Got A Secret, Can You Keep It?(Ff/kh)

Chapter 26

"Glad you're all here," this morning you were told that alyou had to meet with all the First Class Soldier.

That alone had you worried, days after the coronation all visitors had left but there was a lot of talk about the war growing.

At first it was said that Kingdom Hearts was at war wit Kingdom Oblivion but there were other Kingdoms allying with it. So it was time that other Kingdoms supported Kingdom Hearts.

Which was why you all were gathering, probably to be dispatched. When you arrived to the training grounds, you noticed Angeal's grin face. Not good news you assumed.

You arrived a seconds after Zack and Cloud, so once that the six of you were gathered, Angeal began to speak. "We're well aware of what the three of you have heard of the war." His eyes scanned the three of you, but his eyes lingered on you a bit more. "Did you speak with King Mateus?" Zack and Cloud turned their heads to look at you, when you nodded they returned their gaze to Angeal. "Then you already know the rumors about black magic being used."

"He wasn't far from being wrong," Continued Sephiroth, Angeal allowing him to talk. "Kingdom Hearts didn't have a problem from the beginning of the war, but it seems that now with black magic being used, it has become a problem to only to their kingdom but also to neighboring Kingdoms. "

Genesis didn't talk, and although he seemed to be reading, you knew that he was still listening.

"We were asked to retrieve their princess and bring her safely." Angeal and Sephiroth nodded. "Three of us will be given the mission to keep her safe until she arrives here. The other three will be dispatched with a group of our best Soldiers and help protect the Kingdom."

Deep down you knew that Zack, Cloud and you would be tasked to bring the princess and keep her safe. Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal were the more experienced and of course, stronger.

Sephiroth nudged Genesis who with a long sigh, shut his book and stepped forward. "You two will come with me," he pointed to Zack and Cloud. "Our mission will be to bring the princess to safety, once we succeed, we will wait for any news about the progress of the war. If needed, we will return, it all depends of the gravity of the war. If required, we will return to either help protect the neighboring Kingdoms. Let's just hope we will not be required to depart with an army." Because that would mean that not only would this Kingdom be involved, but many others.

"You," Sephiroth printed to you with his chin, " you will be with me and Angeal. Our mission will be to protect the Kingdom."

Although Zack and Cloud did not speak, you were curious as to why you were chosen for that task while they were just tasked to keep the princess safe. "She is the most experienced in battle so far, she knows what is expected of her if it comes to join the war without hesitation."

"Right now the two of you must feel that you are ready for war, but let me ask you this," Sephiroth crossed his arms across his chest, "killing another person is the easy part but having to deal with those deaths is not very easy. She on the other hand," you have already killed, you were passed that point where you would hesitate. It definitely wasn't easy to kill a person, and then to be able to live with that in your conscience.

"That's why you're not going to be outright sent  to battle, with protecting the princess and you'll get a feel of what will be expected of you. To prepare you."

"But what of the other soldiers?" Zack asked, if they weren't going to be sent for that reason, then why were they? It wasn't like they were experienced either.

Angeal nodded but behind his gaze, you could see sadness behind them. "They can be replaced, you cannot. If you die, there will be no one else to fill your place, it's that simple."

That seemed to answer their questions, " you have two days to get prepared, you're all dismissed." Angeal dismissed you all, and you walked out.

"[Name] wait!" You didn't want to wait and you wanted to pretend that ack wasn't calling out to you, but he was.

Groaning, you stopped and turned around Zack was jogging to catch up to you, Cloud walking slower behind him. "What is it?"

He winced at the time of your voice, scratching his head he attempted to smile. "It...It has been a while since we las talked and it wasn't on the best terms. I'm sorry," finally he apologized, looking depressed and to the ground. "What I meant that day, it...It wasn't because I didn't believe that you could not handle yourself. It's just that..."He raised his gaze to stare at you, his hand was raised as if he wanted to touch your cheek but at your narrowed gaze, he let it fall to his side. "Since we were kids we looked for one another, we never hurt each other. So having to battle you and to think that I can hurt you, I don't thing I would be as to forgive myself." But he shook his head, "that was what I thought before. It is definitely not easy to accept that you're no longer that scrawny girl, and that you're almost an adult. You have grown so much, and you're no longer a kid. I know I acted like a total douche, and I would understand if you don't want to to forgive me."

He looked apologetic, so you nodded. "Now that that is clear, then we're all good." But he wasn't the only one that needed to apologize, your gaze trailed to Cloud and you motioned for him to get closer. "I also wanted to apologize," you began, rubbing your neck, you continued, "I am sorry to the two of you for not telling you that it was me when I arrived here.Not only for that but for also blaming you guys, for leaving me behind. The truth is," you winced as you were about to reveal, "I blamed you for my misfortune, because you left me behind. But if anything, had it not been for the two of you, I wouldn't be here. So I want to thank you for that."

Zack opened his mouth in shock, Cloud didn't say anything, and he definitely didn't look as if he was in shock. "Why didn't you tell us that was how you felt? I'm sorry, we just though-"

Shaking your head, you smiled. "I know, I know that you didn't want to put me at risk and it doesn't matter. The responsibility to keep me safe was my parents' job, but I cannot blame them for that either. I am the owner of my future, I am my own responsibility. I hope that we can put all of that back."

"Of course we can!" Zack slapped you on the back and then throwing an arm around you and Cloud. "Now come on, before we leave we need to celebrate!"

He didn't stop until you were face to face with the bartender of Seventh Heaven, Tifa. Said woman offered you an smile, as she placed a drink in front of you. "It's an honor and a pleasure to meet you.I am Tifa, just in case you didn't know."

She smiled but she was called by a client and left you with Zack and Cloud. "What are we celebrating exactly?" You asked eying the two.

Zack grinned sending a glance towards Cloud who was also smiling too. "Isn't our reconciliation enough to celebrate?"

Cloud took a sip from his drink, "your birthday, it's in two weeks  from now. We had planned on having a surprise party but with us being dispatched, this is the best we have."

Your birthday, you had  not celebrate it before and with the last past few years you had been so busy that you totally forgot about it. But they were right, in two weeks you would turn eighteen, officially an adult. Slowly you smiled. "Thanks, but that's really not necessary. This is enough."

"Anyway," Tifa returned, obviously not needed at the moment. "How do you find your stay here so far?"

Rasing an eyebrow, you glanced at her before taking a full from the alcoholic drink. "It's okay, I suppose." Not like you got the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures and the freedom at Kingdom of Lucis. You were there to train non stop, and then shipped off to war. When you returned you were not there too long when you were expected to come here.

She must have realized that, she cleared her throat obviously feeling awkward. It wasn't too late and some soldiers began to leave. Tifa's gaze shifted to them, puzzled that they were leaving so soon. They must have been regulars, and probably left when they were barely able to walk.

But there were not many of them, around four of them. So you kind of k knew what was going on. These guys were the ones that had been chosen for your mission and before they were sent off to what they would considered war, they wanted to enjoy their last days to the fullest. In disgust, you took the cup to your lips and swallowed all the contents. "They're going to a brothel."

Your words caught her attention, and even Zack and Cloud's. "How do you know?"

She asked curious as to what gave them off. "It's...That's what they do be-" but you kept your no mouth shut, you probably weren't supposed to say anything about the war just yet.

"Before they're sent to war." Zack finished for you.

Frowning you glanced around to make sure that no one else had heard. But Tifa looked worried upon the knees. "Yes, that's what they do before that. And" you glared at Zack, "information like that should be kept to yourself. If anyone else hears you, they're going to spread it and that's the last thing you want."

"It'll panic everyone." Cloud finished for you.

"So there's...One?" Tifa sked.

Letting out a long sigh, you shook your head. "Until you hear King Rufus say it, otherwise don't worry about it. We're just going to a mission, but just like in any mission there's the risk of dying. That's why those guys just want to enjoy spending time with women before they leave."

Not truly convinced, Tifa nodded. But she left the topic alone as people began to look curious. Zack noticed too, so he changed the topic. " But how do you even know this?"

You didn't want to even remember it. "Before we were sent to war, some superiors and other soldiers took us to a ugh...A brothel." At such a young age, but what had been their words? Ah yes, 'This may be the first and last time you will be with a woman, so enjoy it!'

Zack and Cloud blushed, Tifa looking disgusted. "You mean..." Zack began, his blush deepening, while Cloud looked like he wanted to hear anything else. "You...You..."


Rolling your eyes, you shook your head and your hand reached for your drink, but it was already empty. Tifa having a bottle of alcohol close refilled it. "No, I did not have sex with a woman, get your head out of the gutter."

Cloud let out a big sigh, while Zack scratched the back of his head. "He's such an idiot." Cloud commented received to hear you say that you... Hadn't. It was weird hearing you talk about sex so casually.

"She was paid, yes, but most women at a brothel are forced to work. So she was surprised when I told her that I didn't want sex. Though," she had been a really pretty and attractive woman and despite happy that she had earned free money, she still urged you to take advantage and enjoy the night.

"Though what?" Tifa asked, now interested for your story.

"She actually wanted to have sex, you cannot imagine how hard I tried to stop her." She had been looking for warmth, love and gentleness, something that none of her customers provided to her. Despite feeling pity for the woman, you convinced her that she deserved something better than that. That night you had an hour laid, and you used it to hear her out.

Her story was just like your childhood, she was very poor and given no other options, her parents sold her to a brothel in order to feed her siblings. The truth was, when she told you that, you couldn't stop think that if you hadn't left your home, you would ended like her. Such a horrible fate.

"Anyway, she after I left we said our goodbyes and never saw each other. “After you left, you left telling yourself that if you survived the war, and returns, you would visit her whenever you got the chance. But you didn't get the chance, so you hoped that with your new earnings, you could at least send her a small gift. By the tone of your voice, the others became serious and didn't speak.


Cloud already knew why you looked upset about the topic, he knew about why you had blamed them when they left. Had you not escaped, that would have been your fate too.

Deep down he felt guilty, because although you told them that they were not responsible about you, they were. They called themselves your friends, and friends do not abandon their friends who are in need.

They had left, and left you behind because they told themselves that as soon as they earned enough, they would send it back him to their families and you. But it took them years to even send something to their own families. So what were you supposed to do during that time?

Cloud's heart ached just thinking about it, you would have ended at a brothel where men would...Shaking his head, he swallowed his own drink and left the bar.

Zack still had no idea why you had been so angry at them, so he didn't know why Cloud had left so sudden. Tifa didn't know either, and she seemed like she wanted to go ahead and talk to him. Instead, you rose to your feet and followed the male.

Tifa watched curious and a hint of jealousy, as he watched you follow Cloud. She knew Cloud for four years, since he arrived to the Kingdom, but it was four years against a whole childhood. But even so, Zack didn't know what was going through Cloud's mind. Be too was about to follow you both when Aerith arrived and prevented him from leaving.

You managed to catch up to Cloud before he got any further. Grasping him from his shoulder, you stoped him from continuing. "I am so sorry, I should have never told you anything. Otherwise you're just going to always feel guilty."

"But you're right," he faced you, grasping your hand in his, "you say that it wasn't out responsibility but it was. We are friends, and friends don't abandon anyone just to chase their dreams, not when we knew your situation."

What have you done? Why did you even talk about that story? Why bring it up? "If you both hadn't, all of our would have died of hunger. Our families too, we wouldn't be here. I just so stupid, and I regret blaming you both for leaving...But it was the best option not only for the two of you, but for me too. So please don't feel guilty about, let's just enjoy the fact that were are here. We obtained our goals, our dreams, by that very same choice you both made."

Not caring that anyone was watching you both, you hugged the male. Since you arrived, you hadn't hugged any of them like you used to back home. Cloud did not mind the onlookers, he wrapped his arms around your form, accepting the embrace.

The two of you returned back to the bar and enjoyed the rest of the night talking, drinking and laughing. It was best to enjoy the time you had with them, because a war is  unpredictable, unforgiving, and not everyone is not lucky enough to survive.