Kingdom Hearts

Chapter Nine: A Great Sacrifice

Authors Notes: I spent all day yesterday working on this, even when I was sick. I refuse to lose interest in the plot line and a review or two would really fuel me to work faster. We're halfway through at this point, so break out the party favors that we've made it this far.

Warning: Yes, well I might be in college, but my grammar will never improve. I've acquired a Beta, but she wouldn't be able to look this over until Monday, and I honestly just wanted to get this up. Therefore, you may catch a few grammar issues and perhaps a misused word. Excuse this, considering I'm a History Major, not an English Major.

Chapter Nine: A Great Sacrifice

Leon was frustrated and he was trying so very hard not to let it shine through. He could sense he was not the only one feeling tense and aggravated, but he was sure he was broadcasting the loudest.

Donald and Goofy had taken to bickering with each other while Pocahontas was giving him nervous looks and weaving her fingers though dark strands of hair. She was positively radiating distrust at him. He attributed this to her less than shinny past with men outside her own people. Of course he though having the humming bird attack him was rather juvenile.

"I come to you because you are the wisest of all." And the last chance I have. "Anything you can tell me about Sora or Cloud would be beneficial."

Grandmother Willow chuckled deeply, her roots moving near Leon's feet. "Child, you mistake my age for wisdom. I cannot tell you what you must do, nor can I see the future." Her features saddened. "You have come to me with hope in your heart, and it pains me. I fear the one you love will be lost."

Leon had known to hope would be dangerous. Still, he had found himself willing to believe Grandmother Willow would be able to help him someway. Yet she had offered him nothing. She could not tell him how to save Cloud, nor how to find Sora.

He lost the last of his strength and sunk down to his knees. "I don't know what to do," He admitted to himself. He was out of ideas, plans, hope and anything else that might have kept him going. Sora was lost to them, their future was looking bleak and Cloud was going to die.

"Two parts of a whole."

"What?" Leon looked at the dark skinned woman though brown bangs.

She was still peering at him with an uncertain expression, but a small nudge of roots from Grandmother Willow instilled some form of confidence. "Two moons ago I had a dream," She began softly. "It was unlike any others. I saw a sun, brighter than ever before. I reached out to touch it and, Grandmother Willow, the most amazing thing happened!"

"What, child, what?"

"It split! I touched it and the sun broke into two smaller suns. I felt wonderful. As if the harvest had finished and I was dancing around the fire and the Gods were shining down upon me. I was filled with love and compassion, and everything good."

"What does that mean?" Leon rubbed his shin roughly, feeling the need to shave rather soon. "How is that important to finding Sora or saving Cloud?"

Pocahontas gave him a disapproving look. "Grandmother, I was hoping you might tell me what that means. I have asked myself for all possibilities, but still I have no answers."

"I do not know," The old Willow tree frowned. "You have been dreaming for a very long time, have you not?" The young woman nodded to the tree. "Pocahontas has a rare gift. She knows more of the future than we could possibly imagine."

Leon rose from the grown and crossed his arms. He pressed his weight to the left of his body. "Dreaming of the future? Is that possible."

"We have spoken after nearly every dream." Grandmother Willow seemed suddenly distracted. "I believe Pocahontas foresaw the attack on your town, among other things. She does not always understand these dreams, but they are factual none the less."

"So what is the meaning of this last dream? What does a giant sun have to do with us?"

"Your young love, Cloud," Grandmother Willow inquired. "He has recently lost a soul?" Leon confirmed. "It is said by the people of this world, that a soul shines brighter than the sun."

Leon gave her an incredible look, with large round eyes. Surely she was suggesting--that! "You think she's seen Cloud's soul breaking or splitting in two?" His stomach dropped and his breathing froze. Had Pocahontas seen Cloud's death?

"Perhaps." Grandmother Willow was definitely apprehensive about something. Her roots were twitching nervously and her attention was divided. Leon felt a shiver run down his own spine and he wondered just what was happening.

"I understand," Leon said drearily. "I had some hope that you might be able to help me in any way, but I see now that was foolish. You know as little about Sora is as I do. The Keyblade master might be forever lost to us, and with him our future. It was wrong for me to depend on you."

She gave him a sympathetic look. "I believe I know how hard this is for you. You dislike feeling helpless, and this chain of events has rendered you that way. Deep in your heart you believe Sora can fight the heartless and win, but without knowing his whereabouts you've lost some of that faith. And without Sora's location you cannot hope to recover Cloud's soul. You, like the rest of us, are in a desperate situation. But there is nothing either Pocahontas or myself can do for you, young warrior. I can offer you nothing more."

He understood her message clearly. She was politely telling him to leave. "Donald, Goofey, it's time to go."

"Hurry," The old tree advised. "Hurry home, before it is too late."

He was disorientated again, floating, weightless and utterly calm. There was such serenity in his soul. He had never felt such before, and did not question his location. He was thinking clearly for once, without the burdens he had grown so accustomed to. He was free of all doubt, and it was a glorious feeling. He was so tired, and this seemed the perfect place to take just a short nap.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Sora was jostled from his serenity and blinked lazily at Cloud. The divine man was floating in the same black void, arms crossed, looking just as tired as Sora felt. "Cloud?" He asked softly, the name sounding foreign on his tongue.

"Don't let yourself slip away," The blonde warned him. "This place, it does things to you. If you become accustomed to the peace it brings you will surely parish. Stay alert, stay aware and do not close your eyes until you are stronger."

"Where are we? What are you doing here?"

Sora extended his arms and attempted to mimic a bird or a fish. "How do I?" He asked, realizing he was upside down. Strangely the blood was not rushing to his head, nor did he feel lightheaded in any way. Still, looking at Cloud upside down was unsettling. "A little help?" He jerked to the side. "I don't like being upside down."

"Is that what you think you are?" Cloud looked at him curiously. "Sora, where we are has no up, nor a down. Right is left, and left is right. There is no light, only darkness, where right becomes wrong, and wrong becomes right. It is a void in every sense. Calm yourself and you will realize this."

It was true. A few seconds of deep breathing forced rational thoughts into his mind. "Where are we?" He asked for the second time. "I remember going to rescue you from Hallow Bastion. Leon and I were prepared to fight for you."

A dark look flashed on Cloud face, however Sora did not notice.

"Then suddenly I was with Riku. We were in some church. He said the Keyblade had transported us, and Riku took the Keyblade from me." Sora's eyes became wide and he pressed a hand over his heart.

Cloud's eyes slipped shut. "I do not know where we are, but I have been here for a very long time. At first I allowed the darkness to put me into a sleep. I slept for an eternity."

"You couldn't have," Sora protested.

"Time passes differently here."

Crystal blue eyes met aqua blue. "Cloud, do you know what happened to you?"

The angel forced himself to take a deep, unnecessary breath. "I met someone from my past. He wanted to own me, but I could never belong to him." Cloud had grown accustomed to the icy cold that engulfed him, but recalling those memories turned the icy touch a red hot. "He felt threatened by Squall, I believe. When I resisted him, he attempted to force me into submission. I remember nothing after that."

Falling off track Sora floated sideways, legs crossed. "Why would he feel threatened by Squall?"

"I could not offer Sephiroth my companionship because I could not love him. My heart belongs to Squall, and Sephiroth knew this. Still, he was less than pleased when his persuasive words failed him. I assume I was taken from him?"

"Yes."

"But there is something else you are neglecting to tell me." Sora's eyes seemed frantic, and the boy on the verge of hyperventilating. "Calm yourself," He urged, the phrase was now beginning to annoy Cloud. "You cannot be short of breath, because we do not breathe here. It is a natural instinct your mind is urging your body to fulfill, and you must overcome that."

"Riku, he's truly done something unforgivable." Another unnecessary breath, and Sora was ready. "He's condemned you to death."

Cloud's reaction was not what Sora had expected. Instead of a sad, surprised look he was met with acceptance. "I figured as much."

"What!" Sora shrieked. His voice carried and echoed. "How?"

"I did not know Riku was the cause, but I had felt something. I can feel myself slipping away from reality, away from the warmth of life. It has been happening here for some time. I'm fading."

"You are!" Physically Cloud's pale skin had taken on an ashen color. He was beginning to blend in with the darkness, and Sora wondered if the angel would disappear right in front of him. "You have to know about what Riku has done, and Ansem!"

Cloud's gaze fell to his darkened hands. "I know about Ansem." He could feel the shock radiating off Sora. "I knew a lot when I woke up the first time. Something had told me of my purpose--my fate. I knew Ansem wanted me when I made my deal with Hades."

"Riku wants to kill Malificent, because he knows he can't fight Ansem and win. Ansem needs you; your body, heart and soul. Riku had your soul, and that's what's causing you to die."

"Had?"

Sora's eyes slipped shut. "I took it from him." He yawned. "But I lost it. I'm sorry."

"Sora!" An chilling hand pressed down on his shoulder. "I told you not to close your eyes. You're not strong enough here."

"I don't want to go back." He freely confessed. "I like it here. There isn't anything to fight for. No one to die for, and no one to watch die. No destiny, future or choices. No Keyblade or pain or sorrow. Nothing that reminds me of what I've lost, or what I will lose. There isn't any death here."

"But there isn't any life, either." Cloud supplied. "We don't actually exist here, Sora, and this place misleads us to believe otherwise. This is merely a waiting place. We wait for our end here. Yes, this void is without the pressure of life, but it is also without the joy. You cannot be as you were, and you cannot evolve. You have but one choice here, and there is no turning back once that choice is made. Sora, there is no love here. There is nothing."

"Love?" Sora asked angrily, eyes opening. "What of love? The love Riku wants to show me? The love in which he is willing to destroy all the worlds for? Or the love of power Malificent has? The love you and Leon will never have? There is nothing for us anywhere else! There is only despair, and we would be wise to forget everything else outside of this void. Here we can be free without a need to hurt or be hurt. Cloud, don't you see the flaws in your words? Don't you see?"

Cloud arched backwards, tumbling. "I see you have been corrupted here. I understand now you cannot hold onto your sanity or your wits. This is not the place for you, and you would do well to leave."

"I'm in no danger here."

A heavy chuckle cut through the tension. "Are you really so foolish, Sora? No one can survive here, it is a void!"

"Dying here would be better than going back."

"You have an obligation!"

"Not without the Keyblade." The former master rested his hands behind his head. "I'm not the master anymore, nor am I the true master. It isn't my obligation, duty or responsibility to save anyone, or fight anyone. I'll leave that to Riku."

"I never saw you as a runner, Sora."

Something was terribly wrong with Sora, and Cloud could very clearly see that the former Keyblade master had allowed himself to become corrupt. "I'm sure you never saw a lot of things."

Cloud ought to have seen it. Sora was far too young for the problems that had been pushed upon him. He was still a child, and the pressures had led him astray. This was Sora's way of pushing that responsibility away, and being selfish. However, Cloud also felt it was necessary for Sora to be selfish, for just once. He wondered that if perhaps Sora was allowed to think of only himself he'd come to realize a few things. But would it all be in time.

"You are of course free to remain here. I cannot force you to leave, or keep you here." He felt himself slipping. He could barely see Sora. "Just think, and do not close your eyes."

Then Cloud was gone, and Sora regretted everything.

Leon had not cried in a very long time, and he now felt he would never stop. He couldn't breathe, and he gasped for hair in-between choking on any words that might try to surface. On his knees in front of the bed Cloud was dying on he buried his face into the bunched blankets. No, no, no, not Cloud. Not now!

"I'm so sorry." It was a feminine voice but he didn't care to identify it. "We tried to keep him warm and alive."

Swallowing hard Leon lifted his head off the bed and glared hotly at Cloud. "I just found you, and I will not lose you! You can't leave me, not after all I did to get you back. You mean the world to me. What am I supposed to do without you?"

"Leon." A hand griped his arm. "You have to let him go."

"No!" He jerked away from Yuffie. "You don't know!" His voice broke. "He can't leave me! All because someone stole his soul away from him!"

Yuffie pulled him away. "And it is gone, so you have to let him go. He's passing from this world, and you owe it to him to allow the passage to be peaceful."

"I love him." Leon just couldn't let him go. It wasn't Cloud's turn to go. Someone had viciously ripped the man's soul away without any thought to his safety or well-being. Someone was attempting to unfairly and unjustly condemn Cloud to an early fate. Well, Leon didn't care what the fates said, or what destiny had in store. He wasn't letting Cloud go without a fight.

"I love him," He repeated with every ounce of that love. "I love him and I will fight for him. I will follow him to the edge of the universe and to the end of time. I'll go to heaven and to hell with him, but I am not letting him go without me. My love will bind us together and cut through destiny if necessary."

On his feet he wasn't exactly sure how to follow through with any of those things. Yuffie was looking at him with wide eyes, and Aerith looked slightly frightened of him.

Thankfully destiny understood and took pity on him. With a heavy fall he collapsed to the ground.

The initial and quite natural reaction of both men might have been insanely funny in any other situation. It took only a moment of realization before a heavy blush appeared on both parties and backs were quickly turned.

"I don't know what's going on," Leon began, hands in front of him. "But this isn't a very good joke, and I don't appreciate it."

Feet from him Cloud rolled his eyes, his own hands covering himself. "I'm pleased you believe this was my doing." Was his retort.

"I didn't say that."

Cloud felt the heavy blush leave his face, but the heat remained. "I believed I was dying. How either of us ended up here," He gestured to grassy hill they were standing on. "and lacking our apparel is beyond my knowledge."

Dropping his childish behavior he turned, pushing down embarrassment. "I thought you were dying--almost dead. I was standing over your body in Merlin's house."

"I was in a black void."

So what were they doing suddenly naked on a deserted hill in the middle of the country side?

Leon inquired, "Has magic brought us here?"

"What kind of magic?" He turned too, keeping his eyes upward. "Of the heart?" He managed to look lower and meet Leon's eyes. "I thought of you as I was fading." He allowed. "I thought of the love I had for you, and everything attempting to disallow that love. I thought of my past, and of what I can distinctly remember. And with the time I had, I also thought of my future, and the future I would have liked to have had with you. It would have been nice to go home, or go anywhere with you."

"Hey," Leon frowned, stepping closer to Cloud. "Why are you talking in past tense?"

"I've died, right?"

"Then I've died as well." Cloud bestowed upon him a shocked and very displeased look. "It would be the only explanation for us meeting here. Wherever here is."

Cloud folded his arms across his chest. "I must have died. I feel so different. Before, before in the void and before everything else I felt somewhat lost. Lost and locked away, and looking at everyone from the outside. I felt like I couldn't make it on my own, but I was afraid to involve anyone else. I was drowning, but now--"

"I needed help," Leon interrupted. "I was trying to take on all the responsibilities Sora couldn't handle, or get to. I was attempting to save people that couldn't be saved, and keep the town intact when we clearly did not have the means. I was turning hard, cold, and becoming lost myself. Then when I saw you, something in me came back to life. I started to remember our childhood, and everything we did, or did not do together. And I began to search for something, the same as you."

"Something wasn't right." Cloud offered, and Leon agreed. "It wasn't right when we were separated."

"I love you."

Cloud shivered. "I knew you would. I dreamt of you and of this moment for an insurmountable amount of time. I never knew what would lead up to this moment, but I knew we would arrive at it. I just never imagined it would be with our deaths."

"We aren't dead!" Suddenly Cloud was incased in Leon's arms. The shorter blonde was carefully tucked into Leon's side, skin pressing against skin. "I made a promise to myself. I promised myself I wouldn't let you die."

"I can't live without a soul."

"You aren't."

Pulling back Cloud gave him a look of worry. "I don't understand."

"Neither do I," Leon admitted. "But something between us has changed."

"I can feel you in me." Was Cloud's revelation. "In here." He said, tapping his chest. "And in here." His fingers moved to his head. "Before this moment I knew almost nothing from our past but I have all your memories now. I can recall your childhood through your eyes. And I can feel what you feel in my own heart. I can feel how much you depend on Sora, and how much you love where we grew up."

He brought a hand to the side of Leon's face. "I can feel how much you love me, and I love you."

There was only a slight delay before Leon had his hands on either side of Cloud's face and he was kissing the blonde. His arm slid around Cloud's naked back and he pressed the man closer than anyone had ever been. While his lips moved softly over Cloud's he realized something very important.

"I would give my soul for you."

Cloud looked at him with a frightened face. "I think you have."