Lest Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot.

Well, it's about time… and here it is, my own contribution! I'm not sure whether to keep this as a one-shot or develop it further. Why don't you let me know and if I get enough pestering messages, I will! This is a first for me, but there's a first time for everything. Say, why don't you lemme know what you think?! I will warn you now… with being a Brit… the spelling is that way inclined… so hang in there!

And now for the usual, boring (ahem) blurb: Disclaimer. I don't own Squaresoft, or Disney or who ever else is/was involved. And I don't own the characters involved. I do, however, own both Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy VII the games, but that's all. Side note: I've reserved a copy of FFX-2! W00t!

And for all those that have made it this far: a summary!

A familiar face from the past comes to haunt the present, stirring emotions of events passed. How will all involved cope when they learn that the one they presumed lost walks amongst them still. But is he really who he seems?

……

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Visitor.

The neon glow rained down on his slouched form, trailing a rainbow of colours across the blade that lay by his side. He sat alone; the way he preferred it. Leaning back on his hands, he snorted lightly at the jostling crowd below him. Typical. People of all ages and races bustled about their daily business, stopping to chat before milling back in with the throng. Sat upon his vantagepoint by the Gizmo Shop, few came up that way, allowing him to be undisturbed. Few even noticed his black, leather boots dangling over the wall he sat on. He too, paid little attention to his surroundings, until a noise startled him.

A heavily zipped boot stamped forcefully down on the slabs behind him. He frowned; from the sounds of things it had come from the rooftops above. Yet that was impossible. No one ever went up there and for sure, they wouldn't be landing on their feet had they jumped. Realising he had instinctively grabbed his blade, he used it to reveal the intruder. Tilting it revealed only shadows. In an attempt to catch sight of them, he snapped his eyes sideways, gazing into the windows for a reflection. Again, he was offered no explanation.

Mentally scolding himself at being caught unawares, he chose to take alternative action. Casually tossing his mahogany haired head backwards as he faked stretching left him scrabbling for his balance. Should anyone from the crowd below have been looking at that point in time, they would have seen his feet rise up and practically vanish over the wall.

Once he had reclaimed his composure, he resumed his vantagepoint yet keeping his head tilted back, focussed on the new arrival that could only stare back down from the shadows. Should he have been far taller in stature, he would have appeared menacing. What he lacked in height, he overtly made up for in appearance.

A crimson cloak flailed in an unfelt breeze, swirling about his ankles, offering only the briefest of glances at what it concealed. Metal digits clicked into the palm of a clawed hand, the other clutched about a trusted blade. His expression was a mystery to all. The lower portion of his face was obscured by his cloak; the rest by a golden fringe that framed a head of unruly golden spikes. The only indication that he had eyes was from their ominous glow that pierced even the darkest shadows. This man moved like them, yet his heart was still his own.

Sapphire blue eyes closed as the seated brunette leant forwards, placing his blade back where it previously sat. The newcomer was a worthy adversary, but only if on the wrong side.

"Squall," came the attempt at a gruff tone.

He coughed back a groan. "Long time no see," he replied, with a delayed, "And the name's Leon. I told you last time."

He could already feel his imploring gaze between his shoulder blades. With his prolonged absence, he wouldn't know of the reason for his change of identity. Obviously he thought better of it and chose not to question his final comment but rather responded to the first.

"So it has, Leon. So it has."

Leon did not turn to watch his friend of old approach but heard him do so, perching on the corner of the wall by the stairs, bathed in dark shadows. The only indication of his being there came from the faint highlights of neon that caught his buckles and shoulder plate. Otherwise he was cunningly disguised. Discretely glancing sideways revealed him to be scouring the crowd below, scanning face after face. It almost seemed he was searching for a particular visage. A brief blink concluded his search before he met the gaze of the other who studied his new company.

"They're here," Leon put the other out of his misery after a lengthy pause.

The golden spikes danced momentarily as he whipped his head to face Leon.

"They?"

"You know who I mean by that."

He wasn't quite sure but Leon was convinced he saw cheeks rise beneath the golden fringe. His attention was then diverted back to the people below. After an idle pause, Leon chanced something not on his résumé: conversation.

"So, where've you been all this time? It's been, what…?"

"Nine years. And in response to the first; around."

"Took your time popping up here."

"Popping up?" came the almost bemused reply.

Leon couldn't help but tilt his head to one side. "Cloud," he sighed, "sometimes you can really be a dumb-wit." His faint smile snapped back to his emotionless expression, leaving a frown on his companion's face. Again, he appeared not to desire chancing query at his friend's shunning of his past.

"Often I recall another who would call me that," he mused into the back of his claw hand that now propped up his chin. "Yet it was, more often that not, accompanied with numerous curses."

"He's here too."

"Cid?"

"Yup."

"Are… are they… well?"

"They're great," sapphire met cerulean. "Go see them if you want." Again Cloud snapped his head to look at him, baulking from the suggestion.

"Maybe some other time," he shuffled on the spot.

"What's that?" Leon questioned, "couldn't keep up the contract talk?"

Cerulean slits told him of a glare aimed solely at him. He had not meant to offend, had struck a chord all the same. He shook his head lightly and looked over the sea of heads once more.

"I did not join the heartless," Cloud spoke up after a long silence. "I tried to use it for my own benefit."

"I never said you did," Leon protested, stretching out the cricks in his muscles. "Must you argue every time you come to visit." When a grunt of annoyance was his only reply, Leon sighed and chanced another attempt to get the blonde to talk. "They never gave up hope."

"Who?"

Cloud suddenly dived into his cloak, hoping his eagerness for an answer would go unheeded. Smiling inwardly, Leon decided to repay his friend and ignore the child-like attitude with which he responded. "Yuffie refuses to believe you're gone. Always the optimist," he grumbled. "And Aeris…" he watched Cloud tense at the very mention of her name, "She's convinced that you're out there. Does her usual, barmy, 'The planet say's he's alive,' and concludes, 'I can sense him,' from time to time. Especially when you pop up. She misses you but refuses to let it show."

Cloud looked out once more over the sea of faces, his gaze unfocussed on them yet on a distant memory. A heavy sigh brought him back to his senses. "After all this time?" he questioned the air.

"Time may change," Leon sighed, "but our feelings often remain the same."

This comment appeared to stir the blonde. "Time does not change, people do. Time simply carries us to the person we become."

The brunette raised an eyebrow underneath his mass of mahogany locks. "Since when did you become philosophical?"

A concealed smirk peeked from around the cuff of his cloak. "You can talk." The height of his friend's eyebrow was all he could muster in further questioning. "I'm not the one," Cloud continued, "who counsels a spiky haired punk and his walking, talking animal friends."

This time it was Leon's turn to scoff. "Now who can talk? Someone else was also described as a spiky haired punk."

Cloud growled. "Remind me to repay Cid for that."

"Why don't you? Your reply to everything was 'No time like the present'."

"Ah," Cloud digressed with a curt sigh. "Those were the days."

"Well?" Leon pressed after some time, when a reply was not offered to his question.

"Huh?" was the genuine, confused reply. "Oh," he stumbled, "I can't. Not yet. They cannot see me in this light."

The brunette looked to him but could not see him in the shadows. He knew he was there but he was conveniently disguised by the shadows.

"The cape may scare them, but it doesn't me. Take it off before you see them."

"No," was his sudden, sharp reply whilst not meeting his gaze. "I cannot. It is still too early. Not yet."

Leon sensed that there was something more to his swift dismissal than mere nerves. His outline was now distinguishable in the dim light. He could see Cloud reach his right hand round his back, smoothing something back into place.

"Why not?' Leon chanced.

A narrow glare bore into him from the darkness. "When I'm ready," he snarled from behind his cloak. "There are things I must do. There is someone I have to see."

"An image consultant?"

Cloud chose not to pursue the matter further when he was in one of his sarcastic moods. Something which occurred regularly. Resorting to whistling through pursed lips, he lightly shook his head and left the conversation open with, "When I'm ready. I'm not the person you remember me to be."

Leon observed him sideways, noting a much darker, sombre mood to his friend. Mutually they understood the other in the silence. Several home truths rang true in Cloud's revelation.

"Nine years is a long time," Leon admitted. "A lot has passed since… since... that time."

Neither looked at the other. They did not have to; the memory remained poignant with them both. Leon's gaze drifted to his feet, where it remained long after his shoulders had slumped. That fateful day meant something for everyone involved. There were few that could say they were left untouched by the tragedy. Everybody had lost someone close, a feeling Leon understood all too well. Not only did the memory of being unable to rescue a dear friend pain him still; a feeling of weakness sparked each time he recalled the event.

Cloud, who was also lost in days gone by, could only gaze over the sea of bobbing heads. Leon failed to notice him flinch upon witnessing two particular souls entering the second district. Slowly, he withdrew deeper into the shadows. His parting remark was all that could rouse Leon from his ponderings.

"Next time, we discover what the other has learnt from our times apart. A spar is in order."

Leon snapped round, mouthing silent words of protest at his departure. He was only confronted with a vacant landing where Cloud had last been. A faint breeze caressed his cheeks, gently lifting his hair away from his features. The blonde was gone from sight but was certainly still in the vicinity; the taint of the heartless hung heavy in the atmosphere. He frowned at his sudden departure before a catcall from across the open plaza disturbed him.

"Squall! Hey Squall! There you are!"

"Yuffie," he muttered in exasperation under his breath. Maybe she had not been the reason for Cloud's sharp exit, yet the rose clad beauty by her side was. Both were focussed upon his hiding spot yet Aeris appeared to hold herself in a stance of apprehension, almost knowing of the company he had kept.

Yuffie promptly made a beeline for him, cartwheeling and somersaulting over benches and walls to land gracefully by his side. Aeris, however, opted for the lengthy excursion that involved steps and walking the perimeter walkway. In the meantime, he had to deal with the boisterous teenager alone. Within seconds, she launched into her incessant mithering.

"Yo, Squall. Whatcha upta? Are you talking to yourself? We saw you talking. Your lips were moving. So, huh? Who were they? Anyone we know? Huh? Huh? Why are you hiding? It's dark and boring up here. Too many shadows. Come fight. I'm bored. I want a fight. Amuse me."

On numerous occasions he tried to either correct her on his name, peel her from his back, or simply take a breath of air. She had quite the knack of performing bear hugs that rendered the recipient suffocated. Should it have been anyone else, they would have been wearing his gunblade as a permanent piercing. Soon enough, he was saved by an unlikely heroine.

"Yuffie," Aeris cooed in mock scolding, "leave him alone. He's probably hiding up here to get away from you." The slight frame of Yuffie pouted and planted hands on hips intending to verbally erupt. Fortunately for the ears of all, Aeris stepped in. "Leon could have been talking to himself, you don't need company to talk. You know all about that."

Yuffie blatantly ignore her jibe and stared at Leon, her face turned partially. "Talkin' to yaself is a sign of madness. Anyone we know?" she badgered again.

Leon however, paid Yuffie little attention. His gaze was focussed with a mild frown upon Aeris. Yuffie incorrectly assumed that he was confused form her ceaseless witterings when in reality, he wished to question her thoughts. Her inner turmoil betrayed her through her emerald eyes that were clouded by longing. There was no escaping she knew someone or something had come to pass but was unknowing of exactly what. Distracted when Yuffie swiped his wallet from under him, Aeris was left staring at the windows above her.

In his desire not to relinquish his hard-earned assets, he took off after the light-fingered shadow at full pelt, hurling threats of injury at her retreating back. As Aeris turned to follow her companions and flat-mates, a brightly shining star caught her attention. This one was unusual, different form the rest. It did not twinkle; rather it glistened in the dark sky. Frowning, she narrowed her gaze to focus on the light that captivated her. Almost as quickly as it attracted her attention, its ethereal glow was snuffed out. Her shoulders slumped as she pulled back sharply, despair welling in the pit of her stomach. She dawdled after her squabbling comrades, her stance and journey marked with sorrow from yet another loss. At the entrance to the first district, she cast a fleeting glance over her shoulder, hoping in vain that the light would have resumed its place. When she did not see it, she cast her head down and shuffled from the district.

………………

She did not part from the vicinity with the others. Instead, she continued to look up directly at his concealed form. Snapping his eyes shut obliterated the stark neon glare but also stole her from him. Battling the desire within to reveal his position, he offered a narrow sliver of cerulean to the world below. She no longer lingered, for she had rejoined her friends by the over-sized gates at the far end of the district. He watched, forlorn, as she cast a final glance before vanishing into the next section of the town, seemingly oblivious of him. Silently stepping backward into the shadows swallowed him from the world.

……

And well… there you have it. Oh, a fringe for me is what across the pond is called bangs. Odd world huh! And now it's your turn. Sorry, no dishwashers or washing machines to be won but hit that button down below all the same! I lurrrve feedback. Anything is better than nothing! Nyuk!