Silver hope
Ansem wasn't prepared for the full power of the Keyblade. Sora was one with his blade, his mind ringing with it, fate and heart engaged in a fierce battle that he had to win. The master of darkness was showing evident signs of defeat, and Sora kept charging at him. He knew that King Mickey and Riku had found the door, because Ansem seemed to lack power to retaliate. With a last chain of attacks, he swung his blade down on him.
"Return behind the light", he screamed
A giant vortex appeared, swallowing the deformed Ansem into the dark. Sora felt the whole world shift, and soon a giant door was before him, and he was seeing Riku and King Mickey trying to close it from behind. He ran up to them.
"Riku! Riku! You have to come back with me!"
"I can't", he shouted back, "I can't go now! Mickey and I we have to close this door and you, you have to lock it so this won't happen again!"
Sora was dumbstruck; how would they get out of there if he was to lock the door? He had to bring Riku back to his parents, and quick, because the different world swallowed by the darkness would reappear very soon and would surely call their residents back.
"But… your parents…"
"Ho ho! Don't worry for that, Sora", answered Mickey, "I will send him back myself, he will come back safe and sound. Tell his parents not to lose hope. Now, if we aren't quick enough…"
"Alright, I'll close it. But we'll see each other again? Kairi said she wanted to see you…"
Riku looked away.
"Even if we don't, he said, I will never forget you."
A small key chain fell on the ground at his feet. Sora smiled back. Nodding to his friend, the silver haired youth took it, and with the King's help, he pushed on the enormous doors, closing them. Lifting his Keyblade, Sora aimed at the keyhole and locked it, fleeing the scene before the world created by Ansem could start shattering. He grabbed Donald and Goofy on the way, jumped into the gummi ship, and set the course for Traverse Town.
Aerith woke up in a start, calling Nanaki. The fire lion was already up and came jumping on her bed. Both were feeling it; the Darkness had started to evaporate into the light, already the flower girl could hear the joyful calls of the Planet, her spiritual energy being slowly restored, the slow beat of the Lifestream, like a rebirth… Soon, she knew, soon they will be called back home. It was only a matter of time until the Planet would restore itself to what it was before the attack, 10 years ago…
"He did it, Aerith. Sora succeeded."
"Yes, he had… And our Planet is happy. We should warn the others…"
Both looked outside and sighed; it was still night. The brunette chuckled, deciding that she should let them enjoy some more sleep before starting the work. They would have to pack their things, and gather supplies for everyone, do the complete check-up of the Highwind II… She wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, and careful no to disturb Yuffie who was sleeping in the next room, walked downstairs. With a serene smile, she looked up at the stars, and a faint blue spot sparkled brighter suddenly. Aerith closed her eyes and let the gleeful screams soothe her soul at last.
Sephiroth swayed. Cloud was holding him up, he was worried, but could understand his reaction… Somehow, deep inside, he could feel the aura of his son, and he knew the connection was getting weaker. They had woken up at the same time, the silver haired man feeling very weak and dizzy. The blond was trying to shield him, thinking that maybe his presence would made the shock easier to bear. Effectively, a few minutes later, surrounded by feathers and helped by a sleepel, the great warrior drifted off. Gently, Cloud stroked the silver hair and caressed his cheek with his right wing, watching in amusement Sephiroth's face pout to avoid sneezing.
After covering him up, Cloud walked to his closet to retrieve another blanket. Although it was only 4:30 in the morning, he climbed down the stairs and prepared himself a strong tea. He was feeling nostalgic. He had faith in Sora, in his son… But the hope of ever seeing him again was so thin… now that he was almost unable to sense him, he felt desperate. Sitting down in Sephiroth's armchair, he wrapped himself into the quilt and looked up at the sky. The stars seemed so bright tonight it warmed his heart.
"Idon't know why you are going away from us… but I won't give up. I have faith in you, Riku… I know you'll come back."
His thoughts going toward his lost son, his mind began to show him images of him as he was younger. Happiness filled his soul, and he knew… he just /knew/ it was for the better. He would come back. Appeased by those memories, he placed his empty mug on the table nearby and closed his eyes.
A wonderful smell made him come around; breakfast. And from the sound and aroma, he could tell it was Angel's work. Indeed, few minutes later, he had a fuming plate on his lap and a steaming mug was in his son's hands. A tired smile formed on his lips and he gladly accepted the first gulps before digging into the food with enthusiasm. He loved the fruits sauce that Angel had the secret, and his son had poured an enormous amount of it on his pancakes especially to make him smile.
"Slow down! I can make you more if you want!"
"You know your dad can't help it if you drown them in your mmmspefialfauce!Mmm!"
Angel shook his head. Sephiroth and Cloud were now battling for the last pancake in the blond's plate.
"You two are…"
"/imposshible", they said in unison
The silver haired man sighed and returned in the kitchen. He was about to pour some more pancake mix into a frying pan when the door opened on Cid. The pilot was beaming. Sky and Zell greeted him and asked what was bringing him here so early in the morning.
"Well kids, you won't believe this; that lil fella actually did it! We can start to pack up! We're going back home!"
Sephiroth was looking up at the stars under the crystal dome of the Highwind. Although Sora had brought back king Mickey's words to him, he still felt as desperate as he was. Packing had been hard, but leaving the only place where he had a real hope of seeing Riku… It had been torture to walk into the ship and to turn his back to this little town… Cloud had tried to cheer him up, saying that he was certain their son was to come back, and maybe sooner than they expected. How he could be so sure, Sephiroth had no idea, and he really wanted to believe Cloud, but he was so insecure, so lost. His connection to him was so faint now that he rarely talked to anyone lately. Even Vincent couldn't get any answer from him, for he had none to give. He felt depressed, sad, tired… the stars weren't of any help, it made him feel even more helpless. His hands were shaking, his eyes were tingling and his breath ragged… he fell to his knees, burying hid face in his trembling hands.
There was no need to call for help; Cloud had been feeling his sadness for quite a while now. The blond walked over to his hunched frame and slipped his arms around his torso. His behaviour was remembering Cloud of that time, way before, when he had been sent back by the Cetra consil. He was just like that: trying to cope with his past, hurting from what he had done, refusing to forgive himself. Bringing his head on his shoulder he stroked the silver hair and wrapped his lover in a feathery warmth. Supporting him, giving him what he needed the most. Cloud felt it; he was ready for words now.
"You did everything you could for him, Sephiroth. He'll be able to follow us. Don't worry…"
"How can you be so sure…?"
"I believe in him, and the more we will, sooner he'll come back. There is no need to doubt if you do."
Buried into Cloud's hair, Sephiroth nodded. He wanted to believe, a small sparkle in his heart told him that is love was right. All they had to do was to wait for Riku to answer their calls.
A few months later
Balamb Garden had returned to it's old self, as had the world itself. Angel was absently trying to correct his students last test, but his mind was constantly drifting to the moment they had landed back on the Planet. It was like it had waited until they arrived to start to live once again. No one ever asked where they had gone, no one remembered the attack… As if nothing ever happened. The Highwind II never took off again, refusing to move, or to start for that matter… Which made Cid very depressed for a moment. His fathers were still at home with Zack and Zell, Sky had asked to be muted to Balamb Garden, tired of being far away from his family. Both Zack and Quistis were doing fine, although Zack didn't get out much. And Squall was currently in the Presidential palace, which was explaining why the Garden was still stationed in the Esthar plains.
He dropped his pen and grabbed his left side, clenching his teeth. Few days ago, two young students stole two blades and caused havoc in the training centre. Squall and Seifer missed them by a hair and they continued to battle in the hallway. Angel was lucky to be here; he was just going to train when he spotted them. He unsheathed the Murasame and knocked the nearest blade off and pushed the small brunette aside, then disarmed the redhead. As he thought everything was over, the small boy ran up to him and stabbed him with his fallen sword. Dr. Kadowaki had checked this out, and bandaged it, saying that it wasn't a very deep wound, nothing vital had been touched. But if the first night it has seemed to settle down, the pain had returned recently.
"Angel, are you alright?"
The professor turned his head and smiled.
"Yes, my dear. Don't worry about me, I'm just a little tired."
Quistis walked over to him and looked down at his work, sighing, and then kissed his forehead. The silver haired man closed his eyes. It was true he was feeling tired.
"Why don't you go take a nap? You seem to need it, you feel hot, are you sure you don't want me to call the doctor?"
Angel smiled and passed a hand on Quistis's round belly, feeling the child inside move a little. For that he couldn't made her worry. That's why she ignored he had been recently injured, so he did not argue and put away his work. Their lips joined together for a quick kiss before Angel decided to hit the bed for a nap.
Sephiroth held Cloud closer to him, kissing his way up to his earlobe to nib on it playfully. The blond moaned, grinding his hard member against Sephiroth's thigh. A shudder was his answer and the blond let his hands travel lower on his lover's hips, arching his back in the process to claim more of the damp heat he craved for. Sephiroth sighed sweetly, licking the tender skin of his neck, until he felt Cloud circle his aching shaft. He moaned loudly and reached for the blond's swollen lips, devouring his way inside, pulling out the tongue of his hot cavity to suck on it greedily.
Cloud stopped his ministrations and used his hands to pull himself on Sephiroth, leaning completely on him, his erection digging painfully into his lover's chiselled planes. Rolling on his back, Sephiroth kept the physical contact by holding the blond's head with one hand, and he snatched the lubricant left on the bedside table. Now Cloud was leading the kiss, and was keeping up the pressure by constantly bucking his hips. Sephiroth snaked a lubricate hand to his love's entrance, gently pushing a finger in, working in slow circles to stretch him. The kiss became fiercer and the ex-General took the chance to switch place so he was on the top. The blond cried out in surprise, but the finger inside of him hit his prostate and his eyes fluttered close.
"Seph… sigh oooohh… aaaaahhh, please…"
Sephiroth smiled and rubbed his cheek against Cloud's, breathing his steamy reply in his ear. Cloud became flushed and he grabbed his shoulders as the warrior lifted his hips. Slowly, the blond felt his lover's member enter him and he suddenly lost all of his strength, his arms flailing over his head, his body arching backward. His breath was shallow, beads of sweat trailing down his slim frame. He did all but cried when he felt his lover thrust gently into him, convulsing in pleasure at the sweet torture he was given.
"I love you so much, Cloud…"
Firmly grabbing his hips, Sephiroth thrust in again, pulling out slowly before pushing in at a slow pace. Cloud was vibrating, his inner temperature constantly going up with the pace set. Low groans told him that his mate would be soon thrusting harder, so he encouraged him to do so, moaning his name louder and bucking his hips to meet Sephiroth's. Grunting, the silver haired man started anew with fervour, faster and harder, making them pant and moan in delight, looking at the stars without being able to touch them yet… Sephiroth lifted his lover from the bed, trying to get deeper into him while suckling at a weak spot on the blond's shoulder. Cloud screamed pushing down hard and squeezing himself on his love.
"Sephiroth!"
"Cloud!"
Both shook with the power of orgasm, the stars at hand, they saw the blinding light as they came together, joined physically and spiritually. Exhausted, Sephiroth collapsed on his side, ravishing Cloud with tender butterfly kisses. He felt his spent organ slip out and his lover gave him an adorable pout as he snuggled closer. A few minutes later, a little reluctantly, they got up to take a shower, then, Sephiroth carried a very drowsy Cloud to bed, where they lay, entangled together for the night.
Cloud always slept like a log when Sephiroth was with him, so it is with no surprise that the silver haired man picked up the phone when it began ringing. Zack needed to rest as much as he could, with the bags he had under his eyes… So without even opening an eye, he grabbed the phone, leaving it no chance to ring twice and wake the rest of the house.
"Hello", he asked sleepily, "Mm? What! Are you sure? Serious? Where! I'm coming right away!"
Sephiroth jumped down the bed and silently but quickly dressed up. He wrote down a note that he placed on the fridge before slipping in his shoes. Grabbing his wallet, he got out into the night, a wrinkle of worry on his face.
When Cloud woke up the next morning, he was surprised that Sephiroth wasn't lying next to him. Even more when he found his night clothes scattered on the floor. Maybe he had to do something urgent… He immediately thought about Zack, and hurried downstairs, but the doctor was dozing off in Sephiroth's armchair. The silver haired man had offered his son to put his prized seat in the kitchen, so he could take a nap after eating. That way, he wouldn't have to walk since he had difficulties with his stomach when it was full. Cloud smiled, picking up the dishes on the table, then, like every morning, he prepared some coffee. He poured two cups, leaving one in front of his son, to wake him up again.
"Mornin' mister Strife!"
"Good morning, Zell. How was your workout?"
"Top notch, like usual. Just coming back from jogging. Just leave those dishes to me, I'll get to these after my shower."
"Alright. Allow me to prepare something, then."
As the young SeeD was entering the bathroom, Cloud heard the main door open and he called Sephiroth. No answer. Puzzled, he called again and went to the living room. His mug slipped of his hands; before him stood a little kid with silver hair, dirtied, his clothes ragged and torn. He looked like he had traveled a lot, tired and in need of a good rest. Before he could make one move, the eight years old boy had threw himself on Cloud, who immediately hugged his son. He was holding him so tight, afraid to let go, ten years of waiting were finally over. Tears streamed down his cheeks, his legs gave up under him and he fell on his knees. Nothing could make him more happy, but a few minutes later, he heard Zack call him worriedly.
"Dad! Sephiroth left a note, Angel is at the hospital!"
End
Author's notes
So sorry for the delay! But my muse came back not so long ago and I could finally finish that chapter. The next one is the last! See ya all for the closing of Memories of Gold: Promised Land.