Destroyed
~
Chapter Eight: Arrivals
~
~
~ It doesn't mean much,
It doesn't mean anything at all.
The life I've left behind me
Is a cold room.
I've crossed the last line
From where I can't return,
Where every step I took in faith,
Betrayed me... ~
Sweet Surrender, Sarah Maclachlan
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
He was aware, ever so slowly, of a hard surface behind his head. Underneath him, as cold as ice and betraying pins and needles into his unwilling skin.
Again, warm water was dashed over his face.
Hot breath, fouler than any garbage produced hit his face, and screwing up his nose in distaste, he tilted his head back so it knocked off the hard suface, and brought up his hand to fend off whatever was attacking him.
Slowly, he opened one eye, then the other so his sapphire eyes blinked down at the dog which had roused him from his stupor.
It wasn't overly large, but slim and with large appealing black eyes that blinked at him, intelligence lurking inside them. Then with a half yap, he turned and ran off before Sora could raise a hand.
"Where am I.." he wondered aloud, looking up and finding himself sat spread eagled in an alley way, his head resting against a wall much to his confusion. More than confusion, for the last he had recalled, he had been standing on the brink of a half eaten world, waving his blade at shadows and trying to keep his footing.
What had happened, and why was he suddenly here of all places?
Where was his world and if it had vanished then why had it gone?
Where were Riku and Kairi?
Panic washing cold over him, he bit his lip and stood up slowly so as to not get a head rush. It felt to him like he hadn't eaten in days, his stomach growling hungrily at him. Using the strange key like weapon as leverage, he stood and pushed brown hair from his eyes.
The alley was thin, and blocked off at one end. With a shrug, he started towards the end that was open and half dragged the key after him, wincing at the shrill tap tap on certain flagstones as he went. Eventually the alley opened up to a larger area, full of shops.
One young man who was passing stopped and tilted a delicate eyebrow at him, then asked rather pointedly, "Are you new here?"
"I guess," Sora said softly, in some confusion as he viewed the strange town. It was like one of the small models Kairi had built in her first months on the Island, showing them what some of the towns she had visited had been like, the places she had seen before settling in on the Destiny Islands.
"Well, welcome to Traverse Town. So, your world got swallowed eh?"
"Swallowed?"
"Yeah, you know, by the shadows. Don't worry, we got some specialists on our side, Traverse won't fall lad!" The young man smiled with complete confidence and hefted the couple of books he had, "Mind you, just taking these over to the Researcher now."
"Researcher?"
"Aren't ya listening?"
Almost saying 'huh' in an ever intelligent response, Sora turned his slightly confused eyes back onto the young man who was studying him with a slight look of apprehension. "How do people get here?"
"Well, most escape on Gummi ships.."
"Most?"
"Sometimes people don't make it from their worlds. Sometimes they can just escape the shadows on their own," he shrugged then smiled, "Don't worry about it. Hey, if you manage to find the refugee clinic they should get you something to eat. I'll be late if I don't hurry, see you later maybe?"
Without waiting for an answer, the gawky young man stumbled off carrying the books. Sora watched him for a moment until his stomach growled at him, demanding his attention and with a sigh he patted his gloved hand on it.
"I know," he said, regardless of the fact he was talking to himself. The shop door was slightly open next to him, and a man in the doorway looked down at him with an arched brow as he spoke to his stomach. He grinned lightly, and hoped the man didn't think he had gone completely mad. But, considering recent events he wasn't so sure.
"Your world get taken too, eh?"
He looked to be in his late thirties, with wide blue trousers, a clean cotton shirt that was getting slightly bobbled with wear and his waist wrapped about with a kind of wide tool belt. His face looked like it hadn't seen a razor in a few days, the eyes shadowed and tired but sparkling with humour nevertheless. His hair was neatly swept back from his face, behind a pair of piloting goggles that were half rimmed with soot, and in his mouth a stalk of grass sat lazily.
"I guess," Sora replied slowly.
"Well.. my names Cid."
"Sora," he answered, gawkily. He wasn't sure how he felt about the sudden openess of all these people, he just felt more and more confused than before. "I'm looking for my friends, Riku and Kairi. Have you seen them?"
"Riku and Kairi, eh? What do they look like?"
Sora took a moment to explain their appearance to the man, as he listened just as intently back. Boy, fifteen years old, taller than Sora with white hair and green eyes. Girl, fourteen years old, a little smaller than Sora with short cut reddish hair and bright blue eyes, always laughing. He felt better just talking of them, perhaps it showed in his face because after ten minutes the pilot was grinning at him past the grass stalk.
"Well," Cid said, tilting his head, "Can't say I've seen them about, sorry."
"Oh.." Sora sighed and looked down at the pavement, a frown crawling over his usually unmarred brow. Of course, wishing they would still be here after so long as just madness.. but he couldn't help wishing and hoping. He liked to believe so long as he kept wishing, dreaming and believing in where his feet took him, then he stood a chance of getting them back.
"Hey, well, if you don't find 'em.. I'll take care of you." Sora looked up and saw the gruff face split with a kindly smile, those blue eyes twinkling and for the first time in a long while he felt like crying, felt his heart go out to the man who stood before him.
Of course, his world has been swallowed too. But from the look of things, the consumption happened a while ago, not so recent as Sora's and whilst the pain was fresh for him, it was deep and old for Cid.
"Thanks," he managed, and smiled back.
"You won't find them if you don't go looking, Sora. If you have any questions or just want to talk, I'm right here." The pilot patted the doorframe of the building, and slowly he set his bright sapphire eyes on the sign reading "Accessories."
"Alright.. I'll be seeing you," he offered finally and lifting his hand in farewell, turned and held the key like blade to his chest, and moved off into the shadows of the town, his face lurking between thoughtfulness and regret.
Everyone suffered, everyone felt pain.
Why should he be more special than them?
After all, he still had hope. And he could never give that up.
Eventually the path wound it's way round the back of the accessory shop, past closed doors and a fat man who grinned brightly at him, chewing on a carrot stick as he conversed with a young lad who was trying to fix some kind of toy plane. Their eyes met his, and didn't slide away. Feeling somehow, if in a part, welcome, Sora made his way over to the heavy, tall gates. He begin to push, until a voice stopped him..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Gawsh, are we even goin' the right way?"
Donald squawked his fury and pointed down on street, then grinned.. kind of. The sort of grin that indicated he didn't really have a clue either.
It figured, as far as Goofy was concerned. From first look, Traverse Town had appeared somewhat more extensive than what they had planned for. With later insepction as they wandered about haplessly, they came to realise that it was much much bigger and full of diverse cultures. They walked down the indicated street, and met with a fountain then a door.
"More doors?" laughed Donald, "This place is full of doors!"
Smiling, the soldier ambled forward and gave it a push, opening it into the small alleyway that led round back. It looked dark down there, and so far he had seen no shadows to warrant him getting his shield out. Donald showed little caution however, hot headedly pushing his way forwards and past Goofy into the semi-darkness.
"Anyway," continued the duck, with his usual ignorance of anything remotely threatening, and Goofy tried not to roll his eyes. The tirade was coming back. Following his vizier companion, he said "uh-huh" at appropriate places.
It was the usual, "why us? what did we ever do.." rant, and he was getting rather used to his friend just randomly blathering on now and then. As they walked through the tiny ginney, it moved into an open backstreet where water ran through from some underground source. It didn't seem contaminated though, clear as crystal and shining bright.
Donald misstepped as Goofy accidentally forgot to stop in time, and was pushed into the water, soaking his clothes.
"You great dolt!"
"Whoops," he laughed, looking down at the duck who stood armpit deep in the water, turning that attractive shade of red he always did.
"Give me a hand out of here!"
"Alright."
It took a bit of manouevering, but eventually they got Donald back on the street. As he dripped water, back to the doors they had passed that belonged to a tall building, the vizier gave his strict opinion on the soldier walking by the water next time and seeing how he liked it.
Goofy tried poitning out that he hadn't meant to, but the duck was having none of it.
It was as they were arguing that something tapped Donald on the shoulder. It caused him to erupt into a panicked yelp, and turn about. Calmer, Goofy turned to look as well.
It was a young woman, perhaps twenty two, twenty three years of age in a slim line pink dress, strappy at the shoulders. About her slender waist was hung a blue belt, and the hand she had tapped Donald on the shoulder with was curled about with many metal bracelets. She wasn't tall, but she gave the impression of being willowy, her hair caught up in a lazy braid of sugar brown, her wide eyes a brilliant green. All of this, underlined by a strange sense of tranquility.
"Excuse me, but did the King send you?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"They'll come at you out of nowhere."
Sora blinked, looking at the man who stood like a shadow himself, silently watching him. He was tall, with clothes of a dark denim and leather, blues. In one hand he tapped a strange kind of blade lightly against his leg, smoky blue eyes regarding him calmly and without visible emotion in them, from under a thick fringe of dark brown hair.
He looked dangerous.
"Who are you?" he asked, a frown marring his brow. Always the best question to ask in a situation like this.
The man lifted a hand, and pointed at the blade Sora held in his hand loosely. In the same low, soft voice he continued, "And they'll keep on coming at you, as long as you continue to wield the Keyblade. But why? Why would it choose a kid like you?" The fingers of his left hand came up to his temple, massaging there as if somehow that would take away the angst of trying to figure this out.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
He had woken here, in a strange place, full of strange people only to be told that his world was gone, his friends weren't here and now, to top it all of the blade he was running about with had chosen him? Why him? He had nothing to offer, nothing to give and all he really wanted right now was to see Riku and Kairi.
The warrior shook his head, then held out his hand, commandingly retorting with, "Never mind, now let me see that Keyblade."
Alarmed, all he could do was lift it as to strike the man, "What?! There's no way you're getting this!"
~ It's all I have left to connect me to home ~
A small hint of a smile touched those emotionless lips, and the eyes lit up briefly, "Fine, have it your way."
It came faster than he could have expected, and he only just brought up the blade to deflect the blow.
Immediately Sora could see the disadvantage of fighting in such close quarters, after all, Riku had been a very good tutor when they had sparred together back on the island. Taking time, he waited for the next blow, and as the warrior hewed his weapon down for a lethal blow, Sora slid to the side and began to run past him as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran breathlessly back towards the accessory shop, skidding round the corner as he could hear the man walking easily behind him, betraying no need for speed.
He hit the bannisters looking over the postbox, then gasping, turned and made for the stairs down.
Then blinked, as the man appeared as if from nowhere before his eyes, landing like a cat after the jump. As he stood up, Sora felt his mouth go dry. This was going to be no ordinary fight.
As the strange blade seemed to move of it's own volition, Sora moved too, swinging the keyblade round and as they struck the others blade, the resonance almost knocked the man from his feet.
Staring at the keyblade a moment, listening to it hum happily.. his blade was magical?
The man muttered something, but Sora moved, battering him over the head with blade until he swung back.
His reflexes weren't enough this time and a slice of red appeared across his upper arm. Softly grumbling, he turned and ran whilst trying to stick a hand over the cut. Then was thrown flat on his face as something hot slammed into his back.
Gasping, he realised slowly he felt afire.. and fumbled for a potion, swallowing the contents. The burning sensation faded, as did the pain of the cut. It was enough and he rolled to the side just as the man's blade hammered itself into the flagstones where he had lain prone not seconds before.
The blade appeared stuck.
Gratefully, Sora moved and began to batter the warrior now he was bladeless.. until eventually he fell onto one knee.
Gasping for air at so much exertion, swaying with the pain of bruising and the burning sensation still there on his back, Sora looked at the man who had tried to beat him within an inch of his life. Swallowing thickly he lifted the Keyblade as the warrior watched with curiosity in the smoky blue eyes.
"Now... you're...gonna.. you're gonna.."
The world whirled black about him, as he felt himself hit the floor with an exhausted thud. Voices permeated that darkness, one the man's..and one another voice.
"Aw, you're slipping Leon."
"I went easy on him. Looks like things are worse than we thought. A lot worse."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
There was a voice in the madness.
He watched her fade like a star, fade from his memory but exist there all at once.
His driving force.
"Come on lazy bum, wake up.."
Kairi...Kairi...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He was slowly coming round, and as he studied the keyblade, leant against a strut of the door in Yuffie's room, he also half listened to them talk. He hadn't taken it as easy on the kid as he should have, but he had felt angry for a wild moment.
Why had a kid been given the keyblade? Why not him?
He was strong, he was true and he had more than one reason to fight now that Aeris was in his life. He would cling to that, long after the shadows had fallen.
"Those creatures that attacked you are after the Keyblade, but it's your heart they really want, because you wield the Keyblade," Yuffie said softly. Everyone had paid attention to Aeris' nightly lectures on the Heartless. Everyone understood the nature of these monsters.. everyone should be aware of danger.
The boy slurred, still half asleep, "I'm so glad you're okay Kairi."
Stifling a grin as he watched the young girl plant her hands on her hips and turn a pretty shade of red, "Kairi?! Who are you talking about? I'm the great Ninja, Yuffie!"
Ah yes, that same old pride, the old arrogance that comes with the flush of youth. It was wearing thin on the chirpy girl now, and he could see the struggle she had to do to even speak her name, say her title. He felt the same somedays.
Yuffie turned to look at him accusingly, and half crooked a finger, "I think you overdid it Squall!"
"That's Leon."
Of course, her constantly forgetting his alias was ever so amusing to him. It wasn't always good to say his name, someone could know it.. and until they had this mess sorted out he only wanted people he could love and trust to remind him of a dead world. He only wished for Aeris to say it, filled with love and happiness. He shut his eyes briefly, thinking of her and the way she had sweetly said his name at first.
Yuffie turned back to the kid on the bed, and slowly Leon opened his eyes to study the young boy.. no, young man. He wasn't tall, he never would be too tall when fully grown. A mop of light brown hair, bright blue eyes and clothes made for island living. Shoes that looked a bit too big for him, chains hung from his waist and gloves with strange symbols on the backs of them. But something in the way he sat alerted Leon to the fact that perhaps, this kid was more than he seemed.
"The Keyblade," she said, gesturing to it, "we had to get it away from you to shake off those creatures. It turns out that's how they were tracking you."
Leon leant down a bit, and picked up the Keyblade, feeling the magic. "It was the only way to conceal your heart from them. But it won't work for long. It's hard to believe that you, of all people, are the chosen one."
He moved his hand to the side, and slowly the blade hummed and vanished, ony to reappear in Sora's hands much to his surprise. As the boy looked over the blade, Leon sighed inwardly. Some small part of him had hoped it would choose him when picked up.
Maybe he was too flawed.
Sighing, he leant back up by the doorway, "Well, beggars can't be choosers."
~ And we surely are the poorest of the poor, stumbling about in the dark. ~
The boy looked up and said in a controlled voice, trying to hide fear, worry, anger and confusion in those tones, "Why don't you start making sense? What's going on here?!"
~*~
She sat comfortably down at the end of her bed, in her neatly tidied room and watched the two who had followed their king as they in turn watched her with their black eyes. One tall, one short, one calm and one fiery. For a moment, she was reminded of herself and Tifa, and briefly she smiled.
They seemed to relax as she smiled, so she carried on.
"Okay," she began, in her soft voice, "you know there are many other worlds out there, besides your castle and this town... right?"
The duck nodded, still slightly wet from the alleyway, "Yeah.."
Goofy scratched at his head then half laughed in his strange accent, "But, they're supposed to be a secret.."
~ Of course, he might never had told them what he knows, or the extent of what he knows. Now I'm left here to show them? Planet, is this my path? Showing and guiding? ~
As something inside her partly answered her question, she carried on with a small movement of her hands. "They've been secret because they've never been connected. Until now.." the two looked at her as she lowered her eyes and said in sorrowed tones she couldn't help. "When the Heartless came, everything changed.."
~*~
The boy blinked, "Heartless?"
Yuffie, who had taken up a spot on the bed next to Sora, nudged him, "The ones who attacked you, remember?"
Leon gestured with a hand, moving restlessly from the wall in a small circle. He hated this, hated questions and waiting but if you didn't ask then you never got anywhere. And this kid needed all the help he could get. "Those without Hearts. The darkness within people's hearts is what attracts them. And there is darkness within every heart."
~Even mine. ~
His eyes slid to study Sora.
~ Even his. ~
~Even Aeris' ?~
Yuffie spoke up suddenly into the silence, "Hey, have you ever heard of someone named Ansem?"
~*~
The soldier scratched his head and looked puzzled, "Ah-nsem?"
This was a subject she knew a lot about, and trying not to show her excitement she tilted her head, explaining as fast as the thoughts came to her, "He was studying the Heartless. He recorded all of his findings in a very detailed report."
This got the tall doglike soldier's attention and he grinned, "well Gawsh, can we see it?"
Wincing, Aeris looked apologetic as she murmurd, "It's pages are scattered everywhere."
"Scattered?" asked the tiny wizard.
~ I knew it, even with the time given we didn't have the chance to get the report. If only we had.. ~
"Too many worlds."
This did however strike off an idea in Goofy's head and he lifted a finger, "oh, well maybe the King went to find 'em?"
Inwardly breathing her relief at finding some way to help them, she nodded brightly, her sugar brown hair bobbing, "Yes, those were my thoughts exactly."
The soldier stood up straight, and started to move for the door into the hallway, "well then we gotta find him quick!"
"Wait wait wait!" bawled Donald, grabbing Goofy by his coat, "We still gotta get that 'key'!"
~Key...~
She stared between them for a moment as they stared at each other. A key, a secret dream and a secret voice. The darkness and the hope.. would she exist past those dark fingers inside her? Her key, the Keyblade, their keys..
"That's right," she said finally, gathering their attention to her, "The Keyblade."
~*~
Sora tilted his head as Leon watched him. "So..this is the key."
On the bed, Yuffie bounced slightly as she nodded exuberantly, "Exactly." But her violet eyes when they found his, seemed to say, "finally."
Taking up his part of the story in his calm voice, Leon moved back to he was touching the doorframe. "The Heartless have great fear of the keyblade. That's why they'll keep coming after you, no matter what."
"I didn't ask for this!"
~ I did.. sometimes you don't get what you ask for, but you have to learn to accept your lot in life. ~
Yuffie laughed and ruffled Sora's hair, "The Keyblade *chooses* it's master, and it chose you!"
"So," Leon waved his hand, moving so he stood at the other side of the chunky doorframe, facing the small safe. "Tough luck."
"How..How did all this happen? I remember being in my room.." there was a silence, Leon staring hard at the metal of the safe and trying to collect his thoughts as the boy suddenly burst out into shocked revelations. "Wait a minute, what happened to my home? My island? Riku! Kairi..."
He shrugged, how could he give him answers to tame those wonderings? Only Aeris could and she was occupied with other guests right now. Perhaps later she could help.. "You know what, I don't really know."
There was a shuffling, and something came into his vision. Unwillingly, he looked up into the bright blue eyes and sighed. So young, and so ready for the tempering. He hated this. Too young..
"Sooner or later the Heartless will find you, you'd best prepare yourself."
Those bright blue eyes blinked slowly, and the voice was calm enough. But he could see the hands shaking, could see the fear in his eyes.. "Prepare myself?"
"To fight for your life, are you ready?"
~Are you?~
"I'm ready." He nodded firmly.
Ignoring the sinking in his heart for the young boy, Leon tilted his head towards Yuffie who had gotten off her bed and was straightening out her shorts, "Yuffie, let's go join Aerith. She should be there now with the other visitors.."
"Leon!"
He blinked as Yuffie yelled, pointing. Leon looked over at the table where a heartless in strange armour had appeared, bouncing up and down wildly. Heartless.. here. His eyes slid down to where Sora held the keyblade. Of course, it had tracked him.
"Yuffie, go!"
Not spending a further moment, Yuffie moved like greased lightning for the door connecting her room and Aeris'. She banged the door open, hitting something in the process but not caring, she grabbed for Aeris' hand and began to drag her.
"Yuffie?!" Aeris exclaimed.
Hearing this commotion, Leon turned so he could see the face of the boy. Determination. Good..
"Sora, let's go."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Shadows came.
Sweetness.
Savour the fright and the fight.
Heart and Heartless.. all that was, was no more..
~
Chapter Eight: Arrivals
~
~
~ It doesn't mean much,
It doesn't mean anything at all.
The life I've left behind me
Is a cold room.
I've crossed the last line
From where I can't return,
Where every step I took in faith,
Betrayed me... ~
Sweet Surrender, Sarah Maclachlan
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
He was aware, ever so slowly, of a hard surface behind his head. Underneath him, as cold as ice and betraying pins and needles into his unwilling skin.
Again, warm water was dashed over his face.
Hot breath, fouler than any garbage produced hit his face, and screwing up his nose in distaste, he tilted his head back so it knocked off the hard suface, and brought up his hand to fend off whatever was attacking him.
Slowly, he opened one eye, then the other so his sapphire eyes blinked down at the dog which had roused him from his stupor.
It wasn't overly large, but slim and with large appealing black eyes that blinked at him, intelligence lurking inside them. Then with a half yap, he turned and ran off before Sora could raise a hand.
"Where am I.." he wondered aloud, looking up and finding himself sat spread eagled in an alley way, his head resting against a wall much to his confusion. More than confusion, for the last he had recalled, he had been standing on the brink of a half eaten world, waving his blade at shadows and trying to keep his footing.
What had happened, and why was he suddenly here of all places?
Where was his world and if it had vanished then why had it gone?
Where were Riku and Kairi?
Panic washing cold over him, he bit his lip and stood up slowly so as to not get a head rush. It felt to him like he hadn't eaten in days, his stomach growling hungrily at him. Using the strange key like weapon as leverage, he stood and pushed brown hair from his eyes.
The alley was thin, and blocked off at one end. With a shrug, he started towards the end that was open and half dragged the key after him, wincing at the shrill tap tap on certain flagstones as he went. Eventually the alley opened up to a larger area, full of shops.
One young man who was passing stopped and tilted a delicate eyebrow at him, then asked rather pointedly, "Are you new here?"
"I guess," Sora said softly, in some confusion as he viewed the strange town. It was like one of the small models Kairi had built in her first months on the Island, showing them what some of the towns she had visited had been like, the places she had seen before settling in on the Destiny Islands.
"Well, welcome to Traverse Town. So, your world got swallowed eh?"
"Swallowed?"
"Yeah, you know, by the shadows. Don't worry, we got some specialists on our side, Traverse won't fall lad!" The young man smiled with complete confidence and hefted the couple of books he had, "Mind you, just taking these over to the Researcher now."
"Researcher?"
"Aren't ya listening?"
Almost saying 'huh' in an ever intelligent response, Sora turned his slightly confused eyes back onto the young man who was studying him with a slight look of apprehension. "How do people get here?"
"Well, most escape on Gummi ships.."
"Most?"
"Sometimes people don't make it from their worlds. Sometimes they can just escape the shadows on their own," he shrugged then smiled, "Don't worry about it. Hey, if you manage to find the refugee clinic they should get you something to eat. I'll be late if I don't hurry, see you later maybe?"
Without waiting for an answer, the gawky young man stumbled off carrying the books. Sora watched him for a moment until his stomach growled at him, demanding his attention and with a sigh he patted his gloved hand on it.
"I know," he said, regardless of the fact he was talking to himself. The shop door was slightly open next to him, and a man in the doorway looked down at him with an arched brow as he spoke to his stomach. He grinned lightly, and hoped the man didn't think he had gone completely mad. But, considering recent events he wasn't so sure.
"Your world get taken too, eh?"
He looked to be in his late thirties, with wide blue trousers, a clean cotton shirt that was getting slightly bobbled with wear and his waist wrapped about with a kind of wide tool belt. His face looked like it hadn't seen a razor in a few days, the eyes shadowed and tired but sparkling with humour nevertheless. His hair was neatly swept back from his face, behind a pair of piloting goggles that were half rimmed with soot, and in his mouth a stalk of grass sat lazily.
"I guess," Sora replied slowly.
"Well.. my names Cid."
"Sora," he answered, gawkily. He wasn't sure how he felt about the sudden openess of all these people, he just felt more and more confused than before. "I'm looking for my friends, Riku and Kairi. Have you seen them?"
"Riku and Kairi, eh? What do they look like?"
Sora took a moment to explain their appearance to the man, as he listened just as intently back. Boy, fifteen years old, taller than Sora with white hair and green eyes. Girl, fourteen years old, a little smaller than Sora with short cut reddish hair and bright blue eyes, always laughing. He felt better just talking of them, perhaps it showed in his face because after ten minutes the pilot was grinning at him past the grass stalk.
"Well," Cid said, tilting his head, "Can't say I've seen them about, sorry."
"Oh.." Sora sighed and looked down at the pavement, a frown crawling over his usually unmarred brow. Of course, wishing they would still be here after so long as just madness.. but he couldn't help wishing and hoping. He liked to believe so long as he kept wishing, dreaming and believing in where his feet took him, then he stood a chance of getting them back.
"Hey, well, if you don't find 'em.. I'll take care of you." Sora looked up and saw the gruff face split with a kindly smile, those blue eyes twinkling and for the first time in a long while he felt like crying, felt his heart go out to the man who stood before him.
Of course, his world has been swallowed too. But from the look of things, the consumption happened a while ago, not so recent as Sora's and whilst the pain was fresh for him, it was deep and old for Cid.
"Thanks," he managed, and smiled back.
"You won't find them if you don't go looking, Sora. If you have any questions or just want to talk, I'm right here." The pilot patted the doorframe of the building, and slowly he set his bright sapphire eyes on the sign reading "Accessories."
"Alright.. I'll be seeing you," he offered finally and lifting his hand in farewell, turned and held the key like blade to his chest, and moved off into the shadows of the town, his face lurking between thoughtfulness and regret.
Everyone suffered, everyone felt pain.
Why should he be more special than them?
After all, he still had hope. And he could never give that up.
Eventually the path wound it's way round the back of the accessory shop, past closed doors and a fat man who grinned brightly at him, chewing on a carrot stick as he conversed with a young lad who was trying to fix some kind of toy plane. Their eyes met his, and didn't slide away. Feeling somehow, if in a part, welcome, Sora made his way over to the heavy, tall gates. He begin to push, until a voice stopped him..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Gawsh, are we even goin' the right way?"
Donald squawked his fury and pointed down on street, then grinned.. kind of. The sort of grin that indicated he didn't really have a clue either.
It figured, as far as Goofy was concerned. From first look, Traverse Town had appeared somewhat more extensive than what they had planned for. With later insepction as they wandered about haplessly, they came to realise that it was much much bigger and full of diverse cultures. They walked down the indicated street, and met with a fountain then a door.
"More doors?" laughed Donald, "This place is full of doors!"
Smiling, the soldier ambled forward and gave it a push, opening it into the small alleyway that led round back. It looked dark down there, and so far he had seen no shadows to warrant him getting his shield out. Donald showed little caution however, hot headedly pushing his way forwards and past Goofy into the semi-darkness.
"Anyway," continued the duck, with his usual ignorance of anything remotely threatening, and Goofy tried not to roll his eyes. The tirade was coming back. Following his vizier companion, he said "uh-huh" at appropriate places.
It was the usual, "why us? what did we ever do.." rant, and he was getting rather used to his friend just randomly blathering on now and then. As they walked through the tiny ginney, it moved into an open backstreet where water ran through from some underground source. It didn't seem contaminated though, clear as crystal and shining bright.
Donald misstepped as Goofy accidentally forgot to stop in time, and was pushed into the water, soaking his clothes.
"You great dolt!"
"Whoops," he laughed, looking down at the duck who stood armpit deep in the water, turning that attractive shade of red he always did.
"Give me a hand out of here!"
"Alright."
It took a bit of manouevering, but eventually they got Donald back on the street. As he dripped water, back to the doors they had passed that belonged to a tall building, the vizier gave his strict opinion on the soldier walking by the water next time and seeing how he liked it.
Goofy tried poitning out that he hadn't meant to, but the duck was having none of it.
It was as they were arguing that something tapped Donald on the shoulder. It caused him to erupt into a panicked yelp, and turn about. Calmer, Goofy turned to look as well.
It was a young woman, perhaps twenty two, twenty three years of age in a slim line pink dress, strappy at the shoulders. About her slender waist was hung a blue belt, and the hand she had tapped Donald on the shoulder with was curled about with many metal bracelets. She wasn't tall, but she gave the impression of being willowy, her hair caught up in a lazy braid of sugar brown, her wide eyes a brilliant green. All of this, underlined by a strange sense of tranquility.
"Excuse me, but did the King send you?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"They'll come at you out of nowhere."
Sora blinked, looking at the man who stood like a shadow himself, silently watching him. He was tall, with clothes of a dark denim and leather, blues. In one hand he tapped a strange kind of blade lightly against his leg, smoky blue eyes regarding him calmly and without visible emotion in them, from under a thick fringe of dark brown hair.
He looked dangerous.
"Who are you?" he asked, a frown marring his brow. Always the best question to ask in a situation like this.
The man lifted a hand, and pointed at the blade Sora held in his hand loosely. In the same low, soft voice he continued, "And they'll keep on coming at you, as long as you continue to wield the Keyblade. But why? Why would it choose a kid like you?" The fingers of his left hand came up to his temple, massaging there as if somehow that would take away the angst of trying to figure this out.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
He had woken here, in a strange place, full of strange people only to be told that his world was gone, his friends weren't here and now, to top it all of the blade he was running about with had chosen him? Why him? He had nothing to offer, nothing to give and all he really wanted right now was to see Riku and Kairi.
The warrior shook his head, then held out his hand, commandingly retorting with, "Never mind, now let me see that Keyblade."
Alarmed, all he could do was lift it as to strike the man, "What?! There's no way you're getting this!"
~ It's all I have left to connect me to home ~
A small hint of a smile touched those emotionless lips, and the eyes lit up briefly, "Fine, have it your way."
It came faster than he could have expected, and he only just brought up the blade to deflect the blow.
Immediately Sora could see the disadvantage of fighting in such close quarters, after all, Riku had been a very good tutor when they had sparred together back on the island. Taking time, he waited for the next blow, and as the warrior hewed his weapon down for a lethal blow, Sora slid to the side and began to run past him as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran breathlessly back towards the accessory shop, skidding round the corner as he could hear the man walking easily behind him, betraying no need for speed.
He hit the bannisters looking over the postbox, then gasping, turned and made for the stairs down.
Then blinked, as the man appeared as if from nowhere before his eyes, landing like a cat after the jump. As he stood up, Sora felt his mouth go dry. This was going to be no ordinary fight.
As the strange blade seemed to move of it's own volition, Sora moved too, swinging the keyblade round and as they struck the others blade, the resonance almost knocked the man from his feet.
Staring at the keyblade a moment, listening to it hum happily.. his blade was magical?
The man muttered something, but Sora moved, battering him over the head with blade until he swung back.
His reflexes weren't enough this time and a slice of red appeared across his upper arm. Softly grumbling, he turned and ran whilst trying to stick a hand over the cut. Then was thrown flat on his face as something hot slammed into his back.
Gasping, he realised slowly he felt afire.. and fumbled for a potion, swallowing the contents. The burning sensation faded, as did the pain of the cut. It was enough and he rolled to the side just as the man's blade hammered itself into the flagstones where he had lain prone not seconds before.
The blade appeared stuck.
Gratefully, Sora moved and began to batter the warrior now he was bladeless.. until eventually he fell onto one knee.
Gasping for air at so much exertion, swaying with the pain of bruising and the burning sensation still there on his back, Sora looked at the man who had tried to beat him within an inch of his life. Swallowing thickly he lifted the Keyblade as the warrior watched with curiosity in the smoky blue eyes.
"Now... you're...gonna.. you're gonna.."
The world whirled black about him, as he felt himself hit the floor with an exhausted thud. Voices permeated that darkness, one the man's..and one another voice.
"Aw, you're slipping Leon."
"I went easy on him. Looks like things are worse than we thought. A lot worse."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
There was a voice in the madness.
He watched her fade like a star, fade from his memory but exist there all at once.
His driving force.
"Come on lazy bum, wake up.."
Kairi...Kairi...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He was slowly coming round, and as he studied the keyblade, leant against a strut of the door in Yuffie's room, he also half listened to them talk. He hadn't taken it as easy on the kid as he should have, but he had felt angry for a wild moment.
Why had a kid been given the keyblade? Why not him?
He was strong, he was true and he had more than one reason to fight now that Aeris was in his life. He would cling to that, long after the shadows had fallen.
"Those creatures that attacked you are after the Keyblade, but it's your heart they really want, because you wield the Keyblade," Yuffie said softly. Everyone had paid attention to Aeris' nightly lectures on the Heartless. Everyone understood the nature of these monsters.. everyone should be aware of danger.
The boy slurred, still half asleep, "I'm so glad you're okay Kairi."
Stifling a grin as he watched the young girl plant her hands on her hips and turn a pretty shade of red, "Kairi?! Who are you talking about? I'm the great Ninja, Yuffie!"
Ah yes, that same old pride, the old arrogance that comes with the flush of youth. It was wearing thin on the chirpy girl now, and he could see the struggle she had to do to even speak her name, say her title. He felt the same somedays.
Yuffie turned to look at him accusingly, and half crooked a finger, "I think you overdid it Squall!"
"That's Leon."
Of course, her constantly forgetting his alias was ever so amusing to him. It wasn't always good to say his name, someone could know it.. and until they had this mess sorted out he only wanted people he could love and trust to remind him of a dead world. He only wished for Aeris to say it, filled with love and happiness. He shut his eyes briefly, thinking of her and the way she had sweetly said his name at first.
Yuffie turned back to the kid on the bed, and slowly Leon opened his eyes to study the young boy.. no, young man. He wasn't tall, he never would be too tall when fully grown. A mop of light brown hair, bright blue eyes and clothes made for island living. Shoes that looked a bit too big for him, chains hung from his waist and gloves with strange symbols on the backs of them. But something in the way he sat alerted Leon to the fact that perhaps, this kid was more than he seemed.
"The Keyblade," she said, gesturing to it, "we had to get it away from you to shake off those creatures. It turns out that's how they were tracking you."
Leon leant down a bit, and picked up the Keyblade, feeling the magic. "It was the only way to conceal your heart from them. But it won't work for long. It's hard to believe that you, of all people, are the chosen one."
He moved his hand to the side, and slowly the blade hummed and vanished, ony to reappear in Sora's hands much to his surprise. As the boy looked over the blade, Leon sighed inwardly. Some small part of him had hoped it would choose him when picked up.
Maybe he was too flawed.
Sighing, he leant back up by the doorway, "Well, beggars can't be choosers."
~ And we surely are the poorest of the poor, stumbling about in the dark. ~
The boy looked up and said in a controlled voice, trying to hide fear, worry, anger and confusion in those tones, "Why don't you start making sense? What's going on here?!"
~*~
She sat comfortably down at the end of her bed, in her neatly tidied room and watched the two who had followed their king as they in turn watched her with their black eyes. One tall, one short, one calm and one fiery. For a moment, she was reminded of herself and Tifa, and briefly she smiled.
They seemed to relax as she smiled, so she carried on.
"Okay," she began, in her soft voice, "you know there are many other worlds out there, besides your castle and this town... right?"
The duck nodded, still slightly wet from the alleyway, "Yeah.."
Goofy scratched at his head then half laughed in his strange accent, "But, they're supposed to be a secret.."
~ Of course, he might never had told them what he knows, or the extent of what he knows. Now I'm left here to show them? Planet, is this my path? Showing and guiding? ~
As something inside her partly answered her question, she carried on with a small movement of her hands. "They've been secret because they've never been connected. Until now.." the two looked at her as she lowered her eyes and said in sorrowed tones she couldn't help. "When the Heartless came, everything changed.."
~*~
The boy blinked, "Heartless?"
Yuffie, who had taken up a spot on the bed next to Sora, nudged him, "The ones who attacked you, remember?"
Leon gestured with a hand, moving restlessly from the wall in a small circle. He hated this, hated questions and waiting but if you didn't ask then you never got anywhere. And this kid needed all the help he could get. "Those without Hearts. The darkness within people's hearts is what attracts them. And there is darkness within every heart."
~Even mine. ~
His eyes slid to study Sora.
~ Even his. ~
~Even Aeris' ?~
Yuffie spoke up suddenly into the silence, "Hey, have you ever heard of someone named Ansem?"
~*~
The soldier scratched his head and looked puzzled, "Ah-nsem?"
This was a subject she knew a lot about, and trying not to show her excitement she tilted her head, explaining as fast as the thoughts came to her, "He was studying the Heartless. He recorded all of his findings in a very detailed report."
This got the tall doglike soldier's attention and he grinned, "well Gawsh, can we see it?"
Wincing, Aeris looked apologetic as she murmurd, "It's pages are scattered everywhere."
"Scattered?" asked the tiny wizard.
~ I knew it, even with the time given we didn't have the chance to get the report. If only we had.. ~
"Too many worlds."
This did however strike off an idea in Goofy's head and he lifted a finger, "oh, well maybe the King went to find 'em?"
Inwardly breathing her relief at finding some way to help them, she nodded brightly, her sugar brown hair bobbing, "Yes, those were my thoughts exactly."
The soldier stood up straight, and started to move for the door into the hallway, "well then we gotta find him quick!"
"Wait wait wait!" bawled Donald, grabbing Goofy by his coat, "We still gotta get that 'key'!"
~Key...~
She stared between them for a moment as they stared at each other. A key, a secret dream and a secret voice. The darkness and the hope.. would she exist past those dark fingers inside her? Her key, the Keyblade, their keys..
"That's right," she said finally, gathering their attention to her, "The Keyblade."
~*~
Sora tilted his head as Leon watched him. "So..this is the key."
On the bed, Yuffie bounced slightly as she nodded exuberantly, "Exactly." But her violet eyes when they found his, seemed to say, "finally."
Taking up his part of the story in his calm voice, Leon moved back to he was touching the doorframe. "The Heartless have great fear of the keyblade. That's why they'll keep coming after you, no matter what."
"I didn't ask for this!"
~ I did.. sometimes you don't get what you ask for, but you have to learn to accept your lot in life. ~
Yuffie laughed and ruffled Sora's hair, "The Keyblade *chooses* it's master, and it chose you!"
"So," Leon waved his hand, moving so he stood at the other side of the chunky doorframe, facing the small safe. "Tough luck."
"How..How did all this happen? I remember being in my room.." there was a silence, Leon staring hard at the metal of the safe and trying to collect his thoughts as the boy suddenly burst out into shocked revelations. "Wait a minute, what happened to my home? My island? Riku! Kairi..."
He shrugged, how could he give him answers to tame those wonderings? Only Aeris could and she was occupied with other guests right now. Perhaps later she could help.. "You know what, I don't really know."
There was a shuffling, and something came into his vision. Unwillingly, he looked up into the bright blue eyes and sighed. So young, and so ready for the tempering. He hated this. Too young..
"Sooner or later the Heartless will find you, you'd best prepare yourself."
Those bright blue eyes blinked slowly, and the voice was calm enough. But he could see the hands shaking, could see the fear in his eyes.. "Prepare myself?"
"To fight for your life, are you ready?"
~Are you?~
"I'm ready." He nodded firmly.
Ignoring the sinking in his heart for the young boy, Leon tilted his head towards Yuffie who had gotten off her bed and was straightening out her shorts, "Yuffie, let's go join Aerith. She should be there now with the other visitors.."
"Leon!"
He blinked as Yuffie yelled, pointing. Leon looked over at the table where a heartless in strange armour had appeared, bouncing up and down wildly. Heartless.. here. His eyes slid down to where Sora held the keyblade. Of course, it had tracked him.
"Yuffie, go!"
Not spending a further moment, Yuffie moved like greased lightning for the door connecting her room and Aeris'. She banged the door open, hitting something in the process but not caring, she grabbed for Aeris' hand and began to drag her.
"Yuffie?!" Aeris exclaimed.
Hearing this commotion, Leon turned so he could see the face of the boy. Determination. Good..
"Sora, let's go."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Shadows came.
Sweetness.
Savour the fright and the fight.
Heart and Heartless.. all that was, was no more..