CHAPTER 10

Lightning's POV

I stood in the center of the arena smirking as the corpses of my three opponents lay smoldering before me. I looked to the sky and grinned as the black clouds released the droplets down upon my blood soaked form. I allowed the rain to wash away the bloodshed as I remembered all of the battles that I've fought since the encounter with Jenova. The crowd was in a frenzy chanting my name like the fools they were. "LIGHTNING!! LIGHTNING!!!"

I ignored them of course, because the lives that I took were not for their pleasure but for the promises that I swore to keep. Cloud hadn't woken from his slumber since the downfall of Jenova, but at least he showed signs of life. In the time span, I had taken his spot as champion. The people easily forgetting him and praising me and my ability. Rufus had shown such gratitude that when I asked for the release of Fang, Vanille, Sazh, Cid, Hope and Yuffie, he hadn't batted an eye, almost instantly they group was released. My small portion of my winnings went to Fang, Vanille and the others to help secure them a home, whatever was left was then used to help the girl named Marlene… just as Cloud had been doing.

In my letters with Fang, I found that they had met with the girl who was placed with a family friend of Barrett's and they could no longer afford to keep her, nor did they want to, so Fang had taken the girl in. I knew Cloud would be glad to learn of such a thing, but he had yet to awaken so that I could tell him all that had happened.

Now I stood in the center of the arena as the rain continued to cleanse me of the blood that had sprayed upon my form as I slaughtered the trio of warriors and then concluded the match by striking the three down each with a bolt of lightning. The crowd revered Cloud as a god-slayer while they saw me as a god. I lifted my hands to the sky and screamed in victory as the crowd cheered louder.

Later that night I found myself again sitting in the medical room staring at the blonde haired man on the bed. I sighed heavily and then placed a hand on his head and felt relief that he had no fever. My thoughts floated back to the moment I had returned with his body to these walls. I remembered vividly how Shinra was so quick to dismiss Cloud once he discovered that I had killed Jenova. That was another aspect of my reason to remain in this captivity, Cloud was only receiving treatment because I had asked it. Rufus now saw him as a failure, he was no longer the man known as Fenrir.

Whenever Rufus referred to Cloud, it would be as the 'slave' or the 'fucking fool'. Both which angered me, but I knew that I couldn't have him killed lest I put Fang and the others in danger. I sighed as I shook my head from my thoughts and stared at the man before me again. I leaned down to him and spoke "Wake the fuck up." I growled in his ear and waited but nothing. "Damn it." I cursed again and struck my knees with my hands in frustration. "Cloud, it's been nearly four fucking months!" I shouted at the slumbering man and then felt my heart tighten at the aspect of him never awakening.

I had been here… in these wall, for far too long. It had been close eight months since I first came here… eight months since I killed Barrett, Cloud's only friend… in those months he had became my only true friend here. If I lost him, then who would I have to fight for? My sister, ha, she abandoned me long ago… I cared for Fang and the others but I didn't connect with any of them… none of them seemed to understand me… I truly cared more as to what Cloud would think if I hadn't provided for them. Now thinking back on it, I don't know how he had the restraint to not kill me for taking his friend's life.

I smiled and found my hand patting the blonde spikes. "Yeah, one day those big blue eyes will open, and I'll be here for it… okay… so I'm going to stay strong, for myself and for you." I whispered and stood from my seat and turned to leave. "Sleep well Cloud." I whispered as I headed from the room.

"Ugh…" I paused in mid step as my eyes widened and I turned around quickly. I rushed to his side as I saw his facial muscles move slightly as he groaned again, "ugh…" His lips parted as the groan escaped his mouth and I nearly jumped in joy as his face contorted in slight pain but his eyes opened. I grinned madly as he looked up to me and spoke. "l…l…Li…" He tried weakly but I placed a hand on his lips and smiled.

"No talking, I've got a cup of water here." I grinned as I supported his head and poured the water down his throat. "You've been out for so long." I commented with a smile as he managed a few words.

"Yo… you're… smiling… a lot…" He stated as I shook my head.

"A friend has just woken from a four month slumber… I am too happy not to." I smiled again as he groaned and tried to move but I set him still. "No, moving you may upset your wounds. They seem to have healed but you are not to take chance." I told him and he sighed.

"Food." He whispered and I obliged with a piece of bread. He stared at the bread and then to me. "How long… has… that… been here?" He asked as his voice regained some strength but I knew he was much too weak to try and form full sentences.

"I bring fresh bread and drink down every day in case you awake." I said simply as his eyes widened at my words and I frowned not sure as to why he was shocked. It would only make sense to be prepared if he were to ever awaken… I wouldn't want to be running through the lower cells looking for food right after he awoke.

"Everyday?" He asked as I nodded and he looked away, "thank… you…"

"Stop talking… regain your strength, eat and get back on your feet, that is repayment enough." I told him as he looked at me and after a long moment he nodded.

"I will do my best." He whispered as I patted his shoulder.

"Your best will be more than enough." I grinned as he lay back to rest while I made my exit.

Cloud's POV

I waited until I heard the door close to the medical room and opened my eyes. Lightning had said I had been out for months. I wondered what had transpired since that time? Why was she acting so strange? I never knew her to be so caring towards me prior, but I could see that due to my weakened state her motherly instincts may have kicked in. What a fool, to waste so much of her time on me… a dead man. I had wanted to perish… I wanted to bring Jenova down and in the process end my own suffering.

Tifa… Zack… my friends… but traitors. Lying on this bed forced my mind to drift to them. I didn't want to think about either but all I could see was Tifa's smiling face in the image Jenova had shown me… she was happy with Zack… they were happy and yet here I lay, recovering from injury only to one day again stand back in the arena to await the next fight that could mean my own death. My life was a tragedy and a horror that nothing should ever have to endure… the woman I loved and to an extent, despite what has happened, I still love, has forgotten me. What more could I desire other than death?

I closed my eyes hoping sleep would steal me from my thoughts and soon it did.

I awoke many hours later when the sun was yet rising and when I looked from my right where the window allowed passage of the sun, to my left towards the medical room exit, I spotted Lightning or Claire as I knew her to be, sitting in a chair sleeping. I frowned and sat up despite the dull aching in my abdomen and slid from the bed-like table. My movements caused me to groan which awoke the woman who stood immediately to assist me.

"Lightning, why are you here?" I demanded still confused as to why she had become so worried and caring for me.

"I told you already… a friend has finally awaken. Where else should I be?" She asked as I rolled my eyes.

"I am shocked you are the only one to greet me from my sleep." I stated hoping that Fang would have shown up at least in private or sent word. She was carrying my child… a child who was to be born into the same chains as I. Now I understood her caution… now I understood why she fled. While I could only think of the pleasure of her embrace, she could think through the lust and passion to what now lie in her womb. The self-hatred I harbored could only rise and increase at the thought of my son being whipped into submission, or my daughter being used as another's sexual plaything.

"Cloud, I managed to buy their freedom some time ago." She whispered with a small smile as my eyes widened and I turned my head to her.

"What?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yuffie, Hope, Sazh, Vanille, a friend of you and Barrett named Cid, and Fang are all free… Sazh, Cid and Hope are now working in the markets while Vanille, Yuffie and Fang tend to the house. Better yet, Cid has found little Marlene… Barrett's daughter, she now lives with them." She grinned as my heart filled with so much joy. My child would be able to breathe freedom… the boy or girl would know happiness.

I have gone many years without shedding tears, and those tears have always been for sorrow or due to anger and pain… but at the moment my tears were of joy… a joy I never thought I would hold as a slave. "Thank you…" I whispered with much gratitude. Even if I died at that moment, I could be at peace knowing that my friends could at least be happy.

Suddenly, I realized why she had came here so often, she had said she purchased their freedom. I frowned and stared at her through my tear stained face and shook my head. "Lightning, you took my place?" I asked hoping she had not, for if she had she was to be a slave forever… I would not be able to purchase her freedom.

"I had to… there was no other option." She said calmly. "Come lay back." She ordered but I stood taller.

"I will be fine… my wounds are healed now… it is just the dull pain of the memory of them that hinders me, I will be fine." I told her as I took a few steps and found that I could walk just fine. "I am ready to rejoin the others." I told her. I had no choice but to out shine her in the arena… to show Rufus that she wasn't needed here. I had to repay the kindness by giving her the gift of freedom.

"You can't possibly be thinking to return so soon… you barely have awoken from your slumber… your body is still in recovery, only a fool would try such a thing." She scowled as I lumbered to the door only to have it opened in my face to see Rufus and a set of guards.

"Well look who rises? Our former champion has awoken from a long slumber." He grinned as he patted my shoulder. "Tell me, will you try to reclaim that title? No house in all the land has ever had two champions of untold glory before." Shinra laughed. I nodded to him and inhaled deeply.

"I am ready to rejoin the others in the training grounds. I will be ready when called upon." I told him as Shinra grinned and then looked past me to Lightning.

"Lightning, take him down to the others… you can bunk him with Reno… maybe he can prove himself worthy again." Shinra grinned as he turned from me and walked off quite happy with himself. I turned to Lightning and then I felt my consciousness begin to lift and fade away as my eyes closed without my will. I knew the moment my nausea began that I staying awake was no longer an option.

So what did you think, Lightning being the badass? Now as we head into the second phase of the story the Lightning/Cloud aspect will start soon, so continue enjoying and reading. Thanks to all those who reviewed!!!