The next morning Larissa did not speak to anyone at all. It seemed her night sleep was unpleasant because she walked past them in a frustrated state of mind as she made her way upstairs to Vincent's room, a place she has called home for the past few months. Vincent immediately looked at Reeves for an explanation, but all he received as a response was a shrug. From the look of things he noticed that Larissa's vibrant skin ceased to glow like something had extinguished it when she strolled past. It seemed Cloud knew what Vincent was thinking because he stood beside him to stare at where Larissa had gone to.

"Reeves," Vincent demanded gruffly, "What is wrong with Larissa? She has never been like this before and I want some answers!"

Yuffie and Tifa jumped at Vincent's sudden aggressiveness toward Larissa's bizarre behavior, for it was very unlike him to show his emotions so freely for someone on the outside of the group. Tifa peered at Cloud to see his reaction and found that he was no longer there. Where could he have gotten to?

Upstairs Cloud stood at Larissa/Vincent's door and knocked gently against the antique frame of it since she had left it open. When he entered he spotted her sitting on the window sill looking at the vast blazing sky that lit the town beautifully. Cloud did not know what he could do for Larissa, but he was not going to let her feel like she was alone. No one should be alone. He tried to approach her quietly, only to be met by the squeaky floor boards with each step he took. Whirling around quickly to see who the intruder was she found herself lost in Cloud's deep blue eyes. They seemed to be trying to tell her something, yet she could not discover what the message meant.

"Larissa," Cloud said calmly as he sat on the opposite side of her on the window sill, "why are you so angry? Did you not sleep well last night?"

"How could he know that something is wrong with me? Am I that transparent? In any case I can never repeat what I did in Nibelheim yesterday. Sephiroth is becoming a huge problem that is growing out of control. What am I going to do? I'd rather commit suicide right now," thought Larissa.

"A past you try to forget always seems to come back to haunt your mind. No matter how hard you try to avoid the images, they seem to force their way through anyway. Well I am not worth your time for such impractical emotions as anger or hatred Cloud. The situation is not difficult to explain; it is just in the past and should be kept there for the time being," answers Larissa hollowly.

"How could she say that emotions are impractical? I want her to open up to me if Vincent doesn't beat me to it. I wonder if I took her into my arms, maybe that will make her feel better," thought Cloud.

Cloud slowly rises from his position on the window sill to pull Larissa into his warm inviting arms for comfort. When he moved cautiously forward to pull Larissa gently into his arms she instantly sprang up and drew her sword. Almost slicing him to pieces Cloud backs himself against the wall and sees Larissa's eyes blazing with hatred and remorse with her sword pointing at his throat. Realizing what she was doing a second later she lowers the sword to the floor, releasing all of her anger to the outer walls of her body.

"Sorry about that Cloud, I tend to still have that habit of protection. Please do not take it too personally. Just remember to warn me if you are going to touch me in any way," says Larissa indifferently.

"I will definitely remember that next time for sure," says Cloud shakily, "Why are you so hostel toward other people, especially males? I might be able to help you."

"This is something that you will never be able to help me with Cloud, it is not even worth your time. I will always be this way because it is a part of how I grew up. One day I will tell you my story, but that will be when there is no hope left. Your whole group will know about it too when the time is right," she says coldly.

Both staring out the window now, they witness many of the city people going to café shops and restaurants for the early breakfast special, yet seeing how carefree they were made Larissa envy their perfect lives. Down below she could hear Vincent tearing Reeves apart with his colorful vocabulary and menacing hollow threats.

Rising, Larissa heads toward the door, but before leaving she says to Cloud, "It seems that Vincent is going to tear Reeves apart, I guess I better go save him from his wrath. You do not mind checking on Marlene and Denzel do you? I hope they awake by now."

"Not at all Larissa, I would be glad to do that." Studying his profile once more Larissa looked deep into Cloud's eyes and saw the color of Sephiroth's staring right back at her. Disturbed by her new discover she quickly fled the room and almost sprinted down the stairs.

"How could that be? Cloud's eyes are the same as Sephiroth's in their own way. Was he exposed to Mako Energy too, does he share a connection with him like I do? He could have Jenova cells in him, but that can not be right because he would be acting strange. They could have done that to him at one point though. So many questions that need to be answered," thought Larissa as she finally made it back into the kitchen just in time to stop Vincent from taking another step toward Reeves to harm him in some way of his own.

"Vincent that is enough of you attacking Reeves about my behavior! He has done nothing wrong and I would appreciate it if you let him go off to bed since it seems he has lost many nights of sleep," fumes Larissa.

Vincent abruptly turns towards Larissa to see that some of her color has returned to her elegant features, a true sign that she is indeed okay. Immediately he abandons Reeves and glides to meet Larissa while reaching out to feel her fair skin in his icy hands. But it seems she was a step ahead of him for Larissa already had her hand against Vincent's moist cheek of cold sweat to calm him. An intense storm seemed to be lifted at that very moment because Vincent relaxed instantly while Reeves went off to sleep for a few hours. No one could explain this radical behavior of them all, but chose to accept it anyway. Not everything can be answered, at least not in this day in time.

In the same day it looked like a fierce thunderstorm was heading over Midgar with quick haste. Tifa had to entertain Marlene and Denzel with Barrett while the others did practically nothing all day. Vincent and Cloud made a few deliveries throughout the day but that was all. Shelke stayed at the laboratory to do further research with Nanaki and Yuffie closed up shop to hang out with Tifa and the others in 7th Heaven.

"Why does it have to rain today", whines Yuffie, "I wanted to take the kids to the beach and soak up some sun since my beautiful tan is fading away. I wonder what Cid must be doing right now?"

Tifa wondered the same thing since Cid had not returned in a week now. He usually does not take that long to come back, but it could be raining in Rocket Town too for all she knew. All they could do now was wait. Suddenly Larissa flew by them like a whirlwind, grabbing a glass of water, drinking it, and setting it into the stainless steel sink in a matter of seconds before heading out the door.

Cloud emerges from his place in the corner and asks, "Larissa where are you going? It's about to rain outside and you will get soaked. You don't want to catch a cold do you?" His sudden concern made Larissa's heart twinge slightly as she reached for the door knob. Vincent rushed and successfully blocked the door to not let Larissa pass without going through him first.

Turning to Cloud she responds, "I need to take care of some business today and it cannot wait. I have put it off long enough and as for my health it is in top condition. Now Vincent will you please move away from the door, I will be back by dusk at the latest."

The dark crimson eyes of Vincent's poured into Larissa's ever changing gold ones as he debated whether or not to let her pass and in the end decided to let her go for now. He would talk to her about this later as he touched her cheek softly before moving away from the modern door that led out do the oncoming rain. Walking in her own storm of hell she vanishes into the sheets of rain to search for the missing pieces of her past.

Strolling through the streets of Midgar absentmindedly she finds herself at the cliff where a strange looking Buster Sword, weathered down by years, stands faithfully in its spot of rest. Over the cliff Larissa could see the beach that Yuffie mentioned earlier, even though it is not much it is a place that holds beautiful memories to them, not her. Out in the ocean depths whirlpools formed in odd intervals, sucking up anything that dared to enter it. Closing in on the ancient sword Larissa stopped to examine it a little more before sitting down on the edge of the ridged cliff to think.

The presence of such a sword cried out in her memories as she tried to remember who it belonged to. At first Larissa thought it was Cloud's, but recognized that he was not strong enough to wield such a thing properly. Then a flash of white light streamed across Larissa's eyes and she saw a tall dark man with jet black hair and electric blue eyes that seemed to be affected by Mako Energy just like Cloud's.

"Who is this man? I remember vaguely that he was the one standing in front of my tank feeling sorry for me because I was being held against my will. I also remember that he tried to convince Hojo in setting me free from Shinra completely, but he refused to do such a ludicrous thing. He was so nice, he reminds me of Cloud in some odd connected way. I wish I knew more about him."

The sword had a murky glow of gray in the battering wind as Larissa reached out to touch it. A faint shock wave traveled up her arm, into her cranium, and finally entered her brain bank of memories long since forgotten.

"Now I remember what he did. He was in SOLIDER with Sephiroth and was one of the top men to serve. They used to experiment with them or so I was told by Hojo. He told me that they would put Jenova cells inside those men to make them an invisible police force for Shinra Inc. That's why Cloud and Zack's eyes look like his because of the experiments they did on them were the same as mine. My eyes should look like theirs too, but instead they keep changing from gold to a bright gray close to silver."

Ignoring the downpour of the merciless rain, she lets the water fall on her fragile body to cleanse her soul. Closing her eyes Larissa lets her mind wonder as the rain slowly drips off her into the muddy ground that surrounds her narrow dainty feet. Drowning out the roaring of the wind and the threatening thunder she looses herself in her past of 7 years ago.

FLASHBACK 1

"Hojo sir, the Jenova cells have now entered her body. Shall we run the first test on her now?"

A tall figure of evil genius with long black hair in a ponytail paced the floor feverishly in what to do next with his new specimen. "Mr. Hojo?"

"Yes, yes hold on a minute, can't you see that I am thinking! What is the rush Hanson? She is not going anywhere so you do not have to worry about anything happening to you," says Hojo nonchalantly to his new assistant John Hanson, who came from Kalm just about a week ago.

John Hanson was not concerned about his safety at all; he was more concerned about this strange girl who washed up on the shore of Midgar and what Hojo plans to do with her. To him she was lovely with such fair skin he had never witnessed in his entire life and beautiful clear gray eyes that looked like the purest crystal orb of materia made near the Ancient City. A sorrowful frown took hold of Hanson's face as he pictured her eyes changing into an eerie turquoise and her hair filled with streaks of silvery white.

"Alright Hanson, I have made up my mind. Run the first red switch to your right to see if we can wake her up completely. I can't wait to use her for all that she is worth and who knows, my Sephiroth might take an interest in her," chuckles Hojo as he waits impatiently for Hanson to pull the switch to see what will happen.

Hanson's hand could not stop trembling as he pushed the red button in, holding his breath the entire time. At that very moment all the circuits embedded in her body came to life with Jenova cells running wildly through the tubes. In a matter of minutes her eyes flew open in udder agony, changing from gray to blue and then to gold. What took place next were the seizures along with shrieks of pain that echoed throughout the laboratory, but no one dared to come and save her. What came after that was the overflowing blood that poured out of her mouth as she bended over the operating table. She was forcing the Jenova cell out of her body.

"Professor Hojo what do we do?! We have to stop the procedure or we will lose her body and soul altogether! I am going to pull the plug," says Hanson frantically as he rushes to the back of the operating table in search of the outlet.

Hojo immediately kicks Hanson out of the way screaming, "No you fool! I want to see where this will lead. She might be able to survive and if not I will have to create something so she will." Horrified by Hojo's request Hanson cowers in the corner with is milky white hands over his ears, waiting for the torture to end and quickly. All the while Hanson prayed that this gorgeous creature would die, so she would not have to serve Hojo like he did. Such tasks that he performed for Hojo were deadly and he knew he was going to hell for them along with the rest of Shinra Inc. "Please do not let this woman go to hell as well," Hanson begged.

Suddenly the screaming and shaking stopped abruptly and Hanson uncovered his ears and eyes to see what happened. To his slightest relief the woman was dead because her skin turned gray and lifeless, all other movements stopped as well. The blood on the floor was like a mini lake that came from her body that needed to be cleaned up thoroughly. "Well it looks like I will have to make something after all. Hanson take all the equipment off of her and set her body in the freezer. I am not even close to being finished with this woman yet," drawled Hojo.

END OF FLASHBACK 1

After that Larissa's mind went blank and she did not know she had really died because when she was revived Hojo erased that portion of her memory away. Opening her eyes out to the increasing speed of the storm Larissa once again refocused her mind on other memories that were locked away on some distant island, forbidden to be revealed again.

FLASHBACK 2

Entering Nibelheim through the front gates, Larissa sat in the back leather seat of the black Mercedes Benz while Hojo drove them inside. Arriving to the mahogany doors of the Nibelheim Inn, Hojo cuts off the engine and turns around to talk to his new human being. "Well Larissa we are here. I cannot wait for you to meet my son. You two will have so much in common, says Hojo sweetly to her. Larissa remained silent as she quickly opened the car door and slammed it loudly for the whole town to hear. Hojo examined the glossy door later to find a huge dent where the impact of her anger proved to be extreme. He cursed under his breath at the sight and cost of the damage his new creation was causing.

Running after Larissa into the inn, he sees her standing coldly against the left wall right by the plush maroon couch. "Can you at least smile for a second Larissa? You are making everyone else uncomfortable." She shrugged her shoulders and replies, "What is there to be happy about when I am not with my friend today? You really love to waste my time with nonsense." Hojo backed away toward the counter to order the rooms, for he needed something to distract his frustration toward her behavior. "Ever since she has met Zack she has been disobeying my orders. Sephiroth should be able to fix that," thinks Hojo while filling out the paperwork.

Another car drove up outside that carried the Turks who were trusted the most. They were Tseng, Reno, and Rude, the two newest ones on the force. "So when is Sephiroth supposed to show up? I can't wait to see what he is like," says Reno excitedly. "Be patient Reno," says Tseng, "There's really nothing to see." Reno just gives Tseng a sly look before standing beside Rude, his new friend that he made the other day. Then another black tented vehicle parks beside all the rest of the cars and Sephiroth emerges out of the passengers seat.

Hojo gazes out of the window and sees that everyone has arrived. Gesturing for Larissa to follow him he says, "Come Larissa, our company has finally shown up to meet you." Larissa quietly follows Hojo outside to see the Turks she despised and a new face that made her stare. He was tall with long flowing silver hair and Mako colored eyes that changed colors periodically. His weapon was the same as hers, a Masamune of the finest iron. When she finally analyzed every part of him she realized that they were pretty much identical.

"Who are you?! I cannot believe I have never seen you before," inquires Larissa shockingly. "I am Sephiroth and I have come to check on the Nibelheim Crater," says the stranger with his powerful dark voice, "And who might you be?" Thinking whether to trust him or not Larissa responds, "I am Larissa and I was brought here to meet you, but I see that I have not missed out on very much." Smiling Sephiroth sweeps his hand lightly across Larissa's right cheek, sending a wave of warning through her body.

"I am glad you two have met each other. I think it is time for us to go inside to register which room we all want," says Hojo happily while grabbing Larissa's arm to guide her back into the hotel. When everything was settled Sephiroth barged in Larissa's bedroom with a mighty bang. "Why do you look so much like me? Are you a part of Mother's offspring too?" Gathering her composer back Larissa says, "I do not know why we have the same characteristics and who is this Mother you speak of? I know no such person to exist." His eyes grew wide at Larissa's answer that he did not expect her to say. "Our Mother is Jenova," he says. "She might be your Mother, but she is no Mother of mine," Larissa replies quite irritably.

Sephiroth then yanks Larissa off of her feet and slams her violently against the wall saying, "How dare you deny our Mother of what she has done for you. I should punish you for such a crime." Larissa now infuriated pushes Sephiroth off of her body with immense force that makes him collide with the furniture. "I have committed no crime that would concern you Sephiroth. My murders are personal and by the way I noticed that you have a 1 on your shoulder. Pity that you were not able to have my number, which is the number 0."

Shocked, Sephiroth jumps to his feet briskly and pulls back Larissa's sleeve to see for himself. Sure enough there stood the number 0 in dark bold ink imprinted in her perfect skin. "How is that possible?! I am the most powerful, no one else can surpass me," he says in awe of his new discovery. "I ought to degrade you for this or make your life a living hell." Smiling wickedly Larissa says, "Go ahead and try, but I am sure I can break you far worse than what you can do to me." With that response he left her room soundlessly in his own raging thoughts.

The next night Sephiroth enters her room again, but this time he had a diabolical plan ready for action. "I have finally made up a punishment for you," he says cheerfully. "Oh really? Well then let's see how awful this punishment is," Larissa challenges. Sephiroth glides across the cold wooden floor and takes Larissa into his arms. In his left hand is a needle with an immobilizing liquid. In one quick movement he injects Larissa with this brown fluid to where she can no longer move.

"Wha… What is this? I cannot move anymore! Stop this magic or I will have to kill you," Larissa threatens. Chuckling Sephiroth says, "Now here comes the fun part, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do." He slowly unfastens her blouse and then her pants. Working his way down he completely undresses her in about a minute, looking over his prize.

'So what do you plan to do with my naked body?' Larissa inquires. A devilish grin appears upon his smooth features as he says, "I am going to have a little fun with it for a few minutes, just stay really still." That night Sephiroth completely violated her body in every way he could think of. When his sexual desires were fulfilled by his well planned rape, he left her there to crumble on the floor fully unclothed with bruises slowly appearing where he enjoyed her the most.

This continued on for many days until Tseng came in to check on Larissa. When he opened her door she had her sword in hand ready to fight. Almost chopping his head off she says, "You need to let me know when you are coming if you want to live." Tseng immediately took a few steps away from her door and said, "I did not know I would have to. In any case what is going on between you and Sephiroth? It seems the distance is deadly to cross."

Larissa gazed into Tseng's dark eyes and knew that he was a man of honor and trust. She put her sword away and responded with, "Sephiroth has been raping me the past few nights. He used an immobilizing fluid to do it, quite clever but I think it still lacks perfection." Tseng's eyes widened at Larissa's casual manner of such a situation.

"Why have you not told anyone?! You should at least know we would take care of it," Tseng says with serious concern. "I know, but that would bring Hojo much pleasure as if he were doing the action himself. How long do we have to stay here anyway? I would rather be locked up," she says sourly.

"You do have a point; at least we only have three days left. I could get you back to the lab tonight if you wish. Sephiroth has no right to violate a woman." Tseng came forward and stroked Larissa's fair hair fondly. "I think that is why I like you, Tseng. Out of all the Turks you have the best morals." Tseng smiles affectionately at her comment about him. He favored Larissa more than anyone right now because they surprisingly had many things in common.

"Do not worry about Sephiroth anymore, you can even stay in my room or take the first option. Whatever you want to do I will do for you," he says sincerely. Larissa pats his cheek lightly to show that she trusts his offer. "I think going back tonight would be better. If he tries to rape me again he will be dead on the floor," says Larissa matter-of-factly. "The car is already ready for your departure Larissa, let's go," says Tseng calmly.

Larissa gathers her few possessions and walks ahead of Tseng to the all too familiar black vehicles that Shinra Inc. loved to drive. Running out of the frond door of the inn, Tseng jogs ahead of her this time and opens the passenger seat for her to sit in. Larissa thanks him for his generosity and Tseng sits in the driver's seat and they take off back to Midgar.

The remainder of the week Larissa spent most of her time with Tseng, who decided to stay with her and Zack whenever he had free time. Those three days were the best days of her life. Back at Nibelheim, Hojo and Sephiroth both screamed in frustration at Larissa's sudden departure without any warning. Hojo locked her up even longer than normal for her punishment and Tseng was whipped severely for acting out of character.

END OF FLASHBACK 2

It was about dusk when Larissa arrived back as promised to meet everyone for dinner. Vincent stood in the door frame waiting for her to return when he saw a faint shadow approaching. Running out in the sheets of rain he found Larissa walking back toward him in a more irritated mood than before.

Larissa could see Vincent in the rain too as she followed the glow of his eyes like lasers leading her closer to 7th Heaven. Before she could stop him Vincent picks Larissa up into his powerful arms to carry her back since she was practically soaked through her clothes. She was going to attack him if only her strength was not so low. Arriving in a fancy way everyone gave her a welcome back from her trip. "Thanks everyone," says Larissa blissfully, "If you all do not mind though I would like to take a long warm bath. Please eat without me I know you must all be hungry." While in the bathroom Larissa takes off her sodden clothes and hangs them over the toilet to dry out. She then turns on the water to heat up, but looks in the mirror before stepping in. She could still see the ever changing color of her eyes that bothered her the most.

Now sinking slowly into the warm clear water Larissa finally relaxes for the first time in many nights, but suddenly she hears an angelic voice of a woman that says, "I have been meaning to speak with you Larissa, will you come and meet me?"

"Who are you and how do you know my name? What do you want?"

"I want you to come visit me in the church Larissa. When you come I will explain everything to you, until then goodbye."

"Wait! No come back her woman. I need to meet her in the church, the one in Midgar! Well looks like I have another adventure to go on tomorrow. Hopefully Cloud will not be there."

Hopping out of the bath Larissa puts on a white cotton robe and goes to her bedroom to collapse onto the bed into a dreamless sleep.