Month 02 – Day 16 – Thursday

His steps are equal and his eyes are weary as he walks through the school yard in that casual way that he does best. The sword at his back is somewhat vacant in his little school visit, and the people can't blame him; he is after all in the presence of children. Marlene and Denzel are an exception, but for the rest of Midgar, he preferred to set a proper and formal example.

His heart skips a couple of beats, especially when a particular kid waved to him for no reason at all. The boy was probably a few years younger than Marlene, he judged by the height of the boy. His tuffs of blonde hair seem to remind him of someone particularly familiar, of who he couldn't quite put his finger on. So as he gave the boy a sluggish smile, he turned and edged his way further into the busy school.

The children laughed as they played, and some even ran till they fell down. But yet they still get up and run again; he sighed, however did children store all that energy in their little bodies. He took one glance at the children at the playground before opening the door and entering the dimly lit building.

He stood at first, reading the large white coloured board plastered upon the wall. He skimmed read a few lines before he rested on the numbers.

"Floor 1, room 5," he mumbled under his breath.

He turned the corner and gave a gentle nod to the parents he passed every now and then. He stopped outside the room, and drew in a silent breath before he opened the door.

His eyes searched the hall for the familiar brunette and sighed when his eyes found her. His eyes met hers, and instantly he shrank inwardly at all the penetrating eyes that found his entrance quite intriguing. He doubled back a quiet gulp before closing the door behind him and sitting quietly down on the chair beside her.

"You're late," she whispers to him.

He nods, understanding her slight angriness. He was after all, always late.

"Let me guess, traffic?"

He nods again as he turns his gaze to the stage in front of the many chairs. There are a few parents scattered in the crowd, and some that he recognized simply because they were parents of Denzel and Marlene's friends. The stage was still darkened, but only slightly lit with a small light. He sighed, the play hadn't started after all.

"They haven't started?"

"No."

He smiles briefly, "Then I'm not late."

She gives him a plain look and he keeps quiet. But several moments later before the cloth began to rise she whispered.

"Cloud?"

He nods again. "Yes."

"Are you comfortable with this?" she asks, nudging towards all the parents in a clear close proximity to them.

"I'm alright," he says quietly. "But why is everyone sitting one seat away from us?"

She laughs a little, and presses a hand to her mouth to wipe away her grin. "They were afraid."

"Why?" he asks, his brow slightly raised.

"Of your sword."

"I wasn't going to wear that here," he says.

"Yes, I know," she replied. "But they don't."

"I can't believe-"

"Shhhh," she hushed, pressing a finger to her lips. "The play's starting."

He chokes back a cough and turns his eyes to the now brightly lit stage.

The play lasted a solid hour, mostly taken up by the individual introduction of each cast member. But as the night drew on and the darkness fell over the lands, the little family found themselves walking the quiet street back to their home. Fenrir slowly being pulled along by the slightly armoured man.

"Did you have to wear your armour?" she asks him after noting his heaving and sighing.

He gives her a small smile and continues pulling the bike. "It isn't normally heavy," he says, then glimpses at the two kids sitting on the bike. "But with them on it, it's a little bit more heavy."

"They can walk," she says, "Can't you?"

Denzel looks elsewhere, and Marlene follows suit.

"I know you can hear me," she urges on as she walks swiftly beside him.

"I'm tired," Denzel says.

"And I'm exhausted," Marlene adds.

"We had a long day..."

"Yeah really, we had to set up all the props..."

"And remember our lines..."

"Not to mention the costumes..."

She sighs, and mumbles with a smile, "I suppose you deserve a rest after all the hard effort you put into the play."

"Hey!" Cloud started.

"You're strong enough," she says and steps faster in front of him.

He gazes down the long street, and the several traffic lights scattered along it. He see's Seventh Heaven, barely visible from this distance and he sighs, this was going to be a long walk home.

But as his eyes come to rest on the brunette skipping in front of him, he can't help but suddenly forget the sweat forming at his temple. Instead he smiles briefly and continues to push the bike with all that mako filled energy.

He suddenly feels less tired.

---

A/N: Alright, seeing as there was suddenly a burst of reviews I shall continue the story. :) don't forget to review.

Iskra revoir - yeah, he's the best inspiration i've got for everything that i do.

Writer Chica - lol he's already infected by it whether he reads it or not.

and thanks to the rest of you who reviewed for chapter 4. crackitlackin, PostBoxRomance, Kohyru, , Oceanee, goatgod