~Saturday November 13th~

~Zexion Shiki~

Glaring at the phone as it falls back into its cradle, I stand there hovering over it. It honestly doesn't surprise me that they can contact me without so much as asking me where I live or what my number is, but it's still rude. I let a heavy sigh slip past my lips.

At least they'll clean up the mess, I suppose.

I pocket my keys and give a sparing glance down the hall of this place, a hall filled with so many bad memories of Marluxia that it's not even funny. The pictures I had once had on the walls are gone now, after he destroyed them, leaving them bare and bland. A soft shake of the head is all it takes for me to get back to my priorities; going to the grocery store.

x.X.x.X.x.X.x

The small, blue, plastic basket dangles in the crook of my arm as I walk down yet another isle. The brightly lit store is the total opposite of what I'd prefer. All the jumbled people packed into tight corners and isles, too much energy in one place for my taste.

As I reach to grab a box of teabags a hand taps against my shoulder, causing me to jump in the air at least a good foot and a half. A nervous laugh follows as I turn around, instantly recognizing Demyx in his usual attire. I smooth my hands back over my coat and tighten it around my small frame. "Hello Demyx."

"Hey," is all he says as he follows me down to the next section of goods. "So you do all the shopping huh?"

"It's what happens when you live alone." Kind of...

"That sounds boring. You don't room with anyone?"

"Do you?"

Demyx rubs at the back of his neck as a blush dusts over his cheeks. "Well, yeah you could say that."

I raise an eyebrow and continue to the end of the isle where the bags of sugar and spices are stacked. He sees my expression and becomes flustered as he hurries to catch up with me. But as he does I can see Marluxia suddenly appear in my sights, right in front of Demyx.

To everyone else it looks like Demyx is a klutz and is just having one of those blonde moments, or so I've heard them called. To me it's a whole other story of cruelty.

Demyx stumbles forward and reaches out to grasp against the shelves, trying to save himself from face planting into the hard tile of the store. Plastic bottles of spices rain down onto the floor and I find myself dropping my basket to hurry over to him, my arms shooting out to steady him. A humbled look crosses his countenance but I shrug it away, "Don't worry about it."

After steadying himself, Demyx drops down to the floor to begin retrieving the bottles. Feeling awful that it was my own demon that had caused him to look like such a fool, I kneel down as well and scoop up handfuls of bottles. The task is simple and not as time consuming as I would have thought; Demyx placing them on the shelves as I hand them up.

"Are you okay?"

Demyx just nods and noticeably scrabbles for his words; as if he's a frightened cat in a new home. Out of the blue he instantly calms and smiles at me. "Thank you Zexion, for the job and saving me." He laughs lightly, "More than once. But I gotta go, later!"

The blonde turns on his heel and hurries down the isle from the direction that he had probably come. As he does I blink only to see a young girl standing in his place. She can't be more than ten and looks just like him with her long, soft, white-blonde hair and large blue eyes. A white summer dress swings about her small body as she holds up a finger to her lips, as if she's shushing me. She turns around and as she does she vanishes.

~Squall Leonhart~

My slate eyes focus on the ceiling as I stare up at it, trying to trace shapes in the peeling paint. I lie atop my sheets fully clothed; black jeans, white v-neck, boots, and jacket. If it wasn't for the reeling thoughts in my head I would probably be able to pass out into a deep sleep for the day but I can't get my mind away from Zack.

He risked his life to protect me. To protect me when Cloud wasn't there like I thought he would be. He's always been there so far, so why was yesterday any different?

I drag my palms over my face, irritated with all the thinking. Realization hits me and I know how to try and shove these thoughts from my head. I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and grab my wallet and keys. I ignore Sephiroth's presence completely and simply walk straight out of the house.

Despite the surprisingly light air outside I find my stomach churning and knotting relentlessly. Paranoia could be the source of it all. The thought of a gun hovering in front of me seems to echo in the resounds of my mind just as well as Zack's arms pressing against my back.

The chill of a coming December is already present even this early into November, although I don't mind it as much since I've adapted to it. Living in a house with little insulation and barely any heat can do that.

I try to ignore the glares that are shot my way as I walk. Most of everyone in this city knows about my orientation and the ones that don't will know soon. People never stop talking and they never will stop talking about me until I'm dead and gone.

x.X.x.X.x.X.x

With my hands shoved into my pockets I keep walking, straight to the room number that the kind nurse had given me. She tried to tell me that I probably wouldn't be allowed in, security for Zack's room being particularly tight with him being an undercover cop and all. I guess that would explain the gun he had on him.

The bleak, white hallways finally end at the last room. Two cops stand a little ways away from the open door as they speak to the doctor. Instead of taking that as a sign that he doesn't have family in the area, I step as soundlessly as possible. Their eyes are focused on the test results that are held in a manila folder.

I slip around the door frame and shut the door a little, letting them talk as I see all the small tubes and bulky machines. They're the simple and needed ones, but to see him in a hospital gown and propped up against the pillow is unbelievable. The soft steady beeping grates on my nerves ever so slightly. But as I look up to meet his bright blue orbs, I feel my cheeks grow hot. Zack smiles at me, lifting a hand and curling a finger to beckon me forward. I do as he silently requests and stand at his beside. "What did the doctors say?"

A bittersweet smile tugs at the corners of his lips even while he tries to mask the pain behind that smile. "They got the bullets out but he said I probably won't regain use of it. They might amputate." His eyes cast downward to his leg beneath the thin, white sheet.

The hidden message is perfectly clear, 'I'll never be able to work, never be able to do what I love again.' and it makes me feel more than horrible, even as far as to feel guilty and responsible for his predicament. I clench my fingers into my palm inside of my pockets, crescent moons forming on my skin with relative ease. Zack seems to notice and outright laughs, trying to ease some of the tension in the room. "Relax; it's not your fault. No use in blaming yourself kiddo."

I swallow hard and glance around the room until his voice brings me back. "I never did get your name."

I can't let him lie here and suffer. Even if the physical pain leaves he'll never recover if he loses his legs. I know that. Which means the tissue and nerves were damaged … I just hope I know what I'm doing.

Removing my hands from my pockets I pull the blanket away from his leg, hovering a hand above each bandaged bullet wound. Almost instantly I feel my energy slowly draining from me, making me grow weak as my energy is spent all on Zack. He doesn't so much as say a word as I work to mend all of the wrong done to his leg. I sneak a peak over at him to see his eyes transfixed on my hands that aren't even a centimeter away from his limb.

Shallow pants leave my lungs as I bite at my lip, only hoping I did the right thing. The second I take my hands away I find I can't look Zack in the eye. So instead I turn around as soft chatter from the hall comes closer. "Thanks for the other day." I stare down at my shoes, butterflies untying my stomach from the many knots it's formed in as I force myself to not turn back around. "My name's Squall."

The two officers walk into the room and I rush past them, their authoritative shouts barely reaching me as I rush out the exit of this wing of the hospital. I break into a run the second I'm across the street and I can feel Sephiroth breathing down my neck.

"How cute, you think you saved him pain? You just caused yourself even more. Now even he knows that you're a freak..."

~Sora Kaze~

A dull pain reverberates through my skull as I struggle to open my eyes. As I do I'm greeted with a harsh, bright light beaming down from the ceiling. At first I expect Larxene to be somewhere but I can't feel her anywhere near me, much less see her. I let my eyes adjust and the fog to disperse from my sight, suddenly confused as to how I got in a hospital bed. My fingers reach up and graze over my forehead above my eye, finding a bandage where I had gotten smacked. The few yet bulky machines in the room continue to beep obnoxiously, but I let them dull to a soothing sound as I block it out the best I can.

I sit up from my slightly propped up position against the pillows. Looking down I feel my eyes widen at the sight of unruly, silver hair. Not able to help it, I stretch my fingers to comb through the weaker tangles, causing Riku to stir from his sleep.

He yawns and sits up straight, raising an eyebrow at me, "Did you just get up? How are you feeling? Need something to eat?"

Giggling at him I nod. "Yes, fine, and yes please!"

Riku gives a nod as he stands, heading for the door. "I'll go get something from the cafeteria, the crud they bring up to the rooms looks like crap."

Just as soon as the slim door shuts on his entrance it seems to open right back up. A man walks in and shuts the door. Polished dress shoes, deep blue slacks with a matching jacket, and a white button up shirt underneath. I stare at him, not quite sure who he is or why he's here. That is, until I look at his face.

Maroon eyes are framed in by brown bangs that are swept to the side, the brown almost appearing black even in the bright lighting. After I blink, the lean officer that saved me is suddenly framed by an aura of sulfur-like color, almost like the color of mustard, coupled with a light gray. Yet, a blue seems to be at the center of it all, outweighing the nasty colors just enough to keep this man on the line between contentment and depression.

"You're the one that saved me." I let a smile curve at my lips, eyes blinking so that the aura vanishes from my sight once more. "My name's Sora Kaze."

"Vincent Valentine." He seems to pause for a moment, not quite sure what to say next. "How are you doing?"

"Oh … I don't know what the doctors say. But I feel like brand new!" A small smile twitches onto his lips and I catch it before it falls back into a straight line. "Thank you Mr. Valentine."

He shakes his head lightly, the short tresses brushing against his cheekbones. "Just Vincent is fine. I was just doing my job."

Silence settles between us and I can't help but notice the feeling of sadness radiating from him. The thickness of it is almost suffocating, making me want to curl up in a ball and sob until I can't anymore. I tilt my head to the side ever so slightly. "Is something wrong?"

Vincent swivels around on his heels, turning away from me. "No, it's nothing. You just remind me of Tidus is all." he admits, almost unable to not say it, yet unable to stop the confession from tumbling off his lips. "I hope you get better soon Sora." He walks out and I find myself mulling over the name, not quite sure if I've heard it before or if I'm just wishing I had.

It's such a unique name. I know I'd recognize it if I knew someone with it. Come on brain!

"Maybe you should take a breath there. You're turning purple."

I glance over to the door as Riku walks in with a tray. "Do you know anything about a guy named Tidus? He's got something to do with the police."

Riku strides over to the chair beside my bed and sits down, the tray placed on the small, metal table next to his seat. "I don't know it all. He was kidnapped and this guy or whatever, I think his last name was Valen-something ... Anyways, by the time he got into the building after the kidnapper said he wouldn't hurt the kid, the kidnapper shot the kid right in front of the guy. Pretty tragic."

I turn my eyes down to my fingers curling into the sheets over my lap.

"Try not to worry about it Sora, it's in the past."

Riku brings the tray out to me and sets it on my lap. I can't bring myself to tell him anything though about yesterday, not yet, and I can't tell him about Vincent. Something inside me holds me back and I simply reach for the fork Riku holds out to me.

Hm. So I went ahead and decided to get my butt back in gear. I don't remember if this was edited or not. ... But figured what the hell, when I get done with a chapter, I'm just going to post it. :D Y'all like?
But anyways, lovely new additions character wise aren't they. I mean. I just can't resist throwing Zack and Vincent in there. ^^ Really can't. Hope you all enjoy though.