A/N: I am not sure I wanted to submit this as this chapter is highly displeasing to me somehow. It makes me shift nervously at the thought that others' eyes shall be upon it… I have to say that I had lost my motivation to continue this story for a bit, with my life going down the drain these past few weeks, so this chapter turned out terribly. But no worries, I have ideas on where this is going, I think.
Well, I'm sure it'll get better eventually…or rather, hopefully. Until then…
There is an idea in this chapter about Sephiroth. It's an idea that I have thought to make into a story for quite a while now. A story where it is Sephiroth that gets sent back into the past…and one where Cloud is the last to die.
Chapter 12
Sephiroth was going mad, and he knew it……….mad with insane jealousy! He put a hand to his face as thoughts of last night came flooding back to him. Rufus had kissed Cloud, and he had done nothing to stop it. Strangely enough, that fact bothered him terribly. He pounded his fist onto the table and grimaced. It was a good thing no one would bother him by knocking on his door to ask about any noise. Otherwise, he might have had to slaughter a couple of people to satisfy his agitation.
There was a knock on the door… Sephiroth almost felt like punching through the wall and murdering the person beyond to save himself the trouble but…, the door opened. "Hey, Sephiroth!" Zack waved with a wide grin. Sephiroth immediately composed himself and put on the mask of indifference before nodding to Zack that he had heard. Zack sat himself down on the most comfortable chair in the room and sighed, content. "You know," he started, "I just saw Cloud but, he looked really out of it." He thought about it a little, "Huh, I wonder if something happened last night."
It was a good thing that Sephiroth had sent Zack away last night, indicating that he had to go somewhere to confirm something about something or other. He hadn't wanted Zack to see Cloud looking as go…looking as he did. "Zack." He sighed and saw Zack regarding him with puppy like attention as he changed the subject, "We have a mission back to Nibelheim. The reactor has malfunctioned again." He explained, though it didn't seem like a mission important enough to go on. He felt something was going on.
Zack scooted to the edge of his seat. "What?" he said doubtful, "That can't be right. We just fixed it a while ago." He waved it off. "But…I guess it'll be a good thing to go check up on it anyway."
Sephiroth nodded. He had every plan to take Cloud along as well. He wouldn't let him out of his sights for now. He was distressed for enough strange reasons already, all of them regarding Cloud. "It's the same as before. We are to take two others."
Zack hopped up. "Then I'll go get Cloud!" he announced cheerily before rushing out the door.
Sephiroth put his head in his hand again, grateful that Zack hadn't noticed the large indentation in his desk. What was it about Cloud…?
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Cloud sighed heavily as they walked through the snow and back to Nibelheim. He was almost certain that it was Hojo who had planned their mission but he couldn't say that aloud with Zack and the other trooper around. He glanced up at Sephiroth over the scarf he wore and noticed a slightly troubled look on his face. He walked up close to him as Zack and the other fell back. "Is something wrong…, sir?" he asked quietly.
Sephiroth glanced beside him towards Cloud, feeling absolutely stressed, but shook his head anyway. "No…"
Cloud frowned but said nothing more as they continued up the path and reached the village. This time, he thought vaguely, he didn't have to wear his helmet since he had made it into Soldier. No one would make fun of him anymore, that's for sure. But, of course, there was still that matter with Tifa and how he hadn't revealed himself earlier the first time they came around. If he told her the truth she would have every reason to be angry at him. So…what was the best solution to dealing with her? Reassure her that he hadn't come before? Deny that the future she had seen had already passed? Or perhaps he should play for ignorance and feign memory loss? He sighed. There was no stepping out of it now…
xxx xxx
Sephiroth scanned the village with complete disinterest. He had seen it all before and was seeing it again, except this time it had snow. The only slight difference, besides the snow, was that Cloud had relinquished his helmet so everybody would start recognizing him. Somehow, though he felt partially glad that Cloud wasn't concealing himself even to him, he was slightly perturbed at the thought of someone else taking away Cloud's attentions from him.
Unfortunately, though fortunately for Sephiroth, Cloud seemed a bit preoccupied at the moment. He seemed to be mulling thoughts over in his head with intense seriousness that Sephiroth was tempted to ask what was on his mind. Strangely enough, he didn't have to. Zack asked it for him, "Hey, Cloud, what's wrong?"
"Huh?" Cloud looked up from his thoughts. "Oh,…it's nothing."
Zack frowned but otherwise pressed no further, "Alright, if you say so."
Sephiroth was displeased that Zack hadn't pressed Cloud for more answers. He himself wanted to but found he couldn't. Some part of him was still reluctant to put personal curiosity before business. He breathed a little sigh, as they approached the inn. "Get some rest." He called to the others before heading inside.
They were about to follow suit when the one cadet that had followed them cleared his throat and shifted from one foot to the next, looking nervous. Zack and Cloud both turned back to look at him questioningly. "Um," he cleared his throat again, "H-How is it? Working with the General…?" he asked quietly.
Zack grinned while Cloud shrugged. "Who knows…" Cloud answered bored.
"B-But haven't you worked with him before?" he looked shocked.
Cloud frowned and looked on indifferently. "And?" Cloud was still worrying about different matters to think about how he felt with working with Sephiroth. "He's just like working with any other guy…" And sighing a deep breath, he went inside.
Zack hmphed and crossed his arms with a smirk. "Don't mind him," he told the cadet. "I think he's just tired with everything that's happened."
"Oh…"
"Well," Zack patted the guy on the shoulder. "No need to worry about Sephiroth biting you. He's a pretty good guy once you get to know him." He reassured.
"O-Okay…"
"Let's head in, huh?"
"Yeah," the cadet gave a slight smile, "thanks."
"No problem."
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Now there was another problem, was what Cloud contemplated. Before, he had been thinking about nothing but Tifa and the other villagers but now that he had time to sit down and relax, he remembered that they were actually back in Nibelheim. "This hasn't happened before…" he whispered to himself. "Why were we sent back? …Could it be Hojo…?" Cloud thought about the implications that would provide. If Hojo had really been the one that had commissioned the mission then they were in quite a lot of trouble. From what he knew, the first mission here had also been his doing. Perhaps the mad scientist had hoped on Sephiroth finding Jenova and questioning his existence… That would explain how the scientist had been in Nibelheim the time before, after they had thwarted Sephiroth, and how they had ended up in the labs at the basement of the mansion.… Jenova.
Cloud ground his teeth. Why hadn't he realized it before? Of course it had to have been Hojo who had sent Sephiroth out to go mad. Who wouldn't after learning they had been genetically fashioned from an ancient corpse? And now that Sephiroth had read the documents… He shot up from the bed he had been sitting on in the inn and rushed out the door and right past Zack. "H-Hey, Cloud!" Zack called surprised but Cloud was far too gone to have heard.
Cloud ran past all of the villagers, who he didn't seem to notice recognizing him, and straight into the path to the reactor. He needed to do something about Jenova and fast!
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"Cloud…" Zack was worried that Cloud had rushed out in frenzy. What exactly had happened? He had seemed mad and determined. Zack didn't know what to do, whether to go to Sephiroth or to chase after Cloud. He ran towards Sephiroth, who he knew to be on the second floor glancing out the window again. It was also obvious something had been bothering him as well but he would know what to do.
He ran up the stairs and nearly ran into him. Sephiroth stopped and looked at Zack questioningly, "Zack?" he asked calmly.
Apparently, he had been planning on going down… "Sephiroth! Cloud just ran out of here like he went mad!" Zack waved his arms around in the air. "It really looked like something was bothering him but I don't know where he went."
Sephiroth's eyes widened a fraction of an inch. "What?"
"I don't know what he was thinking but he seemed pretty mad, like something was bothering him…"
Sephiroth clenched his gloved hand into a fist. Had Cloud run away? But for what reason? "We have to find him," he ordered, "go into the village and ask around, take the other one with you."
Zack figured the 'other one' was that new cadet. "Right." He rushed out to find him. Sephiroth let out a heavy breath. He hoped Cloud wasn't getting himself into situations where he would be harmed and rushed out of the inn. Now where could he have gone?
"It really was him!" Sephiroth turned towards the voice and found it belonged to their previous mountain guide, the girl named Tifa.
By her expression, Sephiroth determined that she had seen something surprising go past her recently. He could only guess that the something she had seen had been Cloud. He walked up to her. "Do you know which direction…Strife has gone?" He said uneasily, though nothing showed in his outward appearance. It was…distracting that he always wished to call Cloud by his name without him forgetting himself. Using Cloud's last name only felt like he was distancing himself from him.
Tifa looked at him surprised but nodded anyway. "Yeah," she looked back towards the direction of the mountains, "I think he ran straight into the mountains in a rush…"
Sephiroth nodded once and walked towards the direction. "Thank you."
Tifa watched him walk off with suspicion. Somehow, all of this was making her stomach churn with something dreadful, like something terrible was going to happen. And the fact that, that dream…that particular dream kept on bugging her. She clenched her fist to her chest and furrowed her brow in determination. She had to talk to Cloud.
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"Cid, I need you to get over here as soon as possible." He ground into the phone in urgency. "And bring everyone with you. We'll need all the help we can get if we're going to pull it off." He hung up and continued running towards the reactor. Somehow, he had a feeling something was going to happen and that Jenova was the source of his uneasiness. He wouldn't allow her to try and destroy the Planet again. If Hojo planned on using Jenova and Sephiroth as his tools for an ulterior motive, he would have to stop them. And, he would get to the bottom of this, even if it meant risking his life to stop it from happening all over again.
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Sephiroth reached the reactor after phoning Zack that he had heard Cloud had been spotted on the way. He wondered what could have caused Cloud to run off with such apprehension and wondered whether it had anything to do with him. He sighed, steeling himself for the inevitable answer before entering. And, sure enough, there was Cloud, standing before the steel bolted door at the very top of the steps. Sephiroth approached, making sure his footsteps were heard so he wouldn't catch Cloud off guard.
At the sound of approaching footsteps, Cloud snapped out of his stupor from staring single-mindedly at the door, and whipped his head around towards the intruder. "Sephiroth?" he looked surprised.
Sephiroth stopped, not daring to approach the steps any further lest alarming Cloud even more. From his body language, Sephiroth could tell Cloud hadn't expected anyone, much less him, to come searching for him in the reactor. Now, he was all rigid with tension and it unnerved Sephiroth how much he didn't like being seen with that much wariness from Cloud. "Zack's worried." He didn't mention that he had been as well. "Why did you come here alone, Cloud?"
Cloud tried to relax his shoulders. Cid and the others hadn't come yet and now he felt he had to stall for time… There was…something… He noticed…that Jenova had awoken. He could feel her calling for him and it worried him on how much more she might be calling to Sephiroth. There was an insistence to come to her, an urge. But, no matter what, he couldn't let Sephiroth past this door. He shrugged, still tense and not being able to look as completely relaxing, "Something was bothering me, so I came out to think a little."
Sephiroth took a step forward. Cloud was lying to him and he didn't like it. "Bothering you?" he took another step up.
Cloud gulped and slightly braced himself a little closer to the door. Sephiroth saw that Cloud was preparing himself for an attack…but why? "Yeah," Cloud insisted, "I just wanted to think someplace quiet."
Sephiroth watched as a drop of sweat ran down the side of Cloud's face and quirked a brow. "Then, what is it, Cloud?" he asked calmly, taking another step up.
Cloud felt a headache coming on and he couldn't help but place a light hand on his forehead. Jenova's insistence was getting more and more severe the closer he got to the door. "I…" What was he thinking about again? He couldn't remember what it was he was saying to Sephiroth and looked towards the door. "She…"
Sephiroth took another step before stopping abruptly. Huh? Something…was calling him. He glanced from his left to his right. But, what could it be? "What is that?" he asked quietly.
Cloud's head snapped back towards Sephiroth. "No! Don't come any closer!" he yelled in anger and panic.
Sephiroth took another compelling step forward and looked up at Cloud. He noticed, the closer he got to Cloud the louder he could hear that call. "Something…is calling me."
Cloud held up a hand in panic, as though that would stop Sephiroth's advance. "I said to stop!" he yelled distraught.
Sephiroth was now standing right before Cloud and the door. He looked up at the name at the entrance. J.E.N.O.V.A. He took another step closer; the compulsion was all he could hear, the calling all he could hear. He looked down at Cloud, but hardly saw him. "Move aside." He demanded.
"No!" Cloud's back was against the door. What had he been fighting for if everything was going to repeat itself all over again? Had he simply tried to avoid the inevitable? This couldn't be! "Get back! Don't listen to her! Stay away!"
Sephiroth's eyes seemed to lose their sight as he looked right through Cloud. What was he doing again? Who had he been talking to? Why did it feel so important that he try to pay attention to something he couldn't remember? He took a step closer but something seemed to be blocking his path. It was warm. "What?"
Cloud was holding Sephiroth off at arm's length by the strength of his hand and his back against the door. He couldn't…he just couldn't… Damn it! Where was Cid when you needed him? "Sephiroth!" he yelled, though the other didn't seem to hear him.
Sephiroth grabbed Cloud's wrist and lifted him off the ground before flinging him off to the side. He drew his sword and slashed the door open before entering. Something was compelling him, urging him, insisting that he come, and he couldn't do anything but listen. He walked up to JENOVA. "…Mother…" he reached up.
Cloud regained his footing and rushed into the room. "Sephiroth! Stop!" He ran right at Sephiroth and gripped him by the waist before throwing them both to the floor. Sephiroth stood as quickly as though he had never fallen while Cloud had to take time to regain his bearings, but that was all that was needed.
Sephiroth stalked menacingly up to Cloud. "You dare defy me again?" he threatened, the gleam of his sword a deadly glow.
Cloud scrambled up panting, his hands before him as his only defense. He regretted having left all his materia behind at the inn and coming without a weapon. He hadn't been thinking straight. "Wait, Sephiroth!"
"Traitor!" Sephiroth drove Masamune forward, looking at Cloud with death and anger in his eyes.
Cloud charged, seconds before Masamune speared right through him and out the other side. Cloud froze in shock, coughing out large amounts of blood, some of it trickling down his chin, while he looked at Sephiroth. Slowly, his shock disappeared and with it came a sad expression. His strength gave out and he gave a weak laugh as he heard the engines of an aircraft right above their heads. Apparently, Cid had come too late. He chuckled and grabbed Masamune by the blade so it wouldn't slip in deeper than it already was. "Y-You know,…," he swallowed, "Seph-iroth…" he looked down at his bloody self and grinned in disgust. "T-This…is the second time…you've," he let out a tired breath, "stabbed me…like this."
"Cloud!" It was Tifa, with Cid, Vincent, and Red behind her. There was knowledge in her eyes that told she knew and remembered everything.
"Cloud!" Red rushed for Sephiroth but stopped abruptly when Cloud held up a hand for him to stop.
He coughed another bout of blood as his legs gave way. He fell on his knees to the floor. He looked down defeated. "No…don't…"
"Cloud! Why?" Tifa ran up a couple of steps with Cid brandishing his spear and Vincent aiming his gun at Sephiroth's head.
Sephiroth looked down the length of his sword as he slowly came to a realization… There was blood, a lot of it, and he had caused it… But…who had he attacked? "…Cloud?" his eyes widened in shock as his heart stopped beating in his chest. He had tried to kill Cloud! He dropped to his knee and quickly yanked his sword out, grimacing when Cloud gave a grunt of pain before bracing himself with a hand to the floor. "How could I have…" he looked down at his hands in shock, both gloved with one hand on the hilt of his bloody blade. And suddenly, his heart clenched like a fist gripping it out of vice. He put a hand to his chest, suddenly deprived of breath. It felt a struggle just to breath. He clenched his jaw grimly devastated. What was happening to him?
Sephiroth looked up startled when he heard Cloud's soft pained laughter. "Why…didn't you kill me?" he asked softly. "I'm just…so tired." More blood dripped from his mouth to the floor.
"Shit! Damn it, Cloud!" Cid looked at Vincent, and Red after making sure Sephiroth wasn't making any more sudden movements. Apparently, the man had quickly come to his senses. "C'mon, we should get that thing outta here!" he beckoned over to where Jenova was seen through the door, and the three rushed reluctantly in.
Tifa stood there frozen in place with a hand to her mouth. Had Cloud wanted to die? But, why? She looked at the two in front of her in dreaded horror, her emotions contradicting what she should feel towards each of them. "Cloud…" she whispered unheard.
Cloud held a hand to his stomach out of habit rather than the fact to try and stop the bleeding a little. Where had everything gone wrong? He gave a raspy sigh but wouldn't look at Sephiroth. "Why do I…" Why had it always been him that had to fight in every battle? Why couldn't someone else do it for a change? He grimaced because he knew the answer. It was because everybody else wouldn't have succeeded.
Sephiroth couldn't help it. He leaned in closer and pulled Cloud into his tight embrace, keeping Cloud's head to his chest with a hand and the other around his shoulder so that he would feel reassured, also so that he wouldn't escape. He squeezed tighter, confused when he loved the faint smell of his hair and the feel of his body against his. He faltered, feeling terribly right before feeling his chest constrict violently. The compulsion was no longer felt in his mind or body. All he wanted to do was to remain the way he was. "…I'm sorry." He whispered full of regret. How could he have hated this person so much in the alternate future? That didn't make sense.
Cloud blinked in great surprise. Was this really happening? He couldn't believe it. He wouldn't believe it. Cloud had tensed the moment he felt himself being pulled towards Sephiroth, and froze even further when Sephiroth held on full of regret. What was he doing? This could not be possible. The man was supposed to try and kill him not…hug him. He squirmed and tried to pull away but Sephiroth wouldn't let him. That made Cloud panic. What if Sephiroth's plan was to crush him to death? But then again…, that was what he had wanted wasn't it? Cloud started relaxing slowly before taking a deep breath and sighing. "What are you doing, Sephiroth?" he asked tiredly, barely noticing that the others had decided to take Jenova, tube and all, out the door. It seemed they didn't want to touch her…
"I felt compelled." He merely answered, squeezing tighter. "Your life nearly slipped away before my very eyes." The thought dreaded him much more now that he thought about the prospect of losing Cloud. What would he do it he couldn't see Cloud's face again…? He blinked surprised, finding such a thought left him tired and vulnerable.
Cloud became lax in his arms. "…I…don't know what to say…"
Sephiroth was concerned. He felt they should get care for Cloud but…he felt very reluctant to move. He had never felt such care to anyone before and thought it should be a cause for concern, but he found he couldn't. "Cloud…?"
Cloud now had his eyes closed, and felt he was slowly falling unconscious. "Hm…?" he replied weakly, unconsciously snuggling closer. "You're…warm…" he breathed quietly enough so that only Sephiroth could hear.
Upon hearing those words, Sephiroth felt an unknown warmth shoot right to his heart and felt it skip a beat. He touched his chest surprised; never before had he felt such a strange reaction. He looked back down at Cloud worriedly, also noticing that Cloud had fallen asleep. "Cloud?" he called softly, though there was no reply.
Tifa looked at the two of them in absolute horror. What was Sephiroth doing to Cloud and why wasn't Cloud moving? She fretted, thinking that something had gone wrong, and took a step forward. Was Sephiroth going to destroy them all again? Had he suffocated Cloud so that he may enjoy his slow suffering to death? Was he insane again? Tifa felt she couldn't stand it any longer and charged directly at Sephiroth. "Let go of Cloud!" she yelled. Sephiroth saw the attack coming and caught Tifa's fist in his hand, while bracing Cloud in the other. He glared at the girl and flung her away from them before picking Cloud up and standing with him in his arms. He ignored the girl's wails and headed down the stairs. Tifa got up, "Where are you taking him?" she ran a little after them when Sephiroth ignored her. "Where are you going?" she shouted. No answer was returned. "Damn it!"
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Sephiroth carefully laid Cloud down on the bed in the inn. He had asked the innkeeper to see if there was a doctor available nearby and to see if he could contact him quickly. When the innkeeper had asked what had happened, Sephiroth had simply told them there had been an accident and that there was no need to worry. He had come straight upstairs afterwards. He was fearful though, since there wasn't a Cure materia amongst any of them. They had all thought it would've been unnecessary, seeing as how they had the General with them, and the fact that it was only a checkup on the reactor. He looked on grimly, knowing that they hadn't thought he could prove to be a threat until it was too late. He looked down at Cloud's unmoving form, the only indication that he was alive the shallow gasps of breath from his lips. His skin was pale with a slight sheen of sweat and his clothes sticky with blood. Cloud's hand was still over his stomach where he had pierced him. The blood was still slightly running.
He decided that he would start carrying his Cure materia with him from now on. It was only usually available to the higher classes to use and, though it was mastered, he'd had no previous reason use to it. The Cure materia would close the wounds and staunch the bleeding but the sores and pains would continue on as though the wound itself were still there for a while. The mastered ones were more able to heal fatal injuries and the un-mastered only used for minor cuts and injuries.
There was a knock at the door before it opened, not waiting for an answer. It was stoutly man of unimpressive proportions who held an air of dignity. It was the doctor. The man glanced around before his sights landed on Cloud's limp form. He rushed over, ignoring the General, and placed a hand on Cloud's forehead. "How long has he been like this?"
"…Not long." Sephiroth stood straight and crossed his arms. He observed the doctor warily.
The doctor lifted Cloud's arm and felt his wrist for a pulse, looking at his watch as he did so. "You should have called me sooner…" he mumbled. Sephiroth didn't answer. The doctor put down the bag that he had brought with him and rummaged around inside until he had found a knife. He held it to Cloud.
Sephiroth reflexively stepped closer and grabbed the doctor's wrist, the one with the knife in hand, and glowered menacingly. "What do you plan to do?" he squeezed tighter.
The doctor grunted dissatisfied before pulling his wrist free in a violent manner and rubbing it absently. "If you must know," he started hotly, "I was merely going to remove his shirt. It's too soaked to take off otherwise and it would harm him more if the blood has already crusted over to attach the cloth to his skin." he hmphed. Sephiroth decided to remain silent. He was being too overly cautious, with a doctor no less, and was having a hard time keeping still.
The door slammed open, "Sephiroth, did you find…!" Zack looked towards the bed, "Cloud!" he noticed the stout man with a weapon in his hand and drew his blade without thinking. All he saw was all the blood and the man over Cloud, "What are you doing?"
Sephiroth stepped forward, "Zack. He's a doctor." He carefully explained. "Cloud's been…injured."
Zack hesitantly lowered his weapon but didn't actually quite put it away. "What happened?"
"I'll explain later…" Sephiroth looked away ashamed, though no one would be able to tell.
Zack walked up closer to stand right beside Cloud. The doctor hadn't so much as flinched at him pointing his weapon at him. He had simply kept on working. "I hope Cloud's alright…" Huh? A light bulb went off in his head and he looked towards Sephiroth with a sly grin, though a still worried one for Cloud. He contemplated anxiously, wondering what exactly had happened to make him so injured. "You called him by his name."
Sephiroth would have groaned, but didn't. Instead, he put a hand to his forehead and sighed. "Yes, Zack. I have." And I shall continue to do so, was what he thought. He didn't feel like suppressing his desire to call Cloud by his first name anymore, the world be damned.
"Well," Zack grinned wider, finally withdrawing his sword to put his hands on his hips, but never taking his eyes off of Cloud anymore, "you two seem to be getting along fine."
Sephiroth looked back down at where Cloud lay with a frown. He wasn't quite sure they were going to get along very well anymore and the thought distressed him.
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"Whew." The doctor straightened and stretched, a hand to his back, before turning around to face the others. Though, he didn't offer either of them a smile, "Cloud is going to be fine. I suggest you let him rest and inform Mrs. Strife of what has happened." He shook his head in disappointment, "To think, that we were so proud to have the dear boy being so courageous by travelling all the way to Midgar to become a Soldier…" he tsked.
Zack cocked his head to one side. "You know Cloud?"
"Of course I do!" He barked out in temper. "The boy's always been one of my favorites, though those other kids sure did make a mess of him at times…" he shook his head.
"Eh? Was he bullied or something?" Zack found it hard to imagine with Cloud being as confident and strong as he was. He had always suspected Cloud had been overly courageous as a kid.
The man harrumphed. "Of course he was!" he announced hotly as though it were the most obvious of things, "Didn't you notice how odd his behavior is towards most people? He doesn't associate much at all!" The man shrugged.
He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Sephiroth highly doubted that from what he had seen. Cloud had quite the few friends around him as it were and he really wasn't sure he was too comfortable with that already. He thought about it. Perhaps he had only made friends, companions, in the most dire of circumstances, which would explain the rather odd group of people, but what about the other three newly recruits? He gave a slight shake of his head, "I do not believe Cloud has had trouble…associating with other people." He quietly announced.
Zack nodded in agreement, "Yeah. I mean, he didn't seem to have any trouble talking to me at least…"
The doctor looked at Zack skeptically but before he could answer a shuffling noise from the bed drew their attention. Cloud was sitting up and scratching the back of his head. The white bandages freshly wrapped around his torso slowly staining with blood. The doctor turned back, "Hold on, dear boy. You should stay steady and rest while you can. Who knows what you've gotten yourself into this time." He huffed.
Cloud shook his head and gave a slight smile to the older man. "I'm fine, doctor. I was just…a bit careless."
Zack came closer with worry in his eyes. "Uh, maybe you should listen to him, Cloud."
This time he frowned and shook his head more adamantly before glancing tentatively up at Sephiroth leaning against the far wall next to the door. He looked at the others and gave a reassuring smile. "I think I need to talk to the General…alone." He spoke quietly.
Sephiroth stiffened, wondering if he should dread the upcoming discussion he was going to have with Cloud. What would he say? What could he say? He just didn't know what was going to happen from here on out…but he agreed anyway. "Zack?"
Zack nodded and reassured the doctor before the both of them headed out. He looked back, "I'll talk to you guys later," and closed the door behind him.
There was a thick silence before Cloud cleared his throat and gave uncertain glances at Sephiroth from time to time. He sighed. "Now that it's come to this…I guess it would be better if I showed you." He reached down, where his bag lay open, and shuffled around before finding the Zirconiade materia and weighing it in his hand. "Zirconiade," he asked quietly, "are you awake or sleeping?"
…I…am awakened.
Cloud looked at Sephiroth, concerned. "You know…there's something that I haven't told anyone…" he said hesitantly with his head ducked.
Sephiroth found himself intent on listening. He was paying attention, mind you, but Cloud's voice…it just seemed to draw him in but, instead of succumbing, he merely decided to quirk a brow, "What is it, Cloud?"
Cloud seemed to be greatly disturbed. Strange, but the fact bothered Sephiroth greatly, like Cloud was torn in two. "Before…" he shifted as far away from Sephiroth as he could from on the bed. Sephiroth simply couldn't accept that and felt he should mend the distance but restrained himself from doing something rash. Cloud continued undisturbed, "before we went to stop you, the Planet…she showed me something." He looked at Sephiroth then, "Something that would have happened if I had…failed." He said the word as though it were a terrible taste in his mouth.
Sephiroth blinked at him. "An alternative?"
Cloud nodded. "Yeah." he held out his hand, the one with Zirconiade in it, but didn't look to see if Sephiroth would come accept, "I'll show you…the alternative, and of a future that has already passed."
Sephiroth uncrossed his arms and leaned off from against the wall. He took slow and careful steps in Cloud's immediate direction and walked up next to the bed. He looked down at Cloud, who was still holding out the materia but showed no indication that he would look at him. "Are you sure?"
This time, Cloud really did glance at him, but only from the very corner of his eye and with a slight pout, which held Sephiroth's attention to no end. "It's better than me having to tell you everything. That and this way it won't matter if you decide to kill me anymore." He sighed.
Sephiroth gave him a sharp look, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
Cloud pulled up his knees and rested his chin on them, "I tried so hard to prevent everything but, I'm just so tired, Sephiroth." He snorted, "If seeing the future won't stop or help you," he laughed like his chest clenched painfully, "then there's nothing else for me to do anymore." He smiled up at him sadly.
Now, Sephiroth was more determined than ever to have Cloud living, and by his side. He stepped up and touched the materia in Cloud's hand. Suddenly, everything around him vanished in an instant and flashes of memories from Cloud's past began assaulting him on all sides. He couldn't believe some of the things he was seeing, couldn't believe some of the things he had done, and why he had done them. He also had a hard time believing that he had harmed Cloud those many times throughout the years. But what really surprised him was how familiar the one memory of him stabbing Cloud in the reactor was. His heart clenched with painful guilt. How cruel he had been…taking away everything Cloud had held dear…
He was struggling for breath when the memories ceased but had no time to recover from being overwhelmed before another wave of memories assaulted him. This is the alternative… He heard Cloud's voice whisper and what he saw surprised him. He looked all around him but…there was nothing, absolutely nothing. All he could see was the dirt and dust of a dying planet, no vegetation, no life, and… There was blood by his feet and he quickly felt to move but found he couldn't. His eyes followed the trail upward to see whose it was and froze. It couldn't be… It is, Cloud sighed sadly,…I was the last living being left on the Planet besides you…and you succeeded. …If I had lost that first battle, we would have fought for decades until I was the very last,…until I finally decided to give up. Sephiroth stared at the bleeding figure before him in horror. Cloud was…dead, with nothing around him left to protect. What had he done?
Everything flashed out and he was back inside the reality of the inn with Cloud very much alive and right beside him. Cloud put his arm down and put the Zirconiade materia away, eyes averted and unwilling to match them to Sephiroth's. He shifted, continuing his matters, "Now that you've seen everything, you should know I want to move Shinra to consider a different energy source. I think Rufus might already be doing something though. And, that was kind of the favor I wanted to ask of you…last time when we had that match…"
Sephiroth was speechless. He couldn't say anything after seeing how much damage… He clenched his jaw and fisted his hand. No, things would be different now and he was determined to change things. He walked up to the very edge of the bed and looked down at Cloud with hard eyes. Cloud noticed his shadow and peeked up slowly, still reluctant to see the other's face. Sephiroth took advantage of this and tilted Cloud's face up more fully towards him by lifting him up by his chin. He moved closer until their lips lightly brushed against one another. He would never give Cloud the benefit of the doubt again.
Shocked, Cloud hurriedly broke off their kiss and scooted as far back as he could, bumping into the headboard. "W-What are you doing?" he panicked. Maybe Sephiroth really had gone mad!
Sephiroth found himself irritated by that minor action that he actually found himself surprised. He straightened, thinking perhaps that what he had done may have not been the best decision. In fact, he wondered why he had kissed him in the first place. He regarded Cloud's guarded countenance with curiosity and crossed his arms. It had never occurred to him how utterly attractive Cloud looked before that moment in time. His defiant blond hair was tousled and his shimmering blue eyes wide. Cloud was the epitome of light.
Cloud fidgeted. "W-Well?" he asked, looking nervously up at Sephiroth. Why wasn't Sephiroth answering? And what had compelled him to come close enough to k-kiss him? Weren't they supposed to hate each other?
"…Cloud." Sephiroth caressed the name on his tongue. He loved how lovely it felt to say his name…and suddenly wondered if he were experiencing some rapid succeeding disease. He suddenly felt absolutely possessive about Cloud, unable to leave him out of his sight, and infatuation bubbled up through his rapidly warming chest.
"What is it?" Cloud looked at him skeptically, shifting even further away, if that was even possible.
Sephiroth felt a shot of anger at that and frowned before giving into a defeated sigh. He looked at Cloud hopelessly, "Cloud," he repeated hesitating, though hesitation was one thing that he had never experienced before meeting Cloud, "I will never take my up sword against you again… I apologize." He looked down and the words just seemed to spill out naturally, as if he had no control over what he was saying.
Cloud looked on quietly surprised. He was shocked into silence but was terribly disbelieving. He ducked his head on his knees. "How do you know?" he whispered to his knees, "Never is a long time…"
Sephiroth was exasperated. How could anyone be this difficult, especially when he had reassured him that he would not leave? He sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, but not near enough to Cloud that he would become overly uncomfortable. "Why do you doubt me?"
Cloud pinched his brows. "Why should I trust you?" he countered. "And why would you even say something like that? You owe me nothing because you haven't even done anything, yet!" he cried frustrated, finding the truth in those words, "Maybe I was just acting out based on my own past experiences but now I think that I was just being selfish." He gritted his teeth, "Dragging you into it like this…when you could have forgotten it all and had a normal life." He looked away shame faced.
Sephiroth had sat through Cloud's whole realization speech with surprise. It had never occurred to him that he had been dragged into an important matter as this unwillingly. "Cloud, I…"
Cloud ignored him. "Just stop and think about it, Sephiroth." He said with newfound self-contempt. "I dragged you into this whole mess like it was all your fault to begin with and I shouldn't have."
Sephiroth's eyebrow twitched in irritation. He wasn't going to allow those ridiculous thoughts to run in Cloud's head again. He quickly grabbed Cloud by the leg and dragged him down. Cloud gave a yelp of surprise as Sephiroth swiftly grabbed his arms and pinned him to the bed. He looked irritably down at Cloud, still sitting in the position he was in, "You did not 'drag me into this', Cloud." He reassured strongly, "Willingly or not, I would have been dragged into this anyway."
Cloud bit back a retort and glared up at him, "How do you know?" he growled out, trying to struggle out of the grip, "If I had gotten rid of Jenova the first time, we wouldn't be having this kind of trouble!"
Sephiroth lightly snorted with a smirk, an expression that suspiciously resembled the look that Sephiroth had always look at him with when trying to kill him. It always made Cloud feel so much inferior. "I would have had it no other way." He said lowly. If Cloud had indeed gotten rid of Jenova the first time around, he would never have met Cloud and get to know him better.
"Why?"
"I would never have met you." He simply stated
"You would willingly go through all that just to meet me?" he cried exasperated, "That doesn't make sense! You're supposed to hate me!"
"Hate you?" Sephiroth thought about it lightly, "I could never hate you."
Cloud gritted his teeth and struggled harder. "Liar." He accused.
Sephiroth let out a small breath before putting his weight into keeping Cloud still. "Stop struggling or you will reopen your wound."
"It doesn't matter."
Sephiroth's brow twitched again. No one else would ever be able to get him to react as much as Cloud currently did with little to no effort. "Yes, it does." He said threateningly. He forced Cloud to be still and kept his arms on either side of his head before leaning closer to use his weight as an extra leverage. Their faces were mere inches apart.
Cloud froze at the sight of deadly emerald eyes right in front of his but refused to not be angry. He wouldn't let Sephiroth push him around for no reason. "Let me go." He demanded. His eyes never left Sephiroth's.
Sephiroth didn't budge. Well, he dared not budge. He felt something stir within his stomach when Cloud's eyes stared defiantly back at his and he couldn't look away. Now, he felt the absolute need to drown in those blue depths. "No." he whispered. "No, I won't ever let you go…" yes, he thought, there was absolutely no possible way he would ever give Cloud up.
Cloud blinked, slowly. Had he just heard him right? "You want to stay like this forever?" his brow crinkled in confusion though annoyance was still evident in his voice. "Get off."
Sephiroth thought the crinkling of his brow was absolutely adorable; though he would never admit it, and automatically bit back his 'yes'. He knew it wasn't possible for them to stay like that forever but found he wouldn't mind if they did. Of course, Cloud's question wasn't one asked seriously in the first place. He leaned in closer, their lips just centimeters apart and regarded Cloud dangerously. "Cloud…"
The door burst open, "Hey, Sephiroth, I…" Zack froze midstride in the doorway. He slowly put his foot down and stood cautiously with his arms crossed. "Um…what's going on?" he asked tentatively.
Sephiroth was glaring at Zack from the corner of his eye but didn't bother to move. Thoughts of skewering Zack for interrupting him were leaping all over the place and a growl caught his throat. And, he would have done something regrettable if Cloud hadn't used that time to shift in his grip. "Zack?" Cloud cried happily, unable to see beyond Sephiroth's arm but recognizing the voice. Sephiroth fought the urge to do something stupid and suppressed his jealousy at Cloud being happy at Zack. He unconsciously held Cloud tighter. "Zack!" Cloud joyously burst before the annoyance returned a little. "Can you help me get him off of me?" he growled.
Zack took a step forward, "Uh, sure." He said, though he wasn't sure how…with Sephiroth sending murderous glares his way.
Sephiroth sighed and reluctantly lifted his weight off of Cloud, though his touch lingered on his arms before giving away as well. Cloud sat up and breathed a deep sigh of relief. Sephiroth regarded Cloud warily before addressing Zack in a clipped tone. "Did you need something, Fair?"
Zack took a step back and put his hands up into the air with a sheepish smile. "Uh, oh." He chuckled nervously, "You must be seriously angry if you're using my last name."
Cloud ignored Sephiroth's chilling tone and sighed. "So, Zack." He inquired, "What did you need S…the General for?"
Zack shrugged. "I'm not sure." He frowned, "There are these people standing out front asking if I knew where either you or Sephiroth were. I wasn't sure what to tell them."
Cloud perked up. "What's the weirdest looking person among them wearing?" he asked curiously.
Zack thought about the weirdest among them but his face came out looking utterly lost. "Don't know," he cocked his head to one side, "from where I'm standing, all of them are dressed pretty strangely."
Cloud grinned. Yup, it was them all right. "Yeah? Then they're some people I know." He struggled to get up off the bed. "I should go tell them I'm fine."
"H-Hey, slow down there. You sure you want to be moving around like that?" Zack hurried to his side.
Sephiroth grabbed Cloud's shoulder with a bit more force than necessary. "I agree with Zack." He said with annoyance, though not at them anymore, "Stay here and I shall go speak with them."
Cloud shook his head. "And watch as you guys try to kill each other? I can't have that."
"You shall have to contend with it as I am saying this as an order."
Cloud snorted and crossed his arms. "And when has that ever mattered to me?"
Zack looked between the both of them with fascination. "Did you guys know each other in the past or something?"
They both froze and regarded Zack with wariness before Cloud relaxed with a deep breath. Of course Zack meant whether they had known each other in this life's past. "Uh, not really, Zack." He answered sheepishly, still not liking how he had to lie to him.
"Huh…" he cocked one brow and looked dissatisfied.
"Look," Cloud tried to explain, "It's just that we're…incompatible, that's all."
Sephiroth's heart clenched like a wound at that statement as he looked at Cloud. Did that mean Cloud did not see him as a prospective? He stood, not wishing to wait for something else to be said until the current matter was cleared. "Are they not waiting?" he said, clearly hurt but unwilling to show it. Instead, he masked it as impatience.
Cloud started to rise again, "I'm going with you, whether you like it or not…General."
Sephiroth reluctantly nodded. He didn't want any more ill will between them. "Suit yourself." He said before he walked out. He knew Cloud wouldn't want any help from him if Zack was around to do it for him. So he would wait for them downstairs.
Zack let out the breath he had been holding when Sephiroth was no longer in sight. "Wow," he exhaled, "I've never seen him so angry like that before. Scary." He turned back to Cloud with a grin. "I thought I was going to die!" he exaggerated, throwing his arms up into the air.
Cloud shifted to the edge of the bed and gave an irritated grunt. "I don't know what's wrong with him. He's being so unreasonable."
Zack moved up next to Cloud to give him a hand, "Huh, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. The stress from work is probably finally getting to him." Cloud stood with help from Zack with an arm around his waist while he gripped Zack's shoulder.
"He should get a massage." Cloud scoffed. "Or maybe he needs something to look after, like a pet."
Zack gave a thoughtful shrug. "Maybe it's a girl, then." He laughed.
"A girl stressing Sephiroth?" Cloud gave him a disbelieving look. Sephiroth never struck him as the type to have a long term relationship with a girl, let alone going out to date. "Do any of them have the guts?" he whispered more to himself.
"Well, Aerith might be able to if she tried." They were walking out the door now and headed to the stairs. "I know I worry over her enough to stress me out."
Cloud snorted, "I can't imagine Sephiroth fussing over a girl, let alone falling in love with her." He thought about it, feeling strangely uncomfortable, "and if it is true…I wonder what she would look like."
Zack barked out laughing, "Yeah," he cried happily, "Sephiroth's a real looker but…I don't know any woman who would be able to break that iciness of his."
He sighed, "Maybe it's a good thing if he's found one then." Then he'd have no reason to destroy the world, he thought irritably.
They rounded the corner at the bottom of the steps and saw Sephiroth waiting for them in front of the door. Cloud noticed Sephiroth regarding him warily before dropping his eyes and heading towards the door. He opened it and walked out. They immediately followed him only to suddenly be pushed back through the door as a gust of fire came at them. Zack jerked back, "Who's attacking us?" he yelled.
Cloud ground his teeth, "Damn it." He cursed. Sephiroth should have waited for him to go out first. He released Zack's grip on him and rushed to the door, ignoring the flaring pain in his gut.
Outside, he noticed, was Sephiroth with sword drawn. He was facing the end of Vincent's gun, Red's fangs, and Cid's spear. They were all glowering at one another. "Stop!" Cloud yelled as he stumbled into their path. Sephiroth immediately noticed and held him back behind him, unwilling for him to get any closer to the immediate threat in his eyes.
Sephiroth held his sword steadily up in front of him, holding Cloud back with his other arm, and glared at the new group. "What business do you have here?"
"We could ask ya the same question." Cid spat his cigarette onto the floor before stomping it on the ground.
Vincent's gun didn't waver as he stepped closer, regarding Cloud's bandaged form with a slight frown, "Release him." He demanded. Red growled.
Cloud tried to struggle around Sephiroth's arm. "We need to stop this," he sighed, "and talk things out." He glanced around, "Where's Tifa?"
"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya." Cid lowered his spear but never took his eyes off Sephiroth. "Tifa's in the aircraft with Yuffie. She's watching over that…thing."
Cloud supposed he was talking about Jenova. "Well, I guess it's a good thing she isn't here then…"
"That's what we thought too." Cid smirked.
Red warily regarded Sephiroth. "I am not mistaken when I say you are sane?" he directed at him.
Sephiroth regarded the beast with surprise, now for the first time actually noticing the creature before him was talking. Before, he hadn't been in his right mind to notice. It slowly started trotting up to them, though he still remained at a distance. Sephiroth lowered his sword a little, now knowing that this was not some random beast out to attack him, and gave a slow nod. "Who are you?"
Red seemed satisfied by the response and nodded. "I am Nanaki, though my companions call me Red."
Seeing Red taking to Sephiroth and lowering his guard, Cid and Vincent followed suit. Cloud sighed in relief and looked at Sephiroth who was still suspicious. "You can put your weapon down. They're not going to attack us for no reason."
Sephiroth took one look at Cloud and obediently put down his sword. Cloud noticed Vincent quirking an eyebrow at that, but, at that point, Zack had decided to make a reappearance by bursting out of the inn. Apparently, seeing the other cadet behind him, he had taken the time to go wake up backup. "Sorry," he huffed scanning the immediate area, "what's going on here?"
Cloud put a hand to his head, a headache coming on. "Zack," he slowly emphasized, "these are my friends."
He looked dumbfounded. "Really?" he regarded each one of them with a slow curiosity, noticing that they were all completely different from one another, "Where did you guys all meet each other?"
They looked at each other from one to the other in an exchange of knowing glances. It was Red who finally chuckled. "It is true what he says. We are not the most…normal of companions."
Zack nearly jumped into the air in surprise. "He can talk?"
Cloud sighed, wondering if Red ever got tired of hearing that too, and decided introductions were in order. "Zack, General," he started, "This is Cid Highwind, Vincent Valentine, and Red XIII." He stared pointedly at Sephiroth, "They're my companions from…before."
Sephiroth didn't like it, not at all. These people were a lot closer to Cloud than he ever was, and jealousy was a vicious thing. "I see…"
"Wow, Cloud. I didn't know you had so many friends." Zack was delighted, having found out that Cloud was actually social…or at least he thought he was.
"Yeah…" he nodded to the others. "You guys know who he…the General is but that's," he indicated towards Zack, "Zack Fair."
"Nice to meet you." He grinned happily.
xxx xxx
Zack started asking all of them some strange questions after awhile and Cloud decided not to listen in. He was getting a bit tired and sleep was the first thing on his mind besides Jenova. Sephiroth, not paying attention to the casual conversations as well, noticed Cloud's lack of concentration and approached to stay near him. "Cloud," he called softly, "you should get some rest before we head out in the morning." He suggested uncertain whether Cloud wanted to listen to him at the moment.
Cloud looked blearily up at Sephiroth. He had found himself a seat on a nearby crate in front of the inn while Zack asked question after question from the others. It had seemed like it was going to take a while and now…he just wanted to be back in bed. "Mm…"
Sephiroth felt utterly defeated and put down. How was he to gain Cloud's attention and his trust? For now, things felt as though it were going terribly wrong for him, with him making no headway in a relationship with Cloud, and he didn't know what to do. He was at an utter loss at what to do. "Cloud," he said a little desperately, bordering near panic for the first time in his life. There were a lot of first times for him after meeting Cloud and it was nerve-racking, "would you…like to have dinner with me?"
Now, Cloud looked up, surprised, at that, "What?" and he couldn't believe his ears.
Sephiroth felt slightly reassured, though slightly embarrassed at where his desperation was taking him. He felt he would be making more of a fool of himself from now on. "After we return to Midgar, I wouldn't mind taking a break."
Cloud's eyes widened, "You take breaks?" he shook his head, "More importantly, why would you want to spend it with me?"
Sephiroth was compelled to spill it, but suddenly declaring his affections for Cloud might end up having the exact opposite effect. "I wish to start over." He lamely lied, "I am not the man you once knew and I want to prove it."
Cloud thought about it for a moment. It was true that this Sephiroth of the past was nothing at all like the Sephiroth from the future. He furrowed his brows together. If that was the case then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to try and get to know him better. "…Alright." He agreed, though he was still unsure.
Sephiroth couldn't feel anything but elated at his agreement, even if it didn't show on his face. He felt this was a victory and a step further into getting Cloud to trust him. He let out a small smile as a little burden lifted from his chest. It was just then that Zack finished his talk with the others and approached them. He looked wholly satisfied yet confused. "You've got some interesting friends, Cloud." He laughed.
Cloud smirked, "Don't forget that you're one of them, Zack."
Zack grinned and crossed his arms, "Good to know."
Sephiroth watched the exchange of conversation between Cloud and Zack but couldn't make himself concentrate on what they were saying. All he could wonder was whether Cloud thought of him as a friend as well…maybe something more and he felt he wouldn't be able to take it if he were regarded as anything less…He sighed.
Cloud glanced at Sephiroth, "Sephiroth?" He pondered for a moment, seemingly remembering something after Zack had gone back into the inn, "I nearly forgot the promise I made to you."
Promise? Sephiroth couldn't seem to remember any sort of promise that Cloud had made to him… "Promise?"
"Yeah, that I'd tell you where you could meet your mother…your real mother." He said quietly.
Sephiroth was surprised. Were they really so close that he would be able to meet her? "This is her current location?"
Cloud carefully looked at him as if to gauge his reaction before sighing and walking towards the man named Vincent Valentine. Sephiroth watched as they quietly discussed what he had in mind until Vincent nodded in agreement. "Do you wish to come along?" Sephiroth heard Vincent asking Cloud.
Cloud shook his head. "It's about time you guys catch up. I think…there's a lot you two need to talk about."
Vincent nodded once before the both of them walked towards Sephiroth. Vincent looked Sephiroth once over and nodded his approval. "We shall go meet Lucrecia."
Cloud let out a breath and put his hands on his waist. "Lucrecia…is the name of your mother, Sephiroth."
Sephiroth slowly nodded, wondering why Cloud wasn't coming along and why Vincent had to be the one to show him around. "I see…"
"You'll go with them on the Highwind a week from today." He shifted his eyes away.
"…Why not today?"
"Well," Cloud scratched the back of his head, "I think Hojo's up to something and I don't want him knowing that we got rid of Jenova right now. He'll find out eventually but…" he shrugged, "by then; he'll have no way of retrieving her."
"Yes," Red came walking up to them with light amusement in his eyes, "we will be dispatching her tomorrow." He sat down with a flick of his fiery tail.
Sephiroth furrowed his brows in confusion, wondering how they were going to get rid of an ancient specimen that had survived till this day. "By what means?"
Vincent and Red both looked at Cloud with amusement while he just shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "Well…" Cloud looked down slightly embarrassed but reluctant to tell Sephiroth. He wondered if it was such a good thing if Sephiroth knew where they were taking her because then he would have every chance of stopping them…
Cid came to interrupt, "Well, let's just say that she ain't gonna be comin' back any time soon." He blew out in a puff of smoke. It seemed he still hadn't gotten rid of his smoking habit, for now.
"How do you intend to…"
"Revealing important information may prove not to be the best course of action." Vincent stated mildly.
Ah. Sephiroth figured that they were reluctant because he was supposed to have been their greatest enemy, and with the greatest possible means of being able to stop them if he knew. It would compromise their situation. He nodded in agreement, though he didn't have to like it that Cloud, not they, didn't trust him with anything important yet. He sighed, "Perhaps that is best."
Cloud felt kind of guilty that they were leaving Sephiroth out of this. He had said he wanted a chance to prove that he wasn't the same as before but…he had still stabbed him with murder in his eyes. That left things up for discussion and, until Jenova was gone and safely out of reach, he would have to go by Sephiroth's proven words. "We'll tell you…after it all goes well."
Sephiroth nodded, looking at Cloud softly. "I understand."
Cloud turned around and let out a deep breath, feeling like a weight had settled upon his shoulders. "I guess we should go get some rest…for now."
Cid nodded in agreement. "Yeah…it's been a long day." He gave a huff, "Che, with you givin' us all a scare like that…"
Cloud's shoulders hunched. "Sorry…"
"Yeah, yeah. I understand." He patted Cloud on the shoulder before beckoning to the others that they should leave. He waved back, "We'll see ya later, Cloud."
"Yeah…"
Sephiroth watched, if not a little wistfully. What was in store for him in the future when helplessness was becoming constant in his present? He held a hand to his chest, his heart suddenly feeling very heavy. It felt like everything in his sight was losing its once constant clarity and the things he once knew were now taking new forms and different shapes. He didn't know what to do anymore, especially with Cloud. He clenched his fist, thinking that if one thing was for sure, it was that he was never going to let him go…
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
:A week later, in Midgar: Night.
A roar of rage echoed down the empty halls on the lower floors of Shinra Inc. Eyes shimmering the liquid hue of blood in the midst of darkness. Fangs gleamed in the rage of moonlight, black fur rippling in the waste. Its hunger grew, fueled only by its lack of understanding.
A sullen professor cackled silently in the distance, the light reflecting menacingly off his glasses.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Genesis rushed in a flurry of black feathers and into the air. His pursuers had long since disbanded before him and now, as he hurried towards the one who would help him, his only thoughts remained on how little time he had left.
He landed at the foot of the cave, carved out on the bedside of a mountain's cliff and hurried into its center. "Rayleigh! Show yourself!"
A woman, wearing a lab coat similar to that of all of the science division in Shinra emerged from the back of the cave's darkness. She looked mildly surprised as the supposedly dead 1st class Soldier rushed into her vision. "Why, Genesis Rhapsodos. What a pleasant surprise." She smiled lightly.
"Enough with formalities." He ground out, "I need your help."
She fixed her glasses back in place slowly and carefully, her eyes widening just slightly, "Whatever for?" She turned and started walking back into the further recesses of the cave with a small sigh, "Has Shinra forsaken you as well of any aide?"
He bit back a snarl, following where she was going. "That's none of your concern."
"Oh?" She looked at him from top to bottom with a wary eye, "Then, what is?" She pointed to his white hair with a slight flick of her hand, "That?"
"Yes." He bit out, crossing his arms.
She turned back, walking a little further to a small table that had been fashioned in the very center of the back of the cave. It held an oil lamp, some papers, pencils, a cup, and writings. She took the cup off the table and lightly sipped at its contents, looking back at Genesis once again as she did so. "What makes you think I am able to assist you, Rhapsodos?"
He stalked towards her in tight angry motions. "You have to do nothing, except to inject a needle." He threw up his arms, "I'm dying. Look at me!" He snarled and turned away, crossing his arms, "I can't find anyone else who would be willing to help. Hollander's a fool and Hojo would rather see me rot." He spat disgusted.
She quirked a brow, "You have a solution." It wasn't a question.
He whirled on his feet. "Yes." He frowned, "If he is trustworthy."
"He?"
Genesis took on an air of smugness. "Have you heard of Cloud Strife?"
Rayleigh was momentarily startled. She set the cup down. "So…he survived." She said relieved before looking pointedly at Genesis, "But, what does the boy have anything to do with stopping your degradation? From what I can see, no one else has found any other solution if you're still here."
He waved it away. "All details will be spared until after you agree."
She looked at him for a moment in silent consideration. "Alright." She slowly nodded. "I'll do it in favor of the boy."
Genesis sighed relieved, though he would never admit it. "We'll head to Shinra immediately." He turned to leave.
"Wait," she called. Genesis looked back towards her with a raised brow. She smoothed out her coat, looking nervous. "You know, I left Shinra because they abandoned me, my life, for information on a little disk…" She looked at him strongly, "but that boy, Cloud Strife, risked his life for mine." She strutted up to him, her high heels clacking on the rocky floor, and glared at him from the corner of her eye as she passed, "Don't take this the wrong way, Rhapsodos, but I'm not doing this for you."
He merely shrugged, "Whatever works."
They left the cave together for Shinra.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Hollander flew down from his perch off the cliff's edge when he spotted Hojo. Needless to say, the man didn't get out much, so contacting him had nearly been painful. He grinned, his now white beard straggling around in the process. He loped towards Hojo, who looked fairly annoyed at the interruption. "What is it you want? I don't have time for playing games with fools." He sneered, turning around with hands at his back.
Hollander grinned wider. "There's something in Shinra that has caught Genesis' attentions…"
Hojo looked back at him, regarding the whitening hair and the small wing on Hollander's back with distaste. He gave a wave of the hand, "Ah, yes… The boy~" he crooned.
Hollander was stunned. "Boy? What boy?"
"It doesn't surprise me you don't know." He observed Midgar dryly, "There's a boy there who carries S cells." Of course he would figure out what Genesis was after. It was only a matter of time before he became desperate but, somehow, he had found his alternate solution. What Hojo couldn't figure out was how he had found out about the boy, and how the boy himself had gotten a hold of living Jenova cells. "It seems they are acquaintances." Now, how was Genesis going to convince the boy without resorting to violence? And he would have to act quickly to get to him before the failure. Hollander's experiments were too much of a disgrace to leave alive, and the fact that Genesis might thwart his plans...
The look on Hollander's face was grotesque to Hojo, even more than all of the experiments that had ended in failure. "An alternative…" he cackled. The gleam in his eyes reflected his mental stability. "That fool," he snarled, distorting his features even more, "he didn't even tell me he found a cure!" He immediately launched himself, fumbling, up into the air and headed in the direction of Midgar.
Hojo face twisted into one of disgust, "I'm sure." He whispered in disdain.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx