Note: (ducks) Ah! Don't kill me! (hides) I'm sorry everyone for abandoning you for so, so long. I'm sure you're all salivating at the mouth like rabid weasels by now, but look! Your wait has proved to be well worth it. Here it is, after a very extended absence:

The Complete Opposite

Chapter XIX

----

The engines rumbled, shaking the earth in a steady but gentle thrum as the propellers spun to life, blowing grass about in the air. TheHighwind was preparing for takeoff, the metal wire mesh lifting up off the large window panes like eyelids on a waking child. Yet unlike the bright early morning a child would wake to, the massive airship opened its eyes to the afternoon with the sun poised halfway between midday and sunset. It would not be long before its passengers came aboard and started for their destination: Junon. No, the passengers would not wait long to take this trip; it was essential that they make the journey to Junon as quickly as possible before more attacks upon one Cloud Strife came. It was too worrying to delay; they didn't want to risk further damage upon the town and its people.

Tifa made the proper arrangements to assure her bar still ran without her supervision, leaving the maintenance under Marlene's care while Yuffie and Barret stayed behind as a precaution. Barret, she expected to stay behind; between juggling AVALANCHE and being a father, oftentimes he made excuses to stay at home to stay when them. On those days, he took over much of the work, giving her a much needed vacation every time. However, she had an inkling that instead of allowing her a break from the bar, Barret was avoiding Cloud. Barret was always a hard-headed person, rival to Cid's own stubbornness, so it wouldn't surprise her that despite all the talk of Cloud possibly being innocent he didn't fully accept the blond. In fact, even she still had trouble accepting the theory presented by Red and the others.

But Yuffie? Yuffie wasn't like Barret or Tifa in the sense she loathed Cloud with utmost passion. Though the man Cloud Strife had aided in the political destruction of her people, she knew that chasing after a dead man for something that probably would've happened eventually was useless. She old Shinra's dictatorial ways more than she hated the weapon used to enforce his beliefs. So why was she staying behind, letting Tifa to take her place on the trip? Tifa didn't know the reasons, but she did trust the younger woman with the care of Marlene. Yuffie had become, over the years, like an older sister to Marlene; the two connected well enough that sometimes Yuffie's maturity showed through, causing strangers to wonder if she was actually blood related, even if somewhat distantly. Still, Tifa hoped that she wasn't using this moment to escape Cloud as well. It would be unlike her.

Well, whatever the reasons, Tifa was glad someone was able to stay behind in order to let her leave without worry and join the others on the trip. It had been quite some time since she last boarded theHighwind, and never before did she do it with a mortal enemy aboard as well. Regardless of the precaution the others were making to keep Cloud under their watchful eye, making sure that no one left his side, not even to make a trip to the restroom, Tifa was still skeptical of Cloud's innocence. Certainly, she was grateful to the man for saving Kalm's people from being massacred in the middle of the night, but at the same time she wished he didn't exist, because if it weren't for him the attack wouldn't have happened in the first place. All the strange occurrences that were happening lately were all his fault. Though she was never there to witness each incident, she knew through the others' tales that Cloud was at the center of each one.

Even if Cloud didn't so much as harm another innocent being, he still wasn't clean in her book. Not yet.

So that was why she came along. She was going to leave her duties here at home to solve the riddle that was Cloud Strife. She needed to see with her own eyes not Cloud defending himself in battle, supposedly for the sake of the townspeople as well as himself, but Cloud being human. She knew she wouldn't be satisfied until she saw better, more validated proof that Cloud wasn't insane and wasn't eating out of Jenova's palm.

"Hey, is everyone ready? I'm leaving you asswipes if you're not on the airship in two minutes!"

Tifa shook out of her thoughts as Cid's loud, rough voice drifted through the air. The man, just as she remembered him, didn't see any need to hide his business, always shouting like someone was deaf and couldn't hear him otherwise. She rolled her eyes at him and walked past him, continuing to load up what little belongings she needed for the trip and whatever time afterwards she would be staying. She almost felt estranged to walk into the carefully manicured hull of the ship, knowing that it had been far too long since she last traveled -- truly traveled. She had gotten used to the civilian life, laid back with naught but taxes and business and a family to worry about. Rarely did Kalm experience attack from the wildlife roaming about its backyard, so rarely did she feel the need to dawn on the gloves, slot in her materia, and kick butt. The only time she ever got violent these days was to break apart brawls in her bar and threaten against thieves. But even then, those moments were too scarce to even give her a good exercise.

Knowing she would have to be near someone as dangerous as Cloud Strife almost made her nervous. She was out of practice; a mother, not a fighter. Should something worse than what happened here in town happen while they were in the air or else in Junon, she worried she would be more of a detriment than a help. Still, she couldn't go against her need to follow the group. She needed to figure out a few things for herself before she finally decided enough was enough.

Sighing, shook the thoughts from her head and focused instead on the task at hand, helping the other mechanics and workers under Cid's care to load and make the final adjustments for takeoff. As she worked, she paid little mind to those milling about her, following her example to speed up the process to take-off. She did not even glance and flinch when Cloud came aboard, accompanied -- though more shadowed – by Sephiroth. The two were stuck to each other like glue.

Cloud didn't really like the idea of being under Sephiroth's ever-watchful eye, yet he couldn't do anything about it. Though he inwardly squirmed at being so close to the other man, he had to steel himself and just play along with this game. Yes, he thought this was a game, cruel and suffocating. He didn't was tangled in a mix of emotions, unsure of what to do as he remained at a crossroads with Sephiroth's emotions and his true intentions. Never mind the man was acting for the benefit of the planet; what Cloud didn't understand was his personal motives.

Why did Sephiroth even bother? To go so far to prove his innocence and keep him out of the clutches of Jenova... surely this wasn't influenced solely by Red's theories. Sephiroth wasn't the type of man to act on conjecture alone. He wouldn't dare risk the whole world just to save one man who onlypossibly was innocent. And though Cloud preferred being alive and having to go through this security nonsense, to being dead and stuck like a suckling pig on the end of the Masamune, he was still bothered by the enigma that was Sephiroth.

How was he supposed to treat him after all that had happened? It was hard enough on him the first time to make that mental shift from Hero Worship to Mortal Enemy. Five years disappeared from his life, his dreams were shattered, and a ghost of what he should have been remained in the shell that was his body, deformed as it was. To even try to make another shift, to change his view from Mortal Enemy to... Friend? It was impossible! And yet, somewhere deep inside him, he hoped madly that he could accept it, dare say even press its development. So far, he was able to eliminate the idea of labeling Sephiroth as an enemy, and the possibility of calling the man an ally were taking root in both his mind and heart, but no way was it anywhere near calling him a friend or more.

No way was he even going to think about calling Sephiroth something more intimate like... a lover. No, certainly not. He may have known that Sephiroth liked him, or more accurately that he liked the person he reminded him of, but that didn't mean he was obligated to return the feelings. That was one step too far for him.

But one question floated in his head since the moment knew and understood the love that filtered into the old General's eyes: What if Sephiroth pursued him, and asked he return that love? Really, what if Sephiroth misconstrued his silence as acceptance and take advantage of him? The thought was frightening, though a more logical part of him denied this fantasy. Sephiroth would never force his hand. He would never throw him down and rape him. He wasn't that type of man. ...Was he?

In reality, Cloud didn't know a thing about Sephiroth. As much as he liked to pretend he did, the person he "knew" was actually dead, hundreds of feet buried in the Northern Crater on HIS world. This was not his world, nor was this the Sephiroth he had come to know. This man was what Sephiroth could have been, should the Fates have decided to tip in favor of humanity. For all he knew, Sephiroth could have some sort of fetish or other strangeness about him that couldn't be explained. Whatever it was, if there was something there to begin with, he didn't want to know. He refused to take that inviting step forward in their... "relationship" and give Sephiroth the opening he needed to molest him.

That was easier said than done, however. Sephiroth refused to leave his side, keeping ever watchful of his actions and where he went. It was as if he was always looking for some sort of break in his character that would reveal the taint in his soul and prove all his previous actions an act, and give him reason to cut him down. Or maybe he was looking for a crack in his defenses and was simply waiting for an opening so he could attack. Cloud couldn't tell, even as he glanced up at Sephiroth's eyes, catching his unwavering gaze. Apart from that one time he slipped and silently showed him his feelings, he couldn't read the dark swirl of thoughts and emotions that echoed in the man's eyes. He didn't know what to make of the constant shift, if he should be worried or just perplexed. He could only avert his own gaze and hope the taller man couldn't read him any better.

However, try as Cloud might, Sephiroth could see, just as Red pointed out, the thoughts that were swimming around in his head. His eyes, more projective than the scarlet woman painted on the side of Cid'sHighwind, told him enough about what was going through the man's mind to see that he was uncomfortable -- to put it lightly -- with their new proximity. It was unavoidable, this near hip-to-hip closeness that supposedly would prevent further attacks. Or no, rather, it would at least guarantee a longer survival and better attack force against Jenova. It couldn't keep her at bay completely, but in the very least it could prevent unconditional surrender on their half.

It was hardly a plausible defense, especially when they would be out in the open like a lone duck in air, a perfect target for a hunter. Yet this was all they could hope to manage. The situation wasn't entirely hopeless; the Highwind wasn't completely defenseless against airborne attacks, but it and hopes only a person so far. Should a barrage of enemies follow them in the air, Sephiroth only hoped Cid had the skills enough not to crash them into the side of a mountain.

Speaking of, Sephiroth risked taking his eyes off Cloud to look for the other blond in their entourage. He spotted the older man at the front, growling out orders at his workers for last minute checkups before they took off. It seemed that lift off was only moments away, and a quick inventory and attendance check was in order. Glancing about, he spotted the other members of AVALANCHE milling in and out of the control room, doing their share of the preparation work. Aside from himself and Cloud, and Cid who remained at the controls, only Red stayed put, lying down in a corner as was his habit.

Cid grabbed up the intercom microphone and switched it on. "Hey, you lazy bums! If you're not the airship then I'm taking off without you. If you got a problem, go cry to yer f-ckin' mother, I ain't waiting any longer."

He roughly returned the mic to its cradle and turned off the PA system. He proceeded to instruct his team, barking out orders for take off. He wasn't going to wait any longer, as he said; they were going to get away from Kalm right away and head to Junon. Glancing over his shoulder, he stopped Sephiroth and Cloud nearby, standing within inches of each other. A scowl curled his lips as a memory of a tale flashed in his mind. A bittersweet tale, it was, and it certainly wouldn't do good remembering it now, especially when it was nothing but a dream. Whatever, he had no time to mull over it now.

----

Approximately five hours would be how long it took to reach Junon. These would be the longest, and most awkward five hours of Cloud's life. For half the trip he was obligated to stay near Sephiroth, and that meant in the control room, in everyone's view. The ex-General always stood near the front, looking out of Highwind's large windows. He was always within speaking range of Cid, conversing with the older man in low tones as though to prevent anyone from overhearing. The only reason, it seemed, that Sephiroth allowed Cloud to be more than five feet away from him was because Red was nearby. In fact, when Sephiroth had moved off to speak with Cid, Red automatically got up and came closer to Cloud, lying back down to curl at his feet.

It wasn't exactly Cloud's idea of a fun ride. In fact, every time he traveled in this world he was under arrest, chained down as if he was a runaway child. It was tolerable up to a point, then it was just aggravating. Still, what could he do about it? Any resistance he presented would label him as dangerous, and then what? He would be put under more constraints and treated even more so like the criminal he was trying to prove himself not to be. He didn't need to make the situation worse.

Thankfully, somewhere after those first two and some hours, Cloud was allowed to wander out of Sephiroth's line of sight. A call was patched through from Junon, and Sephiroth had taken it in private. To keep Cloud from overhearing, Red escorted him to that same bland room he was first trapped in when he was first aboard the Highwind. Upon coming back to it, he assumed that the rest of the trip would be just as dull as the first time, with him doing nothing but staring out the window.

On the contrary, a surprise awaited him in his room. Or rather, just outside it. Tifa was standing out in the hallway, just by his door, fiddling with her hair. He still couldn't get used to the woman having short hair. Even when she was little she always had long hair; to see her familiar face in this unfamiliar world with short hair was astounding to say in the least. It was almost distracting enough to keep Cloud from staring into her distrusting eyes and feeling guilty for something he never did.

But why was she standing right outside his room? Cloud's steps slowed as he drew near, stopping when Tifa lifted her gaze toward him. She regarded him with a cool, calm gaze, just looking him up and down before a small frown creased the edge of her brow. She didn't say anything as she opened the door for him, standing against the wall to let him by. He didn't know if that was something to be cautious over, but he still entered his room, glancing at her sideways as he passed her.

Once he was in the room, Tifa followed after, closing the door behind her and Red. She didn't really know why she was outside Cloud's room. She only felt the need to get closer to him, to figure him out, and when it was too late to forget the idea, she was already standing in front of his room, waiting for him. When she tried to walk away, her legs automatically took her into the room, and her fingers brushed the keypad to close the door behind her.

She leaned against the frame, watching Cloud as he slowly turned to face her, sinking down onto the bed as if he was wary of her attacking him. She didn't want to hit him this time, though. She already tried beating him up to assuage her pain and it didn't work. All it did was leave her tired and more anxious around him. In fact, were it not for the doubts placed in her head by the others, she probably would be going after him right now, hurting him in the misguided hopes that it would solve something.

"This is a surprise," Red spoke up, drawing attention to himself. Tifa almost forgot he was there as well, sitting against the wall, almost between her at Cloud like a physical barrier. He looked up at her with his one good eye, an ear twitching in her direction.

Tifa shrugged a shoulder in return. She wasn't quite sure if she was ready to tell them what she was doing there.

"Is there... something you need?"

She turned her gaze on Cloud, who spoke to her. She was surprised he was even talking to her; in all the time he spent in her home, he barely spoke to her. It was almost as if he too was afraid of confronting her.

"...Or something you want to talk about?"

She stared at him a moment before shaking her head, looking away. Really, this was stupid...

But Cloud didn't think so. To be approached by her without her threatening to end his life was a miracle. He much rather preferred her kindness then her wrath. If he could get on her good side, then maybe this trip would be that much less difficult. "I'm willing to..." He let the rest of his sentence hang, opting with simply returning her gaze when she looked back at him, surprise written on her face. Of course she wouldn't expect him to be friendly. But was it a crime to try?

Tifa looked at him, brows raised, before her expression changed, darkening in thought. Cloud didn't dare move or speak as she stared at him, scrutinizing him for whatever reasons. He held his breath when she pushed away from the door frame and came close, reaching out with both her hands. For a moment he was afraid she would take hold and smash his skull into the wall, but when her gloved fingers gently wove into his hair and tilted his face up, he relaxed, though he was somewhat confused by her actions.

She turned his head every which way, studying his features like a sculpture with her model. For some reason, he had a feeling Tifa wanted to memorize every curve and line on his face, and compare it with what she knew and grew up looking at. He felt she was weighing the differences between him and the Cloud Strife of this world, maybe in an attempt to separate them, maybe to prove his innocence in her eyes. Whatever the reason, she did this all in silence, holding him still, keeping him just as silent until he could no longer stand it and opened his mouth.

"...Tifa?"

With that one word, her name, she looked straight into his eyes. Her lips pursed as if she was irritated he had used her name. Cloud forced himself not to blink as he held her gaze.

"What ar--"

"Your eyes are different."

Cloud blinked, surprised when she suddenly interrupted him. Tifa frowned as she continued to stare into his eyes, looking more at his irises than peering into his soul. At the very least he was grateful for the privacy, but he still felt uncomfortable with her close proximity and her intense stare. Cautiously, he lifted his hands to grasp her wrists and gently pull them away from his face. She didn't fight him when he leaned back and blinked at her again, confusion written on his face.

"His was blue -- pure blue. Yours, though, have green," Tifa spoke before he could ask another question. Her hands clenched into fists, startling Cloud into letting go. He almost thought she would hit him this time, but instead her arms just dropped to her sides and she held them there, making no move to indicate she would initiate physical violence. "They're like Zack's, tainted with the Lifestream. He didn't have that because Gaea rejected him."

Who? Cloud mouthed, his voice failing him.

Tifa shook her head slightly. "Cloud. Our Cloud," she answered, surprising him when she verbally acknowledged the difference between the versions. "He always had blue eyes, even after he joined SOLDIER."

"Mako...?"

The question was only half formed but Tifa still understood. She herself was a little surprised at how easy it was to communicate with him. This man, Cloud Strife, so familiar yet completely different from the man -- boy -- they had all chased down and killed, didn't possess the same threatening aura this world's Cloud did. This man was friendly in comparison, holding no malice towards her, just fright, and underlying curiosity. He reminded her of the Cloud she thought she knew, the one before the accident. The bright child that wanted nothing more than to have friends and things to play with. Maybe this new Cloud Strife was someone her childhood friend could've been, if that accident and every event thereafter didn't happen...

"I don't know... I know he took the test like everyone else, but he always had blue eyes when I saw him."

Tifa shook her head and turned away for a moment to grab the only chair in the room, pulling it forward to sit across from Cloud. She could've very well just sat next to him on the bed, but she wasn't ready for that type of closeness. She was just barely getting used to him being in front of her without weapons involved; she was in no shape ready to sit next to him as though they were buddies. Of course, she would try to remain civil -- being hostile wouldn't accomplish anything -- but friendly... not yet.

She looked at his eyes again, catching the swirl of green and blue in his irises, mixing together as though they were alive, vibrant with emotion. They were like two finely cut jewels, made of crystal so unique and rare, there was only one of its kind. A 100Kgil worth, if she ventured to pretend they were real stones. His eyes were probably more beautiful than Sephiroth's...

"Um..." Cloud blinked, nervous that Tifa would still stare at him so. To be caught in her gaze was just as discomforting as being in Sephiroth's or Aeris'. Each one of them greatly influenced his actions and feelings during the journey. Being in another world didn't change their continual influence on him.

Tifa sat back and crossed her legs, loosely folding her arms over her torso. "I'll be honest: I don't trust you." These words, so blatantly spoken, shocked Cloud. Though he knew how Tifa felt about him, and how -- in this reality -- they were enemies, but that didn't change the fact he wasn't prepared to hear her tell him she didn't trust him. "But... I do want to know something. I want to know what it was like, the relationship between you and the other me, the Tifa of your world. I'm not asking you to persuade me to befriend you; I'm just curious. I never got to know Cloud Strife, not here, but I bet the Tifa Lockhart of your world was different."

No more than he was prepared for her abrupt comment of distrust, was he for her request. For a moment, he was stunned silent, able only to stare at her with wide eyes. When he composed himself and gathered his thought, though, he was more than willing to tell a story about two best friends who helped each other through hardships even after many years apart. Swallowing, he licked his lips and forced his heart to calm before he began.

"Tifa and I--" He had to admit, it was strange to talk about Tifa in third person when her double was sitting right in front of him. "--grew up in Nibelheim together. We were neighbors ever since we were born..." When they were little, they were each other's confident. Cloud was always the runt, almost an outcast amongst the town boys. He was slight in frame, never really one to participate -- or win for that matter -- in heavy sports. Always the odd duck, it was strange that he found confidence and comfort in the prettiest girl of all Nibelheim, not to mention the most popular and forbidden. Tifa was the apple of every boy's eye, that cute girl next door you just wanted to get to know better and maybe on a more-than-friendly level. In no way possible was she available for the taking, though. She was combat ready as daughter of the martial arts master of the town, and not just anyone could ask for her hand. That was why it came to the surprise of everyone when Tifa willingly befriended Cloud. The two were nothing alike, at least on the surface, but they drew to each other like past life lovers.

"She and I met in secret a lot of times. The town square water tower was our meeting place. We'd go out after dinner, climb up the ladder, and sit, sometimes looking toward the mountains, other times out to the plains." They were honest with each other, good as friends could be, and close like two peas in a pod. If one ever knew of their relationship, they would note that the two were potential girlfriend and boyfriend, though their young age would forbid they do anything beyond kissing on the cheek. However, despite this, Tifa and Cloud were nothing more than best friends. Though they were close, they were not lovers. They simply knew what the other was thinking or feelings; two sides of the same coin.

"When I met up with her again, after I joined SOLDIER and returned to Midgar, hardly a thing changed." This... wasn't entirely true. In the first few months of Cloud's occupation in the rebel group AVALANCHE as a mercenary, Cloud and Tifa were at odds with each other. Things were awkward between them because of the holes in Cloud's memory and Tifa's startling change in life. It was hard being open with each other again. But upon the inexplicable resurrection of Sephiroth, all barriers and differences were put aside for a common cause. Cloud's meltdown brown Tifa back to his side, restoring that deep friendship they feared was lost.

"Even now, she's my confident and friend. She is a sister in almost every sense of the word." The same couldn't be said about this world's Tifa, though. Cloud didn't know a thing about her, nor did he hold any warm connection to her. To call her a friend, or anyone else on this ship, something more than an mere ally (when in his home they were so much more) was impossible at the moment. Cloud couldn't better call this world's Tifa his 'sister' than he could call Sephiroth his 'lover.' It couldn't -- it wouldn't, especially in Sephiroth's case -- happen. They just didn't have that connection.

There was no special bond between them.

Tifa sighed and leaned back in her chair as she let Cloud's tale sink in. It wasn't exactly what she was expecting, but in the very least she knew he was sincere. It felt like a part of her had hoped he would tell her a full tale of lies, maybe prove her suspicions right, that he was nothing more than a monster in the guise of a blue-eyed angel. But just like all those theories the others had thrown at her, Cloud really seemed to be genuinely human, compassionate and capable of caring, with a brain to go along with that strong body.

Looking him over, she admitted to herself that this Cloud Strife was... different from the other one. This one could probably be a friend, if one cared to close that gap and approach him in such a fashion. He didn't look like a mentally disturbed individual, prone to killing anything that stood in his way -- and kept him from his "toys." But would Tifa herself try and do the job?

Probably not. There were just so many things that Tifa still was doubtful of. She needed more time.

Silence broke between them, naught but the soft rustle of Red's fur as he lazily flicked his tail to and fro could be heard. Turning her gaze to the window on the opposite wall of her, Tifa stared outside. Moments between them stretched until at last she opened her mouth and broke the silence.

"Strife was... an illusion. Something godly -- unreal. He... was something that was unfathomable. More than a dozen times did we -- or at least I -- wonder just what it was we were chasing. Was he really the famed 'Boy General' whose image was splashed all over posters and wall scrolls promoting ShinRa's SOLDIER program?" Tifa's voice was soft, almost distant in her voiced thoughts. "Was he that child we saw on the television during commercials? From the time he was in Nibelheim, to when he was in SOLDIER climbing ranks and spreading his image all over advertisements, to when we were chasing him all over Gaea... Which one was him? I never knew Strife very well, not even during our time as neighbors in our hometown."

She shook her head slowly and narrowed her eyes as she continued to stare out the window. There really was no reason why she needed to tell this stranger before her her feelings about the boy whom she supposed she could've loved, even if just as a friend. However, nothing stopped her from saying it anyway.

"I remember... the day I fell during my climb in the mountains." Her brows furrowed. "I was just a child, then. I twisted my ankle and broke my wrist. No one saw me all afternoon. I heard some of the adults had come to look for me, but the paths winding Nibel were too many, too confusing. The other children were forbidden to try and rescue me themselves."

Here she paused to glance back at Cloud Strife, tilting her head to the side just slightly as though seeing another person in his place.

"But Strife didn't listen. He snuck past the adults and searched himself. It's true, the children of the town knew the mountains better than the adults -- we played there almost every day. He was no different. And yet, he never found me. At least... I never saw him that day. One of the adults heard me when I called out to them and I was carried home. But Strife..." She shook her head. "Since no one ever knew he was out there, they didn't realize he was missing. Not until his mother came out looking for him. I heard it all from my window.

"It was late at night and she was pacing very heavily in front of the house. One of the men -- Mr. Broker, I think? -- asked her what was wrong and when she explained that Strife wasn't home yet, another panic for a missing child went up. But what could they do? It was late. How could they find a child in the dark if they could barely find one in the daytime?"

Cloud's heart grew heavy and darkened by the shadow cast by Tifa's story. He stared at her, earnest for reasons he couldn't name at the moment, for the rest of the story -- for the tale of the other him that somehow turned bad.

"Miss Strife never went to sleep that night. I saw the light from her windows through mine and listened to her. ...You know, Strife didn't come home for two days. No one could understand what had happened, only that all of a sudden there was Strife, scratched, bloody, and dirty, walking back toward his house during dinner hours on the second day as if nothing had happened. I saw him through my window. The adults in the town all asked him what happened, but not even he knew. Strife..." Tifa's gaze turned inward as she recalled the image she saw so many years ago. "...he seemed to have had a spell of amnesia. He couldn't recall what happened between the time he climbed the mountains looking for me, and the time he was coming down on his way home. There was just this hole in his memory."

She remembered: everyone was worried for a while. The neighbors kept and eye on Strife for a few weeks, just to see if he'd do something unusual. No child spontaneously lost their memory just after spending a day and a half in the mountains. People got lost in the paths before; but no one ever lost their memory while there were there. Some of the adults thought it to be the witchcraft of one of the few but potentially dangerous beasts lying in the various caves in the mountains. But eventually, after seeing no reaction from Strife in those weeks they watched him, they all chalked it up to a little bump on the head and small memory loss spell that would eventually go away as time passed on. Even Miss Strife, after being so worried, got over her anxiety of letting her son out of her sight.

"JENOVA."

Tifa jerked out of her thoughts when Cloud suddenly spoke. She looked back at him with a blink. "What?"

Cloud shook his head. It was his turn to give off a distance look as he mulled over his own answer. "JENOVA," he repeated. "It had to be her."

He looked at Tifa again. She had her brows raised, a peculiar expression on her face. For a long moment, they shared a calm stare. It wasn't until Red, forgotten in their sharing of tales, cleared his throat and drew attention to himself. The large feline rose up on his haunches, curling his fiery tail around him.

"If your assumption is correct," he contributed to the conversation, "then that would explain why the Cloud Strife Sephiroth and Zack came to know turned out so different. It would also explain just why he reacted the way he did when returning to Nibelheim."

Cloud remembered the scene he saw through the strange machine Bugenhagen had strapped onto his head and recalled the photo memories of the other Cloud Strife's history. It was an incomplete history, with so many holes and possibly biast perspectives, but he still remembered the stricken expression his counterpart had on his face as one of Hojo's failed experiments broke from its capsule and essentially committed suicide by being over exposed to oxygen. He looked so sick, as if he was remembering something from long ago, of a nightmare he wished he could forget.

Cloud understood that that moment was when the last wire holding together the other Strife's mind snapped and the teen this world had come to know disappeared.

Swallowing down the sick that was starting to rise, Cloud steeled himself against the flood of memories and images that crashed into his mind at the reminder of that moment. Both his and Strife's memories entertwined and Cloud felt he could almost relate to the dread and panic that rose in the boy, and the paleness of his brow as sweat broke out and his body trembled. It was a horrible feeling, enough to make a person empty the contents of their stomach on the floor at that very moment.

You're starting to understand...

With a jerk, Cloud jumped to his feet, startling the other two occupants of the room. Tifa and Red stared at him in alarm as he looked about him, searching for something that wasn't there.

But you still do not know of the pain he endured...

--JENOVA?

The voice echoing in his head didn't reply in either denial or affirmative. Instead, it continued:

...When you do, will you finally see what salvation I brought him? Or will you continue to be obstinate and give me no choice but to force your hand?

Cloud frowned deeply. He broke away from the bed and the other two to approach the window in the room. He leaned close, looking outside. Nowhere could he see JENOVA or her beastly pets. Nothing obscure or unbelonging occupied the sky with them. Yet, who else could have spoken to him? What other ethereal, effeminate voice talked to him through his mind? Suddenly, he was on edge.

"Attention please!"

Cloud jerked in surprise. He turned around to stare at the speaker wired into the room. His heart hammered in his chest at the surpise, and he didn't miss the curious -- even wary -- looks Red and Tifa both shot him.

"AVALANCHE members, please report to the deck. I repeat: AVALANCHE members, report to the deck." There was a pause before the voice, probably one of Cid's assistants, spoke again. "Cloud Strife, please come to the deck as well. Again: Cloud Strife, come to the deck."

The intercom cut off as the mic was returned to the cradle. Cloud turned his gaze to the both woman and lion. Tifa returned his gaze with caution. She was still wary of his sudden moments around the room. Red stood up, ignoring the scare for the moment, and drew attention back to himself.

"We'd best go," he said with a nod toward the door.

Tifa nodded and got to her feet. She opened the door for them, heading out first whilst Cloud automatically followed after, Red bringing up the rear. As one they returned to the deck where the other AVALANCHE fighters were assembling. It almost felt natural for Cloud to join them, standing in a loose circle for what probably was a briefing. It only Sephiroth wasn't standing right across from him, staring at him so intently, he could've fooled himself into believing everything was normal again.

"We are half an hour away from Junon. Rufus just contacted stating there has been more eradic activity near the Northern Crater." Straight to the point. Attention was immediately drawn to Sephiroth. "We are to head to his office at once; he has video footage that may prove vital."

AVALANCHE nodded in response. From his part of the circle, Zack turned to Aeris and asked softly, "Have you heard anything?" He had spent the whole time on the plane with the young woman yet she didn't make a sound about this.

Aeris shook her head slightly. "Nothing. She hasn't spoken to me this entire flight." Lightly she cupped her hands over her ears, blocking out the noise of the plane engines. After a moment, she looked back at Zack, shaking her head again. "I'm not sure if this is a bad sign or not..."

Zack bit the inside of his cheek. He didn't know what to make of it either. ...Then again, he was the last person to be contemplating that kind of thing anyway. Still, judging by the worry wrinkle across his girl's brow, and the pensive, almost frustrated look in her eyes, he guessed it wasn't a good thing.

"Jeez..." he muttered and scratched the back of his head. "I wish everything was a lot simpler."

Briefly recalled the most recent passing of events, he realized just how quickly the rise of activity was. Between the incident at Cosmo Canyon and the arrival at Junon, not a lot had happened. But once they got to Kalm, everything exploded, and now it felt like they were riding an unstoppable landslide. There was no end, and there certainly was no safety guaranteed in this ride. Zack wondered what was in store for them next.

-----

TheHighwind slowly descended onto the landing dock, buffeting air as propellors cushioned the land. Like a swarm of ants toward a picnic sweets, Junon workers rushed to secure the airship and direct the pilot and flight assistants onboard in opening and unhitching doors and ramps and the like. Cid cursed more than once at the fools who were trying to give him orders. He'd landed there time before; he didn't need instruction like some newbie pilot.

Once the airship was properly parked, AVALANCHE unboarded, descending quickly to make their way to where Rufus awaited them. Only Cid stayed behind to care for his ship. Cloud walked close to Sephiroth who led the way, still a little nervous at the unexpected contact from whom he was certain was the Calamity. Before he could stop himself in his wariness, he drew close to the silver-haired man, comforted by standing in his shadow.

Such an action didn't go unnoticed by Sephiroth. He glanced at Cloud in mild curiosity, wondering what brought on this behavior. He knew the younger man didn't particularly enjoy being glued to his side, and probably would've rather walked with someone else -- anyone else -- and yet here he clung to him like a child to his mother at the sight of the boogeyman. Were it in any other situation, with any other person, say Zachary, it could've been comical. Yet it only perplexed Sephiroth how differently Cloud acted with every passing day, every passing hour. It bothered him, that he couldn't quite figure out the blond.

But Sephiroth couldn't let his thoughts be too overwhelmed by this development. He was still at odd ends with the man, awkward as their... relationship was. Not to mention, there were more important matters at hand. Rufus' urgent call took priority.

The ShinRa successor met them in his office, standing erect in expectation. He had been informed of their arrival the moment his security had been. Already he had waiting for them the video his Research And Development Institution employees had caught during their expedition on the northernmost continent where the Northern Crater lay on one of his computer monitors. He swiveled the screen to face the group just as they entered and gathered round.

Addressing them with a nod, he gestured to the screen. "My researchers caught this on tape." He played the video, drawing all eyes to the image.

There before them was a staticy video of the crystalline cavern that opened to many different pathways inside the mountainside just below the actual crater itself. The image shook slightly due to being held by human hands. At first, nothing of interest or concern happened as the researchers climbed out of the cavern and broke out into the open where wild gusts of wind and snow tore all sound away from the camera mic and pushed the researcher off balance. It took a moment for the image to steady and a voice could be heard.

"Mathias! Mathias, quick! Get a shot of that!"

The camera swiveled to catch the direction in which the other researcher was pointing, turning up the side of the mountain. It was a little hard to see at first, but then it became clearer as the camera zoomed in: at the lip of the crater, just before the researchers was a row of people in cloaks, covered head to foot in white clothing with an overly large white hood obscuring the face.

"Shit! Who are they?"

"Hell if I know! But keep taping them, we'll send this to the boss."

The cloaked figures were ignorant of what was happened just below them. In fact, they ignored the very weather that whipped wildly around them, threatening to toss up the fabric of their covers and expose them to the world. In unison they reached out, arms stretched skyward in beckon. If they spoke, the wind took away their voices, yet it almost seemed as if they were crying out for something.

Rufus stilled the image. He drew the attention back toward himself with his question: "I don't know what to make of it. Do you?"

Sephiroth didn't have to meet the other man's gaze to convey his answer: No. And he doubted the others knew any better than he. Except... maybe Cloud? Sephiroth glanced at the blond and found him staring still at the group assembled on the screen. His brows were furrowed, his expression confused and contemplative.

Cloud didn't know in the slightest what it all meant. He didn't quite know, were these his-- no, the other Strife's followers? Were they Strife's cloaked men? Did they have tattoos burned into their skin like animals? Were they lost souls, mindless pawns to do JENOVA's bidding? If they were -- if they were the same as Sephiroth's black-cloaked followers, then shouldn't they have died when Strife died? Sephiroth's followers died with their master, perishing with all the other evil incarnates and experimental mistakes that haunted the earth. Yet here they were, these white-cloaked humans with no face, no personality, no soul, just purpose, springing forth from the Crater, calling for something unknown.

Were they searching for JENOVA, their mother? --Or him? Were they calling for him, the Cloud Strife that was their master?

They cry... like lost children. Save them, my son. Show them salvation! Lead them!

Cloud twitched and tore his gaze away from the screen, looking away to stare at anything else. His sight landed on Sephiroth who stared back at him. It was not with concern, per se, that the taller man looked at him, but question -- though he couldn't deny there was some wonder in that gaze.

Cloud shook his head. He didn't know if it was to dismiss the voice in his head or tell the other man nothing was wrong. Well, not yet anyway. He didn't know if he should've been scared to hear JENOVA's voice in his head without her being near. He probably did, considering what she was trying to do to and with him.

Looking away, Cloud turned his attention back up front. Rufus was still addressing the rest of the group. Cloud hoped the man could distract both of them away from the unease that coursed through him.

"--nder the impression you will be staying longer this time. I suggest you hold fort here. We don't know what this new development means, be it bad news or not, but if an attack like at Kalm occurs again, at least here you have backup. Sephiroth," Rufus drew the retired General's gaze back toward him. "I assume you and he will be sharing again?"

It was no question of which 'he' Rufus was talking about. Sephiroth nodded in affirmation. None of them could risk Cloud receiving an entire living quarters for himself, such an idea was mere suicide. It risked the security and safety of not just Cloud himself but those around him. Of course they would be rooming together.

"Right. Then AVALANCHE, you're dismissed." As the group scattered, Rufus added, "A moment, Sephiroth. I'd like a word with you."

Sephiroth nodded, glancing over his shoulder to catch Vincent's gaze as he lingered. The dark-haired man nodded back and lightly touched Cloud's shoulder. "I will walk with you," he told the blond.

Cloud gave one last glance at Sephiroth before following Vincent out of the office. The two of them proceeded in silence, not entirely comfortable on Cloud's part. His mind was still wandering, trying to decipher what occured of late. He tried to make sense of it, to determine the meaning of JENOVA's unexpected direct connection to him, but he only drew up a blank.

He recalled their last encounter at the ruins of Midgar. She had spoken of the Cells that he carried, the DNA that connected him to her. He had denied her the fact, just to spite, but deep down he knew. Why else would Sephiroth -- the Sephiroth of his world -- try to coax him into joining the Reunion, to dawn the same black cloak of his brethren and follow his master into oblivion? Why else would Hojo call him a 'failure'? Because he was a symbiote, one of the many servants under JENOVA by mere mistake. And thanks to all that mess that happened in his life, he was hearing her in his head. Just like Sephiroth probably heard her in his when he went insane.

Sephiroth couldn't get rid of her. Cloud didn't know how to banish her from his mind either. Did that mean he was destined to fall under her power? No! He wouldn't allow it. But he needed to figure out how to counter her. ...How?

Cloud rubbed at the bridge of his nose, forgetting he was in company. He was startled when Vincent addressed him in his deep, low voice.

"Do you feel ill?"

Cloud looked up at the man whom he always trusted as a companion. Though he was in a different world, looking upon that familiar face and trusting the man hadn't changed much (if even at all) comforted him. A tiny quirk at the corner of his lips changed his expression, discomforted though open to aid.

"No, not really," he answered, shaking his head slightly. "But-- Vincent?" When Vincent returned his gaze he continued. "How do you get rid of voices in your head?"

"Voices?" Vincent repeated with a small tilt of his brow. He didn't expect such a question.

"Yeah." Cloud felt like he talking with the same old comrade again. The knot between his shoulders from the tension caused by his mood slowly loosened. "I know it sounds stupid, but I want to know how to shut up the voice in my head. You'd know, wouldn't you? With Chaos?"

Vincent was taken aback at the mention of Chaos. Cloud -- at least the Cloud he came to know -- should not have known about Chaos, his name, anyway. Thankfully, his battles thus far for the sake of the planet not once required his relying on the demon's strength. There was no guaranteeing he could control the monster completely while borrowing its magicks and brutal powers. He did not even call upon Chaos during the battle in the Crater, against the childish Cloud Strife who now was dead.

Yet here this other Cloud, this alternate Cloud, knew about Chaos. He probably knew about the other beasts sharing rent in his body as well. Did that mean the other Vincent told him about the monsters? Did the two share a companionship like he and Sephiroth did? Did this mean Cloud was trustworthy? --More importantly, did this sudden talk of inner voices prophesize trouble for both Cloud and the others?

...Too many questions. Not enough time to sort out the answers.

Vincent looked ahead, breaking eye contact with the blond. "It is impossible to do," he answered. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Cloud's face fall, disheartened by the reply.

He continued regardless, "I have not once succeeded in blocking out the suggestions of the other inhabitants of this body, merely come to a sort of correspondence." He touched his breast. "For many, many years the voices twined around one another, sounding like nothing but an indistinct mass of garbles in my head. One could say it was what drove me to isolation."

This Vincent, much like the other one, was sealed in a coffin in a secret room in the basement of the ShinRa Mansion overlooking Nibelheim. He spent many years there, willingly drowning himself in a sea of nothingness as he sorted out the different identities that shared his body. For a long portion of his concealment he thought himself mad -- insane. He once thought the voices to be different aspecs of himself, intent on driving him away from sanity and reality. He thought them humored by his disposition: imprisoned in himself. It took a great deal of energy and time to push them all away, into prisons of their own to truly leave him alone. He dulled the threat they posed and the madness they incurred. But never could he stop their voices.

"But perhaps... meditation would alleviate some of the stress?" Vincent cast Cloud a glance, arcing a fine brow. "Or perhaps you can confide in me your troubles. I'm willing to listen."

The blond looked up at him with such a grateful expression, Vincent nearly smiled. It was like seeing the bright face of a lost child after being promised shelter and care. With a light pat on his shoulder, Vincent continued with Cloud to Sephiroth's quarters, where the two of them would wait and talk like civilized humans, cousins in their problems.

The two occupied the main living area. Cloud sat upon the couch, Vincent taking up seat on the other cushion. Turning to each other, Vincent asked, "Ready?" and Cloud nodded.

----

"...I still do not understand why you are avoiding him."

Sephiroth met Rufus' gaze. They had just finished discussing the plans on dealing with -- or rather, not dealing with -- the White Cloaks (an impromptu label for those robed and anonymous followers of JENOVA's son), and true to Rufus' nature, the blond had swiftly changed subjects, drawing them to the one subject Sephiroth wasn't too keen on discussing. Certainly not with Rufus. Holding back a small sigh of exasperation (it seemed that no one would leave him alone about it, many people already so convinced he should jump the hurdle without hesitation), he shook his head.

"I am not avoiding him," he denied. And truly, he wasn't... not really. He was just preventing accidents like the one in Kalm. He didn't need to unconsciously spill out his heart before the other man again.

Rufus threw him a skeptical look, one that he was very familiar with. In addition to their boss-and-employee relationship, a sort of cousinly bond formed between the two, through means and for reasons that still remained unknown. Neither man was particularly close to the other, but they shared rare moments of confiding in secrets and small troubles (and, on occasion, big troubles), sometimes advising the other man, though oftentimes just listening. "Oh? Last I remember,Sephiroth , you were one of the few of AVALANCHE who were eager to accept him -- embrace his possible innocence, in fact. What now? What caused you to quickly change your mind?"

"Nothing has changed. I am still willing to suspend disbelief and see him as an unfortunate victim in JENOVA's games rather than my enemy."

"Then...?" Rufus pressed, leaning forward slightly as he stood on the other side of the desk. "What were those glances I caught you giving him during the meeting?"

"Glances?" Sephiroth repeated, lifting a brow. "I did no such thing."

Rufus had the urge to laugh. He shook his head and gave the taller man a sideways grin. "I was standing right in front of you," he reminded him. "And I so happened to see the look he gave you, too."

"And what would that be?" he said despite himself. He didn't expect that to come out of his mouth.

At it, Rufus actually laughed, a sort of chuckle that shook his shoulders and drew him back down to his seat. "I can only increase security so much," he said, dodging the question. "While I understand without it you and he would be just fine -- your adventures in Kalm told me that at least -- but out of precaution... Not to mention, if we are confronted with both monsters like the one in Kalm , or the White Cloaks, or both for that matter, any attack will most likely be a decisive battle. We only have so many warriors, you understand; I don't have my SOLDIERS anymore, just what few Force members I have working directly under me." He shook his head, the smile slowly fading from his lips. "Them plus AVALANCHE... against JENOVA's demons... You can't tell me that's not at least trying."

Sephiroth nodded. It took so much out of them the first time, would they make through a second assault? War didn't happen so often for a reason. "Citizens will be involved if we stay here."

"Your strongest defense is here."

"I wanted to be secluded so that damages would be minimized."

"And risk Gaea losing her best warriors in a single blow?" Rufus shot back incredulously.

"It is better than losing the Force and innocent civilians as well. At least on our own, we can control what pain is suffered between us. We cannot guarantee others' safety if the fight really gets out of hand. Your Force members will have their hands full just protecting everyone here without trying to halt JENOVA from snatching Cloud right under our noses. She's tried it before; she'll do it again."

Rufus watched as the irritation rose in the long-haired man. He could see how frustrated the other one was at the situation. So close after the previous Armageddon, this second wave would be twice as traumatic. The world was just barely starting to heal, her wounds still fresh and raw; she would hardly survive a second rape. "...Let's continue this another time," he said after a moment of silence passed between them. It was heavy with Sephiroth's uncontrolled emotions. "Hall 12 and 13 will be open until eight tonight, if you plan on having a late dinner. Myself and the other executives will be dining about half past six in Hall 12; you're welcome to join us."

Sephiroth met Rufus' gaze again and shook his head. "We'll see. I'll inform the others about the arrangements, however." With that, he took Rufus' dismissal and turned about, making his way out of the room.

Just before he made it through the doorway, however, Rufus spoke one more time: "Ah, Sephiroth...?" He paused to look over his shoulder. "I'm may be wrong, but that look he gave you? I say it was hope, and perhaps even desperation; a silent call for help." I suggest you go to him and answer that call.

Sephiroth turned back around and continued down the hall. He shook his head, certain Rufus was just saying that to mess with him and stir up old feelings he wasn't too keen on reviving. He wasn't going to take the bait, regardless of Rufus' (and everyone else's) encouragement. The situation between he and Cloud Strife was personal; it was a completely different battle zone than the one concerning JENOVA and the end of the world. He didn't need the others to encourage either of them to initiate any sort of action. Sephiroth already made the first step, and look what it did? Rather than he was avoiding Cloud, the man was avoiding him. How could anything start between them if the idea of being in any way intimate with each other scared Cloud off?

Ridiculous. And pointless. Sephiroth wasn't going to push the matter. If it really mattered, Cloud could come to him on his own. In the meantime, he would just concentrate on continuing this "keep away" game with JENOVA and saving the world... again.

How tiring... it practically made him feel old.

Sighing quietly, the ex-General paused before the door of his room to gather his nerves. Once he recovered, he opened and passed through the door, greeting Vincent who sat on his own on the couch in the living area. When he looked around for Cloud, for his presence was absent from the room, Vincent pointed to the room the man occupied during their last stay.

"Asleep," Vincent told him, before pushing up to his feet. "He was tired from today's events."

Sephiroth nodded and allowed Vincent leave before he turned his attention to the closed door of Cloud's room. Confront him. Talk to him. That crazy, nonsensical part of him was promoting Rufus' suggestions.

...Later.

He retreated to his room.

-----

NOTE: And that concludes the chapter. Took me forever... AGAIN. Guh, I cannot tell you how many times I wrote and rewrote half of this thing until I was at least halfway satisfied. Blegh. I'll admit it; I hate this chapter, yet at the same time am glad to just have it written out, regardless of its cruddiness. It didn't quite end like I wanted it to... and for that I somewhat feel wrong about putting it out before I fix it. But I figured, if I can just get through this and finish the story, then when (if) I go back and revise the whole darn thing properly, I'll have forgotten all about the bad feelings and just concentrate on the good stuff. ...Kinda like how Seph is right now with Cloud and this whole pending war thing going on. (Root for me?) Keh... well, there you go, guys. A longer chapter to kinda-sorta make up for the lateness.

Happy White Day, everyone.
(Date of completion: 03/14/08)