Having guided them in their walk to the mountain trail, Zax explained while they climbed. "You might have noticed the cemetery is across the road from this path?"

Kunsel agreed. "Yeah, I remember you mentioning that your uncle was buried there."

"Yup. The reason the cemetery is so close to this mountain is because this is the first place in Gongaga and in fact all of Gaia, according to modern time zones, to be touched by the sun's light. Most days of the year that is. So it's believed that the spirits of those who have died, follow the path of the sun moon and stars north, back to the traditional homeland."

Their conversation was paused for a moment, so that they could carefully wade their way through a waterfall basin.

"I take it the peak is a pretty sacred place then?"

"It used to be a tradition for the living to visit here each new years to honor their ancestors, but when I was growing up it was only auntie who still came up to see the sunrise each year. Though it is still considered a sacred place."

At last they reached the summit, there was the familiar fire pit already crackling, the wood shed providing some shelter from the wind. And waiting for them were Felicia, Cissnei, Kamea as well as Balto. Already having spread out some blankets, and lit the torch in tribute to those who had passed in to the lifestream.

"Hey, we brought blankets for youz also!" Balto beckoned them over.

"So, should I ask how the visit went?" Cissnei addressed them next.

Making himself comfortable by the fires side, Zax answered. "It was great to see ma again. It had been so many years, I missed her even more then I realized."

"She is pretty cool, I was nervous about meeting her, but as Zaxs said it went great." Kunsel draped half of the blanket ee had received from Kamea, about Zax's shoulders, the other half about ees own.

This response satisfied Cissnei.

Kamea concurred with a thumbs up.

"How was getting your first tattoo?" Kunsel next inquired of Felicia.

A small smile formed on her face. Shrugging her own blanket from her arm, she displayed the new ink, already healed using materia it was vividly colored and beautifully composed. "I think, Sears would like it."

"I'd say you're right. It's perfect." Kunsel complemented.

"Wowah, it really is a great peace!" Zax agreed.

"Speaking of, you had a tattoo done today too. Can I ask, dose it have some meaning?" Felicia wanted to know.

Zax felt himself grinning. "In Gongaga, the passage of the sun through the sky from one horizon to the other, is symbolic of traveling through the worlds of life and death. And well, it speaks to my experience."

"It is a really nice design, But it's unusual isn't it? I'm accustomed to seeing a sun motif with a stylized face in Gongagan tattoo art."

Zax shrugged, he didn't want to bring it up in front of Felicia, in case it was upsetting for her.

"Hey, a shooting star!" Balto pointed out.

Turning their collective gaze skywards, they watched as one two three then dozens of shooting stars raced passed far above, as if to mark the new year.
_

The fire in the pit had just burned down to glowing ash, when Kunsel felt the first drop of rain land on the sun burnt tip of ees nose. "It's about to come down I reckon." Ee cautioned the others, sitting up from ees comfy spot beside Zax in the nest of blankets they had made to watch the meteor shower.

"Yeah, I felt it too." Cissnei backed, doing likewise she got to her feet to collect the duvet she and her partners had been using. "We were talking over dinner while you two were away, and we'll be heading to Healen Lodge tomorrow to see Tseng Elena and Rufus, as well as Reno and Rude when they show up. I know it's not really your crowd, but you're both welcome to join in."

"No, as you say, not really our crowd. And we were thinking of oblivioning it back to Midgar tonight. We'll catch Reno and Rude before they take off." Kunsel excused Zax and emself. "How about you Felicia?"

"I'll stay the night hear, and head over to Helen as well. See you two back in Midgar?"

"Sure thing." Kunsel let her loop her arms around em, and gave her shoulder a squeeze in turn. "You take care alright?"

"You and Zax take care too."

Once Zax had done exchanging hugs and well wishes with Cissnei Balto and Kamea, and when Kunsel had done the same. They stood clear while Zax's oblivion whisked up about him and Kunsel.

"See you all again soon, happy new year!" Zax called.

"Soon!" Felicia promised.

"Happy new year!" Cissnei and Balto called.

Kamea waved them off and signed. "Come visit again soon".

When they appeared in sector eight square it was with a splash, the tropical rain having just caught them, just before they were carried through space to an entirely separate place.

"Ahhh, I forgot it's winter here!" Zax lamented. And rightly so, it was morning in the north of the old continent, and as frigid as one would expect.

"Let's get back to the station ASAP, there's hot carob with our names on." Ee got out past chattering teeth and misting breath.

"You look like a proper pair of beached bottomswell." Reno's greeting preceded him, Reno himself appearing a moment later from the direction of LOVELESS avenue pushing one of the hoverbikes the station volunteers had scavenged from deepground.

Rude was with him, also in possession of a hoverbike. "Headed for station zero?"

"We just got back from flushing out a few allemagne that got to the plate somehow." Reno explained. "So if we're headed the same way, hop on. The whole oblivion thing is something of a secret right?"

Gratefully Zax and ee stepped up on to the vehicles after Rude and Reno respectively.

"Good call." Rude intoned.

"If anyone asks, tell them we caught an early WRO flight back...and fell in the square fountain." Kunsel spoke and signed so that Reno could make out what was being said over the hum of the hoverbikes.

Zax tugged embarrassedly at the hem of his soaked top.

"Piffft ha, yeah will do!" Reno assured.

Despite the laughter brought on by the plausible absurdity of the second part of the alibi, they all knew from experience how important it was that Zax ability stay a secret. Zax could easily be targeted for his connection to JENOVA, as had happened before.

"I'll let Argento know to expect you." Rude offered, before getting on his COMM.

On arrival at station 0, Argento who had been given a heads up about their return, had had mylar blankets set out on the front steps for them.

And when they rustled their way into the foyer, looking admittedly a bit like two garlic bread loaves. She rose from studying a model of Midgar, to say by way of greeting "I sense a great story, how did you get back so fast and get so soggy doing it?"

"They caught a lift with the WRO." Rude offered convincingly.

"The fountain in sector eight." Reno gave as the reason for their soaked state. "Kaaasploosh." He elaborated at their expense.

Trying to maintain a straight face, Kunsel glanced Zaxs way out the corner of ees eye. Zax had no such qualms, laughing wholeheartedly at the delivery of the fib.

"You two head on upstairs, have a hot shower and get to bed. You must be freezing and exhausted both." Argento excused them.

"That about sums it up" Zax thanked her, huddling close to Kunsel.

Kunsel vigorously nodded ees agreement, to chilly to put words to it.

All four of them, Zax Reno Rude and emself, took the lift up. The turks presumably aiming for the helipad.

"This is our stop." Kunsel announced on reaching floor 64, the once staff recreational area, that still housed working shower facilities.

"See you next year then." Reno gave a casual salute. Rude offered a nod.

"Have a safe flight!" Zax called as the elevator doors closed to take Reno and Rude up further still.

When they arrived in the locker rooms, the showers were all free. Hauling off their waterlogged clothes, they quickly slipped into a shower stall each. Sighing in unison once the ice was washed free of their bones by instant hot water.

"We should take Argento up on her offer, and have a kip here before heading over to station eight." Kunsel decided.

"I hear you, I'm knackered. Can't wait to get stuck in to prep for the new year's meal though, how lucky are we, new years dinner in two time zones." He laughed.

"Speaking of, got any new year's resolutions?" Kunsel was curious to know.

"Yeah actually, I've been thinking about it, and I reckon I want to learn how to pilot an aircraft properly. How about you?"

Ee had given the question some consideration also. "I want to travel more, you and me. Like we used to." Ee had very recently gone as far as the northern crater with Tifa Shelke and Cissnei, in ees bid to restore Zax to life. Plus, Zax and ee had just got back from Condor and Gongaga it was true. But after Zaxs disappearance and death, ee had resided in Midgar solidly, the past few months were an exception. Mow atlast they were both free to go were they wanted together, at their own behest rather than ShinRa's.

Turning ees attention back to Zaxs goal of flight, ee suggested. "I can give you a refresher on the basics, but how about I talk to Noa and see if he'll help you really master piloting? He'd probably like having a copilot on supply delivery trips."

"That would be mean as, thanks K! And in return, I can use oblivion in our travels if you like?"

"Even if my buggy hadn't been totaled, that would be a big yes from me."

"Next year's looking to be a pretty good one."

Having switched the water off, toweled dry, and dressed in warm drawstring pants and a jumper. Kunsel stepped out of the shower stall, to find Zax toweling his hair dry.

"It's gotten real long." Ee commented. His hair was longer even then when Kunsel had first laid eyes on him.

"Yeah, needs cutting desperately, but I'm no good at doing my own hair."

"I could cut it for you, if you're comfy with that." Ee offered. Ee wore ees hair at a medium length now, but had kept it short during ees time with SOLDIER, preferring not to take ees helmet off for a hairdresser or barber. So had passable skill.

"Would you?" Zax agreed readily.