Chapter Ten

'I cannot disguise the weight I feel inside…'

"Cloud?" The voice was soft, a purr against the silence. Eyes twitched, and suddenly he gazed into bright blue. He blinked several times against the flood of white, and sat up weightlessly. Those eyes gazed around, looking straight through where the other stood. "Cloud..." It echoed as he spoke, and the blond turned.

"Who's there?" he asked suddenly, standing as he gazed into the emptiness.

"You can hear me?"

"Yeah…but…I don't see you," Cloud replied hesitantly. "Where…where am I?"

"The Lifestream," he replied softly.

"Did…did I die…?" he asked, voice quiet and unsure.

"No," he chuckled. "You are very much alive, Cloud. …As am I."

"'As am I,'" the blond repeated. "Who are you?"

"So…you don't know who I am?' Beside him, the blond closed his eyes and listened to the cool voice, calm and husky in the silence. 'You don't, do you? Have you forgotten me then?"

"Forgotten?" he replied shaking his head. "How could I – I'm not even sure who you are!"Sephiroth turned and silver tresses gracefully swept across him. He took a silent step away. "I…I know I've heard your voice," he said. He turned and Mako eyes gleamed into bright blue. "But I can't…I can't remember."

"I suppose it is for the best."

"Show me," Cloud said softly. Sephiroth gazed into those eyes, and for a moment their gazes met. He looked away.

"I…it isn't safe here, Cloud,' he replied. 'I can feel her…"

"I don't care if it isn't safe," the blond said. "I've been in plenty of situations where it wasn't 'safe.'" Sephiroth closed his eyes and turned away from the blond. Blue eyes pierced through him, and he knew that Cloud understood. "Sephiroth?!"

"…We meet again, Cloud," he said softly. The blond didn't answer, and Sephiroth turned to meet his gaze. "Are you disappointed?"

"It figures you would be the one I found here," he spat fiercely. The feisty blond sat back down. "What the hell do you want? Don't you think you've ruined enough lives?"

…See, my son? He doesn't care about you.

"I only destroyed those that deserved it," Sephiroth argued. "Like President ShinRa and the Sephiroth clones."

"You forgot someone," Cloud muttered. Cobalt eyes gaze upward, full of hurt and hate. "What did my hometown do?! What the hell did my mother do that made her 'deserve' it?!"

"…That was a long time ago, Cloud," Sephiroth replied.

"It doesn't matter!" he yelled, now standing. "What about all of the people that will die when Meteor hits the Planet?!What about Aerith?!" The words fell harshly and Sephiroth turned from the raging youth. "You are exactly what ShinRa wanted you to be. A monster."

A monster…a puppet…

Suddenly, the silence filled with a shrill ring, and he clenched his eyes as the blond continued. His vicious words were muted beneath the sound, but the venom lashed at his insides. A sharp pain shot through him, and Sephiroth collapsed to his knees. Fingers gripped and tangled in silver locks. Another voice spoke, loud and clear over the sound.

You tried to care for him, to love someone…and look where you are. You are nothing to him. A monster – a demon in his eyes.

"You don't give a damn about anyone but yourself!"

You see? That is why you must rid the cosmos of such selfish fools. Why Meteor must injure the Planet… Why we must meld with it, and corrode it…

"After everything you've done, you don't deserve to live!"

…And together, we'll create a new future.

"I cared about you and you stabbed me in the back!"

Silence fell once more, and the ex-general found his composure. "Cloud…" The word shuddered in the air, and Sephiroth stood. "…Leave…" The blond panted behind him, the breaths heavy with anger. Suddenly, Sephiroth turned and the Masamune gleamed in the bright light as it was drawn. "Get out of here!" He yelled. Deep blue met those fierce eyes, and Sephiroth noticed a tear slip down a youthful cheek.

The blond didn't speak. Instead, he turned hastily, and walked into the distance. As the distance grew between them, he began to fade, until Sephiroth could no longer see him. Silver locks framed his face, and his head hung as he sheathed his Masamune.

"It's…for the best…" he whispered softly. The world once again fell silent, and jade eyes gazed wearily into nothingness.

But he wasn't alone.

I know you cared for him, my son. That is why I drew you away from him – because I knew he did not care for you. Don't you see? That is why you must destroy this heartless Planet. It has done nothing but lie…and it doesn't deserve to live peacefully as you wallow in misery.

"…You're right," Sephiroth replied, his eyes lingering on the place where the blond had disappeared. "This world must perish. It's…the only way… It's the only way we can ever be together."

That's right. You must stop them, and Holy, at any cost.

"Holy?" he repeated.

Yes… It seems as though the Cetra has reached the Planet. Holy will prevail over Meteor, unless you stop it. You must do this in order to fulfill your will. Otherwise…this world will continue to exist, and we will never be together.

"…Then I will," he replied quietly. He turned, and silver glimmered beneath the white light. It faded slowly, darkening before his eyes. The walls faded into a bright green: Lifestream. A bright glow erupted from behind him, and he winced away from it. Holy erupted around him, but Sephiroth stepped forward. The light condensed into a vivid sphere and Sephiroth knew it would end soon.

"We meet at last…Mother…" The words fall softly from my lips. Light flickers in my peripheral, a blade is dangerously close. Muffled words barely reach my ears. Bright red gleams in my vision, and I smirk.

Turning quickly, metal clashes, and screeches through the air. Blue silhouettes the figure, and I fly forward. The light gleams on the blades as they meet once more. Cerulean eyes gaze into my own, and chapped lips move with inaudible words. I push him back, and he lands hard on the nearby platform. down his arm. The stagnant air is pungent with a chemical odor. The metallic scent mixes with it. I land before him and a bright beam of power surges towards me. Easily, I block it.

"I am the chosen one," I say, raising my arms in declaration. "I have been chosen to be the ruler of this Planet." My weapon lowers once more, ready to strike. Light and blood streak the narrow metal. "I have orders to take this Planet back from you fools for the Cetra. I was born for Mother's sake." Shrieking, metal scrapes metal as the blades meet once more. Flesh tears, metal hisses – breath catches and is smothered. Once more, I lunge and the force repels him.

Silence. I turn; our eyes meet. A warm smile, and I approach. Silhouetted with blue. Light reflects from the smooth glass. I stand before her, and fingers reach to touch the glossy surface. Suddenly, cracks spread across the glass like the fire in the village. My hand recoils.

Pain.

Agony shoots through me, and I look over my shoulder. Blue. A hand clutches the wound painfully and metal whispers as it is withdrawn. Weakly I slump, gloved finger sliding soundlessly down the cracked surface. behind soft patter of rubies as they fall to the platform. Pale light blurs before my eyes, and I turn. I can see him, distant now. Blond hairs stand up in tufts as the helmet hits the floor.

Blue. Cobalt eyes, gleaming sapphires that lock with my own. A tear shimmers.

"Promise me…"

'Could you make the choice to live or to forgive?'

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