Tainted Eyes

Kingdom Hearts/Final Fantasy are owned by Square Enix.

Warning: Violence, Sexual situations

Tainted Eyes: part XVII: Saviors

Sora ran at top speed behind Vincent, finding that his dark power could push his body to new limits. It wasn't good for him, and it only fueled the darkness even more, but all he cared about now was Riku. They rushed through the forest according to Sora's directions, and Sora was rushing to the spot where he last felt Livion’s presence and delight. They heard footsteps behind them suddenly, but Sora kept running with Vincent, who didn't seem to care.

"It's Squall and Aeris," Vincent called back to Sora. "They'll catch up shortly."

Sora continued to run until he found that his power was failing. He slowed down and came to a sudden stop, and Vincent, no longer hearing Sora's steps, turned around. Not only could Sora not feel Livion anymore, but the dark power that fed him... that fed his ache... was disappearing from him as well. It would fade in and out like a painful tide, and Sora struggled to hold on to it. He told himself that he would only hold on to his dark power to kill Livion... but something else told him that he wanted it for much longer.

He looked up to see Vincent walking out into a clearing. Sora could tell that he was looking at something and he walked up to join him. Something changed in Vincent's eyes as Sora approached him, and the sable-haired teen knew that there was something there. But Vincent turned around swiftly and held Sora in place.

"No," Vincent said. "Stay here and let me see what it is."

"You seem to know what it is," Sora said coldly. "Let me see."

"Sora, you must not go out there."

The waves of darkness that were storming and ebbing in Sora were making him anxious and annoyed. "MOVE VINCENT!"

Squall and Aeris slowly approached. They had stopped trying to keep pace with Vincent and Sora long ago, and now Squall was supporting Aeris as she walked. Aeris slowly sat down on a stump and took a deep breath. Squall walked over to Vincent and looked over his shoulder. Sora struggled against Vincent as Squall burst into a run into the clearing.

"Sora, Vincent is trying to protect you!" Aeris said to the struggling teen, whose blue eyes were growing fierce.

"I'm not a little boy! I don't need protection! Riku is out there isn't he?! LET ME GO!"

"Sora!" Vincent said loudly, suddenly getting Sora's attention. "I will not lie to you. Yes, Riku is there. But with the darkness that is overtaking you I cannot let you see him like this. You will be of more danger to him and to all of us if you sink even further into the darkness."

"I'm getting more pissed off that you're not letting me go!"

"It is better that you are angry at me instead of pouring more dark power into your heart at the sight that will lie before you," Vincent said calmly. "Sora, it is up to you to make the stronger decision in order to protect Riku in the long run."

Sora narrowed his eyes. "I choose to--"

Aeris gasped and pointed into the clearing, her hand shaking. "Someone is in the trees!"

Sora and Vincent whirled around, and when Vincent saw that Squall had placed Riku's torn clothes on top of his nude, bloody body, he decided that Riku was presentable enough for Sora to see. The three ran out to Squall, who had no idea that someone was lurking in the shadows.

Sora looked down to see the blood that coated the grass and the rocks. The thick trail of blood led back to Riku. Riku's silver hair was covered with brown dirt, and black and blue bruises covered his body. Blood tricked out of his nose and mouth, and red marks were visible at his wrists and ankles where the chains had held him down.

Sora sank to his knees beside his hurt friend, and he brushed his hand against Riku's cheek. Sora knew that he wouldn't live long without help. He knew those sea-green eyes would never open again. He sat and gently rested Riku's head on his lap, running his fingers through the dirty silver hair that was starting to grow long. Vincent and Squall glanced at the two from time to time, but stood watching the edge of the clearing to see if anyone was there. Aeris only sat there, crying tears of frustration at the fact that she was too weak to heal Riku's dying body.

A group of branches rustled not far from the group, and everyone remained silent and still. Squall stood with his gunblade ready, and they all watched as branches here and there started to move.

"Val...en...tine..." came the hoarse voice.

Vincent stiffened at the mention of his last name.

"Val...en...tine...."

The group glanced to Vincent who stared intently at the shadows in a thick group of trees.

"Kill..." the hoarse eerie voice whispered. "Kill...."

Vincent started to walk towards the shadows, moving away from the group. "If he only wants me, it is best not to stand near anyone else," he whispered. "He is sure to strike at any moment."

Squall shook his head and followed close behind.

"Valentine...."

Riku's wounds started to heal, and his bruises started to disappear. Sora knew this was the sign that Livion would use him again, and he grew angry at the sight. This healing had a price, but Sora would see that it was never paid.

Suddenly a dark figure burst from the trees and with impossible speed he appeared in front of Vincent, delivering a swift punch to his midsection that send the raven-haired man flying backwards. Vincent landed next to a very frightened Aeris, and he looked up at her with surprised red eyes. He drew in breath and stood up slowly, patting in her on the head to signal that he would be alright. When he stood he saw that Squall was already fighting the dark stranger, who was wearing tattered clothes from his last demon transformation. Squall wielded the gunblade with amazing speed, but he couldn't move as fast as Livion, who taunted him as he dodged every attack. The gunblade's bullets could be heard whizzing through the air.

~~~~~~~~~~

Cloud ran his fingers through his spiked blonde hair and stared at Sephiroth, who sat on the edge of a dry marble fountain. Cold air blew threw the courtyard and sent a chill through Cloud's entire body. Sephiroth only stared at the ground, his glowing green eyes showing that he was thinking deeply on something. Cloud walked over and sat a couple feet away on the fountain's edge. He looked over at his friend, who was now completely drenched with blood from head to toe. But none of that blood belonged to either of them. The only blood that was Sephiroth's was trickling down the blade of his sword, which he was holding with his bare hand now. He held it vertically, the tip in the ground, and the blade cut into his skin. His bright red blood flowed down to the ground, but he didn't seem to care.

Cloud stared for a moment at the sword that had called Sephiroth there. The blade was six feet long, almost as tall as Sephiroth, which was why the silver-haired swordsman held it by the blade as he sat, as it was so tall. It was called the Masamune, and Sephiroth was the only one who could use it. He was the only one strong enough, the only one with a heart pure enough, and... he was the only one tall enough. Anyone with evil who tried to use the sword would instantly feel its purifying power destroying them. Livion's men had tried to take it inside the fortress, but they failed. It was abandoned in the courtyard, and it called to its true owner. Sephiroth was already one of the most powerful men alive... and with the Masamune, he was nearly unstoppable.

"Sephiroth?" Cloud said, looking to his friend. "Does it bother you that you had to kill all these people?"

Sephiroth raised his head slightly and glanced around at all the bloody bodies. There were arms and legs and even heads separated from their bodies. Sephiroth nodded slightly in response to Cloud's question.

"Why?" Cloud asked curiously. "You know they're murderers. You know they hurt people."

"It never gets easier, Cloud. To them, I am the enemy. It never gets easier to take someone's most precious gift from them." Sephiroth's eyes closed slowly. "To think... that I was raised to do this. You'd think I'd be used to it."

"You're not a hard-hearted person," Cloud said, as he moved closer and placed a hand on Sephiroth's shoulder.

Sephiroth only nodded slightly, then stood up. "We should go look for the others."

Cloud stood, and then caught Sephiroth just in time as the young general nearly collapsed to the ground. Cloud supported him and helped him stand straight again. He could tell that Sephiroth was uncomfortable with having to rely on someone. He was always punished severely for showing any kind of weakness in his younger years. If he was anything but the perfect soldier, there would be consequences. But now, he had no choice but to rely on Cloud, because he barely had enough energy to sustain himself. Even a simple healing spell could kill him.

Cloud walked slowly with Sephiroth leaning on him for support. They walked for a long time, not saying a word to each other. They finally passed a small spring, far from all of the blood.

"Hey," Cloud said, bringing the young general out of his thoughts. "Let's stop here and get you washed off. There isn't an inch on you that isn't covered with blood or ash."

Sephiroth stopped and walked over to the edge of the spring. He stared at his reflection for a long time. Cloud watched him as he slowly made his way into the water, still clothed. When he was waist deep in water, he stopped again, and stared at his reflection once more.

No wonder people fear me in my own world, thought Sephiroth. So few truly know me. I'm just a soldier to them all. An expert at killing. They only see me looking so cold and hard in battle... drenched with blood that's never my own. Do they even know that I can bleed also?

Sephiroth heard the water shifting and rippling slightly, but it didn't really register to him until he felt Cloud's hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Cloud's glowing blue eyes staring at him with as much worry as his hardened expressions would allow him. Sephiroth stared into those eyes and despaired even more. Cloud's eyes were always so innocent until he joined the military. It was then that the alien demon Jenova possessed Sephiroth's soul and enslaved his mind. Jenova had been killed by Cloud, and Sephiroth's soul had been set free... but those times hardened Cloud's heart. The two had to fight each other, and Sephiroth had slaughtered so many and burned a village to the ground. He would have moved on to kill Aeris if Cloud hadn't set out to kill Jenova.

"How could you forgive me..." Sephiroth asked softly, as he stared into the water. He wasn't even fully aware that he spoke. "Why did everyone forgive me...?"

Cloud tilted his head slightly and thought for a moment before he realized what Sephiroth was talking about. "Everyone knew it wasn't your fault," Cloud said very gently. "You saved so many lives and touched so many people that they knew it couldn't be your wish to hurt people."

Sephiroth stared at his bloody reflection once more. Even though Jenova possessed him, he still saw everything that happened during those times. He remembered the hatred that burned in Cloud's eyes. He shook his head and slowly lowered himself into the water until he disappeared beneath the surface. He came up after a few moments, and still felt Cloud's piecing gaze on him. He turned to the blonde slowly, but found no words to express what he was feeling.

Cloud slowly stepped forward and used his hand to gently wipe away some blood and ash from Sephiroth's face. "The blood... the dirt... the taint... it comes off of you so easily. But for me... it sticks for a long time. The only one I came blame for that is myself."

Sephiroth shook his head again, but Cloud only smiled and made his way back to dry ground. "Wash off," he said. "We still have to join the others. But something tells me they're okay."

Both young men knew that finding the others was important, but Cloud wanted Sephiroth to regain himself before anything else happened. After all, they needed him to escape this dark place.

Sephiroth washed off as much as the blood and ash as he could. Some of it remained in his silver hair, and it not all of it came out of his clothes... but at least the smell wouldn't kill him. And if they made it back, he would make himself fully clean... in body and soul. He stepped out of the water to meet Cloud.

"I'll quit..." Sephiroth said very softly.

"What?"

"The military... I'll quit...."

Cloud nodded and grinned. "It's about damn time."

Sephiroth stared at the ground again, thinking deeply about what he would do. He thought about who he would be and what would define him if not a massive death count traced to his sword.

"I shouldn't be thinking about this now," he said, as he started to walk to the forest. "They might need us."

Cloud grabbed his arm and brought him back. "If your mind isn't clear, we won't succeed in this battle. You told me that once when I was one of your officers." His free hand moved to rest on Sephiroth's shoulder and his fingertips brushed his neck. The young swordsman's eyes closed as his body relaxed in approval. But he soon straightened and tried to move away, his features showing intense confusion and turmoil. Cloud held on to Sephiroth's arm and moved close again.

"No one is watching you," Cloud said, his expression remaining completely stoic except for the glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "Show me what's inside."

With one hand still fixed on Sephiroth's arm, Cloud used his free hand to brush the silver hair from the young swordsman's face. Sephiroth watched Cloud's movements in detail with his calculating eyes.

"Relax," Cloud said softly, his tone almost commanding. He ran his fingertips over Sephiroth's lips very gently, and then leaned in to bring his face very close. He slowly slid his fingertips away and stared into Sephiroth's eyes. "My soul isn't as clean as yours, Sephiroth. And I can't hold my urges back forever. If only you knew the things I‘ve wanted to do to you…. The ways I‘ve wanted you to feel pain and pleasure. There were so many times where I wanted to force you…. So many times I wanted to see the great general Sephiroth at my mercy." His breath gently hit Sephiroth's skin as he spoke to him, their lips barely touching. "Sometimes I wonder if that makes me as bad as Livion.”

Sephiroth tensed and shifted. But at the same time, he didn't appear to dislike what was happening to him.

"You don't even know what the hell I'm doing to you, do you?" Cloud said, a small smile on his face. "They kept you in such a closed world that you never even knew how to express what your body wanted."

Cloud looked into Sephiroth's eyes before kissing his lips gently. Sephiroth pulled away and shook his head.

"I can't," he swallowed.

Cloud approached him slowly, his face showing no emotion. "Looks like I'll have to be a little more forceful...."

"Cloud--"

"Maybe if I treated this like a military strategy you'd relax," Cloud joked.

Sephiroth would have attempted to be more icy and upright, but he was too weak and drained. As it stood now, Cloud could do whatever he wanted. The blonde moved in close again and examined the turbulent, deeply buried emotions in Sephiroth's eyes.

"You're shivering," Cloud said softly. "You shouldn't have gone in with your clothes on." He took Sephiroth's hands in his to warm them. Cloud was hardened, but he was not without warmth in his heart.

Sephiroth stared at their hands. He couldn't remember ever holding hands with anyone. It made him nervous, and he stood there as a soldier would stand... strong and proud. But he found something deeply interesting in the way Cloud was treating him now. But how did he really feel beneath it all?

Cloud slowly let go of Sephiroth's hands and put his hands on the young swordsman's shoulders. "Look, I--"

"If I cease to be a soldier, then... it doesn't matter what I do anymore," Sephiroth said, staring into Cloud's eyes. "I can have my own life. But who knows if they'll let me go. They'll probably kill me and make it look like an accident." Sephiroth closed his eyes and tilted his head up to the sky, letting the wind flow through his long silver hair. "But it doesn't matter anymore. I would rather die than live the rest of my life without knowing what it means to be human." He opened his eyes and looked at Cloud once more, who seemed to be softening... somewhat.

"Permission to make a human of you, sir?" Cloud grinned, narrowing his eyes slyly.

"Granted," Sephiroth responded with a small smile.

Cloud slid a hand to the back of Sephiroth's neck and pulled him close, kissing him deeply. He was patient with Sephiroth's slight hesitation, and refused to be as rough as his body wanted him to be. Even if Sephiroth could handle it physically, Cloud wasn't so sure he'd fully understand everything. He probably wouldn't be able to fully distance force from warlike things. So Cloud held back from his rough ways... for now. But he ached to take the young swordsman and make his strong exterior melt away while Cloud made him scream his name and beg for more while he took him with enough force to kill a normal person…. But… not now. When he pulled away, he looked at Sephiroth's tranquil face. His eyes were still closed, but Cloud knew that the conflicts inside of him were settling.

"Ready to find the others?" Cloud asked softly, forcing himself to calm down.

Sephiroth opened his eyes and nodded.

"Let's go then," Cloud said as he pulled one of Sephiroth's arms around his shoulders in order to support him again. "And... if Livion kills me, I can die feeling fulfilled now."

"I won't let him kill you."

Cloud grinned for a moment. "If we live, I'll continue what I started here."

Sephiroth stared forward, finding himself slightly afraid of what Cloud had in store for him. Together they continued their search for Riku and the others.

~~~~~~~~~~

A burst of fire sent Squall spiraling backwards, and he sprang up and dashed at Livion again. But before he made it, he felt his body grow heavy, and he felt as though he'd be crushed into the ground. Vincent dashed at Livion and jumped into the air, spinning swiftly and delivering a powerful kick to Livion's jaw. Squall was released from the gravity spell and he stood to fight Livion again.

"Something isn't right..." Aeris whispered softly.

"They'll be fine," Sora murmured as he stared down at Riku, who cringed in pain as his wounds healed.

"I don't mean them," Aeris whispered. "Something isn't right with Livion...."

Sora looked up to see that she was right, but he couldn't place what was wrong. It was as if it wasn't even Livion... but then again, it looked like Livion. Sora suddenly realized that he didn't feel the swell of darkness that Livion had fed his heart with so many times before.

Vincent and Squall yelled out in pain as a lightning spell hit them, but Sora noticed that the spell didn't last long. It was as if Livion were only trying to make them very angry. And Livion hadn't turned his sights to Aeris, Riku, or him once. Squall passed them and dropped his gunblade near Aeris, not wanting to use it while Vincent was helping him fight. Vincent moved with the strength and speed of a master martial artist. When either of them hit Livion, he would taunt them with another spell. Finally, Livion released a poweful burst of energy and sent both of them flying back to land near Aeris and Sora.

Livion glared at them, then approached slowly with his wicked grace. He slowly raised an arm, and they could see a swirling mass of fire gathering e. Ae. At the same moment, they could all feel the weight of the gravity spell holding them in place.

"I'll do it to him again," Livion said, glancing to Riku. "And again... and again... and again." His eyes lifted to meet Sora's rage-filled blue gaze. The fire in his hand was so bright it nearly blinded them, and he looked as though he were ready to fire. The gravity held the group down against their will, but not hard enough to crush them. They would be able to see each other burn... and they would be able to see him laughing down at them.

But suddenly Livion's fire dissipated and it's light faded. The gravity stopped, and everyone looked up to see Livion's head turned to the side, his eyes staring down a six foot katana blade.

"Back away," Sephiroth commanded in an icy voice, holding the tip of his sword to Livion's throat. "NOW!"

Livion slowly backed away from the group, keeping a close eye on Sephiroth's blade. He recognized it... the blade that evil could not hold. Only Sephiroth could wield the Masamune, as it had its own will and chose only the pure and strong to master it.

When Livion was a good distance away, he suddenly dropped to his knees. The others watched in surprise, but Sephiroth kept his blade at Livion's throat. His green eyes were glowing fiercely as he stared down at Livion. Seconds passed like hours before Vincent realized that Sephiroth was hesitating.

"Sephiroth, we must kill him now!" Vincent called.

"Slaughter him!" Sora yelled. "Shove the blade through his throat and twist slowly!"

Riku flinched, his head still on Sora's lap. "...Still... alive...." he muttered softly.

"Do it!" Squall yelled. He grabbed his gunblade and stood up, but Aeris grabbed his wrist and held him there. Her eyes never left Livion.

Sephiroth stared down at Livion for a long time, pushing the blade against his throat, then pulling it back again. He had his back to the others, but they could see him struggling with the deed of killing their torturer.

"Why...?" whispered Aeris. "Why hasn't he made a move? And why hasn't Livion done anything? None of this is right...."

"Do it..." they heard as the deep voice finally sounded.

Sephiroth looked down at Livion with wide eyes.

"Do it!" Livion yelled.

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes and lowered the blade to Livion's heart. But once again the others saw him stop.

"DO IT!" Livion yelled, anguish in his voice.

"Listen to him!" Sora yelled. "Look at what he's done to all of us! My friends are dead! I'll lose Riku! All because of him!"

"Please..." muttered Livion. "Please just end it!"

Sephiroth closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled slowly. The others watched as he lowered the Masamune from Livion's chest and stepped back. Vincent, who had known Sephiroth since infancy, knew that he had made his mind up not to shed Livion's blood at this moment.

"NO!" came Livion's tortured scream. He suddenly stood and grabbed Sephiroth by his once-white shirt. "GENERAL, PLEASE! KILL ME!"

Sora and Squall watched in shock as Vincent and Aeris stood up and ran to Sephiroth. When they made it there they found Sephiroth looking at Livion with complete shock in his eyes. Livion lifted his head, and Aeris saw the begging blue-violet gaze that met Sephiroth's.

"General..." Livion muttered, his voice shifting and changing, as if another person were inside of him. "Nothing can save me from my sins. You have to kill me! He will take over again and you'll all be slaughtered!"

Livion looked to his side and finally saw Aeris. His hands slowly dropped from Sephiroth's shirt, and his new blue-violet eyes looked at her intently. Aeris could see the shadows that usually embraced him falling away and quickly returning, like a dark wave. But when the shadows fell away he looked so different than he normally did. It was as if the shadows acted as a mask that didn't hide his face, but still made him so dark and cold and menacing that he looked like a completely different person than he might without the darkness.

"I never wanted you to see me this way..." Livion whispered to her softly.

"It can't be," Aeris said, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"I would kiss you hello, but... I'm too tainted to touch you."

"Zack...?" Sephiroth whispered.

"The soldier who disappeared years ago?" Vincent asked.

"Years of an endless shitty hell," Zack said, his voice filled with pain as he turned to face Vincent. "So if you and the good general would do the honor of killing me--"

"No!" Aeris cried.

Zack whirled around to face her, the shadows around him rising up. "Look at him!!!!" he yelled, motioning to Riku. "Do you have any idea what I've done?! Do you know how many have been slaughtered or raped or tortured?! I had to watch every moment of it while Livion used me to--"

"Enough!" Sora yelled. "You have to kill him now! The person you once knew is dead!" Sora placed Riku's head to rest on a soft patch of the ground, and would have charged them all if Squall had not held him back.

Zack shook his head. "He's so deep into it. I remember this boy being so innocent."

"How did you break out of Livion's darkness and return so fully yourseslf?" Vincent asked.

Zack pointed to Riku, who shifted in his sleep. "I will tell you this now. I've healed him as much as I can. Now kill me, and save his life."

Suddenly they watched as Zack's body shuddered, and his eyes flickered black again. He held himself and sank to his knees. "Kill me...."

Riku sat up slowly, startling Sora, who was still trying to fight to get away from Squall's hold on him. Riku opened his tired eyes and looked straight at Zack, who was slowly fading back to Livion. Zack met his gaze, but lowered his eyes in shame, closing them to block out the face he had seen so constantly tortured. The darkness swirled and engulfed Zack's features once more, and it sank in, so that it didn't look like darkness. The darkness became a part of him, and it made him look so different. Finally he could feel Sephiroth's presence behind him, and he knew the Masamune was ready to strike.

But another presence was soon there, and Zack opened his eyes to see Riku kneeling in front of him. Zack winced and shuddered, trying to hold Livion back for a few moments more.

"Get away from him Riku!" Sora yelled.

"I have to finish what I started," Riku said softly. "Livion's presence is like a lock on his heart, and I tried to undo it."

Zack tried to pull away as Riku pulled him into a hug, but he felt Sephiroth's blade push into his back.

"Hold your ground, soldier," Sephiroth commanded.

"Yes sir," Zack responded automatically.

Riku's body began to glow with a faint white aura. They all stood still as he sat there a moment. Then the light burst from him in ribbons. It was a warm, pure, inviting light, that went from silver to gold, from green to blue. A stream of lights that looked like silver incantations swirled around Riku and Zack.

~~~~~~~~~~

Zack stood there in the darkness that swirled around him.

Where am I? he thought. Oh yea, I'm stuck in my own mind. You'd think I'd remember that whenever I came to any kind of conscious thinking....

"Zack," someone whispered behind him.

Zack whipped his body around to see a familiar face. Riku stared at him with calm sea-green eyes.

"Riku," Zack said, almost gasping at the sight. "What are you doing here? Am I hallucinating? That's never happened before. Wait... I was just with you, wasn’t I? Did I dream that?"

Riku slowly raised his arm to Zack, indicating that he wanted him to take his hand. Zack only stared for a brief moment. There was a huge chance that it was just Livion screwing his mind over again. But in the area Riku was standing, there was something Zack hadn't seen in years. There was a warm, soothing light. It was so bright and pure, and it was something Livion had never produced. Zack took Riku's hand and squeezed gently.

"I know it's probably you Livion," Zack sighed. "But after seeing his face so close, I feel like I should be punished."

Riku pulled Zack closer to him and stared into his blue-violet eyes. Zack waited for whatever punishment or trick Livion had in mind, but nothing came.

"It took me forever to find you in here," Riku said. "You're so deep in the darkness, but Livion couldn't destroy your heart."

Zack just nodded slowly, still expecting something bad to happen. He felt something pulsing in his chest, and he waited for the darkness to spread inside of him and burn him to the point of agony. But he felt warmth growing inside of him instead. It felt so good, and his head rolled back slowly. He hadn't felt this kind of warmth in years... he hadn't seen the sun except through Livion's shadows that covered the eyes that were once his own. The light inside of him grew and started to melt the darkness away. Without realizing it he pulled Riku closer to him, holding the teen tightly against his body.

"Come with me," Riku said softly.

"Where? How?"

"I feel it now. I am... the keyblade master."

Zack felt a breeze hit is body and he kept his eyes closed. He was freezing, and he knew immediately that Riku was gone. It was all a trick. All a dirty trick. Livion just wanted him to feel warmth so he could rip it away. Zack winced in frustration, and after moments of regaining himself, he opened his blue-violet eyes.

He found himself staring at a pretty face, framed with long brown curling locks of hair. Gentle hands came up and caressed his cheeks. He quickly pulled away and jumped up. The chill of the air hit him hard. That's why he was so cold. He stared at that beautiful face for a moment, waiting for Livion to hurt her. Waiting for the hands that were once controlled by him to hold her down and rape her. But she didn't seem afraid. She stood slowly and approached him. He stepped back, and noticed with a sudden shock that he had jumped up and stepped back on his own. His thoughts and his desires actually moved his body... like a normal person. He lifted his hands and stared at them for a while. He moved them this way and that, watching how his own hands could be moved by the power of his will.

"Zack," said the sweet voice.

"Zack..." he murmured, hearing someone speak his name. Usually people would look at him and speak Livion's name. Livion had possessed his body years ago, and he was so used to watching through the eyes that Livion controlled. "Zack...." He realized that he was hearing his own voice. He lifted his hand and put it to his throat. Finally, he looked at the girl's pretty face again. He thought he had only dreamed that face up moments ago, as he had so many times in the past.

"Zack?" whispered the girl, with tears in her eyes.

"Aeris...?" he said softly.

"Yes!" she gasped happily. "You’re okay!"

Zack nodded slowly, feeling the air on his skin and the wind through his hair. He lifted his hand to run it through his black hair, which was no longer long or spiky. Livion had cut it so that it was just long enough to hang close to his shoulders and in front of his eyes. He noticed more people were beside him, and he slowly looked at them. He saw a handsome raven-haired man with red eyes, and he saw something familiar in that face.

"Turk..." Zack said softly, lifting his hand to his throat as the word left his mouth. The sensations of his throat moving were new to him again. “Valentine….”

"Are you going to continue giving us one word answers?" the raven-haired man smiled.

"The Turks... are sporting long hair now?" he asked with a faint smile. "Vince?"

"You have a good memory," Vincent said with a smile. “And it’s ex-Turk.”

"I'm dreaming," Zack muttered. "It was like a hazy dream before when I asked you to kill me... but now...."

"No," Vincent said. "It's not a dream. Riku brought you back somehow, but now he's unconscious again."

Zack looked over to Riku who slept peacefully on the ground. "He was inside my head. He brought back Livion's memories and my memories and the memories of Livion's previous vessel, and it woke me up. He unlocked images that made me remember who I am, and so he unlocked my heart. And then..." he stared at his hands again, "Here I am."

"So they keyblade master can unlock hearts as well?" Vincent asked, thinking out loud.

"No," Zack responded, thinking of everything he learned while his consciousness was linked with Livion's. "He's not an ordinary keyblade master. Livion found this out and wanted to possess him and destroy him."

"What's different?" Aeris asked, watching Riku shift slightly in his sleep.

Zack eyes widened for a moment. "Wait a minute! If I'm controlling this body, that means Livion has possessed some other guy!"

The others stiffened. They all looked around at each other. Their eyes moved to Sora, who was glaring at Zack with fierce eyes.

"Not him," Zack said. "Who is the most mentally unbalanced of this group?" he asked, joking.

"Cloud isn't here," Squall responded.

"He probably possessed someone from the castle," Zack said. "Or..."

"Or he sent his men back through the door to take someone else," Squall muttered.

Sora suddenly jumped up and stalked off. He sat far from them in the shadows of the trees as the night slowly rolled in.

"Sora..." Aeris started to call after him.

"No," Zack said, sorrow in his voice. "I understand. It was through my body that Livion took his friends away. He thinks I'm an ass, and I don't blame him."

Vincent got a fire started, and he went to get Sora.

"How the hell do we know we can trust him?!" Aeris, Zack, and Squall heard Sora yelling. "He'll kill us all in our sleep."

"If he wants to kill us, it hardly matters if we believe him or not," Vincent said calmly. "But the most important question is this: Do you trust Riku or not?"

Sora looked down for a moment, his anger boiling, but slowing. "I trust him."

"Then trust that he could bring Zack back."

Sora sighed and nodded, and walked past Vincent to get to the fire. Vincent followed, and they all sat together. Sora refused to sit near or look at Zack, who sat there silently.

"I'm hungry," Aeris frowned.

"I'll go find you something," Zack said, standing slowly and heading for the forest. "I know what's edible around here...."

They watched him leave, but Aeris couldn't take it. She quickly jumped up to run after him. She found him sitting on a log, staring at the sky.

"Zack," she said, trying to smile. "I missed you so much! You should really stop leaving us like that...."

She heard something that sounded strangely like a sob, and she slowly sat next to him, wrapping her arms around him gently.

"Stop..." he said, quickly wiping his tears away. "I feel like I shouldn't touch you. I'm too poisoned and tainted to touch you."

"Don't talk like that. It's not your--"

"I can remember everything! I look at Riku and I remember seeing him bleeding and screaming! I look at Sora and I remember him giving into the darkness! I remember watching as these two hands tortured Sephiroth!" He cried bitter tears as his fingernails cut into the skin of his palms. "I couldn't stop what he was doing! He used my body for all of that! And Riku could so easily save my soul. So easily.... So why the FUCK couldn't I do it myself?!"

Aeris pulled him close, and he finally wrapped his arms around her, accepting the comfort he had longed for these past few years.

"I thought you forgot about me..." he said, burying his face into her shoulder. "I thought you all forgot. He never stopped.... I didn't know I could feel that much pain. It never stopped.... I finally broke and he took over." He tightened his hold on her. "The pain of watching him fuck and kill and hurt other people with my body was worse than being tortured by him...."

Tears ran down Aeris' cheeks, and she let him cry the tears that Livion denied him.

"You said you were hungry..." he said after a long while. He slowly let go of her and kissed her cheek. "Can I still do that?"

"You're still my boyfriend... right?" she asked, hopeful.

He kissed her lips softly in response, and started to look around. When he stood up, he found himself staring at two sets of glowing eyes, much like his own. He recognized those eyes, and thought he’d be killed at any moment. But instead he was pulled close as Cloud hugged him.

Sephiroth smiled and patted Zack’s shoulder as he walked past to get to the fire. "Let your hair grow back out," he joked on his way. "I apologize for pointing the my sword at you."

"I thought I dreamed that too," Zack blinked.

Cloud smiled and followed Sephiroth, leaving Zack alone with Aeris. Zack knew the two had heard everything he told her, but he didn’t care. He walked back to the fire with Aeris and a few finds from the forest.

"Some of this stuff is nasty, but it's edible," he said. "Nuts, berries, mushrooms... it's like the military all over again." He passed the items around, then glanced to Riku. "When did he eat last?"

"It's been a long time," Squall responded.

"We have to get him through the door," Zack said. "We have to save him."

~~~~~~~~~~

Squall stayed up for most of the night to guard everyone, even though they all protested it. He woke them up early, and to his surprise, Riku woke with them... for a moment.

"I'm sorry," he murmured softly. "I can't... stay... awake...." His eyes slowly closed again.

"He used so much energy bringing me back," Zack said apologetically. "Come on, we have to get him through the door. Then we have to get him to lock this door behind him. I know he can do this."

Squall nodded, and when they left he carried Riku on his back on their way to the castle. They knew that returning was the only way to restore things. They had to use the door. Zack led the way, holding Aeris' hand, and after what seemed like hours of walking they hit the edge of the clearing that opened up to the castle they had been held captive in for so long. The courtyard was completely empty.

"This is normal," Zack said. "Anything they need is inside that castle. Training areas and all. But it's weird, because you'd think they'd be looking for us now."

Zack walked out into the clearing. He walked all the way to the courtyard, and finally he motioned for them to join him. The group ran to meet him, and they effortlessly slipped into the black rose garden.

"Too easy," muttered Squall.

"I agree," Vincent said, "But we have no choice."

"Wake him up," Aeris whispered.

Cloud knelt down and gently shook Riku, who was placed on a soft patch of grass. "Riku," he whispered. "Come on, we need you to wake up. You can sleep all you want when this is over."

Riku stirred slightly and opened his eyes after much effort. The others left Cloud to wake him, and they spread out and roamed the garden, staying alert in case anyone came.

"Look at me, Riku," Cloud called. "We need you to guide us back through the door, and then we need you to lock it behind you. Do you understand?"

Sephiroth walked over to Zack. "Vincent said that you mentioned something about Riku being different from a normal keyblade master."

"Yes sir," Zack nodded. "He can also be considered a prince of heart. Livion had seen princesses of heart, but never a prince. And he had seen keyblade masters, but never one who was also a prince of heart. Riku has more power than any keyblade master Livion has ever seen. This is why I'm confident that Riku can pass to his world and shut this door in the process."

"He's awake," Aeris called.

Sora ran to Riku and helped him up, supporting him and smiling. Sephiroth walked over and put a hand on Cloud's shoulder as the blonde knelt there, watching Riku as he tried to stand up straight.

"Hurry!" Zack said, motioning to the door.

Sephiroth stepped in front of Cloud and held out his hand to help Cloud up. Cloud took his hand with a soft smile... but he didn't stand. It all seemed like slow motion when Zack called Cloud’s name… and Cloud’s eyes flashed a sudden awareness of another presence as the leaves above him rustled. A shadowy figure leapt from the branches that extended over the garden, and with an eerie silence the figure cut through the air. Cloud gasped as the figure dropped gracefully behind him, the blade of a katana stabbing through his back. Cloud looked down at the blade that was now exposed through his stomach, and his glowing blue eyes opened wide with the sudden awareness that his life would end. Sephiroth had no time to react as Cloud was stabbed. He looked up to see dark, void-like eyes staring at him. A dark smirk crossed the figure's lips as the sword was slowly pulled from Cloud's body. Sephiroth knelt down in time to catch his friend’s lifeless body before he fell face-first to the ground.

"KAIRI?!" Sora yelled, glaring at the girl as she stared at her blade, which was stained with Cloud's blood.

"No..." she said lowly. "Not Kairi. I was named after oblivion itself.... My name, is Livion."


~*~*~*To be continued*~*~*~

(I love you guys! Some people wrote some extensive reviews, and I got a cookie too! A few of you had questions, and I am always happy to talk to you about that through email. And once again, thank you to those of you who review. I read all of them in detail and they make me want to continue. And to answer a couple of you, there will be spin-offs and sequels to this story when it’s finished. seemseems that a few people are growing attached to Livion. It’s not that people like him (they REALLY hate him,) but they like the depth he has in the story. More on the way!)