Blade of Light: Tension Rising

Date started: 5.21.06

Date finished: 6.18.06

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, or Final Fantasy. The dialogue in Clouds memory belongs to the people at Square Enix.

Author's Note:
Ah it feels soo good to be done with school. I don't really have much to say about Chapter 7, just that this is where the vegetable stuff came from. The quote about how vegetables are crunchy is from my friend Chelsea. So, enjoy! R and R please.

Cloud was standing on the battlements of Radiant Garden, looking out over the mountains and valleys. Every now and then he saw a small bands of heartless prowling around in the mist.

"Is something wrong?" A gentle hand touched his shoulder.

Cloud turned to see Aerith standing behind him, "It's nothing," he said turning back to the battlements.

Aerith joined him in looking out over the hills.

"Hmmm...?" she asked in a playfully pushy tone.


"I don't want you involved."

"You mean you don't want me there when you go away again?"

Cloud looked over at Aerith, noticing how she sounded hurt.


"I just - Listen, even if I go far away, I'll come back."


"Do you mean it?"

"Yeah." Cloud said as he looked away.


"See? You don't look so sure. Well, okay, I understand. Go - get things settled."


"Huh?"


"No matter how far away you are... once you find your light... I'm sure it will lead you back here again. Right?"

"I suppose."

"So I'll stay here - and I'll cheer for you - Okay, Cloud?"

"Okay Cloud? Cloud? Hey are you even listening to me?"

Cloud looked up to see Tifa standing over him.

"Uh…sorry, what were you asking me?"

Tifa sighed and sat down next to Cloud at the table. "I was asking you if were ok with sleeping on the couch until we find a bigger safe house."

It had been a week since Traverse Town had been destroyed and they had just finished getting settled in their old safe house in Radiant Garden. But with so many people living in the house, it was starting to get crowded. Even when Sora left there still wouldn't be enough rooms for everyone to sleep in.

"Oh, sure that's fine."

Cloud leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes; it didn't matter to him where he slept, he hadn't slept well since Aerith's death anyway. They had gone to the City of the Ancients to put her spirit at rest, since then Cloud had been mostly keeping to himself.

"Dilly Dally, Shilly Shally."

Cloud opened his eyes and looked at Tifa, "what?"

"Dilly Dally, Shilly Shally!"

"Tifa, will you stop talking nonsense, its not going to cheer me up."

"You've got to let go Cloud! We are still in danger; you can't keep sulking in your own little world! You still have to fight, if your just going to go sulk in a corner and pretend nothing else exists, Sephiroth might as well show up and kill you right now! Aerith died so you could go on living, not so you could shut down and isolate yourself. So which is it Cloud? A memory, or us?"

"Mm…"

"I think she wants you to move on," Leon said as he entered the kitchen.

"Who asked you Squall?" Cloud said angrily as he got up and started towards the door.

"Hold on there," Leon said, grabbing Clouds shoulder, "Sora and Kairi want to go to the market and get some food for tonight, I think they want to have a 'family' dinner before Sora leaves. Even though we're safer here in Radiant Garden, we can't let those two go wandering around alone. Since we're all busy trying to find a new safe house, I thought that you could escort them."

"I'm not a babysitter Squall! Besides, I'm no good with kids."

"HEEEY! Who are you calling kids!" Sora whined, having heard what Cloud said as he walked into the kitchen.

"I'm calling you a kid, because its what you are."

"But I'm 15!"

"See, your still a kid. Anyway, I'm not taking you to the market, just use the food that's here."

"But Cloud!" Sora whined.

"No."

"Pleessee?"

"No."

"Sora are you ready to go?" Kairi asked as she entered the kitchen.

"Kairi!" Sora whined, "Cloud said that he won't take us to the market!"

"Cloud, why won't you take us? We really wanted to make a huge farewell feast for Sora. It would really mean a lot to me if you would take us, this might be the last time I'll see Sora for a long time. Will you please take us Cloud?"

Cloud looked down sheepishly, "Fine, I'll take you."

Sora immediately brightened up, "YAY! Come on lets go, we have to get there before they run out of food!"

"Sora, don't be silly, we have plenty of time, besides we have to wait for Cloud."

"No, you two go on ahead, I'll be along in a minute."

"Ok, come on Kairi I want a sea salt ice cream!"

Sora pulled Kairi out the door, leaving Cloud standing in the kitchen with Tifa and Leon.

"I swear they set me up for that one," Cloud said, sighing as he collected his Buster blade.

"Aw, come on Cloud, some fresh air will do you good," Tifa said smiling.

"Yeah, just make sure that you aren't gone too long, ok?" Leon added, "take care of those two, I don't think they know how much danger that their in."

"Don't worry MOTHER, I won't let anyone touch a hair on their heads, and I'll make sure they play nice with all the other kids." Cloud said as he walked out the door.

"Kairi, can we get some broccoli?" Sora asked, as they wandered down the crowded streets of the market.

"Sure, this is your big dinner after all."

"Yay! Do you like broccoli Cloud?" Sora asked, turning to talk to a sulking Cloud.

"I don't like vegetables," Cloud mumbled, "Do you have to act so childish? Your 15, at least act like your older then 10. Honestly, you're supposed to be the Keyblade master."

"Aw, how can you not like vegetables? They are so crunchy and good!"

"I just don't like 'em ok? What is this twenty questions?"

"Sora, stop bugging Cloud, here you can help me pick out what kind of Tofu you want."

Cloud sighed as Sora wandered off to pick out Tofu for their dinner. He didn't notice that Kairi was watching him with a worried expression on her face.

"Um, Cloud?"

"Mm, what?"

"I…I think that you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You shouldn't let the past rule your future, you know?"

"But can't you argue that your past is your future?"

"Letting the past rule your future doesn't change what happened in the past. Nothing can change what has happened, but you can change what will happen, like a second chance."

"I don't deserve a second chance, I don't even deserve to be allowed to change my future. I already wrecked someone else's future, why should I get a chance to shape mine? I'm just living on borrowed time, let someone else have my future."

"But…Aerith died so you could have your future, don't you want to honor her wish?"

"Hmm…more then you know."

"Kairi! I found the Tofu I want!" Sora came marching back carrying the Tofu that he had chosen.

"Oh Sora, this Tofu is so expensive. We don't have enough munny to pay for it and still get everything else that we need."

Sora's face fell as he started to take the Tofu back; Cloud put a hand of Sora's shoulder to stop him.

"Uh, don't worry about the bill Kairi…I'll pay for it."

"Cloud…we couldn't." Sora said, looking at Cloud with a surprised look on his face.

"No, I…want you guys to have this dinner, its…important to you. It may be the last time we see Sora for a long time, so…don't worry about the cost, ok?"

"Thank you Cloud," Kairi said, smiling.

"And Sora, I like artichokes…there my favorite vegetable."

Sora's face lit up with excitement, "OK, artichokes it is then!"

Riku lifted his head as the door opened; he shivered at the sudden rush of air. Standing in the door was Saïx, wearing a most unpleasant grin on his face.

"You, boy, come with me."

"What do you want Saïx?" Axel asked, glaring.

"That is none of your concern, traitor. I only came for him," he said, pointing at Riku. "Now, come with me."

Riku got up and followed Saïx out of the cell and towards a part of the fortress that he had never seen before.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To see Lord Xemnas, he has something to show you."

"Oh, so its LORD Xemnas now?"

"If you continue with that attitude, your little friends life wont be spared for much longer."

Saïx lead him to a door in a softly lit corridor, "He is waiting for you inside."

Riku entered through the doors to find himself in a library of sorts. Large bookcases that housed many books lined the walls. In the center of the room, there was a large wooden table that was partially covered with papers, at one end sat Xemnas and at the other a large crystal was displayed on a stand. As Riku entered the room, Xemnas looked up from his work.

"Ah, Riku, how nice to see you again."

"What do you want Xemnas?" Riku asked cautiously.

"I just wanted to chat, honestly you act as if I have some hidden motive."

"To chat huh? What exactly did you want to chat about?"

"I wanted to chat about your friend, the key barer. What kind of person is he? Is he looking for you now? You know, just general information."

"Of course he's looking for me!" Riku yelled angrily, "Sora would never leave me in a place like this!"

"Heh, don't be to sure, come look."

Xemnas stood up from his chair and approached the crystal at the other end of the table.

"Show me the key barer."

The crystal glowed a bright blue and then an image appeared in it. Riku moved closer to see Sora and Kairi sitting around a large table with five or six other people. Everyone looked happy as they sat around and feasted on all the food that crowded the table.

"Yes, it looks like he is working very hard to find you. Face it Riku, he has moved on, you are no more then a painful memory to him."

Riku looked down into the crystal with disbelief, "It can't be real," he thought, "Sora wouldn't forget me."

"Its as real as you or me, this is no illusion."

"You're lying!"

"I swear to you, I am not."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because I showed you the truth, there are no lies between us. I showed you the truth because I felt that it was important for you to know. He doesn't really love you Riku."

"No…your wrong…Sora loves me."

"Then why isn't he out looking for you now? Why is he sitting happily around a table with others while you are prisoner in this fortress? Face it Riku, you no longer exist to him."

"But…no I can't be true…why…why would he forget about me?"

"The heart is a fickle thing Riku, you can never trust it. The door is always open Riku, if you ever choose to join us. If you ever want revenge, just come and talk to me. If there is ever anything you need, just ask, we're you family Riku, we care about you."

"I…just want to be alone right now…"

"Very well, I'll have Saïx show you to your room. No reason to make you stay in the dungeon, seeing as you're family."

As if on queue, Saïx walked into the study and waited for Riku to follow him. Riku took one last look into the crystal before he left.

"Good bye Sora," he thought trying to hold back his tears, "Even if you've forgotten about me, I'll never forget about you. I'll always love you, no matter what."

He followed Saïx out of the study and down a wooden paneled corridor. Riku almost ran into Saïx when he stopped outside a fancy looking double door.

"Here's your room, will you be needing anything else?"

"No…thank you."

Saïx left as Riku opened the door to see a large well-furnished room before him. Across the room were several large picture windows that overlooked the city. Riku closed the door and walked across to the windows. His mind raced as he looked out over the dark, rainy city. He glared as he became angrier and angrier that his best friend had betrayed him, no broken his heart. As Riku stood at the window, darkness began swirling around him, and before he was completely engulfed by it, a single tear ran down his face.

Xemnas watched Riku through his crystal, an evil grin spreading on his face.

"It worked, just as you said it would."

Another figure stepped out of the shadow, "Of course it did," the figure said as it joined Xemnas at the crystal. "Now we can use him to lure the keymaster to us."

"I must say I didn't think you had it in you Roxas, but I was wrong, you obviously know what your doing."

"I can't take all the credit," Roxas said smiling, "I learned everything I know from you, Lord Xemnas."

Blabbing:

DUN DUN DUUNN! Oh no! Riku's gone over to the dark side! What will happen next!

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