Ch. 10! Huzzah! Once again, thanks go out to andrhats and Carriles for reviewing. Arigato! -bows-

Now, on with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own KH...just the ideas my disturbed mind creates...

"Speaking"

/Thinking\

Writing

A small pain in his backside made Aldrick stir. He tried to see if he could get the pain to go away by shifting, only to realize something was pressed against him. It didn't seem to want to let the teen go, so Aldrick opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder, letting a smile cross his lips.

A sleeping Cid was holding on to the apprentice, and Aldrick kissed the older man's arm gently, whispering "Good morning..." He received a grumble of "It's too goddamn early, go back to sleep..."

Smiling all the more, Aldrick managed to worm his way out of Cid's arms, and started to walk to the closet, only to stop at a sharp, sudden pain. "Ow!" the teen cried, and he gingerly rubbed his ass, hearing a small snicker from the man.

"That should go away after a while." came, muffled, from the pillow the man had now buried his face in as an attempt to block out the light from above.

Sticking his tongue out, Aldrick slowly continued his walk to the closet, wincing at the pain from each step.

Finally reaching the innards of the closet, the teen grabbed the closest clothes to him and started to get dressed. Blood red boxers, white socks, black cargo pants, and a t-shirt that matched the boxers in color. Grabbing his belt, the teen came out of the closet, his gaze falling on a now sitting up, groggy Cid.

"We should try working. Considering we haven't really done much except for a chain, I think some work is in order." Smiling, he leaned against the doorway as he spoke, watching as Cid uncovered his naked body and headed off to the bathroom.

"Sure..." Obviously, the man didn't like mornings. This made Aldrick think, and was amazed that he had been alert ever since he had woken up. I guess miracles are bound to happen...

After a quick flush, Cid himself walked into the closet, trying to find something to wear. Aldrick took this time to pick up the clothes the two had flung around the bedroom during their 'escapades'. Feeling something heavy in the pocket of the pants he wore, he reached in and pulled out the diamond-like spearhead, and tucked it back into the pocket. /That...can wait till later. No need to trudge up bad memories now...\

Turning and throwing the clothes past Cid and into the back corner of the closet, he let out a quick "I'm going up now. See ya there!" and headed towards the shop while putting his belt on. Each step brought pain, but the pains had started to lessen and weaken. At the top of the stairs, he opened the wall, only to come face to face with a pair of curious brown eyes.

"Ha! So he does live! You owe me 50 Munny Squall." Yuffie called over her shoulder, only to get a shrug from Leon.

"First, I'm Leon. Second, I never agreed to the bet, so I owe you nothing." Leon turned his head to the door, almost as if he wanted to leave but was rooted to the spot he was standing on.

"Damn. He's right. Oh well, what was Cid's present? He didn't give us any details. Rather, he told Leon, but Leon won't talk." Leon only shrugged at Yuffie's comment, letting out his usual "Whatever..."

Aldrick thought for a moment, then flushed. Did he dare tell them of the events of last night? "Um, well...I had steak...that was actually good...and we...danced..."

Aerith clapped as Yuffie's eyes went wide. "I'm glad he put those dancing lessons I gave him to good use." The happy flower girl now spoke; her eyes bright and filled with pride.

"Cid can't dance. No matter how many dance lessons he has, he just can't. And why would you say something like...Oh! I get it. You were just joking, right?" The ninja nodded, not even waiting for a response. "Of course you were."

At that moment, Cid came out from the wall, dressed in a white t-shirt and blue baggy pants. "I thought I heard a squirrel, but it's just the supposed 'Great Ninja'. Aldrick, what are they doing here?"

There was a hush over the room that Aldrick didn't immediately notice. "They were already here..." Looking at the surprised expressions of the three visitors, he became confused, and let out a quiet "What?"

Yuffie was the first to speak. "He called you by name! With no 'kid' or 'ki' before it! He didn't stop doing that to us for a few years! What did you d...Ooohhh. I get it now." Nodding with a mischievous grin, Yuffie looked towards the other two. Leon only put his face in his hand, and Aerith let out a small squeal as he covered her mouth from excitement and shock.

After a second of silence, Aldrick finally registered what she was implying. "Ah! I...I...Umm..." He didn't want to really admit it, but couldn't deny it, either. He looked to Cid, who only smiled and shrugged, giving the group a small nod as he wrapped his arms around Aldrick's waist in a small hug. A small smile crossed onto the teen's face, and he leaned into the hug.

"...Wow...I did not see that coming...well, I did...but..." Yuffie babbled like that for about five minutes, then suddenly stopped. She started to say something else, but nothing came out, and she left, followed by a giddy Aerith and an indifferent Leon.

Aldrick looked at Cid, a confused look on his face. "Do you think they'll be alright?"

Shrugging, Cid smiled. "Don't know. Either way, we gotta get to work."

Nodding, the teen was let go, and started to prepare the fireplace as the mechanic grabbed the materials they would need to work.

The next six days went by with relative ease. Each day consisted of waking up, eating, working, eating, visiting the rest of the group, eating, hot and steamy sex, shower, and back to sleep. At the end of each day, Aldrick fell asleep, reminding himself how happy he was now that he was with Cid.

On the seventh day, the routine was the same. They woke up, ate breakfast, worked a little on engraving, ate a quick lunch, visited with Yuffie, Aerith, and Leon, at dinner, and finished with a nice romp between the sheets. After their shower, Cid crawled into bed, but Aldrick stayed up, saying "I'm going to go out. Get some air. Okay?"

Concerned, Cid said "Okay, but don't go too far.", then rolled over to try and sleep as Aldrick put on a pair of black pajama pants and headed up into the shop and outside.

The air was cool, and stars lit up the sky as a crescent moon shone down. Sitting on the stairs in front of the accessory shop, the teen stared up into the night sky. "So beautiful...I never want to leave." he whispered.

"Ah, but wouldn't that be selfish?" A sudden voice startled Aldrick, and he leapt to his feet and turned, his jaw dropping at the speaker. Clad in a black cape with purple lining, and horns extending from the hood on her head, Maleficent stepped into view, a cross between a smile and a sneer on her green face.

"You! What are you doing here?!" Aldrick, with no actual combat training, took up a defensive pose, his fists ready to strike if necessary.

"Simple. Your presence here hinders me. Besides, what do you think your mother has been doing all this time?" With those words, an emerald flame was emitted from the crystal ball on Maleficent's staff. It floated out a little ways, then formed a circle that was almost like a window. The curious teenager peered into the circle, and let out a gasp.

Aldrick's mother lay on her bed, asleep. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she still seemed to cry as she slept. A picture of a young Aldrick lay in her hand, slightly crumpled from being held too hard. This sight made the teen feel horrible. /She's been thinking of me...and I completely forgot about her. What kind of son am I?\

"Oh, and let us not forget about your friends." The flame closed in on itself, then expanded once more, revealing one of the teens friends. He was on the phone, and Aldrick could barely make out his voice, which sounded like a whisper.

"I know...Of course I wonder about him. It's not like I forgot about Aldrick once he left...No, he isn't like that. He's too stubborn to roll over and die...Even if...No, that's...alright, goodbye..."

Aldrick could only fall to his knees. /They...they thought about me. They do care...and I...I...\

"Good. Now that you aren't thinking like a spoiled child, we must leave." The dark fairy urged the teen to stand after dissipating the conjured window, but he stayed seated.

"No...not with you...I won't leave with an evil bitch like you..." It was a whisper, but point was made clear. Maleficent, now fuming from irritation, spoke much harsher now.

"You will go home, or I will burn this town to the ground!" Eyeing the accessory shop, an evil glint appeared in her eye. "Maybe I should start with this shabby shop?"

Aldrick's eyes widened when another green flame emerged from the crystal ball and flew towards the shop. "Stop! I'll go!"

The small flame turned into a tiny ember, then disappeared into nothingness. "I'm glad you see things from my point of view now. Let us be off." With a swish of her cape, she turned towards the main gate and started to walk, only to stop as Aldrick said "Give me five minutes to grab my things."

"If you must. But only five. If you take too long, you know what I'll be pressed to do." She didn't turn around, but remained stationary as Aldrick ran into the shop, downstairs and into the bedroom.

Cid had gone to bed already, his body turned towards the wall. As quietly as he could, the teen entered the closet and searched for his clothes that he had come to Traverse Town in. Adorned in his jeans and shirt, the teen started to head out when he remembered the spearhead.

After digging through the pile of dirty clothes, the teen found the pants that held the spearhead, and pulled it out. It was a beautiful piece of work, and Aldrick was saddened by it. An idea hit him, and he grabbed his journal, along with a pencil that was sitting on one of the shelves. He opened it to one of the last two blank pages, and started to write.

Cid, I'm sorry. I'm going home. It's hard for me to do it, but if I don't...Maleficent will destroy everything. Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, the town...even you. I can't have that happen.

This spearhead was what I was having the moogles make for you. I wanted to give it to you as an apology present for treating you horribly...only now, it's because I'm leaving. Pathetic, I know.

I'm taking my journal, only because it holds some of my worst memories and thoughts. I don't want to leave that kinda of thing with you.

Once again, I'm sorry. If you hate me for this, I understand... -Love, Aldrick.

After tearing the page out, Aldrick placed the note on the nightstand, followed by the spearhead, which made a small thud as it connected with the wood.

"You comin' to bed?" Cid was apparently awake, but didn't roll over.

"Soon." came quietly from Aldrick.

"'Kay, don't stay up too much longer."

Not responding anymore, Aldrick hurried out of the room. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, the teen turned and faced the direction of the bedroom. A single tear rolled down his cheek. "I'm sorry...Goodbye." And with that, he ran up the stairs, out of the shop, and into the night.

Maleficent had not moved from her spot, and remained motionless as Aldrick approached. "Now, let us go." There was a hint of pleasure in her voice as she spoke. Waving her hand, a portal of darkness opened before her, and she started to walk through, a sinister laugh escaping her mouth.

Three dark doorways opened around Aldrick; One in front of him and two behind. A soldier heartless appeared from each portal, and the one in front of the teen sent a swift kick to the teen's gut, leaving Aldrick winded, gasping for breath as he fell to his knees and his journal fell to the ground.

The other two soldiers grabbed the teen's arms and legs, and carried him through the original portal. Once they all passed through, the all four of the portals closed, and the streets of Traverse Town were silent once more, the green journal laying open in the middle of the small plaza.

To be continued...

Yay! That chapter's done! Actually, I worked hard last night, so ch. 11 and 12 are written out, but I need to go over them pretty badly. 11 might actually get posted today, maybe 12, but not likely.

Now, follow andrhats and Carriles examples and review. Come on, I know you want to.