Title/ Every Strife Needs a Leonhart
Summary/ When life begins to become too difficult, people often go crazy or turn to suicide. When two girls lose everything they had, fate brings them together, intertwining not only their destinies but also the destinies of those around them. AU. Squall/OC, Cloud/OC, mild Riku/Sora.
Disclaimer/ Nope. Nada. Never. I can wish all I want but it's not happening.
Shimmer of Solitude/ Thanks to everyone who reviewed this story! Well, here's yet another update! Hopefully we'll get the next chapter posted soon. Anyway...read and review...and I hope you enjoy!
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Chapter Two: The First Day
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Shay and Cloud reentered Professor Gainsborough's class, with Squall following quietly behind them. Cloud nodded to the professor in silent acknowledgement and went over to his seat, Shay, however, exchanged a few words with Professor Gainsborough before shooting Squall a quick smile. Once again, the brunette didn't return the gesture but Shay brushed it off and went to sit down by Cloud.
" Leon right?" Professor Gainsborough asked, walking over to Squall. After she received a nod she continued, "Please introduce yourself to the class and then you may take a seat by Shay." The professor pointed to the empty desk right next to Shay's. From behind his sister, Cloud growled in annoyance. Yes he was an overprotective brother…he wouldn't deny it.
"I'm Leon Leonhart, and I'm from Hollow Bastion." Squall said in a nonchalant voice. Many of the students looked at the brunette appraisingly. A lot of the girls and a minority of the guys were instantly taken with Squall's handsome face, and they couldn't bring themselves to turn away. Casting them an annoyed look, Squall went to sit beside Shay, who greeted him with another smile.
'She keeps smiling at me…' Squall thought, taking a moment to study the ebony haired girl. There was something peculiar at how Shay smiled. While the smile was there it didn't seem that she was happy at all. Squall couldn't quite find the words to describe the smile, it wasn't as if the girl was forcing her smiles, they just…didn't look natural. They weren't…well happy. 'It's a hollow smile.' He finally decided before looking away.
Similar things were happening in Sora's homeroom, Mrs. Nelson's class. Mrs. Nelson was a short woman with short, pepper colored hair and kind gray eyes. She stood at the front of the classroom, preparing to introduce the two Leonhart siblings.
"Sora, you may take your seat." She told the brunette who complied with her wishes instantly. "Please introduce yourselves to the class."
Riku smirked, letting his aquamarine eyes catch the gaze of every female in the classroom, each one of them swooned. "I'm Riku Leonhart, and I come from Hollow Bastion. I'm, delighted to be here." He caught Sora's eye and grinned, causing the brunette to blush for the umpteenth time that day.
"I'm Ericka Leonhart." Ericka's emotionless gaze was glued to the ground. Strands of her silvery blue hair had fallen in front of her face, hiding it from view.
"Since you both know Sora, you may take those seats over there." Mrs. Nelson pointed to where Sora sat, in the very back corner of the room, right near the windows. In front of the brunette and to his right, was a pair of empty desks. The two Leonhart siblings quietly made there way over and took a seat, Riku to Sora's right, and Ericka in front of him.
"So that Cloud guy and that girl are your older siblings?" Riku asked, his voice tinged with boredom, trying to strike up another conversation with Sora.
"Yup! Cloud's the oldest, though but sometimes it's really hard to tell. He can be so childish at times." Sora explained, giving his new friend a happy grin, one that the silver haired teen returned with enthusiasm
"Squall's the oldest of our bunch, but he too can act like a child, but only rarely." Riku replied. Ericka just listened to the two with mild interest.
"I thought his name was Leon." Sora said, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Oh, he just changed his name to Leon is all. I'm just more used to calling him Squall." Riku answered in a dismissive tone. Sora took that as a sign to not ask about it again. "So what's with the name Cloud?"
"Well I think it has to do with mom's fascination with the heavens and stuff. She's a real fantasy lover." Sora said, he had never really wondered why Cloud had been named after those fluffy white things that floated in the sky.
"So Cloud was named after the clouds and you were named for the sky." Riku stated. After getting a nod from the brunette Riku posed another curious question. "Why is your sister's name Shay?"
"Uhm…well…your name means shore or land right?" Sora asked, trying to steer the subject away from his nee-san. And thankfully Riku didn't press the matter.
"Yes. I don't think our parents had any real reasoning behind our naming." Riku replied. He was about to ask more about Shay, but the way that Sora's eyes had filled with sadness had convinced him not to pry. 'It must be something bad…if he doesn't want to talk about it.'
Ericka remained silent, examining Sora with her insightful silver eyes. He was hiding something.
The day ended without too much drama, with the exception of the mob of girls that had officially declared themselves as the "We Love (or 'Heart' rather) The Leonhart's: The Official Fan Club for Leon and Riku Leonhart," much to Squall's annoyance and to Riku's amusement.
The last class of the day for Shay, Squall and Cloud was English. The three of them had exited the classroom together until Squall left, saying he had things to settle with the principle which surprised the two Strife's as that was the most words that they had heard the brunette say in one…uhm…conversation. So that left the two siblings, who walked together, side by side.
"So I have band practice today, and Sora was saying something about staying to watch. I think he's quite taken with Leonhart-kun." Shay murmured, carefully sidestepping to avoid a student who had rushed past her.
"When you say Leonhart-kun do you mean the brunette or silver?" Cloud asked. The honorific – kun could be used for either Squall or Riku, and Ericka too even.
"Who do you think? Only one of them is in Sora's grade level, well two actually, but –chan would be more proper for a girl." Shay rolled her eyes in a mocking manner as she looked at her older brother. "And I thought that you were supposed to be inquisitive and insightful."
"Hey!" Cloud aimed a playful glare at his younger sister, who just grinned in reply. "Well have fun at practice, I know you've been working on that new song and all."
"Yeah. Hopefully we can have a concert soon." Shay sighed. The band that she had created was called Broken Dreams, Shattered Souls, and was affectionately known as BDSS. Shay, besides being the founder of BDSS was the lead singer, and was responsible for songwriting. The other members of the band were Yuffie Kisaragi, a junior who played the keyboard, Selphie Tilmitt, a sophomore who played the drum set, and Miranda Gomes, a senior, who played the guitar.
"So I'll wait for you outside the auditorium to take you and Sora home." Cloud gave his sister an affectionate pat on the head, which caused the shorter girl to narrow her eyes.
"You know I don't like people messing with my hair, it tangles so easily." Shay's long ebony hair was pulled back into a ponytail and the tresses cascaded down her back, the edges falling just below mid-back.
"You could always cut it shorter." Cloud rolled his eyes, he could never see why Shay was so persistent on having long hair when all she did was complain about it.
"I could but I won't. Anyway, why don't you just stay for rehearsals?"
"And risk losing my ears to the horrible singing that would be heard? I think not."
"…You are so going to die."
"You'd actually kill the adorable Cloud?"
"Damn right I would, and I will too."
Silence overcame the two Strife's as they gave each other death glares; Shay's being more prominent than her brother's was. The glaring match continued as some random students stopped to stare unabashedly. Finally the two broke out into laughter, or at least Cloud did and Shay…well she just smiled her hollow smile, as Squall put it.
"Well I'll be seeing you. If I'm even a millisecond late, Miranda will kill me…literally." Shay's smile instantly faded, Miranda wasn't exactly an easy person to be around. If it weren't for the fact that BDSS needed a guitarist, badly, the girl wouldn't even be in it. With a parting wave, the ebony haired teen walked off, heading to the auditorium for rehearsals.
Cloud watched his sister depart before heading the other way.
Sora, Riku, and Ericka, however, had ended in History, which was easily the most boring class of the entire day. With the exception of health…there was absolutely no point to that class, not at all.
"Hey Ericka, you'll have to find your way home today, I have plans with Sora." Riku told his sister, who gazed calmly back at him with her silver eyes. Usually Riku, like Squall was an overprotective brother, but their new home was actually really close to Destiny High so Riku figured that it would be all right for the girl to walk home by herself.
"That's alright." Ericka replied. "I have homework to do."
"Well then I'll see you tomorrow Leonhart-chan." Sora said, flashing his innocent smile.
"It's alright to call me Ericka." The silvery haired teen said, a wisp of a smile appearing on her pale face. The brunette was a little too cute for his own good. "Make sure you let nii-san know that you'll be home late."
Riku snorted before saying, "I can handle myself. Besides, he had to settle some things with the principle. If I'm lucky I can catch a ride with him."
"You're just lazy Riku-kun." Sora laughed. The use of Riku's first name surprised Ericka a little. Normally Riku wouldn't allow someone who he had just met to address him on a first name basis. But then again, Riku was known as a flirt…so he was probably just trying to get with the brunette. Ericka shrugged the thought away, it really wasn't something that she should be worrying about.
The two boys waved their good-byes before leaving Ericka standing in the middle of the hallway, all by herself. But she wasn't going to be there by herself for much longer as…none other than Cloud Strife appeared from no where! Well technically he just rounded the corner…but it sounds better to say that he just appeared.
"Oh hey, Leonhart right?" Cloud asked upon approaching Ericka. He smiled politely.
"It's fine to call me Ericka." The teen replied in a soft voice.
" Ericka then. Anyway are you heading home?"
"Nii-san had to settle some things with the Headmaster and Riku was doing something with Sora-kun."
"Why don't I give you a ride home? My two siblings ditched me as well. And we do live near each other. At least that's what I gathered from Leon." Cloud said. After some questioning he had discovered that the Leonhart family had moved into the house right next door. How coincidental….
"Sure." Ericka replied although she was a bit reluctant. Cloud motioned to the shorter girl with his hand and led her over to where his car was sitting.
"You're late." Miranda snapped as soon as Shay entered the auditorium. Miranda had her arms crossed over her chest. She had long flaxen hair and gorgeous blue eyes. She was dressed in a form-fitting baby blue halter-top and an impossibly short white skirt. Make-up accentuated her features and a simple pair of shoes covered her feet. Miranda was…a total prep.
The rest of the band was already on stage, waiting for their singer to arrive. As she passed, Shay saw Sora and Riku from the corner of her eye.
"I'm sorry." Shay apologized. She gave Yuffie, one her friends, an irritated look. It wasn't as if Miranda was always on time.
Yuffie had short black hair and dark chestnut eyes that had a mischievous quality about them. She was dressed in a green T-shirt, beige shorts and orange shoes. Yuffie was known for her odd sense of style and her sarcastic nature. Nevertheless, the seventeen-year-old was a good friend. A wry grin was plastered on her face as she rolled her eyes, catching Shay's gaze.
Selphie, a teen with short brown hair and clear blue eyes, was already seated behind the drum set, a pair of sticks in her hands. For a girl of fifteen Selphie was known for her childish personality and hyper…hyper-ness. She was dressed in a yellow sundress, with a pair of shorts underneath. Sandals covered her feet and completed the innocent look that made Selphie Tilmitt.
"Well, let's get this rehearsal started." Shay continued as she walked onto the stage, taking her position in front of the Mic stand.
"So tell me, why are they here?" Miranda asked snobbishly as she took up her guitar. Shay and Yuffie suppressed a scoff and kept themselves from giving the blonde a dirty look.
"That's my brother and his friend. Besides, the auditorium is open to the public." Shay replied, keeping her face controlled.
Miranda snorted before playing a simple chord. She strummed the guitar a few times and began to play. Soon Yuffie added in the soft, yet sharp tones of the keyboard and Selphie began to hit the snare drum, keeping a steady tempo. And thus, Shay began to sing.
"So where is your sister and brother?" Ericka asked softly. It was unlike her to inquire about other people, but she couldn't help but ask, she was curious. Cloud seemed to be the type that would never let his siblings out of sight, especially Shay, being the overprotective older brother that he was.
"Shay's at band practice, Sora stayed to watch." Cloud answered, not taking his eyes off the road. His hands where on the wheel.
"Band practice?" Ericka's eyes seemed to light up with excitement at the mention of a band. Cloud smiled lightly as he noticed the change in her eyes, he could see Ericka perfectly from the hanging mirror.
"Oh yeah. Shay started this band, last year I believe." He answered.
"Oh. So what does she play?"
"She doesn't. She sings. And although I would like to say that she sounds horrible, she isn't that bad. If you want, they have another rehearsal tomorrow so you're welcome to watch."
"That…sounds nice."
"Alright, I'll come by after classes and we can go together." Cloud said. 'Oh crap…speaking of Shay…I just abandoned her and Sora! She's going to kill me…'
"I am going to murder you nii-san." Shay growled as she stared at her cell phone. Cloud had just text messaged her the following message: I took Ericka home today, sorry but you're going to have to walk home with Sora.
"Well we could always walk home." Sora sighed. Band practiced had long since finished, as it only took about half an hour. Yuffie, Selphie and Miranda had already left, leaving Shay, Sora and Riku standing outside the auditorium.
"I'm sure Squall-nii wouldn't mind giving you guys a ride, he should still be here." Riku said, giving the brunette a winning smile. The said brunette blushed which caused his older sister to smirk knowingly.
"We really wouldn't want to impose on you Leonhart-kun." Shay answered.
"Oh you and Sora, always with the formalities. It's Riku." Riku said, rolling his eyes. "Oh and speak of the devil. There's nii-san."
Squall fixed his icy eyes on Riku before asking, " Ericka?"
"Oh! Cloud took her home." Shay answered just as Riku opened his mouth again to speak.
"And now they're stranded Squall!" Riku said dramatically.
"It's Leon." Squall narrowed his eyes at Riku, but it didn't' faze the silver haired teen.
"So you're going to drive them home!"
"Since when did you get to make all the decisions?"
"Since you started saying more than five words per sentence."
"…Whatever."
"Now that that's settled! I call the backseat! Of course Sora can sit with me. Which means you'll have to sit with my brother." Riku said to Shay, who smiled lightly in response.
The next day, Tuesday, passed extraordinarily fast.
"Hey Leonhart-kun, why don't you watch our rehearsal?" Shay asked as she, Cloud and Squall left their last class.
"Sorry…but I have other things to do." Squall replied. For a second a flash of hurt crossed Shay's eyes but it instantly vanished.
"Oh that's fine. Well then, Cloud-nii, you'd better go get Leonhart-chan. And while you're at it, Riku-kun and Sora." Shay said, a cheery smile on her face. Squall's eyebrows furrowed at the mention of 'Leonhart-chan.' "See you later Leonhart-kun!" With that she hurried off to the auditorium.
"What did she mean by you getting Leonhart-chan?" Squall asked, his voice cold and his expression unreadable.
"She seemed interested when I mentioned that Shay was in a band so I invited her to watch the practice." Cloud answered before walking to where Sora, Riku and Ericka's last class was.
"Cloud-nii!" Sora greeted the blonde as he approached. Sora was standing beside Riku. Ericka stood a little behind her brother.
"Hey, the practice should be starting soon." Cloud flashed an easygoing smile before beckoning them with a wave of his hand. The four made their way to the auditorium, but when they entered…the scene wasn't pretty.
"I've had enough of your childish behavior!" Miranda growled as she held Selphie by the shoulder. The younger girl was in obvious pain as her face was scrunched together.
"What the hell is your problem?" Shay demanded with a ferocity that matched Miranda's. Her dark brown eyes were narrowed into a chilling glare. "Let Selphie go!"
"She is! You are! In fact you all are! Selphie is constantly bouncing everywhere, Yuffie is just plain annoying and you! You're the worst! Always bossing us all around!" Miranda yelled.
"Hey! When we formed this band, we all agreed that Shay would be the one who made the decisions. And she's been good about it, always asking for our opinions." Yuffie retorted. She too was glaring.
"You! Shut up!" Miranda snapped. Her grasp tightened on Selphie's shoulder and the girl cried out in pain.
"Let her go!" Yuffie said and attempted to punch Miranda but Shay beat her too it. A resonating slap echoed through the entire auditorium, startling those who had just entered. Miranda immediately released Selphie and touched her reddening cheeks gingerly. The flesh was already red and was now turning a bluish color.
"You, I never want to see your face in this auditorium. Never." Shay hissed. The blonde nodded fearfully as tears welled up in her sapphire eyes. With a yelp she fled from the building.
"Are you alright Selphie?" Yuffie asked kindly and the petite brunette nodded. "Well now we need another guitarist."
"Let's just get on with practice." Shay said a bit shortly.
Yuffie and Selphie both nodded and went to their instruments. Shay gave a heartfelt sigh before taking the Mic into her hand. She caught Cloud's worried sapphire orbs and smiled faintly in reassurance.
The two Leonhart's and two Strife's had found seats in the third row. Shay's eyes sparkled as the settled in the shadowy corner of the room. Standing, leaning against the wall was Squall.
"This is a new song, called Broken Promises." Shay said, more to enlighten the small group that made up the audience, then anything else.
Selphie hit the cymbals and began to keep a steady rhythm, alternating between the cymbals and the snare drum. Yuffie expertly played the introduction to the song and Shay opened her mouth and began to sing.
"A broken promise has no worth,
A promise you cannot keep,
Just like you who promised me,
You'd be with me an eternity."
A serious expression had made its way onto Shay's face as she sang, letting herself get carried away by the music.
Squall smiled to himself inwardly…she wasn't as bad as he had originally thought.
Riku, Sora and Cloud all listened quietly. But Ericka had a look of dawning realization on her face. 'Those lyrics…she's trying to get a message across…'
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"Loneliness is all I feel,
As I look into the sky,
There I see a fleeting image
Of having you by my side."
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Yuffie allowed a smile as Shay sang, she really didn't pay much attention to the words that were being sung, but Shay's voice was almost soothing, calming her, eradicating the anger that she had felt towards Mirada just a few moments prior.
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"All those days are in the past
I could smile at the time
Back when my heart was full and free
Back when you were here with me."
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Selphie also smiled, there was something about the way that Shay sang…. In fact, Shay was the main reason that Selphie had joined the band in the first place. She had always wanted to be in a band but the singers that she had tried to work with…none of them had a style that she could adapt to.
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"A broken promise has no worth,
A promise you cannot keep,
Just like you who promised me,
You'd be with me an eternity."
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Shay's foot began to tap as she hummed what should have been Miranda's guitar solo. She was helped along by Yuffie who tried to the best of her ability to play the notes. After the interlude was over Shay began to sing again.
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"You, who are a shadow of my mind
Refuse to leave me behind
As I try to live my life
The way it was meant to be
I cannot forget that fateful day
When you just turned and walked away
The promise that you made to me
Lay forgotten as you take your leave
Stepping out of my life,
Out of my life,
Out of my life."
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Ericka's gaze had turned cold, colder than it usually was. The word choice, everything about the song, the way that Yuffie played such a haunting tune on the Keyboard and how Selphie played soft, feather light beats. And also the grim expression on Shay's face, was an indication. There was something going on.
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"A broken promise has no worth,
A promise you cannot keep,
Just like you who promised me,
You'd be with me an eternity
Your broken promise has no worth,
The promise you couldn't keep,
You were the one who promised me
That you'd be with me an eternity
Your broken promise has no worth…"
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Shay's voice faded as the song ended. Sora, Riku, Ericka and Cloud broke out into polite applause. Ericka's eye's shone with recognition. If she could hear Shay's words…why was it…that no one else could?
"Is something wrong?" Cloud asked softly. Ericka turned and their eyes met.
"Is she adopted?" Ericka asked just as soft. Surprise flashed through Cloud's orbs.
"What…what gives you that idea?"
"Her song…it's obvious what it's about. I'm just asking if she's adopted."
"…" Cloud remained silent. "She's my sister."
Shimmer of Solitude: The song in this chapter is called 'Broken Promises' and was written by Shay-chan. No stealing. (Shay: Although the lyrics were kind of crappy...hehe )