Disclaimer: all props go out to square enix and I don't own any one but koty. As always do not sue.

Well I know these aren't making much sense but I'm having a small amount of writers block please be patient. It will come together.

In our last chapter tifa and the stranger return. Cloud however is immediately sent into kill mode as he suspects tifa has been injured. As events unfold yuffie plays the role of both the protector and nurturing friend as she realizes just how bad the situation has gotten thanks to koty's efforts.

Vincent has also volunteered to take the kids shopping with a glum dislike for the idea. What will happen well just read. As always I need to know what you think so review.

Coffee, rings, and scary things:

She awoke midday. The feeling of someone propped against her back made her feel at ease once more. However she had hoped it would be cloud.

With an unfortunate glance she found yuffie caressing her gently as she looked down with slightly puffy eyes. 'Has she been crying' she thought before noticing the midday sun creeping in through the window. How long she had slept was a mystery, but the sudden realization that she was in the kitchen jumpstarted her mind and she instantly began to return to herself.

"Oh my god……. Where are the kids……. Are they outside………. It's dangerous…"

"Tifa relax" the young ninja tried to speak with a voice that screamed exhaustion "vinvins got'em."

"Oh……. Thank goodness" the barmaid said relieved to hear the mention of Vincent's name within the conversation "yuffs you don't look so good…….."

"I'm hawt thank you very much" she yawned attempting to put on a sexy posture

"Seriously get some rest" tifa chuckled for the first time since yuffie's surprise confession of Vincent.

"You sure you're okay? I can stay if you want me to."

"Thanks but I'm fine now…… are you"

"Oh yeah just swell…….. Oh by the way clouds home……. Scared the hell out of me I thought someone broke in last night."

"……cloud…….."

"Yeah you know tall.. Kina weird…… cross dresses…… spiky hair…. Cloud……." She yawned again as she tried to jog tifa's memory.

"Yuffie…….. Thanks for last night…." She hugged the ninja tightly and then stood "now go to bed……. I'm gona get some things done around the house……."

Yuffie nodded and then stood up yawning incessantly before giving tifa a wave and heading off to the upstairs rooms. She would no doubt borrow clouds room remembering that cloud was last located in tifa's. The stranger would more than likely be in the guest bedroom, and the kids were with Vincent and would freak out if they found yuffie in their beds doing things she would never admit to doing in her sleep. Weighing the options she trudged upstairs and plopped into clouds bed for a nice and well needed nap.

Tifa stood in the kitchen and brooded about the evening preceding her slumber and finally decided to put on a pot of coffee. The blackened substance would surely calm her aching mind. However as she went to acquire the bag of the rich substance she stopped feeling a strange but benign presence behind her.

"So are you alright? He didn't hurt you did he" she said as she turned to see koty.

He instantly looked at the floor trying in a vain attempt to hide his shame. "No I'm fine."

"Really. You don't sound it……… look I'm really sorry about all that happened yesterday….ummm" she attempted to change the subject as she loaded the coffee into the pot "want some java"

"JA-VA?" the man tossed the strange word around as if he had never heard it before

"You know….. Coffee"

"COUGH-E?" he still seemed puzzled

His obviously curious look both bemused and baffled tifa. For such a knowledgeable person he had no idea what coffee was. This amused her as well as it brought worry. 'how does he not know about coffee, even five year olds know what it is' she thought to herself giving him a look of questioning.

"Okay look it's this black stuff that comes out of one of these pots…. You drink it…." Her finger shot to the pot as it brewed. Koty simply stared and gave a rather analytical expression.

She had come to a complete loss. The situation seemed to get more hopeless by the second and she wandered what else the man wasn't knowledgeable of. He sure seemed capable on the battle field but for the most part he seemed like a small child when it came to daily living. This reminded her of cloud as she observed the man who watched the coffee pot with an untamed fascination.

"Can you read?" she spoke almost shyly as if asking someone a ridiculous question.

"Quite well…." He still kept his eye on the pot as if it would explode if he looked away "I taught myself to read and write in my confines…. The DPRD would not allow me to simply walk around the facility due to a few concerns for the scientists being that my strength exceeds that of a normal human."

"Wow…. So they kept you locked up a lot didn't they…… you must really hate them?"

"Not at all……… most of them were drafted from different various locations due to an overly vast amount of intelligence. There would be no purpose in hatred for those whom do not have a desire to execute their actions. They were forced into their situation by hands of unworthy leaders…..."

"Whoa tone it down with the tech talk there……. Do you always talk like that?" she spoke as she pushed him away from the pot with which he held such fascination.

"What way should I speak……" he still bore a questioning look.

"Like a normal person……. Your far too young to talk like that…… it makes you sound old…. Kina like some freaky newscaster from Costa del sol."

He said nothing in return as she finished her comment with an abrupt conclusion. She noticed afterwards she wasn't getting anywhere without getting dirty over it.

"Okay instead of talking like a text book use some…… uhhh generalized vocabulary……."

He simply stared at her until she handed him a cup of the steaming black liquid she could only imagine him assuming was coffee.

"Careful its really hot." She said as she cautiously sipped at the strong brew and watched his reaction

He stared at it for a moment and took random glances at tifa as she sipped at it. He did this several times before raising the cup to his lips.

"Don't burn yourself……" she attempted to warn the man of the substance's heat but just as she went to speak he turned the cup up to a ninety degree angle and chugged the burning liquid. "Oh my gosh….."

"Is something wrong" the man said wide eyed as he watched the woman's expression turn from curious to horrified. "Did I do something wrong……."

"No…. but …… how did that not hurt you…………. Are you not burnt……"

"No I don't think so….."

"Man you're a real head trip koty……. Any way maybe you can help me with something…." A clever smile came across her face as she narrowed her eyes at the dumbstruck man.

Cloud felt the fragments of midday light arouse his soul from slumber . He could feel the warmth on bed where it had been previously sat upon in close range to his own form. Vaguely he remembered hearing a voice in his head and then a deafening roar that drowned out all but the most painful parts of his dreams.

He remembered the dreams well. Pictures of tifa lying in pools of her own blood and the stranger with whom he had not properly been acquainted with holding her lifeless form. Then an image of himself tearing at her flesh with a twisted smile, and tifa simply asking him to continue.

Horrid fantasies that plagued his very soul. He could not bear to have her hurt any longer, and he attempted to end the nightmare himself by killing the imposter but tifa only picked up his faithful sword and proceeded to continue her pain with her own hand.

"Please it hurts so much………. Don't leave…………" the blood trickled from his dream tifa's mouth as she struggled to breath. Her chest expanding and collapsing around the large blade that now ran through her sternum. "Why did you have to leave………. Come back…….." the sword now buried itself deep into her heart, the heart that had lulled him to sleep nights before, the heart that nurtured him when he wanted to give up, the heart that cared for him, the heart that loved him. "Please…… I hurt…….. So much…"

"Strife……. Awaken……" the strange man holding the terrifyingly pale form of his beloved called to him as if to halt his descent into madness. "This is only the beginning……. You cannot let this be your end."

With the voice echoing in his head he rose, dressed, and bolted for the door. He had made up his mind and he knew exactly how to fix the situation. For once in his life he knew what to do, how to make things right.

"I won't make you wait any more." His determination now peeked and he headed out to meet the cruel world beyond seventh heaven. The world he had saved had all along been the one thing that was killing tifa. He noted his opportunity to make a new one and rose again to challenge fate. "This ends tonight……. No regrets"

He walked with a quickened pace startling passerby's and even the people in moving vehicles which he walked in front of without even flinching. He walked as if waging war with all around him. The fire of a god pouring from his essence.

His face depicted a mission of do or die consequences. His countenance was that of a soldier with orders. He had finally broken his restraints.

"Hello cloud" Vincent said as he noted the strange appearance of the ex soldier

Cloud said nothing as he blew by Vincent. He had apparently walked right into the store without having an inkling of where he was going. He didn't care however. This only served to fuel his fire as he marched forward to assault the jewelry department. He then proceeded to search the shelves.

The entire back wall was lined with assorted jewels and various necklaces and earrings but not quite what he was looking for.

"So that's what this is about……." Vincent said as he walked up beside cloud with a knowing expression of interest. "It's for tifa isn't it……"

"Vincent………. I………. I can't run away any more……….."

"I agree……… might I suggest this section…….." the elder man pointed in the direction of a large glass box of shelves which set in the corner.

"Jeez……. Pretty expensive stuff…………" he noticed the price tag and gulped, but he was on a mission and refused to leave empty handed. "But I just gota do this…….. Even if I wind up broke…….. It'll be worth it……."

"Then carpe diem….." the Turk said as he turned face and walked away.

Silently thanking Vincent cloud scanned the shelves until it struck him. The shimmer of light hit him like a blast of energy straight from the core of bahamut. Its silver band and pristine ruby sat with a decisive elegance. It was the most beautiful work of craftsmanship he had ever laid eyes upon. As if a great deity had forged it.

He lost himself in thoughts of what tifa's reaction would be. He looked like he was in a trance when a stranger behind the counter snapped him to reality once more.

"Hey buddy, I know it's pretty and all, but maybe you should think about what kina damage that'll do to your paycheck….. It's not cheap…" he spoke with a worried tone.

"Erick get back to work and stop scaring the customers." An elderly woman wheezed as she approached cloud with an earnest curiosity. "So young man are you interested in this piece……. It is a fine collection item……" he stopped her short as if offended that she would call him a collector.

"I'm actually looking for something important……" he tried to keep it short and simple but the old woman would have none of it.

"Now see here………" she said as she waved a disproving finger at him "come closer let me look at those eyes…………. Ahhhh……. Oh my……"

"What do I have something on my face" clouds face had found its way into the old woman's strangely strong hands.

"You have gorgeous eyes boy…….. But rubies aren't your style………. You're eyeing it for a special purpose………." Her games annoyed him.

"You make it sound like I'm gona blow the world up with it."

"Now now none of that……." The old woman conveyed the slightest sense of humor as she patted his cheek. "I know what your purpose is……….. It's a young woman………….. Strong and youthful…….. With dark raven hair…… and delicate eyes………. A voluptuous figure……"

"How did you know……" he asked warily of the elderly woman as he backed away cautiously

"Psychic powers young one" she giggled

"Now mother" the man he came to know as Erick shouted at the old lady with a hint of retribution "you told me not to scare the customers and there you go again…."

"Keep quiet I'm busy…… any way…." She inhaled harshly and continued "I'm just kidding…… I've seen the two of you in the park……. Your hair makes it painfully obvious who you are……… I'm sorry here I go making myself seem like a stalker."

"It's okay I know it's mostly the hair." Cloud admitted with a defeat that also broke his former drive to buy the more than likely over priced ring. "I think I'll be going now……"

"Not so fast……. I've seen the two of you several times….. She means a lot to you?"

"Yeah I guess"

"Oh come now…. Tell the truth… you can tell granny Stella………"

He thought for a moment before the determination set in again.

"Yes more than anything else in the world. But I haven't always been there for her. I…….. I want….. Her to know……….. That I've changed."

"When is the wedding………"

"What"

"If you invite poor granny Stella I think I can make a special arrangement for you…….."

"Where are you going with this………"

"Take the ring……… but I wana see you put it on that pretty woman myself or no deal……. Agreed?"

Cloud was taken aback by the sudden flood of generosity the old woman displayed. The ring was obviously too expensive to give away. By the looks of it, it was also too expensive to buy.

"But first you need an engagement ring." The old woman handed him a small box. "I was given this ring by a fine gentlemen as a consignment piece…… his wife had died and he told me to give it to the first man whom I found to be madly in love with a special someone…….. My boy I do believe you fit the bill"

"But this is crazy I can't……"

"He said give not sell……. And besides I'm old……. And Erick can't always be expected to run the shop. He will eventually need a life………. Consider it a gift from an old lady who wants to see happiness prosper through others."

"But the other ring…… its far too expensive……… I would rather just pay……"

"Nonsense……… I will not impede the process of love with a debilitating price tag. All I want is a seat at the wedding. I wana see it on her hand. After that we'll see about the payment."

Cloud accepted the box and opened it with caution. Inside sat an almost equally beautiful piece. It was a simple band with elegant etching and a small diamond sat as its centerpiece. The rings were obviously not fakes. He had learned how to gage stones and metallic's while on deliveries. And these were genuine articles. This also served to tell him that the money had to be extremely high to acquire said jewelry. It wasn't likely that the woman would simply give him the ring without an expected payment. But cloud accepted without a second thought. He was too close to back down.

"Thank you but……… why….?"

"As I said I am old and I like to see people happy…… and the young woman that your hearts so set on seems very happy with you……… just remember to save me a seat."

He nodded his head in acceptance and allowed the old woman to give him an awkward hug of approval, and then he left. He suddenly thought of what Denzel might think of him and tifa together when Vincent approached him once again.

"Did you get it……." The somber man sounded like an impatient drug dealer but cloud understood what he meant.

"Yeah…… but when should I……….."

"There is a reunion for AVALANCHE scheduled to take place in three weeks. I will inform barret and cid. Yuffie is your job, but you know how she is with secrets."

Tifa was still attempting to teach the obviously sheltered koty. He seemed like a little kid. An intelligent little kid but the childish ignorance remained.

"Oh noooo. Let's not go that route again." She said as she pulled him away from the dishes. She had earlier found that his talents did not lie in the culinary arts. "How bout we try something less dangerous first. Like ummmm…." She had come to a loss when she noticed him absent mindedly tossing a small bottle of random liquor he had pulled from the shelves.

Over and over he tossed it. Under his arm and over his head. It were as though he had been practicing for years.

"Wow you're pretty good at that….." she smiled viciously as an idea occurred to her. "Say how would you like to help me with the bar."

"If it is what you wish" he spoke as he placed the bottle on the table without so much as a sound.

"Don't talk like that….. Remember generalized vocab…… we don't want to freak the customers out…… now come help me with the laundry I always need a hand with that."

The man tilted his head again as she tried to remind him how to speak. He had not had an evident amount of practice at being general.

"Miss Lockhart." A monotone voice called to tifa as if unsure of her presence.

"That's shelke…… look you put these in here and those in there" she gave the still befuddled man a general point before leaving him to do his work.

Shelke had not been to see tifa in a few months and it was obvious that the time had flown by when she looked at the former deepground operative. Her hair had not been changed from its previous style and for the most part she still looked very young, but her body had begun aging again after a few test and procedures from the WRO were run on the child like body that she at one time had. This sated she had grown taller and almost matched tifa in height her clothing seemed to display her obvious maturity and her voice had altered slightly.

"Wow you look different……." Tifa cracked a voice that almost startled the poor girl.

"Different….. I haven't noticed." The monotone of her voice was still present but less prominent as it had been when the omega incident as it had come to be known had resolved. "Reeve wanted me to ask you about the reunion……"

"Oh……. Ummm…… I guess….. Well what was he wanting to know….."

"Is it being held here? And if so how much funding would you need?" she again allowed her almost recording like voice to shorten the length of the awkward conversation.

"Well yeah its gona happen here. But I don't think we need any massive amount of funding…… why is reeve buying.?" Tifa let a sarcastic smile appear on her face as she leaned against the wall.

"Well I wouldn't know…… he tends to keep me in the dark a lot on his intentions. However he also has a predictability about him that is slightly obvious." Her tone finally changed as she allowed a rare sinister grin shatter her robotic façade.

"Miss Tifa….. I believe I have finished……." Koty said as he emerged from the room. He didn't seem alarmed which told tifa that he hadn't broken much. However tifa also knew that he was danger prone and if left unattended for long would surely brake something.

Thankful for the lack of destruction he had left she released her tense feeling of impending doom and decided to introduce the two guests to each other "shelke this is koty. Koty , shelke." Shelke nodded but koty seemed lost in thought as he stared at her. "Koty……. Hellooooo……. Are you all right?"

She watched him stare at her for what seemed like hours. His eyes locked intently on the young woman the entire time. Shelke seemed curious as she returned the gesture but didn't seem to mind the attention .

"Is he always like this." She smirked yet again allowing the robotic tone to break.

"I dunno. He just showed up one day and well. It's a long story if you're gonna be in town for a few days I'll tell you, now's not a good time though."

"Okay" shelke seemed to understand tifa's situation well but was finally distracted from the man's gaze when cloud busted through the front door.

"Oh shit…….." tifa startled by the noise snapped from shelke to the door to find cloud heading in her direction at an alarming speed. After taking a moment to look him over she noticed his eyes were shining with the aura of mako. " Cloud….. Are you strung out again?....... I told you last time this happened I won't stand for it……." She remembered that the last time he had been 'strung out' on mako that he was very violent and hospitalized several less than cooperative tenants of the bar. "I don't wana hurt you but if you…."

"I'm not high…….. I just really need to talk to you……. When you get the time" he sounded impatient but not angry. He seemed more like he was apprehensive. " I'll be in your room I've left some stuff in there and I really don't want the kids to hear me when they come in…….. It's really important."

He left quickly and tifa didn't have the time she had wanted to react properly. She had wanted to apologize for being rash but the blonde left hurriedly and without even letting her speak. The feeling of guilt crept upon her as she noted her words.

"I think I will speak to him he seems disturbed." Koty said as he left following the swordsman.

"Koty I don't think that's a…………" she missed her opportunity to speak when shelke put her hand on her shoulder.

"Let him go cloud may could use the guy talk."

"I guess your right but they…….. Here just let me explain it in full." She sighed and prepared for another long speech.

Vincent's trip was becoming his worst nightmare. Denzel who was thankfully old enough to handle himself tried vainly to help him control the hyperactive Marlene. However the worst part was not her hyper bubbly attitude but the looks that he received from the bystanders. They screamed at him through their eyes. Mocking him and slandering his name. Giving him titles of vampire, night child, pedophile and all other various assortment of names that turned his blood into magma.

"Stop staring you guys he can't help that he's scary." The tiny child tried to defend the injured dignity Vincent carried but failed as she managed to do more damage than she would have if she had helped them.

"Well well well……. Mista valentine. In the flesh." The voice of Reno could be heard over the impending boom of the infuriated Marlene.

"Hello Reno."

"Oh come on you can do better than that…… were buds right………"

"No"

"Now now don't be so mean…… you hurt me with those words." His obnoxious attitude was starting to agitate Vincent. "I was just in the neighborhood and noticed you and the squirts here." Denzel was slightly offended at the remark from the gawdy Turk but said nothing.

"Reno leave….."

"Aww come on vee." His nickname had an irritating ring to it. "don't be so harsh…… any way I just thought id drop by and tell ya that the Turks could really use someone of….. Your stature……. We're recruiting newbs……. If you don't mind spit shinein my shoes….." he was cut short as Vincent drew Cerberus with a final warning to the insulting gentlemen.

"Please understand that I did not enjoy my last years as a Turk, and under no circumstance will I ever be under you."

"Well I guess to each his own…… any way…. So did you and tifa hook up or something."

"Why do you ask."

"Well the last time I checked she's practically raising these little brats……." Cerberus' hammer being drawn cautioned Reno to choose his next words carefully. "And you've been spotted hangin around the bar a lot lately. So I was just putting two and two together. So how good is she in the……." The guns barrel found its way to the man's chin and silence overtook him.

"Listen well. I don't appreciate the looks I get from the towns people here. That being said this is already a bad day. If your implying something my suggestion is that you keep it to yourself. If you have imagination picture what your face will look like when Cerberus decides its hammer is a little tired. Tifa and I are close friends nothing more. And you'd best remember that. If cloud finds out about your little rumor that I'm sure you're spreading, then you my friend will have a great deal more to worry about than me. Now do not bother me again. Do I make myself clear.?"

"Message received." The Turk smirked as he backed away and left.

"Wow mister Vincent you're scary." Marlene gasped in amazement as she stared at him "I've never seen Reno so close to peeing in his pants."

"Marlene you've been playing with yuffie too much. And I am not scary. I just prefer my personal business remain mine alone." Vincent holstered Cerberus and allowed himself to relax. "Let's head back tifa will be worried if you do not return soon."

"Oh I don't think you're going anywhere" a strange voice echoed and Vincent again drew Cerberus "now as far as the kids go. Hell I don't care but you I wana talk to."

A large man baring an unusual attire followed by two strangely clad gunmen approached him. The large one wore a black uniform with a white trim. He also wore a white hat of strange origins and his coat was adorned with several small what looked like decorations. To Vincent this meant that there was going to be trouble. The other two wore what seemed to be SOLDIER like armor. Various plates adorned them and strange helmets were plastered onto their heads. They were like body guards only armed to the teeth.

"Marlene Denzel. Go home to tifa I will be behind you soon."

"Oh I doubt that." The man laughed "but if you think you can leave then by all means you're welcomed to try."

"I don't think you boys know who ya dealin with. Vince there aint no push ova." The familiar voice of barret made its way to the Turks ears. "He tha one that killed omega. You don't want none of that. Trust me"

"Well maybe these two fine gentlemen can make you see differently, my large friend,. Men fire at will."

Gunshots were heard and instantly people panicked and started running.

"Barret the kids." Vincent beckoned as he returned fire jumping out of the way to take cover behind a parked car.

Barret immediately went to collect the children. "Come on little'ens. We gota go."

"Papa" Marlene gasped in disbelief.

"Yeah baby girl it's me. Whoa. Uh. Maybe we should get you guys back to the bar before celebratin." He hefted the child into his arms and motioned for Denzel to follow him.

After the kids and barret could no longer be seen Vincent decided to take his pent up aggression from the day out on the two gunmen that the strange man had apparently abandoned, seeing as he was nowhere to be found, to die. He remembered that Marlene often had nightmares about wolves and thought it best if he waited to execute his plans. Once she was out of site he was free to do as he pleased.

"So do you two have nightmares?" Vincent said as the bullets ceased. No response came from the gunmen. "Because I am a monster. Uraaaaagh" he transformed into the gallian beast and assaulted the two men.

Bullets whizzed by him and all he could concentrate on was the roar and the loud pounding in his head. His primal rage at its peak and not having to restrain himself he unleashed his aggression on the two strangers. He tore into the first one hoping to find some nourishment in the broken bones of his victim but there was none to be found.

The other soldier acted as if his comrade had never even existed and the gallian beast let out a cry of anger when a stream of bullets bombarded him in his attempt to feed.

He was about to make a snack out of the other man when a strange feeling of being drained reverted him back to his original form. Having no other option Vincent opened fire on the man with the last remnants of his ammo in Cerberus.

He would have thought the man would have died in the first few shots but he took half of the rounds without even flinching. After exhausting his ammo Vincent prepared to do hand to hand but realized that the man was no longer moving. He was deathly still. As if he were frozen in time.

"What the…" Vincent scanned the man with his eyes before attempting to reach out to him. Suddenly the man collapsed and fell to the ground with a heavy thump.

"Quite an impressive display. We could use someone like you in lithium." The voice of the man from earlier spoke as Vincent detected the sound of light footsteps coming closer. "I have to say though it's not as neat as I usually prefer to keep things."

"Who are you and what do you want."

"Relax friend."

"I'm not…."

"As I said relax, if I had intended to kill you I would have brought the army. But being as I'm not exactly after you, I'll be frank. You my friend are but a luxury acquaintance. I'm after someone else. Perhaps a strapping young man such as yourself could tell me a thing or two."

"Hey buddy no one calls fire on Turks territory" Reno could be heard behind the man with the trade mark cocky attitude he was so known for having. "so why don't you just go back to wherever the hell it is you came from before I have to get nasty with ya."

"Reno."

"Take it as a token of friendship buddy." Reno winks at Vincent with a mischievous grin.

"I see that there is no reasoning with barbarians. I will be back but with reinforcements. You may not be as fortunate when next we meet."

The strange man took Reno as his cue to leave. And disappeared . The Turks then share an awkward glance as if speaking through their eyes. Only afterwards parting ways.

"Valentine. You really should reconsider my offer. We'd make a helluva team." Reno calls to the Turk behind him.

"Not on your life." Vincent speaks quietly as he makes his way back towards seventh heaven.

He was nervous his insides turned completely inside by the choice he had so eagerly made without needing to think. He wasn't sure he could handle the responsibility of holding down a family and saving the world without concern for his own safety. Things were picking up pace in the most inconvenient fashion.

"So she means that much to you." Koty's voice broke the silence that so coldly stabbed his heart.

"What is it to you….. You don't even know her….. Or me……" cloud responded with a cold tone attempting to thwart any hope of conversation.

"I do know you……. You saved me……… you may not know it…… but you have."

"Don't tell me this has something to do with that story."

"Not yet it doesn't….. Please tell me……. Share with me your darkness and I shall gladly give you what little light I posses." He seemed questioning as if he were asking a favor.

"What……. You mean………."

"The man who so haunts your memory……… and girl who shines in your darkness……" koty seemed almost like a child asking an adult to tell a scary story.

"Why do you wana know…. Generally it's how do know but I don't think I wana know now……. So why."

"I want to…….." he took a moment as tifa's advice sank in. "I think you need to vent…… maybe talking about it would loosen the tension…… tifa needs you to break your ice before you can start a fire with her."

"Wow that was blunt……. Kina creepy coming from you….. But first I need to know about you…… what's your story."

"Tell me yours and we will work on exchanging sorrows." He spared a smirk as he lowered his eyes.

"I don't even know where you want me to begin."

"For starters. What about zack." His bluntness struck cloud with a sense of displacement. He had never seen the man speak what it wasn't in riddles. "And let me state the obvious and say that it bothers you to bottle it. Speak. I have time."

"Well………" he thought for a moment. He had never shared his feelings on this subject, but then again he never acknowledged anybody to even know zack's death had bothered him. He had never brought it up "he was a close friend. We were in soldier together. Why do want to know."

"You are a stubborn one. Here allow me to pry it from you."

The scenery suddenly changed from the confines of tifa's room to an open space in the plains outside of midgar. The rain fell like lead upon his skin and he for a moment couldn't breath as he glanced upon the sight of broken swords and fractured helms. A hand on his shoulder told him that he was not alone. Koty stood like a guardian angel warning off the heart ache that welled up in clouds chest. He knew this scene very well.

"No this is a dream. It's not real."

"A memory but not a dream." Koty responded dashing what light was left in his heart. He had hoped in vain that he could avoid having to see his friend again in the last frame that he could remember him.

"Zack……"

Koty watched with a heavy stare as what appeared to be a single raindrop rolled down his cheek. Cloud noticed that the man remained unfazed by the water that soaked himself. The rain seemed to fall straight through him. He only bore a single raindrop. Or was it a rain drop at all. 'Is he crying' he thought to himself 'why though.' He suddenly looked at the man's eyes. They were exactly like zacks. The only difference being that the man before him stood lost and almost vulnerable in appearance. Zack never seemed vulnerable. He was always so confident.

Cloud closed his eyes as he watched his counterpart crawl upon the ground to the injured zack. The words exchanged between all too familiar and painful to him.

"You'll be my living legacy."

The man next to him showed no sign of weakness except for the extreme sense of guilt that was clearly portrayed in his 'as cloud had noticed' cerulean eyes.

"I am . Your living legacy."

The shout was long and sorrowful. The rain finally relenting however the last of the scene played out like a poor novel in front of his eyes again.

"I won't forget……… good night………. Zack." And then he broke. The stone like man before him allowed the tear that had held itself away from its mate to fall gently to the ground.

The scene then changed and cloud found himself back in tifa's room with a shocked tifa staring straight at him.

"I know now that we are truly fated to cross paths." Koty said as he turned to tifa with a nod and left. Cloud hadn't noticed it before but when he wasn't angry his voice sounded a lot like zacks. But the blonde hair was the defining difference between this stranger and the friend he had lost. Short of the attitude they were practically twins. Head strong, arrogant, cocky, however where zack was carefree and often times had let his impulses drive him koty seemed to be cool and collected as he walked with an air of certainty.

"Cloud what's going on." tifa said as she covered her mouth with her hand "was he crying."

"I dunno……….. I'll get back to you in a minute I need to talk to him." He said as he followed him. Somehow he knew where he was going to be.

He immediately ran outside and acquired fenrir. His ride would be a rushed experience but he needed to find out what was going on. Something deep in his soul told him that the stranger was about to do something that would end in a calamitous outcome.