Author's notes: God damn it, people. I am so sorry! This is going to sound lame and made up, but here's the story:

Once upon a time, there was a teenager named Locked. She had a notebook, and it was colored. Her chemistry teacher was absent for the last couple of months of school, so instead of doing her work, she decided to be a rebel and write out the entire plot to her fan fiction. She was thrilled when she saw that she had completed her plot in amazing detail. Every hint of a plot hole had been erased with her pencil, and all was in order.

Two months later, her little sister went to camp. Locked's mother told her that she needed to empty out her backpack to allow the seven-year-old access to the bag. Rather unwillingly, but entirely absently, she threw out all that she thought she did not need.

Not a month later she saw that she had been neglecting her favorite fiction. Gasping, she remembered that lone chemistry notebook, and wildly she began searching for it, but to no avail.

I tell you my friends, Locked never found out what happened to that notebook of hers. Had she thrown it out accidentally? Or had the boogeyman leapt from her closet and ate it as she slept soundly? It was to forever remain a mystery.

-

A true story, mind you. I have no idea what happened to that thing. It seriously did have a detailed version of my plot in it. Since I can't find it, I'm afraid I might destroy this. So please, bear with me. I'm doing the best that I can in remembering it.

Anyway, special thanks to all of you! I love you, I love you, and hey! I love you some more! You've all been really patient with me, and I haven't received too much hate mail for stalling! That makes me very happy.

This one's for you!

---

"You are in so much trouble!"

"Shut up."

"Leon's going to cut out your heart, feed it to the heartless on a silver platter, shave your head, dice your kidneys, and turn you inside out!"

"Damn it, Yuffie!"

Cloud found himself standing right in front of the petite ninja, a hand clamped over her taunting lips. She had been acting in such a way since he darted out of the raging brunet's home, and she was quickly destroying his patience, that is, what little he had left of it.

A shadow had lurked in the blond's gaze, the shadow that had grown to engulf the blue in gray. As he leaned towards the jittery thief, she realized just how upset he was. Her eyes widened in fear, her tiny hands clasping around his strong arms to feebly attempt release.

"I don't need you rubbing it in my face," Cloud ground out, keeping his eyes at her level. Inhaling a hissed breath, he ordered, "Just back off."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry," Yuffie gushed, her eyebrows knitted together.

As he relaxed, he looked heavenwards at the distant worlds. What had he done? Everything was Hades fault, this much he knew. Hades had given him an impossible job, stolen his sanity and initiated an obsession of the untouchable warrior to stir within him. He needed someone to talk to.

"Yu—" he stopped, blinking in confusion. Yuffie was no longer in front of him. He had neither heard her move nor felt her presence disappear. She was an amazing ninja, no matter how immature she was.

He felt horrendously low. His stomach twisted and his heart screamed, a self-piteous chill running its course inside of him. Slowly, he moved towards his apartment, despite his feet feeling like lead blocks. He had to get away, to shell himself within his own domain and keep out anyone who wished to break his solace, god or no.

All he wanted was to die and rid everyone of their misery.

---

The danger increased as the lion stepped forward, letting out a long, low roar.

Why had that stupid blond gone through that box? He had been trusted like a friend. That trust had been broken by the horrible fumble, and the chances of redemption were far beyond slim.

He then lashed out, rushing forward before taking a leap.

More importantly than that trust, he had invaded Leon's privacy. He had deliberately destroyed the boundaries that had been expertly crafted into place. Leon had felt violated, and with every right to feel that way. Cloud had been an uninvited guest into a hidden past. He had known beforehand that he was unwelcome—neither had spoken of anything before their meeting—but he had still gone and crossed the line.

The lion did not let go…

The blond was out of bounds.

Squirming, the wolf attempted to free itself.

He was curious. How could he not have been? The brunet was alluring, an obvious man of secrets. Cloud had always been consumed by someone who seemed to know more than he did. Taking his chances, he had opened the box. How was he to know that it would not only answer a few questions, but prove to be more trouble than it was worth?

…a small trickle of blood running right beneath its eye.

It felt as though he had broken some nonexistent rules that Leon had written. All blaming aside, Cloud knew that if he had been in the other's position, he would have been just as angry. But why then had he done it? He knew that he was bound to get caught. He should not have stuck his nose where it did not belong.

Once more, the wolf yipped in pain.

"I'm an idiot."

"Idiot..."

Cloud rolled over, glaring at the moon. He was never going to complete his mission. Hades was going to take all he had and destroy it in front of him, all just because he was too inept to complete one simple task. Everything was going to end in just a couple of weeks.

A light brow twitched as he slid his eyes shut. One thought in particular plagued him, and that was whether or not the reason he wanted to get Leon to trust him was actually driven by Hades? This was the original reason, but now he was entirely unsure.

The blond was nothing to him. It was safer if he just never bothered him again. Yes, safer for the both of them. It was better this way.

He would remain unsettled if he was not able to try again. He hated to admit it, but he really enjoyed his duels with Leon. If nothing else, they were good partners.

A knock stole his thoughts. No one was supposed to bother him.

Two knocks. "Go away," he growled, though he knew that the person behind the door could not hear him.

Three knocks and Cloud was aggravated. He glared acidly at the door, willing away his visitor.

"Cloud!" called a gentle voice, followed by a few more knocks. "I know you're in there. Please, let me in."

Aerith's voice softened him. Reluctantly, he stood and opened the door, staring down at her with irritation. "What?"

His flat voice disheartened her, but nevertheless, she stood her ground and gave him a concerned look. "Yuffie told me what happened."

So, that was where the little brat went?

"Don't be mad at her," Aerith spoke, recognizing the look on his face. "She was worried about you."

Cloud narrowed his eyes, doubting that. She had teased him about it. Yuffie did not worry about social problems. If Cloud had a fight with Leon, that was no worry to her. Everything would turn out a-okay, that was what she always said.

"Can I come in?"

Frowning, the blond decided that he did not want company. Aerith was perfect in every way imaginable, but he did not have the ability to socialize at the moment. She would want his story and she would want to hear his feelings on the subject. Cloud was not yet ready to share such things. He had been earlier, but Yuffie had abandoned him.

"No." Without waiting for a response, he shut the door in her face and walked right back to his bed. When the sound of her footsteps faded, he sighed. It had been rude, but he needed the privacy.

His thoughts soon wandered back to the leather clad warrior. He found himself realizing two things, the first one being that there was still a slight possibility that he could mend what had been broken. It would be hard, but he believed that it was feasible. On top of which, he no longer blamed Hades. What happened was his fault. This also meant something important, something that was entirely no one else's fault:

Cloud had an obsession.

-

Author's notes: It's short, I know. I think I know where to go from here, but I want to second guess myself. I thought I would let you know that I'm still very much alive and very much willing to work on this. Don't hate me because it was small.

Okay, thanks for hanging in there!