Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, and if I did, I would be able to beat the first game. –Clubs Ansem over the head in anger-

Author's Note: Hello to all of you friendly little readers out there who have found my story. Please do not shoot me for any of the pairings in this little amusement of mine. It's all in good will. I will not be annoyed to much by flames, however, don't spam my review box with them please. Try to write something nice to me! Now that I've rambled on, enjoy the story…

Eagles Wings

Chapter One: Living Without

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, Who abide in His shadow for life, Say to the Lord, "My Refuge, My Rock in Whom I trust."

Brown hair flew in the wind as the feet of a frightened boy moved silently through deep puddles of water, spraying liquid crystal onto the empty street. Running, breathing, and soon falling. He tripped as he exhausted his energy, his body lying limply on the ground, the only movement the rise and fall of his chest, his ragged breath fog in the cold air. A dark alley loomed nearby, the shadows falling over his face as the street lamps flickered to life.

Aerith walked slowly down the sidewalk, hands swinging freely at her sides. Her eyes were downcast, no life left in her sullen features. She could remember that her brother had come down this way after…well…it wasn't worth the pain of the memory. All she knew was that he'd run this way, and she had to find him. If he was hurt, she'd never forgive herself.

But as she walked she began to wonder if she would find him. She knew that he wouldn't have turned onto another street for fear of being caught, but surely he didn't get this far? Just as she was about to turn for home (shuddering at that thought) she saw in the shadows of a streetlight a body, lying on the ground. Whoever it was was soaked in the rain that she now stood in. His eyes were shut and he wasn't moving but for the breath moving in and out of his body.

She ran forward, dropping to her knees when she recognized her brother, "Leon," she whispered, "Leon, wake up." Leon's eyes fluttered open slowly and she quickly pulled his body close to her, holding his head in her hands.

"Aerith?" he whispered in a pained voice, "Aerith what happened to our family?"

She felt a tear run down her cheek as she released him, still holding him upright in her arms. He was covered in blood, and his arm was bent at an angle that was all wrong. But whatever she could do, she knew only one answer to his question, "Hate," she replied quietly and sadly, tears now flowing freely down her skin, "Hate and death." She watched as Leon's eyes fluttered shut again, a drop of crimson blood flowing slowly down his forehead into his eyes and then down, forming the shape of a teardrop as it dropped slowly to the cement below them.

Leon and Aerith walked slowly down the road, Leon clutching his side with his good arm, his other tied up in a sling made from his sisters hair ribbons. He limped at the pain in his side and winced at the sting of his many cuts and wounds. He was in a bad state of health, and it didn't appear that he would be healed any time soon. Aerith shivered in the cool air, but not just for a chill, but for the fact that there was no way he would be healed enough next time. Next time…

She shivered again.

Next time she would have to do something. If Leon continued to step in for her this way, there would be nothing left of him. She couldn't even figure out how he'd managed to get as far as he had without collapsing sooner. He had to be in so much pain. Leon had at least three broken ribs, probably more. His left arm was shattered and bleeding, and his head was in obvious need of stitches.

Finally they arrived at the hospital, and Leon's wounds had begun to bleed even worse. As they stepped into the lobby they were swarmed by nurses and doctors. One nurse had him sit down in a wheelchair, another put his arm into a real sling while one other offered him pain medication which he immediately refused.

Aerith walked beside him as they pushed his chair into a room and lifted him onto a bed. She was already putting the finishing touches on her story when the doctor walked in announcing himself clearly so he wouldn't startle them, "Hello there, I am Doctor Riku. And this must be Leon? Yes of course he is. You're the only emergency patient in this wing right now." He looked up from his chart and smiled at them before moving around the bed to Leon's left hand side.

He lightly touched his shoulder, causing Leon to wince in pain. Aerith spoke up quickly, "His whole arm is shattered. I managed to make a temporary sling until we got here, but it didn't help the situation much." She looked down at her feet sheepishly. She knew that she should have splinted it instead, but she didn't have the materials for that when she found him.

Doctor Riku began to inspect Leon's breathing and such before nodding to himself, "The boy will be fine. We'll prescribe some pain meds and put a cast on that arm before we send you home."

Leon shook his head ferociously, "No, nothing for the pain." He looked frantic, almost afraid of the medication.

"Leon" warned the doctor, "The pain in your arm and abdomen will only get worse."

"I know," Leon replied, "I'm not afraid of the pain." He looked over to Aerith for a long moment and then back at Doctor Riku.

"Alright, it's your call," he shrugged but then focused intently on Aerith. "May I see you outside?"

She got up and followed him out of the room, stopping just outside the door.

Cliffy Cliffy! I'm not sorry! –Evil Laugh- What does the doctor want? Will Leon survive another attack from whatever it is that has maimed him so horribly? R&R please and any suggestions for this story are welcome.