Wow it's so strange when you're nearly finished a fic. Kinda sad really. Well, this story still has a few chapters to go but "Sail Away With Me" has only got a couple more…taken forever to get there and that was only up to 9 chapters lol. Anyways, back to this story.

Angelicxox: I love Cid and Barret for that reason

RoyalFanatic: Well that makes it okay then. Yeah it was close with Cloud, maybe not so lucky next time.

Ankosune: Lol yeah poor Denzel.

Chapter 10: Just One Day

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Denzel tried to protest but she grabbed his hand and dragged him away. He really hated when she did that. When her soft hands clasped around his. He shook his head. He couldn't think like that!

"Hmm, okay we're going to the theatre later! There's supposed to be a really good show on tonight. It's called loveless and it's about this man whose one true love is murdered right in front of his eyes. Apparently it's a true story." Denzel didn't make any sign to show he was interested. Marlene didn't notice as she continued.

"But first," She began before she slapped his arm. "Tag!" She cried. Denzel frowned.

"Not that again." He muttered. Marlene laughed.

"Don't tell me you still don't know how to play!" She replied. "It's alright, I was joking anyway." Her eyes scanned the City before they lit up.

"Ice-cream!" She yelled. Denzel tilted his head as he saw her race to a multi-colored van. He approached in time to see her be handed two cones of what looked like a blob of frozen milk. She handed him one and he glanced at it curiously. She smiled.

"It's called ice-cream." She explained. "Eat it before it melts." Denzel sniffed it tentatively. It smelled alright. He watched as Marlene licked at it and copied her. His eyes lit up. It tasted good! He tried to take a bite but when his teeth dug in, a huge jolt of coldness shot through him and he yelped. Marlene couldn't help the laughter that escaped her.

Denzel glared at her but that only made her giggle more. In an attempt to get her to shut up, he threw the cone at her. She was shocked into silence for a moment before she threw her own at him. Denzel blinked down at the stain on his shirt. They glanced at each other as Marlene tried to hide her smirk. Denzel smiled slyly.

"That's it." He said running towards her. Marlene let out a playful scream as he chased her to the river. He caught up easily and grabbed her waist, hoisting her over his shoulder before he walked to the river.

"Time for a swim Princess." He laughed. Marlene squirmed in his grip.

"No Denzel! No!" She cried in between laughter. "It'll be freezing!" She argued but he jumped straight into the water. He grabbed her hand underwater to get her to calm down. She still couldn't swim after all. He gently grabbed her waist and pushed his feet up from the bottom.

They broke the surface with a huge gulp of air. Marlene giggled as she took large breaths and pushed her hair back. He had pushed at an angle so they were in the shallow part of the river.

"You idiot!" She cried in mock-hurt. Denzel laughed and flicked water at her. She turned her head away on instinct but she soon splashed him back. They stayed in the river for almost half an hour, the coldness of the water soon being forgotten. Denzel smiled as he watched Marlene.

"What?" She asked, noticing him staring. He blinked and looked away, shaking his head. She didn't press it as she pulled herself out of the water. Denzel followed soon after. He watched the Princess shake her head to dry her hair.

She was so different from the girls on the cliffs. She was spirited and full of life. Full of trust. He felt an unusual stab of guilt pass through him. He didn't want to break her trust. She had shown him what it was like to laugh and smile. He couldn't break that trust.

"Denzel?" her worried tone snapped him out of his thoughts and he found himself looking into her eyes. They were so close. He immediately stepped back, not used to being so near a girl. She smiled slightly and took his hand.

"Come on, the show's about to start." She cried.

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It was actually quite a good show, Denzel had to admit. A man called Chris was trying to save the world from a psycho who thought an alien was his mother. To try and stop Chris, the man killed Amy, a girl who was of a special heritage and was the only one able to stop him. Amy was killed right in front of Chris' eyes. Denzel glanced at Marlene as the scene unfolded. He watched as Amy sat on the pedestal and Chris approached her.

The Princess' eyes were wide and shining brightly as she waited for Amy to run to Chris. But she didn't. She was praying silently. Then Chris raised his sword and Denzel watched Marlene's hands fly to her mouth and smiled as she shook her head at the scene. As he started bringing the sword down, Marlene threw himself into Denzel.

"He can't kill her!" She cried. Denzel was shocked as he glanced at her and then the stage. The rest of the group, Tornado, who were traveling with Chris yelled his name and he dropped the sword with a clatter. Denzel shook Marlene's shoulder.

"He didn't kill her." He said. Marlene looked back but didn't move from Denzel's embrace. He could see the tears slowly running down her cheeks. And then she gasped as the first glimpse of Steve appeared behind Amy. And then he was gone. Amy looked up at Chris and they just stared at her. Marlene watched silently as Amy smiled at Chris. And then Steve struck, impaling his sword right through her.

Marlene jumped and her mouth fell open. She threw herself back into Denzel.

"No! No no no no no!" She sobbed. "She's not meant to die!" Denzel patted her back, unsure of what he was supposed to do. As he had watched her, he hadn't payed attention to the play. All he thought was how beautiful she was.

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It was dark when the play finished and they started walking on. Suddenly, Marlene stopped, staring up at the sky. Denzel glanced at her.

"What is it?" He asked, looking up. Marlene smiled.

"Look, that looks like a baby rabbit." She pointed as she lay down on the grass. Denzel smiled and lay next to her. He searched the stars and laughed.

"That looks like two guys fighting for a piece of meat." He smiled. Marlene raised an eyebrow at him.

"I've never done this before." He said with a hint of amusement. Marlene lay on her side.

"Really? My father and I used to do this all the time." She replied.

"He says, all the Great Royals of the Past are up there, looking down on us." For a moment there was silence.

"Do you think Sephiroth is up there?" Denzel asked softly. Marlene looked at him and he glanced back. He sighed and stood up.

"He wasn't my father but he was still a part of me." He explained. Marlene walked up to him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

"My father says, there was a darkness in Sephiroth that he just couldn't escape." She said. Denzel turned to her.

"Maybe there's a darkness in me too." He whispered. She tilted his chin up to look at her.

"Maybe everyone does." She answered just as softly. "But maybe some can escape it." She leaned up and pressed her lips against his, giving him the reassurance he needed as his arms snaked around her waist and hers around his neck.

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Cloud watched the two from the balcony of the Castle. He sighed and looked up at the sky.

"Father, I'm lost. Denzel is one of them, Sephiroth's heir. How can I accept him?"

"Cloud?" The King turned to see Yuffie walking towards him.

"I was seeking council from Father and the other Royals." He explained. Yuffie glanced at the sky.

"Did they help?" she asked.

"Silent as stars. My father would never…"

"Oh God Cloud." Yuffie laughed. "You want so much to walk the path expected of you, like you have to be a hero or something. Perhaps Denzel does not." Cloud turned to her.

"What? How do you know him?" He asked. She just smiled.

"I can see them down there just as easily as you can." She said, glancing at the couple. She patted her brother's shoulder in a reassuring gesture.

"Get to know him and see."

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