Don't own Kingdom Hearts let's get on with the story now

I walked over to the unmoving blond and rested my hand on his forehead, noting that he was above average temperature. I pulled my hand back and rested it on his chest, there was a small thud which was reassuring but I could only just feel it. "Le... Leon?" I looked down and saw clouds crystal eyes slightly open but looking at me. "You okay?" I asked as I knelt down next to his paralyzed form. "I-t ... hu-hurts..." my heart tugged at the small whisper from him. I've noticed that he will only say it hurts if his stomach is torn open and he's an inch away from death, so it must be bad. He reached out for me and I held his hand tightly. "Please, stop it from hurting." I stared at the pained expression before nodded. "I'll help anyway I can Cloud." the blond nodded and smiled, closing his eyes but before he fell into a gentle sleep he whispered, "Aerith is killing me."

I watched as Cloud fell into slumber before letting go of his hand and standing up. I was going to kill Aerith. "Hey Leon, I heard you talking." I stared and saw Yuffie grinning at me. "I want you to take Sora and his friends away from here." Her cheeky grin turned to a frown. "Why?" I sighed heavily and muttered. "Aerith is killing Cloud." she gasped and looked at Cloud. "Or so he says, I'm going to see if it's true and if it is why." She nodded. "You can count on me Squally!!" she marched out and grabbed Sora by the arm, "you're coming with me! Come on you two!" I stared at Sora and he took a quick glance and noticed I wasn't very happy. He nodded and followed Yuffie with Donald and Goofy.

Cid stared at me as I walked up the stairs, "if your gonna talk to Aerith don't she's annoyed enough as it is." I turned to Cid and nodded. "I know, but I'm annoyed with her, from what I've heard from Cloud she is going to tell me what's going on." Cid frowned before sighed heavily. "Just keep an eye on Cloud; I don't want him running off." Cid nodded and stood up from his desk in the front room and headed to the study. I climbed the final set of stairs and knocked on Aeriths door. "Aerith? I need to talk to you." I walked in without a reply and stared at the older brunette, yes Aerith was older than me. She glared at me but I made no attempt to return the 'kind' gesture. "What have you done to Cloud?" I asked, she grumbled something I didn't catch and walked over to the window. "Cloud told me you were killing him." Her head whizzed around and she growled, "He deserves it!"

I stepped back a little, not expecting her to shout. "I've been watching him my whole life! Making sure he was safe and happy! When he came back after we all lost contact with him all I wanted to do was love him and make sure he was alright. But you came into the picture and he soon got you to open up and trust him! He doesn't love me anymore Leon! And it's because of you!" I looked intently at Aerith as she breathed deeply, "Cloud loved me, and you took that away from me."

I crossed my arms over my chest and sighed, I seemed to be doing that a lot today, as she calmed down. "Aerith, Cloud may have opened me up and got me to trust him, and I'm glad he trusts me as much as I trust him, but it isn't my fault that he's stopped loving you. People change, yes you may have been looking after him but look at what Cloud has been through. He's been to hell and back, he's lost almost all of his light and he's now fighting for his life. He's changed Aerith and sometimes people change so much that they feel they don't love the person they use to before. You can't pin point the blame on me because I'm his best friend." After I had finished my long speech, which I was quite impressed with might I add, Aerith was still not too impressed with me.

"Why do you think Cloud opened himself up to you? Why do you think he's become sooo attached to you? It's because he's happy, not because he's free but because he's found somebody else that he could love. And guess who it is Leon." I frowned in thought; she can't be saying Cloud... "Cloud loves you Leon. And he doesn't want to make any move because he's afraid you might not return his feeling and he might be rejected. He's afraid that he might ruin the relationship he already has with you. That's why I'm killing him. I'm saving him the pain of rejection and loneliness for when he finally plucks up the courage to say, he loves you."

I watched Aerith storm out of the house, my back slid down the door as I held my head in my hands. She's lying, she must be. Cloud couldn't have fallen in love with me... could he? No, I'm too dark to be loved. I guess Aerith was right, maybe darkness cannot love. But... why did I feel such a pain in my heart when he's in agony? Why do I feel happier when he smiles? I shook my head, I may love Cloud but I don't want to lose another lover. Not yet.

I walked down the stairs and see Cid walking over to me. "What did you say? I could hear her shouting." I shook my head and walked into the study. "Don't ask." I said as I sat back on the small office chair and looked at Cloud, the blond seemed peaceful. Cid just waved his hand and went back to his desk. I ran my fingers through clouds silky hair, catching one of the gravity defying spikes and twirling it in between my fingers. "Why do you love me Cloud?" I asked aloud quietly. "Because you loyal, kind and caring."

I jumped back and watched Cloud open his eyes. "Were you awake?" I asked, he rolled his eyes. "Pft, duh. I wouldn't have heard you otherwise." I looked away from Clouds tender eyes. "I guess Aerith told you?" I nodded, still not turning to look at him. I could hear shuffling and saw Clouds eyes in front of me, "do you love me Squall leonheart?"

I wanted to say yes I love you Cloud but I didn't want to get involved and possibly lose him, like I had with Rinoa. He could see me struggling and helped out, sort of. "You can be honest with me Leon, just as long as you still talk to me and be my friend at least." I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Of course I want to be your friend you idiot. And I love you so much that sometimes I can't believe it." He smiled softly. "But you don't want to lose me?" I nodded solemnly. He smiled softly and kissed me on the lips, that gentle touch made my lips crave for more. "I don't want to rush you; you take as long as you want. When you want to start a relationship with me just say." I nodded, thankful Cloud understood me. He smiled and laid back down on the sofa. "I wish I could get off this damn sofa, it's uncomfortable."

I chuckled and stood up, offering my hand. "I'll take you up, Cid will help won't you Cid!"I heard a grunt and grinned, Cid walked in. "what do ya want?" I rolled my eyes. "Cloud can't stay on the sofa. He'll get back ache, then he'll get grumpy and have a go at you for it." He frowned and rolled my eyes, "help me take him up." I mumbled as I lifted Cloud up. The blond stared at me as I helped him walk out of the room. "What is Cid doing if you're taking me?" I rolled my eyes and looked back, the younger warrior turned his gaze to Cid and saw him gather the pillows and blankets, "we sort of stole your pillows and you need a spare set of blankets." Cloud rolled his eyes and leaned against me as we walked up the stairs. The blond had fallen asleep against me as I stepped into his room, Cid walked in a moment later with the blankets and the pillows. He placed him down and pulled the blankets back as I set Cloud down on the soft mattress and pulled the covers back over him. "Are you going out with him?" Cid asked, I shook my head. "not yet, but soon."

Yuffie had brought Sora and his friends back after I had moved Cloud to his room an hour or so ago. "Where's Cloud?" Sora asked as he noticed I wasn't sitting in the study. "Yeah and where's Cid?" I was hoping to get this damn book finished. But when you have two annoying people in the same room then I guess you can't do anything. "Cloud's upstairs in his room and Cid is keeping an eye on him while I take a break." Sora and Yuffie rolled their eyes. "Where's Aerith? You haven't killed her have you?" I growled at Yuffie but kept my eyes trained to the book. "She left, I don't know when she's coming back." I didn't' want her back, she's hurting Cloud. So I don't her near the house. "Why exactly did you have a go at her?" here we go. "Because she's killing Cloud." at that moment we heard coughing and Cid running down the stairs. "Cloud's coughing up blood!" I jumped up from my seat and threw the book to the ground, racing up and opening the door.

Cloud was sitting up, grasping his throat and coughing harshly, his breathing erratic and he looked like he was going to die at any moment. I jogged over and knelt on the bed, I handed him a small bowl as he started to throw up blood. I rubbed his back and turned to Cid, "get Merlin." Cid nodded and raced downstairs. When Cloud stopped I held him close to me and nuzzled his spikes. He whimpered and held onto me, he was burning up and his breathing was out of rhythm. I saw Cid walk up and Merlin was behind him, the tall wizard walked over and placed his hand on clouds head. "Hmm, huh hmm." I snarled, knowing he was going to keep doing that, he was getting on my nerves.

He pulled his wand out and waved it about, I still think he looks idiotic with his wand, pulling out a book and scanning through the pages. "Ah! I found it!" I looked up, making sure I hadn't woken Cloud up; the blond had drifted to sleep. "This is caused by the darska, it's a being that can only appear with someone summons the being." Oh I think I know who had started all this. "The poison in the being can only be entered into someone if it has been killed and the being has been covered in blood, like in clouds case." I placed a small kiss to clouds crown and looked at Merlin. "Anyway to get rid of it?" Merlin scanned through the book. "Oh dear, somebody has torn that page out." oh I am sooo going to kill her. Suddenly Cloud started choking and coughing, coughing up black blood.

Well that's it for now. Hope you're enjoying this story at the mo. Sorry for any errors I would like to thank Demon – Roxy for helping me out! THANK YOU!!!!!! And to crazy chick because she was the first to figure out my real name! CONGRATS!!! Don't tell anyone crazy chick! Nor you demon – Roxy... anyway thanks for reading and R&R and also stayed tuned XD!!!!