Very intense, and I like the contrasting parallel stories of Sora and Leon. Cloud is obviously a hard-headed idiot, Riku is hiding something, and Kairi... well yeah, she's not helping matters too much.

I really hope that you eventually come back to this one and finish it!

I really want to know what happens next! (after the evil clifhanger) please continue soon!

great work!

Woah.

I'm a fan of your other fanfic, Frog Prince, and I got bored (not with the fic, with just doing nothing) and decided to read this one. It's really good, especially the characterization of Squall in this chapter. Really awesome.

Wow... you are a fantastic writer. And I've read a lot. I mean not even just by fanfiction standards. Just the right feel for the situation, the frustrated waiting for something to happen, just fantastic. I can't wait to read more! Well, I can, I just don't want to. You know what I mean.

Uhm, wow. This is as good as your vamp fic, maybe even better. D.a.m.n., I really love this fic.

(Please excuse the SUPER-ULTRA-MEGA belatedness of this review. Life has been hectic...)

Oh WOW. Could this chapter possibly have been any further from last one? Are these really part of the same fic? Haha.

Cloud is unbelievable. I swear, I'm totally with Leon on this. I hope that mofo goes and bleeds to death in an alleyway somewhere. (I know I'll regret saying this later. But at least I won't be alone in my regret, right Leon?)

Anyway, I liked your characterization of Squall. It's cool, cause now that I'm finally playing FF8 myself, I can compare and contrast! And it helps me to really appreciate your portrayal of him all the better.

I'm dying to know how you plan to connect the two distinct plotlines here. Can't wait for next chapter. :)

uwah~! sugoi! This chapter was amazing! Leon's internal dialouge added a great layer to this chapter. I'm so happy you're updating stuff again. -dances-

So far I'm quite enjoying the characterizations.
Looking forward to seeing where you take this.

Oh my...

awesome.

great chapter. your writing always surprises me. Especially on how you've captured everyone in this chapter. Hope to read more soon. good luck and keep writing!

Yar har! Review times! First-person POV! I don't actually think I've ever read your first-person before. ._o But I'm pretty much stoked that it's not AU, mostly because the fandom is crawling with AUs these days. ...And... not all of them are good. So a good post-game romp with my dear and darling friend is just what I needed.

Anyway! Riku: as badass as ever. I'm glad he's not an angst-ridden pile after KH2's events here, because the game left him off on a pretty positive note and it makes me sad when people mow him right on down to this dark and ugly pile of silver-haired goodness. So thankyou-thankyou for keeping him real. (And when you mentioned him stealing Kairi's scrunchie, I apologize for INSTANTLY picturing some sort of corrosive, pink, fluffy thing from hell devouring Riku's gorgeous hair. Heehee.)

Speaking of Kairi: WHY IS SHE MOVING!? :< ...I love me some Kairi. Even though she seems to be very full of estrogen and down to earth here. ...Well, I guess there's a good chance that's how she'd turn out anyway. ...Er, we're all probably headed there. But still. Why must you take her away?? D:

The only crit I could possibly come up with is that Sora's tone in narrating all this might be just a little overly descriptive or formal for him. Don't misread that-- thank you (again!) for not making Sora super immature or lame, because (again!) he matured a helluva lot in the series. But his first-person is still missing a little bit of that fun, characteristically-chipper Sora side, and I saw a few glimpses of it in his battle with Riku, and I wanna see more! ...And more Riku! ...And ...well, Kairi, too, even though you're shipping her off to Guam. Or some equally terrible place without her BFFs (urgh) to keep her company. ...Onto the next chapter!

The sudden switch between Sora's situation to Leon's is unexpected but welcome. =] The first person point of view adds depth to Leon's character, and it's cool how we can see his thoughts and everything! :le gasp: He's a normal person! (Sorry, I just had a weird moment.) I like the little moment of reminiscing why Tifa has to wear gloves. It makes her also seem human and realistic, even though it's not her POV and it's more than average worry over Cloud attitude she has.

:sigh: Cloud is so irresponsible. I don't like it. :( I wonder what Cloud thinks he's doing. Revenge? Does he think of Leon and the girls as his friends, even? Or are they just an escape or a rest area to heal, away from Sephiroth who drives him crazy. He needs a reprieve, but he keeps rejecting it. :( Cloud, control yourself! Doesn't he have a life outside chasing Sephiroth? His life shouldn't be Sephiroth. =[

I don't really like the idea of Leon telling Cloud to stop coming back like that. I don't want to know the consequences, but I just can't stop reading (xD). Did Cloud even harbor the possibility and thought that Leon will abandon him one day? Or did he take some kind of morbid comfort in staying with Leon all broken up, and arguing with him about staying? Was he waiting just for a certain group of words that will either push him away or make him stay forever?

But alas, with Sephiroth in the equation, everything is complicated. :S Leon's thoughts about death disturbs me, even though I think about death in a similar way before. And what about Cloud? Does he think about these kinds of things and Sephiroth? What about Sephiroth himself? (Will you write a chapter with Sephiroth as the narrator?)

Ha. Suppression of emotion. Cloud is just... I don't know how to describe what I'm feeling. I just feel sorry for him, and I'm not sure if pity isn't a part of it. I wonder if Leon feels a tiny bit of pity for him as well?

Tifa's words later on... it reminds me of someone who's tired of waiting, of fighting, and has only one last burst of strength. I wonder if she can continue going on after this?

Why did Cloud leave so soon? Did Sephiroth call to him? Gah. So many wondering thoughts. I feel sorry for Leon, too. There's just so many people relying on him...

Well, to sum it all up, this is an awesome chapter! I like the Leon's POV-ness, and I wonder whose is up next? Will you do a Sephiroth POV scene? =] Can't wait.

First of all, I adore your first person writing, but before I read this, I was... I don't know - not skeptical, but I did have to wonder how you would pull it off. Because Leon is Leon. -sigh- But of course you did really well with it. You really deserve to be commended for your understanding of Leon. This chapter is kind of like a character study but more interesting. I admire the handle you - and Susie... and maybe a couple other, but not many - have over Leon. And not just Leon. You guys really know these characters inside and out, and you've also mastered the real challenge - making them work in fanfiction.

This chapter is evidence of your mastery of Hollow Bastion and its characters. Leon was broody, but also showed moments of sharing despite himself, which just really takes me back to the game - to his first meeting with Sora in Traverse Town for some reason... but what matters is his narration and internal dialouge were excellent. Tifa was well done; I could just picture her behind that bar. Yuffie and Aerith have a real presence - and it's a unique presence for each of them - despite only being mentioned. And Cloud...

Cloud gets his own paragraph. XD No one writes Cloud like this! Even though it's basically what he does in canon. I mean, let's face it: he mostly leaned against the wall, brooded, and disappeared when Tifa (or whoever) wanted him. He actually contrasted a lot with Leon, who was all Mr. Restoration Committee. It's nice to see that contrast play out in fanfic. Cloud's still doing things on his own (like trying to leave! omg D:), and Leon still has this role where he feels in some way responsible for everyone. Aw. It's perfect.

I'm looking forward to seeing this side of fic develop. I don't know what I like better - the Leon/Cloud part or the Riku/Sora part... I do love Radiant's Riku, though... BUT - I think these two chapters are almost too different to really be compared like that. I mean, Riku and Sora are on the island, living in peace... And Hollow Bastion feels war torn because Leon is so broody and Cloud is so close to being destroyed... However, both chapters are put together really well. The transitions and the overall flow are excellent. And the build up, the twists at the end of each chapter - it's just really good. XD -lovelovelove- I hope they can all work things out ;o;

Hmm, Roxas is restless~ I think Riku has the hots for Sora~ What could possibly happen? lol!

I like where this is going. I don't even usually review for teh first chapter, but meh. I felt like it~ *goes on to the next chapter*

Wow, this is turning out so awesome. I can't wait to see where it leads ^^