The ash dismounted from the sky, laden with sacrifice. Replacing the once white flakes of snow, the chrome colourings etched its way across the barren soil, snaking through twisted thickets and falling upon lifeless frames, coating them. Hiding them. There was a pungent hum in the air, a smell so rancid it was like acid to the tongue, leaving all with a scowl, a thickly built grimace of repentance, and a scrunched, upturned nose.
But, for all the silver beauty lost under the depths of rumbling clouds, all was far from silent. In fact, the time was close to early morning, teetering on the edge of three am. The guard had been changed thrice since the battle, the wounded and weary switching positions to catch some much needed sleep inside cold pitched tents. Now the bodies had been collected, the graves had been dug, and the injured tended. A hush began to form, moving with the grace of an etiquette ghost that was unsure of just where to place itself. Floating over the graves of ashen warriors from all corners of the continent, the soldiers called this ghost Death, and they cursed his being.
But, for all that was fallen and all that had been laid to waste, for all that was lost and won and all that would never return, there was another ghost that was both damned and blessed by those very same lips. Wandering the field, black hood laced with the dustings of dying embers, Night Crawler was a shadow of a shadow, looking for a way to slink back into the darkness.
In all fairness, he had expected the Kitsune princesses to come and claim vengeance for the king he had witnessed his brother slay, but they hadn't. Instead they had called back their men, taken captive the Nezumi King and princess, and retreated further into their homeland. Roxas had not had the heart to pursue them. In his opinion the ground had seen enough bloodshed to turn the moon over a thousand times, and even then he feared the tide would remain a gruesome red beyond all saviour.
Crouching to one knee, his arm now in a sling made of cotton wool, he gently turned the body of a soldier he thought he had seen twitch. Biting at his lip so hard it bled, his breath a biting white and choking in the morning air, he closed his eyes tight when the soldier's blank stare caught him. His fingers tightened ever so slightly about the stiff corpse before he stood, shuddered deeply, and moved on.
Since the battle he had spoken little, and what he had finally manage to whisper out had been the breadth of a word so dainty the wind stole it as soon as it passed his lips. His throat was raw, the bandage about his throat covering the cut that had been lain there, but the bruises still held grace upon his cheeks. His friends, brother, companions and soldiers all saw him in a different light now, a light Night Crawler considered especially sickening, if he did say so himself.
They had tried to convince him otherwise, attempting to trick him into speaking; to get him to lift his gaze from the floor, hand them a whole-hearted smirk and promise them all good tidings until the end of their warm days. They had failed in that attempt. Leon, Riku, Seifer, Marshal, Sora, Yuffie, Xaldin and the others… they had all turned to him after he had led their charge, and Roxas couldn't face them.
A tremble of self-loathing trickled down his spine, but Roxas brushed it aside. Stepping over the fallen, his boots crunching against the ash and the frost, he stumbled further away from the tents, back out into the battle where he failed to decipher demon from man. The guard had been switched, his body ached for rest and there was a burning in his arm that no medicine could quell, but Roxas couldn't turn back… Not whilst there was still one grave left to be dug; a grave he needed to dig himself, but was unable to because of the shrilling pain in his arm. That thought left something worse than sickness lurking in his gut. Guilt reared up like a monster inside of him, devouring him from the inside out at the thought of just what was waiting for him.
'He wanted to go home', Roxas thought, eyes staring over the fallen but never quite seeing. 'He was joking about it not one month ago… He wanted to rest at home, with a widowers service, and fresh flowers every other day. Someplace nice and fancy, he'd said. I'm such a lousy friend I don't even know where that is!'
He growled at himself, still stepping over flesh in a desperate search for survivors. The hood of the cloak skimmed his eye line, and he involuntarily took a step back, glancing over his shoulder to where the tents stood like beacons against the cinders.
'I can't put this off any longer.'
His head was such a rumble of thoughts he could hardly feel the numbness clawing at the place where his heart used to be. The tents peered closer with every step he took, and as he finally broke into the line of his soldiers he heard them turn from him, moving aside to grant him passage. The whispers were soft in his ears, harsh on his heart, bold in his mind, bringing a twitch to his eye as he clenched his jaw tight. They had a thing about staring at him lately. Always they would stare, and only ever when they thought he was not looking or that he could not see, but he could, and he near always did. For a boy that had lived life perfectly in the inept gratitude of the shadow's silhouette, Roxas found it staggering to become a man thrust into the centre-stage limelight with a fully dependant audience. It had all become too much; had been done too fast; not properly thought out and always spinning inside his mind, lashing at him, taunting him, hissing things he wasn't even sure where true anymore. Everything had become such a blur he was losing his grip on the fragments of his reality, if it was even his to grasp anymore.
His feet stopped and Roxas blinked down at the frosted ground. Turning his eyes upwards, he caught sight of the large eight by ten box-like hole in the sodden mud, and his courage was flushed from him. His skin drained of all colour, knees buckling, uninjured arm flexing, he felt as though the breath had been knocked violently from his chest. Something collapsed heavily inwards on his rotting heart, sending it down into his stomach to be swallowed by the monstrous guilt… was it fear? It wasn't the same as the fear that came when facing a man upon the field of battle, nor was it the fear of losing one's very self through everything he stood against. No, this type of fear was not completely fresh, but it was as raw as his throat and definitely harder to swallow. This fear was the agony of goodbye.
Before him the two soldiers that had dug the grave (one Buta and one Hitsuji), both bowed respectively, shovels over their shoulder, before they left to catch what little sleep they could. Roxas had not the strength to give them any words.
Slowly, feeling as if he truly was the kitten Axel so often called him, his numb feet forced him on to stand by the head of that barren site. It was cold, empty, so hard and so… finite. It was the opposite of everything Hayner had asked of him.
The swallow in his throat was painful, and Roxas turned his head at the sight of his friend laying in that damp pit. Arms by his side, eyes closed, the clunk of red staining his severed shoulder and neck, Hayner looked far from peaceful. The skin was grey, and Roxas could feel his own pulse throbbing traitorously when he knew, he knew it should not be Hayner resting cold, grey and stiff in the earth.
Behind him there was a cough and Roxas' ears twitched. Deliberately heavy steps approached so as not to startle him, stopping three paces to his left and never looking to him.
Xaldin was a different man. Roxas had never seen the Kuma so lost or downtrodden before, and he couldn't find it in him to comfort his friend. Xaldin had promised Xion he would take Hayner home, no matter what. It was Roxas that was making him break that promise, and although Xaldin denied it with every fibre of his being, the blonde wasn't so easy to believe Xaldin had forgiven him for that.
"I…" Xaldin paused, swallowing thickly and rubbing circles into his palm, eyes resting on the mud. "I see Little Prince come over. I think time right… Leave in three hours when sun up. Ash fall heavily and Little Inu… Little Inu…"
"It's alright, Xaldin," Roxas managed, his voice a bleeding scratch to his ears, so low it seemed to almost not be there.
For a long time there was silence. Roxas had never mourned anybody properly before. Pete, his parents, all that he had lost throughout his short life; he had never found the time to fully stop and appreciate them or their lives or everything they had done for him. The knot in his throat wound itself tighter, a choking sound escaping him, but when Xaldin reached for him he pulled away, rubbing at his eyes fiercely and ignoring the Kuma's despondent look.
"Little P-"
"I'm fine!" Roxas barked, wishing he hadn't as soon as the words had left his lips. Not because they burned his throat like the wicked flames of hell, but because Xaldin turned away from him, his face as hard as a stone.
"I know Little Prince hurt," Xaldin muttered, shoulders stiff and tense and weighted with the wisdom of a thousand years. "No doubt Little Prince want run away, no?"
"Xaldin, I won't lie to you… if Roric wasn't wounded and Rey'Ockth wasn't injured, I wouldn't be standing here right now. I'm a coward, Xaldin." He bit at his tongue, eyes scrunched tight. "You're all going to end up with Hayner because of me!"
"Little Prince no tru-"
"Xaldin you know it's true! Sephiroth is coming! Buta shores will be docked and the scraps of this army have not the strength to fight him! Don't you get it?! I've fucked us! The minute we were ambushed I knew it! I knew it, I just… I just… Goddess, I wanted so much to believe that if we kept pushing through everything would turn around! And now because of that Hayner's d-dead!"
The word said aloud was a blow to both of them, and silence settled again. Roxas sniffled, eyes puffy and red, teeth chattering, but beside him Xaldin remained as absolute as a stone. Roxas had never seen him show such a lack of emotion.
Slowly, with the stiffness of approaching a terrified and dangerous animal, Xaldin placed an arm on Roxas' shoulder, squeezing tightly. "Little Prince, Little Inu good friend. Deserve proper burial."
"I don't have time to give him one, Xaldin. Trust me, if I had my way he'd be resting in a damn gold casket with a marble stone for remembrance. I'd have the streets swept in mourning and a day of silence to follow. I wouldn't have this!" Casting his arms about at the falling ashes, he inhaled deeply. "He deserved so much better than this."
"Little Prince, honest words spoken from heart. Little Inu with Goddess now, he no care of gold, mourning women or black streets. Little Inu want to hear Little Prince last words. Want to know he missed. Know sacrifice was worth price. Little Prince give Little Inu that, Little Inu have good burial."
"You want me to say something?" Roxas frowned. Cloud and Zack had never prepared them for a situation like this. "What am I supposed to say?"
Xaldin raised an eyebrow. "Little Prince no be to burial before?"
"Little Prince never had a friend to lose before…" Roxas muttered sourly.
Xaldin hummed thoughtfully, his hand resting on his chin. "Little Prince speak from heart. Little Inu know true. Little Inu understand. Just speak true."
"Speak true?"
"Say what in heart. Shame, laughter, tears, joy, all important for remembrance. All important to Little Inu."
"Huh… well, why don't you start then?"
"Xaldin?"
"Yeah, show me what you mean, exactly."
Seeming uncomfortable at first, Xaldin slowly warmed to the idea. His hands behind his back, coughing ever so slightly to clear his throat, he took a deep breath to clear his thoughts.
"Little Loudmouth Inu, Xaldin no have long time with you. No long time to judge character, but, Xaldin see strong the man Little Inu be. Courageous, fierce, brave; good Inu to heart." A small smile came to his lips, honest and sorrowful. "Loudmouth Inu kiss Little Princess! Run Xaldin bow legged! Feel like mother wet nursing cubs in Buta castle." Roxas thought he heard Xaldin laugh for a brief moment, but when he turned his head, despite the smile on the Kuma's face the tears were running thickly. "Little Inu with Goddess now. Xaldin promise take care of Little Princess for you, and when Xaldin's time come, Xaldin thump Little Inu in heaven for leaving too early, no? Ha!" He chuckled, dabbing at his eyes. "Xaldin going to miss Loudmouth Inu. Goodbye… Hayner."
Roxas' ears twitched at his friend's name. It was the first time he had heard it from the Kuma warrior's lips, and it was whispered with such sincerity it was almost gentle, but held so strongly upon Xaldin's lips that the wind could not steal it.
Rubbing at his eyes, giving a sharp nod, Xaldin released a shaky breath, still smiling ever so softly as he reached over and picked up a fallen shovel. "Now, Little Prince speak true. Xaldin finish when Little Prince done."
For a moment, Roxas shuffled, his ears folded back and his body rife with the explosion of his nerves. He bit at his tongue, held his gut to quell the guilt inside and tried to calm his breathing. Xaldin's eyes never left him, and Roxas found himself unable to completely comprehend exactly what it was he was facing up to.
"Xaldin, would you, er… would you mind…?" he trailed off, sighing with aggravation at his broken voice.
"Xaldin understand." Taking the shovel with him, Xaldin began to walk away on heavy steps. "Xaldin come back in five minutes time. Give Little Prince time say goodbye."
More heavy steps signalled him staying true to his word. Slowly he left, almost as if he was hesitant to leave Roxas alone. The blonde waited for a few more seconds, holding his breath as the world continued turning without him.
Was it supposed to be this hard?
"Hayner… I don't… I'm not exactly sure what to say. I've never had to do something like this before…" he turned his eyes downwards, staring at the soil. "I've never really let myself get close to anybody because I was afraid I'd get hurt. I guess meeting you changed all that, huh? I remember when we first met, scrapping by the side of that stream after you tried to rob me…"
He allowed himself a small smile, but no sooner had it turned up on his lips than the guilt in his stomach was ripping it back down again. It was frightening, having a conversation, expecting the person to listen and reply and laugh and join in, but getting nothing but empty silence.
"Hayner, you shouldn't be in there, I should be. Goddess help me if there was any way I could change what happened, any way at all, you have to know that I'd do it in a heartbeat! I'd give my heart and soul to have another shot at making things right, you have to know that! Heck, you know what? I wouldn't ask for another shot at this war, I'd go right back to the beginning, right back to when you threw that cold water over me and made me take this damn throne, and I'd make sure I didn't, Hayner, because I don't want this! I don't want you to be gone, and it's damn selfish of you to get me into this mess and then back out when things get messy! You…" he stopped brushed his hand across his cheeks and swept away the warm tears. "You're my best friend, Hayner… I dunno what I'm gonna do without you…"
He stopped, shoulders turned inwards, the burden heavy, expecting an answer he knew wouldn't come. In the distance somewhere a bird called, alerting him that morning was almost upon them.
"Hayner, I can't do this anymore. I've killed thousands of people, and I don't even know who I am now. I know it's not the right thing to do, but I just can't cope with this pain. Heck, you're my best friend, and I couldn't tell anybody anything about you… If that doesn't sum up my character then what exactly does?! I'm a lousy king, a lousy leader and a lousy friend. I've stayed for as long as I could and you know that I tried, right? I mean, you were there. I did try and save these people, yanno? Heck, I've bled so much for them I'm surprised there's any left in me."
He shook his head, running his free hand through his hair and pushing his hood down. "I can't do this anymore. I warned Ventus before we left that, well, that I might not be coming back. I told him I might get cut down and things could go wrong, yanno? He's a goody guy, took it in his stride and said it'd be his payment for me saving his dad and whatnot. He looks like me, remember? Nobody'll question him taking charge, and he'll explain things to Zack and Sora when they're all together. With everybody back there, they'll be safe from Sephiroth. I'd bet my pathetic life that he's gonna make a stop in the Kitsune Kingdom to try and take those amulets first; that should give everybody enough time to form a plan and get the army back into sorts."
He stopped, his voice dipping to a light tone as it began to slowly fade, scratching against his throat and tongue. "I'm leaving, Hayner. I found Axel's old wyvern in the rubble by the back of the Ushi city. It's a little edgy and wounded, but I'd bet my life I could ride it. I don't care where I go s'long as it's not here. So, this really is g-goodbye. I'm not coming back. I just want to thank you, Hayner, for absolutely everything, and I want you to know that I'm beyond sorry."
The bird called again and Roxas realised he was running out of time. "I'm taking the amulets, too. If I leave and Sephiroth can't get his grubby hands on them, then this war won't ever escalate into an end, right?"
Again, no answer. His voice all but gone at last, Roxas bowed lowly. "I'm so, so sorry, Hayner, I just..." his voice cracked, and even though he attempted to repeat the words no sound came out, and he found himself miming to himself in the frost of the morning air, the bird still cawing in the background…
When Xaldin returned five minutes later, the shovel over his shoulder and Sora in toe, he frowned to find the grave site empty. Night Crawler was nowhere to be found.
"I'm confused," Sora mumbled, sleep clogging his vision. "I thought you said Roxas would be here?"
"Little Prince was," Xaldin said, striding forwards to the head of the grave and crouching down to pick up the black cloak that looked to have been ripped from the wearer's shoulders. Holding it tightly, he let the shovel drop and folded his Kuma ears against his head. "Night Crawler not, though."
"Night Crawler?" Sora stepped forwards, stealing a glance at the cloak. "Hey, that's Roxas'!" Turning on the spot, staring through the glaring sunlight peeking through the cloudy swarm above, he frowned. "Where is he?"
"Little Prince warn Xaldin," the Kuma muttered, standing. "I no think Little Prince go through with plan so soon."
"Plan? What plan?"
"Little Prince gone, Neko."
"What? Whaddya mean 'gone'? He can't be gone! He promised me everything would be alri-"
"Neko no understand. Little Prince finally break under Buta Kingdom weight. Friend final straw." He turned up to the sky, a heavy breath leaving his lungs. "Night Crawler gone and we on own now. I finish job here, then we make for rugged road. Pass through and into Buta Kingdom, prepare for Sephiroth's attack."
"But Roxas still has to be here!" Sora growled, refusing to believe what he was being told. "We can't leave without him!"
"Little Prince no here now, Neko. Xaldin should never have left alone! Xaldin knew boy was hurting... Xaldin make mistake. Go, prepare men for march."
"Me?"
"You Night Crawler's brother, yes? Night Crawler gone, brother take charge of army. Take army home safely."
"But I-"
"No time for chatter!" Xaldin turned to the large heap of soil waiting to be turned back into the earth. "Go."
Still uncertain, but unwilling to test the large Kuma he had only just met, Sora left. He wasn't prepared to assemble the men, but if he could wake up Riku they could search all of the tents together. Roxas couldn't have gone far. He was on foot with a broken arm for Goddess' sake! And he knew his brother would never leave like that…
Would he?
Cloud was exhausted, as was the horse he had been riding hard through the gloomy forest that seemed to have overtaken the path. Dismounting, he released a ragged breath and patted the horse's flank. Untying the saddle, he let it drop to the ground and tied the reins to a particularly wild tree, letting the horse graze on its own.
It was dusk, and he was uncertain of the exact time. The overhead canopy blocked out any and all glimpses of the sky, leaving him utterly alone. Sinking down by the trunk of the tree, he swallowed hard and reached into his pocket, pulling out the letters he had crumpled upon his journey. They were from Cid, his begrudging friend, and the Inu he had not heard a peep from for two whole days. Although he would never admit it, he hoped the Inu was someplace safe and warm. It was too cold a night to be sitting outside beneath the stars alone.
Grunting, his eyes trained on the letters, he placed the first two under his leg, keeping them in place as his fingers broke the perfect seal of the heavy first. Just as Cid had instructed, he opened them as numbered.
The seal of the first letter broke. After a quick check of the woods to ensure the perimeter was safe, he upended the contents into his palm, blinking blankly at the trinket that slid against his skin. The amulet was small, shining a wounded grey in his palm and jagged around the edges; attached by the daintiest of silver chains. Rubbing his thumb along the edge smoothly, feeling the warped glass beneath and shuddering at the tremble the amulet seemed to give, he placed it down by his feet and turned to the letter marked with a small two.
There was no weight to this envelope. Reaching inside, Cloud pulled free the contents and unfurled the crisp paper, his eyes skimming over the perfectly looped hand.
Dearest Cidney Barmour Thrent,
I hope that this letter finds you well, old friend, and I am so sorry I must have it delivered to you. The messenger knows nothing of the contents within this envelope, and I hope you have kept that devilish edge you so inspire me with. You will need it.
I entrust to you, Cidney, my most precious possession, and the entitlement of my fair kingdom. The Inu Province is fading, and as you undoubtedly sit within the bowls of some stench-driven tavern drowning out your begotten past, I know that you most certainly feel it as well. The shadows have collected themselves beyond the sea, and they are quickly assembling against me and mine. Our great nation is vast, Cidney, but I undoubtedly know we cannot stand against the terror that is being awakened.
My only child has passed, as you no doubt have heard. The news has broken me, and the young Tora Prince to which she was betrothed. They were in love, as we were all when we were so young and foolish. King Titan sends his sympathies, and ensures me that Prince Reno is deeply maddened by the grief of his childhood sweetheart. I know not what to tell them, so I find myself unable to answer any of their calls.
The Ookami Kingdom has fallen, Cidney. I would ask that my once loyal knight returns to my side with sword and shield in hand, but I know that you will not. Know that I do not blame you for my father's death, only that I ask for your aid.
As you sit now reading this, know that I do not call you from your rouge life of assassination and devious plots. I know you cannot bring yourself back to a world of glamorous snakes and poisonous halls. I ask, out of the loyalty you once gave my father, that you look after this trinket with your life. Your honour is marked, I understand, and you are a wanted man near and far. Stay hidden, Cidney. Stay hidden and hide my most valuable treasure with you.
Wishing your health is at its peak, forever within your debt,
King Goofendor (Goofy) the First, Defender of the Inu Province, King to all within Inu boundaries.
Cloud read the letter twice just to be sure. The seal at the bottom, the perfect signature and the gleaming gold pen were definitely the mark of a king. He had just never expected a rough hellion such as Cid to receive such a note. The trinket mentioned was most definitely the Inu amulet written about within the letter, but why had Cid given it to Cloud? What was all of this about? None of it made sense.
Hoping for answers, Cloud turned his attention to the third and final letter. Opening the seal, the note was longer than the first and written in a much more broken and scratchy hand. This letter definitely came from the hand of Cid.
Cloud,
If you'd listened you'll have read these in the right order. If not you're an idiot. Go back and open them as I sealed them, ya thick-headed lout!
If you have seen the other letters, let's take it from there, shall we?
That there is the Inu amulet. I was entrusted to guard it with my life, and seeing as I don't think I'm gonna be coming back, you're gonna have to hold onto it for me. You're the only person I have left to trust this damn burden too, so don't go fucking it up, alright? Anyway, bet your head's buzzing with questions, ain't it? Bet you're wondering just who the heck I am, how I got that trinket and why I got a king's letter addressed to me, huh? Well, read on and I'll let you in on my secret life. Seeing as I'm probably dead by now, I ain't got nothing to be losing.
My real name is Cidney Barmour Thrent. I was born in the Inu Capital, grew up in an educated household, and worked my way up to become Captain of the Guard. Ha! Bet ya didn't see that coming, did you? Anyway, by the time I was nineteen I had myself working as King Beryon's First Knight. It was an honest job, and I had this thing called honour, see? Beautiful thing, really splendid, gets mucky too easily though. Quick to tarnish.
Mine got fucked up pretty badly.
Now, before you go rollin' your eyes, kitty-cat, it wasn't my damn fault! The Queen was havin' this baby, ya see, and we were under attack at Back Water Valley on the west coast. King Beryon was a decent guy, not a man I can say I was pally with, but fair enough. We were out scrapping against these rebels, an' he got hurt pretty darn bad. A sword to the chest doesn't stitch as easy as you might think. I was supposed to hold the attack at bay, catch them in an ambush and rip 'em apart. But these people that were fightin', they were good people; honest people. People I'd grown up with. Beryon had that amulet on his chest, and he began to grow pig-headed. Real pig-headed. He started rambling tactics about how he needed fire and oil and tar. 'Trap them', he tol' me, 'then we'll drench them in oil and have them shot with fire!'
How was I supposed to let that happen?
So, when the enemy was dawning on the horizon, I cut him down in his own tent. Treachery, betrayal, blah blah blah. I know, alright? But I couldn't let him keep goin' down in madness like he was. It was my sword I put through his chest. I stopped the rebellion, convinced the soldiers the king'd committed suicide, and brought the army home.
See that? That's my honour starting to blacken. Fickle thing, innit? You do one thing an' you're fucked, but you try and do the other an' you're getting' cut down.
So I went back to my queen, laid down my sword at her feet, told her the same lie as I'd told the others. She was a first time mother with a young child and no husband, she didn't dare challenge me on my tale. I watched the kid grow for ten years, then I left. The queen turned nasty, spitting hate everywhere I went and calling me out in court. I was near ready to be hanged! I had to leave.
I lived alright for a while, put myself out as an assassin for hire. Killed enough people, none of them innocent, then I killed those that sought the job out and robbed 'em. Now you can roll your eyes because, yeah, that is who I am now. So what? I had to get by, thugs still needed dealin' with, and these bozos sorting out murders couldn't be left to run free. I started and ended their small circles.
Then that there queen met me in some lowly tavern on the border with a heavy guard. She threatened to have the Tora's and Raion's down on my hide unless I did her a favour. Sephiroth already had her by then, see. He had her wrapped round his little finger and he was bouncing her on his knees like a puppet on a string.
I left as a spy, just as she'd wanted me to… that's when my honour becomes twisted and smashed. See, when I left, I got up to the Neko borders, and I got a whisper of a word that someone was looking for me. I was in some crap-shack when the messenger came. I learned that the queen and Goofy's daughter had died and the Tora Prince had become a wreck. I knew then that the Inu amulet Sephiroth had was a fake, and it still is. He doesn't know, and it's important that he doesn't know, alright?
…That isn't quite all.
My story's not that sad, so far. It's a bit pathetic and strung, but other than that I was just a pawn. This is where you came in, and I hope you can forgive me in your heart of hearts for what I did, Cloud. I honest to Goddess do.
I had to protect this Inu amulet, and I was a spy/assassin with a job to do. There was another note. A note I burned after reading for safety reasons, and a note I wish I'd have never received. See, Sephiroth was blackmailing Goofy. There were these two boys he wanted. One boy he knew to have the Neko Amulet and the other to be heir to the Neko throne. He wanted one alive, the other he wanted killed.
I'd heard from Marshal, an old snake-like acquaintance who works for Sephiroth, that Night Crawler was at Prince Axel's squadron, and I knew you were at the Neko capital. I was ready to test my luck, and I took on the job. I let myself be captured at the borders and was dragged into the Neko cells. It wasn't by chance that you went down there and found me.
I used you, Cloud. Plain and simple. In the beginning I needed a way to get both you and that brother of yours down to the Inu province to save the Inu nation. It was a fair deal at the time; two lives in exchange for a hundred thousand. But you had to complicate things, huh? Had to tie me up, had to escort me around and shackle me to you at the first chance you got, huh?
We were in that tavern when I changed my mind. I had my chance. We were alone in a dark room and you had a sword. I knew where Night Crawler was and you were no longer of any use. I could wrestle it from you easily, gut you, slice the shackles off and make for the exit. But I didn't. I can't say why I didn't, but I'm glad I didn't.
I got my chance again on that ship, but you'd started to grow on me like a gobby fungus. I hated to think that I even liked you as a friend. It was killing me, because I had a job to do, and you was my target. I could always go back for Night Crawler, that was no problem.
Then Sephiroth bordered our ship, and he didn't give a damn hell about anything I told him. I said I was a spy, that I was the one hired to take care of you and Night Crawler, and he brushed it aside as if I was a lying bag of fleas! He wanted the Inu amulet, the amulet I'd swallowed to protect (don't worry, it's been washed).
Then you saved me. You just couldn't help yourself, could you? And fuck me, just like that I was indebted to you. And now you was my friend, even if you did declare so right from the beginning.
So, there you have it. I'm the sneaky assassin turned spy that was sent to capture your brother for a bargaining tool and kill you. I'm the bastard you should be hating with every fibre of your being, and I'm the reason I know you're probably blowing a fuse right now.
I just wanted you to know that although it was my intention to kill you, I couldn't. You were my friend, Cloud. The one who stood by me when I was being a sarcastic little twat and making your journey as hard as possible for my own amusement. I'm the one who attempted to kill your brother. If I wouldn't have met you first, Night Crawler would be dead. I promise you that.
There you have it. My dark past brought to you on a grimy platter. Hopefully I'll live a little longer and we'll meet again, but until then I'll thank the Goddess to have met you Cloud Strife.
Don't forget to look after that amulet for me.
Hoping for forgiveness,
Cid.
Cloud couldn't move. At some point he had started to strangle the small piece of paper, crunching it inwards thickly as he bit at his tongue so hard it had started to become numb. His ears thrown back, eyes narrowed in frustration, his arm shook as he let the Inu amulet drop to the floor, rage grabbing at him and holding him as he scrunched the letter tight, hissing and seething and cursing at the top of his lungs.
"Bastard!" He growled, throwing the letter as far away from him as he could and watching it roll across the twisted grass. "Damn Inu snake!"
Standing, ranting, his arms thrown wildly as he shouted at nobody but the horse that was whickering nervously, he stopped when he heard the faintest of rustles from within the brush. No wind had followed him into the thicket of the jungle, just as no light had been able to, and he had not seen an animal or creature for the past seven miles.
Silence flittered through him, and he forgot about the eternal rage swelling inside him. Turning, his hand resting upon the hilt of his sword, he watched the bushes with mesmerized eyes, attempting to see through the darkness beyond.
"Who's there?!" He called, teeth ground together so tightly it was a wonder his jaw had not snapped.
From the bushes there came a series of small whispers, as if they were being uttered between more than one person, before slowly, almost hesitantly, a figure stepped from the darkness and into Cloud's small line of vision.
The woman was recognisable to Cloud, and slowly he let his sword lax in his palm before he released it completely, straightening up before the newcomer. With furrowed eyebrows he glanced over Tifa's frame, catching the shadowed glint just beyond her eyes, the way her shoulders hunched inwards as if weighted with a great burden; her hair was dull, her skin so pale it seemed to glow beneath the veil of darkness, but there was strength there; like an untapped beacon waiting to be ignited. With every breath she seemed to shake and her wings ruffled the feathers painfully, gaining a wince from her lips. Cloud had never seen her awake before, and he was beyond impressed that she had begun to recover so quickly.
"You are sure that this is the Neko Cloud?" she asked, her eyes never leaving Cloud's as her question was thrown over her shoulder, back towards the dim forest.
"It is," another voice called, more sombre than Tifa's own powerful projection. Zexion appeared with dignity, his wings folded against his back as he stepped beside his princess with a protective stance, his fingers never far away from his sword.
"He is much as you described him," Tifa laughed, a beautiful thing in the dreary light of the forest. She hid it behind her hand, but it was soon sapped away as coughs wrenched themselves free from her. Zexion moved to assist her, but she held her hand up to stop him, staggering for air as the choking rendered her breathless. Although Zexion was worried, he dare not push past his princess' hand.
Cloud turned back to the letter he had thrown against the floor. Striding over, he picked it up carefully, un-scrunching it and placing it back into his pocket before he made his way over to the Inu amulet. He was slightly fearful of touching it, especially after the note said the Inu had swallowed it. Exactly which end had it come back out of? Even if it had been washed, the thought did nothing to settle his mind. Snatching it up, his thoughts still fresh with the hard betrayal of his friend, he turned to Tifa irritably.
"You shouldn't be here. You should be resting back in the Nezumi castle."
"A Neko wondered about the wellbeing of a Tori?" Tifa smiled again, striding further into the small opening. "That is new, I'm sure. My brother Leon was happy to see me awake, but I was less than willing to stay bedridden whilst all about me Sephiroth counts his shiny trinkets. I want vengeance, Cloud." She stopped before him, mere inches from his face with a deft smirk and her hands upon her hips, seeming like the most powerful being in the world. "I will not be denied what I want."
For some reason he couldn't quite explain, Cloud found himself smiling ever so slightly, taking a step back from the intense heat of the Tori's stare. "I didn't think Leon would let you go so easily."
She shrugged, turning away from him and back to Zexion, inspecting the area. "Leon is my dearest brother and I love him with all my heart, but the day he should try and tell me what it is that I should do is the day I will personally declare myself an Ookami."
"So why not go with him? Why trouble me?"
She shrugged, but the move still appeared with eloquent dignity. "Why not? My brother and Yuffie are to attend to Sephiroth personally, and I thought I would be of better use helping to smash the army that trampled down my people."
"What use could you ever be to me?" Cloud asked, staring between Tifa's grin and Zexion's hard frown. "If anything you'd only slow me down."
Tifa's smirk fell away slightly, but only slightly. Standing in her battle-hardened leather armour, her eyes hardened and seemed to glare with the ferocity of the sun, as if she was deliberately attempting to intimidate him. But before she could speak, Zexion found his way to push pat her side, folding his arms with a grunt.
"That's exactly what I told her. Why even bother the Neko? If he wants to go get himself killed than let him. What business is it of ours?" he rolled his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping him. "Unfortunately the princess sees things in a different light. As her faithful soldier I am obliged to follow her to the ends of the earth, and as her loyal friend I will willingly do so."
"Aw, you make it all sound so charming, Zexion," Tifa chuckled, patting him on the shoulder and grinning, one hand hugging her hip. "Do not pretend you did not have the same brainwave as me."
"And what brainwave would that be, pray tell?" growled Cloud, all of his sympathy gone. He was irritable, tired, trapped in the middle of some hell-bent forest that wanted to ensnare him. Cid had dropped a bombshell on him, and he had been unable to find Sora. Everything that could have gone wrong had done, so he was less than enthusiastic to be listening to the bubbling tales of the two Tori before him.
Leaning against Zexion's arm despite his groan of protest, Tifa addressed him with the lack of a smile. "Well, have you not considered anything? You have ridden hard for many an hour to come to your destination, and it has worn you solid, has it not? Now, me and my friend left long hours after you, when twilight was beginning to birth itself within Nezumi walls. How is it then that we stand before you now, at the exact same destination, completely unhindered and bound of breath?" Her smile returned at Cloud's confused glare. The Neko's ears twitched, and she knew she had him where she wanted him.
"It is because, Cloud, for every ravine and ditch you were forced to trouble and twist your way though, we were able to grace ourselves over with ease. No doubt you toiled in the river with your horse, whereas we glided right over, turning minutes into seconds with grace. Even in my wounded state I was able to keep up with Zexion's brisk wings. We Tori are known for our speed in the air. We can guide you across every snag of this unholy land, and we can spy the enemies' movements before they have even begun to march. A sneak attack is the best approach for the upcoming attack, Cloud. You know it as well as I. Don't try to deny it."
Cloud was silent. His fists clenched by his side, but he failed to notice. Zexion was staring at him with a lazy, drawled glare, Tifa still resting against him cheekily with that confident grin. Her eyes shimmered and she winked, pushing off of Zexion without so much as swaying the other male.
"C'mon, Cloud. You know you need our help-"
"I don't need anything from anybody!" Cloud bristled, attatching the Inu amulet about his throat with the delicate chain. "I would recommend you go back. This is not a game of cat and mouse, princess. You almost died once. I never promised Leon I'd be bringing you back."
Tifa wrinkled her nose. Striding towards him, she caught Cloud close his eyes and growled, standing mere inches from him once more.
"And who said I needed you to help me? Yes, I almost died, but I'm back now and I'm stronger than ever! How do you know it is not me that will be leaving you in a ditch for the Ookami to bite into?"
Cloud scoffed, arms folded and eyes closed. "Princess, I'm not some delicate flower, alright?"
"Excuse me?! And are you implying that I am?!"
"Did I say that? Don't put words into my mouth!"
She snarled. "Well I wouldn't have to if you would stand up like a man and spit them out properly! You know what I think?" Her smile returned smugly, her own arms folded. "I think you're afraid I come along in case I show you up."
"Show me up?!"
"Yes."
"Lady, you are out of your mind!"
"Am I? It seems plausible to me."
"It's ridiculous. Now if you don't mind will you just get outta here already?!"
"Aw, is the kitty-cat afraid he's gonna be outshone by the Tori?"
Cloud's eyes snapped open, a glare in his eyes and a growl upon his lips. Forgetting himself, he reached forwards and seized Tifa's collar, bringinf her so close she closed one eye against him, feeling his fingers tighten against the fabric of her shirt as he lifted her from the ground.
"Don't." Cloud seethed, his left eye twitching, "you ever call me kitty-cat. Am I understood?"
Tifa laughed in his face, her lips inches from his. "Aw, poor kitty-cat-"
"I just said-"
"I think you should unhand the princess," Zexion threatened, his sword being drawn with a metal hiss from its sheathe.
"No, it's alright, Zexion," Tifa said, still being held in the air by her collar as Cloud's fingers clenched tighter by her throat. Beating her weary wings, she brought herself upwards so that Cloud was no longer holding her up, but rather preventing her from flying away. "I think it's cute that the little kitty-cat is intimidated by a Tori."
Cloud yanked hard on her collar, bringing her back down and snarling, holding her close to him to ensure she couldn't use her wings as leverage again. "I'm not gonna tell you again, birdie!"
"You know the best thing about us Tori, Neko?" Tifa asked, her voice silky and sultry as she stroked his rough hands with her own gentle fingertips, drawing his confused glare down to them.
She laughed, a few brunette streaks falling in front of her shimmering eyes. "We are full of surprises."
Without another word she let her lips ghost over his, her grin twisting the corners of her mouth teasingly, seductively, almost mischievously. Cloud was taken in for a moment, but only a moment it was. Just as he was almost completely prepared to relax, his grip slipping ever so slightly, Tifa dug her fingers in hard by the ball joints of the wrist. Cloud yelped, a wince prying itself from his lips as he let her go and aimed to throw her away from him. Rubbing at his wrists, curses flying free from his mouth, he seethed and spat his stare darkly towards where Tifa was hovering a few feet from the ground, laughter bouncing around her and through the woodland.
Cloud was blushing, something he couldn't remember doing for a long, long time. Catching the breath that had escaped him, still rubbing his wrist, he went to say something before Tifa cut him off, her grin emblazoned on her lips still.
"Come, Zexion. It seems the great and wondrous Cloud does not need our help!"
Blowing a kiss cloud's way, another wink following with a small giggle as Cloud pretended to bat the imaginary kiss aside, she took to the sky, breaking through the overhanging netted branches strongly with Zexion in her wake.
Cloud stayed staring at the gap they had left through for a moment, a sour grimace on his lips as he rubbed his swore wrists. Huffing, turning back to the trunk of the tree he had settled himself against, he slid down it, his knees up and braced against his chest. Beside him the horse neighed and snorted, its tail slashing through the air.
Scowling, Cloud buried his face in his arms, his eyes closing tiredly. "What the heck would you know?"
Wow... Roxas finally cracked. ^_^''
Please forgive any mistakes as this is hot off the press lol I will proofread in morning. I know I promised all of the Neko's but Zack's part is just so long it will take me a while longer to write. So I can promise you Zack and co as well as Axel in the next chap :) hope anyone who read enjoyed!
ultimatedarkness - Glad to hear it's okay, and yep Sora and Rox where reunited. Unfortunately Roxas couldn't cope any longer and cracked :( It was bound to happen after everything he's been through
Stalker - So glad you like Roxas' character! Him and a few others I have worked particularly hard on, but there are some I'm not so proud of, they just seem watery, yanno? But I'm glad you enjoyed :)
2lzy2login - Sorry you teared up :( but I'm glad you liked Roxas' snapping scene. If he was gonna snap, that's how I figured he'd do it in this fic. haha, glad you like Seifer :) And I hope the burial was something like you expected. I would have given more, but considering where they are and what they have I think that's what they would have done, especially since they were pressed for time. I will take all of your favourites mentally :D thank you!
