Disclaimer: I've abandoned my sights on the Japanese Final Mix. Importing just cost too much. Now, why wouldn't July just come already?!

Warning: Leon/Cloud. Yay for hot boy love.

Author's Note: Hey people! I'm alive!!

Well, not that many people are reading this, but I gotta love ya all for keeping the faith! The hiatus' off! Jumie finally finished his tour of the States and settled down in sunny Singapore ('about time')!

Love goes out to you, Mirror-san. You have always been most patient.

Meh, I wrote this in a horrible state of Writer's Block. So sue me.

Dedication:Shattered Mirror01. Girl, for your constant encouragement and your shameless act of writing in my absence.

And to you, ­Song of the Skies.

VIII. Strength – Leon (Squall Leonhart)

Strength is…

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"Cloud!"

I couldn't help but scream out his name upon spotting his unruly hair. The fool! How dare he pull a vanishing act like that?! Didn't he know how worried he made me? And now look at him, cocky smirk on his face, and that mischievous twinkle in his eyes…

"Hehe, so you finally found me, Squall. You're such a slowpoke. I wasn't even trying… Squall? Are… are you okay?"

His smirk quickly melted into a concerned frown, and I barely registered what elicited that change in demeanor, until I felt it.

"… …"

Warm teardrops streaming down my cheek.

"Are you… are you crying, Squall?"

"You moron! Never… never ever do that again! Can you even imagine how worried I was?! You were just there a moment ago, walking by me, then you just suddenly… disappeared! I was afraid… so afraid…"

I was young then. Young and weak. Overwhelmed by emotions, I just… broke down in front of my best friend.

"Squall… I'm sorry. You must have thought about your parents…"

…oh Cloud. I'm an open book to you, aren't I?

"…I don't want to be alone, Cloud."

"Then you won't be. Sorry for being insensitive. I promise, I won't ever make you cry again."

Please keep that promise.

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Strength is…being able to forgive him.

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You had to leave, didn't you?

Power… is it so essential?

Can you not see, Cloud? Our first kiss… it should have told you everything.

I didn't want you to go at all…

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Strength is knowing when to admit defeat

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Where are you, Cloud?

Our city; our beautiful and peaceful city, is under assault.

Didn't you say that you wanted to protect us?

I'll fight in your stead, Cloud.

But I'm not stupid.

We must live to fight another day.

Ergo, as much as it crushes my heart, I shall bid goodbye to Radiant Garden.

Survival is key.

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Strength is determination.

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I've changed since.

Talking is redundant. Words are unnecessary; nothing more than impediments to efficiency in battle.

I concur with your point of view now, Cloud. Power is indeed everything.

Cid managed to synthesize a gun into a sword with help from moogles, and I've been wielding the weapon ever since.

Day and night, rain or shine, I've been constantly training, in the dark waterways, hidden from artificial illumination which so permeates this town.

I have to become strong.

I don't want to lose anyone else anymore.

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Strength… is to trust and entrust.

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Why? Why did the Keyblade choose someone like him?

This boy… Sora, he looks just like you, Cloud.

Why couldn't I wield the Keyblade in his stead? This child is too young, much too young.

Why must he suffer?

Like we did?

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Strength is to allow joyous emotions to flow freely.

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Sora did it.

I must confess that I had my doubt, but he was a determined child.

More than that, really: Bright as daylight, stubborn, pouty, but unimaginably caring, with a heart that could encompass all.

And his affection and allegiance to his friends, above all else.

Just like someone I know.

And love.

Cloud.

You cannot begin to fathom how wonderful it is to see you again.

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Strength is Leadership

And Burden.

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An uphill task.

Restoration of Hollow Bastion was never easy to begin with.

But reality strikes us the hard blow.

Besieged on all fronts by Heartless and Nobodies. To think their attack would be so coordinated.

However, we shall remain undaunted. I never could have better allies.

Yuffie, Aerith, Tifa, the YuRiPa trio, Tron, Sora, Donald, Goofy, King Mickey…

And of course…

"What? You're fighting too?"

Hmph.

We're fighting, Cloud.

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Strength… is to let him go.

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I should have guessed.

When Sora passed me hesitantly, with his cheery "Hi Leon!" replaced with a heavy "Hey Leon."…

When his conversation with Cloud was done, the boy's sky-blue orbs reflected worry and concern…

And when Cloud so indiscreetly dropped the bombshell.

This is not goodbye, is it?

Do come back, Cloud.

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Strength is to allow weakness.

Strength is weakness.

And weakness is strength.

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I am tired.

I need some rest, friends. Give me some time… to do what I should have done long ago.

I lay my arms on the desk.

And rested my head upon it.

And I wept.

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Strength – Leon

End notes: You can kill me now, Mirror-chan, for dedicating such a worthless piece to you. It wasn't easy still. Shortest one yet.

And love to all readers and reviewers too. Constructive criticism always welcomed.

VIII. Strength – Self control, Patience, Perseverance, Kindness, Comprehension, Discipline, Inner Strength.