Atop a hill, people in black mourned the loss of the head of the Strife family.

"See ya, old man."

Cloud Strife had arrived at his father's funeral just as the casket was being shut. As the crowd dispersed, he lingered behind. Walking up to the luxurious box that held his father's body, he placed a hand on top of it.

His father was a war hero. Zealous and charismatic in everything that he did. His determination led him to become the leader of the strife against the Heartless and gained the liberation of Radiant Garden many years ago. And that's what many ended up calling him;Strife.

"Thanks for the memories," Cloud spoke softly as he shut his eyes, "Oh, and thanks for house. Be sure to give my regards to mother as well." His feelings were always sincere and serious, though most of the time he didn't show his emotions much under his carefully made mask.

He turned, his movements swift as the sword on his back swung with him. There was no reason for him to stay at a funeral for over a few minutes. The teen took off towards his house on Fenrir, making sure to put on his sunglasses. His house. That sure had nice ring to it. It was left behind to him in his father's will with him being him being the eldest son. His little brother, Sora, awaited his return at home. Cloud hadn't allowed Sora to accompany him to the funeral, afraid that it would affect his bubble of happiness that he tended to carry around him at all times. He sped by all of the other people in black. Last to arrive and first to leave.

"Cloud!" The blond only had half a second to brace himself for the little brown bullet of energy to tackle him into a hug as he opened the front door to the house. Sora then buried his head into the chest of his older brother. The sixteen year old brunette lifted his head to look at Cloud. "I missed you!" he exclaimed with an overly happy smile. For a sixteen year old, he was significantly shorter than Cloud for only being a year younger than him.

"Sir! I apologize on the young master's behalf for his behavior." Cloud could see the slightly out of breath Riku run up to the front door. "Sora," he said in a way one coos their puppy to them, "come here. Cloud must attend to the guest."

Sora quickly ran towards his butler, who was also his best friend and his protector guardian. Riku snaked his arms around Sora's shoulders while about to address Cloud.

"Sir there's a-"

"There's a stranger in the house!" Sora blurted with a goofy grin. Riku quickly clamped a hand over his mouth to prevent any other interruptions while Sora tried to playfully pull the hand away, knowing it was futile as Riku was much stronger than him.

"There's a man in the house looking for you. He's waiting as we speak in the living room and wishes to have a word with you." said Riku as he released his hand over Sora's mouth when Sora decided it would be fun to lick the hand.

"His name?" Cloud asked.

"Won't say."

"That's great." Cloud said as he took a few steps away from the doorway and closed the door behind him. Unstrapping the large sword off of his back, he set it by the front door as he walked into the living room up ahead.

The house wasn't considered a mansion, but it was large and spacious, and unlike a typical mansion, it didn't have cold, expensive tiles on the floor or expensive paintings and sculptures waiting to be knocked over by some careless kid. Even though his father was wealthy and generous, he wanted his home to be comforting, and so the house was made into a welcoming and cozy home with plush carpeting made to match the colors of the rooms and comfortable furniture for lounging and relaxing. It was a simple home with 2 stories, a front and back garden and yard with a swimming pool in the back, and four spacious bedrooms equal in size with attached bathrooms. All of the bedrooms were on the second floor while the public rooms, like the living room, kitchen, and office was on the ground level.

In the living room sat a handsome brunet clad in a black suit with touches of gold military styled decorations on it, including a gold chain that connected from the left-handed side of the chest area to the shoulder pad on the left shoulder. The suit looked highly expensive, but held familiarity as it resembled Riku's suit, except Riku's suit was composed of black and silver instead of black and gold.

"Who the hell are you?" Cloud asked while creasing his brows together in confusion as he earned the attention of the brunet on the couch.

The said brunet rose up and gave a bow halfway at the waist. He was the same height as Cloud as he rose to his full height.

"I was a good friend of your father's-"

"And why the hell should I care? Why are you in my house? Get out." Cloud said in a low and demanding tone. Riku and Sora sat closely to each other on a couch on the other side of the room, silently watching. Sora nervously glanced between Riku, Cloud, and the stranger while chewing on his lower lip.

"I am your guardian, Cloud. Both your protective guardian just like Riku, and also legal guardian of you and Sora until you turn eighteen. But also, just like Riku is to Sora, I am also your butler at the same time. Riku and I will be working together while I will also be living here like Riku does. I am here to attend to all of your needs, please treat me well."

"What? Whoever decided this? I sure didn't!"

"I'll go make some tea. Sir Cloud, please have a seat." Riku disappeared towards the direction of the kitchen, but Cloud didn't move an inch as he stood five feet away from the stranger."

"Your father did before he passed away," the brunet said, still unfazed by Cloud's attitude.

"But why you? How do I know that I can even trust you?"

"We protector guardians pick our partners, the one we choose to protect, and also a partner in life as well, or in other words a spouse. I chose you, but it's not as simple as that. After we have chosen we are put through multiple tests to test the limits of strength, intelligence, household skills, and relationship skills to test the compatibility likelihood to those we select as our partners and also to allow your father to only choose the best of the best and most qualified for his sons. Riku was selected Sora in the same way and was put through the same tests. You don't choose us, we choose you, and I chose you, Cloud." Leon stated calmly as if he was stating what the weather forecast would be today. He accepted the tea that Riku gave him and took a seat once again on the couch.

Cloud and Sora were both silent, and a little dumbfounded at the new piece of information. Riku finished passing out the tea and returned to the spot next to Sora.

"Is that true, Riku?" Sora asked his butler.

"Yes, all of what he said is true," Riku said as he looked nervously at what Sora's reaction to the whole "spouse" ordeal would be. What he got was a surprise as Sora launched himself at Riku, wrapping his arms around the silver haired man's neck.

"That's so great, Riku. You should have told me earlier." His voice was muffled as he spoke into the neck of his guardian.

Cloud turned his head away from the scene on the other side of the room and made to address the brunet across from him. He was reluctant to take in all the new information and the fact that the stranger across from him would be his guardian and would possibly be as close as Sora was to his guardian. He decided to test the brunet before him to see if he truly was the most qualified for him.

"Okay butler, go get me a glass of water," Cloud said as his voice became a bit less cold and a bit more playful.

"As you wish. I will be back in 30 seconds."

"Make that a vodka."

"You're not of legal age to drink yet."

"Then go make my bed."

"Already done with new sheets as well."

"And if I wanted to have a pillow fight with you?"

"Then we would have a pillow fight, but you wouldn't win of course."

"Have sex with me."

"Jailbait," Leon said with a smirk.

He didn't know what to make of the self-proclaimed butler slash guardian. His brain was on overdrive. He never had to think on the level as the head of the household, that was always his father's job. His job was always just to slay the Heartless that decided to show up on occasion, but even he had Sora and his keyblade to help take them down. What if the brunet was just some kind of spy? But Riku trusted the stranger enough to let him into the house. Looks like chances were meant to be taken.

"Name?"

"Squall Leonhart."

A/N: Chapter 2 will be up soon! Please R&R!