I would like to thank everyone for their support. I know this update came sooner than expected, but this is because I will not be able to write again for quite some time. After vacation ends, my computer privileges at my mother's house will be taken away again. Because I live with my mom more than I do with my dad, I won't be able to update as much as I can now over the coarse of my vacation while my computer privileges are still, um, usable. So please enjoy the updates I give you now. Hopefully they'll be very good since these last chapters will be the final ones and then it will be on to the next fan fiction I have up my sleeve. Anyway here is chapter 26. Please enjoy.

Chapter 26: She's…Gone

I felt myself lose control over my emotions as I saw Sora run off to be welcomed back by everyone else. I didn't want him to figure out for himself that Aerith was dead, that I had watched her die in front of me without doing anything to stop Sephiroth's madness. And why?! Because I was weak! Because I can't protect the people I love! Because I am just a…puppet. And Sephiroth is the one pulling my strings…

"Sora! Wait!"

I found myself chasing after the younger boy, my cold and demanding front losing its effect. I wanted to be the one to tell him. I should be the one to explain…everything. I chased after him, going as fast as my legs were willing to take me. But this kid was very fast. I began to worry about reaching him in time. Of course…I was not able to. Yuffie got to the kid first and I was forced to hide away outside of Merlin's house. Quietly I listened to the conversation they were having, looking through the window covertly like some little kid peeping in on an adult conversation. I sighed and my eyes softened slightly, letting the pain I held within reveal itself as I watched Sora search around for Aerith. At a moment like this, it was hard for anyone who knew what happened to Aerith to watch him without wanting to tear yourself apart.

His smile was still spread across his face, as he placed his hands behind his head, saying in his carefree manner, "I bet she's off reading a magic book, right Donald? Remember when we caught her reading all those books before? She was so embarrassed! Haha!"

Yuffie was the first to cry in the room. Unable to hold back the emotions running through her, she let the tears spill down her pale cheeks, her eyes becoming red from these bitter and stinging tears. Sora stopped smiling instantly as he looked at the sight of the tearful Yuffie. He always knew her to be a cheerful person who always had a grin on her face and a joke up her sleeve. So…it wasn't a surprise when he was shocked to see her, of all people, actually crying. "Yuffie…are you…okay?"

Yuffie didn't speak in fear of completely breaking down as she bit her lip in an attempt to stop the tears from falling. She clenched her fists at her sides and lowered her head in shame. Donald and Goofy looked at each other with confused faces, but soon found themselves tearing up as well. Goofy rubbed his eyes, saying, "Aw shucks, Yuffie. Ya got us crying now too…"

Leon then looked up from the corner he was standing in and said softly, "She's…gone…"

Sora raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who's gone? Did someone go away on a trip?"

Sora was confused and just stared at the whole group. Tifa let a single tear dribble down her cheek. Cid just wiped his nose and averted his eyes from the younger boy, not wanting to stare him in the face when Leon said what needed to be said. Leon finally stepped from the corner and stood in front of Sora with sad, gray eyes. He patted the boy's head in a fatherly manner and said gently, "Aerith…is dead, Sora…"

Sora's eyes widened in shock and then suddenly filled with tears. And like everyone else in that room, he cried. He cried loudly like a small child, and let himself fall into Leon's hug. Leon was one of the closest people to Sora, kind of like his older brother. Everyone knew at that moment that Leon was definitely the most suited person to comfort Sora right now, especially since he had a soft spot for the little guy. Not to mention this was probably the first time Sora ever had to deal with the actual death of a close friend like Aerith. Donald and Goofy embraced Sora in a hug, crying their eyes out now as well. I didn't want to enter at that moment, yet felt the need to tell Sora the rest of the story myself. Standing up and sucking in air to calm myself, I opened the door only to meet have my eyes meet with Sora's. He ripped himself from Leon's hug and ran at me with angry tears stinging those defiant features he revealed in his expression. He began to pound on my chest screaming at me, "Why?! Why didn't you protect her!? You were supposed to make sure she didn't get hurt! You were supposed to find your light with her, remember!?"

Leon interrupted and said calmly, "Sora…"

But Sora ignored him continuing to stare into my eyes tearfully and shouted, "REMEMBER?!"

I couldn't tear my eyes away from him and continued to let him pound on me, wincing at the pain of his fists and the pain held in my own heart. And eventually, I looked upward at the ceiling, a small tear falling down my face, only to land on his. Sora suddenly stopped pounding on me, only to look at me once more. But this time he saw a broken man as he looked at me. A crying, broken man who couldn't even bring life or happiness to the one he treasured the most in life. "I'm sorry, Sora. I couldn't…save her… I can't save anyone. Not my family. Not my friends. Not anyone…"

And with that I looked down at him and smiled sadly, ruffling his hair. "It's ironic, isn't it? I escape the darkness and finally am able to reach my light…only to have it taken away again…"

Sora stared at me with those understanding eyes, and I continued, "Don't lose sight of it. Don't ever let her go, Sora. Keep holding onto her hand even when you can't grip it as tightly as before. Hold on to her…and she will hold on to you…"

And then…I left the house, staring up at that blindingly bright sky, and letting the tears come from it.