Cloud rested his head in Tifa's lap as the Highwind headed for the city of Kalm. He was still come to terms with what had happened. He beat Sephiroth, THE Sephiroth! He and everyone present had defeated his childhood hero then watch as the planet stopped Meteor. He smiled slightly as he looked up at his longtime friend. "What shoud we do now?"

Tifa ran a hand through his messy blond locks, "I'll probably reopen Seventh Heaven, after it's rebuilt. You can stay with me, if you want to."

"Hey!" Cid Shouted, "No mushy stuff on my bridge. Get a room!"

everyone began to chuckle except Cloud. He chose to remain silent. His mind was one again going back to the day Aerith died. He continued to blame himself. 'God I need therapy,'

Back in Nerima, Ranma had finished school and was off to go and visit Kasumi. He began his journey when he heard it. A gentle whisper calling to him. It promised him things, calling itself his mother. His eyes narrowed, 'Jenova I presume?'

Call me mother.

'You're not my mother. My mother is Nodoka Saotome, you're some space critter,'

I am your mother, you should listen to me my son.

'Shut up. You won't control me like you did my dad. LEAVE ME ALONE!'

Silence greeted him. He did not like this turn of events. letting out a heavy sigh, Ranma dashed off to home, "I'll talk to her after I warn dad."

Said Father as relaxing in a similar fasion to Cloud. Nodoka and Sephiroth lounged in the yard and watched the clouds pass by. The general was napping as Nodoka hummed soothingly to him. everything was peaceful until Ranma came vaulting over the wall. she saw a look of almost panic on his face.Ranma knelt next to his father, "Hey, we got a problem!"

Sephiroth sat up and looked at his son. "What problem?"

"JENOVA"

Sephiroth went ramrod straight. He prayed that he hadn't heard that. "Are you absolutly sure? This had better not be a joke,"

Ranma nodded, "Dang thing started talking to me, calling itself my mother. What can we do?"

Said general stood up and looked around a bit. "We're going to have to keep an eye on each other. I want you to tell me everything it told you,"

Nodoka was confused, "What are you two talking about? what is a Jenova?"

The two turned to the only female present. "We don't want to worry you. I am sorry Ranma got dragged into it. I hope to remedy the problem quickly."

Nodoka stood up and looked Sephiroth in the eye. Though He was a head and a half taller and more powerful, Sephiroth was intimidated. This woman had bested him in skill alone when he had arrived here those years ago. "You listen to me Sephiroth. I just got my family back after a decade and now you tell me not to worry when a problem comes up? I will not just be left by the wayside as you run around to who knows where to fight something! You have another thing coming..."

JENOVA had tried to forge a mental link with the son of Sephiroth and failed miserably. She was caught unaware by the boy's exceptional will power. She had never met such a stubborn and determined creature before. Her glowing red eyes looked around the forest and pondered her next move. In the end there is always Sephiroth...

Cid was finally back in Rocket town. He had parked the Highwind near the rocket launch site. He looked at the airship almost affectionately. that Airship ment alot to the chain smoking spearman. A forlorn sigh later he made his way back to his home. HE opened the door and found nobody else there. He turned on the light and frowned, "Guess she finaly left. I scream and cuss like an old sailor and she sticks through it, but I go and save the world and she leaves. I'll never understand their kind,"

The pilot took a drag on his cigarette and began heading to his room. He threw off his jacket and goggles. He opened the door to his room and found Shera in his bed. his jaw dropped and his smoke hit the floor, "The hell..."

The life of the pilot is frought with peril... maybe...

Ranma watched as his father was cowed by his mother. He was on the recieving end of an emotional brow beating which could be summed up as 'Screw the danger, no one is taking my family away'. The white haired general took a seat and gave in. He began to give a full explaination. He answered her questions as best he could. Ranma was flexing his new found appenage and learning to control it better. His mind working over various ways he may apply it in combat. His fingers smoothed out a few feathers and was still amazed by the silky feel of the feathers. "Ranma!"

He snapped his back to his parents, "Yes?"

"Preening is all fine and dandy, but do not zone out. I know how addictive it is."

Ranma nodded, "Yea, do ou think Kasumi would like it?"

Nodoka giggled, "My son has a crush,"

Ranma looked away and mumbled to himself. "If you wish, you could invite her over for dinner. I believe she doesn't get out much.." Sephiroth said.

Ranma turned to his mother, looking for approval. She smiled and nodded. He rose to his feet and moved deeper into the home. Nodoka smiled to her beloved as he rose to her feet. "You did a good thing. He respects you,"

The father just smiled, That is more than I probably deserve,

Ranma had confirmed that Kasumi would join them. He willed his avian appendage inside as he threw on his dark blue shirt. He grabbed his slippers and was soon launching himself into the evening air. The sun was beggining to set and the sky was ablaze in its evening colors. The dark figure of the General's son colud be made out in contrast to the sky. A moving wave of platnum whipped behind him as he lept from roof top to roof top. He landed infront of the Tendo home about five minutes.

Kasumi was having a slight problem, she wanted to look nice but most of her collection was house dresses. She pulled out a black t-shirt and a pair of hip hugger jeans. She frowned as she realized she really needed to go shopping. she let out a sigh and began a truly epic struggle, squeezing into jeans she hadn't worn in months. she had battled them for a moment and won and finished dressing when someone knocked on the door. Kasumi frowned,she was in nothing but her jeans and a bra and nobody would get off their ass and answer the door.

Back on Gaia, all the tonberry lanterns flared as they knew their goddess was displeased...

Kasumi quickly threw on the black shirt and headed for the front door. She opened it to find Ranma smiling pleasently. His cat like eyes made her pause, they gave him an almost otherworldly charm. Her cheeks reddened slightly as his grin grew, "I think I prefer this to those dresses you normaly wear."

She could bearly manage a soft thank you, Ranma never used his charm on her before. She cleared her head after a short moment, "Shall we go?"