Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy VII. Not the games. Not the movie.

Damn Reno, Cloud thought as he drove through the slums. Reno and Rude had called him out to the Helen Lodge for "work." As it turned out, Rufus Shinra was still alive. The "remnants," as they called them, had captured two of the remaining Turks: Tseng and Elena. The former president wanted to hire Cloud for protection. He was seriously considering accepting the offer, but left as soon as Reno mentioned rebuilding Shin-Ra.

It stung when Rufus brought up Marlene and Denzel. Maybe he didn't know that Cloud left them a few months ago.

Abandoned them, he corrected that thought.

Like Denzel, Cloud had contracted Geostigma. The reason that he left the make-shift family he made with Marlene, Denzel, and Tifa; his childhood friend and the only one that was left in his natural life from AVALANCHE; was so that he could find a cure for the fatal illness that he and Denzel and most of the population of the Planet had been afflicted. People may say that he left to save the world again. No, just like last time, Cloud has been searching for a cure so that he, Tifa, and the kids can be a happy, normal family. At least this time he wasn't seeking vengeance on Sephiroth.

Sephiroth! Cloud remembered that Rufus had a theory connecting the murderous bastard and Geostigma. He predicted the former general's mind was influencing life in the Planet with death. It didn't seem too far-fetched. After all, Aerith had influenced the Lifestream to burst forth to save everyone on the Chosen Day. Maybe Sephiroth is using it to kill people.

Suddenly, Cloud felt a little dizzy driving through the slums on his bike. He knew that this meant he was due for another attack form the Stigma. Fortunately, he was close to Aerith's church that he sometimes stayed at and he probably still had bandages.

Cloud pulled the key out of ignition, tucked it into a pocket, and pushed Fenrir the rest of the way. At least a meter away form the church, Cloud pulled out the kickstand with is foot and left the bike there for now. The nausea was getting worse so all he could do was focus on walking to the doors of the spacious building.

Upon entering the church, he heard a giggle and became alert and quickly grasped the handle of First Tsurugi. Next thing he knew, Cloud's waist was wrapped into the tiny embrace of a small girl in a white dress with her brown hair braided hair and with a pink bow tied on the top of her head. He released the handle of the sword in his harness.

"Marlene? What are you doing here?" Cloud asked.

The young girl looked up at the spiky-blonde. "We came looking for you to bring you home, Cloud."

We? he thought. He sensed another presence in the church. He looked up from the face of the youth to see Tifa standing a few feet away. Cloud lowered his eyes. He couldn't bear to see the disappointment that was surely etched into her features. He turned his attention back to the child that finally released her hold on him.

Walking to his bed space, Cloud noticed his bandages from the morning were gone. They knew; he knew it. Sighing, he turned around. Instantly, a fist punched his face. Cloud cursed in pain. Blindly, he opened the crate Yuffie gave him. He opened one eye and grabbed a Restore materia as soon as he spotted the green orb. Once he healed himself, he looked back to the leather clad woman who broke his nose.

"That was for leaving," Tifa said.

Cloud nodded in acknowledgment. "I get it if you don't want me to come back," he mumbled.

Tifa looked offended. "You think I don't want you back home? Why do you think I came here, Cloud? I want...we need you to come back. All of us."

"I can't," Cloud responded. "I won't let you see me die, too."

"That doesn't mat-"

"It matters to me!" Cloud snapped. That was out of place. "I've seen the pain on your face every time Denzel's had an attack. I couldn't bear to see it when it's me."

Tifa flinched. That would hurt worse. He was always trying to stop himself from hurting her again. But...

"But the thought that you abandoned us hurts, too. Maybe worse," she countered.

"I didn't abandon you; I was trying to find a cure," he explained. "But there isn't one. I've tried my hardest. Nothing works. I've gone everywhere and all I've seen is death. Nobody has survived. I tried in vain." He shook his head. "I...I let down the people most important to me. Again." He clenched his teeth and hands on that last word as he closed his eyes in regret.

"No, you didn't. We found you," Tifa soothed, placing a hand on his cheek. "And you didn't run. Now, you don't have to look alone. We can look together. Just, please, stop running." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. She grabbed his arms desperately, and buried her face in the crook of his neck. "Just come home!" she pleaded.

Out of the blue, his left arm pulsed with pain. Cloud groaned in pain. Her grip wasn't helping. She pulled away and looked like it was her fault. However, this was no normal pain. No. This was a Stigma attack. Cloud sunk to his knees and gripped the infected limb. He barely could make out Tifa kneeling by his side, surely asking if he was alright. He narrowed his eyes and saw her gasp in shock. He couldn't hear her over the voice in his head and the pain searing throughout his body, immobilizing any movement from the position he was momentarily in.

Don't you see? he could hear Sephiroth telling him. Cloud knew he shouldn't listen, but he couldn't help it. All you ever do is hurt people. You push them away trying to keep them from harm. The reality of the situation is...your actions are what's hurting them more than anything.

"What do you care what I do to people? You've killed them too much to hurt them."

And what about you, Cloud? You've killed people, too.

"I did it to save the people, not so I can rule over the Planet."

But whose blood is on your hands that gets to you? Is it your enemies? Is it mine? Is it Zack's... or Aerith's?" No response. You see? Don't pretend you're sad. Why tremble in pain if it's not even there? Face it, Cloud. All you are...is an empty puppet.

Cloud blacked out.