Hey guys, thanks for being incredibly patient with me. I'm not gonna bore you with the excuses and let you instead get right into the story.
Shout outs: mauralucky7, FireWolfHeart, SpringBorn, Taeniaea,obsessed-beyond-reason2001, BAYALE, BabyBumblebee17, Vanessa Rowes, Jubilee, RavenHeartSienna, and majestic ocean melody12
Disclaimer: Ownership has not changed.
Chapter 37: Silver haired swordsman
Why we were wandering around Radiant Garden, aimlessly mind you, I will never know but the place that Twilight and I had followed Sora to was the one place that neither of us really wanted to go. He had led us to the Dark Depths and who did we find standing there but the General himself, Sephiroth. I grabbed onto Sora's shoulder as he walked up behind the man pulling him back as Sephiroth turned around asking "What is Cloud doing?"
Sora shrugged answering "Beats me." The silver haired man's eyes scanned the group of us, taking in our various expressions noting that recognition and wariness were truly only present in mine and Twilight's expressions.
He turned back to Sora with a small 'Hmph' and pulled out his long sword asking "By the way, you five…Who are you?"
The tip of the sword almost touched Sora but the boy jumped back summoning the Keyblade and I stepped in front of the brunette protectively leveling a glare at the elite former SOLDIER as Goofy stated his shield out, "I'm not sure we should tell ya."
Sephiroth raised a single silver brow as he observed the sword in Sora's hand saying "Well…That's an interesting sword you're carrying."
Donald waved his wand at the tall man yelling "It's the Keyblade!"
Sephiroth allowed a small smirk to form on his face for a brief moment before commenting "I see…So that's a Keyblade. And I suppose you must be its chosen wielder."
Sora growled and challenged "So what if I am?"
Sephiroth's smirk returned as he replied "I wonder if it won't change its mind…once I defeat you. Show me your strength." He lunged forward my blade appearing in my hand as I deflected the blow, the strength behind it forcing a grunt from me and I quickly disengaged; dodge rolling away from him only quickly getting to my feet to have to slam my blade to the side skidding a few feet back as my weapon and Masamune connected. I growled and strained for footing but couldn't find any, my eyes narrowing slightly at Sephiroth's small arrogant smirk. Sora charged forward getting Sephiroth's attention away from me so I could regroup and get away from the cliff edge. I lunged forward my blade crashing down on his before I twisted out of the way to avoid a hit. Donald was casting magic like crazy but it seemed to barely do anything against the man and Twilight was trying to attack him but she was continually being blocked.
My eyes widened slightly as he took an all too familiar pose, after trying and failing to beat him about twenty times I would know it by now, and yelled "Hit the deck!" We dropped to the ground and the attack flew over us. It was barely past us and I was already scrambling to my feet so that I could block an oncoming attack that was directed at Sora. I grunted at the force behind the blow but only gave a few inches this time. I hissed in pain as Masamune sliced open the front of my left forearm that I was using to brace against him, his superior height and weight taking advantage of my smaller size. I gritted my teeth and refused to give way as the others stood up.
He smirked saying "You seem to be very protective of that boy."
I growled under my breath before retorting "Shut it, Sephy."
His eyes narrowed as I used his fan nickname and I jumped back as I heard Twilight yell "Move!" A spear of light shot over my shoulder and blasted into the man, the explosion knocking him back a few feet sending up a lot of dust. I crouched down in a defensive stance Sora moving to stand next to me as tense as a coiled spring. We jumped to opposite sides as Sephiroth sprung forward through the dust intent on slicing us in half. Twilight yelped and a barrier sprung up before her and Donald stopping Sephiroth's attack on them as both Sora and I charged at the man. He swept around his own weapon clashing against our own. He swept his blade up, disarming us but opening himself up to attack and taking a page out of Tifa's book I covered my hands with Thunder spells and slammed my fists into the man, ending with an uppercut to the chin, the force of the spells and blows knocking him back a few steps. It was only for a second or two but it was enough for Sora to reclaim his weapon. I ducked and he lunged over me slamming into Sephiroth once again. Goofy rushed forward in a Tornado attack allowing Sora to back off for a short period of time as I summoned my weapon back to me. I let out a slow breath so I could regain control of my breathing rate before jumping back into the fray, shooting past Goofy as he was knocked back. Using the momentum that I had and Sora as a distracter, I slid under Sephiroth's sword and sliced deep into his side before slamming a dark orb into the newly made cut making him grunt as he was blasted back a few feet. Everyone was starting to wear down, Sephiroth was no easy opponent, but we did the only thing we could do and that was get back up and continue fighting; this was no game with a reload. Twilight stopped next to me and I pushed myself up off the ground. Glancing at each other we nodded and placed our backs to each other my right arm and her left arm out stretched, our respective powers gathering in our palms. We watched as Sora was knocked back into Goofy and Donald before launching our attacks. Two spears, one of light the other of darkness, arching towards Sephiroth's chest both of them slamming into him. We gasped and I slumped forward as Twilight dropped to her knees, a barrier springing around her as I stumbled forward towards the boys. As I moved my steps regained their confidence and I jogged up to them. We had… sort of…accidentally knocked Sephiroth off of the cliff, so we had a second or two before he got back up to where we were. Sora looked up at me and blinked, he had seen me serious but my eyes were hard and my face was stony.
My features softened slightly as I glanced down at him asking "You alright?"
He nodded and pushed himself up off the ground answering "I'm alright. You?"
I blinked slowly my eyes scanning the area, Sephiroth did after all have this notorious habit of showing up where you never expected him too, as I answered "I'll live." Sora blinked in confusion at the answer before letting out a startled yelp as I grabbed onto his shoulder and practically threw him to the side. I twisted just barely missing getting run through, the back of my fist connecting with the side of Sephiroth's neck hard. I raised an eyebrow as I jumped back, our attacks seemed to be doing more damage than they had been before. A little more and we might just be able to win this. Sora rushed forward again with me following close behind swerving to the side so I could get at him from beneath his guard. He blocked my blow but got hit by Sora.
I blinked as Sephiroth jumped back, landing a few feet away from us, his eyes scrutinizing Sora, Twilight, and I before he said "What an intriguing power…"
Sora managed to angrily retort, still expecting an attack, "How'd you like that?"
I straightened up out of my crouch as Sephiroth brushed his shoulder off dismissively saying "I admit you're very skilled…But apparently, Cloud is the only one who can eliminate me."
Everyone straightened up as Sephiroth turned around, ordering over his shoulder "Tell Cloud to come here. Tell him Sephiroth is looking to settle things." Sora's eyes narrowed and he stalked away from the cliff side, his eyes watching the man cautiously. He followed the others away from the battlefield but paused as he noticed I hadn't moved from where I was, my eyes narrowed at the man. I glanced at Sora for a brief moment and sent him a small nod, telling him silently to go without me. His eyes narrowed slightly and he reluctantly left as I shot a look at him. Once Sora was out of sight I glared at Sephiroth's back, the man glancing over his shoulder at me. I had seen that intrigued look of his, it could only mean trouble.
I glared at the man ordering "You leave the kid out of whatever it is you're planning."
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at me, turning around asking "And if I don't?"
I growled "Then I will hunt down your reincarnating ass and make you wish you had."
Sephiroth gave a small amused snort as I turned and walked off pausing as he said "Darkness is not meant to side with the light."
I glanced over my shoulder slightly and retorted coolly "Darkness will choose for itself who it decides to protect." I walked away from the cliff leaving the smirking man behind. Out of his sight, I gritted my teeth a hand hovering over the slice in my arm as blood ran down my hand and dripped to the ground. The others would be looking for Cloud I knew so I headed towards the Marketplace. I had to stop at the Burrow though, the wound was worse than I had thought it was, adrenaline high preventing some of the pain from seeping through my nerves. I glanced up, from my seat on the rubble, as footsteps came from the Marketplace and a familiar blonde walked into the Burrow his blue eyes glued to the ground contemplatively. He glanced up at me and I grinned at Cloud with a slight wave. "Heya, Cloud. Long time no see." He nodded silently, his eyes falling to my arm. They widened slightly and his long legs covered the ground quickly between the two of us. His hand hovered over the wound for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly in concentration. I blinked as he placed a Cure spell over the wound, the deep slice stitching itself back together leaving a long scab on my arm.
I raised an eyebrow questioningly at him to which he explained "Materia can be useful at times."
I chuckled, already feeling the effects of the spell on my conscious, before asking "So you're going to face your past?"
The blond nodded solemnly "It's time I defeated Sephiroth." I smiled and reached up pulling the taller man into a hug, surprising him. I ended the one-armed hug just as abruptly as I had started it.
Leaning back I said "Good luck and be careful. I know some people who'll kick your ass if you get yourself killed and I'm one of 'em." Cloud blinked and I could see the faint smile that was playing on his lips. I gave a tired sigh, the fight and the spell catching up to me, relaxing against the rubble of the Burrow. Cloud straightened up and looked down at me for a brief moment before I waved him off saying "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. You go…and do what you have to do." Cloud's eyes softened slightly and he nodded, turning away and heading towards the Dark Depths to face his past. I closed my eyes as he left my view and breathed "Be careful, Cloud."
I opened a single eye as a familiar, cocky, voice, one that I loved, said "You really like this spot but you probably shouldn't be falling asleep out in the open." I chuckled quietly and shook my head as Axel walked over to me, sitting down next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I leaned into him with a contented sigh, relaxing into his gentle embrace before hissing and sitting up as the scab on my arm tore partially open.
I glanced down at it swearing under my breath "Dammit."
"What's wrong?" Axel's concerned question caused me to look up at him as one of his hands reached over to my arm carefully bringing it towards himself so he could get a look. His eyes widened as he saw the long gash on my arm and he asked "Just how old is this wound?"
I glanced up, biting the side of my cheek as I thought about it before answering "About…fifteen minutes." His brow furrowed and he made a sympathetic sound in the back of his throat before releasing my arm, there was really nothing he could do about it. I glanced up slightly and raised an eyebrow at the pity I saw in his green eyes. It was touching that he cared about me as much as he did but I was never one for pity; this time though I'd let it go I was too tired to get into trying to convince him that I was alright. I leaned back and into him, allowing the blood soaked sleeve to rest on my lap, giving a tired sigh before muttering "You should probably go, so that you don't get caught." He looked down at me and blinked, I had fallen asleep. He brushed a couple of strands of hair away from my face with a small smile. The smile grew slightly as I turned and snuggled into his warmth, my head on his chest. Axel gave a small sigh and picked me up, careful of my arm, carrying me into a portal that would lead to the restoration committee's front door. He set me down gently onto the ground next to the door, a small fond smile forming on his face before he straightened up and rapped quickly on the door. He portalled away as the door was opened by an irritated Cid. The man growled slightly as he glanced around not seeing anyone before looking down and spotting where I was. He pulled out his cigarette in confusion and knelt down next to me, tilting his head curiously as I slept on a small smile on my lips.
"Wakey, wakey! Sleepy head." I opened my eyes to Yuffie's prattling and sighed as I pushed myself up, wincing as I leaned weight on my left arm. I yawned and glanced around the room as Yuffie grinned at me saying "It's about time you woke up. After you disappeared on Sora and the others, they were frantic about finding you. Turned out you were right outside the house." I glanced down at the bandage that was wrapped around my arm, Yuffie answering the question that hadn't even left my lips yet "You can thank Cid for that. Turns out he likes you, if he didn't he probably would've left you on the porch to bleed to death." I rolled my eyes at her over exaggeration and fingered the bandage for a brief moment.
I gave a small smile turning to Yuffie saying "Thanks for the update Yuffie. Would you happen to know where my coat is?"
Yuffie grinned and nodded answering "Aerith's got it at the moment and is fixing the sleeve for you as well as giving it a good cleaning. There was blood all over it." I smirked and nodded my thanks and stood up, heading downstairs silently tilting my head as I saw Cid working at the computer as per usual. I smirked and walked up behind him, tapping him on the shoulder lightly getting him to turn around slightly.
I grinned down at him before giving the man a small hug saying "Thanks for lookin' out for me Cid."
I let go and the older man smirked and thumbed his nose as he said "No problem, kid." My grin widened slightly and I placed a hand on his shoulder giving it a small friendly squeeze before walking out the door to look for Sora, Twilight, Donald, and Goofy. I had made it to the Marketplace when I let out an 'oof' as someone slammed into my back followed by three others. I glanced behind me with a raised eyebrow at Twilight and the boys. Sora had apparently been the one who had spotted me first as he was the one with his arms wrapped around my waist, Twilight engulfing the both of us followed by Donald and Goofy.
I chuckled quietly asking "If you're trying to pick my pocket guys you're failing miserably." Twilight laughed and pulled back letting go of me with Donald and Goofy. I blinked at Sora who let go a few seconds later.
I watched him for a moment, noting that the others had wandered off as the boy in front of me stared at me before snapping "Don't ever do that again!" I blinked in surprise, confusion etched on my face causing him to continue "When you disappeared after we left you, I thought…! You could've been...!" My eyes softened as I saw the worry that was etched across the younger teens face and pulled him into a hug, realizing what I had done. I had scared him half to death, made him worry that he had lost another friend.
I pulled away my hands on his shoulders as I apologized "Sorry about that Sora. There were some things I had to take care of before I could get back to you guys. I ended up passing out in the Burrow after meeting up with Cloud."
His eyes still shone with worry but curiosity was mixed in as he asked "How'd you get to Merlin's place then?"
I released him and scratched my cheek as I answered "Um…actually I'm not sure on that one."
Sora blinked and I gave a small soft smile at the teen saying "It's good to know you've got my back Sora."
He blinked saying "I've always had it."
I laughed and ruffled his hair fondly before asking "Where to next anyways?"
Sora tilted his head before grinning widely as he exclaimed "Twilight Town showed back up!" I blinked and nodded in acknowledgement. The game was starting to draw to a close and it was time to say goodbye to Radiant Garden. We wouldn't be coming back here for a while, if ever again.
I looked around the world that I wouldn't have minded calling home before I glanced back at Sora and said "Then let's get going."