bye guys!" 

He started to run with Selphie at his side. He chuckled and had to ask her. 

"Who made you my boss..? Hahaha. Just kidding. So, how do you feel with Sora and Kairi back. Or should I say the love doves?" 

He laughed and soon went into his little hut. 

"Goodnight, Selph!" 
_________________ 
LEON 

He had directed himself to stay in the first district. He didn't know about the others, but he was going to patrol the entrance of Traverse. 

Little was said from his lips but his grudge was shining from and people could probably make it out a block away. He had cocked his gunblade against a wooden pole as he had posted himself against the door leading from Traverse. He had been waiting, and so he stayed there. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She came out of Cid's shop, heading back into first district. Aerith made her way to Leon's side, her own gunblade staff in hand. She looked up at him, her face still covered in anger. "You're not working alone... you know." She looked towards the heartless then, staff in a preparation stance. She held out the staff before her, aiming it towards those who were coming to attack her. 
_________________ 
LEON 

"Shouldn't you be with Cloud..?" He said with a grunt as he gave a grab for his gunbalde. He then nudged his way infront of the young girl as he watched the Heartless tower over to them. 

"I'm not saying that you aren't capable, but your weapon is no use. So, if you would like.. take cover in Cid's shop." He gave a slight glance to his back looking to her. 

She seemed angry, he could tell from the tone of her skin. ".. What's wrong?" He had asked, not sounding concerned,but just a tad curious. 
_________________CLOUD-SU 

All of Tneb's questions were starting to annoy Cloud a bit. It was like she wanted to know everything! Deciding to take higher ground, he worked his Buster Sword onto a small, but powerful, magnet scrapped to his back by leather belts in a rather makeshift fasion. The magnet held the blade in place with ease, his cape hiding all but the blade's lower edge at his left calf-muscle and hilt rising a few inches over his right shoulder. Now it was time to get on a rooftop. Cloud found an narrow alley and wall kicked off the wall to his right, then the one to his left untill he reached the top of the house that claimed one of the walls that helped him reach this destination. Finding a good spot to servey the area, Cloud knelt down, the bright full-moon at his back, his battle worn cape flowing stalkingly over his left shoulder as if it had a mind of it's own. 

" Cute isn't the word for you, Tneb. And Leon I don't understand sometimes. Don't know who confuses me more, him or m- You're making me do it again 
_________________ 
SORA 

He smiled softly as he watched the other two walk off; it seemed they had become closer while he was gone. He supposed that Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie had had even more time to associate with the other three gone. He was glad to see the closeness they had formed, and watched the retreating forms for quite a while, listening as they were jabbering towards eachother. He was happy they hadn't taken to heart the fact that he didn't want to explain now, and just hoped Kairi felt the same. Which reminded him... Kairi was still right next to him. He spun around to face her, looking somewhat embarrassed. 

"Sorry... I'm just really tired..." he mumbled, showing this quite well. "I promise I'll give everyone a full detail explanation tomorrow. Okay?" he asked gingerly, waiting eagerly for her assent. He, of course, knew that she would agree deep down, but her actually saying the words is what he was looking for. He felt bad to let her down, seeing that he was getting ready to tell her just a few moments ago. 
_________________TNEB 

Twin obsedian eyes would carefully watch Cloud's movements and that of his sword, subtle back tilt of her head just to aid in that. She was a tad curious how someone could carry something so heavy without even a wince, when she as a moogle had trouble lifting her own bowl of cereal, kupo. 

Tneb seemed to remain amazingly calm throughout those few jumps of his from wall to wall, in which she needn't hold on too tight -- that crimson fabric of his scarf held her nicely in place. "Oh, kupo.. I get it. More than cute, eh? And if I ku, wasn't a moogle..?" Light snicker, then. The entire lateness of the evening got the fuzzy creature in quite the playful and somewhat delerious mood. Fun stuff. 

See. The entire seriousness of the situation they were all in bothered her terribly. For some reason that position he landed in, with the harvest moon in the background, the wind gliding through those spikes.. simply made her laugh a bit more. A moogle-ish laugh, that is.. quiet, slightly muffled against the side of his neck. 

"It's funny that you kupo, say that you don't understand him. The two of you, trying to be so serious and.. 'I work better alone' and all that. Quite alike.." Gentle few nods. "Kupo, but. Back to Aeris. Why'd you leave her alone like that? Girls don't like that, ku, no, not one bit." 
_________________
RIKU 

[ Rawr! The Nancy is alive!! MWA HA HA--*Hack*cough* o.x Okie, I'll just post now... Ahem. ] 


Lost in darkness... Where was he? What had happened? All he knew was this darkness, though, oddly enough, it wasn't the cold, frightening nothingness of the abyss he had known before. This was different, a sort of drifting between consciousness and sleep. Well, he had been out of consciousness long enough. 

It was an odd sensation, this effort of coming back to reality. The first thing that came as an onslaught to his senses was the biting cold of a wayward zephyr. He felt the brittle hardness of the ground beneath him pressed against his cheek, and slowly he opened his eyes, those vivid green hues gaining focus. His thoughts were somewhat muddled, as if though having woken from a long, long sleep--and perhaps he had. Gloved palms pressing themselves against the ground, Riku gingerly pushed himself into a sitting position. He shook his head, those silver-toned locks shifting softly at the motion. He inhaled the crisp air deeply, his eyes closing once more. Finally a single omprehensible thought cross his mind... 

Why... am I here...? And what is here? 

Rising to his feet, Riku took the time to gaze about him. His heart sank at the drearyness of the world about him. Hollow Bastion. Somehow, he had been taken to Hollow Bastion. Lips parted somewhat as his dismay was expressed by a soft, "Oh..." and his eyes darkened somewhat as he took in his surroundings. 

He was standing before the entrance of the hall that lead into the Library... As he approached the parapet, his only barrier from the empty air before him, his hands grasped at the stone.. or marble.. or whatever the off-white material was, and he gazed down into the faroff bottom of it all. Raising his eyes he could just barely make out the rising falls, and so many memories began to fill his mind. 

For a moment, he knew only a pang of guilt. Sora... He had greatl wronged his friend. And where was he now? Safe, he hoped. Safe with Kairi and the others. No doubt Kingdom Hearts had been sealed, he had witnessed itwith his own eyes. The Heartless were gone, the walls that surrounded the worlds once again restored. 

He started. If the worlds were blocked, why was he here? Why was he in this lonely, dreary place? So cold and desolate it was. Last he remembered he had been with the long-sought after King Mickey, and he had helped to close the door. He remembered seeing Sora's face one final time before the door had shut completely, and King Mickey had taken another Keyblade and sealed the door with Sora. Someone must have opened the door. Someone must have brought him here. 

An ominous thought. He pushed himself away from the parapet and sought the dark entrance of the hall... 

He needed to get out of here. He needed to find Sora
------------------
AERITH-SU 

Aerith glared her eyes up at him in anger, almost fury. She stuck her tongue out in reaction to his question. "I can take care of myself very well thank you." She readied the gunblade. "And besides, this weapon is very capable of doing as well, if not better than your gunblade." 

She looked out towards the heartless, her eyes glowing brightly against the moon, darkness had taken over Traverse Town, but the way she saw it, she could bring the light back. 
_________________ 
LEON 

Continously he told himself to take Aerith by foot to protection, but if she insisted that she was capable of handleing her own, then he'd allow her. After all, it was the least he could do. 

"Alright. Just.. be careful." He had taken some varities of steps towards the monsters. Keeping hiself out of harm, he took a step at a time. Cold exterior told him to just take them all, but he had to make it fair for the girl. 

He had purled his weaponry with a swift slash to one's lining of it's veterbrae. He then took another swing connecting his blade into abdominal centering of another. With that, he had checked his surrondings, he had chanted a small battle cry as he counted the remaining beings. Only four.. better check on Aerith. He had taken a slid glance at the girl, she had seemingly beat off two at the most, and was still decking the remaining one. 

With that, her features had distracted his well being and he had been slashed across his left cheek and he had fallen upon his back. Oh how the pain deepened into leathered skin. It was only fleshed when he had the chance to clench the pain he was feeling, it didn't matter. 

He went into a mad dash, his blade beaming into every direction as his blade went paranoid with the excitement of battle. 

He had continued the onslaught, until they had vanished and he was left there, with his wound dripping specs of blood on his fabricated fleeced jacket. His breathe was slow and wounded, he had taken just a moment to let his vision become one once again. He felt, the sensation of battling those foul beings would take him even closer to becoming more mad with hysteria then he already was. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She ran quickly to his side as she finished off her final heartless. She kneeled beside the fallen Leon, her hand going into the small pocket she had on her side, taking out a cloth and wiping his wounds. Aerith looked at him, sighing to herself and glaring into his eyes. Why had he been so unable to focus? 

Aerith rose to her feet again, extending a hand for Leon and with a caring look on her face. She was concerned for him, and as he pulled up with her aid, she reached her hand to his forehead, brushing away his bangs and cleaning off the bloody wounds that had been hidden beneath his thick brown hair. She soon found herself hugging him, holding her dear friend closely. 

"I don't want you to get hurt... Leon... what's the matter with you?" she said, burying her face into his chest, her hands resting on his shoulders, having dropped her staff gunblade to the ground. 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

Cloud continued his watch. Like an owl searching for it's prey in the dark of night, Cloud's eyes were ever watching. 

" I didn't mean more than cute either, heh. I also figured Aeris wouldn't fancy me leaving so sudden-" 

Cloud's words trailed off as a wind blew his curtain of blonde before his eyes. Heartless had started to gather out of the shadows. This time some different one's with red claws and a steel helmet like covering on them joined the mix of smaller Heartless. Cloud stood, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword and pulling it from it's resting place on the magnet. Cloud paused in stance, taking a short time to examine the Heartless a bit under the yellow moon. His pose was almost Gothtic, the wind in his cape, the moon at his back, the cold hard stare in his icy blue eyes. It was like something you would see in a movie or a video game, but Cloud knew this was reality and one wrong move could mean death. Taking this short time to study his enemy before advancing gave him an edge, making his blood pump as the rich flavor of the battle to come overtook him. He was like a fiend to the fight. 

" Tneb, time to go to work!" 

Cloud leaped from the rooftop and time seemed to slow down. His battered cape's flutter echoed loud in the night as he prepared for his strike, gripping his sword with both hands and postioning it blade towards the sky at an angle. 
Heartless turned attention to the air at the decending Cloud. His cape had given him away this time. Time in Cloud's mind jumped back to normal as leather boots hit the stone ground with a thud, followed by a quick slash of his long, thick blade, sending a rather large number of Heartless to an equally quick death. Cloud took his sword fencing stance now surrounded by a ring of Heartless. A welcoming grin creeped slowly opon Cloud's face from behind his half-mask of cloth as the Heartless launched in for the kill.. 
_________________ 
LEON 

"I'm fine Aerith.. I don't need you tending to my every wound." He gestured away from her as he looked away. He had the same grudge on his face as before. 

"... Erm." He stradled his hand through magnelia locks. He then looked onto Aeris. "Any idea what to proceed with?" 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

Aerith looked away from him, feeling a cold presence about him that she wasn't really used to. Her eyes looked toward the ground as she stood silently for a moment. "I... don't know." She headed off on her own again, walking in front of him and past him through the first district of Traverse Town. 

She opened the doors to the entrance of Traverse Towns main area again, going back towards Cid's shop, sitting just before it on the steps, her staff beside her, leaned against the rails. She rested her chin in her palms, sighing and brushing away her bangs. 

"What was going on here? Whats the matter with everyone?" 
_________________ 
LEON 

He saw her run off on her own. It depressed him even more. Cynical how he just had to push her away. But she was, and forever Clouds. 


When did he develop such strong feelings for Aerith? 


He even wondered why he still survived day after day. He shook his head in a small paced manner. He was going into that mental state once again. 


Trotting towards Cid's Shop, he had to apologize to Aerith, was this even like him? No, he had been incredibly rude to her well being. She deserved more than his snooty attitude. 


Spotting Aerith, he had grabbed for her, with a small ounce of his strength, not intending to harm her. "Wait.. Aerith." 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She rose to her feet with his grasp, facing him and then looking down to the ground. "I'm sorry if I've been bothering you.. or something... really... I am..." she looked up at him, her eyes showing hurt and confusion 
_________________ 
LEON 


"You are far from bothering me.. I jus--" He had to hold his emotions and feelings into the back of his mind. Even though he had a cold exterior he was a loyal friend. "Cloud." He had muttered into soft tone. "Aerith, I'm the one that needs to apologize.. my persona is just so unlike me these past hours." He couldn't explain any further, it might make him regret progressing. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

"Why... what's been bothering you so much... Leon? Please... you can tell me.." She looked at him concerned, her hands gripping onto one of his as she pleaded. Aerith hated to see her friend this way. She looked into his eyes again with her own bright green orbs, water building up in them. 
_________________ 
LEON 

He gripped both of her shoulders with muscular gloved hands. "Aerith, don't worry about me. I'm no one to cry over, or cry to. I think.. I think you need Cloud at the moment." He didn't smile, but was at the moment bribed too. He looked at her, with a crooked grudge, yet it didn't seem to be filled with hatred or angst. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

"Whats the matter with you Leon? STOP LYING TO ME! Please... just stop..." Aerith slipped down to the ground, sitting onto her knees. Tears built up in her eyes as she went to cover them. "Just... tell me the truth Leon..." 
_________________ 
LEON 

"I... can't." 
_________________AERITH-SU 

She looked up at him, yelling out loudly. "YES YOU CAN, LEON! YOU CAN TELL ME ANYTHING! JUST TELL ME!" She cried into her hands hard, curling up a little as she did. She wiped the tears from her eyes, looking back up at him again. "Please... Leon... please tell me...?" She wouldn't let this go, she wanted to find out what was wrong with him. 
_________________ 
LEON 

"YOU LOVE CLOUD, AERITH. I DON'T MATTER." He couldn't help that his tone was raised. He could not stop it either. "I don't matter. Like I have never mattered." He took steps as he left her there on the group. Taking steps at a much normal pace. His heart derenched with wounds as his mind was rushing into insanity. 
_________________AERITH-SU 

Aerith lept to her feet and ran after him, then stopping dead in her tracks. She yelled out to him. "S....SQUALL! YOU MATTER SO MUCH TO ME!!" Running up to him and grasping his wrist. "I love you... Leon... I really do." She looked at him from somewhat of a side view, standing behind him and sighing, releasing his hand. "I don't know... who I love more... I don't know who to love... but when... when things are going as they are now... I... realize just how much you mean to me." 
_________________ 
LEON 

"...Cloud is my friend. It doesn't matter, you see?" He didn't face her, he was too ashamed to be provoked by her beauty. In a flashing movement he teared his wrist from her in a fast departure. "We can't. I'm sorry Aerith." He began his strolling again. His ears barring small ringing as his heart ached. He had her.. she had--but she couldn't decide. He didn't really care at the moment. He wanted her to be alone, no.. for him to be alone. He had to think, he just had to let that arrogant mind of his wonder. "..Cloud is probably waiting for you in the Second District.." He arched his gunblade onto his broad shoulder as he kept his pace, not looking back. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She rushed in front of him, wrapping her arms around him and lying her head against his chest as she cried. "Dont... dont leave me Leon..." She had her arms around his back, her face buried into his chest, muffled cries escaping her lips. "Don't leave me alone...." 
_________________ 
YUFFIE-SU 

Yuffie was flat on her back, wheezing. 

She had been hoping for some handy-dandy deus ex machina, but apparently the heavens were busy minding other things. In a style truly typical of Final Fantasy protagonists, however, she 'somehow' managed to flatten the Heartless, albeit getting somewhat cut up in the process. Heaving herself up once again, clutching the slightly stained rubric (the throwing star had long ago been chucked down a Heartless throat) in one hand, she painfully hobbled down to through first district, on her way to the main area. She was hoping for a pick-me-up or a rest at Cid's shop. Smelly old man he might be, but he wasn't a stranger, at least. And, hopefully, not a Heartless. 

She...didn't quite know what to think of what she saw, though. 

Aeris was probably giving Leon some tender sign of affection. The ninja didn't know why her vision was starting to blur, as far as she knew she had some of the best eyes you could hope to find. 

Leon was...just standing there, in mid-stride, looking emotionless as always. Well, -almost- always. There were times when Yuffie had seen - accidentally- that facade crack, though usually in a negative way...that is, instead of opening up, he backed further into his own mind. 

But she wasn't really in a contemplative mood. 

With the sleepy emotionless regard of the truly exhausted, Yuffie tilted her head slowly to eye both of them up and down, before shaking her head and managing to utter a few sentences. "I could care less what you do now," she said, coughing and spattering the ground with a bit of blood shaken from her wounds. "Just as long as you don't wake me up." She smiled, and giggled a touch hysterically. "I'll just take a nap, alright?" 

And she promptly fainted. 
_________________ 
TNEB 

There was a slight pout given by the moogle upon his response to her playful words some moments before, but of course it didn't phase her much. As tired as she was, eyes were drawn quickly to the number of dark creatures below the both of them with his quick shout. Time to work, hm, kupo? 

Cloud sure seemed to love leaping from ground to roof and roof to ground, seeing as how in a matter of seconds the two of them were back upon the street. At first the small moogle would continue her tight grip to the back of his neck, wanting to stay out of harm's way once he began to swing that sword.. but after that first and some what elaborate show of skills, fuzz-clad Tneb would finally pull herself from the snuggled position beneath his scarf. 

First inching onto his right shoulder, she would give a light hop and then small plum tinged wings gave a flap, and in mid-air would she stay close behind his head. Russet tinted orb would rest above pair of obsedian and slight narrowed eyes. Like she had said earlier, ku, she mainly worked just with healing spells. But Tneb had a summon or two that might just suit the situation. 

Facing a crescent section of those Heartless, she'd lift a stubbish arm and with a quick downward almost slash-like movement, bit of pale green light would form in a small circle some inches before her. Moments later, mildly concentrated, would the moogle conjure something from the sky above. Without notice, a larger than normal, and quite chubby, yellow chocobo would come down ontop quite a few of those creatures infront of her. Smashed, smushed, splattered. 

Taking care of those who had approached her, Tneb would take her place upon his shoulder -- well, assuming that he had finished with his quick movements that might throw her from such a perch. She had some weak fire spells, but wasn't sure if she'd even have to use them, seeing as how Cloud had suddenly become so drawn into the fight.
-----------------
LEON 

"Stop being so dramatic, Aerith. You've practically lived here.. I think you're fine alone." He didn't even hold her to his heart, wrap his arounds around her slender body and just hold her. He didn't. He let her pour out her emotions while he just slammed his into her face. 

"...Aer--Yuffie?" He took Aerith's hands and departed them from his body as he saw Yuffie fall onto hard concrete. He rushed to her and slid his fingers under her face lining, tring to feel a pulse. She was alive. He then took a look inside of her eyelids, she was outcold. He then slid his wrists under her waste and lifted her in a small notion. He then looked to Aerith. "This is never to be spoken of again..this was a mistake." He then gradually led Yuffie into Cid's shop, which was the nearest shelter. 
_________________ 
RIKU 

Endless. It all seemed so endless. For what felt like hours, an eternity of hours, he had been exploring the demented castle, calling out to the empty air and hearing only his own voice echo back. 

"Is anyone here?" 

But there would be no response. He was alone, and for a moment he felt a wave of hoplessness wash over him. Was he trapped here forever? Would he never find Sora? He clenched his teeth in determination, his hands curling into fists. No, he thought to himself, there's got to be a way out of here. If the worlds are connected again, there's still hope. There has to be... 

But how? What would he do? He didn't have a gummi ship. He couldn't travel to other worlds without one. A slight frown crossed his handsome features as a thought suddenly came to him. "Perhaps... Well, it's worth a try. I've searched this entire castle." A crooked smile played along his lips as he broke to a sprint. He would go to the Rising Falls, where the supposed 'exit' of this world was. Perhaps, just perhaps... Then did he skid to a halt. A familiar sound had prompted him to do so, and now he was all alertness. A glance over his shoulder, and his worst fears were confirmed. 

From the shadows they seemed to manifest. Yellow orbs seemed to almost glow greedily as they watched him, drew nearer. Heartless. 

And he was weaponless. He couldn't fight them like this. He wouldn't be foolish enough to try. Riku turned and continued his sprint, going as fast as his legs could take him. Damn him if he'd let himself be near consumed once more. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She watched as Leon made his way into Cid's shop, looking at him as coldly as he did her. Aerith looked away from the shop, turning around and heading towards the gates of the first district. 

She made her way through, just barely, and ran past the heartless in the second district, catching a glipse of Cloud, not stopping until she made it to third district. Her eyes immediately went towards the door. It was unlocked! How could that be? 

Aerith ran to the door, only to see behind her, a black void. The void soon began to consume her, pulling anything near it, inside. She let out a scream for help, as the void closed behind her, leaving her alone inside. 
_________________YUFFIE-SU 

"What's...into...time?" 

"I'm...Heartless...her." 

Vague strings of rambling conversation drifted in and out of Yuffie's mind as she turned semiconsciously in Leon's arms. The leather strap-thingys on his wrists hurt and were digging into her spine. Owowowowow. 

Not that Yuffie was in a much of a position to complain or voice her opinion, as she was conked out for the moment. Before going back in full-blown unconsciousness, though, Yuffie hoped that no one would put some painful stuff on her wounds. She had quite enough to deal with, thank you very much. 

And she wondered...Just what was going on with Aeris and Leon? 
_________________ 
LEON 

He drifted into Cid's shop. His wrists still clenching to Yuffie, her weight was easy to manage, but he wasn't used to carring a female around. Yet, the little twirp was hurt, and he had no problem aiding her. 

Still, he pondered on what Aeris was doing at the moment. He took a step to the living room of the shop, and arched himself over to the furniture. With delicately stance, he lifted Yuffie above the couch centering, and lowered her until his hands were relieved to find comfort in the fabricated couch. He then slid his hands out as Yuffie lied there. 

He waited, while having nothing to carelessly do with the consuming time frame. 
_________________ 
YUFFIE-SU 

Yuffie muttered softly as she was carefully placed onto the couch, and snuggled a bit into the worn fabric. True, the day was a bit far from being over... 

But for now, she'd rest a bit...right? 

Not much hope of that, really... 

Within a mere five minutes, the ninja coughed sharply and sat up, blearily rubbing her eyes. "Oooow...I feel like I've been out through a meat grinder..." Propping herself up on her arms, she looked around, eyes settling on Leon. Sheepishly, she scratched the back of her head. 

"Eheh...guess I kind of passed out back there, eh? Sorry 'bout that..." 

Note the absence of a mention of Aeris... 
_________________ 
LEON 

"Well, there was a reason for you collasping.. what happened?" He watched her, for that's all he could do at the moment. 

He noticed Yuffie was looking for another. Aeris. "Yeah.. Aeris went on her own." 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

Thanks to Tneb's surprisingly powerful attack that well impressed Cloud, he was able to escape the ring of Heartless through the hole she had created.Too bad he would never tell her how impressed he was, hehe. Cloud ran a few feet from the Heartless who eyed him for a few moments before making another advance on him, claws forward they raced after the spikey headed blonde. 

Cloud's boots halted and he turned around. That o' so familiar black wing now emerged again as Cloud prepared to end the fight. The demonic wing extended as Cloud took stance, his legs a good thiry inches apart at the least, followed by the postioning of his sword close to his being, the razersharp tip pointed at the coming Heartless at an upward angle. This particular setup ment Cloud was going to preform his deadly dash attack. 

The Heartless rushed at him just as he wanted and met Cloud's sword rush through them at full speed. Stopping hard, he turned around and dashed again, finishing off any surviving Heartless that missed the first wave. The battle won, the wing folded back in place once again. From the looks of it, Cloud's wing acted like a final call, a sign, a sign that his enemy would soon be destroyed. But he knew it too be much more and the bowels of it's power were not yet tested. 

His sword reattached to the magnet, Cloud took a moment to catch his breath under the moonlight. But before he could get a good break, he heard a loud scream. He couldn't tell the owner of the voice from so far away, or exactly where it was sent from. The first thing that bolted into Cloud's mind was... 

Cloud rushed to the First District as fast as his feet could take him. His beaten cape tossed and bellowed on the wind he generated in his sprint like a small boat in a storm at sea as the worst of worst thoughts came to mind. 

He sat foot on the First District, looking around for Aeris, Leon, or Yuffie. They were no where in sight. Bursting through the Pub, no trace of them. Next he tried the item shop. No luck here, the nephews of Donald had not seen them either. He pressed on, rushing into Cid's shop, looking franticly. They had to be there, they had to be. Leon cought Cloud's eye, and Cloud would never admit it, but he was sure glad to see him. As he feared and thought, Aeris was no where to be seen. Shit. " Where's Aeris?!" he shouted with worry on his words. 
_________________ 
AERITH-SU 

She woke up in the Grand Hall of Hollow Bastion, lying on the ground. She looked about curiously, sitting up and rubbing her head. She looked behind her, the void was gone. Looking ahead again, seeing this place she was somewhat familiar with as a child, she rose to her feet, dusting herself off. She let out a little cry, falling back down onto her knees. Her left leg had been wounded. 

Aerith took out her staff, using it to assist her in standing. Holding it beneath her right arm as she began to walk, Aerith looked about as she made her way down the stairs and along the hall, looking at her sides, seeing the capsules in which the Princesses had once been inside, captive. 

Lifting her head and looking back behind her, she realized that the void was open once more. Her face lightened up, quickly turning and heading back up the stairs to the main platform, only to find herself face to face with a single heartless, she really didn't know if she could handle it on her own this time. 

"HELP!" 
_________________ 
LEON 

The alerted voice of Strife was to be expected. But to hear that Cloud did not no Aerith's where-a-bouts, put all the blame on him. He slowly got to his feet and steadied his stature until he was balanced. 

".. I was with her. She seemed upset, her and I comenced in battle against the Heartless. Then she left to find you." It was a bluff, he knew. But, if the truth was to be told, he didn't know what Cloud would have done. 

"I thought she was with you." He glanced to Yuffie then back to Cloud. 
_________________ 
CLOUD-SU 

Cloud's eyes shot open wide from Leonhart's words. The scream he heard had to be Aerith. Slowly he settled and turned his back to Leon, about to step out. 

He was worried out of his mind but he kept his voice mellow, calm and collected. " I think I heard Aeris scream. I hope it wasn't her, but if it wasn't, it's someone in danger just the same. The only place left is Third District. I suggest we hurry." 

"All because of me... 
If only I'd.. only I'd. 
If only I had taken her with me, she'd.." 
Were the words tha bounced back and forth in his brain. 

Guilt weighted heavily on Cloud, not knowing that Leon had told half-truth. 
_________________ 
LEON 

".. I'm going with you." He followed behind the ex-SOLDIER. "No matter what you have to say." He patted his gunblade against his shoudler while he stuffed a hand into a woven pocket. "Th