Are you ready for the end…?
The cloak slipped up the man's arms, his shoulders rolling to let the leather rest more comfortably against his form, his movements the only sounds penetrating the silence… until sheets ran across skin behind him.
Sephiroth turned to look over his shoulder at his stirred lover, the blonde's cerulean eyes blinking sleepily before they moved to look up at him, and Cloud stretched, his lithe body catching the man's attention immediately… eyes wandering freely over the other's skin, back arching before the blonde relaxed back into the covers, hands above his head… wrists crossed… and eyes looking up to the other with an undertone of want.
"Are you going…?" He asked softly, limbs moving to lift him from beneath the covers, cloth flowing down his naked chest as he sat up.
Sephiroth's gaze drifted across the other's skin as Cloud moved to stand… a graceful sin revealing itself to the cold air of morning… slowly walking closer, the cream-colored sheets flowing down his flesh, almost as though clinging to his legs, begging for the being to stay within them… the first rays of the sun making the smooth plains of his skin almost glow…
"Do you not wish me to…?" Sephiroth questioned, his lips trying to hide a smile behind a smirk as their eyes met.
Cloud equally trying to hide a smirk behind a smile… hand resting upon the other's chest. "Just this once?"
"Only if you want us to be caught…" He replied, the blonde's melting gaze looking up into his master's… pleading for Sephiroth to take him just once more… But the general refused. "Especially when so close to our goal, it would be such a shame… And besides," Sephiroth said as he felt the pressure on his chest slowly increase. "I already stayed by your side until now…"
Cloud's body was moving closer, a knee barely brushing between the other's legs… running his thigh across the man's clothed length… making both shiver… their lips nearing… "True…" Cloud said, a playful twinkle entering his eyes. "…but I think it'd be worth it…" He breathed, hand moving to cup his lover's jaw as their eyes closed… smirk peeking through… lips brushing…
Knock
Knock
Knock
Both men faltered, eyes opening and forms pulling away to face the sound from the other side of the door.
"Cloud…?" The woman's voice rang through the room.
Blue eyes flashed a quick an almost angered green before their owner growled out the words, "I'm so sick of this stupid woman…" Then he smirked slightly and glanced up at the general. "Can we kill her?"
The man looked down into mischievous eyes, a bit taken-a-back by the other's words… but then he returned the devious smile. "Are you asking for permission?"
Cloud only shrugged. "Perhaps."
There was another knock.
"Cloud…? Is someone in there with you?"
The blonde sighed irritably. "Pest."
Then he suddenly found his lips locked in a swift kiss, the moment of contact leaving before he could properly react, Cloud blinking in surprise.
"I should go…" Sephiroth said softly, not wanting the girl to hear. "There are still things we must prepare."
Cloud smiled to himself at the whispered words in his ear. "I understand… But it's not like I won't see you again soon." The blonde hushed back, the warmth of Sephiroth's arm around the bend of his waist making him feel oddly comfortable as they stood together…
"Of course." He replied, the wing unfurling silently from his back. "Until later then."
Cloud only smiled and closed his eyes as a warmed wind filled the room, black feathers rushing about him and caressing his skin… until he opened his eyes once more, and his lover was gone… feathers vanishing behind him as they touched the ground…
Chapter 7: The Final Piece
The car door slammed behind the brunette as he stretched, six people – including him – having been shoved within the confines of the vehicle.
"Yo! Miss Lioness!"
Leon blinked before turning to glare at the redhead behind him, Reno only winking playfully before tossing the brunette's blade into its owner's hand. He caught it with ease, twisting it between his fingers before letting it settle between his belts.
Reno snorted and rolled his eyes. "Tch… fuckin' showoff." Then, as his partner moved away, Rude pitched a phone, which also slid into Leon's grasp easily, the man flipping it open with one hand. The screen displayed Communication Enabled in large yellow lettering across the screen, his brow rising questioningly.
But then his body moved into a quick, reflexive action, blade gleaming as it was lifted from between his belts and into the air, deflecting the other weapon before it split his skull. He looked up, glaring, as Tseng moved back into step beside his boss… but soon froze, the feeling of a ghosting touch running up his side making his muscles shiver slightly… before fingers gripped securely at his waist, lowering the blonde's form towards his blade.
Cloud smirked briefly to himself as his opposing hand wrapped around the handle of his blade, eyes turning slowly to display his amusement to the other… Then his hand slithered down the bend of Leon's spine… nails ghosting the flesh of his thigh… running electric rivulets up the inside of the brunette's leg as he stood.
Leon swallowed deeply against the motion of heat within him, Cloud's arm wrapping about his torso… their skin touching briefly as lips moved to the brunette's ear…
"You should be more careful Leon…" He hissed, teasing the lion, the hand not around his blade running up the exposed side of Leon's neck… "We wouldn't want you to get hurt, now would we…?"
The man shuddered as Cloud's tongue ran over the shell of his ear, swallowing again to shove back the moan in his throat… Before the blonde pulled away, freeing his blade from the earth.
Leon could only stare as the lithe form stalked around him, his curves flowing like water as he moved to place his sword within the holster upon his back. And he kept watching… secretly hungry… the other disappearing within the trees of the Sleeping Forest…
Until a loud crackle resounded from the cell phone still firmly gripped within his hand, making him jump. "Leon!?" Barret's voice broke through. "Where the fuck ARE you!? You're supposed to be in formation!"
The lion lifted the small machine to his lips. "I'm here."
"Then hurry it up! We don't got all day, damn it!"
The phone was quickly flipped closed and pocketed, and he rushed forward into the forest, spotting a few of his comrades as he settled in beside Tidus and Yuna. "Hey man, where were you?" Tidus whispered as he repositioned himself upon his haunches, half-glaring up at the other.
Leon didn't answer… he only looked away.
"What's the plan?" He asked instead.
Tidus blinked, and then quickly dropped the prior subject by answering. "We're supposed to wait for Cloud's signal."
Leon rolled his eyes and huffed. "Of course…"
Then, on almost perfect cue, the blonde's voice crackled over the devices in Yuna's, Tidus', and Leon's pockets. "Is everyone is position?" A few others, including Tidus, voiced their confirmation into the cell phones before Cloud continued. "Well, then it's time to begin…"
His voice crackled before disappearing completely, Tidus pocketing the item and rising up to his feet, the two brunettes beside him starting to move stealthily forward, Yuna cloaking their steps with a quick incantation… and Leon knew there was no turning back now…
Red XIII's paws settled softly against the ground, ears pointed stiffly forward, eyes continuously moving… scanning… the wilderness around him and Barret not able to escape his detection… "This place is accurately named…" Red thought aloud. "…it seems everything in a ten mile radius is sleeping…" Then he stopped, head turning slowly to face his partner who supposedly stood just behind him. "Don't you agree, Ba--" But his voice was cut off as his eyes widened.
The man behind him was completely engulfed in vines, an ominously thick plant wrapped around his throat as he choked behind it. Red's instincts quickly took over, removing his shock completely as he growled and crouched before leaping forward to tear the plants from his friend, but he was suddenly stopped in mid-air…
Or… should I say… mid-water…
He looked around, startled, and slightly frightened as a large orb of water surrounded him and filled the air around his struggling form… And what was worse… he had no breath to begin with. He thrashed in attempt to get free, but the outside of the filled bubble only moved with him… contracting and constricting his lungs until the world around him grew hazy and his lids fell… the flame upon his tail ceasing to exist.
Cid paused as his brows furrowed, the odd crackled clunk of Barret's body hitting the ground going unrecognized across the speakers of the cell phone. He looked down at the device in his bulged pocket confusedly before lifting it free of its cloth prison. "…Someone there…?" He asked hesitantly. He then lifted it to his ear, only to hear the crackle abruptly stop in a harsh crushing sound. Then there was a sudden rustle behind him, and he whirled around, eyes wide.
This place had given him the creeps the first time he was here too, when they were first fighting Sephiroth and his crazed 'mother'… but now… it truly felt as though there was something there… watching… waiting… He backed away slightly, and brought the device back to his lips. "G-Guys…?" He questioned at an almost whispered tone. "I think there's--"
But before he could continue, the phone was suddenly gone from his hand, his eyes flying downward towards the ground to see it cracked and broken beneath a small dagger. His head whirled around, only to be thrown back once again as a foot made hard contact with his jaw, pain searing through him as he hit the earth… A shadowed figure standing over him… a smirk… and then all went black.
"I think there's--" The voice suddenly stopped with a sharp, electric crack and Elena blinked in confusion.
"What the hell was that?" She asked the phone irritably, turning it in her hand before hitting it with the heel of her unoccupied palm.
"Who was it?" Tseng asked, taking the phone before she actually broke it.
"I think it was that grungy guy…" She said, snatching the phone back and shoving it in her pocket. "What's his name…? Cid?"
"Cloud said the mechanic was frightened of this place before as well…" Rufus's smooth voice came from ahead, ice-blue eyes looking impatiently at them. "It doesn't matter to us what that fool is afraid of." But, as Tseng noted, Rufus began loading his gun none-the-less.
Until it began to shake.
All three pairs of eyes widened considerably at the sight, and Elena's jaw dropped when the gun and bullets began to split into copies of themselves… slowly lifting away and loading itself… until the newly-formed weapon pointed at Rufus.
But a spilt-second before the loud crack of the shot went off, Tseng flung himself forward, toppling over Rufus, Elena gasping as blood flew through the air. Tseng dropped to the ground, clutching his side, rolling away from Rufus, who quickly sat up, turning to look over the man beside him. "Tseng…!" She yelled, rushing forward to try and help, but Rufus's original gun was only torn from his hand and shot through the air to hit the girl's neck, stopping her in her tracks.
Her hands flew up to grip her neck as the gun dropped away, her trachea crippled from the blow and air becoming suddenly scarce. Then, with another shot, Rufus froze, eyes wide as he watched the other fall to her knees… before he too fell into the searing pain of darkness.
Many heads turned at the sound of a gunshot, but only Reno and Rude recognized the sound's owner, the familiar and strangely unique sound of their master's gun going off ringing in their ears. Then the call of a distant comrade… and a second shot.
Reno glared at Rude as he pulled his EMR free, "I TOLD you we should've cared about Cid's distress!" He yelled before running in the direction of the shots.
"Wait!" Rude called out, moving to go after the other, but his body was suddenly forced backwards by his skull's momentum, as the heel of a foot cracked against his jaw to send him flying into the trunk of a tree.
Reno's feet skid to a halt at the snap of branches and his head whirled around to watch Loz lower his leg back to the ground, a wicked smirk across his features. Then the redhead's eyes locked upon Rude's body, slowly slipping down the trunk of a large tree… a piece of a broken branch jutting out from his leg…
Reno staggered back as his eyes widened, Loz's gleaming eyes locking onto his, before Reno glared, launching himself forward. But the brother only disappeared in a flash of blue, the redhead barely moving backwards in time to dodge a bullet aimed straight for his head. He looked around in a frantic and angered distress, before another bullet was fired, the redhead ducking to watch it sink head-first into the tree beside him. "Shit…!" He hissed, moving towards Rude to help the man up, but another shot cut off his helping hands' dissent, Reno instead lurching away from the other's body… And that's when he realized…
All he could do… was run.
He faltered for a moment, checking no wound of Rude's would be fatal… before he turned and sprinted out through the trees, legs throwing him up and over fallen trees as he plummeted through the branches of the surrounding Sleeping Forest, bullet shots following his path. "I'm sorry Rude!" He thought as he panted, hand plunging down to grip the phone in his pocket, dodging unseen bullets. "I'm sorry!"
"Everyone!" The voice sprang loud from the phones in everyone's pockets. "We gotta get outta here! You understand!?" Reno's frantic cries of distress shook the forest, his comrades lifting their own devices to their mouths as they moved towards their destination at a panicked speed.
"What's happening!?" Tifa asked, worry in her voice.
"Don't ask questions and just fucking RUN! We've been duped!"
He could hear panting through the cell phone join his own frantic breath as he ran, eyes not even wanting to look back in fear of seeing his partner been brutally beaten or that giant maniac right on his heels. All he cared about was getting out, and getting help for Rude, along with himself. He vaulted over another gigantic log, his eyes catching a quick flash of materia-induced blue beside him. "Shit…!" He snarled as he continued to run, a bullet whizzing past his head to cut through a tree beside him.
But he could see it as he ran, the light on the other side of the trees ahead, breaking through the forest's dark and sleeping hold. And as he grit his teeth, he flung himself towards it, turning in mid air like a cat to pull forth his EMR and deflect a bullet while branches snapped across his back and the light broke out all around his form. He snapped his head back to dodge another oncoming bullet, before twisting backwards and landing his feet upon the arid ground below, dust bursting forth to cover him up to his knees in a fine, brown film as he slid to a stop.
He just stood for a moment, panting… cell phone falling to lie beside his feet as he stared forward into the forest, eyes scanning for any signs of movement… but they were all gone.
Until the feeling of a power flaring up behind him made the hairs on his neck prickle, and his eyes widen, body twisting to have his gaze rest upon a line of black-clad figures ahead of him… An ominous wall of enemies, standing in a deathly row… hoods drawn up around their faces, save for the three brothers in the center whose silver hair shone out against the light and the giant shell behind them… The sign of the Organization carved deep into its white surface.
But just as quickly as he had turned to face the wall, the feeling of another life standing behind him caused him to turn back, EMR clanging loudly against the blade raised in defense, cold – steal grey eyes peering deep into his own, shattering his own emerald irises… and he lowered his weapon, only then realizing how much the pace of his breathing had increased…
Then the redhead's eyes scanned just beyond the other's shoulder and saw the rest of their team begin to emerge, Yuna and Tidus stepping out beside them… each member sinking out from the shadows… each drawing their weapons… readying themselves for the final, and ultimate battle…
"Where's Rude…?" Leon asked coldly, glancing sideways to meet the other's gaze, fingers working to load bullets into the back of his blade. But Reno's eyes only cut to the side, his fingers curling in on themselves.
"They got him." Reno mumbled bitterly. "They got him, and I ran…" He hissed, sounding almost disgusted with his own fear.
But the other only smirked in reply. "Time for revenge…?" Leon questioned, raising a brow, the other half of their forces seeping from behind the trees just beyond Reno.
Teal-green eyes snapped back up to look into Leon's, determination nearly searing straight through them. "Ooh yeaah…" Reno nearly growled, his wrist flicking and EMR unfolding, sparks shooting through the weapon.
Then his eyes locked upon the last figure to appear… and they immediately widened, a shudder passing through his spine at the state of his blonde comrade… Leon having a similar reaction.
Cloud's lips were tight, a stone-cold exterior only being pierced by the utter revulsion shining through his mako-enhanced eyes… the cerulean coloration practically gleaming… Much like the green mako-energy seeping from his skin… coating and surrounding him in an eerie and almost venomous glow.
"This is it." He hissed, almost snarling. "This is where it all ends… Here. And now." As he spoke his deadly whispered words, his hand slowly lifted up, moving backwards… fingers griping tightly at the handle of his sword before swinging it forward, holding it securely within his hands, eyes scanning the others as they readied themselves…
And when all were prepared, weapons drawn and fear swallowed down to rest in their gullets… burning there… Tidus moved into a fighting stance and let loose a raucous cry of battle, mirroring Cloud's words, "This is iiiit!!!"
The words ripped through the silence of the clearing, spurring the rage and determination in all members of the battle… both sides rushing forward instantaneously, the un-stoic calling out and bellowing aloud as they ran in, good and evil ready to spar in an immense blood-bath … Hoods fell from faces and weapons summoned as they clashed, Axel one of the first to collide, the metal of his fire-red chakrams clanging deafeningly against Riku's key-blade. Deep-emerald eyes burned down into teal, before he shoved Riku backwards, summoning up a long line of fire to follow the other. But Riku only dodged away in a spinning leap, Sora appearing from the air below, his keyblade cutting straight through the flames and diminishing them as he headed directly for the redhead, Axel crouching down in defense, but another stopped the attack before the brunette could make contact… Keyblade hitting Keyblade and identical blue eyes greeting each other in a lock of glares…
That is, until Riku called out to his brunette partner, "Sora, MOVE!" Sora's eyes widening as he jerked his body backwards, three sharp daggers flying by, only inches from his nose, lighting pouring from their tips as they struck the ground, another flurry of knives being sent down by a cackling woman, Riku putting up his keyblade in defense, deflecting them with ease. But when he stood back to full height, he felt his back hit that of his lover's… Sora and he surrounded by the Key of Destiny, Savage Nymph, and the Flurry of Dancing Flames… Eyes pinning them as they enclosed their invisible walls…
"Whoa!" Rikku called out as she barely dodged a giant vine, it's tip plunging head-first into the earth below, then she flipped backwards to avoid another, and another, the plants ruthless as they struck out like snakes… But her eyes could only widen as five fleshy limbs arched their backs, ready to strike, just before she ducked in a sorry defensive maneuver, their tips thrusting down upon her… but something else hit them first. She opened her eyes in surprise, looking up to see Paine's blade gleaming in a circular pattern over her head, slicing straight through the plants, until they fell… limp, Paine landing delicately beside her friend. "Watch your back…!" She called out over the noise of battle, Rikku giving a nod, before her eyes widened again, then swiftly narrowed in a glare, hurling one of her daggers out towards an enormous card, headed to slice her comrade in two.
Paine watched as the dagger flew straight through the thick paper, its halves landing edge-first into the ground on both sides of her, before the dagger flew back to its owner's hand. Her eyes locked back on Rikku, who only smiled brightly and threw up a peace sign, "No problem!" Then jumped up to let another plant crash below her feet, landing upon it to use the vine as a ramp, sprinting across it's arching back and leaping at its pinnacle, spinning in a tight spiral, weapons out to her sides to shred through the thrown up defenses of thick-stemmed foliage, drilling straight through to her main target… A blonde perched atop a floating card.
"Zexion!" Demyx called out in desperation, his water-spells doing next to nothing against the gigantic star being thrown in his direction. He could only duck as the ninja thrust herself forward, foot headed in a sweeping motion towards his head, the girl yelling out as her brown eyes shone out a determination she hadn't had since battling Sephiroth himself. But as she leapt up, hands clasped together to drive a pummeling blow downwards towards the blonde's head and widened eyes, she was struck sharply by a copy-cat version of Demyx's Sitar, the wind being whacked from her lungs in a swift blow to the gut as she flew backwards through the air, landing harshly against a near-by tree, Zexion touching down beside his partner, book sitting before him in an invisible stand.
Then his hand swept to the side, commanding his copy-cat weapon, steal eyes fixed upon his target, battering the girl as she tried to stand. "Get your Sitar back!" Zexion yelled as he stepped closer to the girl, Demyx giving a nod before running off to get the instrument, Yuffie trying desperately to escape from the weapon surrounding her. But a copy of her star was slowly coming into existence, her eyes widening as she watched it coming straight down from the sky, plummeting towards her skull.
Cloud leapt up into the air, flipping forward in mid-flight to add more momentum, his feet smacking the ground, cracking the earth below them, before his blade shortly followed, smashing the earth into large pieces in a seven-foot radius all around his impact-site… But the brother had leapt too soon for the blow to snag him, Cloud whirling around to slice through the maggot as he tried to strike again, but Kadaj only leapt over him in an arch, thrusting forward, ready to impale the blonde upon the end of his double-bladed sword… But his breath hitched, eyes widening as Cloud's Buster slid between the two, fitting perfectly, before he thrust his blade to the side, slamming Kadaj's shoulder and side roughly into the earth, cracking it again, leaving the brother to cough harshly, blood hitting the earth… Then Cloud's blade lifted above him, blocking out the sun, Kadaj's eyes widening in fear, the blonde's body glowing a vibrant green, eyes as sharp as his blade… before he thrust his sword straight through the air, plunging down towards the brother's heart.
But a gunshot later, and the blade's tip was in the earth only but an inch from Kadaj's hip, the brother covered in a cold sweat and panting, Cloud's eyes snapping to the side to see a smoking barrel pointed towards his head… Grey eyes staring straight into his own.
A tremor of hatred for the lion passed through his limbs, freeing his blade with a swift yank before snarling low in his throat, "What're you doing?"
"I just thought you weren't the killing type…" Leon growled back, only turning away to spin swiftly on his heal and block an on-coming attack by Loz, stopping the tips of his metallic weapon only a few inches from his face, before sliding his blade sideways, spinning to hit the man away again, whacking the brother's side with the flat of his blade. "Just get to him--" Leon said as he tilted his head towards the man landing atop the giant shell… wing outspread. "--and I'll deal with these morons."
Cloud straightened himself, Kadaj taking the distraction as a chance to disappear in a flash of blue, cerulean eyes scrutinizing the brunette. "You trust me to fight him…?"
"No." Leon answered as fast as his bullets. "I expect you to join his side, and prove me correct… Then perhaps we'll get some real fighting spirit on our side… Enough to kill you--" Leon smirked wickedly "--and your monster."
Cloud's hand tightened around the handle of his blade, glare becoming strong enough to glow the green hidden behind his cerulean contacts, voice serrated as he grated out words between clenched teeth. "I hope you die."
Leon's smirk only widened, glare unwavering. "The feeling's mutual." And then he turned again to rush in the opposing direction, bellowing out a cry of battle as he swung his blade upwards, aiming for Yazoo as he flipped above his head, shooting off a swift round of bullets in attempt to snag him in the air, turning back only briefly to see the struggle of others' swallow the blonde whole… Cloud's eyes enough of a sign to tell where his true ties lied.
But Leon had to react quickly as a bullet was shot back in his direction, spinning to lift his blade in attempt to block, deflecting it, but before he could turn again, Loz was honing in on him, fist ready to impale the brunette with tipped silver, surging with electricity… But the air was forced from the brother's lungs in a powerful blow as another fist made contact with his ribcage, brown eyes glaring down upon him as the girl held her stance, letting the oaf fall from her clenched hand.
"Tifa…" Leon said in relief, before a flash of red and black landed beside him, teal eyes gleaming as they found their slim target, Yazoo only smirking at the new-arrival.
"Care for a rematch…?" He asked lightly, voice slithering through the air.
Reno only glared, EMR unfolding and electricity surging through its veins. "Bring it."
Then Loz lumbered to his feet, eyes an intense green, pupils thin slits as they focused in on the bartender, their looks almost matching in levels of hatred for one another. "So… You wanna play…?" He growled, Tifa pulling up her gloves tighter around her fingers.
Then Kadaj re-appeared… grinning viciously, his reptilian eyes gleaming with insanity as they looked straight into the steely-grey ones ahead. "I wonder…" He began, tapping his blade atop one shoulder. "Do you think that after this, my brother's and I can fuck you again…?" He asked the lion in a child-like tone, almost as though asking for candy… smiling maniacally and tilting his head to the side slightly. Leon's gaze only hardened, his revulsion for the other piercing Kadaj's skin, growling deep in his throat, before launching forward and swinging his blade back, the other two also leaping forth towards their chosen prey… the brothers laughing as they thrust themselves into the battle.
Sora flipped forward in the air, driving his key-blade down towards Larxene's head, the woman only laughing as she dodged, a pillar of fire shooting up from beneath the tiny brunette, the Key-bearer evading it quickly, but striking out again towards the woman who only flew backwards… Directly into an attack by Riku, his keyblade making harsh contact with her side, Larxene crying out in pain as the air was knocked from her, her slim form falling to the ground below. Axel's eyes widened as he watched her fall, running beneath to catch her, but she was only hit again, Sora's blade striking the side of Larxene's face, her body soaring in a deathly spiral through the air, before her path stopped abruptly, the two key-bearers landing upon the ground as she struck a tree, the trunk cracking upon impact and tipping backwards to fall behind her.
Roxas lurched towards her, eyes wide in shock, watching her body fall limp to the ground, blonde hair stained by blood… Before his gaze turned back to his counter-part, their blue eyes turning to frigid glares, both preparing their key-blades, Roxas growling before launching himself forward, Riku leaping up to defend his brunette partner, but stopped by a wall of flame that rose up between him and the enraged blonde, Sora moving into a defensive stance as their blades rung aloud from the harsh contact, Axel only turning fast enough to barely block Riku's keyblade, his feet sliding backwards slightly at the impact, Riku swiftly being pushed back once more, a speeding orb of flame flying directly towards the teenager.
Vincent leapt upwards, his gun firing off bullets in swift succession towards the blue-haired berserker below him, Saix's scar open wide in a thick X across his forehead as he roared up at the other, Claymore slicing to the side below the other's feet, before aiming directly up, his eyes gleaming a demonic yellow, hair reckless and nails sharp, growling deep in his throat with each strike, before a vine landed down by the nobody's feet. The animalistic version of the once stoic man raced up the vine on all fours, weapon un-summoned and eyes fixed upon his prey as he sprinted up the thick vine, Vincent noticing too late, Saix launching himself from the plant's arching back to collide with the vampire, fangs bared as they plummeted to the ground.
Vincent's back made harsh contact with the ground, gun skidding away across the dirt, hands gripping tightly to the other's wrists as his head thrashed from side to side, the berserker Saix trying to claw away his skin, growling and roaring down at the other, deathly jaws snapping, Vincent's eyes closing against the sight… Before his hands' grip tightened, eyes snapping back open to reveal a glowing yellow of their own, Saix's form changing almost immediately back to that of his human state, lurching away as far as he could with his hand still ensnared by the other's now clawed grasp…
Vincent growled low in his throat, yellow eyes staying locked upon the other's, his body changing beneath the squirming human's, bones cracking and expanding, hair blanching from raven to a pure white, growing out as did his form, skin sprouting a thick, deep-purple fur, face changing into that of a wolf's as he snarled, nails turning a deep-black and growing into talons… Saix shook his head in horror, squirming more and more as the Gallion Beast stood from beneath the nobody, lifting him by one arm, bearing his fangs, lips curling back, before he drew in a reverberating growl, letting it go as a roar that shook the very ground. Then he flung the nobody to the dirt, falling forward onto his front paws, roaring again as Saix stood, eyes wide in fear and Claymore swiftly being re-summoned, gazing deep into the jaws of his demise.
Yuffie cried out as the copy of her star sliced deep into her arm, body growing tired from the constant dodging, a sweat breaking out over her forehead and steps becoming shaken with each new blow. She fell to one knee, panting heavily, and only closing her eyes briefly against the pain before opening them again to look up into the eyes of the equally exhausted sorcerer. "Come on…" She thought to herself, legs shaking as she stood, blood drifting down the cuts upon her arms and thighs, staining her clothes. "One more attack… I just gotta… do one more…"
Then she straightened, calling out her rage for the other as she sprinted forward, Demyx working fast upon his Sitar to summon up a thick pillar of water, but the ninja only leapt above it. Her hand gripped tight upon her star, holding it beside her, before the light of the sun flashed above her, causing her eyes to lift and meet the copy-cat of her star flying down towards her once more… But this time, she focused in on it, raising up her hand towards it, gritting her teeth, Zexion's eyes widening slightly in shock as she leapt up towards it, her body spinning to avoid its attack, the star's points grazing her legs, but her hand wrapped tightly around its center nonetheless, gripping it. "RrrrAAAAAH!!!" She screamed out in pain and rage, the cuts upon her arms searing as she slung both stars swiftly downwards, the two items dancing through the air, straight for Zexion.
Demyx watched in horror as the two plunged forward, but determination took hold and his fingers worked swiftly at his instrument, a gigantic hand reaching up. "Zex…! Get rid of the counterfeit!" He called as the hand moved up to wrap around—nothing.
Yuffie smiled in triumph, saying to herself, "Wrong one." And Demyx's eyes widened in distress, the second star going un-blocked as it sliced straight through his love's side, Zexion crying out in utter pain, eyes clenching shut as his scream pierced the blonde's ears, body falling immediately to the ground… blood pooling below…
The scythe split the air as it drove downwards, only to clang against the woman's blade, Paine crouching beneath the tip only centimeters from her forehead, Marluxia letting free a sound of amusement before three giant vines sprout free from the earth below her feet, throwing Paine up into the air, only to be hit by the blunt edge of a card, whacking her back down to earth like a simple, helpless fly. "Paine!" Rikku called out, jumping from atop a card and spinning out of the way of a vine to land beside her friend. "Paine, you okay…!? Come on…!" She yelled, the other wincing at the pitch of her voice.
"Stop yelling, I'm—WATCH OUT!" Rikku gasped at the other's yell, whirling around to block the oncoming card, shredding it in two with her knives, sharpened edges snagging her arms. Then Paine's eyes widened, and she swiftly shoved her friend aside, leaping up to run her blade through another card, the paper cutting her cheek, just below her eye, her body twisting as she thrust her sword in an arch, slicing directly through another card. Luxord's eyes widened in surprise as he fell through the hole in the bottom of his card, plummeting to the ground, a vine moving out to stop his fall, but one of Rikku's knives cutting through its thick base, letting the other fall.
"Now!" She called up as Paine landed atop a vine, the undead giving a nod, before both girls leapt towards the blonde, one with a sword aiming for his head, the other with two knives aiming for his chest, calling out as their weapons thrust forth, Luxord barely dodging to save his life…
But the knives left deep cuts in his side, bare ribs being exposed to the surface air, Paine's sword gouging deep into his opposing shoulder, the gambler's pain over-whelming as he hit the ground, the bones of his leg snapping upon impact, falling into immediate unconsciousness. But the women didn't have time to feel triumphant, a vine wrapping tight around each of their bodies, constricting them, before hurling them head-first towards the ground, a scythe quickly plunging through the air towards one, Paine's crimson eyes widening in horror as she cried out, "RIKKUUU!"
Leon's blade gleamed as it swung for the brother's side, Kadaj's form disappearing only seconds earlier, reappearing in a flash of blue behind the brunet, both blades digging deep into the back of his leg, the lion calling out his pain as the blow caused him to stagger forward and fall to one knee, using his Gunblade to support himself, before he had to swiftly leap back up, avoiding a lower slash to his stomach. Instead having the two blades drive head-first into his hand, crying out again before the same hand yanked free his Gunblade, firing out three swift rounds, Kadaj blocking two, before the third drove into his dominant arm. Leon landing again to fall to his knees, Kadaj gripping his arm, plunging the tip of his blade into the ground for support.
Green eyes glared deep into grey, before he grit his teeth, eyes clenching together in pain as he drove two fingers into the wound the bullet had created, Leon wincing at the sight, before he too closed his eyes against the pain, using his blade to help lift himself from the ground, legs shaking as the blood drifted down their flesh… Then looked back up to see Kadaj's fingers exit, his bullet held between their shaking tips before it was tossed away, blood rolling in thick lines down Kadaj's arm… the brother smirking through the pain… "B… Brother…"
Leon's eyes widened immediately, the glare faltering at the title, throat growing dry from visions of when he was captured… before he closed his eyes against them, shaking his head. "No!" He yelled, "I am not one of YOU!"
Then it was Kadaj's turn to be shocked still as the brunette rushed forward, blade pulled back, trigger ready, before it was flung forward in a cleaving blow, bullets being shot in quick succession as he swung out towards the brother, Kadaj able to dodge the first blow, but ending up with bullets in his leg… then the second, but holes riddled in his non-dominant arm. But when he dodged the next line of bullets, Leon's blade thrust deep into his side, leaving a chunk of flesh to be sliced free, the brother screaming as he collapsed in agony, crumpling to the ground and blade flying through the air to land tip-first in the dirt behind him, leather covered in shimmering blood and white hair stained with crimson… eyes slipping closed as he snarled… "You… are one of… u-us…" Before his body fell limp, falling into unconsciousness…
Leon then thrust his own blade into the ground as he too collapsed, trembling, beside the unconscious Kadaj… one hand gripping tightly to the handle of his blade to keep him at least semi-upright… Eyes only lifting at the sound of another flopping down atop the unconscious brother, Loz's limp body bruised and pummeled… The bartender panting beside the two, her clothes torn and leg badly punctured, a deep cut spanning across her cheek, a large bruise running up her arm, crossed by another thick cut… But as she rested her hands upon her shaking legs, she smiled, eyes turning to meet Leon's… "We… We're winning…" She panted, Leon looking over her like she was insane… before she lifted up a green, glowing orb… "And I nabbed a Cure materia…"
There was a sharp flash of a blade and Tidus was driven backwards against the dirt below, his spine scraping across its surface, the blonde crying out in pain, a long gash slashed across his chest, bleeding profusely… The angel falling from the sky, wing pressed close to his side, before it snapped open and he stopped only but a few inches from the ground… boots touching down gracefully… chuckling softly to himself as he smirked.
"Tidus!" Yuna cried out as she saw her love fall, eyes widening as he writhed, the predator creeping closer, sword flicking to allow the blood to fly free from his masume's shining edge. Then her gaze turned to one of abhorrence, hands rising into the air, staff in the center and pointed to the sky before a shining yellow light shot forth from its tip, driving through the trees above and through the clouds… until the light vanished and the cry of an Aeon struck the air, the mix of a bird's screech and a roar trembling the shell laying just behind the man, Sephiroth looking up to meet the form of Valefor as he plummeted down to earth.
The beast cried out again as it swept out its oriental wings, gliding to a halt beside the brunette woman, her hand stroking his face gently before her head tipped up towards Sephiroth and the bird cried out again, launching itself forward to attack… claws ready to tear.
But Sephiroth only let go a soft sound of amusement, smirking, before his wing outstretched and in one flap he shot directly up into the air, sword by his side as Valefor obediently followed, talons outstretched forward like a hawk – ready to strike – but also buying time for Yuna to heal her love…
"Y… Yuna…" The other choked out, blood sliding down his cheek as it formed in his throat.
"No… No, don't talk." She said soothingly, holding his hand with hers, the other running through his hair to push it from his face, before it lay upon his forehead… her fingers glowing in a healing incantation…
But then a breeze hit her, blowing her hair about and kicking up dust, multi-colored eyes lifting to watch Cloud rush forward, leaping up to scale the wall of the shell, his Buster Sword positioned by his side in preparation to take down his prey… Eyes watching as the creature caught up with Sephiroth… green gaze narrowing before he disappeared over the top of the Ancient's building, Sephiroth also dipping out of sight…
The woman below watched with terror-filled eyes as she listened to the clang of metal and the screech of her summoned helper, before the beast's limp body flew out from over the tip of the shell, Yuna's eyes widening and jaw dropping slightly in dismay as Valefor plummeted to the ground, skull cracking upon collision, wings torn and a thick gash roughly ripped through his body. "No…" She whispered, shaking her head. "No, please…!" She turned back to Tidus, he now unmoving as well… until there was another clang and the winged general flew out from above the shell, masume positioned in a line across his chest in defense, Cloud running across the top of the Ancient's building to hurl himself towards the other…
His blade swung back as his body lit with a blue flame that surrounded him, green seemingly igniting in the speed of his attacks as his sword swung back forward, blade clanging harshly against that of Sephiroth's, his flurry of attacks gaining more and more speed with each blow, hacking mercilessly at the silver-haired man ahead of him, Sephiroth's arms moving at a similar pace to keep the flames of his life from being doused. Then the man lunged forward, his blade barely missing Cloud's hip in an attempt to stab the blonde, his wing quickly folding in against his body, once more to fall in a downwards spiral, before snapping it back open, the battling masses below being blown away by the wind of his wing, creating a landing zone for the elder brother.
Cloud only smirked, before letting gravity take hold of him as well, his own body tearing through the air at an unimaginable speed, until a few feet from the ground a matching midnight-wing burst through the flesh of his back and shirt, blood flying forth from his feathers' tips, landing softened by the new appendage, eyes gleaming with the blue of mako-energy as he lunged forward again, only to make contact with Sephiroth's blade… the man matching Cloud's smirk perfectly, both going faster and faster with their attacks, leaping over one another and trying to impale the other with their weaponry, Cloud snapping off another sword to use two against the man. Aiming first for his head, then side, then neck, then he leapt and twisted in the air, landing behind the other, sword driving forward to aim for the base of his master's spine, Cloud laughing softly when he missed, the pure adrenaline running through his veins giving his whole body a tingling sensation he could only feel when experiencing pleasure with the angel before him… the battle driving his senses insane from the smell of dust and blood… the warriors around him desperately moving to escape their individual brawls…
Until he rolled backwards to dodge, springing up from the balls of his feet, thrusting his blades towards Sephiroth, who only jumped from the other's path, Cloud's eyes falling instead upon Reno. The redhead's eyes widened as they saw Cloud getting deathly closer, barely rolling out of the way to save his life, but not the tip of his pony-tail…
"Whoa …!" Reno called in surprise as his motion stopped, panting and eyes showing a joking fear of the comrade he once knew… "Calm down man, we don't need to go hacking off heads of who we're fighting for, do we…?"
Cloud's eyes scanned the other's form slowly, before his gaze flickered to the unconscious brothers Loz and Kadaj… then back to Reno, Yazoo standing just behind him… and Cloud smirked. "No…" He said in a simple tone, the click of Yazoo's gun making Reno's eyes widen and his head turn back to the brother. "We wouldn't." The other finished before he shot, Reno's body jerking violently as he tried to dodge, only causing the bullet to fly directly into his shoulder, barely missing his lung as he fell backwards, his opposing hand clutching his shoulder in pain. But when he looked up, his eyes widened considerably, before being smashed closed, the handle of Cloud's blade thrusting down upon him… crushing him like an insect…
Then green, absolutely demonic eyes met, Yazoo's gun twirling about thin fingers before he rested it within the holster upon his thigh, smirks nearly identical as Cloud placed his blade snuggly against his back… Then Yazoo's head tipped to the side. "It appears you have an audience… brother." And disappeared as his smirk curled his lips further.
Cloud blinked, a look of confusion washing away his smirk, before he turned his eyes to the side, body growing still at the sight of Tifa's eyes transfixed by him… horrified… and smothered in disbelief… Leon standing just behind her, a wicked grin plastered upon his features, practically hissing 'I knew it' all by themselves…
Then her body twitched forward, a hand outstretching slightly. "Cloud… Cloud, it can't be… It's not--" But she was swiftly cut off as a thin blade pressed against the blonde's throat… pulling him against a firm chest with the flat of the blade… lips meeting Cloud's neck…
The blonde gasped softly, eyes rolling back as his lids fell, head tipping back to rest against his lover's shoulder… "NnnSeph…" He moaned softly, a hand lifting to cup the man's jaw, drawing him closer as his tongue tortured the sensitive nerves of Cloud's neck and shoulder…
"Yes… my love…?" The general hummed against his heated skin, Cloud's body shuddering against him.
"Can I fight on our side now…?"
Sephiroth chuckled, amused by how the other's voice held a soft, pleading whine… "Mmare you ready to fight them…?" Cloud nodded, words lost within the sensations of his enhanced nerves… his master's fingertips teasing his sides… "Don't hold back for me… alright?" He hissed within the other's ear, hand and lips moving away from his object of desire, instead moving back to contain the blonde behind the flat of his sword, pressed close to the his chest.
Cloud only smirked, eyes still closed… "Mmwouldn't dream of it…" He hummed, the joyous feeling of battle filling his every pore… thrilling his mind… body beginning to build its green glow again… feathers of his wing trembling in excitement…
Then his head fell forward again, eyes snapping open the fix his gleaming-green gaze upon the two ahead of him, and Sephiroth let his blade fall, Cloud instantaneously bursting forward, his feet kicking off from the man's chest, hands reaching back to snatch up his blade and swing it forward, targeting to cleave off the woman's empty head, but it clanged harshly just before it hit, Leon having moved too quickly for the other to make contact, the lion's blade pushing Cloud backwards. "Tifa!" Leon called out from directly in front of her, trying to snap her out of it.
But the man just had to turn back to defend the entranced girl from death, the blonde grinning insanely as his blade swung forward at rapid speeds, Leon guarding to his left, right, then his head, rolling sideways to get away as Cloud's blade plunged into the ground, before it lifted and swung back towards Tifa, Leon reacting quickly, firing off a bullet to throw-off Cloud's aim.
"For god's sake Tifa, WAKE UP!" He yelled out, the call finally rousing her from her inner confusion and unsettled mind… But only in time for her to barely dodge another attack by the blonde, crying out in pain as a deep cut was set into her arm, a hand moving to cover it, Leon's eyes widening and body lurching forward, "Tifa!"
But before he could leap to her assistance, the thin blade of the angel planted itself into the earth before the brunette's feet, causing Leon to jump backwards instead of forwards. Grey eyes shot up to watch as the general settled his feet back down upon the ground, lifting his sword up so it pointed directly at the lion. "Ready?" He asked low in his throat, challenging the other.
But before Leon could even breathe, let alone answer nor move, Sephiroth had lunged forward, blade swinging upwards, attempting to slice straight up the center of the other's body, blinding Leon in a reflection of the sun…
Demyx fell to his knees beside his battered and bloody partner, eyes moving up and down the other's form, washing away the dirt and blood from wounds with gentle water forming just below his caressing fingers… "Come on Zexion… You can't leave me… Please… Don't leave me…" He said worriedly, voice wavering as tears rolled from his eyes, falling upon his un-moving love… the silver-headed boy's eyes closed, hair draping over half his face… body limp and seemingly lifeless to the panicked blonde's eyes…
Yuffie stood from the ground, star dragging across its surface, stained in blood and hair draping down to cover her eyes in shadow, legs shaking as she tried to take a step forward… Then she took another step… legs almost growing a little stronger with each one… shaking as her pace steadily rose… slowly walking towards the fallen and distressed warriors…
"Please Zex… please…" Demyx kneeled down over the other, forehead pressed to his partner's chest, tears rolling down the other's leather-clad skin… until the pain and sorrow began to be replaced… his heart and mind filling with hate… and revenge…
Her steps had become faster… eyes shrouded in black… clothes stained in a deep red by the rivulets of blood drowning her skin, black hair plastered to her face by blood and sweat… feet beginning a slow run… speeding up…
Demyx's body still… crouched down… eyes closed…
Yuffie's pace moving into a run, her arms and legs forcing themselves to continue through the pain, now covering the distance between her and the blonde in stride, star by her side, completely lifted from the ground…
Demyx's skin beginning to glow a faint blue, going unseen by the girl…
Her pace setting into a sprint… fast enough for an attack, world beginning to rush around her, eyes lifting to meet her prey, as she yelled out her pain and anger, determination and pure hate for the people who were hurting her friends, leaping into the air, star above her head, being held in both hands, body ready to smash the star's tip straight through the other's back.
Until she was hurled backwards, a column of water thrusting her up into the air, another quickly grabbing her from behind in the form of a hand, plunging her body down towards the ground. A piercing scream cut the air as her battered body was smashed into the soil, water flowing into it below her, mud seeping into her wounds, dripping into her eyes, star flying too far away to retrieve swiftly, Demyx slowly rising up to his feet, hair shielding his eyes, face emotionless… Until his hand lurched upwards, going straight into the air, a larger version of his limb shooting up from the mud, grabbing Yuffie's throat and squeezing it, the element following it's master's movements, rising her up further into the air, until her legs dangled a few feet above the ground, body thrashing wildly as she choked in gasps of air, fingers prying at the water that only let her hands slip through…
Until two fingers morphed into a snake… the cobra's fan unfolding from its slim neck, jaws opening to hiss threateningly, before it's form plunged deep into the girl's throat, Yuffie's eyes snapping open in shock and terror as it slid smoothly down her wind-pipe, the ninja choking upon it as the snake split inside her, filling her lungs with water, choking her from the inside-out… her body's motions slowly dying as she did… eyes fluttering closed as her movement stopped, hands falling to her sides, body hanging limp within the water-hand's grasp… before the liquid pulled out from her lungs, dropping her to the ground in a heap… Demyx falling to his knees, swaying slightly from his fatigue… before his eyes fell upon his unconscious love… pulling himself together to tenderly work at the other's wounds.
Riku batted away the ball of flame, the heat diminishing from the air before he launched himself forward, keyblade swinging back before thrusting forward, the teeth of the blade slicing past another wall of fire, Axel throwing up his chakrams in defense, catching the giant key within them, Riku's eyes widening as Axel smirked. The redhead spun his body in a tight spiral, Riku twisting with him, before Axel lit his chakrams aflame, Riku crying out as burns appeared on his fingers, eyes clenching shut in pain, forced to let go of his weapon which fell to the ground by Axel's feet, Riku landing a few feet away… panting, a powerful glare set upon the redhead.
But both their heads turned as a scream erupted from above them, matching looks of panic spread over their faces, until Axel's breath snagged in his throat, the sight of his blonde partner's leg pierced by the brunette's blade, Roxas's body falling through the sky. "R… Roxas!" Axel called out, un-summoning his weaponry, before sprinting forward, eyes locked upon his plummeting lover, before he flung himself forward, rolling to catch the teenager in his arms, looking over him worriedly. "R… Rox…" He barely breathed, green eyes frantically looking over the other's now cut and tattered form. "Roxas, please…"
"A… Axel…" The other choked out, blue eyes barely opening to look up at the other. The redhead gasping softly, eyes locking onto the other's.
"I… I'm here…! It's okay…!" He hushed, pushing away the hair from the other's eyes.
"Axel, listen…" The blonde said shakily, breath shallow from exhaustion and pain. "I need you… to keep fighting…" He said softly, wincing at the tear in his thigh. "Beat them… ngh-for him…"
The redhead's eyes widened slightly, breath hitching in his throat at the other's words… before he bit his lip and looked away. "Alright… I'll do it… But for you instead…" He said softly, eyes drifting back to the younger's face, the teen smiling slightly… before his eyes slipped closed, body going limp in the other's arms.
Axel held the boy for only a moment longer, before gently lifting him and resting him upon the ground, eyes staying upon the other's closed lids… until his emerald eyes cut to the side, gaze slicing through the air above his shoulder to lock onto his targets behind him, chakrams being summoned… "How dare you…" He growled, fire surrounding him, before he turned abruptly, screaming out his pain, whole body igniting with the anger resonating in his voice. "How dare YOUUU!"
The berserker growled, his nails clawing mercilessly at the beast's fur-covered hand, fangs driving deep into the fingers holding his thin form, crushing it slowly, constricting the animal's lungs. But Vincent's lips only curled back in a deep snarl, revealing his rows of blood-stained teeth hidden within his jaws, adding a swift pressure to the grip around the other's chest, nearly crushing his lungs between his fingers, Saix's animal-like features changing within the moment of breath being torn from his lungs, eyes widening and grip changing from one of a fighting animal to one of a desperate human-being, gasping in sad attempt for air, the beast only growling as he watched, before slamming the man's form down roughly below a paw, the impact pushing out the last breath hidden within the man's lungs, Saix's eyes rolling back as he fell into a deep oblivion…
Vincent's lips uncurled and paw lifted, before his head was thrown backwards, roaring aloud towards the sky, bones shifting below his flesh, fur peeling away to reveal the skin below, eyes darkening back into a deep red and roar ending, his hair changing back into its midnight coloration, cloak reforming around his shoulders as he looked down upon his unconscious opponent… panting softly… Only to turn moments after and walk to his gun, twirling it between his fingers before sliding it into the holster upon his thigh… Eyes slipping to face the two winged entities… the fallen angels battling in fast-forward, not even allowing a vampire's eye to follow their fight… And vanished into thin air.
The woman sprinted forward, her blade gleaming as it practically cut straight through the light of the sun itself, her attack powerful as her sword clanged against her opponent's scythe, sending the defending assassin flying backwards through the air, Marluxia gritting his teeth, another scratch of her blade appearing upon his arm, another notch carved into his scythe's handle. But before he could twist to defend, he was suddenly thrust back down towards the earth below, the woman's arms swinging back before throwing her blade forward, smashing into the man's shoulder, Marluxia crying out in pain, body smacking ruthlessly against the ground. But a gleam of reflected light above him caused his eyes to snap back open, lifting forward his scythe, vines sprouting all around him to encase him, the foliage being torn into by Paine's blade.
The assassin scrambled to his feet as the woman's frantic slashes tore straight through his green dome of defense, his hand sweeping up in an arch to push her back with another pillar of foliage, the woman's blade only moving to tear directly through the cylinder's center, the plant dying around her, but still having been successful in pushing her back enough for the Assassin to escape his dome prison, scythe being swiftly hurled downwards to spin towards her skull, the woman only leaping up to go straight for it, blade slicing diagonally to cut the weapon in two, it's decapitated blade flying off to strike the ground beside her, Marluxia's eyes widening in fear as she neared him… no defense, and nowhere to dodge.
Before he watched her eyes snap wide, a line of crimson floating up from her wrist, the twitch of her fingers causing her to drop her weapon, another bullet being sent through her leg, Paine wincing as she gripped it, gravity taking hold and her eyes widening as the air rushed around her, another bullet grazing her ear, shooting away it's lobe, the woman yelling out in pain, before she struck the ground, voice snagging in her throat as her arm broke… Marluxia only staring down from above her, eyes moving to beside the woman to see the brother walking towards her…
Yazoo's eyes were cold, face expressionless as he stalked closer to the other, nearing her writhing form, thumb pulling back the safety with a distinctive click, Paine's eyes lifting to see the barrel aimed towards her forehead, the woman panting heavily from exhaustion and adrenaline alike… before she let go one, long breath, eyes rolling back as her lids slid shut, head falling to the side, body relaxing as her blood sunk into the ground… Marluxia landing just behind the brother as he holstered his gun, green eyes still looking down upon her…
Until he turned, Marluxia paralyzed immediately by the intensity of the other's look, eyes widened in stunned silence, Yazoo's reptilian gaze glaring up into the assassin's… but there was a hidden pain there as well… One the man couldn't scrutinize for long, the brother taking a few swift steps closer before slapping him harshly, Marluxia's head snapping to the side, hair being used to turn his face back swiftly, before lips pressed against his own, eyes widening in absolute shock, electricity surging through him.
Yazoo only pressed closer, eyes closed, head tipping slightly to get a better angle before his tongue pushed past the other's lips, hands snaking around the others neck to draw Marluxia closer. The action quickly demolished the assassin's shock, his own body moving into sync with the other, one hand cupping the brother's jaw, the other pulling him closer by his waist, tongue swiftly taking control of the kiss, their bodies pressed close… before Yazoo pulled away and gripped him tightly, eyes clenched shut against his hidden pain, nails digging into Marluxia's back, hands shaking…
The assassin fell silent as he felt the other trembling against him… before he smiled slightly, one hand laying atop the other's head, stroking his hair…
But before either could speak nor move, their gazes moved back to where their leaders were battling, a woman's yells shredding through the surrounding sounds of battles and cries of falling foes and comrades, both looking to each other before rushing towards their leaders.
"Cloud, stop this!" Tifa called out as the blonde continued his merciless flurry of attacks, her body swerving away to dodge, not even trying to attack as the buster sword continued to barely miss her skin. First, a swing at her shoulder, then her neck, then he leapt up, driving his blade straight down towards her head, the woman moving to the side, and Cloud's blade slicing to match her movement, the woman crying out again as a gash was drawn across the top of her thigh, and she fell to her knees. But another blow was headed straight downwards, and she rolled, desperately getting out of the way, before jumping up to dodge a low blow for her rolling back. "STOP IT!" She screamed, tears forming at her eyes as the other jumped after her, both their bodies hanging in the air for a moment, Cloud's head tilting slightly to the side, green eyes blinking in a fake confusion…
"Why?" He asked simply, before twisting in midair, his blade following in a smooth movement upwards, Tifa folding in her un-harmed leg to avoid it being chopped off. "Especially when this is sooo much fun…" He hissed, before smirking, blade going for the girl's throat, but Tifa's head snapped back just in time, her body flipping backwards in the air to fall back to earth, feet landing steady upon the ground.
"This isn't YOU!" She yelled back up, eyes now holding a solid determination, but tears still streaming down her cheeks. "This is NOT the Cloud I know!" She called up, her hands tightening into fists, ready to attack as she sprung upwards, Cloud's smirk only widening at the sight, his blade thrusting forward to be easily deflected by the side of her arm, before a punch was slung his way, his other hand not holding tight to the handle of his blade snapping around hers, holding the fist tight between his vice-like fingers, chuckling softly before throwing her downwards, wing folding in to follow after shortly.
His blade swung down to cleave open her head as her body hit the ground, but she called out the name of a materia, a pillar of water thrusting upwards towards the blonde, Cloud's eyes widening slightly and blade moving to block the sting of frigid water as it pushed him back up into the air. Then another call of magic and the woman was flying upwards, her body being flung towards him at immense speeds, her hand driving forward as she yelled out her rage, the Buster Sword's blunt edge blocking it, Tifa gritting her teeth at the pain, before her hand was shoved away, eyes widening as the blade was thrust forward, her other hand nearly being cut in two as it reflexively grabbed the sharpened edge of the sword, and she screamed at the pain, pushing the blonde back with her gashed hand, Cloud stunned slightly… staring…
The scream rung in his ears, eyes fixed upon the blood of her hand, irises flashing between green and blue, features caught in his shock… before he heard another blade thrust itself into flesh, his eyes snapping wide, mind breaking free from its shock, cerulean gaze moving to see the tip of Sephiroth's blade plunged deep into her shoulder, the man floating behind his blonde partner, glare pointed directly forward at the brunette's face and blade spanning from behind Cloud's shoulder, across the space between him and the woman, and into her skin… A face of pain and unconsciousness painted on her features… Leon staring from below her in disbelief… blood dripping from the wound to land beside his feet…
Then the masume's edge tipped downward, the woman's body slipping away from its metallic skin, falling towards the ground below, Leon's breath snagging in his throat as he swiftly dropped his sword and outstretched his arms to catch her… The two angels above slowly letting gravity drag them back down, Cloud's body being turned slowly by his love, green eyes looking deep into the blonde's worriedly. "Are you alright…?" Sephiroth asked softly, their feet touching down upon the arid ground.
Cloud swallowed… before blinking, shaking his head slightly and looking up at the other. "Are you…?" He asked, fingers lifting to drift over the general's cheek gently, Sephiroth's worry seeping away, along with his sword… the metal dissolving in his fingers… a hand lifting to cup the other's jaw, drawing him slowly forward.
"It's time to lay to rest… the final piece…" He whispered, Cloud smiling slightly at the words, both their eyes closing, Cloud's blade dropping to his feet as he lifted both hands to hold his master's face, their lips meeting… tongues slowly moving past each-other's lips to move against one another in long caresses, Sephiroth's other, un-occupied hand moving to support the blonde's back, pulling him forward, their bodies pressing close, heads turning slightly to delve their tongues further… the hand once cupping Cloud's jaw now moving slowly backwards… running down the blonde's back, making it arch as their lips stayed locked… eyes closed… fingers twirling around and plucking-free a feather from the blonde's wing… going unnoticed… drawing back… his face showing a leaking pain… the general's heart aching… feather gleaming…
Until Cloud's eyes snapped open, breath catching in his throat as a swift gasp, lips breaking from his master's and body flinching, the metal of Sephiroth's blade driving swift and deep… the tip of his blade ripping straight through the blonde's heart and spine, the cloth of his shirt tearing as the masume plunged into the dirt behind him… the world around them all but ceasing to exsist…
The man's eyes looked over the other's shocked features… blood dripping down the clean silver edge of his blade… staining it red… his hand trembling behind the blonde's back… emotions hidden for centuries now threatening to leak from his eyes… his head moving down to rest upon the blonde's shoulder as a trail of blood ran down the blonde's chin… slow… steady… rolling across his skin…
Leon stared in disbelief… His eyes locked upon the two ahead of him… world seeming to slow down around them… stormy eyes caught between confusion and anguish… Tifa's body still laying unconscious in his arms as his knees failed him… legs folding as he collapsed to the ground…
Yuna stared in utter pain, Tidus's now-healed wound having stained her clothes… Tears rolling down her face silently, falling upon the sleeping blonde's tanned skin… her head shaking slowly… "No…" She said in a gentle breath, barely audible… "This… It can't…"
Crimson eyes looked on from the outskirts of the battle… pain still seeping through his features, no matter how carefully he tried to measure them… gaze falling to the ground as his head bowed, raven hair shielding his eyes… Until his red cape swirled around him, wrapping the vampire completely, form disappearing upon the wind…
The teenager's keyblade dropped to the ground beside him, Axel's chakrams following shortly after… Sora's motionless body laying behind Riku's feet…charred from Axel's flames of revenge… the anger of having his beloved harmed by the redhead going numb within his gut… Axel's flames dying into smoke, jaw having dropped slightly, the once bustling sounds of battle having died down to silence once more… Their bodies having frozen by the image of a sword being thrust through the blonde's heart… it's tip disappearing into Cloud's flesh… the air filling with the deafening snap of his spine… World going numb…
Yazoo's eyes were wide in shock, lips parted by the horror of what he had just witnessed… His brother stealing the life of his only love… the feeling of a vine gently wrapping around his waist and pulling him backwards only barely being registered by his mind… The assassin's arms soon replacing the vine as he drew the brother into an embrace, nestling his chin into the crook of the brother's shoulder… "B… Brother…" Yazoo whispered softly, a tear rolling down his cheek, mind still numb… "…he's crying…"
"…S… Sephir--" But the blonde's choked words were cut short by a cough, blood forming in his throat… crystal-blue eyes closing, lids pushing free his tears… The hand upon his back gripped the cloth of his shirt slightly tighter, drawing Cloud nearer to his lover… The blonde smiling sadly… softly… a hand lifting to stroke the other's hair, swallowing down the clotting blood in his throat… "Don't cry…" He hushed, feeling the general's body shaking… frail… like a chilled child against him… beads of salted liquid rolling down his neck from the man's eyes…
"Cloud… I…" The man tried to say… lifting his head to look down into those soft blue eyes…
But the other's words stopped him. "It… It was always me… wasn't it…?" Cloud choked out, whispering to the man… lifting blood-stained fingers to caress the other's cheek… lines of crimson left behind… "The… 'final piece'… to their destruction…"
His heart was being suffocated alive within his chest by the clear-blue honesty held in the blonde's eyes… his words only tightening the noose… Sephiroth's eyes closing as he moved closer to the other, their cheeks brushing… Cloud's skin notably colder… "You… were always the most important…" He whispered softly, his voice cracking beneath the crushing pain in his chest…
He could feel the blonde's hand lay upon the hand holding the masume… shaking as it gripped his arm… "Then… finish this…" Cloud whispered, his voice trembling in fear of the end… and sorrow for his love… "Live out your life… free… Live that dream… for me…"
Sephiroth's hand tightened on his sword's handle… shaking uncontrollably… blood warm as it touched his skin… tears cold…
"Please… Sephiroth…" He hushed, voice barely audible as it died within his throat, eyes sliding closed as his nerves slowly shut down… "…let me go…" His skin growing colder as it laid atop the other's hand… breath shallow and ghosting the general's neck… "Now…"
The general's fingers tightened further upon his blade… voice shuddering as he whispered…
"…I'm sorry… Cloud…"
The general's eyes clenched tight together, blood spraying the ground as the masume was ripped back from the earth… from the blonde's spine… his heart… Sephiroth's cold, expressionless face turning away as the blonde's blood splashed his neck and chin… Eyes… empty… Cloud's body falling through the air, wing's feathers melting away as he drifted down to the ground, his form dropping limply to the earth below, his head rolling to the side and eyes closed… blood staining dirt and cloth… pale, perfect skin dripping with red… The general flicking his wrist to let the blood fall from his sword, gaze staying still as they kept their distance from the blonde's body… head tilted down and hair draping over his eyes… unable to watch as his final shred of love faded away… his only threat…
The final piece… laid to rest…
Screams… blood… the gleam of swords… the shots of gunfire… It still echoed deep within the lion's mind… his dreams replaying the destruction of that day… nightmares… Roars of pain and insane glee, the world of battle whirling around his head, body tossing and turning to dodge their blows and make his own… spinning the sheets around his legs… vines from Marluxia closing in around him… drowning him… dragging him down into the black… water filling his lungs… blood stinging his eyes… calls for help and cries of pain bleeding out his ears… out his own lips… then another crack of a gun and—
He sat bolt-upright, panting and thrashing in his bed, backing away from invisible attackers until his head hit the wall, cracking bluntly against his skull, shooting pain through him. Then another loud crash and his eyes turned to the window, lightning striking outside, the flash causing him to flinch, ready for the pain of the bullet through his flesh… But silence and a deadly darkness only followed… The green-glow of his clock casting shadows over the folds of his sheets… His heart racing and lungs working to draw in pants…
Until he drew in one, and held it… letting it go as a long sigh, back and neck relaxing against the wall, eyes falling slowly shut… heart calming…
It had been three weeks since that final battle… Leon could still see the forms of his comrades running in fear as a corpse-like angel attacked them… no heart to hold him back as his sword took a life of its own… slaughtering everything and anything it possibly could… The Organization and Brother's not already defeated in battle having left the moment after watching their leader slay his love… Escaping the masume and summoned elements that tore away at the mystic forest… Leon himself having called out the retreat…
He felt a chill run up his spine as the image of their only hope falling to the ground hit his eyes once more… Most likely the hundredth time since the battle… Cloud's lifeless form lingering forever in his head… haunting him…
Then another sound from beyond the window, and Leon jumped, the crash of thunder sending fear through his mind… Until his eyes widened, another flare of light revealing a figure in the corner… and two glowing eyes…
He immediately sprung from his bed, hand shooting out to grab the Gunblade laying beside his mattress, whirling around and pointing it at the corner in which he had seen the specter of his nightmares. But as his eyes lay upon the nothingness lying in the corner, a cold hand wrapped around his throat, another over his mouth, both drawing him backwards swiftly, his back pressed flush-against another's form, eyes wide in horror, shocked into a still silence as a chuckle licked his ears… breath ghosting his neck as lips grew nearer… a smirk twisting the unseen… words slithering through the air in a whispered threat…
"Miss me…?"
And suddenly, Leon's eyes burst open, head cracking harshly against the wall behind his bed as he lurched backwards, the pain making red spots dance before his eyes… head throbbing…
But his lids swiftly flew back open, head turning erratically to peer around the room from his position under his sheets… Everything still… Everything silent… Nothing out of place… and he let go a sigh… "A dream…" He thought to himself, "Only a dream…" his body growing calm.
That is… until his eyes landed upon an object foreign to his bedside table, a cold shock of terror ripping through his mind and body, eyes widening… the green glow of his clock resting across its rolling surface… hand reaching out… shaken… swallowing as his fingertips curled around the feather… lifting it as though it would break… it's black coloration sending memories of his capture flashing through his mind… along with the face hidden inside his nightmares…
But the very alive terror filling his mind - that singular visage - was not one of an enemy…
But of a traitor…
And somewhere inside his subconscious mind, the lion knew…
This singular feather…
This one foreboding message…
Was sent…
From him.