Such a long time I didn't update. It's because of the midterm exams and there are a lot of events of activities in our university, to which I find them boring. As I've promised, I'm updating now. Here is Chapter 4 for you to enjoy. Sorry to those who find my story ugly as I can't make this good as to what you expect. Here's the story now.

Chapter 4

Days have passed that she has been working on Tifa's bar. She was very thankful enough that Tifa has let her work there even though she doesn't know her that well. As she was washing the dishes, a strange sensation has pulled her into a trance, a trance that brought her into another place. This place was dark with no signs of land form or any other life. All she could see was a dark silhouette coming to her, and she recognized it as the one that she saw on her dreams when she was still in Aerith's church. Upon seeing the figure, she began to tremble in fear as it smiled devilishly and she could hear a demonic growl emanating from it.

"Who are you?", she asked.

"Why are you asking that? Isn't it obvious? I'm the one who talked to you in your dreams", it replied.

"What do you want from me?"

"Of course to become one with you. No matter where you go, I'll be always there following you. You can't run away from me. I am you as you are me".

"No! No!", she screamed.

Tifa heard a scream from the kitchen which sounded demonic with a mixture of a wailing voice of a female. She immediately saw Cassandra sprawled on the floor screaming hysterically. Tifa was surprised that Cassandra's voice sounded demonic to which she stood back ready to attack in case Cassandra will do something. After a few moments, Cassandra stopped. It was as if she was out of trance. She saw Tifa looking at her with suspicion with a mix of fear.

"I'm, I'm sorry", Cassandra spoke.

"Cassandra, tell me. What's happening? What is that? And your voice, I cannot understand", she replied.

"What happened? What do you mean my voice?"

"You don't know? You were screaming in a different voice. It sounds like a monster's growl with your voice in it. What's happening? You can tell me. Maybe we can help you to the one that's bothering you", Tifa offered.

After Tifa's statement, she was looking at her with malevolence. She was like in a trance again and she grinned, revealing a set of fangs inside her mouth.

"Cassandra?", Tifa saw that she was acting strangely and she found her smiling that she found quite scary. Soon, Cassandra began to speak, yet her voice was different. It was a demonic one.

"Help me? Pathetic"

"Who are you really?", Tifa asked. She punched Cassandra but she caught Tifa's arm and she swung her back and forth with tremendous strength and then she slammed her into the ground that caused the floor to create a small crater.

"You shall not tell anyone. You will keep this as a secret. If you manage to tell anyone about me, then rest assured that one of your comrades will die", she laughed and laughed maniacally. "You know what, a filthy human such as yourself do not have the right to ask someone like me for help. I don't ask for help, I ask for vengeance", her voice sounded very low but it emanated an aura of fear and submission.

Cassandra then grasped Tifa's jaw and she threatened her one more time, "Once you tell anyone about this, then you shall be ready, that the child you care will die".

"No! Do not kill Marlene, you filthy one. What are you?", Tifa replied, her voice cannot emanate from her mouth due to Cassandra's tight grasp of her jaw.

"A demon, darling. I'm not human like the rest of everyone. I am different to all those you knew. If you suspect me to be working for someone else, then you're mistaken. I don't work for someone".

She then withdrew her hands from Tifa's mouth and she walked outside of the kitchen. Looking at Tifa one more time, she grinned and walked out. Tifa was scared upon seeing her face. Her eyes were two empty, black holes that which you could say that lead to the abyss. Standing up, she vowed to herself.

"Marlene, I won't let her kill you".

The place was eerily silent, as if she was left alone. It so happened that the event took place at nightfall.

"What happened? The Restrictors have been killed?", President Shinra asked in a state of nervousness.

"Mr. President, calm down. We'll do something about it", Hojo replied with just a grin.

"No. What if the Tsviets kill us? What if the news of Deepground will spread afar?"

Soon, the room to which Heidegger, Scarlet, President Shinra and Hojo were staying and talking about confidential matters were entered by a group of people. They were surprised that the Tsviets reached them.

"Good to see you, President Shinra", Weiss said smiling.

"Weiss, what are you doing here? You should be in Deepground, and I haven't asked you to come here", the President exclaimed.

"Too bad we already killed the Restrictors", Rosso replied laughing.

"What do you want?". Scarlet asked. One can imply that her voice was surrounded by fear yet trying to control the tone of it into calmness.

"Well, we came here for a reason. You must know of a cure that could heal my beloved brother. His body will degrade within 3 days once the Restrictor's signal would disappear. If you don't want help us. Then we'll kill you, President Shinra", Nero threatened.

The president, upon hearing Nero's statement, doesn't have a choice to decide. He clenched his fists and replied, "I agree. Scarlet shall have the scientists remove the chip immediately".

"What? Why are you agreeing with them just like that? Why.." Scarlet's statement came with an abrupt stop when Heidegger whispered to her, "Do you want us to be killed? I'm sure you don't want to die, too"

Trying to reconsider her decision, she was forced to answer, "Alright, I agree".

"So, you Weiss must go the laboratory. I will get the chip that was implanted inside you", Hojo said.

Weiss smirked with his answer and her replied, "Hojo, you must abide to my condition first, that you won't do anything to me except removing the chip that was implanted inside me".

"Okay if that's what you want".

As Hojo and Tsviets left the room, the top three Shinra executives couldn't fathom the thought how in the world did the Tsviets killed the Restrictor.

Tifa went out of the kitchen and she found Cassandra lying on the floor unconscious. She looked perfectly normal except that she was extremely pale as if she was sick. Tifa checked her temperature and found out that she's extremely hot, she's burning from fever. But this fever is no ordinary one, as her temperature felt like that of a flame. Soon, Cassandra's opened and she gripped Tifa's arm. With this action, Tifa immediately backed away from Cassandra and she readied herself in a fighting stance.

"I won't let you kill Marlene", Tifa's was the one who broke first the silence, her tone of voice was low but filled with anger.

"Kill Marlene? What are you talking about Tifa?", she asked.

"Don't deny it, Cassandra. You told me that you're a demon. Haven't you remembered?"

"I was… That was…. Argggghhhh!", she moaned in pain.

Tifa just looked at her with confusion as she tried to stand up and get out of Tifa's way yet she stumbled and she was then again sprawled on the floor.

"Do not act as if you're innocent, Cassandra. You're a demon and you're a serious threat to us!"

"I'm not a demon!", Cassandra shouted.

"You told me that a few moments ago. Just what is happening? Tell me!", Tifa insisted with anger in her tone of voice.

"I… I don't know. I don't know what's happening to me. One day, I just dreamed seeing this demon wanting to become one with me. I don't know what's happening. Please Tifa, please, save me. I don't want to be a monster", she pleaded.

"Maybe… maybe that's the reason why Shinra wants to use her", Tifa thought. "Okay, I'll help you. But let's tell everyone of what's happening to you".

"Please, no. Do not tell them. I do not want to be captured by Shinra again". Soon, she passed out.

Tifa carried her into her room and mumbled to herself, "I don't understand. Just what is she?"

Cassandra was lucky enough that everyone was asleep, and Zack and Cloud were sleeping in the church.

"Are you sure you want to spend the night here inside a dark, flooded cave? I couldn't believe enough that this world is full of monsters to fight on", Xpire complained.

"Well, I have no problem here. I am used to fighting monsters back into my world, and I know that whatever they do, they can't win against me", Kurdt boasted. "Just imitate the guy there, well not a guy, I mean the robot there. He's been silent all day long. You've been complaining for many hours already".

Core looked at them with a face devoid of emotion which prompted Kurdt to speak, "What?"

Core just shook his head at Kurdt's attitude and they went inside the cave. He was first to enter and he came into an abrupt halt which made the two people behind him stop, too.

"Core, is there a problem?", Xpire asked.

"If there's a problem, then it's music to my ears", Kurdt grinned.

"I don't know if this is a problem or not, but I sense an energy from a distance. There's a glow there, look". Core pointed and the two followed his gaze. In a distance, they could see a blue-white sphere.

"Well, let's go near it".

"Kurdt wait! We still don't know what it is. Hey!", Xpire shouted.

Kurdt ignored him and just ran. Core soon followed. "What's wrong with these people? They're really insane. Wait for me!".

He was the last to follow but he immediately caught up with the duo. As soon as they approached the sphere-like energy, they were surprised to see a person with auburn hair in hibernation inside.

"What happened to him?", Xpire asked.

"Don't asked, I don't know", Kurdt replied haughtily.

"The person seems to be in good health but he's very strange", Core said.

"What do you mean strange?", Kurdt asked.

"Strange by the sense that he was alive yet imprisoned inside. I don't know if this exile is self-imposed or what. In my opinion, it appears self-imposed to me", Core said.

"No, he's in a state of hibernation. Judging from his appearance, he's in a state of hibernation for years, a few years only", Xpire replied.

"How did you know that?", Kurdt asked surprised.

"Have you forgotten? I'm a doctor. I guess you should treat your brain for having short-term memory",

"Well then sorry, Doctor Xpire. Sorry if Kurdt Chadler has short term memory, as this is my nature." His tone of voice was rising up.

"Core, are we leaving?", Xpire asked.

"I don't know to the both of you".

"We're not leaving until we have this guy!", Kurdt exclaimed.

"Wait, Kurdt. What are you planning? Whatever your plan is, do not attempt to do it", Core spoke in a warning tone.

Kurdt ignored the two, and he proceeded to punch the barrier. As his fists contacted the barrier, it unleashed a shockwave which electrified him and he was hurled across the cavern.

"Kurdt!", Xpire called.

The two rushed to Kurdt's side, checking him if he's okay.

"That feels good", Kurdt spoke.

"Kurdt, are you insane? You could've died for what you've done earlier", Xpire's voice in a state of concern.

Unbeknownst to the three of them, the man inside the barrier woke up and broke the sphere. As the sphere was broken, the three of them looked at the man standing. His blue eyes glowed within the darkness and he asked, "Who are you?" He then summoned a sword and readied into a battle stance.

"We should be the one asking you that. We're here to just spend the night and we do not expect to find a man such as you hibernating inside an energy sphere", Core replied.

"I don't believe you. You were sent here by Shinra. Shinra lapdogs!". The man soon fired a series of fireballs and Kurdt jumped in front of Core and stayed there, letting the fireballs hit him.

"Kurdt!", Core shouted.

The man with the auburn hair was surprised to see that the man who was hit by his fireballs was unscathed and just grinning at him, a sign of mocking.

"Shinra? What is Shinra?", Kurdt asked.

"Do not be stupid. I know you were sent by Shinra here in order to get me", he replied.

"Why will we get you? Are you that special? Just by looking at you, all I could see was a helpless man. I don't even know you", Kurdt replied haughtily.

The man clenched his fists and he answered, "I'm the First Class SOLDIER, Genesis Rhapsodos. Maybe you now know me once I state my name".

"Genesis Rhapsodos, what a weird name. Sorry, I don't know you", Kurdt said.

"Neither am I, too", Xpire added scratching his head.

"Quit playing dumb with me, Shinra!", he shouted. He proceeded to attack Kurdt but Kurdt clenched his fists where five, long blades went out from his glove. He dodged Genesis' attack and he sent him hurled towards the cavern but he managed to stand up. He charged up his Rapier and attacked Kurdt, sending him across a random direction.

"Can you really win against me?

When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end

The goddess descends from the sky

Wings of light and dark spread afar

She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting"

"Oh, so you're some sort of a poet, too. I don't know what you're babbling about. You sure are insane, Gene what?", Kurdt replied mockingly.

"Genesis Rhapsodos", Core replied.

"Core, you do not need to tell me his full name. His name is funny", Kurdt laughed and laughed up to the point of tears.

"Do not mock me!", Genesis shouted.

He hurled a series of fireballs in Kurdt's direction and Kurdt just slashed it with his blades, emerging completely unscathed.

"I don't think the name Genesis Rhapsodos is funny. I think it sounds pretty weird", Xpire muttered.

"Kurdt seems to have a love of battle. It's evident by the way he does. He's just laughing and laughing. I don't know what's the reason why he was shunned. He would not tell us anything though", Core answered in a voice devoid of emotion.

The fight ensued within the duo. Kurdt was grinning the whole time whereas Genesis has his face stone serious.

"You do not know who you're fighting at. If I were you, you should just surrender, Shinra lapdog".

"Why do you keep calling me that? I do not even know what are you talking…", Kurdt's speech stopped when he saw a lock of his hair falling.

"You… You bastard!", he screamed.

His hair burst into fire, yet this fire is golden in color, and his hazel eyes turned to red. He attacked Genesis with his blades, and Genesis merely dodged it by his sword.

"So, you're getting serious now", Genesis said.

"What's happening with Kurdt?", Xpire asked.

"I don't know myself. He sure has a lot of surprises. We don't know each other yet, and we hide surprises with one another, right? For now, let's observe him. And that Genesis is interesting, too. If I were to be asked, I want him to join the fray", Core replied smiling.

Wanting to finish the fight, Genesis casted Apocalypse and Kurdt was hit by the attack. A large explosion followed and Genesis was surprised that Kurdt emerged unscathed from the attack. His blonde hair had enormous golden fire within it and his face cannot be drawn due to anger.

"You're strong. You're different from those I've fought before. And you're strange, too. Your hair burns with fire. I've never seen that before. And you do not use materia like the ones I knew

Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess

We seek it thus, and take to the sky

Ripples form on the water's surface

The wandering soul knows no rest"

"Quit with your stupid poem!", Kurdt screamed. Before he could attack Genesis, Xpire stopped him.

"Kurdt, you sure really a psycho. Just by moments ago, you were laughing, and then you just got angry for no apparent reason. Just explain to me Kurdt, why were you angry?"

"My hair. He chopped a lock of my hair! I cannot forgive him with that", he shouted.

Genesis looked at Kurdt with utter confusion. "He got angry just because I cut off his hair? How strange?", he thought.

"Uh, so that's it. Your hair is so important, isn't it?", Xpire asked amused.

Kurdt just nodded with a sense of anger on his face. "I will kill him"

"Kurdt", Core shouted.

They weren't successful in stopping Kurdt. He attacked Genesis but Genesis let out a materia casted a thundaga spell with it. Kurdt was electrified but this made him only stronger. This time, his hair burned brighter and he attacked Genesis with the flames he generated from each part of his body.

"I'm so angry with you that I really want to kill you. But may I ask you a question, what is that round thing you're holding?", Kurdt asked.

"Stop fooling around. Don't tell me you don't know this thing", Genesis replied.

"Sorry, but we have no idea what you're talking about", Core replied.

"This one that I'm holding is a materia. It provides you with magic once you focus your willpower through it", Genesis answered.

Upon hearing Genesis' statement, Kurdt calmed down a bit and he silently muttered, "So just like xoia afterall".

"Xoia?", Genesis questioned.

"Nothing. Never mind what I said. Anyway, may I ask you again? Is the power of materia infinite?"

"It has a limit. And why do you not know what is materia?", he asked again.

"It is not important. Then tell us, who is this Sephiroth?", Core asked.

"If you don't know me, then why do you know Sephiroth?", Genesis asked in a state of confusion.

"We've passed by in Nibelheim and from what I heard, this Sephiroth person burned down the town. I don't know why he did that, that's what we've only heard so far", Xpire answered.

"You don't know me but you know Sephiroth. And I wonder, why he set Nibelheim in a blaze".

"Actually, we don't know that Sephiroth. We haven't even seen his face, nor heard tales about him. We only heard from the rumors that he has gone insane", Xpire replied.

"Insane? What's happening? Shinra", Genesis said. "You three tell me your names and where did you come from. It's odd that you don't know Shinra, materia or maybe Mako or SOLDIER".

"I'm Xpire, the one you fought is Kurdt Chadler and the one beside me is Core. Nice to meet you. And by the way, what is SOLDIER?"

"SOLDIER is the elite force of Shinra. SOLDIERS are divided into three classes. First, second and third. First Class SOLDIERS are responsible for the most dangerous missions. We have the right to deny orders. Second and Third Class SOLDIERS assist Shinra troops, that's their job. The best of the Third Class SOLDIERS are later promoted to Second Class and those distinguished Second Class are later promoted to First Class. All SOLDIERS are exposed to Mako energy and we're injected with Jenova cells".

Before one of the them could ask, Genesis went on to explain anything, ranging from the origins of Shinra, what is Mako energy and even Jenova.

"Why don't you know all these?", he asked confused.

"It's not important. What's the name of this place?", Core spoke.

"Midgar".

"Let's go. We need to find that person", Core said with a sense of order on his voice.

"You didn't answer me, Core. And all of you are so strange. Why won't you tell me?", Genesis exclaimed.

"Why will we tell you? Are you our friend?", Core countered. "Are we family? Are our bonds run deeper than blood?"

With that statement, Genesis' eyes widened, including Xpire and Kurdt, too.

"We need to go now. Please excuse us, Genesis Rhapsodos".

"So, our fight ends here, Genesis. We're stalemate", Kurdt spoke in disgust.

"Wait. Is okay if I go with the three of you?", Genesis questioned.

"Of course", Xpire replied smiling.

"A stranger asked you to go with you then you just agreed. Do you trust me? Maybe I'll stab you behind", Genesis smirked.

"It seems your whole life you've suffered. We don't know each other on a personal level but with those words you've spoken, you've been betrayed by people you love", Kurdt said.

"What do you know?"

"Well Genesis, we're not friends yet but we don't mind if you come along or not. But I suggest that you should also mingle with others. All of us humans are connected with each other, even we're related by blood or not", Xpire replied.

"Humans? I'm not a human, I'm a monster". Then Genesis unleashed a single black wing from his back/ "Is this what you call human?"

"How did you have that wing?", Xpire questioned.

"As I've told you before, all those with Jenova cells are capable of having this thing".

"Don't tell me you could fly in that single wing. Never mind", Core said.

"So, answer me, tell me the truth. What do you think of me?"

"Genesis, I'm a robot, a synthetic person but these two accepted me as who I am even though we just met a few days ago. A monster is mindless, a human isn't. It's just because you bear that thing doesn't mean you're a monster. You have a soul, a heart, a will, for you to qualify as a human. You're not like those we fought back; you've got emotions and memories of your whole being". Core walked forward to Genesis and he patted his head.

"Always remember, even if you come with us or not, the bonds that you will create with a person run deeper than blood. A true comrade is not just a friend but also your family. It's what you call the bond of souls that last forever. Remember that".

Genesis eyes widened with the sudden revelation that Core is a robot, but the one that astonished him the most is his behavior. He behaves like a human, that's it.

"Are you coming with us?", he asked.

Genesis did not answer and seeing this, Core dragged him. "Let's go together. From now on, let us be family okay?"

Xpire and Kurdt just smiled with the thought of bringing Genesis along with them.

I'm finally done with Chapter 4. Sorry for those who have waited for so long. I just made this now and I didn't review. So, sorry for any typos or mistakes. Tune in next week for Chapter 5.