It was the same... The same suffocating darkness that bound his limbs and held tight through his thrashing. A part of Cloud's mind registered that this was a dream, that it couldn't be real, but it was the primal fear overrunning his mind that held the realisation at bay as he fought for freedom. Something was also different... This time his unseen foe felt stronger, even if only slightly.

It felt like he was drowning in fear and darkness...

It felt like everything was closing in on him...

"Cloud..." The word seemed to come from far off, but it resonated with a power that chilled the struggling blond to the bone.

"Cloud..." This time it was closer. A feeling of utter helplessness ran through Cloud, helplessness that was only amplified when images broke through the darkness; images of Nibelheim burning as he watched, of pain that that he couldn't fend off while under Hojo's 'care', of Zack laying in a pool of his own blood on the cliffs of Midgar, of Sephiroth's blade piercing through Aerith's chest...

"No..." Cloud mumbled weakly, earning no reply.

Suddenly the images stopped and Cloud was left to sag weakly against the binds still holding him in this dark realm. The feeling abruptly changed to complete fear once more as Cloud sensed his unseen foe rushing towards him at an unimaginable speed, a faint drumming could be heard in the back ground as Cloud felt a presence press against his body from behind.

"You are mine!"

Cloud jerked awake with a startled gasp, he was frozen where he lay as beads of sweat rolleddown his face and neck. It had felt so real... More real than even his worst nightmare...

Bringing a shaky arm up to his face Cloud attempted to wipe away some of the sweat as he took in his surroundings. He was alone in the room, Razor having apparently already left judging by the neatly made bed and missing gear. There was soft sunlight streaming through the window above him, lighting the room with a warm glow.

Just as Cloud's heart began to regain its usual pattern a series of knocks on the door caused him to jump; sitting up like lighting he automatically went to grasp the handle of First Sword, only to find it wasn't there.

Of course... Angeal has it... Cloud mentally chided himself as he slowly made his way off the bed and made his way over to the door, realising that the knocking must have been the drumming he had heard in the nightmare. Cloud briefly wondered why a simply knock on the door had put him on edge like this, but he decided that the recent attack and the even more recent nightmare were the cause.

Cloud opened the door only just enough to see who stood on the other side while at the same time making it harder for someone to force their way in. To the blond's surprise, Angeal stood on the other side with First Sword in hand.

"Angeal?" Cloud gave voice to his disbelief unintentionally, he was still too shaken up after his nightmare to really have a full control over his thoughts and actions. "Why are you here?"

Angeal merely raised an amused eyebrow before replying.

"I had some time and figured you would like this returned." Angeal replied motioning to the large sword in his hands. After he spoke Angeal actually really took notice of Cloud; the cadet was pale and a thin sheen of sweat still remained on his skin, his brilliant blue eyes looked slightly hazy while still fully alert and his posture was tense and battle ready as he stood behind a mostly closed door.

"May I come in?" Angeal inquired after a moment of receiving only silence from the blond. The question seemed to bring Cloud back from whatever thoughts he had been stuck in as he nodded and stepped aside, allowing the door to swing fully open.

Cloud watched the tall First enter and noticed how the bright mako eyes scanned the room, taking in the tousled appearance of Cloud's bed in the otherwise neat and orderly room. Cloud closed the door behind Angeal, he had a hunch that his guest wouldn't be leaving until he got some answers. Answers that Cloud, especially now, did not want to answer.

"Are you ok Cloud?" Angeal asked after a moment of watching the silent blond.

"Fine." Came the short reply. Cloud moved past Angeal to the cupboard at the back of the room, intending on finding something to wear. He heard, more than watched Angeal place First Sword against the wall near where he stood.

"There are a few things I would like answers to." Angeal spoke with a firmness that he would usually use when talking to Zack after the raven-haired man had been in trouble, his words also confirming Cloud's earlier thoughts.

"Now isn't really the time..." Cloud said softly, hoping to at very least delay the questioning. He had paused in grabbing a fresh shirt, only turning his head slightly towards Angeal as he spoke.

"I'm afraid I need answers now Cloud, what happened in there not only put you in danger, but Zack as well... I know that you know more than you are telling." Angeal kept his voice firm; he was determined to get the answers he wanted.

Cloud was surprised with the knowledge that Angeal's words held, they not only held knowledge of Cloud's unwillingness to talk, but also of what actually took place in the VR room.

"I-" Cloud was interrupted as Angeal spoke again.

"After whatever happened to the simulator I was able to access and watch the recordings with no problems... I have no idea how, or why, but I know that attack was intentional. I know it was aimed at you."

The simple, straight forward words cut into Cloud's mind like ice. This wasn't good. Angeal didn't understand what he was asking of Cloud; he couldn't understand the danger he would be in if he knew...

Quite suddenly Cloud felt like he was once more in his nightmare; struggling to find a way out, yet being trapped. He knew that he wouldn't be able to hedge his way around things like he did with Zack, yet he knew that there was no way for him to not answer, not without placing his whole position within Shinra in jeopardy.

Angeal waited silently for a moment while Cloud just stood, seemingly frozen. Angeal could learn nothing from what he could see of the cadet's face, it was a blank mask; emotionless and cold.

"What happened Cloud? Why were you attacked?" Angeal pressed, stepping closer in an attempt to see more of the blond's face and hopefully see some form of emotion or reaction.

"There are things that you don't need to know." The reply was just as cold and flat as his face, something that Angeal decided that he didn't like after seeing Cloud relaxed and open around Zack. The answer also caused a faint anger to rise up in Angeal. This attack had been made as he watched with no way of helping or intervening; how was it not something he needed to know?

"Well this is one thing I do need to know." Angeal countered, keeping his voice even and firm despite his rising anger and confusion. This was a different Cloud from the one he was used to; this was a Cloud that seemed to be old for his age, to battle weary for his own body, and to secluded for any person.

"No it's not. You have no idea what you are asking." Cloud ground out, his voice now more harsh. The blond was struggling to think of a way to dissuade Angeal from asking questions, he knew that lying would get him no where as there was no way to adequately lie about the situation when Angeal had already figured out so much. Yet to tell him the truth would only cause more issues than he needed right now. The blond's mind felt like a maze; it was mixed with to many different thoughts and suppressed feelings that were making it hard to think straight.

Suddenly Cloud found himself turned around and pushed back against the wall, now face to face with an angry Angeal. Behind the piercing eyes in front of him Cloud could see emotions playing through the tall First's mind; frustration, confusion... and hurt? For the first time since Cloud had met him, Angeal seemed truly dangerous.

"I don't need to know what I am asking." Angeal's voice was still steady despite his emotions, but they still held a hint of danger, "My student and a cadet under my care were put in danger and I intend to find out why... I am not your enemy Cloud, neither is Zack... Do you truly not trust us?"

The simply question cut deep for Cloud. He could now understand why he had seen hurt in Angeal's eyes, those few words had explained it all. Cloud found that he couldn't look Angeal in the eye any longer and turned his face away, he knew that if he really wanted to he could probably push the older male off of him but he just felt too drained right now; both mentally and physically.

"Of course I trust you..." Cloud mumbled. What had happened to his cold, uncaring mask that he had always worn? How had such a short time in this time period cracked it this much?

"Then you need to tell me what is happening." Angeal insisted, placing a bit more pressure on Cloud's shoulders as he held him in place.

"I-" Cloud didn't know what to do, this was one of the reasons why he had separated himself from his friends for so long. His inability to allow others to assist him in his fights; the riving want to keep those he cared about out of harms way by keeping them at arms length. "I can't..."

Angeal could tell that Cloud was conflicted, even if he couldn't fathom why.

"Why not?"

"It..." Cloud sighed, "It would only place you and Zack in danger." Cloud admitted.

Cloud felt weak... The nightmare had left him rattled and despite all that was happening around him he could still feel the constricting bonds that had held him and he could still hear the voice that had called his name and chilled his bones. Added to the demands of Angeal right now and the want to just disappear to Aerith's church as he used to, he simply felt suffocated and he wanted to be alone.

Angeal had been shocked when the blond had finally given him an answer, for some reason he had been sure that he would have to keep pushing before getting Cloud to submit, he just hoped that he could get more answers than that.

"Zack has already been in danger..." Angeal pointed out softly, his anger draining quickly. Whatever Cloud knew, it was something that he was obviously trying to shoulder alone. "We can help, but only if you let us."

"It's not that simple..."

"Then explain it."

What could Cloud say? That the thing that had attacked him was a physical embodiment of Darkness? That he was from the future to try and prevent things from occurring as they did? No, he couldn't say anything like that; he would be labelled as crazy.

"I can't." Cloud replied, his own frustrations getting stronger as he felt more and more cornered. Why couldn't Angeal simply take the answer he had given and leave it at that?!

"You need to Cloud. If you want to protect Zack then you need to tell us what we are up against."

Cloud looked up sharply at the words, he knew that Angeal was using the only leverage he could possibly have over him then, but he could also see the point that was being made. With a sigh Cloud resigned himself to the fact that he wouldn't be left alone until he gave a few answers.

"They call it the Darkness..." He said softly. "It has many different forms and even more ways of controlling others. There is no true way to identify it until it chooses to show itself, so the only thing you can do is be ready at all times." Cloud finally trailed off, keeping his eyes trained on a spot on the floor instead of the man pinning him to the wall.

Angeal had listened to the words closely taking note of each thing said. After Cloud finished talking, Angeal released him and moved back, he was sure that the blond was still hiding things but the information he had been given would suffice. For now. At least he now had a name to the strange enemy.

"What ever this Darkness thing is... Why did it target you?"

"Because of the knowledge I have." Cloud answered softly, but his eyes hardened once more soon after, as did his voice. "That's all I'm telling you."

Angeal watched as Cloud moved over to the cupboard again and finished getting his clothes out. Angeal knew from Cloud's tense posture and the complete mask on his face that he would indeed get nothing else from the blond and decided that he had pushed enough for now.

Cloud heard Angeal leave silently and thanked Gaia that he the man hadn't pushed him further. Once alone Cloud allowed himself to fall down onto the bed, despite only just having woken up he felt exhausted. In the minutes that followed Cloud's anger at himself for speaking only grew, if anything, that information would only get Angeal targeted and likely killed...

It was during his own mental tirade against himself that he eventually slipped off to sleep once more...

XxXxX

Over the next few weeks things returned to a mostly normal routine. While Cloud still trained with Angeal and Zack he had made a point of also training by himself more often, especially with his new reluctance to use the VR room. Zack had seemed quite put off by Cloud's sudden separation and kept asking Cloud if it had been him that had caused it, presumably by the kiss; something that, although still unsure about, Cloud insisted was not the problem.

Thankfully Angeal had not tried getting more information out of Cloud, something that the blond was glad for after the trouble of the last one. It had taken him a few days to finally feel comfortable around the man again, something that he decided he would rather feel all the time.

Cloud hadn't had another serious nightmare since the morning Angeal had returned First Sword, something that Cloud was also thankful for, that one nightmare had left him hesitant to sleep for a good few days...

Cloud looked over to where Zack was sitting on the grass at the edge of the training ground that they often met at for training now, Angeal stood nearby and seemed to listening to Zack talk animatedly about something or rather. They had all arranged to meet here after Cloud got out of class for training, but Cloud realised with a frown that neither Zack nor Angeal had their weapons.

"Hey Spikey!" Zack greeted when Cloud got closer, Cloud nodded his greeting in return and gave the raven-haired man a small smile. While he was still conflicted about his feelings towards his friend, Cloud knew that he didn't regret the kiss they had shared, in fact a part of him would have liked another one...

"What's going on?" Cloud asked, knowing that the two would understand his question.

"We're not training this evening." Zack replied with a grin, earning a quizzical look from Cloud. "Well since you have finished all your classes, we are now officially on holidays and Angeal wants to head off for Costa tonight."

Cloud looked over to Angeal who nodded with a small grin of his own. This was the first Cloud had heard of the plans to go to Costa since they all spoke about it before the attack in the VR room, and although it was sudden Cloud decided that the idea of Costa was sounding better now than ever.

"Head over to your room and get packed; you won't need to much. I'll send the Puppy over to get you when we are ready." Angeal said as Zack stood up.

Cloud nodded and walked with Zack and Angeal until they needed to part ways, from there he made his way over to the cadet dorms feeling quite relaxed at he idea of getting away from the Shinra compound and all it's future issues. Maybe he would be able to make a few stops on his way back and call into Nibelheim?

The relaxed mood slowly evaporated the closer Cloud got to his room, but he couldn't identify why. Feeling on edge Cloud stopped before his door and looked up and down the corridor; there was no one but himself yet he could not shake the feeling he had. It was the same feeling he usually got when he senses an enemy in the area... Yet he couldn't find any possible threats.

Opening the door to his room slowly Cloud's eyes quickly scanned the area. Still no one. Stepping in cautiously Cloud kept his hand near First Swords hilt, he knew that there was someone or something here...

Stepping in further Cloud was not surprised when the door closed behind him. Spinning around and drawing his sword he was met with the sharp clang of metal as First Sword collided with his attacker's.

"Not bad Strife." Cloud found himself looking into the obsidian eyes of a smirking Razor. The brown haired male before him reeked of Darkness, and somehow Cloud found that he wasn't surprised even if he had spent the last few months sharing a room with the boy.

"I knew you were trouble." Cloud's voice was steady and calm as he spoke. He was now confident that most of his strength had returned, and therefore barely moved when Razor placed more pressure of his blade using the unnatural powers that the Darkness gave him.

"Too bad you can't do anything about it." Razor replied, a sickly smile appearing on his face. "Oh how I have waited for this my dear prey."

Quickly pulling back Cloud once again brought his sword down against Razor's, and once again the blade was blocked. Trading a few more blows Cloud knew that this enemy would not be easy to over come and he also knew that he needed to get outside where he would have more room to adequately swing his large sword.

Cloud attacked with a sharp horizontal slash that Razor promptly blocked, but quickly transferring his hold on First Sword to one hand, Cloud sent his newly freed hand at Razor's face in a punch with bone shattering force. It connected.

Razor was flung back hitting the wall with a resounding thud, Cloud lost no time and quickly disconnected one of the smaller blades from First Sword, using the extra speed from the lighter weapon he cut a deep horizontal slash down Razor's torso, but the minion of Darkness quickly recovered and blocked Cloud's follow up attack.

Cloud watched as both the clearly broken jaw of Razor's and the deep cut instantly healed as they stood with swords locked together, the sound of the bones reconnecting themselves being the only other noise besides the breathing of the two fighters.

"What do you want?" Cloud hissed, he might not be one for talking but he hoped that he would be able to gain some insight as to what the Darkness was trying to achieve, "What are you planning?"

"Now, now there is no point in telling you." Razor replied smiling once again now that his jaw was fully healed, "You will find out eventually though."

The cryptic reply confused Cloud but he refused to let it slow him down; he would think about it later. Once more the two were exchanging blows, the room around them taking all the damage, yet neither was giving their all. Cloud was waiting for an opening to inflict some serious damage and also give him the chance to get outside, even if that meant busting though the wall. Razor seemed to be simply toying with the blond warrior.

A sudden harsh shove from Razor pushed Cloud a few steps back, and Cloud quickly reciprocated with his own series of quick slashes.

It was then that the door opened.

"Hey Spikey you ready to- What the?!" Cloud froze with his blade locked with Razor's as his eyes flicked to a stunned Zack who stood with the door part way open. Cloud saw the spark of triumph that went through Razor's eyes and caught the smirk that spread on those lips.

"Zack! Run!" Cloud yelled as he attempted a fatal thrust in hopes of ending whatever his enemy was planning, but the attempt missed as Razor moved with inhuman speed and he had no way of getting to his friend before the obsidian eyed enemy.

Cloud felt his blood run cold when Razor's thin blade placed itself against Zack's throat and he froze instantly. Razor had moved too quickly and Zack hadn't had the time to react before the enemy was behind him. Cloud cursed himself for not being able to move faster.

"Now, now. We can't have you running off on holiday can we Cloud?" Razor mocked as he applied just enough pressure on the blade to cause the skin on Zack's neck to break, but not enough to cause any major damage.

"Stop." Cloud demanded. Zack's eyes were narrowed in anger at his predicament but he showed no signs of fear, something that Cloud was proud of, but Cloud also knew that Razor wouldn't hesitate to go through with his silent threat. Razor knew that he knew it and simply smirked at him.

"Place your sword on the ground and step away from it." Razor said in triumph. "Now."

Cloud hesitated a second, his mind racing in an attempt to find a way out of this situation, but nothing came to him.

He was cornered and he knew it.

Slowly placing First Sword on the ground Cloud took two steps back keeping his hands in fists at his side; his own nails digging in with enough pressure that the skin broke and blood slowly ran between his fingers.

"Let him go." Cloud ground out.

"Hmmm, you know what? I could just so easily do what will be barely achieved by a whole army... I could end it now. " Razor said slyly, completely disregarding the blond's demand. Cloud tensed and felt his heart skip a beat. I could just so easily do what will be barely achieved by a whole army... He was talking about Zack being killed on the cliffs after they escaped from the labs... He was talking about killing Zack right there.

"No." Cloud said letting his shoulders sag in defeat. He couldn't let that happen, and if it meant he died then so be it.

Razor walked forward, pushing Zack before him until they both stood just in front of Cloud.

"Good boy." Razor purred. In barely an instant he shoved Zack away, causing him to tumble over one of the beds, and he had a hold on Cloud; one arm twisted up behind his back while the sword was now pressed against the blond's throat.

"My master will be very happy to see you Cloud." Razor said next to his ear, his warm breath against Cloud's throat, sending a chill down Cloud's spine.

"Why don't you just kill me and get it over with?" Cloud asked bitterly, attempting to move his head away from Razor.

"Oh no, just imagine the things my master can achieve with Gaia's guardian at his disposal."

Those simple words chilled Cloud to the bone. He thought of struggling but the arm now pinned almost painfully behind his back kept him from moving much and the cold blade at his throat served as a stark reminder as well.

"Let him go." Cloud looked up to see Zack standing with First Sword in hand and glaring viciously at Razor.

"Zack!" Cloud barked, drawing bright mako eyes to him, "Get out of here... Find Angeal."

Zack looked torn, but in the end nodded and headed cautiously for the door, never once taking his eyes of the person holding Cloud.

He never made it out the door.

A large hand shot out from the other side of the door and grabbed the raven-haired man's throat and hefted him off the ground. Cloud instantly fought against the grip holding him then as he watched First Sword fall from Zack's hands as he fought to loosen the grip around his throat.

"No! Let him go!" Cloud yelled, his mind going into over drive as he ignored the biting pain of the sword digging into his throat as he pushed forward, feeling Razor's grip on him slipping.

"If you keep struggling he will die." Razor hissed in his ear, knowing that he had to stop the blond's struggles.

The man holding Zack was the same as the one from the VR room, only this time he held no weapon. Cloud felt like his heart was being torn in two as he watched Zack struggle for breath under the man's incredibly strong grip, he had been there only weeks ago and knew exactly what his friend would be feeling now.

"Just let him go..." This time Cloud's voice had lost all bite to it; it was simply softly spoken words that could almost be interpreted as begging.

"I don't think so." Came the harsh reply, "This way we have utter control over you. You see, it didn't take a genius to see you cared for the boy, especially after the way you jumped to his protection in that reality chamber. You made it so easy for us to find your weakness."

"Damn you..." Cloud growled.

Cloud watched helplessly as Zack's thrashing began to lessen as he ran out of air. Cloud wanted nothing else than to cleave the large man's head in half with First Sword right then, but Razor was right; Cloud wouldn't fight if it meant Zack got harmed because of it.

Time seemed almost suspended around Cloud and he felt hyper aware of all that was going on around him; he could feel the small dribble of his own blood slowly running down his throat from Razor's blade and his own struggles, he could feel the tainted heart beat of the man holding him against his back, and he swore he could hear the erratic pulse of his best friend.

It was then that a large sword came out of no where and impaled the large man from behind, causing the man to drop Zack in shock so that the raven-haired man fell to the ground gasping for breath. Glowing eyes looked down in disbelief to where the large sword pierced through his chest before the glow dimmed and went out, leaving the man to crumple on the spot.

Angeal withdrew his sword from the body, watching as the dead corpse turned black and crumbled into a pile of ashed before he focused his eyes on the next threat, pausing when he saw Cloud being held with a blade against his throat.

Razor was furious, Cloud could tell that much from the Darkness emanating from deep within the false-cadet's body. The grip on his wrist had tightened to painful proportions as it held Cloud's arm securely behind his back and the blade pressed deeper, allowing the small dribble of blood to grow to a small stream.

Right then though, Cloud couldn't have been happier; his own discomfort didn't matter, what mattered was the fact that Zack was now freed.

"Release him." Angeal said calmly, his eyes being the only thing to display his current anger.

"Like hell." Razor spat, his grip tightening even more, "I have worked too hard to obtain Gaia's guardian and my master will not accept me loosing him now."

Cloud vaguely registered that there would be some serious questions thrown his way later, but now he had other matters to deal with. Now that Zack was no longer in danger, Cloud had no objections to fighting back. Slamming the elbow of the arm that was not being held into Razor's ribs while wrapping one leg back around one of Razor's he pushed back with all his strength, sending the both of them to the ground roughly.

Cloud had to grit his teeth as he felt his shoulder dislocate as they landed, the angle Razor had been holding the limb at having been to far back to avoid damage. However Cloud's trick had the intended effect and Razor lost his grip allowing Cloud to roll under and away from the blade and its wielder.

Locating and snatching up First Sword one handed Cloud was quick to press his attack on Razor. He could feel the mako in his system racing through his veins and knew then that he had gained back everything he had lost when he made the transition to the past.

Despite his dislocated shoulder leaving him with only one hand, Cloud was now moving with renewed speed and strength as he rained blow after blow onto Razor, who struggled to merely block, dodge or deflect. It did not last long until Cloud managed to deal a serious blow to his enemies' shoulder.

With a final snarl in Cloud's direction Razor stepped back and literally melted into the shadows on the back wall.

"This is not the end Cloud Strife. My master will have you." Were the final words that left the obsidian eyed enemies' mouth as he faded, Cloud's final blow from First Sword embedding itself into the wall seconds later.

The next few minutes were spent in tense silence as everyone waited to see if there would be any further attack, but the earlier feeling of danger was fading and Cloud knew that they were safe... for now.

Leaning First Sword on the wall next to him, Cloud began inspecting his shoulder and deciding that it wasn't to bad he gritted his teeth and used his other hand to push the joint back into place. Almost instantly he could feel the mako in his blood repairing any left over damage.

Turning around Cloud looked to his friends for the first time since Razor had left. Angeal was kneeling by Zack who was now breathing normally and Cloud sent a silent thanks to Gaia for his friends' safety. Despite how much the blond wanted to go over to his friends he decided it best not to, they had no doubt heard what had been said and he was unsure as to how they were going to react. Would they brand him a traitor? Would they report him to Shinra and have him locked up? Would he be handed over to someone like Hojo for experimentation?

Cloud shuddered at the thought.

Picking First Sword up once more, Cloud placed it on his back where the comforting weight acted as reassurance for him.

Finally Zack and Angeal looked up at him. Cloud was tempted to look away, but he held their gazes anyway. For a moment shock passed through both their faces and the blond was left wondering what they saw.

"Cloud... Your eyes..." Zack said quietly, "They are glowing."

Understanding filled Cloud; with his completely renewed power his eyes would once again become a beacon to display the mako running through is veins.

This time he did look away.

"That was the Darkness." Angeal's words were not a question, they were a statement.

"Yes." Cloud answered simply. He looked up to meet Angeal's eyes and was almost surprised to see no anger in them.

"You have some explaining to do." The tall First stated calmly. Cloud looked around the trashed room and gave a sigh.

"Not here."

Zack was looking confused but for once he held onto his questions, he was no fool despite how he often acted and he knew that whatever had happened had been something of a very serious nature. Hell, he had never seen someone just melt into a shadow before.

Angeal was quiet for some time and Zack wondered if maybe his mentor was going to demand answers then and there, but to his surprise that was not the case.

"On the way to Costa then. This time I want the whole truth as well." Angeal said.

Cloud simply nodded, there would be no avoiding it now, not after the Darkness had marked Zack as his weakness.

It was going to be a long flight to a supposed holiday...

A slightly more fast-paced chapter but I hope everyone enjoyed :) The next chapter should be interesting.