In Search Of Lost Souls.
Well, I thought I would be nice and post two at once. Again, I can't vouch for the grammar in this. Can't we have 30 hour days? That would make life much better! But anyway. How's this for appeasement? Heh heh. Have fun.
Disclaimer: groans Don't make me repeat myself. Please?
Chapter 5: I Won't Let You Go.
After an exhaustive six-day trek, the interplanetary duo found themselves standing in the library of Hollow Bastion. Stomping around in inches of dust, Cloud scanned the various shelves of books. Reaching the shelf he wanted, he trailed a finger along the spines of the battered volumes.
"Red… Red… Amber…" he muttered aloud. "Aha, green," he plucked a thin book from the shelf.
"Chasing the Green Rainbow?" Leon read the title out. "A little light reading for the journey home?"
"Nah," he dismissed his taunts. "Tifa would always leave Aeris messages in this book. It was Aeris's choice; no one ever read it." He flicked through the yellow pages before it fell open at the desired point. Rammed into the join, a hastily folded note prevented any more pages from turning. Pulling the note out and closing the book, Cloud unfolded the paper whilst leaning on the hard cover.
"Whoa!" Leon exclaimed as he read the note over his non-winged shoulder. "Ouch?" Cloud merely grumbled, not objecting as Leon read the message aloud. "Aeris, I have to tell you this before it's too late. It's about Cloud. I know that you like him, but please don't hate me. I think I love him. Got to go, something's coming. Meet me at the fountain. Tifa." Snorting, he glanced to the blonde who read the note through again. "Did you know?"
"I had an idea. Aeris told me a while back. The feeling was never mutual," he sighed, refolding the note and pocketing it. "The memories this place holds."
"Yeah," sapphires scoured the high ceiling. "And the stairs outside."
That comment drew a smirk from the blonde. "Move," he spat, crossing his arms across his chest.
Leon chuckled at the memory. "So?" he held his hand out.
Still smirking, he grumbled, "It's not a toy. But this should be good. I want to see how bad you are at this."
"Will I learn from the expert?" the brunette mocked. "Tell me, how did you screw up first time round?"
"Unlike you," the blonde pointed sternly, heading for the lobby; "I didn't have anyone to teach me the basics. I had to learn for myself."
"Just hand it over," Leon outstretched his upturned palm. "Am I to take us home?"
"Oh yes," Cloud fluttered his eyelids in a way he considered bashful, "I'd like that very much," he held his hand out.
"Bet you would," Leon accepted the glove and fitted it as best as it would allow. "Which point in Traverse Town do you suggest?" he pressed while taking hold of Cloud's offered palm. They had to be physically joined for them both to travel. He was tempted of repaying the blonde's evil joke of leaving him in the sweltering heats of Tarzan's jungle. But he thought better of it. He felt too inexperienced to retrieve him should errors arise. Cloud, on the other hand, was a pro.
"Preferably on ground level. You don't want to screw up with heights."
"So that rules out the roof tops?"
"Unless you had a night of passion planned," gold eyebrows cocked cheekily.
"Filth," Leon muttered. "How's the waterway suit you?"
"That dingy alley? You'd have to be desperate to make out there," Cloud continued to provoke. "It's a little… low key." The look he received from the brunette was a curious one. One that he didn't understand.
"Waterway," Leon growled, picturing the location in his mind.
………………
A streak of lightning ripped through the deserted sparring ground before two shapes plummeted into ice cold water. One remained where he lay; staring at the glove wedged on his fingers whilst the other leapt to his feet and hotfooted it to dry land.
Wringing out his T-shirt, he launched; "What was that for? Did you specifically intend to give me a premature bath? Grrr," he finished, squeezing his water-laden spikes of their contents.
"Not intentionally," the stern reply was given.
"Very funny," Cloud sighed. "I told you there was a knack to it."
"You never answered my question," Leon pressed. "Where did you go wrong?"
The blonde slapped his thighs and howled with laughter at the memory. "Now that was a mistake. My first mission took me to an Arabic town. Agrabah, I think. Anyway, I only had the limited information I was given to go from. When I appeared there, I was eight foot in the air and fell into a barrel of pink clothing dye. Apparently it was for the Sultan's daughter. Sadly to say…" he dismissed the intensifying chuckles from Leon, "I was stained pink for the duration of my stay. Including the hair," he answered the brunette's silent question.
"Now that I would have paid to see."
"Yeah well," Cloud grumbled, "it beat the alternative."
"And…?"
"Well… If I had landed two feet further away from the wall, I would have practically landed on a camel's rear end and the charming 'deposit' he had just made in front of the barrel." Cloud could only stare dumbfounded at Leon rolling with laughter whilst still sat in the water.
"Now I'd do more than just pay to see that. Say," mahogany eyebrows furrowed, "the time you ended up in the alleyway, just before Aeris found out you were still alive. Was that…?"
"Yeah," Cloud grinned at the memory. "But that was through no fault of my own. Interplanetary static or storms can knock you off course. That's nasty." Feeling his back pocket, he grimaced. "You'd better hope for your sake that you didn't soak these photos."
"Yeah," Leon stood with water cascading from his lap. "What was with that?"
"Just in case you forget where you want to go. A little refresher. Anyhow, I want to go home and see my baby. Care for dinner?"
"Sure," the brunette agreed, knowing that he only had a few hours before he left for the rest of the universe. "Once I have had chance to go home and change."
No sooner than he had walked into his home, he abandoned all that he carried and made a beeline for the kitchen, knowing all to well that it was feeding time.
"Guess who's back," he grinned, leaving the brunette in the cosy living room.
"Thank you," he heard Aeris grumble. "She's refused to feed all day and she certainly won't want it now." The incessant gurgling from Megumi revealed her not to care.
"Give her to me," Leon watched the blonde reach out from his place in the doorway. "And a bottle. Let's see if I can help. Hello gorgeous," he beamed down at the smiling face in his arms. "Did you miss me? 'Cause I missed you."
"Been tough?" sapphires looked to tired emeralds from behind Cloud.
Aeris initially nodded. "She's been grouchy. Missed her dad," she watched Cloud battling with a flailing Megumi, to some success. "I hope you're staying for tea. I've made enough for four."
"Four?" the two men chorused.
"Yes," Aeris looked at them for their stupidity. "Yuffie's coming. And before you object," she waggled a stern finger at Leon, "she's not happy with you. She wants to see you before you go. We all do."
"Sure," Leon exhaled heavily, knowing perfectly well that it wouldn't be a short journey.
"Good," she chirruped, "Cloud, why don't you spend some time with Meg while I finish preparing for tea."
"Already done," he replied enthusiastically, nuzzling an ecstatic youngster in his arms.
Casting a fleeting glance at her turned pink back, Leon followed the blonde into the centre of the lounge. He took up a seat on the sofa; Cloud sat on the other end, devoting all his attention to his daughter who sounded her delight at seeing him again. Feeling excluded, he picked up the day's newspaper and refreshed himself of local events. He had completely lost track of time until repetitive jabs at the doorbell caused him to jump. A lump rose up in his throat when he realised whom it must be. He knew he was in for it now.
"Can you get that?" Aeris called from the kitchen, clattering a ladle into the sink.
"'Kay," Cloud stood with a drowsy Megumi in his arms. The brunette listened as the door opened and Cloud greeted the visitor. "Hey Yuf," his voice traveled from the doorway, "how's it going?"
"You're back!" she squealed, leaping on the spot and holding back the bear hug she obviously wanted to give him. "Hey," she quickly followed up, "if you're home, then surely he is." From the sound of her voice, angry didn't quite portray it. About to leave, the blonde halted her steamed exit.
"Maybe you should follow me," he offered, reappearing in the front room.
Her initial look of surprise turned into seething anger as soon as she saw Leon walking around the couch to greet her. "How dare you leave and not tell me," she began ranting, pummeling her fists into his torso. "Why…?" her voice wavered. "Why? What did I do to you?" The anger gave way to sobbing as the thwarted herself mentally for succumbing so. She hadn't intended for it to go this way. Oh well. There was no changing the past.
"It's nothing you did," Leon sighed, both his hands gently squeezing her shoulders. "It's something I have to do. I'm doing this for myself."
"But I don't want you to go," she wailed, stamping a foot in frustration. "It won't be the same without you."
"I have to…" he feebly attempted to explain to the tear-filled youngster before him.
"Yuffie," Aeris sweetly called form the kitchen doorway, "why don't you give me a hand?"
Nodding tearfully, she followed, leaving the two men alone. After watching her exit, Cloud placed Megumi in her carry cot before turning to face the brunette.
"Well now…" he exhaled, "this wouldn't have anything to do with that chain?"
Strong fingers idly played with the warm metal that drew heat into itself. "Rinoa gave me this…" he whispered.
Golden eyebrows morphed into one as he stared at Leon. "Hang on… You've been wearing that for about a month now. She hasn't been seen for ten years. What the hell are you talking about?"
"I found it. Rinoa left it for me. And her name is Rinoa. She does have a name."
"I daren't say it for her sake," Cloud jabbed a finger towards the kitchen. "Haven't you thought about how all this will affect Yuffie?"
Being so involved in their heated discussion, they failed to spot the subject of their conversation peep around the corner of the doorframe. It took all her will power to prevent the tears from escaping but still the sight of him wearing the chain amazed her. Why had it taken so long? A gentle arm around her waist pulled her back into the kitchen. There was so little he knew.
"She's got someone," Leon retaliated with a hint of selfishness. "So do you. Who do I have?" he couldn't help snarling.
Cloud's mouth opened but promptly clamped shut again. He hadn't considered that. Still, he couldn't help but look towards Megumi. He had more than he could have ever longed for. Sighing, he remembered how he had envied the man before him.
"I almost hated you," Cloud sat alongside the brunette, his forearms resting on his knees. "Really almost hated you."
"Why…?"
"You had everything I wanted. Everyone was envious of you at high school. The perfect relationship, excellent grades, the teachers loved you, and your fighting was to die for. Literally… at times."
"Now what do I have?" he posed solemnly.
"You have us," the blonde replied truthfully, the faintest ounce of hurt in his voice. "Meg hates strangers yet she likes you. Aeris thinks so highly of you. You've always been a brother to me. And Yuffie… Yuffie's…" he sighed heavily. "There's no easy way to say this, but Aeris thinks she still has feelings for you."
"But she's got that…" Leon frowned, waving his hand.
"Aeris thinks it's a front. That she's scared of admitting what she really feels. Do us all a favour before you go," he looked to Leon. "Let her down gently. And tell her none of this is her fault."
"But it isn't," Leon started to protest.
"This is Yuffie we're talking about."
"True," Leon mumbled, smirking whilst Cloud made a quick bathroom break. The heavenly scents of home cooking wafted through from the kitchen, almost lifting him to his feet. Smells like these brought back many memories. No wonder Cloud was so content here: his mother's cooking smelt this good. This was going to be a meal to remember, for a long time to come. And yet it filled him with sadness. Likelihood was that it would be the last one he would have for a while. And the last one with company as great as this.
"Dinner's ready," Aeris spoke whilst walking to Megumi. "Where's Cloud?"
"I think my piloting skills scared the crap out of him!" Leon smirked at her.
"He's just as bad as your father," Aeris cuddled Megumi close. "We're still a little small for that highchair, aren't we? The table's set it you want to come through," Aeris turned her attention to the brunette.
Nodding, he followed her from the living room. Yuffie was adding the final touches to all of the plates. He didn't think she had a culinary bone in her body. Maybe people change. And for once, her usual bouncy and bubbly personality was overly subdued.
The brunette sat where instructed by Yuffie moments before she sat in the seat next to him. Whilst they awaited Cloud's return, Aeris secured Megumi into a brand new highchair and pulled her to the table, between both her parents. By the time she was settled, her father returned.
"Just like my mother used to make them," Cloud beamed, squeezing Aeris's hand before she had the chance to lift her knife.
Leon gazed down at his plate. Cloud was right, and how the scents brought the past flooding back. As the first forkful unloaded on his tongue, he couldn't believe his taste buds. With one small part of the past being relived the conversation that shortly sprung up also relived events of long ago.
All four of them laughed about the past, each feeling at home with the other. School time jokes were replayed in words and actions, some of them losing their point with Yuffie, and old secrets were laid bare. It was almost as if the immediate departure of one of them was forgotten. Especially when Yuffie reached for the wine and poured them all a glass. Laugher was regularly punctuated with hiccups and childish gurgles, only serving to enlighten the atmosphere more. Once the plates were cleared, they relocated to the lounge, cramping up on sofas and chairs to converse into the small hours.
Yuffie had somehow managed to wrangle a seat next to Leon and used her tipsy state as an excuse to sprawl into his lap, leaving him flushed in the face. Cloud watched on, one beauty in his arms whilst the other rested her drowsy head on his shoulder.
"Say Schquall," Yuffie drawled, "weren't choo planning on going tonight?"
"Flying under the influence is an offence," the blonde grinned, jabbing a finger at him, Aeris simply grumbled from the disturbance.
"I guess I'll have to postpone it to the morning."
"Great," Yuffie quipped.
"And before you interrupt me again," he mock glowered at her, "it's Leon."
"Shoree."
"You shouldn't be drunk at your age," Aeris murmured sleepily, eyes lidded.
"I'm not that far off eighteen. Only six months to go. Besides, schpikey ass there kept dipping his finger in your glash and giving it to Meg."
"But Meg isn't drunk."
Leon marveled at the blonde's ability to hold his drink. Even after downing the same number of glasses, it had appeared to have no effect on him. He felt envious as the world before him was blurred around the edges. Perhaps it had something to do with the unnatural glow that graced his eyes. One that had become more pronounced over the time he had been back with them. And a similar one now blossomed in his daughter's eyes.
A guttural groan escaped from the brunette's throat when he rolled his head back. Sinking his thumb and forefinger into his eyes was the only way to relive his rash mistake. Still, it did not ease the nauseous sensation he experienced.
"But he is," Cloud smirked whilst watching Leon.
"Am… not," he lengthily replied, returning his head to its normal position.
"Are too," Yuffie lay down across his lap, resting her head on his thigh. "Mmm… schleep!"
"Whoa!" he exclaimed, hands poised midair, slightly caught off guard. "Not here," he objected.
"Well, you're not going 'til the morning. It's too late for me to go home. And your place will be cold," she mumbled, growing increasingly drowsy.
"Are you offering?" he joked, a hand tickling the hair on the back of her neck, unseen to others and unfelt by a tired young woman. For that was what she was to him, now and had been for a long time. Not the child the others made her out to be. For a while, he regretted his decision. But the slight chance of happiness was all he needed to spur him on with his quest. As saddening as it would be to leave though.
"I best put you and your daughter to bed," Cloud disturbed his thoughts. As he looked up, he followed the blonde with his eyes whilst he gently eased Aeris from his shoulder before he rose with a long slumbering infant in his arms. Making sure Aeris was comfortable; he briefly left to put Megumi to bed and returned to take his lover up in his arms.
Leon watched from the corner of his vision as Cloud pulled Aeris to lie in his lap, cradled in his arms. She only sighed and buried her head into his chest, grasping a handful of his shirt. He bowed his head close to hers, gently kissing her forehead. Leon jumped lightly when vivid cerulean snapped up to observe him.
"I didn't think you were asleep," he explained.
"No, but this one is." Strong hands brushed raven locks from obscured violets. "She's… she's really grown up."
"Yeah," Cloud sighed. "She'll miss you the most," he concluded, rising to his feet with Aeris in his arms. Slippers fell from relaxed feet whilst russet coloured tresses cascaded over the arm under her neck. "I'll be back with a blanket. The couch is more than big enough for two." The sly smirk informed him of all he wanted to know. "Make yourself comfortable."
Sapphires narrowed to a glare. "Traitor."
"You owe her," he mouthed as Aeris stretched in his arms.
"She's taken already…" Leon began to protest.
"She looks extremely bothered. Let her say her farewells in her own way," he smiled weakly before moving to leave the room. Pausing at the door, he spoke softly; "None of us know how long it will be."
Sapphires dropped to the unconscious ninja in his lap. With no one to observe him, he trailed his left forefinger across her tanned cheek, his eyes memorised every curve and contour of her features and recording how ebony lashes rested on her cheeks. With a heavy sigh, she rolled onto her back; eyelids fluttering open to fix with his admiring sapphires. Her well-defined eyebrows knitted together at his intentions. Her hand instinctively reached up for his bowed head, winding her fingers into the luscious mahogany locks that tickled her face and drew his head closer to hers.
With Yuffie more alert than five minutes ago, he settled himself down in order to sleep. Eventually. Stretched out with his feet on the sofa, Yuffie snuggled alongside him, slipping a foot between his ankles. His face was centimetres from her, and her deep breaths warmed his cheek. His right arm acted as a pillow for her head, leaving the other free to caress her cheek. He was vaguely aware of a distant click of the tongue shortly before a weight landed on his feet.
"That'll be the blanket then," Yuffie exhaled lengthily, slowly sobering up.
"Good," the brunette grinned in reply, "something to hide under. If you weren't so off limits."
"What he won't know won't hurt," Yuffie sighed, draping her arm over his side. "It's not like we're doing anything."
"Yet," sapphires gleamed with mischief that reflected back from violets as he set about kissing her good night in his own way.
………………
At six in the morning, a sleepy blonde bumbled his way through the lounge to the kitchen. Sapphires peeked through narrow slits, watching him. Dressed only in navy boxers, he couldn't help but feel envious towards the younger man's physique. Once he had been the more toned of the pair. Perhaps now he had serious competition, especially as his wing was unfurled in its full splendour, trailing gracefully to the floor. Initially Leon couldn't understand why he was up. He clearly didn't want to be; heavy eyelids and repeated, stifled yawns relayed that to him. He always stuffed the same fist into his mouth, muffling his tired protests. And then he spotted her. Resting against her father's torso, Megumi caught his attention when she tried to move away.
"Look," Cloud disguised another yawn; "I can't feed you and change you at the same time. Trust your mother to forget to fill ya nappy bag." After a comical squeal, he continued; "You would side with her. It's all unfair I tell ya."
Leon closed his eyes again whilst Cloud pottered about in the kitchen. Inhaling deeply caused Yuffie to wriggle back into a comfortable position, burying her head into his naked chest. Whilst savouring her regular deep breaths, he almost missed Cloud's return some minutes later. Feigning a roll in his sleep, he observed the pair once more through slits.
"Please Meg, can't you grow out of these 6 o'clock feeds?" he sighed at her in tiredness, holding the bottle aloft whilst she fed. "Anyone would think you haven't eaten for weeks at this rate."
Hungered swallowing punctured the quiet air, slowing as she reached her fill. Placing the bottle on the table was an arduous task. Even more so when Cloud tried to catch the falling bottle without disturbing others around him. Pointing to the bottle in warning, he returned his attention to Megumi, who was merrily drifting off to sleep once more.
"Oh no you don't," he chided. "Not before you give us some gas. Try not to wake our guests though. They won't want waking. And I daresay nor do we want them to. I don't think they're wearing anything. At least your decent," he patted her padded behind.
Once she was sorted, returning to the other side of the apartment seemed too difficult a task to fulfil. Instead, he swung his feet over the arm of the chair, wriggling with Megumi held snuggly in his arms until he was comfortably flat on his back. Megumi lay on his chest, a thumb to her lips as she slept. Cloud gazed at her lovingly, ignorant of witnesses. Draping his wing over his abdomen, he provided the warmth of embrace she needed to avoid the chill.
An hour and a half later, Aeris stumbled into the living area and found the quarry of her search. Cloud lay flat on his back on the sofa, one arm hanging over the side of the chair. Lay squarely in the centre of his chest, Megumi slept soundly clad only in her nappy. Smiling, she gently moved Cloud's securing hand away before slowly lifting her daughter into her arms. Neither awoke from the disturbance. Almost as soon as her weight left his chest, he readjusted his position and sighed heavily in his sleep. Wrapping Megumi up in her shawl, Aeris looked to the other couch. It was devoid of bodies. Frowning, she headed for the kitchen.
"Morning," Yuffie chirruped from around a mug of coffee. "Want some?"
Stunned, Aeris could only manage a confused, "No," in reply.
"Suit yourself," she shrugged.
"I daren't," she shook her long, russet hair. "I don't want to feed Meg and overdose her on caffeine. She's a live wire as it is."
"Figures," Yuffie grumbled, "crazy like her father. But I'm sure Cloud fed her with that bottle on the table last night," she concluded.
"Yeah, we occasionally arrange it that way. Saves me having to get up all the time. But yeah, you said it," she murmured. "Where's Leon?"
"He left about thirty minutes ago. Wanted to get everything ready."
"What? He's leaving now?"
"No," raven locks swayed as she shook her head. "He's going tonight," she tried to conceal the sadness in her voice. "We agreed it'd be best if he left under the cover of darkness."
"Oh good, I haven't missed him," Aeris sighed.
"Oh no, he didn't want to go without saying goodbye to everyone. Say, is spikey still asleep?"
"Hmm?" Aeris appeared distracted whilst Yuffie poured herself a cup of water. "He is, yeah. Why?" She became increasingly suspicious of her wicked smile.
"No reason."
Aeris blinked rapidly as Yuffie skipped from the room. A tremendous shriek and an equally loud thud shortly followed her departure. Obviously Cloud had made endearing contact with the floor.
"YUFFIE!" he hollered just as she danced back into the kitchen with an empty glass in hand. He followed in hot pursuit with a look of worry on his soaked face. "Oh good, she's safe," he sighed upon spotting Megumi stirring in her mother's arms.
"She was until you shouted."
"You scream like a girl," Yuffie taunted.
"Do not," he huffed in reply. "Hey, who's teasin' here? How'd you sleep last night?" he cocked a gold eyebrow in her direction.
"Fine thanks," she meekly replied as crimson flushed her cheeks.
"I'm not going to ask," Aeris sighed, taking Megumi back to her room.
"Good…"
"… You don't want to know," the pair replied whilst Yuffie left to prepare the farewells. As did everyone else.
………………
Gathered in the Third District, none of the four present wore a smile. Cloud, Aeris, and Yuffie awaited Leon to say their farewells. Shortly, he softly padded to the assembled group.
"All set?" the blonde asked in a quiet voice.
Mahogany locks bounced as he nodded. "All set," he replied. "No Megumi?"
"She's being looked after," Aeris took hold of his wrist before embracing him firmly, blinking back the tears. "There's no point dragging this out; it'll only make it harder," she explained, steeping back.
"And I thought you wanted rid of me," he managed to joke amidst the sombre backdrop. "Say goodbye to her for me," he smiled to the young mother.
"You're travelling light?" Yuffie questioned his lack of baggage.
"Yup," he dropped the oversized rucksack. "I don't need much."
Yuffie managed a half-hearted smile at his display of the gunblade. "Good, 'cause then you will have room for this." Reaching around her back, she pulled a padded parcel into view. "Call it a going away present. From me."
"Thanks Yuf," he frowned in surprise at the parcel, ignoring the glare he received from her after addressing her with the pet name he had coined long ago. Ripping through the flimsy wrapping, he held a vast expanse of indigo cloth before him. With his hands held out level with his shoulders, it still grazed the floor. "A… blanket?"
"No silly," she took it from him and walked behind him, securing it about his neck. "It's a cloak. Like Cloud's. Only neater."
"Hey," the blonde objected, "mine started out like that."
"It's to remind you of us," Aeris interjected. "And will double as a blanket. Yuffie made it for you."
"With a little help," she admitted.
For once his stony visage cracked to show gratitude. Aeris pulled Cloud aside to allow them a quiet moment.
"I have something for you," Leon dipped into his knapsack and pulled out a small back of trinkets. "These belong to you and Aeris. I found them the other week when I was packing. And then there's this," he reached in once more and pulled out her rag doll.
"Oh my gaud!" she gasped. "Squallie-boy!" she grinned, gently squeezing the toy. Her face suddenly fell at witnessing his imploring gaze. "My Mamma made him for me," the grin returned. "Hey," she felt something cold and metallic under her touch. "What's this?"
"Keys to my apartment," he explained. "I'd like you to stay there, if you wish. It's not right empty, without you in it. Call it your home," he leant forwards and tenderly placed a kiss on her cheek. "I guess… this is… goodbye."
"No," Yuffie flung her arms round his neck. "It's only a farewell until next time," she whispered into his ear, kissing him in return on the cheek. "Take care, and…" she sighed forlorn, "I love you."
With the corners of his lips pulling downwards, he traced the path of her tears. "I love you too," he squeezed her with much more enthusiasm this time around. "Be good," he smiled.
Violets vanished for a second whilst she blinked away the frothing emotions. Nodding once, she stepped back into Aeris's comforting embrace as she approached. The blonde stepped froward to take her place.
"This is it," was all he could offer the brunette.
"I won't forget this," he clamped a hand on his shoulder. Neither of them was good at this. "And I won't forget any of you."
"You better not."
"Do me a favour…"
"Sure," Cloud quickly replied.
"Take care of Aeris and Yuffie. And be sure to set Meg on the right path. Unlike you," Cloud bowed his head momentarily. "But most of all, make sure Yuffie's happy."
"Will do. One thing before you go," Cloud faltered, "don't get your hopes up."
"Nothing can stop me," he quickly cut in, "expect the unexpected." He held a finger up to silence him. "Time for me to go," he held a hand out to his lifelong friend.
"But…" he accepted the palm.
"I have to do this. I will find her and bring her home if I can." Pulling the closest person to a brother into a masculine embrace, he said his farewells. Stepping back, he pulled the glove secure and almost fell over backwards when Yuffie ploughed into him. Crushing the other for the last time, she chanced a taste of his lips before Aeris pulled her away as he waved and left in the blink of an eye to the sound of ripping fabric.
Blinking at the settling disturbance, Cloud uttered that what was on his mind while he watched the two women comfort the other some metres in front of him.
"But I never died," he sighed. "That was Hades' idea of a sick joke. The dead cannot live once again."
Glancing to the pair, he shuffled over to them and placed a comforting hand on Yuffie's shoulder, who could only clutch at the now faithful doll and sob furiously into Aeris's shoulder.
……
A side note… the legal age for drinking in the U.K. is 18. and nappies (pl), nappy (sngl), that's our word for diapers. I know… confusing. But there you go!