here is the only chapter for today, me tired and watching American idol, steven tyler.

Don't own FF7, just Loki, Shelk and Kisala.

Part two

Chapter four

Shelk knew she was dreaming again because she could see. She shook her head and looked around; this wasn't her normal dream because she wasn't in Icicle inn village. She frowned, wandering around when a chill went up her spine. She now found herself in some camp, a bunch of wild flowers everywhere.

She smiled as children ran around playing in the field and men and woman tended to their daily rituals, this was a much nicer dream. The sky suddenly darkened and the camp was on fire. The homes were burning brightly in the night sky. Screams followed the smoke into the air.

She whirled around to see the people in the dark cloths running after the villagers. They were stabbing them with swords while some with bow and arrows were shooting at the men and woman and cutting down the crying children.

The old man was no longer around, but a woman stood on the hill holding the staff with the glowing orb. Her hood was down showing her face. Tan skin with long red hair that whipped around in the night air, her skin contrasted with the fire's light; her dark green eyes shown with some mad glee.

Shelk backed away from the woman, away from the fire, shaking and the cry's sounding about her. The words of the blue skinned woman came into her ear as a blue hand touched her shoulder, a head full of silver hair leaned over her.

"It will be all over soon Shelk, my daughter, just come to mother, mother needs her only daughter."

Shelk joined in the screaming of the town's people as she felt her whole body shaking. Her eyes snapped open as a hand gripped her shoulder and a voice was calling in her ear, a soft friendly voice.

"Shelk, Shelk wake up" Aerith whispered and Shelk gasped, breathing deeply looking around wildly in the darkness.

Aerith hugged the older woman whose fingers dug into her arm like a life line. She shushed her as the nightmare ebbed away. Aerith had felt something cold in the room when Shelk had started screaming in her sleeping, something dark and invading.

Her eyes widened as she heard something outside. She tensed when the door slid open, but relaxed when she saw Tifa.

"Come on" the martial arts girl said "Something's going on" Aerith nodded and stood, pulling Shelk to her feet.

Shelk had stopped shaking now and touched her head. She stepped one foot out of the cell door when she slapped her hand over her nose and made a wrenching noise.

"What is that Gaea awful smell" she mumbled through her pressed hands.

Aerith looked at Shelk then at the dead body at the corner of the hall. She gasped and quickly asked

"Is it a sweet sour smell?" she asked remembering when she had smelled blood before

Shelk nodded

"It is blood I think" Shelk said while moving away from the smells direction. Barret thundered down the hall, Red XIII's paws right behind him. They stopped at the dead guard

"What the hell is this" Barret asked, gesturing madly at the guards.

Cloud, his sword retrieved, opened Genesis's cell. He had Genesis rapier in his hand and looked into the eyes of a pissed off Soldier, standing right at the door. Genesis also looked agitated; he must have heard Shelk's screams Cloud concluded. There was a bunch of black feathers all over the floor. He eyed them before walking in and undid the man's binds. Though he really didn't trust the SOLDIER, the man in red had helped them so far.

Genesis walked out of the cell quickly, having heard Shelk scream a few moments before, only to see Shelk covering her nose with both hands. He smelled the air and winced, blood. He looked down at Cloud who also had his face scrunched up in displeasure. Genesis moved around Barret and stood in front of the guard. Only one sword made wounds like that and its owner was in Cosmos canyon…or somewhere.

"No Human could have done this" the red wolf stated and Genesis nodded his head, Loki certainly wasn't human. Red XIII turned down the hall "I'll go first" then he was off.

Barret was going to stay behind to clean up the body. Genesis pulled Shelk passed the body and Cloud came a few seconds behind with Tifa and Aerith.

The moment they opened the door, Shelk plus the two Mako enhanced men smelt all the blood down the floor. Shelk covered her nose with one hand, not use to the smell. Clouds eyes went a deeper shade of blue, like he was remembering something without realizing it. Genesis eyed him warily.

They followed the trail of blood right to where Jenova's body was housed. Genesis gasped at the sight of the busted door. It was blown wide open, but like it had been blown from the inside. The assistant laid just to the left of the door, in a puddle of blood, a puddle of his own blood. Blood he, Cloud and Shelk were standing in. Aerith eyed it in horror and Tifa just stared silently, remembering.

Shelk had tensed up the moment she heard the sound of blood splashing under her feet. Barret ran around the corner and skidded to a halt.

"The Hell" he screamed but was cut off by Cloud.

"Did it get away…Jenova" Cloud asked staring at the hole intently.

Cloud turned quickly from the torn open container and looked at Red XIII. The red wolf looked up at Cloud and said

"The specimen…looks like it went to the upper floor" he said shaking his paws of blood or trying to. "Using the elevator for the specimen" he motioned to the tank he had been in before.

The group followed Red XII. They piled into the elevator where they went up one floor. Genesis looked behind them and saw a few of them were leaving a trail of bloody foot prints in their wake. He turned back to the front, his eyes narrowed.

They found another of Hojo's assistants lying on the ground, also dead.

"It looks like it leads up" Red XIII said looking at the blood trail leading away from the body.

Cloud took off and the others followed after him. Genesis kept a good grip on Shelk's arm. He could tell something was bothering her but he would have to wait to ask. As they ran they noticed slash marks in the walls along with the blood. Cloud narrowed his eyes as did Genesis, both recognized the attacks. The stair well was the worse, body parts littering the floor.

Shelk would twitch at every step as did the others. Shelk remembered her dream. She shook her head, this wasn't the murdering of the Cetra; this…she didn't know what this was.

They ran into the president's office where the trail led and stopped. The room was mostly clean unlike its hallways. Sitting at the desk was the president, hunched over, his head on the table as if asleep. Sticking out of his back was a familiar sword, Masamune.

Genesis stared at the large sword. Had he not known about Loki he would have thought Sephiroth had come through here but Sephiroth was never this destructive, when he killed he did it swiftly and with little to no mess. He gripped Shelk's hand tighter; she seemed to sense his uneasiness and looked at him.

Barret had aimed his gunned arm at the president but stopped.

"He's dead…" he said sounding like he couldn't believe it "the president of ShinRa. Inc. is dead."

Tifa had gone around and was checking the man's pulse. Genesis knew it didn't matter, this man was dead.

"Then this sword must be…" Tifa whispered backing away.

"Sephiroth/Loki" Genesis and Cloud echoed one another and Genesis's head snapped to Cloud.

Cloud hadn't heard Genesis speak but was staring at the long sword that had pierced his gut so long ago. Genesis scowled, was Clouds memory a lot worse than he thought or did he not know the Sephiroth he had seen had been a fake.

Shelk too listen to Cloud, hatred in his voice, did he not know Sephiroth had not done this, was not evil…she thought no he couldn't have if Hojo got them. She frowned, something was seriously wrong with the boy's memories.

"Sephiroth is alive…" Tifa said looking scared and sounding terrified of the idea, remembering the blade that had stabbed her in the same place it had Cloud.

"Looks like it, only Sephiroth can use that sword" Cloud said and Genesis and Shelk stared at him.

"Cloud, Sephiroth…" Genesis started but the blonde wasn't listening and Barret shouted loudly over the man's quiet voice

"Who cares who did it, this is the end of ShinRa" Barret hollered in glee.

Shelk shook her head; there was one more person who could lead ShinRa. There was a noise suddenly, like a strangled gasped and the AVALANCH team looked to see Palmer run into the room. He took one look at the sword, then at them then broke for it.

Palmer ran right past them, Cloud and Barret grabbing his arms, Genesis drew his sword and held it to the sniveling man.

"Please don't kill me" he yelled struggling widely.

"What happened" demanded Genesis, not in the mood to play nice.

"Sephiroth, Sephiroth came" he blabbered.

Clouds eyes widened and demanded

"Did you see him, did you see Sephiroth" his grip on the man's arm tightened.

"Yes, yes I saw him with my own eyes" the man was blubbering now and Genesis took his sword away disgusted.

Genesis turned from the conversation, angry. How dare Loki impersonate his friend; Sephiroth and he may have had a competitive relationship but they were still friends. The real Sephiroth was in Cosmo canyon, with that wild woman he cared about.

"I heard his voice too, he was saying something about not letting us have the promise land" Genesis half turned to the man to pay attention.

"Then what, does that mean the promise lands exists and Sephiroth is here to save it from ShinRa" Red XIII asked Genesis shook his head

"So he's the good guy then" Barret asked confused.

"No way!" shouted Cloud and Genesis frowned again.

He watched clouds blue eyes grow dark almost green as he spoke, something really happened with Loki because Sephiroth had been unconscious when the attack on Nibelheim went down. Cloud and Sephiroth had had a strange friendship. Genesis still remembered their very first training session.

Flash Back…

Zack led a nervous cadet into the training room where the others were. Genesis was leaning against the wall, his book in hand. Sephiroth was speaking with Angeal but all looked up when the two entered.

Cloud, sprung by training and orders, saluted the three while Zack waved merrily. Genesis closed his book and said.

"Sephiroth tells us you want all three of us to help you train this…Cadet" he looked at Cloud who flinched under the hard gaze.

"Yeah" said Zack merrily unaware of Genesis scanning Cloud. "He's good at swordsmanship already and with the push in the right direction he'll make a great SOLDIER. "

Angeal nodded in agreement, eyeing the Sword on the cadets back.

"Yes, I've test his skill a bit myself, he has good reflexes" Genesis nodded in acceptance, Sephiroth still didn't say anything, watching Cloud.

Angeal and Zack took turns showing Cloud the ropes to his sword. The boy got most of the basics and with a few adjustments was blocking attacks from the two like a natural. The blonde was still nerves but had relaxed the more time passed. Genesis would throw in comments here in their when Cloud either did something wrong, or what he thought he should have done differently.

Sephiroth stayed silent during the whole thing till finally he stood, catching the others attention. He picked up his sword and walked onto the training floor. Genesis had crossed his arms confused and Angeal and Zack looked curious.

"I wish to test him" was all he said, pointing his sword the boy.

All of their eyes widened at his sentence. Angeal backed off though, pulling a worried Zack behind him. They took a seat near Genesis as Cloud looked wide eyed at the tall man.

Sephiroth eyed Cloud calculating before lunging, blinking practically out of existence. The other three had leapt to their feet in surprise but Cloud blocked the attack to his right, though it pushed him across the floor, almost knocking him off his feet.

Sephiroth nodded approvingly and attack again.

Cloud lay on the floor panting and sore, Zack hovering over him like a worried mother-Chocobo's. Sephiroth was watching, Genesis staring at him and Angeal lecturing about going easy on the cadet. Sephiroth stood, looking at Cloud before he said

"You are good Strife, keep practicing."

Cloud lifted his head, somewhat difficulty and smiled a bit, before his head plopped back onto the floor with a thud. Sephiroth smirked at him.

End of Flash Back…

Genesis shook his head at the memory. He looked up as Palmer ran past him and a helicopter landed on the deck outside. He watched it warily, wondering who could come out of it.

He noticed the man in white suit just as Barret said

"Rufus" he said along with cursing the boy's name.

Shelk's head snapped up at the mention of the boy and Genesis looked at her curious, did she know the little brat?

"Vice President Rufus ShinRa?" Shelk asked.

Cloud led the way to the deck where the helicopter had landed. Shelk followed as best as she could, seeming almost eager to Genesis. This eagerness didn't sit well with the red elite.

Rufus looked up from talking to Palmer and looked at their little group, eyeing each one.

"Genesis…" he stared at the red Elite before looking at someone else, a grin broke onto his face "Shelk"

Shelk smiled a bit and shook her head at him.

"How have you been Shelk" Rufus asked smoothly, ignoring everyone else.

"I am doing fine" she told him flatly "better than I have in a long time."

Rufus frowned at that and said

"I haven't seen you in a long time, not sense you started hanging out with Genesis," Shelk nodded and Genesis looked between the two.

"Yes, you stopped coming to the communication tower that day" she smiled "it was actually nice, you wouldn't stop talking, and it's hard to do my job when someone is blabbing behind you."

Rufus frowned and crossed his arms.

"Yeah, you never talked to me anyway" he looked at Genesis, who was holding Shelk's hand "I really don't know what you see in Genesis, he's cold, obsessed with the play, loveless… not much there in personality really" Rufus smirked "or in appearance either."

Genesis growled but Shelk smiled and said

"I see his heart" was all she said "and that's the most beautiful thing about him" she then frowned "unlike you, who have no heart."

Rufus shrugged at her accusation not really denying but a smile appeared on his face, like he had a secret.

"I still think you could have done better, really falling for each other over a silly little play" he waved his hands "infinite is the gift of the goddess…morrow barren of promises blah, blah" he shrugged "pure nonsense."

Shelk shook her head, wondering how he knew this. She sighed and spoke her voice still soft

"I would not expect someone who only has pride and vanity to keep him company to understand something like Loveless." She leaned on Genesis "like I said before, I've been better then I've been in a long time."

Rufus scowled at her face but she was unaffected. He smirked, but Genesis smug face was annoying so he said.

"How much do you miss him Shelk, the lost little puppy" at her confused looks he smiled.

"What do you mean?" demanded Shelk but was ignored as Rufus looked at the others.

"Who are you?" he asked

"Cloud former SOLDIER first class" Cloud said, eyeing the blonde while Shelk demanded to know what Rufus was talking about, still being ignored. Cloud frowned at him.

Rufus too frowned at the blonde as the black man introduced himself. He didn't remember a First class named Cloud, there had only been five; Genesis, Sephiroth, Angeal, Zack, and Kisala. He looked at Shelk's and Genesis scowling faces and concluded something was wrong with the blondes head.

Rufus shrugged after they finished introducing them self

"What a crew" he said, and they were, two SOLDIER, two AVALANCHES, research specimen, flower girl from the slums and a communications director. "As you know I am Rufus president of ShinRa Inc."

"You're only president because your old man's dead" Barret shouted waving his fist.

Rufus just shook his head turning away from them; he really hadn't liked his father so his death wasn't too big on his priority list.

"Old man tried to control the world with money, it seems to have been working, and the population thought ShinRa would protect them. Work at ShinRa, get your pay. If a terrorist attacks, ShinRa's army will help you" he waved his hand while leaning on the railing. "It looks perfect on the outside"

The others glared at him as he smiled at them

"But I do things differently, I'll control the world through fear, it would take too much to do it like my old man, a little fear will control the minds of the common people. There's no reason to waste money on them."

Shelk scowled at the blonde man, he use to sit in her tower just to talk. She shook her head

"Fear will just breed more terrorist Rufus" she told him "Change ShinRa but for the better instead of sucking the planet dry, save it, give back to it."

Rufus raised an eye brow at her but she didn't see it, she could however feel the laughter he wanted to let out at her statement. She narrowed her eyes at him.

Cloud turned from Rufus.

"Get out of this building Aerith" he told the last Cetra, "you guys too"

"What" Screamed Barret but Cloud only shrugged at him?

"I'll explain later, Barret but right now we have a real crisis for the planet" he looked at Barret and the two squared off.

"The hell's that supposed to mean" Barret demanded waving his fists.

"I'll explain later! Just take my word for now; I'll go after I take care of him." Cloud pleaded, trying to get them to leave.

The man looked ready to argue but sighed and nodded.

"Alright Cloud" and he turned with Tifa. Red XIII looked at Cloud a moment before following the others.

Shelk went to walk away but Genesis let go of her hand, she turned confused as Aerith grabbed her arm.

"Genesis?" she asked

"Cloud I'm staying, I've got something I need to… say to him" he pointed his now unsheathed rapier at Rufus.

She bit her lip and touched his shoulder so he would lean to her level. He did so and she touched his face, memorizing the detail she then kissed him. After a few seconds she broke away and whispered

"You had better come back"

"Even if the marrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return" he said and only then did she let Aerith lead her away.

As they ran, Tifa stayed to wait for Cloud, Aerith looked back at the black haired woman and smiled, though it was sad, remembering her own black haired…boyfriend.

Genesis and Cloud watched the helicopter fly away, Rufus climbing into it and Genesis was tempted to extend his wing, and fly after the little heathen but he followed Cloud back into the building where they met up with a waiting Tifa. Cloud looked really surprised to see her.

"Where's Rufus?" she asked.

"We couldn't finish them, looks like things are getting complicated" Cloud said moving down the hall. As they ran Cloud suddenly stopped as if remembering something

"Go on a head you two; there is one more thing I have to do?"

Tifa looked confused but nodded and went to the stairs, Genesis watched the second who though he was a first then nodded, running down the stairs as well.

go and review now ok, love yall, hope you enjoyed more of Clouds a holy ness Lauren.