A Life to Lead ^_^

"Well, since I'm here, I might as well talk to this guy and find out where I am." Kexlaybed thought.

"Hey," Kexlaybed said, tapping Cloud on the shoulder, "I'm going to help you out. I see that you have had problems with the darkness. I can help."

He pulled a pyramid shaped object out of the folds of his cloak.

"See this? I can use this to regress you to any time in your past. Just say the word, and I'll put you back the you were before Sephiroth existed. But first, I need to know exactly where we are. I took a wrong turn on my way somewhere."

Kexlaybed looked at Cloud through his visor, waiting for a response.

 

Cloud observed the new stranger and wasn't sure what to think or say. He was waiting for Sephiroth to be finished and wanted to make sure he didn't have any sneaky plans up his sleeve. "Who are you and don't you know I'm finishing my battle? You shouldn't even be here since you could get hurt. Hollow Bastion is falling apart all around you." Cloud turned back his attention to his buster sword and held it at Sephiroth's neck. "Any last words?" He bitterly spoke ready to slay him through. Cloud could sense the power going to his head and it was a satisfasiying victory.

As he waited for Axel's decision, he noticed Sephiroth leaking darkness from him and that Cloud had sucessfully won the battle. The warrior looked beat and had seen better days. Demyx felt the breeze kick in, making him realize the night was getting colder and it was time to seek somewhere warm. The question was would he return back to the castle or go in the house? So much had happened. First with Larxene hurting his leg, then gripping him by the throat with her arms, Xemnas's threat upon him, Cloud defeating Sephiroth and Roxas betraying the organization. It had been an eventful day, full of uncertainity and tomorrow would bring more.

 

"They hail you now as a hero, but they'll find someone else. The only thing people love more then a hero is to see a hero fall," Sephiroth said these words mustering a smile toh is face. He wanted the face to be imprinted upon Cloud, he might as well try to give him as many lasting scars as possible. Both physichal and psychological.

 

"Okay, fine," Kexlaybed said, shrugging, "Just remember my offer."

He turned to Sephiroth.

"And you. If you really want to beat this guy, if you really, genuinely want him dead, think again. If what you said is the truth, he is as much a part of you as you are of him. You kill him, and you go down as well. He kills you, he suffers the same fate. Personally, I'd suggest you two work together. You'd balance each other out. But that's just me."

Kexlaybed began to walk away, hoping Sephiroth would say something to stop him.

 

Cloud scoffed and he chose not to put Sephiorth out of his misery. He wanted him to suffer a slow agonizing death as many as his victims did. "I'm no one's hero. I just did what needed to be done. You needed to pay for all of your sins, for taking my friend's life and for causing me such agony. You deserve what is happening to you for I will watch you perish before my eyes letting me know that you're finally gone once and for all." He kept his sword pointed at Sephiroth's throat just in case, his blue eyes narrowed and a hateful scrowl on his features. The wind didn't faze him one bit and he gladly embraced it, for it was drying his sweat and blood from his body.

Demyx walked towards the blond warrior not knowing what Axel was going to do? He was confused by the red haired man's silence as if lost in thought. The water wielder looked down upon the man whom was dying and at his deranged face. His nobody senses directed him to the presence of a heart, the one the boss wanted and would be captured and go to the giant heart shaped moon in the sky in the World that Never Was. "You beat him," he smiled at the injured warrior whom only acknowledged him with a nod from his head. Demyx was relieved. He wouldn't have to face Xemnas's fury for now and that was the only great thing that happened on the day besides him getting the musician position and his model photo shoot tomorrow. So Roxas was gone, but that was his choice to leave and Demyx didn't have to worry about that any longer. He would see him again one day and hoped that it wasn't on ill terms.

 

"We do balance each other out.. you'll see," Sephiroth said to Kexlaybed. Then he turned to Cloud. "Always a fool, eh, Cloud? I am.. the... Harvester... of sins. You took your own friends life, Cloud. He chose to be your friend, and any who are your friend must pay the price. He payed his price."

 

Axel chuckled slightly when he heard that Hallow Bastion was falling apart around them. Of course it was to begin with because the Flurry had started the devastion with taking lives and the fires. He sighed as he came closer to Demyx and touched his shoulder with his left hand. As if letting him know that he was there for him and that he could trust him. Though he leaned into his ear and began whispering again that only Demyx could hear. "I am not betraying you, I am doing what I think is right. If I give a damn about you I would of left by now, but I see that you are distressed so I am staying until you are okay. Roxas is fine as he is with Xion in Twlight Town. They are just reconnecting and I will talk to him about his little grudge. I assure you it isn't personal," he took his hand off hoping that the musican could understand him.


Leon sighed as he nodded towards Sora that maybe they should help out Cloud, but then noticed that it was over now. Fianlly the demon wasn't going to torture his friend again."We won't need to do anything now," he mentioned. He then gripped his fists as he saw the one who nearly took his life.

 

Kexlaybed melted into a shadow behind a building, waving goodbye to aknowledge Sephiroth's comment. He reappeared in Sora's shadow, nodding at Leon.

"You're right about that. Sephiroth is dying, although I'm not sure what effect that will have on Cloud. If what Sephiroth said is true, Cloud could die in a month or two if Sephiroth dies. I wouldn't worry about that though, I can use an artifact that I picked up in my travels to put him back the way he was before Sephiroth existed. He'll retain all of his memories and knowledge up to the time of regression, but his connection to Sephiroth will be gone. As for you Sora, I've been watching you for some time, and I'm impressed. Here's something for you," Kexlaybed tossed a Keychain to Sora, "Attach it to your Keyblade. It'll give you a double sided Keyblade like mine. Try it out."

 

Cloud felt as if Sephiroth was torturing him emotionally trying to make him feel guilty about what happened to Zack. He wouldn't hear any more of it. Holding the sword against his throat now, the blade pierced the flesh making it that much quicker for him to die. He wanted him to be in pain, but savor his death. "You will die now. Nothing can save you."

Demyx felt Axel's touch and he turned his neck to view Axel out of the corner of his eye. He listened to what he had to say and nodded his head, relieved that his friend was not betraying him. "Thank you and when you do see him, ask him why he attacked me when I was only trying to help him? I wasn't taking away his independence. I didn't want him to get hurt is all, but now I don't know if I can ever see him the same way again." He mentioned softly to Axel." He closed his eyes and reached out his hand towards Cloud's nemsis feeling the heart stir within ready to be snatched. So this was how it felt to come close to a heart. A heart of darkness, but a heart regardless. "You feel that Axel?" He grinned his fingertips itching to seize it in his own gloved hand.

 

"Not even with the power of our flowering friendship? We're much better friends then you are with your other friends. Look at all the time we've already spent together," Sephiroth let out one, final laugh that was louder then the others. Pain like none he had ever fealt before rushed in his body, but he didn't care. He fealt like his Heart was being ripped out. He made a motion with his hand to try to rip out Cloud's. His hand fell back to him. In fact, he thought he could now see his Heart...

 

Axel noticed another guy Kexlaybed, briefly for a moment as he acknowledged Demyx's words as he shifted over and walked closer and turned his attention to the heart that could be grasp. He lent his hand to it as well feeling the warmth of it and the vibration. This was one step of reseizing their goal. The question is what other strong hearts were there?. "Soon we will be able to have one of our own, it just might take some time. I have no idea of how many more that are needed," he replied letting his eyes drift close as well as if almost in an hypotize kind of mind.

 

Cloud was so disgusted by hearing those words that he turned away feeling his rage begin to set in; however, he let his mind remain rational and knew Sephiroth was indeed dying. He could see the heart floating above the man and his eyes fell upon the darkness of it. He eyed Axel's trance like stare, and Demyx's stretched out hand ready to seize it in a matter of seconds. Cloud would witness what would happen now as Xemnas would surely be pleased with the end result. Not choosing to say anything else to him, Cloud gave Sephiroth one finishing blow, in the neck his teeth gritted and his body feeling free at last. Little did he realize that the darkness would enter him, making him want to give in more to it and would not kill him since something else was happening before Cloud's eyes. Sephiroth was becoming a heartless. He backed away at his bizarre sight, scared of what he had unleased for the spirit had not crossed over to the Stream of Life.

Demyx had a feeling that Xemnas would walk over to make sure the deed had been done, but what did he want him to do next? Taking the iniative, Demyx cupped it with both of hands as it floated in mid air. He starred at the wonder of it, felt the warmth as it began to burn. With his azure orbs, he was shocked to see a heartless of Sephiroth had formed and where there was a strong heart there could be an empty shell left behind thus becoming a nobody. Only time would tell.

 

Taking the heart from Demyx, Xemnas stared at his prize. He was one step closer to what he truly wanted. He smiled, a small one, but a smile none the less. Pausing for a moment, he looked down at demyx and flashed the miracle on his face.
"as you see Demyx, you have saved yourself and proven your worth."

 

"You're dead already and you've came to see me? How thoughtful. I always said you wouldn't make it long without me," Sephiroth said this while staring at Cloud. He looked at him for some time then said, "Can't you even finish me off good for a couple of minutes? Do I have to help you do everything? Even kill me?"

The shell seemed to stand. It took its place by the now Heartless Sephiroth without a word.

 

Demyx bowed his head acknowledging Xemnas's comment. He felt he finally had suceeded and it put a sense of pride and relief shown in his eyes. He had made his boss pleased, the organization proud which he thought was an impossible task. He kneeled to Xemnas's feet showing all loyalty to him, savoring every moment that for once he was not a screw up. Memories flashed in his eyes of a moment in his past where he when he was human made his father recongonize him as his son for accomplishing a difficult task that nearly cost him his own life. He had saved a person from drowning since he was the strongest swimmer and had escaped a shark attack, nearly getting ripped in half. From his encounter, he had spent weeks in the hospital and that was where he practiced his skills as an inspiring musician upon his his electric guitar. Getting back to the moment as the memories escaped him once again, he viewed those orange orbs like that of a father looking down upon a son and was being congradulated for a job well done. "Thank you Superior," he looked up, his head held high as he rose to his feet once more.

Cloud backed away, his heart thumping hard and quick in his chest. He had not expected this. He was starring at the heartless and nobody of his former enemy. Not being able to speak, he only stood in fear, his breath quickening as he exhaled. This wasn't possible. Sephiroth had become more powerful then ever and it was no thanks to him. Gripping his fists, he placed his sword down not giving into the fear, but his eyes were telling him otherwise. He would never be free from him. He had only made matters worse and to Cloud's surprise he didn't even care or think about the consequences. He was looking at a new sparing partner for his heart had become darker with Sephiroth having more of an influence than ever.

 

Kexlaybed watched Sephiroth's Heartless form.

"And with that, I bid you farewell, Sora." He executed a backward flip into Sora's shadow, reappearing in Cloud's shadow.

"I'm back, Cloud. I'm here to really help this time. This is no longer your fight to fight alone. You will need help." He summoned his keyblades. To help, Kexlaybed regressed the the buster blade to after it had been modified by Cloud.

"That should give you a good enough edge to beat Sephiroth's Heartless and Nobody with my support. I'll take his Nobody. It's been rejected by the Darkness and so is more my speed. You take the Heartless, as you seem better at fighting against dark beings. Ready?"

 

Axel seemed appreacited and glad that Demyx had made Xenmas proud and then his ermeald eyes observed the new Sepiroth except that it was an heartless and or an nobody form of him. Secretly the nobody wondered how he was founded from the organization and which member was responsible for it. He knew that the guy had a strong heart, but now who else was next to gain another heart? "See you are not that much of a screw up after all," He patted Demyx on the shoulder.

Leon's mouth just dropped opened as he tried to not get upset with the result. He felt completely dumbfounded now. He knew that Sepiroth had a strong heart, but now Cloud had unleashed a powerful new enemy most likely. "That is just great," he sighed as he looked at Sora. "I guess now we fight," he poundered as he watched the warrior Kexlaybed ready himself in battle.


Saix watched in the distant an ghost of a smile had crossed his face for only a moment as he came forward and walked over towards Xenmas. "There are other heartless as well, but this one is the strongest so far," He glanced at Axel blankly and then continued to speak with the superior. "So who next is on your list?"

 

Xemnas turned around, clutching sephiroth's heart closely.
"Come, we're leaving."

Opening a portal, the leader went to put the piece into his puzzle.

"Again demyx, congradulations."

 

Demyx liked the attention he was getting from the boss as well as Axel. He laughed a bit and gentely pushed Axel back in a playful manner. "I guess I'm not. One of my plans actually worked for once." He hurried to the portal where Xemnas awaited for his soliders. He stopped in front of Cloud and grinned at Kexlaybed just waiting to tell this new stranger the news. "Can't you see he is in shock? He has no need to fight now. He's weak from his battle and needs to recover. The organization will take good care of him."

Cloud was in a daze only starring at the new form of evil he had created. Looking at the sword, a swarm of darkness surrrounded it returning it to the way the buster sword was. It was like he was hypotised as he didn't say a word and headed into the Corridor of Darkness now knowing he had sold his soul to the darkness. He couldn't even face the others for what would they say? Sephiroth's darkness had taken his toll on him.

Demyx watched Cloud enter first and he starred at Axel giving him a wink to take care of this pest. "Don't even think about following us for where we going you can not follow." He stood behind Xemnas. "Have fun restoring your home or what is left of it."

 

Aerith took a deep shuddering breath. She needed him more then ever, he would have been able to help Cloud. But she was on her own. Never had she felt more alone, more tired. At least Xion was safe....but how could she fix this mistake? She would give her life if she had to, to safe Cloud from the same fate.

Xion leaned against the wall, her eyes almost closing. She was so sleepy...."C'mon, Roxas. If Cloud did what I think would happen,Aerith is going to be really sad."