A Heart Renewed
By: CrimsonCrome
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or any Final Fantasy stuff. I just like to play the game, which I bought! Anyway, I do own my OCs that I made up specifically for this story and all the made up settings/names/ideas/things that I created. Thank you.
A/N: Thank you A-Mystery-Indeed, Raine Ishida, and treasureplanet-gurl for the kind reviews. I hope you will continue to read and enjoy these stories. I know it's sometimes hard to keep up with what day Sora and Cloud are on, but I hope that I'll make it easy enough to understand.
Warning: Some religious material, but inaccurate portrayal.
Chapter SixMorning came with unpleasant gray rays of light through the thin curtains in the hotel. The air conditioning rumbled as it came back to life, spewing out musty smelling air.
Cloud was awake, he had not slept much anyway. He pulled his aching body out of bed and walked slowly, dragging his feet and hunching his back, to the hotel room door. He opened it and walked down stairs. He had forgotten again that he was in his boxers, but luckily for him, no one was around this early in the morning to see him. He went over to the continental breakfast laid out without attendants and picked up a doughnut. Then he went over to a juice machine and filled up a Styrofoam cup with some orange juice. After doing all of this, he turned and began to go back up the stairs and down the hall to his room. But he stopped and decided to go out on the balcony, not realizing it would probably be indecent in his checkered boxers. Cloud opened the door and sat down at a table. The suspended balcony was over the parking lot, giving the attendee a view of the rising brick wall of the neighboring building. Cloud ate his doughnut silently, staring at the wall without much thought.
Then the door opened to the balcony and Tifa was there. Cloud jumped and tried to hide himself the best he could in his chair. He scooted further under the translucent table.
"What are you doing out here in your boxers, silly?" Tifa asked, suppressing a laugh but not a grin.
"Trying to eat my doughnut in peace," he mumbled, grumpy. "How did you know I was out here?"
"Cloud," Tifa said, rolling her eyes. "You are sitting in front of a see-through glass door. I saw you from the hallway!"
Cloud sipped at his orange juice, then turned back to her. "Well whatever."
"What's the matter?" Tifa asked, concerned.
"I don't know. That dream is bugging me," Cloud said, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Oh," Tifa clenched her hands into fists. "We'll take him on together, if he is too much."
"Who? Oh, Sephiroth. Yeah – I mean no! He's my enemy. It's not your fight," Cloud said. He looked over the balcony and something caught his eye. It was a small blond girl. She stopped on the sidewalk and turned her eyes toward him, almost as if she knew he was watching her! Startled, Cloud stood, sat down again quickly and tried to regain some composure. The girl smiled, a soft, genuine smile, then turned and walked off.
"Who was that?" Cloud asked.
"Huh? Who?" Tifa asked.
Cloud looked at her curiously. "That girl? She was blond with a white dress and had on flip-flops? Didn't you see her?"
"I didn't see anyone. Cloud, are you okay?" Tifa asked.
Cloud stood again, ran past Tifa (mainly because of his indecent state) and went to the room. He found some clothes, avoiding waking his friends, and ran out into the hallway again and down the stairs. When he went out the lobby door, where he saw her again.
She was now on the opposite side of the street, staring at him. She was smiling though. Cloud went over to her – something he wouldn't usually do.
"Good morning," she said kindly as he walked up to her.
"Good morning," Cloud replied, a bit puzzled at what his intentions were in the first place.
The girl put her hands behind her back and intertwined her fingers. She leaned forward a little, looking Cloud straight in the eyes. "Do you believe in destiny?"
Cloud was taken aback. Was this some kind of pick up line – from a girl?
"Yes," she nodded, "You'd have to. Otherwise, you wouldn't worry so much about your dream."
"What?" Cloud narrowed his eyes and took a step back.
"That's right. You're nightmare about Aerith; and Sephiroth, of course. He's coming here, like you predicted he would. It won't be long now. He moves swiftly," the girl removed her hands from behind her back and stood up straight. "But there's always a second road."
"What?" Cloud repeated himself, shaking his head.
The girl smiled. "If you believe in destiny, then you must understand that destiny can be changed. Every little thing that you do causes a continual ripple effect. It changes everything or nothing that happens in the future. If you try to avoid your fate, your focus is on that fate, therefore causing that precise fate to come true. But if you were to try and create a new fate, your focus in on that new fate, therefore causing the precise fate to come true. Except for when there is intervention from those who wish to see you find another fate, which can sometimes alter your results."
Cloud spread his hands wide in question. "What are you saying? Who are you anyway? Have we met before? How did you know about my dream?"
"Cloud," the girl whispered. "I'm here to change destiny – your fate and that of a boy named Sora. You know him – just not very well. But this will cause many other destinies to alter, that of which I may not be able to control. But you two are important. Sora is the key. He must be kept alive. And you – you will protect this town from its destined fate. The rest is up to me."
"I do not understand," Cloud placed his head in his hands and sighed.
"It's a lot to take in. I'm sorry. In the end, you may not remember what happened and you may be somewhere different. But if you promise to protect these good people, I will protect you," she took her fingertips and touched his forehead with them.
Cloud's mind exploded with a vision of a blood red sky and a steel bridge. On it stood a figure.
"This is Sephiroth, correct?" The girl's voice seemed distant now.
"Yes," Cloud whispered.
The figure disappeared. Another appeared in his place. Cloud was puzzled; had he seen this person before? It was a boy, younger then he was. The boy had spiky brown hair and vivid blue eyes. He stood tall and confidently, with a broad smile across his tanned face.
"This is Sora," the girl said. "He will help you in the final battle, sealing the keyhole to this world. It's up to you two to win. I will do what I can to alter your futures, but you must understand – in the end, it's up to God what happens to you."
"How can you alter futures? I don't understand," Cloud cried out in anger.
"I am an angel – posing as a nobody, which I do not have time to explain what they are. I have been sent here to warn you what is coming and tell you what you must do," the girl whispered.
"Who are you?" Cloud shouted, not knowing what to believe.
"My name is Naminé. Sephiroth is the embodiment of your darkness, Cloud, so you may never truly get rid of him. Only God knows. Sephiroth is your own personal demon. He is a corruptor, a servant of Satan. They are both fallen angels. Even though it appears Sephiroth has much power, Lucifer has much more indeed. But even though evil may enter the world, it cannot fully take over. You must find yourself, Cloud. You are the light. You will win. You will not die," there was a flash of white light and then he was alone.
Cloud's mouth was gaping open with shock at what he just heard.
Had he just imagined her?
"Cloud?" Tifa had just come out of the lobby door and onto the street where he was.
"What?" Cloud replied, distantly.
"What happened? Are you alright?" Tifa took his hand in hers and Cloud retracted it without thinking. He looked into her concerned eyes and somewhat regretted his reaction.
He shrugged. "I have a lot on my mind. I think Sephiroth will be coming soon. We must prepare this place. Where can we draw him to, so that these people are not in the way of our fight?"
Tifa shook her head and then raised her pointed finger upward, signaling she had an idea. "Fate's Cove! No one is there, but children – and they only go in the afternoon."
"And if he comes during the afternoon?" Cloud questioned her.
"Then–" Tifa placed her hand on her head as her eyes misted over with deep thought. After a few minutes, she pointed to Foretelling Isle. "We'll have to lure him across the bridge."
Cloud shivered. In his nightmare he had died on the bridge, Sephiroth slicing open his chest as he tumbled to the dark ocean below…
"I don't know. Maybe we shouldn't use any bridges to any islands. I think we should lure him to…" Cloud looked around in the darkness. "Is there a park around here?"
Tifa shrugged. "I'll find one! We can look today!"
Cloud nodded. "Okay."
The two went back inside. The others were already eating from the continental breakfast bar. Yuffie was cramming in a muffin when Cloud entered the room.
"Heaaaah!" She waved to them, food stuffed in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed. "Where were you guys?"
"Outside," Cloud explained.
Leon smirked. "Doing what?"
Cloud gave Leon a dark, warning stare and proceeded to sit down next to Cid, who was enjoying himself a low fat strawberry yogurt.
"Gosh I love food," Cid mumbled, licking his spoon dreamily.
Tifa brightened and piled up a large plate of food. Everyone except Leon and Cloud ate a vast amount of victuals. They had been starving on the Dusk Islands. So now that they had access to food, they weren't going to easily pass it by.
Yuffie was on her third orange when she finally decided to confront Leon. "You know, I think it's high time you left our company."
"Ouch," Leon said in mock offense. "That's just so cruel."
Yuffie shrugged and peeled away an orange slice. Some juice from the orange squirted from the fruit and hit Leon above the eye. Yuffie laughed openly at this, causing Leon to flick a corn flake at her. Yuffie stopped laughing and narrowed her eyes in anger. She then picked up a half eaten doughnut and leaned across the table. With one quick movement, she squashed it on his nose and rubbed it all over his face. Stunned, Leon sat there and let her wipe the sugary, glazed bread across his features.
Tifa gasped and Cid unsuccessfully tried to conceal a laugh. Cloud looked on in approval.
Leon slowly stood from his chair after Yuffie sat back down. He stole her orange from her and – when she began to protest – shoved the fruit into her open mouth. Yuffie took a second to wrench the orange from her teeth and then leapt – broken leg and all - over the table, knocking Leon to the floor. She scrambled up and hobbled over to the breakfast bar. She grabbed a milk jug. She then unscrewed the cap and splashed the liquid onto him. However, this time, Leon didn't stand still. He jerked the jug from her hands. After doing this, he pulled the neck of her shirt toward him and dumped the rest of the milk down the front of her chest. She screamed and fell backward, knocked off balance. Leon threw the empty jug and got the salt. He opened the top of the shaker and flung the salt onto her. Getting off the floor (salt pouring from her black hair and off of her shorts), Yuffie hopped over to the counter and grabbed a yogurt cup. She opened it and then tackled Leon to the ground. She then shifted so that she was straddling him so he couldn't get up. She dipped her fingers in the yogurt and was about to stick it in his ear when Cloud pulled her off of him.
"What?" Yuffie yelled in exasperation, pulling at the front of her soaked shirt and leaning on Cloud for support. "Why did you do that for?"
Cloud pointed to the hotel manger.
Yuffie's face flushed a dark red. "Oh, hello."
The manager pointed to the lobby door. "OUT."
XxX
Cloud was now walking with Yuffie, Tifa, Leon, and Cid down the main street on Vision Shores. The town was now bustling with activity and many people looked curiously at Leon and Yuffie, who were still covered in their breakfast foods. Cloud had to carry Yuffie on his back, and the salt that had stuck to her was now making him itch as it got on his legs and arms.
Cid sighed. "We got to find shelter for tonight. Then maybe tomorrow someone can look for a decent job."
"But where can we stay?" Tifa asked.
Cid shrugged and kept walking. But it wasn't even a second afterward that a woman tapped him on the shoulder. Cid whirled and faced her.
She had pretty brown hair and plain blue eyes. She was of average height and was wearing a pretty flower patterned sundress. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help but overhear that you might need a place to stay tonight. I would gladly provide you with accommodations. I have a shower if you two want to get cleaned up." She pointed to Leon and Yuffie.
"Really?" Tifa asked in complete surprise. "Is there anything we can do for you?"
"Well," the woman smiled. "I suppose it wouldn't be called a good deed if I asked for something back, now would it? I can take you home right now and I won't charge you anything. I was just out and about, buying some groceries with my last paycheck. I was planning on looking for a new job today, but I can easily do that tomorrow. Please, follow me!"
Cloud, Yuffie, Tifa, Cid, and Leon followed the nice woman out of town and across the bridge heading toward Fate's Cove. When they finally reached the beach house, the woman opened the door and let them all file into it.
"Now," the lady said. "Three of you can take my room, but the other two will have to sleep down here on the couches in the living room. I will sleep on the recliner." She walked over to the refrigerator and put some of her groceries inside, then put the rest in cupboards. "You may all help yourself to any food you would like. Except for the chilled chocolate pudding. I got that special for Sora."
Cloud nearly dropped Yuffie. She squeaked in surprised displeasure.
"Your son's named Sora?" Cloud barely rasped out. Was this a sign that Sephiroth was to be here soon? He happened to look out a window and saw a flash of blond hair and the edge of a white dress before it disappeared past the screen.
Naminé?
"Yes," the woman turned and smiled. "Do you know him? He's such a good boy."
"No," Cloud shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. "I've heard of him."
"Oh," the woman turned to a cupboard and produced a baking sheet and a teapot. "I'll make some chicken fingers and green tea. You all may help yourself to the television in the living room. There are a few books in there too, but I don't know if you'd like them."
Cloud walked into the living room with his group and deposited Yuffie on the couch; then he sat down wearily. Yuffie hopped back into the kitchen. Leon began to follow her, but Cloud caught the young man's arm and yanked him backward a bit.
"Knock it off!" Leon shouted in the blonde's face.
Cloud narrowed his eyes. "Stay away from her."
"I just want a shower," Leon snapped.
Cid found a remote and turned on the small television. It had white and black dots dancing on the screen. Cid stood and wiggled the antenna around until a fuzzy picture came in.
"On this afternoons six o'clock news…" the TV blasted.
Cid turned down the volume with the remote. They watched as a local news reporter as she walked around a parking lot. A lot of teenagers were washing vehicles and spraying them down with water hoses.
"As you can see," the woman reporter spoke into the microphone. "These hard working kids are scrubbing away at these cars, vans, and trucks without slowing down or tiring of their job. These kids you see before you are the youth group from the First Church of Christ on Basil Drive. They didn't have us come here, but we got a tip from a local pizza shop manager that they were doing this. So why are they washing all these automobiles?
"Yesterday evening a young man with spiky red hair walked into the same pizza shop that I mentioned earlier and pulled a gun on the supervisor. He robbed the place and held a woman hostage until he could get away. I was told she was not harmed. These young teenagers were in that pizza shop at the time of the robbery. No one was hurt. However, the red headed robber got away with approximately one thousand dollars.
"So, as an act of pure kindness, this youth group and their leader decided to have a car wash to raise money for the just opened pizza parlor. I encourage you to come down and at least make a donation for all the hard work these kids have done to help out this business. If you do not recognize this place, it's none other than the First Church of Christ parking lot here on Basil Drive. So come with car and donation to help out your community and these wonderful young men and women.
"I'm Gina Anthrop with the latest six o' clock news. Back to you Steve," The screen switched over to a bald man sitting at a counter with papers in hand. He began babbling on about a fire on Foretelling Isle that firefighters were trying to control, but Cloud did not listen.
Sora was at that carwash. He had been laughing with a red headed girl while spraying off the side of an SUV.
Cloud shook his head. Sora was only a child. What part would he play in the upcoming events? Was he really that important – enough for Naminé to alter his destiny?
They waited for Sora's mother to get done with dinner, watching various channels and debating on whether comedies were indispensable entertainment compared to sports.
Sora's mother finally beckoned them back into the kitchen. When they entered she was busy dusting off some fold up chairs from a closet. She placed them under the square table and then busied herself with setting all the plates, cups, and silverware. By the time she had the food on the table, and the tea in the teacups, everyone except her was drooling.
Yuffie hopped over to a chair and sat down. Her hair was wet from a recent shower. Leon also seated himself, now clean of any still lingering breakfast food.
"I thought you were only going to make chicken fingers," Tifa whispered in sheer awe.
Sora's mother had indeed made the chicken fingers she promised, but she had mixed them into a zesty pasta dish. She had also made a loaf of brown bread with butter and jam waiting to be spread on it. But the best part was the small, simple chocolate cake sitting in the center of the table.
"I'm sorry, do you not want my pasta?" Sora's mother asked Tifa, sounding hurt.
"Oh no!" Tifa cried. "You got me all wrong! I just can't believe you were so nice as to make all of this for us!"
Sora's mother shrugged. "I like to cook."
Everyone filled his or her plates eagerly, but leaving the chocolate cake untouched. They were about to begin eating when Sora's mother folded her hands together and proclaimed: "Let's pray."
Cid had a forkful of pasta halfway to his mouth, but stopped and whimpered a bit. Tifa looked madly at the steaming brown bread. Yuffie pouted.
Sora's mother went straight into prayer, asking them to bow their heads and let her do so. They did as they were told, but not willingly.
The prayer seemed to last forever to the hungry refugees, but when it was finished, they were all extremely grateful that they had the food in the first place. Then they ate.
Sora's mother ate a tiny amount, but refilled the other's plates voluntarily as they each shoved the well-prepared food past their lips. When all of the meal was gone, Sora's mother sliced the cake and gave each of them a piece, saving one. However, she did not eat it, but only watched the people at the table close their eyes in pleasure as they ate the delectable cake.
Cid looked eagerly at the last piece. "Are you going to eat that?"
Sora's mother laughed. "That I am saving for my son. I'm sorry. If you are still hungry, I can make some instant chocolate pudding."
Cid smiled wearily. "I don't need it. Thank you for all of the food. Everyone stood up from the table and headed to the living room with the exception of Yuffie, Cloud, and Sora's mother.
"What's your name?" Yuffie asked the nice woman.
Sora's mother smiled. "I'm Jane."
"Nice to meet you, Jane," Yuffie replied, while hopping over to the refrigerator for support. "Need help with the dishes?"
"No, dear, thank you. We'll get you to a hospital and see about that leg of yours," Jane said pointing to Yuffie's swollen right leg. "But as for now, I would like you to rest on the couch."
Cloud watched as Yuffie limped off and then he turned to Jane. "I'll help you with the dishes."
Jane smiled. "I'm obliged. Here, we can work on them together." With each of them working their fastest, they had the dishes finished in no time. Cloud sat down at the table and listened to Jane speak over a fresh cup of steaming tea.
"I just lost my job yesterday. I didn't want to worry Sora, so I told him I had the day off. I suppose it was a lie, which I regret. Anyway, I have to find a good paying job or I'm afraid I won't be able to feed him or put money in his bank account for college." Jane was smiling, but her eyes were wet. "I love him so much, I don't want anything to happen to my baby."
Cloud couldn't help feel guilty. Naminé had told him Sora was important and he wondered if his mother knew his role in the events to come. Cloud was sure she didn't. Even he did not know.
They didn't have much time to continue talking because the front door opened. Jane waved to the figure that appeared in the doorway. "Oh hello, Sora! We have some visitors, this young man's name is Cloud."
Cloud turned to see a spiky haired boy standing in the doorway with a young woman with jet-black hair. He recognized Sora, but didn't know who the girl was.
"Hi mom. Nice to meet you Cloud. Um, this is Patience," Sora said, pointing to the black haired girl.
Cloud looked at the young woman. His head whirled for a second as he finally recognized who the girl was.
It was Sephiroth's daughter.
XxX End Chapter Six XxX