We both know I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy in any way, shape, or form. Live with it.

This will be my last chapter for the weekend. I'm not sure if I'll be able to update during the week, but I will try my best. I'm definitely not going to rush, because then the chapters will come out badly... and no one wants that. Read on!


IX: Take Me Home!

"I just fixed this door..." The nurse said suspiciously, giving Cloud a look. He just shrugged as if to say "Well, I didn't break it..."

The nurse waved it off and placed the tray on Aya's night stand. "Eat these crackers as soon as you feel like you can keep them down. You're very strong..." The nurse said as she began to undress Aya's wounds to reapply medicine. To her enormous surprise, the cuts and bruises had ceased bleeding completely and were almost totally healed.

"Woah..." Cloud said as he peered over to the side of the bed to see Aya's leg, nearly healed. "That's some potent stuff..." He said, indicating the ointment the nurse was holding.

"I guess so..." Yuffie said, stepping closer to have a look.

"Is she okay to go home, then?" Kairi asked.

"Please take me home!" Aya whined.

"Um... I guess so... Just stay for a litte while longer to make sure nothing goes wrong, and take those painkillers for your head and neck. I'll ask the doctor to come take one more look before dismissing you." The nurse, still with a befuddled look on her face, left the room slowly.

"How did you..." Cloud began.

"I have no clue..." Aya answered. She ran her fingers over some of the cuts that were now merely scabs and scars. She brushed it off and took the pills, then asking the boys to leave and the girls to help her to the bathroom.

"Ugh... I feel disgusting." Aya groaned as she splashed cold water in her face. Yuffie helped her tie her hair back, and then they both helped her back to her bed. "You can come back in now!" She called to the boys, who promptly reentered.

"So, how are you feeling?" Sora had gotten some sleep and was now in the proper mood to sit at the hospital all day, if there was such a mood.

"Great... I'm still a bit sore, but I'm conscious, and not bleeding... So I think I'm doing pretty good!" She smiled.

"You really had us scared..." Kairi said softly.

"You don't even know the half of it..." Cloud said in response.

"We were scared for both of you." Yuffie indicated Cloud.

"It was nothing, I just didn't want anything to happen to her." He said as he plopped down in a chair, relaxing for the first time since she disappeared. "Ahhh...!" He hissed, leaning forward sharply. Then he remembered his gash from the night he spent in the caves. Untying his makeshift bandage, he revealed a blood-caked slash extending from his lower right rib cage to his left hip. It wasn't bleeding, but it was burning now that he had leaned on it.

"Dammit!" He cursed. "I completely forgot... I cut myself the night I slept in the caves."

"You SLEPT down there?" Aya said, shocked.

"I had to. I was down there all night and all day." He ran a wet cloth across the cut, rubbing off some of the dried blood. He winced a bit, but then regained his normal Cloud-like composure. Just as the nurse returned for a checkup, he asked her for some sufficient bandages to cover his cut.

When the nurse returned with the bandages, she was accompanied by a doctor.

"So, how are we feeling, Miss Ransym?" He said as he leaned on the counter and pulled out a clipboard and a pen. The nurse was tending to Cloud.

"I feel great, actually. The only cut I can still feel is on my ankle, but it was pretty deep." She told him.

"Well, let's have a look-see..." He examined her ankle and found that she did indeed have a scratch there, but it was healing nicely. "It doesn't look like a problem. It'll be fine in a day or so."

"So can we take her home?" Cloud asked anxiously.

"Sure, as soon as I prescribe her some painkillers for her sprain. That'll take a few minutes, and then you can get your things and be on your way!"

"Thank you so much!" Aya smiled as Cloud sighed a breath of relief. Kairi and Yuffie were smiling and giggling, while Sora was getting all their things together.


Just an hour later, Aya was sitting in the front of the golf cart (the group had officially dubbed it The Ambulance) which Cloud was driving to her house, their three friends in the back seat. As they pulled up to Aya's house, Cloud and Sora couldn't believe the size of the place.

"And you live here by yourself?" Sora said in disbelief.

"Yeah... It used to be my dad's place, but he's put it under my name while I go to school."

"It's... large..." Cloud said as he opened the door for Aya. Once inside, the boys were left staring while the three girls all made themselves comfortable like it was no big deal. Kairi and Yuffie began making smoothies while Aya put her clothes away. Sora had made himself comfortable on the couch in front of the TV, while Cloud went down the hall to assist Aya.

"Need any help in here?" He said, peering through the open door. Aya was knelt down beside her dresser, folding her spare clothes from the hospital visit. She turned and replied with a smile. As he came in, she stood up and smiled again. He took her hand and returned the smile.

"I'm glad you're home safe, Aya." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'm glad you're here with me, Cloud." She replied. She squeezed his hand back as he pulled her into a hug.

"I thought I would lose you..." He said in a low voice. She replied by simply nuzzling into his chest, taking a deep breath, soaking him in. There was a moment of silence before she looked up at him, which was quite a feat, seeing as how he was a good eight inches taller than her.

"I guess your neck feels better." He raised an eyebrow.

"Sure does." She returned the gesture. Then, just as she expected, he leaned in for a kiss. She graciously accepted, and their lips met in a soft, innocent kiss.

"Guess what..." He said as they parted.

"Hmm?" She replied softly.

"I think I like you." He blushed, which was not part of his plan, but he couldn't help it.

She giggled. "I like you, too, Cloud." She couldn't stop giggling.

"What are you giggling about?" He said with a smile.

"Nothing..."

"HEY AYA!" Yuffie called from the kitchen. "WE NEED YOUR SMOOTHIE EXPERTISE!"

Without another word, Aya gave Cloud a quick kiss, then left the room with an alluring smile.

"COMING!" She called back.


She's home! So now what... Only I know! Hope you liked it! R+R, it is MANDATORY! Have fun! Arigato and Sayonara!

-VarekaiSoleil