A/N: So basically...I was supposed to upload in all sorts of other stuff...but now I'm uploading in this story cause I feel bad. LOL. The next upload will be relatively soon too as it is already started. Also look out for new oneshots coming soon from me!

A super late update because, my grandmother died followed shortly by the death of my cat. I'm sorry, but at the same time that took me out for awhile...

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters and I don't make money off this.

After a short buggy ride across town, Samuel was glancing into his daughter's future. A tall gruff man rushed out of the garrison taking two steps at a time. He was wearing an official ARMY uniform decorated with shining awards.

"Welcome," The man greeted when he was within earshot.

Samuel strained to see the man's face but was blocked by the sun's glare and had to wait until his greeter had stepped into the shadow of the carriage. When he could finally make out his features, Samuel Gainsborough gasped. The officer was so scarred and tortured that his tawny skin looked like bare twisted muscle. His eyes protruded forward out of his face in a way that was horribly unnatural, and his mouth disappeared looking like nothing but a gash or another scar on his face.

His scars parted and his mouth was reveled, white teeth shining. "Welcome to my barracks," the officer repeated much softer this time.

"Thank you." Aerith's father bowed a bit, expertly hiding his disgust, "It is my first time in such a place."

"Really?" The commander asked in a good-natured fashion, "Should I give you a tour?"

Lord Gainsborough scowled at the ground, then lifting from his bow answered, "No, thank you. I prefer marketplaces."

"Don't know that I see much of a difference really, 'cept maybe here the stakes are higher." The commander nodded.

Samuel smiled a little viciously, "You would be surprised."

The commander blinked, "Well, best get to business." He turned and led Samuel through the reinforced door. All of the walls inside were made of stone and mortar, and they curved in weird complicated looking patterns.

"This seems horribly inefficient," The lord commented to the commander as they rounded another corner.

"It's supposed to be." The commander laughed then explained, "We don't have the funding to have guards always on duty, or for traps, so the garrison itself is a trap. The royal army relies too much on its money, but we have to use our wits."

Gainsborough looked unimpressed but the commander seemed to have found a subject he liked. He continued to talk about the strategy of the building until they reached a small bronze portal door. "Here it is" The officer offered, twisting a knob and opening the door.

"And these are the boys I was telling Miss Bovine about." There was no better word to describe them, the youngest looked to 11 or 12, but the oldest was about 17. "What are you looking for?" The expression that formed over the twisted scars was probably curiosity, mixed in with confusion.

Samuel huffed, "I don't know." Then he turned and surveyed the room, glancing at the cots pushed together for a game of cards and other cots moved apart for dice. Some of the young men were sharpening weapons; others were just leaning against the cool walls. There was only one widow, but he could still hear the birds outside. "I'll know when I see him."

"Ah," The commander said sharply, "I see. Well, feel free to talk to them all you like. They're on break until you leave."

"Thank you." Gainsborough responded, but he was already looking at the children he had to choose from to marry his daughter. He began his survey by immediately ignoring some of the younger looking ones, and then he looked at the ones remaining. There looked to be about 2 or 3 that were just about older than his daughter; slim pickings. 'Hopefully' he silently prayed, 'one of the remaining will do.' Turning to face his blind spot he viewed a perfectly aged boy who was brooding in the corner.

He hailed the possible suitor, "Hello, Sir."

The boy inclined his head.

Feeling slightly miffed by the lack of interest, the father continued, "I am Samuel Gainsborough, the merchant. What is your name?"

The brooding boy responded, "You may call me Squall."

The merchant nodded, "And how long have you been…working here?"

"Quiet some time."

Samuel paused, "It can't have been too long, as you are only a child."

"I am in the 23 year of life," Squall informed Samuel with a scowl, "I don't consider myself a child, nor do I consider anyone else here a child. They are old enough to die for you."

"I'm sorry I offend." He excused himself, deeming Squall unworthy. He continued his scan of the room. The merchants face morphed to sport a childish pout when he saw only one other acceptable applicant. His face was not young enough in features; he seemed even older than Squall. He sighed, but someone younger than his little Aerith would be impossible. Resigned he stalked forward.

"Zack!" suddenly a young male voice called out to the suitor that Samuel was eyeing. Heavy booted footfalls sounded behind him and he whipped himself around to see the newcomer. A tall man with a young boyish countenance, bright blue eyes, and blond hair walked abruptly into view.

'Ah!' Samuel thought. "Excuse me?" He grabbed at the blonde man's leather battle attire.

The man in question shrugged him off, "I'm in a hurry, please don't detain me." He directed his words at Samuel, but his intense blue eyes never strayed from the man he had called Zack.

"How old are you?" Samuel asked hurriedly.

The boy responded immediately, "16 years."

"Your name?"

"I'm Cloud." He replied and quickly strode off. Zack greeted him with a small smile, and cloud relaxed but did not return the grin.

'Perfect,' the lord thought.

"I now pronounce you Soldier and Wife." The priestess inclined her head to Cloud and Aerith respectively. Aerith lifted her veil. Cloud peered over his curiosity finally getting the better of him. His eyes widened as he caught his first glimpse of his fay wife.

"So mote it be." Resounded Aerith's family as they stood up from the pews. A few soldiers straitened from their position outside the circle of family.

"Hello." Aerith whispered a smile creeping onto her shining lips, "I'm Aerith."

"I've heard" Cloud whispered back.

"You may kiss the bride," suggested the priest, hiding a grin. The priestess's face was slowly darkening to an angry pink.

Aerith moved forward and placed a peck on his lips. "It's nice to meet you."

…And so Cloud fell in love with Aerith's quiet smile and gentle grace. He did not mind that he was married to such a woman…

"You couldn't help it, Cloud." Zack tried to touch his shoulder, warmth emanating from him despite his hurt expression. Cloud shrugged him off. "It was your orders."

"That's right, and that's why we end this." Cloud shifted to stare at the rock in between his boots.

Zack's hand froze in its soothing, "What?"

Cloud breathed around a lump in his throat, "My orders conflict with my heart, but one day…hopefully…they will not."

"Just because you are married doesn't mean that…that you love her, Cloud," Zack's eyes softened again, but not with the same warmth as before.

"I hope one day to," Cloud returned stoically.

The warmth drained from Zack and his eyes became hard as slate, "So that's it then."

Cloud nodded to the other soldier, "These are my orders."

"Cloud…" Zack sighed and let his hand drop to his side, "She barely knows your face, but I know your heart." His soft voice carried to cloud on the twilight wind, "I will never give up. I will keep you with me forever." He took steps toward the door, despite the resistance that had materialized in the air around his legs.

"Zack," Cloud started, but then he turned his gaze to the window, "I'll remember you, too."

Zack turned. Tears fell down the sides of his cheeks as he looked at Cloud, but an almost paternal grin stretched over his face. He shook his head sagely, "You can't remember if you don't forget." His boots made a hallow thump on the ground that shook through the room that used to be Zack and Cloud's. Now it was only Zack's…

Cloud looked at the spring stars through the glass pane and wanted to cry. He blinked his dry eyes and wished it was winter again. He wanted snow to softly tumble down and the sky to be black, anything but the promising purple air that it was now.

A servant went came to the door, "Are you going back, my young lord?" When Cloud didn't respond, he added, "The carriage is ready, and our young lady is waiting."

"Call me Cloud." He pushed past the servant and through the door, "and I'll walk if you don't mind."

"Of course, Sir," The servant responded.

Cloud snapped his head back to glare, his eyes only narrowing slightly, "Cloud!" He insisted.

A/N: I had intended this to be longer, but if I did that it would take longer to come out and be much longer...so I opted to do another update soon.

Kudos to you if you noted that this fic's religion is based off multiple real religions. It's a crossover, like this fic itself. See if you can name the ones in it so far...lol.

Sorry for the vast amount of OC-only story, but it became important. If your wondering when we will get other KH and square characters...it will be next chapter, kinda. sigh Also don't think you've seen the last of Zack.

I updated the chapter titles! This one has special meaning. In Japanese, sayonara, often translated as goodbye, really means if it must be so. It is a goodbye that is said in a very final sense. The kind of goodbye you say to dead loved one, that you say after breaking up, or before you kill them (if you want to be creepy).

Preview of next chapter(because I feel like being mean): "A scream sundered the night...bloodly rags were strew across the floor..." Evil laugh

Please read and review!!