Well, here's the second chapter. Again, it's short, but I was once again limited on time. I really do hope to make these longer as I get into the story. The song at the beginning is one that really should be listened to to get the real feeling. It's beautifully done and fits this story quite well. Well, I hope you enjoy! Read and Review please!

Disclaimer: I don't own the song nore do I own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy VII and VIII... please... don't sue me.

Within Temptation - Never Ending Story

Armies have conquered
And fallen in the end
Kingdoms have risen
Then buried by sand
The Earth is our mother
She gives and she takes
She puts us to sleep and
In her light we'll awake
We'll all be forgotten
There's no endless fame
But everything we do
Is never in vain

We're part of a story, part of a tale
We're all on this journey
No one is to stay
Where ever it's going
What is the way?

Forests and deserts
Rivers, blue seas
Mountains and valleys
Nothing here stays
While we think we witness
We are part of the scene
This never-ending story
Where will it lead to?
The earth is our mother
She gives and she takes
But she is also a part
A part of the tale

We're part of a story, part of a tale
We're all on this journey
No one is to stay
Where ever it's going
What is the way?
We're part of a story, part of a tale
Sometimes beautiful and sometimes insane
No one remembers how it began

---------------------------------Cloud's PT of view

I glared, eyes narrowing to near slits as Reno rambled on. I'd taken the spy in to see the king and of course, Reno, one of his prized guards, was chattering away. Again he was waisting my time. The man was just... how to put this nicely? ... annoying? Yeah, that worked. Sighing, I let my glare go, knowing he was ignoring it.

"Reno..." he hadn't stopped talking for the past five minutes.

"Reno..."

"This is the king's finest?" The currently hand cuffed man snorted in amusement. I shot him a glare. He just looked at me innocently before going back to Reno, clearly amused by the man. I slumped slightly. This was going to be a long day.

"Reno..."

"Yes, Cloud?" He finally said, stopping in his chatter. I smiled slightly, the entire action forced.

"I'm busy at the moment... would you mind... saving the stories of your love life for some one who actually gives a damn?" I finished, the smile fading into a frown. Reno blinked and then nodded.

"Yeah... sorry 'bout that." He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "But really, Cloud. You need to find yourself some one... a nice woman to settle down with." With this I just let my head fall into my free hand. What was it with the people in this city and finding me a wife?! I was happy single god damn it! They were just as bad as Sileas, if not worse...

"Reno..."

"Yes, Cloud?"

"Shut up..." I grumbled. I could hear the other man chuckling. If I had the chance, I vowed to be the one to kill him... after he fixed the window he broke. With that in mind, I felt a light light hearted compared to minutes before. Glancing at the man, I frowned and dragged him inside the throne room. Time for him to meet the king.

The king, Shinra, was a rather... proper man. He'd hired Reno and Rude as body guards. Personally, I thought they failed at their job... or at least... Reno did. Rude was more of a babysitter for the red haired man. But, still, the king trusted them so the city believed in them as well. The fate of our leader rested in the hands of an incompetent idiot and a nanny. I don't see this back firing... not.

"So, Cloud... you bring me a spy... from what country?" I slumped at that one. The man had a sense of humor, yes, but not a very good one.

"You expect me to know that..." I stated flatly. "Shinra, I'm a Mercenary, not a Tracker..." the man shrugged before standing and walking over to examen the prisoner. He let his steely gaze roam around the other's face, studying the man.

"Tell me, cloud... if you're not a Tracker and you're not a Knight... how, pray tell, did you come upon this... fine specimen?" He nearly pured. I wanted to gag.

"He crashed through my library window..." Came my rather bored response. Shinra just chuckled. I could never really figure the man out seeing as he was usually quiet and contemplative. But he did, for some reason, find me amusing. This only added to my annoyance of life in this city. But as long as I was bound by my contract, I served this city and this city alone.

"Really? And you bring him willingly to me... I knew you were antisocial Cloud, but this is a surprise." He directed his gaze back to the prisoner, a smirk playing at his lips. Yup, a long day indeed.

"Tell me... what is your name?" Grey eyes just stared blankly back at Shinra as if questioning the king's intelligence. It's sad when you can answer without much thought as to which you prefer, your king? Or the prisoner... the prisoner.

"Your name..." Shinra tried again, becoming more irritated. I hid my smirk by looking away as if uninterested. The man just remained silent and blinked once.

"Your name!" Came the order. The man just blinked and sighed.

"No need to get angry, your majesty." Came the sarcastic reply. I snorted.

"The name is Leon... And I'm a spy for the country of Rune..." Shinra nodded, a small hum of acknowledgment.

"well then, Leon of Rune. Welcome to Ismat. I'm willing to cut you a deal."

I nearly choked as the words left the king's mouth. A deal!? A DEAL!?! Ok... ok... I knew the man was nuts, but... a DEAL!? This was just too... Shinra was asking for it.

Leon blinked and quirked a brow.

"What sort of deal..?" Shinra smirked, knowing he was winning... so far. I wanted to strangle the man until that smirk disappeared. But no, I behaved.

"I'm willing to let you live and go free... IF." Leon kept a steady gaze on the king, only his eyes betraying his true curiosity.

"If?"

"If you join my kingdom, you become a warrior for me, and you live under the watchful eye of Cloud."

"HOLD IT!" I finally interrupted. Ok, so I could live, barely, with the idea of the first half of the deal, but housing him as well? What happened to my property being my own?

"Don't I have a say in this?" Shinra looked at me flatly.

"No. You forget Cloud, the land you live on belongs to me. You pay taxes to live there. There for, meaning that I can take control and force this upon you whether you like it or not. Weather you are a true member of my kingdom or just a mercenary bound by contract, you obey my laws and do as told. Understood?" I set my jaw before glaring in response.

"Yes. Sir." I said rather forced.

"Good..." He turned back to Leon."Do we have a deal?" Leon sighed and looked between the two of us and slumped slightly.

"Yes..." Shinra smiled and patted him on the back.

"Good! Now Cloud! Go and get him settled in! He's got a long day tomorrow with training! Oh! And do tell Sileas hi for me!" At this I knew I had a new reason to hate my life here in the city.

--------------------- Sileas' PT of view

I looked up, hearing the door open. Grinning like a mad man, I reached out and brushed my fingers along the wall, guiding myself in my hurry to get to the door and greet Cloud. I stopped, however, when not one, but two voices reached my highly sensitive ears. Slowing my pace, I made my way over to them. I recognized Cloud's voice, but the other was... Slightly deeper and... annoyed?

"Cloud?" I called out. A hand on my shoulder steadied me as I tripped over a rug corner.

"Sileas... are you alright?" Came the worried voice of my foster father. I smiled and nodded.

"Yeah... thanks..." I tilted my head towards the other man, hoping I had gotten the right direction. "Who's this?" It fell silent, almost like they were never in the room. But I knew they were. I could hear their breathing.

"Cloud?" A sigh and Cloud quickly squeezed my shoulder in reassurance before letting go.

"This is Leon... He's going to be staying with us from now on..." I fell silent and suddenly felt the urge to run. I didn't listen to it, not this time.

"Hello, Leon. I'm Sileas... Cloud's daughter." I finally voiced after a few failed attempts. I could feel Cloud's worried gaze on me, but I ignored it, replacing my frown with a small smile.

"Your room's this way..." Cloud say, leading the other man deeper into the house hold. I peered around the corner, not caring if I couldn't see them. A small smirk graced my lips. Maybe I could finally get Cloud to settle down with some one after all... and by the looks of it. Luck was on my side.