Holding onto what is most precious in your life is the reason we live…

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That week wasn't like any other week we would ever experience. It was the annual River Night Town Fair that happened in Town every year. We would celebrate the Town's founding on the large street called 'River Night' it was the towns most awaited fair. It would always end with the fireworks in the air and such would be a happy end to the most festival nights of the year.

That week started on a Sunday, like another week would, I had just come back from an escort mission given to me by my employer. Lately unknown attacks would happen around Ansem's council. And lately the rare attacks have gotten more frequent and more aggressive in the past month. Along with me, there are two other people that do the jobs that the police department in the town couldn't handle. Squall and Yuffie, the legendary duo, as they were called. I always laughed at that comment because I knew who they really were. Squall was one who wouldn't get mad all the time, but when he does it wasn't very pretty. And Yuffie, lets say that she still owes me 100 munny, she stole it off me when we did a past mission. She's always taking stuff from me and Squall, but still they are good fighters. Yuffie with her long range attacks because of her ninja heritage and Squall with that weird sword of his called a 'gun blade'. But I shouldn't be talking weird just take a look at my sword, a huge sword about almost a foot in width and almost five feet in length.

The town we live in called simply 'Town' wasn't a huge and bustling place nor was it a poor place. Just a little bit of everything really it was a nice town, located just about 5 miles from the gates of Ansem's Castle, which stood upon the highest hill in all the country. It was surrounded by the most beautiful Sakura Trees you ever saw, which in this season had blossomed covering the town in a snow of pink petals. Soon, I would realize, that the loveliest flower in the castle had not been in the garden…

"What a tiring day" I said to no one particular, same old same old happens around here.

I started taking off my boots and the 3 metal plates that went from my hips to about mid thigh. They were so dirty from all the countless times this guard save me. Most of the animals here attack around the waist so it was a good thing I thought this up and in my stance it acts like a guard. I took off my gloves as I looked at my rough and callous hands that held this sword above my head countless times for a blow. I started to unbuckle the belts I had all over my body, starting off with the legs.

The pants I wore were never my size to begin with as they were not mines. They kept bagging and I ended up tripping on them when I battled, thankfully not in serious battles. The outfit belonged to my long dead father. He was a mercenary just like me. Though he always was on mission leaving me and my mother behind we knew what he had to do for us to survive. Though my mother was just wishing it was something else. But in the end we were a happy family. But about six or seven years ago, the news hit me…

My father had died on a very simple escort mission to the castle. No one ever saw his face or what had happened, but before my father died he said that it had 'a wing of the devil'. After the incident, my mother and I were devastated and we tried our best to carry on. My mother was very strong and worked hard as she could to support her and me. After I had gotten out of school I went out and found a job and helped her so she could relax the rest of her life. Three years ago she died, they said due to natural causes, but I knew she died from a broken heart only my father could fix. At her funeral, I tried not to shed a tear because she knew…no…they knew that I was too strong and they would always be watching over me and I know they would. As I undid more buckles, I began musing on the old memories I had with my parents. After about four or five more buckles, I wasn't counting, I started to take off my shoulder guard and I took it off I swallowed a short pain that escaped from my mind.

A huge scar running around my shoulder appeared. I had gotten it in the forest about 3 miles from the road to the castle. A unknown man, about 23 with gray long hair, had appeared to me during a small mission. I gazed at him and he only started back…I would never forget those eyes…cold and emotionless…a perfect killing machine. He carried a katana but from the front it looked very short, but my eyes had played tricks on me when he drew it out. I had realized because of my view more then ¾ of the katana had be hidden from the front of the hilt. It had to be twice as long as mine. That day…suddenly it happened…with a deep, taunting laugh… he had charged at me.

Only with my years as a mercenary I could barely keep up as I put my sword up and fought back. It had only been 5 minutes, but it seemed forever as we fought for our lives. He was smiling and laughing all they way through, it seemed he was playing around with me. All of a sudden, a small spark had lit again between our swords as we dueled. Not knowing that the spark had landed in a patch of dead grass. Suddenly the whole area had been lit in flames in an instant. The flames had caught on the trees and the leaves turned orange due to the changes in seasons. Suddenly, it became a dance of fire as the swords clashed and started more sparks. But I grew tired and tired as the seconds flew as we danced with the swords. We took a huge swipe at each other only to be stopped by each other's blade and we jumped back. I, unfortunately for me, had run out of energy and I collapsed upon one knee and tried to stand with the sword's help. But him, he was standing perfectly…laughing with that taunt. I stood up and looked at him…I had to finish it now or die…Then it happened in an instant…He had disappeared only to reappear behind me with his sword up high. I thought it was the end for me as he brought it upon my shoulder and sliced it just above my heart…what had stopped him…it was voices. From that point on it became fuzzy to me as I remember him smiling and removing the sword off my shoulder. He laughed and told something to me before I passed out under the pain and loss of blood…

"I'll come back to finish you off…weakling"

Those words, ringing in my ears forever. It was a blow to my pride that day. He took the best I had and spit at it. That day I swore to myself that I'd would never lost to him again. I woke up in a small house. They said a lady had come over to see me and magically healed me. They described it to me as a small aura of healing. I had fully recovered within the next week and I could fight again in another two weeks. I wore this armor over my shoulder for the next time he would do that…He'd never make it…

After such a serious moment with myself I had come over to my couch and plopped on top of it tired as hell. I took off my shirt and laid it on the table neatly and sprawled all over the couch again face down. My aches all sore from today. As I was about to get some shut eye I heard a small knocking on my door and I cursed inwardly as I unlocked and opened the door. It was Squall and Yuffie. I growled in my thoughts…

"Hey you guys how are you doing?" I said trying to be as polite as possible

"Yo, Cloud" Yuffie replied ushering her way in without an invitation.

"Hey could we come in?" Squall asked me knowing the answer, but would rather be more polite

"Yeah, sure why not"

It had been a while since I've seen them the escort took 2 days and before that they had a mission 2 days ago. It has almost been a week since we all been like this together. I turned around to see a shirt tossed at me. It was the shirt I had on the table, we all knew each other for about 2 years so they are used to seeing me like this after a mission, but Yuffie always has a reason.

"Cloud, stop showing your masculinity. I get enough from Squall every time we have a mission together"

I laughed at her comment and put my shirt back on and closed the door and sat on the love seat as Yuffie took on the recliner and squall sat on the other recliner. Not much of furniture in my house seeing I live alone. This house was once my parents and I was given the deed under my mother's will.

"So what's happening?" I asked very bluntly

"What?! Why can't we hang out with our favorite buddy in the whole wide world"

"Your asking me to do another mission and I say no"

"Damnit, Cloud-chan, we can't do it"

Ohhh, damnit, she used that name again.

"Cloud, what Yu-chan is saying here is that the employer asked for you personally. It's a mission that wouldn't be described to us personally. It somehow involves someone in the castle"

As Yuffie pouted at that nickname she hated for us to use, she let go of it as she heard the word 'castle'

"Squall, I never heard of the castle asking for a mission, especially from us"

"Yuffie has a point, I mean Squall we are small mercenaries why would they want us. Let alone me?"

"I don't know, Cloud. Apparently though we are being spread through the country even though there are only three of us"

"Yay! We are finally getting recognize Wooooo!"

"Apparently, Squall, if the mission requires me to go to the castle I presume it is of important business"

"Yes, you may be right, they also said they would pay very well too. Here…they paid us 5,000 munny just for accepting it"

"Yeah! We have our share already, that's yours"

"Yuffie, I better not be missing any munny. But 5,000 munny?!" I replied taking the bag into my hands and slowly counting the coins

"Yeah, and they said it's upfront so I'm presuming that more will be on its way"

"Allright, well I guess I'll pack up and head to the castle now"

"Yeah, you should. You might make it before it gets too dark, Cloud" Yuffie said getting all serious

"She's right we'll go now so you can leave right away"

"Yeah, sure. See you guys around"

"Yea. See you, Cloud"

"Bye bye, Cloud-chan "

She has to stop doing that. I laughed though seeing how childish she was though she had done more of the harsh missions then us. I had gotten up and packed a few sandwiches and ate one before I walked to the stack of clothing I had and put on the metal plates and buckles I had, along with the should guard. I picked up my sword and fastened it to my back and then picked up the small bag with my dinner and some water and went off locking my house.

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AN: Hope you like my come-back story and read and review it'll be about 15 chapters at the rate I'm going.