I'm dying. I know that, and I'm not afraid. But I'm sad, and I'm worried...
what about Cloud? I can see the anguish in his eyes, and I can sense his
self-loathing. Can't he see that this isn't his fault? My worry turns to
anger. I'm dying and he can't let go of his selfishness long enough to...
no. It's not Cloud that's the selfish one, it's me. "C-Cloud?" I stammer,
tired... so tired... but determined to get my message across. "Cloud...
not your fault..."


"Ssshh, Zack, don't talk... look, there's Midgar... we'll get you fixed up
there... come on, Zack, please..." I'm pleading now. God, no, not this!
First I lose Sephiroth, now Zack too? "Please, Zack, get up, we're almost
there... please..." I'm such an incompetent FOOL! I should have made him
leave me... then he'd be safe in Midgar, not dying here in the rain.


I shake my head, frustrated. Cloud is so stubborn sometimes! /You rubbed
off on him./ I think to myself. "C-Cloud, don' make me r'peat m'self... 's
naw yer fa'lt..." I feel myself weakening, hear myself slurring... funny,
everything's slowing down... "Ow..." I mutter weakly... Cloud's dragging
me? "Cloud... 's naw f'nny..." I mumble. "P' m' down... don' was' yer
strength..." Is this what it's like to die? Everything's going all fuzzy...
But I promised Cloud I'd take care of him. No, I can't go! Let me go! I
fight the phantom hands that hold me, ignore the silvery voices that
offer me eternal rest... DAMN eternal rest, I promised! But the silken
voices roar with wrath and the gentle hands become a vicegrip, and I'm
being dragged away... I can't go! No!


Zack stiffens and I jump. "Z-Zack? ZACK! Wake up!" He does, thank whatever
gods there are... but I can see from the look in his eyes that he's almost
gone. "C...l...o...u...d... take... my sword..." He murmurs. I nod, tears
blurring my eyes. "I-I will... and I'll remember you, Zack... I promise."
He smiles, his eyes already taking on the faraway look of death. "Take
care of yourself... goodbye..." "Zack? ZACK!" I cry. He does not answer.


I close my eyes tightly to keep my tears from falling... because I know
if I start crying I'll never stop. Then my hands touch the hilt of the
Buster Sword, and I know what I'm going to do. With Zack's blade I dig a
small grave... I'm too weak to do any more. I roll his body into the hole
and cover him with the loose earth. Then I take his blade, cut my left
hand and drip the blood over the earth. "I promise you, Zack, I'll make a
new life. I'll make your sacrifice worthwhile, I swear it. Goodbye, my
friend." And I walk away. I am Cloud Strife, Mercenary, ex-SOLDIER,
First-class.
~Finis
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