Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to us. Some of them we wouldn't want, either way, but we wouldn't mind owning a pair of sparring boys. Alas, they're not ours to have. And the song belongs to Kamelot - it's called Sailorman's Hymn.
Beta: Azrax (Thanks. Again.)
A/N (Anae): Wow, chapter eleven already. Who would've guessed.
In this chapter, we bring you one more character. Neither QttQ or me is fond of her, but she's still important piece when it comes to our boys.
Hope you enjoy!
A/N (QttQ): And so we turn the world upside down.
Really, this was planned for a long time, but it took us eleven chapters to get here. And this chapter was a pain in the ass to write; it's nothing but confusion. Leon is confused, Cloud is confused - hell, even I'm confused! I hope you guys aren't, because there's more to come. C ;
Anyway, thankyou for sticking with us this far. I hope you'll keep
checking back for as long as we have something to offer. 3

Chapter XI: Guide his way home

She stands by the window alone
Staring into the rain
She is trying to guide his way home
From the waters that keep them apart

Leon had suspected that Cloud might get nervous once they neared the area where the blonde's friends lived. Leon didn't really know the exact location, so he had to rely on Cloud to actually take them there, but he wasn't going to let the swordsman turn back and surrender. It had been a long time since Cloud had properly visited his friends and it was about time he left the Colisseum and enjoyed the scent of fresh air. The departure had been abrupt - they'd packed almost nothing, only the bare necessities - and Phil hadn't been overjoyed about their decision to go, but even the old goat had seen how important this was. It would do Cloud some good to spend time with those who loved him and escape the world of blood and battle, even if just for a moment.

As they drew nearer to their goal, Leon found that he felt more nervous than what Cloud seemed to be. He'd met some of Cloud's friends before - Yuffie and Tifa, for instance - but there were others to be introduced to, as well. It wasn't a very important moment, because Leon was nothing but a friend, if even that much, but for some reason he felt restless as Cloud lead them to a street with neat, roomy houses lined up like in a postcard. Radiant Garden had always been a beautiful town, and even if it was currently being partially re-built and had an unfinished feeling to its exterior, it still emitted the sensations of warmth and hospitality.

Cloud only hesitated once, and that was when they stood at the door. Leon gave him the time he needed while carefully examining the handsome, tense face as Cloud stood quietly, not as much as raising his hand to knock. Eventually, Leon rested a supporting palm on Cloud's shoulder and they shared a short look. Nothing was said and Cloud reacted in no visible way, but it seemed to give him the courage he lacked. In a sharp, shift movement, Cloud knocked on the door and stepped back.

Leon would've bet money on the fact that they both counted the seconds until the door opened. Cloud tensed visibly and Leon allowed his hand to remain on the blonde's shoulder. He wasn't sure if it was helping, but it wasn't being pushed away, which Leon took as a good sign.

The door opened to reveal a smiling Tifa. Perhaps she was expecting a salesman, maybe some friend of her's, but she definitely wasn't expecting Cloud Strife. As soon as her eyes landed upon the fighter, her smile faded away and was replaced with a completely surprised look with a hint of disbelief. She remained in the doorway, staring at Cloud, not paying any attention to Leon, whatsoever. It felt like an eternity, but finally, she spoke.

"Cloud?"

Her voice was sharp and strict, like an accusation. It was as if she would've been blaming the man on her threshold of pretending to be her friend.

Cloud nodded. It was all he had to do, because the reaction was immediate.

"Hey, guys!" Suddenly Tifa was all smiles, shifting in the doorway, calling into the rooms out of their sight. "Come here, you've got to see this! Guess who's here!"

Leon felt more than saw Cloud tense up even further as she invited the rest of the house's residents to gather by the door. Yuffie was the first one to arrive and she let out a shrill howl of joy when she spotted Cloud. Immediately, she was clinging to the swordsman, hugging him for dear life.

"Chocoboy, it's you!" The ninja was as hyperactive as always, but there was something honest about the way she smiled at Cloud. She really did care about him, Leon noted as Yuffie finally let go. Cloud truly had friends who cared for him.

The slightly older man who appeared behind Tifa was unfamiliar to Leon. The man was balancing a cigarette in his mouth while he grunted a greeting, arms folded across his chest.

"'S about time we see ya here, Strife." Even if the man looked grim and even a bit annoyed, his tone was kind. "Tifa's been a pain in the arse 'cause she's been so worried."

"Shut up, Cid." The dark female snapped, turning to Cloud. The smile that appeared on her face told, however, that Cid had been right. It was filled with a longing that conveyed her feelings better than anything. As she pulled Cloud into a long embrace, Leon's hand finally slipped from the fighter's shoulder. Cloud was with his friends now. He had all the support he needed.

"There's someone else for you to meet, too." Tifa finally said as she pulled back and welcomed Cloud and Leon into the house. Her smile was sad in a way that made Leon frown in confusion, but he didn't dare interrupt. "We didn't know how to contact you and it hasn't been that long since- Oh, just follow me."

Cid shook Leon's hand with a firm grip and Yuffie gave him one of her famous grins as a greeting while Tifa led Cloud into what seemed to be the living room. When Leon attempted to follow, Yuffie took his hand and stopped him.

"He can be upset." The ninja said, and Leon had never seen Yuffie as serious as she was now. "Don't blame him if he gets upset, okay? If you do, I won't forgive you."

Leon had no idea what was going on. His confusion only grew, but he managed a nod for Yuffie. Cloud might get upset? Why? Because of this mystery guest? But Tifa had seemed rather happy to introduce Cloud to whoever it was, so the meeting couldn't be that bad, could it? And still, as he finally entered the living room, doubt was pooling in his stomach.

Leon tried to make himself believe that he didn't feel an outsider. He knew Yuffie and he'd spoken to Tifa before. So far, Cid was the only one of Cloud's friends he hadn't seen before. He had been welcomed into the house, even if none of these people knew that much about him. They probably didn't even know what his relationship to Cloud was, because the fighter wasn't the most talkative person beneath the sun. Leon had a hard time imagining Cloud telling his friends what it was that went on between Leon and himself.

Then again, was there anything to tell? They'd been through quite a few quarrels now, mostly because Leon had gone and probed at things that weren't exactly his business. He couldn't really explain why he did these things, why he bothered Cloud over and over again even if it often led to a battle of either words or swords. There was something about the blonde man that intrigued him. He was strong and proud, and definitely someone Leon respected, both as a fighter and a man. Yet, at the same time, he had seen Cloud in the most fragile state, he'd somehow managed to crawl beneath Cloud's skin and settle down into the corner of his soul.

There was nothing to tell when the cards were laid out. Leon and Cloud were fighters of the highest rank, of the roughest kind. They had a manner of relieving stress that involved a moment in the dark, a round between the sheets, a stolen hour in the bathing chamber. Apart from that, there was nothing to present to an outsider. They weren't friends, not really, not even if Leon felt like he'd managed to get beneath that thick shell of Cloud's. They were acquaintances at best, comrades in battle, opponents and sparring partners. For the moment, it was enough. In the end, it had to be enough, because Leon had no way of demanding more.

So perhaps he envied these people a tad, he mused as he entered the nicely furnished living room and let his eyes pass from Yuffie to Cid and finally to Tifa. These people had been Cloud's friends long before he'd even met the fair fighter. They had a place in Cloud's life, because they were a part of his past. There was no room for Leon in the days that had already passed, but for some reason, the brunette had decided to be a part of the times that were still ahead. That was why he'd followed Cloud here in the first place.

Managing to make his mind settle down slightly, Leon finally concentrated on the matter at hand. The rather small living room felt a bit packed now that they were all spread around it. Both Yuffie and Cid had decided to stay back, and Leon joined them, feeling at ease in the background. Even Tifa remained a few steps behind Cloud, her hands twisted together in an act of obvious nervousness. Cloud himself seemed to have frozen, standing in the middle of the room, hands knotted into fists on either side of his body. Leon couldn't see his face, but he could guess that it was a mask of controlled emotions, as tense as always.

Seeking the source of Cloud's attitude, Leon's eyes glided over to the last person in the room. On the couch, sitting with her hands neatly in her lap, was a young woman. She was rather beautiful, Leon noted, in a way neither Tifa nor Yuffie could pull off. Tifa had an edge to her that conveyed her strength and ability to survive on her own, while Yuffie had an air of eternal cheerfulness around her.

This woman, however, carried none of those qualities. Leon could only describe her as calm and harmonic. With her small, gentle smile, fair skin and pale pink dress, she seemed to ooze gentleness like no one Leon had ever met before. She did nothing but sat there, her eyes fixed on Cloud in the most loving manner, as if his presence alone would've been the greatest gift she could ever be presented with.

Cloud was the one to speak first. Leon had never heard his voice as low and controlled as it was now. Cloud was holding himself back like never before, and Leon could only wonder why that was. What was it that Cloud was trying to hide, and what did it have to do with this strange woman?

"Who are you?"

Leon's confusion grew even further. Cloud didn't even know this person? Then why was he reacting so strongly to her presence? A glance at Cid and Yuffie gave Leon no clues - they both looked tense, but they clearly had a grasp of what was going on. Neither one looked as confused as Leon felt. There was something Leon didn't know - something that bound all of this puzzle's pieces together.

"Have you forgotten me?"

Her voice was just as calm as Leon had expected, if not calmer. It was like the song of the gentlest bird, and Leon found himself thinking that this woman would make a very fine mother some day. She seemed to be honestly curious for the answer, because the way she spoke wasn't accusing in any way. She merely wanted Cloud to remember her, nothing else.

"How could I?"

Leon gave up. He wasn't going to understand this before someone explained it to him. So, instead of trying to figure everything out, he concentrated on the discussion everyone else seemed to be so interested in.

"Then you do remember me."

"I'm not a fool. You don't exist. She doesn't exist."

"I can assure you of that I very much exist, right here and now."

"How?"

Cloud was talking a lot for his usual, quiet self. This had to be a very important meeting, Leon figured. Or a reunion, if their words were anything to rely on.

The woman sighed softly, smoothing out her dress as she stood from her seat. A few steps were enough to take her to where Cloud was standing, as cold as the sword strapped to his back. He didn't react in any way, didn't greet her with an embrace, not even a nod. He merely stood and faced her as she watched him, that smile ever present on her beautiful face.

"I don't know ." She said quietly, resting one of her hands on Cloud's chest. "None of us do. But there has to be a reason for why it's possible."

Cloud was as swift as he was on the battle field. He turned around and left, his steps quick and light. He didn't spare anyone a glance, he didn't say anything, he didn't as much as give a warning. In one moment he was there, and in the second, the front door had opened and closed, and Cloud was gone.

Leon was dumbfounded. Tifa looked utterly defeated and disappointed, and Yuffie looked like she was about to cry. Cid looked even more grim than usual and lit up a new cigarette to replace the former one. The unfamiliar woman was the only one who kept smiling, merely sighing softly and lowering her hand with a soft shake of her head.

"He's the same as always. Just like I remembered him."

Before Leon had time to open his mouth, her eyes had fallen on him. She approached the brunette with kind curiosity and extended her hand in a greeting. Leon accepted and shook it softly, as if afraid of breaking her with his battle-roughened hands.

"And who might you be?"

"Leonheart." Leon nodded. "Just call me Leon."

"Very nice to meet you, Leon. You're a friend of Cloud's, I presume?"

"A battle comrade, more or less." Leon wasn't going to specify, not unless she asked. And she didn't; Instead, she said something that made Leon's stomach turn.

"I should've guessed." Her smile didn't falter, but her eyes seemed to sink right into Leon's soul. "You immediately reminded me of Zack. A bit."

The words made Leon suspect something his entire mind went against. And still, as he gathered his courage and asked the one question he could ask, he still expected the answer on some level.

"And who are you?"

"Me?" And she smiled, like she would've been smiling for years and never stopped. "I'm Aerith."