It was not hard to find the owners of the voices for they wanted to be
found.
Cloud perched atop Gizmo tower's highest steeple in perfect balance. Where lights of the city began to melt into the darkness of the night sky, Cloud was able to conceal himself unnoticed. From there he could see those of his search, or at least one party of the search.
Small and far below, he recognized the boy's constant companions. The loud mouthed duck and funny looking dog-man. But other voices reached his ears, and he knew there were other people looking for Sora, their voice frantic and worried. Some of the voices were noticeably female, and there was a sudden nagging in the back of his mind that he immediately shook off. He continued to watch the duck and dog wander the second district's square coming close to the hotel in which Sora resided. But if his feelings about Sora were correct, then the boy would not let himself be known. And sure enough, nothing but the desolate wind answered their calls. Moving on, the two disappeared down an alleyway farther down.
Cloud stood there a moment or two longer before he was sure it was safe. But just as he was ready to return to the red room, another figure suddenly appeared, almost catching him off guard. Almost because he was dressed in dark leather, and he shouted no name as a warning to his presence. Cloud's eyes narrowed suspiously from a distance, he could not make out the features of the face, for the dark brown tresses obscured them from his view. But from the way the man was moving, he also seemed to be looking for some one. And Cloud had no doubt that it was Sora.
This man was trouble, and Cloud knew this immediately. He wasn't going to be so easily deterred like the first two, and if Cloud didn't do something he would surely find Sora, and dash any hope he had to gaining any more leads to Aerith. Even now these fears began to manifest themselves as it seemed as if the man was eyeing the hotel suspiciously.
Without further pause, Cloud leapt from his perch, assuring himself that the man's back was already turned. His one black wing slowing his fall into a silent glide, Cloud was able to touch ground silently behind.
If his reflexes had been any slower, he would of taken a shot to the chest.
A loud gunshot rang out through the silent town to echo into the sky. The man stood, now facing him, with a gun blade smoking at the tip. Cloud looked up from his crouched position. He had been one second faster when he saw the man whip around drawing steel, and instinctively he had rolled to one side to doge the blast.
Now up close, he could see his adversary more clearly. All decked out in leather, he stood just as tall as Cloud. And his build was similar as well. Young complexion told of cool stoicism and eyes burned with the same uncanny determination. But that was where the similarity ended. The youth, for they were obviously the same age, had unruly dark brown locks that may have been well kept at one point in time. A long scar ran across the youth's face.
Studying the youth, Cloud could sense something beneath the young man's exterior. Behind the eyes was a faint light that came with age and much understanding. It was then Cloud realized that the young man was studying him too!
The soldier rose cautiously to his feet, eyes never leaving the man. Seeing this, the dark haired youth finally withdrew his strange weapon to rest upon his shoulder. He coolly placed his other hand in the pocket of his leather slacks.
"You're good." Cloud complimented flatly. The other narrowed his eyes then nodded curtly.
"So are you. I haven't seen you around here before. Tell me, do you know a boy named Sora?" He asked or rather, demanded. Apparently the guy wasn't too good with small talk. Which was fine, since Cloud wasn't all too good at it himself.
Cloud unlatched his blade from his back, eyes taking on a dangerous glow.
"Stay away from Sora." He warned darkly. But this didn't seem threaten the man any. He simply stood there in that calm stance for a moment longer before he lowered his gun blade at the ready.
"Is force all you dark figures understand?" He asked quietly. "Fine, let's do this."
That might as well have been the signal for the fight to begin. Cloud moved first, launching himself into a sonic drive, trying to take his opponent on by surprise and also testing the other's speed and caliber. But of course, as he suspected, his opponent side stepped with no difficulty. This side step was immediately followed by a light downward slash, meant to try to catch Cloud in the back. As the Soldier began to recover though, his opponent quickly went into a series of offensives. The blonde gritted his teeth tightly before throwing up his Buster sword to block all strikes but just barely in time, it's clash-sending sparks. So close to his opponent now, Cloud could see clearly the intensity in the other man's eyes.
Surprisingly, he spoke, his voice full of strain as he tried to gain the upper hand.
"S, Sora, where is he? Wh, what did you do with him?"
"He is of no concern to you now." Cloud returned coldly.
Their blades between them began to shake visibly with effort. The man was stronger than he looked, and Cloud began to realize the fact that he might actually lose this fight. And while he knew the implications if he lost, while it still angered him, it actually thrilled him as well, and he could feel his blood boil and sing with excitement.
But of course, he would never let it show, and with a loud grunt, he was able to end the clash, throwing his opponent back. Both fighters separated until they were dozen of steps apart. Even so, from where he stood, Cloud could see his opponent breathing heavily, and knew he himself must look the same.
But he couldn't lose Sora.No matter how tired he was, he couldn't lose.
"I don't know who you are, but I demand that you release Sora immediately." He spoke again; the anger in his voice was clearly recognized.
Never the less Cloud shook his head. "No. I won't let you take him."
"Do you realize the extent of you actions?! With out him, you're giving the worlds to the heartless. Or are you in league with them?!"
"I work for no one! Especially not the heartless." Cloud shot back he moved first, his lean frame rushing across the short distance like a blur. His style shifted from reserved to mildly aggressive; although his blows hadn't increased by much it put the other on the defensive. "I lost my world, my everything to them." Cloud growled as he continued his barrage, his anger, mixed with driving desire his only source of strength now.
The other could do nothing but block the huge blade's attack; it was becoming visible that he was beginning to wear down.
"So you would allow other worlds to suffer the same fate?" The Youth managed between blows.
"Nothing else matters to me now, just my light. It's all I have left, and Sora is my key to finding her." Cloud revealed much more than he wanted. But for some reason it came out so naturally.
"How, can you be so selfish?! Tell me, who ARE you?" The other demanded, furious. And if Cloud hadn't been so keen on his surroundings, he would have never noticed the dangerous glow of his opponent's gun blade.
It only had to flash once before Cloud launched himself back, calling upon the aid of his dark wing to add extra distance. The second flash was even brighter and he shielded his eyes for a moment, his dark wing instinctively covering his face. When the light died down, he looked to find that his adversary's weapon had grown or rather its blade had some how increased it's size. The now transparent and extremely large blade, glowed with deadly power, and told Cloud two things; it was summoned and only temporary, two, it was now extremely dangerous.
The Young man, held the weapon as if it weighed nothing at all. It probably didn't.
"A dark wing?" The youth asked, obviously noticing the new appendage. "Just what are you anyway?"
Cloud readied his sword. "You ask too many questions." He said simply.
From the quality of still air, neither swordsman planned to prolong the fight anymore. Silence settled in the empty square only to be shattered by the youth's attack. Crisp and sharp, he swung his enormous blade with no lag or trouble. It surprised Cloud very much that he narrowly escaped the swing, even with the extra speed his dark wing granted him. One narrow miss after another, it was only a matter of time before the blade found its mark. Because of its large range, Cloud could not reach his opponent to attack, because of its speed, he could not think of anything else but to doge.
After his opponent had swung and missed for the fourth time, he with drew his weapon.
"Okay, one last time, who are you and where is Sora?" He asked steadily.
Cloud panted lightly, a thin coat of sweat covering his face.
When he did not answer right away, the man got impatient.
"Answer me!" This time Cloud looked up, eyes glowing as intensely as the young man's enhanced blade. The sheer ferocity of them clearly stated that Cloud refused to answer. The man was about to say something more, but he was suddenly cut off when a voice that was definitely female called out from behind.
"Squall!!!" Both men looked, attention distracted.
Across the town square, two figures emerged from the dark ally, as they neared, it was apparent that they were female.
"Squall!" Yuffie called, with Aerith following closely behind.
Squall turned back to his opponent again only to find that he had vanished. He furrowed a brow in frustration and returned his gun blade to its normal form.
"Squall! What's going on!? Are you okay?" Yuffie asked him frantically. He could tell they had been running for a while.
"That's Leon." Squall corrected in a rather deadpan manner, when the two reached him.
"Yes, we heard shots and sounds of fighting. We thought you were in trouble." Aerith added. "You're not hurt are you?"
Leon shook his head, "I'm fine, but I think Sora is in serious trouble, come we must find Donald and Goofy and regroup." "What's going on Leon? What's happening? And who were you fighting just a moment ago?" Yuffie asked one question after another, but Leon was already breaking out into a run.
"Not now, we have to hurry!" He said over his shoulder. Yuffie seemed indignant at being ignored, but she followed suit anyway.
Cloud perched atop Gizmo tower's highest steeple in perfect balance. Where lights of the city began to melt into the darkness of the night sky, Cloud was able to conceal himself unnoticed. From there he could see those of his search, or at least one party of the search.
Small and far below, he recognized the boy's constant companions. The loud mouthed duck and funny looking dog-man. But other voices reached his ears, and he knew there were other people looking for Sora, their voice frantic and worried. Some of the voices were noticeably female, and there was a sudden nagging in the back of his mind that he immediately shook off. He continued to watch the duck and dog wander the second district's square coming close to the hotel in which Sora resided. But if his feelings about Sora were correct, then the boy would not let himself be known. And sure enough, nothing but the desolate wind answered their calls. Moving on, the two disappeared down an alleyway farther down.
Cloud stood there a moment or two longer before he was sure it was safe. But just as he was ready to return to the red room, another figure suddenly appeared, almost catching him off guard. Almost because he was dressed in dark leather, and he shouted no name as a warning to his presence. Cloud's eyes narrowed suspiously from a distance, he could not make out the features of the face, for the dark brown tresses obscured them from his view. But from the way the man was moving, he also seemed to be looking for some one. And Cloud had no doubt that it was Sora.
This man was trouble, and Cloud knew this immediately. He wasn't going to be so easily deterred like the first two, and if Cloud didn't do something he would surely find Sora, and dash any hope he had to gaining any more leads to Aerith. Even now these fears began to manifest themselves as it seemed as if the man was eyeing the hotel suspiciously.
Without further pause, Cloud leapt from his perch, assuring himself that the man's back was already turned. His one black wing slowing his fall into a silent glide, Cloud was able to touch ground silently behind.
If his reflexes had been any slower, he would of taken a shot to the chest.
A loud gunshot rang out through the silent town to echo into the sky. The man stood, now facing him, with a gun blade smoking at the tip. Cloud looked up from his crouched position. He had been one second faster when he saw the man whip around drawing steel, and instinctively he had rolled to one side to doge the blast.
Now up close, he could see his adversary more clearly. All decked out in leather, he stood just as tall as Cloud. And his build was similar as well. Young complexion told of cool stoicism and eyes burned with the same uncanny determination. But that was where the similarity ended. The youth, for they were obviously the same age, had unruly dark brown locks that may have been well kept at one point in time. A long scar ran across the youth's face.
Studying the youth, Cloud could sense something beneath the young man's exterior. Behind the eyes was a faint light that came with age and much understanding. It was then Cloud realized that the young man was studying him too!
The soldier rose cautiously to his feet, eyes never leaving the man. Seeing this, the dark haired youth finally withdrew his strange weapon to rest upon his shoulder. He coolly placed his other hand in the pocket of his leather slacks.
"You're good." Cloud complimented flatly. The other narrowed his eyes then nodded curtly.
"So are you. I haven't seen you around here before. Tell me, do you know a boy named Sora?" He asked or rather, demanded. Apparently the guy wasn't too good with small talk. Which was fine, since Cloud wasn't all too good at it himself.
Cloud unlatched his blade from his back, eyes taking on a dangerous glow.
"Stay away from Sora." He warned darkly. But this didn't seem threaten the man any. He simply stood there in that calm stance for a moment longer before he lowered his gun blade at the ready.
"Is force all you dark figures understand?" He asked quietly. "Fine, let's do this."
That might as well have been the signal for the fight to begin. Cloud moved first, launching himself into a sonic drive, trying to take his opponent on by surprise and also testing the other's speed and caliber. But of course, as he suspected, his opponent side stepped with no difficulty. This side step was immediately followed by a light downward slash, meant to try to catch Cloud in the back. As the Soldier began to recover though, his opponent quickly went into a series of offensives. The blonde gritted his teeth tightly before throwing up his Buster sword to block all strikes but just barely in time, it's clash-sending sparks. So close to his opponent now, Cloud could see clearly the intensity in the other man's eyes.
Surprisingly, he spoke, his voice full of strain as he tried to gain the upper hand.
"S, Sora, where is he? Wh, what did you do with him?"
"He is of no concern to you now." Cloud returned coldly.
Their blades between them began to shake visibly with effort. The man was stronger than he looked, and Cloud began to realize the fact that he might actually lose this fight. And while he knew the implications if he lost, while it still angered him, it actually thrilled him as well, and he could feel his blood boil and sing with excitement.
But of course, he would never let it show, and with a loud grunt, he was able to end the clash, throwing his opponent back. Both fighters separated until they were dozen of steps apart. Even so, from where he stood, Cloud could see his opponent breathing heavily, and knew he himself must look the same.
But he couldn't lose Sora.No matter how tired he was, he couldn't lose.
"I don't know who you are, but I demand that you release Sora immediately." He spoke again; the anger in his voice was clearly recognized.
Never the less Cloud shook his head. "No. I won't let you take him."
"Do you realize the extent of you actions?! With out him, you're giving the worlds to the heartless. Or are you in league with them?!"
"I work for no one! Especially not the heartless." Cloud shot back he moved first, his lean frame rushing across the short distance like a blur. His style shifted from reserved to mildly aggressive; although his blows hadn't increased by much it put the other on the defensive. "I lost my world, my everything to them." Cloud growled as he continued his barrage, his anger, mixed with driving desire his only source of strength now.
The other could do nothing but block the huge blade's attack; it was becoming visible that he was beginning to wear down.
"So you would allow other worlds to suffer the same fate?" The Youth managed between blows.
"Nothing else matters to me now, just my light. It's all I have left, and Sora is my key to finding her." Cloud revealed much more than he wanted. But for some reason it came out so naturally.
"How, can you be so selfish?! Tell me, who ARE you?" The other demanded, furious. And if Cloud hadn't been so keen on his surroundings, he would have never noticed the dangerous glow of his opponent's gun blade.
It only had to flash once before Cloud launched himself back, calling upon the aid of his dark wing to add extra distance. The second flash was even brighter and he shielded his eyes for a moment, his dark wing instinctively covering his face. When the light died down, he looked to find that his adversary's weapon had grown or rather its blade had some how increased it's size. The now transparent and extremely large blade, glowed with deadly power, and told Cloud two things; it was summoned and only temporary, two, it was now extremely dangerous.
The Young man, held the weapon as if it weighed nothing at all. It probably didn't.
"A dark wing?" The youth asked, obviously noticing the new appendage. "Just what are you anyway?"
Cloud readied his sword. "You ask too many questions." He said simply.
From the quality of still air, neither swordsman planned to prolong the fight anymore. Silence settled in the empty square only to be shattered by the youth's attack. Crisp and sharp, he swung his enormous blade with no lag or trouble. It surprised Cloud very much that he narrowly escaped the swing, even with the extra speed his dark wing granted him. One narrow miss after another, it was only a matter of time before the blade found its mark. Because of its large range, Cloud could not reach his opponent to attack, because of its speed, he could not think of anything else but to doge.
After his opponent had swung and missed for the fourth time, he with drew his weapon.
"Okay, one last time, who are you and where is Sora?" He asked steadily.
Cloud panted lightly, a thin coat of sweat covering his face.
When he did not answer right away, the man got impatient.
"Answer me!" This time Cloud looked up, eyes glowing as intensely as the young man's enhanced blade. The sheer ferocity of them clearly stated that Cloud refused to answer. The man was about to say something more, but he was suddenly cut off when a voice that was definitely female called out from behind.
"Squall!!!" Both men looked, attention distracted.
Across the town square, two figures emerged from the dark ally, as they neared, it was apparent that they were female.
"Squall!" Yuffie called, with Aerith following closely behind.
Squall turned back to his opponent again only to find that he had vanished. He furrowed a brow in frustration and returned his gun blade to its normal form.
"Squall! What's going on!? Are you okay?" Yuffie asked him frantically. He could tell they had been running for a while.
"That's Leon." Squall corrected in a rather deadpan manner, when the two reached him.
"Yes, we heard shots and sounds of fighting. We thought you were in trouble." Aerith added. "You're not hurt are you?"
Leon shook his head, "I'm fine, but I think Sora is in serious trouble, come we must find Donald and Goofy and regroup." "What's going on Leon? What's happening? And who were you fighting just a moment ago?" Yuffie asked one question after another, but Leon was already breaking out into a run.
"Not now, we have to hurry!" He said over his shoulder. Yuffie seemed indignant at being ignored, but she followed suit anyway.
