Hello again. Here is chapter 8. I hope you enjoy it.

P.S. I own nothing except my overactive imagination.


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Chapter 8

Roaring in anger Cloud slammed his fist over and over into a nearby rock. He could barely hear Zack pleading for him to stop. He barely felt Zack's hands trying to grab his own. He couldn't even feel the shooting pain spreading up his arm from his torn knuckles. The only sound and feeling he was aware of was his own heart thudding against his chest. Beating so fast Cloud swore he could feel it swelling, expanding as it rammed against his ribs in its attempts to burst from his chest. He knew he needed to stop but couldn't, if he stopped he would have to face this. He would have to face the fact that he couldn't stop the shaking in his limbs. The shuddering of his breath. The tears. He could barely breath, barely focus, the only thing he knew was untamed uncontrollable fury. Screaming out again Cloud put his entire weight behind his next strike.

Crack.

Gasping in shock he fell back into Zack's arms. He lay there breathing too fast and too loud, unable to make his body move, unable to stop the bleeding. He watched as Zack's gloved hand entered his line of sight, taking his own softly and assessing the damage.

"Breath." Zack whispered, as he carefully pressed his fingers along Clouds knuckles. Zack's voice sounded distant sounding too far away for how close he truly was. He continued to watch Zack's movements as he assessed the damaged skin. Clouds vision was blurred by tears, darkness frayed the edges of his sight. He couldn't do this. He couldn't be here. Shaking his head he moved to release his wrist from Zack's grip but was stopped as Zack's other arm pinned his own to the side of his body. Crying out in frustration, Cloud lashed out violently attempting to loosen Zack's grip on him. Zack's hold tightened as he tried to force Cloud to stay still, to keep him from injuring himself further. Continuing his struggles, Cloud kicked out against the rock in front of him, slamming his body back against Zack's hoping to knock him off balance and relinquish his hold.

The manoeuvre succeeded in knocking Zack of balance and Zack lost his grip on Clouds wrist, but instead of letting go as Cloud as hoped Zack pulled Cloud backwards with him, wrapping his now free arm tightly across Clouds chest. They lay there for several moments, neither speaking nor moving. Testing Zack's hold, Cloud cried out when he couldn't immediately break it. He began to fight again thrashing in Zack's grip, screaming loudly as he fought.

"LET ME GO!"

"No."

"Let me go."

"No." Zack's tone was firm as he tightened his arms around Clouds torso. If Cloud truly wanted to be free Zack knew he would be free already. Cloud was in shock. He hadn't fully processed what had happened and refused to do so. Clouds movements were already weaker, his will to fight lost.

"Leave me alone."

"Never."

"Zack….please, let me go," tears fell unhindered down Clouds cheeks as he fell still against Zack, "Please."

"No. Not until you calm down. Breath Cloud." Zack waited for what felt like hours, prepared for Cloud to continue in his struggles. When none came Zack gently took Clouds injured hand in his own once more. Cloud gave no response to the action, continuing to breathe too fast and shallow.

"It's okay, everything's okay." Zack spoke softly in Clouds ear as he took in the torn skin of clouds right hand. "Breath Spiky. In out. Deep breaths."

Cloud sucked in a deep breath, watching Zack's fingers resume their examination of his torn, and most likely broken knuckle. Closing his eyes Cloud focused on Zack's voice following his instruction to breathe in and out, his breathing slowly returning to normal. A sudden numbness took over Clouds injured hand causing Cloud to gasp and instinctually jerk his arm towards himself. Zack's hold prevented him from doing so leading Cloud to open his eyes to find out the problem. He was met with a green glow surrounding his injured limb. Smiling lightly Cloud leant back against Zack's chest allowing the healing magic to do it job and mend his broken joint. He was weary, he had grown tired of following Sephiroth and been on the verge of walking away. Taking a deep breath Cloud felt himself drift into sleep. What would have happened if he had walked away?


If always knowing where Sephiroth was wasn't bad enough, the ability to tap into Sephiroth's more intense feelings was worse. Cloud shuddered as overwhelming glee assaulted his system, damn Jenova cells. Gritting his teeth Cloud continued his task of burying the fallen warrior before him. He had taken to using a Quake materia to speed up the time it took, not out of disrespect to the fallen, but rather to ensure that he didn't fall too far behind Sephiroth. He had barely begun covering the warrior when another stab of glee hit his system hard. It filled him with a sense of unease and he moved before he could question it. Sprinting towards Sephiroth's location Cloud let his instincts take over and carry him to wherever he needed to be.

He had heard her cry of pain before he had seen her. He recognised it instantly, a feeling of absolute dread almost crippling him, preventing him from moving forward, terrified he was right. His need to protect winning out, he raised First Tsurugi and stepped into the path of Masamune. The sound of metal clashing rang through the air. For several seconds their weapons danced around one another before they were locked into place between Cloud and Sephiroth's bodies. Looking up Cloud watched as Sephiroth mouth twisted into a smirk.

"Finally raising a blade against me Cloud." Pushing backwards Cloud broke the lock and distanced himself from his opponent, keeping himself between Sephiroth and the warrior he was protecting. It was as he was preparing to attack, and as Sephiroth moved to strike, that he felt her move.

"Get out of my way! This is my battle."

"No." Cloud dropped his sword as he reached out to grab her as she ran past. Pushing her down on the ground he placed himself between her and Sephiroth, using his body as a shield he braced himself for the feeling of Masamune slicing through his flesh.

The hit never came. Gasping Cloud turned quickly searching for his enemy but seeing nothing but empty space. Sephiroth was gone. Confused Cloud reached out with his mind. Sephiroth was not that far away but was now making his way west. Why hadn't he taken the hit?

"I know Cosmos' warriors are supposed to help each other out and all but don't just takeover people's battles." Cloud was shaken out of his musings as the other warrior spoke, stepping up to him and staring him down.

"You were in trouble, the warrior you were fighting is not one to take lightly, besides I'm on the other side. Unfortunately." Cloud turned ready to leave. This was too much. What was happening? Why was she here?

"Wait." He felt her grab his arm and pull him back, "you're a warrior of Chaos? Why save me? Why fight one of your own, your ally?"

"He's not my ally."

"Really? I guess comradery isn't very strong in Chaos's forces. I would never had predicted this though. A warrior of Chaos protecting one of Cosmos. Are all of Chaos warriors as unpredictable as you?"

"Their rather predictable actually." Cloud watched as a smile brightened Tifa's features. She attempted to hide it with her hand but couldn't mask the small laugh from escaping.

"What's your name? You seem almost familiar, like an old friend I've somehow forgotten." Cloud froze unsure what to do he was about to weigh the pros and cons of revealing who he was when he found himself already speaking.

"I'm Cloud."

"Cloud." The smile returned. "I'm Tifa. Do we….know each other? I don't remember much, but….from the moment I saw you I…I felt like we've maybe met before, and now I know your name…..does this make sense to you."

"No I don't know you," Cloud watched her face fall. It hurt to lie to her but in the long run it was safer, "Maybe in another life we were friends. I have to go."

"Oh…..Thank you. For saving me. Not that I needed saving, not yet anyway." Cloud almost smiled, this Tifa reminded him of the Tifa before the fire, trying to prove her strength to Zack, over confident because she didn't truly know the meaning of the word 'monster'.

"You should find your allies."

"Thank you. I really hope we meet again but that probably means we would have to fight…..another life…..maybe."

"Maybe. Be safe. Goodbye." Cloud turned and began walking away, he was almost out of sight when he heard her call out again,

"Wait…." He kept walking. Faster now. Shaking with anger, he needed to vent.


"How do I fix this?" Cloud breathed out, opening his eyes and staring at his now healed hand, "How do I make this right?"

"You and I both know what they want Spike."

"To win the war." Cloud shook his head forcing himself to stay calm. "Why her? She's powerful, there's no if ands or buts about it but there are others that are stronger. If it were me I would have brought Vincent."

"It's not you though. Cosmos knows what she's doing she learns from her mistakes and you were a mistake. Don't get me wrong you're one of the strongest warriors here, but that's the problem. Cosmos asks before she takes people, it's all a part of her twisted version of moral standing, Vincent would have said no the same as you did. When Cosmos opened the path to speak with you she drew Chaos' attention. He noticed you for the first time and took you before Cosmos could convince you to fight. She made a mistake by making Chaos aware of you she wouldn't make that mistake again with Vincent."

"So she took Tifa instead? Why to win me over to her side?"

"It's happened before. Warriors across the cycles have switched sides to save others or because of disillusionment with whichever god they fight for. When that happens the other is quick to snap them up."

"I don't want to fight for either of them. I'd rather kill them both first." Cloud bolted forward quickly breaking Zack's loose hold around him.

"Spike?" Zack's hand squeezed his shoulder.

"That's it."

"What's it? Don't say what I think you're going to say."

"If I kill them then this is all over. I can protect her and go home."

"You had to say it." Zack collapsed backwards in exasperation watching Cloud stand and begin pacing back and forth, mumbling to himself. "I'll just be here….waiting for you to explain your plan and for me to begin questioning your sanity." Zack raised an eyebrow huffing as he was ignored. "Scratch that, I'm going to start questioning it now, get a head start."

It was an almost several hours later when Cloud stopped pacing. He sat next to where Zack lay and turned to stare at the now bloodied rock before him. He felt Zack sit up beside him and forced himself not to turn to look him in the eyes. He had pushed his luck today. He had actually seen Zack's hand. Had seen a part of his friend, and he hadn't savoured the moment because he had been too busy throwing a temper tantrum.

"I have a plan," Cloud spoke, he heard Zack sigh and felt the urge to laugh, "Before I tell you and before you start 'questioning my sanity', remember that I'm the only one who can see you. I think we're beyond you questioning my sanity." He heard Zack laugh and savoured the sound. If he failed this could be the last time he heard it, while living at least. No, he would win. Chaos and Cosmos where fighting for themselves. Cloud was fighting for someone else. He was going to end this war here and now. He would destroy everything in his path to save her.

But, first there was someone he needed to speak to.


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Well there you go. I took inspiration from the actual conversation between Tifa and Cloud in Duodecim for my own. I crafted a similar but different version of it here. This chapter and all the ones following are the chapters that I began this story based on. I hope you liked it. By my calculations and if all goes to plan there is about six more chapters left in this story. I hope you stick with me to the end. Let me know what you think of this chapter and of the story so far. Thanks for reading.