Summary: In a time of turmoil and crisis, the fighters always led the people, protecting them for the bandits from the west and clans from the east. But when there are only two fighters left what will happen to the world? LeonCloud Akuroku

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story, only the ideas and the plot.


Blood was everywhere. It covered both the fighters and the bodies on the ground surrounding them.

:I...I can't hold on. Cloud, I going to... fall...: came Roxas's mind voice, soaked in weariness. Let me transform. I won't make it otherwise.:

:Retreat Roxas. I can't expect you to more than you've done.: Cloud said as he parried another attack. His sword slipped between the man's ribs with a sickening squelching crunch. Cloud kicked the now dead body off his sword and spun to meet the next volley. He grunted slightly as the man swung his sword down hard at his head. He jumped back out of range.

:Get out, Roxas. Get out now.:

:No! Cloud, let me transform. You know I can handle it. Let me try.:

:This is no time to be experimenting, Roxas.: Cloud yelled. He could sense his brother rapidly losing control.

:Cloud, we will lose if you don't let me transform and if you don't. You know our Fae forms are stronger. We have to. It. Is. The. Only. Way.: Roxas shrieked as he rolled away from the blade that had just nicked his shoulder. Cloud groaned at his brother's logic.

:Fine.: he snapped, :But I want you to retreat until you transform. I know how hard it can be to trans–: He stopped as he felt his brother transform for the second time that night.

:What? You mean like that?: Roxas asked smugly while the soldiers surrounding him fell away in awe. :Join me brother. This isn't something you can hide from. This is what we've been trained for.: Cloud sighed. And then stood up a little straighter.

:Alright.:


When people first saw Cloud and Roxas together, they were immediately grouped as twins, bu a closer examination would reveal some pronounced differences. Although neither of the boys smiled readily, Roxas's face had more innocence to it, something that Cloud's had lost to time. Cloud was the stronger and larger of the two and also the older. His entire body was corded muscle, and yet with his Fae blood, his body was still slim and sleek. Roxas's hair, blond just like Cloud's, was spiky but the pattern of his hair was obviously different from Cloud's. Roxas was also strong tough he still had to lose some of his softness that still lingered over from childhood.

Now it is, of course, likely that the soldiers facing Roxas and Cloud that day could not identify any of these differences. As far as the average foot soldier could tell, there was one fighter, but he was everywhere. Those who had not witnessed the short conversation between the two blond fighters and General Leonhart still did not realize that instead of one fighter, they faced two. This was probably ideal since soldiers don't like to know when the odds are against them. Two fighters to four hundred soldiers is hardily fair.

At least, for the soldiers.


Leon panted as he screamed out hoarse commands to his soldiers, trying to create some semblance of order. After the fighters had attacked, the ranks had split with some running back towards the Eastern Drylands, hoping desperately to escape the furious onslaught that awaited them in the form of the fighters.

I'm losing men to quickly. Leon swore. What happened to my plan? I had this figured out so well. Just a quick run in and then out taking with me that Sar'isthe-begotten fighter. The lands were supposed to be powerless after that. Then I could swoop in a snatch it from that cursed temple. But...two fighters? There was only one. Jathe'ka and the daemons above! Why are there two? The older one isn't even trying. A motion in the corner of his eye caused him to spin, pulling out his gun blade as he blocked the descending sword. His eyes locked with those of the older fighter.

No, he's trying. He's trying to kill me Leon thought grimly. But I can't die yet. I'm not ready to go. Fighting against a Fae, though? Me and my blasted pride. How can I win against him? Why did I ever come to this accursed land?


Cloud ran towards the figure he could easily make out with his Faesight.

Get the head and you kill the body. he thought, thinking of the old saying grimly. He increased his speed. He made sure to kill all the men on his way up for he was no amateur. The monks had drilled all the fighters relentlessly on tactics of warfare. Always leave yourself a way out had been the mantra.

You won't trap me, Leonhart. He screamed in his head defiantly as he lunged for the man.


Jath...e'ka...This man...boy...Fae is amazing Leon could not help but think admiringly as he blocked attack after attack. I haven't been able to attack once. He jumped back, tumbling out of the way as a swing almost took off his head.

Concentrate, Leon. Don't let him distract you. You are abetter soldier than this. Where are his pressure points. Carotid. Subclavian. Ulnar. Brachial. Femoral. Popliteal. Okay. Now attack, Sar'isthe-cursed man. Attack!

He leapt back in, lunging for the fighter's neck. But Leon could already sense the fighter moving to parry and attack. He twisted violently, feeling his back wrench around as he spun to swing his sword around in a low arc. The fighter jumped nimbly over the blade, but Leon was already dragging it back up towards the fighter's knees. The blade connected solidly. A satisfying crack reached Leon's ears as he pivoted to strike again. As he brought his blade around and ...

...connected solidly with thin air?

Where is he? Leon thought desperately. He's just gone.

:Looking for someone?: a voice taunted him. It was the same deep voice from before.

Where is he? Where? I can't see...where did that voice come from? Leon spun around quickly, looking frantically for the fighter.

:Tsk tsk, Squall:

It's Leon, Sar'isthe's daemon.

:As I was saying Squall, you should know your enemy's abilities before attacking. Or did you not know that a fighter can speak directly to your mind?:

Mind to mind speech? If the fighters have that kind of power, what else must they be able to do? I never thought of this. He's right. Leon thought despairingly. I haven't prepared enough for this. All that time has been wasted. All that work. All those lives. Kair'si forgive me. What a fool I've been.

:Oh, don't try it, soldier: came back the mind voice cheerfully. :I'm sure Kair'si is too busy dealing with real problems to bother with you. You would have better luck appealing to Sar'isthe.:

Shut up, daemon. Leon snarled. Get out of my head.

:I can't do that.: the voice replied, suddenly solemn. :Not until you promise to leave and never come back.:

And why would I do that?

:Because my brother and I have decimated your troops. You are close to death yourself and I will kill you if you don't.: stated the voice flatly. :Those are your terms, general. Take it or leave it.:

But, you are forgetting something, daemon. Leon remarked snidely, gathering up the last vestiges of his pride and strength.

:No. I haven't. I have thought of over thirteen different possibilities for this battle since it has started. Every conclusion I have drawn leads directly to you either retreating or dead at my feet.: the voice replied coldly.

Daemon, you have forgotten something. Leon said again as he narrowed his anger down into pinpoint. He formed the hatred into the shape of a sword, the jealousy into the hilt, and his pain, his despair, his insecurity, into the whetstone with which to grind the blade. His mind shrieked as he grimly pulled the sword back and forth on it.

:Fine, oh wise general. Enlighten me. What have I supposed ly forgotten?: the voice replied, seemingly ignorant of the sounds coming from Leon's mind.

You have forgotten to research your enemies, daemon. Leon replied shortly before he swung the sword down onto the connection as violently as he could, thrusting the resulting backlash back down the thread of the link that just barely remained within his grasp.


The man suddenly leapt back in, lunging for Cloud's neck. Cloud began to parry when Leonhart pivoted back and swung the sword around in a low arc. Cloud easily jumped over the blade, but Leonhart had already reversed direction. The blade connected solidly.

Cloud heard his kneecap shatter before he felt it. The pain was intense, but he forced it down into the back of his mind.

You are stronger than the pain, Cloud. he told himself. This is what you were born to do. He spun faster than a breath and threw himself desperately into the nearest tent. Within a few seconds, he had located the medical bag there. He began to bandage his knee quickly and effectively, pushing the bones back into place, forcing his kneecap back into one piece. This done, Cloud turned his attention back to his opponent. Leonhart was projecting his emotions and thoughts so loudly that Cloud had no trouble picking them up.

Where is he?He's just gone. The panic in Leonhart's mind voice was pitiful.

:Looking for someone?: Cloud taunted him, leaning back on the tent's only cot, trying to keep the tremors of pain out of his voice.

Where is he? Where? I can't see...where did that voice come from? Cloud could feel the man's mind in turmoil.

:Tsk tsk, Squall: he couldn't resist saying.

It's Leon, Sar'isthe's daemon. spat the angry mindvoice.

:As I was saying SquallCloud simply continuing over Leonhart's rude interruption, :you should know your enemy's abilities before attacking. Or did you not know that a fighter can speak directly to your mind?:

Mind to mind speech? If the fighters have that kind of power, what else must they be able to do? I never thought of this. He's right. Leonhart thought despairingly. I haven't prepared enough for this. All that time has been wasted. All that work. All those lives. Kair'si forgive me. What a fool I've been.

:Oh, don't try it, soldier: Cloud said cheerfully, relaxing further. This man was defeated both physically and mentally, he could feel it. :I'm sure Kair'si is too busy dealing with real problems to bother with you. You would have better luck appealing to Sar'isthe.:

Shut up, daemon. Leonhart snarled. Get out of my head.

:I can't do that.: Cloud replied, suddenly very serious. :Not until you promise to leave and never come back.:

And why would I do that?

:Because my brother and I have decimated your troops. You are close to death yourself and I will kill you if you don't.: stated Cloud flatly. :Those are your terms, general. Take it or leave it.:And you would do well to accept it.

But, you are forgetting something, daemon. Leonhart remarked sullenly.

:No I haven't. I have thought of over thirteen different possibilities this battle since it has started. Every conclusion I have drawn leads directly to you either retreating or dead at my feet.: Cloud replied coldly.

Daemon, you have forgotten something. the aggravating man said again.

What is he up to? Cloud could not help but think. Something is wrong. I can feel it. But what?

:Fine, oh wise general. Enlighten me. What have I supposed ly forgotten?: Cloud finally answered, trying to probe Leonhart's mind, but finding a block up that he hadn't encountered before. He shoved at it trying to at least sense the man's thoughts if not get into his head.

You have forgotten to research your enemies, daemon. the man replied. Cloud withdrew his connection the moment he felt the first singe of backlash from the severed connection.

Fool. You Sar'isthe-begotten fool. was all Cloud thought before he was forced backwards on the cot, barely grasping onto the edge of consciousness. He could dimly hear Roxas's mind voice screaming frantically for him.

:It's...alright, toyo. Get out. It's o...kay.: Cloud murmured faintly to his brother before his world was plunged into darkness.


End Chapter 2

Notes:

1. Jathe'ka – This is the equivalent of shit or damn.

2. Sar'isthe – This is the equivalent of the Devil. Sar'isthe will be explained more in later chapters.

3. Kair'si – Similar to number two. She is associated with healing and grace. She'll will also be explained more in later chapters.

Review Replies:

I'm so glad that you guys liked it so far! I'm working hard to flesh out my outline a little more and get the plot hammered out, but I'll try and update as frequently as possible. This update comes in the middle of my finals (I'm supposed to be studying, but I would rather post this.)

Please read and review. Hope you liked this chapter!

Thanks!

Lalaria

Next Update predicted for 02/02/08