The illness continued to spread rapidly through the village. The disease took over the body making too weak to function. It attacked the heart slowly closing the veins that lead to it you could feel the air decreasing. A stabbing throbbing pain followed a pain so great it made you fall to the ground clutching your chest. Hironobu laid sweat dripped down him tired face.

"It there anything I can do for you leader?"

"Yes..." You could hear the pain in his voice. "Leave here do not dwell in this place. You have escaped the illness I wish for you to stay that way leave child. I need you to promise me you'll leave."

"I can't leave you my family or my home." Said the blonde girl.

"Namine you have done so much for us but we are too weak too tired too ill we can not survive this don't be taken by this disease promise me."

"Hironobu...but-"

"This is my dying wish."

"You can't die you're our leader we need you this sickness will pass the village will survive."

"It's admirable your belief." He said will violently coughing. "But it's no real leave." Tears welled in her eyes but she wouldn't cry she got up looking down at him.

"Go to sleep." She saw the tiredness in his eyes he began to fall into a light sleep. From afar she looked back at her village as the feeling of being alone settled in.

'You're not alone Namine you'll find them soon.'

"Who?"

&

"What was that about?"

"Nothing Yuffie." Tifa said sitting down at the table.

"That sure didn't seem like nothing."

"Well it was!" Tifa snapped. "I'm sorry Yuffie its just been a little hard lately for me."

"You can tell me right?" Tifa hesitated.

"Six years ago I just got really depressed I missed Cloud Denzel and Marlene were grown up and Barret was working I just felt really alone. I guess Vincent felt it too and we started hanging out not really talking but just knowing how the other felt. One day we kissed and then other things and a few weeks later I found out I was pregnant."

"No way, no you and Vincent? No you're lying aren't you? Wow. So what happened you miscarried?"

"No our son was born. Luc we called him."

"Luc? Luceria hmm..."

"Yeah I know."



"So where is he?"

"He dead he was killed by a heartless three months ago."

"Sorry Tifa."

"You know I don't get him I mean Luc had to beg to get his dad to talk to him sometimes Luc would cry and when I asked him what was wrong he said daddy doesn't love me I was a mistake. All he wanted was Vincent to show he loved him. Now he tells me that he didn't know how to be dad and he cared about him that's a load of bull if he cared he would have been there." Tifa started walking around trying to control her anger. Infalna crying distracted Tifa from her venting. Yuffie watched her with Infalna sensing something else.

"There's something else bothering you."

"I sorta kissed Cloud."

"What but he...you and...Aerith is...why would do that!?"

"I don't know and when I found out about Terra I just felt even worse."

"You should!"

"You know Aerith's going to find out about this and it'll break her heart."

"Then she'll know how it feels." She didn't even relising the words that passed her lips.

"Tifa okay you've been through a lot but so has Aerith her dad died when she was young, she and mom were kidnapped her mom died Zack was probably the best thing in her life and then he died. She met Cloud and they couldn't even be together before she was killed. Then she comes back to life not being able to live a normal life she has to give birth to a son knowing that he could be killed trying to bring back light. Now her seven year old daughter is dead and she can't take it Tifa she's falling apart and Cloud is all she has to comfort her all that can comfort her."

"I didn't...I don't know why I did but I did if their love is so great than this wont change anything will it?"

"How can you be so cold?"

'You're too close to the dark mom. Here. I'll give you my light.'

&

"Say something."

"What do you want me to say?"

"You know I love you."

"But you don't trust me."

"Yes I do."

"Then why didn't you tell me before?"

"Because I couldn't you were so depressed with Terra gone I didn't want you too push me away. I'm sorry Aerith."



"Do you like her?"

"Not like that you know I don't. I don't know why I did it I don't even remember how it happened. I just want us to be okay. Please say that we're okay."

"Cloud...I forgive you but..." He picked her up hugging her. "Okay, okay put me down."

"I-"

"Listen to me I have to tell you something."

"What is it?" The front door swung open.

"They're all dead, the whole village killed." Ansem was out of breath.

&

"Give into the darkness father."

"I will not."

"Why do you fight against us?"

"I fight for you Ryu all for you." He said while coughing.

"Join me."

"I can not."

"Then you will die." Ryu stuck the dagger into his heart.

"Let's see what were your word something like if you see no cause in my cause then I have no further use for you was I close?"

"I hope you find it son." He said will groaning in pain.

"What-"

"The light inside your heart it's there Ryu just find it don't let him use you don't let him hurt you my son." He looked at his father in confusion.

"What does that mean what are you talking about I'm killing you why are you talking to me like this you're suppose to hate me tell me to burn in hell stop it."

"I love you Ryu." His father said as his final breath was released.

"No you don't you hate me why are you doing this." Tears were welling. "Why are you doing this why are lying come back, I don't understand! Come back." He knelt down hugging his dead father. "Come back please come back. I don't understand dad."

&

Aerith saw the small helpless body on the ground she knelt down knowing that he was gone. As her hand touched his forehead the events flashed in her mind. She saw the village they were alive and peaceful the sun was brightly shining the scene than turned to darkness. An old was returning home violently couching he collapsed to the ground the sound alerting the villagers. It was 

morning again blood tainted the dusty ground. The sounds of wheezing and coughing welcomed her ears.

"Promise me Namine." She watched Hironobu talking to a blonde girl. The scene then changed again she was looking down at the village from the mountains. She was then taken to Hironobu's tent a man standing over him weeping. She felt Sephiroth's sword through her again. She held her stomach in pain Cloud ran over to her.

"Aerith-"

"I'm fine."

"No you're not you need to rest we should set up camp for tonight."

&

"Who are you?"

"We could ask you the same."

"I'm Namine and you are?"

"Well I'm Roxas and my brothers Sora."

"What are you doing out in the forest Sora and Roxas?"

"Very curious aren't you?"

"It's dangerous here you shouldn't be out here alone."

"What are you talking about we're not alone."

"That's not what I mean...forget it. It's just that the say he's in here somewhere waiting for the time to strike."

"Who?" Roxas asked

"Sephiroth." Sora whispered.

"That's right Sephiroth he's known as the one wined angel of hell. He's caused so much torment and suffering."

"I've never heard of him

"You wouldn't on that island imprisoned by the your watery cell."

"How do you know where we're from?"

"That doesn't matter I've found you now so lets go."

"Wait you're not...she's not coming with us right?"

"Well...she does seem to know her way around and she could be helpful why not."

Why was he weeping? Why was he distraught? He had done what he commanded him to. He had done what he wanted what he felt was right. He felt such great heartache within him, he watched 

the village he could hear it now. Silence. Complete silence not even the sounds of the rolling winds swept passed the village. Silence.