Disclaimer: I don't own kingdom hearts.

Chapter Ten

Escaping

"Yuffie," Squall breathed. His breath caught in his throat as his fingers curled slightly out of surprise. What surprised him the most was that her russet gaze was not in his sight? Her dark lashes stayed down on her bright, yet pallid cheeks. Her yearned for her eyes to open, her voice to call out his name to reassure her soul was safe, but this did not seem possible. The question hit his head like a log falling down the most rapid of all waterfalls. The question was… why?

"Aerith," Sora whispered, as his cerulean eyes shifted to the figure in the middle of the room. No response came from the woman who stood next to him for he knew she noticed Squall standing there. It was a rather awkward silence due to that fact that know one would take first action, but not more than a moment later, Sora spoke up.

"H-Hey guys," he chuckled giving his cocky laugh. The two men half way across the room inched closer, unsure whether this was a trick because, after all, Sephiroth, the cruel man he was, did not want his hostages taken away from him.

Sora's eyes flashed with a mischievous, yet obedient glint. The flash that came from his bright eyes flickered in the insufficient amount of sun that shined darkly into the bitter room. Squall stopped abruptly eyeing the key blade he had as he carried the young ninja on his back.

"Sora…?" he asked, almost stated in his low vigorous tone. A small chill ran down his back, warning no, threatening him to leave. Why wouldn't he think he was threatened? The place was a zombie like dome that was once his home. He obviously knew when he was not wanted.

The teenager let out a laugh of relief as he advanced forward leaving the flower girl behind to look in disbelief that her love stood behind Squall. She walked forward unsure what to think at the situation. For once in her life, she could see an amount of emotions running across Cloud's face. They slowly gaited towards each other in pure bliss. The story did not seem to be the same for Squall.

Sora approached the stone statue, Squall. It was only a minute before the man shook his head looking at the young people standing in front of him.

"What…" Squall began to speak, but was soon interrupted at the wave of the new hope. "Sora," he trailed off, "You're back." This statement caused a toothy grin to appear from the hero. He soon brushed off the thought of Sora's return and turned his gaze towards Yuffie.

"Is she okay?" Sora felt his smile depart and form into a slight frown. Something was obviously up and Sora was not talking, but Squall knew he was being impatient. Not a good trait he comprised.

"She needs help." Squall let a look of small grieve fill his face before he plunged it deep down before anyone could see. "Now," Sora added, as Squall took the ninja from him to examine the wounds. He kneeled on the floor carefully putting her body on the cold and clammy flooring, which he did not like but knew he had no choice.

"She's been poisoned," he explained. Squall glanced up before acquiring her hand in both of his gloved ones for comfort. Her lifeless body could only respond, as she had no control over herself, as she was unconscious. "Mentally," Sora finished.

"What?" The question was simple, but it was not registering in his mind. It was not soaking in, as it should until he finally understood the question, and the man asked him the question again. "What?"

"She's been poisoned mentally," Sora commenced, as he circled the two figures slowly, each step taking slow advancement forward. "Sephiroth poisoned her with mind illusion. In these illusions, the things that happen will hurt her if any physical abuse is made," He pointed out. Squall's eyes scanned her body, giving him enough information to let his face look up in shock.

"Do you know of these 'illusions,' Sora?" He asked calmly, but not long after his hands began shaking slightly. All Sora could do was look down, thinking about the right words to say. "Well," he pressed on waiting for an answer.

"She was attacked," he whispered then bringing his tone up slightly, finishing, "by you." Squall let Yuffie's hand drop limply onto the floor before his gaze shifted towards the non-feeble teen.

"What?" He shook his head. "I attacked her. How is that possible?" Sora stepped back away from the swordsman and held up his hands.

"Now, don't get all angry," he said slowly as he reassured him nothing was bad. "It was Sephiroth, actually, but if we cure her, she'll know it was him so that means we have to get her out of here as fast as possible." Squall got up slowly, bringing up Yuffie along with him, facing Sora. He gave a curt nod.

"Let's leave," he said, "now." Sora grinned, glancing over at Aerith and Cloud.

"Hey, lovebirds," Sora called out, letting his voice echo. "Let's go. Our ride is awaiting!" The couple on the other side of the room nodded just glad to be back with one another. Aerith slipped her hand in Cloud's grasping it as she led him forward toward the doors that lead towards their ride to safety and the limited time of comfort. Squall hopped Yuffie up on his back and made his way to stand in front of the people following Sora.

Sora ran up ahead on the tips of his feet to be extra quiet, while everyone followed suit. They came up towards the door with anxious thoughts. The crew stopped behind the stooped down Sora. He was examining something on the ground, before he held up a piece of metal that shined in his eyes, causing Squall to bring up one of his hands to shield his eyes.

He twirled it around a little before bringing it up to Squall's gaze.

"A ninja star," he stated. "Must've been from the fight she had with Sephiroth." With out hesitation, Squall grabbed the star to examine it.

"Yes," he replied. "Why didn't I see it when I came in?" Cloud stepped up letting his gaze fall on the shining star. "It's so bright." Cloud took the time to speak up because now he had the chance.

"You did see it. You most likely thought it was part of the wall or something," was all the one-winged-angel could make out before turning around and running his fingertips along the door, before he started applying pressure to it aged wooden form. Aerith walked up slowly beside him, quirking her eyebrows in inquiry.

"What are you-" Aerith hushed up when she saw his eyes droop down into a glare, which she did not know whom it was directed towards. He squatted down knocking on the wood slightly, tipping his head forward in thought as everyone stared at the figure in curiosity.

Sora looked over his shoulder towards Cloud wondering why he was doing this. "Cloud," he called. Everyone backed up slightly was tense as he stood up.

"It's locked. I know there is something on the other side of this door, and if we break it down, that is the end of us. We have to find another way out of the place," he informed the individuals listening to his theory. He shifted his leg slightly and tipped his back again looking up to the top of the stairs.

"What do you think is on the other side, Cloud?" Squall asked coldly, but in curiosity. Looking up slowly, he whispered icily, "Sephiroth." Aerith backed up and covered her mouth to make the situation seem tighter.

"Cid's out there," Squall reminded. "What is going to happen to him?" Cloud turned towards the door, remaining silent. Sora stood up facing the tensed crowd and said, "We can warn him."

The flower girl glanced his way with curiosity and eagerness. "We can?" Sora's face lit up with his bright smile, before answering, "Yes, yes we can. I have a Gummi ship here and if we can contact him, we can tell him to renounce and he will be safe. We'll just abscond in mine." All three of them glanced at one another with a smile, which was rare in Squall's occasion.

"You're a smart cookie, Sora," Aerith grinned, ruffling up his hair following it with a hug of bliss. A light blush spread across his face causing him to choke slightly out of embarrassment.

"Yeah, well, ughmm…" He choked out with an introverted laugh. Squall, Cloud, and Aerith let laughs escape, but soon hushed at the thought of the cruel, merciless man on the other side of the door. What exactly was that man doing in the first place? Did he think we they would leave through the door and battle to their death fighting the man? No one really would want that right now, everyone guessed.

"Where is your ship?" Cloud asked, as he walked up the stairs, looking back to see his answer to his question. Sora smiled in response the question.

"On the upper level. Outside, away from the heartless." Aerith rushed up the stairs, darting past Sora, Squall, and Yuffie and clinging onto Cloud.

"I don't like the heartless." Sora laughed at her child ness and sped his pace passing Cloud, as he led them towards the ship's location. He held the key blade in left hand for safety in case any heartless jumped out. Sora led the way as Cloud and Aerith followed with Squall a couple feet behind carrying Yuffie. He, of course, was the most silent of the group, but he whispered things to Yuffie as if she were conscious; things he would never say though if she were awake.

"You know Yuffie," He began murmuring mutely, "I've never done such a crazy thing in my life. I dropped everything to come and find you…" He let out a light chuckle to make the conversation seem livelier, but Squall knew it was not helping even if his thoughts were in denial.

Aerith glanced back at the man, who was talking to himself it seemed, and gave a look of apprehension. Why was he talking to himself, she wondered. Or perhaps, she thought as she ran her finger tips across her bottom lip, he was going insane at the verity of Yuffie's state.

With a shrug, Aerith turned her attention towards Sora and asked, "Sora, why did Sephiroth claim you were dead? Tell us, where have you been?" Sora glanced back giving her the serious cue.

"Once the barriers were down, I was able to leave to search for the problem as to why they came down so suddenly," he began coldly. He let his shoulders slide down for relief but from being so tense, it seemed to make him feel more pressure. The journey didn't seem like it was going to be hard, so I left Donald and Goofy without telling them because-"

"You didn't want it to seem like it was big deal," Aerith interrupted. Sora nodded and continued.

"When I arrived, it was a big quandary. After fighting many heartless, many of which were anonymous to me, I came face to face with the one and only, Sephiroth."

"Did you win?" Aerith inquired. Sora glanced back slowly and grinned saying, "Would I be here if I didn't?" He laughed but shook his head. "It was an even match, but he didn't like anything close to 'even', so he launched me into a portal onto a planet moderately a ways from here without a ship."

"Really," Cloud muttered, as he drew out his weapon of destruction.

"Cloud…?" Sora inquired as he stopped.

(New scene)

"Strife?" Squall's voice ricocheted through the vacant vestibules of Hollow Bastion.

"Aerith?" He called once more cupping his hands to his mouth for more volume. Putting his rough, yet soft fingers to his head, he wiped away the perspiration that trickled down his forehead. Moments ago, surprisingly, they were attacked from behind, which meant Squall was going to be the first target. He slammed his fist into a nearby wall cursing vociferously.

"Why! Now?! Of all things," Squall cried, glancing over to Yuffie's fragile frame, which was lying unconsciously on the cold brick stone of the library. He quickly fell to his knees, embracing Yuffie.

"I'm so sorry," he murmured to her. If only he were stronger, more careful, or perhaps, benevolent to Yuffie. He picked her up slowly in a piggyback stance and began to walk forward. Maybe there was a way out of here and Sephiroth would not be able to catch them. Whom was he kidding? However, Sora could escape with no problem. Should he sit there and wait for Sora to come and find them. He shook his head vigorously holding Yuffie closer to him as he climbed the stairs that led to the second story.

"He probably knows were here. Both you and I, Yuffie stuck here like sitting ducks waiting to taken down with a single bullet," he uttered to them both in thought. "But I won't go down without a fight; a tough one too." For once, in all the years, he had been alive, a true smile spread across his face.

"And I'm doing this all for you, so I better not here about me being so," he trailed off and quieted down. His mind raced in thought as he felt he was becoming insane. "I'm talking to a sleeping person," he muttered almost slapping himself. He glanced at the doors then towards the window. A smirk crept up his face as an intriguingly insane thought hit him.

"I think we're going to be alright," he clarified.

(new scene)

"Where's Aerith?" Cloud asked the figure standing next to him, who was know as the wielder of the Key blade.

"She disappeared!" he exclaimed stunned. "She's vanished like a poof," he began to explain.

"Damn it!" Cloud cursed through the echoing halls of the aloof Hollow Bastion. Sora looked down in disappointment at his own actions.

"The heartless haven't got her," Sora began. Cloud looked up, surprisingly, with the look of confusion.

"No one has her. She escaped while I fended off the heartless, but the next second, she was not there." Cloud gave him a look of daggers, before he held his hands up to show he wasn't finished.

"Well then? Who has her?" Sora looked down and said, "I heard a voice. The voice urged me of her safety."

"Oh that's nice. Some voice of a stranger-"

"No!" Sora interrupted with a yell. It was quiet for a moment before Cloud spoke up.

"Sora," he inquired.

"The voice… It was Riku."

A/N: PHEW! I got it done!! YAY! I am sorry it was late. Really! I am not making up an excuse, but my computer had all sorts of problems and we got it fixed wiping out everything I had! However, I am glad it did cause I got to start a whole new thing and it was better! The chapter is a bit short but I will make up for it! I hope you liked this chapter!

Starling94