Read first chapter for disclaimer

Deadlocked

[6]

He casually leaned against the wall while he watched the others gather supplies. Turning to his left he grimaced as he saw the woman known as Lulu keeping a stern eye on him. It was not like he had anywhere to go. This foreign world reminded him of something so cliché that only a child would dream of. The name Radiant Garden seemed to him, a farce of some kind. Putting a hand to his forehead he gazed at the approaching blonde in the distance. Something about the box she was carrying caught his eye.

She slowed to a stop as she reached his somewhat towering frame. A smile graced her features as she held the box up before him. A crimson cloak, gauntlet, and pointed gloves could be seen glinting in the box. He was met with trepidation as he slowly reached for the box's contents.

"You'll need something to protect yourself from the heartless," breathed out the exhausted girl in front of him.

His mind lingered on her sparse clothing and wondered what exactly was the merit of her words.

As soon as his fingers touched the box an earsplitting sound graced his ears.

When he opened his eyes he could feel the pure pain stretching across every muscle on his body. The thunderous sound of his heartbeat grew louder as he gazed at his limbs. Accompanied with shallow breaths his vision darted to both hands in which he then let out an inhuman cry.

Shaking away the visions he eagerly accepted the box.

"The shopkeeper said some blonde sold it to him,"

There she stood with that same expectant look on his face.

"What," came his tactless inquiry.

"Well do I get a thanks?" asked the blonde.

The older woman to his side just groaned at her actions.

Reluctantly putting a hand forward he waited while she adorned a frustrated expression. His other hand held the box somewhat securely to his side. An idea popped into her head as she took hold of his hand and pulled him into a tight embrace.

An air of annoyance seemed to be radiating deep within him.

Looking over her shoulders he could see the other two staring at him with curiosity and disdain. He watched how their faces contorted to something akin to… Suddenly he felt a quick pair of lips against his closed mouth. He could see out of the corner of his left eye their reactions one being indifference while the one with brunette hair had a somewhat solemn expression.

Lulu could read both of her fellow comrades reactions very easily. Yuna and Rikku seemed to be enamored with this stranger. Her patience was growing thin with the young blonde's antics. They didn't know anything about this stranger, his foreboding presence screamed darkness in her mind. How could they easily fall for a stranger they knew nothing about. Her gaze grew somber as it refocused on Yuna's reaction to this somewhat intimate moment. Feeling a sick feeling at the bottom of her stomach she gained the attention of the group by saying something so unnatural for her character.

"Look, Sea-salt ice-cream,"

Elsewhere on a distant planet

Putting a hand to his mouth he could smell the putrid decaying flesh that lingered in the air. He soon placed an unsteady foot into the cavern. He grimaced at the scene before him. Bodies covered in blood stained lab coats laid impaled on stalagmites. Before setting another step into the cavern he felt something tap his shoulder.

"The friend you seek is no longer here," spoke a familiar voice.

Quickly turning and picking up his sword he watched as it was blocked from entering the intruder's skin.

"So, Cloud, I see your happy to see me," sounded the figure in front of him with a smirk.

"Sephiroth," was the blonde's gritted response.

"Your anger is not even close," spoke the figure as both warriors jumped in opposite directions from their clashing blows.

"Silly Cloud, your efforts are in vain. No one can help him now." taunted the silver haired warrior.

A foreboding feeling entered his stomach as he peered at the bodies from the corner of his eyes. His sword tilting in anticipation of another clash with the katana.

"What do you know of Vincent," came the demand from the blonde warrior.

"Just like you, his heart is tainted by the darkness," smirked the silver haired warrior.

"What?" he asked as their blades clashed again.

The scraping of metal sent sparks in every direction.

"Unlike you, It is a darkness that will never be purged by light, no matter how bright." laughed the katana wielder.

"Shut up, you don't know anything," shouted the blond as he tried to keep the contents of his stomach in check when a swift wind blew the lingering smell into his nostrils.

The smirk grew on Sephiroth's face as he thought of another way to antagonize the boy.

"You know the reason why I'm sill alive."

"Shut up," stated the blond as he swung his blade in a downward arc meeting only dust.

"It's the reason why you let your pitiful Gaia die. It's the reason why I'll keep coming back, time and time again. It's also the reason why that dead woman still walks."

"Shut up, damn you," cried the boy

"It's because you sold your heart to the darkness,"

Anger flooded his being as he made a final attempt to cleave his tormenter in two, only to have the sword hit the terrain again. With his tormentor gone and his only trace; a pile of signature black feathers, he struggled forward before collapsing to the ground in a fit of emotion and lost temperament.

Thanks for reading and feel free to review.