Hello, everyone. I'm on vacation! So I got one week to make this story that I've been having in my head for the longest time. Recently I've been reading some great Squall and Cloud fics. I really wanted to write something a little of my own. The characters will be slightly out of form only because it's been years since I played either FFVII, FFVIII, or Kingdom Hearts. I'm only using Kingdom Hearts as a base for this story because I like the Squall and Cloud characters. Anyway, READERS NOTE! I'm going to try to make this a long story with roughly around six to eight chapters. I have nine days until my vacation is over so we'll try that. LOL

------------------------------

Chapter One

There he stood, yet again. Night after night as if he was a guardian angel, protecting this town from nameless evil beings. His blond hair was the only thing to stand out with his black outfit. The red scarf he wore around his neck flowed beautifully behind him with the gentle breeze. I crouched down, holding the chain at the end of my sword, avoiding all noise. I knew from earlier experiences that if I got any closer or made even a quiet sneeze, I would alert the blond to my presence. As a former SOLDIER, his senses were still one hundred percent. It made it difficult to sneak up on him much less spy. I noticed his excursions a few days ago, and I've followed him since. I thought that he was disappearing somewhere to exercise, but I was wrong. He often returned to the same spot, looking for something. The wind blew his hair as he lifted his head to stare at the sky. So much was hidden behind those glowing blue eyes. He was a mystery that I wanted to solve. I was fascinated with him and his loner spirit that reflected mine own.

His friends and comrades were here in this town, while mine was far from here. I missed them, but my mission here was more important. I scratched my head and wondered for the fifth time why he chose to be alone. He could settle down and live his life the way he wanted to, but he didn't. Sora long since defeated the darkness of this world even he moved on with his life. I knew Cloud was searching for Sephiroth, but I never asked why. I wouldn't think he would tell me even if he did. That would explain why he chose to come to this cliff night after night. This was the last place Sephiroth was scene. Even I couldn't find traces of Sephiroth anywhere near here.

I ran my finger over the scar that my former friend blessed me with. Noticing Cloud's sudden movements to reach for his sword, I jumped off the cliff and headed back to my place. He must have sensed me after all. One of these times he's not going to take a simple "I was patrolling" as an answer. Fearing that he was find out my secret, I ran the length back to the castle where I've been staying for the past couple of months. I didn't bother to look back. I just assumed he was searching for the presence that he sensed.

Sensing someone, I stopped suddenly and pulled out the Lionheart. Its glow eliminated the brunette in front of me. "Seeing a certain blond warrior again, Squall?"

I grunted. "Don't call me that," I hissed, hating how Aerith found out my real name. I never knew how she did, but I wasn't asking. I was grateful that she never told anyone.

"And, why not? With your efforts to help Sora, he managed to save the world. I don't know what your so afraid of."

"I'm not afraid."

"Then tell him how you feel."

I blinked and stared at her for a few seconds. How in the world does she always manage to change subjects so quickly? I returned the blade to the slot on my back. "I don't have feelings for Cloud."

"Sure you don't. If you wait too long, you might lose your chance." She walked away just as swiftly as she appeared. It didn't matter what she thought. She was the only one that knew of my failure and my obvious crush on the blond warrior. She didn't see it as a failure, but a set back. I was completely humiliated. If I was some hero, then I should have been able to save my world from the heartless. I should have saved all my comrades. Cloud's comrades are still in one piece. He's clearly stronger than I am. I glanced up at the sky. Not only was I a failure, but I was in love with a man.

I slammed my fist against the wall, before walking up the stairs, returning to Ansem's lab. I turned the computer on to take a look through his research. There had to be some clues on how the heartless were created and why. I wanted to make sure that if they ever came back, I wouldn't lose this time. I leaned back against the chair. I closed my eyes only for a brief second, but apparently that was all I needed in order to fall asleep. I knew my body was tired. It was too many nights in a row, staying up to midnight, watching Cloud from the distance and then going around repairing the damage to the town done by the heartless. Maybe Aerith was right. Maybe I should tell him how I feel. I laughed in my half drowsy state. Not in a million years. Two loners could never get together. It was not possible. I highly doubt he looked at men, not with how he glanced at the women in his group.

I woke to the irritating sound of flesh hitting metal. Shaking the sleep from my body, I became aware that someone was knocking on the door to the lab. Reaching up to the yellow button at the top of the computer, I watched as the door slid open. "Leon, have you seen Cloud?" Yuffie ran saying things I couldn't understand at first.

I yawned and stretched in the seat. "How could I see clouds from inside a lab?" Realization of what the hyperactive ninja meant, I sat up in the chair. "Cloud?"

"He didn't come home last night." That was odd. When I left him, he seemed like he was about ready to attack. What if he wasn't going to attack me. Sephiroth? I picked my gunblade up and ran out of the lab. "Wait! Where are you going?"

The only thing I could think of was making it to the cliff that Cloud normally stood at. I silently prayed that he was alright. I ran down the stairs and off through the mountain pass. I slowed my running once I came out of the small cave and up to the ledge. I didn't want to risk ruining any of the evidence that could help me find Cloud. I turned around and stopped Yuffie from running into the area. "Wait. We need to search the area for clues. This was the last place I saw Cloud."

"What can I do?"

"Go back and get the others."

Yuffie stared at me for a few seconds before disappearing into the cave. I sighed as I glanced around the area. It didn't matter if the others were here; I didn't want her bothering me while I scoped the area. Off to the right of the field, I noticed a small spot of blood. So he did fight with someone. I looked over the cliff to make sure he wasn't lying somewhere bleeding to death. It frustrated me that there was no other signs of Cloud besides the blood spot if it was his to begin with. I leaned down, noticing a crack in the stone. I knelt down beside it and ran my fingers along the smooth surface. It was obviously a slice from a very thin sword. That could only mean one thing. Sephiroth. Sephiroth took Cloud or something for that matter. That slice was too thin to be Cloud's thick sword.

I turned around and saw Cloud's friends standing at the edge of the cliff. I frowned and crossed my arms. "Would Sephiroth kidnap Cloud for any reason?"

Aerith walked over towards me. "It'll be out of the ordinary. Sephiroth always played with Cloud for lack of better words. I wouldn't put it pass Sephiroth to do something like that. I hope it's a kidnapping and not Cloud dead somewhere."

"Out of the ordinary, huh? I'm going to look around one more time." I didn't like the unsettling feeling that I was having. If Sephiroth wasn't the type to kidnap people, then Cloud had to be around here somewhere. Taking one final look around the cliff, I sat down in the middle of the area. Something didn't seem right. Aerith sat down beside me as the rest of Cloud's friends went off to search for the blond man. "I failed again."

"No you didn't. You had no way of knowing that something would happen to him. We'll find him."

I placed my hand over the small blood spot. "If it was unlikely for Sephiroth to kidnap Cloud, then what happened to him."

Aerith sighed. "Cloud disappears a lot. Yuffie is the only one worried at this point besides you. There was a time when Cloud disappeared for a week straight. We thought he was dead until he showed up at the house with his sword in hand. Apparently he returned to Midgar to retrieve his mentor's sword."

"There's blood here."

"It's a spot, Leon. He could have cut himself polishing his sword. You're worrying too much."

"Maybe you're worrying too less."

Aerith stood. "Sephiroth won't leave a small amount of blood there. You have to know something about him. He's a killer. Nothing in his profile ever said that he'd kidnap anyway much less Cloud. Cloud and him are rivals. They constantly fight until one of them will be the only one standing. Cloud would never let himself to be taken so easily. If it was a kidnapping, there would be more blood. Think this over."

"I am. The Cloud that I know wouldn't disappear like you said. True, you've known him longer, but still. Something feels off. I'm going to search the town for any clues. You guys can believe what you wish." I stood and walked off not caring if she followed me or not. I was going to find Cloud one way or the other.

--------------------------

Question: I have two ways of going about this story. One is to follow Leon the whole way through and the other is to bring in what's happening to Cloud in between Leon's chapters. If you have an opinion let me know. If no one cares, I'll just pick one and go with it. I'm just curious.

I'm sorry for the short chapter. I promise the next one will be longer. Thank you for reading please review.

Angel Dove