Disclaimer: I do not own Dissidia, FFVII, FFVII:CC, FFVIII, or ATLA.

A/N: Hey there! Hope you guys are liking so far! And reviewing! Reviews are luhve. I've been waiting forever for this chapter! Craziness is going to happen! Get yoself ready!

What Matters Is Now

Chapter Nine

Hikari's POV

I woke up with a pounding heart and a desperate need to go to the kitchen. I leapt up from bed, somehow not waking Demi in the process, and walked quickly down the halls. I reached the kitchen, but the lights weren't on. My spirit fell, and I sighed. Why had I expected to see him here? Did I really think he'd wait for me or something? Silly me, that's not how things worked.

I turned on the light, figuring I might as well just get some water while I was down here. I opened the cupboard to reach for a glass when a pounding alerted me to someone coming.

Sure enough, the footsteps revealed Laguna stopping suddenly in the doorway, clutching onto the wall as if he would've kept going had he not had a hold on something. His breath was heavy, his chest rising and falling visibly, and he stared directly at me, purpose in his eyes.

I blushed, struck by the intensity in his gaze. He'd never looked at me that way before; at least, not in reality. I swallowed and looked away. I needed to find a way to make this less awkward, before the stagnant air choked me to death.

I sent him a smile. "You so thirsty you had to run?" I asked.

He blinked, as if he didn't understand my question, then let out a breath and smiled. He laughed quietly, but I didn't believe it. "Yeah, I guess that's it."

"Then by all means," I said, and handed him my empty glass.

He took it and reached over me to grab another. I blushed, aware of his body behind me; I could practically feel the sparks of electricity passing from me to him.

"Here you go." He set the glass on the table next to my hand, and I wondered why he didn't just hand it to me himself. Did he not want to touch me? The thought sent my heart plummeting.

I sat at the table, and he sat across from me, the same as the nights before. Everything was typical; me, drinking my water, wishing I had something to talk about, and him, sitting across from me, so wonderful and so unattainable.

But for once, neither of us were really talking. We drank our water, smiled at each other halfheartedly when our eyes met, but all was silent.

Finally, I decided this wasn't going anywhere, and I stood up. Laguna stood up not even a second after I did, his chair making an awful sound against the floor in his haste.

I blinked at him in surprise, wondering where he was in such a hurry to go to. "I'm just gonna... go to bed now," I told him.

"I'll walk you," he offered instantly.

I was a little put off by how eager he seemed, but on the other hand, he wanted to walk me to my room!!!!!! How could I refuse that? "Sure," I said, and he fell into step beside me.

The walk was completely silent, just like the kitchen. Completely awkward, like the kitchen. And, like the kitchen, I could feel the electricity jumping from me to him and back, pulling us closer, jolting me awake, until I was so aware of him that I was unaware of everything else.

By the time we reached Demi's door, my heart was fluttering, as if the static shocks were making it beat three times faster than normal. Laguna stood in front of me, that look in his eyes again, making it impossible for me to raise my eyes from the ground. "Thanks," I muttered, wanting to disappear into Demi's room and disappear into his room at the same time.

"No problem."

That seemed to be that, then. I moved to open the door.

"Hikari."

I turned back to him, and he put his hand on my shoulder. Just that simple act sent wave after wave of shock through my body, but it in no way prepared me for what was going to happen next.

Eyes wide, I lifted my head to look at him, and got once glimpse of his glittering blue eyes before he kissed me.

I had no clue what to do at first; I stood there, like an idiot, for at least two seconds, until I found my mind and kissed him back, gently leaning closer. My heart burst in my chest, and when he brought a hand to the small of my back and pulled me close, I felt like I might faint.

Fortunately he pulled away before that could happen. We stared into each other's eyes, and I could tell he wanted to kiss me again, just as much as I wanted to kiss him. But then I could see my thoughts reflected in his eyes as we both realized:

That could never happen again.

"I'd better go," I said.

"Yeah," he agreed quickly, stepping back.

I opened the door and shut it as soon as I entered the room, afraid that if I didn't get away from him fast enough, I'd never leave that spot. I turned and faced the door, listening for his footsteps, but heard nothing. I put my hand to the door, and knew he was there on the other side, his hand across from mine. There we were, so close.

Separated by a thick wall. And that's how it should be.

So why did it feel so wrong?

Demi's POV

Hikari went out again last night. I should be used to it. It was, what, the third time? Still, it wasn't so much that she was waking up in the middle of the night as it was who she was seeing in the middle of the night. I knew she was seeing Laguna. Obviously, since I'd heard them talking that night.

She was sleeping by the time I'd decided to talk things out with her. Strange that she was so tired so early, but I was a little relieved. Fighting came easily to me. Apologizing did not.

And even so, what did I really have to apologize for? All I did was tell her how I felt. And she told me… that she was sick of me. Sick of being here.

I won't lie; it hurt. A lot. But, of course, Squall was there for me.

When Hikari stormed off, he immediately took me in his arms. There was a hollow feeling in my chest, like someone had punched me there and my heart flew out of my back to splatter on the wall. I never thought that she harbored such feelings for me. Did she really feel like that? Was it just her anger talking, or actually her?

I didn't figure out that I was crying until Squall began rubbing my back. I buried my face into his shoulder, listening as he said, "Don't worry. She's just mad. She'll come back and apologize."

"But she shouldn't have to," I objected. "She shouldn't even be in this situation! I should have taken better care of her. I should have known that something was weird about him –"

"How could you have known?" Squall pulled me back to look at me, and wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb. "Don't blame yourself. She's just trying to find her way."

"But it's the wrong way! I have to help her see that!"

"What can you do?" I didn't have an answer. "She has to find this out for herself. She's strong; she can handle him. If she sees something strange, I know she'll make the right decision."

I let out a sigh and hugged him tight, warm in his arms. "I just wish there was something I could say…"

"I know," he sympathized. "The most you can do is just be there for her. She needs you, even if she says she doesn't. She just needs to calm down and think."

I nodded, wanting to believe him. And I did. His voice was soothing, smooth, and I drank it up. I turned my head up to kiss him, feel his love for me instead of just hearing it.

He smiled and pressed his lips to mine, keeping me close, holding me like a precious doll. The safety I felt in his arms was like nothing else in the world. Kissing him was like bringing in my soul. As if it had run away a long time ago to him, and we were finally brought back together. I knew he felt the same way; I could feel it in his embrace.

"Are you going back?" I asked when I pulled back.

His eyebrows drew together for a moment, then he blinked in understanding. "I haven't really thought about it," he admitted. "I don't think I'm needed right now. Besides, I could use a vacation."

My heart leaped. "So you'll stay?"

He smiled. "For as long as I can."

I smiled brightly and hugged him until he couldn't breathe. It was all I could have hoped for. Even though I was going through this tough situation with Hikari, I knew I would have Squall beside me. And that alone would make it all bearable.

Hikari's POV

Demi heard me leave and come back, I know. I just hope to Hyne she doesn't know what happened just outside her door. I can still feel his lips on mine. Just thinking about it makes my heart do jumping jacks.

I can never, ever allow that to happen again.

Sure, it's okay – maybe a little weird, but still okay – that I have dreams about an older man. Suggestive dreams, but still dreams. But to actually kiss a very much older man in real life is unacceptable. The fact that he's Demi's dad makes it ever more so.

I couldn't waste any more time. I knew Laguna knew that it was wrong. But he must've known it was wrong even before he did it. So his resolve isn't very strong, obviously. And I already know that it's hard to resist him when he isn't throwing himself at me.

We needed to talk. If we didn't get this straight, I couldn't tell what was going to happen next.

I wiggled out of bed, Demi at my side, sleeping peacefully. I bent over to check and, sure enough, her eyes were closed, her breathing steady. I hadn't woken her.

Tiptoeing out of the bedroom, I weaved through hallways, left and right and upside down until I made it to the President's room.

It hit me then. Oh Hyne, I kissed the President!

I shook the thought out of my head. It didn't matter, because it was never going to happen again. I kept repeating it to myself, over and over. Never again, never again, never again.

I knocked on the door, softly, so no one around would hear. I waited, and then it occurred to me that I might've knocked too softly, and Laguna hadn't even heard. I raised my hand to knock again when the door opened.

Laguna stood before me. Gray sweatpants were tied loosely around his waist, his long hair out of its ponytail and sliding down his bare shoulders and chest. His entire body moved, his muscles rippling smoothly, as his rough, battle-worn hand brushed a few locks away from his face, and he blinked sleepily at me with his bright blue eyes.

My heart began pounding out the beat for the Every Time We Touch Dance Remix.

A moment passed where we just looked at each other, and then suddenly Laguna really saw me. He blinked, his eyes getting a little wider, and his mouth opened, but he said nothing.

I swallowed, trying not to look any lower than his face. "Hi," I said.

"Hi," he repeated back to me.

Silence ensued, but I refused to let it take hold of the situation, as it so often did with us. "Can I come in?"

He blinked again, trying to cover up the fact that his eyes had strayed from my face for a fraction of a second, and nodded, moving aside and opening the door wider to let me through.

Once inside, I caught my reflection in a small wall mirror. A sleeve of my oversized nightshirt had fallen down, exposing my shoulder and a good portion of my chest. Blushing furiously, I fixed it, bringing the collar tight around my neck.

Laguna cleared his throat. "So, what, um… makes you come here so early?"

I sighed, and turned to face him. "I don't think I really even have to say it."

He looked away.

"That can't happen again, Laguna," I told him. Impulsively, I wanted to step closer to him, to make sure he was taking me seriously, but I held myself back. Distance was good. Distance would be our makeshift door for now.

He didn't say anything, so I continued.

"It's completely wrong! You're Demi's dad, Esthar's President, and 30 years older than me! And I'm just… me," I finished stupidly, looking at the ground.

Laguna finally glanced up at me. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Confused, I said, "What?"

"What do you mean, you're just… you?" he asked, stepping closer to me. I took a tiny step back, knowing I should, but not wanting to.

"J-Just…" He stood so close, so gorgeous; I was scared. "Nothing. Just that, you should spend your time and do that kind of stuff with someone your own age, someone prettier and smarter –"

Laguna cut me off. "Don't ever say that," he scolded, his voice hard. He stepped forward once more, so close I had to turn my head up to look into his eyes. He put a hand to my cheek, and I nearly melted. "You're beautiful, Hikari," he said softly.

I closed my eyes, savoring his touch. I felt his other hand on my neck, the fabric moving underneath his palm. His hair tickled my face and his perfect lips brushed mine…

My eyes snapped open and I ducked underneath his arms, running to the other side of the room. "No!" I said. "No, no, no! That cannot happen! I told you! Dammit, Laguna…"

Laguna walked toward me, and I scurried along the wall, keeping my distance. He sighed, leaning his weight on one leg. "Hikari, you can't just avoid me."

"Yes, I can!" I yelled, trying to open a closet door.

Suddenly he was behind me. "What are you doing?"

I jumped and spun around, pressing my back against the desk behind me. Laguna regarded me with an eyebrow raised, and I swallowed. "Trying to lock myself in your closet," I answered meekly.

He cracked a smile. "Why?"

"So you can't come near me."

His face was hurt. "Do you really think I'd take advantage of you?" he asked, his voice soft with disbelief.

"No, no!" I said, putting my hands up in distress. The warmth from his chest radiated onto my hands, and my head spun. "It's just… I can't breathe when you're so close."

He blinked slowly, his face thoughtful. He said nothing, just watched me as he brought a hand up and tucked some hair behind my ear. Just that simple act left me completely breathless. And when he leaned forward and kissed my cheek, lingering, my chest nearly exploded.

He pulled back, looking at me, and suddenly a huge smile broke out on his face.

"Wh-What?" I stammered, and he burst out laughing. My mouth opened, then I figured it out. "You… You were just messing with me!"

In response, I got more laughter.

Outraged, but secretly enjoying the joke, I stomped up to him – for he'd stepped back while cracking up – and smacked his shoulder. "You're such a jerk!"

"Come on; it was funny!"

"No, it wasn't!" I said, punctuating every word with a fist on his chest.

"Hey!" He caught my wrists and held me at bay. "Calm down." His chuckling still invaded his voice and eyes.

"Not until you apologize!" I squirmed and struggled, trying to get out of his grip. We wrestled like this for a few moments until finally he pinned me to the wall we'd just been at, the desk at my hip.

"Let go!" I laughed, vainly struggling, but stopped as soon as our eyes met. I paused and viewed the situation as if I was watching it. My shirt had fallen again, shirtless Laguna had my wrists pinned helplessly at either side of my head, and our bodies were so close to touching it was almost painful.

Laguna noticed, too; the playfulness left his eyes and he looked at me like he had that night.

"This probably isn't very good," I pointed out, but my voice sounded soft and feeble even to me.

"Yeah," Laguna agreed, "probably not."

He let go of me, but made no move otherwise. I stood there, knowing I should leave right at that second, but I couldn't. Without thinking, I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him, pressing as close as I could. He wrapped his arms around me, crushing me against him and kissing me passionately. My back against the wall, my chest against Laguna's, I couldn't breathe at all but I couldn't care less.

Laguna smoothed his hands down my waist and picked me up, wrapping my legs around his waist. I clung to him, his tongue dancing with mine. He broke the kiss long enough to sweep the desk clear of the papers cluttered atop it, a vase smashing to the floor along with them, but neither of us paid it any mind. He set me on the desk and kissed me again, and I moaned at the feeling of him between my legs. His hands traveled under my nightshirt and cupped my breasts, and I sucked in a breath, leaning my head back so he could kiss my neck.

"Oh, Laguna," I breathed as he nipped at my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine.

A loud knock at the door made us freeze.

"Laguna! Time to wake up!"

We exchanged terrified glances, and then seemed to come out of a haze.

"Oh my god," I breathed, scooting backwards on the desk.

Laguna stepped back, gathering himself before he answered loudly, "Okay! Uh, don't come in yet!"

A pause. "Why not?"

"I'm, um…" Laguna tried to think quickly while I smoothed my shirt out and tried to calm my racing heart. "I'm naked!"

I gave him a look. "What?" I mouthed.

He looked at me exasperatedly. "It was the only thing I could think of!" he explained silently.

I rolled my eyes and motioned to the closet. "I can hide in there until they leave," I whispered, and Laguna nodded, opening it easily. A little dumbfounded, since it had seemed to be locked earlier, I stepped inside, and Laguna kept the door open by a hair.

He answered the door. "Okay, come on in."

Kiros and Ward stepped inside, both with confused faces. "…" Ward said.

"He means to say 'What was that all about?'" Kiros translated.

"Hm? Oh, nothing," Laguna covered, badly.

"What's that?" Kiros asked, pointing to the shattered vase.

Laguna shrugged. "Must've happened last night."

Ward raised his eyebrows. "…!"

"Did you have a girl here?" Kiros asked.

Laguna gave them an arrogant smile.

Ward grinned and slammed a hand against his back.

Kiros cracked a small smile. "It's been a while; good for you. Where is she?"

"She, uh, she left."

"Already? We just heard somebody else in here…"

I cupped my hands over my mouth in horror. They'd heard me?

"Well, you guys scared her off! She freaked and left as soon as she heard you guys."

"Whatever," Kiros said, drawing the word out sarcastically.

They laughed and walked deeper into the room, and when I was sure they had turned the corner, I pushed the door open and ran silently out of the room, thankful that they left the door open. I leaned against the wall a moment outside and caught my breath. Oh my god, I thought. I just… Oh my god! One side of me was horrified that I let it get that far with Laguna, when I had gone in there with the intent that it would never ever happen again ever. But the other side was replaying the scene over and over again in my head, reliving the feelings and sensations he invoked in me, wishing Kiros and Ward had never knocked on that door…

And once again I was faced with a jolting thought. Just like my dream, Laguna and I were in a risqué position, and Kiros and Ward broke us out of it. But what if they hadn't? What if no one had come for hours? Would I have stopped him? Or would I still be in his room, on his bed, his perfectly naked body on top of me as he…

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop now. Naughty thoughts, naughty thoughts. I took a deep breath and let it out, forcing myself away from his room. Every step was like walking through cement. All I wanted to do was run back inside, tear him from whatever conversation he was in, throw him on his huge Presidential bed and ravage him.

I shook my head. Stop it! I yelled at myself. You have to stop thinking about him, or you'll never end this. But I so didn't want it to end.