If I had been more than a volunteer at the clinic, I might have understood better why I felt no pain. I might have understood why I was able to look at several inches of hardened steel sticking into my side and only know that I should have felt pain. I looked at Cloud with the same numbness.

"Not alone. He's not alone." I said, lifting my arms protectively. Awareness crept into my mind by degrees. Everyone stared at me. Blood flowed from just below my left breast and pooled at my feet.

"Tifa…" Sephiroth and Cloud said simultaneously. Cloud's sword slipped out of my side, sending an inferno of pain through my entire torso. I was no stranger to pain, but I gasped. I had fallen off mountain tops, been stabbed, almost executed, and attacked by countless wild beats, but this felt so different. The brittle, uncared for steel of Cloud's sword left me feeling like I had been stabbed with a spoon rather than a scalpel.

"It's my choice. I want to know a future, not just my past. I want… to live."

Vertigo enveloped me quickly as my vision dimmed and turned black. The last thing I could remember thinking was, this must be death.

It wasn't death, in the end. Only one of my many close scrapes. I awoke with pain in my side from the wound, and tightness in my chest from too many bandages. The sun filtered through a window, leaving a shadow from a vase of yellow flowers. I turned my head and noticed a soft linen pillowcase, and Sephiroth sitting beyond it. I had to recognize him by his eyes, since he had changed his face and clothes into a stranger's. Relief marked his face as he noticed my eyes open.

"Seems to happen a lot…" I said weakly.

"It could be worse."

"Your hands…" I had meant to ask how long I was out for, but I glimpse of Sephiroth's hands stopped me. They were bandaged around the knuckles. Over the time I had spent with him, I knew what it meant. "You shouldn't scrub so hard."

"…Only a habit."

"It's a bad one. What if you catch an infection? There has to be a better way to deal with guilt."

"I might not feel so guilty if I did not have to owe you for saving my life."

"You could've fought back."

"I had decided not to. It would not help anything. Please, change the subject."

"Okay." I shifted myself into a sitting position, ignoring the pain in my side. "What happened when I blacked out?"

"In brief, panic. Most seemed ready to give you up for dead, and were split between blaming your death on Cloud for stabbing you or blaming me for being the intended target. I took you to the clinic, here, when my magic could do no more. Dr. Godel did an admirable job, better than some other professed men of science and medicine. Compassionate as well- he let me stay, disguised as a nurse, even knowing who I was. I believe it was more for your sake than for mine."

"You only missed a day. Your friends came in several times. Cloud was the one who brought those flowers. Vincent brought roses, Barrett –the fool- brought lilies, Yuffie donated a Master Summon materia, and Cid seemed to think you would like a pack of cigarettes. I forget what else came, but Godel ordered most of it out after it cluttered the room."

I smiled. They were my friends, even if I had found a strange alliance. Even simple gifts like flowers were more than I could have hoped for.

"Cloud is hunting for me." Sephiroth added wearily, disturbing my calm, "He will not stop until I am dead, and more are joining his cause. However, it seems a small minority are sympathizing with me… with us."

An explosion went off not too far away, shattering the sunlight as gravel flecked against the window. My face paled as I was able to draw my own conclusion.

"A war?"

"Yes. I have not even taken part yet, and it has started to spread. As soon as I can I want to move."

"To where?" I was as ready to pull of up stakes as him. I did not want to live in a place tormented by violence.

"I do not know. If I move, the battle will fester and eventually follow. I doubt it will stop unless the vocal minority of each faction perishes. But even then… the only way I can think of is if I can convince the Planet to forgive, or at least partially forgive. If the world can see that, there should be less of a problem."

"Uh-huh. No matter what, I'll follow." I leaned forward, straining my wound, but the reward of a kiss overcame the pain. It was not like our first kiss. Since we met, I had taught him things I had learned in almost thirty years that he had not in forty. The sweetness of skill overcame that of innocence and mixed with love to become like ambrosia.

I wanted more than just a kiss, but we were interrupted by a voice I knew well.

"Mr. Nurse!"

Sephiroth plumped his face and turned his eyes brown, just in time to turn around and see Ishtar.

"Yes?"

"I- oh, Tifa, you're awake." Ishtar added in a whisper, "Cloud's been hanging around the clinic. I think he suspects something. I don't have much more news…but can I please call you Mr. Frost? Nothing else sounds right."

"No. I suppose I must move then. Thank you Ishtar."

"You aren't going to kill him?" I interrupted. I was surprised that the same Ishtar who trained day and night for the purpose of revenge would let her enemy go by so easily.

"No. I decided that if Mr. Frost can let him live, then I will too, even if he won't tell me why."

Ishtar left soon after, followed by Sephiroth after the sunset. I missed him as soon as soon as his shadow disappeared behind the doorframe. I had never realized how lonely the clinic was when I had nothing to do and no one to talk to. I slipped off to sleep despite the endless barrages in the distance, thankful for the protective white walls of the clinic. My dreams were haunted by burning buildings.