A Life to Lead ^_^

Xion stepped in front of Namine, her eyes still glowing and distant as she looked up at LCloud. "Stop hurting my family." she said. "They aren't yours to hurt. They aren't anyone's. If you weren't so busy considering your own pain, you'd try and empathize with Tifa." Her eyes widened slightly. "Have you even thought of everyone back home?"

 

"You know nothing except what others want you to think and feel. Stand down Xion and learn to think for youself. I'm not going to fight you not after the promise I made." He looked away from her seeing she was simply a mere small girl who could easily fall at his hands. He chose to ignore Luxord seeing that he didn't have anything to say at the moment.

Demyx noticed Xion's eyes glowing and he closed his eyes for a moment, his demeanor changing entirely as he opened them, his eyes narrowing and the pupils hiding his element from within starring at Xion and Namine.From the reflection of the moonlight and the water it looked like they were glowing as well. Before he spoke that sudden change disappeared as if warning them, his friendly facade coming back to the surface. "Xion, don't get yourself involved in this and don't believe everything you see or hear. Try not to be so narrow minded. It's not good for the baby and speaking of that I have a surprise for you and Roxas that is going to make your lives better."

Xigbar could feel the tension in the air and it only proved to be more amusing for him. What a delight it was to see who would finally break and begin an attack if there were any. "He's ignoring you on purpose or he's just speechless."

 

Luxord looked at Xigbar he placed two cards down guilt and frustration. "ah poor emotions so easy to determin and minipulate" he said to the one eyed nobody silently. The Gambler of Fate was having fun but he did not show it "Cloud once again" The Gambler of Fate said to the blond warior. With a few moments later Luxord pointed his finger at Cloud "stop decieving your so called friends from the truth you had plunty of chances and oppertunities to tell your friends about us to save yourself but you didnt" The Gambler of Fate said to Cloude. "or maybe you was secretly liking us killing people while your heart made darkness its sanctuary" The Gambler of Fate said to Cloude.

 

Leon crossed his arms not believing how narrowed minded that Tifa was at the moment. "Think about others besides your selfish self," He said to her not caring if she ignored him or not. "We have not killed any innocent people only the nobodies have. We have killed heartless though," He stated as he starred at Xigbar, Demyx, Roxas, Luxord, Xion and Namine. "Arggh there are too many nobodies," he muttered, but then decided to speak again when he saw that Luxord was trying to put idea's in Cloud's head.. "That is not true. Cloud and I are surivers, we don't kill becasue we feel like it," he said to Luxord.

Roxas sighed as he stabbed his keyblade into the ground to get everyone's else attention. "Xigbar, and Luxord why don't you two just leave us alone. I am sure you have better things to do than go baby sit us," He narrowed his eyes at the two. He couldn't understand what they wanted.

A dark void appeared out of the darkness as the 8th member stepped out of the portal and right onto some torn papers and a broken notepad with scattered destroyed pictures as well. His eyes lowered to his boot as he made some kind of yuck sound as he rubbed it against the soft ground. "Namine?" He said in a soft tone as by judging by the colored in images this was her notepad and that proved that she was out of Castle Oblivion. More skeptical than ever, he dropped the thought of her intentions and continued to walk scattering the mud off his boots. "Man, I should of chosen a better place to make a portal," the flurry muttered to himself half grumbling. He groaned when he saw water puddles as well and the wave that Demyx was controlling.

 

OOC: lol xD Luxord just called Roxas an wanker if you dont know what it is here is the link read the first defenition :) http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...fisaiQCQ&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

Luxord looked at Leon then he looked at Xigbar but before he could speak he heard what Roxas said. "only adults are in this conversation not annoying little back stabing wankers like you" The Gambler of Fate said coldly to the Key of Destiny. After those words was spoken he turned his attention back to Leon. "sure you might have not killed anyone directly but you knew about it its the same for an robery the person who steals has the same punishment as the person that is the deginated look out" Luxord said to Leon. after an while "so what im precisly explaining you have the same amount of blame on you and cloud cause you guys could have stoped us but you decided to ignore the poor souls plea for help and deliberitly lied to your so called friends possible even to Sora helping us out" The Gambler of Fate said to Leon.

 

Xion started a little at the mention of the baby, then looked back up at him and Cloud. "Namine is my friend. You can't hurt her and Tifa. Tifa's going to be my new mom one day." She sounded absolutely certain. "Demyx...." she hesitated, rubbing her arms. "I would be glad to see it, but Tifa and Namine want to leave soon."

Tifa sighed, closing her eyes for a second. Behind her lids she could see Marlene, her small face white and frightened, and Denzel, protective, but so small for a child trying to do a man's job. She opened her eyes, feeling on the verge of tears. How could she make them understand? She had something she had to live for. She couldn't risk it all for just one person, even if that person was Cloud. Marlene wouldn't last, and Denzel would, for a bit, but how long until he became the bitter person she feared she saw becoming Cloud?

 

"..Tifa Lockheart." came the voice of Rufus Shinra, not bothering to disguise himself anymore.He stood in his white suit as always, bandage over one of his eyes and the cane still present in his right hand.He had come to do business, and Tifa might be the only one he could trust anymore, minus Cid and Yuffie perhaps."Do you have a moment?" he asked, beckoning her to come to him."The younger ones may come as well ..but I need to speak to you most of all." he explained.

 

Tifa warily walked over to him. Xion and Namine would be fine for the moment, anyway. She was only a few steps away. "What is it?" she asked quietly, keeping her eyes focused on him. This was the man who had helped bring about the death of her father, and of her world, nearly. She had long ago given up on revenge, but she hadn't forgotten.

 

"Will you come with me for just a moment so we may have a little privacy?" Rufus knew everyone around Tifa was nosy, except perhaps the younger girls.He knew the others would probably find out eventually, and he didn't exactly care if they did.Cloud and Leon were assisting killers, so no peace awaited them in the afterlife.As for the Nobodies, they could rot in hell no matter what they did.

He turned around and began moving forward, hoping to hear Tifa following him.

 

She sighed, rubbing her temples, then followed him, feeling a headache coming on. This was going to be one of those pain in the ass decisions, and she knew it. What made it worse was that she was probably going to end up doing it. Great.

 

Rufus turned a corner with her and continued walking for a while.They'd just go in a simple circle until he was finished.And, Tifa didn't try attacking him yet, which was good.He had done much wrong in the past and doubted he could make up for it in his lifetime, but he'd give back to the people as best he could."..I've been hearing some bad things about Cloud, as well as his friend Leon ...and I wanted to know if you've seen the changes Cloud has taken." he spoke softly, glancing over his shoulder at her as his cane silently clacked on the ground.

 

She pretended not to notice, though every inch of her was tense. "Maybe." she murmured softly, looking along the walls and streets for people. There was none to be seen. Maybe they were cleaning up, or dead. Either way, they were beyond her help at the moment. "Spit it out, Shinra. What do you want from me?"

 

"..." seems she still held hate for him.Rufus understood and wouldn't stall to make things comfortable any longer.He came to a stop and turned to face her, now finding himself far away from the others."I want to ask you if you'll temporarily become a Turk .." he muttered, his gaze going out towards the streets ahead.People shivering from the previous wave, or catching a cold, as well as shops being closed and good people losing business."Look around you ..the people Cloud are hanging around with are doing this, and Reno is confident he won't see the truth ..that this was wrong.I'd like to ask you to help us change things ..help these people ..and if you accept.." he slowly looked back to Tifa, eyes looking into hers."I'll pay you ..enough to help you, Marlene and Denzel live comfortably, as well as the other two you were with ..I only need you until this is all over, can you help me? ...if not me, then the people in need?"

 

Tifa hesitated. This was even bigger then she thought. "I....May I have some time to consider the offer?" she asked, rubbing her head again. God did it hurt. "If I did accept, I would need to be able to make sure that while I was doing work, the ones I care for are safe. I do need to spend time with them and such." She wondered why he had come to her, but would think about that later.

 

"Of course." Rufus wasn't going to push her into something she may not want to do.It was her choice and shoving all this down her throat so suddenly was not the right way to approach her.Time was of the essence, so he'd need that decision soon."..As for the ones you care for, and I assume you meant the two young ladies with you, I'll do my best to make sure that they are safe ..I've found a replacement for Cloud, a powerful man, who can keep watch over them if it isn't safe for them to be with you or any other Turks."

Tseng and Elena ..hmm ..he had to admit they did the things Reno and Rude likely couldn't, so Rude and Reno would need to watch the two.Reno was a humorous man, so he could watch them.As for Rude ..he can be an extra for protection.He wasn't exactly sure if either of them liked kids, but they'd give their lives to protect them, proof being shown many times.

"One of the Turks has your number, I imagine...I'll get the number from them, but until then I hope you stay safe ..keep in touch." he offered her a small smile and nodded his head to her before heading off into another part of town to meet with the others.

 

OOC: Will be back later. Going to a pool party.)

Demyx saw Axel and glanced at Xion and placed his hand out to the wave once more, getting his hand wet. "I don't know if I should tell you now since you, Roxas are now turning against me and treating Cloud like dirt after all that us both have done for you. Xion, he made a promise to his deceased friend Zack in his honor to watch over you and I, and that's what we are going to do regardless where you end up. I'm not the enemy here and I don't appreciate it being treated like it. I do what I have to to surive all right?" He was sorely upset with her and had a hurt expression in his eyes.

Cloud starrred daggers at Rufus and he now he felt competly betrayed that Tifa was walking away with the man that killed her father. Who was the damn hypocrite now? The one person he thought would help him in his time of need would go off with the leader of the Turks. It was disgusting, enough to make him sick and put more doubts in his mind and anger in his heart. "This ends now." He said to his friend. "Others are turning aganist me and I will not have it."

Demyx placed a comforting hand on Cloud's shoulder, ignoring his own anger for once and tending to help his friend. "She's just upset, but if she does turn completly against you then she is no better then the lying hypocrites who are blind to the truth. Egotisical self rightous morons who only deem who is good in thier eyes, yet they follow the same path becoming corrupted themselves for holding grudges and not helping those who truly matter. Go to her. Tell her how you feel. I will wait here and then we'll talk."

Cloud appreciated the sign of comfort the water wielder had placed on him, and he placed his own arm on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I will get this resolved. I know what Zack said to me and that is to watch over Xion and you regardless what others think." He took his hand away and quickly ran off, searching for Tifa until he caught sign of her. From what he assumed to be Rufus up to no good again, Cloud was blinded with anger. "What the hell is the matter with you? If you are thinking about joining Rufus the @sshole who killed your father then you would be shaming your family and thier honor not to mention you swore that you would never forgive him. Tifa, if you join the Turks then don't bother helping me because you'll be dead to me if you do. And if that happens, regardless what you say or do, I will keep my promise to Zack and watch over Xion. He would be disappointed in you." Cloud was tired of everyone turning against him, especially his child hood friend the one person he cared for deep in his heart was slowly ripping it out by giving him the biggest sign of betrayal ever. "Don't I mean anything to you anymore or have you become someone I don't care to know?"

 

Tifa watched Rufus walk away, then turned to face Cloud, asking for patience. "Of course I still care for you. I've cared for you since we were little, and you know that." She thought carefully about her words, rubbing her head. Her headache worsened by the minute. "Maybe our path of life is taking us different ways. I want to be your friend, and I hope I will, but..." her eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she looked up at Cloud. "You left, you left me with a note, and you went off to save the worlds again. I was left with Marlene and Denzel and a million questions.....Did you know that monsters have been stirring? They've even been attacking in the middle of edge." She closed her eyes, rubbbing her temples again. Goddamn this stupid headache. Now she just wanted to lie in the dark. "I haven't forgiven Shinra for everything he did to me, to us. But I'm willing to look past my revenge and hate and anger, as long as the ones I care about are safe. Can you do that?"

 

Xigbar was interested in listening to the conversations and it was amusing at how much hatred Luxord was stating towards Roxas and Xion. Arching his neck, he thought about his next move and how easy it would be to capture Cloud and bring him back as the boss had ordered, but first he would wait till the time was right, till all differences were resolved and Cloud had dropped his guard. Xigbar was also worried about the water factor, Demyx still possessed able to use it anytime he wished, but the boy would not be that foolish. To attack the one who had brought him into the organization to begin with? Demyx was loyal in his own ways as the other certain members were each having their own agenda. As long as the job got done, Xigbar didn't mind waiting and watching time pass by as Luxord would put it. Besides, the freeshooter wasn't even finished with the empty headed threats Namine made towards him. Seeing the notebook in the puddle, he had spotted Axel coming out of no where and it was amusing to say the least if Axel would intervene or watch from the sidelines.

She had not answered him for some unknown reason and he took the hint to leave her alone. Taking his azure eyes away from her and Namine, his sitar vanished and he walked in another direction the water slowly dissapating as he was absorbing it into his own element for he didn't want to keep control of a wave made of his energy and Hollow Bastion's water sources all night. His shadow from the moonlight followed in his wake, becoming more domiant the moment he stood directly in the lunar light. Taking his time, he wandered down the walkways, seeing the damage his first attack did all in vain. Remembering what he had received as punishment from the boss, he clenched his teeth holding his right arm as the pain surfaced to as if haunting him of what had occured earlier. Baring with it, he trudged forward, his body soaked completly for the second wave had been devoured by his own element, leaving him a little cold, a phase he was used to.If danger arose, he would call upon his sitar once again and bring forth more water fury. Now was the time to recollect and find his friend. Hearing an angry voice, he picked up his speed and ran through the muddy, wreckage of a town full of mini lakes, large puddles and broken plumbing. Reaching where his friend was, he listend to how Tifa responded and he was content that she was at least listening and attempting to care about the blond.

Cloud's anger was starrting to settle down for he was understanding what she was saying. He had no idea she had to deal with so many things eversince he left. Now, the entire situation was different, but he was glad that she still cared for him. Looking into her eyes, he saw the sadness in her heart and how much pain she was going through at this time. She was looking out for herself, but also for the others who needed guidance and a path to follow."No for I don't trust Rufus or any of the Turks at all. They're nothing, but a group that uses others, jeers and only thinks of those who derserved to be saved if that individual fits their criteria." He glared in the direction Rufus had left. Reaching out his hand, he swung it back and forth to get any of the kinks out of it before putting it beside him. "Tifa, eversince I fought and defeated Sephiroth, I've began falling furthur into the darkness, thinking other thoughts and realizing the truth about myself. I hate to admit it, but I'm not even human, just a copy a clone from Sephiroth and now everything is worse. I feel myself becoming more like him, not caring about others like I should and just abiding time." He looked away for a second starring at the moon in the sky. "Even before I defeated Sephiroth, when I made the deal, it was in the best interest of you, me, Leon, Aerith... Yuffie, and Cid since you knew work was very slow and not attainable." He faced her once more gripping his right hand into a fist. "Sometimes one has to turn to the darkness to make a living. I wanted us to have a better life and that is how I met the only member of the organization, Demyx because he kept his word, and wanted to just be my friend and in my book that's better than another enemy. He had plenty of times to try to kill me along with that bitchy sister or girlfriend of his Larxene for I purposely let my guard down to see if he would take the chance, but he never even thought about hurting me except to fake it for his own worth in the organization. That's how I know I can trust him. He may a member of the organization, but he's completly different from the others. Zack even told me to help watch over and guide him along with Xion and I intend to do that."

 

Tifa smiled a little, then sighed. "You're so silly, Cloud. If you even feel something, then that means you're human. Sephiroth...Sephiroth is a monster." She sighed, leaning back against the wall. "You are human. You are. People have seen it. I don't care what kind of deals you make, as long as you trust me enough to tell me. And as long as you respect me enough to let me make decisions like that. The job Rufus offered me was a good one. I need to make some sort of munny and keep the kids safe."

 

Cloud shook his head. "Now you're doing the same as I did. Doing something that you're against to help those you care about. Do you see what you're doing is wrong? Never should you even think the man who killed your father you would ever want to work for. It would be a disgrace to yourself and to your father." He crossed his arms hoping she would listen to him and not agree to join the murdurer of her father. "If you're worried about money, I have a simplier solution, but you have to trust me on this." He leaned his neck in the direction of his nobody friend whom had heard everything that was said. "Demyx could you come here please?"

Demyx walked forward eying Tifa and then turned his attention to Cloud. "Yeah I was talking to Xion, but she never answered me and she has never been this rude to me before." He looked in her direction.

"She's scared that's all. What were you going to tell her anyway?" He switched his arm postion to be more comfortable.

"Well I wanted to say that I could help her and Roxas with expenses of the baby because I got that job. You know the one I auditioned for? Yeah I'll be able to help them in that way, but I didn't say anything to her because she refused to talk to me." He looked at the ground.

Cloud nodded and encouraged his friend to look up by raising his right arm. "She would be delighted knowing that they could be provided for." He turned to Tifa. "If money is the issue, my friend is in that postition to help you. Regardless he's a nobody, so is Xion so we can't place blame on someone who wants to make your worries less."