Crossed fates.
Chapter one: the meeting of the minds.
The insane laughter drilled itself into the back of his skull. The terrible ringing of that sound which had become the theme of his madness. He reached out his hands in an attempt to stop the scene before him. Hot tears forced themselves from his blue eyes and ran down his cheeks. The land below his enemy's feet ran red with his love's blood. It felt as though his heart had been ripped from his chest as the young woman crumpled to the floor.
Finally the man found his voice.
And two men in two worlds screamed.
The first of them sat bolt upright in his bed. Sweat plastered his light brown hair to his forehead and stuck the sheets to his semi-naked body. His chest heaves, his breath visible in the cold room. A tear were halfway down his cheek before he realised it was there.
As the pounding of his heart slowed, the nineteen year old swallowed. Reaching out, he grasps the glass of water from the bedside table, raises it to his lips and drinks. The cool water quenches his thirst but does nothing to help his throat. He has been on the run for a day now, trying to find someplace quiet to do his thinking. These days he is so busy he even finds it hard to remember his own name.
Not tonight though.
He is Squall Leonhart. The now permanent leader of SeeD, commander of an ever growing army of mercenaries. And the man that has all this responsibility has all but lost his mind and has deserted. Once again he reaches to the table and switches on his mobile phone. Almost instantly the phrase "YOU HAVE NEW MESSAGES" appears on the screen. He selects view and scrolls through the thirty or so text messages that have come through. Quite a few from Zell using some of his choice words which grew worse as they continued, some from Selphie, more than seven from Irvine and two others that almost hurt him. The first was from Laguna and read: "Look son, I don't pretend to know how you're feeling right now, but all we want is for you to contact us. Tell us that you're okay and how you're feeling. We want to help." He hated it when his father even contacted him. To know that Laguna knew he was gone made Squall feel sick to his stomach. He didn't want to show any similarities to that weakling of a father of his.
The one that hit him hardest was the one and only sentence from Quistis: "You told me last year you thought you were too selfish, I believe you now."
Feeling guilty he dialled her number and got her message service. "I am so sorry Quistis. Please forgive me. All I'm asking for is one week to rest up. You know I haven't stopped since Rinoa... Since then. I'm fit to drop and I need to figure out where my life is going right now. I'll call in the morning." Ending the message he turned off the phone and dressed. He felt like walking despite the fact that it was only three am. He picked up his bag and left the building.
"SQUALL, CHILD OF RAINE LEONHART."
"Shiva, I though I left you back at Balamb garden."
"YOU DID CHILD. I CAME BACK TO YOU OF MY OWN ACCORD. DO NOT WORRY I SHALL NOT INTRUDE ON YOUR SOLITUDE."
"Okay Shiva and thank you."
"YOU ARE WELCOME CHILD."
He half smiled at the politeness of his guardian force, the one who had helped him since the day of the exam at Ifrit's fire cavern. Despite his desire for time alone, he was glad to know the goddess was there for him to fall back on if needs be.
He left the town of Dollet where his final exam had been held two years before. He kept to the black tarmac path although most of the monsters in this area pose no threat to him. He does not feel like fighting this night...
He walks and walks with no true aim in his mind. It almost feels to him as though someone is watching all this but he dismisses the thought as a remnant of the dream world.
And as dawns first light spreads across the horizon he finds himself looking at the sleepy village of Winhill. His place of birth and where his mother's body lies.
The blonde haired man slowly opened his eyes. Their mako blue light shimmers as he turns to the flame red creature. Nanaki looks at him with his head on one side as if to ask what had happened on the trip. Cloud sighs.
"I saw a kid. Not myself this time."
Nanaki was taken aback, the trip into his soul should not have revealed anyone else to Cloud, only the cause of the nightmares that had been troubling him. "Was there anything else?"
"At first I saw the death again. Aeris died right in front of me and I couldn't do anything about it. There was something different about it this time though..."
"How was it different?" The creature known as Red 13 continued. "Just tell me what happened."
He closed his eyes and bought the scene to mind. "It wasn't just Aeris who died and it wasn't just Sephiroth that killed her." Sensing Nanaki wanted to ask who else was there he added: "a dark haired girl was there, like she shared a body with Aeris. She looked a little like Tifa. The one who murdered her used a weapon I've never seen before. His hair was blonde and short, his forehead scarred and his eyes.... his eyes...."
"Yes Cloud?"
"It was almost as if he had no soul of his own. His eyes were empty...."
"Empty. What could happen to make someone lose his soul???"
"That's easy Red, someone took it from him. The other kid wanted to help. Whoever it was that took it I pray we never meet anyone like them, but I get the feeling we have no choice in the matter."
Authors note.
Well that's chapter one done. I know you probably hate me for killing Rinoa but don't despair!!! In response to an email: Cloud and Squall in a story together??? Well it's all based on a dream of mine. This story has a really loooonnnngggg way to go, and I've got to go to work so I'll say bye here. If you've got anything to say email me! it's nicola.wilcox@talk21.com . See ya next chapter.