Rhiannon: I'd like to apologize for my lazy self getting slow on the updates... other then that... read and review... I guess... well atleast read... please?

-)-

Chapter 27—The Graceful Assassin

"Why, welcome to my humble abode." Murmured the man standing before them, he was clad in the Organization coat but almost didn't seem like anyone to take seriously. His hair was a deep mauve colored pink as was the large arching blade of his scythe.

"Who are you?" Sora asked, his heart racing because he could see Riku and the others behind him in what looked like… blooming flowers.

"My name… is Marluxia and I am the master of the castle." He looked at Cloud and Tifa and gave an almost predatory smile. "If you would, Princess of Nothing?"

Naminè stepped forward and lifted her hands, before they could stop her a barrier appeared separating Sora from not only Tifa and Cloud but from Riku and the others. She watched them as they begin to wake up and watch.

"There are simply rules to this keyblade master… fight me… I want to see if you are truly powerful enough to defeat Xemnas." He took a fighting stance.

"All this just to test me!" Sora asked incredulously.

"No, no… I it would be fair if I only gave you gifts. The others would get jealous." He stepped forward. "I won't hold back Sora. Show me what a keyblade master can do."

Sora growled under his breath and charged forward. He blocked the large blade and jumped back. Marluxia jumped forward before he could gain his bearings, swing his blade high and the brunette barely managed to dodge. He could hear the others, calling out to him but he tuned it out, the way Riku had taught him to when they were younger. He would not screw this up.

"You are more powerful then I expected." Marluxia praised as he broke a sword hold throwing him back against the shield. "You are a worthy opponent."

Sora grunted as he shifted his position and ran forward again, this time slamming his blade into scythe and knocking it to the side. He spun and caught Marluxia in the side. The pink haired man moaned but brought his fist down against Sora's back. Sora stumbled into the barrier and he saw Riku. The real Riku looking at him, face filled with pride.

"That's my Sora… never giving up." A distant memory from childhood lost all too soon.

"I won't." He mouthed and spun around to face Marluxia. He would win this.

Marluxia came down on him hard, Sora barely managing to block the long blade. The taller of the two tried to push the other back but Sora proved stronger, pushing Marluxia back just enough to spin away. He jumped up in the air and through his keyblade in a power spin that forced the pink haired warrior into the barrier, a long cut in his cloak from his own weapon.

"That's it Sora! That's the power that will defeat Xemnas!" The Graceful Assassin cried springing to his feet.

Sora was beginning to think that this guy was severely off his rocker. He caught his keyblade as it flew back to him and ran forward. Marluxia swung his scythe and Sora used his fist to force back the flat of the blade and smashed his keyblade against Marluxia's side.

"Enough." The pink haired nobody stated firmly and the barriers fell.

Before he could even blink Sora was spun around and wrapped tightly in Riku's arms. He smiled in the warm shoulder that his face was pressed against as he hugged back keyblade still in hand.

"That's my Sora… Never gives up." Riku whispered before releasing him.

Sora smiled brightly; maybe those words were more then just a memory. He looked over at Marluxia who was leaning against his weapon to hold himself up. Sora was surprised that no one had attacked him yet. Tifa had Naminè by the shoulder, a pained look on the girl's face.

"Release the barrier." Marluxia murmured. "I have something I must do before I die."

Naminè nodded and reluctantly released the barrier. Marluxia walked forward, past Riku and Sora, past Kairi. They followed him with their eyes as he approached Leon, barely making it as he used his weapon as a cane.

"I knew… your mother. When I was a somebody. My name was Laiarum. Tell your father… that I always keep my promises." He reached out and wrapped his hand around Leon's shoulder.

The gunblade specialist gasped in shock as power flooded his mind, his senses. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly as images and thoughts flooded his mind. The hand that gripped his shoulder had suddenly become his support and when it disappeared he feel to his hands and knees.

"I owe you… my life." He rasped, refusing to look up at the nobody.

"You owe me nothing." Marluxia corrected, his body beginning to disintegrate in to black smoke. "A mystic till the end I suppose. Use my final gift well." And then the man collapsed into nothing but inky black smoke. "My flowers always bloom so beautifully."

"He… he's really dead… isn't he?" Naminè's voice was soft, quiet.

"He is." Riku murmured and Leon slowly stood up.

"We need to get back to Radiant Garden… Plan out next move."

"What about Marluxia… I could—"

"He wanted to just die." Naminè whispered, her hands wrapped tightly around each other. "Don't waste those words on him."

"It—"

"Not now Sora." Leon spared him an almost smile. "Give me a—" He fell forward and Sora move to help him but Cloud was faster, gather the younger man in his arms.

"You guys lead… I've got him."

"But wait… how do we get out?" Tifa asked quietly. "Dark portals brought us here."

"And that's how you will leave." Naminè murmured and opened a portal. "This will take you to Radiant Garden."

"And what will you do?" Tifa asked looking down at the blond girl.

"I will stay here… until I am needed again." She sighed softly. "Someone has to transplant the gardens and seal that castle away. It might as well be me." She opened the portal and watched it flicker. "You should leave now."

Sora nodded and slowly walked towards the portal. "Thank you… Naminè." And then he stepped through.

-)-

Laguna, if anything was tired. He'd been tired long before the troubles had begun in Radiant Garden due to Ansem and Xemnas. He'd been tired for such a long time. He scrubbed at his face, glad for this time alone when he heard the soft creak in the door as it opened and shut. Only one person entered his rooms like that. He spun around slowly and looked at his son. His son that he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Leon." He whispered quietly and watched as he came forward and sat down.

"Laguna." The brunette murmured in acknowledgement. "Do you remember a man called… Laiarum?"

"I do… he helped your mother greatly on our journey." Laguna sighed softly. "The last time I saw him was just before you were born. Raine and I went to see him… when everything else had failed."

Leon nodded and reached his hand out and squeezed his father's hand. There had always been so many things that he wanted to say to his father. The highest on that list being I'm sorry, but no time had even seem right. Even now, he felt he couldn't say them. Instead he tentatively smiled.

"I… I saw Raine… and I also met Laiarum." He pulled his hand back and looked down at his hands. "He asked me to tell you… that he always keeps his promises."

"His promise?" Laguna's eyes widened and Leon reached out and grabbed both of Laguna's hands.

"It's okay…" He murmured and closed his eyes.

Neither man heard the door open as Cloud Strife entered to ask about the border patrol as both man vanished.

-)-

They were in a quiet place, a flower field. Leon released his father's hands and led him far into the abandoned buildings that stood there. His father stared at him wide-eyed. His heart in his throat.

"Where are we?" He asked and Leon paused and turned back to him.

"To be honest… I'm not quite sure… but it tells me that it's called… Winhill." Leon murmured as they walked through the buildings.

"This was where your mother was from." Laguna paused within the doorway and stared around with sad eyes and then they widened. "I know why we are here!"

"Hm?" Leon turned and followed his father down in to the basement of the neglected structure. There lay a gunblade, not quite as big as the one that he was using now. The thing about the blade that drew him in was the blue steal. "What is this?"

"This is the Lionheart… the weapon your mother used before she was chosen to wield the keyblade. I'd thought it was lost. Hell, I'd thought this whole place was lost." Laguna muttered to himself.

Leon bent down and picked up the gunblade and test swung it a few times. It felt, like it belonged in his hands. More so then any other weapon that he'd ever used before. He turned to his father.

"I've already given you my legacy. It was about time that you received your mother's." Laguna smiled.

Leon nodded. "This… was not the only thing that Marluxia gave me."

"He… was your Godfather… I'm sure he gave you whatever he saw fit. We should be getting back now." The black haired man spoke before he reached out and hugged his son. Leon who would never admit that he ever craved human contact for any reason what so ever, reached his arms up and hugged his father back. Grateful for this moment. He felt that somewhere. Raine was smiling down at them.

-)-

Cloud Strife had always prided himself on being unshakable after the Avalanche-Hojo mini-war. But, seeing the savior of the city and the guide to the keyblade Trinity he wasn't so sure. He leaned against the door with worry on his face but not five minutes later they reappeared as if nothing happened. Leon released his father's hand and turned to leave only to see Leon looking at him with confusion.

"When did you—"

"WHAT THE FUCK! You just… you—" Cloud choked on his breath. The last time someone disappeared before him, it was Areith and Sephiroth had almost killed her.

Leon rolled his eyes good naturedly. "If you could excuse us… Laguna?"

His father stood with a laugh and walked out slowly, giving Cloud a pat on the shoulder. Leon gestured to a chair and sat in his father's chair behind the desk, setting a barrier. A safe area.

"What happened?" Cloud asked now able to sound calmer, running a hand through his blond spikes.

"Marluxia gave me the ability to go get a gift… from my mother." He explained a soft smile on his face and Cloud had to admit, Leon looked really handsome when he pulled that stick out of his ass.

"Gift?" He lifted a fine eyebrow.

"My mother's original weapon… before she became a keyblade master… but that's not why you came here."

"I came here… to talk to you… about Marluxia."

"Whatever for?" He leaned forward, gray eyes watching him warily.

"He said he knew you." The blond asked more then stated.

"He did… sort of… Before he became a nobody… he was my godfather." Leon leaned his head on to his fist. "Why are you so curious about me?"

"I don't know." The blue eyed man murmured as he crossed his arms. "I just am."

"Okay." Leon stood and moved to walk pass him. "Then I guess I'll see you next time something quirks your interest."

Cloud reached out and grabbed Leon's arm. The gunblade wielder paused and turned to look at the blond. The blond had never really realized how much taller then him that Leon was. He stepped closer and leaned up and kissed Leon.

"That's why I'm so curious." He turned and walked out and though his knees had practically turned to jello and his stomach was full of mush, he knew that he'd come out the victor.