"What do you think is out there, do you think there's another planet like ours?" The voice was that of one Tifa Lockhart.
"…Perhaps." The cool tone of Vincent Valentine came out, answering the question of the female fighter.
"…Do you believe we're the only ones?"
"How could we be?" A question for a question.
"…What happened when we're gone, Vincent?"
"Another world will be born from the ashes of our own, like a phoenix from the flames of death."
"…A phoenix?"
A nod.
"…Vincent… Can you die?"
A pause. No answer.
"…Vincent?"
"I don't know anymore."
"Oh…" A frown crossed the brunette's lips. "That… sounds lonely."
No reply, so she continued on.
"You have to watch us die, don't you? You have to watch us… and our children die. Everyone around you is going to die… That… that's horrible."
"It's the cycle of life."
"It's a lonely one… It's unfair Vincent!"
A shrug. "Who am I to judge?"
"…Have you tried to die?"
"Yes."
Her heart stilled, eyes widened to look at the man before her, surprised both at the question and the one person she thought… Well… She suspected he would try, after she found out his story those years ago. At least, after they killed Hojo. Tentative, she gazed back to his scarlet hues, seeing… just… pain.
"Vincent… I'm… I shouldn't…"
"Why apologize for the truth?"
A blink. "What?"
"Don't apologize."
"Oh… Um…" She was at a loss for words.
"Tifa, do not worry about me. I'll survive."
"You don't have a choice."
"When the rest of you are gone, it will be my duty to protect this planet."
"…I guess."
"…Don't worry."
"I can't help it, Vincent. It's just… too terrible of a fate, to live forever…"
"Some would call it a gift."
"It doesn't seem much of one, with the price!"
An actual smile crossed the gunman's lips; he turned to fully face the brunette, leaning back against a nearby tree. "Your concern is appreciated, yet… It is unneeded. You should focus more upon now, not the future."
"Vincent…"
"Tifa. It's fine."
A frown crossed her lips for what seemed to be the thousandth time this night. "…I wish… there was some way that… I could help."
"No one can unwind the wheel of time."