In Search Of Lost Souls.
Well, I apologise once again! I'm hopeless ain't i? But well… the excuse this time you ask? Sorry, just come back from a last minute holiday to Vancouver! Yay. But well… I shall spare you the envy, (loved every minute of it!) and let you get on with reading this! Have fun! Oh, and a word of warning… if this is full of errors, again, I'm sorry. I sacrificed that in order to get this up. I will review and repost when thoroughly checked.
Disclaimer: oh, do we have to bother with this? I own nothing! I wish I did. Oh the plans, the plans!
Chapter 4: A journey's beginning.
"Have you seen Squall?"
The raven-haired ninja stood in the middle of Cloud's kitchen with hands on her hips. The brunette had been rather elusive for the last six weeks, the beginning of which coincided with Megumi's illness. Many people had witnessed him busying about, often returning home with armfuls of supplies
"Not recently, no," Aeris looked up from the suckling infant she held in her arms.
"What's he up to?" the blonde turned from his place at the sink where he sterilised a number of bottles. "Is he hoarding for a prolonged winter?"
"I don't know," Yuffie grumbled, watching as Aeris cooed over Megumi. "She's gotten really big. How old is she again?"
"Eighteen weeks," the proud mother beamed at the youngster before her. "Isn't she gorgeous?" she grinned back into eyes that matched her own.
"Just as beautiful as her mother," a silly grin was written beneath cerulean, leaving Yuffie rolling her eyes.
"Well?" she huffed, "if you do find out what's made him so bizarre, lemme know. I gotta meet Tim."
"Still going out with him?"
This time it was Yuffie's turn to grin demonically at Aeris. "Yeah," she sighed.
"Tell you what," Cloud wrung his hands on a tea towel, "I'll head over there later and see what our favourite loner is up to. You shouldn't have moved out Yuf."
Shrugging, she sounded a half-hearted agreement. "I know," she buried her head in her shoulder. "But Tim and I are getting on great and I hardly ever went home."
"When I was seventeen…" Aeris began.
"You were attracting all the men, go on," Cloud smirked, moving to place a gentle kiss on his daughter's head. "Will you be alright?"
"On my own? Yeah," Aeris shooed him away with a flick of the hand. "Tell us all you can about Leon. Yuffie here could always keep me company if Tim lets her off the hook."
"Great," the blonde sighed, placing a hand on his partner's shoulder as he left, picking up his coat.
"I wonder what he'll have to say," Yuffie thought aloud, having spent more time thinking about the brunette than her current man.
After pounding relentlessly on Leon's door for five minutes, Cloud concluded that the brunette really wasn't there. He was glad Leon lived in fairly secluded corner of the district; there were fewer to watch his movements. Stepping backwards, he looked to the second storey window to confirm whether anyone was in. Seeing no signs of life, he chose to search Leon's other haunts, his mind wandering as he did so.
Leon had recently been much quieter than usual, spending much more time alone. It seemed that no one else had noticed the new necklace he wore. Except Yuffie. More often than not she was captivated whenever she caught sight of it. Cloud had only ever seen that particular design in a shop window back in Hollow Bastion. Was he renewing links with his past? 'Perhaps…' he thought, 'but that wouldn't explain the shopping.'
The brunette had been spotted visiting a number of shops, reportedly buying gear for an apparent camping trip. Cloud knew of no holiday he had planned, so why did he need a backpack and provisions? He had also been caught upgrading his weapon in Cid's workshop. It certainly wasn't to spar, for the blonde had packed away his gear the day after Megumi came home. To this day he deeply believed that in his moment of selfishness, his daughter had suffered and chose to give it up. Much to Aeris's protests.
So far the waterway, the Third District, and the training hall offered no glimpse of Leon. Resorting to trying his home once more, Cloud returned to the Second District. As he approached Leon's quarters, he caught the brunette on his doorstep, pulling the door closed behind him. It appeared he had only just got home. The surprise on his face could not be hidden when he caught sight of the blonde.
"I've been looking for you," Cloud commented to lifted eyebrows. "Got a moment?"
"Uh…" he vocalised in the back of his throat, whilst staring at the key poised for the lock. "Yeah," he suddenly looked up, pushing the door back open, and beckoned for the blonde to follow.
Waiting as Leon kicked boxes aside, Cloud moved to perch on the arm of the sofa. "We haven't seen much of you recently," he called out as Leon vanished into the kitchen. When there was no reply, he followed out of curiosity. "What you been up to?"
"Nothin'," the brunette shrugged nonchalantly, yanking two mugs from a sparsely filled cupboard.
As Cloud looked about, it slowly dawned on him that the food in his kitchen had been run down and takeaway boxes had built up in the waste bin. "Really?" Cloud kept his tone as casual as possible, "we haven't seen you in ages. Say, why don't you pop round sometime next week."
A mahogany haired head rose and stared at the wall before him. "Uhm…" he stalled, "I'll have to see what I'm dong. I might have… plans."
"Oh yeah?" Cloud questioned his turned back, not quite convinced. "What plans?"
"I…" he lowered his head to peer into the half-prepared mugs, "I'm thinking of taking some time out. A holiday perhaps."
"Really?" the blonde sounded as enthusiastic as possible. "Where are you thinking of going?" he asked as he now accepted the steaming mug of coffee from Leon.
"Oh, y'know," he shrugged, "here and there. About, I suppose."
Cerulean orbs narrowed at the increasingly vague answers. "You don't know where you're going?" Cloud questioned after some time. "Come on," he chided, "you're hiding something. I know it."
"Who says?" sapphires shifted sideways as he took a lengthy swig from his mug, only to regret it when the hot liquid scalded the back of his throat. Setting the mug down, he grimaced fiercely, both at his affliction and the imploring gaze from the blonde.
"Well?" Cloud leant back in his seat, his wing falling free for the first time in weeks. "I ain't leaving here until I get a proper answer."
"You wouldn't understand," Leon sighed.
"Try me," Cloud glanced about the room once more. "I lived and worked with the dark side for nearly ten years. I'm pretty open-minded. I know lies and deception when I see it, and you're feeding me some right bull. Well?"
Leon exhaled sharply. "Fine," he grumbled. "I've been thinking," he slowly admitted.
"About what?" the blonde felt like he was finally getting somewhere. "And for how long?"
"Since… Megumi fell ill. Seeing the way you and Aeris were with her," he paused as blonde spikes fell earthbound, "that got me thinking."
As sapphires became troubled, Leon glanced to a cloth wrapped bundle positioned against the wall. Cloud's suspicions were aroused about whom he spoke. Keeping his assumptions aside, he chose the path of idle chitchat.
"Thinking? About what?"
"All sorts," he sighed, sifting through endless lists of information in his mind. "Cid told me the other month that the rescuers kept a log of where people were evacuated to. Even the intended destinations of the ships that were destroyed. Even the places where her father was meant to go to. "
The blonde sighed quietly in exasperation," Rinoa…"
It always came back to her. Even after all these years, he still refused to let go. Persistence was one of his traits. However, this time he had opted for direct action.
"Yeah," Leon sighed after an eternity. "The ship her father were on made it out of Hollow Bastion to fall later but I don't know if Rinoa left at all. I was hoping… that… I might find her. After all these years," sapphires looked up and met cerulean.
The blonde could not find any adequate words. Instead he felt like a gawping fish. "But… but… what do you intend to do?" he stuttered.
"I want to find her."
"But you don't even know if she made it. She might have…"
A hand shot up to silence the blonde mid sentence. His expression was stern and served to halt Cloud's speculations. "I know," he spoke through gritted teeth. "She may be alive and well somewhere. Or she may lie in an unmarked grave, woe betide. Either way," he became more sombre, "I need to know. And if need be, bring her home. I just need to know."
"Fair enough," the blonde sighed. "What do you plan to do first?"
"I was thinking of Hollow Bastion first. I'll check the records and go from there."
"How are you going to get there?" golden eyebrows rose in question.
Leon's mouth fell open. This was a path he had forgotten to go down. "Ugh," he slammed the heel of his palm into his forehead.
"I might be able to help you out there," Cloud beamed at him, a discrete twinkle in his eyes.
The brunette was clearly confused. For once his expression spoke of it. "How?" he finally managed to gasp. "Travel between worlds was banned almost two years ago. The only one who could…" he looked up from the table. "The only one who could travel between worlds was you. But…" he looked to his friend's left arm where fingertips drummed the tabletop. Delight crept into sapphires as his previous disappointment dissolved and was replaced. "Would you…?"
Cloud could clearly see how much all this meant to him. He was now convinced that the pendant had something to do with all this. Pointing at it, he began; "I'll help you, but first, I'm curious as to that."
"Oh this?" he gently fingered the lion ensign, "I found it the other month. Oh," he suddenly remembered the parcel he possessed, "I have something for you."
The blonde had never seen him so animated. He remained sat at the table, stunned. He could only blink repeatedly as his friend returned with a small, ornately wrapped parcel in his hands. He appeared to study it momentarily before handing it over to its true receptor.
"This is for you."
Cloud studied the package, flipping it over repeatedly in his hands. A small tag bearing his name was the only clue of its origin. The surprise on his face couldn't be hidden for love or money. In permanent black ink, his name screamed out from the white in his mother's handwriting. His haste could not be quelled as he tore at the string and tugged the contents from the handkerchief; not noticing it had been previously opened.
Leon watched on with bemusement as the blonde managed to tip all the contents onto the tabletop with a noisy clatter. He then quickly scrabbled to collect up his new acquisitions. The brunette studied his reaction as he picked up the objects in turn. The first, he remembered correctly, was the picture of Cloud and his mother. Cerulean faltered as memories flooded back. He gazed at the past entombed beneath glass for a full five minutes, his fingers unconsciously caressing the cool surface. Leon could not have predicted his reaction upon lifting the second, yet smaller photo.
Trembling hands almost dropped the precious gift. He stared aghast at the photo before him. Never had he seen this portrait before. Placing the photo frame flat on the wooden tabletop, he sank his hands into golden locks and tugged. A curt sigh told of his disbelief. Quickly, the blonde snatched up the envelope and scoured the contents once, twice, and again. His eyes skimmed the page too quickly to absorb all the information first time around. Laying the letter flat and smoothing the creases he had inadvertently created, he picked up his family portrait once more.
"I don't remember my father," he struggled with a lump in his throat. "He died… I was only three."
Leon spoke nothing as Cloud flipped the frame over and released the photo trapped within. Initially, he thought he was going to crumple it in his straining hands, yet he took the small piece of his past and held his wallet in his other hand. Flipping it open, he tucked it away, to the side of the smiling face of his beautiful daughter and her equally delectable mother.
"How is Megumi?" Leon questioned, upon seeing her portrait.
The smile was broad. "She's wonderful. She's better now and taking much more interest in her world. And now that she's smiling…" he tipped the photo towards Leon, his own head bowed in thought. "She keeps us up in the night but when she smiles at seeing you, it's all worthwhile."
Watching the proud father before him, the envy and jealousy threatened to boil forth. Resisting it, he swallowed hard. "What happened," he indicated to the empty photo frame.
"An accident," he fumbled with the discoloured corners of the empty envelope. "An accident that killed almost half of the workforce. Mother didn't say. We moved to Hollow Bastion when I wasn't even four and a half. She couldn't cope with the memories of him that still lived with her. My first real memory was of the move. I felt sorry for you." He looked up to a sapphire gaze; "I don't mean that in a condescending way. I hated the other kids. They had their fathers. You? You didn't have anyone, but it didn't stop you. You were always strong. Always what I wanted to be. If you should leave, I want you to know that. For Megumi's sake, I want her to have what I missed out on. I promise to be there for her, and I will keep to that. As I'm sure you made a promise to yourself or Rinoa and you intend to keep it."
Brunette locks fell over a troubled expression. He spoke no more of it. "Say," he looked up, "Can I pick your brain? If you still have one!"
A disgruntled look swiftly followed as a reply. "Sure. I mean, you'll need teaching on how to use that glove of mine. And how not to get lost, 'cause believe me, you will!"
Smiling, Leon seated himself alongside the blonde and set about informing him of his current intentions.
………………
It took two weeks for Leon's plans to become complete. But even then all was not done. Cloud had then so kindly offered to charter all the worlds he knew of to aid Leon in his quest. In the thick of the fifth night, Cloud was nearing completion. He flicked through page after page to ensure nothing was missing when his pink clad lover stumbled into the room.
"What are you playing at?" fists obscured the emeralds he adored.
Looking over his shoulder from the desk, he waited for the yawn to pass before he replied. "I decided to document all the places I've been over the years. Almost done now."
"Good," she stifled another yawn, padding softly to stand by his side. "The bed's cold without you."
"My apologies," he snaked an arm about her ever shrinking waist, resting his chin on her stomach. Slowly she was reclaiming her prior childbirth figure, but no one was rushing. She looked good no matter what. "You'll always be my number one woman."
"And Meg?" she rested her palms on his shoulders, distancing him from herself.
"Meg will always be number one too. You both are. You both mean the world to me."
Cherry red lips parted into a smile as blonde locks tickled her abdomen. She could not help but sink her fingers into the mass of silken gold. Gently tipping his head back, emeralds gazed back into cerulean gems that brimmed with tears.
"Aeris," he whispered, pulling her to sit in his lap, "I love you. And I promise to make an honest woman out of you. One day."
Blinking rapidly, she couldn't quite believe her ears. "Cloud," she gasped, "Are… you… proposing?"
"In a nut shell," he grinned as she trailed a thumb under his eyelids, enjoying his strong arms wrapped about her hips. "Not the way I intended to do it, but it'll always have the same meaning."
"One day?" she narrowed her eyes at him.
He sighed and buried his forehead into her shoulder. "I want everyone to be present."
"What do you mean?" she questioned, caressing his cheek.
He snatched a brief taste of her lips before he replied. "It's Leon. He's thinking of taking off for a few months." Emeralds widened in surprise as she straightened up on his lap. Holding her tighter, he continued, "That's what I've been doing this for," he swung an arm over the pile of papers. "Leon wants to see if he can find Rinoa. Shh," he held a finger up to stop her surprised questioning. "I can understand where he's coming from. Amuse him."
"You don't think he'll find her?"
"Highly unlikely. But he won't see what he doesn't want to."
"He always was stubborn," she recalled past memories, resting her lips on his forehead. "And after you've done this paper work?"
The blonde exhaled lengthily and deliberated with his answer. "I was… thinking of helping him out. I might have to go away for a little while," he struggled to keep her on his lap as she clearly objected and was about to assault him with words as an accompaniment. However, Cloud got there before her. "I know. I know. I can't bear to be away from Megumi for even a day, but I owe everything to him." Her questioning gaze implored him to continue. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. I wouldn't have such beauty sat on my knee and I wouldn't have the most gorgeous daughter in the world. I will try to be home as soon as possible. A week at most."
Aeris sighed; knowing it was better to support him than stop him. "I understand."
"Did you just check in on Meg?" he questioned, his face nuzzled into her neck.
"Yeah," she gasped, feeling his warm lips brush against her collarbone, leaving strawberries in their wake. "She's sleeping sound. Why?"
Cerulean orbs reappeared with mischievous intent. "That's good," he sighed, resting his hand on a slender thigh and fingering the decorative lace trim before his hand slipped from view. "It's time we had a little time for ourselves."
Her reply was a curt giggle as he caressed areas rarely exposed. Laughter turned to emphasised breathing when his lips paid great attention to her neck. "Whoa!" she exclaimed, when he rose to his feet with her in his arms. They both paused in silence, Aeris with a hand over her mouth as they made sure they hadn't woken a certain someone.
"I can finish this tomorrow," Cloud added whilst walking towards the bedroom. "I have much more important matters to see to." His reply was a playful giggle as slim arms became wrapped about his neck seconds before he kicked the door to behind him.
………………
"All set?" the blonde asked whilst allowing the brunette entry. A nod was his only reply. "Good. I finished the plans off this morning. I'd offer you lunch, but I don't recommend that just before travelling. How about a coffee? To settle those nerves."
"I'm not nervous," the brunette lied slightly, glaring at his retreating back. A brash laugh stung his ears. "You'll wake Megumi."
"No need," Cloud stuck his head round the corner of the kitchen, pointing towards a crib to his right. "She's been up since seven with me. Say hello."
"Where's Aeris?" He asked, walking to the Moses crib.
"Sleeping," his voice called from the kitchen. "She's still tired from last night."
Leon's suspicions were aroused from the chuckle that followed his explanation. Shaking his head, he peered into the cot. Bright, sparkling emeralds shone from underneath a creased brow. Eyes followed his every movement. Absorbed with curiosity, he bent and leant closer, hands clasped in the small of his back. A sudden gurgle caught him by surprise.
"You talk like your father," he whispered, gaining a smile in reply. His cheeks could not help but pull taught and smile in return. Her reaction was to increase her own. Her eyes roved to gaze over his shoulder, her legs kicking with excitement. He was aware of Cloud standing beside him, offering a steaming mug.
"I see he didn't scare, you," her father cooed, his face close to hers. Miniature fingers clamped on strands of gold and pulled. "Ah, Meg. Leggo, leggo," he reached up to prise loose her surprisingly strong grip. "Ow, Meg!" he winced.
He was shortly saved when gentle hands teased their way into tiny ones. "All right Megumi," Aeris sweet talked, only to have her head whip towards her mother's and beam with delight. "Good morning to you too. How's my sweetheart this morning?"
"Fighting dirty like her father," Leon grinned at the tousle-haired mother. "Rough night?" he questioned at her severe state of bed-head.
"You could say that," she smiled coyly whilst lifting her daughter into her arms.
Leon merely looked from one smirk to another. "I shan't ask."
"Good," Aeris nuzzled Megumi. "Are you all set?" she looked to her partner.
"Mmh," he agreed with a mouthful of nerve-settling goodness. "Just got to get the last touches and we're all set." Setting his mug down, he moved to a tiny, well-hidden cupboard.
Leon watched as he gingerly opened the door, prepared for its contents to come tumbling out. Reaching past his blade that had been set aside for an unknown length of time, he pulled out that which he sought.
"Aha!" he exclaimed, thrusting his left hand into the glove. "Found you."
"Where are you going to go?" Aeris pressed, Megumi writhing in her grasp to catch a glimpse of her father. "Hey," she chuckled, "what do you know?"
"Firstly," he tugged off the glove and offered the brunette a fitting. "I was thinking of showing him the best entry points to each world. After that, I'll get him to bring us home."
"Shall I tell Megumi that you'll be back just in time for her eighteenth?" Aeris smiled.
Mahogany eyebrows raised in taunting. "It's a bit tight," he complained.
"Don't complain," Cloud leant forwards for a brief cuddle from his girl. "Reduces the chance for error. I'll see you soon," he soothed, kissing her forehead once more before turning his attention to her mother.
"I'll invite Yuffie over. I'm sure she'd love to stop over. Do you want me to tell her of…" she motioned with her hand.
"Please," Leon felt grateful of her offer. "I don't think I could find the words."
"Don't expect a pretty sight when you return. Take care," she squeezed his arm in farewell before taking a protesting Megumi from her father's pouting grasp. Once again he leant forward to embrace them both.
"I shan't do this in front of her," he accepted the glove back. "The wing is one thing," he extended the limb in question, captivating Megumi's gaze. Smiling at her, he concluded, "She doesn't need to see this. Bye darlin'," he chucked her chin before heading to the kitchen. Aeris listened on, her lips pursed against the side of her daughter's turned head, whilst Cloud explained the essentials to Leon. "It's best to visualise the places you want to go. I'll show you them all first so you can then go where you want."
"What if a world doesn't exist any more?" she heard Leon's voice.
"Simple," the blonde's voice carried to them, causing Megumi to crane her neck to see her elusive father, "you get relocated to the next world in the constellation. Can prove extremely interesting."
"Where to first?"
"I was thinking the Coliseum. My old haunts."
Kissing her daughter's forehead, Aeris heard Leon agree before a ripping sound tore through the apartment followed by a brief flash of light. Walking into the kitchen revealed it to be empty.
"What do you say we ask Auntie Yuffie round for tea tonight?" matching eyes met, before they too left the lightly smoldering kitchen.
……
Phew…. Hopefully I won't take as long next time. Hey you there, yeah you with that cabbage… I hope you aren't gonna do what I think you're gonna… urk! I shall try to be a little quicker next time with the updates. I can only apologise profusely and beg for forgiveness on my knees. Or how about a Cloud plushie? Heh?