Disclaimer: dood, fanfiction. Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, and the characters and universes therein are the property of Disney and Square Enix. I receive no remuneration for this work; it is a parody and as such utilizes the Fair Use clause of the Copyright Act.


Leon knelt a few feet away from the large sword sunk into the hard, unforgiving soil near the cliff's edge. He traced a gloved finger over the stem of a single white lily laying in the long shadow cast by the blade, quiet and unassuming. Aerith had already been here today.

Everyone says it gets easier with time...

Steel-blue eyes skimmed slowly over the now-familiar array of scores and scratches laid into the folded steel, and ever-schooled features began to soften after a few moments.

It's not any easier now, you know. Being without you. It's been five years now, and Aerith still cries sometimes at night. I don't think she knows I hear her.

Tifa's been a little lost without you. She looks up whenever I come into the bar, and her expression's always hopeful, and it always dims, because it's just me.

Yuffie... She's actually quiet for a while after she comes up here. Calm, almost. Did you know she named one of her shuriken after you?

He chuckled quietly and shook his head, lengthy brown hair shifting against his shoulders with the movement.

Sora brings his friends by each summer. Kairi and Riku. He says you and Riku are a lot alike, that you probably would have gotten along well, and that Kairi probably would have had the biggest crush on you, had she ever gotten a chance to meet you. Seems like you had that kind of effect on the girls.

Distracted by his own thoughts, time continued to pass in companionable silence, just Leon, the sword, the flower, and their lengthening shadows. The brunet eventually rose and dusted a bit of dirt off of his knee. He folded his arms over his chest, fixed his gaze on the weathered hilt, and breathed a soft sigh.

And me...

I guess I...didn't know what I was missing...

He turned his eyes skyward, towards the clouds, hues and shades of amber against blue and golden sky, and felt the warmth of the setting sun washing over him.

...until you were already gone.