. R O A D . T O . D A M A S C U S . C H R O N I C L E S .

. S E R A P H . & . S E R A P H I M .

Chapter One: Unfinished Business

"I am telling you! My name is not Zack Fair! Where the hell did you get that name?" Zack shot at the poor woman at the desk who was gasping and stammering.

"Zack, honestly, it could have been a mistake." Aeris said smoothly and smiled at the woman. "Zack, is there anyone else you know with your name in the Soldiers?" She brushed the straying sand off her pink and red full bathing suit, yet it was cut proactively to show her curves with a white sarong around her waist.

Zack turned to his wife of a week, "No! I'm the only Zachary in the entire Soldiers!" He was also wearing something for the beach, in dark blue and black swim short and white tank and simple black flip flops on his feet.

"How strange." Aeris murmured and leaned onto the counter, "May I see the paper?" The woman nodded and handed the paper to her. Aeris scanned down the paper and giggled. "Ah, Zack, there is your name. There has to be a mix up. Look." She pointed to another name, "They mixed up your last name." She turned to the woman. "His last name is Donovan; I am sure that person's last name is Fair, if you will call him up and ask."

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, with everyone booking here at Costa Del Sol in the past week, it's been crazy." The woman said and took the paper, scribbling down the correct name for Zack and placing the strange last name that had belonged to someone else.

Zack smirked, grabbing hold of Aeris' waist and nuzzled into her head, "You're the best. Poor bloke who has the last name Fair… it sound so… so…"

"Fairyish?" Zack turned and glared at a sniggering Cloud dressed in blue bikini with pale blue and white wrap around hanging low on her waist. Sephiroth stood next to her grinning, wearing nothing but a black swim trunk that hung low on his hip, showing his full muscular chest and eight packs.

"Shut up!" He growled and smirked as he turned fully to them. "So, you're eating here too?"

Cloud nodded as she leaned her head on Sephiroth's shoulder. "Had to book ahead of time." Sephiroth explained.

"Yeah, lucky you, you're practically famous and everyone would bow down to you, give you all you want, you guys are gods!" Zack whined.

Cloud rolled her eyes and stepped away, pulling Aeris away from the men, "I can't stand being brought up in conversation about being a god or the ruler. We haven't even gotten the coronation yet and it's already driving us batty." She murmured softly.

Aeris smiled, "Zack is rather annoyed, everyone he meets, they ask about it all the time and it's driving him up the wall, seeing he is the best friend to the next King of the world." She patted Cloud's hand as they stepped outside in the warm sun of Costa Del Sol. Everyone had decided to flock to the sunny beach for a week long vacation.

Cloud sighed softly as she closed her eyes to the sun, allowing the warm breeze wash over her face. "Too bad, we're going back tomorrow." She said.

"I know. It had been a nice break." Aeris said wistfully.

"I told you! You should have threatened Rufus and Reeve to allow us a month, No! A whole year long break!" Zack said as he and Sephiroth joined the women outside.

Sephiroth rolled his eyes and slapped Zack on the head. "Shut up! At least this time around, we're going to get a break now and then. There's no danger in the world… the Calamity of the Sky is gone for good and all is just right."

Zack nodded, grinning. "Yeah… Say, let's hit the beach and swim before we come back to eat later…" He stopped as a young cadet in swim short and tank top ran up to them with a paper in his hand.

"Sir! Telegram from Neo-Midgar. It's from the President!" The cadet handed the paper to Zack as he saluted and bowed to Sephiroth.

Zack frowned and looked at the paper and cursed, "Shit! No way!"

Sephiroth took the paper and read the telegram. "You're right in that train of thought. I guess we said too soon."

Cloud took the paper and sighed, "Wutai's declaring war upon Neo-Midgar."

Aeris gasp, "What in world for?" She asked.

"Lord Godo Kisaragi is still adamant against Sephiroth taking crown. He wishes to declare war on Neo-Midgar for allying with Sephiroth since they want him for the treasons he had done in Wutai War." They turned to find Vincent Valentine joining them, wearing black tank top with red swim trunk. His hair was tied up in high pony tail, revealing his handsome pale face, looking every bit like Sephiroth save the coloring.

Sephiroth turned to Vincent, frowning, "Why? Wutai war was twenty years ago, surely they'd forget about it."

"Yeah, after Sephiroth helped to save the planet recently." Cloud added.

Vincent shook his head, "I regret that Godo is rather stubborn. He harbors grudge more than anyone on the planet and he desires to see Sephiroth pay for his crime, or rather, die."

Cloud gasped softly and looked to Sephiroth, worried crossed her face as she clutched his hand. His face set stonily, "I suppose the vacation must end, after all, I have a lot of work to make up for my past."

"Seph, it's not your fault. It was the ShinRa who made you do this." Cloud said.

"Yeah." Zack agreed.

"I know. This is why Rufus ShinRa must help me in gaining favor from the rest of the world. Don't worry Cloud," He smiled as he turned to her, "We will get married and we will be crowned King and Queen, with everyone's favor, including Wutai." He turned to Vincent who gave a curt nod.

"Ooh! So have you decided when the wedding date is?" Aeris asked, clapping her hands.

Cloud gave a weak laugh, "Honestly, we haven't decided."

"Six months from today." Cloud gasped as she looked to Sephiroth.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I am not waiting any longer. I can't wait to have you to become mine for real." He smiled at her, "Six month from today, we will be married, no matter what." Cloud smiled at him and nodded as Aeris clapped her hands in joy and Zack grinning.

LKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOA

The vacation came to an end the next day and everyone had flocked back to Neo-Midgar, by the airship, Sierra. To Rufus' annoyance, they all had decided to take a week long break and went to Costa Del Sol the day after the Northern Crater battle. Aeris and Zack had eloped, getting married in the old church with Cloud and Sephiroth as a witness before they were off on the vacation and they had been happily married for the entire week at the beach. Everyone else just scattered across the beach, enjoying the sun, the peaceful knowledge that the world wasn't going to end any time soon and not worrying about being called upon to fight something every single minutes.

But life like that had to end for people like them, they had burden to the world, helping everyone to regain their lives and start their future anew after the destruction happening the last few months. Tifa and Barret decided to stay in Neo-Midgar, help Elmyra run the Orphanage. The Turks went back to work for Rufus, protecting the young President with their lives, dressed in somber navy suits and sunglasses, strapped down with guns and weapons, playing the roles of the tough and rough Turks. Cid had been given the title to run the Air Force as a Commander Chief for Neo-Midgar, he gets the chance to have Scarlet work with him, creating new prototypes of weapons and vehicles, starting their relationship all over again anew. And Nanaki, the wolf was often found going from one of the member to another, helping out in every way he could with his wisdom. He was often called upon as the Orphanage babysitters when Barret and Tifa had to go out and help the World Regenesis Organization.

Vincent and Yuffie, both was given a quarter to live in Neo-Midgar, close to the others, yet their purpose was different this time around. They both were entirely focused on the Wutai, helping the Wutaianese who had lost their homes and lives in Midgar in Neo-Midgar. Vincent was gathering up all the Southern Wutaianese warriors and men, searching for those who would be loyal to him for their upcoming plan with Wutai. Their operation was a secret, only those of Avalanche and Turks knew, including the President.

Zack, with help of Sephiroth started to work with few of the top ranking Class Three Soldiers, bringing up their levels so they'd become the next Elites for Rufus. Zack wanted to delegate his duty as a General to one of the Soldiers so he'd be able to leave and join Sephiroth's side after the coronation. Sephiroth agreed to help, knowing he would want Zack to be by his side while he ruled the world with Cloud in the future. And while at the same time, Reeve had sent Sephiroth on mission trips all over the world, meeting with the people and leaders, apologizing for the former ShinRa's wrongdoing and gaining their favor, and getting to know them.

Cloud, while all that was happening, helped out in Neo-Midgar, helping the others to build, deliver and take care of the children in the Orphanage with Aeris and Shiva. Ifrit was often found helping either Zack or Sephiroth, becoming close friend with them. Odin had fallen under Cloud's care and was often keeping her busy on her feet with a mischievous little boy who loved to cause havoc wherever he went.

Which brings us to the story two weeks after the final battle in Neo-Midgar finding Cloud screaming at Odin in the middle of the street. The young boy was smirking, holding a brush behind his back, dripping pink paint. "Odin! I can't believe you went and did graffiti in the street!" Odin smirked as he rocked back and forth on his feet. "What in the world did you paint?" Cloud asked, exasperated and glancing at the gray street painted bright pink. It was hard to tell since the painting was already large and the other culprits had taken off, leaving Odin caught by her.

"Oh my!" Cloud looked up to see Aeris standing on the top of the building, having caught several children hiding up there. She was holding Denzel by the collar, glancing down. "They painted a rather large moogle."

Cloud sighed and closed her eyes, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She wondered how they found so much pink paint to use and the way of paining so much before getting caught. "Pink moggle?"

Odin giggled. "It's so boring, there's nothing to do and the cities gray and drab." He quipped as he waved the dripping pink brush around, splattering the pink paint as it went.

Cloud leapt out of the way, not wanting pink paint over her dark blue outfit. "Watch it boy!" She yelped and grabbed the brush and shook it in front of Odin's face. "You could have asked me to give you all something to do. I think it's time for you all to go to school! I'm going to take this up with Barret!"

The children had gathered around behind her with Aeris, standing in front of the orphanage. Their eyes went wide as Barret was mentioned and some shouted no, knowing Barret was tough with punishment. Cloud turned to them and stood with hands on her hips, the brush hanging dangerously from her hand, still dripping the amazing never-ending paint. "Yes! We've been rather lenient with you all! Odin!" She turned and grabbed the young boy by the ear, causing him to yelp. "I don't care if you used to be a god, you're five years old and you're going to school too! You lot!" She pushed the young boy to join the rest of the children. "Are going to clean this up!" She gestured to the large image of pink moogle on the street. "Go and get the cleaning supplies." She watched the children stand there, looking about. She raised an eyebrow and shouted, "I said NOW!" They scattered and ran back in the building and soon, they all came out with all sort of cleaning supplies. She went over to Aeris and watched with the flower girl as the children started to clean up.

"You're good with them." Aeris commented.

"No." Cloud replied. "I'm good at punishing them. It seems all I can do. I'm not so good with affection and hugs and all the play times."

Aeris laughed, "That will come in time. Odin seems to be attached to you and Sephiroth. He's a quiet handful."

Cloud nodded, sighing sadly. "Yeah." She watched the five years old boy laughing and quipping with the others about something as he cleaned. Since the final battle, the mighty and powerful god had decided to remain as a mortal, becoming a young boy and she had no heart of abandoning him to the orphanage, taking him in as her own son. But it still pained her that she couldn't have her own child. Sephiroth also knew this and expressed that he was glad to be with her, no matter what. He told her he'd adopt every child in the world if it would make her happy. But he knew it wouldn't because none of the children would share his and her blood. Odin was close enough, he was a pure Valkyrie and they fell in love with him the first day he stayed with them.

However, as two weeks went by, they've learned that Odin was quiet a handful, a mischievous brat that had thirst for life, always getting in sort of troubles every minutes. Yet he was still a loveable boy who had the uncanny ability of making everything seem all right despite the situation he always gets into. He made Sephiroth smile and cracks up after getting himself in trouble and Cloud exasperated and confused to punish him or forgive him afterward.

Cloud slapped a hand to her face as Odin dumped a bucket of soapy water onto the other kids, soaking them. He was one of the youngest of the lot, and everyone didn't mind him but loved him and included him in every activities every single time he and Cloud came around to the orphanage.

"At least they're busy. I am surprised that ever since they've lived together after Meteor, they didn't break out in a fight or anything. Tifa was worried that it would happen but it had not."

"They love each other; they've all shared the same experience, except for Odin. When you go through traumatic experience, you tend to stick together. I see it all the time in Soldiers." Cloud said softly as she watched the children cleaning the pink mess they made. She had noticed that all of the children she had come across had slightly glowing eyes, knowing they were victims of Geosigma. Several adults who had Geosigma also had the sign of slight glowing eyes.

The scientist had told her and the others that those who had Geosigma did show that their genes were altered, closer to resemble the genes of the Valkyries. They would live their life to the fullest, healthy and when they copulates and conceive, their children will breed out the old genes, creating stronger foundation of Valkyries genes, they predicted in two generations or three, everyone on the planet will be all Valkyries, given that the children's genes were already altered fully now.

Cloud looked over to Aeris, who was smiling radiantly, sitting on the steps of the building, watching the children. She had her hands over her belly and it hit her then that she realized the flower girl was expecting already. She swallowed hard and turned away, watching the children again, the paint was all nearly gone, yet there was hint of pink stain on the street. She supposed they had enough of cleaning up and went to the side of the building and pulled out the hose. "All right kids, time to clean up!" The kids cheered and lined up before her, standing like Soldiers she had taught them in the past two weeks. The summer had come around and the days were long and hot. She had resorted to allowing the kids play outside all day and they usually come back, dirty and she didn't want them to bring in the dirt in the building.

She turned the knob and started to spray the children with water; they all laughed and stood in their place, getting soaked from head to toes, cleaning the dirt and grimes off them. They squealed and screamed as the cold water blasted over them. She smiled at them and turned the knob, shutting the water off. "All right, you know the drills." She said with her best commanding voice and the girls filed to the right side of the building while the boys went left, stripping their clothes off and leaving them in the basket as they enter the building and went up to their rooms to dry and dress up for dinner.

Aeris came from the girls' side, holding the basket of wet clothes as she met with Cloud behind the building, hanging up the clothes to dry. "Cloud, are you all right?" She asked as she noticed the blond looked serious and quiet.

Cloud nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine." She said a little bit too flatly.

Aeris placed the basket down and reached to grab Cloud by the shoulder, not minding the other woman was nearly half head taller than she is and had the strength of an Elite Soldiers. "Cloud, something is bothering you." Aeris said her voice left no argument.

Cloud looked to the green-eyed woman and sighed, "I guess, I'm still not really over it."

"What?"

"Not being able to have children. It's…" She went quiet and Aeris gasped.

"I'm so sorry, am I being too obvious?" Cloud looked up again and nodded. "I just only found out few days ago… I wasn't ready to tell you… I don't know how you'd react."

Cloud shook her head. "Aeris, it's okay. I should be happy for you, not getting upset with myself instead." She smiled softly and gave the shorter woman a hug.

Aeris smiled as they hugged and Cloud stepped back, turning to finish hanging the wet clothes. She watched the blonde from the corner of her eyes and knew it was still bothering Cloud on the inside and sighed, wishing that with all of her healing ability, she would help Cloud to be able to carry a child of her own but knew it wouldn't be possible. Cloud was healthy and there was nothing left to heal except for her spirit, she was still grieving for her three other sons, grieving for all of the people in the world and all that had happened in the past few years. It was too much for her to handle, Aeris knew and suspected Cloud will finally break down if one more thing were to happen and prayed to the gods above that Cloud will be given time to heal before the next thing to come face to face with all of them.

Yes, Zack had been right, they should all had taken a longer vacation, to forget, to heal and get over the experience they've gone through, especially Cloud and Sephiroth but it seems, they couldn't be given longer vacation, the world was on their shoulders.

LKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOA

In Lord Godo Kisaragi's office, the four men sat around a low table, sitting on cushions, drinking their sake and going over paperwork. Godo had several scrolls in front of him and he was holding a cup of sake.

The younger man of the council of Kisaragi's House spoke up, "Reports had been flowing in the past few days, and everything is over. The team of Avalanche, along with Turks and some of the Summonses on their sides had defeated the evil that was the cause of the ShinRa, the illness are cured."

The elder of the four, Chekhov, an aged warrior grumbled, "Yes but the children have signs of Mako now. Our healers' reported that they are like Soldiers, their bodies changed, they are not pure anymore."

Staniv, a man slightly younger than Godo frowned, "But it is according to the prophecy that the world will change, becoming Children of Gaia. The events in the past few years had proven the prophecy come true." He argued.

Godo remained silent as he listened to Staniv and Chekhov starts to argue about the prophecy, what was right and what was ill. His mind wandered away as he recalled about Wutai's history. Long ago, the country was united and true, as one, strong and stable. Until ShinRa rose to power a little over a hundred years ago and the royal family found the ShinRa to be a threat, however, it was divided, that one side agreed that they should take up arm and bring down ShinRa before they could rise to the height of their power and destroy the planet. The other side disagrees and wishes to allow ShinRa to rise and fall, as it was said in the prophecy.

However, as Godo knew, the prophecy was the foundation of Wutai, creating the culture and religion of the Wutai, anticipating the peaceful time to come, yet the half of the royal family saw in a small part of the prophecy that the peace brought would destroy Wutai, bringing it down to nothing and their proud culture and history will fade away to nothingness and they would be mingled with the rest of the world, becoming impure. It was the cause of division of the Royal House, becoming the house of Xin'Tine, which took the south of Wutai and the House of Kisaragi, who took the north. For a generation, the two houses bickered and held bitterness against each other and then, one fateful day, the ShinRa saw this and used the chance to exploit the weakness.

When ShinRa happened, it brought both houses together in a reluctant agreement to rejoin and fight against ShinRa, to protect the country from the world domineering company that wanted Mako and more. The two houses came together and agreed that the son and the daughter from both families will marry and rejoin the house and they signed a scroll to abide the agreement.

From the Kisaragi family, Godo Kisaragi was born and the Xin'Tine family soon was expecting a child, however, a son was born to Grimoire Xin'Tine. It was a great disappointment and the Kisaragi House demanded for Grimoire to have another child, however, it wasn't possible, for his wife couldn't have another child late in her life. It had caused another disruption with the family and the war happened.

ShinRa invaded and Wutai fought to keep them out. They stole and pillaged the country, crippling the people of Wutai. The son of Grimoire ran away, feeling the pressure from the war and the pressure of ShinRa, like many southern Wutaianese did. Grimoire, in his grief, gave up and surrendered the south to Godo, who was at the age of thirty took rule and assembled the entire Wutai, all of their warriors and fought back the best they could.

Godo's face darkened as he recalled the memory that ended the war. Thousand of his warrior had died, laid strewn about the bloody battlefield along with the ShinRa's warrior, their blood mingling, steeping the land of Wutai. And the Elites came in, a small band of super-soldiers, created by the scientist of the ShinRa, using the maddening method of Mako to increase their strength, speed and inhumanity. It took several hundred more to bring all nine of them down and then, Godo was faced with a young boy of eleven years old, his hair black like midnight and his eyes, blazing green.

He was shocked, appalled when he met the boy, staring at each other across the battle field. The boy was the image of Kintaro Xin'Tine, the exact image. He knew then, that the runaway son of Grimoire Xin'Tine had bred a son and the boy was on ShinRa's side. He was deeply insulted that the ShinRa had decided to use the boy as the last resort.

Up on the hill, the boy stood, dressed in black suit, his hand held the simple katana that glinted in the early dawn of the morning and his eyes glowed, heartless and cold, void of any souls. Godo remembered how he had felt then, they had sent a monster in a body of a child and it was then he knew, he had to do everything he could to save Wutai, to preserve their foundation, their purity. Damn the house of Xin'Tine, the Kisaragi will rule Wutai whole.

He screamed then, signaling the entire warrior that stood to kill the boy on the hill. He watched as the boy came running down the hill, meeting the hundred of warriors, and to his horror, the boy had simply went through them without a slice upon his skin, but felled them all under mere twenty minutes.

Then, when the entire warrior had been left to die, he was facing the boy in the middle of the bloody field. They faced each other, the boy cold and emotionless and he was quaking inside, keeping the mask of a stoic warrior on his face. The boy stalked slowly toward him.

"Stop there. We surrender." Godo had told the boy and dropped his sword and held his hand up. Wutai was worthless now, there was no use for the country to ShinRa, the land is sullied, soaked with blood and nearly all the warriors are dead, all there was left the women and children.

The boy stopped and tilted his head as if he didn't understand him. Godo was puzzled; he had spoken in the language that the ShinRa spoke. Then the boy spoke, his voice low, "Surrender?"

"Yes."

"The word does not comply. Mission: kill the leader." The boy said and it shocked Godo. His eyes went wide as he realized the truth to the depth of the boy's eyes. There was no sign of a soul within the boy.

He fingered the small stone in his armguard, "You're a monster." He whispered and he rotated the stone, activating it. He shouted as he shot his hand to the sky, causing a red beam to shoot out, "Neo Bahamut!" Then he watched in mild interest as the boy looked up to the sky without care.

The sky exploded and a gigantic dragon swept down, aiming to attack the young boy. Then, as before the dragon came closer, he took a flying leap upward to meet the silver dragon. His sword clashed upon the face of the dragon, disrupting it's attack and it clawed and snapped at the boy. Godo watched in mild horror as the boy twisted his body in graceful moves much like the street performers of acrobats.

The boy glowed bright, brilliantly white and his sword grew in length of six feet, his inky black hair came free from its tie and became ghost white, his body stretched and grew. With the burst of light, Godo shielded his eyes and then the light faded, the dragon was slewed and exploded in the sky, sending shockwave everywhere around.

He looked up to see the boy but found a silver-haired man coming down, looking at him. He threw his sword and he gasped as the blade hit him in the center of his chest, pinning him down to the ground on his knees. He coughed, blood spilled from his lips. He glared up to the green-eyed, silver haired man who landed on the ground before him, looking very imposing and god-like. "I said, we surrender…" He clutched onto the sword that was clean into his chest. "You're a monster… a freak. Who are you?"

The man tilted his head to his side and his eyes blinked. His voice sent shiver down Godo's spine, cold and emotionless, "Sephiroth." He said and glanced around the battlefield. Godo struggled to remain awake as the pain was coursing through his body. He watched this Sephiroth look around and return his gaze to him. It was then, that moment he saw something in his eyes and he fell over, closing his own eyes, blacking out from immense pain. He felt his chest lurch as the sword was removed from his body and heard his voice, "Masamune."

Godo touched his chest in memory, recalling the pain and ever since then, he had the scar on his chest from the said weapon, Masamune. After the war was over, he had woken up expecting to be dead but found that ShinRa had retreated and left Wutai alone and he became the Lord of Wutai. It was a bitter years of rebuilding the country. It was a bitter time when his wife gave birth to his one and only daughter, Yufi. It was a bitter disappointment to learn his daughter had a wild rebellious streak in her and ran away often and became a ninja, rather than a princess.

He had kept track of Sephiroth ever since, learning that the man had become the ShinRa's most powerful Solider, the only one in Elites and the General of the entire army. He had expected for Sephiroth to return with his army and destroy what was left of Wutai but he didn't. He then learned that Sephiroth disappeared in the fire of Nibelheim. It was a day he had waited, expecting for Sephiroth to reappear, to prove his godliness. But he didn't.

It was a long two years before Sephiroth finally showed up and went wrecking havoc across the world. To his surprise, Sephiroth was aiming for ShinRa rather than Wutai, killing the President, the Soldiers in his wake and then he learned that Sephiroth was aiming to destroy the entire world. Godo sat back, watching as the small band of group called themselves Avalanche to chase after Sephiroth as well the group of Turks with the new President of ShinRa. It was as if Wutai didn't matter to them anymore.

He was upset and furious that his daughter had chosen to join the rag-tag group of Avalanche. But when she returned to Wutai with armloads of valuable Materias that was once stolen from Wutai during the war, he had learned it was in the possession of Avalanche and agreed to allow his daughter continue travel with the group. He figures, she would serve her end of usefulness in extracting revenge for Wutai killing Sephiroth with them and told her to return when it was over with all of the Materias.

But he did not expect for her to not return. She remained with Avalanche, helping ShinRa to rebuild. He was furious and betrayed by his own daughter. Everything was falling apart. Sephiroth returned to life, as if the Lifestream spat him out and he wanted to rule the world, even with the woman that once was the leader of Avalanche who wanted to kill him in the first place. He could not make a head or tail of everything but one thing he knew, Wutai was finally in danger again, from Sephiroth.

He had plan for Yuffie, with less than a year time, she would return to Wutai and marries a man of his own choice to protect Wutai. The contract had stated between the House of Xin'Tine and Kisaragi that the daughter and son would marry and he could not allow this to happen, it would mean, if Sephiroth is truly the son of Kintaro Xin'Tine, he would have to marry Yuffie and Godo knew he cannot have that to happen. The contract, in his consideration is nullified. He will choose a man loyal to the Kisaragi's cause and have Yuffie submit like a proper wife to the man.

He heard Gork tell the two other men to silence from their bickering and blinked, he realized he had zoned out of the conversation between Staniv and Chekov. Then the young man turned to Godo and asked, "Well, what do you plan to do?"

Godo gave a small smirk, "I don't have much to plan. Yuffie will return home in less than a year time and she will be married to a man of my own choosing." The three other men nodded silently, knowing it was a tradition among the Wutaian family that the father of the house would choose the husband for his daughter. "As for Sephiroth, I will find a way to stop him from becoming a King. He will not take crown as long I breathe."

LKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOA

Cloud stopped before Asgard, the elite pub/bar in the area. Aeris had told her to meet at the bar. She wondered why would the flower girl want them to meet at what was the guys' usual gathering spot. Shrugging her shoulder, she entered the bar and saw Aeris at a booth with gaggle of other women. She groaned slightly under her breath and plastered a fake smile on her face and went over to the table.

She felt out of place, wearing her usual dark outfit while the others were in their summer dresses, brightly colored.

"You're late! What held you up?" Aeris asked as she scooted over to give room for Cloud to sit.

Tifa chuckled as she answered for Cloud. "Sephiroth, I bet?"

Cloud blushed red, "No!" as she caught on what Tifa was implying. "I was in meeting with Rufus and Sephiroth; we were discussing over Sephiroth's traveling plan. It's too bad he had to go so soon."

Aeris nodded, "Yeah, Zack told me about that. Are you going to be able to hold that up?"

Cloud shrugged, "I can handle it… he will be gone for a week at a time, this whole thing will last close to two months. Reeve already planned everything out, and if everything goes as planned, Sephiroth and I will take crown after the wedding."

The women at the table squealed in delight, causing the other people in the bar to glance their way. Cloud sighed as she rested her head on her hand as she met everyone's eyes. Aeris, Tifa, Shiva, Yuffie and Elena were at the table, looking excited and jumpy.

Elena smiled, "I heard there's another banquet in about a month, is that true?"

Cloud nodded. "Yeah, it's for the world leaders, to bring everyone together and sign an agreement and get to know one another and appoint the knights to each one of them. Sephiroth wants each knight to guard and protect each country in the world and report to him in the future for anything."

"Wow, sound like everything is getting all set up." Yuffie quipped then frowned, "I hope Godo won't do anything stupid… He has been real quiet lately."

"Yeah, I hope so too. I read up the history on Wutai War and boy, it's not good. Isn't Vincent going to try to handle this?" Cloud asked, curiously at the girl.

The teenager shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure. Vincent is away for the weekend, he told me he has to meet with some other rebels from south Wutai that hidden away in the past twenty years. All I know, he is gathering force."

"That's not good." Cloud frowned. "I suppose Vincent and Sephiroth are on it."

"Yeah, they are."

"Good."

Shiva pulled out a large binder that was decorated with lace and frills, it was full of dog-eared notes and post it here and there and slammed it on the table. "Enough of political talks. Let's talk wedding!" She grinned as the others agreed and Cloud rolled her eyes. She had seen the title on the binder; it said 'Sephiroth and Cloud's Wedding Planner'.

"All right, let's get to business!" Aeris said, clapping her hands while Shiva popped open the binder, there was scribbles of notes, scraps of fabrics, colors and flowers as well.

"We need to decide the basic things, like; theme, colors, location, what you want for the banquet, what kind of wines and so on." Shiva started and pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen with flower taped on the top. Cloud eyed it with bemused expression.

Cloud sighed and ticked her fingers, "Uhm, Theme, wedding, colors, white, silver, gold and black. Location, I don't care. Food, I don't care either. Wine, Nibelung Wine and Strawberry Vintage."

Shiva was already scribbling on the paper, "Excellent ideas on some but come on! Cloud, you got to have a dream wedding of something of sort."

Cloud leaned forward on the table, her arms resting on the top, "Shiva, my dream wedding was shot down even before I ever dreamed it up when I was three years old, which was when I decided to become a boy for good."

Tifa gasped, "Oh, we're so sorry! We didn't mean to bug you so much; we wanted the best for you."

Cloud shook her head, "don't worry. You guys dream me up a nice one; just don't go over board on this."

Aeris laughed, "It's hard to not to. It's a huge wedding; basically, I think we are looking at the guest of three thousands to more." Cloud groaned and thumped her head on the table and muttered something under her breath. "I think she said, Lord, help me."

The others tittered as they started to chat up storm, throwing ideas for the wedding, drowning Cloud into the wedding planning.

LKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOA

Vincent walked into the smaller conference room and found Sephiroth with Reeve and Rufus at the table, going over papers that were strewn across the tabletop. Sephiroth was intently writing on one of the sheet. His eyebrows rose at the sight, "Hm, where is Cloud?"

Sephiroth replied without looking up, "She had to go to another meeting with the women. I suppose it's about the wedding. She dreaded that meeting and rather to be here."

Vincent laughed, "Ah, no wonder why Yuffie disappeared. So, what is going on?" he asked as he sat down next to Sephiroth and peered over what his son was writing on. It appeared to be some kind of speech. He frowned and lifted another paper nearby and looked at it. It was indeed speeches, rather for each country. "Hm…"

Sephiroth groaned and dropped the pen he was using and sat back, cracking his back with stretching. "They're being slave-drivers." He gestured to the young President and his cohort. Reeve and Rufus gave a grinning smile as they nodded. "They want me to write rough drafts of speeches that I would give to each place I will be visiting soon."

Vincent nodded as he read one of the drafts that appeared to be for the Southern Isle country. "Hm… they are strong and good… You have good diplomatic skills in you. I'm surprised you thought you don't have the ability." He placed the paper down and looked over the other and found them to be similar to the first but each was written to state to fit in each country and their cultures.

"I just don't." Sephiroth said. "All my life, I was all about war and power. This is different."

"You may not notice, but in diplomat, it is good to have military strategy and skills to use in winning allies than making enemies, the skills are the same but used for different reasons. All you need is good reasons to make allies and use it."

"Hm. That makes senses." Sephiroth mused and returned to working on his paper. "I'm having a hard time with Wutai one. We all agree to hold that one last since Lord Godo is not willing to ally with Neo-Midgar, he had told Yuffie he refuses to allow me take crown… They're going to be hard to win over."

"I know. I was there when Godo said that." Vincent said softly. "He's stubborn. That is where I move in to help you." Sephiroth frowned as he looked up to his father and gave a questioning look. "Do you know of Wutai's history?" Sephiroth shook his head and sat back, curious. "I see. I know of your history with Wutai, you ended the battle and left alone. I've read the report and heard from others, it had given you a bad mark with Wutai, especially with Lord Godo, seeing you had tried to kill him on the field."

Sephiroth nodded, "I detest that memory the most of all from my childhood. The ShinRa," He turned to Rufus, "No offense to you." Rufus shrugged, "they trained me to be a Solider and sent me out, by then, I was cold hearted and emotionless, I just did what I was ordered, my mind was locked and focused on the mission. General Angeal Leon told me before he died, to kill the leader and that's what I focused on. But I did not expect for my Valkyrie Wakening to happen in the middle of it. I changed while I was battling Neo Bahamut. What I must have looked must have given Lord Godo a fright, he called me a monster."

"Yes. There is one thing; he knew who you were up there on the battle. I've contacted with some of the South Wutaianese, they told me what they had learned from Godo on who you are. They are only few handfuls of people in the world who truly knew of you and your heritage; you are tied to the Wutai in a way."

"Because I am your son, so what of it?" Sephiroth said.

"Yes, but more than that, my true name is Xin'Tine Kintaro, of the house of Xin'Tine." By the mention of the name, the two other men's jaw dropped and Sephiroth looked completely confused. "That mean, I am the Lord of the South Wutai. Long ago, at one time, Wutai was under a rule of a royal family and it split apart when the ShinRa rose to power a hundred years ago, dividing Wutai in half, the House of Kisaragi took the north and the Xin'Tine took the south. After one generation, the ShinRa forced the two houses to unite in prospect of an upcoming war. The two houses made an pact, for each to bear a daughter and son to unite in marriage. However, both houses bore sons, no daughter were born."

"So, Lord Godo is one of the sons and who is the other?" Sephiroth asked. He was shocked that he had no idea of the history behind Wutai and felt anger that the ShinRa went as far to hide it from him and wondered why they hid from him.

"I am the other son, younger than Godo and my father, Grimoire Xin'Tine could not have anymore children because my mother had bore me late in her life and wasn't able to have any other children and he was loyal to her, he would not impregnate any other women."

"What?" Sephiroth muttered as he leaned forward, curious and surprised. "So, what happened, how did Lord Godo get rule of the entire Wutai?"

"I'm getting to that point soon. I grew up, there was pressure with two wars we were facing, and one was with ShinRa and the other with Lord Godo. I was frustrated like many other South Wutaianese men, I fled. My childhood was of bitterness, full with pressure of becoming the Lord and the facing of war, I left and I joined ShinRa, under a different name and became a Turk. Over the time, I became one of the best Turk around, and I met Lucrecia, your mother. I fell in love so hard that I forgot about Wutai, everything, my world was around her.

When I learned that she was pregnant, I proposed to her and learned of her heritage of a Valkyrie. I knew fate had different things for us in mind. I wanted to take her and you away from everything, from Hojo. By the time you were born, Hojo wanted to take you away, I faced him and he shot me, I died then." Vincent went silent as he looked away, lost his memory. Then he finally spoke again, "The world went on around me for a long time, the Wutai war happened and everything, I woke up to find Cloud and her band of Avalanche and find that my own son, you were bent on taking over the world and destroy it. I was lost and confused, I didn't know what was going on and why everything had became distorted and twisted. Anyway, back to the point, Grimoire, my father, in his grief, he gave up and surrendered South Wutai to Lord Godo and many of the southern Wutaianese fled, scattered through the world. I've looked it up, Zack's mother and brother was from south Wutai. His mother settled in Gongaga and married his father and had Zack. Zack's uncle went on to ShinRa and became a Scientist, a Mako Scientist and was stationed in Nibelheim when the Reactor was building, that's Cloud's father. We all are connected."

"You said Lord Godo knew of my heritage. What of this?" Sephiroth asked. He was surprised to find that the connection between everyone he knew and cared about was much tighter and deeper.

"Yes. One of the men I talked to was in the war, he had heard Godo tell his tale from his view after the war. Godo, when he saw you on the battlefield, on the top of the hill, he knew then that you were my son."

"How did he know?" Rufus asked, curious, also shocked to hear the truth behind everything relating with Vincent and Sephiroth.

"Sephiroth's appearance, he looked just like me," Vincent said as he glanced to Sephiroth, "At the time, he had black hair. Before Hojo changed me, I had green eyes. Grimoire also shared the same appearance. It was more than enough to show that Sephiroth is of the Xin'Tine bloodline."

"Shit!" Reeve cursed softly under his breath, "The pact… if it were to be enforced, Sephiroth will have to marry Yuffie!"

Sephiroth's face twisted. "Yuffie? No way!"

Vincent chuckled. "Don't worry. I intended to marry her after all. Lord Godo had revoked the pact and he had announced that Yuffie has one year to make her decision, if she chose to say, she is forever disowned from Wutai and is an outcast, but if she chose to go back, Godo will have her marry a man of his choice by her eighteenth birthday. As to where I am coming in to help you with Wutai, I'm gathering force together and return to Wutai and take up my rightful place as the Lord of the Xin'Tine House. Lord Godo will have no choice but surrender or bring entire Wutai into civil war."

Sephiroth frowned as he glanced to the paper he was working on and picked it up. "I wish it wouldn't come to that." He looked up to his father and met his crimson gaze. "Let's try this first… and if it doesn't work out, I'll leave it to you."

"Hai." Vincent nodded.

w w w . y a s h o d o a . c o m / r o a d t o d a m a s c u s

Feedbacks, reviews, please, pretty please!?