Rhiannon: Welcome back nonexistant readers! I want to point out now, that the characters will switch between the different names of guardian, summons, and aeons for the little battle characters ie Shiva, Mushu... Since they all have different names for them and all... Okay! Enough rambling, read on.

And thank you Bando Eido from giving me my first review!

Chapter 2: Blood of the Innocents

"Donald… Goofy… This is where we part ways." Sora spoke quietly as they sat in the abandoned house.

"What? You can't be serious!" Donald's barely understandable voice yelled.

"It has to be this way." Vincent spoke quietly.

"Who are you to say?!" Donald yelled at the dark haired vampire.

"I trust in what Sora says." Goofy spoke a vague look on his face.

"WHAT?!" Donald was furious.

"Where would you send us?" Goofy ignored the volatile duck.

"To Hollow Bastion with Yuffie. You may not find King Mickey there. But you might find Queen Kairi." God, it sounded odd saying that.

"I understand." Goofy looked down at his hands. "What about… Areith and Cloud?"

"They aren't our concern." Leon spoke his first words.

"Goofy… you can't be serious… About us separating?" The duck wizard stared hard at the knight.

"Unfortunately… I am Donald. Are paths would have to separate one day." The knight suddenly seemed so wise; it amazed all that looked at him.

"Sora had a hard time making this decision… but we are looking for people who are in many different places." Vincent whispered.

"What?" That was Goofy.

"Queen Kairi, King Mickey, Ansem… and Riku." Sora whispered that last part.

"Going after Riku is impossible!" It was out of Donald's mouth before he could note the look on the young keyblader's face. It was the same look that made him fear Leon, though he had been sent looking for the stoic man.

"How? The door to the darkness has split from the door of light." Sora looked at them. "You were there. You saw it."

Donald and Goofy both nodded, they couldn't argue with that. Leon stood, and opened the door to reveal Yuffie, covered in blood. At first he was concerned. The young ninja was a very close friend but upon further inspection the blood was not her own.

"What happened?" He asked softly.

"Cloud… Cloud… He… He killed… He killed… Blank." She whispered.

Blank had been like Leon, estranged from his world with no hope of finding someone he'd know. Leon wrapped a towel around her.

"Go wash up." His monotone wavered slightly; he didn't want to see this young girl hurt.

"Thank you… Leon." She whispered clutching the blanket tighter before moving into the other rooms.

"You love her." Vincent's voice was quietly accusing.

"She's like a sister to me." He pointed out quietly.

"So that's four, almost five to his butcher's bill." Vincent stated softly.

"Goofy… you and the others must leave tonight." Sora's voice was urgent.

"Why?" The knight asked looking towards the closed door that Yuffie was behind. "The girl might need more time."

"She might have no more if she witness Cloud kill someone and he saw. Particularly… a protector of Traverse Town." Vincent pointed out.

"That's his aim? Why?" Sora stood up.

"Traverse Town, is the cross map between worlds. Many lost souls find their way here. And can always find there way here. Like you did." Donald spoke, having given up his battle to continue to fight beside Sora.

Leon reached out and sat his hand on the table, the closest to a gesture of sympathy he could get. "Just go."

Leon stood next to the young keyblade master as they stood at the exit to Traverse Town. The gumi ship they would be taking, the aptly named Highwind waited. Cid's last ship to ever be built. Leon took a deep breath and prayed for Hyne to rest his soul. The ship was small and sleek but could fit a whole crew and passengers. Perfect for their journey. All they had to do was make it to the first planet.

Leon went and sat dejectedly beside a window as Sora navigated the ship. He'd heard no word of people from his world, except to know that Edea, his dear Matron was dead. Even though, it didn't explain Seifer. Hyne damn him, the man had said he'd find him. And never once did he show up in Traverse Town, or in Hollow Bastion.

"You should not continue to mourn for the past. It is unwise." Vincent whispered softly.

"There is nothing left for me to do. How is Yuffie?" He looked at the vampire.

"As well as to be expected. Though she would like to see you, before you leave her there." He pointed out quietly.

"All right." He stood.

"What is she to you?" Vincent suddenly asked.

"What's it to you, vampire?" Leon stared at him.

"Seifer would be so mad to know-."

"Don't speak his name!" Leon growled, his tones breaking. "Yuffie reminds me of someone I lost. Her name was Selphie all right… Selphie and Ellone." He whispered memories sucking him away.

"Don't worry Squally! I've survived through two wars! No wait… Three remember! I'll be fine. It's just a scouting mission." She smiled hugging him gently.

How was he to know that the next time he'd see her. She'd be on her deathbed almost torn apart barely alive. He and the others, the so-called Orphanage Gang had stayed by her. She'd been so bright, so full of life. Even through her hard battles she'd fought so hard. To make things work with Irvine, to leave behind anorexia.

"I'll be fine Squall. Even if Hyne takes me." She gave a sickly smile, in the direction she thought he was sitting.

Her eyes were gone, caught in a cut. She'd managed, even blind to kill her attackers, to live long enough for other SeeDs to find her. He'd been impressed, and prayed that the same stubbornness green eyed girl that fought to come home, would live.

"Irvine must be so upset." She whispered reaching out her good hand.

"He is." It was a stupid thing to say, but all he could think of.

"I can see Zell now… He said he forgives you." She smiled her thin lips paling. He brushed a hand through her limp hair.

"Tell Zell, it's not your time." He whispered clutching her hand.

"He'll telling me not to be afraid. That I'll see Irvy again." She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. "Tell Irvy I love him."

"Don't go! Don't." His cries fell on death ears.

He stood and walked calmly but firmly to his office and look straight at Xu daring her to challenge him.

"Call SeeD Irvine Kinneas rank A. He is to be taking off duty and brought to Garden immediately." He stated quietly.

"Sir… Kinneas is on a covert mission." She stated standing.

"His fucking wife just died Xu. Have a fucking heart." Squall growled latching onto her wrist painfully.

"Like you have one Commander Leonheart. Sending a man with a dying wife on a mission." She yelled backslapping him hard.

"Irvine requested to go, because Selphie told him to." He didn't turn his head back to face her. "Call me what you will Xu, but fucking call him back." He growled before releasing her and walking into his office locking the doors. If it was possible, Selphie's death haunted him more then Zell's.

"Leon! Get out of your head!" Yuffie cried punching him in the arm, the naive ninja attempting to grin at him brightly and failing.

"I can't help it." He wrapped an arm around her.

"Why did Cloud kill Blank?" She asked quietly, down with façades of false happiness.

"I don't know."

"What about the others?" Her large brown eyes looked up at him.

"They wouldn't know either."

"No, I mean the ones he killed." She stated quietly.

"I don't know."

"Were you afraid that I was next? Is that why you sent me with Donald and Goofy back to our world?" She asked looking at him.

"Don't fool yourself into thinking that was our world." He stated; his gentle tone removing the cruelty of his words.

"Well… It's my home now! You're world might still exist but mine doesn't." She sniffled.

"I know." It was all he could really say. He was still searching though, for Irvine, Qustis and… Seifer.

"I'll do what you say. If only to make you feel better. And because Donald ain't the smartest duck in the pond." They both laughed hollowly at her sad excuse for a joke. "Don't die." Her voice was meek.

"I won't." He tried to smile at her.

"You'll find him." She reached up and kissed his forehead and pushed him away as Sora announced they were landing in Hollow Bastion. "Bye Squall."

And this time, he didn't bother to correct her. He didn't say anything at all.

They left Hollow Bastion as soon as their feet were off the ship. No member of the remaining party could bare to look back at who they left behind wandering if they'd see them alive again, or if they themselves would live. Sora took a turn in a new direction, taking them to a place they'd never been before. The landed on a small planet, it held seemingly little life. But as they stepped into the frigid air, Sora spared Leon a glance.

"This is where I met Edea." He nodded.

Leon shook his head as they began their walk, into town. The town seemed almost barren except for the sight of a face or two peeking from a window.

"Expect it. The nothings come when night falls. We need to find a place to room." Leon nodded at the thought, this was Sora's show, not his.

The inn they found was in the very center of town, with a hanging sign declaring it's name. The Minstrel Inn had probably seen better days, before all this business started. Sora's pushed the door open and walked and discussed quietly with the innkeeper. Leon nodded to Vincent and looked outside at the setting sun. The nothings would be here soon.

"We've got two rooms, a double and a single." Sora spoke as he nodded for them to follow them up the staircase.

Leon nodded, and followed Vincent behind him. He decided that he didn't like any of the changes he was seeing in younger man. He not only seemed older and colder, but angry about the loss of his innocence. Once inside the double room he sat on one bed and Sora the other. He was never good at things like this, but he didn't want to loose the keyblader to his selfishness.

"Sora…" He trailed, he really couldn't say this.

"What?" His voice snapped and Leon felt his anger rise.

"Don't treat us like shit because you don't feel you've done enough. That you haven't shed enough blood." He growled standing.

"How the fuck would you know?! I did all that and Ansem still came back! Even worse this time!" He yelled and Leon saw, that no matter how grown up Sora tried to seem, he was still Sora, he almost breathed out loud in relief.

"I saved my world from an evil sorceress, my best friend her lap dog. I almost killed him. And then after that my lover at the time became evil and began to want the same things as the sorceress before her, and I followed her. I almost killed all I cared about, I almost destroyed my world!" He couldn't believe how easy the words came out, even though he wasn't talking to Seifer.

"What?" Sora stared at him dropping to sit on the bed.

"Maybe my deeds don't seem as great as yours… But I understand." Leon shook himself.

"What happened with Riku… Fighting your best friend… I had to do that." He didn't think that he should say 'lover' when he wasn't even sure himself.

"Leon…" Sora seemed deflated.

"Stop trying to be someone else." He took Lionheart out of its sheath and sat it on the floor.

"I can't help what I feel." Sora growled.

"Ignoring it isn't helping either." He wanted to laugh, the Ice Prince was telling someone else to feel.

Screams sounded in the distance. Leon shut his eyes tightly, he heard Sora swear sharply. He wanted to go out there, he was sure that Sora did too. They were heroes; they weren't meant to stand by while people died. He opened his eyes when Vincent knocked the door off its hinges.

"The barriers on the houses have broken!" The vampire's urgent monotone startled Leon as Vincent stood, large gold claw covering one hand, large pistol in the other.

"What?" That was Sora's indigent cry.

No more words were said as they left the false protection of the inn to greet the nightmares that would surround them anyway. Leon didn't think as he swung Lionheart. He wasn't worried about Vincent or Sora, they could hold their own. That much he knew. He came before a large shield creature and noted the vast amounts of creatures behind him. His last chance had come.

"Sora! Vincent! Fall back!" He yelled loudly as he dodged the shield creature's massive arms.

"Are you serious?!" Sora yelled back, rolling under a Shield creature to stab it's weak spot.

"Deadly! Fall back!" The two grudgingly began to follow his orders.

Leon sighed in almost murderous intent. In this icy world, it seemed beyond perfect to call the guardian of his- of Seifer. He closed his eyes.

"HELL FIRE!"

The world melted away around Leon, Sora and Vincent. Sora looked vaguely disoriented by the sensation of being transported to another dimension. He felt the familiar sensations of being in the stars and traveling at the speed of light. Leon smirked and reached out and grabbed Sora's arm as they came back to the snowy planet. The vast legions of shadows had been decimated by the attack, leaving only a few shadow heartless. Vincent quickly cut them down as Sora wobbled in Leon's grip.

"What the fuck was that?!" The young man growled.

"That… was a Guardian's attack."

"What?!" Vincent was looking at him now.

"On my world… we had what were called Guardian Forces… but now… they do what they please. And these go to you two." He handed them each a few globes of shining light.

"What are the words to summon them?" Vincent with his practical questions.

"They will tell you." Leon looked out at the town; many had been lost.

"What we're looking for isn't here is it?" Sora asked quietly.

"I doubt it. We're looking for someone from my world." He smiled at them thinly. "I had hoped he'd followed Matron."

"You mean Edea don't you?" Soar asked.

"Let's go." He didn't bother to answer the question.

They boarded their ship and before they could take off, Sora jerked the controls as he saw the dark cloud coming.

"What the hell is that?!" He yelled twisting in his chair to look at Leon.

"The thing that killed Cid Highwind." Was his reply.

"We've got to save the people!" He stated standing.

"Start the ship and get us the hell out of here." Vincent ordered.

"There are innocents down there! People who can't fight!" He yelled standing up to leave.

"Start the ship or we'll die as well. And then their sacrifice will be wasted." Leon stated quietly.

"We could help them."

The screams started then as the cloud covered the houses; men, women and children all lost. Sora turned and stared in horror unable to see anything but the large cloud that cover the village.

"With out the protection of the sorceress… There is nothing that can be done." Leon stated quietly.

"But that is the blood of innocents being taken."

"The cloud is heading this way. I suggest you start this contraption." Vincent stated calmly leaning against the wall in the back.

"But!"

"Maybe you don't understand this… but there's a thin line between saving and dying in vain. Learn to tell the difference." Vincent turned to leave.

"This is inhuman."

"Good. I was never human." Vincent's red eyes glittered dangerously as he flicked ebony hair over his shoulder.

Just go. Leon thought desperately.

Sora glared at Vincent's departure but as his crystalline eyes hardened, he grabbed the controls and took them into the air.

"Where do we go now?" He asked stonily.

"I don't know." Leon answered truthfully.

"Then I'm landing us on the next planet I see."

Rhiannon: Fundamentals of fic: Leon angst is always good, very good. Scampers off to try and attempt to have a total 15-16 hs this semester.