DISCLAIMER: I don't own KH... or FF. I just wasted moments of my life telling you this. Moments I will never get back.

Shugo: For those of you who know me, I used to be Sakura. But now I'm Shugo :D

So here I was, writing my AkuRoku fanfic when like right in the middle of the chapter I was like ''MUST. WRITE. CLOUDSORA!'' So.. here it is. Another wierd-wtf-where's-the-plot? story brought to you by Shugotenshi PR0DUCTi0NS :D

And by the way, all I did was write it and then my friend looked it over so I pretty much forgot what I wrote. Egh, I need to reread this..

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clouds d r i f t with the sky

CHAPTER I : basket case

''Yuffie! This is serious! Stop laughing!'' Sora shouted at his best friend.

Yuffie attempted to control herself by biting her fist, but her plan failed. ''Sora, I'm sorry. It's just that you and Kairi have been together for so long that it's hard to imagine that nothing's going on between the two of you anymore.''

Sora sighed loudly, his head dropping into his hands. ''To tell you the truth Yuff, in the back of my mind I never really thought that this relationship would really work out. I mean, she's my best friend—next to you, of course!'' he added after Yuffie shot him a glare, ''And I mean, ever since we started going out nothing's really changed. We act just the way we usually do because any other way would just be weird. All that's changed is that we would kiss. But.. I don't think it's ever been real. I have a feeling Kairi thinks so too.''

Yuffie shifted around on the bed, finally deciding to draw her legs up to her chest and rest her chin on her knees. ''So.. what are you planning on doing then?''

''I already broke up with her,'' Sora deadpanned.

Yuffie nearly fell over. ''YOU DID WHAT? Why am I only hearing about this now! Sora, are you okay? Did you get hit in the head?''

The brunette only sighed heavily from his curled up spot on the floor.

''Did you even think it through?''

Sora shook his head; no.

''So you broke up with her? Just like that?'' Yuffie couldn't believe this. One of the world's destined couples (as she like to call them) was no longer a couple.

''She deserves someone better than me, Yuff. I just know it. She doesn't deserve her best friend. Nothing's gonna happen. There can't be a spark between two friends.'' Sora believed it more than his words made it sound. You can't fall in love with a friend. Things just don't work that way.

''Yuffie! Why? WHY?''

''Ow! Kairi, I'm bleeding from the ears here. Calm down.''

''What did Sora tell you?''

''Kairi, I think you know as well as he does that this relationship won't work.''

''No! That can't be true! There must be something wrong. This isn't like Sora!''

''Okay, okay, Kairi, how about you just give him some time to cope by himself and see if he comes back to you?''

''But.. but.. I don't know.''

''Hey, remember, we live in the same apartment building. I'll keep and eye on him. Okay?''

''Oh my god.. WHAT IF HE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU, YUFFIE?''

''Ahaha, well even if he is, I don't like him that way.''

''Yeah but-''

''Bye, Kairi.''

''Don't you DARE hang up on-''

Eeeerk! Crash!

Cloud jolted up in his bed and fell right off the edge. It sounded like a car crash. Cloud got up absent-mindedly and headed for the door. To.. you know.. check out the commotion. Not to amuse himself. Oh, no. Of course not.

And damn, those cars must've been flying at each other because when Cloud came out of his apartment building the first thing he saw was a car facing one direction, the front completely destroyed, with another car in the same situation. Head on collision. Must’ve been. More people began trickling out from the apartment complex, curious about what the noise was all about, about hy their freaking sleep was interrupted. Not to amuse themselves. Oh, no. Of course not.

Cloud made note of one kid who was standing right next to him. Cinnamon brown hair spiked up in a messy nest, blue eyes so much like his own but different in their own way. He only looked because the boy was standing right next to him. If he was standing on the other side of the road, Cloud probably wouldn't have even noticed him. Maybe. The boy turned to look at Cloud.

Ah, caught staring, huh, Cloud?

''Um.. Hey,'' Cloud said, rather lamely.

The brunette smiled up at him. ''Hi!'' He surveyed the people around him for a moment and then turned back to Cloud. ''People sure are obsessed with car accidents in this country, huh?''

Cloud didn't see how that was so.

The kid must've seen his expression because he then said, ''I mean, look, it's only been like five minutes and already people are practically building bleachers on the sidewalk.''

Cloud looked around. It was true to some extent. People kept on filing out of the building. More and more kept gathering.

''Huh? Oh, yeah. I guess so.'' Cloud shrugged.

The two men who had crashed into each other were now discussing something and paid no attention to the gathering crowd. It would be better to ignore them. This wasn't a free show, goddamnit!

''Um, hey. I'm Sora by the way! Sora Harada!'' Sora smiled cheerily at the blonde and held out his hand.

''Oh, I'm Cloud Strife,'' Cloud said, a bit taken back. He had met the kid mereminutes ago and already the brunette was introducing himself. But he still took the kid's hand.

''Nice to meetcha!''

Cloud only smiled in return.

The two owners of the (now scrap heap material) cars argued pointlessly for a few more minutes about who's fault it was before the police came with a tow truck. There was nothing to see after that but the people stayed longer anyway because they wanted to be 'involved.'

Cloud felt a tug on the sleeve of his nightshirt and found a pair of large sapphire eyes staring up at him.

''Hey, Cloud, what apartment do you live in?''

Sora must've made friends faster than most people wanted to because Cloud found himself liking the younger boy a bit more. They say you can tell what a person is like at first glance and Sora didn't seen too bad at all.

''Oh, 27. Third floor.''

''Really!''

Cloud nearly jumped from the sudden outburst.

''Yeah.. why?''

''I live in 25! Funny how we've never really seen each other before, huh?''

''Heh. Yeah, I guess it is odd,'' Cloud replied awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. He looked back at the broken down cars and then began walking back to his apartment.

''Ah! Wait up!'' Sora fell into pace next to Cloud. ''You're going back?''

''Yeah. There's nothing left to see.''

Sora looked down, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. ''I suppose so.. Hey, do you live alone? I do too. You wanna stop by my place? I sometimes get lonely by myself. Well I can understand if you don't want since we just met and all. I was just asking-''

''Alright, alright. It's fine. I can stop by,'' Cloud said through a laugh, just for the sake of shutting Sora up. He was afraid he might've kept on talking and lost his breath at some point. And then he would die. And Cloud would probably get blamed.

Sora's face instantly brightened and he bounded up the stairs in front of Cloud. Cloud couldn't help but smile.

''Sora, how old are you?''

''Nineteen.''

Cloud nearly laughed. Sora did not act his age. At all. He was like a four-year-old stuck in an adult's body. It was kind of cute, actually.

''You?''

''Twenty-one.''

''Ah cool!''

People must've always confused Sora's age with something younger—

''Come in!''

Cloud had become so lost in thought that he barely noticed they were at Sora's apartment. Sora turned to face the older man and grinned. ''Here we are! C'mon in. Don't just stand there.''

Sora made his way through his living room and into the kitchen while Cloud lingered near the doorway, feeling kind of shy. Sora rolled his eyes. ''Please, it feels awkward when I invite someone in and they feel like they don't know what to do with themselves. Feel free to come in and stuff, and be careful if you touch something that looks breakable because if it breaks then you might hurt yourself and I wouldn't want that and boy I'm hungry. Are you?''

Cloud merely blinked back. Wow, this kid could talk. He was barely able to keep up with him. What was that bit about something being breakable?

''No, I'm not really that hungry,'' Cloud replied, shaking his head. Who would be hungry at five in the morning? ''So you live alone?''

Sora rummaged through his cupboards, a frown on his face. ''Yeah. Well, I usually spent my time at my girlfriend's house.. but I don't think it really worked out well between the two of us. So I broke up with her. She was my best friend. I haven't spoken to her in weeks. I guess I kinda missed my place while I was away. I nearly forgot what door was my bedroom,'' He laughed.

Cloud gave Sora an incredulous look. ''Your girlfriend was your best friend?''

Sora emerged from one of the lower cupboards with a pan in his hand. ''Uh huh. But it's really hard trying to have a relationship with a friend. It wasn't working. She knows it too. She just doesn't want to believe it.''

Cloud crossed his arms, tilting his head at Sora. ''I suppose I see what you mean.''

Sora's eyes suddenly doubled in size. ''Oh my god, I'm sorry Cloud! I just met you and already I'm spilling my problems to you!'' He hung his head in shame. ''I'm so-''

Cloud's laughter cut him off. ''No, no. It's fine. I really don't mind. Continue if you feel like it.''

Sora blushed, laughing nervously. ''Eh, that's pretty much it I guess.. Eh, well... there's actually another reason I broke up with her. I.. um.. sorta like my friend Riku but.. he's already with someone so..'' Sora glanced down and shrugged.

''Nothing makes sense anymore!'' He threw his arms up for emphasis. The pan in his hand made contact with something on a shelf and the object fell to the floor and shattered. Sora froze. ''Oh shit.. I'm cursed now! Ah, let me get the vacuum in case there are any shards of glass on the floor.'' He instantly ran off down the hall to his room probably.

Cloud bent down to get a closer look at the object. It was a silver picture frame. There were no designs on it or anything; it was just a simple frame which was what Cloud like about it. Sometimes simple is better. The glass had been shattered. Only one large piece jutted out from the side of the frame and the rest of the glass broke into many diamond-like pieces over the picture. Cloud took the edge of the picture and carefully slid it out from under the broken glass.

In the picture were three people. One of them was Sora, smiling brightly up at the camera. One of his arms was around the shoulders of another boy who looked just like him. But the boy, unlike Sora, had paler skin. His hair was a blonde mess and sticking more to one side than just randomly in all direction. His eyes also seemed to be a lighter shade than Sora's. Behind him and Sora was another boy, taller than both, with a slight resemblance to a rock star. His hair was fiery red, pushed back and spiked out. A black diamond tattoo was under each peridot green eye.

''The blonde one's my brother.''

The silence was broken so suddenly that Cloud jumped up, smashing right into Sora. Both of them toppled over to the ground.

''Nngh...'' Cloud groaned. The smaller body underneath him shifted.

''S-sorry!'' Sora managed, for his lungs were being crushed. ''I shouldn't have sneaked up on you like that!''

''No, it's alright!'' Cloud said suddenly.

''Cloud?''

''Mm?''

''You're crushing my lungs.''

Cloud smirked down at Sora. ''Oh really? Well, since you put it that way, I don't really feel like getting up now.''

Sora pouted. ''Get off or I shall find a way to get a steak knife and stab you with it.''

Cloud grinned. Intimidation did not work for Sora. He rolled off the boy and sat down on the floor. ''So the blonde one is your brother?'' he asked.

Sora nodded. ''His name is Roxas.''

''Roxas...'' Cloud repeated, as though testing the name out. ''Sorta like your name, but jumbled up and with an X added.''

''Yeah. I usually joked about that and Rox would get pissed at me,'' Sora laughed.

''And who's the red-head?''

''Oh, that's Axel, Roxas' boyfrie—best friend.''

''Ah... Roxas is gay?''

Sora bit his lip. That wasn't really supposed to come out. ''Um, well, Axel and Roxas are best friends and Axel finally told Roxas he was in love with him not too long ago. Two weeks maybe? Well, anyway, Roxas claims that he's straight but he's definitely bi or something, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to going out with Axel. But it's so unfair!'' Sora shouted, falling back on the floor.

''Why?''

''Because! Why is it that Roxas and Axel are best friends but they can have a relationship while Kairi and I can't?''

Cloud shrugged. ''I depends the person you're with, I guess. It’s the chemistry between two people, and since people are all different the chemistry changes. I guess it just so happens that your brother and Axel really like each other.''

Sora flipped over on his stomach and rested his chin on his hands. ''So you're saying that Kairi and I didn't have the right chemistry?''

''Yep,'' said Cloud. He moved to lean back against the wall. His back was beginning to stiffen from lack of support.

''And there's a person out there with chemistry that matches mine?''

''Yep.''

''And that person might be halfway across the world or something?''

''Possibly.''

''Well then that means that there's a chance that I might never meet that person.''

''You never know. Plus there's the fact you like your other friend.''

Sora growled, his hands clenching his hair. ''Argh! This is so frustrating! And I haven't talked to Riku longer than Kairi! This is not supposed to be happening!''

Cloud leaned over and ruffled Sora's hair. ''Don't think about it too much. Your brain might spontaneously combust or something.''

Sora stuck out his tongue and waved Cloud's hand away. He crawled closer to Cloud. ''But, Cloud.. Kairi, Riku and I have been friends for as long as I can remember! Something is happening to us.'' Sora sighed and hung his head. ''Heh. Y'know, once, when we were little, I asked Riku if we'd be friends forever and he said yes. But now...'' He laughed sadly and shook his head.

Cloud felt so much sympathy for Sora at that moment and maybe just a hint of jealousy. Cloud himself hadn't had such close friends. And even if he did, things had happened and...

''Wow,'' Cloud said suddenly. ''It feels like I've known you for a long time even though this is the first time I've ever met you.''

Sora laughed. ''Hah, I got that feeling too.''

''Say, what time is it?''

''Almost seven.''

''I'm gonna get going then. Tired.''

''Haha! You're going to sleep?''

''It's the weekend, um yeah.''

''Okay,'' Sora said, smiling.

Cloud left for his apartment.

The two didn't see each other again.

Oh, the irony!

Shugo: When I said ''The two didn't see each other again'' I didn't really mean that. Which will be like.. semi-explained in ch.o2.

nuff said.

Review or i'll stab you in the jaw with a steak knife.