Ch.2: I'm so sorry...
"Come on Leon, is that the best you can do?" Cloud asked as he sparred Leon. "You seem distracted again."
"It's Yuffie isn't it? Leon you have to stop beating yourself up on this. It wasn't your fault." Rinoa protested.
"Yes it was my fault. I promised to always be there if she was ever in trouble. So don't tell me to stop beating myself up Rinoa, you don't even know her. She couldn't of defended herself against whoever had taken her." Leon spat furiously. Ever since Rinoa returned to Traverse Town with Cid, Cloud, Aerith and himself, Leon just couldn't stop thinking of Yuffie. He thought finding Rinoa and being with her was the best thing, but after Yuffie had been kidnapped he couldn't stop searching for her.
"Shut the& up will ya! Ya gonna wake the entire town with ya &($&( racket. KEEP IT DOWN!!" Cid shouted from the far wall.
Leon glared at Cid who just lit his cigarrette and was about to put it in his mouth when ...
"Cid Highwind put out that cigarrette now!" Aerith came in with her staff in her hand and an angered expression. #&$ she looks mad and she has a weapon, someone's not happy today, better not get her too angry! So hold my tongue." Cid suggested to himself.
"You promised me to stop smoking. That stuff will kill you." she said concerned her features a little less angered.
"Aerith stop worrying it won't kill me. And what promise? I don't remember no &&$£(( promise?" Cid swore back irratated for not remembering something.
"Watch your language! And if you don't stop smoking for me, then stop for Yuffie." Aerith softly suggested.
"Why do you always use her against me? Why do I let the brat get to me??" Cid muttered as he put the cigarrette out.
"Aerith where have you been?" Cloud dropped his sword and embraced Aerith warmly. He then noticed a small blood stain on her red jacket's sleeve. Even though it was hard to make out. "Aerith are you okay? What happened? If anyone laid a finger on you I swear I'll..." Aerith interruped.
"Don't worry, it's not my blood. I just ran into some trouble on the way back is all and I took care of it, well them."
"Them what do you mean them?" Rinoa asked puzzled slowly getting up of the floor.
"Heartless. There are becoming more and more of them around here lately." Leon answered coldly before leaning up against the wall arms folded against his chest and eyes closed.
"And they're becoming more stronger; damn &#$&$ almost destroyed one of my gummi ships." Cid added.
"Maybe it means something?" Aerith whispered ignoring Cid's language.
"What do you mean Aerith?" Rinoa asked.
"Well maybe something's coming. Something dangerous I can sense it, maybe they can to?" Aerith gazed around the walls of the secret waterway as if looking for something. Everyone watched her curiously. All except Leon who was thinking of someone else.
"What could it be? Maybe it's getting stronger and the heartless don't like it?" Rinoa broke an awkward silence.
"Maybe it's the case of who it could be." Cloud said aloud. This statement caught Leon's full attention as he lookedperplexed at Cloud who had gone to retreive his sword off the floor. "What do you mean?" Leon coldly asked.
"I didn't want to worry anyone but," he pulled out a black feather from his jeans.
(A/N: cloud is wearing what he wears in FF7 at the moment.Ya know da navy/black coloured stuff. He only wears his armour for bigger battles. Aerith is wearing the same as she wears in kingdom hearts except there's a ring on her finger. YES Cloud proposed but their not married yet. Leon the usual leather set up. Cid the same as FF7 and Rinoa is wearing a white T-shirt and long, navy skirt to her knees. Soz I don't know much about Rinoa but this is not going to be a LeonxRinoa fanfic at least not yet.)"I found this near the hotel in the second district. It's Sephiroth's feather." Cloud continued.
"I thought you guys killed him?" Rinoa asked looking between Cid and then at a distant Leon.
"Why can't that overgrown vulture just &( off and leave us alone. Better yet stay &($) dead!" Cid continued
"Please may I have that Cloud?" Aerith politely asked.
"Sure, you don't need manners with me Aerith."
As soon as Aeriths hand held the feather a vision consumed her.......
'Aerith was behind Cloud with his weapon drawn and pointing towards Sephiroth; Leon was next to him and Rinoa was behind him. Sephiroth just laughed and pointed toward the shadows behind him, muttering something behind his back before saying, "I'd like you to meet someone." Aerith searched the shadows frantically and found a pair of red eyes staring at her. Rinoa gasped, Cloud was shocked, Aerith was confused "No." she said as tears weld up in her eyes.
"It can't be ..." was the last thing she heard Leon say before regaining consceousness.'
"No!" cried Aerith as she awoke in Clouds arms in tears.
"Aerith your okay I'm here." Cloud soothed.
"Are you okay?" Rinoa asked.
"What happened?" Leon kneeled next to Aerith.
"It was a-a vision. I haven't had one in a long time it must have shocked me. But I'm okay really." Aerith reassured.
"What did ya see kid?" Cid asked placing a toothpick in his mouth.
"I saw a dark stormy night, with Cloud protecting me from Sephiroth who was in front of us. Cid, you wasn't there but Rinoa was behind Leon, and Leon, you were next to Cloud." Aerith pointed to where they were."Leon, Cloud you both had your weapons drawn towards him but he laughed mummbled something in the shadows and said 'I'd like you to meet someone.' Next I saw a pair of red eyes staring at us from the shadows. I think only Rinoa wouldn't know who itis, but I can't place who it was."
"It's okay Aerith don't worry about it."
"Cloud's right it's getting late maybe we should head for the hotel." Rinoa agreed.
"We'd better hurry or we might run into some trouble if it gets too dark." Leon rushed.
"If any of those &$&£$$#touch any of my gummi ships there will be hell to pay."
"Cid what did I tell you about swearing?" Aerith reminded.
A few hours later Aerith, Cloud and Rinoa headed back to Leons room for a small meeting before going to bed.
"Red eyes?" Cloud thought, "the only person I know with red eyes is...Vincent Valentine. But he's dead. I think? Or is he? No he's dead but how do I know that for sure, man I'm getting confused."
"I can tell everyone is worried about that stupid vision, I should never have told them what I saw. Now Cloud is going to be worried sick if I leave to go anywhere on my own. I shouldn't of asked for that crappy feather." Aerith worried.
"What are we going to do about these heartless things? Who has red eyes? Creepy. And who is this Yuffie? Everytime I go to ask Aerith always stops me saying 'don't pour salt on an open wound' this Yuffie seems to be getting to Leon so why won't nobody help him?" Rinoa wondered.
Knock, Knock, Knock
"It's open." Leon called.
"Sorry to bother you Leon, it'll only be a small meeting." Cloud said as he entered the room followed by Aerith and Rinoa.
"It had better be quick." Leon muttered before sitting on his double bed. Aerith was the first to break the silence.
"Maybe we should be thinking about the heartless gaining strength. It's a start. "I've gotta get off the subject of Sephiroth and quick." Aerith thought.
"I think we should think about your vision Aerith, it could be a link to the heartless." Rinoa suggested.
"Damn, well done Rinoa you blew my cover." Aerith thought disappointed.
"Well I think we shouldn't let anyone go off on their own without being equipped with a weapon, that way we'll be prepared."
"I agree with Cloud, if we're prepared we'll be harder to surprise." Leon agreed. "I knew this would happen, I hate Sephiroth, why did he leave a feather near us anyway?" Cursed Aerith.
"Nice try Aerith but I'm not letting you out of my sight." Cloud mentally ordered.
"That's it then, make sure you always have a weapon with you. We'll inform Cid tomorrow." Aerith stated. "Now if you please excuse me it's late. Cloud are you coming?" Cloud immediately rushed to Aeriths side. "I take that as a yes.Well goodnight Rinoa, sweet dreams Leon." With that Cloud and Aerith went to their rented room; the red room.
"Yeah I'm tired too, goodnight Leon. Oh, and try to sleep tonight, with all the heartless around you will need your strength." Rinoa called behind her as she left for her room; the blue room.
"Sweet dreams? Thanks Aerith but I can't sleep I have too much on my mind." Leon said harshly before lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. "It's all my fault Yuffie's gone," Leon whispered "I can't forget that day."
(Flashback)
"Why do you get to go off military training?" Yuffie whined.
"Because I'm older." Leon calmly said.
"What the hell does that have to do with anything? I can fight just as well as you if I try. Besides you're not that much older than me!" Yuffie complained.
"Fine because I said you can't come. There is that a good enough excuse for you?" Leon was getting used to this by now. "Besides you'll hurt yourself."
"Oh and I suppose you haven't?" Yuffie stated pointing to his bleeding arm.
"It's just a scratch."
"No it's not. Let me clean that up for you, or it'll get infected."
"I can do it myself. I'm not a kid." Leon snapped.
"Oh well I'm sorry for caring about your well being." Yuffie shouted. Aerith, Cloud and Tifa backed away.
"Well maybe you should stop caring for me and look out for yourself. Takes a huge burden off my shoulders."
"So I'm a burden now am I? Well I thought that I was a friend. But you wouldn't know how to look out for someone else 'cos all you care about is yourself. Oh! and your precious 'Rinoa'. No matter how many times I try to help or suggest something you always push me away and treat me as dirt, well I'm sick of it!" Yuffie screamed while small tears streamed down her face as she neared the door she picked up a small shuriekin and threw it at Leon. Who had only just managed to dodge it.
"Our friendship is over Squall. I hate you!!" She screamed as she slamed the library door shut behind her causing some books to fall. Aerith rushed to catch them while Tifa ran after Yuffie and Cloud came to calm Leon down.
"It's Leon! Get it right you Brat!" Leon hollowered after Yuffie.
The next thing heard is Yuffies scream.
"Yuffie!" Aerith looks at Cloud in horror and drops the books, while Leon is the first to the door.
They entered the Entrance hall seeing Tifa dead on the floor in pool of her own blood and a deep stab wound in her side.
"No Tifa don't die on us. Not now, we've come so far." Aerith rushes to her side trying to heal her. "It's no use I can't bring the dead back to life. I'm not strong enough yet, I'm sorry Cloud."
Cloud just stood there looking at Tifa shocked, hurt and angered. "I'm sorry Tif. I'll avenge you I promise. Friends honour." He whispered.
"Where's Yuffie?" Aerith exclaimed.
"She's gone, someone has her." Leon said picking up Yuffie's silver headband with a heavy, guilty heart...
(End of Flashback)
And since that day everyone has been searching for her. But without a good outcome. Leon constantly thinks he's the reason Yuffie has gone, Aerith and no one else ever speaks of Yuffie to Leon; unless you're willing to get your head ripped off your shoulders.
Leon reachs under his pillow and pulled out Yuffie's silver headband. The one she left behind. The only things left of Yuffie are a few pictures, such as with Cloud wrapping his arms around Aeriths waist both smiling and next to her is Leon giving Yuffie a piggy-back, and Yuffie is flashing her trademark grin and a wink at the camera.
Other photos are at parties or at Hollow Bastion but Leons personal favourite is the photo of him and Yuffie in Traverse Town holding hands outside the cafe. Both smiling, this is when they first met Sora.The happier times where they would both gaze under the starsAfter that came the break-ups and daily arguements. Everyone misses her energetic mood and even her annoying attitude, especially Leon.
"No, I can't beat myself up again. I promise Yuffie I will find you. I'm so sorry.." A single warm tear cascaded down Leon's cheek before he drifted into a sleep.
A shadowed person was outside Leon's balcony window with a small smile on it's face watching and listening to him.
"Sweet dreams......." It murmmured before disappearing without a sound into the dark,icy night.
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A/N: Yes!! second chapter finished. I suck at writing stories! Who is the shadowed person? Third chappie might go back to Kairi. Where's Sora? What has happened to Riku? I dunno I haven't thought that far ahead. THANK YOU to the 2 reviewers who reviewed me. I'm not posting my 3rd chapter until I have at least5 reviews. I need to know whether you like it or not and how to improve.