The castle was cold and the silence seemed to drift through the tense halls and burrow itself down into the bowels of the hospital room where anxious bodies waited impatiently. The room was pristine, quiet, and crowded. Filled around the four beds were the wounded rested were eight figures. None of them spoke for none of them could. Instead they stayed still like statues, their tongues cemented to the roof of their mouths as their dry throats were scratched with every nervous swallow.

In the first bed rested Cloud, still unconscious from Xigbar's ruthless attack. Bandaged and cleaned with his judging eyes closed, he looked almost peaceful to rest. His sheets were crinkled from his agitated sleep and his fists were clenched in the covers, his teeth gritted as if he was wading off some internal demon that hounded him. Beside his bed, half rested on it in eager anticipation for his brother to wake, was Sora. He waited with his head in his hands, weary eyes sinking shut before they snapped open and blinked rapidly to defy the sleep that tried to take him. Beside him was Riku and behind him was Kairi. Both had their eyes downwards as they waited, trying to avoid contact with the bruises that marked Cloud's skin as they kept their gaze rested on their palms, the walls, the door, the other faces – anything but Cloud.

A small way away from Kairi rested Aqua. Her eyes were closed, her arms crossed, and her chin resting against her chest. Leaning against the wall, she peeked an eye open slowly and let it sweep the small broken family her sister had become ingrained into. She would never let herself become so attached to another person. Not unless it was Kairi. Letting her eye close again, she refrained from sighing and continued the long wait in silence.

Cid occupied the other bed. His leg was bandaged, his body wrapped so many times it was hard to decipher the skin from the dressings, but he was awake. With his leg propped up on cushions, he was the only occupant in the room not lodged in the trance of time. Shovelling spoonful's of warm soup into his mouth, he bit down the pain that stammered through him and shivered from time to time as if cold. The memories had that affect on him. Occasionally he would stop shovelling his meal and give Cloud a sideways glance. He would never express his worry for the Neko, but he most certainly didn't enjoy being awake whilst the other remained locked away in the unconscious realm. He would rest much easier after Cloud woke, especially since he needed to bite his head off for letting him sleep through the action back on the boat. A smile played on his lips and he hid it from the others behind his spoon, slurping the soup once more. They wouldn't understand.

Yuffie was also sat up in bed, her wings still bare and coated in the light fuzzy brown feathers of regrowth. Beneath her right wing snuggled Donald. He himself had fallen asleep under the tense energy, and the soft smoothing strokes of Yuffie's hand trying to massage down the white flick of his hair was comforting. She liked the occupation it gave her too. Whilst her hands were busy she wasn't left with the nervous glances the others shared. Not yet, anyway.

In the last bed was Tifa. She hadn't woken since the boat and Leon was beginning to worry. Sat beside her, he held her hand with both of his own, clutching it tight as if to never let go. Slowly he brought her hand up to rest against his forehead and looked over at Aerith. The princess sat opposite him, slowly and smoothly stroking Tifa's forehead and moving the sweat drenched fringe out of the young Tori's face. The antidote had been applied, but Aerith had mentioned how late the day had been….Leon broke a little to hear it. But he chose not to believe it; instead he prayed to the Goddess every second of the day and damned Cid for slurping his soup so loud. There was no need for it, but he didn't have the heart or the strength left in him to start another fight. He had lost everything. There was nothing left.

Back beside Cloud, Sora twitched his working ear and let out the softest sigh, but it was enough to draw Cid's conspicuous stare to him as Riku placed a hand on the brunettes shoulder. Soft sapphire eyes slowly fell and he rested his head against the bed fully.

"Why won't he wake up…?"

He felt Riku squeeze his shoulder, but it did nothing for him. His answer came from the other side of the room were Aerith sat massaging smooth circles into Tifa's forehead. Gently the Nezumi princess spoke, and the calm seemed to banish the tension and brighten the last light of dusk that swept through the windows on the far right wall of the room.

"I do not know, Sora. Perhaps his injuries were greater than we first thought, or maybe he is simply recovering the lost sleep he failed to receive aboard the Ookami's vessel." She shook her head, drawing her hand back and resting it in her lap as she folded her ears back. "I cannot believe Sephiroth would commit such sadistic injuries…"

"Better believe it, princess." Cid mumbled, swiping at the gruff scratchy stubble of his newly growing beard and licking the edge of his lips. Finishing his lunch, he placed it in his lap and tapped the spoon against the side of the bowl thoughtlessly. "The wolves done worse, and they ain't getting' no better. I suggest you start tightenin' your defences, princess. Sephiroth ain't gonna be happy you sunk some of his blasted ships." He waved the spoon at her and caught her strong glare. "Better get hidin' under your bed sheets, darlin'. Fine specimen like you's askin' to be gobbled up."

Her glare turned into a deathly squint. "What are you implying?"

"Nothin'. Sweet sweet nothin'." Cid's coy smile ripped at his lips and he lowered his spoon.

"Cid, shut up!" Yuffie hissed, her hand still stroking Donald's hair as he began to snore softly. "Inu's really don't know when to close their traps, do they?"

Cid shrugged and winced at the slight pain. "Take me as I am, birdie."

"I'd rather not." Yuffie mumbled, a small smile playing on her lips before she turned to Leon and it fell into a thin grimace. "Leon…what now? The Tori Islands…they're gone."

Leon's wing's slumped ever so slightly. The golden feathers fell against the floor and he kept his head bowed low, Tifa's hand still pressed against his forehead. Slowly he shook his head, unable to face the answer himself, let alone share it. "I don't…I'm not..."

He couldn't finish.

Yuffie let her eyes fall back to the sheets of her bed and swallowed hard. Donald wiggled slightly and she held onto him tighter. Aerith hummed slowly before it faded and the silence returned, invading the room like a plague.

"Guess there's only one thing you can do."

All conscious eyes turned to Aqua as she rested against the wall, her eyes still closed and her ears folded back ever so slightly. She opened them and glared at them each in turn. Leon gave her a quick skimming look before he shook his head and returned his attention to his sister.

"What do you mean, Aqua?" Aerith asked, her curiosity peaking.

Aqua shrugged. "You can't go home because there's nothing left. They can't stay here forever and they can't keep running. The only thing left to do is fight. If Sephiroth took everything from you then you should be fighting to get it back. This war has only just started. It's time people started picking sides."

Aerith frowned, her petite face covered by her light fringe ever so slightly. "Aqua, war should not beckon war. What you ask is destruction. This war must be stopped as soon as possible; both the Neko's and the Ookami must be reasoned with before this fighting gets too out of hand and spirals beyond any of our control-"

"It's already beyond our control, Aerith!" Aqua snapped, pushing off the wall and growling. Her ears flicked up and she ignored Kairi's whispers, tugging her arm free from her little sister's grip. "You think any of you have control right now? Really? Look around you! The Ookami nation has been thrown into turmoil and the Inu have fallen! The Neko King and Night Crawler are fighting for the south whilst the North prepares to tear them both apart! The Tori Islands are no more, the Ushi and Uma are becoming solitary in their approach and the Tora's have been thrown into civil war! The Saru and the Kuma are at each other's throats, the Shika burn their hearts out and the Raion's are in uproar! There is no more time to take control of this war, all that is left is to pick a side and fight through the madness!" Aqua stopped, her chest heaving as she ignored their confused and startled faces. "The pieces of the amulet are being collected, Aerith! You know it as well as me and don't you damn well pretend you don't know what's going on!"

Aerith stood, the wood of her chair screeching back against the tile floor as she swept her dress behind her and put up a fierce approach. Stepping forwards, she met Aqua's stance with a scowl on her face. "And what would you have me do, Aqua? My father is beyond my kingdom and I dare not make a move before his safe return! On all sides I am surrounded by false allies and potential threats. Would you have me move and risk the slaughter of my people to fuel your own greed for survival? Because I am afraid I cannot give that to you, Princess Aqua. I cannot and will not sacrifice these people for you to take your chance at solving this unsolvable war!" In a fierce rage Aerith pulled the piece of the amulet from her neck and held it out for them all to see. "The fifteen pieces shall not reunite, Aqua. Not whilst I still hold sovereignty over the Nezumi piece."

Aqua turned deathly quiet. Her chest heaved as she glared at her friend, the locked necklace of power between them. Catching Aqua's stare, Aerith blushed, her rage falling as she placed the pendant back about her throat. Coughing, she lowered her voice and humbly bowed her head. "Forgive me my friend. I believe I lost myself in your questioning of my motives-"

"Keep your friendship, Aerith." Aqua mumbled, her eyes flicking up from the pendant to Aerith's soft broken eyes. Filling her voice with malice, Aqua seethed. "I hope this war fucks you over just as much as it has me."

Aqua growled at Aerith's startled look and pushed past the young Nezumi princess. Ignoring the stares that followed her, she stomped from the room, slamming the door closed behind her. The tension settled heavily once more and Aerith covered her face with her hands before she too swept from the room in a somewhat slightly more graceful haste. The door closed again before finally Kairi pulled herself away from the group. Offering Sora one last squeeze of reassurance, she followed her sister and Aerith out the door, leaving it slightly ajar as she rushed after the squabbling women.

As the silence settled once more, Cid blinked at the emptiness of the room. Frowning, he stared at the door that was slowly creeping open and cocked his head to the side in bewilderment. "What just happened?"

Riku followed Cid's gaze and shrugged. "Guess this war is affecting everybody…"

"Could just be that time of the month." Cid shrugged, laughing and flinching as Yuffie waved a fist at him and mumbled about his 'disgusting sense of humour'.

"It doesn't matter…"Leon mumbled, and every pair of eyes turned to him and the silent tension settled once more. Setting a frown on his face, he closed his eyes tight and inhaled deeply. "The Ookami and the Neko's have set their plans into motion. Nothing and nobody is going to stop them now. Might as well just give up…"

"There has to be something we can do." Yuffie whispered, holding onto Donald tighter as he began to grumble in his sleep.

"Like what? The Tori Islands are destroyed, Yuffie. We have no friend's, no allies, and no home." Leon sighed and shook his head again. "There's nothing we can do in this war now. Everything's gone."

Nervous stares met him before they each turned away. Nobody said anything to counter his statement. They had nothing to add; no words to help. Cid began tapping his wooden spoon against the bowl once more, looking about and scrunching his face up as he attempted to find something to occupy his time. Finally, his eyes settled on the small band of Neko's occupying the bed on his right. A smirk came to his face and he leaned back against his fluffy pillows, still tapping the bowl with the spoon.

"You should really wake him up, yanno that? Longer sleeping ugly slumbers the crankier he's gonna be when he wakes."

Sora jumped as the conversation was turned his way. Looking over his shoulder to Cid, he frowned. "How would waking him up make him any less grumpy? Aerith said he needs to sleep to recover, so…" he looked back to his brother and shrugged, "we're letting him sleep."

"Aerith shmerith, what you need to do is wake him up. Think about it kiddo, you think your bro's gonna be happy he slept through everythin'?" Cid shook his head. "I'm tellin' ya, you're doing it all wrong-"

"And what would an Inu know about doing anything right?" Riku snapped, drawing Cid's scolding eyes to him. The laughter drained away from the situation and Riku folded his arms across his chest. "As far as I can tell, the Inu have done nothing but get everything wrong so far."

"Watch your mouth, kitty. Inu's don't bite with blunt teeth."

Riku tensed but held his ground. Gritting his teeth, he started forwards and stopped at the end of Cid's bed. "Inu's don't bite at all. Seems to me all they do is roll over and play fetch with wolves."

Cid let out a sarcastic laugh and straightened up a little, his grip on the spoon harder. "You're barking up the wrong tree, lad. I don't play with no oversized pup. Look at me leg for cryin' out loud!" He sent his leg a rotten glare and seethed. "You think I'd let any punk get away with doin' that?"

"Will you two pack it in?!" Yuffie whispered harshly, a bite holding itself in her voice as she scowled at them. Both Cid and Riku put their ears back, but still they kept their hard gazes locked on each other. "It's bad enough that the nations are at war outside these walls without you starting a new one in here!"

Cid was about to speak up once more before a groaning sound by his right captured his attention. He turned, one ear raised in confusion, and smirked to find Cloud slowly shifting in his sleep. The blonde's eyes opened and blinked in groggy confusion before he hissed and raised his arms slowly to cover them. Rubbing his palms against his eyelids, Cloud let out another moan.

"Damn dog…needs shootin'," Cloud mumbled.

Cid let out a bark of laughter and loosened his grip on the spoon and bowl. "Well, well, well, look who finally made it to the land of the living. We were just talkin' about you."

Cloud grunted in a half-hearted response. "Should my ears be burning then?

"Hey, Cloud…you feelin' okay?"

Cloud froze at the voice. He recognised it, but it didn't belong to any of his travelling companions. There was only one face he could place to it, but that face didn't exist anymore…

"Bro, you okay? You're not part deaf like me are ya?"

There was laughter on the end of the comment and Cloud felt his muscles tense. There was a dip on the side of the bed he was resting on before slowly two hands grabbed hold of his elbows and slowly began to lower them. Ashamed to admit that he was afraid of getting his hopes up, he resisted and there was a slight huff from the person attempting to open his eyes.

"Cloud, come on! Open your eyes already!" The speaker stopped for a moment before releasing his elbows. The bed dipped further and there was a sharp inhale of breath. "Is it hurtin' too much?"

Cloud swallowed hard. Stealing himself, he slowly began to lower his arms from his face. Blinking twice at the bright light, he stared up at the white ornate ceiling and groaned, pushing the bright spots on his vision to the back of his mind as he heaved himself up slowly. Dipping his elbow into the bed, he refused to look at the person that shared it with him as he closed his eyes tight and grunted, shoving himself further up before his breath left him in a sharp sigh as his ribs ached and his frame trembled. He sank further into the covers, but before he could fully lay flat a pair of struggling arms caught his underarms and began to heave him gently up. There was a soft grunt that came with the gesture, and from it Cloud found himself slightly sat up and able to look about the room.

Cid caught his eyes, a smirk on the Inu's face, but Cloud failed to return it as he looked over to where Yuffie was laying, Donald in her lap, and where beyond her Leon was moping over the unconscious frame of his sister. He blinked twice, unable to speak as they watched him, and then his eyes moved to Riku as the silver-haired male shuffled from foot to foot almost uneasily. Cloud frowned, and then, almost with hesitant haste, he turned to catch the voice that had sounded so much like his lost brother's. The brother he knew to be dead.

"Cloud…you're starting to freak me out. Seriously, are you okay?"

Cloud's eyes flicked over to the figure that had helped him up. Brown hair that stuck up in all directions as if electrocuted hung tiredly over dimmed sapphire eyes that seemed swamped in woe. Pale skin and a tired smile shined thickly against soft features and Sora shuffled closer, brows furrowed ever so slightly.

"Cloud….?"

"S…Sora?" His voice was cracked and hoarse, and it hurt to talk, but as his eyes widened with disbelief and Cloud watched his little brother smile and nod he couldn't help the grin that spread across him. Sora shuffled closer on the bed, pulling his feet up and nodding. Cloud's smile spread further and he reached a hand out, clasping Sora tightly on the shoulder and watching as his younger brother grinned, one small brown ear flickering upwards ever so slightly.

"Sora!"

Sora yelped as Cloud dragged him down towards him with the strength of ten men. He was thrown under Cloud's arm and pushed close against his older brother's chest. Laughter filled the air, mostly Cloud's, and approving smiles were passed around the hospital wing softly. Cloud felt the tears catch him and burn his eyes, and he let them fall as he clutched Sora tight with both hands, holding him so tight his little brother was afraid he might pop. Sora struggled against him, but Cloud was relentless. Relief swamped him and Sora chocked and attempted to struggle away to no avail.

"Cloud! Cloud, leggo!"

The brunette's cries fell on deaf ears and Sora groaned and finally gave into the hug. Hugging his brother back, he wondered how Cloud could possibly hold such strength considering his injuries.

"Oi, Neko! You don't let that pup go he's gonna explode." Cid mumbled before he returned to licking his spoon for the flavour of the soup that had been ingrained into the wood.

It was a whole three minutes before Cloud was finally able to overcome himself and hold Sora slightly less. Sora peeled away, but Cloud still held him at arm's length, almost as if he felt that if he let go Sora would fade into the air and disappear. Releasing his little brother's left shoulder, he wiped it against Sora's cheek before holding onto the back of his neck.

"Don't." He growled, a stern scolding hiding behind his smile. "You ever. Scare me. Like that. Again. Ever!"

Sora laughed as Cloud pulled him forwards so their foreheads touched. Shaking his head, he grinned. "What are you talkin' about? Roxas is the one that ran off and you're the one that chased him and came back battered and bruised."

"Yeah, but you're my littlest brother. You're not allowed to run away."

"I didn't run away." Sora said, outraged by the suggestion. Folding his arms, he pulled away from Cloud and decided to sprawl out across the bed beside his brother. "Technically, if anything, I followed. Therefore it's your fault."

"Don't turn this around on me!" Cloud growled, folding his ears back ever so slightly as Sora rolled his eyes. "I swear, you twins drive me insane." Closing his eyes, he fell back against the cushions and groaned. Pushing it to the back of his mind, he threw a hand over his eyes to block out the light. "So, fill me in. What the hell happened?"

From the corner of the room Yuffie glanced over to Leon. The prince was still watching over his sister like a fallen angel unable to rest. Shaking her head, she pulled Donald closer to her as he continued to sleep. "It's a long story-"

"The Nezumi saved our sorry hides." Leon whispered. Self-loathing buried itself in his voice and he held Tifa's hand tighter, almost as if he could will her to wake. "You were brought here to the hospital wing under the protection of the princess of the Nezumi Kingdom. The Ookami ships have fled further north after the ambush and now we're all sitting here like cowards." He paused for a breath and swallowed hard. "The Tori Islands are gone. My people have been killed. My brother has been slaughtered and soon my sister will fade from the world. The war has beckoned the south into a blood bath and the north has isolated itself under Sephiroth's iron fist. The Kuma and Saru batter each other and Sephiroth aims to take them both whilst we sit here motionless. We have nothing to do. No way to help. No home to fight for. Might as well just give up and call it a day. It's hopeless."

The room was silent. As the seconds dragged on, Leon's words seemed to engrave themselves further into the minds of those that listened.

Still sucking on his spoon, Cid looked over to where Cloud heaved a heavy sigh. Folding his ears back, he caught Sora's depleting hope and watched as Riku's shoulders seemed to sag inwards ever so slightly. Pulling his spoon from his mouth, he smiled and leaned back against the soft pillows.

"What a sorry lookin' bunch we turned out to be, huh? Three busted kittens, a chewed up dog, four downhearted ducks, two hissy-fitting kitsunes and matching mice." He folded his hands across his chest and tapped the spoon against his chin thoughtfully. "Makes you wonder, don't it?"

"I don't think you're making anybody feel any better, Inu." Yuffie growled.

"Maybe none of you heard me right." Cid peeked an eye open and looked about the sullen room. "We've travelled the world. Cloud, me and you, we escaped from the Neko capital! We ran the road, fooled the Ushi and invaded Tora territory. We broke the Tora capital and split the kingdom into civil war and were captured by the Ookami fleet. We busted outta that same fleet and brought it to its knees. Look at us! We're alive!" A rumbling laugh escaped him at the last part and he caught the small smirk hiding on Cloud's lips.

"What's your point, puppy?"

Cid rolled his eyes and turned to Sora and Riku instead. Instantly Riku tensed and his glare hardened, but Sora's seemed to almost soften.

"Then there's you two. Two kittens that escaped the Neko capital as well. You made it all the way across the Main Stream to the Tori Islands! You managed to survive the attack of wolves and have the scars to prove it. The princess," he watched as Leon flinched, "she took a blow for her people. Don't you bastard shame her for that, birdie! She won't appreciate it, I tell ya."

"What would a dog know of Tori pride?" Yuffie spat.

"I know that it's as hard as a bastard rock and high enough that a preacher couldn't wipe its fucking arse with his holy hands. Look at ya both. Ya invaded Tora camps, broke free and battled the Tora capital. You helped take down the Ookami fleet and taught all those bastard wolves a lesson. Why isn't that enough to hope that this broken bunch of misfits can do a little more with the silver in their pockets, huh?"

"Inspiring words from a dog that should have rightfully been put down for the treason he performed."

All eyes turned to the doorway where the newcomers stood in dignified solace. They were three. In the middle, and the owner of the last comment, was Aerith. Her eyes were puffy and red, but she hid it with graceful tact. By her right side, slightly hunched over and picking at his teeth with a toothpick, was Xigbar. He seemed almost bored of the situation and appeared eager for a different topic. On Aerith's left was Zexion. His silver wings dropped at the sight of the Tori royal family, and his gaze fell down to the floor and held its place against the cold stone.

Stepping into the room, Aerith continued, watching as Cid's grip tightened about the spoon like a weapon. "But, in some senses, you are correct. You each have performed a treason, but you are my guests and your actions are, in my eyes alone, justified for the reasons you sought your actions out. You have each been wronged by this war, however I am afraid the Tori prince speaks true." Her sad eyes turned to Leon, but he failed to look up to her. Heaving a sigh, she continued.

"The Inu and Ookami land has begun to form a union. The Inu people are forced into poverty under Sephiroth's rule and minerals and resources are leaving the kingdom at an alarming rate. His troops move through the deep valley groves and appear to be striking out at whatever takes hold of their hearts. The Uma have remained motionless and solitary beside us. We and they have refused to move against this bloodthirsty tyrant, and we plan to give him no hope of taking our kingdoms. However, the Uma King is faltering to the offers of the Ookami."

"Faltering?" Riku repeated.

Aerith stopped in the centre of the room. Xigbar stayed loyally to her right, his hand on his sword, and Zigbar waited solemnly by the princess's bedside as a loyal friend and serving officer.

"They hope to buy the young king with gold and promises." Aerith said. "But so far he has held true to peace, but I fear he will wane soon. The Saru and Kuma are at war. They official began shedding brutal blood one week prior to this date. Although the Kuma are strong, they are fiercely outnumbered. King Lexeaus is hard pressed to keep the advances at bay, and his wife is large with child. It is ill fortune that she may give birth to the tidings of a red moon. The young princess still remains south in the Buta Kingdom, however she is becoming harder to control."

"You can't blame her, Aerith. She'll want to help her brother."

"I do not disagree with you, Yuffie, however war is no matter for the youth to be trifling in. The young princess would surely meet an end on the road to the Kuma Kingdom. For now she is better to carry the bloodline in the south and pray that all is well for her brother."

"That won't last long." Riku mumbled, drawing their attention to him as he hovered beside Sora and Cloud's bed. "The Saru have formed a pact with the Kitsune, Hitsuji, Shika and Neko nations. Allies will be making their way north already."

"As is what I expected." Aerith whispered. "However, Aqua has already fled, and the youngest Kitsune princess is broken hearted in her room. Aqua rides to stop her father following the blood pact."

"It's not that easy." Leon whispered.

Aerith sighed. "War is never an easy topic, Leon. And this is where I believe the Neko's may gain some interest within the efforts of war."

Cloud groaned, but ended up coughing and heaving instead. With his hand still over his eyes, he shook his head slightly and rubbed his chest. "This where you tell us that as rightful heirs it's our responsibility to go out and stop that fat bastard Neko?"

Aerith's nose wrinkled ever so slightly at the language, but it was not her who spoke. Instead, Xigbar pulled the pick from his teeth and leaned against the wall. "You might wanna listen up, kitten. This is the part that affects you, and I don't think you'll wanna hear it twice."

Cloud moved his hand away from his face ever so slightly so he could squint at the new party. Reaching his hand out, he held onto Sora's arm tightly and nodded. "Fine. Spit it out."

"You might wanna show a little more respect to the princess that saved you." Xigbar snarled, but he soon fell silent as Aerith raised her hand and overtook the conversation. As she spoke she looked directly at Cloud, ignoring the others.

"No doubt you understand that your brother with the white ears is king of the Buta Kingdom. As I have explained, the north has been gripped by this war….that is not to say the south lays docile in waiting. The Tora Kingdom has been savaged by civil war and is beginning to rip itself apart, and now there is no heir to the throne. With the Tora King gone and his eldest deceased the throne should rest to the two youngest Tora princes. However, both Prince Axel and Prince Reno have vanished."

"Good riddance to bad rubbish." Cloud grumbled, covering his face once more.

Aerith frowned. "Be that as it may, the Tora Kingdom does not deserve to suffer for the brash actions of the crown's chosen blood. The Raion Kingdom suffers a similar fate. With the Raion King deceased and his youngest being held hostage within the Buta Kingdom-"

"Roxas took a hostage?!" Sora blurted, shaking his head stubbornly. "He wouldn't do that!"

"Young Sora, please, it is important you understand all that I am telling you. Allow me to finish." She waited until Sora fell silent and started again. "Princess Namine is safe with the young knight Ventus within the Buta Kingdom, and Larxene has departed the Neko Kingdom to take reign over her father's throne. However, she cannot restore peace without joining a side in this war. It is my belief that she has already declared an alliance with the Neko King…which brings us to another matter. The Neko Kingdom was ambushed. The Neko King lives, as does his queen, however he remains bedridden from what my sources have told me."

"Who was dumb enough to attack the Neko Kingdom?" Cloud asked, his mouth dry.

Xigbar let out a rough bark of laughter. "Well, that's what we wanted ta know, right princess?"

Aerith nodded graciously. "You would be correct, Xigbar. My sources tell me of wyverns flying through the sky in a mass movement. I believe it to be one of the Tora princes who have organised the assault. But this does not trouble me so much as what comes next. The Neko alliance is beginning to crumble, and Night Crawler was spotted amongst the wyverns in the sky."

"Roxas?" Cloud straightened up, removing his hand from his face. Swallowing thickly, he ignored the sullen look of the princess before him and held Sora tighter. "What-"

"My sources could not position themselves for a better look without breaking their own cover. I am sorry to report that Night Crawler was not moving."

The happy bubble Cloud had received from finding Sora was popped. His world shattered and he felt Sora tremble ever so slightly beneath his fingers. His brother's glazed eyes turned to him and Cloud shook his head. "No. No, you're sources must have got it wrong-"

"My sources are never wrong." Aerith whispered. Silence fell in the wake of her words and her soft gaze fell to the floor. "Now, the Ushi are marching upon the Buta Kingdom and the Buta Kingdom are too heading north. A clash not unlike the Saru and Kuma will break another peace in the shattering south. The Hitsuji are tearing away from the Neko alliance they swore in blood and the Shika follow them. The only question to ask is whose side they will be joining in this war." She inhaled deeply, as if pained and troubled, and spoke again. "With my father's absence I must think on my people and the best situation for them until he returns. For this reason, I am sorry to inform each of you that I cannot permit vengeance to spoil the blood of my soldiers. Your wars are your own and my heart bleeds for you and what you've lost, but I cannot lay that blood to the stone of my people. Your safety here is all I can guarantee. I cannot aid you in any other way." Glancing up, she flickered between the horrified faces. "I am grievously sorry."

"You're not doin' nothin'?" Cid asked, subdued anger settling on his face.

"Didn't you hear her, puppy-dog? She can't make a move without being trapped in. You got yourselves into this war, you've gotta get yourselves out." Xigbar grumbled, a deep frown set on his face. "It's a pity, really. But that's war, I suppose."

"You make it sound like you think we purposefully set out to start this war." Yuffie hissed, still clutching tight to Donald as he whimpered and tossed in his sleep.

"I never said-YOUCH!" Xigbar flinched and cursed as the wooden spoon thumped against his head. The tool clattered to the floor and Xigbar growled, rubbing at the black bruise forming on his head as he glared at the owner of the projectile.

Cid raised the bowl in a threatening manner, ready to launch it after the spoon. When he spoke there was a bite to his words none of them had heard since the incident with Rai. "Don't make out like this is our bastard fault! None of us wanted ta do what we had ta do! Not one of us wished for it! You think we wanna become outlaws and thieves and prisoners and spies and bandits? You think we wanna see our homes get wrecked and our families torn?"

Xigbar drew his sword and stepped in front of Aerith. "Put that down, doggy! I ain't gonna tell ya twice."

"Put it down, Cid." Cloud growled.

Cid turned to Cloud, still holding the bowl high before he let a growl rip past his lips and slowly lowered it to the bed once more. Sinking further into the sheets, he inhaled deeply and hissed as his bandaged leg throbbed cruelly. Xigbar, seeing that Cid had released his weapon, slowly placed his sword away, but he refrained from moving away from Aerith.

Moving from behind Xigbar, Aerith caught the smouldering chill in Cloud's eyes and seemed to freeze. Her breath caught unwillingly and she found herself perplexingly rooted to the spot. The fierce ice in the older Neko's eyes was beyond the heat of any fire, and when he spoke the chill seemed as cold as the northern winds.

"Thank you for rescuing us. Thank you for saving my little brother and my friends. We appreciate everything you've done, and as soon as we're fit we'll be on our way. We promise not to cause any more hassle for you or your people."

Aerith nodded. "Thank you for understanding, Cl-"

"Oh, I don't understand. I don't have a bastard clue, princess. I always thought the Nezumi were sensible people… I never took them for cowards." The growling edge of his last word brought shame to Aerith. She at least had the grace to blush and show it ever so slightly across her face.

"Cloud, if there was any way I could help you or your people…any way at all…"

"Save your words, princess. You're wasting them here."

"Cloud," Yuffie mumbled, "you're being unfair. You too, Cid. She's only doing what she feels is right-"

"And what's right for one could be wrong for a hundred more." Cloud countered, his eyes never leaving Aerith's avoiding gaze. "This is war, princess. We might be battered and bruised and broken beyond compare, but at least we've chosen a side. At least we had the guts to see things through and stick it out. What are you going to do? When Sephiroth and the Neko King turn up banging on your door just who the hell do you plan to call upon for help? Because I'm going to tell you right here right now, I only owe you twice. Two lives are what you'll get from me to repay my debt and not a spot of blood more. When they come for you, and they're going to, if this is your attitude to war don't you dare come calling to me and mine."

"Cloud-"

"No, princess. A turn is only as good as the one done before it. You saved my life, you saved my brother's. I owe you two lives. Nothing more."

"You don't understand." Aerith mumbled. "None of you seem to understand. I'm protecting one of the few amulets that still remains with its original owner. I can't give that up so easily."

From the corner of the room Leon spoke up, his voice still solitary and sullen, as if he had been drifting in and out of the conversation. His tongue was thick and his mouth was dry, but when he spoke everybody in the room listened. "Aerith, the people of this room understand the hardship of choices. Don't insult them so by saying they don't. I think the only person unsure here is you. Think hard princess, my offer stands the same as Cloud's. Two lives. That is all the help from me."

"Does the princess's charity mean nothing to you ungrateful louts?!" Xigbar raged, stepping forwards threatening before Aerith pulled him back with a light tap to the shoulder.

"No, Xigbar…perhaps they are right. I think…I think I have a very important decision to make." With a deep sigh she curtsied prettily before sweeping from the room with unkempt elegance.

Xigbar waited for a moment, his hand resting on his sword. "You know, it's not her fault. She really did try and look for a loophole to try and help you squirts out."

"The leaders of nations are forever at fault, Xigbar." Leon whispered. "The fate of many can never be decided by one. Someone somewhere will always suffer, and a leader is always to blame."

Xigbar stayed silent. Looking over his shoulder, he caught the open door where the Nezumi princess had fled and shook his head.

By the side of the room, still sat on Cloud's bed, Sora watched the fiasco unfold with one ear up and the other ear bent in broken banishment. Riku stayed by his side, and Cloud still held onto him tight. Although he had listened, he had failed to hear. Everything had become empty after Aerith mentioned his brother, and ever since every situation he could think of had ran through his head. His body trembled, his mind hurt, his eyes burned and his tongue swelled so large he feared he couldn't breathe and what little air he managed seemed to clog his lungs and burn like fire. He grasped at Cloud's cold sweaty hand and glanced at his brother.

Although Cloud was hiding the pain, it was still there. The edge of his lips twitched as he fought his reflexes to prevent the pain showing, his eyebrows were furrowed ever so slightly so they creased in the middle and there was a slow dripping bead of sweat that marked its way down his left cheek from underneath his sweat drenched hair. The bruises were deep and black, his skin a pasty pale, and his grip on Sora had cost him all of the energy he had recovered from sleeping, leaving him panting ever so slightly if you listened for it.

"Cloud," Sora's voice was small and at first he didn't recognise it as his own. "Do you think…do you think Roxas-"

"He's fine, Sora." Cloud whispered, his grip tightening. He would have smiled if he could have managed. Honestly he couldn't fathom the fact that he had just recovered one brother only to lose another. It hurt. It hurt too much. And he couldn't cope with the pain. So he denied it. He wouldn't believe it. After all, Aerith had said he wasn't moving…he could have been asleep or unconscious. If it was him.

Cloud clung to that thought as he closed his eyes and relaxed back against the pillows. He didn't listen as the others began to talk again, and he didn't try to understand what they were saying. All he wanted to do was sleep, and he wasn't letting Sora go for the world.

Okay, it's been a while. I know ^_^'' sorry, but like I promised, there are two chapters! Seriously, you can go and click next right now :D hope you all enjoy!

your axel - sorry for the long wait :) hopefully you'll like these two chapters

stalker - lol sorry for the lateness, and I'm glad it caught you off guard :D means I'm doing something right!

2lzy2login - don't worry I haven't left :) you are very welcome about the warning and sorry the last chapter was short :) I hope this Cloud chap sorted you over and hopefully you'll like the next one too :D

mitzi-hindle - Ah, sorry for the cliffhanger ^_^' hopefully the next chapter will kill two birds in one stone for you :D