"Sephora! Sephora!!! COME BACK HERE!!! TELL ME WHEN HE'S COMING!!! TELL ME WHERE HE IS!" Cloud ran after her, and half tumbled down the stairs. The commotion of Cloud falling down into the bar, screaming, was enough of a distraction. Sephora slipped out the door as everyone was paying attention to him.

Out on the street, she had to step for a second in the alley next to the bar. What was all that about? He had never done that before! Was the need to please him so strong that he just took over all thought for a minute? It didn't really matter; she had only said the truth. She looked around for her brother. She saw a movement in the shadows and made her way toward it.

"What's all the yelling about?" A low voice asked her.

"He made me do something...I think. Either way, we HAVE to leave right now, Kadaj!" She took hold of his arm and started leading him towards the car.

"But...I haven't seen Cloud..."

"Trust me; you do not want to see Cloud. You do not want Cloud to see us. We have to go talk to your brother, NOW!"

Kadaj just looked at her strange as she shoved him in the car and they sped away.

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Back in the bar, Tifa was helping Cloud up as he raved on about Sephiroth, Sephora, her knowing where Sephiroth was. Everyone was staring at him, looking at him like he had lost it. She helped him up.

"Come on, we're going upstairs." She helped him upstairs, and as soon as they were safely closed in a room, she started the questions. "What was that all about Cloud?"

"Did you know Sephora came up here?"

"Yeah, she said she wanted to talk to you. She thought you guys started on the wrong foot, and she wanted to apologize to you, I guess."

"Yeah, well, that's not exactly what happened. She trapped me up here and told me that Sephiroth is coming. She actually told me what he said when I defeated him last time..."

"What was that?"

"That he wouldn't be a memory anymore..."

"And she said this?"

"She told me he was still in all my nightmares."

"Cloud...I think you might be projecting on her just a little bit."

"I am not, Tifa. And when I track her down, and find him, you'll know that I'm not." He stormed passed her and left the room.

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Sephora and Kadaj rushed into the house. She pushed Kadaj toward the stairs.

"Kadaj, go upstairs, lock yourself in with Sephiroth, and do not tell him anything until I get there. I'll be right up, ok?"

"Ok."

"Don't worry, everything will be ok.' He ran upstairs and Sephora ran off the other way to find Krissa. "Krissa!! Krissa!!? Where are you!?!"

"I'm down here!" A worried voice came from the basement. "What's wrong?"

Sephora half ran down the stairs, taking care not to fall. It reminded her of Cloud, chasing her down the stairs, and she was worried again. She had no idea where it all went next. Krissa took one look at her and realized something was definitely not right in her cousin's world.

"No, really…Sephora….what's wrong?"

"Can you do me another no questions asked favor? This is a REALLY important one, too."

"Maybe, what is it?"

"If anyone comes looking for me, even someone from work, don't tell them I'm here. As far as you're concerned I've never been here." She thought about it for a minute, "Wait, scratch that. If it's a red head…and I mean a ridiculously red head, tell him I'm here, but only if he's alone. He's a turk, his names Reno. He can know I'm here."

"Sephora, why are you getting mixed up with a turk?"

"I'm not, but I have a feeling something really big might be going down, and I'd like you to not be a part of it as much as possible."

"Does this have anything to do with your weird little houseguests up there?"

"I'm not sure, entirely. I think so. But leave them alone, it's not their fault, entirely. Just please, do this for me."

"Ok, fine. You aren't here unless it's a little redhead named Reno."

Sephora hugged her cousin. "Thank you so much!" She took back off up the stairs.

Krissa sighed, "I hope that girl knows what she's getting into."

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Sephora closed the door behind her, turned around, and was face to face with Sephiroth, staring into those jade eyes.

"What did you do?"

"Sephiroth…I just…"

"No….what did you DO, Sephora? And what are you planning to do ABOUT it?"

She sat on the bed next to Kadaj and looked up at him.

"Fine…I freaked out on Cloud. Badly. I heard your voice telling to get him alone and tell him things. I told him you were coming. And that he was going to get what was coming to him basically."

"I see. Are you sure you were alone when this happened?"

"yes. I had him cornered upstairs. Tifa thought I was going upstairs to apologize to him."

Sephiroth smiled, "Well, this might not be such a bad thing after all." He sat next to her. "What happened next?"

"Well, Cloud flipped out, started yelling at me, demanding to know where you were. I left him in the room, and went downstairs, and he almost killed himself following me down them at full speed. I'm pretty sure they all think he's crazy. But then, I'm also sure he'll be looking for me. Therefore, I told my cousin that if anyone comes looking for me at work, that I'm not here. She hasn't seen me."

"Good job…."

"One thing…I did tell her that if Reno showed up, to tell him I'm here…"

"The turk???"

"Yes, but calm down. I have a theory here. I figure that…well…everyone thinks you're dead, right?"

"Well…yeah. They do."

"Ok, if they think you're dead, then they think Cloud is crazy for looking for you. For even thinking about you. So, Reno is going to check up on this little girl he likes, to make sure his insane friend didn't hurt her, or scare her. So, I just make sure that Reno is CONVINCED, totally, that Cloud has lost it. And he's not going to be hard to convince, I don't think."

"Sephora!"

"What? Was I wrong?"

"No…that's pretty well played, actually." He gave her another one of those smiles, "Good job." He gave her a kiss, and turned to Kadaj. "Go in your room, and tell Loz and Yazoo what happened. I'll come talk to you guys later. You did well today, too, Kadaj."

"Thanks. I'll see you later."

Sephora waved to him as he left. After the door was safely closed and locked, she went back to him on the bed.

"I have a question."

"Hmmm?"

"Why don't we let Loz and Yazoo out like we did Kadaj today?"

"Because I don't trust them, that's why. Kadaj…he can be quiet. He's much better at giving and taking orders. Loz and Yazoo…they're reckless. They can fight like you wouldn't believe, but discretion is not their thing, unfortunately."

"That makes sense."

"Don't worry, their time will come."

"Ok, then. Whatever you think is best. Now, on to tonight. Did you make me do that?"

"It's just, I felt you. I felt you in me, almost. Like you were in control, and I wasn't."

"Remember how I told you we had the same DNA?"

"Yes."

"That's what you felt. You felt the pull of our genetics, and you mistook it for me. It might have felt like me to you, but I assure you, it was not me."

"Oh, I see."

"Yes, now don't worry about it." He put his hand behind her head and pulled her toward him. "Now, come here, I have to show you how much I appreciate what you've done tonight."