Whew. Sorry this chapter is so incredibly short, but it was just a good place to end it without getting into anything else really big. Oh something like that. lol But anyway, tis the chapter of sappiness and fluff. Haha, an maybe a little personal angsting going on. And extreme OOCness! XD So yeah. That's about all I can say about this chapter. lol

Chapter Eight--Giving In

The sharp clink of a spoon hitting ceramic sounded as Zack hit the table. "Dammit, would you just stop moping already? You have no idea how irritating it is. I didn't know when I accepted this that I would be taking in a PMSing kid." He leaned back in his chair and glared over folded arms. "If you miss him that badly then just go see him! It is that hard to figure out?"

The blonde head that was lying on the table moved slightly, blue eyes opening. "I can't. I promised," he mumbled softly.

"Well, whatever. I'm gonna be late unless I get going." Zack placed his bowl in the sink, passing by the blonde. "Just try and perk up a little, okay? You're making me depressed," he said as he ruffled the golden mess. Grabbing his pack from the couch, he waved and pushed out of the front door. Silence crept through the house.

Cid sighed and lifted his head slightly to rest his chin on his arm. It had been a week to the day since he had last seen Vincent, the ebony-haired boy standing in the doorway. But he had promised that he wouldn't see him again. But he still couldn't deny that he wanted to see the other boy again.

The whole thing hadn't really set in until the day after he had come back, drenched and almost at the point of tears. He had known that it would be hard, but he didn't know how hard. And the funny thing was that he didn't resent Vincent for turning him out like that. Maybe I deserved it. I guess I should have just figured it out sooner to listen to him. Too bad you can't change the past.

He sighed again, burying his face in his folded arms. He had to be at class in a little over an hour, but he couldn't move. He just didn't want to. Sure, he had forced himself to go every day since that night, but today…today just seemed like too much. Every corner he took he expected to run into those crimson eyes, that obsidian hair, that milky skin. But he never did. He hadn't even heard the hushed voice that sounded as beautiful as the person it came from.

"You're still here? Thought you would have left for class by now." He raised his blue eyes only to have them mirrored back at him. Cloud shrugged when he got no response and grabbed an apple off of the counter and sat down across from Cid. "Zack leave already?" the younger nodded and looked at the other blonde, his chin still propped on his arms. "Oh. So you still all bummed out about that other kid?"

The blue eyes flashed downward and Cid stared at the table. "Vincent."

"Yeah, yeah. Vincent. So is he why you're all depressed and crap?" Cloud wiped away a trickle of juice as he bit into the apple. Still watching the younger boy, he reached back onto the counter and picked up another apple, shoving it toward Cid. "You should eat something. Zack's said you haven't eaten anything for the past day or so."

"Not hungry," came the muffled reply as Cid buried his face again.

Cloud frowned. "That doesn't matter. You should still eat something." He took a bite of his own apple, chewing while he watched Cid sit up and stare at the piece of fruit like it was his enemy. "Zack's getting worried about you, you know. Says you won't ever come out of your room and when you do you're like this. Is it really that bad?"

Sighing, Cid picked up the apple and stared at it harder. "He shouldn't be so worried. Has nothing to do with him."

"Doesn't stop him. He sees you as his responsibility and feels he should be able to get you out of this hole you've stuck yourself in."

Finally he felt defeated enough and took a bite of the apple, the sharp crunch reverberating through his head. Cloud nodded. "Good boy. Can't have Zack spazzing out because you pass out from malnutrition. He has that tendency to worry over things too much."

It suddenly struck Cid that he was incredibly hungry. Completely forgetting everything, he started eating rapidly, sucking the juice from his fingers as he went. He finished, taking a deep breath as the feeling of food settling in his stomach comforted him.

The elder shook his head as he stood and tossed his core in the trash. "You know, you shouldn't let those things get to you so much. So you had a crush and it didn't work. Happens all the time. No need to get all bogged down and—hey. Hey, Cid?" Cloud knelt beside the younger boy. "Hey, what're you crying for? It's no big deal, right?"

The blonde wiped the tears from his eyes only to have them replaced instantly. "No, it was a huge deal," he whispered as he laid his head back on the table. "I—I don't think it was just—just a crush." He swallowed down a sob that threatened to break free. He didn't want to cry like this. Not just cry, but to cry full out to the point that he felt sick. It was something he hadn't done since he was fifteen. And he definitely didn't want to cry in front of Cloud, or anybody for that matter.

But he couldn't stop and soon he was sobbing outright with his face buried in his folded arms again. Cloud's brows furrowed as he reached out and rubbed the boy's shoulder. "Hey, everything'll be all right. It's just a…setback. Nothing big." He wasn't the best in comforting people, especially since he was usually the one being comforted. So he was completely lost as Cid wrapped his arms around his neck, crying on the older blonde's shoulder. "It'll be fine, really."

"No it won't!" the boy choked out. "It won't. I—I just want to see him again. I just—I just miss him too much." He was shaking as he wrapped his arms tighter, clinging to the only hope for comfort he had.

Cloud sighed. "Guess Zack was right. You do love him." He shifted slightly and stood, Cid still dragging on his neck. "Listen, I really need to go. But if you want, stay here. God knows I know how you feel. I'll just call up Zack later and tell him, okay?"

The blonde head on his shoulder nodded softly, the younger boy letting go and slumping back into his chair. "Yeah," he said shakily, wiping his face. "Thanks. I—I'm sorry for that."

"Don't worry about it." Cloud disappeared into Zack's room and returned carrying his jacket and bag. He stopped before the boy who had moved and was nod on the couch, knees curled up to his chest. "Think you'll be all right now?" Cid nodded, his bangs falling over the blue eyes. "All right. I'll see you later then," he said as he headed out of the door.

When the door clicked shut, Cid rested his forehead on his knees. "I can't believe I just did that. I can't believe I cried on Cloud like that. Goddammit, why is all this getting to me like this!" He pounded his fist against the cushions, biting his lip as tears sprang to his eyes again. Why can't I stop? Why can't I get over this?

A small sound came from the door and his head shot up. There it was again, a small knock. Relief and excitement rushed through him as he jumped up and stumbled to the door, flinging it open. His smile faded at the sight of the black-haired boy before him. It was the same color, but only fell to his ears with equally black eyes smiling at him. "Is Zack-san home? Have a package for him." The delivery boy smiled again as he held out the box and Cid ran over the jumble of Japanese words he'd just been presented with.

"Oh. Uh, no. He's not." Cid took the box in hand, nodding gently. "So I do I sign for this or something?" The boy held up his clipboard and pointed to the blank line. Cid scribbled his signature quickly, noting he was accepting on Zack's behalf in simple Japanese off to the side. The boy smiled again, bowing as he backed away and left Cid standing in the doorway, the empty feeling inside of him returning.

He had hoped the knock had come from Vincent's hand, but he just wasn't that lucky, was he? Why would he do something like that? He wasn't the one who missed Cid; it was the other way around. Vincent could care less about him.

Dropping the package on the kitchen table, he returned to the couch, curling up into a ball. All he wanted was to see the ebony haired boy with his flaming crimson eyes. He didn't even care if the other hated him for it; he just wanted to see him. It hurt him so badly he felt like crying again, felt like finding Vincent simply to show him the tears he'd caused. But he had promised and the only other choice was to remain on the couch and think over his wishes. Burying his face in the soft material of the cushions and hiding his head under his arms, he closed his eyes and fell into the strangled sleep that crying always brought.

-----------------------------------

The neon lights flickered above his head as Cid took a breath of the night air. For the past hour or so he'd just been wandering around Kagoshima's tourist district as he'd come to call it. The streets were choked by the brightly lit vendors all shouting their prices and offers to the browsing foreigners. He'd known that he wasn't the only student to come here and surely wasn't the only foreigner to arrive here, but it still stunned him at how many people he could pick out as non-natives. But then again, just about anything stunned him at the moment. He was still in a daze from the fitful sleep he'd been in for eight hours before coming here. Both Zack and Cloud were still gone so he'd left a note saying he was out. They didn't need to know much else, simply that he was all right.

A bumped into a man and whirled around, searching for the crimson eyes. But only green ones staring from behind a mess of red hair met him. "You got a problem?"

"Uh, no. Just…looking around." Cid shoved his hands into his pockets and looked away from the piercing green gaze. It was almost unsettling in the way it seemed to strip away his façade and show his inner turmoil. He hated that feeling and forced his eyes further from the green gaze, focusing on the ground instead.

The redhead's glare changed almost instantly. "Well, then. Need a hand getting' around? I'd be willing to help you. Got nothing better to do anyway." He ran a hand through the spiky hair, cherry-red strands clinging to his fingers. "So how about it, yo?"

Cid raised his eyes once more, surprised at the friendly gaze he was now receiving. "Uh, I guess so. Not really going anywhere though. So I don't know how much you can—"

"Ah, that's not a problem." The other flung an arm around the blonde's shoulder, grinning. "Gotta be looking for something while you're wandering around here. Can't just walk and do nothing, right?" He grinned wider, hurrying Cid along at a slightly faster pace.

"Uh, sure? I'm not sure why, but I guess." He saw the redhead glance over their shoulders for a moment, his grin changing to something resembling anxiousness. "Hey, is there something going on here? Because I'm not too sure about this—"

"Just hush up kid. I'm just trying to avoid that blonde guy back there. See him? Kind of a sharp dresser, white suit like he owns the place?" The redhead turned them down an alley and released Cid to lean against the wall. "I've been trying to stay away from him all day, but he keeps finding me. Stupid jackass." The other boy slid down the wall until he was sitting on the ground, his legs spread and the green eyes closed. "Kinda glad you popped up. Gave me an excuse to get out of there unseen."

"So are you just hiding from him for no reason?" Cid found it a little strange, but he'd been known to do the same. In fact, wasn't he in a way doing the same with Vincent for the moment? As much as he wanted to see him, he forced himself to avoid the ebony-haired boy. That was why he was out here and trying to forget anything connected to the other.

The redhead laughed and leaned his head back. "Nah. I've got reasons. That guy's my boss and all. Trying to make me go to work, yo. But I'm still taking that week long vacation I didn't officially get. You know how it goes." He poked his head outside of the alley, allowing the blonde a view of the back of his head.

Damn. That's some ponytail he's got going on there, he thought for a second before it struck him. Ponytail? "I wanted to cut all of his stupid cherry-red hair off for it. Stupid Reno. Stupid Yuffie. Stupid Vincent. They're all stupid." That's what Vincent…Reno! Oh no. Don't tell me this is him? "Reno?"

The flaming red hair was replaced by emerald eyes framed by the same cherry locks. "Yeah? Whoa, wait. You know my name? Oh shit, yo. Don't tell me you're one of those goons that Rufus hired to find me. Shit." He stood suddenly and stepped backward onto the sidewalk.

"No! I don't even know who Rufus is." Cid felt the anger he'd felt the other night boiling to the surface. "I know you through a different guy."

The redhead quirked his lips, his head tilting to the side. "Really? Who? Is it some bald dude who looks all pissy and shit?" He grinned, but stopped as soon as he noticed the blonde in front of him wasn't acting very amiable. "Yo, I just met you and all. Why're you getting all pissed-off looking?"

"The name Vincent ring a bell?" Cid felt himself clench his fists and narrowed his eyes. Before him stood the one person who was causing all his problems. I'll be damned if I let him go without at least an explanation.

"Vincent?" The emerald eyes took on a strange cast. "Vincent Valentine? Sure. I know who that is. Had some associations with the guy. Why?" He was about to turn away when he was roughly shoved against the brick wall, the air forced out of his lungs. "What the fuck, yo!"

"Associations? Associations? Fuck associations! You fucking broke him!" Cid slammed the redhead against the wall again, growling as the other winced and squeezed his eyes shut.

Reno coughed as the tension on his chest loosened slightly. "Broke him? How the fuck did I break him? We didn't do anything that could have broken him!"

"You fucking broke his heart! He loved you, Goddammit and you tried to take advantage of that just to get what you wanted!" He raised a hand to punch the redhead, but it freed Reno enough and he shoved loose, falling into a fighting stance. "You about fucking killed him!"

"I didn't do shit! I never asked him to fall in love with me! All I wanted was something on the side but he wanted more! That's not my fault! That's his own damn fault, not mine! I did nothing! Just because I didn't return his feelings doesn't make me the bad guy here, so get that out of your mind. I don't even see why a foreigner like you would care anyway." Reno rose from his stance when he saw that the blonde wasn't about to fight him outright. He swiped his cherry hair away from his face, glaring at the blonde. "I never wanted more than something on the side and he knew it the whole time. I can't help it if he never wanted to face that fact. I tried to let him off easy, but he just kept clinging so I had to drop him. But still, why do you even care? That's our business. Unless…" He took careful observation of the blonde, staring into the blue eyes. "You love him, don't you? And now he's spouting that crap that he doesn't trust anyone and can never be with anyone else because of me, isn't he?"

Cid's eyes flashed in surprise. He'd hit it right on the mark. "He says it was you. Who am I supposed to believe here?"

"Whoever you want, yo. I don't give a shit. But you're not the only one who's chased after me about this same deal. But you might as well give up. He never accepts anyone, no matter how much they stick up for him. They usually never lasted more than a week after he found out they came after me." Reno cleared his throat and scratched his head. "But if you want to try, go right ahead. Just leave me out of it. I have nothing to do with how he is now. That's all him. So don't come yelling this bullshit to me when you should be yelling it to him." He turned and melted into the crowd. "Not my fault he's never given in again."

To simply hear the words seemed to place a huge weight on Cid's chest. It did make a little more sense as to why Vincent acted the way he did. But both of the stories seemed so close. He didn't know which one to believe. All he knew was that now he was thinking about the crimson-eyed man again. So what if Reno didn't have anything to do with Vincent's way of acting now? That didn't keep him from wanting to see him.

Sighing, he pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his pocket and slid them on. He had meant to do it earlier, but had forgotten. After the little incident a week ago he figured it would be safer to avoid anyone who might recognize him. He definitely wasn't in the mood to deal with the boys who had been tormenting them. And he definitely didn't want to have to deal with a night in the local jail for almost killing one of them. He knew that if they set him off he was in just the right mood to do it.

He dug around in his pocket a little more and pulled out a ball cap, yanking it over his golden hair. No need to call anymore attention to himself that necessary. Taking a deep breath, he joined in the crowd like Reno had.

After passing a few more stores, he slipped into another alley, leaning against the wall. He wasn't used to the streaming crowds and just needed to get free from them. Even Tampa hadn't been this crowded. He glanced up at the sun, the light fading slowly as it dipped behind the horizon. He remained staring at the sunset, not realizing how much time had passed until he noticed that the neon signs with a few scattered streetlamps were the only illumination.

Sighing again, he stepped out into the thinned crowd. Standing in the middle of the sidewalk, he felt the déjà vu he expected. He had done this before. He had stood in the middle of the sidewalk like this, he had watched the lights growing brighter, drawing the later customers closer. And then he had started walking and run into that man, the man who he couldn't forget now. If only I could be lucky enough to have that happen again. But as he stood there silently no one who resembled Vincent passed by him.

His shoulders slumped at the realization that he wouldn't see him and he turned back for the edge of town and for the house. He had just wanted to get out to forget everything, not to remember. But that was the way things worked, wasn't it? The streetlamps were his only companions as his reached Zack's neighborhood. The single sign pointing out what street he was on still lopsided from where Cloud had stumbled into it the other night when he was drunk. Everything was the same as he traced out the now familiar path, his eyes resting on the worn gravel path up to the doorway. Everything was the same and nothing was about to change. He started to raise his eyes to the steps, halting at the shoes that came into focus. Zack lost his keys again or something, he thought sourly. But he raised his eyes further, stunned into further silence by the person he saw.

The ebony head was hanging down, silken hair covering the face he knew was there. Elbows rested on knees, the hands were pressed against the face hiding under the ebony veil. At the sound of crunching gravel, the person on the steps moved, raising his head as the veil parted. "Cid?"

Tearing off the sunglasses and cap, the blonde dropped them as he stared. It's a dream. I'm still asleep. I was never in town, I didn't meet Reno, I'm not here looking at him. This isn't real. It can't be. "W—what are you doing here?" he asked quietly. He tried to keep his head clear as the crimson eyes searched him, but he felt himself slipping. How could it not be real?

"I—I'm not sure. I guess because I had no where else to go." He lowered his gaze, focusing back on the steps below him. "He tried it. I always knew he would, but I never saw it coming this soon." He swallowed once, sighing. "I guess I should have hidden the gun. Then this wouldn't have happened. He didn't actually shoot it, just aimed and cocked it. But I wasn't about to stick around to see if he would shoot."

Cid gaped for a moment before slowly stepping closer until he was only a foot from the other boy. "He tried to shoot you?" The words held a huge impact for him and he knelt down before Vincent. "Are—are you all right? I mean, he didn't hurt you or anything else?"

"No. I didn't give him the chance. I know I shouldn't have come here, but I couldn't think of anywhere else." Crimson eyes melted into cerulean as he looked forward. Cid was almost surprised when Vincent didn't push him away as he reached out and brushed away the obsidian hair. "I'm sorry I came."

"Don't be." Cid pulled his hand away, stepping past the other and unlocking the front door. He hated the frigid front he had just placed on Vincent, but it was the only way to keep himself from just pulling him into a hug. His fingers still tingled from the touch as he pushed into the darkened room and flicked a switch. The entire living room flared full of light and he slipped off his shoes, disappearing into the kitchen as Vincent cautiously entered. "Go ahead and make yourself at home. You know how it goes around here." His voice was cold as he swallowed down a glassful of freezing water.

Vincent lowered his head slightly. "Thank you. I…I know this will cause a lot of problems, but…I appreciate it. Really." He sat down on the couch, the closest thing to the door.

"If you appreciate it so much, then stop acting all lowly and shit." He stood above the ebony haired boy. "You know how guests are treated here. Same as family. So yeah. Stop fucking around with all the polite shit." He handed Vincent a glass of water before turning and disappearing into the hallway. It was almost killing him to keep up the act that nothing was wrong, that he didn't feel anything anymore.

It was all a huge lie. How long could he keep it up? How long could he keep fooling Vincent into thinking that he didn't feel anything? Or was he even fooling him? Cid shook his head. Probably not. Vincent wasn't that easy to trick.

Vincent sighed as he sat out in the living room, the sounds of Cid in his room distracting him slightly. He could still see it in the cerulean eyes. Despite his attempts to show Vincent that he didn't care, he was failing. It was far too evident behind the shallow lies the blonde tried to feed him. He sighed again and stood. This might be complicated, he though silently as he approached the bedroom door.

Cid whirled around as the sound of Vincent moving the door slightly. "Yeah, uh, Zack finally got the other one back, so you can have something more than blankets tonight." He nodded to the second futon which was laid out on the other side of the room. "So, you want anything to eat? I can't cook worth shit, but I can try," he stated simply as he brushed a few specks of dust from his pants.

The ebony head shook slowly and Cid tried to push past him, but was barred by the arm stretched across the doorway. "Cid, you don't have to hide it. You don't have to lie. This is your own house and I'm the one who came here. And…I'm sorry about that day a week ago." He hung his head slightly, obsidian silk falling over his shoulders. "I didn't want to do that, but I thought it was the only way."

The blonde looked away. "Whatever. But can I get through?" Vincent moved slightly and he pushed into the hallway. "I just need to—"

"Don't you get it?" Vincent reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him back. Cid's breath was forced out of him as he was pushed against the wall and he gasped as warm hands covered his cheeks, Vincent pressing his mouth against his own. He had the thought to fight back, but the sensation that flowed through him almost melted him and he pressed back with his own kiss.

It was broken too soon though as Vincent moved back, their noses slightly touching. "I—I thought I would beat it. But I—I couldn't. I couldn't get you out of my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about you and before I knew it…I missed you. I wanted to see you again, more than I ever imagined. I waited for you, but you never came." He stood straight again, looking away. "I didn't know I would have to come to you."

Cid was speechless as he felt the tingle on his lips fade. Still silent, he reached up and traced a hand over the pale cheek, wrapping his arms around the raven-haired man in a soft embrace. When his touch was returned, he felt his heart jump and squeezed tighter, pressing his face into Vincent's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I didn't want to bother you so I kept my promise. But I would have come in an instant." He felt himself pressed backward again and took the kiss, mirroring it softly. "You know I would have."

Vincent smiled gently against his lips. "I know. I was just…I don't know. I didn't think it would go this way." He hugged Cid tighter, drawing him into another kiss, his hands running through the golden strands. He had in no way intended to encourage the blonde, but here he was tangled up in the very same feelings he was trying to discourage. I don't know how it happened and I don't care. All I know is that I'm here and he's here. That's all that matters.

Cid pushed free, holding Vincent back for a moment. "Just...hold on. I need to think about this," he whispered. He took a deep breath and escaped the heated embrace for the now-chilly kitchen. Pressing his hands against the table, he hung his head at the slightly dizziness running through his mind. Was he to believe that everything was really going this well? That everything was going his way? It was incredibly hard to believe, but just as incredibly hard not to believe as two arms enfolded his shoulders. "I…I'm just confused. I just need some time to think, please."

Vincent looked over the blonde's shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. "Cid, are you all right? You don't look so well." He reached up and felt the boy's forehead, pushing away the damp bangs. "I understand that this is happening fast. I'm a little lost."

"No, it's not that." Cid turned in Vincent's arms, staring into the crimson eyes that he found it so easy to drown in. "I'm just not…used to this. I've never done anything like this. I mean, I've had girlfriends, but I never cared for them like this. And besides, you're a…well…"

"A man." Vincent nodded his head. "I understand." He lowered his head, the obsidian lashes brushing Cid's neck. "Believe me, I understand. It's hard and confusing at first." A soft kiss on the smooth skin made Cid shiver. "But at least you're not alone."

---------------------------

"So, you think he's okay now?" Zack asked softly as he unlocked the door. The house was dark and he reached over, flipping the light switch with a click. Depositing his bags on the table, he leaned over and picked up a few items that had dropped from Cloud's armload. He felt somewhat bad about leaving Cid alone all day. He had meant to come back earlier, but he had run into Cloud and they had gone shopping after classes were finished. Shopping somehow turned into going out for a bit and that somehow turned into have a few drinks. While it had been Cloud's suggestion to get him to calm down a little and stop worrying so much about Cid, he had been the one to get the brunt of the alcohol.

Zack shook his head as Cloud collapsed on the couch, his eyes closing momentarily as a wave of dizziness passed over him. "This was supposed to be a chance to calm you down, not to get me drunk," he grumbled as the black-haired man picked him up and started to carry him to their room.

"Well, I didn't ask you to drink it all, so whose fault is it now?" He smiled and pushed the door open with his foot, Cloud flipping the light switch. With a quick kiss, he placed the blonde on the bed, watching with a small smile as he crawled under the covers and curled into his characteristic ball. Within minutes he was completely asleep, only a few spikes of golden hair peeking out from under the blankets. Shaking his head, he turned and headed back into the kitchen.

Grabbing a beer from the refrigerator, he slumped down onto the couch. After downing half of the bottle, he let his eyes roam the room. He glanced at the clock: midnight. They had stayed out for a while longer than he'd intended. He started to stand when something caught his eye. Slight confusion passed through his slightly drunken mind as he stood above the shoes, staring down at the unfamiliar pair. "Okay, that's weird," he whispered to himself.

Shrugging, he downed the rest of the beer and tossed the bottle in the trash, heading back toward his room. But something stopped him from entering it again. The pair of shoes was bothering him. They weren't Cloud's or Cid's, so whose?

Creeping softly down the hallway, he pushed open Cid's bedroom door and peeked inside. The almost full moon was shining in through the open window, the pale glow settling on the spare futon laid out over to the side. Like someone was here, but they're…oh. He smiled as he looked further into the room, catching sight of the blonde head sticking above the covers, resting on another person's chest. Ebony hair flowed around the sleeping boys and Vincent's arm was curled around the blonde's shoulders, both of them asleep.

Smiling again, Zack closed the door softly and leaned against the wall, sighing. So things did work out. Maybe it was just the way they were supposed to go. He slipped inside his room, glancing over at the sleeping Cloud. Maybe Cloud was right. There wasn't any reason to worry like I was; things fell into place just the way they were supposed to.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ack, I just wrote this part and already forgot that Reno was in it. Haha, I'm sorry Reno. But maybe a little redemption for him. He's not such the bad guy that Vincent was painting him out to be, hmm? Maybe just a little misinterpreting of words? Something along those lines.So...looks like Vincent was hiding a few secrets there. That was why he wanted Cid to leave back in the last chapter where he pretty much kicked him out of his basement. He didn't want to slip up and say anything revealing that he did like Cid. But, as they say, absense makes the heart grow stronger. Or something like that. Haha. But it really does. I unfortunately have been in Cid's place and it's not fun. Too bad it didn't end up that way. But anyway, seems kind of normal now, right? Well, we'll see how that goes. lol And absolutely nothing cultural! XD Oh well. This chapter got to it's point anyway.

So...reviews and such, please? Don't make me get Cid and the clicky-clicky. lol Wow, I'm tired and rambling. Haha. Funness.