"Don't touch him!" Cloud shouted, pushing himself between his father hand and Roxas's face, taking the blow himself. The pain stung but compared to his usual beating it still felt like very little, his father's ring had caught the side of his face, why he couldn't see it in the dim light of the basement he could feel the familiar sensation of warm liquid dripping down his cheek. He was bleeding. It was now that he was glad a person could not see about 5 cm from their face, if Roxas had seen the blood he would have freaked.

"You have me don't you? Isn't that enough?" Cloud begged. He never wanted his brothers to be hurt, he would die before he watched them be destroyed from the inside out by this monster they called 'father'.

"I'm afraid after time even you get dull Cloud, isn't that what happened with your little faggot boyfriend as well?" Clouds winced, no blow his father could serve would hurt as much as the memories of Sephiroth. As their father took a swig of alcohol the room feel into a tense and thick silence, broken by the sound of a phone ring, followed by their mothers weak voice calling

"It's for you dear!" It was clear whom she was talking too, since most the time she tried to ignore the existence of her sons. After all, if they didn't exist then she wouldn't have to acknowledge the fact that she was a terrible mother who allowed her sons to be injured.

"I'll be back and perhaps with a needle!" The man taunted, causing a whimper of fear to fall from Ven's silent mouth, he was a cruel man and knew each and every fear and phobia of his sons, and exactly how to use it. With that, he was gone.

"C Cloud, what's he going to do to us?" Ventus whimpered, his twin brother Roxas holding him defensively. All these years Cloud took the beatings alone, he thought he could keep the pair safe from his mother's ignorance and father's drunken rage. Not anymore. He couldn't save them, not this time. ~He was too weak. They couldn't let them get hurt though!

"We're getting out of here!" Cloud whispered.

"B But we can't" Roxas whimpered, the mental torture and control of their father stopping the boys from running away for years.

"Yes we can! Trust me just come on." Offering out his hand to help the boys up, Cloud swallowed his fears and placed on his poker face mask of courage, one he had been wearing pretty much his entire life.

In his drunken state their father had left the basement door open, allowing a dim stream of light to peak into the basement and light the metal ladder to their freedom. Climbing up, Cloud stared ahead at the open door. The damn trapdoor which appeared in his nightmares and made Cloud shiver. The door that concealed his torment and pain. A door which held secrets he wanted not even his brothers to know about. So as he reached the top of the ladder, he froze. It was so simple to climb over and escape. Yet, Cloud could see it, the invisible barrier that had prevented him from crossing the line without his father's forceful hand, dragging him across.

"Cloud..." Ven was now worried by his older brothers still state. He was petrified and only going through with Clouds plan because he had hold of Roxas's hand, and could borrow his brothers strength. It was that tiny voice that Cloud needed to hear though. He had to break this barrier no matter old or thick. He would not allow his brothers to be broken and damaged by the burdens he himself had been forced to hold. With that Cloud pulled up with all his determination and might, and stepped over the trap door. To anyone else this may of appeared a simple act, but for Cloud it was a step he had never taken. The breaking of his father's mental bonds and a step towards a whole new life. A different life. Just how new and different, Cloud had yet to discover.


"Squall! It's your turn to get the wood! Come on, wake up sleepy head!" Leon groaned as he was rudely shaken awake by his dear younger brother.

"Fine, Fine, Sora get off!" Rubbing his sleep filled eyes he was greeted by the sight of a young, lovable, brown haired boy , with large eyes and the world goofiest grin. As long as he kept smiling, life will be fine, Leon thought. Sliding out of bed he could already hear the rustling and chattering of busy people outside. No surprise, today was their last show in this world, and everyone wanted it to be the best. He saw Sora begin to walk away as his brain finally began to work.

"Wait Sora! Why do we need wood? I thought we had enough logs?" Lexaeus had gone out the other day and brought back a huge amount.

"Yeh, well, tonight we'll have the big bonfire!" Sora lifted his arms at word 'bonfire' as if to re-enact the large flames lighting up the night sky.

"Also, Axel accidentally destroyed some of the stock when practising tonight's routine." Of course, Leon thought.

"alright I'll go and grab some." He sighed. Axel and his sister Kairi had been close friends with Leon and Sora since childhood, and so Leon was hardly surprised when mishaps like this occurred.

Leon went to the small pile of clothes at the end of the tent, resting against his large collection of swords, knives and blades that he had, or would, use in the show. Slipping on an old pair of jeans, a black vest and his trademark black jacket he was ready for today's chores. He couldn't be bothered with his hair for now, he'd style it before the show, instead Leon settled on tying it up and out of the way. In all honesty he would of cut it years ago if Yuffie had not insisted that he kept it at a slightly longer length.

Unzipping the tent Leon made his way round the rush of people, all of them focused on the mornings chores and practises. Like said before, this would be the last time they were performing at this world, and they loved to make it the best. They had done this for many reasons: A- The people paying them would usually watch the last show, and if done well occasionally they'd get a bonus. B- They like to leave behind a bit of a legacy, so people would watch them next time they appear in said world. And most importantly C- The Circus liked to believe that with each move they were ending one adventure and starting a new chapter in their lives. It was cheesy, but a comforting thought for a circus made up of orphans. Out o the corner of his eye Leon caught the trapezius's Kairi and her girlfriend Namine tying up Sora, practising for his escape master routine. No matter how many times Sora did that routine Leon insisted on watching at the edge of the stage, just so he knew if anything did go wrong he would be there to save his brother in an instant. Finally he reached the edge of Circus Town where the large animal cage's where, inside all sorts of big and bizarre animals lived in high conditions. He noticed Xion quietly going about feeding the lioness, while sat at the edge of the cage was none other than Ringmaster Riku. He was the younger brother of the Circus's leader Xemnas, yet one of the most mysterious men of all. He kept to himself most the time, and while he seemed friendly enough, you couldn't help but feel an air of defence around him.

"Morning Riku." Leon said friendly as he passed the silver haired teen, blue eye flicked from the ground and looked briefly at Leon.

"Good morning." He said, before returning to his thought wherever they were. Friendly, yet mysterious. Some people felt nervous around Riku, but Leon knew at heart he was a good lad, after all, Riku had saved Sora from some serious trouble, and given the brothers a home here at the circus. In all fairness, they owed Riku their lives.

Wandering further into the distant Leon reached the woods edge, and a choice. There were two paths down the woods, one which led to a foreboding looking area, that hadn't recently been walked and was shaded from the sun, the other was much more used, it was light and appeared to lead to pleasant looking pond. Now if this was anyone else they would have chosen the latter. If Leon had done so, he would of walked down the path, collected the wood, and continued life as if nothing had changed. Lived out his life fairly decently, and died an old age. Alone. This is Leon though, and Leon liked the appeal of the shade and isolation compared to the warmth and society. So Leon took the first path, and unknowingly chose a life of heartbreak, love and a whole new adventure, not just for him, but for the people around him. Because Leon is Leon, he saved the lives of three very different people.