Holy cow…I can't believe I've gotten this far in this story! It's almost unreal at how much I've done on this story alone.

And as promised, we finally see a confrontation between Cloud/Christina and Kadaj/Lindsey! Hope you guys like it!

Unclouded, Sequel to Unarmed

Chapter Nine: Grievances and Enemies

We arrived outside the church to hear Kadaj screaming loudly. He almost sounded as if he were in pain. Cloud and I exchanged a look before he revved up the bike, pulling it up off the ground and wheelie-ing through the door of the church.

Kadaj revved his motorcycle as we burst through the door; I saw Lindsey shoot off a ball of energy into one of the pillars of the church, causing it to fall down as we rode through. Kadaj jumped his bike onto the pillar, riding up on it and through the hole in the church roof. Cloud quickly revved the engine of Fenrir and grabbed my hand, pulling me down to duck my head and ducking his head as well. The pillar narrowly missed both of us as we rode beneath and past it as it fell.

Cloud slammed on the brakes, causing the bike to skid and slide through the flowers. As we came to a stop I looked up at Kadaj and Lindsey, who were up on the rafters of the church. Kadaj gathered a glowing energy into his left hand, then swung his arm back and let the attack fly, sending it straight towards us. It landed just below Fenrir's front tire, causing the bike to flip backwards and throw us both off. We both crashed heavily to the floor; I felt my head spin a bit. Owww…that wasn't fun, I thought painfully, dust filling my vision slightly. I felt one of Cloud's hands grab my shoulder.

"You alright?!," he asked quickly, sounding like he was in pain.

"I'm fine," I answered back, following his hand to him and helping him stand. He gripped his left arm as he grimaced in pain, looking back up at Kadaj and shoving me behind him to try and protect me. I looked up at Kadaj as well; he was laughing as he charged up his next attack. No, this can't be…this can't be happening…we HAVE to stop Kadaj… I thought, looking down at the ruined flower bed. Aerith…Zack…please! We need your help!

Suddenly I saw a green water-like spring come up from the floor of the church. My eyes widened as I pulled at Cloud's shoulder, pointing at what was happening. Is that…could that be…

…Lifestream?

We both stared as the water formed a pillar, then spreading like an umbrella it rained down on all of us, causing Kadaj to start swatting the water away, like it was hurting him. It must be affecting the Jenova cells…

I looked up at the water, feeling the cool refreshing-ness of it as it fell on my skin. I looked over at Cloud, who was holding a hand out at the water as if it were rain. I noticed the stigma on Cloud's arm start to glow lightly as the water fell on it.

And not five seconds later did Cloud look down at his arm in amazement, as did I…

Because the water had cured Cloud's Geostigma.

I heard Kadaj rev his motorbike and ride off, trying to get away from the water.

I slowly walked up to Cloud; he looked at me and back down at his arm.

"It's…it's gone…," I said, slightly stunned. I placed a hand where his stigma had been moments before. He looked back up at me.

"It's really gone…," he murmured, amazed. We stared at each other for a moment, starting to laugh slightly in wondrous shock. I suddenly grinned and spun around in the water downpour, laughing.

"I can't believe it! Your stigma's gone!" I gasped slightly and stopped spinning as I came to a realization, looking back to Cloud. "You know what this means? We found the cure! Finally!" His eyes widened as he realized I was right, and he nodded.

"Yeah, but…there's one more thing we need to take care of," he said in a serious tone. My grin disappeared and I nodded back firmly.

"…Yeah, you're right. We'd better go after them," I agreed, walking back up to him. He pulled Fenrir from the wreckage it was buried under, setting the bike upright and dusting it off before swinging a leg over it. I climbed on behind him as he started the engine.

Let's go you two!, I heard Aerith say.

Yeah! You guys have some butt to kick!, Zack added enthusiastically. I shook my head and chuckled at them as Cloud revved the motor and drove us away from the church, towards the old Shinra headquarters building.

We arrived at the wreckage of the old Shinra building around ten minutes later. Cloud pulled the bike to a stop and got off, pulling two swords out from his bike. I got off as well and reloaded my pistol, clicked the safety off, and unsheathed my sword. I was sure I was about to need both of them.

"Brother!," I heard a voice call; it was Kadaj. We both looked towards him. Lindsey was standing to his left. He was holding a black box in one hand; I recognized it as the box that he had when we were chasing him in Edge. "I'm with her at last," he continued.

"So what's gonna happen now," Cloud asked. Kadaj looked down fondly at the box he was holding, smiling and chuckling slightly.

"Mother's going to tell me." Cloud and I exchanged a look before we looked back at Kadaj. I scoffed at him.

"I guess a Remnant wouldn't really know," Cloud commented dryly. Kadaj looked straight at Cloud, a controlled anger quickly filling his eyes.

"…So what if I'm a puppet…?," he said, clenching his left fist as energy began gathering there. "Once upon a time…," he continued, raising his hand above his shoulder; Cloud visibly tensed, preparing for the attack, "…you were too!" He brought down his hand, sending the energy scattering into a bunch of directions before it redirected to our direction. Cloud and I both jumped separate ways to avoid it.

Cloud jumped at Kadaj, forcing Kadaj to unsheathe his sword to block. I jumped to my right to avoid the blast, and right as I landed Lindsey jumped at me, sword in hand. I quickly parried with my own, looking back over at Cloud and Kadaj, who were jumping and exchanging blows over and over. I shifted my attention back to Lindsey, who was trying to push her sword down to strike me.

I leaned forward slightly, causing her to lean back to try and keep me from pushing through her defense. I glared at her before noticing her eyes, causing my own to widen with surprise.

"You're infected with the Jenova thing, just like the kids were, aren't you?," I questioned. She grit her teeth and growled before answering.

"Yeah, and so what? It made me stronger! Thanks to that I can take you down now, just like Kadaj wants!," she yelled, pulling her blade free and swiping at me. I jumped back to avoid her sword, landing a few feet behind me. I straightened up, putting my pistol back in its holster.

"What Kadaj wants? What the hell happened to what you wanted? I know why you went after him in the first place! I remember what you told me that day!" She charged at me before jumping up and bringing her sword down on me; I quickly blocked with my own again, the force of her attack making my wrists shake a bit.

"You don't know what you're talking about! Kadaj loves me!" I shook my head.

"You idiot! He's just using you!," I shouted, pushing her back and flinging her against the building; she landed against the wall with a crash. She groaned but slowly got back up; charging the materia she was using and firing a spell at me. I quickly dodged by cartwheeling and jumping to the left, then using the momentum from my jump I brought my sword down on hers. She blocked but she hadn't blocked properly and her wrists buckled underneath the force. I swung my blade down then back up, knocking her sword clean out of her hands and sending it flying, it landing safely sheathed in the rubble behind me.

I held the point of my sword at her as she collapsed to her knees, knowing that the battle was mine. She grunted in disappointment, looking away. "Aren't you going to kill me?," she questioned in a harsh voice. "Why are you hesitating? Do it already!," she yelled. I moved my sword, bringing it over my head and holding the hilt with two hands. She didn't look at me but at Kadaj as I stood there before her. After a moment she shut her eyes, and I brought my sword down with a yell…

Only to hit the ground in front of her.

She shook in fear for a second before she opened her eyes, staring up at me with a puzzled look. I brought my sword back to my side. "But…why?," she questioned. I shook my head.

"Go home, Lindsey." Her eyes widened before she glared at me.

"Why should I listen to you?!" I looked away, rolling my shoulder lightly. She's not going to want to hear this but…I've got to make her leave. This is the only way this is going to end without me killing my best friend…

"Because I just spared your life. You're my friend, regardless of whether Kadaj was controlling you or not. And I'm not going to kill you. Not now, at least that's for sure." I sighed. "I know though…I probably will end up being the one to have to kill you. Eventually. You do have Jenova's memetic legacy in you now after all." I squatted down, still on my feet. "But you're not ready to die yet and I'm not ready to kill you yet. So go home. That's the least I can do for you. I did drag you into this whole mess to begin with." She laughed harshly.

"You know I'll probably come back and try to kill you. Especially if Cloud kills Kadaj. " I straightened, looking away once more.

"Yeah I know. And if Kadaj kills Cloud then I'll come after you both. And we both know that. At least try to live a normal life before it happens. I'll never have the life I once had and I know that. I'm perfectly fine with that, actually," I stated truthfully, looking to where Cloud and Kadaj were fighting. "But that doesn't mean you have to be. I'm giving you the chance to have what I won't ever have again. So go." She stepped back a couple of steps. I looked back over at her and smiled. "Who knows, you may find the true guy of your dreams and end up real happy. Let's hope so, shall we?"

She glared at me, then turned, walking over a bit and hopping off the building rubble we were standing on, jumping her way away from our battle site. I sighed heavily, sheathing my sword and wiping my watery eyes slightly. She'll never be the same again…but I can at least give her the chance to try. She was my best friend…it's the only thing I can do for her anymore, I thought sadly. Shaking my head, I turned towards where I could hear Cloud and Kadaj fighting, running in that direction.

I can't worry about the choice Lindsey will make now. She's not the Lindsey I knew anymore.

As I made my way to where Cloud and Kadaj were fighting, I saw Cid's airship, the Shera, fly up to the battle site. I held my hair in place as the wind from the airship kicked up dust. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Tifa, who I was sure had to be in the airship.

"Christina?," I heard Tifa say on the other end as she picked up.

"Yeah, I'm down here to your right, " I informed her, waving at the airship as I did so.

"Are you alright?, " she asked. I nodded.

"I'm fine Tifa don't worry." Suddenly I heard voices in the background.

"So the punk's gonna become Sephiroth," I heard Cid say.

"Christina…does Cloud know? About Kadaj?"

"One would think," I heard Vincent answer her question.

"Whaaat?! I don't get it, why can't we help out?," Yuffie's voice rang out loudly in the background.

"Some of the men don't get it either," Barret grumbled. I sighed.

"Tifa, put me on speaker phone, please?" I heard a slight beep sound on Tifa's end.

"Alright, you're good to go."

"Hey, you guys hear me?," I asked.

"Yeah, we hear you! I wanna help out too!," Yuffie called loudly.

"Yeah, the materia thief's right, we should get down there and help," Barret said. I shook my head.

"Two years ago," I began, "Think of the strength you all had when you fought that last battle." Everyone on the other side of the line fell silent. "It's only been a couple of years, but already that feeling is gone for you guys. But Cloud…I think he's found it again."

Tifa agreed after a moment, "…You're right Christina. You're absolutely right. It's his fight now."

I heard Barret 'hmph' on the other end of the line. "You guys got ten minutes."

"That Cloud's a royal pain in the ass. Like always," Yuffie stated, annoyed. That just made me grin.

"Well, Cloud is Cloud," I stated with a smile as I hung up the phone. I watched as Cloud landed back onto one of the building remnants in front of me. He turned and smiled slightly at me before turning his attention back to Kadaj.

Kadaj and Cloud jumped at one another over and over again, each time their swords clashing loudly, until Cloud locked swords with him as they clashed once again atop another dilapidated building. Just as their swords locked, Cloud swung a second sword at Kadaj, who narrowly avoided it by blocking with his right hand, which held the black box. They both glared at it for a second before he pushed Cloud back and jumped backwards; Cloud used the momentum and flipped once before landing back on the building.

They both stood still for a moment before Kadaj jumped into the air above Cloud; Cloud flipped the sword in his hand backwards, taking it and combining it with his other sword, spinning that one above his head. It began to glow with the blue limit flame that I had seen him use before.

Kadaj brought his sword down upon Cloud with a yell, but Cloud blocked with a single swing of his sword, sending Kadaj flying over the edge of the building they were fighting on. I quickly jumped my way over to get a better view of where he had landed; he was barely holding on to a window ledge on one of the buildings, his sword long fallen to the ground below.

Cloud landed on the ledge above Kadaj; Kadaj glared coldly at him before chucking the black box at Cloud. Not knowing what it was, Cloud smacked the box away with his sword, breaking it open.

And a group of Jenova cells spilled out of it.

Quickly Kadaj grabbed the ledge he was hanging onto with his other hand, launching himself into the air and towards the box of Jenova cells. Cloud and I could only watch with horror as we realized exactly what was happening.

Kadaj looked back up at Cloud. "My Reunion…Bet you're dying to watch…," he said creepily as he fell through the air. Cloud jumped after him to try and stop him but it was too late; Kadaj took the cells and forcibly absorbed them into his chest, crying out as he did so. He suddenly fell silent as he landed on the rubble of the building below, his head bowed down as Cloud plummeted towards him. He held his hands up as Cloud approached…

And suddenly, with a flash Kadaj was gone, and in his place was a face that was WAY too familiar to me…long silver hair, and an extremely long sword, which was blocking Cloud from hitting him as he looked up, opening his eyes. I know Cloud's eyes widened in shock, because mine did as well, for the exact same reason.

…My fears were confirmed as I heard an eerily familiar voice.

"Good to see you, Cloud."

No, no no, no no no no…this is NOT happening…

But even as I thought that, I knew it was true.

Sephiroth had finally returned.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN! SEPHY HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE!

…I know, total shock right? Not lol ^^

In the next chapter, the Final Battle! Cloud vs. Sephiroth! I am totally excited to write the next chapter. XD

Hope you guys enjoyed! Please leave a review!

-Catalyna Christopher