I stared in shock as Aerith rushed over, trying to heal the wounds and failing miserably. As the black blood poured out of the open cuts and gashes the more the blond tossed and turned, whimpered and whined, screamed and cried. I walked over and watched the blond reach for me; I took hold of his hand gently and gazed at him as he calmed down. Everyone looked at me confused, as I was just as puzzled as they were. As Cloud slowly returned to sleep the blood began to turn to a normal red colour to our relief. Aerith healed the wounds again and stared at me, she looked at our linked hands then at Clouds' peaceful face. "What the fuck did you do to calm him down!?!?!?" we all turned to Cid and whispered loudly, "shut up!" Cloud mumbled something under his breath and turned over, his hand still holding onto mine.

I sighed deeply as I rested my head against the sofa; everyone had left me with Cloud while they investigated what the fiend was and where it had come from. Aerith left with a heavy sad looked; I knew it was because Cloud had asked for me and not her. Jealousy can show more than hurt, or so I've learnt. "You look really uncomfortable." My head turned till I looked at Cloud, his bright blue glowing eyes half lidded and filled with sleep. The blond yawned and moved so he could look at me comfortably. "Where is everyone?" he asked, not bothering to wait for my answer to his statement. "Gone to inspect the thing you killed, you scared the shit out of us Cloud." I said as I rested my elbows on the side of the settee. He frowned and tilted his head lightly. "You kept screaming and whimpering. Your temperature was going way over the temp for a fever, you were bleeding black blood." He nodded and I scowled. "I know, I was dreaming. That monster attacked me; he whispered something about dying quietly as he opened my old cuts, the blood poured out black as he smirked." I frowned and looked at the bookshelf; the one book missing was next to me. "That isn't like you're normal nightmares." He agreed and rested his head on the pillow. He shivered lightly as I stood up, "could you get me a blanket or something? I'm fucking freezing." I nodded and walked into the front room, grabbing the blanket off of the armchair and wrapping Cloud in it. "What else happened in your dream? You kept reaching out for me and not Aerith, she seemed jealous." Cloud chuckled. "She hasn't told you then?"

"Told me what?" he rolled his eyes and snuggled under the cover. "I'm not going out with her anymore, we've changed and she isn't the one for me anymore. That and of course I don't swing that way anymore." Cloud was gay? I asked myself. "So you're not going out with her anymore, that's not something to get jealous over." I stated. He sighed heavily. "You know Aerith, she likes to make things last." I had to agree, I told Aerith that she wasn't super at fighting and she didn't talk to me for a week. Cloud rolled onto his back and yawned heavily. His glowing blue eyes closed and slowly his breathing became even. I stared at the blond as he slept a pained expression on his delicate face. I may not admit it out loud but in my mind it can satisfy my heart for a short while. My hand glided across his silk soft skin as my mind whispered, I love you...

The rest of the afternoon I had stayed looking after Cloud, the blond was normally fast asleep so it didn't make it too difficult. When Aerith and the others returned they seemed to notice it had a split personality or something stupid, and that it had also been reborn. It was wondering around the crystal fissure like nothing had happened, it turned to them and was about to attack but it stopped stared then ran off scared, that's what they had said anyway. Nevertheless Cloud wasn't too happy, he almost tried to escape to go after it but Cid and myself had dragged him back to the sofa. I walked into the study and watched Cloud stare at the ceiling, his eyes were empty and he looked like he had died. I quietly walked over and nudged him. "wake up Cloud." he blinked and stared at me, "sorry." I shook my head and gave him a half smile. "Don't worry. What were you think about?" he shrugged and turned away from me. "What Aerith said to me."

I scowled at the blond as he seemed to be distracted yet again. "What did she say? You don't have to tell me." i didn't wan to force him into anything he didn't want to do. He trembled and turned his head towards me. "She keeps saying that I'm too deep in darkness to love." I snarled quietly. "Why the hell did she say that?" that didn't sound like Aerith, they must have had an argument to cause that to come out. "What else did she say?" I asked, I seriously didn't want to push Cloud but I don't think that it's right to do something like Aerith had done. "She just said that and that you're not right for Me." my eyes widened in shock. "She lost it or something?" Cloud shrugged and turned his entire body to face me, a sad smile plastered on his face. That smile can make almost anybody cry, almost. "I've been thinking about it and I guess she's right."

I shook my head and sat on the desk chair which was next to the settee. "Don't think that Cloud, you've opened up more after we found you in the coliseum and after you defeated sephiroth. You've been growing more radiant. I think so anyway." I said, feeling a small blush come onto my cheeks. He looked up and smiled. "Thanks Leon."

I gazed at Aerith as she checked Cloud over. "What you said to him wasn't very nice." she glowered and turned to me. "I don't know what you're talking about." I stared at Sora and made sure he was out of hearing range. "Cloud told me you said he couldn't love because he was too deep in darkness." I enlightened, as I turned my head back to her. I could hear a small growl from her, touché weren't we Aerith? She turned around and stood up. "He told me that darkness cannot love, so if he didn't love me then he's too deep in darkness." She uttered. I grinned and walked over. "What about me being not right for him? Was that something to do with his darkness?" she gulped but kept a stern face. "You don't deserve him. He's too good. You won't set a good example because you're too full of darkness." I snarled. "Aerith, I haven't objected to your jealousy before but now I find it very irritating." Her face didn't change. "Leon's right Aerith, you're jealousy is irritating." I turned to see Cid and Sora staring at Aerith. She turned to Cloud and I could see he was out of it. His blazing blue eyes were half lidded and empty. Aerith walked out and into her room, slamming the door shut.

I rotate myself on the small office chair to glance at Cloud, the blond looked like he was half dead, whatever Aerith had given him must be pretty strong. As I gaze at Cloud I could see a small shiver make its way down his body. I stand up and take hold of another blanket, draping it over Clouds' cold body. He made no signal of his thanks, I didn't expect any, but as I watched the blond 'sleep' I noticed something odd about him. Then I knew something was seriously wrong...

HA! More suspense! What is wrong with Cloud? Can Leon help him before he dies or something utterly dramatic? You'll just have to find out. Thanks for reading and please READ AND REVIEW!!!!! OH AND SORRY FOR THE SHORTNESS!!!!