1Returning Shadows

A/N: I need to quit writing, too many ideas for story yet I got so many to finish. Well, enjoy this one cause I've been meaning to do it.

Chapter One

The young girl panted heavily, as she ran through the snowy woods. She looking back at behind her as the shadows were chasing her. She was told not to wander from Radient Garden, so far without anyone with her. She was in big T-shirt that went down over her knees as it was the only thing she was wearing as she sprinted as fast as she could through the woods. Panting heavily, as her feet were going numb as well as the rest of her body. The little girl finally fell forward into the snow.

'Momma...Daddy..."

She murmured as her eyes closed, as unconsciousness took over. The shadows drew closer as they came in for the kill as they trudged through the snow towards their fallen prey. One launched crouched to the ground before it launched at the girl's body with it's claws grabbing at her. The creatures actions stopped as a loud sound rang through the forest sending the creature back into the ground as it was attacked. It soon dissolved after being killed. The other two shadows watched their comrade fall, before noticing a figure walking towards them from the young girl.

'Leave before I kill you.'

The voice was icy cold and there wasn't any emotion behind it except some hidden rage. Whatever it may be the creatures slowly backed up as they could sense a strong and maybe even evil aura around him. They soon melted down into the snow before they disappeared. The figured walked into the clearing as his gaze fell upon the small girl in the snow. Her clothes were tattered, no doubt from the shadows that were chasing her and her lips were blue and her skin was pale now as he noticed her small shivers. He turned his back as he began to walk away from him.

'Mmn, don't leave me...'

He stopped as he turned his head slightly looking back at her as she curled up in the snow. Specs of the cold fluff falling down onto her.

'Mommy...daddy...don't go...'

'...'

He silently stood there, as he sighed to himself before he went back to her side kneeling beside her. He scooping her up in his arms as he made his way back to Radient Garden with her. He'd guess that's where she came from since there were no others towns close enough.

'Mmm.'

Her small hands squeezed his shirt as she leaned against his warm chest.

"Wake up..."

"Hnn?"

"Yuffie snap out of it!"

"Wha?" Yuffie shook her head as she came back to reality for a moment. Leon was in front of her with his gunblade a few inches from her face. He pulled his weapon back from her as he looked at her with an annoyed look on his face as he rubbed his free hand along his forehead slowly.

"Yuffie you didn't even try to dodge my attack. You've been like this for the past couple of days. We're not going to be ready for the Olympus Coliseum tournaments at this rate if you can't even dodge my attack." He sheathed his gunblade to his side as he looked at his companion.

"Well, it's only because we've been training non-stop in the Bailey! I mean even in the middle of the night and in the morning and in the afternoon when we're not trying to re-construct Hollow Bastion back into Radient Garden." She snapped at him, as she folded her arms across her chest. He raised his brow as he looked at the young shinobi. Lately, she had been quite touchy. He wasn't too sure why and ever since Cloud had recently came back she's been acting differently and not to mention dressing differently. Like himself and Cloud she was wearing mostly black and dull colors. Though Cloud would come and go like the wind.

"I'm done...I'm going back to Merlin's house. Plus, it's been getting pretty cold outside lately." She said rubbing her arms, as she turned to walk off. Her movements coming to a halt as Leon grabbed her by her wrist and pulled him back to her. He looking her in the eye as she looked back to him bewildered.

"Yuffie, you can tell me if something's bothering you."

She looked at him silently, before her gaze lowered a little. Her bangs brushed over her eyes as she shook her head, "Nothing's wrong Leon. I'm just tired I guess."

Yuffie pulled from him as she made her way down the corridor through the bailey doors that led back to town. Leon watched her leave, as he ran a hand back through his hair.

"She actually called me Leon. That's a first for her."

Maybe he was thinking too much into this. It wasn't really any of his concern and it wasn't nothing serious. Yuffie was probably just feeling stressed out from all their training they've been doing not to mention the construction on the town.

"I guess I'll cut her some slack...for tonight anyway."

Yuffie jumped down off the ledges from the entrance to the bailey as she landed on the ground. She never did like taking the long way around. She looked down at the ground at her feet as she walked with her arms behind her back.

'It's that same dream. Not just a dream it was real, but why do I think about it now? I wonder if it's because we've finally realized the true name of our town.'

"Squall is probably going to make us do overtime training tomorrow. Geeze, what a slave driver." She sighed as she walked up to Merlin's door as she made her way inside. She looked around as the place was it's usually cluttered self. Aerith would try to organize Merlin's books and things, but he'd complain that he'd have some system or other even though he could barely remember most of his spells. Cid was at his computer doing his usual work and making sure the town's defense mechanism was working. No one would ever figure Cid for being big on technology even though he did build and fix gummi ships for a living. She stretched her arms above her head before plopping down on the bed.

Leon made his way into the town square where the shops surrounded the area. The shops were closed, since it was all ready night time. He usually just patrolled the area making sure there weren't any heartless up and about before he would retire for the rest of the night. If there was any threat around the town's defense mechanism would take care of it or alert them. He stood in the middle of the square as he looked around silently, everything looked peaceful enough, but he felt uneasy for some reason.

"Come out. I know you're there." He gripped the end of his blade as his eyes darted side to side looking in front of him. He felt a ominous presence here. It felt unhuman. It had to be a heartless lurking around. His necklace jingled slightly, as his head jerked up. He quickly turned around as he unsheathed his gunblade and quickly got into a offensive position. A tall figure stood in front of him shrouded in a red cape.

"Cloud...?"

Leon squinted a bit, before the figure stepped into the light of the dim square. It was not Cloud, that was for sure. The man had a pale complexion and long hair. Part of his face was covered by his cape. It reminded him of Cloud, but this wasn't Cloud. Leon kept his grip on his sword as he narrowed his eyes towards the man.

"I've never seen you here before. I can tell you aren't one of the locals. Identify yourself or leave."

The man stayed silent as he seemed to be ignoring Leon's warning. He looking around as he walked a little ways from him. He looked like he was looking for something.

"Did you hear me or what? If you don't tell me who you are and what you're doing here I'll be forced to make you leave."

"Hmpf."

That seemed to be the only reply he got from him, as he turned his head as he gave Leon a cold unemotional look from his eye.

"What is this place?"

"That's really none of your concern. I asked you a question."

"My name is...irrelevant." He said, before he began to make his way to the Borough.

"Oh, no you don't!"

Leon charged at him as he raised his weapon above his head as he jumped towards him and brought his weapon down upon where the strange man was standing. He turned his head looking back at him, before he'd suddenly disappear in front of Leon as his sword clanked loudly against the ground. Leon only seeing a flash of red move quickly past him as he was momentarily stunned at what had happened.

'He moved so fast I could barely see him.'

The sound of a click was heard, as Leon could feel cold metal pressing against the back of his head. He stood still, as he looked back from the corners of his eye.

"I have no business with you. If you continue to pester me I will have no choice but to take you out."

Leon sneered as his teeth grinded together slowly, as he wasn't too sure what his next move would be. He had to do something or he'd have a new hole in the back of his head. The sound of quiet footsteps approached as a figure came from the borough.

"Leon?"

"Hm?" The man looked over at the new presence that was here as he lured his gaze away from Leon. Leon then took the opportunity while he was distracted to swing his blade quickly behind him towards the man. The barrel of the gun pulling back from his head as he jumped back from Leon's attack as he slashed along abdomen. He hissed as his finger pulled back on the trigger. The loud gunshot ringing through the silent air of Hollow Bastion as Leon cried out loudly and fell to the ground.

"Leon!"

"Where IS everyone? It's been two hours and I haven't been able to get in touch with Leon. His patrols of the town usually don't take so long." Yuffie looked at the clock on the wall as it was already midnight.

"You worry too much kid. Leon can take care of himself. Aerith is probably at the infirmary tending to the people who have been attacked by heartless or otherwise. And Merlin? Well, you know how that geezer is. Pops in and out whenever he pleases. He's always traveling the world." Cid turned around in his seat and looked at Yuffie who was sitting on the bed along the wall. "You've been acting a little weird lately kid, anything wrong?"

Yuffie looked at him as she wondered if everyone noticed that she's been like this for the past couple of days. She shook her head, "No. Why do you guys keep asking me that? I'm feeling just fine! Fit as a fiddle."

"Come on you can't fool me. I may be old, but I'm not that old. Now, talk."

"You can be such a pain Cid." Yuffie sighed, as she leaned back on her hands on the bed. "Well, I guess it's because we've moved back here to Hollow Bastion. It just feels real different from Transverse Town. Transverse Town was pretty nice, just got to use to living there and now we're here. It feels weird and Radient Garden isn't at all how it use to be."

"Oh, I see now. Well, I guess I can understand that. It has been a long time since we've been back here and things have changed since Ansem isn't here anymore." He rubbed a hand against his nose. "So, is that's all that's been really bothering you?"

"Well..."

The door suddenly swung open, as it hit against the back of the wall. Aerith dashed in as she looked around the room before going over to Merlin's large cabinet as she opened it. She fumbled through it as objects fell out of it.

"Damn Aerith, don't you know how to come in like anyone else! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" He watched the pink clad woman look through Merlin's mess in distress before she grabbed a first aid kit.

"I'm sorry Cid, but this is an emergency. I'll explain later!" She said, before she ran over to Yuffie and grabbed her hand yanking her up off the bed as she pulled her outside as she led her out.

"H-hey! Aerith slow down what's going on? Where are we going?" Yuffie followed her with no choice in the matter as they ran through the Borough.

"Leon's been badly injured."

"Squall? He's been hurt?" She looked at her wide eyed as they turned the corner before reaching a wooden door. A sign hanging above the door that said Infirmary.

"Yes. A strange man had attacked him. I had just saw it when I got there. I brought you along cause I'm not sure I can handle treating two patients." She said, as she opened the door as Yuffie followed her.

"Two?" She looked at Aerith confused as she shut the door behind them. She following her down the hallway before they entered into one of the doors on the right. Leon was laying down on a bed his jacket hanging over a chair as his shirt sleeve was rolled up along his arm. Aerith took a seat on the stool next to his bed as she open the first aid kit taking out a bandage. Yuffie noticed the blood running from Leon's arm and small pan that had a few long blood covered bullets in it. She felt sick just looking at it.

"Is...is Squall going to be all right?" She walked over and looked at him with concern. She watched Aerith wrap up his flesh wound tightly before laying a hand over the bandage as she casted cure on it.

"He'll be all right. My healing powers subsided the pain for now. My other problem is treating the other one."

"Other one? What do you mean?"

"Well...the one that had attacked Leon was bleeding pretty badly as well, so I brought him here too as well. And..."

"Are you crazy?" Yuffie yelled, as Aerith looked at her from her loud outburst.

"Shh, Yuffie please we're in a Infirmary."

"Who gives a damn? You mean to tell me you want me to help treat a man that probably had an intent to kill Leon? You must have lost it!" She said, as she put her hands on her hips.

"Well, I couldn't leave him there to die. Though he put up a fight when I got some of the doctors who were working here to help bring him in. He's in the next room. So, can you please take a look at him while I look at Leon?" Aerith looked at her with the utmost sincereness, as it was hard to usually say no to Aerith with a look on her face like that.

"Grr, fine. But if he gets out of line he's toast okay?"

Yuffie grumbled as she grabbed the first aid kit off the bed and left the room. She really wanted to stay with Squall, but it didn't seem like she had a choice. She looked at the closed door, as she sighed. She didn't even have her weapon with her, safe for a few shiruken. The door opened as she turned the nob. She peeking in cautiously to make sure everything was all right. She could see a figure laying on the bed. It seemed he was unconscious. Yuffie stepped in and shut the door behind her as she made her way over to the occupied bed. She noticed the crimson tattered cape lying on the floor. It reminded her of Cloud's. She sat down as she looked him over until she looked at his face.

"He's so pale..."

She leaned in closer, as she tried to get a better look at him.

"And kind of handsome too. If you can get over the whole vampire attire."

What am I saying? He nearly killed Leon. God, I'm such a scatter brain sometimes.

She reached a hand over to brushing a few bangs out of his face. Yuffie gave a small shriek as his hand quickly grasped her wrist tightly as his eyes shot open looking at her. He sat up quickly as he tugged her over onto the bed as she was pinned down onto it. His cold metal hand clenched at her throat firmly, but not tightly enough to close off her air supply completely. She gasped out and gagged, as she thrashed below him, but she couldn't shake him off. She looked at him hovering above her as she was sitting on her lap.

"Who are you and what am I doing here?" He asked, though it sounded more like he was demanding to know. Yuffie sputtered a few words, before he loosened his grip on her throat. He looked closely at her as he noticed how young she was.

She's just a kid.

He watched her intently, as she was too scared to say anything. Her eyes looking up into his red eyes. They were so cold and empty, yet full of sorrow.

His eyes...they're like...

"Vincent Valentine..."

His eyes widened slightly, but he maintained the same emotionless expression on his face. His claw sliding from her neck and to her shoulder.

"How...do you know my name...?"

TBC

Well, that took me a night and morning to finish. Maybe I should have made it longer. I'll try finishing my other stories and fixing some spelling grammars. I looked over this one and don't think there' s a butt load of spelling grammar's here. All ready working on the second chapter too this. I might revising or deleting some stories that didn't quite do too good and etc.