Lest Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot.

Oh well, maybe the one shot idea has been shot! As soon as I posted the other bit, I finally got a plot. Yes, it should go somewhere! But well… a few points… I suddenly remembered, after posting the first instalment, the potentially heinous error that could come back to haunt me. The Aeris/Aerith confusion. Sorry, I'm going to use Aeris. Hate me all you want, but I grew up on FF7 and well… after playing it through 3 times to completion and spending easily 80 hours on it each time… Aeris kinda sound better to me than Aerith… Plus I've only ever completed Kingdom Hearts once, in 50 hours. No comparison! (And I've completed it to its fullest…Sephiroth proves a harder boss than the last one!) Still, a game that has Sephiroth, Squall/Leon and Cloud in it has to be worth something for that fact alone! :) obsessed? You should see my tattoo!

But well… the usual blurb… I don't own Squaresoft, or Square Enix as it is now called. I swear… living in Europe really craps things up. Square releases nothing but the games and manuals here… no goodies for me… Grr! But yeah… don't own them, the games, or the characters. And if you ain't got it by now… I aint gonna bother…

Now… on with the latest edition…

Chapter 2: Confusion or Illusion?

A multitude of colours swam throughout the fourth district. Perfect for quiet reflection, there were few disturbances in the new district developed in the memory of all those that were lost from the fight with the heartless. Each painstakingly planted flower represented a loved one lost, all further generations of blossoms the lives that could have been. There was no more a fitting tribute, and no one better to tend to the gardens than Aeris, the resident flower girl.

Kneeling amongst bobbing heads, she lifted particular petal entities towards her. Forget-me-nots were a common theme in this garden. Hers were additionally unusual. Many of the violet petals had altered to cerulean, caressed with edges of twilight. She did not mind. The colour was a comforting reminder of those she sowed them for. Lost in thought, she failed to notice her present company.

Yuffie did not care either. Aeris often slipped into her own world. Many in Traverse Town did. They all relived memories of old, sharing precious moments with those long departed. Watching her friend left her smiling. She was thinking of him.

"Who ya thinkin' about?"

Falling over in a state of shock, Aeris glared at Yuffie from her sprawled position. "Jeez. Don't sneak up on people like that. You could kill someone."

"Or something?"

Aeris narrowed her eyes, knowing all too well of her troublesome nature. Growling in dismissal, she returned her attentions to the flowers once more.

"Do you think he made it?"

Aeris turned and cast her raven-haired friend a genuine look of confusion. "Who?"

"Cloud."

Aeris quickly turned her gaze away. It had been many years since someone had the courage to form his name on his or her lips. His name was at the forefront of her mind, it always had been. "I would like to say yes. But uncertainty is a pig."

"Amen," Yuffie agreed. "Do you miss him?"

The expression she wore spoke volumes enough. Turning her head away hid the intensity of the emotion and her saddened expression. She did indeed miss him, to the very core. What pained her was the thought, 'If he made it, does he miss me?' Sensing the conversation would lead to tears on her part, Yuffie changed its course.

"Say. We all have a little patch here, so where is Cid's?"

Aeris chuckled and waved an arm in the general direction behind Yuffie. Some distance along the path where she sat lay an oddly arranged flowerbed. Numerous alcoholic beverage containers leaned drunkenly in all directions. A curious assortment of flowers had also made their homes here. Whether planted or invaders, they gave the earth character, just like the old man.

"What about Leon?"

Failing to pick up on the correct usage of his name, she pointed just down from the patches owned by herself and Yuffie. Promptly, the ninja fell about laughing. The patch was on the whole untended. Bare earth covered the majority of the plot bar a small clump of violet Forget-me-nots.

"It's all brown. Very simple."

"Sometimes the simple things are the most effective," Aeris smiled wistfully at her young companion. "Besides, he once said he loved the dark brown colour of the soil. I think it reminds him of someone."

"Who?" the teenager pressed curiously.

Aeris enjoyed her company much more when she was in this frame of mind and questioning tales of days gone by. She didn't mind her boisterous nature but she couldn't cope with it all the time and certainly not with Leon's brooding nature, which had worsened in the last week. "You won't remember her," she spoke after some time.

"I don't remember much from Hollow Bastion."

"Probably the best way to be. But well, her eyes were deep brown. We used to be friends. We lived close by. You as well."

"Don't 'member," Yuffie muttered nonchalantly into her knees.

"I don't understand the Forget-me-nots," Aeris added with a wry smile that Yuffie found mildly disturbing.

"Everyone has them," she pointed out, looking around.

"So? That doesn't mean that he has to have them too. Everyone picked the contents of their plot for a reason. I think he went for the colour."

"Violet? He's more of a black person."

Aeris laughed softly. "Yes, but I think he has a soft spot for that colour." Eyes of a similar colour to the flowers in question blinked back at Aeris, failing to understand the meaning of her words.

"You get on well with him," she tested, observing her sideways.

"We used to talk all the time," her emerald eyes clouded at the mention of the past. "Until he became quiet. And became Leon."

"Do you fancy him?"

Aeris's reaction was instantaneous. Utter disbelief was etched into every contour, her eyes chancing escape from their sockets. "Yuffie!" she squealed after she regained her voice.

"Wha…?" the ninja shrugged, trying to read what she may from her reaction.

Her disbelief slowly faded into amusement, leaving her almost rolling about the floor in laughter. "Fancy? Yuffie, I haven't 'fancied' anyone for a very long time. I'm a little old for schoolgirl crushes. And before you start," she raised a finger to the chattering that was sure to come from her, "I don't fancy Leon. He was never the one that I truly felt for." Even with her adequately chosen words, she was grateful for the naiveté that youth brought. And Yuffie had lots of it.

"So there wouldn't be any competition then?"

Aeris observed her junior with a bemused expression. Something extra had crept into her usually cheeky deliverance. A hint of shyness. Slowly comprehending what she meant her teasing commenced. "Yuffie! No way? Really? Since when?"

"Dunno," Yuffie shrugged. "He's cute though."

"So are baby animals."

"Nooo…" the ninja wailed. "Aeris stop it," she pouted, when her rose clad friend mocked her. "Aeris, I'm looking for a little help here."

"The great ninja Yuffie?" she gasped amidst fits of mirth, "Asking for my help? Wonders will never cease." When her reaction was a frosty folding of her arms, she calmed somewhat. "What sort of help?"

The prospect of actually gaining support in her quest had not crossed her mind. Precisely what, she didn't know. "Uhm," she thought quickly, "d'you think he'd be interested?"

A pout of thought was her instant reply, before she leant forwards and tucked her semi-tamed hair behind her ears. Leaning back, she observed the youngster and shook her head. "Sorry, but if he thought like me, then he wouldn't be interested."

"Great," she grumped.

"But…" Aeris drawled, "he doesn't think like me. I can't honestly say. You have a lot of characteristics that he's sure to like."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Someone he once knew had a thirst for life like you. She was talkative, adamant and at times getting herself into trouble. It hit him hard when he couldn't find her."

"Did he like her? What happened?"

"They never found her. Just like Cloud. After the fall of Hollow Bastion no trace was found of her. But we're sidetracking," she tried to move the conversation to more cheerful topics. "He hides his feelings well. He lets you get away with loads." A wicked grin on the ninja's face informed her that most of her actions were intentional and deliberate. "Deep down, he respects you for your similarities to someone in his past. Yet at the same time, it frightens him."

"So how do you reckon I go about things?"

"Beats me," Aeris shrugged. "All the tricks I knew didn't work. Jeez, he was daft," she muttered. "If you change your approach he'll spot something's afoot. Just keep being yourself."

"You?" Yuffie turned the tables. "You have tricks?"

"They didn't work though. he never took a blind bit of notice."

"Who?" Now she was really intrigued.

"Cloud," she admitted after some time.

"Oh," Yuffie mouthed. Not wishing to upset her friend, she left it where it was. Distant memories surfaced of a time when all Aeris could do was weep, not only for all those lost, but also for one she held particularly dear. Squall had always been there to comfort her. If she could so much as gain a reaction out of him like Aeris had all those years ago, she would be more than content. "Do you think I should find him?"

"Who? Cloud?" Aeris asked, lost in thought.

"No…" Yuffie laughed. "Sorry, I meant Leon."

"Why not," a sly smile crept into her face. "Oh, before you go,' Aeris called to her as she stood, "try this." Plucking a bunch of violet Forget-me-nots from her garden, she stood to face Yuffie and tuck an arrangement into the headband she was rarely seen without. "A little something," she winked at her.

"Wish me luck," she quipped, bouncing amongst shrubs and out of view. A string of curses reached her ears after a noisy crash, informing her of Cid's presence. Glad for the quiet, she simply gazed at the flowers before her, drifting back into memories of old. Even the sound of a certain someone bounding back some five minutes later failed to rouse her form her thoughts. A rough shaking provided that.

"Yuffie? What is it?" she asked upon witnessing her wide-eyed expression. "Did he say yes?"

Yuffie shook her head. "He's dueling. Its awesome." Aeris's face fell. "Honestly, it's not someone we know. I think it's a heartless. It's a real ugly monster." Pulling her up by the hand, they raced to the third district and the battle that was well under way.

………………

Leon fought a long and arduous spar with his comrade; each besting the other from new techniques they had learnt. Cloud's blade was the same as always yet this time wrapped in bandages, almost holding broken pieces in place. A new power welled behind Cloud's blade, a much darker and powerful force. One that would encompass him should he have let it.

Their fighting styles had altered in the time they had drifted apart; Leon still used much the same techniques from his past, yet Cloud? He had adopted a completely new battle strategy. At times he was even devious but skilled and thorough all the same. He offered no opportunity for his partner to attack, leaving Leon performing drastic evasive maneuvers. Should he have had Cloud's short fuse, Traverse Town's annual firework event would have come early that year.

The third district was always quiet but this time an eerie chill had descended the small plaza. Even the ever-joyful Yuffie felt intimidated by the ominous feeling. Swallowing her apprehension, she dragged her protesting mother figure onto the landing by the vacant house. Crouching behind the wall, she indicated for Aeris to the same. Slouching in silence, they listened to the ensuing battle for several minutes. Even Aeris tugging on Yuffie's short pants failed to deter her when she chose to look.

"Oh gaud!" she gasped, barely peeking over the wall, her rear end as high as her head.

"What?" Aeris questioned from her crouched spot.

"Come and look at this," the slight ninja pulled her up by the collar so that her eyes peered over the wall. Instantly, they grew to the size of dinner plates. Aeris then slunk back down behind the wall, pressing her back against the stone. Her hands were clutched above her breastbone as she gasped for breath.

"Told you," Yuffie sat by her side. Upon witnessing her companion's distressed state, she shook her by the shoulder. "Yo, Aeris. You okay?"

The pink clad one shook her head. "Awesome? It's hideous."

"Hmm? Oh that? Sure, that thing's ugly. As ugly as Cid with a hangover. But look at how it fights. It's amazing!"

"Is it… is it?'

"A heartless?' Yuffie queried her bumbling friend. "Dunno. Those things hunt in packs. This one's alone. Where are the rest of them? If it is, it's either brave or very, very dumb,"

"They're all dumb," Aeris reasoned.

"That too," Yuffie peered over the wall once more. After some time, Aeris gained the courage to peek at the fight below them once more, worrying for Leon's safety. She dared not call out to him for fear of enraging the monster or startling her friend. She clamped her hands over her mouth when Leon showed signs of defeat.

Cloud bore down on Leon, his improved stamina proving too much for the elder this time. Cornering him against the cold stone pillars, he grasped hold of his blade and threw it effortlessly away. Sapphires sought the familiar warmth of cerulean but found cold twilight in its place. The once young visage of his friend was laced with something he couldn't quite place. But for sure, Cloud wasn't the person from all those years ago. He did not fear him approaching in this way; he was more apprehensive of his intent. His blade hung down by his side, the cape flapping noisily about its crumbling appearance. His remaining, original hand clamped on his windpipe, simply displaying his triumph rather than finishing his victim. Nonetheless, the unacknowledged spectators did not know otherwise and chose to intervene.

Cloud jerked sideways, a look of pain emanating through deep cerulean. He released his friend's neck to remove a protruding implement from his own. A small star shaped blade had embedded itself in his neck, narrowly missing major vessels and structures. He examined the object in his left hand whilst he clamped the right over the wound. The initials Y.K. shone in the extensive etching of the thumb hold. No rewards for guessing to whom this belonged. He looked up on the direction the weapon had come from only to see a teenager pouting her defiance at him. Leon rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Pick on someone your own size, you great brute!"

Leon found Cloud's bemused expression almost comical. It altered and fell when another hand reached up and pulled the ninja from sight. Leon assumed he was apprehensive of meeting her after all this time. He couldn't be further from the truth.

"They do not see," he sighed, crestfallen. Leon understood nothing of his bizarre comment but did not inquire further. He watched the dejected form of his friend shuffle into the centre of the square. "Yuffie!" he hollered after a lengthy pause. The brunette did not expect the shrieks that came from both the girls. Why did they sound wracked with fear when they should have been displaying elation at seeing a friend of old? When Cloud called her name once more, sure enough, the defiant adolescent sprang into view.

"Quit ya roaring you ugly fiend, or I'll stick another one of these where it'll really hurt.'

A curt call of her name informed him of her company. Her sweet voice was just as he remembered it. His face creased with the desire to look upon her appearance once more.

"Quit leering, you pervert!" Yuffie screamed at the man before her. Leon frowned, flitting his gaze from one to the other. Cloud certainly was not leering. In fact, quite the opposite. He had never seen anyone so desperate to catch even the slightest glimpse of a familiar face. He couldn't understand Yuffie's abrupt attitude.

"Aeris," Leon called to the other side of the wall. "There's someone here to see you."

Cloud shrugged in disbelief at Leon. What was he playing at? She wouldn't even look at him like this. Not now that he…

"That thing?" Yuffie screwed her face up in disgust. "It looks like it's escaped from a zoo. Send it home or at least get it a leash."

Slowly and reluctantly, Aeris rose into view. Cloud could only respond by taking a stumble backwards. Leon watched his face morph into one of utmost disbelief. From the looks of things, he had waited for this day for an eternity. Tears welled in the corner of sea blue at the beauty before him. Indeed she had grown more graceful since the last time he had seen her but there was no look in her eyes reserved solely for him. Only disgust and hatred. Even her inherent mistrust of him did not detract from her fairness. It simply added to it. He knew she could not see past to who he really was and could only let his head hang in shame. Running a hand through his hair, he fought the emotions that stormed within.

"Stop your glaring at us," Yuffie hollered at him. "Oh gross. A shaved buffalo trying to style a Mohican. Forget it beasty. Yer ugly. Ugly, UGLY, UGLY!'

"I KNOW!" was all he could retaliate in frustration. The ferocity of his outburst startled both females into hiding again, leaving Leon frowning deeply. He could not comprehend their shunning of him. Did they resent him for being away so long? And what was Yuffie's comparison to a buffalo in aid of? Calling to her once was all that it took to bring her down, tugging a reluctant Aeris behind her.

"Seriously Leon," Yuffie bemoaned, "you really keep some odd company. Last week you were talking to yourself and now you're talking to escaped zoo animals." She shook her head and planted her hands on her hips, observing Cloud sideways.

"Yuffie, don't,' Aeris pleaded as Yuffie stomped towards him. She glared up at him, walking circles around him whilst studying his form.

"'Its not a heartless," she concluded, resuming her circumspection. "It really needs a haircut," she tugged on his cape. "Cor," she wrinkled her nose; "it stinks!" Cloud snorted in bemusement that translated to a deep snarl in Yuffie's ears, causing her to reel away from him. "Whoa beastie! There's a good boy," she patronised, "let Auntie Yuffie put your leash on and we can go for a walk. Walkies?'

Cloud took a step towards her, stamping his foot down in annoyance. This time she pelted to hide behind Leon, peering out from underneath his arms. Aeris also stepped away, inches away from shaking with nerves. Deciding they had played the fool enough, he roughly pulled Aeris in front of him, holding her firmly by the shoulders to prevent her from escaping.

"What are you doing?" Cloud hissed. "Let her go. Don't make her do this. Not now." Reluctantly, Leon let her go only for her to storm away from the group, fists clenched by her side. At the top of the stairs leading from the district, she let rip.

"Are you crazy? Why did you have to do that?" she screamed, fighting back the tears. "Offering me as a sacrifice to that… that… thing!" Cloud flinched visibly at her words, yet no one happened to notice. All eyes were on Aeris. "You knew what he did all those years ago and you chose to do this?" When words failed her, she simply shook her head and took leave from the area, her dress flowing wildly behind her.

'Uhm, great?" Yuffie murmured after the storm had blown over. "Well," she clasped her hands behind her back and swayed on her feet, "now that we're alone. Well…apart from ugly here. Where the hell did you drag this brute from? It's hideous."

Choosing not to question what she saw, Leon studied the blonde who remained watching the last place she had been. Quite clearly something was afoot. Not only had they failed to recognise him; they treated him as one of the enemy.

"Hey," Yuffie prodded Leon in the side; "I asked you a question."

"And…" he drawled. "Did you require an answer?"

"Not exactly, but I want one!"

"I didn't drag him from anywhere. He found me."

Cloud sounded his agreement in the back of this throat. Yuffie snapped her head to face him, a look of disgust on her tanned face.

"Eww, creepy." When Cloud turned to walk away, she bounded after him and danced about him. "Say, show me what you can do," she jumped dead in front of him, halting him in his stride. Leon could not see the look of annoyance on his face but his bowed head told him the same. "Quit leering at me," she taunted, "and fight!"

Cloud spun slowly on the spot and headed back towards Leon. Yuffie wasted no time in bouncing after him, wedging herself between Cloud and Leon when there was minimal space left. "Show me what you can do!"

Cloud raised his metallic hand high above his head and slashed downwards at the air before her, tearing a rip in the very seam of existence. Purple and black wisps flickered as he walked into them, engulfing his frame before vanishing along with him. There was no trace left to indicate he had ever been there.

"Wicked!" Yuffie groped empty handfuls of the air before her. "Hang on… ain't that heartless trick?'

Leon shrugged, the cogs of his mind grinding to a halt in confusion. At least one of his questions had been answered, how Cloud got around. But a new one had arisen; why didn't the others recognise him? When Yuffie's chuntereing became too much, he agreed to spar with her, hoping she wouldn't 'accidentally' stumble and end up embracing his thighs again. Just what did she think she was playing at?

"Women," he muttered under his breath as he faced her across the square. To her his raised eyebrow signaled his willingness to duel when in fact, he had finally noticed the flower that she had earlier tucked into her headband, much to his approval.

………………

Leaning on the balcony wall, she glanced back once more to indeed ensure that her door was locked. Disturbances were not what she wanted right now. Not from that pair anyway. She intended to apologise, but not just yet. Outbursts of anger were not her specialty and her constant placid nature made them appear much more out of character. All the same, she cast a final glance around the hotel room that would serve as home for the night.

She briskly turned her head to face the waterway at the back of the hotel when a distinct splash caught her attention. At the far end where the cut through to the first district lay, something lay in wait in the shadows. Fearing it could be the creature from earlier caused her to pull away from her vulnerable position.

"Wait," a familiar, yet deeper voice than she remembered called to her.

Aeris almost threw herself over the edge trying to get a glimpse of the one that had spoken. It had to be him; there was no mistaking that voice. It was he all right. Secretly, she had always hoped that he had made it and that he would one-day return to her.

"Cloud?"

She caught sight of the shadow jump at her screaming his name, the echo of her sweet, melodic voice ricocheting off the walls long after she had pressed her hands into her face, disguising her elation. His reply may have been offered sometime after the silence had returned, yet the sound of her voice calling his name would linger for much longer still for him.

"Hey…" came the soft reply.

"Cloud?" she gabbled furiously, much akin to Yuffie, "is that you? Is it really, really you? Oh please say it is. I can't believe it. It's been so long. Cloud?"

"It is," he spoke again, laughter ringing in his words. "Yes Aeris, it is I."

She frowned amidst a broad smile. Why did he linger in the shadows? And why were his answers laced with sorrow?

"Cloud, I always knew you were alive. I just knew it. I… wow!"

"There was no fooling you."

"No," she smiled. "Where have you been all this time. And please, come out where I can see you. The shadows unnerve me."

"All this time? I've been working up the courage to see you again. How I have missed your company."

From this distance, he failed to see her blush. Aeris smirked at his ambiguous replies. He never was the one to truly say what he felt. All the same, the games she had interpreting his answers had almost made her an expert in his speech. But still, something evaded her this time.

"Come out in to the light," she pressed once more.

Instead of fulfilling her request, the silhouette stepped deeper into the darkness.

"I… I can't," he pleaded, "not yet. I'm not ready."

"Don't be silly," she chided. "It's only me."

"I'd rather not," he enforced.

Aeris's brow creased upon hearing his tone. "Why?"

"I… I… didn't make it out of Hollow Bastion without a few injuries…"

"I know, Leon filled us in…"

"Let me finish, please," he pressed gently. "My injuries left me… scarred. For want of a better word. I'm not ready to show myself, yet," he glanced down at his right hand. The skin was smooth and unblemished but he knew of its true callous texture and despicable appearance. One that he couldn't see. Cursed was he. "It has taken a lot for me to come here today. One step at a time."

"Sure," she was unsure of how to answer. His final comment had been delivered part in comment, part in question. "Next time? Promise me that."

"I shall try my best. But I cannot make promises that I may…" Aeris spun on the spot when a hammering ensued on her door. They had found her. Turning back, she caught the last of what he said. "I don't want to disappoint you. When I'm ready…"

"Wait," she called to him, desperate to converse with him some more before he retreated into the shadows. "Don't go, please!"

Her expression saddened when she couldn't see him any more. No longer sensing his presence her elation returned. Reluctant to leave the balcony, she could not ignore the pounding at her door any longer. Forgetting of her intention to give the pair the silent treatment, she rushed to inform them of the good news.

As she left the balcony, he stepped back out into the dimly lit alleyway. Turning his original hand over as he examined it left him pondering deeply. If his features could not be seen then people no longer heard his monosyllabic grunts and growls. Rather, they heard him for who he really was. If she was denied his hideous exterior, she saw the beauty within. People only saw what they wanted to. Someone had so kindly pointed that out to him and he had manipulated his or her senses, especially in his presence. Only one saw through his unwanted disguise. Not his preferred choice, but the best considering the circumstances.

Glancing down at the reflection staring up at him, he roared at the top of his lungs, enacting his frustration on the harmless water. Drowning in a sea of purple and black in the midst of his frenzy finally returned him to his world of origin with the intention of seeking answers.

To Be Continued…

………………

Well… Uhm.. a little note. I'm thinking this will map out over seven or eight chapters. Probably no more. I'm intending to update every two weeks. I apolgise for the layout, how I wish I had a computer that was happy with me. But all the same, this will suffice for now. I also beg forgiveness for the spelling. No, they are not typos, simply how my country spells them. How I hate my spell checker picking them all up. Even on a British dictionary. Gah. But well. Yes… this time there is more to come!